JPH01226616A - Device and method for feeding article - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to remove an article properly in a simple manner, which is continuously fed while being carried in by combining the respective actions of a pushing member and an abutting member in operation. CONSTITUTION:Let No.1 article feeding member 10 which is arranged with a slit 16 opened while being faced with an article take-out position, pass through at one side of the article take-out position. Then, let No.2 article feeding member 11 which is arranged with a slit 17 opened while being faced with the article take-out position, pass through at the other side of the article take-out position. When an article 18 is taken out of No.1 article feeding member 10, No.1 abutting member 54 is brought in contact with the opposite side of the article take- out position so as to let No.1 pushing member 52 be moved along the direction that the slit 16 is extended wherein the article 18 located at an article feed position is hanged while being held, and the article 18 is pushed out until it is struck in contact with No.1 abutting member 54 so that it is pulled out of the slit 16. When the article 18 is taken out of No.2 article take-out member 11, similar operations are processed by use of No.2 pushing member 53 and No.2 abutting member 55.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides an article for continuously supplying screws, etc. by holding and transporting a large number of articles as shaft members with heads, such as screws. The present invention relates to a supply device and an article supply method.

[Prior Art] In recent years, with the automation of screw tightening machines and the like, automation of screw supply is also progressing. Therefore, the problem is how efficiently to continuously supply screws to a screw tightening machine.

Conventionally, in the continuous supply of screws, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-714
As shown in Publication No. 14, on one long tape,
A structure has been proposed in which insertion holes into which screws are inserted are formed at predetermined intervals, and cuts are formed in the vicinity of each insertion hole.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional screw supply technology, when removing the screw from the film, in order to allow the screw to fall out of the insertion hole, the area around the insertion hole is It is designed so that it will not break easily. For this reason, the above-mentioned cuts are provided in order to prevent the entire film from being broken due to the large breakage range, that is, to restrict the breakage range.

As described above, in this conventional screw supply technology, the screws are removed based on the breakage of the film, so the breakage strength of the film may make it difficult to break, and the physical strength of the film may deteriorate. Accurate management of this breaking strength is required, and since the film breaks when taken out, it is impossible to reuse the film, which poses a problem from an economic standpoint.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the invention is to be able to continuously supply a large number of articles, and to be able to easily remove the articles that have been transported. Another object of the present invention is to provide an article supplying device and an article supplying method that enable reuse of article supply materials and improve economic efficiency.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, a pair of article supply devices according to the present invention are provided so as to extend together within a common plane while being spaced apart from each other. , an article supplying material for holding a plurality of articles with heads in a suspended state respectively in a plurality of slits extending along a direction intersecting the conveyance direction and sequentially conveying them to a supplied position, The first and second article supply materials are arranged such that the openings of the slits of the article supply materials face each other, and both article supply materials are passed intermittently on both sides of the article removal position. A conveying means for conveying and a first article that is protruded to the opposite side from the article with an article take-out position placed between them when a predetermined article of the first article supply material is conveyed to the supplied position. When a predetermined article of the second article supply material is conveyed to the supplied position, a contact member of 2
When the first abutting member is protruded to a predetermined protruding position, the article brought to the supplied position in the first article supply material is brought into contact with the first abutting member. When the first pushing member pushes out the article toward the member and removes the article from the slit, and the second abutting member is pushed out to a predetermined protruding position, the second pushing member also pushes out the article to the supplied position in the second article supplying material. A second step of pushing out the dropped article toward the second abutting member and removing the article from the slit.
It is characterized by comprising a push-out member.

Furthermore, the article supply method according to the present invention includes holding a plurality of articles with heads in a state in which each article is suspended in a plurality of slits extending from the article supply material along a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the article. In the article supply method for sequentially conveying articles to a supplied position by moving the article supply material, the article is placed opposite to the article takeout position so as to pass on one side of the article takeout position. a first step of passing the first article supply material, which is completely arranged so that the slit is opened; The second part is arranged so that the slit is opened.
a second step of passing the article supply material; and a third step of protruding the first contact member to the opposite side of the article take-out position when taking out the article from the first article supply material;
By moving the first push-out member along the extending direction of the slit in which the article at the supplied position is suspended, the article is pushed out until it comes into contact with the first abutting member, and is pushed out from the slit. a fourth step of pulling out the article; a fifth step of retracting the first pushing member and the first contact member from the protruding position; and a second step of pulling out the article from the second article supply material. a sixth step of protruding the abutting member to the opposite side of the article take-out position; and moving the second pushing member along the extending direction of the slit in which the article at the supplied position is suspended. a seventh step of pushing out the article until it comes into contact with the second abutting member and pulling it out from the slit;
and an eighth step of retracting the abutting member from the protruding position.

[Example] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the article supplying apparatus and article supplying method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, when applied to a screw supplying apparatus and a screw supplying method.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of first and second screw supply tapes 10.1 used as first and second article supply materials. As shown in the figure, both screw supply tapes 10.11 each include a tape main body 10a made of a flexible material, for example, a synthetic resin such as vinyl chloride resin, or paper.
11a.

On one side edge (outer edge) of this first tape body 10a,
A large number of sprocket holes 12 are formed at equal intervals along the tape extending direction. In addition, the second tape body 11
Similarly, a large number of sprocket holes 13 are formed at equal intervals along the extending direction of the tape on the other side edge (outer edge) of a. These sprocket holes 12.13 are provided to respectively engage sprockets 50.50 provided in a screw tightening machine 14, which will be described later, and to convey the tape 10.11 in accordance with the rotation of the sprockets 50.50. There is.

In addition, a large number of first screw support slits 16 are formed at equal intervals in the first tape body 10a along a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the tape.

These first screw support slits 16 are connected to the tape body 10.
It is formed to open at the other side edge (inside edge) of a. On the other hand, a large number of second screw support slits 17 are formed at equal intervals in the second tape main body 11a along a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the tape. These second screw support slits 17 are formed to open at one side edge (inside edge) of the tape main body 11a. A screw 18 as a shaft member with a head defined as an article is inserted into these screw support slits 16 and 17, and is configured to be supported in a suspended state by the corresponding tape 10.

Here, this base 18 is connected to the head 1 as shown in FIG.
8a, and a screw body 1 integrally connected to this head 18a.
8b. The head 18a is formed to have a first diameter, and the first diameter is set to be larger than the second diameter (outer diameter of the thread) of the screw body 18a. That is, the width of each slit 16, 17 is set to be smaller than the first diameter and larger than the second diameter.

The slits 16 and 17 described above are set to have a value slightly narrower than the diameter of the screw body 18b of the screw 18 over the entire length. In this way, each screw 18 is forced into the corresponding slit 16,17 and locked in its supporting position.

Since the screw supply tape 10.11 is formed as described above, each screw support slit 16 is formed as shown in FIG.
．． 17, the lower surface of the head 18a of each screw 18 has a screw support slit 16.1.
The seven tape bodies 10a, 11a are locked on the upper surface of each of the tape bodies 10a, 11a.
Due to the rigidity of the parts, the screws 18 are held on the tapes 10 and 11, respectively.

Here, in order to remove the screws conveyed to the supplied position from such a screw supply tape 10.11, by sliding the screws 18 inward along each slit 16.17, the corresponding screws are removed. The puller comes out from the slits 16 and 17, and the screw 18 is removed. The removed screw 18 is regulated to a screw removal position by the cooperation of an abutment member 54.55 and a push-out member 52.53 in a screw tightening machine 14, which will be described later. The screw extraction position is defined in the screw tightening machine 14 at an intermediate position between both tapes 10 and 11, and on the side of the supplied position.

On the other hand, at this screw take-out position, the bit 46 for lowering the screw 18 while rotationally driving it comes down from above, so that the lower end of this bit 46 touches the screw 18 brought to the screw take-out position. The bit 4 is fitted into the cross hole 18c formed in the head 18a.
6 descends and pushes down screw 18, screw 1
The head 18a of No. 8 is taken out to the screw-screwing position set below.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the first
The configuration of the screw tightening machine 14 for selectively taking out the screws 18 supported by the second screw supply tape 10.11 and screwing them onto a workpiece will be schematically explained.

This screw tightening machine 14 is used by being detachably attached to the tip of a robot arm 32 of an automatic assembly device (not shown), and includes a mounting body 34 that is detachably attached to the tip of the robot arm 32. There is. The mounting body 34 integrally includes a first mounting stage 34a extending substantially horizontally, and a second mounting stage 34b extending substantially diagonally downward.

In this first attachment, an air cylinder 36 for vertically driving the bit is fixed on the stage 34a in a state extending along the vertical direction. This air cylinder 36 has
The first attachment of the piston 38 is provided so as to penetrate the stage 34a downwardly and protrude further downwardly.
An elevating table 42 is attached to the lower end of the piston 38 so as to provide an elastic buffer in the vertical direction via a spring 40 for buffering during positioning.

A DC servo motor 44 for rotating the bit is fixed to the upper surface of the lifting table 42. A drive shaft 44a of this motor 44 passes through the lifting table 44 and is taken out downward, and a bit 46 is integrally connected to the lower end of this drive shaft 44a, extending in the vertical direction. ing. This bit 46 is configured to fit from above into a cross recess 18c formed in the head 18a of the screw 18 described above, and is made of magnetized metal.

Since the drive system of the bit 46 is configured as described above, the bit 46 is rotationally driven by starting the motor 44, and by supplying compressed air to the air cylinder 36, the bit 46 is rotated. It is lowered to the screw-screwing position on the workpiece through the screw take-out position defined below.

On the other hand, the aforementioned first and second screw supply tapes 10.1
1 is housed in a spirally wound manner in a cartridge 48 with screws 18 suspended and supported in respective screw support slits 16 and 17. One ends of the first and second screw supply tapes 10.11 are horizontally taken out to the outside through a tape take-out port 48a formed in the cartridge 48. This cartridge 48 has its tape ejection opening 48a connected to the mounting body 3.
The second attachment point 4 is detachably attached to the lower part of the stage 34b.

In this way, when the screw 48 is attached to the cart L and the second attachment body 34 is attached to the stage 34b, the tips of the first and second screw supply tapes 10.11 are
They are each taken out to the front (left side in the figure).

On the other hand, in the second attachment, a pair of sprockets 50 and 50 for tape conveyance are rotatably disposed at the tip of the stage 34b, that is, in front of the vertical movement position of the bit 46. These sprockets 50, 50 are configured to be rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown) built into the stage 34b at this second attachment. and,
The tip portions of the first and second screw supply tapes 10.11 taken out from the cartridge 48 are connected to the sprocket 50 by engaging the corresponding teeth of the sprocket 50 in the sprocket holes 12 formed here. be done.

Since the tape IO transport drive system is configured as described above, the first and second screw supply tapes 10 and 11 are selectively and intermittently transported in accordance with the intermittent rotational drive of each sprocket 50, and bit 46
The screws are fed intermittently so as to be regulated to the supplied position to the side of the screw takeout position defined below.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, this screw tightening machine 14 selectively picks up screws from the first and second screw supply tapes 10 and 11 at a supplied position defined near the screw extraction position. first and second push-out members 5 for removal to
It is equipped with 2.53. Here, the first extrusion member 5
2 is disposed on the outside of the first screw supply tape 10 and is configured to slide along the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the tape 10, that is, the direction in which the screw support slit 16 extends.

That is, this first pushing member 52 has a retracted position where it is spaced outward from the screw 18 brought to the supplied position, and a protruded position which restricts the screw 18 brought to the supplied position to a screw extraction position. It is configured to be moved back and forth between the two by a moving drive mechanism (not shown).

A semicircular recess 52a is formed on the distal end surface of the first push-out member 52 so that it can fit into the head 18a of the socket 18 from the side. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a notch 52b into which the tape body 10a is inserted is formed in the middle of the first push-out member 52 in the vertical direction and extends horizontally.

Since the first extrusion member 52 is configured in this manner, the screws 18 brought to the supplied position by the conveyance of the first screw supply tape 10 are transferred to the first extrusion member 52.
By protruding from the retracted position to the extended position,
With the head 18a and the screw body 18b pressed together,
It is slid along the suspended screw support slit 16, taken out from it, and brought to the screw removal position.

Further, the second extrusion member 53 is disposed outside the second screw supply tape 11 and is configured to slide in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the tape 11, that is, along the extending direction of the screw support slit 17. It is composed of

That is, the second push-out member 53 has a retracted position where it is spaced outward from the screw 18 brought to the supplied position, and a protruded position which restricts the screw 18 brought to the supplied position to a screw extraction position. It is configured to be slid back and forth between the two by a moving drive mechanism (not shown).

A semicircular recess 53a is formed on the distal end surface of the second extrusion member 53 so that the head 18a of the screw 18 can be fitted from the side. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a cut 53b into which the tape main body 11a is inserted is formed in the middle of the second push-out member 53 in the vertical direction and extends horizontally.

Since the second extrusion member 53 is configured in this way, the screws 18 brought to the supplied position by the conveyance of the second screw supply tape 11 are transferred to the second extrusion member 53.
By protruding from the retracted position to the extended position,
With the head 18a and the screw body 18b pressed together,
It is slid along the suspended screw support slit 17, taken out from there, and brought to the screw removal position.

Furthermore, this screw tightening machine 14 uses first and second contact members 54 in order to accurately restrict the screw 18 brought to the screw extraction position by the push-out members 52 and 53 to this screw extraction position. It is equipped with ゜55.

As shown in FIG. 5, this first abutting member 54
is located below the inside of the screw supply tape 11,
It is formed to extend along the conveyance direction. The first abutting member 54 is located at a standby position that is located on the front side in the conveyance direction from the screw extraction position (specifically, it closes the opening of the slit 16 that is located one screw on the front side in the conveyance direction). It is configured to be reciprocated by a moving mechanism (not shown) between the position (1) and the abutment position immediately to the side of the screw removal position.

The abutting position of the first abutting member 54 is defined such that the screw 18 pushed out by the first extruding member 52 is in contact with the screw extraction position. In other words, the first abutment member 54 is set to be located on the opposite side of the first push-out member 52 at the push-out position, with a screw removal position located therebetween, when the first contact member 54 is in the contact position. has been done. For details, see screw 1.
8 is regulated to the screw extraction position, then this
The head 18a of No. 8 is engaged with the upper surface of the first contact member 54 and the end surface of the first push-out member 52, and is well held at this screw extraction position in a so-called hanging state. .

Further, the first contact member 54 is set to support the inner edge of the second screw supply tape 11 from below when it is brought to the standby position, as shown in FIG. ing. As a result, the first contact member 54 functions as a transport guide member for the second screw supply tape 11 in the vicinity of the supplied position, and also serves as a conveyance guide member for the second screw supply tape 11 . It will function as a stopping member.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the second abutting member 55 described above is formed to extend along the conveyance direction while being located below the inside of the first screw supply tape 10. There is. The second abutment member 55 moves (not shown) between a standby position brought to the front side in the conveyance direction from the screw takeout position and a contact position brought to the immediate side of the screw takeout position. It is configured to be moved back and forth by a mechanism.

The contact position of the second contact member 55 is defined so that the screw 18 pushed out by the second push-out member 53 is in contact with the second contact member 55 and is regulated to the screw removal position. In other words, the second abutment member 55 is set to be located on the opposite side of the second push-out member 53 at the push-out position, with a screw take-out position in between when the second contact member 55 is in the contact position. has been done.

Further, the second contact member 55 is set to support the inner edge of the first screw supply tape 10 from below when it is brought to the standby position, as shown in FIG. ing. As a result, the second contact member 55 functions as a transport guide member for the first screw supply tape 10 in the vicinity of the supplied position, and also serves as a conveyance guide member for the first screw supply tape 10 from the first screw supply tape 1o. The removal will function as a stop member.

The screw tightening operation of the screw tightening machine 14 configured as above will be explained below.

First, as described above, the cartridge 48, which is housed inside with the first and second screw supply tapes 10.11 supporting the screws 18 arranged side by side, is installed in the second attachment body 34. are attached to the stage 34b, and the leading ends of the tapes 10 and 11 are respectively taken out from the take-out opening 48a of the cartridge 48, and the leading ends of the taken out tapes 10 and 11 are respectively engaged with the sprockets 50 and 50. Preparation operations are completed.

Thereafter, when the robot arm 32 of the automatic assembly device moves to a position directly above the part of the workpiece to be screwed, the screw tightening operation is started. That is, compressed air is supplied to the air cylinder 36, and at the same time the piston 48 is lowered, the DC
The servo motor 44 is started, and the bit 46 is rotated and lowered.

On the other hand, when taking out the screw 18 from the first screw supply tape 10, the first pushing member 52 is moved from the retracting position to the pushing position when the screw to be taken out is conveyed to the supplied position. At the same time, the first contact member 54 is moved from the standby position to the contact position.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 7, a desired screw 18 is taken out from the first screw supply tape 10 from the supplied position to the screw removal position and held at this screw removal position.

When the lower end of the bit 46 descends to the screw take-out position, it fits into the cross recess 18c formed in the head 18a of the screw 18 held at this screw take-out position, as shown in FIG. While rotating the screw 18, the screw 18 is attracted by magnetic force. Thereafter, the first pushing member 52 is returned from the pushing position to the retracting position, and the first abutting member 54 is returned from the abutting position to the standby position, so that the screw 18 is at the screw extraction position and the bit As the bit 46 rotates, it becomes rotatably driven, and in response to the downward movement of the bit 46, it is taken out downward from the screw removal position.

In addition, when taking out the screw 18 from the second screw supply tape 11, the second pushing member 53 is moved from the retracting position to the pushing position when the screw 18 to be taken out has been conveyed to the supplied position. At the same time, the second contact member 55 is moved from the standby position to the contact position. In this way, a desired screw 18 is taken out from the second screw supply tape 11 from the supplied position to the screw removal position and held at this screw removal position.

When the lower end of the bit 46 descends to the screw removal position, the bit 46 is removed downward from the screw removal position in the same manner as described above.

Here, as described above, since the bit 46 is magnetized, the screw 18 removed below the tape 10 is attracted to the bit 46 by magnetic force, and there is no risk of it falling downward.

Then, as the bit 46 rotates, the screw 18 also rotates, and as the bit 46 lowers, the screw 18 further descends and is brought to the screw-screwing position of the workpiece. That is, at this screw screwing position, a screw hole (not shown) into which the screw 18 is screwed is formed in the workpiece, and by inserting the rotating screw 18 into this screw hole, the screw is screwed. 18 will be screwed onto the workpiece.

Thereafter, when it is detected from a change in the load on the motor 44 that the screw 18 is completely screwed into the screw hole, the supply of compressed air to the air cylinder 36 is stopped, and the return spring (see Fig. The repulsive force (not shown) causes the piston 38 to rise. That is, when the bit 46 is screwed into the workpiece, it is lifted away from the base 18 and brought to an upper standby position. In this way, a series of screw tightening operations for one screw 18 are completed.

As detailed above, in this embodiment, the first and second screw supply tapes 10.11 having the above-mentioned configuration are used, so for example, the first screw supply tape 10 and the second screw supply tape 10.11 are used. If different screws 18 are supported by the screw supply tape 11, the screws can be selectively supplied to the workpiece.

Further, in this embodiment, the portions of the first and second screw supplying tables 10.11 brought near the supplied position are attached to the first and second abutment members 54.55, respectively. Since the lower surface of the inner edge is supported, the take-out posture of the waste 18 at the feeding position is maintained very accurately. Furthermore, these first and second contact members 54.
55 closes the openings of the corresponding screw support slits 16 and 17 of the screw support slits 1617, thereby reliably preventing removal of the screw support slits 16 and 18 from these screw support slits 1617. Become.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, when removing the soot 18, the soot 18 is simply pushed out sideways, that is, along the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, so the removal resistance is extremely small. Therefore, the screw 18 can be easily and reliably removed from the tape 10.

Further, in this embodiment, the head 18a of the screw 18 is
is supported in a locked state on the upper surface of the tape 10, and also in the screw removal position, the head 18a is held on the upper surface of the abutting member 54.55 and the pushing member 52.53. Since it is supported in this state, its vertical position can be accurately defined. As a result, screw 1
The extrusion control of the bit 8 from the supplied position and the control of the downward stroke amount of the bit 46 can be executed extremely easily.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when removing the base 18 from the tape 1o, an equivalent tape is not broken, so the tape 10 can be reused.
Very economical.

It goes without saying that this invention is not limited to the configuration of the one embodiment described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the invention.

For example, in this embodiment, a screw was used as the article, and the attachment of the screw was described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any other shaft member with a head, such as a bolt, may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the slit is explained to be composed of a through groove having a predetermined width as shown in the figure, but the slit is not limited to this, and for example, it can be composed of a notch. You may do so.

Furthermore, in one embodiment described above, each slit 16.
Although the width of the screw 17 is set to a value slightly narrower than the width of the shaft portion 18b of the screw 18 over the entire length, the width is not limited to this, and for example, In addition, the width of each slit 16, 17 may be set to be slightly narrower than the width of the shaft portion 18b halfway from the opening edge of each slit 16, 17, and the width may be set slightly larger than this shaft portion 18b at the deep part. Good, by configuring like this,
When instructed to each slit 16 and 17, the slit 18 is clicked (held) at the indicated position in the deep part, and as a result, even if the orientation of the tapes 10, -11 is tilted or reversed, the slit 18 is clicked (held) at the indicated position. 18 corresponds to slit 16.1
There is no chance of being eliminated from 7 onwards.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, 1. The article supply device according to the present invention is provided in pairs so as to extend together within a common plane while being spaced apart from each other, and is capable of handling a plurality of articles with heads, An article supply material for holding each article in a suspended state through a plurality of slits extending along a direction intersecting the conveyance direction and sequentially conveying the article supply material to a supplied position, the opening of the slit of each article supply material a first and a second article supply material which are arranged to face each other, a conveyance means for intermittently conveying both article supply materials so as to pass respectively on both sides of the article take-out position; When a predetermined article of the article supply material is conveyed to the supplied position, a first abutting member that protrudes to the opposite side of the article with an article retrieval position placed therebetween, and a second abutting member.
When a predetermined article of the article supply materials is conveyed to the supplied position, a second abutting member that protrudes to the opposite side of the article with the article retrieval position placed therebetween; When the first abutting member is protruded to a predetermined protruding position, the article brought to the supplied position in the first article supply material is pushed out toward the first abutting member, and the slit is opened. When the first pushing member for removing the article and the second abutting member are projected to a predetermined projecting position,
and a second pushing member that pushes out the article brought to the supplied position in the second article supply material toward the second abutting member and removes the article from the slit. There is. Therefore, according to the present invention, a large number of articles can be continuously supplied, the articles that have been conveyed can be easily removed, and the article supply material can be easily removed. This provides an article supplying device that is reusable and has improved economic efficiency.

Further, the article supply method according to the present invention includes holding a plurality of articles with heads in a suspended state in a plurality of slits extending from the article supply material in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the article, In the article supply method for sequentially conveying articles to a supplied position by moving the article supply material, the article is supplied so as to pass through one side of the article take-out position.
a first step of passing the first article supply material arranged so that the slit is opened in a state facing the article retrieval position; , a second step of passing a second article supply material arranged such that the slit is opened in a state facing the article take-out position, and when taking out the article from the first article supply material, a third step of protruding the first abutting member to the opposite side of the article take-out position; and a third step of protruding the first abutting member to the opposite side of the article take-out position; a fourth step of pushing out the article until it comes into contact with the first abutting member and pulling it out from the slit by moving the article; and a fourth step of pulling the first pushing member and the first abutting member from the protruding position. a sixth step of protruding the second contact member to the opposite side of the article take-out position when taking out the article from the second article supply material, and a second pushing member, By moving the article at the supplied position along the extending direction of the slit in which it is suspended, the article is transferred to the second position.
a seventh step of pushing the second pushing member out until it comes into contact with the abutting member and pulling it out from the slit; and an eighth step of pulling the second pushing member and the second abutting member from the protruding position. It is characterized by Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to continuously supply a large number of articles, it is possible to easily remove the articles that have been conveyed, and it is possible to reuse the article supply materials, which is economical. This will provide a method of supplying goods with improved performance.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the structure of first and second screw supply tapes as first and second article supply materials used in the article supply device according to the present invention; FIG. A front view showing the shape of the screw: Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the screw supply tape in a state where the screw is supported; Fig. 4 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of a screw tightening machine in which the screw supply tape is used: FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the first and second screw supply tapes, the first and second extrusion members, and the first and second contact members in the vicinity of the screw extraction position; FIG. is a side view showing the arrangement relationship shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the state in which the screw is pushed out to the screw removal position; and Fig. 8 shows the state in which the bit is lowered to the screw removal position. Side View: FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a modification of the embodiment. In the figure, 10; 11... Screw supply tape, 10a
11a... Tape body, 12.13-... Sprocket hole, 14... Screw tightener, 16.17... Screw support slit, 18... Screw, 1,8a... Head, 1
8 b-...Screw body, 18c...Cross recess, 32...
・Robot arm, 34... Mounting body, 34 a ・
-.First attachment is a stage, 34b...Second attachment is a stage, 36...Air cylinder, 38...Piston, 40...Spring, 42...Elevating platform, 4
4...-DC servo motor, 44a... Drive shaft, 46
...Bit, 48...Cartridge, 48a...
Tape ejection port, 50... Sprocket, 52.5
3... Extrusion member, 52a; 53 a-recess, 52
b, 53 b...notch, 54; 55
...A contact member. Figure 1 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A pair of slits are provided so as to extend together within a common plane while being spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of articles with heads are respectively suspended in a plurality of slits extending along a direction intersecting the conveyance direction. first and second article supply materials to be held in a state and sequentially conveyed to a supplied position, the openings of the slits of each article supply material facing each other; a conveying means that intermittently conveys both article supplies so as to pass on both sides of the article take-out position; When a predetermined article of the second article supply material is conveyed to the supplied position, a first abutting member that protrudes to the opposite side of the article is placed at the article retrieval position. a second abutting member that protrudes to the opposite side of the article with the article retrieval position placed in the article; Pushing out the article brought to the supplied position in the article supply material toward the first abutting member,
a first pushing member that removes the article from the slit; and a second abutting member that pushes out the article brought to the supplied position in the second article supply material when the second abutment member is pushed to a predetermined protruding position. , pushed out toward this second abutment member,
and a second pushing member for removing the article from the slit. (2) Holding a plurality of articles with heads in a state where they are suspended from a plurality of slits extending in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the article supply material, and moving the article supply material. In an article supply method for sequentially conveying articles to a supplied position, the slit is arranged so as to pass through one side of the article takeout position and to be opened in a state facing the article takeout position. a first step of causing the first article supply material to pass through the other side of the article retrieval position;
a second step of passing a second article supply material arranged such that the slit is opened in a state facing the article take-out position; a third step of protruding the first abutting member to the opposite side of the article take-out position; and moving the first pushing member along the extending direction of the slit in which the article at the supplied position is suspended. a fourth step of pushing out the article until it comes into contact with the first abutting member and pulling it out from the slit; and retracting the first pushing member and the first abutting member from the protruding position. a fifth step; a sixth step of protruding the second abutting member to the opposite side of the article take-out position when taking out the article from the second article supply material; a seventh step of pushing out the article at the supply position along the extending direction of the slit in which it is suspended until it comes into contact with the second abutting member and pulling it out from the slit; and an eighth step of retracting the second pushing member and the second abutting member from the protruding position.