Apparatus for extracting a specified number of parts and method for driving the same

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for removing a predetermined number of parts, capable of separating and removing even light-weight parts with complex shapes, and a method for driving the same. [Solution] A guide member is disposed between the base member and the surface member, the guide member having a part storage section, a discharge outlet and a guide groove, a part breaking member is slidably mounted on the guide member, the part breaking member is provided with a storage section air outlet which sprays air into the storage section, a part separating member having a storage section capable of storing one part is provided on the guide member so as to be slidable in a direction across the guide groove, and a step section air outlet is provided which sprays air from below the part separating member to the upstream side of the guide groove, and the drive of the part breaking member and the part separating member, and the spray of compressed air from the storage section air outlet and the step section air outlet are controlled in response to a signal from a part sensor which detects parts being discharged from the outlet.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for taking out a specified number of parts, which is capable of taking out a specified number of lightweight parts having complex shapes, such as resin clips used when attaching automobile parts to cluster panels, etc., and a method for driving the device. [Background technology]

[0002] Because these types of resin clips are lightweight and have complex shapes, even if you try to remove a specified number of them using a parts removal device, the parts tend to get tangled and clog the parts transport path, making it difficult to unravel the resin clips one by one and accurately count and remove them.

[0003] A conventional device of this type is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

[0004] The parts extractor of Patent Document 1 is configured as follows. That is, the extractor guides the parts stored in the hopper to the container section through a cylindrical supply pipe, and while the parts are stored in the container section, the supply pipe is also filled with parts. A vibration rod of a vibration device is inserted into the supply pipe. Multiple abacus-bead-like pieces are attached to the vibration rod, and by vibrating the vibration rod, the parts in the supply pipe are stirred up, so that the parts flow smoothly in the supply pipe and the container section. Meanwhile, a disk-shaped parts removal member is provided within the container, and an inclined plate is also provided, and parts are supplied to the parts removal member from the inclined plate and from inside the container. The parts removal member has a number of removal grooves on its disk-shaped outer periphery, and parts are inserted into these removal grooves one by one. The removal grooves have inclined surfaces that incline outward, and the parts inserted into the removal grooves are removed from above the disk along the inclined surfaces as the parts removal member rotates, and the parts are counted by a detector during removal and stored in a removal box. When the number of parts stored in the removal box reaches a predetermined number, the drive of the disk-shaped parts removal member is stopped by the quantity setting means, and removal of the predetermined number of parts is completed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-103792 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the device for extracting a specified number of parts described in Patent Document 1, which is configured as described above, the vibration rod of the vibration device allows the parts to be separated one by one and smoothly extracted, but when the parts are lighter and have a complex shape, it may not be possible to sufficiently prevent the parts from becoming entangled within the container. For this reason, there is a demand for a device for extracting a specified number of parts that can better prevent the parts from becoming entangled within the device, even when the parts are lighter and have a complex shape.

[0007] To provide an apparatus and method for removing a predetermined number of parts, which can better prevent entanglement within the apparatus and reliably separate and remove each part, even if the parts are lightweight and have complex shapes, and which also provides a method for driving the apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The device for taking out a specified number of parts according to the present invention is equipped with a hopper capable of storing parts to be counted, and counts the parts supplied from the hopper and discharges them into a specified parts dispensing container. The device for taking out a specified number of parts comprises a base member, a surface member arranged on the base member at a specified distance, a storage section arranged within the specified distance between the base member and the surface member and for storing the parts, a discharge outlet capable of separating and discharging the parts one by one, a guide member for guiding the parts from the storage section to the discharge outlet and having a guide groove having a stepped section midway, at least one part breaking member slidably mounted on the guide member and arranged to be protruding and retracting towards the storage section, storage section air ejection holes opened on an end face of the part breaking member facing the storage section and on at least a part of an end face forming the storage section of the guide member, for ejecting air towards the storage section, and a part separating member which is slidably disposed in a direction crossing the guide groove at the stepped portion of the inner member and has a storage portion capable of storing one part; a part separating member drive mechanism which drives the part separating member in the direction crossing the guide groove; a part stopping member which is slidably disposed in a direction crossing the guide groove at a position upstream of the part separating member on the guide member and which is movable in the direction closing or opening the guide groove and which moves in conjunction with the movement of the part separating member; part stopping member biasing means which biases the part stopping member in the direction to constantly close the guide groove; a part sensor which is disposed near the discharge port and detects the parts being separated and discharged one by one from the discharge port; The storage portion of the guide member is configured to have an inclined surface that expands upward, and the guide groove is a substantially linear upper guide groove and a step in the upper guide groove. Departmentand a lower guide groove provided through the upper guide groove, the step portion is formed such that the upper central axis of the upper guide groove and the lower central axis of the lower guide groove are separated by a distance equal to or slightly longer than the length of one part, the upper part of the upper guide groove is connected to the lower part of the inclined surface of the storage portion, and the lower part of the lower guide groove is connected to the discharge port, and the upper and lower guide grooves have cross-sectional shapes that allow one of the parts to pass through. The interlocking mechanism that interlocks the part separating member and the part stopping member is configured such that, when the storage portion central axis of the part separating member is in a position that coincides with the upper central axis, the part separating member interlocks and drives the part stopping member in a direction to release the guide groove against the part stopping member biasing means, and when the storage portion central axis of the part separating member is in a position that coincides with the lower central axis, the interlocking drive between the part separating member and the part stopping member is released, and the part stopping member can be driven in a direction to close the guide groove by the biasing force of the part stopping member biasing means. This is a device for extracting a specified number of parts.

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that the height positions of the inclined surfaces on both sides constituting the inlet portion of the guide groove of the reservoir portion are different.

[0010] In the present invention, the part-breaking members are preferably provided so as to be capable of projecting and retracting into both sides of the inclined surface that widens upward in the storage portion.

[0011] In the present invention, the part stopping member biasing means is preferably configured by a compression coil spring interposed between the part stopping member and the guide member.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable to provide a first photoelectric sensor that is provided slightly above the center of the storage section and detects the presence state of the parts in the storage section, and a second photoelectric sensor that is provided near the entrance of the upper guide groove and detects the presence state of the parts near the entrance of the upper guide groove.

[0013] The method of driving the device for taking out a predetermined number of parts according to the present invention, in the device for taking out a predetermined number of parts described in paragraph 0008, includes the steps of: feeding parts into a hopper; turning on a power source to operate a part separating member driving mechanism; detecting the discharge of parts from the discharge opening of the guide member with a parts sensor; continuing to operate the part separating member driving mechanism until a count value of a parts counter based on the count value of the parts detected by the parts sensor reaches a set value; parts the step of stopping the operation of the part separating member drive mechanism when the count value of the counter reaches a set value; after stopping the operation of the part separating member drive mechanism, detecting whether parts have been removed from the part removal container and stopping the operation of the part separating member drive mechanism until removal is completed; after removal of parts from the part removal container is completed, counting whether the number of parts removed from the part removal container has reached a required number of parts removed, and repeating the above step until the required number of parts has been removed; and after the number of parts removed from the part removal container has reached the required number, stopping the part separating member drive mechanism to stop the part removal operation. A method for driving an apparatus for taking out a predetermined number of parts.

[0014] The driving method of the device for taking out a predetermined number of parts according to the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the device for taking out a predetermined number of parts described in paragraph 0008, further includes a first photoelectric sensor for detecting the presence of parts in the storage section at a position slightly above the center of the storage section, and a second photoelectric sensor for detecting the presence of parts near the entrance of the upper guide groove at a position near the entrance of the upper guide groove, and includes the steps of: putting parts into a hopper; turning on power to operate the part separating member drive mechanism; detecting the discharge of parts from the discharge opening of the guide member with the parts sensor; continuing to operate the part separating member drive mechanism until the count value of the parts counter based on the count value of the parts detected by the parts sensor reaches a set value; checking the storage state of parts in the storage section with the first photoelectric sensor; and detecting the presence of parts near the count value of the parts detected by the parts sensor. partsWhen the count value of the counter has not reached the set value and the parts sensor does not count the discharge of parts from the discharge port of the guide member even after the lapse of a predetermined set time, and the parts are in a stored state in the storage section, the process includes a step of blowing air from the air outlet of the storage section, a step of confirming the storage state of the parts at the entrance of the guide groove with a second photoelectric sensor, and a step of detecting the number of parts based on the count value of the parts detected by the parts sensor. parts When the count value of the counter has not reached the set value and the parts sensor does not count the discharge of parts from the discharge port of the guide member even after a predetermined set time has elapsed, and the parts are stored at the entrance of the guide groove, the step of blowing air out from the step air blowing hole and the step of blowing air out from the step air blowing hole based on the count value of the parts detected by the parts sensor are included. parts the step of stopping the operation of the part separating member drive mechanism when the count value of the counter reaches a set value; after stopping the operation of the part separating member drive mechanism, detecting whether parts have been removed from the part removal container and stopping the operation of the part separating member drive mechanism until removal is completed; after removal of parts from the part removal container is completed, counting whether the number of parts removed from the part removal container has reached a required number of parts removed, and repeating the above step until the required number of parts has been removed; and after the number of parts removed from the part removal container has reached the required number, stopping the part separating member drive mechanism to stop the part removal operation. A method for driving an apparatus for taking out a predetermined number of parts.

[0015] In the driving method of the device for taking out a specified number of parts according to the present invention described in paragraph 0013 or 0014, it is preferable to further include a step of operating the part breaking member driving mechanism at a specified timing. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an apparatus for removing a predetermined number of parts and a method for driving the same, which can better prevent tangling of even lightweight parts with complex shapes within the apparatus and reliably separate and remove each part individually. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an apparatus for taking out a predetermined number of parts according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the housing removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the embodiment of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part supply port portion of the hopper in the embodiment of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a base member in the embodiment of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the left and right upper guide members in the embodiment of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the left-hand upper guide member and the first part breaking member in the embodiment of FIG. 1 at the center in the plate thickness direction. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a part separation member in one embodiment of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a part separating member and a part stopping member in the embodiment of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an operating state of parts in the right-hand lower guide member in the embodiment of FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a control unit in the embodiment of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation state in the embodiment of FIG. [Figure 14] 14(A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams showing an operating state in the guide groove in the embodiment of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, Figures 1 to 3 show the overall configuration of this embodiment, but the oblique view of Figure 1 and the front view of Figure 2 do not show a surface member, which is described later and is made of a transparent material. In addition, although mounting holes and fixing screws for each component are omitted in each drawing, each component is mounted and fixed by bolts, nuts, etc. in a general manner.

[0019] The device 10 for taking out a predetermined number of parts according to this embodiment is a device capable of counting and taking out a predetermined number of parts P as shown in FIG. Part P is a plastic clip made of plastic material and has a front shape that is roughly arrowhead-shaped, and is used when attaching automobile parts to a cluster panel, etc. The size of part P is, for example, about 20 mm in length, about 10 mm in width, and about 7 mm in depth (thickness).

[0020] The device 10 for taking out a specified number of parts according to this embodiment includes a base 21, and a housing 23 is provided on the base 21 via four pillar members 22. A control box 150 is provided on the back of the housing 23. The control box 150 houses various control members including a control unit, which will be described later, and is also equipped with various display devices (not shown). A hopper 30 is provided on the upper part of the housing 23. The hopper 30 has a bottom plate 31, and side walls 32 are provided around the bottom plate 31. A lid 36 is provided above the side wall 32 in an openable and closable manner, so that parts P (not shown in the figures) (see Figures 2, 4, and 5) can be supplied into the hopper 30 with the lid 36 open.

[0021] The hopper 30 is made of a transparent plastic such as acrylic resin. In this case, the material constituting the hopper 30 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that at least the side wall 32A on the front side is made of a transparent material. If the side wall 32 is made of a transparent material, the storage state of the parts P stored in the hopper 30 can be visually confirmed from the outside, which is preferable. As shown in FIG. 5, a slit of a predetermined width is provided between the front side of the bottom plate 31 of the hopper 30 and the side wall 32A, and this slit forms a parts supply port .

[0022] 4, provided within the housing 23 below the hopper 30 are a base member 40, a surface member 50 disposed on the base member 40 at a predetermined distance, and a guide member 60 disposed within a predetermined distance between the base member 40 and the surface member 50. As described above, the surface member 50 is a transparent plate, and is therefore not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0023] The base member 40 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape as shown in Fig. 6. A first through hole 41 for passing light from an optical sensor (described later) is provided in the upper central position of the base member 40, and a second through hole 42 similar to the first through hole 41 is provided in the central portion in the up-down direction and approximately in the central position in the left-right direction. A first long hole 43 and a second long hole 44 that are long in the vertical direction are provided on both sides of the second through hole 42, and these first long hole 43 and second long hole 44 allow the driving member of the part breaking member described later to be inserted therethrough so as to be movably moved in the longitudinal direction. A third oblong hole 45 and a fourth oblong hole 46 that are long in the horizontal direction are provided below the first oblong hole 43 and the second oblong hole 44. The third oblong hole 45 allows a drive member of a part separating member, which will be described later, to be inserted movably in the longitudinal direction. The fourth oblong hole 46 allows the horizontal mounting position of a part sensor, which will be described later, to be adjusted.

[0024] The surface member 50 is made of a transparent plastic such as acrylic resin, and is formed in the shape of a rectangular flat plate having an outer shape facing the base member 40 .

[0025] As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the guide member 60 is composed of four separate members arranged within a predetermined distance between the base member 40 and the surface member 50, namely, a left-side upper guide member 61, a right-side upper guide member 62, a left-side lower guide member 63, and a right-side lower guide member 64.

[0026] 7, the end face of the upper part of the left-hand upper guide member 61 is formed into a right-downward inclined surface 61A. An upper notch 61B for accommodating the first part-breaking member 71 so that it can slide up and down is provided in the middle of this inclined surface 61A, and a lower notch 61C is provided on the lower right side. 7, the end face of the upper part of the right-side upper guide member 62 is formed into a left-downward inclined surface 62A. An upper notch 62B for storing the second part-breaking member 72 so that it can slide up and down is provided midway along this inclined surface 62A, and a lower notch 62C is provided on the lower left side. A central notch 62D is provided above this lower notch 62C, and a biasing means storage recess 62E is provided midway along the central notch 62D. The left-side upper guide member 61 and the right-side upper guide member 62 are fixed to the base member 40 with a predetermined distance between them. This predetermined distance defines an upper guide groove 65A for the part P, and this upper guide groove 65A has a cross-sectional shape that allows one of the parts P to pass through.

[0027] 1, 2 and 4, the left lower guide member 63 and the right lower guide member 64 are provided substantially symmetrically, with the left lower guide member 63 being keyed to the right and the right lower guide member 64 being keyed to the left. The upper end of the left lower guide member 63 and the upper end of the right lower guide member 64 are fixed to the base member 40 with a predetermined gap between them. This predetermined gap forms a lower guide groove 65B for the part P, and this lower guide groove 65B has a cross-sectional shape that allows one of the parts P to pass through. In this case, the upper central axis L of the upper guide groove 65A and the lower central axis M of the lower guide groove 65B are spaced apart by a distance that is approximately equal to or slightly longer than the length of one part P. Due to the misalignment between the upper central axis L and the lower central axis M, a step 65C is formed between the upper guide groove 65A and the lower guide groove 65B. The guide groove 65 for the part P is formed by the upper guide groove 65A, the lower guide groove 65B, and the step portion 65C.

[0028] 1 and 2, the inclined surfaces 61A and 61D forming the end faces of the left upper guide member 61 and the inclined surface 62A forming the end face of the right upper guide member 62 are at different heights from the inclined surfaces 61A and 61D of the left upper guide member 61 on both sides constituting the entrance portion of the guide groove 65 of the storage section 67 described later, and the inclined surface 62A of the right upper guide member 62. This allows the part P inserted into the storage section 67 to be smoothly introduced into the guide groove 65.

[0029] Within a specified distance between the base member 40 and the surface member 50, a storage section 67 for parts P is formed by a V-shaped space that opens upward and is surrounded by the parts supply port 35 of the hopper 30, above the inclined surface 61A of the left-side upper guide member 61, above the inclined surface 62A of the right-side upper guide member 62, and the V-shaped space that opens upward. The lower end of the lower guide groove 65B serves as a discharge port 68 for the parts P.

[0030] 8 shows a cross section along the plate thickness direction of the left upper guide member 61 and the first part breaking member 71. The first part breaking member 71, which is housed in the upper cutout 61B of the left upper guide member 61 so as to be able to slide up and down, has an inclined surface 71A along the inclined surface 61A of the left upper guide member 61 and an inclined surface 71B at a steeper angle than the inclined surface 71A formed on the upper end surface of the upper part breaking member 71. In addition, a plurality of mutually communicating storage air passages 73A are provided in the first part breaking member 71. The opening of the storage air passage 73A is a storage air outlet 73B that ejects air toward the storage section 67, and the mutually communicating base ends of the storage air passages 73A are communicated with a storage air inlet 73C and communicated with a compressed air source (not shown) so that compressed air can be supplied to the storage air passage 73A. Here, the storage section air passage 73A, the storage section air outlet 73B, and the storage section air inlet 73C constitute the storage section air outlet means 73, and by supplying compressed air from the storage section air inlet 73C, the compressed air can be forcefully ejected toward the storage section 67. Incidentally, at the lower right side of the upper end face of the left-hand upper guide member 61, an inclined surface 61D is formed that is steeper than the inclined surface 61A and that follows the inclined surface 71B.

[0031] A second part breaking member 72 is housed within the upper cutout 62B of the right-side upper guide member 62 so as to be able to slide up and down, and an inclined surface 72A is formed on the upper end face of this second part breaking member 72, which is aligned with the inclined surface 62A of the right-side upper guide member 62.

[0032] A part separation member 81 is stored in a space surrounded by the lower notch 61C of the left upper guide member 61, the lower notch 62C of the right upper guide member 62, and the upper surfaces of the left lower guide member 63 and the right lower guide member 64, so as to be slidable in the left-right direction in Figure 2. A part stopping member 91 having an engagement recess 91A on its underside is housed in the central cutout 62D of the right-side upper guide member 62 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction in Fig. 2. This part stopping member 91 is constantly urged in a direction in which the part stopping member 91 protrudes to the left in Fig. 2 by a part stopping member urging means 93 housed in the urging means housing recess 62E. In this embodiment, the part stopping member biasing means 93 is, for example, configured by a compression coil spring, but is not limited to a compression coil spring and may be a leaf spring. In short, it may be a means for constantly biasing the part stopping member 91 in the direction protruding to the left in FIG. 2, for example, another biasing means such as a gas spring.

[0033] As shown in detail in Figure 9, the part separating member 81 is formed with a left sliding portion 81A, a right sliding portion 81B provided at a predetermined distance from the left sliding portion 81A, a connecting portion 81C that integrally connects the left sliding portion 81A and the right sliding portion 81B, and an engaging protrusion 81D that protrudes from the upper surface of the right sliding portion 81B and is engageable with an engaging recess 91A of the part stopping member 91. Further, a storage section 81E is formed by the gap between the left sliding section 81A and the right sliding section 81B, and this storage section 81E has a cross-sectional area large enough to store one part P therein. Furthermore, in the part separating member 81, the left and right spatial dimensions of the lower notch 61C of the left-side upper guide member 61 and the lower notch 62C of the right-side upper guide member 62 and the left and right length dimensions of the part separating member 81 are appropriately set so that the storage section central axis N of the storage section 81E can be moved from the position of the upper central axis L to the position of the lower central axis M.

[0034] Fig. 10 shows the engagement state between the part separating member 81 and the part stopping member 91. When the part separating member 81 is moved to the right position shown in Fig. 2 by the part separating member drive mechanism 85, which will be described later, the part stopping member 91 is moved to the right against the biasing force of the part stopping member biasing means 93 with the engagement protrusion 81D of the part separating member 81 abutting against the right side surface of the engagement recess 91A of the part stopping member 91. This movement of the part stopping member 91 to the right causes the left end surface of the part stopping member 91 to recede from the upper guide groove 65A, as also shown in Fig. 14(A). This allows the part P in the upper guide groove 65A to move freely along the upper guide groove 65A and fall. In addition, with the part separating member 81 moved to the right, the storage section central axis N of the storage section 81E is moved to a position coinciding with the upper central axis L of the upper guide groove 65A. As a result, one of the parts P in the upper guide groove 65A is stored in the storage section 81E of the part separating member 81.

[0035] On the other hand, when the part separating member 81 is moved to the left position shown in Fig. 2 by the part separating member drive mechanism 85 described below, the engaging protrusion 81D of the part separating member 81 is moved in a direction away from the right side surface of the engaging recess 91A of the part stopping member 91, so that the part stopping member 91 is moved to the left by the biasing force of the part stopping member biasing means 93. This movement of the part stopping member 91 to the left causes the left end face of the part stopping member 91 to protrude from the upper guide groove 65A, as also shown in Fig. 14(B). When the left end face of the part stopping member 91 protrudes from the upper guide groove 65A and a part P is interposed within the upper guide groove 65A, the part P is sandwiched between the left end face of the part stopping member 91 and the right end face of the left upper guide member 61, and the downward fall of the part P is stopped.

[0036] 2, 4, 11, etc., step air outlet 101A is opened in the upper left end surface of right-side lower guide member 64 at a position facing the upper central axis L of upper guide groove 65A, and step air outlet 101A is connected to step air inlet 101B. As a result, when compressed air is supplied from step air inlet 101B, the compressed air is ejected from step air outlet 101A into upper guide groove 65A, and parts P present in upper guide groove 65A are blown upward, i.e., toward storage section 67, thereby eliminating clogging of parts P in upper guide groove 65A.

[0037] 3, on the rear surface of the base member 40, a first photoelectric sensor 111 is provided at a position facing the first through-hole 41, and a second photoelectric sensor 113 is provided at a position facing the second through-hole 42. These first photoelectric sensor 111 and second photoelectric sensor 113 check the presence or absence of parts P in the storage section 67 through the first through-hole 41 and the second through-hole 42, and are composed of general reflective photoelectric sensors.

[0038] 3, a drive shaft 75A of a first part breaking down member drive mechanism 75 composed of an air cylinder or the like is attached to the back surface of the first part breaking down member 71, and the main body of the first part breaking down member drive mechanism 75 is attached to the housing 23. Therefore, when compressed air is supplied to the first part breaking down member drive mechanism 75 and the supply direction is switched, the first part breaking down member drive mechanism 75 protrudes and retracts from the inclined surface 61A of the left-hand upper guide member 61 towards the storage section 67. In addition, a storage section air inlet 73C is connected to the back surface of the first part breaking down member 71.

[0039] 3, a drive shaft 77A of a second part breaking member drive mechanism 77 composed of an air cylinder or the like is attached to the back surface of the second part breaking member 72, and the main body of the second part breaking member drive mechanism 77 is attached to the housing 23. Therefore, when compressed air is supplied to the second part breaking member drive mechanism 77 and the supply direction is switched, the second part breaking member drive mechanism 77 protrudes and retracts from the inclined surface 62A of the right-side upper guide member 62 towards the storage section 67.

[0040] 3, a part separating member drive mechanism 85A of the part separating member drive mechanism 85, which is composed of an air cylinder or the like, is attached to the back surface of the part separating member 81, and the main body of the part separating member drive mechanism 85 is attached to the housing 23. Therefore, when compressed air is supplied to the part separating member drive mechanism 85 and the supply direction is switched, the part separating member drive mechanism 85 is driven left and right within the space formed by the lower notch 61C of the left-hand upper guide member 61 and the lower notch 62C of the right-hand upper guide member 62.

[0041] A parts sensor 98 consisting of a pair of transmission type photoelectric sensors or the like is provided below the lower guide groove 65B formed between the upper ends of the left lower guide member 63 and the right lower guide member 64. The optical path of this parts sensor 98 is provided in a direction crossing the drop passage of the parts P discharged from the discharge port 68 of the lower guide groove 65B, so that it can count the parts P discharged from the lower guide groove 65B.

[0042] In addition, a part removal container 180 shaped like a large bowl is provided below the lower guide groove 65B, and the parts P discharged one by one from the lower guide groove 65B fall into the part removal container 180 and are stored therein. A part removal sensor 185 consisting of a reflective photoelectric sensor is provided on one side of part removal container 180, on the upper right side in Figures 1 and 2, and the optical path of this part removal sensor 185 is set to cross over part removal container 180 so that when a predetermined number of parts P are stored in part removal container 180 and the apparatus is at rest, it can detect when parts P are removed from part removal container 180 by hand, etc.

[0043] Fig. 12 shows one embodiment of the control unit 151 provided in the control box 150. In Fig. 12, the control unit 151 is equipped with a parts counter 152 and a parts removal counter 154, as well as a CPU, memory, etc. (not shown) and is capable of performing various control processes. A parts counter setting means 153 is connected to the parts counter 152, and it is possible to set the number of parts P to be stored in the parts removal container 180. A signal from the parts sensor 98 is input to the parts counter 152, and the parts P discharged one by one from the discharge port 68 are counted. Further, a parts removal counter setting means 155 is connected to the parts removal counter 154, so that it is possible to set the number of times the parts P stored in the parts removal container 180 are removed. A signal from a parts removal sensor 185 is input to the parts removal counter 154, so that the number of times the parts P stored in the parts removal container 180 have been removed is counted.

[0044] In addition to the part sensor 98 and the part removal sensor 185, a first photoelectric sensor 111 and a second photoelectric sensor 113 are also connected to the control unit 151, and detection signals indicating the presence or absence of a part P in the storage unit 67 or the upper guide groove 65A are input from the first photoelectric sensor 111 and the second photoelectric sensor 113. Furthermore, the control unit 151 is connected to the part separating member drive mechanism 85, the first part breaking member drive mechanism 75, and the second part breaking member drive mechanism 77, and is adapted to output drive signals to each drive mechanism. Furthermore, reservoir air ejection means 73 and step air ejection means 101 are connected to control unit 151, and drive signals are output to each of the air ejection means.

[0045] Reference numeral 190 denotes a regulator with a filter connected to an air pressure source such as a compressor (not shown), and is capable of supplying compressed air at a predetermined pressure to locations in the parts removal device 10 that require compressed air.

[0046] The operation of the thus configured 310 will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 13 and the operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

[0047] 13, as shown in step S1, when parts P are put into hopper 30, the parts P drop from parts supply port 35 of hopper 30 into storage section 67 and are stored therein. A portion of the stored parts P enters guide groove 65, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 14(A). 14(A), which is the initial position for device operation, the central axis N of the storage section 81E coincides with the central axis M of the lower part of the upper guide groove 65A. Therefore, one of the parts P is introduced into the storage section 81E.

[0048] In this state, when the power of the device is turned on, in step S2, the part separating member drive mechanism 85 is actuated and the part separating member 81 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 14(B). With this movement, the storage section central axis N of storage section 81E is moved to a position coinciding with the lower central axis M of lower guide groove 65B, and parts P in storage section 81E fall from discharge port 68 via lower guide groove 65B and are stored in part removal container 180. At this time, when the part separating member 81 is moved to the left, the force of the part separating member 81 moving the part stopping member 91 to the right is released, and the part stopping member 91 is moved to the left by the biasing force of the part stopping member biasing means 93. As the part stopping member 91 moves to the left, the left end face of the part stopping member 91 protrudes into the upper guide groove 65A, pressing the part P located in the upper guide groove 65A against the left side wall of the upper guide groove 65A. This prevents the part P in the upper guide groove 65A from falling downward, and does not hinder the movement of the part separating member 81 to the left.

[0049] When part P falls, as shown in step S3, part sensor 98 determines whether part P has fallen into part removal container 180, and if a fall is detected, a signal is sent to control unit 151, and the part counter 152 counts, as shown in step S4.

[0050] In step S5, the count by the parts counter 152 is compared with the set value g of the parts counter setting means 153. If the count does not reach the set value g, the process returns to step S2 and the operations from step S2 to step S5 are repeated, and the parts P are stored one by one in the parts removal container 180 from the discharge port 68.

[0051] On the other hand, when the count (counting number) of the part counter 152 reaches the set value g, this means that the number of parts P stored in the part removal container 180 has reached the set value, and so, as in step S6, the part separating member driving mechanism 85 returns the part separating member 81 to the initial position, i.e., the state in Figure 14(A), and the part separating member driving mechanism 85 is stopped. After the part separating member driving mechanism 85 is stopped, in step S7, the part removal sensor 185 detects and determines whether or not the part P has been removed from the part removal container 180. If the part removal sensor 185 does not detect the removal of a part P from the part removal container 180, the process returns to step S6 and the operations from step S6 to step S7 are repeated, with the part separating member drive mechanism 85 remaining stopped.

[0052] When part removal sensor 185 detects removal of part P from part removal container 180, a removal detection signal is sent from part removal sensor 185 to control unit 151, and in step S8, the part removal counter 154 counts the number of times the part P has been removed. The count number in part removal counter 154 is compared with setting value G of the number of times the part P has been removed set by part removal counter setting means 155, and if the count number does not reach setting value G, the process returns to step S2 and the operations from step S2 to step S9 are repeated. On the other hand, when the count number in the parts removal counter 154 reaches the set value G, the parts removal operation in 310 ends.

[0053] In step S3, if the part sensor 98 does not detect the fall of the part P, the elapsed time t during which no detection has occurred is measured in step S10, and it is determined whether the elapsed time t reaches a predetermined set time T, for example, 2 seconds. If the elapsed time t does not reach the set time T, the process returns to step S2 and the steps following step S2 are continued.

[0054] On the other hand, when the elapsed time t reaches the set time T, it is determined that the parts P do not flow into the guide groove 65 and that no parts P are present in the guide groove 65. This situation in which no parts P are present in the guide groove 65 occurs when the parts P are entangled in the storage section 67 or when the parts P accumulate in a bridge shape at the entrance of the guide groove 65 and the parts P do not flow into the guide groove 65, or when no parts P are present in the storage section 67 or the entrance of the guide groove 65, that is, when they are empty. Therefore, when the parts P are entangled in the storage section 67 or piled up in a bridge shape at the entrance of the guide groove 65, it is necessary to disentangle the parts P. For this reason, in step S11, the first part breaking down member drive mechanism 75 of the first part breaking down member 71 is driven. As the first part breaking down member drive mechanism 75 is driven, the first part breaking down member 71 protrudes and retracts from the inclined surface 61A of the left-side upper guide member 61. Simultaneously with the driving of the first part breaking down member drive mechanism 75, or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of driving, the storage section air ejection means 73 is driven, as in step S12, and compressed air is forcefully ejected from the storage section air ejection holes 73B into the storage section 67. By driving these first part breaking members 71 and spraying compressed air from the storage section air outlet 73B, the lightweight and small parts P are broken down into pieces within the storage section 67, and the parts P are loosened one by one so that they can flow into the guide groove 65.

[0055] On the other hand, there may be cases where no parts P are present in the storage section 67 or at the entrance of the guide groove 65, i.e., where the storage section 67 and the entrance of the guide groove 65 are empty. For this reason, the conditions in the storage section 67 and the entrance of the guide groove 65 are detected by the first photoelectric sensor 111 and the second photoelectric sensor 113 through the first through hole 41 and the second through hole 42. That is, in step 13, the first photoelectric sensor 111 determines whether or not there is part P in the storage section 67. If it is detected that there is part P in the storage section 67, in step 14, the second photoelectric sensor 113 determines whether or not there is part P at the entrance of the guide groove 65.

[0056] If the second photoelectric sensor 113 detects the presence of parts P at the entrance of guide groove 65, it is determined that the entrance of guide groove 65 is clogged with parts P, so in step S15, step air ejection means 101 is operated and compressed air is forcefully ejected from step air ejection hole 101A into upper guide groove 65A. As a result, the parts P that were clogged at the entrance of guide groove 65 are blown away into storage section 67, allowing the parts P to flow into guide groove 65. Therefore, after step S15, the process returns to step S2, and the steps following step S2 are repeated.

[0057] On the other hand, if the first photoelectric sensor 111 does not detect any parts P in step S13, this means that the parts P in the storage section 67 are empty, so an alarm is issued in step S16, and the parts P are appropriately replenished in the hopper 30 in step S17. After the parts P are replenished, the process returns to step S2, and the steps following step S2 are repeated. Furthermore, in step S13, if the first photoelectric sensor 111 detects the parts P in the storage section 67 but the second photoelectric sensor 113 does not detect the parts P, this means that the parts P are clogged in the storage section 67, so the process returns to step S11 and the steps from step S11 onwards are repeated to eliminate the tangled or clogged parts P in the storage section 67.

[0058] In steps S13 and S14, the detection signals of the first photoelectric sensor 111 and the second photoelectric sensor 113 are input to the control unit 151, and the next predetermined control operation is performed.

[0059] 13, the operation of device 10 for taking out a specified number of parts has been described above, but these operations and their order are merely an example, and device 10 may take different operations and orders. For example, in addition to the protruding and retracting operation of first part-breaking member 71 and the injection of compressed air from storage air injection means 73, second part-breaking member drive mechanism 77 may be driven to simultaneously perform the protruding and retracting operation of second part-breaking member 72. By adding the protruding and retracting operation of second part-breaking member 72, tangling of parts P in storage section 67 can be more effectively eliminated. In addition, in FIG. 13, in step S13, the part P is replenished in a state where the first photoelectric sensor 111 does not detect the part P, but this is not limited to the above, and the part P may be replenished in a state where the second photoelectric sensor 113 does not detect the part P either.

[0060] According to this embodiment, the following effects are obtained. Even if the parts P to be counted are lightweight and have a complex shape and a structure that makes them prone to becoming tangled, the tangled parts P can be easily untangled by the first part breaking member 71 and the second part breaking member 72 protruding and retracting from the left upper guide member 61 and the right upper guide member 62, or by the injection of compressed air from the storage section air outlet 73B, and further by the injection of compressed air from the step section air outlet 101A into the upper guide groove 65A. This allows the parts P to flow smoothly into the guide groove 65, and ensures that the parts P can be counted.

[0061] Furthermore, a step portion 65C is provided in the middle of the guide groove 65, and a part separating member 81 having a storage portion 81E is provided in this step portion 65C so as to be slidable in a direction crossing the guide groove 65. Therefore, the part separating member 81 can reliably discharge the parts P one by one into the discharge port 68. A part stopping member 91 is provided upstream of the part separating member 81 on the left upper guide member 61, and when one part P is discharged by the part separating member 81, the part P in the upper guide groove 65A can be stopped to prevent it from falling downward, so that the parts can be discharged one by one more reliably. Step air outlet 101A is provided at a position corresponding to upper guide groove 65A of left-side lower guide member 63, so that when a blockage of parts P occurs on the entrance side of guide groove 65, compressed air can be ejected from step air outlet 101A to the upstream side of upper guide groove 65A, thereby reliably eliminating the blockage of parts P on the entrance side of guide groove 65.

[0062] The upper end surfaces of the left-side upper guide member 61 and the right-side upper guide member 62 which constitute the storage section 67 are inclined surfaces 61A, 62A which expand upward as a whole, so that the part P can be smoothly guided toward the guide groove 65 which is connected to the lower end of the storage section 67. In addition, since the height positions of the inclined surfaces 61A, 62A on both sides constituting the entrance portion of the guide groove 65 of the storage section 67 are made different, the parts P stored in the storage section 67 flow into the entrance side of the guide groove 65 along the inclined surfaces 61A, 62A on both sides, and can also flow smoothly into the upper guide groove 65A from the lower inclined surface 61A.

[0063] Furthermore, a first photoelectric sensor 111 is provided above the storage section 67, and a second photoelectric sensor 113 is provided near the entrance of the guide groove 65, so that the state of the parts P in the storage section 67 and near the entrance of the guide groove 65, i.e., the clogged or empty state, can be constantly checked, and the operation of the device can be kept smooth at all times.

[0064] The guide member 60 is configured to be divided into four members, namely, a left upper guide member 61, a right upper guide member 62, a left lower guide member 63, and a right lower guide member 64, and is attached to the base member 40. Therefore, the shapes of the left upper guide member 61 to the right lower guide member 64 and the width of the guide groove 65 formed between the four members can be easily changed, and changes in the shape and size of the part P can be easily accommodated.

[0065] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations of the present invention are not limited to these embodiments, and even if there are design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention, they are included in the present invention. For example, it is not necessary to provide both the first and second part breaking members 71, 72; at least one is sufficient. However, if both are provided, they can be used appropriately depending on the state of tangled or clogged parts P, and there is an advantage that tangled parts P can be more smoothly resolved.

[0066] In addition, in this embodiment, the parts P that have been counted to a predetermined number are stored in 180 and are removed manually, but this is not limited to this, and they may also be sequentially placed into a container that is transported by a conveyor or the like. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guide member 60 is configured to be divided into four members, but the guide member 60 may be cut out by machining or the like and provided integrally with the base member 40. However, forming the guide member 60 into four members separately from the base member 40 has the advantage of being able to easily accommodate changes in the shape of the part P, as described above.

[0067] Also, an appropriate means for stirring the parts P may be provided inside the hopper 30. One example of the stirring means is disclosed in JP 2013-103792 A, in which a vibration rod with multiple abacus-bead-like pieces is disposed midway and the vibration rod is vibrated to prevent the parts P from becoming entangled. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 10. Device for removing a specified number of parts 30 Hopper 40 Base material 41 First hole 42 Second hole 50 Surface material 60 Guide member 61 Upper left guide member 61A Slope 62 Upper right guide member 62A Slope 63 Lower left guide member 64 Lower right guide member 65 Guide groove 65A Upper guide groove 65B Lower guide groove 65C Step 67 Storage section 68 Outlet 71 First part breaking material 71A Slope 72 Second part breaking material 72A Inclined surface: End surface 73 Storage air ejection means 73B Storage air outlet 75 First part breaking member drive mechanism 77 Second part breaking member drive mechanism 81 Parts separation material 81D Engagement protrusion 81E Storage area 85 Parts separation member drive mechanism 91 Parts Stopper 91A Engagement recess 93 Parts stopping member biasing means 98 Parts Sensor 101 Step air ejection means 101A Step air outlet 111 First photoelectric sensor 113 Second photoelectric sensor 150 Control Box 151 Control section 152 Parts Counter 180 Parts removal container 185 Parts removal sensor L Upper center axis M Lower center axis N Storage compartment central axis P Parts

Claims

1. A device for removing a predetermined number of parts, comprising: a hopper capable of storing parts to be counted; and counting the parts supplied from the hopper and discharging the parts into a predetermined parts removal container, The device for removing a predetermined number of parts comprises: A base member; a surface member disposed on the base member at a predetermined distance; a guide member that is disposed within a predetermined distance between the base member and the surface member, the guide member having a storage section for storing the parts, a discharge outlet that can separate and discharge the parts one by one, and a guide groove that guides the parts from the storage section to the discharge outlet and has a step section on the way; At least one part breaking member that is slidably provided on the guide member and that can be protruded and retracted toward the storage section; a storage portion air outlet hole that is opened in at least a part of an end surface of the part breaking member that faces the storage portion and an end surface of the guide member that forms the storage portion and that ejects air toward the storage portion; a part separating member that is slidably provided in the step portion of the guide member in a direction crossing the guide groove and has a storage portion that is capable of storing one of the parts; a part separating member drive mechanism that drives the part separating member in a direction crossing the guide groove; a part stopping member that is slidably provided in a direction crossing the guide groove at a position upstream of the part separating member of the guide member, that is movable in a direction to close or open the guide groove, and that is linked with the movement of the part separating member; a part stopping member biasing means for biasing the part stopping member in a direction in which the part stopping member constantly closes the guide groove; a parts sensor provided near the discharge port and configured to detect the parts being separated and discharged one by one from the discharge port; a parts counter that receives a signal from the parts sensor and counts the number of the parts that have passed through the discharge port; a step air outlet hole provided in the step portion of the guide member and configured to blow air from a position below the part separating member toward an upstream side of the guide groove; Equipped with The storage portion of the guide member is configured to have an inclined surface that expands upward, the guide groove has a substantially linear upper guide groove and a lower guide groove provided in the upper guide groove via the step portion, the step portion being formed such that an upper central axis of the upper guide groove and a lower central axis of the lower guide groove are spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to or slightly longer than the length of one part, the upper portion of the upper guide groove is connected to a lower portion of the inclined surface of the storage portion, and the lower portion of the lower guide groove is connected to the discharge port, and the upper guide groove and the lower guide groove have cross-sectional shapes that allow one of the parts to pass through, The interlocking mechanism interlocking the part separating member and the part stopping member is configured such that, when the storage section central axis of the storage section of the part separating member is in a position coinciding with the upper central axis, the part separating member interlocks and drives the part stopping member in a direction to release the guide groove against the part stopping member biasing means, and, on the other hand, when the storage section central axis of the part separating member is in a position coinciding with the lower central axis, the interlocking drive between the part separating member and the part stopping member is released, so that the part stopping member can be driven in a direction to close the guide groove by the biasing force of the part stopping member biasing means. Device for removing a specified number of parts.

2. 2. The apparatus for taking out a predetermined number of parts according to claim 1, wherein the height positions of the inclined surfaces on both sides constituting the inlet of the guide groove of the storage section are made different.

3. 2. The apparatus for taking out a predetermined number of parts according to claim 1, wherein the part breaking members are provided so as to be capable of projecting and retracting into both sides of the inclined surface that expands upward in the storage section.

4. 2. The apparatus for taking out a predetermined number of parts according to claim 1, wherein said part stopping member biasing means is constituted by a compression coil spring interposed between said part stopping member and said guide member.

5. 2. The device for taking out a specified number of parts according to claim 1, further comprising: a first photoelectric sensor disposed slightly above the center of said storage section for detecting the presence of said parts in said storage section; and a second photoelectric sensor disposed near an entrance of said upper guide groove for detecting the presence of said parts near the entrance of said upper guide groove.

6. 2. The device for removing a predetermined number of parts according to claim 1, putting the parts into the hopper; turning on a power source to operate the part separating member driving mechanism; detecting discharge of the part from the discharge opening of the guide member by the part sensor; a step of continuing the operation of the part separating member driving mechanism until a count value of the part counter based on a count value of the parts detected by the part sensor reaches a set value; a step of stopping the operation of the part separating member driving mechanism when a count value of the part counter based on a count value of the parts detected by the part sensor reaches a set value; a step of detecting whether the parts have been removed from the part removal container after stopping the operation of the part separating member driving mechanism, and stopping the operation of the part separating member driving mechanism until the removal is completed; a step of counting whether the number of times the parts have been taken out from the parts taking container has reached a required number of times after the removal of the parts from the parts taking container has been completed, and repeating the above steps until the required number of times has been taken out; a step of stopping the part removing operation by stopping the part separating member driving mechanism after the number of times the parts have been removed from the part removing container has reached a required number; Equipped with A method for driving a device for taking out a specified number of parts.

7. 6. The parts removal device according to claim 5, putting the parts into the hopper; turning on a power source to operate the part separating member driving mechanism; detecting discharge of the part from the discharge opening of the guide member by the part sensor; a step of continuing the operation of the part separating member driving mechanism until a count value of the part counter based on a count value of the parts detected by the part sensor reaches a set value; a step of checking a storage state of the parts in the storage section by the first photoelectric sensor; a step of blowing air from the storage section air blowing hole when the count value of the parts counter based on the count value of the parts detected by the parts sensor has not reached a set value and the parts sensor has not counted the discharge of the parts from the discharge port of the guide member even after a predetermined set time has elapsed and the parts are in a stored state in the storage section; a step of checking a state of parts stored at an entrance portion of the guide groove by the second photoelectric sensor; a step of blowing air from the step air blowing hole when the count value of the parts counter based on the count value of the parts detected by the parts sensor has not reached a set value and the parts sensor has not counted the discharge of the parts from the discharge port of the guide member even after a predetermined set time has elapsed and the parts are stored at the entrance of the guide groove; a step of stopping the operation of the part separating member driving mechanism when a count value of the part counter based on a count value of the parts detected by the part sensor reaches a set value; a step of detecting whether the parts have been removed from the part removal container after stopping the operation of the part separating member driving mechanism, and stopping the operation of the part separating member driving mechanism until the removal is completed; a step of counting whether the number of times the parts have been taken out from the parts taking container has reached a required number of times after the removal of the parts from the parts taking container has been completed, and repeating the above steps until the required number of times has been taken out; a step of stopping the part removing operation by stopping the part separating member driving mechanism after the number of times the parts have been removed from the part removing container has reached a required number; Equipped with A method for driving a device for taking out a specified number of parts.

8. The method for driving the device for taking out a predetermined number of parts according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a step of operating the part breaking member drive mechanism at a predetermined timing. A method for driving a device for taking out a specified number of parts.

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