Posture changing method and posture changing mechanism for conveyed object, and conveyance device

Abstract

To change the posture of a conveyed object in a manner that does not require posture control of the conveyed object by air currents and can reduce the influence of the gravity center of the conveyed object.SOLUTION: Posture changing of a conveyed object is performed as follows. A pair of conveyance changing surfaces are provided, facing each other in the width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction and provided with an acute opening angle. The difference in height between the first lowest facing point, which is the lowest point that can be in contact with one conveyance changing surface, and the second lowest facing point, which is the lowest point that can be in contact with the other conveyance changing surface, in the second posture along the other conveyance changing surface, is set to be larger than the difference in height between the first lowest facing point and the second lowest facing point, in the first posture along the one conveyance changing surface. The first and second postures and the opening angles are set so that the first lowest facing point is higher than the second lowest facing point in the second posture.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and mechanism for changing the posture of a transported object, and a transport device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, parts feeders and linear feeders, which are a type of vibration-type conveying device, have been equipped with an alignment mechanism for aligning the posture of conveyed objects such as electronic parts to a predetermined correct posture while conveying the objects along the conveying path. Such alignment mechanisms may remove objects that are not in the correct posture from the conveying path by the shape of the conveying path or by blowing air or other air currents, but there have also been cases where a method of correcting the posture of the conveyed objects by air currents has been adopted to align the conveying posture without reducing conveying efficiency (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, as a method for correcting the posture of the transported object, for example, as shown in Patent Documents 2 and 3, there have been cases where the posture of the transported object is changed during transport depending on the relationship between the inclination angle and other shapes of the transport path and the position of the center of gravity of the transported object. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-187628 A [Patent Document 2] Specification of Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-119518 [Patent Document 3] JP 2015-030543 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When correcting the posture of the transported object using the above-mentioned air flow, there are problems such as the inability to change the posture of the transported object as desired due to variations in the pressure of the air flow and in the relative position of the nozzle and the transported object, and pressure fluctuations in the air flow supply path can create negative pressure at the nozzle, causing the transported object to be sucked in.

[0006] On the other hand, when changing the posture of the transported object by changing the relationship between the inclination angle and other shapes of the transport path and the center of gravity position of the transported object without using airflow, the center of gravity position changes significantly depending on the transport posture on the transport path, as in Patent Document 2, or the center of gravity position is required to be asymmetric with respect to the transport posture, as in Patent Document 3. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to change the transport posture for transported objects with highly symmetric center of gravity positions, such that the center of gravity position changes very little with a change in transport posture.

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to realize a method and mechanism that can change the posture of the transported object without requiring posture control of the transported object by air flow and in a manner that can reduce the influence of the center of gravity position of the transported object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In view of the above situation, the method and mechanism for changing the posture of a transported object according to the present invention configure a transport path having a pair of transport conversion surfaces (a first transport conversion surface and a second transport conversion surface) inclined in opposite directions on both sides of a width direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and the pair of transport conversion surfaces face each other in the width direction via an acute opening angle. Then, the transported object that can be placed along the pair of transport conversion surfaces is transported in the transport direction. The transported object is converted from a first posture along one of the transport conversion surfaces to a second posture along the other transport conversion surface by the supporting force it receives from the pair of transport conversion surfaces during the transport process. At this time, the first and second attitudes of the transported object and the opening angle are set so that the difference in height between the first lowest facing point, which is the lowest part of the transported object that can contact one of the transport conversion surfaces, and the second lowest facing point, which is the lowest part of the transported object that can contact the other transport conversion surface, in the second attitude is greater than the difference in height between the first lowest facing point, which is the lowest part of the transported object that can contact one of the transport conversion surfaces, and the second lowest facing point, which is the lowest part of the transported object that can contact the other transport conversion surface, in the first attitude. At this time, it is assumed that the first lowest facing point is higher than the second lowest facing point in the second attitude.

[0009] According to the present invention, the transported object is set so that the difference in elevation between the first lowest opposing point and the second lowest opposing point in the second posture along one of the transporting conversion surfaces is greater than the difference in elevation between the first lowest opposing point and the second lowest opposing point in the first posture along the other transporting conversion surface, and so that in the second posture the first lowest opposing point is higher than the second lowest opposing point.Therefore, in the first posture, the supporting force received at the first lowest opposing point from the pair of transporting conversion surfaces is likely to generate a rotational force in the direction toward the second posture, while in the second posture, the supporting force received at the second lowest opposing point from the pair of transporting conversion surfaces is unlikely to generate a rotational force in the direction toward the first posture.Therefore, while it is easy to convert from the first posture to the second posture, it is difficult to convert from the second posture to the first posture, and the object is likely to be maintained in the second posture.Therefore, overall, the transported object is converted from the first posture to the second posture, and when it is in the second posture, that posture is maintained. At this time, the change from the first posture to the second posture of the transported object is performed by rotating the transported object around an axis along the transport direction of the transport path while the second lowest facing point moves downward relative to the first lowest facing point in the first posture. As described above, by utilizing the support force that the transported object receives from a pair of transport conversion surfaces having an acute opening angle and the asymmetry of the three-dimensional shape of the transported object, it is possible to align the posture of the transported object without using posture control by airflow and without being significantly affected by the center of gravity position of the transported object.

[0010] In the present invention, in the first posture, the first lowest facing point is at the same height as or higher than the second lowest facing point, so that a rotational force in the direction toward the second posture is generated on the transported object by the supporting force received from the first transport conversion surface at the first lowest facing point, and thus posture conversion from the first posture to the second posture is further facilitated. In particular, it is preferable that the first lowest facing point in the first posture is higher than the second lowest facing point in the first posture. According to this, since the first lowest facing point is higher than the second lowest facing point in the first posture, in the first posture, both the supporting force received from the first transport conversion surface at the first lowest facing point and the supporting force received from the second transport conversion surface at the second lowest facing point are in a positional relationship that applies a rotational force toward the second posture to the transported object, and therefore the conversion rate from the first posture to the second posture and the maintenance rate of the second posture can be further improved.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the second facing range area, which is the range in which the transported object can contact the other transport conversion surface including the second lowest facing point in the second position, is larger than the first facing range area, which is the range in which the transported object can contact the one transport conversion surface including the first lowest facing point in the first position. According to this, the second facing range area in which the transported object faces the other transport conversion surface in the second position is larger than the first facing range area in which the transported object faces the one transport conversion surface in the first position, so that the area receiving the supporting force from each transport conversion surface is larger in the second position than in the first position, and therefore the stability of the first position is low and the stability of the second position is high, so that the conversion from the first position to the second position is further facilitated and the second position is more easily maintained, thereby further improving the conversion rate from the first position to the second position.

[0012] In the present invention, the transported object preferably has a first transported object surface facing the first transported object conversion surface in the first posture, and a second transported object surface facing the second transported object conversion surface in the second posture. Here, it is preferable that the second transported object surface includes a range extending below the first transported object surface. It is also preferable that the first transported object surface and the second transported object surface are parallel, and the second transported object surface has a three-dimensional shape extending over a wider planar range than the first transported object surface. An example of a transported object having this three-dimensional shape is an electronic component having an exterior such as a semiconductor package, which has a main body having the first transported object surface and the second transported object surface on both sides, and a plurality of lead parts extending from the periphery of the main body, and these lead parts extend away from the first transported object surface along the second transported object surface, and a part of the lead parts constitute a part of the second transported object surface. Also included are electronic components such as quartz crystal resonators, light-emitting diodes, and laser diodes, which have a stepped, plate-like three-dimensional shape in which a functional part, the upper surface of which is the surface of the first transported item, is mounted on a portion of the upper surface of a substrate part, the bottom surface of which is the surface of the second transported item. Note that examples of the transported item used in the present invention include those having a three-dimensional shape that is convex when viewed from the transport direction.

[0013] In the present invention, the conveying path preferably includes a posture change area having the first conveying conversion surface and the second conveying conversion surface constituting a posture change mechanism for the conveyed object, an introduction side conveying area connected to the upstream side of the posture change area, and an exit side conveying area connected to the downstream side of the posture change area. Here, the introduction side conveying area includes a first conveying introduction surface and a second conveying introduction surface facing each other in the width direction, and an opening angle between the first conveying introduction surface and the second conveying introduction surface is larger than an opening angle between the first conveying conversion surface and the second conveying conversion surface. For example, an introduction side conveying path having an L-shaped cross section is configured in the introduction side conveying area, and a conveying path serving as a posture change mechanism having a V-shaped cross section is configured in the posture change area. In addition, the exit side conveying area includes a junction conveying path that merges the conveyed object in the second posture along the first conveying conversion surface and the conveyed object in the second posture along the second conveying conversion surface after being led out of the posture change area in the posture change area. The merging conveying path preferably has a conveying support surface (merging conveying surface) having an integral arc-shaped concave cross section in the width direction. In addition, between the posture changing mechanism and the merging conveying path, it is preferable to provide a lead-out section having a first conveying support surface and a second conveying support surface and having an opening angle larger than the opening angle of the posture changing mechanism. The lead-out section preferably has a conveying path having an L-shaped cross section. In this case, it is preferable that the opening angle of the conveying surface having an arc-shaped concave cross section of the merging conveying path is even larger than the opening angle of the lead-out section. Here, the opening angle on the arc-shaped concave cross section refers to the opening angle between the pair of conveying surfaces when the distance between the support points on the arc-shaped concave cross section in the width direction for the conveyed object is the same as the distance at which the conveyed object is arranged across a pair of conveying surfaces facing each other in the width direction.

[0014] In the present invention, the introduction side conveying region is preferably provided with a conveyed object removal means for removing the conveyed object in a position other than the first position and the second position when introduced into the position changing region. Examples of the conveyed object removal means include an airflow blowing structure with a nozzle at a high position for blowing airflow to remove overlapping conveyed objects that are conveyed in a piled-up state on other conveyed objects, and a narrow section structure on the conveying introduction surface for dropping, from the conveying path, conveyed objects whose main axis direction, which should be oriented along the conveying direction in the normal position, is oriented in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0015] In the present invention, in the introduction side transition section from the introduction side transport area to the attitude change mechanism in the attitude change area, the first transport introduction surface and the second transport introduction surface are gradually dug down, and the attitude change mechanism including the first transport conversion surface and the second transport conversion surface is preferably configured to increase in depth in the transport direction (first groove section). According to this, the transported object transported in the introduction side transport area falls into an initially shallow groove of the attitude change mechanism including the first transport conversion surface and the second transport conversion surface, which are steeper than the first transport introduction surface and the second transport introduction surface, in the introduction side transition section to the attitude change mechanism, and is guided to either the first attitude or the second attitude as the groove of the attitude change mechanism gradually deepens in the transport direction, so that a sudden attitude change is unlikely to occur, and damage to the transported object is reduced and the transported object is prevented from being in an attitude other than the first attitude or the second attitude. Instead of or in addition to the above configuration, the transition section may be configured so that the opening angle gradually decreases in the transport direction and changes to an opening angle (described later) suitable for the attitude change area.

[0016] In the present invention, it is preferable that, in the posture change region, a lead-out side transition section from the posture change mechanism to the lead-out side transport region includes a lead-out section having a transport path whose opening angle in the width direction is larger than the opening angle between the first transport conversion surface and the second transport conversion surface and smaller than the opening angle in the width direction than the joining transport path. According to this, in the process of transition from the posture change mechanism with the small opening angle to the joining transport path, the transported object passes through the lead-out section with the opening angle having an intermediate value, thereby avoiding abnormal posture change of the transported object and enabling the transported object to be led out to the joining transport path while maintaining the second posture.

[0017] In the present invention, in the output-side transition section from the position change mechanism to the output-side transport area in the position change region, the first transport conversion surface and the second transport conversion surface of the position change mechanism are preferably flattened by a support surface with a larger opening angle from the top, so that the position change mechanism reduces its depth (third groove section). This makes it difficult for a sudden change in position to occur in the output-side transition section, so that damage to the transported object is reduced and the transported object is prevented from assuming a position other than the first position and the second position. Note that it is preferable that the output-side transition section includes an output section with a larger opening angle, for example, an output transport path having a first transport output surface and a second transport output surface facing each other in the width direction, in which the position change mechanism is completely flattened and disappears.

[0018] In the present invention, the opening angle between the first conveying conversion surface and the second conveying conversion surface is an acute angle, i.e., less than 90 degrees, as described above, but is preferably 65 degrees or less, and more preferably 50 degrees or less. When the opening angle is large, the moving direction along the other conveying surface when the second lowest facing point of the conveyed object in the first position contacts the other conveying surface becomes larger than the direction along the one conveying surface, so that the second lowest facing point is less likely to move downward, and as a result, rotation to the second position is less likely to occur. On the other hand, when the opening angle is 25 degrees or less, the angle difference between the first position and the second position of the conveyed object also becomes small, so that it becomes difficult to maintain the second position, and the stability after the position change decreases. For this reason, the opening angle is preferably within the range of 25-65 degrees, preferably within the range of 30-60 degrees, and more preferably within the range of 40-50 degrees.

[0019] In the present invention, the positional relationship between the first and second lowest opposing points in the first posture varies depending on the shape of the transported object and the opening angle. In general, the opening angle is expressed by subtracting from 180 degrees the sum of the first inclination angle, which is an inclination angle based on the horizontal plane of one of the transporting conversion surfaces along which the transported object in the first posture is placed, and the second inclination angle, which is an inclination angle of the other transporting conversion surface. For a certain transported object, the positional relationship between the first and second lowest opposing points in the first posture is such that the first lowest opposing point is higher than the second lowest opposing point as the first inclination angle of one of the transporting conversion surfaces increases (as the one transporting conversion surface becomes steeper). In addition, the second lowest opposing point is more likely to slide downward as the second inclination angle of the other transporting conversion surface increases (as the other transporting conversion surface becomes steeper), because the angle of the contact surface when the second lowest opposing point abuts against the other transporting conversion surface becomes steeper. From both of these perspectives, the steeper the inclination of the conveying / converting surface, the easier the change in position from the first position to the second position. Therefore, the smaller the opening angle, the easier the position change, but if the opening angle is too small, the stability of the second position decreases, so it is preferable to set the first inclination angle and the second inclination angle to be within the numerical range mentioned in the previous paragraph. Also, in order to facilitate the change to the second position of the transported object in the first position along either of the conveying / converting surfaces, it is preferable that the first inclination angle and the second inclination angle of both conveying / converting surfaces are equivalent (identical), but usually, it is preferable that the difference between the two inclination angles is within 30% of the inclination angle with the larger value, and it is preferable that it is within 15%.

[0020] In the present invention, it is preferable that the cross-sectional contours of the first conveying conversion surface and the second conveying conversion surface are both linear (flat), but some curvature is acceptable. The contours of the first conveying conversion surface and the second conveying conversion surface in the conveying direction may be curved or linear. Usually, the conveying direction of the conveying path of a bowl feeder is configured in a spiral shape, and the conveying direction of the conveying path of a linear feeder is configured in a straight line.

[0021] In the present invention, the conveying path preferably constitutes a conveying device that moves the conveyed object in the conveying direction. That is, the conveying device according to the present invention has a conveying path that is partially equipped with the posture conversion mechanism. In this case, the conveying device is equipped with a conveying drive means that applies a conveying force in the conveying direction to the conveyed object in the conveying path. The conveying drive means is preferably configured by a vibration mechanism that applies vibration to a conveying body equipped with the conveying path. This makes it a vibration type conveying device that conveys the conveyed object by vibrating the conveying body. Here, the vibration preferably has a vibration mode that reciprocates diagonally upward in the conveying direction. In addition, the conveying object may be conveyed by forming a vibration wave that travels in the conveying direction on the conveying body that constitutes the conveying path. Note that the posture conversion mechanism for conveyed object according to the present invention may be provided in a conveying device that obtains a conveying force without using vibration, such as an air levitation type, a rotary type, a magnetic type, a belt conveyor type, or a roller conveyor type. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a posture change mechanism for a transported object that can change the posture of the transported object without requiring control of the inversion of the transported object due to air flow and in a manner that can reduce the influence of the center of gravity position of the transported object. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of the entire bowl of a bowl-type parts feeder, which is a first embodiment of a method and mechanism for changing the posture of a transported object, and a transport device according to the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is an enlarged partial plan view showing a posture change area formed in the bowl shown in FIG. 1 and a conveying path portion before and after the posture change area. FIG. [Diagram 3] 3A to 3F are cross-sectional views showing the cross-sectional structure of each part AF shown in FIG. 2 and the change in posture of the transported object. [Figure 4] 3A to 3E are six-sided views showing the three-dimensional shape of an object to be transported in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5]13A to 13F are plan and front views showing the three-dimensional shapes of transported objects in the second and third embodiments. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are enlarged cross-sectional views showing an example of changing the posture of an object to be transported in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views showing an example of maintaining the posture of a transported object in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 11A to 11E are cross-sectional views showing an example of a change in posture of an object to be transported in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are enlarged cross-sectional views showing an example of an object to be transported before and after a posture change in the second embodiment. [Figure 10] 13A to 13E are cross-sectional views showing an example of a change in posture of an object to be transported in the third embodiment. [Figure 11] 13A and 13B are enlarged cross-sectional views showing an example of an object to be transported before and after a posture change in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an overall configuration of a first embodiment of a method and mechanism for changing the posture of a transported object and a transport device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the entire bowl of a bowl-type parts feeder (conveying device) of the first embodiment. This conveying device (bowl-type parts feeder) 10 includes a conveying body (bowl) 11 fixed on a rotary vibrator (not shown) that vibrates around an axis 10x. When this conveying body 11 receives rotary vibration around the axis 10x, the conveying body 11 conveys the conveyed object W supplied to the conical inner bottom 11a of the conveying body 11 in such a manner that the conveying object W is gradually raised along a spiral conveying path 11b. For example, the conveying path 11b is formed to gradually narrow from an initial state having a wide, flat conveying support surface, and gradually moves the conveyed object W to a state in which it is aligned in a line while shaking off excess conveyed object W to the inner bottom 11a. An inspection unit 12 that inspects the posture and defects of the conveyed object W is provided in the middle of the conveying path 11b, and the conveying path 11b may be configured to return unsuitable conveyed object W to the inner bottom 11a by blowing air currents or the like according to the inspection results obtained in the inspection unit 12. An end 11d of the transport path 11b is connected to devices to which the transported object W should be supplied, such as a linear feeder or an inspection device (not shown).

[0026] In this embodiment, a position change area 11c is provided in a part of the conveying path 11b (the outermost part (top) in the illustrated example). In this position change area 11c, a conveying path structure (position change mechanism for conveying object) is provided that is configured to convert the conveying object W introduced in a first position described below to a second position described below and to lead it out, and to maintain the position of the conveying object W introduced in the second position and lead it out in the second position as it is. An introduction side conveying area 11e is provided adjacent to the upstream side of the position change area 11c, and an output side conveying area 11f is provided adjacent to the downstream side of the position change area 11c.

[0027] In this embodiment, an example of conveying an article W having a semiconductor package shown in FIG. 4 is shown. Here, FIG. 4(a) is a left side view, (e) is a front view, (c) is a right side view, (d) is a plan view, and (b) is a rear view. The article W has a main body W1 having a rectangular plate-like or rectangular parallelepiped shape in a plan view, and a lead portion W2 protruding from a side of the main body W1. It is preferable that a plurality of lead portions W2 are provided as shown in the example. The lead portion W2 has a tip shape that protrudes outward from a middle position in the thickness direction of the side of the main body W1 along the plate surface, bends toward the bottom surface W1b, and then extends further outward along the bottom surface W1b. This tip shape includes a lead bottom portion W2a along the bottom surface W1b of the main body W1. As a result, the area along the bottom surface W1b (second transported object surface, or second opposing range area) is larger than the area along the top surface (first transported object surface) W1a of the transported object W (first opposing range area), and overall, the posture in which the bottom surface W1b is supported (second posture facing the second transport conversion surface 11c2) is more stable than the posture in which the top surface W1a is supported (first posture facing the first transport conversion surface 11c1), resulting in a three-dimensional shape. Note that in this embodiment, the transport direction in the normal transport posture of the transported object W is the left-right direction shown in FIG. 4(d). This three-dimensional shape is configured to be convex when viewed from the transport direction. This convex configuration is a factor that creates positional relationships such as the elevation differences between points A and B, and points A' and B', described below, due to the transported object W being asymmetric in the width direction between a pair of transport conversion surfaces 11c1, 11c2 of the posture change mechanism, i.e., a factor that creates ease of conversion from the first posture to the second posture and stability in maintaining the second posture.

[0028] In the inlet-side conveying region 11e, as shown in Fig. 2, the first conveying introduction surface 11be1 (on the outer periphery) and the second conveying introduction surface 11be2 (on the inner periphery) constituting a part of the conveying path 11b are configured to have an L-shaped cross section so as to be almost perpendicular to each other in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, forming an inlet-side conveying path 11be with an opening angle θe of almost 90 degrees. An air flow outlet 11be1a for blowing air is provided on the upper part of the first conveying introduction surface 11be1, and the air flow (air) blown out of this air flow outlet 11be1a blows out the overlapping conveyed object W' (conveyed object W' conveyed while resting on top of other conveyed objects W) shown in Fig. 3(a) to the outside of the conveying path (to the inner periphery) and removes it. In addition, a narrow portion 11be2a is formed in the second conveying introduction surface 11be2, where the width of the conveying surface decreases from a midway position in the conveying direction, and this narrow portion 11be2a causes the conveyed object W'' (see FIG. 3(a)) in a position in which the main body portion W1 is arranged along the second conveying introduction surface 11be2 to fall outside (to the inner circumference side) of the second conveying introduction surface 11be2 and be removed. Due to such an introduction side conveying region 11e, as shown in FIG. 3(b), only the conveyed object W having the main body portion W1 in a position along the first conveying introduction surface 11be1 is introduced into the position changing region 11c. At this time, although FIG. 3(b) depicts the conveyed object W in a first position described later, the conveyed object W in a second position described later, which is upside down, is also introduced. Note that among the conveyed objects W introduced by the introduction side conveying path 11be, As shown in Figs. 3(a) and (b), the illustrated positions in which the lead portion W2 faces up and down, i.e., the first or second position, as well as other positions in which the lead portion W2 faces forward and backward in the conveying direction, i.e., the third position, may also be included, but in the following description, the manner of conversion between the first and second positions for the conveyed object W in the illustrated positions will be described. At this time, the conveyed object W in the third position may be detected by the upstream inspection unit 12, and the position may be corrected in advance or removed from the conveying path, so that only the conveyed object W in the illustrated position is introduced. This can improve the conveying density of conveyed objects with normal conveying positions. However, the following description may be understood on the premise that the conveyed object W in the third position is also introduced, as long as a slight decrease in conveying density is not a problem.In this case, the transported goods W in the third position can be detected by a downstream inspection section (not shown), and the position can be corrected there, or the goods can be removed from the transport path, so that only the transported goods W in the correct position can be supplied.

[0029] In addition, in the introduction side conveying area 11e, the narrow section 11be2a excludes all of the conveyed object W" having the main body W1 arranged on the second conveying introduction surface 11be2, but it is also possible to configure the conveyed object in a position along the second conveying introduction surface 11be2 (a position that will subsequently become the first position or the second position) to be introduced into the position change area 11c in that position. In this case, the conveyed object W" is introduced into the position change area 11c in a position along the second conveying introduction surface 11be2, and is initially in a position along the second conveying conversion surface 11c2.

[0030] In the posture change area 11c, as shown in FIG. 3(c), initially, as an introduction side transition part, the first conveying introduction surface 11be1 and the second conveying introduction surface 11be2, which have an L-shaped cross section with an opening angle θe of 90 degrees of the introduction side conveying path 11be, are gradually dug in the conveying direction, so that the first groove portion 11ca (see FIG. 1) constituting the posture change mechanism consisting of the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 and the second conveying conversion surface 11c2 with an opening angle θca of an acute angle (about 45 degrees in the illustrated example) is formed in a manner that gradually deepens in the conveying direction. This first groove portion 11ca continues to the second groove portion 11cb, and the second groove portion 11cb extends in a manner that the depth and width hardly change in the conveying direction. In the second groove portion 11cb, as shown in FIG. 3(d), a V-shaped cross section conveying path with a small opening angle θcb (about 45 degrees in the illustrated example) substantially consisting of only the posture change mechanism is formed for the conveyed object W.

[0031] Then, in the lead-out side transition section, a third groove section 11cc with an opening angle θcc is provided following the second groove section 11cb, and in this third groove section 11cc, the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 and the second conveying conversion surface 11c2 of the posture changing mechanism are gradually scraped from above, so that the first conveying lead-out surface 11cf1 and the second conveying lead-out surface 11cf2 with an L-shaped cross section having an opening angle θcf of approximately 90 degrees are gradually formed deeper in the conveying direction, as shown in FIG. 3(e), and the third groove section 11cc of the posture changing mechanism gradually becomes shallower. When the third groove section 11cc finally disappears, a lead-out section 11cf with an L-shaped cross section consisting only of the first conveying lead-out surface cf1 and the second conveying lead-out surface cf2 is formed. The lead-out side conveying region 11f is adjacent to the downstream side of this lead-out section 11cf, as shown in FIG. 3(f). In the illustrated example, the opening angles θca, θcb, and θcc may be formed as a common opening angle θc so that they are the same angle (45 degrees) with each other, but they may be configured to be slightly different angles with each other. The second groove portion 11cb may have a constant depth, and the second groove portion 11cb may be omitted and may be configured only by the first groove portion 11ca and the third groove portion 11cc.

[0032] The outlet-side conveying region 11f forms an outlet-side conveying path 11bf having an integral conveying support surface 11bfa in the width direction having an arc-shaped concave cross section, and constitutes a junction conveying path having a cross-sectional shape with an opening angle θbf that is substantially larger than the opening angle θcf (90 degrees) of the outlet section with respect to the conveyed object W. In the illustrated example, the opening angle θbf is about 150 degrees. Since the conveying support surface 11bfa has an arc-shaped concave cross section, the conveyed object W in the posture (second posture) along the first conveying outlet surface 11cf1 and the conveyed object W in the posture (second posture) along the second conveying outlet surface 11cf2 (illustrated) are conveyed in the same posture after being led into the outlet-side conveying region 11f, as shown in FIG. 3(f).

[0033] Next, referring to FIG. 6 together with FIG. 3, a method and effects of posture change by the posture change mechanism (first conveying conversion surface 11c1 and second conveying conversion surface 11c2) of the posture change area 11c will be described. FIG. 6(a) illustrates a transported object W in a first posture, which is disposed on the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 and has a main body part W1 along the first conveying conversion surface 11c1. Here, the upper surface W1a (first conveying object surface) of the main body part W1 of the transported object W faces the first conveying conversion surface 11c1. Note that the transported object W in this first posture moves in a transport direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the figure between the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 and the second conveying conversion surface 11c2, but is not necessarily transported in a state in which the upper surface W1a is in close contact with the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 as in the illustrated example, and is transported while at least a part of the upper surface W1a comes into contact with and separates from the first conveying conversion surface 11c1. In Fig. 6(a), for the sake of explanation, the entire upper surface W1a is shown in close contact with the first conveying conversion surface 11c1, but this only shows that the entire upper surface W1a can theoretically come into contact with the first conveying conversion surface 11c1, and is different from the state during actual conveyance. Here, the first facing range area in the first position is the area of ​​the entire upper surface W1a of the main body W1. In addition, the first lowest facing point A, which is the lowest point of the conveyed object W that can come into contact with the first conveying conversion surface 11c1, is located at a position corresponding to the lowest edge of the upper surface W1a.

[0034] In the above-mentioned first posture, a part of the lead portion W2 of the transported object W can contact the second transport conversion surface 11c2, and the second lowest facing point B, which is the lowest possible contact point of the transported object W with the second transport conversion surface 11c2, is located at the lead bottom W2a at the tip of the lead portion W2. Note that the above-mentioned point A and point B merely indicate the position when the transported object W contacts the first transport conversion surface 11c1 and the second transport conversion surface 11c2, but they differ from the state during actual transport, and in reality, it is not necessarily the case that either point A or point B contacts each transport conversion surface, and also point A and point B rarely contact at the same time.

[0035] In this embodiment, in the first posture, the first lowest opposing point A facing the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 is disposed above the second lowest opposing point B facing the second conveying conversion surface 11c2. Therefore, the transported object W can receive a support force from both the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 and the second conveying conversion surface 11c2, but receives a rotational force indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6(b) from either support force. This rotational force shifts the transported object W from the first posture to the second posture. Specifically, the support force received from the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 at the first lowest opposing point A is given at a point higher than the support force received from the second conveying conversion surface 11c2 at the second lowest opposing point B, so that the transported object W receives a rotational moment in the counterclockwise direction as a whole. In this situation, the transported object W starts to rotate in the first position, and when the first position along the first transport conversion surface 11c1 of the transported object W changes to the second position, the second lowest opposing point B tends to slide down even when it comes into contact with the second transport conversion surface 11c2, accelerating the downward movement of the second lowest opposing point B, making the transported object W even more likely to rotate, and eventually converting to the second position along the second transport conversion surface 11c2. At this time, the height difference between the first lowest opposing point A' and the second lowest opposing point B' in the second position becomes larger than the height difference between the first lowest opposing point A and the second lowest opposing point B in the first position.

[0036] In the illustrated example, the first lowest facing point A of the transported object W in the first position is located above the second lowest facing point B, so that the transported object W is easily subjected to the illustrated rotational force, but in reality, even if the first lowest facing point A and the second lowest facing point B are located at approximately the same height, the rotational force of the transported object W from the first position to the second position does not disappear due to the support forces received from both transport conversion surfaces. This is because the transported object W in the first position can rotate in the direction from the first position to the second position as shown in FIG. 6(a), but cannot rotate in the opposite direction. In other words, the transported object W receives support forces from both the first transport conversion surface 11c1 and the second transport conversion surface 11c2 around the first lowest facing point A and the second lowest facing point B, but the source of the rotational force received by the transported object W in the first position is only the support force received from the first transport conversion surface 11c1.

[0037] In addition, when the transported object W is transported in the above-mentioned first posture, the first facing range area, which is the area where the transported object W faces the first transport conversion surface 11c1, is the area of ​​the upper surface (first transported object surface) W1a, and the area where the transported object W faces the second transport conversion surface 11c2 is only the area of ​​the lead bottom part W2a, which is the tip part of the lead part W2 that can contact at the second lowest facing point B. Therefore, it is considered that the supporting force received from the first transport conversion surface 11c1 when the transported object W is transported is not given to the transported object W only at the first lowest facing point A, but is actually given at a position higher than the first lowest facing point A. For this reason, it is considered that the height difference of the position where the transported object W receives the supporting force from both transport conversion surfaces is larger than the height difference between the first lowest facing point A and the second lowest facing point B. Therefore, the substantial height difference of the position where this supporting force is received acts in a direction to further increase the above-mentioned rotation force.

[0038] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the rotational force received by the transported object W in the second posture is directed in a direction to maintain the second posture, not in a direction toward the first posture, because the second lowest opposing point B' has dropped and the height difference between the second lowest opposing point B' and the first lowest opposing point A' has increased. That is, when the transported object W is in the second posture, the second lowest opposing point B' is lower than the first lowest opposing point A', and therefore the height difference between the first lowest opposing point A' and the second lowest opposing point B' generally increases compared to when the transported object W was in the first posture, so the support forces received from both transport conversion surfaces act in a direction to maintain the transported object W in the second posture along the second transport conversion surface 11c2, and do not act in a direction to return the transported object W to the first posture. Also, the second opposing range area of ​​the transported object W relative to the second transport conversion surface 11c2 is the total area of ​​the bottom surface W1b of the main body W1 plus the area of ​​the lead bottom W2b of the lead W2 (area of ​​the second transported object surface). Therefore, the second facing area of ​​the second conveying conversion surface 11c2 in the second posture of the conveyed object W is larger than the first facing area of ​​the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 in the first posture. Therefore, the stability of the conveyed object W in the second posture is higher than the stability of the first posture, so that the second posture is more likely to be maintained. This does not change anything because, even if the position receiving the support force from the second conveying conversion surface 11c2 is substantially higher than the second lowest facing point B' in the second posture due to the second facing area facing the second conveying conversion surface 11c2, the first lowest facing point A' is also relatively higher, so that the rotation force to return to the first posture is still unlikely to be generated.

[0039] The above-mentioned action and effect is the same for the transported object W that is initially in the second position as shown in Fig. 7(a), and the second position of the transported object W is maintained in the position change mechanism. In the illustrated case, the transported object W is introduced into the position change area 11c in the second position along the first transport conversion surface 11c1, but as described above, even in this second position, the second lowest opposing point B' with respect to the first transport conversion surface 11c1, which is the "other transport conversion surface," is lower than the first lowest opposing point A' with respect to the second transport conversion surface 11c2, which is the "one transport conversion surface." Therefore, the support force received from the first transport conversion surface 11c1 and the support force received from the second transport conversion surface 11c2 do not apply a rotation force to the transported object W in the direction toward the first position, but rather generate a rotation force in the opposite direction, so that the second position on the first transport conversion surface 11c1 is maintained. Also, the stability is improved by the large second facing area (area of ​​the second object surface) relative to the first conveying conversion surface 11c1, as described above. Note that Fig. 7(a) shows a state in which the object W is separated from the second conveying conversion surface 11c2 during the conveying process, and Fig. 7(b) shows a state in which the object W is separated from both the first conveying surface 11c1 and the second conveying conversion surface 11c2. These states are considered to be average states when the object W is conveyed by vibration.

[0040] 3(b)-(e) and 6 and 7 show a case where the transported object W in a posture along the first transport introduction surface 11be1 of the introduction side transport region 11e is introduced in a posture along the first transport conversion surface 11c1 as it is. However, in the posture change mechanism formed in the posture change region 11c of this embodiment, even when the transported object W is introduced in a posture along the second transport conversion surface 11c2, it is possible to act in the same manner as above. That is, as described above, not only is it possible to convert the transported object W in a first posture along the first transport conversion surface 11c1 to a second posture along the second transport conversion surface 11c2 and to maintain the transported object W in the second posture along the first transport conversion surface 11c1 as it is, but also to convert the transported object W in a first posture along the second transport conversion surface 11c2 to a second posture along the first transport conversion surface 11c1 and to maintain the transported object W in the second posture along the second transport conversion surface 11c2 as it is.

[0041] Next, referring to FIG. 5, the transported objects WA, WB, WC different from the transported object W will be described. Each of these transported objects WA, WB, WC includes a substrate portion WAa, WBa, WCa and a functional portion WAb, WBb, WCb arranged on the substrate portion. The transported objects WA, WB, WC in the illustrated example are surface-mounted devices equipped with a quartz crystal oscillator. Here, the substrate portions WAa, WBa, WCa are rectangular plate-like in plan view, and the functional portions WAb, WBb, WCb are configured as cubes having a narrower planar area than the substrate portion, smaller in both length and width than the substrate portion, but a greater thickness than the substrate portion. Here, in the following embodiment, the up-down direction in FIG. 5 is set to be the transport direction of each of the transported objects WA, WB, WC. In either case, the transport direction is the longitudinal direction along the plane of each of the transported objects WA, WB, WC. Note that examples of transported objects having a similar structure include light-emitting elements such as LEDs and laser diodes configured as surface-mounted devices. These three-dimensional shapes are also configured to be convex when viewed from the transport direction. This convex configuration is a factor that creates the relative positional relationships between points A and B, and points A' and B' mentioned above, since the transported objects WA, WB, and WC are asymmetric in the width direction between a pair of transport conversion surfaces of the posture change mechanism, i.e., a factor that creates ease of conversion from the first posture to the second posture and stability in maintaining the second posture.

[0042] 8 and 9 are diagrams showing a posture changing method by the posture changing mechanism of the second embodiment using the above-mentioned transported object WA. The feature of this transported object WA is that the difference in the planar area between the substrate portion WAa ​​and the functional portion WAb is small, and the height difference between the first lowest opposing point A and the second lowest opposing point B in the first posture along the first transport conversion surface 11c1 is small, as shown in FIG. 9(a). In the illustrated example, strictly speaking, the second lowest opposing point B is slightly higher than the first lowest opposing point A. Therefore, the height difference between points A and B is a small negative value. However, when the transported object WA is in the first posture, the supporting force received at point B from the second transport conversion surface 11c2 only presses the upper surface of the functional portion WAb against the first transport conversion surface 11c1, and does not change the posture of the transported object WA, whereas the supporting force received at point A from the first transport conversion surface 11c1 generates a rotation force that rotates the transported object W in the first posture toward the second posture. As described above, this effect is further enhanced by the fact that the supporting force received at point A from the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 causes point B to drop, resulting in a difference in elevation between points A and B and further increasing this difference in elevation, making the supporting force more likely to generate a rotational force toward the second posture, and by the fact that the existence of the first opposing range area means that the actual position at which the supporting force is received is located slightly above point A.

[0043] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 9 (b), when the transported object WA is in the second position, the supporting force received at the first lowest opposing point A' from the first transport conversion surface 11c1 simply presses the bottom surface of the base portion WAa ​​against the second transport conversion surface 11c2, and generates almost no rotational force on the transported object WA, as described above. However, since the difference in height between the first lowest opposing point A' and the second lowest opposing point B' is large, the supporting force received at the second lowest opposing point B' does not become a rotational force in the direction toward the first position, and may even generate a rotational force in the opposite direction, so that the second position is maintained. At this time, the first facing range area facing the first transport conversion surface 11c1 in the first position is the area of ​​the entire upper surface of the functional part WAb, while the second facing range area facing the second transport conversion surface 11c2 in the second position is the area of ​​the entire bottom surface of the substrate part WAa, which is wider than the upper surface of the functional part WAb, so that the second position is more stable than the first position, and the first position is more easily converted to the second position and the second position is more easily maintained. Here, due to the existence of the second facing range area, it is considered that the point of action of the support force received from the second transport conversion surface 11c2 may be slightly higher than the second lowest facing point B', but it is difficult for the point of action to exceed the height of the first lowest facing point A', which is located considerably higher due to the increase in the height difference.

[0044] 10 and 11 are diagrams showing a posture changing method by the posture changing mechanism of the third embodiment using the above-mentioned transported object WB. The feature of this transported object WB is that the difference in area in a plan view between the substrate part WBa and the functional part WBb is larger than that of the transported object WA, so that the first lowest facing point A in the first posture is at almost the same height as the second lowest facing point B, as shown in FIG. 11(a). In the illustrated example, strictly speaking, the first lowest facing point A is slightly higher than the second lowest facing point B. Therefore, the height difference is a small positive value. As a result, the supporting force received at point A from the first transport conversion surface 11c1 is more likely to generate a rotational force in a direction that puts the transported object WB into the second posture than in the second embodiment. 11(b), since the difference in height between the first lowest facing point A' and the second lowest facing point B' in the second posture is greater than in the second embodiment, the supporting force received at point B' from the second transfer conversion surface 11c2 is less likely to become a rotational force in the direction returning to the first posture, making it easier to maintain the second posture. Moreover, since the ratio of the second facing range area of ​​the substrate part WBa to the first facing range area of ​​the upper surface of the functional part WBb is greater in the transported object WB than in the transported object WA of the second embodiment, the stability of the second posture is higher than that of the first posture, making it easier to maintain the second posture.

[0045] The opening angle θc between the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 and the second conveying conversion surface 11c2 constituting the posture changing mechanism has a different suitable value depending on the three-dimensional shape of the objects W, WA, WB, and WC. As described above, the opening angle θc is preferably in the range of 25-65 degrees, more preferably in the range of 30-60 degrees, and even more preferably in the range of 40-50 degrees. In this case, the larger the opening angle θc, the larger the contact angle when the second lowest opposing point B in the first posture contacts the second conveying conversion surface 11c2, so that it becomes difficult for the second lowest opposing point B to move (downward), and it becomes difficult to change from the first posture to the second posture. Conversely, the smaller the opening angle θc, the easier the movement of the second lowest opposing point B in the first posture and the easier the change to the second posture, but the easier it is to return from the second posture to the first posture, so that the sorting accuracy of the conveying posture of the object and the conveying efficiency (conveying density) decrease.

[0046] As described above, in each of the above embodiments, the posture changing mechanism has a V-shaped cross section with an opening angle θc, and is composed of the first conveying conversion surface 11c1 and the second conveying conversion surface 11c2 facing each other in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The elevation difference between the first lowest opposing point A' and the second lowest opposing point B' in the second posture is greater than the elevation difference between the first lowest opposing point A and the second lowest opposing point B in the first posture of the conveyed object W, and the first lowest opposing point A' is configured to be higher than the second lowest opposing point B'. As a result, during the process of being conveyed in the conveying direction, the conveyed object W is converted from the first posture to the second posture by a rotational force based on the supporting force it receives from each conveying conversion surface at points A and B, while the second posture is maintained because the supporting force it receives from each conveying conversion surface at points A' and B' is unlikely to generate a rotational force.

[0047] In addition, by configuring the first lowest opposite point A in the first posture to be higher than the second lowest opposite point B, the supporting force received in the first posture is more likely to generate a rotational force, thereby making it possible to further increase the conversion rate to the second posture.

[0048] In this embodiment, the positional relationship between the first and second lowest facing points in the first posture varies depending on the shape of the transported object and the opening angle θc. As shown in Fig. 6, the opening angle θc is expressed by subtracting the sum of the first inclination angle φ1, which is the inclination angle of one of the transporting conversion surfaces 11c1 along which the transported object in the first posture is placed with respect to the horizontal plane H, and the second inclination angle φ2, which is the inclination angle of the other transporting conversion surface 11c2, from 180 degrees (θc = 180 - (φ1 + φ2)). For a certain transported object, the positional relationship between the first and second lowest facing points in the first posture becomes higher when the first inclination angle φ1 of one of the transporting conversion surfaces becomes larger (when one of the transporting conversion surfaces becomes steeper). In addition, the larger the second inclination angle φ2 of the other conveying / converting surface (the steeper the other conveying / converting surface is), the steeper the angle of the contact surface when the second lowest opposing point abuts against the other conveying / converting surface, so the second lowest opposing point is more likely to slide downward. In either of these respects, the steeper the inclination of the conveying / converting surface, the easier the conversion from the first position to the second position is. Therefore, normally, the smaller the opening angle is, the easier the position conversion is, but if the opening angle is too small, the stability of the second position decreases, so it is preferable that the sum of φ1 and φ2 is set to be within the numerical range mentioned in the previous paragraph. In addition, in order to facilitate the conversion to the second position of the conveyed object in the first position along either of the conveying / converting surfaces, it is preferable that the inclination angles φ1 and φ2 of both conveying / converting surfaces are equal. In particular, it is particularly preferable that both inclination angles are the same, that is, φ1=φ2. Normally, it is preferable that the difference between the two inclination angles φ1 and φ2 is within 30% of the inclination angle with the larger value, and it is preferable that it is within 15%. In addition, in the case of a certain transported object, when the heights of the first lowest opposing point and the second lowest opposing point in the first posture are equal, or when the second lowest opposing point is at a higher position than the first lowest opposing point, the above-mentioned inclination angles φ1 and φ2 can be increased to optimize the relationship in height between the two opposing points, or to increase the inclination angle at the contact point of the second lowest opposing point with the other transport conversion surface, thereby facilitating the posture change from the first posture to the second posture.It is desirable that the above-mentioned inclination angles φ1 and φ2 are set to suitable values ​​by appropriately adjusting them according to various conditions including the shape of the transported object (presence or absence of vibration during transportation, frequency of vibration, nature and inclination of the transport direction, etc.), taking into consideration the ease of changing the posture from the first posture to the second posture and the stability of the second posture.

[0049] Furthermore, since the second opposing range area in the second posture (the total area of ​​the bottom surface W1b of main body part W1 and the lead bottom portion W2a of lead part W2, which is the second transported object surface) is larger than the first opposing range area in the first posture (the total area of ​​the top surface W1a of main body part W1, which is the first transported object surface), the stability of the second posture is further improved compared to the stability of the first posture, making it even easier to convert from the first posture to the second posture and to maintain the second posture.

[0050] Moreover, the transported object W has a top surface W1a which is the first transported object surface facing the first transport conversion surface 11c1, and a bottom surface W1b and a lead bottom portion W2a which are the second transported object surface facing the second transport conversion surface 11c2, and the transported object W has a three-dimensional shape in which the bottom surface W1b and the lead bottom portion W2a which are the second transported object surface extend downward in the first and second postures from the top surface W1a which is the first transported object surface, so that the positional relationship between the first lowest opposing point A and the second lowest opposing point B is easily converted from the first posture to the second posture, and the stability of the second posture is improved compared to the first posture. In particular, since the area of ​​the bottom surface W1b and the lead bottom portion W2a which are the second transported object surface is larger than the area of ​​the top surface W1a which is the first transported object surface, the first posture is more easily changed to the second posture, and the second posture is more easily maintained.

[0051] The method and device of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned illustrated examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a groove having a V-shaped cross section is provided as the posture changing mechanism, but the posture changing mechanism may be a conveying path having another shape, such as a groove having a U-shaped cross section or a groove having a flat inner bottom surface, as long as it has a similar effect on the conveyed object W.

[0052] In addition, in the above embodiment, a bowl-type parts feeder 10 is exemplified as a vibratory conveying device, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a linear feeder, and can be used with various types of conveying devices other than vibratory conveying devices, such as air levitation, rotary, magnetic, belt conveyor, and roller conveyor types. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10...conveying device (bowl-type parts feeder), 11...conveying body (bowl), 11a...inner bottom, 11b...conveying path, 11c...position changing area, 11c1...first conveying conversion surface, 11c2...second conveying conversion surface, 11ca...first groove, 11cb...second groove, 11cc...third groove, 11cf...outlet, 11cf1...first conveying support surface, 11cf2...second conveying support surface, 11e...introduction side conveying area, 11be...introduction side conveying path, 11be1...first conveying introduction surface, 11be2...second conveying introduction surface, 11be1a...air flow outlet , 11be2a...narrow portion, 11f...output-side conveying area, 11bf...output-side conveying path (junction conveying path), 11bfa...conveyor support surface (junction conveying surface), θc (θca, θcb, θcc), θe, θf...opening angle, W, WA, WB, WC...conveyed object, W1...main body, W1a...upper surface, W1b...bottom surface, W2...lead portion, W2a...lead bottom portion, A...first lowest opposing point in first position, B...second lowest opposing point in first position, A'...first lowest opposing point in second position, B'...second lowest opposing point in second position

Claims

1. A method for converting an object to be transported from a first position along one of the transporting conversion surfaces to a second position along the other of the transporting conversion surfaces by a supporting force received from the pair of transporting conversion surfaces during the transport process, comprising: forming a transport path having a pair of transporting conversion surfaces inclined in opposite directions on both sides of a width direction perpendicular to the transport direction, the pair of transporting conversion surfaces facing each other in the width direction via an acute opening angle; and transporting an object to be transported in the transport direction, the object to be transported being capable of being positioned in a position along the pair of transporting conversion surfaces, the method comprising the steps of: the first and second attitudes and the opening angle are set so that a difference in height between a first lowest facing point, which is the lowest part of the object that can come into contact with one of the conveying converting surfaces, and a second lowest facing point, which is the lowest part of the object that can come into contact with the other of the conveying converting surfaces, in the second attitude is greater than a difference in height between a first lowest facing point, which is the lowest part of the object that can come into contact with one of the conveying converting surfaces, and a second lowest facing point, which is the lowest part of the object that can come into contact with the other of the conveying converting surfaces, in the first attitude, and so that the first lowest facing point is higher than the second lowest facing point in the second attitude. A method for changing the posture of a transported object.

2. 2. The method for changing the posture of a transported object according to claim 1, wherein the first lowest facing point in the first posture is higher than the second lowest facing point in the first posture.

3. a second facing range area, which is a range in which the transported object can come into contact with the other transport converting surface including the second lowest facing point in the second posture, is larger than a first facing range area, which is a range in which the transported object can come into contact with the one transport converting surface including the first lowest facing point in the first posture; 3. A method for changing the posture of a transported object according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the transported object has a first transported object surface facing the one transport conversion surface in the first posture and a second transported object surface facing the second transport conversion surface in the second posture, the load has a three-dimensional shape in which a surface of the second load extends below a surface of the first load in the first attitude and the second attitude; 3. A method for changing the posture of a transported object according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The transported object has a three-dimensional shape that is convex when viewed from the transport direction. The method for changing the posture of a transported object according to claim 4.

6. A mechanism for converting an object to be transported from a first position along one of the transporting conversion surfaces to a second position along the other of the transporting conversion surfaces by a supporting force received from the pair of transporting conversion surfaces during the transport process, comprising: a transport path having a pair of transporting conversion surfaces inclined in opposite directions on both sides of a width direction perpendicular to the transport direction, the pair of transporting conversion surfaces facing each other in the width direction via an acute opening angle; and a mechanism for converting an object to be transported from a first position along one of the transporting conversion surfaces to a second position along the other of the transporting conversion surfaces by a supporting force received from the pair of transporting conversion surfaces during the transport process, the mechanism comprising: the first and second postures, and the opening angle are set so that the difference in height between a first lowest facing point, which is the lowest portion of the object capable of contacting one of the conveying conversion surfaces, and a second lowest facing point, which is the lowest portion of the object capable of contacting the other of the conveying conversion surfaces, in the second posture is greater than the difference in height between a first lowest facing point, which is the lowest portion of the object capable of contacting one of the conveying conversion surfaces, and a second lowest facing point, which is the lowest portion of the object capable of contacting the other of the conveying conversion surfaces, in the first posture, and so that the first lowest facing point is higher than the second lowest facing point in the second posture. Mechanism for changing the posture of transported items.

7. 7. The position changing mechanism for a transported object according to claim 6, wherein the first lowest facing point in the first position is higher than the second lowest facing point in the first position.

8. a second facing range area, which is a range in which the transported object can come into contact with the other transport converting surface including the second lowest facing point in the second posture, is larger than a first facing range area, which is a range in which the transported object can come into contact with the one transport converting surface including the first lowest facing point in the first posture; 8. A mechanism for changing the position of a transported object according to claim 6 or 7.

9. the transported object has a first transported object surface facing the one transport conversion surface in the first posture and a second transported object surface facing the second transport conversion surface in the second posture, the load has a three-dimensional shape in which a surface of the second load extends below a surface of the first load in the first attitude and the second attitude; 8. A mechanism for changing the position of a transported object according to claim 6 or 7.

10. The transported object has a three-dimensional shape that is convex when viewed from the transport direction. The mechanism for changing the position of a transported object according to claim 9.

11. The position changing mechanism according to claim 6 or 7 is provided in a part of a conveying path, and a conveying drive means is provided to generate a conveying force for conveying the conveyed object along the conveying path. Conveying device.

12. The transport driving means is a vibration mechanism that generates the transport force by vibrating a transport body that constitutes the transport path.

12. The conveying device of claim 11.

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