JP2023089364A - Component alignment device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a component alignment device capable of keeping good transfer efficiency of components.SOLUTION: A component alignment device (10) of the invention comprises: a first conveyor (11) and a second conveyor (12) adjacent to each other in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction; and an aligning section (14) that aligns parts (P) being conveyed on the second conveyor. The aligning section is equipped with: a height sorting section (32) that permits the conveyance of parts in a posture such that the height of the components conveyed by the second conveyor is less than or equal to the thickness of the components and excludes components in the posture larger than the thickness of the components from the second conveyor; and a width sorting section (31) that forms the width of the upper surface of the second conveyor less than or equal to the width of the components in the aligned state. In the width sorting section, components which the center of gravity (G) is located on the second conveyor are allowed to be transported, and components which the center of gravity is off the second conveyor are removed from the second conveyor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a component aligning device capable of aligning and aligning a plurality of components.

A parts aligning device capable of aligning the orientation of each part is used when handling a large number of parts of the same shape. As such a component aligning device, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In Patent Literature 1, parts are aligned while being conveyed by a linear feeder and an alignment supply trough, and supplied to the next process.

The linear feeder and the alignment supply trough of Patent Document 1 are vibratory. Therefore, although the parts can be aligned, there is a problem that the conveying speed becomes slow and the number of parts supplied per unit time decreases.

Here, a configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 is also known as an apparatus for aligning and supplying parts. Patent Literature 2 conveys parts having projections by a belt conveyor. In Patent Document 2, by using a belt conveyor, the speed of conveying parts can be considerably increased compared to the vibrating feeder of Patent Document 1 or the like.

Patent Document 2 discloses a sorting belt conveyor provided with a sorting guide plate, a supply belt conveyor provided downstream of the sorting belt conveyor, and a recovery belt conveyor provided next to the sorting belt conveyor. It has In the sorting section belt conveyor, the parts in the proper posture with the protrusions facing upward are conveyed to the supply belt conveyor, and the parts in other postures fall onto the recovery section belt conveyor.

JP 2008-201516 A JP-A-10-1211

In the configuration of Patent Document 2, the downstream width of the sorting section belt conveyor narrowed by the sorting guide plate is considerably larger than the width of the supply belt conveyor. Since the width of the supply belt conveyor is larger than the width of the parts in the proper posture, the width of the downstream side of the sorting section belt conveyor is also made larger than the width of the parts in the proper posture. Then, in the case of parts whose length is greater than their width, it becomes difficult to align the directions of the parts on the downstream side of the sorting section belt conveyor. As a result, there is a problem that the transportation of the parts is often delayed before the supply belt conveyor, and the efficiency of transporting the parts is lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a component aligning device capable of maintaining a good efficiency of transporting components.

A parts aligning device according to one aspect of the present invention is a parts aligning device that aligns the thickness, width, and length directions of a plurality of parts and conveys the parts in an aligned state parallel to the lengths. a first conveyor and a second conveyor adjacent to each other in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; an aligning unit that aligns the components conveyed upstream in the conveying direction of the second conveyor during conveyance of the second conveyor, wherein the aligning unit has a height of the components conveyed by the second conveyor. a height sorting unit that allows the conveyance of parts in a posture that is equal to or less than the thickness of the part and excludes the part in a posture that is larger than the thickness of the part from the second conveyor; and a size in the width direction on the upper surface of the second conveyor. a width equal to or less than the width of the aligned parts, and the width sorting part divides the parts conveyed by the second conveyor after passing through the height sorting part into the second conveyor It is characterized in that the parts whose center of gravity is positioned above are allowed to be conveyed, and the parts whose center of gravity is off the second conveyor are removed from the second conveyor.

According to the present invention, the size in the width direction on the upper surface of the second conveyor is formed to be equal to or less than the width of the aligned parts by the width sorting section, and the width sorting section eliminates the parts whose center of gravity is off the second conveyor. can do. As a result, the width sorting section can quickly and smoothly eliminate the parts with different alignment states and postures, and can suppress delays in the transport of the parts in the width sorting section to maintain good transport efficiency. The width sorting section eliminates parts with different alignments and postures, reducing the number of parts conveyed per unit time. can be increased considerably. Therefore, as a result, the conveying efficiency can be sufficiently improved as compared with the vibratory feeder.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a component alignment device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a plan view of a component aligning device according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2 with a part of the configuration omitted; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2; 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams exemplifying changes in posture of a component being transported.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A component alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be modified appropriately without changing the gist of the invention. In the following diagrams, part of the configuration may be omitted for convenience of explanation.

Here, the following description is based on the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction indicated by arrows in each drawing. In the following embodiments, the Z direction is the height direction (vertical direction), the X direction is the transport direction of the aligned parts, and the Y direction is the direction orthogonal to the Z and X directions. However, these directions may be changed as long as the same functions as in the embodiment can be exhibited.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a component alignment device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the component alignment device according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the component alignment device 10 includes a first conveyor 11, a second conveyor 12, and an alignment section . The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 align the plurality of parts P while conveying them. Here, the aligned plural parts P have the same shape. In this embodiment, the component P is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a thickness T (see FIG. 4), a width W and a length T (see FIG. , width W and length L.

The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are arranged side by side in the Y direction, with the first conveyor 11 on the -Y side and the second conveyor 12 on the +Y side. The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 each convey the parts P placed on the upper surface, which becomes a conveyance area, in the X direction by running the endless belts 11a and 12a. The upstream side in the conveying direction of the first conveyor 11 is the +X side, the downstream side in the conveying direction is the -X side, the upstream side in the conveying direction of the second conveyor 12 is the -X side, and the downstream side in the conveying direction is the +X side. Therefore, when viewed from above, the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are parallel and opposite to each other in the direction in which the parts P are conveyed. Here, in the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12, the Y direction perpendicular to the conveying direction is the width direction, so the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are adjacent to each other in the width direction. Between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12, a gap considerably smaller than the width W and thickness T of the component P is formed.

The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are supported at a predetermined height via various frames F. The frame F is also provided with driving units 15 and 16 including motors and the like for applying driving force to the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 .

In the first conveyor 11, the upper surface of the endless belt 11a is partially inclined. Specifically, the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 is higher on the -X side than on the +X side, and is inclined in a direction that increases from the +X side end toward the -X side. Furthermore, the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 is oriented substantially horizontally from the -X side end to a position closer to the -X side than the intermediate position in the X direction. The entire upper surface of the endless belt 12a on the second conveyor 12 is oriented substantially horizontally.

Here, the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are divided into two areas, a sorting area S1 and a communication area S2, which are aligned in the X direction. The boundary position between the sorting area S1 and the communication area S2 is the boundary position between the area where the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 is inclined and the area where the upper surface is horizontal. A sorting area S1 is formed in the +X direction from such a boundary position, and a connecting area S2 is formed in the -X direction. 12 downstream in the conveying direction). Therefore, the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 has an area that slopes in a direction that increases toward the -X side (downstream in the conveying direction) in the sorting area S1.

As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 1, the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 is slightly higher than the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 by a height h of several millimeters in the connecting area S2. In the sorting area S<b>1 , the top surface of the first conveyor 11 is inclined as described above, so the top surface of the second conveyor 12 is positioned higher than the top surface of the first conveyor 11 .

In the sorting area S1, a partition wall 21 is provided between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 to prevent the parts P from falling from the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 to the +Y side. The upper end of the partition wall 21 is formed slightly lower than the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 . In the sorting area S1, a fall prevention wall 22 is provided above the +X side end of the first conveyor 11 to prevent the parts P from falling from the first conveyor 11 to the +X side. be.

Furthermore, in the sorting area S1, a first guide member 23 is provided so as to overlap the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 on the -Y side, thereby preventing the parts P from falling from the first conveyor 11 to the -Y side. . The first guide member 23 includes a plate-like portion arranged slightly above the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 in the sorting area S1. The first guide member 23 is formed with an inclined end portion 23a so that the width in the Y direction increases toward the -X side. Invite them to gather at

In the sorting area S1, the first conveyor 11 in the sorting area S1 is surrounded by the partition wall 21, the first guide member 23, and the fall prevention wall 22 on both sides in the Y direction and on the +X side. As a result, in the sorting area S1, an accommodation space A for the parts P is formed on the first conveyor 11, and a plurality of parts P can be supplied from above the accommodation space A and stored.

A second guide member 24 is provided so as to extend over the upper surfaces of both the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 in the communication region S2. The second guide member 24 is provided with an inclined wall portion 24a, and the inclined wall portion 24a is oriented in a direction rotated clockwise by about 45° with respect to the X direction when viewed from above. The +X side (−Y side) end of the inclined wall portion 24a is arranged in the vicinity of the −X side end of the inclined end portion 23a, and the component P is restricted from coming out therebetween. A region on the −X side (+Y side) of the inclined wall portion 24 a is arranged above the second conveyor 12 .

In the communication area S2, the inclined wall portion 24a guides the component P conveyed to the first conveyor 11 so as to move along the extending direction of the inclined wall portion 24a. Thereby, the part P can be conveyed from the -X side of the first conveyor 11 (downstream side in the conveying direction) to the -X side of the second conveyor 12 (upstream side in the conveying direction) in the communication area S2. In other words, in the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12, the area where the parts P are conveyed from the first conveyor 11 to the second conveyor 12 is the communication area S2. Note that the above-described orientation of the inclined wall portion 24a is an example, and may be changed according to the component P, or the orientation may be curved instead of extending linearly.

Since the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 is slightly higher than the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 in the communication area S2 as described above, the reverse flow of the parts P from the second conveyor 12 to the first conveyor 11 is suppressed.

A third guide member 25 is provided in the communication area S2 so as to overlap the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 on the +Y side. A curved wall portion 25a is provided in the third guide member 25, and the curved wall portion 25a is bent in a region on the -X side as viewed from above and directed in a direction extending in the X direction. The −X side end of the curved wall portion 25a is arranged in the vicinity of the −X side end of the inclined wall portion 24a, and the component P is restricted from slipping out therebetween. In addition, in the contact area S2, the bent wall portion 25a prevents the component P from falling from the second conveyor 12 to the +Y side.

The partition wall 21, the fall prevention wall 22, the first guide member 23, the second guide member 24, and the third guide member 25 are supported on the frame F so that their positions can be adjusted via support structures such as screws and brackets. there is

The aligning unit 14 is provided above the second conveyor 12 and aligns the parts P while the second conveyor 12 is transporting them. The aligning unit 14 has a width sorting unit 31 that sorts the parts P conveyed by the second conveyor 12 according to the size in the Y direction and a height sorting unit 31 that sorts the parts P according to the size (height) in the Z direction. A sorting section 32 is provided.

The width sorting portion 31 is configured by a plate-like body provided at a position adjacent to the +X side of the third guide member 25 . Further, the width sorting section 31 is provided so as to cover the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 on the +Y side in the sorting area S1. The width sorting portion 31 includes an inclined edge 34 formed on the -Y side for adjusting the posture (orientation) of the component P, and an end portion of the inclined edge 34 on the +X side and extending parallel to the X direction (conveyance direction). and extending parallel edges 35 .

The inclined edge 34 is inclined from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the second conveyor 12, that is, from the -X side toward the +X side and gradually toward the -Y side. Thereby, the inclined edge 34 is provided so that the exposed upper surface (conveyance area) of the endless belt 12a of the second conveyor 12 becomes gradually smaller toward the +X side.

The inclined edge 34 has a first edge 34a and a second edge 34b that are formed in order from the −X side in the conveying direction of the second conveyor 12 toward the +X side. In the first edge 34a and the second edge 34b, the inclination angle with respect to the X direction is smaller at the second edge 34b than at the first edge 34a.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2 with a part of the configuration omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, the width of the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 in the Y direction varies in the areas where the inclined edge 34 and the parallel edge 35 are formed. Specifically, the width of the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 in the Y direction corresponds to the width W of the parts P to be aligned, and the boundary between the first edge 34a and the second edge 34b at the inclined edge 34 The width Wa at the position is formed slightly larger than the width W of the part P. Further, the width Wb at the boundary position between the second edge 34b and the parallel edge 35 is smaller than the width W of the component P and larger than the dimension obtained by dividing the width W by half. As a result, the width of the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 in the width sorting section 31 in the Y direction is formed to be equal to or less than the width W of the component P on the +X side from the intermediate portion of the second edge 34b.

The height sorting portion 32 is provided at an intermediate portion in the extension direction of the inclined edge 34 near the boundary position between the first edge 34a and the second edge 34b. The height dividing portion 32 is formed of a bent plate-like body and supported by the width dividing portion 31 via an L-shaped bracket 37 . The height dividing portion 32 includes a first forming body 32a supported by the bracket 37 and positioned on the -X side of the bent position, and a second forming body 32b positioned on the +X side of the bent position.

The bent position of the height sorting portion 32 is arranged directly above the boundary position between the first end edge 34 a and the second end edge 34 b of the inclined edge 34 or in the vicinity thereof. The first forming body 32a of the height sorting portion 32 overlaps the first edge 34a when viewed from above, and is oriented substantially parallel to the extending direction of the first edge 34a. The second forming body 32b is arranged on the -Y side of the second edge 34b when viewed from above, and arranged across the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 and the upper surface of the first conveyor 11. As shown in FIG. The inclination angle of the second forming body 32b with respect to the X direction is larger than that of the first forming body 32a, the first edge 34a and the second edge 34b.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the height position of the height sorting portion 32 is formed such that the distance d in the Z direction between the lower end thereof and the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 is slightly larger than the thickness T of the component P. As shown in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 2 , the component alignment device 10 further includes a first guide wall 39 and a second guide wall 40 provided on the +X side of the parallel edge 35 of the width dividing portion 31 . The first guide wall 39 and the second guide wall 40 extend in the X direction and are arranged to sandwich the -Y side end of the second conveyor 12 when viewed from above. The distance between the inner surfaces of the first guide wall 39 and the second guide wall 40 is slightly larger than the width W of the component P (see FIG. 3). The inner surface of the first guide wall 39 is set substantially at the same position in the Y direction as the parallel edge 35, and they are aligned in the X direction in the same straight line.

The parts P after passing through the parallel edge 35 of the width dividing portion 31 are transported between the first guide wall 39 and the second guide wall 40 through the running of the second conveyor 12 . On the +X side of the second conveyor 12 and on the +X side of the first guide wall 39 and the second guide wall 40, a carry-out mechanism 42 for the component P is provided. are arranged in the Z direction, for example, and carried out sequentially. The −X side regions of the first guide wall 39 and the second guide wall 40 are bent so that the distance between the inner surfaces gradually increases toward the −X side.

Next, the procedure for aligning the parts P by the parts aligning device 10 will be described. Here, in the component aligning device 10, the plurality of components P are arranged in an aligned state in which the thickness T is aligned in the Z direction, the width W is aligned in the Y direction, and the length L is aligned in the X direction. It is assumed that the parts P aligned in the direction are arranged and conveyed.

First, a plurality of parts P are supplied into the accommodation space A from above the first conveyor 11 . The supplied parts P are conveyed in the -X direction by the first conveyor 11, and when conveyed from the sorting area S1 to the communication area S2, are moved in the +Y direction by the guidance of the inclined wall portion 24a and placed on the second conveyor 12. be transported.

The parts P conveyed to the second conveyor 12 are conveyed in the +X direction by the second conveyor 12 and conveyed from the communication area S2 to the sorting area S1. As a result, the part P is conveyed in the +X direction and is moved toward the -Y side of the second conveyor 12 by the first edge 34 a of the inclined edge 34 and reaches the height sorting section 32 .

Here, the attitude of the parts P reaching the height sorting section 32 by the second conveyor 12 is such that the directions parallel to the Z direction are the extending direction of the length L, the extending direction of the width W, and the thickness. One of three patterns in the extending direction of T. Since the distance d (see FIG. 4) in the Z direction between the lower end of the height sorting portion 32 and the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 is slightly larger than the thickness T of the part P, the height sorting portion 32 has a height dimension of is allowed to be conveyed in a posture in which the thickness is equal to or less than the thickness T. Therefore, the component P in a posture in which the extending direction of the thickness T is parallel to the Z direction passes through the height sorting section 32 in the +X direction and is conveyed in the direction along the second edge 34b.

On the other hand, when the height sorting unit 32 receives a component P having a posture whose height dimension is greater than the thickness T, the height sorting unit 32 and the component P come into contact with each other. Such parts P cannot pass through the height sorting section 32, are guided to the -Y side by the second forming body 32b, drop onto the first conveyor 11, and are removed from the second conveyor 12. FIG. Therefore, a part P having a posture in which the extending direction of the thickness T is not parallel to the Z direction, in other words, a part P whose length L and width W are oriented in the Z direction cannot pass through the height sorting section 32, and the height Transportation in the +X direction is regulated by the sorting section 32 . As a result, on the second conveyor 12, only the parts P whose thickness T is in the Z direction pass through the height sorting section 32, and the orientation of the parts P in the Z direction is aligned, and the conveyance on the second conveyor 12 proceeds. be.

Parts P having a thickness T in the Z direction on the second conveyor 12 are conveyed in various postures (orientations) with respect to the length L and the width W. Two examples shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B will be described below. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams exemplifying changes in posture of a component being transported.

The part P in FIG. 5A assumes a posture in which the surface along the length L is rotated counterclockwise by 45° with respect to the X direction before reaching the inclined edge 34 . When the part P is conveyed by the second conveyor 12 and reaches the first edge 34a of the inclined edge 34, the part P along the width W is guided so as to be in surface contact with the first edge 34a. While being guided, the part P is conveyed in the direction in which the first edge 34a extends. When the part P reaches the second edge 34b, the surface along the width W of the part P reaches the second edge 34b is guided to come into surface contact.

When the part P is conveyed in the extending direction of the second edge 34 b while being guided by the second edge 34 b, the center of gravity G of the part P is shifted from the second conveyor 12 . This is because the Y-direction widths Wa and Wb (see FIG. 3) of the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 are set as described above. A part P whose center of gravity G is off the second conveyor 12 cannot maintain the state of being placed on the second conveyor 12, and falls to the first conveyor 11 before reaching the parallel edge 35, whereupon the part P is transferred to the second conveyor. excluded from 12. The timing at which the center of gravity G of the part P deviates from the second conveyor 12 while it is being conveyed by the second conveyor 12 varies depending on the length of the part P, and is in the middle of being guided by the first edge 34a. There is also

Before reaching the inclined edge 34, the part P in FIG. 5B is in a posture in which the surface along the length L is parallel to the X direction, and is separated from the -Y side end of the second conveyor 12 by a predetermined distance. . When the part P reaches the first edge 34a of the inclined edge 34 by being conveyed by the second conveyor 12, the part P along the length L is guided so as to be in surface contact with the first edge 34a. While being guided, the part P is conveyed in the direction in which the first edge 34a extends. It is guided in surface contact with the edge 34b.

While being guided by the second edge 34b, the part P is conveyed in the direction in which the second edge 34b extends. are guided into surface contact with the parallel edge 35 . By this guidance, the plane along the length L of the part P becomes parallel to the extending direction of the parallel edge 35, that is, the X direction, and the length L of the part P is in the X direction, the width W is in the Y direction, and the thickness T is parallel. can be aligned in the Z direction.

5B, the center of gravity G of the part P is maintained on the second conveyor 12 when passing through the inclined edge 34 and the parallel edge 35 of the width sorting section 31. . Therefore, the width sorting section 31 allows the parts P whose center of gravity G is located on the second conveyor 12 to be conveyed.

The change in the posture of the component P by the width sorting unit 31 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B varies depending on the posture of the component P before reaching the width sorting unit 31. It is either removed from the second conveyor 12 or put into alignment. After the aligned parts P pass through the parallel edge 35, the aligned parts P are aligned and conveyed in the X direction parallel to the length L between the guide walls 39 and 40. can be done.

Note that the second conveyor 12 is set to have a higher transport speed than the first conveyor 11 . As a result, immediately after the part P is guided by the inclined wall portion 24a and moved onto the second conveyor 12 in the communication area S2, it becomes easier to rotate, and the surface along the length L of the part P approaches the X direction. can be transported. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the parts P are not removed from the second conveyor 12 by the width sorting section 31, but are more likely to be aligned, thereby improving the transport efficiency. In addition, the number of sheets conveyed per unit time by the second conveyor 12 can be increased, and the width of the second conveyor 12 in the Y direction can be made smaller than that of the first conveyor 11 .

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the inclined edge 34 and the parallel edge 35 of the width dividing portion 31 set the dimension in the Y direction on the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 to be equal to or less than the width W of the component P. . As a result, the part P whose posture is significantly different from the aligned state can be removed in a state where the center of gravity G is deviated from the second conveyor 12 at a position on the upstream side in the conveying direction. Therefore, the width sorting part 31 can quickly and smoothly remove the parts P whose alignment state and posture are significantly different, and the width sorting part 31 can suppress the delay of the transport of the parts P to keep the transport efficiency good. .

Here, the number of parts P conveyed per unit time is reduced by the number of parts P removed by the second conveyor 12. The number of deliveries per unit time can be considerably increased. Therefore, as a result, compared with a vibrating feeder, the component alignment device 10 of the above-described embodiment can sufficiently improve the transfer efficiency.

In addition, since the inclined edge 34 is formed so that the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 gradually becomes smaller toward the +X side, the conveying of the second conveyor 12 has the function of moving the part P in the direction to remove it, and the function of moving the part P. The function of approximating the aligned state can be exhibited at the same time.

Moreover, in the inclined edges 34, the inclination angle with respect to the X direction is smaller at the second edges 34b than at the first edges 34a. The part P can be brought closer to the end of the second conveyor 12 on the -Y side. Furthermore, the second edge 34b forms an angle close to the X direction, which is the conveying direction, so that the component P can be smoothly conveyed between the parallel edge 35 and the second edge 34b. The parallel edge 35 can guide the surface along the length L of the component P so as to be parallel to the X direction, which is the conveying direction.

In addition, since the height sorting portion 32 is provided at the intermediate portion in the extension direction of the inclined edge 34, the thickness of the component P is reduced while the component P is being brought closer to the end on the -Y side of the second conveyor 12 by the inclined edge 34. Parts P with a height greater than T can be eliminated.

In addition, since the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 is provided at a position higher than the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 in the sorting area S1, the removal of the parts P in the width sorting section 31 and the height sorting section 32 is transferred to the first conveyor 11. can be dropped. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the parts P with a simple configuration, and to easily transport the eliminated parts P from the first conveyor 11 to the second conveyor 12 again.

Furthermore, the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 is substantially horizontal, and the first conveyor 11 is inclined in the sorting area S1. Thereby, while arranging the two conveyors 11 and 12 side by side, it is possible to form an accommodation space A capable of accommodating a plurality of parts P in the first conveyor 11 which is one of them.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications. In the above embodiments, the sizes, shapes, directions, etc. shown in the accompanying drawings are not limited to these, and can be changed as appropriate within the scope of exhibiting the effects of the present invention. In addition, it is possible to carry out by appropriately modifying the present invention as long as it does not deviate from the scope of the purpose of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the inclined edge 34 is formed by two edges 34a and 34b with different inclination angles, but the entire inclined edge 34 may be formed with a uniform inclination angle or by three or more edges with different inclination angles. You may Also, the inclined edge 34 may have a shape extending in a curved direction.

Alternatively, the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 may be formed substantially horizontally, and the upper surface of the second conveyor 12 may be inclined so as to be higher than the upper surface of the first conveyor 11 .

Further, the shape of the component P may be various shapes other than the rectangular parallelepiped, as long as the thickness, width and length of the component P can be aligned and conveyed in the same direction as in the above-described embodiment.

10: Parts alignment device 11: First conveyor 11a: Endless belt 12: Second conveyor 12a: Endless belt 14: Alignment unit 31: Width sorting unit 32: Height sorting unit 34: Inclined edge 34a: First edge 34b: Second edge 35 : Parallel edge G : Center of gravity L : Length P : Part S1 : Sorting area S2 : Communication area T : Thickness W : Width

Claims (9)

A parts aligning device that aligns the thickness, width, and length directions of a plurality of parts and conveys the parts in an aligned state parallel to the length,
A first conveyor and a second conveyor that are adjacent to each other in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the conveying directions of the parts by running the endless belt are parallel and opposite when viewed from above;
an aligning unit that aligns the components conveyed from the downstream side of the first conveyor in the conveying direction to the upstream side of the second conveyor in the conveying direction during conveyance of the second conveyor,
The aligning unit permits the conveyance of parts in a posture in which the height of the parts conveyed by the second conveyor is equal to or less than the thickness of the parts, and excludes the parts in a posture larger than the thickness of the parts from the second conveyor. a height sorting unit that
a width sorting part that forms the width direction size on the upper surface of the second conveyor to be equal to or less than the width of the aligned parts,
The width sorting section permits the transportation of the parts whose center of gravity is located on the second conveyor among the parts that have passed through the height sorting section and are transported by the second conveyor. A parts aligning device, characterized in that parts that have come off from the conveyor are removed from the second conveyor. 2. The parts alignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the width sorting section has an inclined edge that gradually narrows the conveying area from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the second conveyor. 3. The component alignment device according to claim 2, wherein the height sorting section is provided at an intermediate portion in the extension direction of the inclined edge. The inclined edge comprises a first edge and a second edge formed in order in the conveying direction of the second conveyor,
4. The parts aligning device according to claim 2, wherein the inclination angle of the second conveyor with respect to the conveying direction is smaller at the second edge than at the first edge. 5. Any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the width sorting portion has a parallel edge extending parallel to the conveying direction from the downstream side of the inclined edge in the conveying direction of the second conveyor. 1. A component aligning device according to claim 1. In the first conveyor and the second conveyor, a region where parts are conveyed from the first conveyor to the second conveyor is defined as a communication region,
The upstream side in the conveying direction of the first conveyor and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the second conveyor from the communication area are defined as sorting areas,
6. The parts aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the second conveyor is provided at a position higher than the upper surface of the first conveyor in the sorting area. The second conveyor has a substantially horizontal entire upper surface,
7. The component alignment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first conveyor is inclined in a direction that becomes higher toward the downstream side in the conveying direction in the sorting area. 8. The parts aligning device according to claim 6, wherein the upper surface of the first conveyor is provided at a position higher than the upper surface of the second conveyor in the communication area. 9. The parts aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second conveyor has a faster conveying speed than the first conveyor.

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