JP5824863B2 - Work posture conversion device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a workpiece posture changing device for changing the direction of a workpiece conveyed along a production line.

  Conventionally, many techniques for supplying and transporting workpieces continuously in a production line in a factory have been disclosed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a component supply device as a linear part feeder that conveys a workpiece in one direction using vibration. In the component supply apparatus, the component is taken out from the component storage unit and conveyed in one direction along the conveyance path, and the posture of the component being conveyed is detected. The posture is corrected by spouting.

  However, even if the components are conveyed while aligning the postures of the parts as described above, it may be more convenient to invert the workpiece postures depending on the next process. For this purpose, it is necessary to convert the posture of the workpiece once aligned in a certain direction into another posture.

  As such a workpiece posture changing device, for example, a device like Patent Document 2 is known. This is a device for turning the aligned workpieces upside down, and a spiral groove is formed on the surface of a cylindrical member over a half circumference. Then, by passing between the inlet and the outlet of the groove, the workpiece is conveyed in the axial direction and turned upside down.

JP 2007-276993 A JP-A-9-2641

  However, since the groove | channel formed in the surface of the column-shaped member of the said workpiece | work attitude | position conversion apparatus changes the direction largely spirally, the workpiece | work support state by a groove | channel inner surface is advanced as it advances inside this groove | channel. May be unstable and may become unstable, and it is expected that these problems will be more noticeable when handling small and light workpieces.

  Due to the instability of the support of the workpiece inside the groove, the workpiece is likely to jump out when there is no cover covering the groove. In addition, when a cover is provided, the workpiece is likely to be clogged between the groove and the cover, and the workpiece is sufficiently supported when transport is stopped and the cover is removed to remove the clogged workpiece. Since it is not stable and it is unstable, all the workpieces inside the groove will fall.

  The workpiece may be damaged by jumping or dropping due to the instability of the support of the workpiece inside the groove as described above. In addition, the work that has jumped out or dropped may be mixed into an adjacent apparatus in another process, causing an unexpected apparatus trouble and increasing the work time required for maintenance.

  An object of the present invention is to effectively solve such a problem. Specifically, by stabilizing the support state of the work in the groove and smoothly carrying the work, the work is jammed or popped out. It is an object of the present invention to provide a workpiece posture changing device that does not cause a reduction in the number of man-hours required for maintenance work.

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

That is, the workpiece posture conversion device of the present invention performs posture conversion of the workpiece while conveying the workpiece along the conveyance path, and the conveyance path has a plurality of rectangular cross sections that regulate the posture of the workpiece by the inner surface. The conveying grooves are connected in the workpiece conveying direction, and each conveying groove is clockwise or counterclockwise so that the opening direction is between the upward direction and the horizontal direction along the workpiece conveying direction. It is formed so as to be twisted in any one direction around it, and at the connecting part between the conveying grooves, the inner surface of the conveying groove on the upstream side and the downstream side with the connecting part as a boundary is smoothly continuous, and the downstream side After switching the opening direction of the side conveying groove upward with respect to the opening direction of the upstream conveying groove, the downstream conveying groove is twisted in the same direction as the upstream conveying groove. Are shape formed in said cover member for covering the conveying path is provided, characterized in that the inner surface of the cover member facing the bottom surface of the conveying groove is formed on a plane in the beginning and near the end of the respective conveying grooves And

  If comprised in this way, while changing the attitude | position of a workpiece | work largely by letting it pass between several conveyance grooves, since a workpiece | work can be stably supported inside a conveyance groove, inside a conveyance groove | channel, It is possible to smoothly transport and change the posture of workpieces, prevent clogging and popping out of workpieces, stabilize the process, and reduce the number of man-hours required for workpiece damage and maintenance. You can plan. Furthermore, since the workpiece conveyance path is formed as a conveyance groove having an opening, it can be easily formed on the basis of simple groove processing, and to the workpiece conveyed from the conveyance groove opening. Access becomes easier and maintenance work becomes easier.

Further, a cover member that covers the conveyance path is provided, and the inner surface of the cover member that faces the bottom surface of the conveyance groove is formed in a plane near the beginning and end of each conveyance groove, so that the workpiece protrudes from the conveyance groove. In addition, the play of the workpiece with respect to the inside of the conveying groove in the connecting portion can be reduced, and the behavior of the workpiece when passing through the connecting portion can be stabilized.

In addition, in order to more smoothly convey the workpiece inside the conveyance groove and more easily perform machining for manufacturing such an apparatus, the conveyance grooves are formed on the surfaces of different guide members. At the same time, it is preferable that the center position of each conveying groove is shifted downward along with the twist in the workpiece conveying direction.

Furthermore, in order to be able to easily grasp the clogged portion from the outside even when clogging occurs inside the conveying groove, a notch portion is provided in the cover member along the workpiece conveying direction. It is preferable to form such that a part of the conveying groove can be continuously confirmed in the workpiece conveying direction through the notch.

In addition, in order to stably pass the minute irregularities generated in the connecting portion between the conveying grooves or between the conveying grooves and the conveying path of the workpiece formed in the external device, Therefore, it is preferable to apply a force other than the traveling direction as much as possible. Therefore, it is preferable to form the vicinity of the start end and the end of the conveying groove in a straight line.

  In addition, in order to configure a compact and easy-to-operate workpiece supply device that can transport workpieces in an appropriate posture and convert them into postures suitable for the next process, the workpiece can be conveyed with the same posture. It is preferable that the work transport alignment means and the work posture conversion device described above are provided, and the work transport alignment means and the work posture conversion device are driven by a common vibration applying means. .

  According to the present invention described above, the workpiece posture can be smoothly conveyed and changed in posture along the conveying groove, and the number of man-hours required for maintenance work can be reduced without causing the workpiece to be clogged or popped out. A conversion device can be provided.

The side view of the workpiece | work attitude | position conversion apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the workpiece | work attitude | position conversion apparatus. The perspective view which shows the state which removed the cover member from the guide member of the workpiece | work attitude | position conversion apparatus. The expansion perspective view which shows the principal part of the workpiece | work attitude | position conversion apparatus. The principal part expansion perspective view which shows the state which removed the cover member from the state of FIG. 4 in the workpiece | work attitude | position conversion apparatus. AA, BB, CC, DD, and EE cross-sectional arrow views shown in FIG. 4 in the workpiece posture changing apparatus. The principal part front view which shows typically the positional relationship of the shape of the surface of the cover member in the workpiece | work attitude | position conversion apparatus, and a conveyance groove | channel. The schematic diagram which shows the dimensional relationship of the conveyance groove | channel formed in the cover member in the workpiece | work attitude | position conversion apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the workpiece posture changing device 1 of the present embodiment is provided continuously with the workpiece conveyance and alignment means 9, and these supply the workpiece 8 to the next device while keeping the workpiece 8 in an appropriate posture as a whole. It functions as a supply device 7.

  The workpiece conveyance alignment means 9 is for conveying the supplied workpiece 8 while aligning the posture of the workpiece 8, and supports the workpiece 8 by a conveyance groove 93a as a conveyance path of the workpiece 8 formed on the workpiece conveyance table 93. However, a mechanism for aligning the posture of the workpiece 8 having the same configuration as that of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 in the middle of the conveyance path can be conveyed in the workpiece conveyance direction indicated by the W direction in the drawing (not shown). ). The workpiece transfer table 93 is fixed on the plate 92, and the plate 92 is elastically supported by the two plate springs 94, 94 with respect to the base 91. The leaf springs 94, 94 are each arranged in parallel with a slight inclination with respect to the vertical direction. The upper ends of the leaf springs 94, 94 are fixed to the lower surface of the plate 92 by attachment members 94a, 94b, and the lower ends are attached. It is fixed to the upper surface of the base 91 by members 94c and 94d. In addition, an electromagnet 95 as vibration applying means is attached to the upper surface of the base 91 via a mounting base 95a, and a magnetic block 96 is attached to the lower surface of the plate 92 so as to face the electromagnet 95. .

  By configuring as described above, by applying a periodic current to the electromagnet 95, a periodic magnetic force is generated for the magnetic block 96, and the normal direction to the leaf springs 94, 94 is shown in FIG. The workpiece conveyance table 93 can be vibrated in the direction. Due to this vibration, a thrust in the workpiece conveyance direction (W direction in the drawing) is applied to the workpiece 8 placed on the workpiece conveyance table 93 to perform conveyance.

  The workpiece posture changing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is fixed on a plate 92 together with the workpiece carrier 93, and is vibrated by an electromagnet 95 serving as vibration imparting means while being elastically supported by leaf springs 94 and 94. It is like that. Therefore, the workpiece conveyance table 93 and the workpiece posture changing device 1 can vibrate together. Therefore, the workpiece posture changing device 1 and the workpiece conveying / aligning means 9 are integrally configured as a compact workpiece supply device 7 having a single drive source and good operability.

  Further, the workpiece posture changing device 1 is generally composed of a step block 6, first and second guide members 2, 3 provided on the step block 6, and the first and second guide members 2, 3. It is comprised from the 1st and 2nd cover members 4 and 5 each provided on the top. Conveying grooves 21 and 31 for supporting the workpiece 8 are respectively formed on the surfaces of the first and second guide members 2 and 3, and the above-described conveying is performed from the conveying groove 93 a formed in the above-described workpiece conveying table 93. A conveying path for the workpiece 8 is formed continuously to the groove 21 and further to the conveying groove 31.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first guide member 2 and the first cover member 4 are installed on the upper step 61 of the step block 6 in a state of being opposed and combined. The second guide member 3 and the second cover member 5 are installed on the lower stage 62 of the step block 6 in a state where the second guide member 3 and the second cover member 5 are opposed to each other, and the conveyance formed on the workpiece conveyance table 93 as described above. The groove 93a and the conveying grooves 21 and 31 formed in the first and second guide members 2 and 3 are continuous.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the first and second cover members 4 and 5 are removed from the first and second guide members 2 and 3, respectively. In the present embodiment, the first guide member 2 and the second guide member 3 have the same shape, and the first cover member 4 and the second cover member 5 have the same shape. . The first and second guide members 2, 3 have a shape in which large curved surfaces 24, 34 are formed on one side of a rectangular parallelepiped block whose longitudinal direction is directed in the conveying direction of the workpiece 8. It is fixed on the step block 6 (see FIG. 1). The conveying grooves 21 and 31 formed in the first and second guide members 2 and 3 move in one direction while moving downward from the upper surfaces 22 and 32 to the side surfaces 23 and 33 through the curved surfaces 24 and 34, respectively. The workpieces 8 are each changed in posture by 90 ° by passing between them. In this way, the conveying groove 21 formed in the first guide member 2 is shifted in the height direction and the lateral direction between the start end 21a and the end end 21b. The two guide members have the same shape but are shifted in position both in the height direction and in the lateral direction.

  The first and second cover members 4, 5 are provided so as to correspond to the first and second guide members 2, 3, respectively, and the inner surface shapes are the first and second guide members 2, respectively. 3 is formed so as to conform to the outer shape of the first and second guide members 2 and 3, so that most of the conveying grooves 21 and 31 can be covered. .

  FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a state in which the cover member 4 (5) is attached to the guide member 2 (3). Hereinafter, the first and second guide members 2 and 3 and the first and second cover members 4 and 5 are collectively referred to as a guide member 2 (3) and a cover member 4 (5), respectively.

  As described above, the conveying groove 21 (31) on the surface of the guide member 2 (3) is formed so as to be twisted by about 90 ° from the upper surface 22 (32) to the side surface 24 (34). Specifically, the conveyance groove 21 (31) in the conveyance direction is formed as a straight portion with the opening direction upward in the vicinity of the start end 21a (31a), and the opening direction in the vicinity of the end 21b (31b) is leftward in the figure. It is formed as a straight line portion in the horizontal direction. Further, a portion connecting these linear portions is formed to be twisted 90 ° as a twisted portion.

  The cover member 4 (5) covering the transport groove 21 (31) is provided with a notch 44 (54) with a twist like the transport groove 21 (31), and the notch 44 ( 54), a part of the conveyance groove 21 (31) can be continuously confirmed in the conveyance direction. For this reason, when clogging occurs inside the conveyance groove 21 (31), it can be easily confirmed from the outside which part has the cause.

  FIG. 5 shows a state where the cover member 4 (5) is removed from the state of FIG.

  As described above, the guide member 2 (3) has a shape in which a large curved surface is formed on one side of a rectangular parallelepiped block whose longitudinal direction is directed in the workpiece conveyance direction. Specifically, the upper surface 22 (32) formed as a horizontal surface, the side surface 23 (33) formed as a vertical surface on the side facing the cover member 4 (5), and the upper surface 22 (32) and the side surface 23 (33). ) And a curved surface 24 (34) formed so as to be connected to each other. Then, the start end of the transfer groove 21 (31) in the workpiece transfer direction is formed as a straight portion 21a (31a) on the upper surface 22 (32), and then 90 ° as a twisted portion 21c (31c) along the curved surface 24 (34). The straight portion 21b (31b) is formed at the terminal again after the process proceeds downward while reaching the side face 23 (33).

  The workpiece 8 is conveyed while being supported by the inner surface of the conveyance groove 21 (31) formed in this way as shown in FIG. At this time, the workpiece 8 is first controlled in posture by the inner surface of the conveyance groove 21 formed in the first guide member 2, and with the twist until the opening direction of the conveyance groove 21 changes from the upward direction to the horizontal direction. ° Posture change is made. And it is conveyed toward the start end 31a of the conveyance groove 31 of the 2nd guide member 3 connected with the termination | terminus 21b of the conveyance groove 21, and while the attitude | position is controlled by the inner surface of the said conveyance groove 31, it is the same as the conveyance groove 21 further. By performing 90 ° posture conversion in the direction, total posture conversion of 180 ° is performed. At the time of the above delivery, the opening of the conveying groove 21 as the upstream conveying groove when the connecting portion of the conveying grooves 21 and 31 is the boundary is in the horizontal direction, but the conveying groove as the downstream conveying groove Although the opening of 31 is switched upward, the inner surfaces of the conveying grooves 21 and 31 are formed so as to be smoothly continuous before and after the connecting portion. The conveying groove 31 is different from the conveying groove 21. It is formed so as to be twisted in the same direction while opening the surface of 8.

  In this embodiment, the conveyance grooves 21 and 31 are formed as grooves having a rectangular cross section, and can support three directions of the workpiece 8 to be conveyed by the bottom surface and both wall surfaces which are the inner surfaces of the grooves. It has become. The remaining one direction other than the two forward and reverse directions of the conveyance is an opening, and the workpiece 8 can be freely inserted and removed from the opening. The direction from the bottom surface of the conveyance grooves 21 and 31 toward the opening is the opening direction, which can be said to be equal to the direction of the wall surface in the cross section of the conveyance grooves 21 and 31 that is substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction. Thus, by forming the conveyance path for conveying the workpiece 8 as a groove, it can be simply configured by machining, and access to the workpiece 8 to be conveyed inside is facilitated. Maintenance work can be performed easily.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the cover member 4 (5) corresponding to the guide member 2 (3) as described above defines the conveyance groove 21 (31) while contacting the surface of the guide member 2 (3). It can be attached to cover. Therefore, the inner surface shape of the cover member 4 (5) and the outer shape of the guide member 2 (3) generally correspond. That is, the inner upper surface 41 (51) of the cover member 4 (5) is configured as a plane corresponding to the upper surface 22 (32) of the guide member 2 (3), and the inner side surface 42 (52) of the cover member 4 (5). Is configured as a flat surface corresponding to the side surface 23 (33) of the guide member 2 (3), and the inner curved surface 43 (53) of the cover member 4 (5) corresponds to the curved surface 24 (34) of the guide member 2 (3). Thus, it is configured as a curved surface having the same curvature. Further, as described above, the cover member 4 (5) is provided with a notch 44 (54) so that a part of the conveying groove 21 (31) can be continuously confirmed.

  In order to describe the positional relationship between the conveying groove 21 (31) formed in the guide member 2 (3) as described above and the cover member 4 (5) corresponding thereto in more detail, AA and B in FIG. The cross sections at the positions -B, CC, DD, and EE are shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a description will be given using FIG. 6 with reference to FIG.

  First, in the AA position, the conveying groove 21 (31) is on the upper surface 22 (32) of the guide member 2 (3), and the opening direction is upward. And the upper right part of the conveyance groove 21 (31) in the figure is opened as an open portion 21d (31d) by the notch 44 (54) of the cover member 4 (5).

  Further, at the BB position, the conveying groove 21 (31) moves to the lower left in the drawing along the curved surface portion 24 (34) and is twisted counterclockwise. Also at this time, the upper right portion of the conveying groove 21 (31) in the figure is opened as an open portion 21d (31d) by the cutout portion 44 (54) of the cover member 4 (5).

  Furthermore, as it advances to the CC position and the DD position, the conveying groove 21 (31) further moves to the lower left in the drawing along the curved surface portion 24 (34) and twists counterclockwise. In the same manner as described above, a part of the conveying groove 21 (31) is opened as an open portion 21d (31d) by the cutout portion 44 (54) of the cover member 4 (5).

  Furthermore, in the EE position, the conveyance groove 21 (31) is on the side surface 23 (33) of the guide member 2 (3), and the opening direction is the left direction. And the upper left part of the conveyance groove 21 (31) in the figure is opened as an open part 21d (31d) by the notch 44 (54) of the cover member 4 (5).

  As described above, the conveyance groove 21 (31) from the AA position to the EE position is smoothly formed, and a 90 ° twist is given between these positions. Further, the notch 44 (54) of the cover member 4 (5) provided so as to cover the conveying groove 21 (31) is similarly twisted, and the notch 44 (54) is provided. ), The open portion 21d (31d) of the conveyance groove 21 (31) is continuously formed over all positions in the conveyance direction, and a part of the conveyance groove 21 (31) can be confirmed at any position. It can be done.

  FIG. 7 schematically shows the mutual positional relationship of the respective conveying grooves 21A to 21E (31A to 31E) at these AA to EE positions. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG.

  The conveyance groove 21A at the AA position is formed on the upper surface 22 (32) formed as a flat surface, and the curved surface portion 24 (34) is formed starting from the ridge line at the upper left of the conveyance groove 21A in the drawing. ing. And the conveyance grooves 21B-21D in the BB-DD position are formed in the said curved-surface part 24 (34). Further, the conveyance groove 21E at the EE position is formed on a side surface 23 (33) formed as a flat surface. The ridgeline on the upper left in the drawing in the conveyance groove 21E is the end point of the curved surface portion 24 (34).

  From the transport groove 21A at the AA position to the transport groove 21D at the EE position, the twist is made to rotate 90 ° counterclockwise about the same rotation center O as viewed from the transport direction. It is formed as follows. The curved surface portion 24 (34) is formed as a part of a cylindrical surface having the same rotation center O. However, the central angle of the curved surface portion 24 (34) is smaller than 90 ° because of the positional relationship between the curved surface portion 24 (34) and the upper surface 22 (32) and the side surface 23 (33).

The inner shape of the guide member 4 (5) is formed as shown in FIG. 5 so as to follow the outer shape of the guide member 2 (3) thus formed. As described above, the straight portion 21a (31a) in the vicinity of the start end of the conveyance groove 21 (31) is formed on the upper surface 22 (32) that is a flat portion of the guide member 2 (3), and the straight portion 21b in the vicinity of the end. (31b) is formed on the side surface 23 (33) which is a flat surface portion of the guide member 2 (3). Therefore, the inner surface portion of the cover member 4 (5) covering the straight portions 21a (31a) and 21b (31b) formed in the vicinity of the start end and the end of the transport groove 21 (31) is also the inner upper surface 41 ( 51) and the inner side surface 42 (52). That is, the inner surface of the cover member 4 (5) facing the bottom surface of the conveyance groove 21 (31) having a rectangular cross section is formed in a plane near the start end and the end of each conveyance groove 21 (31).

  FIG. 8 schematically shows the dimensional relationship in these portions, taking as an example the case of the transport groove 21E (31E) near the end in FIG. As can be seen from this figure, when the inner surface of the cover member 4 (5) covering the conveyance groove 21E (31E) is a curved surface, the play with respect to the workpiece 8 that conveys the inside of the conveyance groove 21E (31E) becomes large. End up. On the other hand, when the inner surface of the cover member 4 (5) covering the conveying groove 21E (31E) is a flat surface, the play can be reduced by δ shown in the figure. Therefore, even when the workpiece 8 that tends to become unstable depending on the shape, size, and weight and easily rotates inside the conveyance groove 21E (31E) is conveyed, the posture of the workpiece 8 can be maintained appropriately. it can.

  The workpiece posture conversion device 1 configured as described above can change the posture of the workpiece 8 while transporting the workpiece 8 as follows.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, the supplied workpiece 8 is conveyed along a conveyance groove 93 a formed on the surface of the conveyance table 93 by the conveyance alignment means 9 so as to be oriented in the same direction. Be aligned.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 2, after being conveyed toward the conveyance groove 21 formed in the first guide member 2 so as to be continuous with the conveyance groove 93a and passing through the inside of the conveyance groove 21, It passes through the conveying groove 31 formed in the continuous second guide member 3 and is supplied to the apparatus for the next process.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first guide member 2 and the second guide member 3 are provided on a plate 92 that is in common with the transport alignment means 9 via a step block 6, and have a common elasticity. It is elastically supported by leaf springs 94 and 94 as support means, and is given a periodic magnetic force by an electromagnet 95 as a common vibration imparting means, and vibrates in the F direction integrally with the carriage 93 while continuing. By doing so, a thrust is given to the workpiece 8. Therefore, a thrust can be directly applied to the workpiece 8 inside the workpiece posture changing device 1 without sequentially pushing the workpiece 8 from the transport alignment means 9 toward the workpiece posture changing device 1. Therefore, the workpiece 8 can be smoothly conveyed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance grooves 21 and 31 are formed so that the center position thereof only shifts downward with twisting and does not become upward. The inside of the conveyance grooves 22 and 31 can be more smoothly conveyed without applying a braking force to the workpiece 8 being conveyed.

  The posture of the workpiece 8 is changed by passing through the inside of the conveying grooves 21 and 31. Specifically, by passing from the start end to the end of each of the transfer grooves 21 and 31, the workpiece 8 is converted into a 90 ° attitude around an axis about the transfer direction, and the first guide By continuously passing through the conveyance path formed by connecting the two conveyance grooves 21 and 31 formed in the member 2 and the second guide member 3, the posture is converted in total 180 °. It has become. At this time, the opening direction of each of the conveying grooves 21 and 31 only shifts from the upper side to the horizontal direction and does not face downward. Therefore, the workpiece 8 is stably placed inside the conveying grooves 21 and 31. Can be supported. Therefore, since the behavior of the workpiece 8 being conveyed is stabilized and is not brought into contact with the inner surfaces of the cover members 4 and 5 more than necessary, the workpiece 8 can be smoothly conveyed and changed in posture without causing problems such as clogging. It can be performed. Even when clogging occurs, the workpiece 8 can be stably kept inside the conveying grooves 21 and 31 when the cover members 4 and 5 are removed in order to remove the workpiece 8 that causes the clogging. Since the workpiece 8 is supported, the workpiece 8 does not jump out of the conveyance grooves 21 and 31, and maintenance work can be efficiently performed, the recovery time can be shortened, and man-hours can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the start end 21a of the conveyance groove 21 as a connection part with the conveyance groove 93a formed in the workpiece conveyance table 93, the terminal end 21b of the upstream conveyance groove 21 as a connection part between the guide members 2 and 3, and Since the start end 31a of the downstream conveyance groove 31 and the terminal end 31b of the conveyance groove 31 as a connecting portion between an assumed apparatus (not shown) for the next process are formed in a straight line, these portions are formed. Then, no force other than the conveying direction is generated on the workpiece 8. Therefore, a level difference due to machining accuracy and mounting error occurs in these connecting portions, and even when the workpiece 8 passes through the level difference, the behavior of the workpiece 8 does not become unstable and smoother. Can be transported. Further, the inner surface is formed smoothly between the end 21b of the upstream conveying groove 21 and the starting end 31a of the downstream conveying groove 31 as a connecting portion between the guide members 2 and 3. For this reason, the behavior of the workpiece 8 is not stabilized in the middle of the conveyance path so that the workpiece 8 is not clogged.

  As described above, the workpiece posture changing device 1 of the present invention performs posture conversion of the workpiece 8 while transferring the workpiece 8 along the transfer path, and the transfer path changes the posture of the workpiece 8 by the inner surface. The plurality of transfer grooves 21 and 31 to be regulated are connected in the work transfer direction, and each of the transfer grooves 21 and 31 has an opening direction along the work transfer direction between the upper direction and the horizontal direction. In this way, it is formed so as to be twisted in either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, and at the connecting portion between the conveying grooves 21 and 31, the upstream side and the downstream side conveying with the connecting portion as a boundary The inner surfaces of the grooves 21 and 31 are smoothly continuous, and the opening direction of the downstream conveying groove 31 is switched upward with respect to the opening direction of the upstream conveying groove 21. Transport 31 is obtained by forming so as to be twisted in the same direction as the conveying groove 21 of the upstream side.

  With this configuration, the workpiece 8 is stably supported inside the conveying grooves 21 and 31 and smoothly transferred and changed in posture while having the basic function of greatly changing the posture of the workpiece 8. Therefore, the work 8 can be prevented from being clogged or popped out. Therefore, the process can be stabilized and the number of man-hours required for damage and maintenance of the workpiece 8 can be reduced. In addition, since the conveyance path is formed as the conveyance grooves 21 and 31, processing is easy, and access from the opening to the internal workpiece 8 is facilitated, and maintenance work can be performed efficiently. .

  Further, the conveying grooves 21 and 31 are formed on the surfaces of the different guide members 2 and 3, respectively, and the center positions of the conveying grooves 21 and 31 are shifted downward as the workpiece is twisted in the conveying direction. Therefore, the workpiece 8 can be transported more smoothly, and the processing for manufacturing the device having the above-described effects becomes easier.

  Further, cover members 4 and 5 are provided so as to cover the transport grooves 21 and 31, and notches 44 and 54 are formed in the cover members 4 and 5 along the work transport direction, so that the notches Since a part of the conveyance grooves 21 and 31 can be continuously confirmed in the workpiece conveyance direction through 44 and 54, the workpiece 8 inside the conveyance grooves 21 and 31 can be supported more stably. In addition, even when the work 8 is clogged inside the conveying grooves 21 and 31, it is possible to easily grasp the clogged portion from the outside, so that maintenance work can be quickly performed. It becomes possible.

  In addition, since it is configured to form the vicinity of the start and end of the conveying grooves 21 and 31 in a straight line, in the connecting portion between the conveying grooves 21 and 31 or between the conveying grooves 21 and 31 and the outside, Since it is possible to prevent a force other than the traveling direction from acting on the workpiece 8, it is possible to stabilize the behavior of the workpiece 8 even when the minute unevenness generated in the connecting portion is exceeded.

  Furthermore, since the inner surfaces of the cover members 4 and 5 are formed to be flat in the vicinity of the start and end of the transport grooves 21 and 31, play in the transport grooves 21 and 31 can be prevented at the connecting portion. Therefore, the behavior of the workpiece 8 when passing through the connecting portion can be further stabilized.

  Moreover, the workpiece supply apparatus 7 of the present invention includes a workpiece transfer alignment unit 9 that transfers the workpiece 8 while aligning the posture of the workpiece 8, and the workpiece posture conversion device 1 described above. The workpiece transfer alignment unit 9 and the workpiece posture are provided. The converter 1 is configured to be driven by the vibration applying means 95 that is common.

  Since it is configured in this manner, the workpiece 8 can be transported in an appropriate posture, converted into a posture suitable for the next process, and supplied as a work supply device 7 with good operability. Possible

  The specific configuration of each unit is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first guide member 2 and the second guide member 3 have the same shape. However, this is not essential and can be configured as separate shapes. In this case, the shapes of the corresponding first and second cover members 4 and 5 are also different.

  In the above embodiment, the twisting angle of the conveying grooves 21 and 31 formed in the guide members 2 and 3 is 90 °. It is also possible to change the angle appropriately from the relationship, and it is not essential that the total angle is 180 °. At this time, the opening direction of the downstream conveying groove 31 in the connecting portion only needs to be upward with respect to the opening direction of the upstream conveying groove 21, and does not necessarily have to face vertically upward. In the present embodiment, the twisting directions of the conveying grooves 21 and 31 formed in the guide members 2 and 3 are counterclockwise when viewed from the conveying direction, but the twisting directions of the conveying grooves 21 and 31 are the same. As long as possible, the twist direction may be reversed.

  Further, a conveyance path for conveying the workpiece 8 by providing the third and fourth guide members and the third and fourth cover members in a continuous manner with the first guide member 2 and the second guide member 3. It is also possible to further divide the.

  Other configurations can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Work posture conversion apparatus 2 ... 1st guide member 3 ... 2nd guide member 4 ... 1st cover member 5 ... 2nd cover member 6 ... Step block 7 ... Work supply apparatus 8 ... Work 9 ... Work conveyance Alignment means 21 ... conveying groove 31 ... conveying groove 94 ... plate spring 95 ... electromagnet

Claims (5)

A workpiece orientation conversion device that converts a posture of a workpiece while conveying the workpiece along a conveyance path, wherein the conveyance path has a plurality of conveyance grooves having a rectangular cross section in which the posture of the workpiece is regulated by an inner surface in a workpiece conveyance direction. Each conveying groove is twisted in either one of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction so that the opening direction is between the upward direction and the horizontal direction along the workpiece conveying direction. In the connecting portion between the conveying grooves, the inner surfaces of the upstream and downstream conveying grooves that are bordered by the connecting portion are smoothly continuous, and the opening direction of the downstream conveying groove is determined. after the switched upward with respect to the opening direction of the transport grooves of the upstream, are form formed as conveying groove of the downstream is twisted in the same direction as the conveying groove of the upstream, the transportable Provided a cover member for covering the road, the work posture converting device inside surface of the cover member to the bottom surface facing the conveying groove is characterized in that it is formed in a plane in the beginning and near the end of each conveying groove. The conveyance grooves are formed on the surfaces of different guide members, and the center position of each conveyance groove is formed so as to shift downward as the workpiece is twisted in the conveyance direction. Item 2. The work posture conversion device according to Item 1. To form a pre-listen bars notch along the workpiece transfer direction in unit according to claim 1 or 2, a portion of the conveying groove through the cut-out portion, characterized in that the can see in succession the work transfer direction The workpiece posture changing device described in 1. The workpiece posture changing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a vicinity of a starting end and a terminal end of the conveying groove is formed linearly. A workpiece conveying alignment means for conveying while aligning the orientation of the workpiece, and a workpiece attitude changing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the workpiece transfer arranging means and said workpiece attitude changing device is common A workpiece supply device driven by vibration applying means.

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