JP2020079147A - Bowl feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a bowl feeder that can increase the amount of work supply per unit time to a predetermined supply destination.SOLUTION: A transportation track 11 of a bowl transportation part 1 is structured by using a plurality of spiral tracks 15A, 15B extending from the radially inner side toward the radially outer side of the bowl transportation part 1, and a speed adjustment track 16 provided at a predetermined part continuous with a terminal end 11E of the transportation track 11; terminal ends 15AE, 15BE of each of the spiral tracks are merged with the speed adjustment track 16 provided on the radial outside of the bowl transportation part 1 rather than the starting ends 15AS, 15BS of each spiral track, so that the diameter increase rate of the speed adjustment track 16 is set to a value smaller than the diameter increase rate of the spiral track 15AE, 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a work transfer device (parts feeder), particularly a bowl feeder.

As a work transfer device (parts feeder) that aligns small works such as electronic chip parts while transferring them by vibration and supplies them to the next process, a linear feeder that transfers the work along a linearly extending transfer path and a linear feeder A device having a bowl feeder connected to the upstream side of the feeder is known. Some of such parts feeders use a traveling wave by elastic vibration to convey the work in order to cope with the miniaturization of the work (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). The bowl feeder utilizing such a traveling wave is configured such that the work is fed along the spiral transfer track formed inside (inner peripheral surface) of the bowl-shaped bowl transfer unit to the inner peripheral side (center side) of the bowl transfer unit. ) From the outer peripheral side (outer side).
In a bowl feeder that uses traveling waves, the amplitude of the generated elastic vibration is different between the inner side (center side) and the outer side (outer side) of the bowl transfer unit, and generally the inner side near the center of the bowl transfer unit. The amplitude is smaller than the outer amplitude. This is thought to be due to the structure in which the central part of the bowl transfer part is fixed to the support base (the fixed part is set in the central part of the bowl transfer part). The present inventors have confirmed that even in the bowl feeder in which the portion is set as the fixed portion, the amplitude on the inner peripheral side is smaller than the amplitude on the outer peripheral side.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-100139

  Then, in the bowl feeder configuration in which the workpiece is spirally conveyed from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the bowl transporting section by using the bowl transporting section whose amplitude on the inner peripheral side is smaller than that on the outer peripheral side, There is a phenomenon that the work transfer speed on the upstream side of the transfer track is relatively low, and the work transfer speed on the downstream side of the transfer track is relatively high. As a result, there is a problem that the work supply amount is reduced depending on the work transfer speed on the upstream side of the transfer track, and even if the works are transferred without a gap on the upstream side of the transfer track, the work is transferred on the downstream side of the transfer track. There is a problem that they are separated from each other and the amount of work supplied by the bowl feeder (in other words, the amount of work discharged from the bowl feeder) varies.

  A bowl feeder configured to eliminate the amplitude difference between the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side of the bowl transport unit has been devised, but in addition to the complication of the structure, the amplitude difference is completely eliminated. Without it, it is difficult to make the work transfer speed constant over the entire transfer track.

  Even with a bowl feeder that uses a leaf spring as a drive source to vibrate the entire bowl transfer section in an oblique direction, the amplitude on the inner circumference side is smaller than the amplitude on the outer circumference side. It has been found by the research of the present inventor that the work transfer speed on the downstream side of the transfer truck is higher than the work transfer speed on the upstream side of the transfer truck, and the same problem as described above occurs.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a point, and its main purpose is to convey a bowl that extends from the inner peripheral side (radially inner side) to the outer peripheral side (radially outer side) of the bowl conveying section. In the configuration in which the workpieces are moved along with, while increasing the workpiece conveyance amount on the upstream side of the conveyance track, the workpieces are easily separated from each other on the downstream side of the conveyance track where the workpieces are easily separated from each other. An object of the present invention is to provide a bowl feeder capable of increasing the amount of work supplied to a predetermined supply destination per unit time by carrying at a relatively high carrying speed.

  That is, the present invention includes a bowl transfer unit having a transfer track, and a vibration source that causes vibration to transfer a work, which is an object to be transferred, along the transfer track, while moving the work toward the end of the transfer track. The present invention relates to a bowl feeder that can be transported to a predetermined transport destination.

  Further, the bowl feeder according to the present invention, as a transport track, includes a plurality of spiral tracks that spirally extend from the inner side in the radial direction of the bowl transport section toward the outer side in the radial direction, and a predetermined portion continuous to the end of the transport track. And a speed adjusting track provided at the end of each spiral track is merged with the speed adjusting track, and the rate of increase in the diameter of the speed adjusting track is set to the spiral center of the spiral track of the spiral track. The feature is that a value set to a value smaller than the rate of increase in diameter is applied.

  Here, the speed adjusting track in the present invention is provided on the outer side in the radial direction of the bowl transporting portion with respect to the start end of each spiral track. Therefore, the amplitude in the speed adjustment track is larger than the amplitude in the vicinity of the start end of the spiral track, and the work transfer speed in the speed adjustment track is faster than the work transfer speed in the vicinity of the start end of the spiral track. By utilizing this phenomenon, in the bowl feeder according to the present invention, the upstream side of the transfer track is configured by using a plurality of spiral tracks, so that the transfer speed of the work is relatively low. In addition to increasing the amount, the downstream side of the transportation track is configured with a speed adjustment track, and the structure in which the end of each spiral track is joined to this speed adjustment track is used to convey along each spiral track. The transferred work can be delivered to the speed adjustment track, and each work can be transferred to the end of the transfer track at a speed higher than the work transfer speed near the start end of the spiral track on the speed adjustment track. Therefore, it is possible to stably supply a large amount and a constant work.

  Further, the work transfer speed in each spiral track spirally extending from the radially inner side of the bowl transfer section toward the radially outer side is relatively slower as it approaches the start end, and at the end (the portion that joins the speed adjustment track). Is relatively faster as the distance is closer to, and even if the workpieces are conveyed in the conveying direction in the vicinity of the start end of each spiral track without a gap, the workpieces are separated in the conveying direction near the end of each spiral track. Tend. Focusing on this tendency, the bowl feeder according to the present invention is configured so that the workpieces merge at the merging point of the tracks so as to fill the gap between the workpieces that are separated in the transport direction near the end of each spiral track. Thus, the work can be carried on the speed adjusting track in the carrying direction with or without a gap, and the work carrying amount per time unit can be increased. In particular, in the present invention, when focusing on the rate of increase in diameter in plan view of the spiral track and the speed adjusting track having a spiral portion whose spiral diameter increases from the radial inner side to the radial outer side of the bowl transport unit, The rate of increase in the diameter of the speed adjusting track around the spiral center of the track (the rate of increase in the diameter of the speed adjusting track in plan view) is defined as the rate of increase in the diameter of the spiral track around the spiral center of the spiral track ( Since it is set to a value smaller than the increase rate of the diameter of the spiral track in a plan view), the end of the speed adjusting track is the end of the spiral track extending along the spiral locus to the end of the speed adjusting track. The position is closer to the center of the spiral (the center of the bowl transfer unit) than the (imaginary end of the spiral track). With such a configuration, the amplitude at the end of the speed adjusting track is the same as or smaller than the amplitude near the end of the spiral track, so that the work transfer speed on the speed adjusting track is at the end of the spiral track. It becomes less than the work transfer speed in the vicinity. Therefore, even if the workpieces have a gap in the transport direction near the end of the spiral track, after joining the speed adjustment track, there is no gap or almost no gap in the transport direction on the speed adjustment track. It is possible to supply a fixed amount from the end of the transport track to a predetermined transport destination. If it is difficult to determine the end of the speed adjustment track that is continuous with the end of the transport track, in the vicinity of the end of the transport track, the direction farther from the center of the bowl transport unit than the virtual end of the spiral track (radial direction). The boundary between the portion extending outward) and the portion upstream in the transport direction with respect to the portion extending outward in the radial direction can be defined as the end of the speed adjusting track.

  As a preferred example of the speed adjusting track in the present invention, a constant diameter track having a partial arc shape of the same radius with the center of the bowl transporting portion as the center point can be cited. With such a constant diameter track, it is possible to maintain a constant work transfer speed and prevent the occurrence of an event in which the distance between the works in the transfer direction on the constant diameter track becomes large (separation of works). As a result, a more stable constant work supply process can be realized.

  Particularly, in the bowl feeder according to the present invention, the spiral track is set to a position higher than the speed adjusting track in the portion where the spiral track merges with the speed adjusting track, and the spiral track is set to the speed adjusting position from the spiral track set to the high position. By configuring the workpieces to be transferred to the truck, it is possible to prevent or suppress the problem that the workpieces are pushed out of the transport truck due to the workpieces contacting each other at the same height at the confluence point. It is possible to smoothly join the workpieces at the joining point of the trucks.

  In the bowl feeder according to the present invention, a plurality of spiral tracks having the same shape are provided, and the starting ends of the spiral tracks in plan view are on the circumference of the same radius sharing a center point coinciding with the center of the bowl transfer unit. Moreover, if the positions are set so that they do not overlap each other, it is possible to make the conveying speed of the workpieces conveyed from the start end to the end of each spiral track and the behavior at the time of conveyance uniform, for example, for speed adjustment from any one spiral track. It is possible to avoid a phenomenon in which the amount of work transferred to the track is significantly larger than the amount of work transferred to the speed adjusting track from another spiral track.

  As an example of the vibration source in the present invention, there may be mentioned one that generates a traveling wave for transporting the work along the transport track in the bowl transport section. The bowl feeder of the present invention is not limited to the one that conveys the work along the conveyance track by the vibration of the traveling wave system, but the one that conveys the work along the conveyance track by the resonance action using the leaf spring. It doesn't matter.

  Depending on the installation site of the bowl feeder according to the present invention, it may not be allowed to convey the workpieces to the predetermined conveying destination in a state where the workpieces overlap each other from the conveying track end of the bowl conveying unit. In such a case, it is possible to appropriately cope with the problem by applying a bowl feeder provided with an excluding portion for excluding a plurality of overlapped works from the transport track at the end or near the end of the transport track. The work in the present invention can be, for example, a minute component such as an electronic component, but may be an article other than the electronic component.

  According to the present invention, when a workpiece, which is an object to be conveyed, is conveyed along a spiral conveying track formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bowl, the amplitude difference between the radially inner side and the radially outer side of the bowl is caused. The downstream transfer track where the work transfer speed is relatively high is composed of speed adjustment tracks, and the upstream transfer track where the work transfer speed is relatively low is composed of a plurality of spiral tracks. Based on the novel technical idea of merging the end with the speed adjustment track, the shortage of the work transfer speed on the upstream side of the transfer track is compensated by increasing the work transfer amount by using a plurality of spiral tracks. A large amount of workpieces can be supplied, and the workpieces transported on each spiral track can be delivered to the transport destination by being delivered to the speed adjustment tracks, and there is no gap in the transport direction on the speed adjustment tracks. It is also possible to convey, and it is possible to provide a bowl feeder capable of securing a constant and constant supply amount and increasing and stabilizing the work supply amount. In particular, according to the present invention, a complicated design is not required to eliminate the amplitude difference between the radially inner side and the radially outer side of the bowl conveying portion in the bowl feeder, the design constraint is reduced, and the design is easy. become.

1 is an overall view of a work transfer device including a bowl feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention. The whole top view of the bowl feeder concerning the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a connecting portion between the bowl feeder and the linear feeder according to the same embodiment. The figure which shows typically the behavior of the workpiece|work in the track merging part in the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of drive means for generating a traveling wave in the bowl feeder according to the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a traveling wave analysis diagram of a bowl transport unit and a linear transport unit according to the same embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the elastic deformation of a conveyance part over time. The figure explaining the definition of the "diameter increase rate" in this invention using FIG.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment can be used as a parts feeder X in combination with a linear feeder L as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, for example. 1 is an overall view of the parts feeder X, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a part of the parts feeder X (specifically, an overall plan view of the bowl feeder B and a partial plan view of the linear feeder L). 3 is an enlarged view of a connecting portion between the bowl feeder B and the linear feeder L. The bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment can be used as a parts feeder by itself without combining with the linear feeder L.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bowl feeder B includes a bowl-shaped transport unit (bowl transport unit 1) having a spiral transport track 11 on an inner peripheral surface thereof, and a bowl transport unit 1 (specifically, the transport unit). The driving means 2 (corresponding to the “excitation source” of the present invention, see FIG. 5) for generating a traveling wave on the transport surface of the track 11 is provided, and the work W (see FIG. 4) which is an object to be transported is provided with Is a device for moving to a predetermined supply destination (the upstream end 31S of the main track 31 of the linear feeder L in this embodiment) while moving along the transfer track 11.

  The bottomed bowl transporting unit 1 having a bowl-like shape as a whole is fixed to a pedestal (not shown) at the central portion of the bottom by a fastener 1N via a pressing plate 1P, and the portion other than the central portion of the pedestal is pedestal. Is in a state of being separated from. The bowl transfer unit 1 of the present embodiment includes a storage unit 12 that functions as a work reservoir around a fixed unit fixed to a pedestal, and a start end 11S (a start end 15AS of a spiral track, which will be described later) set at a position continuous with the storage unit 12. 15BS) and a transport track 11 extending outward in the radial direction. The pedestal that supports the bowl transfer unit 1 is provided on a support base D that is common to a pedestal DL that supports a linear transfer unit, which will be described later. The bowl transport unit 1 is configured by using an elastic member that generates a traveling wave.

  The storage unit 12 has a truncated conical surface 121 that slopes uphill toward the central portion of the bowl transport unit 1 and an inner ring-shaped flat surface 122 that is set on the outer periphery of the truncated conical surface 121, and has a predetermined direction. It is possible to store the work W that has been put into the storage section 12 by sliding it from the truncated conical surface 121 to the inner ring-shaped flat surface 122. The inner ring-shaped flat surface 122 is a ring-shaped smooth surface having a predetermined radius centered on the center 1C of the bowl transport unit 1 (see FIG. 2).

  The bowl transfer unit 1 of the present embodiment has an inverted conical surface 13 that is inclined with a rising gradient from the outer peripheral edge of the storage section 12 (the outer peripheral edge of the inner ring-shaped flat surface 122 in the present embodiment) outward in the radial direction, And a flat outer ring-shaped flat surface 14 set on the outer side of the conical surface 13, and most of the transport track 11 (spiral tracks 15A, 15B and speed adjusting track 16 described later) are formed on the inverted conical surface 13. A terminal end 11E of the transport track 11 (in the present embodiment, a terminal track that is curved in plan view, an exit portion) is formed in a relatively short region extending from the inverted conical surface 13 to the outer ring-shaped flat surface 14. The outer ring-shaped flat surface 14 is a ring-shaped smooth surface having a predetermined radius with the center 1C of the bowl transport unit 1 as a center point.

  The transport track 11 includes a plurality of spiral tracks (in this embodiment, two spiral tracks 15A and 15B) that spirally extend radially outward from a start end that is continuous with the storage section 12, and an end of the transport track 11. 11E and a speed adjusting track 16 provided at a predetermined portion continuous with 11E, and the ends 15AE and 15BE of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B are joined to the speed adjusting track 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of spiral tracks 15A and 15B have the same or substantially the same shape in a plan view, and the starting ends 15AS and 15BS of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B are located at the center 1C of the bowl transport unit 1. The positions are set on the circumferences of the same radius that share the same center point and do not overlap each other. In the present embodiment, the start end 15BS of one spiral track 15B of the two spiral tracks 15A and 15B is rotated by a predetermined angle in the spiral extending direction (hereinafter, “spiral direction R”) with respect to the other spiral track 15A. It is set to a shifted position. Therefore, the starting end 15BS of one spiral track 15B is located at a position rotated by a predetermined angle in the spiral direction R from the starting end 15AS of the other spiral track 15A, and one spiral track 15B is located in the middle part of the other spiral 15A (the other end). From the starting end 15AS of the spiral track 15A, which is rotated by a predetermined angle in the spiral direction R), the spiral track 15A is spirally stretched in such a manner as to run in parallel with the other spiral track 15A. In the following description, of the two spiral tracks 15A and 15B, the "other spiral track 15A" in the above description is referred to as the "reference spiral track 15A", and the "one spiral track 15B" is the "additional spiral track 15B". ". The spiral direction R is the same as the conveyance direction F of the work W on each of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B. The spiral center of each spiral track 15A, 15B coincides with the center 1C of the bowl transport unit 1.

  The speed adjusting track 16 has a constant radius provided at a position close to the outer peripheral edge of the bowl transport unit 1 (specifically, a position near the boundary with the outer ring-shaped flat surface 14 of the inverted conical surface 13). It is a constant-diameter track with a partial arc shape. The constant diameter track 16 is a track having a partial arc shape with the same radius with the center 1C of the bowl transport unit 1 as the center point. That is, the constant diameter track 16 is a partially arcuate track formed radially outward of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B in the bowl transport unit 1. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the end 16E of the constant diameter track 16 is continuous with the end 11E (end track, exit portion) of the transport track 11, and the start end 16S of the constant diameter track 16 has two spirals. It is continuous with the ends 15AE and 15BE of the tracks 15A and 15B. A portion where the start end 16S of the constant diameter track 16 and the ends 15AE and 15BE of the two spiral tracks 15A and 15B are continuous is a confluence J of the tracks. In the present embodiment, the end 11E (end track, exit portion) of the transfer track 11 extends from the end 16E of the constant diameter track 16 toward the outside in the radial direction of the bowl transfer unit 1 and the outer ring-shaped flat surface 14 is provided. The shape is set to cross. Therefore, the boundary between the end 16E of the constant-diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track) and the end 11E of the transport track 11 (end track, exit portion) can be clearly defined.

  Further, in the transport track 11 of the present embodiment, a predetermined area on the downstream end side of the reference spiral track 15A among the two spiral tracks 15A and 15B is set in a partial arc shape having the same diameter as the constant diameter track 16 and the center of the circle. is doing. Therefore, the partial arc-shaped portion of the reference spiral track 15A can be regarded as a part of the “constant-diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track)”. The downstream portion in the transport direction F after the portion where the spiral tracks 15A and 15B join (matches the above-mentioned joining point J) is referred to as a “constant diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track)”. The additional spiral track 15B is not provided with a partial arcuate portion having the same diameter as the constant diameter track 16. Here, the spiral centers of the two spiral tracks 15A and 15B coincide with the center 1C of the bowl transport unit 1 and extend from the end 16E of the constant diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track) to the spiral center of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B. The distance d1 is set to be equal to or less than the distance d2 from the ends 15AE and 15BE of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B to the spiral centers of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B. Specifically, the distance d1 from the end 16E of the constant diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track) to the spiral center of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B is from the ends 15AE and 15BE of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B to the spiral tracks 15A and 15B. The distance d2 to the center of the spiral coincides with or substantially coincides with. Therefore, the amplitude at the end 16E of the constant diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track) is about the same as the amplitude near the ends 15AE and 15BE of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B. In the reference spiral track 15A, a predetermined area on the downstream end side, which is set in a partial arc shape having the same diameter and having the same circle center as that of the constant diameter track 16, is referred to as a “constant diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track)”. When it is regarded as a part, the end of the reference spiral track 15A can be regarded as the end of the spiral portion, and the “end of the reference spiral track 15A is joined to the constant diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track). The “existing” configuration is a configuration corresponding to the configuration requirements regarding the transport truck of the present invention.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 4, in the portion of the transport track 1 where the additional spiral track 15B merges with the constant diameter track 16, a height difference (step) is provided between the constant diameter track 16 and the additional spiral track 15B, and So that the work W is transferred from one track (additional spiral track 15B in the illustrated example) set to a high position to the other track (constant diameter track 16 in the illustrated example) set to a relatively low position. I am configuring. The starting end 16S of the constant diameter track 16 is at the same height as the end 15AE of the reference spiral track 15A, and the starting end 16S of the constant diameter track 16 and the end 15AE of the reference spiral track 15A are smoothly continuous with each other. FIG. 11A is a schematic view of a portion (merging point J) where the additional spiral track 15B merges with the constant diameter track 16 as seen from the front in the transport direction F of the work W, and FIG. The work W merges from one track (additional spiral track 15B in the illustrated example) set to a relatively high position toward the other track (constant diameter track 16 in the illustrated example) set to a relatively low position. This is exaggerated and schematically shown.

  In the present embodiment in which the constant diameter track 16 is formed on the outer side of the additional spiral track 15B in the radial direction of the bowl transfer section 1, focusing on the transfer speed of the work W in the vicinity of the confluence J, it moves on the constant diameter track 16. The workpiece W is transported at a higher transport speed than the workpiece W moving on the additional spiral track 15B, and the workpiece transport speed is slower (the additional spiral track 15B in the illustrated example) to the faster workpiece transport speed. The work W is transferred to (the constant diameter track 16 in the illustrated example). In the merging portion J, a track having a relatively high work transfer speed (a track on the outer peripheral side in the radial direction) and a track having a relatively slower work speed (tracks on the inner peripheral side in the radial direction) Alternatively, the work W may be set at a position higher than the above position and the work W may be transferred from the track having a relatively high work transfer speed to the track having a relatively low work transfer speed.

  In the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment, the work transfer speed in each of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B spirally extending from the inner side in the radial direction of the bowl transfer unit 1 to the outer side in the radial direction is relatively closer to the starting ends 15AS and 15BS. Of the workpieces W in the transport direction F in the vicinity of the start ends 15AS and 15BS of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B. Even when the conveyance is started in the state of no work, the works W tend to be separated in the conveyance direction F near the ends 15AE and 15BE of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment conveys at the portion J where the additional spiral track 15B merges with the constant-diameter track 16 continuous with the reference spiral track 15A without any step. By moving the workpiece W from the additional spiral track 15B so as to fill the gap between the workpieces W on the reference spiral track 15A that are separated in the direction F, the gap of the workpiece W in the transport direction F on the constant diameter track 16 is reduced. It is possible to carry the work in a non-existing state or in a substantially non-existing state, and it is possible to increase the work carrying amount per time unit.

  Each of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B is set to have a shape in which the spiral tracks 15A and 15BS spirally orbit one or more times or substantially one revolution from the end 15AE and 15BE. It should be noted that the reference spiral track 15A and the constant diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track) whose predetermined area on the downstream end side is set in a partial arc shape having the same diameter as the constant diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track) are the main of the transport track 11. The additional spiral track 15B may be regarded as a track (main track), and the additional spiral track 15B may be regarded as a sub-track (tributary track) that joins the constant-diameter track 16 (speed adjusting track) whose end is the main track. In this case, it is possible to set a height difference between the main track and the sub-track at the joining portion, and transfer the work W from the relatively higher track to the relatively lower track.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bowl feeder B of the present embodiment is provided with an excluding portion 17 for excluding a plurality of overlapping works W from the transport track 11 in the vicinity of the terminal end 11E of the transport track 11. The excluding unit 17 injects from the air injecting hole 171 only a plurality of overlapped works W among the works W passing near the terminal end 11E of the transport track 11 (for example, only an upper work W of the works W overlapped in two steps). The air is removed from the transport truck 11. The work W removed by the exclusion unit 17 is returned to the storage unit 12 or the upstream side of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B.

  The two spiral tracks 15A and 15B of the transport track 11 are configured by forming grooves in the inner ring-shaped flat surface 122 and the inverted conical surface 13 of the bowl transport unit 1, and the constant diameter track 16 is the bowl transport unit. 1 is formed by grooving the reverse conical surface 13 and the end 11E (exit portion) of the transport track 11 is formed by grooving the reverse conical surface 13 and the outer ring-shaped flat surface 14. ing. The inner ring-shaped flat surface 122, the inverted conical surface 13, and the outer ring-shaped flat surface 14 can be regarded as an upward surface of the bowl transport unit 1. That is, the transport track 11 is formed on the upward surface of the bowl transport unit 1.

  The bowl transfer unit 1 having such a structure is configured to be capable of generating at least two vertical bending waves around the central axis 1C by ultrasonic vibration of 20 kHz or more.

  The driving means 2 for generating a traveling wave in the bowl transfer section 1 is, for example, a piezoelectric element, and as shown in FIG. 5, the surface on which the transfer track 11 is formed (inverse conical surface 13, outer ring flat). Corresponding to the surface 14), a plurality of them are attached at a predetermined pitch to the downward surface of the bowl transport unit 1. The drive unit 2 expands and contracts in the circumferential direction around the central axis 1C so as to be substantially along the bowl transport unit 1, thereby causing the transport track 11 formed in the bowl transport unit 1 to bend. Specifically, the plurality of driving means 2 (piezoelectric elements) are attached to the antinode position of the vibration mode with the polarities thereof being alternately switched at 1/2 wavelength intervals. In order to efficiently vibrate in two flexural standing wave modes with a deviation of 90°, approximately half the circumference of the bowl transport unit 1 is the first vibration area and the remaining approximately half circumference is the second vibration area. As the driving means 2 in the first and second excitation areas, the spatial phase is shifted by λ(1+2n)/4 (n=0, 1, 2,...) With respect to the wavelength λ of the traveling wave. And the AC signals generated by the two-phase AC signal transmission unit 21 and having different 90° phases are driven in the first excitation area and the second excitation area via the first amplifier 22 and the second amplifier 23, respectively. It is applied to the means 2. In this way, since the piezoelectric elements adjacent to each other in each excitation area (first excitation area, second excitation area) have a relationship of peaks and troughs of amplitude, when the same drive is performed, displacement in the opposite direction is caused. (Represented by “+” and “−” in FIG. 5), the piezoelectric elements having the same polarity in the first vibration area and the second vibration area are substantially displaced by λ/4. Is installed as

  In addition, the two-phase AC signal transmitting unit 21 adjusts the frequency of the waveform selected by the waveform selecting unit 24 by the excitation frequency adjusting unit 25 and the amplitude by the first amplitude adjusting unit 26, and then the first amplifier 22. , To the second amplifier 23, respectively. The second amplifier 23 is input after the amplitude is adjusted by the first amplitude adjusting means 26, the phase is adjusted by the electrical phase adjusting means 27, and the amplitude is adjusted by the second amplitude adjusting means 28. Here, the standing wave simply vibrates up and down on the spot when it resonates.

  When such a driving means 2 applies a sinusoidal vibration of an ultrasonic wave whose phase is temporally shifted by 90° to two locations along the circumferential direction by such a driving means 2, it is spatially and temporally deviated by 90°. Two other standing waves are superposed, and the flexural vibration becomes a traveling wave, as shown in FIG. 6(i). Here, FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram in which elastic deformations of the bowl transport unit 1 are arranged in time series. In the figure, the "transport surface of the transport track", the "neutral axis", and the "bottom surface" in the state before elastic deformation are shown by straight lines, respectively, and "a certain point (one point ( The locus of "black circle)" is shown as an ellipse, and it is schematically shown that elliptical vibration occurs when elastically deformed. In this way, elliptical vibration occurs at one point of the bowl transport unit 1 where the traveling wave is generated, and the traveling wave generated at the bowl transport unit 1 exerts a force on the work W at one point of the wave apex to cause elliptical vibration. The work W is conveyed in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the traveling wave by the propulsive force of the horizontal component (horizontal amplitude). As the traveling wave of the bending wave circulates in the bowl transfer unit 1, the work W climbs up the transfer track 11.

  Specifically, the workpiece W is set with the start ends 15AS and 15BS in the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the storage portion 21 and climbs up the two spiral tracks 15A and 15B that draw a spiral shape while rising, and ends at the ends of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B. From 15AE and 15BE, they join the constant diameter track 16 and are conveyed to the end 16E of the constant diameter track 16 and moved to the end 11E (exit portion) of the conveyance track 11 as they are, to the end 11E (exit portion) of the conveyance track 11. It is supplied to the linear main track 31 of the linear feeder L to which the starting end 31S (upstream end) is connected.

  Here, according to the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment, the upstream side of each spiral track (the reference spiral track 15A and the additional spiral track 15B) is located closer to the bowl transport unit 1 than the constant diameter track 16 which is a speed adjusting track. Since it is close to the center 1C of the work, the amplitude is smaller and the work transfer speed is slower than that of the constant diameter track 16. However, by providing a plurality of spiral tracks 15A and 15B, the work W on the upstream side of the transfer track 11 is While increasing the carry amount to compensate for the slow work transfer speed, the work W moving along each spiral track 15A, 15B is transferred between the work W on the constant diameter track 16 provided near the outer peripheral edge of the bowl transfer unit 1. The merging works W are conveyed along the constant-diameter track 16 in the conveying direction F without any gap or in a state where there is substantially no gap. It can be transported to the terminal end 11E (exit portion).

  In particular, in the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment, the speed adjusting track 16 is provided on the downstream side of the transfer track 11, and the speed adjusting track 16 has a constant radius from the center point that coincides with the center 1C of the bowl transfer unit 1. Since it is realized by the constant diameter track 16 which is a track having a partial arc shape, the work transfer speed is kept constant in the constant diameter track 16. Therefore, according to the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment, the work transfer speed on the constant diameter track 16 which is a speed adjusting track is faster and constant than the work transfer speed near the starting ends 15AS and 15BS of the spiral tracks 15A and 15B. It is possible to maintain the speed, and a problem that has occurred in the conventional bowl feeder configuration, that is, the downstream side formed relatively on the outer peripheral side of the bowl transfer section of the transfer track is relatively bowl-shaped. Since the work transfer speed is higher than that of the upstream side formed on the inner peripheral side of the transfer section, even if the work is transferred on the upstream side of the transfer track without any gap in the transfer direction, the work is still transferred on the downstream side of the transfer track. It is easy to separate in the carrying direction, and it is possible to solve the problem that the work supply amount per unit time (work transfer amount to the supply destination) varies.

  Further, in the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment, the additional spiral track 15B is added to the constant diameter track 16 located at the same height position as the portion J where the spiral tracks 15A and 15B merge, in other words, the end 15AE of the reference spiral track 15A. In the portion J where the merging is performed, a height difference is provided between the merging tracks, and the work W is transferred from the higher additional spiral track 15B to the lower constant diameter track 16, so the merging tracks are merged. It is possible to prevent/suppress the occurrence of a defect that occurs at the same height position, that is, the problem that the works come into contact with each other at the same height position and are pushed out of the track.

  Further, according to the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment, the work W transferred from the relatively high position track to the relatively low position track at the merging point J may be in a state of overlapping with another work W. In the process of being transported downstream of the confluence point J in the transport direction F, the workpieces W in the transport direction F enter a gap between them, or overflow from the transport track 11 and upstream of the transport track 11 (the storage section 12 or the spiral track 15A, 15B). Particularly, since the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the removing unit 17 that removes a plurality of overlapping works W from the transport track 11 is provided at the end 11E of the transport track 11 or in the vicinity of the end 11E, It is possible to regulate that the works W are conveyed from a terminal end 11E of the track 11 to a predetermined conveyance destination (linear feeder L) in an overlapped state, and the work W is in one row and does not overlap with the predetermined conveyance destination. It is possible to make the supply amount constant by transporting at.

  In addition, the linear feeder L in this embodiment is arranged at a position adjacent to the bowl feeder B as described above. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the linear feeder L includes a linear transport unit 3 having a linear main track 31 which is a linear transport track, and a drive unit (not shown) for generating a traveling wave in the linear transport unit 3. The work W is conveyed along the linear main track 31 by the traveling wave.

  The linear transport unit 3 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and has a central oval portion 33 that bulges upward from other portions in the central portion of the upward surface (see FIG. 2 ). In the central oval portion 33, a plurality of (in the illustrated example, a total of a total of, in the illustrated example, a virtual line (long axis 3C) that extends along the longitudinal direction of the linear transport unit 3 and passes through the center of the linear transport unit 3 in the width direction. 6) The linear transport section 3 is fixed while being supported on the pedestal D by an appropriate fastener 3N such as a bolt inserted in the formed fixing hole 34, and the portion other than the central oval portion 33 is the ground plane. It is provided in a floating state. The shape of the linear transport unit 3 is not limited to a rectangular shape in plan view, and may be an elliptical shape in plan view.

  On the upward surface of the linear transfer section 3, a linear linear main track 31 connected to the terminal end 11E of the transfer track 11 of the bowl transfer section 1 and a work W removed from the linear main track 31 are fed to the bowl feeder B. And a return track 32 for returning. In the present embodiment, the linear main track 31 is provided only in the area on one side of the upward surface of the linear transport unit 3 with the major axis 3C as a boundary, and the work W removed from the linear main track 31 is placed in the bowl feeder B. The return track 32 to be returned is provided in a range extending from the area on one side with the major axis 3C as a boundary to the area side on the other side of the upward surface of the linear transport unit 3.

  The linear main track 31 extends in a straight line substantially parallel to the long axis 3C in a region near the outer edge of the linear transport section 3 in the area on one side of the linear transport section 3 with the long axis 3C as a boundary, and the starting end 31S. And the end (not shown) reaches the outer edge of the linear transport unit 3. The linear main track 31 of the present embodiment is set to have a V-shaped cross section. The upwardly inclined surface (V-shaped surface) of the linear main track 31 functions as a transfer surface for transferring the work W. The cross-sectional shape of the linear main track 31 may be an appropriate shape other than the V-shape. The linear main track 31 can align the works W conveyed from the start end 31S in a line during conveyance and supply the works W from the end to the next process apparatus.

  The return track 32 is a linear upstream return track provided inside the linear main track 31 in an area on one side of the upward surface of the linear transport section 3 with the long axis 3C as a boundary, and the linear transport section 3 of the linear transport section 3. A straight downstream return track provided in an area on the other side of the upward surface with the major axis 3C as a boundary, and extends from the downstream end (end) of the upstream return track to the upstream end (start) of the downstream return track. And a partial arcuate (U-shaped) intermediate return track provided. The terminal end 32E of the return track 32 (downstream end of the downstream return track) reaches the outer edge of the linear transfer section 3 and communicates with the inner peripheral surface of the bowl transfer section 1 (specifically, the inverted conical surface 13). In the present embodiment, the opening 18 that is opened upward is formed in the bowl conveyance unit 1 at a position facing the end 32E of the return track 32, and the work W discharged from the end 32E of the return track 32 passes through this opening 18. It is configured to return to the inside of the bowl transport unit 1.

  The linear feeder L according to the present embodiment includes a sorting unit (not shown) that determines the transport posture of the work W transported to the linear main track 31, and among the works W transported along the linear main track 31, The work W that is not in the desired proper posture (different posture) is removed from the linear main track 31 and moved to the return track 32 (upstream return track). The work W in the different orientation, which has been removed from the linear main track 31 and moved to the return track 32, is returned to the bowl transfer section 1 of the bowl feeder B from the terminal end 32E of the return track 32 following the return track 32. The work W in the proper posture is discharged from the terminal end 31E of the linear main track 31 to the next process device.

  The linear transport unit 3 having such a configuration is configured to be capable of generating at least two or more vertical bending waves that circulate by ultrasonic vibration of 20 kHz or more.

  The linear feeder L of the present embodiment includes a plurality of driving means (not shown) for generating a plurality of standing waves having the same frequency and a spatial phase difference on the carrier surface, and is similar to or similar to the bowl feeder B described above. By providing a driving signal having a temporal phase difference including a mechanical phase difference in addition to the electrical phase difference to the plurality of driving means by the above configuration, the temporal phase difference including the mechanical phase difference is provided. Is perfectly matched or substantially matched with 90°, and as shown in FIG. 6(ii), a traveling wave is generated in the linear transfer section 3 to transfer the work W.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the transport track in which the two spiral tracks merge with the speed adjustment track is described, but the transport track in which a plurality of spiral tracks exceeding “two” merges with the speed adjustment track. It may be a bowl feeder with a truck. In this case, the positions at which the plurality of spiral tracks exceeding “two” merge with the speed adjustment track may all have the same configuration (a single merge point) or different configurations (a plurality of merge points are available). The configuration of the location) may be used.

  Further, the bowl feeder according to the present invention includes a configuration in which a plurality of spiral tracks are stretched in a spiral shape while merging with each other and the ends thereof merge with the speed adjusting track.

  In the present invention, the groove shape, length, and winding shape of each spiral track may be different for each spiral track. Further, when the plurality of spiral tracks have the same or substantially the same planar view shape, the start ends of the spiral tracks can be set to the same position.

  The plurality of spiral tracks may not have a perfect spiral shape, but may have a shape having a spiral portion in part. For example, a bent part, a straight part, or a partial arc (partial arc whose center is the point that does not coincide with the center of the bowl transport part, or partial arc whose center is the point that coincides with the center of the bowl transport part) The tracks that it has may be applied as spiral tracks.

  The tracks may be joined at the same height position without providing a height difference between the tracks at a portion where the tracks merge. In this case, it is possible to smoothly transfer the workpieces at the merging point by setting the workpieces so that the workpieces move between the tracks and merge with each other by a radial force such as a centrifugal force.

  In the above-described embodiment, the mode in which the "end 11E of the transport track 11" is configured by the end track that is curved in plan view is illustrated, but the end track that is straight in plan view or the end track that has a bent portion in part is illustrated. The "end of the transport truck" corresponding to the exit portion of the transport truck can also be configured. Here, when a constant diameter track is applied as the speed adjusting track in the present invention, since it is a track having a partial arc shape with a constant radius from the center of the bowl conveying unit, the end of the constant diameter track is the bowl conveying unit. It is essential that the end track has a predetermined shape that does not reach the outer edge and deviates from the radius locus of the constant diameter track (workpiece conveyance path along the constant diameter track) and reaches the outer edge of the bowl transfer unit.

  Further, the speed adjusting track in the present invention is not limited to the constant diameter track described in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the end of each spiral track joins and is located radially outside the bowl transport unit with respect to the start end of each spiral track. The provided track may be a track having a shape other than the partial arc shape. For example, a track having a spiral shape slightly smaller than the spiral shape of the downstream end portion of the spiral track can function as the speed adjusting track. In this case, the speed adjusting track that constitutes the downstream side of the transport track draws a spiral trajectory that is smaller than the spiral trajectory of the spiral track that configures the upstream side of the transport track (in other words, the diameter in the transport direction). Is a spiral track that gradually increases (a spiral track that moves away from the spiral center as it turns), or a track in which the amount of increase in diameter decreases or decreases (a spiral track that approaches the spiral center as you turn) Therefore, the amplitude at the end of the speed adjusting track is smaller than the amplitude in the vicinity of the end of the spiral track, and the transfer speed of the work on the speed adjusting track is one of the spiral tracks forming the upstream side of the transfer track. It becomes slower than the transport speed of the work moving in the downstream portion (the portion that joins the speed adjustment track). As a result, the gaps between the works in the carrying direction are filled on the speed adjusting track, and the works can be carried in the carrying direction with or without a gap, and the works can be constantly supplied to a predetermined carrying destination. Will be possible. When a track having such a small spiral shape (smaller spiral shape compared to the spiral track) is applied as the speed adjusting track, the distance from the end of the speed adjusting track to the spiral center of the spiral track is the spiral track. Is shorter than the distance from the end of to the spiral center of the spiral track. As described above, in the present invention, when the distance from the end of the speed adjusting track to the spiral center of the spiral track is d1 and the distance from the end of the spiral track to the spiral center of the spiral track is d2, d1≦d2. By satisfying the conditions, the above-described constant supply process of the work becomes possible.

Furthermore, when the condition of d1≦d2 is not satisfied, that is, the distance d1 from the end of the speed adjusting track to the spiral center of the spiral track is smaller than the distance d2 from the end of the spiral track to the spiral center of the spiral track. Even if it is also large, if the rate of increase of the diameter of the speed adjusting track in plan view is smaller than the rate of increase of the diameter of the spiral track in plan view, the same effect as above. Play. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, arbitrary two points A ₁ and A _{2 on the} spiral track 15B (arbitrary two points on the spiral part except the part of the spiral track 15B extending in the spiral direction R with the same diameter). When the radii from A ₁ , A ₂ ) to the spiral center O are r1 and r2, and the length of the arc A ₁ A ₂ of the spiral track 15B is a, the increase rate K1 of the diameter of the spiral track 15B in plan view is ,
K1=(r2-r1)/a
Can be expressed as This relationship applies to all spiral tracks (for example, spiral track 15A shown in FIG. 8) including a radial thread portion in which the spiral diameter increases from the radially inner side to the radially outer side of the bowl transport unit 1. Further, as shown in the figure, the radii from arbitrary two points C ₁ and C ₂ on the speed adjusting track 16 to the spiral center O are r3 and r4, and the arc C ₁ C ₂ of the speed adjusting track 16 is When the length is c, the rate of increase K2 of the diameter of the speed adjusting track 16 is
K2=(r4-r3)/c
Can be expressed as In the bowl feeder of the present invention, by setting the diameter increase rate K2 of the speed adjusting track to a value smaller than the diameter increase rate K1 of the spiral track, the end of the speed adjusting track makes the spiral track move its spiral locus. It is positioned closer to the center of the helix (center of the bowl transfer unit) than the end (imaginary end of the helix track) that extends to the end of the speed adjusting track following the (helical path of the helix). The amplitude at the end of the speed adjusting track is smaller than the amplitude in the vicinity of the end of the spiral track, and the same action and effect as described above are achieved.

  Further, a plurality of slits may be radially formed on the upper portion of the bowl transport unit at predetermined intervals along the transport direction. By forming a plurality of such slits to form a comb-teeth-shaped transport surface, the neutral axis is lowered as compared with a configuration in which no slit is formed on the transport surface, so that a traveling wave is generated on the transport surface. The distance (e value) from the transport surface to the neutral axis becomes large, making it easy to deform the bowl transport section in the traveling direction of the traveling wave, increasing the horizontal component of the force acting on the workpiece, and increasing the vertical component. Can be reduced. Therefore, as compared with the case of using the bowl transport unit in which the slits are not formed, the workpiece on the transport surface is prevented from bouncing as much as possible, and the workpiece transport speed can be improved and the workpiece can be efficiently transported. In addition, in a configuration in which a large number of slits are provided in the bowl transport unit and the comb-teeth-shaped transport surface is set, a film (not shown) may be attached to the comb-teeth-shaped transport surface so that the work does not fall into the slits.

  In the present invention, it is possible to apply a magnetostrictive element as the driving means instead of the piezoelectric element.

  The bowl feeder of the present invention may utilize rigid body vibration due to a leaf spring. Even in this type of bowl feeder, there is a difference in amplitude between the radially inner side and the radially outer side, and the workpiece transport speed is likely to be faster on the radially outer side than on the radially inner side. The same effect as the above can be obtained.

  Further, in the present invention, instead of or in addition to the configuration in which the overlapping work is excluded to the outside of the transport track by the blowing force of the air as the excluding portion, the overlapping work is brought into contact with the outside of the transport track by contacting only the overlapping work. Restricting plates or wipers that are excluded can be applied.

  It may be a bowl feeder that does not have an exclusion unit. In this case, the overlapped works are also directly supplied to the predetermined supply destination, which is advantageous in that the work supply amount is increased.

  Further, the bowl feeder according to the present invention can be used as a parts feeder alone as a bowl feeder without being combined with a linear feeder.

  A minute component such as an electronic component can be cited as an example of the work that is the object to be conveyed, but the work may be an article other than the electronic component.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each unit is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1... Bowl transfer section 11... Transfer tracks 15A, 15B... Spiral track (reference spiral track, additional spiral track)
16... Speed adjusting track, constant diameter track 17... Exclusion section 2... Excitation source B... Bowl feeder W... Work

Claims (5)

A bowl transfer unit having a transfer track, and a vibration source that vibrates a work as an object to be transferred along the transfer track, and a predetermined transfer is performed while moving the work toward the end of the transfer track. A bowl feeder that can be transported first,
The transport truck is
A plurality of spiral tracks extending radially from the inner side of the bowl transporting portion toward the outer side in the radial direction;
A speed adjusting track provided at a predetermined portion continuous to the end,
Merging the end of each spiral track with the speed adjusting track provided on the outer side in the radial direction of the bowl transporting portion from the start end of each spiral track,
A bowl feeder characterized in that an increase rate of a diameter of the speed adjusting track is set to a value smaller than an increase rate of a diameter of the spiral track centering around a spiral center of the spiral track. The bowl feeder according to claim 1, wherein the speed adjusting track is a constant diameter track having a partial arc shape with a constant radius with the center of the bowl transport unit as a center point. In the portion where the spiral track merges with the speed adjusting track, the spiral track is set at a position higher than the speed adjusting track, and the spiral track set at the high position is directed toward the speed adjusting track. The bowl feeder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the work is transferred. The plurality of spiral tracks have the same shape, and the start ends of the spiral tracks in a plan view are on the circumference of the same radius sharing a center point coinciding with the center of the bowl transfer unit and do not overlap each other. The bowl feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is set to a position. The bowl feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vibration source generates a traveling wave that conveys a work along the conveyance track in the bowl conveyance unit.

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