JP2001048343A - Workpiece conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a workpiece conveyor that conveys workpieces with reliability. SOLUTION: The workpiece conveyor feeds workpieces kept in a parts feeder 1 to a conveying path 41 in a workpiece conveying section 40, and conveys them as they are retained by feed teeth 48a and 48b of a feed piece 48 disposed in the workpiece conveying section 40 so as to move back and force for feeding in the direction of travel of the workpieces and back and force in the direction perpendicular to the workpiece travel direction. A pair of shutters 211 and 212 is disposed at an interval in between corresponding to the size of the workpieces and in face of the conveying path 41 of the workpiece conveying section 40. Alternate access of the shutters 211 and 212 to the conveying path 41 regulates the travel of the workpieces on the conveying path 41 between both shutters 211 and 212 one by one to ensure one-by-one feeding of the workpieces to the feed claws 48a and 48b of the feed slide 48. Even upon an excess of the rate of the parts feeder 1 over the rate of the workpiece conveying section 40, the workpiece conveying section 40 can maintain reliable one-by-one feeding of the workpieces.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic inspection apparatus for inspecting symbols such as characters imprinted on the surface of a component such as a quartz oscillator sent from a parts feeder as a work. The present invention relates to a work transfer device that transfers a work by a feed piece that reciprocates and moves forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, various types of parts constituting an electronic device have various management data such as a serial number, a part number, and a standard stamped on the surface thereof. Accurately stamping these management data is extremely important data in production management and quality control. Therefore, conventionally, these management data are identified by a visual recognition device that can be identified visually or automatically.

As such a visual recognition device, as shown in FIG. 4, a work 10 (FIG. 5) sent from a parts feeder 1 in which parts are stored is formed by characters printed on the surface thereof. In order to identify the workpiece, the workpiece is transported to the transport path 41 of the workpiece transport device 100 constituting the inspection station. The parts feeder 1 is configured to move the work 10 to the work transfer unit 40 via the linear feeder unit 2 formed of a straight transfer rail in a fixed time. To stop,
A shutter mechanism 20 for introducing the workpieces to the work transporting section 40 one by one by a later-described feed piece 48 is provided.

[0004] The shutter mechanism 20 includes a parts feeder 1.
The transport path 41 is closed by the shutter 21 until the workpiece 10 supplied from the printer is sent to the start point of the transport path 41. A workpiece detection sensor 22 detects that the workpiece 10 has been sent to the shutter 21. Details of the shutter mechanism 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0005] The shutter mechanism 20 is fixed to a support plate 23 provided in the vicinity of the transport path 41 and supports a shutter 21 so as to be able to reciprocate perpendicularly to the transport path 41, and a linear guide 24. A shutter fixing member 26 fixed to the slider 25 and screwed with the shutter 21 on the upper portion, and a shutter cam 2 mounted on a cam shaft 27 rotatably provided on the support plate 23.
8 (FIG. 5) and the substantially central portion of the belt-shaped member
A rotatable shaft 2 is rotatably supported via a shaft 33, and one end of the band-shaped member is formed in the lower end of the shutter fixing member 26.
9 is engaged via the roller 30 and the roller 31 provided at the other end is engaged with the vertical cam groove 34 of the shutter cam 28 to follow the shutter cam 28 to reciprocate the shutter 21. And an arm 32 to be moved.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a work transfer unit (FIG. 4), which is a motor 42 serving as a power source of the entire work transfer unit 40.
, A clutch brake 44 for transmitting rotation and stop of the motor 42 via a belt 43, a cam shaft 46 connected to the clutch brake 44 via a belt 45, and a work transport mechanism 47 described in detail below. It is configured.

The work transfer mechanism 47 has a feed piece 48 having a comb-shaped tip, and an X-Y slide fixed in the X-Y direction shown in FIG. A forward / backward movement mechanism 51 including a Y table 49 and a cam follower for moving the XY table 49 forward / backward (Y direction) in the direction of the transport path 41 following the vertical groove cam 50 provided on the cam shaft 46.
And a feed-back mechanism 53 including a cam follower for performing a feed-back operation (X direction) of the XY table 49 following the lateral groove cam 52. Further, the rotation of the cam shaft 46 is configured to be transmitted to the cam shaft 27 of the shutter mechanism 20 via the belts 54 and 55.

Further, when the work detecting sensor 22 detects the work 10, the clutch 44 is connected and the rotation of the motor 42, which is constantly rotating, is transmitted, and the whole work transfer section 40 starts operating. Have been. The parts feeder 1 and the work transfer unit 40 each have a speed adjusting unit (not shown), and can control the transfer speed of the work 10 independently. By adjusting these speed setting knobs, both speeds are adjusted to match.

When the workpiece 10 reaches the starting point of the transport path 41 of the workpiece transport section 40 through the linear feeder section 2,
Shutter 2 blocking transport path 41 as an initial position
1 and the conveyance is stopped. At this time, the feed piece 48 having a comb-like tip moves forward in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction (X direction) of the work 10, and the work 10 is fitted between the feed claw 48a and the adjacent feed claw 48b. . Next, the feed piece 48 is moved in the direction of movement of the work 10 by the feed claw 48b.
, Then retreat, and then return by the feed claw 48b. In this way, the feed piece 48 performs a substantially rectangular motion, and feeds the workpiece 10 one by one at the feed claw 489a and the feed claw 48b.
And transported one after another.

While the workpiece 10 is being transported along the transport path 41, the characters stamped on the surface of the workpiece 10 are imaged by a camera 60 provided below the transport path 41, and
The image is displayed on a V monitor (not shown), and the image is subjected to image recognition processing to determine a non-defective / defective product, and is conveyed to the conveyance path 55 in the next inspection stage. The shutter 21 retreats when the feed piece 48 holds the work 10, and moves forward and returns when the feed piece 48 moves by the width of the feed claw 48b.

[0011]

As described above, each work 1
In the case of 0, the delivery between the parts feeder 1 and the work transfer unit 40 is regulated by the shutter 21. However, the transfer speed of the parts feeder 1 and the work transfer unit 40 is shifted, and the speed of the parts feeder 1 is reduced to the speed of the work transfer unit 40. Is exceeded, the shutter 21 is operated by the motor 42 which is the power source of the entire work transfer unit 40.
The operation speed of 0 also becomes slow, and the opening and closing operation of the shutter 21 becomes slow. For this reason, a plurality of works 10 may be simultaneously transported while the shutter 21 is open.

As described above, the workpiece 10 is carried one by one between the feed claw 48a and the feed claw 48b of the feed piece 48 by the feed return operation and the forward / backward movement of the feed piece 48 as described above. When a plurality of works 10 are simultaneously conveyed, the work 10
Collides with the feed claw 48a and is damaged by the impact force.

The present invention has been made for the purpose of eliminating the above-mentioned conventional problems. Even when the speed of the parts feeder 1 exceeds the speed of the work transfer section 40, the works 10 are separated one by one. The object of the present invention is to provide a work transfer device that can be reliably transferred by the transfer unit 40.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a work transfer apparatus for sending a work stored in a parts feeder having a linear feeder to a transfer path of a work transfer section via the linear feeder. A workpiece transfer device that is provided in the unit and that feeds and returns the workpiece in the traveling direction of the workpiece and that moves the workpiece forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the workpiece and holds and transports the workpiece to a feed claw of the transport piece; A support member provided to face the transport path of the unit, a pair of shutter cams pivotally supported by the support member and rotationally driven by a drive motor of the work transport unit, and orthogonal to the transport path of the work transport unit. And a pair of shutters provided at an interval according to the size of the work, and a work provided on the transfer path between the two shutters below the transfer path. , A linear guide fixed to the support member and provided with these shutters to enter and exit the conveyance path, and a cam follower connecting the pair of shutters and the pair of shutter cams respectively. In the initial state, the sensor detects that the shutter downstream of the transport path is located in the transport path and the upstream shutter is outside the transport path, and that the work exists in the transport path between the two shutters. The state of both shutters is reversed, and the state of both shutters is restored when there is no more work in the transport path between the two shutters.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a work transfer device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a shutter mechanism constituting the work transfer device according to the present invention, and FIG.
Is a right side view thereof. Note that the same components as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same names and the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a parts feeder, 2 denotes a linear feeder unit, 200 denotes a shutter mechanism which is a feature of the present invention, 40 denotes a work transporting unit, and 60 denotes a TV camera, excluding the shutter mechanism 200. Others are the same as the conventional device. The details of the shutter mechanism 200 constituting the transport device according to the present invention will be described below. Reference numeral 230 denotes a support plate which is a support member provided to face the transfer path 41 of the work transfer unit 40.
A camshaft 270 is rotatably mounted below the cam 2, and a pair of disc-shaped shutter cams 2 sandwich the support plate 230.
81 and 282 are mounted on the camshaft 270. Circumferential field cam grooves 341 and 342 eccentric to the cam shaft 270 in directions opposite to each other are formed in the shutter cams 281 and 282.

A pulley 27 is attached to an arbitrary end of the camshaft 270.
1 is mounted, and a belt 55 for transmitting the rotation of the drive motor 42 of the work transport unit 40 is mounted thereon, whereby the shutter cams 281 and 282 are rotationally driven. On the other hand, a pair of linear guides 241 and 242 slidable in a direction orthogonal to the transport path 41 of the work transport unit 40 are mounted on the upper end of the support plate 230 with the support plate 230 interposed therebetween. 251 and 252 include a shutter fixing member 26;
1 and 262 are fixed with screws or the like.

Further, the shutter fixing members 261 and 2
A pair of shutters 211 and 212 are fixed to the upper end of the conveyance path orthogonally to the conveyance path 41 with screws or the like, respectively, and these shutters 211 and 212 are moved in accordance with the reciprocation of the shutter fixing members 261 and 262. 41. 321 and 3
Reference numeral 22 denotes a pair of arms, each of which has a substantially central portion of the belt-like member rotatably mounted on a shaft 330 implanted in the support plate 230, and rollers 301 and 302 serving as cam followers rotate at the upper ends of these arms 321 and 322. The rollers 301 and 302 are freely provided, and are accommodated in long holes 291 and 292 formed in the lower ends of the shutter fixing members 261 and 262, respectively.

At the lower ends of the arms 321 and 322, rollers 311 and 312, which are also cam followers, are rotatably provided, and these rollers 311 and 312 are engaged with the cam grooves 341 and 342 of the shutter cams 281 and 282, respectively. (This engagement state is the same as in FIG. 5). Therefore, when the shutter cams 281 and 282 rotate, the rollers 311 and 312 engaged with the cam grooves 341 and 342 are disengaged from the cam grooves 341 and 342.
The arms 321 and 322 tilt alternately, and the shutter fixing members 261 and 262 alternately reciprocate in the direction of the transport path 41 via the upper rollers 301 and 302. Accordingly, the shutters 211 and 212 provided on the shutter fixing members 261 and 262 also reciprocate, and enter and exit the transport path 41 alternately. Reference numeral 220 (FIG. 1) is provided below the transport path 41 between the first and second shutters 211 and 212, and detects whether the work 10 exists on the transport path 41 between the two shutters 211 and 212. Type sensor.

Next, the operation will be described. In the initial state, the first shutter 211 located downstream of the transport path 41 is located inside the transport path, and the second shutter 212 located upstream of the transport path 41 is outside the transport path. Now, when the work 10 supplied from the parts feeder 1 reaches the first shutter 211, the work 10 is detected by the detection sensor 220. Then, the clutch 44 is connected, and the rotation of the motor 42 is transmitted to the camshaft 46 via the belt 43, the clutch / brake 44, and the belt 45 to rotate the camshaft 46, and this rotation is further performed on the belt 54 and the belt 55. Is transmitted to the camshaft 270 of the shutter cam mechanism 200 via the shutter cam 270, the shutter cams 281 and 282 rotate, and the first shutter 211 closing the transport path 41 is opened (exiting from the transport path 41). At the same time, the second shutter 212 enters the transport path 41 and closes the transport path 41.

At this time, since the cam shaft 46 is rotating at the same time, the vertical groove cam 50 provided on the cam shaft 46 rotates, and the forward and backward movement is transmitted through the forward and backward movement transmitting mechanism 51 to the XY table. The feed piece 48 is moved forward and backward. Therefore, at the same time that the second shutter 212 closes the transport path 41, the feed piece 48 advances and the work 10 is fitted between the feed claw 48a and the feed claw 48b of the feed piece 48.

When the lateral groove cam 52 rotates with the rotation of the cam shaft 46, the feed operation by this rotation is transmitted to the X table of the XY table 49 via the cam follower 53 of the lateral groove cam 52, and the X table is rotated. Is fed in the transport direction of the workpiece 10 (X direction). At this time, even if the X table moves in the feed direction, the rail 51a fixed to the X table also moves together with the X table, and the forward / backward movement transmitting mechanism 51 does not perform the feed back operation.

When the work 10 is fed by one frame of the feed piece 48 in this manner, the feed piece 48 is retracted by the vertical groove cam 50, and then is returned by the horizontal groove cam 52, whereby one of the feed pieces 48 is moved. When the cycle is completed, the shutter mechanism 200 operates, the first shutter 211 closes the transport path 41, and the second shutter 212 opens the transport path 41, so that a new workpiece supplied from the parts feeder 1 is opened. 10 is conveyed to the first shutter 211 and stopped.

In this way, the workpiece 10 is successively transported by the feeder piece 48, and the characters stamped on the surface of the workpiece 10 are successively imaged by the camera 60 arranged in the middle of the transport path 41, and the image is recognized. Processing is performed to determine good / defective products.

In the above embodiment, the work transfer section 40 is disposed horizontally with respect to the transfer path 41.
May be arranged vertically on the lower surface of the transport path 41, and the feed claws 48a and 48b of the feed piece 48 may enter and exit the slit provided on the bottom surface of the transport path 41 from below to transport the work 10.

[0026]

According to the present invention, a work to be conveyed along a conveyance path is held by a feed claw of a feed piece which moves back and forth in the direction of movement of the work and moves forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the work. In a work transfer mechanism for transferring the work, a pair of shutters are provided at intervals according to the work size so as to face the transfer path of the work transfer section, and the two shutters are alternately moved in and out of the transfer path. Since the number of works existing on the transport path is restricted to one, it is possible to reliably supply the works one by one to the feed claw of the feed piece. Therefore, even when the speed of the parts feeder exceeds the speed of the work transfer section, the works can be transferred one by one by the work transfer section without fail. Therefore, a plurality of workpieces are not conveyed at the same time,
The workpiece does not collide with the feed claw during the forward movement of the feed piece, and is not damaged by the impact force.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a work transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing one embodiment of a shutter mechanism constituting the work transfer device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of a shutter mechanism in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional work transfer device.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a conventional shutter mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 parts feeder 10 work 40 work transfer section 41 transfer path 48 feeder piece 48 a, 48 b feed claw 47 work transfer mechanism 200 shutter mechanism 211 first shutter 212 second shutter 220 detection sensor 230 support plate 241, 242 linear guide 261, 262 Shutter fixing member 271 Pulley 281 First shutter cam 282 Second shutter cam 321 First cam follower 322 Second cam follower

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A work stored in a parts feeder having a linear feeder is sent out to a transfer path of a work transfer unit via the linear feeder, and the work is provided in the work transfer unit and sent back in the traveling direction of the work. In a work transfer device that holds and transfers a work to a feed claw of a feed piece that moves forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the work, a support member provided to face a transfer path of the work transfer unit. A pair of shutter cams pivotally supported by the support member and rotationally driven by a drive motor of the work transfer unit;
A pair of shutters provided orthogonally to the transfer path of the work transfer unit and provided at intervals according to the work size,
A sensor provided below the conveyance path between the two shutters and detecting that the work is present on the conveyance path, and a linear guide fixed to the support member and provided with these shutters to enter and exit the conveyance path. A cam follower for connecting the pair of shutters and the pair of shutter cams, respectively.In the initial state, the shutter downstream of the transport path is located in the transport path and the upstream shutter is outside the transport path, A work characterized in that the presence of a work in the transport path between the shutters is detected by the sensor, the state of both shutters is reversed, and the state of both shutters is restored when there is no work in the transport path between the two shutters. Transport device.