JPS6238236B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hopper, and particularly to a hopper that evenly distributes materials or small parts to a plurality of material cutting feeders, belt conveyors, etc. disposed below the hopper, and a method for manufacturing the hopper.

In general, hoppers are used to temporarily store various fluid materials and small parts, cut them out using a cutting feeder or belt conveyor installed below, and supply them to subsequent processes. A hopper has been developed, but in some cases it may be desired to use multiple cutting feeders or belt conveyors to cut from one hopper.
Various structures are conceivable for this purpose, but it is necessary that the hopper be cut into equal parts and that the hopper be emptied without any material or parts remaining. Particularly recently, it is often used to store small electronic components such as chip capacitors and chip resistors, and in such cases it is necessary that they do not mix with other types of electronic components to be stored next. In addition, the number of parts to be stored is often subject to strict process control. In these cases, it is necessary not only to cut out the electronic components from the hopper into equal parts, but also to discharge it until it is almost completely empty. Therefore, various structures can be considered for cutting out electronic components using one hopper and multiple cutting feeders.
In some cases, the above-mentioned conditions are required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a hopper and a hopper capable of discharging stored materials or small parts into a plurality of cutting feeders or belt conveyors in equal parts until they are almost completely emptied. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing hoppers. This first purpose is to provide at least a pair of opposing first slide sections, each forming part of the circumferential side of the same truncated inverted cone, at the level of the bottom surface of said truncated inverted cone, and It consists of at least a pair of opposing second runway parts formed by planes inclined downward at a predetermined angle from the twill line or apex located at the center between the first runway parts, and the out-of-plane shape is the truncated inverse of the above-mentioned truncated part. A single equal distribution block having a shape in which a pair of chords or notches are formed on the outer contour of the upper surface of the cone corresponding to the lower end of the second slideway section is inserted into the truncated inverted conical hole. and the cylindrical hole of the hopper body having a cylindrical hole connected downwardly thereto, the bottom surface of the truncated inverted conical hole is above the first slideway portion of the equal distribution block. It is characterized in that it is fixed to the hopper body by tightly fitting it so as to match the level of the edge and screwing and tightening a bolt into a screw hole formed in a cylindrical peripheral wall portion forming the cylindrical hole of the hopper body. This is achieved by Hopper, which assumes

Further, the second object is a first step of cutting a truncated inverted cone-shaped hole starting from the outline of this surface on at least the upper or lower surface of the solid cylindrical material;
Next, a second step of cutting a pair of flat surfaces having a width equal to the diameter of the bottom surface of the hole at a predetermined angle downward in opposite directions from the diameter line of the top surface or the bottom surface on the bottom surface of the hole; This is achieved by a method for manufacturing a hopper, characterized in that the equal distribution block obtained in the processing step is tightly fitted into a cylindrical hole of a separately processed hopper body and fixed to the hopper body. Ru.

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

1 and 2 show a vibrating parts feeder equipped with a hopper according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The hopper 1 according to the present invention is mounted on a base block 4 by four struts 3 at its flange portion 2. is supported by The base block 4 is supported by vibration-proof rubber 6 on the foundation. Although the flange portion 2 will be described in more detail later, it has a shape as shown in FIG. The entire hopper 1 is fixed to the support column 3 by a screwing nut 5 so that the height thereof can be adjusted.

Electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 for cutting are arranged on the base block 4, facing two discharge ports of the hopper 1, which will be described in detail later. Although shown only conceptually in FIG. 1, the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 have a known structure, including a vibration isolating section 9 consisting of a plate spring or a weight for vibration isolation, and a drive unit consisting of a plate spring or an electromagnet. section 10, and troughs 7a, 8a which are excited by this drive section 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, a vibrates in the direction of the arrow to transport a small electronic component to the right in the figure, even though it is not shown.

Parts feeders 11 and 12 are arranged in parallel near the discharge ends of electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8, and these have a known structure and are supported as a whole on a base block 20 via vibration-proof rubber. Inside the balls of the parts feeders 11 and 12 are spiral tracks 13 and 1 that are wound in opposite directions.
4 is formed. That is, as the balls receive torsional vibration force, the electronic components in the ball of one parts feeder 11 are transferred clockwise along the track 13 as shown by the arrow, and the electronic components in the ball of the other parts feeder 12 are transferred clockwise as shown by the arrow. It is transported counterclockwise along track 14 as indicated by the arrow. Above the balls of each parts feeder 11, 12 are tracks 13, 1.
Empty detectors 15 and 16 are provided adjacent to the ball 4, and these are configured by, for example, photoelectronic switches, but when no electronic component passes over the adjacent tracks 13 and 14 for a predetermined period of time, the ball becomes empty. If the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 are sufficiently diluted, a drive signal is given to the drive unit 10 of the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8.

Although not shown in the balls of each parts feeder 11, 12, there is provided a feeding means for correcting the transporting posture of the electronic components. It is supplied to a common supply electromagnetic feeder 19 through attitude holding means 17 and 18 provided at the discharge end of the. This electromagnetic feeder 19 is provided on an auxiliary block 21 fixed on a common base block 20, and includes a drive section 22 made of a leaf spring, an electromagnet, etc., and a trough 19a. trough 19
A pair of parallel grooves 26 and 27 are formed in a,
These are partially covered 25 in the width direction.
Overflow detection devices 23 and 24 are provided near the ends of the parts feeders 11 and 12, respectively. The detection devices 23 and 24 are constituted by, for example, photoelectronic switches, and
When there is no gap between the parts passing through parts feeders 6 and 27, that is, when the parts come into contact with each other, it is determined that overflow has occurred, and parts feeders 11 and 12
It is designed to give a stop signal to the drive unit.
The feeding electromagnetic feeder 19 also vibrates in the same way as the cutting electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8, and the parts are on track 1.
While maintaining the grooves 26 and 27 of 9a in a constant position, the waste flows to the right in the figure, and is supplied to the next process from the discharge ends 26a and 27a.

Next, the detailed structure of the hopper 1 according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3A to 8.

The overall structure of the hopper 1 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the hopper 1 mainly consists of a cylindrical first body 45, a conical second body 36, and a second body 36 fitted into the second body 36. It consists of an equal distribution block 31 having a shape as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, and a cylindrical first body 45 is fitted with a bolt 46 via a flange portion 2 whose shape is clearly shown in FIG. The second main body 36 is fixed. The flange portion 2 is constituted by a ring plate 44, and this ring plate 4
Four mounting holes 44b are formed near the inner peripheral edge of the second body 36, and a fifth hole 44b is formed in the flange portion 38 of the second main body 36 so as to align with these mounting holes 44b.
As shown in the figure, four mounting holes 37 are formed. Bolts 46 are inserted into these mounting holes 44b and 37.
The first body 45 and the second body
It is integrated with the main body 36.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the second main body 36 includes a flange portion 38, an inclined portion 39 connected to the flange portion 38, and a cylindrical portion 40 connected to the inclined portion 39.
A hole 38a having a truncated inverted cone shape is formed in the flange portion 38, and a cylindrical hole 43 is formed in the inclined portion 39 and the cylindrical portion 40.
It is formed in conjunction with. Further, in the cylindrical portion 40, a pair of cut grooves 42a and 42b are formed in series with the hole 43 and facing each other in the radial direction, and furthermore, at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 40, a pair of cut grooves 42a and 42b are formed. Lateral cut grooves 41 are formed so as to face each other in between. Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, a screw hole 60 is formed in the cylindrical portion 40, and by screwing and tightening a bolt into the hole,
As shown in FIG. 8, the fitted equal distribution block 31 is fixed to the second main body 36.

Next, a method of manufacturing the equal distribution block 31 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C will be described.

The first main body 45, second main body 36, ring plate 44, etc. are made of aluminum, for example, and the equal distribution block 31 is also made of aluminum. First, a solid cylindrical aluminum block 30 is prepared. A hole 30a in the shape of a truncated inverted cone is machined on the upper surface of the block 30, for example, using a lathe. As a result, the block 30 is processed into the shape shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and the upper edge of the hole 30a coincides with the outer circumference of the block 30.

Next, from above the diameter line D of the block 30 at the level H of the bottom 30b of the hole 30a, a pair of planes 33a and 33b, which are inclined downward at a predetermined angle and have a width equal to the diameter of the bottom 30b, are cut in opposite directions using a milling machine. be done. Further, the lower end portions of the flat surfaces 33a and 33b of the block 30 are cut by a milling machine parallel to the obtained ridge line l and across the width of the flat surfaces 33a and 33b. Thus block 31 in plan view as shown in FIG. 4A.
is obtained. That is, first slideway portions 32a, 32b forming part of the circumferential side of the truncated inverted conical body and second slideway portions 33a, 33b extending downward from the ridge line l between these are formed. 2 runway section 33
The lower ends of a and 33b form a chord g of the outer shape of the unprocessed block 30.

Furthermore, a groove 34 parallel to the chord g is cut into the lower surface of the block 31 with a predetermined width and a predetermined depth, thus forming a pair of vertical guide portions 35 to the cutting feeder as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C. is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the equal distribution block 31 processed as described above is tightly fitted into the cylindrical hole 43 of the second main body 36 with its arcuate circumferential portion, and the second slider The road portions 33a and 33b are the cutout grooves 42.
a, 42b, and the first runway section 3
2a, 32b so that the upper edges of the second
It is fitted into the hole 43 of the main body 36 and fixed to the second main body 36 by a bolt (not shown) screwed into the screw hole 60 .

The hopper 1 configured as described above is the second
The lower edge of the main body 36 and the guide portion 35 of the equal distribution block 31 are adjusted in height with the flange portion 2 so that they slightly enter the troughs 7a, 8a of the cutting electromagnetic feeders 7, 8 before use. Next, the operation of this hopper 1 and the vibrating component supplying apparatus having the above-described structure equipped with this hopper 1 will be explained.

First, when using the hopper, a large number of electronic components, such as chip capacitors, are put into the hopper 1, and
As shown in the figure, parts are stored up to the troughs 7a and 8a along the arrows A, _A1 , and _A2 , but it is assumed that the parts are currently stored up to the first body 45 of the hopper 1.

When the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 for cutting are driven, the parts on the troughs 7a and 8a are
The parts are transferred to the right in the figure, and at the same time, the parts are discharged from the hopper 1 into the troughs 7a and 8a. The parts in hopper 1 are arrow A, A ₁ , A ₂
However, there is no upward horizontal surface in the passage, all surfaces are downwardly inclined, and the discharge passage is symmetrical with respect to the ridge line l of the equal distribution block 31. As a result, the parts are smoothly and evenly distributed from the outlet portions 60a, 60b formed by the lower end of the second body 36 and the guide portion 35 of the equal distribution block 31 to the troughs 7a, 8a. discharged inside. Furthermore, if this discharge action is explained with respect to the equal distribution block 31,
The parts arriving at the first slideways 32a and 32b in equal amounts from above receive a transfer force toward the ridgeline l located on the center line between the first slideways 32a and 32b, and the parts are equally distributed on the left and right sides of the ridgeline l. The liquid is distributed and slides down toward the discharge ports 60a, 60b at the same speed on the second slideway portions 33a, 33b, which are planes with the same downward inclination angle. The parts are thus fed from the hopper 1 smoothly and in equal quantities to the troughs 7a, 8a.

The electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 feed parts to the parts feeders 11 and 12 at approximately constant speed. As mentioned above, the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 are started to be driven by the drive signals of the empty detectors 15 and 16 disposed above the parts feeders 11 and 12, but the empty detectors 15 and 16 are not fully connected to the parts feeders. 11,1
When it is detected that a component has been fed into the ball 2 or when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the drive signal was generated, the drive signal disappears and the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 stop. The parts supplied to the parts feeders 11 and 12 are transferred clockwise and counterclockwise along the tracks 13 and 14, and their postures are corrected by each conveying means (not shown) before being transferred to the supply electromagnetic feeder 19.
supplied to Trough 19a of electromagnetic feeder 19
Parts are supplied from one parts feeder 11 to one groove 26, and parts are supplied from the other parts feeder 12 to the other groove 27, and the parts are transferred to the right in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Groove 2
When the parts overflow on the parts 6 and 27, this is detected by the overflow detectors 17 and 18, and the parts feeder 1 is detected by the overflow detectors 17 and 18.
1 and 12 are stopped. Parts are grooves 26, 27
One piece each is supplied to the next process from the discharge ends 26a, 27a.

As described above, parts are supplied to the parts feeders 11 and 12 from the cutting electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 based on the detection signals of the empty detectors 15 and 16, so that the parts feeders 11 and 12 have the required minimum amount in the balls. The components can be supplied in limited densities or in stock quantities, thus minimizing the number of cycles of components within the bowl. That is, the parts that are not sorted by the parts sorting means on the tracks 13 and 14 are dropped into the center of the ball or onto the lower track part,
The parts ascend the tracks 13 and 14 again and are subjected to the sorting action by the parts sorting means, but the higher the density of parts in the ball, the more times the parts fall and are transferred again to the sorting means. Become.
Since electronic components especially need to have their characteristics strictly controlled, they are repeatedly transported through trucks 13 and 14.
Being subjected to friction and being dropped from the truck many times is undesirable. However, according to this embodiment, the empty detectors 15 and 16 are provided above the ball to restrict the supply from the cutting electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8, so the density of parts in the ball can be reduced as much as possible, and the Therefore, the characteristics of the parts can be protected accordingly. In particular, in this embodiment, the hopper 1 can smoothly eject parts evenly.
Since the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 are used, parts are equally supplied to the parts feeders 11 and 12. Therefore, the parts feeders 11 and 12 can be operated efficiently under the above conditions. If the parts are not evenly distributed to the parts feeders 11 and 12, more parts may be supplied to one of the parts feeders 11 or 12 even though there is no need to supply them, or if the overflow detectors 23 and 24 on the electromagnetic feeder 19 are not supplied at all. By working at different timings, the parts feeder 11 or 12 can be stopped at completely different timings. This reduces the component supply efficiency of the supply electromagnetic feeder 19. However, according to this embodiment, the parts are evenly and smoothly supplied from the hopper 1 to the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 for cutting, so that the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 for cutting and the parts feeders 11 and 12 are fed at ideal timing. feeding electromagnetic feeder 1 while guaranteeing the properties of the parts.
It is possible to improve the parts supply efficiency of No. 9.

As the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 cut out parts, the number of parts in the hopper 1 decreases, but since the parts discharge passage in the hopper 1 is configured completely symmetrically with respect to the ridge line l, the number of parts decreases equally on the left and right sides of the ridge line l. Equally distributed action is guaranteed until the end. Also, all the surfaces in the hopper 1 are downwardly inclined, and since there are no horizontal surfaces that would cause parts to stagnate, parts can be ejected until the hopper is almost completely empty.

Figures 9A-9C show a hopper equally distributing block 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which parts can be equally distributed into four parts.

The block 50 of this embodiment is arranged at a predetermined angle α downward from a vertical line passing through the center of the ridge line l of the block 31 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C.
This can be obtained by cutting with a milling machine so that both sides are flattened to have the same width as the second slideways 33a and 33b. By such cutting, the first slideway portion 55, the remaining portion of the first slideway portion 32a of the first embodiment,
56 is formed, and first slideway portions 53 and 54 are formed as the remaining portions of the other first slideway portion 32b. Further, the second slideway portions 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b have a shape that converges at the vertex P, but the second slideway portions 51a, 51b have the same function as the second slideway portions 33a, 33b of the first embodiment, and have notches. The groove 57 and the guide portion 58 are also the first
It will be clear that the notch groove 34 and guide portion 35 of the embodiment have the same function. That is, this block 50 is inserted into the cylindrical hole 43 of the second main body 36 of the first embodiment by cutting the second slideway portions 51a and 51b into the groove 4.
If they are tightly fitted so as to face 2a and 42b, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Fixation to the second main body 36 may be performed at columnar portions corresponding to the first slideways 53 to 56. Further, in this embodiment, the lower end portions of the other second slideway portions 52a and 52b also form a chord in a plan view, and by fitting into the cylindrical hole, an opening for passing a component is formed. Two electromagnetic feeders for cutting other than the electromagnetic feeders 7 and 8 shown in the first embodiment may be disposed below these openings. Although guide portions are not formed for these openings, the effect of the hopper according to the present invention can be obtained even without the guide portions.

Although each embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is of course not limited to these, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the hopper is the first body 4
5, the second body 36 and the equal distribution block 31, but the first body 1 may be omitted in some cases.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, in the plan view of the equal distribution block 31, the lower ends of the second slideways 33a, 33b are formed into chords, but they may alternatively be formed into concave curves.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, blocks for two distributions and four distributions were shown, but the idea of the present invention is to create blocks that further increase the number of distributions by making the width of the second runway section smaller. It is clear that this can be obtained by

As described above, the hopper of the present invention has a small number of parts, can be easily manufactured, can discharge materials or parts smoothly and always in equal parts from a plurality of discharge ports, and is almost completely material or parts can be ejected until empty.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vibrating component supply device equipped with a hopper according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are a method of manufacturing a block for equal distribution in the hopper. A plan view and partially cutaway side view of a block subjected to primary processing for explaining the process, and FIG. 4A is a plan view of a block for equal distribution.
Fig. 4B is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in Fig. 4A, Fig. 4C is a side view of the equal distribution block,
Fig. 5A is a rear view of the second main body into which the equal distribution block is tightly fitted, Fig. 5B is a sectional view along the line B-B in Fig. 5A, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the flange portion forming a part of the hopper. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the same hopper, FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the same hopper together with related parts, FIG. 9A is a plan view of an equal distribution block according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9
Figure B is a sectional view in the BB direction in Figure 9A,
and FIG. 9C is a perspective view of the equivalent distribution block. In the figure, 1...hopper, 31,50
... Equal distribution block, 32a, 32b, 53,
54, 55, 56...first runway section, 33a, 33
b, 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b... second slideway section, 36... second main body, 43... cylindrical hole, 60... threaded hole, l... ridge line, P... apex.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. At least a pair of opposing first slide portions, each forming a part of the circumferential surface of the same truncated inverted cone, at the level of the bottom surface of the truncated inverted cone, and 1st
Consisting of at least a pair of opposing second runway parts formed by a plane inclined downward at a predetermined angle from a twill line or apex located at the center between the runway parts,
The out-of-plane shape is a single equal distribution block having a shape in which a pair of chords or notches are formed on the outer contour of the upper surface of the truncated inverted cone to correspond to the lower end of the second slideway section. , the cylindrical hole of the hopper body has a truncated inverted conical hole and a cylindrical hole connected downwardly to the hopper body, and the bottom surface of the truncated inverted conical hole is connected to the equal distribution block. The hopper is fitted tightly so as to match the level of the upper edge of the first sliding part, and is tightened by screwing a bolt into a threaded hole formed in the cylindrical peripheral wall part of the hopper main body that forms the cylindrical hole. A hopper characterized by being fixed to the main body. 2. A first step of cutting a hole in the shape of a truncated inverted cone starting from the outline of this surface on at least the upper or lower surface of a solid cylindrical material; then on the bottom surface of said hole and on said upper or lower surface; a second step of cutting a pair of flat surfaces having a width equal to the diameter of the bottom surface of the hole at a predetermined angle downward in opposite directions from the diameter line of the hole; A method for manufacturing a hopper, characterized in that the hopper is tightly fitted into a cylindrical hole of a separately processed hopper body and fixed to the hopper body.