JPH0518337Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a switching device for a workpiece feed chute that distributes workpieces that have been conveyed in a line due to their own weight to a plurality of branch paths. The present invention relates to a device that automatically sends a predetermined number of works to another branch when a predetermined number of works are stored in a branch.

[Prior art] When a workpiece that has been conveyed in a single line by its own weight on a downwardly inclined chute is branched into multiple parts at appropriate locations and distributed to the next process and conveyed, a switching plate provided at the branching part is used. Conventionally, a method of mechanically distributing the fluid alternately to a plurality of branch paths by forcibly rotating it using an air cylinder or the like has been widely used.

However, such a mechanical forced distribution method not only complicates the equipment and increases equipment costs, but also
If a malfunction occurs, there is a risk that the workpiece will be caught and damaged.

To solve this problem, a rotatable arm is provided at the branching section to open and close the entrance to each branching path, and this arm is rotated by the weight of the workpiece to alternately open and close the entrance to each branching path. There are devices that automatically distribute workpieces by opening and closing (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-88553,
58-144525).

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

The conventional branching device described above poses no particular problem when the workpieces distributed to each branching route are sequentially and continuously delivered to the next process, etc. However, for example, if the workpiece is a finished product, When storing the workpiece transported at the terminal in a shipping case,
Alternatively, a problem occurs when a machine tool for the next process stops or a transport device that supplies a workpiece to the next process stops.

In other words, if workpieces are simply distributed alternately to multiple branching paths as in the past, it takes a lot of time for the workpieces that are intermittently transported to be stored in a certain number of branching paths, and it is difficult to ship them. There is a waiting time when storing the product in the case, which reduces work efficiency.

Also, as in the latter case, if some kind of trouble occurs in the next process, a lot of workpieces will stay in the corresponding branch path, and when this continues to the main conveyance path, the switching arm installed at the branch part will malfunction. Therefore, it is necessary to stop the machine tool and workpiece ejecting device in the previous process and temporarily interrupt the feeding of the workpiece.

If this happens, the machine operating rate and productivity will decrease.

This invention was made to solve the above problem, and the entrance of one branch road is opened until a predetermined number of workpieces are stored in one branch road, and when the predetermined number of workpieces are stored, In addition, by automatically opening the other branch path, the speed at which workpieces are stored in each branching path is increased, work efficiency is improved during workpiece shipping, and workpieces are temporarily prevented from flowing into the next process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switching device for a work feed chute that can be easily handled even if the work stops.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a chute in which a fork-shaped branch path is connected to the lower end of the guide groove that slopes downward to guide the workpiece, and a chute that rotates from one side to the other. a switching plate provided at the base of the branching path so as to selectively open and close the entrance to each branching path in the chute, and a rotating arm for rotating the switching plate;
By constantly biasing the rotating arm in one direction,
a biasing means for rotating the switching plate in one direction and closing an entrance to one of the branch passages; When the work passes through or accumulates in the branch path, the rotating arm is pressed by the work and rotates in a direction that resists the urging force of the urging means, thereby closing the entrance to the other branch path. It also includes an actuating piece that opens one branch path.

[Effect]

The biasing means constantly biases the rotating arm in one direction,
Since the switching plate closes the entrance to one branch path, the workpieces are sequentially fed into the other branch path.
When a predetermined number of workpieces are stored in the other branch path, the workpiece itself pushes the actuating piece in one direction against the biasing means, and the switching plate closes the entrance of the one branch path that was previously blocked. In order to release the workpiece, the workpiece is continuously fed into one branch path.

〔Example〕

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

Reference numeral 1 designates a workpiece, for example, an air cylinder valve for an automobile. As shown in FIG. It has a configuration in which a groove 1c is cut.

2 is a chute whose entire structure is tilted slightly to the left.
As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of parallel guide rods 2a are inclined backward downward (downward to the left in the figure),
2a forms a guide groove 2b, and the back surface of the umbrella portion 1b of the workpiece 1 is slidably supported on the upper surface of the guide rods 2a, 2a.

The chute 2 has a pair of guide rods 3 at its lower end.
A set of branch paths 3 and 4 consisting of a, 3a and 4a, 4a are arranged in series and branched to form a V-shape in plan view.

A stopper rod 10 for stopping the sliding of the workpiece 1 is fixed between each guide rod 3a, 4a at the rear end (lower end) of each branch path 3, 4, respectively.

The inlets 3c, 4c of the respective guide grooves 3b, 4b at the bases of the branching paths 3, 4 are
The workpiece 1 is opened and closed by a switching device 5 equipped with a switching plate 9 that can selectively close the branching paths 3 and 4c, and the workpiece 1 is automatically distributed and stored in each of the branching paths 3 and 4, as will be described later. It's summery.

Next, the switching device 5 will be explained.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a bracket whose left and right ends are fixed to the guide rods 3a and 4a, respectively, and a shaft 7 is pivotally supported at the center of the bracket 6 so as to prevent it from coming off.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a rotating arm, which is pivotally attached to the shaft 7 at a portion slightly forward of the central portion in the front-rear direction so as to be freely rotatable in the left-right direction, and has a triangular shape in plan view at its front end, and is connected to the branch path. A switching plate 9 for opening and closing 3b and 4b is provided in series.

An operating piece 11 branching into a Y-shape is connected to the rear part of the rotating arm 8 .

A biasing means, for example, a weight 12 is fixed to the rear end of the rotating arm 8, and as shown in phantom lines in FIG. The rotating arm 8 is always biased toward the left side of the branch road 3 so that the end portion 11a enters into the guide groove 3b of the branch road 3. 4c is closed by a switching plate 9.

When the workpieces 1 that have been processed are guided by the chute 2 and sent at regular intervals, the workpieces 1 are sequentially transported as the inlet 4c on the branch path 4 side is blocked by the switching plate 9. It is fed into the left branching path 3, comes into contact with the stopper rod 10, and stops.

When the workpiece 1 passes through the guide groove 3b of the branch path 3, the tip of the actuating piece 11 is pressed by the weight of the workpiece 1 against the biasing force of the weight 12, and the rotating arm 8 It is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 to temporarily close the entrance 3c of the branch path 3.

However, the workpiece 1 passes through the actuating piece 11 and
When the pressing force ceases to act on the actuating piece 11, the rotating arm 8 quickly returns to the position where the inlet 4c side is closed due to the urging force of the weight 12, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. The sent work 1 continuously enters only the branch path 3.

When the workpieces 1 are continuously fed into the branching path 3, stopped by the stopper rod 10, and stored in a predetermined number, the workpieces 1 stopped near the actuating piece 11 cause the rotating arm 8 to rotate counterclockwise. It will remain as it was.

Then, the switching plate 9 rotates in the opposite direction to close the entrance 3c on the side of the branch path 3 and close the inlet 3c on the side of the branch path 4.
The entrance 4c is opened.

As a result, the work 1 is continuously fed to the branch path 4 side.

When the workpiece 1 already stored in the branching path 3 is removed for shipping, etc., the actuating piece 11 becomes free to move, so the rotating arm 8 returns to its original position and the workpiece 1 is branched again. It is continuously sent to the road 3 side.

In this way, in the above embodiment, the weight 12
The rotating arm 8 is always biased to one side so that the inlet 4c of the branch path 4 is closed by the switching plate 9, and when a predetermined number of works 1 are stored in the branch path 3, the switch is switched to the branch path 4 side. Since the workpieces 1 are fed in alternately, the workpieces 1 are quickly stored in each of the branch paths 3 and 4.

Therefore, when storing the stored work 1 in a case for shipping, waiting time is shortened and work efficiency is improved.

In addition, when the stopper rods 10 of the branch paths 3 and 4 are abolished and the rear ends of the branch paths 3 and 4 are connected to a conveyor etc. that supplies the workpiece 1 to the next process, in the unlikely event that the stopper rods 10 of the branch paths 3 and 4
Even if the supply of the workpiece 1 is temporarily stopped due to trouble with the machine tool or conveyor of the next process, if more than a certain amount of wire 1 stays on the branch path 3, the switching plate 9 Since the system automatically switches and sends the sequentially transported workpieces 1 to the branch path 4 side, there is no need to temporarily stop the machine tool or workpiece discharge device in the previous process, which reduces the operating rate of the machine etc. There is no fear.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and may take various forms.

For example, instead of the weight 12, the means for biasing the rotating arm 8 in one direction may be a tension coil spring or a compression coil spring (when provided in front of the shaft 7). The rotating arm 8, the switching plate 9, and the actuating piece 11 may not be integrally constructed, but may be made independent, and may be linked to each other by links or the like.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

(a) Since the switching plate closes the entrance of one branch path until a predetermined number of workpieces are stored in the other branch path, the workpieces can be stored quickly, making it easier to perform operations such as shipping workpieces. Improves efficiency.

(b) When a predetermined number of workpieces are stored in the other branching path, the switching plate automatically opens one branching path and feeds the workpieces into it one after another, so that, for example, the next process linked to the other branching path is Even if a problem occurs and the flow of workpieces stops, there is no need to temporarily interrupt the delivery of workpieces from the previous process as in the past, and there is no risk of reducing productivity.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along the upper surface of a chute, and FIG. 3 is a front view of a valve as a workpiece. 1... Work, 2... Shoot, 2b, 3b,
4b... Guide groove, 2a, 3a, 4a... Guide rod, 3, 4... Branch road, 3c, 4c... Entrance, 5
...Switching device, 6...Bracket, 7...Shaft, 8
... Rotating arm, 9 ... Switching plate, 10 ... Stopper rod, 11 ... Actuation piece, 11a ... Bent end, 1
2... Weight (biasing means).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a chute in which a fork-shaped branch path is connected to the lower end of a guide groove that slopes downward to guide the work;
A switching plate provided at the base of the branching passage and rotating the switching plate so as to selectively open and close the entrance to each branching passage in the chute by rotating from one side to the other. a rotating arm, a biasing means for rotating the switching plate in one direction by always biasing the rotating arm in one direction, and closing the entrance to one branch path; The workpiece is connected to the rotating arm so as to protrude into the branch path, and when the workpiece passes through or is stored in the other branch path, the rotating arm is pressed by the workpiece and the urging force of the urging means is applied to the rotating arm. 1. A switching device for a workpiece feed chute, comprising: an actuating piece that rotates in a direction against the flow of water to close an entrance to the other branching path and open one branching path.