JP2003040419A - Parts feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a line type parts feeder remarkably reducing vibration and noise, and having a significantly enhanced processing capability. SOLUTION: A rail 1 and an intermediate rolling body 3 are connected to each other via a plurality of pairs of front and rear links 4 in such a manner as to be capable of relative movement. The links 4 are connected by third shafts 12 to third brackets 11 provided on a base 2. Plate springs 17 impart resistance to the longitudinal movements of the rail 1 and the intermediate rolling body 3. An electromagnet 19 is secured to the intermediate rolling body 3 and an iron core 20 is secured to the rail 1. When the electromagnet 19 is made to intermittently carry current, the rail 1 and the intermediate rolling body 3 reciprocate in opposite directions, resisting the plate spring 17.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a line type parts feeder for transferring (conveying) various works in series.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of parts feeder is designed to transfer a work in a fixed direction by applying small vibrations in a longitudinal direction to a rail having a guide part through which the work flows.

In order to apply vibration to the rail, first, the rail and the base are connected by a plurality of leaf springs extending obliquely in a side view, so that the rail is longitudinally moved against elastic deformation of the leaf spring. It is allowed to reciprocate.

While fixing the electromagnet to the base,
An iron core (magnetic material) in the state of being close to the electromagnet is fixed to the rail, and the speed at which the rail moves in one direction by the electromagnet and the speed in which the rail returns in the opposite direction by intermittently energizing the electromagnet. The difference is used to transfer the work in a certain direction.

[0005]

Since the conventional parts feeder vibrates greatly as a whole, not only is it noisy,
There is a problem that it adversely affects other devices. The problem of vibration and noise is dealt with by providing a rubber foot on the base, but the fact is that the rubber foot alone cannot sufficiently absorb the vibration and noise.

Although the exact reason is not clear, when the rubber feet are provided, there occurs a phenomenon that the works flow in opposite directions with the middle part of the rail interposed therebetween, and the function as the parts feeder is destroyed. There was also the problem of things happening.

Further, even if the electric power to the electromagnet is increased or the frequency of the current interruption is increased in order to enhance the capability as a parts feeder, the increased amount of electric energy is consumed for the generation of noise and vibration. However, there was also a problem that it did not lead to the improvement of the essential transport ability.

An object of the present invention is to provide an epoch-making parts feeder which solves such a problem.

[0009]

A parts feeder according to the invention of claim 1 is a rail for horizontally arranging and transferring works, and a non-support for supporting the rail so as to freely reciprocate along its longitudinal direction. It is provided with a reciprocating support means made of an elastic body, and a vibrating mechanism for vibrating the rail in small increments in the longitudinal direction.

Here, the reciprocating support means (may also be referred to as a reciprocating guide means) is a supporting means that allows the rail to reciprocate lightly without resistance when the rail is supported by itself. Say.

The reciprocating support means and the vibrating means can be embodied in various ways. As a preferred example thereof, in the invention of claim 2, the reciprocating support means includes a plurality of vertically long and vertically arranged links arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the rail at appropriate intervals, and these links have upper and lower ends thereof. Is rotatably attached to a fixed member such as a base or a machine frame at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction so that the can move in the longitudinal direction of the rail, and the upper ends of the links are rotatably attached to the rail. At the lower end of each link, an intermediate rocking body that moves in the direction opposite to the rail due to the rotation of the link is rotatably attached.

On the other hand, the vibrating means comprises spring means for applying elastic resistance to the reciprocating movement of the rail, and an electromagnet and an iron core (magnetic body) for moving the rail in a fixed direction against the spring means. One of the electromagnet and the iron core is fixed to the intermediate rocking body, and the other is fixed to the rail.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the rail is reciprocally supported by a kind of parallel link mechanism. However, in order to smoothly reciprocate the rail for a long time at high speed, the rotation of the link is smoothly performed. Therefore, it is preferable that the link is rotatably attached to a rail, an intermediate oscillating body, or the like via a bearing.

According to experiments conducted by the inventor of the present application, it was more preferable to attach a weight to the intermediate oscillating body to balance the intermediate oscillating body and the rail.

[0015]

According to the present invention, the rail vibration is hardly transmitted to the outside, and the vibration and the noise can be remarkably reduced as compared with the conventional case.

Although the exact reason why the propagation of the vibration to the outside can be remarkably reduced in the present invention has not been fully clarified, the conventional reciprocating support means of the rail has a kind of flexible structure. It is understood that the vibration transmitted to the outside is absorbed by the reciprocating support means.

That is, for example, in the case of claim 2,
It is considered that when the intermediate oscillating body oscillates in the direction opposite to the rail, vibration to the outside is absorbed by the oscillating movement of the intermediate oscillating body, and as a result, transmission of the vibration to the outside is blocked.

Further, in the case of claim 2,
It is considered that most of the vibration energy generated by the intermittent energization of the electromagnet is absorbed as the movement of the rail, the link, and the intermediate oscillating body, and the vibration is not transmitted to the outside of the movable system composed of these three parts. .

Since the energy generated by the vibrating means is rarely wasted as vibration to the outside, the transfer capability of the parts feeder can be remarkably improved even with the same power and frequency as in the conventional case. You can do it.

When the parallel link mechanism as in claim 2 is used as the reciprocating support means of the rail and the spring means and the electromagnet are used as the vibrating means, the rail can be reciprocated at a high speed with a simple structure. .

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

(1). First Embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 4) FIGS. 1 to 4 show the first embodiment. Of these, FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rail, and FIG.
IIIA-IIIA view, Figure 3 (B) is IIIB-IIIB view in Figure 1, Figure 4 (A) is IVA-IVA view in Figure 1, Figure 3 (B) is IVB-IVB view in Figure 1. It is a figure.

In the present embodiment, the term "front and rear" is used, but for convenience, the front side (left side in FIG. 1) in the transfer direction of the work W is called front, and the front side in the transfer direction (FIG. 1). Then the right side) is called the back.

The parts feeder of the present embodiment is used for transferring a chip type work W such as a chip capacitor or a chip resistor, and it has a rail 1, a base 2 and an intermediate rocking body 3 arranged between them. And two front and rear links 4 that connect the rail 1 and the base 2 in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rail 1 is provided with a step-shaped guide groove 5 as an example of a guide portion in which the chip-type works W are moved in line. Rubber feet 6 are provided on the base 2.

The upper end of the link 4 is rotatably connected to a first bracket 7 protruding from the lower surface of the rail 1 by a first shaft 8, and the lower end of the link 4 is fixed to the intermediate rocking body 3. The second bracket 9 is rotatably connected to the second bracket 9 by a second shaft 10. The upper and lower middle portions of the link 4 are rotatably connected to the third bracket 11 by the third shaft 12.

The third bracket 11 is formed in a U shape in a plan view, and is fastened to a block 13 erected on the base 2 with a bolt 14. The intermediate oscillating body 3 has a window hole 15 for avoiding interference with the block 13.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, each shaft 8, 10,
The ball bearing 16 is fitted between the bracket 12 and the brackets 7, 9 and 10 (the shafts 8, 10 and 12 are fixed to the link 4 with screws, but the ball bearings are also interposed between them). You may let me).

The link 4 and the intermediate oscillating body 3 are connected by a parallel link mechanism composed of two links 4.
Therefore, the rail 1 and the intermediate oscillating body 3 can reciprocate in opposite directions by the rotation of the link 4. Intermediate rocker 3
Serves as a kind of pendulum that moves the rail 1 back and forth.

The leaf spring 1 is provided between the front and rear ends of the rail 1 and the front and rear third brackets 11, and between the front and rear third brackets 11 and the front and rear ends of the intermediate rocking body 3.
7 are fixed with screws 18. Therefore, elastic resistance is imparted to the reciprocating motion of the rail 1 and the intermediate oscillating body 3 by the leaf springs 17.

In the present embodiment, the front and rear leaf springs 17 are divided into upper and lower portions, but one leaf spring may be used for each. It is also possible to use only the upper leaf spring 17 or only the lower leaf spring 17.

It is also possible to use a rod-shaped spring instead of the leaf spring 17. Alternatively, a torsion spring (kick spring) may be used and wound around the shafts 8, 10, 12 to impart resistance to the movements of the rail 1, the link 4, and the intermediate oscillating body 3.

An electromagnet 19 is fixed to the central portion of the intermediate oscillating body 3 in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, an iron core (magnetic material) is fixed to the lower surface of the rail 1 with a slight distance from the rear surface of the electromagnet 19. The iron core 20 may be arranged in front of the electromagnet 19.

The intermediate rocking body 3 projects rearward from the rail 1, and a weight 21 is fixed to the rearward protruding portion. Therefore, the weight 21 also swings back and forth together with the intermediate swinging body 3.

In this embodiment, the link 4 and the intermediate oscillating body 3
And constitute reciprocating support means, and the group of leaf springs 17, electromagnet 19 and iron core 20 constitute vibrating means. Further, the weight 21 serves as a balance unit that balances the rail 1 and the intermediate rocking body 3 to smoothly reciprocate. The weight 21 may be formed integrally with the intermediate rocking body 3.

The work W is supplied to the rail 1 by a supply means (not shown). Further, the work W transferred by the rail 1 moves to various strokes via another transport path 22 or the like.

In the above structure, when the coil of the electromagnet 19 is energized intermittently in a short cycle, the electromagnet 1 is energized when energized.
The rail 1 moves forward by the attraction of the spring 9 and the iron core 20 against the elastic force of the leaf spring 17, and when the power supply is cut off, the electromagnet 19 and the iron core 20 are separated by the elastic restoring force of the leaf spring 17 so that the rail 1 moves. Moves backwards. Due to the difference between the forward speed and the backward speed at that time, a large number of works W are aligned and transferred in a line.

As compared with the prior art in which the base and the rail were connected by a leaf spring, the generation of vibration and noise was significantly suppressed, and the transfer efficiency could be improved by about 25 to 40%. The improvement of the transfer efficiency means that the total weight of the works that can be transferred per unit time is increased, the transfer speed of the works W is increased to increase the number of processed objects, and the number of processed objects is the same but the weight of the works is heavy. It includes both that W can be transferred.

Although the reason why the vibration is remarkably reduced as compared with the conventional one is not clear, the supporting structure of moving members such as the rail 1, the intermediate oscillating body 3, the link 4 and the electromagnet 19 has a flexible structure. It is considered to be the main cause.

More specifically, the rail 1 and the intermediate oscillating body 3
It is considered that the rotation of the bearing 16 fitted on the third shaft 12 blocks the transmission of kinetic energy such as the rail 1 and the intermediate oscillating body 3 to the outside as vibration even if such members move.

Further, since the rail 1 and the intermediate oscillating body 3 are interlocked with each other in the opposite directions, irregular vibration does not occur, and the vibration of the electromagnet 19 is not transmitted to the base 2.
It is considered to be a major cause of vibration suppression.

Since the energy for driving the electromagnet 19 is rarely wasted as useless vibration energy, the transfer efficiency can be remarkably improved. In particular, it was more preferable to provide the weight 21 on the rear portion of the intermediate rocking body 3. The weight and position of the weight 21 are determined by comprehensively considering the weight and length of the rail 1, the weight of the intermediate rocking body 3, the position and weight of the electromagnet 19, and the like.

By the way, conventionally, there was a phenomenon that even if the frequency of energization to the electromagnet 19 was increased in order to improve the processing efficiency, the useless vibration would only increase and the efficiency would not necessarily be improved (the reason is clear. However, because the load of the rail always acts on the leaf spring and a complicated stress is generated, it is considered that the so-called dance phenomenon occurs in the leaf spring and it cannot be deformed following the difference in frequency).

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the frequency becomes higher, the number of reciprocating movements of the rail 1 also becomes higher and the processing efficiency can be increased. This is because the rail 1 and the intermediate oscillating body 3 are interlocked,
It is presumed that the electromagnet 19 and the iron core 20 are accurately moved toward and away from each other in response to the intermittent energization.

Further, since the load of the rail 1 does not act on the leaf spring 17 and the leaf spring 17 is simply bent and deformed by driving the electromagnet 19, it is considered that the responsiveness is good even if the frequency is increased.

(2). Other Embodiment (FIG. 5) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment in principle. In this embodiment, a rack and pinion gear mechanism is adopted as a reciprocating support means for the rail 1, and a plurality of pairs of front and rear upper pinion gears 23 are interposed between the rail 1 and the intermediate rocking body 3. Therefore, the rail 1 and the intermediate oscillating body 3 interlock with each other and reciprocate in the opposite directions.

Also, between the intermediate rocking member 3 and the base 2,
A plurality of pairs of lower pinion gears 24 are interposed. Needless to say, the rail 1, the intermediate rocking body 3, and the base 2 are formed with rack teeth that mesh with the pinion gears 21 and 22. The rail 1, the intermediate oscillating body 3, and the base 2 are leaf springs 1.
Since they are connected to each other at 7, they are held irremovably (a guide means for preventing them from being separated vertically may be provided separately).

Also in the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be expected. The intermediate rocking body 3 may be omitted and a pinion gear may be interposed between the base 2 and the rail 1. Further, a roller as a support means for the rail 1 or the intermediate oscillating body 3 and a pinion gear as an interlocking means may be combined.

(3). Others The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment and can be embodied in various ways. The reciprocating support means is not limited to the parallel link mechanism, and other various means can be adopted.

As the vibrating means, various means such as attaching a vibrator (vibrating motor) to a rail or an intermediate oscillating body can be adopted. It is also possible to provide an electromagnet instead of the iron core of the illustrated embodiment (that is, it is possible to use a pair of electromagnets, and in this case, a large power can be obtained).

Needless to say, the present invention can be used not only for transferring chip-type workpieces but also for transferring workpieces of various shapes and sizes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rail.

3 (A) is a view of IIIA-IIIA of FIG. 1, (B) is II of FIG.
It is a IB-IIIB perspective view.

4 (A) is a view of IVA-IVA of FIG. 1, (B) is IVB- of FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing the second embodiment in principle.

[Explanation of symbols]

W work 1 rail 2 base 3 Intermediate rocker 4 links 8, 10, 12 axis (pin) 16 bearings 17 Leaf springs constituting vibration means 19 Electromagnets constituting vibration means 20 Iron core that constitutes the vibrating means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rail for horizontally arranging and transferring works, a reciprocating support means made of a non-elastic body for supporting the rail so as to freely reciprocate along the longitudinal direction, and the rail in the longitudinal direction. A parts feeder that is equipped with a vibrating means that vibrates in small increments. 2. The reciprocating support means comprises a plurality of vertically elongated links arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the rail at appropriate intervals, and the upper and lower ends of these links move in the longitudinal direction of the rail. It is rotatably attached to a fixed member such as a base or a machine frame in the upper and lower middle portions so that the upper end of each link is rotatably attached to a rail, and the lower end of each link is An intermediate rocking body that moves in the opposite direction to the rail by the rotation of the link is rotatably attached, while the vibrating means applies spring resistance to the reciprocating movement of the rail, and spring means. It is equipped with an electromagnet and an iron core (magnetic body) for moving the rail in a certain direction against the above, one of the electromagnet and the iron core is fixed to the intermediate oscillating body, and the other is fixed to the rail. Doing the contract The parts feeder described in claim 1.