JP2001213511A - Device and method for conveying optical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical instrument conveying device capable of conveying an optical instrument while changing the attitude of the optical instrument on a conveyor with a simple structure without using a robot hand and an air cylinder. SOLUTION: This conveying device comprises a first conveyor for conveying the optical instrument, a second conveyor close to a downstream end part of the first conveyor at its upstream end part and having a conveying face at a position lower than the conveying face of the first conveyor to convey the optical instrument, and a rotating member having an upper face at an approximately same height as the conveying face of the first conveyor and mounted close to the downstream end part of the first conveyor at an upper part of the second conveyor, and when the optical instrument is transferred onto the rotating member from the first conveyor, it is dropped while rotated about the rotating member at an angle approximately 90 degrees in the direction approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction, and loaded on the conveying face of the second conveyor with the changed attitude to be conveyed by the second conveyor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical device transport apparatus which transports an optical device by a conveyor and rotates the optical device on the way to change the attitude, and a transport method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a manufacturing process of a film unit with a lens, the film unit with a lens is placed on a conveyor and conveyed to each process.

For example, there is a process of inspecting a label attached to an exterior member. However, since the label is attached to six surfaces of a film unit with a lens, the upper surface faces upward and the bottom surface contacts the conveying surface of the conveyor. If you inspect it with
Five surfaces that are important for appearance can be inspected at a time. However, in the upstream manufacturing process, the sheet is often conveyed in such a manner that the front side of the photographing lens faces upward. Therefore, it is necessary to change the posture before the film unit with the lens is conveyed to the inspection process so that the top surface faces upward.

Further, in order to transfer the film unit with the lens after the inspection to the packaging process, it is necessary to put the film unit with the lens in a transport tray. At this time, the front of the film unit with the lens faces upward. It is desirable to be in a state. Therefore, it is necessary to change the posture in which the upper surface faces upward from the posture in which the front surface faces upward.

[0005]

As described above, in the manufacturing process of the film unit with lens, it is necessary to change the posture of the film unit with lens on the conveyor and convey the film unit. Conventionally, the posture has been changed by grasping a film unit with a lens with a robot hand or pressing down the film unit with a lens with an air cylinder.

However, if a robot hand is used, it is necessary to use a different shape for each film unit with a lens, and if a robot hand or an air cylinder is used, a sensor and a control circuit are required. Or high pressure air needed. As a result, there is a problem that a large facility cost is required.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has a simple configuration without using a robot hand or an air cylinder, and conveys an optical device such as a film unit with a lens on a conveyor while changing the posture thereof. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical device transport device capable of performing the above-described method and a transport method thereof.

[0008]

The above object is achieved by any of the following means.

A first conveyer for conveying the optical equipment; and an upstream end having an upstream end close to a downstream end of the first conveyor and having a transfer surface at a position lower than a transfer surface of the first conveyor. A second conveyor for transporting equipment, and an upper surface formed at substantially the same height as the transport surface of the first conveyor, and disposed above the second conveyor and close to a downstream end of the first conveyor; When the optical device is transferred from the first conveyor onto the rotating member, the optical device is rotated about 90 degrees in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction with the rotating member as a fulcrum. An optical device transport device, wherein the optical device transport device is dropped while rotating at an angle, placed on the transport surface of the second conveyor in a changed posture, and then transported by the second conveyor.

A step of transporting the optical equipment by the first conveyor, and an upper surface formed at substantially the same height as the transport surface of the first conveyor, and arranged near the downstream end of the first conveyor. Transferring the optical device onto a rotating member, and dropping the optical device while rotating the optical device at an angle of approximately 90 degrees in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction with the rotating member as a fulcrum, A step of changing the posture on a transport surface of a second conveyor having a transport surface at a position lower than the transport surface of the first conveyor with the upstream end portion being closer to the downstream end portion, and the mounted optical device Conveying the optical device by the second conveyor.

[0011] A conveyor for placing and transporting the optical equipment on a transport surface, and 30 to 4 above the transport surface of the conveyor.
A rotating member having an inclined surface inclined at an angle of 5 degrees and inclined at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees with respect to the transport direction, and a rotation promoting member disposed near the rotating member; When the device is conveyed by a conveyor, an upper corner of one surface of the optical device orthogonal to the transfer surface and parallel to the transfer direction on the downstream side in the transfer direction abuts on the inclined surface of the rotating member, and the inclined surface The optical device is conveyed while being pressed along, and the rotation promoting member abuts on the lower part of the other surface opposite to the one surface, and gradually the optical device uses the rotation promotion member as a fulcrum, and An optical device transport device, wherein the optical device transport device tilts toward a surface, and is conveyed while the other surface abuts on the transport surface of the conveyor.

A step of placing and transporting the optical equipment on the transport surface of the conveyor;
The inclined surface of the rotating member that is inclined at an angle of 0 to 45 degrees and inclined at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees with respect to the transport direction has one surface orthogonal to the transport surface and parallel to the transport direction in the optical device. A step of contacting an upper corner on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the optical device being conveyed while the upper corner is pressed along the inclined surface, and a lower portion of the other surface opposite to the one surface is rotationally assisted. In contact with the member, the optical device gradually tilts toward the other surface with the rotation promoting member as a fulcrum,
A step of bringing the other surface into contact with the conveyor surface of the conveyor in due course.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] In the present embodiment, in the process of transporting a film unit with a lens on a conveyor, the front surface is turned upward from the front facing upward. A transfer device for a film unit with a lens that can be automatically changed will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a conveying device for a film unit with a lens, FIG. 2 is a front view of the conveying device for a film unit with a lens, and FIG. 4 is a side view after the film unit with the lens is rotated and dropped, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the state where the film unit with the lens is rotated too much.

First, the structure of a transport device for a film unit with a lens will be described with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a first conveyor arranged so that the conveying surface 11a is substantially horizontal, and conveys the lens-equipped film unit 1 with the front side 1a of the photographic lens L facing upward. Two first guide members 12, 13 are provided above the first conveyor 11, and guide the film unit with lens 1 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction indicated by the arrow.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a second conveyor arranged so that the transfer surface 21a is substantially horizontal, provided near the downstream end of the first conveyor 11, and the transfer surface 21a It is arranged at a position lower than the transport surface 11a, and after changing the posture of the film unit with lens 1 as described later, the transport is performed with the front surface 1a facing sideways and the upper surface 1b facing upward. A rotation member 22 and a rotation prevention member 23 are provided above the second conveyor 21, and a second guide member 24 is connected to the rotation member 22, and the rotation prevention member 2
3 is connected to a second guide member 25.

The upper surface 22a of the rotating member 22 is located at substantially the same height as the conveying surface 11a of the first conveyor 11, and the lower surface 22b of the rotating member 22 is located at a position lower than the height of the lens-fitted film unit 1. The rotation preventing member 23 is arranged at substantially the same height as the rotating member 22, and the second guide members 24 and 25 are also arranged at substantially the same height.

Next, the step of transporting the film unit with lens 1 from the first conveyor 11 to the second conveyor 21 will be described.

The film unit with lens 1 is moved to the front 1a.
Is placed on the transport surface 11a of the first conveyor 11 so that the upper side faces upward, and is transported from the upstream side, which is the left side in FIGS. Then, the film unit with lens 1 conveyed to the downstream side gradually moves from the first conveyor 11 to the upper surface 22 a of the rotating member 22.

The rotary member 22 is located at a position corresponding to between the first guide members 12 and 13, and is formed of a thin plate. Further, the center of gravity of the film unit with lens 1 in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction is near the optical axis of the taking lens L.
The center of gravity is moved from the rotation member 22 to the rotation prevention member 23.
On the side of Therefore, when the lens-equipped film unit 1 moves onto the upper surface 22a of the rotating member 22, the lens-equipped film unit 1 cannot stay on the upper surface 22a of the rotating member 22, and as shown in FIG. 22 and the rotation preventing member 23
Falls while rotating at an angle of about 90 degrees around a corner formed by the side surface 22c on the side of.

The conveying surface 21a of the second conveyor 21 has a length longer than the distance between the side surface 22c of the rotating member 22 and the first guide member 13 and is located at a position lower than the upper surface 22a of the rotating member 22. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the film unit with lens 1 can be surely rotated at an angle of 90 degrees, the bottom surface abuts on the transport surface 21a of the second conveyor 21, and the upper surface 1b
Faces upwards.

However, the lens-equipped film unit 1 may rotate 90 degrees or more with excessive momentum. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the lens-fitted film unit 1 is brought into contact with the rotation preventing member 23 so as not to rotate at 135 degrees or more.

The lens-fitted film unit 1 placed on the transport surface 21a with its upper surface facing upward with its posture changed in this way is transported to the right downstream by the second conveyor 21. At this time, the film unit with lens 1
Even if is tilted leaning against the rotation preventing member 23, if the falling rotation angle from the rotating member 22 is 135 degrees or less, the film unit 1
Is pressed against the second guide member 25 that is inclined toward the rotating member 22 with respect to the transport direction.
The tilt of the film unit with lens 1 is corrected, and the bottom surface comes into a state of stably contacting the transport surface 21a.

Therefore, the five surfaces except the bottom surface can be visually recognized, and, for example, the inspection of the attached label can be easily performed.

Although the rotating member 22 is a thin plate, it is not necessarily limited to a thin plate. If the upper surface 22a and the side surface 22c of the rotating member 22 in FIG. May be formed on the right side with any thickness.

The upper surface 22a of the rotating member 22 is
Although it may be lower or higher than the transport surface 11a of the conveyor 11 within a range of several millimeters, when it is higher, it is necessary to provide an inclined surface so that the side surface of the film unit with lens 1 does not contact.

The rotating member 22 and the second guide member 2
4, the rotation preventing member 23 and the second guide member 25 may not necessarily be connected to each other.
The second guide member 24 is disposed in the vicinity of the rotation preventing member 2.
The second guide member 25 may be arranged near 3.

[Second Embodiment] In the present embodiment, in the process of transporting a film unit with a lens by a conveyor, the posture in which the upper surface faces upward is automatically changed to the posture in which the front surface faces upward. A transfer device for a film unit with a lens that can be used will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the transporting device for the film unit with the lens, FIG. 7 is a front view of the transporting device for the film unit with the lens, and FIG. 8 is a side view of the film unit with the lens being started to rotate.

First, the configuration of the transport device of the film unit with the lens will be described with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a conveyor arranged such that the conveying surface 41a is substantially horizontal, and conveys the film unit with lens 1 from the left upstream side in FIGS. 6 and 7 to the right downstream side. Above the conveyor 41, a first guide member 42 arranged at one end, a second guide member 43 arranged at the center, and a third guide member 44 arranged at the other end are provided. First guide member 42 and second guide member 43
When the film unit with lens 1 faces the upper surface 1b upward, the position is regulated and guided in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. The third guide member 44 is provided when the film unit with lens 1 faces the front 1a upward.
The guide is performed with the position regulated in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

A rotary member 46 made of a plate material is provided at the center, and the end of the horizontal surface portion 46a is screwed to the first guide member 42 by a small screw 47. Horizontal surface part 46
a at the tip of a at an angle θ ₁ of 30 to 45 degrees upward with respect to the transport surface 41 a, and further at 45 to 60
It has an inclined surface 46b inclined at every angle theta _2.

The second guide member 43 is interrupted on the upstream side of the rotating member 46, and a short rotation promoting member 48 along the conveying surface 41a of the conveyor 41 is mounted on the second guide member 43.

Next, the process of transporting the film unit with lens 1 from upstream to downstream of the conveyor 41 will be described.

On the upstream side of the conveyor 41, the film unit 1 with the lens is transported so that the upper surface 1b faces upward.
and is transported. When the film unit with a lens 1 is conveyed downstream, the upper corner 1c on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the front surface 1a, which is a plane orthogonal to the conveyance surface 41a of the film unit with a lens 1 and parallel to the conveyance direction.
Abuts against the inclined surface 46b of the rotating member 46. Upper corner 1
Since the film unit with lens 1 continues to be transported downstream even after the contact of the film unit c with the inclined surface 46b, the upper corner 1c moves along the inclined surface 46b, and the film unit with lens 1 is moved in the transport direction with respect to the transport direction. 3 Begin to tilt the tip in the direction of the guide member 44.

As the sheet is further conveyed, the lower portion of the back surface 1d of the film unit with lens 1 comes into contact with the short rotation promoting member 48. Then, the upper corner 1c of the front surface 1a of the film unit with lens 1 has an inclined surface 46b.
The lower part of the back surface 1d is rotated by the rotation promoting member 48.
As a result, the film unit with lens 1 gradually falls toward the back surface 1d with the rotation promoting member 48 as a fulcrum. And the film unit 1 with lens
When the limit exceeds the limit of self-sustainability, the back surface 1d falls on the rotation promoting member 48, and is further conveyed to the rotation promoting member 4.
8, the back surface 1d comes into contact with the transport surface 41a.

The film unit 1 with the lens whose posture has been changed in this way is guided by the guide member 44 with the front surface 1a facing upward.
And transported to the downstream, and then stored in a tray for sending to a packaging process.

In the above-described two embodiments, the conveyance of the lens-fitted film unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the lens-fitted film unit, and it is not limited to the lens-fitted film unit. It may be an optical device.

[0040]

According to the apparatus for transporting optical equipment according to the first to sixth aspects and the method for transporting optical equipment according to the seventh to twelfth aspects, the optical equipment transported by the conveyor with the front facing upward. Can be automatically changed to a posture in which the upper surface faces upward, with a simple configuration without using a robot hand or an air cylinder, so that a large amount of equipment is not required.

According to the optical device transport apparatus described in claims 13 to 15, and the optical device transport method described in claims 16 to 18, the optical device transported by the conveyor with the upper surface facing upward is When the front is automatically changed to the upward facing posture, it can be realized with a simple configuration without using a robot hand or an air cylinder, so that a large amount of equipment is not required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a transport device of a film unit with a lens according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a transport device of the film unit with a lens according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a state where the film unit with a lens is rotated and dropped.

FIG. 4 is a side view after a film unit with a lens is rotated and dropped.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a state in which the lens-fitted film unit has rotated too much.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a transport device of a film unit with a lens according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a transport device of a film unit with a lens according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a state where the rotation of the film unit with the lens is started.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Film unit with a lens 11 1st conveyor 11a, 21a, 41a Conveying surface 12, 13, 42 1st guide member 21 2nd conveyor 22, 46 Rotating member 23 Rotation prevention member 24, 25, 43 2nd guide member 41 Conveyor 44 Third guide member 46b Inclined surface 48 Rotation assisting member

Claims (18)

[Claims] A first conveyor for transporting the optical equipment, an upstream end portion being close to a downstream end portion of the first conveyor, and having a transport surface at a position lower than a transport surface of the first conveyor. A second conveyor for transporting the optical device, and an upper surface formed at substantially the same height as a transport surface of the first conveyor, and a proximity to a downstream end of the first conveyor above the second conveyor; And a rotating member arranged in the direction, when the optical device is transferred onto the rotating member from the first conveyor, the optical device is substantially in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction with the rotating member as a fulcrum. An optical device transport apparatus, wherein the optical device transport device falls while rotating at an angle of 90 degrees, is placed on a transport surface of the second conveyor in a changed posture, and is transported by the second conveyor. 2. A pair of first guide members are provided above the first conveyor for regulating and guiding the position of the optical device in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. 2. The optical device transport device according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the rotating member on a side where the optical device falls is located at a position corresponding to the intermediate position. 3. 3. A rotation preventing member is provided at a position facing the rotating member for preventing the optical device from rotating more than 135 degrees when the optical device falls while rotating from above the rotating member. The optical device transport device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. A second guide member connected to or near the rotation preventing member is provided downstream of the transport direction, and the second guide member is inclined toward the rotary member with respect to the transport direction. The optical device transport device according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The conveying surface of the second conveyor has a length longer than a distance between a side surface of the rotating member on which the optical device falls and the first guide member on a side facing the side surface. The optical device transport device according to claim 2, wherein the optical device transport device is located at a position below an upper surface of the rotating member. 6. The optical device is a film unit with a lens, the front facing upward when being conveyed by the first conveyor, and the upper surface facing upward when being conveyed by the second conveyor. The optical device transport device according to claim 1, wherein 7. A step of transporting an optical device by a first conveyor, wherein an upper surface is formed at substantially the same height as a transport surface of the first conveyor, and is disposed close to a downstream end of the first conveyor. Transferring the optical device onto the rotated member, and dropping the optical device while rotating the optical device at an angle of about 90 degrees in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction with the rotating member as a fulcrum, A step of changing the posture on the transport surface of the second conveyor having a transport surface at a position lower than the transport surface of the first conveyor with the upstream end portion close to the downstream end of the conveyor, and Transporting the optical device by the second conveyor. 8. A pair of first guide members are provided above the first conveyor to regulate and guide the optical device in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction. The optical device transport method according to claim 7, wherein a side surface of the rotating member on a side on which the optical device falls is located at a position corresponding to an intermediate position. 9. A rotation preventing member is provided at a position facing the rotating member for preventing the optical device from rotating more than 135 degrees when the optical device falls while rotating from above the rotating member. 9. The method for transporting optical equipment according to claim 7, wherein: 10. A second guide member connected to or near the rotation preventing member is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the second guide member is inclined toward the rotary member with respect to the transport direction. The optical device transport method according to claim 9, wherein: 11. The conveying surface of the second conveyor has a length longer than a gap between a side surface of the rotating member on which the optical device falls and the first guide member on a side facing the side surface. The optical device transport method according to claim 8, wherein the optical device is located at a position below an upper surface of the rotating member. 12. The optical device is a film unit with a lens, and has a front facing upward when conveyed by the first conveyor, and an upper surface facing upward when conveyed by the second conveyor. The optical device transport method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein: 13. A conveyor for placing and transporting optical equipment on a transport surface, and 30 to 30 degrees above the transport surface of the conveyor.
A rotating member having an inclined surface inclined at an angle of 45 degrees and inclined at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees with respect to the transport direction, and a rotation promoting member disposed near the rotating member; When the device is conveyed by a conveyor, an upper corner of one surface of the optical device orthogonal to the transfer surface and parallel to the transfer direction on the downstream side in the transfer direction abuts on the inclined surface of the rotating member, and the inclined surface The optical device is conveyed while being pressed along, and the rotation promoting member abuts on the lower part of the other surface opposite to the one surface, and gradually the optical device uses the rotation promotion member as a fulcrum, and An optical device transport device, wherein the optical device transport device tilts toward a surface, and is conveyed while the other surface abuts on the transport surface of the conveyor. 14. A first guide member capable of abutting on one surface of the optical device and a second guide member capable of abutting on the other surface of the optical device in parallel to a direction of conveyance by the conveyor. 14. The optical device transport apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second guide member is interrupted near an upstream side of the rotation promoting member. 15. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is a film unit with a lens, and rotates from a posture in which the front faces upward to a posture in which the upper surface faces upward.
The optical device transport method according to claim 3 or 14. 16. A step of placing an optical device on a transport surface of a conveyor and transporting the optical device, and inclining the optical device upward at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees with respect to the transport surface of the conveyor so that the optical device is 45-60
A step in which an upper corner of one surface orthogonal to the transfer surface and parallel to the transfer direction in the optical device on the downstream side in the transfer direction abuts on the inclined surface of the rotating member inclined at an angle of degrees, The optical device is transported while the corner is pressed along the inclined surface, and the lower part of the other surface facing the one surface abuts against the rotation promoting member, and gradually the optical device replaces the rotation promoting member. A step of inclining toward the other surface as a fulcrum and causing the other surface to come into contact with the transfer surface of the conveyor in due course. 17. A first guide member capable of abutting on one surface of the optical device and a second guide member capable of abutting on the other surface of the optical device in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second guide member is interrupted near an upstream side of the rotation promoting member. 18. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is a film unit with a lens, and rotates from a posture in which a front is directed upward to a posture in which an upper surface is directed upward.
An optical device transport method according to claim 6 or claim 17.