Conveying device

Abstract

To provide a conveying device that can apply appropriate vibration to parts and convey the parts efficiently.SOLUTION: A conveying device according to this embodiment includes a lower part with a base body, an upper part that includes a conveying part that has a conveying surface for conveying to-be-conveyed members and moves the to-be-conveyed members on the conveying surface by applying vibration to the to-be-conveyed members, and an adjustment part that is provided on the rear side of the conveying part opposite to the conveying surface, vibrates together with the conveying part and is movable relative to the conveying part in the conveying direction of the to-be-conveyed members, and a vibration part that is provided between the lower part and upper part and applies vibration to the upper part. The adjustment part is slidable back and forth in the conveying direction along the back side of the conveying part and adjusts the position of the center of gravity of the upper part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE An embodiment according to the present invention relates to a transport device. [Background technology]

[0002] A parts feeder moves parts in a desired direction by vibrating a conveying member that conveys the parts. In order to move parts efficiently, the vibration direction and the position of the center of gravity of the parts feeder body are important. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, conventional parts feeders have been unable to fully adjust the position of the center of gravity of the main body. If the position of the center of gravity of the parts feeder main body is not appropriate, it is not possible to apply appropriate vibrations to the parts to transport them, making it difficult to efficiently move the parts in the desired direction.

[0004] Furthermore, depending on the rigidity of the transport member and its length in the transport direction, the transport member may bend due to vibration. In this case, it is also difficult to apply appropriate vibration to the parts, making it difficult to efficiently move the parts in the desired direction.

[0005] Therefore, the present embodiment provides a conveying device that can apply appropriate vibrations to parts and convey the parts efficiently. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The conveying device according to this embodiment comprises a lower part including a base, a conveying section having a conveying surface for conveying the conveyed member and applying vibrations to the conveyed member to move the conveyed member on the conveying surface, and an upper part including an adjustment section provided on the back side opposite the conveying surface of the conveying section, vibrating together with the conveying section and movable relative to the conveying section in the conveying direction of the conveyed member, and a vibration section provided between the lower part and upper part and applying vibrations to the upper part, and the adjustment section is slidable back and forth in the conveying direction along the back side of the conveying section and adjusts the position of the center of gravity of the upper part.

[0007] The adjustment section adjusts the position of the center of gravity of the upper portion so that an imaginary line passing through the center of gravity of the lower portion and the center of gravity of the upper portion is approximately parallel to the vibration direction of the upper portion.

[0008] The adjustment section is a plate-like member extending in the transport direction, and is fixed to the rear surface of the transport section to reinforce the transport section.

[0009] The vibration section is composed of an AC electromagnet attached to a lower part, and a movable iron core attached to an upper part so as to face the AC electromagnet at a predetermined distance.

[0010] The vibration part is composed of a piezoelectric vibration mechanism. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration example of the transport device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration example of the conveying device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the center of gravity of an upper vibrating body and a vibration direction of a lower vibrating body. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a configuration example of a transport device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The drawings are schematic or conceptual, and the ratio of each part is not necessarily the same as the actual one. In the specification and drawings, elements similar to those described above with respect to the previous drawings are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0013] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration example of a conveying device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration example of a conveying device according to a first embodiment. The conveying device 1 is, for example, a vibration type part conveying device that conveys a work (not shown) on a conveying section 102 in the +X direction. The conveying device 1 is also called, for example, a parts feeder. The -Z direction is the gravity direction. The +X direction is the work conveying direction. The Y direction is the width direction perpendicular to the X and Z directions.

[0014] The transport device 1 includes an upper vibrating body 100, leaf springs 200a and 200b, a lower vibrating body 300, and a vibration isolation part 601.

[0015] The upper vibrating body 100 includes a top plate 101, a transport section 102, an adjustment section 103, fixtures 104 and 105, and a movable iron core .

[0016] The top plate 101 is provided between the transport section 102 and the leaf springs 200a, 200b, and is a part of the upper vibrating body 100 connected to the leaf springs 200a, 200b. As shown in FIG. 2, the top plate 101 is provided on the back side of the transport section 102. The top plate 101 is connected to the transport section 102 by a fastener, and vibrates together with the transport section 102. The top plate 101 may be bonded or welded to the transport section 102, or may be formed integrally therewith.

[0017] The conveying unit 102 has a conveying surface F1a on its upper surface and a conveying path TR provided on the conveying surface F1a. A workpiece as a member to be conveyed is supplied into the conveying path TR on the conveying surface F1a and conveyed along the conveying path TR. The conveying unit 102 applies vibrations to the workpiece on the conveying path TR on the conveying surface F1a to move the workpiece in the +X direction within the conveying path TR. The conveying unit 102 is also called a chute. The conveying unit 102 is made of a rigid metal material such as iron, aluminum, or SUS.

[0018] The adjustment unit 103 is provided on the back surface F1b side of the transport unit 102 opposite to the transport surface F1a. As shown in FIG. 2, the adjustment unit 103 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the left and right top plates 101, and is configured to be movable relative to the transport unit 102 in the work transport direction (+X direction) or the opposite direction (-X direction). For example, the adjustment unit 103 has grooves 103a extending in the X direction on both sides, and a fixing tool (screw) 104 penetrates the top plate 101 from the outside of the top plate 101 and fits into the groove 103a. By loosening the fixing tool 104, the adjustment unit 103 can move in the extension direction of the groove 103a (±X direction). On the other hand, by tightening the fixing tool 104 to the groove 103a, the adjustment unit 103 can be fixed to the transport unit 102.

[0019] The adjustment unit 103 is a plate-like member extending in the ±X direction. For example, the width of the adjustment unit 103 in the Y direction is a, as shown in FIG. 2. The thickness of the adjustment unit 103 in the Z direction is b. The length of the adjustment unit 103 in the X direction is c, as shown in FIG. 1. The adjustment unit 103 has a substantially rectangular shape in a cross section cut along the YZ plane and a cross section cut along the XZ plane. The width a of the adjustment unit 103 is slightly smaller than the distance between the two top plates 101 on both sides of the transport unit 102 and adjacent to each other in the Y direction. The thickness b of the adjustment unit 103 is slightly smaller than the gap in the Z direction between the leaf spring 200 and the transport unit 102. The length c of the adjustment unit 103 is shorter than the length of the transport unit 102.

[0020] The adjustment unit 103 can slide back and forth in the ±X direction along the back surface F1b of the transport unit 102. The adjustment unit 103 can be fixed to the top plate 101 and the transport unit 102 by a fixing device 104. The fixing device 104 penetrates the top plate 101 from both outsides of the top plate 101 located at the bottom of the transport unit 102 and fits into a groove 103a, and is fixed to the top plate 101 and the transport unit 102 by tightening the adjustment unit 103 from both sides of the top plate 101. Furthermore, the adjustment unit 103 is directly fixed to the back surface F1b of the transport unit 102 by a fixing device 105. The fixing device 105 is provided at both ends of the adjustment unit 103 in the ±X direction, penetrates the adjustment unit 103 from the back surface side of the adjustment unit 103, and fits into a groove or hole (not shown) provided on the back surface F1b of the transport unit 102. This fixes both ends of the adjustment unit 103 to the transport unit 102, preventing both ends of the adjustment unit 103 from being separated from the transport unit 102 due to vibration. That is, when transporting the workpiece, the adjustment unit 103 is fixed to the transport unit 102 as a part of the upper vibrating body 100 by the fixing devices 104 and 105, and vibrates together with the transport unit 102. Furthermore, by fixing both ends of the adjustment unit 103 to the transport unit 102, the transport unit 102 is reinforced by the adjustment unit 103. In order to reinforce the transport unit 102, it is preferable that the adjustment unit 103 is made of a material having the same or greater rigidity as the transport unit 102. The adjustment unit 103 is made of a rigid metal material, such as iron, aluminum, or SUS.

[0021] The movable iron core 106 faces an electromagnet 402 provided on the lower vibrating body 300 with a predetermined gap therebetween. The movable iron core 106 is fixed to the upper vibrating body 100 and can move relative to the lower vibrating body 300 so as to be vibrated. The movable iron core 106 is attracted to the electromagnet 402 by an alternating current supplied to the electromagnet 402, or the upper vibrating body 100 can be vibrated relative to the lower vibrating body 300 by being released from the electromagnet 402.

[0022] The lower vibrating body 300 includes a base body 301 , an electromagnet 402 , a connecting portion 501 , and a lower weight 302 .

[0023] The base 301 is a member that serves as the foundation of the transport device 1. The components of the transport device 1 are assembled on the upper surface of the base 301. The base 301 is made of a rigid metal material such as iron, aluminum, or SUS. A vibration-proof part 601 is provided on the back surface of the base 301. The vibration-proof part 601 absorbs vibrations of the base 301 and prevents the vibrations from being transmitted to a floor (not shown) or the like below the vibration-proof part 601.

[0024] The electromagnet 402 as a vibrating part is an AC electromagnet fixed to the base 301 of the lower vibrating body 300 via a connecting part 501. The electromagnet 402 is connected to a power supply wiring (not shown) and applies vibration to the movable iron core 106 by being fed with power from an AC power supply. As a result, the electromagnet 402 can vibrate the upper vibrating body 100 relative to the lower vibrating body 300 between the lower vibrating body 300 and the upper vibrating body 100.

[0025] The lower weight 302 is provided on the base body 301 and configured to be movable in the ±X directions. The lower weight 302 is configured from a metal material such as iron, aluminum, or SUS.

[0026] The leaf springs 200a and 200b as the vibrating parts are plate-shaped elastic members that connect the upper vibrating body 100 and the lower vibrating body 300. The leaf springs 200a and 200b are fixed to both the upper vibrating body 100 and the lower vibrating body 300. The upper vibrating body 100 and the lower vibrating body 300 are connected by the leaf springs 200a and 200b but are separated from each other. Therefore, when the electromagnet 402 and the movable iron core 106 apply vibration to the upper vibrating body 100 and the lower vibrating body 300, the leaf springs 200a and 200b determine the vibration direction of the upper vibrating body 100 relative to the lower vibrating body 300. 1, the leaf springs 200a, 200b vibrate the upper vibrating body 100 relative to the lower vibrating body 300 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate surfaces of the leaf springs 200a, 200b (thickness direction of the leaf springs 200a, 200b). As a result, the work on the transport section 102 is transported in one direction (+X direction) of the X component of the vibration direction A1. The leaf springs 200a, 200b are made of, for example, a metal material such as iron or SUS, a resin material, a carbon fiber material, or the like.

[0027] Here, the relationship between the center of gravity of the upper vibrating body 100 and the lower vibrating body 300 and the vibration direction A1 will be described.

[0028] 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the center of gravity and the vibration direction of the upper vibrating body and the lower vibrating body. When the imaginary straight line VL passing through the center of gravity C100 of the upper vibrating body 100 and the center of gravity C300 of the lower vibrating body 300 becomes approximately parallel to the direction (vibration direction A1) perpendicular to the plate surfaces of the leaf springs 200a and 200b, the conveying unit 102 can convey the workpiece stably and efficiently in the desired conveying direction (+X direction). Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the center of gravity C100 and / or C300 so that the imaginary straight line VL becomes approximately parallel to the vibration direction A1. The lower weight 302 is movable in the ±X direction, and can move the center of gravity C300 of the lower vibrating body 300.

[0029] However, the shape and weight of the transport section 102 vary, and there are cases where the direction of the virtual straight line VL cannot be appropriately adjusted to be substantially parallel to the vibration direction A1 simply by moving the lower weight 302.

[0030] In this embodiment, the adjustment unit 103 can move in the ±X direction on the back side of the transport unit 102 of the upper vibrating body 100, and the center of gravity C100 of the upper vibrating body 100 can be adjusted. This allows the direction of the virtual straight line VL to be appropriately adjusted to be approximately parallel to the vibration direction A1. That is, the transport device 1 according to this embodiment allows the center of gravity C300 of the lower vibrating body 300 to be adjusted by moving the lower weight 302, and allows the center of gravity C100 of the upper vibrating body 100 to be adjusted by moving the adjustment unit 103. This allows the transport device 1 to appropriately adjust the direction of the virtual straight line VL to be approximately parallel to the vibration direction A1. As a result, the transport device 1 can apply appropriate vibration to the workpiece and efficiently transport the workpiece in a desired direction.

[0031] The fixing devices 104 and 105 fix the adjustment unit 103 to the transport unit 102 of the upper vibrating body 100 at a position where the virtual straight line VL is approximately parallel to the vibration direction A1. This makes it possible to maintain the positions of the center of gravity C100 of the upper vibrating body 100 and the center of gravity C300 of the lower vibrating body 300 in an appropriate state during transport of the workpiece. In addition, the fixing device 105 fixes the tip of the adjustment unit 103 to the transport unit 102, preventing the tip from flapping relative to the transport unit 102.

[0032] Furthermore, the adjustment unit 103 is provided along the conveying direction (longitudinal direction) of the conveying unit 102, and functions as a reinforcing plate for the conveying unit 102. Therefore, the adjustment unit 103 suppresses bending of the conveying unit 102 due to vibration, and applies appropriate vibration to the workpiece throughout the entire conveying unit 102. This allows the conveying device 1 to efficiently move the workpiece in the desired direction.

[0033] Second embodiment FIG. 4 is a side view showing a configuration example of the conveying device according to the second embodiment. The conveying device 1 according to the second embodiment further includes plate-shaped piezoelectric elements 200c and 200d. The piezoelectric element 200c is a piezoelectric vibration mechanism connected between the leaf spring 200a and the lower vibrating body 300. The piezoelectric element 200d is connected between the leaf spring 200b and the lower vibrating body 300. The piezoelectric elements 200c and 200d are made of a piezoelectric material. In this case, the piezoelectric elements 200c and 200d function as a vibrating part, and the leaf springs 200a and 200b determine the vibration direction A1. The piezoelectric elements 200c and 200d may determine the vibration direction A1 together with the leaf springs 200a and 200b. The piezoelectric elements 200c and 200d may be supplied with power as a vibrating part to vibrate, and may also have a function of determining the vibration direction. The leaf springs 200a and 200b apply the vibrations of the piezoelectric elements 200c and 200d to the upper vibrating body 100, and determine the vibration direction of the upper vibrating body 100 relative to the lower vibrating body 300. This makes it possible to omit the electromagnet 402, the connecting portion 501, and the movable iron core 106. This reduces the number of parts of the transport device 1, leading to weight reduction and energy saving.

[0034] In the second embodiment, the adjustment unit 103 adjusts the position of the center of gravity C100 of the upper vibrating body 100 so that the virtual straight line VL in Fig. 3 is approximately perpendicular to the plate surfaces of the plate springs 200a and 200b as the plate-shaped piezoelectric elements. The other configurations of the second embodiment may be similar to the corresponding configurations of the first embodiment. As a result, the second embodiment can obtain the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0035] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 conveying device, 100 upper vibrating body, 200a, 200b leaf spring, 300 lower vibrating body, 601 vibration isolation part, 101 top plate, 102 conveying part, 103 adjustment part, 104, 105 fixing tool, 106 movable iron core, 301 base body, 402 electromagnet, 501 connection part, 302 lower weight

Claims

1. A lower portion including a substrate; an upper portion including a conveying section having a conveying surface for conveying a conveyed member, the conveying section vibrating the conveyed member to move the conveyed member on the conveying surface, and an adjustment section provided on a back surface side opposite to the conveying surface of the conveying section, vibrating together with the conveying section and movable relative to the conveying section in a conveying direction of the conveyed member; a vibration unit provided between the lower portion and the upper portion and configured to apply vibration to the upper portion, wherein the adjustment unit is slidable back and forth in the conveying direction along a rear surface of the conveying unit to adjust a position of the center of gravity of the upper portion.

2. The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment unit adjusts a position of the center of gravity of the upper portion so that an imaginary line passing through a center of gravity of the lower portion and a center of gravity of the upper portion is substantially parallel to a vibration direction of the upper portion.

3. the adjustment unit is a plate-like member extending in the transport direction, The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the transport section is reinforced by being fixed to the rear surface of the transport section.

4. 4. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration section is composed of an AC electromagnet attached to the lower portion and a movable iron core attached to the upper portion so as to face the AC electromagnet at a predetermined distance.

5. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration section is configured by a piezoelectric vibration mechanism.

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