Component Extraction Device

Abstract

To provide a component take-out device allowing taking-out of a component from a lower one in order, even when overlapped in the stacking direction, and suppressed in breakage of the component.SOLUTION: A component take-out device 10 comprises holding means holding components in a stacked state at a prescribed position, first supporting means movably arranged at a basic position and a moved position in relation to the holding means, capable of supporting the components in the stacked state at the basic position, and allowing dropping of the components without supporting the center of gravity of the component at the moved position, and second supporting means inserted between the lowest component positioned at the lowest position among the components and an adjacent component positioned on the lowest component corresponding to the movement of the first supporting means to the moved position, supporting the adjacent component and an upper component positioned on the adjacent component, and drawn out of an underside of the adjacent component corresponding to the movement of the first supporting means to the basic position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a component extraction device that sequentially extracts a plurality of stacked components from the bottom up.

Background Art

[0002] In a product assembly line, for example, when extracting components, an operator takes out the components stacked in a component storage area one by one from the top and places them on a temporary placement table, and the components placed on the temporary placement table are gripped by an assembly robot and attached to an attachment target. Having the operator perform the extraction from the component storage area is because, in order to extract the stacked components in order from the top, the extraction position changes every time, making it difficult to extract with a work robot. Therefore, the man-hours for component setting, including the walking of the operator, increase, and the components stacked at the bottom in the component storage area stay in the component storage area for a long time, increasing the risk of quality defects such as rust.

[0003] Therefore, for example, a device for sequentially extracting stacked components from the bottom up has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a component cutting device including a base, a cutting member slidably provided on the base, a storage portion provided above the cutting member for storing a plurality of components in a stacked state, a first holding portion provided at the lower end of the storage portion for holding a component at a predetermined height, and a second holding portion provided below the first holding portion for holding a component at a predetermined height. According to this device, the component to be cut out next can be held at a predetermined height by the second holding portion, and the components stacked on that component can be held by the first holding portion, so that the components can be separated in the vertical direction, and even components with uneven shapes can be pushed out and extracted by the cutting member in order from the bottom. However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, even if a component remains at the position pushed out by the cutting member, the next component can be pushed out by the cutting member, so there is a problem that the components may collide with each other due to the momentum of the cutting member, resulting in component breakage.

[0004] In addition, the applicant of this application has developed a component extraction device that stacks and stores a plurality of components in a storage section and sequentially extracts the components from the bottom by a drawer means movably disposed below the storage section (Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-100526). This component extraction device is provided with, on the drawer means, a extraction placement section on which the lowermost extracted component is placed, and a support section that supports the drawer means such that at least a part of the stacked components stacked on the extracted component is positioned higher than the extraction port when the extraction placement section is pulled out. According to this component extraction device, the extracted components can be extracted one by one, and even if the extracted component remains without being removed by the extraction placement section, the extracted component moves under the stacked components together with the extraction placement section and is pulled out again together with the extraction placement section, so that collision between the extracted component and the stacked components can be avoided. However, in this component extraction device, since the component moves downward by only the height of the component in the extraction placement section, if there is an overlap in the stacking direction when stacking, the extracted component and the stacked components interfere with each other during extraction and cannot be pulled out.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been made based on such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a component extraction device that can sequentially extract components even if there is an overlap in the stacking direction and can suppress damage to the components.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The component extraction device of the present invention is configured to extract a plurality of stacked components in order from the bottom. It includes a holding means that enables the components to move vertically and holds them in a stacked state at a predetermined position, and a first support means that is disposed to be relatively movable with respect to the holding means between a basic position and a moving position. In the basic position, the first support means can support the components in a stacked state, and in the moving position, it can drop the components without supporting the center of gravity of the components. Corresponding to the relative movement of the first support means to the moving position, a second support means is inserted between the lowermost component, which is the lowermost of the components, and the adjacent component adjacent to and located above the lowermost component, and supports the adjacent component and the upper components located above the adjacent component. Corresponding to the relative movement of the first support means to the basic position, the second support means is withdrawn from below the adjacent component.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the first support means is made relatively movable with respect to the holding means between a basic position where the components can be supported and a moving position where the components can be dropped. Corresponding to the relative movement of the first support means to the moving position, the second support means is inserted between the lowermost component and the adjacent component, and corresponding to the relative movement of the first support means to the basic position, the second support means is withdrawn from below the adjacent component. Therefore, only the lowermost component can be dropped and taken out. Thus, even if there is an overlap between the components in the stacking direction when the components are stacked, they can be taken out in order from the bottom. Further, the taken-out lowermost component drops and does not exist within the movable ranges of the first support means and the second support means, so it is possible to suppress damage to the components due to the movement of the first support means and the second support means.

[0009] Moreover, if the first support means and the second support means are connected, the distance between the first support means and the second support means can be kept constant, and they can be easily interlocked.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

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

[0012] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a parts taking-out device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the movement of the parts taking-out device 10 and represents the article M in cross section. This parts taking-out device 10 takes out a plurality of stacked parts M in order from the bottom. For example, the parts M can be moved in the vertical direction and are held at a predetermined position in a stacked state. It includes a holding means 11 and a first support means 12 and a second support means 13 that are disposed so as to be relatively movable with respect to the holding means 11 and support the stacked parts M. This parts taking-out device 10 can be preferably used even when there is an overlap between the parts in the stacking direction when the parts M are stacked. Specifically, for example, when the parts M are stacked, the uppermost position of the lower part M may be located above the lowermost position of the upper part M. In the present embodiment, the parts M that overlap in the stacking direction when stacked, for example, the parts M having a protrusion M1 formed on the upper side of the central part and a recess formed on the lower side of the protrusion M1 will be described as an example.

[0013] The holding means 11 is, for example, fixedly arranged and is provided so as to surround the stacked parts M in the horizontal direction. The holding means 11 may be provided, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, by providing rod-shaped members or plate-shaped members at intervals in the horizontal direction, or may be provided so as to surround the whole in the horizontal direction.

[0014] The first support means 12 is, for example, located below the heavy-duty part M and is arranged so as to be able to support the part M from below. The first support means 12 is, for example, formed in a plate shape capable of supporting the part M, and the part M is placed on the upper surface. The first support means 12 is, for example, movable between a basic position and a moving position with respect to the holding means 11 by moving in the horizontal direction. In the basic position, it is possible to support the parts M held by the holding means 11 in a stacked state, and in the moving position, it is possible to drop the part M without supporting the center of gravity of the part M. That is, the basic position is a position where the center of gravity of the part M can be supported, and the moving position is a position that is deviated from the center of gravity of the part M and cannot support the center of gravity. In FIG. 2, the position of the center of gravity of the part M is indicated by a dashed line.

[0015] Further, it is preferable that the first support means 12 is movable to a position behind the part M where it does not come into contact with the part M in the moving position. This is to completely drop the lowermost part M1. When the side of the basic position is the front and the side of the moving position is the rear in the moving direction of the first support means 12, it is preferable that an inclined surface inclined downward is formed on the upper surface of the front end of the front side of the first support means 12. This is to make it easier to drop the part M.

[0016] The second support means 13 is, for example, arranged at an interval from the first support means 12 in the moving direction of the first support means 12. The second support means 13 is, for example, movable in the same direction as the moving direction of the first support means 12 and is configured to move in correspondence with the movement of the first support means 12. Specifically, the second support means 13 is inserted between the lowermost part M1 located at the bottom of the part M and the adjacent part M2 located adjacent to the lowermost part M1 in response to the first support means 12 moving to the moving position, and supports the adjacent part M2 and the upper part M3 located above the adjacent part M2. At the same time, in response to the first support means 12 moving to the basic position, it is pulled out from below the adjacent part M2 and waits. That is, the second support means 13 is movable between a standby position and an insertion position corresponding to the basic position and the moving position of the first support means 12.

[0017] Further, it is preferable that the second support means 13 is configured to move to a position further inserted correspondingly when the first support means 12 is moved to a position behind the moving position where it does not contact the component M, and move to a position where it can support the center of gravity of the component M. Thereby, when the first support means 12 moves to the moving position and cannot support the component M, the second support means 13 supports the adjacent component M2 and the upper component M3, and is configured to drop only the lowermost component M1.

[0018] The second support means 13 is preferably constituted by a rod-shaped member or a plate-shaped member so that it can be inserted between the lowermost component M1 and the adjacent component M2. The tip of the insertion side of the second support means 13 is preferably formed such that the thickness in the vertical direction becomes thinner toward the tip. This is to enable insertion even when the space between the lowermost component M1 and the adjacent component M2 is narrow. Note that the tip of the second support means 13 may be entirely thin and needle-shaped. The second support means 13 is preferably provided singly or in a plurality with an interval therebetween according to the shape of the component M.

[0019] The first support means 12 and the second support means 13 are preferably connected by a connecting portion 14 and configured to interlock. This is because the first support means 12 and the second support means 13 can be operated easily in correspondence with each other. The first support means 12 and the second support means 13 are configured to be moved by a moving means (not shown), for example.

[0020] Further, this component take-out device 10 may include, for example, a guiding means 15 for guiding the lowermost component M1 dropped from the first support means 12. The guiding means 15 preferably has, for example, a placing portion 15A for placing the dropped lowermost component M1 and an inclined portion 15B inclined to guide the dropped lowermost component M1 from the vicinity of the first support means 12 to the placing portion 15A as shown in FIG. 2.

[0021] This component extraction device 10 can be used, for example, as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 2(A), for example, the first support means 12 is moved to the basic position, and the second support means 13 is moved to the standby position. A plurality of components M are stacked within the holding means 11 and placed on the first support means 12.

[0022] Next, as shown in FIG. 2(B), for example, the first support means 12 is moved to the moving position, and the second support means 13 is moved to the insertion position in conjunction with the first support means 12. As a result, the component M is no longer supported by the first support means 12, but between the lowermost component M1 and the adjacent component M2 on the front side of the first support means 12, the second support means 13 is inserted. Therefore, the adjacent component M2 and the upper component M3 are supported by the first support means 12 and the second support means 13, and only the lowermost component M1 drops.

[0023] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2(C), for example, it is preferable to move the first support means 13 to a position behind the moving position where it does not contact the component M. At this time, in conjunction with the first support means 13, the second support means 13 is further inserted at the insertion position and moved to a position where the center of gravity of the component M can be supported by the second support means 13. The lowermost component M1 that is no longer supported by the first support means 12 slides down the inclined portion 15B and is placed on the placement portion 15A. The component M taken out to the placement portion 15A is removed, for example, by a work robot (not shown).

[0024] Next, as shown in FIG. 2(D), for example, the first support means 12 is moved toward the basic position, that is, forward, and the second support means 13 is moved toward the standby position in conjunction with the first support means 12. At this time, when the position where the center of gravity of the component M cannot be supported by the second support means 13 is reached, it is preferable to enable the first support means 12 to support the end portion on the rear side of the component M.

[0025] Thereafter, for example, as shown in Fig. 2(E), the first support means 12 is moved to the basic position, and the second support means 13 is moved to the standby position of being pulled out from under the adjacent part M2 in conjunction with the first support means 12. Since the lowermost part M1 has been taken out, the adjacent part M2 becomes the lowermost part M1, and the upper part M3 adjacent thereto becomes the adjacent part M2. Hereinafter, for example, as shown in Figs. 2(B) to (E), by repeating the movement of the first support means 12 and the second support means 13, the stacked parts M can be taken out in order from the bottom.

[0026] Thus, according to the present embodiment, the first support means 12 is made movable with respect to the holding means 11 between the basic position where the part M can be supported and the moving position where the part can be dropped, and in correspondence with the first support means 12 moving to the moving position, the second support means 13 is inserted between the lowermost part M1 and the adjacent part M2, and in correspondence with the first support means 12 moving to the basic position, the second support means 13 is pulled out from under the adjacent part M2. Therefore, only the lowermost part M1 can be dropped and taken out. Thus, even if there is an overlap between the parts M in the stacking direction when the parts M are stacked, they can be taken out in order from the bottom. Further, since the taken-out lowermost part M1 drops and does not exist within the movable ranges of the first support means 12 and the second support means 13, it is possible to suppress the parts M from being damaged by the movement of the first support means 12 and the second support means 13.

[0027] Also, if the first support means 12 and the second support means 13 are connected, the distance between the first support means 12 and the second support means 13 can be kept constant and they can be easily interlocked.

[0028] The present invention has been described above by way of embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be variously modified. For example, in the above embodiments, each component has been specifically described, but the specific configurations of each component may be different. Also, it is not necessary to include all of the above-described components, and other components may be included.

[0029] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a case has been specifically described in which the holding means 11 is fixed and the first support means 12 and the second support means 13 are moved, but in the present invention, the above-mentioned positional relationship can be achieved by moving the holding means 11, the first support means 12 and the second support means 13 relative to each other.

[0030] In addition, in the above embodiment, the first support means 12 and the second support means 13 are described as being connected by a connecting portion 14, but they may not be connected and the movements of the first support means 12 and the second support means 13 may be linked by a control means. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10...Component removal device, 11...Holding means, 12...First support means, 13...Second support means, 14...Connecting portion, 15...Guiding means, 15A...Placement portion, 15B...Inclined portion, M...Component, M1...Lowest component, M2...Adjacent component, M3...Upper component

Claims

1. A component extraction device for sequentially extracting a plurality of stacked components from the bottom, comprising: holding means for making the components movable in the vertical direction and holding them at a predetermined position in a stacked state; first support means disposed so as to be relatively movable between a basic position and a moving position with respect to the holding means, capable of supporting the components in a stacked state at the basic position, and capable of dropping the components without supporting the center of gravity of the components at the moving position; corresponding to the relative movement of the first support means to the moving position, inserted between the lowermost component located at the bottom of the components and the adjacent component adjacent to and located above the lowermost component, supporting the adjacent component and the upper components located above the adjacent component, and second support means pulled out from below the adjacent component corresponding to the relative movement of the first support means to the basic position; An inclined surface inclined downward is formed on the upper surface of the tip on the basic position side in the moving direction of the first support means. A component extraction device characterized by the above.

2. A component extraction device for sequentially extracting a plurality of stacked components from the bottom, comprising: holding means for making the components movable in the vertical direction and holding them at a predetermined position in a stacked state; first support means disposed so as to be relatively movable between a basic position and a moving position with respect to the holding means, capable of supporting the components in a stacked state at the basic position, and capable of dropping the components without supporting the center of gravity of the components at the moving position; corresponding to the relative movement of the first support means to the moving position, inserted between the lowermost component located at the bottom of the components and the adjacent component adjacent to and located above the lowermost component, supporting the adjacent component and the upper components located above the adjacent component, and second support means pulled out from below the adjacent component corresponding to the relative movement of the first support means to the basic position; The tip on the insertion side inserted between the lowermost component and the adjacent component of the second support means is thin and needle-shaped. A component extraction device characterized by the above.

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