JP2001301948A - Work feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance a production capacity even when a work feeding means such as a vibration type or rotary type feeder inferior in followability for a work conveying speed in speed-variable control is used. SOLUTION: A part feeder (the vibration type feeder) is provided with an electrically controllable vibration generator 3, and supplys the work W by operating the generator 3. The works W supplied from the first work sensor (work feeder) 11 are made detetctable one unit by one unit. A control part (control means) inputs a drive signal from other conveyer and a detected signal from the first work sensor 11 to find the first time-serially varying phisycal quantity of the drive signal and the second time-serially varying physical quantity of the detected signal, then the first physical quantity is compared with the second physical quantity, and the vibration generator 3 is controlled based on a comparison result therein to regulate the supply amount of the work W.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article supply apparatus provided with a vibration-type supply apparatus for supplying articles such as medicines, confectioneries, and electronic components while aligning the articles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a part feeder (vibration type supply device) has been used as an article supply means of an article supply apparatus for supplying articles such as medicines, confectioneries, and electronic components while aligning them. The parts feeder includes, for example, a bucket formed of a circular bowl, and a vibration generator having a function of independently setting amplitudes of two vibration systems of vertical vibration and horizontal vibration, and the bucket includes By applying a predetermined vibration by a vibration generating device, a conveying path spirally provided along the inner peripheral surface of the bucket is supplied to a subsequent process while aligning the articles.

[0003] As a method of controlling the parts feeder, there are a work sensor which is an article detecting means for confirming the presence or absence of an article at or near the exit of the parts feeder, a sequencer or a microcomputer (hereinafter a microcomputer) which controls the vibration generator. And an input / output signal according to the presence or absence of the article of the work sensor is input to the control unit, and the control unit outputs the output of the control unit in response to the on / off signal. The vibration generating device is started and stopped via driving means such as a relay provided at a stage, and the article is conveyed according to the starting of the vibration generating device.

[0004]

The above-described method of controlling the parts feeder is a so-called intermittent drive in which the vibration generator is turned on / off in accordance with the presence or absence of the article. Since the conveyance employs the vibration transportation, when a conveyance means such as a conveyance conveyor for continuously conveying the articles is provided in a post-process of the parts feeder, the supply of the articles at the conveyance speed of the articles is provided. However, there has been a problem that the production capacity of the entire apparatus for disposing the parts feeder cannot be increased.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an article supply apparatus capable of increasing the production capacity even when using article supply means such as a parts feeder which is inferior in tracking article conveyance speed in variable speed control. Things.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises an electrically controllable drive means, an article supply means for supplying articles by operating the drive means, and an article supply means. An article detection means for detecting the article supplied from a supply means, a drive signal from another device, and a detection signal from the article detection means, and a first signal which varies with time of the drive signal. A physical quantity and a second physical quantity that changes over time of the detection signal are obtained, the first physical quantity is compared with a second physical quantity, and the driving means in the article supply means is controlled based on the comparison result. And control means for adjusting the supply amount of the article.

The control means calculates a first input cycle of the drive signal output from the other device and a second input cycle of the detection signal output from the article detection means, First and second moving average periods are respectively obtained from the first input period and the second input period that change with time, and the first moving average period is compared with the second moving average period. Then, based on the comparison result, the driving means in the article supply means is controlled to adjust the supply amount of the article.

[0008] Further, a conveying means for conveying the article is provided at a position at least one step lower than the discharge section of the article of the article supply means, and the article detecting means is provided in the conveying means.

Further, at least one transport amount detecting means for detecting the article is provided in the transport means, and the control means is configured to detect the article on the transport means based on an article detection signal from the transport amount detecting means. Is determined, and the supply amount is corrected based on the transport amount.

The article supply means comprises a vibration type or rotary type supply device.

[0011] Further, the transporting means comprises a conveyor.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment of the present invention, a description will be given of an example of an article supply apparatus that supplies articles such as rice crackers having a rectangular parallelepiped shape to a line and continuously supplies them to a subsequent process.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an article supply apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Comprises an article supply means B, an article supply means C, and an article transport means (transport means) D.

The article replenishing means B is composed of a hopper, is disposed on the base 1 so as to be located above a bucket (described later) of the article supply section C, and stores articles W made of baked rice confectionery. While supplying a predetermined amount. The hopper sends a predetermined amount of articles W to the article supply unit C under the control of a control unit described below in response to a signal based on the presence or absence of the article W from a sensor (not shown) provided inside the bucket of the article supply unit C. When there is no article W at the position where the sensor is disposed, for example, the motor of the hopper conveyor is rotated to supply the article W into the bucket of the article supply unit C, and the article W is supplied in a fixed amount. Is reached, the motor of the hopper conveyor is stopped, and the amount of articles W in the bucket is managed.

The article supply means C comprises a parts feeder (vibration type supply device) for aligning and conveying the articles W.
In this embodiment, a bucket 2 composed of a circular bowl and a vibration generator (drive means) 3 having a function of independently setting the amplitudes of two vibration systems, vertical vibration and horizontal vibration, respectively.
And is constituted by. A transport path 4 for spirally sending out articles along the inner peripheral surface of the bucket 2 is formed with a gentle uphill gradient. The vibration generating device 3 includes a vibrating body (not shown) that imparts vertical vibration and horizontal vibration. When a minute vibration composed of a combined vector of vertical vibration and horizontal vibration is applied to the bucket 2, a large number of articles W It gradually rises while aligning the conveying path 3 composed of the inclined surface, and is discharged to the article conveying means D which is the next step.

The article conveying means D has an endless belt conveyor 7 stretched between rollers 5 and 6, one of the rollers 6 is a driving roller, and the driving roller is composed of a stepping motor, a servo motor, or the like. Drive means 8
Are connected. A guide portion 9 is provided on the front side of the belt conveyor 7 to regulate the articles W made of long and substantially rectangular parallelepiped rice confectionery in a line along the longitudinal direction of the belt conveyor 7. Further, the guide portion 9 includes a side guide portion 10 for positioning and guiding the side surface of the article W rising up in the vertical direction with respect to the surface portion of the belt conveyor 7. Further, the side guide section 10 includes, for example, a transmission type sensor and the like, and monitors first, second, and third work sensors 11, 1 for monitoring the transport state of the article W.
2 and 13 are provided.

First work sensor (article detecting means) 11
Is provided on the upstream side of the conveying path 14 of the article conveying means D, and the second work detecting means (conveying amount detecting means) 1
2 is provided at an intermediate position in the transport path 14, and the third work detecting means (transport amount detecting means) 13 is provided on the downstream side of the transport path 14, which serves as a discharge portion of the article W.

The article conveying means D includes an article supply means C.
Considering that the article W discharged by the parts feeder is discharged in a state where the articles W are in contact with each other or in a state where the ends of the articles W are overlapped with each other, And is fixed to the base 1 so as to be one step lower. Therefore, even if the articles W are conveyed to the discharge section 15 in a state where the articles W are in contact with each other or in a state where the ends of the articles W are overlapped, the article W is transported by the article conveying means D so that the articles W slide down the discharge section 15. Since the articles W are supplied above, they are conveyed in a state where there is a gap between the articles W. Therefore, the first work sensor 11 disposed on the upstream side of the article conveying means D can detect the articles W one by one.

The above components constitute an article supply apparatus A.

Next, the electrical configuration of the article supply apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The description of the article supply unit B is omitted for simplicity, but a control unit described later supplies a predetermined amount of articles W into the bucket 2 based on a signal from a sensor provided in the bucket of the article supply unit C. It shall be.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a first work sensor (article detecting means) which is arranged on the upstream side of the article conveying means C and counts the articles W one by one. Reference numeral 12 denotes a second work sensor (conveyance amount detection means) which is disposed substantially at the center of the article conveyance means C and determines the conveyance amount of the article W in the article conveyance means C. Reference numeral 13 denotes a third work sensor (conveyance amount detection means) disposed on the discharge section side of the article conveyance means C to determine the conveyance amount of the article W similarly to the second work sensor 12. Reference numeral 3 denotes a vibration generator that adjusts the amplitude value of the vibrating body in order to determine the supply amount of the article W in the parts feeder that is the article supply unit C, and transmits a control signal (digital signal) from a control unit described later. By inputting via the D / A converter 20, an amplitude value corresponding to the control signal is determined. Reference numeral 8 denotes a driving means in the article transporting means D, which includes a stepping motor, a servomotor, and the like. By inputting a control signal from the control unit via the driver 21, the transport speed of the article W according to the control signal is increased. It is determined. A control unit 22 includes a ROM in which a program for a processing operation described later is stored, a RAM in which operation values are temporarily stored, a CPU for executing the program, and the like, and includes a microcomputer, a sequencer, and the like. Reference numeral 23 denotes an input wiring for inputting a drive signal from another transport device (other device) E as shown in FIG.

Here, the other transport device E will be briefly described. The transport device E is, for example, an endless chain provided with a transfer claw 24 for transporting articles W at a predetermined pitch. It is constituted by a conveyor 25.

The chain conveyor 25 is extended in parallel between the sprockets 26, and a driving means (not shown) including a stepping motor and a servomotor is attached to the shaft end of one of the sprockets 26. The article W conveyed from the article conveying means D of the article supply apparatus A is conveyed to the subsequent step between the transfer claws 24, for example, one by one.

Further, the other transporting device E is provided with a detecting means 27 such as a proximity sensor or a transmission type sensor for detecting the movement of the transfer claw 24, and the detection of the transfer claw 24 from the detection means 27. The signal serves as a drive signal for determining the drive state of the other transport device E, and this detection means 27
Is electrically connected to the control unit 22 through an input wiring 23 shown by.

Next, a control method of the article supply device A by the control unit 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the article conveying means D is based on the assumption that the belt conveyor 7 is rotating at a constant speed via the driving means 8 based on a control signal from the control unit 22.

The control unit 22 confirms whether a main switch (not shown) of the article supply device A is on or off, and determines whether the system is activated or deactivated (step S).
1) If it is determined that the operation is the activation, it is determined whether the operation is the normal operation or the initial operation (step S2). still,
The normal operation is the operation after the second time in the flow.

When it is determined in step S2 that the initial state is at the time of initialization, the control unit 22 sends a control signal to the D / A converter to set the amplitude value β of the vibration generator 3 in the article supply means A to the maximum value (βmax). The output is output to the vibration generator 3 via the control unit 20 and the conveying speed of the article W in the article supply means A is maximized (step S3). It is assumed that there is no article W on the transport path 14 of the article transport means D at the time of initial.

Next, the control section 22 confirms the presence or absence of the article W by the first work sensor 11 provided in the article transport means D, and until the article W is detected, the amplitude value β is determined. The maximum value setting is continued (step S4).

After executing step S2, the control unit 22 inputs a drive signal from the detecting means 27 provided in another transporting apparatus E in parallel with the processing for setting the maximum value of the amplitude value β. Execute the process.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the control unit 22
A driving signal emitted from the detecting means 27 in response to the movement of the transfer claw 24 is input, and each time ta1, ta2... Tan during which the driving signal is input is measured. That is, the input cycle Ta of the drive signal
1, Ta2... Tan are calculated. This process is executed until the number m1 of calculation results of the input cycle reaches a predetermined number n1 (n1 is a positive number) (steps S20 to S22).

Next, when the number m1 of calculation results reaches the predetermined number n1 (n1 = m1), the control unit 22 determines the input periods Ta1, Ta2,.
, The moving average period TA of the input period is calculated by the following equation (1) (step S23). Here, N and M are positive numbers, and M> N + 1.

Based on the moving average period (first moving average period) TA obtained in step S23, the control unit 22 calculates the amplitude to obtain the article supply speed in the article supply means C according to the driving state of the other transport device E. The value β is set (step S24). The control unit 22 includes a storage device such as a ROM or a non-volatile memory that stores the relationship between the amplitude value of the vibration generator 3 and the transport speed of the article W as a data table or a calculation formula. Therefore, the amplitude value corresponding to the moving average period TA calculated in step S23 is read out from the storage device to determine the value, or the calculation formula stored in the storage device is read out and the moving average period TA is substituted to perform the movement. An amplitude value corresponding to the average period TA is determined.

After execution of step S24, the control unit 22
The number m1 of calculation results is decremented by 1 (m1-1), and the process returns to step S20 to obtain the next moving average period TA (step S25). Therefore, the control unit 22 calculates the second and subsequent moving average periods TA as soon as one input period of the drive signal is obtained.

The above is the processing operation of the drive signal input from the other transport device E in the control unit 22.

When the control section 22 detects the article W by the first work sensor 11 in step S4, the control section 22 determines that the article W has been transported from the article supply section C to the article transport section D, and determines that the amplitude value of the vibration generator 3 A control signal is output to the vibration generator 3 via the D / A converter 20 in order to change β from the maximum value (βmax) to the amplitude value β determined in step S24 and according to the driving state of the other transport device E. Then, the transport speed for supplying the article W according to the driving state of the other transport device E is set (step S5).

Next, the control section 22 controls the first work sensor 11 provided on the upstream side of the article conveying means D to determine the supply state of the article W by the article supply section C from the first work sensor 11. FIG. 6B shows the detection signal of the article W.
Enter as shown. Then, when the control unit 22 receives a detection signal emitted from the first work sensor 11,
Each time tb1, tb2,.
measure tbn, time interval between each detection signal,
That is, the input periods Tb1, Tb2,... Tbn of the detection signals are calculated. This process is executed until the number m2 of calculation results of the input cycle reaches a predetermined number n2 (n2 is a positive number) (steps S6 to S8).

Next, when the number of calculation results m2 reaches the predetermined number n2 (n2 = m2), the control unit 22 calculates, for example, the following equation (2) based on the input periods Tb1, Tb2,. ) To calculate a moving average period (second moving average period) TB of the input period (step S9). Here, N and M are positive numbers, and M> N + 1.

Next, the control unit 22 executes a comparison process between the moving average period TB obtained in step S9 and the moving average period TA obtained in step S23 (step S23).
10).

Then, the control means 22 calculates the moving average period T
B is compared with the moving average period TA, and it is determined whether or not the moving average period TB is substantially equal to the moving average period TA within an allowable range (TA ≒ TB). Is maintained as it is (step S11), and the moving average period T
When it is determined that B is larger than the moving average period TA, the article W
It is assumed that the supply state of
Correction processing for increasing the transport speed by increasing the amplitude value with respect to the amplitude value β set in Step 4 (Step S1)
2).

The correction processing is performed, for example, by using a moving average period TA
(TA-TB) between the moving average period and the moving average period TB, and reading out from the storage device how much the correction value α (correction value for the amplitude value β) corresponds to, and reading the storage device The control signal (amplitude value β + correction value α) based on the correction value α is determined by D /
This can be achieved by outputting to the vibration generator 3 via the A converter 20.

If the control unit 22 determines in step S10 that the moving average period TB is smaller than the moving average period TA, the control unit 22 supplies the article W of the article supply unit C to the driving state of the other transporting apparatus E. Assuming that a large number of states are supplied, a correction process is performed to reduce the amplitude value for the amplitude value β set in step S24 to reduce the transport speed (step S13). This correction processing is performed in the same manner as in step S11.

Next, the control unit 22 controls the second and third work sensors 1 provided substantially at the center of the conveying path 14 of the article conveying means D and at the downstream side of the conveying path 14.
Based on the respective detection signals (article detection signals) from the sensors 2 and 13, the conveyance state of the article W on the conveyance path 14, that is, the conveyance amount is determined (step S14).

In this process of determining the carry amount, it is possible to make a determination based on, for example, the length of input time of each detection signal of the first and second work sensors 12 and 13. In the case where the passage time of the article W (corresponding to the input time) takes a predetermined time or more at substantially one of the center and the downstream side of the transport path 14 or the downstream side of the transport path 14, the transport path 14 It is assumed that the upper article W is shifting to the staying state, and the amplitude values (β, β ±
α) is reduced, and a control signal corresponding to the amplitude value accompanying this correction is output to the vibration generator 3 via the D / A converter 20 to perform a correction to reduce the supply speed in the article supply means C ( Step S15).

Further, for example, when the input cycle of the detection signal of the second work sensor 12 tends to be longer than usual, it is determined that there is a shortage of articles on the transport path 14 and the amplitude determined in step 10 and thereafter. The value (β, β ± α) is increased, and a control signal corresponding to the amplitude value accompanying this correction is output to the vibration generator 3 via the D / A converter 20 to thereby increase the supply speed in the article supply means C. A correction for increasing the speed is performed (step S15).

In step S15 described above, the correction of the article W in the article transport means D is performed based on the relationship between the input time of each detection signal of the second and third work sensors 12 and 13 and the amplitude value of the vibration generator 3. This can be made possible by performing an analysis for grasping the transport state.

As a final step, the control unit 22 subtracts (m2-1) the number m2 of calculation results, and returns to step S1 to obtain the next moving average period TB (step S1).
6). Therefore, the control unit 22 calculates the second and subsequent moving average periods TB as soon as one input period in the detection signal from the first work sensor 11 is obtained.

When the control unit 22 determines that the process is the initial process at the time of confirming the operation in step S2, it resets the number of calculation results m1 and m2 to 0 (m1 ← 0, m2 ← 0, resets the number of calculation results, Proceed to the next step.

The moving average period TA and the moving average period T
The comparison process with B does not always perform the comparison process between the latest moving average periods TA and TB because the input timing of each signal is different. For example, when one moving average cycle is the latest data and the other moving average cycle is the previous data, a comparison process between the latest data and the previous data is executed.

The article supply device A is controlled by the above processing operations. The control unit 22 in the article supply device A
Receives a drive signal from another transport device E and a detection signal from the first work sensor 11, obtains an input cycle of the drive signal and an input cycle of the detection signal, respectively, A moving average period (physical amount) TA that changes over time in the device E and a moving average period (physical amount) TB that changes over time in the article supply means C are obtained.
The moving average periods TA and TB are compared, and the vibration generator 3 in the article supply means C is controlled based on the comparison result to adjust the supply amount of the article W. Therefore, since the article supply device A always grasps the driving state of the other transport device E and controls the vibration generator 3 of the article supply means C in accordance with the driving state, the part feeder having poor followability can be used. Even when used as the article supply means C, it is possible to supply an appropriate amount of the articles W according to the driving state of the other transport apparatus E, and it is possible to improve the production capacity as a transport line for transporting the articles W Becomes

The article supply device A is provided with an article supply means C.
The article conveying means D is provided at a position one step lower than the discharge section 15 of
The work sensor 11 is provided. Therefore, it is possible to secure a gap between the articles W by dropping the articles W supplied in a continuous state by the article supply means C into the article transport means D, so that the article W is disposed upstream of the article transport means D. The first work sensor 11 can detect the articles W one by one.

The article supply device A is provided with an article conveying means D.
First and second work sensors 12, 1 for detecting an article W
The control unit 22 determines the transport amount of the article W on the transport path 14 of the article transport unit based on each detection signal from the first and second work sensors 12 and 13 by the control unit 22, and based on the transport amount. Since the vibration generator 3 of the article supply means C is controlled to correct the supply amount of the article W, the article transport means D
It is possible to supply an appropriate amount of articles W according to the driving state of the other transport device E, even if the transport path of the transport device is long.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is not always necessary to calculate the moving average periods TA and TB using the same number of input periods, and the first work sensor 11 having a large variation in the input periods. In the moving average period TB, it is possible to obtain a moving average period TB with little variation by securing a certain number of input periods.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the conveying device E in which another conveying device (other device) is constituted by the chain conveyor 25 having the transfer claws 24 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to a belt device. It may be a conveyor or a packaging device for bagging the articles W.

In the embodiment of the present invention, another device is provided with detection means 27 such as a work sensor as a drive signal input from another device, and the detection signal from this detection means 27 is used as a drive signal. However, in the present invention, a signal (a signal indicating a driving state) output from a control unit of another device may be input as a driving signal.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the second and third work sensors 12 and 13 are used as the conveyance amount detecting means for judging the conveyance amount of the article W. It is possible to determine the transport amount of the article W above.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, a vibration type feeder (parts feeder) which is inferior in tracking the article conveying speed is taken as an example of the article feeding means. The same effects as those of the embodiment of the present invention can be obtained by replacing the rotary supply device that stores articles and rotates the bucket so that the articles are supplied while being aligned.

[0057]

The present invention comprises an electrically controllable drive means, an article supply means for supplying an article by operating the drive means, and a detection of the article supplied from the article supply means. An article detection unit, a drive signal from another device, and a detection signal from the article detection unit are input, a first physical quantity of the drive signal that changes over time, and a change over time of the detection signal. Control for obtaining the second physical quantity to be performed, comparing the first physical quantity with the second physical quantity, and controlling the driving means in the article supply means based on the comparison result to adjust the supply quantity of the article. Means, and the control means includes: a first input cycle of the drive signal output from the other device; and the detection signal output from the article detection means. Second input of Seeking a period, first from the first input cycle and the second input cycle that varies over time,
A second moving average cycle is obtained, the first moving average cycle is compared with the second moving average cycle, and the driving unit in the article supply unit is controlled based on a result of the comparison. Since the supply amount is adjusted, an appropriate amount of the article according to the driving state of the other apparatus is supplied even when a vibration-type or rotary-type supply apparatus having poor followability is used as the article supply means. Is possible,
It is possible to improve the production capacity as a transport line for transporting the article.

In addition, a transporting means for transporting the article is provided at a position at least one step lower than the discharge section of the article of the article supply means, and the article detecting means is provided in the transporting means. By dropping the articles supplied in a continuous state by the article supply means into the conveyance means, it is possible to secure a gap between the articles, so that the article detection means arranged in the conveyance means, The articles can be detected one by one.

Further, at least one transport amount detecting means for detecting the article is provided in the transport means, and the control means is configured to control the article on the transport means based on an article detection signal from the transport amount detecting means. The transport amount is determined based on the transport amount, and the supply amount is corrected based on this transport amount. It is possible to supply a certain amount of the article.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an article supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the article supply device for articles according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the article supply device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing operation of the article supply device of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a processing operation of the article supply device of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an input state of a drive signal and a detection signal in the control unit of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List A article supply device C article supply means D article conveyance means E other conveyance apparatus 3 vibration generator (drive means) 11 first work sensor (article detection means) 12, 13 first and second work sensors (conveyance amount) Detecting means) 14 Conveying path 15 Discharge unit 22 Control unit 23 Input wiring

Claims (6)

[Claims] An article supply unit for supplying an article by operating the drive unit; an article detection unit for detecting the article supplied from the article supply unit; A drive signal from another device and a detection signal from the article detection means are input, and a first physical quantity of the drive signal that changes over time, and a second physical quantity of the detection signal that changes over time. Control means for determining a physical quantity, comparing the first physical quantity with the second physical quantity, and controlling the driving means in the article supply means based on the comparison result to adjust the supply amount of the article. An article supply device, comprising: 2. The control means obtains a first input cycle of the drive signal output from the other device and a second input cycle of the detection signal output from the article detection means, First and second moving average periods are respectively obtained from the first input period and the second input period that change with time, and the first moving average period is compared with the second moving average period. 2. The article supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the drive unit in the article supply unit based on the comparison result to adjust the supply amount of the article. 3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: a conveying means for conveying the article at a position at least one step lower than a discharge section of the article in the article supply means, wherein the conveying means includes the article detecting means. The article supply device according to claim 1. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transporting means includes at least one transport amount detecting means for detecting said article, and said control means controls said article on said transport means based on an article detection signal from said transport amount detecting means. 4. The article supply device according to claim 3, wherein the conveyance amount is determined, and the supply amount is corrected based on the conveyance amount. 5. The article supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said article supply means comprises a vibration-type or rotation-type supply apparatus. 6. The article supply device according to claim 3, wherein said transport means comprises a conveyor.