Supply device

Abstract

To propose a technology for suppressing a decrease in supply efficiency of an object to be supplied.SOLUTION: A supply device that aligns a plurality of objects and supplies them to the outside includes a moving part, a power part, and a pushing part. The moving part is configured to place an object on a placement surface and move it in a predetermined movement direction. The power part generates power. The pushing part is configured to be actuated by the power part to move the object moved by the moving part in a cross direction crossing the moving direction. The pushing part moves the object located at a position at least a predetermined height away from the placement surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a supply device that aligns a plurality of input objects and supplies them to an outside. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a supply device has been used that aligns and continuously supplies objects such as parts to be supplied to a device in the next process. The supply device has a function of separating objects to prevent the objects from being supplied in a tangled or overlapping state. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technology for separating objects by vibrating and tilting a conveying path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-9502 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to separate objects stacked vertically on the conveying path, in addition to the vibration described above, a method is conceivable in which a wall member such as a baffle plate is provided at a predetermined height and the upper object of the stack is abutted against the wall member to separate them. However, such a method of simply providing a wall member may not be able to separate the objects smoothly depending on the way the objects are stacked and their posture, and they may be conveyed without being properly separated, or the objects may get stuck between the wall member and the conveying path. In such cases, it is necessary to stop the automated device and process the objects manually, which slows down the supply pace of the objects and reduces the supply efficiency.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to propose a technique for suppressing a decrease in the supply efficiency of an object to be supplied. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a supply device that aligns a plurality of objects and supplies them to an outside, the supply device comprising a moving unit, a power unit, and a pushing unit. The moving unit is configured to place the objects on a placement surface and move them in a predetermined movement direction. The power unit generates power. The pushing unit is configured to be actuated by the power unit and to move the objects moved by the moving unit in a cross direction that crosses the movement direction. The pushing unit moves the objects that are located at a position that is a predetermined height or more away from the placement surface.

[0007] With this configuration, when the object is in an inappropriate position and ends up at a position that is more than a predetermined height away from the placement surface, the object (hereinafter, referred to as the specific object) is moved in the cross direction to separate it from the other objects. Since the push-out unit is operated by the power unit, the above-mentioned separation of the specific object can be effectively achieved, and the occurrence of events that hinder the supply of the object, such as clogging, can be suppressed. Therefore, the supply efficiency of the object to be supplied can be improved.

[0008] In the above-mentioned supply device, the above-mentioned predetermined height may be the height from the placement surface of one object placed in a predetermined manner on the placement surface. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the pressing portion from directly moving an object placed on the placement surface in a specified manner in the intersecting direction, thereby reducing the impact on the movement of the object placed in a specified manner and efficiently separating specific objects.

[0009] In the above-described supply device, the extrusion unit may be a screw that is rotated by a power unit and moves the object that it comes into contact with in the cross direction. With this configuration, the specific object can be moved in the cross direction by the screw.

[0010] In the above-mentioned supply device, the moving unit may include a rotating body onto which the plurality of objects are fed, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the rotating body about a predetermined rotation axis. The intersecting direction may be a direction toward the side where the rotation axis is located.

[0011] With this configuration, when the specific object is moved in the intersecting direction by the pressing unit, the specific object returns to the rotation axis side of the rotor, and can be aligned and transported again by the supply device in the same way as the objects fed onto the upper surface of the rotor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the supply device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the periphery of a push-out unit in the supply device of the embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a view of a screw in a supply device according to an embodiment, seen from a direction parallel to an upper surface of a disk and perpendicular to a rotation axis of the screw. [Figure 4] FIG. 4A is a view of the screw in the supply device of the embodiment, seen from a position parallel to the top surface of the disc and along the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis of the screw, and FIG. 4B is a reference view showing a supply device using a conventional baffle plate. [Diagram 5] 13 is a view of a supply device of a modified example, seen from a direction parallel to the top surface of the disk. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. Embodiment] [1-1. Equipment configuration] The supply device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a device that uses a rotating disk to transport objects, and supplies a plurality of objects supplied from an upstream supply device such as a hopper (not shown) to a device for the next process in an appropriate posture in order. In this embodiment, the object to be supplied to the next process is a workpiece 3, which is a short cylindrical member. The supply device 1 includes a moving unit 11 that moves the workpiece 3, a guide unit 21 that controls the position of the workpiece 3, and a separating unit 31 that separates overlapping workpieces 3.

[0014] <Configuration of moving part> The moving unit 11 includes a circular disk 13 and a rotation mechanism 15 that rotates the disk 13. The disk 13 rotates in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1 to move the workpiece 3. The disk 13 is an example of a rotating body.

[0015] The rotation mechanism 15 is disposed below the disk 13. The rotation mechanism 15 includes a motor, and rotates the shaft member 15a with the motor to rotate the disk 13 about a rotation axis A extending in the vertical direction. The specific configuration of the rotation mechanism is not limited, and various embodiments may be adopted as long as the rotating body (disk 13) can be rotated about a predetermined rotation axis.

[0016] Such a moving unit 11 has a function of moving the workpieces 3 placed on the rotating body 13 in a circumferential direction. This circumferential direction is an example of a predetermined moving direction. An upstream supply device (not shown) supplies a plurality of workpieces 3 to a placement surface 13a, which is an upper surface of the disk 13.

[0017] <Guide section configuration> The guide unit 21 has a function of changing the radial position of the work 3 on the disk 13, and ultimately moving it to the outer edge of the disk 13. The guide unit 21 includes a flow guide 23, a discharge port inner wall 25, and an outer peripheral wall 27.

[0018] The flow guide 23 is a plate-like member for gradually moving the workpiece 3 on the mounting surface 13a of the disk 13 radially outward. The flow guide 23 has a contact surface that contacts the workpiece 3, and is disposed so that the contact surface is inclined with respect to the radial direction of the disk 13. The workpiece 3, which moves with the rotation of the disk 13, comes into contact with the flow guide 23, slides on the surface of the flow guide 23, and moves to the outer edge of the disk 13.

[0019] 1, in order to facilitate understanding of the entire supply device 1, only one flow guide 23 is illustrated. However, multiple flow guides 23 may be arranged in the supply device 1, and the positions and specific shapes thereof are not particularly limited and are appropriately set based on the shape of the work 3, etc.

[0020] The outlet inner wall 25 guides the movement of the workpiece 3 in the same manner as the flow guide 23. The outlet inner wall 25 is disposed near the outlet 41 that is connected to the path to the device for the next process, and forms a transport path with a width slightly larger than that of the workpiece 3. The workpiece 3 at a predetermined position, which is the outer edge of the disk 13, moves along the transport path toward the outlet 41, is discharged from the outlet 41, and is supplied to the device for the next process. On the other hand, the workpiece 3 at a position displaced from the predetermined position (for example, a position closer to the rotation axis A) abuts against the outlet inner wall 25 and is returned to the center of the disk 13.

[0021] The outer peripheral wall 27 has a wall surface provided along the outer periphery of the disk 13. The work 3 receives a load in the outer periphery direction of the disk 13 from the flow guide 23 or other works 3, but the work 3 abuts against the outer peripheral wall 27, so that the work 3 is restricted from moving in the outer periphery direction and is guided to a predetermined position on the outer edge of the disk 13.

[0022] <Configuration of separation unit> 2, the separation unit 31 includes a motor 33 and a screw 35. The motor 33 is an example of a power unit that generates power. The screw 35 is rotated by the motor 33. The screw 35 is an example of an extrusion unit operated by the power unit.

[0023] The screw 35 has a function of moving the workpiece 3 in an intersecting direction that intersects with the moving direction of the workpiece 3 moved by the moving part 11. The moving direction here is the tangent direction of a circle centered on the rotation axis A at the position of the workpiece 3 as shown in FIG. 2, in other words, the microscopic moving direction of the workpiece 3 at a specific point. The intersecting direction is a direction that intersects with the above-mentioned tangent direction. In other words, it is a direction that intersects with the traveling direction of the workpiece 3 at the specific point. The intersecting direction is a direction toward the inside of the disk 13 with respect to the above-mentioned moving direction.

[0024] The screw 35 is a member having a generally columnar shape. The screw 35 is disposed above the disk 13 so that the rotation axis of the screw 35 is inclined at an angle with respect to the direction of movement. As shown in FIG. 3, the screw 35 is rotated by the motor 33 so that the front side of FIG. 3 faces upward, thereby driving the blade portions of the screw 35 and the grooves between the blade portions so that they appear to move in cross directions.

[0025] Between the lower end of the screw 35 and the upper surface of the disk 13, there is provided a clearance of a distance L, which is slightly larger than the width of the workpiece 3. Therefore, when the workpiece 3 is in a predetermined position on the disk 13, the screw 35 does not come into contact with the workpiece 3. The predetermined position here means that the opening surface of the cylindrical shape is parallel to the mounting surface 13a of the disk 13 (in other words, the axial direction of the workpiece 3 is perpendicular to the mounting surface 13a), which is an appropriate posture for discharging to the outside. On the other hand, when the workpiece 3 is in a position higher than the distance L due to overlapping or the like, the workpiece 3 comes into contact with the screw 35 and moves in the intersecting direction. In this way, the screw 35 moves the workpiece 3 that is in a position above a predetermined height.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4A, when a workpiece 3a in a predetermined configuration and a workpiece 3b above the workpiece 3a are overlapped with each other and are moving with the workpiece 3b positioned forward in the direction of movement, the workpiece 3b overlapping on the upper side abuts against the screw 35 and is pushed out in the intersecting direction.

[0027] The rotation direction of the screw 35 is the direction in which the lower surface moves in the opposite direction to the movement direction of the workpiece 3. Therefore, the workpiece 3b in contact with the screw 35 is subjected to a load so as to be pushed in the opposite direction to the movement direction by the rotation of the screw 35. As a result, the occurrence of clogging is suppressed, and the workpiece 3 can be suitably pushed in the intersecting direction.

[0028] In addition, as in the reference example shown in FIG. 4B, when only the baffle plate 101 inclined with respect to the moving direction is arranged, if the workpiece 3b is overlapped so as to be positioned in front, the pushing force in the intersecting direction is weaker than in a device equipped with a driven screw such as the supply device 1, and clogging of the workpieces is likely to occur.

[0029] [1-2. Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) In the supply device 1 of this embodiment, the screw 35 operated by the motor 33 can move the workpieces 3 that are located at a position more than a predetermined height away from the placement surface 13a, among the workpieces 3 moved by the moving part 11, in a direction intersecting the moving direction, to separate them. Since the screw 35 is operated by the motor 33, it can effectively separate the above-mentioned workpieces 3, and can suppress the occurrence of events that hinder the supply of the target object, such as clogging. As a result, it is possible to increase the efficiency of supplying the workpieces 3 to the next process device.

[0030] (1b) In the supply device 1, the screw 35 is disposed at a position distant from the mounting surface 13a by a distance L, and moves the workpiece 3 located at a position higher than the distance L. In other words, the screw 35 is prevented from directly moving the workpiece 3 placed on the mounting surface 13a in the correct posture (i.e., the above-mentioned predetermined mode). As a result, the workpiece 3 that is not in the proper posture can be effectively separated while preventing the screw 35 from affecting the movement of the workpiece 3 in the correct posture.

[0031] (1c) In the supply device 1, the workpiece 3 in contact with the screw 35 can be moved in the intersecting direction by the screw 35 rotated by the motor 33. In addition, the workpiece 3 in contact with the screw 35 can be moved in the intersecting direction continuously while the screw 35 is rotating.

[0032] (1d) In the supply device 1, when the workpiece 3 is moved in the intersecting direction by the screw 35, the workpiece 3 returns to the rotation axis side of the rotating body. Therefore, like the workpiece 3 put on the mounting surface 13a of the disk 13, the workpiece 3 can be aligned and transported again by the supply device 1.

[0033] [2. Other embodiments] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is in no way limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0034] (2a) In the above embodiment, a configuration has been exemplified in which a circular disk 13 is used as the moving unit 11 that places an object on a placement surface and moves it in a predetermined direction, and the workpiece 3 is rotated and moved. However, the specific configuration of the moving unit is not particularly limited. For example, the moving unit may be configured to move the object linearly. In other words, the supply device may be configured to include a push-out unit that can move the workpiece in a direction intersecting with the linearly moving workpiece.

[0035] (2b) In the above embodiment, a configuration in which the circular disk 13 rotates is given as an example of a rotating body onto which a plurality of workpieces 3 are fed. However, the specific aspect of the rotating body is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment.

[0036] For example, the upper surface of the rotor may be formed with grooves, unevenness, or an inclined surface to facilitate alignment or movement of the workpieces, or the central portion of the upper surface of the rotor may be higher or lower than the surrounding area. The specific configuration of the rotation mechanism 15 is not particularly limited, and various configurations may be adopted as long as the rotor is configured to be rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis.

[0037] (2c) In the above embodiment, the screw 35 is disposed such that the lower end of the screw 35 is positioned at a distance L from the mounting surface 13a. However, the distance of the extrusion unit from the mounting surface is not limited to the distance L. In other words, the "position at a predetermined height or more from the mounting surface," which is the position of the object to be moved by the extrusion unit, is not limited to a distance slightly greater than the height of the object in a predetermined state (i.e., in an appropriate posture) on the mounting surface. For example, the extrusion unit may be configured to extrude an object at a position sufficiently spaced apart from the workpiece 3 in the predetermined state (i.e., a position spaced apart by more than the distance L).

[0038] Also, for example, the lower end of the push-out part may be configured to be at a position lower than the height of the object in the appropriate position (i.e., at a position with a distance smaller than the distance L). If this causes the object in the appropriate position to be pushed out by the push-out part, the movement of the object in the cross direction in a predetermined state may be suppressed by forming the blades of the screw with a flexible member or providing a non-slip surface on the placement surface, for example.

[0039] (2d) In the above embodiment, the supply device 1 supplies the ring-shaped workpiece 3 to the next process device, but the specific shape and structure of the object supplied to the outside by the supply device are not particularly limited, and various types of objects can be supplied by the supply device of the present disclosure. Note that by applying the configuration of the present disclosure to a supply device that supplies objects that have an overall expansive shape and are prone to overlapping, such as the workpiece 3, it is possible to preferably separate the overlapping objects.

[0040] (2e) In the above embodiment, a configuration was exemplified in which the screw 35 is used as the pushing unit that is actuated by the power unit and moves the object moved by the moving unit in a direction intersecting the moving direction. However, the pushing unit may be something other than a screw. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a belt 51 rotated by a motor may be used as the pushing unit.

[0041] Also, a protruding actuator such as a solenoid, or an air injector having a nozzle capable of moving an object by air blowing may be used as the pushing unit. When using these devices, for example, a sensor may be provided to detect that the workpiece is positioned at a predetermined height or higher from the placement surface, and the pushing unit may be configured to operate when the sensor detects the workpiece.

[0042] (2f) Multiple functions possessed by one component in the above embodiments may be realized by multiple components, or one function possessed by one component may be realized by multiple components. Also, multiple functions possessed by multiple components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by multiple components may be realized by one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Also, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments.

[0043] [Technical idea disclosed in this specification] [Item 1] A supply device that aligns a plurality of objects and supplies them to an outside, a moving unit that places the object on a placement surface and moves it in a predetermined movement direction; A power unit that generates power; a push-out unit that is actuated by the power unit to move the object moved by the moving unit in a cross direction crossing the moving direction, The push-out section moves the object located at a position at a predetermined height or more from the placement surface. [Item 2] Item 1, the supply device comprising: A supply device, wherein the specified height is the height from the placement surface of one of the objects placed on the placement surface in a specified manner. [Item 3] The supply device according to item 1 or 2, The extrusion unit is a screw that is rotated by the power unit and moves the object that it comes into contact with in the intersecting direction. [Item 4] The supply device according to any one of items 1 to 3, The moving unit includes a rotating body onto which the plurality of objects are input, and a rotation mechanism that rotates the rotating body about a predetermined rotation axis; A supply device, wherein the intersecting direction is a direction toward a side where the rotation shaft is located. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1...supply device, 3, 3a, 3b...work, 11...moving part, 13...rotating body, 13a...mounting surface, 15...rotating mechanism, 15a...shaft member, 21...guide part, 23...flow guide, 25...discharge outlet inner wall, 27...outer peripheral wall, 31...pushing part, 31...separating part, 33...motor, 35...screw, 41...discharge outlet, 51...belt, 101...baffle plate

Claims

1. A supply device that aligns a plurality of objects and supplies them to an outside, a moving unit that places the object on a placement surface and moves it in a predetermined movement direction; A power unit that generates power; a pusher unit that is actuated by the power unit to move the object moved by the moving unit in a cross direction crossing the moving direction, The push-out section moves the object located at a position at a predetermined height or more from the placement surface.

2. 2. The supply device of claim 1, A supply device, wherein the specified height is the height from the placement surface of one of the objects placed in a specified manner on the placement surface.

3. 3. The supply device of claim 2, The extrusion unit is a screw that is rotated by the power unit and moves the object that it comes into contact with in the intersecting direction.

4. A supplying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The moving unit includes a rotating body onto which the plurality of objects are input, and a rotation mechanism that rotates the rotating body about a predetermined rotation axis; A supply device, wherein the intersecting direction is a direction toward a side where the rotation shaft is located.

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