JP2009066739A - Adsorption conveyance method and suction device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suction conveyance method and a suction device, by which a workpiece does not slip out of a mounting position when separating an adsorption pad from the workpiece sucked on the suction pad. <P>SOLUTION: The suction conveyance method comprises steps of: mounting a workpiece 100 on a predetermined mounting position A2 by conveying it to the mounting position A2 after sucking the workpiece 100 with the suction pad 10; releasing suction of the suction pad 10 while keeping pressing-down of the workpiece 100 after pressing-down the mounted workpiece 100 on the mounting position A2 by a pin 61; separating the suction pad 10 from the workpiece 100 while keeping the workpiece 100 pressed down by the pin 61; and releasing pressing-down of the workpiece 100 by the pin 61. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a suction conveyance method and a suction apparatus suitable for use in suctioning and transporting a workpiece such as a thin part (for example, a sheet-like part) and accurately placing it on a desired placement position.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, workpiece conveyance devices are used to convey workpieces (adsorbed objects) in factories or the like. This type of suction conveyance device includes, for example, a suction pad connected to a decompression unit (such as a vacuum pump) and a suction release unit (such as an atmospheric pressure switching unit and a pressurization pump), and the suction pad at a predetermined suction position (for example, And a pad moving means that moves from a component storage position) to a predetermined placement position (for example, a component assembly position). Then, the suction pad is moved onto the workpiece at a predetermined suction position by the pad moving means and the suction port is brought into contact, and the air in the suction pad is sucked and depressurized by the decompression means to make the work into the suction port. Adsorb. Next, the work attracted to the suction pad by the pad moving means is transported to a predetermined placement position, and the work is placed on the placement position. Then, the suction release means brings the inside of the suction pad to atmospheric pressure or higher pressure (pressure air state) to release the workpiece suction. When the suction pad is separated from the work, one suction conveyance process is completed.

However, when the work is a light and thin object, for example, a thin strip-like thin part, when the suction pad is pulled away from the work placed at the placement position, the work is placed at the place (place where it should originally be located). There was a risk of slipping off. This is because, when the suction pad whose inside is in a compressed air state is pulled away from the workpiece, an air flow is generated by the compressed air, and this air flow hits the workpiece. In addition, due to other disturbances, when the suction pad is pulled away from the workpiece placed at the placement position, the placement position of the workpiece may be shifted.

Conventionally, there is a mechanism for preventing the displacement of the workpiece being sucked by the suction pad (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, this type of suction pad cannot prevent the displacement of the workpiece when the suction pad is pulled away from the workpiece as described above.
JP 2001-315082 A

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a suction conveyance method and a suction device in which a workpiece does not deviate from its placement position when the suction pad is pulled away from the workpiece sucked by the suction pad. It is to provide.

The suction conveyance method of the present invention includes a step of sucking a workpiece with a suction pad and then conveying and placing the workpiece to a predetermined placement position, and pressing the workpiece placed above by a workpiece pressing means, The step of releasing the suction by the suction pad while continuing the pressing of the workpiece, the step of separating the suction pad from the workpiece while continuing the pressing of the workpiece by the workpiece pressing means, and the work by the workpiece pressing means And a step of releasing the pressing.

  In the suction conveyance method of the present invention, the workpiece is a thin part.

The suction device of the present invention includes a suction pad having a suction port, a decompression unit that decompresses the inside of the suction pad and sucks the work to the suction port, and destroys the decompressed state in the suction pad to dispose the work to the suction port. A suction release means for releasing the suction; and a presser work pressing means for holding the work sucked by the suction pad and holding the suction pad to a position where the suction pad is pulled away from the work.

The suction device according to the present invention is characterized in that the work pressing means includes a work pressing member that presses the work in the suction port of the suction pad.

The suction device according to the present invention is characterized in that the work pressing means has a work pressing member that presses the work at an outer peripheral position of the suction port of the suction pad.

The suction device of the present invention is characterized in that a portion of the workpiece pressing member that presses the workpiece is made of a cushioning material.

According to the suction conveyance method of the present invention, the work is securely pressed to the mounting position by the work pressing means until the suction of the work by the suction pad is released and the suction pad is pulled away from the work. There is no risk that the workpiece will be displaced from the mounting position when pulling apart. That is, stable supply (arrangement) of workpieces such as parts can be performed.

The suction conveyance method of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in conveying thin parts that are likely to be displaced due to an air flow when the suction pads are pulled apart.

According to the suction device of the present invention, since the work can be pressed against the mounting position by the work pressing means until the suction pad is pulled away from the work, there is no possibility that the work is displaced from the mounting position.

According to the suction device of the present invention, since the work pressing means is configured using the work pressing member,
The workpiece can be securely pressed to the placement position. In addition, if the work pressing member is configured to hold the work in the suction port of the suction pad, the work can be effectively pressed by a single work pressing member, which simplifies the configuration and reduces the number of parts. Further, the adsorption device can be reduced in size.

According to the suction device of the present invention, since the portion of the workpiece pressing member that presses the workpiece is made of the cushioning material, the workpiece can be reliably prevented from being damaged.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an adsorption device 1-1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the suction device 1-1 has a suction port 27 for sucking a workpiece (object to be adsorbed) 100 described below.
The suction pad 10 having a pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure of the internal space 29 of the suction pad 10 (hereinafter “
A vacuum supply means) 30, a suction release means (hereinafter referred to as a “pressure air supply means”) 40 that breaks the reduced pressure in the internal space 29 of the suction pad 10 to release the suction of the workpiece 100, and the vacuum supply means 30. The suction pad 1 is switched between the vacuum from the pressure and the compressed air from the compressed air supply means 40.
A switching means 50 for supplying to the zero internal space 29, a work pressing means 60 installed in the center of the suction pad 10, and a control means 80 for controlling the operations of the switching means 50 and the work pressing means 60. Configured. The suction pad 10, the switching means 50, and the work pressing means 60 are integrally attached to the case 90 as indicated by a dotted line, and are configured to be transported by a transport device (pad moving means) (not shown). Each component will be described below.

The suction pad 10 is configured by attaching a pad portion 21 to a lower portion of a cylindrical and hard base portion 11. The lower opening of the pad portion 21 is a suction port 27, and the internal space is an internal space 29.
It is. The base 11 is formed by forming a synthetic resin, metal, or the like in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a pin insertion hole 15 through which a pin (work pressing member) 61 described below of the work pressing means 60 is vertically movable is inserted in the center. Further, a communication hole 17 for connecting a supply pipe 51 extending from the switching means 50 to communicate with the internal space 29 is provided at a side portion of the pin insertion hole 15. Pad part 2
Reference numeral 1 denotes a tube-shaped base portion 23 attached to the base portion 11 and a cone-shaped (conical shape) that is continuously provided at the lower end of the root portion 23 and expands in a downward direction to increase its diameter. A skirt portion 25 is provided. As a material of the pad portion 21, a synthetic resin material, a rubber-like elastic material (for example, various rubbers, various elastomers), or the like can be used.

The vacuum supply means 30 is constituted by, for example, a vacuum pump or a vacuum line in a factory, and is connected to the switching means 50 by a pipe 31.

The compressed air supply means 40 is constituted by, for example, a pressure pump, a compressed air line in a factory, an on-off valve for introducing atmospheric pressure, and the like, and is connected to the switching means 50 by a pipe 41. In addition, when supplying atmospheric pressure to the switching means 50, the independent compressed air supply means 40 may be abbreviate | omitted, and the part which connects the piping 41 of the switching means 50 may just be open | released to air | atmosphere. In this case, the switching means 50
Will also serve as the compressed air supply means.

The switching means 50 connects the pipes 31 and 41 and the supply pipe 51, communicates the pipe 31 and the supply pipe 51, communicates the pipe 41 and the supply pipe 51, and the supply pipe 51.
Is switched to a state in which neither of the pipes 31 and 41 communicates. That is, the vacuum from the vacuum supply means 30 and the compressed air from the compressed air supply means 40 are switched and supplied to the internal space 29 of the suction pad 10.

The work pressing means 60 drives a columnar work pressing member (hereinafter referred to as “pin”) 61 that passes through the pin insertion hole 15 at the center of the base 11 of the suction pad 10 so as to move up and down and the pin 61 in the vertical direction. A pin driving unit 63 is provided. The tip (lower end) of the pin 61 is a pressing portion 65 that presses the workpiece 100 described below. The pin 61 is made of a bar made of metal or synthetic resin, and the pressing portion 65 is made of a buffer material softer than that. As the buffer material, for example, a synthetic resin material, a rubber-like elastic material (various rubbers, various elastomers, or the like) is used. For example, the pin driving unit 63 includes a spring and an electromagnetic coil, and the pin 61 is positioned in the pin storage position shown in FIG. 1 against the spring force of the spring by driving the electromagnetic coil. (Position where the tip of the pressing portion 65 is arranged inside the suction port 27),
Further, by releasing the driving of the electromagnetic coil, the pin 61 is located at the pin protruding position (the position where the tip of the pressing portion 65 protrudes outside the suction port 27 by a predetermined dimension) by the elastic force of the elastic spring. In the pin insertion hole 15 of the suction pad 10, the pin 61 smoothly moves up and down, and the pin 61
It is comprised so that air may not leak from the clearance gap between.

The control means 80 is for electrically driving and controlling the operations of the switching means 50 and the work pressing means 60, and is constituted by a computer or an electric circuit.
A switching signal is issued to 0, or a driving signal is issued to the pin driving unit 63 of the work pressing means 60.

Next, a method for conveying the workpiece 100 using the adsorption device 1-1 (adsorption conveyance method) will be described. FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the method for sucking and conveying the workpiece 100, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic operation explanatory views of the suction pad 10 when the workpiece 100 is sucked and conveyed. In order to transport the workpiece 100, first, as shown in FIG. 3A, the suction port 27 of the suction pad 10 is placed on the workpiece 100 placed on a predetermined suction position (for example, a component storage position) A1. The supply pipe 51 and the pipe 31 are communicated with each other by issuing a switching signal from the control means 80 to the switching means 50, and the suction pad 10
A vacuum is supplied to the internal space 29 (exhaust and depressurized), and the work 100 is sucked to the suction pad 10 [step (10)]. At this time, the pin 61 is in the raised pin storage position by the drive signal from the control means 80 to the pin drive unit 63.

Next, the suction pad 10 that sucks the workpiece 100 is lifted from the suction position A1 by a transport device (for example, a transport robot) (not shown), and a predetermined placement position (for example, a component assembly position) A2 as shown in FIG. And descends as shown in FIG. 3C and places it on the mounting position A2 [step (12)]. Next, as shown in FIG.
The pin 61 is moved so as to protrude downward by a drive signal from the control means 80 to the pin drive unit 63 while the 00 is placed at the placement position A2, and the pressing portion 65 of the workpiece 100 is moved. The surface is pressed with a predetermined elastic force to fix the workpiece 100 [step (1
4)].

Next, in the state shown in FIG. 4A, the communication from the supply pipe 51 and the pipe 31 is switched to the communication between the supply pipe 51 and the pipe 41 by the switching signal from the control means 80 to the switching means 50. Thus, pressurized air (or atmospheric pressure) is supplied into the internal space 29, and the suction of the workpiece 100 by the suction pad 10 is released [step (16)]. That is, the workpiece 100 placed on the transport position A2 is released from the suction by the suction pad 10 while being pressed against the placement position A2 by the workpiece pressing means 60.

Next, the suction pad 10 is raised as shown in FIG. At the same time, the pin 61 is protruded downward from the suction port 27 to keep the work 100 pressed (step (18)). In other words, by projecting the pin 61 to the pin projecting position, the work pressing means 60
The suction pad 10 is pulled away from the workpiece 100 while continuing the pressing by. When the suction pad 10 is pulled away from the workpiece 100, the pressurized air in the internal space 29 is absorbed by the suction port 27 and the workpiece 1.
The air flows out to the outside through the gap generated during 00, and an air flow is generated in this portion. The suction pad 10
When pulling away from the workpiece 100, various disturbances other than the airflow may occur. However, since the workpiece 100 is pressed by the workpiece pressing means 60, the position of the workpiece 100 does not shift due to an air current or other disturbance.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the pressing portion 65 of the pin 61 is driven by the driving signal from the control means 80 to the pin driving portion 63 so that the pin 61 is retracted to the pin storing position. Pull away from the surface [step (20)]. That is, after the suction pad 10 is pulled away from the workpiece 100, the pressing by the workpiece pressing means 60 is released. Since no airflow is generated at this time, there is no possibility that the workpiece 100 is displaced. Thereby, the suction conveyance process of the workpiece 100 by the suction device 1-1 is completed.

In step (20), instead of driving the pin 61 to be retracted into the pin storage position, the suction device 1-1 in the state shown in FIG. The pressing portion 65 of the pin 61 may be pulled away from the surface of the workpiece 100. In this case, the pin 61 is retracted into the internal space 29 of the suction pad 10 in a subsequent process.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of a method of assembling a backlight unit (in this example, a backlight unit for a mobile phone) used in an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal display device using the suction device 1-1. During the process of assembling the backlight unit, the reflective sheet 210, the plastic frame 220, the light guide plate 230, the diffusion sheet 240, the first prism sheet 260, and the second prism sheet 280 are laminated on the frame 200 in this order. There is a process to go. In this step, since the sheets stacked in the frame body 200 are not positioned and fixed with respect to the frame body 200, the sheets need to be held as they are with high accuracy at the position where they are placed. Moreover, since each said part which comprises a backlight unit is sheet-like and thin and light, there exists a possibility that the mounting position may shift | deviate easily with a slight airflow.

In order to assemble the backlight unit using the suction device 1-1, first, the reflective sheet 210 is attached to the suction pad 10 at a predetermined suction position (for example, a component storage position) A1-1.
The reflective sheet 210 is placed at a predetermined position (predetermined placement position A2) in the frame body 200 and placed as described above. The suction pad 10 is pulled up while keeping the position of the reflection sheet 210 from shifting, and then the plastic frame 220 is sucked to the suction pad 10 at a predetermined suction position (for example, a component storage position) A1-2 and transported in the same manner as described above. The suction pad 10 is pulled up while being placed at a predetermined position on the reflection sheet 210 so that the position of the placed plastic frame 220 does not shift. By repeating this operation, on the plastic frame 220,
Further, the light guide plate 230, the diffusion sheet 240, the first prism sheet 260, and the second prism sheet 280 are stacked in this order from the suction positions A1-3, 4, 5, and 6. Since this embodiment is used when stacking any of the components, each component is accurately positioned as it is at the placed position. Then, the backlight unit is assembled by integrating these components by a method not shown. If a backlight unit is manufactured using this embodiment, since the installation precision of each component will improve as mentioned above, it will be hard to produce inferior goods and a yield will improve.

FIG. 6 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an adsorption device 1-2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the adsorption device 1-2 shown in the figure, the same or corresponding parts as those of the adsorption device 1-1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. Note that matters other than those described below are the same as those of the adsorption device 1-1 shown in FIG. The suction device 1-2 shown in FIG. 6 is different from the suction device 1-1 in that the work pressing means 60 installed at the center of the suction pad 10 in the suction device 1-1 is sucked by the suction pad 10. A plurality of points are provided at positions outside the outer periphery of the mouth 27 and a point at which the communication hole 17 connected to the supply pipe 51 is provided at the center of the base 11 of the suction pad 10. That is, in this embodiment, the work holding means 60 is attached to the case 90.
A pair is attached to the positions of the outer peripheral side surfaces of the two facing each other. Of course, a plurality of three or more may be attached, but in any case, it is desirable to install them at equal intervals so as to surround the outer periphery of the suction pad 10.

That is, the suction device 1-2 shown in FIG. 6 includes a suction pad 10 having a suction port 27 for sucking a work (object to be sucked) 100, a vacuum supply means 30 for reducing the internal space 29 of the suction pad 10, and a suction pad. The suction air supply means 40 that breaks down the reduced pressure in the internal space 29 of the 10 and releases the suction of the workpiece 100, and the suction pad 10 by switching between the vacuum from the vacuum supply means 30 and the pressure air from the pressure air supply means 40 are switched. The switching means 50 supplied to the space 29 and the suction pad 1
A pair of work pressing means 60 installed on the outer periphery of 0 and a control means 80 for controlling the operation of the switching means 50 and the work pressing means 60 are provided. Adsorption pad 10
The switching means 50 and the work pressing means 60 are integrally attached to the case 90 as indicated by a dotted line, and are configured to be freely transported by a transport means (pad moving means) not shown.

Even if comprised in this way, the effect | action and effect similar to the adsorption | suction apparatus 1-1 will arise by performing the operation | movement similar to the adsorption | suction apparatus 1-1 of the said 1st Embodiment. The plurality of work pressing means 60 are provided in order to reliably prevent the work 100 from being displaced by pressing the work 100 uniformly around the suction pad 10. On the contrary, in the suction device 1-1 of the first embodiment, since the workpiece 100 can be pressed at the center of the suction pad 10, the workpiece 100 is reliably prevented from being displaced by one workpiece pressing means 60 (pin 61). be able to. Although it is preferable to perform the protrusion / retraction operation of the pin 61 of each work pressing means 60 of the suction device 1-2 at the same time, the timing of the operation may be varied depending on circumstances.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims and the specification and drawings. Is possible. It should be noted that any shape, structure, and material not directly described in the specification and drawings are within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention as long as the effects and advantages of the present invention are exhibited. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the workpiece is conveyed by one suction pad has been described.
The present invention can also be applied to a case where one workpiece is conveyed by a plurality of suction pads. In that case, one or a plurality of workpiece pressing means may be installed for each suction pad, or one or a plurality of workpiece pressing means may be installed for the entire plurality of suction pads.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which an elastic spring and an electromagnetic coil are used as the pin driving unit constituting the work pressing unit has been described. However, the pin driving unit may be configured by an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or the like. Further, in the above embodiment, a mechanism for moving the pin up and down is used as the work pressing means. However, the work pressing means is not limited to this mechanism. For example, a mechanism for moving the pressing portion up and down by a link mechanism or a motor and rack and pinion mechanism. A mechanism for moving the pressing portion up and down can also be used. In short, any mechanism may be used as long as it is a work pressing means for pressing the work to its placement position.

In the above embodiment, a sheet-like thin part having a relatively small mass is shown as a workpiece. This is because it is an effective work using the present invention because it is easily affected by the air flow generated when the suction pad is pulled away from the work. However, of course, the present invention may be used for sucking and transporting workpieces having various shapes and structures other than the sheet shape. The workpiece is not limited to an electronic component, and may be other various articles.

It is the whole adsorption | suction apparatus 1-1 schematic block diagram. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the suction conveyance method of the workpiece | work 100. It is schematic operation | movement explanatory drawing of the suction pad 10 at the time of suction conveyance. It is schematic operation | movement explanatory drawing of the suction pad 10 at the time of suction conveyance. It is the schematic which shows an example of the method of assembling a backlight unit. It is a whole schematic block diagram of adsorption device 1-2.

Explanation of symbols

1-1 Suction Device 10 Suction Pad 27 Suction Port 29 Internal Space 30 Vacuum Supply Unit (Decompression Unit)
40 Compressed air supply means (adsorption release means)
50 switching means 60 work pressing means 61 pin (work pressing member)
63 Pin driving part 65 Pressing part 80 Control means 90 Case 100 Workpiece (object to be adsorbed)
A1 Suction position A2 Placement position 1-2 Suction device

Claims (6)

A process of sucking a workpiece with a suction pad and then transporting and placing it to a predetermined placement position;
A step of releasing the suction by the suction pad while continuing the pressing of the workpiece after pressing the workpiece placed by the workpiece pressing means;
Pulling the suction pad away from the workpiece while continuing to press the workpiece by the workpiece pressing means;
Releasing the pressing of the workpiece by the workpiece pressing means;
A suction conveyance method comprising the steps of:   The suction conveyance method according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece is a thin part. A suction pad having a suction port;
Pressure reducing means for depressurizing the inside of the suction pad and sucking the work to the suction port;
A suction release means for breaking the reduced pressure state in the suction pad and releasing the suction of the work to the suction port;
Presser work pressing means for holding the work sucked to the suction pad and holding the suction pad to a position where the suction pad is pulled away from the work;
An adsorption apparatus comprising: The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the workpiece pressing means includes a workpiece pressing member that presses the workpiece in the suction port of the suction pad. The suction device according to claim 3, wherein the workpiece pressing means includes a workpiece pressing member that presses the workpiece at a position outside the outer periphery of the suction port of the suction pad. The suction device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a portion of the work pressing member that presses the work is made of a cushioning material.

Images