Shaft-Like Parts Feeding Apparatus

Abstract

A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus is disclosed, which includes a parts feeder ( 6 ) for delivering shaft-like parts ( 1 ), and a feed path extending from the parts feeder ( 6 ) to a point short of a feed rod ( 21 ), wherein a shaft-like part held by a holding head ( 1 ) of the feed rod ( 20 ) is inserted into a receiving hole ( 35 ) in an electrode ( 22 ). An excessively long parts detecting means which detects and removes excessively long parts ( 1 A) longer than normal length is disposed in the parts feeder ( 6 ) or in the feed path, and the spacing between the receiving hole ( 35 ) and the holding head ( 20 ) with the feed rod ( 20 ) having stopped at a predetermined position after advancing, is set to an excessively short parts expelling spacing (L) which prevents excessively short parts ( 1 C) shorter than normal length from reaching the receiving hole ( 35 ). Shaft-like parts of abnormal length are removed in the feed path extending from the parts feeder to the electrode by a system having a cooperative feature, i.e., a system feature.

1 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus including a parts feeder for delivering shaft-like parts, and a feed path extending from said parts feeder to a point short of a feed rod, said feed rod performing a feed operation to insert a shaft-like part held by a holding head into a receiving hole in an electrode, said shaft-like parts feeding apparatus comprising an excessively long parts detecting means which detects and removes excessively long parts longer than normal length is disposed in said parts feeder or said feed path, the spacing in which said holding head with said feed rod advances and stops at a predetermined position where the shaft-like part is inserted into the receiving hole, is set to an excessively short parts expelling spacing which allows normal length parts to enter the receiving hole and prevents excessively short parts shorter than normal length from reaching the receiving hole. 
   
   
       2 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said excessively long parts detecting means is a pass control member adapted to lock the excessively long portion of a shaft-like part and disposed in the transfer path of the parts feeder. 
   
   
       3 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said excessively long parts detecting means is a pass control member adapted to lock the excessively long portion of a shaft-like part and disposed in said feed path. 
   
   
       4 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said excessively long parts detecting means is a sensor means adapted to be operated by the excessively long portion of a shaft-like part and disposed in said feed path. 
   
   
       5 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein advance of said feed rod stops at a position where the axis of the shaft-like part held by the holding head coincides with the axis of said receiving hole and a shaft-like part of normal length is inserted from this stop position into the receiving hole. 
   
   
       6 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said electrode having the receiving hole is provided with a detecting means for detecting a shaft-like part being inserted in the receiving hole. 
   
   
       7 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said detecting means is such that the presence of a shaft-like part in an electrifying path completes said electrifying path. 
   
   
       8 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said detecting means is a sensor for detecting the presence of a shaft-like part inserted into said receiving hole. 
   
   
       9 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a shaft-like part in said excessively long parts detecting means assumes a substantially vertical attitude. 
   
   
       10 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shaft-like part is a projection bolt comprising a shank formed with a male thread, a flange integral with said shank, and a welding projection formed on said flange. 
   
   
       11 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus including a parts feeder for delivering shaft-like parts, and a feed path extending from said parts feeder to a point short of a feed rod, said feed rod performing a feed operation to insert a shaft-like part, held by a holding head, into a receiving hole in an electrode, said shaft-like parts feeding apparatus being characterized in that an excessively long parts detecting means which detects and removes an excessively long part longer than normal length is disposed in said parts feeder or in said feed path. 
   
   
       12 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said excessively long parts detecting means is a pass control member adapted to lock the excessively long portion of a shaft-like part and disposed in the transfer path of the parts feeder. 
   
   
       13 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said excessively long parts detecting means is a pass control member adapted to lock the excessively long portion of a shaft-like part and disposed in said feed path. 
   
   
       14 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said excessively long parts detecting means is a sensor means adapted to be operated by the excessively long portion of a shaft-like part and disposed in said feed path. 
   
   
       15 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth  claim 11 , wherein a shaft-like part in said excessively long parts detecting means assumes a substantially vertical attitude. 
   
   
       16 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said shaft-like part is a projection bolt comprising a shank formed with a male thread, a flange integral with said shank, and a welding projection formed on said flange. 
   
   
       17 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus including a parts feeder for delivering shaft-like parts, and a feed path extending from said parts feeder to a point short of a feed rod, said feed rod performing a feed operation to insert a shaft-like part, held by a holding head, into a receiving hole in an electrode, wherein the spacing in which the holding head with said feed rod advances and stops at a predetermined position where the shaft-like part is inserted into the receiving hole, is set to an excessively short parts expelling spacing which allows normal length pairs to enter the receiving hole and prevents excessively short parts shorter than normal length from reaching the receiving hole. 
   
   
       18 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said holding head is provided with an air opening for spouting compressed air to deliver a shaft-like part toward the receiving hole. 
   
   
       19 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said excessively short parts expelling spacing is a spacing such that when the holding head travels toward the receiving hole, the front end of a shaft-like part of normal length is inserted into the receiving hole  35  but the front end of an excessively short part cannot reach at its front end the receiving hole. 
   
   
       20 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein advance of said feed rod stops at a position where the axis of a shaft-like part held by the holding head coincides with the axis of said receiving hole, the arrangement being such that a shaft-like part of normal length is inserted from this position into the receiving hole. 
   
   
       21 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said electrode having the receiving hole is provided with a detecting means for detecting a shaft-like part being inserted in the receiving hole. 
   
   
       22 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said detecting means is such that the presence of a shaft-like part in an electrifying path completes said electrifying path. 
   
   
       23 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said detecting means is a sensor for detecting the presence of a shaft-like part inserted into said receiving hole. 
   
   
       24 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said shaft-like part is a projection bolt comprising a shank formed with a male thread, a flange integral with said shank, and a welding projection formed on said flange. 
   
   
       25 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said holding head is provided with a recess for holding a shaft-like part, the bottom of said recess being formed with a support surface on which the shaft-like part sits, said support surface being provided with an air opening for spouting air for delivery of the shaft-like part, the spouting of air from said air opening being set such that it ends during the return operation of the feed rod so as to prevent the feed rod from returning with the shaft-like part retained in the holding head. 
   
   
       26 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the spouting of air from said air opening is started after the front end of a shaft-like part held by the holding head has advanced into said receiving hole. 
   
   
       27 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the travel locus of the holding head is set such that advance of the feed rod stops at a position where the axes of the shaft-like part and said receiving hole coincide and such that subsequent to this stoppage the holding head travels in the axial direction of the receiving hole. 
   
   
       28 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said shaft-like part is a projection bolt comprising a shank formed with a male thread, a flange integral with said shank, and a welding projection formed on said flange. 
   
   
       29 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said holding head is provided with a recess for holding a shaft-like part, the bottom of said recess being formed with a support surface on which the shaft-like part sits, said support surface being centrally provided with an air opening for spouting air for delivery of a shaft-like part, and a minute air gap is set between the inner peripheral surface of the recess and the maximum outer diameter portion of a shaft-like part sitting on said support surface. 
   
   
       30 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the channel area between the maximum outer diameter portion of a shaft-like part and the inner peripheral surface of the recess is set smaller than the channel area of the air opening. 
   
   
       31 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein in the vicinity of the support surface of the holding head, an annular permanent magnet provided with an aperture is disposed concentrically with the support surface. 
   
   
       32 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein said recess is a tapered hole such that the side into which a shaft-like part advances is large in diameter. 
   
   
       33 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein the diameter of the aperture in said permanent magnet is set equal to or larger than the diameter of the air opening. 
   
   
       34 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the ratio of the diameter of said air opening to the diameter of said support surface is 0.23-0.68. 
   
   
       35 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the taper angle of said tapered hole is 14-17 degrees. 
   
   
       36 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the opening in the air opening is made in the form of an annular support edge on which said welding projection sits. 
   
   
       37 . A shaft-like parts feeding apparatus as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein said shaft-like part is a projection bolt comprising a shank formed with a male thread, a flange integral with said shank, and a welding projection formed on said flange.