JP2010202341A - Part feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a part feeder capable of solving getting stuck of a part in feeding of the part from a ball feeder part to a linear advancement feeder part. <P>SOLUTION: The part feeder includes: the ball feeder part 1 for arranging the parts T, T1, T2 and vibration-feeding them; and the linear advancement feeder part 2 communicated with a part delivery part 13 of the ball feeder part 1 and continuously feeding the parts T, T1, T2. A part of rails 26, 27, 28 a portion 21 near an upstream end of the linear advancement feeder part 2 is made as rail removal parts 24, 25 and is constituted such that it can be removed through a drive mechanism 22. When it is detected that continuous feeding of the parts T, T1, T2 is interrupted at the portion 21 of the upstream end by a sensing means 5, the drive mechanism 22 is driven to remove the rail removal parts 24, 25, thereby, the parts T, T1, T2 got stuck are removed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a component supply device, and more particularly, to a component supply device that conveys components such as bolts or nuts accommodated in ball portions to a transfer portion in an aligned state and supplies them to the next process.

  Conventionally, parts such as bolts and nuts housed in the ball part are arranged and supplied to the linear feeder part by vibrating with the ball feeder part, and then the parts are straightened by vibrating with the linear feeder part. A component supply device configured to sequentially convey the inside of the feeder portion in an aligned state, supply the transfer portion to a transfer portion (cut-out exit), and supply the above components to the next process via a transfer device provided in the transfer portion. It has been known. This component supply device is configured to add vibration to the component by a vibrator provided in each of the ball feeder unit and the linear feeder unit.

  In such a component supply device, when the amount of components carried out from the linear feeder unit to the transfer unit is smaller than the amount of components supplied from the ball feeder unit to the linear feeder unit, a large number of components are added to the linear feeder unit. Are stuck in a dense state, and clogging of components is likely to occur.

  For this reason, a sensor for detecting whether or not a part is stagnating is provided in the linear feeder section, and when it is confirmed by this sensor that the part is stagnant due to excessive parts, the operation of the vibrator is stopped. Thus, a technique for preventing the occurrence of clogging of parts is known. In addition, a sensor that detects the number of parts located in the linear feeder part is provided, and as the number of parts located in the linear feeder part is increased by this sensor, the drive force of the shaker is weakened. A technique for preventing this has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

  However, parts such as bolts or nuts housed in the ball part are arranged and supplied from the ball feeder part to the linear feeder part, and the parts are sequentially conveyed in an aligned state by the linear feeder part and supplied to the transfer part (cutout). In the component supply apparatus, the component clogging at the time of component supply from the most likely ball feeder unit to the linear feeder unit is not found.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-89331

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide a component supply device that can eliminate component clogging during component supply from a ball feeder unit to a linear feeder unit.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present inventor has provided sensing means for confirming the presence or absence of a part at a predetermined location near the upstream end in the vicinity of the upstream end of the linear feeder portion, and detects that the continuous flow of the part is interrupted. In this case, the present inventors have found that the clogging is eliminated by removing a part of the rail in the vicinity of the upstream end and discharging the parts, thereby completing the present invention.

  (1) In a component supply apparatus provided with at least a ball feeder unit that arranges components and supplies vibrations, and a linear feeder unit that communicates with the component discharge unit of the ball feeder unit and continuously flows the components. Sensing means that is arranged near the upstream end and confirms the presence or absence of a part at a predetermined location near the upstream end, and a part of the rail near the upstream end of the linear feeder part can be detached via a drive mechanism as a rail separation part When it is detected that the continuous flow of parts is interrupted by the part dropping means that drops the clogged parts near the upstream end of the linear feeder section and the sensing means, the drive mechanism of the part dropping means is driven to release the rail And a control means for controlling to detach the part.

  According to the component supply apparatus of (1), the continuous flow of components by the sensing means for confirming the presence / absence of a component at a predetermined location near the upstream end disposed near the upstream end of the linear feeder portion where clogging may occur. When it is detected that the break has occurred, the part of the rail in the vicinity of the upstream end is separated by the drive mechanism as a rail separation part, and the clogging can be eliminated by discharging the parts. Since parts that cause clogging can be discharged at parts where clogging can occur and the conveyance of the straight feeder can be automatically restored, work efficiency as a parts supply device can be improved. .

  (2) The component supply apparatus according to (1), further including an air ejection unit that ejects air toward the rail separation portion when the rail separation portion is separated, at a position close to the rail separation portion. A parts supply device.

  According to the component supply device of (2), when it is detected that the continuous flow of the component is interrupted, the component causing the clogging can be more reliably discharged.

  (3) The component supply device according to (1) or (2), wherein the component is a bolt or a nut having a washer portion on the head, and the guide from above the linear feeder portion is a bolt or nut A component supply apparatus characterized in that a pair of guide bars are arranged closer to the washer part of the head from above.

  According to the component supply device of (3), the clearance between the upper pair of guide bars and the lower rail can be set such that the bolt or nut head washer portion is independent of the tolerance of the bolt or nut head portion. Since it can be set considering only the thickness tolerance, it is possible to provide a component supply device in which component clogging between the pair of upper guide bars and the lower rail is unlikely to occur.

  According to the present invention, the conveyance of the feeder unit can be automatically restored by detecting and discharging the clogging of the component in the vicinity of the upstream end of the linear feeder unit where there is a possibility of the component conveyance being clogged. The effect that can be improved.

The top view which shows the whole structure of the components supply apparatus which concerns on this invention The front view which shows the whole structure of the components supply apparatus which concerns on this invention a is the principal part enlarged plan view of the component supply apparatus which concerns on this invention, b is principal part sectional drawing of the component supply apparatus in the cutting line AA of a. a is an enlarged plan view of the main part of the component supply apparatus according to the present invention, and b is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the component supply apparatus taken along the cutting line BB of a. Block diagram showing the configuration of the controller a is the principal part enlarged plan view of the component supply apparatus which concerns on this invention, b is principal part sectional drawing of the component supply apparatus in the cutting line AA of a. a is an enlarged plan view of the main part of the component supply apparatus according to the present invention, and b is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the component supply apparatus taken along the cutting line BB of a.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7B.

1 and 2 show the overall configuration of a component supply apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This component supply device 100 includes a ball feeder portion 1 that accommodates a component T such as a bolt or a nut, a rectilinear feeder portion 2 installed along the outer periphery of the ball feeder portion 1, and a downstream of the rectilinear feeder portion 2. And a transfer unit 3 communicated with the end 20. Here, the transfer unit 3 is configured to supply the component T to the next process via a transfer device (not shown) provided in the transfer unit 3.
The ball feeder 1 is appropriately replenished with components T such as bolts or nuts from a hopper or the like (not shown).

  Below the ball feeder unit 1, there is provided an electromagnetic vibration type exciter 4 that applies vibration (for example, torsional vibration) to the component T accommodated in the ball feeder unit 1. Then, the component T in the ball feeder 1 is vibrated by the vibration exciter 4 so that the component T is moved along the spiral conveyance path 11 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the ball feeder 1. Upstream of the linear feeder unit 2 that is aligned with the conveying rail 12 corresponding to the shape of T in a predetermined posture, and further the component T is communicated with the component discharging unit 13 via the component discharging unit 13 of the ball feeder unit 1. It is configured to be supplied to the vicinity of the end (component introducing portion) 21. Below the rectilinear feeder 2 is provided an electromagnetic vibration exciter 8 that imparts a conveying force to the component T by imparting vibration (for example, linear vibration) to the component T supplied to the rectilinear feeder 2. It has been.

  The vicinity 21 of the upstream end of the rectilinear feeder unit 2 holds the posture of the component T placed on the rectilinear feeder unit 2 substantially the same as the posture of the component T placed on the component discharge unit 13 of the ball feeder unit 1. The component T can be smoothly moved from the component discharge unit 13 to the vicinity 21 of the upstream end of the rectilinear feeder unit 2. However, the component discharge unit 13 of the ball feeder unit 1 and the upstream end vicinity 21 of the rectilinear feeder unit 2 are separate from each other, and there is a gap between them, and the ball feeder unit 1 and the rectilinear feeder unit 2 are respectively Since the vibrations are separately applied, the vibration of the component T changes at the boundary between the ball feeder unit 1 and the rectilinear feeder unit 2. Therefore, there is a possibility that the part T may be clogged due to getting on or biting into the previous part T at the upstream end vicinity 21 of the linear feeder part 2, that is, at the boundary between the ball feeder part 1 and the linear feeder part 2. There is.

  3 (a), 3 (b), 4 (a), and 4 (b) show the component discharge unit 13 and the rectilinear feeder unit 2 when the component T is a bolt T1 having a washer portion T1w on the head T1h. The detailed structure of is shown. The conveyance rail 12 is a pair of rails, and the alignment posture of the bolt T1 on the conveyance rail 12 is such that the washer portion T1w rides on the conveyance rail 12 and the screw portion projects downward from between the pair of rails. . The transport rail 12 can transport the bolt T1 toward the linear feeder section 2 in an aligned state on the transport rail 12 by the vibration of the ball feeder section 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the rectilinear feeder unit 2 has a pair of rails 26 and 27 that receive the washer portion T1w of the bolt T1 and convey it by vibration. In the vicinity 21 of the upstream end of the rectilinear feeder portion 2, one rail 26 does not extend to the component discharge portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1, and the end surface 261 of the rail 26 advances straight of the component discharge portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1. It is separated from the end surface 121 facing the feeder portion 2 by a predetermined distance L1. The other rail 27 extends to the component discharge portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1, and the end surface 271 of the other rail 27 is close to the end surface 121. Here, the predetermined distance L1 is set sufficiently larger than the diameter D1 of the washer portion T1w of the bolt T1.

  A drive mechanism 22 having a movable arm 23 is installed in the vicinity of the upstream end vicinity 21 of the rectilinear feeder section 2 by a jig extending from the floor surface or the base section where the ball feeder section 1 and the rectilinear feeder section 2 are disposed. ing. A rod-shaped rail detachment portion 24 is provided at the distal end of the movable arm 23. When the movable arm 23 is in the first position (normal position), the rail detachment portion 24 includes a rail 26 (shorter rail) and a ball. It is set so as to be disposed between the component discharge sections 13 of the feeder section 1. That is, when the movable arm 23 is in the first position (normal position), the end surface 241 on the rail 26 side of the rail detachment portion 24 is close to the end surface 261 of the rail 26 and the component discharge portion 13 of the rail detachment portion 24. The end surface 242 on the side of the component is close to the end surface 121 facing the linear feeder portion 2 of the component discharging portion 13. At this time, the upper surface of the rail detachment portion 24 is substantially continuous with the upper surface of the rail 26, and the inner surface of the rail detachment portion 24 facing the rail 27 is substantially the same as the inner surface of the rail 26 facing the rail 27. Continuously. The posture of the bolt T1 placed on the rail detachment portion 24 and the rail 27 is configured to be held substantially the same as the posture of the bolt T1 in the component discharge portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1. In this state, the component supply device 100 moves the bolt T1 from the component discharge unit 13 to the rail detachment unit 24 and the rail 27, and then moves the bolt T1 to the pair of rails 26 and 27 so as to convey in the linear feeder unit 2. Can do.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the movable arm 23 can move from the first position (normal position) to the second position (retracted position) (the movement direction is indicated by an arrow R). . The drive mechanism 22 has a drive element (not shown) such as an air cylinder or an electromagnetic actuator for driving the movable arm 23 in the interior thereof, and receives the control signal from the outside, It is configured such that it can be appropriately moved from the position to the second position and vice versa from the second position to the first position. The movement of the movable arm 23 may be linear movement or swinging, or may be a curved movement using a cam mechanism or a link mechanism. Further, the drive mechanism 22 is not installed on a jig extending from the floor surface or the platform where the ball feeder unit 1 and the linear feeder unit 2 are installed, but a jig extending from the ball feeder unit 1 or a linear feeder. You may provide in the jig | tool extended from the part 2. FIG.

  The rail detachment portion 24, the movable arm 23, and the drive mechanism 22 constitute a component dropping unit 30 as a whole. When the movable arm 23 is in the second position, the rail separation portion 24 is separated from the position 24F of the rail separation portion 24 when the movable arm 23 is in the first position, and the distance between the rail separation portion 24 and the rail 27 is large. Become. At this time, the distance between the rail detachment portion 24 and the rail 27 is set to be sufficiently larger than the diameter D1 of the washer portion T1w of the bolt T1. Further, as described above, the predetermined distance L1 between the end surface 261 of the rail 26 and the end surface 121 facing the linear feeder portion 2 of the component discharge portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1 is based on the diameter D1 of the washer portion T1w of the bolt T1. Since the movable arm 23 is set to be sufficiently large, the bolt T1 clogged in the vicinity of the upstream end 21 of the rectilinear feeder portion 2 can be dropped and discharged when the movable arm 23 is in the second position (when in the retracted position).

  In addition, an air ejection portion 15 is provided in the vicinity of the rail detachment portion 24, and is configured to eject air toward the rail detachment portion 24 when the rail separation portion 24 is detached. The ejected air can assist the drop and discharge of the bolt T1.

  Above the pair of rails 26 and 27 of the rectilinear feeder portion 2, a pair of guide bars 29 are disposed so that the washer portion T1w of the bolt T1 is approached from above. In general, dimensional variations are unavoidable in the thickness of the head portion T1h and the thickness of the washer portion T1w of parts such as bolts. Therefore, when the guide bar is installed on the bolt head T1h, it is necessary to deal with the total dimensional variation of the tolerance of the bolt head T1h and the tolerance of the washer portion T1w. According to the configuration in which the pair of guide bars 29 that are close from above are installed, the clearance (gap) between the pair of upper guide bars 29 and the pair of lower rails 26 and 27 is the tolerance of the bolt head T1h. Regardless of whether or not, it can be set considering only the tolerance of the thickness of the washer portion T1w of the bolt. This configuration is therefore advantageous to reduce the possibility of component clogging.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3A, the bolt T <b> 1 conveyed from the ball feeder portion 1 to the straight feeder portion 2 at a predetermined location in the vicinity of the upstream end 21 is located near the upstream end portion 21 of the straight feeder portion 2. Sensing means 5 comprising a phototube switch, for example, for detecting the presence or absence is provided.

  The detection signal of the sensing means 5 is input to the control unit 16 as shown in FIG. The control unit 16 receives a detection unit 17 that detects the presence or absence of a bolt T1 at a predetermined location on the linear feeder unit 2 based on a detection signal of the sensing unit 5, and a control signal corresponding to the presence or absence of the bolt T1. And a control means 18 for controlling the movable arm 23 of the drive mechanism 22 to move to the first position or to move to the second position according to the control signal.

  That is, the detection means 17 is configured to determine the presence / absence of the bolt T1 at a predetermined location on the linear feeder 2 in accordance with the detection signal of the sensing means 5, and to output the determination result to the control means 18. .

  When it is confirmed that the bolt T1 is present at the predetermined location based on the output signal of the detecting means 17, the control means 18 indicates that the bolt T1 is continuously flowing through the upstream end vicinity 21. Determination is made, and the movable arm 23 of the drive mechanism 22 is held at the first position (normal position).

  Conversely, when it is not confirmed that the bolt T1 is present at the predetermined location, it is determined that the bolt T1 is clogged in the vicinity of the upstream end 21 and the continuous flow of the bolt T1 is interrupted, and the drive mechanism 22 is movable. The arm 23 is moved to the second position (retracted position). At this time, as described above, the rail detachment portion 24 is separated from the position 24F of the rail detachment portion 24 when the movable arm 23 is in the first position, and the distance between the rail detachment portion 24 and the rail 27 is increased, so that The bolt T1 clogged in the end vicinity 21 can be dropped and discharged. Further, the control means 18 can simultaneously activate an air ejection device (not shown) based on the output signal of the detection means 17 and eject air from the air ejection section 15. In this case, the clogged bolt T1 can be discharged more reliably.

  Since the discharge of the clogged bolt T1 is completed in a short time, the control means 18 moves the movable arm 23 of the drive mechanism 22 to the first position after a predetermined time from when the movable arm 23 of the drive mechanism 22 is moved to the second position. It is configured to return to one position. At this time, since the clogged bolt T1 is discharged, the component supply device 100 can return to the normal continuous operation thereafter. Therefore, there is no influence on the component supply to the next process performed via the transfer unit 3.

  The component supply apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made to the component supply apparatus 100. 6 (a), 6 (b), 7 (a) and 7 (b) correspond to FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b), 4 (a) and 4 (b) of the above-described embodiment. The modification of the component discharge | emission part 13 and the rectilinear feeder part 2 in case the component T is nut T2 which has a washer part is shown. This modified example has the transport rail 14, the rail detachment portion 24, and the rail detachment portion 25 and the rail 28 different from the pair of rails 26 and 27 in the present embodiment. Therefore, different components will be described and others will be omitted.

  Whereas the transport rail 12 of the above-described embodiment is a pair of rails, the transport rail 14 of the modified example is from above the plate-like rail and washer portion on which the washer portion of the nut T2 with the washer portion aligned downward is placed. It is comprised from a pair of adjacent side rail. The conveyance rail 14 can convey the part T (nut T2) to the linear advance feeder 2 in an aligned state on the conveyance rail 14 by vibration of the ball feeder unit 1 in the same manner as the conveyance rail 12 of the above-described embodiment. .

  In addition, when the movable arm 23 is in the first position (normal position), the rail detachment portion 24 of the above-described embodiment is one of a pair of rails 26 and 27 that carry the bolt T1 mounted thereon. Is a rod-shaped member disposed between the rail 26 (the rail on the short side) and the component discharger 13 of the ball feeder 1, whereas the rail detachment 25 in the modified example has the movable arm 23 as the first. This is a plate-like member disposed between the plate-like rail 28 on which the nut T2 is placed and transported at the position (normal position) and the component discharge portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1. At this time, the end surface 241 on the rail 26 side of the rail detachment portion 24 in the embodiment described above is close to the end surface 261 of the rail 26, and the end surface 242 on the component discharge portion 13 side of the rail detachment portion 24 is the component discharge. The end surface 251 on the rail 28 side of the rail detachment portion 25 of the modified example is close to the end surface 281 of the rail 28, while being close to the end surface 121 of the portion 13 facing the rectilinear feeder 2. The end surface 252 on the component discharge unit 13 side of 25 is close to the end surface 121 of the component discharge unit 13 facing the linear feeder 2. At this time, the upper surface of the rail detachment portion 24 of the above-described embodiment is substantially continuous with the upper surface of the rail 26, and the inner surface of the rail detachment portion 24 facing the rail 27 faces the rail 27 of the rail 26. The upper surface of the rail release portion 25 of the modified example is substantially continuous with the upper surface of the rail 28, whereas the inner surface is substantially continuous with the inner surface. Therefore, as in the above-described embodiment, the posture of the nut T2 placed on the rail detachment portion 25 and the rail 28 of the modified example is substantially the same as the posture of the nut T2 in the component discharge portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1. It is configured to be retained. The linear feeder part 2 of a modification can move the nut T2 from the component discharge part 13 to the rail detachment part 25 and then move to the rail 28 to be conveyed in the linear feeder part 2.

  Note that the end surface 261 of the rail 26 of the above-described embodiment is separated from the end surface 121 facing the rectilinear feeder portion 2 of the component discharging portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1 by a predetermined distance L1, whereas in the modification example. The end surface 281 of the rail 28 is separated from the end surface 121 facing the rectilinear feeder portion 2 of the component discharging portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1 by a predetermined distance L2. Here, the predetermined distance L2 is set sufficiently larger than the diameter D2 of the washer portion of the nut T2.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, also in the modified example, the movable arm 23 can move from the first position (normal position) to the second position (retracted position) (the moving direction is indicated by an arrow). R).

  In the above-described embodiment, the rail detachment portion 24, the movable arm 23, and the drive mechanism 22 constitute the component dropping means 30 as a whole, whereas in the modification, the rail detachment portion 25, the movable arm 23, and the drive The mechanism 22 constitutes the component dropping means 31 as a whole. When the movable arm 23 is at the second position, the rail detachment portion 25 of the modification is separated from the position 25F of the rail detachment portion 25 when the movable arm 23 is at the first position, and the rail detachment portion 25 and the rail 28 are separated from each other. The distance increases. At this time, the distance between the rail separating portion 25 and the rail 28 is set to be sufficiently larger than the diameter D2 of the washer portion of the nut T2. In addition, as described above, the predetermined distance L2 between the end surface 281 of the rail 28 of the modified example and the end surface 121 facing the rectilinear feeder portion 2 of the component discharging portion 13 of the ball feeder portion 1 is equal to the washer portion of the nut T2. Since the diameter is set to be sufficiently larger than the diameter D2, the nut T2 clogged in the vicinity of the upstream end 21 of the rectilinear feeder portion 2 can be dropped and discharged when the movable arm 23 is in the second position (when in the retracted position).

  Also in the modification, the air ejection portion 15 is provided in the vicinity of the rail separation portion 25 and is configured to eject air toward the rail separation portion 25 when the rail separation portion 25 is detached. The ejected air can assist the fall and discharge of the nut T2.

  As mentioned above, although it demonstrated using embodiment of this invention and one modification, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment and one modification. Various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment and one modified example, and forms with such modifications or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ball feeder part 2 Linear feeder part 5 Sensing means 13 Parts discharge part 15 Air ejection part 18 Control means 21 Upper end vicinity 22 Drive mechanism 23 Movable arm 24, 25 Rail detachment part 26 Rail (one rail)
27 rail (the other rail)
28 Rail 29 Guide bar 30, 31 Component drop means 100 Component supply device T Component T1 Bolt T2 Nut T1w, T2w Washer

Claims (3)

In a component supply apparatus provided with at least a ball feeder portion that arranges components and vibrates, and a linear feeder portion that communicates with a component discharge portion of the ball feeder portion and continuously flows the components,
Sensing means that is disposed near the upstream end of the linear feeder portion, and that confirms the presence or absence of the part at a predetermined location near the upstream end;
A part of the rail near the upstream end of the rectilinear feeder part is configured to be detachable via a drive mechanism as a rail detachment part, and part dropping means for dropping the part jammed near the upstream end;
Control means for driving the drive mechanism of the component dropping means and controlling the rail detachment portion to be detached when it is detected by the sensing means that the continuous flow of the component is interrupted. A component supply device.   The component supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an air ejection unit that ejects air toward the rail separation unit when the rail separation unit is separated at a position close to the rail separation unit.   The component is a bolt or nut having a washer portion on the head, and the guide from above the linear feeder is arranged so that a pair of guide bars is closer to the washer portion of the head of the bolt or nut than above. The component supply apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 configured.

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