Conveyors: fluid current – Intake to fluid current conveyor – Load receptacle type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-04-03
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: fluid current
Intake to fluid current conveyor
Load receptacle type
C406S075000, C406S122000, C406S151000, C198S533000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210081
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The present invention relates to a parts feeder for supplying each of electric parts from the electric parts in bulk toward an electric part mounting apparatus.
JP-A-8-222889 discloses an electronic parts supply device in which a receiving volume receiving electronic parts in bulk is substantially symmetrical relative to a parts guide path through which each of the electronic parts is moved from the receiving volume toward an electric part mounting apparatus.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a parts feeder for supplying each of electric parts from the electric parts in bulk toward an outlet thereof at which the each of electric parts is taken by a mounting head of an electric part mounting apparatus for mounting the each of electric parts onto an electric circuit substrate, in which parts feeder the each of the electric parts moves stably and smoothly from the electric parts in bulk toward the outlet.
According to the present invention, a parts feeder for supplying each of electric parts from the electric parts in bulk toward an outlet thereof at which the each of electric parts is taken by a mounting head of an electric part mounting apparatus, comprises, a container having a receiving volume adapted to receive therein the electric parts in bulk, and a parts guide path extending from the receiving volume so that the each of electric parts is moved therethrough toward the outlet by a gravity of the each of electric parts, wherein a horizontal position of the parts guide path is arranged between a horizontal position of the center of gravity G as showen in
FIG. 1
of the parts feeder and a horizontal position of the outlet as seen in a direction perpendicular to a horizontal direction passing the parts guide path and the outlet.
More particularly, with reference to the drawings, the following preferred aspects of the invention will be apparent. The horizontal position of the second parts guide path
30
is arranged between the horizontal position of the center of gravity G of the parts feeder
10
and the horizontal position of the outlet
82
as seen in the direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction
80
passing the parts guide path
30
and the outlet
82
, that is, the horizontal position of the center of gravity G of the parts feeder
10
is arranged far away from the outlet
82
at a relatively outer side of the electric part mounting apparatus and/or the parts guide path, so that the center of gravity G of the parts feeder
10
may be effectively vibrated in accordance with a vibration of the electric part mounting apparatus
100
and/or a horizontal positioning movement of the parts feeder
10
, while restraining a significant vibration of the outlet
82
, so that the electric parts
3
in bulk received in the receiving volume
21
are vibrated effectively to accelerate or cause a smooth and stable movement of each of the electric parts
3
in the receiving volume
21
toward the parts guide path
30
and the outlet
82
without causing significant vibration of the outlet
82
and thereby deteriorating a secure taking of the electric parts
3
by the mounting head. In addition to this, the case
56
may be taken by a single hand from a rear surface
53
of the parts feeder
10
.
When the receiving volume
21
has a first horizontally terminating end
84
and a second horizontally terminating end
86
along the horizontal direction: (a) a horizontal position of the first horizontally terminating end
84
is arranged between the horizontal position of the parts guide path
30
and the horizontal position of the outlet
82
as seen in the direction; (b) the horizontal position of the parts guide path
30
is arranged between the horizontal position of the first horizontally terminating end
84
and a horizontal position of the second horizontally terminating end
86
as seen in the direction; and (c) a horizontal distance between the horizontal position of the parts guide path
30
and the horizontal position of the second horizontally terminating end
86
along the horizontal direction
80
is larger than the horizontal distance between the horizontal position of the parts guide path
30
and the horizontal position of the first horizontally terminating end
84
along the horizontal direction. The center of gravity G of the parts feeder
10
, or particularly a main part of the electric parts
3
in bulk in the receiving volume
21
is arranged securely far away from the outlet
82
at the relatively outer side of the electric part mounting apparatus in comparison with the parts guide path, so that the main part of the electric parts
3
in bulk received in the receiving volume
21
can be vibrated effectively while restraining significant vibration of the outlet
82
.
To effectively arrange the center of gravity G of the parts feeder
10
far away from the outlet
82
at the relatively outer side of the electric part mounting apparatus in comparison with the parts guide path, the parts feeder
10
should comprise: (a) at least one of a vibration generating motor for generating a force to cause a relative vibration between the parts guide path
30
and each of the electric parts
3
; (b) a pneumatic unit
40
for generating a pneumatic pressure to urge each of the electric parts
3
toward the outlet
82
after each of the electric parts
3
is moved through the parts guide path
30
toward the outlet
82
by the gravity of each of the electric parts
3
; and (c) a toggle joint
50
for releasably fixing the parts feeder
10
to a movable table
70
of the electric part mounting apparatus
100
. Also, the horizontal position of the parts guide path
30
should be arranged between at least one of a, b and c and the horizontal position of the outlet
82
as seen in the direction.
When the receiving volume
21
has a first upper end
88
and a second upper end
90
, and a vertical position of the first upper end
88
is lower than a vertical position of the second upper end
90
, then: (a) the horizontal position of the first upper end
88
is arranged between the horizontal position of the parts guide path
30
and the horizontal position of the outlet
82
as seen in the direction, and; (b) the horizontal position of the parts guide path
30
is arranged between the horizontal position of the first upper end
88
and a horizontal position of the second upper end
90
as seen in the direction; and (c) the main part of the electric parts
3
in bulk in the receiving volume
21
is arranged securely far away from the outlet
82
at the relatively outer side of the electric part mounting apparatus in comparison with the parts guide path, so that the main part of the electric parts
3
in bulk received in the receiving volume
21
is vibrated effectively while restraining significant vibration of the outlet
82
.
When the second upper end (surface)
90
has a cover
24
openable for inserting therethrough the electric parts
3
into the receiving volume
21
, the main part of the electric parts
3
in bulk received in or supplied into the receiving volume
21
is easily arranged far away from the outlet
82
. The receiving volume
21
has preferably joint surfaces inclined relative to the horizontal direction
80
extending between the first upper end
88
and the second upper end
90
.
When the receiving volume
21
has a first lower surface
92
inclined relative to the horizontal direction
80
and extending from the parts guide path
30
and a second lower surface
94
inclined relative to the horizontal direction
80
and extending from the parts guide path
30
, then: (a) a horizontal position of the first lower surface
90
is arranged between the horizontal position of the parts guide path
30
and the horizontal position of the outlet
82
as seen in the direction; (b) the horizontal position of the parts guide path
30
is arranged between the horizontal position of the first lower surface
92
and a horizontal position of the second lower surface
94
as
Saho Hidehiro
Tanaka Yuji
Dillon, Jr. Joe
Ellis Christopher P.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Stevens Davis Miller & Mosher LLP
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