JP2507569Y2 - Work hopper device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a small component such as a nut (hereinafter referred to as a work).
The present invention relates to a structure of a hopper device for discharging an appropriate number of a large number of pieces into a predetermined supply position temporarily.

[Conventional technology]

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-9703 of the prior art, in a spot welding machine for welding a workpiece such as a nut of a sheet metal workpiece, the workpieces are aligned in a row in a direction such that the surface is oriented in a certain direction. A work aligning device is provided in order to supply in the state of being made.

Since the work aligning apparatus generally vibrates the vibrating machine to align the workpieces, it is impossible to put a large number of workpieces into the work aligning apparatus at once.

Therefore, a hopper device for supplying the work to the work aligning device is required. A large amount of works are stored in the hopper device at a time, and the work is gradually supplied from the hopper device to the work aligning device. .

By the way, in the conventional hopper device of this type, a work discharge port is provided at the lower end of one side of the storage box body having an open upper surface with a bottom plate, and a gutter body is continuously connected to the work discharge port, while using a vibrator. The storage box body is vibrated back and forth with respect to the work discharge port direction so that a large number of works stored in the storage box body are gradually discharged from the work discharge port.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

However, according to this configuration, since the entire storage box that stores a large number of workpieces must be vibrated, the power of the vibrator becomes large and the energy consumption becomes enormous, while the entire work in the storage box is almost Since the work is simply rocked back and forth with respect to the direction of the work discharge port, the relative displacement movement of the work located at the bottom of the storage box and the work above it is unlikely to occur, so that the work is smoothly moved from the work discharge port. There was a problem that could not be released to.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve this technical problem.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention supports a cylindrical storage body with an open lower end for storing a work by a pair of left and right columns,
A bottom body arranged so as to surround the lower end open portion of the storage body is located between the pair of left and right columns, and is formed between the pair of left and right columns of the storage body and one side lower end in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom body. The bottom body is configured to be oscillated so as to move the work in the storage body toward the discharged outlet, and the pair of left and right columns and the bottom body are connected by a pair of left and right spring members. , The storage body and the bottom body on the side opposite to the discharge port,
It is connected by a spring member.

[Actions and effects of the invention]

As described above, in the present invention, it is not necessary to forcibly vibrate and drive the entire storage body that accommodates a large number of works, and only the bottom plate portion is forcibly and vibrated, so that the driving force for that purpose can be reduced. Therefore, it can contribute to energy saving.

Further, since the bottom body is forcibly vibrated with respect to the work located on the stationary storage body side (upper layer side), the work on the bottom body side (lower layer side) among the workpieces accumulated on the bottom body is the upper layer side. It is possible to move relative to the work in a substantially horizontal direction, and the work in the lower layer position close to the bottom can be gradually and reliably moved toward the discharge port and discharged to the outside. Is played.

Further, the pair of left and right spring members are symmetrically arranged to evenly support the left and right of the bottom body, and the spring member connected to the other storage body is at the center position of the left and right sides of the bottom body and vibrates the bottom plate. Since it is located at a place where it is greatly swung (where the bottom body can easily rotate up and down), that is, at the place where it connects to the opposite side away from the work discharge port, the bottom body is supported in a front view. Since it is in a so-called three-point supporting state both when viewed in plan view and when viewed in plan view, the support of the bottom body can be made extremely stable.

〔Example〕

Next, an embodiment will be described. Reference numerals 1 and 2 denote a pair of upper and lower electrode portions in a welding machine for spot welding a work W such as a nut to a workpiece K, and reference numeral 3 denotes the lower electrode portion. 2 is a work supply device for supplying the works W one by one, and on the front end side of the manipulator 5 that moves in and out by the air actuator 4, a mounting portion 6 with a rotating door 7 that supports the back surface of the work W is provided. When the manipulator 5 is provided, the lowered work W is placed on the lower electrode portion 2 while the work W pushes and opens the rotary door 7.

As the manipulator 5, various things such as those capable of gripping the work W can be used. When the work W is a magnetic material such as steel, a state in which the work W is attracted by an electromagnet at the tip of the manipulator 5 is used. It suffices to transfer to the electrode section 2 by means of, and for a case of a light weight work W or the like, a manipulator for vacuum suction can be used.

Reference numeral 8 is a hopper device that accommodates a large number of works W, and has a configuration in which the hopper device 8 is forcibly vibrated by an exciter 9 such as an electromagnetic solenoid and gradually dropped into the work alignment device 10, which will be described in detail later.

The work W put in the conventionally known vibrating work aligning apparatus 10 has its outlet 11 while keeping its direction constant.
Sent to The outlet 11 and the mounting portion 6 of the work supply device 3 are connected by a transfer pipe 12 made of a flexible non-magnetic material such as synthetic resin. A blocking means 13 for temporarily blocking the transfer of the work W in the transport pipe 12 is provided at a midway portion (a location near the outlet 11 or the like), and the downstream side of the blocking means 13 in the work W transport direction. Is a work W moving in the transport pipe 12.
This sensor is equipped with a sensing sensor 14 consisting of a non-contact type sensor such as a high-frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, a magnetic sensitive element, an eddy current sensor, etc.
A jet port 15 for the compressed air A is opened on the downstream side of the work W in the conveyance direction, and the sensor 14 and the control means described later are provided.
When a plurality of works W are located downstream of the ejection port 15 by the cooperative operation with the ejection port 15, the plurality of works W are placed on the mounting portion 6 at once by the force of the compressed air A ejected from the rear side thereof. It is to be transported.

Reference numeral 17 is a detection sensor provided on the transport pipe 12 near the mounting portion 6 of the work supply device, and detects the presence or absence of the work W near the mounting portion 6.

Reference numeral 20 is a motor in an air pressure circuit, 21 is a compressor for producing compressed air A, the produced compressed air A is stored in an air tank 23 via a check valve 22, and a drainer 24 produces compressed air A. After removing the water inside, the relief valve 25
To the electromagnetic control valves 26, 27 via.

The conduit 28 from the electromagnetic control valve 26 is connected to the jet outlet 15, while the conduits 29 and 30 of the control valve 27 are connected to the extraction port of the reciprocating actuator 5.

The control means 16 is composed of an electric (electronic) control circuit using a one-chip microcomputer or the like, inputs the signals of the sensing sensor 14 and the detection sensor 17, and controls the electromagnetic control valve.
The work W is transferred to the electromagnetic solenoids 26 and 27, and is output to the blocking means 13 configured to press the transfer pipe 12 into a flat shape by the pressing means such as the electromagnetic solenoid to clamp the internal work W. To temporarily stop. Further, it also controls ON / OFF of the operation of the vibrator 10 ′ of the work aligning device 10 and the vibrator 9 of the hopper device 8 and the operation of the motor 20 in the pneumatic circuit.

Next, the control operation of the intermittent transfer of the works W by the control means 16 will be described. First, the oscillating device 9 of the hopper device 8 containing the works W is actuated and the oscillating device 10 of the work aligning device 10 is operated. 'To activate the work alignment device 10
The work W is fed into the transfer pipe 12 from the outlet 11 of the work W in a fixed direction in a line.

The detection sensor 14 located in the middle of the carrier pipe 12 sends a detection signal to the control means 16 each time the work W passes through the location, and the A / D converter in the control means 16 sends the analog detection signal. The pulse signal is converted into a digital signal, and the number of passing workpieces W is counted by a counter unit. If the number N preset by a number setting switch or the like matches the count, the blocking means 13 is activated. The control valve 26 is activated to prevent the work W from passing therethrough, but with a slight time delay.
Is operated to eject the compressed air A from the ejection port 15 into the transfer pipe 12, and the compressed air A is sent from the ejection port 15 toward the rear surface of the plurality of works W located on the downstream side of the conveyance. W is sent to the mounting portion 6 of the work supply device 3.

Since the count value in the counter section is reset to zero at the same time as the operation of the control valve 26, the count value is newly counted from 0 in the subsequent counting.

Since an exhaust valve 31 for the compressed air A is provided in the transfer pipe 12 near the placing section 6, the compressed air A after the transfer of the work W is released to the atmosphere from the exhaust valve 31.

The workpieces W located on the mounting portion 6 of the workpiece supply device 3 are sent to the electrode portion 2 one by one by the projecting movement of the manipulator 5, and a predetermined work such as spot welding is performed.

When the detection sensor 17 detects that the number of the works W decreases or disappears, the operation of the blocking means 13 is released, and the works W can be freely dropped in the transport pipe 12. The cycle can be repeated in such a manner that it can be sent in the direction of the jet outlet 15 and the number of workpieces W that have passed through the sensor 14 is detected.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the hopper device 8, and FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof. Reference numeral 35 is a substantially rectangular tubular storage body with upper and lower ends opened, and left and right side plates 35c.35c of the storage body 35. A pair of left and right columns 37, 37 are projected downward on the outer surface via brackets 36, 36, and the lower ends of the pair of left and right columns 37, 37 are supported by a support frame 38.
It is fixed to.

Further, the lower end open edge 35d of the storage body 35 is
The pair of left and right struts 37, 37 is inclined so as to be lower on the side of the discharge port 39 formed in the lower end of the one side plate (front side plate) 35a and higher on the side of the rear side plate 35b.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a bottom body which is arranged so as to surround the lower end open portion of the storage body 35 from the outside, and is located between the pair of left and right columns 37, 37. Further, as shown in the figure, the bottom body 40 is provided with a discharge port 39 so as to be substantially along the inclined lower end open edge 35d of the storage body 35.
It is arranged so as to be low on the side and high on the rear side plate side 35b, and surrounds the outside of the lower end open part of the storage body 35 by the edge plates 41 on three sides of the bottom body 40.

Reference numeral 42 is an adjusting plate that is vertically movable along the front side plate 35a and is adjustable in height position, and a pair of left and right bolts 43 protruding from the adjusting plate 42 are vertically formed in the front side plate 35a. It is inserted into the pair of guide holes 44, and is tightened with the wing nuts 45 to fix the height position after adjustment, whereby the height clearance between the upper surface of the bottom plate 40 and the discharge port 39 (H
The size of 1) can be freely changed, and the discharge amount of the work W can be adjusted.

Reference numeral 46 is a gutter body which is attached to the front end portion of the bottom body 40 so that the downward tilt angle can be adjusted, and a bracket 47 which is attached to the bottom surface of the bottom body 40.
A bracket 48 which is attached to the bottom of the gutter body 46 is fastened with a bolt 49.

The exciter 9 composed of an electromagnetic solenoid or an electromagnetic magnet is fixed to a bracket 52 projecting downward at the longitudinal center of a horizontal beam member 51 that connects the pair of left and right columns 37, 37 at a position below the bottom body 40. , The front surface of the exciter 9 to the bottom body 40
The bottom body 40 is forcibly vibrated in the front-rear direction with respect to the storage body 35 (front-rear direction with respect to the discharge port 39) by being connected and fixed to the connection plate 53 protruding downward from the lower surface of the.

Reference numerals 54, 54 are plate-shaped spring members that connect the pair of left and right columns 37, 37 and the bottom body 40 in a bilaterally symmetrical manner, and in the embodiment, project downward from the lower left and right sides of the bottom body 40. The plate-shaped brackets 55, 55 and the pair of left and right columns 37, 37 are arranged in a slanted shape (shape of C in FIG. 3), and both ends of each spring member 54, 54 are fastened with bolts 56, 57. To do.

Reference numeral 58 is a plate-like spring member that connects the rear end portion of the bottom body 40 (the side opposite to the discharge port 39) and the rear side plate 35b of the storage body 35, and has the left-right dimension (L1) of the storage body 35. At the half position, that is, in the center of the left and right of the storage body 35, attach the upper end of the spring member 58 to the bolt 59
Then, the spring member 58 is suspended, and the bolt 61 is similarly secured to the bracket 60 attached to the rear end of the bottom body 40.

According to this configuration, the bottom body 40 that is forcedly vibrated by the exciter 9 is located in front of and behind the discharge port 39 with respect to the housing body 35 that is positionally supported by the pair of left and right columns 37, 37. Since it vibrates in the direction, the bottom body 40 of the work W accumulated on the bottom body 40 with respect to the work W located on the storage body 35 side (upper layer side).
Side (lower layer side) work W relatively shifts in a substantially horizontal direction, so that the work W at the lower layer position close to the bottom body 40 is surely moved toward the discharge port 39, and the work is aligned from the gutter body 46. The work W can be supplied to the device 10 little by little.

When the bottom body 40 is forcibly vibrated, the three spring members are
Since 54, 54, and 58 are flat plate shapes that can greatly bend in the amplitude direction of the bottom plate, the spring constant in that direction can be made small, and it is necessary to make the power of the vibrator 9 excessive. Absent.

Although the weight of the work W put in the storage body 35 acts on the bottom body 40, this load is applied to the three spring members.
So-called three points can be supported by 54, 54, 58, and the left and right pair of spring members 54, 54 are symmetrically arranged to evenly support the left and right of the bottom body 40. Is located at the left-right center position of the bottom body 40, and the bottom plate 40 by the exciter 9
Since it is located at a location that is greatly agitated by the vibration of (the location where the bottom body 40 is easy to rotate up and down), that is, the location where the rear side position 35b of the storage body 35 and the rear end portion of the bottom body 40 are connected, The support state of the body 40 is extremely stable.

In particular, in the present invention, the rear side of the bottom body 40, which is distant from the center of the front and rear, is supported, as compared with the case where the bottom member 40 is supported by the spring member only at a substantially central portion in the front-rear movement direction. Is stable.

The spring members 54 and 58 applied to the present invention have flat mounting portions 63 at both ends of a round bar-shaped main body portion 62 as shown in FIG.
May be integrally formed.

The supply portion of the work W is not limited to the one for welding, but may of course be for an automatic loading device for electronic components and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an apparatus, its control means, and a pneumatic circuit,
Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the hopper device, and Fig. 3 is II of Fig. 2.
I-III sectional view, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the hopper device, FIG.
The figure is a view of another embodiment of the spring member. 1,2 ... Electrode part, 3 ... Work supply device, 4 ... Air actuator, 5 ... Manipulator, 6 ... Placement part, 8
...... Hopper device, 9 ... Vibrator, 10 ... Work aligning device, 11 exit, 12 ... Conveying pipe, 13 ... Blocking means, 14 ...
… Sensing sensor, 15… Spout, 16 …… Control means, 17…
… Detection sensor, 26,27 …… Control valve, 35 …… Housing, 37,
37 …… Post, 39 …… Discharge port, 40 …… Bottom body, 42 …… Adjusting plate, 46 …… Gutter body, 51 …… Horizontal beam member, 54, 54, 58 …… Spring member.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A bottom-end cylindrical body for accommodating a work is supported by a pair of left and right columns, and a bottom body arranged so as to surround a bottom-end open portion of the body is located between the pair of left and right columns. Then, the bottom body is vibrated and driven so that the work in the storage body is moved toward the discharge port formed between the bottom body and the pair of left and right columns of the storage body and one lower end in the substantially right angle direction. And a pair of left and right columns and the bottom body,
A hopper device for a work, characterized in that, while a pair of left and right spring members are connected, the storage body and the bottom body are connected by a spring member on the side opposite to the discharge port.