Parts supply device

Abstract

In order to provide a component supply device that can stably supply components by preventing clogging of components in a storage portion, the component supply device according to the present invention comprises a hopper part that ejects components to be supplied; a storage part that sends out, from a component outlet, components ejected from the hopper part while agitating the components by using an agitation member; an air jetting part that is provided near the component outlet of the storage part and jets air that moves components piled up near the component outlet; and a control unit that controls the timing of air jetting of the air jetting part in accordance with the position of the agitation member.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a component feeding device capable of preventing component jamming in a storage portion and stably feeding components. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, component feeding devices have been used for sequentially feeding out components in assembly processes and the like in factories. In order to stabilize a production line, the component feeding device is required to have a capability of stably feeding out a large number of charged components without causing jamming. As an example of a mechanism for preventing component jamming, a component feeding device provided with an air ejection structure has already been proposed (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2). [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-280129 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-40229 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] However, the components handled in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are chip-shaped circuit components, and the chip-shaped circuit components are relatively lightweight, so it is possible to agitate the chip-shaped circuit components accumulated near the outlet of the storage portion by ejecting air. However, for heavier components, it is difficult to move the components by air ejection. If the components cannot be moved by air, there has been a problem that the jamming of components near the outlet of the storage portion cannot be eliminated.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a component feeding device capable of preventing component jamming in a storage portion and stably feeding components. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] The parts supply device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a hopper section for discharging parts to be supplied; a storage section for sending out parts from a parts outlet while stirring the parts discharged from the hopper section with an agitator; an air ejection section provided near the parts outlet of the storage section for ejecting air to move the parts accumulated near the parts outlet; and a control section for controlling the timing of air ejection in the air ejection section according to the position of the agitator.

[0007] Furthermore, the parts supply device according to the present invention is characterized in that the stirring member stirs the parts in the storage section by rotational motion around a rotation axis, and the rotating stirring member stirs the parts that have accumulated near the parts outlet, and the control unit controls the air to be ejected from the air ejection section at the timing when it detects that the rotating stirring member has reached a predetermined first position near the parts outlet.

[0008] Furthermore, the parts supply device according to the present invention is characterized in that the stirring member has an opening at a point along the distance from the center of rotation to the tip portion through which the parts can pass.

[0009] Furthermore, the parts supply device according to the present invention is characterized in that the control unit controls the rotation of the stirring member to temporarily stop when it detects that the tip of the stirring member has reached a predetermined second position after the stirring member has been rotated a predetermined number of times. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, by controlling the timing of air ejection according to the position of the agitator, it becomes possible to agitate the parts that have been lifted by the air ejection with the agitator, thereby preventing clogging of parts near the outlet of the storage section. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a simplified perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a simplified explanatory diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the hopper section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the hopper section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a simplified perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a storage section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the storage section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the storage section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the storage section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the storage section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This flowchart shows an example of the control flow of the storage section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] [First Embodiment] Hereinafter, an example of a parts supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a component supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a component supply device 100 includes a hopper unit 10, a storage unit 20, and a component supply path 30. The storage unit 20 for storing components 50 includes a storage unit housing 40, and the storage unit housing 40 is fixed onto a pedestal 60 by a fixing plate 70.

[0014] The hopper unit 10 has a function of discharging components 50 to be supplied to the storage unit 20. The hopper unit 10 may have any configuration as long as it can supply the components 50 to the storage unit 20. However, since a large amount of components 50 being fed into the storage unit 20 at once causes clogging, a configuration in which the supply amount does not become excessive is preferable. The configuration may be such that a fixed amount of components 50 are fed into the storage unit 20 by controlling the operation of the hopper unit 10, or the amount of components 50 inside the storage unit 20 may be detected by some method, and the components 50 are supplied from the hopper unit 10 to the storage unit 20 when the amount of components 50 decreases.

[0015] The storage unit 20 has a function of feeding the components 50 discharged from the hopper unit out of a component outlet while agitating the components 50 by an agitation member. The storage unit 20 includes a bowl portion 21 for storing the components 50, and an agitation member 22 for agitating the components 50 stored in the bowl portion 21. Although a cylindrical bowl portion 21 is shown in this example, this is merely an example. The bowl portion 21 may have a shape obtained by cutting a sphere whose bottom surface is curved in an arc shape, and when a component outlet described later is formed in the center of the bowl portion 21, the bowl portion 21 may be a conical bowl portion like a funnel.

[0016] Further, the stirring member 22 is configured to stir the component 50 in the storage section 20 by rotational movement about the rotating shaft 23, and is configured such that the component 50 retained near the component outlet 25 can be stirred by the rotating stirring member 22. In the present example, the stirring members 22 are provided in two directions that differ by 180° from the rotating shaft 23, but this can be set as appropriate. The stirring member 22 may be configured to be provided at only one position in the radial direction, or may be configured to be provided at three positions differing from each other by 120°. Further, the stirring member 22 may be provided with an opening 24 through which the component 50 can pass at a midpoint between the rotation center and the tip end portion. Although not shown in the figure, it is preferable to adopt a configuration for detecting the position of the tip end portion of the stirring member 22. Any configuration may be used for detecting the position of the tip end portion of the stirring member 22.

[0017] Further, a component outlet 25 through which components are delivered is formed at the end of the movement along the inner slope of the bowl portion 21. It is preferable that this component outlet 25 functions as a gate through which the component 50 can pass only in a predetermined orientation. For example, in the case of a component such as a flanged nut that has a different silhouette when flipped upside down, it is assumed that there is a desire to feed the components with their vertical orientation aligned. Therefore, to cope with such a situation, it is conceivable to configure the component outlet 25 to define the direction in which the flange portion can pass.

[0018] Further, in the storage section 20, an air ejection section 26 for ejecting air to move components retained near the component outlet is provided near the component outlet. If a large number of components 50 accumulate and become stagnant near the component outlet 25, this will cause more components 50 to accumulate inside the storage section 20. Further, when the component outlet 25 is caused to function as a gate through which the component 50 can pass only in a predetermined orientation as described above, components 50 that are not correctly oriented cannot pass through the component outlet 25, which may cause clogging with components 50. Therefore, air is ejected from the air ejection section 26 onto the components 50 retained near the component outlet 25 to eliminate the retention of the components 50. The details of the timing of air ejection will be described later.

[0019] The parts supply path 30 has the function of transporting the parts 50 sent out from the parts outlet of the storage section 20 to the supply target position. The parts 50 sent out from the parts outlet 25 are aligned as they pass through the alignment passage 31 of the parts supply path 30 and are sent out from the end 32 to the supply target position.

[0020] Although not shown in the figures, the parts supply device 100 also includes a control unit for controlling the rotation of the stirring member 22 and the timing of air ejection from the air ejection unit 26. Details of the control will be described later.

[0021] Figure 2 is a simplified explanatory diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a hopper section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in Figure 2, the hopper section 10 includes a parts input space 11 for holding the input parts 50, a first partition plate 12 and a second partition plate 13 that divide the parts input space 11, and an input port 14 for inputting the parts 50 into the storage section 20. In the example shown in Figure 2, the hopper section 10 is configured to be driven and controlled so that the height relationship between the end with the input port 14 (hereinafter referred to as the front end) and the opposite end (hereinafter referred to as the rear end) reverses at predetermined time intervals.

[0022] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the hopper section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3(A) to 3(F) show the operation of the hopper section. First, as shown in Figure 3(A), a large number of parts 50 are fed into the parts input space 11 at the rear end of the hopper section 10. In the state shown in Figure 3(A), the hopper section 10 is controlled so that the front end is higher and the rear end is lower, so the hopper section 10 is tilted so that the parts 50 inside move towards the rear end.

[0023] Next, Figure 3(B) shows the hopper section 10 being driven and controlled so that its front end is lower and its rear end is higher. In this state shown in Figure 3(B), the hopper section 10 is tilted so that the internal components 50 move towards the front end, so all the components 50 move towards the front end. At this time, the components 50 are dispersed to the left and right by the first partition plate 12 which is bent at an angle of approximately 90°, and are held in place by the second partition plate 13, so that no components move into the input section 14.

[0024] Next, Figure 3(C) shows the state during the drive control process when the hopper section 10 is again driven so that the front end is higher and the rear end is lower, and Figure 3(D) shows the state when the hopper section 10 has reached the point where the front end is higher and the rear end is lower. As shown in Figures 3(C) and (D), the part 50 that was held by the second partition plate 13 is partially returned to the rear end side, and the remainder moves to the point where the first partition plate 12 is bent at an angle of approximately 90°.

[0025] Figure 3(E) shows the state during the process of re-controlling the drive so that the front end of the hopper section 10 is lower and the rear end is higher, and Figure 3(F) shows the state after the front end of the hopper section 10 has been lowered and the rear end is higher. As shown in Figures 3(E) and (F), the parts 50 that were stuck at the point where the first partition plate 12 was bent at an angle of approximately 90°, some of which return to the position of the second partition plate 13, and the rest pass between the two second partition plates 13 and are fed into the storage section 20 from the input port 14.

[0026] In this way, by controlling the drive so that the height relationship between the front and rear ends of the hopper section 10 reverses at predetermined time intervals, it is possible to limit the amount of parts 50 fed into the storage section 20 from the input port 14. Furthermore, by changing the length and installation position of the first partition plate 12 and the second partition plate 13, it is possible to adjust the amount of parts 50 fed into the input port 14.

[0027] Figure 4 is a simplified perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a storage section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in Figure 4, the storage section 20 has a cylindrical bowl section 21 inside which stirring members 22 are provided in two directions 180° apart around a rotation axis 23, and each stirring member 22 has an opening 24 formed at a point midway from the rotation center to the tip, through which parts 50 can pass. A parts outlet 25 is formed at the end of the inclination inside the bowl section 21, through which parts are sent out, and an air ejection section 26 is provided adjacent to the parts outlet 25 to eject air to move parts that have accumulated near the parts outlet. A parts supply passage 30 is connected to the parts outlet 25.

[0028] Figures 5 to 8 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the storage section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Based on these Figures 5 to 8, the position of the stirring member 22 and the timing of air ejection will be explained.

[0029] Figure 5 shows a state in which parts 50 are accumulated near the parts outlet 25 of the storage section 20. This Figure 5 shows the tip of the agitator 22, which rotates counterclockwise, approaching the location where parts 50 are accumulated.

[0030] Figure 6 shows the state when air is being ejected from the air ejection unit 26. The system controls the air ejection unit 26 to eject air when the tip of the counterclockwise rotating stirring member 22 reaches a preset first position. In this example, the first position is set to approximately the 7 o'clock position, assuming the position where the parts outlet 25 is installed is at the 6 o'clock position on a clock face. This 7 o'clock position is intended to be just before the stirring member 22 makes contact with the parts 50 that are stuck near the parts outlet 25. When it is detected that the tip of the stirring member 22 has reached the 7 o'clock position, the control is executed to eject air from the air ejection unit 26, and the stuck parts 50 are moved by the air. Immediately after the parts 50 are moved, the rotating stirring member 22 makes contact with them.

[0031] Figure 7 shows the state after the air has been blown out and the parts 50 near the parts outlet 25 have been stirred by the stirring member 22. After being moved by the air, the parts 50 are no longer tightly packed together and are in a state where they can be easily stirred by the stirring member 22. Some of the parts 50 stirred by the stirring member 22 pass through the opening 24 and return to the vicinity of the parts outlet 25, while some move from the parts outlet 25 to the parts supply passage 30.

[0032] Figure 8 shows the state in which the tip of the stirring member 22 has reached a preset second position and the rotational movement has been temporarily paused. If the stirring member 22 rotates further from the state in Figure 7 and it is detected that the tip of the stirring member 22 has reached the preset second position, the rotational movement of the stirring member 22 is controlled to be temporarily paused. In this example, the second position is set to approximately the 2 o'clock position when the position where the part outlet 25 is installed is considered to be at the 6 o'clock position on a clock face. This 2 o'clock position is intended to be the position where the part 50 lifted by the tip of the stirring member 22 begins to roll along the slope of the bowl section 21. Therefore, it does not necessarily have to be 2 o'clock; any position between 3 o'clock and 12 o'clock where the stirring member 22 stops in an inclined state is acceptable. A part of the part 50 lifted by the tip of the stirring member 22 passes through the opening 24 and moves towards the part outlet 25. After a predetermined pause, the rotation of the stirring member 22 is resumed. Alternatively, the system may pause at the second position each time, or it may pause at the second position only once every predetermined number of rotations, for example, every three rotations.

[0033] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the control flow of the storage section in a parts supply device corresponding to at least one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 9, the control process in the storage section 20 is started by the control unit of the parts supply device 100 starting the rotation process of the stirring member 22 (step S101). Next, the control unit obtains the current position of the tip of the stirring member 22 (step S102). Next, the control unit determines whether the position of the tip of the stirring member 22 has reached a first position (step S103). If it is determined that the position of the tip of the stirring member 22 has reached a first position (S103-Y), the control unit ejects air from the air ejection unit 26 (step S104) and proceeds to step S102. If it is determined that the position of the tip of the stirring member 22 has not reached a first position (S103-N), the control unit proceeds to step S105. Next, the control unit determines whether the position of the tip of the stirring member 22 has reached a second position (step S105). If the control unit determines that the tip of the stirring member 22 has reached the second position (S105-Y), it stops the rotation of the stirring member 22 at the second position for a certain period of time (step S106). Then, after the period of time has elapsed, the control unit resumes the rotation of the stirring member 22 (step S107) and proceeds to step S102. If the control unit determines that the tip of the stirring member 22 has not reached the second position (S103-N), it proceeds to step S108. Finally, the control unit determines whether or not a predetermined termination condition has been met (step S108). If the control unit determines that the predetermined termination condition has not been met (S108-N), it proceeds to step S102. If the control unit determines that the predetermined termination condition has been met (S108-Y), it terminates the control process in the storage unit 20. Examples of predetermined termination conditions include the elapsed time, the number of rotations of the stirring member 22 reaching a predetermined value, and the failure to detect any components 50 in the hopper section 10 or storage section 20.

[0034] As described above, the parts supply device 100 according to the present invention includes a hopper section for discharging parts to be supplied, a storage section for sending out parts from a parts outlet while stirring the parts discharged from the hopper section with an agitator, an air ejection section provided near the parts outlet of the storage section for ejecting air to move parts that have accumulated near the parts outlet, and a control unit for controlling the timing of air ejection at the air ejection section according to the position of the agitator. By controlling the timing of air ejection according to the position of the agitator, it becomes possible to agitate parts that have been lifted by the air ejection with the agitator, thereby preventing clogging of parts near the outlet of the storage section.

[0035] In particular, if the shape of the parts outlet 25 is provided as a gate that can only allow parts to pass in the correct orientation in order to send out parts with different silhouettes when inverted, such as flanged nuts, from the storage section 20 in the correct orientation, then if the parts 50 are in the wrong orientation, they cannot pass through the parts outlet 25 and the parts 50 will accumulate. However, as in this example, by stirring the parts 50 that have been lifted by the air jet with the stirring member 22, it is possible to change the orientation of the parts 50 and encourage them to pass through the parts outlet 25 in the correct orientation, thereby eliminating the accumulation of parts 50 and enabling a stable supply of parts 50.

[0036] [Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, it was described that air is always ejected from the air ejection part 26 when the tip of the stirring member 22 reaches the first position, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, a sensor may be provided to determine whether or not parts 50 are accumulated near the parts outlet 25, and control may be performed to eject air if parts 50 are accumulated near the parts outlet 25, and not eject air if parts 50 are not accumulated near the parts outlet 25. An example of such a sensor is an infrared sensor. By performing such control, it is possible to control the system so that air is ejected only when necessary. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 100 parts supply device 10 Hopper section 11. Parts loading space 12. First partition plate 13. Second partition plate 14 Inlet 20 Storage section 21 Bowl Section 22 Stirring member 23 Rotation axis 24 openings 25 Parts Outlet 26 Air ejection section 30 parts supply routes 31 Queueing aisle 32 End 40 Storage Unit Housing 50 parts 60 base 70 Fixed plate

Claims

1. A hopper section for discharging the parts to be supplied, A storage section that discharges the parts from the hopper section and sends them out from the parts outlet while stirring the parts discharged from the hopper section with an agitator, An air ejection unit is provided near the component outlet of the storage unit for ejecting air to move the component that has accumulated near the component outlet, The system includes a control unit for controlling the timing of air ejection in the air ejection section according to the position of the stirring member, The stirring member stirs the components in the storage section by rotational motion around a rotation axis, and the rotating stirring member stirs the components that have accumulated near the component outlet. The control unit controls the air ejection unit to eject air from the air ejection unit at the timing when it detects that the rotating stirring member has reached a predetermined first position near the component outlet. Parts supply device.

2. The stirring member has an opening at a point along its length from the center of rotation to the tip, through which the component can pass. The parts supply device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit controls the stirring member to temporarily stop its rotational movement when it detects that the tip of the stirring member has reached a predetermined second position after rotating the stirring member a predetermined number of times. The parts supply device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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