JP2004323177A - Device for feeding prescribed quantity of balls - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide device for feeding a prescribed quantity of balls capable of always, surely and rapidly feeding balls of predetermined quantity even when the balls are coated with rust preventive oil having a high consistency. <P>SOLUTION: This feeder is provided with a ball passage 14a extended from a ball storage part 10 so that a plurality of balls B aligned in a line by a ball alignment means 12 are supplied and the balls can pass in one line. The feeder is provided with a ball feeding means 14 for feeding balls to an extended end part by gravity, a first gate means 16 near the storage part in the passage, a second gate means 18 far from the storage part in the passage and holding the balls in the predetermined quantity between the first gate means and itself, a pressurized fluid injection means 20 for injecting pressurized fluid to the balls and separating deposits on a surface of the ball near the first gate means, and a movement control means 22 for detecting holding of the balls in the predetermined quantity between the first and the second gate means in the passage and controlling the movement of the first and the second gate means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball quantitative supply device that supplies a predetermined number of balls to a device that uses a predetermined number of balls such as a bearing, a ball screw, and a linear guide.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Such a ball quantitative supply device is widely known, for example, from Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-24025 and Japanese Patent No. 2991412.
[0003]
The apparatus for taking out a constant number of balls (ball constant supply apparatus) described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-24025 discloses a hopper 1 in which a plurality of balls W are accommodated, and is fixed to the lower surface of the hopper 1 and extends downward. A collecting pipe 4 having a cylindrical fixed guide 2, a ball passage 3 vertically supported in an inner hole of the fixed guide 2 slidably in a predetermined range in a vertical direction, and a ball passage 3 penetrating in a vertical direction; A guide tube 5 fixed to the upper end of the ball passage 3 and penetrating the lower wall of the hopper 1 slidably in the vertical direction and projecting from the inner bottom surface inclined downwardly of the hopper 1, Shutter members 6 and 7 that are arranged and protrude into and out of the ball passage 3 and that can reciprocate between a protruding position for blocking the ball passage 3 and a retreat position for retreating from the ball passage 3 and opening the ball passage 3; Have. Each of the shutter members 6 and 7 is urged toward the retreat position by the spring member 10, but the collecting pipe 4 is moved by the action of the cam portion 8 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the fixed guide 2. While being located at the lower end position of the predetermined range in the inner hole, the upper shutter member 6 is located at the retreat position and the lower shutter member 7 is located at the projecting position. While the collecting pipe 4 is located at the upper end of the predetermined range in the inner hole of the fixed guide 2, the upper shutter member 6 is located at the projecting position and the lower shutter member 7 is retracted. Is located in the position.
[0004]
While being located at the lower end position, the lower end of the collecting pipe 4 projects downward from the lower end of the inner hole of the fixed guide 2, and a plurality of pipes flowing into the guide pipe 5 from the inner bottom surface of the hopper 1. The ball W reaches the shutter member 7 below the projecting position in the ball passage 3 of the collecting pipe 4.
[0005]
When the lower end portion of the collecting pipe 4 at the lower end position is pushed up to move the collecting pipe 4 to the upper end position, the lower shutter member 7 is moved to the retreat position by the action of the cam portion 8 on the inner peripheral surface of the fixed guide 2. With the movement, the upper shutter member 6 is moved to the projecting position, and a predetermined number of balls W in the area of the ball passage 3 between the lower shutter member 7 and the upper shutter member 6 are moved to the lower end of the ball passage 3. Is discharged from
[0006]
Further, when the raising of the lower end portion of the collecting pipe 4 at the upper end position is stopped and the collecting pipe 4 is moved to the lower end position, the lower shutter member 7 is actuated by the action of the cam portion 8 on the inner peripheral surface of the fixed guide 2. The shutter member 6 is moved to the projecting position and the upper shutter member 6 is moved to the retreat position, so that the plurality of balls W flowing into the guide tube 5 reach the shutter member 7 below the projecting position in the ball passage 3 of the collecting tube 4. Reach again.
[0007]
Japanese Patent No. 2991412 discloses a ball storage case 21 in which a plurality of balls 23 are stored, an air blowing unit 22 that blows air into the ball storage case 21, and air blown into the ball storage case 21 from the air blowing unit 22. A rotary block in which a ball supply pipe 24 to which the balls 23 are supplied from the ball storage case 21 by the air and a ball storage portion 7a which is disposed at the tip of the ball supply pipe 24 and stores a certain number of balls 23 is formed therethrough. 7 is described. The rotating block 7 is sandwiched between the upper plate 5 and the lower plate 6, and the tip of the ball supply pipe 24 is fixed to a predetermined position on the rotation trajectory of the upper end of the ball storage portion 7 a of the rotating block 7 in the upper plate 5. In addition, a ball discharge hole 6a is formed at a predetermined position on the rotation locus of the lower end of the ball storage portion 7a of the rotating block 7 in the lower plate 6. The tip of the ball supply pipe 24 at the predetermined position on the upper plate 5 and the ball discharge hole 6a at the predetermined position on the lower plate 6 are linearly aligned in the vertical direction with the ball storage portion 7a of the rotating block 7 interposed therebetween. Not placed.
[0008]
Then, while the upper end of the ball storage portion 7a of the rotary block 7 is vertically aligned with the tip of the ball supply tube 24 of the upper plate 5, a plurality of balls 23 are transferred from the ball supply tube 24 to the ball storage portion 7a. Supplied inside. Next, the rotary block 7 is rotated so that the upper end of the ball storage portion 7a of the rotary block 7 is blocked from the tip of the ball supply pipe 24 of the upper plate 5, and the lower end of the ball storage portion 7a is connected to the ball discharge hole of the lower plate 6. A certain number of balls 23 in the ball storage portion 7a are ejected from the ball ejection holes 6a while being arranged on a straight line in the up-down direction with respect to 6a.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-24025 (FIGS. 1 to 3)
[0010]
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent No. 2991412 (FIGS. 2 to 3)
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the apparatus for taking out a constant number of balls (ball quantitative supply apparatus) described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-24025, which is constructed as described above and operates as described above, a fixed guide is required every time a predetermined amount of balls W needs to be discharged. Since the collecting pipe 4 must be slid vertically in the inner hole 2 by a predetermined distance, this sliding makes it difficult to quickly discharge a predetermined amount of the ball W.
[0012]
Further, in the above-mentioned ball constant piece taking-out device (ball fixed-quantity supply device), every time the collecting pipe 4 is slid vertically by a predetermined distance in the inner hole of the fixed guide 2, the guiding pipe is moved with respect to the bottom wall of the hopper 1. A plurality of balls W in the hopper 1 flow into the guide tube 5 due to the upper end of the guide 5 sliding up and down, but the plurality of balls W in the hopper 1 are concentrated toward the upper end opening of the guide tube 5. Clogging may occur, and this clogging makes it difficult to reliably discharge a predetermined amount of balls W. In addition, balls supplied to bearings, ball screws, linear guides, and the like are often covered with, for example, rust-preventive oil having a relatively high viscosity. When used in (device), clogging as described above is more likely to occur.
[0013]
Further, the ball constant unit take-out device (ball fixed-quantity supply device) is provided in a region between the upper and lower shutter members 6 and 7 in the ball passage 3 of the collecting pipe 4 while the collecting pipe 4 is disposed at the lower end position. Does not have a means for detecting that a predetermined number of balls W are held in the collecting pipe 4 even though the above-described clogging occurs and the predetermined number of balls W are not held in the area. May slide from the lower end position to the upper end position, and a predetermined number of balls W may not be discharged from the lower end of the ball passage 3.
[0014]
In the ball fixed amount supply device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2991412 configured as described above and operating as described above, the air blown into the ball storage case 21 from the air blowing section 22 to the ball supply pipe 24 from the ball storage case 21. The supply of the balls 23 becomes unstable when the number of the balls 23 stored in the ball storage case 21 decreases. Also, when a ball having a relatively high viscosity, which is supplied to a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide, or the like and is often covered with, for example, rust-preventive oil, is stored in the ball storage case 21, air is blown. The supply of the above-described ball from the ball storage case 21 to the ball supply pipe 24 by the air blown into the ball storage case 21 from the portion 22 is made unstable.
[0015]
Accordingly, when the number of the balls 23 stored in the ball storage case 21 is reduced, or when the ball 23 having a relatively high viscosity and often covered with, for example, rust-proof oil is When stored, the number of balls stored in the ball supply pipe 24 may be smaller than a certain number of balls 23 that can be stored in the ball storage section 7a of the rotating block 7. For this reason, the number of balls 23 discharged from the ball storage portion 7a of the rotary block 7 through the ball discharge holes 6a of the lower plate 6 may be smaller than the above-mentioned fixed number.
[0016]
The present invention has been made under the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to supply a ball having a relatively high viscosity to be supplied to a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide, etc., for example, a ball which is often covered with, for example, rust-preventive oil. An object of the present invention is to provide a constant-quantity ball supply device capable of always and quickly supplying a predetermined amount of balls.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the object of the present invention as described above, the ball metering device according to the present invention comprises:
A ball receiving portion for receiving a plurality of balls;
Ball arrangement means for arranging a plurality of balls accommodated in the ball accommodation portion in a line;
A plurality of balls extending from the ball storage portion and arranged in a line by the ball arranging means are supplied, and the plurality of supplied balls have a ball passage which can pass in a line. Ball transporting means for transporting a plurality of balls in the row from the ball receiving portion to the extended end portion by using gravity;
First gate means provided at a position close to the ball storage section in the ball passage of the ball transport means to open and close the ball passage;
A second passage that is provided at a position farther from the ball storage section than the first gate means in the ball passage of the ball transfer means, opens and closes the ball passage, and holds a predetermined amount of balls between the first gate and the second gate; Gate means;
Pressurized fluid ejecting means provided near the first gate means in the ball passage of the ball transport means, for injecting pressurized fluid onto the ball to separate deposits adhering to the surface of the ball from the surface;
Detecting that a predetermined amount of ball is held between the first gate means and the second gate means in the ball passage of the ball transport means, and controlling the operations of the first and second gate means. Operation control means;
It has.
[0018]
The operation control means opens the first gate means and closes the second gate means while the plurality of balls arranged in a line by the ball arrangement means are supplied into the ball passage of the ball transport means. Then, after detecting that a predetermined amount of ball is held between the first gate means and the second gate means in the ball passage of the ball transport means, the first gate means is closed and the second gate means is closed. Open the gate means.
[0019]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fixed quantity ball supply device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
First, an overall configuration of an embodiment of a fixed quantity ball supplying apparatus according to the present invention will be schematically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the whole of the embodiment.
[0021]
The fixed-quantity ball supply apparatus according to the present embodiment supplies a predetermined number of balls to an apparatus that uses a predetermined number of balls, such as a bearing, a ball screw, and a linear guide. Further, the ball constant-quantity supply device can always supply the predetermined number of balls reliably and quickly even when the balls are covered with a relatively high-viscosity oil such as rust-preventive oil.
[0022]
The above-mentioned ball fixed-quantity supply device includes a ball storage unit 10 that stores a plurality of balls. The ball storage unit 10 is provided with ball arrangement means 12 for arranging a plurality of balls stored in the ball storage unit 10 in a line.
[0023]
Ball transfer means 14 extends from the ball housing 10. The ball transporting means 14 has a ball passage through which a plurality of balls arranged in a line by the ball arranging means 12 are supplied, and the supplied plurality of balls can pass in a line. A plurality of balls in a row in the ball passage are conveyed from the ball housing 10 to the extended end portion by using gravity.
[0024]
A first gate means 16 for opening and closing the ball passage is provided at a position close to the ball storage section 10 in the ball passage of the ball transporting means 14. A second gate means 18 is provided at a position farther from the ball container 10 than the first gate means 16 in the ball passage of the ball transport means 14. The second gate means 18 opens and closes a ball passage and holds a predetermined amount of balls between the first gate means 16. In this embodiment, each of the first gate means 16 and the second gate means 18 is driven by a pressurized fluid.
[0025]
A pressurized fluid ejecting unit 20 is provided near the first gate unit 16 in the ball passage of the ball transporting unit 14. The pressurized fluid ejecting means 20 ejects pressurized fluid to the ball passing through the ball passage so as to separate the deposits attached to the surface of the ball from the surface.
[0026]
The operation of the first and second gate means 16 and 18 is controlled by the operation control means 22. The operation control means 22 can detect that a predetermined amount of the ball is held between the first gate means 16 and the second gate means 18 in the ball passage of the ball transport means 14.
[0027]
Then, the operation control means 22 opens the first gate means 16 while the plurality of balls arranged in a line by the ball arrangement means 12 are supplied into the ball passage of the ball transfer means 14, and opens the second gate means. The gate means 18 is closed, and after detecting that a predetermined amount of ball is held between the first gate means 16 and the second gate means 18 in the ball passage of the ball transport means 14, the first gate The second gate means 18 is opened while closing the means 16 or after a certain time set by a timer (not shown) after the first gate means 16 is closed.
[0028]
The extended end of the ball passage of the ball transfer means 14 is supplied with a predetermined number of balls by the above-mentioned ball fixed-quantity supply device, and a predetermined amount of balls is supplied to a device using a predetermined number of balls such as a bearing, a ball screw or a linear guide. It is connected via a ball supply pipe 24 to a ball assembling device (not shown) for incorporating a quantity of balls.
[0029]
In the ball passage of the ball transporting means 14, a manual ball supply means 26 is communicated downstream of the second gate means 18.
[0030]
In the ball passage of the ball transporting means 14, a ball passing number counting means 28 is provided downstream of the communication point of the manual ball supply means 26 to count the number of balls passing through the ball passage.
[0031]
Next, the details of the structure of the embodiment of the ball quantitative supply device according to the present invention described above with reference to FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the ball accommodating portion 10 taken along the line II (A) -II (A) of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ball storage unit 10 taken along line II (B) -II (B) of FIG.
[0032]
The ball accommodating portion 10 includes a ball receiving recess 10a for receiving a plurality of balls B, and the ball receiving recess 10a extends along a predetermined area of an inner peripheral surface of the ball receiving recess 10a. It has a configuration arranged by gravity.
[0033]
More specifically, the ball receiving recess 10a of the ball housing portion 10 of this embodiment has a square planar shape, and one side (hereinafter, referred to as a first side) 10c of the inner peripheral surface thereof. Constitutes the above-mentioned predetermined region, and a portion near the upper end of one (hereinafter, referred to as a second side) 10d of two sides intersecting with the first side 10c on the inner peripheral surface is a first side 10c. A ball supply opening 10e serving as a base end from which the ball transporting means 14 extends is formed at a predetermined position along.
[0034]
The bottom wall of the ball container 10 includes a first bottom wall region 10f close to the second side 10d and a second bottom wall region 10g far from the second side 10d. Each of the first bottom wall region 10f and the second bottom wall region 10g is inclined downward as it approaches the first side 10c as shown in FIG. 2B. I have. The inclination angle α is determined by the relative viscosity of the plurality of balls B accommodated in the ball receiving recess 10a of the ball accommodating portion 10 such as rust-proof oil supplied to, for example, a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide, or the like. Even if the ball is covered with high oil, the ball B riding on each of the first bottom wall region 10f and the second bottom wall region 10g is surely attached to the first side 10c by the action of gravity. It is set to face.
[0035]
Each of the first bottom wall region 10f and the second bottom wall region 10g further moves downward as approaching the second side 10d as shown in FIG. 2A. The inclination angle β2 of the second bottom wall region 10g is set to be larger than the inclination angle β1 of the first bottom wall region 10f. Each of the inclination angles β1 and β2 is such that the plurality of balls B accommodated in the ball receiving recesses 10a of the ball accommodating portion 10 are supplied with a relatively small amount of, for example, rust-proof oil supplied to a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide or the like. Even in the case of a ball covered with high-viscosity oil, the ball B riding on each of the first bottom wall region 10f and the second bottom wall region 10g is moved to the second side 10d by the action of gravity. It is set to be sure.
[0036]
As is clear from the above description, in the ball housing portion 10 of this embodiment, each of the first bottom wall region 10f and the second bottom wall region 10g of the ball receiving recess 10a is inclined as described above. Therefore, the plurality of balls B accommodated in the ball receiving recesses 10a of the ball accommodating portion 10 are supplied with a relatively high viscosity oil such as a rust preventive oil supplied to a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide, or the like. Even in the case of the ball covered with the ball, in this embodiment, the ball is arranged by the action of gravity along the first side 10c constituting a predetermined area of the inner peripheral surface of the ball receiving recess 10a.
[0037]
The ball arranging means 12 for arranging the plurality of balls B accommodated in the ball accommodating portion 10 in a line includes a plate-shaped scraping member 12a which moves up and down within a predetermined range along the first side 10c. The scraping member 12a extends along a portion corresponding to the first bottom wall region 10f with respect to the first side 10c, and as shown by a solid line in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The lower end position where the end face 12b is disposed slightly below the side edge of the first bottom wall region 10f along the first side 10c, and the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 2A and 2B are shown. As described above, the upper end surface 12b is moved up and down between the upper end position corresponding to the lower end of the opening 10e of the second side 10d of the inner peripheral surface of the ball accommodating portion 10 by well-known vertical driving means (not shown). .
[0038]
The upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a has a width T larger than the radius of the ball B. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the upper end surface 12b is inclined similarly to the first bottom wall region 10f. That is, the upper end surface 12b is inclined so as to face downward as it approaches the first side 10c and also toward the bottom as it approaches the second side 10d.
[0039]
The ball arranging means 12 further includes a ball regulating member 12c fixed to the first side 10c at a predetermined distance upward from the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a at the upper end position. The ball regulating member 12c has a lower end surface 12d that is spaced apart from the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a at the upper end position by a predetermined distance and extends parallel to the upper end surface 12b. The predetermined distance is slightly larger than the diameter of the ball B, and the lower end surface 12d also has a width T larger than the radius of the ball B, like the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the lower end surface 12d further faces downward as it approaches the first side 10c, similarly to the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a. At the same time, it is inclined downward as it approaches the second side 10d. Moreover, the inclination angle of the lower end surface 12d of the ball regulating member 12c with respect to the first side 10c is smaller than the inclination angle of the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a with respect to the first side 10c.
[0040]
The ball arranging means 12 configured as described above allows the plurality of balls B accommodated in the ball receiving recesses 10a of the ball receiving portion 10 to occupy a predetermined area of the inner peripheral surface of the ball receiving recess 10a as described above. While being arranged along the first side 10c by the action of gravity, the scraping member 12a is raised from the lower end position to the upper end position, so that the scraping member 12a rises on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a. The plurality of balls B located can be scraped up to the upper end position along the first side 10c. The number of balls B that can ride on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a can be arbitrarily set according to the diameter of the ball b and the length of the upper end surface 12b along the first side 10c.
[0041]
When the scraping member 12a approaches the upper end position, even if a plurality of balls B are vertically placed on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a in a plurality of stages, the balls B directly rest on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a. Except for a predetermined number of balls B in one row of the first stage, as shown by an arrow D in FIG. 2B, the balls of the ball accommodating portion 10 are formed by the lower end surface 12d of the ball regulating member 12c. It is pushed down into the receiving recess 10a.
[0042]
That is, when the scraping member 12a reaches the upper end position, as shown in FIG. 2 (A), a predetermined height is set on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a. A number of balls B are arranged in a line.
[0043]
Such a function of the scraping member 12a and the ball regulating member 12c of the ball arranging means 12 is as follows. Even in the case of a ball covered by, it is performed quickly and reliably.
[0044]
After the scraping member 12a reaches the upper end position, a predetermined number of balls B on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a are removed from the second side 10d of the ball receiving recess 10a of the ball housing 10. Can be supplied into the ball supply opening 10e by the action of gravity. This supply is performed quickly and reliably even when the ball B is covered with a relatively high-viscosity oil such as rust-preventive oil supplied to a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide, or the like.
[0045]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the ball arranging means 12 further transfers a predetermined number of balls B arranged in a line as described above by the ball arranging means 12 into the ball supply opening 10e. That is, a ball forced supply means 13 for forcibly and quickly supplying the ball into the ball passage of the ball transport means 14 extending from the ball supply opening 10e.
[0046]
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the ball forcible supply means 13 is provided with a ball regulating member 12c on the first side 10c of the inner peripheral surface of the ball receiving recess 10a of the ball housing 10. And a guide rail member 13a fixed above. The guide rail member 13a has a guide rail (not shown) extending parallel to the lower end surface 12d of the ball regulating member 12c, that is, the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ball forced supply means 13 further includes a ball pushing member 13b guided by a guide rail of a guide rail member 13a. The ball push-in member 13b is guided by the guide rail to move, thereby forming a gap of the above-described predetermined distance between the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a at the upper end position and the lower end surface 12d of the ball regulating member 12c. It can move along one side 10c, the upper end surface 12b, and the lower end surface 12d.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ball forced supply means 13 further includes a linear reciprocating drive device 13c fixed to the first side 10c on the side far from the second side 10d with respect to the ball regulating member 12c. Have. In this embodiment, the linear reciprocating drive device 13c is constituted by a piston-cylinder unit driven by using a pressurized fluid pressure. The linear reciprocating drive 13c is connected to the ball pushing member 13b, and while the scraping member 12a is not disposed at the upper end position, the linear reciprocating drive device 13c is located below the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a at the upper end position and the ball regulating member 12c. The ball pushing member 13b is separated from the ball regulating member 12c to the side farther from the second side 10d from the gap at the above-described predetermined distance between the ball pushing member 13b and the end surface 12d.
[0049]
Then, when the scraping member 12a is moved from the lower end position to the upper end position and reaches the upper end position, the linear reciprocating drive device 13c of the ball forcing supply means 13 moves the ball pushing member 13b to the upper end position of the scraping member 12a. It extrudes into the gap of the above-mentioned predetermined distance between the upper end surface 12b and the lower end surface 12d of the ball regulating member 12c, and moves forward until it reaches the ball supply opening 10e. By such a forward movement of the ball pushing member 13b, a predetermined number of balls B on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a after reaching the upper end position are moved to the second positions of the ball receiving recesses 10a of the ball housing portion 10. In addition to the action of gravity, the ball is supplied to the ball supply opening 10e of the second side 10d forcibly more quickly and reliably.
[0050]
After the ball pushing member 13b reaches the ball supply opening 10e, the linear reciprocating drive device 13c of the ball forced supply means 13 is used until the scraping member 12a is lowered to the lower end position and raised to the upper end position again. Moves the ball pushing member 13b from the gap between the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a at the upper end position and the lower end surface 12d of the ball regulating member 12c at the above-mentioned predetermined distance to the second side 10d with respect to the ball regulating member 12c. To move away from the far side.
[0051]
Next, the configuration of the ball transfer means 14 extending from the ball supply opening 10e on the second side 10d of the ball housing 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line III-III in FIG.
[0052]
The ball transfer means 14 includes a base 14a extending from the lower end of the ball supply opening 10e on the second side 10d of the ball storage section 10, and a ball supply unit fixed to one side edge of the base 14a and along the one side edge. It includes a side plate 14b extending from one side edge of the opening 10e, and a cover 14c that covers the upper surface of the base 14a and extends from the upper end of the ball supply opening 10e along the upper surface.
[0053]
The upper surface of the base 14a is inclined such that a region 14b 'adjacent to the side plate 14b is directed downward as it approaches the side plate 14b, as shown in FIG. 3, and moves away from the ball supply opening 10e. It is also inclined downward. The upper surface is curved downward at a portion adjacent to the extended end of the base 14a.
[0054]
A region 14c 'of the cover 14c facing the region 14a' of the base 14a is cut out in a quadrangular shape as shown in FIG. The region 14c 'of the cover 14c, which is cut in a quadrangular shape, extends from the ball supply opening 10e to the extension end of the region 14b' along the region 14b 'on the upper surface of the base 14a.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 3, the side surface of the side plate 14b on the side of the base 14a, the region 14a 'of the base 14a, and the region 14c' of the cover 14c form a ball passage 14d having a substantially square cross section as shown in FIG. The ball passage 14d has a width and a height slightly larger than the diameter of the ball B. The ball passage 14d having a substantially quadrangular cross section has a fluid passage gap through which fluid can easily pass between the outer peripheral surface of the ball B passing therethrough and four corners in the cross section of the ball passage 14d. Is causing it.
[0056]
The ball B supplied from the ball supply opening 10e on the second side 10d of the ball storage section 10 into the ball passage 14d of the ball transporting means 14 extends in the extending direction of the region 14a 'on the upper surface of the base 14a. By the action of the inclination and the gravity as described above, the ball is conveyed by rolling down on the area 14a 'on the upper surface of the base 14a to the extending end of the ball passage 14d. Such conveyance of the ball B in the ball passage 14d is performed when the ball B is covered with a relatively high-viscosity oil such as a rust-preventive oil supplied to a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide, or the like. But it happens quickly and reliably.
[0057]
The fluid passage gaps at the four corners in the cross section of the ball passage 14d further facilitate the above-described conveyance. In addition, the inclination that descends toward the side plate 14b in the region 14a ′ on the upper surface of the base 14a always causes the ball B being transported to contact the side plate 14b, so that the ball B being transported is in the region 14a on the upper surface of the base 14a. 'And the side plate 14b are always in contact at two points. This stabilizes the movement of the ball B during the transfer, and makes the transfer smooth and quick. Further, the ball passage 14d configured as described above can easily be used for the balls B having various diameters by simply changing the cross-sectional dimension of the notch in the region 14c 'of the cover 14c. Transport with the effect of (1).
[0058]
Further, the notch in the area 14c 'of the cover 14c can be shaped so that the cross section of the ball passageway 14d has a polygonal shape of a triangle or more.
[0059]
In this embodiment, the length of the area of the ball passage 14d between the first gate means 16 and the second gate means 18 is aligned on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a of the ball arrangement means 12. Are set to be substantially the same as the sum of the diameters of a predetermined number of balls B arranged in the same manner. That is, in the area of the ball passage 14 d between the first gate means 16 and the second gate means 18, the predetermined arrangement arranged in a line on the upper end surface 12 b of the scraping member 12 a of the ball arrangement means 12 This means that a number of balls B can be held.
[0060]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B and FIGS. 5A and 5B in addition to FIG. 20 and the respective configurations of the operation control means 22 will be described in more detail.
[0061]
Here, FIG. 4A shows the base end portion of the ball transfer means 14 provided with the first gate means 16 and the pressurized fluid ejection means 20 in the vicinity of the ball accommodating part 10 and the base end part thereof. FIG. 4B is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a portion of the ball receiving portion 10 adjacent to the portion; FIG. 4B shows the base portion of the ball transport means 14 and the ball receiving portion 10 adjacent to the base portion; It is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the part.
[0062]
FIG. 5A is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the extended end of the ball transfer means 14 provided with the second gate means 18 far from the ball storage unit 10; FIG. 2B is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the extended end of the ball transfer means 14.
[0063]
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the pressurized fluid ejecting means 20 includes a ball in the ball passage 14d of the ball transporting means 14 and a ball in the ball passage 14d with respect to the first gate means 16. An ejection opening is arranged at the upper corner of one inner side surface of the ball passage 14d on the side of the conveyance direction B. The ejection opening faces in a direction inclined from the transverse direction of the ball passage 14d toward the transport direction.
[0064]
The pressurized fluid ejected from the ejection opening of the pressurized fluid ejection means 20 separates, from the surface, a considerable amount of the above-mentioned oil-containing deposits attached to the surface of the ball B passing in front of the ejection opening. In addition, the attached matter separated from the surface of the ball B is forcibly discharged to the extending end of the ball passage 14d through the spaces at the four corners in the cross section of the ball passage 14d.
[0065]
Further, since the ejection opening of the pressurized fluid ejection means 20 is inclined toward the above-described conveyance direction, the ejection opening from the ball supply opening 10e of the second side 10d of the ball housing portion 10 is inserted into the ball passage 14d of the ball conveyance means 14. The supplied ball B is blown back toward the ball supply opening 10e by the pressurized fluid ejected from the ejection opening, and it is difficult to quickly supply the ball B from the ball supply opening 10e into the ball passage 14d. It is prevented from becoming.
[0066]
In this embodiment, the pressurized fluid is discharged to a position closer to the first gate means 16 and closer to the extended end of the ball transfer means 14 than to the second gate means 18 in the ball passage 14a of the ball transfer means 14. A means 14e is provided. The pressurized fluid discharging means 14e discharges the pressurized fluid ejected from the pressurized fluid ejecting means 20 into the ball passage 14a to the outside of the ball passage 14a.
[0067]
More specifically, the pressurized fluid discharge means 14e is formed at a predetermined position on a side surface of the cover 14c of the ball transfer means 14 which is in contact with the side wall 14b, as shown particularly well in FIG. It is constituted by a notch penetrating between the upper surface of the passage 14a and the upper surface of the cover 14c.
[0068]
The pressurized fluid discharge means 14e is provided by a Bernoulli's theorem in which pressurized fluid ejected from the ejection opening of the pressurized fluid ejection means 20 acts on the ball B passing therethrough in the ball passageway 14a of the ball transport means 14. Alleviates the suction effect based on Due to the relaxation of the suction action, the ball B passing in front of the ejection opening is attracted to the ejection opening depending on the amount and speed of the pressurized fluid ejected from the ejection opening per unit time, so that the ball B passes through the ball passage 14a. In addition to eliminating the possibility of stopping the transfer in the above, the oil adhering to the surface of the ball B transferred in the ball passage 14a by the pressurized fluid ejected from the ejection opening of the pressurized fluid ejection means 20 is removed. This makes it possible to sufficiently exert the function of separating various attached matters from the surface.
[0069]
The pressurized fluid discharge means 14e, especially the pressurized fluid discharge means 14e near the second gate means 18, is further provided with pressurized fluid injected into the ball passage 14a from the ejection opening of the pressurized fluid ejection means 20. The conveying speed of the ball B being conveyed in the ball passage 14a is accelerated, and the ball B is hit hard by something, for example, on the inner surface of the downwardly curved portion of the extended end of the ball passage 14a. It is possible to effectively prevent the ball B from being hit and damaged due to the collision between the balls B.
[0070]
The pressurized fluid ejecting means 20 may be configured to eject the pressurized fluid intermittently. The interval of this intermittent injection and the start and end can be arbitrarily set.
[0071]
In the intermittent ejection as well, similarly to the pressurized fluid discharge means 14e, the pressurized fluid ejected from the ejection opening of the pressurized fluid ejection means 20 in the ball passage 14a of the ball transport means 14 is applied to the ball B passing therethrough. Relax the suction effect based on Bernoulli's theorem that acts on Due to the relaxation of the suction action, the ball B passing in front of the ejection opening is attracted to the ejection opening depending on the amount and speed of the pressurized fluid ejected from the ejection opening per unit time, so that the ball B passes through the ball passage 14a. In addition to eliminating the possibility of stopping the transfer in the above, the oil adhering to the surface of the ball B transferred in the ball passage 14a by the pressurized fluid ejected from the ejection opening of the pressurized fluid ejection means 20 is removed. This makes it possible to sufficiently exert the function of separating various attached matters from the surface.
[0072]
The operation control means 22 includes a first ball detector 22 a adjacent to the downstream side of the first gate means 16 in the ball passage 14 a of the ball transporting means 14, and a first ball detector 22 a adjacent to the upstream side of the second gate means 18. And two ball detectors 22b. In this embodiment, the operation control means 22 further includes a third ball detector 22c adjacent to the upstream side of the first gate means 16 in the ball passage 14a of the ball transport means 14.
[0073]
Each of the first to third ball detectors 22a, 22b and 22c is any type of detector as long as it can reliably detect the ball B passing immediately before each in the ball passage 14a. May be. If the ball B is a metal material, a metal proximity detector can be used as each of the first to third ball detectors 22a, 22b, and 22c. If the ball B is a metal material or a non-metal material, Optical detectors can also be used. Each of the first to third ball detectors 22a, 22b, and 22c may be the same type of detector or different types of detectors.
[0074]
The ball B passing through the ball passage 14a of the ball transfer means 14 is covered with a relatively high-viscosity oil such as rust-proof oil supplied to a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide, or the like. Even in this case, the pressurized fluid blown into the ball passage 14a by the pressurized fluid ejecting means 20 separates the oil adhering to the ball B to a considerable extent, so that the first to third ball detections are performed. The accuracy of each of the vessels 22a, 22b and 22c is always kept good.
[0075]
Next, the ball passing number counting means 28 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B in addition to FIG.
[0076]
FIG. 6A is a schematic horizontal sectional view of the ball passing number counting means 28; and FIG. 6B is a schematic vertical sectional view of the ball passing number counting means 28. is there.
[0077]
The ball passing number counting means 28 is interposed between the extended end of the ball passage 14 a of the ball transport means 14 and the ball supply pipe 24. The ball passing number counting means 28 includes a counting means holding member 28b having a ball passing path 28a communicating the extended end of the ball passing path 14a of the ball transporting means 14 and the ball supply pipe 24. The cross-sectional shape and size of the ball passageway 28a are substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape and size of the ball passageway 14a of the ball transfer means 14. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the ball passage 28a is a rectangular shape having vertical and horizontal dimensions slightly larger than the diameter of the ball B.
[0078]
A ball passage detector 28c that detects that the ball B has passed through the ball passage 28a is provided in the ball passage 28a. In this embodiment, the ball passage detector 28c is constituted by a pair of optical sensors connected to the operation control means 22, but if the ball B is made of a metal material, a metal proximity detector can be used. . The pair of optical sensors are shielded from light by the ball B each time the ball B passes through the ball passageway 28a, and send a signal generated as a result to the operation control means 22. The counting means which does not count the number of the balls B passing through the ball passage 28a based on the above signal.
[0079]
The ball passage number counting means 28 further includes a pair of pressurized fluid ejection holes 28d for ejecting pressurized fluid toward the pair of optical sensors in the ball passage path 28a.
[0080]
The pressurized fluid ejected from the pair of pressurized fluid ejection holes 28d prevents the pair of optical sensors from becoming dirty and causing the pair of optical sensors to malfunction. The injection of the pressurized fluid from the pair of pressurized fluid injection holes 28d is performed by passing a predetermined number of balls B through the ball passage 28a so that the injection does not disturb the rapid passage of the ball B in the ball passage 28a. Is performed after the ball passing number counting means 28 counts the time until the next predetermined number of balls B enter the ball passageway 28a, but the injection may be performed continuously, It may be performed intermittently. That is, the ball passing number counting means 28 of the present embodiment uses the ball B passing through the ball passageway 28a to have a relatively high viscosity such as, for example, rust-proof oil supplied to a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide, or the like. Even in the case of a ball covered with oil, thanks to the pressurized fluid jetted from the pair of pressurized fluid jet holes 28d, the oil-containing dirt does not adhere to the pair of optical sensors and the pair of photosensors. Can always operate with high accuracy.
[0081]
Next, the configuration of the manual ball supply means 26 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B in addition to FIG.
[0082]
7A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the manual ball supply means 26; FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of a part of the main part. It is an expanded longitudinal sectional view.
[0083]
In this embodiment, the manual supply means 26 includes a funnel-shaped ball input member 26a and a ball passageway 14a of the ball transport means 14 from the center of the bottom surface of the ball input member 26a on the downstream side of the second gate means 18. And a ball guide member 26b communicated with the downstream side. The communicating position of the ball guide member 26b with the ball passage 14a of the ball transfer means 14 is between the extending end of the ball passage 14a of the ball transfer means 14 and the ball passing number counting means 28.
[0084]
That is, the number of balls B manually supplied to the extending end of the ball passage 14a of the ball transporting means 14 via the manual supply means 26 is also accurately counted by the ball passing number counting means 28.
[0085]
In this embodiment, the manual supply means 26 further stirs the plurality of balls B thrown into the ball input member 26a at a central portion of the bottom surface of the ball input member 26a, and a plurality of the balls B at the entrance of the ball guide member 26b at the central portion. Ball stirring means 26c for preventing the ball B from clogging. The ball stirring means 26c includes a motor 26d having an output shaft having a rotation center axis R eccentric with respect to the center C of the entrance of the ball guide member 26b at the center of the bottom surface of the ball input member 26a; And a stirring rod 26e fixed in a center. When the output shaft of the motor 26d rotates in a predetermined direction, as shown in FIG.
The stirring rod 26e revolves around the output shaft of a motor 26d having a rotation center axis R eccentric with respect to the center C of the entrance of the ball guide member 26b at the center of the bottom surface of the ball input member 26a.
[0086]
The orbit traverses the entrance of the ball guide member 26b at the center of the bottom surface of the ball input member 26a.
[0087]
A predetermined amount of balls B can be thrown into the ball throwing member 26a of the manual supply means 26 using a known ball quantitative plate 26f. A predetermined number of balls B thrown into the ball throwing member 26a roll toward the entrance of the ball guide member 26b at the center of the bottom surface of the ball throwing member 26a, and roll by the action of gravity, into the ball guide member 26b from the entrance. Enter one by one. During this time, a predetermined amount of balls B concentrated at the entrance may collide with each other and prevent each other from entering the ball guide member 26b from the entrance. Such collision of the number of balls B with each other is immediately eliminated by being stirred by the eccentric and revolving stirring rod 26e of the ball stirring means 26c, and a predetermined number of balls from the entrance into the ball guide member 26b. The supply of each B is immediately resumed.
[0088]
In the above-described embodiment, all the structures that operate using the pressurized fluid, that is, the linear reciprocating drive unit 13c of the ball forced supply unit 13, the first and second gate units 16 and 18, the pressurized fluid ejection The means 20 and a pair of pressurized fluid injection holes 28d of the ball passing number counting means 28 are connected to a pressurized fluid source 32 through a pressurized fluid supply control means 30 including, for example, an electromagnetic valve (not shown). I have. The operation of the pressurized fluid supply control means 30 is further controlled by the operation control means 22.
[0089]
As the pressurized fluid, an appropriate type can be selected according to the type of the ball B supplied in the above embodiment, and pressurized air is a typical example.
[0090]
Next, a series of operations of the ball quantitative supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.
[0091]
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, while a large amount of balls B are accommodated in the ball receiving recess 10a of the ball accommodating portion 10, the scraping plate of the ball arranging means 12 is used. 12a is raised from the lower end position shown by the solid line to the upper end position shown by the two-dot chain line, and a predetermined amount, that is, a predetermined plurality of pieces, is placed on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping plate 12a at the upper end position. , Are arranged in a line.
[0092]
After the scraping plate 12a of the ball arranging means 12 is disposed at the upper end position, the linear reciprocating drive device 13c of the ball forcible supply means 13 shown in FIG. It pushes out toward the ball supply opening 10e of the second side 10d. As a result, a predetermined amount, that is, a predetermined number of a single row of balls B is placed on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping plate 12a after being disposed at the upper end position, in addition to the action of gravity, the ball pushing member 13b Thereby, the ball is supplied to the ball supply opening 10e quickly and reliably in a line.
[0093]
Here, a predetermined amount on the upper end surface 12b of the scraping plate 12a after being disposed at the upper end position, that is, a predetermined number of a single row of balls B is applied to the ball supply opening 10e only by the action of gravity. In a situation where the ball can always move quickly and reliably, the linear reciprocating drive device 13c of the ball forcing supply means 13 moves the ball pushing member 13b to the ball supply opening 10e on the second side 10d of the ball housing portion 10. The operation of the pressurized fluid supply control means 30 can also be controlled by the operation control means 22 so as not to push it out.
[0094]
When the supply of the predetermined amount of balls B to the ball supply opening 10e, that is, the predetermined number of rows of the balls B is started, the first and second gate means 16 and 18 are connected to the ball passage of the ball transfer means 14 by the ball passage. 14d is blocked.
[0095]
When the third ball detector 22c, which is adjacent to the upstream side of the first gate means 16 in the ball passage 14d, detects the ball B for the first time, it is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. As described above, the first gate means 16 is opened and the pressurized fluid ejecting means 20 adjacent to the downstream side of the second gate means 16 starts ejecting the pressurized fluid. This pressurized fluid ejection may be continuous or intermittent depending on the situation as described in detail for the pressurized fluid ejection means 20 with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B. Alternatively, the period of continuous injection, the period of intermittent injection, and the interval of intermittent injection may be freely set by causing the operation control unit 22 to control the operation of the pressurized fluid supply control unit 30. It is possible to do.
[0096]
In the ball passage 14d, the predetermined amount, that is, a predetermined number of one line, is passed through the first gate means 16 and the attached matter on the surface is separated to a considerable extent from the surface by the pressurized fluid ejecting means 20. The transport of the ball B in the ball passage 14d is stopped by the second gate means 18 at the blocking position.
[0097]
A second ball detector 22b adjacent to the upstream side of the second gate means 18 at the cutoff position in the ball passage 14d detects the leading ball B of the row of balls B for a predetermined time or more, and At 14d, when the first ball detector 22a adjacent to the downstream side of the first gate means 16 at the open position detects the last ball B of the above-mentioned row of balls B for a predetermined time or more, the ball passage At 14d, the predetermined amount, that is, a predetermined number of rows of balls B is held between the second gate means 18 in the blocking position and the first gate means 16 in the open position. .
[0098]
After the second ball detector 22b adjacent to the upstream side of the second gate means 18 detects the ball B for a predetermined time or more, the first ball detector 22b adjacent to the downstream side of the first gate means 16 does not. If the ball detector 22a does not detect the ball B for a predetermined time or more, a predetermined number of balls are provided in a predetermined area between the second gate means 18 and the first gate means 16 in the ball passage 14d. It means that the ball B is not accommodated. In other words, it means that the supply of a row of a predetermined number of balls B by the ball arranging means 12 to the ball passage 14d through the ball supply opening 10e of the ball storage unit 10 has failed.
[0099]
In this case, while maintaining the open state of the first gate means 16 and the closed state of the second gate means 18, the supply of one row of the plurality of balls B from the ball storage unit 10 by the ball arrangement means 12 is performed. Do it again.
[0100]
In order to surely prevent such a supply failure from occurring, the supply of the plurality of balls B from the upper end surface 12b of the scraping member 12a at the upper end position into the ball passage 14d of the ball transfer means 14 is required. After being started, the first to third ball detectors 22a. Until each of the balls 22b and 22c detects the ball B for a predetermined time or more, while the first gate means 16 is kept open and the second gate means 18 is kept off, the ball passing means 14 passes the ball. The supply of a plurality of balls B to the path 14d by the scraping member 12a is repeated.
[0101]
When the first ball detector 22a and the second ball detector 22b detect the ball B for a predetermined time or more, or as the case may be, the first to third ball detectors 22a. When each of the balls 22b and 22c detects the ball B for a predetermined time or more, the first gate means 16 is moved to the cut-off position and the second gate means 18 is moved to the open position, or the first gate means 18 is moved to the open position. After the gate means 16 is moved to the shut-off position, the second gate means 18 is moved to the open position after a lapse of a predetermined time set by a timer (not shown). The ball pushing member 13b of the ball forced supply means 13 is returned from the position to the lower end position, and is returned to the retracted position furthest from the ball supply opening 10e of the second side 10d of the ball accommodating portion 10.
[0102]
The predetermined amount, that is, the predetermined number of balls B in a row, which has passed through the opened second gate means 18 passes through the extended end of the ball passage 14a of the ball transport means 14, and the number of passing balls After the number of balls B in a row is confirmed by the counting means 28, a predetermined number of balls are incorporated into a device using a predetermined number of balls, such as a bearing, a ball screw, and a linear guide, via the ball supply pipe 24. It is supplied to a ball mounting device (not shown).
[0103]
Note that the ball passing number counting means 28 can be omitted, and the counting of the ball passing number can be stopped.
[0104]
When the second ball detector 22b adjacent to the upstream side of the second gate means 18 at the open position in the ball passage 14d does not detect the passage of the row of balls B, the second gate means 18 turns off. It is moved from the open position to the blocking position. Further, the ejection of the pressurized fluid by the pressurized fluid ejection means 20 is stopped. When the injection of the pressurized fluid is performed intermittently, the second ball detector 22b stops detecting the passage of the row of balls B, and finally the predetermined cycle of the intermittent injection is performed. The injection of the pressurized fluid is stopped for a long time.
[0105]
In the ball constant-volume supply device of this embodiment, a predetermined amount, that is, a predetermined number of balls B is manually supplied to the predetermined number of balls such as a bearing, a ball screw, and a linear guide via the manual supply means 26. It can also be supplied to a ball-incorporating device (not shown) which incorporates a predetermined number of balls into the device, as described in the detailed description of the manual supply means 26 with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. It is clear from
[0106]
In this case as well, a predetermined amount, that is, a predetermined number of balls B supplied from the manual supply means 26 to the above-described ball assembling device (not shown) is counted by the ball passing number counting means 28 in the above-mentioned row of balls B. After the number of balls has been confirmed, a ball assembling device (not shown) that incorporates a predetermined number of balls into a device that uses a predetermined number of balls, such as a bearing, a ball screw, and a linear guide, via the ball supply pipe 24. Supplied.
[0107]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above detailed description, according to the ball quantitative supply device according to the present invention, the ball is supplied with, for example, rust-proof oil having a relatively high viscosity to be supplied to a bearing, a ball screw, a linear guide, and the like. Even when a fixed number of balls are often supplied, a predetermined amount of balls can always be supplied quickly and reliably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic perspective view of the above embodiment.
2 (A) is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the ball housing along the line II (A) -II (A) of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 (B) is II (B) of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ball housing along a line II- (B).
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a base end portion of a ball transporting unit provided with a first gate unit and a pressurized fluid ejecting unit near a ball receiving unit, and a ball receiving unit adjacent to the base end portion; FIG. 4B is a schematic vertical sectional view of the base portion of the ball transporting means and a portion of the ball receiving portion adjacent to the base portion of the ball conveying means.
FIG. 5A is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of an extended end portion of a ball transporting unit provided with a second gate unit far from the ball storage unit; FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the extended end portion of FIG.
6 (A) is a schematic horizontal sectional view of the ball passing number counting means; FIG. 6 (B) is a schematic vertical sectional view of the ball passing number counting means.
FIG. 7A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a manual ball supply means; FIG. 7B is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a part of the main part in an enlarged manner.
[Explanation of symbols]
B: ball, 10: ball accommodating portion, 10a: ball receiving recess, 10c: first side (predetermined area), 12: ball arranging means, 13: ball forced supply means, 14: ball transport means, 14a ... Ball passage, 14e ... Pressurized fluid discharge means, 16 ... First gate means, 18 ... Second gate means, 20 ... Pressurized fluid ejection means, 22 ... Operation control means, 22a ... First ball detector , 22b ... second ball detector, 26 ... manual ball supply means, 26a ... ball input member, 26b ... ball guide member, 26c ... ball stirring means, 28 ... ball passing number counting means.

Claims (14)

A ball receiving portion for receiving a plurality of balls;
Ball arrangement means for arranging a plurality of balls accommodated in the ball accommodation portion in a line;
A plurality of balls extending from the ball storage portion and arranged in a line by the ball arranging means are supplied, and the plurality of supplied balls have a ball passage which can pass in a line. Ball transporting means for transporting a plurality of balls in the row from the ball receiving portion to the extended end portion by using gravity;
First gate means provided at a position close to the ball storage section in the ball passage of the ball transport means to open and close the ball passage;
A second passage that is provided at a position farther from the ball storage section than the first gate means in the ball passage of the ball transfer means, opens and closes the ball passage, and holds a predetermined amount of balls between the first gate and the second gate; Gate means;
Pressurized fluid ejecting means provided near the first gate means in the ball passage of the ball transport means, for injecting pressurized fluid onto the ball to separate deposits adhering to the surface of the ball from the surface;
Detecting that a predetermined amount of ball is held between the first gate means and the second gate means in the ball passage of the ball transport means, and controlling the operations of the first and second gate means. Operation control means;
With
The operation control means opens the first gate means and closes the second gate means while the plurality of balls arranged in a line by the ball arrangement means are supplied into the ball passage of the ball transport means, After detecting that a predetermined amount of ball is held between the first gate means and the second gate means in the ball passage of the ball transport means, the first gate means is closed and the second gate means is closed. Open up,
Ball metering device. The ball accommodating portion includes a ball receiving recess for receiving a plurality of balls, and the ball receiving recess is arranged along a predetermined area of an inner peripheral surface of the ball receiving recess and a plurality of balls in the ball receiving recess are arranged by gravity. Has,
The ball arranging means arranges a plurality of balls in a line along the predetermined area on the inner peripheral surface of the ball receiving recess of the ball container,
The ball passage of the ball transporting means is open to the ball receiving recess of the ball housing along the predetermined area on the inner peripheral surface of the ball receiving recess of the ball housing, and is arranged in a line by the ball arranging means. A plurality of balls supplied from the opening,
The ball fixed-quantity supply device according to claim 1. The ball fixed-quantity supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cross section of the ball passage is polygonal. The pressurized fluid ejecting means ejects the pressurized fluid between the outer peripheral surface of the ball passing through the ball passage and at least one of a plurality of corners of the polygon having the cross section in the cross section of the ball passage. The ball fixed-quantity supply device according to claim 3. In the ball passage of the ball transfer means, the ball is provided near the first gate means and at a position closer to the extended end than the second gate means. The ball fixed-quantity supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising pressurized fluid discharge means for discharging the pressurized fluid to the outside of the ball passage. The ball fixed-quantity supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pressurized fluid ejecting unit ejects the pressurized fluid intermittently. The operation control means includes: a first ball detector adjacent to a downstream side of the first gate means in a ball passage of the ball transporting means; and a second ball detector adjacent to an upstream side of the second gate means. The ball quantitative supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: The ball arrangement means according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ball arrangement means includes a ball forced supply means for forcibly supplying a plurality of balls arranged in a line by the ball arrangement means to a ball passage of the ball transfer means. Item 3. A ball quantitative supply device according to item 1. 9. A ball passing number counting means for counting the number of balls passing through the ball passing path in the ball passing path of the ball conveying means downstream of the second gate means. The fixed amount supply device for balls according to the above. The ball fixed-quantity supply device according to claim 9, wherein the ball passage number counting means includes an optical sensor, and a pressurized fluid is jetted to the optical sensor. 9. The fixed-quantity ball supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a manual ball supply unit that is connected to a downstream side of the second gate unit in a ball passage of the ball transfer unit. 9. The manual ball supply means includes a funnel-shaped ball input member, and extends from a central portion of the bottom surface of the ball input member to the downstream side of the second gate means in the ball passage of the ball transport means, and communicates with the downstream side. Ball guiding member, ball stirring means for stirring the plurality of balls thrown into the ball throwing member at the center of the bottom surface and preventing clogging of the plurality of balls at the entrance of the ball guide member at the center. The ball fixed-quantity supply device according to claim 11, comprising: 13. The ball passing number counting means for counting the number of balls passing through the ball passing path in the ball passing path of the ball transfer means at a downstream side of the communication point of the manual ball supply means, according to claim 11 or 12. Ball metering device. 14. The ball quantitative supply device according to claim 13, wherein the ball passing number counting means includes an optical sensor, and pressurized fluid is jetted to the optical sensor.

Images