JPH01115526A - Tray feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten stop time of part take out work and to reduce space to be occupied by device, by providing two elevators for lifting trays stacked through interval, a carrying means and a part take-out means. CONSTITUTION:In a tray feeder, trays 1a, 1b,... containing parts are stacked on a base 5a then an elevator 6a is lowered and the tray 1a is grasped by a chuck 10a and lifted to a predetermined height. Then an empty carrying means 21 is moved from position (b) to position (a). Where the tray containing a part is passed from the elevator 6a to the carrying means 21 and moved to the position (b). Thereafter, one part is picked up from the tray 1d by means of a part pick-up device 28 and fed to a machine. During part pick-up work, the uppermost tray is grasped by the chuck 10 and lifted to a predetermined height. After a part is taken out from the tray, a waiting elevator 6b is lowered then an empty tray is received and stacked at the position (b).

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a tray feeding device, and in particular to a tray suitable for reducing the space occupied by the device and significantly shortening the downtime of parts removal work. Regarding the supply device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a device for supplying and taking out components stored in a tray, there are a device shown in FIG. 6, a device shown in FIG. WCI, and a device shown in FIG.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, trays 1 containing parts are stacked and temporarily stored in section A. In section B, the stacked trays 1 are separated one by one and sent to the next section 0. In the 0th part, parts are taken out one by one from the tray 1 and supplied to a processing machine or the like. In section D, used empty trays are stacked again. In section F, the stacked trays are temporarily stored.

In the case of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, in addition to section 0 for taking out parts from tray 1, there are sections A, B, D, and E, including sections for storing trays.

Further, in the apparatus shown in W, 72 right and FIG. 8, the tray 1 containing the parts loaded on the stocker F is sent to the work station G in order from the top. At this work station G, parts are taken out one by one from the tray 1. The empty tray from which the parts have been removed is vertically lowered and pushed into the lowest part of the stocker F again, as shown by the arrow in FIG.

In the case of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the stocker F
After all the trays 1 loaded on the tray 1 become empty, they are discharged and a new group of trays is supplied to the stocker F. This replacement work usually takes 10 to 30 seconds, during which time the parts supply work is stopped.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, empty trays are stocked in section E, and can be ejected without stopping the parts removal operation. Since the device has sections B, D, and E, there is a problem that the entire device becomes large and occupies a large space.

On the other hand, in the apparatuses shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the occupied space can be reduced, but each tray must be ejected after it becomes empty and replaced with a new group of trays.

This replacement usually takes 10 to 30 seconds, and during this time the parts removal work must be stopped. If such a feeding device is installed on a production line, the entire line will stop while the tray is replaced. , there is a problem that the loss of working time is large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a tray feeding device that can solve the problems of the prior art described above, can significantly shorten the downtime of parts removal work, and can also reduce the space occupied by the entire device.

[Means for solving problems]

The objects are spaced apart from each other on a horizontal plane. A first elevator that sets a second position, stacks trays containing parts in the first position, and grasps the topmost tray of the trays stacked in the first position and lifts it to a set height. and a conveyance means for receiving the tray lifted up by the first elevator to the first position and conveying it horizontally to a second position, and to the second position, the tray is conveyed by the conveyance means. This is achieved by installing a parts take-out device that takes out parts from the arriving tray, and a second elevator that receives empty trays from the transport means, pulls them down, and stacks them.

[Effect]

In the present invention, trays containing components are stacked in a first position.

Then, the first elevator is lowered, and the first elevator grasps the uppermost tray stacked with parts and lifts it up to a set height.

The empty transport means is then moved from the second position to the first position. Here, the transport means receives the tray containing the parts from the first elevator and moves it to the second position.

After the tray containing the parts is transported to the second position by the transport means, the parts are taken out from the tray by the parts take-out device at this second position and supplied to a processing machine or the like.

During this part removal operation, the first elevator is lowered again, the first elevator grasps the top tray containing parts and lifts it to a set height, and then the empty transport means is moved. I'll wait until you arrive. Also, during this parts removal work, the second elevator is raised to a set height and kept on standby until one tray becomes empty.

After all the parts are taken out from one tray by the parts taking out device, the empty tray is delivered to the second elevator by the conveyance means.

The second elevator receives the empty trays, descends, and stacks the empty trays at a second position.

Meanwhile, the conveying means is horizontally moved to the first position in order to receive the tray containing the parts from the waiting first elevator.

As described above, in the present invention, after the parts are taken out from the tray containing the parts at the second position by the parts take-out device, when the tray becomes empty, the empty tray is delivered to the second elevator by the conveying means, The conveying means is moved to a first position, the tray containing the parts is delivered to the conveying means from the first elevator waiting at the first position, and the conveying means is moved from the first position to the second position. As a result, the down time for parts removal work can be significantly shortened.

Further, according to the present invention, the area of the entire device can be reduced to a level slightly larger than the combined area of the WCL elevator and the area of the second elevator, and therefore the occupied space can be reduced.

〔Example〕

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

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway front view, Fig. 3 is a right side view, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tray, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tray. a groove portion; Second
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the relationship between the chuck claw provided on the elevator and its attached member.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, two chuck grooves 2 are provided on each side of the tray I. Further, this tray 1 can store a large number of parts (not shown) in compartments.

Main components of I2 tray feeding device The tray feeding device of the embodiment shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. The second pedestals 5a, 5b, and the first pedestals 5a, 5b. Second elevator 6a, 6
b, a tray conveying means 21, and a component removal bag chamber 4.

13: Frame As shown in FIG. 1, a plate-shaped bracket 4 for supporting various members is attached to the upper part of the frame 3.

At the lower part of the frame 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are 1. A second position (a) + (b) is set. Said 1st. The second positions (a) and (b) are
They are provided at intervals slightly longer than twice the width of the tray l.

II4: 1st. Second Pedestal The first pedestal 5a is installed at the first position (a), and trays containing parts are stacked on the first pedestal 5a.

The second pedestal 5b is installed at a second position (b), and empty trays are stacked on this second pedestal 5b.

In addition, in Figures 1 and 2, the parts included are vJ.
The trays stacked on the pedestal 5a of 1 are designated by the symbol 1a.
-1c, the tray being conveyed above the second position (b) by the conveying means 21 is denoted by 1d, and the empty trays stacked on the second pedestal 5b are denoted by 1e,
It is indicated by if.

1lI5: First Elevator The first elevator 6a is installed at a first position (a) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first elevator 6a has two guide bars 7a and 73' fixed vertically and parallel to each other at intervals in the width direction of the tray, and lifts and lowers using these guide bars 7a and 73'. an elevator play (elevator play) 8a, supported on the front side thereof, two horizontally mounted elevator arms 9a, 9a', and both elevator arms 9a, 9;
It is comprised of two chucks 10a for trays and a driving part 16g for an elevator, two chucks 10a for trays each provided inside a'.

As shown in FIG. 5, the chuck 10a is formed into an oval shape when viewed from the front, and has an elevator arm 9a.
, 9 a', a pawl 11 rotatably provided through a pin 12, and a tension spring 13 that engages the pawl 11 with the groove 2 of the tray 1 and biases the tray 1 in the direction of gripping the tray 1. , a cylinder 14 for controlling the claw 11 in the direction of removing the claw 11 from the groove 2 of the tray 1 and releasing the tray 1;
a switch 15 that detects when the user releases tray 1;
It is composed of:

This chuck 10a is connected to the first elevator 6a.
When the claw 11 comes into contact with the uppermost tray 1a of the trays 1a to 1c stacked on the first pedestal 5a, the claw 11 once rotates in the direction shown by the imaginary line in FIG. After moving, it is pulled back by the action of the tension spring 13, and as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, it engages with the groove 2 of the tray 1 and grips the uppermost tray 1a. Further, the first elevator 6a rises, and the conveying means 21 moves to the first position (a).
When it stops at that position, the cylinder 14 rotates the claw 11 to the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. It is set to be handed over.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the elevator drive unit 16a includes a ball screw 17 and an elevator play.
The ball nut 18 is provided inside the ball screw 8g and is screw-fitted to the ball screw 17, a rotational drive source 19 for the ball screw 17, and a transmission member that transmits the power of the ball nut 19 to the ball screw 17. has been done. In this elevator drive unit 16a, when the rotary drive source 19 is rotated in the forward direction, the power is transmitted to the ball screw 1 through the transmission member 20.
7, and the screw action of the ball screw 17 and pole nut 18 causes the first elevator 6a to rise. Furthermore, when the rotational drive source 19 is rotated in the opposite direction, the transmission member 2
0. The first elevator 6a is lowered by the action of a ball screw 17 and a pole nut 18.

i6: Second Elevator The second elevator 6b is installed at the second position (b) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this second elevator 6b has two guide bars 7b and 7b' fixed vertically and parallel to each other at intervals in the width direction of the tray, and lifts and lowers using the guide bars 7b and 7b'. an elevator plate 8b that is supported, two parallel and horizontally mounted elevator arms 9b, 9b' on the front side thereof, and both elevator arms 9b, 9;
It is configured to include two chucks 10b for trays provided inside each chuck 10b for trays, and a drive unit 16b for elevators.

The chuck 10b has the same structure as the chuck 10a of the first elevator 6a. As the second elevator 6b ascends, this chuck 10b has its claws 11 abutted against the empty tray 1d mounted on the conveyance means 21, and after the claws 11 have rotated in the direction of detachment, it is pulled Due to the action of the spring 13, it engages with the groove 2 of the tray 1 and grips and receives the empty tray 1d. Next, the second elevator 6b descends, and the empty tray 1f carried by the second elevator 6b is placed on the second pedestal 5b or on the topmost empty tray 1f of the empty trays le, if stacked on the second pedestal 5b. When the trays are stacked, cylinder 14
Rotate the claw 11 to the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
It is removed from the groove 2 of the tray 1 to release the tray 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elevator drive section 16b is provided inside the ball screw 17 and the elevator plate 8b, similar to the elevator drive section 16a in the first elevator 6a. The pole nut 18 screwed into the ball screw 17, the rotational drive source 19 for the ball screw 17, and the power for this are connected to the ball screw 17.
The transmission member 20 is configured to include a transmission member 20 that transmits power to the vehicle. In this elevator drive unit 16b, when the rotary drive source 19 is rotated in the forward direction, the power is transmitted to the ball screw 17 through the transmission member 20, and the screw action of the ball screw 17 and the pole nut 18 causes the second Lower the elevator 6b. Further, when the rotary drive source 19 is rotated in the opposite direction, the second elevator 6b is raised through the action of the transmission member 20, the ball screw 17, and the pole nut 18.

17: Conveying means As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveying means 21 has a first . Second elevator 6g, 6
It is installed to correspond to the height when b is raised.

Further, the conveyance means 21 includes two guide bars 22 installed in parallel in the horizontal direction, and a pair of slides arranged at a constant interval from each other and supported so as to be slidable along the guide bars 22. Block 4, the conveyor plate 24 attached to both slide blocks, the cylinder 25, the sliding body 26 driven by this cylinder 25, and the metal fitting 27 connecting this sliding body 26 and slide block 4. It is composed of:

After receiving the tray 1d containing parts from the first elevator 6a onto the conveying plate at the first position (,), the conveying means 21 moves it from the first position (al to the second position) by the cylinder 25. The tray 1d containing the parts is transported to the second position (b). After the empty tray is delivered to the elevator 6b of No. 2, it is moved from the second position (b) toward the first position (,) by the cylinder 25, and returned to the first position (a) in a state of nitrogen. It is configured so that

1i18: Parts Removal Device The component removal device path is installed corresponding to the second position (b), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Further, this parts extraction device 28 is configured with a revolving body 29, a cylinder 30 for a head, a head 31 operated by this cylinder 30, and a chuck 32 for parts attached to this head 31. There is.

This parts ejecting device unit picks up a head 31 and a chuck 32 by means of a cylinder 30 from a tray 1d containing parts transported by a transport means 21 to a second position.
is lowered, and after the chuck 32 grips one component, the head 31 and chuck 32 are raised by the cylinder 30, and then the head 31 and chuck 32 are rotated to the part delivery position by the rotating body 29,
After delivering the part to a processing machine etc. at this position, the head 31 and chuck 32 are moved by the rotating body 4 and the cylinder 30.
is configured to return to its original position.

$9: Effect of this embodiment In the tray feeding device of this embodiment, trays la, lb, . . . containing parts are stacked in advance on the first pedestal 5a.

Next, the elevator drive section 16a of the first elevator 6a is operated to lower the first elevator 6a, and the uppermost tray 1a is gripped by the chuck 10a provided thereon.

After the tray is gripped by the chuck 10a of the first elevator 6a, the elevator drive unit 16a
The first elevator 6m is raised to lift the tray containing the parts to the set height.

Next, cylinder 4 of the conveying means 21 moves the empty conveying means 21 from the second position (b) to the first position (a).

After the conveyance means 21 reaches the first position (al), the cylinder 14 of the chuck 10a of the first elevator 6a is operated to rotate the claw 11 of the chuck 10a in the direction of releasing the tray. Accordingly, the first elevator 6
The tray containing the parts is delivered to the conveying means 21 from a.

At this time, as the claw 11 of the chuck 10a rotates to the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. It can be confirmed.

After the conveying means 21 receives the tray containing the parts from the first elevator 6a, the cylinder 5 of the conveying means 21
The conveying means 21 is moved from the first position (a) to the second position (b).

The tray 1d containing the parts is transferred to the second tray by the conveying means 21.
After transporting the parts to the position (bl), the cylinder 30 of the parts removal device lowers the head 31 right and the chuck 32, the chuck 32 grips one part from the tray 1d, and then the cylinder 30 raises the head 31 and chuck 32. the rotating body 4, and the chuck 32
The parts gripped by the machine are fed to a processing machine, etc. After supplying the parts, the head 31 is moved by the revolving body 29 and the cylinder 30.
and return the chuck 32 to its original position. This operation is repeated and parts are taken out one by one from the tray 1d and supplied.

During this work of taking out the parts, the elevator drive unit 16a of the first elevator 6a lowers the empty first elevator 6a, the chuck 10g grips the tray containing the uppermost part, and the Drive section 16
The first elevator 6a is raised by a, and the tray containing the parts is lifted to a set height and kept on standby.

Furthermore, the empty second elevator 6b is raised by the elevator drive unit 16b of the #c2 elevator 6b and is kept on standby.

After taking out all the parts in one tray, the drive unit 16
b, the second elevator 6b is lowered, and on the way there, the chuck 10b grips and receives the empty tray placed on the transport means 21, and the second elevator 6b is lowered further. When the empty tray descended by the second elevator 6b comes into contact with the second pedestal 5b or the top tray stacked thereon, the cylinder of the chuck 10b of the second elevator 6b 14 rotates the claw 11 in the direction of releasing the empty tray. At this time as well, it can be confirmed that the chuck 10b has released the empty tray by rotating the claw 11 to the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 5 and pressing the switch 15.

During this time, the empty transport means 21 is again moved from the second position (b) to the first position (a), and the empty second elevator 6b is raised and kept on standby.

By repeating the above operations, the first position (
, ) are automatically taken out one by one, starting from the top tray, and delivered from the first elevator 6a to the conveyance means 21. from position 1 (a) to position 2
At this position, the parts are taken out one by one by the part removal bag chamber, and the empty tray is transferred to the transport means 2.
1 to the second elevator 6b, and the empty trays can be stacked at the second position (b) by the second elevator 6b.

Moreover, in this embodiment, during the parts removal work, the first elevator 6a lifts a tray containing parts to a set height and waits for it, and also raises the empty second elevator 6b to remove the empty tray from the conveying means 21. Since the parts can be kept on standby to be received, the down time for parts removal work can be significantly shortened.

Furthermore, the first. In both the second elevators 6a and 6b, when the chucks 10a and 10b release the tray, the claws 11
Since the release of the tray can be confirmed by the action of the switch 15, it is possible to reliably operate each part in conjunction with each other.

Furthermore, since the space of the entire device can be kept to a level slightly larger than the combined area of the first elevator 6a and the second elevator 6b, the occupied space can be reduced. .

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention described above, the first . A second position is set, trays containing parts are stacked in the first position, and an elevator is used to grasp the top tray of the trays stacked in the first position and lift it to a set height. and a conveyance means for receiving the tray lifted up by the first elevator to the first position and conveying it horizontally to a second position, and to the second position, the tray is conveyed by the conveyance means. A parts take-out device takes out parts from the arriving tray, and a second elevator receives empty trays from the conveying means, pulls out the empty trays, and stacks them, and the parts are placed at a second position. After parts are taken out from the tray by the parts pick-up device, when the tray becomes empty, the empty tray is delivered to the second elevator by the transport means, the transport means is moved to position WXl, and it waits at this first position. The tray containing the parts is delivered from the first elevator inside the machine to the transport means, and the transport means is moved from the first position to the second position, which greatly reduces the down time for parts removal work. There are benefits to be gained.

Further, according to the present invention, the area of the entire device can be reduced to a level slightly larger than the combined area of the first elevator and the second elevator, thus reducing the occupied space. There are benefits to be gained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the same, Fig. 3 is a right side view, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tray, and Fig. 5 is a groove of the tray. And the first. An enlarged view showing the relationship between the chuck claw provided on the second elevator and its attached member, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the prior art,
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another conventional technique, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the movement path of the tray in the conventional technique shown in FIG. (al, (b)... 1st. 2nd position 1... Tray 2... Tray groove 3... Device frame 6a, 6b... 1st. 2nd elevator 10a, 1
0b...Chuck 21 for tray...Transportation means
Edict...Parts removal device 32...Chuck for parts Fig. 3 Fig. 40 No. 5 1 Tray 12 Pin 14 Shishita Z Groove 1 La Switch 11 Claw 13 Pull

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Set first and second positions on a horizontal plane at intervals from each other, stack trays containing parts in the first position, and place the topmost tray of the stacked trays in the first position. A first elevator is installed to grasp and lift the tray to a set height, and a second elevator receives the tray lifted to the first position by the first elevator.
A conveyance means for horizontally conveying the parts to a second position is arranged, and a second position includes a parts take-out device for taking out parts from the tray conveyed by the conveyance means, and a parts take-out device for receiving an empty tray from the conveyance means and disposing of the empty tray. and a second elevator for unloading and stacking trays.