JP2009161341A - Workpiece alignment device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store pin-shaped members formed of ferrous material and having an orientation in a state of being in a uniformed orientation. <P>SOLUTION: A workpiece alignment device comprises: a lift-up mechanism 7 lifting a workpiece 9, which has the form of a semi-spherical shape at an end 91 and a plain face form at the other end 95, in a state with a predetermined inclination angle; a slope way 2 sliding the workpiece 9 downward in such a state; a horizontal way 1 provided perpendicularly to the slope way 2; a carrier 3 moving along the horizontal way 1, holding the workpiece 9 conveyed on the slope way 2 by magnetic force, moving it along the horizontal way 1 and storing it in a predetermined position; a carrier drive mechanism 5 driving the carrier 3; and a control means 6 performing operation control and the like of the carrier drive mechanism 5, the carrier 3 and the lift-up mechanism 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention comprises a cylindrical member having a predetermined length, and a workpiece (part) made of an iron-based metal having a hemispherical head and an end portion having a planar shape, The present invention relates to a workpiece aligning device that is arranged and stored in a unified state.

As an apparatus for performing conventional workpiece conveyance and workpiece alignment, for example, a device described in JP-A-2005-41607 can be cited. This machine detects the front and back direction of the work with the electronic sensor for the work sent on the transfer line, and the one whose head etc. is not located in the predetermined direction is a separately provided air jet The high-pressure air from the apparatus is removed from the transfer line and removed, so that only the works aligned in the front-rear direction are stored.
JP 2005-41607 A

  By the way, in the above-described conventional apparatus, the longitudinal direction of the workpiece is detected by a predetermined electronic sensor, and those that violate the longitudinal direction are excluded from the conveyance line by injection of high-pressure air (compressed air). Therefore, there is a problem that the entire apparatus must be large. As a result, there is a problem that the entire apparatus must be expensive. In order to solve such problems, a workpiece alignment device is provided that uses a simple mechanism that utilizes a magnetic attractive force to determine the front-rear direction of the workpiece and thereby aligns the workpiece in a certain direction. This is the object (problem) of the present invention.

  In order to solve the above problems, the following measures are taken in the present invention. That is, in the first invention which is the invention described in claim 1, the work alignment apparatus which has a pin-like form and stores directional members (workpieces) in an aligned state is iron-based. It is made of metal and has a rod-like shape, one end has a three-dimensional curved surface shape, and the other end has a predetermined shape in a state where a workpiece having a flat shape has a predetermined inclination angle. In a state where the workpiece is lifted to the height of the workpiece, the ramp formed so as to slide and move in a predetermined downward direction with the workpiece tilt angle in a state where the workpiece is lifted, and the ramp A horizontal path that is provided in the horizontal direction at the tip of the horizontal path and that is provided so as to be orthogonal to the ramp, and that is provided so as to move along the horizontal path, and is configured to carry the ramp. A carrier made of a permanent magnet that operates to hold the tip of the workpiece that has been moved by a magnetic force and move the workpiece along the horizontal path to be stored in a predetermined position, and to drive the carrier The carrier driving mechanism and control means for controlling the carrier driving mechanism and mainly comprising an MPU (microprocessor unit) are employed.

  Further, in the second invention which is the invention described in claim 2, the work alignment apparatus which has a pin-like form and stores directional members (workpieces) in an aligned state is iron-based. A workpiece that is made of metal and has a predetermined length and one end has a three-dimensional curved shape, and the other end has a flat shape, and has a predetermined inclination angle in its longitudinal direction. A lift-up mechanism that lifts the workpiece to a predetermined height in a state in which the workpiece is lifted, and the workpiece lifted by the lift-up mechanism in a predetermined downward direction with a workpiece tilt angle in a state in which the workpiece is lifted. A slope formed so as to be slid, a horizontal path provided in the horizontal direction at the tip of the slope, and provided so as to be orthogonal to the slope, and along the horizontal path Transfer The tip of the workpiece that has been transported on the ramp is held by a magnetic force, and the workpiece is moved along the horizontal path and stored at a predetermined position. A carrier composed of an electromagnet, a carrier driving mechanism for driving the carrier, an operation control of the carrier driving mechanism, an operation control of the carrier, and an operation control of the lift-up mechanism. The configuration is such that the unit is mainly composed of control means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the air cylinder mechanism that operates the carrier driving mechanism for driving the carrier with high-pressure air in the work aligning apparatus according to the first or second aspect. It was decided to adopt a configuration that consisted of

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the workpiece alignment device according to the first or second aspect is perpendicular to a side facing the ramp that is one side of the carrier. The work suction surface composed of a flat surface formed in a shape is provided.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, which is the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the workpiece alignment apparatus according to the first, third, or fourth aspect, the carrier is disposed at the final portion of the horizontal path. A configuration is adopted in which a workpiece storage mechanism is provided in which the workpiece conveyed through the horizontal path is dropped from the carrier and stored in a predetermined position.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the workpiece aligning device according to the first aspect or the second aspect is provided in the middle of the horizontal path and at a lower portion of the horizontal path. A configuration is adopted in which a workpiece removal mechanism is formed so as to remove the workpiece, which is held in a state of hanging downward with respect to the workpiece adsorption surface of the carrier, from the carrier.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the carrier is formed on the basis of an electromagnet, the carrier is on the horizontal path, and the slope is arranged. When the carrier is between the position where the workpiece is dropped and the position where the workpiece is dropped, the carrier is allowed to exert a predetermined magnetic force. A configuration is adopted in which control is performed by the control means.

  According to the first invention, a plurality of members (workpieces) having a pin-like shape and having a specified shape in the front-rear direction are collected in a storage device or the like in a state where they are not aligned in the front-rear direction. In this case, these can be stored in a state where the front and rear directions are aligned by the operation of a carrier or the like that moves on a horizontal path. As a result, it is possible to efficiently perform the work of aligning and storing the pin-like members (work pieces).

  Next, according to the second invention, in addition to the first invention, the carrier operation control is further performed based on the command from the control means. Subsequent alignment work is performed efficiently.

  Next, according to the third aspect of the invention, the carrier driving mechanism responsible for the movement of the carrier on the horizontal path is composed of an air cylinder mechanism that operates with high-pressure air. This can be done by using a high-pressure air line or the like that is generally installed inside. As a result, the work alignment apparatus can be installed in a general factory.

  Next, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the workpiece adsorption surface of the carrier is formed of a plane formed in a vertical shape, the slope is fed with the tip portion having the same vertical surface as the carrier. Only the workpiece that has been transferred is conveyed by its tip surface being adsorbed by the carrier. This makes it possible to perform work alignment work in a state in which the directionality of the work is unified.

  Next, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the work that has been transported along the horizontal path by the carrier can be dropped from the carrier at a predetermined position and stored in a predetermined position provided below. Thus, a pin-shaped workpiece having directionality can be efficiently stored by aligning the directionality in a unified state.

  Next, according to the sixth invention, what is adsorbed to the carrier in the wrong direction is dropped and arranged in the middle of the horizontal path, and the normal direction is Only the workpiece that has it is transferred (conveyed) to the final position.

  Next, according to the seventh invention, the carrier is formed on the basis of the electromagnet, and the entire operation control including the operation of the carrier is performed by the operation of the control means mainly formed by the MPU (microprocessor unit). Thus, the carrier alignment work is efficiently performed.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the present embodiment has a pin-like form and has directionality, and in a state where members (workpieces) made of iron-based metal are aligned. The present invention relates to a workpiece alignment device to be stored. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, one end 91 has a hemispherical three-dimensional curved surface shape, and the other end portion 95 has a planar shape, and has a predetermined length. The lift-up mechanism 7 lifted to a predetermined height with a predetermined inclination angle (α) in the longitudinal direction, and the work 9 lifted by the lift-up mechanism 7 A slope 2 formed so as to slide in a predetermined downward direction with a workpiece inclination angle (α) in a state in which it is provided, and provided horizontally at a tip portion 21 of the slope 2 The horizontal path 1 provided so as to be orthogonal to the ramp 2 and the workpiece 9 which is provided so as to move along the horizontal path 1 and has been carried on the ramp 2 Holding the tip with magnetic force, the workpiece 9 Is moved along the horizontal path 1 to be stored in a predetermined position, a carrier driving mechanism 5 for driving the carrier 3, an operation control of the carrier driving mechanism 5, and the carrier 3 And the control of the lift-up mechanism 7 and the like. The control means 6 mainly includes an MPU (microprocessor unit).

  In such a basic configuration, the lift-up mechanism 7 is driven by an electric motor 77 as shown in FIG. 1, and a workpiece 9 having a pin-like shape is moved from about 15 ° to 30 °. It can be lifted one by one and carried onto the ramp 2 while maintaining a predetermined tilt angle (α) within a range of °. In addition, about the workpiece | work 9 carried in on the carry-in entrance 25 of the said ramp 2 by this lift-up mechanism 7, the directionality of the front and back is not controlled, One end part 91 which has a hemispherical form. Are in the state of being mixed, or those having the other end portion 95 having a planar shape on the leading side. And the workpiece | work 9 of the state in which the directionality is not unified in this way is mounted on the said slope 2 and moves aiming at the horizontal path 1. As shown in FIG.

  Next, the inclined path 2 for sliding the pin-shaped workpiece 9 lifted by the lift-up mechanism 7 toward the horizontal path 1 by its own weight is a predetermined range of about 15 ° to 30 °. In the present embodiment, it is formed by a linear groove having an inclination angle of about 20 °. And the cross-sectional shape has a U-shape or a semicircular form. Such an inclined path 2 is provided from the carry-in entrance 25 toward the tip end portion 21 formed at the intersection 11 with the horizontal path 1.

  Next, the horizontal path 1 that intersects at a right angle at the tip 21 of the inclined path 2 is arranged substantially horizontally, and the carrier 3 made of magnets along the horizontal path 1. Is designed to move horizontally. A carrier driving mechanism 5 formed to linearly move the carrier 3 on the horizontal path 1 is provided on an extension line on one side of the horizontal path 1. The carrier driving mechanism 5 is driven by high-pressure air that is generally arranged in a factory.

  The carrier 3 that is reciprocally driven linearly on the horizontal path 1 by the carrier driving mechanism 5 is basically formed of a permanent magnet. Thus, the end portion of the work 9 is adsorbed so that the work 9 can be transferred (conveyed) on the horizontal path 1. In addition, about this carrier 3, it can also consider using an electromagnet other than the said permanent magnet. In this case, ON / OFF control of the magnetic force of the carrier 3 is performed based on a command from the control means 6 provided separately.

  At one end of the horizontal path 1 that supports the movement of the carrier 3 at a predetermined distance from the intersection 11 with the tip 21 of the ramp 2, for example, as shown in FIG. A work storage mechanism 51 is provided for dropping the work 9 conveyed by the carrier 3 on the horizontal path 1 from the carrier 3 and storing it in a predetermined position. The work storage mechanism 51 is composed of a general stopper mechanism formed so as to restrict further movement of the work 9. In the middle of the horizontal path 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the work 9 is not normally attracted to the attracting surface of the carrier 3 and is held in a state of hanging downward. A workpiece removal mechanism 55 is provided in which the workpiece 9 is removed from the carrier 3 and is not transported to the final position.

  Next, the operation control of the lift-up mechanism 7 that lifts the workpiece 9 to the carry-in entrance 25, specifically, the operation control of the electric motor 77 that drives the lift-up mechanism 7 and the operation control of the carrier drive mechanism 5. Furthermore, when the carrier 3 is made of an electromagnet, the control means 6 for performing control of applying a magnetic force to the carrier 3 comprises a computer mechanism mainly formed with an MPU (microprocessor unit).

  Next, the operation mode of the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the electric motor 77 starts operating based on a command from the control means 6. Based on this, the lift-up mechanism 7 starts to operate, and lifts the work 9 while maintaining a predetermined inclination angle (α), that is, an inclination angle of about 20 ° in the present embodiment. And such a workpiece | work 9 is thrown in into the place of the entrance 25 of the ramp 2. FIG. This charging operation is performed until the workpieces 9 are mounted in a daisy chain on the ramp 2.

  Next, the workpiece 9 sent to the crossing portion 11 of the horizontal path 1 as described above is attracted to the carrier 3 formed of a magnet, as shown in FIG. Thus, it is sent out toward the workpiece storage mechanism 51 on the horizontal path 1. Then, when the work 9 is sent out in this way, the next work 9 is sent to the intersection 11 of the horizontal path 1 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In this way, the loading (carrying-in) of the workpiece 9 into the horizontal path 1 is sequentially performed.

  Next, the workpiece 9 that has been sent to the workpiece storage mechanism 51 on the horizontal path 1 in this manner is stopped from being further transferred at the workpiece storage mechanism 51 and dropped downward. It will be. In such a transfer process, when the workpiece 9 has a flat suction surface to the carrier 3, the workpiece 9 is a surface of the carrier 3 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. It is conveyed in a state where it is adsorbed at a substantially right angle to. Then, it is wiped off at the work storage mechanism 51 and falls downward.

  On the other hand, when the adsorption surface of the workpiece 9 to the carrier 3 is formed in a hemispherical shape as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, for example, the adsorption state of the workpiece 9 to the carrier 3 is Then, the state hangs downward as shown in FIG. As a result, the workpiece 9 transferred along the horizontal path 1 in such a state is, for example, a workpiece provided in the middle of the horizontal path 1 and below the horizontal path 1 as shown in FIG. It gets caught at the removal mechanism 55 and is dropped from the carrier 3 here. In this way, the work 9 that has not been normally attracted to the carrier 3 is not transported to the work storage mechanism 51 provided at the final point of the horizontal path 1.

  Thus, only the workpiece (workpiece) sent on the inclined path 2 so that the end face of the workpiece 9 has a plane perpendicular to the axis is conveyed on the horizontal path 1 as shown in FIG. 3, for example. Thus, the workpiece storage mechanism 51 provided at the final point is dropped downward. And the workpiece | work 9 dropped in the downward direction in the workpiece | work storage mechanism 51 in this way becomes only what has the plane to which the adsorption | suction surface to the carrier 3 is perpendicular to an axis. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the workpiece 9 thus housed is in a state in which its directionality is arranged in a constant state.

  On the other hand, when the work 9 has a hemispherical suction surface on the carrier 3, when the work 9 is sent on the ramp 2, the work 9 itself hangs down as shown in FIG. In this state, the carrier 3 is attached to the suction surface. As a result, the workpiece 9 sent on the horizontal path 1 in such a state is, for example, as shown in FIG. It will be caught and dropped down here.

  By passing through such a stroke, only the workpiece 9 sucked at right angles to the workpiece suction surface of the carrier 3 is carried to the workpiece storage mechanism 51 which is the final stroke, and dropped down here. It becomes. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the whole storage is performed in a state where the direction of the workpiece 9 is unified.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the conveyance process of the workpiece | work in this invention. In this invention, it is process explanatory drawing which shows the state in which a workpiece | work is conveyed normally. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the workpiece removal mechanism in this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the operation | movement aspect of the workpiece removal mechanism in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Horizontal path 11 Crossing part 2 Inclination path 21 Front-end | tip part 25 Carry-in 3 Carrier 5 Carrier drive mechanism 51 Work accommodation mechanism 55 Work removal mechanism 6 Control means 7 Lift up mechanism 77 Electric motor 9 Work 91 End part 95 End part

Claims (7)

  It is made of iron-based metal and has a rod-like form, one end has a solid curved surface form, and the other end has a planar form with a workpiece having a predetermined inclination angle In the state where the workpiece is lifted to a predetermined height, an inclined path formed to slide the workpiece in a predetermined downward direction with the workpiece tilt angle in a state where the workpiece is lifted, and A horizontal path that is provided in the horizontal direction at the tip of the ramp and is provided so as to be orthogonal to the ramp, and that is provided so as to move along the horizontal path. A carrier made of a permanent magnet that operates to hold the tip of the workpiece that has been carried by a magnetic force and move the workpiece along the horizontal path so as to be stored at a predetermined position, and driving of the carrier The And Cormorant carrier drive mechanism, work aligning device comprising a control unit which is mainly formed be one for controlling the MPU (microprocessor unit) of the carrier driving mechanism, in that it consists of.   A workpiece made of an iron-based metal, having a predetermined length, one end having a three-dimensional curved shape, and the other end having a planar shape, a predetermined inclination in the longitudinal direction thereof. A lift-up mechanism that lifts to a predetermined height with a corner, and the workpiece lifted by the lift-up mechanism with a workpiece tilt angle in a state in which the workpiece is lifted. A slope formed so as to slide in the direction, a horizontal path provided at the tip of the slope, and provided to be orthogonal to the slope, and a horizontal path The tip of the work that has been carried along the ramp is held by magnetic force, and the work is moved along the horizontal path and stored in a predetermined position. Act as A carrier composed of an electromagnet, a carrier driving mechanism for driving the carrier, an operation control of the carrier driving mechanism, an operation control of the carrier, and an operation control of the lift-up mechanism. And a control means mainly comprising a unit).   3. The work aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier driving mechanism for driving the carrier comprises an air cylinder mechanism that operates with high-pressure air.   3. The work aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a work suction surface comprising a vertically formed plane is provided on a side facing the ramp which is one side of the carrier. A workpiece alignment device characterized by the above.   5. The work aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the work that has been transported along the horizontal path by the carrier is dropped from the carrier at a final portion of the horizontal path. A work aligning apparatus characterized in that a work storage mechanism is provided which is stored at a predetermined position.   3. The work aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the work alignment apparatus is held in a state of hanging downward with respect to the work suction surface of the carrier in the middle of the horizontal path and at a lower portion of the horizontal path. A workpiece aligning device, characterized in that a workpiece removing mechanism formed so as to remove the workpiece thus formed from the carrier is provided.   3. The work aligning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the carrier is formed on the basis of an electromagnet, and the carrier is on the horizontal path between the position intersecting the slope and the position where the work is dropped. The workpiece alignment is characterized in that a predetermined magnetic force is exerted, and further, the carrier is controlled by the control means so as not to exert the magnetic force when the carrier comes to a position where the workpiece is dropped off. apparatus.

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