Method of operating fastening apparatus and fastening apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11858076-B2
Application number	US-202217991449-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2022
Priority date	Jun 22, 2020
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A fastening apparatus includes: a plurality of fastening tools; a first movement mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of fastening tools in a circumferential direction; a second movement mechanism configured to rectilinearly move the plurality of fastening tools in a radial direction; and a third movement mechanism configured to rectilinearly move the plurality of fastening tools in a vertical direction. In particular, the first movement mechanism includes a closed-curve guide unit having a closed-curve shape and configured to define a route along which the plurality of fastening tools rotates in the circumferential direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastening apparatus comprising:
a plurality of fastening tools;
a first movement mechanism comprising:
a closed-curve guide unit having a closed-curve shape, and
a plurality of pinion gears configured to be rotated;

a second movement mechanism comprising:
at least one screw unit,
at least one horizontal movement block configured to engage with the at least one screw unit and coupled to respective fastening tools of the plurality of fastening tools such that the fastening tools rectilinearly move in a radial direction when the at least one screw unit rotates,
at least one horizontal guide unit coupled to the at least one horizontal movement block and configured to define a route along which the fastening tools rectilinearly move in the radial direction; and

wherein the fastening apparatus is further configured to rectilinearly move the plurality of fastening tools in a vertical direction,
wherein the closed-curve guide unit is formed with a gear portion on a radial surface thereof and configured to define a route along which the plurality of fastening tools rotates in a circumferential direction,
wherein a pinion gear among the plurality of pinion gears is configured to engage with the gear portion of the closed-curve guide unit and a respective one of the plurality of fastening tools is configured to rotate along the circumferential direction when the pinion gear rotates, and
wherein:
the at least one horizontal movement block includes a plurality of horizontal movement blocks, and the at least one horizontal guide unit includes a plurality of horizontal guide units,
one end portion of a first horizontal guide unit of the plurality of horizontal guide units and one end portion of a second horizontal guide unit of the plurality of horizontal guide units meet together, and
a stepped portion is formed in a region in which the one end portion of the first horizontal guide unit meets the one end portion of the second horizontal guide unit.

2. The fastening apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein a first guide portion is provided on a radial inner surface of the closed-curve guide unit, and
wherein the first movement mechanism is configured to engage the first guide portion of the closed-curve guide unit.

3. The fastening apparatus of claim 2 ,
wherein a second guide portion is provided inside of the radial inner surface of the closed-curve guide unit, and
wherein the first movement mechanism is configured to engage the second guide portion of the closed-curve guide unit.

4. The fastening apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a speed reducer provided in the plurality of pinion gears.

5. The fastening apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one screw unit is configured to extend in the radial direction and has a screw structure, and the at least one horizontal movement block is coupled to a first side of the respective fastening tools of the plurality of fastening tools.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Bae Jun Hyeok
• Ji Do Kyoung
• Ham Se Hoon
• Kwak Dong Ho
• Kim Yong Tae

Classifications

• B23P19/069 Primary

  Multi-spindle machines · CPC title

• B23P19/006

  Holding or positioning the article in front of the applying tool · CPC title

• B23P21/006

  the conveying means comprising a rotating table · CPC title

• B23P21/008

  the assembling machines or tools moving synchronously with the units while these are being assembled · CPC title