JP3362609B2 - Parts feeder - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a component feeding apparatus for aligning a grooved prismatic component in a proper posture and transport direction, and particularly to a grooved prismatic component having a small size. The present invention relates to a component feeding device capable of feeding at a transfer speed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a casing C of an electrolytic capacitor (hereinafter abbreviated as component C) as a representative example of a grooved prismatic component. A of FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof and B of FIG. 1 is a front view thereof. It is a figure. That is, there is a request to transfer the component C in the direction shown by the white arrow in the posture shown in FIG. Further, in the postures shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the component C has long grooves G parallel to the transfer direction at portions of the opposite side surfaces Q near the bottom surface P.

In addition to the regular posture in which the bottom surface P is on the lower side, such a prismatic component C is also one in which the left and right side surfaces Q are in the lower side and the ceiling surface R is in the lower side at random. When only the normal postures are selected and extracted from the existing ones, as shown in FIG. 17A, the groove G of the component C is formed on the transfer surface of the track 124 inclined downward toward the radial outside of the bowl 121. After the component C is separated into one that straddles the rail-shaped protrusion 125 and one that does not straddle the rail-shaped protrusion 125, the transfer surface of the truck 124 is bowled as shown in FIG. 17B. The part C that does not straddle the rail-shaped protrusion 125 is inclined downward toward the inside of the diameter 121.
After sliding off the slope to remove the component C, the component C that straddles the rail-shaped protrusion 125 is introduced into the tunnel-shaped track, and then the tunnel-shaped track itself is twisted, so that the component C that is transferred inside is placed in a normal posture. Such a method is adopted.
Further, as a method of eliminating the part C that cannot cross the rail-shaped projection 125 on the track and is moved to the inner peripheral side by that amount, the width of the track 124 is set so that the center of gravity of the part C falls off the transfer surface. Narrowing is also done.

[0004]

However, the conventional method shown in FIG.
In the method shown in, the width and depth of the groove G are 0.3 to 0.
In the case of 5 mm, when the inclination of the transfer surface of the track 124 is reversed in order to eliminate the component C that does not straddle the rail-shaped protrusion 125, the rail-shaped protrusion is caused by the torsional vibration received by the component C that straddles the rail-shaped protrusion 125. It may come off the protrusion 125, and in order to prevent this, the transfer speed must be significantly reduced. Even if the track width is narrowed, the position of the center of gravity is removed from the transfer surface depending on whether or not the components straddling the rail-shaped projection 125 and the components not straddling the rail-shaped protrusion 125 are moved to the inner peripheral side by 0.3 to 0.5 mm. The truck that separates the one into the one that is not removed is extremely narrow in width, and is not a truck that can originally expect a high transfer speed.

Further, even if the component C is in a predetermined transfer direction, the ratio of the component C with the bottom surface P facing downward is 1/4 of the whole, and 3/4 is the rail-like projection 125. It is a part C that does not cross over and is selected and excluded. For these reasons, there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to increase the transfer speed or the transfer amount of the component C having the proper posture at the discharge end per unit time.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a prismatic component, such as component C, having a groove parallel to the transfer direction, particularly a component having a minute size, is arranged in a predetermined posture and the transfer direction and is large. An object of the present invention is to provide a parts feeding device that can feed at a transfer speed.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems ] The above problems are related to transportation.
Vibration of prismatic parts with long parallel grooves on the side
Spiral for transporting in a longer posture in a predetermined posture
In a parts feeding device having a circular track,
A regular figure with the bottom face down
A rail-shaped protrusion for selection that fits in the groove of the component
And the posture of the parts transferred on the truck is
In the normal position, or in the groove, the rail-shaped protrusion for sorting.
Transfer by contacting with the rail-shaped projection for sorting without fitting
Optical sensor for sorting that detects whether the posture is irregular
And the normality based on the output of the sorting optical sensor.
Remove parts in bad posture from the truck by blowing air
And a sorting means including a sorting air ejection source.
The rack inclines downward toward the outer periphery and
Parts whose width is transferred with the longitudinal direction being the transfer direction
Is formed larger than the width of the
Provided on the track on the inner peripheral side of the parts transferred by
Shielded by the parts that are transferred in the above-mentioned incorrect posture
Has a through-hole, and the sorting optical cell is sandwiched by the through-hole.
The light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor are arranged to face each other.
Is solved by a parts feeding device.

Further, on the upstream side of the attitude selecting means, a rail-shaped projection provided on the outer peripheral side wall of the track so as to be fitted in the groove of a component having a normal attitude is used to fit the rail-shaped projection into the groove. Parts that are not in a proper attitude that cannot be fitted and that have rail-shaped protrusions that cannot be fitted in the groove are transported by that amount on the inner circumference side of the track. An optical sensor for discrimination that detects the transfer on the peripheral side is provided, and when the transfer on the inner peripheral side is detected, air is ejected to the part and it rotates 90 degrees around the central axis parallel to the transfer direction. At least one or more posture rotating means for increasing the proportion of parts in the proper posture is provided.

By providing these means, it is possible to adjust the posture of the parts and the direction of the transfer so that the parts are transferred at a high transfer speed, and the amount of transfer of the parts in the proper attitude at the discharge end is greatly increased.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the component feeding apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the component feeding apparatus 1 for feeding the component C shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, the component feeding apparatus 1 is a component C.
And a drive section 11 for applying torsional vibration to the bowl 21. In the drive unit 11, the movable core 12 is fixed integrally with the bottom plate of the bowl 21.
A movable block 12 having C is connected to a lower fixed block 14 by inclined leaf springs 13 arranged at equal angular intervals. Further, the coil 1 is provided on the fixed block 14.
An electromagnet 16 having 5 wound thereon is fixed so as to face the movable core 12C with a slight gap. In addition, the periphery of the drive unit 11 is covered with a soundproof cover 17, and is installed on the substrate 19 together with the bowl 21 via a vibration-proof rubber 18. Then, when an alternating current is applied to the coil 15, a torsional vibration in a clockwise direction when viewed from above is applied to the bowl 21.

Referring to the plan view of FIG. 3, in the bowl 21, a large number of parts C are accommodated in the bottom surface 22 (shown in a scattered manner in FIG. 3 for the sake of simplicity), and in the peripheral portion of the bottom surface 22. A flat plate track 24 having a starting point 24s is provided in a spiral shape along the peripheral wall 23 of the bowl 21. The flat plate track 24 is inclined slightly downward toward the outside of the bowl 21, and a side wall 25 is formed perpendicular thereto. Further, the flat plate track 24 is formed in such a width that the parts C in a predetermined transfer direction are transferred in a single row.

At the top of the flat track 24,
After the wiper 31 for making the component C into a single layer and the quick-discharging gate 34 for taking out the component C to the outside in the non-steady state are provided, a round gutter truck for adjusting the direction of transfer of the component C as much as possible. 44 is connected, and further, posture rotating units 51A, 51B, 51C as posture rotating means for the component C, and a sorting unit 91 as sorting means for eliminating the component C not in a predetermined posture are connected, and at the downstream end portion. Is provided with a discharge truck 104. These will be sequentially described.

The wiper 31 is [4] -in FIG.
[4] Referring to FIG. 4 showing a cross section in the direction of the line, the bowl 21
A plate-shaped wiper 31 that is perpendicular to the cutout surface of the peripheral wall 23 of the
Are fixed with bolts 31b. Between the lower edge of the wiper 31 and the transfer surface of the flat plate track 24, there is formed a gap through which non-stacked single-layer components C can pass.
Further, referring to FIG. 3, the wiper 31 is a flat plate track 24.
And extends obliquely into the bowl 21.

The rapid delivery gate 34 is shown by [5]-in FIG.
[5] Referring to FIG. 5 showing a cross section in the direction of the line, the bowl 21
A support member 37 having one end fixed with a bolt 37b to the upper stage of the notch provided by notching the peripheral wall 23 in two steps is passed immediately above the outlet path 36 of the lower stage, and with respect to this support member 37,
An expedited gate 34 having a surface 35 that is substantially aligned with the sidewall 25 of the track 24 is attached with bolts 34b. Then, for example, when the component C remaining on the bottom surface 22 of the bowl 21 is taken out when the product type is changed or when the work is finished, the bolt C is loosened and the quick release gate 34 is removed, so that the component C passes through the lead-out path 36 and the bowl. 21 is taken out.

The round gutter truck 44 is shown by [6]-in FIG.
[6] Referring to FIG. 6 showing a cross section in the direction of the line, the cross section is J-shaped and a round gutter portion is formed on the inner peripheral side. Furthermore, FIG.
7, which shows a cross section taken along line [7]-[7] in FIG. 7, the circular gutter truck 44 is connected to a flat plate-shaped sorting truck 54 to be described later on the downstream side. The part C is formed to have a width almost equal to the length in the transfer direction, and the part C changes its direction so as to lower its center of gravity while being transferred through the circular gutter track 44 due to the vibration, and the transfer direction is changed to a circle. The direction of transfer of the gutter truck 44 is made to match.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sorting truck 54
Is formed on the track block 53 fixed to the peripheral edge of the bowl 21 with a bolt 53b so as to be inclined slightly downward toward the outside of the diameter of the bowl 21. Then, the posture rotation unit 5 is sequentially arranged on the sorting truck 54 from the upstream side.
1A, 51B, 51C and a component C not in a predetermined posture
A sorting unit 91 is provided for eliminating the.

The posture rotation unit 51A is shown in FIG. 8, which is a sectional view taken along line [8]-[8] in FIG. 3, which is a partially cutaway plan view, and FIG. 10 which is a partially broken perspective view. There is.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the posture rotation unit 51A has a side wall block 57 fixed on a track block 53 fixed to the peripheral edge of the bowl 21 with a thin plate 56 interposed therebetween. Thin plate 56 is sorting truck 54
Is projected from the side wall 55 onto the transfer surface of the sorting track 54 at a position slightly higher than the transfer surface, and a rail-shaped projection 52 is formed on the surface of the side wall 55. The rail-shaped projection 52 is provided so as to fit in the groove G of the component C when the component C is in the normal posture. That is, the part C in the normal posture
Is transported by sandwiching the rail-shaped projection 52 in the groove G.
On the other hand, in the component C having an incorrect posture, the groove G exists apart from the position of the rail-shaped projection 52, so that the rail-shaped projection 52 cannot be sandwiched in the groove G, and the outer peripheral surface has the rail-shaped surface. The protrusions 52 are transferred in contact with the protrusions 52, and the inner peripheral side of the selection track 54 is transferred by that amount. Then, at that time, from the light emitting element 61a to the light receiving element 61 of the below-described discrimination optical sensor in the sorting track 54.
The through hole 68 as an optical path (corresponding to the “discrimination optical path” of the present invention) of the irradiation light reaching b is blocked. Further, at the inner peripheral edge of the sorting track 54 having a width sufficient for the component C transferred on the inner peripheral side to be transferred on a flat surface, the bowl 21 is directed upward inward. A lower inner peripheral wall 58 is formed along with the inclination.

The light emitting element 61a of the discrimination optical sensor is fixed to the support block 63 on the support wall 62 fixed to the side wall block 57. That is, the support block 6
3 is a side wall block 57 together with a support wall 62 by a bolt 63b.
Referring to FIG. 9 in particular, the light emitting element 61a of the discrimination optical sensor is fitted into the notch hole 64 provided in the support block 63, and the pressing plate 65 is pressed from the outside.
It is held down by and fixed to the support block 63 with bolts 65b. Returning to FIG. 8, the light receiving element 61b of the discrimination optical sensor.
Is fastened together with the nut 61n by being screwed from below into a through hole 69 drilled in the peripheral edge of the bowl 21, and the irradiation light from the light emitting element 61a is penetrated through the through hole 68 of the track block 53 and the peripheral edge of the bowl 21. The through hole 69 is used as an optical path to reach the light receiving element 61b.

Further, when there is a component C that shields the through hole 68 which is the optical path of the discrimination optical sensor, the controller (not shown) to which the signal is input is the "component rotation air ejection source" according to the present invention. The electromagnetic valves of certain compressed air pipes 72 and 75 are momentarily opened, and air is ejected from two locations in order to rotate the component C by 90 degrees about the central axis parallel to the transfer direction. That is, on one side, the compressed air pipe 72 is inserted and screwed from the outer peripheral side into the hole 73 provided in the side wall block 57 and is fixed together with the nut 72n. The compressed air pipe 72 is horizontally provided from the tip of the hole 73 and is opened to the side wall 55. Is the air ejection hole 74, and the other is the light emitting element 6.
The long air jet nozzle 7 attached to the tip of the compressed air pipe 75 fixed to the upper surface of the support block 63 to which 1a is attached by a fixing member 76 with a bolt 76b.
7 The air ejection hole 74 is directed to the upper portion of the side surface on the outer peripheral side of the component C in the predetermined transfer direction, and the tip of the air ejection nozzle 77 is directed to the lower portion of the side surface on the inner peripheral side.

Since the posture rotating unit 51B and the posture rotating unit 51C provided on the downstream side of the posture rotating unit 51A have the same structure as the above-described posture rotating unit 51A, their description will be omitted.

The sorting unit 91 is constructed in substantially the same manner as the posture rotating unit 51 on the upstream side. Referring to FIG. 12, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line [12]-[12] in FIG. 3, and FIG. 13, which is a partially cutaway plan view thereof, posture rotation units 51A and 51 in the sorting unit 91.
Similar to B and 51C, the side wall block 57 is fixed on the track block 53 fixed to the peripheral portion of the bowl 21 with the thin plate 56 interposed therebetween, and the thin plate 56 is slightly higher than the transfer surface of the sorting truck 54. At the position, it projects from the side wall 55 onto the transfer surface of the sorting truck 54, and is formed as a rail-shaped projection 52 from the side wall 55 surface. The rail-shaped protrusions 52 provided on the sorting unit 91 correspond to the “rail-shaped protrusions for sorting” of the present invention.

The component C in the proper posture is transported with the rail-shaped projection 52 sandwiched in the groove G. On the other hand, in the component C having an incorrect posture, the groove G cannot sandwich the rail-shaped projection 52, so that the side surface on the outer peripheral side is brought into contact with the rail-shaped projection 52 to be transferred, and the selection track 54 is correspondingly moved.
It will be transferred on the inner circumference side. And at that time,
The through hole 88 as an optical path of the irradiation light from the light emitting element 81a of the sorting optical sensor described later to the light receiving element 81b in the sorting track 54 is blocked.

The light emitting element 81a of the sorting optical sensor is fixed to a support block 83 on a support wall 82 fixed to the side wall block 57. That is, the support block 8
3 is a side wall block 57 together with a support wall 82 by a bolt 83b.
13, the light emitting element 81a of the sorting optical sensor is fitted into the notch hole 84 provided in the support block 83, and the pressing plate 8 is fixed from the outside.
It is fixed to the support block 83 with a holding bolt 85b. Returning to FIG. 12, the light receiving element 81 of the optical sensor 81.
b is inserted and screwed from below into a through hole 89 formed in the peripheral edge of the bowl 21 and is fixed together with the nut 81n, and the irradiation light from the light emitting element 81a is penetrated through the through hole 88 of the track block 53 and the peripheral edge of the bowl 21. The through hole 89 of the portion is used as an optical path to reach the light receiving element 81b.

Further, in the case where there is a component C that does not have a proper posture to shield the through hole 88 which is the optical path of the sorting optical sensor, the side wall block 57 is provided with an air ejection hole 94 for eliminating this. . That is, the side wall block 57
A compressed air pipe 92 as a “sorting air ejection source” according to the present invention is inserted and screwed into a hole 93 provided on the outer peripheral side and is fixed together with a nut 92n. A jet hole 94 is provided and opened to the side wall 55. That is, when a component C that is in a predetermined transfer direction but is not in a predetermined posture is detected, a controller (not shown) to which the signal is input momentarily opens the solenoid valve of the compressed air pipe 92, and the outer peripheral side thereof. The air is blown out to the side surface of the bowl and blown out into the bowl 21 to be eliminated.

A discharge truck 104 is provided at the downstream end of the sorting unit 91. Discharge truck 104
Referring to FIG. 14, which is a sectional view taken along line [14]-[14] in FIG. 3, a track block 103 is fixed to a peripheral edge portion of the bowl 21 with a bolt 103b from below. Inner wall block 1
02 is fixed by the bolt 102b, and the holding block 105
Is fixed by a bolt 105b, and a tunnel-shaped discharge truck 104 through which the component C in a predetermined transfer direction and posture can pass in a single layer and a single row is provided. Only the component C that is determined to be in the posture is discharged from the downstream end without disturbing the posture.

A parts feeding apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is configured as above. Next, the operation will be described.

A component C is placed in the bowl 21 shown in FIGS.
Are housed in a large number, and an alternating current is applied to the coil 15,
It is assumed that the bowl 21 is given a clockwise torsional vibration. Further, it is assumed that a compressed air supply source and an unillustrated controller to which the optical sensors 61 and 81 are connected are also in operation.

In the bowl 21, in addition to the normal posture in which the bottom surface P is on the lower side, the components C are those in which any one of the left and right side surfaces Q is in the lower side and the ceiling surface R is in the lower side. In addition to the above, there are also stacked parts C.
In response to the torsional vibration, the part C is moved to the peripheral portion on the bottom surface 22 and is transferred in the direction indicated by the arrow m, and is transferred from the starting point 24s to the flat plate track 24 along the side wall 25,
It rises in a spiral and reaches the highest lap. During this time,
Since the flat plate track 24 has a width slightly wider than the width in which the parts C in a predetermined transfer direction are transferred in a single row,
The parts C mounted on the flat plate track 24 in two rows fall into the bowl 21 from the flat plate track 24, leaving the parts that are transferred in contact with the side walls 25, and the length direction is changed to the flat plate track 24.
The component C that is orthogonal to the transport direction of C, that is, the component C that is not in the predetermined transport direction, falls from the flat plate track 24 and is eliminated. Therefore, the flat plate track 24 is such that the parts C in a predetermined transfer direction are transferred in a single row and in a vertical direction in a random state.

At the top of the flat track 24,
In the wiper 31 shown in FIG. 4, only the component C contacting the transfer surface of the flat plate track 24 is the wiper 31.
Although it is transferred to the downstream side after passing below, the parts C in the lowermost layer are transferred when the parts C are stacked and transferred in two or more layers.
Only the parts pass below the wiper 31, but the parts C of the second layer and above are prevented from being transferred by the wiper 31, and are guided by the wiper 31 and returned into the bowl 21.

The part C which has passed through the wiper 31 is brought into contact with the rapid delivery gate 34 shown in FIG.
The round gutter truck 44 shown in FIG. 6 is reached. Maruhito Truck 44
Since the part C lowers the center of gravity position while being transferred while being vibrated, the direction of the lowest center of gravity position at the downstream end of the round gutter track 44, that is, the transfer direction of the part C is changed to the round gutter track 44. The proportion of the parts C matched with the transfer direction of C is increased.

From the downstream end of the round gutter truck 44, the component C is transferred to the sorting truck 54 formed in the truck block 53 as shown in FIG. The sorting truck 54 has three completely similar posture rotation units 51 in order from the upstream side.
Although A, 51B, and 51C are provided, FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 10, the component C in the proper posture with the bottom surface P facing downward is transported by sandwiching the rail-shaped projection 52 protruding from the side wall 55 of the posture rotation unit 51A in the groove G. On the other hand, in the component C having the side surface Q on the lower side and the component C having the ceiling surface R on the lower side, the groove G is located at a position apart from the rail-shaped protrusion 52, and therefore, the surface on the outer peripheral side is formed. Since it is transferred in contact with the rail-shaped protrusions 52, and the inner peripheral side of the selection track 54 is transferred by that amount, the light-emitting element 61a and the light-receiving element 61b of the discrimination optical sensor are transferred.
The through hole 68 provided as an optical path between and is blocked.

For example, FIG. 1 which is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG.
Referring to FIG. 1, as shown in A of FIG. 11, when the through hole 68 is shielded by the component C that is transferred by contacting the ceiling surface R with the rail-shaped protrusion 52, a signal indicating the shielding is input. The controller (not shown) is a compressed air pipe 72,
Since the solenoid valve 75 is instantly opened, as shown in FIG. 11B, the air injection hole 74 is directed to the upper side surface on the outer peripheral side of the component C, and the air ejection nozzle 77 is operated to the inner periphery of the component C. The air is instantly ejected toward the lower part of the side surface of FIG.
At B, rotation in the counterclockwise direction is started, and it is finally rotated by 90 degrees on the same transfer surface, and the bottom surface P comes into a normal posture in which the selection track 54 is brought into contact. That is, the component C that contacts the ceiling surface R with the rail-shaped protrusion 52 is the posture rotation unit 5
In 1A, a rotation of 90 degrees is given once to restore the normal posture, and thereafter, the posture rotating units 51B and 51C are transferred while maintaining the regular posture.

In addition to the above, the component C having the ceiling surface R on the upper side and the side surface Q in contact with the rail-shaped protrusion 52 at the beginning is normally rotated by 90 degrees twice by the posture rotation units 51A and 51B. The component C whose posture is relieved and whose bottom surface P is in contact with the rail-shaped protrusion 52 is relieved to the normal posture by being rotated by 90 degrees by the posture rotation units 51A, 51B, and 51C, respectively. That is, the part C in a regular posture with the bottom surface P facing downward
Originally, only 1/4 of all the parts C exist, but the other 3/4 are the posture rotation units 51A and 51A.
Since the B and 51C are rotated by 90 degrees up to three times to be in the normal posture, the transfer amount of the component C per unit time is significantly increased.

Posture rotation units 51A, 51B, 51C
The component C that has passed through reaches the sorting unit 91 shown in FIGS. That is, the posture rotation units 51A, 51
Even if the parts pass B and 51C, not all of the parts have the normal attitudes. Therefore, the attitude rotation units 51A and 51B,
The posture of the component C is checked in the same manner as 51C. Most of the parts C are in the normal posture, and the rail-shaped projection 52 is sandwiched in the groove G to be transferred and transferred.
Part C that passes through the but does not have a regular attitude
12, as shown in FIG.
Since it is transferred in contact with 2, and is transferred to the inner peripheral side of the sorting track 54 by that amount, the through hole 88 provided as an optical path between the light emitting element 81a and the light receiving element 81b of the sorting optical sensor is formed. Shield.

Since the controller (not shown) to which the shielding signal is input instantly opens the solenoid valve of the compressed air pipe 92, air is instantaneously ejected from the air ejection hole 94, and the part C which is not in the proper posture is indicated by the alternate long and short dash line. It is blown away and eliminated as shown in. The component C in the proper posture, which is not rejected by the sorting unit 91 and passes through as it is, is immediately sent to the tunnel-shaped discharge truck 104 shown in FIG. 14 and discharged from the downstream end whose final posture is disturbed.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, needless to say, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the sorting truck 54 is formed to have a width such that the component C having an irregular posture can be transferred on the inner peripheral side.
As shown in a modified example of A of No. 5, a component C having an abnormal posture
The selection track 54 'may have a width such that the inner peripheral side of the same rides on the inclined portion of the inner peripheral wall 58'. Although it is necessary to adjust the timing and pressure of air ejection, the component C slides down the inclination of the inner peripheral wall 58 'to assist rotation when air is ejected from the air ejection nozzle 77 shown in FIG. 15B.

In the present embodiment, the rail-shaped projection 52 separates the component C in the normal posture from the component C in the non-normal posture, and the component C in the regular posture and the sorting truck 54. The separation distance from the component C having an incorrect posture, which is moved toward the inner peripheral side of the component C and is separated, varies depending on the type of the component C, but is as small as about 0.3 to 0.5 mm. Therefore, for example, in the sorting unit 91 shown in FIG. 13, the through hole 88 as the optical path of the sorting optical sensor may not be sufficiently shielded by the separated component C having an incorrect posture, which lowers the sorting accuracy. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 16 corresponding to FIG. 13, the rail-shaped projection 52 is once removed on the upstream side of the through hole 88 of the sorting unit 91, and then the taper 52t is attached. You may make it revive. The component C in the normal posture is transported by sandwiching the rail-shaped projection 52, which is restored in the taper 52t, in the groove G, while the component C in the incorrect posture is tapered 52t from the missing portion of the rail-shaped projection 52.
Since the direction of transfer is swung when it is transferred in contact with, the through hole 88 can be reliably shielded at the leading end. In addition,
In this example, with respect to the sorting unit 91, the rail-shaped projections 5
Although the effect of providing the missing portion in 2 has been described, the effect of the missing portion of the rail-like protrusion 52 is not limited to the posture rotating portions 51A and 51A.
The same applies to the case of being provided in B and 51C.

In this embodiment, the posture rotation units 51A, 51B and 51C are combined with one unit of the sorting unit 91, but the sorting accuracy is required to be extremely increased. A combination of two posture rotation units and two selection units may be adopted for the above. Of course, the posture rotation unit of 3 units may be combined with the sorting unit of 2 units.

Further, in the present embodiment, the part C having the two grooves G in the portions close to the bottom surface P of the opposite side surfaces Q of the prismatic shape is targeted for feeding, but of course, the position of the groove G is the ceiling. It may be at an intermediate portion between the surface P and the bottom surface P, and the side surface Q
Even a part in which the groove G exists in only one of the two can be targeted for feeding.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the quadrangular prismatic component C is applied and has a pair of grooves G on both side wall portions thereof, which are rail-like projections 52 (of the thin plate 56) provided on the side wall portions of the track. The posture engaging with the protruding portion) is supplied to the next step as a normal posture, but the present invention is not limited to the component having such a shape and is generally applicable to a prismatic component, for example, If it is a hexagonal prism, it can take a normal position by rotating at most 5 times. Further, in the above-mentioned component C, although it is a quadrangular prism and has the grooves G on both side walls, this is used as the engaged portion and the rail-shaped projection 52 is used as the engaging portion, and the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion. Depending on the combination, a component in a normal posture is supplied to the next process, but not only such engagement, but also an engaged part and an engaging part that can engage with this part of a prismatic part in general. If it is provided on the track, the same operation and effect as described above can be obtained. Further, in the above embodiment, the air ejection nozzles are provided on the left and right sides, and the turning power is given by the difference in height, but depending on the case, the number may be one, or three or more. In short, the required number of air ejection nozzles may be arranged at positions where they can be easily rotated depending on the shape of the component.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the optical sensor 61 is used as the posture discriminating means of the component, but the present invention is not limited to this, and all the publicly known posture discriminating means can be applied.
According to the number of corners of the prism, since the single rotation angle becomes smaller, means for regulating this (in the above embodiment, the lower side surface portion of the component is regulated, but instead of this, Alternatively, a regulation means having another shape or a regulation means for some other member, for example, a rod-shaped or flat-shaped member) may be arranged on the side of the track.

Although the hexagonal prism is taken as an example in the above, it is of course not necessary to be a regular hexagonal prism, and if one side is extremely shorter than the other sides, it is regarded as a prism having a smaller number of sides. The position of one or a plurality of air ejection means may be determined according to the shape and the position of the center of gravity. Also, the ejection time may be lengthened or shortened according to the shape to obtain a predetermined rotation angle. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a part in which the apex of the prism is not acute-angled, or if it is included as a small side, it can be regarded as a square or more square prism. When the cross-sectional shape of the track is rotated by the air ejecting means (one or more) at a certain position according to the cross-sectional shape of the component, the cross-sectional shape may be formed accordingly to regulate the rotation angle. Good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pair of grooves G are formed in the component, and the rail-shaped projections engaging with the grooves are formed on the side wall of the track. However, the rail-shaped projections and the grooves are reversed, The rail-shaped protrusion may be formed on the side wall portion of the component and the groove may be formed on the side wall portion of the track. Of course, this is only one example of the engaging portion and the engaged portion between the component and the track, but as the rail-shaped protrusion, a rail-shaped protrusion having a triangular cross section is formed at one corner of the component. In this case, a groove having a triangular cross section that engages with this may be formed in the lower end portion of the track so that the attitude engaged with this is a normal attitude component. Such rail-shaped protrusions are not limited to corners, but electrodes of some electronic components and the like correspond to them.

[0048]

The present invention is carried out in the form described above, and has the following effects.

When the postures of prismatic parts with grooves are selected and discriminated, a combination of rail-shaped projections fitted in the grooves and other mechanical means is used.
In contrast to the fact that the groove is easily disengaged from the rail-shaped protrusion, the component transfer speed must be reduced, whereas the component feeding device of the present invention uses the rail-shaped protrusion to divide the component in a normal posture and a component in an irregular posture. Since the minute positional difference that occurs between them is optically distinguished, the accuracy of selection and discrimination is high, and therefore the parts can be fed at a high transfer speed of the parts.

Further, in the parts feeding apparatus of the present invention, the parts rotating in an abnormal position are moved by 90 degrees around the central axis by the attitude rotating means provided at at least one position on the upstream side of the selecting means.
Since it is rotated once, the proportion of parts in the proper posture is increased, the number of parts to be sorted out is reduced, and from this point as well, the transfer amount of the parts in the proper posture can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a part to be fed, where A is a perspective view and B is a front view.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the component feeding device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.

4 is a sectional view taken along line [4]-[4] in FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along line [5]-[5] in FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line [6]-[6] in FIG.

7 is a sectional view taken along line [7]-[7] in FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line [8]-[8] in FIG.

9 is a partially cutaway plan view of the portion shown in FIG.

10 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the portion shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a view showing the action of the posture rotation unit,
Indicates a state in which a component that is not in a proper posture is detected, and B indicates a state in which the component is rotated by jet air.

12 is a sectional view taken along line [12]-[12] in FIG.

13 is a partially cutaway plan view of the portion shown in FIG.

14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line [14]-[14] in FIG.

15 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the posture rotation unit shown in FIG. 11, in which A is before air ejection and B is at air ejection.

16 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a modified example of the sorting unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a sorting / separating portion of a component in a conventional example, where A is a sorting portion and B is a separating portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Parts feeding device 11 Drive 21 bowls 24 flat plate trucks 31 wiper 34 Rapid gate 44 Maruhi Truck 51A posture rotation unit (posture rotation means) 51B posture rotation unit (posture rotation means) 51C posture rotation unit (posture rotation means) 52 Rail-shaped protrusion 54 sorting truck 55 Side wall 56 thin plate 61 Optical sensor for discrimination 61a light emitting element 61b Light receiving element 68 Through hole (optical path for discrimination) 72 Compressed air piping (air jet source for rotating parts) 74 Air ejection hole (air ejection source for rotating parts) 75 Compressed air piping 77 Air jet nozzle 81 Optical sensor for sorting 81a light emitting element 81b Light receiving element 88 Through hole (optical path) 91 Sorting unit (sorting means) 92 Compressed air piping (sorting air ejection source) 94 Air ejection holes 104 discharge truck

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A component feeding apparatus having a spiral track for transporting a prismatic component having a long groove parallel to the transport direction on its side surface by vibration in a predetermined posture in the longitudinal direction, comprising: The sorting rail-shaped projection provided on the outer peripheral side wall and fitted in the groove of the component in the regular posture with the bottom face downward, and the posture of the component transferred on the track are the regular posture. Alternatively, a sorting optical sensor for detecting whether the posture is an improper posture in which the sorting rail-shaped projection is transferred without contacting with the sorting rail-shaped projection, and the output of the sorting optical sensor Based on the above, there is a sorting means consisting of a sorting air jet source for excluding the component in an abnormal posture from the truck by jetting air, and the truck is inclined downward toward the outer peripheral side, and The width is formed to be larger than the width of the component transferred with the longitudinal direction directed in the transfer direction, and is provided on the track on the inner peripheral side of the component transferred in the regular posture. A component feeding apparatus having a through hole that is shielded by a component that is transferred in a non-position, and a light emitting element and a light receiving element of the photosensor for sorting are arranged to face each other with the through hole interposed therebetween. . 2. A rail-shaped projection provided on an outer peripheral side wall of the track so as to fit in the groove of the component in a normal posture on the upstream side of the sorting means, and the rail-shaped projection in the groove. For determination provided on the track by the component that is not in a proper posture and is transported in contact with the rail-shaped protrusion without fitting the protrusion, and is transported on the inner peripheral side of the track rather than the component in the regular posture. An optical sensor for discrimination in which the optical path is shielded, and when the optical sensor for discrimination detects the shielding of the optical path for discrimination by the component that is not in the proper posture, the air is momentarily supplied to the component that is not in the proper posture. And a component rotation air ejection source for ejecting the component, wherein the component which is not in the proper posture is transferred in contact with the rail-shaped protrusion and is provided on the track. The other optical path is shielded, and as a result, the air ejected from the component rotation air ejection source rotates the component that is not in the proper posture by 90 degrees around a central axis parallel to the transfer direction, 2. The component feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one position rotation unit that converts the posture of the component into the component. 3. An air jet source for instantaneously jetting air to two parts, that is, an upper part of a side surface on the outer peripheral side of the part which is not in the proper posture and a lower end part on the inner peripheral side of the part. The rotation is started by the air ejected from the two places, the component not being in the regular posture,
The parts feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the parts are finally rotated by 90 degrees at substantially the same position on the track. 4. The posture rotation means is provided at three places in series, and the non-regular posture is subjected to the 90-degree rotation up to three times, and almost all of them are in the regular posture. The parts feeding device according to claim 2, which is converted into the parts. 5. The rail-shaped projection in the selecting means or the posture rotating means is partially cut off immediately upstream of the selecting optical path or the determining optical path, and then restored together with a tapered introducing portion. In the taper-shaped introduction part, the transfer direction of the part, which is not in the proper posture and is transferred in contact with the rail-shaped projection, returns from the missing part of the rail-shaped projection to the restored rail-shaped projection. The component feeding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shielding of the sorting optical path or the discrimination optical path is ensured.