JP2646616B2 - Transfer parts sorting device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting transfer parts.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the main part of the conventional transfer component sorting apparatus. In the drawings, the supply chute (1) is connected to, for example, the discharge port of the vibrating parts feeder. Part m is supplied
As shown in the figure, the components are guided to the downstream side in a pooled state. A pair of distribution chutes (2a) and (2b) are connected to the downstream side. Although not shown, the distribution chutes (2a) and (2b) also have a downward slope. A sorting device (10) is provided between the device and (1).

It comprises a casing (3) and a reciprocating body (4) slidably fitted in the casing (3), and the reciprocating body (4) is provided with a drive rod (5) of an air cylinder device (5). 6) and is driven to reciprocate as shown by an arrow a. A pair of cavities (4a) and (4b) are formed in the reciprocating movable body (4), and the interval between them is half of the interval between the distribution chutes (2a) and (2b). ) Is equal to the distance between the cavities (4a) and (4b). The casing (3) has a sorting chute (2a) (2b)
The openings (3a) and (3b) are formed in line with the supply chute (1), and the openings (3c) are formed in line with the supply chute (1).

In the above configuration, when the reciprocating moving body (4) is now at the position shown in FIG. 5, the part m from the supply chute (1) is supplied into one of the empty spaces (4b),
Also, the part m in the other space (4a) falls into one of the distribution chutes (2b) as shown by the arrow. From this position, when the reciprocating moving body (4) moves to the left by a predetermined bitch a in FIG. 5, the part m received in the empty space (4b) temporarily stops at a position aligned with the sorting chute (2a), Here, the parts m in the empty space (4b) are supplied as the sorting chutes (2a). The other space (4a) has a position aligned with the supply chute (1), and the part m
Is accepting. Then, when the reciprocating moving body (4) moves by a predetermined pitch a, it takes the position shown in the figure, and the part m received in the space (4a) is supplied to the other sorting chute (2b), and the other space The part m is supplied in (4b).

As described above, alternately shoot chute (2a) (2
The parts m are supplied to b), but the next step, for example, a robot is connected to the discharge ends of the sorting chutes (2a) and (2b), although not shown, so that the uniform parts m are supplied. There is no problem if it is present, but for some reason, for example, parts are cracked in one of the distribution chutes (2a) and (2b), the supply speed is reduced, and the other distribution chutes (2b) If the supply speed of the component m to the next process becomes faster, or if the supply of the component m from one of the distribution chutes (2b) becomes faster due to other reasons, the distribution chute whose supply amount is to be increased is increased. Part m preferentially on the side
May want to supply. In such a case, it is impossible with this conventional apparatus. Therefore, if it is desired to supply the part m to one of the distribution chutes preferentially for some reason as described above, for example, it is conceivable to provide a similar device (10) in parallel, This will increase the size and increase the cost.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even if there is a case where it is desired to supply parts to one of the distribution chutes preferentially, the size of the entire apparatus is not increased, and the cost is significantly increased as compared with the conventional case. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer component sorting apparatus capable of surely supplying a component to only one of the components without causing the component to be supplied.

[Means for solving the problem]

The above object is to provide a supply chute, a pair of distribution chutes provided on the downstream side thereof, disposed between the supply chute and the pair of distribution chutes, receiving parts from the supply chute, and attaching the parts to the pair of distribution chutes. In a reciprocating moving body for alternately supplying a reciprocating chute and a pneumatic cylinder device for driving the reciprocating moving body at a predetermined timing, a reciprocating moving body for receiving parts from the supply chute. A pneumatic cylinder device having one cavity, a first piston and a second piston that are slidably fitted in series in the cylinder body, and two pistons are provided between the first and second pistons so that the inside of the cylinder body has two spaces. A partition wall portion which is airtightly defined in a space;
A first pneumatic chamber airtightly defined on the side of the piston opposite to the partition, a second air pressure airtightly defined on the side of the partition, and a second air pressure defined on the side of the second piston opposite to the side of the partition; A third air pressure chamber defined in an airtight manner, first, second and third air supply / discharge formed on a peripheral wall of the cylinder body and communicating with each of the first, second and third air pressure chambers; A mouth, first and second stopper means for respectively restricting the amount of movement of the first and second pistons, and a shaft-like portion of the second piston is slidably inserted through the partition portion in an airtight manner, The first piston can be in contact with the first piston, and a shaft portion of the first piston is connected to the reciprocating body, and the compressed air is supplied to at least the first pneumatic chamber. The piston takes a first position by the first stopper means,
At least when the compressed air is supplied to the third pneumatic chamber, the first and second pistons take the second position by the second stopper means, and when at least the compressed air is supplied to the second pneumatic chamber, The first piston takes a third position by the first stopper means, and the space of the reciprocating body is one of the pair of distribution chutes corresponding to the first, second, and third positions, respectively. The first pneumatic chamber of the pneumatic cylinder device, when taking a position aligned with the other of the supply chute and the pair of distribution chutes and preferentially supplying components to any of the pair of distribution chutes, The compressed air is alternately supplied to and discharged from the third pneumatic chamber, or the first and second
And alternately supplying and discharging compressed air to and from the pneumatic chamber, and supplying the compressed air to the third pneumatic chamber at least when supplying compressed air to the first pneumatic chamber. This is achieved by a component sorting device.

[Action]

Usually, components are alternately supplied to one of the distribution chutes. If, for some reason, it is desired to supply parts to only one of the distribution chutes, the supply / discharge timing of compressed air to / from each pneumatic chamber of the pneumatic cylinder device is changed, and the reciprocating movable body is provided with the supply chute and the one distribution chute. Will reciprocate between and. Therefore, parts are preferentially supplied to the one distribution chute.

The first and second pistons are fitted in series to one cylinder body, and the reciprocating moving body has one space, but the casing for fitting this has almost the same space occupation area as before. Since it only needs to be taken, the whole apparatus is hardly increased in size as compared with the conventional one, and the supply and discharge of the compressed air to and from the three pneumatic chambers are performed with a simple configuration, so that the cost does not increase much. .

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a transfer component sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the entire apparatus, and a spiral track T is formed in a ball (12) of a known vibrating parts feeder (11), and a torsional vibration drive unit thereof is provided. By performing known torsional vibration by (13), the part m is transferred to the truck T (not shown),
It is supplied one by one. As shown in FIG. 3, the parts supply speed of the parts feeder (11) is adjusted so that the parts (m) are supplied to the chute (14) in a pooled, that is, in contact with. Downstream of the supply chute (14), a pair of distribution chutes (16a) and (16b) are provided, and between the chutes (16a) and (16b) and the supply chute (14) according to the present invention. A sorting device (18) is provided. The supply chute (14), the distribution device (18), and the distribution chutes (16a) (16b) are supported by the columns (15), (19) and (17) so as to have a predetermined inclination angle as shown in FIG. I have. As shown in FIG. 3, in the sorting device (18), a reciprocating body (21) is slidably fitted in the casing (20), and one cavity (21a) is formed in the casing. And accommodates the part m. Openings (20a) (20b) are formed in the casing (20) in alignment with the distribution chutes (16a) (16b), and openings (20c) are formed in alignment with the supply chute (14). I have.

The drive rod (23) of the air cylinder device (22) is connected to the reciprocating body (21).

Next, the details of the air cylinder device (22) will be described.

FIG. 4 shows the details of the first piston (26) and the second piston (2) in a casing (25).
7) is fitted with a seal ring on its large diameter part to be airtight. In the casing (25), a partition wall (37) defines two spaces on both sides in an airtight manner, and the above-mentioned first piston (26) and second piston (27) are provided respectively.
Are slidably fitted, and further, on both sides of the first piston (26), a first pneumatic chamber (28), a second pneumatic chamber (29), and a partition wall of the second piston (27). A third pneumatic chamber (30) is formed on the side opposite to the part (37). Openings (34), (35), (36) are formed to communicate with the first, second, and third pneumatic chambers (28), (29), (30), respectively. An annular protrusion (31) is formed on the left end wall of the casing (25), and an annular protrusion (32) is also formed on the left end surface of the partition (37). That is, these protrusions (31)
(32) functions as a stopper member for limiting the amount of movement of the first piston (26). An annular protrusion (33) is also formed on the right end surface of the partition (37), and functions as a stopper for the second piston (27). The shaft portion (26a) of the first piston (26) is integrally connected to the drive rod (23). Further, the shaft portion (27a) of the second piston (27) is a partition (37).
Is airtightly and slidably inserted, and the tip thereof can contact the second piston (27).

Supply / discharge port (34) (35) for compressed air in casing (25)
Electromagnetic valves (38), (40) and (42) are connected to (36), respectively, and an air compressor (44) is commonly connected to these. Each of the solenoids (39) (41) (43) receives a control signal from the control circuit (45). Position sensors (46), (47), and (48) are mounted near the peripheral wall of the casing (25), and detect the position of the large diameter portion of the first piston (26). . At the position shown in FIG. 4, since the first piston (26) corresponds to the sensor (48), it detects that it is at the position shown in the figure and supplies this signal to the control circuit (45). Detection sensor (46) (47)
(48) is the sorting chute shown in Fig. 3 (16a) (16b)
And a supply chute (14). When the second piston (27) moves to the left, its large diameter portion comes into contact with the annular projection (33),
The left position is regulated, but this position is the first position.
The large-diameter portion of the piston (26) is located at a position corresponding to the sensor (47), and the first piston (26) further moves to the left, and the large-diameter portion contacts the annular protrusion (31). When stopped, this will be the position corresponding to the sensor (46). When the sensors (46), (47), (48) detect the position of the first piston (26), the solenoids (39), (41), (43) are energized or de-energized by a control signal from the control circuit (45). Compressed air is supplied and discharged as excitation.

The transfer component sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. Next, this operation will be described.

First, the normal sorting operation will be described. That is, the case where the components m are equally distributed to the distribution devices (16a) and (16b) will be described. First, in FIG. 4, compressed air is supplied to the first air pressure chamber (28). The other pneumatic chambers (29) and (30) are exhausted. Then the first piston (26)
Moves rightward and assumes the position shown in FIG. 4, but at this time, the shaft portion (27) of the second piston (27)
When a) is pressed to abut on the annular projection (32) of the partition wall (37) to assume the position shown, the sensor (48) detects that the first piston (26) is at the position shown. Control circuit (45)
Sends a signal to de-energize the solenoid (39). Thereby, the supply of the compressed air is stopped. On the other hand, in FIG. 3, the projecting point (21a) of the reciprocating moving body (21) takes the position shown in FIG.
At this time, the space (21
In a), the left part is in contact with and receives the part m from the supply chute (14) as shown in the figure.

Next, compressed air is supplied to the third pneumatic chamber (30).
Then, the second piston (27) moves to the right, and the first piston (26) is pressed to the left by the shaft portion (27a), and the second piston (27) is moved to the annular protrusion (33). Abuts
The first piston (26) assumes a position corresponding to the second sensor (47), whereby the control circuit (45) stops exciting the solenoid (43) and exhausts air from the third pneumatic chamber (30). . At this time, the space (21) of the moving body (21) in FIG.
a) is positioned so as to be aligned with the supply chute (14).
Receive in a).

Next, compressed air is supplied to the second pneumatic chamber (29).
This moves the first piston (26) further to the left,
When it comes into contact with the annular projection (31), it stops and the sensor (26) detects its position, and sends a signal to the solenoid (41) from the control circuit (45) to the solenoid (41) to de-energize it. The compressed air in the air pressure chamber (29) is exhausted. At this time, in FIG. 3, the vacant space (21a) of the moving body (21) is
The part m is located at a position aligned with 6a), and the part m received from the supply chute (14) is supplied to this chute (16a).

Then, in FIG. 4, compressed air is supplied to the third pneumatic chamber (30) and the first pneumatic chamber (28), and the first piston (2
6) moves to the right, and the shaft (2) of the second piston (27)
Stops when it comes into contact with 7a), and the compressed air in both pneumatic chambers is exhausted based on the detection signal of the sensor (47). That is, in FIG. 3, the space (21a) of the moving body (21) is the supply chute (14).
And the part m is received here.

Next, the compressed air is further supplied to the first pneumatic chamber (28), and the compressed air (30) in the third pneumatic chamber is exhausted. Then, the first piston (26) moves further rightward and the second piston (2)
7) The shaft part (27a) is pressed to stop at the position shown in the figure. Thereby, the sensor (48) detects this position and exhausts the compressed air. On the other hand, in FIG. 3, the position shown in the drawing is taken and the part m is supplied from the empty space (21a) to one of the distribution chutes (16b).

The above operation is repeated, and the sorting chute (16
a) The parts m are supplied evenly in (16b). Next, the case where it is desired to preferentially supply any of the distribution chutes will be described. Sorting shoot (16
a) The sensors (24a) and (24b) are provided in (16b), and the cutout amount of the part m is detected by this. If a difference of more than a predetermined amount occurs, the larger sorting chute is used. Control circuit (45) that supplies signals to supply parts with priority to
To supply it.

Component cut-out amount sensors (24a) (24b) are provided adjacent to the distribution chutes (16a) (16b), and the number of components passing through these chutes per unit time is detected. On the other hand, if the cut-out amount of the part of the distribution chute (16a) is larger than the other distribution chute (16b) by a predetermined amount or more, this signal is supplied to the control circuit (45). The following work will be performed.

Compressed air is supplied to the third pneumatic chamber (30). This causes the second piston (27) to move to the left under the pressure from the position shown in FIG. 4, and press the first piston (26) with its shaft-like portion (27a). When the (27) comes into contact with the annular projection (33), the second piston (27) stops, and at this time, the large-diameter portion of the second piston (27) moves to the position corresponding to the second sensor (47). Come. This sensor (47)
Detects this and sends a signal from the control circuit (45) to the third pneumatic chamber (3
2) Stop supplying compressed air. That is, the compressed air is exhausted from the third pneumatic chamber (32).

In this state, the moving body (21) is at the center position in FIG. 3, that is, the empty space (21a) is located at the supply chute (14).
And receives one part m from the chute (14).

Next, compressed air is supplied to the second pneumatic chamber (29).
This moves the first piston (26) further to the left,
It stops when it comes into contact with the annular projection (31). Here, the third sensor (46) detects and the supply of the compressed air to the second pneumatic chamber (29) is stopped by the control circuit (45). On the other hand, in FIG. 3, the space (21a) of the moving body (21) is located at a position aligned with one of the distribution chutes (16a) and supplies the part m to this chute (16a).

Then, the compressed air in the second air pressure chamber (29) is exhausted, while the compressed air is supplied to the third air pressure (30) and
Compressed air is supplied to the air pressure chamber (28). This moves the first piston (26) from the leftmost position to the right,
When it comes to a position corresponding to the second sensor (47), it comes into contact with the shaft portion (27a) of the second piston (27) and stops there. The control circuit (45) stops supplying compressed air to the first pneumatic chamber (28) according to the detection signal of the sensor (47). On the other hand, in FIG. 3, the space (21a) of the moving body (21) is aligned with the supply chute (14), and the part m is received again in the space (21a).

In FIG. 4, compressed air is supplied to the second pneumatic chamber (29), and the first piston (26) moves to the left again from its central position, and the position corresponding to the sensor (46), that is, the annular projection is formed. When it stops in contact with (31), the supply of compressed air to the second pneumatic chamber (29) is stopped by a signal from the sensor (46).

In FIG. 3, the space (21a) of the moving body (21) is aligned with the sorting chute (16a), and the part m is in the space (2).
Supply from 1a) to the sorting chute (16a). The same operation is performed thereafter, and the second piston abuts on the annular projection (33) by supplying compressed air from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the third pneumatic chamber (30), and holds this position. In this state, the compressed air is alternately supplied and discharged to the first pneumatic chamber (28) and the second pneumatic chamber (29), whereby the space (21a) of the moving body (21) in FIG. The parts m are alternately arranged on the distribution chute (16a), and the parts m are preferentially supplied to one distribution chute (16a).

When the flow rate increases below a predetermined difference based on the detection output of the sensors (24a) and (24b), the parts m are alternately supplied to the pair of distribution chutes (16a) and (16b) again as described above.

The above is the case where the passing amount of the component is insufficient in one of the distributing chutes, but if the passing amount is insufficient in the other distributing chute (16b), the first pneumatic chamber (28) and the third pneumatic chamber (30) are used. And the compressed air is alternately supplied and discharged, whereby the first piston (26) alternately assumes a position corresponding to the sensor (48) and the sensor (47), whereby the moving body (21) in FIG. Vacant space (21a) with supply chute (1
4) and the other sorting chute (16b) are alternately aligned. At this time, the other sorting chute (16b) is used.
The part m is preferentially supplied to b).

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is, of course, not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the shape of the component m has been described as a spherical shape, but it is needless to say that the shape of the component m is not limited thereto and may be another shape.

In the above embodiment, in the air cylinder device (22), when the sensors (46), (47), and (48) are provided and the first piston (26) stops at the positions corresponding to them,
In response to this, the pressure of each compressed air chamber is exhausted, but the pressure of a certain air pressure chamber may be supplied with compressed air as it is. For example, when compressed air is supplied from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the third pneumatic chamber (30) in the above operation, the first piston (26) assumes a position corresponding to the sensor (46), and The pressure of the pneumatic chamber (30) is exhausted, but instead of being exhausted, this supply is maintained and the first piston (26) is moved to the second pneumatic chamber (29).
The compressed air in the second pneumatic chamber (29) is exhausted here by supplying compressed air to the sensor (46), and then the compressed air in the first pneumatic chamber (28) is supplied. When the first piston is located at the position corresponding to the second sensor (47), the second piston (27) is moved to the annular projection (3).
Compressed air must be supplied to the third pneumatic chamber (32) in order to take a position abutting on 3). At this time, compressed air must be supplied from the beginning as described above without supplying again. You may make it hold | maintain. The same applies to other cases, and the compressed air is always supplied without being supplied and discharged at the corresponding positions, and the pistons (26) and (27) are moved to the left and right according to the pressure difference as described above. Is also good.

In the above embodiment, compressed air is supplied and exhausted by using the sensors (46), (47), and (48). However, the electromagnetic valve (3) is provided at a predetermined timing without using these sensors.
8) It is also possible to open and close (40) and (42) to perform the same operation as described above. In this case, the speed of the reciprocating moving body is smaller than that of the embodiment, but the supply to the sorting chute can be performed without fail.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the transfer component sorting apparatus of the present invention, when it becomes necessary to supply components to one of the sorting chutes in preference to the other sorting chutes,
This can be dealt with reliably, and can be done without increasing the size of the device and without substantially increasing the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an apparatus for sorting transfer parts according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a vibrating parts feeder, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an air cylinder device in the sorting device, FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of a conventional transferring device sorting device, and FIG. 6 is VI in FIG.
It is sectional drawing of the -VI line direction. In the figure, (18) ... distributing device (21) ... reciprocating moving body (22) ... air cylinder device (26) (27) ... first and second pistons

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A supply chute, a pair of distribution chutes provided downstream of the supply chute, and a component disposed between the supply chute and the pair of distribution chutes for receiving components from the supply chute; In a reciprocating moving body for alternately supplying a reciprocating chute and a pneumatic cylinder device for driving the reciprocating moving body at a predetermined timing, a reciprocating moving body for receiving a part from the supply chute is provided. A pneumatic cylinder device having one cavity, a first piston and a second piston that are slidably fitted in series in the cylinder body, and two pistons are provided between the first and second pistons so that the inside of the cylinder body has two spaces. A partition part airtightly defined in a space, a first pneumatic chamber airtightly defined on the side opposite to the partition part side of the first piston, and an airtight part on the partition side. A second pneumatic chamber, a third pneumatic chamber airtightly defined on a side of the second piston opposite to the partition wall side, and a first pneumatic chamber formed on a peripheral wall of the cylinder body. The first, second and third air supply / discharge ports communicating with each of the second and third pneumatic chambers, and first and second stopper means for respectively restricting the amount of movement of the first and second pistons; The shaft portion of the two pistons penetrates the partition wall portion so as to be slidable in an airtight manner, and can contact the first piston. The shaft portion of the first piston is connected to the reciprocating body. When the compressed air is supplied to at least the first pneumatic chamber, the first and second pistons take the first position by the first stopper means, and the compressed air is supplied to at least the third pneumatic chamber. Sometimes, the first and second pistons are Takes the second position by the path means, the said first piston when the compressed air in at least said second pressure chamber is supplied said first
The stopper means takes a third position, and the space of the reciprocating moving body corresponds to one of the pair of distribution chutes, the supply chute and the pair of chutes, respectively, corresponding to the first, second, and third positions. In the case of taking a position aligned with the other of the distribution chutes and supplying parts preferentially to one of the pair of distribution chutes, the first pneumatic chamber and the third pneumatic chamber of the pneumatic cylinder device are alternately provided. The compressed air is supplied to and discharged from the first and second pneumatic chambers alternately.
An apparatus for distributing transfer parts, wherein at least compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic chamber when compressed air is supplied to the first pneumatic chamber.