Vibration isolation device and bulk material feeding device

Abstract

A vibration isolation device is to be attached to a bulk material feeder that is used in a component placement device. The bulk material feeder is configured to feed a component. The bulk material feeder includes a vibration device configured to exert vibrations on a component. The vibration isolation device is provided in the component placement device or the bulk material feeder and configured to dampen the vibrations generated by the operation of the vibration device between the bulk material feeder and another device located in the component placement device.

Description

Technical field The present invention relates to a vibration isolation device and a bulk material feeding device. State of the art A bulk material feeding device is installed in a component placement device that mounts components onto a printed circuit board and serves to feed the components in a bulk state into a feed area. As disclosed in patent literature 1, the bulk material feeding device includes a component container that can hold a large number of components in a bulk state, and the components discharged from the component container are conveyed to the predetermined feed area to supply the components to the component placement device in a collectable manner. List of citations Patent literature Patent literature 1: WO 2021 / 095219 Summary of the invention Technical problem The bulk material feeder may, for example, include a vibrating device that vibrates a component for the purpose of transporting components within it. If the vibrations generated in the bulk material feeder propagate to another device in the component placement device, there is a risk that the operation or condition of the other device will be affected. For example, if vibrations propagate from outside to another bulk material feeder, these vibrations can affect the feeding process of the component placement device, potentially changing the position of the fed component. The aim of this description is to provide a vibration isolation device and a bulk material feeder that can prevent the vibrations generated in the bulk material feeder from affecting another device. Solution to the problem The present description discloses a vibration isolation device for a bulk material feeder arranged in a component placement device, wherein the bulk material feeder is configured to feed a component and comprises a vibration device configured to exert a vibration on a component, wherein the vibration isolation device comprises: a vibration isolation device provided in the component placement device or the bulk material feeder and configured to dampen the vibration generated by operation of the vibration device between the bulk material feeder and another device arranged in the component placement device. The present description discloses a bulk material feeding device comprising: a feeder main body configured such that the sliding movement of the feeder main body is guided in a horizontal direction by a rail of a component placement device; a rail element provided in the feeder main body in a vibratable manner and on which a conveying path for a component dispensed from a component container is formed; a vibration device configured to exert vibrations on the rail element; and a vibration isolation device provided in the feeder main body, supporting the feeder main body by contact with the rail and configured to dampen the vibrations generated by the operation of the vibration device. The present description also discloses a technical idea wherein “the vibration isolation device according to claim 2 or 3” in claim 7 of the originally filed version is amended to “the vibration isolation device according to any one of claims 2 to 6”, and a technical idea wherein “the vibration isolation device according to claim 2 or 3” in claim 8 of the original application is amended to “the vibration isolation device according to any one of claims 2 to 7”.Furthermore, the present description also discloses a technical idea in which “the vibration isolation device according to claim 2 or 3” in claim 9 of the original application is amended to “the vibration isolation device according to one of claims 2 to 8” and a technical idea in which “the vibration isolation device according to one of claims 1 to 3” in claim 10 of the original application is amended to “the vibration isolation device according to one of claims 1 to 9”. Advantageous effects of the invention According to such a configuration, vibrations generated in a bulk material feeder are dampened between the bulk material feeder and another device and can be prevented from propagating to the other device. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the vibrations generated in the bulk material feeder from affecting other devices. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic top view depicting a component placement device in which a bulk material feeder is mounted. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the bulk material feeder. Fig. 3 is a side view schematically depicting a main body and a component container of the bulk material feeder. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a vibration isolation device provided in a feeder main body. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view showing the vibration isolation device and a rail. Fig. 6 shows a feeder adjustment table of the component placement device. Description of the embodiments The bulk material feeding device 20 is described with reference to the drawings. The bulk material feeding device 20 is, for example, arranged in a component placement device 10 for mounting components onto a printed circuit board. The bulk material feeding device 20 delivers a component in a bulk state, which is not packaged in a carrier tape, a stick, or the like. 1. Configuration of the component placement device 10 The component placement device 10, together with several types of board processing machines, including, for example, another component placement device 10, forms a production line for manufacturing a printed circuit board product. The board processing machines that comprise the production line described above may include a printer, a testing device, a reflow oven, and the like. 1-1. Printed circuit board transport device 11 As shown in Fig. 1, the component placement device 10 includes a printed circuit board transport device 11. The printed circuit board transport device 11 then conveys the printed circuit board 91 in a conveying direction and positions the printed circuit board 91 at a predetermined position within a machine. 1-2. Component feeding device 12 Component placement device 10 comprises a component feeder 12. The component feeder 12 feeds the components to be mounted on the printed circuit board 91. A feeder 122 is arranged in each of the multiple slots 121 of the component feeder 12. A feeder that supplies the components in a collectable manner, for example by feeding and moving a carrier belt that holds a large number of components, is attached to the feeder 122. Additionally, a bulk feeder 20, which supplies a component received in a bulk state in a collectable manner, is attached to the feeder 122. Details of the bulk feeder 20 are described below. In the present embodiment, each of the multiple slots 121 comprises a rail 126 provided on the feeder adjustment table 125 and a connector (not shown). As shown in Fig. 6, the rail 126, which guides the sliding movement of a main body of the feeder 122 (for example, the feeder main body 21 of the bulk material feeder 20) in a horizontal direction, is formed on a top surface of the feeder adjustment table 125. Several rails 126 are arranged at equal intervals in an X-direction parallel to the conveying direction of the circuit board 91 and are formed by web elements configured to extend in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction in a horizontal plane on the top surface of the feeder adjustment table 125, the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the Y-direction being a rectangular recess shape. Furthermore, the rail 126 is provided with a locking groove 127, which extends downwards from the top of the feeder setting table 125. The locking groove 127 serves to limit the feeder 122 in a distance direction (Y-direction) when different feeders 122 are set in the component feeder 12. 1-3. Component transfer device 13 The component placement device 10 comprises a component transfer device 13. The component transfer device 13 transfers a component fed by the component feeder 12 to a predetermined mounting position on the printed circuit board 91. The component transfer device 13 comprises a head drive device 131, a moving body 132, a mounting head 133, and a suction nozzle 134. The head drive device 131 moves the moving body 132 by means of a linear motion mechanism in the horizontal direction (X-direction and Y-direction). The mounting head 133 is detachably attached to the moving body 132 by means of a clamping element (not shown) and is provided such that it is movable within the machine in the horizontal direction. The mounting head 133 carries several suction nozzles 134 that can be rotated, raised, and lowered. The suction nozzle 134 is a holding element that receives and holds a component fed by the feeding device 122. The suction nozzle 134 receives a component fed by the feeding device 122 using supplied vacuum air. A chuck or similar device can be used as the holding element attached to the mounting head 133, which holds the component by gripping it. 1-4. Parts camera 14 and printed circuit board camera 15 The component placement device 10 comprises a part camera 14 and a printed circuit board camera 15. The part camera 14 and the printed circuit board camera 15 are digital imaging devices that include imaging elements such as CMOS. Based on a control signal, the part camera 14 and the printed circuit board camera 15 perform imaging and transmit the image data acquired during the imaging process. The part camera 14 is configured to image the component held by the suction nozzle 134 from below. The printed circuit board camera 15 is movable in the horizontal direction on the movement body 132 and is integrally provided with the assembly head 133. The printed circuit board camera 15 is configured to image the printed circuit board 91 from above. Furthermore, the printed circuit board camera 15 can define a surface of the printed circuit board 91 as an image acquisition target and can also define various devices and the like as image acquisition targets within a moving area of ​​the moving body 132. For example, in the present embodiment, the printed circuit board camera 15 can image the feed area As, to which the bulk material feeder 20 feeds the component (see Fig. 3), or a reference mark (not shown) provided in an upper part of the bulk material feeder 20, within a field of view of the camera. As described above, the printed circuit board camera 15 can be used to image various imaging targets in order to acquire image data that can be used for different types of image processing. 1-5. Control device 16 As shown in Fig. 1, the component placement 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 are stored in the control device 16, including a control program used to control a placement process. The control program specifies the mounting position, placement angle, and component type of the component to be mounted onto the printed circuit board 91 in a planned placement sequence during the placement process. The control device 16 performs a detection processing of the holding state of a component held by each of the multiple holding elements (suction nozzles 134). In particular, the control device 16 performs image processing on image data acquired by imaging with a part camera 14 and detects 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 acquired by imaging the component, for example, with a head camera unit that is integrally provided with the assembly head 133 from the side, bottom, or top, in addition to the part camera 14. The control device 16 controls an assembly operation of the component, which is carried out by the assembly head 133, based on the control program, to execute the assembly process. Here, the assembly operation comprises a process in which a pick-up and placement cycle (a PP cycle) is repeated, which includes a pick-up operation and an assembly operation several times. The "pick-up operation" described above is a process in which a component fed by the component feeder 12 is picked up by the suction nozzle 134. Furthermore, the "assembly process" described above is a process in which the picked-up component is mounted on the circuit board 91 at a predetermined mounting position and at a predetermined mounting angle. The control device 16 controls an operation of the component feeder 12, including the bulk material feeder 20, when the acquisition operation is performed. The control, which targets the bulk material feeder 20, includes, for example, the control of a component feed operation using the bulk material feeder 20. The control device 16 detects the feed states of several components in the feed area A of the bulk material feeder 20 based on the image data acquired by the camera (in the present embodiment, the printed circuit board camera 15). The feed state detection processing includes the processing to detect whether a component to be removed is located in the feed area As, and, if so, to detect the component's position and angle. Subsequently, the control device 16 controls the operation of the assembly head 133 during the removal process based on the result of the feed state detection processing. During the assembly process, the control device 16 controls the operation of the assembly head 133 based on information output by various sensors, a result of image processing, the control program, or the like. In this way, the positions and angles of several suction nozzles 134, which are 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 feeding device 20 The bulk material feeder 20 is arranged within the component placement device 10 such that it functions as part of the component feeding device. The bulk material feeder 20 supplies components in a bulk state, in which the components are not aligned as they would be in a conveyor belt (an irregular state in which their respective positions are not regular). Since the bulk material feeder 20, unlike a belt feeder, does not use a conveyor belt, it has the advantage that loading the conveyor belt, collecting the used belt, and similar tasks are eliminated. For example, there is a bulk material feeder 20 that feeds a component in an irregular orientation to a feed area A with a flat shape. However, if components are so close together that they touch or stack (a state in which they lie on top of each other in the top-bottom direction), or if the components are arranged horizontally in the feed area A with their widths aligned in the top-bottom direction, the component placement device 10 cannot consider the components as receiving targets. To increase the proportion of receiving components, there is therefore a bulk material feeder 20 that delivers components to the feed area A in an aligned state. In the present embodiment, a bulk material feeder 20 in which the components are aligned is described as an example. 2-1. Feeder main body 21 and holder 22 As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bulk material feeding device 20 comprises a feeder body 21. The feeder body 21 is in the form of a flat box. A connector 211 and two pins 212 are provided on a front section (the right end section in Fig. 3) of the feeder body 21. When the feeder body 21 is inserted into the slot 121 of the component feeding device 12, current is supplied via the connector 211, and the feeder body 21 can communicate with the control device 16 of the component placement device 10. Two pins 212 are provided in guide holes in the slot 121 to position the feeder body 21 when it is inserted into the slot 121. As shown in Fig. 3, the bulk material feeder 20 includes a clamp 22. The clamp 22 is designed to vibrate relative to the feeder body 21. The clamp 22 is formed in a block shape extending in the front-to-back direction of the feeder body 21 and supports a rail element 421 attached to a top surface. The clamp 22 is subjected to a predetermined vibration by the vibration device 24 described later. In the present embodiment, the rail element 421 supported by the clamp 22 is secured by a locking element (not shown). 2-2. Conveyor unit 40 As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the bulk material feeding device 20 comprises a conveying unit 40. The conveying unit 40 is detachably attached to the main feeding body 21. The conveying unit 40 carries the component container 50. The conveying unit 40 is a unit for conveying a component dispensed from the component container 50 from a receiving area (receiving section 411) to a feed area As. After the bulk material feeder 20 has been used for a predetermined assembly process, a removal operation is performed as a type of maintenance to remove all components inside the feeder and prepare it for the next use. The conveying unit 40 is configured such that, as a unit serving as a flow path for components, it can be removed from the feeder main body 21 to improve efficiency, taking into account the removal operation described above. In the present embodiment, the conveying unit 40 comprises a container holder 41, a track unit 42, and a coupling element 43. The component container 50 is an external device that holds several components in bulk. The component container 50 is detachably (replaceably) attached to the container holder 41 in the conveying unit 40 of the bulk material feeding device 20. The component container 50, like the main feeding body 21, has a flat, box-like shape. The component container 50 is mounted in the container holder 41, and a component can be dispensed from the outlet opening 51 formed in a lower section. 2-2-1. Container holder 41 The container holder 41 is provided so that it can vibrate relative to the feed body 21. The vibration is transmitted to the container holder 41 by the vibration device 25. The container holder 41 supports the component container 50. The container holder 41 includes a receiving section 411 that receives the component 92 dispensed from the component container 50. In the present embodiment, a section of the container holder 41 that receives the component 92 has an inclined surface that is inclined forward with respect to a horizontal surface. The container holder 41 provides a flow path for component 92 that extends upward from a lower end section of the inclined surface described above. 2-2-2. Railway unit 42 The track unit 42 comprises a rail element 421, which can be attached to the feeder body 21. The rail element 421 is fastened to the feeder body 21 by a clamp 22. Accordingly, the rail element 421 is set into vibration by the vibration device 24 via the clamp 22. The rail element 421 is provided with a conveying path R, through which several components 92 are conveyed, and with a feed area As, which is connected to the conveying path R and is open at the top, so that several components 92 can be collected. Here, the "feed area As" is an area into which the component 92 is fed in bulk and an area from which the component 92 can be collected by the component placement device 10.Furthermore, the “conveyor path R” is a passage for component 92, through which component 92, which flows from one side of the container holder 41 to the rail element 421, is conveyed to the supply area As. The rail element 421 is designed such that its overall shape extends in the front-to-back direction (the right-to-left direction in Fig. 3) of the feeder main body 21. In the present embodiment, an alignment element (not shown) is interchangeably attached to the rail element 421. The alignment element is, for example, one or more plate-shaped elements. In this way, the track unit 42 is standardized by attaching one of several types of alignment elements, corresponding to the shapes of several types of components 92, to the common rail element 421. The alignment element consists of several recesses arranged in a predetermined pattern (e.g., an offset pattern). Each of the several recesses has a rectangular shape that is slightly larger than the outer shape of the component 92, which is fed by the bulk material feeder 20. In this way, the bulk material feeder 20 encompasses the several recesses in which the component 92 is received in a position where the thickness of the component 92 runs in the top-bottom direction, within the feed area into which the component 92 is fed so that it can be collected. The track unit 42 includes a closure 422, which is provided at a front end of the track element 421. The closure 422 is designed to be opened and closed on the track element 421 and, in the closed position, closes the opening of the feed area As. The closure 422 is coupled to a closure drive (not shown) when the track unit 42 is attached to the feed main body 21. The opening and closing of the closure 422 is controlled by the closure drive. By opening and closing the closure 422, the bulk material feeder 20 can prevent component 92 from ejecting and foreign matter from entering the feed area As. 2-2-3. Coupling element 43 The coupling element 43 connects the container holder 41 and the conveyor unit 42 in such a way that several components 92 can flow between them. The coupling element 43 has a tubular shape in which several components 92 can flow. The coupling element 43 is flexible and absorbs vibrations of the container holder 41 and the conveyor unit 42 by deforming in accordance with the vibrations of the container holder 41 and the conveyor unit 42. Thus, the coupling element 43 reduces or blocks vibrations transmitted between the container holder 41 and the conveyor unit 42, which vibrate independently of each other. 2-3. Air supply device 23 Bulk material feeding device 20 comprises an air supply device 23 that supplies pressurized air to the conveying unit 40. When the conveying unit 40 is attached to the main feed body 21 of the bulk material feeder, pressurized air is supplied to it by the air supply device 23, causing several components 92 to flow from the container holder 41 to the conveying 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 feed control device 26 described below. 2-4. Vibration device for the conveyor device 24 The bulk material feeder 20 comprises a vibration device 24, which is provided in the feeder main body 21. The vibration device 24 vibrates the rail element 421, so that the component 92 is conveyed along the conveying path R and multiple components 92 are conveyed between the conveying path R, which is connected to the feeder area As, and the feeder area As. The vibration device 24 comprises, for example, multiple piezoelectric elements. The multiple piezoelectric elements are attached to a support element that connects the feeder main body 21 and the clamp 22. The multiple piezoelectric elements are vibrators that oscillate at a frequency corresponding to the power supplied by a power supply device. When the vibration device 24 applies a vibration to the rail element 421, the rail element 421 performs an elliptical movement in the side view. Thus, a forward and upward external force or a backward and upward external force is exerted on several components 92 along the conveying path R, corresponding to the direction of rotation of the elliptical movement of the rail element 421. As a result, several components 92 are conveyed to a front or a rear side of the rail element 421. Furthermore, the power supply device of the vibration device 24 varies the frequency of the power supplied to the piezoelectric element and an applied voltage based on the command from the feed control device 26. This adjusts the frequency and amplitude of the vibration exerted on the rail element 421 in such a way as to determine the direction of rotation of the elliptical motion of the rail element 421. By varying the frequency and amplitude of the vibration of the rail element 421 and the direction of rotation of the elliptical motion caused by the vibration, the conveying speed of the components 92 to be conveyed, the dispersion of the components 92, the conveying direction, and the like are also varied. To improve conveying efficiency, parameters relating to the power supply (frequency, applied voltage) corresponding to the vibration characteristics (including resonant frequency) with individual differences are preset for the vibration device 24. For example, the bulk material feeder 20 performs a calibration process in a state where the rail element 421 used for the feeding operation is attached to it, and a calibration value in a feeding process of component 92 is recorded as a parameter. 2-5. Discharge vibration device 25 The bulk material feeder 20 comprises a discharge vibration device 25, which is provided in the feeder main body 21. The discharge vibration device 25 vibrates the component container 50, causing the component 92 to be discharged from the discharge opening 51, which is provided in the lower part of the component container 50. In the present embodiment, the discharge vibration device 25 comprises an electromagnet which is energized by a power supply. The electromagnet is energized only during the period in which current is supplied in order to generate a magnetic field. The electromagnet of the discharge vibration device 25 is arranged such that it faces a vibrating section which vibrates integrally with the container holder 41, and attracts the vibrating section by means of the magnetic force it generates itself. In such a configuration, the discharge vibration device 25 supplies the container holder 41 and the component container 50 inserted in the container holder 41 with vibration by supplying pulse current to the solenoid and carries out a discharge process of the component 92 from the discharge opening 51. 2-6. Feed control device 26 The bulk material feeder 20 includes a feeder control device 26. The feeder control device 26 is primarily configured with a CPU, various memory components, and a control circuit. The feeder control device 26 is powered via connector 211 while the bulk material feeder 20 is inserted into slot 121 of component placement device 10 and is in communication with the control device 16 of component placement device 10. The feed control device 26 controls the operation of the air supply device 23, the conveying vibration device 24, the discharge vibration device 25, and the like. For example, the feed control device 26 controls the operation of the conveying vibration device 24 based on a previously set conveying parameter, so that the feeding process of component 92 is carried out. The "conveying parameter" described above is a parameter for controlling the operation of the conveying vibration device 24 so that the vibration exerted on the conveyor unit 42 is appropriate when components 92 are conveyed in the feeding process, and is set in advance, for example, in connection with each type of component 92. Various data, such as a program and a parameter used to control an output process or the feeding process of component 92, are stored in the feeding control device 26. The feeding control device 26 controls the operation of the shutter drive device and switches the operation so that the shutter 422 is in a predetermined state. 2-7. Locking device 60 The bulk material feeder 20 includes a locking device 60. The bulk material feeder 20 is locked by the locking device 60 when the bulk material feeder 20 is positioned on the feeder setting table 125 of the component placement device 10. More precisely, when the feeder main body 21 of the bulk material feeder 20 is guided through the rail 126 of the slot 121 and moved into a set position, the locking device 60 is actuated to restrict the movement of the bulk material feeder 20 in the distance direction. As shown in Fig. 3, the locking device 60 comprises a locking element 61. The locking element 61 is mounted such that it is movable in an up-down direction (up-down direction in Fig. 3) relative to the feeder body 21. The locking element 61 is designed such that, in the locked state, it projects downwards from a bottom side of the feeder body 21. The locking element 61 restricts the movement of the bulk material feeder 20 by locking in the locking groove 127 formed in the feeder adjustment table 125. Furthermore, in the unlocked state, the locking element 61 is recessed in the feeder body 21 and causes the bulk material feeder 20 to move. The locking device 60 actuates the locking element 61 in conjunction with the actuation of an actuating section (not shown), which receives an actuation from a worker to release the locking device. The actuating section is, for example, an actuating lever provided in an upper section of a rear side (left side in Fig. 3) of the feeder main body 21. The locking device 60 connects the actuating section and the locking element 61 via a wire 62. In an initial state, in which the actuating section is not actuated, the locking device 60 biases the locking element 61 with a spring 63, so that the locking element 61 protrudes from the underside of the feeder main body 21.Additionally, the locking device 60 locks the locking element 61 in a released state if an actuation amount of the actuating section is equal to or greater than a certain amount. 2-8. Vibration isolation device 70 The vibration isolation device 70 dampens vibrations generated by the operation of the vibration device (conveyor vibration device 24 and discharge vibration device 25) between the bulk material feed device 20 and other devices arranged in the component placement device 10. The vibration isolation device 70 is provided in the feed main body 21. In the present embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the vibration isolation device 70 is positioned such that it projects downwards from the underside of the feed main body 21 and supports the feed main body 21 by being in contact with the rail 126. The vibration isolation device 70 is in contact with the rail 126, which is a contact target element, in particular with a groove bottom surface that has a rectangular recess shape in the rail 126. In the present embodiment, when the bulk material feeder 20 is guided by the rail 126 and positioned on the feeder adjustment table 125, the vibration isolation device 70 is in contact with the rail 126, and the feeder main body 21 is not in contact with the rail 126. The connector 211 and the two pins 212 are connected to or inserted into the counterpart of the feeder adjustment table 125 in a sliding direction (Y-direction) and contribute very little to supporting the mass of the feeder main body 21 in a set position. Details of the vibration isolation device 70 are described later. 3. Component supply process of the bulk material feeding device 20 A component supply process using a bulk material feeder 20 configured as described above is described. First, the feeder control device 26 performs the dispensing operation of components 92 from the component container 50, for example, based on an external supply command. In addition to the case where the dispensing operation is performed after the supply command is entered, the dispensing operation for the next supply process can be performed in advance after the previous supply process has been executed. In particular, the feed control device 26 controls the operation of the discharge vibration device 25 such that a vibration is exerted on the container holder 41 to which the component container 50 is attached. When the component container 50 vibrates at a predetermined frequency, the component 92 is dispensed from the dispensing point 51. The dispensed components 92 fall onto an inclined section of the container holder 41 below the dispensing point 51 and slide and move forward along an inclined surface of the inclined section. Thus, the components 92 remain in the receiving section 411 in front of the inclined section. In this state, the feed control device 26 instructs the air supply device 23 to supply the pressurized air. The pressurized air supplied by the air supply device 23 lifts several of the remaining components 92 and flows together with the components 92 through the flow path formed in the container holder 41. Thus, the pressurized air and several components 92 flow from the container holder 41 via the coupling element 43 to the conveyor unit 42 and reach the conveying path R of the conveyor unit 42. Here, the pressurized air is released to the outside through an outlet opening formed in a cover of the conveyor unit 42. Subsequently, when the conveying vibration device 24 exerts a vibration on the rail element 421, several components 92 are conveyed towards the feed area As. Additionally, a vibration is exerted on the rail element 421 to move the components 92 forward or backward, corresponding to a feed quantity of components 92 in the feed area As or the like. Some of the several components 92 conveyed to the feed area As are received in recesses. Components 92 that are not received in the recesses are further moved backward towards the conveying path R by the vibration exerted by the conveying vibration device 24 and removed from the feed area As. In the component supply process, the components 92 received in the several recesses are supplied in a state in which they can be received by the component placement device 10. 4. Details of the vibration isolation device 70 4-1. Overview of the vibration isolation device 70 The bulk material feeding device 20, as described above, is configured to include two types of vibration devices that exert vibrations on the components. Specifically, the bulk material feeding device 20 comprises a conveying vibration device 24, which exerts vibrations on the rail element 421 as a component, and a discharge vibration device 25, which exerts vibrations on the container holder 41 as a component. It is assumed here that the vibrations generated when the bulk material feeding device 20 performs the feeding or discharge operation of component 92 are transmitted to other devices arranged in the component placement device 10. The “other devices” include, for example, another feeding device 122 (including a belt feeder and a bulk material feeder 20) arranged on the feeder setting table 125. If the vibration propagates to other devices, there is a risk that the operation or condition of other devices will be affected. For example, if vibrations from outside are transmitted to another bulk material feeder 20, the vibrations will affect the simultaneously performed feeding operation of component 92, and the position and angle of the fed component 92 may vary. Furthermore, if the vibrations generated outside the bulk material feeder 20 are transmitted, there is a risk that the same effect will be exerted. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration with a vibration isolation device 70 is used to prevent the vibrations generated in the bulk material feeder 20 from affecting other devices. The vibration isolation device 70 dampens the vibrations generated by the operation of the vibration devices provided in the bulk material feeder 20 (conveyor vibration device 24 and discharge vibration device 25) between the bulk material feeder 20 and other devices arranged in the component placement device 10. The present embodiment illustrates one aspect in which the vibration isolation device 70 is provided within the bulk material feeder 20. 4-2. Detailed configuration of the vibration isolation device 70 The vibration isolation device 70 is provided in the feed body 21. In the present embodiment, the vibration isolation device 70, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, is designed to project downwards from the underside of the feed body 21 and to support the feed body 21 by being in contact with the rail 126. The vibration isolation device 70 is in contact with the rail 126, which is a contact target element, in particular with a groove bottom surface that has a rectangular recess in the rail 126. The main body section 71 of the vibration isolation device 70 is cylindrical and attached to the feeder main body 21 via a mounting base 72. The mounting base 72 is detachably attached to the underside of the feeder main body 21 by a predetermined fastening method, for example, a screw method. A downwardly projecting contact section 73 is provided at a lower end of the main body section 71. In the present embodiment, the contact section 73 is in contact with the rail 126 when the bulk material feeder 20 is inserted into the slot 121. A distal end of the contact section 73 comprises a round outer surface 731. Here, the vibration isolation device 70 can, for example, include a damping mechanism such as a damper within the main body section 71 to dampen vibrations. In the present embodiment, the contact section 73 is formed from an elastic material. As a result, the vibration isolation device 70 dampens the propagating vibrations. Various materials can be used as the elastic element. For example, the contact section 73 is made of rubber or silicone. The international rubber hardness of the contact section 73 is set to 70 IRHD or higher and 90 IRHD or lower. The optimal value of the international rubber hardness of the contact section 73 can vary depending on the mass and position of the center of gravity of the bulk material feeder 20, the position of the vibration isolation device 70, the characteristics of the transmitted vibrations, and the like. In the configuration of the present embodiment, the international rubber hardness of the contact section 73 is set to 80 IRHD, as this setting provides a suitable damping characteristic. The international rubber hardness is measured according to JISK6253. The contact section 73 is made of an elastic material and, as described above, comprises a round outer surface 731. In a state where the contact section 73 is in contact with the groove bottom surface of the rail 126 and the vibration isolation device 70 supports the mass of the feeder main body 21, the contact section 73 is elastically deformed to be compressed in the top-bottom direction. In this case, it is shown that, under a given condition, the vibration damping performance is better the smaller the contact area with the target element (rail 126) is when the vibration isolation device 70 supports the feeder main body 21. The contact area can vary depending on the remaining quantity of the charged components 92 and the mass, including the external device, such as the component container 50, but in the present embodiment, the contact area of ​​the contact section 73 (an area of ​​a circular contact region) is equal to or less than half the area of ​​an imaginary circle Vc with a width D1 (see Fig. 6) of a pair of adjacent rails 126 as its diameter. To improve the damping performance, it is also assumed that the diameter of the circular outer surface 731 is reduced to further decrease the contact area of ​​the contact section 73, and that the international rubber hardness grade is set high to reduce elastic deformation. Furthermore, it is known that the position Tp, at which the vibration isolation device 70 is in contact with the rail 126 as the target element, influences the vibration isolation performance, which is determined by a test in which the amount of vibration actually transmitted to other devices is measured. In addition to the damping performance of the vibration isolation device 70, it is assumed that the vibration isolation performance correlates with the occurrence of vibrations in the bulk material feed device 20, the structure along the vibration path to other devices, and the like.In the configuration shown as an example in the present embodiment, the vibration isolation performance can be improved if the side on which the bulk material feed device 20 is arranged is configured as the front in the sliding direction (Y-direction) of the rail 126, since this side is the back in the sliding direction of the rail 126. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, the position Tp, at which the contact section 73 of the vibration isolation device 70 is in contact with the rail 126 as the target element, is fixed on the rear side of the center point Cn of the rail 126 in the sliding direction. Furthermore, the position Tp, at which the contact section 73 of the vibration isolation device 70 is in contact with the rail 126, can be fixed on the rear side of the locking groove 127 of the rail 126. By adjusting the position Tp on the rear side in the sliding direction, the length of the vibration transmission path to other devices is increased, thereby achieving, in particular, a structural damping effect via the locking groove 127. Furthermore, in the configuration shown in the present embodiment, the center of gravity of the bulk material feeder 20 is also located on the rear side in the sliding direction than the rear end of the rail 126, and it is assumed that a vibration generation state, which is intended to propagate outwards from the feeder main body 21, contributes to the vibration isolation performance due to a positional relationship between the vibration device, the center of gravity of the bulk material feeder 20, and the position Tp of the contact. 5. Effects of the configuration of the embodiment In the embodiment, one aspect was illustrated in which a vibration isolation device 70 is provided in the feeder main body 21. In particular, the bulk material feeder 20 comprises a feeder main body 21 configured such that the sliding movement of the feeder main body 21 is guided in the horizontal direction by the rail 126 of the component placement device 10, a rail element 421 provided in the feeder main body 21 in a vibratable manner and on which a conveying path R for the component 92 ejected from the component container 50 is formed, and a conveying vibration device 24 that exerts a vibration on the rail element 421.Furthermore, the bulk material feed device 20 includes a vibration isolation device 70, which is provided in the feed main body 21, supports the feed main body 21 by contact with the rail 126 and dampens vibrations generated by the operation of the conveying vibration device 24. In this configuration, vibrations generated in the bulk material feeder 20 are dampened between the bulk material feeder 20 and the other devices and can be prevented from propagating to the other devices. Accordingly, it can be prevented that the vibrations generated in the bulk material feeder 20 affect other devices. Furthermore, the vibration isolation device 70 acts as a support body that supports the feeder main body 21. With this configuration, the vibration isolation device 70 can be added to an existing bulk material feeder 20, thereby reducing equipment costs in a production plant for manufacturing a product sheet. 6. Modification aspect of the embodiment In this embodiment, a vibration isolation device 70 is provided in the bulk material feeder 20. Several vibration isolation devices 70 can be provided in the feeder main body 21. Alternatively, the vibration isolation device 70 is provided in the feeder main body 21 as the first element between the feeder main body 21 and the rail 126 and supports the feeder main body 21 by being in contact with the rail 126, which is the second element between the feeder main body 21 and the rail 126 as the target element. Alternatively, the vibration isolation device 70 can be provided on the rail 126. In particular, the vibration isolation device 70 can be provided such that it projects upwards from the groove bottom surface of the rail 126 and is in contact with the underside of the feeder main body 21 (target element) of the bulk material feeder 20 in order to support the feeder main body 21 from below. Furthermore, the vibration isolation device 70 can, for example, be integrated into the feeder adjustment table 125 and configured to dampen vibrations propagating between two predetermined slots 121. In particular, the feeder adjustment table 125 can comprise several blocks, each with multiple slots 121, and a damper connecting these blocks and damping the propagating vibrations. In such a configuration, the transmission of vibrations generated in the bulk material feeder 20 to other devices can also be prevented. In the embodiment shown, one aspect was illustrated in which the vibration devices are a conveying vibration device 24 and a discharge vibration device 25. Alternatively, in a case where there is a component that generates vibrations in the bulk material feeder 20, this component can be used as the vibration device. The same effects are achieved in this configuration as in the embodiment. If the bulk material feeder 20 uses vibrations to perform the conveying, discharge, and other operations for the component 92, the configuration in which a vibration isolation device 70 is provided to prevent the penetration of vibrations from the outside can reduce the influence on the various operations described above and is particularly useful. In this embodiment, the bulk material feeder 20 delivers the component to be mounted on the printed circuit board 91 to the component placement device 10. The components are used in a circuit board processing machine, which, like the component placement device 10, performs predetermined operations on the printed circuit board 91. Various types of components can be used, as long as they are items that can be supplied within the feed area of ​​the bulk material feeder 20. For example, the bulk material feeder 20 can feed a spherically shaped solder ball as a component. Similar effects are achieved in this respect as in the embodiment. List of reference symbols 10: Component placement device, 12: Component feeding device, 121: Slot, 122: Feeding device, 125: Feeder setting table, 126: Rail, 127: Locking groove, 20: Bulk material feeding device, 21: Feeding main body, 24: Conveyor vibration device (vibration device), 25: Discharge vibration device (vibration device), 40: Conveyor unit, 41: Container holder (component), 42: Track unit, 421: Rail element (component), 43: Coupling element, 50: Component container, 60: Locking device, 70: Vibration isolation device, 71: Main body section, 72: Mounting base, 73: Contact section, 731: Round outer surface, D1: Width (of the rail pair), Vc: Imaginary circle, Tp: Contact position, Cn: center point (in sliding direction) QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION 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 WO 2021 / 095219

[0003]

Claims

Vibration isolation device for a bulk material feeder used in a component placement device, wherein the bulk material feeder is configured to feed a component and comprises a vibration device configured to exert vibrations on a component, wherein the vibration isolation device comprises: the vibration isolation device provided in the component placement device or the bulk material feeder and configured to dampen vibrations generated by operation of the vibration device between the bulk material feeder and another device used in the component placement device. Vibration isolation device according to claim 1, wherein the component placement device comprises a rail configured to guide a sliding movement of a feeder main body of the bulk material feeder in a horizontal direction, and the vibration isolation device is provided in one of the two elements, the feeder main body and the rail, and supports the feeder main body by being in contact with a target element, which is the other of the two elements, the feeder main body and the rail. Vibration isolation device according to claim 2, wherein a contact area in which the vibration isolation device is in contact with the target element when carrying the feeder main body is equal to or less than half the area of ​​an imaginary circle whose diameter is equal to the width of a pair of adjacent rails. Vibration isolation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a distal end of a contact section which is in contact with the target element has a round outer surface. Vibration isolation device according to claim 4, wherein the contact section is formed from an elastic material. Vibration isolation device according to claim 4, wherein the contact section is formed of rubber or silicone and has an international rubber hardness grade of at least 80 IRHD. Vibration isolation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a position at which the vibration isolation device is in contact with the target element is offset rearward relative to a center of the rail in a sliding direction, when a side on which the bulk material feed device is mounted is defined as the front of the rail in the sliding direction. Vibration isolation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a downwardly recessed locking groove is formed in the rail, the bulk material feed device comprises a locking device configured such that, when set, it restricts the sliding movement by locking a locking element with the locking groove, and a position at which the vibration isolation device is in contact with the target element is offset rearward relative to the locking groove of the rail when a side on which the bulk material feed device is set is defined as the front of the rail in a sliding direction. Vibration isolation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the vibration isolation device is provided in the feeder main body and supports the feeder main body by being in contact with the rail which is the target element. Vibration isolation device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bulk material feeding device comprises a rail element as a component on which a conveying path for the component unloaded from a component container is formed, and conveys the component on the conveying path by transferring the vibration generated by the vibration device to the rail element. Bulk material feeding device comprising: a feeder main body configured such that the sliding movement of the feeder main body is guided in a horizontal direction by a rail of a component placement device; a rail element provided in the feeder main body in a vibratable manner and on which a conveying path for a component ejected from a component container is formed; a vibration device configured to exert vibrations on the rail element; and a vibration isolation device provided in the feeder main body, supporting the feeder main body by contact with the rail and configured to dampen the vibrations generated by the operation of the vibration device.

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