JP2010247902A - Workpiece sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely sorting conical or cylindrical workpieces having a diameter difference in an axial direction depending upon their orientations, thereby preventing them from being reversely put into a machine. <P>SOLUTION: A workpiece sorting device 10 transfers the conical or cylindrical workpieces having the diameter difference in the axial direction by orienting their respective large diameter ends upwards. The work piece sorting device includes: a rotatable disk-shaped workpiece carrier 12 having a plurality of workpiece pockets 14 permitting upright storage of these workpieces arranged on the periphery thereof; a carrier base 16 underlying the workpiece carrier 12 and including a cut-off section 18 at a portion in a circumferential direction thereof; and a passage along a moving locus of these workpieces transferred by the workpiece carrier 12 in a circumferential region corresponding to the cut-off section 18. The width of the passage is larger than the diameter of a small end side of each workpiece, and is smaller than the diameter of a large end side of the workpiece. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a work sorting apparatus, for example, in the process of transporting a conical or cylindrical work having a diameter difference in the axial direction, only a work having a large end side up while excluding a work having a small end side up. Can be used for sorting.

  A tapered roller used as a rolling element of a tapered roller bearing has a tapered shape, and therefore has directionality unlike a cylindrical cylindrical roller or a needle roller. That is, there is a diameter difference in the axial direction. By the way, according to rolling bearing terms, the end face on the large diameter side of the tapered roller is called the large end face, and the end face on the small diameter side is called the small end face. Therefore, when machining the outer peripheral surface (rolling surface) or end surface of the tapered roller or assembling the tapered roller bearing, it is necessary to supply the tapered rollers in the same direction.

  Conventionally, in order to convey this kind of work in the same direction, an alignment device called a two-roll has been used (see Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, workpieces (tapered rollers) 2 that are not aligned in a direction sent from a parts feeder (not shown) are installed in a substantially downward slope toward the workpiece conveyance direction. Sequentially supplied between the two rolls 4a and 4b. The two rolls 4a and 4b have a clearance 6 larger than the small end surface side diameter φd1 of the work 2 and smaller than the large end surface side diameter φd2, and the center of gravity of the work 2 when the work 2 is sandwiched between the clearances 6 Is set to be positioned below the support position by the two rolls 4a and 4b. As shown by the circular arc arrow in FIG. 4A, by rotating the rolls 4a and 4b in opposite directions so as not to bite the workpiece 2, the workpiece 2 has the large end face up and the small end face down. It is dropped into the chute 8 in a posture and is conveyed to a processing machine or an assembly machine.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-85732

  If the supply interval of the workpiece 2 from the parts feeder can be controlled strictly constant, the reliability of the two rolls is extremely high. However, the supply capacity (number of supplies per minute) of the baht feeder is usually uneven due to the number and weight of workpieces in the parts feeder, uneven distribution of workpieces, adhesion of oils and fats, and the like. In addition, it is started and stopped intermittently in conjunction with the processing machine or assembly machine. When operated under such conditions, the number of workpieces existing on the two rolls, the postures and movement speeds of the individual workpieces are not uniform. As a result, it is possible that the workpieces on the two rolls collide and interfere with each other and the workpieces are not aligned in the correct posture, or the posture is changed immediately before discharging and dropped into the chute.

  Tapered rollers are produced in large quantities, so if this happens, not only will the production line stop, but the processing machine or assembly machine will be damaged leading to serious losses.

  An object of the present invention is to eliminate the problems of the two rolls described above, and to reliably select a cone or cylindrical workpiece having a diameter difference in the axial direction according to its direction, and to prevent reverse loading into the machine. It is in.

  A workpiece sorting device according to the present invention is a workpiece sorting device that conveys a conical or cylindrical workpiece having a diameter difference in the axial direction so that the workpiece is aligned in a direction with the small-diameter end side up, with the workpiece in a vertical state. A rotatable disc-shaped work carrier having a plurality of work pockets that can be accommodated on the outer periphery, a carrier base that is located below the work carrier and has a cutting part in the circumferential direction, and a circumferential direction corresponding to the cutting part And a path along the movement trajectory of the workpiece conveyed by the workpiece carrier, the width of the path being larger than the small end side diameter of the workpiece and smaller than the large end side diameter of the workpiece. is there.

  The passage can be formed between the end surfaces of the pair of blades when the end surfaces of the pair of blades are arranged to face each other (Claim 2). Alternatively, the passage may be formed between the end face of one blade and the wall surface of the carrier pocket (Claim 3). In the latter case, the number of parts can be reduced and simplification can be achieved.

  When the passage is formed between the end face of one blade and the wall surface of the carrier pocket, the end face of the blade is disposed radially outward, and the side wall of the carrier pocket is disposed radially inward (Claim 4). It is preferable that the rotation axis of the work carrier is inclined with respect to the vertical axis (Claim 5), and the passage is provided at a position higher than the rotation center of the work carrier (Claim 6). This is because the load on the blade is reduced as much as possible by receiving most of the weight of the workpiece on the wall surface of the carrier pocket.

  The surface of the blade forming the passage is preferably made of a sliding material having excellent wear resistance. This is to reduce wear due to contact with the workpiece moving along the passage.

  As a typical example of the workpiece, a tapered roller can be cited (claim 8). The present invention can be widely applied to a conical or cylindrical workpiece having a diameter difference in the axial direction. Examples of conical workpieces having a diameter difference in the axial direction include tapered pins in addition to tapered rollers. Examples of cylindrical workpieces having a diameter difference in the axial direction include screws, bolts, stepped shafts, and the like.

  According to this invention, since each work is conveyed in a state of being accommodated in the work pocket of the work carrier and sorting is performed between the works, the works can be reliably sorted without contacting each other. In addition, since the work cannot be reversed in the work pocket, the work after sorting has no fear of reversal and can be supplied to the subsequent process with the correct orientation.

It is a perspective view which shows an Example. It is sectional drawing of the channel | path part of a selection part. It is sectional drawing which shows another Example. The prior art is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The case where the tapered roller is a work will be described as an example. In addition, a workpiece in the correct direction with the large end face of the tapered roller facing up may be referred to as an OK work, and a work in the reverse direction with the small end face up may be referred to as an NG work. Reference sign Wa represents an OK work, and reference sign Wb represents an NG work.

  First, referring to FIG. 1, the workpiece sorting apparatus 10 includes a workpiece carrier 12, a carrier base 16, a sorting unit 20, a workpiece loading unit 28, and a workpiece discharge unit 30. The work carrier 12 is supported on a frame indicated by an imaginary line so as to be rotatable around a vertical rotation axis. The work carrier 12 is rotated in one direction by a servo motor or other suitable driving device not shown in the drawing. FIG. 1 shows an example of rotating counterclockwise as indicated by an arc arrow.

  The work carrier 12 has a disk shape, and a plurality of work pockets 14 are provided on the outer periphery thereof at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. The work carrier 12 literally conveys the work, and can store the work in the work pocket 14 one by one. Here, the work pocket 14 is in the form of a through-hole, and its inner diameter is set larger than the diameter on the large end face side of the work. The inner diameter of the work pocket 14 is set smaller than the total length of the work.

  A carrier base 16 is disposed under the work carrier 12. The carrier base 16 is fixed to the frame so as to receive and support the work put in the work pocket 14 from below. The thickness of the work carrier 12 is smaller than the total length of the work, and the upper surface of the work on the carrier base 16 (which may be a large end face or a small end face) protrudes above the work carrier surface. is there.

  The carrier base 16 is partially cut away in the circumferential direction as indicated by reference numeral 18. In FIG. 1, the case where it cut out over the area | region equivalent to three carrier pockets is illustrated. Therefore, in the region of the cut portion 18, as is well understood from FIG. 2, the function of the carrier base 16 for receiving and supporting the workpiece from below does not work. Although not shown, a chute for sending the NG work Wb to the NG trap is installed below the excision portion 18.

  On the upstream side of the sorting unit 20, a workpiece loading unit 28 for loading a workpiece into the workpiece pocket 14 of the workpiece carrier 12 is provided. A work discharge unit 30 for sending the work to the next process is provided on the downstream side of the sorting unit 20. Here, a workpiece input unit 28 in the form of a naturally falling chute and a workpiece discharge unit 30 in the form of a chute for discharging the OK workpiece Wa with air are illustrated.

The sorting unit 20 serves to selectively pass only the OK work Wa by removing the NG work Wb from the input work. The sorting unit 20 is constituted by a pair of blades 22 and 24 in this embodiment. The blades 22 and 24 are generally arc-shaped, and an arc-shaped passage 23 is formed between both end faces. In FIG. 2, the width of the passage 23 is indicated by reference sign w ₁ . The workpiece conveyed by the workpiece carrier 12 passes through a path between the blades 22 and 24 in the sorting unit 20. In other words, the passage 23 is formed along the movement trajectory of the workpiece conveyed by the workpiece carrier 12. Width w ₁ of the passage 23 is greater than the small end face side diameter φd1 of the workpiece, it is set smaller than the large end face diameter .phi.D2. Further, the positions of the blades 22 and 24 in the height direction are set so as to be between the upper surface of the work carrier 12 and the upper surface of the work on the carrier base 16.

  It is preferable that at least the surface of the blades 22 and 24 forming the passage 23 is made of a sliding material having excellent wear resistance. Specific examples include cemented carbide, diamond sintered body or gun metal, or steel base metal coated with DLC (diamond-like coating), TiN (titanium nitride), TiCN (titanium carbonitride), or the like. Things. 2 shows an example in which the portions of the blades 22 and 24 that are in contact with the workpiece are the acute edge portions 26, but a rounded cross-sectional shape may be used.

  Next, the operation of the above-described workpiece sorting apparatus 10 will be described. The work carrier 12 rotates in a certain direction, and a maximum of one work is put into each work pocket 14 by the work loading unit 28. At this stage, the orientation of each workpiece (forward or reverse) is not confirmed.

  The workpiece loaded from the workpiece loading unit 28 into the work pocket 14 of the workpiece carrier 12 arrives at the sorting unit 20 as the workpiece carrier 12 rotates. At this time, the workpiece in the correct orientation with the large end face up, that is, the OK workpiece Wa, is supported by the two blades 22 and 24 at a position slightly above the middle portion as shown in FIG. It moves along the passage 23 in a suspended state. Then, it passes through the cut portion 18 of the carrier base 16 and is carried to the workpiece discharge portion 30.

On the other hand, the reverse work with the small end face up, that is, the NG work Wb is not supported by the blade because the small diameter end side is smaller than the width w _{1 of the} passage 23 formed by the two blades 22 and 24, and Since there is nothing to support from below, the carrier base 16 falls from the cut portion 18 to the NG trap through a chute (not shown). The workpiece Wb that has dropped into the NG trap is collected into a parts feeder (not shown).

  As long as the work put in each work pocket 14 is conveyed by the work carrier 12, it does not directly interfere with other work and does not turn over in the work pocket 14. Therefore, the workpiece that has passed through the sorting section 20, that is, the OK workpiece Wa is discharged from the workpiece discharge section 30 with the large end face facing up. In this way, only workpieces with the correct orientation can be selected and supplied to the next process.

Next, another embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be described. In this embodiment, the rotation axis Y2 of the work carrier 12 is tilted by an arbitrary angle α with respect to the vertical axis Y1 so that the selection portion, that is, the portion provided with the passage 25 is higher than the rotation center of the work carrier 12. . In this case, the blade is only one, or radially just outside the blade 22, the blade 22 and the small end face side width w ₂ of the passage 25 formed by the wall surface of the workpiece of the workpiece pockets 14 diameter of the workpiece carrier 12 .phi.d It is set to be larger than ₁ and smaller than the large end face side diameter φd ₂ .

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, in the case of a workpiece having a very small cone angle or diameter difference, in other words, a workpiece having a very small difference between the small end face side diameter φd ₁ and the large end face side diameter φd ₂ , two blades 22, 24 are used. The adjustment of the width w ₁ of the formed passage 23 is difficult, and the component force of the workpiece weight on both the blades 22 and 24 becomes extremely large, so that the load on the blades 22 and 24 is large. A situation such as premature wear or biting between workpiece blades is assumed. On the other hand, the embodiment of FIG. 3 has an advantage that the load of the blade 22 is greatly reduced because most of the work weight is borne by the wall surface of the work pocket 14.

  The workpiece sorting device described here is installed in the post-process of the parts feeder, and eliminates workpieces supplied from the parts feeder without sorting direction, NG workpieces, that is, workpieces with the small end face up. Only the OK work, that is, the work in the correct orientation with the large end face up can be selected and supplied to the subsequent process. However, since it does not have a function of positively aligning the orientation of the workpiece, the supply capability to the subsequent process (the number of supplies per minute) is about ½ of the number supplied from the parts feeder. Therefore, for example, by using in combination with the conventional two rolls, almost all the workpieces supplied from the parts feeder can be supplied to the subsequent process with extremely high reliability.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described herein, and various other forms are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. It should be understood that the present invention includes all modifications equivalent to and equivalent to those defined in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Sorting device 12 Work carrier 14 Work pocket 16 Carrier base 18 Cutting part 20 Sorting part 22 Blade 23 Passage 24 Blade 25 Passage 26 Edge part 28 Work input part 30 Work discharge part Wa OK work (correct direction)
Wb NG work (reverse direction)

Claims (8)

  A workpiece sorting device that transports conical or cylindrical workpieces having a diameter difference in the axial direction with the small-diameter end facing up, and has a plurality of work pockets on the outer periphery that can accommodate workpieces in a vertical state. A rotatable disc-shaped work carrier arranged, a carrier base located below the work carrier and having a cutting part in a circumferential direction, and a circumferential region corresponding to the cutting part are conveyed by the work carrier. A workpiece sorting device comprising: a passage along a movement trajectory of the workpiece, wherein the width of the passage is larger than the small end side diameter of the workpiece and smaller than the large end side diameter of the workpiece.   The work sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the passage is formed between opposing end surfaces of a pair of blades.   2. The workpiece sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the passage is formed between an end face of the blade and a wall surface of the carrier pocket.   4. The workpiece sorting device according to claim 3, wherein the end face of the blade is disposed radially outward and the side wall of the carrier pocket is disposed radially inward.   The work sorting apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a rotation axis of the work carrier is inclined with respect to a vertical axis.   6. The work sorting apparatus according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the passage is provided at a position higher than a rotation center of the work carrier.   The work sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein a surface of the blade forming the passage is made of a sliding material having excellent wear resistance.   The workpiece sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the workpiece is a tapered roller.

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