Bulk Feeder Vibration Control for Component Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bulk feeders that supply components in a bulk state face challenges in ensuring an adequate number of components are available for collection by suction nozzles, leading to inefficiencies due to oversupply or undersupply in the supply region.
Innovation Solution
A bulk feeder with a vibration device and conveyance control system that adjusts the number of components in the supply region by conveying them along a track member, allowing for efficient alignment and dispersion within the supply area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If components are supplied in bulk state without alignment mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of component supply is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies vibration to the track member to enable components to move along the conveyance path from the reception region to the supply region. The vibration mechanism causes components to oscillate and progress along the track, achieving both component conveyance and dispersion without requiring complex alignment mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and supply precision.
2Productivity
If number of components in supply region is increased, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to alignment mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration device enables efficient component supply by causing components to oscillate along the conveyance path, naturally dispersing them into the supply region. This mechanism achieves high productivity through controlled vibration that promotes component movement and distribution without requiring complex alignment systems, thereby improving component supply efficiency while maintaining device simplicity.
3Area of stationary object
If bulk feeder size is reduced, then device complexity is reduced, but quantity of components that can be supplied is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration mechanism enables effective use of limited space by causing components to oscillate and distribute themselves along the conveyance path within the compact feeder structure. This dynamic vibration-based conveyance system maximizes the number of components that can be supplied from a reduced-width feeder, achieving both compact size and adequate component quantity through efficient spatial utilization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures a suitable number of components are available for collection, improving the efficiency of the component supplying process and reducing the size of the feeder, thereby enhancing the overall mounting process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration device provided in the feeder main body and configured to apply vibration to the track member such that the components on the conveyance path are conveyed
Data Source
AI summary
A bulk feeder includes a feeder main body, a track member having a reception region in which multiple components discharged from a component case accommodating the components in a bulk state are received, a supply region to which the components are supplied, and a conveyance path of the components from the reception region to the supply region, a vibration device configured to apply vibration to the track member such that the components on the conveyance path are conveyed, and a conveyance control section configured to execute a feeding operation of conveying the components on the conveyance path in a direction toward the supply region and a returning operation of conveying the components on the conveyance path in a direction toward the reception region.