JP4113400B2 - Method and apparatus for aligning and conveying cylindrical bodies - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for aligning and transporting cylindrical bodies having protrusions on a peripheral surface, and more specifically, a method for aligning and transporting cylindrical bodies in which the projecting portions of the cylindrical body are transported while being aligned in a fixed orientation. And device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a photographic film cartridge as a cylindrical body has a configuration in which a spool is inserted into a body portion and a pair of caps are fitted on both sides of the body portion, and its outline has a cylindrical shape, and its peripheral surface. It has the shape which has the film delivery port protruded outward from. In a photographic film cartridge manufacturing plant, when assembling the photographic film cartridge with an automatic machine, it is necessary to supply the parts aligned in a certain posture.
[0003]
At that time, in order to align the cartridges in a fixed posture, the alignment device aligns the cartridges in a fixed posture so that the film delivery port is in a fixed direction while transporting the cartridges in a vertical posture with the spool shaft aligned in the vertical direction. Has been proposed.
[0004]
This aligning device is composed of two conveying conveyors having different conveying speeds and a pair of guide plates for guiding the peripheral surfaces of the cartridges conveyed by these conveying conveyors from both sides. The pair of guide plates are arranged at an interval for swallowing the cartridge. The two conveyors are arranged at a gap. The cartridges are supplied in a vertical position between a pair of guide plates. The cartridge is placed with the bottom surface straddling the two conveyors, and is conveyed in the conveying direction while rotating in one direction due to the speed difference between the conveyors. In the cartridge, the film delivery port comes into contact with one guide plate and the rotation is received, and the film delivery port is aligned in a certain direction (see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-82196 (paragraphs [0011] and [0012])
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the film delivery port protrudes outward from the contour of the peripheral surface of the cartridge, and in the alignment device of Patent Document 1 described above, a pair of guide plates are arranged at an interval sandwiching the cartridge peripheral surface from both sides. Therefore, when the film delivery port hits one of the guide plates, the cartridge does not rotate further, that is, 180 degrees or more. Therefore, in this aligning apparatus, the patrone must be supplied in a form in which the film delivery ports are generally aligned in a desired direction in the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction. For this reason, there is a problem that a separate device for pre-installing the cartridges is required, resulting in an increase in cost. In addition, since the two devices of the aligning device and the pre-aligned device are installed, the entire aligning device becomes large, and there is a drawback that it is difficult to adopt from the viewpoint of the installation space.
[0007]
In order to overcome the above problems, the present applicant has proposed a method and an apparatus for aligning patrone described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-62508. In this cartridge alignment apparatus, the cartridge is placed across two plates that are slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and each plate is vibrated at a different frequency or amplitude. A reference guide member is disposed on the valley side of these plates, and the peripheral surface of the cartridge is brought into contact with the reference guide member. While the cartridges are rotated counterclockwise due to vibrations of different frequencies or amplitudes on each plate, the film delivery port contacts the reference guide member and the rotation is received, and the cartridges are conveyed in a posture oriented in a certain direction. Like to do. In this cartridge aligning apparatus, an apparatus for aligning the cartridges in advance is unnecessary, and space saving of the entire aligning apparatus can be achieved.
[0008]
The present invention was made in connection with the invention of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-62508, and is an alignment of cylinders that can be transported by aligning the cylinders in a posture oriented in a certain direction more reliably. It is an object to provide a transport method and apparatus.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The columnar alignment and transport method according to the present invention extends in parallel with the transport direction. And it inclines in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. A cylindrical body having a projecting portion on the peripheral surface is placed in a vertical posture so as to straddle the two plates, and vibrations having different feeding speeds are applied to the two plates, respectively, and the cylindrical body is predetermined on the two plates. While transporting in the transport direction while rotating in the direction of Provided on the lower side in the inclination direction of the two plates By bringing the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body into contact with a reference guide member, the reference guide member receives the rotation of the cylindrical body by the protruding portion, and the cylindrical body is placed in a posture in which the protruding portion is aligned in a certain direction. A method of aligning and transporting cylindrical bodies including a step of guiding, wherein the cylindrical body is once separated from the reference guide member in the course of transportation in a state where the cylindrical body is in contact with the reference guide member, and then the reference body When the projection part of the cylindrical body abuts on the guide member again, the reference guide member receives the rotation of the cylindrical body again and aligns the projection part in a certain direction (Invention of Claim 1). .
[0010]
According to the method of aligning and transporting cylindrical bodies according to the present invention, the cylindrical body is placed on two plates to which vibrations with different frequencies or amplitudes are applied so that the cylindrical body straddles each plate in a vertical posture. The cylindrical body is given a rotational force in a predetermined direction as well as a propelling force in the conveying direction by different frequencies or amplitudes. By repeatedly applying such vibration, the cylindrical body is transported in the transport direction while rotating in a predetermined direction. The cylindrical body is urged so that its peripheral surface comes into contact with the reference guide member, and receives the rotation of the cylindrical body when the protruding portion of the cylindrical body comes into contact with the reference guide member. The protrusions are aligned in a certain orientation. In addition, even when a cylindrical body having a protruding portion in a direction different from the desired fixed direction is generated, the cylindrical body is once separated from the reference guide member and rotated again in a predetermined direction. It is possible to align the posture of the cylindrical body again with the protruding portion abutting against the reference guide member, and it is possible to more reliably align the cylindrical body in a posture in which the protruding portion faces in a certain direction.
[0013]
In addition, the cylindrical body aligning and conveying apparatus according to the present invention has a columnar body that extends in parallel with the conveying direction, has an inclination in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and has a protruding portion on the circumferential surface. Two plates placed so as to straddle with each other, a vibration generator that conveys in the conveying direction while rotating the columnar body in a predetermined direction by applying vibrations with different feeding speeds to the respective plates, By being provided on the lower side in the inclination direction of the two plates, It is arranged so as to contact the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, receives the rotation of the cylindrical body by the contact of the protruding part, and conveys the cylindrical body while keeping the protruding part aligned in a certain direction. A cylindrical body aligning and conveying apparatus comprising a posture alignment unit including a reference guide member that guides in a direction, wherein the posture alignment unit is configured to transfer the cylindrical body by the reference guide member while the cylindrical body is being transported. It has a protrusion part which protrudes toward the said cylindrical body side from the guide surface by a guide member (invention of Claim 4), It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0014]
According to the columnar alignment and transport apparatus of the present invention, the two plates extend parallel to the transport direction and have an inclination in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and have different frequencies or amplitudes depending on the vibration generator. The cylinders are placed in a vertical posture so as to straddle these plates. Due to the different frequency or amplitude between the plates, the cylindrical body is given a rotational force in a predetermined direction as well as a propelling force in the conveying direction. By repeatedly applying such vibration, the cylindrical body is transported in the transport direction while rotating in a predetermined direction. The peripheral surface of the cylindrical body is in contact with the reference guide member, and receives the rotation of the cylindrical body when the protruding portion contacts the reference guide member. Thereby, the cylindrical body is aligned in a posture in which the protruding portion is oriented in a certain direction. In addition, even when a cylindrical body having a protruding portion in a direction different from a desired fixed direction is generated, the cylindrical body is once separated from the reference guide member by the protruding portion and is rotated again in a predetermined direction. Therefore, it becomes possible to align the cylindrical body again with the protruding portion abutting against the reference guide member, and it is possible to more reliably align the cylindrical body with the protruding portion facing in a certain direction.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With regard to the method for aligning and conveying cylindrical bodies according to the present invention, preferred embodiments will be given in relation to an apparatus for carrying out the method and a photographic film cartridge manufacturing apparatus applied to the apparatus, and refer to the attached drawings. However, this will be described in detail below.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a photographic film cartridge 10.
[0019]
The photographic film cartridge 10 includes a pair of caps 12 and 14, a body (cylindrical body) 16, a spool 18, and a photographic film piece 20 in which a perforation 20 a is formed. The photographic film piece 20 has a length corresponding to a predetermined number of shots from a long continuous photographic film, and one end thereof is engaged with the shaft 18 a of the spool 18.
[0020]
The spool 18 is housed in the body portion 16 in the axial direction and is rotatably held by a pair of caps 12 and 14 fitted to both ends of the body portion 16. The spool 18 is formed from a plastic material, and the body 16 and the caps 12 and 14 are formed from a thin plate-like iron-based material.
[0021]
The body part 16 has a film delivery port (projection part) 22 formed by rounding a rectangular thin plate and bending both ends in a tangential direction of a contour circle. On the inner wall of the film delivery port 22, internal light shielding telems 22 a and 22 b are attached to face each other.
[0022]
Openings 12a and 14a and grooves 12b and 14b are formed in the caps 12 and 14, respectively. The openings 12a and 14a are for exposing both ends of the shaft 18a of the spool 18 to the outside, and the grooves 12b and 14b are inserted into the side edges 16a and 16b of the trunk portion 16, respectively. It is fixed by.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an apparatus for manufacturing the photographic film cartridge 10.
[0024]
In this manufacturing apparatus, the continuous photographic film is sequentially sent to the trimmer 26 after the perforation 20a is punched by the intermittent punching device 24. The photographic film piece 20 cut by the trimmer 26 into a length corresponding to the prescribed number of shots is sent to the film take-up device 28. In the film winding device 28, the photographic film piece 20 is wound on the spool 18 to be supplied. The spool 18 on which the photographic film piece 20 is wound is sent to the cartridge assembly apparatus 30.
[0025]
In the one-side cap assembling device 32, one cap 12 is fixed to the body portion 16 by caulking, formed into a single-open cartridge (cylindrical body) 34, and supplied to the cartridge aligning and conveying device 40. In addition, the barrel portion 16 is attached to both ends of a plate cut out in a developed shape, and then the film 16 is rounded by bending to form the film delivery port 22, and then the one-side cap assembling device 32. To be supplied.
[0026]
In the cartridge aligning / conveying apparatus 40, the single-open cartridges 34 are aligned in a line and aligned in a fixed posture, and are conveyed toward the cartridge assembling apparatus 30.
[0027]
In the cartridge assembling apparatus 30, the spool 18 on which the photographic film piece 20 is wound is inserted into the single-open cartridge 34, and the other cap 14 is fixed by caulking to obtain the photographic film cartridge 10.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 3, a cartridge aligning / conveying device (hereinafter simply referred to as an aligning / conveying device) 40 according to the present embodiment includes a one-row supply unit 42, a posture aligning unit 44, and a posture holding / conveying unit 46. Are connected in series.
[0029]
The one-line supply unit 42 sends out the single-open cartridge 34 in a single row in a vertical posture. The one-line supply unit 42 includes a tray-like hopper unit 48 and a one-line delivery unit 50 connected to the hopper unit 48. A plurality of single-open cartridges 34 are supplied to the hopper 48 by the transfer device 52. The transfer machine 52 is provided with a chuck 54 incorporating an electromagnet, and holds a plurality of single-open cartridges 34 in a posture in which the cap 12 is placed in a line by a magnetic force. The hopper 48 is provided with a sensor (not shown), and detects the supply amount of the one-sided cartridge 34. A signal derived from the sensor is taken in by a monitoring control unit (not shown), and the monitoring control unit controls the operation of the transfer machine 52 in response to the signal derived from the sensor.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 4, two vibration generators 56 and 58 are attached below the bottom surface 48 a of the hopper portion 48. These vibration generators 56 and 58 vibrate the bottom surface 48a of the hopper 48 in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the one-line delivery unit 50 (the direction of the arrow X), and the single-open cartridge placed on the bottom surface 48a. 34 are gathered toward the one-line delivery unit 50.
[0031]
The single-row delivery unit 50 includes a single-row delivery plate 50a, a receiving plate 50b, a frontage 50c, and a vibration generator 60. The one-line delivery plate 50 a has a shape that extends in the conveying direction with a width that allows one of the single-open cartridges 34 to be placed, and matches the longitudinal direction thereof to the direction orthogonal to the vibration direction of the hopper 48. Placed horizontally.
[0032]
The receiving plate 50b is erected at the end of the one-line delivery plate 50a so as to receive the single-open cartridge 34 assembled from the hopper portion 48. The single-open cartridge 34 is received by the receiving plate 50b and placed on the one-line delivery plate 50a.
[0033]
A vibration generator 60 is attached below the one-row delivery plate 50a. The vibration generator 60 vibrates the one-line delivery plate 50a in the conveyance direction, and conveys the placed single-open cartridge 34 toward the front opening 50c. The front opening 50c is provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the one-line delivery plate 50a, and is formed at an interval through which one piece of the open cartridge 34 can pass.
[0034]
The hopper portion 48 on the front side of the front opening 50c is given a rotational force to avoid the state where the single-open cartridges 34 are clogged in a bridge shape, for example, and the single-open cartridge 34 is directed to the front opening 50c. Rotation urging means 62 is provided. The rotation urging means 62 includes a rotary brush 64 that contacts the peripheral surface of the single-open cartridge 34 on the front side of the front opening 50c, and a motor 66 that is coupled via a rotary shaft to drive the rotary brush 64 to rotate. And a stay 68 to which the motor 66 is fixed.
[0035]
The rotating brush 64 is made of, for example, nylon (polyamide synthetic resin) or the like. The stay 68 is fixed to the side wall 48b in the vicinity of the opening 50c in the hopper 48, and the fixing position thereof can be adjusted by an adjusting mechanism (not shown). By adjusting the fixing position of the stay 68 by this adjusting mechanism, the rotational position of the front side of the opening 50c of the rotary brush 64 is adjusted. This fixing position may be adjusted as appropriate in view of the clogged state between the single-open cartridges 34 and the delivery state to the opening 50c of the single-open cartridge 34.
[0036]
The rotation direction of the rotary brush 64 can be arbitrarily set, but in the present embodiment, it is better when the one-open cartridge 34 is sent out (arrow Y direction in FIG. 4). The result is obtained. Further, the receiving plate 50b is formed with an opening 50d at a position facing the rotary brush 64 and the front opening 50c, and is used for discharging the single-open cartridge 34 conveyed in a collapsed state to the outside of the one-line delivery plate 50a. Is. The opening 50d is formed in such a size that the vertically opened single-open cartridge 34 does not pass through.
[0037]
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the posture alignment unit 44 includes two plates 70 and 72, a pair of guide members 74 and 76, a pair of vibration generators 78 and 80, and a pair of inclined holding units 82. , 84.
[0038]
Each of the plates 70 and 72 has a horizontally long rectangular shape, and is arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction in a direction in which the longitudinal direction matches the transport direction. The pair of guide members 74 and 76 has a rod shape extending along the conveying direction, and each of the guide members 74 and 76 via frames 88a and 88b formed from equilateral chevron steel or non-equilateral chevron steel supported by a plurality of columns 86. Attached above the plates 70 and 72, respectively.
[0039]
Each of the plates 70 and 72 is supported by the inclination holding portions 82 and 84 via the vibration generators 78 and 80 in a posture in which the conveyance surface is inclined. As shown in FIG. 6, the inclined holding portions 82 and 84 are configured such that the single-open cartridge 34 slides toward the guide members 74 a and 74 b (hereinafter, the guide members 74 a and 74 b are collectively referred to as a reference guide member 74). It has an inclination such that the peripheral surface of the single-open cartridge 34 comes into contact therewith.
[0040]
The reference guide member 74 and the guide member 76 constitute a guide passage that guides with a predetermined gap with respect to the longitudinally opened single-open cartridge 34. The reference guide member 74 and the guide member 76 have an interval at which the film delivery port 22 does not contact the guide member 76, that is, an interval at which the single-open cartridge 34 can rotate 180 degrees or more.
[0041]
The single-open cartridge 34 that is in contact with the reference guide member 74 is conveyed with its bottom surface, that is, the cap 12 side straddling the plates 70 and 72.
[0042]
The vibration generators 78 and 80 vibrate the plates 70 and 72. As shown in FIG. 7 in detail, the vibrations of the vibration generators 78 and 80 are obtained by combining the component force A in the conveying direction and the component force B in the vertical direction with respect to the surfaces of the plates 70 and 72. Direction. Each of the plates 70 and 72 is swung along the direction of the resultant force C. Each of the component forces A and B described above makes the component force A in the transport direction stronger than the component force B in the vertical direction in order to send the single-open cartridge 34 in the transport direction. Furthermore, in order to rotate the single-open cartridge 34 in one direction, the frequency or amplitude of the pair of vibration generators 78 and 80 is differentiated.
[0043]
For example, in order to make a difference in the frequency, the plate 70 is vibrated twice for one vibration of the plate 72. In order to make a difference in amplitude, the amplitude of the plate 70 is increased with respect to the plate 72. The same effect can be obtained even if the strength of the springs (not shown) incorporated in the vibration generators 78 and 80 is made different.
[0044]
The plates 70 and 72 are arranged with a slight gap so that mutual vibrations do not interfere with each other. In addition, since the plates 70 and 72 in the posture alignment unit 44 are inclined, a step is generated in a connection portion between the one-row supply unit 42 and the posture holding / conveying unit 46 connected to the front and rear thereof. This step may cause the single-open cartridge 34 to fall sideways, but in this embodiment, the inclination of the plates 70 and 72 is set to about 7 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane to reduce the occurrence of such inconvenience. Like to do.
[0045]
By the way, on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the posture alignment unit 44, the film delivery port 22 of the one-sided cartridge 34 is not aligned in a desired fixed direction under the guide of the reference guide member 74. For example, in FIG. Inconvenience may occur that the sheet is conveyed in the posture shown by the reference numeral 34b. In order to avoid the occurrence of this inconvenience as much as possible, in the present embodiment, on the plate 70 in the course of conveyance of the single-open cartridge 34, the guide surface by the reference guide member 74 is directed toward the single-open cartridge 34 side. A protruding portion 90 that protrudes is provided.
[0046]
The projecting portion 90 includes a projecting plate 92, a roller 94 rotatably supported by the projecting plate 92 via a bearing (not shown), and a clamp 98 that holds the projecting plate 92 and is fastened and fixed to the plate 70 by a bolt 96. It consists of. As can be easily understood from FIG. 6, the protrusion plate 92 can adjust the protrusion margin T with respect to the reference guide member 74 toward the single-open cartridge 34. The protrusion allowance T is preferably about 1 to 3 [mm].
[0047]
In this embodiment, the case where the roller 94 that is rotatably supported by the protruding plate 92 of the protruding portion 90 is used as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the single-open cartridge 34 is damaged. Of course, anything can be used as long as it can be once separated from the reference guide member 74 without giving it. Moreover, although the protrusion direction of the protrusion part 90 has illustrated the case where it installed in the direction substantially orthogonal with respect to a conveyance direction, you may install this protrusion direction in arbitrary angles with respect to a conveyance direction.
[0048]
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the posture maintaining and conveying unit 46 arranges two conveyors 100 and 102 in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and makes a difference in the speed of each conveyor 100 and 102. The single-open cartridge 34 is conveyed while being held in a fixed posture. The conveyor surfaces of the conveyors 100 and 102 are horizontally arranged, and are conveyed with the cap 12 side, which is the bottom surface side of the single-open cartridge 34, straddling between the conveyors 100 and 102.
[0049]
Further, in the posture holding and conveying unit 46, a reference guide presser (reference guide member) 104 and an auxiliary guide presser (auxiliary guide member) 106 are formed from an equal side chevron or an unequal side chevron supported by a plurality of columns 108. It is attached above each conveyor 100, 102 via frames 110a, 110b.
[0050]
The reference guide presser 104 guides the single-open cartridge 34 at the same position as the reference guide member 74 of the posture alignment unit 44. The single-open cartridge 34 is transported in a state in which the film delivery port 22 contacts the reference guide presser 104 and the rotation is stopped. The reference guide presser 104 includes a reference guide presser piece 104a in a range corresponding to a discharge unit 136 described later. The reference guide holding piece 104a is separated from the other reference guide holding pieces 104, and is supported by a guide raising / lowering section 137, which will be described later, so as to be raised and lowered.
[0051]
The auxiliary guide presser 106 is disposed opposite to the reference guide presser 104 and abuts and presses so as to sandwich the one-open cartridge 34 so that the film delivery port 22 does not rotate against the restriction by the reference guide presser 104. Yes. The reference guide holder 104 and the auxiliary guide holder 106 constitute a guide passage that guides the one-sided cartridge 34 only in the conveying direction.
[0052]
In the posture holding conveyance unit 46, when the single-open cartridge 34 is pressed in a line on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, the single-open cartridge 34 does not fall down or tilt. A fall-preventing auxiliary plate 112 that guides the single-open cartridge 34 so as to be pressed from the upper surface is provided. Further, on the frame 110a on the downstream side in the transport direction, the single-open cartridges 34 arranged in a line in the above-mentioned one line, particularly the single-open cartridge 34 on the downstream rear end in the transport direction, face away from the transport direction. A rod-shaped magnet (magnetic force generating means) 113 is provided so as not to fall or tilt.
[0053]
The fall prevention auxiliary plate 112 is supported by the support column 108a from the auxiliary guide presser 106 side, and extends along the conveyance direction. As shown in FIG. 11, the fall-preventing auxiliary plate 112 has a front end portion 112a bent downward along the transport direction. Here, a step 22d is partially formed on the side edge 16a of the body portion 16, and the telems 22a and 22b protrude from the film delivery port 22 in the spool axial direction.
[0054]
The tip end portion 112a of the fall-preventing auxiliary plate 112 enters between the protruding telems 22a and 22b, and engages with the upper surface of the single-open cartridge 34 so as to hook the step 22d from the outside. As a result, the single-open cartridge 34 is allowed to move in the transport direction while being prevented from rotating counterclockwise.
[0055]
As can be easily understood from FIGS. 10 and 12, the magnet 113 is attached to the frame 110 a along the reference guide holder 104 and at a predetermined interval from the reference guide holder 104. This interval can be adjusted by an adjusting mechanism including a bolt (not shown).
[0056]
The reference guide holder 104, the frame 110a, and the like are made of a non-magnetic material or a weak magnetic material (for example, aluminum, stainless steel, etc.), so that the conveyance of the single-open cartridge 34 is blocked by the magnetic force of the magnet 113. There is nothing.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 10, the belts 100 a and 102 a used for the two conveyors 100 and 102 are a driving pulley attached to a shaft of a driving pulley 114, a return pulley 116, two intermediate pulleys 118 and 120, and a motor 122. 124 are respectively engaged.
[0058]
The driving pulley 124 includes a small pulley 126 and a large pulley 128 having a larger diameter than the small pulley 126 in order to make a difference in speed between the conveyors 100 and 102, and one belt 102 a is attached to the small pulley 126. The other belt 100a is engaged with the large pulley 128, respectively. The motor 122 is driven and controlled in response to a command from the control unit 134 by a command from the driver 122a that is a drive circuit unit.
[0059]
As shown in FIG. 12, in the present embodiment, the belt 100a is engaged with the large pulley 128 in order to increase the speed of the belt 100a on the reference guide presser 104 side as compared with the speed of the belt 102a. 102 a is engaged with the small pulley 126. As a result, a counterclockwise rotational force is applied to the single-open cartridge 34. Thus, since it becomes possible to apply a rotational force to the single-open cartridge 34 with only a single motor 122 without using an individual motor, cost reduction can be achieved. Each belt 100a, 102a is arranged with a slight gap.
[0060]
The posture holding and conveying unit 46 includes a side-down detection unit 130 and a reverse-position detection unit 132 that detect the one-sided patrone 34 lying down on the upstream side in the conveyance direction and the one in the reverse posture with the cap 12 facing upward. Is placed.
[0061]
The side-fall detection unit 130 includes a pair of transmission type photoelectric sensors 130a and 130b arranged to face each other in the width direction of the conveyors 100 and 102. These photoelectric sensors 130a and 130b detect whether or not the side-opening cartridge 34 is lying down due to the difference in height. The reverse posture detection unit 132 detects whether or not the cap 12 is on the upper side of the single-open cartridge 34 by a proximity sensor 132a disposed above the conveyors 100 and 102 in a non-contact manner. Signals derived from the detection units 130 and 132 are sent to the control unit 134, and the control unit 134 issues a command in response to the signals.
[0062]
The discharge unit 136 includes a guide elevating unit 137, an air nozzle 138, an on-off valve driving unit 140, a compressor 142, a tray 144, and the like.
[0063]
The guide elevating unit 137 includes an elevating plate 137a that supports the reference guide holding piece 104a so as to be movable up and down, an air cylinder 137b that moves the elevating plate 137a up and down, and a cylinder driving unit 137c that includes an electromagnetic valve that drives the air cylinder 137b. Is provided. The cylinder driving unit 137c controls driving of the air cylinder 137b in response to a command from the control unit 134. The guide elevating part 137 is supported by the support frame 139.
[0064]
The compressor 142 sends compressed air to the air nozzle 138 and the air cylinder 137b. The air nozzle 138 has a built-in opening / closing valve, and the opening / closing valve is opened / closed by driving the opening / closing valve driving unit 140. The on-off valve driving unit 140 controls the on-off operation of the on-off valve in response to a command from the control unit 134.
[0065]
The guide elevating part 137 and the air nozzle 138 are arranged downstream in the transport direction with respect to the detection parts 130 and 132, and after the reference guide holding piece 104a is raised by the guide elevating part 137, air is injected from the air nozzle 138. As a result, the single-open cartridge 34 such as a side-down or reverse posture is discharged from the posture holding and conveying unit 46 in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction.
[0066]
The tray 144 is disposed to face the air nozzle 138 with the conveyors 100 and 102 interposed therebetween, and receives the single-open cartridge 34 to be discharged. Discharge detection sensors 136a and 136b for detecting that the single-open cartridge 34 has been discharged are attached to the tray 144. When the discharge detection sensors 136a and 136b detect the discharged single-open cartridge 34, the control unit 134 notifies the operator by displaying the sound on the display 146 with light or light.
[0067]
The cartridge aligning / conveying apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment is basically configured as described above. Next, the operation and effects thereof will be described below in relation to the cartridge aligning / conveying method. explain. It should be noted that the same components as those of the photographic film cartridge 10 and the aligning / conveying device 40 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0068]
In the one-side cap assembling apparatus 32, the one-sided cartridge 34 in which the cap 12 is fixed to the body portion 16 by caulking is accumulated in a tray (not shown) in a vertical posture with the cap 12 side facing downward. The single-open cartridges 34 conveyed through the tray are transferred by a transfer unit 52 in units of one row.
[0069]
The hopper part 48 of the one-line supply part 42 as a pre-process is vibrated in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction by two vibration generators 56 and 58 (in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 4) and transferred. The single-open cartridge 34 is assembled toward the receiving plate 50b. The receiving plate 50b and the one-row delivery plate 50a are vibrated in the transport direction by the vibration generator 60. The single-open cartridge 34 received by the receiving plate 50b and placed on the one-line delivery plate 50a is conveyed in a row toward the opening 50c.
[0070]
In front of the front opening 50c, the single-open cartridge 34 is sent to the front opening 50c one by one by the rotating brush 64 of the rotation biasing means 62, so that the clogging of the single-open cartridge 34 in the front opening 50c can be avoided. The single-open cartridge 34 that has fallen sideways in the hopper 48 is discharged out of the one-line delivery plate 50a through an opening 50d formed in the receiving plate 50b. On the other hand, the vertically opened single-open cartridge 34 does not pass through the opening 50d.
[0071]
The single-open cartridge 34 that has passed through the front opening 50c is sent to the posture alignment unit 44 in a single row in a vertical posture with the cap 12 side down. Since the two plates 70 and 72 are inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, the single-open cartridge 34 sent to the posture alignment unit 44 slides toward the reference guide member 74, and the peripheral surface of the single-open cartridge 34. Comes into contact with the reference guide member 74. At this time, the cap 12 is placed across the plates 70 and 72, respectively. Each plate 70, 72 is vibrated with a different frequency or amplitude of each vibration generator 78, 80.
[0072]
As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the single-open cartridge 34 is fed in the transport direction while rotating counterclockwise, and finally the film delivery port 22 abuts on the reference guide member 74 to stop the rotation. The postures are aligned in a certain direction (see the state of reference numeral 34a in FIG. 8). In addition, the single-open cartridge 34 in the posture shown by reference numeral 34b in FIG. 8 is also once separated from the reference guide member 74 by the projecting portion 90 and rotated again counterclockwise, so that the film delivery port 22 is The rotation is stopped by coming into contact with the reference guide member 74, and it is possible to align the posture again in a certain direction.
[0073]
Further, the posture alignment unit 44 can change the feed speed of the one-sided cartridge 34 by applying vibrations having different frequencies or amplitudes to the plates 70 and 72. In this case, the two conveyors described in Patent Document 1 may be used.
[0074]
However, when the transport conveyor is used as in Patent Document 1, the single-open cartridge 34 is always in contact with the transport conveyor, whereas the two vibration generators 78, as in the present embodiment, When the feed speed is changed using 80, the single-open cartridge 34 is separated from the plates 70 and 72 by vibration. For this reason, since the contact resistance of the single-open cartridge 34 with respect to the plates 70 and 72 is reduced, it is easy to rotate until the single-open cartridge 34 is in a certain posture, and it is easy to hold it in that posture after it is in a certain posture. There is an effect of becoming.
[0075]
In addition, since each plate 70 and 72 of the attitude | position alignment part 44 inclines between the attitude | position alignment part 44 and the attitude | position holding | maintenance conveyance part 46, the level | step difference has arisen in the conveyance path. There is a slight open cartridge 34 that falls sideways due to this step. There is also a single-open cartridge 34 that is transported in a reverse orientation with the cap 12 on top.
[0076]
Such a single-open cartridge 34 is detected by a lateral fall detection unit 130 and a reverse posture detection unit 132 provided in the posture holding and conveying unit 46, which is a subsequent process, and these detection signals are introduced into the control unit 134. . When the controller 134 recognizes the presence of the one-sided cartridge 34 having an unfavorable posture based on the detection information from each of the detectors 130 and 132, the controller 134 issues an operation command to the cylinder driving unit 137c of the guide lifting / lowering unit 137, thereby causing the air cylinder 137b to operate. When driven, the reference guide pressing piece 104a supported by the lifting plate 137a is moved up and down. During the raising / lowering operation of the reference guide pressing piece 104a, an operation command is issued from the control unit 134 to the on-off valve driving unit 140, whereby the on-off valve driving unit 140 is operated to instantly open and close the on-off valve of the air nozzle 138. Accordingly, the one-sided cartridge 34 having an unfavorable posture is blown out from the posture holding / conveying unit 46 toward the tray 144 instantaneously by the air jetted from the air nozzle 138 during the raising / lowering operation of the reference guide pressing piece 104a. .
[0077]
The single-open cartridge 34 in a fixed posture that has passed through each of the detection units 130 and 132 is sent in the conveying direction with the film delivery port 22 in contact with the reference guide holder 104, and due to the speed difference between the conveyors 100 and 102. The given posture is maintained by the applied counterclockwise rotation. The auxiliary guide presser 106 is in contact with the opposite side of the reference guide presser 104 and guides the single-open cartridge 34 only in the transport direction, so that the film delivery port 22 gets over the reference guide presser 104 and rotates 180 degrees or more. There is no posture.
[0078]
Furthermore, the guide action of the fall-preventing auxiliary plate 112 provided so as to hold the single-open cartridge 34 from the upper surface, and the action of attracting the single-open cartridge 34 by the magnetic force of the magnet 113 provided on the frame 110a on the downstream side in the transport direction. Thus, it is possible to avoid as much as possible that the single-open cartridge 34 falls down or tilts. In this way, the single-open cartridge 34 can be reliably transported from the posture holding / conveying unit 46 toward the cartridge assembly device 30 as the next step while being held in a more stable and constant posture.
[0079]
The cartridge assembly apparatus 30 is supplied with a spool 18 on which the other cap 14 and the photographic film piece 20 are wound. Single-open cartridges 34 supplied in a fixed posture are held one by one in an automatic assembly machine (not shown), and the spool 18 is inserted in the axial direction. Thereafter, the cap 14 is fixed to the single-open cartridge 34 by caulking and assembled to the photographic film cartridge 10.
[0080]
In the present embodiment, the photographic film cartridge 10 is described as an object. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the photographic film cartridge 10 has a cross-sectional shape such as a columnar shape or a cylindrical shape, and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface. An object having a part, or a conveyance posture viewed from a plane may be asymmetric with respect to the center of the contour outline.
[0081]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the description has been given for the single-open cartridge 34 in which one cap 12 is attached. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the form of the photographic film cartridge 10 or the form of only the body 16 is used. It can also be targeted.
[0082]
In the present embodiment, the posture holding and conveying unit 46 is connected to the alignment and conveying device 40. However, the posture holding and conveying unit 46 is not always necessary, and the conveyance distance to the cartridge assembly device 30 that is the next step is as follows. If is short, it can be omitted. Further, the transport mechanism of the posture holding transport unit 46 is not limited to the two conveyors 100 and 102 as described above, and other well-known mechanisms may be employed.
[0083]
Further, as the vibration direction of the plates 70 and 72 in the posture alignment unit 44, the conveyance direction (direction of the component force A) and the vertical direction (direction of the component force B) with respect to the surfaces of the plates 70 and 72 are combined. However, the direction is not limited to such a straight line direction. For example, the direction of vibration is sequentially increased in the upward direction, the conveyance direction, the downward direction, the conveyance direction, the upward direction, and so on. The directions may be circulated, or vibrations rotating in the directions of those directions may be used. Therefore, in any direction as long as the vibration has at least a component force A in the conveying direction for sending the one-sided cartridge 34 in the conveying direction and a vertical component force for lifting the one-sided cartridge 34 inside. All vibrations are acceptable.
[0084]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0085]
That is, in the cylindrical body having the projecting portions, the projecting portions are reliably aligned in a posture oriented in a certain direction, so that the cylindrical bodies can be more reliably aligned and transported in a certain vertical posture.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a photographic film cartridge applied to an aligning and conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the apparatus for producing the photographic film cartridge.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of the alignment transport device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view of a one-line supply unit in the aligning and conveying apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of a posture alignment unit in the alignment transport device.
FIG. 6 is a right side view of the posture alignment unit.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory front view of the posture alignment unit.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory plan view of the posture alignment unit.
FIG. 9 is a perspective explanatory view of a posture holding and conveying unit in the alignment and conveying device.
FIG. 10 is a right side explanatory view of a main part of the posture holding and conveying unit.
FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective explanatory view showing a relationship between a fall prevention auxiliary plate and a cartridge in the posture holding and conveying unit.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the posture holding and conveying unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Photo film patrone 16 ... Torso
22 ... Film delivery port 34 ... Single-open patrone
40 ... Aligning and conveying apparatus 42 ... One-line supply unit
44 ... Posture alignment unit 46 ... Posture holding / conveying unit
48 ... Hopper part 50 ... One-line delivery part
56, 58, 60, 78, 80 ... vibration generator
62 ... Rotating bias means 64 ... Rotating brush
70, 72 ... Plate 74 ... Guide member (reference guide member)
76 ... Guide member 90 ... Protrusion
92 ... Projection plate 100, 102 ... Conveyor
104. Reference guide presser (reference guide member)
106: Auxiliary guide presser (auxiliary guide member)
112 ... Falling prevention auxiliary plate 113 ... Magnet (magnetic force generating means)
122 ... motor 124 ... drive pulley

Claims (2)

A cylindrical body having a protruding portion on the peripheral surface is placed in a vertical posture so as to straddle two plates extending in parallel to the transport direction and inclined in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and placed on the two plates. A reference provided on the lower side in the inclination direction of the two plates while conveying the cylinders in a predetermined direction on the two plates by applying vibrations with different feeding speeds. By bringing the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body into contact with the guide member, the reference guide member receives the rotation of the cylindrical body by the protruding portion and guides the cylindrical body in a posture in which the protruding portion is aligned in a certain direction. A method of aligning and conveying cylindrical bodies including a step of:
In the course of conveyance in a state in which the cylindrical body is in contact with the reference guide member, the cylindrical body is once separated from the reference guide member, and then the protruding portion of the cylindrical body is in contact with the reference guide member again. A method of aligning and conveying cylindrical bodies , wherein the reference guide member again receives the rotation of the cylindrical bodies and aligns the protruding portions in a certain direction. Two plates that extend parallel to the transport direction and have an inclination in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and are placed so that a cylindrical body having a protruding portion on the peripheral surface straddles in a vertical posture; and By providing a vibration generator that conveys in the conveying direction while rotating the cylindrical body in a predetermined direction by applying vibrations with different feeding speeds to each plate, and provided on the lower side in the inclination direction of the two plates The cylindrical body is disposed so as to contact the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body, the rotation of the cylindrical body is received by the projection part coming into contact, and the cylindrical body is held in a posture in which the projection part is aligned in a certain direction. A columnar alignment and conveyance device comprising a posture alignment unit composed of a reference guide member for guiding in a conveyance direction,
The posture alignment unit has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the column body from the guide surface of the column body by the reference guide member during the transfer of the column body by the reference guide member. Body alignment transport device.

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