JP2011105489A - Vibrating type article conveying device and parts supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure capable of reducing displacement of an outlet end of a vibrating type article conveying device and avoiding clogging or supply stop of an article. <P>SOLUTION: The vibrating type article conveying device 10 includes: a conveyance vibrating body 12F with a conveyance track 12a; a vibrator 4 giving vibrations with a vibrating direction along the conveyance track to the conveyance vibrating body; an extended conveyance body 13 with an extended track 13a with an inlet end 13b opposed to the outlet end 12c of the conveyance track via a clearance B, which is arranged in the downstream side end 12Fc of the conveyance vibrating body; a connecting structure 14 bendably connecting the downstream side end of the conveyance vibrating body and the upstream side end 13Fb of the extended conveyance body; and an elastic supporting structure 15 elastically supporting the downstream side end of the extended conveyance body via an elastic supporting plate 32 with a principal surface along a surface orthogonal to a conveyance direction in the downstream side end of the extended conveyance body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vibration-type article conveyance device and a component supply system, and more particularly to an apparatus for conveying an article in a vibration direction on a conveyance track provided on a conveyance vibration body that vibrates and a component supply system using the apparatus.

  In general, vibratory article conveying apparatuses such as a bowl feeder (part feeder) and a linear feeder (straight forward feeder) having a bowl-shaped conveying vibrator are often used in systems for supplying articles. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the outlet end 1 b of the spiral conveyance track 1 a provided on the conveyance vibration body (bowl) 1 F of the bowl feeder 1 and the linear shape provided on the conveyance vibration body 2 F of the linear feeder 2. The conveying track 2a is placed opposite to the inlet end 2b with a slight gap s1, and the article that has reached the outlet end 1b of the conveying track 1a of the bowl feeder 1 is delivered to the inlet end 2b of the conveying track 2a of the linear feeder 2. There is known a vibratory article conveying apparatus configured to supply an article to a supplied apparatus 9 and its article supply system. As another example of the vibratory article conveying apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9, a supply feeder 2 </ b> A and a return feeder 2 </ b> B arranged in parallel with each other are provided on a linear feeder connected to the downstream side of the bowl feeder 1. There is also known an apparatus in which an article is supplied to the supplied apparatus 9 by the conveying vibrator of the feeder 2A, and a defective article or an article not in a normal posture is discharged to the return feeder 2B and returned to the bowl feeder 1 by the return feeder 2B. It has been.

  By the way, in the vibration-type article conveying apparatus in which the bowl feeder 1 and the linear feeder 2 are combined, the conveying vibrator 1F of the bowl feeder 1 rotates and vibrates around its axis, whereas the conveying of the linear feeder 2 is performed. Since the vibrating body 2F vibrates linearly in the extension direction of the transport track 2a, the vibration direction and amplitude are different from each other. Therefore, the gap s1 is provided so that the outlet end 1b and the inlet end 2b do not contact each other. Yes. However, in this gap s1, there is a problem that the article jumps up or gets caught by the inlet end 2b due to the stress received from the outlet end 1b and the inlet end 2b having different vibration modes on both sides and cannot be smoothly conveyed. Therefore, instead of the linear feeder, a linear chute is provided that has an inlet end connected to the outlet end 1b by a leaf spring, and that the outlet end is slidably attached to the support in the conveying direction with respect to the support column. May be used (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-236625

  By the way, in the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the rotary vibrator 3 equipped with the bowl feeder 1 and the linear vibrator 4 equipped with the linear feeder 2 are respectively provided with insulators (vibration-proofing materials) such as vibration-proof rubber and coil springs. ) In many cases, it is supported by the gantry 7 via 5 and 6. In addition, the insulators 5 and 6 suppress the generation of noise in a factory that houses recent precision parts and precision machines, and do not affect surrounding equipment (including the supplied device 9) due to vibration. Is an essential configuration for securing the stability of the vibration state of the vibrators 3 and 4.

  However, since the presence of the insulators 5 and 6 causes slight wobbling during operation, the positional deviation between the outlet end 1b and the inlet end 2b facing each other through the gap s1, and A positional deviation occurs between the outlet end 2c and the supply target portion 9a facing each other through the gap s2. In particular, the positional deviation between the outlet end 2c and the supplied portion 9a between the conveying vibrator 2F in which the insulator 6 is interposed and the supplied device 9 in which the insulator is not interposed may be large. Further, these positional deviations increase as time elapses due to settling due to aging of the insulators 5 and 6. Furthermore, these positional shifts may occur in the height direction due to the weight of the vibrators 3 and 4, and may also occur in the horizontal direction depending on the vibration mode. For example, as shown in the partial plan view of FIG. 7, when a positional deviation D occurs in the horizontal direction between the outlet end 2c and the supplied portion 9a, the influence of the positional deviation D affects the article W to be conveyed. Since the size of the transport trucks 1a and 2a is smaller and the allowable amount of the positional deviation D becomes smaller, the article W is clogged by the slight positional deviation D and the supply is stopped. There is a fear.

  Furthermore, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, when the outlet end of the linear chute is slidably attached to the vibration direction with a support (see FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1), Since the linear chute is stressed diagonally, it is difficult to vibrate in the conveying direction, and the conveyance of the article is likely to stagnate, especially near the outlet end.Therefore, the article is clogged between the outlet end of the linear chute and the supplied part. There is a problem that it becomes easy. On the other hand, when the exit end of the linear chute is vibrated in synchronism with the bowl feeder by the driving body (see FIG. 4 of the above-mentioned patent document 1), the conveyance of the article on the linear chute is improved as compared with the structure having the column. When the position shift occurs, the conveying direction is shifted from the driving direction of the driving body due to the change in the attitude of the linear chute, and therefore the linear chute is likely to be shaken in a direction different from the original vibration direction by the driving body. There is a problem that the article is easily clogged in the gap between the outlet end and the supplied part.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a structure that can reduce the positional deviation of the outlet end of the vibratory article transport device and avoid clogging of articles or stopping supply. There is.

  In view of such circumstances, the vibratory article transporting apparatus of the present invention includes a transport vibrator provided with a transport track, a vibrator that applies vibration to the transport vibrator with a vibration direction along the transport track, An extension carrier provided with an extension track provided with an inlet end facing the outlet end of the conveyance track provided at the downstream end of the carrier vibration member via a gap; the downstream end of the carrier vibration member; A connecting structure that connects the upstream end of the extended transport body so as to be able to bend, and a downstream end of the extended transport body along a plane perpendicular to the transport direction at the downstream end of the extended transport body. And an elastic support structure that elastically supports via an elastic support plate having a surface.

  According to the present invention, the connecting structure that connects the downstream end of the conveying vibration body and the upstream end of the extension conveying body transmits vibration in the vibration direction along the conveying track, and the elastic conveying structure extends the extending conveying body. Since the downstream vibration end of the carrier is elastically supported by the vibrator, the vibration of the carrier vibrator is transmitted to the extension vibrator and vibrates in the same direction when the vibrator receives vibration. The article supplied from above can be conveyed along the extension track as it is and discharged from the exit end of the extension track. At this time, since the elastic support plate has a high rigidity in the main surface direction and a low rigidity in the thickness direction, the support characteristic of the elastic support plate having the main surface along the surface orthogonal to the transport direction is that of the extended transport body. The resistance force with respect to the rotation around the axis in the transport direction applied to the downstream end is greater than the resistance force with respect to the rotation around the axis perpendicular to the transport direction. Therefore, the vibration in the conveyance direction of the extended conveyance body is not hindered, the rotation around the axis perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the downstream end portion of the conveyance vibration body is permitted by its bending or twisting, and the downstream end portion In addition to being able to reliably suppress positional deviation along the plane orthogonal to the transport direction, it is possible to suppress posture changes such as rolling of the extended transport body. In the present specification, the “main surface along the plane orthogonal to the conveyance direction” is not limited to the case where it is strictly parallel to the plane orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and the above-mentioned support characteristics are substantially the same. Therefore, the case where the main surface has an angle of less than 30 degrees with respect to the surface orthogonal to the transport direction is included. The “main surface direction” refers to the direction along the surface of the plate-like body (parallel flat plate), and the “thickness direction” refers to the direction orthogonal to the surface of the plate-like body. Further, in the present specification, “elasticity” is used when substantially functioning as an elastic body with respect to vibration for conveyance, regardless of whether or not it is generally used as a spring material. In addition, the shape of the plate-like body (the elastic support plate and the elastic connection plate described later) is such that the length and width in the connection direction of the non-constraint portion (portion not restrained by the connection member or the like) is three times or more the thickness. It is preferable that it is 5 times or more.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the elastic support plate is inclined such that the main surface faces obliquely upward with respect to the downstream side in the transport direction. According to this, when the upstream end portion of the extension transport body receives vibration in a direction obliquely upward with respect to the downstream side, the elastic support plate is inclined so that the downstream end portion of the extension transport body is Since the vibration can be made along the direction of the vibration, the vibration mode of the extended conveying body can be made uniform over the entire length, so that the article can be smoothly conveyed on the extended conveying body.

  In another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that an elastic coupling plate having a main surface along a plane orthogonal to the conveyance direction and an elastic coupling shaft extending in the conveyance direction are provided in parallel. The elastic connecting plate has a rigidity in the principal surface direction higher than the rigidity in the thickness direction, and the elastic connecting shaft has a higher rigidity in the axial direction than the rigidity in the direction along the plane perpendicular to the axial direction. The resistance force to the relative translational movement between the downstream end portion of the transport vibrating body and the upstream end portion of the extended transport body in the direction along the plane orthogonal to the transport direction (connection direction) is orthogonal to the transport direction. Not only is the resistance force relative to the relative rotation around the axis line larger, but the resistance force to the relative rotation around the axis line in the conveyance direction is also greater than the resistance force against the relative rotation around the axis line orthogonal to the conveyance direction. Since it becomes large, it is possible to suppress posture changes such as rolling of the extended conveyance body.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the elastic support structure further includes position adjusting means configured to adjust the position of the downstream end of the extended transport body in a direction along a plane perpendicular to the transport direction. To do. According to this, the position adjusting means adjusts the position of the downstream end portion of the extension conveying body in the elastic support structure, thereby easily adjusting the position of the outlet end of the extension track with respect to the position of the supply destination portion of the article supply destination. And it can be done precisely. For example, the position adjustment unit is configured by means for adjusting the downstream end of the extended conveyance body in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. In particular, it is preferable that the position adjusting unit is configured so that the elastic support structure itself can be adjusted in a direction along a plane orthogonal to the transport direction. For example, when an elastic support structure and this elastic support structure are connected and fixed with respect to an attachment fixing part, what comprises the position with respect to the attachment fixing part of an elastic support structure is adjustable.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the elastic support structure further includes support angle adjusting means configured to adjust an inclination angle with respect to the downstream side of the elastic support plate. This support angle adjusting means can be configured with a structure that can adjust the position of the elastic support structure with respect to the mounting fixing portion in the transport direction.

  Next, an article supply system according to the present invention includes any one of the above-described vibratory article conveyance apparatuses and a supply apparatus including a supply section that is opposed to the exit end of the extension track via a gap. Features. Here, as an apparatus to be supplied, an article inspection apparatus for inspecting an article (for example, a chip electronic component) supplied by the vibration article transport apparatus, and a product having the article supplied by the vibration article transport apparatus as a constituent element are assembled. Product assembly equipment. In such various supplied devices, particularly when a fine article is supplied, high inspection accuracy and assembly accuracy are often required, so that the supply position and posture of the article in the supplied portion are also high. Since accuracy is required, the configuration of the present invention is extremely effective. In this case, the elastic support structure may be an attachment / fixation portion that is vibrationally separated from the conveying vibration body, that is, an attachment / fixation portion that is directly or indirectly fixed to the supply target device or a conveyance vibration. It is preferable that it is connected and fixed to an attachment fixing part included in a vibration system different from the body, and thereby the downstream end of the extended transport body is elastically supported with respect to the attachment fixing part.

  According to the present invention, the extension conveyance body is refractably connected to the downstream side of the conveyance vibration body, thereby reducing the positional deviation of the exit end of the vibration type article conveyance device and avoiding clogging or supply stoppage of the article. It is possible to achieve an excellent effect of being able to.

1 is a schematic front view showing an overall configuration of a vibrating article transport device and an article supply system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The expanded partial front view which shows the structure of the extension conveyance body of 1st Embodiment, and its connection structure. It is a figure which each shows a mode that the extended conveyance body of 1st Embodiment and its connection structure were seen from the conveyance direction both sides, respectively, Comprising: The left view which looked at the extended conveyance body toward the conveyance destination with the connection structure (a), The figure (b) which shows the plate | board shape of the vertical support plate which comprises a connection structure, and the right view (c) which looked at the extended conveyance body toward the conveyance origin with the elastic support structure. The expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view of an elastic support structure. The expansion partial front view which shows the connection structure of 2nd Embodiment in a partial cross section. The partial top view (a) which shows an example of the installation state of the extended conveyance body of 1st Embodiment, the partial top view (b) which shows another example, and the partial front view (c) which shows another example. The enlarged partial top view which shows the article supply location of the conventional vibration type conveying apparatus. The top view (a) and front view (b) which show the example of the conventional vibration type article conveyance apparatus. The top view which shows another example of the conventional vibration type conveying apparatus.

  Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of a vibrating article transporting apparatus and an article supply system according to the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the first embodiment includes a bowl feeder 11 and a linear feeder 12 as in the conventional configuration, and is configured to supply articles to a supply portion 9 a of a supply apparatus 9. ing. The description of the same parts as those of the conventional configuration, in particular, the rotary vibrator 3, the linear vibrator 4, the insulators 5 and 6, the gantry 7, etc. will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the linear conveyance provided on the conveyance vibration body 12 </ b> F of the linear feeder 12 from the spiral conveyance track 11 a provided on the conveyance vibration body (bowl) 11 </ b> F of the bowl feeder 11. Articles (not shown) are conveyed to the truck 12a. The transport vibration body 12F reciprocates in the direction along the transport track 12a (transport direction) (actually, the reciprocal vibration slightly upward toward the downstream side in the direction, hereinafter referred to as “transporting vibration”). "Vibration"). An extended conveyance body 13 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance vibration body 12F, and the extension conveyance body 13 is provided with a linear extension track 13a. As shown in FIG. 2, the entrance end 13b of the extension track 13a faces the exit end 12c of the transport track 12a with a gap B therebetween. Further, the outlet end 13 c of the extension track 13 a faces the supplied portion 9 a of the supplied device 9 via a gap C. These gaps B and C are each set to be equal to or less than an interval at which the article W can move without hindrance, and to be equal to or more than an interval at which the ends on both sides do not contact each other due to vibration. In the case of the illustrated example, the extended carrier 13 includes a main body 13A provided with an extension track 13a, a support material 13B attached to the main body 13A, and a main body 13A (extension track 13a) supported by the support material 13B. 13C, and an upper frame member 13C disposed above. The upper frame member 13C holds the article W on the extension track 13a so as not to escape.

  The downstream end portion 12Fc of the conveyance vibrating body 12F and the upstream end portion 13Fb of the extended conveyance body 13 are connected via a connection structure 14. The connecting structure 14 includes a downstream end portion 12Fc (specifically, an exit end 12c of the transport track 12a) of the transport vibration body 12F and an upstream end portion 13Fb (specifically, an entrance of the extension track 13a) of the extended transport body 13. The end 13 b is held so as to face the gap 13 B without being in direct contact, and the transfer vibration of the transfer vibrating body 12 F is transmitted to the extended transfer body 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting structure 14 includes a vibration side mounting portion 21 composed of a support or the like attached to a conveying vibration body 12F (the lower surface in the illustrated example) and an extended conveying body 13 (in the illustrated example, its And extended-side attachment portions 22 and 23 composed of a support or the like attached to the lower surface. The vibration side mounting portion 21 is formed with a first support portion 21a projecting at a position immediately below the gap B (a position overlapping the gap B in a plane). The first support portion 21a and the extension side mounting portion 22 The elastic connecting plate 24 made of a leaf spring having a rectangular planar shape shown in FIG. 3B is interposed between the main surfaces in the conveying direction (the left-right direction in the figure, the direction in which the conveying track 12a and the extension track 13a extend). ) Are connected in a posture along a plane orthogonal to. In addition, the vibration-side attachment portion 21 is closer to the conveyance vibrating body 12F in the vertical direction (the direction along the plane orthogonal to the conveyance direction) than the first support portion 21a, but is away from the gap B in the conveyance direction. A second support portion 21 b is provided, and an elastic connecting shaft (connecting rod) 25 extending in the transport direction is connected between the second support portion 21 b and the extension side mounting portion 23. The extension-side attachment portion 23 is provided at a position farther from the gap B than the extension-side attachment portion 22. As shown in FIG. 3B, the elastic connecting plate 24 is formed with a through hole 24a at the center, and the longitudinal intermediate portion of the elastic connecting shaft 25 is inserted into the through hole 24a with a margin. Thus, the elastic connecting plate 24 and the elastic connecting shaft 25 are attached so as not to interfere with each other and to connect the conveying vibration body 12F and the extended conveying body 13 independently. Further, with the above structure, the elastic connecting plate 24 and the elastic connecting shaft 25 can be compactly arranged at a position close to the gap B, and the center position of the elastic connecting plate 24 and the center position of the elastic connecting shaft 25 can be deformed. Therefore, the connection structure 14 can connect the conveyance vibrating body 12F and the extended conveyance body 13 so that they can be refracted around a point close to the gap B.

  In the elastic connecting plate 24, the rigidity in the main surface direction (the direction along the surface of the parallel plate-like plate shape, the same applies hereinafter) is higher than the rigidity in the thickness direction (the direction orthogonal to the surface, the same applies hereinafter). The resistance force to the relative translational movement in the direction along the plane orthogonal to the conveyance direction between the conveyance vibrating body 12F and the extended conveyance body 13 is relatively large, but the relative translation in the direction along the conveyance direction. The resistance to movement and the resistance to relative rotation about the axis perpendicular to the transport direction are relatively small. Here, the shape of the elastic connecting plate 24 is the length of the unconstrained portion (the dimension in the direction from the first mounting portion 21a toward the extension side mounting portion 22) and the width (the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the length direction). It is preferably 3 times or more, and preferably 5 times or more. On the other hand, in the elastic connecting shaft 25, the rigidity in the axial direction is higher than the rigidity in the direction orthogonal to the axis, so that the resistance force to the relative translational movement in the transport direction is relatively large, but around the axis orthogonal to the transport direction. The resistance against the relative rotation of is relatively small. Here, the length of the unconstrained portion of the elastic connecting shaft 25 is preferably 5 times or more of the diameter, and preferably 10 times or more. With the above-described configuration, according to the connection structure 14, vibration in the conveyance direction is efficiently transmitted and the gap B is not easily changed. Further, the downstream end 12 Fc of the conveyance vibration body 12 </ b> F and the extended conveyance body 13. Misalignment in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction (up and down direction in FIG. 2 or left and right direction in FIGS. 3A and 3C) with respect to the upstream end portion 13Fb is suppressed and easily refracted. Is possible.

  In addition, since the angle (vibration angle) with respect to the horizontal plane (conveyance direction) of the vibration direction of the conveyance vibration is generally within a range of 5 to 25 degrees, the elastic connection shaft 25 of the connection structure 14 is along the horizontal direction (conveyance direction). Even if installed so as to extend, the transfer vibration can be reliably transmitted to the extended transfer body 13 with almost no attenuation. The ratio of the length in the axial direction and the outer diameter of the unconstrained portion of the elastic connecting shaft 25 is determined according to the required rigidity in the axial direction of the elastic connecting shaft 25 and the required rigidity in the direction along the plane orthogonal to the axial direction. . However, in the case where there is an angle difference corresponding to the vibration angle between the vibration direction of the conveyance vibration and the axial direction of the elastic connecting shaft 25 as described above, in order to avoid buckling of the elastic connecting shaft 25 The ratio is preferably 30 or less, and desirably 18 or less. Needless to say, the elastic connecting shaft 25 is preferably installed so as to extend in the vibration direction of the conveying vibration (so as to eliminate the angular difference). However, even in the presence of the angular difference, the vibration component in the vertical direction is transmitted by the rigidity in the principal surface direction by the elastic connecting plate 24, so that the connection structure 14 as a whole can reduce the vibration of the conveyance vibration (the inclination described above). Can be efficiently transmitted to the extended carrier 13 while maintaining the angle.

  The downstream end portion 13Fc of the extended conveyance body 13 is elastically supported by the elastic support structure 15. The elastic support structure 15 supports the downstream end portion 13Fc by being connected and fixed to the attachment fixing portion 16. The mounting and fixing portion 16 is a portion that is vibrationally separated from the conveyance vibration body 12F that receives the vibration for conveyance, and is a portion that does not vibrate substantially, for example, a vibration system that is substantially different from the conveyance vibration body 12F. , A portion that is structurally separated from the conveying vibration body 12F, or a portion that is connected to the conveying vibration body 12F via at least an insulator (vibration-proof material). The gantry 7 shown in FIG. 1 or the floor surface on which the gantry 7 is installed can be used as the mounting and fixing portion 16. However, in the illustrated example, one of the supplied devices 9 installed on the floor surface is used. This portion is the mounting fixing portion 16.

  The elastic support structure 15 includes a transport side mounting portion 31 composed of a support or the like attached to the downstream end portion 13Fc (the lower surface thereof) of the extended transport body 13, and an upper portion connected and fixed to the transport side mounting portion 31. A plate-like elastic support plate 32 provided with an edge portion 32a, and a position adjustment portion 33 fixed to the mounting fixing portion 16 while being connected and fixed to the lower edge portion 32b of the elastic support plate 32 are provided. In the illustrated example, the elastic support plate 32 is composed of a thin plate having a main surface along a surface orthogonal to the transport direction (transport direction of the extension track 13a), and is preferably composed of a normalized metal plate. The rigidity of the elastic support plate 32 in the principal surface direction is higher than the rigidity in the thickness direction, and the principal surface is arranged in a posture orthogonal to the conveyance direction or the vibration direction of the conveyance vibration. Here, the shape of the elastic support plate 32 is such that the length (vertical dimension) and width (horizontal dimension orthogonal to the conveying direction) of the unconstrained portion is preferably at least three times the thickness, and more than five times. It is desirable that With this structure, the downstream end portion 13Fc of the extended conveyance body 13 receives a small resistance force in the conveyance direction or the vibration direction and a large resistance force in a direction orthogonal to these, so the extension conveyance body 13 is subjected to the above-described conveyance vibration. It can vibrate in the same manner as the body 12F. In particular, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4, the main surface direction of the elastic support plate 32 is set in the same inclination direction with respect to the vertical plane (preferably the inclination) according to the inclination angle of the vibration direction of the vibration for conveyance. By tilting (by the angle), the extended conveying body 13 can be vibrated in a mode having the same vibration direction over the entire length. Specifically, the elastic support plate 32 is inclined so as to face obliquely upward with respect to the downstream side, so that it is substantially the same as the vibration for conveyance that the upstream side end portion 13Fb of the extended conveyance body 13 receives via the connection structure 14. In this manner, the downstream end 13Fc of the extended conveyance body 13 can be vibrated. Therefore, since the extended conveyance body 13 can be vibrated more uniformly over the entire length, the transportability of the article W can be further improved.

  The elastic support structure 15 exhibits a large resistance force (supporting force) to translational movement along a plane orthogonal to the transport direction and rotation around the axis in the transport direction, but around the axis orthogonal to the transport direction. The resistance (supporting force) shown against rotation is small. Accordingly, the downstream end 13Fc translates in the direction along the plane orthogonal to the transport direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 2 and the left-right direction in FIG. 3A or 3C) and rotates around the axis in the transport direction. As a result, the downstream end portion 12Fc of the conveying vibration body 12F is displaced as described above because it receives a strong resistance force against the rotation and a weak resistance force against rotation around the axis orthogonal to the conveyance direction. Even in this case, the positional deviation between the outlet end 13c of the extension track 13a and the supplied portion 15a is less likely to occur, and the extension conveyance body 13 is easily refracted with respect to the conveyance vibration body 12F.

  The position adjusting unit 33 has an attachment base material 34 that fits into a long groove 16a formed in the attachment fixing part 16 so as to extend in the conveyance direction of the extended conveyance body 13, and the attachment base material 34 has a long hole 34a. The mounting base 34 is connected and fixed to the mounting fixing portion 16 in such a manner that the position of the mounting base material 34 can be adjusted in the conveying direction by the fixing screw 35 formed and screwed into the mounting fixing portion 16 through the long hole 34a. In addition, the mounting base 34 is provided with a holding portion 34b that protrudes upward and has a side surface along a surface orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the extended conveyance body 13, and vertically extends along the side surface of the holding portion 34b. The connecting member 36 is slidably attached. The connecting member 36 is biased upward by a spring 38A disposed on the bottom portion of the mounting base material 34, and is an adjustment screw mechanism (in the illustrated example, the mounting base material 34) that is screwed vertically with respect to the bottom portion. The adjusting nut 38B is screwed to the shaft body screwed to the shaft body 38B. The spring 38A is a coil spring inserted through the shaft body of the adjusting screw mechanism 38B. Further, a connecting member 37 connected to and fixed to the lower end edge 32 b of the elastic support plate 32 is attached to the connecting member 36. As shown in FIG. 3C and FIG. 6C, projecting pieces 34c and 34d projecting in the horizontal direction are formed on both sides of the connecting member 36, and screwed into these projecting pieces 34c and 34d, respectively. The connection member 37 is positioned from both sides in the width direction (horizontal direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction by the adjusting screws 39A and 39B. Further, the connecting member 36 and the connecting member 37 are fixed to the holding portion 34 b by a fixing screw 40.

  Since the position adjustment unit 33 configured in this way is configured to be able to translate in the conveyance direction, the position of the lower edge portion 32b of the elastic support plate 32 in the conveyance direction can be adjusted. Thus, the inclination angle of the elastic support plate 32 can be adjusted. These structures constitute the support angle adjusting means described above. By adjusting the inclination angle, the vibration mode of the downstream portion of the extended transport body 13 can be adjusted precisely. Therefore, it is effective to provide a support angle adjusting means for optimizing the transportability of articles on the extended transport body 13. It is. The elastic support plate 32 is made of a material that is easily plastically deformed to some extent such as a metal plate that has been subjected to normalization as described above (however, a material that has elasticity with respect to vibrations for conveyance). When the support plate 32 is tilted, the upper edge portion 32a and the lower edge portion 32b are plastically deformed in a state of being refracted with respect to the intermediate portion thereof, whereby the conveyance side attachment portion 31 and the connection member 37 can be adapted. Here, since the attachment surface to the elastic support plate 32 of the conveyance side attachment portion 31 connected and fixed to the upper edge portion 32a of the elastic support plate 32 and the connection member 37 connected and fixed to the lower edge portion 32b is a vertical surface. There is an advantage that these members can be easily processed.

  Further, since the position adjusting unit 33 is configured to be able to translate the elastic support plate 32 vertically and horizontally along a plane orthogonal to the conveying direction, the extension of the supplied device 9 with respect to the supplied portion 9a. The position of the outlet end 13c of the track 13a can be adjusted precisely. These structures constitute the position adjusting means described above.

  Next, operations and effects of the vibratory article transport apparatus and article supply system configured as described above will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, an article (electronic component or the like) W is transported on the transport track 12a of the transport vibrator 12F, and the article W is discharged from the outlet end 12c of the transport track 12a. After that, it moves from the entrance end 13b onto the extension track 13a and moves on the extension track 13a as it is. Eventually, the article W discharged from the outlet end 13 c of the extension track 13 a is introduced into the supplied portion 9 a of the supplied device 9.

  In the state shown in FIG. 6A, the upstream end portion 13Fb of the extended conveyance body 13 has one conveyance track 12a and one extension track 13a in plan view with respect to the downstream end portion 12Fc of the conveyance vibration body 12F. They face each other so as to extend along a straight line. Further, the downstream end portion 13Fc of the extended conveyance body 13 is also directly opposed to the supplied portion 9a. This state shows a state where the adjustment of the position and posture of the vibratory article transporting device with respect to the supplied device 9 is completed using the position adjusting unit 33 and the like.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the planar shape of the edge of the upstream end 13Fb and the downstream end 13Fc of the extended conveyance body 13 is a shape that protrudes at the center in the width direction and recedes on both sides in the width direction. In the illustrated example, the planar shape of the edge is triangular, but it may be arcuate or trapezoidal. By adopting such an edge shape, even when the angular difference of the conveyance direction of the extended conveyance body 13 with respect to the conveyance direction of the conveyance vibration body 12F or the supplied portion 9a changes within a predetermined range as described later, While suppressing the values of the gaps B and C at the time of setting, it is possible to avoid contact between the opposing ends on both sides in the width direction of the gaps B and C.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the downstream end 12Fc of the transport vibration body 12F has a positional deviation D1 in the horizontal direction (the direction along the plane perpendicular to the transport direction), The upstream end portion 13Fb of the extended conveyance body 13 is also moved by the connection structure 14 by substantially the same amount in the same direction as the positional deviation D1. This is because the rigidity with respect to the translational movement in the horizontal direction (direction along the plane orthogonal to the conveyance direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the connection structure 14 is large. At this time, the downstream end portion 13Fc of the extended conveyance body 13 is held at a position facing the supply target portion 9a by the elastic support structure 15. This is because the rigidity with respect to the translational movement in the horizontal direction (direction along the plane orthogonal to the conveyance direction) perpendicular to the conveyance direction by the elastic support structure 15 is large. As a result, the extended conveying body 13 is in a refracted posture in plan view as shown in the drawing. This is because the rigidity of the connection structure 14 and the elastic support structure 15 with respect to rotation about the vertical axis (rotation about the axis perpendicular to the transport direction) is small.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the extended conveyance is also performed when the downstream end portion 12Fc of the conveyance vibration body 12F has a positional deviation D2 in the vertical direction (the direction along the plane orthogonal to the conveyance direction). The upstream side end portion 13Fb of the body 13 moves by substantially the same amount in the same direction, the downstream side end portion 13Fc is held at a position opposite to the supplied portion 9a, and the extended conveyance body 13 is refracted in a side view. This is highly resistant to translational movement of the connecting structure 14 and the elastic support structure 15 in the vertical direction (the direction along the plane perpendicular to the conveyance direction), and rotates around the horizontal axis perpendicular to the conveyance direction (conveyance). This is because the resistance to rotation around an axis perpendicular to the direction is small. 6B and 6C are drawn when the positional deviations D1 and D2 are extremely large. The positional deviation that can actually occur and the refraction angle of the extended transport body 13 associated therewith. Is much smaller than shown.

  Note that when the positional deviations D1 and D2 occur as described above, the extended conveyance body 13 hardly rotates (falls or twists) around the axis in the conveyance direction. This is because the resistance force (support force) around the axis along the transport direction of the connection structure 14 and the elastic support structure 15 is large. This resistance force is mainly due to the high rigidity in the main surface direction of the connection plate 24 of the connection structure 14 and the elastic support plate 32 of the elastic support structure 15.

  In the connecting structure 14, the connecting plate 24 keeps the facing positional relationship facing each other through the gap B between the downstream end 12 Fc of the transport vibrating body 12 F and the upstream end 13 Fb of the extended transport body 13. To function. At this time, by disposing the coupling structure 14 (the elastic coupling plate 24 and the elastic coupling shaft 25) as close to the gap B as possible, the relative displacement between both ends when the extended conveyance body 13 is in the refractive posture. Can be reduced. In order to reduce this displacement most, it is preferable that the coupling structure 14 is disposed at a position immediately below the gap B (in the illustrated example) or a position immediately above. In addition, an elastic connecting plate having an opening at a portion corresponding to the gap B is arranged so as to extend in the vertical and horizontal directions of the gap B, and one end edge is connected to the downstream end 12Fc of the conveying vibration body 12F. The end edge on the side may be connected to the upstream end 13Fb of the extended conveyance body 13. In this case, since the central portion of the elastic connecting plate coincides with the gap B, the fluctuation of the gap B when the elastic deformation plate is bent or twisted can be minimized.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, even when the extended conveyance body 13 is in a refractive posture due to the positional deviations D1 and D2, it is conveyed due to the high rigidity of the connection structure 14 in the conveyance direction. There is almost no decrease in the transmission of vibrations. This is because, in this case, the elastic connecting shaft 25 is slightly bent, but the bending hardly affects the rigidity of the elastic connecting shaft 25 in the transport direction.

  The gap B can be adjusted by changing the length of the unconstrained portion of the elastic connecting shaft 25. In the illustrated example, the value of the gap B can be adjusted by changing at least one of the attachment position of the elastic connecting shaft 25 to the vibration side attachment portion 21 and the attachment position to the extension side attachment portion 23. However, the influence (flexure deformation) of the elastic connecting plate 24 can be prevented by changing the mounting position with respect to the vibration side mounting portion 21. At this time, the conveyance vibrating body 12F and the extended conveyance body 13 basically vibrate with the same amplitude and the same phase by the coupling structure 14 (elastic coupling shaft 25), so the gap B is set as small as possible within the range where both ends do not contact. be able to.

  FIG. 5 shows an example having a connection structure 14 ′ having a different aspect from the first embodiment as the second embodiment. Configurations other than those described in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. In this connection structure 14 ', the vibration side mounting portion 21' provided on the downstream end portion 12Fc (the lower surface thereof) of the conveying vibration body 12F and the upstream end portion 13Fb (the lower surface thereof) of the extended conveyance body 13 are provided. A configuration similar to that of the first embodiment is provided in that both ends of the elastic connecting shaft 25 'are fixed to the extended-side attachment portion 23'. However, a constricted portion 25 s ′ is formed at an unconstrained portion in the middle of the elastic connecting shaft 25 ′. By providing the constricted portion 25s ′, the elastic connecting shaft 25 ′ is provided with low rigidity against bending around the axis perpendicular to the axial direction while maintaining high rigidity in the axial direction. With this configuration, the rigidity of the elastic connecting shaft 25 'with respect to translational movement in the axial direction can be increased, and the rigidity with respect to bending around the axis perpendicular to the axial direction can be reduced. Therefore, the connecting structure 14 'can be easily configured.

  In this connection structure 14 ′, a resistance force against rolling between the conveyance vibrating body 12 F and the extended conveyance body 13 is obtained only by the torsional rigidity of the elastic connection shaft 25 ′. It is necessary to increase the torsional rigidity in order to sufficiently secure at ', but this is difficult because the rigidity against bending around the axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the elastic connecting shaft 25' must be reduced. Therefore, in this case, the resistance force against the rolling may be secured by the elastic support plate 32 of the elastic support structure 15. In order to increase the resistance force by the elastic support structure 15, the plate-like width of the elastic support plate 32 (width along the plane orthogonal to the transport direction) may be increased.

  On the other hand, in the elastic support structure 15, the elastic support plate 32 maintains the facing positional relationship through the gap C between the downstream end portion 13 Fc of the extension transport body 13 and the supplied portion 9 a in a directly opposed state. To work. At this time, by disposing the elastic support plate 32 as close to the gap C as possible, the relative positional deviation between the downstream end portion 13Fc and the supplied portion 9a when the extended conveyance body 13 is in the bending posture is obtained. Can be reduced. In order to reduce this positional shift to the minimum, the elastic support plate 32 is positioned immediately below the gap C (in the case of the illustrated example) or directly above (for example, the frame of the supply apparatus 9 via the elastic support structure 15 and the extended conveying body. 13 downstream end 13Fc is preferably suspended). In addition, an elastic support plate having an opening in a portion corresponding to the gap C is arranged so as to extend in the vertical and horizontal directions of the gap C, and one end edge portion is connected to the downstream end portion 13Fc of the extended conveyance body 13, The opposite end edge portion may be connected to the attachment fixing portion 16. In this case, since the center part of the elastic connecting plate coincides with the gap C, the fluctuation of the gap C when the elastic deformation plate is bent or twisted can be suppressed to the minimum.

  In the present embodiment, the downstream end portion 13Fc of the extended conveyance body 13 vibrates by receiving the conveyance vibration from the conveyance vibration body 12F, but the supplied portion 9a is basically stationary, or Since it vibrates in a mode different from the above vibration, it is necessary to set the value of the gap C according to the mode of vibration so that the downstream end 13Fc and the supplied portion 9a do not contact with each other due to the vibration. is there. The value of the gap C can be set by adjusting the position of the conveyance vibrating body 12F with respect to the supplied device 9 (for example, adjusting the relative installation position of the gantry 7 with respect to the supplied device 9).

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the position shift of the downstream end portion 12Fc of the transport vibrating body 12F is absorbed by the posture change (refraction) of the extended transport body 13, and the downstream end of the extended transport body 13 with respect to the supplied portion 9a. Since the position shift of the part 13Fc can be suppressed, stable supply of articles can be realized over a long period of time.

  The vibratory article transporting apparatus and the article supply system of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated examples described above, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the extended conveyance body 13 is connected to the downstream side of the conveyance vibration body 12F including the linear conveyance track 12a, and the article is supplied to the supplied portion 9a fixed by the extension conveyance body 13. However, unlike this, an extended conveyance body may be connected to the downstream side of the conveyance vibration body provided with a spiral conveyance track, and the article is supplied to the supplied part that vibrates in a different manner depending on the extension conveyance body. You may comprise so that it may supply.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vibration-type article conveyance apparatus, 11 ... Bowl feeder, 11F ... Conveyance vibration body, 12 ... Linear feeder, 12F ... Conveyance vibration body, 12a ... Conveyance truck, 12Fc ... Downstream end part, 13 ... Extension conveyance body, 13a ... Extension track, 13Fb ... upstream end, 13Fc ... downstream end, 14 ... connection structure, 24 ... connection plate, 25 ... elastic connection shaft, 15 ... elastic support structure, 32 ... elastic support plate, 33 ... position adjusting portion DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3, 4 ... Vibrator 5, 6 ... Insulator, 7 ... Base, 9 ... Supply apparatus, 9a ... Supply part

Claims (6)

A transport vibrator with a transport track;
A vibrator for applying vibration to the transport vibrator with a vibration direction along the transport track;
An extended transport body including an extension track provided with an entrance end facing the exit end of the transport track provided at the downstream end of the transport vibration body via a gap;
A connecting structure for connecting the downstream end of the transport vibrator and the upstream end of the extended transport body so as to be able to bend;
An elastic support structure that elastically supports the downstream end of the extended transport body via an elastic support plate having a main surface along a surface orthogonal to the transport direction at the downstream end of the extended transport body; ,
The vibration-type article conveyance device according to claim 1, comprising:   The vibratory article conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic support plate is inclined such that the main surface is inclined obliquely upward with respect to the downstream side in the conveying direction.   The said connection structure is equipped with the elastic connection board provided with the main surface along the surface orthogonal to the said conveyance direction, and the elastic connection axis | shaft extended in the said conveyance direction in parallel. 2. The vibratory article conveying apparatus according to 1.   The said elastic support structure is further equipped with the position adjustment means comprised so that adjustment of the position of the downstream edge part of the said extended conveyance body is possible in the direction along the surface orthogonal to the said conveyance direction, The structure is characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. The vibratory article transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   5. The vibration type according to claim 1, wherein the elastic support structure further includes support angle adjusting means configured to adjust an inclination angle with respect to a downstream side of the elastic support plate. Article conveying device.   A vibratory article conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and a supplied apparatus including a supplied part that opposes an outlet end of the extension track with a gap. Article supply system.

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