JP2003081419A - Hopper and parts feeder with the hopper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To feed parts at a stable feed rate. SOLUTION: This hopper 2 comprises a bowl 32 for storing parts so as to be chuted, a track 31 formed so as to limit the number of parts passing from the bowl 32 to the outside, and a bowl drive mechanism 33 for moving the parts from the bowl 32 to the outside through the track 31. The hopper 2 is assembled integrally with a support table 3 together with a circulating linear feeder 1 to supplement parts to the circulating linear feeder 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hopper for replenishing parts and a parts supply device including the hopper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hopper for replenishing parts such as a crystal piece to a parts feeder has a box-like shape capable of storing a large number of parts 101, as shown in FIG. The container 102, the guide chute 103 connected to the opening 102a of the container 102, and a vibration mechanism (not shown) that vibrates the container 102 to move the component toward the opening 102a (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H10 (1998) -107242).
-297748).

Thus, the conventional hopper is installed so that the tip portion of the guide chute 103 is located above the bowl 105 of the parts feeder 104, and then the hopper is accommodated when the vibration mechanism is operated by the operation of the operator. Body 1
It is possible to move the component 101 in the direction of the opening 102a by the vibration of 02 and supply the component 101 from the opening 102a to the parts feeder 104 via the guide chute 103. Then, in this way, the component 10
1 is replenished with the parts feeder 104, the bowl 105
The parts 101 are moved along a track 106 formed around the bowl 105 by twisting and vibrating the parts 101, and the individual parts 101 are fed to the processing device in a state of being aligned in a predetermined posture. .

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the parts 101 are replenished to the parts feeder 104, a plurality of parts 101 are arbitrarily guided from the opening 102a of the container 102 at a time. 103
The parts 10 to the parts feeder 104 are discharged to the parts feeder 104.
There is a problem that the supply amount of 1 is unstable. As a result, the processing capacity of the parts feeder 104 is reduced by the parts 10
The replenishment amount of 1 is likely to be excessive or insufficient, and
When the replenishment amount of the component is excessive, a large amount of the component 101 stays in the bowl 105, so that the component 1 due to the torsional vibration
01 becomes insufficiently moved or aligned, and parts are likely to be clogged.

Therefore, the present invention provides a hopper capable of replenishing the component 101 with a stable replenishment amount and a component supply apparatus including the hopper.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 limits the number of passing parts from the housing to the outside and the housing for receiving the parts. It is characterized by having a formed component passage and a vibrating mechanism for vibrating the container and the component passage to move the component from the container to the outside through the component passage.

According to the above construction, when the vibrating mechanism vibrates the container and the component passage, the component accommodated in the container moves outward from the container through the component passage,
It is discharged to the outside in the quantity unit of the number of passages limited in the parts passage. As a result, unlike the conventional case, a large amount of components are not discharged at one time from the container, so that the components can be stably supplied.

A second aspect of the present invention is the hopper according to the first aspect, which is characterized in that it has an alignment mechanism that is provided in the component passage and that aligns components moving in the component passage.

According to the above construction, when the parts move from the container toward the outside through the parts passage, the parts can be discharged to the outside in an aligned state in which the parts are aligned in a single-layer single row by the alignment mechanism. Therefore, the parts can be supplied more stably.

A third aspect of the present invention is the hopper according to the first or second aspect, which has a control device capable of controlling the vibrating mechanism so as to vibrate the container and the component passage at a desired amplitude amount. It is characterized by that.

According to the above construction, the container and the component passage can be vibrated with a desired amplitude amount, so that the moving speed of the component moving in the component passage can be adjusted. As a result, the parts can be replenished with the discharge amount corresponding to the amplitude amount.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the hopper according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the container, the component passage, and the component passage are diverted bowl type parts feeders or linear type parts feeders. It is characterized by being formed by.

According to the above construction, the hopper can be realized easily and inexpensively by diverting a general bowl type part feeder or a linear type part feeder.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component supply device, which is arranged so that the hopper according to any one of the first to fourth aspects and the component discharged from the hopper are replenished. It is characterized in that it has a feeder device for feeding the components in an aligned state to an external device, and a support base integrally assembled with the hopper and the feeder device.

According to the above construction, the parts can be stably fed to the external device, and the parts feeder can be carried and set in one operation by the support base, so that the parts can be easily handled. is there.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the hopper according to this embodiment is provided in a component supply device. The component supply device controls the operation of the component supply device main body 81 and the component supply device main body 81.
It has and. The component supply device main body 81 includes a circulation type linear feeder 1, a hopper 2 for supplying components to the circulation type linear feeder 1, and a support base 3 on which various devices such as the circulation type linear feeder 1 and the hopper 2 are integrally assembled. And have.

The circulation type linear feeder 1 includes an alignment linear feeder mechanism 4 for transferring the components as a whole in the discharge direction A by linear vibration, and a return linear feeder mechanism 5 for transferring the components as a whole in the return direction B. Are arranged in parallel.

As shown in FIG. 2, the alignment linear feeder mechanism 4 includes a main trough 6 that aligns the components while moving them in the discharge direction A, and a base block 7 provided on the lower surface of the main trough 6. Main trough drive mechanisms 8 and 8 provided at both ends in the discharge direction A for imparting linear vibration to the main trough 6, and these main trough drive mechanisms 8
A main trough support mechanism 9 for supporting 8 is provided.

Each of the main trough drive mechanisms 8 described above has a movable block 10 integrally fixed to the base block 7.
A fixed block 11 arranged below the movable block 10 so as to face each other, an inclined leaf spring 12 for vibration provided so as to connect both side surfaces of both blocks 10 and 11, and a lower surface of the movable block 10. The fixed movable core 13 and the electromagnet 14 fixed on the upper surface of the fixed block 11 and arranged so as to face each other so as to attract the movable core 13 in the horizontal direction by magnetic force.
It has and. An unillustrated inverter is connected to the electromagnet 14, and the inverter is, for example, 300 Hz.
By applying the AC power to the electromagnet 14 to draw the movable core 13 in a constant cycle, linear vibration of a constant cycle is applied to the main trough 6 to move the parts on the main trough 6 in the discharge direction A. There is.

The main trough support mechanism 9 for supporting the main trough drive mechanism 8 is the balance block 1
5 is provided with a fixed block 16 that is disposed below and opposite to each other, and an inclined plate spring 17 for vibration isolation that is provided so as to connect the side surfaces of both blocks 15 and 16.

On the other hand, the return linear feeder 5 linearly vibrates the return trough 21 which transfers components in the return direction B while placing them, the base block 22 provided on the lower surface of the return trough 21, and the return trough 21. It is provided with return trough drive mechanisms 23, 23 for giving and return trough support mechanism 24 for supporting these return trough drive mechanisms 23, 23. In the return linear feeder mechanism 5, the return trough 21 is in the return direction B.
The whole is inclined so that it faces upward at an angle of 5 degrees toward the downstream side of the.

Each of the above return trough drive mechanisms 23 is
Similar to the main trough drive mechanism 8 described above, the main trough drive mechanism 8 includes an electromagnet and a movable core connected to an inverter (not shown). Then, the return trough drive mechanism 23 applies a straight-line vibration of a constant cycle to the return trough 21 by applying an alternating current of 120 Hz, which is a full-wave rectified commercial frequency of 60 Hz, to the return trough 21 to return the return trough 2.
The part on 1 is moved in the recirculation direction B.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main trough 6 and the return trough 21 configured as described above are horizontally opposed to each other with a slight clearance not dimensionally shown. The main trough 6 is provided with a single-layer / single-row forming mechanism and a discharge chute 26 which are not replaceable, and the alignment state detection sensor 54 of FIG. 5 for detecting the alignment state of the parts and an incorrect alignment state. There is provided a removing mechanism 18 that blows away various parts from the main trough 6 by blowing them out toward the return trough 21 with high pressure air. In addition, the transfer surface 6a inside the upper surface of the main trough 6
Is the side wall 27a, the single-layer / single-row forming section 25, and the discharge chute 2
6 and the end side wall 27b are surrounded on three sides, and these members 27a, 25, 26, 27b prevent the parts from falling off the transfer surface 6a.

On the other hand, the transfer surface 21a on the inner side of the upper surface of the return trough 21 is surrounded on three sides by the side wall 28 and the quick-discharging gate 29.
Parts are prevented from falling off from a. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a component amount upper limit detection sensor 55 and a component amount lower limit detection sensor 56 are provided around the return trough 21. The upper limit sensor 55 for detecting the amount of parts is used for the transfer surface 2
1a is set so as to detect the upper limit value of the component quantity, which is the quantity of the components, and the component quantity lower limit detection sensor 56
Is set to detect the lower limit value of the component amount.
The upper limit value and the lower limit value of the component amount are the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the range of the component amount that can be fed to the external device while the circulating linear feeder 1 properly aligns the components.

As shown in FIG. 1, the circulation type linear feeder 1 constructed as described above is arranged such that the components on the return trough 21 in the return linear feeder mechanism 5 are moved in the recirculation direction B by vibrating. It is designed to be transferred onto the main trough 6 of the feeder mechanism 4.
On the other hand, in the linear feeder mechanism 4 for alignment, the components on the main trough 6 supplied from the return trough 21 are moved in the discharge direction A by vibration, and the single layer / single row forming unit 25
The parts are aligned and fed to an external device (not shown), and the remaining parts are transferred onto the return trough 21.

A hopper 2 for supplying parts to the circulating linear feeder 1 is adjacent to the side of the circulating linear feeder 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the hopper 2 is formed by diverting a bowl type parts feeder, and a bowl 32 capable of accommodating a large number of parts and a bowl 32.
To detect the remaining amount of the components housed in the bowl 32, the bowl drive mechanism 33 that gives an elliptical vibration to the body, the support board 42 that supports the bowl drive mechanism 33, the anti-vibration rubber 43 that is provided on the lower surface of the support board 42. 5 and the remaining amount detection sensor 58 of FIG. The inner peripheral wall of the bowl 32 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in, a spiral track 31 that rises from the inside to the outside is formed. Truck 31
The passage width and passage height are set so that the number of passing parts is limited to a predetermined number. The number of passing parts may be singular or plural.

Further, in the path of the track 31, an alignment mechanism 34 for aligning components moving along the track 31 is provided. The alignment mechanism 34 includes a layer regulation member 35 that aligns the components stacked in a plurality of layers in a single layer state, and a row regulation member 36 that aligns the components that advance in a plurality of rows in a single row state. . The layer restricting member 35 has a wiper structure formed and arranged so as to abut the second layer component, and by dropping two or more layers of components to the inner peripheral side of the bowl 32, the first layer component is removed. By leaving only the parts, they are aligned in a single layer. on the other hand,
The row restricting member 36 has a structure in which a part of the bottom surface of the track 31 is cut out to form an opening, and the opening is made to communicate with the inner peripheral side of the bowl 32. Part of the bowl 32 to the inner peripheral side,
By leaving only the components in the first row, they are arranged in a single row.

The bowl 32 described above, as shown in FIG.
The bowl drive mechanism 33 causes elliptical vibration. The bowl drive mechanism 33 includes a movable block 37 fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the bowl 32, a fixed block 38 disposed below the movable block 37 and facing each other, and both blocks 37.
And a torsional vibration part 39 provided between the two.
The torsional vibration part 39 is provided on a lower surface of the movable block 37, which is not shown, and an upper surface of the fixed block 38, which is not shown, and an electromagnet that attracts the movable core in the horizontal direction, the movable block 37, and the fixed block. It has a plurality of inclined leaf springs (not shown) connected to each other, and a soundproof cover 40 provided so as to surround these members.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the torsional vibration unit 39 applies torsional vibration to the bowl 32 to move the components existing on the bottom surface in the bowl 32 while moving them upward along the track 31. It is like this.

One end of a component feeding member 41 is connected to the upper edge of the hopper 2. Parts input member 41
The other end portion is located above the central portion of the return trough 21 in the circulating linear feeder 1. Then, the component feeding member 41 is provided with a supply path 41 for circulating the component.
a is formed from one end to the other end, and guides the aligned components moved to the upper edge along the track 31 of the hopper 2 to above the return trough 21 via the supply path 41a. It is designed to be continuously supplied in units of one.

The hopper 2 and the circulation type linear feeder 1 configured as described above are integrally provided on the support base 3. The support base 3 is interposed between the upper board 44 on which the hopper 2 and the circulating linear feeder 1 are fixedly mounted, the lower board 45 facing the upper board 44, and the upper board 44 and the lower board 45. It has a vibration-proof rubber member 46. Handles 59 are provided on both side surfaces of the support base 3 to facilitate transportation by the operator. Also, the support base 3
On top of the hopper 2 and circulating linear feeder 1
Besides, an air supply mechanism 51 and a power supply mechanism 52 are provided. Each of the mechanisms 51 and 52 is provided in an area on the left side of the drawing and an area on the right side of the drawing centering on the hopper 2.

The air supply mechanism 51 has a regulator 47 for reducing the high pressure air supplied from the compressor to a predetermined pressure and a joint member 48 for branching the high pressure air into two directions.
And a solenoid valve 49 for opening and closing the high pressure air passage, and a flow regulator 50 capable of adjusting the flow velocity of the high pressure air.
High-pressure air having a predetermined pressure can be supplied to the removing mechanism 18 at any timing. On the other hand, the power supply mechanism 52 has a plurality of amplifiers 53 and a terminal block 54, and as shown in FIG. 3, power is supplied to the bowl drive mechanism 33, the main trough drive mechanism 8, and the return trough drive mechanism 23 of the hopper 2. Is supplied to operate.

The operations of the hopper 2 and the circulation type linear feeder 1 are controlled by a controller 57, as shown in FIG. The control device 57 has an arithmetic unit 61, a communication unit 62, a memory 63, an input / output unit 64, and a display drive unit 65. The memory 63 is formed with a program area 63a for storing various programs such as the component supply main routine shown in FIG. 6 and a data area 63b for storing data used when the programs are executed. The communication unit 62 is connected to an information processing device 66 such as a production management device, and enables various management data such as the type of parts, feeding speed, and operating time to be transmitted to and received from the information processing device 66. .

Further, the display drive section 65 includes an operation panel 67.
Is connected to the display unit 68. The operation panel 67 includes a display unit 68 for displaying various operation data such as component type data and feeding speed data on a screen, and a data input unit 69 such as a keyboard and a mouse used for inputting operation data and instruction data. And a replenishment alarm 70 for notifying the operator of the timing of replenishing the components to the hopper 2 by voice or light, and an operation start / stop switch 71 used for instructing the operation and stop of the component supply device.

The data input section 69 and the replenishment alarm 70 described above.
The operation start / stop switch 71 is connected to the input / output unit 64 of the control device 57. In addition, the input / output unit 64
Is a bowl drive mechanism 33 or an alignment mechanism 34 of the hopper 2,
It is directly or indirectly connected to the remaining amount detection sensor 58 and the like through the power supply mechanism 52, and also the component amount upper limit detection sensor 55, the component amount lower limit detection sensor 56, and the alignment state of the circulating linear feeder 1. It is directly or indirectly connected to the detection sensor 54, the removal mechanism 18, the main trough drive mechanism 8, the return trough drive mechanism 23 and the like via the air supply mechanism 51 and the power supply mechanism 52.

The operation of the hopper 2 and the component supply device having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7.

When power is supplied to the component supply device, the controller 57 causes the component supply main routine shown in FIG.
Various routines such as the feeder operation routine and the hopper operation routine of FIG. 7 are repeatedly executed in order at regular time intervals by multitask control or the like.

In the component supply main routine, the state where the input of the component type data, the feed amount data and the like is accepted (S1), and the data input screen is displayed on the display section 68 of the operation panel 67 (S2). When the operator operates the data input unit 69 to input operation data such as component type data and feed amount data, the operation data is stored in the memory 63 of the control device 57 and then based on the operation data. Then, the amplitude amount of each feeder mechanism 4 and 5 in the circulation type linear feeder 1 corresponding to the feeding amount is determined. Further, the supply amount of the hopper 2 corresponding to the supply amount is obtained, and the amplitude amount of the hopper 2 corresponding to this supply amount is determined (S3). The amplitude amount of the hopper 2 is determined so that the supply amount of the circulating linear feeder 1 is slightly larger than that of the circulating linear feeder 1 so that the circulating linear feeder 1 does not run out of components.

Next, by monitoring the operation state of the operation start / stop switch 71, the operation start command is awaited (S4). When the operation start / stop switch 71 is operated to instruct the operation start, the component supply device main body 8
The operation status of No. 1 is displayed on the screen (S5). Then, the operation state of the operation start / stop switch 71 is monitored (S6), and the operation stop is instructed by the operator (S6, N
O), the screen display of the operation status in the component supply device main body 81 is continued. After that, when the operation stop is instructed (S
(6, YES), S1 is re-executed, and the process waits for input of the next product type data, feed amount data and the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the feeder operation routine and the hopper operation routine, the operation start / stop switch 71 is monitored after the power is turned on to wait for the input of the operation start command. Waiting at (G1) and (F1). And start operation
When the operation start is instructed by operating the stop switch 71, the subsequent operation of each routine is executed.

That is, in the feeder operation routine,
The main trough drive mechanism 8 and the return trough drive mechanism 23 are operated. This allows the return trough 21
Moves the parts in the return direction B by vibration and transfers them to the main trough 6. Then, the main trough 6 vibrates with an amplitude amount corresponding to the specified feed amount, moves the discharge chute 26 in the discharge direction A while aligning the components in a single layer and single row state, and from the end to the external device. Will be sent to (G2).

When the feeding of the components is started as described above, the alignment state of the components moving in the main trough 6 is detected by the alignment state detection sensor 54, and the components are properly detected based on the detection signal from the detection sensor 54. It is determined whether or not they are in proper alignment (G3). When not in the proper alignment state (G3, NO), the removing mechanism 18 is operated to blow high-pressure air to the components, thereby blowing the components from the main trough 6 toward the return trough 21 and collecting the components. In addition, instead of collecting it, it may be removed outside the aircraft (G
4). On the other hand, if the alignment is proper (G3, Y
ES), it advances along the discharge chute 26 of the main trough 6 and feeds it to an external device.

Thereafter, it is determined whether the component amount of the component existing in the return trough 21 is less than the lower limit value based on the detection signal from the component amount lower limit detection sensor 56 (G5).
If it is less than the lower limit value (G5, YES), it is determined that the feeding of the parts from the circulation type linear feeder 1 will be stopped soon, and the hopper 2 outputs a supply request command to supply the parts to the return trough 21 ( G6). On the other hand, if it is not less than the lower limit value (G5, NO), it is subsequently determined whether the component amount of the return trough 21 is the upper limit value or more based on the detection signal from the component amount upper limit detection sensor 55 (G7). ). If the quantity of parts is greater than or equal to the upper limit (G7, YE
S), it is determined that the alignment of the parts in the main trough 6 is likely to be insufficient, and a supply stop command is output to stop the supply of the parts from the hopper 2 to the return trough 21 (G8). On the other hand, if the component quantity is not greater than or equal to the upper limit value (G
7, NO), the current operation of the hopper 2, that is, the component supply operation and the stop operation are continued.

Thereafter, it is judged whether or not the operation stop command is input (G9), and if the operation stop command is not input (G9, NO), the operation is re-executed from the above G3. As a result, the amount of components of the return trough 21 can be maintained within the range between the upper limit value and the lower limit value, so that properly aligned components can be continuously fed to the external device at a predetermined feed amount. On the other hand, if the operation stop command is input (G
(9, YES), after stopping the feeding of parts (G10), G
1 is re-executed to enter the operation start command waiting state.

In the hopper operation routine,
When the operation is started from the state of waiting for the input of the operation start command (F1), it is determined whether or not the supply request command is output in the feeder operation routine (F2), and when the supply request command is output (F2, YES), bowl drive mechanism 3
3 is operated, and the bowl 32 is torsionally oscillated with the amplitude amount obtained in S3 of FIG. 6 described above. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the parts put inside the hopper 2 are
While moving upward along the track 31 formed on the outer side of the track 31, the row restricting member 36 makes a single row and the layer restricting member 35 makes a single layer, and then moves to the uppermost portion of the track 31. Then, the components arranged in a single-layer, single-row manner are transferred to the supply path 41a of the component insertion member 41, and are supplied to the return trough 21 with a supply amount slightly larger than the supply amount of the circulation type linear feeder 1. Becomes (F
3). On the other hand, when the replenishment request command is not output (F2, NO), the current operation of the hopper 2 (replenishment of components or stop of replenishment) is continued. As a result, if parts are being replenished from the hopper 2 to the return trough 21, the parts of the return trough 21 will be increased by the difference obtained by subtracting the feed amount of the circulating linear feeder 1 from the replenishment amount of the hopper 2. become.

Thereafter, in the feeder operation routine, it is determined whether or not the replenishment stop command is output (F4), and when the replenishment stop command is output (F4, YES), the bowl drive mechanism 33 is stopped, The replenishment of parts from the hopper 2 to the circulating linear feeder 1 is stopped (F5). On the other hand, if the supply stop command is not output (F4,
NO), the current operation of the hopper 2 (replenishment of parts or stop of supply) is continued. As a result, if the supply of the parts from the hopper 2 is stopped, the parts are reduced from the return trough 21 by the feed amount of the circulation type linear feeder 1.

Next, based on the detection signal from the remaining amount detection sensor 58, it is determined whether the remaining amount of the parts in the hopper 2 is less than a predetermined value (F6). When the remaining amount of the component is less than the predetermined value (F6, YES), it is determined that the component will be exhausted from the hopper 2 soon, and the component insertion request is output, and the operator is notified by voice or light via the display unit 68. On the other hand, it requests the hopper 2 to load the parts (F7) and executes F8. Even if the operator puts a large number of parts into the hopper 2 at a time, the parts are aligned in the hopper 2 and gradually supplied to the circulating linear feeder 1. There is no hindrance to the feeding operation.
On the other hand, if the remaining amount of parts is not less than the predetermined value (F6, N
O), judging that there are sufficient parts in the hopper 2, F
Execute 8.

After this, it is judged whether or not the operation stop command is input (F8), and if the operation stop command is not input (F8, NO), the above-mentioned F2 is re-executed, and from F2 to F7.
By repeating the above process, the replenishment of parts and the stop of replenishment of the circulating linear feeder 1 are repeated. As a result, execution of F2 and F3 described above (supplement)
The increase in the number of parts of the return trough 21 due to the above and the decrease of the number of parts in the return trough 21 due to the execution of F4 and F5 (stop of replenishment) are repeated between the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the component amount, and the proper component amount is maintained By doing so, the circulating linear feeder 1 can stably feed the components to the external device. After that, when the operation stop command is input (F8, YES), the hopper 2 is stopped to stop the component replenishment, and F1 is re-executed to enter the operation start command input waiting state.

As described above, the hopper 2 of this embodiment
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bowl type parts feeder is diverted to the hopper 2, and the bowl 32 (container) for accommodating parts can be loaded and the number of passing parts from the bowl 32 to the outside. 31 and the bowl 32 and the track 3 formed so as to limit the
1 is vibrated to move parts from the bowl 32 to the outside via the track 31.
3 (vibration mechanism).

According to the above configuration, the bowl drive mechanism 33
When the bowl 32 and the track 31 vibrate, the parts housed in the bowl 32 move from the bowl 32 to the track 31.
It is moved to the outside through the and is discharged to the outside in the unit of the number of passages limited by the truck 31. As a result, unlike the conventional case, a large amount of components are not discharged at once, so that the components can be stably replenished.

In this embodiment, since the bowl type parts feeder is diverted to the hopper 2, the container,
The component passage and the vibration mechanism have been described as the subordinate concept of the bowl 32, the track 31, and the bowl drive mechanism 33, but the invention is not limited thereto. That is, hopper 2
May be formed by diverting a linear type part feeder, or may be formed by forming a dedicated container, a component passage and a vibration mechanism without diverting each type of part feeder. good.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the hopper 2 of the present embodiment is provided in the track 31, and the track 31
It is configured to have an alignment mechanism 34 for aligning the moving parts. As a result, when the parts move from the bowl 32 toward the outside via the track 31, the alignment mechanism 34 can discharge the parts to the outside in an aligned state in which the parts are aligned in, for example, a single-layer single row. Can be stably supplied.

The alignment mechanism 34 of this embodiment includes a layer regulating member 35 for aligning components stacked in a plurality of layers in a single layer state and a column for aligning components advancing in a plurality of columns in a single column state. Although the case where the regulation member 36 is provided has been described, only one of them may be provided. Further, the layer regulation member 35 of the alignment mechanism 34 has a wiper structure, but may be formed by a mechanism that blows the components to the inner peripheral side of the bowl 32 with high pressure air. Further, the row restricting member 36 of the aligning mechanism 34 has a structure in which a part of the bottom surface of the track 31 is cut out to form an opening. However, the row restricting member 36 may come into contact with a component and drop to the inner peripheral side of the bowl 32. It may be formed by any mechanism.

Further, the hopper 2 of the present embodiment is constructed to have a control device 57 capable of controlling the bowl drive mechanism 33 so as to vibrate the bowl 32 and the track 31 with a desired amplitude amount. As a result, the bowl 32 and the track 31 can be vibrated with a desired amplitude amount, so that the moving speed of the parts can be adjusted,
As a result, the parts can be replenished with the discharge amount corresponding to the amplitude amount. In the control device 57 of the present embodiment, the case where the replenishment amount (amplitude amount) of the hopper 2 is automatically determined has been described (S3 in FIG. 6), but the replenishment amount (amplitude amount) is manually determined. It may be enabled.

Further, the hopper 2 of this embodiment is arranged so that the parts discharged from the hopper 2 are replenished, and the circulating linear feeder 1 (feeder device) for feeding the parts in an aligned state to an external device. And a support base 3 in which the hopper 2 and the circulation type linear feeder 1 are integrally assembled, and are provided in the component supply device. As a result, the parts can be stably fed to the external device,
The support base 3 allows the component supply device to be transported and set in one operation, which facilitates the handling. In the present embodiment, the case where the circulation type linear feeder 1 is provided has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a feeder device such as a bowl type parts feeder may be provided. good.

[0055]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a container for accommodating a component so that the component can be loaded, a component passage formed so as to limit the number of passage of the component from the container to the outside, the container and the component. And a vibration mechanism for moving a component from the container to the outside through the component passage by vibrating the passage.

According to the above structure, when the vibrating mechanism vibrates the container and the component passage, the component accommodated in the container moves outward from the container through the component passage,
It is discharged to the outside in the quantity unit of the number of passages limited in the parts passage. As a result, unlike the conventional case, a large amount of components are not discharged at one time from the container, so that it is possible to stably replenish components.

The invention of claim 2 is the hopper according to claim 1, wherein the hopper is provided in the component passage and has an alignment mechanism for aligning components moving in the component passage.

According to the above construction, when the parts move from the container to the outside through the parts passage, the parts can be discharged to the outside in an aligned state in which the parts are aligned in a single-layer single row by the alignment mechanism. Therefore, there is an effect that the parts can be supplied more stably.

A third aspect of the present invention is the hopper according to the first or second aspect, which has a control device capable of controlling the vibration mechanism so as to vibrate the container and the component passage at a desired amplitude amount. It is a composition.

According to the above configuration, the container and the component passage can be vibrated with a desired amplitude amount, so that the moving speed of the component moving in the component passage can be adjusted. As a result, there is an effect that the parts can be replenished with the discharge amount corresponding to the amplitude amount.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the hopper according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the container, the component passage, and the component passage are diverted bowl type parts feeders or linear type parts feeders. It is the structure formed by the above.

According to the above structure, the hopper can be easily and inexpensively realized by diverting a general bowl type part feeder or a linear type part feeder.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component supply device, which is arranged so that the hopper according to any one of the first to fourth aspects and the component discharged from the hopper are replenished. It is configured to have a feeder device for feeding parts to an external device in an aligned state, and a support base integrally assembled with the hopper and the feeder device.

According to the above construction, the parts can be stably fed to the external device, and the parts feeder can be carried and set in one operation by the support base, so that the parts can be easily handled. Has the effect of being.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a component supply device.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the component supply device.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the component supply device.

FIG. 4 shows a bowl, (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a sectional view taken along the line AA 'in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a component supply device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a component supply main routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a feeder operation routine and a hopper operation routine.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional hopper.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Circulation type linear feeder 2 hopper 3 support 4 Linear feeder mechanism for alignment 5 Return linear feeder mechanism 6 main troughs 7 base blocks 8 Main trough drive mechanism 9 Main trough support mechanism 21 Return Trough 23 Return trough drive mechanism 24 Return trough support mechanism 26 Discharge chute 31 tracks 32 bowls 33 Bowl drive mechanism 34 Alignment mechanism 35-layer regulation member 36-row regulation member 39 Torsional vibration part 41 Parts input member 42 Support board 43 Anti-vibration rubber 44 Upper panel 45 Lower panel 54 Alignment state detection sensor 55 Parts quantity upper limit detection sensor 56 Parts quantity lower limit detection sensor 57 Control device 58 Remaining amount detection sensor 59 handle 71 Start / stop switch 81 Parts supply device body

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A container for accommodating a component so that the component can be loaded, a component passage formed to limit the number of passages of the component from the container to the outside, and a vibration of the container and the component passage.
And a vibration mechanism for moving a component from the container to the outside through a component passage. 2. The hopper according to claim 1, further comprising an alignment mechanism that is provided in the component passage and aligns components moving in the component passage. 3. The hopper according to claim 1, further comprising a control device capable of controlling the vibrating mechanism so as to vibrate the container and the component passage with a desired amplitude amount. 4. The container, the component passage, and the component passage are formed by diverting a bowl type parts feeder or a linear type parts feeder, according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Hopper. 5. The hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a feeder arranged to replenish components discharged from the hopper, and feeding the components in an aligned state to an external device. A component supply device, comprising: a device; and a support base integrally assembled with the hopper and the feeder device.