JPS6239405A - Article filler - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is particularly applicable to equipment for loading and conveying ceramic materials into containers or sheaths, especially for molded products formed by compressing powder. The present invention relates to an article loading device that automatically loads articles from a device such as a powder compression press into containers or sheaths in a predetermined order such as in rows.

[Conventional technology]

The molded product made of powder compacted in a powder compression press is ultimately loaded into a boat or sheath for ceramic production. This sheath is used to pass the molded article through a kiln or sintering furnace. The unsintered molded product is in a so-called "white ground" state, in which parts of the powder are only bonded together by a binder and are relatively fragile.

There are various problems involved in the safe mechanical handling of such fragile moldings, in particular when these moldings are transported to a loading station to be loaded in an aligned manner into, for example, the containers or shoes, respectively, and are then loaded into the shoe. There are many problems in the series of processes in which the metal is transported to the sintering furnace while being held inside. In view of the difficulties in handling fragile moldings, it is common practice to manually sort the moldings and manually load them into containers or sheaths to avoid damage to the "white" moldings.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, it is extremely difficult to properly load fragile molded products into the sheath, and this type of equipment poses problems in terms of quality control and cost.

This difficulty is due to the fact that these moldings are not piled up randomly, but are arranged in an orderly manner within the shoe, and the rows themselves may be successively spaced from each other. This alignment is necessary to ensure that the sintering process is carried out under good conditions, that is, to allow air or inert gas to circulate properly around the molded parts to prevent fusion between the molded parts, and to ensure that the sintering process This is because these molded products must be uniformly heated and cooled during their passage through the furnace and during subsequent heat treatments such as annealing.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a molded product conveyor and a molded product loading device suitable for handling fragile molded products such as powder compacted spark plug insulators loaded into containers or sheaths. provide. The apparatus comprises article picking means and means for supporting the article picking means and positioning the article picking means in a first position relative to the end of the first conveyor and a second position on the second conveyor, the article picking means The means includes a sliding body, a means for supporting the sliding body, a means for linearly moving the sliding body from the article picking position to the article loading position, and a means for moving the article from the article picking position to the article loading position while the article picking means and the sliding body are displaced from the article picking position to the article loading position. It consists of an article pick-up member attached to a slide for holding.

[For production]

In this device, when the article reaches the end of the first conveyor, the article picking means comes into contact with and grabs the article, then lifts the article above the first conveyor, and then slides in a linear direction to the end of the first conveyor. 2. The article is moved to an appropriate position in the container on the conveyor.

Considered as a complete installation including the above-mentioned equipment, this equipment loads moldings, especially flat cylindrical moldings such as spark plug insulators, from the injection station of a powder compression press into a container or sheath. At this loading station, the molded parts are picked up one at a time from the first conveyor and automatically placed by a second conveyor into one of the containers or sheaths being transported. It is understood that this is a conveyance system in which molded products are transferred and placed vertically in the correct manner.

〔Example〕

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This description will make the above and other advantages clear. Note that similar members in the drawings are given the same reference numerals.

Figures 1-3 illustrate one embodiment of the invention, which apparatus includes a frame 10 supporting a first conveyor or container conveyor 12 on a floor surface. The container conveyor 12 is inclined and is provided with a height-adjustable column 14 for adjusting its angle.

The endless belt 16 constituting the container conveyor 12 is supported at one end by a freewheeling drum (not shown) and at the other end by a drive drum 20. These drums are supported by a frame 22. A step motor 24 is connected to the drum 2 via a speed reduction device 26.
Drive 0. Suitable support rollers (not shown) may be placed below the conveyor belt between the side plates of the frame 22 to provide additional support for the belt 16 and the load thereon.

A plurality of ceramic manufacturing boats or sheaths 28 are stored in a magazine 30 from which they can be taken out one by one manually or by a suitable automatic take-out device, but this device itself is in accordance with the present invention. Not applicable.

The second conveyor, the molded article conveyor 32, is arranged substantially horizontally to be driven by a geared motor 33, and its longitudinal axis is orthogonal to the longitudinal and moving axis of the container conveyor 12. The molded product conveyor 32 conveys a powder compression molded product 34 in a flat state,
These may also be supplied from the mold injection station of the powder compaction press 36.

However, the molded product 34 of this embodiment is, for example, a cylindrical molded product such as a plain insulator insulator for a spark plug that is injected from a general shape grinder 36 that grinds the outer shape of the insulator. This injection is carried out after the well-known process of solidifying the material in an isostatic press or extruding it through a die, cutting it to the appropriate length, and drying it.

The molded product 34 injected from the general form grinder 36 is transferred to the conveyor 3
They are placed in a row on the No. 2 belt (not shown).

This belt is covered with a cover 38 as shown in the third figure, and both side edges of a long hole 40 formed in this cover act as lateral guides for the molded product. When the molded products reach the end of the molded product conveyor 32, they are picked up one by one by a pick-up tool 42, which is provided by a loading device 46 that loads the molded products into a container. It is attached to the end of a pivotable elbow joint arm 44. The loading device 46 is mounted on a support plate 50 attached to the upper surface of the bracket 48 fixed to the side surface of the frame 10! ! It is placed. The picking tool 42 contacts and grabs one molded product at a time, and then the conveyor 3
After lifting these molded products above 2, they are moved along a horizontal curve, for example, to the left in FIG. The molded product is moved vertically to place it in the appropriate position inside the mold. During the molded article transfer operation, the container conveyor belt 16 is stopped because the step motor 24 is then temporarily stopped.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bed 50 to which the loading device 46 is bolted is a plate on the upper surface of the side bracket 48;
A housing 54 containing the device 46 has a depending back plate to which a step motor 58 is mounted. The motor 58 drives the upper and lower arms 78, 80 of the elbow joint arm 44 through a suitable mechanism (not shown) as described in detail in JP-A-59-161683.

The lower arm 80 supports a support shaft 164 at its lower end, and a protrusion 168 of the support shaft is provided with a molded product pick-up tool 4.
2 is installation (Figure 5). The three-dimensional angular position of the support shaft 164, and thus of the pick-up 42, remains constant throughout the entire range of motion of the elbow joint arm 44. That is,
Fig. 4 From the rest position H shown by the chain line to the gripping position P also shown by the chain line
It remains constant during the movement through to the loading position indicated by the solid line. Rotation of the support shaft 164 is prevented within the entire range of movement of the elbow joint arm 44.

5 to 7 show details of the pick-up tool 42 for picking up molded products 34 one by one from the conveyor 32. The articles 34 are generally cylindrical spar plug ceramic or insulator insulators 180, and these articles 34 are connected to the article conveyor 32.
The containers are taken up in a horizontal position and placed on the container conveyor 12 in a vertical position so as to form a line in an appropriate order.

This pick-up tool 42 has a block 230-shaped base,
This longitudinal hole 226 has the mounting end 16 of the support shaft 164.
8 is fitted, and this support shaft is also attached to the bottom end of the lower arm 80 of the reel point joint arm 44 with one to several radial set holes 200. Block 2
30 has a pair of parallel holes 232, and a pair of rods 234 are fitted into each of these holes as support means and a sliding path for the sliding body 236. A pair of parallel holes 238 with linear bearings 240 are provided through the slider to allow the slider to smoothly move linearly in the longitudinal direction along the rod. The third rod 250 passed through the third hole 252 of the sliding body 236 is connected to the pair of rods 234 described above.
extends parallel to. Triangular fixing block 25
4 has holes 256 as shown in FIG.
58, thereby forming a rigid support structure for the slide 236.

A step motor 260 is attached below the block 230, and its output shaft 262 passes through a hole 264 and is attached to the block 230.
It is being forced into 0. A recess 272 formed in the block 230 is for accommodating a sprocket 266 fixed to the end of the motor output shaft 262. chain 27
4 is hooked onto an 8 sprocket and is driven by this. The chain is also hung on a sprocket 276 that is fixed to a shaft 277 of the freewheel structure, and the shaft is attached to the motor output shaft 276 in a recess 275 in the fixing block 254.
62. One end of the chain 274 is attached to the slide 236 by a clamp 278 and the other end by an adjustable ramp 278. Each clamp may be of any type and is configured to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the sliding body 236. The bolt 279 with a hole is for locking the clamp 278 and fixing it in the chain tightening position. It is also possible to adopt a system in which the chain 274 is an endless chain and is fixed to the sliding body 236 at several points.

The step motor 260, via the chain 274, positions the slider 236 at any variable position between the base block 230 and the fixing block 254.

A bracket 280 extending downward from near the bottom of one side of the slide body 236 is attached or provided integrally therewith. A rotary actuator 282 is attached to one side of the bracket throat 280. The rotary actuator may be, for example, a hydraulic rotary actuator such as the Rotac actuator manufactured by EX-Cell-OCorp, or an electric step motor. Rotary actuator 282 includes an output or positioning shaft 284 that extends through hole 286 in bracket 280 to the other side of bracket 280 . A molded product pick-up head 288 is attached to the positioning shaft 284 via a mounting member 290. Mounting member 290 defines a hole 292 through which shaft 284 passes and a suitable radial set bolt 29
4 to the shaft 284. Mounting member 29
0 is a block 29 with a substantially rectangular opening 298
It is integrated with or attached to 6. A pair of L-shaped fingers 300 and 302 are pivoted like scissors to a block 296, and the block 296 is provided with a notch 304 to form a pair of legs 306 and 308. Each finger 300, 302 has a notch 3
Lever end portions 310, 312 extending from 04 to opening 298
including. A pivot pin 314 is provided passing through the concentric holes formed near the ends of the legs 306 and 308 and the holes formed in the lever ends 310 and 312, and the lever ends 310 and 312 are mounted around the pin 314. are configured to be able to swing relative to each other. To enable this mutual rocking, an intermediate notch 316 is provided in one of the lever ends 310, into which a lug 318 protrudes from the other lever end 312 (FIG. 6a).

A roller 3 supported by a pivot pin 324 is provided in a recessed part 322 formed inside the upper end of each lever end part 310, 312.
20 are provided. The ends of each pivot pin 324 are provided with protrusions to form a retention means for a garter coil spring or elastomeric ring 326,
The lever ends 310° 312 are urged toward each other, and the roller 320 is brought into contact with the inclined surface of the wedge member 328.

The wedge member 328 is a reciprocating linear actuator 330
is attached to. Linear actuator 330 is, in the illustrated example, the piston rod of an air cylinder 332 mounted on the upper end of block 296 and protruding into opening 298 in the block. flexible hose 3
34 connects the air cylinder 332 to a compressed air source via a two-way valve (not shown). Air cylinder 332 may be replaced with an electric solenoid. Attached to the end of the linear actuator 330 (when the wedge member is displaced downward, one end 31o of the lever of the fingers 300, 302).

312 is expanded to the state shown in FIG. 6 so as to grasp the molded article 34.

Fingers 300, 302 are spark plug insulators 18
forming a generally cylindrical inner surface 336 that conforms to the circumferential surface of 0;
Grasp the blank spark plug insulator as it is fed to the end of the molded product conveyor 32. At this time, finger 30
0,302 interrupts the light beam to a photocell-type sensor, which controls air cylinder 332 to pull wedge member 328 back. Thereafter, the rotary actuator 282 and the step motor 260 operate simultaneously, the slider 236 moves from the molded product picking position to the molded product loading position, and the spark plug insulator 180 is placed in the container 28 on the conveyor 12. Figures 1-3). During this movement of the slider 236, the rotary actuator 282 rotates the part pick-up head 288, thereby moving the part 34 from the sideways position, preferably at the arrow 338 in FIG.
It rotates in the direction of , drawing an arc of about 270 degrees until it assumes the vertical position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. At the same time,
The drive motor 58 of the loading device 46 is activated to lift the molded product pick-up tool 42 above the molded product conveyor 32 and move it along a trajectory 52 from the product pick-up position to the loading position.

In this embodiment, the order in which the spark plug insulators 180 are placed side by side in the container 28 is determined by the moving distance of the sliding body 236 driven by the step motor 260, and the step motor 260 is controlled by an appropriate program. This is done based on the number of electrical pulses applied to the motor 260.

Spark 7° lug trim 180 is removed by spreading fingers 300, 302 as shown in FIG. The fingers 300, 302 are spread apart by the tensioning action of the elastomeric ring 326 as the wedge member 328 moves upwardly as fluid is expelled from the cylinder 332.

8-10 show a suction type or vacuum type molded product pick-up head 340. The pick-up head 340 includes an arm 342 attached to an end of an output shaft 284 of a rotary actuator 282 attached to an example of a bracket 280 of the slider 236. A cylindrical member 344 is attached to the end of the arm 342 and is perpendicular to the arm axis. The cylindrical member 344 is connected to the passage 3 in the arm 342.
48 (FIG. 8), the passageway 34
8 is in controllable communication with a suction power source (not shown) via a fitting 350 and a flexible hose 352. The edge 354 of the open end of the cylindrical member 344 is connected to the spark plug insulator 18.
The shoulder 356 has a shape that matches the shoulder 356 of the insulator 180 and has a shape that matches the shoulder 356 of the
(Figure 8). The sliding body 236 moves linearly so that the edge 354 of the cylindrical member 344 touches the shoulder 356 of the insulator 180.
When the tip 358 of the insulator 180 comes into contact with the inner chamber 346
A portion of the circumferential surface of the insulator 180 engages with the partially cylindrical hood 360. A rod 362 is housed axially within the tubular member 344, the free end of which is fitted with an enlarged head covered by an elastomeric cushion or pad 366. This pad 366 is attached to the tip 35 of the insulator 180 to seal the elongated hole 368 of the insulator 180.
It comes into contact with the end face of 8. As is well known, the elongated hole 368 is for attaching a center electrode and a sealing material during the manufacture of a spark plug. Thus, when interior chamber 346 is in communication with a source of suction power via passageway 348 and hose 352, pad 3
66 acts as an effective seal that elastically conforms to the manufacturing tolerances of the insulator. And the molded product picking head 340
The interior chamber 346 rotates from the horizontal position shown to a vertical position for loading the insulator 180 into the container 28.
is reliably sealed from the outside air and held in the position shown in FIG. 8 while being stabilized by the insulator 180 and the hood 360.

As previously mentioned, the molded articles 34, plain spark plug insulators 180, are loaded into containers 28 on container conveyor 12 one at a time in a vertical position. For this purpose, a plurality of holes 372 are formed in the container, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, for receiving the ends of the insulators 180 to hold them in alternating rows in a vertical position. A tray 370 made of styrofoam is placed. These molded article holding holes 372 are cylindrical, equally spaced from each other, and have dimensions such that the ends of the insulator 180 fit snugly therein. Each tray 370 is attached to a container 28;
The dimensions are such that they are precisely located at narrow spacings 374 (FIG. 12). The opening 376 of each hole 372 is tapered to facilitate insertion of the end of the insulator 180.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 11-13, a positioning device 380 is provided across container conveyor 12 to position trays 370 within containers 28. As shown in FIGS.

Container 28 is positioned laterally on belt 16 of conveyor 12 by one of its side walls abutting guide rail 382 (FIG. 12). Positioning device 380
includes a vertical plate member 384 including a bracket portion bolted to a side groove of the frame 22 of the conveyor 12 and a bridge 386 connecting them at the top. The bridge 386 consists of a pair of L-shaped plates 386 arranged symmetrically with each other.
is connected by a web 394 integral therewith.

Two hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 396 , 398 are juxtaposed between the longitudinal plates 392 and are attached to a support plate 400 bolted to the upper end of the longitudinal plates 392 . Cylinder is web 394
It is extended in the vertical direction between the two. A reciprocating ram 402 is disposed between the vertical plate members 384 of the frame. The ram 402 consists of two side blocks 404 and a connecting member 406 attached thereto. Each block 404 is formed with two parallel vertical holes 408 with suitable bushings, a fixed support rod 410 is positioned within the vertical holes 408, and a ram 402 is connected to the two pairs of support rods 410. It is configured to be guided and supported so that it can move up and down. Note that one end of each rod 410 is connected to the bridge 38.
6, the other end is attached to the bracket portion 385 of the vertical plate member 384, respectively.

The cylinder 396 has an end 414 attached to a lug 416 secured to an example of the ram coupling member 406, as shown in FIG.
The piston rod 412 is provided with a piston rod 412 attached thereto.

The end of the piston rod 418 of the other cylinder 398 has a lug 42 fixed to the other side of the ram coupling member 406.
An abutment block 420 is mounted which engages an abutment plate 422 mounted on top of the four. Therefore, as the piston rod 412 of the cylinder 396 reciprocates, the ram 402 reciprocates. The upper limit of the stroke of ram 402 is determined by adjusting a block 420 attached to piston rod 418 of cylinder 398. FIG. 13 shows the piston rod 418 fully extended. The maximum retracted position of the ram 402, shown in phantom in FIG. is not subject to any restrictions due to guarantees.

A plate 426 and a bar 428 are provided below the ram 402. A plate 426 is bolted to the bottom surfaces of a pair of support blocks 430 that are attached by pins 433 to rods 432 extending from one side block 404 to the other side block 404 .

One end of the rod 432 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 4 mounted in a substantially horizontal position on the outer surface of one of the side blocks 404.
36 piston rods 434, and the rod 432 is caused to reciprocate by this cylinder 436. The other end 438 of the rod 432 projects outwardly from the other side block 404 and is provided with means for limiting the stroke and rotation of the rod 432. This means includes an end cap 440 bolted to the outer wall of the side block 404, as shown in FIG.
40 into a hole 442 formed therein. This hole 4
An abutment plate 444 closing the rod 432 limits movement of the rod 432 to the left in FIG. Also,
Flat surface 44 is used as a means to prevent rotation of rod 432.
6 is formed in the rod 432 and the hole 44 in the cap 440.
A square key 448 is provided across 2. A surface 450 of the key 448 is in sliding contact with a flat surface 446 of the rod.

As shown in FIG. 13, a rectangular notch 452 is formed at the bottom of each support block 430, into which a bar 428 is slidably fitted. Additionally, each block has 4 vertical holes.
56 is formed, and a coil spring is provided therein to bias the bar 428 against the top surface of the plate 426. A plurality of cylindrical probes 458 are attached to the lower surface of the plate 426 and arranged in a row in the horizontal direction. The spacing between probes 458 corresponds to the spacing between molded product holding holes 372 in each row of tray 370.

As ram 402 descends, the tips of probes 458 enter into a row of holes 372 in tray 370. If the tray 370 is slightly deviated from its correct position within the container 28, the tip of the probe 458 will engage the tapered upper end of the hole 372, causing the tray 370 to slide back and forth and from side to side, as shown in FIG. plunge to a deep depth.

The diameter of probe 458 is significantly smaller than the diameter of hole 372. The gap between the side wall of tray 370 and the wall of container 28 and the gap caused by the difference in diameter between probe 458 and hole 372 allows probe 458 to easily enter hole 372 . Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a pair of abutment plates 460 that limit the descent of the bar 428
It is formed to protrude laterally from 4. When the ram 402 descends and the end of the bar 428 comes into contact with the abutment plate 460, the bar 428 cannot advance any further, and play 1-42
Spring 45 in support block 430 separate from 6
Compress 4. This causes the tip of the probe 458 to
It has a configuration that expands as shown in Figures 4 to 17.

Each probe 458 includes, for example, a cylindrical member 46 that includes a small diameter portion 468 that is depressed into a hole 470 of the support plate 426.
It is equipped with 2. The cylindrical member 462 forms a long hole 472,
A rod 474 is slidably inserted therein. Rod 474 is located within bore 478 of bar 428 and has a small diameter end 476 secured by a throat 480 that engages beveled end 482 . An enlarged head 484 having a tapered upper surface 486 is formed at the lower end of the rod 474 . The lower end of the cylindrical member 462 is an annular surface 488 having a reversely tapered shape. Annular surface 48 at the lower end of the cylindrical member 462
A plurality of rods, for example, 6
The cylindrical pieces 490 are arranged in circumferential grooves 494 of the cylindrical pieces 490.
It is attached by a pair of resilient O-rings 492 that fit together (Fig. 14). The upper and lower ends of each cylindrical piece 490 are tapered surfaces 496 and 498, and the tapered surface 496 engages with the tapered lower end surface 488 of the cylindrical member 462, and the tapered surface 498 engages with the tapered surface 486 of the rod 474, respectively. When plate 426 is pushed down by ram 402 (FIGS. 11-13), bar 428
The end of the contact plate 460 contacts the contact plate 460 (Fig. 12)
As a result, the bar 428 to which the rod 474 is attached is displaced relative to the plate 426 from the position of FIG.
Move to the position shown.

In this way, the rod 474 is retracted relative to the cylindrical member 462 and the distance between the tapered surfaces 488 and 486 is reduced, thereby displacing the cylindrical piece 490 outward as shown in FIG. This outward protrusion of the cylindrical piece 490 serves the triple purpose of more accurately positioning the tray 370 within the container 28, correcting the position of the part retention hole 372, and adjusting the diameter of the hole 372. achieve. This is tray 37
This is possible due to the property of Styrofoam, which is the material used for 0, to be relatively easily deformed under pressure.

19 to 21 show another example of the structure of the probe 458,
Here, the cylindrical member 462 forms a longitudinal slit 500, so that a plurality, for example six, radially expandable pieces 502 are formed.

The piece 502 is connected to the rigid member of the tube member 462 by a thin elastic wall 504 . Each piece 502 has a rod end 4
One tapered end surface 506 engaged with the tapered surface 486 of 84
When the plate 426 and the bar 428 are separated (FIG. 21), the piece 502 of the rod's tapered surface 486 is elastically deformed radially outward due to the cam action on the tapered end surface 506 of the piece 502, forming a conical truncated surface. One outer periphery of the shape (18th
．． (Fig. 19) becomes substantially cylindrical (Fig. 20.21). Thus, the same effect as the embodiment of Figs. 14 to 17 is achieved.

The molded product holding holes 372 arranged in the tray 370 are staggered. After positioning the first row, cylinder 396 lifts ram 402, thereby withdrawing probe 458 from hole 372. Ram 40
2 rises until the abutment plate 422 abuts a block 420 attached to the end of the piston rod 418 of the cylinder 398 (FIG. 13). During the initial stage of this retraction process, the tip of probe 458 is retracted by the engagement of spring 454 which gradually reduces the spacing between bar 428 and plate 426 until they engage each other. During the final stage of the rise of the ram 402, the abutment block 420 at the end of the extended piston rod 418 of the cylinder 398 abuts the abutment plate 422, and the ram 402
limit the upward stroke of the Conveyor 12 then advances container 28 to match the next row of holes 372 in tray 370. The holes in this subsequent row are misaligned with the previous row, so
Rod 432 to which support block 430 of support plate 426 is attached is laterally displaced by pneumatic cylinder 436 to align probe 458 with hole 372 . In this way, the positioning operation is repeated for each row.

The operation of this device is controlled by a predetermined program, and the timing is such that when the probe 458 is in the hole, the molded product 34 is loaded into the hole several rows downstream of the probe 458 when viewed in the direction of travel of the container 28. Thus, positioning device 380 advantageously secures tray 370 in the optimal position while hole 372 is being loaded. Tray 370 within container 28
After the last row of holes 372 have been positioned, the ram 402 is pulled back all at once by the cylinder 396 while the cylinder 398 is operated to pull back the abutment block 420 all at once so that the probe 458 is It is possible to go over the edge of the container 28. The tray 370 in the container 28 during loading is held in place by the weight of the spark plug insulator 180 already seated in several rows of retaining holes 372 and the last row of holes 372 in the tray 370 in the preceding container. Preferably, the spacing between the first rows of holes in a subsequent container is the same as the distance that the preceding container is advanced in successive steps by the conveyor 12 until the loading of the preceding container is complete. As subsequent containers are advanced by conveyor 12, the hole positioning operation resumes when the first row of holes in tray 370 is positioned below probe 458. The charging of the molded product into the holes 372 can be done, for example, by filling the holes 37 in several rows.
2 is processed by probe 458.

At the beginning of the retraction process of the probe 458, the tray 3
In order to prevent the container 70 from being lifted from the container 28, a pressure member as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 12 may be provided. This pressure member may be, for example, a washer 510 attached to the tip of a coil spring 512 fixed to the lower surface of the plate 426. Such washers 510 are provided on some of the probes 458 to apply downward pressure against the top surface of the tray 370 at the beginning of the retraction process of the probes 458 .

The device of this invention is operated automatically. pressure switch,
Various sensors such as limit switches, proximity switches and photoelectric sensors are connected to the container conveyor 12 and the molded product conveyor 32.
Since they are arranged at appropriate positions along the container conveyor, the flow of the containers 28 on the heald 16 of the container conveyor and the flow of the molded products 34 on the molded product conveyor 32 can be appropriately controlled, and the loading device 46 can properly control the flow of the containers 28 on the heald 16 of the container conveyor and the flow of the molded products 34 on the molded product conveyor 32. complex part loading operations can be optimized.

On the other hand, the step motor 33 driving the molded product conveyor 32 is similarly controlled by appropriate sensors arranged at several locations along the conveyor to detect molded products. For example, a sensor at the entrance of the conveyor 32 detects molded products placed on the conveyor 32. In addition, one to several sensors for detecting misalignment are installed at predetermined locations along the conveyor 32 to detect the presence or absence of molded products, and issue an alarm if clogging of molded products occurs. and/or cause the device to be shut down.

In a configuration in which molded products such as spark plug insulators are transferred from the conveyor 32 onto the container 28 one at a time, a sensor provided at the end of the molded product conveyor 32 is connected to the loading device 4.
6 and a signal to start the operation cycle of the pick-up tool 42. If the number of molded products 34 to form one row in the tray 370 is given in advance by storing it in the memory of the control device 600 (FIG. 3), the number of molded products 34 in the pick-up tool 42 in FIGS. The sliding body step motor 266 is a sliding body 23
6 and the pick-up head 288 are moved along the rod 234, causing the head to assume a position corresponding to the order in which the molded parts being gripped should occupy within said row. Alternatively, a counter may be provided to count each molded article picked up by the picking tool, and the operation of the step motor 248 may be controlled by the control device 600 programmed with this counter.

Further, a sensor for detecting the molded products 34 actually picked up from the end of the molded product conveyor 32 can be provided at an appropriate position, and a sensor for counting the rows of molded products actually loaded on the tray 370 can also be provided. . When loading of molded products for one row is completed, the conveyor motor 24 divides the conveyor belt 16 by a distance corresponding to the distance between the rows. or,
The counting of molded products, container feeding, etc. may be controlled by a processor built into the control device 600.

The above is a typical example of the invention, and it goes without saying that modifications may be made thereto.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of one embodiment, Fig. 2 is a side view taken from arrow 2-2 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 is a
5 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 5-5, FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and FIG. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a state in which the pick-up section is open; Fig. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another example of the article pick-up device shown in Figs. 5-7; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6; 9-9 is an end view taken along the line 9-9, FIG. 10 is an end view taken along the 10-10 line, FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 in FIG. 12, FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 in FIG.
15-15 line sectional view in Figure 4, Figure 16 is a similar view to Figure 14 showing the expanded state of the probe, Figure 17 is a 17-17 line sectional view in Figure 16, and Figures 18-21 are different. It is a figure similar to FIGS. 14-17 which shows an Example. 12...2nd conveyor, 32...1st
Conveyor, 34... Molded product, 42...
Pick up tool, 44... Elbow joint arm, 46.
... Loading device, 230 ... Base block, 236 ... Sliding body, 254 ... Fixing block.

Claims (12)

[Claims] (1) An article loading device that transfers articles conveyed by a first conveyor one by one into a container conveyed by a second conveyor so as to form a line of a predetermined number of articles, comprising article picking means; support the article taking means and make the article taking means the first
means for positioning the article at a first position relative to the end of the conveyor and a second position on the second conveyor, the article picking means comprising a slide body, means for supporting the slide body, and loading the article from the article pick-up position. Article loading means comprising a means for linearly moving the article to a position, an article picking member attached to the sliding body for holding the article while the article picking means and the sliding body are displaced from the article picking position to the article loading position. Device. (2) the article is an elongate object placed substantially horizontally on a first conveyor, and the article is loaded into a container on a second conveyor from a substantially horizontal position in a pick-up position; The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it can be rotated into a vertical position. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for rotating the article pick-up member through an arc of approximately 270 degrees. (4) Claim (2) further comprising means for rotating the article pick-up member in an arc of about 270° to rotate the article from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Equipment described in Section. (5) The means for rotating the article picking member comprises a rotary actuator having a horizontal output shaft, and the article picking member is attached to the output shaft, or Apparatus according to paragraph (4). (6) The device according to claim 1, wherein the article picking member is attached to a support member, and the support member is attached to an output member of a rotary actuator attached to the sliding body. (7) The device according to claim (6), wherein the support means comprises a pair of fingers that are relatively movable for holding the article. (8) A pair of fingers that are relatively rotatably attached to the support member, a means for urging the fingers toward each other, and a means for separating the fingers in a direction away from each other against the urging means; 7. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a reciprocatable wedge member between the fingers for rotating the fingers toward each other in action. (9) The article is a cylindrical object, the article pick-up member includes a cylindrical member, an inner chamber of the cylindrical member, and means for controllably communicating the inner chamber with a suction force source, and the cylindrical member Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it has an end surface that engages with the step of the article. (10) The device according to claim (9), wherein the article is a spark plug insulator. (11) The spark plug insulator has a longitudinal hole, an elastomeric cushion is provided in the inner chamber, and the cushion is supported to engage an end of the hole, when the inner chamber is in communication with a source of suction force. The device according to claim 10, further comprising means for preventing outside air from flowing into the interior chamber. (12) Any one of claims (9) to (11), further comprising a partially cylindrical hood extending beyond the stepped portion of the cylindrical body. The device described in.