Rubber stopper supply device

Abstract

To provide a rubber stopper supplying device which is configured to supply gas into a storage container to apply pressure, and in which rubber stoppers are less likely to remain in the storage container.SOLUTION: The rubber stopper supplying device comprises: a storage container 30 in which rubber stoppers are stored; a discharge pipe 40 which is arranged at a bottom 45 of the storage container 30 and through which the rubber stoppers in the storage container 30 are discharged; a pressurizing device which is connected to the storage container 30 and supplies gas into the storage container 30 to apply pressure; and a blow-up prevention member 70 which has a wall 72 arranged within the storage container 30 so that rubber stoppers blown up by the gas supplied by the pressurizing device collide with the wall 72, causing the rubber stoppers which have collided with the wall 72 to fall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rubber plug supplying device. [Background technology]

[0002] A rubber stopper supplying device has been known that includes a container that stores a large number of rubber stoppers for waterproofing to be inserted into electric wires, and continuously supplies the rubber stoppers in the container to a subsequent device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a rubber stopper supplying device that includes a supply tank that stores a large number of rubber stoppers, and a supply pipe that is disposed at the bottom of the supply tank and discharges the rubber stoppers in a line. The supplying device described in Patent Document 1 supplies the rubber stoppers to a direction adjusting device that aligns the direction of the rubber stoppers.

[0003] There have also been known component supply devices having a configuration for smoothly feeding a large number of small components contained in a container into a supply pipe. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a chip-type electronic component supply device configured such that a pipe through which chip-type electronic components pass in a line reciprocates vertically relative to a hopper that contains the chip-type electronic components.

[0004] Also, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses a component supplying device that includes a nozzle that is provided below a hopper and that injects air into a component discharge chamber that is connected to a component discharge path. According to Patent Document 3, the flow of air that is sprayed from the nozzle and sucked into the component discharge path circulates the chip-like circuit components in the component discharge chamber and discharges them into the component discharge path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2021 / 029176 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-274797 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-97009 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When compressed air or the like is fed into a container that contains rubber stoppers and the inside of the container is pressurized, the rubber stoppers are sent into the discharge pipe and discharged from the discharge pipe, as described in Patent Document 3. However, according to the knowledge of the present inventors, the rubber stoppers in the container may be blown up by a swirling flow generated by the compressed air or the like supplied into the container. Most of the blown up rubber stoppers do not enter the discharge pipe arranged at the bottom of the container. Therefore, such rubber stoppers are not supplied to the next device and remain in the container.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and its object is to provide a rubber stopper supply device that is configured to pump gas into a storage container to pressurize it, and which is less likely to leave rubber stoppers in the storage container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The rubber stopper supply device disclosed herein comprises a storage container in which rubber stoppers are stored, a discharge pipe disposed at the bottom of the storage container and through which the rubber stoppers within the storage container are discharged, a pressurizing device connected to the storage container and pumping gas into the inside of the storage container to pressurize it, and a blow-up prevention member having a wall disposed within the storage container so that the rubber stoppers blown up by the gas pumped in by the pressurizing device will collide with it, and causing the rubber stoppers that collide with the wall to fall.

[0009] According to the rubber plug supplying device, the rubber plugs blown up collide with the wall of the blow-up prevention member and fall. The dropped rubber plugs tend to enter the discharge pipe disposed at the bottom of the container. Thus, the rubber plug supplying device can prevent rubber plugs from remaining in the container without being supplied.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the rubber plug supplying device, the blow-up prevention member includes an annular ring having a through hole at a radial center thereof through which the rubber plug can pass in the up-down direction, and the wall is provided on the ring so that the rubber plug can pass through the through hole.

[0011] According to this aspect, by providing the wall portion on the ring portion, the wall portion can be easily arranged in the container. In addition, by providing the through hole through which the rubber stopper can pass in the ring portion and configuring the wall portion so as not to prevent the rubber stopper from passing through the through hole, the rubber stopper can move to the space above the blow-up prevention member. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the rubber stopper from becoming difficult to move due to the high density of the rubber stopper in the space below the blow-up prevention member. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the stagnation of the rubber stopper's delivery to the discharge pipe caused by the rubber stopper becoming difficult to move.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the rubber plug supplying device, the wall portion extends upward from an upper surface of the ring portion in a direction intersecting with the circumferential direction of the storage container.

[0013] According to another preferred embodiment of the rubber plug supplying device, the wall portion extends downward from a lower surface of the ring portion in a direction intersecting with a circumferential direction of the storage container.

[0014] According to these aspects, the rubber stopper is blown up by the swirling flow swirling in the circumferential direction of the storage container, and is more likely to collide with the wall portion. As a result, the rubber stopper is promoted to fall. The blow-up prevention member may include both a wall portion extending upward from the upper surface of the ring portion and another wall portion extending downward from the lower surface of the ring portion.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the rubber plug supplying device, the wall portion is provided so as to overlap a portion of the through hole when viewed in the up-down direction.

[0016] According to this aspect, the wall portion can support part of the weight of the rubber stopper in the space above the ring portion in the container, thereby alleviating a state in which the rubber stopper in the space below the ring portion becomes difficult to move due to the weight of the rubber stopper above it.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the rubber plug supplying device, the blow-up prevention member includes an annular ring portion, and the wall portion extends from a radially inner edge portion of the ring portion toward the radially inward direction while slanting downward.

[0018] According to this aspect, a part of the rubber stopper blown up below the blow-up prevention member hits the underside of the wall and falls. Meanwhile, the rubber stopper resting on the wall or having fallen onto the wall falls smoothly downward along the downward slope of the wall. Thus, according to this aspect, the rubber stopper can be efficiently guided to the discharge pipe disposed at the bottom of the storage container.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the rubber plug supplying device, the wall portion is formed around the entire inner edge portion of the ring portion.

[0020] According to this embodiment, the shape of the blow-up prevention member is funnel-shaped. Therefore, the blow-up prevention member is easy to manufacture. For example, the wall portion may be formed only on a part of the inner edge of the ring portion. However, if the wall portion is formed around the entire circumference of the inner edge of the ring portion, the shape of the blow-up prevention member becomes simpler and the blow-up prevention member is easier to manufacture.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the rubber plug supplying device, the blow-up prevention member is configured to be detachable from the storage container.

[0022] According to this embodiment, when supplying rubber stoppers that cannot be blown up by the gas supplied by the pressurizing device, for example heavy rubber stoppers, the blow-up prevention member can be removed from the rubber stopper supplying device, thereby preventing the blow-up prevention member from acting as a resistance when the rubber stoppers are fed.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the rubber plug supplying device, the storage container includes a lower container and an upper container detachably attached to an upper end of the lower container. The blow-up prevention member is sandwiched between the lower container and the upper container.

[0024] According to this aspect, the blow-up prevention member can be held by being sandwiched between the lower container and the upper container.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the rubber plug supplying device, the container includes a lower container and an upper container detachably attached to an upper end of the lower container. The pressurizing device is connected to the lower container. The blow-up prevention member is provided in the upper container.

[0026] In this embodiment, since the pressurizing device is connected to the lower container, the airflow in the upper container is weaker than that in the lower container, and therefore, by providing a blow-up prevention member in the upper container, the rubber stopper is more likely to collide with the blow-up prevention member, and the rubber stopper can be more effectively dropped. Effect of the Invention

[0027] According to the rubber stopper supplying device disclosed herein, in a rubber stopper supplying device configured to supply gas into a storage container to pressurize it, it is possible to prevent rubber stoppers from remaining in the storage container without being supplied. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of a rubber plug supplying device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the rubber plug supplying device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example rubber plug. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a usage mode of a rubber stopper. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the supply device. [Figure 6]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage container with the upper container removed. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] 13 is a plan view of a plate, which diagrammatically illustrates how a rubber stopper collides with a wall and falls. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a plate according to a first modified example. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a plate according to a second modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of a lower container to which a plate according to a second modified example is attached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] [Rubber stopper supply device configuration] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a rubber stopper supplying device 10 according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the rubber stopper supplying device 10. The rubber stopper supplying device 10 supplies rubber stoppers 5 (see FIG. 3) one by one to another device, for example, a rubber stopper inserting device (not shown). In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 will be referred to as the front side of the rubber stopper supplying device 10. The terms left, right, top, and bottom refer to the left, right, top, and bottom when the rubber stopper supplying device 10 is viewed from the front side. The symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings refer to the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom, respectively. However, the above directions are merely directions determined for the convenience of description, and do not limit the installation mode of the rubber stopper supplying device 10, nor do they limit the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rubber stopper 5 according to an example. As shown in FIG. 3, the rubber stopper 5 according to an example has a cylindrical shape that is asymmetric with respect to the axial direction. The rubber stopper 5 has a small diameter portion 5a and a large diameter portion 5b arranged side by side in the axial direction. The diameter of the large diameter portion 5b is larger than the diameter of the small diameter portion 5a. The rubber stopper 5 has a through hole 5c penetrating in the axial direction. However, the shape of the rubber stopper 5 shown here is merely an example, and the shape of the rubber stopper 5 is not limited. For example, the rubber stopper 5 may have a shape that is symmetric with respect to the axial direction. In other words, it may be configured so that the orientation of the axial direction does not need to be distinguished.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a usage mode of the rubber stopper 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the rubber stopper 5 is attached to, for example, a coated electric wire 6 (hereinafter, electric wire 6). The tip of the electric wire 6 is inserted into a through hole 5c of the rubber stopper 5. Thereafter, the coating at the tip of the electric wire 6 is stripped, and a crimp terminal 7 is crimped to the tip. At this time, the rubber stopper 5 is also fixed to the electric wire 6 by crimping the crimp terminal 7. Furthermore, the assembly of the electric wire 6, the rubber stopper 5, and the crimp terminal 7 is inserted into a dedicated housing 8. Here, the rubber stopper 5 is a waterproof rubber stopper. However, the usage mode of the rubber stopper 5 shown here is merely an example, and is not particularly limited.

[0032] The rubber stopper supplying device 10 sends the rubber stoppers 5 to another device after aligning the rubber stoppers 5 so that the end closer to the small diameter portion 5a or the end closer to the large diameter portion 5b is forward in the sending direction. The rubber stopper supplying device 10 has a function of aligning the rubber stoppers 5 provided in random orientations. The rubber stopper supplying device 10 includes a direction adjustment device (not shown) that aligns the rubber stoppers 5, a supplying device 20 that supplies the rubber stoppers 5 to the direction adjustment device, a sending device (not shown) that sends the aligned rubber stoppers 5 to the next device, and a control device 100 that controls their operation. The supplying device 20 aligns the multiple rubber stoppers 5 so that they are connected in the axial direction. As a result, the multiple rubber stoppers 5 are continuously supplied to the direction adjustment device one by one. When the rubber stoppers 5 are configured symmetrically with respect to the axial direction (when it is not necessary to distinguish the axial direction), the rubber stopper supplying device 10 does not need to include a direction adjustment device. In that case, the supply device 20 may supply the rubber stoppers 5 to a device that attaches the rubber stoppers 5 to the electric wires 6, for example.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view of the supply device 20. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5, the supply device 20 according to this embodiment includes a storage container 30, a discharge pipe 40, a hopper portion 45, a pressurizing device 50, and a vertical movement device 60 for the hopper portion 45. The storage container 30 is a container in which a large number of rubber stoppers 5 are stored. The discharge pipe 40 is a passage through which the rubber stoppers 5 in the storage container 30 are discharged, and is connected to a conveying device (not shown) that conveys the rubber stoppers 5 to a direction adjustment device. The pressurizing device 50 pressurizes the storage container 30 and the discharge pipe 40 by feeding gas, here compressed air, into the inside of the storage container 30 and the discharge pipe 40. The hopper portion 45 is a funnel-shaped member that constitutes the bottom of the storage container 30. The vertical movement device 60 is a device that moves the hopper portion 45 back and forth in the vertical direction.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 1, the storage container 30 includes a lower container 31, an upper container 32, and a lid 33. The lower container 31 constitutes the lower part of the storage container 30. The upper container 32 is connected to the upper end of the lower container 31. The upper container 32 constitutes the upper part of the storage container 30. The upper container 32 is configured to be detachable from the upper end of the lower container 31. The upper container 32 is detachable from the lower container 31.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the storage container 30 with the upper container 32 removed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower container 31 has a cylindrical through hole 31a extending in the vertical direction. The through hole 31a passes through the main body 31b of the lower container 31 in the vertical direction. A recess 31c is provided above the through hole 31a at the upper end of the main body 31b. The recess 31c is formed in a circular cross section concentric with the through hole 31a and has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the through hole 31a. A portion of the bottom surface of the recess 31c radially outward of the through hole 31a constitutes a step 31d that supports the tapered ring 34.

[0036] The lower vessel 31 is provided with a tapered ring 34. The tapered ring 34 forms a tapered portion that widens upward at the upper portion of the lower vessel 31. As shown in FIG. 5, the tapered ring 34 has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the recess 31c and is configured in a ring shape. The diameter of the lower end of the through hole 34a of the tapered ring 34 is approximately the same as the diameter of the through hole 31a. The diameter of the upper end of the through hole 34a of the tapered ring 34 is larger than the diameter of the through hole 31a. The inner peripheral surface of the through hole 34a of the tapered ring 34 is tapered so as to widen upward. The tapered ring 34 is provided with a bottom portion 34b supported by the step portion 31d and a side wall 34c provided so as to surround the periphery of the bottom portion 34b. The side wall 34c extends upward from the outer periphery of the bottom portion 34b. The outer diameter of the bottom 34b and the sidewall 34c corresponds to the inner diameter of the recess 31c.

[0037] 5 and 6, a blow-up prevention plate 70 (hereinafter also simply referred to as plate 70) is disposed on the bottom portion 34b of the tapered ring 34. The plate 70 will be described in detail later.

[0038] Two air inlet holes 31e are formed on the side of the through hole 31a of the lower container 31, through which the compressed air supplied by the pressurizing device 50 flows. Each air inlet hole 31e penetrates the side of the main body 31b substantially horizontally. Here, each air inlet hole 31e penetrates the main body 31b so as to reach the left inner circumferential surface of the through hole 31a, and extends in the left-right direction. The two air inlet holes 31e are arranged vertically and at different positions in the front-rear direction. Here, the upper air inlet hole 31e is provided forward of the lower air inlet hole 31e. However, the number of air inlet holes 31e is not particularly limited. In addition, the position and extension direction of the air inlet holes 31e are not limited. One or more air inlet holes 31e may be formed in the storage container 30, for example, in the upper container 32 or the lid 33.

[0039] The upper container 32 has a cylindrical shape. The upper container 32 extends in the vertical direction. The upper and lower ends of the upper container 32 are open. The upper container 32 is configured to be insertable into the tapered ring 34. The outer diameter of the upper container 32 corresponds to the inner diameter of the side wall 34c of the tapered ring 34. By inserting the upper container 32 into the tapered ring 34, the upper container 32 can be attached to the lower container 31. When the upper container 32 is attached, the lower end of the upper container 32, together with the tapered ring 34 of the lower container 31, holds the plate 70.

[0040] Most of the upper container 32 is made of transparent plastic. This makes it possible to check the state of the rubber stopper 5 inside from the outside. A screw (not shown) is formed at the top end of the upper container 32 to which the lid 33 is screwed. The lid 33 closes the open top end of the upper container 32. When the lid 33 is removed, the rubber stopper 5 can be inserted from the open top end of the upper container 32.

[0041] The discharge pipe 40 is disposed at the bottom of the storage container 30. Here, the bottom of the storage container 30 is constituted by a hopper portion 45. The rubber stopper 5 in the storage container 30 is discharged through the discharge pipe 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the hopper portion 45 is inserted into the through hole 31a of the lower container 31. The outer diameter of the hopper portion 45 corresponds to the inner diameter of the through hole 31a. The hopper portion 45 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction along the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 31a. The hopper portion 45 has a tapered funnel shape that narrows downward. The radial center of the hopper portion 45 is the lowest part of the hopper portion 45. The discharge pipe 40 is connected to the hopper portion 45. Here, the discharge pipe 40 is inserted into a through hole provided in the center of the hopper portion 45. The discharge pipe 40 extends in the vertical direction. The hopper portion 45 is also movable in the vertical direction relative to the discharge pipe 40. The inner diameter of the discharge pipe 40 is configured to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 5b of the rubber stoppers 5 so that the rubber stoppers 5 advance in a single line inside the discharge pipe 40.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, the vertical movement device 60 includes an actuator 61 and a connecting member 62 that connects the actuator 61 and the hopper section 45. Here, the actuator 61 is an air cylinder that includes a rod 61a that expands and contracts in the vertical direction. However, the type of the actuator 61 is not limited to the air cylinder. The rear end of the connecting member 62 is fixed to the lower end of the rod 61a. The tip of the connecting member 62 is fixed to the hopper section 45. When the rod 61a expands, the hopper section 45 moves downward. When the rod 61a contracts, the hopper section 45 moves upward. The vertical movement device 60 expands and contracts the rod 61a at a predetermined time interval, thereby reciprocating the hopper section 45 in the vertical direction. When the hopper section 45 is located near the lower end of the movable range, the discharge pipe 40 protrudes above the bottom of the hopper section 45. When the hopper portion 45 is located at another position in the movable range, the discharge pipe 40 is located below the bottom of the hopper portion 45. The actuator 61 is connected to an air compressor (not shown) via a control valve 63 (see FIG. 1). The control valve 63 is controlled by the control device 100.

[0043] The pressurizing device 50 is connected to the storage container 30 and pressurizes the inside of the storage container 30 by sending compressed air therein. In this embodiment, the pressurizing device 50 is connected to the lower container 31. The pressurizing device 50 includes a valve 51 (see FIG. 2) connected to an air compressor (not shown) by a tube or the like, a joint 52 attached to the air inlet hole 31e, and a tube 53 connecting the valve 51 and the joint 52. By opening and closing the valve 51, compressed air is sent into the storage container 30 or the supply is stopped. The valve 51 is controlled by the control device 100. The gas sent by the pressurizing device 50 into the storage container 30 does not have to be air.

[0044] The control device 100 is connected to the supply device 20, the direction adjustment device (not shown), and the sending device (not shown), and controls the operations of these devices. The configuration of the control device 100 is not particularly limited. The control device 100 may include, for example, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU), a ROM in which programs executed by the CPU are stored, and a RAM. Each part of the control device 100 may be configured by software or by hardware. Furthermore, each part may be a processor or a circuit. The control device 100 may be, for example, a programmable controller or a computer.

[0045] [Configuration of blow-up prevention plate] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the plate 70. As shown in FIG. 7, the plate 70 includes a ring portion 71 and a wall portion 72. The ring portion 71 is configured in an annular shape having a through hole 71a in the radial center. As shown in FIG. 5, the ring portion 71 spreads in a substantially horizontal direction. The ring portion 71 has a circular outer shape in a plan view. The outer diameter of the ring portion 71 corresponds to the inner diameter of the side wall 34c of the tapered ring 34. The ring portion 71 is configured in a plate shape having a thin thickness in the up-down direction. The ring portion 71 is placed on the bottom portion 34b of the tapered ring 34.

[0046] The through hole 71a of the ring portion 71 has a size that allows the rubber plug 5 to pass through. The rubber plug 5 can pass through the through hole 71a in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the ring portion 71 has a diameter that is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the upper end of the tapered ring 34. The rubber plug 5 can move between a space above the ring portion 71 and a space below the ring portion 71 through the through hole 71a. As shown in FIG. 7, the through hole 71a is configured in a D-shape with a part of the arc cut in a straight line. The straight part of the through hole 71a is formed by a wide part 71b that has a radial length longer than other parts of the ring portion 71.

[0047] The wall portion 72 extends upward from the upper surface of the ring portion 71 in a direction intersecting the circumferential direction of the storage container 30. Here, the wall portion 72 extends upward and in the radial direction of the storage container 30 from the upper surface of the wide portion 71b. In this embodiment, the wall portion 72 is perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface of the storage container 30 in a plan view (see FIG. 8). The wall portion 72 is configured in a rectangular shape that is longer in the up-down direction than in the radial direction of the storage container 30. Here, the wall portion 72 is provided substantially perpendicular to the ring portion 71.

[0048] The wall portion 72 is contained within the wide portion 71b in plan view (see also FIG. 8). The wall portion 72 is provided so as not to overlap the through hole 71a in plan view so that the rubber stopper 5 can pass through the through hole 71a. Here, the wall portion 72 is not involved in the passage of the rubber stopper 5 through the through hole 71a. As shown in FIG. 5, there is a gap between the wall portion 72 and the side wall 34c of the tapered ring 34. The upper container 32 is fitted into this gap. When the upper container 32 is attached to the lower container 31, the upper container 32 is disposed between the wall portion 72 and the side wall 34c of the tapered ring 34. In this state, the inner peripheral surface of the upper container 32 and the wall portion 72 are in contact with each other or are very close to each other. The plate 70, more specifically, the ring portion 71, is sandwiched between the lower container 31 and the upper container 32.

[0049] The plate 70 is placed on the tapered ring 34 without being fixed to any other member. The plate 70 is detachable from the storage container 30. If the upper container 32 is removed from the lower container 31, the plate 70 can be removed from the rubber stopper supplying device 10. The plate 70 can be held by placing the plate 70 on the tapered ring 34 and attaching the upper container 32 to the lower container 31. The plate 70 can be placed in any rotational position on the tapered ring 34.

[0050] [Behavior of rubber stoppers when the supply device is in operation] The behavior of the rubber stopper 5 when the supply device 20 is driven will be described below. When the supply device 20 is driven, compressed air is sent into the storage container 30 by the pressurizing device 50, and the inside of the storage container 30 is pressurized. As a result, the rubber stopper 5 is pushed into the discharge pipe 40, and the rubber stopper 5 in the discharge pipe 40 is pushed downward. The discharge of the rubber stopper 5 is assisted by the pressurization of the pressurizing device 50. Furthermore, the vertical movement device 60 is driven to cause the hopper part 45 to reciprocate in the vertical direction relative to the storage container 30 and the discharge pipe 40. As a result, the rubber stopper 5 in the lower container 31 is moved, and the rubber stopper 5 is easily dropped into the discharge pipe 40. Since the rubber stopper 5 moves in the vertical direction with the vertical movement of the hopper part 45, the plate 70 is provided with a through hole 71a through which the rubber stopper 5 can pass in the vertical direction.

[0051] When compressed air is blown into the storage container 30 by the pressurizing device 50, a swirling flow is generated along the inner peripheral surface of the storage container 30. If there is no resistance, this swirling flow will ascend in a spiral shape while proceeding in the circumferential direction of the storage container 30 along the inner peripheral surface of the storage container 30. When there are many rubber stoppers 5 in the storage container 30, no significant swirling flow is generated due to the resistance of the rubber stoppers 5. However, as the rubber stoppers 5 continue to be supplied and the number of rubber stoppers 5 in the storage container 30 decreases, the swirling flow becomes stronger. In this state, if the weight of the rubber stoppers 5 is small, the rubber stoppers 5 in the storage container 30 may be swirled up by the swirling flow and float in the air.

[0052] In such a case, in a conventional rubber stopper supplying device, most of the rubber stoppers 5 blown up do not enter the discharge pipe arranged at the bottom of the storage container. Therefore, the rubber stoppers 5 blown up are not supplied to the direction adjustment device and remain in the storage container. The rubber stopper supplying device 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a plate 70 to prevent the rubber stoppers 5 from remaining in the storage container.

[0053] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the plate 70, which shows a mechanism by which the rubber stopper 5 collides with the wall portion 72 and falls. The arrow W in FIG. 8 indicates a swirling flow. As shown in FIG. 8, the swirling flow W swirls along the inner circumferential surface of the storage container 30. The rubber stopper 5 swirls in the air on the swirling flow W. The wall portion 72 is arranged in the storage container 30 so that the rubber stopper 5 blown up by the compressed air sent by the pressurizing device 50 collides with the wall portion 72. The plate 70 drops the rubber stopper 5 that collides with the wall portion 72. As a result, the rubber stopper 5 that has been blown up passes through the through hole 71a of the plate 70 and falls below the plate 70. As a result, the rubber stopper 5 is more likely to fall onto the hopper portion 45, and the rubber stopper 5 is prevented from remaining in the storage container 30.

[0054] The swirling flow W is strong near the inner circumferential surface of the storage container 30 and weak in the radial center of the storage container 30. Therefore, many of the rubber stoppers 5 also fly near the inner circumferential surface of the storage container 30. The wall portion 72 is provided near the inner circumferential surface of the storage container 30. This increases the probability that the rubber stoppers 5 will collide with the wall portion 72. In addition, the wall portion 72 extends from the upper surface of the ring portion 71 upward and in a direction intersecting the circumferential direction of the storage container 30 (here, the radial direction of the storage container 30). Therefore, the probability that the rubber stoppers 5 will collide with the wall portion 72 is further increased. The wall portion 72 also becomes an obstacle to the swirling flow W itself, disturbing the swirling flow W. This also makes it difficult for the rubber stoppers 5 to be blown up.

[0055] [Effects of the embodiment] The following describes the effects that can be achieved by the rubber plug supplying device 10 according to this embodiment.

[0056] The rubber stopper supplying device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a container 30 in which rubber stoppers are stored, a discharge pipe 40 disposed at the bottom of the container 30 (here, the hopper section 45) and discharging the rubber stoppers 5 in the container 30, a pressurizing device 50 connected to the container 30 and pressurizing the container 30 by feeding gas into the container 30, and a blow-up prevention plate 70 having a wall section 72 disposed in the container 30 so that the rubber stoppers 5 blown up by the gas fed by the pressurizing device 50 collide with the wall section 72, and causing the rubber stoppers 5 that collide with the wall section 72 to fall. According to the rubber stopper supplying device 10, the blown up rubber stoppers 5 fall due to the collision of the plate 70 with the wall section 72. The dropped rubber stoppers 5 are likely to enter the discharge pipe 40 disposed at the bottom of the container 30. Therefore, according to the rubber stopper supplying device 10 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the rubber stoppers 5 in the container 30 from remaining without being supplied.

[0057] In this embodiment, the plate 70 includes an annular ring portion 71 having a through hole 71a at the center in the radial direction through which the rubber stopper 5 can pass in the vertical direction. The wall portion 72 is provided in the ring portion 71 so that the rubber stopper 5 can pass through the through hole 71a. According to this configuration, by providing the wall portion 72 in the ring portion 71, the wall portion 72 can be easily arranged in the storage container 30. In addition, by providing the through hole 71a through which the rubber stopper 5 can pass in the ring portion 71 and providing the wall portion 72 so as not to prevent the rubber stopper 5 from passing through the through hole 71a, the rubber stopper 5 can also move in the space above the plate 70 (here, in the upper container 32). Therefore, it is possible to suppress the rubber stopper 5 from becoming difficult to move due to the density of the rubber stopper 5 in the space below the plate 70 (here, in the lower container 31). Therefore, it is possible to suppress the stagnation of the rubber stopper 5 in the feed to the discharge pipe 40 caused by the rubber stopper 5 becoming difficult to move.

[0058] In particular, the rubber stopper supplying device 10 according to this embodiment includes a vertical movement device 60 that moves the hopper portion 45 back and forth in the vertical direction. Therefore, if the rubber stoppers 5 cannot move to the upper container 32 through the through-holes 71a, the density of the rubber stoppers 5 in the lower container 31 increases, making it very difficult for the rubber stoppers 5 to move.

[0059] In this embodiment, the wall portion 72 extends upward from the upper surface of the ring portion 71 and in a direction intersecting the circumferential direction of the storage container 30. With this configuration, the rubber stopper 5, which is blown up by the wind swirling in the circumferential direction of the storage container 30 and swirls in the circumferential direction, is more likely to collide with the wall portion 72. In addition, the rubber stopper 5 that collides with the wall portion 72 falls downward from the through hole 71a of the ring portion 71. As a result, the fall of the rubber stopper 5 into the discharge pipe 40 is promoted.

[0060] In this embodiment, the plate 70 is configured to be detachable from the storage container 30. With this configuration, when supplying rubber stoppers 5 that cannot be blown up by the compressed air supplied by the pressurizing device 50, for example, heavy rubber stoppers 5, the plate 70 can be detached from the rubber stopper supplying device 10. Therefore, when there are a large number of rubber stoppers 5 in the storage container 30, the plate 70 can be prevented from acting as a resistance when the rubber stoppers 5 are fed downward.

[0061] In this embodiment, the storage container 30 includes a lower container 31 and an upper container 32 that is detachable from the upper end of the lower container 31. The plate 70 is sandwiched between the lower container 31 and the upper container 32. With this configuration, the plate 70 can be held by being sandwiched between the lower container 31 and the upper container 32.

[0062] [Other embodiments] A preferred embodiment has been described above. However, the above embodiment is merely an example, and various other embodiments are possible. Below, some modified examples will be described. In the following description of the modified examples, the same reference numerals will be used for components that have the same functions as those in the above embodiment. Also, duplicated descriptions will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0063] [First Modification] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a plate 170 according to the first modified example. As shown in FIG. 9, the plate 170 according to the first modified example includes a ring portion 171, a first wall portion 172A, and a second wall portion 172B. The plate 170 includes two walls 172A and 172B. The first wall portion 172A and the second wall portion 172B each extend from the upper surface of the ring portion 171 upward and in a direction intersecting the circumferential direction of the storage container 30, and are configured so that the blown-up rubber plugs 5 collide with them. The location where the plate 170 is placed and other configurations of the rubber plug supplying device 10 are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0064] In this modification, the first wall portion 172A and the second wall portion 172B are provided so as to overlap a part of the through hole 171a when viewed in the up-down direction. However, the first wall portion 172A and the second wall portion 172B are configured so that the rubber plug 5 can pass through the through hole 171a. As shown in FIG. 9, the first wall portion 172A extends obliquely upward so as to intersect obliquely with the ring portion 171. The first wall portion 172A is inclined upward toward one side in the circumferential direction of the storage container 30, here, toward the direction A in FIG. 9. The second wall portion 172B also extends obliquely upward so as to intersect obliquely with the ring portion 171. The second wall portion 172B also is inclined upward toward the direction A. By inclining the first wall portion 172A and the second wall portion 172B, it is possible to easily arrange the first wall portion 172A and the second wall portion 172B so as to overlap the through hole 171a when viewed in the up-down direction.

[0065] Thus, in this modification, the first wall portion 172A and the second wall portion 172B are provided so as to overlap a portion of the through hole 171a when viewed in the up-down direction. With this configuration, the first wall portion 172A and the second wall portion 172B can support a portion of the weight of the rubber stopper 5 in the space above the ring portion 171 in the storage container 30 (here, in the upper container 32). This can alleviate a state in which the rubber stopper 5 in the space below the ring portion 171 (here, in the lower container 31) becomes difficult to move due to the weight of the rubber stopper 5 above it.

[0066] [Second modified example] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a plate 270 according to the second modified example. Fig. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of the lower container 31 to which the plate 270 according to the second modified example is attached. As shown in Fig. 11, the location where the plate 270 is placed and other configurations of the rubber plug supplying device 10 are similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0067] As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the plate 270 according to the second modification includes an annular ring portion 271 and a wall portion 272 extending radially inward from the radial inner edge of the ring portion 271. In this modification, the wall portion 272 extends while inclining downward toward the radial inner side of the ring portion 271. The wall portion 272 is formed over the entire circumference of the inner edge of the ring portion 271. The wall portion 272 is also annular. The inside of the wall portion 272 is a through hole 270a through which the rubber plug 5 can pass in the vertical direction. The plate 270 according to this modification is configured in a funnel shape, and the wall portion 272 has a tapered surface that narrows downward.

[0068] 11 , a part of the wall portion 272 protrudes radially inward beyond the inner circumferential surface of the lower container 31. A part of the lower surface of the wall portion 272 is exposed so as to face the internal space of the lower container 31. In this modification, the blown-up rubber stopper 5 collides with the part of the lower surface of the wall portion 272 that is exposed inside the lower container 31.

[0069] Thus, in this modification, the plate 270 includes an annular ring portion 271, and the wall portion 272 extends from the radial inner edge of the ring portion 271 toward the radial inward direction while inclining downward. With this configuration, a part of the rubber stopper 5 blown up below the plate 270 collides with the lower surface of the wall portion 272 and falls. On the other hand, the rubber stopper 5 resting on the wall portion 272 or having fallen onto the wall portion 272 falls smoothly downward along the downward inclination of the wall portion 272. Therefore, with this configuration, the rubber stopper 5 can be efficiently guided to the discharge pipe 40 arranged at the bottom of the storage container 30.

[0070] In this modification, the wall portion 272 is formed around the entire circumference of the inner edge of the ring portion 271. With this configuration, the shape of the plate 270 is funnel-shaped. This makes it easier to manufacture the plate 270. For example, the wall portion 272 may be formed only on a part of the inner edge of the ring portion 271. However, if the wall portion 272 is formed around the entire circumference of the inner edge of the ring portion 271, the shape of the plate 270 becomes simpler and the plate 270 becomes easier to manufacture.

[0071] A preferred embodiment and some modified examples have been described above. However, the technology disclosed herein can be implemented in various other embodiments in addition to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the blow-up prevention member has a wall portion 72 arranged in the container 30, and drops the rubber plug 5 that collides with the wall portion 72, and is configured in a flat plate shape with a ring portion 71. However, the configuration of the blow-up prevention member is not limited to this. The blow-up prevention member may be, for example, composed only of a wall portion directly fixed to the container 30.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the wall portion 72 extends upward and in a direction intersecting the circumferential direction of the storage container 30, or in a diagonal vertical direction. However, the direction in which the wall portion 72 extends is not limited as long as the blown-up rubber stopper 5 can be dropped. The wall portion may extend, for example, in a substantially horizontal direction.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the wall portion 72 extends upward from the upper surface of the ring portion 71 and in a direction intersecting the circumferential direction of the storage container 30. However, the wall portion may extend downward from the lower surface of the ring portion and in a direction intersecting the circumferential direction of the storage container. A wall portion extending downward from the lower surface of the ring portion and in a direction intersecting the circumferential direction of the storage container can also achieve the same effect as the wall portion 72 in the above embodiment. Alternatively, the blow-up prevention member may include both a wall portion extending upward from the upper surface of the ring portion and another wall portion extending downward from the lower surface of the ring portion.

[0074] The location of the storage container 30 where the blow-up prevention member is provided is not limited. When the pressurizing device 50 is connected to the lower container 31, the blow-up prevention member may be provided, for example, in the upper container 32. In a configuration in which the pressurizing device 50 is connected to the lower container 31, the flow rate of the pressurized air is high in the lower container 31 and low in the upper container 32 compared to the lower container 31. Therefore, if the blow-up prevention member is provided in the lower container 31 where the airflow is strong, the rubber stopper 5 is relatively likely to overcome the blow-up prevention member, whereas if the blow-up prevention member is provided in the upper container 32 where the airflow is weaker than in the lower container 31, the rubber stopper 5 is more likely to collide with the blow-up prevention member. As a result, the rubber stopper 5 can be dropped more effectively.

[0075] The configuration of the rubber plug supplying device is not limited to the above. For example, the storage container does not have to be configured in a cylindrical shape, and may be configured in a square tube shape, for example. The storage container does not have to be separated into a lower container and an upper container. The bottom of the storage container does not have to be configured to reciprocate in the vertical direction. The rubber plug supplying device may be configured to reciprocate the discharge pipe in the vertical direction. The blow-up prevention member does not have to be detachable from the storage container, and may be fixed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 5 Rubber stopper 10 Rubber stopper supply device 20 Feeding device 30 Containment Container 31 Lower vessel 32 Upper Vessel 40 Discharge pipe 45 Hopper section (bottom) 50 Pressure device 60 Vertical movement device 70 Splash prevention plate (splash prevention part) 71 Ring section 71a Through hole 72 Wall 100 Control device 170 Splash prevention plate 171 Ring section 171a Through hole 172A 1st wall (wall) 172B 2nd wall (wall) 270 Splash prevention plate 270a through hole 271 Ring section 272 Wall

Claims

1. A container in which the rubber stopper is accommodated; a discharge pipe disposed at the bottom of the container and through which the rubber stopper in the container is discharged; a pressurizing device connected to the storage container and supplying gas into the storage container to pressurize the inside of the storage container; a blow-up prevention member that has a wall portion arranged in the container so that the rubber stopper blown up by the gas sent by the pressurizing device collides with the wall portion and drops the rubber stopper that collides with the wall portion. Rubber stopper supply device.

2. The blow-up prevention member includes an annular ring portion having a through hole at a radial center portion through which the rubber plug can pass in the up-down direction, The wall portion is provided in the ring portion so that the rubber plug can pass through the through hole. The rubber plug supplying device according to claim 1.

3. The wall portion extends upward from an upper surface of the ring portion in a direction intersecting with a circumferential direction of the storage container. The rubber plug supplying device according to claim 2.

4. The wall portion extends downward from a lower surface of the ring portion in a direction intersecting with a circumferential direction of the storage container. The rubber plug supplying device according to claim 2.

5. The wall portion is provided so as to overlap a part of the through hole when viewed in the up-down direction. The rubber plug supplying device according to claim 2.

6. The blow-up prevention member includes an annular ring portion, The wall portion extends from a radially inner edge portion of the ring portion toward the radially inward direction while inclining downward. The rubber plug supplying device according to claim 1.

7. The wall portion is formed around the entire circumference of the inner edge portion of the ring portion. The rubber plug supplying device according to claim 6.

8. The blow-up prevention member is configured to be detachable from the storage container. The rubber plug supplying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The storage container includes a lower container and an upper container that is detachable from an upper end of the lower container, The blow-up prevention member is sandwiched between the lower container and the upper container. The rubber plug supplying device according to claim 8.

10. The storage container includes a lower container and an upper container that is detachable from an upper end of the lower container, the pressurizing device is connected to the lower container; The blow-up prevention member is provided in the upper container. The rubber plug supplying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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