JP2684187B2 - Parts aligner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to a component aligning device, and more specifically, for storing components once in a storage hole of a component storage tray and then aligning the components in an alignment hole of a component storage tray. The present invention relates to a component aligning device that can extremely easily align components, and is particularly suitable for aligning vertically elongated components such as screws or pins.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, various types of component aligning devices have been provided.

What has been widely used as such a part aligning device is one in which the parts are aligned in the aligning holes of the part aligning device by causing the part aligning tray to repeatedly vibrate and tilt by the vibration generator and the tilting device. there were.

As a vibrating device used in such a part aligning device, conventionally, for example, a vibrating device which repeatedly converts an eccentric motion by an eccentric cam fixed to an output shaft of a motor into a linear motion, or an electromagnetic solenoid for excitation and demagnetization. There have been provided vibration generators and the like that use reciprocating linear motion utilizing forward and backward movement of a cylinder.

However, in such a conventional vibration generator, although it is possible to simply generate vibration, a technical field which is difficult to apply is generated because the direction of vibration is uniaxial.

Especially in recent years, with the miniaturization of components,
An automation line for assembling a workpiece by a robot arranged on an assembly line has come to be used.

In such a line, a small part is always supplied to a certain position so that the robot manipulator can easily take out a small part, or the part is arranged in a part arrangement dish formed in a certain shape, and the robot is controlled by the robot. There has been a need for the manipulator to perform assembling while sequentially taking out parts from the part arrangement dish.

However, among the parts, particularly small parts, such as screws having a small diameter or vertically long and directional parts such as pins, are not only difficult to supply to a certain position by the parts feeder. It was also difficult to align them on the parts alignment tray.

Therefore, the same applicant has already arranged the arrangement of vertically long parts by setting the vibration direction of the vibration device as a circular vibration and the component alignment device that facilitates the alignment of the parts, or the vibration direction of the vibration device as the vertical vibration. An easy parts aligning device is provided.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since such a component aligning device uses a vibrating device that is different from the vibrating device used in the conventionally provided component aligning devices, the vibrating device itself. And the like, and the parts aligning device also needs to be improved from the conventional one.

Therefore, conventionally, for example, as represented by the invention described in JP-A-57-160815, parts are stored in advance in a large-diameter storage hole, and then provided so as to correspond to the storage hole. Also, prepare a component alignment tray having an alignment hole for accommodating one component, accommodate a plurality of components in the accommodation hole, and then position the alignment hole of the component alignment dish so as to correspond to each accommodation hole, and By shaking the parts aligning tray downward, the parts are aligned and stored in the alignment holes.

However, in such a method, if the whole is shaken manually, variations in alignment probability due to individual differences occur, and even when shaken using a vibration device, etc., short screws can be easily aligned. However, it was known that there are some parts that are difficult to enter into the alignment holes, such as in the case of long screws.

Therefore, in the present invention, the component aligning device aligns the components in the aligning holes one by one with the component storing tray in which a large-diameter storing hole is formed in the component, which makes it extremely easy to store the components. In order to form a component alignment tray to be used by stacking on a component storage tray and a vibration inclining device, first store a plurality of components in the component storage hole, and then store the components in the component storage hole. By stacking the parts aligning trays so that the parts aligning trays are located below the plate, and applying vibration in a tilting direction to the parts aligning trays, at the same time, tilting the parts aligning trays themselves, Parts alignment that ensures that equipment is stored in the alignment holes and that it is possible to align vertically oriented and directional components such as screws with a small diameter that are particularly difficult to align. The purpose is to provide a device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a component storage tray having a plurality of storage holes for storing a plurality of components at the same time, and a component storage tray that is stacked on the component storage tray. A component alignment tray that has a number of component alignment holes for accommodating a single component corresponding to the storage holes of the component storage trays, and vibration is generated when the component storage tray and the component alignment tray are stacked with the component alignment tray facing down. And a vibration inclining device for applying the vibration inclining device, the vibration inclining device is formed so as to generate vibration in an inclined direction with respect to the parts aligning tray, and further, the inclination of the parts aligning tray is inclined in one direction. It is characterized in that it is formed so as to be inclined in the other direction like a seesaw.

[Operation] According to the present invention, first, a large number of components are positioned on the component storage tray, and the components are positioned in the storage holes by appropriately operating the component storage tray.

Here, as the operation to be added to the parts storage tray, an operation in which vibration and tilt are repeated may be used, or simply tilting is sufficient.

That is, since the storage hole is formed with a large diameter so that a plurality of parts can be stored at the same time, the parts can be stored even with a simple inclination.

Next, the parts alignment tray is placed on the parts storage tray with the parts stored in the storage holes, and the top and bottom are turned over.

Then, since the storage holes of the component storage tray and the alignment holes of the component alignment tray are formed correspondingly, the components in the storage holes are set upright with respect to the alignment holes.

In this state, the component storage tray and the component alignment tray, which are stacked, are positioned on the vibration inclining device.

Then, the vibration inclining device applies vibration in an inclined direction to the parts aligning tray and inclines the parts aligning tray alternately.

Then, of the many parts in the storage holes of the parts storage tray,
A single component will be located in the alignment hole of the component alignment tray.

As a result, the components are located in the alignment holes of the component alignment tray.

According to the present invention, when the components are stored in the storage holes in a standing manner, they can be aligned in the alignment holes in the same posture, so that the components are vertically long such as screws or pins with a small diameter. This is effective for aligning directional parts and the like.

The vibrating body in the dish will vibrate in a mixture of longitudinal vibration and lateral vibration.

When such a vibration occurs, the component is placed in a so-called odle state on the component storage tray due to the vertical vibration, so that the component can be easily stored in the storage hole. Of course, even at this time, since the lateral vibration becomes circular vibration, the object to be vibrated gradually moves in the left-right direction by the tilting device while being applied with a fine circular vibration.

Due to such circular vibration and movement of the component due to the inclination, if the circular movement is a rotation to the right, the component will gradually move to the left side in the component storage hole when viewed from above the inclination.
Of course, if it is tilted in the opposite direction, it will gradually approach the left side as seen from above.

Therefore, by repeating the vibration and the tilting in different directions performed like a seesaw at least once, it is possible to reliably store the components.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, a vibrating component alignment apparatus as a background for explaining the present invention and an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated examples.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vibration tilting device which is a background for explaining the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view of a vibration device 10 used in the vibration tilting device shown in FIG. is there.

3 is a perspective view of the component storage tray 30, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a state in which the component 50 is stored in the storage hole 31 of the component storage tray 30. 6 shows the parts storage tray
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a case where the component 50 is moved from the storage hole 31 of 30 to the alignment hole 41 of the component alignment tray 40, and the case where the shapes of the alignment holes 41 are different from each other.

Further, FIG. 7 is a front view showing an embodiment of the vibration tilting device according to the present invention, and FIGS.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of the component 50 when the vibrating component aligning device shown in the figure is used.

The vibration inclining device includes an inclining device 20 fixed to a base frame 60, a vibrating device 10 rotatably supported by the base frame 60 via an inclining shaft 61, a component storage tray 30 and a component aligning tray that can be fixed to the vibrating device 10. It consists of 40.

The tilting device 20 is formed by two cylinders 21 and 22 provided on a base frame 60 with two tilting shafts 61 interposed therebetween.

These two cylinders 21 and 22 are connected to one cylinder 21
When the cylinder rod of, the cylinder rod of the other cylinder 22 does not project, and conversely, when the cylinder rod of the cylinder 22 projects to the other, the cylinder rod of one cylinder 21 does not project. The vibrating device 10 is alternately tilted in a seesaw shape in the left-right direction in the drawing by alternately projecting both cylinders 21 and 22.

Further, the vibrating device 10 includes a stationary frame 11 pivotally supported by the base frame 60 by an inclined shaft 61, a vibrating body 13 connected to the stationary frame 11 by a flexible coupling body 12, and the vibrating body 13. 13
And a eccentric body 16 fixed to an output shaft 15 of the motor 14.

Further, here, the connecting body 12 is formed of a flexible material such as a spring or a vibration-proof rubber.

Further, the motor 14 is provided so that the output shaft 15 is perpendicular to the surface of the vibrating body 13. Therefore, the rotation of the eccentric body 16 due to the rotation of the motor 14 causes the vibrating body 13 to oscillate in a circular shape.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the component storage tray 30 is fixed to the vibrating body 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the component storage tray 30 has a large number of storage holes 31 recessed therein. If the component 50 to be housed is a screw, the housing hole 31 is formed to have a diameter several times as large as the screw diameter of the screw.

Although the detailed overall view is omitted, the component alignment tray 40 is formed to have substantially the same outer shape as that of the component storage tray 30 and has an alignment hole corresponding to the storage hole 31 of the component storage tray 30.
41 are drilled. If the component 50 is a screw, the alignment hole 41 has a diameter slightly larger than the screw diameter of the screw, as shown in FIG. 5 or 6.

 Next, the operation of this vibration alignment device will be described.

First, the state before the start of operation will be described.
Reference numeral 13 is inclined with respect to the illustrated example shown in FIG. 1 with the inclination axis 61 as the center.

The following description will be made on the assumption that this inclination direction is inclined to the left side in FIG. Also a vibration device
In the parts storage tray 30 fixed to the vibrating body 13 of 10,
It is assumed that a large number of screws are included as the parts 50 to be aligned.

In such a state, the cylinder rod of the right cylinder 22 protrudes upward, and the cylinder rod of the left cylinder 21 is retracted.

When the motor 14 is rotated in this state, the eccentric body 16 fixed to the output shaft 15 of the motor 14 rotates, and the eccentric rotation of the eccentric body 16 applies a load that causes the motor 14 to perform a circular motion. .

However, at this time, since the motor 14 is fixed to the vibrating body 13 and the vibrating body 13 is fixed to the stationary frame 11 by the flexible connecting body 12, the stationary frame 11 was considered as a stationary axis. Sometimes, due to the load in the circular motion direction of the motor 14,
Due to the flexibility of the connecting body 12, the vibrating body 13 repeats a fine circular motion.

This fine circular motion acts on the vibrating body 13 as so-called circular vibration.

At the same time that the motor 14 is rotated, the cylinder rod of the left cylinder 21 is gradually projected and the cylinder rod of the right cylinder 22 is gradually retracted, so that the vibrating device 10 itself is moved. It will gradually shift from left tilt to right tilt like an exercise.

In addition, even when the tilting direction about the tilting shaft 61 is changed by changing the tilting direction, the motor
Since 14 continues to rotate, the vibrating body 13 repeats fine circular vibrations.

In this way, the cylinder rod of the cylinder 21 on the left side of the drawing protrudes, and eventually the vibrating body 13
It will tilt to the right around the tilt axis 61.

When vibration occurs in such a vibrating body 13, the vibrating body 13
Since the component storage tray 30 is fixed to the component storage tray 30, fine vibrations are also generated in the component storage tray 30. Due to such fine vibration of the component storage tray 30, the screw as the component 50 in the component storage tray 30 is also vibrated.

Then, the screw located on the upper surface of this parts storage tray 30
Regardless of whether the screw portion is at the bottom or the screw head is at the bottom, a plurality of screws enter the alignment hole 41.

Next, the component storage tray 30 in which a plurality of screws are stored in the storage holes 31 in this manner and the component alignment tray 40 having no screws in the alignment holes 41 are stacked and turned upside down.

After that, stack the parts storage tray 30 and the parts alignment tray in this way.
40 and 40 are fixed to the vibrating body 13 to cause the same vibration and inclination as described above.

Then, among the screws in the storage hole 31, the screw part is aligned with the alignment hole 41.
With respect to the screw oriented, the screw portion of the screw is located in the alignment hole 41 of the component alignment tray 40.

Therefore, in this way, the screws are aligned in the alignment hole 41 of the parts alignment tray 40.
After the inside is completed, remove the parts storage tray 30 and leave only the parts alignment tray 40.
By taking out 40, the alignment of the parts 50 is completed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the alignment hole 41 may be formed as a hole having the same screw diameter as that of the screw, or the large diameter portion 42 for positioning the screw head of the screw may be formed above the alignment hole 41. It can also be provided and formed.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
15 shows a case where 15 is inclined with respect to the vibrating body 13.

When formed in this manner, the eccentric rotation of the motor 14 causes the vibrating body 13 to vibrate in a mixture of longitudinal vibration and lateral vibration.

When such vibration occurs, the vertical vibration causes the component 50
Is in the so-called odle state on the parts storage tray 30, so that it can be easily stored in the storage hole 31. Of course, even at this time, since the lateral vibration becomes circular vibration, the object to be vibrated gradually moves in the left-right direction by the tilting device 20 while being applied with a fine circular vibration.

If the movement of the component 50 due to such circular vibration and inclination is movement to the right, as shown in FIG. 8, all the components gathered on the left side of the vibrating body 13 before the movement is started. Although 50 gradually moves to the right by vibrating while tilting to the right, it is assumed that the lateral vibration of the vibrating body 13 itself is, for example, clockwise rotation as shown in FIG. , The component 50 receives the load from the clockwise rotation and
Attempt to move to the right of 13.

Therefore, at this time, the component 50 moves to the right while moving upward in FIG. 8 of the vibrating body 13.

After completing the movement to the right in this way,
Although the parts 50 on the 13 are gathered to the right of the vibrating body 13,
This time, as shown in FIG. 9, due to a reverse inclination such as a seesaw in the opposite direction, that is, to the left, this time, it will move to the left side of the vibrating body 13 while gathering on the front side in the drawing.

Therefore, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the component 50 in the component storage tray 30 fixed to the vibrating body 13 of the vibration inclining device 20.
Is different in the going and returning in the tilting direction such as the seesaw which is tilted in the opposite direction on the vibrating body 13 by the longitudinal vibration by the rotation of the motor 14, the lateral vibration in the circular direction and the tilting by the tilting device 20. It will move while acting so as to approach the direction.

Therefore, while the vibrator 13 is circularly vibrating in the horizontal direction, the tilting device 20 repeats tilting to the right and tilting to the left like a seesaw, so that the component 50 becomes a component aligning tray.
It moves so as to have a substantially uniform distribution in 40.

Therefore, it moves on the parts alignment tray 40 in an extremely uniform state and is aligned in all alignment holes 41.

In the above description, the cylinders 21 and 22 are easy to use if a speed controller is attached to the cylinders 21 and 22 so as to gradually move forward and backward. Further, it is also possible to provide only one cylinder and repeat the inclination by moving the cylinder forward and backward.

Although the tilting device 20 is described using a cylinder as an example, the tilting device 20 may be formed by other methods such as the tilting device 20 using an eccentric cam.

Although it has been described as a seesaw-shaped inclination, even when it is formed so that one end is pivotally supported and the other end is vertically moved, it is the same as the state in which only one side of the support shaft of the seesaw is used. Can be considered.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the present invention, the component aligning device includes a component storage tray in which a storage hole having a large diameter is formed in the component, and the component can be stored very easily. Are formed by a vibration inclining device and a component aligning tray that is used by stacking the components on the component storing tray in order to align them one by one. First, a plurality of components are stored in the component storing hole, and then the components are stored. Place the parts alignment tray on the parts storage tray stored in the hole so that the parts alignment tray is located below the tray, and apply vibration in the tilting direction to the parts alignment tray while simultaneously aligning the parts. By alternately inclining the dish itself like a seesaw, it is possible to securely store the equipment in the alignment hole, and it is particularly difficult to align it. It is also possible to align parts with is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

The drawings show a vibrating component aligning apparatus and an embodiment of the present invention which are the background for explaining the present invention, and FIG. 1 shows a vibrating tilting apparatus which is the background for explaining the present invention. It is a front view. Further, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the component storage tray, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an essential part showing a state where the component is stored in the storage hole of the component storage tray, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are parts. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a case where a component moves from the storage hole of the storage tray to the alignment hole of the component alignment tray, and showing a case where the shapes of the alignment holes are different from each other. Further, FIG. 7 is a front view showing an embodiment of the vibration inclining device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are parts when the vibration part aligning device shown in FIG. 7 is used. It is an explanatory view for showing the flow of. 10 …… Vibrator, 11 …… Still frame 12 …… Coupling, 13 …… Vibrator 14 …… Motor, 15 …… Output shaft 16 …… Eccentric body, 20 …… Tilt device 21 …… Cylinder, 22… … Cylinder 30 …… Parts storage tray, 31 …… Storage hole 40 …… Parts alignment tray, 41 …… Alignment hole 42 …… Large diameter part, 50 …… Parts 60 …… Base frame, 61 …… Inclined shaft

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A component storage tray having a plurality of storage holes for simultaneously storing a plurality of components, and a single component corresponding to the storage hole of the component storage tray when the component storage tray is stacked on the component storage tray. The component tilting tray having a large number of component aligning holes, and the vibration tilting device for applying vibration to a stack of the component storage tray and the component aligning tray with the component aligning tray facing down are formed. It is formed so as to generate vibration in an inclined direction with respect to the aligning tray, and further, the parts aligning tray is formed so that the inclination in one direction and the inclination in the other direction are performed in a seesaw shape. A device for aligning parts.