JP7013818B2 - Sorting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sorting device.

Patent Document 1 describes a foreign matter detection device that detects foreign matter mixed in a plurality of gears. This foreign matter detection device detects (selects) whether or not the gear is a foreign matter only by the shape of the teeth of the gear.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-167943

An object of the present invention is to select whether or not a protrusion is oriented in a predetermined direction with respect to a member having a protrusion protruding from one side surface of a disk-shaped main body. ..

In the sorting device according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a part having a protrusion that projects axially from one side surface of a disk-shaped main body, the part has the protrusion facing one or the other. A common road to pass through and a part connected to the end of the common road and having a protrusion facing one side are received, and a receiving path through which the part passes and an end of the common road are formed and the protrusion is formed. It is characterized by comprising a passage member formed with a discharge port for discharging the component facing the other from the common road.

The sorting device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the sorting device according to the first aspect , wherein the common path and the receiving path are formed including a pair of surfaces facing the side surface, and one of the surfaces is formed. A first permissible portion is formed to allow the passage of the protrusion when the protrusion is facing the surface side of one of the surfaces, and the common path portion of the other surface is on the surface side of the other. A second permissible portion is formed to allow the passage of the protrusion when the protrusion is facing, and the protrusion faces the other surface side of the receiving path portion on the other surface. It is characterized in that a limiting portion is formed which restricts the passage of the protruding portion and guides the component to the discharge port with the protruding portion facing the other surface side.

The sorting device according to the third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the sorting device of the first aspect or the second aspect , the sorting device includes a receiving unit for receiving the parts that have passed through the receiving path and arranging the parts.

The sorting device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention includes, in the sorting device of the third aspect , a reversing member that reverses the direction of the component discharged from the discharge port toward the side surface and passes it to the receiving unit. It is a feature.

In the sorting device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the sorting device of the third aspect , the common path extends in the vertical direction and is J-shaped when viewed from above, and one end thereof is from the discharge port. It is characterized by comprising a guide portion that receives the discharged parts, guides the received parts to the other end, and passes the received parts to the receiving unit.

The sorting device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the sorting device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects , in which the sorting device is arranged above the passage member, and a loading section into which a plurality of the components are loaded and a loading section are loaded. It is characterized by including a supply unit for supplying the parts put into the common road one by one.

The sorting device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is the sorting device of the sixth aspect quoting any one of the first to third aspects , wherein the parts discharged from the discharge port to the outside of the common path are said to be the same. It is characterized by being provided with a return member for returning to the charging section.

According to the sorting device of the first aspect of the present invention, whether or not the protrusion is oriented in a predetermined direction with respect to a component having a protrusion protruding from one side surface of the disk-shaped main body. Can be selected.

According to the sorting device of the second aspect of the present invention, whether or not the protrusion is directed to one side of a component having a protrusion protruding from one side of the disk-shaped main body. Can be sorted out.

According to the sorting device of the third aspect of the present invention, the protrusions can be oriented in a predetermined direction to supply the arranged parts.

According to the sorting device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, all the parts that have passed through the common path can be arranged in the receiving portion with the protrusions facing a predetermined direction.

According to the sorting device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, all the parts that have passed through the common path can be arranged in the receiving portion with the protrusions facing a predetermined direction.

According to the sorting device of the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to sort whether or not the protrusion is oriented in a predetermined direction only by loading a plurality of parts into the loading section.

According to the sorting device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to sort whether or not the protrusions are oriented in a predetermined direction for all the parts that have passed through the common road.

It is a perspective view which showed the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and has shown how the gears are sorted. It is a perspective view which showed the passage member of the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the passage member of the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and showed a part in a cross section. It is a perspective view which showed the passage member of the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and showed a part in a cross section. It is a perspective view which showed the passage member of the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and showed a part in a cross section. It is a perspective view which showed the passage member of the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and showed a part in a cross section. (A) (B) is a plan view and a sectional view which showed the supply part of the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the supply member of the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the confluence part of the sorting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which showed the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) (B) It is a perspective view which showed the gear which is sorted by the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) (B) (C) It is a plan view, a side view, and a bottom view which showed the gear which is sorted by the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the sorting apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the sorting apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the sorting apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the sorting apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and has shown how the gears are sorted. It is a perspective view which showed the passage member of the sorting apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and showed a part in a cross section. It is a perspective view which showed the passage member of the sorting apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and showed a part in a cross section. (A) (B) It is a perspective view which showed the gear which is sorted by the sorting apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. (A) (B) (C) A plan view, a side view, and a bottom view showing gears sorted by the sorting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

<First Embodiment>
An example of the sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. The arrow H shown in the figure indicates the device vertical direction (vertical direction), the arrow W indicates the device width direction (horizontal direction), and the arrow L indicates the device depth direction (horizontal direction). First, the gear 300 sorted by the sorting device of the present embodiment will be described, and then the sorting device will be described. The gear 300 is an example of a component. In each drawing, the gear 300 is appropriately omitted in order to clarify the shape of the device.

(Gear 300)
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the gear 300 has a disk-shaped main body portion 302 and a protrusion portion 308. The main body portion 302 has an outer peripheral surface 304 and a pair of side surfaces 306, and gear teeth 304A are formed on the outer peripheral surface 304.

The protrusion 308 projects from one side surface 306 on the axis of the main body 302, and has a circular cross section. In the following description, the side surface on which the protrusion 308 protrudes is referred to as a side surface 306A, and the side surface 306 facing the opposite side to the side surface 306A is referred to as a side surface 306B.

In the present embodiment, as an example, the outer diameter of the main body portion 302 is 25 [mm], and the thickness of the main body portion 302 is 15 [mm]. The outer diameter of the protrusion 308 is 15 [mm], and the height (thickness) of the protrusion 308 is 3 [mm].

(Overall configuration of sorting equipment)
The sorting device 10 is a device that sorts whether the protrusion 308 of the gear 300 to be sorted faces one side (posture) or the protrusion 308 of the gear 300 to be sorted faces the other (posture). (Details will be described later).

As shown in FIG. 12, the sorting device 10 passes through the passage member 12 through which the sorted gears 300 sequentially pass, the supply member 50 that supplies the gear 300 to the passage member 12, and the passage member 12 from above to below. It is provided with a receiving member 70 for receiving the gear 300. Further, the sorting device 10 includes a reversing member 80 that reverses the gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12 in the middle of the passage member 12 and passes it to the receiving member 70 without passing through the passage member 12 from above to below. ing.

(Aisle member 12)
As shown in FIG. 12, the passage member 12 is arranged in a portion of the sorting device 10 on the inner side (left side in the figure) in the depth direction of the device, and extends in the vertical direction. Further, the cross section of the passage member 12 has a rectangular shape extending in the depth direction of the device. The passage member 12 has a top surface 12A facing upward, a bottom surface 12B facing downward, a back side surface 12C facing the depth side in the device depth direction, a front side surface 12D facing the front side in the device depth direction, and the device. It has a pair of width sides 12E facing in the width direction.

Further, in the passage member 12, the protrusion 308 has one in the width direction of the device (hereinafter, "one in the width direction", right in the figure) or the other in the width direction of the device (hereinafter, "the other in the width direction", left in the figure). It has a common road 14 through which the facing gear 300 passes. Further, the passage member 12 has a common road having a discharge port 22 for discharging the gear 300 having the protrusion 308 facing the other in the width direction from the common road 14 and a gear 300 having the protrusion 308 facing the other in the width direction. It has a receiving path 28 that accepts from 14. Further, the passage member 12 has a discharge path 34 through which the gear 300 discharged from the discharge port 22 passes and discharges to the outside of the passage member 12.

-Common road 14, receiving road 28-
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the common road 14 is formed in the upper portion of the passage member 12 and in the front portion in the depth direction of the device. Further, the common road 14 extends in the vertical direction and is open to the outside from the top surface 12A of the passage member 12.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper end of the receiving path 28 is connected to the lower end of the common path 14. Further, the receiving path 28 extends in the vertical direction and is open to the outside from the bottom surface 12B (see FIG. 12) of the passage member 12.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the common road 14 and the receiving road 28 are a pair of first surfaces 16 facing the outer peripheral surface 304 (see FIG. 14) of the main body portion 302 of the gear 300 to be sorted. And a pair of second surfaces 18 facing the side surface 306 of the main body 302. The second surface 18 is an example of a surface.

The pair of first surfaces 16 face each other in the depth direction of the device, and the pair of second surfaces 18 face each other in the width direction of the device. In the present embodiment, the distance between the pair of first surfaces 16 is 31 [mm], and the distance between the pair of second surfaces 18 is 15.6 [mm]. The difference between the distance between the pair of second surfaces 18 and the thickness of the main body 302 of the gear 300 is 0.6 [mm]. In the following description, for convenience, the second surface 18 arranged on one side in the width direction is referred to as the second surface 18A, and the second surface 18 arranged on the other side in the width direction is referred to as the second surface 18B.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the portion of the common road 14 on the second surface 18A, when the protrusion 308 of the gear 300 faces one side in the width direction (the second surface 18A side), the protrusion 308 A concave allowable portion 20A that allows passage is formed.

Further, in the portion of the common road 14 on the second surface 18B, when the protrusion 308 of the gear 300 faces the other side (second surface 18B side) in the width direction, a slit shape that allows the protrusion 308 to pass through is formed. Allowable portion 20B is formed. The common road 14 is opened to the outside of the passage member 12 in the device width direction via the allowable portion 20B.

The allowable portion 20B is bent at the lower end of the common road 14 and is connected to a rectangular portion 22B (see FIG. 5) described later of the discharge port 22.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the portion of the receiving path 28 on the second surface 18A, when the protrusion 308 of the gear 300 faces one side in the width direction (the second surface 18A side), the protrusion 308 A concave allowable portion 20A that allows passage is formed.

Further, the portion of the receiving path 28 on the second surface 18B is not formed with a permissible portion 20B that allows the passage of the protrusion 308 facing the other side in the width direction (second surface 18B side). Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the second surface 18B of the receiving path 28 restricts the passage of the protrusion 308 facing the other in the width direction, and the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces the other in the width direction. An inclined surface 26 is formed to guide the discharge port 22 to the discharge port 22. The inclined surface 26 faces upward and is inclined so that the discharge port 22 side is downward with respect to the horizontal direction when viewed from the device width direction. The inclined surface 26 is an example of a limiting portion.
In other words, the inclined surface 26 is formed at the lower end of the allowable portion 20B and has the function of the bottom surface of the allowable portion 20B.

-Outlet 22-
As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge port 22 is formed at the lower end of the common road 14. Specifically, the discharge port 22 is formed on the first surface 16 on the inner side in the depth direction of the device. The discharge port 22 is a rectangular portion 22A extending in the vertical direction that allows the passage of the main body portion 302 of the gear 300 that has passed through the common road 14, and a protrusion 308 that has passed through the allowable portion 20B of the common road 14. It has a rectangular portion 22B having a rectangular shape extending in the vertical direction to allow passage of the above. The rectangular portion 22B is made smaller than the rectangular portion 22A.

The discharge port 22 is not formed with a portion that allows the protrusion 308 to pass through the protrusion 308 of the gear 300 facing one side in the width direction.

-Discharge channel 34-
As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge passage 34 extends from the discharge port 22 to the inner side and the lower side in the depth direction of the device in the passage member 12, and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Further, the discharge path 34 is open to the outside from the inner side surface 12C of the passage member 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the discharge path 34 faces the pair of first surfaces 36 facing the outer peripheral surface 304 (see FIG. 14) of the main body 302 of the gear 300 and the side surface 306 of the main body 302. It is surrounded by a pair of second surfaces 38.

The pair of first surfaces 36 face each other in the vertical direction of the device, and the pair of second surfaces 38 face each other in the width direction of the device. In the present embodiment, the distance between the pair of first surfaces 36 is 27 [mm], and the distance between the pair of second surfaces 38 is 15.6 [mm]. In the following description, for convenience, the second surface 38 arranged on one side in the width direction is referred to as the second surface 38A, and the second surface 38 arranged on the other side in the width direction is referred to as the second surface 38B.

The second surface 38B is formed with a slit-shaped allowable portion 40B that allows the protrusion 308 to pass through the protrusion 308 of the gear 300 facing the other side (second surface 38B side) in the width direction. .. The discharge path 34 is opened to the outside of the passage member 12 in the device width direction via the allowable portion 40B.

In this configuration, the common road 14 extending in the vertical direction has a gear 300 having a protrusion 308 facing one side in the width direction and a gear 300 having a protrusion 308 facing the other in the width direction, as shown in FIG. Receive from the upper opening (not shown). Then, the common road 14 guides the gear 300 from above to below.

The receiving path 28 extending in the vertical direction receives the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces one side in the width direction among the gears 300 that have passed through the common path 14. Then, the receiving path 28 guides the gear 300 to the opening of the receiving path 28 formed on the bottom surface 12B (see FIG. 12) of the passage member 12 (the gear 300 is guided by gravity). Further, the opening of the receiving path 28 formed in the bottom surface 12B of the passage member 12 causes the gear 300 that has passed through the receiving path 28 to drop downward.

On the other hand, the inclined surface 26 (see FIG. 4) formed at the upper end of the receiving path 28 restricts the passage of the protrusion 308 facing the other in the width direction, and the protrusion 308 excludes the gear 300 facing the other in the width direction. Lead to exit 22. Then, the discharge port 22 (see FIG. 5) allows the protrusion 308 to pass through the gear 300 facing the other side in the width direction.

Further, the discharge path 34 receives the gear 300 that has passed through the discharge port 22. Then, the discharge passage 34 guides the gear 300 from the discharge port 22 to the opening of the discharge passage 24 formed on the inner side surface 12C (see FIG. 12) of the passage member 12. Further, the opening of the discharge path 34 formed on the inner side surface 12C of the passage member 12 discharges the gear 300 that has passed through the discharge path 34 to the outside of the passage member 12.

(Supply member 50)
As shown in FIG. 12, the supply member 50 is arranged above the passage member 12, and the input section 52 into which a plurality of gears 300 are inserted and the gear 300 inserted into the input section 52 are placed on a common path one by one. It is provided with a supply unit 58 for supplying.

-Input unit 52-
As shown in FIG. 8, the charging portion 52 has a rectangular tubular portion 54 having an upper end and a lower end open, and a pair of support plates 56 for supporting the tubular portion 54.

The tubular portion 54 is formed of a pair of wall plates 54A facing in the width direction of the device and a pair of wall plates 54B facing each other in the depth direction of the device. Further, the cross section of the tubular portion 54 cut in the horizontal direction has a rectangular shape extending in the depth direction of the device. The cross section of the tubular portion 54 cut in the horizontal direction becomes smaller from the upper side to the lower side. Specifically, the length of the tubular portion 54 in the device width direction becomes shorter from the upper side to the lower side, so that the horizontally cut cross section of the tubular portion 54 becomes smaller from the upper side to the lower side. .. That is, the pair of wall plates 54A are inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Specifically, the pair of wall plates 54A are inclined at an angle of 45 degrees or more with respect to the vertical direction.

Further, in the rectangular cross section of the lower end of the tubular portion 54, the length (L1 in FIG. 7A) inside the tubular portion 54 in the device width direction is 23.6 [mm], and the main body of the gear 300 is set. It is shorter than the outer diameter of the portion 302, and longer than the value obtained by adding the thickness of the protrusion 308 to the thickness of the main body portion 302.

Further, the pair of support plates 56 are attached to the lower ends of the tubular portion 54. Specifically, the pair of support plates 56 have a rectangular shape in which the plate surface faces the device width direction and extends in the device depth direction when viewed from the device width direction. The upper edge of one support plate 56 is attached to the lower edge of one wall plate 54A of the tubular portion 54, and the upper edge of the other support plate 56 is the lower edge of the other wall plate 54A of the tubular portion 54. It is attached to.

In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, in the cylinder portion 54, the gear 300 inserted from the opening at the upper end of the cylinder portion 54 is brought into contact with the pair of wall plates 54A, so that the side surface 306 is oriented in the device width direction. Correct the posture of the gear 300 so that it faces. Then, the tubular portion 54 drops the gear 300 whose posture is corrected so that the side surface 306 faces the device width direction from the opening at the lower end.

-Supply unit 58-
The supply section 58 is arranged below the tube section 54 as shown in FIG. Then, it extends from the lower side of the tubular portion 54 toward the front side in the depth direction of the device. Specifically, the portion of the supply unit 58 on the inner side in the device depth direction is arranged below the tubular portion 54, and the portion of the supply unit 58 on the front side in the device depth direction is above the passage member 12. Have been placed.

Further, the supply unit 58 is set with respect to the horizontal direction so that the end portion of the supply unit 58 on the front side in the device depth direction is lower than the end portion of the supply unit 58 on the depth side in the device depth direction. It is tilted. Further, the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the supply unit 58 has a U-shape with an open upper portion as shown in FIG. 7B, and the plate surface of the supply unit 58 has a device width. It has a pair of side plates 58A facing in the direction, and a bottom plate 58B having a plate surface facing in the vertical direction of the device and connecting the lower ends of the pair of side plates 58A. The distance from one side plate 58A to the other side plate 58A is 23.6 [mm], which is shorter than the outer diameter of the main body 302 of the gear 300 and hits the thickness of the main body 302. It is longer than the value to which the thickness of the portion 308 is added.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper edge of the pair of side plates 58A of the portion arranged below the tubular portion 54 is attached to the lower edge of the pair of support plates 56 of the tubular portion 54.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, a through hole 60 is formed in a portion of the bottom plate 58B on the front side (right side in the figure) in the depth direction of the device. The through hole 60 is arranged above the common road 14, and is larger than the common road 14 when viewed from above (covering the common road 14). A gear 300 having the protrusion 308 facing one side in the width direction and a gear 300 having the protrusion 308 facing the other side in the width direction are supplied to the common road 14 through the through hole 60.

In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, the supply unit 58 receives the gear 300 that has been corrected in posture so that the side surface 306 faces the device width direction and has fallen from the opening at the lower end of the tubular unit 54. The supply unit 58 rolls the received gear 300 from the back side in the depth direction of the device to the front side, and supplies the gears 300 to the common road 14 one by one through the through hole 60.

(Receiving member 70)
The receiving member 70 is arranged below the passage member 12, as shown in FIG. The receiving member 70 includes a transport portion 72 extending in the depth direction of the device, and a support portion 76 arranged between the transport portion 72 and the passage member 12. The transport unit 72 is an example of a receiving unit.

-Transport section 72-
The portion of the transport unit 72 on the inner side in the depth direction of the device is arranged below the receiving path 28 formed in the passage member 12. Further, the transport unit 72 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that the portion of the transport unit 72 on the front side in the device depth direction is lower than the portion of the transport unit 72 on the back side in the device depth direction. ing.

Further, the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the transport portion 72 is U-shaped with the upper side open. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the transport unit 72 has a pair of side plates 72A having the plate surface facing the device width direction and a bottom plate 72B connecting the lower ends of the pair of side plates 72A having the plate surface facing the device vertical direction. And have. A U-shaped cross section is closed at the front end of the transport unit 72 in the depth direction of the device.

The distance from one side plate 72A to the other side plate 72A is 23.6 [mm], which is shorter than the outer diameter of the main body 302 of the gear 300, and the protrusion 308 has a thickness of the main body 302. It is longer than the value to which the thickness of is added.

-Support 76-
The support portion 76 includes a pair of support plates 76A whose plate surfaces face in the width direction of the device. One support plate 76A is arranged between the lower end of the passage member 12 and the inner portion of one side plate 72A in the depth direction of the device. Further, the other support plate 76A is arranged between the lower end of the passage member 12 and the inner portion of the other side plate 72A in the depth direction of the device.

In this configuration, the transport unit 72 receives the gear 300 that has passed through the receiving path 28 and has fallen downward. The transport unit 72 rolls the received gear 300 from the back side in the depth direction of the device to the front side (see FIG. 12).

(Reversing member 80)
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the reversing member 80 is arranged below the supply member 50 and above the transport portion 72 of the receiving member 70. Then, the reversing member 80 has a guide portion 82 whose one end is connected to the opening of the discharge path 34 (see FIG. 12) formed on the inner side surface 12C of the passage member 12, and the gear 300 guided by the guide portion 82. It is provided with a merging portion 86 for merging with the gear 300 conveyed by the conveying portion 72.

-Information section 82-
The guide portion 82 has a J-shape (fishhook shape) when viewed from above, and extends from the opening of the discharge passage 34 formed on the inner side surface 12C of the passage member 12 to the upper part of the intermediate portion of the transport portion 72. There is. The guide portion 82 has a side plate 82A that supports a pair of side surfaces 306 of the gear 300 that has passed through the discharge path 34 and is discharged from the passage member 12, and a bottom plate 82B that connects the lower ends of the pair of side plates 82A. (See FIG. 10).

One end of the guide portion 82 on the discharge path 34 side is arranged above the other end arranged above the intermediate portion of the transport portion 72, and the gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12 is the guide portion. It is designed to roll from one end to the other end of 82. Further, the guide portion 82 has a semicircular portion 84 when viewed from above, and the gear 300 having the protrusion 308 facing the other in the width direction passes through the semicircular portion 84. The protrusion 308 of the gear 300 faces one side in the width direction. In other words, the semicircular portion 84 functions as a folding portion that changes the progress of the gear 300.

Further, the bottom plate 82B at the other end of the guide portion 82 is formed with a through hole 83 (see FIG. 9) through which the gear 300 reaching the other end of the guide portion 82 passes.

-Merge part 86-
As shown in FIG. 9, the merging portion 86 is arranged between a portion on the other end side of the guide portion 82 and an intermediate portion of the transport portion 72, and extends in the vertical direction. The merging portion 86 is formed with a through hole 86A that reaches the other end of the guide portion 82 and causes the gear 300 that has passed through the through hole 83 to drop into the transport portion 72.

In this configuration, the guide portion 82 guides the gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12 through the discharge passage 34 to the upper part of the intermediate portion of the transport portion 72. Here, the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces the other in the width direction is inverted so that the protrusion 308 faces one in the width direction by passing through the semicircular portion 84 of the guide portion 82. Further, the merging portion 86 causes the gear 300 that has reached the other end of the guide portion 82 to be dropped onto the transport portion 72 through the through hole 83 of the guide portion 82 and the through hole 86A of the merging portion 86.

(Action)
Next, the operation of the sorting device 10 will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, the operator inserts a plurality of gears 300 into the cylinder portion 54 through the opening at the upper end of the cylinder portion 54. There is no particular regularity regarding the posture of the gear 300 to be inserted.

The cylinder portion 54 corrects the posture of the gear 300 so that the side surface 306 of the gear 300 faces the device width direction by bringing the gear 300 inserted from the opening at the upper end of the cylinder portion 54 into contact with the pair of wall plates 54A. do. Then, the tubular portion 54 drops the gear 300 whose posture is corrected so that the side surface 306 faces the device width direction from the opening at the lower end.

The supply unit 58 receives the gear 300 that has fallen from the opening at the lower end of the cylinder portion 54. Further, the supply unit 58 rolls the received gear 300 from the back side in the depth direction of the device to the front side. Then, the supply unit 58 supplies the gears 300 one by one to the common road 14 formed in the passage member 12 through the through hole 60.

The common road 14 extending in the vertical direction receives from the supply unit 58 the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces one side in the width direction and the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces the other in the width direction. Then, the common road 14 guides the gear 300 from above to below as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Specifically, the allowable portion 20A of the portion formed on the common road 14 allows the passage of the protrusion 308 facing one side (second surface 18A side) in the width direction in the gear 300. Further, the allowable portion 20B of the portion formed on the common road 14 allows the passage of the protrusion 308 facing the other side (second surface 18B side) in the width direction in the gear 300.

Further, the receiving path 28 extending in the vertical direction receives the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces one side in the width direction in the gear 300 passing through the common path 14. Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the receiving path 28 guides the gear 300 to the opening (see FIG. 10) of the receiving path 28 formed on the bottom surface 12B of the passage member 12. Specifically, the allowable portion 20A of the portion formed in the receiving path 28 allows the passage of the protrusion 308 facing one side (second surface 18A side) in the width direction in the gear 300. Then, the gear 300 that has passed through the receiving path 28 falls downward from the opening of the receiving path 28 formed in the bottom surface 12B of the passage member 12.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the transport unit 72 of the receiving member 70 receives the gears 300 that have passed through the receiving path 28 and have fallen downward one by one. Then, the transport unit 72 rolls the received gear 300 from the back side in the depth direction of the device to the front side. That is, the gear 300 with the protrusion 308 facing one side in the width direction rolls from the back side in the depth direction of the device to the front side. Then, the gears 300 are arranged in the transport unit 72 in the depth direction of the device.

On the other hand, the inclined surface 26 (see FIG. 4) formed at the upper end of the receiving path 28 restricts the passage of the protrusion 308 facing the other in the width direction, and the protrusion 308 excludes the gear 300 facing the other in the width direction. Lead to exit 22. Then, the discharge port 22 (see FIG. 5) allows the protrusion 308 to pass through the gear 300 facing the other side in the width direction (discharges from the common road 14).

Further, the discharge path 34 receives the gear 300 that has passed through the discharge port 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Then, the discharge path 34 guides the gear 300 from the discharge port 22 to the opening of the discharge path 24 formed on the inner side surface 12C (see FIG. 12) of the passage member 12. Further, the opening of the discharge path 34 formed on the inner side surface 12C of the passage member 12 discharges the gear 300 that has passed through the discharge path 34 from the passage member 12.

Further, the guide portion 82 of the reversing member 80 receives the gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12 through the discharge path 34, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12. Then, the guide unit 82 guides the received gear 300 to the upper part of the intermediate portion of the transport unit 72. Here, the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces the other in the width direction in the state of being discharged from the passage member 12 passes through the semicircular portion 84 of the guide portion 82, so that the protrusion 308 faces one in the width direction. Is flipped like this.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the merging portion 86 causes the gear 300 that has reached the other end of the guide portion 82 to be dropped onto the transport portion 72 through the through hole 86A. That is, the gear 300 with the protrusion 308 facing one side in the width direction falls on the transport portion 72.

As a result, the transport portion 72 is lined with gears 300 having the protrusions 308 facing one side in the width direction. Then, the operator takes out the gear 300 that has rolled to the portion of the transport unit 72 on the front side in the depth direction of the device, and assembles the gear 300 to an object (not shown). Here, since the protrusion 308 of the gear 300 in the state of being taken out from the transport portion 72 by the operator faces one side in the width direction, it is possible to prevent the gear 300 from being erroneously assembled to the object (misassembly). To.

(summary)
As described above, the receiving path 28 receives the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces one side in the width direction among the gears 300 that have passed through the common path 14. Further, the receiving path 28 guides the gear 300 to the opening of the receiving path 28 formed on the bottom surface 12B of the passage member 12.

Further, the inclined surface 26 of the receiving path 28 restricts the passage of the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces the other in the width direction. Then, the discharge port 22 discharges the gear 300 restricted by the reception path 28 from the common path 14.

Whether or not the protrusion 308 faces one side (predetermined direction) in the width direction with respect to the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 protruding from one side surface 306 of the main body 302 is formed in this way. Sorted (divided).

Further, the transport portion 72 of the receiving member 70 receives the gears 300, in which the protrusions 308 face one side in the width direction, pass through the receiving path 28, and fall downward, one by one. The gear 300 received by the transport unit 72 rolls from the back side in the depth direction of the device to the front side. Then, gears 300 having the protrusions 308 facing one side in the width direction are arranged on the transport portion 72 extending in the depth direction of the device. In this way, the gears 300 in which the protrusions 308 face one side in the width direction and are arranged in the depth direction of the device are supplied to the operator.

Further, the guide portion 82 of the reversing member 80 receives the gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12 through the discharge passage 34, and the protrusion 308 has a width of the gear 300 with the protrusion 308 facing the other in the width direction. Invert so that it faces one direction. Specifically, the gear 300 in which the protrusion 308 faces the other in the width direction is inverted so that the protrusion 308 faces one in the width direction by passing through the semicircular portion 84 of the guide portion 82. Then, the merging portion 86 of the reversing member 80 drops the inverted gear 300 onto the transport portion 72. In other words, the merging unit 86 passes the inverted gear 300 to the transport unit 72.

As a result, all the gears 300 supplied to the common road 14 are arranged in the transport section 72 with the protrusions 308 facing one side in the width direction.

Further, the plurality of gears 300 inserted into the cylinder portion 54 of the charging unit 52 fall to the supply unit 58 with the side surface 306 facing the device width direction. Further, the supply unit 58 receives the dropped gear 300 and rolls the gear 300 from the back side in the depth direction of the device to the front side. Then, the supply unit 58 supplies the gears 300 one by one to the common road 14 formed in the passage member 12 through the through hole 60 (see FIG. 8).

As a result, only by charging a plurality of gears 300 into the cylinder portion 54 of the charging unit 52, the gears 300 are supplied to the common road 14 one by one, and the protrusions 308 face one side (predetermined direction) in the width direction. Whether or not it is selected.

Further, the common road 14 is open to the outside via the permissible portion 20B (see FIG. 4), and the discharge path 34 is open to the outside via the permissible portion 40B (see FIG. 6). Therefore, for example, when the gear 300 is clogged in the common path 14 or the discharge path 34, for example, the operator can put a finger from the allowable portions 20B and 40B into the common path 14 or the discharge path 34. Then, the clogging of the gear 300 is cleared.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, an example of the sorting apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17. In addition, about the sorting apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, the part different from the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment will be mainly described.

The sorting device 110 according to the second embodiment does not include a reversing member that reverses the gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12 through the discharge path 34 and passes it to the transport unit 72 of the receiving member 70.

As shown in FIG. 15, the sorting device 110 has a return member 130 for returning the gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12 through the discharge path 34 to the charging section 52, and a gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12. It is provided with a guide unit 142 that guides the return member 130 to the receiving unit 132.

(Return member 130)
The return member 130 is arranged on the back side of the passage member 12 in the depth direction of the device. Then, the return member 130 includes a receiving unit 132 that receives the gear 300, a moving unit 134 that moves the receiving unit 132 up and down, and a rotating unit 136 that rotates the receiving unit 132.

The receiving unit 132 has a rectangular shape extending in the depth direction of the device when viewed from above, and has a box shape with an open upper portion.

The moving portion 134 is adapted to move the receiving portion 132 up and down by a known driving force such as a cylinder. Specifically, the moving unit 134 has a receiving position (see FIG. 15) for receiving the receiving unit 132 to receive the gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12, and a returning position for returning the gear 300 to the charging unit 52 (FIG. 16, FIG. 17) and. The receiving unit 132 arranged at the receiving position is arranged below the discharge path 34 in the vertical direction, and the receiving unit 132 arranged at the returning position is arranged above the charging unit 52 in the vertical direction. Has been done.

The rotating unit 136 rotates the receiving unit 132 by a known driving force such as an actuator. Specifically, the rotating unit 136 rotates the receiving unit 132 arranged at the return position to charge the gear 300 received by the receiving unit 132 into the charging unit 52.

(Information unit 142)
The guide portion 142 has a U-shaped cross section, one end of which is attached to the inner side surface 12C of the passage member 12, and the gear 300 that has passed through the discharge path 34 and is discharged from the passage member 12 is placed at the receiving position. It is designed to guide to the arranged receiving unit 132.

(Action, summary)
In the state before the gear 300 is inserted into the tubular portion 54 of the supply member 50, the receiving portion 132 is arranged at the receiving position as shown in FIG. In this state, the gear 300 is inserted into the charging section 52, and the gear 300 with the protrusion 308 facing the other in the width direction passes through the discharge path 34 and is discharged from the passage member 12. Then, the receiving unit 132 receives the discharged gear 300 through the guide unit 142.

When the mass of the receiving unit 132 exceeds a predetermined mass, a detection member (not shown) detects this. Then, the moving unit 134 moves the receiving unit 132 from the receiving position to the returning position (see FIGS. 16 and 17). When the receiving unit 132 moves to the return position, the rotating unit 136 rotates the receiving unit 132 to put the gear 300 received by the receiving unit 132 into the charging unit 52, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

When the gear 300 is charged to the charging unit 52, the receiving unit 132 is arranged at the receiving position by reversing the above-mentioned process, and the above-mentioned process is performed again.

In this way, the return member 130 returns the gear 300 discharged from the passage member 12 through the discharge path 34 to the charging section 52, so that the operator can pass through the discharge path 34 and from the passage member 12. It is possible to save the trouble of returning the discharged gear 300 to the charging unit 52.

As for the other actions of the second embodiment, the actions other than the actions of having the reversing member in the first embodiment are performed.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, an example of the sorting apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 to 22. In addition, about the sorting apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, the part different from the sorting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment will be mainly described. First, the gear 350 sorted by the sorting device of the third embodiment will be described, and then the sorting device will be described. The gear 350 is an example of a component.

(Gear 350)
The portion of the gear 350 that is different from that of the gear 300 will be mainly described. As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the gear 350 has a disk-shaped main body portion 352, a first protrusion 358, and a second protrusion 360. The main body portion 352 is formed of an outer peripheral surface 354 and a pair of side surfaces 356, and gear teeth 354A are formed on the outer peripheral surface 354 of the main body portion 352. The first protrusion 358 is an example of the protrusion.

The first protrusion 358 projects from one side surface 356 on the axis of the main body portion 352, and has a circular cross section. The second protrusion 360 projects from the other side surface 356 on the axis of the main body portion 352, and the protrusion height (protrusion amount) of the second protrusion 360 is compared with the protrusion height of the first protrusion 358. It has been lowered. In the following description, the side surface 306 on which the first protrusion 358 protrudes is referred to as a side surface 306A, and the side surface 306 on which the second protrusion 360 protrudes is referred to as a side surface 306B.

In the third embodiment, as an example, the outer diameter of the main body portion 302 is 25 [mm], and the thickness of the main body portion 302 is 11 [mm]. Further, the outer diameter of the first protrusion 358 and the outer diameter of the second protrusion 360 are set to 15 [mm], the height of the first protrusion 358 is set to 5 [mm], and the height of the second protrusion 360 is set to 5 [mm]. The height is 2 [mm].

(Sorting device 210)
A common path 214, a receiving path 228, a discharge port 222, and a discharge path 234 are formed in the passage member 12 of the sorting device 210.

-Common road 214, receiving road 228-
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the common road 214 and the receiving road 228 are a pair of first surfaces 216 facing the outer peripheral surface 354 (see FIG. 22) of the main body portion 352 of the gear 350, and the main body portion 352. It is surrounded by a pair of second surfaces 218 facing the side surface 356. The second surface 218 is an example of a surface.

In the present embodiment, the distance between the pair of first surfaces 216 is 31 [mm], and the distance between the pair of second surfaces 218 is 11.6 [mm]. In the following description, for convenience, the second surface 218 arranged on one side in the width direction is referred to as the second surface 218A, and the second surface 218 arranged on the other side in the width direction is referred to as the second surface 218B.

In the portion of the common road 214 on the second surface 218A, as shown in FIG. 19, when the first protrusion 358 of the gear 350 faces one side in the width direction (second surface 218A side), this first A concave allowable portion 220A that allows the passage of the protrusion 358 is formed.

Further, in the portion of the common road 214 on the second surface 218B, when the first protrusion 358 of the gear 350 faces the other in the width direction (the second surface 218B side), the passage of the first protrusion 358 is passed. An allowable concave allowable portion 220B is formed.

Further, in the portion of the receiving path 228 on the second surface 218A, as shown in FIG. 20, when the first protrusion 358 of the gear 350 faces one side in the width direction (second surface 218A side), this A concave allowable portion 220A that allows the passage of the first protrusion 358 is formed.

Further, on the second surface 18B, the allowable portion 220B that allows the passage of the first protrusion 358 facing the other in the width direction is not formed in the portion of the receiving path 228. However, in the portion of the receiving path 228 on the second surface 218B, a concave allowable portion 222B that allows the passage of the second protrusion 360 facing the other in the width direction is formed. That is, the allowable portion 222B has a depth that limits the passage of the first protrusion 358 having a high height and allows the passage of the second protrusion 360 having a low height.

Further, at the upper end of the second surface 218B of the receiving path 228, as shown in FIG. 19, the passage of the first protrusion 358 facing the other in the width direction is restricted, and the first protrusion facing the other in the width direction is restricted. An inclined surface 226 that guides the gear 350 of 358 to the discharge port 222 is formed. The inclined surface 226 faces upward and is inclined so that the discharge port 222 side is downward with respect to the horizontal direction when viewed from the device width direction. The inclined surface 226 is an example of a limiting portion.

-Outlet 222-
As shown in FIG. 19, the discharge port 222 is formed on the first surface 216 on the inner side in the depth direction of the device, and is vertically oriented to allow the passage of the main body portion 352 of the gear 350 that has passed through the common road 214. It has an extended rectangular rectangular portion 222A and a permissible portion 222B that allows the passage of the first protrusion 358 of the gear 350 that has passed through the permissible portion 220B. Further, the discharge port 222 has a rectangular allowable portion 222B that allows the passage of the second protrusion 360 facing one side in the width direction. That is, the allowable portion 222B has a depth that limits the passage of the first protrusion 358 having a high height and allows the passage of the second protrusion 360 having a low height.

-Discharge channel 234-
As shown in FIG. 20, the discharge passage 234 has a pair of first surfaces 236 facing the outer peripheral surface 354 (see FIG. 22) of the main body portion 352 of the gear 350 and a pair of pair facing the side surface 356 of the main body portion 352. It is surrounded by the second side 238. In the following description, for convenience, the second surface 238 arranged on one side in the width direction is referred to as the second surface 238A, and the second surface 238 arranged on the other side in the width direction is referred to as the second surface 238B.

The second surface 238B has a concave allowable portion 240A that allows the passage of the first protrusion 358 when the first protrusion 358 of the gear 350 faces the other side in the width direction (second surface 238B side). It is formed.

Further, the second surface 238A is not formed with an allowable portion that allows the passage of the first protrusion 358 facing one side in the width direction. However, the second surface 238A is formed with a concave allowable portion 240B that allows the passage of the second protrusion 360 facing one side in the width direction. That is, the allowable portion 240B has a depth that limits the passage of the first protrusion 358 having a high height and allows the passage of the second protrusion 360 having a low height.

(Action)
As shown in FIG. 18, the common road 214 receives the gear 350 in which the first protrusion 358 faces one side in the width direction and the gear 350 in which the first protrusion 358 faces the other in the width direction. Then, the common road 214 guides the gear 350 from the upper side to the lower side.

The receiving path 228 receives the gear 350 in which the first protrusion 358 faces one side in the width direction among the gears 350 that have passed through the common path 214. Then, the receiving path 228 guides the gear 350 to the opening of the receiving path 228 formed on the bottom surface 12B of the passage member 12.

The discharge path 234 receives the gear 350, in which the first protrusion 358 faces the other in the width direction, among the gears 350 that have passed through the common path 214, through the discharge port 222. Then, the discharge path 234 guides the gear 350 from the discharge port 222 to the opening of the discharge path 234 formed on the inner side surface 12C of the passage member 12. Moreover, the operation of the third embodiment is the same as the operation of the first embodiment.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments can be taken within the scope of the present invention. That is clear to those skilled in the art. For example, in the above embodiment, the sorting devices 10, 110, 210 are provided with the supply member 50, but the supply member 50 may not be provided. In this case, the operator may use the common roads 14, 214. The gears 300 and 350 may be supplied one by one. However, it does not play the effect of providing the supply member 50.

Further, in the above embodiment, the gears 300 and 350 are sorted by using the sorting devices 10, 110 and 210, but the sorting target is formed with a protrusion protruding from at least one side surface of the disk-shaped main body. It may be a roller, a spacer, a pulley, or the like as long as it is a member.

Further, in the above embodiment, the transport unit 72 is linear when viewed from above, but the transport unit may extend to the operator's hand and may be bent when viewed from above.

Further, in the above embodiment, the inverted gears 300 and 350 have joined the transport unit 72, but for example, when another transport unit along the transport unit 72 is provided, the inverted gear is used. , May be passed to other transport units.

10 Sorting device 12 Passage member 14 Common road 18 Second surface (an example of surface)
18A Second surface 18B Second surface 20A Allowable part (an example of the first allowable part)
20B permissible part (an example of the second permissible part)
22 Discharge port 26 Inclined surface (example of restricted part)
28 Receiving path 52 Input section 58 Supply section 72 Transport section (example of receiving section)
80 Inverting member 82 Guide unit 110 Sorting device 130 Return member 210 Sorting device 214 Common road 216 First surface 218 Second surface (example of surface)
218A Second surface 218B Second surface 220A Allowable part (an example of the first allowable part)
220B permissible part (an example of the second permissible part)
222 Outlet 226 Inclined surface (example of restricted part)
228 Receiving path 300 gear (example of parts)
302 Main body 306 Side 306A Side 306B Side 308 Protrusion 350 Gear (example of parts)
352 Main body 356 Side surface 358 First protrusion (an example of protrusion)

Claims (3)

A common path through which a part having a protrusion protruding from one side surface of a disk-shaped main body on an axis, with the protrusion facing one or the other , extending in the vertical direction. The common road is connected to the end of the common road, and the protrusion receives the component facing one side , and is formed at the receiving path through which the component passes and the end of the common road, and the protrusion is formed. A passage member having a discharge port for discharging the component facing the other side from the common road, and a passage member .
A receiving unit that receives the parts that have passed through the receiving path and arranges the parts.
A guide unit that is J-shaped when viewed from above, receives the parts discharged from the discharge port at one end, guides the received parts to the other end, and passes them to the receiving unit.
A sorting device equipped with. The common road and the receiving road are formed to include a pair of surfaces facing the side surface.
On one of the surfaces, a first permissible portion is formed to allow the protrusion to pass when the protrusion is facing the one surface side.
A second permissible portion is formed in the portion of the common road on the other surface to allow the protrusion to pass when the protrusion faces the other surface side.
In the other surface, the portion of the receiving path restricts the passage of the protrusion when the protrusion faces the other surface side, and the protrusion faces the other surface side. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein a limiting portion for guiding the component to the discharge port is formed. A loading section arranged above the passage member and into which a plurality of the components are loaded,
A supply unit that supplies the parts loaded into the charging unit one by one to the common path,
The sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 .

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