JP2009274778A - Apparatus for aligning and storing ring - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for aligning and storing rings supplying intertwined ring members in large numbers while separating them from one another, preventing damage to the ring members, with excellent yields, productivity, and layout properties. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus 10 for aligning and storing rings comprises: a ring guide passage 14 formed in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of a vibrating ball feeder 12 to which a mass of C-shaped rings are supplied; an air nozzle portion for ejecting compressed air in front of a ring outlet at the terminal end of the ring guide passage; and a parts magazine 17 extended at the terminal end of a rail-shaped guide 16 into which the opening of each dropping C-shaped ring is inserted, for aligning and storing the C-shaped rings. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ring alignment storage device that separates and aligns ring members that are entangled with each other in a production line for assembling a C-shaped ring such as a snap ring that is a part of an automobile engine.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an assembly line for engine members and the like, a ring member alignment device that separates and aligns ring members such as snap rings as parts thereof one by one is known. Such a snap ring is used, for example, by attaching it to the end of the piston pin to prevent the piston pin from falling off from the inside of the piston. The part is formed. Such a snap ring is aligned and stored in a magazine using an alignment storage device when assembled to a piston pin.

  For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-89415), as a ring alignment storage device applied to such an assembly line or the like, an alignment unit that aligns ring parts having openings by vibration is provided. Is described. The apparatus of Patent Document 1 is provided with a positioning portion that contacts the inner peripheral surface of the ring component at at least two points and guides the ring component. A return part is provided in front of the support part that transmits the vibration of the drive part to the alignment part, and the opening part of the ring part is inserted into the positioning part so as to push back the ring part that has not been positioned. The directions are aligned.

Further, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-160477) discloses a ring member alignment apparatus that separates and aligns tangled ring members one by one, and horizontally rotates the ring members to be sent one by one through a spiral groove. A rotating body having a shaft and a ring member inserted into the rotating body are aligned by bringing the outer peripheral edge of the ring member into contact with a comb-shaped regulating means when moving toward the outlet side. A ring member alignment apparatus is described.
JP 2003-89415 A JP 2007-160477 A

  However, in the conventional ring alignment apparatuses such as Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is necessary to supply the entangled ring members to the positioning member and the rotating body in a state where they are loosened to some extent in advance. For this reason, when a large amount of ring members having openings are processed, the tangled ring members cannot be loosened into a dispersed state only by the driving force such as the shaft rotation and vibration. Is a factor that significantly reduces productivity. That is, when the ring member is supplied, it is necessary for the operator to perform it manually, which leads to a decrease in productivity and an increase in production cost.

  In particular, Patent Document 2 has a drawback in that when the ring is once entangled with the comb-shaped restricting means, the rings come into contact with each other and mechanically deform and damage, thereby affecting the yield. Furthermore, since a separate device for collecting and re-inserting the ring member that has failed in positioning is required, the structure becomes complicated and more installation space is required, which limits the device layout. there were.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and can supply a large amount of intertwined ring members in a separated state, without damaging the ring members themselves, and their yield and production. An object of the present invention is to provide a ring alignment storage device that is excellent in performance and layout.

(1) The present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, is a ring aligning and storing apparatus that disperses and aligns a cluster of C-shaped rings having openings and inserts and stores them in a rod-shaped parts magazine. The C-shaped ring lump assembly is spirally formed along the inner peripheral surface of the vibrating bowl feeder, the vibrating bowl feeder being dropped and supplied from the upper opening toward the center bottom, and A ring guide path that swivels and lifts the C-shaped ring while abutting against the side wall portion thereof by vibrating operation, and compressed air is ejected at a predetermined angle toward the ring drop opening near the end of the ring guide path. An air nozzle part that aligns the opening part of the C-shaped ring that moves while abutting one side against the side wall part toward the terminal side thereof, and the C that is provided immediately below the outlet of the ring guide path and falls. A rail-like guide opening of Jo ring is inserted, a part magazine said C-shaped ring extends to the end side of the rail-like guide is aligned housing, configured with a.

(2) In the ring alignment and storage device of the present invention, in the above (1), the vertical rotating body that disperses and drops the aggregated mass of the C-shaped ring supplied to the upper opening of the vibrating bowl feeder from the gap The vertical rotating body is a disk part that is rotated at a predetermined speed via a drive support part, and a base end side thereof is erected on the disk surface of the disk part at a concentric equidistant interval, and the other end side is the C-shape. And a plurality of rod members formed as open ends to which the ring-shaped ring is supplied.

(3) In the ring alignment storage device of the present invention, in the above (2), the disc member is provided with an outer concentric circle portion and an inner concentric circle portion having different diameters, respectively, and the rod member is erected adjacent to the disc portion. They are alternately arranged in an outer concentric circle part and an inner concentric circle part.

(4) In the ring alignment and storage device of the present invention, in any of (1) to (3), the parts magazine is provided with a ring detection sensor for detecting the number of C-shaped rings stored. It is characterized by being.

  According to the present invention, compressed air is ejected at a predetermined angle to the ring dropway front side at the end of the ring guide path formed in a spiral shape along the inner peripheral surface of the vibrating bowl feeder, and one side of the ring guide path is formed on one side. The openings of the C-shaped ring that moves while abutting the ring are aligned toward the terminal end thereof, and the ring members that are intertwined with each other are separated through a rail-shaped guide that is provided immediately below the outlet of the ring guide path. Can be held in the magazine. In this way, a large amount of C-shaped rings can be stored, and a ring alignment storage device excellent in yield, productivity, and layout can be provided without damaging the ring member itself.

  The ring alignment storage device according to the present embodiment includes a vibrating bowl feeder in which a massive aggregate of C-shaped rings is dropped and supplied from the upper opening toward the center bottom, and spirals along the inner peripheral surface of the vibrating bowl feeder. A ring guide path that is formed in a ring shape and swivel-up while abutting the C-shaped ring against its side wall by vibrating operation, and compressed air is ejected at a predetermined angle to the ring drop opening front side of the ring guide path end. An air nozzle portion that aligns the opening portion of the C-shaped ring that moves while abutting one side against the side wall portion of the ring guide path toward the terminal end side thereof, and is provided directly below the drop opening of the ring guide path and falls. A rail-shaped guide into which an opening of the C-shaped ring is inserted, and a parts magazine that extends to the terminal side of the rail-shaped guide and in which the C-shaped ring is aligned and stored. There. As a result, a large amount of tangled C-shaped rings can be efficiently stored and held in the magazine, and a ring alignment and storage device with excellent productivity and layout can be provided.

  The C-shaped ring is a steel annular part member that is formed in a substantially C shape with openings at predetermined intervals, such as a snap ring serving as an engine component. The snap ring is fitted to a rotating shaft or the like, receives a thrust load, and has a function of locking the rotating shaft in the axial direction even when the rotating shaft rotates at a high speed.

  The vibratory feeder can be a bowl-like feeder or a rectilinear feeder. By placing a part member (C-shaped ring) on the vibration surface, the relative sliding movement between the part member and the vibration surface, or its jumping movement, is possible. This is a moving device that moves the part member by the vibration action using the. In this vibration movement process, it is possible not only to continuously transfer the part members, but also to perform sorting and alignment of the part members, posture control, and the like. The bowl-like feeder has a function of raising and discharging the part member put into the circular bowl along the spiral groove provided on the peripheral wall thereof.

  The vibration feeder is composed of a vibration part mainly composed of an electromagnet and a leaf spring, a bowl part into which a part member is put, and a control part for controlling the operation of the vibration part and the bowl part. The vibration unit generates a predetermined vibration using a leaf spring by turning on and off the electromagnet. This vibration can be given directionality by adjusting the angle of the leaf spring with respect to the bowl portion, and the parts member thrown into the bowl portion is moved in a predetermined direction along the ring guide path. The amount of vibration can be adjusted by the shape and number of electromagnets and the characteristics of the leaf spring. The bowl part is provided with a spiral ring guide path on the inner wall of the pan. By putting the parts member into the bottom of the pot, the vibration generated in the vibration part via the control part is used, and the parts on the ring guide path The member is raised upward from the bottom side.

  The air nozzle unit is a device in which the nozzle port is provided above the end of the ring guide path, and has a function of aligning the C-shaped ring in a predetermined direction by the blown air. That is, by ejecting compressed air at a predetermined angle toward the front side of the ring outlet, it is possible to align the C-shaped rings that move while abutting one side against the side wall portion of the ring guide path. Since the air blown into the center of the C-shaped ring moving on the ring guiding path is discharged to the opening side, the opening is aligned toward the terminal end side of the ring guiding path. And this C-shaped ring falls from the opening of the ring guide path toward the rail-shaped guide with the opening portion down.

  The rail-shaped guide is provided so that the upstream end of the rail guide is located directly below the drop guideway, and the end of the rail-shaped guide on the downstream side extends from the parts magazine. The upper part at the starting end of the rail-shaped guide is formed with a projection narrower than the opening of the C-shaped ring, and the C-shaped ring slides down on the rail while the opening is fitted to the protruding portion. Also, the rail upper side at the terminal end side of the rail-shaped guide is gradually formed in a bulging shape, and this bulging portion finally comes close to the inner surface of the C-shaped ring and the opening of the C-shaped ring faces downward It keeps aligned in the state of facing.

  The parts magazine is a portion that extends toward the end side of the rail-shaped guide and in which the C-shaped ring is aligned and stored, and is detachable from the main body portion of the ring alignment and storage device. If necessary, the parts magazine can be provided with an optical sensor or the like for detecting the number of C-shaped rings mounted via rail-shaped guides. It is also possible to adjust the vibration state in the vibration feeder based on the storage speed.

Furthermore, the ring alignment storage device of the present embodiment is provided with a vertical rotating body that disperses and drops the aggregated mass of the C-shaped ring supplied from the gap at the upper opening of the vibrating bowl feeder, The rotating body is a disc portion that is rotated at a predetermined speed via a drive support portion, and a base end thereof is erected on the disc surface of the disc portion at concentric equal intervals, and the other end side is supplied with the C-shaped ring supplied. A plurality of rod members formed as ends may be included. As a result, the aggregate of the C-shaped rings that are entangled with each other in a lump can be effectively unraveled, and the subsequent alignment process can be performed smoothly.
The rod member is made of metal, plastic, or a material made of a combination thereof, and a rod fixing hole formed concentrically on the disk portion through a male screw formed on the base end portion thereof. It is designed to be screwed.

Further, in the ring alignment and storage device of the present embodiment, the disc portion is provided with an outer concentric circle portion and an inner concentric circle portion each having a different diameter, and the adjacent rod members standing on the disc portion are adjacent to the outer concentric circle portion. It can also be arranged alternately with the inner concentric circles. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface of the saddle type rotating body can be formed in an uneven shape, and during the rotation, the number of collisions between the aggregated body of the C-shaped ring and the rod member is increased, and the C-shaped ring The efficiency of separation / dispersion processing can be improved.
The rod holding holes in the disk portion into which the base portion of the rod member is inserted and fixed can be previously drilled at equal intervals on a plurality of concentric circles, and the type, shape, processing amount, etc. of the C-shaped ring to be processed Accordingly, it is desirable to appropriately select and use the position where the rod member is installed, so that the aggregate of the C-shaped ring can be efficiently dispersed and supplied to the bowl bottom of the vibration feeder.

The ring alignment storage device of the present embodiment can also be provided with a ring detection sensor for detecting the quantity of C-shaped rings stored in the parts magazine. Accordingly, it is possible to automate operations such as adjusting the operation strength of the vibration feeder according to the supply amount of the C-shaped ring and switching on and off, and to enable mass processing of the C-shaped ring. .
Examples of the ring detection sensor include a light-emitting element that emits laser light and the like, an optical sensor configured to detect the presence or absence of a C-shaped ring based on the presence or absence of light reception using the light-receiving element, a C-shaped ring, and the like. It is possible to apply a limit switch type sensor that counts the quantity by mechanical contact. And it is possible to acquire the sensor signal output from such a sensor in control parts, such as a computer which controls a ring alignment storage device, and to control operation of a vibration feeder.

The ring alignment storage device of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a ring alignment storage device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.
As shown in the figure, the ring aligning and storing device 10 of the present embodiment is separated from the gap between the vertical rotating body 11 supplied with the aggregate of C-shaped rings R and the vertical rotating body 11. A vibrating bowl feeder 12 for receiving the falling C-shaped ring R, a vibration driving unit 13 for exciting the vibrating bowl feeder 12, and a ring guide formed in a spiral shape along the inner peripheral surface of the vibrating bowl feeder 12 An air nozzle part 15 for aligning the path 14, the opening D of the C-shaped ring R that is transported up the ring guiding path 14 toward the terminal end thereof, and the start end of the ring guiding path 14 immediately below the terminal drop. The rail-shaped guide 16 provided with the side, the parts magazine 17 extended to the terminal end side of the rail-shaped guide 16, and the like are provided.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a portion A in FIG. As shown in the figure, the saddle type rotating body 11 includes a disk portion 11a, a rod member 11b whose base end portion is erected concentrically on the disk portion 11a, an electric motor that rotatably supports the disk portion 11a, and the like. The rotation drive part 11c which consists of is provided, and the whole is formed in the bowl shape. A lump aggregate of C-shaped rings is supplied and supplied from the distal end side of the rod member 11b. Thus, by rotating the disk part 11a, the rod member 11b is dispersed in contact with the entangled C-shaped ring R and is shaken off from the gap between the rod members 11b.

In addition, while arrange | positioning so that the space | interval between the mutually adjacent rod members 11b may become narrower than a C-shaped ring diameter, as shown in FIG. 2, the adjacent rod members 11b are respectively a series of concentric circles (outer concentric circular portions having different diameters). And the inner concentric circular part) are alternately erected on the upper disk part 11a. As a result, an uneven surface formed by the rod member 11b is formed inside the rod, and the attachment position of the rod member 11b is changed each time according to the shape of the C-shaped ring to be supplied and its input amount. The falling state of the C-shaped ring that is unwound by the rotating body 11 can be adjusted.
Further, the vertical rotating body 11 can control the rotation speed, the on / off operation, and the like via a control unit (not shown) that controls the ring aligning and storing device 10. It is also possible to adjust to an appropriate rotational speed or the like in accordance with the supply state to 17 or the like.

As shown in the figure, the vibration bowl feeder 12 is supported by a vibration drive unit 13 driven by electromagnetic force. That is, the vibrating bowl feeder 12 is a parts feeder to which a predetermined excitation force is applied via a control unit, and a ring guide path 14 formed in a spiral shape is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the bowl, The C-shaped ring R supplied via the saddle-shaped rotator 11 has a function of pushing up and conveying the bowl toward the center of the bottom of the bowl → the lower end of the inner peripheral wall → the upper end of the inner peripheral wall.
Note that sensors such as an optical sensor and a CCD camera can be provided at the bottom of the bowl where the C-shaped ring R falls via the saddle-shaped rotator 11. Based on the detection results of these sensors, the supply speed of the C-shaped ring R supplied to the saddle-shaped rotator 11 and the rotational speed of the saddle-shaped rotator 11 are adjusted to align the C-shaped ring R. Processing can be performed efficiently.

  The air nozzle unit 15 is a device that ejects compressed air of a predetermined pressure to the C-shaped ring R located on the near side of the end of the ring guide path 14. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, such an air nozzle portion 15 is arranged with its air ejection direction facing the terminal end side of the ring guiding path 14 and has an air ejection angle of about 30 to about the horizontal plane (ring guiding path surface). It is desirable to set a range of 60 degrees. As a result, the opening D of the C-shaped ring R that is conveyed while one side thereof is in contact with the peripheral wall 14 a of the ring guiding path 14 can be efficiently aligned toward the terminal end side of the ring guiding path 14.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the C-shaped ring R that moves upward on the ring guiding path 14 with the vibration applied by the vibration driving unit 13 moves to the end position of the ring guiding path 14. In this way, the compressed air is injected from the air nozzle portion 15 provided obliquely above the ring guide path 14 toward the center of the C-shaped ring R, so that one side of the C-shaped ring R is moved by being restricted by the peripheral wall 14a. The opening D of the ring-shaped ring R is aligned toward the end side. The C-shaped ring R that has moved to the end is dropped and locked to the rail-shaped guide 16 with its opening D down. The dropped C-shaped ring R slides on the rail and is finally stored in the parts magazine 17.

  The rail-shaped guide 16 is provided so that its start end is located immediately below the end of the ring guide path 14, and its extended portion is disposed so as to protrude from the side wall of the vibration bowl feeder 12, and its end side is connected to the parts magazine 17. Is done. An optical sensor 18 for detecting the storage state of the C-shaped ring R is disposed at a predetermined position on the upper end side of the parts magazine 17. As such a sensor means, in addition to a photoelectric sensor using laser light, a limit switch type that operates by contact with the C-shaped ring R can be applied.

  Thus, by using the ring alignment storage device 10, the C-shaped ring R can be stored in the parts magazine 17 in an aligned state, and a large amount of the C-shaped ring R can be supplied to the next process at high speed and stably. can do. In addition, foreign matter and the like can be removed at the same time by compressed air discharged from the air nozzle unit 15, preventing foreign matter from being mixed into the subsequent assembly process, and increasing the operating rate of the next process in which the C-shaped ring R is supplied. It can be secured stably.

As described above, the ring alignment and storage device of the present invention ejects compressed air at a predetermined angle toward the ring drop opening near the end of the ring guide path formed in a spiral shape along the inner peripheral surface of the vibrating bowl feeder. Thus, the opening of the C-shaped ring that moves while abutting one side against the side wall of the ring guide path can be aligned toward the terminal side. In this way, the ring members are stored in the parts magazine in an aligned state via the rail-shaped guide provided immediately below the drop guideway of the ring guiding path, thereby enabling mass processing.
In addition, the whole perspective view of the ring alignment accommodation apparatus of a present Example is shown in FIG.

  The ring alignment storage device of the present invention is useful in an engine assembly line or the like because, for example, the snap ring can be oriented efficiently when a snap ring or the like for preventing a piston pin from falling off is mounted. In other words, the present invention can be used in the assembly process of various mechanical devices including fields such as automobiles, railway vehicles, and aircraft using ring members.

It is a front view of the ring alignment storage apparatus which concerns on a present Example. It is a side view of the ring alignment storage device. It is a top view of the ring alignment storage device. It is a partial enlarged plan view of the ring alignment storage device. It is a top view of a saddle type rotary body in the ring alignment storage device. It is explanatory drawing of the ring alignment state in the ring alignment storage apparatus. It is a whole perspective view of the ring alignment storage device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ring alignment storage apparatus 11 Vertical type rotating body 11a Disk part 11b Rod member 11c Rotation drive part 12 Vibration bowl feeder 13 Vibration drive part 14 Ring guide path 15 Air nozzle part 16 Rail-shaped guide 17 Parts magazine 18 Optical sensor R C-shaped ring D opening

Claims (4)

A ring aligning and storing device that disperses and aligns a cluster of C-shaped rings having openings and inserts and stores them in a rod-shaped parts magazine,
A vibrating bowl feeder in which the aggregate of the C-shaped ring is dropped and supplied from the upper opening toward the center bottom;
A ring guiding path that is spirally formed along the inner peripheral surface of the vibrating bowl feeder and that swivels while the C-shaped ring is in contact with the side wall portion by the vibration operation;
Compressed air is ejected at a predetermined angle to the ring guide path front end of the ring guide path, and the opening of the C-shaped ring that moves while contacting one side to the side wall of the ring guide path is directed toward the end side. An air nozzle to be aligned;
A rail-shaped guide that is provided immediately below the drop opening of the ring guide path and into which the opening of the C-shaped ring that falls is inserted;
A ring alignment storage device comprising: a parts magazine extending toward a terminal end of the rail-shaped guide and in which the C-shaped ring is aligned and stored.   A vertical rotating body that disperses and drops the aggregated mass of the C-shaped ring supplied from the gap is provided in the upper opening of the vibrating bowl feeder, and the vertical rotating body is predetermined via a drive support portion. A disc portion that is rotated at a speed, and a plurality of rods that are formed such that the base end side thereof is erected on the disc surface of the disc portion at a concentric circular equal interval and the other end side is an open end to which the C-shaped ring is supplied. The ring alignment storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a member.   The disc portion is provided with an outer concentric circle portion and an inner concentric circle portion having different diameters, and the rod members that are erected on the disc portion and are adjacent to each other are alternately arranged in an outer concentric circle portion and an inner concentric circle portion. The ring alignment storage device according to claim 2.   The ring alignment storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the parts magazine is provided with a ring detection sensor for detecting the number of C-shaped rings stored therein.