JPH07291427A - Parts aligning machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To construct a parts aligning machine in a small size and preventing those parts which are not aligned on a pallet, from remaining on the pallet. CONSTITUTION:A parts aligning machine is equipped with a pallet 1 having a parts aligning hole 2 and an aligning part C having a parts collection part 3. A vibration part D to vibrate the aligning part C vertically is installed in the lower part of the aligning part C. A swinging part E to swing the part C oscillatively with a shaft 23 as the center is provided beside the aligning part C and vibration part D.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a parts aligning machine for aligning and supplying parts to be supplied to an assembly line or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional parts aligning machine is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
A technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 43042 has been proposed. According to the contents proposed in the above invention, the vibrating portion is provided in the lower portion of the table having the pallet having a large number of component aligning holes mounted on the upper surface, and the swinging portion is provided in the lower portion of the vibrating portion. The components are arranged on the pallet by aligning holes on the pallet by the vertical vibration of the vibrating part on the table (pallet) Insert into
It is arranged to line up. According to this configuration, the parts supply can be automated.

[0003]

In the parts aligning machine according to the prior art, since the vibrating part and the swinging part are provided under the table, the aligning machine becomes tall. That is, when used on an automated line, the overall equipment becomes large, and when used on a hand-assembled line, installing an aligner on the workbench makes the pallet higher than the operator's line of sight. However, it has the drawback of poor workability. In addition, regarding the table shape, since there is no part collection part that is a retreat place for unaligned parts, after the operation of the aligning machine, the unaligned parts remain on the pallet and the next process of the parts is performed. There was a drawback that it hindered the supply of. Due to the above drawbacks, the transfer work in the aligning machine is performed off-line, and only the pallet after inserting and aligning the parts into the aligning hole is put into the assembly line.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, is short and compact, and parts that have not been transferred into the part alignment holes after the operation of the aligning machine may remain on the pallet. To provide a parts aligner that can be installed in an assembly line (automatically and manually) by allowing the final stop angle of the alignment part to be set arbitrarily so that parts can be easily supplied to the next process. With the goal.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a parts aligning machine of the present invention comprises a pallet having a large number of parts arranging holes having a shape corresponding to the shape of a part, and a mounting for detachably mounting the pallet. Section and an aligning section having a component collecting section, which is a retreat place for the components not aligned in the component aligning hole, and a swinging section for swinging the aligning section to move the component onto the pallet and the component collecting section. And a vibrating part that vibrates the alignment part to align the parts located on the pallet with the part alignment holes.

In the above structure, a vibrating section may be provided below the aligning section, and a swinging section may be provided on a side portion of the aligning section and the vibrating section. Further, an angle control device may be provided so that the aligning portion can be tilted at an arbitrary angle and stopped after the components are aligned.

[0007]

Next, the operation of the parts aligning machine of the present invention having the above construction will be described. A large number of parts are put into the arranging section on which the pallet is mounted, and the oscillating section and the oscillating section are operated by a start switch or an operation start command such as an external signal.
Due to the operation of the swinging part, the aligning part is tilted with the pallet side facing downward, and then becomes horizontal, and after a certain period of time for aligning the parts in the component aligning holes, the part collecting part side is turned downward. Perform a tilting motion. The vibrating portion vibrates the alignment portion by vibrating for a certain period of time, so that the components are easily aligned in the component alignment holes. Due to the above operations of the swinging part and the vibrating part, the parts move onto the pallet when the aligning part is tilted with the pallet side facing downward, and when the aligning part is in the horizontal state, the parts are aligned in the part aligning holes by the vibration action. To be done. Also, when the alignment part is tilted with the component collection side facing downward, the components aligned in the component alignment holes remain aligned, and the components that are left unaligned on the pallet move to the component collection part, It will be in an orderly state with no extra parts left on top.
Finally, when the oscillating part and the vibrating part stop, the aligning part stops at an arbitrary angle according to the setting of the angle control device.

[0008]

First Embodiment A first embodiment of a parts aligning machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the component aligner of the present embodiment with a part cut away, and FIG. 2 is a plan view.
3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the overall operation of the parts aligning machine of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the component aligning machine of this embodiment is installed at an alignment section C having a pallet 1 having a component alignment hole 2 and a component recovery section 3, and below the alignment section C. A vibrating section D that vibrates the aligning section C, and a swing section E that is installed on the side of the aligning section C and the vibrating section D to swing the aligning section C,
The angle control device F is provided on the swing part E and stops the alignment part C at an arbitrary angle after the parts 10 are aligned.

The swinging portion E will be described with reference to FIGS.
In each drawing, reference numeral 21 denotes a base, and a vertical base 26 and a bracket 28 are vertically fixed on the base 21 from the side of the alignment portion C with a gap. Vertical base 26 and bracket 2
A cam shaft 27, whose both ends are rotatably held by a vertical base 26 and a bracket 28, is provided between the eight. At the center of the end of the cam shaft 27 held by the bracket 28,
A tip portion of a motor shaft 30 of a swing motor 22 that rotationally drives the cam shaft 27 is inserted and connected, and the swing motor 22 is attached to a bracket 28. The cam shaft 27 includes a swing cam 24, a horizontal cam 31, and a vertical cam 26 from the vertical base 26 side.
An origin cam 32 and a vibration cam 33 for setting the vibration time are attached so as to interlock with the rotation of the cam shaft 27. Limit switches 31a, 32a, and 33a are provided on the horizontal cam 31, the origin cam 32, and the vibration cam 33, respectively. The horizontal cam switch 31b and the origin cam switch 32 are provided.
b and the vibration cam switch 33b are configured. That is, the horizontal cam 31 is rotated to rotate the horizontal cam switch 3
1b is turned on and a timer (not shown) is operated to stop the swing motor 22 for a predetermined time, and the origin cam 32 turns off the origin cam switch 32b to stop the swing motor 22 and the vibration cam 33. The rotation causes the vibration cam switch 33b to be turned on and off to drive and stop the vibration motor 11 described later, and controls a series of operations for aligning the components 10.

The vertical base 26 and the bracket 28 have:
A swing shaft 23, which is the center axis of the swing motion of the alignment section C, is rotatably held. One end of the swing shaft 23 has a vertical base 26.
Is projected through to the alignment section C side, and is fixed to a swing plate 25 disposed between the vertical base 26 and the alignment section C and the vibration section D at the tip thereof. The vibrating section D is connected to. A cam follower 7 is rotatably attached to the rocking plate 25 via a shaft 7a fixed to the side surface thereof. The cam follower 7 is arranged at a position where it comes into contact with the outer periphery of the rocking cam 24, and is constantly urged in a direction where it comes into contact with the rocking cam 24 by a spring 34 passed between the rocking shaft 23 and the bracket 28. The alignment section C can be swung via the cam follower 7 and the swing plate 25 according to the rotation of the vibrating cam 24.

Further, the origin cam 32 has a function of the angle control device F, and fixes the origin position of the aligning section C to the cam shaft 27 in a horizontal or inclined position so that the aligning section C can be stopped at the final stop. The angle can be set arbitrarily.

Next, the structure of the vibrating section D will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The holders 15a and 15b and the holding plate 17 are fixed to the rocking plate 25 fixed to the rocking shaft 23 in order to receive the rocking motion from the rocking portion E, and the holders 15a and 15b are separated by a predetermined distance. And the holding plate 17 is arranged above the holder 15b. Between the holders 15a and 15b, the vibration shaft 14, which is the center of rotation of vibration, has the holder 15 at both ends.
It is held by a and 15b and is rotatably provided. Both ends of the vibration shaft 14 are provided so as to slightly project from the holders 15a and 15b, and a cover 16 (indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1) for transmitting vibration to the alignment portion C is provided on both end surfaces thereof. ) Is fixed by bolts 14a.

On the other hand, the vibration motor 11 which is the vibration source of the vibrating section D is positioned above the vibrating shaft 14 and is held by the holding plate 17.
The motor shaft 9 is arranged so as to protrude from the holding plate 17 through a shaft hole 20 penetrating the holding plate 17. A joint 12 is fixed to the tip of the motor shaft 9, and an eccentric shaft 18 is fixed to the joint 12. That is, the motor shaft 9 has a hole 1 for fixing the motor shaft 9.
The eccentric shaft 18 is connected via a joint 12 having 2a on the rotation center axis and a hole for fixing the eccentric shaft 18 at a position eccentric from the rotation center axis. The eccentric shaft 18 is rotatably mounted with a bearing 13 that changes the rotational motion of the vibration motor 11 into vibration. Further, two blocks 19a and 19b for transmitting the operation of the bearing 13 to the cover 16 are attached to the inside of the cover 16 by bolts with both ends of the bearing 13 sandwiched therebetween.

Next, the structure of the alignment section C will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The aligning section C includes a pallet 1, a component collecting section 3, a table 4, and the like. The pallet 1 has a large number of alignment holes 2 according to the shape of the component 10,
A positioning pin 6 is fixed at a position where it does not interfere with the alignment hole 2. On the other hand, the box-shaped table 4 has its lower surface attached to the upper surface of the cover 16 so as to be subjected to the oscillating motion of the oscillating portion E and the vibration of the oscillating portion D, and the inside thereof is formed in a concave shape. On one side inside the table 4, there is provided a component recovery section 3 which is a retreat place for the components 10, and on the other side there is provided a recess 5 for mounting the pallet 1. A positioning hole (not shown) that fits with the positioning pin 6 of the pallet 1 is formed on the lower surface of the recess 5, and the pallet 1 is positioned and mounted via the positioning pin 6. further,
An eaves 4a is formed at the upper end of the table 4 in the swinging direction so that the parts placed inside do not fall out of the table during swinging. A spring 8 is passed between the side surface of the table 4 and the oscillating plate 25, and when the rotation of the vibration motor 11 is stopped, the alignment portion is urged in a horizontal direction.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
The entire operation is shown in the timing chart of FIG. The component 10 is placed in the table 4. The swing motor 22 is started by a start switch (not shown) or an operation start command such as a lower signal, and the swing cam 24, the horizontal cam 31, the origin cam 32, and the vibration cam 33 are interlocked and rotated.

The rotation of the vibration cam 33 turns on the vibration cam switch 33b to operate the vibration motor 11. When the vibration motor 11 rotates, the bearing 13 is eccentrically rotated by the joint 12 and the eccentric shaft 18, and the blocks 19a and 19b arranged on both sides of the bearing 13 are alternately pushed to cover the vibration shaft 14 as the center of rotation. 16 reciprocates at a swinging angle of a constant width. Vibration is obtained by the vibration motor 11 rotating at high speed. Since the cover 16 is connected to the table 4, the table 4 is vibrated.

Further, the swinging motor 22 is operated to rotate the swinging cam 24 together with the cam shaft 27, so that the swinging cam 24 is biased by the swinging cam 24 and the swinging plate 2.
5, the table 4 tilts with the pallet 1 side facing downward with the oscillating shaft 23 as the oscillating center through the holders 15a and 15b and the cover 16. Next, when the table 4 returns to the horizontal state, the horizontal cam switch 31b is turned on,
A timer (not shown) works. The swinging motor 22 is stopped for a time preset by the timer, and the pallet 1
The components 10 are aligned in the upper alignment holes 2 by the alignment action by vibration. When the time set by the timer has passed, the swinging motor 22 operates again, and the swinging cam 24 tilts the table 4 with the component collecting unit 3 side facing downward. At this time, the components 10 aligned in the alignment holes 2 remain as they are, and the components 10 left on the table 4 without being aligned are the components collection unit 3
Moves to, and an orderly state in which no extra parts 10 remain on the table 4 is obtained. Then, by the origin cam 32,
When the origin cam switch 32b is turned off, the swing motor 22 is stopped and the swing is stopped. At this time, table 4
The angle of becomes the set stop angle and stops. Also,
When the vibration cam switch 33b is turned off, the vibration motor 11 is stopped and the vibration is stopped.
Is stopped in the horizontal state by the action of the spring 8.

According to the component aligning machine of the present embodiment, the driving is performed only by the power source and no external air or the like is required, so that it can be easily used at any place.

[0020]

[Embodiment 2] FIGS. 5 to 9 show Embodiment 2 of the parts aligning machine according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the entire operation, FIG. Is a plan view, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is FIG.
6 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment.
The vibrating section D and the aligning section C are different from each other, and the other configurations are the same. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same components and the description thereof will be omitted.

First, the vibrating section D will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9. The vibration generator 61 is composed of a coil wound around an iron core and a weight, and is held inside a hollow rectangular holder 68 so as not to hinder vibration. Holder 6
The lower surface of the table 54 is attached to the upper surface of 8 so that the vibration generated by the vibration generator 61 is transmitted.
In addition, the holding member 68 has elastic members 62 on the lower portions of both side surfaces thereof.
Are attached by bolts, and this elastic member 62
It is attached to the swing member 67 via. Rocker 67
Is formed in an L shape in which the vertical base 26 side is raised, and one end of the swing shaft 23 is fixed to the rising portion 67a. Also,
The shaft 7a is fixed to the rising portion 67a, the cam follower 7 is rotatably attached to the tip of the shaft 7a, and the swing motion of the swing portion E is transmitted to the swing member 67. . On the other hand, the vibration generator 61 has the vibration cam switch 3
It is electrically connected to the vibration controller 35 via 3b.

Next, the alignment section C will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9. The pallet 51 has a large number of alignment holes 2 corresponding to the shape of the component 10, and recesses 56, which are grooves for mounting on the table 54, are provided on both side surfaces of the pallet. On the other hand, the lower surface of the box-shaped table 54 is attached to the upper surface of the holding body 68 so that the box-shaped table 54 receives the swinging motion of the swinging part E and the vibration of the vibrating part D. In addition, a component collecting portion 53, which is a retreat place for the component 10, is provided on one side inside the table 54 in a shape inclined downward from the upper surface of the pallet 51, and is provided on both side surfaces of the pallet 51 on the other side. A convex portion 59 that fits into the concave portion 56 is provided, and the pallet 51 is mounted by fitting the concave portion 56 and the convex portion 59 together.
Further, a side surface of the table 54 on the side where the pallet 51 is mounted is open, and a side plate 55 is detachably attached to the opening. By attaching and detaching the side plate 55, the pallet 51 is fitted in the concave portion 56 and the convex portion 59. It can be attached and taken out. Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. Refer to the timing chart of FIG. 5 for the overall operation, and since the operation of the swinging portion E is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. The component 10 is placed in the table 54. The swing motor 22 is started by an operation start command such as a start switch (not shown) or an external signal. Swing motor 22
When the vibrating cam 33 is rotated in association with the rotation of the vibrating cam 33b and the vibrating cam switch 33b is turned on, the alignment portion C attached to the vibration generating device 61 via the vibration controller 35 is held by the holding plate 67 by the elastic member 62. Therefore, only the alignment section C vibrates by the vibration generator 61. Part 1
After a certain period of time in which 0s are aligned in the alignment holes 2, the vibration cam switch 33b is turned off, and the vibrating body 61 is stopped via the vibration controller 35.

When the oscillating cam 24 rotates, the aligning section C oscillates as shown in FIG. 5, and when the aligning section C oscillates to the final stop angle, the component collecting section 53 causes the pallet 51 to move. Due to the shape inclined downward from the upper surface of the pallet, backflow of the component 10 to the pallet 51 is prevented, and the pallet 1 is stopped in an orderly state in which no excess component 10 remains.

According to the parts aligning machine of the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. First, since the shape of the component collecting portion 53 is a shape that prevents backflow, the component 10 on the pallet 51 can be reliably removed. Secondly, table 54
Since the side surface of the component has an opening for attaching and detaching the pallet 51, the component 10 can be easily discharged from the opening when the component 10 is replaced. Thirdly, since the vibrating body is only the vibration generating device 61, the weight can be reduced. Fourth, by changing the mounting direction of the vibration generator 61, it is possible to apply vibration in a vibration direction that matches the shape of the parts to be aligned.

[0025]

Third Embodiment FIGS. 10 to 13 show a third embodiment of a parts aligning machine according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view, FIG. 11 is a plan view, FIG. 12 is a front view, and FIG. 13 is an overall operation. 2 is a timing chart showing The present embodiment is different from the swinging unit E in the first embodiment in the controller, and has the same configuration in other configurations, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components and the description thereof will be omitted.

A vertical base 76 and a bracket 74 are fixed to the base 21. The bracket 74 has a shaft hole 71, and the air-driven rotary actuator 7 is provided.
The rotary actuator 72 is fixed by passing the second rotary shaft 73 through the shaft hole 71. The rotating shaft 73 is connected to the swing shaft 23 via a connecting member 77 so that the rotation of the rotating shaft 73 is transmitted. The swing shaft 23 is rotatably held by the vertical base 76, and one end thereof is fixed to the swing plate 25. On the other hand, the rotary actuator 72 has a stopper (not shown) so that the table 4 is at the origin position,
It is set to stop in the horizontal position and the inclined position. The air supply / exhaust port 78 and an air pressure source (not shown) are connected by an air pressure tube 79, and air is sent through an electromagnetic valve 82.

The electromagnetic valve 82 and the vibration motor 11 are connected to the sequencer 81 and can be controlled by a program. The final stop angle of the alignment section C is also set by the stopper set angle of the rotary actuator 72 and the sequencer 8.
It is possible to select and set the stop position in program 1.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described.
For the entire operation, refer to the timing chart of FIG. 13, and the operation of the vibrating section D and the aligning section C is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. A program of the sequencer 81 is activated by an operation start command such as a start switch (not shown) or an external signal to start the vibration motor 11 to generate vibration.

Further, when a signal is sent to the solenoid valve 82, the rotary actuator 72 operates such that air is sent from the pneumatic source through the pneumatic tube 79 and the rotary shaft 73 rotates. Since the rotary shaft 73 and the swing shaft 23 are connected via the connecting member 77, the rotary operation of the rotary shaft 73 of the rotary actuator 72 is performed by the table 4
Is inclined with the pallet 1 side facing downward. Table 4
Becomes horizontal and the vibrating action of the vibrating section D causes the component 10
After a certain period of time for aligning the components with the alignment holes 2, the table 4 is tilted with the component collection unit 3 side facing downward. The parts 10 aligned on the alignment hole 2 remain as they are, and the parts 10 on the pallet 1 that have not been transferred to the alignment hole 2 are collected on the part collection unit 3
And the parts 10 are aligned in the alignment holes 2 in an orderly manner. Finally, the table 4 is stopped at an arbitrary final stop angle by the program of the sequencer 81 and the stopper of the rotary actuator 72.

According to the parts aligning machine of the third embodiment, since the operation is controlled by the sequencer 81, it is possible to easily change the setting such as the swing time by changing the shape of the parts 10 by changing the program. it can.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a component aligning machine in which components are aligned in a large number of component aligning holes provided on the upper surface of a pallet. An aligning unit having a table provided with a component collecting unit, which is a retracting place for components not aligned in the component aligning holes of the pallet, and a vibrating body vertically vibrated by an eccentric unit driven to rotate, It comprises a vibrating section for vibrating the table, and a swinging section for swinging and controlling the aligning section by a plurality of cams attached to the rotationally driven cam shaft and for controlling the vibration of the vibrating section. Good.

Further, a rotary actuator may be used as the swinging unit, and the aligning unit and the vibrating unit may be controlled by the rotation amount of the rotary shaft of the rotary actuator.

[0033]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a parts aligner that can be installed in an assembly line due to the following effects. First, since the swing unit is installed on the side of the table, a tall aligner is not provided, and the equipment is downsized. Secondly, since the table is provided with the parts collecting section, no extra parts are left on the pallet, which does not hinder the parts supply to the next process. When the supply means to the next process is a robot, etc., the alignment part is in the horizontal state as the stop angle,
For a human being, workability can be improved by setting a slanted state as a stop angle so that the parts can be easily taken out.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a part aligning machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention with a part cut away.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the component aligning machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the overall operation of the parts aligning machine according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view showing a part aligning machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a part cut away.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a parts aligning machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

9 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view showing a parts aligning machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a parts aligning machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a parts aligning machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing the overall operation of the parts aligning machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,51 Pallet 2 Alignment hole 3,53 Component collection part 10 Component 11 Vibration motor 22 Swing motor 61 Vibration generator 81 Rotary actuator C Alignment part D Vibrating part E Swinging part F Angle control device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A component aligning machine for aligning components in a large number of component alignment holes provided on an upper surface of a pallet, wherein the pallet, a mounting portion for detachably mounting the pallet, and the component alignment holes of the pallet are aligned. A component aligning machine comprising: an aligning unit having a component collecting unit, which is a retreat place for the missing components, a swinging unit that swings the aligning unit, and a vibrating unit that vibrates the aligning unit. 2. The component alignment according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating portion is provided below the aligning portion, and the swinging portion is provided at a side portion of the aligning portion and the vibrating portion. Machine. 3. The parts aligning machine according to claim 1, wherein the alignment unit can be stopped at an arbitrary angle by an angle control mechanism.