Device for and method of automatic separation and transport of workpieces

The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically separating and Conveying workpieces, in particular disc-shaped or annular Work pieces of rigid or elastic material, with a Reservoir for storing the workpieces, a conveyer for Discharge of the work pieces from the reservoir and conveying the Workpieces along a feed path and a linearization unit for linear alignment of the workpieces in a row, the Linearization unit a funnel-shaped gate has.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for automatically separating and Conveying such a workpiece with such a device, wherein the workpieces stored in a reservoir, the work pieces by means of discharged a conveyor from the reservoir and along promoted the conveying path and the workpieces funnel by means of a one shaped gate having linearization unit in a row linearly be aligned.

DE 195 45 419 C2 shows such a device for providing, Orientation and order of workpieces. In this known Device are called O-rings by a conveyor of a Linearization unit is supplied, in which the O-rings in succession be aligned. This linearization unit opens into a funnel-shaped section, whose cross-sectional dimensions in the Substantially the dimensions of the O-rings comply.

To avoid congestion in the linearization unit is this Linearization unit in two parts and in the conveying direction or transversely divided to the conveying direction, wherein the individual partitioning portions relatively are each movable.

A disadvantage of this known device is, however, that congestion not be completely avoided.

The invention is therefore based on the problem, congestion in the area of to completely avoid linearization unit substantially.

The invention solves this problem in a device of the mentioned type in that in the conveying direction before Linearization unit arranged distribution station with several parallel Webs having substantially the width of workpiece corresponding web width and each one driven blocking device in the area of ​​the respective And a plurality of web end arranged at the respective track beginnings and pivotable about this web starts drivable guiding elements for guiding the Workpieces are provided in these tracks.

Further, the invention solves this problem with a method of the mentioned type in that the workpieces by means of a conveying direction before linearization unit arranged distribution station and means more arranged at the respective track beginnings and around this Web starts pivotally drivable guiding elements for guiding the Workpieces on a plurality of parallel tracks having substantially the Workpiece width corresponding web width and distributed in these tracks means each drivable locking means in the area of ​​the respective The tail is collected.

The invention provides, in a plurality of parallel paths each comprise a series of to collect workpieces. For this purpose is in the range of the respective web end a drivable blocking device provided.

Such collected present in a number of workpieces can then with the shortest possible distance and therefore with maximum efficiency in a Series be further encouraged, for example, in a subsequent Sorting unit to be sorted.

To avoid congestion in the initial web which especially can occur when a workpiece centrally on a disposed between two sheets partition is incident are in the range of Web starts pivotally drivable guiding elements provided that such avoid congestion by a pivoting movement in the neck. Even if a workpiece such unfavorable arrives, it centered on a guide element incident, the pivoting movement of this guide element makes directly for that the workpiece in a different orientation to a central Vane comes to rest and thus either the right or left at is guided past guide member.

The invention can thus avoid congestions reliable.

In a particular embodiment, in the conveying direction after the Linearization unit an optical testing device arranged to Determining a proper and non-proper training of the respective workpiece. Thanks to this test device, it is possible in a subsequent sorting unit proper of non-proper Workpieces to separate.

In a particular embodiment, the test device has a first above the conveying path arranged line or matrix camera and / or a second is arranged below the conveying path line or matrix camera on. In this way, the in each case within the test facility exploiting dividend workpiece from both sides will be assessed reliably.

In a particular embodiment, this test device is in the range an existing between two conveyors arranged slot. These Embodiment is particularly suitable when using an in Essentially dimensionally aligned line camera.

In another particular embodiment, the test device is in the disposed region of a disc which is arranged between the conveyors. This embodiment is suitable particularly when using two-dimensional array cameras.

In another particular embodiment, in the sorting unit properly trained workpieces by moving the workpiece transversely discharged to the conveying direction, while non-proper fed workpieces without moving a committee collecting will. The advantage of this embodiment is that in each case only proper workpieces are discharged, but not non-proper Workpieces. If under exceptional circumstances a proper Workpiece are not covered by the slide mechanism, so remains of this work in its path and is the Committee collecting vessel. However, this is not critical since, in this Counterfactual situation may have lost a properly trained work goes, but not a non-proper workpiece when properly ships, which regularly leads to very high damages. Because it at the workpieces periodically to inexpensive mass products is, the defective discharging is a proper Workpiece as committee no relevant economic loss.

Further advantageous embodiments result from the Subclaims and closer from the accompanying reference to the drawing embodiments explained. In the drawings:<dl tsize="7"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>an apparatus according to an embodiment of the Invention in a side view and</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>the apparatus of Figure 1 in a view from above.</dd></dl>

Figures 1 and 2 show a device 1 for automatically separating, Testing and sorting of workpieces in particular of elastic sealing rings, such as lip seal rings 2. Such Lip seal rings 2 are loose and therefore the chaos in a Reservoir 3 stocked. The reservoir 3 is so large that it has a usual production batch, namely the filling of a standardized Containers, especially grid container can hold. Of the Receiving container 3 has in the lower region an opening which on one obliquely arranged first conveyor 4 a conveyor of five conveyors leads. This ranked first conveyor 4 Lip seal rings 2 in the conveying direction obliquely upwards. Here are the loose composite lip seal rings 2 from the first conveyor 4 taken. Since the lip seal rings 2 because of its physical Conception, but also because of their surface properties tend to adhere to each other, first by means of a counter to the direction of the first conveyor 4 rotatable first deflector 5, a first pre-separation made. This first deflector 5 is above at such a height the first conveyor 4 is arranged, that the lower edge of the first deflector 5 has a distance from the top of the first conveyor 4, which in the Substantially corresponds to the one to four times, in particular three to four times the height of a lip seal ring 2 corresponds. On the first conveyor 4 therefore come lip seal rings 2 to be such that a maximum of four Lip seal rings 2 are superimposed.

The presorted in this manner lip seal rings 2 reach a on the first conveyor 4 adjacent second conveyor 6, the beginning is arranged below the end of the first conveyor 4th Of the first conveyor 4 funded lip seal rings 2 therefore fall to the second, horizontally aligned conveyor 6 where they meet a second deflector and a third deflector 7 8, wherein said second deflector 7 is arranged in the conveying direction before the third deflector. 8 The second Deflector 7 rotates at a rotational speed counter to the conveying direction, which is significantly higher than the rotational speed of the third deflector eighth Additionally or alternatively, these rotational speeds are variable adjustable, in particular with any proportions of Rotational speeds to each other.

The second deflector 7 is at such a height above the second Conveyor 6 arranged that only two superimposed pass lip seal rings below the second deflector 7 can. The third deflector is at such a height above the second Conveyor 6 arranged that only a lip seal ring 2 below of the third deflector 8 to pass therethrough. Additionally or alternatively, are the deflector 5, 7 and / or 8 as a fixed or movable, in particular non-rotating, Aperture formed.

The deflector 5, 7 and 8 are as rotating brushes or rotary broom formed opposite each case in the region of the conveying path for Conveying direction turning.

Due to this arrangement, the deflector 5, 7 and 8 it is ensured that the second conveyor 6 lip seal rings 2 only in single-layer form, ie no longer rely on one another.

At the end of the second conveyor 6, a distribution station starts 9, which about a third conveyor 10 at least partially extends. These Distribution station 9 has a plurality of parallel, aligned in the conveying direction Lanes on 11th These tracks 11 have a track width which is Essentially the width of a lip seal ring 2 corresponds to, while maintaining is slightly larger, so that lip seal rings 2 along these paths 11 can be promoted.

At the end of each rail 11 there is a blocking device 12, by means of which the lip seal rings 2 up to a predetermined number can be dammed. Preferably, at the Blocking means 12 to be actuated pneumatic cylinder. addition or Alternatively, the blocking means 12 are completely or partially present as hydraulic and / or elastic stopper or blocking means are formed.

A blocking device 12 is opened when a in the region of the beginning a web arranged sensor 13 detects that a predetermined amount of lip seal rings 2 is present in the corresponding web 11th Once the appropriate blocking device 12 is fully opened, Released the way for a series of lip seal rings 2 and this entering a linearization unit 14 having a substantially funnel-like setting 15. This funnel-like link 15 has a central opening 16, with a width which is substantially the width the lip seal rings 2 corresponds to, but this is slightly larger, so that the lip seal rings 2 unimpeded through said opening 16 can pass. The lip seal rings 2 leave Linearization unit 14 one after another in a linear row on the width a single lip seal ring. 2

The distribution station 9, in the area of ​​the respective beginnings of tracks 11 each pivotally drivable on the guide elements 17, by means of which the Lip seal rings 2 are directed into the webs 11. These guide elements 17 are continuations of the B guessed 11 separating partitions 18. The Guide members 17 are respectively by a hinge 19 with the respective Partition 18.

The guide elements 17 are connected via a link 20 to one another and this connecting member 20 is connected to a drive device 21st The Drive means 21 is moved via the link 20, the guide elements 17 in essential synchronously and parallel to and fro. This will be the Entrances to the paths 11 constantly transverse to the direction back and forth shifted. This ensures that any blockages of Lip seal rings 2 in the inputs of the tracks 11 to Approach be resolved.

At the end of the third conveyor 10 the lip seal rings come 2 by the central opening 16 of the funnel-like link 15 centrally and reach a fourth conveyor 22 at a higher conveying speed is operated as the third conveyor 10. Therefore, the distances between the Lip seal rings 2 enlarges each other. For example, the Conveying speed of the fourth conveyor 22 2 meters per second, while the conveying speed of the third conveyor 10 per 1.6 meters Second, and the conveying speeds of the first conveyor 4 and the second conveyor 6 each be about 0.8 to 1 meter per second. Of course, different conveying speeds are possible. The exemplary indication of conveying speeds used primarily to the gradations of the conveying speeds of the various conveyors to illustrate.

The fourth conveyor 22 leads to a test device 23 that the in Illustrated embodiment, two preferably as matrix cameras trained cameras 24 and a disc 25 has. The viewing area of the cameras 24 is selected such that at least one complete detects lip seal ring 2 of each of the cameras 24 and a with Cameras 24 connected controller can be evaluated. These Controller checks whether the respective lip seal ring is formed properly or not-properly. Further, this Controller determines how a lip seal ring is 2 aligned. This is particularly advantageous when the lip seal rings 2 a comprise of an upper surface and the underside differs Lip seal rings 2 aligned in the same direction for transport to are packed.

The lip seal rings 2 are then conveyed to a sorting unit 26th The sorting unit 26 comprises three tracks, whereby a central web 27 to Promoting non-proper lip seal rings 2 a Committee collecting 28 and a first outer web 29 to a first receiving pin 30 for receiving in a first direction oriented lip seal rings 2 is provided. A second outer Web 31 led to a second locating pin 32 for receiving in opposite direction aligned lip seal rings. 2

The sorter 26 has to move the lip seal rings 2 in the outer webs 29, 31 a pushing device 33, which For example, the lip seal rings 2 with compressed air on the fifth, the Sorting unit 26 associated conveyor 34 moves.

In a further, not shown embodiment, the Tester 23 only line cameras on. When using such Line cameras each is only part of a lip seal ring 2 in the view of the respective line camera. Such cameras are beneficial in the narrow connecting gap between the fourth and fifth conveyor used, thereby omitting the one shown in the figures, plate 25 can be.