JP2003022941A - Electrode sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrode sorting device which can suitably sort electrodes without using a complex mechanism. SOLUTION: An electrolytic capacitor element 1 is transported as held by a conveyor chuck. A sorting device 1 having a separator 22 is provided at halfway of the transportation path of each element 1. The thickness of a main body 23 of the separator 22 is somewhat larger than a spacing between the root parts of lead wires 3 and 4. The separator 22 is provided at its tip with a first tapered surface 24 for guiding the plus lead wire 3 and a second tapered surface 25 for guiding the minus lead wire 4. When the lead wires 3 and 4 reach positions corresponding to the separator 22, the longer plus lead wire 3 first abuts against the first tapered surface 24 and thereafter the minus lead wire 4 abuts against the second tapered surface 25, whereby the wires are guided upwards obliquely along the second tapered surface 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrode sorting device and, for example, to a technical field including an electrode sorting device for sorting an electrolytic capacitor element having a pair of electrodes so that the electrodes are separated from each other. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the process of manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor, an aging treatment is performed in order to repair a partial destruction of a dielectric oxide film generated during the manufacturing. When aging an electrolytic capacitor element, a large number of electrolytic capacitor elements are held in a holder and placed in a heating furnace to be heated, and a predetermined voltage is supplied to the held electrolytic capacitor elements.

The electrolytic capacitor element that has been subjected to the aging treatment as described above is subjected to, for example, a leak current inspection (LC inspection). Generally, when the LC inspection is performed, charging is performed for a predetermined time in advance. In order to prevent problems such as a short circuit during charging, it is necessary to sort the pair of electrodes of the electrolytic capacitor element in advance.

As a conventional sorting method, for example, there is a method of sorting using a separator 50 as shown in FIG. That is, the electrolytic capacitor element 51 includes a main body 52 and a pair of electrodes 53 and 54, and the main body 52 is successively conveyed while being held by a conveyor chuck (not shown) attached to the belt 55. Come on. A separator 50 is provided in the middle of the transport path, and the electrodes 53 and 54 pass through the separator 50 while sandwiching the separator 50 therebetween. The tip portion of the separator 50 has a wedge shape, and the one electrode 5 located on the upper side is
An upper taper surface 56 for guiding 3 and a lower taper surface 57 for guiding the other electrode 54 located on the lower side are provided. And basically, the one electrode 5
3 is guided to the upper surface side of the separator 50 along the upper tapered surface 56, and the other electrode 54 is connected to the lower tapered surface 57.
By being guided to the lower surface side of the separator 50 along
The pair of electrodes 53 and 54 are sorted so as to be in a separated state.

[0005]

However, in the above technique, when the electrodes 53 and 54 are intertwined with each other or intersect with each other, it may not always be possible to sort as planned. More specifically, FIG. 5 (a)
As shown in Fig. 5, both electrodes 53 and 54 are guided to the same side, or, as shown in Fig. 5 (b),
The electrodes 53 and 54 may be bent from their roots. If the initially planned sorting is not properly performed in this way, a problem such as a short circuit may occur during subsequent charging.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of the main objects is to provide an electrode sorting apparatus capable of appropriately sorting electrodes without using a complicated mechanism. I am trying.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects Thereof The characteristic means for achieving the above object will be described below. Also,
Characteristic actions and effects of each means will be described as necessary.

Means 1. An electrode sorting device for sorting a main body part and a pair of electrodes having different lengths, the electrodes being in a separated state, wherein the longer electrode is placed on one surface side. , An electrode sorting device comprising a separator capable of guiding the shorter electrode to the other surface side.

According to the means 1, in the element having the pair of electrodes having different lengths, the longer electrode is guided to one surface side and the shorter electrode is guided to the other surface side by the separator. Therefore, even if the electrodes are intertwined with each other or intersect with each other, the longer electrode and the shorter electrode can be reliably sorted. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for problems in subsequent steps to occur.

Means 2. 2. The electrode sorting apparatus according to means 1, wherein the separator is configured such that the longer electrode is guided before the shorter electrode.

According to the means 2, the longer electrodes are first guided first, and the shorter electrodes are then guided, rather than being simultaneously sorted, so that both electrodes are not confused and Sorting is done reliably.

Means 3. Regarding an element including a body portion and a pair of electrodes having different lengths, the electrodes are separated by relatively passing a separator between the electrodes while the body portion is held. The separator is an electrode sorting device for sorting into a state, wherein the separator has a first tapered surface capable of guiding only the longer electrode to one surface side, and then only the shorter electrode on the other surface. And a second taper surface that can be guided to the side.

According to the means 3, while the main body of the element is held, the separators are relatively passed between the electrodes so that the electrodes are separated from each other.
At this time, the first tapered surface of the separator first guides only the longer electrode to one surface side, and then the second tapered surface guides only the shorter electrode to the other surface side. Therefore, even if the electrodes are intertwined with each other or intersect with each other, the longer electrode and the shorter electrode can be reliably sorted. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for problems in subsequent steps to occur.

Means 4. Regarding an element including a body portion and a pair of electrodes having different lengths, the electrodes are separated by relatively passing a separator between the electrodes while the body portion is held. An electrode sorting device for sorting into a state, wherein the separator is a first electrode capable of guiding only the longer electrode to one surface side.
Taper surface and a second taper surface capable of guiding only the shorter electrode to the other surface side, and the first taper surface and the second taper surface are in the longitudinal direction of the electrode. The electrode sorting device is characterized in that the electrode sorting device is provided at different portions along the line.

According to the means 4, the first tapered surface of the separator guides only the longer electrode to the one surface side, and the second tapered surface of the separator allows only the shorter electrode to the other surface. You will be guided to the side. Moreover, since the first taper surface and the second taper surface are provided at different portions along the longitudinal direction of the electrode, even if the electrodes are intertwined with each other or intersect with each other, the longer one It is possible to surely sort the electrode and the shorter electrode.
Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for problems in subsequent steps to occur.

Means 5. Between the first tapered surface and the second tapered surface so that the longer electrode is completely guided to one surface side and then only the shorter electrode is guided to the other surface side. 5. The electrode sorting apparatus according to means 3 or 4, wherein a predetermined gap is provided in the relative passing direction.

According to the means 5, since the predetermined distance is provided in the relative passing direction between the first tapered surface and the second tapered surface, the longer electrode is completely moved to one surface side. Then, only the shorter electrode is guided to the other side. Therefore, sorting can be performed more accurately and reliably.

Means 6. The element is configured to be intermittently or continuously conveyed with the main body held, and the separator is fixedly installed in a state of waiting for the conveyed element. 6. The electrode sorting apparatus according to any one of means 3 to 5, characterized in that

According to the means 6, the element is conveyed intermittently or continuously with the main body portion held. On the other hand, the separator is fixedly installed so as to wait for an element to be conveyed. Therefore, the electrodes pass through with the separator sandwiched therebetween, and at the time of this passage, the above-described guidance is reliably performed. Therefore, the sorting work can be performed intermittently or continuously, and the work efficiency is improved.

Means 7. The first tapered surface is the second tapered surface.
7. The electrode sorting apparatus according to any one of means 3 to 6, wherein the electrode sorting device is provided at a position farther from the main body portion than the taper surface.

According to the means 7, since the first tapered surface is provided at a position farther from the main body portion than the second tapered surface, the shorter electrode is hard to reach the first tapered surface. Moreover, the second taper surface can be easily reached, and as a result, each of the above-described operational effects is more reliably exhibited. It should be noted that it is also possible to “make sure that the shorter electrode does not reach the first tapered surface and surely reaches the second tapered surface”.

Means 8. 8. The electrode sorting apparatus according to any one of means 3 to 7, wherein at least the second tapered surface is configured such that the tip side of the shorter electrode is preferentially guided.

According to the means 8, since at least the second taper surface is configured such that the tip side of the shorter electrode is preferentially guided, even if the electrode is twisted or bent, it is more reliable. , The shorter electrode can be guided to the other surface side.

Means 9. 9. The electrode sorting apparatus according to any one of the means 3 to 8, wherein the separator is movable in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes.

According to the means 9, the separator is moved and installed in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes, so that the sorting can be performed according to the specification (size, shape, etc.) of the element at that time.

Means 10. Means 3 to 9 characterized in that the first tapered surface has a guide width that is at least larger than the distance from the central portion between the electrodes at the base of the pair of electrodes to the longer electrode. The electrode sorting device according to any one of 1.

According to the means 10, the longer electrode is curved,
Even if it is bent, the electrode is more likely to be guided more reliably by the first tapered surface. Therefore, each of the above-described effects can be more reliably achieved.

Means 11. Means 3 to 10, wherein the second tapered surface has a guide width that is larger than at least the distance from the central portion between the electrodes at the base of the pair of electrodes to the shorter electrode. The electrode sorting device according to any one of 1.

According to the means 11, the shorter electrode is curved,
Even if the electrode is bent, the electrode is more surely guided by the second tapered surface. Therefore, each of the above-described effects can be more reliably achieved.

Means 12. Means 3 characterized in that the guide start position of the shorter electrode by the second taper surface is set to a position where the longer electrode after guiding cannot be guided.
12. The electrode sorting device according to any one of 1 to 11.

According to the means 12, when the shorter electrode starts to be guided by the second tapered surface, the longer electrode after guiding is not guided by the second tapered surface. It is possible to perform proper sorting.

Means 13. Regarding an element which is provided with a main body portion and a pair of electrodes having different lengths and which is conveyed while the main body portion is held, a separator is fixed at a position corresponding to each of the electrodes. The electrode sorting device for sorting so that each electrode of the element that can be passed through the separator is in a state of being separated from each other, the separator is located at a portion where the shorter electrode cannot reach, A first tapered surface capable of guiding only the longer electrode to one surface side; and, after the longer electrode has been completely guided to the one surface side, only the shorter electrode is allowed to the other surface side. And a second tapered surface which can be guided to the electrode sorting apparatus.

According to the means 13, the element is transported while the main body is held. By passing each electrode of the element through a separator fixedly installed at a position corresponding to each electrode, the electrodes are sorted so as to be separated from each other. Due to the first tapered surface of the separator, only the longer electrode is first guided to the one surface side. At this time, since the shorter electrode does not reach the first tapered surface, it is not guided by the first tapered surface. Then, after the longer electrode is completely guided to one surface side, only the shorter electrode is guided to the other surface side by the second tapered surface. Therefore, even if the electrodes are intertwined with each other or intersect with each other, the longer electrode and the shorter electrode can be reliably sorted. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for problems in subsequent steps to occur. Further, when the elements are intermittently or continuously transported, the above sorting is performed intermittently or continuously in accordance with the transportation, and in this case, sorting is efficiently performed.

Means 14. 14. The electrode sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the element is an electrolytic capacitor element, and the electrodes are wire-like plus and minus lead wires.

According to the means 14, the positive lead wire and the negative lead wire of the once-sorted electrolytic capacitor element are not entangled or crossed with each other unless there is another external action. Moreover, sorting is easily performed.

[0036]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrolytic capacitor element (hereinafter simply referred to as “element”) 1 to be sorted in the present embodiment is one immediately after being subjected to so-called aging treatment. It is composed of a substantially columnar main body 2 and a pair of positive lead wire 3 and negative lead wire 4 as electrodes extending from the main body 2. In the present embodiment, the plus lead wire 3 is the minus lead wire 4
For example, it is about 5 mm longer.

The element 1 that has undergone the aging treatment is conveyed in a predetermined direction while being held by a holder (not shown) called a conveyor chuck. More specifically, the conveyor chuck is attached in a large number (for example, substantially continuously) along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt 12 and includes a pair of arm-shaped gripping portions. And
The main body 2 of each element 1 is controlled by each conveyor chuck 11.
Is held, and each element 1 is conveyed along with the movement of the belt 12, and is subjected to the next LC charging step.

In the holding state, the pair of lead wires 3 and 4 are in a state of protruding to one side. At this time, basically, both the lead wires 3 and 4 are moved in a vertically parallel state so that the plus lead wire 3 is located below and the minus lead wire 4 is located above.

However, for all the elements 1, the lead wires 3 and 4 do not extend linearly and are not kept in a separated state, and some of them are intertwined or intersect with each other. There is also. In the present embodiment, the sorting device 21 for sorting the lead wires 3 and 4 into the separated state by releasing such slight entanglement, intersection, bending, etc. It is provided on the way.

The sorting device 21 includes a plate-shaped separator 22.
Is equipped with. The separator 22 is fixedly installed at a substantially intermediate position in the width direction of the lead wires 3 and 4 so as not to hinder the transport of the element 1. The lead wires 3 and 4 are slidably passed over the upper and lower surfaces of the separator 22, respectively.

The thickness (distance between the upper surface and the lower surface) d of the main body portion 23 of the separator 22 is slightly larger than the distance between the root portions of the lead wires 3 and 4, and each of the tip portions thereof has a thickness d. A mechanism for guiding the lead wires 3 and 4 is provided. More specifically, a first taper surface 24 for guiding the positive lead wire 3 is provided at the tip of the separator 22. This first tapered surface 24
For guiding the tip portion of the plus lead wire 3 of the conveyed element 1 downward, and is directed obliquely downward.

Further, the tip of the separator 22 is cut out in a hook shape, and a second tapered surface 25 for guiding the minus lead wire 4 is provided on the tip side of this cut out portion. . The second tapered surface 25 guides the tip portion of the minus lead wire 4 of the conveyed element 1 upward, and is directed obliquely upward.

That is, the portion of the separator 22 corresponding to the first taper surface 24 and the portion of the separator 22 corresponding to the second taper surface 25 both have a wedge shape with a sharp tip. However, the first taper surface 24 and the second taper surface 25 are provided at different parts along the longitudinal direction of the lead wires 3 and 4, and in particular, the first taper surface 24 is Since the negative lead wire 4 is provided at a position more distant from the main body 2 of the element 1 than the second tapered surface 25, that is, the cutout portion is present, the minus lead wire 4 is moved to the first tapered surface 24.
It is configured not to hit.

Further, a predetermined gap L is provided between the first tapered surface 24 and the second tapered surface 25 in the carrying direction of the element 1. In addition, the second tapered surface 25 is
The tip of the minus lead wire 4 is obliquely formed so that the tip side is preferentially guided. That is, the longitudinal direction of the lead wires 3 and 4 and the tip end line of the second tapered surface 25 are set to intersect each other by a predetermined angle θ.

Next, the operation and effect of sorting the lead wires 3 and 4 by using the sorting device 21 having the above-described structure will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) [pattern A] and 3 (b) [pattern B], the element 1 has the conveyor chuck 11
When the lead wires 3 and 4 reach the position corresponding to the separator 22, the longer plus lead wire 3 first hits the first taper surface 24, and then the taper surface 24 is held. You will be guided diagonally downward.
At this time, the shorter minus lead wire 4 does not reach the first taper surface 24 at the distant position, and the taper surface 24
You will not be guided by.

The positive lead wire 3 is connected to the separator 2
After a while after being guided to the lower surface of the main body portion 23 of No. 2, the minus lead wire 4 is turned to the second taper surface 25.
And is guided obliquely upward along the tapered surface 25. At this time, the longer plus lead wire 3 has already been guided to the lower surface of the main body portion 23 (the tip of the positive lead wire 3 has moved along the lower surface of the main body portion 23). It is not guided by the tapered surface 25.

Thereafter, the positive lead wire 3 slides along the lower surface of the separator 22, and the negative lead wire 4 slides along the upper surface of the separator 22. Then, the positive lead wire 3 and the negative lead wire 4 of the element 1 which have passed through the separator 22 are surely sorted in the upper and lower sides, and are not entangled or crossed with each other unless there is an external action.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, only the longer plus lead wire 3 is guided to the lower surface side by the first tapered surface 24 of the separator 22.
Then, the second taper surface 25 guides only the shorter minus lead wire 4 to the upper surface side. Therefore, even if the lead wires 3 and 4 are intertwined with each other or cross each other, the positive lead wire 3 and the negative lead wire 4 can be reliably sorted. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for problems in subsequent steps to occur.

In particular, in the present embodiment, since a predetermined gap L is provided in the moving direction of the element 1 between the first tapered surface 24 and the second tapered surface 25, the longer plus lead wire is provided. After 3 is completely guided to the lower surface side, only the shorter negative lead wire 4 is guided to the upper surface side. Therefore, the sorting is performed more accurately and surely.

Further, the tip end of the second taper surface 25 is formed in an oblique shape, whereby the minus lead wire 4 is preferentially drawn from the tip end side rather than the base end side.
Will be guided to. Therefore, the shorter negative electrode foil 4 can be more reliably guided to the upper surface side.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the above-mentioned embodiment, but may be carried out as follows, for example.

(A) Although not particularly described in the above embodiment, the separator 22 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of each lead wire 3, 4.
May be movable and installable. With such a configuration, it is possible to perform appropriate sorting according to the specifications (size, shape, etc.) of the element 1 to be sorted at any given time, or the lengths of the lead wires 3 and 4.

(B) In the above embodiment, the longer one is the plus lead wire 3 and the shorter one is the minus lead wire 4, but the length relationship between the two may be reversed.

(C) The relative movement relationship may be reversed. That is, the element 1 side may be fixed and the separator 22 may be moved.

(D) The gap L in the above embodiment may be omitted. For example, plus lead wire 3
The minus lead wire 4 may be guided by the second tapered surface 25 when the is guided to the lower surface of the separator 22.

(E) Predetermined angle θ in the above embodiment
May be zero. Further, a predetermined angle may be set on the side of the first taper surface 24, and the plus lead wire 3 may be preferentially guided from the tip side.

(F) In the above embodiment, after the aging process, the sorting is performed at the timing before the LC charging, but the sorting may be performed at another timing.

(G) The electrode does not have to be the wire-shaped lead wires 3 and 4. For example, it may be configured by a deformable plate-shaped electrode plate.

(H) In the above embodiment, the separator 2
Although 2 is composed of one plate-shaped body, the separator may be composed of two or more members.

(I) The tip of the first tapered surface 24 in the above-mentioned embodiment may extend beyond the plate thickness of the main body portion 23 of the separator 22.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a sorting device and the like according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a sorting device and the like.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are schematic side views showing the operation of sorting the lead wires from the separator for each pattern.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a conventional sorting method.

5A is a schematic front cross-sectional view for explaining a conventional defect, and FIG. 5B is a schematic plan view for explaining a conventional defect.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... (Electrolytic capacitor) element, 2 ... Main body part, 3 ... Positive lead wire forming an electrode, 4 ... Negative lead wire forming an electrode, 21 ... Sorting device, 22 ... Separator, 23
... Main body part, 24 ... First taper surface, 25 ... Second taper surface.

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiromichi Mizuno             250 Ojiki 2-chome, Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture             Hardy Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kunio Takahashi             250 Ojiki 2-chome, Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture             Hardy Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5E082 AB09 MM15 MM19

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An electrode sorting device for sorting a main body portion and a pair of electrodes extending from the main body portion and having different lengths so that the respective electrodes are in a separated state, wherein the longer electrode is An electrode sorting device comprising a separator capable of guiding a shorter electrode to one surface side to the other surface side. 2. The electrode sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the separator is configured such that the longer electrode is guided before the shorter electrode. 3. An element comprising a body portion and a pair of electrodes extending from the body portion and having different lengths, wherein a separator is relatively passed between the electrodes while the body portion is held. An electrode sorting device for sorting the electrodes so that they are separated from each other, wherein the separator is a first tapered surface capable of guiding only the longer electrode to one surface side, and then a shorter electrode. And a second taper surface capable of guiding only the other surface to the other surface side. 4. An element comprising a body portion and a pair of electrodes extending from the body portion and having different lengths, wherein a separator is relatively passed between the electrodes while the body portion is held. An electrode sorting device for sorting each electrode so as to be in a separated state, wherein the separator includes a first tapered surface capable of guiding only the longer electrode to one surface side and only a short electrode. A second taper surface that can be guided to the other surface side, and the first taper surface and the second taper surface are provided at different portions along the longitudinal direction of the electrode. An electrode sorting device characterized in that 5. The first taper surface and the second taper surface so that the longer electrode is completely guided to one surface side and then only the shorter electrode is guided to the other surface side. The electrode sorting device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a predetermined gap is provided between the surface and a surface in the relative passing direction. 6. The element is configured to be intermittently or continuously conveyed with the main body held, and the separator has a shape and is fixed to wait for the conveyed element. The electrode sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the electrode sorting apparatus is installed in 7. The electrode according to claim 3, wherein the first tapered surface is provided at a position farther from the main body portion than the second tapered surface. Sorting device. 8. The electrode sorter according to claim 3, wherein at least the second tapered surface is configured such that the tip side of the shorter electrode is preferentially guided. apparatus. 9. The separator is movable in the longitudinal direction of the electrode.
9. The electrode sorting device according to any one of 8 to 8. 10. The first tapered surface has a guide width larger than at least a distance from a central portion between both electrodes in a root portion of the pair of electrodes to a longer electrode. The electrode sorting device according to claim 3, wherein 11. The second tapered surface has a guide width larger than at least a distance from a central portion between both electrodes in a root portion of the pair of electrodes to a shorter electrode. The electrode sorting device according to claim 3, wherein 12. The guiding start position of the shorter electrode by the second tapered surface is set to a position where the longer electrode after guiding cannot be guided. The electrode sorting device according to any one of the above. 13. A device, which comprises a main body part and a pair of electrodes extending from the main body part and having different lengths, and which is conveyed while the main body part is held, at positions corresponding to the respective electrodes. By fixedly installing the separator in, the electrode sorting device for sorting so that each electrode of the element that can be passed through the separator is in a state of being separated from each other, the separator is a portion where the shorter electrode does not reach First tapered surface capable of guiding only the longer electrode to one surface side, and only the shorter electrode after the longer electrode is completely guided to the one surface side. And a second taper surface that can guide the other surface side to the other surface side. 14. The electrode sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the element is an electrolytic capacitor element, and the electrodes are wire-like plus and minus lead wires.