JP2009184761A - Component supplying device corresponding to multi-product - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a component supplying device corresponding to multi product kinds capable of a work saving for the fraction processing, without requiring a robot having a wide movable range. <P>SOLUTION: The component supplying device corresponding to multi-product has a magazine stocker 4 stocking a stick magazine 3 loaded with each different product work W, a push-out means 5 pushing the work W in the stick magazine 3 in the magazine stocker 4, and a parts stocker 6 stocking so as to be taken out by the product kinds, accepting the work W pushed by the push-out means 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-component compatible part supply apparatus capable of automatically supplying a workpiece (W) corresponding to a predetermined position on a production line such as assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a component supply device as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, so that a workpiece (W) as a component can be supplied to a predetermined position on a production line such as assembly.
This component supply device is equipped with a component supply port at the end of a stick magazine in which a plurality of components to be supplied are slidably loaded in a column, and by applying vibration to the stick magazine, the loaded components are sequentially supplied from the component supply port. It is to be supplied.
For this purpose, the parts supply device supplies a magazine stocker that stocks multiple stick magazines loaded with parts, and a horizontal vibration in the longitudinal direction of the stick magazine taken out from the magazine stocker, and supplies parts sequentially from the parts supply port. And a vibrating plate.
Furthermore, the component supply device includes a discharge mechanism that discharges the stick magazine from which the components in the stick magazine have been discharged upward.

With such a configuration, by applying vibration only in the horizontal direction to the stick magazine, the components in the stick magazine can be smoothly supplied from the component supply port.
Also, by discharging the empty stick magazine upward or downward, the stick magazine taken out from the magazine stocker can be set smoothly on the vibration mechanism, so there is no waiting time for stick magazine replacement. The cycle time can be shortened.

JP 7-228333 A

  On the other hand, in order to supply different parts, as shown in FIG. 4, a dedicated tray t provided with a necessary number of parts feeders pf and supplied by the parts feeder pf or arranged two-dimensionally as shown in FIG. Have been handled with a tray changer or by replacing the contents of the parts feeder pf.

However, the method using a plurality of two-dimensional trays and dedicated lanes requires expensive orthogonal robots R1 and R2 with a wide range of movement, and it takes time to replace the parts feeder pf and process the fraction of the tray t. There is a problem that a waiting time occurs when the tray t is replaced.
The present invention has been proposed in order to improve the above-described problems, and when supplying a wide variety of workpieces to a production line, a robot with a wide movable range is unnecessary, and the fraction processing does not require human hands. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-type compatible part supply device that can handle a wide variety of parts.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the invention described in claim 1, a magazine stocker unit (4) for stocking the stick magazines (3) loaded with workpieces (W) of different varieties, and the magazine stocker unit ( The extruding means (5) for extruding the work (W) in the stick magazine (3) in 4), and the parts that accept the work (W) extruded by this extruding means (5) and stock it so that it can be taken out by type. And a stocker unit (6).

  As a result, the workpiece (W) extruded from the stick magazine (3) by the extrusion means (5) is received by the parts stocker unit (6) for each type and automatically supplied to a predetermined position such as a production line. it can.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the magazine stocker section (4) is provided with the pushing means (5) on the bottom side, while the stick magazine (3) after pushing the work (W) or an unnecessary work. A discharge waiting section (8) of the stick magazine (3) loaded with (W) is provided.

  Thereby, the stick magazine (3) brought to the bottom side of the magazine stocker section (4) can extrude the workpiece (W) loaded by the extruding means (5), and the empty stick magazine ( 3) can be brought to the discharge standby part (8) for discharge. Further, the stick magazine (3) loaded with the unnecessary work (W) is also brought to the discharge standby section (8) for discharge.

  Further, in the invention described in claim 3, the parts stocker section (6) includes a plurality of lanes (11) configured to be interchangeable so as to accept workpieces (W) from the stick magazine (3) according to product types. It is characterized by that.

  As a result, a wide variety of workpieces (W) can be automatically supplied to a predetermined position such as a production line for each type.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the plurality of lanes (11) are arranged at appropriate intervals on the endless transport belt (14) spanned between the transmission wheels (13) arranged above and below. Then, it is configured to be movable together with the endless transport belt (14), and can be replaced with each other at the receiving position of the workpiece (W) from the stick magazine (3).

  Thereby, since it is the structure which moves the lane (11) which handles many kinds of workpiece | work (W) to an up-down direction, apparatus itself can be set as the structure which suppressed the width dimension.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the work (W) is taken out of the plurality of lanes (11) of the part stocker unit (6) at the position where the work (W) is received from the stick magazine (3). It is provided with a moving means (16) for moving to.

  As a result, the workpiece (W) can be effectively moved sequentially to the take-out position in the lane (11) at the receiving position, and the work (W) can be efficiently taken out.

  The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the total length of the lane (11) of the component stocker section (6) is set longer than the length dimension of the stick magazine (3).

  Thereby, the waiting time at the time of magazine stick exchange can be eliminated.

  In the invention according to claim 7, in the lane (11) at a position other than the receiving position of the workpiece (W) from the stick magazine (3) among the plurality of lanes (11) in the component stocker unit (6). A recovery stick magazine (17) for receiving the fractional workpiece (W) remaining in the lane (11) from the lane (11), and a return unit for returning the fractional workpiece (W) to the recovery stick magazine (17). (18).

  As a result, even if a fractional work (W) remains in the lane (11), the return unit (18) returns it to the collection stick magazine (17), and the lane (11) is emptied. This makes it possible to accept a new type of workpiece (W).

  Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 8, information such as the type of the work (W) is stored in the stick magazine (3) stocked in the magazine stocker section (4), and an unnecessary type is obtained from the type information. The stick magazine (3) is discriminated and brought to the discharge standby section (8) of the stick magazine (3).

  As a result, the stick magazine (3) of an unnecessary kind can be discriminated from the information such as the kind of the magazine stick (3) and can be brought to the discharge standby section (8) of the stick magazine (3). The waiting time can be eliminated.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means is an example which shows a corresponding relationship with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a component supply apparatus 1 that can handle a workpiece W that is a wide variety of components. The workpiece W handled by the component supply apparatus 1 is assumed to be a component that can be stably supplied with a stick such as various semiconductor chips, although details are not described.
That is, the component supply device 1 pushes out the workpiece W in the magazine 1 in the magazine stocker unit 4 in the magazine stocker unit 4 and the magazine stocker unit 4 for stocking the stick magazines 3 loaded with different types of workpieces W. An extrusion unit 5 and a parts stocker unit 6 that receives the workpiece W extruded by the extrusion unit 5 and stocks the workpiece W so that it can be taken out by type are provided.

As shown in the figure, the stick magazine 3 is a rectangular tube having a square shape with a predetermined length and a cross-sectional area that can receive and accommodate a predetermined number of workpieces W for each type. For this reason, the stick magazine 3 is open at both ends so as to receive the workpiece W and send the workpiece W to the lane of the component stocker unit 6 described later.
Further, although not shown at a predetermined location on the outer surface or the inner surface of the stick magazine 3, other information such as the type of the workpiece W loaded in the stick magazine 3 can be identified by a predetermined identification means. In addition, a tag or identification marker storing information such as product type can be provided. For example, RFID (Radio Frequency Frequency Identification) can be used as the identification means.

The magazine stocker unit 4 is configured to stack a large number of stick magazines 3 as described above, and is set to a size that allows the stick magazines 3 to be stacked in a row and the long side surfaces to be stacked.
In this case, the magazine stocker unit 4 includes support frames 7 and 7 provided at a separation distance equivalent to the longitudinal dimension of the stick magazine 3 so that the stick magazine 3 can be received from the upper side. Further, the magazine stocker unit 4 is opened at the bottom side, and one end of the opening of the stick magazine 3 brought to the lowest position on the bottom side is a pusher (not shown) in the pushing means 5 arranged on the bottom side of the magazine stocker unit 4. ).
Further, the magazine stocker unit 4 is provided with an extruding means 5 on the bottom side, and a discharge waiting unit for the stick magazine 3 after extruding the workpiece W or a stick magazine 3 loaded with an unnecessary workpiece W which will be described later. 8 is provided.

Next, the extrusion means 5 will be described. The pushing means 5 is configured to forcibly feed the long elastic band 9a from the winding accommodating portion 9 of the long elastic band 9a urged toward the winding side by the drawing roller 10. A pusher (not shown) is provided at the end of the long elastic band 9a.
That is, in the pushing means 5, the long elastic band 9 a is forcibly drawn out from the winding housing portion 9 by the drawing roller 10, and the pusher at the tip of the long elastic band 9 a is moved from the end surface of the stick magazine 3 into the stick magazine 3. The workpiece W is pushed into the stick magazine 3 and pushed out from the other end side of the stick magazine 3.

The parts stocker unit 6 includes a plurality of lanes 11 configured to be interchangeable at the top position where the workpiece W from the stick magazine 3 can be received. The lane 11 is for mounting the workpieces W in a row, and the total length is set longer than the length dimension of the stick magazine 3.
The parts stocker unit 6 includes a transmission wheel 13 (hereinafter referred to as a sprocket 13) disposed vertically on a main body frame 12 constructed on the base 2, and an endless conveyance belt 14 (hereinafter referred to as a chain) spanned between the sprockets 13. 14), and a plurality of lanes 11 are arranged on the chain 14 at appropriate intervals so that the lanes 11 can move together with the chain 14 and can be interchanged with each other at the top position where the workpiece W from the stick magazine 3 can be received. It is configured. The chain 14 is configured to stop each lane 11 at a predetermined position in addition to the position of the top and the bottom by an indexing motor 15 and to intermittently move sequentially at these positions.
The parts stocker unit 6 can of course use a timing pulley and a timing belt in addition to the sprocket 13 and the chain 14.

  Further, just below the lane 11 at the top position in the parts stocker unit 6, a moving means 16 (hereinafter referred to as "hereinafter referred to as" moving means 16 ") applies vibration to the lane 11 so that the workpiece W in the lane 11 advances to the right in the drawing. A linear feeder 16) is provided. The linear feeder 16 is a so-called electromagnetic vibration type alignment component automatic supply device, which generally vibrates a built-in leaf spring with an electromagnetic coil and guides the workpiece W in a predetermined direction by the vibration. Of course, the moving means is not limited to the linear feeder 16. For example, a well-known mechanical push-out mechanism for directly contacting the work W on the lane and moving it to the take-out position is possible.

Then, the component supply apparatus 1 collects the fractional workpieces W remaining in the lane 11 from the lane 11 at the side of the lane 11 at the lowest position among the stop positions of the lane 11 in the component stocker unit 6. Stick magazine 17 and a return unit 18 for returning a fraction of the workpiece W to the recovery stick magazine 17.
The return unit 18 is forcibly drawn out by the drawing roller 20 from the winding accommodating portion 19 of the long elastic band 19a urged toward the winding side, like the push-out means 5, and is provided at the end of the long elastic band 19a. A pusher (not shown) is made to enter the lane 11 at the lowest position, the work W in the lane 11 is pushed in, and the work W is returned to the recovery stick magazine 17 side.

  An empty stick collection box 21 is provided below the magazine stocker unit 4 to collect and collect the empty stick magazine 3 after the workpiece W is taken out from the discharge standby unit 8 at the bottom position of the magazine stocker unit 4. Is installed.

  At the bottom position of the magazine stocker unit 4, the workpiece W is pushed out, and the empty stick magazine 3 or the stick magazine 3 loaded with an unnecessary workpiece W identified by RFID is pushed into the discharge standby unit 8. An appropriate extrusion means can be provided.

The operation of the component supply apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
First, the stick magazine 3 loaded with the workpiece W is loaded into the magazine stocker unit 4.
In this case, the stick magazine 3 is inserted into the magazine stocker unit 4 from the upper side into the housing location surrounded by the support frames 7 and 7 so that the stick magazine 3 is arranged in a row through the long side surfaces. Many can be loaded.
The stick magazine 3 loaded in this way reaches the lowest position on the bottom side of the magazine stocker unit 4, so that one end of the opening of the stick magazine 3 is in the pushing means 5 arranged on the bottom side of the magazine stocker unit 4. This is brought about on the operation line of the pusher (not shown), and the workpiece W can be taken out.

  Next, the pushing means 5 is driven with respect to the stick magazine 3 brought to the take-out position. The long elastic band 9a is drawn out from the winding housing portion 9 by driving the drawing roller 10, and the pusher at the end of the long elastic band 9a enters the stick magazine 3 from the end surface of the stick magazine 3, and the stick magazine 3, the work W can be pushed out and pushed out from the other end of the stick magazine 3.

  At this time, on the extension of the stick magazine 3 brought to the take-out position, one of the plurality of lanes 11 in the component stocker unit 6 is sprocketed up and down on the main body frame 12 by the indexing motor 15. Since the chain 14 is driven via 13 and positioned at the top position which is the take-out position, the work W can be pushed out and transferred to the lane 11 by the pusher of the pushing means 5. Since the lane 11 has a total length longer than the length of the stick magazine 3, all the workpieces W in the stick magazine 3 can be transferred.

When all the workpieces W in the stick magazine 3 are pushed out and become empty, when the drawing roller 10 of the pushing means 5 is turned off, the long elastic band 19a is wound around the winding housing portion 19 by the urging force. The pusher returns to its original position.
Next, the empty stick magazine 3 can be collected and collected in the empty stick collection box 21.
When the emptied stick magazine 3 is brought into the empty stick collection box 21, the stick magazine 3 containing the succeeding upper workpiece W is brought to the take-out position, and the extrusion of the workpiece W can be continued.
At this time, in the parts stocker unit 6, the chain 14 is driven by the indexing motor 15 via the sprocket 13 disposed on the main body frame 12 up and down, so that a new lane 11 is formed at the top position which is the take-out position. To bring.
As described above, the plurality of lanes 11 in the component stocker unit 6 are configured to be movable in the vertical direction so that they can be replaced with the top portion that is the receiving position. Various workpieces W can be handled (see FIG. 3).

  When the workpiece W is pushed out onto the lane 11, the linear feeder 16 immediately below the train 11 is driven to vibrate the lane 11. Thereby, the work W in the lane 11 advances to the right in the drawing.

It should be noted that the product type information of the replaced stick magazine 3 is read by a predetermined means, and as a result, if it is determined that the same work W is obtained from the product type information, the parts stocker unit 6 stands by as it is.
If the information such as the type of the stick magazine 3 at the take-out position of the magazine stocker unit 4 is information other than the required type, the information is brought to the discharge standby unit 8 for each stick magazine 3 containing the work W and discharged. Smooth workpiece W can be supplied.

When the work W in the lane 11 is supplied to the previous production line and there is a space where all the work W in the magazine stick 3 can enter, the pushing means 5 is driven and the work W is moved by the pusher. Extrude to lane 11 side.
Therefore, in the tray changer in the previous production line, a waiting time occurs when replacing the tray, but the length of the lane 11 of the component stocker unit 6 is set longer than that of the stick magazine 3, Can be supplied without waiting time.

By the way, when there is a change in the requested product type from the component supplier, the component stocker unit 6 selects and positions the lane 11 in which the requested product type is mounted.
At this time, since the fractional workpiece W remaining in the lane 11 before the product change is still stocked in the lane 11, the rocket 11 is arranged on the main frame 12 by the index motor 15. By driving the chain 14 through the position, it is brought to the bottom position.
Then, the return unit 18 on the side of the lane 11 at the lowest position is driven. As a result, the long elastic band 19a is drawn out from the winding housing portion 19 by the drawing roller 20, and the pusher at the tip of the long elastic band 19a is caused to enter the lane 11 at the lowest position. The workpiece W can be pushed in and returned to the collecting stick magazine 17 side.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of types of workpieces W can be automatically supplied to a predetermined fixed position such as a production line by exchanging or circulating a plurality of lanes 11 in the component stocker unit 6. Become.
In addition, the lane 11 of the component stocker unit 6 is configured to circulate up and down, thereby providing a compact supply device having a narrow frontage.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, various parts supply devices that do not require an expensive robot with a wide movable range, can handle a variety of products that do not require manual processing for rounding, and eliminate the waiting time that occurs at the time of tray replacement or the like can be manufactured in various ways. The special effect that it can provide with the form corresponding to a line can be show | played.

It is a typical block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the multi-component corresponding | compatible part supply apparatus concerning this invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the multi-product compatible part supply apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a component stocker unit in the multi-product compatible component supply apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is typical explanatory drawing which shows an example of the conventional various parts supply apparatus using a parts feeder and a robot. It is a typical explanatory view showing another example of a conventional multi-variety type part supply device using a tray changer and a robot.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Parts supply apparatus 2 Base 3 Stick magazine 4 Magazine stocker part 5 Extruding means 6 Parts stocker part 7 Support frame 8 Discharge waiting part 9 Winding accommodating part 9a Long elastic band 10 Pull-out roller 11 Lane 12 Main body frame 13 Sprocket 14 Chain DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Indexing motor 16 Linear feeder 17 Recovery stick magazine 18 Return unit 19 Winding accommodation part 19a Long elastic band 20 Pull-out roller 21 Empty stick collection box W Workpiece

Claims (8)

A magazine stocker section (4) for stocking stick magazines (3) loaded with workpieces (W) of different varieties;
Extrusion means (5) for extruding the workpiece (W) in the stick magazine (3) in the magazine stocker section (4);
A parts stocker unit (6) for receiving the workpiece (W) extruded by the extruding means (5) and stocking the workpieces so that they can be taken out by type;
A multi-variety compatible part supply device characterized by comprising:   The magazine stocker unit (4) is provided with the pushing means (5) on the bottom side, while the stick magazine (3) after pushing the workpiece (W) or the stick magazine loaded with an unnecessary workpiece (W). The multi-variety-compatible component supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a discharge standby section (8) of (3).   2. The component stocker section (6) includes a plurality of lanes (11) configured to be interchangeable so as to accept workpieces (W) from the stick magazine (3) according to product type. 2. The multi-component compatible part supply apparatus according to 2.   The plurality of lanes (11) are arranged at appropriate intervals on the endless transport belt (14) spanned between the transmission wheels (13) disposed above and below and move together with the endless transport belt (14). 4. The multi-variety-compatible component supply device according to claim 3, wherein the parts can be interchanged with each other at a receiving position of the workpiece (W) from the stick magazine (3).   Of the plurality of lanes (11) of the component stocker section (6), a moving means (16) for moving the workpiece (W) in the take-out direction at a position where the workpiece (W) is received from the stick magazine (3). The multi-variety-compatible component supply device according to any one of claims 3 and 4, further comprising:   The overall length of the lane (11) of the component stocker section (6) is set longer than the length dimension of the stick magazine (3), according to any one of claims 3 to 5. Multi-component parts supply equipment.   Of the plurality of lanes (11) in the component stocker unit (6), the lane (11) at a position other than the receiving position of the workpiece (W) from the stick magazine (3) remains in the lane (11). A recovery stick magazine (17) for receiving the fractional workpiece (W) from the lane (11) and a return unit (18) for returning the fractional workpiece (W) to the recovery stick magazine (17) are provided. 7. The multi-variety-compatible component supply device according to any one of claims 3 to 6.   The stick magazine (3) stocked in the magazine stocker unit (4) stores information on the type of workpiece (W), etc., and discriminates the stick magazine (3) of an unnecessary type from this type of product information. The multi-variety-compatible component supply device according to claim 2, characterized in that the product is provided to the discharge standby section (8) of the stick magazine (3).

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