JP2003020116A - Method and apparatus for alignment and supply of small parts - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel method and apparatus for aligning and feeding small parts, capable of aligning the parts without using an alignment method by vibration, which is thought as common technical knowledge of a conventional parts feeder, and solving a problem of temporary line stops due to bridge phenomena of the parts. SOLUTION: A large amount of bodies W (small parts) to be conveyed which are stored in a random condition are taken out in a block condition by a small amount in a receiving/gradual feeding zone (Z1), the amount of the conveyed bodies W processed in the next zone is optimum-controlled in an appropriate- amount regulating zone (Z5), the block condition of the conveyed bodies W is loosened in a rotating drum 33 and an attitude is preliminarily set in a separation/preliminary attitude setting zone (Z2), the conveyed bodies W are received and aligned in an individual receiving pocket 50 formed at a peripheral surface of a separate alignment drum 47 in a individual alignment and conveyance zone (Z3), and the conveyed bodies W in an alignment condition are individually supplied corresponding to requirement process time of a working machine in a cycle-time-response alignment and conveyance zone (Z4).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called parts feeder for aligning small parts in an appropriate posture and individually supplying them to a target processing machine or assembly device.
In particular, parts with a relatively large weight per part are aligned in an energy-saving and low-noise state without vibrating.
The present invention relates to a new arrangement / supply method that enables supply.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For example, when an engine of an automobile or the like is mounted on a body of a vehicle body, an anti-vibration rubber is applied in order to make it difficult to transmit engine vibration to the vehicle body side. Inside, a metal pipe for passing a mounting bolt and the like is provided. This is generally called an anti-vibration rubber inner pipe, and has, for example, an outer diameter of 20 to 40 mm, an inner diameter of 12 to 30 mm, and a length of 40 to 60 mm. And when manufacturing this kind of inner pipe, as an example, 5.
After cutting a long drawn steel pipe of about 5 m into a pipe of almost constant length, send this short cut pipe to a dedicated machine for end face cutting, process both end faces, then measure, It is common to perform part cleaning to obtain an inner pipe as a finished part. Incidentally, after this, the inner pipe is supplied to the rubber vulcanization step and integrally molded with the rubber. In addition to anti-vibration, many such metal pipes are used in suspension systems, so-called undercarriage of automobiles, and the production volume is about 10 million pieces per month nationwide. It is what is done.

Further, in the production process of such small-sized mass-produced parts such as the inner pipe, it is difficult to continuously connect the dedicated machines of the respective processes, and therefore, for example, unfinished parts as intermediate parts for each of the dedicated machines. (In the above example of the inner pipe, for example, a pipe that has been cut to a substantially fixed size) is stored in a hopper, etc., and parts are taken out from here according to the required tact of the special machine and placed in a fixed alignment posture. The method of individually and continuously supplying is adopted. As a method for arranging and supplying such small parts, a parts feeder having a vibrating bowl is generally widespread. This parts feeder has a transfer track formed in a vibrating bowl, and its alignment / supply mode is to align parts in a substantially constant posture by vibrating the parts, or to select the positions of the parts during transfer, The one in the aligned posture is returned to the hopper and the like, and finally only the parts in the desired aligned posture are supplied one by one to the dedicated machine.

However, there are the following problems in applying such a general parts feeder having a vibrating bowl to a production process of an inner pipe or the like. That is, there is a problem in that the unit weight (weight per piece) of the inner pipe is relatively heavy, for example, about 100 to 150 gf, so that the entire apparatus including the vibrating bowl becomes large. In addition, a parts feeder to which this type of vibrating bowl is usually applied cannot be applied to a plurality of kinds of parts, and has a drawback in that it is poor in versatility.
For this reason, in the production process of small parts such as inner pipes that have a relatively large unit weight, for example, a part of the hopper is configured to pass through the bucket chain conveyor, and the parts inside the hopper are scraped up to raise the position at a high place. It is conveyed to the vibration conveyor installed in the machine, the parts are oscillated by the vibration of the conveyor, and the pipes in the non-aligned posture are sorted and dropped into the hopper. Only the pipes in the aligned posture are sequentially ordered. The method of supplying to the next process was mainly adopted.

However, such an arrangement / supply method is basically limited to the conventional concept of aligning parts by vibration, and has the following problems. That is, since this type of metal pipe has a large unit weight as described above, a large amount of energy is required to vibrate, and in addition to the vibration for alignment, the parts in the non-aligned posture are dropped into the hopper, There was a problem that noise such as vibration noise and falling noise was severe. Furthermore, since the parts to be aligned are generally small parts, a temporary stop (commonly called "choco stop") due to a bridge phenomenon (supply failure or transfer failure due to entanglement) in the hopper or in the middle of the transfer path. There is also a problem that it is often generated and efficient (continuous) component supply cannot be performed. By the way, in the automobile industry to which inner pipes are applied, there is a current demand for thorough cost reduction, and the abolition of the above-mentioned chocolate stop is a problem in achieving cost reduction as well as efficient manufacturing. It was one.

[0006]

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and the parts are aligned without performing the alignment method by vibration, which was conventionally considered to be the common general technical knowledge of the parts feeder. In addition to aligning new small parts that can eliminate the chocolate stop due to the bridge phenomenon of parts
This is an attempt to develop a supply method and its device.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the method for aligning and supplying small parts according to claim 1 is such that the receiving / extending zone (Z1).
And separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2) and individual feeding zone
(Z3), using a device equipped with a tact compatible feeding zone (Z4), in the receiving and feeding zone (Z1), a large number of small objects to be transported, stored in a random state, Separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2), individual feeding zone (Z
3), a method of aligning the conveyed objects under a supply mode according to the required tact of the next step through the tact-corresponding adjusting zone (Z4), and sequentially supplying the receiving / expanding zone ( In Z1), a mechanical rocking motion is applied to a part of the large amount of transported objects stored in the hopper to release the bridge phenomenon of the transported objects that may occur in the hopper, and the discharge port to the next zone is released. In the block state from the hopper, the advancing transported object is gradually ejected in a block state from the hopper due to gravity at an indefinite amount and indefinite timing, and in the separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2) that follows, in a block state from the receiving / extending zone (Z1). It is suitable for receiving the gradually conveyed object to the inside of the rotating drum that gives a forward tendency, rolling the transferred object to loosen the blocked object, and supplying the object to the next zone. Is set to a preliminary posture, In individual Seioku zone (Z3) followed by a rotation shaft set substantially horizontally, to form one or more individual receiving pockets on the peripheral surface of the annular individual alignment drum,
In addition, the individual feeding device with a bearing guide plate stretched around the outer periphery of the receiving pocket in the individual receiving action area of the drum receives the transported objects sent from the separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2) and aligns the transported objects. It is conveyed upward from the inside of the drum in a state that it is stored in the individual receiving pocket, spills forward from the upper end of the bearing guide plate, and is individually fed to the next zone, and further in the tact compatible feeding zone (Z4). Is characterized in that the transported objects in the aligned state are individually supplied in accordance with the required takt time.

In addition to the requirement of claim 1, the method of aligning / supplying small parts according to claim 2 further comprises: the receiving / extending zone (Z1); In between, an appropriate amount regulation zone (Z5) is provided to optimize the amount of transfer of the transported object that is supplied in a block state. It is a feature of what you did.

Furthermore, the arrangement of small parts according to claim 3
The supply method, in addition to the requirements of claim 1 or 2,
When the transported object is a magnetic material, a slat conveyor incorporating a permanent magnet in the tact-corresponding transportation zone (Z4) is applied, and each transported body sent out from the individual transportation zone (Z3). It is characterized in that magnetic force is attracted and individual feeding is performed.

In addition to the component according to claim 1, 2 or 3, the method for aligning / supplying small parts according to claim 4 is: (a) The hopper in the receiving / extending zone (Z1) is
The trough shape is formed such that the width dimension becomes narrower toward the bottom, and a swingable gutter with the discharge port side facing downward is formed on the trough-shaped bottom so that one of the transported objects stored in the hopper is formed. (B) The gutter is supported with the non-ejection port side as a pivot base end, and when the gutter is pivoted, the ejection port side is pivoted up and down to move the gutter inside the hopper. Among the transported objects stored in, the method of moving the ones located mainly above the gutter up and down, (c) in releasing the bridge phenomenon of the transported objects that may occur in the hopper, A method in which a plate fixed in an upright state and penetrating the swing gutter is relatively projected as the swing gutter moves up and down so as to break the bridge phenomenon of the transported body, (d) the transported body in the hopper. When swinging a part of the (E) When the gutter is swung up and down, the swing motion is gradually raised from a steeply inclined state to a gently inclined state. , From the gently tilted state to the intermediate tilted state, which is almost the middle of the both tilted states, and from the intermediate tilted state to the steeply tilted state, it is rotated downward all at once, and vibrations that contribute to bridge elimination are imparted to the transported object in the hopper (F) The appropriate amount regulation zone (Z
In 5), the receiving port of the throwing chute is rotatably connected to the swing gutter, and a substantially fixed portion between the discharging port and the discharging port is supported by a fixed roller. , A method in which the closing chute is steeply inclined when the swing gutter exhibits a gentle inclination state, and the closing chute is operated in a reverse inclination state when the swing gutter exhibits a steep inclination state, ( g) a method in which the feeding chute is connected to the swing gutter in a dogleg shape so that the transfer direction of the transported object is folded back, (h) for the swingable feeding chute , A method in which a plate fixed in an almost upright state and penetrating the conveying surface is provided, and this plate is relatively projected with the forward and backward swing of the charging chute so as to eliminate the bridge phenomenon of the conveyed object, (i) Restricting the amount of transferred objects in the appropriate amount control zone (Z5) In this case, a plate that is fixed almost upright and penetrates the conveying surface is provided, and this plate is relatively projected as the throwing chute swings back and forth to temporarily stop the feeding of the conveyed object, (J) The rotary drum of the separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2) is formed so that the rotation axis is set substantially horizontal and is formed in a taper shape that widens in the feed direction. A method of rolling the transported object on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum so as to give the transported object a forwarding tendency, (k) a pocket portion of the individual alignment drum in the individual feeding zone (Z3) A method in which a lifting plate that takes a downward-falling posture when discharging is provided on the exit side of the device, and the transported objects in the aligned position are individually fed, (l) A work is sandwiched on the opposite side of the lifting plate. As described above, a posture selection plate having a R-shaped cross section is provided to Method to prevent the passage, (m) the tact corresponding feeding zone (Z4), a vertical conveyance type slat conveyor is applied, a method of individually conveying the object to be conveyed, n) In the tact compatible feeding zone (Z4),
A method that incorporates an accumulator that appropriately stores the transported objects aligned in the desired posture, and that can be individually supplied in response to the required tact in the next process, (o) the tact-compatible feeding zone (Z4) In the case of 1., when a magnetic object to be conveyed is magnetically attracted and conveyed by a slat conveyor incorporating a permanent magnet, magnetic attraction slat incorporating a permanent magnet and non-adsorption slat not incorporating a permanent magnet are alternately arranged. In this way, by simply interrupting the feeding of the transported object at the target transport end position, the method of easily releasing the attraction between the transported object and the magnetic attraction slat, (p) the tact-related feeding zone ( In Z4), when carrying a magnetic object by magnetic attraction, the chain cover of the slat conveyor is formed so that it gradually narrows in the direction of conveyance. The non-conveyed body that has been moved can be automatically slid in the longitudinal direction of the slats during conveyance so that it can be automatically centered. (Q) In the feeding zone (Z4) corresponding to the tact, When attracting and transporting, the cover that serves as the attracting surface of the magnetic attraction slats is formed into a curved surface or spherical surface so that the transported object can make point contact or line contact, and the transported object slats the axial direction. Characterized in that one or a plurality of elements are selected and combined in a method in which the method elements are rotated so as to match the longitudinal direction of the method, when the method elements described in (a) to (q) above are applicable. It consists of

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus for aligning and supplying small parts is arranged such that a large number of small parts stored in a random state are regularly aligned, and then the object is kept in this position. In a device that sequentially supplies materials under a supply mode according to the required tact of a processing machine or the like, the device causes a mechanical oscillating motion to act on a part of a large amount of transported objects stored in the hopper, and A receiving / expelling device for releasing the bridged phenomenon of the transported body that may occur, and gradually moving out the transported body facing the discharge port to the next device in a block state from the hopper by gravity with an indefinite amount and indefinite timing, and the receiving system.・ The transfer target sent from the feeding device in a block state is received inside the rotating drum that imparts a forward tendency, and the transfer target is rolled to loosen the transfer target in the block state, Supply to the next device To set the preliminary posture suitable for the separation and
The preliminary posture setting device and the transported objects sent from the separation / preliminary posture setting device are received in the individual receiving pockets formed on the peripheral surface of the individual alignment drum, and in this state, the transported objects are transported upward and Depending on the required tact, the individual feeding device that feeds the next to the next device so as to spill individually from the upper end of the bearing guide plate that blocks the discharge of the transport body It is characterized by comprising a tact-corresponding feeder for feeding.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the requirements of the fifth aspect, the apparatus for arranging and feeding small parts is provided with a device to be transferred between the receiving and feeding device and the separating and preliminary posture setting device. The present invention is characterized in that an appropriate amount regulating device is provided for temporarily stopping the feeding of the body and optimizing the escaping amount of the transported body supplied in the block state.

Further, in addition to the requirements of claim 5 or 6, the apparatus for aligning and supplying small parts according to claim 7 is not a tact-compatible feeding device when the transported object is a magnetic body. A magnet type slat conveyor is applied, which magnetically attracts the individual conveyed objects sent from the individual adjusting apparatus to individually adjust the conveyed objects.

In addition to the component according to claim 5, 6 or 7, the device for aligning / supplying small parts according to claim 8 is characterized in that (a) the hopper in the receiving / expelling device faces toward the bottom. The trough is formed to have a narrow width, and a swingable gutter with the discharge port side down is provided on the bottom of the trough, (b) The gutter rotates on the non-discharge port side. Performing an oscillating motion of vertically rotating the discharge port side as a base end, (c) the receiving / expanding device is fixed in a substantially upright state, and a plate protruding relatively from the oscillating gutter; And (d) incorporating a bridge releasing means comprising a receiving slit formed in the rocking gutter so that the drum can be freely retracted and retracted, and (d) a drum coacting with the drum between the rotary drum and the rocking gutter. Incorporating a transmission mechanism with an eccentric cam that converts the rotational movement of the gutter into the swinging movement of the gutter, (e) The vertical swing of the gutter is gradually rotated upward from a steeply inclined state to a gently inclined state, and also from the gently inclined state to an intermediate inclined state which is substantially between the two inclined states, and from the intermediate inclined state to the steeply inclined state (F) In the proper amount control device, the receiving port is rotatably connected to the swing gutter, and the intermediate portion between the receiving port and the discharge port is fixed. A charging chute supported by rollers, (g) the charging chute is connected to the swing gutter in a dogleg shape, (h) the swingable charging chute is Incorporating bridge releasing means, which comprises a plate fixed in a substantially upright state and relatively projecting from the conveying surface, and a receiving slit formed in the closing chute so that the plate can be retracted and retracted, (i) The swinging chute is almost upright Incorporating a plate which projects from a fixed relative conveying surface, a gradual volume control means comprising comprises a receiving slit formed in chute so as to retractably this plate,
(j) The rotating drum of the separation / preliminary posture setting device comprises an inner peripheral surface having a downward inclination in the feed direction and a rotating shaft set substantially horizontally, (k) the individual adjusting device. The individual receiving pocket of the feeding device should be provided with a lifting plate on the rear side in the rotation direction of the drum, which takes a downward-falling posture at the time of discharging. A posture selection plate having an R-shaped cross section that prevents the passage of the sheet, (m) the tact-supporting feeding device includes a vertical conveyance type slat conveyor capable of individually conveying the conveyed object to a target portion,
(n) The tact compatible feeding device appropriately stores the transported objects aligned in an appropriate posture, and, in accordance with the required tact of the next process, an accumulator that individually supplies the aligned transported objects. (A) When a slat conveyor incorporating a permanent magnet is applied to the feeding device corresponding to the tact, the slat conveyor includes a magnetic adsorption slat incorporating a permanent magnet and a non-adsorption slat not incorporating a permanent magnet. (P) When a slat conveyor incorporating a permanent magnet is applied to the tact-compatible feeder, the slat conveyor regulates both end positions of the magnetically attracted non-conveying body and conveys it. It was equipped with a chain cover that can slide in the longitudinal direction of the slats as appropriate, (q) A slat conveyor incorporating a permanent magnet in the tact-compatible feeder. When applied, the magnetic adsorption slat should be provided with a cover formed in a curved surface shape or a spherical shape on the adsorption surface side. When the constituent elements described in (a) to (q) above are applicable, 1 or The feature is that a plurality of elements are selected and combined.

According to the first or fifth aspect of the present invention, since the transported objects are guided little by little to the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum to align the transported objects, the conventional method is used for aligning parts. The vibration (vibration sound) that was present can be eliminated. Further, since the present invention is not a method of vibrating and aligning the transferred objects in this way, the energy consumption of the device required for the alignment is small, and the transferred objects can be efficiently aligned.

According to the second or sixth aspect of the present invention, the transported objects stored in a large amount and in a random state can be taken out in a block state by an appropriate amount such that the subsequent alignment can be efficiently performed. it can. Therefore, the bridging phenomenon after the separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2) can be effectively prevented, which greatly contributes to the elimination of the so-called chocolate stop.

Further, according to the third or seventh aspect of the invention, since the slat conveyor incorporating the permanent magnet is applied when the posture-aligned conveyed body is conveyed to a target processing machine or the like, the conveyed body is transferred. Can be stably held without being involved in ON / OFF of the slat conveyor power supply. Therefore, even when the slat conveyor is restarted, no trouble occurs. Further, since the slat conveyor is a magnet type, it is possible to surely adopt a transfer mode in which one slat sends one transported object, and the transported object is not dropped during the transportation. The slat conveyor itself can also have a buffer function. Further, since the transported object is magnetically attracted and transported, various transportation modes such as a transportation height and a transportation direction can be adopted.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4 or 8, various forms can be adopted according to various conditions such as the shape of the transported object and the installation space of the apparatus. Incidentally, the device for aligning / supplying small parts according to the present invention is applied as a parts feeder, but each device or the like constituting the device for aligning / supplying can be used independently.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION According to the method for aligning and supplying small parts of the present invention, first, small parts (hereinafter, referred to as a transferred object W) stored in a large amount in an irregular state are not aligned afterwards. It is taken out in small blocks (indefinite amount) that can be smoothly done, and in irregular blocks. Then, while the block state is unraveled, the transported objects W are individually aligned and supplied one by one to a target processing machine or the like. In the present invention, the transferred objects W are aligned without vibrating, and therefore, the transferred objects W of the present invention generate a lot of noise and a large amount of energy for vibration when they are aligned for vibration. A relatively heavy unit, which is required, is a suitable target for alignment and supply.

The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments. In the description, after explaining the arrangement / supply device A for small parts according to the present invention, the operation mode of this device will be explained, and at the same time, the arrangement / supply of small parts according to the present invention will be described.
The supply method will be described. In the present invention, in order to loosen the transported object W taken out in a block state on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum and to preliminarily align it,
As the transported object W, it is preferable to mainly roll such as a short hollow pipe (for example, a metal inner pipe of vibration-proof rubber) or a short rod-shaped member, and also in the following description of the embodiments, These will be mainly described. However, the transported object W is not necessarily limited to a member suitable for rolling, and even if it is not suitable for rolling, it can be an alignment / supply target of the present invention (see FIG. 27). . The transferred body W will be described in detail later.

Alignment / supply device A for small parts according to the present invention
Is a receiving / expanding device 1 for storing a large amount of transported objects W in a random state (non-aligned state) and gradually discharging the transported objects W in blocks (indefinite amount).
And a separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 for preliminarily setting the posture while scattering the transported objects W taken out in a block state,
Individual feeding device 3 in which the transported objects W are regularly aligned one by one, and only those in the aligned posture are selected and supplied to the next zone 3.
And a tact-corresponding feeding device 4 for individually feeding the transported objects W after alignment in accordance with a required tact of a target processing machine or the like. And in the present embodiment,
An appropriate amount regulating device 5 for optimizing the amount of the conveyed object W to be extended between the receiving / extending device 1 and the separating / preliminary posture setting device 2.
Is further provided. In this way, the transported object W is subjected to different processing depending on each of the above-described devices, and such a processing site is made to correspond to each device and sequentially,
Incoming / extending zone (Z1), separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z
2), individual feeding zone (Z3), tact compatible feeding zone (Z4),
This is called an appropriate amount regulation zone (Z5). Below, line up
Each device constituting the supply device A will be described.

First, the receiving / extending device 1 will be described.
This is for storing a large amount of transferred objects W in a random state without restricting them as described above, and gradually ejecting a small amount of transferred objects W suitable for the next posture alignment in a block state. The hopper 10 is a main constituent member. Of course, since the hopper 10 alone is only a general storage function, in the present embodiment, the bottom of the hopper 10 is formed in a chute shape, and the inclination angle of the chute is periodically changed, so that the hopper is not changed. A mechanical rocking motion is applied to a part of the transported object W stored in the device 10.

That is, the hopper 10 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, the trough 11 is formed in a so-called ship-bottom shape in which the width becomes narrower toward the bottom, and the bottom of the trough 11 is a swing gutter 12.
It is formed in a chute shape with the 3 side always facing downward. The transported object W in the hopper 10 is the gutter 12
In accordance with the vertical swing of the
The discharge port 13 is preferably slidably formed so that the size of the opening can be adjusted appropriately in order to appropriately adjust the amount of discharge for one time. Further, the configuration in which the hopper 10 is formed in a trough shape and only the gutter 12 corresponding to the bottom of the hopper 10 can be swung is to disperse the weight in the hopper 10 in which the transported object W is stored, This is a configuration for saving the energy required for swinging the gutter 12.

The swing gutter 12 is provided with a rotary shaft 14 serving as a rotary base end on the non-discharge port side, and the discharge port 13 and the rotary shaft 1 are provided.
4 is struck by a push-up roller 15 which can move up and down, thereby causing the gutter 12 to oscillate. That is, the swing gutter 12 is configured to be vertically rotatable about the rotation shaft 14 so that the discharge port 13 side draws an arcuate locus, and when the push-up roller 15 reaches the maximum raised position. In addition, the swing gutter 12 exhibits a gentle inclination state, and when the push-up roller 15 reaches the most lowered position, the swing gutter 12 exhibits a steep inclination state. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the minimum inclination angle at which the transported object W causes the auto-slip to fall is set to an angle in a substantially inclined state. When the push-up roller 15 is moved up and down, the rotary motion of the drum is converted into a vertical reciprocating motion by an eccentric cam that cooperates with a rotary drum, which will be described later.
It is for raising and lowering 5.

In addition, due to the fact that the transferred objects W are small parts, generally in the hopper 10 and the transfer path, the transferred objects W tend to be entangled with each other and stay in the bridge phenomenon. Conventionally, when such a bridging phenomenon occurs, it is not possible to smoothly supply (fall) or carry the transported object W, and to stop the operation of the device in order to cancel the bridging phenomenon, there is a so-called chocolate stop. It was often forced. Therefore, in the present invention,
In addition to making technical ingenuity to prevent the bridging phenomenon as much as possible, we also make technological ingenuity to automatically cancel the bridging phenomenon that may occur.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the swing gutter 12 is formed such that the corners between the side surface and the bottom surface are tapered.
This facilitates the flow of the transported object W and effectively prevents the bridge phenomenon. In the illustrated example, the swing gutter 12 has a double structure (the inner one directly contacting the transported object W is 12a, the other outer one is 12b), and the corner portion of the inner gutter 12a is A taper surface of about 45 ° is formed on the surface. Note that the gutter 12 does not necessarily have to be formed in multiple layers, and a single plate member may be appropriately bent to integrally form a side surface, a bottom surface, and a corner surface tapered surface. Further, the hopper 10 is provided with a bridge releasing means 16 associated with the vertical rotation of the swing gutter 12. The bridge releasing means 16 is a plate 1 fixedly provided here so as to be able to penetrate the gutter 12 below the hopper 10.
7 and a receiving slit 18 formed in the trough 12 so that the plate 17 can be retracted and retracted. Then, as the swing gutter 12 moves up and down, the bridge release plate 1 is released.
7 is configured to relatively project into the hopper 10 and automatically eliminate a bridge phenomenon that may occur in the hopper 10.

By swinging the gutter 12 in this manner, the transported object W located directly above the gutter 12 in the hopper 10 moves toward the discharge port 13 due to the periodic change in the inclination angle of the gutter 12. It is slid relatively, and also gutter 12
The pendulum is vertically moved by its swing, and while the bridge phenomenon is canceled by the plate 17 which relatively projects with the swing, the gravitationally drops in a block state from the discharge port 13 little by little. It should be noted that the small amount here does not necessarily mean that the number of transferred objects W is a fixed number and that the transferred objects W are gradually extended at each swing timing, but rather the process of the next process (posture setting, etc.) can be performed smoothly. It means sending an indeterminate amount intermittently (irregularly).

That is, in general, when the push-up roller 15 descends and the gutter 12 is steeply inclined, the transported object W is
Is gradually extruded in small blocks,
For example, if a bridge phenomenon occurs during conveyance, the conveyed object W is not always ejected even when the push-up roller 15 is lowered, and the bridge phenomenon is eliminated by several swings. At this time, the transported object W is gradually ejected, and the irregularity described above mainly indicates such a case. Incidentally, in the case where the transported object W has a bridge phenomenon, the gutter 12 does not reach the steeply inclined state even when the push-up roller 15 reaches the most lowered position.
It is common to stay in the middle of the process. Incidentally, the present invention intentionally adopts such a non-forced discharge form utilizing gravity, and thereby, the biting of the transported object W is suppressed as much as possible, and the possible bridging phenomenon is eliminated. .

As described above, in the present embodiment, a single member of the hopper 10 is caused to carry out a composite action such as a storing action, a feeding chute action, a bridge releasing action, etc. Output device 1 and then alignment / supply device A
This contributes to the reduction of the total number of constituent members. In addition, as described above, the zone from the time when the transported object W is stored in the hopper 10 by the receiving / expanding device 1 until it is gradually discharged is referred to as a receiving / expanding zone (Z1). .

The transferred objects W taken out little by little from the receiving / expanding device 1 are sent to the separating / preliminary posture setting device 2 as described above, and are appropriately loosened while being loosened here. In the present embodiment, the proper amount regulating device 5 is provided between the receiving / extending device 1 and the separating / preliminary posture setting device 2.
Prior to the description of the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2, the appropriate amount regulation device 5 will be described first. This has almost the same function as that of the receiving / extending device 1, but more positively optimizes the amount of the transferred object W sent from the hopper 10 to the separating / preliminary posture setting device 2. To control. In other words, the amount of the transported object W processed in the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 is set to a substantially constant value (2 as an example).
It is for controlling to 0 to 30 or less), and has as a main member a charging chute 20 for supplying the transported object W taken out from the receiving and feeding device 1 to the appropriate amount regulating device 5.

This charging chute 20 is shown in FIG. 6 as an example.
As shown in FIG. 11, the swing gutter 12 is connected in a dogleg shape, and is formed so as to fold back the feeding direction of the transported object W. Further, the charging chute 20 is configured to perform a front-back swing like a seesaw (in the present specification, the feeding direction of the transported object W is forward or forward) with the vertical swing of the swing trough 12. Here, one end side of the charging chute 20 is rotatably connected to the swing gutter 12. Note that this connecting portion is on the receiving port 21 side of the charging chute 20, and this rotatable connecting portion is referred to as a rotating connecting portion 22.
Then, the charging chute 20 has a fulcrum roller 24 in a fixed state at a portion midway from the receiving port 21 to the discharging port 23 on the other end side.
It is rotatably held by this, and this serves as a rotation fulcrum of the seesaw-like back-and-forth swing of the charging chute 20.

Further, when the swing chute 12 is pushed up by the push-up roller 15 to be in a gentle inclination state due to the connecting form of the throwing chute 20 and the swing gutter 12, the throwing chute 20 is in a steep inclination state. On the other hand, when the swing gutter 12 is in a steep inclination state due to the lowering of the push-up roller 15, the throwing chute 20 is in a gently inclined state, and the swing gutter 12 and the throwing chute 2 are shown.
It is configured so as to take an operating mode in which the directions of 0 and 0 are opposite to each other. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the minimum tilt angle at which the transported object W is allowed to slide on its own axis is set to the angle of the input chute 20 in the gently tilted state. As in the case of the gutter 12, the input chute 20 also has a tapered surface formed at the corner between the side surface and the bottom surface in consideration of the ease of flow of the transported object W, and is shown as an example in FIG. So that the shooting chute 2
0 has a double structure (the inner one is 20a and the outer one is 20b), and a taper surface of about 45 ° is formed at a corner portion of the inner charging chute 20a. Of course, the charging chute 20 does not necessarily have to be formed in multiple layers as in the case of the gutter 12, and one plate member may be appropriately bent to integrally form the side surface, the bottom surface, and the taper surface at the corners. I do not care.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the charging chute 20
Also, in this case, the bridge releasing means 25 associated with the back and forth swinging of this is provided. This bridge releasing means 25
Can have the same structure as the bridge releasing means 16 in the hopper 10, and for example, as shown in FIG. 6 together, a plate 26 fixedly provided so as to be able to penetrate the charging chute 20, and this plate. The receiving slit 2 formed in the charging chute 20 so as to be capable of receiving 26 in a retractable manner.
It comprises 7 and. And throwing chute 20
The bridge phenomenon that the plate 26 for releasing the bridge relatively projects from the bottom portion of the charging chute 20 due to the back-and-forth swinging of the hopper 10 and may occur in the lump-shaped transferred body W that is drawn out from the discharge port 13 of the hopper 10. It effectively cancels it.

Further, in this embodiment, the charging chute 20 is used.
With the back-and-forth swinging, the delivery amount control means 28 for more positively controlling the delivery amount of the transported object W sent to the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 in the subsequent stage is provided. The extension amount control means 28 can also have the same structure as the bridge releasing means 16 and 25, and is provided in a fixed state so as to be able to penetrate the charging chute 20 as shown in FIG. 6 as an example. And a receiving slit 30 formed in the charging chute 20 so that the plate 29 can be retractably received. Then, as the closing chute 20 swings back and forth, the plate 29 for controlling the amount of protrusion relatively projects from the bottom of the closing chute 20, and in this projected state, the feeding of the transported object W is temporarily stopped, and the latter stage The amount of supply (supply amount) to the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 is adjusted (see FIG. 7).

The bridge releasing means 25 and the squeezing amount control means 28 in the charging chute 20 are the same as the charging chute 2
According to the swinging back and forth of 0, it is made to act alternately. Specifically, the closing chute 20 is gently tilted, in other words, the gutter 12 is steeply tilted, and the bridge release means 25 is actuated in a state where the transported object W is gradually ejected from the hopper 10. On the other hand, the charging chute 20 is operated. Is steeply inclined, and when the appropriate amount of the transferred object W is supplied to the next separation / preliminary posture setting device 2, the gradual amount control means 28 is operated. For this reason, the bridge releasing means 25 and the squeeze-out amount control means 28 are provided on the receiving port 21 side and the ejection port 23 side, respectively, with the fulcrum roller 24 in between.

In this embodiment, the trough 11 of the hopper 10 is connected to the gutter 12 and the gutter 12 and the throw chute 2 are connected.
For connection with 0, as shown in FIG. 5 as an example, the upper member is formed wide. That is, the gutter 12 is fitted inside the trough 11, and the throwing chute 20 is fitted inside the gutter 12.
By adopting such a structure, the transported object W by the swinging of the gutter 12 and the throwing chute 20 is adopted.
It is intended to suppress the biting of the.

With the above-described structure, the transported object W that is gradually ejected from the hopper 10 to the charging chute 20 is slid relatively in the direction of the discharge port 23 due to the periodic change in the inclination angle of the charging chute 20. Also, the closing chute 20 itself is subjected to forward and backward swinging (an operation that is reversely inclined with respect to the swing gutter 12), and the bridge releasing action and the appropriate amount grading action that accompany the forward and backward swinging of the closing chute 20 are alternately received. As a result, the transported object W is gradually ejected to the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 in a more suitable amount of block state. In addition, the appropriate amount here is not necessarily the fixed number of the transported objects W,
Instead of sending at the timing, as in the case of the receiving / supplying device 1, the loosening of the next process and the setting of the preparatory posture, etc. are constantly and intermittently sent in an amount (indefinite amount) so that they can be performed smoothly. ) Means that. That is, in order to maintain the throughput of the transferred objects W in the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 within a substantially fixed amount (about 20 to 30 as an example), the transferred objects W are sent little by little. The transported objects W to be transported are, for example, in the form of nodules of about 3 to 5 each.

As described above, the charging chute 20 mainly has a chute action for charging the transferred object W into the separating / preliminary posture setting device 2 in the subsequent stage. It also has a composite function of temporarily stopping the feeding of the transported object W and positively controlling the amount of protrusion, and the like, which also serves to release the bridge.
As a result, it contributes to the reduction of the number of constituent members of the alignment / supply device A as a whole. Further, as described above, the transported object W is
The zone in which the gradual amount is controlled by the appropriate amount regulation device 5 and sent out is referred to as an appropriate amount regulation zone (Z5).

Next, the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 will be described. This is for preliminarily setting the posture of the transported object W that has been laid out in a block state from the appropriate amount regulation device 5 while loosening it, and in the present invention, the rotary drum 33 is the main member. The object W to be conveyed is introduced into the inner peripheral surface 34 of this, and the above processing is performed. The rotating drum 33 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The rotating shaft 35 is set to be substantially horizontal, and the inner peripheral surface 3
4 is formed in a tapered shape having a tendency to expand toward the front. The transported object W such as a short pipe introduced on the inner peripheral surface 34 of the drum rolls (spins) on the inner peripheral surface 34 because the drum rotates. At this time, due to the rotary drum 33 being formed in a tapered shape, the drum inner peripheral surface 34 contacting both end edges (front and rear ends) of the transported object W.
A difference in peripheral speed is generated, the front end having a high peripheral speed is swung, and the transported object W is gradually transported forward (see FIG. 9). The forward feed speed of the transported object W is set to the rotary drum 3
It is possible to properly adjust the rotational speed of the inner peripheral surface 3 and the inclination degree of the inner peripheral surface 34.

Of course, the object W to be conveyed is the charging chute 20.
When they are supplied by sliding down, they are thrown onto the drum inner peripheral surface 34 in a state where the axial direction is random, and there are things that interfere with each other or the rolling axis is disturbed. It is conceivable to take various flow forms, such as retreating to. However, the transported object W gradually rolls along the rotary shaft 35 of the rotary drum 33 while being rotated by the drum, and the tendency to feed in the forward direction is gradually given. Mostly.
Then, the transported body W is effectively loosened in the lump state at the beginning of charging while adopting such a flow form, and is gradually preliminarily set in a posture substantially along the rotation axis 35 direction.

In order to always and smoothly perform such processing on the rotary drum 33, it is preferable to control the number of the transported objects W processed in the drum to about 20 to 30 or less. In the form of
0 is responsible for this action. Incidentally, when the amount of the transported object W introduced into the rotary drum 33 becomes excessive,
The transported object W is not accelerated in rotation and tends to drop while rotating with the rotating drum 33, and the loosening and pre-alignment tend to be somewhat lower than the optimum state. It has been confirmed by the applicant of the present invention that when the conveyed object W is advanced by the rotary drum 33, the last one can be surely ejected although there is a time lag.

As described above, the rotary drum 33 has a combined function of unraveling the transported object W put in the block state and performing preliminary attitude setting.
This contributes to the reduction of the number of components of the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 and the alignment / supply device A as a whole. Further, as described above, the zone W in which the block state is separated and the posture is preliminarily set by the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 is separated / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2).
It is what

Here, the rotary motion of the rotary drum 33 is guttered 12.
The transmission mechanism 6 for converting into the swinging motion will be described. The transmission mechanism 6 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a sprocket 38 fixedly attached to the rotary drum 33.
And an eccentric cam 39 that cooperates with the sprocket 38,
An oscillating body 40 that moves up and down as the eccentric cam 39 rotates is provided. Although the eccentric cam 39 has a substantially circular outer periphery, a mounting hole 41 for the sprocket 38 is formed in a long hole shape. When the eccentric cam 39 is attached to the sprocket 38, the eccentric cam 39 is attached in a floating state by passing a bolt or the like through the attachment hole 41 and then screwing the bolt into the sprout. With such a mounting method, the eccentric cam 39 is configured to be movable up and down by about twice the dimension of the long hole of the mounting hole 41. Although the central portion of the eccentric cam 39 is opened in a relatively large long hole state, this is an opening for avoiding interference with the charging chute 20. Incidentally, this also applies to the sprocket 38 and the like.

Here, the center of the eccentric cam 39 with respect to the outer peripheral shape is the center position C, and the position eccentric with respect to the outer peripheral shape is the eccentric position E. The eccentric cam 39 has the center position C and the eccentric position E. Both are formed so as to be rotatable about their axes (centers of rotation). Therefore, the mounting hole 41
Is formed in a long hole shape with reference to both the center position C and the eccentric position E. In the mounting hole 41, the part with the center position C as the reference has the center part 41C and the eccentric position E as the reference. The part is the eccentric part 41E. The oscillating body 40 is supported on the upper and lower portions of the eccentric cam 39 by the support roller 42, and the other support roller 43.
Is also guided by a guide rail 44 which is provided substantially vertically. Therefore, the oscillating body 40 is attached in a state in which only vertical movement is permitted, and the oscillating body 40 moves up and down as the eccentric cam 39 rotates. Further, the rocking body 40 has a push-up roller 15 for raising and lowering the gutter 12 of the hopper 10 mounted on the upper portion in a freely rotating state.

The operation mode in which the eccentric cam 39 converts the rotary motion of the drum into the vertical reciprocating motion of the gutter 12 will be described in detail later, but the eccentric cam 39 rotates about the eccentric position E as an axis. The oscillating body 40 is gradually raised during the interval, and the oscillating body 40 is not moved up and down while the eccentric cam 39 is rotating around the central position C as the axis, and the axial center is at the central position C.
To the eccentric position E, or when the eccentric position E is switched to the central position C, the oscillating body 40 is lowered all at once by about the size of the long hole (see FIG. 11). As described above, in the present embodiment, the vertical swing of the gutter 12 is caused by the eccentric cam 39 having the elongated hole. Therefore, when the gutter 12 is rotated downward, the gutter 12 is substantially moved at the push-up roller 15 position. The holes are dropped all at once, and this drop impact can effectively cancel the bridging phenomenon of the transported object W (mainly located directly above the gutter 12) in the hopper 10. . Of course, this drop impact is also transmitted to the throw-in chute 20 through the gutter 12, so that the bridge of the throw-in chute 2 can be expected to be eliminated.

Next, the individual feeding device 3 will be described. This is one in which the transported objects W that have been appropriately loosened are aligned one by one in a desired posture and are individually supplied to the tact-corresponding feeder 4 in the subsequent stage. After the postures of the body W are selected, those in a non-aligned posture also have a function of returning to the separation / preliminary posture setting device 2 side of the previous stage. As shown in FIG. 12 as an example, the individual feeding device 3 has an annular individual alignment drum 47 provided in communication with the rotary drum 33 in the preceding stage as a main member, and the inner circumference of the drum is adjusted. Let the surface be 48, and the rotating shaft provided in the substantially horizontal direction be 49. In order to align the transported objects W, the transported objects W are guided to the inner peripheral surface 48 of the drum and aligned as in the rotating drum 33.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14 by way of example, the individual receiving pockets 50 formed on the peripheral surface of the individual aligning drum 47 receive the transported objects W sent from the rotating drum 33 one by one. The guided object W that has been received is guided from the inner side to the outer side of the drum peripheral surface, and, as an example, via the individual transfer chute 51 that is formed in an inclined state (downward from the front) of about 15 °, the tact-corresponding feeding device 4 in the subsequent stage. It is to be sent individually. Of course, individual receiving pocket 50
Is preferably formed in a direction in which the rotary drum 33 at the preceding stage preliminarily sets the transported object W, that is, substantially along the rotary shaft 49 of the drum. However, the transported object W sent from the rotating drum 33 is not necessarily the rotating shaft 4
9 is not the only one, so that such a transferred object W can be more reliably received in the individual receiving pocket 50, the receiving guide surface in a state of expanding toward the drum inner side around the pocket portion. It is preferable to form 50a. When forming the receiving guide surface 50a, a lining 48a made of rubber or the like is lined on the inner peripheral surface 48 of the drum, and the tapered portion formed around the pocket portion in the lining 48a can be used as the receiving guide surface 50a. Is. Further, in the present embodiment, the individual receiving pockets 50 are formed on the peripheral surface of the drum at eighteen intervals (so-called eight equal distribution) at 45 ° intervals, but this can be changed as appropriate.

Due to such an individual feeding mode, a bearing guide plate 52 for covering the individual receiving pocket 50 is stretched around the outer lower half of the individual aligning drum 47. The object to be transferred W received in the pocket part near the bottom of the drum by the plate 52 is prevented from being discharged midway, and is reliably held and transferred to the individual transfer chute 51 installed at the end of the bearing guide plate 52. Is. The portion to which the support guide plate 52 is attached is used as an individual receiving action area, and the individual receiving action area is set in the individual delivery chute 51 after the transported object W is individually received in the pocket portion. Although it shows a region until it is transferred, in the present embodiment, the bottom of the drum is largely included, and substantially the lower half of the individual aligning drum 47 is the individual receiving operation region, and the bearing guide plate 52 is provided therebetween. . This is because the receiving of the transported object W by the pocket portion is not necessarily limited to the drum bottom portion, and can be received even at a height position substantially the same as that of the rotating shaft 49.

In the individual transfer chute 51, as shown in FIG. 14 as an example, the guide portions 51a for restricting both sides of the transported object W are narrowed in the feeding direction (individually). The transfer chute 51 is formed substantially symmetrically with respect to the center line of the transfer chute 51. This is a suitable structure for automatic centering during the transfer of the transported object W to the tact-supporting feeder 4. The reason for this will be described in the tact-supporting feeder 4. Further, the support guide plate 52 and the like including the individual transfer chute 51 are preferably formed so that the discharge position of the transported object W, the chute angle and the like can be adjusted appropriately.

Further, in the individual alignment drum 47, as shown in FIG. 8 at least, the inner peripheral surface 48 on the rotary drum 33 side is formed in substantially the same inclined state in which the taper of the rotary drum 33 is continued. It is preferable. This is because the forward feeding tendency given to the transported object W from the rotating drum 33 is
The reason is that the individual alignment drum 47 is also continued to more reliably send the transported object W to the individual receiving pocket 50. Of course, in the individual alignment drum 47, the rotating drum 3
As shown in FIG. 12, the end surface side that opposes 3 is closed by the abutting plate 53 and receives the transported object W sent by the drum. Butt plate 5
It is preferable that 3 can be easily removed by a butterfly bolt or the like screwed to the peripheral edge of the individual alignment drum 47.

The individual receiving pocket 50 is, as shown in FIG.
A lifting plate 54 that takes a downward-falling posture when ejecting
On the opposite side, that is, on the front side in the drum rotation direction, a posture selection plate 55 having a substantially R-shaped cross section is provided.
In many cases, the transported object W located on the inner peripheral surface of the individual alignment drum 47 rolls along the pocket portion (rotating shaft 49), and therefore the transported object W in this state The sheet is guided to the individual receiving pocket 50 by being guided by the sorting plate 55, held by the lifting plate 54 and the support guide plate 52, and conveyed to the individual delivery chute 51. At the root peripheral surface portion of the lifting plate 54, the backward transport preventing portion 5 is arranged so as not to return the transported object W in the aligned posture once received in the pocket portion to the inside of the drum during rotational transportation or discharge.
6 is preferably formed. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the reverse feed preventing portion 56 is formed by a part of the drum winding main body (annular member 47a described later).

In the drum, very rarely, the transported object W in a non-aligned posture, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is conceivable that there is something that enters the drum approximately in the centrifugal direction (radial direction) with respect to the pocket portion. However, such a transported object W is dropped and returned to the inside of the drum when the posture selection plate 55 prevents passage from the pocket portion in the outer peripheral direction and reaches the upper side by the rotation of the drum. It should be noted that the abutting plate 53 is provided with a reverse return body 57 for returning the transported body W to the rotary drum 33 side in consideration of the presence of the transported body W that has been dropped back. . The reverse return body 57 is provided on the rotary drum 33.
It is formed in a taper shape having a smaller diameter toward, and is preferably formed of a material such as rubber so as to absorb a drop impact of the transported object W and suppress a drop sound as much as possible.

As described above, the posture selection of the transported body W is mainly performed by the posture sorting plate 55, and the passage of the transported body W is determined by the shape and size of the cross section R of the posture sorting plate 55. , The individual receiving pocket 50 is determined by the peripheral size of the opening and the like. With respect to the transported object W itself, when the transported object W is a short hollow pipe, the one having a shorter length dimension than the outer diameter dimension is more likely to pass through the individual receiving pocket 50. The posture selection of the transported object W becomes more difficult. For this reason, the cross-section R of the posture selection plate 55, the opening circumferential dimension of the pocket portion, and the like are such that the length dimension L of the transported object W and the outer diameter dimension φ are substantially equal (FIG. 1).
It is formed to the extent that it does not pass up to the two-dot chain line in 4). Incidentally, in the case of the transported object W in which the length dimension L and the outer diameter dimension φ are substantially equal to each other, it can be expected that the drum in the preceding stage received in the pocket portion can smoothly roll.

As shown in FIG. 13 as an example, the individual alignment drum 47 has a double ring structure in which a lifting plate 54 and a posture selection plate 55 are attached to separate annular members. 4 annular member to which is attached
7a, an annular member 47 to which the attitude selection plate 55 is attached
b. And in this Embodiment, the annular member 47b which attached the attitude | position selection board 55 is attached to the outer side of the annular member 47a which attached the lifting plate 54, and this outer annular member 47b is formed in two parts, and it is easy. I am trying to attach it. The two annular members 47a,
In order to further improve the assembling property of 47b, a nut for attaching the lifting plate 54 or the like may be welded to the drum inner peripheral surface 48 and embedded in the lined lining 48a. This allows the two annular members 47
When assembling a and 47b, the lifting plate 54 does not become an obstacle, and the lifting plate 54 can be attached later. Further, by adopting such a double ring structure for the individual alignment drum 47, even when a plurality of pockets are formed at the time of setup change, the opening peripheral dimension of the pockets, that is, the lifting plate 54 and the posture selection plate 55. The gap between and can be set at once to the target diameter dimension of the transferred body W.

The annular member 47b to which the posture selecting plate 55 is attached does not necessarily have to be formed in two parts, and this case will be described below. First, the annular member 47b is
As an example, as shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of posture selection plates 55 are attached in a cantilever state only to a plate-shaped ring member 58 having no winding cylinder. The plate-shaped ring member 58 is provided with a long hole 58 at a portion that does not interfere with the posture selection plate 55.
a is formed, and a wing bolt 59A or the like is made to penetrate therethrough and screwed into the annular member 47a. With this, the plate-shaped ring member 58 is configured to be rotatable in an appropriate length, and the opening peripheral dimension of the individual receiving pocket 50 can be adjusted. Due to adopting such a form, the ring member 47a on the other side is provided with a ring 59B screwed to the butterfly bolt 59A or the like on the attachment side (abutting plate 53 side) of the inner peripheral portion by welding or the like. It is attached. In addition, this butterfly bolt 59A is used for individually aligning the abutting plate 53 with the individual alignment drum 4
It is possible to divert the bolt attached to 7. With such a mounting structure, the plate ring member 58 (annular member 47b) can be inserted and removed very easily even if the lifting plate 54 is previously attached to the annular member 47a. It should be noted that the posture selection plate 55 may be replaced depending on the dimension in the longitudinal direction, the outer diameter dimension, etc. depending on the transported and aligned objects W to be aligned and supplied.
Is preferably a detachable mounting method using a bolt or the like.

As described above, in the present invention, the transported object W aligned in the desired posture is taken out from the inside of the peripheral surface of the rotating drum to the outside.
Such a take-out method has a particularly new technical idea as a parts feeder. That is, even in the existing parts feeder, a method itself of guiding the parts to the inner peripheral portion of the rotating drum and aligning the parts substantially in the rotation axis direction of the drum has been conventionally devised. However, conventionally, in a parts feeder to which such a rotating drum is applied, a claw member (lifting member) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the drum scoops the parts as the drum rotates to align them in a desired posture. In most cases, when the parts are taken out, the parts are slid down and taken out after reaching a proper position (for example, the upper part in the drum) by the rotation of the drum. In addition, as described above, the transported objects W are individually set by the individual feeding apparatus 3 in appropriate postures, and the individually fed zones are individually fed feeding zones (Z3).

Next, the tact handling feeder 4 will be described. This is one that individually supplies the transported objects W that have been aligned in accordance with the required tact of a dedicated machine (processing machine) in the subsequent stage, and as an example, as shown in FIGS. It comprises a slat conveyor 60 that mainly conveys W to a desired portion, and an accumulation / cutout conveyor 61 that appropriately stores the transported object W that has been conveyed to the desired portion and individually supplies it to a dedicated machine at appropriate timing. It is a thing. Here, the "request takt time for a dedicated machine" means the transported object W.
Is a general term for the feeding posture, individual feeding (feeding form), feeding timing (feeding interval), feeding height (feeding position) to a dedicated machine, etc. It is designed to be supplied according to the working mode of the dedicated machine. Each conveyor will be described below.

First, the slat conveyor 60 will be described. This type is a magnetic type that attracts and conveys the transported object W by magnetic force, or the transported object W in a bucket container.
A bucket type or the like in which the magnets are inserted and conveyed can be adopted, but in the present embodiment, a magnet type slat conveyor 60 to which a permanent magnet is applied is applied. Of course, due to the application of such a magnet type conveyor, it is premised that the transported object W itself is a magnetic material such as iron, nickel, or a plastic containing these. By applying the magnetic type slat conveyor 60, it is possible to surely receive (adsorb) the conveyed objects W one by one, and it is easy to return the highest position of the slat conveyor 60 and convey it downward. It can be done. Further, by applying a permanent magnet, for example, the power supply of the slat conveyor 60 is turned ON-O.
The transported object W can be securely adsorbed and held without being involved in the FF, and no trouble occurs when restarting.

The slat conveyor 60 is shown in FIG. 1 as an example.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 17, a sprocket 62 rotated by a motor or the like, a chain 63 wound around the sprocket 62 to form an endless track, a large number of slats 64 attached to the chain 63 by bolts or the like, and a chain 63. And a take-out chute 66 for taking out the transported object W from the slat conveyor 60 and passing it to the accumulation / cut-out conveyor 61. In this embodiment, the individual slats 64
Are arranged substantially horizontally, and the transported object W is lifted and transported in a substantially vertical direction. However, this can be appropriately changed according to the supply mode of a dedicated machine or the like. For example, referring to FIG. As shown in the figure, various forms can be adopted such as transporting the transported object W in a substantially horizontal direction.

As shown in FIG. 16 together, the slat 64 alone includes two permanent magnets 67, a yoke (yoke) 68 having a U-shaped cross section for mounting the permanent magnets 67, and a magnet exposed surface in the housed state. Cover 69 (formed of a non-magnetic material) for closing the
The cover 69 is made up of
It serves as a suction surface that substantially magnetically guides (inner pipe, etc.). The arrangement of the permanent magnets 67 mounted in the U-shaped recess 70 of the yoke 68 is such that magnetic poles different from each other are oriented toward the attracting surface, whereby magnetic force lines are formed in the longitudinal direction of the yoke 68. There is. The yoke 68 is formed in a U-shaped cross-section because the permanent magnet 67 forms a magnetic flux in the yoke 68, and magnetic poles opposite to the magnet (adsorption surface side magnetic pole) are formed at both ends sandwiching the magnet. This is to enhance the magnetic attraction force of the transported body W. Further, the object W to be attracted by the cover 69 can be stably attracted and held substantially in the center of the U-shaped recess 70 by the opposite magnetic pole formed at the end of the yoke 68.

Further, in the present embodiment, the permanent magnet 67 is
Flat square column member (40 mm x 20 mm x 1 as an example
It is about 0 mm), and N / S magnetic poles are formed on the front and back of the flat surface, and the magnetic poles are mounted with the surfaces facing the attracting surface. Therefore, when the slat 64 is directly viewed from the direction of the attracting surface, the magnetic flux concentrates on the central portions of both permanent magnets 67. Here, as an example, as shown in FIG. 18A, the transported object W is transferred in a state where it is centered with respect to the slats 64, that is, in a state where the central portions of the transported object W and the slats 64 are substantially aligned. If carried out, the sucked transferred object W is
The magnetic flux passing through the inside is stable (concentrated), and other transported objects W
(Other transferred objects W waiting for the next transfer on the individual transfer chute 51) are not adsorbed in a co-fishing manner. However, the transported object W is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), when the individual transfer chute 51 is attracted and transferred in a state of being biased to one end side of the slat 64, the concentration of the magnetic flux passing through the inside of the transported object W is disturbed. Depending on the amount of deviation, other transferred objects W waiting on the chute are adsorbed in a co-fishing manner, causing one-end adsorption, dango-shaped adsorption, etc., so that individual transfer of the transferred objects W cannot be performed. is there. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the transported object W is centered on the slat 64 on the individual transfer chute 51 and then transferred to the slat conveyor 60 (see FIG. 14).

Further, in the present embodiment, an empty non-adsorption slat having no permanent magnet 67 is prepared for such a magnetic adsorption slat 64 (if it is necessary to distinguish the two, magnetic Adsorption slats are 64A and non-adsorption slats are 64B). When arranging these, one or a plurality of non-adsorption slats 64B are interposed between the magnetic adsorption slats 64A. By adopting such an arrangement form, when the transported object W adsorbed to the slat conveyor 60 is removed by the take-out chute 66, it can be easily removed by only blocking the feeding of the transported object W. That is, magnetic adsorption slats 6
As shown in FIG. 17, when the feed chute 66 prevents the conveyed object W adsorbed by 4A from sliding, it relatively slides on the cover 69, which is an adsorption surface,
It moves to the next non-adsorption slat 64B side, and the adsorption is released very easily. Of course slats 6
Since the transported object W attracted to the magnet 4 is magnetized by the magnetic pole opposite to the permanent magnet 67, the distance between the transported objects W can be increased by inserting some non-adsorption slats 64B between the magnetic adsorption slats 64A. Is appropriately secured, and the generation of attractive force between the transported objects W can be eliminated.

The magnetic adsorption slat 64A is attached to the chain 6
When installing on 3, one side of the slat 64,
The permanent magnets 67 are attached so that the same magnetic poles are directed (in the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the S pole is arranged on the right side and the N pole is arranged on the left side). by this,
For example, as shown in FIG.
When there is a transported object W that is accidentally adsorbed so as to straddle B, this has the same magnetic poles at both ends (in this case,
Since it is magnetized to the N pole), it is expected that self-correction will be performed in which the cover 69 is rotated about 90 ° and automatically corrected to the aligned posture along the longitudinal direction of the slat 64. Of course, the magnetic attraction slat 64A may also have a mounting form in which the magnetic poles of the permanent magnets 67 are alternately (alternately) arranged. It is conceivable that the magnetic poles at both ends are different from each other and are strongly attracted and held while straddling. For this reason, such a transferred object W cannot be expected to be self-corrected, and it is desirable that the transferred object W is reliably transferred in an aligned posture along the longitudinal direction of the slat 64 when it is received from the individual transfer chute 51.

Further, in the present embodiment, the transported object W is centered on the individual transfer chute 51 and then transferred to the slat conveyor 60. However, the chain cover 65 mainly prevents foreign matter from being caught. In, it is possible to finely adjust the centering.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 19 as an example, the chain cover 65 is formed so as to have a narrow width in the transport direction, and the center position of the transported object W is deviated so that it is attracted to the slats 64. Also, the chain cover 65 and the transported body W contact each other during transportation, and the transported body W is relatively moved in the longitudinal direction of the slat 64 for automatic centering. Of course, the transferred object W by the chain cover 65
The relative slide of is not limited to the fine adjustment of the centering of the transported object W, but is performed when the transported object W is positively biased with respect to the slat 64 in accordance with the required tact time of the processing machine or the like. Is also a method that can be adopted. The take-out chute 66 is the accumulation / cutout conveyor 61.
Toward the end, the slat conveyor 60 is formed under such a simple structure because the slat conveyor 60 described above is a magnetic attraction type. Is.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the object W to be conveyed is adsorbed and conveyed by the magnetic adsorption slat 64A.
The slat conveyor 60 has a so-called buffer function (holding function) capable of appropriately adjusting the number of revolutions of the sprocket 62, and thus the slat conveyor 60 itself can balance the storage amount of the transported object W in the subsequent accumulation / cutout conveyor 61. is there.

Next, the accumulation / cutout conveyor 61 will be described. As shown in FIG. 17 as an example, this is one in which the conveyed objects W whose suction has been released by the take-out chute 66 are appropriately stored and are sent (cut out) one by one to a dedicated machine or the like at an appropriate timing. In the present embodiment, the extraction chute 66 is provided with a demagnetizing coil 71 and an individual feeding device 72.
The taking-out chute 66 is responsible for the appropriate amount of storage action.

The demagnetizing coil 71 is a coil for generating an alternating magnetic field, and erases the magnetism of the transported object W by allowing the transported object W magnetically attracted and transported in this magnetic field to pass through. Is. That is, the transferred objects W may be slightly magnetized by the magnetic force of the slat conveyor 60 in the preceding stage. For example, when the transferred objects W are stored as they are, the transferred objects W are magnetically attracted to each other and cannot be individually fed. Is concerned. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the transported body W immediately after being taken out from the slat conveyor 60 is allowed to pass through the demagnetization coil 71, thereby returning the magnetization of the transported body W to the initial value. I am trying.

The individual feeding device 72 cuts out the transported objects W one by one into a dedicated machine or the like, and a gate type device is applied as shown in FIG. By the way, here, a pair of gates are alternately projected so as to sandwich one of the transported objects W waiting for alignment which is first supplied to the dedicated machine or the like, and detects the signal tact from the dedicated machine. At that time, the gates are operated to individually feed the transported objects W to a dedicated machine or the like. The individual feeding device 72 may be a rotary type other than the gate protruding type. Further, as described above, the zone in which the transported object W is fed by the tact handling feeder 4 one by one to a dedicated machine or the like is designated as tact feeding (Z4).

An example of the alignment / supply device A according to the present invention is
The apparatus configured as described above is explained below, and the method of arranging and supplying the small parts of the present invention will be explained together with the operation mode of the apparatus. (1) Storage in hopper For example, in the case where inner pipes cut into a substantially constant length are aligned by the main aligning / feeding device A and supplied to a dedicated machine for end face cutting, as an example, 5.5 m A large number of transferred objects W, which have been cut to a suitable length of about 50 mm from a drawn steel pipe, are stored in a large amount in the hopper 10 in a random state. As described above, in the present invention, a large number of objects W to be aligned / supplied are first transferred to the receiving / extending zone.
After being randomly stored in the hopper 10 of (Z1), substantial alignment / supply work is started.

(2) Receiving / extending zone (Z1) (i) Elevating / lowering operation of the oscillating body due to the eccentric cam When the transferred object W is taken out in small blocks from the hopper 10, it corresponds to the bottom of the hopper 10. The gutter 12 is swung up and down. The gutter 12 is held by a push-up roller 15 attached to the swinging body 40 in a freely rotating state, and the swinging of the gutter 12 occurs as the swinging body 40 moves up and down. The operation of moving the swinging body 40 up and down by the eccentric cam 39 will be described.

In the description, the operation will be described from the state where the gutter 12 is steeply inclined and the oscillating body 40 is located at the bottom dead center, that is, the state of the eccentric cam 39 shown in FIG. 11 (a '). To do. The eccentric cam 39 shown in FIG.
Is the eccentric position E, the sprocket 38 and the rotary drum 33.
Etc., and the mounting hole 41 has its long hole direction oriented substantially vertically. Further, a bolt or the like that is screwed to the sprocket 38 and attaches the eccentric cam 39 in a floating state is relatively biased to the upper end of the attachment hole 41 (here, the eccentric portion 41E). At this time, the eccentric position E
To the upper end of the outer circumference of the eccentric cam 39, that is, the distance from the eccentric position E to the upper support roller 42 is the shortest, so that the oscillating body 40 exhibits the bottom dead center state in this state.

In this state, the eccentric cam 39 is gradually rotated clockwise with the eccentric position E as the axis, and FIGS. Incidentally, Fig. (B) is about 90 ° from the state of Fig. (A '), Fig. (C) is about 135 ° from the state of Fig. (A'), and Fig. (D) is about 180 from the state of Fig. (A '). The figure shows a state of being rotated. From this figure, with the rotation of the eccentric cam 39, the distance from the eccentric position E to the upper support roller 42 gradually increases, as shown in FIG.
It turns out that it will be the longest. Therefore, the oscillating body 40 supported by the supporting roller 42 gradually rises as the eccentric cam 39 rotates during this period.

In the state shown in FIG. 7D, the mounting hole 41 is in a state in which the direction of the long hole is substantially vertical, and the eccentric cam 3 is
A bolt or the like for attaching 9 to the floating state is located at the lower end of the elongated hole (here, the eccentric portion 41E). As a result, the eccentric cam 39 drops at a stroke by the size of the long hole without continuing the state of FIG.
Immediately, the state shown in FIG. That is, the eccentric cam 39
Moves downward so as to match the shaft center from the eccentric position E to the center position C, and the bolt or the like is positioned relatively to the upper end of the slot (here, the center portion 41C),
As a result, the gutter 12 is dropped through the oscillating body 40, and an impact that contributes to bridge elimination and the like is given.

Further, the eccentric cam 39 is gradually rotated about the center position C as an axis from the state shown in FIG. 9 (d '). Become. By the way, Figure (e) is about 90 ° from the state of Figure (d '), Figure (f)
Shows a state of being rotated by about 135 ° from the state of FIG. (D '), and FIG. (A) shows a state of being rotated by about 180 ° from the state of FIG. Since the eccentric cam 39 rotates while the center position C with respect to the substantially circular shape of the outer circumference is matched with the shaft center of the sprocket 38, the rotating drum 33, and the like, the upper support roller 42 does not move vertically. So during this time,
The rocking body 40 does not move up and down, and the inclination of the gutter 12 is also maintained substantially constant.

The state of FIG. 10A is the same as the state of FIG. 9D, and the eccentric cam 39 does not maintain this state, but falls almost the length of the long hole at once, and immediately. The state shown in FIG. That is, the eccentric cam 39 is wholly lowered again so that the shaft center is aligned with the eccentric position E from the center position C, and the gutter 12 is dropped again via the rocking body 40 accordingly. By repeating such an operation, the rotary cam 39 gradually raises when the rocking body 40 is raised, and when the rocking body 40 is lowered, the rotary cam 39 is divided into two stages at a time, which is approximately the length of the mounting hole 41. Take the form of raising and lowering. The oscillating body 40 has a top dead center in the state of FIG. (D) (it becomes a gently inclined state as the gutter 12), and its height difference is higher than that of the bottom dead center of FIG. It can be seen that this is about twice the size of the long hole of the hole 41. Incidentally, the oscillating body 40 maintains an almost intermediate position between the top dead center and the bottom dead center in the states of (d ') to (f) and (a), and at this time, the oscillating gutter 12 is suddenly moved. An almost intermediate state between the inclined state and the gently inclined state is shown (this state is referred to as an intermediate inclined state).

(Ii) Swinging operation of the gutter associated with the swinging body Due to the raising and lowering operation of the swinging body 40, the swinging gutter 12 reciprocally rotates about the rotating shaft 14 with a substantially constant amplitude. is there. Specifically, the upward rotation of the swing gutter 12 that changes from a steeply inclined state to a gently inclined state is gradually performed (see FIG. 1).
1 (a ') to (d)), the swing gutter 12 is changed from a gently tilted state to an intermediate tilted state, and descending rotation is performed all at once (corresponding to (d) to (d') in the figure). , After this intermediate inclination state is maintained for a while ((d ')-(f)-(a) in FIG.
When the swing gutter 12 changes from the intermediate tilted state to the steeply tilted state, the descending rotation is performed all at once (corresponding to (a) to (a ′) in the figure).

(Iii) Releasing the bridge in the hopper due to the swing of the gutter Further, in this embodiment, the swing gutter 12 is provided in a fixed state as shown in FIG. The plate 17 is relatively projected from the receiving slit 18 of the gutter 12 to effectively cancel the bridging phenomenon of the transported object W located inside the hopper 10, particularly above the gutter 12. Specifically, when the gutter 12 is in a gently inclined state, the plate 17
Of the plate 17 when the gutter 12 is in a steeply tilted state, and the plate 17 is made to hardly protrude from the receiving slit 18.
Is projected from the receiving slit 18 to push up the transported object W which is apt to cause the bridging phenomenon, and the transported object W is released.

(Iv) Flow of Transported Object in Hopper The transportable object W stored in the hopper 10 is formed in the trough shape of the hopper 10 itself. In addition to having a tendency to flow toward the side, as the swing gutter 12 descends toward the discharge port 13 side,
Inevitably, a tendency toward the discharge port 13 is also given. In addition to such a feeding tendency, the transported object W in the hopper 10 has a vertical movement from the swing gutter 12, relative sliding to the discharge port 13 side by the swing gutter 12, and a swing gutter 12. In response to the impact of the downward rotation, the discharge port 13 is blocked in small blocks.
To the throw-in chute 20. At this time, of course, the bridge phenomenon is also canceled by the downward impact of the swing gutter 12.

(3) Appropriate amount regulation zone (Z5) (i) The transferred object W which is gradually extruded in a block state little by little from the discharge opening 13 of the seesaw-like front-back swing hopper 10 of the charging chute is in the proper amount regulation zone (Z5). ) Is sent to the input chute 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the throw-in chute 20 performs a seesaw-like back-and-forth swing using a fulcrum roller 24 as a swing fulcrum, and adopts a swing mode in which the swing chute 12 is in a reversely inclined state. Specifically, when the swing gutter 12 exhibits a steep inclination state, the closing chute 20 is in a gentle inclination state, and conversely, when the swing gutter 12 exhibits a gentle inclination state, the closing chute 20 is in a steep inclination state. Become.

(Ii) Releasing the bridge due to the swing of the closing chute With such swinging of the closing chute 20 back and forth, the plate 26, which is fixed in this embodiment, is moved relative to the receiving slit 27 of the chute. And to effectively cancel the bridging phenomenon of the transferred body W that is gradually ejected in a block state from the discharge port 13. Specifically, the charging chute 20 is in a gently inclined state, that is, the gutter 12 is in a steeply inclined state, and when the discharge from the discharge port 13 is promoted, the plate 26 is made to project from the receiving slit 27, and the bridge phenomenon is caused. The object W to be conveyed that may cause the above is pushed up and effectively released.

(Iii) Gradual Amount Control Accompanied by Swinging of Shooting Chute Further, in this embodiment, the plate 29, which is provided in a fixed state, is relatively moved from the receiving slit 30 of the chute with the swinging of the shooting chute 20 back and forth. The object W to be conveyed is sent from the receiving port 21 to the ejection port 23.
Flow is temporarily stopped and the next zone (rotary drum 3
The amount of expansion to 3) is positively controlled. Specifically, when the charging chute 20 shows a steep inclination, that is, when the transferred object W on the charging chute 20 is given a large tendency to be fed to the next zone, the plate 29 is used as the receiving slit 3.
It is made to project from 0, the flow of the transported body W dropped from the discharge port 13 of the hopper 10 is stopped, and the amount of the transported body W sent to the next zone in a blocked state is further optimized. is there. Here, the appropriate amount means an amount such that loosening to be performed on the transferred objects W in the subsequent zone and the processes such as alignment including preliminary posture setting can be smoothly performed.

(Iv) Flow of Transported Object on Loading Chute The transported object W sent to the loading chute 20 from the discharge port 13 of the hopper 10 in a small amount of blocks is oscillated in a backward and forward direction with the gutter 12. While being moved, it is gradually sent to the next zone while being subjected to relative sliding in the direction of the discharge port 23 due to this swing. At that time, the transported object W is on the chute,
In the vicinity of the receiving port 21, the bridge phenomenon is effectively eliminated by the plate 26 which repeats relative projection and immersion, and in the vicinity of the discharge port 23, the plate 29 which repeats relative projection and immersion moves to the next zone. Is temporarily stopped, and the amount of extension from the charging chute 20 is controlled.

That is, when the charging chute 20 is in a steeply inclined state and the plate 29 for controlling the amount of protrusion is relatively projected, the transferred object W is bridged by the plate 29. Not only the charging chute 20 but also the transport from the hopper 10 is blocked. Even if the charging chute 20 changes from this state to the gently inclined state, the plate 29 relatively immerses, and the transported object W blocked by the plate 29 slightly slides down on the chute and does not slide onto the rotating drum 33. It reaches near the upper part of the plate 29. Then, when the charging chute 20 again changes to the steeply inclined state, the plate 29 relatively projects, and the transported object W located above the plate 29 is pushed up to get over the plate 29.
About five pieces are gradually discharged to the rotary drum 33. The amount by which the transported object W gets over is adjusted mainly by the amount of projection (projection size) of the plate 29. And the discharge port 23
Due to the passing over of the transported object W in the vicinity, a phenomenon like a block of waste occurs in the throwing chute 20, and the transported object W is removed from the hopper 10 near the receiving port 21 while the bridge is released. The transported object W that is supplied and wholly discharged from the hopper 10 (gutter 12) forms a flow state from the receiving port 21 to the discharging port 23.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the conveyed amount W is gradually supplied to the rotating drum 33 by the amount control means 28 of the conveyed amount, the amount of the discharged substance from the hopper 10 is not constant and irregular. However, the processing amount in the rotary drum 33 is always maintained at a substantially stable amount, and quantification, periodicity, etc. in the rotary drum 33 can be achieved. It should be noted that, because the swing gutter 12 descends and turns in which the rocking gutter 12 changes from a gently tilted state to an intermediate tilted state, and descends and turns that changes from an intermediate tilted state to a steeply tilted state all at once, even in the charging chute 20. During this period, the rotational fluctuation is performed all at once, and the sudden vibration caused by this contributes to the cancellation of the bridge of the transported object W, the promotion of the transportation, and the like.

Further, in order to appropriately supply the transported object W in accordance with the processing amount (accommodation amount) of the transported object W in the rotary drum 33,
The rotary drum 33 is provided with a sensor for measuring the storage amount (remaining amount) of the transported object W, and it is possible to control the up-and-down operation of the oscillating body 40, that is, the ON-OFF of the rotation of the eccentric cam 39 by this sensor. . Of course, the amount of transfer of the transported object W from the charging chute 20 can be controlled by the number of rotations of the eccentric cam 39, etc. Therefore, the number of rotations of the eccentric cam 39 can be adjusted by the amount of the rotary drum 33 accommodated. Is.

(4) Separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2) In the separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2), the charging chute 20
From the above, the transported body W that has been gradually extracted in a block state is appropriately unraveled by the rotating drum 33, and is also preliminarily set in the direction of the rotating shaft 35. This is the inner surface 3 of the drum
4 due to the forward downward inclination of 4 and the rotation of the rotary drum 33, which causes the transported object W to be scattered in the rotary drum 33 so as to extend in the direction of the rotary shaft 35. However, they are aligned in the direction of the rotary shaft 35, and are sequentially sent to the next zone (individual alignment drum 47) from the one positioned on the front side. Of course, the transported object W immediately after being loaded on the rotating drum 33 may be slid from the loading chute 20 or may interfere with each other due to mutual interference.
It is conceivable that not only the direction along the direction of the rotary shaft 35 is necessarily met, but most of the transported objects W are unrolled so as to spread in the direction of the rotary shaft 35 while rolling on the drum inner peripheral surface 34. Further, the posture is set so as to be along the direction of the rotary shaft 35.

(5) Individual Feeding Zone (Z3) In the individual feeding zone (Z3), the transported object W appropriately separated by the rotary drum 33 is fitted into the individual receiving pocket 50 to align the individual postures. Is completely done. Of course, the transported object W is
Although it is loosened and a simple (preliminary) posture setting is performed, the individual receiving pocket 50 of the transported object W is provided.
The fitting to the individual aligning drum 47 is rarely done in accordance with the feeding to the individual alignment drum 47, but rather the abutting plate 53.
It is considered that, while flowing in the individual alignment drum 47 several times while coming into contact with the like, it is often caught mainly by chance.

Then, the transported object W is transferred to the individual receiving pocket 50.
When entering, as shown in FIG. 14, the posture selection plate 55 has a guide function. Further, the transported object W that has entered the individual receiving pocket 50 is guided and held by the support guide plate 52 and the lifting plate 54, is rotated by the individual alignment drum 47, and is transported to the individual delivery chute 51. Further, the transported object W is
While being fed into the individual receiving pockets 50 and conveyed, the backward feeding block 56 formed at the base portion of the lifting plate 54 prevents the backward feeding into the drum. Then, the transported object W sent onto the individual transfer chute 51 is accumulated here by an appropriate amount and the next slat conveyor 6
Wait for transfer to 0.

Some of the objects W to be conveyed that have been introduced into the individual aligning drum 47 are those that try to pass through the pockets as if they were piercing the individual receiving pockets 50.
Although it is possible that the existence of the object W is extremely rare, the attitude selection plate 55 mainly prevents passage of the transported object W in such a non-aligned attitude. Further, when the transferred object W is transferred onto the slat conveyor 60, both ends thereof are regulated by the guide parts 51 a of the chute while rolling on the individual transfer chute 51, and are automatically centered with respect to the slat 64. As a result, the transferred object W is adsorbed with its center position substantially aligned with the center of the magnetic adsorption slat 64A, stabilizing the magnetic flux passing through the transferred object W after adsorption, and Adsorption (co-fishing state) of the transported object W can be effectively prevented (see FIG. 18). Of course, in the case where a separate cutting device similar to the individual feeding device 72 is separately provided on the individual transfer chute 51 and the transferred objects W are transferred to the slat conveyor 60 one by one, it is possible to prevent the transferred objects W from being attracted to each other. Is not always an individual delivery shoot 5
It is not necessary to center the transferred object W on the first position, and it is possible to center the transferred object W only by the chain cover 65 of the slat conveyor 60.

It is to be noted that, because the transfer of the transferred object W into the individual receiving pocket 50 largely depends on the chance, the individual transfer chute 51 has the transferred object W in the individual receiving chute 51.
It is preferable to provide a sensor for detecting the accumulation amount of the individual alignment drum 47 according to the accumulation amount, and it is possible to control the rotation number of the drum according to the accumulation amount. is there. In addition, the rotating drum 33 and the individual aligning drum 47 do not necessarily need to have the same rotation, and if there is no support in terms of installation space, cost, etc., rather, these drums are driven to rotate separately, and the processing amount, the accumulation amount, etc. A form of balancing (synchronizing) is preferable. By the way, the rotary drum 33, the individual alignment drum 47, and the slat conveyor 60 are driven by different motors so that different rotation speeds and feed rates can be set respectively, and the processing amount and the accumulation amount between the zones are balanced ( The more preferable form is to synchronize.

(6) Tact-compatible feeding zone (Z4) In the tact-friendly feeding zone (Z4), the slat conveyor 60 is used.
The conveyed objects W are conveyed one by one to a desired position according to the special machine while maintaining the aligned posture, and are stored in the accumulation / cutout conveyor 61 (take-out chute 66), and then the special machine is requested. It is supplied individually according to the takt time. Note that, here, a case will be described in which the transported object W is a magnetic material such as an inner pipe, and the slat conveyor 60 adopts a transportation mode by magnetic attraction. Transported object W
From the individual transfer chute 51 to the slat conveyor 6
When it is transferred to 0, it is adsorbed in a state where its axial direction substantially coincides with the longitudinal direction of the slat 64, is conveyed in the same alignment posture, and is adsorbed by the take-out chute 66. Due to the magnetic attraction and transport of the slat conveyor 60, the transported object W can be folded back at the uppermost position of the slat conveyor 60 and transported downward from here.

Further, in the present embodiment, the slat conveyor 60 is configured such that one dummy non-adsorption slat 64B without a magnet is sandwiched between the magnetic adsorption slats 64A, thereby removing the transported object W. It's easy to do. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, the transfer target W is relatively blocked by the take-out chute 66 to move the transfer target W to the next non-suction slat 64B. Is extremely easy to do. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, when the chain cover 65 of the slat conveyor 60 is formed so as to become gradually narrower in the feeding direction (symmetrical with respect to the center line of the transfer track), It is possible to perform automatic centering while the carrier W is received from the individual transfer chute 51 and then transferred to the take-out chute 66. In this case, even if the transported object W is attracted to one end of the magnetic attraction slat 64A while being attracted, the chain cover 65 is in the middle of transportation.
Are relatively brought into contact with each other and slide on the suction surface to perform fine adjustment centering or the like during conveyance.

[0093]

Other Embodiments The present invention has the above-described embodiments as one basic technical idea, but the following modifications are possible. Hereinafter, such other embodiments will be described separately for each zone. (1) Receiving / Extracting Zone (Z1) In the above-described embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 19, the gutter 12 corresponding to the bottom of the hopper 10 is formed so as to be vertically swingable,
Although the transferred object W is intended to be gradually ejected from the hopper 10, for example, as shown in FIG. 20, a part of the wall surface 10a around the hopper 10 is moved in and out to gradually transfer the transferred object W. It is possible to encourage them to go out. In this case, it is preferable that the swing wall surface 10a is formed so as to project inside the hopper 10 in an acute angle shape to suppress the movable resistance.

(2) Continuation site of receiving / extending zone (Z1) and appropriate amount regulation zone (Z5) Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS.
0 and the charging chute 20 are connected in a dogleg shape, and the feeding direction of the transported object W is folded back at the rotation connecting portion 22, but, for example, as shown in FIG. It is possible to connect the charging chute 20 so that the feeding direction of 12 is maintained almost as it is. Of course, in this case, it is necessary to secure a large installation space for the apparatus, as compared with the basic embodiment in which the charging chute 20 is arranged below the hopper 10.

(3) Appropriate amount regulating zone (Z5) In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 19 further, the plate 29 of the gradual amount controlling means 28 is formed so as to project and retract along the carrying direction. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 22, it is possible to form a gate that appears and emerges at a substantially right angle to the transport direction so as to block the transport of the transported object W.

(4) Separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2) (i) Providing a forward feeding tendency to the object to be conveyed in the rotating drum Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. The surface 34 is formed in a taper shape having a downward tendency toward the front to give the conveyed object W a forward tendency. However, when the transported body W is a magnetic body and it is desired to give the transported body W a further advance tendency, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is possible to arrange the permanent magnets 75 in a line along the rotation axis 35 on the outer side of the bottom of the. By adopting such a configuration, the transported body W introduced into the rotary drum 33 is attracted by the magnetic force in addition to the gravity, and further forward feeding tendency is imparted.

(Ii) Shape of Rotating Drum Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 19 described above, the rotating drum 33 is formed such that the inner peripheral surface 34 is formed in a taper shape having a downward sloping tendency. Therefore, the object W to be transported is given a tendency to be advanced. However, the rotary drum 33 does not necessarily have to be formed in a taper shape that descends forward, and can be formed in a simple cylindrical shape that always has the same diameter dimension, as shown in FIG. 23B, for example. In this case, if the transported object W is a magnetic material and is a simple pipe, a rod, or the like, naturally, the forward feeding tendency is not imparted even when the rotary drum 33 is rotated (a difference in peripheral speed occurs at both ends). Absent). Therefore, in such a case, a row of permanent magnets 76 may be arranged on the outer side of the bottom of the drum in an inclined state along the rotary shaft 35, and the adsorbing action of the magnetic force may give the conveyed object W a tendency to be advanced. It is possible. In this case, of course, in order to gradually strengthen the magnetic attraction force that causes the forward feeding tendency in the feeding direction,
The rotary drum 33 and the permanent magnet are installed so that the gap between them is narrowed. When the transported object W has a tapered shape with a small diameter at either end, even if the rotating drum 33 has a simple cylindrical shape, the forward rotation tendency can be imparted by the rotation of the drum. In such a case, the permanent magnet 76 is not always necessary.

(Iii) Rotating Shaft of Rotating Drum Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 19, the rotating drum 33 has the rotating shaft 35 set in a substantially horizontal state. As shown in (c), it is possible to set the rotating shaft 35 so as to have a downward inclination in the traveling direction. Further, in this case, since the rotation shaft 35 can be tilted to give the transported object W a forward feeding tendency,
The rotary drum 33 can be formed in a simple cylindrical shape. Of course, the advance tendency to be given to the transported object W,
When it is desired to further strengthen the structure, a method of forming the rotary drum 33 in a taper shape that is downwardly inclined forward can be adopted together.

(Iv) Rotating drum in the case where the transported object is relatively unsuitable for rolling, or in the above-described embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 19, the transported object W is a short hollow pipe or rod member. Although it was mainly suitable for rolling on the inner peripheral surface 34 of the drum, for example, the transported object W is a prismatic member, or the head is formed large with respect to the shaft portion such as a bolt. In such a case, the transported object W is not suitable for rolling. Therefore, when the transported object W is relatively unsuitable for rolling as described above, ribs 77 are formed on the inner peripheral surface 34 of the rotary drum 33 as shown in FIG. 24 as an example. The body W is given a tendency to be forwarded by being repeatedly picked up by the ribs 77 and dropped from the ribs 77 as the drum rotates. In the illustrated embodiment, the rib 77 having a length similar to that of the transported object W is attached so as to draw a spiral orbit as a whole while being gradually displaced substantially along the rotation axis 35. However, various forms can be adopted in the length and shape of the rib 77 alone or in its attachment.

(5) Tact-corresponding feeding zone (Z4) (i) A slat conveyor adapted to rotate the transported object on the suction surface, and in the embodiment shown in FIGS. The body W transfers from the individual transfer chute 51 to the slat conveyor 6
When transferred to 0, the transported object W is slatted 64 in the axial direction.
The cover 69, which serves as a suction surface, is formed in a general flat shape because the length of the cover 69 substantially coincides with that of the slat 64 and the slat 64 is transferred while being centered. . However, when the transported body W is delivered in a state where the axial direction of the transported body W does not match the longitudinal direction of the slats 64, for example, when the transported body W is delivered, as shown in FIG. The transported object W is more positively rotated on the suction surface (cover 69) to align the posture, that is, the transported object W is slatted.
4 along the longitudinal direction.

In such a case, the cover 69 is formed into a curved surface or a spherical surface slightly protruding in the suction direction, as shown in FIG. It is preferable that W and the cover 69A are brought into point contact or line contact with each other to accelerate the rotation of the transported object W (the flat cover 69 has a protruding cover 6
9A). Non-adsorption slats 64B
It is preferable that the projecting cover 69A is attached only to the magnetic adsorption slat 64A so that the rotation of the transported object W is not hindered. Of course, even in this case, the transferred object W attracted to the slats 64 is not transferred to another transferred object W.
It is preferable that transfer (suction) is performed between the transferred body W and the slat 64 in a state where the center of the transferred body W and the center of the slat 64 are substantially aligned with each other in order to prevent them from being sucked in a co-fishing manner (FIG. 2).
5).

(Ii) A mode in which the magnetic adsorption slat is projected in the adsorption direction with respect to the non-adsorption slat, and in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 19 above, the magnetic adsorption slat 64A of the slat conveyor 60 and the non-adsorption slat 64B and 64B are formed on substantially the same plane. For example, as shown in FIG.
It is possible to make A slightly protrude in the adsorption direction with respect to the non-adsorption slat 64B. This is a form that can be more surely prevented in preventing the non-adsorption slat 64B from interfering with the rotational alignment when the transported body W is rotationally aligned on the adsorption surface as described above.

As described above, according to the present invention, various devices are functionally integrated, and a large number of stored small parts are taken out in an appropriate amount of blocks, aligned individually, and then supplied to a target processing machine or the like. However, each of the above-mentioned devices has an extremely novel technical idea by itself and can be independently evaluated and divided. This case will be described below. First pick up
The supply device 1 and the appropriate amount control device 5 can sufficiently function by themselves as a feeding device that takes out a small amount of small parts stored in a random state in a blocked state by gravity and drops them in appropriate amounts. In particular, in this case, it is not necessary for the transported object W to consider rolling characteristics and the like, and parts of various shapes can be gradually ejected. If a proper amount of parts can be sufficiently taken out only by the receiving / supplying device 1, it is not necessary to additionally attach the proper amount regulating device 5. In addition, receiving / supplying device 1, proper amount controlling device 5, separation /
It is also possible to apply as a device for dispensing parts, in which the preliminary posture setting device 2 is a set. That is, for example, it is possible to incorporate the above-mentioned set of devices in the preceding stage of a conventional vibrating bowl type parts feeder, and efficiently dispense the parts prior to the alignment.

Furthermore, the individual feeding device 3 can be applied as a stand-alone aligning device itself, or can be used as a part of a conventional parts feeder to carry out the aligning action. . Since the individual feeding device 3 is a method of introducing parts to the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum, it is preferable that the parts roll easily. Further, the tact-compatible feeder 4 can also be applied as an independent feeder. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 25, if the transported objects W are rotationally aligned by the tact-corresponding feeder 4, it is not always necessary to align them in the preceding stage, and the transported objects W are not necessarily required. May be individually sent to the tact-compatible feeder 4.

Here, the transported objects W to be aligned / supplied according to the present invention will be generally described. In the present invention, not only is the unit weight of the transferred object W relatively heavy, but also the transferred object W is guided to the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum to loosen the block state and align the transferred object W. It is preferable that it is suitable for rolling. Specifically, FIG. 27 (a)
A short hollow pipe as shown in Fig. 6, a short pin-shaped member as shown in Fig. 2B, a short pin-shaped member having small protrusions at the end as shown in Fig. 3C, Fig. 3D. Further, it is considered that the transported object W in which both end portions have substantially the same diameter dimension such as a dumbbell-shaped member as shown in (e) easily rolls. However, the object W to be transported is not necessarily limited to such a shape, and may be a tapered shape having a small circumferential dimension at one end as shown in FIG.

Furthermore, although the transported body W shown in FIGS. 27A to 27F has a mainly circular cross section in the longitudinal direction, it is not necessarily limited to this. Specifically, a prismatic member as shown in FIGS. 7 (g) and 7 (h), a bolt-shaped member as shown in FIG. 9 (i), or an end portion of a shaft portion as shown in FIG. 11 (j). In, there may be mentioned a member having a protrusion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the shaft portion. When the member W having such a shape is used as the transported object W, the rolling property of the transported object W itself cannot be expected, and it is considered that the transported object W cannot be provided with a sufficient advance tendency. As shown in FIG. 24 described above, it is possible to appropriately make technical measures such as providing ribs 77 for scooping up the transported object W on the inner peripheral surface 34 of the rotary drum 33. Incidentally, in the present invention, a member in which the transported object W itself is easily rolled is suitable, but even if it is a pin-shaped member as shown in FIG. 27 (b), the axial dimension is the diameter dimension of the cross section. If it is too small compared to
It becomes a member like a coin and is not suitable for rolling. Therefore, in the present invention, the minimum value of the axial dimension is assumed to be approximately the diameter dimension of the cross section, and the transported objects W having the axial dimension and the diameter dimension are aligned and supplied.

[0107]

According to the first or fifth aspect of the present invention, the transported objects W that are stored in large quantities in a random state are provided.
By a small amount so that the subsequent posture alignment can be performed smoothly,
It is taken out in a block state irregularly, and in the rotating drum, while the blocked state of the transported objects W is loosened, they are individually aligned and supplied one by one to the intended processing machine, etc. W can be aligned and supplied. Therefore, the energy required for aligning and supplying the transported objects W can be significantly reduced.

Further, according to the second or sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to properly control, on the charging chute 20, the amount of transfer of the transferred object W that is transferred from the hopper 10 to the rotary drum 33 in a block state. Therefore, the post-stage of the charging chute 20, that is, the loosening process of the transferred objects W on the rotary drum 33, the preliminary posture setting process, the individual alignment processing of the transferred objects W on the individual alignment drum 47, etc. can be performed smoothly and reliably, and the transferred objects can be transferred. The body W can be aligned and supplied efficiently in total.

According to the third or seventh aspect of the present invention, since the slat conveyor 60 incorporating a permanent magnet is applied when the posture-aligned transported object W is transported to a target processing machine or the like, Individual transfer of the transferred object W can be reliably and easily performed. Further, since the transported object W is attracted and held by the permanent magnet, the slat conveyor 60 is turned on.
Regardless of whether it is OFF, the suction force is always stable.

According to the invention described in claim 4 or 8, the shape of the transported object W, the installation space of the alignment / supply device A, the processing amount within a fixed time, the processing capacity of the target processing machine, etc. Various forms can be adopted according to various conditions.
The device A for aligning / supplying small parts according to the present invention includes a receiving / extending device 1, a separating / preliminary posture setting device 2, an individual feeding device 3, a tact-compatible feeding device 4, an appropriate amount regulating device 5, and a transmission mechanism. Although it is a parts feeder including 6, the respective devices and mechanisms constituting these parts can be used independently or incorporated into other devices.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an arrangement / supply device for small parts according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the above.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a hopper of the receiving / extending device.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a connection portion between a hopper and a gutter and a connection portion between a gutter and a charging chute.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram also showing how the gutters connected in a dogleg shape and the throwing chute together.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an appropriate amount regulating device for appropriately controlling the amount of transfer of the transported object.

FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which the transported body sent in a blocked state to the rotary drum is unraveled, and a state in which the posture is preliminarily set.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the same.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing constituent members of a transmission mechanism that converts rotational movement of a drum into vertical swing of a gutter.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing, step by step, an operation mode when the eccentric cam moves up and down as the drum rotates.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an individual feeding device.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing an individual alignment drum having a double ring structure.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the transported objects are set in posture by an individual alignment drum and a state in which the transported objects are automatically centered on an individual transfer chute.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment in which an annular member provided with a posture selection plate is formed of a plate-shaped ring member.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a slat conveyor that can be applied to a tact-compatible feeder.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an accumulation / cutout conveyor of a tact-compatible feeder.

FIG. 18 (a) is an explanatory view showing how the transported object is transferred to the slat conveyor in a centered state, and an illustration showing how the transported object is transferred to the slat conveyor in a biased state. It is a figure (b).

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a magnetically attracted transported object is automatically centered during transfer by a tact-compatible feeder.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing another swinging form in which a part of the side surface of the hopper is swung to gradually move the transferred body.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing another connection form between the gutter and the throwing chute.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing another embodiment in which the plate of the squeezing amount control means in the throw-in chute is made to project and retract substantially perpendicularly to the transport direction.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the rotary drum.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment in which a rib for picking up a transported object is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum.

FIG. 25: When the slat conveyor receives the transferred object,
When the axial direction of the transferred object does not match the longitudinal direction of the slat, another embodiment is shown in which the transferred object is rotated on the suction surface of the slat to align the position of the transferred object. FIG.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment in which the magnetic adsorption slats are arranged in a protruding state on the adsorption surface side with respect to the non-adsorption slats.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing various forms of objects to be conveyed which can be objects of alignment and supply according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Receiving / expanding device 2 Separation / preliminary posture setting device 3 Individual feeding device 4-tact feeder 5 Appropriate amount control device 6 Transmission mechanism 10 hoppers 10a wall surface (swing wall surface) 11 troughs 12 gutter (rocking gutter) 12a gutter (inside) 12b gutter (outside) 13 Discharge port 14 rotation axis 15 Thrust roller 16 Bridge release means 17 plates 18 receiving slit 20 throwing chute 20a Input chute (inside) 20b Input chute (outside) 21 Receiving point 22 Pivoting connection 23 Discharge port 24 fulcrum roller 25 Bridge release means 26 plates 27 Acceptance slit 28 Extrusion amount control means 29 plates 30 receiving slit 33 rotating drum 34 Inner surface 35 rotation axis 38 sprockets 39 Eccentric cam 40 rocker 41 Mounting hole (long hole) 41C central part 41E Eccentric part 42 Support roller (outer circumference of eccentric cam) 43 Support roller (guide rail) 44 Guide rail 47 Individual alignment drum 47a Annular member (inside the drum) 47b Annular member (outside the drum) 48 Inner surface 48a lining 49 rotation axis 50 individual receiving pockets 50a Reception guide surface 51 Individual delivery chute 51a guide part 52 Bearing guide plate 53 Abutment plate 54 Lifting plate (rear side in rotation direction) 55 Posture selection plate (R shape) 56 Back-feed prevention unit 57 Reversed body 58 Plate-shaped ring member 58a long hole 59A butterfly bolt 59B ring 60 slat conveyor 61 Accumulation / Cutout Conveyor 62 sprockets 63 chains 64 slats 64A magnetic adsorption slat 64B non-adsorption slats 65 Chain cover 66 Take out chute 67 Permanent magnet 68 York 69 cover (flat) 69A cover (protruding) 70 U-shaped recess 71 Demagnetizing coil 72-piece feeder 75 permanent magnet 76 permanent magnet 77 ribs A Alignment / Supply Device C Center position (of eccentric cam) E Eccentric position (of eccentric cam) W Transported object Z1 receiving / exiting zone Z2 separation / preliminary posture setting zone Z3 Individual feeding zone Z4 tact compatible feeding zone Z5 Appropriate amount regulation zone

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Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A device comprising a receiving / extending zone (Z1), a separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2), an individual feeding zone (Z3), and a tact-compatible feeding zone (Z4) is used. In the receiving / grading zone (Z1), a large number of small objects to be transported are stored in a random state, from which the separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2), individual feeding zone (Z3), A method of aligning the conveyed objects under the supply mode according to the required tact of the next step through the tact-corresponding adjusting zone (Z4) and sequentially supplying the same in the receiving / grading zone (Z1). Is a mechanical rocking motion that acts on a part of a large number of transported objects stored in the hopper,
While canceling the bridging phenomenon of the transported object that can occur in the hopper, the transported object facing the discharge port to the next zone can
Gravity is caused to gravitate indefinitely from the hopper by gravity, and in the separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2) that follows, the transported object graduated in a block from the receiving / grading zone (Z1) is transferred. It receives the inside of a rotating drum that gives a forward tendency, unravels the transported object in a blocked state while rolling the transported object, and sets the transported object in a preliminary posture suitable for supply to the next zone. Yes, in the following individual feeding zone (Z3), one or more individual receiving pockets are formed on the peripheral surface of the annular individual aligning drum with the rotation axis set substantially horizontally, and the individual receiving working area of the drum is The separation / pre-position setting zone (Z
2) Receive the conveyed objects sent from 2), convey them upward from the inside of the alignment drum in the individual receiving pockets, and spill them forward from the upper end of the bearing guide plate individually. Alignment and supply of small parts, which are characterized in that the transfer is carried out to the zone, and further, in the transfer zone (Z4) for tact, the transported objects in the aligned state are individually supplied according to the required tact. Method. 2. An appropriate amount for optimizing the amount of transfer of the transported object supplied in a block state between the receiving / extending zone (Z1) and the separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2). Restricted zone
2. The method for arranging and supplying small parts according to claim 1, wherein (Z5) is provided, and the feeding of the transported object is temporarily stopped to regulate the amount of protrusion. 3. When the transported object is a magnetic material,
By applying a slat conveyor incorporating permanent magnets to the tact-compatible feeding zone (Z4), individual transported objects sent out from the individual feeding zone (Z3) are magnetically attracted and fed individually. The method for aligning / supplying small parts according to claim 1 or 2. 4. In addition to the components of the method for aligning / supplying the small parts, (a) the hopper in the receiving / extending zone (Z1) is formed in a trough shape in which the width dimension decreases toward the bottom. Along with this, a method in which a swingable gutter with the discharge port side facing downward is formed on the trough-shaped bottom part to swing a part of the transported object stored in the hopper, (b) the gutter Is supported with the non-ejection port side as the rotation base end, and when swinging the gutter, the ejection port side is pivoted up and down, and mainly among the transported objects stored in the hopper, above the gutter. (C) In order to cancel the bridge phenomenon of the transported object that may occur in the hopper, swing the plate fixed in the upright state through the swing gutter. When the gutter was moved up and down, the gutter was relatively projected to break the bridge phenomenon of the transported object. Method (d) In rocking a part of the transported object in the hopper, the rocking motion is generated by an eccentric cam that cooperates with the rotation of the drum in the separation / preliminary posture setting zone (Z2). Method (e) When swinging the gutter up and down, the gutter is gradually moved upward from a steeply inclined state to a gently inclined state, and also from an gently inclined state to an intermediate inclined state which is approximately halfway between the two inclined states. ,
And a method in which the intermediate tilted state to the steeply tilted state are swung downward at a stroke to impart vibration that contributes to bridge elimination to the transported object in the hopper, (f) the appropriate amount regulation zone
In (Z5), the receiving port of the throwing chute is rotatably connected to the swing gutter, and a roller in a fixed state supports an almost intermediate portion of the discharging chute to swing the throwing chute. Is when the swing chute has a gentle inclination, the throw-in chute becomes a steep inclination,
A method of operating the closing chute in a reverse tilting state in which the closing chute is in a gentle tilting state when the swinging gutter exhibits a steeply inclined state, (g) the closing chute is connected to the swinging gutter in a dogleg shape. And a method in which the transfer direction of the transported object is folded back,
(h) For the swingable loading chute, a plate is provided that is fixed in an almost upright state and penetrates the transport surface. The method of eliminating the bridge phenomenon of (i) in regulating the amount of transfer of the transported object in the appropriate amount regulation zone (Z5), a plate fixed in an almost upright state and penetrating the transportation surface is provided. A method in which the plate is relatively projected along with the front-back swing of the charging chute to temporarily stop the feeding of the transported object and control the amount of protrusion, (j) the separation / preliminary posture setting zone ( The rotating drum of (Z2) is configured such that the rotating shaft is set to be substantially horizontal and is formed in a taper shape that widens in the feeding direction, and the transferred body is rolled on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum to be transferred. A method of giving a forward feeding tendency to the carrier, (k) the individual feeding adjustment (Z3) a method in which a lifting plate that takes a downward-falling posture is provided on the exit side of the pocket portion of the individual alignment drum at the time of discharging, and the transported objects in the alignment posture are individually fed, (l) On the opposite side of the lifting plate, a posture selection plate having a R-shaped cross section is provided so as to sandwich the work, and a method of preventing passage of the work in a non-aligned posture,
(m) A method in which a vertical conveyance type slat conveyor is applied to the tact-corresponding feeding zone (Z4) so as to individually convey the objects to be conveyed, (n) the tact-corresponding feeding In the zone (Z4), a method is provided in which an accumulator that appropriately stores the transported objects arranged in a desired posture is incorporated, and in response to the required tact of the next process, it is possible to individually supply, (o) the tact In the corresponding feeding zone (Z4),
When a magnetic material to be conveyed is magnetically conveyed by a slat conveyor incorporating a permanent magnet, the magnetic adsorption slat incorporating the permanent magnet and the non-adsorption slat not incorporating the permanent magnet are arranged alternately. , A method in which it is possible to easily release the attraction between the transported object and the magnetic adsorption slat by simply interrupting the transfer of the transported object at the target transportation end position, (p) the tact compatible feeding zone (Z4) In the case of carrying a magnetically-conveyed object by magnetic attraction, the chain cover of the slat conveyor is formed so as to gradually narrow in the conveying direction, and the magnetically attracted non-conveying body is conveyed. A method that allows automatic centering by slidably moving in the longitudinal direction of the slat, (q) In the feeding zone (Z4) corresponding to the tact, magnetically transport the magnetic material to be conveyed. When carrying, the cover that serves as the attraction surface of the magnetic attraction slat is formed into a curved surface or spherical surface so that the transported object can make point contact or line contact, and the axial direction of the transported object is the longitudinal direction of the slats. A method in which the method elements are rotated so as to match with the method, wherein one or more elements are selected and combined when the method elements described in the above (a) to (q) are applicable. The method for aligning / supplying small parts according to 1, 2, or 3. 5. A system in which a large number of small parts stored in a random state are conveyed and the conveyed objects are regularly arranged, and then, in this posture, a feeding mode according to a required tact of a processing machine or the like is maintained. In the device for sequentially supplying to, the device applies a mechanical rocking motion to a part of a large amount of transported objects stored in the hopper, while releasing the bridge phenomenon of the transported objects that may occur in the hopper, A receiving / expelling device that causes the transferred object facing the discharge port to the next apparatus to be blocked in a block state from the hopper by gravity at an indefinite amount / indefinite timing; The body is received inside a rotating drum that imparts a forward tendency, and the transported body is rolled to loosen the transported body in a blocked state, and the transported body is set in a preliminary posture suitable for supplying to the next device. Separation / preliminary posture setting The device and the transported object sent from the separation / preliminary posture setting device are received in the individual receiving pockets formed on the peripheral surface of the individual alignment drum, and in this state the transported object is transported upward to Individual feeding device that feeds to the next device so as to individually spill forward from the upper end of the bearing guide plate that prevents discharge, and the transported objects in the aligned state are individually fed according to the required takt time. An apparatus for aligning / supplying small parts, comprising: 6. The feeding amount of the conveyed body supplied in a block state by temporarily stopping the feeding of the conveyed body between the receiving / extending device and the separating / preliminary posture setting device. 6. An apparatus for aligning / supplying small parts according to claim 5, further comprising an appropriate amount regulating device for optimizing the above. 7. When the transported object is a magnetic material,
A magnet type slat conveyor that applies magnetic attraction to individual conveyed objects sent out from the individual adjusting device to individually adjust the tact-corresponding adjusting device is applied. Alignment and supply device for the small parts described. 8. In addition to the components of the device for arranging and feeding the small parts, (a) the hopper in the receiving and feeding device comprises:
The trough is narrowed toward the bottom, and the trough-shaped bottom is provided with a swingable gutter with the discharge port side facing downward. (B) The gutter is a non-discharge port. (C) The receiving / extending device is a plate that is fixed in a substantially upright state and that relatively projects from the rocking gutter. And (d) incorporating a bridge releasing means comprising a receiving slit formed in the swing gutter so that the plate can be retracted and retracted, (d) a drum is provided between the rotary drum and the swing gutter. Incorporating a transmission mechanism having an eccentric cam that cooperates to convert the rotary motion of the drum into the swing motion of the gutter, (e) the vertical swing of the gutter is
It gradually turns upward from the steeply inclined state to the gentle inclined state, and descends and turns from the gentle inclined state to the intermediate inclined state which is almost the middle of the both inclined states and from the intermediate inclined state to the steep inclined state. (F) The appropriate amount regulation device is
The receiving port is rotatably connected to the swing gutter,
The charging chute is provided with a roller in which a substantially intermediate portion between the receiving port and the discharging port is supported by a fixed state, (g) the charging chute is connected to the swing gutter in a dogleg shape. (H) The swingable feeding chute includes a plate fixed in a substantially upright state and relatively projecting from the transport surface, and a receiving slit formed in the feeding chute so that the plate can be retracted and retracted. (I) The swingable throwing chute is a plate fixed in a substantially upright state and relatively projecting from the conveying surface, and a throwing chute so that the plate can be retracted. Incorporating a dispensing amount control means comprising a receiving slit formed in
(j) The rotating drum of the separation / preliminary posture setting device comprises an inner peripheral surface having a downward inclination in the feed direction and a rotating shaft set substantially horizontally, (k) the individual adjusting device. The individual receiving pocket of the feeding device should be provided with a lifting plate on the rear side in the rotation direction of the drum, which takes a downward-falling posture at the time of discharging. A posture selection plate having an R-shaped cross section that prevents the passage of the sheet, (m) the tact-supporting feeding device includes a vertical conveyance type slat conveyor capable of individually conveying the conveyed object to a target portion,
(n) The tact compatible feeding device appropriately stores the transported objects aligned in an appropriate posture, and, in accordance with the required tact of the next process, an accumulator that individually supplies the aligned transported objects. (A) When a slat conveyor incorporating a permanent magnet is applied to the feeding device corresponding to the tact, the slat conveyor includes a magnetic adsorption slat incorporating a permanent magnet and a non-adsorption slat not incorporating a permanent magnet. (P) When a slat conveyor incorporating a permanent magnet is applied to the tact-compatible feeder, the slat conveyor regulates both end positions of the magnetically attracted non-conveying body and conveys it. It was equipped with a chain cover that can slide in the longitudinal direction of the slats as appropriate, (q) A slat conveyor incorporating a permanent magnet in the tact-compatible feeder. When applied, the magnetic adsorption slat should be provided with a cover formed in a curved surface shape or a spherical shape on the adsorption surface side. When the constituent elements described in (a) to (q) above are applicable, 1 or 8. The apparatus for aligning / supplying small parts according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein a plurality of elements are selected and combined.