JP2023020087A - Supply device for workpiece - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a supply device for a workpiece enabling highly efficient supply from a small space.SOLUTION: The supply device for the workpiece supplies the topmost workpiece among a large number of storable workpieces 2 to the outside in order. The supply device for the workpiece includes: a warehouse 14 capable of carrying in and stacking a large number of workpieces; and an accommodation box 12 located on an upper stage of the warehouse and capable of receiving the large number of workpieces stacked in the warehouse at a predetermined timing. Also included are a sucking head for sequentially carrying out the uppermost workpiece of the plurality of workpieces stacked in the accommodation box 12, and a pitch-feeding workpiece receiver 22 for performing pitch-feeding of remaining workpieces to an upper level after each time the top-most workpiece is carried out by the suction head. When the number of remaining workpieces in the accommodation box is reduced to a predetermined number in sequentially carrying out the large number of workpieces stacked in the accommodation box to the outside, switching is made to a stock receptacle 31 and a rod 18 carries in the large number of workpieces in the warehouse to the accommodation box during a period when carrying-out of each workpiece is continued.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a work supply device.

A power card is known as a switching element used in a power conversion unit (PCU) used in an electric vehicle or the like. In the power card manufacturing process, a large number of power cards in the process of being manufactured are loaded into the storage device as one lot, and when the power cards are unloaded from the storage device one by one, the power cards are designed to meet the respective required destinations. Each power card is carried out one by one.

A storage device that stacks and stores these power cards as works is required to supply the required number of works without delay according to demand.

When one work is supplied from a plurality of stacked works, one work is separated from the rest of the stacked works. a holding unit including at least a pair of pads for holding both ends of one work in a V-shaped manner; and at least a pair of It has a moving unit for moving the stocker relatively downward to separate one work from other works with respect to the holding unit holding one work between the pads.

JP 2017-160055 A

When the work is carried into the storage device, for example, 30 stacked power cards (work) are set from the bottom, and the work is taken out (carried out) one by one from the top of the storage device. , After the number of workpieces in the upper stage is exhausted in the storage device, the waiting time is usually long when the next 30 stacked workpieces are loaded and set until the next workpiece is unloaded. There is a problem of becoming

Further, there is no known device that reduces the loss of the waiting time that elapses until the next large number of stacked works are carried in when there are no more works left in the storage device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a work feeder capable of feeding a large number of works from a small space with high efficiency without delay.

The work supply device of the present invention is a work supply device capable of storing a large number of works (2) and sequentially supplying the uppermost work out of the large number of works to the outside.
This work supply device includes a hangar (14) into which a large number of works can be loaded and stacked, and a storage which is located in the upper part of the hangar and can receive the large number of works stacked in the hangar at a predetermined timing. A box (12), a loader (11) for sequentially unloading the topmost work out of a large number of works stacked in the storage box, and each time the topmost work is unloaded by the loader, A pitch feeding unit (6) for pitch-feeding the remaining works after being carried out to a higher position, and when a large number of works stacked in the storage box are sequentially carried out to the outside, the number of remaining works in the storage box is set to a predetermined number. and a lifting device (13) for carrying a large number of works in the hangar into the storage box during the period in which the loader continues to carry out the works one by one when the size is reduced to adopt.

During the period when the remaining number of works to be pitch-fed by the pitch-feeding unit is reduced to a predetermined number, the lifting device is operated to carry the next large number of works from the hangar into the storage box.
Therefore, since the next stacked large number of works are completed within a plurality of periods in which the remaining number of works pitch-fed by the pitch feeding unit is equal to or less than a predetermined number, there is no loss in waiting time. It is possible to continue to carry out (supply) each work to each destination.

When the number of remaining works is reduced to a predetermined number, the support means for placing the remaining number of works is switched from the first pedestal to the second pedestal within a period before the number of remaining works becomes zero. Before the remaining number of works on the second receiving table becomes zero, it is possible to carry in a large number of works for the next stage into the storage box while continuing to supply the works.

1 is a perspective view of a work supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of the take-out unit of the work supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view of a take-out unit and a power card pitch feed unit of a work supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pitch feed unit of a work supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the power card of the work supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the power card of the work supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view of a stock unit of a work supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. Explanatory drawing of the operation|movement of the workpiece|work supply apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A work supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the work supply device of the present invention is applied to a power card supply device used for switching elements of a power conversion device (power control unit (PCU)) of an electric vehicle.

The power card supply device 1 includes a transport unit 4, a pick-up unit 5, a pitch feed unit 6, and a stock unit 7. - 特許庁

The transport unit 4 carries the power card taken in from the carry-in port into the hangar 14 below the take-out unit 5 . Hereinafter, the "power card" is referred to as "work" in the specification.
Thirty works are carried as one lot from the transport unit 4 into the hangar (magazine) 14 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the take-out unit 5 of the work supply device 1 has a hangar 14 at its lower level and a storage box 12 at its upper level.
The hangar 14 carries a large number of works every 30 from the outside. All the works 2 stored in the hangar 14 are lifted in the direction of the arrow 26 by the lifting device 13 . The lifting device 13 includes a direct-acting servomotor (not shown), a chuck cylinder for positioning a large number of works, and a rod 18 for lifting the large number of works to the storage box 12 . There is a storage box 12 at the end of the lifting, and the rising end is detected by the lifting detection sensor 15. - 特許庁

Thirty workpieces are lifted from the hangar 14 to the storage box 12 when the rod 18 driven by a direct-acting servomotor (not shown) is raised.

Inside the storage box 12 , the 30 stacked works are supported from the lower surface of the lowest work 2 by a pitch feed work receiver 22 corresponding to the first support table 10 .

A pitch feed work receiver 22 on which the stacked works 2 are placed is connected at the upper end of a rod 18 that rises by the driving force of a direct-acting servo, and the work in the storage box 12 rises one by one for each pitch.

The storage box 12 includes a lifting lifter 13 corresponding to a lifting device for lifting a large number of stacked works, a lifting detection sensor 15 for detecting the presence or absence of the uppermost work among the stacked works, and a pitch feed servo for lifting the work. 16, a pitch feed clamp claw 17 for regulating the stacked works one by one, and a suction head 11 for sucking and sucking the upper surface of the uppermost work.

The storage box 12 stores 30 works. When the workpieces stored in the storage box 12 become empty as will be described later, the lifting device 13 is driven to raise the rod 18 in the direction of the arrow 26 to accommodate the 30 workpieces placed on the first cradle 10. Housed inside box 12 .
A lift detection sensor 15 detects the rising end of the work lifted from the hangar 14 to the storage box 12 .

A pitch-feeding unit 6 having a pitch-feeding mechanism pitch-feeds the 30 works moved from the take-out unit 5 to the upper storage box 12 one by one.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the pitch feeding unit 6 of the work supply device 1 includes a storage box 12 , a pitch feeding servomotor 16 , a pitch feeding detection sensor 21 , a pitch feeding work receiver 22 and a pitch feeding arm 23 .

The pitch-feeding servomotor 16 is lifted by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the work, which is reduced when the uppermost work among the works loaded on the pitch-feeding work receiver 22 is carried out by the suction head 11, which will be described later. .
The pitch feed detection sensor 21 sends the detected pitch feed signal to a control device (not shown). By driving the pitch feed servomotor 16 based on the arithmetic processing result of the control device, the pitch feed work receiver 22 corresponding to the operation of the corresponding pitch feed arm 23 lifts the work.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the work support 36 is placed under the work, and the chuck cylinder 35 prevents the work from falling. A work support 36 lifts the work by one pitch by a servomotor (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows a state in which 30 stacked works are stored in the magazine 14, 30 stacked works are stored in the storage box 12, and 4 works are stored in the stock unit 7. .

FIG. 7 shows a state in which five workpieces remain to be supported by the pitch feed workpiece receiver 22 of the arm 23 connected at the upper end of the rod 18 .
The pitch feeding work receiver 22 supports the stacked works during the period from 30 to 5 works inside the storage box 12 .

The stock unit 7 is a unit that accommodates the remaining five works, which are sent one by one by the pitch feed mechanism, and accommodates a maximum of five works, for example.

The works are sucked one by one by a suction head 11 corresponding to a loader, which will be described later, and carried out to the outside. The suction head 11 uses a vacuum.

As shown in FIG. 7, the stock unit 7 having a stock mechanism has a suction head 11, a pitch feed workpiece receiver 22, a pitch feed arm 23, a stock receiver 31, and a stock arm 32. As shown in FIG.
The pitch feed arm 23 enters the bottom surface of the lowest part of the work and supports the whole work.

A stock arm 32 and a stock receiver 31 are provided so that several works 2 from the last work of pitch feeding can be left in the upper part of the storage box 12.例文帳に追加

The pitch-feeding work receiver 22 on which the 30 stacked works are placed as described above rises by one pitch together with the pitch-feeding arm 23, and when the number of remaining works reaches 5, the stock arm 32 is moved as shown in FIG. A stock receiver 31 corresponding to a second pedestal fixed to the lower end enters the lower surface of the lowest work among the remaining five stacked works to support the five stacked works.

The stock arm 32 is lifted by one pitch, and the suction head 11 picks up and picks up the uppermost work for each pitch, and conveys and supplies the uppermost work to the target location.
During the period when the number of works placed on the stock receiver 31 remains, the one corresponding to the first cradle 10 of the lifting device 13 and the rod 18 are lowered, and 30 new works stacked in the hangar are removed. The workpieces are supported, lifted, and 30 new workpieces are carried into the storage box 12. - 特許庁

As a result, the work 2 can be lifted from the hangar to the storage box without waiting for the final take-out work 2 to be carried out, and the work 2 can be lifted even while the work 2 is being supplied from the storage box, reducing the waiting time. can be eliminated.

The suction head 11 sucks the uppermost works stored in the storage box 12 one by one and separates them from the works below. Specifically, the upper surface of the uppermost work is sucked to the head suction unit 40 by the suction force using the vacuum of the suction bed 11, and the lifted work is carried out and supplied to the destination via the transfer unit. After the suction head reaches a destination (not shown), the work in the stock unit 7 rises by the thickness of one sheet and is pitch-fed while returning to the stock unit 7 .

When the number of upper works in the storage box 12 reaches five, the stock receptacle 31 of the stock unit 7 supports the remaining number of works in place of the first cradle 10, and the uppermost work is picked up by the suction head. 11 sucks the workpieces one by one and transports the lifted workpieces to the destination via the transport unit.
At the destination, for example, the work is post-processed, and if the work is a power card, the upper and lower surfaces are treated with an insulating material.

A take-out unit will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the number of stacked works remaining in the storage box 12 reaches five, the pin-shaped stock receivers 31 fixed to the two stock arms 32 are removed from the stacked works. It enters the lower surface of the lowest workpiece from both sides in the directions of arrows 27 and 28 and supports five workpieces 2 .

Instead, the supporting member for the stacked work is switched from the first pedestal 10 and the pitch feeding work receiver 22 to the stock receiver 31 . A rod 18 connecting the first pedestals 10 descends from the storage box 12 and moves to the magazine 14 below the storage box 12 .

The work 2 lifted by the stock receiver 31 rises while being pitch-fed, and one of the top works rises to a certain height. At this time, the suction head 11 sucks the upper surface of the uppermost work, the uppermost work separated from the lower works is sucked by the suction head 11, and the uppermost work is supplied to the outside.

When the work 2 is lifted by the pitch feed servo 16 and the last work is taken out, the stock receiver 31 opens in the direction opposite to the arrows 27 and 28 to create a space for lifting the work 2. vacate. The lifted work 2 enters the space and the supply of the work to the storage box 12 is completed.

Next, the work supply operation will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in step A, in the initial state, for example, 30 works stacked in the storage box 12 are supported by the pitch feed work receiver 22 . The uppermost work among the works stacked in this state is at the position indicated by X. As shown in FIG. The workpieces are sucked by the suction head 11 and carried out (supplied) in order from the highest workpiece at this position.

As shown in process B, every time the pitch-feeding work receiver 22 unloads the uppermost work one by one, the pitch-feeding work receiver 22 feeds the remaining works one pitch at a time.

As shown in process C, when the remaining number of stacked works reaches 5, the first cradle 10 is lifted, and the stock cradle 31 corresponding to the second cradle replaces the pitch feeding work cradle 22. Enter in the direction of arrows 27 and 28. At the position indicated by Y, the stock receiver 31 and the pitch feed work receiver 22 coexist.

After that, as shown in step D, the stock receiver 31 is raised by one pitch. During the period when the remaining number of works changes from 5 to 1, the pitch feed work receiver 22 descends to a predetermined position.

Next, as shown in processes D to E, while the number of remaining works supported by the stock receiver 31 decreased from 5 to 1, 30 new works were loaded from the hangar 14. The rod 18 is lifted and 30 new works are carried into the storage box 12 . At this time, the stock receiver 31 opens in the directions of arrows 29 and 30 after the remaining number of works supported by the stock receiver 31 is exhausted.

As shown in step F, as soon as the last workpiece supported by the stock receiver 31 is carried out of the storage box 12 by the suction head 11, the new 30 stacked workpieces are transferred to the storage box without delay. 12 is carried in. Even if the rod 18 rises, it does not interfere with the stock receiver 31.

Subsequently, the process returns to the initial state of step A, and the above-described operations are repeated. Without a continuous delay in unloading (supplying) of the works from the storage box 12 and without waiting time, the suction head 11 picks up the uppermost one work in order and transports this work to the destination. supply.

According to the above embodiment, the stock arm 32 and the stock receiver 31 are provided so that several works can be left on the upper part of the storage box 12, so that the work can be lifted without waiting for the final work to be taken out. Workpieces can be lifted even during work supply without providing an additional lane in one lane consisting of a storage and a hangar. can be carried out (supplied) without waiting time.

Conventionally, when the work loading time into the work storage box 12 passed the process work time for work takeout (process work time for ensuring equal timing in the production process), a wait for takeout occurred. In order to eliminate this waiting time, one extra lane was used, and two lanes were alternately used to eliminate the waiting time.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, it is possible to efficiently supply workpieces in a small space without increasing the cost without increasing the number of supply lanes.

In the above embodiment, the number of workpieces to be moved from the hangar 14 to the storage box 12 is 30, and the remaining number of workpieces to be switched from the first cradle 10 to the stock receiver 31 equivalent to the second cradle is 5. As explained, the present invention does not limit these numbers.
Instead of the suction head of the above-described embodiment, the present invention may be a chuck portion that grips and picks up a workpiece.

In the above embodiment, an embodiment in which the power card corresponds to the work of the present invention has been described, but it goes without saying that the work of the present invention may be an embodiment in which something other than the power card corresponds to the work. .

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 power card supply device (work supply device),
2 work,
5 take-out unit,
6 pitch feed unit,
7 stock units,
10 first cradle,
11 suction head (loader),
12 containment box,
13 lifting lifter,
14 magazine (hangar),
15 lift detection sensor,
16 pitch feed servo,
17 pitch feed clamp claw,
21 pitch feed detection sensor,
22 pitch feed workpiece receiver (first cradle),
23 pitch feed arm,
31 stock receiver (second receiver),
32 stock arm,
34 Stock,
35 chuck cylinder (chuck mechanism);

Claims (6)

A work supply device capable of storing a large number of works (2) and sequentially supplying the uppermost work among the large number of works to the outside,
a hangar (14) into which a large number of workpieces can be loaded and stacked;
a storage box (12) located in the upper part of the hangar and capable of receiving a large number of works stacked in the hangar at a predetermined timing;
a loader (11) for sequentially unloading the uppermost work out of the multiple works stacked in the storage box;
a pitch feed unit (6) for pitch feeding the remaining work after unloading to a higher rank each time the topmost work is unloaded by the loader;
When a large number of works stacked in the storage box are sequentially carried out to the outside, when the number of remaining works in the storage box is reduced to a predetermined number, the loader unloads the works one by one. and a lifting device (13) for carrying a large number of works in the hangar into the storage box during a continuous period of time. The elevating device comprises a first pedestal (10) for supporting a large number of laminated works, a rod (18) for lifting and lowering the first pedestal, and a first driving means for driving the rod. 2. The work supply device according to claim 1. When a large number of works stacked in the storage box are sequentially carried out to the outside, when the number of remaining works in the storage box is reduced to a predetermined number, the loader unloads the works one by one. 3. A work supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support means for supporting the remaining number of works in said storage box during the continuous period comprises a second cradle (31) switched from said first cradle. 4. The work supply device according to claim 1, wherein the loader includes a suction head for sucking and picking up the work, and a transport section for transporting the work and the suction head to a destination. 4. The work supply device according to claim 3, wherein the second receiving table is a chuck mechanism section (35) for supporting the remaining number of works in the storage box from the lower surface side. 5. A workpiece supply device according to claim 4, wherein said suction head is replaced by a chuck portion for gripping and removing said workpiece.

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