JP2006021928A - Parts feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a parts feeder having high positioning accuracy when placing parts on an escape portion, for actualizing stable carriage and pick-out of the parts. <P>SOLUTION: The parts feeder comprises a carrying mechanism 1, a stopper mechanism 2 and an escape mechanism 3 having the escape portion E as an important portion according to this invention, as shown in Fig. The escape mechanisms 3 consists of the escape portion E and a nozzle N for sucking and carrying the parts P placed on the escape portion E to a target treatment device. It is provided independent from the carrying mechanism 1 to prevent the transmission of vibration from a vibration portion of the carrying mechanism 1. The escape portion E has a parts placement face 31 on which the parts P carried from the carrying mechanism 1 are placed, and a parts placement wall 32 for positioning the parts P in the carrying direction on the parts placement face 31. Suction holes 33 are provided in the parts placement face 31 and the parts placement wall 32, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a parts feeder for transporting small parts such as electronic parts and semiconductor elements and supplying them to processing apparatuses in various processing steps.

  Small parts such as electronic parts and semiconductor elements are transported and delivered between various processing devices in the manufacturing process and the mounting process. A parts feeder is known as an apparatus for conveying and supplying small parts to various processing apparatuses. Such a parts feeder generally has a conveying path for conveying parts, a vibration mechanism for continuously moving the parts by applying vibration to the conveying path, picking up and taking out the parts, and supplying them to the processing apparatus. Escape mechanism is provided.

  For example, the parts feeder described in Patent Document 1 is a combination of a circular vibration part feeder and a linear supply vibration feeder, and continuously conveys a large number of parts. Pick up and take out.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are main parts of a linear conveyance path R in such a parts feeder. In this parts feeder, the parts P are sequentially conveyed by applying a vibration in an oblique direction, and are stopped at a predetermined position by a stopper S from above. The leading component P advances to the end portion of the transport path R again as the stopper S rotates and rises. At this time, the escape portion rotates toward the conveyance path in synchronization with the ascent of the stopper S, and the component is placed on the escape portion E (cutout). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5B, the escape portion E enters the transport path R by drawing a circular path by driving a cam mechanism (not shown), and is stopped at a predetermined position by the stopper S. It is comprised so that the component P which is present may be mounted.
JP 63-218421 A

  By the way, in the parts feeder as described above, there is a gap O between the traveling direction of the part P and the bottom and side surfaces of the escape part E, and the part P cannot be completely placed on the escape part E, In some cases, there was a shift in the position of the parts. As a result, the escape portion E returns to the original position, and when the suction nozzle picks up the component P, a problem occurs such that the suction nozzle drops without being completely sucked, or the suction position shifts to the suction nozzle. Caused clogging of parts and damage to parts in the subsequent process.

  Further, particularly when a small part is transported, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, when the leading part P1 on the transport path R starts to the escape E side by the rising of the stopper S, The part P2 subsequent to the part P1 may be dragged in the direction of the escape E together. In this case, since the part P2 moves from the position where it should originally be, that is, the position where the advancement is stopped by the stopper S to a position that has advanced considerably in the escape E direction, when the stopper S descends again, the tip of the stopper S The part collided with the part P2, causing damage to the part or generation of defective products.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8D, when the part P2 dragged by the part P1 further advances and straddles the escape E side, that is, between the escape E and the transport path R, the part P2 is escaped E It will fall without being received.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object thereof is high positioning accuracy when placing parts on the escape, and stable transportation and removal of parts. It is to provide a parts feeder that makes it possible.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a parts feeder provided with a transport mechanism having a transport path for moving parts and a vibration part for applying vibration to the transport path, in the vicinity of the end of the transport path. Is provided with an escape portion on which a component to be taken out is placed, and this escape portion reciprocates between the component on the transport path and the origin position without changing its height direction. To do.
In the invention according to claim 1 as described above, the escape portion moves and places the parts on the transport path in parallel, so that there is a gap between the bottom surface and the side surface of the component and the bottom surface and the side surface of the escape portion. Thus, the component can be placed in a correctly positioned state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the parts feeder according to the first aspect, the escape portion includes a suction mechanism for fixing the placed component at a predetermined position.
In the invention according to claim 2 as described above, the component can be correctly fixed at a predetermined position of the escape portion by sucking the mounted component by the suction mechanism provided in the escape portion. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a stopper for sequentially feeding parts on the transport path to the escape portion is provided near the end of the transport path. A holding means for holding a part on the transfer path is provided at a position that is in the reverse direction of the transfer about the length, and the holding means is sent out by the stopper in accordance with the movement timing of the stopper or the escape portion. It is characterized by repeatedly holding and releasing a component located on the transport path side of the component.

  In the invention according to claim 3 as described above, the parts located inside the parts sent out by the stopper, that is, closer to the conveyance path, are sucked or released on the conveyance path in accordance with the movement timing of the stopper or the escape portion. As a result, even when the stopper is raised, the component can be held at a normal position near the terminal end on the transport path. As a result, even if the stopper is lowered again, the tip end portion of the stopper can be stopped at a predetermined position without colliding with the part, and the parts can be stably transported and taken out.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a parts feeder that has high positioning accuracy when a part is placed on an escape and can realize stable conveyance and removal of the part.

  A best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are a side view and a plan view showing the main configuration of the parts feeder of the present embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
[Constitution]
As shown in FIG. 1, the parts feeder according to the present embodiment includes a transport mechanism 1, a stopper mechanism 2, and an escape mechanism 3 having an escape portion E that is a main part of the present invention. The conveyance mechanism 1 is provided with a conveyance path R including a linear component conveyance surface 11 on which a component moves and guide portions 12 that guide the left and right directions of the component P on both sides of the component P.

  The transport mechanism 1 is configured such that the transport path R vibrates in an oblique direction by a vibration unit (not shown). As the vibration unit, for example, a combination of an electromagnet and a movable core, and by applying energization control to the electromagnet to provide vibration obliquely with respect to the traveling direction of the component, it is not limited to this, for example, It is also possible by intermittently blowing air in the feed direction to the component P 1. Further, it can be used in combination with the circular feeder shown in Patent Document 1.

  The stopper mechanism 2 includes an arm portion 21 that is rotatably provided above the transport path R and a stopper S formed at the tip thereof. As shown by a solid line in FIG. 1A, the stopper mechanism 2 contacts the front surface of the component P in the traveling direction before the end of the conveyance path R when the arm portion 21 is rotated downward. In addition, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line, the stopper S is configured to release the component P when the arm portion 21 rotates upward.

  Here, the timing at which the stopper S rotates upward and downward is controlled by a cam that is interlocked with the parallel movement operation of the escape portion E. That is, the escape portion E goes to receive the component P at the same time as the stopper S rotates upward, and when the reception of the component P is completed, the escape portion E returns to the original position and the stopper S rotates downward. ing. Such a series of operations is controlled using a motor and a solenoid as a drive source.

  At the end of the conveyance path R, there is provided an escape mechanism 3 including an escape portion E as an escape portion and a nozzle N that sucks and conveys a component P placed on the escape portion E to a target processing apparatus. In addition, the escape mechanism is provided and fixed independently from the transport mechanism 1 so that vibrations by the vibration portion of the transport mechanism 1 are not transmitted. The configuration of the nozzle N is generally such that the component P is sucked by a vacuum suction nozzle or the like as shown in the present embodiment, or the component P is mechanically gripped by a mechanical chuck or the like. The invention is not limited to these configurations, and any known technique can be applied as long as it is a means for holding the component P.

  Next, the structure of the escape part E which is the principal part of this invention is demonstrated. The escape portion E includes a component placement surface 31 on which the component P conveyed from the conveyance mechanism 1 is placed, and a component placement wall 32 that positions the conveyance direction of the component P on the component placement surface 31. Thus, the component placement surface 31 and the component placement wall 32 are provided with suction holes 33.

  The suction hole 33 sucks and fixes the bottom of the component P positioned by the component placement surface 31 and the component placement wall 32 to a position where it can be picked up by the nozzle N. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the component placement surface 31 is provided horizontally with the component conveyance surface 11 of the conveyance path R, and the end portion on the conveyance mechanism 1 side is the end when the component P is placed. In order to prevent the part P from being caught or collided with the part, an inclined surface 34 is formed.

  Such an escape portion E is transported to the origin position where the nozzle N attracts the component P by the driving means (not shown) that drives the cam mechanism synchronized with the timing when the stopper S rotates upward and downward. The component P in the path R is configured to reciprocate in parallel with the placement position where the component placement wall 32 abuts.

[Action]
The operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. That is, the components P sent to the transport path R of the transport mechanism 1 are sequentially transported on the component transport surface 11 while being guided in the left-right direction by the movement guide portion due to vibration applied by the vibration portion.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the arm portion 21 in the stopper mechanism 2 rotates downward, the stopper S comes into contact with the front surface in the traveling direction of the component P subsequent to the leading component P. Thereby, the component P stops temporarily.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, when the arm portion 21 in the stopper mechanism 2 rotates upward and the stopper S releases the subsequent component P, the released component P starts to advance due to vibration. At this time, the escape portion E is moved in parallel to the conveyance path R side by a driving means (not shown), and moved to the position where the component placement wall 32 contacts the component P in the conveyance path R, that is, the placement position. P is placed on the component placement surface 31.

  The component P placed as described above is fixed on the component placement surface 31 by being sucked by the suction holes 33. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the escape portion E moves again in parallel and returns the component P to the origin position where the nozzle N can suck the component P, the nozzle N sucks and holds the component P, It is conveyed to a processing apparatus that performs various processes.

  As a result of the vibration operation of the transport path R as described above, the vertical rotation operation of the arm portion 21 and the parallel reciprocation of the escape portion E, the leading part P is sent to the escape part and the subsequent part P is temporarily stopped. Repeatedly, the parts P are supplied one by one to the pickup position.

  In the present embodiment, the specific configurations of the transport mechanism 1 and the stopper mechanism 2 are merely illustrated as the best mode for carrying out the present invention, and are not essential components. As the configurations of the transport mechanism 1 and the stopper mechanism 2, any known technique can be used as long as it can provide parts P one by one to the escape portion E when the escape portion E moves back and forth in parallel in the escape mechanism 3. It is also possible to combine with.

[effect]
According to the present embodiment as described above, the escape portion E including the component placement surface 31 and the component placement wall 32 moves in parallel in the transport path R to place the component P, whereby the component There is no gap between the bottom surface and side surface of P and the bottom surface and side surface of the escape portion E, so that the component P can be placed in an accurately positioned state. Further, by providing suction holes 33 on the component placement surface 31 and the component placement wall 32 of the escape portion E and sucking the placed component P, the component P can be correctly fixed at a predetermined position of the escape. It becomes like this.

[Second Embodiment]
[Constitution]
The parts feeder of this embodiment is an improvement of the transport path of the first embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a chuck 35 is provided as a holding means for holding the component from below on a conveyance path that is about the length of the component in the conveyance direction from the tip of the stopper S. The chuck 35 holds the component P on the transport path by vacuum suction. Since the configuration other than the chuck 35 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the chuck 35 includes components P1, P2, P2, P2 from the stopper S in a state where the stopper S is lowered and the components P1 to Pn are stopped in a row. Assuming P3 and P4, they are provided at positions where the component P2 adjacent to the component P1 in contact with the stopper S can be sucked and held. Further, the chuck 35 is configured to repeat the adsorption and release intermittently.

  Here, each timing of the parallel movement of the escape portion E, the vertical rotation of the stopper S, and the vacuum suction of the chuck 35 is shown in FIG. That is, the operation of the chuck 35 is controlled by the cam mechanism to synchronize with the parallel movement timing of the escape portion E and the vertical movement timing of the stopper S, and the escape portion E approaches the conveyance path side or the stopper S The suction is started (ON) as it rises, and the suction is stopped (OFF) as the escape portion E returns to the original position from the conveyance path side or the stopper S is lowered. .

  The configuration of the chuck 35 is not limited to the vacuum suction method, and for example, a configuration in which the chuck 35 is mechanically held by mechanical chucking can be employed. However, the vacuum suction method shown in this embodiment is simpler and can hold the components reliably.

[Action]
Next, the operation of each part of the chuck 35, the stopper S, the escape part E, and the nozzle N and the movement of the electronic component P will be described. First, as shown to Fig.6 (a), it conveys on the conveyance path | route R in the state in which components P1-P4 were located in a line. At this time, the stopper S is in contact with the component P1 while being pivoted downward, and stops the component P1 so that each component does not move to the escape portion E side. In addition, the component P2 is located on the upper portion of the chuck 35. Moreover, the escape part E and the nozzle N are in a standby state.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the escape portion E moves to the transport path R side first and starts moving to receive the component P1, and at the same time, the stopper S starts to rotate upward. The component P1 moves slightly to the component placement surface 31 side of the escape portion E by vibration, and is positioned and placed on the component placement surface 31 by suction by the suction hole 33 on the escape portion E side. At this time, in accordance with the movement of the escape E and the upward rotation of the stopper S, suction of the chuck 35 is started at the same time. As a result, the component P2 is sucked and held on the transport path R, and accordingly, the subsequent P3 and P4 cannot move to the escape E side.

  In addition, in the component mounting position shown in FIG. 6 (b), it is confirmed whether or not the component P1 is mounted on the mounting surface 31 of the escape portion E by the sensor provided in the upper part. Also good. If the component P1 is not mounted, an alarm can be generated and the apparatus can be temporarily stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, when the component P1 is placed on the escape portion E, the escape portion E returns to the original position. The stopper S rotates and descends in synchronization with the operation of the escape portion E. At the same time, the vacuum suction of the chuck 35 stops and P2 is released. As a result, P2 moves to the tip of the stopper S due to vibration from a vibration unit (not shown), and the subsequent P3 and P4 also move on the transport path R to the escape E side.

  As is clear from FIG. 6 (c), there is one part between the part P2 sucked and held by the chuck 35 and the tip of the stopper S, and the part P2 has advanced to the escape E side. However, even if the stopper S is lowered, the tip of the stopper S does not hit the component P2.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6D, when the escape E returns to the original position, the nozzle N descends and sucks the component P1. At this time, since the vacuum suction of the chuck 35 is off, the subsequent components such as P2, P3, and P4 move to the positions where the component P2 comes into contact with the tip of the stopper S due to vibration from the vibration portion. Thus, only the part P1 to be transported to the escape E can be sent out, and the parts P2 to P4 to be stopped on the transport path can be stopped on the transport path R by the stopper S. Then, the nozzle N rises upward with the component P1 adsorbed, and is conveyed to the next step by a conveying means such as a turntable (not shown).

[effect]
According to the present embodiment as described above, the part P2 located inside the part P1 sent out by the stopper S, that is, closer to the transport path R is moved by the chuck 35 in accordance with the movement timing of the stopper S and the escape part E. By adsorbing and releasing on the transport path R, the component P2 can be held at a regular position on the transport path even when the stopper S is raised. As a result, even when the stopper S descends again, the tip end portion of the stopper S can be stopped at a predetermined position without colliding with the component P2, and the component can be stably conveyed and taken out.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the size, shape, number, material, and the like of each member can be changed as appropriate.
Moreover, the fixing method of the component P on the component mounting surface 31 is not restricted to the structure of the said embodiment. That is, in the drawings of the above embodiment, the suction holes 33 are provided at positions corresponding to the corners of the component P on the component placement surface 31 and the component placement wall 32, but the component P is fixed on the placement surface. It may be provided at any position as long as it can be performed. The means for fixing the component P is not limited to such an adsorbing means, and may be fixed by mechanical chucking such that the component P is sandwiched from four sides on the mounting surface.

It is the side view (a) and top view (b) which show the structure of the parts feeder in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view (a) and top view (b) which show the effect | action of the parts feeder in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view (a) and top view (b) which show the effect | action of the parts feeder in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view (a) and top view (b) which show the structure of the parts feeder in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement timing of the parts feeder in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the effect | action of the parts feeder in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the principal part of the conventional vibration type parts feeder. It is a schematic diagram which shows the conventional vibration-type parts feeder.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveyance mechanism 2 ... Stopper mechanism 3 ... Escape mechanism 11 ... Component conveyance surface 12 ... Guide part 21 ... Arm part 31 ... Component mounting surface 32 ... Component mounting wall 33 ... Suction hole 34 ... Inclined surface 35 ... Chuck E ... Escape part N ... Nozzle P, P1-P4 ... Electronic parts (parts)
R ... Conveying path S ... Stopper

Claims (3)

In a parts feeder provided with a transport mechanism having a transport path for moving parts and a vibrating part for applying vibration to the transport path,
Near the terminal end of the transport path, there is provided an escape portion on which the parts to be taken out are placed, and this escape section reciprocates between the parts on the transport path and the origin position without changing the height direction. Parts feeder characterized by exercise.   The parts feeder according to claim 1, wherein the escape portion includes a suction mechanism for fixing the placed component at a predetermined position. In the vicinity of the end of the transport path, a stopper is provided to sequentially send the parts on the transport path to the escape portion,
A holding means for holding the component on the conveyance path is provided at a position where the length of the component enters the reverse direction from the stopper.
3. The holding means repeatedly holds and releases parts positioned on the transport path side with respect to the parts sent out by the stopper in accordance with the movement timing of the stopper or the escape portion. Parts feeder.

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