JP2002338032A - Method and device for aligning parts - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for aligning parts allowing switching an aligning state of parts from horizontal attitude to vertical attitude. SOLUTION: This method comprises a process to drop a pin 1 in horizontal attitude into a recessed part 24 of an upper face 23A of an alignment pallet 23 and a process to draw in a lower end 1a of the pin 1 into a vertical hole 25 formed at an end of bottom face of the recessed part 24 and raise the pin 1 inside the hole 25 by sucking air inside the hole 25. Air suction means A for sucking and drawing in one end of the pin 1 is connected with a lower part of the hole 25 in order to raise the pin 1 from the horizontal attitude.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for arranging components, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for arranging components suitable for aligning components such as lead pins of an electronic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general component aligning apparatus, a component is supplied to a supply destination by aligning the component in a concave position on an alignment pallet in a horizontal posture.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the types of pins 1 and 11 of an electronic device (eg, CPU).
The pin 1 of (a) has an annular convex portion 2 at a position above the middle portion in the length direction, and the pin 11 of (b) has an annular concave portion 12 at a position above the middle portion in the length direction. Each of the pins 1 and 11 has a vertically asymmetric shape. When aligning these pins 1 and 11, FIGS. 5A and 5B
As shown in (1), the pins 1 and 11 are aligned in a horizontal posture by dropping the pins 1 and 11 one by one into concave parts 4 and 14 for component alignment formed on the upper surfaces of the alignment pallets 3 and 13. 5A and 5B are plan views.
The lower view is a side sectional view.

[0004]

By the way, in the case of such pins 1 and 11, components are fed to the supply destination in a state where they are aligned in a horizontal posture, but the pins 1 and 11 are actually attached to the device body. If you are upright posture (vertical posture)
Often attached. Therefore, finally, it is desired to align the components in an upright posture, which is a posture in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for arranging components in which the components can be switched from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation in consideration of the above circumstances.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for arranging parts, the step of dropping a part in a recess on the upper surface of an alignment pallet in a horizontal position, and the step of forming a hole in one end of a bottom surface of the recess. A step of drawing one end of the component into the upright hole by air suction, and erecting the component in the upright hole with the one end facing down.

According to the alignment method of the present invention, the component is dropped in the recessed portion on the alignment pallet in a horizontal position, and the component can be erected in the vertical hole by sucking air in the vertical hole in this state. In this case, for a vertically asymmetrical part, the direction of the part can be regulated by a convex part, a concave part, etc. existing on the outer periphery of the part at the stage of dropping the part into the concave part in the lateral posture, so that the part is fixed in the vertical direction. The parts can be aligned in a vertical orientation in the orientation.

On the other hand, in the component aligning apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, a concave portion for dropping the component in a horizontal position is formed on the upper surface of the alignment pallet, and one side of the bottom surface of the concave portion is accommodated in the concave portion in a horizontal position. A vertical hole is formed for pulling up one end of the component so that the component is raised with the one end facing down, and a height regulating portion for defining a drawing height limit of the component is provided at any position of the vertical hole. Air suction means for sucking one end of the component and pulling the component into the upright hole in order to raise the component from the horizontal position is connected to a lower portion of the hole.

In the aligning apparatus according to the present invention, the component is dropped in a horizontal position into the concave portion on the aligning pallet, and in this state, the air is sucked into the vertical hole and one end of the component is drawn into the vertical hole, thereby setting the component upright. It can be raised in the hole. In this case, for a vertically asymmetrical part, the direction of the part can be regulated by a convex part, a concave part, etc. existing on the outer periphery of the part at the stage of dropping the part into the concave part in the lateral posture, so that the part is fixed in the vertical direction. The parts can be aligned in a vertical orientation in the orientation. At this time, since the restricting portion restricts the drawing-in height of the component, the component can be aligned in a vertical posture with the upper end of the component protruding from the upper surface of the pallet by a predetermined dimension.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the pin 1 shown in FIG.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a main part of an aligning device according to a first embodiment for aligning the pins. FIGS. 1A and 1B are a plan view and a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a pin is dropped into a concave portion in a horizontal posture. FIG. 2B is a side sectional view showing a state where the pin is erected from that state.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 23 denotes an alignment pallet, and an upper surface 23A of the alignment pallet 23 is formed with a concave portion 24 having an opening shape corresponding to the outer shape of the pin 1 to be aligned. An annular convex portion 2 is provided on the outer periphery of the pin 1.
The recess 24 is provided with a cutout portion 24a into which the annular convex portion 2 fits. Since the annular convex portion 2 is located above the intermediate portion in the length direction of the pin 1 and the pin 1 has an asymmetric shape in the vertical direction, the pin 1 fits into the concave portion 24 in a predetermined direction in the vertical direction. Become.

A recess 2 corresponding to the lower end 1a of the pin 1
At one end of the bottom surface of 4, a standing hole 25 whose upper end is opened at the bottom surface of the concave portion 24 is formed. This standing hole 25 is
The lower end 1a of the pin 1 housed in the horizontal posture is drawn in, so that the pin 1 is raised.
Air suction means A (here, indicated by an arrow and a sign for convenience) that sucks the lower end 1a of the pin 1 is connected to the lower end of the pin 1.

The upright hole 25 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the annular convex portion 2 on the outer periphery of the pin 1, and the upper end of the upright hole 25 receives the annular convex portion 2 to allow the pin 1 to enter the upright hole 25. The restricting portion 27 restricts the retraction height.

Next, a description will be given of a method for arranging parts, which is performed using the aligning apparatus having the above-described configuration. First, the first
In the step (1), the pin 1 is dropped into the concave portion 24 on the alignment pallet 23 in a horizontal posture. At this time, the annular projection 2 and the notch 2
If the positions 4a do not match, the pins 1 do not fit into the concave portions 24, and thus the pins 1 are arranged on the alignment pallet 23 in a state where the vertical direction is regulated.

When the pins 1 are fitted in the concave portions 24 and aligned in the lateral posture, air suction in the levers 25 is performed in the next step. Then, the lower end 1 a of the pin 1 is drawn into the upright hole 25 by the air suction force acting in the upright hole 25, and the pin 1 stands up in the upright hole 25. At this time, pin 1
The pin 1 is held at a constant height because the annular convex portion 2 on the outer periphery of
The upper end of the pin 1 projects from the upper surface of the alignment pallet 23 by a certain height. By simultaneously performing the air suction on all the upright holes 25, the pins 1 aligned in the lateral posture in each of the concave portions 24 can be simultaneously raised.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a main part of an aligning device according to a second embodiment for aligning the pins shown in FIG.
2A is a plan view and a side cross-sectional view showing a state where the pin is dropped into the recess in a horizontal posture, and FIG. 2B is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where the pin is erected from that state. is there.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 33 denotes an alignment pallet;
Is a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the pin 11, and 35 is a standing hole. The difference from the first embodiment is that the pin 11 has an annular concave portion 12 instead of an annular convex portion, so the concave portion 34 in which the pin 11 fits is provided with a convex portion 34a in which the annular concave portion 12 fits. Since there is no point or a protruding portion such as an annular convex portion on the outer periphery of the pin 11, the step at the lower end of the upright hole 25 is used as a retracting height regulating portion 37 to receive the lower end of the pin 11. Is a point. Other configurations are almost the same as those of the first embodiment.

When the pins 11 are aligned by the aligning device, first, in the first step, the pins 11 are placed in the recesses 34 in a horizontal posture.
Then, in the next second step, the lower end 11a of the pin 11 in the horizontal posture is drawn into the upright hole 35 by sucking air, and the pin 11 is raised in the upright hole 35. At this time, since the lower end of the pin 11 hits the restricting portion 37, the drawing height of the pin 11 is restricted, and the pin 11 is held with the upper end protruding above the alignment pallet 33 by a predetermined dimension.

As described above, the vertically asymmetrical parts can be aligned in an upright state with the directions thereof being uniform.

In the above embodiment, the case where the pins are aligned has been described, but as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to switch 1 from the horizontal posture to the vertical posture and align them. Therefore, the upper surface 43A of the alignment pallet 43
A concave portion 44 having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the component 41 is provided on the bottom surface of the concave portion 44, and a vertical hole 45 is formed at one end of the bottom surface of the concave portion 44.

In the case of this apparatus as well, in the same manner as described above, in the first step, the component 41 is dropped into the concave portion 44 in a horizontal posture, and in the second step, the lower end of the component 41 is raised by suctioning air. The component 41 is pulled up into the hole 45 so as to be erected in the upright hole 45.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications and improvements can be made.
For example, the materials, shapes, dimensions, forms, numbers, locations, and the like of the alignment pallets, concave portions, bottom surfaces, standing holes, height regulating portions, air suction means, and the like exemplified in the above-described embodiment are those that can achieve the present invention. It is arbitrary and not limited.

[0023]

As described above, according to the aligning method of the first aspect of the present invention, the components are dropped into the recesses on the upper surface of the alignment pallet in a horizontal posture, and then the air is sucked into the upright holes, whereby the components are sucked. Can be raised in the upright hole. Therefore, in the case of a vertically asymmetrical part, the direction of the part can be regulated by the shape of the part and the concave part at the stage of dropping the part into the concave part in the horizontal posture, and by standing up in that state, the part is fixed in the vertical direction. The parts can be aligned in a vertical orientation in the orientation.

On the other hand, according to the aligning device of the second aspect of the present invention, the component is dropped into the concave portion on the upper surface of the aligning pallet in a horizontal posture, and in this state, the air is sucked into the upright hole to insert one end of the component into the upright hole. By retracting, the component can be raised in the upright hole. Therefore, in the case of a vertically asymmetrical part, the direction of the part can be regulated by the shape of the part and the concave part at the stage of dropping the part into the concave part in the horizontal posture, and by standing up in that state, the part is fixed in the vertical direction. The parts can be aligned in a vertical orientation in the orientation. In addition, since the restricting portion limits the drawing-in height of the component when standing in the vertical posture, the component can be aligned with the upper end of the component protruding from the upper surface of the alignment pallet by a predetermined dimension.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a main part of an alignment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) an upper view and a lower view are a plan view and a side sectional view showing a state where a pin is dropped into a concave portion in a horizontal posture; (B) is a side sectional view showing a state where the pin is erected from that state.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing a main part of an alignment device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view and a side sectional view showing a state in which a pin is dropped into a concave portion in a horizontal posture; (B) is a side sectional view showing a state where the pin is erected from that state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of an alignment device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing types of pins as parts to be aligned.

5 (a) is a plan view and a side sectional view showing a main part of a conventional alignment device for aligning pins of the type shown in FIG. 4 (a),
4B is a plan view and a side sectional view showing a main part of a conventional alignment device for aligning pins of the type shown in FIG. 4B.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 11 pins (parts) 1a, 11a Lower end 23, 33, 43 Alignment pallet 23A, 33A, 43A Upper surface 24, 34, 44 Recess 25, 35, 45 Standing hole 27, 37, 47 Regulator 41 Plate-like component A Air suction means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A step of dropping a component in a concave position on an upper surface of an alignment pallet in a horizontal posture, and drawing air in a vertical hole provided at one end of a bottom surface of the concave portion to draw one end of the component into the vertical hole. Erecting the component in the upright hole with the one end down. 2. A recess for dropping a component in a horizontal position is formed on an upper surface of an alignment pallet, and one end of a component housed in a horizontal position in the recess is drawn into one end of a bottom surface of the recess so that the one end is lowered. A vertical hole for erecting the part by raising the part, and providing a height regulating portion for defining a drawing height limit of the part at any position of the vertical hole, and erecting the part from a horizontal position below the vertical hole. An apparatus for arranging parts, wherein an air suction means for sucking one end of the part and drawing it into the upright hole is connected.