JP2007039200A

JP2007039200A - Part supply device

Info

Publication number: JP2007039200A
Application number: JP2005225214A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Hisato Suzuki; 久登鈴木; Hiroshi Okano; 浩岡野
Original assignee: NTN Corp; NTN Toyo Bearing Co Ltd
Current assignee: NTN Corp
Priority date: 2005-08-03
Filing date: 2005-08-03
Publication date: 2007-02-15

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently perform its preparatory work when changing a kind of part supplied by a part supply device. <P>SOLUTION: A shaft 13 for arranging a carrying groove 14 forming a part of a carrying passage 8 on an outer peripheral surface, is detachably installed on a body of an aligning supplying trough 3 of the part supply device. Its carrying groove 14 is formed so as to have a cross-sectional shape of fitting a part of the part P of a predetermined attitude, to open upward in both end parts of the shaft 13 and to be twisted around the axis of the shaft 13 between both end parts. A part aligning part 12 is formed of the shaft 13 by providing the part aligning function. When changing a kind of the supplying part, only the shaft 13 is preferably replaced with a shaft having the carrying groove corresponding to a dimension and a shape of the part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、部品を搬送しながらその姿勢を揃えて次工程に供給する部品供給装置に関する。 The present invention relates to a component supply apparatus that supplies components to the next process while conveying the components.

一般に、例えば図５に示すような形状の部品Ｐを搬送しながらその姿勢を揃えて次工程に供給する部品供給装置としては、振動式のボウルフィーダと直進フィーダとを組み合わせたものや、回転ドラムと振動式直進フィーダとを組み合わせたドラム式フィーダ（例えば、特許文献１参照。）がよく用いられる。また、２台の振動式直進フィーダを、その一方が整列供給用、他方がリターン用として部品を互いに反対方向に搬送するように配置したリターン式フィーダ（例えば、特許文献２参照。）も、前記の２つのタイプよりコンパクトで設置スペースが少なくてすむため、数多く使用されている。
特開２００３−２７５９２９号公報特開昭５８−６３６１０号公報 In general, for example, as a component supply device that supplies a component P having a shape as shown in FIG. 5 while aligning its posture and supplying it to the next process, a combination of a vibratory bowl feeder and a linear feeder, or a rotating drum A drum-type feeder (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) in which a vibration linearly moving feeder is combined is often used. A return type feeder (see, for example, Patent Document 2) in which two vibration type linearly moving feeders, one of which is used for alignment supply and the other is used for return, is arranged so as to convey parts in opposite directions. It is used in many cases because it is more compact than the two types and requires less installation space.
JP 2003-275929 A JP 58-63610 A

上記のような部品供給装置では、通常、直進フィーダ（リターン式フィーダでは整列供給用のもの）の搬送部材で部品を搬送しながら、その搬送路の途中に設けた部品整列部で部品の姿勢を揃えるようにしている。ところが、寸法や形状が互いに異なる多種の部品を供給対象とする場合は、部品の種類によって部品整列部の寸法や形状も異なるため、供給する部品の種類が変わるごとに搬送部材全体を取り換える必要があり、段取り時間が長くなるという問題があった。 In the component supply apparatus as described above, the component is usually conveyed by the conveyance member of the linear feeder (for alignment supply in the return type feeder), and the posture of the component is adjusted by the component alignment unit provided in the middle of the conveyance path. I try to align them. However, when supplying various types of parts with different dimensions and shapes, the size and shape of the parts alignment section also differ depending on the type of parts, so it is necessary to replace the entire conveying member each time the type of parts to be supplied changes. There was a problem that setup time became long.

これに対して、搬送部材の部品整列部として、２本の長尺材を所定姿勢の部品が嵌まり込む隙間をおいて平行に配置し、その隙間にガイドされない姿勢の部品を排除するようにした装置では、供給する部品の種類が変わった場合にも、長尺材の隙間調整で対応でき、搬送部材全体の取換えが不要な場合が多い。しかし、部品の寸法や形状に応じた細かな隙間調整には手間がかかり、段取り時間は搬送部材全体を取り換える場合と大きく変わらない。また、部品点数が多いため、組立時の工数が多く作業が面倒である。 On the other hand, as the parts alignment part of the conveying member, two long materials are arranged in parallel with a gap into which a part in a predetermined posture is fitted, and parts in a posture not guided by the gap are excluded. In such an apparatus, even when the type of components to be supplied changes, it is possible to cope with the gap adjustment of the long material, and it is often unnecessary to replace the entire conveying member. However, it takes time and effort to finely adjust the gap according to the dimensions and shape of the parts, and the setup time is not much different from when the entire conveying member is replaced. Moreover, since the number of parts is large, the number of man-hours during assembly is large and the work is troublesome.

一方、搬送路の途中に設けたセンサで部品の姿勢を判別して、所定の姿勢でない部品を圧縮空気等で強制的に搬送路から排除することにより部品の整列を行う方法もあるが、この方法では、整列精度の確保が難しく、所定の姿勢でない部品を次工程に供給してしまうことがある。 On the other hand, there is also a method of aligning parts by discriminating the posture of the parts with a sensor provided in the middle of the conveyance path and forcibly removing parts that are not in a predetermined posture from the conveyance path with compressed air or the like. In this method, it is difficult to ensure alignment accuracy, and parts that are not in a predetermined posture may be supplied to the next process.

本発明の課題は、部品供給装置で供給する部品の種類を変える際に、その段取り作業を効率よく行えるようにすることである。 An object of the present invention is to make it possible to efficiently perform the setup work when changing the type of component supplied by the component supply apparatus.

上記の課題を解決するため、本発明は、搬送部材の部品整列部を、搬送部材本体に着脱可能に取り付けられるシャフトの外周面に、前記搬送路の一部を形成し、部品整列機能を有する搬送溝を設けたものとした。 In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has a component alignment function by forming a part alignment portion of a transfer member on the outer peripheral surface of a shaft that is detachably attached to the transfer member body, and forming a part of the transfer path. A conveyance groove was provided.

すなわち、搬送部材の部品整列部を、搬送部材本体に着脱可能に取り付けられる別体の部材で形成し、供給する部品の種類を変える際には、部品整列部を形成する部材だけを、種類変更後の部品の寸法や形状に適応したものに取り換えればよいようにしたのである。 In other words, the parts alignment part of the transport member is formed by a separate member that is detachably attached to the transport member body, and when changing the type of parts to be supplied, only the member that forms the part alignment part is changed. They can be replaced with ones that are suitable for the dimensions and shape of the later parts.

ここで、前記シャフトを丸棒形状とすれば、搬送溝の加工が容易になる。 Here, if the shaft has a round bar shape, the processing of the conveying groove is facilitated.

前記搬送溝は、所定の姿勢の部品の少なくとも一部が嵌まり込む断面形状を有し、かつシャフトの両端部で上方に開口し、両端部の間ではシャフトの中心軸のまわりにねじれるように形成されていることにより、部品整列機能を有するものとすることができる。 The conveying groove has a cross-sectional shape into which at least a part of a part in a predetermined posture is fitted, opens upward at both ends of the shaft, and is twisted around the central axis of the shaft between both ends. By being formed, it can have a component alignment function.

上記の構成において、前記部品が、搬送溝に所定の姿勢で嵌まり込んだときに搬送溝の側壁と対向する面に凹凸を有するものである場合は、搬送溝の側壁に部品の凹凸と係合する抜け止め部を形成すれば、搬送溝のねじれ角度を大きくすることにより、搬送溝に嵌まり込まない姿勢の部品をより確実に落下させて排除することができ、部品整列精度を向上させることができる。 In the above configuration, when the component has irregularities on the surface facing the side wall of the conveyance groove when fitted in the conveyance groove in a predetermined posture, the irregularity of the component is associated with the side wall of the conveyance groove. By forming a retaining part that fits together, by increasing the twist angle of the conveying groove, parts with a posture that does not fit in the conveying groove can be more reliably dropped and eliminated, improving the part alignment accuracy be able to.

本発明の部品供給装置は、上述したように、搬送部材の部品整列部を、搬送部材本体に着脱可能に取り付けられるシャフトで形成したものであるから、シャフトの交換によって寸法や形状が互いに異なる多種の部品を供給することができ、しかも供給する部品の種類を変える際には段取りにかかる時間が短く、効率よく作業できる。 As described above, the component supply device of the present invention is formed by forming the component aligning portion of the conveying member with a shaft that is detachably attached to the conveying member main body. In addition, when changing the type of parts to be supplied, the time required for setup is short and the work can be performed efficiently.

また、部品をガイドする２本の長尺材で部品整列部を形成したタイプの装置に比べて、部品点数が少ないため、組立時の工数が少なく作業が簡単である。一方、センサ等を用いて搬送路のごく一部で部品の整列を行う方法に比べると、長い距離で部品を整列させるので、整列精度を確保しやすく、部品の安定供給が可能である。さらに、搬送面がシャフト表面に形成されるので、搬送面の清掃が容易で、安定した部品搬送が行えるという効果もある。 In addition, since the number of parts is small as compared with an apparatus of a type in which a part alignment portion is formed by two long materials for guiding parts, the number of man-hours during assembly is small and the work is easy. On the other hand, compared to the method of aligning parts in a very small part of the transport path using a sensor or the like, the parts are aligned at a long distance. Therefore, it is easy to ensure alignment accuracy and stable supply of the parts is possible. Furthermore, since the conveying surface is formed on the shaft surface, there is an effect that the conveying surface is easy to clean and stable component conveyance can be performed.

以下、図面に基づき、本発明の実施形態を説明する。この部品供給装置は、図１および図２に示すように、２台の振動式直進フィーダ１、２が部品を互いに反対方向に搬送するように並べて配置されたリターン式フィーダで、一方の直進フィーダ１が整列供給用のトラフ（搬送部材）３を、他方の直進フィーダ２がリターン用のトラフ（搬送部材）４を有している。また、対象とする部品Ｐは、図５に示した形状の防水コネクタ用ゴム栓で、円筒の一端側に断面外形が波形のシール部Ｓが形成されたものである。 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this component supply apparatus is a return type feeder in which two vibration type linear feeders 1 and 2 are arranged side by side so as to convey components in opposite directions, and one linear feeder. Reference numeral 1 denotes an alignment supply trough (conveying member) 3, and the other linear feeder 2 has a return trough (conveying member) 4. Further, the target component P is a waterproof connector rubber plug having the shape shown in FIG. 5, in which a seal portion S having a corrugated cross-sectional shape is formed on one end side of a cylinder.

前記一方の直進フィーダ１は、床Ｆに固定される基台５に防振ゴム６を介して振動体７を取り付け、この振動体７を整列供給用トラフ３に連結したもので、振動体７によりトラフ３を往復振動させて、部品Ｐを搬送路８に沿って図面右方向へ搬送し、その排出端から次工程に供給するようになっている。また、他方の直進フィーダ２は、そのリターン用トラフ４を板ばね９で振動体７の連結部材７ａに連結されており、振動体７によりリターン用トラフ４を往復振動させて、整列供給用トラフ３から受け取った部品Ｐを戻し搬送路１０に沿って図面左方向へ搬送し、再び整列供給用トラフ３に供給するようになっている。 The one linear feeder 1 is configured such that a vibrating body 7 is attached to a base 5 fixed to a floor F via an anti-vibration rubber 6, and this vibrating body 7 is connected to an alignment supply trough 3. Thus, the trough 3 is reciprocally oscillated to convey the component P along the conveyance path 8 in the right direction of the drawing and to supply the next process from its discharge end. Further, the other straight advance feeder 2 has its return trough 4 connected to the connecting member 7a of the vibrating body 7 by a leaf spring 9, and the return trough 4 is reciprocally vibrated by the vibrating body 7. 3 is conveyed to the left in the drawing along the return conveyance path 10 and supplied again to the alignment supply trough 3.

前記整列供給用トラフ３は、その搬送路８途中の段差部に、部品Ｐを立たせるようにガイドする側板１１が設けられ、その下流側に部品Ｐの整列搬送を行う部品整列部１２が設けられている。この部品整列部１２は、トラフ３の本体に着脱可能に取り付けられる丸棒形状のシャフト１３の外周面に、搬送路８の一部を形成する搬送溝１４を設けたものである。そのシャフト１３は、図３に供給端側の例を示すように、トラフ３本体の取付板３ａにボルト止めされた固定部材１５、１６の凹部に嵌め込まれ、簡単に取り替えられるようになっている。また、搬送路８の側方には、搬送路８から排除された部品Ｐを受けて、リターン用トラフ４に送る受板１７が取り付けられている。 The alignment supply trough 3 is provided with a side plate 11 that guides the component P so that the component P stands in a step portion in the middle of the conveyance path 8, and a component alignment unit 12 that aligns and conveys the component P on the downstream side. It has been. The component aligning portion 12 is provided with a conveying groove 14 that forms a part of the conveying path 8 on the outer peripheral surface of a round bar-shaped shaft 13 that is detachably attached to the main body of the trough 3. The shaft 13 is fitted into the recesses of the fixing members 15 and 16 bolted to the mounting plate 3a of the trough 3 body as shown in FIG. 3 on the supply end side, and can be easily replaced. . A receiving plate 17 is attached to the side of the conveyance path 8 to receive the component P removed from the conveyance path 8 and send it to the return trough 4.

そして、前記シャフト１３の搬送溝１４は、図４（ａ）〜（ｆ）に示すように、一端をシャフト１３中心軸に向けた部品Ｐのシール部Ｓが嵌まり込む断面形状を有し、かつシャフト１３の両端部で上方に開口し、両端部の間ではシャフト１３の中心軸のまわりにねじれるように形成されている。そのねじれ角度は最大で約７０度であり、ねじれ角度が最大となる位置より下流側は、緩やかな上り勾配として搬送力を維持するようにしている。また、図３にも示したように、搬送溝１４側壁の開口縁部には、部品Ｐのシール部Ｓの凹凸と係合する抜け止め部としての突条１４ａが形成されている。 And the conveyance groove 14 of the said shaft 13 has a cross-sectional shape in which the seal part S of the components P which turned one end to the shaft 13 central axis fits, as shown to Fig.4 (a)-(f), In addition, the shaft 13 is formed so as to open upward at both ends of the shaft 13 and to be twisted around the central axis of the shaft 13 between both ends. The twist angle is about 70 degrees at the maximum, and the downstream side of the position where the twist angle is maximum is maintained as a gentle upward gradient to maintain the conveying force. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a protrusion 14 a is formed on the opening edge of the side wall of the conveying groove 14 as a retaining portion that engages with the unevenness of the seal portion S of the component P.

一方、前記リターン用トラフ４は、図１および図２に示したように、整列供給用トラフ３の受板１７から送られてくる部品Ｐを戻し搬送して再び搬送路８供給端に戻し供給するために、鋸歯状断面の戻し搬送路１０が受板１７排出端の側方から搬送路８供給端の側方まで傾斜した状態で形成されている。 On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the return trough 4 returns and conveys the component P sent from the receiving plate 17 of the alignment supply trough 3 and returns it to the supply end of the conveyance path 8 again. Therefore, the return conveyance path 10 having a sawtooth cross section is formed in an inclined state from the side of the receiving end of the receiving plate 17 to the side of the supply end of the conveyance path 8.

次に、図４に基づいて、部品Ｐの流れを説明する。まず、整列供給用トラフ３の搬送路８供給端に供給された部品Ｐは、搬送路８途中の段差部で側板１１にガイドされ、その多くが立った姿勢（シール部Ｓを下向きにした姿勢）となる（図４（ａ）、（ｂ））。その下流で、立った姿勢の部品Ｐは、シール部Ｓをシャフト１３の供給端部の搬送溝１４に嵌め込むようにして部品整列部１２に搬送される（図４（ｃ））。一方、シール部Ｓを上向きにした部品Ｐは搬送路８から受板１７へ落下し、長手方向を搬送方向に向けた部品Ｐは、搬送溝１４の開口縁部に載るようにして搬送されていく。部品整列部１２では、搬送溝１４のねじれ角度が最大となる位置の付近で、長手方向を搬送方向に向けた部品Ｐが自重により受板１７へ落下する（図４（ｄ））。これに対して、シール部Ｓを搬送溝１４に嵌め込んだ部品Ｐは、搬送溝１４のねじれとともに傾いていくが、搬送溝１４の突条１４ａに抜け止めされて落下することなく搬送され（図４（ｅ））、シャフト１３の排出端付近で再び立った姿勢となって次工程に供給される（図４（ｆ））。また、受板１７に落下した部品Ｐは、前述したように、リターン用トラフ４に送られて戻し搬送路１０で搬送され、再び整列供給用トラフ３に戻される（図４（ｂ））。 Next, the flow of the component P will be described with reference to FIG. First, the component P supplied to the supply end of the conveying path 8 of the alignment supply trough 3 is guided by the side plate 11 at a stepped portion in the middle of the conveying path 8 and a posture in which most of the parts stand (an attitude in which the seal portion S faces downward). (FIGS. 4A and 4B). On the downstream side, the component P in a standing posture is conveyed to the component alignment unit 12 so that the seal portion S is fitted in the conveyance groove 14 at the supply end of the shaft 13 (FIG. 4C). On the other hand, the component P with the seal portion S facing upward falls from the conveyance path 8 to the receiving plate 17, and the component P whose longitudinal direction is directed to the conveyance direction is conveyed so as to be placed on the opening edge of the conveyance groove 14. Go. In the component aligning section 12, the component P having the longitudinal direction in the transport direction falls to the receiving plate 17 by its own weight in the vicinity of the position where the twist angle of the transport groove 14 becomes maximum (FIG. 4 (d)). On the other hand, the component P in which the seal portion S is fitted in the conveyance groove 14 is inclined with the twist of the conveyance groove 14, but is transported without being dropped by the protrusion 14 a of the conveyance groove 14 ( 4 (e)), the posture is again stood near the discharge end of the shaft 13 and supplied to the next process (FIG. 4 (f)). Further, as described above, the component P dropped on the receiving plate 17 is sent to the return trough 4, is transported in the return transport path 10, and is returned to the alignment supply trough 3 again (FIG. 4B).

この部品供給装置は、上記の構成であり、供給する部品の種類を変える際には、部品整列部を形成するシャフトだけを、部品の寸法や形状に応じた搬送溝を有するものに取り換えればよいので、段取りにかかる時間が短く、効率よく作業できる。 This component supply device has the above-described configuration, and when changing the type of component to be supplied, only the shaft forming the component alignment portion is replaced with one having a conveyance groove corresponding to the size and shape of the component. Because it is good, it takes less time to set up and can work efficiently.

なお、本発明は、実施形態のようなリターン式フィーダに限らず、直進フィーダでの搬送の途中で部品整列を行うタイプの部品供給装置に広く適用できる。 The present invention is not limited to the return-type feeder as in the embodiment, and can be widely applied to a component supply apparatus of a type that aligns components in the middle of conveyance with a linear feeder.

実施形態の部品供給装置の正面図Front view of the component supply apparatus of the embodiment 図１の平面図Plan view of FIG. 図１のシャフトの取付状態を示す断面図Sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of the shaft of FIG. ａは図１の部品供給装置のシャフト構造および部品の流れの説明図、ｂはａの要部の平面図、ｃはａのＣ−Ｃ線に沿った断面図、ｄ、ｅはａのＤ−Ｄ線に沿った断面での部品姿勢による挙動の違いの説明図、ｆはａのＦ−Ｆ線に沿った断面図1 is an explanatory diagram of the shaft structure and the flow of components of the component supply apparatus of FIG. 1, b is a plan view of the main part of a, c is a sectional view taken along the line CC of a, and d and e are D of a. Explanatory drawing of the difference in the behavior by the component posture in the cross section along the -D line, f is a cross-sectional view along the FF line of a ａは部品の一例の正面図、ｂはａの平面図a is a front view of an example of a part, b is a plan view of a

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１、２直進フィーダ
３、４トラフ（搬送部材）
８、１０搬送路
１１側板
１２部品整列部
１３シャフト
１４搬送溝
１４ａ突条（抜け止め部）
１５、１６固定部材
１７受板
Ｐ部品
Ｓシール部 1, 2, Straight feeder 3, 4 Trough (conveying member)
8, 10 Conveying path 11 Side plate 12 Parts alignment part 13 Shaft 14 Conveying groove 14a Projection (preventing part)
15, 16 Fixing member 17 Receiving plate P Parts S Seal part

Claims

部品を搬送部材で搬送しながら、その搬送路の途中に設けた部品整列部で姿勢を揃えて次工程に供給する部品供給装置において、前記搬送部材の部品整列部を、搬送部材本体に着脱可能に取り付けられるシャフトの外周面に、前記搬送路の一部を形成し、部品整列機能を有する搬送溝を設けたものとしたことを特徴とする部品供給装置。 In the parts supply device that supplies parts to the next process with the parts aligned in the middle of the conveying path while conveying the parts with the conveying member, the parts aligning part of the conveying member can be attached to and detached from the conveying member body. A part supply device, wherein a part of the transport path is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a shaft attached to the base, and a transport groove having a part alignment function is provided.

前記シャフトを丸棒形状としたことを特徴とする請求項１に記載の部品供給装置。 The component supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft has a round bar shape.

前記搬送溝が、所定の姿勢の部品の少なくとも一部が嵌まり込む断面形状を有し、かつ前記シャフトの両端部で上方に開口し、両端部の間ではシャフトの中心軸のまわりにねじれるように形成されていることを特徴とする請求項１または２に記載の部品供給装置。 The conveying groove has a cross-sectional shape into which at least a part of a part in a predetermined posture is fitted, and opens upward at both ends of the shaft, and is twisted around the central axis of the shaft between both ends. The component supply device according to claim 1, wherein the component supply device is formed as described above.

前記部品が、前記搬送溝に所定の姿勢で嵌まり込んだときに搬送溝の側壁と対向する面に凹凸を有するものであり、前記搬送溝の側壁に、前記部品の凹凸と係合する抜け止め部を形成したことを特徴とする請求項３に記載の部品供給装置。 The component has irregularities on the surface facing the side wall of the conveyance groove when fitted in the conveyance groove in a predetermined posture, and the side wall of the conveyance groove is engaged with the irregularity of the component. The component supply device according to claim 3, wherein a stop portion is formed.