Apparatus and method for inserting spokes in holes of a hub flange
AssigneeHolland Mechanics B.V.
InventorsMarcel Cruyff, Henk Brugge, Antonius Simon Admiraal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for automatically loading spokes in to the hub of a spoked wheel. The spokes are inserted one at a time through the holes of the flanges of the hub. The direction of the hub axle is horizontal and the spoke inserters are moved toward the flanges. The holes in the flanges are detected by means of a sensor.
Claims18
An apparatus for inserting spokes having a right-angled head and a shaft into holes of hub flanges of a hub comprising a hub support for the support of the hub in horizontal position, rotation means for rotating the hub around a hub axle, sensors for detecting the holes in the hub flanges, spoke inserters positioned at either side of the hub, which comprise spoke sorters for the separation of always one single spoke, a spoke holder movable between a spoke catching position and an insertion position, in which a separated spoke can be caught and which is provided with spoke guiding means and an ejector opening for guiding the spoke during insertion and drive means for moving a spoke from the spoke holder through a hole, positioning means for the sensor-aided positioning of the holes in the hub flange into substantial alignment with the ejector opening, and control means for controlling the apparatus wherein the ejector opening comprises a spoke support and pressing means for, during inserting, pushing the shaft of the spoke against the spoke support, which pressing means can be swung aside to allow the head of the spoke to pass.
A method for inserting spokes into holes of a hub flange of a hub comprising a horizontally supporting hub support, comprising the steps of:
- providing spoke inserters at either side of the hub flange;
- separating with spoke sorters a spoke having a right-angled head and a shaft;
- catching a spoke in a spoke holder;
- inserting and guiding the spoke with the aid of guiding means terminating in an ejector opening;
- positioning with the aid of a sensor and a control the hole and the ejector opening to substantially align the hole with the shaft of the spoke;
- pushing a spoke from the ejector opening through a hole into the hub flange and moving the ejector opening toward the hub flange to a distance from the hub flange which is smaller than the diameter of the head of the spoke;
- and
- inserting the spoke through the hole in the hub flange while ensuring, by guiding the head until it abuts against the hub flange, that during insertion the head remains pointing downward.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.