JPH10251898A - Anode ball feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and surely feed an anode ball into an anode ball case. SOLUTION: A couple of supply guide rails 11 and 12 extending in the arranging direction and separated by the supply path width W1 are provide above the plural anode cases placed in a plating tank. A supply path widening means 20 is furnished in the plural mountable spaces with the respective positions corresponding to the anode case 3 of the one supply guide rail 11 notched, the anode ball B supplied on both supply guide rails 11 and 12 in the normal state is dropped into the anode case 3, and the distance from the other supply guide rail 12 is kept at the supply path width W1 by utilizing the weight of the anode ball B when the balls B are engaged with one another.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an anode ball supply / feed device for automatically feeding anode balls supplied to each anode case in a plating tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In FIG.
A plurality of anode cases 2 forming counter electrodes are provided, and the anode case 2 accommodates a large number of anode balls (for example, copper balls) B. Each anode case 2
Is connected to a power supply (not shown) via the input guide member 3, bus 4 and connection box 5.

When the number of the anode balls B in the anode case 2 decreases with the execution of the plating process, the anode balls 3 are supplied from the outside of the plating tank 1 to each anode case 2. Therefore, as compared with the flat plate-shaped counter electrode, the entire replacement work of the counter electrode can be eliminated and the operation efficiency is high.

Here, the supply of the anode balls B into each anode case 2 is performed by a worker M on a worktable 7 using a supply cylinder 6. That is, the tip 6f is positioned on the introduction guide member 3 of the anode case 2 to be supplied, and the anode ball B is inserted through the front opening 6f. The anode ball B rolls in the supply cylinder 6 and falls into the anode case 2 via the introduction guide member 3 from the tip 6f.

Further, in the supply charging method shown in FIG. 6, the leading end 8f of the supply tray 8 is positioned on the charging guide member 3, and the anode ball B is rolled and supplied from the hand 86. The supply tray 8 closes the input guide member 3 in the middle thereof, so that the anode balls B can be dropped and input into the input guide member 3 (anode case 2) corresponding to the front end 8f.

Therefore, for example, if a scale is provided on the supply tray 8, it is easier to position the leading end 8f of the supply tray 8 on the target feeding guide member 3 than when the supply cylinder 6 is used. Therefore, the work table 7 may be low. However, when the anode ball B protrudes upward from the filling guide member 3 which is halfway filled, the supply tray 8 is inclined as shown by a two-dot chain line, so
There is a problem such that it is difficult to put it into the inside.

[0007]

However, in any of the supply and charging methods, the worker M is difficult to handle because the worker M has to work close to the plating tank 1 where there are many energized locations and a crane or the like travels. Or with danger.
Therefore, since the plating operation needs to be stopped, the production efficiency is greatly reduced.

Further, although it is difficult to position the leading end to the charging guide member 3, it is very difficult to identify the anode case 2 having reduced anode balls B among the anode cases 2 which cannot be seen from the outside of the plating tank 1. In many cases, it depends exclusively on intuition and experience. Therefore, when a mistake is determined, the anode balls B in some of the anode cases 2 remain reduced, which leads to poor plating quality.

Further, although the management of the plating solution, the transfer of the object to be processed, and the like are automated, only the supply of the anode balls B is performed manually, which hinders the overall automation and unmanned operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-use, automated, and simple-to-use anode ball that can be supplied to an anode case that requires the supply of anode balls.
An object of the present invention is to provide an unmanned anode ball supply / injection device.

[0011]

The characteristics of the anode case 2 containing the anode ball B as a counter electrode are determined by the portion located in the plating solution. In other words, the quantity of the anode balls B contained outside the plating solution in the anode case 2 (or the charging guide member 3) does not directly affect. Rather, it is better to keep the loading guide member 3 full.
Since the withering state of the anode ball in the plating solution can be avoided, management is easy.

Focusing on this point, the present invention takes advantage of the positional relationship between the anode ball B and the weight change of the anode ball B, whether the anode case 2 (feeding guide member 3) is full or empty, and the positional relationship of the anode ball B. The anode balls (feeding guide members) are formed so that anode balls can be supplied (dropped in) until they are filled.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of supply guide rails extending in the arrangement direction and separated by a supply path width are provided above a plurality of anode cases mounted in the plating tank. A plurality of mountable spaces are formed by notching respective positions corresponding to the respective anode cases of one supply guide rail, and the anode balls supplied on both supply guide rails in each mountable space in a normal state are used as anodes. A supply path width capable of dropping into the case and restoring and maintaining the interval with the other supply guide rail to the supply path width by utilizing the weight of the anode ball while the dropped anode ball is engaged. An expansion means is provided to automatically drop the anode balls supplied from the upstream side of both supply guide rails to the anode case with reduced anode balls. It was charged can form, characterized in that.

In this invention, the anode balls supplied on both supply guide rails fall, for example, on the first anode case. Since the anode ball is engaged during the fall, the distance between the supply path width expanding means mounted in the mountable space and the other supply guide rail is determined by using the weight of the anode ball. The width is restored and held. Therefore, the next anode ball continuously supplied on both supply guide rails passes to the second and subsequent anode cases. When the first anode case is disengaged from the anode ball that has been dropped and thrown into the first anode case, the first anode case is again put into a fallable state. That is, the anode ball is dropped and thrown repeatedly until the anode case becomes full. When it becomes full, the supply path width expanding means returns to the supply path width. Thus, each of the anode cases can be filled with the anode balls. When the number of anode balls in an anode case decreases and the uppermost anode ball is not engaged, a new anode ball can be dropped in.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that each of the supply path width expanding means has a notch plane in a part of an arc surface and is rotatable about an axis. A drive lever connected to the drive lever, wherein the cutout plane can be held in a vertical state when the anode ball is not engaged with the drive lever, and the other supply corresponding to the arc surface when engaged. This is an anode ball supply / injection device formed so as to be able to hold the supply path width at a distance from the guide rail.

In this invention, in a normal state where the anode ball is not engaged with the drive lever, the cutout plane is in a vertical state, so that the distance between the cutout plane and the other supply guide rail is equal to or larger than the supply path width. . Therefore, the anode ball supplied on both supply guide rails falls and engages with the drive lever while rotating the rotating body about the axis via the drive lever by its own weight. Thereby, the space between the arc surface and the other supply guide rail is restored to the supply path width. In this restored state, the arc surface acts substantially as one supply guide rail. Therefore, in addition to providing the same operation and effect as the case of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize the structure with a simple structure and at low cost. Long-term stable operation can be guaranteed.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the rotating body is formed of a plurality of materials having different specific gravities and the anode ball is not engaged with the drive lever, the notch plane is held in a vertical state. This is an anode ball supply / input device that is formed so as to be capable of being used.

In this invention, the portion having a large specific gravity moves below the axis, and the portion having a small specific gravity moves above it. And keep the normal. In this normal state, the notch plane is in a vertical state. Therefore, in addition to providing the same operation and effect as the case of the second aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to additionally provide any special means such as a balance weight, so that further downsizing and cost reduction can be achieved and further. Stable operation can be guaranteed.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the supply and supply device of the present anode ball extends in the arrangement (X) direction above a plurality of anode cases 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> N mounted in the plating tank 1 and has a supply path width W <b> 1. A pair of supply guide rails 11 and 12 are provided, and each anode case 2 of one of the supply guide rails (11) is provided.
A plurality of mountable spaces 15 each of which has a cutout corresponding to (3) are formed, and the anode balls B supplied on both supply guide rails 11 and 12 in each mountable space 15 in the normal state are used as the anodes. While the anode ball B that can be dropped into and is engaged with the case 2 (3) is engaged, the distance between the anode ball B and the other supply guide rail (12) is determined by utilizing the weight of the anode ball B. Width W1
Case 2 provided with a supply path width expanding / retracting means 20 capable of holding the anode balls B supplied from the upstream sides of the two supply guide rails 11 and 12.
(3) is formed so that it can be automatically dropped in.

In FIG. 4, a plurality of anode cases 2A to 2N are mounted on a plating tank 1, and a supply guide means 10 extending above the anode cases 2A to 2N in the arrangement (X) direction is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supply guide means 10 is formed by supply guide rails 11 and 12 made of a pair of vinyl chloride cylinders separated by a supply path width W1. The supply path width W1 is smaller than the diameter of the anode ball B. That is, the hand inclined portion 1 shown in FIG.
The anode ball B supplied from 5 can be rolled and guided to the terminal inclined portion 16. The reason for forming the cylindrical body is to expand the applicability to anode balls B having different diameters.

Here, the supply path width W1 is determined not by the absolute size but by the size (diameter) of the anode ball B to be applied. It is a dimension that can roll (supply) from the upstream side to the downstream side.

The hand inclined portion 15 is for urging the rolling force of the anode ball 13, and the terminal inclined portion 16 is for preventing the anode ball 13 from falling to the periphery.

On one supply guide rail 11 (or 12), each anode case 2 (feed guide member 3) is provided.
(P1, P2, shown in FIG. 4)
.., Pn) are formed. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a notch is cut out by a dimension L in the longitudinal (X) direction. A work space 16 is formed by notching the front and rear portions by half to facilitate the attachment / detachment of the supply path width expanding / reducing means 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supply path width expanding means 20 is formed of a rotating body 21 and a driving lever 26, and is mounted in each mountable space 15.

The rotating body 21 is shaped to be rotatable about an axis (support shaft 24) and to have a cutout plane 25 provided in a part of the circular arc surface 11. The rotating body 21 can hold the notch plane 25 in a vertical state when no external force is applied. Therefore, a balance weight or the like may be provided, but in this embodiment, the difference in specific gravity of the material is used.

That is, the rotating body 21 is composed of the heavy roller portion 22 and the light roller portion 2 hatched in FIG.
3 and is formed to be eccentric and rotatable about the support shaft 24. The heavy roller portion 22 is made of metal (for example, stainless steel copper), and the light roller portion 26 is made of synthetic resin (for example, vinyl chloride). Therefore, it can be realized with a simple structure and at low cost. Long-term stable operation can be guaranteed.

The drive lever 27 has a base end at the heavy roller portion 2.
2, and the leading end thereof crosses the input space S and reaches the lower side of the other supply guide rail 12. Therefore, when no external force is applied to the drive lever 27, that is, when the anode ball B is not engaged (when the weight is not applied), the notch plane 25 is held in a vertical state.

In this vertical state, a width W3 larger than the supply path width W1 by the dimension W2 can be established between the cutout plane 25 and the other supply guide rail 12. That is, the anode balls rolled and supplied on both supply guide rails 11 and 12 can drop as B → B3.

On the other hand, when the anode balls (B2, B3) are engaged with the drive lever 27 (when the weight is added), the rotational moment due to the specific gravity difference of the rotating body 21 shown in FIG. Since the rotational moment about the axis (24) due to the weight (external force F) of the anode ball B is larger than R, the drive lever 27 tilts with the rotation of the rotating body 21 as shown by a two-dot chain line.

That is, the distance between the arcuate surface 26 and the corresponding supply guide rail 12 can be restored to the supply path width W1. Therefore, the next anode ball B1 is a circular arc surface 2 imitating one of the supply guide rails 11.
6 and the other supply guide rail 12 and rolls downstream thereof.

In this embodiment, the feeding guide member 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter D1, and an upper portion thereof is provided with an enlarged diameter portion 3L in the shape of a square hopper having a diameter D2 (> D1). This is because a larger amount of anode balls B can be accommodated. In other words, when the enlarged diameter portion 3L is not provided, the next anode ball (B) cannot be dropped in until the uppermost anode ball descends to the position indicated by B5. That is, a useless space corresponding to the rotation radius of the drive lever 27 is used.

Next, the operation and operation of this embodiment will be described. In FIG. 4, when the anode ball B rolled and supplied in the X direction shown in FIG. 2 from the hand inclined portion 15 reaches, for example, the supply path width expanding means 20 mounted at the position P1,
As shown in FIG. 3A, the rotating member 21 falls through the width W3 between the notch plane 25 of the rotating member 21 and the other supply guide member 12 in the normal state.

Then, the rotating moment due to the weight (external force F) of the anode ball B overcomes the rotating moment R of the rotating body 21, so that the rotating body 21 rotates clockwise about the axis (24). Therefore, the anode ball B is dropped into the anode case 3 as shown in FIG.

At the same time, the arc surface 26 of the rotating body 21 moves to the other supply guide rail 12 side.
The interval 12 is restored to the supply path width W1. That is,
Specifically, during the period in which the anode ball B is engaged with the drive lever 27, the supply path is expanded while the weight (external force F) of the anode ball B is pressing the drive lever 27 from above to below in the drawing. The return means 20 (26) serves as one supply guide rail (11). Therefore, the next anode ball B1 is passed (rolled and supplied) to the downstream side in the X direction.

When the anode ball B is dropped into the anode case 3 and disengaged from the drive lever 27, the drive lever 27 returns to the horizontal state (normal state) shown in FIG. At the same time, the notch plane 25 is in a vertical state, and the interval with the other supply guide rail 12 is set to W3 (> W).
1). Therefore, the next anode ball is dropped in. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (C), when the inside of the anode case 2 and the charging guide member 3L becomes full, the uppermost anode ball B finally dropped and charged is dropped.
13 remains engaged with the drive lever 27, so that the subsequent anode balls B14 are supplied further downstream.

Therefore, each anode case 2 (3L)
The anode ball B can be filled therein. When the anode ball B in the anode case 2 (3L) decreases due to the plating process, for example, when the position of the anode ball B13 shown in FIG. 3C is lowered to B12, the drive lever 27 is moved to the position shown in FIG. Return to the state. Therefore, a new anode ball B is automatically dropped in by the reduced amount, and any anode case 2 (3L) can be filled.

Thus, the specific operation of the anode case 2 (3L) requiring the supply (dropping) of the anode ball B can be eliminated, and the anode ball supply requiring the supply of the anode ball can be easily and reliably supplied to the anode case. And can be easily handled and automated.

Thus, if the ball cut-out supply means 30 capable of automatically cutting out the number of anode balls B equal to the number of anode cases 2 at every set time indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Not only can B be automated, but also the entire system can be completely unmanned.

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of supply guide rails are provided above a plurality of anode cases mounted in the plating tank and extend in the arrangement direction and are separated by a supply path width. A plurality of mountable spaces are formed by notching the respective positions of one of the supply guide rails corresponding to the respective anode cases, and the anode balls supplied on both supply guide rails in each mountable space in a normal state. A supply capable of being dropped into the anode case and restoring and holding the distance between the other supply guide rail to the supply path width by utilizing the weight of the anode ball while the dropped anode ball is engaged. A path width expanding means is provided to automatically drop the anode balls supplied from the upstream side of both supply guide rails to the anode case with reduced anode balls. Because it is entrant form, with a simple and reliable anode balls anode case that requires the supply of the anode balls can be supplied on, it is easy automated unmanned handleable.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, each supply path width expanding means has a notch plane in a part of an arc surface and is rotatable about an axis, And the other supply guide corresponding to the arcuate surface when the anode ball is not engaged with the drive lever and the cutout plane can be held in a vertical state when the anode ball is not engaged with the drive lever. Since the width of the supply path can be maintained at the distance from the rail, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, and further, the structure can be realized simply and at low cost. Long-term stable operation can be guaranteed.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the rotating body is formed of a plurality of materials having different specific gravities and can hold the notched plane in a vertical state when the anode ball is not engaged with the drive lever. Since it is formed, the same effect as in the case of the invention of claim 2 can be obtained, and further, it is not necessary to provide any special means such as a balance weight, so that further reduction in size and cost can be achieved. Assured and more stable operation can be guaranteed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is also a plan view.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a supply / drop-in operation.

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the overall configuration.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a conventional example (1).

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional example (2).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plating tank 2 Anode case 3 Input guide member (anode case) 4 Bus 5 Connection box 6 Supply cylinder 7 Work table 8 Supply tray 10 Supply guide means 11 One supply guide rail 12 The other supply guide rail 15 Mounting space Reference Signs List 20 supply path width expanding / reducing means 21 rotating body 22 heavy roller section 23 light roller section 24 support shaft (axis) 25 cutout plane 26 arcuate surface 27 drive lever 30 ball cutout supply means B anode ball W1 supply path width

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of supply guide rails extending in the arrangement direction and separated by a supply path width are provided above a plurality of anode cases mounted in a plating tank, and each of the one supply guide rails is provided. A plurality of mountable spaces each of which is cut out corresponding to the anode case are formed, and the anode balls supplied on both supply guide rails in each mountable space can be dropped into the anode case and dropped. While the injected anode ball is engaged, a supply path width expanding / restoring means capable of restoring and holding an interval with the other supply guide rail to the supply path width using the weight of the anode ball is provided. That the anode balls supplied from the upstream side of the supply guide rail were automatically dropped into the anode case with reduced anode balls. Characteristic anode ball supply and injection device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the supply path width expanding means includes a rotating body having a cutout plane in a part of an arc surface and capable of rotating about an axis, and a driving lever connected to the rotating body. When the anode ball is not engaged with the drive lever, the cutout plane can be held in a vertical state, and when the anode ball is engaged, the gap between the arc surface and the corresponding other supply guide rail is set to 2. The supply device for supplying an anode ball according to claim 1, wherein the device is formed so as to be able to maintain a supply path width. 3. The rotating body is made of a plurality of materials having different specific gravities, and is formed so as to be able to hold the cutout plane in a vertical state when the anode ball is not engaged with the drive lever. Item 3. A supply / input device for an anode ball according to Item 2.