JP2014210649A - Vibration type part supply apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vibration type part supply apparatus which has a simple structure and aligns rubber-made cylindrical parts with a one-end part being small in diameter in such a posture that the one-end part is directed forward in the carrying direction in order to supply the parts, stably in an aligned posture, to a subsequent step.SOLUTION: In a vibration type part supply apparatus, a part storing hole 26 of a slide block 20 of a delivery mechanism 4 which receives parts P from a discharge end of a shute 12 (carrying path 8) is composed of a through hole which is formed with a large-diameter hole part 26a and a small-diameter hole part 27b, the through hole being formed continuously from the part receiving side, and the one-end parts of the parts P are aligned in a posture directed forward in the carrying direction in a middle part of the carrying path 8 by blowing air from the part receiving side of the slide block into the part storing hole 26. The parts P stored in the part storing hole 26 of the slide block 20 are passed through the small-diameter hole part 26b of the part storing hole 26 while deforming the central part and the-other end parts elastically to be transferred directly to a subsequent step.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vibration-type component supply device that supplies a component having a directionality to the next process while aligning its posture.

  In general, a cylindrical waterproof seal is inserted into a connection terminal portion of an electrical wiring harness of an automobile as a waterproof measure for an electrical cable, and the insertion process is performed by a terminal crimping device. The waterproof seal is made of a soft rubber in order to ensure waterproofness and pressure-bonding properties, and one end portion on the insertion end side is often formed with a smaller diameter than the central portion and the other end portion (see FIG. 9). In order to supply a waterproof seal having a shape having such directionality to the terminal crimping apparatus in a predetermined posture, a vibration type component supply apparatus is often used.

  However, as a recent trend, the demand for small-diameter waterproof seals has increased along with the miniaturization, weight reduction, and hybridization of automobiles, and electrical cables have become thicker due to revisions to safety standards for electrical equipment. As a result, the thickness of the waterproof seal has been reduced, which makes it difficult to align and supply the waterproof seal in the vibratory component supply device.

  In other words, the conventional vibratory component supply device drops the waterproof seal with a posture hole provided in the alignment mechanism in the middle of the conveyance path so that one end (small diameter side) is in a downward posture, and the shape of the outer peripheral surface is maintained in that posture. There were many things that were transported to the downstream side in a suspended state that was suspended using it, but the waterproof seal is transported in a suspended state due to a decrease in suspension allowance and a decrease in rigidity due to the diameter reduction and thinning of the waterproof seal. It has become difficult.

  For this reason, it has been proposed to align the waterproof seal in a posture in which one end thereof is tilted forward in the transport direction and transport the waterproof seal downstream (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the vibration type component supply apparatus described in Patent Document 1 sends a component (waterproof seal) P that has been transported along the transport path 51 to the next process. For this purpose, the parts P are received one by one from the conveyance path 51 (the state shown in FIG. 10A), and the parts P in a predetermined posture (position with one end facing forward) are transferred to a predetermined feed position (FIG. 10B). A cutting mechanism 52 for transferring the component P to the feed position, and an air pressure feeding mechanism 53 for pressure-feeding the component P transferred to the feed position to the next process with air.

  In the cutting mechanism 52, there is a possibility that the received component P has a posture other than a predetermined posture (a posture in which the other end portion is directed forward). The component P in the outer posture is transferred to the return position in order to return it to the upstream side of the transport path 51. As the component posture identification means, a large-diameter hole portion into which the other end portion of the component P received from the conveyance path 51 enters and a small-diameter hole portion into which one end portion of the component P enters but the other end portion does not enter are continuous. A component storage hole 54 is provided, and the posture of the component P is identified based on whether or not the light from the two pairs of photoelectric sensors 55a and 55b crossing the large-diameter hole portion and the small-diameter hole portion is blocked. Is adopted.

JP 2012-126547 A

  In the vibration type component supply device of Patent Document 1, air is blown from the pressure supply air supply portion 56 of the air pressure supply mechanism 53 to the small diameter hole portion side of the component storage hole 54 at either the feed position or the return position of the cutting mechanism 52. It has become. As a result, the component P in a predetermined posture is fed into the pressure feed path 57 connected to the large-diameter hole portion side of the component storage hole 54 at the feed position (see FIG. 10B), and the component P in a posture other than the predetermined posture is returned. It is sent to the return pressure feed path 58 connected to the large diameter hole side of the component storage hole 54 at the position. Accordingly, the component P in a predetermined posture is supplied to the next process in a posture in which the other end (large diameter side) is directed forward.

  On the other hand, some apparatuses on the next process side require specifications to supply parts in a posture in which one end (small diameter side) faces forward. When such a device is in the next process, a direction changing unit that temporarily receives the component sent to the pressure feeding path is provided, and after the arrival of the component is confirmed by this direction changing unit, the direction of the component is orthogonal to the pressure feeding path. And the direction changing part is connected to the second pressure feeding path, and air is blown into the direction changing part from the large diameter side of the part to send the part to the second pressure feeding path. It can respond to the requirements of component posture.

  However, when the above-described measures are taken, there is a possibility that the parts pumped from the parts storage hole do not arrive at the predetermined position of the direction changing portion. In other words, the parts discharged from the transport path are pushed by the subsequent parts and are surely pushed into the parts storage hole. However, the parts sent from the parts storage hole by pressure may change direction because the material may be rubber. It is conceivable that they are bounced back into the pressure feed path without staying at the predetermined position of the part. If a part stays in the pumping path, the supply of the part to the next process becomes unstable. In addition, there is a problem in that the installation space for the entire component supply device is increased and the cost is increased by providing the direction changing unit, the second pumping path, and the like.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vibration-type component supply device that aligns rubber cylindrical parts having a small diameter at one end so that the one end faces forward in the transport direction. It is to be able to stably supply the next process.

  In order to solve the above problems, the inventor of the present application pays attention to the fact that the parts to be aligned and supplied are made of rubber, and the thinning of the parts is progressing as a recent trend. The idea was to simplify the structure of the part to be sent to the process by using elastic deformation of the parts.

  Based on this idea, the present invention targets cylindrical rubber parts whose one end in the axial direction is smaller in diameter than either the central part or the other end, and transports this part. A path, an alignment mechanism that directs one end of the component forward in the conveying direction in the middle of the conveying path, and one part at a time from the discharge end of the conveying path, In the vibration-type component supply apparatus, comprising: a cutting mechanism that transfers a part facing forward to a predetermined feeding position; and an air pressure feeding mechanism that sends the part transferred to the feeding position to the next process by air. Is equipped with a transfer member that stores and transfers the components received from the transport path into the component storage hole. The component storage hole opens on the component receiving side of the transfer member, and the other end of the component can be inserted. Large diameter hole and continuous to this large diameter hole The component is a through hole formed with a small-diameter hole that can be inserted at one end and cannot be inserted at the other end, and the air pressure feeding mechanism sends air from the component receiving side of the transfer member to the component receiving hole at the feeding position. By blowing, a configuration was adopted in which the component stored in the component storage hole of the transfer member was sent to the next process through the small diameter hole portion of the component storage hole while elastically deforming the other end portion.

  According to this configuration, the parts aligned in a posture in which one end portion faces forward can be sent directly from the parts storage hole of the transfer member to the next process, so that the parts are sent backward from the parts storage hole as described above. Compared to the case where the direction changing unit reverses the feeding direction, the parts can be stably supplied to the next process, and the structure can be simplified.

  The large-diameter hole portion and the small-diameter hole portion of the component storage hole of the transfer member are preferably round holes. If a square hole or the like is used, a component housing hole is formed by a combination of a plurality of members, which increases costs and may cause air to leak from the gaps between the members, resulting in unstable pumping. .

  Here, on the side opposite to the large-diameter hole portion across the small-diameter hole portion of the component housing hole of the transfer member, a round hole outlet portion having a larger radial dimension than the central portion and the other end portion of the component is provided. As a result, the time and distance during which the parts are elastically deformed can be suppressed, and the parts can be supplied more stably.

  Further, if the step surface between the large diameter hole portion and the small diameter hole portion of the component storage hole of the transfer member is formed in a taper shape, it becomes easy for the component elastically deformed through the small diameter hole portion of the component storage hole to pass through, This also improves the stability of component supply.

  As described above, the vibration type component supply device of the present invention has a component storage hole of a transfer member of a cutting mechanism that receives a component from a discharge end of a conveyance path, and a large-diameter hole portion and a small-diameter hole portion are continuous from the component receiving side. A component that is stored in a posture in which one end portion is directed forward in the component storage hole of the transfer member by blowing air from the component receiving side of the transfer member to the component storage hole. Since the other end portion is elastically deformed and passes through the small diameter hole portion of the component storage hole and is directly sent to the next process, the direction changing portion as described above is provided between the transfer member and the next process. Compared with the case where it is provided, the parts can be stably supplied to the next process, and the structure can be simplified.

  Even when it is required to supply parts in the opposite orientation from the next process side, air is blown from the side opposite to the parts receiving side of the transfer member to attach each part of the air pressure feeding mechanism to the transfer member. It is possible to easily cope with this by simply changing the part receiving side to send the part to the next process.

The top view of the component supply apparatus of embodiment Front view of FIG. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the main part of the alignment mechanism of FIG. Front view near the alignment mechanism of FIG. a and b are sectional views taken along lines Va-Va and Vb-Vb in FIG. 4, respectively. a is a cross-sectional plan view of the cutting mechanism of FIG. 1, b is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view of the component storage hole of a 1A and 1B are cross-sectional plan views for explaining the operation of the cutting mechanism shown in FIG. An enlarged cross-sectional plan view showing a modification of the component storage hole a is a front view of parts to be aligned and supplied, b is a right side view of a a and b are cross-sectional plan views illustrating the configuration of the cutting mechanism of the conventional component supply device and the operation with respect to the component in a predetermined posture, respectively.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the vibration type component supply apparatus is arranged so that the alignment supply trough 2 and the return trough 3 convey components in opposite directions to one vibration linear advance feeder 1. They are arranged side by side. The discharge end of the alignment supply trough 2 is connected to a cutting mechanism 4 that transfers the parts to different positions depending on their postures. Of the parts transferred by the cutting mechanism 4, there is provided an air pressure feeding mechanism 5 that sends parts in a predetermined posture to the next process and returns parts in a non-predetermined posture to the linear feeder 1. As shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), the part P to be aligned and supplied by this apparatus is formed such that one end in the axial direction is tapered with a smaller diameter than the center and the other end. This is a cylindrical soft rubber waterproof seal in which the other end and the other end are formed to have substantially the same diameter. And although illustration is omitted, in the next process, a terminal crimping device for crimping the component P together with the terminal to the electrical cable is provided, and this terminal crimping device has a posture in which one end portion (small diameter side) is directed forward. The specification is to receive the part P.

  The linear feeder 1 has a vibration body (vibration mechanism) 7 attached to an anti-vibration rubber 6 fixed to the floor F, and this vibration body 7 is connected to the alignment supply trough 2 to reciprocate the alignment supply trough 2. By vibrating, the parts P are aligned while being conveyed in the left direction of the drawing along the conveying path 8, and the aligned parts P are fed into the cutting mechanism 4. The return trough 3 is connected to the connecting member 7 a of the vibrating body 7 by a pair of front and rear leaf springs 9. The return trough 3 receives the vibration from the vibrating body 7 and reciprocates to receive it from the alignment supply trough 2. The parts P are transported along the return transport path 10 in the right direction of the drawing and supplied again to the alignment supply trough 2.

  The alignment supply trough 2 has a gentle upward slope in the upstream portion of the conveyance path 8, and an alignment mechanism 11 that aligns the parts P is provided in the central portion in the conveyance direction, and the alignment mechanism 11 in the downstream portion. A chute 12 is provided for conveying the parts P aligned in the above to the cutting mechanism 4. A storage unit 13 for temporarily storing the component P is provided on the side of the conveyance path 8, and the component P put into the storage unit 13 and the component P returned from the air pressure feeding mechanism 5 are supplied to the return trough 3. It is supposed to be sent. On the other hand, the return trough 3 returns and conveys the parts P sent from the storage unit 13 of the alignment supply trough 2 and returns them to the upstream end of the alignment supply trough 2, so that the return conveyance path 10 has an upward slope. It is an inclined surface.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the alignment mechanism 11 is provided with a recess 14 having a width that allows the component P to enter the side wall of a portion continuous with the upstream portion of the transport path 8, and the floor of the recess 14 has the component P. The shape hole 15 having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape including the shaft is provided, and the conveyed component P is sent to the concave portion 14 by air ejected from a nozzle (not shown), and one end when the component P passes through the shape hole 15. It is designed to fall with the posture facing down.

  As shown in FIG. 4, guide members 17 and 18 that form a passage 16 for receiving the component P falling from the figure hole 15 are provided below the figure hole 15, and the lower end side of the passage 16 is curved. The chute 12 is connected to the conveyance path 8. As a result, the part P that has dropped from the figure hole 15 with one end facing downward changes its direction by 90 ° in the passage 16 below the figure hole 15 and is directed to the chute 12 with one end directed forward in the conveying direction. It is sent to the discharge end as it is.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5A, the guide member 17 on the curved center side of the passage 16 has a curved surface (inner surface on the curved center side of the passage 16) 17a formed in a V-shaped cross section. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the chute 12 is obtained by joining two chute parts 12a and 12b in the width direction of the conveyance path 8, and a lower guide that forms the conveyance path 8. The surface 12c is formed in a V-shaped cross section. As a result, the posture of the component P falling from the figure hole 15 is stably changed, and is smoothly conveyed to the discharge end of the chute 12. Note that the guide surface of the chute may have a U-shaped cross section, and a guide surface having a V-shaped or U-shaped cross section may be provided on the upper side of the conveyance path.

  Further, a component sensor 19 for detecting the conveyance state of the component P is attached to the chute 12 (see FIG. 4). When the component sensor 19 detects that the component P is full on the chute 12, the component heading toward the alignment mechanism 11 is detected. P is automatically eliminated by air.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the cutting mechanism 4 is arranged at a position close to and opposed to the discharge end of the chute 12, and a slide block 20 as a transfer member that slides in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the chute 12, A fixed block 21 that is fixed at a position adjacent to the discharge end of the chute 12 and guides the slide block 20 and a guide block 22 that guides the slide block 20 together with the fixed block 21 are provided. The guide block 22 is fixed to a fixed block 21, and the fixed block 21 is supported by a support member 24 provided on the floor F via a base 23 (see FIG. 2). In addition, two pairs of photoelectric sensors 25a and 25b are arranged at positions facing each other across the slide block 20 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the chute 12 (each pair indicates the light emitting side and the light receiving side with the same symbol). The photoelectric sensors 25a and 25b identify the posture of the component P received from the chute 12 by the slide block 20 as will be described later.

  The slide block 20 has a component storage hole 26 that passes from the surface guided by the fixed block 21 to the surface guided by the guide block 22 and stores only one component P received from the chute 12. . As shown in FIG. 6B, the component storage hole 26 has a large-diameter hole portion 26a that opens to the fixed block 21 side (component-receiving side of the slide block 20) and a small-diameter hole portion 26b that opens to the guide block 22 side. Is a two-stage round hole formed continuously through a tapered step surface 26c, and the opening-side end of the large-diameter hole 26a is also formed in a tapered shape that expands outward. . The inner diameter of the large-diameter hole portion 26a is formed such that the central portion and the other end portion of the component P can be inserted, and the inner diameter of the small-diameter hole portion 26b is such that one end portion of the component P can be inserted and the central portion and the other end portion are inserted. The part is formed in a dimension that cannot be inserted.

  Therefore, when the slide block 20 receives a part P (in a predetermined posture) that has been transported from the chute 12 with one end directed forward in the transport direction, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), One end of the component P enters the small-diameter hole portion 26b of the component storage hole 26, and the light from the two photoelectric sensors 25a and 25b is blocked, but the component P in the opposite direction (outside the predetermined position) is received. Sometimes, the central portion and the other end portion of the component P enter only the large-diameter hole portion 26a of the component storage hole 26, and only the light of one photoelectric sensor 25a is blocked. That is, from the on / off signals of the two pairs of photoelectric sensors 25a and 25b, the presence / absence of reception of the component P and the position in the front-rear direction of one end of the received component P (whether or not the component P is in a predetermined posture) are identified. be able to.

  As a result of the above identification, if the component P received by the slide block 20 is in a predetermined posture, as shown in FIG. 7A, the slide block 20 is slid upward in the drawing (in the direction approaching the fixed block 21). Then, the part P is transferred to a predetermined feeding position. On the other hand, when the received part P is in a posture other than the predetermined position, as shown in FIG. 7B, the slide block 20 is slid downward (in the direction away from the fixed block 21), and the part P is moved to a predetermined position. Transfer to the return position.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7B, the air pressure feeding mechanism 5 is provided with pressure feeding air supply portions 27 and 28 on the fixed block 21 and the guide block 22, respectively. A through hole 29 serving as an inlet portion of the pressure feeding path to the next process is provided, and one end portion of the pressure feeding hose 30 forming the pressure feeding path is inserted and fixed in the through hole 29, and is opposite to the fixed block 21 with respect to the chute 12. On the side, a return pipe 31 for returning the component P to the storage part 13 of the alignment supply trough 2 is arranged. The return pipe 31 is supported by a column 32 erected on the floor F (see FIG. 2).

  The pressure supply air supply unit 27 of the fixed block 21 and the through hole 29 of the guide block 22 are respectively open to the openings on both sides of the component storage hole 26 of the slide block 20 when the slide block 20 transfers the component P to the feed position. The pressure-feed air supply unit 28 and the return pipe 31 of the guide block 22 are opened at opposite positions, and the openings on both sides of the component storage hole 26 of the slide block 20 when the slide block 20 transfers the component P to the return position. It is opened at a position opposite to.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, the component P transferred to the feed position by the slide block 20 is inserted into the through hole 29 of the guide block 22 by the air blown from the pressure feed air supply unit 27 of the fixed block 21. As shown in FIG. 7B, the component P that has been pumped to the next process through the pumping hose 30 and transferred to the return position by the slide block 20 is blown by the air blown from the pumping air supply unit 28 of the guide block 22. The pressure is fed to the storage section 13 of the alignment supply trough 2 via the return pipe 31.

  Therefore, the component P in a non-predetermined posture is returned to the alignment supply trough 2 with the other end (large diameter side) facing forward, whereas the component P in the predetermined posture is a terminal for the next process described above. Corresponding to the specifications of the crimping device, the one end (small diameter side) is sent to the next process with the posture facing forward. Here, the small-diameter hole portion 26b of the component housing hole 26 is formed to have a size that the central portion and the other end portion of the component P cannot be inserted, but the component P formed of soft rubber has the central portion and the other end portion. It is possible to pass through the small diameter hole portion 26b while elastically deforming the portion.

  As described above, this vibration type component supply device has a large diameter hole portion from the component receiving side through the component receiving hole 26 of the slide block 20 of the cutting mechanism 4 that receives the component P from the discharge end of the chute 12 (conveyance path 8). 26a and a small-diameter hole portion 27b are continuously formed, and air is blown into the component storage hole 26 from the component receiving side of the slide block 20 so that one end (small diameter side) is formed in the component storage hole 26. The component P stored in a forward orientation is directly sent to the next process through the small-diameter hole portion 26b of the component storage hole 26 while elastically deforming the central portion and the other end portion thereof. Therefore, the direction changing part for changing the direction of the component P is not required between the slide block 20 and the next process, and the component P can be stably supplied to the next process with a simple structure.

  Here, the component housing hole 26 has an inner diameter of the small-diameter hole portion 26b as large as possible so long as the central portion and the other end portion of the component P do not enter the small-diameter hole portion 26b when the component P is fed from the chute 12. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the deformation amount of the component P when the central portion and the other end portion of the component P pass through the small-diameter hole portion 26b, and to prevent the component P from being scratched. Further, the stepped surface 26c between the large-diameter hole portion 26a and the small-diameter hole portion 26b may not necessarily be formed in a tapered shape. This is preferable because the stability of component supply is improved.

  FIG. 8 shows a modification of the component storage hole 26 of the slide block 20. In this modification, the small-diameter hole portion 26b of the component housing hole 26 is shortened, and on the side opposite to the large-diameter hole portion 26a across the small-diameter hole portion 26b, more radially than the central portion and the other end portion of the component P. A round hole outlet portion 26d having a large size is provided, and a step surface 26e between the outlet portion 26d and the small diameter hole portion 26b is formed in a tapered shape. By forming the component housing hole 26 in such a three-stage shape, the time and distance during which the component P is elastically deformed can be suppressed, and more stable component supply is possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the parts to be aligned and supplied have the central portion and the other end portion having substantially the same diameter has been described. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a vibration-type component supply device that targets a component whose one end is smaller in diameter than both the central portion and the other end.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Straight feeder 2 Alignment supply trough 3 Return trough 4 Cutting mechanism 5 Air pressure feed mechanism 8 Conveyance path 10 Return conveyance path 11 Alignment mechanism 12 Chute 13 Storage part 20 Slide block 21 Fixed block 22 Guide block 25a, 25b Photoelectric sensor 26 Parts Storage hole 26a Large-diameter hole 26b Small-diameter hole 26c Stepped surface 26d Outlet part 27, 28 Pressure-feed air supply part 30 Pressure-feed hose 31 Return pipe P Parts

Claims (4)

Cylindrical rubber parts whose one end in the axial direction is smaller in diameter than either the central part or the other end are targeted for alignment supply, and the parts are in the middle of the conveying path for conveying these parts. An alignment mechanism that directs one end of each part forward in the transport direction, and receives parts one by one from the discharge end of the transport path, identifies the posture of the received parts, and sends a part with one end facing forward In a vibratory component supply device comprising a cutting mechanism for transferring to a position and an air pressure feeding mechanism for sending the component transferred to the feeding position to the next process by air,
The cutting mechanism includes a transfer member that stores and transfers a component received from the conveyance path in a component storage hole, and the component storage hole opens on a component receiving side of the transfer member, and the other end of the component. Is a through-hole formed with a large-diameter hole portion that can be inserted, and a small-diameter hole portion that is continuous with the large-diameter hole portion, one end of the component can be inserted, and the other end cannot be inserted,
When the air pressure feeding mechanism blows air from the component receiving side of the transfer member to the component storage hole at the feed position, the component stored in the component storage hole of the transfer member is stored in the component while elastically deforming the other end. A vibration-type component supply device characterized in that it passes through the small-diameter hole portion of the hole and is sent to the next process.   The vibration type component supply device according to claim 1, wherein each of the large-diameter hole portion and the small-diameter hole portion of the component storage hole of the transfer member is a round hole.   A round hole outlet portion having a larger radial dimension than the central portion and the other end portion of the component is provided on the opposite side of the large diameter hole portion across the small diameter hole portion of the component storage hole of the transfer member. The vibration type component supply apparatus according to claim 2.   The vibration type component supply device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a stepped surface between the large-diameter hole portion and the small-diameter hole portion of the component storage hole of the transfer member is formed in a tapered shape.

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