JP2012246141A - Part supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a part supply device that reduces a burden of a worker and is excellent in working efficiency.SOLUTION: The part supply device includes: an inclination carrying-in surface 10 downwardly inclined toward one side; a part supply area 20 provided on the downstream side of the inclination carrying-in surface 10; and an inclination return surface 30 provided under the inclination carrying-in surface 10 and downwardly inclined toward the other side. In the part supply area 20, there are provided: a part holding portion (a pair of guide rails 21) for holding a part W; and an opening 23 for allowing a conveyance mount Q on which the part W is placed to fall onto the inclination return surface 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a component supply apparatus.

  For example, in an automobile transmission assembly line as shown in FIG. 9, a component supply device 100 provided near the conveyor C causes a component W (for example, a torque converter) manufactured in another factory or line to be near the worker. To be supplied. The operator takes out the component W from the component supply apparatus 100 and mounts the component W on the component mounting table of the pallet P conveyed on the conveyor C.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the component supply apparatus 100 as described above includes an inclined carry-in surface 101 inclined downward toward the worker side (right side in the drawing) and components provided on the downstream side of the inclined carry-in surface 101. A supply area 102 and an inclined carry-out surface 103 inclined downward on the side away from the worker (left side in the figure) are provided. In this type of component supply apparatus 100, from the viewpoint of transportability and prevention of scratches, it is common to transport the component W in a state of being placed on the transport table Q 'as illustrated. The component W mounted on the conveyance table Q ′ slides on the inclined carry-in surface 101 by gravity and is carried into the component supply area 102. When the component W is unloaded from the transfer table Q ′, the empty transfer table Q is transferred from the inclined carry-in surface 101 to the inclined carry-out surface 103 by the operator's hand (see the arrow X in the figure). It slides back on the inclined carry-out surface 103 and returns to the side away from the operator (see arrow Y in the figure).

  However, the work of transferring an empty carrier is a burden on the operator. In view of this, for example, in the component supply apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, an empty conveyance table (component box) can be easily transferred by providing a movable conveyance surface. Specifically, a parts box with parts mounted thereon is carried from the carry-in surface to the movable conveyance surface at the first inclined position, and an operator takes out the parts from the parts box and performs assembly work or the like. When the parts box is emptied, the operator pushes the button to move the movable conveyance surface from the first inclined position to the second inclined position by the actuator, and connects the movable conveyance surface and the unloading surface to thereby empty the component box. Is transferred from the movable transfer surface to the carry-out surface.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-20406

  However, in the component supply apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to move the movable conveyance surface in order to transfer the empty conveyance table to the carry-out surface. Therefore, at least a switch operation for moving the movable conveyance surface is performed. Necessary. Further, since the operation of taking out the parts from the transport table cannot be performed while the movable transport table is moved, the cycle time is extended. In particular, when parts are mounted one by one on a single carrier, it is necessary to transfer the carrier every time one part is assembled. Therefore, the number of switch operations and the movement time of the movable carrier become longer. Work efficiency is greatly reduced.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a component supply device that has a small burden on the operator and high work efficiency.

  The present invention made to solve the above-mentioned problems is provided on the downstream side of the inclined carry-in surface, and the inclined carry-in surface that is inclined downward on one side, and the carrying platform carrying the components is carried downstream by gravity. A component supply device including a component supply area and an inclined return surface that is provided below the inclined carry-in surface, is inclined downward to the other side, and is transported downstream by gravity. A component holding unit for holding the component and an opening for dropping the conveyance table on which the component is placed onto the inclined return surface are provided.

  According to this component supply apparatus, when a conveyance platform carrying components is carried into the component supply area from the inclined carry-in surface, the components are held by the component holding unit, and only the conveyance table is moved from the opening to the inclined return surface. It falls and the empty carrier is returned by the inclined return surface. This eliminates the need for the operator to transfer the empty carrier and the switch operation to move the movable carrier, and can automatically return the empty carrier. Simplified. In addition, when the transport platform loaded with parts is carried into the component supply area, the transport platform automatically drops from the opening and is transported on the inclined return surface, and while the transport platform is falling from the opening, Even while being transported on the inclined return surface, it is possible to work by removing the parts from the component holder, so that no wasted time is required for transfer of the transport table, and cycle time can be shortened. it can.

  For example, when the width direction dimension of a part is larger than the width direction dimension of the carrier, a pair of support members that support both ends in the width direction of the part from below are provided as a part holding part, and between the pair of support members. If the opening is provided, only the carrier can be dropped from the opening while the component is supported by the pair of support members. The “width direction” refers to a horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

  In the above-described component supply apparatus, if the component held on the component holding unit and the conveyance table on the upstream side thereof are brought into contact with each other, the component on the inclined carry-in surface and the conveyance table are locked. The parts held by the holding part serve as stoppers, and the transport platform and parts upstream from the parts are stocked on the inclined carry-in surface. Thereby, it is not necessary to separately provide a mechanism for locking the conveyance table and the components, and the structure of the apparatus can be simplified.

  As described above, according to the component supply device of the present invention, the carrier that is emptied from the opening provided in the component supply area is automatically dropped onto the inclined return surface by gravity. Since the work of transferring the transfer table is not required, the burden on the operator is reduced and the work efficiency is increased.

It is a side view of the component supply apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged view of the said component supply apparatus. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2. It is sectional drawing in the IV-IV line of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the VV line | wire of FIG. It is a side view which shows the use condition of the said component supply apparatus. FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 6. It is a side view which shows the use condition of the said component supply apparatus. It is a top view of the assembly line provided with the components supply apparatus. It is a side view of the conventional component supply apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a component supply apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is provided in place of, for example, the component supply apparatus 100 in the assembly line of an automobile transmission shown in FIG. The component supply apparatus 1 includes an inclined carry-in surface 10 inclined downward toward the worker side (right side in the drawing), a component supply area 20 provided on the downstream side (right side in the drawing) of the inclined carry-in surface 10, and the inclined carry-in surface 10. And an inclined return surface 30 that is downwardly inclined to the side away from the operator (left side in the figure). A transport table Q carrying the parts W is carried into the upstream end of the inclined carry-in surface 10, and these are conveyed to the downstream side by gravity and carried into the parts supply area 20. Then, the component W is held in the component supply area 20, and the transport table Q is returned on the inclined return surface 30.

  The inclined carry-in surface 10 includes a plurality of rollers 11 as shown in FIGS. The roller 11 has a rotation axis in the width direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2, the vertical direction of FIG. 3), and is arranged in the transport direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, two rows of rollers 11 arranged in the transport direction are provided apart from each other in the width direction, and a surface including a contact portion between the rollers 11 and the lower surface of the transport table Q is provided. An inclined carry-in surface 10 is configured. Guide portions 12 are provided over the entire length of the inclined carry-in surface 10 above the roller 11 and on both sides in the width direction. The guide part 12 of this embodiment is comprised with a cylindrical hollow pipe, as shown in FIG. The transport table Q transported on the inclined carry-in surface 10 is positioned in the width direction by the guide unit 12. The roller 11 is a free roller and rotates due to friction with the transport table Q transported on the inclined carry-in surface 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the component supply area 20 includes a pair of support members (a pair of guide rails 21 in the illustrated example) constituting a component holding portion, a stopper 22 that contacts the component W from the operator side, and a pair of An opening 23 surrounded by the guide rail 21 and the stopper 22 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, the guide rail 21 is formed in an L-shaped cross section having a vertical portion 21a and a horizontal portion 21b. While supporting both ends in the width direction of the component W from below at the upper end of the vertical portion 21a, the horizontal portion 21b is fixed to a frame (not shown). The opening 23 has such a size that the conveyance table Q can be dropped. Specifically, the opening 23 has a conveyance direction dimension L (that is, a distance between the stopper 22 and the roller 11 at the downstream end of the inclined carry-in surface 10, FIG. 3). And the width direction dimension M (that is, the distance between the vertical portions 21a of the pair of guide rails 21, see FIG. 3) are set larger than the transport direction dimension and the width direction dimension of the transport base Q.

  The inclined return surface 30 is composed of a plurality of rollers 31 as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the inclined return surface 30 extends over the entire length in the conveying direction of the component supply device 1, that is, a common inclined return surface 30 is provided below the inclined return surface 30 and the component supply area 20. Guide portions 32 are provided over the entire length of the inclined return surface 30 above the roller 31 and on both sides in the width direction. The guide part 32 of this embodiment is comprised with a cylindrical hollow pipe, as shown in FIG. Since the structure of the some roller 31 is the same as that of the roller 11 of the inclination carrying-in surface 10 except for an inclination direction, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The conveyance table Q is smaller in dimension in the width direction than the component W, and supports a substantially central portion in the width direction of the component W (see FIG. 4). A locking part q protruding upward is provided at the downstream end of the upper surface of the transport table Q (see FIG. 6). When the conveyance table Q on which the component W is mounted is placed on the inclined carry-in surface 10, the component W is locked by the locking portion q so that the component W does not slide down with respect to the conveyance table Q. The conveyance table Q is formed of a material (for example, resin) softer than the component W so as not to damage the component W.

  Hereinafter, a component supply method using the component supply apparatus 1 and a return method of the transport table Q will be described.

  6 and 7 show a state in which the component W1 is held in the component supply area 20, and a plurality of components W2 and W3 are stocked on the upstream side. The component W1 held in the component supply area 20 is placed on the vertical portion 21a of the pair of guide rails 21 (see FIG. 5). The downstream side (right side in the figure) of the component W1 is in contact with the stopper 22, and the upstream side of the component W1 is in contact with the conveyance table Q2 on which the component W2 is mounted. The parts W3 and the transport table Q3 on the upstream side of the transport table Q2 are in contact with the transport table Q2 from the upstream side. In other words, the parts W2 and W3 on the inclined carry-in surface 10 and the carriages Q2 and S3 try to move to the downstream side by gravity, but move to the downstream side by coming into contact with the part W1 held in the parts supply area 20. Is regulated and stocked on the inclined carry-in surface 10.

  Then, the worker lifts the component W1 held in the component supply area 20 and mounts the component W1 on the pallet P on the conveyor C (see FIG. 9). At this time, the parts W2 and W3 and the transportation platforms Q2 and Q3 are transported to the downstream side by gravity because the restriction on movement by the part W1 is released. As shown in FIG. 8, when the component W2 and the transport table Q2 are carried into the component supply area 20, the transport table Q2 falls from the opening 23 and is transferred to the inclined return surface 30 (FIGS. 5 and 5). 8), the component W2 is placed on the pair of guide rails 21. When the component W2 comes into contact with the stopper 22 and the conveyance table Q3, the movement of the component W3 and the conveyance table Q3 to the downstream side is restricted. The empty transfer table Q2 transferred to the inclined return surface 30 is automatically transferred to the side away from the worker by gravity (see arrow B in FIG. 7).

  By repeating the above, the supply of the parts W to the parts supply area 20 and the return of the empty transport table Q are sequentially performed. By performing these operations automatically using only the free fall of the parts W and the transport table Q, there is no need for the operator to transfer the transport table Q at all, reducing the work man-hours and reducing the cycle time. Shortening is achieved. In particular, in the present embodiment, the component W and the transport table Q stocked on the inclined carry-in surface 10 are locked by the component W held in the component supply area 20, so that the operator can enter the component supply area 20. It is possible to carry in a new part W into the part supply area 20 and to transfer and return it to the inclined return surface 30 of the transport table Q on which the part W is mounted simply by lifting the held part W. it can.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the inclined carry-in surface 10 and the inclined return surface 30 are configured by the rollers 11 and 31. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and one or both of these are configured by a simple plane, and the transport table Q is slid. May be conveyed. Alternatively, the inclined carry-in surface 10 and the inclined return surface 30 may be configured as a flat surface, and a roller may be provided on the lower surface of the transport table Q.

  Moreover, although the case where the components W were mounted one by one on each conveyance stand Q was shown in the said embodiment, not only this but a several component may be mounted in each conveyance stand Q. In this case, a plurality of components mounted on each conveyance table Q are simultaneously carried and held in the component holding unit in the component supply area 20.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the center part of the width direction of the component W is supported by the conveyance stand Q on the inclination carrying-in surface 10, it is not restricted to this, For example, when the width direction dimension of the component W is large, a component The vicinity of both ends in the width direction of W may be supported by a pair of transport tables Q. In this case, the component holding unit may support the vicinity of the central portion in the width direction of the component W.

  Moreover, although the case where the component W assembled | attached to a transmission was supplied was shown in the said embodiment, it cannot be overemphasized that the kind of component will not be limited if it is a use which supplies components to the worker vicinity of an assembly line.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Component supply apparatus 10 Inclined carrying-in surface 11 Roller 12 Guide part 20 Component supply area 21 Support piece 22 Stopper 23 Opening part 30 Inclined return surface 31 Roller 32 Guide part C Conveyor P Pallet Q Conveyance base W Parts

Claims (2)

An inclined carry-in surface that is inclined downward on one side and is loaded with parts on the downstream side by gravity, a component supply area provided on the downstream side of the inclined carry-in surface, and a lower part of the inclined carry-in surface , A component supply device comprising a tilted return surface inclined downward to the other side and transported to the downstream side by gravity,
A component supply apparatus, wherein the component supply area includes a component holding unit that holds a component, and an opening that drops a conveyance table on which the component is placed on an inclined return surface.   The width dimension of the component is larger than the width direction dimension of the carriage, and a pair of support members that support both ends of the width direction of the component from below are provided as a component holding portion. The component supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an opening is provided.

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