JP2007326714A - Oscillating component feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance part feeding capacity by preventing a part advancing speed from lowering at the connection part of an oscillating part feeder to a next process. <P>SOLUTION: A straight pipe-like discharge chute 5 installed at the discharge part of a bowl feeder 1 for orderly arranging cylindrical parts while conveying and a straight pipe-like accepting chute 6 in the next process so disposed as to closely face the discharge chute 5 are connected to each other with a coiled spring 7 having an inner diameter allowing the parts orderly arranged in the bowl feeder 1 to pass therethrough. The discharge chute 5 is so supported as to be oscillated only in the part advancing direction to suppress the effect of the oscillation of the discharge chute 5 due to the oscillation of the bowl feeder 1. Since brake is not applied when the parts move forward in the discharge chute 5 and transfer from the discharge chute 5 to the accepting chute 6 through the coiled spring 7, a higher part feeding capacity can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vibratory component supply apparatus that supplies components such as a needle roller to a next process while being aligned in a predetermined posture while conveying the components.

In a vibration-type component supply device that supplies parts to the next process while conveying the parts while conveying the parts, in general, a vibration-type linear feeder connected to a discharge chute provided in the discharge portion of the vibration-type bowl feeder is generally used. In order to avoid interference due to vibration at the connection portion of both feeders, a slight gap is provided between the discharge end of the discharge chute of the bowl feeder and the reception end of the linear feeder (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .
JP-A-8-217219 (FIGS. 9 and 15)

  Similarly to the above, even in the vibration type component supply device in which the discharge chute of the vibration type bowl feeder is directly connected to the receiving chute of the next process, a slight gap is provided between both the chutes. However, in such a component supply device, the discharge chute fixed to the bowl feeder vibrates at a constant frequency as the bowl feeder torsionally vibrates in the vertical direction and the circumferential direction. Since the receiving chute does not move, the discharge end of the discharge chute deviates from the position facing the receiving end of the receiving chute, so that the component cannot be transferred from the discharge chute to the receiving chute and the component may be clogged.

  On the other hand, it has been conventionally performed to connect the discharge chute of the bowl feeder and the receiving chute of the next process with a rubber connecting member to suppress the occurrence of clogging of parts. An example of this countermeasure is shown in FIG. This vibratory component supply device uses a vibratory bowl feeder 51 to align a cylindrical part P (see FIG. 7) such as a needle roller or a cylindrical roller in a posture in which the axial direction is in the traveling direction. Continuously supplied to a centerless grinding machine (not shown) for grinding the outer diameter, a straight tubular discharge chute 52 provided at the discharge portion of the bowl feeder 51, and a straight tubular receiving chute fixed to the grinding machine 53 are arranged so as to oppose each other in the component traveling direction, and are connected by a rubber tubular connecting member 54. Accordingly, the displacement of the discharge end position of the discharge chute 52 due to the vibration of the bowl feeder 51 is suppressed, and the cylindrical part P that has advanced through the discharge chute 52 is not clogged at the connection portion of both the chute 52 and 53, and the receiving chute 53 You can transfer to.

  However, in the vibration type component supply device in which the discharge chute and the reception chute are connected by the rubber connection member as described above, the connection member periodically bends due to vibration in the component traveling direction of the discharge chute. The advanced parts are braked at the connecting part of both chutes, and the traveling speed is reduced. In addition, since the discharge chute vibrates to some extent in the direction other than the part traveling direction, the part is braked by the discharge chute and the traveling speed decreases, and these factors reduce the ability to supply parts to the next process. Yes.

  The subject of this invention is preventing the fall of the component advancing speed in a connection part with the next process of a vibration type component supply apparatus, and improving component supply capability.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a discharge chute at a discharge portion of a vibration feeder that aligns parts in a predetermined posture while conveying parts, and the next process side so as to face this discharge chute close to each other in the component traveling direction. In the vibration type component supply device that arranges the receiving chute and supplies the parts aligned by the vibration feeder to the next process through the both chutes, the component in the predetermined posture can pass between the both chutes. A configuration was adopted in which a coil spring having a large inner diameter was arranged, and one end thereof was connected to the discharge end of the discharge chute and the other end was connected to the reception end of the reception chute.

  That is, by connecting the discharge chute provided in the discharge part of the vibration feeder and the receiving chute on the next process side with a coil spring, it suppresses the deviation of the discharge end position of the discharge chute and absorbs vibration in the component traveling direction, The parts that have advanced in the discharge chute are smoothly transferred to the receiving chute through the coil spring.

  In the above configuration, if the discharge chute is supported so as to vibrate only in the component traveling direction, it is possible to prevent a decrease in component traveling speed due to vibrations other than the component traveling direction of the discharge chute.

  Here, as means for supporting the discharge chute so as to vibrate only in the component moving direction, a slider fixed to the discharge chute is brought into surface contact with a guide rail fixed to the floor surface so as to be slidable only in the component moving direction. It is recommended to use a linear guide. In other words, when a rolling guide type linear guide is used, the contact pressure between the slider and the guide rail and the rolling elements that are in point contact with both of them is high, and there is a risk that the contact portion may be worn at an early stage. In the linear guide of the type, the contact pressure between the slider and the guide rail is kept low, and the contact portion is not easily worn, so that it can be used stably for a long time.

  Furthermore, if a sheet made of a slidable material is detachably attached to at least one of the contact surfaces of the slider and the guide rail, the contact portion can be made more difficult to wear, Even when the wear of the contact portion has progressed, it is only necessary to replace the seat, which improves workability during maintenance and reduces costs.

  Further, in the case where the component is cylindrical and the vibration feeder aligns the cylindrical component in a posture in which the axial direction thereof is in the traveling direction, each of the chutes is formed in a tubular shape. Adopt it.

  In the above configuration, the outer peripheral surface of the tubular discharge chute is a cylindrical surface, and the discharge chute is inserted into a U-shaped groove provided in a sliding guide fixed to the floor surface. If the bottom surface of the U-shaped groove is slidably brought into surface contact, the contact pressure between the discharge chute and the sliding guide can be kept low, and wear of the contact portion is difficult to proceed. The discharge chute can be used stably for a longer period of time than when it is supported by point contact.

  Here, the contact portion between the discharge chute and the slide guide is more worn by forming a portion including at least the contact surface of the slide guide with the discharge chute with a synthetic resin having a slidable property or heat-setting grease. This makes it possible to make the period for stable use longer. Furthermore, if a sheet formed of a slidable material is detachably attached to at least one of the contact surfaces of the discharge chute and the slide guide formed in the tubular shape, the wear of the contact portion is avoided. Even when the process progresses, it is only necessary to replace the sheet, which can improve workability during maintenance and reduce costs.

  As described above, the vibration type component supply device of the present invention connects the discharge chute provided in the vibration feeder and the receiving chute on the next process side with a coil spring so that the component smoothly transitions from the discharge chute to the receiving chute. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a higher component supply capability than when both chutes are connected by a rubber connecting member as in the prior art. Further, by supporting the discharge chute so as to vibrate only in the component traveling direction, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the component traveling speed on the discharge chute and further improve the component supply capability.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment. As in the case shown in FIG. 6, this vibration type component supply apparatus aligns the cylindrical part P shown in FIG. 7 in a predetermined posture while being conveyed by the vibration type bowl feeder 1, and in the next process, It is continuously supplied to a centerless grinding machine (not shown) for grinding the diameter.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bowl feeder 1 has a track 3 as a component conveying path formed inside a bowl 2 connected to a vibrating body (not shown), and is fixed to a terminal end of the bowl feeder 1 by a fixing member 4. A cylindrical straight tubular discharge chute 5 is connected. A cylindrical straight tube receiving chute 6 fixed to the grinding machine is disposed so as to be close to and opposed to the discharge chute 5 in the component traveling direction, and both the chutes 5 and 6 are connected by a coil spring 7. That is, one end of the coil spring 7 is fixed to the discharge end of the discharge chute 5 and the other end is fixed to the reception end of the reception chute 6.

  Each of the chutes 5 and 6 and the coil spring 7 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the component P so that the component P can pass in a posture in which the axial direction is in the traveling direction. 2A and 2B, the discharge-side end of the discharge chute 5 and the one end of the coil spring 7 are arranged on the fixed base 8 fixed to the floor surface F of the linear guide 9. It is fixed to a movable movable block 10 that linearly moves in the component moving direction by the action, and thereby the discharge chute 5 is supported so as to vibrate only in the component moving direction. The linear guide 9 is of a rolling guide type in which a steel ball 9c is rotatably arranged between a slider 9a fixed to the lower end of the movable block 10 and a guide rail 9b fixed to the upper surface of the fixed base 8. On the other hand, the receiving side end of the receiving chute 6 and the other end of the coil spring 7 are fixed to a fixed block 11 with a slit standing on a fixed base 8.

  Next, the flow of components in this component supply apparatus will be described. The parts P thrown into the bowl 2 are conveyed on the track 3 by vibration received from the bowl 2, and are sent to the discharge chute 5 in a single row and aligned in a posture in which the axial direction is in the traveling direction. The component P sent to the discharge chute 5 advances downstream by vibrations transmitted from the bowl 2 to the discharge chute 5. At this time, since the discharge chute 5 vibrates only in the component traveling direction as described above, the component P proceeds in the discharge chute 5 without decreasing the traveling speed, and smoothly transfers to the coil spring 7.

  Then, the part P transferred to the coil spring 7 is pushed by the subsequent part P and proceeds in the coil spring 7, and is transferred to the receiving chute 6 and sent to the grinding machine. Here, the coil spring 7 absorbs the vibration in the component traveling direction of the discharge chute 5 by expansion and contraction and does not bend like the conventional rubber connecting member, so the component P is smoothly fed into the receiving chute 6. be able to. Further, since no vibration is transmitted to the receiving chute 6, the grinding operation of the grinding machine is not adversely affected. Further, it is not necessary to periodically replace the rubber connection member due to aging.

  This component supply device has the above-described configuration, and when the component moves through the discharge chute 5 or when the component moves from the discharge chute 5 to the receiving chute 6 via the coil spring 7, the brake is not applied and the traveling speed is reduced. Therefore, higher parts supply capability than before can be obtained.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B show a second embodiment. In this embodiment, based on the first embodiment, the rolling guide type linear guide 9 is replaced with a sliding guide type linear guide 12. In this sliding guide type linear guide 12, a slider 12a fixed to the lower end of the movable block 10 is fitted into a groove of a guide rail 12b fixed to the upper surface of the fixed base 8, and is brought into surface contact so as to be slidable only in the component traveling direction. Is. Four tapered surfaces are formed on the inner surfaces of the grooves of the slider 12a and the guide rail 12b, and it is desirable to apply a lubricant such as grease to each tapered surface. In addition, you may make it form this taper surface only two surfaces of the upper side in a figure.

  Compared with the apparatus of the first embodiment using the rolling guide type linear guide 9, the component supply apparatus of the second embodiment has a surface contact between the slider 12a of the linear guide 12 and the guide rail 12b. Since the contact pressure is kept low and wear of the contact portion is difficult to proceed, it can be used stably for a long time.

  Although illustration is omitted, if a sheet formed of a slidable material is detachably attached to at least one of the taper surfaces of the slider 12a and the guide rail 12b, the taper surface may be more difficult to wear. In addition, it is only necessary to replace the sheet when the wear of the taper surface is advanced, so that workability during maintenance and cost reduction can be achieved.

  FIG. 4 shows a modification of the guide rail of the second embodiment. In this modification, the guide rail is divided into two rail pieces 12c and 12d and arranged inside the fixed base 13 having a U-shaped cross section, and the rails 12c and the inner surface of the fixed base 13 are located at corresponding positions. The spring 14 is fitted into the provided recess, and the rail pieces 12c and 12d are pressed against the slider 12a by the elastic restoring force of the spring 14. In this way, the backlash between the rail pieces 12c, 12d and the slider 12a can be almost eliminated, so that the slider 12a slides more smoothly than in the example of FIG. 3, and the slider 12a and the rail pieces 12c, 12d. The taper surface wear is further reduced.

  FIGS. 5A to 5C show a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the discharge side end portion of the discharge chute 5 and one end portion of the coil spring 7 are fixed to the fastening base 15c by the fasteners 15a and 15b of the fastening block 15 and connected to each other. A U-shaped groove 17a having a semicircular bottom slightly wider than the outer diameter of the discharge chute 5 is formed in the sliding guide 17 fixed to the fixed base 8 via the sub base 16. The discharge chute 5 is inserted into the U-shaped groove 17a, and the outer peripheral cylindrical surface thereof is in slidable surface contact with the bottom of the U-shaped groove 17a. Thereby, the discharge chute 5 is supported by the sliding guide 17 in a state in which vibrations other than the component traveling direction are suppressed. It is desirable to apply a lubricant such as grease to the bottom of the U-shaped groove 17a. The configuration of the other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In the component supply device of the third embodiment, the discharge chute 5 and the sliding guide 17 are in surface contact, the contact pressure between them is kept low, and wear of the contact portion is difficult to proceed. Like the device, it can be used stably for a longer period of time than the device of the first embodiment. Moreover, since it is a simple structure which does not use a linear guide, compared with the apparatus of 1st, 2nd embodiment, an installation cost and a running cost can be reduced.

  Here, the part including at least the contact surface with the discharge chute 5 of the sliding guide 17 is thermally solidified mainly of synthetic resin such as nylon or duracon excellent in sliding property, or lubricating grease and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. If the mold grease is used, the contact portion between the discharge chute 5 and the sliding guide 17 is less likely to be worn, and the period of stable use can be further extended.

  Although illustration is omitted, if a sheet formed of a slidable material is detachably attached to at least one of the contact surfaces of the discharge chute 5 and the sliding guide 17, the contact portion wears. Even when advanced, it is only necessary to replace the seat, which can improve workability during maintenance and reduce costs.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the case where the cylindrical part is sent to the next process by the straight tubular discharge chute and the receiving chute is described. However, the parts to be supplied are not limited to the cylindrical shape, and the shape of the chute is also the part shape. Can be changed according to. Further, although the bowl feeder is used as the vibration feeder that aligns the parts in a predetermined posture while conveying the parts, other types such as a linear feeder can of course be employed. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a vibratory component supply device in which a vibratory linear advance feeder is connected to a discharge chute provided in a discharge portion of a vibratory feeder such as a bowl feeder.

The top view of the component supply apparatus of 1st Embodiment a is an enlarged front view of the main part of FIG. 1, b is a left side view of a. a is a main part enlarged front view of the component supply apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, b is the left view of a Explanatory drawing of the guide rail modification corresponding to FIG.3 (b). a is an enlarged front view of the main part of the component supply apparatus of the third embodiment, b is a left side view of a, and c is a plan view of the main part of a. Plan view of the main part of a conventional component supply device The perspective view which shows an example of the components used as supply object

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bowl feeder 5 Discharge chute 6 Receiving chute 7 Coil spring 8 Fixed base 9 Linear guide 9a Slider 9b Guide rail 9c Steel ball 10 Movable block 11 Fixed block 12 Linear guide 12a Slider 12b Guide rail 12c, 12d Rail piece 13 Fixed base 14 Spring 15 Fastening block 17 Sliding guide 17a U-shaped groove P Parts

Claims (9)

  A discharge chute is provided at the discharge part of the vibration feeder that aligns the parts in a predetermined posture while conveying the parts, and a receiving chute on the next process side is arranged so as to face this discharge chute in the direction of component movement. In the vibration-type component supply device for supplying the parts aligned by the vibration feeder to the next process, a coil spring having an inner diameter through which the parts in the predetermined posture can pass is disposed between the both chutes, and one end thereof Is connected to the discharge end of the discharge chute and the other end is connected to the reception end of the reception chute.   2. The vibration type component supply device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge chute is supported so as to vibrate only in a component traveling direction.   As a means for supporting the discharge chute so as to vibrate only in the component moving direction, a linear guide in which a slider fixed to the discharge chute is brought into surface contact with a guide rail fixed to the floor surface so as to be slidable only in the component moving direction. The vibratory component supply device according to claim 2, wherein the vibration component supply device is used.   4. The vibration type component supply device according to claim 3, wherein a sheet made of a slidable material is detachably attached to at least one of the contact surfaces of the slider and the guide rail.   The parts are cylindrical, the vibration feeder aligns the cylindrical parts in a posture in which the axial direction thereof is in the traveling direction, and each chute is formed in a tubular shape. The vibration type component supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   An outer peripheral surface of the discharge chute formed in the tubular shape is a cylindrical surface, and the discharge chute is inserted into a U-shaped groove provided in a sliding guide fixed to the floor surface, and the outer peripheral cylindrical surface is inserted into the U-shaped groove. 6. The vibratory component supply device according to claim 5, wherein the surface is slidably contacted with the bottom.   7. The vibration type component supply device according to claim 6, wherein a portion including at least a contact surface with the discharge chute of the sliding guide is formed of a synthetic resin having sliding properties.   7. The vibration type component supply device according to claim 6, wherein a portion including at least a contact surface with the discharge chute of the sliding guide is formed of heat solidified grease.   The sheet | seat formed with the material which has slidability was attached to at least one of the mutual contact surface of the discharge chute | shoot formed in the said tubular shape and a sliding guide so that attachment or detachment was possible. Vibrating component supply device.

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