JP5465973B2 - Classification device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a classification device that classifies workpieces based on inspection results after inspecting the product state of workpieces such as LEDs.

  In general, it is desirable that various small electronic components such as a resistor element, a capacitor element, a coil element, and a light-emitting diode are manufactured with the same function, and a plurality of products of the same type are manufactured. Each performance is different within a predetermined tolerance. Therefore, even the same small electronic component (hereinafter referred to as a workpiece) is currently classified and used within a predetermined range depending on the type.

In particular, a product (work) that irradiates light, such as an LED, may be manufactured for the same purpose if the color tone of the irradiating light is different. The state may not be constant. For this reason, even workpieces manufactured for the same purpose are generally classified and used for each object irradiated with light under the same conditions.
As an apparatus for classifying such workpieces, for example, apparatuses having configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 exist.

  However, in the conventional classification device, when the workpiece is received and held and measured by each measuring means, the workpiece is held and conveyed in a state in which the workpiece is positioned in the upper, lower, left and right directions. It was difficult to do with. Further, when classifying workpieces, it has been desired to classify workpieces at a higher speed. In particular, in a work such as an LED, a soft material such as silicon may be used for the light emitting surface. For this reason, since the handler cannot contact the surface of the workpiece using a soft material, it has been necessary to place the handler in a place other than the handler when positioning in the vertical direction.

  Furthermore, in the conventional classification apparatus, the conveyance path for measuring the workpiece is in the horizontal rotation direction rotating in the horizontal plane, and the conveyance path for classifying the workpiece based on the measurement result is also in the horizontal rotation direction rotating in the horizontal plane. is there. Therefore, the installation area has been increased, and further downsizing of the apparatus has been desired.

  Therefore, the present inventor can receive and convey and classify workpieces at high speed, can handle even if there is a surface that cannot contact the workpiece, and can reduce the installation area and workpiece conveyance. A classification method has been filed (see Patent Document 3, FIG. 19, and FIG. 20).

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the classification device 120 includes a classification conveyance mechanism 130 that receives and conveys the workpiece W from the conveyance device 10, a separation mechanism 140 provided on one side surface of the classification conveyance mechanism 130, and a classification conveyance. And a guide mechanism 150 provided on the other side surface of the mechanism 130. The classification transport mechanism 130 includes a classification transport body 131, a work holding groove 132 formed on the peripheral surface of the classification transport body 131, a suction means 134 for the work W held in the work holding groove 132, and a classification transport. A transport body drive unit 135 that rotationally drives the body 131, a one-side cover body 136 provided on one side surface of the classification transport body 131, and an other-side cover body 138 provided on the other side surface of the classification transport body 131. Yes. Note that an installation ring 133 is installed on the outer peripheral side of the classification transport body 131 so as to be spaced apart, and a sensor 133a is provided.

Further, the one side cover body is formed with a communication hole portion 134b communicating with the communication passage 134a communicating with the workpiece holding groove 132, and all of them are connected via the connection hose 134c by suction from a suction pump (vacuum pump) 134d. The work holding groove 132 is configured to perform a suction operation.
Further, the guide hose 152 of the guide mechanism 150 is provided with an attachment cylinder portion 151 at one end thereof, and is attached to the other side cover body 138 via the attachment cylinder portion 151. Further, the release mechanism 140 is provided with air injection nozzles 141 on one side cover body 136 at a position facing each of the guide hoses 152, and each air supply source 143 such as a compressor is connected to each air through the connection tube 142. It is connected to the injection nozzle 141.

JP 2005-219002 A JP 2003-181383 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-147524

However, the classification apparatus shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 has the following problems.
In the classification device described above, when the workpiece is received and held, a suction operation is performed in the workpiece holding groove by a suction pump or the like, so that the one side cover body and the classification transport body come into contact with each other by the sucked force. There was a possibility.

  In the classification device, when the work is sucked into the work holding groove and held, the initial stage from the start when the work is held in the work holding groove and from the start when the work is held to some extent in the work holding groove. In the elapsed stage, there is a difference in power required for suction work. Therefore, it has been desired for the classification device to save the power of the suction pump and reduce the power consumption in the suction operation of the suction pump.

  The present invention was devised to solve the above-described problem. Even when workpieces are received and conveyed and classified at high speed, the one side cover and the classification conveyance body do not come into contact with each other, and the workpiece can be held. It is an object of the present invention to provide a classification device capable of realizing energy saving when performing a suction operation for holding a workpiece in a groove.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the classification device according to the present invention receives the workpiece from the transfer device after the workpiece is inspected by an inspection mechanism arranged along the inspection transfer path of the transfer device. A classification apparatus for classifying the workpieces via a control unit, wherein the classification conveyance mechanism is configured to intermittently rotate at a predetermined angle and form a workpiece holding groove on a peripheral surface of a disc-shaped classification conveyance body, An air spraying unit (air blowing unit) is provided adjacent to one side surface of the classification transport mechanism, and air is applied to the workpiece held in the workpiece holding groove when the classification position is classified based on the inspection result of the workpiece. A separation mechanism that blows and detaches from the air injection nozzle), and the air spraying the workpiece that is disposed along the classification conveyance path on the other side surface of the classification conveyance mechanism and separated by the separation mechanism And a guide mechanism that guides to a classification container installed outside the apparatus by a guide hose provided at a position facing the container, and the classification carrier communicates with the work holding groove on the inner peripheral side of the work holding groove. And forming a chamber body that is spaced apart from a side cover body that attaches the detaching mechanism to a side surface that forms the opening of the communication path, and the chamber body holds the workpiece An outer peripheral end is brought into contact between the groove and the opening of the communication path, and a suction communication chamber is formed together with the side surface of the classification transport body.

  With this configuration, when the classification device receives a workpiece from the conveyance device into the workpiece holding groove of the classification conveyance body, the classification device intermittently rotates the classification conveyance body for each predetermined angle. When the workpiece held in the workpiece holding groove arrives at the position of the air blowing portion of the release mechanism, air is blown from the air blowing portion, forcibly released from the workpiece holding groove, and along the guide hose of the guide mechanism. And sent to the classification container. In the classification device, when the workpiece is sucked into the workpiece holding groove, a chamber body that rotates together with the classification conveyance body is formed in the suction communication chamber that communicates with the workpiece holding groove via the communication path. Therefore, even if the classification transport body and the chamber body are brought into close contact with each other by the suction operation, the classification transport body and the one side cover body, or the chamber body and the one side cover body do not approach each other due to suction and obstruct rotation. .

  The classification device receives the workpiece from the conveyance device after the workpiece is inspected by an inspection mechanism arranged along the inspection conveyance path of the conveyance device, and classifies the workpiece through the control unit according to the inspection result. A classification transport mechanism that sets a classification transport path of the workpiece in a preset circumferential direction, and is arranged along the classification transport path on one side of the classification transport mechanism. Arranged along the classification conveyance path on the other side of the classification conveyance mechanism, and a detachment mechanism that blows air away from the work held by the classification conveyance mechanism when it arrives at a classification position classified by the inspection result And a guide mechanism that guides the workpiece separated by the separation mechanism to a classification container installed outside the apparatus. And in the said classification | category apparatus, the said classification | category conveyance mechanism is a disk-shaped classification | category conveyance body which formed the work holding groove | channel which receives and hold | maintains a workpiece | work from the said conveyance apparatus in the surrounding surface at predetermined intervals, and one surface side of this classification conveyance body A chamber body that forms a suction communication chamber that communicates with the workpiece holding groove, and a conveyance drive mechanism that intermittently drives the classification conveyance body and the chamber body at predetermined angles, and the separation mechanism includes: A one-side cover body that faces one side surface of the classification transport body and is provided adjacently and spaced apart, and an air outlet provided at a predetermined interval on the one-side cover body along the classification transport path, The guide mechanism is provided so as to face the other side surface of the classification transport body and be adjacently spaced from the other side cover body, and provided on the other side surface cover body so as to face the air blowing portion. Work It has a configuration and a guide hose to the inner. Further, in the classification apparatus, the chamber body is formed in the center and connected to a rotation shaft of the transport driving mechanism, and a mounting portion provided around the flange portion and attached to the classification transport body, The suction communication chamber formed together with the side surface of the classification transport body, and the outer peripheral end of the chamber body is connected to the work holding groove of the classification transport body and the work holding groove on the inner peripheral side of the work holding groove. It was set as the structure contact | abutted in the position between the opening of the communicating path which connects.

  With this configuration, the classification device receives the workpiece from the conveyance device in the workpiece holding groove, and intermittently rotates the workpiece by a predetermined angle by the conveyance driving mechanism, so that the workpiece arrives at the position of the air blowing portion that is the classification position. When the workpiece arrives at the classification position, the classification device blows air from the air blowing portion provided at a predetermined interval along the classification conveyance path on the one side cover body, and forcibly separates the workpiece from the workpiece holding groove. The work is guided to the classification container by the guide hose provided on the cover body and classified. Then, the classification device is configured such that the chamber body and the classification transport body are driven by a transport driving mechanism in a state in which the opening of the communication path of the work holding groove formed in the classification transport body is covered with the outer peripheral edge of the chamber body. To rotate every predetermined angle. For this reason, in the classification device, even if the classification conveyance body and the chamber body act in the direction in which they are close to each other due to suction, the classification conveyance body and the chamber body rotate together, so that interference with other members fixed at the time of rotation does not occur. There is no cause.

  Further, in the classification apparatus described above, the classification carrier has a connection support plate connected to a suction pump installed outside at a position opposite to the chamber body, and the connection support plate has a circumference thereof. A connection portion provided with a mounting hole provided at a position facing the mounting portion of the chamber body on the edge side, and connected to a center of the connection support plate via a support joint that rotatably supports the connection hose of the suction pump It was set as the structure provided with (hose connection part).

  With such a configuration, the classification apparatus has a connecting portion for providing the chamber body and the rotation shaft of the conveyance drive mechanism on one side of the classification conveyance body, and connecting the connection hose of the suction pump to the other side of the classification conveyance body via the support joint. By providing the connection support plate provided, the connection portion of the connection hose is disposed at a position facing the rotation shaft of the transport drive mechanism. Therefore, even if the connection support plate rotates together with the classification carrier, the connection hose can be connected without being twisted by the support joint.

  Furthermore, in the above-described classification device, the control means includes a first storage unit that stores the guide hose position information, the air outlet position information, and the classification level information in association with each other, level signal information, and work position information. The second storage unit for storing the workpiece, the input unit for inputting the level signal information of the inspected workpiece to the second storage unit, and the workpiece position information for each of the workpieces stored in the second storage unit are updated. An update unit, a comparison determination unit that compares each information to determine whether or not they match, and an air outlet corresponding to the guide hose position information in the first storage unit when it is determined that the information matches And an output unit that outputs a command signal for blowing air from the unit to the separation mechanism.

  With this configuration, in the classification device, the comparison determination unit is updated with the guide hose position information in the first storage unit based on the timing signal generated from the update unit when the classification conveyance body rotates at a predetermined angle by the conveyance drive mechanism. The workpiece position information in the second storage unit is compared, and the classification level information in the first storage unit and the level signal information in the second storage unit are compared to determine whether they match. Then, the classification device compares the guidance hose position information and the work position information to determine that they match and determines that the classification level information matches the level signal information, and outputs the output unit. However, for the workpiece held in the workpiece holding groove, a command signal for blowing air from the air blowing portion corresponding to the guide hose position information of the first storage unit is output to the release mechanism to guide the workpiece from the workpiece holding groove. It is sent to a hose and classified as a classification container.

  In the above classification apparatus, the measuring means for measuring the atmospheric pressure at any position from the suction communication chamber to the suction path of the suction pump and the value measured by the measuring means are compared with a preset threshold value. And a suction control means for sending a signal for operating the suction pump at each preset level when the measured value falls below the threshold value to the suction pump. It was.

  With such a configuration, when the workpiece is sucked into the workpiece holding groove, the classification device measures the atmospheric pressure in the suction path from the suction communication chamber to the suction pump by the measuring means and exceeds a preset threshold value, or When the measured value falls below the threshold, the suction level of the suction pump is adjusted so that the suction operation of the suction pump becomes stepwise, so that the operation load on the suction pump can be reduced, and The power consumption of the suction pump can also be reduced.

In the classification apparatus, it is convenient that the classification conveyance path is set in a vertical rotation direction orthogonal to the horizontal rotation direction of the workpiece inspection conveyance path in the inspection apparatus.
With this configuration, the installation area of the classification device can be reduced.

  In addition, in the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus provided with a classification device, a conveyance apparatus, and a conveyance apparatus, it is desirable to have the structure mentioned later. In other words, the work transport classification device includes a transport device that transports a workpiece having an electrode on one surface and a light emitting portion on the other surface along an inspection transport path set in a circumferential direction in a horizontal plane, and adjacent to the transport device. In the workpiece transfer classification device, the transfer device includes: a classification device configured to classify the inspection result of the workpiece by the inspection mechanism disposed along the inspection transfer path into a classification container according to a preset condition. Is a disk-shaped disk having a plurality of handlers in the circumferential direction, and a handler that sandwiches a side surface excluding the light emitting part and the electrode with the light emitting part and the electrode of the workpiece facing upward and downward in the horizontal plane. A transport support, and a rotation drive mechanism that intermittently rotates the transport support at predetermined angles to move the workpiece along the inspection transport path, and The support is formed by opening the upper and lower sides of the peripheral edge at the clamping position where the workpiece is clamped by the handler, and the handler is fixed to the conveyance support, and the position facing the fixing unit A movable portion provided in the fixed portion so as to be close to and away from the fixed portion, and either the fixed portion or the movable portion includes a first contact portion that contacts one side surface of the workpiece, and the first contact portion. The second contact portion is formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the contact portion and is in contact with an adjacent side surface adjacent to one side surface of the workpiece.

  With this configuration, the workpiece transfer classification apparatus is configured to move the transfer support body at a predetermined angle along the inspection transfer path by the rotation driving mechanism of the transfer device, and move the handler at the workpiece receiving position. The workpiece is sandwiched between the fixed portion and the movable portion in a state where one side surface of the workpiece and the adjacent side surface adjacent to the one side surface are in contact with the fixed portion of the handler or the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the movable portion. Therefore, the workpiece is always held at a reference position in the horizontal direction. In addition, since the work transport classification apparatus is in a state where the transport support at the position of the handler that sandwiches the work is open in the vertical direction, the inspection mechanism can inspect even if the electrode side and the light emitting unit side of the work are sandwiched by the handler. It is ready to be used. That is, even if the surface that cannot contact the workpiece is in the vertical direction, it can be conveyed without contacting with the handler.

  Further, in the workpiece transfer classification apparatus, the transfer device includes a receiving unit at a receiving position for receiving the workpiece from an aligning device installed adjacent to a position outside the transfer device, and the receiving unit includes the workpiece An upper surface cover body and a lower surface cover body that cover the upper and lower sides of the handler that sandwich the side surface of the handler, and a suction nozzle that penetrates one of the upper surface cover body and the lower surface cover body, and the suction nozzle In a space surrounded by the upper surface cover body, the lower surface cover body, the handler, and the transport support body, by suction from the suction pump through the suction nozzle, The workpiece is received from the alignment device as being in contact with the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the handler. It was configured for clamping in parts.

  With such a configuration, when the handler of the transfer device arrives at the receiving position where the handler of the transfer device arrives, the workpiece transfer classification device performs the work by suction of the suction pump from the suction nozzle in the space surrounded by the upper surface cover body and the lower surface cover body of the receiving means. Aspirate from the alignment device. By this suction operation, the workpiece is transferred from the alignment device to the transport device, and the workpiece is brought into contact with the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the handler. Then, when the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus holds the workpiece between the fixed portion and the movable portion of the handler, the workpiece is clamped by the fixed portion and the movable portion of the handler as being always positioned at the reference position in the horizontal direction.

  In the workpiece transfer classification apparatus, the transfer device includes transfer means at a transfer position for transferring the workpiece to the classification device installed adjacent thereto, and the transfer means holds a handler that holds a side surface of the workpiece. The upper surface cover body that covers the position close to the upper side in the position and the lower surface cover body that covers the position close to the lower position in the holding position of the handler.

  With this configuration, when the handler holds the workpiece and arrives at the delivery position, the workpiece transport classification apparatus covers the upper surface side of the workpiece held by the handler with the upper surface cover body and the lower surface side of the workpiece with the lower surface cover body. Thus, the enclosed space can be formed. For example, when the handler releases the workpiece due to the air suction operation from the sorting device side, the workpiece is delivered to the sorting device side.

  Further, in the work transport classification device, the transport device contacts the electrode of the work in the inspection transport path to determine an electrode orientation, and the light emitting unit touches the work electrode. A vertical reference position setting means for specifying a reference position in the vertical direction of the workpiece by contacting a peripheral edge of the upper surface excluding the light emitting portion from above the light emitting portion of the workpiece at a light emission inspection position for emitting light, the vertical direction The reference position setting means includes a workpiece contact portion that contacts the periphery of the workpiece excluding the light emitting portion, and a contact portion moving means that moves the workpiece contact portion up and down so as to contact and separate from the periphery of the workpiece. The workpiece contact portion is formed so as to open a light emitting direction from the light emitting portion of the workpiece.

  With this configuration, when a workpiece in a state of being clamped by the handler arrives at the electrode determination position and the light emission inspection position, the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus has a vertical direction reference position setting means on the upper surface periphery excluding the light emitting portion of the workpiece from above the workpiece. The workpiece contact portion is contacted to specify the reference position in the vertical direction of the workpiece, and the electrode contact portion (probe portion) moves so as to contact the electrode from below the workpiece. At this time, since the workpiece contact portion is in contact with the upper surface periphery of the workpiece at a position set as the reference position in the vertical direction of the workpiece, the workpiece in the horizontal and vertical directions at the electrode determination position and the light emission inspection position. The position is always placed at the reference position.

  Further, in the workpiece transfer classification apparatus, the workpiece electrode clamped by the handler is reversed by reversing the posture of the workpiece along the inspection transfer path between the electrode determination position and the light emission inspection position. And a work reversing means for reversing the negative position, the work reversing means being arranged adjacent to the lower surface of the transport support and receiving a work from the handler, and a work table placed on the work table A workpiece holding section that sucks and holds the workpiece that has been sucked into a suction hole formed in the mounting table, and the mounting table that holds the workpiece by the workpiece holding section is rotated in a rotation direction parallel to the transport support. A rotating portion that moves the workpiece to the placement table and moves the workpiece to the next position. And the configuration of the placement table rotated by a predetermined angle at a timing of passing the workpiece.

  With this configuration, when the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus determines that the positive and negative positions of the electrodes held by the handler at the electrode determination positions are opposite, the handler arrives at the position of the workpiece reversing unit. Then, the work sandwiched between the handlers is transferred to the placement table, and the work is held by the work holding means of the placement table. Then, when the handler that has delivered the workpiece rotates and moves by a predetermined angle, the workpiece transfer classification device also rotates the mounting table of the workpiece reversing unit by a predetermined angle by the rotation unit and puts the workpiece at the position where the handler has moved. Move together. Then, since the posture of the work is turned 180 degrees, the positive position and the negative position of the work electrode are reversed by 180 degrees, and the work is again held by the handler with the correct electrode orientation.

  The work transport classification method is a first step of receiving a work having an electrode on one side and a light emitting part on the other side from the aligning device to a handler of the transport device in which an inspection transport path is set in a circumferential direction in a horizontal plane. And the polarity of the workpiece received by the handler is determined by an electrode determination mechanism arranged along the inspection conveyance path, and the workpiece reversing means arranged along the inspection conveyance path based on the determination result A second step of inverting the posture and inspecting the light characteristics by causing the light emitting part of the workpiece to emit light by the light characteristic inspection mechanism arranged along the inspection conveyance path, and from the inspection conveyance path to the inspection conveyance path According to the classification conditions set in advance based on the inspection result of the workpiece conveyed by the classification device that sets the classification conveyance path in the circumferential direction in the orthogonal vertical plane A third step of classifying the classification container and the procedure including.

  With this procedure, the work transport classification method sets the inspection transport path in the horizontal plane in the inspection transport direction to inspect the work, and the classification device classifies the work by setting the classification transport path in the vertical plane. Yes. For this reason, the installation space is reduced in order to classify in the classification transport path that is perpendicular to the inspection transport path.

The classification device according to the present invention can achieve the following excellent effects.
Even if the classification device performs an operation of sucking into the workpiece holding groove when the workpiece is rotated and conveyed, both the classification conveyance body and the chamber body rotate at a predetermined angle, so that the classification device comes into contact with the one side cover body. And smooth operation can be continued. Further, by providing the chamber body in the classification transport body, the space for suction by the suction pump can be reduced. Furthermore, since the vacuum suction is performed to the communication path of each work holding groove through the suction communication chamber formed in the chamber body, even if the suction force of the suction pump is changed, the change in the suction force is not changed in the suction communication chamber. It is alleviated and transmitted to each communication path, and the direct influence due to the change of the suction force on the work held in the work holding groove can be minimized (claims 1 and 2).

  In the classification device, the connection hose of the suction pump is connected via the support joint by the connection support plate provided on the classification transporter that rotates intermittently at a predetermined angle. However, the suction path for vacuum suction can be secured and the connection hose can be connected without being twisted (Claim 3).

When the information is updated by the updating unit by the control unit, the classification device compares the guide hose position information with the work position information, and compares the classification level information with the level signal information. When it is determined that they match, a command signal for blowing air from the air blowing portion corresponding to the guide hose position information is output to the detachment mechanism. For this reason, the classification device can accurately classify the workpiece even if many classifications of three digits (100 or more) are performed on the workpiece (claim 4).
The classification device controls by switching the suction force of the suction pump when the work is sucked and held in the work holding groove and the suction work is performed. (Claim 5).

It is a perspective view showing typically the whole composition of the work classification system provided with the classification device concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows typically the whole arrangement | positioning in a workpiece conveyance classification | category apparatus provided with the classification | category apparatus and conveying apparatus which concern on this invention. (A) is a top view which shows typically the conveying apparatus used with the classification device which concerns on this invention, (b), (c) clamps a workpiece | work with the handler of the conveying apparatus used with the classification device which concerns on this invention It is a perspective view which shows the state to do. It is a perspective view which shows typically the state in which the conveying apparatus used with the classification device which concerns on this invention receives a workpiece | work from an alignment device. (A), (b) is the plane sectional view and longitudinal cross-sectional view which show typically the receiving means of the conveying apparatus used with the classification device based on this invention. (A), (b) is the perspective view and longitudinal cross-sectional view which show notch partly but the air blow mechanism of the conveying apparatus used with the classification device based on this invention. (A), (b) is a side view which partially cuts and shows the operation state of the up-down direction reference position setting means of the conveying apparatus used in the classification device according to the present invention. (A)-(d) is a perspective view which shows typically the operation state of the workpiece | work reversing means of the conveying apparatus used with the classification device based on this invention. FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing a cross-sectional state with a part of a color tone light beam inspection mechanism arranged along an inspection conveyance path of a conveyance device used in the classification device according to the present invention omitted. It is a side view which shows typically the partial cross section which shows arrangement | positioning of the classification device based on this invention. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a part of an entire classification device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a classification device according to the present invention with a part cut away and disassembled. (A), (b) is a partial sectional view of the classification device according to the present invention and an exploded perspective view schematically showing a part of the decomposition device in an exploded manner. (A), (b) is sectional drawing which shows the classification | category apparatus based on this invention in a cross section, and a partial expanded sectional view. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the structure of the classification device based on this invention in a cross section. It is a block diagram which shows the structural block in the control means of the classification device based on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows typically the correspondence of each information of the control means of the classification device based on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural block of the suction control means which controls the suction pump of the classification device based on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows typically the structure of the classification device used as the comparison object of the classification device which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the structure of the classification device used as the comparison object of the classification device which concerns on this invention in a cross section.

  Hereinafter, a classification device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The classification device is a workpiece conveyance classification device in combination with the conveyance device, the conveyance device will be described first, and then the classification device will be described. Moreover, it demonstrates as an example of the workpiece | work W to classify | categorize as a chip | tip of LED. Further, the workpiece W to be described has a shape whose vertical and horizontal height dimensions are smaller than 1 mm in each figure, but here, it is deformed and described in a large manner.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the workpiece conveyance classification device 1 performs classification according to the characteristics of the workpiece. Here, the optical characteristics or appearance of the workpiece W to be irradiated with light is inspected and the inspection result is determined according to the inspection result. Are classified. The workpiece transfer classification device 1 is classified into a transfer device 10 in which an inspection transfer path is set in a circumferential direction in a horizontal plane, and a circumferential direction in a vertical plane that is installed adjacent to the transfer device 10 and orthogonal to the horizontal plane. And a classification device 20 for setting a conveyance path. And the workpiece conveyance classification device 1 receives the workpiece W aligned by the alignment device SM arranged adjacent to the conveyance device 10, inspects the workpiece W, and arranges it on the front side according to the result of the classification inspection. Classification work to classify into the classification container group B is performed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the work transport classification device 1 is used together with the alignment device SM in a state in which the workpiece conveyance classification device 1 is adjacent to the classification container group B arranged on the front side in the housing 1 a so as to have a predetermined arrangement. A conveying device 10 and a classification device 20 are installed. Further, the transport device 10, the sorting device 20, and the alignment device SM are supported so as to have a predetermined positional relationship by a support frame 1b (see FIG. 10) provided as appropriate in the housing 1a.
As shown in FIG. 2, the workpiece transfer classification device 1 is configured to detect the air blow mechanism 11 and the electrodes in the clockwise direction from the position of the linear feeder 103 of the alignment device SM along the inspection transfer path of the transfer device 10. A mechanism 12, a work reversing means 9, a light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13, a photoelectric property inspection mechanism 14, a color tone light beam inspection mechanism 15, and a classification device 20 are arranged. Further, the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus 1 is provided with a vertical reference position setting means 8 at a position where an operation for lighting the workpiece W is performed in the inspection conveyance route.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the aligning device SM is for aligning the workpieces W and delivering them to the transfer device 10. The aligning device SM includes a storage hopper 101 that temporarily stores the workpiece W, and a ball feeder 102 and a linear feeder 103 that are vibrated and aligned when the workpiece W is supplied from the storage hopper 101. The alignment device SM includes a stopper mechanism 105 for transferring the workpieces W aligned on the leading side (delivery side) of the linear feeder 103, and is aligned with the alignment passage 104 of the linear feeder 103. When the first workpiece W is sent out, the forward movement of the next workpiece W is temporarily stopped. The workpieces W aligned by the alignment device SM are transferred to the transport device 10 via the receiving means 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transport device 10 receives the workpiece W from the aligning device SM via the receiving means 7, moves it along the inspection transport path, and delivers it to the sorting device 20. The transport device 10 includes a handler 2 that holds the workpiece W, a transport support 5 provided with the handler 2, a rotation drive mechanism 6 that rotates the transport support 5 at predetermined angles, and a receiving means 7 that receives the work W. And a work W delivery means 7A.

  The transport support 5 is configured to install the handlers 2 at regular intervals in the circumferential direction, and move the workpiece W held by the handler 2 along the inspection transport path. The transport support 5 includes a support body 5a formed in a disk shape, and a recess (notch) 5b formed for installing the handler 2 on the support body 5a. The conveyance support 5 is formed so as to open a space in the vertical direction of the workpiece W when the installed handler 2 holds the workpiece W. Further, here, at least a peripheral portion (a portion corresponding to a portion sandwiching the workpiece W between the fixed portion 4 and the movable portion 3) of the transport support 5 is formed to have substantially the same thickness as the handler 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the handler 2 sandwiches the side surface of the workpiece W in a state where the workpiece W is supported at a reference position in the horizontal direction. The handler 2 includes a fixed portion 4 and a movable portion 3, and a state in which two side surfaces of the workpiece W are in contact with the fixed portion 4 and another side surface of the workpiece W is in contact with the movable portion 3. As shown in FIG.
The fixed portion 4 of the handler 2 is formed on the transport support 5, is fixed to the transport support 5, and is installed at a position facing the movable portion 3. The fixed portion 4 has a portion formed as a notch surface parallel to the diametrical direction by notching the peripheral edge of the transport support 5 as a first contact portion 4a, and a predetermined angle (with respect to the first contact portion 4a) For example, a portion formed so as to have an orthogonal angle) is the second contact portion 4b, and here, the insulator 4c is installed in the second contact portion 4b. In the case where the insulator 4c is not installed, the second contact portion 4b is preferably configured to be able to make surface contact with the side surface of the workpiece W perpendicular to the first contact portion 4a.

  The first abutting portion 4a is formed such that when a workpiece W is abutted, one side surface of the workpiece W abuts and contact with the surface is possible. The first abutting portion 4a may be provided with an insulating material or applied to a portion in contact with the workpiece W. And the 1st contact part 4a becomes the reference | standard which always supports the workpiece | work W in the reference position in the horizontal direction by the 2nd contact part 4b and the movable part 3 which are mentioned later.

  The second contact portion 4b is formed at a predetermined angle continuously from the first contact portion 4a, and is formed at an angle in a direction orthogonal to the first contact portion 4a. The second contact portion 4b comes into contact with an adjacent side surface adjacent to one side surface of the workpiece W so as to sandwich the workpiece W. The 2nd contact part 4b becomes a reference | standard which always supports the workpiece | work W in the reference position in a horizontal direction. In FIG. 3B, the insulator 4c is installed in the second contact portion 4b so that the second contact portion 4b and the adjacent side surface of the workpiece W are separated from each other.

  The insulator 4c is formed of an insulating material such as ceramic. Here, a cylinder-shaped member is disposed so as to partially protrude from the second contact surface and is provided so as to contact the workpiece W. It has been. By providing the insulator 4c, the workpiece W can be turned on even when the electrode portion of the workpiece W is formed on the adjacent side surface and the side surface facing the adjacent side surface. That is, if the probe part 12c (see FIG. 7) described later is formed so as to be able to contact the side surface of the workpiece (see FIG. 7), the side surface of the workpiece W on the insulator 4c side is As a result, a space is formed, and the probe portion 12c can enter and come into contact with the space. Further, since the side surface of the opposite workpiece W is in an open state, the probe portion 12c can abut on the side surface of the workpiece W. In addition, when the insulator 4c is provided in the 2nd contact part 4b, when the movable part 3 contact | abuts to the workpiece | work W, the state of the workpiece | work W which contact | abutted this insulator 4c becomes a reference position in a horizontal surface. Is set to

  Here, the fixing portion 4 has a configuration in which the conveyance support 5 is cut out and formed directly on the conveyance support 5 in order to install the first contact portion 4a and the second contact portion 4b. Alternatively, the first support part 4a and the second contact part 4b may be configured by notching the transport support 5 and attaching another member to the notched part. When the insulator 4c substantially functions as the second contact portion 4b, the predetermined angle bent from the first contact portion 4a does not have to be orthogonal to the first contact portion 4a. By adjusting the amount of protrusion of the insulator 4c from the second contact portion 4b (for example, 90 to 45 degrees), the reference position in the horizontal direction is set when contacting the workpiece W. Is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the movable portion 3 is installed in a concave portion 5 b formed in the transport support 5 and holds the workpiece W so as to support the workpiece W at a reference position in the horizontal direction in cooperation with the fixed portion 4. It is. The movable portion 3 is provided at a predetermined position of the third contact portion 3a that contacts the side surface of the workpiece W, an arm portion 3b that is formed continuously with the third contact portion 3a, and the arm portion 3b. A rotation fulcrum part 3c, an engagement part 3e engaged with an engagement hole 3d formed on the rear side of the arm part 3b (when the third contact part 3a is set on the front side of the arm part 3b), A drive unit 3f (engagement unit 3e and drive unit 3f) provided with a shaft portion continuous to the engagement unit 3e is provided.

  The third contact portion 3a contacts the side surface of the workpiece W, and supports the workpiece in cooperation with the first contact portion 4a and the insulator 4c (or the second contact portion 4b) of the fixed portion 4 described above. Is. The position where the third contact portion 3a contacts and supports the workpiece W is set to be the reference position of the workpiece W in the horizontal direction. The arm part 3b is formed in a long shape so that the third contact part 3a can be formed on one end side (front side) and the engaging part 3e can be formed on the other end side (rear side). Here, the arm portion 3b is formed such that a part of its elongated shape bends at a predetermined angle.

  The rotation fulcrum portion 3c is formed in a circular pin shape at the substantially central portion of the arm portion 3b and is supported by a member on the back side (not shown), and the arm portion 3b is rotated by a predetermined angle by the operation of the drive portion 3f described later. It is a fulcrum for making it happen. The engaging portion 3e is for engaging an engaging shaft portion of the driving portion 3f described later with an engaging hole 3d of the arm portion 3b. Here, the engaging portion 3e engaged with the engaging hole 3d formed in the elongated hole shape is engaged when moving back and forth along the axial direction of the engaging shaft portion of the driving portion 3f. The arm 3b is rotated by a predetermined angle with the rotation fulcrum 3c as a fulcrum. The drive portion 3f is a drive source that moves the arm portion 3b by the rotation fulcrum portion 3c by moving the engagement shaft portion back and forth so that the third contact portion 3a contacts and separates from the workpiece W. . The drive part 3f rotates the arm part 3b with the rotation fulcrum part 3c as a fulcrum, such as an actuator that can move the engagement shaft part back and forth along the axial direction such as a solenoid. If it is the thing of the structure which can do, it will not specifically limit.

  In the movable part 3 configured as described above, the arm part 3b rotates about the rotation fulcrum part 3c by driving the drive part 3f, thereby bringing the third contact part 3a into contact with the side surface of the workpiece W. Or the third abutting portion 3a that abuts against the side surface of the workpiece W is moved away.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the rotation driving mechanism 6 is configured to intermittently rotate the transport support 5 by a predetermined angle at a predetermined timing. The rotation drive mechanism 6 is provided with a rotation shaft at the center of the transport support 5 and is easily controlled for rotation such as a servo motor. The rotation drive mechanism 6 is not particularly limited, such as a configuration for directly rotating a rotation shaft provided on the transport support 5 or a configuration for rotating it indirectly.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the receiving means 7 receives the workpiece W from the aligning device SM. The receiving means 7 is installed at a position adjacent to the linear feeder 103 of the aligning device SM of the conveying apparatus 10 and is installed in the handler 2 so that the workpiece W can be received from the linear feeder 103. The receiving means 7 is close to the transport support 5 and has an upper surface cover 7 a installed at a position covering the upper surface of the handler 2 and the top surface of the alignment passage 104, and close to the transport support 5. A lower surface cover 7b set at a position covering the lower surface side, a suction nozzle 7c attached to the lower surface cover 7b, and a suction pump 7d connected to the suction nozzle 7c. The receiving means 7 has a space that surrounds the lower surface cover 7b such that the suction nozzle 7c passes therethrough or the suction nozzle 7c is attached to a nozzle hole formed in the lower surface cover 7b. As long as the suction nozzle 7c is provided so that the workpiece W can be received from the alignment device SM, the configuration is not limited.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the handler 2 arriving at the receiving means 7 is in a state where the movable part 3 is separated from the fixed part 4 (opened state). As shown in FIG. 5, when the handler 2 rotates by a predetermined angle and moves to the position of the receiving means 7, the suction pump 7d is activated. Then, a suction operation is performed via the suction nozzle 7c in the space surrounded by the handler 2, the upper surface cover 7a, and the lower surface cover 7b, so that the workpiece W aligned at the most advanced position of the linear feeder 103 is sucked. The two surfaces of the workpiece W are delivered in a state of being in contact with the insulator 4c or the first contact portion 4a, that is, in a state of being in contact with the fixed portion 4.

Furthermore, when the workpiece W comes into contact with the fixed portion 4 of the handler 2, the movable portion 3 of the handler 2 moves and the side surface of the workpiece W comes into contact with the third contact portion 3 a, so that the workpiece W is It is sandwiched between the fixed part 4 and the movable part 3. By receiving the workpiece W in the handler 2 and holding it between the fixed portion 4 and the movable portion 3, the workpiece W is clamped by the handler 2 while being always located at the reference position in the horizontal direction.
When the handler 2 receives the workpiece W, the conveyance support 5 is rotated by a predetermined angle by the rotation driving mechanism 6 while the side surface of the workpiece W is sandwiched between the fixed portion 4 and the movable portion 3 of the handler 2. Moreover, the workpiece | work W inspected by each inspection mechanism mentioned later is delivered to the classification | category apparatus 20 from the delivery means 7A of the conveying apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. The delivery means 7A will be described later.

Next, the air blow mechanism 11, the electrode determination mechanism 12, the work reversing means 9, the light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13, the photometric electrical characteristic inspection mechanism 14, the color tone light beam inspection mechanism 15, and the classification device 20 shown in FIG. I will explain.
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the air blow mechanism 11 is disposed at a position spaced apart from the receiving means 7 (see FIG. 5) in the clockwise direction. The air blow mechanism 11 cleans the work W by applying air to the upper surface of the work W sandwiched between the handlers 2. The air blow mechanism 11 faces the blowing portion 11a that covers the upper surface side of the workpiece W sandwiched by the handler 2 on the inspection conveyance path of the workpiece W, and the back surface side of the workpiece W sandwiched by the handler 2. And a back side auxiliary plate 11b to be arranged. And the spraying part 11a has the setting board 11d which has the angle setting channel | path 11c which blows air on the upper surface of the workpiece | work W from a predetermined angle (an angle smaller than 90 degree | times: for example, 10-60 degrees), and the angle setting of this setting board 11d A supply passage 11e that supplies air to the passage 11c and a supply exhaust portion 11g that includes an exhaust passage 11f that exhausts the supplied air are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, when a workpiece W sandwiched between the handlers 2 arrives at the air blow mechanism 11, air is sent from an air pump or compressor (not shown) to the supply path 11e by a sensor (not shown) and blown. It is supplied to the attaching part 11a. When air is supplied to the spraying part 11a, air is sprayed from a predetermined angle onto the upper surface of the workpiece W from the supply path 11e of the supply / exhaust part 11g via the angle setting path 11c of the setting plate 11d. And the sprayed air is discharged | emitted outside from the exhaust path 11f of the supply exhaust part 11g. In the air blow mechanism 11, when air is blown, a force that causes the workpiece W to fall out of the handler by the momentum of air works. However, since the back surface side auxiliary plate 11b is arranged in the air blow mechanism 11, even if the work W sandwiched by the handler 2 moves so as to be pushed in by air, the back surface side auxiliary plate 11b further moves the work. W is configured not to move downward.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the electrode determination mechanism 12 is installed along an inspection conveyance path that is spaced a predetermined interval clockwise from the air blow mechanism 11. The electrode determination mechanism 12 determines whether the orientation of the workpiece W is correct by contacting an inspection electrode (probe) to the workpiece electrode from the lower surface of the workpiece W sandwiched by the handler 2. The electrode determination mechanism 12 operates in a pair with an up-down direction reference position setting unit 8 described later. The electrode determination mechanism 12 has an inspection electrode unit having an anode-side probe 12a that abuts on the plus pole of the workpiece W and a cathode-side probe 12b that abuts on the minus pole of the workpiece W (the probe unit 12c is collectively referred to as 12a and 12b). 12d, a support part 12e that supports the inspection electrode part 12d, and a moving part 12f that moves the support part 12e up and down.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the vertical reference position setting means 8 is a workpiece contact portion that contacts the peripheral surface excluding the light emitting portion on the upper surface of the workpiece W sandwiched by the handler 2. 8a, a support arm 8b that supports the work contact portion 8a, and a reference position setting drive portion (contact portion moving means) 8c that supports the support arm 8b and moves up and down. Further, here, the vertical reference position setting means 8 is supported by the support arm 8b and passes the probe portion 12c, and the restraining portion 8d that suppresses the probe portion 12c from being raised beyond the set value is provided on the support arm 8b. I have. The restraining portion 8d is configured such that the proximal end portion side of the probe portion 12c contacts and the probe portion 12c cannot move upward beyond a preset position.

  The workpiece contact portion 8a is formed so that the position of the light emitting portion is opened so that the light from the light emitting portion can be irradiated upward while pressing the periphery of the light emitting portion of the workpiece W. Further, the workpiece contact portion 8a is formed in a tapered surface such that the opening width becomes wider from the bottom to the top. Since the opening is formed so as to widen upward, all of the light irradiated when the workpiece W emits light can be inspected smoothly by each inspection mechanism described later. When the workpiece W arrives at the position of the electrode determination mechanism 12 by the handler 2, the workpiece W is sandwiched by the handler 2 in a state where the vertical direction of the workpiece is not particularly restricted. Therefore, the probe portion 12c of the electrode determination mechanism 12 rises from below to the workpiece W and comes into contact with the electrode portion of the workpiece W, and the workpiece contact portion 8a comes into contact with the periphery of the workpiece W except the light emitting portion. In the state, the workpiece contact portion 8a is set to be the reference position in the vertical direction of the workpiece W. The probe portion 12c is provided with a spring or the like, and is configured to reduce the impact on the workpiece W when it comes into contact with the electrode portion of the workpiece W.

  In the electrode determination mechanism 12, when the positions of the plus electrode and the minus electrode of the work W are preset positions, it is determined that the posture of the work W is normal by the current flowing through the probe unit 12c. Further, the electrode determination mechanism 12 indicates that the direction of the workpiece W is opposite by 180 degrees in the horizontal plane when no current flows even when the probe portion 12c contacts the plus electrode and the minus electrode of the workpiece W. to decide. Then, a signal is sent to the work reversing means 9 (see FIGS. 2 and 8) to be described later so as to reverse the direction of the work W.

  Note that the photoelectric property inspection mechanism 14 and the color tone light beam inspection mechanism 15 to be described later have the same configuration as the electrode determination mechanism 12 and the vertical direction reference position setting means 8, respectively. The description of the vertical direction reference position setting means 8 is omitted. That is, in each mechanism, the electrode determination mechanism 12 serves as a probe for simply lighting the workpiece W, and is used in a state where the orientation of the electrode of the workpiece W is not determined.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D, the work reversing means 9 is installed along an inspection conveyance path spaced a predetermined interval clockwise from the position of the electrode determination mechanism 12. The workpiece reversing means 9 receives the workpiece W from the handler 2, rotates the posture of the workpiece W 180 degrees in the horizontal plane, and delivers it again to the handler 2. The work reversing means 9 receives a work W from the handler 2 and places it thereon, a work holding part 9b for sucking and holding the work W placed on the work table 9a, and holding the work. And a rotating part 9c for rotating a mounting table 9a holding a work in the part 9b by a predetermined angle parallel to the transport support 5. Here, the work reversing means 9 is provided with a table cover 9d that covers the placement table 9a in a state in which the movement path 9e of the work W is formed at a position facing the placement table 9a.

  The mounting table 9a is arranged in parallel with the transport support 5, and the table surface is 0.2 to 1 (preferably 0.2 to 0.5) mm on the lower surface of the transport support 5. Installed in close proximity. Further, the mounting table 9a is installed so that the handler 2 stops at one end side of the mounting table 9a and receives the workpiece W with respect to the workpiece W determined to change the direction by the electrode determination mechanism 12. Yes. That is, the placement table 9a is installed at a position where the workpiece W can be placed on the suction hole of the workpiece holding portion 9b on the table when the movable portion 3 of the handler 2 is moved to release the workpiece W. Yes. In the transfer device 10, when the work W is released by moving the movable part 3, the distance between the work W sandwiched by the handler 2 and the table surface is more than 0.5 mm. When the size of the received workpiece W is 1 mm or less, the posture of the workpiece W on the mounting table 9a changes or the distance to the handler 2 is increased, so the height and posture are adjusted. If there is no means to do this, there is a high possibility that it will be difficult for the handler 2 to deliver in the next operation.

  The work holding unit 9b sucks and holds the work W on the mounting table 9a. Here, the work holding portion 9b has four (or two) suction holes formed every 90 degrees on the periphery on the mounting table 9a, and is mounted by an air suction operation from a suction pump (not shown). The workpiece W received on the suction hole of the table 9a is sucked and held. When the workpiece W is held on the mounting table 9a by the workpiece holding unit 9b, the mounting table 9a is rotated by 180 degrees parallel to the transport support 5 by the rotating unit 9c to reverse the posture of the workpiece W. When the mounting table 9a rotates, the transport support 5 is also rotated at a predetermined angle by the rotation driving mechanism 6, and the work W released to one end side of the mounting table 9a is moved to the other end side of the mounting table 9a. So that it can be held again. That is, the handler 2 delivers the workpiece W onto the placement table 9a by one intermittent rotation operation at a predetermined angle, and receives the workpiece W whose posture is reversed by the next intermittent rotation operation at a predetermined angle. The workpiece W received from the workpiece reversing means 9 has a posture in which the positions of the plus electrode and the minus electrode are normal.

  In the work reversing means 9, as shown in FIG. 8A, here, the table cover 9d covers the moving position of the handler 2, and the work W on the mounting table 9a moves. It is attached to cover the path. Therefore, in the workpiece reversing means 9, the posture of the workpiece W released from the handler 2 and delivered to the placement table 9a, or the workpiece W when the placement table 9a rotates while being held by the workpiece holding portion 9b. The posture is guided in the movement path 9e. Therefore, since the state is guided by the movement path 9e, the posture of the workpiece W does not change greatly, and the workpiece W can be delivered to the handler 2 smoothly and quickly.

  The workpiece W having a posture in which the positions of the plus electrode and the minus electrode are vertically inverted in the horizontal plane by the workpiece reversing means 9 is sandwiched between the handlers 2, and the light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13, the photometric electrical characteristic inspection mechanism 14, the color tone Each inspection is performed by the light beam inspection mechanism 15. As shown in FIG. 2, when the work W sandwiched between the handlers 2 arrives, the light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13 sets the light emitting surface to be the upper surface of the work W and the electrode surface to be the lower surface to imaging means such as a CCD camera. The image is taken and inspected. The light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13 inspects a captured image based on a preset standard, and a known means is used. The results inspected by the light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13 are ranked according to a preset classification level and sent to the classification device 20 side. The workpiece W inspected by the light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13 moves to the next inspection mechanism (photoelectric characteristics inspection mechanism 14) side by the rotation of the conveyance support 5 of the conveyance device 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the photoelectric property inspection mechanism 14, the vertical reference position setting unit 8 and the probe unit 12 c (see FIG. 7) are brought into contact with the workpiece W that has been sandwiched by the handler 2. The work W is caused to emit light, and the light intensity and electrode characteristics are inspected. The inspection method by the photoelectric property inspection mechanism 14 uses a conventionally known one, and the workpiece W is classified into a preset rank. The inspection result is sent to the classification device 20 side.
As shown in FIG. 9, the color tone light beam inspection mechanism 15 inspects the color tone and the total light flux of the workpiece W that has been sandwiched between the handlers 2. In this color tone light beam inspection mechanism 15, an integrating sphere is used, and the color tone and total light flux of the workpiece W are inspected to be classified into preset ranks, and known means are used. In this color tone light beam inspection mechanism 15, the vertical direction reference position setting means 8 and the probe unit 12 c are used when the work W is turned on. And the result of the workpiece | work W inspected by the color tone light beam inspection mechanism 15 is ranked according to the preset classification level, and is sent to the classification device 20 side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the work transport classification device 1, the light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13, the photometric electrical property inspection mechanism 14, the color tone light beam inspection mechanism 15 and the like are moved while the work W is moved along the inspection transport path by the transport device 10. Thus, each characteristic of the workpiece W is inspected to identify which classification level the characteristic of the workpiece W is. In the workpiece conveyance classification device 1, when the classification of the workpiece W is specified, the workpiece W is then transferred from the conveyance device 10 to the classification device 20 and classified. Here, the workpiece W is delivered from the transport device 10 to the classification device 20 by the delivery means 7A.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the delivery means 7 </ b> A is for delivering the workpiece W from the handler 2 to the classification device 20. The delivery means 7A is provided at a position where the handler 2 arrives at a position where the classification device 20 is adjacent. The delivery means 7A includes an upper surface cover body 7g provided on the upper surface side of the handler 2 at a position adjacent to the classification device 20 and a lower surface cover body 7h provided on the lower surface side of the handler 2. The delivery means 7A is provided on a non-rotating portion of the transport device 10 via a support member (not shown). The distance between the upper surface cover body 7g or the lower surface cover body 7h and the handler 2 is set in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 mm, for example. Note that the distance between the upper surface cover body 7g or the lower surface cover body 7h and the handler 2 may be outside the above range as long as it can be attracted by a suction force for receiving the workpiece W of the classification device 20 described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the classification device 20 is installed on the support frame 1 b adjacent to the transport device 10. The classification device 20 includes a classification conveyance mechanism 30 that receives and conveys the workpiece W from the conveyance device 10, a separation mechanism 40 provided on one side surface of the classification conveyance mechanism 30, and a guide provided on the other side surface of the classification conveyance mechanism 30. And a mechanism 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the classification transport mechanism 30 holds the workpiece W and transports it along the classification transport path set in the vertical direction. The classification transport mechanism 30 includes a classification transport body 31, a chamber body 45 for performing suction for holding the work W in a work holding groove 32 formed on the peripheral surface of the classification transport body 31, and the chamber body 45 and the classification transport. A conveyance body drive unit (conveyance drive mechanism) 35 that intermittently rotates the body 31 at predetermined angles. Further, the suction means 34 for performing the suction operation in the workpiece holding groove 32 via the chamber body 45 is attached by a connection hose 34c via a connection support plate 47 connected to the other side of the classification transport body 31 described later. It becomes the composition which is done. In addition, the classification conveyance body 31 of the classification conveyance mechanism 30 includes one side cover body 36 provided on one side surface of the classification conveyance body 31 described later, and another side surface cover body 38 provided on the other side surface of the classification conveyance body 31. , Is placed between.

  As shown in FIG.10 and FIG.11, the classification | category conveyance body 31 is formed in disk shape, and the workpiece | work holding groove | channel 32 is formed in the surrounding surface at predetermined intervals. The classification conveyance body 31 has a drive shaft of a conveyance body drive unit 35 to be described later connected to the center, and is rotated intermittently (intermittently) for each angle at which the work holding groove 32 is formed. The classification transport body 31 is installed so as to be rotatable with respect to the one side cover body 36 and the other side cover body 38 and to ensure a certain degree of airtightness as will be described later.

  The workpiece holding groove 32 receives and holds the workpiece W from the delivery means 7 </ b> A of the transport apparatus 10. The workpiece holding groove 32 is formed in a concave shape from the one side surface to the other side surface at a predetermined interval on the peripheral surface of the classification transport body 31 so that the state of holding the workpiece W from the side surface can be observed. The work holding groove 32 has a suction hole formed in the groove bottom surface. The classification transport body 31 is formed with a communication passage 34 a that communicates from the suction hole of the work holding groove 32 and forms a side opening on one side surface of the classification transport body 31. Further, an inner peripheral opening hole 31b is formed on the inner peripheral side of the classification transport body 31, and an attachment hole 31a for connecting a chamber body 45 to be described later penetrates the peripheral edge of the inner peripheral opening hole 31b. Is formed. When the workpiece W is held in the workpiece holding groove 32, the side surface of the workpiece W is sucked and held in the suction hole formed in the bottom surface of the groove.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, an installation ring 33 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the classification transport body 31. The installation ring 33 is a member for installing a sensor 33 a that detects whether or not the workpiece W is held in the workpiece holding groove 32. That is, in the installation ring 33, the sensors 33a are installed radially in the diameter direction, and through holes 33b for sensing the sensors 33a are formed. Further, the installation ring 33 is formed in a C shape by notching a part in the circumferential direction to form an opening 33c. As shown in FIG. 12, the installation ring 33 is formed so that the work holding groove 32 of the classification transport body 31 can receive the work W from the delivery means 7 </ b> A of the transport apparatus 10 according to the position of the opening 33 c. The number of sensors 33a installed on the installation ring 33 is provided corresponding to the number of workpieces W classified. The installation ring 33 is supported by one or both of the one side cover body 36 and the other side cover body 38. The installation ring 33 is installed such that the inner circumferential surface of the installation ring 33 and the outer circumferential surface of the classification transport body 31 are in a state of being spaced apart so that the classification transport body 31 can rotate.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the chamber body 45 forms a suction communication chamber kr for sucking the workpiece W in the workpiece holding groove 32 by suction from the suction pump 34 d. The chamber body 45 is attached to one side surface of the classification transport body 31 so as to rotate intermittently with the classification transport body 31 at every predetermined angle.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the chamber body 45 is formed by raising an outer peripheral edge within a predetermined range from the outer peripheral end 45a to form a peripheral wall surface 45b, a chamber side surface 45c continuous with the peripheral wall surface 45b, and a classification. A space surrounded by one side surface of the carrier 31 is formed as a suction communication chamber kr.
The structure of the chamber body 45 includes an outer peripheral end portion 45a, a peripheral wall surface 45b continuous to the outer peripheral end portion 45a, a chamber side surface 45c formed continuously from the peripheral wall surface 45b, and a drive shaft at the center of the chamber side surface 45c. A flange portion 45d that forms a mounting hole 45e and protrudes to one side, and is provided on a chamber side surface 45c that is opposite to the protrusion side of the flange portion 45d around the flange portion 45d and protrudes to the other side. And a mounting portion 46 formed.

As shown in FIG. 13, the chamber body 45 is integrally attached to the classification transport body 31 by a connection support plate 47 connected to the other side surface of the classification transport body 31 described later.
The chamber body 45 can determine the volume of the suction communication chamber kr mainly by the configuration such as the height of the peripheral wall surface 45b and the thickness of the chamber side surface 45c, and can be freely designed as compared with the conventional configuration of FIG. The degree can be improved and the volume of the suction communication chamber kr can be reduced.
The chamber body 45 is not particularly limited as long as the chamber body 45 is made of metal or resin and has a strength that does not break even if it is sucked by the suction pump 34d and becomes negative pressure.

  The chamber body 45 is provided with a plurality of mounting portions 46 (four in the drawing), a base base portion 46a provided in contact with the other side of the chamber side surface 45c, and one end of the base base portion 46a. Are formed so as to protrude to the other surface side, and are provided with an engaging portion 46b that engages with the inner peripheral opening hole 31b of the classification transport body 31, and a mounting hole 46c that is formed substantially at the center of the base base portion 46a. . Note that the mounting hole 46c of the mounting portion 46 is formed so as not to penetrate the chamber side surface 45c.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the connection support plate 47 is formed in a disc shape, abuts and closes the inner peripheral opening hole 31 b of the classification transport body 31 from the other surface side, and will be described later in the center thereof. The connection hose 34c from the suction pump 34d is connected to be rotatable.
The connection support plate 47 is formed at the center of the connection main body 47a, a disc-shaped connection main body 47a, a stepped portion 47b formed on the surface of the connection main body 47a on the classification carrier 31 side, and the connection main body 47a. A hose connection portion 47d of the connection hose 34c and an attachment hole 47c formed through the periphery of the connection main body portion 47a are provided.

The stepped portion 47 b of the connection support plate 47 is formed at a position where it abuts on and engages with an upright side surface of the engaging portion 46 b of the mounting portion 46 of the chamber body 45.
The connection support plate 47 is connected to the hose connection portion 47d in consideration of the fact that the connection support plate 47 rotates at a predetermined angle together with the classification carrier 31 when the connection hose 34c of the suction pump 34d is connected. The part 47d connects the connection hose 34c via the support joint 34b so that the connection hose is not twisted. The support joint 34b used here is a known connection member having a portion that rotates so as not to transmit the rotation to the connection hose 34c side even when the connection support plate 47 rotates.

Next, the installation configuration of the chamber body 45 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 14 (b), the chamber body 45 is installed such that its outer peripheral end 45a abuts between the work holding groove 32 of the classification transport body 31 and the side opening of the communication path 34a. As shown in FIG. 14A, the rotary shaft 35a of the transport body drive unit 35 is disposed in the drive shaft mounting hole 45e of the flange portion 45d at the center. Further, the mounting holes 47 c of the connection support plate 47, the mounting holes 31 a of the classification transport body 31, and the mounting holes 46 c of the mounting portion 46 of the chamber body 45 are arranged in communication with each other and screwed together with the connection screws 48. The chamber body 45 is attached so as to be integrated with the classification transport body 31 and the connection support plate 47.

  In a state in which the chamber body 45 is attached to the classification transport body 31, the chamber body 45 is adjacent to and separated from the one side cover body 36, and the chamber body 45 rotates with a predetermined angle along with the classification transport body 31. Is configured so as not to contact. When the chamber body 45 is attached to the classification transport body 31, here, the chamber body 45 is surrounded by the chamber side surface 45 c of the chamber body 45, the side surface of the classification transport body 31, and the side surface of the connection support plate 47. The suction communication chamber kr is configured to communicate with the communication paths 34a of all the work holding grooves 32.

  When the chamber body 45 is sucked by the suction pump 34d, the inside of the suction communication chamber kr becomes a negative pressure and the adhesion to the classification transport body 31 increases, but it is intermittently set at a predetermined angle together with the classification transport body 31. Therefore, the negative pressure does not cause inconveniences such as mechanical contact with the one-side cover body 36.

  When the suction operation from the suction means 34 of the suction pump 34d and the connection hose 34c is performed, the workpiece W can be sucked and held by all the workpiece holding grooves 32 from the communication passage 34a via the suction communication chamber kr of the chamber body 45. It becomes a state. Here, since all the communication passages 34a are formed so as to communicate with one suction communication chamber kr, the suction communication chamber kr even if the operation of changing the strength of the suction force of the suction pump 34d is performed. Since the suction state is transmitted to the communication passage 34a via the suction passage, the suction communication chamber kr relaxes and transmits the change in the suction force in the suction pump 34d. Therefore, the suction force is applied to the workpiece W held in the workpiece holding groove 32. It is convenient that the change of is not directly affected. In addition, air pressure measuring means As (see FIG. 18) is installed in the suction path from the suction communication chamber kr of the chamber body 45 to the suction pump 34d, and based on the measurement result, the suction control means 70 described later uses the suction pump 34d. The suction force is switched in stages.

  The suction pump 34d is configured to always perform a suction operation while the classification transport body 31 is rotating. Therefore, as will be described later, until the workpiece W is received from the workpiece holding groove 32 to the next time the workpiece W is received, the suction hole of the workpiece holding groove 32 communicates with the atmosphere side. However, it is configured so that the suction force is not affected by the workpiece W held in the other workpiece holding grooves 32 by always performing the suction operation.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the one-side cover body 36 is installed on one side surface of the classification transport body 31 and is supported by the support frame 1b. The role of the side surface of the workpiece holding groove 32, the role of providing the above-described recessed installation space for installing the chamber body 45, and the inspection of the side surface of the air injection nozzle (air blowing portion) 41 of the detachment mechanism 40 and the workpiece W which will be described later. It mainly plays a role of supporting the side inspection sensor and a role of supporting the transport body driving unit 35. Further, the one side cover body 36 is transparent at a position where the state of receiving the workpiece W from the delivery means 7A of the transfer apparatus 10 can be observed from at least the side surface (or the entire surface may be transparent), and the side surface of the workpiece W is inspected at that position. In addition, a receiving sensor S1 for detecting whether or not the workpiece W has been received is provided. The one side cover body 36 is here formed of a transparent member.
As shown in FIG. 11, the one side cover body 36 sucks the workpiece into the workpiece holding groove 32 by suction of the suction pump 34d together with the other side cover body 38 described later at a position facing the delivery means 7A. And form a receiving space.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 and 14, the other side surface cover body 38 is provided on the other side surface of the classification transport body 31, and arranges the role of the side surface of the work holding groove 32 and the connection portion described above. While forming the opening 38a, it plays the role which installs the attachment cylinder part 51 of the guide mechanism 50 mentioned later. The other side cover body 38 is formed of a transparent member here, and is configured so that the holding state of the work W of the classification transport body 31 can be observed. In addition, the other side surface cover body 38 is installed in a state of being adjacently separated so that the classification transport body 31 can rotate.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, the transport body driving unit 35 supports the classification transport body 31 and rotates the classification transport body 31 intermittently (intermittently) at every installation interval of the work holding grooves 32. It is. The transport body drive unit 35 is attached to the one side cover body 36 with screws or the like by a bracket 35c. Moreover, the conveyance body drive part 35 will not be limited if the classification conveyance body 31 can be rotated intermittently (intermittently) by predetermined rotation angles, such as a servomotor. Here, the conveyance body drive unit 35 is configured to decelerate by installing a speed reduction mechanism 35b at a position from the motor to the rotation shaft 35a.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the detachment mechanism 40 is for detaching the workpiece W from the workpiece holding groove 32 and feeding it to the guide mechanism 50. The separation mechanism 40 includes a plurality of air injection nozzles (air spraying portions) 41 provided on one side cover body 36 along the movement path (classification transport path) of the workpiece W, and a connection tube connected to the air injection nozzle 41. 42 and an air supply source 43 such as a compressor which is connected to the connection tube 42 and sends air. Further, the detachment mechanism 40 is configured to operate according to a control signal (command signal) at which position the work W should be detached from the work holding groove 32 based on the result of inspection by each inspection mechanism. Therefore, when the workpiece W received from the transfer device 10 arrives at a specific position, the workpiece W is blown from the workpiece holding groove 32 by blowing air to the workpiece W from the air supply source 43 through the connection tube 42 through the connection tube 42. Is leaving. Each air injection nozzle 41 of the separation mechanism 40 is controlled whether or not to perform air injection by, for example, opening and closing each control valve installed at a predetermined position in each air path. In the classification device 20, as shown in FIG. 15, it is confirmed whether or not the workpiece W is properly detached by the sensor 33 a installed on the installation ring 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 14, the guide mechanism 50 guides the workpiece W separated from the workpiece holding groove 32 by the separation mechanism 40 to the classification container group B. The guide mechanism 50 includes an attachment cylinder portion 51 installed on the other side cover body 38 and a guide hose 52 with one end attached to the attachment cylinder portion 51 and the other end connected to the classification container group B. . It is desirable that the guide hose 52 be formed of a soft material that does not damage the work W, such as a laceration, when the work W is blown out of air and sent out from the work holding groove 32. The guide hose 52 is installed so as to be connected to each of the classification container groups B installed according to the number of classifications. In addition, since the classification device 20 has the classification conveyance path of the workpiece W in the vertical circumferential direction, a drop with respect to the classification container group B becomes large and smoothly passes through the guide holding hose 52 from the workpiece holding groove 32. It can be sent to each container of the classification container group B.

  Also, in the work transport classification apparatus 1, the ranks to be classified are determined according to preset criteria by combining the results of inspection by a plurality of inspection mechanisms, and the result of the comprehensive inspection indicates the work W. It becomes level signal information which is a level at the time of classification, and is configured to be controlled by the control means 60 (see FIG. 16).

As shown in FIG. 16, the control means 60 includes an input unit 61, an update unit 62, a setting unit 63, a first storage unit 64, a second storage unit 65, a comparison determination unit 66, and an output unit 67. And.
The input unit 61 inputs the inspection result for each workpiece W sent from each inspection mechanism (13 to 15) and stores it in the second storage unit 65. Here, since the inspection results from a plurality of inspection mechanisms are sent, the input unit 61 is configured to include existing level signal generation means for making level signal information that integrates the inspection results. Yes. Therefore, the signal information output from the input unit 61 and stored in the second storage unit 65 is level signal information that allows the level of the workpiece W to be identified by the detachment mechanism 40. The level signal generating means for generating the level signal information is a publicly known one that outputs level signal information whose level is determined according to a preset condition, and is provided as a separate configuration before or after the input means. It doesn't matter.

  The update unit 62 updates the work position information in the second storage unit 65. The update unit 62 applies to each of the workpieces W (W1 to Wn) stored in the second storage unit 65 every time the classification conveyance body 31 is intermittently rotated at a predetermined angle once by the conveyance body drive unit 35. Update workpiece position information. The updating unit 62 generates a timing signal and outputs the timing signal to the comparison determination unit 66 and the comparison determination unit 75 of the suction control means 70 which will be described later. The classification device 20 advances the position of the workpiece W held in the workpiece holding groove 32 by one along the classification conveyance path when the classification conveyance body 31 is driven to rotate intermittently once. Therefore, the update unit 62 performs workpiece position information on each workpiece W (W1 to Wn) stored in the second storage unit 65 illustrated in FIG. 17 based on a signal (rotation signal) from the transport body driving unit 35. Is updated from “0” by one.

  The setting unit 63 sets each data input from an input means such as a keyboard in the first storage unit 64 (second storage unit 65). The setting unit 63 causes the first storage unit 64 to store information (W1 to Wn) for identifying each workpiece W, guide hose position information, classification level position information, and air outlet position information, for example, in a table format. Is stored and set (see FIG. 17). The guide hose position information is set from the position where the workpiece W is intermittently rotated and moved at a predetermined angle after being transferred to the workpiece holding groove 32 (here, the fifth to fifth positions are the guide hose positions). Position (refer to FIG. 17)), and the position at which the workpiece W is delivered to the position moved by intermittently rotating at a predetermined angle from the last position of the level (here, n to the fourth position) Is set to “0” (see FIG. 17). Therefore, the guide hose position information is set with the receiving position of the workpiece W as the reference “0” via the setting unit 63 by the input from the input means of the operator.

  The first storage unit 64 includes guide hose position information indicating the position of the guide hose 52, and air blowing indicating the position of the air injection nozzle (air blowing part) 41 installed respectively facing the opening of the guide hose 52. In addition to associating the part position information, classification level information in which the level of the work to be classified is preset is stored in association with each other. The first storage unit 64 is configured by a general device such as a memory, a hard disk, or an optical disk.

The second storage unit 65 associates level signal information indicating the classification level of each workpiece W as a result of the inspection with workpiece position information indicating the current position of each workpiece W corresponding to the position of the guide hose 52. And remember. The second storage unit 65 is configured by a general device such as a memory, a hard disk, or an optical disk.
As shown in FIG. 16, the comparison / determination unit 66 compares the classification level information with the level signal information based on the timing signal generated from the updating unit 62 (see “Comparison 1” in FIG. 17), and the guide hose position. The information and the updated workpiece position information are compared (see “Comparison 2” in FIG. 17) to determine whether or not they match.

  This comparison / determination unit 66 is configured to determine, as a trigger, a timing at which a timing signal generated from the update unit 62 is received. When the comparison / determination unit 66 determines that the pieces of information do not match, a signal indicating that the information does not match is output to the output unit 67 or no signal is output. Further, when the comparison / determination unit 66 determines that the above-described information matches, a signal indicating that the information matches is output to the output unit 67. Since the workpieces W1 to Wn are transferred to the workpiece holding groove 32 and the levels already classified are specified by the level signal information as shown in FIG. 17, each time the workpiece position information is updated, the comparison determination is made. It is determined by the unit 66 (see FIG. 16).

  The output unit 67 outputs a command signal for blowing air from the air injection nozzle 41 corresponding to the guide hose position information in the first storage unit 64 to the separation mechanism 40. The output unit 67 receives a signal from the comparison / determination unit 66, sends a command signal to the release mechanism 40 as to which air injection nozzle 41 should emit air, and is held in the workpiece holding groove 32. All the workpieces W (W1 to Wn) are forcibly separated when they arrive at a predetermined position, and are sent to the guide mechanism 50.

As shown in FIG. 17, as an example, a work W1 will be briefly described as follows.
That is, for the work W1, the level signal information is “20” in the second storage unit 65, and the current work position information is “4” in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, the work position information is sent from the transport body driving unit 35 every time it rotates intermittently at a predetermined angle. As shown in FIG. 17, the work position information in the first storage unit 64 is sent. Are incremented by "1". That is, it is indicated at this stage that the workpiece position information has been updated four times after the workpiece W1 is received in the workpiece holding groove 32. Then, in the first storage unit 64, the comparison / determination unit 66 has “20” as the classification level information corresponding to “20” of the level signal information, and “24” as the work position information corresponding to the classification level information. It is determined that both comparison 1 and comparison 2 match. Then, a signal is sent from the comparison determination unit 66 to the output unit 67 so that air is blown out from the air injection nozzle 41 of the air blowing unit position information “20” corresponding to “24” of the guide hose position information from the output unit 67. A command signal is output to the separation mechanism 40. Upon receiving the command signal, the detachment mechanism 40 emits air from the position of the air injection nozzle 41 commanded from the output unit 67, so that the workpiece W1 is passed through the guide hose 52 of the guide mechanism 50 as shown in FIG. The work W1 is stored and classified in the feed classification container group B.

Further, the classification device 20 has a difference in the suction force sucked by the suction pump 34d between when the workpiece W starts to be received in the workpiece holding groove 32 and when the workpiece W is held in the workpiece holding groove 32 to some extent. Even if there is, it is in a state where it can respond. Therefore, it is more convenient to configure the classification device 20 so as to control the suction force according to the situation in which the workpiece W is held in the workpiece holding groove 32, rather than always suctioning with a constant suction force set in advance. .
As shown in FIG. 18, the classification device 20 includes a suction control unit 70 and an atmospheric pressure measurement unit As. A pressure measuring means As is provided in the path from the suction communication chamber kr to the suction pump 34d, and a threshold value set in advance by the suction control means 70 based on the measured value sent from the pressure measuring means As. The level of the suction force of the suction pump 34d is controlled depending on whether or not the pressure exceeds.

  The suction control unit 70 is input from an input unit 71 for inputting a measurement value from the atmospheric pressure measurement unit As, a first storage unit 72 for storing the measurement value input by the input unit 71, and an input unit such as a keyboard. The setting unit 73 that sets the threshold value, the second storage unit 74 that stores the threshold value set by the setting unit 73, the measured value of the first storage unit 72, and the threshold value of the second storage unit 74 are compared. When the measured value exceeds the threshold value and the measured value becomes less than the threshold value as a result of comparison between the comparison determining unit 75 and the comparison determining unit 75, a control signal for controlling the suction force of the suction pump is generated. And an output unit 76 for outputting.

The atmospheric pressure measuring means As is installed in the suction path between the suction communication chamber kr and the suction pump 34d and measures the atmospheric pressure. As this atmospheric pressure measuring means As, a known one is used, and a measured value is sent to the input unit 71 at a predetermined timing (continuously or intermittently or by a timing signal).
The input unit 71 stores the measurement value sent from the atmospheric pressure measurement means As in the first storage unit 72 (rewrites and updates the storage) so that a new measurement value is always stored in the first storage unit 72. ing.

The 1st memory | storage part 72 memorize | stores a measured value, and memorize | stores data, such as flash memory and a hard disk.
The setting unit 73 sets a threshold value in the second storage unit 74 in advance via an input unit.
The second storage unit 74 stores a threshold value, and stores data such as a flash memory and a hard disk.

  The comparison determination unit 75 compares the measurement value in the first storage unit 72 with the threshold value in the second storage unit 74 based on the timing signal, and outputs the output if the measurement value does not exceed the threshold value that was initially set. The first signal is output to the output unit 76 to the unit 76, or nothing is output to the output unit 76. Further, the comparison determination unit 75 outputs the second signal to the output unit 76 when the measured value exceeds the threshold value. That is, the comparison determination unit 75 compares the threshold value with the measurement value and determines whether the measurement value is above or below the threshold value. The comparison determination unit 75 is set to perform the above-described comparison determination when a timing signal is sent from the update unit 62 (see FIG. 16) of the control means 60.

  The output unit 76 outputs a control signal for causing the suction pump 34d to switch the suction force when the signal sent from the comparison determination unit 75 or the signal has not been sent. The value of the suction force level of the suction pump 34d is switched by the control signal from the output unit 76, and the operation level of the suction pump 34d is switched. For example, when the signal is not sent from the comparison / determination unit 75 or when the first signal is sent, the output unit 76 has a strong suction force to the suction pump 34d. When the command signal is output and the second signal is sent from the comparison / determination unit 75, the command signal is output so that the suction pump 34d has a weak suction force.

  In the suction force of the suction pump 34d, the measurement value in the measurement path that is a negative pressure is a low value because the workpiece W is not held in the workpiece holding groove 32 at first. It is in a state of lowering, and a high level of suction is required. When the workpiece W starts to be held in the workpiece holding groove 32, the current suction force of the suction pump 34d gradually increases the measurement value in the measurement path. When the measured value exceeds the threshold value, it indicates that the number of locations where the workpiece W is held in the workpiece holding groove 32 and communicated with the atmosphere has decreased, not the current suction force of the suction pump 34d. However, the workpiece W can be held in the workpiece holding groove 32.

  That is, the threshold value is set in advance as a threshold value for the amount of the suction force of the suction pump that can be switched when the workpiece W is held in all the workpiece holding grooves 32. When exceeded, the suction force of the suction pump 34d is made smaller than the value at the start of operation. The work holding groove 32 is set in a state in which the work W can be held sufficiently even when the suction force of the suction pump 34d is switched. Therefore, when the measured value exceeds the threshold value, a command signal is output from the output unit 76 to the suction pump 34d by a signal from the comparison determination unit 75, the suction force of the suction pump 34d is reduced, and the measured value exceeds the threshold value. Control is performed to increase the suction force of the suction pump 34d when it exceeds the threshold value once it exceeds the threshold value. In FIG. 18, the suction pump 34d is controlled by comparing one threshold value with a measured value, but the operation level of the suction pump 34d is compared with the measured value for a plurality of threshold values in two stages. The configuration may be switched as described above.

  In addition, when the suction force of the suction pump 34d is switched, the suction communication chamber kr is interposed between the suction pump 34d and the communication passage 34a, so that the effect of switching the suction force is directly transmitted to the communication passage 34a side. This can reduce the impact of switching the suction force. Moreover, energy saving of the suction pump can be performed by switching the operation level of the suction pump 34d.

Next, the overall operation of the classification device 20 will be described.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, when the work W arrives at the position of the delivery means 7 </ b> A of the transport device 10, the classification device 20 has already rotated the classification transport body 31 by a predetermined angle by the transport body driving unit 35. Waiting is made so that the position of the work holding groove 32 becomes a position corresponding to the delivery means 7A, or the position of the work holding groove 32 is made coincident after the work W comes to the position of the delivery means 7A or simultaneously. . Then, since the suction means 34 is operating in a state where the position of the work holding groove 32 and the position of the delivery means 7A face each other, the handler 2 of the transport apparatus 10 releases the work W, so that the transport apparatus The workpiece W is delivered from the ten delivery means 7A to the workpiece holding groove 32 of the sorting device 20 by a suction operation. In the space between the delivery means 7A of the transport device 10 and the work holding groove 32 of the classification transport body 31, when the suction operation is performed by the suction means 34 of the classification device 20 by the upper surface cover body 7g and the lower surface cover body 7h of the delivery means 7A. In addition, it is configured in an enclosed space in which the workpiece W can be sucked and delivered. Therefore, the workpiece W is smoothly received in the workpiece holding groove 32.
When the workpiece W is transferred to the workpiece holding groove 32, the workpiece W is sucked into the suction hole of the workpiece holding groove 32 on the side surface. Whether or not the workpiece W has been delivered is detected by the receiving sensor S1.

  The classification apparatus 20 rotates the conveyance body driving unit 35 by a predetermined angle by driving the conveyance body driving unit 35, so that the workpiece holding grooves 32 sequentially rotate along the classification conveyance path, and face the installation ring 33. Will come to the position to do. Then, since the classification device 20 knows which classification level the workpiece W is classified by the result of inspection by each inspection mechanism installed along the inspection conveyance path of the conveyance device 10, the classification level When the workpiece W arrives at the position, air is ejected from the workpiece holding groove 32 through the separation mechanism 40 to separate the workpiece W. That is, when the workpiece W arrives at a predetermined position under the control of the control means 60 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the separation mechanism 40 separates the workpiece W. At this time, the air sent from the separation mechanism 40 is set to be larger than the force that sucks and holds the workpiece W in the workpiece holding groove 32. In the classification device 20, the workpiece W separated from the workpiece holding groove 32 by the separation mechanism 40 is classified into the classification container group B via the guide hose 52 of the guidance mechanism 50.

  In the classification device 20, when the conveyance body driving unit 35 rotates intermittently, the suction operation is performed so that the workpiece W is always sucked into the workpiece holding groove 32 by the suction means 34, and the workpiece holding groove. Even if the suction holes formed in the holes 32 are not sucking the workpiece W, the size of the suction holes or the suction force so as not to affect the suction operation of the workpieces W in the other workpiece holding grooves 32. Etc. are set. As already described with reference to FIG. 18, the suction force of the suction pump 34d is operated by switching the suction force of the suction pump 34d by comparing the measured value with the threshold value, thereby performing the energy saving operation of the suction pump 34d. Further, since the classification carrier 31 is provided with the chamber body 45, even if the suction communication chamber kr in the chamber body 45 is sucked by the suction pump 34d and has a negative pressure, the chamber body 45 is intermittently moved together. By rotating every predetermined angle, the operation of the classification device 20 can be performed smoothly.

Next, the overall operation of the work transfer classification apparatus 1 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the workpiece conveyance sorting device 1 receives the workpiece W aligned by the alignment device SM to the handler 2 of the conveyance device 10 via the receiving unit 7. When the conveying device 10 receives the workpiece W to the handler 2 and performs a suction operation in the receiving means 7, the conveying device 10 is sucked so that the workpiece W comes into contact with the fixed portion 4 from the aligning device SM and the side surface of the workpiece W is moved by the movable portion 3. The workpiece W is held by clamping. When the workpiece W is sandwiched between the handlers 2, the workpiece W is positioned at a reference position in the horizontal plane. Therefore, the conveyance apparatus 10 conveys the workpiece | work W along the test | inspection conveyance path | route in the state always maintained at the reference position in a horizontal surface.

In the workpiece transfer classification apparatus 1, the handler 2 can always hold the workpiece W at the reference position in the horizontal plane without considering the vertical direction, so that the workpiece receiving operation can be performed accurately and quickly.
The conveyance apparatus 10 moves (conveys) the workpiece W sandwiched by the handler 2 along the inspection conveyance path by intermittently rotating the conveyance support 5 at every predetermined angle set in advance. Here, the transport apparatus 10 first holds the workpiece W between the handler 2 as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B when the transport support 5 is rotated by a predetermined angle on the air blow mechanism 11. The upper surface on which the light emitting part of the workpiece W is formed is cleaned by blowing air.

  Next, the conveyance device 10 and the conveyance support 5 are rotated intermittently (intermittently) by a predetermined angle, and the workpiece W sandwiched by the handler 2 is brought to the position of the electrode determination mechanism 12. When it is detected by a sensor or the like (not shown) that the workpiece W has arrived at the position of the electrode determination mechanism 12, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the probe portion 12c is raised and the vertical reference position setting means The eight workpiece contact portions 8a are lowered to fix the peripheral side of the upper surface of the workpiece W. When the workpiece W is fixed, when the probe portion 12c comes into contact with the electrode on the lower surface of the workpiece W, the electrode determination operation is performed in a state where the workpiece W is positioned at the reference position in the vertical direction.

  When the probe unit 12c comes into contact with the electrode of the workpiece W and is irradiated with light from the workpiece W, the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus 1 determines that the posture of the workpiece W held by the handler 2 is normal by a control unit (not shown). As a result of the determination, the workpiece W is conveyed to the next light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13 side by the handler 2 without delivering the workpiece W to the workpiece reversing means 9. Further, when the workpiece 12 is not irradiated with light even when the probe unit 12c comes into contact with the electrode of the workpiece W, the workpiece conveyance classification device 1 has the posture of the workpiece W in the opposite state of 180 degrees in the horizontal plane. This is determined by a control unit (not shown). The light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13 then sends a control signal to the handler 2 so that the work W is delivered to the mounting table 9a when the handler 2 holding the work W comes to the position of the work reversing means 9. Is output to a control unit (not shown) that controls.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D, when the handler 2 holding the workpiece W arrives at the position of the workpiece reversing means 9, the movable portion 3 moves to receive the workpiece W by the workpiece reversing means 9. hand over. The workpiece reversing means 9 that has received the workpiece W sucks and holds the workpiece W by the workpiece holding portion 9b of the placement table 9a, and the rotation portion 9c causes the placement table 9a to rotate at the rotation timing of the transport support 5 (the movement timing of the handler 2). ), The workpiece W is rotated 180 degrees in parallel with the transport support 5. And the handler 2 receives again the workpiece | work W which became the correct attitude | position from the mounting table 9a. Therefore, the workpiece transfer classification apparatus 1 can work without reducing the rotation speed of the transfer support 5 provided with the handler 2. The workpiece W having the correct posture is inspected by the light emitting surface inspection mechanism 13 while being held by the handler 2, the light intensity and electrode characteristics are inspected by the photoelectric property inspection mechanism 14, and the color tone light beam inspection mechanism 15. The color tone and the total luminous flux are inspected (see FIG. 9), and it is determined which one of the preset classification ranks is to be obtained.

  In the inspection mechanism that performs inspection by irradiating light from the workpiece W, the vertical reference position setting means 8 sets the vertical reference position of the workpiece W, and the workpiece W is sandwiched by the handler 2 so that the workpiece W is clamped. In the state where the horizontal reference position is set, the inspection is always performed. Therefore, the workpiece conveyance classification device 1 can quickly and accurately determine the position of the electrode of the workpiece W and inspect the light state of the workpiece. And in the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus 1, since the position of the workpiece | work W when inspecting the workpiece | work W in the inspection conveyance path | route in a horizontal direction becomes fixed, an inspection result is stabilized. Moreover, the workpiece conveyance speed in the inspection conveyance route can be increased as compared with the conventional apparatus, and each inspection of the workpiece can be performed quickly. Furthermore, since the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus conveys the workpiece by holding the side surface of the workpiece by the fixed portion and the movable portion of the handler, the workpiece conveyance classification device can cope with an increase in the conveyance speed and a surface that cannot contact the workpiece.

  In the work transport classification device 1, the inspected work W is sequentially transported to the position of the delivery means 7A by the intermittent (intermittent) rotation of the transport support 5. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, when the workpiece W arrives at the position of the delivery means 7 </ b> A and the movable portion 3 of the handler 2 is moved to release the workpiece W from the handler 2, it is formed on the classification transport body 31 of the classification device 20. The workpiece W is sucked into the workpiece holding groove 32 by the suction means 34, and the workpiece W is transferred from the transport device 10 to the sorting device 20. The workpiece transfer classification device 1 surrounds the position where the workpiece W is held by the delivery means 7A with the upper surface cover body 7g and the lower surface cover body 7h, so that the workpiece W is transferred to the handler of the transfer device 10 by the suction operation of the classification device 20. 2 can be accurately and quickly transferred to the work holding groove 32 of the classification device 20.

  The classification device 20 that has received the workpiece W intermittently (intermittently) moves the workpiece W along the classification conveyance path in the vertical direction, and when the workpiece W arrives at a predetermined position, the workpiece W from each inspection mechanism. The separation mechanism 40 is controlled by the control means 60 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 in accordance with the signal indicating the classification rank, and air is blown by the separation mechanism 40 so as to be forcibly separated from the workpiece holding groove 32. (Refer to FIG. 11), it is sent out along the guide hose 52 of the guide mechanism 50 and separated into a predetermined position of the classification container group B (refer to FIG. 10).

  By performing the operation as described above for each workpiece W, the workpiece conveyance classifier 1 classifies the workpiece W according to a preset reference. In the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus 1, the state in which the workpiece W is held by the handler 2 is the reference position in the horizontal direction, and the reference in the vertical direction is set by the vertical reference position setting means 8 in a state in which the workpiece is inspected by each inspection mechanism. Position. Therefore, the workpiece transfer classification apparatus 1 can quickly transfer the workpiece W and can quickly perform the operation when inspecting. Moreover, in the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus 1, since the inspection conveyance path and the classification conveyance path are performed in a direction orthogonal to 90 degrees, space saving can be realized.

  The work transport classification device performs inspection while transporting along the circumferential inspection transport path in the horizontal plane, and performs classification while transporting along the circumferential transport path in the vertical plane. Therefore, the distance of the classification transport path to the classification container can be shortened. For this reason, the work transfer classification apparatus requires a small work space, and does not damage the work during movement of the classification transfer path.

  Since the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus is configured to be able to photograph the side surface of the workpiece when the classification conveyance path is moved by the classification device, it can be determined by imaging the appearance state of the workpiece by the imaging means.

  In the work transport classification device 1, each inspection mechanism and the like arranged on the inspection transport path can be arbitrarily selected. If there is a receiving means 7, a work reversing means 9, and any one of the inspection mechanisms, the work It is possible to perform W classification work. Moreover, in the workpiece conveyance classification apparatus 1, since the classification level for classifying the workpiece W is set in advance and sent to the classification case, the number that can be classified can be arbitrarily set to 2 to 100, for example. Furthermore, the classification device 20 may be configured to be arranged in the horizontal direction. In the handler 2, the first contact portion 4a and the second contact portion 4b (4c) are provided on the fixed portion 4 side. However, the shape of the movable portion 3 is changed to an L shape. The vertical surface of the shape is used as the first contact portion, the L-shaped horizontal surface is formed as the second contact portion, and the surface of the fixed portion facing the first contact portion is also used as the third contact portion. I do not care.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Work conveyance classification apparatus 2 Handler 3 Movable part 3a 3rd contact part 4 Fixed part 4a 1st contact part 4b 2nd contact part 4c Insulator 5 Conveyance support body 6 Rotation drive mechanism 7 Receiving means 7A Delivery means 8 Up and down Direction reference position setting means 9 Work reversing means 10 Conveying device 11 Air blow mechanism 12 Electrode determination mechanism 13 Light emitting surface inspection mechanism 14 Photoelectricity characteristic inspection mechanism (light characteristic inspection mechanism)
15 Color Tone Inspection System (Light Characteristics Inspection Mechanism)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Classification apparatus 30 Classification conveyance mechanism 31 Classification conveyance body 32 Work holding groove 36 One side surface cover body 38 Other side surface cover body 40 Separation mechanism 45 Chamber body 46 Attachment part 47 Connection support plate 50 Guide mechanism 60 Control means 61 Input part 62 Update part 63 setting unit 64 first storage unit 65 second storage unit 66 comparison determination unit 67 output unit 70 suction control means 71 input unit 72 first storage unit 73 setting unit 74 second storage unit 75 comparison determination unit 76 output unit As pressure measurement Means B Classification container group SM Alignment device W Workpiece

Claims (5)

A classification device that receives a workpiece from the conveyance device after the workpiece is inspected by an inspection mechanism arranged along an inspection conveyance path of the conveyance device, and classifies the workpiece through a control unit according to the inspection result. ,
The rotation is intermittently driven at a predetermined angle, and the classification conveyance mechanism in which the work holding groove is formed on the peripheral surface of the disc-shaped classification conveyance body, and provided adjacent to one side surface of the classification conveyance mechanism, A separation mechanism that blows and detaches air from the air blowing portion to the work held in the work holding groove when it arrives at a classification position classified by the inspection result of the work, and the other side surface of the classification transport mechanism A guide mechanism that is arranged along a classification transport path and guides the workpiece separated by the separation mechanism to a classification container installed outside the apparatus by a guide hose provided at a position facing the air blowing unit. Prepared,
The classification conveying body is formed with an opening of a communication path communicating with the work holding groove on an inner peripheral side from the work holding groove, and a side surface cover body for attaching the release mechanism to a side surface where the opening of the communication path is formed A chamber body, spaced apart between
The chamber body has an outer peripheral end abutted between the workpiece holding groove and the opening of the communication path, and forms a suction communication chamber together with a side surface of the classification transport body. A classification device that receives a workpiece from the conveyance device after the workpiece is inspected by an inspection mechanism arranged along an inspection conveyance path of the conveyance device, and classifies the workpiece through a control unit according to the inspection result. ,
A classification conveyance mechanism that sets the classification conveyance path of the workpiece in a preset circumferential direction, and a classification that is arranged along the classification conveyance path on one side of the classification conveyance mechanism and is classified according to the inspection result of the workpiece A separation mechanism that blows air away from the workpiece held by the classification conveyance mechanism when it arrives at the position, and is arranged along the classification conveyance path on the other side of the classification conveyance mechanism, and is separated by the separation mechanism A guide mechanism that guides the workpiece to a classification container installed outside the apparatus,
The classification transport mechanism includes a disc-shaped classification transport body in which work holding grooves for receiving and holding a work from the transport device are formed at predetermined intervals on a peripheral surface, and the work holding groove provided on one surface side of the classification transport body. A chamber body that forms a suction communication chamber that communicates with each other, and a transport driving mechanism that intermittently rotates the classification transport body and the chamber body at predetermined angles,
The separation mechanism has one side cover body that faces one side surface of the classification transport body and is provided adjacent to and separated from the side surface, and an air blowing section that is provided on the one side cover body at a predetermined interval along the classification transport path. And
The guide mechanism is provided so as to face the other side surface of the classification transport body and be adjacently spaced from the other side cover body, and provided on the other side surface cover body so as to face the air blowing portion. A guide hose for guiding the workpiece,
The chamber body is formed together with a flange portion formed in the center and connected to the rotation shaft of the transport driving mechanism, an attachment portion provided around the flange portion and attached to the classification transport body, and a side surface of the classification transport body. The suction communication chamber
The outer peripheral end of the chamber body is provided in contact with a position between the work holding groove of the classification transport body and the opening of the communication path communicating with the work holding groove on the inner peripheral side of the work holding groove. Classification apparatus characterized by that. The classification carrier is provided with a connection support plate connected to a suction pump installed outside at a position opposite to the chamber body,
The connection support plate includes a mounting hole provided at a position facing the mounting portion of the chamber body on a peripheral side thereof, and a support that rotatably supports the connection hose of the suction pump at the center of the connection support plate. The classification device according to claim 1, further comprising a connection portion connected via a joint. The control means includes guide hose position information indicating a position of the guide hose installed from a position where the work is intermittently rotated and moved at a predetermined angle after the work is transferred to the work holding groove, and A first storage unit that associates air blowing unit position information indicating the position of the air blowing unit installed in each of the guide hoses, and associates and stores classification level information in which the level of the work to be classified is set in advance; ,
A second storage unit that stores level signal information indicating the level of classification of each of the workpieces as a result of inspection, and workpiece position information indicating the current position of each of the workpieces corresponding to the position of the guide hose;
An input unit for inputting the level signal information of each of the workpieces from the inspection mechanism to the second storage unit;
An update unit that updates the workpiece position information for each of the workpieces stored in the second storage unit each time the classification transporter is intermittently rotated at a predetermined angle once by the transport driving mechanism;
Based on a timing signal generated from the updating unit when the updating unit performs updating, the guide hose position information in the first storage unit is compared with the updated workpiece position information in the second storage unit. A comparison determination unit that compares the classification level information of the first storage unit and the level signal information of the second storage unit to determine whether or not they match.
When the comparison / determination unit compares the guide hose position information with the workpiece position information and determines that they match, and compares the classification level information with level signal information and determines that they match, the first storage unit The output part which outputs the command signal which blows off air from the air blowing part corresponding to this guide hose position information to the said detachment | desorption mechanism, It is any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Sorter.   Measuring means for measuring atmospheric pressure at any position from the suction communication chamber to the suction path of the suction pump, and when a value measured by the measuring means exceeds a preset threshold value, or 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: suction control means for sending a signal for operating the suction pump at each preset level when the measured value falls below the threshold value. The classification device according to claim 3.

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