JP2013144599A - Vibrating type parts supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact vibrating type parts supply device, configured to stably supply parts which are likely to be tangled, in line.SOLUTION: In the vibrating type parts supply device incorporating an air type parts separating device 4 for separating parts P entangled each other in a separating container 13 provided in the middle of a conveyance path 2b of a return feeder, an outlet 16 of the separating container 13 is formed to extend obliquely upward from a lid 15 that forms a side wall of the separating container 13 so as to prevent the parts P entangled each other from being discharged from the separating container 13. The vibrating type parts supply device can prevent the parts P discharged from the outlet 16 from scattering by lowering the position of the outlet 16 of the separating container 13 without increasing the parts P to be excluded on the downstream side of the parts separating device 4. The parts P are stably supplied in line, while the height of the device is made compact as a whole.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vibratory component supply device that supplies components that are easily entangled such as coil springs in a state of being separated one by one.

  Two troughs that convey parts in opposite directions are arranged in parallel as a vibration-type parts supply device suitable for aligning parts that are easily entangled with each other, such as small coil springs, in one row and one layer, and supplying them to the next process. In some cases, a component feeder that separates components that are intertwined with each other is incorporated into the return feeder arranged in (see Patent Document 1).

  The component supply apparatus described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 aligns while conveying components, arranges an aligned supply trough that supplies the aligned components to the next process, and arranges the unaligned components in parallel with the aligned supply trough. A return trough that conveys in the opposite direction to the aligned supply trough and supplies it to the upstream side of the aligned supply trough, and sorts the parts intertwined with each other on the downstream side of the return trough and sends them to the component separation device, The parts are separated one by one by the parts separating device and returned to the alignment supply trough, so that the parts can be efficiently aligned and supplied to the next process.

  The component separation device incorporated in this component supply device is attached to the upper surface of a vertically placed cylindrical separation container by placing a rotating disk driven by a motor on the bottom and rotating the rotating disk. The blade is spun off by the blade and swung in the separation container, and the entanglement is released by expanding and contracting or bending the component.

  By the way, in this component separating apparatus, the inlet of the separation container is provided in the side wall, but the outlet is provided in a portion projecting in the radial direction of the upper lid that closes the upper opening of the separation container. As described above, since the discharge port of the separation container of the component separation device is located at a high position, the component supply device has a large height as a whole, and there is a problem that a large space is required in the height direction. In addition, there is also a problem that the parts that have jumped out from the discharge port are likely to be scattered outside the alignment supply trough because the drop from the discharge port of the separation container to the conveying path of the alignment supply trough is large.

  On the other hand, as a component separating apparatus, in addition to a method of rotating a rotating body as described above, a method of separating a component while turning the component with air jetted from the inner surface of the separation container has been proposed. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the component separating apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the separation container 51 has a laterally tapered cylindrical shape, and an air outlet 52 is provided at the bottom of the large diameter side. The components are swirled by the air ejected from the outlet 52 and separated by colliding with a protruding member 53 attached to the inner surface of the separation container 51. And the inlet 54 of components is provided in the small diameter side wall of the separation container 51, and the discharge port 56 is provided in the lid | cover 55 which forms the large diameter side wall.

  Therefore, if the component separation device of Patent Document 2 is incorporated in the return feeder of Patent Document 1, the height of the entire component supply device is suppressed and the drop from the discharge port of the separation container to the conveying path of the alignment supply trough is reduced. be able to.

  However, in the component separation apparatus of Patent Document 2, the discharge port 56 of the separation container 51 is formed so as to extend obliquely downward from the large-diameter side lid 55, and the components that are still intertwined are easily discharged. And since the components discharged while being intertwined are eliminated by the alignment supply trough, there is a risk that the capability of supplying components will be reduced.

JP 2007-161360 A Japanese Patent No. 3692458

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a compact vibration type component supply apparatus that can stably align and supply components that are easily entangled.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an alignment supply trough that aligns while conveying parts and supplies the aligned parts to the next process, and is arranged in parallel with the alignment supply trough to align unaligned parts. In a return feeder provided with a return trough that is conveyed in the opposite direction to the supply trough and supplied to the upstream side of the aligned supply trough, inside the separation container provided in the middle of the conveying path of the aligned supply trough or the return trough, In a vibration-type component supply device incorporating a component separation device that separates components that are intertwined one by one while turning them, the discharge port of the separation container of the component separation device extends obliquely upward from the side wall of the separation container. It was formed.

  According to this configuration, since the entangled parts are not easily discharged from the separation container, the position of the discharge port of the separation container can be lowered without increasing the number of parts to be removed on the downstream side of the part separation device. The components discharged from the discharge port can be prevented from being scattered, the components can be stably aligned and supplied, and the height of the component separating device and thus the entire vibration component supplying device can be reduced.

  Here, the inclination angle of the discharge port of the separation container is preferably 30 to 60 °. In addition, if a discharge amount adjusting plate that slides in the direction to open and close the discharge port is attached to the side wall of the separation container, the discharge amount is adjusted according to the amount of parts discharged from the separation container and the proportion of the parts that are intertwined. By adjusting the opening area of the outlet, parts can be arranged and supplied more efficiently. On the other hand, if the length dimension of the separation container is made smaller than the inner diameter dimension, the entire component supply device can be made more compact.

  Examples of the component separation device include a device that rotates components with air ejected from the inner surface of the separation container (hereinafter, this separation method is referred to as an “air type”), and a rotating body that is disposed at the bottom of the separation container. It is possible to employ a component that turns the component by rotating (hereinafter, this separation method is referred to as “rotation type”).

  In addition, the component separation device may be installed in a conveyance path in the vicinity of the upstream side of the component alignment portion of the alignment supply trough so that the components separated by the component separation device are aligned before they are entangled again. By installing a plurality of devices and increasing the component separation capability, it becomes possible to more efficiently align and supply the components, thereby improving the component supply capability. When installing a plurality of component separators, install the component separators so that two of them are adjacent to each other in the component transport direction. The upstream component separator is an air type, and the downstream component separator is It is good to use a rotary type. This is because a low-cost pneumatic type can be arranged on the upstream side and a rotary type having a high component separation performance can be arranged on the downstream side, so that the component separation ability can be improved while suppressing an increase in cost.

  Furthermore, a component detection sensor is provided in the vicinity of the upstream side and the downstream side of the separation container of the component separation device, and the amount of parts staying in the separation container is managed based on the detection result of each of these component detection sensors. By providing a means for removing parts from the transport path on the upstream side of the parts separating device when the parts staying amount exceeds a predetermined value, the parts staying amount in the separation container can be maintained appropriately, and troubles of the parts separating device itself can occur. It is possible to prevent deformation, scratches, breakage, etc. of the parts.

  Here, as a means for removing the parts from the conveying path on the upstream side of the parts separating device, a part for blowing air from the side to the parts on the conveying path or an arm attached to the piezoelectric actuator on the conveying path. What presses these parts from the side can be employ | adopted.

  Further, when the component is a coil spring, the width of the conveyance path in the vicinity of the upstream side of the component separator is set to be not more than three times the diameter of the coil spring, and a certain amount in the vicinity of the upstream side of the component separator. By excluding these parts, it is possible to limit the amount of parts put into the separation container and prevent troubles in the parts separating apparatus itself and parts from occurring.

  As described above, the vibratory component supply device of the present invention is formed such that the separation container discharge port of the component separation device provided in the middle of the return feeder conveyance path extends obliquely upward from the side wall of the separation container. Because the parts that remain intertwined are not easily discharged from the separation container, the position of the discharge port of the separation container is lowered without increasing the number of parts that are eliminated downstream of the part separation device. The components discharged from the discharge port can be prevented from being scattered, the components can be stably aligned, and the entire apparatus can be made compact in the height direction.

External appearance perspective view of the component supply apparatus of 1st Embodiment Plan view of FIG. Front view of FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a component separating apparatus incorporated in the component supply apparatus of FIG. The top view which shows the example which provided the component exclusion means in the upstream of the component separation apparatus of FIG. The top view which shows the example which provided another component exclusion means in the upstream of the component separation apparatus of FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the component separation apparatus integrated in the component supply apparatus of 2nd Embodiment The top view of the component supply apparatus of 3rd Embodiment Longitudinal sectional view of a conventional parts separator

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the vibration type component supply apparatus is configured to convey small coil springs P (hereinafter referred to as “components P”) in opposite directions by vibration transmitted from the excitation mechanism 1. A return feeder having a supply trough 2 and a return trough 3 incorporates a parts separating device 4 that separates the parts P intertwined into each other one by one.

  The vibration mechanism 1 includes a lower vibrating body 7 attached to a base 5 via a vibration isolating rubber 6, a counterweight 8 fixed to the lower vibrating body 7, and an upper vibrating body connected to the alignment supply trough 2. 9, an electromagnet and a movable iron core (both not shown) arranged oppositely between both vibrating bodies 7, 9, a leaf spring 10 connecting both vibrating bodies 7, 9, the upper vibrating body 9 and the return trough 3. The plate feed trough 2 and the return trough 3 are vibrated by the action of an electromagnet and a movable iron core.

  The alignment supply trough 2 conveys the component P to the left side of the drawings in FIGS. 2 and 3 by two rows of conveyance paths 2a and 2b due to vibration transmitted from the excitation mechanism 1. The inner conveyance path 2a is for sending the parts P introduced from the hopper (not shown) and the parts P removed from the outer conveyance path 2b to the upstream side of the return trough 3. On the other hand, the outer conveyance path 2b supplies parts P sent from the downstream side of the return trough 3 so that their postures are aligned and supplies them to the next process. A separation device 4 is provided. And the chute | shoot part 11 which forms the downstream part of the outer conveyance path 2b is provided in the downstream of the components separation apparatus 4. FIG.

  The return trough 3 conveys the parts P sent from the inner conveyance path 2a of the alignment supply trough 2 to the right side of the drawings in FIGS. This is sent to the upstream portion 2b ′ of the conveying path 2b outside the trough 2.

  The component separation device 4 is an air-type device having a horizontal tapered cylindrical separation container 13 attached to a support column 12 erected on a base 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the separation container 13 is formed such that the length L is smaller than the inner diameter D, the inlet 14 is formed on the small-diameter side wall, and the outlet 15 is formed on the lid 15 that forms the large-diameter side wall. 16 are provided. Further, a protruding member 17 having a triangular cross section extending in the axial direction is attached to the upper part of the inner surface of the separation container 13, and the tip of the air supply pipe 18 is inserted into the bottom of the large diameter side. Air is ejected from the ejection port 19 in a direction in contact with the circumferential direction of the inner surface of the separation container 13. A discharge amount adjusting plate 20 that slides in the direction to open and close the discharge port 16 is attached to the large-diameter side lid 15 of the separation container 13, and the discharge area of the component P is adjusted by adjusting the opening area of the discharge port 16. It can be adjusted.

  Here, the discharge port 16 of the separation container 13 extends in a cylindrical shape obliquely upward from the large-diameter side lid (side wall) 15 at an inclination angle of about 35 °, and is closed at the top and side at the tip side. The component P is discharged downward. In addition, it is good to set the inclination-angle of the discharge port 16 in the range of 30-60 degrees.

  Next, the flow of the component P will be described based on FIG. The parts P put into the inner conveyance path 2a of the alignment supply trough 2 are once conveyed to the left side of the drawing and sent to the return trough 3, and then conveyed to the right side of the drawing and sent to the outer conveyance path 2b of the alignment supply trough 2. It is done.

  The parts sent to the upstream portion 2 b ′ of the outer conveyance path 2 b of the alignment supply trough 2 are first put into the separation container 13 of the parts separation device 4. The parts P thrown in from the inlet 14 of the separation container 13 are blown up by the air ejected from the air outlet 19 and swivel inside the separation container 13, colliding with the protruding member 17 during the turning, and one by one. To be separated. The separated part P becomes lighter than the entangled ones, and the spring elasticity restrained by the entanglement is recovered and easily springs up, and is discharged easily from the discharge port 16 and returned to the outer conveyance path 2b.

  Then, the parts P returned to the outer conveyance path 2b are sent to the chute part 11, aligned by the parts aligning part 21 provided in the chute part 11, and then sent to the next process through the gate part 22. . Here, the component aligning unit 21 returns the intertwined component P to the inner conveyance path 2a. By providing the component aligning unit 21 in the vicinity of the downstream side of the component separating device 4, the component separating device 4 The separated parts P are aligned before being entangled again.

  Note that the chute portion 11 of the alignment supply trough 2 is provided with an air nozzle (both not shown) for jetting air from the upstream side and the downstream side toward the gate portion 22 and a component confirmation sensor 23. The air nozzle on the upstream side ejects air that assists the component P so as to smoothly pass through the gate portion 22. On the other hand, the air nozzle on the downstream side ejects air to prevent entry of the part P into the gate part 22 when the part confirmation sensor 23 determines that the part P in the downstream part of the chute part 11 is full. When the component confirmation sensor 23 does not detect the component P for a predetermined time, the air is jetted for a short time to eliminate the component clogging at the gate portion 22.

  This component supply device has the above-described configuration, and the discharge port 16 of the separation container 13 of the component separation device 4 incorporated in the return feeder extends obliquely upward from the lid 15 that forms the large-diameter side wall of the separation container 13. Since it formed in this way, the components P which are still intertwined are not easily discharged from the separation container 13.

  Therefore, the position of the discharge port 16 of the separation container 13 can be lowered without increasing the number of parts P excluded on the downstream side of the parts separation device 4. As a result, a drop from the discharge port 16 of the separation container 13 to the outer conveyance path 2b of the alignment supply trough 2 can be reduced, so that the parts P discharged from the discharge port 16 can be prevented from being scattered and the components P can be stably aligned. While being able to supply, the height of the component separation apparatus 4 and by extension, the whole component supply apparatus can be reduced.

  In addition, since the discharge amount adjusting plate 20 is attached to the separation container 13 of the component separation apparatus 4, the discharge port 16 depends on the amount of the parts P discharged from the separation container 13 and the proportion of the parts P that are still intertwined. By adjusting the opening area, parts P can be arranged and supplied more efficiently. Further, the component separating device 4 is installed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the component aligning portion 21 of the alignment supply trough 2 so that the components P separated by the component separating device 4 are aligned before being entangled again. The supply capacity is improved.

  That is, in this vibration type component supply device, the installation space can be reduced by reducing the size in the height direction without reducing the component supply capability. Further, the entire apparatus is made compact by forming the length L of the separation container 13 smaller than the inner diameter D.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show examples in which the component supply device of the first embodiment described above is added with a configuration for appropriately maintaining the component retention amount in the separation container 13 of the component separation device 4.

  In the example of FIG. 5, component detection sensors 24, 25 are provided at the boundary portion between the upstream end of the alignment supply trough 2 and the downstream end of the return trough 3 and the upper portion of the discharge port 16 of the separation container 13. An air nozzle 26 for blowing air from the side of the part P on the path 3a is provided. Based on the detection results of the component detection sensors 24 and 25, the component retention amount in the separation container 13 is managed. When the component retention amount exceeds a predetermined value, air is ejected from the air nozzle 26. Air is blown onto the part P that is about to pass therethrough, and the part P is removed from the return conveyance path 3a and returned to the inner conveyance path 2a of the alignment supply trough 2. Thereby, the amount of parts staying in the separation container 13 can be maintained appropriately, and troubles of the parts separation device 4 itself, deformation, scratches, breakage, etc. of the parts P can be prevented.

  On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 6, as a means for removing the component P from the return conveyance path 3a on the upstream side of the component separation device 4, an arm 28 attached to the piezoelectric actuator 27 is used instead of the air nozzle 26 of FIG. A component that presses the part P on the conveyance path 3a from the side is adopted so that the same effect as in the example of FIG. 5 can be obtained.

  In the example of FIGS. 5 and 6, the downstream end of the return trough 3, that is, the width of the return conveyance path 3a in the vicinity of the upstream side of the component separating device 4 is formed to be not more than three times the diameter of the component P to separate components. A certain amount of the parts P is excluded in the vicinity of the upstream side of the device 4, and this also limits the amount of parts to be put into the separation container 13, causing troubles in the parts separating device 4 itself and problems in the parts P. The prevention of the occurrence of this is attempted.

  FIG. 7 shows a component separation device 29 incorporated in the component supply device of the second embodiment. This component separation device 29 is a rotary type in which a rotating disk (rotating body) 32 driven by a motor 31 is disposed at the bottom of a vertically placed cylindrical separation container 30. The separation container 30 has a length (height) dimension L smaller than the inner diameter dimension D, and is provided with an input port 33 at the top and a discharge port 34 at the side wall. Further, a discharge amount adjusting plate 35 that slides in a direction to open and close the discharge port 34 is attached to the side wall of the separation container 30, and the discharge area of the component P can be adjusted by adjusting the opening area of the discharge port 34. ing. A support cylinder 36 into which the lower end portion of the separation container 30 is fitted is attached to a support column 37 erected on the base 5.

  In the component separation device 29 of the second embodiment, the rotating disk 32 is rotated in the separation container 30, and the blade P attached to the upper surface of the component separation device 29 jumps off the component P introduced from the insertion port 33 and turns. The parts P are expanded and contracted or bent to be separated one by one and discharged from the discharge port 34. The discharge port 34 of the separation container 30 extends in a cylindrical shape obliquely upward from the side wall at an inclination angle of about 35 °, as in the case of the first embodiment, and covers the upper side and the side at the tip side. Thus, the part P is formed to be discharged downward. Therefore, the component supply device of the second embodiment that incorporates the rotary component separation device 29 instead of the pneumatic component separation device 4 of the first embodiment is compact in the height direction without reducing the component supply capability. To reduce the installation space.

  FIG. 8 shows a component supply apparatus according to the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the installation position of the pneumatic component separation device 4 of the first embodiment is changed to the downstream end of the return trough 3, and at the upstream portion of the alignment supply trough 2 where the component separation device 4 was installed, The rotary component separation device 29 of the second embodiment is installed.

  Then, in the downstream end portion of the return trough 3, as in the example of FIG. 5, in order to keep the amount of parts staying in the separation container 13 of the air-type parts separating device 4 appropriately, the parts P are returned by air to the conveying path. An air nozzle 26 excluded from 3a is provided. In addition, a component sorting unit 39 that sorts the component P discharged from the pneumatic component separation device 4 is provided upstream of the alignment supply trough 2. This parts selection part 39 sends the parts P separated one by one to the chute part 11 as it is by blowing air from the side to the parts P conveyed by the chute-like feed path 40, The parts P that are still intertwined are put into the rotary part separator 29.

  In the component supply device of the third embodiment, a low-cost pneumatic component separation device 4 is installed on the upstream side in the component conveyance direction, and a rotary component separation device having high component separation performance so as to be adjacent to this downstream side. 29 is installed, so that the parts separation capability is increased and the parts P can be arranged and supplied more efficiently, while suppressing the increase in cost, and the parts supply capacity is improved compared to the first and second embodiments. Can be achieved.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the coil spring that is the target of alignment supply in each of the above-described embodiments, and can be effectively applied to a vibration-type component supply device that targets components that are easily entangled.

2 Alignment supply troughs 2a, 2b, 2b ′ Conveying path 3 Return trough 3a Return conveying path 4 Parts separating device 11 Chute part 13 Separating container 14 Input port 15 Lid (side wall)
16 Discharge port 17 Protruding member 19 Air outlet 20 Discharge amount adjustment plate 21 Component alignment unit 24, 25 Component detection sensor 26 Air nozzle 27 Piezoelectric actuator 28 Arm 29 Component separation device 30 Separation container 31 Motor 32 Rotating disk (rotating body)
33 Input port 34 Discharge port 35 Discharge amount adjustment plate 38 Blade 39 Component selection part P Component (coil spring)

Claims (13)

  An alignment supply trough that aligns parts while transporting them and supplies the aligned parts to the next process, and is arranged in parallel with the alignment supply troughs, and transports unaligned parts in the opposite direction to the alignment supply troughs. A return feeder having a return trough to be supplied to the upstream side of the trough, one by one while rotating the parts entangled with each other inside the separation container provided in the middle of the conveying path of the aligned supply trough or the return trough A vibration type component supply apparatus incorporating a component separation apparatus for separation, wherein the discharge port of the separation container of the component separation apparatus is formed to extend obliquely upward from the side wall of the separation container. .   2. The vibratory component supply device according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of the discharge port of the separation container is set to 30 to 60 degrees.   The vibratory component supply device according to claim 1, wherein a discharge amount adjusting plate that slides in a direction to open and close the discharge port is attached to a side wall of the separation container.   4. The vibration type component supply device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the separation container is smaller than the inner diameter.   5. The vibratory component supply device according to claim 1, wherein the component separation device is configured to rotate the component with air ejected from an inner surface of the separation container.   5. The vibration type component supply device according to claim 1, wherein the component separation device is configured to rotate the component by rotation of a rotating body disposed at a bottom portion of the separation container.   The vibratory component supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the component separation device is installed in a conveyance path in the vicinity of the upstream side of the component alignment portion of the alignment supply trough.   The vibration type component supply device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the component separation devices are installed.   The parts separating device is installed so that two units are adjacent to each other in the parts conveying direction, and the parts separating device on the upstream side is swirled by the air ejected from the inner surface of the separating container, and the parts separating device on the downstream side 9. The vibration type component supply device according to claim 8, wherein the component is swung by rotation of a rotating body arranged at the bottom of the separation container.   A component detection sensor is provided in the vicinity of the upstream side and the downstream side of the separation container of the component separation apparatus, and the amount of parts remaining in the separation container is managed based on the detection result of each of these component detection sensors. 10. The vibration-type component supply device according to claim 1, further comprising means for removing a component from a conveyance path on an upstream side of the component separation device when the amount exceeds a predetermined value.   11. The vibration type component supply device according to claim 10, wherein the means for removing the component from the upstream conveying path of the component separating apparatus blows air from the side to the component on the conveying path. .   11. The means for removing a component from the upstream conveying path of the component separating apparatus is an arm attached to a piezoelectric actuator, and presses the component on the conveying path from the side. The vibration-type component supply device described in 1.   The said component is a coil spring, The width of the conveyance path of the upstream vicinity of the said component separation apparatus was made into 3 times or less of the diameter of the said coil spring, The one of Claim 1 thru | or 12 characterized by the above-mentioned. Vibrating component supply device.

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