JPH0749567Y2 - Component imaging device in component counter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a machine for counting the number of parts to be put in when packing parts such as screws, bolts, rivets or pins into a bag or a box. The present invention relates to an imaging device for contactlessly counting the parts discharged from a chute.

(Prior Art) Generally, the work of counting a predetermined number of parts and packing them in a bag or a box does not count the number of these parts, but based on the weight corresponding to the number of the parts The current situation is to obtain the required number of parts. However, if the weight of one part changes even slightly, there is a problem that the number of parts will change and the number of parts in the case will be excessive or insufficient. Recently, the number of these parts is counted to perform box packing or bag packing.

As a method of counting these parts in a non-contact manner, there is a technique of counting the number of parts that block the camera by using an imaging camera.
In this method, as shown in FIG. 6, a supply chute 11 for supplying the parts forward is attached below the discharge port of the hopper 3 for storing a large number of parts, and the overlapping of the parts is loosened at the tip of the supply chute 11. A plurality of loosening chutes 21 each having a groove-shaped chute surface are connected to each other, and the loosening chutes 21 are connected.
The light source body 51 is positioned below the tip of, and the image pickup device 53 is arranged in front of the loosening chute 21 and at a position facing the light source body 51.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) However, when counting the parts discharged from the tip of the chute in this way, the distance between the camera and the parts needs to be long due to the focus of the imaging camera with respect to the parts. , The length of the whole counting machine was getting longer. Therefore, the installation space of the machine in the work place becomes large, and a useless space is created. Therefore, if the focal length of this imaging camera is shortened, the effective counting width of the parts discharged from the chute is inevitably narrowed, and the chute must be narrowed accordingly, which is not suitable for counting parts. There was a problem that took time. Further, in the conventional configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a problem that the loci of the parts falling from the tip of the chute vary and the image pickup camera deviates from the focus width, which causes an error in counting. The present invention was devised for the purpose of solving these problems.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve this object, the first invention is to install a supply chute 11 for supplying the parts forward under a discharge port of a hopper 3 that stores a large number of parts. This supply chute 11
At least one unraveling chute 21 having a groove-shaped chute surface for unraveling the overlapping of parts is connected to the tip of the, and an image pickup device 53 that optically senses the parts falling from the unraveling chute 21 is attached. In the component counter, the light source body 51 is arranged in a straight line of the loosening chute 21, and the image pickup device 53 is arranged in the machine base 1 facing the light source body 51 and below the loosening chute 21. According to the second invention, in the counter, an auxiliary chute 33 is connected immediately before the loosening chute 21, and a light source 51 is arranged in front of the auxiliary chute 33. The light source 51 faces the light source 51 and is below the loosening chute 21. The image pickup device 53 is arranged in the machine base 1.

(Operation) When the parts move forward from the supply chute 11 through the loosening chute 21 while being separated from each other, and when this part reaches the auxiliary chute 33, the sliding speed of the part increases and the edge of the next part is completely cut off and falls. It will be. The trajectory of the part which is guided out by the auxiliary chute 33 and which pops out has almost no variation and falls.

On the other hand, a light source body 51 is arranged in front of the auxiliary chute 33, and a component falling from the tip of the auxiliary chute 33 blocks light from the light source body 51. Then, the imager 53 senses the brightness of this light and the number of parts is counted. In this case, since the image pickup device 53 is installed in the machine base 1, the image pickup device 53 can be installed at an appropriate distance from the parts, and the entire parts counter can be shortened.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 3 denotes a funnel-shaped hopper attached to the upper portion of a frame 2 fixed to the machine base 1. There is a rear part of the supply chute 11 just below the discharge port at the bottom of the hopper 3, and an alignment groove 11a having an acute cross section, for example, a triangular shape is formed on the front chute surface of the chute 11 as it reaches the tip. There is. The supply chute 11 is attached to a first vibrating portion 12, and the first vibrating portion 12 is attached to a feeder base 5 fixed to a support base 4 supported by the machine base 1. Immediately below the front end of the supply chute 11, there is arranged a loosening chute 21 positioned so that the rear part thereof overlaps.
Are supported by the second vibrating portion 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the supply chute 11 and the loosening chute 21 are arranged in parallel with each other in two rows, and a small amount of the chute 31 for feeding the screw parts 8 little by little between the two rows of the loosening chutes 21. Are provided in parallel. This trace shoot
Reference numeral 31 is a configuration driven by the third vibrating portion 32. These vibrating portions 22 and 32 are attached to a feeder base 40 whose one end is supported by a spring member 41 on the support base 4, and a support spring 42 is provided between the other end of the feeder base 40 and the support base 4. It is interposed and held almost horizontally. Also, the feeder base 40 and the support base
A shock absorber 43 is attached between the sensor 40 and 40, and in parallel with this, a sensor 44 is arranged which operates when the screw parts 8 having a predetermined weight or less or a predetermined weight or more are stored in the loosening chute 21. ing.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the rear side of the loosening chute 21 which is arranged so as to overlap the tip of the supply chute 11 is substantially horizontal, and a ridgeline of a mountain is formed below the apex angle of the triangular alignment groove 11a. As it is located (that is, it has a ridge line at a position such that the screw part 8 that advances the alignment groove 11a of the supply chute 11 is distributed to both sides), it has a feeding groove 21a having a triangular cross section. In addition, in front of the adjusting groove 21a,
An inclined chute portion 23 having a shape in which the ridgeline of the mountain is located on the extension of the bottom apex angle of the feeding groove 21a, and an inclined chute portion 23 slightly inclined forward and at the tip of the inclined chute portion 23 A deceleration chute portion 24, which is slightly inclined in the opposite direction and has a feeding groove 24a of the same shape, is continuously formed. An auxiliary chute 33 is arranged at the tip of the deceleration chute 24 so as to incline the front downward and has an adjusting groove (not shown) having the same shape as the loosening chute 21.
This inclination angle is set to an angle at which the screw component 8 that jumps out of the deceleration chute 24 and falls can slide down. At the tip of the auxiliary chute 33, there is provided a guide cylinder 7 fixed to the machine base 1 for guiding a screw part 8 for sliding the auxiliary chute 33 to the packaging machine 6 located below the machine. A shutter (not shown) is provided which operates to block the supply of the screw component 8 to the packaging machine 6.

A light source body 51 having a shape longer than the auxiliary chute 33 is attached in the width direction of the chute 21 in front of the auxiliary chute 33, and a shield is provided around the light source body 51 to prevent the light from diffusing. A member 52 is attached. In this way, in front of the auxiliary chute 33, the light source body is arranged at a relatively short distance.
51 is located. An image pickup camera, which is an image pickup device 53 for detecting the brightness of the light coming from the light source body 51, is arranged in the machine body 1 obliquely below and facing the light source body 51. The image pickup device 53 counts the screw components 8 falling from the tip of the auxiliary chute 33 within the effective counting width L. Further, the first and second
The respective operations of the vibrating parts 12, 22 and the third vibrating part 32 are also controlled.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When a signal for starting work is input after the components are put into the hopper 3, the first vibrating portion 12 operates, whereby the supply chute 11 vibrates, and the screw component 8 moves forward. Further, since the second vibrating section 22 arranged in front of this also starts to operate at the same time, the screw component 8 supplied on the supply chute 11 is loosened from the alignment groove 11a at the tip as shown in FIG. 21 falls on. At this time, in the screw component 8, the triangular alignment groove 11a of the supply chute 11 and the triangular top (ridge line of the mountain) of the loosening chute 21 overlap with the bottom of the alignment groove 11a. Feeding grooves 21a on both sides of the loosening chute 21
Divide appropriately into. In this way, the screw parts 8 that are separated and supplied to the front gradually loosen each other.
As shown in FIG. 4, the threaded component 8 subsequently enters the front inclined chute portion 23, and the edge between the threaded component 8 and the threaded component 8 is cut off. Then, the screw components 8 are dispersed on the chute 21 without overlapping and move from the deceleration chute portion 24 to the feeding groove of the auxiliary chute 33.

In this way, the screw component 8 that has entered the adjusting groove of the auxiliary chute 33 falls along the inclination of the auxiliary chute 33. The component 8 that drops well is guided by the auxiliary chute 33 as shown in FIG. 5, so that the variation of the trajectory is small, and the component 8 drops in a substantially constant trajectory. In this way, the screw part 8 falling from the tip of the auxiliary chute 33 within the effective counting width L of the image pickup camera receives the light from the light source body 51 by the image pickup device 53.
Block with (imaging camera). The imager 53 installed in the machine body 1 senses the brightness of the light, and the signal counts the number of screw parts 8 falling from the tip of the chute 33.
Then, when the approach value A set to a number smaller than the preset specified number B is reached, the supply chute 11 and the loosening chute 21 are stopped, and the minute amount chute 31
Since the operation is continued only for a small number until the specified number B is reached, this minute chute 31
Supplied with.

When the count reaches the specified number B in this way, the supply of the screw components 8 supplied from the minute amount chute 31 is stopped. At the same time, a shutter (not shown) closes.
Therefore, if a bag or box for packing the screw parts 8 is arranged below the counter, it means that the specified number B of parts have been put in, and an accurate number of parts can be provided. Then, after preparing the next bag or box, the shutter is opened again, the vibrating parts 12, 22, 32 are operated, and the screw components 8 are counted again and supplied by a predetermined amount.

(Effects of the Invention) As is apparent from the embodiment described above, in claim 1 according to the present invention, the light source body 51 is arranged immediately before the loosening chute 21 and faces the light source body 51 and below the loosening chute 21. By disposing the image pickup device 53 in the machine base 1, it can be installed in the body regardless of the focal length of the image pickup device, so that the length of the whole counter is short and compact. Therefore, there is an advantage that the installation space of the machine in the work place is reduced and a wasteful space is eliminated, and further, there is an effect that the image pickup device is housed in a safe position in the body.

Further, in claim 2, the auxiliary chute 33 is connected immediately before the loosening chute 21, and the light source body 51 is arranged in front of the auxiliary chute 33. The light source body 51 faces the light source body 51 and is located below the loosening chute 21. By arranging the image pickup device 53 in the stand 1, in addition to the effect of claim 1, there is little variation in the trajectory of the component falling from the auxiliary chute, and the trajectory drops in a substantially constant trajectory, so that the counting accuracy is extremely high. A big effect that becomes higher can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is an overall front view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the chute portion of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the chute portion showing a loosened state of the component, and FIG. 4 is a component. FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional front view showing the unraveling state, FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view of an essential part showing the imaging state of this embodiment, FIG. 6 is an overall front view showing a conventional counter, and FIG. It is a principal part expansion explanatory drawing which shows the imaging state of a figure. 1: Machine stand, 2: Frame 3: Hopper, 4: Support stand 5: Feeder stand, 6: Packaging machine 7: Guide tube, 8: Screw parts 11: Supply chute, 11a: Alignment groove 12: First vibrating part 21 : Detachment chute, 21a: Adjusting groove 22: Second vibrating section, 23: Inclined chute section 23a: Adjusting groove, 24: Deceleration chute section 24a: Adjusting groove 31: Micro chute, 32: Third vibrating section 33: Auxiliary chute 40: Feeder base, 41: Spring member 42: Support spring, 43: Shock absorber 44: Sensor 51: Light source, 52: Shielding member 53: Imager

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A supply chute (1) for supplying these parts to the front below a discharge port of a hopper (3) which stores a large number of parts.
1) is attached, and at least one loosening chute (21) with a groove-shaped chute surface for loosening overlapping parts is formed at the tip of this supply chute (11), and it is dropped from this loosening chute (21). In the component counter equipped with an imager (53) for optically sensing the component to be mounted, a light source body (51) is arranged in front of the loosening chute (21), and the light source body (51) faces and loosens. Shoot (2
1) A component image pickup device characterized in that an image pickup device (53) is arranged in a lower machine base (1). 2. A supply chute (1) for supplying these parts to the front below a discharge port of a hopper (3) which stores a large number of parts.
1) is attached, and at least one loosening chute (21) with a groove-shaped chute surface for loosening overlapping parts is formed at the tip of this supply chute (11), and it is dropped from this loosening chute (21). A component counter provided with an imager (53) for optically detecting the component to be removed, the auxiliary chute (33) immediately before the loosening chute (21).
Further, a light source body (51) is arranged in front of the auxiliary chute (33), and the image pickup device (1) is arranged in the machine base (1) facing the light source body (51) and below the loosening chute (21). 53) is provided, and a component image pickup device.