JP5569257B2 - Work posture inspection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a workpiece posture inspection device that detects the posture of a workpiece conveyed along a workpiece conveyance path, and more particularly to a workpiece posture inspection device that optimizes posture determination.

  The workpiece posture inspection device is a device that detects the posture of a workpiece in order to exclude a workpiece that is not in a predetermined posture from workpieces that are conveyed along a workpiece conveyance path by a workpiece conveyance device such as a parts feeder that supplies and conveys the workpiece. . In such a workpiece posture inspection apparatus, as shown in Patent Document 1 and FIG. 5, a region Ar for aligning the workpieces W in a line in the conveyance direction along the track surface 111 is set in a part of the workpiece conveyance path 101. A light-projecting arrival sensor 120 and a posture discrimination sensor 121 for detecting the posture of the workpiece W to be inspected among the workpieces W that have entered the area Ar. This is an apparatus for determining the posture of each workpiece W based on the detection result of the posture determination sensor 121 when it is detected that W has reached the inspection position.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the posture of the workpiece W is the predetermined posture p1, the light projected by the light emitting unit (not shown) of the arrival sensor 120 is blocked by the workpiece W and arrives. The light projected by the light emitting unit (not shown) of the posture determination sensor 121 is not blocked by the work W when it is detected that the work W has reached the inspection position because it is not received by the light receiving unit (not shown) of the sensor 120 for use. The positional relationship between the arrival sensor 120 and the posture determination sensor 121 is set so that the light is received by a light receiving unit (not shown) of the posture determination sensor 121. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the posture of the workpiece W is an abnormal posture p2 that is not the predetermined posture p1, the posture determination is performed when the arrival sensor 120 detects that the workpiece W has reached the inspection position. The positional relationship between the arrival sensor 120 and the posture determination sensor 121 is set so that the light projected by the light emitting portion of the sensor 121 is blocked by the workpiece W and is not received by the light receiving portion (not shown) of the posture determination sensor 121. ing. Then, when the single workpiece W to be inspected reaches the inspection position, it is determined to be the predetermined posture p1 when it is received by the posture determination sensor 121, and when it is not received, it is determined not to be the predetermined posture p1. doing.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-306012

  However, in the conventional workpiece posture inspection apparatus as described above, posture inspection processing is performed for each single workpiece, and there is a limit in shortening the response time of the system required for one posture inspection processing. There is an upper limit to the number of work pieces that can be inspected per hour, that is, the processing capacity.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a work posture inspection apparatus in which the number of work pieces that can be inspected per unit time is increased to improve the processing ability. It is.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention takes the following measures.

  That is, the workpiece posture inspection apparatus according to the present invention targets workpieces having different connection lengths when connected in a predetermined posture along a predetermined track surface and when a part of which has a different posture exists. A workpiece posture inspection apparatus, wherein an area for bringing workpieces into contact with each other along a raceway surface is set on a workpiece conveyance path, and a rear end from a leading workpiece to be inspected among workpieces entering the region A determination unit is provided that determines that a workpiece not in a predetermined posture is included in a workpiece to be inspected when all the connected dimensions along the track surface up to the workpiece do not match a predetermined dimension when the workpiece is in a predetermined posture. Features.

  In this way, the work conveyance path is set with an area where the works are brought into contact with each other along the raceway surface, and among the works that have entered the area, from the first work to be inspected to the rear work. When all the connected dimensions along the raceway surface do not match the predetermined dimensions when they are in the predetermined posture, it is determined that the workpiece to be inspected includes a workpiece that is not in the predetermined posture. The workpiece can be inspected by a single inspection process, and the processing capability can be improved by increasing the number of workpieces that can be inspected per unit time.

  In order to improve reliability by preventing erroneous determination due to a response delay of the system, the determination unit includes a stopper configured to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the workpiece on the conveyance path and stop the movement of the workpiece to be inspected. Is preferably determined with the workpiece stopped by the stopper.

  In the present invention, as described above, the work conveyance path is set with a region where the workpieces are brought into contact with each other and connected along the raceway surface, and among the workpieces that have entered the region, the first workpiece to be inspected If the connected dimensions along the raceway surface from the workpiece to the rear end workpiece do not match the predetermined dimensions when they are all in the predetermined posture, it is determined that the workpiece to be inspected includes a workpiece that is not in the predetermined posture. On the other hand, it is possible to inspect the presence or absence of a workpiece that is not in a predetermined posture by a single inspection process, and to increase the number of workpieces that can be inspected per unit time, thereby improving the processing capability. Therefore, it is possible to provide a workpiece posture inspection apparatus suitable for high efficiency.

The top view which shows typically the workpiece | work attitude | position inspection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view corresponding to FIG. 1. Explanatory drawing about a workpiece. The flowchart which shows the determination control processing routine. Explanatory drawing which shows the conventional attitude | position determination method. The figure which shows the workpiece | work which can apply this invention.

  Hereinafter, a workpiece posture inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the workpiece posture inspection apparatus moves a plate-like workpiece W that has a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view to a workpiece conveyance device Pf such as a parts feeder that is arranged and moved by vibration to be supplied to a desired supply destination. An abnormality that is applied and is not a predetermined posture p1 among the workpieces W (W ₁ , W ₂ , W ₃ , W ₄ ) conveyed along the conveyance path 1 that communicates the discharge unit Pf1 of the parts feeder Pf and the supply destination. a device for determining the attitude of the workpiece W in order to eliminate the work W ₃ such attitude p2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the workpiece W transported in the present embodiment has a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view and is formed with two holes W _h, and a plurality of workpieces W along the track surface 11 constituting the workpiece transport path 1. of when connecting the workpiece W ₁ to _W-4, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), all the connecting length D ₂ when the articulated at a predetermined position p1, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), one and connecting the length D ₁ of the when the posture resides different workpieces are different in part. This is because the workpiece W does not overlap with the adjacent workpiece W in the transport direction when the posture of the workpiece W is the predetermined posture p1, but overlaps with the adjacent workpiece in the transport direction when the posture of the workpiece W is not the predetermined posture p1. There is a difference in the connection length of the whole series of workpieces.

The workpiece posture inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment performs posture inspection using the characteristics of the workpiece W described above. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the workpiece W is brought into contact with the workpiece conveyance path 1. it sets the area Ar articulating along the raceway surface 11, connecting dimension D along the track surface 11 from the leading workpiece W ₁ to be inspected of the workpiece W which has entered the region Ar to the rear workpiece W ₄ but if it does not match the predetermined dimension D ₂ when all shown in FIG. 3 (b) it is a predetermined posture p1, contains workpiece to be inspected workpiece W ₁ to _W-4 is not a predetermined orientation p1 abnormal posture p2 The determination part 2 which determines that it exists is provided.

  Specifically, the workpiece conveyance path 1 has a groove shape for accommodating the workpiece W as shown in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 2, the groove bottom 10 moves from the conveyance direction upstream portion 1a to the conveyance direction downstream portion 1b. The workpiece W is disposed so as to be inclined downward, receives the workpiece W discharged from the discharge portion Pf1 of the workpiece transfer device Pf such as a parts feeder at one end portion (upstream portion 1a in the transfer direction), and supplies the received workpiece W The workpiece W is moved by its own weight to the other end (the downstream portion 1b in the transport direction). As shown in FIG. 1, the groove width L <b> 1 of the groove portion constituting the conveyance path 1 is set to a width that allows only a single workpiece W to move along the conveyance direction, and grooves on both sides of the groove bottom 10. At least one groove wall of the walls 11 and 12 is used as a raceway surface 11, and the groove bottom 10 is inclined downward toward the raceway surface 11 so that the raceway surface 11 and the workpiece W are always in contact with each other by the weight of the workpiece W. A plurality of workpieces W are arranged in a line along the track surface 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an inspection stopper 40 using a pin cylinder configured to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the workpiece W in the conveyance path 1 and to stop the movement of the workpiece W by engaging with the workpiece W. In addition, a stopper 41 for stopping supply is provided. Inspection stopper 40, by stopping the movement of the leading workpiece W ₁ engages the top workpiece W ₁ to be inspected, a subsequent workpiece W ₂ to _W-4 and the raceway surfaces of the top workpiece W ₁ to be sequentially transported 11 are connected. That is, an area Ar is set on the work conveyance path 1 so that the works W are brought into contact with each other along the track surface 11. The supply stop stopper 41 is arranged on the upstream side of the inspection stopper 40, and a new work W is supplied to a plurality of inspection objects W _{1 to} W ₄ whose movement is stopped by the inspection stopper 40. It is to prevent that.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, on the upstream side of the inspection stopper 40, four workpieces to be inspected that have entered the area Ar of the workpiece conveyance path 1 and stopped moving by the inspection stopper 40. rear work detecting unit 20 for detecting the rear end workpiece _{W 4} of W ₁ to _W-4 is provided. The rear end workpiece detection unit 20 constitutes the determination unit 2 described above, and the rear end workpiece W ₄ is detected only when all the workpieces W _{1 to} W ₄ to be inspected are in the predetermined posture p1. the positional relationship is set in advance of the inspection stopper 40, when all the connecting dimension D along the track surface 11 from the leading workpiece W ₁ to the rear workpiece W ₄ to be inspected is the predetermined posture p1 when matching the predetermined dimension D _2, it made the detection of the rear end the workpiece W ₄ by the rear end work detecting unit 20, so that is not made the detection of the rear end the workpiece W ₄ by the rear end work detecting unit 20 when they do not match It is configured. Specifically, the rear-end workpiece detection unit 20 includes a light emitting unit 20a and a light receiving unit 20b that are disposed at positions sandwiching the workpiece W in the conveyance path 1, and light emitted from the light emitting unit 20a is applied to the workpiece W. through a hole (not shown) formed in the groove bottom 10 which constitutes formed holes W _h and conveying path 1 to detect the trailing edge workpiece W ₄ on whether received by the light receiving portion 20b. As shown in FIG. 3B, when all the workpieces W _{1 to} W ₄ to be inspected are in the predetermined posture p1, the light output from the light emitting unit 20a passes through the hole W _h of the rear end workpiece W _4. to make it, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the light output from the light emitting portion 20a when the workpiece W ₁ to _W-4 to be inspected work W ₂ of a predetermined posture p1 other abnormal posture p2 exists There are to be shielded at the rear workpiece W _4. Of course, for example, by imaging the workpiece to be inspected by the imaging means such as a camera, a connecting dimension D along the track surface 11 from the leading workpiece W ₁ to the rear workpiece W ₄ to be inspected based on the image captured You may comprise so that it may measure.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a passage sensor 43 that detects the number of workpieces W that have passed through the conveyance path 1 is provided downstream of the inspection stopper 40. The configuration of the passage sensor 43 uses a light projection type sensor similar to the rear end workpiece detection unit 20.

The control unit 21 shown in FIG. 2 constitutes the above-described determination unit 2, and the workpiece W to be inspected based on detection signals from the driving of the stoppers 40 and 41, the rear end workpiece detection unit 20, and the passage sensor 43. ₁ to to _W-4 performs a series of a process for determining whether includes a work not a predetermined posture p1. The control unit 21 is configured by a normal microcomputer having a CPU, a memory, and an interface, and a determination control processing routine shown in FIG. 4 is written in the memory. The CPU calls and executes a necessary program as appropriate. As a result, the intended inspection process is executed in cooperation with peripheral hardware resources.

That is, Dike the movement of the leading workpiece W ₁ and engaged so a work W as an inspection object by the test stopper 40 in a position to work and engagement on the conveying path 1 (step S1 in FIG. 4). When the workpieces W _{1 to} W ₄ to be inspected are brought into contact and connected, a plurality of workpieces W _{1 to} W ₄ to be inspected are brought to a position where the supply stop stopper 41 is engaged with the workpiece on the conveyance path 1. Are prevented from being newly supplied (processing S2 in FIG. 4). It determines whether rear workpiece W ₄ at the rear work detecting unit 20 is detected (process S3 in FIG. 4).

When the trailing end workpiece _{W 4} at the rear work detecting unit 20 is not detected (the process of Figure 4 S3: NO), namely articulation dimension D along the track surface 11 from the leading workpiece _{W 1} to the rear workpiece _{W 4} is, If all of the work W ₁ to _W-4 does not match the predetermined dimension D ₂ when a predetermined posture p1 is the work of the workpiece W ₁ to _W-4 is not a predetermined orientation p1 abnormal posture p2 to be tested are mixed It is determined that the process is in progress, and the process is stopped by informing the outside through a notification means such as a speaker or a display (process S8 in FIG. 4).

On the other hand, if the trailing workpiece _{W 4} is detected at the rear work detecting unit 20 in the process S3 (process of FIG. 4 S3: YES), i.e. along the raceway surface 11 of the top workpiece _{W 1} to the rear workpiece _{W 4} concatenated dimension D is, when all of the work W ₁ to _W-4 to be inspected matches a predetermined dimension D ₂ determined in advance when a predetermined posture p1, all of the work W ₁ to W-be inspected ₄ is determined to be a predetermined posture p1 (processing of FIG. 4 S4), an inspection stopper 40 conveying path 1 on the workpiece and the workpiece W ₁ to _W-4 inspected is retracted from the engaging position to the downstream Move (process S5 in FIG. 4). Inspected workpiece _W 1 to _W-4 that has passed is determined whether detected by the passage sensor 43 (the processing in FIG. 4 S6), the passage of the inspected workpiece _W 1 to _W-4 in the passage sensor 43 If it is detected (step S6 in FIG. 4: YES), the inspection stopper 40 is moved again to the position where it engages with the workpiece on the conveyance path 1, and the supply stop stopper 41 is released to perform the next inspection. The target workpiece is moved to the inspection stopper 40 (step S7 in FIG. 4). As described above, the processes S1 to S7 for inspecting the postures of a plurality of workpieces in one inspection process are repeatedly executed.

As described above, the workpiece posture inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment has different connection lengths when connected in a predetermined posture p1 along a predetermined track surface 11 and when a portion having a different posture exists. A workpiece posture inspection apparatus for inspecting a workpiece W, which sets an area Ar in which the workpieces W _{1 to} W ₄ are brought into contact with each other along the track surface 11 on the workpiece conveyance path 1, and in the area Ar If the connecting dimension D along the track surface 11 from the leading workpiece W ₁ to the rear workpiece W ₄ to be inspected of entering the workpiece W does not coincide with the predetermined dimension D ₂ when all is a predetermined posture p1 to The determination unit 2 that determines that the workpieces W _{1 to} W ₄ to be inspected include a workpiece that is not in the predetermined posture p1 is provided.

As described above, the work Ar is set in the work transport path 1 so that the works W are brought into contact with each other along the track surface 11, and the first work to be inspected among the works W that have entered the area Ar. predetermined orientation does not match the predetermined dimension D _2, the workpiece W ₁ to _W-4 to be inspected when connecting dimension D along the track surface 11 from W ₁ to the rear workpiece W ₄ are all predetermined posture p1 Since it is determined that a workpiece that is not p1 is included, the presence or absence of a workpiece that is not in a predetermined posture p1 can be inspected for a plurality of workpieces W _{1 to} W ₄ by a single inspection process, and the number of workpieces that can be inspected per unit time is increased. It is possible to improve the processing capability.

Further, in this embodiment, is movably configured with respect to the workpiece W in the conveying path 1, comprising a stopper 40 for stopping the movement of the workpiece W ₁ to _W-4 to be inspected, the determination section 2, the stopper 40 Since determination is performed in a state where the workpieces W _{1 to} W ₄ are stopped, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination due to a delay in the response of the system and improve reliability. In particular, although time loss occurs when the workpiece W is stopped, in this embodiment, batch processing is performed to inspect the presence or absence of a workpiece that is not in the predetermined posture p1 in units of a plurality of workpieces W _{1 to} W _4. The reliability can be improved accurately without degrading the overall processing capability as compared with the conventional method.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described based on drawing, it should be thought that a specific structure is not limited to these embodiment. The scope of the present invention is shown not only by the above description of the embodiments but also by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

For example, in the present embodiment, a light projection type sensor that detects a workpiece based on whether or not the projected light is shielded by the workpiece as the rear end workpiece detection unit 20 is used. The present invention can also be applied to a reflection type sensor that receives light by reflection, and the type of sensor is not particularly limited. It may also be configured to measure the articulation dimension D along the track surface 11 from the leading workpiece W ₁ to the rear workpiece W ₄ by the imaging means or other dimensions measuring means without using the sensor. Further, the number of workpieces to be inspected in one inspection process is not limited to four as in this embodiment as long as it is at least two or more. For example, when the frequency of the presence of workpieces in the abnormal posture p2 that is not the predetermined posture p1 is low, such as one per thousand to several tens of thousands, the inspection is performed by increasing the number of workpieces to be inspected once. It is also possible to pursue improvements in capabilities.

  The workpiece to which the present invention is applicable can be used in the present embodiment as long as the connection length is different between when the workpiece is connected along a predetermined track surface 11 in a predetermined posture and when a workpiece having a different posture exists. The workpiece is not limited to the substantially trapezoidal work in plan view described above in FIG. 6A. For example, a work W ′ such as an LED shown in FIG. 6A, a cylindrical work W ″ having a hollow portion shown in FIG. There are various works.

  The specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Work conveyance path 11 ... Track surface 2 ... Determination part 40 ... Stopper (stopper for inspection)
W ... Work W ₁ , W ₂ , W ₃ , W ₄ ... Work W ₁ to be inspected ... Lead work W ₄ ... Rear end work D ... Connection dimensions

Claims (2)

A workpiece posture inspection device for inspecting workpieces having different connection lengths when connected in a predetermined posture along a predetermined track surface and when a portion of which has a different posture exists,
In the workpiece conveyance path, a region is set in which the workpieces are brought into contact with each other along the raceway surface, and the workpieces that have entered the region along the raceway surface from the first workpiece to the rear end workpiece to be inspected. A workpiece posture inspection apparatus, comprising: a determination unit that determines that a workpiece that is not in a predetermined posture is included in a workpiece to be inspected when all the connected dimensions do not coincide with a predetermined size in a predetermined posture. It is configured to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the workpiece in the workpiece conveyance path, and has a stopper that stops the movement of the workpiece to be inspected.
The work posture inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit makes a determination in a state where movement of the work is stopped by the stopper.

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