Patent Application
20130168202
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an assembly line system, and in particular a fountain-pen automatic assembly line system.
A conventional assembly procedure for a fountain pen is mainly in the form of an assembly line where different parts of the pen are assembled in different, physically separated assembly processes. The assembly procedure of fountain pens mainly includes a process of filling ink into pen barrels, an ink-reservoir mounting process, an ink-reservoir pressing process, a pen-cap mounting process, a pen-cap pressing process, and the like. In a conventional fountain-pen assembly procedure, the different processes are completed at different, physically separated worktables. The ink-reservoir mounting process employs a pneumatic press machine, and an operator fixes the pen barrel filled with ink under the press machine, mounts the ink reservoir into the pen barrel, and then starts the pneumatic press machine to press the ink reservoir into the pen barrel. The process is labor intensive and inefficient. If the operator becomes careless, the pneumatic press machine may cause injury to his/her hand. In a conventional assembly procedure, each process needs at least one operator further adding to the inefficiency. Furthermore, when one process has been completed, it is necessary to transfer the semi-assembled products to a different and physically separated worktable to continue the assembly process. Because the semi-assembled products are transferred manually, not only is the assembly efficiency very low, but it is also easy for the semi-assembled products to be damaged during transferring. As a result, material is wasted.
In various embodiments, an assembly line system is disclosed. The assembly line system includes a worktable; a first sprocket positioned on a first side of the worktable, and a second sprocket positioned on a second, opposite side of the worktable; a chain connecting the two sprockets; and a plurality of jigs provided on the chain, wherein the jigs are configured to receive pen barrels. The assembly line system includes an ink-reservoir mounting station and an ink-reservoir pressing station provided on the worktable successively. The ink-reservoir mounting station includes an automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine, and the ink-reservoir pressing station includes an automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine.
The automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine and the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine can be provided on the same worktable and along the same chain for efficiency.
The automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine includes a vibratory bowl feeder that connects to an upright transporting pipe that is used to place ink reservoirs within a pen barrel held on a jig on the chain.
The automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine may include a loading jig that is horizontally positionable in a first and a second position. The first position of the loading jig is below the upright transporting pipe, and the second position is between a vertically movable shaft above and a jig on the chain below.
The loading jig may include a hole that aligns beneath the transporting pipe in the first position, and the hole is aligned with and between the vertically movable shaft and a jig on the chain.
The loading jig is connected to a cylinder that moves the loading jig from the first position to the second position and returns the jig to the first position.
The loading jig receives an ink reservoir, or cartridge, from the transporting pipe in the first position, and the movable shaft pushes the ink reservoir from the loading jig to a pen barrel carried by the jig in the second position.
The assembly line system may further include a feeding station and an ink-filling station in succession on the worktable and upstream of the ink-reservoir mounting station. The assembly line system may also include a pen-cap mounting station, a pen-cap pressing station, and a cropping station in succession downstream of the ink-reservoir pressing station, wherein each station is provided along the same worktable and chain.
The feeding station may include an automatic feeding machine; the ink-filling station may include an automatic ink-filling machine; the pen-cap pressing station may include an automatic pen-cap pressing machine; and the cropping station may include an automatic cropping machine.
The automatic cropping machine may include a clamping assembly having a first cylinder with a first cylinder shaft, and a second cylinder with a second cylinder shaft, wherein the first and the second cylinder shafts are facing each other. A space between the first and the second cylinder shafts is above a jig on the chain of the worktable.
The clamping assembly is coupled to a third cylinder that moves the clamping assembly from above the jigs to an area clear of the jigs to deposit pens in a receiving area.
The assembly line system may include a programmable logic controller (PLC) such that the sprockets, the automatic feeding machine, the automatic ink-filling machine, the automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine, the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine, the automatic pen-cap pressing machine, and the automatic cropping machine are connected to the PLC controlling module. The automatic feeding machine, the automatic ink-filling machine, the automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine, the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine, the automatic pen-cap pressing machine, and the automatic cropping machine can each be provided with a photoelectric sensing device.
The assembly line system disclosed herein may be specifically related to the assembly of fountain pens. A “fountain” pen as used herein includes any of the various types of writing instruments that may include consumer-refillable ink reservoirs, such as cartridges, or are refillable via various refilling means. A fountain pen generally includes a barrel and pen cap forming the exterior; an ink reservoir, such as a cartridge or a rubber sack within the barrel; a point or nib that contacts the paper; and a feed section. There are various types of mechanisms for refilling the ink reservoir, such as a lever filler. However, other mechanisms are possible. Additionally, some fountain pens may include disposable plastic cartridges. Thus, the ink reservoir is discarded after the ink is depleted. These plastic cartridges are initially sealed. A consumer will place a plastic cartridge within a pen barrel and the feed section will be used to puncture an end of the cartridge to allow the ink to flow to the pen tip. Other variations of fountain pens are ascertainable by those skilled in the art.
Because the ink-reservoir mounting station and the ink-reservoir pressing station are provided on the worktable successively, the ink-reservoir mounting process and the ink-reservoir pressing process can be completed on the same worktable. These two processes may be linked via the driving chain, so that the assembly time is shortened and the assembly efficiency is improved. Furthermore, the ink-reservoir mounting station can be provided with an automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine, and the ink-reservoir pressing station can be provided with an automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine. Therefore, because automatic operation is employed, labor can be reduced, and assembly efficiency can be increased.
When the feeding station, the ink-filling station, the pen-cap mounting station, the pen-cap pressing station and the cropping station are provided on the worktable successively, and the ink-reservoir mounting station and the ink-reservoir pressing station are located between the ink-filling station and the pen-cap mounting station, each station is linked via the driving chain so that an assembly line system is formed on the same worktable. Therefore, labor is reduced and the assembly efficiency is increased.
When the feeding station is provided with an automatic feeding machine, the ink-filling station is provided with an automatic ink-filling machine, the pen-cap pressing station is provided with an automatic pen-cap pressing machine, and the cropping station is provided with an automatic cropping machine, the feeding station, the ink-filling station, the ink-reservoir mounting station, the ink-reservoir pressing station, the pen-cap pressing station and the cropping station can all be operated automatically, so the assembly efficiency is very high. In at least one embodiment, the whole assembly procedure has seven stations, but only requires one operator who is responsible for the pen-cap mounting station, thus, reducing the amount of labor that is needed.
When the automatic ink-filling machine, the automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine, the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine, the automatic pen-cap pressing machine, and the automatic cropping machine are each provided with a photoelectric sensing device, these photoelectric sensing devices monitor whether the previous process was missed or not. If it is detected that a pen missed the previous process, the automatic ink-filling machine, the automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine, the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine, the automatic pen-cap pressing machine, or the automatic cropping machine can suspend operation until it is detected that a pen has gone through the previous process. Therefore, an unnecessary operation of the automatic ink-filling machine, the automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine, the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine, the automatic pen-cap pressing machine, and the automatic cropping machine can be avoided. The operation accuracy and the life of the machines can be improved.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
With reference to
A plurality of jigs 6 are provided on a plurality of links of the chain 5, with one jig for each link, for example. A jig 6 is configured to receive empty pen barrels 40 in the feeding process. A jig 6 may include a generally flat member with a hole sized to snugly receive a pen barrel 40. The driving chain 5 transfers the jigs 6 and, thus, pen barrels 40 from left to right in the figure. A transporting rail 7 supporting the driving chain 5 is provided between the two sprockets 4a, 4b. The transporting rail 7 is fixed on the worktable 1.
An ink-reservoir mounting station 13 and an ink-reservoir pressing station 14 are provided on the same worktable 1 successively. The ink-reservoir mounting station 13 can be provided with an automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine 2 in proximity to the chain 5, and the ink-reservoir pressing station 14 can be provided with an automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine 3 in proximity to the chain 5. A “station” as used herein is a mechanism provided on the worktable 1 or along the chain 5 for performing an assembly process. In some embodiments, a station is simply an area where the process is performed manually, i.e., by a human operator. In some embodiments, a station may have a machine that can fully or partially perform the process.
As shown in
The vibratory bowl feeder 57 may include a motor and a bowl 57. The vibratory bowl feeder may have a helical track 58 on the inside of the bowl 57. The specifics of the track 58 are designed for the particular application. The motor causes vibration, and the parts 8, in this case ink reservoirs 8 or cartridges, are transported upwards in the helical track 58 and around the bowl 57 due to the vibrating action. The vibratory bowl feeder 57 is in communication with and feeds the ink reservoirs 8 to the upright transporting pipe 21.
The mounting mechanism 10 includes an assembly containing a first cylinder 22, a loading jig 23, and a second cylinder 24. As used herein, a “cylinder” may refer to a pneumatically—operated cylinder. In at least one embodiment, the basic construction of such cylinders includes a chamber fitted with a piston that connects with a shaft outside of the cylinder. When pressurized air is introduced into the cylinder chamber behind the piston, the air drives the piston and the shaft outwards. This action causes the piston to push against a spring, and when the air pressure is released from the chamber, the spring drives the piston and shaft inwards within the chamber. However, different constructions are possible, such as electrically operated solenoids.
The first cylinder 22 is used for moving the loading jig 23 horizontally between a first and a second position. The cylinder shaft of the first cylinder 22 is connected with one end of the loading jig 23, and the other end of the loading jig 23 is provided with the loading hole 231. The hole 231 extends vertically through the loading jib 23 from top to bottom. In
Referring now to
As shown in
When assembling a fountain pen by way of the fountain pen automatic assembly line system of the present embodiment, a single feeding operator and a single receiving operator may be needed. The feeding operator is responsible for mounting the fountain pen filled with ink into the jigs 6. The sprockets 4 transfer the chain 5 and jigs 6 from left to right in the figures, and when the jigs 6 pass by the ink-reservoir mounting station 13, the automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine 2 mounts the ink reservoir 8 into the pen barrel 40.
With reference to
When the chain 5 transfers a pen barrel 40 with an ink reservoir 8 therein by the ink-reservoir pressing station 14, the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine 3 presses the ink reservoir 8 in position. The automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine 3 may include a photoelectric sensing device 84 to detect when a pen barrel 40 is directly below the compression connector 32. The third cylinder 31 extends the compression connector 32 downward, and the compression connector 32 presses the ink reservoir 8 in position in the pen barrel 40 and then resets by being retracted upward to await the next pen barrel 8. The semi-assembled fountain pen may be received in the transferring box by the receiving operator, and is then transferred to the next process.
As shown in
As shown in
The automatic cropping machine 9 is located at one side of the sprocket 4b. The pen 40 in the jig 6 is designed to travel between the fourth and the fifth cylinders 92, 93. When the fountain pen 40 with pressed pen cap passes between the fourth cylinder 92 and the fifth cylinder 93, the sixth cylinder 94 pushes the fourth cylinder 92 and the fifth cylinder 93 forwards, and the cylinder shafts of the fourth cylinder 92 and the fifth cylinder 93 extend simultaneously and clamp the fountain pen 40 with pressed pen cap. Then, the sixth cylinder 94 pulls the fourth cylinder 92 and the fifth cylinder 93 backwards in unison to a position above the receiving box and clear of the chain 5. The cylinder shafts of the fourth cylinder 92 and the fifth cylinder 93 reset to the unclamped position and the fountain pen falls into the receiving box. The sixth cylinder 94 pushes the fourth cylinder 92 and the fifth cylinder 93 forwards to await the next pen barrel, and the next cycle starts. The automatic cropping machine 9 may include a photoelectric sensing device 85 that can detect the presence of a pen barrel 40 arriving in the position directly between the fourth cylinder 92 and the fifth cylinder 93.
In this embodiment, the pen-cap mounting station 15 may be operated manually or automatically by way of a machine. The automatic feeding machine, the automatic ink-filling machine, and the automatic pen-cap pressing machine are described below. The automatic pen-cap mounting machine may employ machines available in the art.
When assembling fountain pens by way of the fountain-pen automatic assembly line system of the present embodiment, if the pen-cap mounting station 15 is operated manually, two operators are needed. One operator beside the automatic feeding machine may feed stock and arrange the semi-assembled fountain pens in the receiving box while the other operator is responsible for mounting the pen caps. If the pen-cap mounting station 15 is operated automatically, only one operator is needed beside the automatic feeding machine to feed stock and arrange the fountain pens in the receiving box. Each of the processes may employ an automatic operation rendering the assembling efficiency very high.
In the above two embodiments, the sprockets 4a, 4b, the automatic feeding machine 51, the automatic ink-filling machine 52, the automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine 2, the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine 3, the automatic pen-cap pressing machine 56, and the automatic cropping machine 9 may all be controlled via a programmable logic controller (PLC) controlling module 44. Furthermore, the automatic feeding machine 51, the automatic ink-filling machine 52, the automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine 2, the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine 3, the automatic pen-cap pressing machine 56, and the automatic cropping machine 9 may all be provided with a photoelectric sensing device. The photoelectric sensing devices may be employed to monitor whether a previous process is completed, and if a previous process has been missed, the automatic ink-filling machine 52, the automatic ink-reservoir mounting machine 2, the automatic ink-reservoir pressing machine 3, the automatic pen-cap pressing machine 56, or the automatic cropping machine 9 will suspend operation. When it is detected that the previous missed process has been completed, the remaining processes may continue.
As shown in
As shown in
In operation, the jigs 6 are carried on the chain 5 with the pen barrels 40 therein and pass underneath the ink-filling needle 82. The eighth cylinder 79 operates to lower the ink-filling arm 81 with needle 82 into the pen barrel 40. In at least one embodiment, a photoelectric sensing device 76 may detect the arrival and departure of a pen barrel 8 from the ink-filling machine 52. The photoelectric sensing device 76 can signal when a pen barrel 40 is underneath the ink-filling needle 82. When the photoelectric detector 76 detects a pen barrel 40, the eighth cylinder 79 is activated and lowers the ink-filling arm 81 so that the ink-filling needle 82 is lowered inside of the pen barrel 40. The pump is turned on and a predetermined amount of ink flows from the ink storage tank 77 through the hose 78 and into the ink-filling needle 82. As the pen barrel 40 is filled with ink, the cylinder 79 raises the ink-filling arm 81 while releasing ink to fill the pen barrel 40.
While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201110449557.X | Dec 2011 | CN | national |
