JPH0138727B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a parts sorting device in a vibrating parts feeder, a so-called parts feeder.

As is well known, a parts feeder is equipped with a ball (saucer) formed with a spiral track and a drive unit that applies torsional vibration force to the ball.
The parts fed into the ball move up the spiral track under the force of torsional vibration, and are discharged one by one from the discharge end of the track. The parts discharged individually are led to the next process, for example, through a chute, but in order to discharge the parts individually, at least near the discharge end of the truck, the parts must be transported in one piece and without overlapping each other. It is necessary to do so. The parts supplied to the center of the ball move up the track in two or three rows or overlapping each other depending on the width of the track. A variety of sorting devices have been developed to take care of this problem. However, in both devices, the parts to be removed are either dropped into the center of the bowl or onto a track near the bottom. Therefore, it takes a considerable amount of time for the dropped parts to rise again to the position of the sorting device. This time is
This is not a big problem if the components have a certain size relative to the ball size, but it becomes a big problem for small electronic components such as chip resistors and chip capacitors. This not only reduces the supply speed of parts but also causes unevenness in the supply speed.

In addition, when it is desired to switch the supplied components from one type of component (for example, a chip resistor) to another type of component (for example, a chip capacitor), in conventional equipment, all of the previously supplied components are ejected from the discharge end of the track. Since it takes a considerable amount of time to complete the process, it is not possible to quickly respond to the changeover.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a parts sorting device for a vibrating parts feeder that can increase and stabilize the feeding speed of parts, particularly small parts. According to the present invention, this object is achieved by providing a component feeding device for a vibrating component feeder, which includes a ball forming a spiral track and a drive unit for torsionally vibrating the ball.
partially protruding above the transport path of the truck;
A block having a protrusion having an arc-shaped side surface is attached to the side wall of the track so as to form a predetermined gap between the block and the transfer path of the track to eliminate overlapping of parts, and At the inner peripheral side of the transfer path of the truck corresponding to the arc-shaped side surface, a step-like arc-shaped notch is provided at the top with a number of steps and a width such that the parts can fall gently down each step. is formed so that it is aligned with the top of the protrusion, and the parts transferred by overlapping the step between the lowest step of the notch and the track portion immediately below, and the falling of the inner row of the transfer path. The height is such that the parts to be transferred fall gently onto the track portion directly below the transfer path, and the uppermost step of the arcuate cutout is inwardly placed on the upstream side of the arcuate cutout. This is achieved by a component sorting device in a vibrating component feeder, which is characterized in that a cutout step is formed so that components in the side rows fall.

Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments.

As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 2, the parts feeder according to this embodiment consists of a dish-shaped ball 1 and a known drive section 2, and this drive section 2 is covered by a case 3. The entire parts feeder is supported on the foundation by vibration isolating rubber 4. The drive unit 2 is composed of an armature 5 fixed to a ball 5, a base 6, a plurality of inclined leaf springs 7 connecting the armature 5 and the base 6, and an electromagnet 8, as is known in the art. When half-rectified alternating current is passed through the coil, a torsional vibration force is generated, and ball 1
receives this vibrational force and performs torsional vibration as shown by arrow A.

The ball 1 is fixed to the armature 5 of the drive unit 2 by welding or by inserting a bolt into a hole 9a formed in the center of the bottom 9 of the ball 1. A spiral track 10 is formed in the ball 1 in a counterclockwise direction, and the parts inserted into the bottom 9 of the ball 1 rise from the starting end 10a of the track 10 under the torsional vibration force and are transported along the track 10. , discharge end 1
Ejected from 0b. A chute is connected to this discharge end 10b, but is omitted from illustration.

The track 10 is provided with four single-row sorting sections 11, two single-layer sorting sections 12, and a single-layer/single-row sorting section 13 near the discharge end 10b, spaced apart from each other at appropriate intervals. The single-row sorting section 11 is constituted by an arcuate and step-like notch formed in the transport path of the track 10. According to this embodiment, this notch 11 is configured in two stages.

The single-layer/single-row alignment section 13 according to the present invention is comprised of the above-mentioned cutout 11, a cutout step 11c integrally formed with the cutout 11, and a block 14. The block 14 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, fits into an arc-shaped recess 1a formed in the peripheral wall of the ball 1, and is fixed to the ball 1 by a screw 15. In addition, the upper and lower surfaces of the block 14 have stepped portions 1.
4a and 14b are formed, and these heights are different. Therefore, this block 14
When it is fixed to the ball 1 with the screw 15 upside down, the surfaces 14a and 1 of the stepped portion are separated from the transfer surface of the track 10 as shown in FIG.
The distance h to 4b has different values, thereby increasing the types of parts that can be processed by this single layer/single row sorting section 13. Note that the step portion 14 mentioned above
a and 14b are formed on the arc-shaped surface side of the block 14, and the block 14 is fixed to the balls 1 so that this surface side faces the single-row alignment section 11.
Furthermore, the transport surface of the track 10 is directed outwardly and slopes slightly downwardly, as shown in FIG.

Further, the top of the arcuate protrusion of the block 14 and the top of the arcuate notch 11 are aligned as shown in FIG.
1c is formed on the upstream side of the arcuate cutout 11, and the parts m in the inner row of the track 10 fall there, and the upper cutout 11a of the lower arcuate cutout 11.
is coming.

The parts feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above, and its operation will be explained next.

Assume that the part to be sorted is, for example, a chip resistor m, which is extremely small and has a size of about 2 x 1 x 0.5 mm. Part m is transferred in the direction of the arrow,
When reaching the single-row sorting section 11, the parts m in the inner row fall toward the upper arcuate notch 11a;
The parts m of the outer row advance further through the bottleneck of the track 10. Note that the parts m in the outer row are in contact with the side walls of the track 10, and the parts m in the inner row are in contact with the side walls of the track 10, and the parts m in the inner row are in contact with the side walls of the track 10. parts m
is in contact with component m in the outer row.

The part m that has fallen into the upper notch 11a further falls into the lower notch 11a, and then onto the track 10 in the lower part. In this way, the part m falls in stages, so it falls relatively quietly onto the track 10 in the lower part, bounces due to a collision with the transfer surface, and then falls further onto the track 10 in the lower part. do not have. That is, the stairs 11a, 11
b functions as a cushion, suppressing the energy of the fall to a small level, and allowing the part m to fall onto the track 10 in the lower part. In addition, in the upper and lower notches 11a and 11b, the arcuate side walls of the parts m
While being pushed, it receives this guide action and falls to the lower tier without stopping at this tier.

As described above, the parts m are
will be fed in one line, but track 10
Depending on the length of the stroke and the feed rate of the parts, there may be two rows again. This is because each part m does not necessarily receive an equal conveying force, and parts m may interfere with each other in the same row. Therefore, depending on the case, the number of single-row alignment sections 11 may be further increased, or may be one.

Next, the operation of the single-layer/single-row alignment section 13 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, overlapping parts m are eliminated and multiple rows are sorted into a single row. The parts m transferred as the inner row fall into the cutout step 11c, and then fall into the upper cutout 11a, the lower cutout 11b, and the track 10 in the lower part. In this case, the number of steps to fall increases by one more than in the straightening section 11, and the object falls more quietly onto the lower track 10.

The parts m, which have been transferred in the outermost row and overlapped, come into contact with the arcuate peripheral wall of the block 14 and are prevented from moving forward, but are guided by this arcuate surface and fall into the upper notch 11a. It will be done. Then,
Under the action of torsional vibration force, it is dropped into the lower notch 11b and the lower track 10 as described above. On the other hand, the lower part m continues to advance through the gap h between the block 14 and the track 10, as shown in FIG. In this way, overlapping of the parts m is eliminated, and the parts m are further sorted and fed in a single file. Track 1 from single layer/single row sorting section 13
The parts m advance with a desired gap to the discharge end 10b at No. 0, and are supplied one by one from the discharge end to the next process at a substantially uniform speed.

In addition, in the single-layer/single-row sorting section 13, the parts m are guided to the downstream side in a single layer/single row as described above, but the parts m in the inner row of the ball are guided to the downstream side by the notch step part 11c. and then further falls to the upper notch 11a. At this time, it falls onto the transfer surface upstream from the top of the arcuate notch 11a. Further, the overlapping parts m in the outermost row are guided by the arc-shaped protruding surface of the block 14 and fall to the top of the arc-shaped notch 11a or to the transfer surface downstream from this. Therefore, by effectively using the limited transfer surface of the arcuate notch 11a, the material can be reliably dropped from there to the lower notch 11b. As shown in FIG. 4, if the transfer density of parts m is relatively small, there is no problem even if there is no notch step 11c, but if the density is even higher and parts m are transferred from the upstream side, Notch step portion 11
If c is not present, both the outermost overlapping parts m and the parts m in the inner row of the ball will be cut out at once into the arc-shaped notch 11a.
However, some objects do not fall onto the transfer surface of the arcuate notch 11a or the parts m on this transfer surface, but fall directly onto the lower notch. Falling to 11b,
There is a risk of receiving a large bounce force and falling from the track directly below to the track further below. In particular, if the width of the arcuate notch 11a is smaller than the width of the component m, there is a risk that most of the component m will fall directly into the lower notch 11b or into the track directly below. This will not produce the desired effect.

However, in this embodiment, at the notch step 11c on the upstream side, the parts m in the inner row of the ball first form the arcuate notch 11.
The overlapping parts m in the outermost row fall onto the top of the upper arcuate notch 11a or onto the transfer surface downstream from this. I am made to do so. Since the curvature of the arcuate notch 11a is smaller than the curvature of the torsional vibration of the ball 1, the tip of the part m that has fallen from the notch step 11c to the arcuate notch 11a periodically collides with the side wall of the notch 11a. In some cases, by the time it reaches the top of this notch 11a, most of it falls to the lower circular arc-shaped notch 11b.

In addition, the parts m that have fallen to the top of the arcuate notch 11a or the transfer surface downstream from this also periodically collide with the side walls of the notch 11a, causing the notch 1
Before reaching the downstream end of 1a, the lower notch 1
Fall to 1b.

Therefore, the entire transfer surface of the arcuate cutout 11a is used more uniformly, and the parts m to be removed downward are reliably dropped through the arcuate cutouts 11a, 11b into the track section below. Furthermore, as a secondary effect, the number of steps is increased by one due to the notch step portion 11c, so that the bouncing force is further reduced and the object is allowed to fall to the arcuate notch portion 11a below. Track 1
Since the width of 0 is limited, the arcuate notch 11a, 1
Although the number of stages of the track 1b is limited, by forming the cutout step 11c in the upstream track portion, the number of stages can be effectively increased without increasing the width of the track.

This embodiment has the above-mentioned effects, but furthermore, since each part can be configured in an arc shape, it also has the effect that it can be easily and quickly machined from a single round bar using, for example, an end mill. That is, it is advantageous that the side wall portions of the block 14 and the notches 11a, 11b are arcuate in shape from the viewpoint of processing efficiency.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but of course the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, as mentioned above, the present invention can be applied to small parts,
Although this method is particularly effective for so-called mini parts, it can of course be applied to general parts as well.

The sorting device in the vibrating parts feeder of the present invention includes:
As described above, a predetermined gap is provided between the block having a protrusion that partially protrudes above the transport path of the truck and has an arcuate side surface to prevent overlapping of parts. A part is attached to the side wall of the track so as to form a part, and is attached to the inner peripheral side of the transfer path of the track corresponding to the arcuate side surface of the block, so that the part gently falls down each stage. A step-shaped, arc-shaped notch with a number of steps and a width is formed so that the top thereof is aligned with the top of the protruding portion, and the step between the lowest step of the notch and the track portion directly below is overlapped and transferred. The height is such that the parts that have been removed and the parts to be dropped in the inner row of the transfer path fall gently onto the track portion directly below the transfer path, and the height of the arcuate notch is A cutout step is formed on the upstream side to allow parts in the inner row to fall into the top step of the arcuate cutout, so parts transferred in multiple rows can be reliably arranged in one row. However, since it is possible to reliably remove the overlapped parts that have been transferred and to reliably guide the removed parts to the lower track, the feeding speed of parts, especially small parts, can be increased compared to the conventional method. Not only this, but also the type of supplied parts can be changed quickly. In addition, since the rejected parts do not have to be transported a long distance to reach the transfer section, the amount of friction caused by sliding on the transport surface of the truck is reduced, protecting the parts (especially precision parts) from wear and tear. . Parts can be processed in a single row and in a single layer (no overlap) at the same time, and the parts to be removed can be raised to the top of the step-like arc-shaped cutout by the notch steps and the arcuate side surfaces of the block. It can be guided reliably even when transported in high density. Since the step-like notch has an arcuate shape, it is easy to process the notch, and the machining accuracy can also be improved, making it particularly effective for aligning small parts (blocks can also be easily machined, for example, by milling. ) At the notch, the part is pushed against the arc-shaped side wall by centrifugal force caused by torsional vibration, and receives the guide action to fall to the lower stage without being stagnant at this stage. This provides excellent effects such as eliminating the need to tilt the notch downward.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a vibrating parts feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a single layer/single row of the same feeder. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the sorting section, and a cross-sectional view in the - line direction of FIG. 4. In the drawings, 1...ball, 2...driver, 10...track, 11a, 11b...circular notch, 11c...notch step, 13...single layer.
Single row sorting section, 14... block.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a parts handling device for a vibrating parts supply machine, which is equipped with a ball formed with a spiral track and a drive unit that torsionally vibrates the ball, the part protrudes partially above the transfer path of the track, and has an arc-shaped part. A block having a protrusion having a side surface is attached to the side wall of the truck so as to form a predetermined gap between the block and the transfer path of the truck to eliminate overlapping of parts, and On the inner circumferential side of the transfer path of the truck corresponding to the side surface, a step-shaped, arc-shaped notch with a number of steps and a width such that the parts can fall quietly down each step is provided, the top of which is the protruding portion. Components that are formed so as to be aligned with the top of the notch and that have been transferred by overlapping the step between the lowest step of the notch and the track portion directly below the notch, and components that are to be dropped down the inner row of the transfer path. The height is such that the parts fall gently onto the track portion immediately below the transfer path, and the inner row of parts is placed at the top of the arcuate cutout on the upstream side of the arcuate cutout. 1. A device for sorting and feeding components in a vibrating component feeder, characterized in that a notched stepped portion is formed so as to cause the components to fall.