JPH0665568B2 - Vibration parts feeder - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vibrating component feeder.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

FIG. 1 shows a spring (30) of a floppy disk, which is a bent V-shaped thin plate made of aluminum. There is a case where it is desired to supply one spring (30) in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

Generally, in a vibrating component feeder, it is necessary to stock a component in a predetermined posture in a state in which it is connected to a linear trough in a predetermined posture when feeding one component to the next process. However, since the spring (30) as shown in Fig. 1 is a bent V-shaped part, when it is transferred in the direction of the arrow, the parts are arranged in a row on a linear trough due to the transfer force due to vibration. It is not possible to stably pool or stock the parts because the parts do not stock in the state of being connected to each other and overlap each other, and the parts gradually accumulate and overflow or collapse from the trough. Further, since the height at which the parts are deposited is not constant, it is conceivable that the gripping or suction means for supplying one part to the next step does not fail to pick up the part, and the above means is idle.

[Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even in the case of a bent part having a V-shape as shown in Fig. 1, a necessary amount is reliably pooled in a state where the parts overlap each other in a linear trough. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vibrating component feeder that can reliably feed the next process in a predetermined posture.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The above-mentioned object is to vibrate a linear trough to transfer plate-like parts on the trough, and to feed the plate-like parts to the next step in a predetermined posture, in a predetermined posture. Facing to the stopper member, a level detector in the vicinity of the stopper member to the side of the trough, a component gripping means movable up and down above the level detector, and a component upstream of the trough from the level detector. A rear end portion of the plate-like member, which is provided with an excluding means and is laid down on the trough and is supplied in a predetermined posture, is bent upward, and the component is transferred by vibration along the trough, and the stopper member is provided. The plate-shaped component is sequentially transferred, and the plate-shaped component is sequentially transferred so that the front end thereof is introduced below the rear end of the plate-shaped component stopped by the stopper member. The stopper member When the accumulated height of the stopped plate-like parts reaches the level detected by the level detector, the parts removing means is operated by the detection force of the level detector and supplied to the trough. This is achieved by an oscillating component feeder characterized in that the plate component is removed from the trough outwardly.

[Action]

The plate-like parts transferred in a predetermined posture on the linearly vibrating linear trough are stopped by the stopper member at the tip of the trough, and the plate-like parts successively transferred are stopped by the stopper member first. The parts are introduced below the existing parts, and the parts overlap and accumulate. Further, when the deposition height of a component provided on the upstream side of the trough near the stopper member becomes higher than the level detected by the deposition level detector, the component removing means provided on the upstream side of the trough is operated to act as a stopper member. By adjusting the amount of parts to reach, the parts are stably pooled on the trough without making the pile height higher than a certain level.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a vibrating component feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

2 and 3 show the whole of the vibrating parts feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the vibrating parts feeder (1) is shown.
A track (3) is spirally formed in the dish-shaped bowl (2), and the bottom surface thereof has a conical shape with a small height. Tracks in bowl (2) as shown in FIG.
A plurality of grooves (12) for detecting the left / right posture are formed in (3), and a front / rear posture detector (13) is arranged further downstream thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the movable core (4) fixed to the bottom of the bowl (2) is connected to the base (6) by a plurality of leaf springs (7) arranged at an equal angular interval. ing. base
An electromagnet (9) around which a coil (8) is wound is fixed on (6) and faces the above movable core (4) with a gap. The torsional vibration drive unit is configured as described above, and the whole is covered with the cover (10). And the whole device is supported by the base (5) by the anti-vibration rubber (11). Further, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the vibrating parts feeder (1), and as clearly shown in this figure, the conical bottom surface of the bowl (2) is a part formed by a V-shaped bent thin plate ( 30)
Has been put in large quantities. Only shown in a scattered way,
In fact, it is being thrown in at a higher density.

FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5A to 5C show details of the groove (12) for detecting the left-right posture.

The groove (12) is an arc-shaped groove formed so as to hang down on the bottom surface of the track (3). In addition, on the upstream side and the downstream side of the groove (12), a narrow path (3a) that is longer than the entire length of the part (30) and has a narrower transfer surface of the truck (3) than the plate thickness of the part (30) ).

6 to 10 show details of the front-back posture detecting section (13), which will be described below.

The front-back posture detecting section (13) is arranged downstream of the groove (12) and is roughly divided into an introducing plate (17), a posture detecting plate (15) and a posture correcting block (19).

The introduction plate (17) is arranged on the upstream side of the attitude detection plate (15), and the transfer surface of the track (3) is gradually narrowed inward of the bowl (2) toward the downstream side, and the introduction plate (17) is also formed. Downstream end of (17) (17
In (b), a plate having a surface (17a) that is perpendicular to the transfer surface and is inclined so as to leave a transfer surface wider than the plate thickness of the component (30), and bolts are attached to the bowl (2) at the mounting portion (18). It is fixed by.

The attitude detection plate (15) is on the downstream side of the introduction plate (17), and between this, the length from the bent portion (30c) of the component (30) to the end of the flat plate portion (30b) is smaller, The component (30) is arranged at a distance of about ½, that is, a distance larger than the length from the center of gravity of the component (30) to the end of the flat plate portion (30b). Posture detection plate (15)
Is a flat plate which is almost perpendicular to the truck transfer surface and is inclined (indicated in FIGS. 8 and 10) so as to gradually expand inwardly of the bowl (2) toward the downstream side, This detection plate
At the upstream end of (15), there is a gap wider than the plate thickness of the component (30) and the side wall of the track (3). Detection plate
The spacer (16) adjusts the inclination and gap of the spacer (15) and is fixed to the bowl (2) through the spacer (16) with bolts.

The posture correction block (19) is arranged below the posture detection plate (15), on the side wall portion, that is, above the track transfer surface of one turn lower stage, and fixed to the bowl (2) by the bolt (14). Has been done. Further, the block (19) is formed with an abutment surface (19a), an opposite surface plate (19b) and a guide surface (19c), and the abutment surface (19a) is parallel to the transfer surface of the track (3) or is on the upstream side. The inversion surface (19b) is connected to the contact surface (19a) and inclines downward at a large angle toward the upstream side, and the guide surface (19c) is an inversion surface. It is connected to (19b) and is inclined downward toward the downstream side, and the inverted surface (19b) and the guide surface (19c) form a triangle toward the upstream side. Also, the contact surface (1
The position of the block (19) is adjusted so that the angle formed by 9a) and the reversal surface (19b) is slightly downstream of the center of gravity of the component (30) falling from the detection plate (15). .

In the downstream side of the front / rear posture detection unit (13), FIG.
As shown in the figures and FIG. 13, the track (3) is continuous with the twist track (80). In the twist track (80), the lower part (2a) of the side wall of the bowl (2) is twisted so as to gradually become horizontal as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, while facing the lower track (2a). A notch (2b) is formed in the upper end of the side wall of the portion (3) so that the width gradually increases, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, whereby the notch (2b) is formed in FIG. As shown in the figure, the end portion of the twist track (80) has a track (82) of a width and level that matches the track (44) of the linear vibration feeder (31) in the next step. The starting end of the twist track (80) is the ending end of the track (3), and is indicated by (81) as shown in FIG.
It begins at the intersection with (2b). That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the start end (81) of the twist track (80) has a notch (2b) and a track extending from the start end (81) of the twist track (80) to the track (82), so to speak. To the discharge end (82) so as to form FIG. 13 shows the middle portion of the twist track (80), but the middle portion (82) 'is still a downwardly inclined track. Further down to the downstream side, a horizontal track is shown by a track (82) in FIG. When it reaches the downstream side, the truck (8
As shown in 2), the groove (4
It is designed to be consistent with 4).

Then a linear vibrating feeder connected to the vibrating feeder (1)
Explain (31). In this feeder (31), a leaf spring mounting block (33) is integrally fixed to the bottom surface of a straight trough (32), which is a lower leaf spring mounting block (36) and a pair of front and rear inclined leaf springs ( 34) (35). An electromagnet (39) wound with a coil (38) is fixed to the lower leaf spring mounting block (36), and a movable core (37) is attached to the upper leaf spring so as to face it with a slight gap. Block (3
It is fixed to 3). The vibration drive unit is configured as described above, and the whole is covered by the cover (43). The whole is supported by the support block (40), and the support block (40) is fixed on the base via the mounting block (41) and the support column (42).

A relatively deep linear groove (44) is formed in the trough (32), but one side wall portion at this upper end is a notch (44a) as shown in FIG. An air ejection nozzle (46) as a part removing means is fixed to the trough (32) in the part, and an air ejection hole (45) is formed in the trough (32), which is opened in the groove (44). is doing. Therefore, when air is ejected from the air ejection nozzle (46), the component (30) passing above this hole (45) is blown off and returned to the inside of the bowl (2) of the vibrating parts feeder (1). ing.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, a stopper member (49) is fixed to the block (41) via a mounting member (48) at a tip portion of the trough (32) with a slight gap S therebetween. Has been done.
In addition, the level detector mounting member (50) is attached to the tip of the trough (32).
Is fixed to the trough (32) with bolts (51),
A light emitting device (52) and a light receiving device (53) are fixed to the arm parts (50a) and (50b) respectively, and the light emitting part of the light emitting device (52) is provided.
(52a) is a hole (56) formed in the trough (32), a hole (56) connected to and aligned with the hole (56), and a groove (44) in the trough (32) and a hole () in the other side wall facing each other. Holes (55) are formed in alignment with 54 (56). Therefore, these holes (54) (55) (56) should be installed in the light emitting device (52).
The light rays from the light emitting section (52a) of the light passing through are received by the light receiving section (53a) of the light receiving device (53). As described above, the level detector of this embodiment includes the light emitting device (52) and the light receiving device.
It consists of (53) and holes (54), (55) and (56).

Next, with reference to FIGS. 15A to 16, a vacuum suction device (60) as a component holding means brought over the tip of the trough (32) will be described. It has a pipe (61) to which a vacuum source is connected via a flexible tube (62) via an electromagnetic valve. And this whole is supported by a robot arm (63) not shown. Therefore, with this arm (63), the vacuum suction device (60) is brought to the position shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 15B, it is moved downward in the direction indicated by the arrow so as to adsorb the bouled component (30) as described later. The pipe (61) is fitted with a suction pipe (64) that fits inside the pipe (61), and the pad (6
5) is installed. And this pad (65) and pipe
A coil spring (66) is wound between it and (61).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vibrating parts feeder (1) is supplied with the parts (30) from the parts supply section (20). The parts supply section (20) is a hopper. The (21), the vibrator (22) connected to the (21), and the entire supply section are supported by the vibration-proof rubber (23) on the columns (24) and (24). Although not shown, a large number of parts (30) are stored in the hopper (21).
Further, a rubber plate (25) is attached to the discharge end of the hopper (21), and the component (30) is driven by the vibrator (22) to drive the hopper (2).
It is cut from 1) and passes through the rubber plate (25) and is supplied to the bowl (2) of the vibrating parts feeder (1).
It is designed to be supplied quietly.

The configuration of the vibrating component feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Next, this operation will be described.

When an AC power supply is connected to the coil (8) of the electromagnet (9), a known torsional vibration is generated, and a large amount of parts (30) in the bowl (2) receive a torsional vibration force and receive a spiral track ( 3) is transferred upward. The part (30) is composed of a bent V-shaped thin plate, and has a bent portion (30a), a flat plate portion (30b), and a bent portion (3).
In order to feed such a component (30) to the next process in the posture of the component (30) ′ shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the transport path of the truck (3) has a plurality of left and right postures. A front-back posture detecting section (13) is provided on the detection groove (12) and on the downstream side thereof. groove
In (12), the bent part (30a) of the part (30) is directed inward in the diameter of the bowl (2), that is, the bent part (30c) is in contact with the side wall, and the part is passed. Drop the one facing outwards into the bowl (2). In other words, in the present embodiment, left-right selection is performed in which the bent portion (30a) of the component (30) to the right of the moving direction is passed and the leftward one is dropped. Further, the left and right sorted parts (30) are sorted forward and backward by the posture detection section (13), that is, the bent part (30a) passes the part (30) on the rear side with respect to the transfer direction, and the bent part (30).
The part (30) on the front side of (a) is dropped so that only the position (30) ′ shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 required for the next step is supplied to the next step.

Next, the action of the attitude detecting groove (12) will be described.

5A to 5C show the action of left-right selection, but FIG. 5A shows that the bent portion (30a) of the component (30) faces rightward regardless of the front and rear with respect to the transfer direction, that is, within the diameter of the bowl (2). The one that faces toward indicates a passing state. The track transfer surface before and after the groove (12) is narrowed, but because it is wider than the plate thickness of the component (30),
The contact area of the part (30) with the transfer surface is large, and the part (30) is transferred stably with the sidewall almost entirely offset, and the groove (1
2) will also be transferred across. Also, Fig. 5B shows parts (30).
The bent part (30a) is on the front side with respect to the transfer direction and faces left,
That is, it is indicated that the one facing the outside of the bowl (2) falls due to the groove (12). Since the transfer surface before and after the groove (12) is narrowed, the part (30) transferred in the above posture is in an unstable state because the contact points with the transfer surface are only the front end part and the rear end part. Yes, bend (30a) in groove (12)
When fitted in, the center of gravity is on the inner side of the diameter of the ball, and the balance is lost and the ball falls inside the bowl (2). Also, Fig. 5C shows the parts (3
If the bent portion (30a) of (0) is rearward with respect to the transfer direction and faces left, it means that the groove (12) drops. Since the transfer surface before and after the groove (12) is narrowed, the component (30) is transferred in an unstable state, but the flat plate portion (30b) is transferred as it is beyond the groove (12) and the bent portion. (30a) is fitted in the groove (12), the center of gravity is on the inner side of the diameter of the ball, and the balance is lost, and the ball falls inside the bowl (2). Furthermore, a plurality of grooves (12) are arranged to increase the probability of left / right selection.

Next, the operation of the posture detection unit (13) for front-rear sorting of the component (30) that has been left-right sorted will be described.

FIG. 7 to FIG. 10 show the operation of front and rear sorting, but FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show the posture necessary for the next step, that is, the part (30) in which the bent portion (30a) is rearward with respect to the transfer direction and rightward. ) Is the attitude detector (1
Indicates that the vehicle will pass 3). The parts (30) that transfer the truck (3) are placed in the bowl by centrifugal force due to torsional vibration.
It is transferred to the inner wall of (2) so that it sticks to the inner wall of the bowl (2) and the flat plate portion (30b) when this tip end separates from the inclined surface (17a) of the introduction plate (17). The tip of) faces inward of the radius of the bow (2). When the center of gravity of the component (30) is further transferred and deviated from the introduction plate (17), the flat plate portion (30b) is rotated by the centrifugal force around the corner of the downstream end (17b) of the introduction plate (17). ) Contacts the side wall of the track (3) (see Fig. 8), is guided with an approach angle in the gap between the attitude detection plate (15) and the side wall of the track (3), and passes through this gap. The part (30) is transferred in its original posture and supplied to the next process. Since the gap between the attitude detection plate (15) and the side wall of the track (3) is slightly wider toward the downstream side as shown in Fig. 8, it is easy to enter the gap of the component (30). It is supposed to be. That is, it enters while rotating.

9 and 10, the part (30) whose bent portion (30a) is facing forward with respect to the transfer direction is dropped downward by the posture detection unit (13), but the posture is reversed back and forth, It shows that it can be dropped on the truck (3) part. The part (30) that is transferred from the track (3) to the inner wall of the bowl (2) by the centrifugal force due to the torsional vibration force is the introduction plate.
(17) tilts radially inward of the bowl (2), and when the center of gravity of the component (30) is further transferred and deviates from the introduction plate (17), the downstream end of the introduction plate (17) due to centrifugal force ( The part (30) rotates around the corner of (17b), the bent part (30c) contacts the side wall of the track (3), and the bent part (30a) moves to the bowl (2) of the detection plate (15). Is guided on the inner surface. When further transferred, the detection plate
The part (30) gradually deviates from the transfer surface of the truck (3) because the part (30) gradually inclines inward of the bowl (2) as (15) moves toward the downstream side, and the contact surface of the posture correction block (19). (19a) Drop on top. The dropped part (30) ″ is the contact surface (19a) and the reverse surface
Since the position of the center of gravity is on the upstream side of the corner formed by (19b), the center of gravity slides downward along the reversing surface (19b), and the center of gravity position is the angle between the reversing surface (19b) and the guide surface (19c). When removed, the parts
(30) is rotated in the direction of arrow a by receiving the rotating action centering on the corner. In addition, the guide surface (19c) is on the downstream side downward, that is, the part (3
Since it is inclined inward in the rotation direction of (0), the component (30) is inverted so as not to interfere with the rotation action of the component (30) and prevent it from rotating too much, and the posture detection unit (13 ) Is arranged about one turn below the transfer surface on which the curved part is bent in the transfer direction.
Drop (30a) with the rear side facing right. As a result of the above actions, only the part (30) ′ having the posture required for the next process is supplied to the next process, and the component (30) ″ dropped by the posture detection unit (13) is necessary for the next process. The part (30) is introduced into the twisting track (80) in a predetermined position as shown in FIG.
As shown in Fig. 13, it is twisted to take a horizontal direction gradually,
After all, in the posture shown in Fig. 11, the next linear vibration feeder is
It is led to the groove (44) of (31).

The component (30) is subjected to linear vibration in the linear vibration feeder (31), its posture is regulated by the groove (44), and is transferred forward, and when it reaches the tip of the trough (32), the stopper member (49) is provided. Is stopped by. Then, one after another, the part (30) brings the part to the tip of the trough (32), but as shown in FIGS. It is designed to dive downwards as indicated by (30) 'below. Then, they are sequentially stacked, and the deposition height reaches a level determined by the heights of the holes (54), (55), and (56), and the light from the light emitting device (52) is blocked so that the light receiving device (53) The compressed air is passed through the hole (45) and the groove (44) by opening an electromagnetic valve (not shown) connected to the air ejection nozzle (46) arranged on the upstream side according to the output detection signal.
The parts (30) that are sprayed onto the transfer surface of
(2) I try to blow it inside. Therefore, the deposition height of the component (30) is limited to the level of the holes (54) (55) (56).

On the other hand, the movement of the robot causes the vacuum suction device (60) as the component holding means to reach the position as shown in FIG. 15A, and the arm (63) of the robot moves downward to move the vacuum suction pipe (as shown in FIG. 15B). The pad (65) at the bottom of 64) to the top part
Press on (30). Then, the vacuum source connected to the tube (62) is actuated to adsorb the component (30) to the pad (65), and the robot arm (63) moves upward to adsorb the component (30) upward. Then, the robot is transferred to the next process. As shown in FIG. 15A, the suction pipe (6
In Fig. 15B, when the pad (65) is pressed to adsorb the component (30) in Fig. 15B, the adsorption pipe (64) can be pulled into the pipe (61) by H, so the component (30) is detected. It does not exist up to the level of the hole (55), and even if there is only one part (30) at the beginning of operation of this feeder, it is adsorbed by the pad (65) of the adsorption device (60). It can be supplied to the next process. That is, from the time when there is only one component (30) to the state where it has been deposited up to the detection level position, it is stably adsorbed by the adsorption device (60) and supplied to the next process. In the steady state, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the parts (30) wait for the arrival of the robot in a state of being deposited to a predetermined level, and stably supply the parts (30) to the next process without interruption. It is like this.
This is due to the action of the air jet nozzle (46) arranged on the upstream side, and if this jet means is not provided, the part (30)
Will overflow the tip of the trough (32). Alternatively, it may be collapsed if the deposition height becomes large,
Such a problem can be prevented in advance.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, needless to say, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the linear linear vibration feeder is
Vibrating parts feeder to supply (31) in the specified posture
Although (1) is applied, it may be supplied in a predetermined posture by a linear drive feeder instead of the vibrating parts feeder.

Further, in the above embodiment, the parts pooled at the tip of the linear vibrating feeder (31) are adsorbed one by one by the vacuum adsorbing device (60), but when the parts are made of a magnetic material, an electromagnet is used. Therefore, one sheet may be adsorbed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case of processing a part including the bent part (30a), the flat plate part (30b) and the bent part (30c) has been described, but of course the shape of the part is not limited to the following. The component stocking method of the present invention can be applied to any plate-shaped member whose rear end is bent in a predetermined posture to be supplied to the process.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the vibrating component feeder, in a predetermined posture to be supplied to the next process, the rear end portion is a plate-like component that is bent upward and is stable in the conventional method. Alternatively, it is possible to stably pool the parts that could not be stocked and reliably supply one to the next process in a predetermined posture.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a component applied to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of a vibrating component feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same, and FIG. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main part of the truck of the vibration parts feeder, and Figs. 5A to 5C are partial enlarged plan views of the track in Fig. 4 together with the parts for explaining the action and effect of the main part of the truck. 6A and 6B are perspective views of the posture correction unit in the vibration parts feeder, and FIGS. 7 and 9 are development views of the posture correction unit in FIG. 6 for explaining the action and effect of the vibration parts feeder. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the twist track portion of the vibration parts feeder. Fig. 12 is a perspective view, and Fig. 12 is a cross section taken along line XII-XII in Fig. 11. , FIG. 13 in Figure 11
XIII-XIII line sectional drawing, FIG. 14 is XIV in FIG.
-XIV line direction enlarged sectional view, FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are the third
16 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XV-XV in the drawing, FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 3, and FIG. 17 is a partial plan view taken along line XVII-XVII in FIG. In the figure, (1) …… Vibration parts feeder (31) …… Linear vibration feeder (32) …… Trough (45) …… Air jet hole (46) …… Air jet nozzle (49) …… Stopper member ( 52) …… Light emitting device (53) …… Light receiving device (54) (55) (56) …… Hole

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vibrating component feeder for linearly vibrating a linear trough to transfer plate-shaped components on the trough and to feed them one by one in a predetermined posture in the next step. A stopper member facing the portion, a level detector laterally of the trough near the stopper member, a component gripping means movable up and down above the level detector, and an upstream side of the trough from the level detector. A rear end portion of the plate-like component which is provided with a component removing means and is laid down on the trough and supplied in a predetermined posture is bent upward, and the component is transferred by vibration along the trough, and the stopper is provided. The member is stopped, and the plate-like parts that are sequentially transferred are introduced so that the front end thereof is introduced below the rear end of the plate-like part that is transferred first and stopped by the stopper member. , The stopper member When the accumulated height of the stopped plate-like parts reaches the level detected by the level detector, the parts removing means is operated by the detection force of the level detector and supplied to the trough. A vibrating component feeder, wherein the plate-shaped component is removed outward from the trough.