JP2501951B2 - Goods alignment device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an article aligning method and apparatus for aligning randomly supplied articles by utilizing a flow of rising fluid, and particularly to an apparatus for aligning the articles. An article that can be taken out to a predetermined position in a state where the cap is arranged in a certain direction by stopping the flow of the rising air flow after inserting the cap into the rising air flow to adjust the direction of the cap The present invention relates to an aligning device.

[Conventional technology]

Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho
Those described in JP-A-57-36207 and JP-A-55-58521 are known.

Explaining the conventional technique described in the above publication, Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-36207 has means for generating a flow velocity distribution in which the flow velocity in the central portion of the fluid flow is small and the flow velocity near the flow path wall is large. An object to be adjusted is placed in the flow path, and a fluid flow having the flow velocity distribution is applied to the object to be adjusted so that the object to be adjusted has a fluidly stable posture. A fluid with a large fluid resistance value in the flow path through which the objects to be aligned can be rotatably moved and flow out and a central portion provided upstream of the flow path and with a small fluid resistance value in the peripheral portion is described. Described is an apparatus for aligning objects to be aligned, which is composed of a resistance and a fluid source provided upstream of the fluid resistance and has a flow velocity distribution in which the flow velocity at the center of the flow passage is smaller than the flow velocity near the flow passage wall.

Further, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 55-58521, an aligning tube that allows the workpieces to be aligned to rotate freely, an appropriate number of aligning nozzles opening around the aligning tube, and rotation of the workpieces are disclosed. A transfer pipe capable of sliding while being disabled, a contraction pipe connecting the transfer pipe and the aligning pipe, and an appropriate number of vents provided on the upstream side of the transfer nozzle and opening the transfer pipe, and the transfer. A vented pneumatic alignment element with a quasi-continuous function consisting of a transfer nozzle opening into a tube is described.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the above conventional technique has the following problems.

That is, the method and apparatus for aligning objects to be aligned described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-36207, or the pneumatic alignment element with vent described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-58521 is a fluid flow. It is possible to arrange the article in a substantially constant direction by the interaction between the object and the object to be aligned or the work (article), but there is no description about taking out the article arranged in the substantially constant direction in a prepared state. , There is no suggestion.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an article aligning device capable of arranging the direction of randomly supplied articles by utilizing the flow of ascending fluid, and taking out the prepared articles in the prepared state. is there.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention relates to a vertical DC path 2 through which an article B can freely pass.
And an article receiving portion 3 which is located below the vertical direct current path 2 and receives the article B arranged in a substantially constant direction in the vertical direct current path 2.
And a pressurized fluid ejecting section 5 disposed below the article receiving section 3 for injecting a pressurized fluid to the vertical flow path 2, and the article B.
To adjust the flow rate in a substantially constant direction, and an adjusting device 19 for adjusting the flow rate and pressure of the pressurized fluid that rises in the vertical direct current path 2, thereby providing an article aligning device. The above object is achieved.

The article receiving portion 3 is preferably arranged on the peripheral surface of the rotating body 4.

[Action]

An article aligning method using the article aligning apparatus according to the present invention includes a vertical direct current path, an article receiving portion located below the vertical direct current path, and a pressurized fluid disposed below the article receiving section. By providing the ejection unit, the article is arranged in a substantially constant direction by utilizing the flow of the rising fluid, and the article is taken out to a predetermined position in the state of being arranged in the substantially constant direction.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, first, an embodiment of the apparatus for aligning articles according to the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is suitable for aligning articles having a shape such that one end is open and the other end is closed, such as a cap.

1 to 4 show an embodiment of an apparatus for aligning articles of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus for aligning articles, which is partially cut away, and FIG. 2 is the same apparatus. Is a block diagram, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining a process of aligning articles, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing control contents of the article aligning apparatus.

First, the outline of the entire article aligning apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

The article aligning apparatus A according to the present embodiment includes a supply belt conveyor 1, a vertical direct current path (air pipe) 2, and a plurality of article receiving portions (cap receiving pockets) 3. The pressurizing fluid ejecting unit 5, the conveyor belt conveyor 6, and the controller 7 are provided.

According to the article aligning apparatus A, articles (caps) B to be aligned are loaded into the air pipe 2 from the supply belt conveyor 1 in a random state, and the pressure is applied in the air pipe 2. After aligning in a substantially constant direction using the rising airflow as the rising fluid blown up from the fluid ejecting unit 5 (after aligning so that the opening surface of the cap B faces upward).
The cap receiving pocket 3 receives the cap B while it is aligned in the substantially constant direction, and then the cap B is inverted by the rotating drum 4 from the cap receiving pocket 3 onto the transfer belt conveyor 6 ( It can be transferred to a predetermined place by reversing it so that the opening surface faces downward.

 Next, each component will be described in detail.

The supply belt conveyor 1 is arranged in a substantially horizontal state at the upper end rear position of the article aligning apparatus A, and the outlet portion 1a extending to the upper front side of the article aligning apparatus A has an upper end of the air pipe 2. It is located on the opening 2a and has the above-mentioned cap B.
Is introduced into the air pipe 2 through the upper end opening 2a. A sensor 9 for detecting the cap B is provided on the left and right side walls 8 of the outlet portion 1a. When the sensor 9 detects the cap B, the controller 7 detects a predetermined time after a predetermined time based on the detection signal. The supply belt conveyor 1 is stopped after the cap B is put into the air pipe 2.
Here, as the sensor 9, for example, an optical sensor including a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is used, but a micro switch or the like may be used.

The air pipe 2 has a substantially elliptical cross section, and has a substantially U-shaped metal fitting 10 at a position near the upper front of the article aligning apparatus A.
Mounted almost vertically through. The diameter (long axis length, short axis length) of the air pipe 2 is set to a size that allows the cap B to pass rotatably so that the cap B can be aligned using the rising air flow. It is set.

The cap receiving pocket 3 is formed in a mesh shape so that the rising air flow from the pressurized fluid ejecting unit 5 passes through the cap receiving pocket 3 and is recessed in the rotary drum 4 along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum 4. A plurality (8 in FIG. 2) are arranged at substantially equal intervals, and the lower end opening 2b of the air pipe 2 is rotated by the rotation of the rotary drum 4 (see FIG. 2).
Of the cap B is received substantially in a uniform direction from the lower end opening 2b.

The rotating drum 4 is rotatably mounted at a position above the front of the apparatus A for aligning articles through a bearing member 11.
The rotary drum 4 is configured to transmit a rotational driving force from a motor 12 with a clutch / brake arranged above a rear portion of the article aligning apparatus A via a timing belt 13.

That is, a driven pulley 14 is provided at one end of the rotary drum 4 in the axial direction, and a drive pulley 15 is provided at one end of the drive shaft 12a of the motor 12 with clutch / brake in the axial direction. 14 and drive pulley
The timing belt 13 is stretched between the rotary drum 4 and the timing belt 15, and the rotary drum 4 is rotated by the clutch / brake motor 12.

Here, the proximity sensor 16 (see FIG. 2) is provided at a predetermined position of the article alignment device A facing the inside of the rotary drum 4.
Is arranged. The proximity sensor 16 detects that the rotary drum 4 is rotated clockwise by about 45 °. The clutch / brake motor 12 is intermittently operated by the controller 7 based on a detection signal from the proximity sensor 16. That is, the clutch / brake motor 12 is
The controller 7 is controlled by the controller 7 based on the detection signal from the proximity sensor 16 to temporarily stop and then operate again, and the same operation is repeated.

A cap drop prevention guide 17 for covering the cap receiving pocket 3 is arranged at a predetermined position outside the rotary drum 4. This cap drop prevention guide 17
Is to prevent the cap B in the cap receiving pocket 3 from dropping in the process of moving the cap receiving pocket 3 to the position on the transfer belt conveyor 6.

The pressurized fluid ejecting unit 5 includes a multi-point air nozzle 18 arranged at a substantially rotation center position inside the rotating drum 4,
Adjustment device (electro-pneumatic converter) 19 for adjusting the flow rate and pressure of the air flow blown up according to the shape and size of the cap B
And an electromagnetic valve 20 for blocking the rising air flow, and blows the air flow into the air pipe 2 through the cap receiving pocket 3. Here, the adjusting device 19 is an electro-pneumatic air regulator of model EN40-1B manufactured by Tokyo Automatic Control Co., Ltd., and the solenoid valve 20 is connected to an accumulator through a pipe (not shown) and the sensor 9 Is cap B
When it is detected, it is controlled by the controller 7 and opened for a preset time.

The transfer belt conveyor 6 is located at a position below the front part of the apparatus A for aligning articles and substantially directly below the rotary drum 4,
The cap B is arranged so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the supply belt conveyor 1 (extends in the axial direction of the rotary drum 4) and transfers the cap B transferred from the cap receiving pocket 3. is there. Further, the transfer belt conveyor 6 has one end side (a side located substantially directly below the rotary drum 4) supported by an air cylinder 21 so as to be able to move up and down, and the other end side supports a support shaft 23 on a support base 22. It is swingably supported via. The air cylinder 21 is controlled and operated by the controller 7 based on detection signals from the ascending end limit switch 24 and the descending end limit switch 25 (see FIG. 2).

The controller 7 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and includes the supply belt conveyor 1, the clutch / brake motor 12, the solenoid valve 20, the transfer belt conveyor 6 and the air cylinder 21 shown in FIG. The control is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, one embodiment of the method of aligning articles by the article aligning apparatus A of the present invention will be described based on an example of the case where the article aligning apparatus A is used, with reference to the above flowchart. .

When the cap B is placed on the supply belt conveyor 1 in a random state and the power switch (not shown) is closed, the controller 7 operates and the content of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is executed.

That is, first, the supply belt conveyor 1 is operated, and the cap B is carried to the outlet 1a provided with the sensor 9 (step 10).

Next, it is judged whether or not the sensor 9 detects the cap B (step 11). When the cap B is detected, the supply belt conveyor 1 is stopped (step 12) after a lapse of a predetermined time based on the detection signal. , The solenoid valve 20 is opened for a preset time (step 13). On the other hand, after the cap B is detected by the sensor 9, the air pipe 2
It is thrown in.

As a result, the flow rate adjusted by the electropneumatic converter 19,
The rising airflow of pressure is blown up from the nozzle 18 through the cap receiving pocket 3 toward the upper end opening 2a of the lower end opening 2b of the air pipe 2, and the injected cap B utilizes the rising airflow. It can be aligned in a substantially constant direction.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the cap B becomes stable with the opening surface facing upward (stabilized on the side where the center of gravity exists) and floats due to the rising airflow.

Then, when a preset time has elapsed, the solenoid valve 20 is closed (step 14), the rising air flow is stopped, and the cap B remains in a state in which the opening surface faces upward (a state in which the cap B is aligned in a substantially constant direction). It falls freely and is housed in the cap receiving pocket 3 located just below the air pipe 2.

Next, the clutch / brake motor 12 is operated (step 15), and the rotary drum 4 rotates clockwise in FIG. Then, whether the proximity sensor 16 is turned on (whether the rotary drum 4 is rotated by about 45 ° clockwise)
It is determined whether or not (step 16). When the proximity sensor 16 is turned on, that is, the rotary drum 4 is approximately 45 ° in FIG.
The motor 12 with the clutch / brake stops when it rotates clockwise (step 17). As shown in FIG. 2, the rotation of the rotary drum 4 causes the cap receiving pocket 3 accommodating the cap B to move sequentially on the transfer belt conveyor 6, and the cap B in the cap receiving pocket 3 faces the opening face downward. (Inverted) and transferred to one end side of the transfer belt conveyor 6. At this time, one end of the transfer belt conveyor 6 is lifted by the air cylinder 21 and is inclined.

Next, the air sillunder 21 starts the descending operation (step 18). And the lower limit switch 25
It is determined whether or not it is turned on (step 19). As a result, the transfer belt conveyor 6 returns from the inclined state to the substantially horizontal state.

Next, the transfer belt conveyor 6 operates for a predetermined time (step 20). As a result, the cap B transferred onto the transfer belt conveyor 6 is transferred to a position where it does not hinder the transfer of the next cap B.

Next, the air cylinder 21 starts the raising operation (step 21). And the rising end limit switch 24
It is determined whether or not it is turned on (step 22). As a result, the one end side of the transfer belt conveyor 6 approaches the rotating drum 4 to such an extent that it does not interfere with the rotation drum 4, and the next transfer operation is prepared.

Next, it is determined whether or not the cap B remains on the supply belt conveyor 1, and if it remains, the process returns to step 10 and the above-described series of operations is repeated, and the cap B remains on the supply belt conveyor. If not, the article aligning apparatus A is stopped (step 23).

By doing the above, the cap B supplied in a random state is arranged in a substantially constant direction by utilizing the rising air flow, and then taken out in a state in which the cap B is efficiently arranged in the substantially constant direction and is placed in another place. Can be transferred to.

5 to 8 are graphs showing the relationship between the pressure of the rising air flow and the cap alignment probability.

The length of the air pipe 2 is 200 mm, and the air pipe 2
Has a caliber (long axis) of 60 mm, a caliber (minor axis) of 50 mm, a distance (clearance) between the cap receiving pocket 3 and the lower end opening 2b of the air pipe 2 of 6 mm, an air nozzle 18 and a lower end of the air pipe 2. The distance from the opening 2b is 105 mm,
The depth of the cap receiving pocket 3 is 40 mm, and the adjusting device 19
The supply pressure of the air supplied to the device was 5.5 Kgf / cm ² .

In the graph of FIG. 5, as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), the head b ₁ has a hemispherical shape and the main body part b ₂ has a cylindrical cap B.
The result when using is shown. Here, the weight of the cap B was 8.13 g.

As is clear from the results shown in the above graph, when the pressure of the rising air flow was increased, the cap alignment probability increased, and the cap alignment probability became 100% at the direction alignment pressure of 1.10 kgf / cm ² .

The graph of FIG. 6 shows the results when the cap B having the same shape as the cap B shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B was used. Here, the weight of the cap B was 10.73 g.

As is clear from the results shown in the above graph, when the pressure of the rising air flow was increased, the cap alignment probability increased, and the cap alignment probability became 100% at the direction alignment pressure of 1.14 kgf / cm ² .

In addition, the graph of FIG. 7 shows the results when a cap B in which the head b ₁ has a hemispherical shape and the main body part b ₂ has an elliptic truncated cone shape is used as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and (b). Indicates. Here, the weight of the cap B was 8.77 g.

As is clear from the results shown in the above graph, when the pressure of the rising air flow was increased, the cap alignment probability increased, and the cap alignment probability became 100% at the direction alignment pressure of 0.51 kgf / cm ² .

Further, the graph of FIG. 8 shows the results when the cap b in which the head b ₁ has a substantially disc shape and the body part b ₂ has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b) is used. Indicates. Here, the weight of the cap B was 6.11 g.

As is clear from the results shown in the above graph, when the pressure of the rising air flow was increased, the cap alignment probability increased, and the cap alignment probability became 100% at the direction alignment pressure of 0.51 kgf / cm ² .

The above-mentioned direction alignment pressure is 100 in 50 trials.
It is the pressure of the rising air flow when it is aligned in the cap B with a probability of% and is housed in the cap receiving pocket 3.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the apparatus A for aligning articles.

In FIG. 12, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The apparatus A for aligning articles according to the present embodiment has an improved ability for adjusting caps B (the number of adjusting caps B per unit time).

That is, a supply belt conveyor 27 having a plurality (7 rows in the drawing) of belt conveyors 26 to which clutches and brakes are independently applied is provided, and at the outlet side of the supply belt conveyor 27, a plurality of air pipes 2 and a plurality of air pipes 2 are provided. The rotary drums 4 are arranged in parallel, and the air nozzles 18 are respectively arranged in the respective rotary drums 4, so that a plurality of caps B can be aligned and taken out at one time. Since the transfer belt conveyor 6 is long, it is supported by a plurality of air cylinders 21.

The present invention is not limited to the one shown in the above embodiment. That is, the present invention is not limited to the cap B shown in the above embodiment as an article to be aligned, and can be applied to the alignment of various articles.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the rising air flow is stopped after the cap B is arranged in a substantially constant direction has been described, but the rising air flow may be decelerated.

Further, the air pipe 2 as the vertical flow path is not limited to the one shown in the above embodiment, and may have a circular cross section or a rectangular cross section.

Further, the cap receiving pocket 3 may not be provided on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 4 which is a rotating body as in the above-described embodiment, and may be provided on the horizontal conveyor, for example.

Further, the air nozzle 18 is not limited to the multi-point nozzle as in the above embodiment, and may be, for example, a single-point nozzle. The shape of the tip of the air nozzle 18 is not particularly limited.

In addition, the adjusting device for adjusting the flow rate and pressure of the rising air flow 19
Is not limited to the electropneumatic converter shown in the above embodiment.

Further, the control content of the article arrangement device A is not limited to that shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the article aligning apparatus of the present invention, as described above, the vertical DC path, the article receiving section located below the vertical DC path, and the pressurized fluid ejecting section disposed below the article receiving section are provided. With the provision, the flow of the ascending fluid of the article can be used to arrange the article in a substantially constant direction, and the article can be taken out to a predetermined position in a state of being aligned in the substantially constant direction.

Further, since the article receiving portion is arranged on the peripheral surface of the rotating body, the articles can be aligned at high speed.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of an apparatus for aligning articles of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus for aligning articles, which is partially cut away, and FIG. 2 is the same apparatus. FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining the process of aligning the articles, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the article aligning device, FIG.
FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are graphs showing the relationship between the pressure of the rising air flow and the cap alignment probability, FIG. 9 (a) is a front view of the cap B, and FIG. 9 (b) is the same. Perspective view,
10 (a) is a front view of another cap B, FIG. 10 (b) is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 11 (a) is a front view of a further cap B, and FIG. 11 (b) is a perspective view thereof. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the article aligning apparatus. 2; Vertical DC path (air pipe) 3; Article receiving part (cap receiving pocket) 4; Rotating body (rotating drum) B; Article (cap)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vertical direct current path 2 through which an article B can freely pass.
And an article receiving portion 3 which is located below the vertical direct current path 2 and receives the article B arranged in a substantially constant direction in the vertical direct current path 2.
And a pressurized fluid ejecting section 5 disposed below the article receiving section 3 for injecting a pressurized fluid to the vertical flow path 2, and the article B.
And an adjusting device 19 for adjusting the flow rate and pressure of the pressurized fluid rising in the vertical direct current path 2 in order to adjust the pressure in a substantially constant direction. 2. The apparatus for aligning articles according to claim 1, wherein the article receiving section 3 is arranged on the peripheral surface of the rotating body 4.