Device for automatically producing screw connections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12440932-B2
Application number	US-202318136122-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2023
Priority date	Oct 19, 2020
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A device for automatically producing screw connections, having an articulated arm robot and a screwing unit which can be rotated about an effector axis by an output element of an end element of the articulated arm robot. The screwing unit has a housing, wherein a screwing tool is movably received in the housing along the effector axis between a feed position and at least one screwing position, and wherein a mouthpiece for providing a screw is arranged on the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device to automatically produce screw connections, the device comprising:
an articulated arm robot;
a screwing unit adapted to be rotated about an effector axis by an output element of an end element of the articulated arm robot, the screwing unit having a housing, wherein a screwing tool is movably received in the housing along the effector axis between a feed position and at least one screwing position; and
a mouthpiece for providing a screw is arranged on the housing.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device has a rotary feedthrough for compressed air and/or electrical signals, wherein a stator of the rotary feedthrough is arranged on the end element, and wherein a rotor of the rotary feedthrough is arranged for co-rotation on the screwing unit and/or on the output element.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screwing tool is movably received in a tool channel, wherein the tool channel has at least one internal groove, and wherein the screwing tool comprises at least one guide pin received in the groove so that a torque is transmitted to the screwing tool via a positive connection formed by the groove and the guide pin.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screwing unit has a feed channel for feeding a screw into the mouthpiece.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screwing tool is adapted to be charged with compressed air via the rotary feedthrough so that the screwing tool is moved between the feed position and the screwing position by overpressure or negative pressure.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the screwing unit comprises at least one tool return spring that pretensions the screwing tool into the feed position.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screwing unit has an electric solenoid, which is controllable via the rotary feedthrough with electrical signals, wherein the screwing tool is received on the solenoid so that the screwing tool is moved between the feed position and the screwing position by controlling the solenoid.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screwing unit comprises a slider, wherein the tool channel and the feed channel run in the slider, and wherein the slider is movable via exposure to compressed air via the rotary feedthrough in one direction radially to the effector axis so that either the tool channel or the feed channel is brought into alignment with the effector axis.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the screwing unit comprises at least one slider return spring, which pretensions the slider into a radial end position.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device has a connection element arranged on the end element of the articulated arm robot, which comprises at least one feed opening for feeding a screw into the feed channel and/or at least one compressed air connection for feeding compressed air to a stator-side connection of the rotary feedthrough and/or at least one electrical connection for controlling a stator-side input of the rotary feedthrough.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a magazine arranged on the connection element, which comprises a drum for storing a plurality of screws, wherein the drum is arranged so as to be rotatable on a base plate, and wherein the base plate has an outlet opening which is aligned with the feed opening of the connection element.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the output element of the articulated arm robot is formed as a hollow shaft.

Assignees

• Hella Gmbh & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Engler Ingo
• Lebrato-Rastrojo Miguel
• Roebbecke Thomas Albert
• Jagow Frank
• Rokossa Dirk

Classifications

• B25J11/005

  Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks · CPC title

• B25J15/0019

  End effectors other than grippers · CPC title

• B25B23/08

  for holding or positioning screw or nut prior to or during its rotation · CPC title

• B25B23/04

  for feeding screws or nuts · CPC title

• B25B23/10

  using mechanical gripping means · CPC title