JP2004066328A - Separation feed unit for shaft-like part - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a separation feed unit for a shaft-like part in which a shaft-like part introduced therein is allowed to wait in a regular attitude without clogging the same, and its smooth conveyance can be performed. <P>SOLUTION: The separation unit 10 has a chute part 11 and a separation feed body 13. An auxiliary groove 14a and a feed groove 14 are formed on the separation feed body 13. One end of the auxiliary groove 14a is communicated with the guide groove 11a of the chute part 11, and the other end is connected to the orthogonal feed groove 14. On an introduction position 14b connected from the auxiliary groove 14a, a pusher 17 is arranged in one side, and the holding part 21a of a shutter apparatus 20 is arranged in the other side. The shutter apparatus 20 is provided with a rotary lever 21 having the holding part 21a of a bolt B, and a driving cylinder 22 driving the rotary lever 21, and the holding part 21a is allowed to be rotated so as to be arranged at the introduction position 14b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a shaft part separating and feeding unit that separates and conveys shaft parts arranged in parallel one by one in order to feed shaft parts such as projection bolts and rivets to a welding machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the work of welding a projection bolt to a plate-like work or caulking a rivet to a plate-like work, the supplied projection bolt or rivet is successively pressed with electrodes or crimping rods. Axial parts such as projection bolts and rivets were sequentially fed to a caulking machine or caulking machine one by one.
[0003]
For example, the shaft-shaped parts are selectively sent from a parts feeder to a separation and feeding device, and the shaft-shaped components aligned by the separation and feeding device are separated one by one and conveyed to a feeding port by an air cylinder or the like. After that, it was fed to a welding machine and a caulking machine by pressure feeding with air.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 4, the conventional separating / feeding device 30 is configured such that the shaft-shaped components B aligned with the guide grooves 31 a of the chute 31 drop into the guide grooves 32 a of the separation / feeding body 32 one by one by their own weight. Was configured. Then, the dropped shaft-shaped component B is conveyed to the feeding port of the separation feeding body 32 by the pusher 34 mounted on the cylinder 33, and then fed to the welding machine or the caulking machine by the air pressure feeding means.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional separating / feeding device 30, the shaft-shaped component B which falls by its own weight into the guide groove 32 a of the separating / feeding body 32 is not necessarily positioned at the proper position and the correct posture in the guiding groove 32 a of the separating / feeding body 32. It doesn't always stop there. That is, since the shaft-shaped member such as the projection bolt or the rivet has a head portion having a larger diameter than the shaft portion at the upper portion of the shaft portion, the shaft-shaped component B moves the chute 31 by its own weight. Although the shaft portion is supported by the guide groove, the head portions overlap, or the shaft portion B introduced into the guide groove 32a of the separation feeding body 32 is hooked by the next shaft portion B extruded. Then, the bolt B cannot be held in a proper position and in a proper posture by tilting the bolt B or moving the guide groove 32a toward the feed port, so that the guide groove 31a of the chute 31 cannot be held. In some cases, clogging may occur at the connection between the feeder 32 and the guide groove 32a of the separation feeder 32.
[0006]
For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first shaft component in the standby state is located between the axial component introduced into the guide groove 32 a of the separation feeder 32 and the next axial component B1 in the standby mode. Two cylinders 35 and 36 are arranged between the component B1 and the next shaft-shaped component B2, so that the organizing pins 37 and 38 arranged at the tips of the cylinders 35 and 36 can be inserted and removed. By inserting the two organizing pins 37 and 38, the waiting shaft-like parts B1 are surely introduced one by one into the guide groove 32a of the separation feeder 32, and the guide groove 32a of the separation feeder 32 is inserted. Thus, the shaft-shaped part B1 introduced in the above can be held in a reliable posture. Thereafter, the shaft-like component B introduced into the guide groove 32a of the separation / feed body 32 is moved to the feed port by the feed cylinder 33.
[0007]
However, since the two cylinders 35 and 36 for organizing the standby shaft components B1 and B2 are arranged, the cost increases and the shaft component B that moves to the guide groove 32a of the separation feeder 32 is Since the guide groove 32a is introduced into the guide groove 32a as it is under its own weight and is not held at the position where the guide groove 32a is introduced, there is a possibility that the stand-by state is maintained without being held in a proper posture and inclined. When pushed out by the feeding cylinder 33, an excessive load is applied to the feeding cylinder 33, which may cause damage or stop the line.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a separation / feed unit for a shaft-like component which can be held in a guide groove of a separation / feed body in a reliable posture and does not increase the cost. Aim.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A separation / feeding unit for a shaft-shaped component according to the present invention is configured as follows in order to solve the above problems. That is,
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a chute for moving and guiding the shaft-like component and a feeder having a feed hole for feeding to the welding machine are provided, and the shaft-like components arranged in the chute are separated from each other. A separate feeding unit for a shaft-like component that moves and guides the feeding hole,
The chute is provided with a first guide groove for supporting the shaft of the shaft-like component, and the feeder is provided with a second guide groove for supporting the shaft of the shaft-like component in communication with the first guide groove. Is disposed orthogonal to the first guide groove,
Holding means for holding the shaft-like component moved from the first guide groove of the chute to the second guide groove of the feeder at a position where the shaft-like component in the second guide groove is introduced from the first guide groove. And a moving means for conveying the shaft-shaped component held at a predetermined position to the feed hole.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, based on the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, preferably, the holding means has a holding portion capable of contacting a shaft portion of the shaft-shaped component. A rotating lever capable of closing the second guide groove, and a driving means for rotating the rotating lever.
[0011]
Further, the invention according to claim 3 is based on the invention according to claim 2, and is characterized in that the driving means of the rotating lever is a cylinder body.
[0012]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the shaft-like component fed to the chute is supported by the first guide groove formed in the chute, and is sequentially moved by its own weight toward the second guide groove of the separation feeder. Sent sequentially. Since the shaft-like component introduced into the second guide groove is held by the holding means at the connecting portion between the first guide groove and the second guide groove, the shaft-like part held by the holding means is in a proper position. It will be kept waiting. For this reason, since the shaft-like component introduced into the second guide groove of the separation feeder does not tilt in a correct position at a correct position, the subsequent shaft-like component waiting by the chute also has the second shape. The standby is performed in a normal posture following the shaft-like component introduced into the guide groove, and the forcible entry of the waiting shaft-like component at the connection portion between the first guide groove and the second guide groove is prevented. Thus, the clogging of the shaft-shaped part can be prevented. Therefore, the next operation of feeding the shaft-like component by the feeding cylinder can be reliably performed, and the line does not stop.
[0013]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the holding means includes the rotating lever that is rotated by the rotating drive means, the shaft-shaped component contacts the holding portion of the rotating lever, It is held in a proper position and in a proper posture. In addition, since the pivoting lever holding the shaft-like component is disposed so as to close the second guide groove of the separation feeder, the shaft-like component held by the pivoting lever can be positioned in the second guide groove. The next operation is awaited while staying at the proper position of the connecting portion between the first guide groove and the second guide groove.
[0014]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the means for rotating the rotating lever is performed by the cylinder, the rotating lever can be surely rotated and the mounting structure of the cylinder and the rotating lever can be easily performed. Can be.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, a separation / feed unit (hereinafter, referred to as a separation device) 10 for a shaft-shaped component according to the embodiment includes a parts feeder 2 having a chute 3 at a distal end, a control box 4, and an air supply unit 5. In the component feeding device 1 connected to the chute 3. When the shaft-like parts are fed from the parts feeder 2 to the chute 3 and introduced into the separation device 10, the shaft-like parts are separated and fed one by one by the separation feeder 13, and then the air blown out from the air supply unit 5. To the welding machine 6. The shaft-shaped component in the embodiment will be described with a projection bolt (hereinafter, referred to as a bolt) B.
[0017]
The welding machine 6 includes a machine frame 61, an upper electrode 62 that can be moved up and down by placing a work (not shown) in the machine frame 61, a lower electrode 63 arranged below, and a A supply head 64 for sequentially feeding the bolts B one by one onto the conveyed work is provided, and the supply head 64 and the separation device 10 are connected by a hose 8 via a hose nipple 9. , From the separation device 1 to the tip of the supply head 64. The hose nipple 9 is formed so that air from the air supply unit 5 is introduced, and the bolt B can be supplied to the welding machine 6 by air pressure.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, the separation device 10 separates a chute portion 11 connected to the shoe 3 of the parts feeder 2 and a bolt B introduced from the chute portion 11 one by one and conveys them to the hose 8 side. And a body 13. A guide groove (first guide groove) 11a for inserting and supporting the shaft portion of the shaft-shaped component is formed in the chute portion 11 so as to be inclined downward from the chute 3 of the parts feeder 2 toward the separation feeder 13. And the bolt B supported by the guide groove 11a is arranged to move to the separation feeder 13 by its own weight.
[0019]
The separation feeder 13 is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is elongated in a direction orthogonal to the chute portion 11, and is a feed groove (orthogonal to the chute portion 11 and communicates with the guide groove 11 a of the chute portion 11). A second guide groove 14 is formed. The feed groove 14 is formed in a direction orthogonal to the guide groove 11a, and has an auxiliary groove 14a in a direction extending from the guide groove 11a, and forms a T-shape on the separation feed body 13. .
[0020]
In the following description, a position where the feed groove 14 intersects with the auxiliary groove 14a is referred to as an introduction position 14b, and is positioned as a transfer starting point of a bolt B transferred by a pusher 17 described later. The introduction position 14b does not hinder the smooth movement of the bolt B moved from the guide groove 11a of the chute portion 11 and the auxiliary groove 14a of the separation feeder 13 by chamfering a corner portion with the auxiliary groove 14a. Like that.
[0021]
The feeding groove 14 extends from the introduction position 14b to one end of the separation feeding body 13 and extends toward the other end, and at one end position of the feeding groove 14, A feed hole 15 connected to the hose 8 is formed. A transport cylinder 16 is mounted on the other side of the separated feeder 13, and a pusher 17 is arranged in the transport cylinder 16 so as to be able to enter and exit, and is inserted into the feed groove 14 to be guided in and out. The distal end face of the pusher 17 is arranged at a position where one end of the bolt B moved to the introduction position 14b of the feed groove 14 abuts on the pusher 17 in a state where the pusher 17 is not extended. The stroke of the pusher 17 is set so that the bolt B is conveyed from the introduction position 14 b to the feed hole 15.
[0022]
The pusher 17 is restricted from moving upward from above the feed groove 14 by a pusher retainer 18 covering the pusher 17 on the pusher 17 side of the introduction position 14b, and is prevented from falling off.
[0023]
On the other hand, on the side opposite to the pusher 17 with respect to the bolt B moved to the introduction position 14b, the shutter device 20 is arranged so that the bolt B does not transport on the feeding groove 14 by itself.
[0024]
The shutter device 20 includes a rotating lever 21 that can contact the bolt B, a driving cylinder 22 that rotates the rotating lever 21, a connecting portion 24 disposed at a tip of a piston rod of the driving cylinder 22, and a connecting portion 24. And a stopper 25 that regulates the extension of the connecting portion 24 in front of the rotary lever 21. The rotating lever 21 has a holding portion 21a that can abut on the bolt B at one end, and connects the connecting portion 24 to the other end. The central portion is rotatably supported by the separation feeder 13 by the shaft portion 23. Therefore, when the connecting portion 24 moves in and out of the driving cylinder 22, the rotating lever 21 is made rotatable around a central shaft supporting portion.
[0025]
The drive cylinder 24 is mounted on the side surface of the separation feeder 13 side by side with the transfer cylinder 16 via a mounting bracket 26, and the stopper 25 is attached to the side surface of the separation feeder 13 on an extension of the drive cylinder 24. It is mounted via a bracket 27.
[0026]
Next, the operation of the separating device 10 configured as described above will be described including the operation of the component feeding device 1 and the welding machine 6.
[0027]
By the operation of the parts feeder 2, the bolts B stored in the parts feeder 2 are sequentially raised along the transport path of the parts feeder 2 and sent into the chute 3 in a state of being aligned. The bolts B conveyed to the chute 3 are sequentially moved one by one to the separation feeder 13 side of the separation device 10 along the chute 3 which is mounted to be inclined and the guide groove 11a of the chute portion 11 of the separation device 10. Is done.
[0028]
The leading bolt B moved to the separation feeding body 13 reaches the introduction position 14b of the feeding groove 14 through the auxiliary groove 14a.
[0029]
On the other hand, in the separation feeding body 13, the shutter device 20 is operated. That is, the drive cylinder 22 is operated to extend the distal end portion of the connecting portion 24 to a position where it comes into contact with the stopper 25, and the rotating lever 21 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. The holding part 21a is arranged at the introduction position 14b. The position of the holding portion 21a is a position where the bolt B comes into contact with the shaft portion of the bolt B in the traveling direction when the bolt B is introduced to the introduction position 14a. This position can be adjusted by adjusting the stopper 25.
[0030]
Therefore, the bolt B that has reached the introduction position 14b from the auxiliary groove 14a is held by the holding portion 21a of the rotating lever 21. Since the holding portion 21a is positioned so as to close the feed groove 15 side of the feed groove 14, the bolt B stays at the introduction position 14b without moving along the feed groove 14. At this time, the pusher 17 of the transport cylinder 16 is in a state where the distal end is located at a position facing the bolt B because the transport cylinder 16 is not operated. Therefore, the bolt B is held between the pusher 17 and the holding portion 21a of the rotating lever 21 and is held in a normal posture without inclination.
[0031]
In this state, while the bolt B is waiting at the introduction position 14b, the welding machine 6 is operated to supply the bolt B already supplied to the supply head 64 onto the work carried on the lower electrode 63. Then, the welding operation is performed. When the supply cylinder of the supply head 64 supplies the bolt B and returns, a signal notifying the return is transmitted, and as shown in FIG. 3, the transport cylinder 16 in the separation device 10 operates to extend the pusher 17. At the same time, the drive cylinder 22 is operated to retract the connecting portion 24 from the stopper 25, and the rotating lever 21 is rotated clockwise about the shaft portion 23. As a result, the passage on the feed hole side of the feed groove 14 is opened, and the bolt B at the introduction position 14b is pushed out by the pusher 17, and is conveyed toward the feed hole 15 while being guided by the feed groove 14. And reaches the feed hole 15.
[0032]
At this time, the operation timing of the transport cylinder 16 and the drive cylinder 22 is performed by a speed controller mounted on each of the cylinders 16 and 22, and receives a signal from a valve that has operated each of the cylinders 16 and 22, and performs control. Two timers located in box 4 are activated. One of the timers sends the bolt B, which has entered the feed hole 15, to the supply head 64 by sending air from the air supply unit 5 to the hose 8 via the hose nipple 9. The other timer is operated by being sent from one of the timers. After sending the bolt B to the supply head 64, the supply of air is stopped. Further, the transport cylinder 16 and the drive cylinder 22 put the pusher 17 and the rotation lever 21 in a standby state (the position where the pusher 17 and the rotation lever 21 are introduced into the bolts B of the holding portions 21a of the pusher 17 and the rotation lever 21) in response to the OFF signal of the timer that has been activated later. ). Then, the next bolt B is introduced and held at the introduction position 14b.
[0033]
As described above, in the separation device 10 of the embodiment, the bolt B fed from the chute 3 of the parts feeder 2 to the chute portion 11 of the separation device 10 is supported by the guide groove 11a formed in the chute portion 11. Then, the sheet is conveyed from the auxiliary groove 14 a of the separation / feed body 13 to the introduction position 14 b of the feed groove 14. At the introduction position 14b, the bolt B is held by the holding portion 21a and the pusher 17 formed on the rotating lever 21 of the shutter device 20, and the holding portion 21a closes the feed groove 14 on the feed hole 15 side. Therefore, the bolt B that stands by at the introduction position 14b stands by at a regular position and in a regular posture without tilting, so that the next bolt B can also be kept at a regular posture. Therefore, the bolt B is not clogged at the introduction position 14b, and the subsequent pushing of the bolt B into the feed hole 15 by the pusher 17 can be performed smoothly. For this reason, it is possible to achieve an effect that a trouble in transferring the bolt B hardly occurs and the line does not stop.
[0034]
In addition, the separation feeding unit of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, if the holding portion 21a is always urged toward the introduction position 14b of the bolt B by using a spring means instead of the driving cylinder 16 for rotating the rotation lever, the pusher 17 When pushing out B, the rotating lever 21 is rotated to the side that opens the feed groove 14 against the urging force of the spring means, and returns by the urging force of the spring when the pusher 17 returns to the original position. It may be configured as follows.
[0035]
Further, an auxiliary groove 14a formed in the separation / feed body 13 may be provided so as to extend from the guide groove 11a of the chute portion 11 and communicate with the introduction position 14a of the feed groove 14.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a parts feeding device in which a separating device is arranged and a welding machine.
FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a separation device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operation of conveying a bolt in the separation device of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing a moving state of a bolt B in a conventional separation device.
FIG. 5 is a partial side sectional view showing another conventional separation device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Parts feeding device 6 Welding machine 8 Hose 10 Separation device (separation feeding unit)
11 Shoot part (chute)
11a Guide groove (first guide groove)
13 Conveyance separation body 14 Feed groove (second guide groove)
14a Auxiliary groove 14b Introducing position 15 Feeding hole 16 Transport cylinder 17 Pusher 20 Shutter device 21 Rotating lever 21a Holding section 22 Drive cylinder 24 Connecting section

Claims (3)

A chute for moving and guiding the shaft-shaped component, and a separation feeder having a feed hole for feeding to the welding machine, wherein the shaft-shaped components arranged in parallel in the chute are separated and guided for movement to the feed hole. A separate feeding unit for the shaft-shaped part,
The chute is provided with a first guide groove for supporting the shaft of the shaft-like component, and the feeder is provided with a second guide groove for supporting the shaft of the shaft-like component in communication with the first guide groove. Is disposed orthogonal to the first guide groove,
Holding means for holding the shaft-like component moved from the first guide groove of the chute to the second guide groove of the feeder at a position where the shaft-like component in the second guide groove is introduced from the first guide groove. And a moving means for transporting the shaft-shaped component held at a predetermined position to the feed hole. A rotating lever having a holding portion capable of abutting on a shaft portion of the shaft-like component, the rotating lever being capable of closing the second guide groove, and a driving device for rotating the rotating lever. The unit for separating and feeding a shaft-shaped part according to claim 1, wherein the unit is provided. 3. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the driving means of the rotating lever is a cylinder.

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