Part bowl automatic replacement device and part bowl automatic replacement method

Abstract

To provide a device and a method for automatically replacing a bowl of a part feeder.SOLUTION: A part bowl automatic replacement device includes: a first part bowl 11 that holds a plurality of parts to be supplied to a supply destination; a second part bowl 12 that holds a plurality of parts for replacing; a part feeder 10 on which the first part bowl 11 is placed to vibrate the same; a first replacement table 13 on which the first part bowl 11 after replacement is placed; a second replacement table 14 on which the second part bowl 12 before replacement is placed; moving means that can move the first part bowl 11 or the second part bowl 12 one by one; and a control unit that controls operation of the moving means. The moving means includes: a bowl gripping part 7 capable of gripping the first part bowl 11 or the second part bowl 12 one by one; a vertical drive unit 5 that moves the bowl gripping part up and down; and a horizontal drive unit 4 that moves the vertical drive unit 5 to the right and the left.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatically replacing a parts bowl.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a conventional bowl-type vibration parts feeder (reference numeral in parentheses indicates the reference numeral in the prior art document; the same applies hereinafter). The bowl-type vibration parts feeder (10) includes a bowl (11) that vibrates at a predetermined amplitude, a spiral conveyance path (13) that conveys parts (14) in the bowl (11) by vibration, and a sorting path (18, 19) that sorts the parts (14) conveyed to the spiral conveyance path (13) by posture and sends them to the discharge port (17a).

[0003] A linear feeder (9) is provided that is continuous with the discharge port (17a). The bowl-type vibration parts feeder (10) is operated, and the linear feeder (9) is also driven. By driving the linear feeder (9), the parts (14) of a predetermined shape aligned by the bowl-type vibration parts feeder (10) and discharged from its discharge port (17a) are taken over by the linear feeder (9) and then conveyed straight in the horizontal direction to the target position.

[0004] As described above, a conventional bowl-type parts feeder (also referred to as a parts supply device) vibrates a bowl containing a plurality of parts (also referred to as parts or workpieces), and the parts are discharged one by one from the spiral conveyance path in a discharge port structure. The discharged parts are supplied to a straight conveyance path, a circular conveyance path, or an inspection device as described in Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Parts bowls used in parts feeders (hereinafter simply referred to as "bowls") may not be usable depending on the type of parts to be supplied. Therefore, when it is desired to replace the parts supplied to the supply destination (such as an inspection device or a transfer path) with another type of parts, if the bowl before replacement cannot be used, the operator manually replaces the entire parts feeder.

[0007] Conventionally, there has been no device capable of automatically replacing the bowl.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for automatically replacing the bowl of a parts feeder.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following features. The present invention includes a first parts bowl for containing a plurality of parts to be supplied to a supply destination, a second parts bowl for containing a plurality of parts for replacement, a parts feeder for placing the first parts bowl thereon and applying vibration, a first replacement mounting table for mounting the first parts bowl after replacement, a second replacement mounting table for mounting the second parts bowl before replacement, a moving means capable of moving the first parts bowl or the second parts bowl one by one, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the moving means. The control unit controls the moving means to move the first parts bowl placed on the parts feeder to the first replacement mounting table, and then move the second parts bowl from the second replacement mounting table to the parts feeder.

[0010] Preferably, the control unit controls the moving means to grip the first parts bowl, lift it upward, move it horizontally, place the first parts bowl on the first replacement mounting table, release the grip, grip the second parts bowl, lift it upward, move it horizontally, place the second parts bowl on the parts feeder, and release the grip, thereby exchanging the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl.

[0011] Preferably, the moving means includes a bowl gripping portion capable of gripping one by one the first parts bowl or the second parts bowl, a vertical driving portion for moving the bowl gripping portion up and down, and a left - right driving portion for moving the vertical driving portion left and right.

[0012] Preferably, the bowl gripping portion includes two left - right arm portions and two opening - closing driving portions capable of opening and closing the two arm portions respectively.

[0013] Preferably, the vertical driving portion and the left - right driving portion are linear driving portions.

[0014] Preferably, it further includes a position detection portion for detecting the vertical position of the vertical driving portion and the left - right position of the left - right driving portion.

[0015] Preferably, the parts feeder, the first replacement mounting table, and the second replacement mounting table include positioning means for the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl.

[0016] Preferably, the parts feeder has a structure capable of separating the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl.

[0017] Preferably, the parts feeder includes a locking mechanism for the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for automatically exchanging parts bowls using an apparatus comprising: a first parts bowl for containing a plurality of parts to be supplied to a supply destination; a second parts bowl for containing a plurality of replacement parts; a parts feeder for placing the first parts bowl thereon and applying vibration; a first replacement mounting table for mounting the first parts bowl after replacement; a second replacement mounting table for mounting the second parts bowl before replacement; and moving means capable of moving the first parts bowl or the second parts bowl one by one. In this method, using the moving means, after moving the first parts bowl placed on the parts feeder to the first replacement mounting table, the second parts bowl is moved from the second replacement mounting table to the parts feeder.

[0019] Preferably, in this method, using the moving means, the first parts bowl is grasped, lifted upward, moved horizontally, placed on the first replacement mounting table, and the grasping is released. Then, the second parts bowl is grasped, lifted upward, moved horizontally, placed on the parts feeder, and the grasping is released, thereby exchanging the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically exchange the bowl of the parts feeder.

[0021] The first parts bowl to be exchanged can be moved from the parts feeder to the first replacement mounting table, and the second parts bowl standing by on the second replacement mounting table can be moved from the second replacement mounting table to the parts feeder.

[0022] As moving means for exchanging the bowl, by using an up-and-down drive unit, a left-and-right drive unit, and a bowl gripping unit, the bowl can be firmly gripped and reliably moved to the target location.

[0023] If the bowl gripping unit has a structure that grips by opening and closing two arm portions, the bowl can be surely gripped.

[0024] If the up-and-down drive unit and the left-and-right drive unit are linear drive units, it becomes possible to manufacture the device of the present invention by using existing linear members.

[0025] By providing a position detection unit, the up-and-down drive unit and the left-and-right drive unit can be moved to a predetermined position.

[0026] If a positioning means is provided on the replacement mounting table, it is possible to prevent the parts bowl from shifting.

[0027] If the parts bowl can be separated from the parts feeder, the parts bowl can be replaced.

[0028] If a locking mechanism for the parts bowl is provided, the parts bowl can be firmly fixed to the parts feeder.

[0029] These and other objects, features, aspects, and effects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. (Configuration of Device 1) As shown in FIG. 1, a device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 2, a moving means 3, a locking mechanism 8, a position detection unit 9, a first bowl (parts bowl) 11, a second bowl (parts bowl) 12, a first replacement mounting table 13, and a second replacement mounting table 14. The moving means 3 includes a left - right drive unit 4, an up - down drive unit 5, an opening - closing drive unit 6, and a bowl gripping portion (hereinafter, "gripping portion") 7

[0032] The control unit 2 is a computer device equipped with a program for controlling the operations of the left - right drive unit 4, the up - down drive unit 5, the opening - closing drive unit 6, and the locking mechanism 8. The position detection unit 9 is a plurality of sensors provided at predetermined positions. The control unit 2 uses the signal from the position detection unit 9 to recognize the left - right position of the left - right drive unit 4 and the up - down position of the up - down drive unit 5. Note that the position detection unit 9 may recognize the position based on the rotation speeds of the motors of the left - right drive unit 4 and the up - down drive unit 5.

[0033] The left - right drive unit 4 is a device for moving the up - down drive unit 5, the opening - closing drive unit 6, and the gripping unit 7 left and right. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the left - right drive unit 4 includes a rail 4a, a slide base 4b, and a motor 4c. Here, the left - right drive unit 4 is a linear drive unit, and the rail 4a is a linear rail. However, it is not limited to linear drive, and the rail 4a may be curved for movement. By rotating the motor 4c, the slide base 4b moves left and right on the rail 4a. Since such a mechanism is a well - known mechanism, detailed description is omitted.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the up - down drive unit 5 includes a ball screw 5a, two guide rods 5b, 5b, a plate 5c, an L - shaped metal fitting 5d, a main body 5e, and a motor 5f.

[0035] Since the slide base 4b and the up - down drive unit 5 are connected by the L - shaped metal fitting 5d, when the left - right drive unit 4 is driven, the up - down drive unit 5 also moves left and right in accordance with the sliding of the slide base 4b.

[0036] The guide rods 5b, 5b are slidably passed through the holes provided on the left and right of the plate 5c. The ball screw 5a is passed through the hole provided at the center of the plate 5c. The plate 5c is attached to the lower part of the main body 5e. The nut (not shown) of the ball screw 5a is connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 5f inside the main body 5e.

[0037] The lower ends of the ball screw 5a and the guide rods 5b, 5b are connected to the gripping part 7. When the rotating shaft of the motor 5f rotates and the nut rotates, in accordance with the direction of rotation, the ball screw 5a moves up and down, and the guide rods 5b, 5b slide, causing the gripping part 7 to move up and down.

[0038] As shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. 3 and 8, the opening and closing drive part 6 is a device capable of pushing in (the state of the enlarged view of FIG. 3) and pushing out (the state of the enlarged view of FIG. 8) in order to swing the arm part 7c of the gripping part 7 about the hinge 7a. For example, the opening and closing drive part 6 may operate by the force of air, may operate by the force of an electromagnet, or may operate by the force of a motor, and may be any driving method. Since such a device is well-known, detailed description is omitted.

[0039] As shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. 3 and 8, the gripping part 7 includes left and right hinges 7a, 7a, an upper support rod 7b, left and right arm parts 7c, 7c, and protruding parts 7d, 7d at the lower parts of the arm parts 7c, 7c. By the pushing-out operation of the opening and closing drive part 6, the arm parts 7c, 7c open outward about the hinges 7a, 7a. By the pushing-in operation of the opening and closing drive part 6, the arm parts 7c, 7c close inward about the hinges 7a, 7a.

[0040] As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 4, when closed, the protruding parts 7b, 7b are positioned below the engaging parts 11a, 11a that protrude left and right from the lower part of the first bowl 11. In this state, if the gripping part 7 is moved upward, the first bowl 11 can be lifted.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5, engaging parts 12a, 12a that protrude left and right are also provided at the lower part of the second bowl 12. Therefore, for the second bowl 12 as well, the protruding parts 7b, 7b are positioned below the engaging parts 12a, 12a, so that if the gripping part 7 is moved upward, the second bowl 12 can be lifted.

[0042] The locking mechanism 8 is attached to the parts feeder 10 and has a structure with a locking member at the tip of the motor. By rotating the locking member, it is possible to lock the first bowl 11 or the second bowl 12 placed on the parts feeder 10. Note that, as the locking mechanism 8, any well-known mechanism can be used, and thus it is not limited in the present invention. Further, the locking mechanism 8 may be omitted and is not an essential configuration in the present invention.

[0043] The parts feeder 10 is placed on the parts feeder stand 16. The parts feeder 10 applies vibration to the placed first bowl 11 or second bowl 12 to send the parts placed in the first bowl 11 or second bowl 12 to the supply destination 15.

[0044] The first bowl 11 and the second bowl 12 are each a parts bowl for parts supply placed on the parts feeder 10. The first bowl 11 and the second bowl 12 have a spiral conveyance path that sends out parts one by one using the vibration given by the parts feeder 10. However, the structures of the first bowl 11 and the second bowl 12 are not limited in the present invention, and any well-known structure can be used as long as they are separable from the parts feeder. As described above, hook portions 11a, 11a and 12a, 12a are provided at the lower portions of the first bowl 11 and the second bowl 12, respectively.

[0045] The first replacement mounting table 13 is a table for the bowl used during replacement. It is preferably capable of mounting both the first bowl 11 and the second bowl 12, but a structure that can mount only one of the bowls may also be acceptable.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, the first replacement mounting table 13 has a hole 13a at the center, and the first bowl 11 and / or the second bowl 12 can be inserted into the hole 13a. However, the hole 13a is not an essential configuration.

[0047] Also, in order to prevent the first bowl 11 and the second bowl 12 from shifting when placed, the first replacement mounting table 13 is provided with positioning plates 13b at the four sides of the upper surface. Further, holes may be drilled in the first replacement mounting table 13 for positioning.

[0048] The second replacement mounting table 14 is also a table for bowls used during replacement, and is capable of mounting the first bowl 11 and / or the second bowl 12. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, the first replacement mounting table 14 has a hole 14a at the center and is provided with positioning plates 14b at the four sides of the upper surface. The rest is the same as that of the first replacement mounting table 13.

[0049] Note that the positioning means is not limited to plates and holes. Note that the first replacement mounting table 13 may be dedicated to the first bowl 11, and the second replacement mounting table 14 may be dedicated to the second bowl 11.

[0050] (Operation of Device 1) The operation of device 1 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 to 14. First, the control unit 2 receives an instruction to replace the bowl (S101).

[0051] The control unit 2 that has received the instruction determines the replacement route (S102). The method for determining the replacement route is as follows. (1) Recognize the available replacement mounting table. (2) Move the bowl placed on the parts feeder 10 to the available replacement mounting table. (3) Move the bowl placed on the remaining replacement mounting table onto the parts feeder 10.

[0052] Therefore, the control unit 2 needs to appropriately recognize the available replacement mounting tables. For this recognition, sensors (not shown) may be provided on the first replacement mounting table 13 and the second replacement mounting table 14, or the operator may input and indicate the available replacement mounting table to the control unit 2, or the control unit 2 may recognize the available replacement mounting table from the history of operations performed in the past. The present invention is not limited thereto.

[0053] In the following description, it is assumed that the first bowl 11 is placed on the parts feeder 10, the first replacement mounting table 13 is available, and the second bowl 12 is placed on the second replacement mounting table 14. The operation when replacing the first bowl 11 with the second bowl 12 will be described.

[0054] Here, it is assumed that the operation starts from the state of FIG. 3. If the state of FIG. 3 is not reached, first, the control unit 2 controls the moving means 3 to be positioned on the parts feeder 10. The control unit 2 controls the opening / closing drive unit 6 to open the arm portions 7c, 7c (S103), and moves the vertical drive unit 5 downward to a predetermined position (S104).

[0055] The control unit 2 controls the opening / closing drive unit 6 to close the arm portions 7c, 7c and grip the used parts bowl (here, the first bowl 11) (S105). The control unit 2 controls the vertical drive unit 5 to move the first bowl 11 upward to a predetermined position (S106). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 4 is reached.

[0056] The control unit 2 controls the left / right drive unit 4 to move the gripped parts bowl (the first bowl 11) to a predetermined position on the right or left (above the available replacement mounting table on the empty side) (S107). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 6 is reached.

[0057] The control unit 2 controls the vertical drive unit 5 to move the first bowl 11 downward to a predetermined position (to the position where the bowl is placed on the replacement mounting table) (S108). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 7 is reached.

[0058] The control unit 2 controls the opening / closing drive unit 6 to open the arm portions 7c, 7c and place the first bowl 11 on the first replacement mounting table 13 (S109). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 8 is reached.

[0059] The control unit 2 controls the gripping portion 7 (which is not gripping the bowl) by controlling the vertical drive unit 5 to move it upward to a predetermined position (for example, to the uppermost position) (S110). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 9 is reached.

[0060] The control unit 2 controls the left / right drive unit 4 to move the gripping portion 7 to a predetermined position on the right or left (to above the empty replacement mounting table, here to above the second replacement mounting table 14) (S111). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 10 is reached.

[0061] The control unit 2 controls the vertical drive unit 5 to move the gripping portion 7 downward to a predetermined position (to a position where it can grip the bowl on the replacement mounting table) (S112). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 11 is reached.

[0062] The control unit 2 controls the opening / closing drive unit 6 to close the arm portions 7c, 7c and grip the parts bowl (the second bowl 12). The control unit 2 controls the vertical drive unit 5 to move the second bowl 12 upward to a predetermined position (for example, to the uppermost position) (S114). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 12 is reached.

[0063] The control unit 2 controls the left / right drive unit 4 to move the second bowl 12 to the central position (to the position above the parts feeder 10) (S115). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 13 is reached.

[0064] The control unit 2 controls the vertical drive unit 5 to move the second bowl 12 downward to a predetermined position (the position where it is placed on the parts feeder 10) (S116). At this point, the state shown in FIG. 14 is reached.

[0065] Then, the control unit 2 controls the opening / closing drive unit 6 to open the arm parts 7c, 7c, place the second bowl 12 on the parts feeder 10 (S117), controls the vertical drive unit 5 to move the gripping part 7 upward to a predetermined position (S118). Finally, the control unit 2 controls the opening / closing drive unit 6 to close the arm parts 7c, 7c (S119).

[0066] In this way, the first bowl 11 is placed on the empty first replacement mounting table 13, the second bowl 12 is placed on the parts feeder 10, and the second replacement mounting table 14 is in an open state, indicating that the replacement of the bowls has been automatically performed.

[0067] When the second replacement mounting table 14 is empty, for the operation of exchanging the two bowls, it is possible to exchange them by placing the bowl on the parts feeder 10 on the second replacement mounting table 14 and placing the bowl on the first replacement mounting table 13 on the parts feeder 10, which is easily understandable, so further detailed description is omitted.

[0068] In this way, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus and method capable of automatically exchanging the bowls of the parts feeder are provided.

[0069] As described above, the present invention has been described in detail. However, the foregoing description is merely illustrative of the present invention in every respect and is not intended to limit its scope. Needless to say, various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The constituent elements of the invention disclosed in this specification shall be regarded as independently constituting individual inventions. Inventions obtained by combining each constituent element in any combination method shall also be included in the present invention. Regarding the specific expressions in this specification, they are merely examples, and the present invention shall include those obtained by conceptualizing the illustrative expressions.

Industrial Applicability

[0070] The present invention is a parts bowl automatic exchange device and a parts bowl automatic exchange method, and is industrially applicable.

Explanation of Signs

[0071] 1 Parts bowl automatic exchange device 2 Control unit 3 Moving means 4 Left and right drive unit 4a Rail 4b Slide table 4c Motor 5 Up and down drive unit 5a Ball screw 5b Guide rod 5c Plate 5d L-shaped metal fitting 5e Main body 5f Motor 6 Opening and closing drive unit 7 Bowl gripping part 7a Hinge 7b Support rod 7c Arm part 7d Protruding part 8 Lock mechanism 9 Position detection part 10 Parts feeder 11 First parts bowl 11a Hooking part 12 Second parts bowl 12a Hooking part 13 First replacement mounting table 13a Hole 13b Positioning plate 14 Second replacement mounting table 14a Hole 14b Positioning plate 15 Supply source 16 Parts feeder table

Claims

1. A first parts bowl for containing a plurality of parts to be supplied to a supply destination, a second parts bowl for containing a plurality of parts for replacement, a parts feeder for placing the first parts bowl thereon and applying vibration, a first replacement mounting table for mounting the first parts bowl after replacement, a second replacement mounting table for mounting the second parts bowl before replacement, a moving means capable of moving the first parts bowl or the second parts bowl one by one, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the moving means, wherein the control unit controls the moving means to move the first parts bowl placed on the parts feeder to the first replacement mounting table, and then move the second parts bowl from the second replacement mounting table to the parts feeder. A parts bowl automatic exchange device is characterized by this.

2. The control unit controls the moving means to grip the first parts bowl, lift it upward, move it horizontally, place the first parts bowl on the first replacement mounting table, and release the grip, grip the second parts bowl, lift it upward, move it horizontally, place the second parts bowl on the parts feeder, and release the grip, and perform the exchange between the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl. The parts bowl automatic exchange device according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

3. The moving means includes a bowl gripping part capable of gripping the first parts bowl or the second parts bowl one by one, a vertical driving part for moving the bowl gripping part up and down, and a left - right driving part for moving the vertical driving part left and right. The parts bowl automatic exchange device according to claim 2 is characterized by this.

4. The bowl gripping part includes two left - right arm parts, and two opening - closing driving parts capable of opening and closing the two arm parts respectively. The parts bowl automatic exchange device according to claim 3 is characterized by this.

5. The vertical driving part and the left - right driving part are linear driving parts. The parts bowl automatic exchange device according to claim 3 is characterized by this.

6. The parts bowl automatic exchange device according to claim 5 further includes a position detection part for detecting the vertical position of the vertical driving part and the left - right position of the left - right driving part.

7. The parts feeder, the first replacement mounting table, and the second replacement mounting table include positioning means for the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl, and the parts bowl automatic replacement device according to claim 1 is characterized in that.

8. The parts feeder has a structure capable of separating the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl, and the parts bowl automatic replacement device according to claim 1 is characterized in that.

9. The parts feeder includes a locking mechanism for the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl, and the parts bowl automatic replacement device according to claim 1 is characterized in that.

10. A first parts bowl for containing a plurality of parts to be supplied to a supply destination, a second parts bowl for containing a plurality of replacement parts, a parts feeder for placing and vibrating the first parts bowl, a first replacement mounting table for mounting the first parts bowl after replacement, a second replacement mounting table for mounting the second parts bowl before replacement, and a moving means capable of moving the first parts bowl or the second parts bowl one by one. A parts bowl automatic replacement method using the device, After moving the first parts bowl placed on the parts feeder to the first replacement mounting table using the moving means, the parts bowl automatic replacement method is characterized in that the second parts bowl is moved from the second replacement mounting table to the parts feeder.

11. Using the moving means, Grasping the first parts bowl, lifting it upward, moving it horizontally, placing the first parts bowl on the first replacement mounting table, and releasing the grasping, Grasping the second parts bowl, lifting it upward, moving it horizontally, placing the second parts bowl on the parts feeder, and releasing the grasping, thereby exchanging the first parts bowl and the second parts bowl, and the parts bowl automatic replacement method according to claim 10 is characterized in that.

Images