JPH0511216Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention is applicable to post-processing in IC device manufacturing.
This invention mainly relates to a tube cross-sectional alignment device used in the process of supplying a tube loaded with a plurality of IC devices after assembly to an inspection device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when feeding tubes loaded with IC devices one after another to an inspection device equipped with an IC handler, the tubes were fed with their cross-sectional directions aligned in a tube magazine, or they were fed directly into the IC input port of the handler in the cross-sectional direction. We are supplying the products while arranging them manually.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in order to feed the tubes into the tube magazine with their cross-sectional directions aligned, the tubes must be carefully fed one by one, resulting in very poor work efficiency. Furthermore, if the cross-sectional direction of the tube is manually aligned with the IC input port of the handler, complete automation is not possible and labor savings cannot be achieved.

Note that automatic alignment is possible by using an alignment device having a direction rotation mechanism with a direction identification sensor and an actuator, but if such a device dedicated to alignment is used, the entire equipment becomes complicated and expensive.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a tube cross-sectional direction alignment device that can align the cross-sectional directions of tubes during the process of transporting the tubes.

[Means for solving problems]

The tube cross-sectional direction alignment device of this invention includes a tube supply means for sequentially dropping tubes each having a substantially trapezoidal cross-section shape in a substantially horizontal position that accommodate electronic components, and an arcuate receiving recess for receiving the tubes arranged at a constant pitch in the longitudinal direction. a plurality of parallel fixing rods having rear ends located near the fall path of the tube and arranged substantially horizontally; a plurality of substantially trapezoidal fitting recesses for receiving the tube; and a plurality of fitting recesses for the fitting recesses. The tube has an arcuate rear end receiving recess lined up on the rear side and has the same pitch as the receiving recess, and performs an annular periodic motion having a height at which it floats up and down with respect to the fixed rod and a width equal to the pitch of the receiving recess. It is provided with a plurality of parallel feeding rods that receive the tubes falling from the supply means and transfer the tubes to the receiving recesses sequentially in front of the fixing rods to feed the tubes laterally.

[Effect]

According to the structure of this invention, since the tube dropped from the tube supply means is received by the rear end receiving recess of the feed rod, the tube has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape and a center of gravity that is stable downward. In the middle of falling, it naturally becomes oriented appropriately and is received by the rear end receiving recess. This aligns most of the tubes in the proper cross-sectional direction. When receiving the tube in the rear end receiving recess, if the rear end receiving recess is trapezoidal, there is a risk that the tube with the inclined cross section will not fit in and will pop out, but since the rear end receiving recess is in the shape of an arc, the tube with the inclined cross section You can definitely receive it as well. The tube received with its cross-sectional direction inclined in this way is aligned in its cross-sectional direction during transverse feeding by cooperation between the fixing rod and the feeding rod. In other words, since the feed rod performs a circular periodic motion that rises and falls relative to the fixed rod,
The tube received by the feed rod is temporarily placed in the receiving recess of the fixed rod, and then transferred to the fitting recess sequentially in front of the feed rod. At this time, since the receiving recess of the fixing rod is arc-shaped and the tube has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section, the cross-sectional direction of the tube is naturally corrected by its own weight when temporarily placed in the arc-shaped receiving recess. Therefore, the cross-sectional directions of the tubes are reliably aligned during the cross-feeding. In this way, the cross-sectional directions of the tubes can be aligned in the process of transporting the tubes, and there is no need for a direction identification sensor or a tube rotation mechanism, resulting in a simple structure.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of this invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 6. This tube cross-sectional direction alignment device includes a tube supply means 20 that sequentially drops tubes 1 having a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape that accommodate electronic components 3 in a substantially horizontal posture, and an arcuate receiving recess 30a that receives the tubes 1 at a constant length in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of parallel fixing rods 30 which are arranged in pitch and whose rear ends are located near the fall path of the tube 1 and are arranged approximately horizontally, a plurality of approximately trapezoidal fitting recesses 31a that receive the tube 1 and the fitting recesses 31a and An arc-shaped rear end receiving recess 31a' lined up on the rear side with respect to the recess 31a has the same pitch P as the receiving recess 30a, and has a height L that rises and falls relative to the fixed rod 30 and a width equal to the pitch P of the receiving recess 30a. A plurality of parallel feed rods 31 receive the tubes 1 falling from the tube supply means 20 while performing an annular periodic motion, and transfer the tubes 1 laterally by sequentially placing them on the receiving recesses 30a in front of the fixing rods 30; It is equipped with the following. The tube supplying means 20 includes a vertical feeding means 25 and a horizontal feeding means 17 for feeding the tubes 1 cut out one by one from the tube magazine 2 by the cutting device 10 to the vertical feeding means 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tube 1 has a cross-sectional outer periphery formed in the shape of a groove with a substantially trapezoidal shape, and a large number of electronic components 3 having leads 3a protruding to one side are arranged on both sides. Filled. The electronic component 3 is
Consists of IC devices or resistors, etc. tube 1
One end is closed with a stopper (not shown) made of rubber or the like. The tube 1 has a center of gravity facing downward when filled with the electronic components 3.

The tube magazine 2 has a plurality of plate-shaped separators 5 erected between a pair of side plates (not shown), and the tubes 1 are stacked vertically and accommodated in double rows. The opening ends of the tubes 1 in the tube magazine 2 are aligned in the same direction. Transverse feed means 1
7 is a chain conveyor having a feed claw 17a. A timing belt may be used instead of a chain.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vertical feeding means 25 consists of a chain lift in which a tube receiving piece 25b is provided on an endless chain 25a, and a cover 25c is provided. Receiving recess 30a of fixed rod 30 and feeding rod 3
The number of fitting recesses 31a in No. 1 is set as the sum of the number N (8 in this embodiment) to be taken out at the same time to the subsequent process and a certain number necessary for the alignment operation. Feed rod 3
The number of rear end receiving recesses 31a' may be at least one, or may be plural. The fixed rod 30 is fixedly installed at a predetermined position. The feed rod 31 is
As shown by a continuous locus 31b in the figure, it performs a rectangular ring-shaped periodic motion. The drive device (not shown) for the feed rod 31 is similar to that used in general transfer machines, and uses a cam mechanism or a combination of a forward/backward cylinder and an upper/lower cylinder. In addition, the continuous locus 31b of the feed rod 31
does not necessarily have to be rectangular, and may be oval or circular. In FIG. 2, numerals 33 and 34 are frames of this tube cross-sectional alignment device.
41 is a loader section of an IC handler provided in the inspection device. As shown in the figure, a pair of fixed rods 30,
The feed rod 31 (not shown in FIG. 2) and the pair of chains 25a of the vertical feed means 25 are symmetrically arranged slightly inward from both ends of the tube 1.

5 and 6 are a schematic side view and a schematic front view, respectively, showing equipment in which this tube cross-sectional alignment device is incorporated into an IC device inspection device. 40 is an inspection device having an IC handler;
It has a loader 41 and an unloader 42 above and below. The loader 41 simultaneously grips N (N=8 in the embodiment) tubes 1 on the feed rod 31 and tilts them at an angle that matches the component input port of the inspection device 40 (as shown by the chain line in FIG. 5). It is. This results in
The electronic components 3 in each tube 1 are ejected under their own weight. The empty tube 1 from which the electronic components 3 have been discharged is
It is returned to the original position of the feed rod 31 and dropped into the empty tube chute 50 by the operation of the feed rod 31. 44 is a cylinder for tilting drive of the loader 41;
5 is a parts shutter. Sky tube shoot 5
The empty tube 1 dropped into the
Non-defective electronic components 3 discharged from non-defective outlet 46 of
is refilled by the unloader 42 and dropped into the bucket 47. Reference numeral 60 denotes a defective product discharge section for discharging inspected electronic components 3, into which a plurality of tubes 1 are manually inserted.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained. The tube magazine 2 is loaded with tubes 1 in double rows with no alignment in the cross-sectional direction. The tubes 1 in each row are dropped one by one from the lowest stage of the tube magazine 2 onto the horizontal feeding means 17 by the cutting device 10, and are transferred one by one onto the tube receiving piece 25b of the vertical feeding means 25. The lateral feeding means 17 is intermittently driven by one pitch of the feeding claw 17a. The vertical feeding means 25 has a tube receiving piece 25 at a pitch that can absorb the time required to transfer the tube 1 to the feeding rod 31 at the upper part.
b is provided. At a position beyond the top of the vertical feeding means 25, the tube 1 is released by natural fall (FIG. 4B), and the fallen tube 1 is received in the rear end receiving recess 31a' of the feeding rod 31. Since tube 1 has a center of gravity that is stable downward,
Regardless of the cross-sectional direction at the time of unloading, the cross-sectional direction will naturally change midway through the drop height H, and the majority (for example, 90%) of the tube 1 will face straight down when the feed rod 31
It is received in the rear end receiving recess 31a'. When the tube 1 is received in the rear end receiving recess 31a', since the shape of the rear end receiving recess 31a' is arcuate, even the tube 1 in the wrong direction can be reliably received without being thrown out. The cross-sectional direction of the tube 1 (FIG. 4B) having an incorrect orientation is aligned in the next traversal feeding process. Feed rod 3
1 performs a periodic movement in a rectangular ring shape, and when moving forward after receiving the tube 1, the vertical feeding means 25
The tube receiving piece 25b moves below the feed rod 31 (FIGS. 4C and 4D). When the feed rod 31 moves lower than the fixed rod 30 due to periodic movement, the feed rod 3
The upper tube 1 is the receiving recess 30a of the fixed rod 30.
(Fig. 4E). When the feed rod 31 is retracted and raised again (FIGS. 4F and 4G), the tube 1 is placed in the fitting recess 31a at the rearmost portion of the feed rod 31. At this position of feed rod 31, feed rod 3
The next tube 1 is dropped into the empty rear end receiving recess 31a' from the vertical feeding means 25 in the same manner as described above (FIG. 4H). In this way, the feed rod 31
The tube 1 received by the feed rod 31 is sequentially placed in the fitting recess 31a in front of the feed rod 31, and a new tube 1 is supplied to the feed rod 31 (FIG. 4I).

In this way, tube 1 is moved horizontally,
At this time, since the receiving recess 30a of the fixing rod 30 is arc-shaped and the tube 1 has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional direction of the tube 1 will naturally change due to its own weight when temporarily placed in the arc-shaped receiving recess 30a. Fixed. Therefore, the cross-sectional directions of the tube 1 are reliably aligned during the cross-feeding. In this way, the cross-sectional directions of the tubes 1 can be aligned in the process of transporting the tubes 1, and there is no need for a direction identification sensor or a tube rotation mechanism, resulting in a simple structure. The tubes 1 arranged on the feed rod 31 with their cross-sectional directions aligned are gripped and tilted by the loader 41 as described above (FIGS. 5 and 6), and the electronic components 3 are discharged.

[Effect of idea]

The tube cross-sectional alignment device of this invention is designed so that the tube dropped from the tube supply means is received by the rear end receiving recess of the feed rod, so that the tube has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape and a center of gravity position that is stable downward. If so, it will naturally become oriented properly during the fall and be received by the rear end receiving recess. This results in
Many tubes are aligned in the proper cross-sectional direction. When receiving the tube in the rear end receiving recess, if the rear end receiving recess is trapezoidal, there is a risk that the tube with the inclined cross section will not fit in and will pop out, but since the rear end receiving recess is in the shape of an arc, the tube with the inclined cross section You can definitely receive it as well. The irregular tubes received with their cross-sectional directions tilted in this manner are aligned in cross-sectional direction during transverse feeding by the cooperation of the fixing rod and the feeding rod. In other words, since the feed rod performs a circular periodic motion that rises and falls relative to the fixed rod, the tube received by the feed rod is
While being temporarily placed in the receiving recess of the fixing rod, it is sequentially placed in the fitting recess in front of the feed rod. At this time, since the receiving recess of the fixing rod is arc-shaped and the tube has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional direction of the tube is naturally corrected by its own weight when temporarily placed in the arc-shaped receiving recess. Therefore, the cross-sectional directions of the tubes are reliably aligned during the cross-feeding.
In this way, the cross-sectional directions of the tubes can be aligned in the process of transporting the tubes, and there is no need for a direction identification sensor or a tube rotation mechanism, resulting in a simple structure.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a cutaway front view of an embodiment of this invention, Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view thereof, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the tube holder, Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of its operation, Figs. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view and a schematic front view, respectively, of the equipment in which the tube cross-sectional alignment device and the inspection device are combined. 1...Tube, 2...Tube Magazine, 3
...Electronic component, 20...Tube supply means, 25
...Vertical feeding means, 30... Fixing rod, 30a... Receiving recess, 31... Feeding rod, 31a... Fitting recess,
31a'... Rear end receiving recess.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A tube supplying means for sequentially dropping tubes having a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape that house electronic components in a substantially horizontal posture; and having arc-shaped receiving recesses for receiving the tubes at a constant pitch in the longitudinal direction, the rear end thereof being a falling path of the tubes. A plurality of parallel fixing rods arranged approximately horizontally in the vicinity, a plurality of approximately trapezoidal fitting recesses for receiving the tubes, and an arcuate rear end receiver arranged on the rear side with respect to the fitting recesses. The recessed portion has the same pitch as the receiving recessed portion, and receives the tube falling from the tube supply means by performing an annular periodic motion having a height of rising and falling with respect to the fixed rod and a width equal to the pitch of the receiving recessed portion. A tube cross-sectional direction aligning device comprising a plurality of parallel feeding rods that are sequentially placed in the receiving recesses in front of the fixing rod and feed the tube laterally.