JP2653757B2 - Supply device for linear parts - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a supply device for a linear component, and more particularly to a supply device capable of supplying a linear component such as a lead wire for a light bulb at a high speed and reliably.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a process of manufacturing a fluorescent lamp, a pair of lead wires is attached to a stem sealed to an end of a bulb. In such an automatic stem manufacturing process, it is necessary to automatically supply and insert a lead wire into each of a pair of holes of the stem while the stem is standing.

In a lead wire supply device used in a conventional automatic manufacturing process, a large number of lead wires accommodated in a hopper are suctioned and held one by one by a suction device having a known structure in a horizontal state. 17, and is sent to the upper part of a chute s having a front shape as shown in FIG. 17 and a side shape as shown in FIG. Is dropped from the upper part of the chute, and while the linear part falls naturally in the chute from the upper part to the lower outlet o, the horizontal part is changed from the horizontal state to (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). ) In order to change the posture naturally to the vertical state.

However, in such a method of changing the posture by free fall, not only is the feed speed limited and hinders high-speed feed, but also the supply speed becomes uneven because the fall time is not constant. Further, there is a possibility that a line is clogged in the chute.

[0005]

One of the problems to be solved by the present invention is that the linear component is dropped freely in a horizontal state without dropping its posture in the middle of the process, and is dropped in a vertical state. To speed up the supply speed.

Another object of the present invention is to temporarily stop the movement of a linear component that falls freely in a vertical state by a shutter mechanism so as to eliminate variations in the drop timing.

Another object to be solved by the present invention is to prevent the linear parts from scattering in the hopper when the linear parts are supplied from the bucket of the conveyor into the hopper.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for supplying a linear component, comprising: a hopper for accommodating a large number of linear components laid sideways; and some linear components remaining separation supply mechanism for supplying the linear part to the transfer position by the separation of one
The holding member that sucks and holds the linear parts
And one linear component by the holding member at the transfer position.
To hold the wafer in a horizontal state and then feed it vertically
Time feeding mechanism, which can be moved up and down by a guide rod
A movable body supported by the movable body, and rotatably supported by the movable body.
The supporting shaft and the arm member attached to the supporting shaft.
The holding member is attached to the arm member,
A suction groove for holding one linear component by suction is provided on the front surface of the holding member.
A swivel supply mechanism formed and a chute for guiding a linear component dropped from the swivel supply mechanism , the chute opens and closes a passage of the linear part, and thereby the linear part in the passage Is provided with a shutter mechanism for controlling the falling of the shutter.

[0009] In the supply device of the linear parts, the hot
A step is formed in the upper inner surface of the par wall to receive the linear part
The holding member of the turning supply mechanism is connected to the hopper by a line.
The suction groove is aligned with the step when receiving the part
And the separating and feeding mechanism moves up and down along the inner surface of the wall.
Sloping surface that is movable and descends toward the wall on the top surface
May be provided . Furthermore,
The chute includes a fixed chute, and a movable chute disposed below the fixed chute and arranged to be movable toward or away from the fixed chute, and the stopper mechanism is rotatable with respect to the movable chute. A stopper claw, which is attached to the end and closes the passage at the tip end, and a part of the stopper claw which is fixed close to the moving path of the chute and which presses a part of the stopper claw when the movable chute descends, and And a cam member for releasing the closing of the cam. Furthermore, the bucket comprising a conveyor for supplying the linear component in the hopper, the conveyor is to be mounted to an endless flexible member which is cyclically moved transported to accommodate a plurality of linear parts, the bucket When the bucket is tilted,
A fall restricting mechanism that covers an upper part of the hopper and restricts a linear part from falling from the bucket into the hopper.

[0010]

The linear component supply device separates several linear components out of a large number of linear components put in the hopper by the component supply mechanism and sends them to the delivery position. Of the several linear components sent to the delivery position, one linear component is sucked and held in a substantially horizontal state by the holding member of the turning supply mechanism. When the holding member sucks and holds the single linear component, the holding member turns by about 90 ° to change its direction, and sends the held linear member to the chute in a vertical state. When the linear component sent on the chute is released from being held by the holding member, the linear part falls freely into the chute. The linear component falling in the chute is once stopped from falling by the shutter mechanism, and then the shutter mechanism operates to start dropping the linear component. In this way, the occurrence of clogging of the linear components in the chute is prevented, and the supply speed is kept constant.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by taking lead wires supplied to a stem as an example. FIG. 1 schematically shows an entire linear component supply apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The supply device 1 includes a conveyor 2 for transporting linear components, a hopper 3 for accommodating a large number of linear components supplied from the conveyor 2, and a plurality of linear components in the hopper 3 which are separated at predetermined positions. And a turning supply mechanism 5 for receiving one of the several linear components supplied by the separation and supply mechanism 4 in a horizontal state, supplying the one in a vertical state, and supplying it to a chute 6, A shutter mechanism 7 (shown in FIGS. 14 to 16) which is provided in the middle of the chute and temporarily stops a linear component falling in the chute is provided, and is arranged in a positional relationship as shown in FIG. I have.

In FIGS. 2 to 5, the conveyor 2 comprises:
An endless flexible body 22 such as a chain hung on a driving sprocket 21 and a play sprocket 21a, and a number of buckets 23 attached to the infinite flexible body 22 at predetermined intervals. The drive sprocket 21 is fixed to a shaft 25 rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 24 attached to the frame 20 of the conveyor 2 and the like. The frame 20 is attached to the frame 11 of the supply device in a known manner. A ratchet wheel 26 is mounted on the shaft 25 so as to rotate with the shaft. On the outer periphery of the ratchet wheel 26, a plurality of ratchet grooves 261 are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. The conveyor 2 further includes a drop restricting mechanism 28 that prevents the linear components in the bucket 23 from being displaced when the linear components are put into the hopper 3. The drop restricting mechanism 28 includes a lever 281 mounted on the shaft 25 so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the shaft.
A ratchet pawl 262 that engages with the ratchet groove 261 of the ratchet wheel 26 is pivotally attached to the lever 281. The lever 281 is connected to an actuator 27 such as a cylinder, and the operation of the actuator causes the lever 281 to rotate clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 4. Lever 281
The tip 283 extends outward from the outer edge of the bucket 23, and a mounting plate 284 extending in a direction crossing the conveyor is fixed to the tip. A cover plate 285 that covers the bucket 23 is attached to the attachment plate 284. 29 (FIG. 4) is a ratchet wheel,
Therefore, this is a lever for preventing the shaft 25 from reversing, and the tip 291 is biased toward the ratchet wheel. The tip of the ratchet pawl 282 is also biased toward the ratchet wheel by a known method.

When the piston rod of the cylinder as the actuator 27 is extended and the lever connected to the piston rod is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 4, the conveyor is attached to the lever 281. Ratchet claw 262 is ratchet wheel 2
6, the ratchet wheel is intermittently rotated clockwise by one pitch by the ratchet pawl. Therefore, the driving sprocket 21 is also rotated in the same direction to feed the bucket by one pitch. At this time, the lever also pivots around the shaft 25 at the same speed, so that the cover plate 285 moves while covering the bucket 23. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when the bucket 23 comes to the discharge position for discharging the linear component inside, the cover plate 285 also reaches that position with the opening of the bucket closed. Therefore, even when the bucket reaches the discharge position, all the linear components in the bucket are not simultaneously discharged out of the bucket. Next, when the actuator returns to the original state, only the lever 281 rotates counterclockwise, so that the cover plate moves with the lever and opens the bucket. For this reason, the linear component falls into the hopper 3, but since the falling is performed gradually, the direction does not vary. In this way, the above operation is repeated for each operation of the actuator.

In FIG. 6, the separating / feeding mechanism 4 includes a push-up member 41 extending vertically (in FIG. 5) through an opening 33 formed in the inclined bottom plate 31 of the hopper 3 adjacent to the front wall 32. This push-up member 41 is
A known mechanism such as a cylinder or a cam mechanism reciprocates up and down. The upper end surface 42 of the push-up member 41 is inclined so as to descend toward the front wall 32 side. This is to make it easier to put several linear components on the upper end surface 42 of the push-up member 41. A groove 34 is formed in the upper part of the front wall 32, and a step 35 is formed on the inner surface side at the transfer position. The width of the groove 34 (the width measured in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper of FIG. 6) is a size that the holding member of the later-described turning supply mechanism just fits, and the width of the push-up member 41 in the same direction is the linear component m The length may be substantially the same, and may be slightly smaller than the width of the hopper 3.

In the separation and supply mechanism 4 having the above-described structure, the push-up member 41 is lowered to a position where the upper end surface 42 is substantially flush with the surface of the bottom plate 31 of the hopper 3. When the push-up member 41 rises, it rises with several linear components placed on the upper end surface 42, and the delivery position H of several linear components is reached.
Send to

7 to 11, the turning supply mechanism 5 is supported by a pair of guide rods 51 provided in parallel to each other in an upright state in front of the hopper 3 (to the left in FIG. 7). A slider 52, a support shaft 53 extending through the slider 52 back and forth (left and right in FIG. 7) and rotatably supported by known means, and a turning arm 54 fixed to an end of the support shaft. Swivel arm 54
And a holding member 55 attached to the front end of the holding member 55.
The slider corresponds to the movable body of the present invention. Passages 531 and 54 communicating with each other are supported by the support shaft 53 and the swing arm 54.
1 are formed respectively. As shown in FIG. 10, when the holding member 55 is attached to the swing arm 54, the hollow portion 551 can communicate with the passage 541 of the swing arm.
Are formed. The holding member 55 has a front surface 554 (FIG. 1).
An arc-shaped holding groove 552 large enough to accommodate only one linear component is formed on the right side at 0). The holding groove 55 is provided when the turning arm 54 is in the vertical direction or when the holding member 55 is in the groove 3 of the front wall 32 of the hopper 3.
When it is inside and stands by, it extends horizontally. Further, a plurality of suction holes 553 (three in this embodiment, but only one is shown) extending from the cavity 551 to the holding groove 552 on the front surface are formed in the holding member 55 so as to be separated from each other in the extending direction of the holding groove. Have been. A passage 541 formed in the revolving arm 54 communicates with a passage 531 formed in the support shaft 53, and the passage 531 is connected to a negative pressure source or a vacuum source by a known means. The end of the support shaft 53 opposite to the end to which the turning arm is attached is connected to the drive arm 561 via the arm 562 and the link 563. These constitute a drive mechanism 56 for rotating the support shaft and the swing arm.

The lower ends of the pair of guide rods 51 are fixed to the mounting plate 511, and the upper ends are fixed to the connecting member 512. The mounting plate 511 is fixed to the frame 11 of the supply device 1 by a known method. A spring 57 is provided between both ends of the connecting member 512 and both lower sides of the slider 52, and constantly pulls the slider 52 upward. As shown in FIG. 8, a stopper 521 for restricting the rotation of the arm 562 in the clockwise direction (in FIG. 8) is attached to the slider so as to be position-adjustable. In addition, 5
Reference numerals 13 and 514 denote stoppers for adjusting a lower limit position and an upper limit position of the slider, which are mounted on the mounting plate 511 and the connecting member 512 so as to be position adjustable.

When the holding member 55 receives the linear component from the separation supply mechanism 4 in the above-described rotation supply mechanism, the drive arm 561 of the drive mechanism 56 pivots counterclockwise in FIG. Is pulled down. For this reason, the arm 562 is
At the same time, it rotates clockwise in FIG. 8, but stops rotating in a state of contact with the stopper 521. At this time, the swing arm 54 is turned upward (L) as shown by a solid line in FIG.
). If the link is pulled downward by the further rotation of the drive arm in the same direction, the arm 562 cannot rotate and the slider 52
Is pulled down against the pulling force of the spring 57 to reach the lower position J. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the holding member 55 is inserted into the groove 34 of the front wall 32 of the hopper 3.
It is in a state of being inside. When the passage 531 communicates with the vacuum source in this state, one of the several linear components sent to the transfer position H by the push-up plate 41 of the separation and supply mechanism 4 in the hopper 3 is held in the holding groove. 552 is held by suction. When the suction holding of the linear component is completed, the drive arm 561 of the drive mechanism 56 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 7 to raise the link 563, so that the slider 52 is first pulled up to the upper position K by the spring 57. As a result, the holding member 55 also moves up while holding the linear component m by the holding groove 552. If the drive arm still rotates clockwise even after the slider has been lifted, the arm 562 starts to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 8, and when it is rotated about 90 °, the rotation of the drive arm is stopped. You. Accordingly, the swing arm 54 also rotates about 90 ° together with the support shaft 53, and assumes a lateral position M as shown by a chain line in FIG. Therefore, the holding member 55 is also oriented in this direction, and the linear component is sucked and held by the holding member and supplied above the chute 6 in a vertical state.

In FIG. 12 to FIG.
Has a fixed chute 61 and a movable chute 65 disposed directly below the fixed chute so as to be vertically movable. The fixed chute 61 includes a chute main body 62 fixed to the frame 11 or the like of the supply device 1 and a chute main body 6.
2 is provided with a tube 63 having a lower end fitted and fixed in a passage 621 formed vertically penetrating therethrough. The movable chute 65 has a chute main body 68 attached via a mounting member 67 to a rod 66 that is vertically moved by a known means such as a cam mechanism or a cylinder.
The chute main body 68 is formed with a vertically penetrating passage 681 aligned with a passage 621 formed in the chute main body 62 of the fixed chute 61. Shoot body 68
Is formed with a slot 682 which communicates with the passage 681 through a lower end portion 683. In this slot 682, a part of a stopper mechanism described later is arranged. In order to form the passage 681 in the chute main body 68, as is apparent from FIG. 15, a groove vertically penetrating is formed on one surface (the right side in FIG. 15) of the chute main body 68, and a cover plate is formed on that surface. 69 may be fixed, but another method may be used. In this embodiment, two passages 621 and 681 are formed in the chute bodies 62 and 68, respectively. This is because this embodiment handles a pair of leads of a stem for a fluorescent lamp as a linear component.

The shutter mechanism 7 has a stopper claw 72 rotatably arranged by a pin 71 in a slot 682 formed in the chute main body 68 of the movable chute 65. The stopper pawl 72 is moved counterclockwise in FIG. 15 by a spring 74 so that the downward tip 721 enters the passage 681 through the slot 682 of the chute main body 68 and prevents the linear member from dropping in the passage. Biased. A roller 73 is rotatably attached to the rear end of the stopper claw 72. The shutter mechanism 7 further has a cam rod 75 disposed and fixed adjacent to the movable chute on the support 15 fixed to the frame 10 of the supply device. An inclined cam surface 751 is formed on the upper portion of the cam rod 75 to approach the movable chute as it goes down. When the movable chute 65 descends from the upper position O to the lower position N, the cam rod 75 engages the roller 73 attached to the stopper pawl with the inclined cam surface 751 and pushes the roller, whereby the stopper pawl 73 The pin 71
5 is rotated clockwise in FIG.

Chute 6 and stopper mechanism 7 having the above configuration
First, when the linear component is sent to the upper part of the chute 6 by the holding member 55 of the turning supply mechanism 5, the movable chute 65 rises to the upper position O and approaches the fixed chute. For this reason, the roller 73 attached to the rear end of the stopper claw 72 is not in contact with the inclined cam surface 751 of the cam rod 75, and the tip 721 of the stopper claw 72 is
The chute body 68 of the movable chute 65 as shown in FIG.
The passage 681 is closed to prevent the linear member from passing through the passage. In this state, the linear component is provided above the tube 63 of the fixed chute 61 by the turning supply mechanism 5.
When the linear component is sent by the holding member 55 and the holding of the linear component by the holding member is released, the linear component is dropped into the tube 63. The linear components dropped into the tube 63 are passed through a passage 62 formed in the chute main body 62.
1 and the passage 68 of the chute body 68 of the movable chute
1 and stops with the lower end hitting the stopper claw. Thereafter or at the same time, the movable chute 65 starts to descend. When the chute body 68 of the movable chute descends, the roller 73 attached to the rear end of the stopper claw 72 engages with the inclined cam surface 751 and pushes the roller, so that the stopper claw resists the bias of the spring. Then, it is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 15, and the closing of the passage 681 by the tip 721 of the stopper claw 72 is released. The position of the inclined cam surface is determined so that the closing of the passage is completely performed when the movable stopper reaches the lowered position. Therefore, the linear part m stopped in the passage 681 starts to fall and enters the hole of the stem s held below the movable chute 65.

Next, the operation of the supply apparatus of the above embodiment will be described throughout. The linear components placed in the bucket 23 of the conveyor 2 are sent to the position of the hopper 3 by the conveyor. When the bucket approaches the hopper 3, the bucket also turns because the endless flexible body 22 turns around the sprocket, and the linear component m contained in the bucket is discharged into the hopper. At this time, since the cover plate 285 of the drop regulation mechanism 28 covers the bucket 23, even if the bucket is inclined, the linear component is not immediately discharged into the hopper 3. When the cover plate 285 separates from the bucket, the linear component is gradually discharged into the hopper. The linear components placed in the hopper are sent to a delivery position by the push-up plate 41 of the separation and supply mechanism 4. At the transfer position, the holding member 55 of the revolving supply mechanism 5 is on standby, and one of the several linear components m sent to that position is suction-held by the suction groove 552 of the holding member 55 in a horizontal state. . When the holding of the linear component by the holding member is completed, the slider 52 of the turning supply mechanism 5 is lifted, and the support shaft 53 and the turning arm 54 are turned by about 90 ° by the driving mechanism 56. The linear part m is turned vertically by about 90 ° while being sucked and held, and is supplied vertically onto the tube 63 of the chute 6.

The linear component supplied onto the tube 63 of the chute 6 falls into the tube 63 of the chute 6 and is formed on the chute main body 62 of the fixed chute 61 when the holding by the holding member is released. After passing through the passage 621, the movable chute 65 approaching the fixed chute enters the passage 681 formed in the chute main body 68. However, the passage 68 is formed by the stopper pawl 72 of the shutter mechanism 7.
Since 1 is closed, the linear component stops in a state where the tip, that is, the lower end of the linear component contacts the stopper claw. In this state, the movable chute 65 descends.
When the roller 73 attached to 2 is pushed by the cam rod, the tip of the stopper claw retracts from the passage 681 and opens the passage. For this reason, the linear part starts to fall and is fed into the hole of the stem waiting thereunder.
Hereinafter, the same operation is repeated to supply the linear components sequentially.

[0023]

According to the present invention, the following descent can be achieved. (1) Since it is dropped into the chute after being made almost upright, the falling speed is increased and the supply speed can be increased. (2) Since it is dropped into the chute after being made almost upright, clogging of the linear parts in the chute does not occur. (3) Since the dropping is controlled by the shutter mechanism, the dropping speeds of all the linear parts, that is, the supply speeds are made the same, and the supply speed can be made uniform. (4) Since the falling of the linear component is regulated by the drop regulating mechanism when the linear component is discharged from the bucket of the conveyor, it is possible to prevent the linear component from falling apart (orienting).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a linear component supply apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the conveyor of the supply device of FIG. 1 as viewed from the opposite side of the paper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conveyor of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing details of a hopper and a separation supply mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic enlarged side view showing a turning supply mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a view taken along line CC of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a support shaft and a swing arm of the swing supply mechanism of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a holding member of the turning supply mechanism of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a schematic enlarged side view showing a chute and a shutter mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a view taken along line EE in FIG. 12, showing a state of a passage formed in the fixed chute and the movable chute.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view showing a front surface of the movable chute as viewed along a line EE in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the movable chute of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a planar shape of a conventional chute.

FIG. 18 is a view showing a side shape of a conventional chute.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Supply device of linear parts 2 Conveyor 21 Sprocket 22 Endless flexible body 23
Bucket 28 Drop control mechanism 281 Lever 28
5 Cover plate 3 Hopper 31 Bottom plate 23 Front plate 4 Separation supply mechanism 41 Push-up plate 5 Rotation supply mechanism 51 Guide rod 52 Slider 53
Support shaft 54 Swivel arm 55 Holding member 56
Drive mechanism 57 Spring 6 Chute 61 Fixed chute 62 Chute body 62
1 passage 65 movable chute 68 chute body 68
1 passage 7 shutter mechanism 72 stopper claw

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hopper for accommodating a large number of linear parts laid sideways, and a plurality of linear parts in the hopper provided adjacent to a wall of the hopper and separated from the remaining linear parts. Separation and supply mechanism that supplies the linear component to the transfer position, and the holding member that sucks and holds one linear component rotates about 90 °
Then, at the transfer position, one linear
Parts are sucked and held in a roughly horizontal state and then sent vertically.
Swivel supply mechanism with up and down movement by a guide rod
Movable body supported rotatably and rotatably supported by the movable body
Support shaft and arm member attached to the support shaft
And the holding member is attached to the arm member,
Suction for holding one linear component on the front surface of the holding member
A turning supply mechanism having a groove formed therein; and a chute for guiding a linear component dropped from the turning supply mechanism , wherein the chute opens and closes a passage of the linear part, thereby forming a line in the passage. A linear component supply device provided with a shutter mechanism for controlling the falling of the linear component. 2. The supply device for a linear part according to claim 1, wherein the linear part is received on an upper inner surface of a wall of the hopper.
And a holding member of the turning supply mechanism is
When receiving a linear component from the hopper, the suction groove is
Stops in alignment with the
It can be moved up and down along the surface, facing the wall on the upper surface
<br/> An apparatus for supplying a linear component, comprising a push-up member having a downwardly inclined surface . 3. The linear component supply device according to claim 1, wherein the chute is disposed below the fixed chute and is movable in a direction approaching or separating from the fixed chute. A movable chute disposed therein, wherein the shutter mechanism is rotatably attached to the movable chute and has a stopper claw that closes the passage at a tip end thereof, and is fixed in proximity to a movement path of the chute. A cam member for pressing a part of the stopper claw when the movable chute is lowered to release the closing of the passage by the stopper claw. 4. The apparatus for supplying a linear part according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyor for supplying the linear part into the hopper, wherein the conveyor is moved endlessly. A bucket attached to the flexible body for accommodating and transferring a plurality of linear components ;
And a drop regulating mechanism that covers the upper portion of the bucket and restricts the linear component from falling from the bucket into the hopper.