JP5866726B2 - Article classification apparatus and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an article classification device and an operation method thereof, and more particularly to an article classification device suitable for classification of electronic components such as LED elements and an operation method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an electronic component sorting apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the electronic component sorting apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the electronic component W sucked by the suction nozzle 8 of the index table 2 and transported to the discharge position is thrown into the charging pipe 12 of the distribution device 4 by blowing the nozzle 11. Then, the inserted electronic component W is distributed to the storage box 15 through the distribution port 14 </ b> A of the required distribution member 14 by the swing of the swing tube 13.

  This electronic component classification apparatus has the following problems. That is, when the electronic component W sucked by the suction nozzle 8 is discharged at the discharge position, the nozzle 11 blows in the horizontal direction with respect to the electronic component W, and the traveling direction of the electronic component W is vertically adjusted by the input pipe 12. In order to bend downward, the electronic component W made of a brittle material such as ceramics has a risk of cracking. Furthermore, since the solenoid valve needs to be turned ON / OFF in order to blow from the nozzle 11, the discharge time is increased by the operation delay (time lag) of the solenoid valve.

  Therefore, if the electronic component W is naturally dropped and put into a straight throwing pipe extending vertically, the possibility of the above-mentioned chipping of the work can be reduced and the discharge time can be shortened. I can plan. As such a natural fall type classification device through the discharge hole, an electronic component classification device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is known.

  By the way, such an electronic component classification apparatus inspects optical characteristics and electrical characteristics of electronic components with an inspection device, and performs classification based on these characteristics. Accordingly, it is necessary to perform a test operation for adjustment of the inspection device when the operation of the electronic device classification device is started or when the production lot or type of the electronic component to be inspected is changed.

  In this test operation, the reference chip for calibration of the above-described inspection apparatus, which has previously inspected the characteristics of the electronic component, is repeatedly inspected, and the inspection apparatus is adjusted based on the inspection result. Such a test operation is usually performed several times a day.

  However, since the electronic component classification device disclosed in the cited document 2 has a discharge hole, it cannot perform continuous circulating conveyance for the test operation. In this case, every time a test operation is performed several times a day, the operator repeats the operation of once passing the inspection device and supplying the reference chip distributed to a specific classification container to the device again. The work was complicated.

In the test operation for adjusting the inspection device in the electronic component classification device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the electronic component W is indexed by not blowing the nozzle 11 while maintaining the suction of the suction nozzle 8 at the discharge position. There has been considered a method in which the inspection apparatus is repeatedly passed by continuously circulating and conveying on the table 2. However, even in this case, there is an inevitable risk that the calibration reference chip of the inspection apparatus will be broken when discharging after the test operation is completed.
In addition, the code | symbol used by background art is a code | symbol used for patent document 1. FIG.

Japanese Patent No. 4447412 Japanese Patent No. 2814525

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the article to be classified at the time of the classification operation or the reference article at the end of the test operation is naturally dropped onto the distribution means located below at the discharge position of the conveyance means. Article classification that can reduce the possibility of chipping of these articles that are workpieces, and allows the reference articles to be continuously circulated and conveyed during the test operation, so that the same reference articles can be repeatedly inspected by the inspection device An apparatus and a method for operating the apparatus are provided.

In order to solve the above problems, the first invention employs the following means in the article classification apparatus.
1stly, it consists of the rotary body which has several accommodating parts which each accommodates articles | goods in an outer periphery, and the fixed body which supports the articles accommodated in each accommodating part of the said rotary body from below, The discharge | emission provided in this fixed body A conveying means having a discharge position for dropping and discharging the article from the section; a supply means for automatically supplying the article to the storage section of the conveying means; Article classification comprising inspection means for inspecting, a plurality of classification containers provided below the discharge section, and a distribution means provided below the discharge section and distributing the discharged articles to the required classification containers based on the characteristics of the articles A device.

Secondly, there is provided a discharge portion closing means that is provided in the discharge portion of the fixed body and drops the article when opened and prevents the drop of the article when closed and allows the discharge portion to pass through.
Thirdly, in the classification operation in which the articles conveyed by the conveying means are distributed to a required classification container, the articles are automatically supplied to the storage section of the conveying means, and the discharge section closing means is opened to remove the articles. Drop it.
Fourthly, in the test operation in which the reference article is circulated and conveyed by the conveying means, automatic supply of the article from the supply means is stopped, and the reference article is supplied to the accommodating portion of the conveying means , and the discharge section The closing means is closed to prevent the reference article from falling, whereby the reference article is continuously conveyed by the conveying means.

The second invention is an article classification apparatus in which the following means are added to the first invention.
First, there is a single supply path for supplying articles to the storage section of the transport means.
Second, in the test operation, the reference article is manually supplied.

The third invention is an article classification apparatus in which the following means are added to the first invention.
First, there are two supply paths for supplying an article to the accommodating portion of the conveying means.
Secondly, in the classification operation, articles are automatically supplied from the first supply path and the second supply path is closed.
Third, in the test operation, the reference article is automatically supplied from the second supply path and the first supply path is closed.

The fourth invention employs the following means for the operation method of the article classification apparatus.
1stly, it consists of the rotary body which has several accommodating parts which each accommodates articles | goods in an outer periphery, and the fixed body which supports the articles accommodated in each accommodating part of the said rotary body from below, The discharge | emission provided in this fixed body A conveying means having a discharge position for dropping and discharging the article from the section; a supply means for automatically supplying the article to the storage section of the conveying means; Article classification comprising inspection means for inspecting, a plurality of classification containers provided below the discharge section, and a distribution means provided below the discharge section and distributing the discharged articles to the required classification containers based on the characteristics of the articles The operation method of the apparatus is assumed.

Secondly, there is provided a discharge portion closing means that is provided in the discharge portion of the fixed body and drops the article when opened and prevents the drop of the article when closed and allows the discharge portion to pass through.
Thirdly, in the classification operation in which the articles conveyed by the conveying means are distributed to a required classification container, the articles are automatically supplied to the storage section of the conveying means, and the discharge section closing means is opened to remove the articles. Drop it.
Fourth, in the test operation in which the reference article is circulated and conveyed by the conveying means, the automatic supply of the article from the supply means is stopped, the reference article is supplied to the accommodating portion of the conveying means , and the discharge section The closing means is closed to prevent the reference article from falling, whereby the reference article is continuously conveyed by the conveying means.

5th invention is the operating method of the goods classification device which added the following means to 4th invention.
First, there is a single supply path for supplying articles to the storage section of the transport means.
Second, in the test operation, the reference article is manually supplied.

The sixth invention is an operation method of the article classification device by adding the following means to the fourth invention.
First, there are two supply paths for supplying an article to the accommodating portion of the conveying means.
Secondly, in the classification operation, articles are automatically supplied from the first supply path and the second supply path is closed.
Third, in the test operation, the reference article is automatically supplied from the second supply path and the first supply path is closed.

1st invention and 4th invention became the article | item classification | category apparatus which can switch easily a classification | category driving | operation and a test driving | operation with the simple method of selection of the opening or closing of a discharge part closing means, and its operating method. .
In addition, in the classification operation, since the discharge unit closing means is opened and the article is dropped by its own weight, the article classification apparatus and its operation method can reduce damage to the article as the workpiece.
Further, in the test operation, the discharge part closing means is closed to prevent the article (reference article because it is in the test operation) from falling, so that the reference article is continuously conveyed and the same reference article is repeated. An article classification apparatus that can be inspected by an inspection apparatus and can easily perform a test operation, and an operation method thereof.

In addition, in the classification operation for classifying a large number of articles, the articles are automatically supplied, and in the test operation in which the same reference articles are circulated and conveyed, the automatic supply is stopped and the reference articles are supplied. It was possible to eliminate the need for troublesome work such as removing articles remaining in the supply path.

  In the third and sixth inventions, two supply paths are provided, and the supply paths are different in the classification operation and the test operation. In the classification operation, articles are automatically supplied from the first supply path. In the test operation, the reference article is automatically supplied from the second supply path and the first supply path is closed to remove the articles remaining in the supply path every time the operation is switched. This eliminates the need for cumbersome work.

1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an electronic component classification apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Plane explanatory diagram of transport means Side view of the conveying means showing the supply position and the inspection position Cross-sectional explanatory drawing of discharge position Explanatory drawing which shows the supply method in a supply position It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the probe and LED chip in a test | inspection position, (A) shows the state before and behind a test | inspection, (B) shows in process of test | inspection.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described together with illustrated examples. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an electronic component classification apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment, the part which is a workpiece is an LED chip L, and is an apparatus that sorts and classifies the LED chip L according to electrical characteristics and optical characteristics.

  The electronic component sorting apparatus receives the LED chip L from the parts feeder 1 and the parts feeder 1 that are supplied by aligning and supplying the LED chips L, sucks and holds them, passes the inspection position 31 from the supply position 30, and conveys them to the discharge position 32. Conveying means 3, an inspection device 2 provided along the conveying path of the conveying means 3 for inspecting the electrical characteristics and optical characteristics of the LED chip L at the inspection position 31, and below the discharge position 32 (specifically, Is disposed below the discharge unit 61, and distributes the discharged LED chips L based on electrical characteristics and optical characteristics, and further, is disposed below and distributed from the distribution apparatus 4, and the tube 10. It has the classification | category part 5 which consists of many classification containers 50 which store LED chip L sent in through.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the parts feeder 1 is composed of a feeder bowl 11 in which a large number of LED chips L are accommodated at random and a rail 12, and the LED chip L is moved from the feeder bowl 11 to the rail 12 in the longitudinal direction by vibration. This is a means for feeding LED chips L from the rails 12 to the transport means 3 in a line, and is a supply path in the present invention. In the embodiment, there is one supply path, but in the present invention, two supply paths, that is, a first supply path used during the classification operation and a second supply path used during the test operation may be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the transport unit 3 includes a disk-shaped index table 7 that rotates intermittently and a fixed table 6 that is disposed below the index table 7. The index table 7 is a rotating body in the present invention, and the fixed table 6 is a fixed body in the present invention.

  A large number of notches are provided on the outer periphery 70 of the index table 7 at predetermined intervals, and these notches serve as pocket-shaped accommodation portions 71 that accommodate the LED chips L. In the embodiment, the accommodating portions 71 are provided at equal intervals. A plurality of radial grooves 72 communicating with the respective accommodating portions 71 are formed on the back surface of the index table 7.

  In the fixed table 6, a support part that supports the LED chips L accommodated in the respective accommodating parts 71 from below, and the LED table L that has been conveyed in the accommodating part 71 by notching the fixed table 6. A discharge portion 61 that spontaneously drops into the distribution device 4 disposed below is formed. The position where the discharge portion 61 is formed becomes the discharge position 32. The upper surface of the fixed table 6 excluding the discharge portion 61 at the discharge position 32 serves as a support portion.

  The discharge unit 61 is provided with a shutter 8 serving as a discharge unit closing unit in the present invention. The shutter 8 spontaneously drops the LED chip L when opened, prevents the LED chip L from dropping when closed, and allows the LED chip L to pass through without dropping. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the shutter 8 is a disk-shaped member having a discharge hole 80 through which the LED chip L can pass, and is rotatable about a shaft 83. In the embodiment, the rotary shutter 8 as described above is used, but an advancing / retracting shutter or a detachable shutter may be used.

  An assist blow nozzle 81 is provided above the discharge portion 61. The assist blow nozzle 81 discharges the LED chip L at a pressure at which the LED chip L is not chipped in order to ensure the discharge of the LED chip L. Air is blown downward from above the discharge hole 80 located on the portion 61. A connection tube 82 is connected to the lower side of the discharge unit 61, and the lower end of the connection tube 82 is connected to the distribution device 4.

  In addition to the discharge position 32, a supply position 30 and an inspection position 31 are formed on the fixed table 6. The conveying means 3 sucks and holds the LED chip L by the accommodating portion 71 of the fixed table 6 and the index table 7, and passes the LED chip L from the supply position 30 shown in FIG. 2 to the discharge position 32 through the inspection position 31. It is a means to convey.

  Therefore, it is necessary to generate a negative pressure for adsorbing the LED chip L in the housing portion 71. Therefore, radial grooves formed on the back surface of the index table 7 are provided on the upper surface of the fixed table 6 in areas other than the supply position 30, the inspection position 31, and the discharge position 32. A concentric groove 62 communicating with 72 is carved, and each of the grooves 62 is connected to a vacuum source (not shown).

  By connecting the concentric grooves 62 of the fixed table 6 and the radial grooves 72 of the index table 7, negative pressure is supplied to the housing portion 71, and the LED chip L to be housed is sucked and held in the housing portion 71. Note that separate grooves are formed at the supply position 30 and the inspection position 31 of the fixed table 6 so that negative pressure is supplied to the accommodating portion 71 at each position.

  The delivery of the LED chip L to the accommodating portion 71 at the supply position 30 is performed as follows. At the supply position 30, the LED chips L are supplied one by one from the tip of the rail 12 of the parts feeder 1 to the accommodating portion 71 of the index table 7 that is intermittently moved to the supply position 30. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the suction 2 of the LED chip L1 at the tip of the rail 12 is turned off, and at the same time, the suction 1 is turned on and the LED chip L1 is moved and supplied to the housing portion 71. That is, the LED chip L1 moves to the dotted line position in FIG.

  At this time, a cover 33 that can be moved and opened is located above the accommodating portion 71 at the supply position 30. The cover 33 covers the upper portion of the housing portion 71, and the LED chip L can smoothly move to the housing portion 71.

  Even when the LED chip L1 is supplied to the housing portion 71, the suction 3 remains ON. That is, the LED chip L2 remains in its original position. Next, the suction 2 is turned on, the suction 3 is turned off, and the subsequent leading LED chip L2 is moved to the tip of the rail 12.

  Whether or not the LED chip L1 is supplied to the housing portion 71 is detected by the housing detection sensor 34. Whether or not the posture of the supplied LED chip L is defective can be detected by observing the cover 33. By detecting the cover 33 pushed up by the defective LED chip L with a photomicrosensor, it is detected that there is a storage error and supply has not been completed.

  A side guide 9 (a specially shaped side guide 90 at the discharge position 32) is provided on the side of the index table 7 to prevent the LED chip L from unexpectedly popping out. In the inspection position 31, a side and a top guide 91 for guiding the side and upper side of the LED chip L4 existing at the position 31 are provided.

  The inspection apparatus 2 includes a probe 20 provided so as to be movable up and down below the inspection position 31 and an integrating sphere 21 provided above the inspection position 31. In the inspection by the inspection apparatus 2, as shown in FIG. 6 (A) to (B), the probe 20 is raised, brought into contact with the electrode of the LED chip L4, current is supplied to the LED chip L4 to emit light, The emitted light is received by the integrating sphere 21 and the electrical characteristics as well as the optical characteristics of the LED chip L4 are inspected.

  The electronic component classification device opens the shutter 8 to drop the LED chip L carried by the transport means 3 onto the discharge unit 61, sorts the LED chip L to the required classification container 50, closes the shutter 8 and discharges it. It is necessary to prevent the LED chip L from falling to the part 61, continue circulating the LED chip L, and perform a test operation for adjusting the inspection device 2. Hereinafter, the classification operation and test operation methods will be described.

  The classification operation is performed as follows. First, at the supply position 30, the LED chips L are automatically supplied one by one from the front end of the rail 12 of the parts feeder 1 serving as a supply path to the accommodating portion 71 of the index table 7. The accommodation detection sensor 34 detects whether or not the LED chip L1 is supplied to the accommodation unit 71.

  When the supply to the accommodating portion 71 is confirmed, the index table 7 rotates and the LED chip L4 reaches the inspection position 31 by intermittent conveyance. The probe 20 that has been raised is brought into contact with the LED chip L4 that has arrived, and a current is supplied to emit light, and the optical and electrical characteristics are inspected by the integrating sphere 21 installed above.

  After the inspection, when the LED chip L reaches above the discharge portion 61 at the discharge position 32, the discharge portion 61 is provided with the discharge hole 80 of the shutter 8; The fall is not obstructed by the shutter 8 and is discharged from the discharge unit 61.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the LED chip L discharged from the discharge portion 61 through the discharge hole 80 naturally falls in the connection tube 82, and based on the characteristics of the article by the distribution device 4 connected downstream thereof. And is classified into the required classification container 50 which is the classification unit 5 through the tube 10.

  Next, the test operation is performed as follows. First, the discharge portion 61 is closed by the shutter 8, that is, the discharge portion 61 formed on the fixed table 6 is closed by the shutter 8 by shifting the discharge hole 80 of the shutter 8 by 90 degrees from above the discharge portion 61. The top LED chip L1 of the rail 12 of the parts feeder 1 is sucked and fixed, and automatic supply from the supply path is stopped. The suction 2 in FIG. 5 is turned on.

  After that, the cover 33 at the supply position 30 is opened, and an arbitrary number of 3 to 10 reference chips are accommodated in the accommodating portion 71 of the index table 7 by the operator. That is, the reference chip is manually supplied. During the test operation, the cover 33 is opened and the reference chip is manually placed with tweezers.

  After that, if the cover 33 is closed and the index table 7 is rotated, the discharge unit 61 is closed by the shutter 8, so that the LED chip L that has passed the inspection position 31 is also closed when passing over the discharge unit 61. Then, it is continuously circulated and conveyed so that it passes over the shutter 8 and passes through the inspection position 31 again.

  After the test operation is completed, the shutter 8 is opened, that is, the discharge hole 80 of the shutter 8 is set on the discharge unit 61. The reference chip spontaneously falls from the discharge unit 61 opened at the time of passage, and is discharged to the required classification container 50 to complete. The reference chip is used repeatedly.

  Thus, since the reference chip can be circulated and conveyed by closing the discharge portion 61 by the shutter 8, the test operation is facilitated. In addition, during the test operation, the cover 33 is opened and the reference chip is manually supplied. For example, when returning from an emergency stop, a large number of LED chips L remain in the parts feeder 1. Also, a test operation can be performed by supplying a reference chip.

  Furthermore, even if the parts feeder 1 is empty, there are only a few reference chips, so it is easier to supply manually than supplying the reference chips to the parts feeder 1 and automatically supplying the reference chips. It is. In the embodiment, the position for manually supplying the reference chip during the test operation is the supply position 30, but the position is not limited for manual supply, and other positions may be used. Furthermore, a cover may be provided at a desired position, and the cover may be opened only during supply.

  In the above embodiment, there is one supply path (part feeder 1) for supplying the LED chip L or the reference chip to the transport means 3, but there are two supply paths, and the LED chip is automatically used as the first supply path. The reference chip may be automatically supplied through the second supply path.

  In this case, in the classification operation, the LED chip L is automatically supplied from the first supply path and the second supply path is closed, and in the test operation, the reference chip is automatically supplied from the second supply path and the first supply path is closed. Operate with the supply path closed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Parts feeder 2 ... Inspection apparatus 3 ... Conveying means 4 ... Distributor 5 ...・ ・ ・ Classifying part 6 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Fixed table 7 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Index table 8 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Shutter 9 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Side guide 10 ・························································································································ Probe ... Supply position 31 ... Inspection position 32 ... Discharge position 33 ... Cover 34 ... Inspection inspection sensor 50 ... ... Category container 61 ... Drain part 62 ... Concentric groove 70 ... Outer periphery 71 ... Container 2 ... Radial groove 80 ... Discharge hole 81 ... Assist blow nozzle 82 ... Connection tube 83 ... Shaft 90 ······· Side guide 91 ········ Side and top guide

Claims (6)

The rotating body has a plurality of storage portions for storing articles on the outer periphery, and a fixed body that supports articles stored in the storage sections of the rotating body from below, and the articles are discharged from a discharge portion provided on the fixed body. Conveying means having a discharge position for dropping and discharging;
Supply means for automatically supplying an article to the accommodating portion of the conveying means;
An inspection unit provided along a conveyance path of the conveyance unit, and inspecting characteristics of the article;
A plurality of classification containers provided below the discharge unit;
In the article classification apparatus comprising distribution means provided below the discharge unit and distributing the discharged articles to a required classification container based on the characteristics of the articles,
Provided in the discharge part of the fixed body, provided with a discharge part closing means for dropping the article at the time of opening, blocking the drop of the article at the time of closing, and passing the discharge part;
In the classification operation for distributing the articles conveyed by the conveying means to the required classification container, the articles are automatically supplied to the storage unit of the conveying means and the discharge unit closing means is opened to drop the articles,
In the test operation in which the reference article is circulated and conveyed by the conveying means, automatic supply of the article from the supply means is stopped, the reference article is supplied to the accommodating portion of the conveying means , and the discharge portion closing means is closed. Then, the article classifying apparatus is characterized in that the reference article is continuously conveyed by the conveying means by preventing the reference article from falling.
2. The article classification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is one supply path for supplying an article to the accommodating portion of the transport means, and the reference article is manually supplied in the test operation.
There are two supply paths for supplying articles to the accommodating portion of the transport means. In the classification operation, the articles are automatically supplied from the first supply path and the second supply path is closed. 2. The article classification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference article is automatically supplied from the second supply path and the first supply path is closed.
The rotating body has a plurality of storage portions for storing articles on the outer periphery, and a fixed body that supports articles stored in the storage sections of the rotating body from below, and the articles are discharged from a discharge portion provided on the fixed body. Conveying means having a discharge position for dropping and discharging;
Supply means for automatically supplying an article to the accommodating portion of the conveying means;
An inspection unit provided along a conveyance path of the conveyance unit, and inspecting characteristics of the article;
A plurality of classification containers provided below the discharge unit;
In the operation method of the article classification apparatus, which is provided below the discharge section and includes distribution means for distributing the discharged articles to a required classification container based on the characteristics of the articles,
Provided in the discharge part of the fixed body, provided with a discharge part closing means for dropping the article at the time of opening, blocking the drop of the article at the time of closing, and passing the discharge part;
In the classification operation for distributing the articles conveyed by the conveying means to the required classification container, the articles are automatically supplied to the storage unit of the conveying means and the discharge unit closing means is opened to drop the articles,
In the test operation in which the reference article is circulated and conveyed by the conveying means, the automatic supply of the article from the supply means is stopped, the reference article is supplied to the accommodating portion of the conveying means , and the discharge portion closing means is closed. Then, the conveyance of the reference article by the conveying means is continued by preventing the reference article from falling, and the operation method of the article classification apparatus,
5. The operation method of the article classification apparatus according to claim 4, wherein there is one supply path for supplying an article to the accommodating portion of the conveying means, and the reference article is manually supplied in the test operation.
There are two supply paths for supplying articles to the accommodating portion of the transport means. In the classification operation, the articles are automatically supplied from the first supply path and the second supply path is closed. The method for operating an article classification apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reference article is automatically supplied from the second supply path and the first supply path is closed.

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