WO2022254968A1

WO2022254968A1 - Vacuum conveyance device and workpiece sorting device

Info

Publication number: WO2022254968A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/017403
Authority: WO
Inventors: 健太郎栄; 陽兵野田
Original assignee: 大同工業株式会社
Priority date: 2021-05-31
Filing date: 2022-04-08
Publication date: 2022-12-08

Abstract

A vacuum conveyance device comprises: a moving body that moves with a workpiece mounted to a front surface thereof, said front surface being provided with a plurality of suction holes; a suction chamber (42b) that is provided to a rear surface side of the moving body; a suction device (43b) that depressurizes the interior of the suction chamber and applies suction, from the rear surface side, to the workpiece on the moving body; and an atmospheric venting means (60) that can open the suction chamber (42b) to the atmosphere.

Description

Vacuum transfer device and workpiece sorting device

The present invention relates to a vacuum transfer device and a work sorting device.

Conventionally, a suction box connected to a vacuum pump and a conveying belt running on the suction box are provided, and an object to be conveyed on the conveying belt is conveyed through an opening for vacuum suction formed in the conveying belt. A suction conveyor device has been devised for conveying while sucking (see Patent Literature 1).

Also, conventionally, a posture inspection device has been devised that inspects the posture of the electrodes by transporting the electrodes on a suction conveyor and photographing the electrodes on the suction conveyor with a camera (see Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2001-335135 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-197408

By using a suction conveyor as in

Patent Documents

1 and 2 above, it is possible to convey an object while securely holding it. For this reason, it is possible not only to suck and convey the object to be conveyed from below, but also to suck and convey it from above. By using a suction conveyor in combination, the inspection object can be inspected from both above and below.

By the way, with an inspection device such as that of Patent Document 2, nonconforming products that do not conform to the inspection may be found. If such non-conforming products are found, they must be sorted separately from the conforming products. cannot be ruled out.

Here, in order to remove the above-mentioned nonconforming products from the suction conveyor, for example, it is conceivable to turn off the vacuum pump, but even if the vacuum pump is turned off, the suction force on the suction conveyor does not immediately decrease. , there is a problem that it is difficult to satisfy the responsiveness required for the inspection device.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum transfer device and a workpiece sorting device that can switch ON/OFF of adsorption of workpieces with high responsiveness.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a moving body that moves with a workpiece placed on a surface provided with suction holes, a suction chamber provided on the back side of the moving body, and a vacuum in the suction chamber to reduce the pressure in the suction chamber to The vacuum transfer apparatus includes a suction device for sucking a workpiece on the moving body from the back side, and an atmosphere opening means for opening the suction chamber to the atmosphere.

According to the present invention, workpiece adsorption can be switched on and off with high responsiveness.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a work sorting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a second suction chamber according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing suction. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a second suction chamber according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing suction off. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a second suction chamber according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing suction. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a second suction chamber according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing suction off.

<First Embodiment>
<Configuration of workpiece sorting device>
A workpiece sorting device 1 equipped with a vacuum transfer device 40 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the work sorting apparatus 1 includes a first inspection unit 2 that inspects the work W from the front (upper) side, a second inspection unit 3 that inspects the work W from the back (lower) side, and a sorting A transport unit 4 for transporting the completed work W is arranged along the transport direction of the work.

The first inspection unit 2 includes a first vacuum transfer device 10 and a first inspection device 20. The first vacuum conveying device 10 includes a sprocket 12 wound with a vacuum conveyor chain 11 having one or a plurality of suction holes formed on its surface, which is the surface on which the workpiece W is to be placed. A suction chamber 13 is provided on the back side of the chain 11 for the vacuum conveyor. The suction chamber 13 is formed with an open upper surface facing the back surface (inner peripheral surface) of the vacuum conveyor chain 11, and is connected to a blower 15 as a suction device for reducing the pressure in the suction chamber 13. .

Also, the first inspection device 20 is an inspection camera provided so as to face the first vacuum conveying device 10, and a workpiece placed on the mounting surface of the vacuum conveyor chain 11 and conveyed. Take an image of the surface of W. Also, the first inspection device 20 is communicably connected to the control device 30 of the workpiece sorting device 1, and the image captured by the first inspection device 20 is inspected by the control device 30 for any problem. be.

The second inspection unit 3 is arranged downstream of the first inspection unit 2 in the transport direction of the workpiece W, and includes a second vacuum transport device 40 and a second inspection device 50 . In the second vacuum transfer device 40, a vacuum conveyor chain 41 having a plurality of suction holes formed on the surface on which the work W is placed is wound around

sprockets

44 and 48, and the first vacuum transfer device 10 , the placement surface of the workpiece W faces downward in the direction of gravity.

A suction chamber 42 is provided on the back side of the vacuum conveyor chain 41 opposite to the front surface, and the suction chamber 42 has a lower surface facing the back surface (inner peripheral surface) of the vacuum conveyor chain 41. It is formed with an opening. Further, unlike the first vacuum transfer device 10, the suction chamber 42 is divided into a plurality of sections. I have it. First to third blowers 43a to 43c are connected to the first to third suction chambers 42a to 42c, respectively, so that the pressure in each suction chamber can be reduced independently. Although the details will be described later, in the second suction chamber 42b, the suction of the workpiece W can be switched on and off.

The second inspection device 50 is an inspection camera provided so as to face the second vacuum transfer device 40 on the upstream side in the transfer direction of the work W from the second suction chamber 42b. The rear surface of the workpiece W placed on the placement surface of the . The second inspection device 50 is communicably connected to the control device 30 of the work sorting device 1, and the image captured by the second inspection device 50 is inspected by the control device 30 for any problem. be.

The transport unit 4 is provided on the downstream side of the second inspection unit 3 in the work transport direction, and is configured by a conveyor device that does not adsorb the work W. The inspected work W is conveyed by this conveyor device.

Since the work sorting device 1 is configured in this way, the work W manufactured on the upstream side of the work sorting device 1 is conveyed while being sucked from below by the first vacuum conveying device 10 onto the mounting surface. During the transportation by the first vacuum transportation device 10, the first inspection device 20 picks up an image of the surface. The captured image of the surface is judged by the control device 30 as to whether it is a non-defective product or a defective product.

When the work W is conveyed to the end of the first vacuum transfer device 10 that vertically overlaps the starting end of the second vacuum transfer device 40 , the upper surface (surface) of the work W is adsorbed by the second vacuum transfer device 40 . Then, transfer from the first vacuum transfer device 10 to the second vacuum transfer device 40 is performed. When transferred to the second vacuum transport device 40 , the work W is transported while its upper surface is being sucked, and the image of the back surface of the work W is captured by the second inspection device 50 . The captured image of the back side is judged by the control device 30 as to whether it is a non-defective product or a defective product.

Then, the workpiece W determined to be non-defective in both the front and back inspections is conveyed to the terminal end while being sucked by the second vacuum conveying device 40 and transferred to the conveying unit 4 . On the other hand, when the work W' judged to be defective by the inspection of either the front surface or the back surface is transported to a position corresponding to the second suction chamber 42b, the controller 30 controls the second suction chamber 42b. The adsorption and holding of the work W' by 42b is released, and the work W' on the second vacuum transfer device 40 (on the moving body) drops downward according to gravity. In the work sorting device 1, the non-defective work W and the defective work W' are sorted by switching ON/OFF of the suction of the work by the second suction chamber 42b.

<Atmospheric Release Means>
Next, the damper 60 as an atmosphere release means for switching ON/OFF of the suction of the workpiece by the second suction chamber 42b of the second vacuum transfer device 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first to third suction chambers 42a to 42c are connected to first to third blowers 43a to 43c via first to third duct portions 70a to 70c, respectively. there is A second duct portion 70b connecting the second suction chamber 42b and the second blower 43b includes a first connection path 70b1 connected to the second suction chamber 42b, and second and second ducts branched from the first connection path 70b1. 3 connection paths 70b2 and 70b3 are provided.

The second connection path 70b2 is a connection path that connects to the second blower 43b, and the third connection path 70b3 is a connection path that communicates with the outside at its end. The damper 60 is provided in the third connection path 70b3, and can be opened and closed by opening and closing the third connection path 70b3.

Therefore, when the workpiece W is sucked by the second suction chamber 42b, the damper 60 is closed to block communication between the second duct portion 70b and the atmosphere, as shown in FIG. 2A. As a result, the pressure in the second suction chamber 42b is reduced by the second air blower 43b via the second duct portion 70b, and the adsorption force of the workpiece W is maintained.

On the other hand, when the suction of the workpieces W' by the second suction chamber 42b is turned off in order to sort out the defective workpieces W', as shown in FIG. The second suction chamber 42b is exposed to the atmosphere via the second duct portion 70b. As a result, the negative pressure inside the second suction chamber 42b instantly becomes atmospheric pressure, and the defective work W' being transported drops. At this time, since the second blower 43b is kept in a driven state, closing the damper 60 can instantaneously restore the adsorption of the work W by the second suction chamber 42b.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the duct portion 70b connecting the suction chamber 42b and the suction device 43b is configured to be open to the atmosphere, and the damper 60 communicates/shuts off the duct portion 70b and the outside. Therefore, the inside of the suction chamber 42b can be instantaneously opened to the atmosphere, and the suction of the work can be quickly released. Further, when the damper 60 is open, the suction chamber 42b is open to the atmosphere. Therefore, there is no possibility that the negative pressure in the second suction chamber 42b cannot be eliminated and, for example, the sorting of a predetermined type of work such as a defective work W' fails.

Furthermore, since it is not necessary to stop the suction by the suction device 43b while the atmosphere is open, simply by closing the damper 60, the suction force can be instantly restored. can be switched off.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B. Note that the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration relating to the opening of the suction chamber to the atmosphere. Therefore, in the following description, only points different from the first embodiment will be described, and descriptions of other configurations will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 2B, in this embodiment, the first suction chamber 42b and the second suction chamber 42b communicate with each other through an opening 80 to form one suction chamber. An opening 81 is formed in the second suction chamber 42b for communicating the second suction chamber 42b with the outside. This opening 81 is a flap-type window, normally closed by a flap 90, as shown in FIG. 3A.

Therefore, when the workpiece W is sucked, the opening 80, which is an opening that communicates the inside and the outside of the suction chamber, is closed by the flap 90, and the first suction chamber 42a and the second suction chamber 42b are separated from each other. The pressure is reduced by one first air blower 43a. In the first embodiment, different air blowers are connected to the first suction chamber 42a and the second suction chamber 42b, respectively. Since the two

suction chambers

42a and 42b form one suction chamber, the blower 43a on the side of the first suction chamber 42a is also used for the second suction chamber 42b.

Also, when releasing the adsorption of the workpiece W, the flap 90 described above is moved from the first position that closes the opening 81 to the second position that closes the opening 80, as shown in FIG. 3B. As a result, the second suction chamber 42b is opened to the atmosphere through the opening 81, while the opening 80 of the first suction chamber 42a is closed by the flap 90, so that the negative pressure state is maintained. Therefore, it is possible to cancel the suction of the work W by the second suction chamber 42b while the suction of the work W by the first suction chamber 42a is maintained.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the flap 90 serving as opening/closing means movable between the first position and the second position opens and closes the opening 81 that communicates the inside and outside of the

suction chambers

42a and 42b. As a result, it is possible to switch on/off the suction of the workpiece W by the suction chamber 42b with high responsiveness.

Further, in the second position where the opening 81 is opened, the flap 90 can separate the first suction chamber 42a and the second suction chamber 42b. The suction chamber 42b is divided into a first area (second suction chamber) 42b that is open to the atmosphere and a second area (first suction chamber) 42a that is connected to the suction device 43a and maintained at negative pressure. is now possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the

vacuum conveyor chains

11 and 41 are used as moving bodies on which workpieces are placed on a surface provided with a plurality of suction holes. A suction belt or the like may be used. Moreover, the non-defective work W may be dropped by turning off the suction. In this case, the defective work W' is transferred to the transport unit 4. FIG. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the second vacuum transfer device 40 is used for back transfer, and the air opening means is provided to constitute a distribution means for distributing works. Instead of conveying, the sorting means may be configured with a flapper, an arm, or the like for sorting the works.

In addition, although the work sorting device 1 described above is configured to sort out non-defective works W and defective works W', the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as for the types of works to be sorted, in addition to sorting the same type of works as described above as a plurality of types of works such as a non-defective work W and a defective work W', there are also completely different types of works. It may be configured to sort the workpieces. For example, when different parts A and B, which are examples of different types of works, flow over the

vacuum transfer devices

10 and 40, the part A passes through the third suction chamber 42c without being dropped in the second suction chamber 42b. It may be arranged such that the component B is dropped in the second suction chamber 42b and distributed to the downstream process.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the

inspection cameras

20 and 50 and the control device 30 are provided as an identification unit for identifying a plurality of types of workpieces W. Instead of the camera, a reading device may be used that assigns an identifier such as a bar code or RFID tag to the work according to the type and reads the identifier. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the control device 30 is configured separately from the inspection camera, but for example, the inspection camera may have some or all of its functions. In addition, by arranging an additional suction chamber to which the damper 60 is connected or the opening/closing means 90 is provided, the configuration may be such that more kinds of works can be handled. Furthermore, the inventions described in the above embodiments may be combined in any way.

This vacuum transport device is capable of sucking and transporting a work, and is suitable for application to a work sorting device, for example.

Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims should be given the broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

1: work sorting

device

20, 50, 30: identification unit 40: vacuum transfer device (second vacuum transfer device)
41: Moving body (chain for vacuum conveyor)
42b: Suction chamber (second suction chamber)
43b: Suction device (second blower)
60: Atmospheric release means (damper)
70b: Duct portion (second duct portion)
81: opening (opening)
90: Opening and closing means (flap)
W: work

Claims

a moving body that moves with a workpiece placed on a surface provided with suction holes;
a suction chamber provided on the back side of the moving body;
a suction device that reduces the pressure in the suction chamber and sucks the work on the moving body from the back side;
and an atmosphere opening means capable of opening the suction chamber to the atmosphere,
Vacuum transfer device.
The atmosphere opening means is provided in a duct portion between the suction chamber and the suction device, and is configured to open the suction chamber to the atmosphere by opening the duct portion to the atmosphere.
The vacuum transfer device according to claim 1.
The suction chamber has an opening that communicates the inside and the outside of the suction chamber,
The atmospheric release means is an opening/closing means for opening and closing the opening,
The vacuum transfer device according to claim 1.
The opening/closing means is configured to be movable between a first position for closing the opening and a second position for opening the opening,
The opening/closing means, at the second position, divides the suction chamber into a first area that is open to the atmosphere through the opening and a second area that is connected to the suction device.
The vacuum transfer device according to claim 3.
A workpiece sorting device for sorting workpieces,
A vacuum transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 4;
an identification unit that identifies the workpiece into a plurality of types,
The atmosphere opening means opens the suction chamber to the atmosphere when the work identified as being of a predetermined type by the identification unit is being transported by the moving body.
Work sorting device.
The moving body is arranged such that a surface serving as a mounting surface on which the workpiece is placed faces downward in the direction of gravity. configured so that the workpiece being transported can be dropped;
The workpiece sorting device according to claim 5.