Part supply device

Abstract

To provide a part supply device capable of improving work efficiency with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A part supply device 10 includes a storage part 11 for storing a plurality of rod-shaped, cylindrical, or spherical parts M therein, and a cylindrical part guide member 12 that is movably provided relative to a through hole 11A provided at a bottom part of the storage part 11 and has a guide hole 12A formed therein for passing the parts M therethrough. When the part guide member 12 moves relative to the storage part 11 in a direction from the bottom part toward the inside, an upper end part of the part guide member 12 moves so as to protrude at least above the plurality of parts M stored inside the storage part 11, and when the part guide member 12 moves relative to the storage part 11 in a direction from the inside toward the bottom part, the upper end part of the part guide member 12 moves to be positioned at least below the upper end part of the through hole 11A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a component supplying device that supplies components one by one. [Background technology]

[0002] In the manufacture of various products such as automobiles, an assembly process may be included in which small pins, springs, etc. are assembled. Conventionally, when assembling small parts, for example, the parts are stored in a parts box, and workers take out the parts one by one from the parts box with gloved hands and assemble them. However, because the workers are wearing gloves, their sense of gripping the parts becomes dull, and they may end up gripping multiple parts at once or gripping parts in an inappropriate position, requiring them to grip the parts again. This results in poor work efficiency.

[0003] Incidentally, Patent Document 1 describes a component supplying device that uses a scooping plate to scoop up headless bar materials such as pins stored in a storage section, and transfers and conveys them in an aligned manner on a conveying rail. However, the present invention and the component supplying device described in Patent Document 1 have completely different configurations, and the component supplying device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is complicated in structure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-126563 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a component supplying device that has a simple structure and can improve the working efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The component supply device of the present invention comprises a storage section that stores a plurality of rod-shaped, cylindrical or spherical components therein, and a cylindrical component guide member that is movably arranged relative to a through hole provided in the bottom of the storage section and has a guide hole formed therein for passing the components, wherein the storage section and the component guide member are movable relative to each other, and when the component guide member moves relative to the storage section in a direction from the bottom toward the inside, an upper end of the component guide member moves relatively to the storage section until it protrudes at least above the plurality of components stored inside the storage section, and when the component guide member moves relative to the storage section in a direction from the inside toward the bottom, an upper end of the component guide member moves relatively to the storage section until it is positioned at least below the upper end of the through hole. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the upper end of the component guide member is configured to move relatively to the storage section until it protrudes at least above the multiple components stored inside the storage section and moves relatively to the storage section until it is located at least below the upper end of the through hole, so that the components can be agitated and their positions changed by moving the component guide member back and forth relative to the storage section, and the posture of the components located near the component guide member can be changed in the vertical direction. This allows the components to be guided to the guide hole of the component guide member and passed through the guide hole. Therefore, the components can be supplied in order from the lower end of the component guide member, and the operation of re-grasping the components can be reduced, thereby improving the work efficiency with a simple structure.

[0008] In particular, if the upper end of the component guide member is provided with a guide inclined surface that is inclined downward from the outside to the inside, the component can be more easily guided into the guide hole of the component guide member.

[0009] Furthermore, if the size of the guide hole in the width direction is made larger than the width of the component and smaller than twice the width of the component, the components can be fed through the guide hole one by one. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a component supplying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1. FIG. 4 is another diagram illustrating the configuration of the component supplying device illustrated in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a component supplying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0012] (First embodiment) 1 and 2 show the overall configuration of a component supplying device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This component supplying device 10 includes a storage section 11 that stores a plurality of components M therein, and a component guide member 12 that is movably disposed relative to a through hole 11A provided at the bottom of the storage section 11. The components M are preferably, for example, rod-shaped, cylindrical, or spherical. An example of the rod-shaped component M is a pin, an example of the cylindrical component M is a coil spring, and an example of the spherical component M is a ball. Note that FIG. 1 shows an example in which the component M is a pin, and is shown with a matte finish for ease of understanding.

[0013] The storage section 11 preferably has a storage space inside, and has a storage inclined surface 11B inclined downward from the periphery toward the center on the inside side of the bottom. Specifically, for example, at least the bottom or the lower side of the storage section 11 is preferably funnel-shaped. This is because the parts M can be collected in the center. The through hole 11A is preferably provided, for example, in the center of the bottom of the storage section 11 so as to penetrate from the lower side to the inside. In addition, the storage section 11 preferably has a hollow extension portion 11C provided, for example, below the center of the bottom, protruding so as to extend the through hole 11A downward. This is because the upper end of the part guide member 12 can be moved to a position lower than the upper end of the through hole 11A.

[0014] The component guide member 12 is cylindrical and has a guide hole 12A formed therein for passing the component M therethrough. For example, the upper end side of the component guide member 12 is disposed in the storage section 11 and the lower end side hangs down from the storage section 11. The storage section 11 and the component guide member 12 are movable relative to each other, and in this embodiment, in terms of the relationship between the storage section 11 and the component guide member 12, the component guide member 12 is fixed and the storage section 11 is movable relative to the component guide member 12. That is, the storage section 11 is movable in the length direction along the component guide member 12. The storage section 11 may be moved manually or mechanically.

[0015] The movement range of the storage section 11 is preferably set so that, for example, when the storage section 11 is moved toward the lower end side of the component guide member 12 (i.e., when the component guide member 12 moves relatively to the storage section 11 in a direction from the lower side toward the inside), the upper end portion of the component guide member 12 moves relatively to at least the extent that it protrudes above the multiple components M stored inside the storage section 11, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] Furthermore, the movement range of the storage section 11 is preferably set so that, for example, when the storage section 11 is moved toward the upper end side of the component guide member 12 (i.e., when the component guide member 12 moves relatively to the storage section 11 in a direction from the inside toward the lower side), the upper end of the component guide member 12 moves relatively to a position at least lower than the upper end of the through hole 11A, as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, it is more preferable to set the upper end of the component guide member 12 to move relatively to a position at least lower than the upper end of the through hole 11A by the length of the component M. Note that the length of the part M means the length in the longitudinal direction when the part M is rod-shaped or cylindrical, and means the diameter when the part M is spherical.

[0017] By moving storage unit 11 back and forth in this manner, it is possible to agitate components M, change the positions of components M, and change the orientation of components M in the vertical direction, making it easier for components M to enter guide hole 12A. By moving storage unit 11 back and forth in this manner, component supplying device 10 is able to supply components M from the lower end of component guiding member 12 through guide hole 12A.

[0018] The component guide member 12 preferably has, for example, a guide inclined surface 12B at the upper end, which is inclined downward from the outside to the inside. This is because the component M can be more easily guided into the guide hole 12A along the guide inclined surface 12B. The size in the width direction of the guide hole 12A is preferably larger than the width of the component M and smaller than twice the width of the component M. This is to allow the components M to be supplied one by one from the lower end of the component guide member 12. Note that the width of the component M means the width perpendicular to the length direction when the component M is rod-shaped or cylindrical, and means the diameter when the component M is spherical. As a result, when the component M is rod-shaped or cylindrical, the component M passes through the guide hole 12A with the length direction of the component M vertical, and is supplied from the lower end of the component guide member 12.

[0019] It is preferable that a receiving table 13 for receiving the part M that has dropped through the guide hole 12A is disposed below the part guide member 12 with a gap between it and the part guide member 12. The distance between the lower end of the part guide member 12 and the receiving table 13 is preferably shorter than the length of the part M when the part M is rod-shaped or cylindrical, and is preferably shorter than the size of the part M when the part M is spherical. This is because the part M that has dropped through the guide hole 12A can be held between the receiving table 13 and the lower end of the part guide member 12. It is preferable that the part guide member 12 is made of a material having flexibility, for example. This is because the part M held between the receiving table 13 and the lower end of the part guide member 12 can be taken out by bending the part guide member 12.

[0020] For example, this component supply device 10 is used as follows. First, a plurality of components M are stored inside the storage section 11. Next, the storage section 11 is reciprocated in the length direction along the component guide member 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the storage section 11 is moved toward the lower end side of the component guide member 12 until the upper end of the component guide member 12 protrudes at least above the plurality of components M stored inside the storage section 11, and at the same time, as shown in FIG. 2, the storage section 11 is moved toward the upper end side of the component guide member 12 until the upper end of the component guide member 12 is positioned at least below the upper end of the through hole 11A, more preferably to a position at least lower than the upper end of the through hole 11A by the length of the components M.

[0021] As a result, the multiple parts M stored in the storage section 11 are agitated and change position, and the part M located near the part guiding member 12 changes its position vertically and enters the guide hole 12A. One part M may enter the guide hole 12A in one reciprocating movement, or multiple parts M may enter the guide hole 12A vertically in order. The part M that enters the guide hole 12A falls through the guide hole 12A and is held, for example, between the lower end of the part guiding member 12 and the receiving table 13, and is taken out by the worker. If there is a part M between the lower end of the part guiding member 12 and the receiving table 13, it is aligned and held in the guide hole 12A in order from the bottom.

[0022] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the upper end of the component guide member 12 is configured to move relatively to the storage section 11 until it protrudes at least above the multiple components M stored inside the storage section 11, and to move relatively to the storage section 11 until it is located below the upper end of the through hole 11A. Therefore, by moving the component guide member 12 back and forth relative to the storage section 11, the components M can be agitated to change their positions, and the posture of the components located near the component guide member 12 can be changed in the vertical direction. This allows the components M to be guided to the guide hole 12A of the component guide member 12 and passed through the guide hole 12A. Therefore, the components M can be supplied in order from the lower end of the component guide member 12, and operations such as re-gripping the components M can be reduced, thereby improving the work efficiency with a simple structure.

[0023] In particular, if the upper end of the component guide member 12 is provided with a guide inclined surface 12B that is inclined downward from the outside to the inside, the component M can be guided into the guide hole 12A of the component guide member 12 more easily.

[0024] Furthermore, if the width direction size of the guide hole 12A is made larger than the width of the part M and smaller than twice the width of the part M, the parts M can be supplied one by one through the guide hole 12A.

[0025] (Second embodiment) 3 shows the overall configuration of a component supplying device 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the case where the component guide member 12 is fixed relative to the storage section 11 and the component guide member 12 and the storage section 11 is movable relative to the component guide member 12 has been described. In the second embodiment, the component guide member 12 is fixed relative to the storage section 11 and the component guide member 12 and the storage section 11 is movable relative to the storage section 11. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the components corresponding to those in the first embodiment, and detailed description of the same parts will be omitted.

[0026] The component supply device 20 includes a storage section 11 and a component guide member 12. The storage section 11 and the component guide member 12 are relatively movable, and in this embodiment, the relationship between the storage section 11 and the component guide member 12 is such that the storage section 11 is fixed, and the component guide member 12 is movable relative to the storage section 11. That is, the component guide member 12 is movable in the through hole 11A in a direction from the lower side toward the inside, or in a direction from the inside toward the lower side. The component guide member 12 may be moved manually or mechanically. The storage section 11 and the component guide member 12 may be movable as a unit.

[0027] The movement range of the component guide member 12 is preferably set, similarly to the movement range of the storage section 11 in the first embodiment, so that when the component guide member 12 moves relatively to the storage section 11 in a direction from the bottom toward the inside, the upper end of the component guide member 12 moves relatively at least until it protrudes above the multiple components M stored inside the storage section 11, and when the component guide member 12 moves relatively to the storage section 11 in a direction from the inside toward the bottom, the upper end of the component guide member 12 moves relatively at least until it is positioned lower than the upper end of the through hole 11A, more preferably, to a position at least the length of the components M lower than the upper end of the through hole 11A.

[0028] Furthermore, in this component supply device 20, instead of the receiving table 13 of the first embodiment, a stopper 23 that stops the supply of the component M from the lower end of the guide hole 12A is preferably provided on the component guiding member 12. This is because an operator can supply the component M by moving the component guiding member 12 and operating the stopper 23. The stopper 23 is preferably configured such that, for example, one component M is supplied from the lower end of the component guiding member 12 with one operation. The other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0029] In this component supply device 20, for example, the component guiding member 12 is moved back and forth through the through hole 11A relative to the storage section 11 in a direction from the bottom toward the inside or from the inside toward the bottom, whereby the component M enters the guide hole 12A, and by operating the stopper 23, the component M is supplied from the lower end of the component guiding member 12.

[0030] In this way, the second embodiment also functions in the same way as the first embodiment, and can provide the same effects.

[0031] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified in various ways. For example, in the above embodiment, each component is specifically described, but the specific structure or shape of each component may be different, and the present invention may not include all of the above-mentioned components, and may include other components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10, 20... component supply device, 11... storage section, 11A... through hole, 11B... storage inclined surface, 11C... extension section, 12... component guide member, 12A... guide hole, 12B... guide inclined surface, 13... receiving base, 23... stopper, M... component

Claims

1. A storage section that stores a plurality of rod-shaped, cylindrical, or spherical parts therein; a cylindrical component guide member that is movably disposed in the through hole provided in the bottom of the storage portion and has a guide hole formed therein through which the component passes, The storage section and the component guide member are relatively movable, and when the component guide member moves relatively to the storage section in a direction from the lower side toward the inside, an upper end portion of the component guide member moves relatively to the storage section until it protrudes at least above the plurality of components stored inside the storage section, and when the component guide member moves relatively to the storage section in a direction from the inside toward the lower side, an upper end portion of the component guide member moves relatively to the storage section until it is positioned at least below an upper end portion of a through hole. A parts supplying device comprising:

2. 2. The component supplying device according to claim 1, wherein said component guide member has, at an upper end thereof, a guide inclined surface that is inclined downward from the outside toward the inside.

3. 2. The component supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the width of said guide hole is greater than the width of said component and smaller than twice the width of said component.

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