JP2020111429A - Controller for part feeder, and part feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a controller for a part feeder capable of visually observing a conveying state of workpieces by an operator and concurrently adjusting vibration conditions of a plurality of drive units.SOLUTION: A controller 1 for a part feeder X includes: a display unit 11 for displaying items 112 on vibration conditions of respective drive units (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H) on a common screen 110; a plurality of operation units 12 capable of performing adjustment operations on the designated adjustment operation target items 112 among the adjustment operation target items 112 displayed on the display unit 11; and a control unit 13 for allocating the adjustment operation target items 112 by the respective operation units 12 to every operation unit 12, wherein the operation units capable of performing adjustment operations on the adjustment operation target items 112 by operation with tactile sensation are applied as the respective operation units 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a controller for a parts feeder which is a work transfer device.

It is attached to various devices such as appearance inspection device and taping machine, and it is spirally stretched as a work transfer device (part feeder) that aligns small works such as electronic chip parts while transferring them by vibration and supplies them to the next process. Bowl feeder that conveys the work along the conveyance track (spiral track), a hopper that supplies the work to the bowl feeder, and a conveyance track (linear track) that is connected to the downstream end of the spiral track of the bowl feeder and linearly extends. ) Is known, and a return feeder that returns a work on a linear track that is in a different direction to the bowl feeder is known.

The adjustment of the work discharge capacity by the parts feeder having a plurality of drive units as described above is performed by the operator while observing the movement of the work (filling rate, work transfer speed) and the counter number of the work discharge number in each drive unit. This can be realized by adjusting the amplitude and frequency of the drive unit and adjusting the vibration of each drive unit. That is, the parts feeder is drive-controlled by a controller that controls the amplitude (voltage) and frequency of each drive unit of the bowl feeder, hopper, linear feeder, and return feeder, for example, and it is necessary to adjust the amplitude and frequency for each drive unit. is there. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a mode in which drive control of a bowl feeder is controlled by a controller (control device).

By the way, even if the amplitude and frequency of the traveling surface of the parts feeder are the same, the shape and center of gravity of the workpiece to be conveyed, the weight, the surface friction, the shape of the traveling surface of the conveying path, the degree of inclination, the surface treatment environmental temperature, the humidity. The work transfer speed changes due to various factors such as static electricity. In addition, the final work discharge capacity as a parts feeder is determined, including the balance between the drive units (balance of the entire apparatus).

Since the work transfer speed is determined by such a complex correlation of multiple parameters, calculation formulas, modeling, and tabulation of settings (amplitude and frequency settings for each drive unit) related to the work discharge capacity to the supply destination are made. Is difficult, and it is necessary for the operator to control the drive by the controller while observing the transport state of the workpiece (work discharge state as a whole).

Conventionally, at the site where parts feeders are introduced, one controller is provided for one drive unit, and a mode is adopted in which vibration conditions such as amplitude and frequency of different drive units are simultaneously adjusted by drive control by each controller. ing. As described above, in consideration of the situation in which the final work discharge capacity is determined in consideration of the balance between the drive units, a plurality of items regarding the vibration conditions of the drive units are individually controlled in real time. This is because it is required.

JP, 2002-362723, A

However, in the case of a parts feeder including a plurality of driving units such as a hopper and a bowl feeder, the same number of controllers as the driving units are required, which leads to an increase in size of the entire apparatus.

Therefore, in order to avoid an increase in the size of the device, a mode in which a plurality of drive units are controlled by one controller is also conceivable. In such a mode, in comparison with a mode in which the vibration conditions of a plurality of driving units are controlled in units of a plurality of controllers, not only the size of the device is reduced, but also cost reduction and wiring processing are reduced. You can

However, in the case where a plurality of drive units are controlled by a single controller, if the miniaturization of the controller itself is prioritized, the number of operation units that can be arranged in the controller is also limited. In the mode in which the driving unit is switched to adjust the vibration condition for each driving unit, it is impossible or difficult to simultaneously adjust the vibration conditions of different driving units.

Also, if a touch panel display is used for the controller display unit, the control operation screen for each drive unit can be shared, and you can select setting items (parameters) while looking at the touch panel display and By inputting a numerical value in, the vibration condition is changed.

However, since the surface of the touch panel display usually has no unevenness, it is necessary to perform the process of selecting setting items (parameters) and the process of inputting specific numerical values on the touch panel display. There is a need to. That is, since the conveyance state of the work cannot be visually checked while looking at the touch panel display, it is difficult to perform an appropriate adjustment operation unless the touch panel display is in a visually observable state. Such a problem becomes noticeable when the controller cannot be installed near the parts feeder due to space limitations. In such a situation, it is possible to perform only one of the visual check of the conveyance state of the work and the touch panel display operation, and there is a dilemma that it is difficult to perform both at the same time. As a result, workability and the like regarding the adjustment processing of each drive unit deteriorates, and the work transfer efficiency decreases.

Note that, for example, a mode in which a plurality of drive units are controlled by a single controller by image processing by a camera or automated processing utilizing artificial intelligence is conceivable, but there is a demerit that it is difficult to introduce it on site because the cost increases. ..

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a point, and its main purpose is for a parts feeder in which an operator can simultaneously adjust a plurality of items regarding vibration conditions of a drive unit while visually observing a conveyance state of a work. To provide a controller.

That is, the present invention relates to a controller applied to a parts feeder having at least one drive unit capable of conveying a work by vibration. Then, the parts feeder controller according to the present invention specifies a display unit that displays a plurality of items related to the vibration condition of the drive unit on a common screen and a plurality of items related to the vibration condition of the drive unit displayed on the display unit. Equipped with a plurality of operation units that can adjust the vibration conditions of the items that have been adjusted, and a control unit that allocates the items for adjustment operation by each operation unit to each operation unit. It is characterized by applying adjustable items.

Here, the “vibration condition of the driving unit” in the present invention is a condition relating to vibration including at least amplitude (voltage) and frequency. The operation unit may be any one that can be operated with tactile sensation, such as a knob type using an encoder, a knob type (thing that can be rotated), a joystick, a button type pressed with a finger, a switch type, a touch sensor. Further, if there is a step such as a step at the edge of the display section that can be sensed by touch, the stepped section can be set as the operation section. It suffices that the number of operation units is plural, and the tactile sense or the operation method may be different for each operation unit. Further, the present invention includes a controller that integrally includes a display unit, an operation unit, and a control unit, and a controller that is connected separately by wireless or wire.

With such a parts feeder controller according to the present invention, the operator visually confirms the state of the parts feeder and, while checking the work discharge state as a whole, sets the driving conditions of the target drive unit to be adjusted, It is possible to select from a plurality of items related to the vibration condition of the drive unit displayed on the screen of the display unit, and to adjust the vibration condition of the selected drive unit by the operation unit. Since it is not required to see the hand of the work, it is possible to make adjustments so that the work can be optimally conveyed while observing the work discharge status. Further, in the case of the parts feeder controller according to the present invention, since the control unit for allocating the item of the adjustment operation target by the operation unit for each operation unit is provided, when the operator selects a plurality of items of the adjustment operation target, By the control unit, for example, by arbitrarily assigning the adjustment function of the item (adjustment operation target item) related to the type of the drive unit displayed on the display unit and the vibration conditions of the specified drive units, the individual adjustment by each operation unit is performed. The operation can be performed smoothly and appropriately. That is, according to the present invention, it is easy to visually recognize various types of adjustment operation target items on the display unit, and a digital display that allows an operator to operate the operation unit in an analog manner while visually displaying the parts feeder while digitally displaying the items. It is possible to achieve both excellent points of analog operation.

In particular, if the parts feeder controller according to the present invention further includes a case that integrally houses the display unit, the operation unit, and the control unit, it is easy to handle these parts by unitizing them. It is possible to facilitate the setting process of the controller at the feeder introduction site.

In this case, if the plurality of operation units in the case are located apart from the display unit, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the operation unit gets in the way when the operator looks at the display unit, and the operation unit and the display unit are on the case. In comparison with the configuration in which the display units are not separated from each other, the screen size of the display unit can be maximized because a part of the display unit is not occupied by the operation unit.

Further, in the parts feeder controller according to the present invention, the control unit causes the display unit to display on the display unit which item regarding the vibration condition of which vibration source (adjustment operation target item) is assigned to each operation unit. With the assignment display function, the operator can intuitively understand the relationship between the adjustment operation target item and the operation unit by looking at the contents displayed on the display unit. Therefore, even if there are many adjustment operation target items displayed on the display unit and a configuration in which a plurality of operation units are provided, it is difficult for the operator to recognize which operation unit can perform the adjustment operation It is possible to prevent/suppress, and it is possible to smoothly perform the adjustment operation using each operation unit.

A parts feeder according to the present invention is characterized by including the controller having the above-mentioned configuration.

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, by using the operation unit capable of adjusting the item of the adjustment operation target by a tactile operation, while visually observing the conveyed work, the amplitude and frequency of the drive unit to be controlled, etc. It is possible to intuitively and intuitively adjust the vibration conditions of the, and because multiple operation parts are provided, different parameters (adjustment operation target items) can be adjusted at the same time, and individual parameters can be adjusted. It is possible to provide a parts feeder controller capable of shortening the adjustment time as compared with a mode in which adjustments are made one by one.

1 is an overall schematic side view of a parts feeder to which a parts feeder controller according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The whole perspective view of the controller for parts feeders concerning the embodiment. The front view of the parts feeder controller concerning the embodiment. The rear view of the controller for parts feeders concerning the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the parts feeder controller according to the embodiment. The right view of the parts feeder controller which concerns on the same embodiment. The top view of the controller for parts feeders concerning the embodiment. The bottom view of the controller for parts feeders concerning the embodiment. The figure which abbreviate|omits a part of AA cross section, BB cross section, and CC cross section of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the screen display of the controller which concerns on the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display in case one adjustment operation target item is selected corresponding to FIG. The figure which shows the screen display in case two adjustment operation target items are selected, corresponding to FIG.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 1 according to the present embodiment is applicable to a parts feeder X which is a parts supply device. The parts feeder X vibrates and conveys a work, which is a precision component such as an IC chip and a minute coil, and further keeps the bowl feeder 2 for aligning the introduced works and the work conveyed by the bowl feeder 2 constant. Linear feeder 3 that selects the proper posture while conveying in the direction, a return feeder 4 that returns the workpiece that is inappropriate by the linear feeder 3 to the bowl feeder 2, and a hopper 5 that puts the workpiece into the bowl feeder 2. It has and.

The bowl feeder 2, the linear feeder 3, and the return feeder 4 are arranged on a common base X1, for example, and are assembled as a unit in an appropriately positioned state so that they can smoothly deliver and receive the parts in cooperation with each other. The hopper 5 is arranged above the bowl feeder 2. In particular, since the precision parts as described above are extremely small, the parts feeder X for this kind of application has each feeder (bowl feeder 2, linear feeder 3) mounted on a base X1 having a width of several tens of cm square. , The return feeders 4) are densely arranged.

The bowl feeder 2 is provided with a bowl 21 which is a conveying section capable of accommodating a work supplied from a hopper 5 which is a component feeding means shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 1, and a drive section 22 which is located below the bowl 21. The bowl 21 has a circular bottom in which the center is swollen, and a spiral track that is a conveying section that spirals up and down while circling the inner peripheral surface of the bowl 21 from the peripheral edge of the bottom, and is formed on this spiral track. And a transport groove. The conveying groove has a V-shaped cross section orthogonal to the traveling direction, and a rectangular parallelepiped work such as an IC chip is conveyed with its two surfaces in contact with the two surfaces of the V-shaped groove. The cross-sectional shape of the transport groove is not limited to the V shape, but may be a U shape.

The drive unit 22 has an electromagnet and a leaf spring that supports the bowl 21 from below. The vibration is transmitted from the drive unit 22 to the bowl 21 due to the excitation of the electromagnet, and the bowl 21 torsionally vibrates. In addition to the electromagnet, there is a drive unit using a piezoelectric element. By driving the drive unit 22 and vibrating the bowl 21, the work is sequentially conveyed along the spiral track.

The linear feeder 3 has a linear track 31 that is a conveyance section that extends linearly along the conveyance direction, and a drive section 32 that is located below the linear track 31.

In the upper part of the linear track 31, one transport groove extending in the horizontal direction is formed in the longitudinal direction. This transport groove also has a V-shaped cross section orthogonal to the traveling direction, and a rectangular parallelepiped work such as an IC chip is transported with its two surfaces in contact with the two surfaces of the V-shaped groove. The cross-sectional shape of the transport groove is not limited to the V shape, but may be a U shape.

The bowl feeder 2 and the linear feeder 3 are connected via a connecting block (not shown), and the groove of the bowl feeder 2 and the groove of the linear feeder 3 cooperate with each other via a conveying groove having a V-shaped cross section provided in the connecting block. Has been done.

The drive unit 32 has an electromagnet and a leaf spring that supports the linear track 31. When vibration is transmitted from the drive unit 32 to the linear track 31 due to the excitation of the electromagnet, the linear track 31 reciprocally vibrates. By driving the driving unit 32 to vibrate the linear track 31, the work is sequentially transported along the linear track 31 to the downstream side in the transport direction.

The linear feeder 3 is provided with a discriminating unit including a camera for discriminating the posture of the work, and a work excluding unit for excluding the work having an improper posture from the linear track 31 by air, and the work excluding the work is eliminated by the return feeder 4 To send to.

The return feeder 4 has a return track 41, which is a conveyance section extending in parallel with the linear track 31 of the linear feeder 3, and a drive section 42 located below the return track 41. The work transfer direction on the return track 41 is opposite to the work transfer direction on the linear track 31. The return feeder 4 may be configured to be driven by utilizing the vibration of the driving unit 32 of the linear feeder 3 instead of the driving unit 42.

In the upper part of the return track 41, one or a plurality of transport grooves extending in the horizontal direction are formed in the longitudinal direction, and the workpiece is placed in a state where the cross section orthogonal to the traveling direction is in contact with two surfaces of the V-shaped transport groove. Can be transported. The cross-sectional shape of the transport groove is not limited to the V shape, but may be a U shape. The work removed from the linear track 31 by the work removing unit of the linear feeder 3 passes through the return feeder 4 and is returned to the bowl 21 of the bowl feeder 2.

In addition, the hopper 5 is configured to supply the input work to the bowl 21 from the nozzle portion on the lower end side along the funnel-shaped inner surface, and the portion extending from the funnel-shaped inner surface to the nozzle portion is the transport path. Is playing. The hopper 5 is also driven by the driving unit 52 to smoothly transfer the work to the nozzle unit side. All or at least one of the respective feeders (bowl feeder 2, linear feeder 3, return feeder 4, hopper 5) in the present embodiment may have a driving unit using a piezoelectric element instead of an electromagnet.

Such a parts feeder X is provided with a controller 1 capable of adjusting the vibration conditions of the bowl feeder 2 having a drive unit, the linear feeder 3, the return feeder 4, the bowl feeder 2 and the hopper 5. To be precise, the targets controlled by the controller 1 are the amplitudes and frequencies of the drive units 22, 32, 42, 52 in the bowl feeder 2, the linear feeder 3, the return feeder 4, and the hopper 5 (vibration conditions of each drive unit). ). In the following, each feeder (bowl feeder 2, linear feeder 3, return feeder 4) will be referred to as a drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H) together with the hopper 5, as necessary. It is assumed that the controller 1 adjusts the vibration condition of each drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H).

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, the controller 1 includes items related to the vibration conditions of the display unit 11 and the drive units B, L, R, and H displayed on the screen 110 of the display unit 11 (adjustment operation target item 112). Of the items 112 relating to the vibration conditions of the plurality of drive units L, R, B, and H that are specified in (1), and the plurality of operation units 12 that can adjust and operate the vibration conditions, and the items to be adjusted by the operation units 12 are operated. A control unit 13 (see FIG. 1) assigned to each unit 12 is provided, and the display unit 11, the operation unit 12, and the control unit 13 are unitized by using a common case 14.

As shown in FIG. 10, the display unit 11 displays items 112 relating to vibration conditions of each drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H) on, for example, a touch panel type screen (touch panel display) 110. To do. In the present embodiment, as items indicating the types of the linear feeder L, the return feeder R, the bowl feeder B, and the hopper H on the touch panel type screen 110, "LF" 111L, "RF" 111R, "BF" 111B, and "HP". 111H is displayed on the screen 110, and the drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder) is set as the item 112 regarding the vibration condition of each drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H). R, hopper H) first adjustment operation target items 112a, 112b, 112c for setting the amplitude and voltage value for each drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H) for each type. , 112d and second adjustment operation target items 112e, 112f, 112g, and 112h for setting the frequencies of the respective drive units (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H).

Therefore, when the operator selects any of the first adjustment operation target items 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d, the work transfer speed by the selected drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H) is changed. When the operator can select the second adjustment operation target item 112e, 112f, 112g, 112h in a state in which the left and right amplitudes can be adjusted, the selected drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L) is selected. , The return feeder R, the hopper H) can be adjusted. The frequency adjustment is an adjustment for efficiently transmitting the conveying force to the work according to the amplitude.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the third adjustment operation target item for the soft start that gently starts up each of the drive units (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H). 112i, 112j, 112k, 112m are also displayed on the screen 110. Further, on the touch panel type screen 110, selection items of function switching 115, cancel 116, save 117, and screen switching 118 are also displayed on the screen.

As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the operation unit 12 uses a rotary encoder, and a predetermined portion of the operation unit 12 including a knob portion that can be manually grasped by an operator is located in front of the case 14 ( It is arranged so as to project in the direction away from the screen 110). In the present embodiment, in the case 14 having a substantially rectangular shape in a front view in which each of the four corners is set to have a round shape, an operation unit 12 (such as an encoder) operated by an operator is provided near each of the lower corners. A left operation part 12L and a right operation part 12R) are provided. In the present embodiment, in the case 14 having a substantially rectangular shape in a front view, a portion in which the operation portion 12 is arranged is separated from a central portion of the case 14 more than other portions (specifically, diagonally downward). The shape is set to bulge. With this, the design is such that the screen 110 size of the display unit 11 is reduced by considering the arrangement area of the operation unit 12 while securing the arrangement areas of the two operation units 12 (the left operation unit 12L and the right operation unit 12R). Avoids the above restrictions.

Note that the controller 1 of the present embodiment is of a tablet type, and the display unit 11 and the operation unit 12 are provided in a thin box-shaped case 14 so that they can be visually recognized from the front (front) of the controller 1 ( 2), the control unit 13 is housed inside the case 14 (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the case 14 of the present embodiment has a shape that gradually spreads from the rear surface 142 toward the front surface 141, and has a boundary portion between the rear surface 142 and the side surface 143 and a boundary portion between the front surface 141 and the side surface 143. Are designed in a round shape. Further, the case 14 may be an integrally molded product, but in the present embodiment, a box-shaped two-part type in which the front case and the rear case are assembled with each other is applied.

In the controller 1 according to the present embodiment, a screen 110 (touch panel display) of a predetermined size is provided in the central portion of the front surface 141 of the case 14, and the operation unit 12 is arranged at a position lower than the lower edge of the display screen 110. .. In the present embodiment, the screen 110 of the display unit 11 is arranged deeper than the front surface 141 of the case 14, and a step portion 1D as a boundary portion of the case 14 is formed on the peripheral edge of the screen 110. In addition, the multi button 15 and the save button 16 are provided at predetermined positions in the case 14 that do not overlap the screen 110 and the operation unit 12, specifically, positions near upper predetermined parts on both left and right sides of the display screen 110. It is provided. The multi button 15 and the save button 16 are switch buttons that can be pressed by an operator, and are arranged so as to project to the front of the case 14. The multi-button 15 and the save button 16 are smaller than the above-described operation unit 12, and the protrusion size of the multi-button 15 and the save button 16 with respect to the case 14 in the forward direction is as follows. Smaller than the protruding size. In particular, in the present embodiment, the linear groove 145 extending from the portion of the case 14 where the multi-button 15 is arranged toward the screen 110 (see FIG. 2) and the item “Function switching 115” on the screen 110 are selected. A straight line 118 extending toward the multi-button 15 (a straight line 118 displayed on the screen, see FIG. 10) is set to be a continuous straight line (guide line), and the multi-button 15 relates to the “function switching 115”. It is set so that the operator can intuitively understand that it is a button.

In the controller 1 of the present embodiment, the case 14 having a plurality of engagement holes (not shown) formed on the back surface 142 is applied, and the controller 1 is set at a predetermined position by hooking the engagement holes on an appropriate mounting portion. be able to. A hook string hole is also formed in the back surface 142 of the controller 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the parts feeder X according to the present embodiment includes a power supply device (power unit) 6 that supplies electric power to the drive units (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H). It is provided separately from the parts feeder controller 1, and the power supply device 6 and the parts feeder controller 1 are connected by an appropriate communication cable (for example, LAN cable, harness, etc.). The communication cable is made to function as a serial communication line for transferring setting information regarding each drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H), and at least one cable is used as a power line to drive the drive unit. The controller 6 is configured to be able to supply electric power of a predetermined voltage to the controller 1.

According to the parts feeder X as described above, the power supply device 6 is arranged together with the drive units (the bowl feeder B, the linear feeder L, the return feeder R, and the hopper H) on the common base X1, while the parts feeder controller 1 is arranged. Is a position different from the base X1, for example, a position where the driving state (the bowl feeder B, the linear feeder L, the return feeder R, the hopper H) of the work can be observed and the operator can operate it. It can be placed at any position. The power line is used only by connecting the controller 1 to the drive unit control device 6, and the controller 1 side may separately supply a power source. At the same time, the controller 1 and the drive unit controller 6 can be wireless. In addition, each drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H) using the linear feeder connection port, the return feeder connection port, the bowl feeder connection port, and the hopper connection port provided in the drive unit control device 6 is used. It is possible to connect between and by wiring.

The parts feeder X of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a base X2 is arranged under a base X1 and the base X1 and the base X2 are connected by a vibration isolating means X3 such as a vibration isolating rubber or an anti spring. The device 6 is arranged between the base X1 and the base X2. The drive unit control device 6 may be directly attached to the base X2.

The outlet of the parts feeder X according to the present embodiment (the downstream end of the linear conveyance path 31) is connected to an appropriate destination equipment, and the operation command section of the destination equipment controls the parts feeder X (part feeder controller 1 The control unit 13 may be a control unit 13 or a control unit different from the control unit 13 of the parts feeder controller 1), and a start/stop signal may be input to the control unit 13 to synchronize. Control cooperation can be achieved.

Next, an adjustment process of the parts feeder X using the parts feeder controller 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
First, the main screen 110 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the screen 110 of the display unit 11, and the operator watches the operation status of the parts feeder X and, while watching the operation status of the parts feeder X, the target drive unit (bowl feeder) whose amplitude or frequency is to be adjusted. B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H), and the corresponding item is selected from the adjustment operation target items 112 displayed on the screen 110 (press the touch panel display).

Upon receiving the selection operation processing by the operator, the control unit 13 of the controller 1 determines which operation unit 12 performs the operation related to the adjustment operation target item 112 by each operation unit 12, and displays the determination content on the screen 110. .. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, when the operator selects one adjustment operation target item (amplitude adjustment item 112a of the linear feeder L in the illustrated example), the control unit 13 of the controller 1 changes as shown in FIG. The selected adjustment operation target item 112a is highlighted (for example, displayed in a first emphasized color such as blue), and the operation instruction mark 119 (4 minutes in the illustrated example) indicating that the adjustment operation by the operation unit 12 is possible. 1-circle mark) is displayed at the two lower left and right corners of the adjustment operation target item 112a. In this case, no matter which of the two operation units 12 (the left operation unit 12L and the right operation unit 12R) is turned, the adjustment related to the adjustment operation target item (the amplitude adjustment item 112a of the linear feeder L in the illustrated example). The operation can be performed.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the first adjustment operation target item 112 is selected by the operator, the second adjustment operation target item (in the illustrated example, the amplitude adjustment item 112b of the return feeder R) is the operator. When selected by, the control unit 13 of the controller 1 highlights the selected second adjustment operation target item 112 as well as the first adjustment operation target item 112 (for example, a first emphasized color such as blue). Is displayed), and an operation instruction mark 119 (a quarter-circle mark in the illustrated example) indicating that the adjustment operation by the operation unit 12 is possible is provided at any one of the lower left and right corners of each adjustment operation target item 112a, 112b. Display in one place. In the illustrated example, a quarter circle operation instruction mark 119 is displayed in the lower right corner of the first selected adjustment operation target item (the amplitude adjustment item 112a of the linear feeder L in the illustrated example), and the second adjustment operation target item is displayed. A quarter-circle operation instruction mark 119 is displayed at the lower left corner of the adjustment operation target item (amplitude adjustment item 112b of the return feeder R in the illustrated example) selected for. In this case, the right operation unit 12R can perform the adjustment operation related to the first selected adjustment operation target item (the amplitude adjustment item 112a of the linear feeder L in the illustrated example), and the second selected adjustment operation can be performed. The left operation unit 12L can perform the adjustment operation regarding the target item (the amplitude adjustment item 112b of the return feeder 4 in the illustrated example). As described above, in the present embodiment, the adjustment operation target item 112 selected first can be adjusted by the right operation unit 12R, and the adjustment operation target item second selected. The control unit 13 of the controller 1 performs allocation so that adjustment operations relating to 112 can be performed by the left operation unit 12L. Note that the adjustment operation regarding the first selected adjustment operation target item 112 can be performed by the left operation unit 12L, and the adjustment operation regarding the second selected adjustment operation target item 112 is performed by the right operation. The allocation that can be performed by the unit 12R may be set to be performed by the control unit 13 of the controller 1. The operator can also select two adjustment operation target items for one drive unit. For example, the amplitude adjustment item 112a of the linear feeder L may be selected as the first adjustment operation target item 112, and the frequency adjustment item 112e of the linear feeder L may be selected as the second adjustment operation target item 112. .. Even in such a case, the control unit 13 of the controller 1 highlights the two selected adjustment operation target items 112a and 112e and displays the operation instruction mark 119 indicating that the adjustment operation by the operation unit 12 is possible. The process of displaying the adjustment operation target item 112a, 112e at any one of the lower left and right corners is executed.

The operator who selects the adjustment operation target item 112 and sees the operation instruction mark 119 on the screen 110 of the display unit 11 observes the discharged amount of the work by the parts feeder X and the like from that point onward, and also the screen 110 of the display unit 11. By performing an appropriate operation (operation of turning the encoder) on the left and right operation units 12RL and 12R without looking at the operation instruction mark 119, two adjustment operation target items (in the illustrated example, the linear feeder 3). The adjustment operation regarding the amplitude adjustment item 112a and the amplitude adjustment item 112b) of the return feeder 4 can be performed simultaneously or with a time difference.

The operator performs an operation of selecting the “save 117” item on the screen 110 or an operation of pressing the save button 16 provided at a position out of the screen 110 of the case 14, thereby performing an adjustment operation by the operation unit 12. Later settings can be saved. When the operator selects the "Cancel 116" item on the screen 110, the selected adjustment operation target item 112 is changed to another adjustment operation target item 112, or the drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder) is changed. The vibration state of R, hopper H) can be returned to the state before the adjustment operation by the operation unit 12.

As described above, the controller 1 for the parts feeder X according to the present embodiment includes items (adjustment operation target items 112) relating to vibration conditions of each drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper H). A display unit 11 displayed on a common screen 110, a plurality of operation units 12 capable of performing an adjustment operation related to a specified adjustment operation target item 112 among the adjustment operation target items 112 displayed on the display unit 11, and A control unit 13 for allocating the adjustment operation target item 112 by the operation unit 12 to each operation unit 12, and each operation unit 12 capable of performing an adjustment operation regarding the adjustment operation target item 112 by a tactile operation. Since this is applied, the operator visually confirms the work transfer state (work discharge state, etc.) in the parts feeder X, and the drive unit (bowl feeder B, linear feeder L, return feeder R, hopper) to be adjusted. The adjustment operation target item 112 regarding H) can be selected from the adjustment operation target items 112 displayed on the screen of the display unit 11, and the operation unit 12 can perform the adjustment operation regarding the selected adjustment operation target item 112. Further, according to the parts feeder controller 1 according to the present embodiment, it is not required to look at the hand of the operation unit 12 during the adjustment operation by the operation unit 12, so that the optimum conveyance of the work can be performed while observing the work discharge state. In addition to the adjustment operation that can be realized, even when the operator selects a plurality of adjustment operation target items 112, the operation operation targets carried by the plurality of operation units 12 by the control unit 13 are selected by the operator. By arbitrarily allocating to each target item 112, the adjustment processing regarding the plurality of adjustment operation target items 112 can be performed individually using the plurality of operation units 12, simultaneously in real time, or smoothly with a time difference.

In particular, since the parts feeder controller 1 according to the present embodiment accommodates the display unit 11, the operation unit 12, and the control unit 13 in the common case 14, these respective units (the display unit 11, the operation unit 12, By making the control unit 13) into a unit, the handling is excellent, and the setting process of the controller 1 at the site where the parts feeder X is introduced can be facilitated. Further, in the parts feeder controller 1 according to the present embodiment, since the plurality of operation parts 12 are arranged at positions outside the display part 11 in the case 14, when the operator views the screen 110 of the display part 11. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the operation unit 12 appears to overlap in front of the screen 110, and compared with the configuration in which the operation unit 12 overlaps a part of the display unit 11, a part of the display unit 11 Is not occupied by the operation unit 12, it is possible to maximize the screen size of the display unit 11.

In addition, the controller 1 for parts feeder X according to the present embodiment, as the control unit 13, causes the display unit 11 to display which adjustment operation target item 112 is assigned to each operation unit 12, and assigns the adjustment operation target item. Since a display function is applied, the operator intuitively understands the relationship between the adjustment operation target item 112 and the operation unit 12 by looking at the contents (operation instruction mark 119) displayed on the display unit 11. can do. Therefore, even if there are many adjustment operation target items 112 displayed on the display unit 11 and the parts feeder controller 1 is provided with a plurality of operation units 12, which operation unit 12 can be used to perform the adjustment operation. It is possible to prevent/suppress the occurrence of erroneous operations due to the difficulty of being recognized by the operator, and it is possible to smoothly perform the adjustment operation using each operation unit 12.

As described above, according to the parts feeder controller according to the present embodiment, when the operator selects the desired item to be operated, it is possible to recognize which operation unit 12 should be used for operation, without hesitation or mistakes. It can be operated intuitively, shortening the adjustment time and reducing stress.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, a tablet having a touch panel display is used as the parts feeder controller, but a smartphone or the like may be used. The communication means between the controller and the power unit is not particularly limited, such as Blue-tooth, Wifi, and light.

The principle of transfer of the work by each drive unit may be transfer by a traveling wave as well as transfer by elliptical vibration.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the linear feeder, the return feeder, the bowl feeder, and the hopper are provided as the parts feeder has been described. In this case, even if the bowl feeder alone is used, the same operational effects as described above can be obtained.

The “vibration condition of the drive unit” may be only one of the amplitude (voltage) and the frequency, or may be the condition regarding vibration other than the amplitude (voltage) and the frequency.

Further, the operation unit may be anything that can be operated with tactile sensation, for example, instead of a knob type using an encoder, a knob type (rotatable operation type), a joystick, a button type pushed by a finger, a switch A type, a touch sensor, etc. may be applied. Further, if there is a step (1D shown in FIG. 2) such as a step that can be recognized by touch, the step section can be set as the operation section at the edge of the screen of the display section. It suffices that the number of operation units is plural, and the tactile sense or operation method may be different for each operation unit.

In the above-described embodiment, as the operation instruction mark displayed on the screen of the display unit, the "quarter-circle mark" is illustrated. However, a mark other than this is applied or a voice is transmitted to the operator. You can also do it.

It may be a controller for a parts feeder without a case.

It is also possible to change the type and number of items displayed on the screen of the display unit.

It is also possible to add a function of detecting an analog operation amount to the operation unit and digitally performing feedback control on the vibration condition of the drive unit.

The parts feeder to which the controller according to the present invention can be applied may be a parts feeder having at least one driving unit. Therefore, for example, in the case where the hopper does not have the driving unit described in the above embodiment and discharges the work downward by its own weight from the nozzle discharge end without depending on the vibration, such a hopper (nozzle discharge) It is provided with a bowl feeder having a driving part, and a carrying means (belt conveyor type or linear feeder type or the like) for receiving the work discharged from the end and carrying it toward the bowl of the bowl feeder. The controller according to the present invention can be applied to a parts 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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Controller 11... Display part 112... Items regarding vibration conditions 12... Operation part 13... Control part 14... Cases 22, 32, 42, 52... Drive parts B, L, R, H... Bowl feeder, linear feeder, return feeder , Hopper X... Parts feeder

Claims (5)

A controller applied to a parts feeder having at least one drive unit capable of conveying a work by vibration,
A display unit that displays a plurality of items regarding the vibration conditions of the drive unit on a common screen,
A plurality of operation units capable of adjusting and operating the vibration condition of a specified item among the plurality of items related to the vibration condition of the drive unit displayed on the display unit;
A control unit for allocating an item to be adjusted by each operation unit to each operation unit,
A controller for a parts feeder, wherein each of the operation units is capable of adjusting the item to be adjusted by a tactile operation. The parts feeder controller according to claim 1, further comprising a case that integrally houses the display unit, the operation unit, and the control unit. The parts feeder controller according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of operation units in the case are located at a position apart from the display unit. 4. The adjustment operation target item allocation display function for displaying on the display unit which of the plurality of operation units the adjustment operation target item is allocated to which one of the plurality of operation units. Controller for parts feeder described in. A parts feeder comprising the controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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