U.S. patent application number 17/569357 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-28 for fastening apparatus and method for operating same.
This patent application is currently assigned to HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Jeong Seong An, Jun Hyeok Bae, Young Seok Lee, Jong Seung Park.
Application Number | 20220126410 17/569357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-04-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20220126410 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bae; Jun Hyeok ; et
al. |
April 28, 2022 |
FASTENING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for operating a fastening apparatus which
includes a plurality of fastening devices, and support plates to
which the plurality of fastening devices are connected by a
variation mechanism to be movable. The method includes: moving the
fastening devices along circumferential directions of the support
plates or along a radial direction of the support plates depending
on a shape and a structure of a workpiece, so that positions of the
plurality of fastening devices vary.
Inventors: |
Bae; Jun Hyeok; (Ulsan,
KR) ; An; Jeong Seong; (Ulsan, KR) ; Park;
Jong Seung; (Ulsan, KR) ; Lee; Young Seok;
(Ulsan, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
KIA CORPORATION |
Seoul
Seoul |
|
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Seoul
KR
KIA CORPORATION
Seoul
KR
|
Appl. No.: |
17/569357 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15726631 |
Oct 6, 2017 |
11253964 |
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17569357 |
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International
Class: |
B23P 19/06 20060101
B23P019/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 29, 2017 |
KR |
10-2017-0066219 |
Claims
1. A method for operating a fastening apparatus comprising a
plurality of fastening devices, and support plates to which the
plurality of fastening devices are connected by a variation
mechanism to be movable, the method comprising: moving the
fastening devices along circumferential directions of the support
plates or along a radial direction of the support plates depending
on a shape and a structure of a workpiece, so that positions of the
plurality of fastening devices vary.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: moving the variation
mechanism in a vertical direction so as to vary vertical positions
of the plurality of fastening devices.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional application of
non-provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/726,631, filed
on Oct. 6, 2017, which claims priority to and the benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2017-0066219, filed on May 29, 2017, the
entire contents each of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a fastening apparatus for
fastening a workpiece, and a method for operating the same.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The statements in this section merely provide background
information related to the present disclosure and may not
constitute prior art.
[0004] A fastening apparatus having a fastening device such as an
impact wrench and a nut runner has been used when a workpiece such
as a ladder frame, a head cover, an oil pan, and a chain cover is
fastened through a fastener such as a bolt, a nut, a screw, a piece
and the like.
[0005] The fastening apparatus according to the related art is
configured such that a plurality of fastening devices are fixed or
some of the fastening devices are partially movable in accordance
with the model and the type of a workpiece.
[0006] We have discovered that the fastening apparatus according to
the related art has a disadvantage in that it is difficult to cope
with a change of the model of the workpiece, a change of a
component, and the like. For example, when various models and
various components are to be complexly fastened, the fastening
apparatus according to the related art may not flexibly cope with
the situation, and accordingly, production efficiency may be
undermined.
[0007] When manufacturing process for a specific product is
terminated, it is unnecessary to fasten components, and when it is
impossible to reuse some fastening apparatuses, the fastening
apparatus may be discarded.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present disclosure provides a fastening apparatus which
may flexibly cope with manufacturing conditions, a change of the
model of a workpiece, a change of a component, and the like, and
also provides a method for operating the same.
[0009] The technical objects of the present disclosure are not
limited to the above-mentioned one, and the other unmentioned
technical objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following description.
[0010] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure,
there is provided a fastening apparatus including a plurality of
fastening devices, and a variation mechanism configured to vary
fastening positions of the fastening devices on a 2-dimensional
coordinate.
[0011] The variation mechanism may be configured to individually
move the plurality of fastening devices along a radial coordinate
and an angular coordinate of a polar coordinate system.
[0012] The variation mechanism may include one or more support
plates, and a plurality of base blocks arranged radially with
respect to the support plates.
[0013] The plurality of base blocks may be configured to be movable
along circumferential directions of the support plates, the
fastening devices may be connected to the base blocks,
respectively, and the fastening devices may be configured to be
movable along a radial direction of the support plates.
[0014] The base blocks may extend along the radial direction of the
support plates.
[0015] Each of the support plates may have one or more guide rails,
the one or more guide rails may have a ring shape, and the base
blocks may move along the one or more guide rails.
[0016] A guide member guided by the guide rails may be provided on
an upper surface of each of the base blocks.
[0017] The variation mechanism may include a first movement
mechanism configured to move the base blocks along the
circumferential directions of the support plates, and a second
movement mechanism configured to move the fastening devices along
the radial direction of the support plates.
[0018] The first movement mechanism may include a plurality of
driving motors individually mounted on the plurality of base
blocks, bevel pinions individually connected to the plurality of
driving motors, and a bevel ring gear engaged with the plurality of
bevel pinions.
[0019] The bevel ring gear may be fixed to the support plates.
[0020] The second movement mechanism may include a plurality of
linear guides individually fixed to the plurality of base blocks,
and a plurality of movable blocks individually connected to the
plurality of linear guides to be movable.
[0021] The fastening devices may be individually connected to a
corresponding movable block of the plurality of movable blocks.
[0022] Each of the linear guides may include a rotatable lead
screw, a nut configured to travel along the rotatable lead screw,
and a motor configured to rotate the rotatable lead screw.
[0023] The nuts are fixed to the movable blocks, respectively.
[0024] The fastening apparatus may further include a plurality of
cable carriers configured to guide a plurality of cables
individually connected to the variation mechanism and the fastening
devices from the center toward an upper side of the variation
mechanism.
[0025] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
there is provided a method for operating a fastening apparatus
comprising a plurality of fastening devices, and support plates to
which the plurality of fastening devices are connected by a
variation mechanism to be movable.
[0026] The method includes moving the fastening devices along
circumferential directions of the support plates or along a radial
direction of the support plates depending on a shape and a
structure of a workpiece, so that positions of the fastening
devices vary.
[0027] The method further includes moving the variation mechanism
in a vertical direction so as to vary vertical positions of the
fastening devices.
[0028] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. It should be understood that the
description and specific examples are intended for purposes of
illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the
present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
[0029] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there
will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of
example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a fastening
apparatus according to one form of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the fastening apparatus
according to the form of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the fastening apparatus
according to the form of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a variation
mechanism of the fastening apparatus in one form of the present
disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the variation mechanism
of the fastening apparatus according to the form of the present
disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 6A is a sectional view taken along line A-A' of FIG.
5;
[0036] FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of a part taken from FIG.
6A;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a first movement
mechanism of the variation mechanism of the fastening apparatus in
one form of the present disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a structure in
which a base block, a driving motor of the first movement
mechanism, and a linear guide of a second movement mechanism of the
variation mechanism of the fastening apparatus, and a fastening
device are connected to each other;
[0039] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view a structure in which the
fastening device is connected to the linear guide of the second
movement mechanism of the variation mechanism of the fastening
apparatus;
[0040] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a structure in
which a plurality of cable carriers are installed in the fastening
apparatus according to one form of the present disclosure;
[0041] FIGS. 11A-11C are views illustrating an oil pan according to
models, which may be fastened by the fastening apparatus;
[0042] FIGS. 12A-12C are views illustrating a head cover according
to models, which may be fastened by the fastening apparatus;
and
[0043] FIGS. 13A-13C are views illustrating a ladder frame
according to models, which may be fastened by the fastening
apparatus.
[0044] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes
only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure in any way.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] Hereinafter, exemplary forms of the present disclosure will
be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
It should be noted that when components in the drawings are
designated by reference numerals, the same components have the same
reference numerals as far as possible even though the components
are illustrated in different drawings. Further, in description of
forms of the present disclosure, when it is determined that
detailed descriptions of well-known configurations or functions
disturb understanding of the forms of the present disclosure, the
detailed descriptions will be omitted.
[0046] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and
is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or
uses.
[0047] Also, in the description of the forms of the present
disclosure, the terms such as first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) may
be used. Each of the terms is merely used to distinguish the
corresponding component from other components, and does not delimit
an essence, an order or a sequence of the corresponding component.
Further, all terms used herein, including technical terms and
scientific terms, may have the same meanings as those generally
understood by those skilled in the art to which the present
disclosure pertains as long as the terms are differently defined.
The terms defined in a generally used dictionary should be
interpreted to have the same meanings as those in the context of
the related art, and are not interpreted as ideal or excessively
formal meanings as long as the terms are not clearly defined in the
present application.
[0048] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a fastening apparatus 100
according to one form of the present disclosure may include a main
structure 110, a movable structure 120 mounted to be vertically
movable with respect to the main structure 110, a support 130
connected to the movable structure 120, a plurality of fastening
devices 10 mounted on the support 130, and a variation mechanism 20
configured to vary positions of the plurality of fastening devices
10.
[0049] The main structure 110 may stand upright vertically with
respect to a base 111, and the main structure 110 may have a guide
115 vertically extending. A controller 150 may be connected to the
main structure 110.
[0050] A pair of transfer rails 112 may be arranged on a front side
of the main structure 110 in a horizontal direction, and a palette
113 may be transferred through the pair of transfer rails 112. The
palette 113 may be formed such that various kinds of workpieces W
may be seated thereon.
[0051] The movable structure 120 may have a vertical part 121
vertically extending and a horizontal part 122 horizontally
extending from the vertical part 121. The vertical part 121 may be
vertically guided along the guide 115 of the main structure 110,
and the support 130 may be connected to a free end of the
horizontal part 112 through a fastener or the like.
[0052] The movable structure 120 may vertically move by one or more
actuators 125. The one or more actuators 125 may be a hydraulic
cylinder, or the like.
[0053] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pair of actuators 125
may be installed on opposite surfaces of the main structure to be
symmetric to each other, and the pair of actuators 125 may be
configured to vertically move opposite ends of the movable
structure 120.
[0054] The support 130 is connected to the free end of the movable
structure 120, and the support 130 may be formed to have a shape of
a dome. The plurality of fastening devices 10 and the variation
mechanism 20 may be connected to each other in an interior of the
support 130.
[0055] The plurality of fastening devices 10 may be installed to be
relatively movable with respect to each other by the variation
mechanism 20, and each of the fastening devices 10 may be
configured to provide a torque fastening a fastener such as a bolt
and a nut.
[0056] According to the form, the fastening device 10 may be a nut
runner configured to rotate the fastener such as a bolt and a nut
by driving a servo motor.
[0057] According to a detailed form, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the
fastening device 10 may include a motor 11 configured to generate a
rotational torque, an output shaft 12 that is perpendicular to a
shaft line of the motor 11, and a gear assembly 13 configured to
transfer the rotational torque of the motor 11 to the output shaft
12.
[0058] In this way, the fastening device 10 may be a right angle
fastening device in which a motor 11 and an output shaft 12 are
perpendicular to each other, so that the positions of the fastening
devices 10 may be more effectively adjusted by the variation
mechanism 20.
[0059] The variation mechanism 20 may be configured to adjust the
positions of the fastening devices 10 by selectively moving the
plurality of fastening devices 10 on a 2-dimensional coordinate
system.
[0060] According to the form, the variation mechanism 20 may be
configured to individually vary the positions of the plurality of
fastening devices 10 according to a radial coordinate and an
angular coordinate of a polar coordinate system.
[0061] The variation mechanism 20 may include a first support plate
21, a second support plate 22 spaced downwards apart from the first
support plate 21, and a plurality of base blocks 25 arranged
radially with respect to the first support plate 21 and the second
support plate 22.
[0062] The first support plate 21 may be connected to the support
130, the first support plate 21 and the second support plate 22 may
be formed to have an annular shape, and the first support plate 21
and the second support plate 22 may be connected to each other
through a connector 23.
[0063] A plurality of guide rails 51 and 52 may be fixed to a
bottom surface of the second support plate 22, and the plurality of
guide rails 51 and 52 may have a shape of a ring.
[0064] The plurality of guide rails 51 and 52 may include a first
guide rail 51 and a second guide rail 52 having different
radii.
[0065] The first guide rail 51 may have a pair of grooves 51a
formed on side surfaces thereof, and the second guide rail 52 may
have a pair of grooves 52a formed on side surfaces thereof. A
radius of the first guide rail 51 is smaller than a radius of the
second guide rail 52, and the first guide rail 51 and the second
guide rail 52 may be arranged in a form of a concentric circle.
[0066] The plurality of base blocks 25 may be radially arranged,
and each of the base blocks 25 may extend along a radial direction
of the support plates 21 and 22. One end of the base block 25 may
be arranged toward an inner diameter of the guide rails 51 and 52,
and the other end of the base block 25 may be arranged toward an
outer diameter of the guide rails 51 and 52.
[0067] The base block 25 may individually move along a
circumferential direction (see arrow C of FIG. 5) along the
plurality of guide rails 51 and 52.
[0068] A plurality of guide members 61 and 62 may be fixed to an
upper surface of the base block 25. The plurality of guide members
61 and 62 may include a first guide member 61 guided to the first
guide rail 51, and a second guide member 62 guided to the second
guide rail 52.
[0069] The first guide member 61 may have a pair of side walls 63,
a boss 61a may be formed on each of the side walls 63, and the
bosses 61a of the first guide member 61 may be inserted into the
grooves 51a of the first guide rail 51, respectively.
[0070] The second guide member 62 may have a pair of side walls 64,
a boss 62a may be formed on the side wall 64, and the bosses 62a of
the second guide member 62 may be inserted into the grooves 52a of
the second guide rail 52, respectively.
[0071] In this way, the bosses 61a and 62a of the first and second
guide members 61 and 62 are individually inserted into the grooves
51a and 52a of the first and second guide rails 51 and 52, so that
the base block 25 is supported on the second support plate 22, and
may move along the first and second guide rails 51 and 52 as
well.
[0072] The first guide member 61 may be arranged to be adjacent to
the one end of the base block 25, and the second guide member 62
may be arranged to be adjacent to the other end of the base block
25.
[0073] According to the form of the present disclosure, the sizes
(the widths, the heights, and the like) of the first guide rail 51
and the second guide rail 52 may be differently formed, and
correspondingly, the sizes (the widths, the heights, and the like)
of the first guide member 61 and the second guide member 62 may be
differently formed.
[0074] As illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B, the second guide rail 52 may
have the size that is larger than that of the first guide rail 51,
and correspondingly, the second guide member 62 may have the size
that is larger than that of the first guide member 61.
[0075] The variation mechanism 20 may include a first movement
mechanism 30 configured to move the base blocks 25 along
circumferential directions C of the support plates 21 and 22, and a
second movement mechanism 40 configured to move the fastening
devices 10 along a radial direction R of the support plates 21 and
22. Accordingly, the plurality of the fastening devices 10 may be
configured to be movable along the circumferential directions C
and/or the radial direction R of the support plates 21 and 22.
[0076] As the first movement mechanism 30 moves the base block 25
along the circumferential direction of the first support plate 21,
the position of the fastening device 10 may be adjusted along the
circumferential direction of the first support plate 21.
[0077] The first movement mechanism 30 may include a plurality of
driving motors 35 individually mounted on the plurality of base
blocks 25, a plurality of bevel pinions individually connected to
the plurality of driving motors 35, and a bevel ring gear 32
engaged with the plurality of bevel pinions 31.
[0078] The first driving motors 35 may be mounted on the upper
surfaces of the base blocks 25 by medium of brackets 36,
respectively, and the bevel pinions 31 may be coupled to output
shafts of the first driving motors 35, respectively.
[0079] The bevel ring gear 32 may be fixed to a bottom surface of
the first support plate 21 through a fastener or the like, and the
bevel ring gear 32 and the first support plate 21 may be arranged
in a concentric circular structure. The bevel ring gear 32 may have
a shape of a ring having a specific radius.
[0080] When the first driving motors 35 are driven, the bevel
pinions 31 may be rotated, the bevel pinions 31 may move along a
circumferential direction C of the bevel ring gear 32, and because
of this, the base blocks 25 may move along the circumferential
direction C of the bevel ring gear 32. As the base blocks 25 move
along the circumferential directions C of the first support plate
21 and the bevel ring gear 32, the positions of the fastening
devices 10 may be adjusted along the circumferential directions C
of the first support plate 21 and the bevel ring gear 32.
[0081] In this way, as the positions of the fastening devices 10
are adjusted along the circumferential direction of the first
support plate 21, the circumferential positions of the fastening
devices 10 may correspond to the angular coordinate of the polar
coordinate system.
[0082] As illustrated in FIG. 5, adjacent base blocks 25 may move
within fastening areas D1 and D2 individually set by the first
movement mechanism 30, and as the fastening areas D1 and D2 of the
adjacent base blocks 25 overlap each other, a shared area D3 may be
formed. In this way, as the shared area D3 shared by the fastening
areas D1 and D2 of the adjacent base blocks 25 is formed, an
interference between the fastening devices 10 may be properly
evaded according to the type (the model, the shape, the structure,
or the like) of the workpiece, the positions of the fastening
devices 10 may be effectively adjusted, and the number of the
fastening devices 10 may effectively vary as well.
[0083] The second movement mechanism 40 may include a plurality of
linear guides 41 individually fixed to the plurality of base blocks
21, and a plurality of movable blocks 42 individually connected to
the plurality of linear guides 41 to be movable.
[0084] Each of the liner guides 41 may include a lead screw 45, a
nut 46 meshes with the lead screw 45, and a motor 43 configured to
rotate the lead screw 45. When the lead screw 45 is rotated by
driving the motor 43, the nut 46 may travel along the lead screw
45.
[0085] The movable blocks 42 may be fixed to the nuts 46 of the
liner guides 41, respectively, and the fastening devices 10 may be
connected to the movable blocks 42 through brackets 15,
respectively. Accordingly, as the nuts 46 of the linear guides 41
are moved, the movable blocks 42 may move along the radial
direction (see arrow R of FIG. 5) of the second support plate 22,
and accordingly, the positions of the fastening devices 10 may be
adjusted along the radial direction R of the second support plate
22.
[0086] In this way, as the positions of the fastening devices 10
are adjusted along the radial direction R of the second support
plate 22, the circumferential positions of the fastening devices 10
may correspond to a radial coordinate of the polar coordinate
system.
[0087] The fastening apparatus 100 according to the form of the
present disclosure may further include a plurality of cable
carriers 161, 162 and 163 configured to guide a plurality of cables
individually connected to the variation mechanism 20 and the
fastening devices 10 from a central portion to an upper portion of
the variation mechanism 20. The plurality of cables may be
individually connected to the driving motors 35 of the first
movement mechanism 30, the linear guides 41 of the second movement
mechanism 40, and the fastening devices 10.
[0088] The plurality of cable carriers 161, 162, and 163 may
include a plurality of first cable carriers 161 individually
installed on the side surfaces of the base blocks 25, a plurality
of second cable carriers 162 individually connected to ends of the
base blocks 25, and a third cable carrier 163 connected to the
plurality of second cable carriers 162.
[0089] The first cable carriers 161 may be installed on the side
surfaces of the base blocks 25, respectively, and the first cable
carriers 161 may be configured to guide one or more cables in
accordance with movement of the base blocks 25, respectively.
According to the form, the first cable carriers 161 may be
chain-type cable carriers.
[0090] The base block 25 may have an accommodation space
accommodating one or more cables therein.
[0091] The second cable carriers 162 may be arranged from ends of
the base blocks 25 to the upper side, and accordingly, one or more
cables may be guided from the ends of the base blocks 25 to the
upper side. According to the form, the second cable carriers 162
may be worm-type cable carriers.
[0092] A lower end of the third cable carrier 163 may be connected
to an upper surface of the support 130 through a connection member
135, and upper ends of the second cable carriers 162 may be
connected to the lower end of the third cable carrier 153 through a
connection plate 165. The connection plate 165 may be arranged
inside the support 130.
[0093] In this way, in the present disclosure, the plurality of
cables connected to the variation mechanism 20 and the fastening
devices 10 through the plurality of cable carriers 161, 162 and 163
are guided from the central portion of the variation mechanism 20
toward the support 130, so that the plurality of cables may be
protected, and may be inhibited or prevented from interfering with
each other as well, and because of this, operational stabilities of
the variation mechanism 20 and the fastening devices 10 may be
effectively implemented.
[0094] In a method for operating the above-configured fastening
apparatus 100 according the present disclosure, as the base blocks
25 are moved in a circumferential direction by the first movement
mechanism 30 or the base blocks 25 are moved in a radial direction
by the second movement mechanism 40 according to the shape and the
structure of the workpiece, the positions of the fastening devices
10 may vary.
[0095] Further, as the support 130 to which the variation mechanism
20 is connected is moved by the actuators 125 in a vertical
direction as needed, the vertical positions of the fastening
devices 10 may vary.
[0096] In this way, the positions of the plurality of fastening
devices 10 may individually vary on a 2-dimensional coordinate
system or a 3-dimensional coordinate system according to a change
of the type (the model, the shape, the structure, and the like) of
the workpiece, so that simultaneous fastening of a workpiece having
a plurality of fastening holes may be effectively performed.
[0097] Meanwhile, examples of a workpiece W which may be fastened
by the fastening apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure
may include oil pans 1a, 1b, and 1c, head covers 2a, 2b, and 2c,
ladder frames 3a, 3b, and 3c, and the like.
[0098] As illustrated in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, different models
of the oil pans 1a, 1b, and 1c have fastening holes, positions of
which are different from each other. The fastening apparatus 100
according to the present disclosure may fasten the different models
of the oil pans 1a, 1b, and 1c to an engine block by adjusting the
positions of the fastening devices 10 by the variation mechanism 20
according to the positions of the fastening holes of the oil pans
1a, 1b, and 1c.
[0099] As illustrated in FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C, different models
of the head covers 2a, 2b, and 2c have fastening holes, positions
of which are different from each other. The fastening apparatus 100
according to the present disclosure may fasten the different models
of the head covers 2a, 2b, and 2c to an engine block by adjusting
the positions of the fastening devices 10 by the variation
mechanism 20 according to the positions of the fastening holes of
the head covers 2a, 2b, and 2c.
[0100] As illustrated in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C, different models
of the ladder frames 3a, 3b, and 3c have fastening holes, positions
of which are different from each other. The fastening apparatus 100
according to the present disclosure may fasten the different models
of the ladder frames 3a, 3b, and 3c to an engine block by adjusting
the positions of the fastening devices 10 by the variation
mechanism 20 according to the positions of the fastening holes of
the ladder frames 3a, 3b, and 3c.
[0101] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 5, although eight
fastening devices 10 are exemplified as the plurality of fastening
devices 10, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For
example, the number of the fastening devices 10 may be two, four,
six, ten, or the like according to the type of the workpiece W.
[0102] Further, the number of the mounted fastening devices 10 may
vary in accordance with a change in production demands, a change of
the type of the workpiece, and the like. For example, among the
plurality of initially mounted fastening devices 10, some fastening
devices 10 are separated or some fastening devices 10 are
additionally mounted, and thus, the number of the fastening devices
10 may be increased or decreased. For example, in a state in which
eight fastening devices 10 are mounted in accordance with a
workpiece having eight fastening holes, when the workpiece is
changed to a workpiece having six fastening holes later, two
fastening devices 10 are separated, and the fastening holes of the
workpiece may be simultaneously fastened only using six fastening
devices 10.
[0103] In the above-described fastening apparatus 100 according to
the present disclosure, the base blocks 25 may be moved along the
radial coordinate and the angular coordinate of the polar
coordinate system by the first and second movement mechanisms 30
and 40 of the variation mechanism 20, and accordingly, the
positions of the fastening devices 10 may individually vary, so
that while the user flexibly cope with various models of workpieces
having various components, a fastening operation may be promptly
and effectively performed, the user may flexibly cope with a change
in production, and a schedule of the fastening operation by simple
teaching may be reduced.
[0104] Further, in the fastening apparatus according to the present
disclosure, the support 130 to which the variation mechanism 20 is
connected may be moved by the movable structure 120 in a vertical
direction, so that the vertical positions of the fastening devices
10 may be adjusted, and the positions of the fastening devices 10
may variously vary in accordance with various models of the
workpiece having various components.
[0105] According to the present disclosure, positions of fastening
devices may flexibly vary in accordance with fastening positions of
workpieces, the number of the fastened workpieces, and the like
according to types, shapes, structures and the like of the
workpieces. Because of this, fastening operations of the plurality
of fastening devices may be flexibly executed, so that a flexible
manufacturing system may be effectively constructed.
[0106] The above description is merely illustrative description of
the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and various
modifications and deformations may be made by those skilled in the
art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from
the desired feature of the present disclosure.
[0107] Thus, the forms that are disclosed in the present disclosure
are not for limiting but for describing the technical spirit of the
present disclosure, and the scope of the technical spirit of the
present disclosure is not limited by the forms. The protection
scope of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the
present disclosure and all the technical spirit corresponding to
the equivalents thereof should be interpreted to be included in the
scope of a right of the present disclosure.
* * * * *