JP2004359512A - Implement for work alignment, apparatus for work alignment and method for work piece alignment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an implement for work alignment, an apparatus for work alignment and a method for work alignment which realize prevention of the bias of the work in a direction orthogonal to the work flowing direction and realize the alignment having a high putting-in ratio of the work to cavities. <P>SOLUTION: In the apparatus for work alignment provided with the implement 2 having many cavities 4 made rectangular in plane view and formed adjacently on the surface and a driving mechanism 3 for moving the work (w) having a rectangular shape corresponding to that of the cavity 4 along a prescribed flow direction on the surface of the implement 2 to put the work (w) in each cavity 4, each cavity of the implement 2 is provided with its long side inclined to the flow direction and facing a direction different from that of at least one of a plurality of the cavities 4. The driving mechanism 3 inclines the implement 2 to the flow direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a work aligning jig, a work aligning apparatus, and a work aligning method used when, for example, a small rectangular work such as a chip-shaped electronic component is aligned in a predetermined posture before being subjected to a baking process. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as the work aligning device, a jig in which rectangular cavities corresponding to the outer shape of a work are aligned and formed in the vertical and horizontal directions is tilted around a diagonal direction intersecting the vertical and horizontal directions of the cavity. Then, while the work is caused to flow along the surface of the jig, a form in which the work is transferred and aligned in a predetermined posture in each cavity has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-143368 (all pages, FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional case described above, the jig is tilted about the direction along the vertical and horizontal directions of the cavity, and the work is flown along the surface of the jig. Demonstrate the function to prevent the phenomenon. However, since the cavities in the same posture are linearly connected in a direction obliquely intersecting with the flow direction of the work, the work is easily guided along the long side of the series of cavities connected in a diagonal direction, The further downstream in the direction, the higher the possibility that the work was present on one side in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction. Therefore, in the related art, there is a problem that the transfer rate of the work to the cavity is reduced due to the work being biased to one side of the jig surface. That is, since the work does not reach the desired transfer rate in one flow, the work must be further flowed to insert the work into the empty cavity, and thus the work efficiency is low. .
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and prevents the occurrence of bias of a work in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the work, and aligns the work at a high transfer rate to the cavity. A main object of the present invention is to provide a work aligning jig, a work aligning apparatus, and a work aligning method capable of performing processing.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is configured as follows to achieve the above object.
[0007]
In the work alignment jig according to the present invention, a large number of rectangular cavities in a plan view are formed adjacent to each other on the surface, and the rectangular work corresponding to the cavity is caused to flow on the surface along a predetermined flow direction. And the cavity is configured to allow the workpiece to enter the cavity, and each of the cavities has a long side that is oblique to the flow direction and at least one of a plurality of adjacent cavities has a long side. Are provided in different directions.
[0008]
According to the workpiece alignment jig according to the present invention, each cavity is provided so that its long side is oblique to the flow direction and the long side is different from at least one of a plurality of adjacent cavities. Therefore, the long sides of the cavities are obliquely adjacent to each other and do not continue in a long straight line. For this reason, the work flowing on the jig surface is not guided mainly only to the long side along the same direction of the cavity, but is randomly distributed on the long side with different inclinations of multiple cavities. Since the work tends to be guided, the entire work group is not deviated in the lateral direction, and the work can flow uniformly over the entire width of the jig in the lateral direction.
[0009]
A work alignment device according to the present invention includes a jig in which a large number of rectangular cavities in a plan view are formed adjacent to each other on a surface, and a square die corresponding to the cavity along a predetermined flow direction on the surface of the jig. In a work aligning apparatus having a drive mechanism for flowing a work and allowing the work to enter the respective cavities, each of the cavities of the jig has a long side that is oblique and adjacent to the flow direction. The long side is provided in a direction different from at least one of the cavities, and the driving mechanism inclines the jig in the flow direction.
[0010]
The workpiece and the cavity have a rectangular shape in which the shape when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the jig, that is, when viewed in a plan view, has a long side and a short side.
[0011]
According to the workpiece alignment device of the present invention, each cavity of the jig is provided so that its long side is oblique with respect to the flow direction and the long side is different from at least one of a plurality of adjacent cavities. Therefore, the long sides of the cavities are not obliquely adjacent to each other and long and continuous in a straight line. For this reason, the work flowing on the jig surface is not guided mainly only to the long side along the same direction of the cavity, but is randomly distributed on the long side with different inclinations of multiple cavities. Since the work tends to be guided, the entire work group is not deviated in the lateral direction, and the work can flow uniformly over the entire width of the jig in the lateral direction.
[0012]
In the workpiece alignment device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the drive mechanism vibrates the jig in a direction different from the flow direction. In this case, the work flows without being deviated in the lateral direction, and the applied vibration promotes the spread of the work in the lateral direction, thereby increasing the chance of the work being transferred to the cavity. The direction of vibration by the drive mechanism is preferably a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the workpiece and along the jig surface. However, even if the direction intersects the jig surface or the direction along the jig surface, The direction may not be orthogonal to the flow direction. Further, the jig may be vibrated so as to swing around a predetermined central axis.
[0013]
In the work aligning apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the surface of the jig is formed to have a rough surface that prevents contact with the work. In this case, the surface of the jig, including the inner surface of the cavity, is a rough surface that suppresses contact with the work, so that the contact area between the jig surface and the work is reduced, and the work of the work on the jig surface is reduced. Glidability is improved. Therefore, the work adhesion to the jig surface is reduced.
[0014]
In the work alignment device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the depth of the cavity is set to be smaller than the thickness of the work. In this case, it is appropriate for the workpiece to enter the cavity in a sideways position, but if the workpiece enters the cavity in a standing position, it will lack stability in that position. Has a high function of correcting the sideways state of proper posture, for example, when applying vibration to the jig when aligning the work, the probability of occurrence of the insertion direction error when the work is inserted into the cavity as a low vibration frequency Can be reduced.
[0015]
A work alignment method according to the present invention is a work alignment method using the work alignment device according to the present invention, wherein the jig is tilted so that a work group on the surface of the jig flows in a predetermined direction. When the work group flows, the work is individually inserted into the cavity, an alignment step of aligning the work, and then, after stacking a work mounting jig on the jig, A transfer step of inverting the jig and the work mounting jig in an overlapped state and transferring the aligned work from the jig to a work mounting jig. And
[0016]
According to this method, the cavities adjacent to each other in the lateral direction orthogonal to the workpiece flowing direction are in inclined postures opposite to each other, so that the long sides of the cavities are obliquely adjacent to each other and do not continue long and linearly. For this reason, the work flowing on the jig surface is not guided mainly only to the long side along the same direction of the cavity, but it is at random to the long side whose inclination is in the opposite direction. Since the work tends to be guided, the entire work group is not deviated in the lateral direction, and the work can flow uniformly over the entire width of the jig in the lateral direction. Also, after aligning the workpieces in the jig, the workpieces are moved upside down to a different workpiece mounting jig by turning the aligned workpieces upside down with the other jigs stacked on top of each other. It can be transferred to the work mounting jig side, and workability can be improved.
[0017]
In the work alignment method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the jig be vibrated in a direction different from the flow direction in the alignment step. In this case, the work flows without being deviated in the lateral direction, and the applied vibration promotes the spread of the work in the lateral direction, thereby increasing the chance of the work being transferred to the cavity.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work aligning apparatus, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of an arrangement pattern of cavities in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the jig in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a work inserted into the cavity of the jig shown in FIG. 1 in an inappropriate posture, and FIG. 5 is a work using the work alignment device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the steps of the sheath filling process in order of (a) to (c), FIG. 6 is a side view showing steps subsequent to the step of FIG. 5 in order of (d) to (f), and FIG. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part in a sheath filling process shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0019]
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a work aligning apparatus used for a work aligning method according to the present invention, and the aligning apparatus 1 includes a work aligning jig 2 and a driving mechanism 3 for driving the same. ing.
[0020]
The jig 2 is formed in a shallow pallet shape in which a peripheral frame 2b for preventing the work from falling off is set up around four sides of a jig main body 2a made of a rectangular flat plate. On the surface of the jig main body 2a, a large number of cavities 4 formed in a rectangular shape slightly larger than the rectangular work w are recessed by, for example, etching. Work pools 5 and 6 are formed in the surfaces of the jig body 2a at both ends in the longitudinal direction.
[0021]
The drive mechanism 3 has a function of tilting the jig 2 in the normal and reverse directions about a horizontal axis X along the short side direction of the jig 2, and a function of applying vibration to the jig 2 in a transverse direction orthogonal to the workpiece flow direction A. Is provided. By tilting the jig 2 in the normal and reverse directions about the horizontal axis X, the work W stored in one of the higher work pools 5 or 6 flows along the surface of the jig main body 2a. By imparting a lateral vibration to the jig 2, the dispersibility of the work w in the lateral direction is enhanced, and the work w is arranged in a predetermined posture during the flow of the work w in each cavity 4. .
[0022]
The detailed configuration of the driving mechanism 3 is as follows.
[0023]
That is, a swing frame 8 is connected to an output shaft 7a of a motor 7 with a speed reducer connected and fixed to a device frame (not shown) so as to be able to swing forward and backward around the rotation axis X. The jig 2 is mounted on and supported by the swing frame 8 via a guide rail 9 in a direction parallel to the axis X. A swing bracket 11 is pivotally connected to a bracket 10 connected to the jig 2 so as to be swingable around a vertical fulcrum Y. The swing bracket 11 is attached to the swing frame 8 in a circular hole 12 formed in the swing bracket 11. A circular eccentric cam 14 rotationally driven by a motor 13 is fitted therein. When the eccentric cam 14 is rotated in a fixed direction, the displacement component of the eccentric cam 14 in the workpiece flowing direction A is changed to the swing bracket 11. And only the displacement component of the eccentric cam 14 in the horizontal axis X direction is transmitted to the jig 2, and is orthogonal to the axis X direction, that is, the workpiece flowing direction A. The jig 2 is driven to vibrate in a horizontal direction at a predetermined small stroke.
[0024]
Referring to FIG. 2, a large number of cavities 4 formed in the surface of jig 2 are inclined at an angle of 45 ° with respect to workpiece flowing direction A. In addition, a plurality of cavities having the same inclined posture are arranged in tandem in the work flow direction A, and the horizontal direction orthogonal to the work flow direction A, that is, the inclination direction of the cavity 4 adjacent to the horizontal axis X direction is: They are set to conflict. More specifically, in FIG. 2, the cavity 4 whose long side is inclined from upper right to lower left and the cavity 4 whose longer side is inclined from upper left to lower right in a lateral direction orthogonal to the workpiece flow direction A. They are arranged next to each other. The short side located on the upper right side of the former cavity 4, the long side located on the lower right side, the shorter side located on the lower left side, and the longer side located on the upper left side are respectively the adjacent sides on the upper right side. The long side located on the lower left side of the cavity 4, the short side located on the upper left side of the adjacent cavity 4 on the lower right side, the short side located on the lower right side of the adjacent cavity 4 on the upper left side, the lower left The long side located on the upper right side of the latter cavity 4 adjacent on the side forms an adjacent side. Therefore, the long side of each cavity 4 is orthogonal to the long side of the cavity 4 adjacent on the horizontal side, and the long sides are not continuous with each other.
[0025]
According to such a cavity arrangement, the cavities 4 adjacent to each other in the lateral direction perpendicular to the workpiece flow direction A are in inclined postures opposite to each other. The work w flowing in the predetermined direction is mainly guided only by the long side of the cavity 4 and is not deviated in the horizontal direction, and flows uniformly over the entire width of the jig 2 in the horizontal direction. Further, by vibrating the jig 2 in the lateral direction, the diffusion of the work w in the lateral direction is promoted, and the chance of the workpiece w being transferred into the cavity 4 is increased.
[0026]
The jig body 2a is formed into a moderately rough surface by performing after-etching or sandblasting on the surface S including the surface inside the cavity 4 after the cavity forming process. Thereby, the contact area between the jig surface and the work w is reduced, the slidability of the work w is improved, and the adhesion of the work w to the jig surface is reduced, and the flow movement of the work w is facilitated. Have been. In addition, by performing the above-described surface processing on the jig 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a curved chamfered portion r is formed at the opening edge of the cavity 4, and the work w can easily slide into the cavity 4. The work w is suppressed from being damaged by contact with the opening edge of the cavity 4.
[0027]
Further, the depth of the cavity 4 is set smaller than the thickness of the work w. For example, when the workpiece w is a ceramic chip component material having a length of 3.2 mm, a width of 1.6 mm, and a thickness of 0.85 mm, the cavity 4 preferably has a depth of about 0.4 mm.
[0028]
When the cavity depth is set in this manner, as shown in FIG. 4, the function of removing the work w that has entered the cavity in the vertical position by turning it sideways is enhanced, and the vibration of the drive mechanism 3 along the X-axis direction is increased. Even when the vibration frequency is low, the probability of occurrence of the insertion direction error can be reduced.
[0029]
5 and 6, the present invention is applied to a so-called sheath filling machine in which a work (capacitor material) w is aligned and mounted on a sheath as a mounting jig in order to perform an external electrode firing process for a multilayer capacitor. 1 shows an outline of a sheath filling step when the work alignment device 1 according to the first embodiment is used.
[0030]
(1) First, as shown in FIG. 5A, an appropriate amount of work w is supplied onto the jig 2 by a feeder in a state where the jig 2 is set horizontally. At this time, a spacer 16, which will be described later, is provided above the jig 2 so as to be able to move up and down via a guide 17, and at this time, the spacer 16 is in a state of being retracted upward and waiting (see FIG. 7A). A table 19 of a lifter 18 is waiting at a lowered position on the side of the work aligning device 1.
[0031]
(2) Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the jig 2 is tilted forward and backward around the horizontal axis X an appropriate number of times while vibrating in the lateral direction, and the work w is moved downward by gravity. The workpiece w is caused to flow forward and backward along the surface, and during that time, the work w is transferred and stored in the cavity 4 in a predetermined posture. This step (2) corresponds to the alignment step.
[0032]
(3) Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the spacer 16 that has been waiting above is lowered to overlap the jig 2 and a flat sheet-like sheath 20 is supplied on the spacer. Place.
[0033]
In this case, as shown in FIG. 7B, communication holes 21 are formed in the spacer 16 in the same pattern as the cavity arrangement of the jig 2, and the thickness of the spacer 16 is The thickness is set to be thicker than the workpiece protrusion height.
[0034]
(4) Next, as shown in FIG. 6D, the jig 2 is turned around the horizontal axis X by 180 ° in a state where the sheath 20 is sucked and held on the upper surface of the spacer 16 by vacuum suction means (not shown). Rotate. After that, the table 19 of the lifter 18 is raised to receive and support the sheath 20 sucked and held in the inverted posture from below.
[0035]
(5) Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (e) and FIG. 7 (c), in a state where the sheath 20 is received and supported on the table 19 of the lifter 18, the vacuum suction is cut off and the suction of the sheath 20 is performed. At the same time, the jig 2 is hit with a knocker on the back surface (in this case, the top surface) of the jig 2 to give an appropriate impact, and the work w is transferred onto the sheath 20.
[0036]
(6) Next, as shown in FIGS. 6F and 7D, the table 19 on which the sheath 20 is placed is lowered. In this case, the works w are placed on the upper surface of the sheath 20 in an aligned state. The process from the process (3) to the process (6) corresponds to a transfer process.
[0037]
(7) Next, the jig 2 is turned back and returned to the original alignment processing position shown in FIG. 5 (a), and the spacer 16 is also retracted upward to wait for the next work supply. Since the work w may adhere and remain in the communication hole 21 of the spacer 16, the attached work w is dropped onto the jig 2 by blowing air.
[0038]
As described above, one sheath filling process is completed, and the sheath 20 on which the works w are arranged and placed is carried out, and the process proceeds to the next firing step.
[0039]
The present invention can be implemented in the following modes.
[0040]
(1) The transfer can be performed only by the forward / backward tilting operation of the jig 2 without giving the lateral vibration to the jig 2. In this case, the transfer efficiency is slightly reduced, but the possibility that the work w is damaged is reduced.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it does not flow to one side in the horizontal direction in the whole work group, but works uniformly over the horizontal width of the jig. For this reason, the transfer rate of the work to the cavity is improved as compared with the related art, so that the work can be efficiently aligned.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a perspective view of a work aligning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of an arrangement pattern of cavities in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a jig in FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a work inserted into the cavity of the jig shown in FIG. 1 in an incorrect posture. FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view sequentially showing the steps subsequent to the step of FIG. 5 in steps (d) to (f). FIG. 7 is a side view of a main part in a sheath filling processing step shown in FIGS. Longitudinal cross section [Explanation of symbols]
2 Jig 3 Drive mechanism 4 Cavity w Work A Work flow direction S Surface of jig

Claims (7)

A large number of cavities each having a rectangular shape in a plan view are formed adjacent to each other on the surface, and a rectangular work corresponding to the cavity is caused to flow on the surface along a predetermined flow direction so that the work enters the cavity. As well as possible,
The workpiece alignment jig, wherein each of the cavities has a long side oblique to the flow direction and a long side different from at least one of a plurality of adjacent cavities. Utensils. A jig in which a large number of cavities each having a rectangular shape in a plan view are formed adjacent to each other on the surface, and a rectangular work corresponding to the cavity is caused to flow along a predetermined flow direction on the surface of the jig, so that each of the cavities is And a drive mechanism for entering the work into the work alignment device,
Each of the cavities of the jig has a long side that is oblique to the flow direction and is provided in a direction in which the long side is different from at least one of a plurality of adjacent cavities,
The work aligning device, wherein the drive mechanism tilts the jig in the flow direction. The work alignment device according to claim 2, wherein
The work alignment device, wherein the drive mechanism vibrates the jig in a direction different from the flow direction. The work alignment device according to claim 2 or 3,
A workpiece alignment device, wherein a surface of the jig is formed as a rough surface that suppresses contact with the workpiece. The work alignment device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
A work alignment device, wherein a depth of the cavity is set to be smaller than a thickness dimension of the work. A work alignment method using the work alignment device according to claim 2,
The jig is tilted so that a group of works on the surface of the jig flows in a predetermined direction, and when the group of works flows, the works individually enter the cavity, and An alignment step of aligning
Next, after stacking the work mounting jig on the jig, the work is placed upside down with the jig and the work mounting jig overlapped, and the aligned work is moved from the jig to the work. And a transfer step of transferring to a mounting jig. The work alignment method according to claim 6, wherein
A method of arranging a workpiece, wherein the jig is vibrated in a direction different from the flow direction in the aligning step.

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