US20130104393A1

US20130104393A1 - Riveting machine

Info

Publication number: US20130104393A1
Application number: US13/407,370
Authority: US
Inventors: Kao-Tsung Chang
Original assignee: FIH Hong Kong Ltd
Current assignee: FIH Hong Kong Ltd
Priority date: 2011-10-27
Filing date: 2012-02-28
Publication date: 2013-05-02
Also published as: TW201317062A

Abstract

A riveting machine is configured for attaching a number of fasteners to an object member. The riveting machine includes a main body, a vibrating module, a positioning module, a pressing module, and a control module. The vibrating module is positioned adjacent to the main body, and vibrates a number of fasteners to align the fasteners for use. The positioning module is attached to the main body to halt the object member moving once it is in position. The pressing module is attached to the main body, and gets the fasteners from the vibrating module and rivets the fasteners to the object member. The control module is electronically connected to the positioning module and the pressing module for respectively controlling the positioning module and the pressing module.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to riveting machines, and particularly to a riveting machine capable of automatically assembling fasteners.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices usually include a metal sheet, onto which other components need to be assembled. In order to connect the metal sheet to the other components, fasteners need to be attached to the metal sheet, and are riveted on the metal sheet by a riveting machine.
However, the fasteners must be manually placed on the metal sheet, making operation slower and more susceptible to operator error.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the riveting machine can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the riveting machine. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a riveting machine according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of a pressing module of the riveting machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the riveting machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a circular portion IV of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The riveting machine 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is suitable for use for automatically riveting fasteners to an object member. In this embodiment, the object member is a metal sheet 200 defining a number of assembly holes 220 and positioning holes 240.
The riveting machine 100 embodied in FIG. 1 includes a main body 10, a vibrating module 30, a positioning module 40, a pressing module 50, and a control module 60.
The main body 10 is used for supporting the positioning module 40 and the pressing module 50. The main body 10 includes a base plate 12, two pairs of fixing plates 14, and two guides 16. Each pair of fixing plates 14 is positioned opposite to the other, and are perpendicularly attached to the base 12. The guides 16 are mounted on the support plates 14. The metal sheet 200 is positioned on the guides 16. The guides 16 is driven by a conveyor (not shown) to move the metal sheet 200.
The vibrating module 30 is positioned adjacent to the base plate 12. The vibrating module 30 includes a container 32 and a feed passage 34. The fasteners (not shown) are accommodated in the container 32, and are vibrated in the container 32 to achieve a particular alignment. The container 32 includes an outlet 322 communicating with the feed passage 34. The fasteners are vibrated in the container 32, and may be discharged from the outlet 322 in groups or one by one. The arranged fasteners are transmitted from the feed passage 34 to the pressing module 50.
The positioning module 40 is positioned on the base plate 12, and is controlled by the control module 60 to halt the metal sheet 200 moving. The positioning module 40 includes a seat 42 and a number of cylinders 44. The seat 42 is positioned on the base plate 12. The cylinders 44 are disposed on the seat 42, and are controlled by the control module 60 to allow distal ends of the cylinders 44 to be inserted into the positioning holes 240 for stopping the metal sheet 200.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the pressing module 50 is used for riveting the fasteners to the metal sheet 200. The pressing module 50 includes a positioning plate 52, a support plate 54, a number of driving members 56, a number of pins 58, and a number of buffer members 59.
The positioning plate 52 is positioned above the guides 16, and allows the metal sheet 200 to pass through between the positioning plates 52 and the guides 16. The positioning plate 52 defines a number of grooves 522. One end of each groove 522 defines a through hole 524. The fasteners can pass through the through holes 524 of the positioning plate 52 to the metal sheet 200.
The support plate 54 is substantially L-shaped, and is vertically disposed on the positioning plate 52. The driving members 56 are mounted on the support plate 54. One end of each driving member 56 has a block 562 defining a buffer hole 564.
Each pin 58 is mounted on a corresponding driving member 56, and is driven by the driving member 56 to rivet a fastener onto the metal sheet 200. Each pin 58 includes a first diameter portion 582 and a second diameter portion 584 smaller than the first diameter portion 582. A step portion 586 is formed between the first diameter portion 582 and the second diameter portion 584. The first diameter portion 582 passes through the block 562, and is connected to one end of the driving member 56. One end of each buffer member 59 is mounted on the positioning plate 52, and another end is engaged in the buffer hole 564 of the block 562. When the driving members 56 move toward the positioning plate 52, the buffer members 59 act as buffers to prevent the metal sheet 200 from damage if the driving members 56 accidently move beyond a predetermined range.
The control module 60 is electronically connected to the positioning module 40 and the pressing module 50 for respectively controlling the positioning module 40 and the pressing module 50.
During working operations, the fasteners are received in the container 32, and are vibrated into alignment. The fasteners are discharged from the outlet 322 one by one or in groups one after the other. At the same time, the assembly holes 220 of the metal sheet 200 are aligned with the through hole 524 of the positioning plate 52, and the control module 60 controls the cylinders 44 to insert distal ends of the cylinders 44 into the positioning holes 240 to halt the metal sheet 200. The metal sheet 200 is halted so the through holes 524 are aligned with the assembly holes 220. The second diameter portions 584 of the pins 58 grip the fasteners and move the fasteners into the through hole 524. The step portions 586 press one end of the fasteners to place the fasteners into the assembly holes 220 of the metal sheet 200. The riveting machine can automatically assembly the fasteners onto the metal sheet 200, and greatly improves efficiency.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A riveting machine configured for attaching a plurality of fasteners to an object member, the riveting machine comprising:

a main body;

a vibrating module positioned adjacent to the main body, the vibrating module vibrating a plurality of fasteners to allow the fasteners to be discharged in order;

a positioning module attached to the main body, the positioning module halting the object member moving;

a pressing module attached to the main body, the pressing module getting the fasteners from the vibrating module and riveting the fasteners to the object member; and

a control module electronically connected to the positioning module and the pressing module for respectively controlling the positioning module and the pressing module.

2. The riveting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body includes a base plate, two pairs of support plates, and two guides, the support plates are perpendicularly attached to the base, the guides are mounted on the support plates, and are driven to move the object member.

3. The riveting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibrating module includes a container and a feed passage, the fasteners are accommodated in the container, and are vibrated in the container to arrange the fasteners.

4. The riveting machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the container includes an outlet communicating with the feed passage, the fasteners are discharged from the outlet in order, and are transmitted from the feed passage to the pressing module.

5. The riveting machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the positioning module includes a seat and a number of cylinders, the seat is positioned on the base plate, the cylinders are disposed on the seat, are controlled by the control module to allow distal ends of the cylinders to be inserted into the object member.

6. The riveting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing module includes a number of driving members and a number of pins, each pin is mounted on a corresponding driving member, and is driven by the driving member to rivet a corresponding fastener on the object member.

7. The riveting machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein each pin includes a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion smaller than the first diameter portion, a step portion is formed between the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion.

8. The riveting machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein one end of each driving member has a block defining a buffer hole, the first diameter portion passes through the block, and is connected to one end of the driving member.

9. The riveting machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pressing module further includes a positioning plate and a support plate, the positioning plate is positioned above the main body, the support plate is vertically disposed on the positioning plate, the driving members are mounted on the support plate.

10. The riveting machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pressing module further includes a number of buffer members, one end of each buffer member is mounted on the positioning plate, and another end is engaged in the buffer hole of the block.