KR101183872B1 - Parts feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A component feeding apparatus is provided to head the head portion of a component downward by dropping the head portion firstly by changing the position of a screw while laid with facing outside. CONSTITUTION: A component feeding apparatus comprises a ball feeder body(31) and a track(32). The component having a head portion is inserted in the ball feeder body. The track comprises first and second delivering paths(32A, 32B). The component fed in a ball feeder body is transferred upward through the first delivering path. The first delivering path gradually rises from the bottom of the ball feeder body in a spiral structure. The components fed by the first delivering path are transferred outside through the second delivering path. The components are aligned in an upside down position.

Description

Parts Feeding Device

The present invention relates to a component feeder for aligning and supplying a component such as a screw using a bowl feeder.

Generally, the part feeder includes a hopper, a ball feeder and a linear feeder, which supplies parts (mainly small parts) (including semi-finished products) stored in the hopper to the ball feeder, It is configured to align parts in the feeder and then to feed the linear feeder connected to this ball feeder

On the part supply device side, a processing device, an inspection and sorting device, etc. are installed as a device for receiving parts, and the parts from the parts supply device are processed by the processing device or sorted as good or defective by the inspection and sorting device.

The ball feeder is a main component of the component feeder, and is configured to use vibration to align the components while gradually transporting the components from the inside to the outside along a conveying path having a spiral feed path.

However, when looking at the parts supply device up to now, there was a difficulty in aligning and supplying the parts in the desired posture. In particular, parts with heads (e.g. screws, bolts, rivets, nails, or T-shaped parts of similar construction or shape) should be supplied with the head upside down (e.g. upside down). In the case of standing or processing or inspecting a lot), there is almost no dedicated feeder that can be supplied in this way.

Accordingly, there is a demand for a component supply apparatus capable of continuously supplying the components having the head part upright in an upright position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a component supply apparatus capable of supplying a component having a head in an upside down position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the ball feeder body having a container structure, the parts having a head is put therein; The first conveying path is gradually increased from the bottom of the ball feeder body to the spiral structure as a path through which the parts fed into the ball feeder body are conveyed upwards, and the parts from the first conveying path are conveyed to the outside. A path for providing a second conveying path for aligning the component in an upright position during the conveying process, wherein the second conveying path is conveyed with a first groove path in which the component is received along the conveying direction; A first posture converting portion for causing the head of the component to face forward or backward in the conveying direction; While the part is received along the conveying direction, the part from the first groove path with the head facing forward in the conveying direction at the end of the first groove path rotates as it is moved away from the head so that the head faces backward in the conveying direction. A second posture converting unit having a second groove path connected to form a step difference of a predetermined height difference; It consists of a bottom plate inclined downward and an inner wall erected on the bottom plate, and a slit is formed between the inner wall and the bottom plate, in which parts from the second groove path are inserted from the opposite side of the head. A third posture converting portion having a slit path which is rotated along and connected to an end of the second groove path such that the head faces outward; And a fourth posture converting portion having a second plate path consisting of a bottom plate inclined downwardly and an inner wall erected on the bottom plate, wherein the second plate path includes a part from the head of the slit path. At the end of the slit path, the bottom plate is positioned lower than the bottom plate of the third posture converting portion so that the head is turned downward as it is rotated as it is dropped, and the height of the inner wall is lower than the bottom plate of the third posture converting portion. The same or lower connected parts supply is provided.

Here, the second conveying path further includes a dropping portion having a first plate-like path consisting of a bottom plate inclined downward toward the outside and an outer wall erected on the bottom plate, so that the dropping portion has a narrow width of the bottom plate. Some parts that are reduced and transported may be dropped. The dropout portion may further include a movable partition wall that is erected to adjust the amount of parts to be transported to the reduced portion so that the width thereof is narrow on the bottom plate.

The step may be composed of an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle downward in the conveying direction.

The third posture converting part may be mounted so that its inner wall is movable to the bottom plate of the third posture converting part, and the slit may be adjusted by moving the inner wall of the third posture converting part. .

The fourth posture converting part is disposed with an upside down part between the inner wall of the fourth posture converting part while being rotated so that the head is directed downward, thereby preventing the upsided part from being excessively rotated and collapsed. It may further include an outer wall.

The foreign matter discharge zone for discharging the foreign matter dropped through the slit of the third attitude change unit to the outside of the ball feeder body may be disposed below the third attitude change unit.

The present invention can quickly and accurately align the components having the head upside down in position, it is possible to ensure further improved component supply performance and reliability.

1 and 2 is a configuration diagram showing a component supply apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 1 shows a state seen from the side, Figure 2 shows a state seen from above.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing a linear feeder, part A of FIG.
4 and 5 are perspective views showing the second conveying path of the ball feeder shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a connecting portion between the first posture converting portion and the second posture converting portion, which is a portion B of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth posture converting unit illustrated in FIG. 5.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of convenience, the size, line thickness, and the like of the components shown in the drawings referenced in the description of the present invention may be exaggerated somewhat. In addition, terms used in the description of the present invention are defined in consideration of the functions in the present invention and may vary according to a user, an operator's intention, customs, and the like. Therefore, the definition of this term should be based on the contents of this specification as a whole.

The present invention is a component supply apparatus that can be used to supply parts having a head aligned in an upside down position with the head facing downward, but for the sake of convenience, the parts will be described as limited to screws.

1 and 2 is a configuration diagram showing a component supply apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 1 shows a state seen from the side, Figure 2 shows a state seen from above. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the component feeder 1 according to the present invention has a ball feeder 13 and a linear feeder 14 which align the screws from the hopper 12 and supply them to the feed position P1. ). The screw supplied from the hopper 12 reaches the supply position P1 via the ball feeder 13 and the linear feeder 14 sequentially. Reference numeral 11 is an expectation. The hopper 12, the ball feeder 13, and the linear feeder 14 are provided in this base 11. On the supply position (P1) side, a processing device, inspection and sorting device, etc. are installed to receive the screw.

The hopper 12 includes a storage unit 21 in which screws are stored, a discharge unit 22 for discharging the screws from the storage unit 21 and supplying them to the ball feeder 13, and vibrating the discharge unit 22. And a vibrator 23 to assist in the discharge.

The ball feeder 13 is configured to be able to feed the linear feeder 14 by aligning in a row in an upright position with the head facing downward while transferring the screws supplied from the hopper 12 to the outside. To this end, the ball feeder 13 includes a ball feeder body 31 having a container-type structure and a track 32 for providing a path for transferring the screws inserted into the ball feeder body 31. Outwardly, it includes a vibrator (not shown) that exerts a vibration necessary for screw feed to the ball feeder body 31.

Here, the ball feeder body 31 is configured to collect and re-export the screw which is dropped out of the screws conveyed to the outside along the conveying path provided by the track 32 (this is that of a general ball feeder). Since it is the same as or similar to, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.)

The track 32 is provided with a first transport path 32A, which is a path for transferring screws upward, and a second transport path 32B, which is a path for transferring screws from the first transport path 32A to the outside. do. Although not shown in detail, the first transport path 32A is configured to have a spiral structure that gradually increases from the bottom of the ball feeder body 31. (This configuration is also the same as or similar to that of a general ball feeder. The second conveying path 32B has a dropping portion (see reference numeral 310 in FIGS. 4 and 5) for adjusting the feed amount of the screw to an appropriate level, and the posture of the screw in the screw feeding process is upside down. First to fourth posture converting units (refer to reference numerals 320, 330, 340, and 350 of FIGS. 4 and 5) for converting to.

The linear feeder 14 is connected to the end of the second conveyance path 32B and supplies the screw from the second conveyance path 32B to the supply position P1. Reference numeral 43 is a vibrator for applying the vibration necessary for screw feed to the linear feeder 14.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the portion A of FIG. 2, showing a cross section of the linear feeder 14. As shown in Fig. 3, the linear feeder 14 is a bottom portion 41 which supports the head of the screw which is supplied upside down from the second conveyance path 32B and a screw supported by the bottom portion 41. It consists of the side part 42 which opposes the threaded part of and opposes the threaded part of a screw.

Now, the ball feeder 13 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

4 is a perspective view showing a distal end of the first transport path 32A and a portion of the second transport path 32B connected thereto. As shown in FIG. 4, the first conveying path 32A is composed of a plate path having a bottom plate 301 and an outer wall 302 erected on the bottom plate 301, and at the bottom of the ball feeder body 31. The screw located is sent along the first transport path 32A while being sent toward the corner portion where the bottom plate 301 of the first transport path 32A and the outer wall 302 meet due to the vibration applied to the ball feeder body 31. Transferred. The bottom plate 301 of the first conveying path 32A may be inclined downward by a predetermined angle to smoothly convey the screw.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the rest of the second transport path 32B not shown in FIG. 4. Unlike the first transport path 32A, which is a gradually rising uphill structure, the second transport path 32B is composed of a downhill road that is gradually lowered. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first to fourth posture converting parts 320, 330, 340, and 350 are provided in the second conveying path 32B in order along the screw feeding direction, and the first posture converting part 320 is provided. Before the dropping unit 310 is provided.

The dropout part 310 has a first plate-like path composed of a bottom plate 311 and an outer wall 312 inclined downward to the outside, and the bottom plate 311 of the first plate-like path is inclined downward by a predetermined angle. The outer wall 312 of the first plate-like path is erected on the bottom plate 311 of the first plate-like path.

The bottom plate 311 of the first plate path is connected to the bottom plate 301 of the first transport path 32A. The bottom plate 311 of the first plate-like path and the bottom plate 301 of the first conveyance path 32A may be integrated. The bottom plate 311 of the first plate path has a structure in which its width (width) is reduced so as to be narrower than the bottom plate 301 of the first carrier path 32A, and the screw from the first carrier path 32A Some of them are eliminated here. That is, it is possible to adjust the amount of screws to be transferred to the second conveying path (32B).

The outer wall 312 of the first plate path is positioned to be spaced outward from the outer wall 302 of the first transport path 32A by a predetermined distance. The dropping part 310 is provided with a partition wall 313 formed on the bottom plate 311 of the first plate-like path so as to be located between the outer wall 312 of the first plate-like path and the outer wall 302 of the first conveying path 32A. It further includes as a component. The partition wall 313 is mounted on the outer wall 302 of the first conveying path 32A so as to be reciprocated along the conveying direction of the screw so that its ends are spaced apart from the width reduction part side of the first plate path in the moving direction. Is approached.

The partition wall 313 has a long slot along the conveying direction of the screw, and the outer wall 302 of the first conveying path 32A has a female screw hole, so that the partition wall 313 is formed by the bolt 314. It is fastened to the outer wall 302 of the conveyance path 32A. When the bolt 314 is loosened to loosen the fastening, the partition wall 313 can be moved along the conveying direction of the screw. When the end of the partition wall 313 approaches the width reduction portion side of the first plate path, the amount of screws transferred to the width reduction part of the first plate path can be further reduced. Of course, if it is reversed, the amount of the screw conveyed to the width reduction portion of the first plate path can be increased.

The first posture converting unit 320 includes a first groove path having a groove having a U-shaped structure. The first groove path is connected to the end of the first plate path constituting the dropping part 310 so that the screw from the first plate path can be accommodated along the conveying direction of the screw. That is, the U-shaped groove of the first groove path is formed to have a depth and a width that are inserted in a line so that the head of the screw faces the front or rear of the screw in the conveying direction.

The screws from the first conveying path 32A, which are sent while being sent toward the edge of the first conveying path 32A, enter the first plate path and enter into the bottom plate 311 and the partition wall 313 of the first plate path. ) Is sent to the first corner portion where the () meets and is partially dropped from the width reduction portion of the first plate path, the second plate where the bottom plate 311 and the outer wall 312 of the first plate path passes through the first edge part meets It is sent to the corners and transported in various postures.

The screws from the first plate-like path thus conveyed are accommodated in the U-shaped grooves of the first groove path and the posture is maintained so that the head faces the forward or rearward direction of the screw. Since the bottom plate 311 of the first plate path is flat, the bottom of the first groove path is concave (curved), so that the bottom height of the first groove path is low at the connection portion between the first plate path and the first groove path. A step is provided. According to this structure, even when the head of the screws from the first conveying path 32A is facing outward or inward, the posture is changed so that the head faces forward or backward in the conveying direction of the screw in the process of falling from this step. Can be. Some screws that are not accommodated in the groove of the first groove path or that are accommodated in the wrong posture may be dropped.

The second posture converting part 330 is composed of a second groove path having a groove having a U-shaped structure by two side plates. The second groove path is connected to the end of the first groove path constituting the first posture converting unit 320 so that the screw from the first groove path can be accommodated along the conveying direction of the screw. At this time, at the connecting portion of the first groove path and the second groove path, the screw from the first groove path in which the head is directed forward of the screw is rotated as the head first falls, so that the head is directed backward in the screw feeding direction. A step 335 of a predetermined height difference is formed.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of portion B of FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the step 335 formed at the connection portion between the first groove path and the second groove path is composed of an inclined surface that is inclined at an angle downward in the forward direction of the screw, and thus the screws from the first groove path. The screw of the head of the screw toward the forward direction of the screw is rotated in the vertical direction while the head falls first from the step 335 so that the head of the screw is conveyed in the direction of the screw toward the rear. The inclined surface constituting the step 335 can be conveyed in such a way that the head is slid so as to maintain its state without being rotated by the step 335 in the case of the screw from the first groove path in which the head faces the back of the screw feeding direction. It is desirable to have an angle.

The third posture converting unit 340 includes a slit path having a bottom plate 341, an inner wall 342, and a slit 343. The bottom plate 341 of the slit path is provided to be inclined downward inward, and the inner wall 342 of the slit path is erected on the bottom plate 341 of the slit path, so that the slit path has a substantially L-shaped cross section. The slit 343 is provided along the conveying direction of the screw at a portion where the bottom plate 341 and the inner wall 342 of the slit path meet between the bottom plate 341 and the inner wall 342 of the slit path. The slit 343 is formed to a size such that the screw can be transferred in a state where the head cannot be inserted and only the screw is inserted, and the slit path is formed at the end of the second groove path constituting the second posture converting part 330. The slit 343 is connected so that the threaded portion of the screw from the second groove path can be inserted.

The bottom plate 341 and the inner wall 342 of the slit path are connected to two side plates on the outside and the inside of the second groove path, respectively. The bottom plate 341 of the slit path may be integral with the outer side plate of the second groove path.

The screw from the second groove path in which the head faces backward in the conveying direction of the screw is rotated as the thread is inserted into the slit 343 when entering the slit path, and the posture is changed so that the head faces outward.

The inner wall 342 of the slit path is mounted on the inner side plate of the second groove path so as to be movable (spaced and approached) in the vertical direction with respect to the bottom plate 341 of the slit path. Since the inner wall 342 of the slit path is provided with an elongated slot along the up-down direction, and the inner side plate of the second groove path is provided with a female screw hole, the inner wall 342 of the slit path is formed by the bolt 344. It is fastened to the inner side plate of the groove path. If the bolt 344 is loosened and the tightening is loosened, the inner wall 342 of the slit path can be moved up and down. When the inner wall 342 of the slit path is raised and separated from the bottom plate 341 of the slit path, the width of the slit 343 is expanded. Of course, on the contrary, the width of the slit 343 is reduced.

7 is a perspective view illustrating the fourth posture converting unit 350. As shown in FIG. 7, the fourth posture converting unit 350 is composed of a second plate path having a bottom plate 351 and an inner wall 352, and the bottom plate 351 of the second plate path is formed. The inner wall 352 of the second plate path is erected on the bottom plate 351 of the second plate path.

The second plate-like path is connected to the end of the slit path constituting the third posture converting portion 340 so as to receive the screw from the slit path, and the screw from the slit path in which the head is laid outward. In this state, the head is rotated as the head first falls, thereby changing the posture of the screw so that the head faces downward.

To this end, the bottom plate 351 of the second plate-like path is positioned so that its height is lower than that of the bottom plate 341 of the slit path, and the inner wall 352 of the second plate-like path has its height (up and down length) It is formed to be equal to or lower than the bottom plate 341 of the slit path. In this case, the height of the inner wall 352 of the second plate-like path is the same as that of the bottom plate 341 of the slit path, and the upper portion of the inner wall 352 of the second plate-like path is flush with the bottom plate 341 of the slit path. It means to achieve. According to this structure, the screw from the slit path entering the second plate path is not supported in the case of the head part while the screw part receives support of the upper part of the inner wall 352 of the second plate path at the time of entry. Therefore, the head is turned to the bottom plate 351 side of the second plate path and rotated in the vertical direction, the head is directed to the lower side.

The second plate path further includes an outer wall 353 erected to face the inner wall 352 of the second plate path on the bottom plate 351. The outer wall 353 of the second plate-like path prevents the screw from being turned upside down while being turned upside down while the head is rotated downward in the second plate-like path so as to be turned over. That is, the inner wall 352 and the outer wall 353 of the second plate-like path are positioned with the screws standing upside down in the second plate-like path.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5, the lower side of the slit path constituting the third posture converting unit 340 receives the foreign matter dropped through the slit 343 of the slit path to the outside of the ball feeder body 31 A foreign substance discharge table 360 for discharging is mounted. The foreign substance discharge zone 360 is configured to prevent the foreign substances discharged along the discharge path from falling to the left and right of the discharge path. To this end, the foreign matter discharge zone 360 may have left and right walls.

On the other hand, although not shown, the component supply apparatus according to the present invention supplies air to the screw conveyed along the second conveyance path 32B or the linear feeder 14 of the ball feeder 13 so as to facilitate the conveyance of the screw. It may further include at least one air injection mechanism for injecting.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

12 Hopper 13: Ball Feeder
14: linear feeder 31: ball feeder body
32: Track 32A: First Carrier
32B: Second transport path 320, 330, 340, 350: 1-4 posture conversion unit
310: dropping unit 360: foreign matter discharge table

Claims (7)

A ball feeder body having a container structure and into which parts having a head are put; The first conveying path is gradually increased from the bottom of the ball feeder body to the spiral structure as a path through which the parts fed into the ball feeder body are conveyed upwards, and the parts from the first conveying path are conveyed to the outside. A track for providing a second conveying path for aligning the components in an upright position during the conveying process,
The second conveyance path,
A first posture converting portion having a first groove path in which the parts are received along the conveying direction so that the head of the conveyed part faces forward or backward in the conveying direction;
While the part is received along the conveying direction, the part from the first groove path with the head facing forward in the conveying direction at the end of the first groove path rotates as it is moved away from the head so that the head faces backward in the conveying direction. A second posture converting unit having a second groove path connected to form a step difference of a predetermined height difference;
It consists of a bottom plate inclined downward and an inner wall erected on the bottom plate, and a slit is formed between the inner wall and the bottom plate, in which parts from the second groove path are inserted from the opposite side of the head. A third posture converting portion having a slit path which is rotated along and connected to an end of the second groove path such that the head faces outward;
A fourth posture converting portion having a second plate-like path composed of a bottom plate inclined downwardly and an inner wall erected on the bottom plate,
The bottom plate at the end of the slit path has a bottom plate at the end of the third posture converting portion so that the second plate path is rotated as the part from the slit path falls from the head so that the head faces downward. And a lower part of the inner wall is connected with the bottom plate of the third posture converting part so as to be lower than the lower plate.
The method according to claim 1,
The second conveying path further includes a dropping portion having a bottom plate inclined downward toward the outside and an outer wall erected on the bottom plate and having a first plate path connected to a first groove path at an end thereof,
The dropping part is a part supply device for dropping the part to be transported reduced to narrow the width of the bottom plate.
The method according to claim 2,
And the dropout portion further comprises a movable partition wall erected on the bottom plate to adjust the amount of the component to be transported to the narrowed portion.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the step is a component supply device consisting of an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle downward in the conveying direction forward.
The method according to claim 1,
The third posture converting part is mounted so that its inner wall is movable to the bottom plate of the third posture converting part, and the slit is supplied with a component whose width is adjusted by moving the inner wall of the third posture converting part. Device.
The method according to claim 1,
The fourth posture converting portion is disposed while the head is rotated so as to face downward, with the component standing upside down with the inner wall of the fourth posture converting portion to prevent the upside-down component from being excessively rotated and collapsed. Component supply apparatus further comprising an outer wall.
The method according to claim 1,
And a foreign material discharge table disposed below the third posture converting part to discharge foreign matters dropped through the slit of the third posture converting part to the outside of the ball feeder body.

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