Device for and method of automatic separation and transport of workpieces

The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically separating and transporting work pieces, particularly disk-shaped or ring-shaped work pieces of rigid or elastic material, with a reservoir for storing the work pieces, a conveyor for discharge of the workpieces from the storage container and for conveying the workpieces along a conveying path and a linearization unit for linear alignment of the workpieces in a row, the linearization unit has a funnel-shaped setting.

The invention further relates to a method for automatically separating and conveying such workpieces with such a device, wherein the workpieces stored in a storage tank, the workpieces held by a conveyor from the hopper and conveyed along the conveying path and the workpieces by means of a funnel-shaped setting having linearization unit are linearly aligned in a row.

<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="DE19545419C2"><text>DE 195 45 419 C2</text></patcit> shows such a device for providing orientation and order of workpieces. In this known apparatus, so-called O-rings are fed by a conveyor to a linearization unit, in which the O-rings are consecutively aligned. This linearization unit discharges into a funnel-shaped portion whose cross-sectional dimensions of which essentially correspond to the dimensions of the O-rings.

To avoid congestion in the linearization unit this linearization unit is constructed in two parts and is divided transversely in the conveying direction and the conveying direction, wherein each division sections are movable relative to each other.

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

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

The invention solves this problem by means of a device according to Claim first

Further, the invention solves this problem by a method according to the independent method claim.

The invention provides to collect each of a number of workpieces in a plurality of parallel tracks. To this end, in the area of ​​the respective web end a drivable blocking device is provided.

Such collected present in a number of workpieces can then be with the shortest possible distance and thus be encouraged with the highest efficiency in a row continued to be sorted, for example, in a subsequent sorting unit.

To avoid congestion in the initial web which can occur in particular if a workpiece strikes centered on an arranged between two webs partition pivotally drivable guiding elements are provided in the initial web which avoid such congestion by a pivoting movement in the neck. Even if a workpiece such unfavorable arrives that it impinges centrally on a guide element, the pivoting movement of this guide element ensures directly that the workpiece comes to rest in a different a center alignment for guiding element and is thus guided past either right or left on the guide element.

The invention can thus avoid congestions reliable.

In a particular embodiment, an optical test apparatus is in the conveying direction after the linearization unit is arranged for detecting a correct or non-correct formation of the respective workpiece. Thanks to this test apparatus, it is possible to separate in a subsequent sorting unit proper of non-regular workpieces.

In a particular embodiment, the test device above a first of the conveying path disposed line or matrix camera and / or a second is arranged below the conveying path line or matrix camera. In this way The spa located within each of the test facility workpiece from both sides can be measured reliably.

In a particular embodiment, this test device is arranged in the region of an existing between two conveyors slot. This embodiment is particularly suitable when using a substantially one-dimensionally aligned line camera.

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

In another particular embodiment, in the sorting unit properly trained workpieces are ejected by displacement of the workpiece transversely to the conveying direction while non-proper workpieces without moving are supplied to a committee collecting. The advantage of this embodiment is that in each case only proper workpieces are discharged, but not non-proper workpieces. Should an exception not be detected by the displacement mechanism proper workpiece so that the workpiece remains in its path and is supplied to the committee collecting. However, this is not critical, since in this case constellation Although a properly trained work is lost, but not a non-proper workpiece is delivered as properly, which regularly leads to very high damages. Since it regularly is inexpensive mass products in the work pieces, the defective discharging a proper workpiece as a committee is not a relevant economic loss.

Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims and from the reference to the accompanying drawings embodiments explained. In the drawings:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention in a lateral view and</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>the device consists of <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> in a view from above.</dd></dl>

The <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 1 and 2</figref> show a device 1 for automatically sorting, testing and sorting of workpieces and especially of the elastic seal rings such as lip seal rings 2. Such lip seal rings 2 are loose and therefore stored in a reservoir 3 in chaos. The reservoir 3 is so large that it can be a usual production batch, namely the filling of a standardized container, particularly grating container record. The receptacle 3 has at the bottom of an opening that leads to a slanted first conveyor 4 a conveyor of five patrons. This first conveyor 4 conveys lip seal rings 2 in the conveying direction obliquely upwards. This lip seal rings 2 are taken from the first conveyor 4 from the loose confederation. Since the lip seal rings 2 tend because of its physical design, but also because of their surface properties to adhere to each other, first by means of dre against the direction of the first conveyor 4 , a first pre-separation made ​​hbaren first deflector. 5 This first deflector 5 is disposed at such a height above the first conveyor 4, that the lower edge of the first deflector 5 has a distance from the top of the first conveyor 4, which 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 lip seal rings 2 come to lie such that a maximum of four lip seal rings 2 are superimposed.

The pre-sorted in this way, lip seal rings 2 arrive at an area adjacent the first conveyor 4, the second conveyor 6, the beginning of which is arranged below the end of the first conveyor 4th The conveyed from the first conveyor 4 lip seal rings 2 therefore fall on the second, horizontally aligned conveyor 6 where they meet a second deflector 7 and a third deflector 8, wherein the 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 is 8. In addition or alternatively, these rotational speeds variably adjusted, in particular with any ratio of the rotational speeds of each other.

The second deflector 7 is arranged at such a height above the second conveyor 6 that only able to pass two superposed lip seal rings below the second deflector 7th The third deflector is disposed at such a height above the second conveyor 6, that only a lip seal ring 2 can pass below the third deflector eighth Additionally or alternatively, the deflector 5, 7 and / or 8 are formed as rigid or movable, in particular non-rotating, aperture.

The deflector 5, 7 and 8 are designed as rotating brushes or rotary broom opposite each in the range of the conveying path to the direction of turn.

Because of this arrangement, the deflector 5, 7 and 8 it is ensured that the second conveyor 6 Exit lip seal rings 2 only in single-layer form, ie not superimposed.

At the end of the second conveyor 6, a distribution station 9, which extends over a third conveyor 10 at least partially begins. This distribution station 9 has a plurality of parallel, aligned in the direction of conveyance paths eleventh These tracks 11 have a track width that essentially corresponds to the width of a lip seal ring 2, but here is slightly larger so that lip seal rings 2 can be conveyed along these paths eleventh

At the end of each rail 11 there is a blocking device 12, by means of which the lip seal rings 2 can be accumulated up to a predetermined number. Preferably, when the locking means 12 to be actuated pneumatic cylinder. Additionally or alternatively, the blocking means 12 are completely or partially constructed as a hydraulic and / or elastic stopper or blocking agent.

A blocking device 12 is opened when a is arranged in the region of the beginning of a web sensor 13 detects that a predetermined amount of lip seal rings 2 in the corresponding lane 11 is present. Once the appropriate blocking device 12 is fully opened the way for a series of lip seal rings 2 is released, and they reach a linearization unit 14 with a substantially funnel-like setting 15. This funnel-like link 15 has a central opening 16, having a width, which substantially corresponds to the width of the lip sealing rings 2, but here is slightly larger, so that the lip seal rings 2 can pass through this opening 16 without hindrance. The lip seal rings 2 leave the linearization unit 14 after another in a linear row of the width of a single lip seal ring. 2

The distribution station 9, in the area of ​​the respective beginnings of tracks on 11 each pivotally drivable guiding 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 webs 11 separating partitions 18. The guide elements 17 are each connected by a hinge 19 with the respective partition 18th

The guide elements 17 are connected via a connecting member 20 to one another and of this connecting member 20 with a drive device 21st The drive means 21 is moved via the link 20, the guide elements 17 in synchronism and substantially parallel to and fro. Thereby, the entrances to the paths 11 are continuously moved transversely to the direction back and forth. This ensures that any blockages of lip seal rings 2 in the inputs of the tracks are 11 dissolved in the bud.

At the end of the third conveyor 10, the lip seal rings contact 2 through the central opening 16 of the funnel-like link 15 from the center and reach to a fourth conveyor 22, which is operated with a higher conveying speed than the third conveyor Therefore, 10. The distances between the lip seal rings 2 increased each other. For example, the conveying speed of the fourth conveyor is 22 2 meters per second, while the conveying speed of the third conveyor 10 1.6 meters per 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 serves primarily to illustrate the gradations of the conveying speeds of the various conveyors.

The fourth conveyor 22 leads to a test device 23 having two preferably formed as matrix Cameras 24 and a disc 25 in the illustrated embodiment. The field of view of the cameras 24 is selected such that can be at least one complete lip seal ring 2 of each of the cameras 24 detected and evaluated by means connected to the cameras 24 control device. This control device checks whether the respective lip sealing ring is formed properly or non-correctly. Furthermore, this controller determines how a lip seal ring is 2 aligned. This is particularly advantageous when the lip seal rings 2 have a shape deviating from a top bottom and the lip seal rings 2 are oriented in the same direction for the transport packaging.

The lip seal rings 2 are then conveyed to a sorting unit 26th The sorting unit 26 has three lanes, with a middle web 27 is provided to promote non-proper lip seal rings 2 to a committee collecting 28 and a first outer web 29 to a first positioning pin 30 for receiving aligned in a first direction lip seal rings. 2 A second outer sheet 31 led to a second receptacle for receiving pin 32 aligned in the opposite direction the lip seal rings second

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

In another, not shown embodiment, the test device 23 only line scan cameras. When such line cameras is only one part of a lip seal ring 2 is in the field of view of the respective line camera. Such cameras are used advantageously in the narrow connecting gap between the fourth and fifth conveyor, so that can be dispensed with the illustrated in FIGS disc 25th