JPH04201919A - Method and device for alignment of object - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make alignment of caps at a high speed by placing them supplied at random into approx. one direction through utilization of the stream of a rising fluid, and taking them out to a specified position in the aligned state. CONSTITUTION:An aligning device A as per invention is fitted with a supplying belt conveyor 1, air pipe 2, a rotary drum 4 with a plurality of cap receptacle pockets 3, pressure fluid spouting part 5, belt conveyor 6, and controller 7. Caps to be aligned B are put into the air pipe 2 from the supplying belt conveyor 1 in random state, aligned so that the cap B open face is directed upward through utilization of a rising air stream given by the pressure fluid spouting part 5, and are received by the cap receptacle pockets 3. The caps B are inverted and transferred onto the belt conveyor 6 from the pockets 3 through the action of the rotary drum 4, and are sent to a specified place.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for aligning randomly supplied articles by using a rising fluid flow, and particularly relates to An article that can be taken out to a predetermined position with the cap aligned in a certain direction by inserting a cap into an ascending air flow and adjusting the direction of the cap, and then stopping the flow of the ascending air flow. This invention relates to an alignment method and device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional techniques related to the method and device for aligning articles include Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-36207 and Utility Model Publication No. 55-58.
The one described in Japanese Patent No. 521 is known.

To explain the conventional technology described in the above-mentioned publication, Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-36207 has a means for generating a flow velocity distribution in which the flow velocity in the central part of the fluid flow is low and the flow velocity is high near the channel wall. A method of aligning an object to be aligned in which the object to be aligned is placed in a flow path and a fluid flow having the flow velocity distribution is applied to the object to be aligned, so that the object to be aligned has a fluidly stable posture. A method for aligning is described, as well as a flow path through which objects to be aligned can freely move and flow out, and a fluid provided upstream of the flow path that has a large fluid resistance value at the center and a small fluid resistance value at the periphery. A device for aligning objects to be aligned is described, which is composed of a resistor and a fluid source provided upstream of the fluid resistor, and has a flow velocity distribution in which the flow velocity at the center of the wave channel is smaller than the flow velocity near the channel wall.

In addition, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-58521 discloses an alignment tube in which the workpieces to be aligned can freely rotate, an appropriate number of alignment nozzles opening around the alignment tube, and an alignment nozzle that can rotate the workpieces. A transfer pipe capable of sliding while being disabled; a flow contraction pipe connecting the transfer pipe and the alignment pipe; an appropriate number of vents opening into the transfer pipe and provided upstream of the transfer nozzle; and the transfer pipe. A vented pneumatic alignment element is described that has a pseudo-continuous function and is comprised of a transfer nozzle that opens into a tube.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the above conventional technology had the following problems.

That is, the method and apparatus for aligning objects to be aligned described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-36207, or the Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-58
The vented pneumatic sorting element described in Publication No. 521 can align articles in a substantially constant direction by the interaction between the fluid flow and the object or workpiece (article) to be graded; There is no mention or suggestion of taking out items that have been oriented in an oriented state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for arranging articles that can adjust the direction of randomly supplied articles by using a rising fluid flow and take out the arranged articles in an arranged state. It's about doing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention involves introducing an article into a rising fluid stream, aligning the article in a substantially constant direction, and then stopping or decelerating the flow of the ascending fluid stream to move the article into the above-mentioned direction. The above object has been achieved by providing a method for arranging articles, which is characterized in that the articles are taken out in a predetermined position in an arranged state.

It is preferred that the article is a cap and that the ascending fluid flow is an ascending air flow.

The present invention also provides a device for carrying out the method for aligning articles, including a vertical channel through which the articles can rotatably pass;
an article receiving section located below the vertical channel for receiving articles arranged in a substantially constant direction in the vertical channel; and an article receiving section disposed below the article receiving section for injecting pressurized fluid into the vertical channel. The object of the present invention is to provide an article aligning device characterized by comprising a pressurized fluid ejecting section.

In addition, it is preferable that the article receiving part is arranged on the circumferential surface of the rotating body.

[Effect]

The article alignment method of the present invention using the article alignment apparatus of the present invention includes a vertical channel, an article receiving section located below the vertical channel, and a counter provided below the article receiving section. By providing a pressurized fluid ejecting section, the article is aligned in a substantially constant direction using the flow of the rising fluid, and the article is taken out to a predetermined position in a state where the article is aligned in a substantially constant direction.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, first, an embodiment of the article alignment apparatus of the present invention will be described. Incidentally, this embodiment is suitable for arranging articles that are open at one end and closed at the other end, such as camping.

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the article aligning device of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the entire article aligning device, and FIG. 2 is the same device. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the process of aligning articles, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control details of the article aligning device.

First, the overall outline of the article alignment apparatus according to this embodiment will be explained.

The article alignment device A according to this embodiment includes a supply belt conveyor 1, a vertical flow path (air pipe) 2, and an article receiving section (
A rotating body with multiple cap receiving pockets (3).
4, a pressurized fluid injection section 5, a conveyor belt 6, and a controller 7.

According to the article arranging device 1fA, the articles to be arranged (
camp) B in a random state from the supply belt conveyor 1 into the air vibe 2, and within the air vibe 2, using the rising air flow as rising fluid blown up from the pressurized fluid injection part 5. After aligning in a substantially constant direction (after aligning so that the opening surface of cap B faces upward)
, the cap B is received by the cap receiving pocket 3 while being aligned in a substantially constant direction, and then the cap B is inverted from the cap receiving pocket 3 onto the transfer belt conveyor 6 by the rotating drum 4 (cap B (inverted so that the open side faces downward) and can be transferred to a predetermined location.

Next, each component will be explained in detail.

The supply heald conveyor 1 is arranged in a substantially horizontal state at the rear of the upper end of the article aligning device A, and the outlet portion Ia extending toward the front side of the upper end of the article aligning device A is connected to the upper end of the air pipe 2. It is located above the opening 2a, and is configured so that the cap B can be inserted into the air vibe 2 through the upper end opening 2a. And the outlet section 1a
A sensor 9 for detecting camp B is provided on the left and right side wall 8 of The above-mentioned supply belt conveyor 1 is stopped after the feed is loaded. Here, as the sensor 9, for example, an optical sensor consisting of a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is used, but a micro switch or the like may also be used.
゛The air pipe 2 is formed to have a substantially elliptical cross section, and is provided with a substantially U-shaped metal fitting I at a position close to the upper front of the article aligning device A.
is attached almost vertically via O. The aperture (long axis length, short axis length) of the air pipe 2 is set to be large enough to allow the cap B to freely pass through so that the camp B can be aligned using the rising air flow. It is set.

The camp receiving pocket 3 is formed in a mensch shape so that the rising air flow from the pressurized fluid injection section 5 passes through, and is recessed in the rotary drum 4 and extends along the circumferential direction of the rotary drum 4. A plurality of pieces (eight pieces in FIG. 2) are arranged at approximately equal intervals, and when the rotating drum 4 rotates, the lower end opening 2b of the air pipe 2 (see FIG. 2)
Camp B from the lower end opening 2b.
It is configured to receive the data aligned in a substantially constant direction.

The rotating drum 4 is rotatably installed at a position above the front of the article alignment device A via a bearing member 11.

The rotary drum 4 is configured to receive rotational driving force from a clutch-brake motor 12 disposed above the rear of the article sorting device A through a timing belt 13.

That is, a driven pulley 14 is provided at one end in the axial direction of the rotating drum 4, and a drive pulley 15 is provided at one end in the axial direction of the drive shaft 12a of the motor 12 with a clutch and brake. The timing heald 13 is interposed between the U-14 and the drive pulley 15, and the rotary drum 4 is rotated by the clutch/brake motor 12.

Here, a proximity sensor 16 (see FIG. 2) is located at a predetermined location of the article alignment device A facing the inside of the rotating drum 4.
is located. This proximity sensor 16 detects that the rotating drum 4 has rotated approximately 45° clockwise. Motor 12 with the above clutch and brake
is intermittently operated by the controller 7 based on a detection signal from the proximity sensor 16. That is, the clutch/brake motor I2 is controlled by the controller 7 based on the detection signal from the proximity sensor 16, and after being temporarily stopped, it is operated again and the same operation is repeated.

Further, a cap fall prevention guide 17 that covers the cap receiving pocket 3 is disposed at a predetermined position outside the rotating drum 4. This cap fall prevention guide I
7 prevents the cap B in the cap receiving pocket 3 from falling during the process in which the cap receiving lipocerato 3 moves to a position above the transfer heald conveyor 6.

The pressurized fluid ejecting section 5 includes a multi-point air nozzle 18 disposed approximately at the center of rotation inside the rotating drum 4;
Adjustment equipment (electro-pneumatic converter) 1 that adjusts the flow rate and pressure of the air flow blown up according to the shape, size, etc. of the cap B
9, and a solenoid valve 20 for cutting off the rising air flow, and the electropneumatic air regulator is of type 1 EN40-IB, and the solenoid valve 20 is configured to supply the air through the cap receiving pocket 3, and the solenoid valve 20 is as shown in the figure. It is connected to the accumulator via a pipe, and when the sensor 9 detects the cap B, it is controlled by the controller 7 and opens for a preset time.

The transfer belt conveyor 6 is located at a lower front position of the article alignment device A, and is located approximately directly below the rotary drum 4, and extends perpendicularly to the supply heald conveyor 1 (the rotary drum 4) for transporting the cap B transferred from the camp receiving pocket 3. The transfer belt conveyor 6 is supported by an air cylinder 21 at one end (the side located approximately directly below the rotating drum 4) so as to be able to rise and fall freely, and at the other end, a support shaft 23 is mounted on a support stand 22. It is supported so as to be able to swing freely. The air cylinder 21 has a rising end limit switch 24 and a lower end limit switch 25 (
It operates under the control of the controller 7 based on the detection signal from the controller (see FIG. 2).

The controller 7 is, for example, a microcomputer.
The supply belt conveyor 1, the clutch/brake motor 12, the electromagnetic valve 20, the transfer belt conveyor 6, and the air cylinder 21 are controlled according to the flowchart shown in FIG. be.

Next, an embodiment of the article aligning method of the present invention will be described based on an example in which the article aligning apparatus A described above is used, with reference to the above flowchart.

Cap B in random condition on supply belt conveyor 1
When the controller 7 is loaded and the power switch (not shown) is closed, the controller 7 is activated and the contents of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 are executed.

That is, first, the supply belt conveyor 1 is operated and the cap B is conveyed to the outlet section 1a where the sensor 9 is provided (step 10).

Next, it is determined whether the sensor 9 has detected the cap B (step 11), and when the cap B is detected, the supply belt conveyor I is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection signal (step 12). , the solenoid valve 20 opens for a preset time (step 13), while
After the cap B is detected by the sensor 9, it is inserted into the air pipe 2.

As a result, the flow rate adjusted by the electro-pneumatic converter 19,
A rising pressure air flow is blown up from the nozzle 18 through the cap receiving pocket 3 from the lower end opening 2b of the air pipe 2 toward the upper end opening 2a, and the thrown camp B uses the above rising air flow. They are aligned in a substantially constant direction.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the cap B is stabilized on the side where the center of gravity is present with the opening surface facing upward due to the above-mentioned upward air flow, and becomes in a floating state.

Then, when a preset time has elapsed, the solenoid valve 20 closes (step 14), the above-mentioned upward air flow stops, and the cap B is turned into a state 1 with the opening surface facing upward! It falls freely (in the state 11 aligned in a substantially constant direction) and is stored in the cap receiving pocket 3 located substantially directly below the air pipe 2.

Next, the clutch/brake motor 12 is activated (step 15), and the rotating drum 4 is rotated clockwise in FIG. Then, it is determined whether or not the proximity sensor I6 is turned on (whether the rotating drum 4 has rotated approximately 45 degrees clockwise) (step 16). However, in FIG. 2, the clutch/brake motor 12 stops when it rotates approximately 45 degrees clockwise (step 1).
7) Due to the rotation of the zero-rotation drum 4, the camp receiving pockets 3 containing the caps B are sequentially moved onto the transfer belt conveyor 6 as shown in FIG. It is transferred downward (inverted) onto one end side of the transfer belt conhair 6.

At this time, the negative end side of the transfer heald conveyor 6 is lifted by the air cylinder 21 and is in an inclined state.

Next, the air cylinder 21 starts a downward movement (
Step 18). And the lower end limit switch 25
It is determined whether or not the switch is turned on (step 19).

As a result, the transfer belt conveyor 6 returns from the inclined state to the substantially horizontal state.

Next, the transfer heald conveyor 6 is operated for a predetermined time (step 20), whereby the cap B transferred onto the transfer belt conveyor 6 is transferred to a position where it does not interfere with the transfer of the next cap B. Ru.

Next, the air cylinder 21 starts the upward movement (
step 21), and the rising end limit switch 24
It is determined whether or not the switch is turned ON (step 22).
As a result, one end of the transfer belt conveyor 6 approaches the rotating drum 4 to the extent that it does not interfere with it, and preparations are made for the next transfer operation.

Next, it is determined whether or not cap B remains on the supply belt conveyor 1. If it remains, the process returns to step 10 and the above-described series of operations is repeated, and the cap B remains on the supply belt conveyor 1. If not,
The article alignment device A stops (step 23).

By doing the above, after adjusting the caps B supplied in a random state in a substantially constant direction using the rising air flow,
Efficiently, take it out while keeping it aligned in a generally constant direction,
Can be transported to other locations.

5 to 8 are graphs showing the relationship between the pressure of the rising air flow and the probability of cap alignment.

In addition, the length of Air Vibe 2 is 200mm, Air Pipe 2
The diameter (long axis) is 60 mm, the diameter (short axis) is 50 mm, the distance (clearance) between the cap receiving pocket 3 and the lower end opening 2b of the air pipe 2 is 6 mm, and the air nozzle and air The distance between the lower end opening 2b of the vibrator 2 is 105-, and the depth of the cap receiving pocket 3 is 40-
Ugly, the supply pressure of air supplied to the adjustment device 19 is 5.5
It was Kgf/d.

The graph in Fig. 5 is based on the graph of Fig. 9 (Fig. 9). As shown in Fig.
, where the weight of cap B was 8.13 g.

As is clear from the results shown in the above graph, increasing the pressure of the rising air flow increases the probability of cap alignment, and with a directional alignment pressure of 1.10 kgf/cj, the probability of cap alignment increases to 10.
It became 0%.

Furthermore, the graph in Figure 6 shows the results when a cap B having the same shape as the cap B shown in Figure 9 (Tsukasa, Ka) was used.Here, the weight of Cap B was 10.73g. .

As is clear from the results shown in the graph above, increasing the pressure of the rising air flow increases the probability of cap alignment, and with a directional alignment pressure of 1.14 kgf/cj, the probability of cap alignment increases to 10.
It became 0%.

Further, the graph in FIG. 7 shows the results when a cap B is used in which the head part B2 is hemispherical and the main body part b2 is truncated ellipsoidal cone shape, as shown in FIG. 10 (Kiku, et al.).

Here, the weight of cap B was 8.77 g.

As is clear from the results shown in the graph above, increasing the pressure of the rising air flow increases the probability of cap alignment, and the probability of cap alignment increases to 10 with a directional alignment pressure of 0.51 kgf/cj.
It became 0%.

In addition, the graph in FIG. 8 shows the results when using a cap B in which the head portion b1 is approximately disk-shaped and the main body portion b1 is cylindrical, as shown in FIG. 11(a). Here, the weight of cap B was 6.11 g.

As is clear from the results shown in the graph above, increasing the pressure of the rising air flow increases the probability of cap alignment, and the probability of cap alignment increases to 10 with a directional alignment pressure of 0.51 kgf/c4.
It became 0%.

In addition, the above-mentioned directional alignment pressure is 10 after 50 trials.
This is the pressure of the rising air flow when camp B is aligned and stored in the cap receiving pocket 3 with a probability of 0%.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the article alignment apparatus A described above.

In FIG. 12, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

The product alignment apparatus A of this embodiment has improved alignment capability (number of caps B aligned per unit time) of the caps B.

That is, a supply belt conveyor 27 is equipped with a plurality of belt conveyors 26 (seven rows in the drawing) that are independently clutched or braked, and a plurality of air pipes 2 and a plurality of air pipes 2 are installed on the exit side of the supply belt conveyor 27. The rotating drums 4 are arranged in parallel, and air nozzles 18 are arranged in each rotating drum 4, so that a plurality of caps B can be taken out in a uniform manner at a time. . In addition, since the transfer heald conveyor 6 is long,
It is supported by a plurality of air cylinders 21.

Note that the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the above embodiments. That is, the present invention provides, as articles to be aligned,
The present invention is not limited to the cap B shown in the above embodiment, and can be applied to aligning various articles.

Further, in the above embodiment, the upward air flow is stopped after the can B is aligned in a substantially constant direction, but the upward air flow may be decelerated.

Further, the air pipe 2 as a vertical flow path is not limited to that shown in the above embodiment, and may have a circular or square cross section.

Further, the camp receiving pocket 3 does not need to be provided on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 4, which is a rotating body, as in the above embodiment, but may be provided on, for example, a horizontal conveyor.

Further, the air nozzle 18 is not limited to a multi-point nozzle as in the above embodiment, but may be a -point nozzle, for example. The shape of the tip of the air nozzle 18 is not particularly limited.

Also, an adjustment device 19 that adjusts the flow rate and pressure of the ascending air flow.
is not limited to the electro-pneumatic converter shown in the above embodiment.

Furthermore, the control details for the article arranging device are not limited to those shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the article alignment method and apparatus of the present invention include:
By including a vertical flow path, an article receiving section located below the vertical flow channel, and a pressurized fluid injection section disposed below the article receiving section, the article can be moved at a substantially constant level using the upward flow of fluid. The articles can be taken out to a predetermined position W in a state where the articles are aligned in a substantially constant direction.

Further, since the article receiving section is disposed on the circumferential surface of the rotating body, the articles can be aligned at high speed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the article aligning device of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the entire article aligning device, and FIG. 2 is the same device. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the process of arranging articles, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the article arranging device, and FIG.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are graphs showing the relationship between the pressure of the rising air flow and the probability of cap alignment, respectively, and Figure 9 (a
) is a front view of cap B, the same figure Φ) is a perspective view of the same, 10th
Figure (a) is a front view of another cap B, Figure 11 is a front view of another cap B, Figure 12 is a front view of another cap B, It is a perspective view showing another example of the article alignment device. 2; Vertical channel (air pipe) 3; Article receiving section (cap receiving pocket) 4; Rotating body (rotating drum) B; Article (cap) Fig. 1 Fig. 3 + 1 - + Heto Elephant = Yu Sawai Teishinto Ei Madan Yu × Everyone + 7 Kito Elephant = Yu l Well + Todo Bo = Yu l Fig. 9 Fig. 10 (G) (b ) Figure 11 (CI) (b) Procedural amendment 1. Indication of the case Japanese Patent Application No. 2-336084 2, title of the invention Method of aligning articles and its device 3, person making the amendment Relationship with the case Patent application Person (091) Kao Corporation 4, Agent 8th floor, Yamashiro Building, 15-16 Minami Aoyama-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo Voluntary amendment (amendment within 1 year and 3 months from the date of application) 7. Contents of amendment (1) No. Corrected "Whether it rotated or not" in line 2 of page 15 to "Whether it rotated or not."

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Throwing an article into the ascending fluid flow, aligning the article in a substantially constant direction, then stopping or decelerating the flow of the ascending fluid flow, and taking out the article in the arranged state at a predetermined position. A method for aligning articles characterized by: (2) The method of aligning articles according to claim 1, wherein the article is a cap and the ascending fluid stream is an ascending air stream. (3) a vertical channel through which articles can freely pass through; an article receiving section located below the vertical channel for receiving articles arranged in a substantially constant direction in the vertical channel; A pressurized fluid ejecting section disposed below and ejecting pressurized fluid into the vertical flow path. (4) The article aligning device according to claim 3, wherein the article receiving portion is disposed on the circumferential surface of the rotating body.