JPS61277509A - Automatic button feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reject a button at the time of the defect of a button hole as well as to control the motion of a sewing machine, by installing a device, detecting whether the button hole in good or bad with a pin piercing through the button hole, in a button set table when sewing the button on a material. CONSTITUTION:A thrusting notch of a carrier pin is opened in a tip end part of a shutter plate 34, and when this carrier pin 30a goes up, a tip end alone of this pin 30a is designed so as to be entered in a button hole. A button B reached to a tip end of a chute 27 is extruded to a carrier pin inserting part 3 by a button extruding plate 2. When the button hole is defective, the carrier pin 30a fails to pierce through the hole so that the button B is not dropped, and a work attachment 35 is unable to reach the specified lowermost end so that the shutter plate 34 is opened by a command out of a control unit, thus this hole defective button is automatically discharged, while a sewing machine 20 will not start any more.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a device for automatically feeding a button to a robot sewing machine.

[Conventional technology]

The mechanism of the automatic button feeder (button loader) attached to the conventional button-loading robot is mostly mechanically controlled, which can lead to errors in button insertion and operator errors in rejecting defective products. This poses various problems when installed in automatic machines such as indexers.

Figure 2 shows an overall perspective view of a conventional robot with buttons of this type.
0, a button loader section 21 and a feeder section 22, 20a is a sewing machine needle, and 23 is a button clamp for sewing buttons. Each button on the workpiece is connected to the feeder section 2.
A vibrator 26 is inserted into the bowl 24 of No. 2 as a patch and generates vibration magnetically by a solenoid or the like.
The buttons are sorted and arranged in a line so that they all face up on a spiral guideway 25 arranged around the inner wall of the bowl 24, and then passed through a downwardly inclined flexible pipe-shaped chute 27. Continuously in a line, the particles slide down due to vibration and are fed to the loader section 21. The first button of the continuous button to the guide track 28 at the lower end position of the chute 27 is once stopped by the stopper, and is moved to the button clamp 23 part of the sewing machine 20 in synchronization with a predetermined timing by the button individual feeding mechanism 29, and the turning arm 30
sent via. 31 is one for changing the width of the guide path 28 according to the button diameter.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the loader section 21 in FIG. 2, viewed from the back side of the figure. The button individual feeding mechanism 29 is
The guide lane 2 includes a first gate 32 and a second gate 33.
Buttons Bl, B2, which are lined up in a row consecutively in 8
The front end of the first button B1 of B3 is closed by rotating the first gate 32 around the shaft 32a clockwise in the figure to stop the button from descending, and then the second gate 33 is closed.
The head of the next button B2 is pressed and restrained by rotating it around the shaft 32 in the same direction as above, and then the first gate 3
2 in the counterclockwise direction, the first button B1 is released and slides down the slope 28a, and at a predetermined timing, it moves to the right from the illustrated position above the tip of the swing arm 30 waiting below. It is placed on the shirt shirt plate 34 (34a is its opening/closing lever) which is in the slid position. Next, the work attachment 35 having a rubber cap at its tip descends to the position shown in the figure, comes into contact with the upper surface of the button B mounted on the shirt shirt plate 34, and rotates. On the other hand, a plurality of carrier pins 30a are vertically protruded from the upper surface of the distal end of the swing arm 30 and can be inserted into buttonholes aligned in the correct position when set on the sewing machine 20. , '#- When the tip of the pin 30a comes into contact with the bottom surface of the button B1 through the center notch opening of the shirt flap plate 34, the rotational position of the button driven by the rubber cap of the work attachment 35 is changed so that the button hole is At the point aligned with the carrier pin position, the carrier pin is inserted into the button hole, the button drops, and the workpiece attachment 35 is further lowered to a predetermined position. When this operation is detected and the shirt shirt plate 34 is withdrawn to the position shown in the figure, the swing arm 30 on which the button is mounted is moved to the clamp 23 of the sewing machine 20 at a predetermined timing.
It is configured so that it can be rotated and guided to the center. These mechanisms are well known from, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 54-123356, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the conventional example as described above, the feeding from the first gate 32 onward of the button individual feeding mechanism 29 to the top of the shirt shirt plate 34 is carried out by the lower part of the guide track 28 in FIG.
Since it relies on the single weight drop on the slope of a, and cannot utilize the weight drop pressure of successive subsequent buttons, it is light, especially when the button is made of polyethylene material, or when the air humidity is low, such as in winter. Due to static electricity, the button may stick to the middle of the running path and not descend to the correct position, resulting in a blank stitching cycle without buttons. In addition, this type of conventional example does not have a means for distinguishing between the front and back of a button and a means for detecting defective buttonholes, so it relies mostly on the operator's H vision to eliminate defective buttons. Also, there is a problem in that the blank stitching cycle without buttons progresses and subsequent treatment requires a large amount of effort.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art as described above, and it eliminates the problem of individual feeding of buttons due to static electricity, etc., and also eliminates the problem of button backing and blank stitching cycles without buttons. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic button feeding device that prevents the occurrence of such problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, in the present invention, when the workpiece attachment descends and engages the top surface of the button during buttonhole alignment and rotates, the button is damaged due to a defective buttonhole. Means for detecting that the hole is not inserted into the carrier pin and therefore the workpiece attachment is not lowered to a predetermined position, and the detection signal is configured to control the removal operation of the defective button and the operation of the sewing machine. This is to achieve the above purpose.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below based on examples. Figure 1 (a
) and (b) are an enlarged cutaway top view (partial cross-section) of essential parts of an embodiment of the button set table of the loader section according to the present invention and a side view seen from the right side thereof, which are similar to the conventional example shown in FIG. Third
Components that are the same as those in the figures are indicated by the same (corresponding) numerals, and redundant explanation will be omitted.

The chute 27 is formed by a flexible tightly wound coil spring having a rectangular cross-section tubular shape, and its lower portion is
Unlike the conventional example, there is no need to have an inclination, the opening is connected to the side of the button set table l almost horizontally, and there is no need for a gate means like the conventional example during shooting, and it can be directly
The continuous buttons that communicate with the feeder part are constantly exerting pressure to the first button in the opening due to their own weight due to the slope part in the middle of the chute, but normally the button pushing plate 2
It hits its side and is prevented from moving forward. The button pushing plate 2 is configured to be able to move back and forth in the direction of the arrow according to a predetermined timing, and is moved back to the dotted line position to press the button B1.
is advanced, and further advanced to the solid line position, and depending on the timing, it can be pushed out to the insertion part 3 of the distal end of the swing arm 30 into the plurality of carrier pins 30a, which is waiting at the bottom thereof. A workpiece attachment 35 having a rubber pad 35a at its tip and capable of axial movement and rotation is disposed at the upper part of the carrier pin insertion portion 3.

In addition, a position 4 where the button is indicated by a dotted line is a button front/back detection unit, and a light reflective type button front/back detection device 5 is provided at the top. Detects the front and back sides of. Also, at the bottom of the carrier pin insertion part 3.

A container 7 is provided for the defective button holder.

The button pushing plate 2 is driven, for example, by a cam of a main shaft (not shown). In addition, the width of the button set table l can be adjusted from side to side according to the diameter size of the button, and the button holder has a surface that aligns the center of the button with the central axis of the tip of the work attachment (carrier pin part). Can be done.

The retracted position of the button pushing plate 2 can also be adjusted depending on the button diameter, and each operating section is driven by the cam or solenoid, and is controlled by a control device mainly composed of a microcomputer, which will be described later.

Further, a carrier pin 30 is provided at the tip of the shirt flap plate 34.
A notch for entry is formed so that when the carrier pin 30a is raised, only the tip of the pin is inserted into the buttonhole.

With the above configuration, the leading buttons to be fed to the sewing machine section can be reliably placed one by one on the carrier pin and fed to the sewing machine without being affected by static electricity or the like.

Next, a description will be given of the removal operation in the case of a defective buttonhole or the back of the button. Figure 4 (1) to '(8') show the main parts of the needle drop of the sewing machine on the left side (4a) to (8'), respectively.
FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating each operation sequence, and main parts corresponding to FIG. 1B of this embodiment are shown in FIGS. In addition, FIG. 5 shows each operating element l.
Regarding # to 8#, timing charts of each operation shown in FIGS. 4 (1) to (S') of each of the seven cutter units are shown, and FIG. The flowchart is shown in FIG. 7, which is a conceptual control circuit block diagram using a microcomputer to control each of these operations.

In FIG. 4 (1), W is the cloth to which button B is sewn;
S indicates the stitch, and 5a is a button front/back detection device! 15 (FIG. 1(b)).

In addition, each operating element in FIG. 5 is as follows: 1# is the sewing machine with buttons, 2# is the opening and closing of the button clamp 23, 3# is the opening and closing of the button pushing plate 2, and 4# is the shirt shirt plate 34.
5# indicates the swinging of the rotating arm 30, 6# indicates the vertical movement of the workpiece attachment 35, 7# indicates the vertical movement of the rotating arm 30, and 8# indicates the rotational movement of the workpiece attachment 35.

The details of the operation are clear from each drawing, but will be briefly explained. First, if the buttonhole is defective,
Since the carrier pin 30a at the tip of 0 cannot penetrate,
Button B does not fall, so work attachment 3
5 cannot reach the predetermined lowest end, so this is detected by a microswitch (not shown) or the like. In Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the main shaft cam No.
, 3, if a defective buttonhole is detected, the button has been scooped up onto the shirt shirt plate 34. No, after the turning arm 30 moves from directly below the button after proceeding to step 4, the shirt flap plate 34 is opened by a command from the control device, and this button with a defective hole is placed in the defective button receiver 7 (first Figure (b)) and is automatically ejected. At this time, sewing machine 20
If the main shaft cam is rotated without starting, a new button will be supplied and empty stitching without a button will be avoided.

Next, when the button is on the back side, when the main shaft cam is in step N013, the detection device 5 (projected light beam 5a) of the button front/back detection section 4 (FIG. 1(a))
(FIG. 1(b), FIG. 4(1-b)) 2) Detection is made based on the difference in the amount of reflection from the reference (model) button Br. In this case, similarly to the above, in the 0th sewing cycle, the shirt shirt plate 34 is opened and automatically falls into the defective button receiver 7 at the lower part and removed by a command from the control device, and the buttons are already supplied on the button clamp 23. In the next cycle, the button clamp does not have a button, so the control device commands the sewing machine 2 to continue sewing.
By not starting the 0 and rotating the main shaft cam to feed the new button.

Blank stitching without buttons is avoided.

Note that a supplementary explanation will be provided regarding the timing chart in FIG. First, when sewing the operating element l# sewing machine with button, the sewing machine 20 is started at time t1, and stopped at time t2 when sewing starts. ) starts rotating. That is, a represents the preparation period, b represents the sewing cycle, C represents the sewing stop state (fabric supply, positioning), and then 2#
When opening and closing the button clamp 23, open the button clamp 23 on the sewing machine side with d to release the sewn button,
Close the clamp with e and hold the new button. 3 When the button push-out plate 2 is opened or closed, move the plate 2 backward with f and slide the button B1 into the front/back detection part 4 (Fig. 1(a)).
, In the opening and closing of the 4# shear plate 34, which is pushed from the detection part 4 to the carrier pin insertion part 3 with g, the shutter plate 34 is closed with h, and the plate 34 is opened with i and the defective button is dropped. The button with a defective hole is ejected, and time t4 indicates the ejection of the back button, both of which are performed by command signals from the control device.
Drives a solenoid (not shown) to open and close. 5# When swinging the swing arm, use j to transfer the button to the clamp 23,
Press to return to the original position. 6. In the vertical movement of the work attachment 35, the work attachment 35 is raised to welcome the new button into the carrier pin insertion part 3.

The button is sandwiched between the carrier pin 30a and the button m.

At time t5, if the button is inserted into the pin 30a, an insertion completion signal is sent, and if this signal does not come before the t2 stop signal at l#, the button is ejected as a defective button by the t3 process at 4#.

7# At the top and bottom of the swing arm 30, remove the gear rear pin from the button with n, and remove the button with work attachment 3 with 0.
It is suppressed with the rubber pad 35a of No. 5. Next, when the 8# workpiece attachment 35 rotates, the drive DC motor (not shown) is rotated. p indicates the period during which the carrier bin 30a can be inserted, q rotates the button to align it with the carrier pin 30a, and r stops the button. At time t6, the rotation is stopped by the t5 signal at 6#.

The control circuit shown in FIG. 7 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, but since these can be easily constructed using known techniques, detailed explanation will be omitted.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to reliably feed individual buttons to the button clamp section of the sewing machine, and to automatically eliminate defective buttons.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when a buttonhole is defective during buttonhole alignment, this is detected and the defective button is automatically eliminated, and the operation of the sewing machine is controlled. Since the control is configured to prevent blank stitching cycles without buttons, the burden on the operator can be reduced and installation on automatic machines can be streamlined.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1(a) and 1(b) are a cutaway top view and a right side view of essential parts of an embodiment of the button set table of the loader section according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of a conventional button-equipped robot. 3 is an enlarged side view of the loader section in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 (1) to (6') are explanatory diagrams of the operation sequence of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is each operation element thereof. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart for a button failure, and FIG. 7 is a conceptual control circuit block diagram of the control device. l...Button set base 2...Button push-out plate 3...Carrier bin insertion part 4...
...Button front and back detection unit 5...Button front and back detection device 20...Sewing machine 21...Button loader 22...Feeder section 23. ... Button clamp 24 ... Bowl 26 ... Vibrator 27 ... Chute 30 ... Swivel arm 30a ... Carrier pin 34 ... ... Shirt plate 35 ... Work attachment B ...
...button application Person Tokyo Heavy Equipment Industry Co., Ltd. e): Boda〉Death H 30: Seven i times Arm: Cover゛-B: Ho"η): Bad boy success Br: Gin-sho side〉 7:'-Ute Figure 6 Procedural Amendment (Method) % Formula % 2. Name of invention Name of automatic button feeding device (339') Tokyo Heavy Equipment Industry Co., Ltd. 4. Date of amendment order August 27, 1985 5 , replace "(1) to (Ff)" in the line to be corrected with "(1) to (8)"
I am corrected. 6.-2 Correct "(4α) to (6'-)J" in line 1g of the 9th sentence to "(1α) to (8α)." 6-3 Correct r(4A) to (6'A)J in line 20 of page 9 to "(1b) to (8b)J." 6-4 Correct the state of action in "Figure 4" Correct the code corresponding to the change as shown in the attached sheet. The above voluntary procedure amendment September 25, 1985 1 Indication of the case 1985 Patent Application No. 119596 2 Name of the invention Automatic button feeding device 4 Date of amendment order 1988 Year Month Date (Spontaneous) Attachment

Claims (1)

[Claims] a button loader section having an inclined chute directly connected to a button feeder section, and a button setting stand connected to the chute; In the button-making robot, the button-making robot is equipped with a rotating arm having a plurality of carrier pins at its tip, and a buttonhole-aligning workpiece attachment, which is disposed on the top of the button-setting table so as to be vertically and rotatably movable. Detection means for detecting that when the workpiece attachment descends and rotates to engage with the button, the buttonhole does not pass through the carrier pin due to a defective buttonhole, and the workpiece attachment does not descend to a predetermined position. and a control means for controlling the removal of the defective button and the operation of the sewing machine based on the detection signal.