Working device

Abstract

To provide a working device capable of miniaturizing the size and reducing the manufacturing cost.SOLUTION: The component transfer device 1 includes an air introduction passage 51 provided to extend in the moving direction of the working head 13 and introducing air supplied from an air source, a plurality of air outlets 54 provided side by side in the moving direction of the working head 13, and a plurality of air delivery passages connected to the plurality of air outlets 54, respectively. A valve mechanism 32 for sending out the air introduced from the air introduction passage 51 from the air outlet 54 by individually communicating each of the plurality of air sending-out passages with the air introduction passage 51, and a cam 85 as a valve operation part for operating the valve mechanism 32 so that the air is sent out from the air outlet 54 at a position facing the work head 13 among the plurality of air outlets 54 are provided. The working head 13 is provided with an air receiving port 78 for receiving air sent out from the air outlet 54.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a work device in which a work head that is movable along a guide body receives a supply of air and performs a required work. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, examples of such working devices include a component transfer device that uses a nozzle provided on a working head to pick up loose components and transfer them in an aligned state, and a component mounting device that uses a nozzle to pick up components supplied by a parts feeder and mount them on a printed circuit board (see, for example, Patent Document 1 listed below). In such working devices, an air pipe that supplies air from an air source to the working head extends outside a guide body that guides the movement of the working head, and further, the air pipe is usually covered by a cable protection and guide member such as a Cableveyor (registered trademark) (see, for example, Patent Document 1 listed below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-181998 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional work devices in which the air piping extending outside the guide body is covered by a cable protection guide member, space is required to route the cable protection guide member, which prevents the device from being compact, and the cable protection guide member is expensive, which increases manufacturing costs.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a working device that can be made compact in size and whose manufacturing costs can be reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The working device of the present invention is a working device in which a working head that is movable along a guide body receives a supply of air to perform required work, and is equipped with an air inlet passage that extends in the direction of movement of the working head and introduces air supplied from an air source, a plurality of air outlets that are arranged side by side in the direction of movement of the working head, a plurality of air outlet passages that are connected to each of the plurality of air outlets, a valve mechanism that individually connects each of the plurality of air outlet passages to the air inlet passage, thereby causing the air introduced by the air inlet passage to be discharged from the air outlet, a valve operating unit that operates the valve mechanism so that air is discharged from the air outlet that is located among the plurality of air outlets and is positioned opposite the working head, and an air receiving port that is provided in the working head and receives the air discharged from the air outlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size of the working device and the manufacturing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a part transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] A perspective view of the main part of the component transfer device. [Figure 3] Plan view of the main part of the part transfer device [Figure 4] 3. A cross-sectional view of the component transfer device taken along the line V1-V1 in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a state in which a spool provided in a component transfer device is located at a first position; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a state in which a spool is located at a second position; [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of the component transfer device taken along the arrow V2-V2 in FIG. 4 [Figure 7] A diagram showing the position of the spool and the air flow in Figure 6 of the part transfer device using a pneumatic circuit diagram. [Figure 8] A front view of the component transfer device taken along the arrow V3 in FIG. [Figure 9] Enlarged view of area RY in Figure 4 of the component transfer device [Figure 10] (a)(b) An explanatory diagram of the operation of a valve unit provided in a part transfer device [Figure 11] (a)(b) An explanatory diagram of the operation of a valve unit provided in a part transfer device [Figure 12] (a)(b) Diagrams showing the positional relationship between the air outlet and the air intake of the component transfer device [Figure 13] (a)(b) Diagrams showing the positional relationship between the air outlet and the air intake of the component transfer device DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a component transfer device 1, which is an embodiment of a working device of the present invention. The component transfer device 1 is an apparatus that performs an operation (component transfer operation) of picking up components BH supplied loose on a first tray TR1 and transferring them in an aligned state to a second tray TR2. The component transfer device 1 includes a base unit 11, a gantry unit 12 provided on the base unit 11, and a working head 13 that is moved horizontally by the gantry unit 12. For convenience of explanation in this embodiment, the horizontal direction in which the working head 13 is moved by the gantry unit 12 is referred to as the X direction (lateral direction), and the direction perpendicular to the X direction in the horizontal plane is referred to as the Y direction (front-rear direction). The up-down direction is referred to as the Z direction.

[0010] 1, a first table 21 and a second table 22 are provided side by side in the X direction on the base portion 11. The first table 21 is movable along a horizontal plane by a first table moving mechanism 21M, and the second table 22 is movable along a horizontal plane by a second table moving mechanism 22M. A first tray TR1 is placed on the first table 21, and a second tray TR2 is placed on the second table 22.

[0011] 1 and 2, the gantry unit 12 is configured to have a pair of pillars 12a and a guide body 12b. The pair of pillars 12a are arranged side by side in the X direction and each extends upward from the base unit 11. The guide body 12b extends in the X direction as a whole and is suspended over the top of the pair of pillars 12a.

[0012] 2 and 3, guide body 12b has a main body 31 whose ends are supported by a pair of pillars 12a, and a valve mechanism 32 provided on the upper part of main body 31. An upper rail 33 is provided on the upper part of valve mechanism 32 and extends in the X direction, and an opening plate 34 and a front rail 35 are provided on the front surface of main body 31 and each extend in the X direction. Front rail 35 is located below opening plate 34.

[0013] 3 and 4, a valve body 41 of the valve mechanism 32 is attached to the upper surface of the main body 31. A plurality of spool holes 42 are arranged in the X direction inside the valve body 41. A spool 43 is housed in each of the plurality of spool holes 42 (see also FIG. 3).

[0014] Each spool hole 42 extends substantially in the Y direction (i.e., substantially horizontally). Therefore, each of the multiple spools 43 is arranged to extend substantially horizontally. Each spool 43 has a front end 43T protruding forward from the spool hole 42 and is movable within the spool hole 42 in the Y direction.

[0015] 3 and 4, a cam follower 44 is provided on the upper part of the front end portion 43T of each spool 43. As shown in Fig. 3, the multiple cam followers 44 are positioned in a line in the X direction in a plan view.

[0016] 4, each spool 43 has, from the front end 43T side, a first land L1, a first shaft portion J1, a second land L2, a second shaft portion J2, and a third land L3 (see also FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b)). When the cam follower 44 is operated back and forth (Y direction), each spool 43 moves back and forth in the spool hole 42, and its position is switched between a "first position" (FIG. 5(a)) closer to the front and a "second position" (FIG. 5(b)) closer to the rear.

[0017] 4, a biasing spring 45 made of a compression spring that biases the rear end of the spool 43 forward is provided inside each spool hole 42. Therefore, when no external force is acting on the cam follower 44, the spool 43 is located in a first position (see the first and fourth spools 43 from the top in FIGS. 5(a) and 6), and when the cam follower 44 is pressed rearward, the spool 43 compresses the biasing spring 45 and is located in a second position (see the second and third spools 43 from the top in FIGS. 5(b) and 6).

[0018] 2 and 3, an air introduction passage 51 is provided within the valve body 41. The air introduction passage 51 is made up of a negative pressure air introduction passage 51A and a positive pressure air introduction passage 51B, each of which extends in the X direction, which is the direction of movement of the working head 13. In this embodiment, the negative pressure air introduction passage 51A is located behind the positive pressure air introduction passage 51B.

[0019] 2 and 3, a negative pressure air supply pipe 52A and a positive pressure air supply pipe 52B are attached to one end in the X direction of the valve body 41. The negative pressure air supply pipe 52A is connected to the negative pressure air introduction passage 51A, and the positive pressure air supply pipe 52B is connected to the positive pressure air introduction passage 51B.

[0020] 3, a negative pressure air source P1 and a positive pressure air source P2 are provided outside the component transfer device 1 as air sources P. The negative pressure air introduction path 51A is connected to the negative pressure air source P1 via a negative pressure air supply pipe 52A, and the positive pressure air introduction path 51B is connected to the positive pressure air source P2 via a positive pressure air supply pipe 52B. Therefore, negative pressure air supplied from the negative pressure air source P1 is introduced into the negative pressure air introduction path 51A, and positive pressure air supplied from the positive pressure air source P2 is introduced into the positive pressure air introduction path 51B.

[0021] 6 and 7, the air introduction passage 51 extends in series through the multiple spool holes 42. More specifically, the negative pressure air introduction passage 51A and the positive pressure air introduction passage 51B each extend in series in the X direction through the multiple spool holes 42 that are lined up in the X direction inside the valve body 41. Therefore, the negative pressure air introduced through the negative pressure air introduction passage 51A and the positive pressure air introduced through the positive pressure air introduction passage 51B are each supplied to each spool hole 42.

[0022] 4, a plurality of air delivery paths 53 are provided in the guide body 12b, each of which opens to the front surface of the opening plate 34. Each air delivery path 53 extends from each spool hole 42 and opens to the front surface of the opening plate 34.

[0023] 4, the air delivery passage 53 extending from each spool hole 42 is made up of a negative pressure air delivery passage 53A and a positive pressure air delivery passage 53B. The negative pressure air delivery passage 53A and the positive pressure air delivery passage 53B each pass through the valve body 41, the main body 31, and the opening plate 34, and open to the front surface of the opening plate 34. The negative pressure air delivery passage 53A has a negative pressure air outlet 54A which is an air outlet 54 that opens to the front surface of the opening plate 34, and the positive pressure air delivery passage 53B has a positive pressure air outlet 54B which is an air outlet 54 that opens to the front surface of the opening plate 34. In this embodiment, the negative pressure air outlet 54A is located below the positive pressure air outlet 54B (see also FIG. 8).

[0024] The negative pressure air outlets 54A and positive pressure air outlets 54B are paired, with each pair connected to the same spool hole 42, and are positioned vertically side by side in front of the spool hole 42 (FIGS. 4 and 8). In this embodiment, the negative pressure air outlet 54A is positioned below the positive pressure air outlet 54B. The pairs of negative pressure air outlets 54A and positive pressure air outlets 54B are also aligned in the X direction (FIG. 4). Therefore, on the front surface of the opening plate 34, a row of air outlets 54 consisting of multiple negative pressure air outlets 54A and a row of air outlets 54 consisting of multiple positive pressure air outlets 54B are positioned side by side in the X direction, which is the direction of movement of the working head 13 (see also FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0025] 1, 2, and 3, the work head 13 includes a head main body 61 and a bracket portion 62 that supports the head main body 61. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5(a) and (b), the bracket portion 62 includes a horizontal portion 71 that extends along the XY plane and a vertical portion 72 that extends along the XZ plane, and has an inverted L-shape overall.

[0026] 2 and 4, an upper slider 73 is provided on the underside of the horizontal portion 71 of the bracket portion 62, and a front slider 74 is provided on the rear surface of the vertical portion 72 of the bracket portion 62. The upper slider 73 engages with the upper rail 33 of the guide body 12b from above, and the front slider 74 engages with the front rail 35 of the guide body 12b from the front.

[0027] The upper rail 33 and the upper slider 73 constitute a linear motor 75, with the upper rail 33 as a stator and the upper slider 73 as a mover (Fig. 2). Therefore, when electricity is applied to the upper rail 33, which is the stator, the upper slider 73, which is the mover, moves in the X direction relative to the upper rail 33, and the working head 13 moves in the X direction.

[0028] 1, 2, and 3, stoppers 76 are provided on both ends in the X direction of the front surface of the opening plate 34. These stoppers 76 have the function of restricting the movement range of the working head 13 that moves in the X direction along the guide body 12b (preventing it from falling off the guide body 12b).

[0029] 2, 3, and 4, an air receiving block 77 is provided on the rear surface of the vertical portion 72 at a position facing the opening plate 34. The rear surface of the air receiving block 77 faces the front surface of the opposing opening plate 34 (hereinafter referred to as the "facing surface 34M"; FIGS. 2 and 9) at a very small distance (e.g., 0.005 to 0.01 mm). In this way, the guide body 12b and the working head 13 face each other across a very small gap SKM (FIG. 9) having the above-mentioned distance, and this gap (the size of the gap SKM) does not change even when the working head 13 moves relative to the guide body 12b.

[0030] 2, 4, and 8, an air receiving block 77 is provided with an air receiving port 78. The air receiving port 78 consists of a negative pressure air receiving port 78A that faces the negative pressure air outlet 54A that opens on the front surface (opposing surface 34M) of the opening plate 34, and a positive pressure air receiving port 78B that faces the positive pressure air outlet 54B that also opens on the front surface of the opening plate 34 (see also FIG. 9). The negative pressure air receiving port 78A and the positive pressure air receiving port 78B each have an elongated hole shape that penetrates the air receiving block 77 in the thickness direction (Y direction) and extends in the X direction (FIG. 8). The dimension of this elongated hole in the X direction is set to a length that can accommodate at least two air outlets 54 lined up in the X direction.

[0031] 2, 4, and 9, a negative pressure air connecting pipe 79A and a positive pressure air connecting pipe 79B are attached to the front side of the vertical part 72 of the bracket part 62. The negative pressure air connecting pipe 79A communicates with the negative pressure air receiving port 78A, and the positive pressure air connecting pipe 79B communicates with the positive pressure air receiving port 78B. The negative pressure air connecting pipe 79A and the positive pressure air connecting pipe 79B each protrude from the front side of the vertical part 72 (FIGS. 4 and 9).

[0032] 2, the head main body 61 includes a nozzle shaft 81 and a nozzle 82 attached to the lower end of the nozzle shaft 81. The nozzle shaft 81 can be freely raised and lowered by a lifting actuator 83 provided on the top of the work head 13. The internal space of the nozzle shaft 81 is an air supply path shared by negative pressure air and positive pressure air, and is connected from above the nozzle 82 to the inside of the nozzle 82.

[0033] 2, a control valve 84 is provided inside the head main body 61. The control valve 84 is connected to the negative pressure air connecting pipe 79A and the positive pressure air connecting pipe 79B, which protrude from the front surface of the vertical part 72 of the bracket part 62 (FIG. 2).

[0034] 2 and 4, a block-shaped cam 85 serving as a valve operating part is provided in front of the lower surface of the horizontal part 71 of the bracket part 62. The cam 85 has a cam groove 86 that opens downward (FIGS. 4, 5(a), (b), and 6).

[0035] 6, the cam groove 86 has an entrance / exit opening 86K for the cam follower 44 at each end in the X direction, which is the movement direction of the working head 13. The cam groove 86 has a ramp 87 extending obliquely rearward from each of the two entrances 86K, and a straight path 88 extending in the X direction between the ends of the two ramps 87.

[0036] When the working head 13 moves in the X direction along the guide body 12b, the cam 85 also moves in the X direction together with the working head 13. The cam 85 moving in the X direction pulls the cam follower 44, which is located ahead of it in the moving direction, from the entrance / exit 86K into the ramp 87 and guides it to the straight path 88, causes the cam follower 44 to travel along the straight path 88, and then guides it from the other ramp 87 to the other entrance / exit 86K and discharges it from the cam groove 86. This series of operations is performed in succession (FIG. 10(a) → FIG. 10(b) → FIG. 11(a) → FIG. 11(b)). As a result, the spool 43 moves from the first position to the second position (FIG. 5(a) → FIG. 5(b)), and then maintains its position at the second position and operates to return to the first position (FIG. 5(a) → FIG. 5(b)).

[0037] To explain this movement of the spool 43, for example, focusing on the second spool 43 from the left in Figure 10(a), the spool 43 does not initially face the working head 13, so its cam follower 44 is outside the cam groove 86 and is located in the first position (Figure 10(a)). Then, when the working head 13 moves to the right in the figure and the cam follower 44 is pulled into the cam groove 86 from the entrance / exit 86K, it passes through the inclined path 87 and reaches the straight path 88. This causes the spool 43 to move from the first position to the second position (Figure 10(a) → Figure 10(b)).

[0038] Since the cam follower 44 is in the straight path 88 while the working head 13 faces the spool 43, the spool 43 maintains its state of being positioned at the second position (FIG. 10(b) → FIG. 11(a)). Then, when the working head 13 moves further and is positioned at a position where it is not facing the spool 43, the cam follower 44 moves from the straight path 88 through the ramp path 87 and out of the cam groove 86 through the entrance / exit 86K, so that the spool 43 returns from the second position to the first position (FIG. 11(a) → FIG. 11(b)).

[0039] As described above, in this embodiment, the valve mechanism 32 includes a plurality of spool holes 42 provided inside the guide body 12b and communicating with each of the air inlet passage 51 and the plurality of air outlet passages 53, and a plurality of spools 43 housed in each of the plurality of spool holes 42, which can be freely switched between a first position in which the air outlet passage 53 extending from each spool hole 42 is not connected to the air inlet passage 51, and a second position in which the air outlet passage 53 is connected to the air inlet passage 51.

[0040] 5(a), (b), 6, and 7, the negative pressure air introduction passage 51A passing through each spool hole 42 is ensured to communicate downstream via the first shaft portion J1 of the spool 43, regardless of whether the spool 43 in that spool hole 42 is in the first position or the second position. Similarly, the positive pressure air introduction passage 51B passing through each spool hole 42 is ensured to communicate downstream via the second shaft portion J1 of the spool 43, regardless of whether the spool 43 in that spool hole 42 is in the first position or the second position. In each spool hole 42, the negative pressure air flow passage and the positive pressure air flow passage are separated by the second land L2 of the spool 43, so that the negative pressure air and the positive pressure air do not mix within the spool hole 42.

[0041] As described above, positive pressure air and negative pressure air are constantly supplied to each spool hole 42, but when the spool 43 in each spool hole 42 is located in the first position, the negative pressure air delivery passage 53A is closed by the third land L3 and the positive pressure air delivery passage 53B is closed by the second land L2 (FIG. 5(a); see the first and fourth spools 43 from the top in FIGS. 6 and 7). Therefore, when the spool 43 is located in the first position, the negative pressure air introduced into the spool hole 42 only flows out to the downstream spool hole 42 and does not flow into the negative pressure air delivery passage 53A, and the positive pressure air introduced into the spool hole 42 only flows out to the downstream spool hole 42 and does not flow into the positive pressure air delivery passage 53B.

[0042] In contrast, when the spool 43 in each spool hole 42 is located at the second position, the negative pressure air delivery passage 53A communicates with the negative pressure air introduction passage 51A at the second shaft portion J2, and the positive pressure air delivery passage 53B communicates with the positive pressure air introduction passage 51B at the first shaft portion J1 (FIG. 5(b); see the second and third spools 43 from the top in FIGS. 6 and 7). Therefore, when the spool 43 is located at the second position, the negative pressure air introduced into the spool hole 42 flows out to the downstream spool hole 42 and into the negative pressure air delivery passage 53A, and the positive pressure air introduced into the spool hole 42 flows out to the downstream spool hole 42 and into the positive pressure air delivery passage 53B. The negative pressure air that flows into the negative pressure air delivery path 53A flows out from the negative pressure air outlet 54A to the working head 13 side, and the positive pressure air that flows into the positive pressure air delivery path 53B flows out from the positive pressure air outlet 54B to the working head.

[0043] In this embodiment, the valve mechanism 32 individually connects each of the multiple air delivery paths 53 to the air introduction path 51, thereby allowing the air introduced through the air introduction path 51 to be delivered from the air outlet 54.

[0044] In this embodiment, the distance between adjacent spool holes 42 in the X direction (and therefore between adjacent cam followers 44) is set to a value smaller than the length of the straight path 88 of the cam groove 86. Therefore, regardless of the position of the working head 13 on the guide body 12b, at least one of the multiple cam followers 44 lined up in the X direction is located within the straight path 88 of the cam groove 86. Therefore, in this embodiment, no matter where the working head 13 is located on the guide body 12b, at least one of the multiple spools 43 is always located in the second position, and negative pressure air and positive pressure air are always sent out toward the working head 13 from one of the multiple air outlets 54 (negative pressure air outlet 54A and positive pressure air outlet 54B).

[0045] In this embodiment, the multiple spool holes 42 are arranged so that at least one spool 43 is positioned at the second position by the cam 85, regardless of the position of the working head 13 relative to the guide body 12b.

[0046] As described above, the negative pressure air discharged from the negative pressure air outlet 54A located at a position opposite the working head 13 is received by the negative pressure air receiving port 78A of the working head 13 through the small gap SKM formed between the front surface (opposing surface 34M) of the opening plate 34 and the rear surface of the air receiving block 77. Similarly, the positive pressure air discharged from the positive pressure air outlet 54B located at a position opposite the working head 13 is received by the positive pressure air receiving port 78B of the working head 13 through the gap SKM between the opposing surface 34M and the rear surface of the air receiving block 77.

[0047] In this manner, in this embodiment, the air receiving port 78 receives air sent out from the air outlet 54 through the gap SKM between the working head 13 and the guide body 12b.

[0048] 10(a) → 10(b) → 11(a) → 11(b) as described above, the relative positions of the air intake ports 78 (negative pressure air intake port 78A and positive pressure air intake port 78B) provided in the air intake block 77 to the air outlets 54 (negative pressure air outlet 54A and positive pressure air outlet 54B) change as shown in FIG. 12(a) → 12(b) → 13(a) → 13(b). Here, in FIGS. 12(a), (b) and 13(a), (b), the air outlets 54 indicated by a black circle "●" represent air outlets 54 from which air is being discharged, and the air outlets 54 indicated by a white circle "◯" represent air outlets 54 from which air is not being discharged.

[0049] As can be seen from these figures, when the working head 13 moves in the X direction and the spool 43, which is positioned opposite the working head 13, is switched from the first position to the second position by the cam 85, air (negative pressure air and positive pressure air) is accordingly discharged from the air outlets 54 (negative pressure air outlet 54A and positive pressure air outlet 54B) located below the spool 43, and the discharged air is received by the air receiving ports 78 (negative pressure air receiving port 78A and positive pressure air receiving port 78B). Therefore, regardless of the position of the working head 13 relative to the guide body 12b, air can be supplied through the air piping (air inlet path 51 and air outlet path 53) inside the guide body 12b.

[0050] The negative pressure air received through the negative pressure air receiving port 78A as described above is sent to the control valve 84 through the negative pressure air connecting pipe 79A, and the positive pressure air received through the positive pressure air receiving port 78B is sent to the control valve 84 through the positive pressure air connecting pipe 79B. The control valve 84 operates to selectively supply negative pressure air or positive pressure air into the nozzle shaft 81, thereby generating an adsorption force for the component BH at the bottom end of the nozzle 82, or generating a vacuum breaking force at the bottom end of the nozzle 82.

[0051] As described above, in this embodiment, the air introduction path 51 includes a negative pressure air introduction path 51A for negative pressure air and a positive pressure air introduction path 51B for positive pressure air, and the air outlet 54 includes a negative pressure air outlet 54A for delivering negative pressure air and a positive pressure air outlet 54B for delivering positive pressure air. The valve mechanism 32 operates so that, of the multiple negative pressure air outlets 54A, negative pressure air is delivered only from the negative pressure air outlet 54A located opposite the working head 13, and so that, of the multiple positive pressure air outlets 54B, negative pressure air is delivered only from the positive pressure air outlet 54B located opposite the working head 13. The working head 13 receives, through receiving ports 78 (negative pressure air receiving port 78A and positive pressure air receiving port 78B), the negative pressure air delivered from the negative pressure air outlet 54A located opposite the working head 13 and the positive pressure air delivered from the positive pressure air outlet 54B.

[0052] The control unit 90 (FIG. 1) included in the component transfer device 1 controls the operation of the first table moving mechanism 21M, the second table moving mechanism 22M, the linear motor 75, the lifting actuator 83, and the control valve 84. As a result, the first table moving mechanism 21M moves the first table 21 in a horizontal plane (XY plane), and the second table moving mechanism 22M moves the second table 22 in a horizontal plane. The linear motor 75 moves the work head 13 in the X direction along the guide body 12b, and the lifting actuator 83 moves the nozzle shaft 81 (i.e., the nozzle 82) up and down relative to the head body 61. The control valve 84 selectively supplies negative pressure air or positive pressure air to the inside of the nozzle shaft 81 to adsorb a component BH onto the nozzle 82 and to release the component BH adsorbed by the nozzle 82 from the nozzle 82.

[0053] The control unit 90 stores an operating program for the component transfer device 1 to perform a component transfer operation, and controls each unit in accordance with the operating program to cause the component transfer device 1 to perform the component transfer operation. During the component transfer operation, the linear motor 75 moves the work head 13 so that the nozzle 82 reciprocates between the area above the first tray TR1 and the area above the second tray TR2, the lift actuator 83 raises and lowers the nozzle shaft 81 (i.e., the nozzle 82), and the first table movement mechanism 21M moves the first table 21 so that the component BH that the nozzle 82 is trying to pick up from the first tray TR1 is positioned directly below the nozzle 82. The control valve 84 switches between negative pressure air and positive pressure air supplied to the nozzle shaft 81, causing the nozzle 82 to pick up and release the component BH. The table movement mechanism 22M moves the second table 22 so that the component BH picked up by the nozzle 82 is placed in an aligned state on the second tray TR2. As a result, the parts BH supplied loosely onto the first tray TR1 are transferred one after another by the work head 13 onto the second tray TR2 in an aligned state.

[0054] As described above, the component transfer device 1 in this embodiment is provided so as to extend in the movement direction (X direction) of the work head 13, and includes an air introduction path 51 (negative pressure air introduction path 51A and positive pressure air introduction path 51B) that introduces air (negative pressure air and positive pressure air) supplied from air sources (negative pressure air source P1 and positive pressure air source P2), a plurality of air outlets 54 (negative pressure air outlet 54A and positive pressure air outlet 54B) that are provided side by side in the movement direction (X direction) of the work head 13, and a plurality of air delivery paths 53 (negative pressure air delivery path 53A and positive pressure air delivery path 53B) that are connected to each of the plurality of air outlets 54. a valve mechanism 32 that individually connects each of the plurality of air outlets 53 to the air introduction path 51, thereby discharging the air introduced by the air introduction path 51 from the air outlet 54; a cam 85 as a valve operating unit that operates the valve mechanism 32 so that air is discharged from one of the plurality of air outlets 54 that is located opposite the work head 13; and air receiving ports 78 (negative pressure air receiving port 78A and positive pressure air receiving port 78B) that are provided in the work head 13 and receive the air discharged from the air outlet 54.

[0055] In the component transfer device 1 having the above configuration, the air piping (air inlet path 51 and multiple air outlet paths 53) that supplies air to the working head 13 extends in the direction of movement of the working head 13, and the valve mechanism 32 causes air to be taken out from the air outlet 54 located opposite the working head 13. An air receiving port 78 that receives the taken-out air and takes it into the working head 13 is provided on the side of the working head 13, making it possible to supply air to the working head 13 according to its position without requiring a cable protection and guide member as in the past. Therefore, the component transfer device 1 in this embodiment does not require a cable protection and guide member that extends outside the guide body 12b, is expensive, and requires space for routing, thereby enabling a more compact size and reduced manufacturing costs.

[0056] In particular, in the component transfer device 1 of this embodiment, the air inlet path 51 extends inside the guide body 12b, the multiple air outlets 54 open to the surface 34M of the guide body 12b facing the work head 13, and the air delivery path 53 extends inside the guide body 12b and connects to each of the multiple air outlets 54, so there is no need for air piping that extends outside the guide body 12b as in the conventional configuration. Therefore, in this respect as well, it is possible to achieve a compact size and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0057] As described above, the working device (component transfer device 1) in this embodiment does not require a cable protection guide member to protect the air piping extending outside the guide body 12b, thereby enabling a compact size and reduced manufacturing costs.

[0058] While the present invention has been described above in terms of an embodiment, it is not limited to the above and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the multiple spools 43 constituting the valve mechanism 32 are arranged to extend horizontally (in the Y direction), but the spools 43 do not necessarily have to extend horizontally and may be arranged to extend vertically. In this case, the cam 85 is configured to move each spool 43 individually in the vertical direction. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, negative pressure air and positive pressure air are supplied to the working head 13, but it is also possible to supply only one of negative pressure air and positive pressure air to the working head 13.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the spool 43 and the cam follower 44 are directly connected, and when the cam follower 44 is driven by the cam 85 (more specifically, the cam groove 86), the spool 43 moves from the first position to the second position. However, instead of this configuration, a configuration is also possible in which when the cam follower 44 is driven, a corresponding limit switch is turned on, and when the limit switch is turned on, the solenoid-driven spool 43 is electromagnetically driven to move from the first position to the second position.

[0060] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the negative pressure air introduction passage 51A is located behind the positive pressure air introduction passage 51B inside the guide body 12b, and the negative pressure air outlet 54A is located at the positive pressure air outlet 54B on the opening plate 34. However, it is also possible to locate the negative pressure air introduction passage 51A in front of the positive pressure air introduction passage 51B inside the guide body 12b, and to locate the negative pressure air outlet 54A above the positive pressure air outlet 54B on the opening plate 34.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the air introduction path 51 is configured to extend inside the guide body 12b, but a conduit-forming member extending parallel to the guide body 12b (i.e., in the X direction) may be provided, and the air introduction path 51 may be provided in the conduit-forming member. The multiple air outlets 54 provided in the conduit-forming member may open to the surface 34M of the guide body 12b facing the working head 13, and the air delivery path 53 may extend inside the conduit-forming member and connect to each of the multiple air outlets 54. Even with this configuration, the same effects as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[0062] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been shown in which the present invention is applied to component transfer device 1 that performs component transfer work using working head 13, but the working device to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to component transfer device 1. Therefore, the present invention can also be applied to, for example, a component mounting device that performs component mounting work by suctioning components using a working head and mounting them on a board. [Industrial Applicability]

[0063] The present invention can be applied to a work device in which a work head that is movable along a guide body receives a supply of air and performs a required work. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 Parts transfer device (working device) 12b Guide body 13 Working head 32 Valve mechanism 34 Aperture plate 34M Opposite side 42 spool holes 43 spool 44 Cam follower 51 Air intake passage 51A Negative pressure air introduction path 51B Positive pressure air inlet 52A Negative pressure air supply pipe 52B Positive pressure air supply pipe 53 Air outlet 53A Negative pressure air outlet 53B Positive pressure air outlet 54 Air outlet 54A Negative pressure air outlet 54B Positive pressure air outlet 61 Head body 62 Bracket part 77 Air Receptor Block 78 Air intake port 78A Negative pressure air intake 78B Positive pressure air intake 79A Negative pressure air connection pipe 79B Positive pressure air connection pipe 81 Nozzle shaft 82 nozzles 84 Control Valve 85 Cam (valve operating part) 86 Cam groove 86K entrance / exit SKM gap P Air source P1 Negative air source P2 positive pressure air source

Claims

1. A working device in which a working head that is movable along a guide body receives air supply and performs a required work, an air introduction passage extending in the direction of movement of the working head and introducing air supplied from an air source; a plurality of air outlets arranged in a line in the moving direction of the working head; a plurality of air delivery paths connected to the plurality of air outlets, respectively; a valve mechanism that individually connects each of the plurality of air delivery paths to the air introduction path, thereby delivering the air introduced through the air introduction path from the air outlet; a valve operating unit that operates the valve mechanism so that air is delivered from one of the plurality of air outlets that is located opposite the working head; and an air receiving port provided in the work head for receiving air discharged from the air outlet; A working device comprising:

2. 2. The working device according to claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism comprises a plurality of spool holes communicating with the air inlet passage and each of the plurality of air outlet passages, and a plurality of spools housed in the plurality of spool holes, respectively, and whose positions can be freely switched between a first position in which the air outlet passage extending from each spool hole is not connected to the air inlet passage and a second position in which the air outlet passage is connected to the air inlet passage, and the valve operating unit moves together with the working head, and positions one of the plurality of spools that is connected to the air outlet located opposite the working head, at the second position.

3. The work device according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of spool holes are arranged such that at least one of the spools is positioned at the second position by the valve operating portion regardless of the position of the work head relative to the guide body.

4. 3. The working device according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of spools includes a cam follower, and the valve operating unit comprises a cam that operates the cam follower by the movement of the working head along the guide body, thereby moving the spool between the first position and the second position.

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