CN108349662B

CN108349662B - Gas injection mechanism and part feeder

Info

Publication number: CN108349662B
Application number: CN201680063695.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 迎邦晓; 入江进
Original assignee: Sinfonia Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sinfonia Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-10-29
Filing date: 2016-10-28
Publication date: 2021-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2036-10-28
Also published as: JP2017080700A; WO2017073735A1; TW201722816A; CN108349662A; TWI689457B; KR102605235B1; KR20180075514A; JP6782537B2

Abstract

In order to provide a gas injection mechanism capable of digitally managing the flow rate and pressure of compressed air and preventing a reduction in work efficiency, a gas injection mechanism (1) is configured to sequentially inject compressed air toward a plurality of workpieces (W), wherein the gas injection mechanism (1) comprises: a flow rate adjusting unit (3A) having a two-way valve (3) connected to a compressed air source (11) and capable of continuously changing the opening/closing amount; an upper controller (4) for outputting a parameter suitable for the type of the workpiece (W); and a piezoelectric valve driver (5) that proportionally controls the opening/closing amount of the two-way valve (3) based on an applied voltage corresponding to the parameter output by the upper controller (4).

Description

Gas injection mechanism and part feeder

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a gas injection mechanism and a part feeder capable of digitally controlling the flow rate and pressure of compressed air.

Background

Conventionally, there is known a component feeder capable of discriminating the posture of a workpiece (chip) such as an electronic component on a conveying path, removing the workpiece having an improper posture from the conveying path, or reversing the workpiece on the conveying path to correct the posture, and conveying the other workpiece having an appropriate posture to a predetermined supply destination (for example, patent document 1).

In such a parts feeder, as shown in fig. 7, for example, it is common practice to remove a workpiece W (defective workpiece W') having an inappropriate posture or correct the posture of the workpiece W by using a gas injection mechanism 15, and the gas injection mechanism 15 includes a regulator 12 connected to a compressed air source 11, a three-way valve 700 disposed downstream of the regulator 12, and a needle valve with a check valve (speed controller, hereinafter also referred to as "speed controller") 50 disposed downstream of the three-way valve 700.

The regulator 12 adjusts (reduces) the pressure of the compressed air supplied from the compressed air source 11 to a predetermined value.

The three-way valve 700 includes a 1 st port 107a leading to the outlet of the regulator 12, a 2 nd port 107b leading to the gas supply and discharge passage 21 of the part feeder 2 via the needle valve 50 with a check valve, and a 3 rd port 107c leading to the atmospheric region. When the three-way valve 700 is not energized, the 2 nd port 107b and the 3 rd port 107c are communicated with each other via the passage 171 in the spool 170, and the 1 st port 107a and the 2 nd port 107b are shut off from each other, and the compressed air supplied from the regulator 12 is blocked near the 1 st port 107 a. When the power is turned on, the spool 170 is displaced so that the 1 st port 7a and the 2 nd port 107b communicate with each other through the passage 173 in the spool 170, and the compressed air supplied from the regulator 12 is supplied to the needle valve with check valve (hereinafter also simply referred to as "needle valve") 50.

The needle valve 50 with a check valve is used to adjust the flow rate of the compressed air and supply the compressed air of a predetermined flow rate to the gas supply and discharge passage 21 of the parts feeder 2. When the energization of the three-way valve 700 is switched off and the compressed air flows in the reverse direction, the needle valve 50 with a check valve can generate a free flow on the check valve 57 side and flow the compressed air toward the three-way valve 700.

In the case of the parts feeder 2 using the gas injection mechanism 15, the workpiece W is detected by the sensor 65, and when the defective workpiece W ' reaches the predetermined processing position P, a signal is output from the sense amplifier 68 having a determination function, and a voltage is applied to the electromagnetic solenoid 172 of the three-way valve 700 to open/close (on/off) the three-way valve 700, whereby compressed air is injected from the gas supply/discharge passage 21 to the defective workpiece W ' located at the processing position P, whereby the defective workpiece W ' can be removed from the conveyance path 20 or reversed on the conveyance path 20.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2015-30566

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the parts feeder 2, since the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air most suitable for turning or removal are different depending on the size of the workpiece W, it is considered that the needle valve 50 is adjusted so that the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air are in accordance with the opening time of the target workpiece W and the three-way valve 700.

In this case, it is desirable to use a dial type speed controller, a flow rate sensor, or a pressure sensor for adjustment of the needle valve 50 so that the adjustment can be reproduced by digital management, but since fine adjustment is performed, complete and appropriate adjustment cannot be performed when using the dial type speed controller. Further, with recent miniaturization of the workpiece W, the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air that are optimal are also miniaturized (reduced), and when a flow rate sensor or a pressure sensor is used, the measurement value is too small to be detected accurately (it is difficult to perform sensing detection by the flow rate sensor or the pressure sensor).

Therefore, although the needle valve 50 is usually manually adjusted to perform the adjustment of the stress caused by the operation of the target workpiece W, the adjustment is performed manually, and therefore, the reproducibility of the same setting is low because the adjustment is performed by feel. Therefore, even if the needle valve 50 is readjusted for each type of work W, the original set value cannot be returned, and the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air cannot be accurately controlled.

Further, there is a case where a plurality of kinds of works for supplying a plurality of kinds (kinds) of workpieces W are performed by the same part feeder 2, and in the configuration to which the gas injection mechanism 15 is applied, it is necessary to replace the needle valve 50 adjusted in advance for each kind every time the kind of the workpiece W to be conveyed is changed, or to readjust the needle valve 50 every time, so that there is a problem that the work efficiency is poor.

An object of the present invention is to effectively solve the above-described problems and to provide a gas injection mechanism and a parts feeder capable of digitally managing the flow rate and pressure of compressed air and preventing a reduction in work efficiency.

Means for solving the problems

In view of the above problems, the present invention adopts the following aspects.

That is, the gas injection mechanism of the present invention is a gas injection mechanism for sequentially injecting compressed air toward a plurality of objects to be injected, the gas injection mechanism including: a flow rate adjusting unit having a switching valve connected to a compressed air source and capable of continuously changing an opening/closing amount; a parameter output unit for outputting a parameter suitable for the kind of the ejection target; and a proportional control unit that proportionally controls an opening/closing amount of the switching valve based on an applied voltage or an applied current corresponding to the parameter.

With this configuration, the applied voltage or applied current applied to the switching valve included in the flow rate adjustment means can be set based on the parameter output from the parameter output means, and the opening/closing amount of the switching valve can be controlled in proportion to the applied voltage or applied current by the proportion control means. Therefore, the flow rate of the compressed air output from the self-switching valve can be appropriately finely adjusted, and the flow rate and the pressure of the compressed air injected from the gas injection mechanism can be accurately digitally managed with reproducibility of the same setting. In addition, when dealing with a plurality of types, it is not necessary to change the switching valve to a switching valve having a different setting every time the type of the transported object to be ejected is changed, and thus it is possible to prevent a reduction in work efficiency.

In particular, in order to improve the responsiveness of the injection of the compressed air, it is preferable that the switching valve is a piezoelectric valve.

In particular, when the present invention is applied to a component feeder that jets compressed air at a predetermined processing position to a defective workpiece among workpieces conveyed along a conveyance path, in order to jet compressed air having a flow rate and a pressure suitable for the type of the workpiece to the defective workpiece at an appropriate timing, the gas jet mechanism preferably includes a timing acquisition means for determining a timing at which the defective workpiece reaches the processing position, the parameter output means is preferably configured to output a parameter suitable for the type of the conveyed workpiece, and the proportional control means is preferably configured to apply a voltage corresponding to the parameter to the switching valve at the timing determined by the timing acquisition means.

Alternatively, it is preferable that the gas injection mechanism includes a timing acquisition means for acquiring a timing at which the defective workpiece reaches the processing position, the parameter output means includes an input portion into which data relating to a type of the workpiece to be conveyed can be input, and the parameter is generated and output based on the data input to the input portion, and the proportional control means is configured to apply a voltage corresponding to the parameter to the switching valve at the timing acquired by the timing acquisition means.

In order to inject compressed air, the switching valve needs to be a switching valve having two or more ports, including at least a 1 st port leading to a compressed air source and a 2 nd port leading to a gas supply/discharge passage formed in the transfer path, and capable of switching between a communication position where the 1 st port and the 2 nd port are brought into a communication state and a non-communication position where the 1 st port and the 2 nd port are brought into a non-communication state. In particular, in order to accelerate the pressure drop of the compressed air and improve the responsiveness of the injection of the compressed air, it is preferable that the switching valve further includes a 3 rd port that opens to the atmosphere region, and is a switching valve having three ports that can be switched between a communication position where the 1 st port and the 2 nd port communicate with each other and an atmosphere open position that is a non-communication position where the 2 nd port and the 3 rd port communicate with each other.

In order to realize a parts feeder capable of accurately digitally managing the flow rate and pressure of compressed air to be injected and preventing a reduction in work efficiency in the case of coping with a plurality of types of parts, it is preferable that the gas injection mechanism be used to inject compressed air to a defective workpiece conveyed along a conveyance path, and the defective workpiece be removed from the conveyance path or be turned over on the conveyance path to change its posture.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The present invention described above can provide a gas injection mechanism and a part feeder as follows: the flow rate and pressure of compressed air can be finely adjusted by one switching valve, and the reproducibility of the same setting is provided, the flow rate and pressure of the injected compressed air can be accurately and digitally managed, and in the case of dealing with various kinds, the switching valve which is differently set for each kind of the conveyed object does not need to be replaced, and the reduction of the working efficiency can be prevented.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a gas injection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state of being applied to a part feeder.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view partially showing a gas injection mechanism when injecting compressed air.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing still another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing still another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional configuration.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in fig. 1, a gas injection mechanism 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a parts feeder 2. The parts feeder 2 is used for conveying a plurality of workpieces W as conveyed objects along the conveying path 20, and the parts feeder 2 discriminates the posture of the workpieces W based on image data obtained by a camera 65 for imaging the conveyed workpieces W, thereby discriminating the presence or absence of a defect in the posture, and removes the defective workpieces W 'discriminated as defects from the conveying path 20 or inverts the defective workpieces W' on the conveying path 20 to correct the posture at a processing position P set on the downstream side in the conveying direction from the camera 65. In the conveyance path 20, a gas supply/discharge passage 21 is formed so as to penetrate the side wall 20a, and the gas injection mechanism 1 injects compressed air toward the processing position P via the gas supply/discharge passage 21, but in this case, in the present embodiment, the defective workpiece W' is processed with compressed air having a flow rate and a pressure suitable for the type of the workpiece W being conveyed, specifically, the type of the workpiece W.

The gas ejection mechanism 1 includes a gas circuit 10, an upper controller 4, an image processing device 6, and a piezoelectric valve driver 5.

The gas circuit 10 includes: a regulator 12 connected to a compressed air source 11 (plant facility), the regulator 12 reducing the pressure of the compressed air supplied from the compressed air source 11 to a predetermined value; and a two-way valve 3 disposed downstream of the regulator 12, the two-way valve 3 being used to adjust the flow rate of the compressed air decompressed by the regulator 12. The compressed air source 11 and the regulator 12 are connected by a 1 st gas piping path 13a, the regulator 12 and the two-way valve 3 are connected by a 2 nd gas piping path 13b, and the two-way valve 3 and the gas supply and discharge passage 21 are connected by a 3 rd gas piping path 13 c. In the present embodiment, the two-way valve 3 constitutes a flow rate adjusting unit 3A.

The two-way valve 3 as a switching valve includes a 1 st port 3a leading to a 2 nd gas piping path 13b, which is an outlet of the regulator 12, and a 2 nd port 3b leading to a 3 rd gas piping path 13c, which is a gas supply/discharge passage 21 of the parts feeder 2. The two-way valve 3 is configured to be switchable between a blocking position L, which is a non-communication position shown in fig. 1, in which the two-way valve 3 blocks the 1 st port 3a and the 2 nd port 3b, respectively, and a communication position R, which is shown in fig. 2, in which the two-way valve 3 internally communicates the 1 st port 3a and the 2 nd port 3b via the switching portion 33 of the operating portion 30.

The switching is performed by energizing (applying a voltage to) the electric input portion 32 of the two-way valve 3 to displace the operating portion 30, and when the electric input portion 32 is not energized, the operating portion 30 is at the blocking position L shown in fig. 1, and the compressed air supplied from the regulator 12 to the two-way valve 3 is blocked near the 1 st port 3 a. When the electric input unit 32 is energized, the operating unit 30 is displaced to the communication position R shown in fig. 2, and the compressed air supplied from the regulator 12 is input from the 1 st port 3a, output from the 2 nd port 3b via the switching unit 33, and supplied to the gas supply/discharge passage 21. Thereby, the compressed air is injected from the gas supply and discharge passage 21 toward the processing position P. When the energization of the electrical input unit 32 is stopped, the operation unit 30 is displaced toward the original position and returns to the blocking position L shown in fig. 1, and the injection by the gas circuit 10 is stopped.

Further, since the displacement amount of the operating unit 30, that is, the opening/closing amount (opening amount) of the two-way valve 3 can be continuously changed in accordance with the voltage applied to the electric input unit 32, and the opening/closing amount is uniquely determined by the applied voltage, the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air supplied from the gas supply/discharge passage 21 can be finely adjusted. The two-way valve 3 is a piezoelectric valve that uses a piezoelectric element as a drive source, and has a higher response (high-speed response) after voltage is applied thereto, as compared with, for example, a solenoid valve or a proportional valve.

The upper controller 4 serving as parameter output means stores various parameters set by a driver suitable for the type of the workpiece W, specifically, the type of the workpiece W, and the upper controller 4 outputs the parameter most suitable for the type of the workpiece W conveyed on the conveying path 20 to the image processing apparatus 6.

The image processing apparatus 6 includes: a driver setting unit 64 for transmitting the parameter output from the upper controller 4 to the communication input/output unit 51 of the piezoelectric valve driver 5; an image processing section 61 for processing image data obtained using the camera 65; an image determination unit 62 that can determine whether or not a defect such as the posture of the workpiece W is present based on the data processed by the image processing unit 61; and a command unit 63 that outputs data (time data) of the time at which the defective workpiece W' identified as a defective workpiece W by the image identifying unit 62 reaches the processing position P to the command input unit 54 of the piezoelectric valve driver 5 as a removal inversion command. For example, the timing at which the defective workpiece W ' reaches the processing position P is obtained from the conveyance speed of the defective workpiece W ' calculated using the image data, and the image processing device 6 also functions as a timing acquisition means for obtaining the timing at which the defective workpiece W ' reaches the processing position P.

When a parameter is input to the piezoelectric valve driver 5 as the proportional control means via the communication input/output unit 51, the piezoelectric valve driver 5 retrieves a corresponding applied voltage value from an applied voltage setting unit 53 that stores various data relating to the proportional control for each parameter, for example, an applied voltage for each parameter in advance, and sets the applied voltage to the two-way valve 3 (proportional control). Similarly, the voltage output waveform such as the switching between the synchronous output and the one-shot output of the signal to the command input unit 54, the setting of the rising and falling of the voltage output waveform, the setting of the one-shot pulse time, and the switching between the normally closed state and the normally open state according to the mechanism of the command input unit 54 and the two-way valve 3 are also set for each parameter by the applied voltage setting unit 53.

The piezoelectric valve driver 5 applies the voltage set by the applied voltage setting unit 53 to the electrical input unit 32 of the two-way valve 3 via the output control unit 55 and the voltage output circuit 56 based on the time data input from the command unit 63 via the command input unit 54. In this way, the applied voltage is directly determined during the period when the same kind of workpiece W is conveyed, and the application voltage does not need to be feedback-controlled for each compressed air injection, and the responsiveness of the injection can be improved.

In the case of such a configuration, when the conveyance of the workpiece W is started, parameters suitable for the type of the workpiece W are output from the upper controller 4 to the piezoelectric valve driver 5 via the driver setting unit 64, and the applied voltage and the like most suitable for the type of the workpiece W are set by the applied voltage setting unit 53. The image processing apparatus 6 determines whether or not a defect such as the posture of the workpiece W is present by the image determination unit 62 based on the image data obtained by using the camera 65, obtains the time when the defective workpiece W' reaches the processing position P, and outputs the time data to the piezoelectric valve driver 5 via the command unit 63. The piezoelectric valve driver 5 applies the applied voltage to the electrical input portion 32 of the two-way valve 3 for the period of the one-shot pulse time set by the applied voltage setting portion 53 every time the time data is input via the command input portion 54. Alternatively, when the synchronous output is set, the applied voltage is applied to the input unit 32 while the signal is output from the command unit 63 of the image processing apparatus 6.

The two-way valve 3 has its operating portion 30 continuously displaced in accordance with an applied voltage, and the two-way valve 3 outputs compressed air at a flow rate and pressure most suitable for the type of workpiece W. The compressed air output from the two-way valve 3 reaches the defective workpiece W via the gas supply and discharge passage 21, and thereby the defective workpiece W is appropriately removed from the conveyance path 20, or the defective workpiece W is appropriately inverted on the conveyance path 20 to change its posture. By injecting the compressed air at a flow rate and pressure that are most suitable for the type of workpiece W in this manner, the alignment capability of the parts feeder 2 can be maintained in a preferable state, for example.

As described above, the gas injection mechanism 1 of the present embodiment is a mechanism for sequentially injecting compressed air toward a plurality of workpieces W as objects to be injected, and the gas injection mechanism 1 includes: a flow rate adjusting means 3A having a two-way valve 3 as a switching valve connected to a compressed air source 11 and capable of continuously changing the opening/closing amount; a higher controller 4 as parameter output means for outputting a parameter suitable for the type of the workpiece W, specifically, the type of the workpiece W; and a piezoelectric valve driver 5 as a proportional control unit that proportionally controls the opening and closing amounts of the two-way valve 3 based on an applied voltage corresponding to the parameter.

With this configuration, since the applied voltage to the two-way valve 3 included in the flow rate adjustment means 3A can be set based on the parameter output from the upper controller 4, and the opening/closing amount of the two-way valve 3 can be controlled in proportion to the applied voltage by the piezoelectric valve actuator 5, the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air output from the two-way valve 3 can be set to a magnitude suitable for the type of the workpiece W. Therefore, the flow rate of the compressed air output from the two-way valve 3 can be appropriately finely adjusted, and with reproducibility to the same setting, the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air injected from the gas injection mechanism 1 can be accurately digitally managed. In addition, when dealing with a plurality of types (when the parts feeder is shared by a plurality of types), it is not necessary to change the two-way valve 3, which is set differently, every time the type of the workpiece W to be conveyed is changed, and thus the switching operation can be made efficient and the reduction in the operation efficiency can be prevented.

In particular, since the two-way valve 3 is a piezoelectric valve, the responsiveness of the injection of the compressed air can be made good.

The gas injection mechanism 1 is applied to a part feeder 2 for injecting compressed air to a defective work W' among works W conveyed along a conveyance path 20 at a predetermined processing position P, the gas injection mechanism 1 has an image processing device 6 as a timing acquisition means for determining the timing at which the defective workpiece W' reaches the processing position P, further, since the upper controller 4 is configured to output a parameter suitable for the type of the workpiece W to be conveyed and the piezoelectric valve driver 5 is configured to apply a voltage corresponding to the parameter to the two-way valve 3 at the timing determined by the image processing apparatus 6, based on the parameter output from the upper controller 4, the opening/closing amount of the two-way valve 3 is proportionally controlled, so that compressed air having a flow rate and pressure suitable for the type of the workpiece W can be ejected to the defective workpiece W' at an appropriate timing by the piezoelectric valve actuator 5.

The switching valve needs to be a two-port or more switching valve, such as a two-way valve 3, in which the two-way valve 3 includes a 1 st port 3a leading to the compressed air source 11 and a 2 nd port 3b leading to a gas supply/discharge passage 21 formed in the transfer passage 20, and the two-way valve 3 is switchable between a communication position R where the 1 st port 3a and the 2 nd port 3b are brought into a communication state and a blocking position L where the 1 st port 3a and the 2 nd port 3b are brought into a non-communication state, which is a non-communication position. Further, as will be described later, the switching valve further includes a 3 rd port that opens into the atmosphere, and is a three-port switching valve that can be switched between a communication position where the 1 st port and the 2 nd port communicate with each other and an atmosphere open position that is a non-communication position where the 2 nd port and the 3 rd port communicate with each other, so that the pressure drop of the compressed air is accelerated, and the responsiveness of the compressed air injection is improved.

Further, since the parts feeder 2 uses the gas injection mechanism 1 of the present embodiment to inject compressed air to the defective workpiece W ' conveyed along the conveyance path 20, thereby removing the defective workpiece W ' from the conveyance path 20 or inverting the defective workpiece W ' on the conveyance path 20 to change the posture, it is possible to finely adjust the flow rate and pressure of the injected compressed air using one two-way valve 3, with reproducibility to the same setting, to accurately manage the flow rate and pressure of the injected compressed air, and in the case of coping with a plurality of types, it is not necessary to change the two-way valve 3 to a different setting every time the type of the conveyed workpiece W is changed, thereby preventing a reduction in work efficiency.

While the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment. Hereinafter, the same portions as those of the above-described configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the above-described configuration, and the description thereof is omitted.

For example, although the parameter different for each type of workpiece W is output from the upper controller 4 in the present embodiment, the type data of the conveyed workpiece W may be output from the upper controller 4 (only the type is designated by the upper controller 4) as shown in fig. 3. In this case, it is conceivable that the image processing apparatus 6 includes a parameter setting unit 66 in which a parameter suitable for each item data is stored, and the parameter suitable for the item data output from the upper controller 4 is output to the piezoelectric valve driver 5 via the driver setting unit 64 by the parameter setting unit 66. In this configuration, the image processing apparatus 6 constitutes a parameter output unit.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the parameter is output from the upper controller 4, and may be configured as follows, as shown in fig. 4: this configuration enables the data relating to the type of the workpiece W to be conveyed to be manually input (panel input) from the setting input unit 52 provided as an input unit in the piezoelectric valve actuator 5, parameters suitable for each type to be generated from the data input to the setting input unit 52, and the applied voltage or the like to be set by the applied voltage setting unit 53. In this configuration, the piezoelectric valve driver 5 constitutes a parameter output means. In addition, the camera 65 and the image processing apparatus 6 may be replaced with a sensor 67 and a sensor amplifier 68 with a determination function. In the configuration shown in fig. 4, the workpiece W is detected by the sensor 67, the removal inversion command is output to the command input unit 54 by the sense amplifier 68 serving as timing acquisition means for obtaining the timing at which the defective workpiece W' reaches the processing position P based on the detection result of the sensor 67, and the applied voltage set by the applied voltage setting unit 53 is applied to the two-way valve 3 every time the removal inversion command is input to the command input unit 54.

In this way, the gas injection mechanism 1 is applied to the part feeder 2 that injects compressed air to the defective workpiece W 'conveyed along the conveyance path 20 at the predetermined processing position P, and the gas injection mechanism 1 is configured to have the sense amplifier 68 as the timing acquisition means for obtaining the timing at which the defective workpiece W' reaches the processing position P, and the piezoelectric valve driver 5 as the parameter output means has the setting input portion 52 as the input portion into which data relating to the kind of the conveyed workpiece W can be input, and the piezoelectric valve driver 5 generates and outputs the parameter based on the data input to the setting input portion 52, and the piezoelectric valve driver 5 applies the voltage corresponding to the parameter to the two-way valve 3 at the timing obtained by the sense amplifier 68, so that the opening and closing amount of the two-way valve 3 can be proportionally controlled based on the data input to the setting input portion 52, and compressed air having a flow rate and a pressure suitable for the type of the workpiece W can be ejected to the defective workpiece W' at an appropriate timing by the piezoelectric valve actuator 5.

In the configuration shown in fig. 4, a sense amplifier having no determination function and a programmable controller may be used instead of the sense amplifier 68 having the determination function.

In the above-described embodiment, the two-way valve 3 is used as the switching valve included in the flow rate adjusting means 3A, but a three-way valve 7 as shown in fig. 5 may be used. Alternatively, more than four ports may be used.

The three-way valve 7 includes a 1 st port 7a leading to a 2 nd gas piping path 13b, which is an outlet of the regulator 12, a 2 nd port 7b leading to a 3 rd gas piping path 13c, which is a gas supply/discharge passage 21 of the parts feeder 2, and a 3 rd port 7c leading to an atmospheric region. The three-way valve 7 is configured to be switchable between a communication position R shown in fig. 5 (b) and an atmosphere opening position N as a non-communication position shown in fig. 5 (a), and when the electrical input unit 32 is energized, the three-way valve 7 is switched to the communication position R by causing the 1 st port 7a and the 2 nd port 7b to communicate with each other through the switching unit 73 of the operation unit 70, and when the electrical input unit 32 is not energized, the three-way valve 7 is switched to the atmosphere opening position N by causing the 2 nd port 7b and the 3 rd port 7c to communicate with each other through the switching unit 71 of the operation unit 70 and causing the 1 st port 7a and the 2 nd port 7b to be in a non-communication state.

In the atmosphere open position N shown in fig. 5 (a), the compressed air supplied from the regulator 12 to the three-way valve 7 is blocked near the 1 st port 7a, and the 2 nd port 7b is open to the atmosphere. On the other hand, in the communication position R shown in fig. 5 (b), the compressed air supplied from the regulator 12 is input from the 1 st port 7a and output from the 2 nd port 7b via the switching portion 73, and is supplied to the gas supply/discharge passage 21. Thereby, the compressed air is injected from the gas supply and discharge passage 21 toward the processing position P.

When the energization of the electrical input unit 32 is stopped, the operation unit 70 is displaced toward the original position and returns to the atmosphere open position N shown in fig. 5 (a), and at this time, the residual pressure in the 3 rd gas piping path 13c is released from the gas supply/discharge passage 21 to the atmosphere and is released from the 2 nd port 7b of the three-way valve 7 to the atmosphere through the 3 rd port 7c via the switching unit 71. Therefore, immediately after the three-way valve 7 is returned from the communication position R shown in fig. 5 (b) to the atmosphere open position N shown in fig. 5 (a), the excess pressure in the 3 rd gas piping path 13c between the three-way valve 7 and the gas supply/discharge passage 21 of the parts feeder 2 is appropriately released to the atmosphere from both sides of the gas supply/discharge passage 21 and the three-way valve 7, and therefore the pressure of the compressed air can be rapidly decreased.

In this way, the switching valve is a three-way valve 7 having at least three ports including at least a 1 st port 7a leading to the compressed air source 11, a 2 nd port 7b leading to the gas supply/discharge passage 21 formed in the transfer passage 20, and a 3 rd port 7c leading to the atmosphere region, and the three-way valve 7 is switchable between a communication position R where the 1 st port 7a and the 2 nd port 7b communicate with each other and an atmosphere open position N which is a non-communication position where the 2 nd port 7b and the 3 rd port 7c communicate with each other and the 1 st port 7a and the 2 nd port 7b are in a non-communication state, so that the residual pressure in the 3 rd gas piping passage 13c after injection is released from the gas supply/discharge passage 21 to the atmosphere and is released from the 2 nd port 7b of the three-way valve 7 to the atmosphere via the switching portion 71 from the 3 rd port 7c, and the exhaust after injection can be performed from both the gas supply/discharge passage 21 and the three-way valve 7, the pressure drop of the compressed air injection can be accelerated, and the responsiveness of the compressed air pressure can be further improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the normally closed three-way valve 7 that is open to the atmosphere when the electrical input unit 32 is not energized is used, but the normally open three-way valve 7 that is closed when the electrical input unit 32 is not energized may be used. Switching between the normally open state and the normally closed state is performed by an applied voltage setting unit 53 shown in fig. 4 and the like.

In the above embodiment, the parameter different for each kind of workpiece W is output from the upper controller 4, but the parameter different for each kind and each batch may be output from the upper controller 4. Even if the workpieces W are of the same type, the shapes and surface roughness thereof are slightly different for each lot, and therefore, even if the workpieces W are of the same type, the operation of reversing and the operation of removing differ from each other, and there is a possibility that the alignment capability of the parts feeder 2 is reduced, but the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air to be ejected can be made more appropriate by adopting a configuration capable of outputting different parameters for each type of workpiece W and each lot.

In the above embodiment, instead of the two-way valve 3 or the three-way valve 7, a proportional valve 75 as a switching valve and a high-speed electromagnetic valve 76 connected to the proportional valve 75 via a gas piping path 13d as shown in fig. 6 may be used. That is, the flow rate adjusting means 3B may be constituted by the proportional valve 75 and the solenoid valve 76. In this configuration, the flow rate and pressure of the compressed air output from the proportional valve 75 are digitally managed by proportionally controlling the opening/closing amount of the proportional valve 75 by the current applied to the coil, not shown, of the proportional valve 75 from the solenoid valve driver 5 'as proportional control means basically similar to the configuration of the piezoelectric valve driver 5, and the solenoid valve 76 is opened and closed by the solenoid valve driver 5' at the timing determined by the timing acquisition means to inject the compressed air.

Further, the gas injection mechanism 1 of the present embodiment is applied to the parts feeder 2, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be applied to an appearance inspection machine, a measurement and sorting machine, a tapping machine, and the like.

The other structure of the present invention can be variously modified within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be applied to a gas injection mechanism and a part feeder that can digitally control the flow rate and pressure of compressed air.

Description of the reference numerals

1. A gas injection mechanism; 2. a part feeder; 3. two-way valves (switching valves, piezoelectric valves); 3A, 3B, a flow rate adjusting unit; 4. an upper controller (parameter output unit); 5. a piezoelectric valve driver (a proportional control unit, a parameter output unit); 5', a solenoid valve driver (proportional control unit); 6. an image processing device (time acquisition means, parameter output means); 7. three-way valves (switching valves, piezoelectric valves); 7a, interface 1; 7b, interface 2; 7c, interface 3; 11. a source of compressed air; 20. a conveying path; 21. a gas supply and exhaust passage; 52. a setting input unit (input unit); 68. a sense amplifier (time acquisition means); p, processing position; r, a communication position; l, occlusion position (non-communicating position); n, an atmosphere open position (non-communicating position); w, workpiece (ejection target); w', and defective work pieces.

Claims

1. A gas injection mechanism for sequentially injecting compressed air toward a plurality of objects to be injected,

the gas injection mechanism includes:

a flow rate adjusting unit having a switching valve connected to a compressed air source and capable of continuously changing an opening/closing amount;

a parameter output unit for outputting a parameter suitable for the kind of the ejection target; and

and a proportional control unit that sets an applied voltage or an applied current for each of the parameters based on the parameter output from the parameter output unit, and performs electrical proportional control of an opening/closing amount of the switching valve based on the applied voltage or the applied current when a command signal is input to a command input unit.

2. The gas injection mechanism of claim 1,

the switching valve is a piezoelectric valve.

3. A gas injection mechanism according to claim 1 or 2,

the gas injection mechanism is applied to a part feeder for injecting compressed air to a defective workpiece among the workpieces conveyed along a conveying path at a predetermined processing position,

the gas injection mechanism is provided with a time acquisition unit for obtaining the time when the defective workpiece reaches the processing position, and the parameter output unit is configured to output a parameter suitable for the type of the conveyed workpiece,

the proportional control means is configured to apply a voltage corresponding to the parameter to the switching valve at the timing obtained by the timing obtaining means.

4. A gas injection mechanism according to claim 1 or 2,

the gas injection mechanism includes a timing acquisition unit for determining a timing at which a defective workpiece reaches the processing position, and the parameter output unit includes an input unit into which data relating to a type of the workpiece to be conveyed can be input, and generates and outputs the parameter based on the data input to the input unit,

5. A gas injection mechanism according to claim 3,

the switching valve is a switching valve having two or more ports, and includes at least a 1 st port leading to a compressed air source and a 2 nd port leading to a gas supply/discharge passage formed in the transfer path, and is switchable between a communication position at which the 1 st port and the 2 nd port are brought into a communication state and a non-communication position at which the 1 st port and the 2 nd port are brought into a non-communication state.

6. The gas injection mechanism of claim 4,

7. A parts feeder, characterized in that,

the parts feeder is configured to remove a defective work from a conveyance path by jetting compressed air to the defective work conveyed along the conveyance path or to change a posture of the defective work by turning the defective work on the conveyance path by using the gas jetting mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6.