JP4311076B2 - Flexible chute and workpiece transfer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is used in a processing apparatus that grinds and superfinishes inner and outer diameters and grooves in the inner and outer rings of a ball bearing, and particularly in a grinding and superfinishing process such as a miniature ball bearing and a small diameter ball bearing. The present invention relates to a flexible chute and a workpiece transfer device effective for connecting.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional workpiece conveyance device, a workpiece conveyance device 50 shown in FIG. 4 holds workpieces 100 that are inner rings and outer rings of ball bearings in a state of being stacked in a line in a vertical direction, and a discharge port of the workpiece 100 at a part of the lower end surface. And an conveyance path 54 that is formed by the lower end surface of the inshoot 51 and the upper surface of the shoe 53 and communicates with the discharge port 52. Further, a rotating roll 56 and a rotating roll 57 for holding and rotating the work 100 at a predetermined work holding position 55 at the front end of the transport path 54, and a loader that transports the work 100 by pushing the work 100 to the front end of the transport path 54. A blade 58 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
As another configuration example of the workpiece transfer device, a workpiece transfer device 60 shown in FIG. 5 includes a ball 61 that temporarily stores a plurality of workpieces 100 that are inner rings and outer rings of ball bearings transferred from a hopper (not shown). , A mechanism 62 (part feeder or dial loader) that gives vibration or rotational motion to the ball 61, a support 63, an unloading chute 64 for transferring the workpiece 100 unloaded from the ball 61, and the workpiece 100 transferred by the unloading chute 64. And an inshoot 65 that conveys the to the subsequent grinding machine. In such a workpiece transfer device 60, the workpiece carry-in port of the inshoot 65 is positioned at the workpiece carry-out port of the carry-out chute 64 by the operator's intuition, and is arranged with a gap with respect to the work carry-out port. The vibration of the ball 61 that vibrates or rotates in the circumferential direction by the vibration or rotation mechanism 62 is prevented from being transmitted to the inshoot 65. When the balls 61 vibrate or rotate in the circumferential direction, the plurality of workpieces 100 accommodated in the balls 61 are aligned while moving in the outer circumferential direction of the balls 61, pass through the carry-out chute 64, and are dropped onto the inchutes 65. It is conveyed from the inshoot 65 to the grinding machine.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-254278 (page 3-4, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the workpiece transfer device 50 described in Patent Document 1, the workpieces 100 are stacked in a row in the vertical direction on the inshoot 51, and the rotor blade 58 in the transfer path 54 on the horizontal plane perpendicular to the inshoot 51. However, since the work 100 is pushed out, a large space is required for the entire apparatus and a link mechanism and the like are included, so that the structure is complicated.
[0006]
Further, in the work transfer device 60, since the carry-out chute 64 is fixed to the ball 61, the work carry-out port of the carry-out chute 64 is positioned with respect to the work carry-in port of the inshoot 65 by vibrating together with the ball 61. Deviation may occur. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the carry-out chute 64 is displaced in the width direction of the work 100 with respect to the inshoot 65, it passes through the work passage 64 a of the carry-out chute 64. There is a possibility that the workpiece 100 may be caught at the workpiece carry-in port of the inshoot 65.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the carry-out chute 64 is displaced in the radial direction of the work 100 with respect to the inshoot 65, the work 100 is moved into the inshoot 65 in the same manner as described above. There is a risk of getting caught at the work entrance. When these catches occur, the work transfer device 60 is temporarily stopped, and the work carry-out port of the carry-out chute 64 is realigned with the work carry-in port of the inshoot 65, or the work 100 that has been caught is removed. The chute 64 and the inshoot 65 are disassembled, resulting in a waste of work time.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible chute and a workpiece conveyance device that can convey a workpiece smoothly without being caught by a simple structure.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Flexible chute according to claim 1 of the present invention is a flexible chute which is arranged between a continuously fed feeder aligning a plurality of workpieces, in-chute through which workpieces to be transported from the supply device A main body formed of a flexible elastic body that absorbs a positional shift between a work carry-out portion of the supply device and a work carry-in portion of the inshoot, the work carry-out portion, and the work carry-in portion. And a work supply path formed in the main body part, and the main body part has a quadrangular prism shape, and the width of the work supply path is about 1/3 of the thickness of the main body part. It is characterized by that.
[0009]
The flexible chute according to claim 2 is a flexible chute of claim 1 Symbol mounting, characterized in that possible transmission work passing in front Symbol workpiece supply path.
[0010]
In addition, the workpiece transfer device according to claim 3 is a supply device that continuously supplies a plurality of workpieces in an aligned manner, an inshoot that passes the workpiece conveyed from the supply device, the supply device, and the inshoot. characterized by comprising a flexible chute according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Ru is arranged between the.
[0012]
According to the flexible chute and the workpiece transfer device having the above-described configuration according to the present invention, the flexible chute absorbs a positional shift between the workpiece carry-out portion of the supply device and the workpiece carry-in portion of the inshoot, and the workpiece carry-out portion and the workpiece carry-in portion. Is formed.
Therefore, even if the supply device is fixed to a vibrating member such as a ball and vibrates together with the ball, the flexible chute responds to the positional deviation even if the positional shift occurs with respect to the work inlet of the inshoot. In order to absorb, the work is conveyed to the inshoot without being caught through the work supply path. Moreover, since the flexible chute is only arranged between the work carry-out part of the supply device and the work carry-in part of the inshoot, there is no complicated structure. As a result, the workpiece can be smoothly conveyed with a simple structure without being caught.
[0013]
Further, if the flexible chute is molded from an elastic body having flexibility, the equipment investment required for the mold can be reduced by selecting an elastic body that can be molded easily. Further, if the workpiece supply path of the flexible chute is allowed to pass through, it is possible to visually inspect the flexible chute before the workpiece being transferred is transferred to the inch.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a flexible chute and a workpiece transfer device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 is an external perspective view of a flexible chute and a workpiece transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view around the flexible chute shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 (a) is a side view of the flexible chute shown in FIG. 3 (b) is a bottom view of the flexible chute shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 (c) is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion with the inshoot of the flexible chute shown in FIG.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible chute 10 of the present embodiment is assembled to a work transfer device 11. The work transfer device 11 includes a supply device 12, an inshoot 13, and a flexible chute 10. The supply device 12 includes a ball 14, a bracket 15, a support 16, and a conveyance direction change chute 17.
[0016]
A plurality of workpieces 100 that are inner rings and outer rings such as miniature ball bearings and small-diameter ball bearings discharged from a hopper (not shown) are placed on the table 19. A shaft 18 disposed in the center of the ball 14 is fixed to the tip of the bracket 15 on the lower surface of the ball 14.
[0017]
The bracket 15 has a length in the radial direction of the ball 14, and a base end portion is fixed to the support column 16. The strut 16 is coupled to a grinding or superfinishing machine (not shown). The vibration source is located under the table 19 and uses an electromagnet and a leaf spring to generate vibration by repeatedly attracting and releasing the magnet. The vibration acts in the circumferential direction, and the plurality of workpieces 100 arranged on the table 19 are moved toward the outer circumference of the ball 14 and aligned along the inner surface of the side plate 20. There is also a method in which the table 19 is rotated together with the central shaft 18, and the workpiece 100 is moved toward the outer periphery of the ball 14 by the rotational force and aligned. This power transmits the rotational force by connecting the motor placed outside the ball 14 and the central shaft 18 with a belt. The column 16 may be moved up and down in the drawing for position adjustment.
[0018]
The conveyance direction change chute 17 is fixed to the side plate 20 of the ball 14. The conveyance direction change chute 17 has a supply path 21 that changes the conveyance direction by approximately 90 degrees from the surface direction of the table 19 and is directed to the inshoot 13. The conveyance direction changing chute 17 vibrates in the circumferential direction together with the balls 14 to carry in and feed the workpieces 100 aligned along the side plate 20 on the table 19 one by one from a notch formed in the side plate 20. The workpiece 100 is conveyed downward through the path 21. A flange 22 for fixing the flexible chute 10 is formed at the lower end of the conveyance direction changing chute 17.
[0019]
The inshoot 13 is disposed below the conveyance direction change chute 17 and is used to convey the workpiece 100 unloaded from the flexible chute 10 assembled below the conveyance direction change chute 17 to the grinding machine. . The grinding machine is used to grind the outer ring groove, inner ring inner diameter, and inner ring groove on the workpiece 100.
[0020]
The flexible chute 10 is formed of a flexible or transparent or translucent elastic body. The flexible chute 10 is disposed between the conveyance direction change chute 17 and the inshoot 13 and is fixed to the conveyance direction change chute 17 and the inshoot 13 with bolts 23, 23, 23, 23. As an elastic body used for forming the flexible chute 10, butyl, urethane rubber, silicon rubber, or fluororubber is appropriately employed.
[0021]
Butyl is a self-reinforcing rubber, having cold resistance and heat resistance as good as EPT, excellent in vegetable oil resistance, and second in gas permeability after hydrin.
Urethane rubber is typified by ether type and ester type, and there are liquid and millable forms. Millable can be sulfur vulcanized and peroxide vulcanized. Excellent resistance to abrasion, oil and ozone.
Silicone rubber can be used at a wide range of temperatures (−60 ° C. to 200 ° C.) and can be used at 300 ° C. for several months. It has good elasticity, C-SET, electrical properties, ozone resistance, and other characteristics not found in other rubbers, such as physiological and chemical inertness, non-adhesiveness, water repellency, transparency, and light color.
Fluoro rubber is particularly excellent in oil resistance, heat resistance and chemical resistance.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible chute 10 includes a work inlet 26 that is connected to the work outlet 25 of the conveyance direction changing chute 17 at one end of the main body 24 having a quadrangular prism shape, and the other end. A work supply passage 29 having a work carry-out port 28 connected to the work carry-in port 27 of the inshoot 13 is formed through the center. Since the flexible chute 10 is formed of a flexible elastic body, the dimensions shown in FIG. 2 are provided between the work carry-out port 25 of the conveyance direction changing chute 17 and the work carry-in port 27 of the inshoot 13. Even if a relatively large displacement of L1 occurs, the workpiece supply path 29 forms a gently curved path, so that the workpiece 100 conveyed from the conveyance direction change chute 17 is conveyed to the inch 13 without being caught. It has the function to do.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the flexible chute 10 is formed with fixing portions 31, 31 that are thinned via stepped portions 30, 30 on the lower surface near the both ends of the main body portion 24. A pair of bolt fastening reinforcement members 32, 32, 32, 32 are accommodated in 31, 31, respectively. The bolt fastening reinforcement members 32, 32, 32, 32 are made of stainless steel, and are integrally formed by insert molding when the flexible chute 10 is molded.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the work supply path 29 has a height dimension t 2 that is approximately 1/3 of the thickness dimension t 1 of the main body 24. One of them is open. The bolt tightening reinforcing member 32 is arranged such that the lower end portion slightly protrudes from the fixed portion 31.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3 (c), the flexible chute 10 is configured such that the lower end portion of the bolt tightening reinforcing member 32 is in-shoot by fixing the fixing portion 31 to the fixing portion 33 formed at the end portion of the in-shoot 13. The nut member 35 is disposed on the back side of the fixing portion 33 of the inshoot 13. Then, the bolt 23 is inserted into the bolt fastening reinforcement member 32 and the bolt 23 is screwed into the nut member 35, whereby the flexible chute 10 is coupled to the inshoot 13. At this time, since the fixing portion 31 of the flexible chute 10 and the fixing portion 33 of the inshoot 13 are coupled in advance by the bolt fastening reinforcement member 32, the bolt 23 is screwed in, so the flexible chute 10 is moved into the inshoot 13. It is firmly bonded to. Here, although not shown, the flange 22 of the conveyance direction changing chute 17 is also fixed in the same manner as the inshoot 13.
[0026]
In such a workpiece transfer device 11, when the power is turned on, a plurality of workpieces 100 discharged from the hopper are placed on the table 19 of the ball 14, and the ball 14 vibrates or rotates in the circumferential direction. The plurality of workpieces 100 arranged on the table 19 are moved in the outer circumferential direction of the balls 14 and aligned along the inner surface of the side plate 20. Then, the aligned workpieces 100 are carried one by one into the conveyance direction changing chute 17 and conveyed to the flexible chute 10 through the supply path 21. At this time, even if there is a large misalignment between the work carry-out port 25 of the conveyance direction change chute 17 and the work carry-in port 27 of the inshoot 13, the work supply path 29 of the flexible chute 10 has a gentle curve. Since the work path is formed, the work 100 is conveyed to the inshoot 13 without being caught, and the work 100 passing through the work supply path 29 of the flexible chute 10 is visually inspected by the operator. It is conveyed to the grinding machine via the chute 13.
[0027]
As described above, according to the flexible chute 10 and the workpiece transfer device 11 of the present embodiment, the flexible chute 10 absorbs the positional deviation between the workpiece carry-out portion of the supply device 12 and the workpiece carry-in portion of the inshoot 13. A work supply path 29 that connects the carry-out part and the work-in part is formed.
Therefore, even if the supply device 12 is fixed to a vibrating member such as the ball 14 and vibrates together with the ball 14, the flexible chute 10 is In order to absorb in accordance with the positional deviation, the workpiece 100 is conveyed to the inshoot 13 without being caught through the workpiece supply path 29.
[0028]
Moreover, since the flexible chute 10 is only arranged between the work carry-out part of the supply device 12 and the work carry-in part of the inshoot, there is no complicated structure. Accordingly, the workpiece 100 can be smoothly transported with a simple structure without being caught. In addition, since the flexible chute 10 is formed of a flexible elastic body, by selecting an elastic body that can be easily molded, the capital investment for the mold can be reduced. And since the workpiece | work supply path 29 of the flexible chute | shoot 10 can be permeate | transmitted, the workpiece | work 100 in conveyance can also be visually inspected also in the flexible chute | shoot 10 before being conveyed to the inshoot 13. FIG.
[0029]
Note that the flexible chute and the workpiece transfer device according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications and improvements can be made. For example, it is desirable to change and set the inner diameter and hole shape of the workpiece supply path of the flexible chute in accordance with the sizes of the inner ring and the outer ring used for miniature ball bearings, small diameter ball bearings and the like.
Furthermore, in fixing the flexible chute, a fixing means such as a clip that can be screw-fixed on the conveyance direction changing chute and can be easily removed on the inshoot side may be used. Thereby, the replacement | exchange operation | work at the time of aged deterioration can be performed easily.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the flexible chute and the workpiece transfer device of the present invention, the flexible chute absorbs the positional deviation between the workpiece carry-out portion of the supply device and the workpiece carry-in portion of the inshoot, and the workpiece carry-out portion and the workpiece carry-in portion. Is formed.
Therefore, even if the supply device is fixed to a vibrating member such as a ball and vibrates together with the ball, the flexible chute responds to the positional deviation even if the positional shift occurs with respect to the work inlet of the inshoot. In order to absorb, the work is conveyed to the inshoot without being caught through the work supply path. Moreover, since the flexible chute is only arranged between the work carry-out part of the supply device and the work carry-in part of the inshoot, there is no complicated structure. As a result, the workpiece can be smoothly conveyed with a simple structure without being caught.
[0031]
Further, by forming the flexible chute with a flexible elastic body, and selecting an elastic body that can be easily molded, the capital investment on the mold can be reduced. Furthermore, by allowing the workpiece supply path of the flexible chute to be transmitted, it is possible to visually inspect the flexible chute before the workpiece being transferred is transferred to the inch.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a flexible chute and a workpiece transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view around a flexible chute shown in FIG.
3A is a side view of the flexible chute shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the flexible chute shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the flexible chute shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of a coupling | bond part.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional workpiece transfer device.
FIG. 5 is an external view of a workpiece transfer device having another conventional configuration.
6A is a cross-sectional view for explaining catching in the width direction of the work in the work transporting apparatus shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view for explaining catching in the radial direction of the work in the work transporting apparatus shown in FIG. It is.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Flexible chute 11 Work conveyance apparatus 12 Supply apparatus 13 Inshoot 29 Work supply path 100 Workpiece

Claims (3)

And continuously feeding feeder aligning a plurality of workpieces, a flexible chute arranged between the in-chute through which workpieces to be transported from the supply device,
The main body part formed of a flexible elastic body that absorbs the displacement between the work carry-out part of the supply device and the work carry-in part of the inshoot, and the work carry-out part and the work carry-in part can be coupled. comprising a workpiece supply passage formed in Do said body portion,
The flexible chute is characterized in that the main body portion has a quadrangular prism shape, and the width of the work supply path is about 1/3 of the thickness of the main body portion . The flexible chute according to claim 1, wherein the flexible chute can pass through a workpiece passing through the workpiece supply path. The supply apparatus which arrange | positions a some workpiece | work continuously and supplies it, the inshoot which passes the workpiece | work conveyed from the said supply apparatus, and it distribute | arranged between the said supply apparatus and the said inshoot. And a flexible chute.

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