Bulk material feeder

Abstract

A bulk material feeder is provided, comprising: a feeder main body; a rail element that is removably attached to the feeder main body and has a feed area that opens upwards to feed a component to be picked up; a flap that is designed to be opened and closed on the rail element and is configured to close an opening of the feed area when closed; a movable element that is provided on the feeder main body to be movable in an opening and closing direction of the flap; and a coupling section that is configured to couple the flap and the movable element by the attractive force of a pair of magnets, each provided at facing positions of the flap and the movable element when the rail element is positioned at a predetermined mounting position on the feeder main body.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a bulk material feeder. State of the art

[0002] A bulk material feeder is installed on a component assembly system that mounts components onto a platform and serves to feed components in bulk into a feed area. When the type of component fed by the bulk material feeder changes, maintenance work, such as removing the components remaining in the feeder, is performed in addition to replacing the component container. One type of bulk material feeder features a rail element, which incorporates a feed area and a component conveying path, configured to be removable from the feeder's main body for improved ease of maintenance. Furthermore, the rail element is equipped with a flap capable of closing the feed area to prevent components from scattering and becoming mixed with foreign matter. List of oppositions patent literature

[0003] Patent literature 1:WO: 2021 / 095219 Summary of the invention: Technical problem

[0004] In a case where the flap described above is designed to open and close relative to the rail element and forms a removable unit with it, the rail element and the flap must be positioned in their respective mounting positions when the unit is attached to the feeder main body. If an error occurs in the flap's positioning at this stage, it can lead to a malfunction during operation. Furthermore, the requirement to position both elements precisely when attaching the unit can result in reduced efficiency.

[0005] One objective of this description is to provide a bulk material feeder that improves the ease of maintenance and the efficiency of fastening and removal in a design where a unit with a component conveying path is removable. Problem solving

[0006] According to the present description, a bulk material feeder is disclosed, comprising: a feeder main body; a rail element that is removably attached to the feeder main body and has a feed area that opens upwards to feed a component to be picked up; a flap that is designed to be opened and closed on the rail element and is configured to close an opening of the feed area in a closed state; a movable element that is provided on the feeder main body to be movable in an opening and closing direction of the flap; and a coupling section that is configured to couple the flap and the movable element by the attractive force of a pair of magnets, which are provided at facing positions of the flap and the movable element, respectively, when the rail element is positioned at a predetermined mounting position on the feeder main body.

[0007] The present description also discloses a technical idea in which “the bulk material feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 5” in claim 8, as originally filed in the application, is amended to “the bulk material feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 7”, and a technical idea in which “the bulk material feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 5” in claim 9, as originally filed in the application, is amended to “the bulk material feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 8”. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0008] With this configuration, ease of maintenance can be improved, as the unit comprising the rail element and the flap can be removed from the feeder main body. Since the coupling section couples the flap and the movable element through the magnetic force of the magnet pair, positioning the flap during attachment is no longer necessary, and the efficiency of attaching and removing the unit comprising the rail element and the flap can be improved. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a top view that schematically depicts a component assembly facility with a bulk material feeder. Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the bulk material feeder. Fig. Figure 3 is a side view that schematically depicts a main section of the bulk material feeder, a conveying unit located away from the feeder main body, and a component container. Fig. 4 is a top view from direction IV in the Fig. 3 considered. Fig. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the feeder main body and a distant rail unit. Fig. Figure 6A is a top view showing a first aspect of a coupling section. Fig. Figure 6B is a top view showing a second aspect of the coupling section. Fig. 6C is a top view showing a third aspect of the coupling section. Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the opening and closing process of a flap. Description of embodiments

[0009] The bulk material feeder 20 is described with reference to the drawings. The bulk material feeder 20 is, for example, installed in a component assembly device 10 for mounting components onto a plate. The bulk material feeder 20 feeds components in a bulk state, which are not packaged in a carrier belt, stick, or the like. 1. Configuration of the component assembly facility 10

[0010] The component assembly unit 10, together with several other types of sheet processing machines, including, for example, another component assembly unit 10, forms a production line for manufacturing sheet products. The sheet processing machines used in the production line described above may include a printer, an inspection device, a reflow oven, and the like. 1-1. Plate conveyor device 11

[0011] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the component assembly device 10 comprises a plate conveyor device 11. The plate conveyor device 11 conveys the plate 91 in the conveying direction and positions the plate 91 at a predetermined position within the component assembly device 10. 1-2. Component feeding device 12

[0012] The component assembly device 10 includes a component feeder 12. The component feeder 12 feeds components to be mounted on the plate 91. The component feeder 12 comprises feeders 122, each installed in several slots 121. A belt feeder, which supplies components for pickup by, for example, feeding and moving a carrier belt that holds a large number of components, is used as a feeder 122. In addition, a bulk material feeder 20 is used as a feeder 122, which supplies components picked up in bulk for pickup. Details of the bulk material feeder 20 are described below. 1-3. Component transfer device 13

[0013] The component assembly device 10 comprises a component transfer device 13. The component transfer device 13 transfers a component fed by the component feed device 12 to a predetermined mounting position on the plate 91. The component transfer device 13 comprises a head drive device 131, a movement section 132, a mounting head 133, and suction nozzles 134. The head drive device 131 moves the movement section 132 by means of a linear motion mechanism in a horizontal direction (X-direction and Y-direction). The mounting head 133 is removably fixed to the movement section 132 by means of a clamping element (not shown) and is designed to be movable in the horizontal direction within the component assembly device.

[0014] The assembly head 133 carries several suction nozzles 134 in a rotatable and liftable manner. The suction nozzle 134 is a holding element that picks up and holds a component fed by the feeder 122. The suction nozzle 134 picks up the component fed by the feeder 122 using supplied vacuum air. A chuck or the like can also be used as a holding element to be attached to the assembly head 133, which holds the component by gripping it. 1-4. Parts camera 14 and plate camera 15

[0015] The component assembly device 10 comprises a part camera 14 and a plate camera 15. The part camera 14 and the plate camera 15 are digital imaging devices, each having an imaging element such as a CMOS sensor. The part camera 14 and the plate camera 15 perform the imaging based on a control signal and transmit the image data obtained through the imaging process. The part camera 14 is configured to image a component held by the suction nozzle 134 from below. The plate camera 15 is mounted on the movement section 132 such that it can be moved horizontally as a single unit with the assembly head 133. The plate camera 15 is configured to image the plate 91 from above.

[0016] In addition to using a surface of the plate 915 as an imaging target, the plate camera 15 can use various devices or the like as imaging targets, as long as the various devices are located within a movable range of the movement section 132. For example, in the present embodiment, the plate camera 15 can, as shown in the Fig. Figure 4 shows the feed area As, to which the bulk material feeder 20 feeds a component or a measuring mark 59, which is provided on an upper part of the bulk material feeder 20 within a camera field of view. In this way, the plate camera 15 can be used to image different imaging targets in order to obtain the image data that is used for different types of image processing. 1-5. Control device 16

[0017] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the component assembly device 10 includes a control device 16. The control device 16 is primarily configured with a CPU and various types of memory, a control circuit, and a storage device. Various data, including a control program for controlling the assembly process and the like, are stored in the control device 16. The control program specifies the assembly position, the assembly angle, and the component type of the component to be mounted on the plate 91 in a planned assembly sequence during the assembly process.

[0018] The control device 16 performs a recognition processing of the holding state of a component held by each of the several holding elements (suction nozzles 134). In particular, the control device 16 performs image processing on image data obtained by imaging with a partial camera 14 and recognizes the position and angle of each component relative to a reference position of the assembly head 133. Here, the control device 16 can perform image processing on image data obtained by imaging the component, for example, from the side, from below, or from above with a head camera unit that is integrally provided with the assembly head 133 in addition to the partial camera 14.

[0019] The control device 16 controls an assembly operation of the component by the assembly head 133 based on the control program to execute the assembly process. Here, the assembly process comprises a process in which a placement cycle (a pick-and-place (PP) cycle), which includes a pick-up operation and a placement operation, is repeated multiple times. The "pick-up operation" described above is an operation in which a component fed by the component feeder 12 is picked up by the suction nozzle 134. Furthermore, the "placement operation" described above is an operation in which the picked-up component is placed on the plate 91 at a predetermined mounting angle and in a predetermined mounting position.

[0020] The control device 16 controls an operation of the component feeding device 12, including the bulk material feeder 20, when the retrieval operation is performed. The control for the bulk material feeder 20 as a target includes, for example, the control of a component feeding operation by the bulk material feeder 20. The control device 16 detects the feeding states of several components in the feeding area As of the bulk material feeder 20 based on the image data obtained from the camera (in the present embodiment, the plate camera 15).

[0021] The feed condition detection processing comprises a processing step to detect whether a component to be picked up is located in the feed area As, and a processing step to detect the position and angle of the component if a component to be picked up is present. The control device 16 then controls an operation of the assembly head 133 in a picking operation based on the result of the feed condition detection processing. During the assembly operation, the control device 16 controls the operation of the assembly head 133 based on information output by various sensors, the result of image processing, the control program, or the like. In this way, the positions and angles of several suction nozzles 134 carried by the assembly head 133 are controlled.This ensures that the component held by the suction nozzle 134 is mounted at a predetermined mounting position and at a predetermined mounting angle, as specified by the control program. 2. Configuration of the bulk material feeder 20

[0022] The bulk material feeder 20 is installed in the component assembly unit 10 and functions as part of the component feeding device. The bulk material feeder 20 delivers components that are in a bulk state, in which the components are not aligned as they would be on a conveyor belt (in an irregular state where their respective positions are not regular). Since the bulk material feeder 20, unlike a belt feeder, does not use a conveyor belt, the advantage is that loading the conveyor belt, removing the used belt, and similar tasks are eliminated.

[0023] For example, there is a bulk material feeder 20 of a type that feeds a component in an irregular position to a feed area As with a flat shape. However, if the components are so close together that they touch or overlap (a state in which they lie on top of each other in the up-down direction), or if the components are arranged horizontally in the feed area As with their width directions aligned in the up-down direction, the component assembly device 10 cannot consider the components as pick-up targets. To increase the proportion of components that can be picked up, there is therefore a bulk material feeder 20 of a type that delivers components to the feed area As in an aligned state. In the present embodiment, a bulk material feeder 20 of a type in which the components are aligned is described as an example. 2-1. Feeder main body 21 and support element 22

[0024] As in the Fig. 2 and the Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the bulk material feeder 20 comprises a feeder main body 21. The feeder main body 21 is designed in the form of a flat box. At a front section (the right end section in the Fig. 3) The feeder main body 21 is provided with a connector 211 and two pins 212. When the feeder main body 21 is installed in the slot 121 of the component feeder 12, power is supplied via the connector 211, and the feeder main body 21 can communicate with the control device 16 of the component assembly device 10. Two pins 212 are inserted into guide holes provided in the slot 121 to position the feeder main body 21 when it is installed in the slot 121.

[0025] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the bulk material feeder 20 includes a support element 22. The support element 22 is designed to vibrate relative to the feeder main body 21. The support element 22 is in the form of a block extending in the front-to-back direction of the feeder main body 21 and supports the rail element 51, which is attached to an upper surface. The support element 22 is subjected to a predetermined vibration by the vibration device 24 described below. In the present embodiment, the rail element 51, supported by the support element 22, is fixed by the locking element 80. Either a screw type or a chuck type is used on the locking element 80. The detailed configuration of the locking element 80 is described below. 2-2. Conveying unit 40.

[0026] As in the Fig. 2 and the Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the bulk material feeder 20 comprises a conveying unit 40. The conveying unit 40 is removable and attached to the feeder main body 21. The conveying unit 40 carries the component container 45. The conveying unit 40 is a unit for conveying a component from an area to the feed area As, where the component dispensed from the component container 45 is collected.

[0027] After the bulk material feeder 20 has been used for a predetermined assembly operation, a type of maintenance operation, a removal operation, is performed to remove all components inside the feeder and prepare it for the next use. The conveying unit 40, serving as a flow path for components to improve efficiency, is configured to be removable from the feeder main body 21, provided the removal operations described above are carried out. In the present embodiment, the conveying unit 40 comprises a container holder 41, a rail unit 42, and a coupling element 43.

[0028] The component container 45 is an external device that holds several components in a bulk state. The component container 45 is interchangeably arranged in the container holder 41 in the conveying unit 40 of the bulk material feeder 20. Similar to the feeder main body 21, the component container 45 is designed in a flat, box-like shape. The component container 45 is arranged in the container holder 41, and a component can be dispensed from a discharge opening formed in a lower section. 2-2-1. Container holder 41

[0029] The container holder 41 is designed to vibrate relative to the feeder main body 21. The container holder 41 is vibrated by a vibration device (not shown). The container holder 41 supports the inserted component container 45. The container holder 41 receives a component dispensed from the component container 45. In the present embodiment, a section of the container holder 41 that receives the component has an inclined surface that is inclined forward relative to a horizontal surface. The container holder 41 is designed with a flow path for components that extends upward from a lower end section of the inclined surface described above. 2-2-2. Rail unit 42

[0030] The rail unit 42 comprises a rail element that is removablely attached to the feeder main body 21. The rail element 51 is attached to the feeder main body 21 via a support element 22. Thus, the rail element 51 is vibrated by the vibration device 24 via the support element 22. The rail element 51 is designed with a conveying path R through which several components are conveyed, and a feed area As, which communicates with the conveying path R and is open at the top so that the multiple components can be picked up. Here, the "feed area As" is an area into which the component is fed in a bulk state and is an area from which the components can be picked up by the component assembly device 10. Furthermore, the "conveying path R" is a component passage through which the components flowing from the container holder side 41 to the rail element 51 are conveyed to the feed area As.

[0031] The rail element 51 is designed to form a complete shape in a front-to-back direction (the right-to-left direction in the Fig. 3) of the feeder main body 21. In the present embodiment, as in the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the alignment element 52 is interchangeably attached to the rail element 51. The alignment element 52 is, for example, one or more plate-shaped elements. In this way, the rail unit 42 is standardized by attaching one of several types of alignment elements 52, corresponding to the shapes of several types of components, to the common rail element 51.

[0032] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the alignment element 52 forms several cavities 55 arranged in a predetermined pattern (in the present embodiment, a zigzag pattern). Each of the several cavities 55 has a rectangular shape that is slightly larger than the outer shape of a component fed by the bulk material feeder 20. In this way, the bulk material feeder 20 comprises several cavities 55 in which the component is received in a position where the thickness direction of the component runs in the up-down direction, in a feed area As in which the component is fed in such a way that it can be picked up.

[0033] A pair of side walls 56, projecting upwards, are located on both edges of the rail unit 42 in the width direction (in the Fig. 4 in the up-down direction). A pair of side walls 56, together with the tip section 57 of the rail unit 42, surrounds a circumferential edge of the conveying path R to prevent the components conveyed via the conveying path R from escaping. A cover 58, which covers the conveying path R from above, is attached at a position above the rail element 51. The cover 58 is configured to prevent the components from exiting the conveying path R. A pair of left and right circular measuring marks 59, which indicate a reference position of the feed area As, are attached to an upper surface of the tip section 57.

[0034] The rail unit 42 comprises a flap unit 60, which is provided at a front end of the rail element 51. The flap unit 60 is designed to be opened and closed on the rail element 51 and includes a flap 61 that closes an opening of the feed area As when closed. When the rail unit 42 is attached to the feeder main body 21, the flap 61 is coupled to the flap drive device 25 via the coupling section 70 described below. The opening and closing of the flap 61 is controlled by the flap drive device 25. By opening and closing the flap 61, the bulk material feeder 20 can prevent the component from protruding and foreign matter from being mixed into the feed area As. Details of the flap 60 and the coupling section 70 are described below. 2-2-3. Coupling element

[0035] The coupling element 43 couples the container holder 41 and the rail unit 42 in such a way that several components can flow between them. The coupling element 43 has a tubular shape within which the multiple components can flow. The coupling element 43 is flexible and absorbs any vibration by deforming in accordance with the vibration of the container holder 41 and the vibration of the rail unit 42. Thus, the coupling element 43 reduces or blocks the vibration transmitted between the container holder 41 and the rail unit 42, which vibrate independently of each other. 2-3. Air supply device 23 and vibration device 24

[0036] The bulk material feeder 20 includes an air supply device 23 that supplies pressurized air to the conveying unit 40. When the conveying unit 40 is attached to the main body 21 of the conveyor, pressurized air is supplied to it by the air supply device 23, causing the various components to flow from the container holder 41 to the rail unit 42 via the coupling element 43. In the present embodiment, the air supply device 23 delivers the externally supplied pressurized air from below the container holder 41 based on a command from the feeder control device 26 described below.

[0037] The bulk material feeder 20 comprises a vibration device 24, which is provided in the feeder main body 21. The vibration device 24 exerts a vibration on the rail element 51, so that the several components are conveyed between the conveying path R, which communicates with the feed area As, and the feed area As. In the present embodiment, vibrations are applied to the rail element 51 by the vibration device 241 via the support element 22. When the vibration device 24 applies vibrations to the rail element 51, the rail element 51 performs an elliptical movement in a side view.

[0038] Thus, a forward and upward external force or a backward and upward external force is exerted on several components along the conveying path R, corresponding to a direction of rotation of the elliptical motion of the rail element 51. As a result, several components are conveyed to a front or a back side of the rail element 51. The bulk material feeder 20 can vary the conveying speed of the components, the degree of component dispersion, the conveying direction, and the like by controlling the frequency and amplitude of the vibration exerted on the rail element 51 and the direction of rotation of the elliptical motion caused by the vibration. 2-4. Flap drive device 25

[0039] The flap drive device 25 is a drive device that opens and closes the flap 61 of the flap unit 60 in a state in which the conveying unit 40 is attached to the feeder main body 21. The flap drive device 25 switches the flap 61 between a closed and an open state based on a command from the feeder control device 26. The closed state of the flap 61 is a state in which the flap 61 comes into contact with the rail element 51 and the opening of the feed area As is completely closed.

[0040] The open state of flap 61 is a state in which the opening of the supply area As is not closed and a main area of ​​the supply area As (area in which several cavities 55 are provided in the present embodiment) is exposed (see the Fig. 7) At this point, the suction nozzle 134 can perform a retrieval operation for components in any of the cavities 55. The state of the flap 61 includes an intermediate state between the closed state and the open state. The intermediate state of the flap 61 is a state in which the flap 61 is somewhat separated from the rail element 51 (separated to such an extent that the vibration of the rail element is not impeded and no components protrude from a gap). 2-5. Feeder control device 26

[0041] The bulk material feeder 20 includes a feeder control device 26. The feeder control device 26 is supplied with power via the connector 211 in a state in which the bulk material feeder 20 is inserted into a slot of the component assembly device 10 and is in a communication state with the control device of the component assembly device 10.

[0042] The feeder control device 26 controls the operation of the air supply device 23, the vibration device 24, the flap drive device 25, and the like. For example, the feeder control device 26 controls the operation of the vibration device 24 based on a predefined parameter such that the component feeding process is carried out. Thus, a vibration is exerted on the rail element 51, and the components on the conveying path R are moved in the conveying direction by absorbing the external force. The feeder control device 26 causes the operation of the flap drive device 25 to switch the flap 61 to a predetermined state. 3. Component feeding process of the bulk material feeder 20

[0043] A component feeding process is described using the bulk material feeder 20 configured as described above. First, the feeder control device 26 unloads components from the component container 45 based, for example, on an external feed command. Specifically, the feeder control device 26 controls the operation of the vibrating device such that a vibration is exerted on the container holder 41, to which the component container 45 is attached. When the component container 45 vibrates, the components are dispensed from a discharge point. The dispensed components fall onto an inclined section of the container holder 41, which is positioned below the discharge point, and slide and move forward along the inclined surface of the section. In this way, the components remain at the lower end of the inclined section.

[0044] In this state, the feeder control device 26 instructs the air supply device 23 to supply pressurized air. The pressurized air supplied by the air supply device 23 blows the several waiting components upwards and flows together with the components through the flow path formed in the container holder 41. Thus, the pressurized air and the several components flow from the container holder 41 via the coupling element 43 to the rail unit 42 and reach the conveying path R of the rail unit 42. Here, the pressurized air is released to the outside through a discharge opening formed in the cover 58 of the rail unit 42.

[0045] When the vibration device 24 subsequently applies a vibration to the rail element 51 to convey the component, the multiple components are conveyed to the feed area As. Additionally, a vibration is applied to the rail element 51 to move the components forward or backward, depending on the quantity of components being conveyed to the feed area As, or similarly. Some of the multiple components conveyed to the feed area As are contained in cavities 55. The components not contained in the cavities 55 are moved further back towards the conveying path R by the vibration applied by the vibration device 24 and removed from the feed area As. The component feeding process delivers the components contained in the multiple cavities 55 in a state where they can be picked up by the component assembly device 10. 4. Attaching and removing the rail unit 424-1. Securing the support element 22 and the rail element 51 by the locking element 80

[0046] The rail element 51 of the rail unit 42 is attached to the support element 22 by the locking element 80, as described above. As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the locking element 80 comprises a pair of positioning pins 81 that project upwards from the upper surface of the support element 22. When the rail element 51 is attached, the pair of positioning pins 81 are inserted into the pair of pin holes 513 provided on a lower surface of the rail element 51 that faces the upper surface of the support element 22.

[0047] The locking element 80 comprises two wheels 82 and two screws 83. Each of the two wheels 82 is rotatably mounted on the support element 22. The outer diameter of each of the two wheels 82 is adjusted such that an outer circumferential section projects outwards from the support element 22 and is smaller in the width direction of the bulk material feeder 20 than the width of the bulk material feeder 20. This allows a worker to manually rotate the wheel 82. Additionally, the wheel 82 is provided with a locking hole 821 that locks an inserted rotary device in the circumferential direction. The worker can insert the rotary device into the locking hole 821 to rotate the wheel 82.

[0048] Two screws 83 are coaxial and integrally integrated with two wheels 82. The tips of the two screws 83 project upwards from the upper surface of the support element 22. When attaching the conveyor unit 40, the rail element 51 is first positioned by a pair of positioning pins 81 and supported by the support element 22. Next, as the two wheels 82 are rotated, the screws 83 are inserted into the screw holes 512 on the lower surface of the rail element 51 and tightened there. In this way, the locking element 80 assumes a screw configuration that secures the rail element 51, which is supported by the support element 22. When removing the conveyor unit 40, the process is carried out in reverse order. 4-2. Detailed configuration of the flap unit 60 and opening and closing process of the flap 61

[0049] The flap unit 60 comprises a flap 61, a bracket 62, and a spring 63. The flap 61 is U-shaped and opens downwards when viewed as a whole in the front-to-back direction. In the present embodiment, the flap 61, as shown in the Fig. 3 and the Fig. Figure 5 shows an upper wall section 611 and a pair of side wall sections 612. In the closed state, the upper wall section 611 is in contact with the rail element 51 to close the opening of the feed area As, and in the intermediate state it is separated from the rail element 51.

[0050] The pair of side wall sections 612 is positioned outside the rail element 51 in the right-left direction and extends downwards from both end edges of the upper wall section 611. In the intermediate state, this, together with the upper wall section 611, limits the protrusion of component 92 from the opening of the feed area As. Each of the two side wall sections 612 has an elongated hole 613 inclined in the front-back direction. The guide pin 511, which projects laterally from a side face of the rail element 51, penetrates the elongated hole 613. Thus, the flap 61 is supported by the rail element 51 to move along the guide pin 511.

[0051] The bracket 62 is a block-shaped element that couples the lower end sections of the pair of side wall sections 612 together. The bracket 62 moves integrally with the flap 61 when the flap 61 is opened and closed. The spring 63 is an elastic element that couples the rail element 51 and the bracket 62. The spring 63 is a helical tension spring.

[0052] The spring 63 exerts an elastic force to always bias the bracket 62 backwards. Since the flap 61 is supported by the guide pin 511 via the elongated opening 613, which is inclined relative to the horizontal front-back direction, the flap 61 is held in a closed state by the elastic force of the spring 63 (positioned at the rear end of its range of motion and biased downwards by the rail element 51).

[0053] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the flap drive device 25 comprises a rail 31, a slide 32, and several guides 33. The rail 31 extends in the front-to-back and up-and-down directions of the feeder main body 21. The rail 31 is formed in a straight line that gradually extends upwards from the rear to the front. The direction of extension of the rail 31 corresponds to the opening and closing direction of the flap 61.

[0054] The slide 32 is a movable element arranged to move along the extension of the rail 31. The slide 32 is connected to the flap 61 via a bracket 62 and a coupling section 70. When the slide 32 moves longitudinally along the rail 31, the flap 61 moves simultaneously with the slide 32 and the bracket 62 in the same longitudinal direction. At this point, the flap 61 moves in the forward-backward direction according to the degree of movement caused by the inclination of the rail 31 in the up-down direction.

[0055] Several guides 33 are provided at the four corners of the rectangular slide 32 (as seen from above), projecting upwards from the upper surface of the slide 32. The guide 33 moves the bracket 62 of the flap unit 60 in the front-to-back direction to a predetermined position when the rail unit 42 is attached to the feeder main body 21. Furthermore, the guide 33 limits the movement of the bracket 62 in the front-to-back direction relative to the slide 32 after the flap unit 60 has been coupled to the slide 32.

[0056] The flap drive device 25 can be of various forms as a mechanism for moving the slide 32. For example, the flap drive device 25 can have a configuration in which an arm rotatably mounted on the feeder main body 21 is rotated by a motor, and the slide 32 is moved according to the angle of rotation of the arm. When the flap drive device 25 moves the slide 32 forward, the bracket 62 coupled to the slide 32 moves forward against the preload force of the spring 63.

[0057] This moves the flap 61, which is attached to the bracket 62, forward to engage in the space provided in the Fig. The flap 61 is to enter the open state shown in Figure 7. At this point, the flap 61 moves upwards by the amount of the inclination angle of the rail 31. Furthermore, the flap 61 is in the open state, the feed area As, in which several cavities 55 are arranged, is exposed, and the process of picking up components using the suction nozzle 134 can be carried out from above.

[0058] Furthermore, the flap drive device 25 can bring the flap 61 into the intermediate state by supplying a predetermined power to the motor and rotating the arm from an initial angle by a specific angle. When the power to the motor of the flap drive device 25 is interrupted, the flap 61, together with the bracket 62, is moved by the preload force of the spring 63 into a starting position on the rear side, as indicated by the dashed line in the Fig. 7 is shown, and is in the closed state. 4-3. Coupling between the flap drive device 25 and the flap 61 by the coupling section 70

[0059] In the present embodiment, the flap 61 is designed to be opened and closed relative to the rail element 51 and, together with the rail element 51, forms a removable rail unit 42. When the rail unit 42 is attached to the feeder main body 21, it is necessary to fix the rail element 51 to the support element 22 and to couple the flap 61 to the flap drive device 25. It is assumed that a screw or similar device is used for coupling the flap 61 and the flap drive device 25.

[0060] However, when the rail unit 42 is attached, the positioning of the two elements (rail element 51 and flap 61) increases the workload and reduces efficiency. If the attachment is made in a positional error, this can lead to a malfunction during the opening and closing process of the flap 61. Therefore, in the present embodiment of a bulk material feeder 20 of the type in which the rail unit 42 is removable from the feeder main body 21, a configuration is used that is able to improve the ease of maintenance and efficiency of attachment and removal.

[0061] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the bulk material feeder 20 comprises a coupling section 70 provided with a pair of magnets 71 and 72 that attract each other on the flap side 61 and the slide side 32, which is a movable element. The magnet pair 71 and 72 are positioned at their respective locations facing the flap 61 and the slide 32, respectively, when the rail element 51 is positioned at a predetermined mounting position in the feeder main body 21. In the present embodiment, the magnet 71 on the flap side 61 is embedded in a holder 62 that is fixed to the flap 61. The magnet 72 on the slide side 32 is embedded in the slide 32. When the magnet pair 71 and 72 approach each other during the fastening of the rail unit 42, the magnet pair 71 and 72 are attracted to each other, and the flap 61 is coupled to the slider 32.

[0062] Here, the magnet can be used as described above in a configuration for coupling the flap 61 with the flap actuator 25. However, if the magnet is located on one side of the flap 61 and the flap actuator 25, and a magnetic body attracted by the magnet is located on the other side, the magnetic body will become magnetized, and the magnetic force of the magnet or the magnetic body can reach the feed area As. Then, the components fed to the feed area As may attract each other, or it may be difficult to receive the components in the cavity 55, which can impair the component feeding process.

[0063] On the other hand, it has been shown that the influence of the magnetic force on the feed area As can be suppressed by providing a magnet pair 71 and 72 as in the coupling section 70 of the present embodiment. That is, in the configuration with the magnet pair 71 and 72, the magnetic force acting on the components conveyed to the feed area As is reduced, and the occurrence of a phenomenon in which the components attract each other or the component is difficult to receive in the cavity 55 is prevented. The number of pairs or the arrangement of the magnets 71 and 72 can be changed to improve the coupling force and the efficiency of the coupling section 70 as described below.

[0064] In a first aspect, the coupling section comprises 70, as in the Fig. Figure 6A shows several pairs of magnets 71 and 72. Here, adjacent pairs of magnets 71 and 72 are arranged such that the magnetic poles of the magnets 71 provided in the flap 61 are opposite to each other. In other words, adjacent pairs of magnets 71 and 72 are arranged such that the magnetic poles of the magnets 72 provided in the slide 32 are opposite to each other. In the Fig. 6A shows that the magnetic poles of magnets 71 and 72 are marked as S-poles by hatching and N-poles without hatching (the same applies to the Fig. 6B and Fig. 6C).

[0065] A left side of the Fig. 6A is part of the flap unit 60 seen from below and mainly shows the lower surface of the bracket 62, which is provided on the flap 61. A right side of the Fig. 6A is part of the flap drive device 25 seen from above and mainly shows the upper surface of the slide 32. The coupling section 70 of the first aspect comprises several magnet pairs 71 and 72 arranged in a matrix in a lateral direction (right-left direction in the Fig. 6A) of the rail element 51 and the component conveying direction (up-down direction in the Fig. are arranged in 6A).

[0066] The coupling section 70 of the first aspect comprises four magnet pairs 71 and 72 arranged in a matrix of two rows and two columns. In particular, among the four magnet pairs 71A to 71D and 72A to 72D, four magnets 71A to 71D, which are provided on the holder 62, are arranged such that they are attracted by four magnets 72A to 72D, which are provided at positions facing the slide 32.

[0067] In a second aspect, the coupling section comprises 70, as in the Fig. Figure 6B shows two magnet pairs 71A to 71B and 72A to 72B, which are oriented in the lateral direction (right-left direction). Fig. 6B) of the rail element 51 are arranged side by side. As in the first aspect, in the coupling section 70 of the second aspect, the magnetic poles of magnets 71A and 71B on the adjacent flap side 61 are also arranged such that they are opposite to each other. In other words, the magnetic poles of magnets 72A and 72B on the adjacent slide side 32 are arranged such that they are opposite to each other.

[0068] In a third aspect, the coupling section comprises 70, as in the Fig. Figure 6C shows six pairs of magnets, 71A to 71F and 72A to 72F, arranged in a matrix of three rows and two columns. As in the first aspect, in coupling section 70 of the third aspect, the magnetic poles of magnets 71B and 71C adjacent to magnet 71A are arranged such that they are opposite to each other. That is, magnets 71A, 71C, and 71E, as well as magnets 71B, 71D, and 71F, which are oriented in the front-to-back direction (in Fig. The 6C magnets (arranged side-by-side in the up-down direction) are arranged such that the magnetic poles alternate. As shown on the right side of the Fig. As shown in 6C, the same applies to the six magnets 72A to 72F on the slider side 32.

[0069] Here, in the configuration with multiple magnet pairs 71 and 72, it is assumed that several magnet pairs 71 and 72 are arranged such that the magnetic poles of adjacent magnets are the same, for example, the magnetic poles of all magnets 71 on the flap side 61 are N poles with respect to the opposite side, and the magnetic poles of all magnets 72 on the slide side 32 are S poles with respect to the opposite side. However, compared to the case in which the magnet pairs 71 and 72 are arranged in this way, it can be observed that the influence of the magnetic force on the feed area As can be reduced in a case in which the magnets 71 and 72 are arranged alternately such that the magnetic poles of the adjacent magnets 71 (72) are opposite to each other.

[0070] If an odd number of magnet pairs 71 and 72 are arranged, and if the magnetic poles of adjacent magnets 71 (72) are the same and not sufficiently separated from each other, it is assumed that the magnetic force influences the supply area As. From this perspective, as in the aspects mentioned above, it is advantageous for several magnet pairs 71 and 72 to be arranged in a matrix and alternately positioned such that the magnetic poles of the adjacent magnets 71 (72) are opposite to each other. 5. Advantageous effects of the configuration of the embodiment

[0071] With this configuration, ease of maintenance can be improved because the rail unit 42, which includes the rail element 51 and the flap 61, is removable from the feeder main body 21. Furthermore, since the coupling section 70 couples the flap 61 and the slide 32, which is a movable element, by the magnetic force of the magnet pair 71 and 72, the positioning of the flap 61 in the mounting is no longer necessary, and the efficiency of attaching and removing the unit comprising the rail element 51 and the flap 61 is improved. 6. Modification aspect of the embodiment

[0072] In one embodiment, the rail element 51 of the bulk material feeder 20 comprises an alignment element 52 with several cavities 55 formed therein. However, a configuration without the alignment element 52 can also be used. That is, in the feed area As of the rail element 51, a recessed section can be formed in which a component is distributed at a position below the upper surface of the conveying path R, or a flat section that is equal to the upper surface of the conveying path R, so that the components are fed in a loose bulk state. It should be noted that, from the perspective of improving the efficiency of the component feeding process or reducing the load on image processing during the detection of the feeding state in the feed area As, the configuration described in the embodiment is preferable.

[0073] In this embodiment, the bulk material feeder 20 supplies the components to be mounted onto the plate 91 by the component assembly device 10. The components are meanwhile used in a plate processing machine, which performs predetermined operations on the plate 91, as in the component assembly device 10. Various types of components can be used, as long as the items can be fed in a state in which they can be received in the cavities 55 of the bulk material feeder 20. For example, the bulk material feeder 20 can feed a spherically shaped soldering ball as a component. In this case, similar effects are achieved as in the embodiment. Reference symbol list

[0074] 10: Component assembly device, 20: Bulk material feeder, 21: Feeder main body, 22: Support element, 23: Air supply device, 24: Vibration device, 25: Flap drive device, 31: Rail, 32: Slide (movable element), 33: Guide, 26: Feeder control device, 40: Conveyor unit, 41: Container holder, 42: Rail unit, 51: Rail element, 52: Alignment element, 55: Cavity, 60: Flap unit, 61: Flap, 62: Bracket, 63: Spring, 43: Coupling element, 45: Component container, 70: Coupling section, 71, 71A to 71F: Magnet (of one magnet pair on the flap side), 72, 72A to 72F: Magnet (of one (magnet pair on the side of the movable element), 80: locking element, As: feed area, R: conveying path QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2021 / 095219

[0003]

Claims

[1] A bulk material feeder comprising: a feeder main body; a rail element that is removablely attached to the feeder main body and has a feed area that opens upwards to feed a component to be picked up; a flap designed to be opened and closed on the rail element and configured to close an opening of the feed area in a closed state; a movable element provided on the feeder main body to be movable in an opening and closing direction of the flap; and a coupling section configured to couple the flap and the movable element by the attraction of a pair of magnets, each provided at facing positions of the flap and the movable element when the rail element is positioned at a predetermined mounting position on the feeder main body. [2] The bulk material feeder according to claim 1, wherein the coupling section comprises several pairs of magnets and a neighboring pair of magnets is arranged such that the magnetic poles of the magnets provided in the flap are opposite to each other. [3] The bulk material feeder according to claim 2, wherein the coupling section comprises two pairs of magnets arranged side by side in a width direction of the rail element. [4] The bulk material feeder according to claim 2, wherein the coupling section comprises several pairs of magnets arranged in a matrix in a width direction of the rail element and in a conveying direction of the component. [5] The bulk material feeder according to claim 4, wherein the coupling section comprises four pairs of magnets arranged in a matrix. [6] The bulk material feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: a support element designed to be vibratable in relation to the feeder main body, the rail element is attached to the feeder main body via the support element. [7] The bulk material feeder according to claim 6, further comprising: a locking element that secures the rail element supported by the support element; and a vibration device configured to exert a vibration on the rail element via the support element, so that multiple components are conveyed between a conveying path that communicates with the feed area and the feed area. [8] The bulk material feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: a drive device configured to move the movable element in such a way as to open and close the flap coupled to the movable element through the coupling section. [9] The bulk material feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rail element has several cavities that accommodate the components in the feed area.

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