JP3375838B2 - Feeding device for bottomed cylinder - 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 that aligns the directionality of a bottomed cylindrical body, and more specifically, to a supply device that has a function of aligning the bottom direction of an outer can and a separator in an automatic assembly line for cylindrical batteries.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of primary batteries and secondary batteries have been widely used as drive power sources as cordless electronic devices have been used. For example, in portable radios, so-called alkaline batteries are often used due to their versatility. By the way, in the process of manufacturing and assembling the alkaline dry batteries, it is necessary to align and supply bottomed cylindrical outer cans and separators in a certain direction to automate the manufacturing process, reduce manufacturing costs, and improve productivity for mass production. It is emphasized from the viewpoint of improving the quality and quality, and for example, the separator is supplied by the following supply device in the manufacturing process of the alkaline dry battery.

That is, the orientation (bottom direction) of the bottomed cylindrical separators is selected by the parts feeder, and the conveyors for transporting the bottomed cylindrical separators arranged in a plurality of rows arranged in the same direction are arranged and conveyed. A mini hopper that collects bottomed cylindrical separators in a row, a transfer dial that transfers from the mini hopper to the main hopper, a dial that feeds the bottomed cylindrical separator from the main hopper, and a dial next to the dial. 2. Description of the Related Art A supply device having a structure including a chute for mounting a bottomed cylindrical separator on a process dial is used in a battery production line.

[0004]

However, the above-described bottomed cylinder supply device has the following practical problems.

First of all, the ability of the parts feeder to sort the orientation of the bottomed cylindrical body is limited to about 150 pieces per minute, and further high-speed supply / conveyance is not possible, which limits productivity. . That is, since the supply speed of the separator and the like is limited, the production amount of the cylindrical alkaline dry battery per unit time is limited, and the function of the automatic production line cannot be fully utilized.

Secondly, since the transfer of the bottomed cylindrical separator to the dial in the next step is performed through the chute, it is necessary to keep the chute filled with the bottomed cylindrical separator at all times. is there. In other words, if a gap is created in the chute, the directionality of the bottomed cylindrical separator that has been supplied and accommodated is disturbed, and it becomes difficult to supply the material in the oriented state. However, in order to ensure that the inside of the chute is always filled with the bottomed cylindrical separator in the automatic production line, it is necessary to have a proper monitoring system, and it is practical from the viewpoint of cost. Absent.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and supplies mass-produced bottomed cylindrical bodies in which the bottomed cylindrical bodies can be easily or rapidly aligned in the conveying process or can be changed in direction. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0008]

According to the invention of claim 1, a plurality of inventions are provided.
And parts feeder for aligning the bottomed cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction,
A first transport path for guiding and transporting the aligned bottomed cylindrical bodies, and the first transport path are arranged in an extension direction of the first transport path, and extend along the outer periphery.
The bottomed cylinder in the accommodating portion that is recessed in the direction of the rotation axis.
Accommodating the body, a first dial arranged in the horizontal direction to transfer to the hopper, provided continuously in the hopper, along the outer periphery
The bottomed cylindrical body in the accommodating portion that is recessed in the rotation axis direction.
A second dial that accommodates movably in the direction of the rotation axis ,
Is disposed on an extension of the accommodating portion of the second dial,
The bottom of the bottomed cylinder housed in the housing of the second dial
By pressing the bottomed cylindrical body according to the orientation of the bottom
The first position or the second position in the accommodation portion of the second dial
The plunger for moving to the position, and the first and the first
Receive the bottomed cylinder at position 2 from the second dial.
The first and second bottomed cylindrical holders, and the first and second bottom holders .
And the bottomed cylindrical body held by the second bottomed cylindrical holder
A second transport path for transport, and transport by the second transport path
In the process, the bottomed cylindrical body held by the first bottomed cylindrical holder
The cylinder is erected on the side of the second bottomed cylinder holder, and the second
The bottomed cylindrical body held by the bottomed cylindrical body holder is a first bottomed circle.
Standing with a bottomed cylinder that stands up and orients on the side of the cylinder holder
Means and the second is conveyed by the conveying path upright oriented been bottomed cylindrical body third transport path and feeder of the bottomed cylindrical body, characterized in that it comprises a for transferring and conveying the Is. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the bottomed cylindrical body supply device according to the first aspect, the third conveyance path has a bottomed cylindrical body transfer / conveyance function corresponding to the daul pitch of the next step. To do.

In the present invention, examples of the bottomed cylindrical body include a cylindrical battery outer can (battery outer case), a cylindrical separator, and the like, but a bottomed cylindrical body other than these battery members is also a target. . Further, the number of the first transport path may be single or plural, and further, the hopper is an array of the bottomed cylinders assembled by the mini hopper and the mini-wapper for collecting the bottomed cylinders for each first transport path. High-speed supply can be performed more stably by adopting a composite structure with the main hopper to be housed.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the main structure of a bottomed cylindrical body supply device of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a part thereof. 1 and 2, 1 is a part feeder for arranging a bottomed cylindrical body 2 (for example, a cylindrical battery separator) in a plurality of rows in a longitudinal direction, and 3 is a guide for the aligned plurality of rows of battery separators 2. The first transport path 4 for transporting is arranged in the extension direction of the first transport path 2,
It is a first dial that transfers the battery separator 2 to the hopper 5 and arranges it in the horizontal direction.

Further, 6 is a second dial which is continuously provided at the lower end of the hopper 5 and sequentially selects the bottom side of the transferred / stored battery separator 2, and 7 is the bottom side of the battery separator 2. In response to the selection, the second transport path 8 has a function of aligning the bottom side of the battery separator 2 in a predetermined direction to stand up, and transporting in a standing state, and 8 conveys the second transport path 7. Stand-up oriented battery separator 2
Is a third transport path for transferring and transporting to and from the supply dial 9. Here, the hopper 5 is formed of a mini hopper 5a and a main hopper 5b.

More specifically, the parts feeder 1 is a general one for supplying a cylindrical separator for a battery, for example, and normally the battery separators 2 are arranged in a plurality of rows to form a first conveying path. 3 is transferred to the mini hopper 5a through the first transfer path 3 in the aligned state. And the battery separator 2 assembled in the mini hopper 5a
As shown in FIG. 3 (a) is a front view and FIG. 3 (b) is a side view, the guide block 10, the cylinder 11 and the sensor 12 are arranged in, for example, two rows so as to be arranged in the mini hopper 5a. It is stored in the storage space 13 and is transferred to the main hopper 5b while being arranged in the horizontal direction by the rotation of the first dial 4. In addition, in the storage space 13 in the main hopper 5b, the bridge of the battery separator 2 stored near the second dial 6 is destroyed,
It has a plurality of polygonal agitators 15 driven by 14. Further, the second dial 6 feeds the battery separator 2 from the lower side of the main hopper 5b so that the battery separator 2 does not take a vertical direction in the main hopper 5b.

The second dial 6 is connected to the lower end of the main hopper 5b as shown in the outline of FIG. 4, and in the course of carrying the transferred and stored battery separator 2. Sort sequentially. That is, the battery separator 2 supplied / carried by the second dial 6 is the blanker 17 mounted on the holder 16 arranged so as to face the second dial 6.
Is pressed by. At this time, depending on whether the bottom side or the opening side of the battery separator 2 faces the tip of the blanker 17, the position of the battery separator 2 pressed by the blanker 17 is determined by the second dial 6. To the left of 2a,
Or it becomes 2b to the right. In this state, the second dial 6 rotates and is delivered to one of the separator holders 18 and 19 mounted on the second transport path 7. In other words, depending on whether the bottom of the battery separator 2 is the left side 2a or the right side 2b,
The battery separator 2 is transferred to the separator holder 18 or the separator holder 19 and is erected by the holder raising guides 20 and 21 in the course of being conveyed by the second conveying path 7.

FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show a holder raising guide 20,
21 is a side view showing a state before and after the separator holders 18 and 19 are raised by 21. FIG. Here, the battery separator 2 whose direction is selected is the separator holder 18 or 19
Is held by one of the
By the pin 21, the pin 22 serves as a fulcrum to stand up, and the battery separator 2 stands up while being supported by the pressing guide 23. Then, the battery guide 2 is supported by the receiving guide 24 that rises in conjunction with the rise of the battery separator 2 and holds the upright state. In addition,
The retainer 19 is mounted to the second conveyance path 7 side via the bracket.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a mechanism for transferring the upright-oriented battery separator 2 transported on the second transport path 7 to the third transport path 8. Battery separator 2 oriented on the surface of the second transport path 7
For example, when the pitch is widened and transferred to the third transport path 8, the battery guide separator 2 is pushed up by the receiving guide 24, while the holder 18 is returned to the horizontal state by the holder raising guide 20 and the battery holder The separator 2 is transferred to the holder 26 of the third transport path 8. Here, the holder 26 is
The guide 27, the roller 28 attached to the holder 26, and the receiving guide 29 are configured to hold and convey the vertical state. In addition, in FIG. 6, 7a and 7b are rails for the second conveyance path 7.

Further, in FIG. 7, the battery separator 2 which is oriented and held is transferred from the second transport path 7 to the third dial (supply dial) 9 corresponding to the dial pitch of the next process. It is a top view which shows the structure when doing. The battery separator 2 oriented and held in the second transport path 7 is transferred to the third transport path 8 with the holder 26 driven by the sprocket 30, and is held by the pressing guide 27 and the receiving guide.
Support with 29 and hand over to third dial 9. FIG. 8 shows that the battery separator 2 oriented and held in the third transport path 7 is supported by the pressing guides 31, 32, 33, but the position where the third transport path 8 meshes with the sprocket 30. Then, the battery separator 2 held by the holder 26 changes from linear movement to circular movement. At this time, if the radius between the center of the sprocket 31 and the center of the battery separator 2 held by the holder 26 is set to be the same as the radius of the third dial 9, the battery separator 2 can be smoothly moved. Transferred to the third dial 9.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the bottomed cylindrical body is not limited to a bottomed cylindrical battery separator, and may be a bottomed cylindrical battery outer can or other general bottomed cylindrical container to be transported. can do. Further, the mini hopper and the hopper (main hopper) are properly used, and both may not be provided.

[0019]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a bottomed cylindrical body such as a battery separator can be aligned and aligned in a desired direction and can be conveyed and supplied at high speed and reliably. It greatly contributes to the productivity and yield improvement of the battery.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the main configuration of a supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a part of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the first dial portion mechanism of FIG. 1, (a)
Is a front view and (b) is a side view. Side view.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the second dial portion mechanism of FIG.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are enlarged side views of the main configuration of the second conveyance path in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a mechanism for transferring a bottomed cylindrical body from the second transport path of FIG. 1 to the third transport path.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a mechanism for transferring a bottomed cylindrical body from the third conveyance path of FIG. 1 to a supply dial.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a mechanism for transferring a bottomed cylindrical body from the third conveyance path of FIG. 1 to a supply dial in correspondence with the pitch of the next step.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Parts feeder 2 ... Bottomed cylindrical body 3 ... the first transport path 4 …… First dial 5 ... Hopper 5a ... Mini hopper 5b ... Main hopper 6 ... second dial 7 ... Second transport path 8: Third transport path 9 ... Supply dial

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 47/00-47/32

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A parts feeder for aligning a plurality of bottomed cylinders in a longitudinal direction, a first transport path for guiding and transporting the aligned bottomed cylinders, and an extension direction of the first transport path. Placed along the perimeter
The bottomed cylindrical body is placed in the accommodating portion that is recessed in the direction of the rotation axis.
A first dial, which is housed, transferred to a hopper, and arranged in a horizontal direction, is connected to the hopper, and is duplicated in the rotation axis direction along the outer circumference.
The bottomed cylindrical body was moved in the direction of the rotation axis
A second dial movably accommodated and an extension of the accommodation portion of the second dial,
The bottom of the bottomed cylinder housed in the housing of the second dial
By pressing the bottomed cylindrical body according to the orientation of the bottom
The first position or the second position in the accommodation portion of the second dial
The plunger for moving to the position and the bottomed cylindrical body in the first and second positions
Holding first and second bottomed cylindrical bodies received from the dial
And a tool held by the first and second bottomed cylindrical holders.
A second transport path for transporting the bottom cylindrical body, and a first bottomed floor in the transport process by the second transport path.
The bottomed cylindrical body held by the cylindrical body holder is a second bottomed cylindrical body.
Stand up to the holder side and the second bottomed cylindrical holder holds it.
The bottomed cylindrical body on the side of the first bottomed cylindrical holder
A bottomed cylindrical body erected means for directing, and characterized in that it comprises a third transport path for transferring and conveying the bottomed cylindrical body which is conveyed directed standing by the second conveying path Supply device for bottomed cylindrical body. 2. The bottomed cylindrical body supply device according to claim 1, wherein the third transportation path has a function of transferring and transporting the bottomed cylindrical body corresponding to the dial pitch of the next step.