JP3024961B1 - Parts supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

A component suitable for each assembling process can be supplied by a simple operation, and a component or the like can be safely taken out during operation. SOLUTION: A plurality of storage cases 1 in which parts and the like are stored.
The lifting / lowering cylinder 4 for rotating and moving the storage cases 1 to set them in the take-out position in a predetermined order, a sensor 7 for detecting a state in each storage case 1 at a predetermined position, and a detection state of the sensors 7. Lifting cylinder 4 according to
Is operated to rotate the plurality of storage cases 1 to set the next storage case 1 at a predetermined position, and includes the CPU 51.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a component supply apparatus suitable for supplying components required for each process and other components by arranging the components beside an assembly line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an assembly line of a production plant, the work of attaching parts in each process to the parts flowing in the line is generally accumulated, and the completion of the product is seen. Therefore, wagons for storing parts are arranged on the line side. Is done. In the past, one component was usually attached in each step, but recently, it has been attempted to attach a plurality of components by reducing the flow speed.

[0003] In this case, many types of parts are arranged on the line side. However, as a result, the surrounding space becomes too small, the arrangement becomes difficult, and there is a problem that the operation takes time. In order to solve this problem, a plurality of trays for storing parts are rotatably held inside the apparatus, and a desired tray is stopped at an appropriate position on the front where an operator can easily take out parts, and parts and the like are taken out therefrom. (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-16318).

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional apparatus can solve the problem of surrounding space and arrangement, but has the following problems in terms of operability. That is, in the conventional apparatus, when a desired part is taken out, the operator instructs the tray from the operation unit and moves the designated tray to the take-out position. It is necessary for the operator to know which tray the component is stored in and to give an instruction from the operation unit.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a component supply device capable of supplying components suitable for each assembling process with a simple operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of safely removing parts and the like during work.
In addition, the present invention, even if the assembly process changes, for example,
It is an object of the present invention to obtain an apparatus that can always supply correct parts even when the number of parts involved in assembly is reduced.
Further, it is another object of the present invention to obtain a device in which the tray (storage case) is stabilized with a simple configuration when the tray (storage case) is located at the take-out position, and the components can be easily taken out.

[0007]

The present invention achieves the above object.
A plurality of storage units in which parts and the like are stored,
Rotate the storage unit to move each of the storage units in a predetermined order.
A driving unit that is set at a predetermined position;
Detect that the operator's hand has been inserted into each storage
And a sensor for detecting that the parts or the like have been taken out.
And the number of the storage sections to be set in a predetermined position in advance.
Input part to input and the drive according to the detection of the sensor
Activating the storage section and rotating the plurality of storage sections to move to the next storage section
Is set to the predetermined position and entered into the input section.
Out of a plurality of the storage units according to the number of storage units
Make some feed without setting them in the predetermined position
And a control unit.

[0008]

Invention of the component supplying device according to a first aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of accommodating portions components and the like are housed
And rotating each of the storage sections to determine each of the storage sections.
A drive unit that is set at a predetermined position in order,
To detect that a worker's hand has been inserted into each of the storage sections
To detect that the parts etc. have been removed.
Sensor and the storage unit that is set in a predetermined position in advance.
An input section for inputting a number, and a front
Activating the drive unit to rotate the plurality of storage units,
The storage unit is set at the predetermined position and the input is performed.
Depending on the number of storage units input to the unit, a plurality of storage units
Jump feed without setting some of them in the predetermined position
And a control unit for causing the control unit to perform the control.

With this configuration, it is possible to place a burden on the operator.
With a simple configuration, it provides parts suitable for each assembly process.
Can be supplied, and the change of the assembly process
For example, even if the number of parts involved in assembly decreases,
Feeding without setting the storage section in place
Can respond to changes in the assembly process, and always
Supply of goods can be performed.

The invention of the component supply device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the invention according to the first aspect, wherein the storage unit is moved while moving.
When the sensor detects a worker's hand, the control unit
Is configured to forcibly stop the operation of the storage unit.
Take a success.

According to this configuration, the operator accidentally rotates and moves.
Even if you put your hand etc. in the storage section inside, rotate the storage section
Emergency stop allows safe removal of parts
It can be performed.

A component supply device according to a third aspect of the present invention.
According to the invention of the first aspect, in the first aspect, the storage section has an upper part opened.
A box to be opened, and the drive unit moves the box
Is rotated so as to be substantially rectangular.

With this configuration, the storage section reaches the uppermost position
The operator can take out the parts from above.
It can be easily taken out.

A component supply device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention.
The invention according to the third aspect, in the third aspect, wherein the storage portion is provided on a side surface thereof.
Holds the storage unit so that it can rotate around the unit
A chain, wherein the driving unit drives the chain
Thus, a configuration is adopted in which the storage section is rotated and moved.

[0015] With this configuration, each storage unit can be easily configured.
The parts can be easily taken in and out.

[0016] A component supply apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the storage unit
A configuration having a guide along the moving path of the vehicle is adopted.

With this configuration, the effect according to the fourth aspect is obtained.
And stable transport of the storage section in the vertical direction.
It can be carried out.

A component supply device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the storage section and the chain
A main body for accommodating the driving unit,
The side of the main body during translation at the uppermost position
Configuration in which the section and the side section of the storage section are brought into contact with each other
Take.

With this configuration, the effect according to the fifth aspect is obtained.
At the top of the storage compartment
The movement can be performed stably.

[0020] A component supply apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention.
Invention has a lamp, and each storage unit is located at the origin.
A configuration is adopted in which the lamp is turned on at the moment.

According to this configuration, the worker has a storage section.
It can be easily recognized whether or not it is at the home position.
Assembly process can be performed easily.

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are schematic configuration diagrams of a component supply device according to the present invention. In particular, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the inside of the component supply device, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a component supply device provided with a main body cover. It is a block diagram. In these figures, 1 is a storage case for storing various components, 2 is a latch, and includes a chain operating arm 3, which is moved up and down to interlock with a later-described chain. Rotate.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an elevating cylinder for moving the latch 2 up and down. Reference numeral 5 denotes a chain for holding each storage case 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a sprocket. In this embodiment, the number of storage cases is six, but this may be increased according to the number of parts in the assembly process. Reference numeral 7 denotes a sensor, which detects that an operator has taken out a part or the like in the storage case 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes a panel for performing various settings before driving.

The specific operation of the rotation of the storage case 1 is as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the lifting cylinder 4 is lowered, and the chain operating arm 3 of the latch 2 fixed to the end of the cylinder is lowered. Also descends. On the other hand, the member 20a attached to the latch 2 is in contact with the arm 10 attached to the chain 5, and the arm 10 moves downward as the latch descends, and as a result, the storage case 1 also descends. The arms 10 are provided between the storage cases 1. That is, the storage case 1b shown in FIG. 3 moves to the position shown in FIG. 4 with the lowering of the lifting cylinder 4, whereby the next storage case 1 is located at the highest position of the apparatus at the take-out position. Thereafter, the lifting cylinder 4 moves up, returns to the same position as in FIG. 3, and prepares for the next movement. In this rising, the latch 2 also rises, and as a result, the member 20a of the latch 2 comes into contact with the support shaft of the storage case 1c. However, since the member 20a can move in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the chain 5, The member 20a moves so as to be retracted avoiding the support shaft 10c. Then, it returns to the position of FIG.
Prepare for the next move. The stroke of the lifting cylinder 4 corresponds to one movement distance of each storage case, and the state shown in FIG. 3 is a state in which the lifting cylinder 4 is extended to the maximum.

Therefore, when the latch 2 moves down, it moves together with the arm 10 fixed to the chain 5, and when it moves up, it moves away from the arm 10 and rises alone. The chain 5 rotates in one direction due to the vertical movement of the latch 2,
Accordingly, each storage case 1 rotates. In the present embodiment, the storage case 1 is rotated by the vertical movement of the lifting / lowering cylinder 4.
Alternatively, the rotation may be performed as in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 8 (1996).

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram for controlling the rotation and other operations of the apparatus. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 51 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire apparatus; 52, a cylinder control unit for controlling the vertical movement of the lifting / lowering cylinder 4; 53, an input control unit for receiving an input signal from an input unit 54 and controlling it; Is an abnormality control unit that performs an emergency stop or the like when the apparatus is abnormal, and 7 is a storage case 1.
This sensor detects whether or not a part has been taken out of the storage case 1 and detects whether or not an operator's hand has been inserted into the storage case 1 (this is described in FIG. 2). 57
Is a timer used for moving the storage case 1.

Next, the storage case 1 is used for taking out parts.
The operation of rotating is described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG. Note that this operation is performed when N
A case will be described in which one storage case 1 is provided and one process is completed by mounting N parts. Here, the components stored in each storage case 1 may be different or some may be the same, but it is necessary that the number of storage cases 1 match the number of components to be attached in one process.

In FIG. 6, step 601 (hereinafter, S
In T601), preparations before operation (specifically, setting of the number of storage cases 1, an instruction indicating that the current position is the origin, and the like) are performed.
The operation is started at 2 and the storage case 1 is rotated. ST6
At 03, a lamp indicating the current origin is turned on. By lighting, the operator can recognize that the current position of each storage case 1 is the origin.

At step ST604, a sensor 7 for detecting that the operator has put his hand to take the parts in the storage case 1
Becomes OFF. After that, the sensor 7 in the OFF state is
It is determined that the operator has turned off the hand, that is, it has been turned on due to the removal of the part, and then the lamp is blinked (ST604 ′). The process proceeds to step (ST605).

When the sensor is determined to be ON in ST605, the rotation of the storage case 1 in which the next part is stored is started in ST606 to move the storage case 1 to the take-out position. If it is detected in ST605 that the worker has pulled out, the movement of the storage case 1 is started n seconds after that. n
The reason that the time of second is delayed is that the storage case 1 is not rotated immediately after the parts are taken out, so that the safety of the worker can be ensured.

In ST607, it is determined whether n parts have been taken, that is, whether all N storage cases 1 have reached the take-out position. Here, taking N parts means that one cycle of the work of attaching parts has been completed. Therefore, in the case of YES in ST607, one process ends, and in ST608, it is determined whether or not all the components in the storage case have been removed. If NO in ST608, the process returns to the upstream of ST603 to turn on the lamp to inform that the current state is the origin, and the same operation is repeated again for the next step. In the case of NO in ST607, the process returns to the upstream of ST604, and the operation is restarted to take out the next part.

As described above, the sensor is provided in the storage case 1, and this sensor detects the hand of the worker,
It is determined that the part has been removed, and the storage case 1 can be moved. Thereby, the storage case 1 can be automatically moved, and efficient work can be performed.

Next, the processing at the time of an emergency stop during the operation of the present apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. ST701 to ST
At 702, the storage case 1 is moved, and then a sensor indicating that the worker has taken a part is detected.
This is the same as ST602 and ST605 in FIG.

Next, after parts are taken out in ST703, that is, after the sensor 7 detects that the worker's hand has left the inside of the storage case 1, the sensor starts the timer and measures n seconds. The timer is measured for n seconds,
When the timer is turned off (ST704), it is determined whether or not the sensor remains ON at that time (ST7).
05). Here, the fact that the sensor 7 has been turned off means that the operator's hand again holds the storage case 1 for some reason.
In this case, ST70 in this case.
Returning to upstream of 3, the n-second timer is started again.

If YES is determined in ST705, the next storage case 1 is moved to the removal position (S
T706, ST707). During this movement, the sensor 7
When it is no longer the FF (ST708), the operation shifts to an operation of stopping the movement of the storage case 1. Also, if the sensor 7 is O
If it is still FF, one pitch movement is completed in ST709, and preparations are made to take out the next component in the storage case 1. Also, as described above, in the case of NO in ST708, the process proceeds to ST710, which is performed when the worker accidentally puts his hand while the storage case 1 is moving.
Stop moving.

At step ST710, the worker mistakenly inserts storage case 1
, An emergency stop process for stopping the movement of the storage case 1 is performed. Here, it may be possible to store the state in which the vehicle has stopped so as to be able to quickly return to the original state when the emergency stop is released. S
At 711, a process for canceling the emergency stop is performed, and control is performed so that the worker returns to the normal operation by operating the cancel button or the like. If the state at the time of stopping in step S710 is stored, control is performed to return from that state.

Next, FIG. 8 shows an operation flow chart when the predetermined storage case 1 is fed by an idle feed when the number of parts is smaller than the number of the storage cases 1 and will be described below.

In ST801, the operator sets the number N of parts using the operation panel or the like (other origin positions are also set), and then the operation is started in ST802. The lamp is turned on in ST802 'as in FIG.
At 3, the operator's hand enters the storage case, and the component pick-up sensor detects this.

Thereafter, ST803a to ST803c are completely the same as the operation of FIG. In ST804, it is determined that a part has been taken, and 1 is subtracted from number N of parts. ST
At 805, control is performed such that these processes are repeated until N becomes 0, and if it is determined that the predetermined number of parts has been obtained, S
The process moves to T806.

In ST806, Z empty storage cases are fed empty. Z is the maximum number of parts X to the set number of parts N
Is subtracted, and indicates the number of empty storage cases 1. Then, the storage case 1 is moved in ST806 ′, and in ST807, the number of the storage cases 1 that are being fed in an empty manner is counted, and in ST808, it is detected whether or not Z empty feedings are completed. In this case, the process returns to the upstream of ST806 ′, and the above operation is repeated. ST80 if YES
In step 9, it is determined whether or not all parts in the storage case have been removed. If the result is NO, the next cycle, that is, ST802 'is performed.
Return to the next step and execute the next cycle. In the case of YES, the operation ends.

By feeding Z empty storage cases 1 in this manner, a versatile component supply device can be realized.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the storage case 1 of the present component supply device is configured such that each storage case 1 is fixed to the chain 5 at one point near the upper center of both side surfaces thereof and moves. Therefore, it is configured to rotate around the fixed point. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes easy to replenish the parts, but when taking out the parts, the storage case 1 is rotated left and right, so that the apparatus is difficult to take out. The present invention employs the following configuration in order to prevent such difficulty in taking out.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the operation transition of the present apparatus, and FIG. 10 is a top view of the present apparatus. FIG.
As shown in the above, the chain 5 is substantially rectangular, and as a result, when the storage case 1 reaches the uppermost part, it moves parallel to the right in the figure (the storage case 1 rotates clockwise). Then, as shown in FIG.
Abuts on the side surface of the storage case 1.
Therefore, the storage case 1 is prevented from rotating during the parallel movement at the uppermost part of the apparatus due to this contact, and the storage case 1 can be set at the component take-out position in a stable state at all times. .

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention
Is a simple configuration that places no burden on the workers.
We can supply parts suitable for the cutting process,
Even if the assembly process changes, for example,
Even if the number of parts that
Can be transported without the need for
It can respond further and always supply the correct parts.
You.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the inside of a component supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a component supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a component supply device according to the present invention before a storage unit is moved.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a state immediately after FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a hardware block diagram of the component supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the component supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart showing an emergency stop process in the component supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart showing an idle feeding process in the component supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the component supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the component supply device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage case 2 Latch 3 Chain 4 Elevating cylinder 5 Chain 6 Sprocket 7 Sensor 8 Panel 51 CPU

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-51-72063 (JP, A) JP-A-64-28107 (JP, A) JP-A-56-104609 (JP, A) 336318 (JP, A) JP-A 2-63938 (JP, U) JP-A 61-203608 (JP, U) JP 46-1125 (JP, Y1) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 1/00-1/20

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of storage sections storing parts and the like;
Rotate the storage unit to move each of the storage units in a predetermined order.
A driving unit that is set at a predetermined position;
Detect that the operator's hand has been inserted into each storage
And a sensor for detecting that the parts or the like have been taken out.
And the number of the storage sections to be set in a predetermined position in advance.
Input part to input and the drive according to the detection of the sensor
Activating the storage section and rotating the plurality of storage sections to move to the next storage section
Is set to the predetermined position and entered into the input section.
Out of a plurality of the storage units according to the number of storage units
Make some feed without setting them in the predetermined position
A component supply device comprising a control unit . 2. The sensor operates while the storage unit is moving.
When the trader's hand is detected, the control unit operates the storage unit.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation is forcibly stopped.
Of the component supplying device. 3. The storage unit is a box having an open top.
The drive section moves the box with a substantially rectangular locus of movement.
The component supply device according to claim 1, wherein the component supply device is rotated as described above . 4. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein said storage portion is centered on a side portion thereof.
A chain that holds the storage section so that it can rotate freely,
The drive unit drives the chain so that the
The component supply device according to claim 3, wherein the storage part is rotated . 5. A vertical movement path of the storage section.
The component supply device according to claim 4, further comprising a guide . 6. The storage section, the chain, and the drive section.
A main body for accommodating the
During the parallel movement, the side of the main body and the storage
Claims characterized by contacting the side part
Item 4. The component supply device according to Item 4 . 7. A lamp is provided, wherein each storage section is located at an origin.
Characterized in that the lamp is turned on when
The component supply device according to claim 1 .