JP7510237B2 - Parts supply device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a parts supply device.

During the assembly process of vehicle engines, washers are placed in the bolt holes in the cylinder head, and then the cylinder block and cylinder head are secured together with bolts. At this time, manually placing washers one by one in the multiple bolt holes in the cylinder head is extremely time-consuming.

For example, the following Patent Document 1 shows a parts arrangement device that automatically arranges washers in a predetermined arrangement. After arranging multiple washers in a predetermined arrangement with this parts arrangement device, the multiple washers are lifted up with a jig while maintaining this arrangement, and are supplied to the bolt holes in the cylinder head.

JP 2014-37312 A

Using a parts arrangement device like the one above to automatically arrange the washers in a specified array reduces the burden on the worker. However, the worker still needs to lift multiple parts together with a jig and feed them into the cylinder head.

Therefore, the present invention aims to easily supply multiple parts arranged in a specified arrangement to a workpiece while maintaining that arrangement.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a component supplying device for supplying a plurality of components arranged in a predetermined arrangement to a plurality of component mounting sections provided on a workpiece while maintaining the arrangement, the device comprising:
a component setting table on which the plurality of components are arranged in the predetermined arrangement and which can be placed directly above the work;
A plurality of guide members that can be raised and lowered relative to the work between a retreat position disposed below the work and a guide position that protrudes upward from each component mounting portion of the work;
and a drop mechanism for dropping the plurality of components arranged in the predetermined array from the component setting table.

In this component supply device, multiple components are placed in a specified arrangement on a component setting table located directly above the workpiece, and the guide member is raised from its retracted position to the guide position. In this state, the components are dropped from the component setting table by the drop mechanism, and are placed in the component mounting section of the workpiece while being guided by the guide member located directly below.

The part setting table can be provided so as to be movable relative to the work between a part supply position directly above the work and a retracted position retracted from directly above the work. In this case, it is preferable to provide a first interlocking mechanism that raises the guide member from the retracted position to the guide position in conjunction with the operation of moving the part setting table from the retracted position to the part supply position. In this way, by raising the guide member in conjunction with the movement of the part setting table, the effort required for supplying parts to the work is reduced compared to when these operations are performed separately.

The drop mechanism can have a shutter that can be switched between a closed state in which the component is supported from below, and an open state in which support of the component is released. In this case, it is preferable to have a second interlocking mechanism that switches the shutter from the closed state to the open state at the same time as placing the component setting table at the component supply position. In this way, by opening the shutter in conjunction with placing the component setting table at the component supply position, the effort required to supply components to the workpiece is reduced compared to when these operations are performed separately.

As described above, by using the part supply device according to the present invention, multiple parts arranged in a predetermined arrangement can be easily supplied to the workpiece while maintaining that arrangement.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cylinder head. 1 is a front view of a component supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a component setting table is placed at a retracted position. FIG. 3 is a side view of the component supply device of FIG. 2 . FIG. 3 is a plan view of the component supply device of FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a front view of the component supply device, showing a state in which the component setting table is disposed at the component supply position. FIG. 6 is a side view of the component supply device of FIG. 5 . FIG. 6 is a plan view of the component supply device of FIG. 5 . 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the component setting table with the shutter closed. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the component setting table, showing a state in which the shutter is open and the washer is supported by the lower plate. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the component setting table with the shutter closed. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the component setting table with the shutter open. 11 is a plan view of the part setting table, showing a state in which the washer is placed in the washer insertion hole of the lower plate. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Z-Z in FIG. 14. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cylinder head and a washer.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

1 is a plan view of the cylinder head 100 as viewed from the opposite side to the surface attached to the cylinder block (the opposite side to the combustion chamber). The cylinder head 100 has a plug hole 101, a valve lifter guide 102, and a bolt hole 103. The cylinder head 100 is for a three-cylinder engine, and has three plug holes 101. Four valve lifter guides 102 (two on the intake side and two on the exhaust side) are provided around each plug hole 101. The two valve lifter guides 102 on the intake side and the two valve lifter guides on the exhaust side are each surrounded by a valve peripheral wall 104. The cylinder head 100 has a head peripheral wall 105 along the outer periphery. The bolt holes 103 are provided between the valve peripheral walls 104 and between the valve peripheral wall 104 and the head peripheral wall 105. The bolt holes 103 are provided in a total of eight locations: four in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) and two in the lateral direction (up-down direction in FIG. 1).

At the opening of the bolt hole 103, a washer mounting portion 106 is provided as a part mounting portion. The bottom surface of the washer mounting portion 106 is flat. The outer diameter D of the washer mounting portion 106 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the washer. In order to make the cylinder head 100 compact, the spacing between the plug holes 101 is set as small as possible, so the spacing W1 between adjacent valve peripheral walls 104 and the spacing W2 between the valve peripheral wall 104 and the head peripheral wall 105 are smaller than the outer diameter of the washer (≒outer diameter D of the washer mounting portion 106). For this reason, it is difficult to place the washer on the washer mounting portion 106 from above the cylinder head 100. This operation is performed by the following part supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the part supply device mainly comprises a fixed frame 10, a part setting table 20, and a guide unit 30. This part supply device is operated by an operator standing on the left side of Figure 3. In the following explanation, the directions as seen by the operator will be used. Specifically, the longitudinal direction of the cylinder head 100 (left-right direction in Figures 2 and 4) is referred to as the "left-right direction", and the lateral direction of the cylinder head 100 (left-right direction in Figure 3) is referred to as the "front-rear direction". In the front-rear direction, the side of the operator (left side in Figure 3) is referred to as the "front side", and the opposite side is referred to as the "rear side".

The fixed frame 10 has a work set table 11 on which the cylinder head 100 is placed. The cylinder head 100 is placed on a pallet 110 with the surface that is attached to the cylinder block facing downward, and this pallet 110 is placed on the work set table 11. The cylinder head 100 is fixed to a predetermined position on the pallet 110. The work set table 11 is provided with a work positioning mechanism (not shown) that positions the pallet 110 in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions.

The parts setting table 20 is movable relative to the cylinder head 100, which is positioned on the work setting table 11 of the fixed frame 10. The parts setting table 20 is movable between a parts supply position (see Figures 5 to 7) located directly above the cylinder head 100 and a retracted position (see Figures 2 to 4) located directly above the cylinder head 100. The parts setting table 20 is provided so as to be movable along rails 12 in the front-rear direction provided on the fixed frame 10. The parts setting table 20 is provided with a handle 24 that an operator can grasp to slide the parts setting table 20.

The part setting table 20 has an upper plate 21, a shutter 22 provided below the upper plate 21, and a lower plate 23 provided further below the upper plate 21 (see FIG. 9). The upper plate 21 has a circular hole 21a in which the washer 200 is set (see FIG. 4). The part setting table 20 is provided with a part arrangement mechanism 60 that automatically arranges the washers 200 one by one in the hole 21a of the upper plate 21. As the part arrangement mechanism 60 is a known one (for example, the part arrangement device shown in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1), a detailed description is omitted. The shutter 22 and the lower plate 23 cooperate with the guide member 31 to form a drop mechanism that drops the washer 200 from the part setting table 20 (details will be described later).

The shutter 22 is provided adjacent to the lower side of the upper plate 21. The gap between the upper plate 21 and the shutter 22 is smaller than the thickness of the washer 200. The shutter 22 is provided with a hole 22a having the same diameter as or larger than the hole 21a of the upper plate 21 (see FIG. 8). The shutter 22 is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction (left and right direction in the illustrated example) relative to the upper plate 21. The hole 22a of the shutter 22 and the hole 21a of the upper plate 21 are horizontally offset from each other, and the area other than the hole 22a of the shutter 22 is disposed below the hole 21a of the upper plate 21, so that the lower end of the hole 21a of the upper plate 21 is closed by the shutter 22 and in a closed state. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the hole 22a of the shutter 22 is disposed directly below the hole 21a of the upper plate 21, so that the lower end of the hole 21a of the upper plate 21 is opened and in an open state.

The lower plate 23 is provided below the shutter 22 and fixed to the upper plate 21. The gap between the shutter 22 and the lower plate 23 is larger than the thickness of the washer 200. The lower plate 23 has a guide insertion hole 23a directly below the hole 21a of the upper plate 21 (see FIG. 9). The guide insertion hole 23a has a size that allows the guide member 31 described later to be inserted therethrough. The area of the lower plate 23 exposed upward through the hole 21a of the upper plate 21 has a support portion 23b that can support the washer 200. The lower plate 23 has a washer insertion hole 23c that is the same diameter as or larger than the hole 21a of the upper plate 21, provided in front of the guide insertion hole 23a (see FIG. 8). The guide insertion hole 23a and the washer insertion hole 23c are continuous.

The part set table 20 is provided with a shutter opening/closing mechanism 50 for opening and closing the shutter 22. As shown in FIG. 12, the shutter opening/closing mechanism 50 has a lever 51 attached to the upper plate 21 in a state in which it can slide in the front-rear direction (up-down direction in FIG. 12), a slide link 52 attached to the upper plate 21 in a state in which it can slide in the left-right direction (left-right direction in FIG. 12), and a rotation link 53 attached to the upper plate 21 in a state in which it can rotate. The lever 51 is biased toward the front side (upper side in FIG. 12) by a biasing means such as a spring. The slide link 52 is biased toward the side moving away from the lever 51 (right side in FIG. 12). The engaging portion 52a provided on the slide link 52 and the engaged portion 51a provided on the lever 51 are engaged in the left-right direction to restrict the slide link 52 from sliding toward the side moving away from the lever 51. One end of the rotation link 53 is rotatably attached to the slide link 52. The shutters 22 are rotatably attached to both sides of the rotation shaft 53a of the rotation link 53. The slide link 52 is provided with a cam follower 52b. The shutter opening/closing mechanism 50 and the abutment portion 13 (see Figures 2 to 4) provided on the fixed frame 10 cooperate to form a second interlocking mechanism that interlocks the operation of the component setting table 20 with the opening and closing of the shutter 22 (details will be described later).

2 to 4, the guide unit 30 has guide members 31 in the same number as the bolt holes 103 of the cylinder head 100, and a lifting plate 32 to which the lower end of the guide members 31 is fixed. Each guide member 31 is provided directly below each bolt hole 103 of the cylinder head 100 positioned on the work set table 11. As shown in FIG. 11, each guide member 31 has an inclined portion 31a provided at the upper end, a vertical portion 31b extending vertically downward from the lower end of the inclined portion 31a, and an inclined portion 31c extending downward from the lower end of the vertical portion 31b. The upper inclined portion 31a has an upper end inclined to one side of the horizontal direction (right side in FIG. 11) with respect to the vertical direction, and the lower inclined portion 31c has an upper end inclined to the other side of the horizontal direction of the head (left side in FIG. 11) with respect to the vertical direction. A guide plate 15 that guides the lifting direction of the lifting plate 32 is fixed to the fixed frame 10 (see FIG. 3). The guide plate 15 is formed with a guide hole 15a extending in the vertical direction, and the lift plate 32 moves up and down along this guide hole 15a. The guide unit 30 can be raised and lowered between a retracted position (see Figures 2 to 4) in which the guide member 31 is disposed below the cylinder head 100, and a guide position (see Figures 5 to 7) in which the guide member 31 is inserted into the bolt hole 103 of the cylinder head 100 from below, with the upper end of the guide member 31 protruding upward from the cylinder head 100.

The part supply device is provided with a first interlocking mechanism 40 that interlocks the operation of the part setting table 20 with the lifting and lowering of the guide unit 30. The first interlocking mechanism 40 includes a first link 41 and a second link 42 (see FIG. 3). Both links 41 and 42 are provided on both the left and right sides of the fixed frame 10 (see FIG. 2). The lower end of the first link 41 is rotatably attached to the fixed frame 10 (see FIG. 3). The upper end of the first link 41 is attached to a support member 25 provided on the part setting table 20 in a state in which it can be raised and lowered. One end of the second link 42 is attached to the middle part of the first link 41 in a rotatable and slidable state. The other end of the second link 42 is rotatably attached to the lifting plate 32 of the guide unit 30. When the component setting table 20 is moved to the front side, the guide unit 30 rises via the first interlocking mechanism 40, and when the component setting table 20 is moved to the rear side, the guide unit 30 descends via the first interlocking mechanism 40.

The component supply device is equipped with a delay mechanism that delays the start of the descent of the guide unit 30 from the start of the movement to the rear side of the component setting table 20. The delay mechanism includes a support portion 44 provided on a connecting member 43 that connects the left and right first links 41 of the first interlocking mechanism 40, and a supported portion 33 provided on the lift plate 32 of the guide unit 30 (see Figures 2 to 7).

Next, the procedure for supplying the washer 200 to the washer mounting portion 106 of the cylinder head 100 using the above-mentioned part supply device will be described.

First, the pallet 110 on which the cylinder head 100 is mounted is brought onto the work set table 11, and the pallet 110 is positioned in the left-right and front-rear directions by a positioning mechanism (not shown). At this time, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the part set table 20 is placed in a retracted position, retreated to the rear side of the cylinder head 100. After that, the part arrangement mechanism 60 is driven to place the washers 200 one by one in the holes 21a in the upper plate 21 of the part set table 20. At this time, the shutter 22 is in a closed state, and the washer 200 is placed on the shutter 22 (see Figure 9).

Then, the operator grasps the handle 24 and slides the parts setting table 20 to the front side (left side in FIG. 3). As a result, the guide unit 30 rises via the first interlocking mechanism 40 (first link 41 and second link 42), and each guide member 31 is inserted into the bolt hole 103 of the cylinder head 100 from below, and the upper end of each guide member 31 protrudes upward from the cylinder head 100 (see FIG. 9). When the parts setting table 20 is placed in the parts supply position, each washer mounting portion 106 of the cylinder head 100 is disposed directly below each washer 200 set on the parts setting table 20. At this time, the upper end of the guide member 31 protrudes slightly upward from the guide insertion hole 23a of the lower plate 23 of the parts setting table 20, and is disposed below the shutter 22. In addition, the upper end of the guide member 31 is disposed on one horizontal side (the right side in FIG. 9) of the center of the bolt hole 103, and the vertical portion 31b of the guide member 31 is disposed on the other horizontal side (the left side in FIG. 9) of the center of the bolt hole 103.

When the parts setting table 20 reaches the vicinity of the parts supply position, the lever 51 of the shutter opening/closing mechanism 50 abuts against the abutment portion 13 provided on the fixed frame 10, and the movement of the lever 51 toward the front side is restricted (see Figs. 6 and 7). When the parts setting table 20 is further moved toward the front side, the lever 51 slides toward the back side (the lower side of Fig. 13) relative to the upper plate 21, as shown by the chain line in Fig. 13. As a result, the engagement between the engaged portion 51a of the lever 51 and the engaging portion 52a of the slide link 52 is released, and the slide link 52 slides away from the lever 51 (to the right side of Fig. 13) due to the biasing force of the spring, and the rotating link 53 rotates, switching the shutter 22 from the closed state to the open state. As a result, as shown in Fig. 11, the washer 200 placed on the shutter 22 falls from the hole 22a of the shutter 22 and is placed on the support portion 23b of the lower plate 23. At this time, the upper end of the guide member 31 is inserted into the inner circumference of the washer 200.

Then, slide the part setting table 20 to the rear. At this time, the washer 200 engages with the guide member 31, so that its movement to the rear is restricted. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the part setting table 20 (upper plate 21, shutter 22, and lower plate 23) moves to the rear while the washer 200 and guide member 31 are stopped in place. Then, when the washer 200 reaches the washer insertion hole 23c of the lower plate 23, the washer 200 falls from the washer insertion hole 23c while being guided by the guide member 31 as shown in FIG. 15, and is supplied to the washer mounting portion 106 of the cylinder head 100.

At this time, if the guide member 31 starts descending too early, there is a risk that the guide member 31 will slip out of the inner circumference of the washer 200 before the washer 200 reaches the washer insertion hole 23c. Therefore, in this embodiment, the delay mechanism delays the start of the descent of the guide member 31 from the start of the movement of the part set table 20 to the rear side. Specifically, immediately after the part set table 20 starts sliding to the rear side, as shown in FIG. 6, the support part 44 provided on the first link 41 of the first interlocking mechanism 40 supports the supported part 33 of the lift plate 32 from below, thereby restricting the descent of the guide unit 30. Then, as the sliding of the part set table 20 to the rear side progresses and the first link 41 further rotates, the support part 44 retreats from below the supported part 33 to the rear side. As a result, the support of the guide unit 30 by the support part 44 is released, and the guide unit 30 descends in conjunction with the movement of the part set table 20 to the rear side. In this way, by delaying the start of the descent of the guide member 31, the guide member 31 and the washer 200 are maintained in an engaged state, so the washer 200 can be reliably dropped from the washer insertion hole 23c of the lower plate 23.

As shown in FIG. 15, the spacing W1 of the valve peripheral wall 104 (and the spacing W2 between the valve peripheral wall 104 and the head peripheral wall 105) is narrower than the outer diameter of the washer 200 (≈ the outer diameter D of the washer mounting portion 106). Therefore, in order to pass the washer 200 between the valve peripheral walls 104, it is necessary to incline the washer 200 with respect to the horizontal. In this embodiment, the upper end of the guide member 31 is provided with an inclined portion 31a, and the washer 200 inclines with respect to the horizontal when the washer 200 abuts against the inclined portion 31a (see the dashed line in FIG. 15). In addition, the washer 200 is disposed in a position offset with respect to the center of the bolt hole 103 by sliding against the inclined portion 31a. As a result, the washer 200 abuts against one of the valve peripheral walls 104 and is inclined with respect to the horizontal (see the dotted line in FIG. 15). This allows the washer 200 to be tilted and pass reliably between the valve peripheral walls 104.

Then, by further sliding the parts setting table 20 toward the rear, the guide member 31 descends and is pulled downward through the bolt hole 103 of the cylinder head 100. As shown in FIG. 16, even if the fallen washer 200 is not properly positioned in the washer mounting portion 106, the inclined portion 31a of the guide member 31 abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the washer 200 to guide it when the guide member 31 is pulled downward from the inner peripheral surface of the washer 200. This positions the washer 200 in the correct position (see solid line in FIG. 15).

As the part setting table 20 is being slid toward the rear, the cam follower 52b on the slide link 52 of the shutter opening/closing mechanism 50 comes into contact with the cam 14 on the fixed frame 10 (see the dashed line in FIG. 12). This causes it to slide toward the lever 51, and the engaging portion 52a of the slide link 52 engages with the engaged portion 51a of the lever 51. This completes the supply of the washer 200 to the cylinder head 100.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the guide unit 30 may be raised and lowered by a separate operation, without being linked to the movement of the component setting table 20. Alternatively, the guide unit 30 may be fixed directly above the cylinder head 100 without being moved. Also, the shutter opening and closing mechanism 50 may be driven by a separate operation, without being linked to the movement of the component setting table 20.

The configuration of the parts setting table 20 is not limited to the above, and for example, the lower plate 23 may be omitted if not particularly necessary. In this case, the washer 200 drops from the parts setting table 20 at the same time as the shutter 22 is opened, and is supplied to the washer mounting portion 106 of the cylinder head 100.

The mechanism for dropping the washer 200 from the part setting table 20 is not limited to the above, and may be one that uses magnetic force, for example.

The shape of the guide member 31 is not limited to the above, and for example, if not particularly necessary, one or both of the upper inclined portion 31a and the lower inclined portion 31c may be omitted. When both inclined portions 31a and 31c are omitted, it is preferable to position the vertical portion 31b offset from the center of the bolt hole 103 to the side closer to one of the valve peripheral walls 104.

In the above embodiment, the cylinder head 100 is fixed and the part setting table 20 is moved, but the cylinder head 100 may be moved while the part setting table 20 is fixed. Also, in the above embodiment, the cylinder head 100 is fixed and the guide unit 30 is raised and lowered, but the cylinder head 100 may be raised and lowered while the guide unit 30 is fixed.

The part supply device of the present invention can also be used when supplying parts to a workpiece other than a cylinder head, or when supplying parts other than washers, particularly annular parts (nuts, etc.), to a workpiece.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Fixed frame 11 Work setting table 20 Part setting table 21 Upper plate 22 Shutter 23 Lower plate 30 Guide unit 31 Guide member 32 Lifting plate 40 First interlocking mechanism 41, 42 Link 50 Shutter opening/closing mechanism 51 Lever 52 Slide link 53 Rotation link 60 Parts arrangement mechanism 100 Cylinder head 101 Plug hole 102 Valve lifter guide 103 Bolt hole 104 Valve peripheral wall 105 Head peripheral wall 106 Washer mounting portion 200 Washer

Claims (2)

A component supplying device for supplying a plurality of components arranged in a predetermined arrangement to a plurality of component mounting sections provided on a workpiece while maintaining the arrangement, comprising:
a component setting table on which the plurality of components are arranged in the predetermined arrangement and which can be placed directly above the work;
A plurality of guide members that can be raised and lowered relative to the work between a retreat position disposed below the work and a guide position that protrudes upward from each component mounting portion of the work;
a drop mechanism that drops the plurality of components arranged in the predetermined arrangement from the component setting table ,
the component setting table is provided so as to be movable relative to the work between a component supply position directly above the work and a retreat position retreated from directly above the work,
a first interlocking mechanism for lifting the guide member from the retracted position to the guide position in conjunction with an operation of moving the component setting table from the retracted position to the component supply position; the dropping mechanism has a shutter that can be switched between a closed state in which the component is supported from below and an open state in which the support of the component is released,
2. The component supplying device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second interlocking mechanism for switching said shutter from a closed state to an open state simultaneously with said component setting table being placed at said component supplying position.

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