WO2022163519A1

WO2022163519A1 - Separation device and separation method

Info

Publication number: WO2022163519A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/002146
Authority: WO
Inventors: 幸一原田; 拓人小川; 宏貴山浦
Original assignee: ブラザー工業株式会社
Priority date: 2021-01-29
Filing date: 2022-01-21
Publication date: 2022-08-04
Also published as: JP2022117332A; CN116529186A

Abstract

Provided are a separation device and a separation method enabling more reliable separation, than conventionally possible, of a predetermined number of sheets of sheet-shaped components from a component bundle loaded with the components, even when the components have a welded section on an outer periphery that has been cut by a laser etc. This separation device arranges a pressing plate at an abutment location where a pressing surface of the plate abuts against an abutment component, from a component bundle loaded with components, which is a component that is located further in a first loading direction than an opening of an accommodating part for accommodating the component bundle and that is furthest in the first loading direction (S5). The separation device drives a movement mechanism to move a pressing member by a first distance in a first movement direction in a state where the pressing surface of the pressing plate at the abutment location is applying a pressing force to the abutment component in a second loading direction opposite to the first loading direction (S8). The separation device drives the movement mechanism to move the pressing plate by a second distance, which is longer than the first distance, in a second movement direction, and separates, from the component bundle, a predetermined number of subject components counting from the abutment component in the first loading direction within the component bundle (S11).

Description

Separation device and separation method

The present disclosure relates to a separation device and a separation method.

A conventional separation device has a pressing member and a drive unit. The pressing member applies a predetermined force to the surface of the sheet-like part and translates the part in the conveying direction, thereby transmitting the driving force to the part. The separating device drives the drive unit to move the pressing member in parallel in the conveying direction, and then lifts the pressing member to separate it from the component.

JP-A-1-187138

When the parts have a welded portion on the perimeter cut by, for example, a laser, it is difficult for the separation device to separate a predetermined number of parts from the loaded bundle of parts.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a separation device and a separation method that can more reliably separate a predetermined number of parts from a component bundle on which the parts are stacked even when the sheet-shaped parts have welded portions on the outer circumference cut by a laser or the like. to provide.

The separation device disclosed in the first disclosure can accommodate a component bundle in which a plurality of sheet-like components are stacked, and has a stacking surface for stacking the component bundle and an opening provided in the first stacking direction with respect to the stacking surface. a lift mechanism capable of changing the relative position of the component bundle accommodated in the accommodation unit and the opening in the first stacking direction; a pressing member having a pressing surface; a moving mechanism movable in a first moving direction and a second moving direction that intersect and are different from each other; a placement control unit for arranging the pressing member at a contact position where the pressing surface abuts against the contact component, which is the component located in the contact part, and the pressing surface of the pressing member at the contact position is the contact component A first movement control unit that drives the moving mechanism to move the pressing member by a first distance in the first moving direction while a pressing force in a second stacking direction opposite to the first stacking direction is applied to the first movement control unit and after moving the first distance by the first drive control unit, the moving mechanism is driven to move the pressing member in the second moving direction by a second distance longer than the first distance, and a second movement control unit that separates a predetermined number of target parts from the parts bundle from the abutting parts in the first stacking direction in the parts bundle.

In the separation device of the first disclosure, even if the sheet-like component has a welded portion on the outer periphery cut by the laser, after the welded portion is separated from the target component by movement by the first movement control unit, the second movement control unit can move the target part in the second movement direction. Since the first distance is shorter than the second distance, even when there is a welded portion between the target component and the adjacent component adjacent to the target component in the second stacking direction during movement by the first movement control unit, the edge of the adjacent component is The part is hard to turn over. Therefore, the separation device is easier to separate the target component from the loaded bundle of components than in the prior art.

The separation apparatus disclosed in the second disclosure further includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information about the number of target parts, and a distance setting unit that sets the first distance according to the information acquired by the information acquisition unit, The first movement control section moves the pressing member by the first distance set by the distance setting section in the first movement direction. Therefore, when the thickness of the target component is thin, the separating device is more likely to warp the adjacent component adjacent to the target component in the second stacking direction than when the target component is thick during movement by the first movement control unit. By setting the first distance according to the thickness of the target component, the separation device can suppress the edge of the adjacent component from being turned over during movement by the first movement control unit.

In the separation device disclosed in the third disclosure, the first moving direction and the second moving direction are opposite directions. Therefore, the separation device is more likely to separate the target component from the bundle of components more reliably than when the first and second directions of movement are not opposite directions.

The storage unit of the separation device disclosed in the fourth disclosure includes a first wall arranged in the first movement direction with respect to the component bundle and capable of facing a first side surface of the opening on the first movement direction side; a second wall arranged in the second movement direction and capable of facing a second side surface of the component bundle on the second movement direction side, the first end of the first wall in the first movement direction is in the first loading direction relative to the second end of the second wall in the second direction of movement. Therefore, even in a state in which the target component and the adjacent component adjacent to the target component in the second stacking direction are not separated during movement by the second movement control unit, the separation device separates the target component and the adjacent component in the second movement direction by the second distance. can move. The separation device can reduce the occurrence of problems caused by the contact of the adjacent part with the second end of the second wall in a state in which the target part and the adjacent part are not separated during movement by the second movement control unit.

The pressing member of the separation device disclosed in the fifth disclosure has a holding mechanism capable of holding the target component, and after the first movement control unit moves the pressing member by the first distance in the first movement direction, the further comprising a holding control unit that controls a holding mechanism to hold the target component and lowers the pressing force applied to the abutting component to a level lower than that during movement in the first movement direction, wherein the second movement control unit is The holding control unit holds the target component, and moves the pressing member in the second moving direction in a state in which the pressing force applied to the contact component is lower than that during movement in the first moving direction. Move two distances. Therefore, after the target component is separated from the target component and the adjacent component adjacent to the target component in the second stacking direction by movement by the first movement control unit, the separation device controls the pressing force applied by the pressing member to the abutting component by the first movement control unit. It is possible to eliminate the pressing force on the component bundle including the adjacent component by lowering it than when moving with the . Therefore, the separation device can reduce the friction between the target component and the adjacent component during movement by the second movement control section, and can smoothly move the target component relative to the adjacent component.

The holding mechanism of the separation device disclosed in the sixth disclosure sucks and holds the target component by means of negative pressure generated between the pressing surface and the contact component. Therefore, the separating device can hold the target part by the negative pressure without damaging the target part or leaving a holding mark.

The separation device disclosed in the seventh disclosure includes a plurality of the storage units corresponding to each of the plurality of sets of the component bundles, and the pressing surface of the pressing member once presses the upper part of the opening of each of the plurality of storage units. and the arrangement control unit drives the moving mechanism so that the contact parts and the pressing surface of each of the plurality of storage units can contact each other at once. The pressing member is arranged at the contact position. Therefore, the separation device can make the work of separating components from a component bundle more efficient than a device that separates components from a component bundle for one component bundle.

The separation device disclosed in the eighth disclosure is arranged in the second movement direction with respect to the storage unit, and detects the thickness of the first container and the second container that can store the parts and the thickness of the target part held by the holding mechanism. and the second movement control unit moves the pressing member by the second distance in the second movement direction, and then, based on the detection result of the detector, when the thickness is greater than the threshold, the driving the moving mechanism to move the pressing member in the second moving direction to send the target part held by the holding mechanism to the first container; and when the thickness is equal to or less than the threshold value, the moving a sorting control unit that drives a mechanism to move the pressing member in the second movement direction and sends the target parts held by the holding mechanism to the second container. Therefore, the separation device can store the target parts separately in the first container or the second container according to the detection result of the detector.

The storage unit of the separation device of the ninth disclosure includes a first wall arranged in the first movement direction with respect to the opening and capable of facing a first side surface of the component bundle on the first movement direction side, and the opening a second wall arranged in the second movement direction and capable of facing a second side surface of the component bundle on the second movement direction side; and a variable end portion of at least the second wall in the first loading direction an end position changing unit capable of changing a position in the first stacking direction, wherein the end position is changed after the first movement control unit moves the pressing member by the first distance in the first movement direction. to change the position of the variable end of the second wall to the first stacking direction of the first wall when the first movement control unit moves the pressing member in the first movement direction. a change control unit that moves to a position in the second loading direction from the position of the end of the second wall, wherein the second movement control unit moves the variable end of the second wall after the change control unit moves the variable end of the second wall and moving the pressing member by the second distance in the second movement direction. Therefore, even in a state in which the target component and the adjacent component adjacent to the target component in the second stacking direction are not separated during movement by the second movement control unit, the separation device separates the target component and the adjacent component in the second movement direction by the second distance. can move. The separation device can reduce problems caused by contact of the adjacent part with the variable end of the second wall in a state in which the target part and the adjacent part are not separated during movement by the second movement control unit.

The separation method of the tenth disclosure can accommodate a component bundle in which a plurality of sheet-like components are stacked, and has a loading surface for loading the component bundle and an opening provided in the first loading direction with respect to the loading surface. a lift mechanism capable of changing the relative position of the component bundle accommodated in the accommodation unit and the opening in the first stacking direction; a pressing member having a pressing surface; A separating method performed by a control unit of a separating device provided with a moving mechanism capable of moving in a first moving direction and a second moving direction that intersect and are different from each other, wherein the moving mechanism is driven to separate the component bundle from the , placement control for arranging the pressing member at a contact position where the pressing surface contacts a contact component which is the component located in the first stacking direction relative to the opening and closest to the first stacking direction; and driving the moving mechanism in a state in which the pressing surface of the pressing member located at the contact position applies a pressing force to the contact part in a second stacking direction opposite to the first stacking direction. a first movement control step of moving the pressing member by a first distance in the first movement direction; and after moving the first distance in the first drive control step, driving the moving mechanism to move the pressing member is moved in the second movement direction a second distance longer than the first distance to separate a predetermined number of target parts from the abutting parts in the first stacking direction of the parts bundle from the parts bundle. and a second movement control step.

By performing the separation method disclosed in the tenth disclosure, even when a sheet-like component has a welded portion on the outer circumference cut by a laser, the separation device separates the welded portion from the target component by movement by the first movement control unit. , the target part can be moved in the second movement direction by movement by the second movement control unit. Since the first distance is shorter than the second distance, even when there is a welded portion between the target component and the adjacent component adjacent to the target component in the second stacking direction during movement by the first movement control unit, the edge of the adjacent component is The part is hard to turn over. Therefore, the separation device is easier to separate the target component from the loaded bundle of components than in the prior art.

2 is a perspective view of the separating device 1; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the separating device 1 with the housing 2 omitted; FIG. Fig. 2 is a left side view of the separation device 1 with the housing 2 omitted; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a moving mechanism 5 , a container 4 placed on a placement surface 21 , a first container 91 placed on a placement surface 22 , and a second container 93 ; 4 is a perspective view of a moving mechanism 5, a pressing plate 7, and a holding mechanism 8; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a housing portion 4; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the separation device 1; FIG. Flowchart of separation processing. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the separation device 1 when the support plate 62 is at the standby position and the pressing plate 7 is at the contact position; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the separating device 1 when the pressing plate 7 presses the component bundle D in the second stacking direction; Sectional drawing of the separation apparatus 1 after 1st movement control. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the separation device 1 when the support plate 62 is lowered after the first movement control; Sectional drawing of the separation apparatus 1 after 2nd movement control. Sectional drawing of the separation apparatus 1 after moving the press plate 7 to a 2nd release position. Sectional drawing of the separation apparatus 1 after moving the press plate 7 to a 1st release position. FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the two accommodating portions 4 and the pressing plate 7 of the separation device 1 of the modified example; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a separation device 101 of a modified example; FIG. 10 is a flow chart of separation processing according to a modification; FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the transition of the position of the variable end portion 90 of the second wall 89 in the first stacking direction in the separation process of the modified example;

A separation device 1 and a separation method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in order with reference to the drawings. In the following description, left and right, front and rear, and top and bottom indicated by arrows in the drawings are used.

　As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the separating device 1 is a device that separates a predetermined number of parts C from a component bundle D as target parts C. As shown in FIG. The part C is an annular resin sheet in a plan view, and has an outer circumference cut by a laser. A component bundle D is a bundle in which a plurality of components C are stacked. The component bundle D of this embodiment is a bundle in which the components C are stacked from bottom to top. The predetermined number of sheets in this embodiment is one. When the part C is cut by a laser, it may be welded with the adjacent part C overlapping vertically, and the outer peripheral part may be connected to the adjacent part C. The separating device 1 separates the uppermost contacting component C of the component bundle D from the component bundle D, and when one contacting component C is separated, stores the corresponding contacting component C in a container, and separates the contacting component C from the component bundle D. When two or more parts C including the contact parts C are separated, the plurality of parts C are stored in the second container 93 and sorted.

The separation device 1 includes a housing 2, a display unit 17, an operation unit 18, a frame 3, a storage unit 4, a moving mechanism 5, a lift mechanism 6, a pressing plate 7, a holding mechanism 8, a first container 91, a second container 93, A guide plate 95 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 2 accommodates therein the frame 3, the housing portion 4, the moving mechanism 5, the lift mechanism 6, the pressing plate 7, the holding mechanism 8, the first container 91, and the second container 93. , and an L-shaped box when viewed from the left side. The housing 2 has a front surface 20 , placement surfaces 21 and 22 , and

doors

23 and 26 . A display unit 17 and an operation unit 18 are provided on the left side of the front surface 20 . The display unit 17 displays images. The operation unit 18 includes switches and dials for inputting various instructions to the separation device 1 . The mounting surfaces 21 and 22 extend rearward from the upper end of the front surface 20 in parallel with the horizontal direction. The mounting surfaces 21 and 22 are rectangular in plan view. The mounting surfaces 21 , 22 extend from the front end to the rear end of the separating device 1 in the front-rear direction. Parts of the mounting

surfaces

21 and 22 on the front side of the

doors

23 and 26 are exposed to the outside, and parts of the mounting

surfaces

21 and 22 on the rear side of the

doors

23 and 26 are inside the housing 2 . The mounting surface 21 is provided to the left of the mounting surface 22 . The mounting surface 21 includes a pair of left and right outer guides 29 extending in the front-rear direction. A pair of left and right outer guides 29 guide movement of a plate 41 supporting the housing portion 4 in the front-rear direction. The mounting surface 21 supports the housing portion 4 via the plate 41 . The mounting surface 22 mounts the first container 91 and the second container 93 on the portion behind the door 26 . The first container 91 is arranged between the housing portion 4 and the second container 93 in the left-right direction. The

doors

23 and 26 are plate-shaped and elongate in the left and right direction when viewed from the front. The

doors

23 and 26 extend perpendicularly to the front and rear directions above the mounting

surfaces

21 and 22 and in front of the center of the mounting

surfaces

21 and 22 in the front and rear direction. . The left end of the door 23 is connected to the left end of the housing 2 by a pair of upper and lower hinges 25 . The door 23 has a grip 24 at its right end. The operator grips the grip portion 24 to open and close the door 23 . The operator leaves the door 23 open when performing work such as replacement of the storage unit 4. - 特許庁The right end of the door 26 is connected to the right end of the housing 2 by a pair of upper and lower hinges 28 . Door 26 has a grip 27 at its left end. The operator grips the grip portion 27 to open and close the door 26 . The operator keeps the door 26 open when performing work such as exchanging the first container 91 and the second container 93 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame 3 is constructed by assembling a plurality of iron or aluminum bars. The plurality of bars includes bars extending in the front-rear direction, bars extending in the left-right direction, and bars extending in the up-down direction. A frame 3 supports the housing 2 and the moving mechanism 5 .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the storage section 4 can store a component bundle D in which a plurality of sheet-like components C are stacked. The housing portion 4 includes a peripheral wall 43 , an edge portion 44 , a bottom portion 39 , a cylindrical portion 45 , a support plate 62 , a plate 41 , a pair of left and right grip portions 30 , four ribs 49 and four screws 50 . The peripheral wall 43 has an opening 40 at the end in the first stacking direction, and can come into contact with the side surface of the component bundle D. As shown in FIG. The opening 40 is provided in the first loading direction (upward) with respect to the loading surface 69 of the support plate 62 . The planar shape of the opening 40 is a shape along the outer circumference of the planar shape of the component C. As shown in FIG. An end portion (upper end portion) of the peripheral wall 43 in the first stacking direction is a flange portion 59 protruding in the radial direction. The radial direction is a direction that is perpendicular to the center M of the plane of the housing portion 4 and that radiates from the center M of the plane. The left upper portion of the collar portion 59 is fixed with seven screws 42 from above to a rim portion 44 made of a rigid metal body. The edge portion 44 of the present embodiment is arcuate in plan view and formed of a member different from the peripheral wall 43 . The frictional force generated between the friction member 82 on the pressing surface 71 on the back side of the pressing plate 7 and the component C is greater than the frictional force generated between the components C and C. The bottom 39 connects with the lower end of the peripheral wall 43 . The bottom portion 39 has a hole through which the lift mechanism 6 is inserted. The columnar portion 45 extends upward from the plane center M of the bottom portion 39 of the housing portion 4 in a columnar shape. A side surface of the cylindrical portion 45 is provided with a plurality of slits extending in the vertical direction. The planar shape, arrangement, etc. of the cylindrical portion 45 may be changed as appropriate according to the shape of the component C. FIG. The cylindrical portion 45 is inserted through the hole of the annular component C housed in the housing portion 4 . The upper surface of the support plate 62 is a loading surface 69 on which the component bundle D is placed. The planar shape of the loading surface 69 is annular and substantially matches the planar shape of the component C. As shown in FIG. The support plate 62 is inserted through the cylindrical portion 45 from above and arranged above the bottom portion 39 . The outer periphery of the support plate 62 is shaped along the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 43 . The left side of the peripheral wall 43 and the edge 44 are also referred to as a first wall 88 . A right side portion of the peripheral wall 43 is also called a second wall 89 . The first wall 88 is arranged in the first movement direction with respect to the component bundle D, and faces the first side surface (left side surface) of the component bundle D on the first movement direction side. The second wall 89 is arranged in the second moving direction with respect to the component bundle D, and faces the second side surface (right side surface) of the component bundle D on the second moving direction side.

The plate 41 has a rectangular shape in plan view and is larger than the bottom portion 39, and supports the bottom portion 39 from below. A pair of left and right grips 30 are fixed to the left and right portions of the plate 41 . An operator moves the storage section 4 by gripping the grip section 30 when performing work on the storage section 4 . Four ribs 49 protrude outward from the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 43 . Each rib 49 extends vertically and has a slit 60 extending radially therethrough. The lower end of each rib 49 is fixed to plate 41 by a corresponding screw 50 . That is, the peripheral wall 43 is fixed to the plate 41 with four screws 50 .

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the moving mechanism 5 moves the pressing plate 7 in the first moving direction and the second moving direction crossing the first stacking direction. The first moving direction and the second moving direction are opposite directions. The first movement direction in this embodiment is leftward, and the second movement direction is rightward opposite to the first movement direction. The moving mechanism 5 includes a pair of rails 51 , a column portion 52 , a harness 53 and a driving portion 54 . The pair of rails 51 extends in the left-right direction above the housing portion 4 , the first container 91 and the second container 93 . The pair of rails 51 are separated from each other in the front-rear direction and provided at the same height. The left and right ends of the pair of rails 51 are supported by the frame 3 . The column portion 52 is located between the pair of rails 51 in the front-rear direction and extends in the left-right direction above the pair of rails 51 . One end of the harness 53 is connected to the driving section 54 . The harness 53 transmits commands from the control unit 10 (see FIG. 7) to the drive unit 54 and supplies electric power to the drive unit 54 . The driving part 54 is fixed to the upper surface 73 of the pressing plate 7 . The driving unit 54 moves the pressing plate 7 in the first moving direction or the second moving direction according to the command from the control unit 10 . When the driving part 54 is driven, the pressing plate 7 moves along the pair of rails 51 in the first moving direction or the second moving direction. The rail 51 is held by a frame (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, the lift mechanism 6 can change the relative positions of the component bundle D accommodated in the accommodation section 4 and the opening 40 in the first stacking direction. The lift mechanism 6 of this embodiment is provided below the housing portion 4, and can move the support plate 62 in the first stacking direction and the second stacking direction. The lift mechanism 6 is a known lifting device that includes a driving portion 65 (see FIG. 7) and that can lift and lower the support plate 62 by the power of the driving portion 65 . The drive system of the drive unit 65 may be any system such as an electro-hydraulic system, an electric ball screw system, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing plate 7 has a pressing surface 71, an upper surface 73, a friction member 82, four supporting members 75, and two supporting members 74. The pressing plate 7 has a rectangular shape elongated in the front-rear direction in plan view. The moving mechanism 5 supports the pressing plate 7 so as to be movable in a first moving direction and a second moving direction that intersect the first stacking direction. The pressing plate 7 can be moved by the moving mechanism 5 to a contact position above the housing portion 4 , a first release position above the first container 91 , and a second release position above the second container 93 . A pressing surface 71 of the pressing plate 7 is the lower surface of the pressing plate 7 and is larger than the opening 40 of the housing portion 4 . When the pressing plate 7 is in the abutting position, the opening 40 of the accommodating portion 4 is inside the contour of the pressing plate 7 in plan view. The friction member 82 is provided in a circular shape in a rear view at the center of the pressing surface 71 . At a predetermined time when the pressing plate 7 is in the abutment position, the friction member 82 faces the edge 44 of the housing portion 4 (upper end of the inner periphery of the housing portion 4), and the friction member 82 contacts the contact part C of the pressing surface 71. Frictional force is generated between the pressing plate 7 and the contact part C when the pressing plate 7 is moved in the first movement direction from the contact position. When the pressing plate 7 is in the abutting position, the edge 44 of the receiving portion 4 is slightly separated vertically from the pressing surface 71 and the friction member 82 . The separation distance between the edge portion 44 and the friction member 82 (pressing surface 71) is a value according to the component C. As shown in FIG. The separation distance is, for example, a distance larger than the thickness of one component C and smaller than the thickness of two components C. As shown in FIG. When the pressing plate 7 is in the abutment position, the opening 40 of the accommodating portion 4 is inside the contour of the friction member 82 in plan view. That is, at a predetermined time when the pressing plate 7 is in the contact position, the friction member 82 contacts the upper surface of the contacting part C including the entire edge 44 of the contacting part C of the pressing surface 71 . The friction member 82 of this embodiment is an elastic member such as rubber. The predetermined time is when the lift mechanism 6 raises the support plate 62 and presses the contact part C against the pressing surface 71 . The four support members 75 are provided on the front right portion, the front left portion, the rear right portion, and the rear left portion of the upper surface 73 and extend in the horizontal direction. The upper surface of each support member 75 has a groove 76 recessed downward. The groove portion 76 extends in the left-right direction from the left end to the right end of the support member 75 . The grooves 76 of the support members 75 on the front right and left sides of the upper surface 73 of the pressing plate 7 are engaged with the rail 51 on the front side. The grooves 76 of the support members 75 on the rear right and rear left sides of the upper surface 73 of the pressing plate 7 are engaged with the rear rail 51 . The two support members 74 are inverted U-shaped plate members that open downward when viewed from the left side. Two support members 74 are fixed to the left and right sides of the driving part 54 . The two support members 74 and the upper surface 73 of the pressing plate 7 surround the column 52 . One end of the harness 53 is fixed to the upper surface of the left support member 74 .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the holding mechanism 8 has four channels 83 communicating with four holes 81 provided in the pressing surface 71 of the pressing plate 7, and the negative pressure introduced from each channel 83 causes the fluid to flow. By sucking from each hole 81 , the contact part C is sucked and held by the negative pressure generated between the pressing surface 71 and the contact part C. The fluid in this embodiment is air, and illustration of a vacuum ejector that supplies a negative pressure to each channel 83 and a tube that communicates each channel 83 is omitted. The four holes 81 are located away from the center of the pressing surface 71 in the portion where the friction member 82 is provided, and are provided in the front right portion, the front left portion, the rear right portion, and the rear left portion of the friction member 82. It is a hole that opens downward. The four holes 81 are inside the opening 40 of the housing portion 4 when the pressing plate 7 is in the contact position.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first container 91 and the second container 93 are arranged in the second movement direction (rightward) with respect to the container 4, and can contain the component C. The first container 91 and the second container 93 are rectangular box-shaped with an open top. The first container 91 and the second container 93 have the same shape. The first container 91 and the second container 93 are mounted on the mounting surface 22 . A lower front portion of the first container 91 is provided with a grip portion 92 . A lower front portion of the second container 93 is provided with a grip portion 94 . The operator grasps the grasping

portions

92 and 94 and performs the replacement work of the first container 91 and the second container 93 .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the guide plate 95 is provided between the housing portion 4 and the first container 91 in the left-right direction. The guide plate 95 extends rightward from a position slightly lower than the height of the edge portion 44 of the housing portion 4 and is bent downward on the left side of the first container 91 . The upper end of the guide plate 95 is positioned slightly higher than the upper end of the first container 91 . The guide plate 95 prevents the component C held by the pressing plate 7 and the holding mechanism 8 from falling between the container 4 and the first container 91 . Even when the target component C held by the holding mechanism 8 moves in the second movement direction together with the adjacent component C, a part of the adjacent component C is suppressed from hanging down from the target component C.

The electrical configuration of the separation device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 10 includes a CPU 9, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a storage device 14, and an input/output interface (input/output I/F) 15. CPU 9 , ROM 12 , RAM 13 , and storage device 14 are electrically connected to input/output I/F 15 via signal line 16 . The CPU 9 controls the separating apparatus 1 and executes processing according to various programs stored in the ROM 12 . The ROM 12 stores various programs including separation programs, various initial setting parameters, and the like. The RAM 13 temporarily stores the calculation result of the CPU 9, various data, and the like.

The input/output I/F 15 is electrically connected to the drive circuits 31-33, the on-off valve 38, the switch (SW) 34, the detectors 35-37, and the operation unit 18. The drive circuit 31 is electrically connected to the drive section 54 of the moving mechanism 5 . The drive circuit 32 is electrically connected to the drive section 65 of the lift mechanism 6 . The drive circuit 33 is electrically connected to the display section 17 and displays an image on the display section 17 according to a command from the CPU 9 . The on-off valve 38 is provided in the fluid supply path that the air compressor supplies to the four flow paths 83 of the holding mechanism 8 . The CPU 9 opens and closes the on-off valve 38 and controls the driving and non-driving of the holding mechanism 8 . A detector 35 is an arbitrary sensor for detecting the number of parts C held by the holding mechanism 8 . The detector 35 is, for example, a sensor that detects the thickness and is arranged between the container 4 and the first container 91 . The sensor may be, for example, a laser displacement meter or a sensor that detects the transmittance of ultrasonic waves. The detector 35 detects the number of sheets from the thickness of the component C held by the holding mechanism 8 arranged at the detection position between the contact position and the first release position. A detector 36 is provided inside the container 4 and detects whether or not there is a component C in the container 4 . A detector 37 is provided on the pressing surface 71 and detects whether or not the holding mechanism 8 holds the component C. As shown in FIG. The

detectors

36, 37 are for example proximity sensors. As the proximity sensor, a known sensor such as an optical sensor using infrared rays or laser light or a capacitance sensor can be used. In addition, it is preferable to provide a transmission portion for transmitting the detection light at the installation location. The proximity sensor detects the proximity of the part C when the part C blocks the detection light emitted from the light projecting part to the light receiving part so as to pass through the trajectory.

The separation processing performed by the separation device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 15. FIG. When the operator inputs a start instruction to the control unit 10 via the operation unit 18, the CPU 9 reads the separation program from the ROM 12 to the RAM 13 and executes this process. The on-off valve 38 is closed at the start of processing.

As shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 9 controls the lift mechanism 6 and the moving mechanism 5 to move the support plate 62 and the pressing plate 7 to the standby position (S1). The standby position of the support plate 62 is the lowest position within the movable range of the support plate 62 . When the support plate 62 is at the standby position, the support plate 62 contacts the bottom portion 39 of the housing portion 4 . The standby position of the pressing plate 7 is a position within the movable range of the pressing plate 7 where the pressing plate 7 does not face the edge portion 44 of the housing portion 4 . The CPU 9 acquires information about the number of target parts C (S2). The target parts C are a predetermined number of parts C from the contact part C in the first stacking direction in the part bundle D. The target component C of this embodiment is a piece of contact component C. As shown in FIG. The information about the number of target parts C may be the thickness of the target parts C, or the number of target parts C itself. (thickness)), it may be information specifying the type of the target part C. FIG. Information on the number (or thickness) of the target part C may be a value input by the operator, or may be a detection result of the detector 35 or the like. The CPU 9 sets the first distance in accordance with the information obtained in S2 based on the correspondence between the information on the number of target parts C stored in the storage device 14 and the first distance (S3). The correspondence between the information about the number of target parts C and the first distance may be information indicated by a calculation formula, or may be information stored in a table. For example, the CPU 9 sets the first distance to a larger value as the value indicated by the information regarding the number of target parts C increases.

The CPU 9 determines whether there is a component C in the container 4 based on the detection result of the detector 36 (S4). When there is no component C in the container 4 (S4: NO), the CPU 9 performs component replenishment processing for replenishing the component C (S23). Specifically, the CPU 9 displays, for example, a message on the display section 17 prompting the replenishment of the component C to the storage section 4 . The operator follows the message displayed by the display unit 17 to replenish the storage unit 4 with the component C, and operates the operation unit 18 to input an instruction that the replenishment of the component C is completed. After detecting the completed instruction, the CPU 9 shifts the process to S21.

When the component C is present (S4: YES), the CPU 9 drives the moving mechanism 5 so that the pressing surface 71 is positioned first with respect to the component bundle D within the edge of the opening 40 of the container 4 (the inner upper end of the edge 44). The contact position (the contact member C and the pressing surface 71 overlap) (S5). As shown in FIG. 9, when the moving mechanism 5 is driven to place the pressing plate 7 at the abutment position, the pressing surface 71 faces the entire edge of the opening 40 of the housing portion 4 . The pressing surface 71 of the pressing plate 7 is slightly vertically separated from the edge portion 44 of the accommodating portion 4 . The pressing surface 71 is vertically separated from the contact part C. As shown in FIG.

The CPU 9 drives the lift mechanism 6 to raise the support plate 62 from the standby position, and the contact part C contacts the pressing surface 71 (friction member 81) of the pressing plate 7 (S6). The CPU 9 stops the support plate 62 from rising ( S7). A method for detecting whether or not a predetermined pressing force is applied to the component bundle D may be appropriately set. For example, the torque of the drive unit 65 may be determined using a sensor such as a load cell that detects torque. As shown in FIG. 10, in steps S5 to S7, the CPU 9 moves the pressing plate 7 from the part bundle D to the part C which is located in the first stacking direction relative to the opening 40 of the storage section 4 and which is closest to the first stacking direction. It is arranged at a contact position where the pressing surface 71 contacts a certain contact component C. As shown in FIG. The CPU 9 drives the lift mechanism 6 to adjust the pressing force applied to the contact part C by the pressing surface 71 of the pressing plate 7 .

The CPU 9 drives the movement mechanism 5 to perform first movement control (S8). As shown in FIG. 11, in the first movement control, the CPU 9 applies a pressing force in the second stacking direction opposite to the first stacking direction to the contacting component C by the pressing surface 71 of the pressing plate 7 located at the contact position. , the pressing plate 7 is moved by the first distance in the first movement direction. The CPU 9 moves the pressing plate 7 in the first movement direction while the pressing plate 7 is in contact with the entire edge of the contact part C. As shown in FIG. The first distance is the value set in S<b>3 and is shorter than the length in the radial direction of the edge 44 at the upper end of the accommodating portion 4 . Therefore, after the first movement control, the left end of the contact part C is between the edge 44 and the pressing surface 71 (friction member 82). The friction member 82 is provided at a portion of the pressing surface 71 that contacts the edge of the contact component C. As shown in FIG. The friction member 82 generates a frictional force with the contact part C when the pressing plate 7 is moved in the moving direction. By S8, a predetermined number of target parts C move in the first movement direction together with the pressing plate 7 from the abutting parts C in the first stacking direction in the parts bundle D, and are separated from the parts bundle D. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the target part C is positioned above the edge 44 and is not blocked by the edge 44, so that it can move along the pressing plate 7 in the first movement direction. On the other hand, at this time, the component bundle D other than the target component C has a portion below the edge portion 44 , so it is blocked inside the peripheral wall 43 and the edge portion 44 . When there is a weld on the outer circumference of the abutting part C, the separation device 1 separates the weld between the abutting part C and the adjacent part C by the first movement control.

The CPU 9 controls the on-off valve 38, switches the on-off valve 38 from the closed state to the open state, and drives the holding mechanism 8 (S9). Fluid is sucked from the four holes 81 of the holding mechanism 8, and the negative pressure generated between the pressing surface 71 and the contact part C sucks and holds the contact part C. As shown in FIG. The CPU 9 controls the lift mechanism 6 to lower the support plate 62 (S10). As shown in FIG. 12, the uppermost component C of the component bundle D is separated from the abutting component C sucked and held by the holding mechanism 8 . In S10, the CPU 9 moves the pressing plate 7 by the first distance in the first movement direction, then controls the holding mechanism 8 to hold the target component C, and the pressing force applied to the abutting component C is removed in S8. Lower than when moving in the first movement direction. In this embodiment, the pressing force applied to the contact part C becomes 0 in S10.

The CPU 9 drives the movement mechanism 5 to perform second movement control (S11). As shown in FIG. 13, in the second movement control, the CPU 9 moves the pressing plate 7 in the second movement direction by a second distance longer than the first distance. The CPU 9 causes the holding mechanism 8 to hold the target component C in S9, and lowers the support plate 62 in S10 to lower the pressing force applied to the abutting component C to a level lower than that during movement in the first movement direction. 7 is moved a second distance in a second movement direction and positioned at the detection position. When the pressing plate 7 is at the detection position, the left end of the pressing plate 7 is on the right side of the opening 40 of the housing portion 4 . The center of the pressing plate 7 in the left-right direction is between the housing portion 4 and the first container 91 .

The CPU 9 determines whether or not the thickness of the component C held by the holding mechanism 8 is greater than 0 based on the detection result of the detector 35 (S12). When the thickness is not greater than 0 (S12: NO). The CPU 9 performs abnormal processing (S18). The CPU 9 displays a warning on the display section 17, for example. After confirming the warning displayed by the display unit 17, the operator performs necessary work and operates the operation unit 18 to input an instruction to restart the separation process or to end the separation process. After detecting the instruction input by the operator, the CPU 9 performs S21.

When the thickness is greater than 0 (S12: YES), the CPU 9 determines whether it is smaller than the threshold value stored in the storage device 14 based on the detection result of the detector 35 (S13). The threshold value is set in advance in consideration of the number and thickness of the target parts C. As shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, one contact component C is set as the target component C, so the threshold is a value greater than the thickness of the one component C and smaller than the thickness of the two components C. When the thickness is not smaller than the threshold value (S13: NO), it is considered that only the target part C has not been separated from the part bundle D in S8, so the CPU 9 controls the moving mechanism 5 as shown in FIG. The pressing plate 7 is sent to the second release position above the second container 93 (S14). When the thickness is smaller than the threshold value (S13: YES), the CPU 9 controls the moving mechanism 5 as shown in FIG. 15 to send the pressing plate 7 to the first release position above the first container 91 (S15). The first container 91 is closer to the container 4 than the second container 93 is.

After S14 or S15, the CPU 9 determines whether or not the holding mechanism 8 holds the component C based on the detection result of the detector 37 (S16). When the holding mechanism 8 does not hold the component C (S16: NO), the CPU 9 performs S21 after performing the abnormality processing of S18. When the holding mechanism 8 does not hold the component C (S16: NO), the CPU 9 performs S21 after performing the abnormality processing of S18. When the holding mechanism 8 holds the part C (S16: YES), the CPU 9 controls the on-off valve 38 to switch the on-off valve 38 from the open state to the closed state, and the holding mechanism 8 holds the abutting part C. is stopped (S17). Through S<b>16 , the contact part C held by the holding mechanism 8 drops into the first container 91 or the second container 93 below the pressing plate 7 . After the pressing plate 7 is moved by the second distance in the second moving direction (S11), the CPU 9 determines if the thickness is smaller than the threshold based on the detection result of the detector 35 (S13: YES). , the moving mechanism 5 is driven to move the pressing plate 7 in the second moving direction, and the target component C held by the holding mechanism 8 is sent to the first container 91 (S15). When the thickness is not smaller than the threshold value (S13: NO), the CPU 9 drives the moving mechanism 5 to move the pressing plate 7 in the second movement direction so that the object held by the holding mechanism 8 in the second container 93 Send the part C and separate it.

As in S3, the CPU 9 determines whether or not the component C is present in the container 4 based on the detection result of the detector 36 (S19). When there is no component C (S19: NO), the CPU 9 performs S21 after the component supply processing (S20) as in S23. When there is part C (S19: YES), the CPU 9 determines whether or not an end instruction has been acquired (S21). When the operator ends the separation process, he/she operates the operation unit 18 to input an end instruction. When the CPU 9 does not detect an end instruction (S21: NO), the CPU 9 returns the process to S5. When the end instruction is detected (S21: YES), the CPU 9 drives the lift mechanism 6 and the moving mechanism 5 as in S1 to move the support plate 62 and the pressing plate 7 to the standby position (S22). The CPU 9 then ends the processing.

In the above embodiment, the separation device 1, the container 4, the moving mechanism 5, the lift mechanism 6, the pressing plate 7, and the holding mechanism 8 are the separating device, the container, the moving mechanism, the lifting mechanism, the pressing member, and the holding mechanism of the present disclosure. An example. Detector 35 , opening 40 , loading surface 69 , pressing surface 71 , hole 81 , first wall 88 , second wall 89 , first container 91 , second container 93 are the detector, opening, loading surface, pressing surface of the present disclosure. Examples of face, hole, first wall, second wall, first container, second container. S5 is an example of the placement control process of the present disclosure, and the CPU 9 that performs S5 is an example of the placement control unit of the present disclosure. S8 is an example of the first movement control step of the present disclosure, and the CPU 9 that performs S8 is an example of the first movement control section. S11 is an example of the second movement control step of the present disclosure, and S11 is an example of the second movement control section of the present disclosure. CPU9 which performs S2 is an example of the information acquisition part of this indication. CPU9 which performs S3 is an example of the distance setting part of this indication. The CPU 9 that performs S9 and S10 is an example of the holding control section of the present disclosure. The CPU 9 that performs S13 to S15 is an example of the separation control section of the present disclosure.

The separating device 1 of the above-described embodiment includes a storage section 4, a lift mechanism 6, a pressing plate 7, a moving mechanism 5, and a CPU9. The storage section 4 can store a component bundle D in which a plurality of sheet-like components C are stacked, and has a stacking surface 69 for stacking the component bundle D and an opening 40 provided in the first stacking direction with respect to the stacking surface 69. . The lift mechanism 6 can change the relative positions of the component bundle D accommodated in the accommodation section 4 and the opening 40 in the first stacking direction. The pressing plate 7 has a pressing surface 71 . The moving mechanism 5 can move the pressing plate 7 in a first moving direction and a second moving direction that intersect the first stacking direction and are different from each other. The CPU 9 is positioned in the first stacking direction from the opening 40 in the component bundle D, and is positioned closest to the first stacking direction. 7 is arranged (S5). The CPU 9 drives the moving mechanism 5 so that the pressing surface 71 of the pressing plate 7 at the contact position applies a pressing force to the contact component C in the second stacking direction opposite to the first stacking direction. The pressing plate 7 is moved by the first distance in the first movement direction (S8). The CPU 9 drives the moving mechanism 5 to move the pressing plate 7 in the second movement direction by a second distance longer than the first distance, and removes a predetermined number of parts from the contact parts C in the first stacking direction in the part bundle D. is separated from the component bundle D (S11).

Even if the sheet-shaped component C has a welded portion on the outer circumference cut by the laser, the separation device 1 separates the welded portion from the target component C by movement by the first movement control unit, and then separates the welded portion by the second movement control unit. The movement can move the target part C in the second movement direction. Since the first distance is shorter than the second distance, even if there is a welded portion between the target component C and the adjacent component C adjacent to the target component C in the second stacking direction during the movement in S8, the adjacent component C The edges are hard to turn over. Therefore, the separating device 1 can separate the target parts C from the bundle of the parts C loaded more easily than the conventional one.

The separation device 1 acquires information about the thickness of the target part C (S2). The CPU 9 sets the first distance according to the information acquired in S2 (S3). The CPU 9 moves the pressing plate 7 in the first moving direction by the first distance set by S3 (S8). When the target part C is thin, the adjacent part C adjacent to the target part C in the second stacking direction is more likely to warp during movement by the first movement control unit than when the target part C is thick. By setting the first distance according to the thickness of the target component C, the separation device 1 can suppress the edge of the adjacent component C from being turned over during movement by the first movement control unit.

In the separation device 1, the first moving direction and the second moving direction are opposite directions. The separation device 1 can more reliably separate the target part C from the bundle of parts C than when the first moving direction and the second moving direction are not opposite directions.

The storage unit 4 of the separation device 1 is arranged in the first movement direction with respect to the component bundle D, and has a first wall 88 facing the first side surface of the component bundle D on the first movement direction side, and a second wall 88 with respect to the component bundle D. A second wall 89 is arranged in the moving direction and faces the second side surface of the component bundle D on the second moving direction side. The first end (left end) of the first wall 88 in the first direction of movement is located in the first stacking direction (upper) than the second end (right end) of the second wall in the second direction of movement. Even if the target component C and the adjacent component C adjacent to the target component C in the second stacking direction are not separated during the movement in S11, the separating device 1 separates the target component C and the adjacent component C in the second moving direction. Can move distance. When the separation device 1 is moved by the second movement control unit, the adjacent part C contacts the second end of the second wall in a state in which the target part C and the adjacent part C are not separated. can be reduced.

The pressing plate 7 has a holding mechanism 8 capable of holding the target part C. After moving the pressing plate 7 by the first distance in the first movement direction in S8, the separation device 1 controls the holding mechanism 8 to hold the target component C, and the pressing force applied to the contact component C is reduced to the first distance. Lower than when moving in the moving direction (S10). The CPU 9 moves the pressing plate 7 by the second distance in the second movement direction while the holding control unit holds the target part C and lowers the pressing force applied to the contact part C as compared to when moving in the first movement direction. (S11). After the separation device 1 separates the target component C and the adjacent component C adjacent to the target component C in the second stacking direction by movement in S8, the pressing force applied to the contact component C by the pressing plate 7 is adjusted in S8. , the pressing force on the component bundle D including the adjacent component C can be eliminated. Therefore, the separation device 1 can reduce the friction between the target part C and the adjacent part C at the time of movement in S11, and the target part C can be smoothly moved with respect to the adjacent part C.

The holding mechanism 8 has holes 81 for sucking fluid. The CPU 9 sucks and holds the target component C by the negative pressure generated between the pressing surface 71 and the contact component C due to the suction of the fluid from the hole 81 (S9). The separation device 1 can hold the target component C by a negative pressure without damaging the target component C or leaving a holding mark.

The separation device 1 is arranged in the second movement direction with respect to the storage unit 4, and detects the thickness of the first container 91 and the second container 93 that can store the component C and the target component C held by the holding mechanism 8. and a vessel 35 . After moving the pressing plate 7 by the second distance in the second moving direction in S11, the CPU 9 drives the moving mechanism 5 based on the detection result of the detector 35 when the thickness is smaller than the threshold value (S13: YES). , the pressing plate 7 is moved in the second movement direction to send the target component C held by the holding mechanism 8 to the first container 91 . When the thickness is equal to or greater than the threshold value (S13: NO), the moving mechanism 5 is driven to move the pressing plate 7 in the second moving direction to send the target part C held by the holding mechanism 8 to the second container 93. . The separation device 1 can store the target parts C separately in the first container 91 or the second container 93 according to the detection result of the detector 35 .

The separation device and separation method of the present disclosure can be variously modified in addition to the above embodiments. The above embodiments and the following modified examples may be combined as appropriate within a consistent range. In the drawings used to describe the following modified examples, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as in the above-described embodiment, and the description of the same configurations as in the above-described embodiment will be omitted. The separation device 1 does not have to provide the holding mechanism 8 to the pressing plate 7 . At this time, for example, after the separation device 1 moves the contact part C in the first movement direction by the first distance by the first movement control, S9 and S10 are omitted, and the contact part C is moved to the second position by the second movement control. may move a second distance in a direction. The structure of the holding mechanism 8 may be changed as appropriate, and may be a suction mechanism using a negative pressure pump other than a vacuum ejector, a mechanism utilizing Bernoulli suction, or a mechanism for gripping the component C. Alternatively, the component C may be held by sticking a needle or the like. The moving mechanism 5 may be capable of moving the pressing plate 7 only in one direction, or may be capable of moving in two directions that intersect each other. The configuration in which the moving mechanism 5 holds the pressing plate 7 may be changed as appropriate, and the pressing plate 7 may be held by a pair of rails 51, rollers, or the like. The number, shape, arrangement, etc. of the pair of rails 51 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the pair of rails 51 may be arranged in the second stacking direction with respect to the pressing plate 7 . The moving direction of the pressing plate 7 may be defined by a guide member or the like other than the rail 51 . The shape of the storage portion 4 may be appropriately changed to a rectangular shape in plan view, an elliptical shape, or the like in accordance with the shape of the component C to be stored in the storage portion 4 . The shape, size, and material of the pressing plate 7 may be changed as appropriate. The material, shape, arrangement, etc. of the friction member 82 may be changed as appropriate, and may be a member having an uneven surface formed of a member other than an elastic member. The pressing plate 7 does not have to be provided with the friction member 82 . The pressing plate 7 only needs to have a pressing surface 71 and does not have to be plate-shaped. The target part C may be one or more parts C including the contact part C, and the number of parts C included in the target part C may be changed. The configuration of the lift mechanism 6 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the lift mechanism 6 may move the peripheral wall 43 in the first loading direction and the second loading direction while keeping the vertical position of the support plate 62 constant. The first stacking direction, the second stacking direction, the first moving direction, and the second moving direction may be changed as appropriate according to the configuration of the separation device 1 . The housing part 4 does not have to be fixed to the plate 41 . The positions of the ends in the first stacking direction of the first wall 88 and the second wall 89 of the housing portion 4 may be the same. The first container 91 and the second container 93 may be omitted. At this time, the processing of S12 to S18 may be omitted or changed as appropriate. The first container 91 may be arranged at a position farther from the housing part 4 than the second container 93 is. If the detector 35 is a sensor capable of directly detecting the number of target parts C held by the holding mechanism 8 (for example, a photographing device, etc.), the CPU 9 determines in S12 that the number of target parts C held by the holding mechanism 8 is 0. It may be determined in S13 whether the number of target parts C held by the holding mechanism 8 is smaller than a threshold indicating the number of sheets.

As shown in FIG. 16, the separating device 1 may have a plurality of storage units 4 corresponding to each of the plurality of component bundles D. As shown in FIG. At this time, the pressing surface 71 of the pressing plate 7 has a size capable of covering the upper side of each of the openings 40 of the plurality of accommodating portions 4 at once, and the CPU 9 drives the moving mechanism 5 in S5 to The pressing plate 7 may be arranged at a contact position where the contacting parts C of the plurality of housing portions 4 and the pressing surface 71 contact at once. The separating device 1 can make the work of separating the component C from the component bundle D more efficient than the device for separating the component C from the component bundle D for one component bundle D. When the separation device 1 includes a plurality of storage units 4, the arrangement of the multiple storage units 4 may be changed as appropriate. The size, shape, etc. of the plurality of accommodating portions 4 may be the same or different.

The program containing the command for the separation device 1 to perform the separation process may be stored in the storage device of the separation device 1 until the CPU 9 executes the program. Therefore, the program acquisition method, acquisition route, and device for storing the program may be changed as appropriate. A program executed by the CPU 9 may be received from another device via a cable or wireless communication and stored in a storage device such as a flash memory. Other devices include, for example, PCs and servers that connect via network networks.

Some or all of the processing performed by the separation device 1 may be performed by an electronic device (for example, an ASIC) other than the CPU 9. The processing performed by the separation device 1 may be distributed by a plurality of electronic devices (for example, a plurality of CPUs). Each step of the processing performed by the separation apparatus 1 can be changed in order, omitted, or added as necessary. The scope of the present disclosure also includes a mode in which an operating system (OS) or the like running on the separation device 1 performs part or all of each process according to commands from the separation device 1 . For example, the above embodiment may be modified as in the following modifications.

A modified separating device 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, the separating device 101 does not have an edge portion 44, and at least an end portion position changing portion 103 capable of changing the position in the first stacking direction of the variable end portion of the second wall 89 in the first stacking direction. , and a driving circuit 102 for driving the end portion position changing section 103. The other configuration is the same as that of the separating apparatus 1, unlike the separating apparatus 1 of the above-described embodiment. In the modified separating device 101 , the left portion of the peripheral wall 43 is the first wall 88 and the right portion of the peripheral wall 43 is the second wall 89 . The end portion position changing portion 103 may be, for example, a known mechanism such as an air cylinder, and may be configured so as to be able to move at least the second wall 89 .

The separation device 101 performs the separation process shown in FIG. 18 instead of the separation process shown in FIG. In FIG. 18, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same processes as the separation process in FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, in the separation process of the modified example, the CPU 9 omits the processes of S2 and S3, performs the process with the first distance of S8 as a constant value, performs S31 between S10 and S11, and performs S17 and S17. This differs from the separation process in FIG. 8 in that S32 is performed between S19. As shown in FIG. 19A, the CPU 9 drives the holding mechanism 8 after moving the pressing plate 7 in the first moving direction by the first distance in S8 (S9). As shown in FIG. 19B, after the support plate 62 is lowered (S10), the CPU 9 drives the end position changing unit 103 to change the position of at least the variable end 90 of the second wall 89 to the position of the pressing plate 7 in S8. is moved in the first movement direction to a position in the second stacking direction from the position of the end of the first wall 88 in the first stacking direction (S31). As shown in FIG. 19C, the separation device 101 of the modified example lowers the entire peripheral wall 43 including the first wall 88 and the second wall 89 from the raised position during the first movement control to the lowered position. After S31, the CPU 9 moves the pressing plate 7 by the second distance in the second movement direction (S11). After stopping the drive of the holding mechanism 8 (S17), the CPU 9 drives the end portion position changing portion 103 to change the position of at least the variable end portion 90 of the second wall 89, and moves the pressing plate 7 in the first movement direction in S8. It moves to the position of the second wall 89 when moved (S32). The separation device 101 of the modified example raises the entire peripheral wall 43 including the first wall 88 and the second wall 89 to the raised position (position shown in FIG. 19A) during the first movement control.

Even when the target component C and the adjacent component C adjacent to the target component C in the second stacking direction are not separated during the second movement control in S11, the separating device 101 of the above-described modified example separates the target component C from the adjacent component C. can be moved a second distance in a second direction of movement. When the separation device 1 is not separated into the target part C and the adjacent part C during the second movement control in S11, the adjacent part C contacts the variable end portion 90 of the second wall 89, causing a problem. can be reduced. The separating device 101 may move only the second wall 89 at S31, S32.

1, 101 Separating device 4 Storage unit 5 Moving mechanism 6 Lifting mechanism 7 Pressing plate 40 Opening 43 Peripheral wall 44 Edge 69 Loading surface 71 Pressing surface 88 First wall 89 Second wall 103 End position changing unit

Claims

It is possible to accommodate a part bundle in which multiple sheet-like parts are stacked,
a loading surface for loading the component bundle;
an opening provided in the first loading direction with respect to the loading surface; and
a lift mechanism capable of changing relative positions of the component bundle accommodated in the accommodation unit and the opening in the first stacking direction;
a pressing member having a pressing surface;
a moving mechanism capable of moving the pressing member in a first moving direction and a second moving direction that intersect the first stacking direction and are different from each other;
The pressing member is positioned at a contact position where the pressing surface contacts a contact component, which is the component located in the first stacking direction relative to the opening and closest to the first stacking direction in the component bundle. a placement control unit that places the
In a state in which the pressing surface of the pressing member located at the contact position applies a pressing force to the contact part in a second stacking direction opposite to the first stacking direction, the moving mechanism is driven to a first movement control unit that moves the pressing member by a first distance in the first movement direction;
After moving the first distance by the first drive control unit, the moving mechanism is driven to move the pressing member by a second distance longer than the first distance in the second moving direction, thereby moving the parts bundle. and a second movement control unit that separates a predetermined number of target parts from the part bundle from the contact part in the first stacking direction.
an information acquisition unit that acquires information about the number of target parts;
a distance setting unit that sets the first distance according to the information acquired by the information acquisition unit;
2. The separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first movement control section moves the pressing member in the first movement direction by the first distance set by the distance setting section.
The separating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first moving direction and the second moving direction are opposite directions.
The accommodation unit is
a first wall arranged in the first movement direction with respect to the opening and capable of facing a first side surface of the component bundle on the first movement direction side;
a second wall arranged in the second movement direction with respect to the opening and capable of facing a second side surface of the component bundle on the second movement direction side;
A first end of the first wall in the first moving direction is located further in the first stacking direction than a second end of the second wall in the second moving direction. 4. Separation device according to any one of 3.
The pressing member has a holding mechanism capable of holding the target part,
After the first movement control unit moves the pressing member by the first distance in the first movement direction, the holding mechanism is controlled to hold the target component, and the pressing applied to the contact component is controlled. further comprising a holding control unit that lowers the pressure than when moving in the first movement direction,
The second movement control section moves the pressing member in a state in which the holding control section holds the target component and lowers the pressing force applied to the abutting component to a level lower than that during movement in the first moving direction. The separating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it moves the second distance in the second moving direction.
The separation device according to claim 5, wherein the holding mechanism sucks and holds the target component by means of negative pressure generated between the pressing surface and the contact component.
A plurality of the storage units are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of sets of the component bundles,
The pressing surface of the pressing member has a size capable of covering the upper portion of the opening of each of the plurality of accommodating portions at once,
The arrangement control section drives the moving mechanism to arrange the pressing member at the contact position where the contact parts of the plurality of housing sections and the pressing surface can contact at once. The separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by:
a first container and a second container that are arranged in the second moving direction with respect to the containing portion and that can contain the component;
a detector that detects the thickness of the target part held by the holding mechanism;
After the second movement control unit moves the pressing member by the second distance in the second movement direction, the movement mechanism is driven when the thickness is greater than a threshold based on the detection result of the detector. and moving the pressing member in the second moving direction to send the target part held by the holding mechanism to the first container, and when the thickness is equal to or less than the threshold value, driving the moving mechanism. and a sorting control unit that moves the pressing member in the second movement direction and sends the target parts held by the holding mechanism to the second container. separation device.
The accommodation unit is
a first wall arranged in the first movement direction with respect to the opening and capable of facing a first side surface of the component bundle on the first movement direction side;
a second wall arranged in the second movement direction with respect to the opening and capable of facing a second side surface of the component bundle on the second movement direction side;
an end portion position changing portion capable of changing the position in the first loading direction of at least the variable end portion in the first loading direction of the second wall,
After the first movement control section moves the pressing member by the first distance in the first movement direction, the end portion position changing section is driven to change the position of the variable end portion of the second wall to the Change control to move the pressing member to a position in the second loading direction from the position of the end portion of the first wall in the first loading direction when the first movement control unit moves the pressing member in the first moving direction. further comprising the
2. The second movement control unit moves the pressing member by the second distance in the second movement direction after the change control unit moves the variable end of the second wall. 2. Separation device according to claim 2.
It is possible to accommodate a part bundle in which multiple sheet-like parts are stacked,
a loading surface for loading the component bundle;
an opening provided in the first loading direction with respect to the loading surface;
a lift mechanism capable of changing a relative position between the component bundle accommodated in the accommodation section and the opening in the first stacking direction;
a pressing member having a pressing surface;
A separation method performed by a control unit of a separation device including a moving mechanism capable of moving the pressing member in a first moving direction and a second moving direction that intersect the first stacking direction and are different from each other,
By driving the moving mechanism, the pressing surface is brought into contact with the abutting part, which is the part located in the first stacking direction from the opening in the bundle of parts and the part closest to the first stacking direction. an arrangement control step of arranging the pressing member at an abutting position;
In a state in which the pressing surface of the pressing member located at the contact position applies a pressing force to the contact part in a second stacking direction opposite to the first stacking direction, the moving mechanism is driven to a first movement control step of moving the pressing member by a first distance in the first movement direction;
After moving the first distance in the first drive control step, the moving mechanism is driven to move the pressing member a second distance longer than the first distance in the second moving direction, thereby moving the component bundle and a second movement control step of separating a predetermined number of target components from the component bundle from the contact components in the first stacking direction.