JP2010083664A - Supply device of work and method of supplying the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for reducing the size of a supply device of works for supplying the plurality of kinds of works. <P>SOLUTION: The supply device 10 of the works includes first and second specialized supply conveyors 13, 14 for respectively storing the different kinds of works 11, 12, a part feeder 15 for aligning the works 11, 12 and supplying them to a downstream process, a shared rail 16 for flowing the works 11, 12, a distinction mechanism 17 for distinguishing the kinds of the works 11, 12, a grip mechanism 18 for gripping the works 11, 12, the first and second rails 21, 22 for flowing the works 11, 12 to an assembly device, a returning device 23 for respectively returning the different kinds of works to the first and second specialized supply conveyors 13, 14 and a control part 24. As the part feeder and the shared rail are shared by the plurality of kinds of works, it is possible to reduce the size of the whole supply device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a workpiece supply technique using a parts feeder.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bolt supply device including two parts feeders is known as a device for supplying bolts as two types of workpieces (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 3281056 (FIG. 3) JP-A-7-101533 (Claim 1)

Patent document 1 is demonstrated based on the following figure.
FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of the prior art. Long bolts 102 supplied to a hopper 101 of a workpiece supply apparatus 100 are aligned by a first parts feeder 103 and are indexed via a conveyance rail 104. 105.
Further, the short bolts 107 supplied to the hopper 106 of the workpiece supply device 100 are aligned by the second parts feeder 108 and supplied to the index 105 via the transport rail 109.

Since the workpiece supply apparatus 100 includes two part feeders, a first part feeder 103 and a second part feeder 108, two types of bolts can be supplied.
However, it is necessary to provide parts feeders 103 and 108 in the workpiece supply device 100 according to the number of types of bolts as workpieces, and the workpiece supply device 100 is large and requires a large space. That is, there is a demand for a technique for downsizing the workpiece supply apparatus 100 that supplies a plurality of types of workpieces.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for downsizing a workpiece supply device that supplies a plurality of types of workpieces.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a workpiece supply device for supplying a plurality of types of workpieces to an assembly device, wherein the workpiece supply device stores different types of workpieces and downstream processes in accordance with the types currently in use. A plurality of dedicated supply conveyors for supplying the workpieces, a single part feeder arranged to face the dedicated supply conveyors and supplying the workpieces to the downstream process, and the workpieces provided on the parts feeder A common rail that flows, a determination mechanism that is provided so as to face the common rail, and that determines the type of the workpiece, and a gripping mechanism that is provided so as to face the common rail and grips the determined workpiece, A plurality of dedicated rails that are provided in the vicinity of the gripping mechanism according to the type of the workpiece and flow the workpiece to the assembly device, and the discrimination mechanism A receiving member that receives a different type of workpiece that has been identified as a different type from the workpiece that is currently being assembled, a transfer member that is provided in the vicinity of the receiving member so as to be movable up and down, and that extends to the dedicated supply conveyor. A return conveyor provided to return the dissimilar workpiece to the dedicated supply conveyor, and when the workpiece type is switched or when an erroneous product is detected, the workpiece flowing to the discrimination mechanism is transferred to the transfer member via the receiving member. And a control unit that performs a series of controls for delivering the workpiece to the return conveyor from the transfer member and returning the workpiece to the corresponding dedicated supply conveyor according to the type of workpiece.

  The invention according to claim 2 includes a counting mechanism that counts the workpieces aligned by the parts feeder, and the control unit stops supplying the workpieces to the parts feeder when the number of workpieces counted by the counting mechanism becomes constant. It is characterized by that.

  In the invention according to claim 3, in order to detect that a predetermined number or more of the workpieces are aligned on the common rail, the common rail is used to detect the workpiece on the common rail at a certain distance from the exit of the common rail. For the dedicated rail that detects the work on the dedicated rail at a certain distance from the exit of the dedicated rail in order to detect that a predetermined number of workpieces are aligned on the dedicated rail by providing a sensor for the rail A sensor is provided.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the receiving member is provided in the vicinity of any of the plurality of dedicated rails so as to be able to advance and retract along the dedicated rails.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a workpiece supply method for supplying a plurality of types of workpieces to the assembling apparatus, and stores different types of workpieces in a plurality of dedicated supply conveyors, respectively, and downstream according to the type currently in use. A first supply process for supplying a work to the process, a second supply process for aligning the supplied work with a single parts feeder and supplying it to a downstream process, and a single common rail for supplying the aligned work. The common rail flow process that flows in the gripping process, the gripping process that grips the fluidized work with the gripping mechanism, the type determination process that determines the type of the gripped work with the determination mechanism, and the type determined work according to the type, respectively A dedicated rail flow process that flows to the assembly equipment with a plurality of dedicated rails provided, and a workpiece whose type has been identified as a model change in the type determination process is transferred to the transfer member via the receiving member It is characterized by comprising a delivery process of delivering, a delivery process of delivering the delivered work from the transfer member to the return conveyor, and a return process of returning the delivered work to the corresponding dedicated supply conveyor according to the type. To do.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a workpiece supply method for supplying a plurality of types of workpieces to the assembling apparatus, wherein different types of workpieces are stored in a plurality of dedicated supply conveyors, and downstream according to the type currently in use. A first supply process for supplying a work to the process, a second supply process for aligning the supplied work with a single parts feeder and supplying it to a downstream process, and a single common rail for supplying the aligned work. The common rail flow process that flows in the gripping process, the gripping process that grips the fluidized work with the gripping mechanism, the type determination process that determines the type of the gripped work with the determination mechanism, and the type determined work according to the type, respectively A dedicated rail flow process that flows to the assembly equipment with a plurality of dedicated rails provided, and a work that has been classified as a type different from the work currently assembled in the type determination process. A delivery process for delivering the delivered work to the transfer member via the transport member, a delivery process for delivering the delivered work from the transfer member to the return conveyor, and a return for returning the delivered work to the corresponding dedicated supply conveyor according to the type. And a process.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 7, the process of returning a workpiece | work does not return the next workpiece | work until the workpiece | work returned is returned to an exclusive supply conveyor.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 8, a 1st supply process supplies the number of the workpiece | work which can contact | abut to the inner wall of a parts feeder and can flow.

In the invention according to claim 1, the workpiece supply apparatus includes a plurality of dedicated supply conveyors for storing different types of workpieces, a single parts feeder for aligning the workpieces and supplying them to a downstream process, and a flowing workpiece. And one common rail. Since the parts feeder and common rail are shared for multiple types of workpieces, the entire feeder can be downsized.
In addition, since the number of component parts is reduced by sharing the component parts, the cost of the supply device can be reduced.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 2, it is equipped with the counting mechanism which counts the workpiece | work arranged with the parts feeder, and a control part stops supplying a workpiece | work to a parts feeder, if the number of the workpieces counted with this counting mechanism becomes fixed. As a result, excessive workpieces are not supplied to the parts feeder, the number of aligned workpieces in the parts feeder can be minimized, and the number of workpieces returned from the parts feeder when the model is changed is reduced. It is possible to quickly return such work.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 3, the sensor for common rails which detects a workpiece | work in the site | part which left | separated the fixed distance from the exit of a common rail was provided, and the exclusive use which detects a workpiece | work in the site | part which left the fixed distance from the exit of the exclusive rail A rail sensor is provided. Since it is detected that a predetermined number or more of workpieces are aligned on the common rail and the dedicated rail, it is possible to maintain an appropriate number of workpieces on the common rail and the dedicated rail.

In the invention which concerns on Claim 4, the receiving member is provided in the vicinity of either of several exclusive rails. Since the gripping device moves the workpiece to the receiving member in the same manner as the operation of moving the workpiece to the dedicated rail, the operation of the gripping device can be simplified.
In addition, since the arrangement and structure of the gripping device may be the same as the arrangement position and structure for transferring the workpiece to the dedicated rail, the structure of the entire device can be simplified.

In the invention according to claim 5, the work that has been classified as being assembled is flowed to the assembling apparatus by a plurality of dedicated rails respectively provided according to the type, and on the other hand, if the type identification process corresponds to a model change The determined work is returned to the corresponding dedicated supply conveyor according to the type. Since a predetermined number of workpieces are stocked on the dedicated rail, model changes can be made quickly.
In addition, the workpieces can be supplied without interruption until all the workpieces corresponding to the model change are returned to the dedicated conveyor and necessary types of workpieces are supplied to the dedicated rail.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 6, the workpiece | work discriminate | determined if it corresponds to the kind different from the workpiece | work currently assembled | attached in the kind discrimination | determination process is delivered to a transfer member via a receiving member, and the work corresponds to a kind according to a kind. Return to the supply conveyor. Since different types of workpieces are not finally supplied, it is possible to prevent erroneous assembly of workpieces.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 7, the process of returning a workpiece | work does not return the next workpiece | work until the workpiece | work returned is returned to a dedicated supply conveyor. Since only one workpiece always flows on the return conveyor, the workpiece can be reliably returned to the dedicated supply conveyor according to the type.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 8, a 1st supply process supplies the workpiece | work of the number which can contact | abut to the inner wall of a parts feeder and can flow. Since only the minimum necessary work is supplied and the work does not pile up in the parts feeder, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of problems such as work clogging.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a basic configuration of a workpiece supply device according to the present invention. A workpiece supply device 10 stores a long bolt 11 as a workpiece of a different type and a short bolt 12 as a workpiece, respectively. It faces the first dedicated supply conveyor 13 and the second dedicated supply conveyor 14 that supply the workpieces 11 and 12 to the downstream process according to the type being used, and the first and second dedicated supply conveyors 13 and 14. One parts feeder 15 that is arranged in this manner and that supplies the workpieces 11 and 12 to the downstream process, a single common rail 16 that is provided in the parts feeder 15 and flows through the works 11 and 12, and this common rail 16 and a discriminating mechanism 17 for discriminating the types of the workpieces 11 and 12, and a workpiece provided and discriminated to face the common rail 16. 1 and 12, and a first dedicated rail 21 that is provided in the vicinity of the gripping mechanism 18 in accordance with the type of the workpieces 11 and 12 and flows to the assembly device (not shown). And a return device 23 for returning to the first and second dedicated supply conveyors 21 and 22, respectively, different types of workpieces that have been determined to be different from the type of workpiece currently assembled by the determination mechanism 17; The control part 24 which implements a series of control, and the patrol light 25 which notifies that the stock | storing of the workpiece | work 11 and 12 was lost in the 1st, 2nd exclusive supply conveyors 21 and 22 were comprised.

  Further, the workpiece supply device 10 includes a measuring mechanism 26 that counts the workpieces 11 and 12 aligned by the parts feeder 15. As a result, it is possible to supply a number of workpieces 11 and 12 that can flow in contact with the inner wall 27 of the parts feeder 15.

  In order to detect that a predetermined number or more of the workpieces 11 and 12 are aligned with the common rail 16, the workpieces 11 and 12 are detected on the common rail 16 at a portion spaced from the outlet 28 of the common rail 16. The common rail sensor 31 is provided, and a certain distance is provided from the outlet 32 of the first dedicated rail 21 in order to detect that a predetermined number of workpieces 11 are aligned with the first dedicated rail 21. A first dedicated rail sensor 33 for detecting the workpiece 11 on the dedicated rail is provided at the site, and the second dedicated rail 22 is used to detect that a predetermined number or more of the workpieces 12 are aligned. A second dedicated rail sensor 35 for detecting the workpiece 12 is provided on the dedicated rail 22 at a position spaced apart from the outlet 34 of the dedicated rail 22.

  The first dedicated supply conveyor 13 includes a first conveyor sensor 36 that detects the long bolt 11 as a workpiece, and a guide 37 that guides the workpiece 11 to the parts feeder 15. The conveyor 14 includes a second conveyor sensor 41 that detects a short bolt 12 as a workpiece, and a guide 42 that guides the workpiece 12 to the parts feeder 15. When the workpieces 11 and 12 are not detected for a certain period of time after the operation of the first and second dedicated supply conveyors 21 and 22, the patrol 25 can notify that the stock of the workpieces 11 and 12 has been exhausted.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the workpiece supply device according to the present invention. The return device 23 is provided in the vicinity of the second dedicated rail 22 so as to be capable of moving forward and backward along the second dedicated rail 22 and is currently assembled by a discrimination mechanism. A receiving member 43 for receiving a different type of workpiece discriminated from a different type from the workpiece being attached, a receiving member cylinder 44 for advancing and retracting the receiving member 43, and a movable member provided in the vicinity of the receiving member 43 so as to be movable up and down. A transfer member 45 that moves up and down, a lifting cylinder 46 that raises and lowers the transfer member 45, a guide rail 47 that supports the transfer member 45 and plans the workpieces 11 and 12 housed in the transfer member 45 in an upright posture, and the guide rail The upper guide 51 provided at the upper end 48 of the 47 for guiding the workpieces 11 and 12 and the first and second dedicated supply conveyors 13 and 14 are provided to extend to the different types of workpieces. Is returned to the first and second dedicated supply conveyors 13 and 14, and the return conveyor 52 is provided at the end 53 of the return conveyor 52 so as to be swingable. It comprises a member 54 and a swing drive reduction 55 for swinging the sorting member 54.

The receiving member 43 includes an inclined portion 56 that descends in the forward and backward direction. The transfer member 45 disposed at a position opposite to the receiving member 56 includes a continuous inclined portion 57 that is continuous with the inclined portion 56 of the receiving member 43.
Since the inclined portion 56 and the continuous inclined portion 57 are continuous, the workpiece is transferred from the receiving member 43 to the transfer member 45 while sliding on the inclined surface by its own weight.

  In the embodiment, the receiving member 43 is provided in the vicinity of the second dedicated rail 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the receiving member 43 may be provided in the vicinity of the first dedicated rail 21. Similarly to the operation of moving the workpieces 11 and 12 to 21 and 22, the receiving member 43 may be provided in the vicinity of another dedicated rail as long as the workpieces 11 and 12 are moved to the receiving member 43.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, and the gripping mechanism 18 is slidably provided on a cross rail 62 fixed to the column 61. The gripping mechanism 18 includes a sliding member 63 slidably provided on the crossing rail 62, a pressing portion 64 provided on the sliding member 63 and pressed against the head of the workpiece, and the pressing portion 64 can be opened and closed freely. It comprises gripping claws 65 and 65 that are provided and grip the workpiece, and an opening / closing drive source 66 that opens and closes the gripping claws 65 and 65.

  The discrimination mechanism 17 includes a first discrimination sensor 72 provided on the column 71, a second discrimination sensor 73 provided above the first discrimination sensor 72, and the first and second discrimination sensors. A blocking member 74 is provided in the vicinity of the sensors 72 and 73 so as to be movable up and down, and blocks the first discrimination sensor 72 or the second discrimination sensor 73 according to the type of workpiece, and the blocking member 74 is provided so as to be movable up and down. It consists of a contact member 75 that contacts the lower end portion, and a lift drive source 76 that moves the contact member 75 and the blocking member 74 up and down.

When the blocking member 74 rises and blocks the first determination sensor 72 for a certain time, the first determination sensor 72 detects the blocking member 74. When the blocking member 74 further rises and blocks the second determination sensor 73 for a certain time, the second determination sensor 73 detects the blocking member 74.
Since the raised positions of the contact member 75 and the blocking member 74 differ depending on the type of workpiece, the type of workpiece can be determined.

The operation of the workpiece supply apparatus having the above configuration will be described below.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the first supply process to the common rail flow process.
(A) is a figure explaining a 1st supply process, operates the 1st exclusive supply conveyor 13, moves the long volt | bolt 11 as a workpiece | work as the arrow (1), and supplies it to the parts feeder 15. To do.

  (B) is a figure explaining a 2nd supply process, operates the parts feeder 15, and aligns the long volt | bolt 11 as a workpiece | work along the inner side wall 27 with a vibration, and is shared like the arrow (2). The rail 16 is supplied.

  (C) is a figure explaining a common rail flow process, and, as for the long bolt 11 as a workpiece | work, the neck lower part of a bolt falls in the groove | channel 77 of a rail, the head of a bolt is hooked on the common rail 16, and a posture is suspended. The state is lowered, and the common rail 16 flows and moves to the discrimination field 78 as indicated by the arrow (3).

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4C. In the gripping process, as shown in FIG. 5A, the gripping mechanism 18 is lowered in the direction of the arrow (4) to Hold the head.
As shown in (b), the gripping claws 65 and 65 are closed in the directions of arrows (5) and (5) to grip the bolt 11 as a workpiece.
The blocking member 74 and the contact member 75 of the determination mechanism 17 are raised in the direction of the arrow (6), and the contact member 75 is brought into contact with the lower end portion of the bolt 11 as a workpiece.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the type discriminating process. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the abutting member 75 is abutted against the long bolt 11 as a work, the blocking member 74 causes the first discriminating sensor 72 to be in contact. Block it. As a result, it is possible to determine that the type of the work in the determination field 78 is the long bolt 11.
When it is determined that the workpiece is currently assembled, the determination gripping mechanism 18 is moved, and the bolt 11 as a workpiece is moved to the first dedicated rail 21 as indicated by an arrow (7).

  As shown in (b), the gripping claws 65 and 65 are opened by operating them in the directions of arrows (8) and (8), and the bolt 11 as a workpiece is released. The gripping mechanism 18 is moved as indicated by the arrow (9) to return to the origin position. The contact member 75 of the determination mechanism 17 is moved as indicated by an arrow (10) to return to the origin position.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a dedicated rail flow process. The long bolt 11 as a work flows through the first dedicated rail 21 as indicated by an arrow (11) and is supplied to the assembly apparatus.
In addition, when the workpiece | work currently assembled | attached is the short volt | bolt 12 as a workpiece | work, it carries out similarly to the above-mentioned description, the 2nd exclusive supply conveyor 14 is operated, and the short volt | bolt 12 as a workpiece | work is 2nd. Supply to the dedicated rail 22.

Here, the operation of the return device having the above-described configuration will be described below.
The return device operates when the type of workpiece is switched or when an incorrect product is detected. Here, a case where an incorrect product is detected will be described as an example.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a state in which wrong products are mixed in the work currently being assembled. It is assumed that the work currently being assembled is the long bolt 11.
In the common rail 16, the short bolt 12 as a wrong product is mixed in the long bolt 11. As the long bolt 11 is supplied, the short bolt 12 changes its posture to a suspended state, and moves to the discrimination field 78 through the common rail 16 as indicated by an arrow (12).

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a wrong product gripping step and a discrimination step. In the gripping step, the gripping mechanism 18 is lowered in the direction of the arrow (13) to grip the bolt 12 as a wrong product.
The blocking member 74 and the contact member 75 of the determination mechanism 17 are raised in the direction of the arrow (14), and the contact member 75 is brought into contact with the lower end portion of the bolt 12 as a workpiece.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the type determination process. When the contact member 75 contacts the short bolt 12 as an incorrect product, the blocking member 74 blocks the second determination sensor 73. As a result, it can be determined that the type of work in the determination field 78 is the short bolt 12.
When it is determined that the workpiece is different from the workpiece currently assembled, the gripping mechanism 18 is moved, and the short bolt 12 as a wrong product is moved above the second dedicated rail 22 as indicated by an arrow (15). .

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a process of delivering a workpiece, and as shown in FIG. 11A, the receiving member 43 is advanced in the direction of the arrow (16). The short bolt 12 as a wrong product is lowered as indicated by an arrow (17) and released from the gripping device 18.
As shown in (b), the short bolt 12 as a wrong product is delivered to the receiving member 43. The lower neck portion of the short bolt 12 enters the groove 81 of the receiving member, and the head of the short bolt 12 is caught by the inclined portion 56. The short bolt 12 is in a suspended state and moves to the transfer member 45 while sliding on the slope by its own weight from the inclined portion 56 to the continuous inclined portion 57 as indicated by an arrow (18). In the transfer member 45, the lower neck portion of the bolt enters the groove 82 of the transfer member.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the payout process. As shown in FIG. 12A, the lifting cylinder 46 is operated to raise the transfer member 45 in the direction of the arrow (19). At this time, the short bolt 12 as a work is lifted in a state where a force acts in a direction of sliding on the slope of the continuous inclined portion 57 by its own weight and is received by the guide rail 47.

As shown in (b), the transfer member 45 reaches a position higher than the upper end portion 48 of the guide rail 47. Then, the short bolt 12 as a workpiece falls onto the upper guide 51 as shown by an arrow (20) and is delivered to the return conveyor 52.
Thus, since the upper end portion 48 of the guide rail 47 is provided at a position lower than the rising end of the transfer member 45, the workpieces 11 and 12 can fall into the upper guide 51 due to their own weight.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the return process. As shown in FIG. 13A, the return conveyor 52 is operated to move the short bolt 12 as a wrong product in the direction of the arrow (21). The sorting member 54 is rotated as indicated by an arrow (22).
Then, as shown to (b), the path | route led to the 2nd exclusive conveyor 14 is formed. The short bolt 12 as a wrong product is returned to the second dedicated supply conveyor 14 as indicated by an arrow (23).
The return conveyor sensor 83 monitors the short bolt 12 as a workpiece, and does not return the next workpiece until the return workpiece is returned to the dedicated supply conveyor.

In addition, when the work currently being assembled is the short bolt 12 and the long bolt 11 as a wrong product is mixed, the long bolt 11 as a wrong product is similarly returned to the first dedicated supply conveyor 13. Is done.
In addition, when the model is changed, the workpiece whose type has been determined to correspond to the model change in the type determination process is also returned in the same manner.

Here, control of the number of workpieces to be supplied will be described with reference back to FIG.
It is assumed that the work currently assembled is a long bolt 11.
When the long bolt 11 as a workpiece is detected by the first dedicated rail sensor 31 for a predetermined time or more, the control unit 24 determines that there are a predetermined number of workpieces or more on the first dedicated rail 21.

  When the long bolt 11 is taken out to the assembling apparatus, the first dedicated rail sensor 31 detects the absence of a workpiece. Then, the work on the shared rail 16 is determined, and the long bolt 11 as a work is replenished from the shared rail 16 to the first dedicated rail 21.

  When a long bolt as a work is taken out from the common rail 16, the common rail sensor 31 detects the absence of the work. Then, the parts feeder 15 is operated, and a long bolt 11 as a work is supplied from the parts feeder 15 to the common rail 16 (for example, 5 pieces). As a result, the common rail sensor 31 detects the presence of a workpiece. The control unit 24 stops the parts feeder 15.

During the operation of the parts feeder 15, the counting mechanism 26 counts the number of long bolts 11 as works flowing on the inner wall 27. When the work is not detected and counted by the counting mechanism 26 for a certain period of time, the first dedicated supply conveyor 13 is operated, and the long bolt 11 as the work is replenished to the parts feeder 15 from the first dedicated supply conveyor 13. The As a result, the counting mechanism 26 can count the long bolts 11 as workpieces, and when it reaches a certain number (for example, 5), the control unit 24 stops the first dedicated supply conveyor 13.
When the first conveyor sensor 36 does not detect a work for a certain time during the operation of the first dedicated supply conveyor 13, the control unit 24 lights the patrol light 15.

As a result, the number of workpiece stocks of the parts feeder 15 and the common rail 16 can be minimized, and the workpiece can be returned quickly when changing the model.
In addition, since the workpieces of the dedicated rails 21 and 22 are kept to a certain number or more, the workpiece can be supplied quickly and without interruption when changing the model.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the basic configuration of a workpiece supply apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. The parts constituted by the same members as those in FIG.
The workpiece supply device 85 includes a first dedicated supply conveyor 13, a second dedicated supply conveyor 14, a third dedicated supply conveyor 86 and a fourth dedicated supply conveyor 87 that store four different types of workpieces. The first sub-supply conveyor 88 that supplies the workpiece supplied from the dedicated supply conveyor 13 to the parts feeder 15 and the fourth sub-supply that supplies the workpiece supplied from the fourth dedicated supply conveyor 87 to the parts feeder 15. A conveyor 89, a first dedicated rail 21, a second dedicated rail 22, a third dedicated rail 91 and a fourth dedicated rail 92 that supply workpieces to the assembly device, and each dedicated supply conveyor 13, 14, 86, The first dedicated return conveyor 93, the second dedicated return conveyor 94, the third dedicated return conveyor 95, and the fourth dedicated return that return the return work to 87. A conveyer 96, and a distributing mechanism 97 for distributing the return work swingably provided so as to face the back conveyor 52 to the dedicated return conveyors 93, 94, 95, 96, the.

Next, the operation of the workpiece supply device 85 according to another embodiment will be described.
The description of the same operation as that of the workpiece supply device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted.
The sorting mechanism 97 rotates as indicated by an arrow (24) based on the workpiece type discrimination information by the discrimination mechanism 17 to form a return path for the return workpiece. As a result, a plurality of types of workpieces can be supplied by a workpiece feeder provided with one parts feeder and one common rail.

Although the workpiece supply device of the present invention is applied to the bolt in the embodiment, it can also be applied to other workpieces such as screws and clips, and can be applied to general machine parts.
Further, the discriminating mechanism of the present invention discriminates the type of the bolt based on the length of the lower neck portion of the bolt, but the invention is not limited to this, and the workpiece color, the workpiece shape recognition by the camera, the workpiece mass, etc. If the type can be discriminated, there is no problem with other discriminating means.
Furthermore, although the workpiece supply apparatus of the present invention is applied to two or four types of workpieces, it may be applied to a plurality of types of workpieces such as three types and five types.

  The workpiece supply apparatus of the present invention is suitable for a workpiece supply apparatus that supplies a plurality of types of bolts.

It is a figure explaining the basic composition of the supply device of the work concerning the present invention. It is a front view of the supply apparatus of the workpiece | work which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. It is a figure explaining from a 1st supply process to a common rail flow process. FIG. 5C is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. It is a figure explaining a kind discrimination | determination process. It is a figure explaining an exclusive rail flow process. It is a figure explaining a mode that a wrong article is mixed in the work currently assembled. It is a figure explaining the grip process and discrimination | determination process of a wrong article. It is a figure explaining a kind discrimination | determination process. It is a figure explaining the process of delivering a workpiece | work. It is a figure explaining a payout process. It is a figure explaining a return process. It is a figure explaining the basic composition of the supply device of the work of another example of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the basic principle of the prior art.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Work supply apparatus, 11 ... Work (long bolt), 12 ... Work (short bolt), 13 ... 1st exclusive supply conveyor, 14 ... 2nd exclusive supply conveyor, 15 ... Parts feeder, 16 ... Shared rail , 17 ... Discriminating mechanism, 18 ... Grasping mechanism, 21 ... First exclusive rail, 22 ... Second exclusive rail, 23 ... Return device, 24 ... Control unit, 26 ... Counting mechanism, 31 ... Common rail sensor, 33 ... 1st exclusive rail sensor, 35 ... 2nd exclusive rail sensor, 43 ... receiving member, 45 ... transfer member, 52 ... return conveyor, 78 ... discrimination field.

Claims (8)

In a workpiece supply device that supplies multiple types of workpieces to an assembly device,
The workpiece supply device is provided so as to face a plurality of dedicated supply conveyors that store different types of workpieces and supply workpieces to downstream processes in accordance with the types currently used. One parts feeder that aligns the workpieces and supplies them to the downstream process, one common rail that is provided in this parts feeder and flows through the workpiece, and the type of the workpiece that is provided so as to face the common rail A plurality of discriminating mechanisms for gripping the discriminated and discriminated workpiece provided so as to face the common rail, and a plurality of discriminating mechanisms provided in the vicinity of the gripping mechanism according to the type of workpiece and flowing to the assembly device And a receiving member for receiving a different kind of work that is discriminated from the work currently assembled by the discriminating mechanism. A transfer member provided in the vicinity of a lifting member to move up and down to transfer the dissimilar workpiece, a return conveyor provided extending to the dedicated supply conveyor and returning the dissimilar workpiece to the dedicated supply conveyor, and switching of the type of workpiece At the time of detection or when an incorrect product is detected, the workpiece flowing to the discriminating mechanism is transferred to the transfer member via the receiving member, and is transferred from the transfer member to the return conveyor, corresponding to the type of the workpiece. A work supply apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs a series of controls for returning the work to a supply conveyor.   A counting mechanism for counting the workpieces aligned by the parts feeder is provided, and the control unit stops supplying workpieces to the parts feeder when the number of workpieces counted by the counting mechanism becomes constant. The workpiece supply apparatus according to claim 1. In order to detect that a predetermined number of workpieces are aligned on the common rail, a common rail sensor is provided for detecting the workpiece on the common rail at a certain distance from the exit of the common rail. ,
In order to detect that a predetermined number of workpieces are aligned on the dedicated rail, a dedicated rail sensor is provided to detect the workpiece on the dedicated rail at a certain distance from the outlet of the dedicated rail. The workpiece supply device according to claim 2, wherein the workpiece supply device is provided.   2. The workpiece supply device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving member is provided in the vicinity of any of the plurality of dedicated rails so as to be capable of moving forward and backward along the dedicated rails. A workpiece supply method for supplying a plurality of types of workpieces to an assembly apparatus,
A first supply step for storing different types of workpieces on a plurality of dedicated supply conveyors and supplying the workpiece to a downstream step in accordance with the type currently in use;
A second supply process in which the supplied workpiece is aligned by one parts feeder and supplied to the downstream process;
A common rail flow process in which the workpieces supplied in a line flow with a single common rail;
A gripping step of gripping the fluidized workpiece with a gripping mechanism;
A type discriminating step of discriminating the type of the gripped work by a discriminating mechanism;
A dedicated rail flow process in which the type-determined work flows to the assembly device with a plurality of dedicated rails provided according to the type, and
A delivery process of delivering a workpiece whose type has been identified as a model change in the type determination process to the transfer member via the receiving member;
A payout step of paying out the delivered work from the transfer member to a return conveyor;
A workpiece supply method comprising: a return step of returning the dispensed workpiece to the corresponding dedicated supply conveyor according to the type. A workpiece supply method for supplying a plurality of types of workpieces to an assembly apparatus,
A first supply step for storing different types of workpieces on a plurality of dedicated supply conveyors and supplying the workpiece to a downstream step in accordance with the type currently in use;
A second supply process in which the supplied workpiece is aligned by one parts feeder and supplied to the downstream process;
A common rail flow process in which the workpieces supplied in a line flow with a single common rail;
A gripping step of gripping the fluidized workpiece with a gripping mechanism;
A type discriminating step of discriminating the type of the gripped work by a discriminating mechanism;
A dedicated rail flow process in which the type-determined work flows to the assembly device with a plurality of dedicated rails provided according to the type, and
A delivery step of delivering the workpiece, which has been classified as a type different from the workpiece currently assembled in the type identification step, to the transfer member via the receiving member;
A payout step of paying out the delivered work from the transfer member to a return conveyor;
A workpiece supply method comprising: a return step of returning the dispensed workpiece to the corresponding dedicated supply conveyor according to the type.   7. The workpiece supply method according to claim 5, wherein the step of returning the workpiece does not return the next workpiece until the workpiece to be returned is returned to the dedicated supply conveyor.   7. The workpiece supply method according to claim 5, wherein the first supply step supplies a number of workpieces that can flow in contact with an inner wall of the parts feeder.

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