GB2365857A

GB2365857A - Dispensing apparatus with agitating member rotating about axis of discharge chute

Info

Publication number: GB2365857A
Application number: GB0113939A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tsuyoshi Mori
Original assignee: Alps Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-30
Filing date: 2001-06-08
Publication date: 2002-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-08
Also published as: GB2365857B; CN1192700C; KR20020002302A; CN1336794A; KR100406899B1; GB0113939D0

Abstract

A dispenser suitable for dispensing chip components comprises a reservoir portion 1a such as a hopper, and a discharge chute 3c at the bottom of the reservoir portion 1a through which chips may fall by gravity. An agitating member 5 is provided at the bottom of the reservoir 1a and is partly exposed to the reservoir 1a. It is arranged to rotate about the axis of the discharge chute 3c and thus agitate components in the reservoir 1a. The agitating member 5 is preferably tapered upwards from the centre of the chute 3c, and may be rotated by means of airflow or a motor. An air inlet 2e and outlet may be formed between a receiving member 2 and an agitating member 5. A shutter 8 may be provided under the chute 3c and is pneumatically driven to open and close the chute 3c and thus dispense the chip components. The shutter 8 may be constantly urged in one direction by a spring member 9, and moved in the opposite direction by a change in air pressure to dispense the chip components one by one.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CHIP COMPONENTS The present invention relates to a chip component feeding apparatus using for chip component mounting apparatus for mounting chip components on printed circuit boards.

A chip component feeding apparatus of the related art is disclosed in commonly assigned Japanese Patent Application No. 8-35505. As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, this apparatus comprises: a hopper R2 discharging reserved chip components C; conveyer means Z for conveying discharged chip components; mounting means Y for mounting the hopper H2 on the conveyer means Z and mounting the conveyer means Z on a chip component mounting apparatus; and driving means W.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 showing the hopper H2 included in the chip component feeding apparatus, the hopper H2 comprises a reserving mean 31, which has at its bottom a chute 31a through which the chip components C fall down one by one and a reserving portion 31b for reserving chip components C. The hopper H2 comprises an agitating member 32 mounted at the reserving means 31 to agitates the chip components C. The hopper H2 comprises a pedestal 37 which is provided under the reserving means 31 and which has a

component outlet 37a through which the chip components fall down so as to align with the chute 31a. The hopper also comprises a shutter means 38 enabling the component outlet 37a, which is the passage of the chip components, to be open selectively.

The agitating means 32 includes two rotor plates 33 and 34 which are circular and juxtaposed each other and springs 35. The rotor plates 33 and 34 respectively have agitating projections 33a and 34a projectingly provided on the periphery thereof, driven levers 33b and 34b provided at the periphery thereof, and arc holes 33c and 34c provided so as to face each other. The rotor plates 33 and 34 also have a groove provided between the agitating projections 33a and 34a, through which the chip components C fall down one by one.

The springs 35 loaded in the arcuate holes 33c and 34c and the two rotor plates 33 and 34 are mounted on the reserving means 31 by means of a shaft 36 so as to be separately rotatable. The agitating means 32 is provided so as to rotate about the axis of the shaft 36 which is perpendicular to the axis of chute 31a, wherein the driven levers 33b and 34b widely project from the reserving means 31 and the groove is located along with the chute 31a. In the Fig. 6, when the driven levers 33b and 34b are pushed toward the direction A, the rotor plates 33 and 34 rotate so as to be out of phase at set angle to agitate chip components C.

The shutter means includes a hole 39a allowing the chip components'to fall down one by one and a spring 40 constantly urging the shutter 39. The shutter 39 is movably provided at a pedestal with the spring 40. Before the hopper H2 is mounted on a conveyor means, the spring 40, as shown in Fig. 6, presses the shutter 39 toward the left of Fig. 6, so that the hole 39a is out of alignment with the component outlet 37a and the shutter closes the component outlet 37a.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the conveyor means includes a base table 42 in which the conveying member 41 such as a belt is provided, and a guide member 43 for guiding the chip components C. The conveyor means also includes a mount table 44 having a channel 44a for leading the chip components C, on which the hopper H is mounted. The mounting means Y, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, includes a hand lever 45 and a lever-linking mechanism such as a securing lever 46. The mounting means Y is mounted on the conveyor means Z to be integrated therewith. The driving means W, as shown in Fig. 8, has a lever-linking mechanism including the first lever 47 and the second lever 48, for driving the agitating means 32. The driving means is mounted on the conveyor means to be integrated therewith.

The hopper H2 can be detachably mounted on the mounted table 44. Once the hopper H2 is mounted on the mounted table 44 with a rotary lever 49, the rotary lever 49 presses the shutter 39, such that the hole 39a aligns with-the

component outlet 37a to allow the chip components C to fall down therethrough, as shown in Fig. 9. At this point, as shown in Fig. 8, the first lever 47 presses the driven levers 33b and 34b of the agitating member 32, so that and the rotor plates 33 and 34 have been rotated predetermined angles. A chip component mounting apparatus V includes a bed 50 on which the chip component feeding apparatus is mounted, a pick-up means 51 for picking up the chip components C, and a driving source 52 such as a rod. The base table 42 is mounted on the bed 50. The hand lever 45 of the mounting means Y is handled counterclockwise so that the securing lever 46 hitching to the bed 50 is secured. Thus, the chip component feeding apparatus is mounted on the chip component mounting apparatus V.

When the chip component feeding apparatus is removed from the chip component mounting apparatus V, handling the hand lever 45 clockwise in the condition shown in Figs. 8 and 9 allows the securing lever 46 to be unsecured and unhitched. With the chip component feeding apparatus mounted on the chip component mounting apparatus, as shown in Fig. 8, the pick-up means 51 is positioned near the end of the conveyor means Z and the driving source 52 is located on the first lever 47. The operation of the chip component feeding apparatus and the chip component mounting apparatus V is as follows. When an electrical signal is transmitted to the chip component mounting apparatus V, the driving source 52

moves up and down, so that the first lever 47 rotates clockwise and counterclockwise repeatedly.

Then, the first lever 47 periodically presses the rotor plates 33 and 34 so that the plates rotate out of synch to agitate the chip components C. The agitated chip components C f all down to the guide member 43 by gravity, through the groove 32, the chute 31a, the hole 39a of the shutter 39, component outlet 37a, and channel 44a in turn.

The reciprocation of the second lever, which is caused by vertical movement of the driving source 52, lets a rotor 41a of the conveyor means intermittently rotate, so that the belt 41b moves toward the direction of the arrow B to convey the chip components C along the guide member 43 guiding.

Then, the chip component C conveyed to the distal end of the conveyor means 41 is picked up by the pick-up means 51 and is moved to a certain position on a printed circuit board. In this way, the chip components C is discharged from the chip component feeding apparatus and is conveyed by the chip component mounting apparatus.

In this chip component feeding apparatus of the related art, the agitating means 32 for agitating the chip components C requires two rotor plates 33 and 34 and the spring 35, and thus leads a increased number of parts. This apparatus therefore is not easy to be assembled and costs more.

This chip component feeding apparatus has another problem that it is not suitable for speeding up, because

agitating the chip components C by the rotation of the pair of rotor plates 33 and 34 which has the groove 32a does not allow the chip components to align well and leads them to less fall dawn from the groove 32a.

Also, driving the agitating means 32 with the driving means W leads the apparatus to require more parts and to be larger as well as to increase the cost because of the worse productivity.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a downsized apparatus for feeding chip components which comprises fewer parts and leads better productivity, and also which is cheaper and suitable to speed up processes. To this end, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for feeding chip components. The apparatus comprises a reserving means including a reserving portion for reserving the chip components. A chute is provided under the bottom of the reserving portion, through which the chip components fall down by gravity. An agitating member is mounted under the bottom of the reserving portion, partly exposed to the bottom, rotating about the axis of the chute. Thus, the agitating member agitates the chip components by the rotation thereof to let the chip components fall down through the chute.

Preferably, a top of the agitating member exposed to

the bottom has a tapered portion diverging f rom the center of the chute toward the upside where the chip components are reserved.

The apparatus may further comprise a supporting member with a tubular portion of which a center has the chute. The agitating member rotates on an outer surface of the tubular portion.

The chute may be provided at a center of the agitating member.

The apparatus may further comprise a receiving member included in the reserving means. The receiving member has at its upper surface a funnel portion diverging from a center of the chute toward the upside where the chip components are reserved.

The reserving member may have a hollow for containing the agitating member and prevents the agitating member from coming out upward.

The agitating member may rotate by means of airflow or a motor.

The apparatus may further comprise a serrate portion provided at an outer surface of the agitating member. Airflow works on the serrate portion to rotate the agitating member.

The apparatus may further comprise an air inlet and outlet formed between the receiving member which has the hollow for containing the agitating member and the supporting member which underlies the receiving member.

The inlet and outlet may be perpendicular to each other. The apparatus may further comprise a shutter enabling the chute to be open and close.

Pursuant to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for feeding chip components. The apparatus comprises a reserving means including a reserving portion for reserving chip components. A chute is provided under the bottom of the reserving portion, through which the chip components fall down by gravity. A shutter is provided under the chute and driven pneumatically so as to open and close the chute.

The apparatus may further comprise a spring member. The shutter is constantly urged by the spring member and is moved as pressure created by supplying air is applied, nullified, or reduced.

Alternatively, the shutter may be constantly urged by the spring member and is moved as vacuum caused by aspirating air is applied, nullified, or reduced.

The apparatus may further comprise a holding member for holding the shutter. The holding member has a housing portion for containing the shutter and A cavity through which air comes in and out.

Preferably, a movable moving body is provided in the cavity so that working of the air is transmitted to the shutter therethrough.

The holding member may have a component outlet out of alignment with the chute. The shutter reciprocates to

convey the chip components one by one, so that the chip components which fell down through the chute is discharged from the component outlet one by one.

The apparatus may further comprise an agitating member provided under a bottom of the reserving portion in such a manner that it partly is exposed to the bottom. The agitating member is pneumatically driven to rotate about an axis of the chute thereby to agitate the chip components.

A top of the agitating member, exposed to the bottom of the reserving member, may have a tapered portion diverging f rom a center of the chute toward the upside where the chip components are reserved.

The apparatus may further comprise a receiving member included in the reserving means. The reserving means has at its upper surface a funnel portion which diverges from a center of the chute toward the upside where chip components are reserved.

The agitating member may have a serrate portion on an outer surface thereof. Airflow works on the serrate portion to rotate the agitating member.

An embodiment of the present invention, will now be described by way of example,only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a hopper, according to an apparatus for feeding chip components in the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the hopper, showing an agitation member, according to the apparatus for

feeding chip components in the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a composition of a critical portion of the agitation member, according to the apparatus for feeding chip components in the present invention; Fig, 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a composition of a moving body of the hopper, according to the apparatus for feeding chip components in the present invention; Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view taken substantially along the line V-V in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional front view of the hopper according to a conventional chip component feeding apparatus; Fig. 7 is an oblique perspective view of the agitating member of the hopper according to the conventional chip component feeding apparatus; . Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view of the conventional chip component feeding apparatus; Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the critical portion of the conventional chip component feeding apparatus.

Figs. 1 to 5 explain a composition of a hopper Hl comprising a chip component feeding apparatus in the present invention. A container 1 molded from a synthetic resin is formed a box shape and has: a reserving portion la reserving chip components C; an opening lb located at the bottom of the hopper; and a fixing portion 1c set around the opening lb.

A receiving member 2 made of a metallic material or the like has: a hollow portion 2a passing through the receiving member vertically; an abutment portion 2b located at the top of the hollow portion 2a and having an inside diameter smaller than that of the hollow portion 2a; a funnel portion 2c located at the upper surface of the receiving member 2, which gradually slopes up from the center of the hollow portion 2a; a mating fixing portion 2d located at the top; an air inlet 2e, forming a hollow located at the bottom in communication with the hollow portion 2a; and an air outlet 2f which makes a right angle with the inlet 2e and forms a hollow communicating at the undersurface with the hollow

portion 2a.

As the opening lb faces the funnel portion 2c, the container 1 is set to the receiving member 2 by using appropriate means, the fixing portion lc fitting to the mating fixing portion 2d.

The container I may be fixed to the receiving portion 2 so as to be easily detachable or be bonded to the receiving portion 2. Chip components C are supplied from a hole for supplying the chip components C. The container I and the receiving member 2 are comprised in a reserving means S. Also, the reserving portion la and the funnel portion 2c comprise a receiving portion S1, of which the bottom has the hollow portion 2a.

A supporting member 3 made of a metal material or the like has: a plate portion 3a; a cylinder portion 3b which projects f rom the plate portion 3a and has a step in the upper section; a chute 3c extending through the center of the cylinder portion 3b; and a hole 3d provided at the plate 3a close to the cylinder portion 3b. With the cylinder portion 3b located in the hollow portion 2a, the bottom of the receiving member 2 is superposed on the plate 3a, and then the supporting member 3 is fixed by a plurality of countersunk screws 4.

In this state, the cylinder portion 3b is positioned under the bottom of the reserving portion S1 so that chip components C can fall down by gravity. At the same time, the undersurfaces sides of the hollow portion 2a, inlet 2e,

and outlet 2f which are under openness in the receiving member are covered with the supporting member 2. Also, the hole 3d aligns with the inlet 2e.

As specifically shown in Fig. 3, a cylinder-shaped agitating member 5 made of a metal material or the like.has: a flanged circular hole 5a provided at the center thereof; a step 5b; a large diameter portion 5c and small diameter portion 5d which are formed by the step 5b; a serrate portion 5e which is located on the outer surface of the small diameter portion and works as vanes; and a tapered portion 5f which gradually slops up from the center of the hole 5a at the top of the small diameter portion 5d.

The agitating member 5 is contained in the hollow portion 2a of the receiving member. With the cylinder portion 3b inserted into the hole 5a, the agitating member 5 is mounted so as to rotate about the axis of the chute 3c by the cylinder portion 3b or the wall of the hollow portion 2a guiding. At the same time, the abutment 2b prevents the agitating member 5 from coming out.

When the agitating member is set, the tapered portion 5f is located out of the bottom of the reserving portion Sl and gradually slopes up to the chip component reserving side, corresponding to the funnel portion 2c of the receiving member.

A holding member 6 made of metal has: a base 6a which is tabular; a component outlet 6b which vertically passes through the base 6a; a hole 6c; a projection 6d of which the

center is the hole 6c; a depression 6e which is located at the undersurface side and communicates with the hole 6c; the first housing portion 6f which is a concavity located at the top side of the base 6a; the second housing portion 6g which is another concavity adjoining the first housing portion 6f; a cavity 6h which is shaped into a cylinder hollow communicating with the first housing portion 6f, which is between the second housing portion and the cavity 6h; a hole 6j communicating with the cavity 6h; and depression 6k which is located at the undersurface side and communicates with the hole 6j.

The holding member superposes the supporting member 3 and is fixed by a fixing member 7, consequently uniting with the supporting member 3 and the receiving member 2. When the holding member 6 is set, the component outlet 6b is out of touch with the chute 3c. At the same time, the projection 6d passes through the hole 3d into the inlet 2e, which consequently communicates with the hole 6c.

A shutter 8 which is platy has a hole 8a. for receiving a chip component; large holes, 8b and 8c, located at the both sides of the hole 8a; and arms, 8d and 8e, located at the both ends of the shutter 8. Contained in the first housing portion, the shutter 8 is set with the projection 6d and the fixing member 7 passing through the large holes 8b and 8c respectively. At the same time, an arm 8d is located at the second housing portion and the other arm 8e is located at the first housing portion 6f so that the shutter

8 reciprocates.

A spring member, such as a coiled spring, is set in the second housing portion 6g in order to brace up the arm 8d and push it on the projection 6d, which prevents the shutter 8 from moving to the left (see Fig. 1) . As shown in Fig. 1 the shutter 8 braced up by the spring member 9 usually allows the hole 8a to receive a chip component C which f ell down through the chute 3c after the hole 8a corresponded with the chute 3c. On the other hand, when the shutter 8 moves to the right against the spring member 9, the shutter 8 allows a chip component C to be discharged from the component outlet 6b. At this point, the projection 6d stops the shutter 8 moving to the right.

As shown in Fig. 4, a sealing member 10 is set in the cavity 6h so as to close the opening of the cavity 6h and is fixed to the holding member by a stopper 11. The sealing member 10 allows the cavity 6h to be sealed in order to prevent an air leak.

As shown in especially Fig. 4, a moving body 12 has: a large diameter. portion 12a; a cylinder portion 12b which has a bottom and surrounds the large diameter portion 12a; and a projection 12c, of which the diameter is small, projecting f rom the center of the cylinder. The moving body 12 is mounted in the cavity 6h in a reciprocating manner. The large diameter portion 12a and the projection 12c can contact on and remove from arm 8e and the sealing member 10 respectively.

A spring 13, such as a coiled spring, is set between the holding member 6 and the moving member 12 so as to surround the large diameter portion 12a. The spring 13 always pushes with resilience the moving body 12, so that the projection 12c is pressed on the sealing member 10. The spring 13, consequently, prevents the moving body 12 form jouncing. - In this point, the cavity 6h between the cylinder portion 12b and the sealing member 10 has space for storing air in communication with the hole 6j . Thus, shutter means E comprises the shutter 8, the spring member 9, the moving body 12, and the spring 13.

According to the above composition, a hopper H1 in the present invention is composed. The hopper H1 mounted on transporting means is to comprise a chip component feeding apparatus.

The following explains the behavior of the hopper H1, which is a part of a chip component feeding apparatus in the present invention. When air is sent from the depression 6e of the holding member 6 with chip components C reserved in the reserving portion S1, the air flows to the outlet 2f through the hole 6c, inlet 2e, and the hollow portion.

While the air flows, the moving air strikes the serrate portion 5e and makes the agitating member 5 rotate at high speed on the chute 3c. In this point, the cylinder portion 3b and the wall of the hollow portion 2a work as guides of the agitating member 5. The rotation of the agitating member 5 does not necessarily require drawing a perfect

circle. The tapered portion 5f, which is disclosed at the bottom of the reserving portion S1, also rotates, and consequently chip components C in the neighborhood thereof is stirred and repeatedly turned by the rotation of the tapered portion 5f. As a result, the stirring arranges chip components C lengthwise and leads to a cavitation at the upper center of the bottom of the reserving portion S1. Thus, the chip components C at the center of the bottom falls into the chute 3c in turn at a high speed. A first one falls with its own weight to be placed at the hole Ba of the shutter, the holding member 6 stopping the chip component C from falling. Then, each chip component C failing down is to lie on the other in turn.

This apparatus has air flow controlling means in order to control air flow rate appropriately, though the figures do not describe the controlling means. Depending on the sizes or shapes of the chip components C, the air controlling means controls air flow rate to control the rotation speed of the agitating member 5 so that the chip components C f all into the chute 3 at a high speed.

Following the above, when air flows into the depression 2a of the holding member 6, the air is sent to the cavity 6h through the hole 6j. The air is compressed and the pressure of the air leads the moving body 12 to move against the spring 13 and the spring member 9 and to push the shutter 8 to shift it. As a result, the hole 8a is aligned with the

component outlet 6b, and a chip component placed at the hole 8a is discharged from the component outlet 6b. Then, the discharged chip component C falls down to transporting means to transport.

When the air pressure is released or decreased, the spring member 9 pushes the shutter 8 to shift it and the hole 8a is aligned with the chute 3c to return to the original state. Then, the next standby chip component C falls into the hole 8a, the shutter 8 and spring 13 pressing the moving body 8 to return to the original state. As described the above, the reciprocation of the shutter 8 allows the chip components to be discharged one by one. A chip component feeding apparatus in the present invention leads chip components C to the chute 3c at a high speed by the rotation of the agitating member 5, and the discharges the chip components C one by one by the reciprocation of the shutter 8.

The above embodiment is such that a hopper Hl is detachably put on transferring means, the receiving member2, supporting member3, holding member6, and so on except the container 1 may be fixed on transferring means. Also, the above embodiment explains the chute 3c through which the chip components C fall down is such as to be located at the supporting member 3; however a chute through which the chip components fall down is alternatively located at the agitating member 5.

I addition, the agitating member 5 may be rotated by a

motor which is set in the hopper Hl though the above embodiment explains the agitating member 5 is such as to be rotated by air. Also, the above embodiment explains blowing air provides the rotation of the agitating member 5 and the moving of the shutter 8; however aspirating air may provide them.

Although the above embodiment uses the moving body 12, air may directly work on the shutter without the moving body 12. In he above embodiment, the reciprocation of the shutter 8 allows chip components C to discharge one by one, but alternatively the shutter may be constantly moved by air between the chute 3c and the component outlet 6b which are aligned each other, following conventional ways.

In the chip component feeding apparatus of the present invention, the agitating member 5 is partly exposed to the bottom of the reserving portion S1 so as to be rotatable about axis of the chute 3c, thereby agitating the chip components C and allowing them to fall down through the chute 3c. The agitating member 5 composed of the sole part means that the apparatus is composed.of fewer parts, thereby bringing about the inexpensive apparatus assembled easily.

Also, providing the agitating member 5 under the bottom of the reserving portion S1 allows the apparatus to be downsized because of the good space factor. The agitating member 5 rotates about axis of the chute 3c to agitate the chip components C. The agitation makes the chip components

C substantially arranged lengthwise, creating a cavitation at the upper center of the bottom of the reserving portion Sl. Thus, the invention offers a chip component apparatus suitable for speeding up processes.

In addition, since the tapered portion 5 diverging toward the upside where the chip components are reserved is provided at the upper surface of the agitating member exposed to the bottom of the reserving portion S1, the chip components C is longitudinally arranged well when they are agitated. This allows the chip components C to be fed at higher rate to the chute 3c and offers a chip component feeding apparatus suitable for speeding up processes.

The apparatus also has supporting member 3 with the tubular portion 3b of which the center is -the chute 3c. The agitating member 5 rotates on the periphery of the tubular portion 3b, thereby mounted and maintained easily and rotating stably.

Providing the chute 3c at the center of the agitating member 5 leads the extremely simple composition of the apparatus and high productivity. The apparatus has the receiving member 2 included in the reserving means S. The reserving means S has the funnel portion 2c which is located at the upper surface of the receiving portion 2 and which diverges from the center of the chute 3c toward the upside where the chip components C are reserved. This allows the chip components C to move downwards smoothly and to leads the chip components C to be f ed at higher rate to the chute

3c with the chip components C arranged well at the agitation thereof. As a result, the invention offers a chip component feeding apparatus suitable for speeding up processes.

The receiving member 2 has the hollow portion 2a for containing the agitating member 5. The hollow portion 2a also prevents the agitating member 5 coming out, being in charge of two functions, receiving and retaining the agitating member 5. The invention, therefore, offers an inexpensive and downsized apparatus of which the composition is simple.

Driving the agitating member 5 by means of flowing air or a.motor offers the downsized and less expensive chip component feeding apparatus which has fewer parts and which leads better productivity.

Providing at the periphery of the agitating member 5 the serrate portion 5e on which flowing air works allows the agitating member 5 to rotate effectively and steadily.

The air inlet 2e and outlet 2f are f ormed between the receiving member 2 having the hollow portion 2a f or containing the agitating member and the supporting member on which the receiving member is superimposed. This makes assembling the apparatus easy because the formation of the inlet 2e and outlet 2f is simple.

Arranging the inlet 2e and outlet 2f orthogonally leads the dispersion of their angles less in the production and allows air to flow effectively and rotate the agitating member 5 sufficiently.

Also, providing the shutter so that the chute is selectively open offers the apparatus from which the chip components C do not drop when the hopper Hl is mounted on or removed from the apparatus.

Since he shutter 8 of the apparatus is pneumatically driven to open the chute 3c, the apparatus does not require a conventional rotary lever and a member for rotating the lever, and thus the present invention offers the inexpensive apparatus which includes less parts and leads better productivity.

In addition, using air to drive the shutter 8 helps easily produce the reciprocative shutter. Driving the shutter 8 pneumatically is suitable for applying to the apparatus having the reciprocative shutter 8.

The shutter 8 is constantly urged by the spring member 9 and is moved as pressure created by supplying air is applied, nullified, or reduce. The workings of the air and the spring member 9, therefore, allow the shutter 8 to move steadily and lead the composition of the shutter simple.

Alternatively, the shutter is constantly urged by the spring member 9 and is moved as vacuum caused by aspirating air is applied, nullified, or reduce. Thus, the workings of the air and the spring member 9 allow the shutter 8 to move steadily and lead the composition of the shutter 8 simple.

Since the apparatus includes the holding member 6 for holding the shutter 8, the holding member 6 having the housing portion 6f for containing the shutter 8 and the

cavity 6h through which air comes in and out, the invention offers the simple and inexpensive apparatus.

The movable moving body 12 is provided in the cavity such that the working of the air is transmitted to the shutter therethrough. The moving body 12, therefore, helps decrease the air leak from the cavity 6h to the housing portion 6f, and then the air works effectively.

The holding member 6 has the component outlet 6b out of alignment with the bottom of the chute 3c. The reciprocation of the shutter 8 allows the chip components C to be conveyed one by one, so that the chip components C which fell down through the chute 3c is discharged one by one from the component outlet 6b. This leads the composition simple and allows the apparatus to discharge the chip components C one by one steadily.

The apparatus has under the bottom of the reserving portion S1 the agitating member 5 which is partly exposed to the bottom and which pneumatically rotates about the axis of the chute 3c to agitate the chip components C. The invention therefore offers the more downsized and less expensive apparatus which composed of fewer parts and leads better productivity.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for feeding chip components, comprising: a reserving means including a reserving portion for reserving chip components; a chute provided under the bottom of said reserving portion, through which the chip components fall down by gravity; and an agitating member mounted under the bottom of said reserving portion, partly exposed to said bottom, rotating about the axis of said chute, and thereby agitating the chip components by the rotation thereof to let the chip components fall down through said chute.
2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein a top of said agitating member, exposed to said bottom, has a tapered portion diverging from the center of said chute toward the upside where the chip components are reserved.
3. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a supporting member with a tubular portion of which a center has said chute, said agitating member rotating on an outer surface of said tubular portion.
4. An apparatus according to Claim 1 2 or-.#

<Desc/Clms Page number 25>

wherein said chute is provided in a center of the agitating member.
5. An apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, further comprising a receiving member included in said reserving means, wherein a funnel portion is provided at an upper surface of the reserving member so as to diverge from a center of said chute toward the upside where the chip components are reserved.
6. An apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein said receiving member has a hollow for containing said agitating member and prevents said agitating member from coming out upward.
7. An apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said agitating member rotates by means of airflow or a motor.
8. An apparatus according to Claims 7, wherein a serrate portion is provided at an outer surface of said agitating member and airflow works on said serrate portion to rotate said agitating member.
9. An apparatus according to Claims 7 or Claim 8, wherein an air inlet and outlet are formed between said receiving member which has the hollow for containing

<Desc/Clms Page number 26>

said agitating member and the supporting member which underlies said receiving member.
10. An apparatus according to Claims 9, wherein said inlet and said outlet are perpendicular to each other.
11. An apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 10, further comprising a shutter enabling said chute to be open and close.
12. An apparatus for feeding chip components, comprising: a reserving means including a reserving portion for reserving chip components; a chute provided under the bottom of said reserving portion, through which the chip components fall down by gravity; and a shutter provided under said chute and pneumatically driven to open and close said chute.
13. An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said shutter is constantly urged by a spring member and moved by applying, nullifying, or reducing pressure of supplied air.
14. An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said shutter is constantly urged by a spring member and moved

<Desc/Clms Page number 27>

by applying, nullifying , or reducing vacuum caused by aspirating air.
15. An apparatus according to any of Claims 12 to 14, further comprising a holding member for holding said shutter, wherein the holding member has a housing portion for containing said shutter and a cavity through which air comes in and out.
16. An apparatus according to Claims 15, wherein a movable moving body is provided in said cavity so that working of the air is transmitted to said shutter therethrough.
17. An apparatus according to Claim 15 or 16, wherein said holding member has a component outlet to be out of alignment with said chute, said shutter reciprocating to convey the chip components one by one, so that the chip components which fell down through said chute is discharged from said component outlet one by one.
18. An apparatus according to any of Claims 12 to 17, further comprising an agitating member provided under a bottom of said reserving portion in such a manner that it is partly exposed to said bottom, said agitating member being pneumatically driven to rotate about an axis of said chute, thereby agitating the chip

<Desc/Clms Page number 28>

components.
19. An apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein a top of said agitating member, exposed to said bottom, has a tapered portion diverging from a center of said chute toward the upside where the chip components are reserved.
20. An apparatus according to Claim 18 or Claim 19, further comprising a receiving member included in said reserving means, wherein a funnel portion is provided at an upper surface of the receiving member so as to diverge from a center of said chute toward the upside where the chip components are reserved.
21. An apparatus according to any of Claims 18 to 20, wherein a serrate portion is provided at an outer surface of said agitating member, airflow working on said serrate portion to rotate said agitating member.