Apparatus for supplying fastener for joining panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10898978-B2
Application number	US-201816212430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2017
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus for supplying a fastener for joining two different types of panels includes: a first bowl which accommodates fasteners of at least three specifications, aligns first fasteners of a first specification by a first guider, sequentially supplies the first fasteners to a supply unit through a first rail, and drops downward fasteners other than the first fasteners by a first dropping unit of the first guider; and a second bowl which is disposed at a lower side of the first bowl, accommodates the first fasteners dropped from the first bowl, aligns second fasteners of a second specification by a second guider, sequentially supplies the second fasteners to the supply unit through a second rail, and drops downward fasteners other than the second fasteners.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for supplying a fastener for joining two different types of panels, the apparatus comprising:
a first bowl configured to accommodate fasteners of at least two specifications, the first bowl configured such that first fasteners of a first specification among the fasteners of at least two specifications are aligned by a first guider, the first fasteners are sequentially supplied to a supply unit through a first rail, and fasteners other than the first fasteners among the fasteners of at least two specifications are dropped downward by a first dropping unit of the first guider; and
a second bowl arranged at a lower side of the first bowl and configured to accommodate the first fasteners dropped from the first bowl, the second bowl configured such that second fasteners of a second specification are aligned by a second guider, the second fasteners are sequentially supplied to the supply unit through a second rail, and fasteners other than the second fasteners among the fasteners of at least two specifications are dropped downward,
wherein the first dropping unit includes:
a first dropping guider on which a fastener, which is different from the first fasteners and has a foot having a length longer than a length of a foot of each of the first fasteners, climbs; and
a first dropping stopper which pushes outward and drops the fastener climbing on the first dropping guider,

wherein the first dropping guider protrudes on an upper side of the first glider at a predetermined inclination, and
wherein the first dropping stopper protrudes from an outer surface of the first bowl.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second bowl is configured in a way that the fasteners other than the second fasteners are dropped downward by a second dropping unit of the second guider.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , comprising a third bowl arranged at a lower side of the second bowl and configured to accommodate the fasteners dropped from the second bowl, such that third fasteners of a third specification are aligned by a third guider and the third fasteners are sequentially supplied to the supply unit through a third rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the fasteners of at least three specifications has a head and a foot such that the at least three specifications are classified based on an outer diameter and a thickness of a head of each of the fasteners and a length and an outer diameter of a foot of each of the fasteners connected to a central portion of one surface of the head.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first fasteners supplied from the first bowl and the second fasteners supplied from the second bowl are stacked in the supply unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the supply unit includes:
a first stacking jig in which the first fasteners are stacked; and
a first supply jig which is disposed at a lower end of the first stacking jig to be movable forward and rearward, has an insertion hole through which the first fasteners pass by gravity in a state in which the first supply jig is moved rearward, and is disposed to drop the inserted first fasteners into a feeding hose at a lower side of the first supply jig in a state in which the first supply jig is moved forward.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the supply unit further includes:
a second stacking jig in which the second fasteners are stacked; and
a second supply jig which is disposed at a lower end of the second stacking jig to be movable forward and rearward, has an insertion hole through which the second fasteners pass by gravity in a state in which the second supply jig is moved rearward, and is disposed to drop the second fasteners into the feeding hose in a state in which the second supply jig is moved forward.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising: a controller which controls operations of the first supply jig and the second supply jig.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two different types of panels include an aluminum panel and a steel panel,
wherein each of the fasteners extends through the aluminum panel and is connected to the steel panel, and
each of the fasteners is combined with the steel panel.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Park Kwanghyo
• Kwon Taeyong
• Song Jae Hun

Classifications

• B23K37/04 Primary

  for holding or positioning work · CPC title

• B23K11/0066

  Riveting · CPC title

• B23K2103/20

  Ferrous alloys and aluminium or alloys thereof · CPC title

• B23P19/003

  Escapement mechanisms used therewith · CPC title

• B65G47/04

  for feeding articles · CPC title