Array device

Abstract

To array work-pieces of electronic components and the like without causing conveyance failure due to a timing difference of adsorption / release.SOLUTION: An array device includes: a table for conveying work-pieces by placing the work-pieces thereon and rotating; a primary array part for arranging the conveyed work-pieces into one row and in a predetermined direction to guide the work-pieces to a reception position; a rotation guide for conveying the work-pieces by rotating toward a release position further on the outside than the reception position on the table, while coming into contact with side surfaces of the work-pieces; and a secondary array part which includes a suction part for attracting the work-pieces toward the rotation guide at the reception position. While the suction part is operating so as to attract the work-pieces to the rotation guide, the secondary array part shifts the work-pieces from conveyance by the rotation guide to the conveyance by the table by releasing the work-pieces from the suction force at the release position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for aligning an object. [Background technology]

[0002] In industrial applications, it is sometimes necessary to align or space objects, such as parts, in preparation for an inspection or processing step.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a separating and conveying device that separates conveyed cylindrical electronic components one by one.

[0004] The separating and conveying device includes a disk-shaped member, and a first rotating shaft is connected to the center of the disk-shaped member. An alignment guide consisting of a convex rail portion is provided on the upper surface of the disk-shaped member.

[0005] Furthermore, a suction roller is disposed above the disk-shaped member on the path of transport of electronic components supplied by the electronic component supply guide. This suction roller is composed of a cylindrical roller member main body and a second rotation shaft connected to the upper surface of the roller member main body to rotate the roller member main body. Suction holes are formed in the entire outer peripheral surface or in a partial area of ​​the roller member main body.

[0006] An endless belt is stretched between the second and first rotating shafts, and the diameter of the second rotating shaft is set smaller than that of the first rotating shaft, so that the attraction roller rotates in the same direction as the disk-shaped member but faster than the disk-shaped member.

[0007] A suction pump is connected to the attraction roller, and air is sucked through suction holes in the roller member body by operating the suction pump.

[0008] A plurality of electronic components are supplied to the upper surface of the rotating disk-shaped member in a line-aligned state by an electronic component supply guide. The plurality of electronic components supplied to the upper surface of the disk-shaped member are transported in the circumferential direction as the disk-shaped member rotates, while being maintained in a line-aligned state by the alignment guide.

[0009] As the electronic component is conveyed, it comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the roller member body of the suction roller. When the electronic component comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the roller member body, the suction pump is activated and air is sucked through the suction holes. This causes the electronic component to be adsorbed onto the outer circumferential surface of the roller member body. Then, while the electronic component is adsorbed onto the outer circumferential surface of the roller member body, the electronic component rotates approximately 90 degrees together with the roller member body, and the electronic component is rotated and moved to a position radially outward of the transport trajectory of the electronic component before being adsorbed onto the outer circumferential surface of the roller member body.

[0010] When the roller member body rotates the electronic component radially outward from the disc-shaped component, the suction pump is stopped. This releases the suction force from the roller member body, causing the electronic component to separate from the outer circumferential surface of the roller member body and be transported circumferentially again as the disc-shaped component rotates. As one electronic component rotates, the next electronic component is attracted to the roller member body and rotates. This process is repeated until all electronic components supplied to the top surface of the disc-shaped component by the electronic component supply guide are moved radially outward.

[0011] Here, since the rotation speed of the roller member body of the suction roller is faster than the rotation speed of the disc-shaped member, the electronic components rotated radially outward of the disc-shaped member are spaced apart widely, and the electronic components supplied to the upper surface of the disc-shaped member by the electronic component supply guide are separated one by one. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-39142 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] In the technology of Patent Document 1, the suction / release of electronic components is switched by turning on and off a suction pump. In other words, the suction pump is activated when an electronic component contacts the outer circumferential surface of the roller member body, and the suction pump must be stopped when it is detected that the roller member body has rotated a predetermined amount since the suction pump started operating. However, since the cycle at which electronic components are actually supplied to the roller member body is not constant, if suction / release is performed at a constant cycle, the timing at which the electronic component contacts the roller member body and the timing at which the component is sucked will differ, resulting in transport problems. One possible method to prevent this is to detect when an electronic component contacts the outer circumferential surface of the roller member body and activate the suction pump in response to this detection. However, this method has the drawback of being difficult to control if the timing at which an electronic component is released from the suction roller and the timing at which the following electronic component is sucked overlap.

[0014] The present invention was developed to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology that can align workpieces such as electronic components without causing transport problems due to differences in the timing of suction / release. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following techniques.

[0016] [1] A work alignment device comprising: a table on which the work is placed and which rotates to transport the work; a primary alignment unit which arranges the transported work in a line and in a predetermined orientation while guiding it to a receiving position; a rotating guide which transports the work by rotating from the receiving position toward a release position further out on the table while contacting the side of the work; and a secondary alignment unit which has a suction unit which attracts the work to the rotating guide at the receiving position, wherein the secondary alignment unit releases the work from the attraction of the suction unit at the release position while the suction unit operates to attract the work to the rotating guide at the receiving position, thereby transitioning the work from transportation by the rotating guide to transportation by the table.

[0017] [2] The suction unit has a flow path, the flow path has an opening at one end thereof at a position corresponding to the receiving position, and the alignment device further includes a suction drive unit that sucks air from the other end of the flow path.

[0018] [3] The alignment device described in [1] or [2] above, wherein the suction unit has a suction unit body, the flow path is arranged to penetrate the suction unit body, the opening is arranged near the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the suction unit body, and the rotating guide is arranged to rotate around the suction unit body at a distance above the table.

[0019] [4] The table comprises a large table and a small table having a smaller diameter than the large table, arranged coaxially with the large table, and rotating in the same direction as the large table but at a different speed; The alignment device according to any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein the receiving position is located on a small table and the releasing position is located on a large table.

[0020] [5] A work alignment device comprising: a first table that transports the work by placing the work on it and rotating it; a second table that is arranged alongside the first table and transports the work by placing the work on it and rotating in the opposite direction to the first table; a primary alignment unit that arranges the works to be transported in a line and in a predetermined orientation on the first table while guiding them to a receiving position on the first table; a secondary alignment unit that has a rotating guide that transports the work by rotating in the same direction as the first table from the receiving position to a release position on the second table while contacting the side of the work; and a suction unit that attracts the work to the rotating guide at the receiving position, wherein the secondary alignment unit releases the work from the suction force at the release position while the suction unit operates to attract the work to the rotating guide at the receiving position, thereby transitioning the work from transportation by the rotating guide to transportation by the second table. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, the workpiece can be aligned without requiring high precision in switching between suction and release. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial plan view of an alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the alignment device of FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram illustrating the work pitch in the aligning device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of an alignment device according to another embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the alignment device of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of an alignment device according to still another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] 1. First embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the work alignment device 1 of this embodiment includes a table 11, a fixed guide 12, and a separation device 2.

[0024] The table 11 is circular, and can transport the workpiece W by rotating (spinning) around the axis A1 with the workpiece W placed on it. The table 11 is made of a transparent material such as glass or resin depending on the intended use. The table 11 is connected to a shaft part (not shown) at the axis A1, and a drive part (not shown) rotates the shaft part, causing the table 11 to rotate around the axis A1 in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) shown in FIG.

[0025] The fixed guide 12 is an example of a primary alignment unit that lines up the workpieces W transported by the table 11 in a single row and in a predetermined direction. The fixed guide 12 is fixed above the table 11; in other words, the table 11 rotates relative to the fixed guide 12. The fixed guide 12 has a contact surface that contacts the workpieces W from the radially inner side of the table 11. The fixed guide 12 is formed so as to curve obliquely toward the outer periphery of the table 11 as it moves downstream in the rotation direction of the table 11 and to bulge radially outward from the table 11. In other words, a supply position P0 where the workpieces W are supplied and a receiving position P1 located radially outward from the table 11 and downstream of the supply position P0 are set on the table 11. The fixed guide 12 is provided at least from the supply position P0 to the receiving position P1 and has a shape that bulges radially outward from the table 11.

[0026] The separating device 2 includes, as an example of a secondary alignment unit, a suction unit 21 and a roller (rotating guide) 22. The secondary alignment unit is a mechanism that further aligns the workpieces W aligned by the primary alignment unit at predetermined intervals, and specifically includes a shaft holder 23, an attachment base 24, a bearing holder 25, bearings 26a to 26c, a rotation drive pulley 27, a drive belt 28, and a seal 29.

[0027] The suction part 21 has a suction part main body (expanded diameter part 21a and shaft part 21b) and a flow path 21c. The suction part 21 is disposed downstream of the fixed guide 12 in the rotation direction of the table 11.

[0028] The lower surface of the enlarged diameter portion 21a (i.e., the bottom surface of the suction portion 21) is arranged parallel to the upper surface of the table 11 with a gap between it and the upper surface of the table 11. This gap is set so that a suction force, which will be described later, can be applied to the workpiece W. Both the enlarged diameter portion 21a and the shaft portion 21b are cylindrical, but the enlarged diameter portion 21a has a larger diameter than the shaft portion 21b.

[0029] Shaft 21b extends vertically (in the vertical direction) upward from the center of the upper surface of expanded diameter portion 21a. The axis of suction portion 21 (which coincides with the axes of expanded diameter portion 21a and shaft 21b) is shown as axis A2 in Figures 1 and 2. Axis A2 is located downstream of fixed guide 12 in the rotation direction of table 11 and is offset from axis A1.

[0030] The flow path 21c is formed so as to penetrate vertically through the suction part body from the lower surface of the expanded diameter part 21a through the shaft part 21b. The flow path 21c has an opening 21d at one end thereof, which is the lower end in this embodiment, and is provided near the outer periphery of the lower surface of the expanded diameter part 21a.

[0031] The separating device 2 is equipped with a suction drive unit (not shown) connected to the other end of the flow path 21c, i.e., the end opposite the opening 21d (the upper end in this embodiment). The suction drive unit sucks air from the upper end of the flow path 21c (the suction direction is shown by an arrow in Figure 2), and air is sucked up through the opening 21d. The suction force thus generated attracts (adsorbs) the workpiece W to the side of the roller 22. The opening 21d is provided to correspond to the above-mentioned receiving position P1. The width of the opening 21d (the width in the circumferential direction of the roller 22) is set so that only one workpiece W can be adsorbed at the receiving position P1.

[0032] The roller 22 is a hollow, approximately cylindrical member. The suction portion 21 is housed in the hollow inside the roller 22. The roller 22 has a first rotating portion 22a and a second rotating portion 22b. The first rotating portion 22a has a larger diameter than the second rotating portion 22b and is provided around the expanded diameter portion 21a. The lower end of the first rotating portion 22a has a gap between it and the table 11 that is large enough to allow the suction force of the suction portion 21 to act on the outside of the roller 22. This gap is set small enough to prevent the workpiece W from getting between the roller 22 and the table 11, for example, smaller than the minimum outer dimension of the workpiece W. The second rotating portion 22b is arranged around the shaft portion 21b.

[0033] The shaft holder 23 fixes the shaft portion 21 b to the mounting base 24 .

[0034] The mounting base 24 holds the mounting base 24 and the bearing holder 25 .

[0035] The bearing holder 25 is a cylindrical member fixed to the mounting base 24. The bearing 26a is provided by the bearing holder 25 between the inner surface of the bearing holder 25 and the outer surface of the second rotating portion 22b. In other words, the second rotating portion 22b is rotatably held by the bearing holder 25 via the bearing 26a. In addition, two bearings 26b and 26c are provided, in this order from top to bottom, between the inner surface of the second rotating portion 22b and the shaft portion 21b. With this configuration, the roller 22 is held rotatably (this can also be referred to as rotating or spinning) around the suction portion 21 around the axis A2.

[0036] A rotation drive pulley 27 is provided around the second rotating portion 22b, and a drive belt 28 is wound around the rotation drive pulley 27. The drive belt 28 is an endless belt, and is also wound around a shaft portion connected to the table 11 by an axis A1. When the shaft portion of the table 11 is rotated by a rotation drive portion (not shown), this rotational drive force is transmitted to the second rotating portion 22b by the drive belt 28 via the rotation drive pulley 27. In this way, the roller 22 rotates in the same direction as the table 11.

[0037] The seal 29 is disposed below the bearing 26c so as to provide an airtight seal between the inner surface of the roller 22 and the suction portion 21. This ensures that the workpiece W is sucked in when air is sucked in through the opening 21d.

[0038] The following describes the alignment of the workpieces W by the alignment device 1. In the following series of operations, the rotation of the table 11 and the rollers 22 and the suction of the suction part 21 continue.

[0039] The workpieces W supplied to the supply position P0 move in contact with the fixed guide 12 as the table 11 rotates, and are thereby arranged in a line along the fixed guide 12 in a predetermined orientation. Here, the "predetermined orientation" means that if the workpieces are elongated in one direction, their longitudinal direction is aligned with the direction of travel of the workpieces (the transport direction, i.e., the longitudinal direction of the fixed guide 12).

[0040] When the workpiece W, which has been advancing along the fixed guide 12, reaches a position where its side surface comes into contact with the side surface of the roller 22, i.e., the receiving position P1, the workpiece W is held to the side surface of the roller 22 by the suction force of the suction section 21. The held workpiece W moves as the roller 22 rotates. The suction force acting on the workpiece W weakens as it moves away from the receiving position P1, and when the workpiece W reaches the release position P2, it is released from the suction force and moves away from the roller 22. The released workpiece W moves as the table 11 rotates. The path L taken by the center of the workpiece W is indicated by a dotted arrow in Figure 3.

[0041] In this way, the range in which the suction force of the suction unit 21 acts is fixed to a limited range in the circumferential direction of the roller 22, and the suction force applied to the workpiece W changes as the roller 22 rotates around the suction unit 21, without switching on / off the suction by the suction unit 21. As a result, the workpiece W is released from the suction force at the release position P2, and the transportation of the workpiece W is switched from the roller 22 to transportation by the table 11.

[0042] It is not necessary to provide a single suction section, and one or more different suction sections may be provided between the receiving position P1 and the release position P2, as long as the suction force is released at the release position P2.

[0043] The movement speed of the workpiece W can be switched between at least three stages: (1) the movement speed when it reaches the receiving position P1 (just before the receiving position P1), (2) the movement speed caused by the rotation of the rollers 22 from the receiving position P1 to the release position P2, and (3) the movement speed caused by the rotation of the table 11 after it separates from the rollers 22 at the release position P2. Because the release position P2 is located outside the table 11 relative to the receiving position P1, the speed (3) is higher than the speed (1). The speed (2) can be set higher than the speed (1). The relationship between the speeds (1) and (2) can be controlled by the relationship between the rotation speed of the rollers 22 and the rotation speed of the table 11, the shape of the fixed guide 12, the angle of the fixed guide 12 relative to the radial direction of the table 11, etc.

[0044] From the time when a workpiece W starts to be transported by the rollers 22 from the receiving position P1 until the next workpiece W reaches the receiving position P1, it must move at the speed of (1) above a distance that is at least the length of the longitudinal dimension of the workpiece W, and in some cases, a distance that is further increased by the gap between the workpieces W. Because the speeds of (2) and (3) above are higher than (1) above, the distance between adjacent workpieces W beyond the release position P2 is wider than the distance up to the receiving position P1. In this way, the work pitch is adjusted.

[0045] As described above, the work pitch can be controlled without requiring precise control of the suction operation in accordance with the movement of the work W.

[0046] The reason why the "longitudinal dimension" of the workpiece W is taken into consideration here is that the fixed guides allow the workpieces to be arranged so that their longitudinal direction is roughly aligned with the conveying direction. More specifically, the work pitch Q2 after the release position P2 is expressed by the following formula.

[0047] Q2 = (V2 / V1) × Q1 (1) V1: The speed of the workpiece W when it reaches the receiving position P1 (the speed in (1) above), which is expressed as "π × R1 × the rotation speed of the table 11." R1 will be described later.

[0048] V2: The speed of the workpiece W beyond the release position P2 (the speed in (3) above), which is expressed as "π × R2 × rotation speed of the table 11." R2 will be described later.

[0049] Q1: Work pitch between the subsequent workpiece at receiving position P1 The work pitch is the distance between the centers of the workpieces in the direction of workpiece transport.

[0050] Furthermore, in the case where the receiving position P1 and the releasing position P2 are located on one table as in this embodiment, or where the transport is performed across multiple tables with the same rotation speed, (V2 / V1) can be considered to be the same as (R2 / R1), so Q2 = (R2 / R1) × Q1 (1') R1 and R2 can be defined as follows:

[0051] R1: Distance from the axis A1 of the table 11 to the center of the workpiece W at the receiving position P1 R2: Distance from the axis A1 of the table 11 to the center of the released workpiece W In addition, if the receiving position P1 and the releasing position P2 are located on tables that rotate at different speeds, the "rotational speed of table 11" in V1 is replaced with the "rotational speed of the table where receiving position P1 is located," R1 is replaced with the "distance from the axis of the table where receiving position P1 is located to the center of the workpiece at receiving position P1," the "rotational speed of table 11" in V2 is replaced with the "rotational speed of the table that transports the released workpiece," and R2 is replaced with the "distance from the center of the table that transports the released workpiece to the center of the released workpiece."

[0052] Factors for adjusting the work pitch include the rotational speed of roller 22 (number of rotations per unit time), the work pitch at receiving position P1 (at least the longitudinal length D of the work), the distance from axis A1 to receiving position P1, and the distance from axis A1 to release position P2.

[0053] Furthermore, the posture of the workpiece W during transport by the rollers 22 becomes more stable as the suction force (which can also be rephrased as the degree of vacuum) by the suction unit 21 increases. In particular, the posture of the workpiece W tends to become unstable as the rotation speed of the rollers 22 increases, but the posture can be stabilized by increasing the suction force.

[0054] Furthermore, when transferring the workpiece W from the table 11 to the rollers 22 and from the rollers 22 to the table 11, the smaller the angle difference between the paths of the workpiece W before and after the transfer, the more stable the posture of the workpiece W. In addition, the smaller the difference in peripheral speed between the rollers 22 and the table 11, the more stable the posture during transfer.

[0055] The material, condition, and characteristics of the surface of the roller 22 may be changed according to conditions such as the type and size of the workpiece W and the rotational speed of the roller 22. For example, the greater the coefficient of friction of the surface of the roller 22, the more stable the posture of the workpiece W after it has been received from the table 11. On the other hand, if the coefficient of friction of the surface of the roller 22 is large, the workpiece W is less likely to separate from the roller 22, and the distance along the surface of the roller 22 from the receiving position P1 to the releasing position P2 becomes longer.

[0056] The roller 22 is an example of a rotating guide, and can transport the workpiece W by rotating from the receiving position P1 toward a release position P2, which is further out on the table 11, while in contact with the side of the workpiece W. In addition, other configurations may be used as rotating guides instead of the roller 22, as long as the workpiece W is released from the suction force of the suction section 21 at the release position P2 while the suction section 21 is operating, thereby transitioning to transportation by rotation of the table 11.

[0057] For example, a belt wound between two or more pulleys may be used instead of the rollers 22. When a belt is used, the portion curved by the pulleys functions in the same way as the rollers 22.

[0058] Furthermore, the rollers 22 are configured to bulge outward from the table between the receiving position P1 and the releasing position P2 with a curvature greater than the curvature of the row of workpieces W arranged by the fixed guide 12, which is the primary alignment unit. A similar configuration can also be used with a belt-pulley structure.

[0059] The description of the roller 22 also applies to the belt-pulley structure. In the above description, the "diameter" of the roller 22 can be replaced with the "radius of curvature" of the belt from the receiving position P1 to the releasing position P2.

[0060] Furthermore, the suction unit is not limited to the above-described air suction configuration as long as it can separate individual workpieces from the row of workpieces arranged by the primary alignment unit by drawing the workpieces to the rotating guide at the receiving position. For example, magnetic or static electricity forces can also be used as the suction force. However, air suction is preferable for workpieces with performance or characteristics that are affected by magnetism or static electricity.

[0061] Furthermore, the primary alignment unit may be configured in a manner other than a fixed guide, as long as it can guide the workpieces transported by the table to the receiving position on the table while aligning them in a line. For example, a linear feeder may be used instead of the fixed guide.

[0062] 2. Second embodiment In the first embodiment, primary alignment (alignment along the fixed guide 12) and secondary alignment (pitch adjustment by the separating device 2) are performed on a single table 11. In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a configuration is adopted in place of the table 11, in which a large table 210 and a small table 220 that rotate in the same direction are combined. With this configuration, the workpieces can be primarily aligned on the small table 220, and the workpieces that have been secondarily aligned by the separating device 2 can be released onto the large table 210.

[0063] The small table 220 has a smaller diameter than the large table 210 and is arranged flush with and coaxial with the large table 210. The common axis is indicated in the figure as A20. Specifically, the large table 210 is donut-shaped with a hole concentric with its outer edge, and the small table 220 fits into the hole in the large table 210. The large table 210 and the small table 220 are designed to rotate in the same direction but at different speeds. To enable the small table 220 and the large table 210 to rotate smoothly at different speeds, a gap large enough to prevent workpieces from falling in is provided between the outer periphery of the small table 220 and the inner periphery of the large table 210.

[0064] In this embodiment, the fixed guide 12 is fixed above the small table 220. The shape, arrangement, and function of the fixed guide 12 can be explained by replacing "table 11" with "small table 220" in the explanation of the fixed guide 12 in the first embodiment. The workpieces supplied to the small table 220 are lined up along the fixed guide 12 as the small table 220 rotates, and are transported to the receiving position P1.

[0065] This embodiment also employs a separating device 2 similar to that of the first embodiment. The roller 22 and opening 21d are arranged across the large table 210 and the small table 220 so that the receiving position P1 is located on the small table 220 and the release position P2 is located on the large table 210. In Figure 5, the axis A2 of the roller 22 is arranged at the boundary between the small table 220 and the large table 210, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0066] In this form, the "rotational speed of table 11" in V1 of equation (1) is replaced with the "rotational speed of small table 220," the "rotational speed of table 11" in V2 is replaced with the "rotational speed of large table 210," R1 is replaced with the "distance from axis A20 to the center of the workpiece at receiving position P1," and R2 is replaced with the "distance from axis A20 to the center of the released workpiece."

[0067] The rotation speeds of the small table 220 and the large table 210 can be set to make it easier to align the workpieces. For example, by setting the speed of the large table 210 higher than that of the small table 220, the ratio between the speed V1 of the workpiece at the receiving position P1 and the speed V2 after release can be increased. Furthermore, it is preferable that the small table 220 and the large table 210 be driven by separate drive sources so that their rotation speeds can be controlled independently.

[0068] 4, the small table 220 and the large table 210 are arranged flush with each other, but the small table 220 may be arranged above the large table 210 to the extent that the posture of the workpiece is not disturbed at the boundary between the small table 220 and the large table 210. Furthermore, the small table 220 and the large table 210 may be made of the same material, or may be made of different materials.

[0069] 3. Third embodiment The separating device 2 can also align the workpieces while transferring them between adjacent tables, as shown in Fig. 6. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals may be used for components that have already been described, and the description thereof may be omitted.

[0070] The alignment device shown in Figure 6 includes a first table 310 on which a workpiece is placed and which rotates to transport the workpiece, a second table 320 arranged alongside the first table 310 and on which a workpiece is placed and which rotates in the opposite direction to the first table 310 to transport the workpiece, a fixed guide 12, and a separation device 2.

[0071] The shape, arrangement, and function of the fixed guide 12 can be explained by replacing "table 11" with "first table" in the explanation of the fixed guide 12 in the first embodiment. The workpieces supplied to the first table 310 are lined up along the fixed guide 12 as the first table 310 rotates. At this time, the orientation of the workpieces is aligned so that the longitudinal direction of the workpieces is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the fixed guide 12, that is, the conveying direction. The fixed guide 12 guides the workpieces to the receiving position P1 on the first table 310 while lining them up in a line on the first table 310 in a predetermined orientation.

[0072] The separation device 2 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment. However, the rollers 22 and the opening 21d are arranged so that the receiving position P1 is located on the first table 310 and the release position P2 is located on the second table 320. Specifically, the rollers 22 are arranged to straddle the first table 310 and the second table 320, and the opening 21d is arranged above the first table 310. The rollers 22 rotate in the same direction as the first table 310, from the receiving position P1 to the release position P2, and the workpiece is attracted to the rollers 22 at the receiving position P1 and released at the release position P2. In this way, the workpiece is transported by the first table 310, then by the rollers 22 from the receiving position P1 to the release position P2, and then by the second table.

[0073] The first table 310 and the second table 320 may be arranged flush with each other, or the second table 320 may be located lower than the first table 310 so that the posture of the workpiece is not disturbed at the boundary between the first table 310 and the second table 320.

[0074] The above-described alignment device can be used in combination with a mechanism for supplying the workpiece W to the supply position P0, an inspection unit for inspecting the workpiece W downstream of the release position P2, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1 Alignment device 11 tables 12 Fixed guide 2 Separation device 21 Suction part 22 Roller (rotating guide) 23 Axis holder 24 Mounting base 25 bearing holder 26a~c Bearings 27 Rotation drive pulley 28 Drive belt 29 Seals 21a Expanded diameter part (part of the suction part body) 21b Shaft (part of the suction part body) 21c Channel 21d aperture 210 Large Table 220 Small Table 310 Table 1 320 Table 2 double work A1 Table axis A2 Roller (rotating guide) shaft A20 Large and small table axes A31 First table axis A32 Second table axis P0 supply position P1 Receiving position P2 release position

Claims

1. A workpiece alignment device, a table that carries the workpiece and rotates to transport the workpiece; a primary alignment unit that arranges the transported workpieces in a line and in a predetermined orientation while guiding them to a receiving position; a secondary alignment unit including a rotary guide that rotates from the receiving position toward a release position located further outward on the table while contacting a side surface of the workpiece to transport the workpiece, and a suction unit that attracts the workpiece to the rotary guide at the receiving position; Equipped with The secondary alignment unit is configured to release the workpiece from the attraction of the suction unit at the release position while the suction unit operates to attract the workpiece to the rotating guide at the receiving position, thereby transitioning the workpiece from being conveyed by the rotating guide to being conveyed by the table. Alignment device.

2. the suction portion has a flow path, the flow path has an opening at one end thereof provided at a position corresponding to the receiving position; The alignment device further includes a suction drive unit that sucks air from the other end of the flow path. The alignment device of claim 1 .

3. The suction unit has a suction unit body, The flow path is provided to penetrate the suction unit body, The opening is provided near the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the suction unit body, The rotation guide is provided above the table at a distance so as to rotate around the suction unit body. The alignment device according to claim 2 .

4. The tables include a large table and a small table that has a smaller diameter than the large table, is arranged coaxially with the large table, and rotates in the same direction as the large table but at a different speed. and The receiving position is located on the small table, and the releasing position is located on the large table. The alignment device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A workpiece alignment device, a first table that carries the workpiece and rotates to transport the workpiece; a second table arranged next to the first table, having the workpiece placed thereon and rotating in a direction opposite to that of the first table to transport the workpiece; a primary alignment unit that arranges the transported workpieces in a line and in a predetermined orientation on the first table and guides them to a receiving position on the first table; a secondary alignment unit including a rotating guide that rotates in the same direction as the first table while contacting a side surface of the workpiece from the receiving position toward a release position on the second table to transport the workpiece, and a suction unit that attracts the workpiece to the rotating guide at the receiving position; Equipped with The secondary alignment unit is configured to release the workpiece from the suction force at the release position while the suction unit operates to attract the workpiece to the rotary guide at the receiving position, thereby transitioning the workpiece from being conveyed by the rotary guide to being conveyed by the second table. Alignment device.

Images