JPH06293428A - Transfer device for small part - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely transfer small parts such washers one by one regardless of transferring distance. CONSTITUTION:Washers W supplied to the runway of a transfer rail 3 through a feed port 32a are successively pushed over a stopper 34 by a delivering device 4, and the retreat is arrested. The washers W stored on the lower stream side of the stopper 34 reach the base end side of an air passage, the washers W are transferred to the lower stream while floating by the compressed air jetted from the air passage to the runway through an inlet passage.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer device for small parts such as plastic washers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in response to the recycling of plastics, it has been proposed to connect and fix overlapping portions of works such as plastic sheets by using plastic rivets (hereinafter referred to as rivets) and plastic washers (hereinafter referred to as washers). Has been done. In a riveting machine in which a work is connected and fixed using such a rivet and a washer, it is necessary to convey the washers one by one from the accommodation position to the rivet setting position.

By the way, this washer W has an outer diameter of about 1
It has a size of about 0 mm and a thickness of about 2 mm, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is formed in a dish shape with holes as a whole. As a device that conveys small parts such as the washer W to a predetermined position, a device that utilizes gravity or vibration is generally known.

[0004]

However, the transfer device using gravity is not reliable, and the device for transferring by using vibration must continue to vibrate during a long transfer distance. There is a problem that the equipment cost is high and it cannot be transferred in a narrow range commensurate with small parts.

Further, a method of mechanically feeding one by one is also adopted, but if the transporting distance becomes long, resistance increases and a beading state occurs, and it is impossible to reliably feed a distance corresponding to the stroke of the feeding device. There are drawbacks.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a transfer device capable of reliably transferring small parts such as washers one by one to a target position regardless of the transfer distance. Is.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a rail body and a cover plate for covering the rail body, and has a cross-sectional runway that matches the outline of small parts, an air passage for compressed air parallel to the runway, and an air passage. Transfer rails each formed with an introduction path for ejecting compressed air supplied to the runway toward the runway, and small parts that are provided upstream of this transfer rail and are supplied to the runway through the supply holes for small parts And a delivery device that pushes out to the downstream side, and at least one small component that is prevented from moving backward with respect to the base end of the air passage is retained in the transfer rail, and is ejected onto the runway. It is characterized in that the compressed air is prevented from flowing out to the upstream side.

[0008]

The small parts supplied to the runway of the transfer rail through the supply holes are pushed out by the delivery device and their retreat is prevented. Then, when the small parts are pushed to the downstream side of the runway and reach the base end side of the air passage, the small parts float to the downstream side while floating due to the compressed air ejected from the air passage to the runway through the introduction path. Be transferred. That is, the upstream side of the runway is sealed by the retention of one or more small parts that have been prevented from moving backward, and the compressed air jetted to the runway flows exclusively to the downstream side and is used for the transfer of small parts. To be done.

As a result, the small parts supplied to the transfer rail can be reliably transferred one by one to the target position on the downstream side by using the compressed air jetted from the air passage to the runway through the introduction passage. .

[0010]

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

1 and 2, the transfer device 1 of the present invention is shown.
This transfer device 1 is composed of a transfer rail 3 fixed to a base 2 and a delivery device 4 of a washer W.

The transfer rail 3 is an elongated rail body 31.
And a transparent cover plate 3 that covers the upper surface of the rail body 31.
2, and the rail body 31 has, as shown in FIG.
The sliding groove 3 having a cross-sectional shape that matches the outer shape of the washer W.
1a is formed in the longitudinal direction at the center of the upper surface from one end to the vicinity of the other end, and two air grooves 31b and 31b are slightly spaced from both ends of the sliding groove 31a. It is formed in parallel from the adjacent position to the vicinity of the other end. And these sliding grooves 31a
On the upper surface of the rail body 31 which defines the air groove 31b and the air groove 31b, the washer W is provided from the air groove 31b to the sliding groove 31a.
Introduction groove 31c inclined toward the downstream side which is the transfer direction of
Are regularly formed at intervals. A connection hole 31d formed in the rail body 31 communicates with the base end of the air groove 31b and is connected to an air source (not shown).

As a result, by covering the upper surface of the rail body 31 with the cover plate 32, the sliding groove 31a and the air groove 31b are formed.
The upper opening portions of the introduction groove 31c and the introduction groove 31c are closed to form a runway, an air passage, and an introduction passage, respectively. Then, an air source (not shown) is connected to the connection hole 31d.
The compressed air supplied to the air passage through the air passage is ejected toward the downstream side of the runway via the introduction passage, and as described later, the washer W of the runway can be transferred to the downstream side.

In this case, the introduction grooves 31c may be provided only on the upstream side in addition to being regularly formed at uniform intervals.
It can be provided only on the upstream side and the downstream side in a hollow state, or it can be provided irregularly from the upstream side to the downstream side so as to be dense and sparse, and the interval depending on the type of small parts such as washers W and the transfer distance thereof. And the layout should be designed optimally. Further, the introduction groove 31c may be formed on a portion other than the upper surface of the rail body 31.

On the other hand, a cover plate 32 covering the upper surface of the rail main body 31 is provided with a supply hole 32a for the washer W which is located immediately above the sliding groove 31a in the vicinity of its rear end and faces the supply hole 32a. A shooter 33 that guides the washer W from a hopper (not shown) of the washer W is provided above it.

Further, the above-mentioned supply hole 32a and air groove 31 are provided.
The rail body 31 between the base end of b and the stopper 3 is normally biased so as to project inward of the sliding groove 31a.
4 is provided, and the pusher 4 of the delivery device 4 described later is provided.
The washer W pushed to a position beyond the stopper 34 by 6 is prevented from moving backward by the stopper 34. The arrangement position of the stopper 34 is determined so that at least one washer W, which is prevented from retreating by the stopper 34, can stay with the base end of the air groove 31b.

Therefore, the air groove 31 is provided on the upstream side of the runway.
One or more washers W between the base end of b and the stopper 34
Will be sealed by staying, and the outflow of the compressed air jetted to the runway to the upstream side is prevented.

Further, the rail body 31 has a sliding groove 31.
is located near the downstream end of the washer W
The restriction member 35 is normally urged via a spring so that its tip projects inward of the sliding groove 31a. Then, the pusher 36 moves backward in association with the forward movement of the pusher 36, which will be described later, to allow the forward movement of the washer W.

Further, on the downstream side of the rail body 31, a pocket 31e which is continuous with the downstream end of the sliding groove 31a, and a pocket 31e which is slightly forward from the pocket 31e.
f is formed respectively, and further, a communication passage 31g having a width and a height capable of passing one washer W is formed continuously on the bottom surfaces of these pockets 31e, 31f. Then, the rail body 31 has a communication passage 3
A pusher 36 having a cross-sectional shape substantially corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of 1 g is provided by a cylinder (not shown) slidable between the rear end of the pocket 31e and the rear end of the pocket 31f via the communication passage 31g. A lifter 37 that can be raised and lowered by a cylinder (not shown) is provided so as to form the bottom surface of the pocket 31f. The upper surface of the lifter 37 has a recess 37 that matches the curved bottom surface of the washer W.
a is formed. An opening 32b is formed in the cover plate 32 so as to face the pocket 31f of the rail body 31.

Therefore, when the pusher 36 slides forward through a cylinder (not shown), the restriction by the restriction member 35 is released, and at that time, compressed air is ejected to the runway, so that the restriction member 35 is used. The washer W, whose transfer to the front was blocked, is pushed forward and falls into the pocket 31e. In this state, the pusher 36 moves forward to block the communication passage 31g, and eventually the pocket 31
The washer W that has fallen to e is placed on the upper surface of the pusher 36. On the other hand, when the pusher 36 retreats, the washer W placed on the upper surface of the pusher 36 falls to the bottom surface of the pocket 31e. Therefore, when the pusher 36 moves forward again, the washer W immediately below the pocket 31f passes from the bottom surface of the pocket 31e through the communication passage 31g. One washer W can be pushed out to the lifter 37. Then, the washer W pushed out to the lifter 37 by the pusher 36 and accommodated in the recess 37a of the washer W rises above the transfer rail 3 via the pocket 31f and the opening 32b when the lifter 37 is lifted via a cylinder (not shown). Can be lifted to. As a result, the washer W is pressed against the lower surface of the work arranged on the transfer rail 3 via the lifter 37.

By the way, the delivery device 4 of the washer W is arranged so that the motor 41 provided on the base 2, the cam 42 connected to the output shaft 41a of the motor 41, and the base end of the transfer device 3 are continuous. A slider 44 that is slidable along a guide 43 fixed to the base 2, and a link 4 that rotatably connects the slider 44 and a position eccentric from the axial center of the cam 42.
5 and the slider 44 described above, which is integrally connected to the slider 44 and is slidable along the sliding groove 31a of the rail body 31.
It consists of and.

Therefore, via the motor 41, the cam 42
When is rotated, the link 45 connected to a position eccentric from the axis reciprocates by a distance corresponding to twice the eccentric distance, so that the slider 44 connected to the link 45 moves along the guide 43. The pusher 46 fixed to the slider 44 slides back and forth along the sliding groove 31a. At this time, when the pusher 46 slides forward, its front end reaches the position immediately before the stopper 34 beyond the supply hole 32a of the cover plate 32 (solid line position in FIG. 1). When the pusher 46 slides backward, the rear end is
The cover plate 32 is located behind the supply hole 32a (indicated by a chain line in FIG. 1).

Next, the operation of the transfer device 1 constructed as described above will be described. The washer W of the hopper (not shown) drops into the runway of the transfer rail 3 with the curved portion of the washer W facing downward. , The guide passage 3 of the shooter 33
It is continuously introduced into 3a. Then, from the guide passage 33a of the shooter 33 to the supply hole 3 formed in the cover plate 32.
It drops through the 2a onto the sliding groove 31a. On the other hand, the pusher 46 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 41 of the delivery device 4.
Slides forward, the washer W dropped on the sliding groove 31a is pushed downstream by the pusher 46 until the washer W crosses the stopper 34. The washer W pushed out to beyond the stopper 34 by the pusher 46 is prevented from retreating by the stopper 34. Similarly, the washer W is sequentially pushed out by the pusher 46, so that a proper number is provided downstream of the stopper 34. It is designed to stay individually.

By the way, of the washers W retained in front of the stopper 34, when the most downstream washer W is pushed out until it reaches the base end of the air passage, compressed air is supplied to the air passage through the connection hole 31d. Further, the compressed air is guided to the runway via the introduction path. In this case, since the upstream side of the runway is sealed by the appropriate number of washers W that stay in front of the stopper 34, the compressed air introduced into the runway flows exclusively to the downstream side. As a result, the washer W is transferred to the downstream side while being floated by the air flow. Then, it abuts on the regulating member 35, or abuts on the rearmost washer W which is restrained from being transported forward by the regulating member 35 and stops.

Here, when the pusher 36 slides forward through a cylinder (not shown), the regulating member 35 interlocks and separates from the runway. At this time, when compressed air is supplied to the runway, the washer W, which has been prevented from moving forward by the restricting member 35, is supplied with the compressed air and pushed out, and falls into the pocket 31e. And pocket 31
The washers W that have fallen to e pass through the communication passages 31g one by one by the forward movement of the pushers 36 and then pass through the pockets 31f.
Is pushed out to the recess 37a of the lifter 37 waiting to form the bottom surface of the lifter 37. Then, if the lifter 37 is lifted by a cylinder (not shown), it is pushed up to the outside of the transfer rail 3 through the pocket 31f and the opening 32b.

Thus, the washers W supplied to the upstream side of the transfer rail 3 are reliably transferred one by one to the set position on the downstream side.

In this embodiment, the transfer device for the washer W is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to the washer W, but can be applied to the transfer of all small parts. In this case, it is necessary to form a runway having a cross-sectional shape that matches the outer shape of the small component. Then, when forming the runway according to the outline of the small parts, slightly change the cross-sectional shape of the runway to the extent that the transfer of the small parts is not impaired. It is also possible to form a small passage and use it for levitating small parts.

Further, in this embodiment, the air passage is formed in the longitudinal direction of the transfer rail, but it is not always necessary to form it in the entire longitudinal direction of the transfer rail. For example, depending on the transfer distance of small parts, the base portion thereof may be formed. It may be formed only.

Further, in this embodiment, the stopper using the spring is used, but the stopper is not always required to be used, and for example, the delivery device for pushing the small component to the base end of the air passage is used to prevent the small component from retracting. You may do it. Further, pneumatic components may be used to send out small parts, and the back pressure may prevent the retreat.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, a runway having a cross-sectional shape including a rail body and a cover plate that covers the rail body, and a compressed air air passage parallel to the runway. And a transfer rail formed with an introduction path for ejecting the compressed air supplied to the air path toward the runway, and provided on the upstream side of the transfer rail and supplied to the runway through a supply hole for small parts. The delivery rail is configured to push out small parts to the downstream side, and at least one small part that is prevented from retreating from the base end of the air passage is retained in the transfer rail to be ejected to the runway. Since the compressed air that has been discharged is prevented from flowing out to the upstream side, the small parts that have been supplied to the transfer rail are compressed by the compressed air that has been ejected from the air passage to the runway through the introduction passage.
The individual pieces can be reliably transferred to the target position on the downstream side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a transfer device of the present invention with a part thereof omitted.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a washer as a small component.

5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Transfer Device 2 Base 3 Transfer Rail 31 Rail Main Body 31a Sliding Groove 31b Air Groove 31c Introduction Groove 32 Cover Plate 34 Stopper 4 Delivery Device 46 Pusher

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A runway having a cross-sectional shape, which comprises a rail main body and a cover plate covering the rail main body, and which conforms to the outline of small parts, an air passage for compressed air parallel to the runway, and compressed air supplied to the air passage. A transfer rail in which each of the introduction paths for ejecting toward the runway is formed, and a delivery device that is provided on the upstream side of the transfer rail and that pushes out the small parts supplied to the runway to the downstream side through the supply holes for the small parts. The compressed air jetted to the runway flows out to the upstream side by accumulating at least one small component that is prevented from moving backward with the base end of the air passage in the transfer rail. A transfer device for small parts, characterized by preventing