FR2492784A1 - Sequential dispenser for capacitors - selectively rotates components for delivery in single orientation by gravity feeding into chute and has opto-electronic sensors for counting - Google Patents

Abstract

The dispenser receives components from a supply bin (1), detects their orientation and automatically delivers them in a single orientation, having turned them around if necessary. The components are gravity fed into a chute (2) and arrive at a counting and detection area (3) equipped with opto-electronic sensors. An electronically controlled rotating arm mechanism raises or lowers stop and probe blocks in the runway. After signals from the orientation and position sensors have been interpreted, the component is released into a further section of chute (6). The final section is of two parts which are shaped to constrain the component to fall out of the end in the deisred orientation. The components are mechanically diverted into the correct branch according to the sensor information.

Description

 The subject of the present invention is a device intended for sequentially delivering objects, in particular electronic components, subject to movement by a displacement guide.

 It is known from French patent 2 259 033 a device or objects, in this case seals for closure caps, are stacked and pushed horizontally one by one to the top of the inlet of a downspout.

 This device of the prior art has the drawback of imposing on the objects a stack, then of subjecting the object located below the stack to friction during its distribution in the downspout.

 It is also known from French patent 1,585,275 a relay testing and sorting device where stacked relays are delivered one by one to a sliding track where a test track is provided. Two stops arranged respectively downstream and upstream of the test coil are integral with a rotary axis and rock alternately in the sliding track which they block. This device, in addition to the drawback mentioned above for French patent 2 259 G53, does not make it possible to continuously supply the objects upstream of the bu tees, which decreases sensi bernent the rate of operation.

 The present invention relates to a device intended for sequentially delivering objects, in particular components, and more particularly capacitors, and not subjecting them to stresses liable to deteriorate them, while allowing a supply at an accelerated rate.

 The invention therefore relates to a device intended to sequentially deliver objects subject to movement by a displacement guide, and characterized in that it comprises a device continuously distributing objects to a first and a second stop device for objects, respectively downstream and upstream, associated with a rocker movable between a first position where the downstream stop device is in the stop position and the upstream stop device in the free passage position and a second position or the downstream stop is in the free passage position and the upstream stop device in the stop position, said stop position of the upstream stop device corresponding to only partial closure of the passage of the movement guide.

 According to one embodiment of the invention, the objects are subject to displacement by sliding under the action of gravity.

 According to one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a device for detecting the presence of an object stopped by the first stop device.

 According to the invention, the device comprises a device for detecting the orientation of an object stopped by the first stop device.

 A device according to the invention can also include a downstream device producing a signal representative of the passage of an object downstream of the first stop device.

 According to the invention, at least one stop device comprises a stop pin, possibly provided with a pointed end directed towards the objects to be stopped. Each of the pins is guided by a bore and is secured respectively to a first and a second yoke rotating respectively around a first and a second axis arranged on either side of a third axis of rotation of the scale.

 According to one embodiment of the invention, the scale comprises a third clevis movable in rotation about a fourth axis and a rod is articulated on the third clevis and is connected to a jack.

 According to one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises, downstream of the stopping devices, two sliding ramps, one producing a rotation of an angle of the object around its axis of movement, and l 'other by an angle ,,' - 180 "around the same axis. It also includes a switching device receiving an orientation detection device, a signal representative of the orientation of the object, and actuating a command directing the object to one or other of the two ramps.

The invention will be better understood in the description below with reference to the accompanying drawings and where
- Figure 1 shows a general diagram of an object orientation apparatus incorporating a device according to the invention;
- Figures 2a and 2b show a scale according to the invention;
- Figure 3 shows a section along the axis AA of Figure 2a;
- Figure 4a shows a top view of Figure 9;
- Figure 4b shows a complementary part of the device shown in Figures 3 and 11a;
- Figure 5 shows a bottom view of Figure 3;
- Figure 6 shows a block diagram of an orientation ramp according to the invention;
- Figures 7 and 8 show two views of a slide with two helical ramps;
- Figures 7a and 7b, and 8a show a stop and an object ejection system corresponding respectively to Figures 7 and 8;
- Figure a shows a complementary piece to the piece shown in Figure 8
- Figure 9b shows an orientation control according to the invention;
- Figures 10 to 12 show logic diagrams for controlling a device according to the invention.

 FIG. 1 represents a vibrating distributor 1 delivering objects into an inclined chute 2, up to a stop device 3 possibly provided with detection devices 4 and 4 '. tn downstream of the stop device 3 which is intended to deliver the objects sequentially, is arranged a downstream guide 5 and possibly an orientation device 6. The orientation device 6 essentially has the function of achieving the orientation of the objects of so that they always appear on the same side when leaving the device. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous in the case of components, for example oriented capacitors which must always be present with a terminal of positive polarity situated on the same side.

The objects are then routed according to a lateral exit 7, a vertical exit 8 or a vertical exit with reversal 9.

 In Figures 2a and 2b, there is shown a device intended to deliver objects sequentially and corresponding to the reference 3 in Figure 1. Such a device comprises a first device for stopping objects 14 and constituting a downstream device, and a second object stop device 15 constituting an upstream device. These two devices are connected by a rocker 90 movable between two positions.

The first position of the rocker 90 is represented in FIG. 2a, where the downstream stop device 14 stops an object 11 guided by a guide 12. In this first position of the rocker, the stop device 15 allows free passage to the following objects. However, the object 10 which follows the object 11 as well as the other objects are retained by it. For example, the objects shown are capacitors whose output conductors are directed upstream. The output conductors of the capacitor B1 thus retain at least the capacitor 10. The upstream stop device 15 is preferably arranged between the output conductors of a capacitor stopped by the downstream stop device 14. When switching from the rocker to its second position, the downstream stop device 14 disappears and lets the object 11 pass, while the upstream stop device 15 only partially closes the passage of the guide 12 and stops the object 10 placed upstream. This situation is shown in Figure 2b. When the scale is again brought to the first position, the object 10 is released by the second stop device 15 and is stopped by the first stop device 14. Any object which follows the object 10 is retained by that -this and / or by the first stop device 14.

 The first and second stop devices 14 and 15 are produced in the form of two guide pins by a bore in a guide for sliding objects. It goes without saying that this example is not limiting. Indeed, the objects could be brought in a different way by sliding along a guide, for example by a conveyor belt, and the stop elements. carried by the rocker will in this case be arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt; or the pins can be replaced by planar elements emerging from slots arranged across the guide.

 In the case of objects having no elements such as output conductors making it possible to interpose the second upstream stop device 15, the objects will be stopped by jamming them against an upper part of the guide sliding or driving belt, the partial sealing of the guide being achieved by limiting the travel of the upstream stop device 15 to only part of the useful height of the guide.

 Figure 3 corresponds to a detailed representation of a section of Figure 2a by the plane AA The rocker represented by the general reference 90 has an axis of rotation 17, on which are articulated two arms 23 carrying axes 18 and 21 around which articulate yokes 19 and 22. The yokes 19 and 22 carry the pins, respectively 15 and 14. The pin 15 is provided with a pointed end. This could also be the case for the pin 14, or else the two pins 14 and 15 could be cylindrical. The arms 23 carry at the end opposite the axis 18, an axis 24 on which is articulated a clevis 25 connected to a control of the rocker, for example a rod of a cylinder V1 not shown. The pins 14 and 15 pass through household bores in the body 29. The yokes 19 and 22 serve alternately as a stop at the lower part of the body 29 to the pins 14 and 15, which can thus alternately protrude from the sliding guide 12. A fixing bore 32 is formed at one end of the body 29, while the other end of this carries a fixing tab 30 provided with a bore 31. The stop devices, in this case the pins, are not necessarily symmetrical with respect to axis 17 as the drawing might suggest, but on the contrary, they can be arranged at different distances, which allows the two stop devices to protrude from the guide with different amplitudes without the rocker travel is increased. It is also possible of course to vary these amplitudes by playing on the stop effect of the yokes 19 and 22. It is thus possible to completely block the passage using the downstream stop device in the form of '' a flat element arranged across the guide and completely obstructing it when it is in the stop position, while the upstream stop device is only capable of ensuring only partial closure of the passage of the guide 12 when it is in turn in the stop position.

 FIG. 4a represents a top view of FIG. 3. The guide 12 is provided with side walls 13 in which are formed two transverse grooves 26 making it possible to house detectors for the presence of an object, identified by markings 35, 35 'in Figure 2a. Between the bores corresponding to the pins 14 and 15, is disposed a bore 16 associated with an orientation detection device 79 '.

 The part shown in Figure 4b forms the upper part of the guide 12. It is provided with bores 33 in which are arranged pins which can also engage in the corresponding bores 34 formed on the walls 13 of the body 29. The upper part guide 12 has two upper edges 13 'and an upper guide 12'. Two grooves 26 'are provided on the flanges 13' and correspond to the grooves 26 of the walls 13. A bore 27 offset relative to the axis of the guide 12 is threatened therein and corresponds to an orientation detection device 79 , which defines its detection axis. The orientation device as described makes it possible to determine on which face a component such as a capacitor is provided, provided with a boss 20 offset relative to its axis.

 It goes without saying that the detection devices shown in the previous figures are given for information only. Indeed, these correspond to detections by light transmission or by interruption of light transmission. Other techniques can be used, for example optical detection by reflection, etc.

 Figure 5 shows a bottom view of Figure 3. The two arms 23 are articulated on an axis 17 in two parts. The axis 18 on which the clevis 19 carrying the pin 15 is articulated and the axis 21 on which the clevis 22 carrying the pin 14 is articulated are arranged on either side of the axis 17 in two parts and thus leave a space for the detector 79 'located opposite the bore 16. The axis 17 in two parts is free to rotate around two bores formed in the support 28 integral with the lower part of the body 29. To ensure a faster movement of objects when the downstream stop device is in the free passage position, it is advantageous to have at the level of the guide 12 and upstream of the downstream stop device, a nozzle supplied with pressurized air and which is arranged in such a way that the air it blows drives the object downstream.

 The objects delivered sequentially by a device as described above can then be used in various ways.

If the orientation of the objects along one or the other side has been detected, the objects can then be sorted in a manner known per se by eliminating objects whose orientation does not correspond to a predetermined orientation. We will now describe an embodiment of the invention where the objects are redirected by an orientation device. In the case where the objects are presented with a random orientation, for example when they are supplied by a vibrating distributor, this solution makes it possible to double the rate of supply of objects according to a predetermined orientation.

An object orientation device according to the invention comprises two helical sliding ramps, one producing an angle of rotation es of the object around its axis of displacement, and the other of c (-180 "around of the same axis. FIG. b shows a sliding ramp designated by the reference 80. An object 11 'is provided with a longitudinal axis or axis of movement XX', and with a transverse axis YY '. present at an entry 37 of the ramp 80. It is guided along the ramp by the edges of the latter 36. The ramp 80, which is for example a helical ramp, produces a rotation of the object by an angle o, around its axis XX '. At an outlet 38 of the ramp 80, the object is now presented along a transverse axis
ZZ 'which makes an angle <with the axis YY'. At the exit of the ramp U,
The axis X1X'1 is in principle parallel to the axis XX ', for example in the case where a helical ramp is used, but this is in no way compulsory.

 FIGS. 7 and 8 represent a slide designated by the general reference 56 and comprising two ramps 80 and 81 provided with lateral edges 36 which are orthogonal to them and extend up to edges 54 and 55 which are orthogonal to the edges 36. The two ramps are arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane whose trace is the axis of Figure 8, the ends of each ramp being on one side (37, 39) located in a plane perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, and l 'other (38, 40) in the plane of symmetry. Bores can be provided in the flanges 54 and 35, which makes it possible to fix a flexible strip covering the ramps, for example a plastic strip. The slide 56 is located between two parallel planes, respectively 51 and 51 '. Objects whose orientation has been detected by orientation detection means are directed by an orientation device towards one or the other of the two ramps - 80 or 81 depending on the face they present. Let us consider an object, whose two faces are designated respectively by A and B, and which is presented at the entry 37 of the ramp 80 by sliding on its face B, and whose face A is consequently visible in FIG. 8. Such an orientation will be conventionally designated by the + sign. As explained in Figure 6, the object will be rotated by an angle w (which, in this case, is 900, and will be at the end 38 of the ramp 80 with its face A directed to the left in the drawing, at the level of the stop 43 disposed downstream of the slide 56. The object having an opposite orientation which will be designated by the sign - and appearing at the end 39 of the slide 81 will emerge at the stop 43 also with its side A directed to the left.

 Different embodiments of the object orientation device which directs the objects towards one or the other of the two ramps according to their orientation will now be described in more detail. An object whose orientation is detected by a device such as that bearing the marks 79, 79 ′ in FIGS. 4a and 4b, is directed along one or the other of the ramps 80 or 81 of the slide 56 by displacement d 'A control 83 associated for example with a cylinder V2 of the slide which rotates those around an axis 53. The control 83 is fixed on an axis 52. The objects then fall at a stop 43 bordered by two flanges output guides 41 and 42. The presence of an object at the stop 43 is then detected by a presence detector 82, which controls an ejection cylinder V3 provided with a rod 44. Figure 7b shows the actuator V3 in the eject position V + of the object which thus slides along a plane defined by the stop 43, to a loader 45. The retraction of the rod of the actuator 44 is possibly detected by an end detector of race 88.88 ', the signal of which is possibly introduced into a timing circuit 89 whose function will be explained uée in the rest of the description.

 According to a variant of the invention, the objects are introduced through the ends 38 and 40 arranged in this case at the upper part of the ramps 80 and 81. The slide is movable around the axis 52 and the control 83 is associated with the axis 53. A V-shaped connection is provided at the ends 37 and 39 of the slides 80 and 81 and it is shown in FIG. 9a in the form of an extension 48. An object introduced at the end 38 of the slide 80 comes out at the end 37, then enters at 47 into the extension 48 and exits at 50. An object introduced at the end 40 of the ramp 81 exits at the end 39 and travels through the extension 48 from the end 46 to 'at the end 50. A stop such as 43 is then arranged downstream.

 Figure 9b illustrates a variant of the invention, or the slide 56 remains fixed. In this case, a downstream guide designated by the reference 84 is movable around an axis 85 and is controlled by a control device 86, for example a jack which receives information relating to the detected orientation of an object and positions accordingly the downstream guide. The objects emerge from the outlet end 87 of the downstream guide 84 and are thus directed towards one or the other of the ramps 80 or 81.

 In FIG. 10, a rocker as described above is arranged in a first position B1 where the first downstream stop device is placed in the object stop position by means of a circuit Cob1. A presence detection circuit C1, in response to a signal from the presence detector 35, releases an object by positioning the rocker in the second position by means of a control circuit CB2. This operation takes place with a delay produced by the delay circuit t1 This delay has the function of allowing a detection device to measure in a sure way the orientation of the object and to correctly position the orientation device before the object either released by the rocker control. A C2 detection and control circuit receives orientation detector signals 79 and consequently positions the orientation device V2 according to one of the positions + or - corresponding to orientations + or - of the object. When the presence of an object and its orientation have been detected and when the object has been directed along one of the two ramps according to its orientation, the system is reset, either by automatically repositioning the scale in position B1 by through the control circuit CB1 without delay or after a delay produced by a delay circuit t2, either by repositioning in the presence of a signal supplied by a downstream passage detector 82.

 As a variant, the detection and control circuit C2 produces ramp positioning only in the presence of an authorization signal supplied by the detection circuit C1.

 As a variant, on each passage of an object detected by the downstream passage detector 82, the orientation device is repositioned in a predetermined position V2 or the objects are directed towards one of the two ramps corresponding to an orientation - objects, namely in the example described, the ramp 81.

 In FIG. 11, a control circuit CB1 positions a rocker in a first position where the downstream device stops the objects by displacement of the jack V1 towards a position V1. This positioning takes place in the presence of a signal supplied by a downstream passage detector 82. When a presence detector 35 has supplied a signal representative of the presence of an object at the level of the downstream stop device, a circuit control C1 supplies a signal to the control circuit CB2 with a delay produced by a delay circuit tl. The control circuit CB2 positions the rocker in a position where the downstream passage device allows an object to pass by displacement of the jack V1 towards a position V1. The circuit C2, which is a variant of the circuit C2 of FIG. 10, produced, by response to a signal supplied by the orientation detector 79, a signal S + when the object is in an orientation +, or a signal S when the object is in an orientation -. A first circuit eT receives the signal S + and a signal which is emitted when the ramp is in position V2. The output of this AND circuit is connected to a control circuit Cv; intended to position the ramp in the + position which corresponds to an object having an orientation S +. In the same way, a circuit representative of an orientation b of the object and a representative signal for positioning the ramp V2 in the position + are introduced at the input of a second AND circuit controlling a CV2 control circuit positioning the orientation device at the position corresponding to an orientation S of the object.

 FIG. 12 represents an embodiment of the invention using a device for ejecting objects. When the lever is put in position B1 by means of a control circuit CB1, and when the control circuit CV2 has positioned the orientation device according to position Vt a control circuit C1 also receiving a signal a presence detector 35, produces a command from a delay circuit tl which sends a delayed signal to a flip-flop control circuit C132 which switches the flip-flop to the position B2 where an object is released; a control circuit C3, in response to a presence detection signal supplied by a downstream detector 82, introduces a control signal into a delay circuit t4, which produces a.

delayed control signal a CV + control circuit from an ejection cylinder to an ejection position V3, the control cylinder V3 then being returned to the return position V3 by the control circuit CV3, position detected by a detector 88 for re-entry of the ejection cylinder 44. In response to this reentry signal 88, the rocker is repositioned in position B1 by the control circuit CS1.

 On the other hand, the AND circuit which receives the signals representing the position of the rocker in position B1, as well as the signals representing a positioning of the orientation device in the position V2, authorizes the circuit C2 to read the orientation of an object stopped by the downstream stop device. In the particular case described above of the reading of a boss of the object, in case a boss is present in front of the orientation detector 79,79 ', a control signal is emitted by the control circuit Ci to a delay circuit t3 producing an optionally delayed output to a control circuit CV2> positioning the orientation device in the position V2 +. When the orientation device is positioned in the position V2, and when the rod 44 of the jack V3 is in the reentry position Vy an AND circuit produces a command signal from the circuit CV2 which reposition the orientation device in the position V In order for the signal supplied by the detector 8 to correspond correctly to a re-entry of the rod 44 of the jack V3, the detection signals are introduced into a timing device 89 (see FIG. 7a) which, in response to a signal emitted by detectors 88, only emits an output signal for a predetermined time.

 The invention is not limited to the embodiments described.

Thus, one or more devices for testing a component can be placed at the level of the downstream stop device and then orient it according to criteria chosen in advance.

Claims (13)

 1. Device intended to sequentially deliver objects subject to movement by a displacement guide, characterized in that it comprises a device continuously distributing objects to two object stop devices, respectively downstream (14) and upstream (15), associated with a rocker (90) movable between a first position (B1) where the downstream stop device (14) is in the stop position and the upstream stop device (15) in the free passage position and a second position (B2) where the downstream stop device (14) is in the free passage position and the upstream stop device (15) in the stop position, at least said stop position of the upstream stop (15) corresponding to only partial closure of the passage of the movement guide.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the objects are subject to move by sliding under the action of gravity.  3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a first control (cl13 actuating the rocker towards said first position, and a second control (CB2) actuating the rocker towards said second position.  4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a detection device (26, 26 ', 35, 35') of the presence of an object stopped by the downstream stop device (14) and producing a signal introduced at the input of a delay circuit (t1) actuating the second control (cob2).  5. Device according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a downstream device (82, 88J producing a signal representative of the passage of an object downstream of the downstream stop device (14), said signal activating said first command (CES  6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the stop devices comprises a stop pin (14, 15).  7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that at  at least one counter is provided with a pointed end (15) directed towards the objects to be stopped.  8. Device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that each of said pins is secured respectively to a first (22) and a second yoke (19) rotating respectively around a first (21) and a second (18) axis disposed on either side of a third axis (17) of rotation of said lever and in that each of said pins (14, 15) is guided by a bore.  9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the rocker comprises a third yoke (25) movable in rotation about a fourth axis (24), and in that a rod is articulated on the third yoke and is connected to a jack.  10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a detection device (79, 79 ') of the orientation of an object stopped by the first stop device (14).  11. Device according to one of claims 8 or 9. characterized in that the lever comprises two oscillating arms (23) connected by at least the first (21) and second (18) axes, in that the third axis (17 ) is in two parts and is arranged at the level of said opto-electronic device (79 ′) and in that an opto-electronic detection device (79 ′) is arranged between the two arms (23) and between the first (21 ) and second (18) yokes  12. Device according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that said device for detecting the orientation of an object comprises an axis of detection offset relative to the axis of the displacement guide.  13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, downstream of the stop devices, two ramps (80, 81) for sliding, one producing a rotation of an angle q of the object around its axis of displacement and the other by an angle o (- 180 "around the same axis and in that a switching device receiving an orientation detection device (79, 79 ' ) a signal representative of the orientation of the object, activates a command directing the object towards one or the other of the two ramps.