JP2018002398A - Vibration transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vibration transport device which can improve transport processing capacity, compared with a device for performing transport processing in a state in which, a transport object continuously contacts a transport plane, by reducing opportunities and time in which, a transport object which is transported to a desired direction by vibration on a transport plane contacts the transport plane.SOLUTION: A vibration transport device B comprises: transport planes B11, B81; and a vibration application source for vibrating the transport planes B11, B81, and transports a transport object W on the transport planes B11, B81 by vibration. Whole or a part of the transport planes B11, B81 is formed of a porous material BS, and air supplied from an air supply source BA is sprayed from a lower side through the porous material BS to the transport object W on the transport plane B11, B81, so that the transport object W floats from the transport planes B11, B81.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a vibration transfer device that can transfer a transfer object such as a workpiece in a desired transfer direction on a transfer surface.

  Conventionally, a parts feeder that can convey a workpiece, such as an electronic component, along a conveyance path to a predetermined supply destination by vibration, and a movable table having a placement surface on which articles are placed in three axial directions (in a horizontal plane) There is known an article transport apparatus that performs at least one of transport and separation of articles placed on a movable table by vibrating in two directions perpendicular to each other (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document below). 2). In the following description, the surface constituting the conveying path of the parts feeder and the placement surface of the article conveying device are referred to as “conveying surface”, and the desired conveying of the article on the conveying surface as in the above-described parts feeder and article conveying device. An apparatus that can be conveyed in the direction is generally referred to as a “vibration conveyance apparatus”, and the “vibration conveyance apparatus” includes an apparatus that has either or both of the functions of conveying and sorting articles.

JP 2006-309541 A JP 2013-018598 A (Patent No. 5803359)

  By the way, in the various vibration conveyance devices adopting the above-described configuration, when conveying the conveyance object on the conveyance surface in a desired conveyance direction, the conveyance surface and the conveyance object come into contact with each other due to vibration. There is a risk of damage, breakage, dirt, or wear on the transfer surface. Also, due to the contact between the transfer surface and the transfer object, the transfer object is easily charged with static electricity, and the force to stick to another transfer object due to the static electricity increases. If the object to be transported in a state of being charged with static electricity continues to be transported, the transporting ability will be lowered, for example, the object to be transported cannot be transported at the intended transport speed. In addition, the object to be transported due to friction between the object to be transported and the transport surface, and scraps and dust on the transport surface are likely to adhere to the electrostatically transported object to be transported and the transport surface, which also reduces the transport processing capacity. Leads to.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a problem, and the main purpose of the present invention is to determine the degree of contact (contact time or contact time) between the object to be transported and transported in a desired direction by vibration on the transport surface. The object of the present invention is to provide a vibration transfer device that can prevent or suppress a decrease in transfer processing capacity.

  That is, the present invention relates to a vibration conveyance device that includes a conveyance surface and a vibration source that vibrates the conveyance surface, and conveys a conveyance object on the conveyance surface by vibration. Here, the “conveying surface” in the present invention is a concept including both a horizontal or substantially horizontal surface (horizontal plane) or a surface inclined at an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal (inclined surface, vertical surface). The shape of the surface is not particularly limited, such as a surface extending linearly, a surface extending spirally, or a surface having a planar extension. Moreover, as a conveyance target object, although microcomponents, such as an electronic component, can be mentioned, for example, articles other than an electronic component may be sufficient.

  In the vibration transfer device according to the present invention, the entire or part of the transfer surface is made of a porous material, and the air supplied from the air supply source is injected through the porous material to the transfer object on the transfer surface. By doing so, the conveyance object can be floated from the conveyance surface.

  With such a vibration transfer device, a transfer object placed on a transfer surface that is vibrated by an excitation source can be transferred in a predetermined vibration direction and supplied from an air supply source. By jetting the generated air to the transport target on the transport surface through the porous material, an air flow is generated on the transport surface to lift the transport target from the transport surface, forcing the transport target to the transport surface. It is possible to secure a state in which the conveyance object and the conveyance surface are not brought into contact with each other. And if it is the conveying apparatus which concerns on this invention, maintaining the state which the conveyance target object on the conveyance surface comprised with the porous material by the inertia which moves to a predetermined direction by the vibration from an excitation source was levitated from the conveyance surface. A configuration in which the moving object can be moved in the predetermined direction, and the opportunity and time for the moving object to be in contact with the conveying surface can be reduced. In comparison, it is possible to effectively prevent or suppress the occurrence of damage / breakage / dirt of the conveyance object and wear of the conveyance surface, and static electricity (friction charge, contact charge, (Peeling electrification) is also reduced, and the transport object caused by rubbing between the transport object and the transport surface and the scraps and dust on the transport surface are less likely to adhere to the transport object and the transport surface, and the transport is caused by static electricity. The problem of slowing down Can be anti-suppression, it can be transported smoothly conveyed object at a desired conveying speed on the conveying surface.

  In particular, in the present invention, if the vibration conveyance device provided with an ionizer that injects ionized air toward the periphery of the conveyance object and the conveyance object floated from the conveyance surface by the air from the air supply source, the surface is levitated. By spraying ionized air with an ionizer around the transport object and its transported object, ionized air can be reliably blown to the entire transport object including the surface that was in contact with the transport surface until just before the surface was lifted. In addition, it is possible to blow ionized air onto a predetermined region of the transport surface where the transported object that has been lifted is in contact until just before. If the ionizer that injects ionized air toward the transported object that has floated in this way can be used as an ionizer that injects ionized air onto the transport surface around the transported object that has been levitated, Compared with an aspect in which an ionizer that injects ionized air onto an object and an ionizer that injects ionized air over a wide range over the entire conveying surface are individually provided, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. This is advantageous in that the ionizer itself can be made compact and the amount of ionized air used can be reduced by limiting the injection region of the ionizer.

  In addition, in the case of a vibration transfer device equipped with an ionizer, air is floated on the transfer surface from the transfer surface by air from an air supply source that is jetted from the porous material to the transfer object on the transfer surface. The air flow of ionized air jetted by the ionizer to the object to be transported placed in such air stream becomes a factor that changes the wind pressure distribution around the object to be transported, and static electricity or Even when a plurality of transport objects adhere to each other due to adhesiveness or the like, different irregular behaviors of the transport objects may be caused by changes in the pressure distribution around the transport object. It can be expected to release the adhesion state between the conveyance objects.

  In the present invention, it is possible to apply ionized air as the air supplied from the air supply source. With such a configuration, the air from the air supply source, that is, the ionized air is levitated from the conveyance surface. The conveyed object is in a state in which ionized air is blown at that time, and can quickly neutralize and remove static electricity, which contributes to an improvement in conveyance processing capability.

  In the present invention, ionized air is applied as the air supplied from the air supply source, and the vibration transfer device including the ionizer described above is configured, or the ionized air is applied as the air supplied from the air supply source. First, it is possible to configure a vibration conveyance device including the above-described ionizer, or to configure a vibration conveyance device in which ionized air is applied as air supplied from an air supply source without including the above-described ionizer.

  According to the present invention, air is supplied to a conveyance surface composed of a porous material, and the conveyance object is forcibly levitated from the conveyance surface by air blown through the porous material toward the conveyance object on the conveyance surface. In this state, it can be moved in the direction of vibration applied from the excitation source, reducing damage / breakage / dirt of the transport object and wear of the transport surface due to contact between the transport object and the transport surface. In addition, the transfer surface and the transfer object are less likely to be charged with static electricity, and the transfer object can be transferred at the expected transfer speed, preventing and suppressing the decrease in transfer processing capacity of the vibration transfer device. be able to.

FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a part of the vibration transfer device (bowl feeder) according to the first embodiment of the present invention with a part thereof broken. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of the bowl with a part omitted. The external appearance schematic diagram of lens type LED which is an example of the conveyance target applied to the vibration conveyance apparatus which concerns on this invention. The top view which shows typically the vibration conveyance apparatus (linear feeder) which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view schematically showing a part of the aa cross section of FIG. The external view which shows typically the vibration conveyance apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The sectional side view which abbreviate | omits some mounting bases in the embodiment and shows typically.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vibration transfer device B according to the first embodiment transfers a transfer object W (such as a lens type LED shown in FIG. 3) such as an electronic component in a spiral transfer path (bowl transfer). An apparatus (part feeder, specifically bowl feeder B) that transports to a predetermined transport destination (supply destination) while being moved by vibration on the path B1). The bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment includes a bowl B2 that conveys the accommodated conveyance object W while aligning it, a support portion B3 that supports the bowl B2, and a vibration source B4 that generates vibration in the bowl B2. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the support portion B3 connects the movable base B5 attached to the bottom of the bowl B2, the fixed base B6 fixed to the floor via the vibration isolating rubber BG, and the movable base B5 and the fixed base B6. And a connecting portion B7 made of a leaf spring or the like, and supports the bowl B2 through the movable base B5 so as to be able to vibrate.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vibration source B4 of the present embodiment is provided between a movable base B5 and a fixed base B6, and an electromagnetic attraction force is applied between the movable base B5 and the fixed base B6 so that the bowl A torsional vibration having a high frequency is generated with respect to B2. By generating vibration for the bowl B2, the conveyance object W accommodated in the bowl B2 can be moved along the conveyance path 2 of the bowl B2.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (the figure is a schematic sectional view of the bowl B2 extracted from FIG. 1), the bowl B2 is formed on the bottom surface and has a substantially circular storage section B8 that can store a large number of workpieces W. The bowl-shaped thing provided with the bowl conveyance path B1 (it is also called a track | truck) formed in the spiral shape which inclines along the internal peripheral wall B9 with the predetermined part in the peripheral part of the storage part B8 as a starting end.

  The storage unit B8 has a placement surface B81 that is an upward surface set so that the center side is higher than the outside in the radial direction, and the conveyance object W accommodated in the vibration of the bowl B2 or in the storage unit B8. The conveyance target W on the mounting surface B81 is moved radially outward by its own weight. The transport object W that has moved radially outward on the mounting surface B81 reaches the start end of the bowl transport path B1, passes through the start end of the bowl transport path B1, and moves along the bowl transport path B1.

  The bowl conveyance path B1 has a starting end that is continuous with the storage portion B8, and the bowl conveyance surface B11 that is an upward surface is set to a flat surface that is inclined downward, for example, radially outward. Then, the conveyance object W is in contact with the inner peripheral wall B9 of the bowl B2 while being in contact with the inner peripheral wall B9 of the bowl B2 due to the radially outward force of the conveyance force received by the conveyance object W due to vibration and the inclination of the bowl conveyance surface B11 (the bowl conveyance path B1). It is transported toward the terminal end side). In the present embodiment, alignment means (not shown) is provided at a predetermined location in such a bowl conveyance path B1, and only the conveyance object W in a predetermined attitude is conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction by the alignment means, and is not in a predetermined attitude. The conveyance object W is configured to be returned (dropped) to the storage unit B8. The bowl feeder B of this embodiment is connected and aligned so that the end of the bowl transport path B1 is continuous with the start end of a linear transport path (also referred to as a straight track) provided in a linear feeder (not shown). The conveyance object W is configured to be conveyed (supplied) to the linear feeder.

  And the bowl feeder B which concerns on this embodiment is all or substantially all of the mounting surface B81 which is an upward surface among the storage parts B8, and all or substantially all of the bowl conveyance surface B11 which is an upward surface among bowl conveyance paths B1. All are comprised by the block body BS which consists of porous materials. Specifically, in the storage unit B8 and the bowl transport path B1, an area with a predetermined pattern in FIG. 2 (the figure is a schematic sectional view of the bowl shown in FIG. 1) is a block body made of a porous material. It is composed of BS.

  The porous material in the present embodiment is formed, for example, by sintering a mixture of an aggregate made of a granular material of an inorganic material and a binder (binder) that connects the aggregates. Preferable examples of the aggregate made of inorganic material granular materials include alumina and silicon carbide, and preferable examples of the binder include vitrified, zirenoid, cement, rubber, glass and the like. it can. Such a ceramic porous material can be made into a molded product according to the mold by charging the mixed material of the aggregate and the binder into the mold and sintering it. An infinite number of fine pores are formed inside the porous material by a sintering process, and the air flow path is formed by connecting the fine pores opening on the surface of the porous material and the internal fine pores. The inner diameter of the fine pores is remarkably small as compared with the case of machining, and an infinite number of fine pores are formed over the entire surface of the porous material. Note that the types of aggregates and binders in the present invention are not particularly limited to those described above, and those appropriately selected can be applied. In the present embodiment, a block-shaped porous material (block body BS made of a porous material) that constitutes most of the bowl B2 is formed using an appropriate mold or the like. Hereinafter, the block body BS made of a porous material is referred to as a “porous block body BS”.

  As described above, the porous block body BS has innumerable fine pores formed therein, and has an air flow path in which fine pores opened on the surface and internal fine pores are formed continuously. In other words, the porous block body BS has an inside through which fluid can flow (permeate), and a large number of holes are evenly exposed on the entire surface. Each hole (micropore) has a minute size, for example, about 60 μm, at which the conveyance target W does not fall into the hole. As shown in FIG. 2, a first cavity portion BS1 penetrating in the height direction is formed in the central portion of the porous block body BS, and the bottom surface of the porous block body BS communicates with the first cavity portion BS1. A second cavity BS2 is formed. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the porous block body BS is covered with a bowl-shaped cover BC formed of an appropriate material such as metal.

  The bowl feeder B of this embodiment is provided with an air supply nozzle BN facing the second cavity BS2, and air supplied from the air supply source BA is directed from the air supply nozzle BN to the inside of the porous block body BS. Is set to inject. In FIG. 2, piping connecting the air supply source BA and the air supply nozzle BN is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the flow of air supplied from the air supply source BA to the air supply nozzle BN is schematically indicated by arrows. .

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of air supply nozzles BN are arranged at a predetermined pitch, and the air injected from each air supply nozzle BN toward the porous block body BS permeates into the porous block body BS, It is set so as to be discharged from the mounting surface B81 of the reservoir B8 and the bowl transport surface B11 of the bowl transport path B1. In addition, by setting the outer peripheral surface of the porous block body BS with the above-described cover BC, a fluid such as air is set so as not to permeate the outer peripheral surface of the porous block body BS. It is also possible to set the outer peripheral surface of the porous block body BS to a sealing layer formed by a sealing process using a resin or the like so that fluid such as air does not pass through the sealing layer. . In this embodiment, ionized air is applied as the air supplied from the air supply source BA.

  In the bowl feeder B of the present embodiment, the bowl B2 is fixed to the movable base B5 by, for example, bolts (not shown). In this fixing process, the second cavity BS2 can be used as a bolt fixing portion. In addition, if it is the structure which fixes the outer periphery vicinity of bowl B2 to movable stand B5, 2nd cavity part BS2 will not be utilized as a fixing | fixed part of a volt | bolt, but will function only as an air flow path (fluid flow path). In any case, the cavities (the first cavities BS1 and the second cavities BS2) formed in and around the porous block body BS allow the air supplied from the air supply section to be supplied to the entire porous block body BS. It can be seen as a way to spread.

And according to the bowl feeder B which concerns on this embodiment, the conveyance object W on the mounting surface B81 of the storage part B8 and the conveyance object W on the bowl conveyance surface B11 can be conveyed in a predetermined direction by vibration. Moreover, it is possible to transport the transport object W in a predetermined direction in a state of being lifted from the mounting surface B81 and the bowl transport surface B11 by the air supplied from the air supply source BA.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, the conveyance object W is a minute electronic component called a lens-type LED in which a flat bottom surface W1 and a hemispherical lens portion W2 are integrally assembled. Since the flat bottom surface W1 has a large surface contact area, and the hemispherical lens portion W2 has a small surface contact area, it is unstable if the lens portion W2 faces downward (downward posture).

  Therefore, when such a lens-type LED is transported by the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment, the lens-type LED is directed toward the lens-type LED through the porous block body BS constituting the placement surface B81 of the storage unit B8 and the bowl transport surface B11. When air is blown from below, the lens-type LED in the downward posture shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C has the posture shown in FIG. 3D, that is, the posture in which the lens portion W2 faces upward (upward). (Posture), and air is continuously blown onto the flat bottom surface W1 after the posture change, so that the lens LED is maintained in a stable upward posture, and smooth conveyance by air can be realized. That is, with the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the need for specially providing a posture conversion mechanism for the conveyance object. In FIGS. 7B and 7C, a lens-type LED in an intermediate position between a downward posture and an upward posture is indicated by an imaginary line (two-dot chain line), and FIGS. In d), the air blowing direction is schematically shown by arrows.

  As described above, the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment is configured such that the conveyance object W that is placed on the placement surface B81 that is vibrated by the vibration source and the conveyance object that travels on the bowl conveyance surface B11. W can be transported in a predetermined vibration direction, and substantially all of the mounting surface B81 of the storage unit B8 and the bowl transport surface B11, which are transport surfaces, are constituted by the porous block body BS, from the air supply source BA. The supplied air is jetted from below through the porous block body BS onto the transport object W on the mounting surface B81 and the transport object W on the bowl transport surface B11, thereby conveying the air on the mounting surface B81 and the bowl. On the surface B11, an air flow is generated to levitate the conveyance target W from the placement surface B81 or the bowl conveyance surface B11, and the conveyance target W is forcibly levitated from the placement surface B81 or the bowl conveyance surface B11. It can be transported in a state. As a result, according to the bowl feeder B according to the present embodiment, the conveyance object W is conveyed in comparison with the aspect in which the conveyance object W is continuously in contact with the conveyance surface (the placement surface B81 and the bowl conveyance surface B11). It is possible to reduce the opportunity and time for the conveyance target object W being processed to come into contact with the conveyance surface (mounting surface B81, bowl conveyance surface B11). The occurrence of wear on the surface B81 and the bowl conveyance surface B11) can be effectively prevented and suppressed, and static electricity (friction charging) of the conveyance object W and the conveyance surface (mounting surface B81, bowl conveyance surface B11) being conveyed. , Contact electrification, peeling electrification) is also reduced, and the conveyance object W and conveyance surface (mounting surface B81, bowl conveyance surface) caused by friction between the conveyance object W and the conveyance surface (mounting surface B81, bowl conveyance surface B11). B11) scraps and dust are transported objects And the transfer surface (the mounting surface B81, the bowl transfer surface B11) are less likely to adhere to the transfer surface (the mounting surface B81, the bowl transfer surface B11). It is possible to smoothly convey the object W to be conveyed on the bowl conveying surface B11) at an intended conveying speed.

  In this embodiment, the bowl feeder B is directed toward the periphery of the transport object W and the transport object W that has floated from the transport surface (mounting surface B81, bowl transport surface B11) by air from the air supply source BA. And an ionizer (not shown) for injecting ionized air. The ionized air is sprayed by the ionizer around the surface of the transport object W that has floated and the surface of the transport object W that has floated, so that it is in contact with the transport surface (mounting surface B81, bowl transport surface B11) until just before ascending. The ionized air can be reliably blown over the entire transport object W including the surface, and the predetermined area of the transport surface (mounting surface B81, bowl transport surface B11) where the floated transport object W has been in contact until just before It is also possible to spray ionized air. In addition, an ionizer that injects ionized air toward the transported object W that has floated, and an ionizer that injects ionized air onto the transport surfaces (mounting surface B81 and bowl transport surface B11) around the transported object W that has floated up. Therefore, ionized air is sprayed over a wide range over the entire transport surface (mounting surface B81, bowl transport surface B11). This is advantageous in that the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced as compared with an embodiment in which an ionizer is provided separately.

  Furthermore, according to the bowl feeder B provided with the ionizer, from the air supply source BA which injects from the downward direction through the porous block body BS with respect to the conveyance target object W on a conveyance surface (mounting surface B81, bowl conveyance surface B11). Due to the air, an air flow is formed on the transfer surface (mounting surface B81, bowl transfer surface B11) to cause the air to rise from the transfer surface (mounting surface B81, bowl transfer surface B11). The flow of ionized air jetted by the ionizer to the transported object W is a factor that changes the wind pressure distribution around the transported object W, causing static electricity on the transport surface (mounting surface B81, bowl transport surface B11) or Even when a plurality of conveyance objects W adhere to each other due to adhesiveness or the like, the pressure distribution around the conveyance object W changes to change the mutual conveyance objects W. Can induce irregular behavior different, it can be expected to release the adhesion state of the conveyance object W together.

  In the present embodiment, since ionized air is applied as the air supplied from the air supply source BA, the transfer surfaces (mounting surface B81, bowl transfer surface B11) are ionized air supplied from the air supply source BA. The conveyance object W that has floated from the position is in a state in which ionized air is blown at that time, so that static electricity can be neutralized and removed quickly, and further improvement in the conveyance processing capacity can be achieved.

Second Embodiment
The vibration conveyance device L according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a linear conveyance path (linear conveyance path L1), and applies vibration to the linear conveyance path L1 by an excitation source, thereby conveying objects. An apparatus (part feeder, specifically linear feeder) for transporting W to a predetermined transport destination along the extending direction of the linear transport path L1. The linear feeder L shown in FIG. 4 is configured such that the starting end of the linear conveying path L1 is connected to the end of the bowl conveying path (not shown) in the bowl feeder B. In this case, the linear feeder L is vibrated. The vibration source to be generated and the vibration source to generate vibration in the bowl feeder B are preferably separate from each other, but can also be shared. The linear feeder L according to this embodiment can be used alone without being connected to the bowl feeder B. In FIG. 4, the hopper H that supplies the conveyance object W into the bowl feeder B is shown in a very schematic plan view like the bowl feeder B. The entire apparatus including the hopper H, the bowl feeder B, and the linear feeder L can also be regarded as a vibration conveying apparatus.

  The linear feeder L of the present embodiment is capable of transporting the transport object W to the end of the linear transport path L1 by vibration and supplying it to a predetermined transport destination. In this linear feeder L, when it is determined that the transport target W is not in a predetermined transport posture at the time of overflow, the target transport target W (the transport target W that is in an overflow or the predetermined transport posture is not A return unit L2 (return conveyance path) is provided for returning the determined conveyance object W) to a predetermined return place (for example, the storage unit B8 of the bowl feeder B or the bowl conveyance path B1).

  And the linear feeder L of this embodiment is the block which consists of a porous material for all or substantially all of the linear conveyance surface L11 which functions as a conveyance surface of the conveyance target object W among the linear conveyance paths L1 extended | stretched linearly. It is constituted by the body LS. Specifically, in the linear conveyance path L1, an area with a predetermined pattern in FIGS. 4 and 5 (FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line aa of the linear conveyance path L1 extracted from FIG. 4), The block body LS is made of a porous material.

  The porous material in the present embodiment is formed, for example, by sintering a mixture of an aggregate made of a granular material of an inorganic material and a binder that connects the aggregates. In the present embodiment, a block-shaped porous material (block body LS made of a porous material) having a groove shape whose cross-sectional shape opens upward is formed using an appropriate mold or the like. Hereinafter, the block body LS made of a porous material is referred to as a “porous block body LS”.

  The porous block body LS has innumerable fine pores formed therein, and has an air flow path in which fine pores opened on the surface and internal fine pores are formed continuously. That is, the porous block LS has an inside through which fluid can flow (permeate), and a large number of holes are exposed on the entire surface. Each hole has a small size that prevents the conveyance object W from falling into the hole. As shown in FIG. 5, the linear conveyance path L1 in this embodiment has a configuration in which both side surfaces and the bottom surface of the porous block body LS are covered with a groove-shaped outer cover LC formed of an appropriate material such as metal. A cavity LS1 is formed between the porous block body LS and the outer cover LC.

  The linear feeder L according to the present embodiment having the linear transport path L1 formed mainly with such a porous block body LS is provided with the air supply nozzle LN at a position facing the cavity LS1, and supplied from the air supply source LA. The set air is set to be ejected from the air supply nozzle LN toward the inside of the porous block body LS. In FIG. 5, piping connecting the air supply source LA and the air supply nozzle LN is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the flow of air supplied from the air supply source LA to the air supply nozzle LN is schematically indicated by arrows. .

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of air supply nozzles LN are arranged at predetermined locations, and the air injected from each air supply nozzle LN toward the porous block body LS permeates and flows into the porous block body LS. It is set to be discharged from the linear conveyance surface L11 of the linear conveyance path L1. Specifically, the air supply nozzle LN is disposed at a position where air can be supplied from both side surfaces and the bottom surface of the porous block body LS toward the inside of the porous block body LS. The outer cover LC that covers the porous block body LS is set so that a fluid such as air does not pass through regions on both side surfaces and the bottom surface of the porous block body LS that do not face the cavity LS1. doing. Moreover, the area | region which does not face the cavity part LS1 among the both sides | surfaces and bottom face of the porous block LS is set to the sealing layer formed by the sealing process using resin etc., and fluids, such as air, seal It is also possible to configure so that it does not penetrate the layer. In the present embodiment, ionized air is applied as the air supplied from the air supply source LA.

  According to the linear feeder L provided with such a linear conveyance path L1, the conveyance object W on the linear conveyance surface L11 can be conveyed toward the end of the linear conveyance path L1 by vibration, and the air supply source LA. It is possible to convey the conveyance target W on the linear conveyance surface L11 toward the terminal end of the linear conveyance path L1 in a state of being levitated from the linear conveyance surface L11 by the air supplied from.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, the conveyance object W is a minute electronic component called a lens-type LED in which a flat bottom surface W1 and a hemispherical lens portion W2 are integrally assembled. Since the flat bottom surface W1 has a large surface contact area, and the hemispherical lens portion W2 has a small surface contact area, it is unstable if the lens portion W2 faces downward.

  Therefore, when such a lens-type LED is transported by the linear feeder L according to this embodiment, when air is blown through the porous block LS toward the lens-type LED on the linear transport surface L11, the lens-type LED is The lens portion W2 can be converted into a posture in which the lens portion W2 faces upward (upward posture). By continuing to blow air onto the flat bottom surface W1 even after the posture conversion, a stable upward posture of the lens-type LED is maintained. Smooth conveyance can be realized. That is, with the linear feeder L according to the present embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the need for specially providing a posture conversion mechanism for the conveyance object.

  As described above, the linear feeder L according to the present embodiment can transport the transport object W on the linear transport surface L11 of the linear transport path L1 to which vibration is applied by the excitation source in a predetermined vibration direction. In addition, substantially all of the linear conveyance surface L11 is configured by the porous block body LS, and the air supplied from the air supply source LA is lowered below the conveyance object W on the linear conveyance surface L11 through the porous block body LS. By jetting from the linear transport surface L11, an air flow is generated on the linear transport surface L11 to lift the transport target W from the linear transport surface L11, and the transport target W is forcibly lifted from the linear transport surface L11. can do. As a result, according to the linear feeder L according to the present embodiment, the conveyance object W during the conveyance process is linear compared to the aspect in which the conveyance object W is in contact with the linear conveyance surface L11. It is possible to reduce the opportunity and time of contact with the conveyance surface L11, and effectively prevent / suppress the occurrence of damage / breakage / dirt of the conveyance object W and wear of the linear conveyance surface L11. Static electricity (friction charge, contact charge, peeling charge) of the conveyance object W and the linear conveyance surface L11 is also reduced, and the conveyance object W and the linear conveyance surface L11 are scraped due to friction between the conveyance object W and the linear conveyance surface L11. Waste and dust are less likely to adhere to the conveyance object W and the linear conveyance surface L11, and the problem of a decrease in conveyance speed caused by static electricity can be eliminated and suppressed. It can be transported smoothly conveyed object W having been the intended conveying speed.

  Further, in this embodiment, the linear feeder L has an ionizer (not shown) that injects ionized air toward the periphery of the transport object W that has been levitated from the linear transport surface L11 and the transport object W that has been levitated by air from the air supply source LA. Omitted). Then, the entire transport object W including the surface that has been in contact with the linear transport surface L11 until immediately before the surface is lifted by injecting ionized air by the ionizer around the transport object W that has floated and the periphery of the transport object W that has floated. The ionized air can be reliably blown to the surface, and the ionized air can also be blown to a predetermined region of the linear transport surface L11 where the transported object W that has been lifted is in contact with the previous one. In addition, the ionizer that injects ionized air toward the transported object W that has floated can be used as an ionizer that injects ionized air onto the linear transport surface L11 around the transported object W that has floated. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and reduced as compared with an embodiment in which an ionizer that injects ionized air to the conveyance target W and an ionizer that injects ionized air over a wide range over the entire linear conveyance surface L11 are provided. This is advantageous in that the cost can be reduced.

  Furthermore, according to the linear feeder L provided with the ionizer, the air from the air supply source LA sprayed from below through the porous block body LS with respect to the conveyance object W on the linear conveyance surface L11 is caused to move on the linear conveyance surface L11. Is formed with an air flow that causes the air to rise from the linear transport surface L11, and the air flow of ionized air sprayed by the ionizer on the transport target W placed in the air flow is a wind pressure distribution around the transport target W. Even when a plurality of transport objects W adhere to each other due to static electricity or adhesiveness on the linear transport surface L11, the pressure distribution around the transport object W changes to change each of them. Different irregular behaviors of the conveyance objects W can be induced, and it can be expected that the adhesion state between the conveyance objects W is released.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since ionized air is applied as the air supplied from the air supply source LA, the transfer object W that has been levitated from the linear transfer surface L11 by the ionized air supplied from the air supply source LA is Since the ionized air is blown at the time of rising, static electricity can be quickly neutralized and removed, and the conveyance processing capability can be further improved.

<Third Embodiment>
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the vibration transfer device T according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a fixed portion T1, a movable base T2 elastically supported by the fixed portion T1, and a movable base T2. Are vibrated in the X direction and the Y direction orthogonal to each other in the horizontal plane, and the third vibration source vibrates in the Z direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the XY plane. A vibration source is provided, and three-dimensional vibration is generated in the movable table T2 by exciting in three directions of XY horizontal and vertical directions (Z direction), and the vibration is placed on the movable table T2. The conveyed conveyance object W can be conveyed in all directions. Further, in the vibration transfer device T according to the present embodiment, it is possible to select transfer objects having different shapes and masses by controlling vibration.

  The vibration transfer device T according to this embodiment covers each part and mechanism constituting the movable table T2 with a common case T3, and the upward surface exposed without being covered by the case T3 of the movable table T2 It functions as a placement surface T21 (corresponding to the “conveyance surface” of the present invention) on which the conveyance object W is placed, and conveys the conveyance object W on the placement surface T21 in a predetermined direction by vibration. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the mounting table T23 is screwed together with the frame member T24 on the upper surface of the movable table main body T22. The upper surface of the mounting table T23 functions as the mounting surface T21 (corresponding to the “transport surface” of the present invention). The directions of X, Y, and Z are as shown on the coordinate axes shown in the figure.

  And the vibration conveyance apparatus T of this embodiment comprises all or substantially all of the mounting table T23 that functions as the conveyance surface of the conveyance object W among the movable table T2 by the block body TS made of a porous material. Yes. Specifically, in the movable table T2, an area with a predetermined pattern in FIGS. 6 and 7 (FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the mounting table T23 extracted from FIG. 6) is a block made of a porous material. It consists of a body TS.

  The porous material in the present embodiment is formed, for example, by sintering a mixture of an aggregate made of a granular material of an inorganic material and a binder that connects the aggregates. In the present embodiment, a plate-shaped porous material (plate TS made of a porous material) having a substantially rectangular plate shape is formed using an appropriate mold or the like. Hereinafter, the plate TS made of a porous material is referred to as “porous plate TS”.

  The porous plate TS has innumerable fine pores formed therein, and has an air flow path formed by connecting the fine pores opened on the surface and the internal fine pores. That is, the porous plate TS has an inside through which fluid can flow (permeate), and a large number of holes are exposed on the entire surface. Each hole has a small size that prevents the conveyance object W from falling into the hole. As shown in FIG. 7, the mounting table T23 in the present embodiment has a configuration in which the front surface, the back surface, both side surfaces, and the bottom surface of the porous plate TS are covered with a cover TC formed of an appropriate material such as metal. A cavity TS1 is formed between the quality plate TS and the cover TC.

  The vibration transfer device T according to this embodiment having the mounting table T23 formed mainly of such a porous plate TS is provided with an air supply nozzle TN at a position facing the cavity TS1, and is supplied from an air supply source TA. The air is set to be ejected from the air supply nozzle TN toward the inside of the porous plate TS. In FIG. 7, piping connecting the air supply source TA and the air supply nozzle TN is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the flow of air supplied from the air supply source TA to the air supply nozzle TN is schematically indicated by arrows. .

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of air supply nozzles TN are arranged at predetermined positions, and the air injected from each air supply nozzle TN toward the porous plate TS permeates and flows into the porous plate TS, and the mounting table It is set to be released from the placement surface T21 of T23. Specifically, the air supply nozzle TN is arranged at a position where air can be supplied from the front surface, the back surface, both side surfaces, and the bottom surface of the porous plate TS toward the inside of the porous plate TS. The above-described cover TC that covers the porous plate TS prevents fluid such as air from passing through the front, back, both sides, and bottom of the porous plate TS that does not face the cavity TS1. It is set. Moreover, the area | region which does not face cavity part TS1 among the front surface of a porous plate TS, a back surface, both sides | surfaces, and a bottom face is set to the sealing layer formed by the sealing process using resin etc., and fluids, such as air It is also possible to configure so that does not pass through the sealing layer. In the present embodiment, ionized air is applied as the air supplied from the air supply source TA.

  According to the vibration transfer device T provided with such a mounting table T23, the transfer object W on the mounting surface T21 can be transferred in a predetermined direction by vibration and is supplied from the air supply source TA. It is possible to transport the transport object W on the mounting surface T21 in a state of being levitated from the mounting surface T21 by air.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, the conveyance object W is a minute electronic component called a lens-type LED in which a flat bottom surface W1 and a hemispherical lens portion W2 are integrally assembled. Since the flat bottom surface W1 has a large surface contact area, and the hemispherical lens portion W2 has a small surface contact area, it is unstable if the lens portion W2 faces downward.

  Therefore, when such a lens type LED is conveyed by the vibration conveyance device T according to the present embodiment, when air is blown through the porous plate TS from below the placement surface T21 toward the lens type LED, the lens type LED is obtained. Can be converted into a posture in which the lens portion W2 faces upward (upward posture), and by continuing to blow air onto the flat bottom surface W1 after the posture conversion, a stable upward posture of the lens-type LED is maintained. Smooth transportation can be realized. That is, with the vibration transfer device T according to the present embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the need to provide a posture change mechanism for the transfer object.

  As described above, the vibration transfer device T according to the present embodiment is a transfer target on the mounting surface T21 of the movable base to which vibration is applied by the first vibration source, the second vibration source, and the third vibration source. The object W can be transported in a predetermined vibration direction, and substantially the entire mounting surface T21 is constituted by the porous plate TS, and the air supplied from the air supply source TA is transported on the mounting surface T21. By jetting the object W from below through the porous plate TS, an airflow is generated on the placement surface T21 to lift the object W from the placement surface T21, thereby forcing the object W to be conveyed. It can be conveyed in a state of being levitated from the mounting surface T21. As a result, according to the vibration transfer device T according to the present embodiment, the transfer object W during the transfer process is compared with the aspect in which the transfer process is performed in a state where the transfer target object W continues to contact the placement surface T21. The opportunity and time of contact with the mounting surface T21 can be reduced, and damage, breakage, dirt, and wear of the mounting surface T21 can be effectively prevented / suppressed. The static electricity (friction charge, contact charge, peeling charge) of the transport object W and the mounting surface T21 is also reduced, and the transport object W and the mounting surface T21 are caused by friction between the transport object W and the mounting surface T21. The scraps and dust are less likely to adhere to the transport object W and the mounting surface T21, and the problem of a decrease in transport speed caused by static electricity can be eliminated and suppressed. Smoothly transport the object W at the desired transport speed Rukoto can.

  Further, in this embodiment, the vibration transfer device T is an ionizer that injects ionized air toward the periphery of the transfer object W that has been levitated from the placement surface T21 and the transfer object W that has been levitated by the air from the air supply source TA. (Not shown). Then, the entire transport object W including the surface that has been in contact with the mounting surface T21 until just before ascending by injecting ionized air by the ionizer around the transport object W that has floated and the periphery of the transport object W that has floated. In addition, the ionized air can be reliably blown to the surface, and the ionized air can also be blown to a predetermined region of the placement surface T21 where the transported object W that has been lifted has been in contact with the last time. In addition, the ionizer that injects ionized air toward the transported object W that has floated can be used in common as an ionizer that injects ionized air onto the mounting surface T21 around the transported object W that has floated. Therefore, compared with an aspect in which an ionizer that injects ionized air to the conveyance target W and an ionizer that injects ionized air over a wide range over the entire mounting surface T21 are individually provided, the number of parts can be reduced and reduced. This is advantageous in that the cost can be reduced.

  Further, according to the vibration transfer device T provided with the ionizer, the air is supplied from the air supply source TA to the transfer object W on the mounting surface T21 from below through the porous plate TS. Is formed with an air flow that causes air to rise from the placement surface T21, and the air flow of ionized air that is jetted by the ionizer to the transport target W placed in the air flow is a wind pressure distribution around the transport target W. Even when a plurality of transport objects W adhere to each other due to static electricity or adhesiveness on the mounting surface T21, the pressure distribution around the transport object W changes to change each of them. Different irregular behaviors of the conveyance objects W can be induced, and it can be expected that the adhesion state between the conveyance objects W is released.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since ionized air is applied as the air supplied from the air supply source TA, the conveyance object W that has floated from the placement surface T21 by the ionized air supplied from the air supply source TA is Since the ionized air is blown at the time of rising, static electricity can be quickly neutralized and removed, and the conveyance processing capability can be further improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the aspect in which all or substantially all of the surface functioning as the transport surface is configured by the porous material is illustrated, but a plurality of regions or only one region separated from each other on the transport surface is illustrated. You may comprise by a porous material. That is, in the vibration conveyance device according to the present invention, a configuration in which the porous material is partially applied instead of the entire conveyance surface can be employed. As an example of an aspect in which only a specific part of the transport surface is made of a porous material, there may be mentioned an upstream end in the transport direction on the transport surface or a portion in the vicinity of the upstream end, and a part on which the posture of the transport object is to be changed on the transport surface it can.

  Further, in the present invention, instead of or in addition to the porous material formed in a block shape or a plate shape, for example, all or part of the transport surface is configured by a porous material formed in a sheet shape, for example. Also good.

  Moreover, although the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment illustrated the aspect which comprised the storage part and bowl conveyance path of the bowl feeder with the common porous material (porous block body), the porous which comprises the mounting surface of a storage part The material and the porous material constituting the bowl conveyance surface of the bowl conveyance path may be separate parts. Furthermore, the inner peripheral wall of the bowl (see reference numeral 9 in FIG. 1) is a surface that stands up at a predetermined angle with respect to the bowl transport surface and that forms the bowl transport path together with the bowl transport surface (the bowl surface). It is also possible to configure so that air is not injected from the surface facing the center side. Specifically, the inward surface of the inner peripheral wall of the bowl is set to a sealing layer that does not allow fluid to flow by the sealing process described above, or a predetermined region including the inward surface of the inner peripheral wall of the bowl is made porous. What is necessary is just to form with the material which is not a material.

  In the second embodiment described above, an example in which the start end of the linear transport path is continuous with the end of the bowl transport path of the bowl feeder is illustrated. However, in this case, the bowl transport surface of the bowl transport path and the storage portion are mounted. The placement surface can also be made of a porous material in the same manner as the linear conveyance surface.

  Moreover, in the vibration conveyance apparatus of the present invention, when adopting a configuration including an ionizer that injects ionized air onto a conveyance object floating from the conveyance surface, the ionization air is set to be ejected toward the entire conveyance surface. Or the ionization space can be set to be ejected toward a specific portion on the transport surface. If the ionization space is set to be ejected toward a specific portion on the transport surface, the ionizer itself can be made compact and the amount of ionized air used can be reduced by limiting the ionizer injection region.

  Moreover, you may comprise so that positive ionized air and negative ionized air may be injected by an ionizer alternately. With such a configuration, any charged workpiece can be reliably neutralized and removed with either positive ionized air or negative ionized air or both ionized air.

  Moreover, what is necessary is just to comprise so that the injection time of the ionized air by an ionizer can be set and adjusted based on various conditions, such as the kind of conveyance target object. In addition, you may comprise the vibration conveying apparatus which is not equipped with the ionizer.

  In addition, the specific configuration of the excitation source in the present invention is not particularly limited, and a well-known one can be applied.

  Further, in the vibration transfer device of the present invention, it is possible to adjust the injection force of the air supplied from the air supply source and blown toward the transfer object on the transfer surface, or the air is always injected or intermittently It is possible to select whether to inject.

  Instead of ionized air, dry air may be applied as the air supplied from the air supply source. A specific configuration for supplying air from the air supply source to the porous material (a type of an air joint such as a nozzle and a layout of piping) is not particularly limited, and an appropriate configuration can be adopted.

  In addition, the work that is the object to be transported is not limited to the above-described lens-type LED. Good.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

B, L, T ... Vibratory conveying device (bowl feeder, linear feeder, vibrating conveying device)
B11, B81, L11, T21 ... conveying surface (bowl conveying surface, mounting surface, linear conveying surface, mounting surface)
B4: Excitation sources BA, LA, TA ... Air supply sources BS, LS, TS ... Porous material (porous block body, porous plate)
W ... Object to be transported

Claims (3)

A vibration conveyance device that includes a conveyance surface and an excitation source that vibrates the conveyance surface, and conveys a conveyance object on the conveyance surface by vibration,
All or part of the transport surface is made of a porous material,
A vibration characterized in that the object to be conveyed can be levitated from the conveying surface by injecting air supplied from an air supply source to the object to be conveyed on the conveying surface through the porous material. Conveying device. 2. The vibration transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising an ionizer that injects ionized air toward the periphery of the transfer object that has floated from the transfer surface and the transfer object that has been levitated by air from the air supply source. The vibration conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein the air supplied from the air supply source is ionized air.

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