Component feeder and component feeding method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12344484-B2
Application number	US-202318137678-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2023
Priority date	May 31, 2022
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

A component feeder includes: a component housing that stores a plurality of components; a plurality of orientation adjusters that adjusts an orientation of the components housed in the component housing; and a first hardware processor that controls driving of the plurality of orientation adjusters based on component information related to the components housed in the component housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A component feeder comprising:
a component housing that stores a plurality of components;
a plurality of orientation adjusters that adjusts an orientation of the components housed in the component housing; and
a first hardware processor that includes
a second hardware processor that stores control parameters of the plurality of orientation adjusters, and
a third hardware processor that controls driving of the plurality of orientation adjusters based on component information related to the components housed in the component housing and the control parameters.

2. The component feeder according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of orientation adjusters includes at least two of same or different types selected from a vibrator that vibrates the component housing, an elevator that raises and lowers a bottom surface of the component housing, a bottom surface changer that changes the bottom surface of the component housing, a side wall changer that changes a side wall of the component housing, and a rectifier rod that freely protrudes into the component housing.

3. The component feeder according to claim 1 , wherein
the first hardware processor includes a fourth hardware processor that determines a classification of the components based on the component information and extracts a control parameter associated with the classification having been determined from among the control parameters stored in the second hardware processor in association with each classification of the components, and
the third hardware processor controls driving of the orientation adjusters based on the control parameter extracted by the fourth hardware processor.

4. The component feeder according to claim 1 , wherein the first hardware processor further includes a fourth hardware processor,
the second hardware processor stores a plurality of adjustment programs associated with each classification of the components,
the fourth hardware processor determines a classification of the components based on the component information and extracts the adjustment programs associated with the classification having been determined from the second hardware processor, and
the third hardware processor drives the orientation adjusters in accordance with the adjustment programs extracted by the fourth hardware processor.

5. The component feeder according to claim 4 , wherein the third hardware processor drives an orientation adjuster selected for each classification of the components from among the plurality of orientation adjusters.

6. The component feeder according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that detects the components located in a component retrieval opening in the component housing, wherein the first hardware processor repeatedly drives the plurality of orientation adjusters base on a signal from the sensor.

7. The component feeder according to claim 6 , further comprising a component retriever that retrieves the components housed in the component housing from the component retrieval opening of the component housing and feeds the components to a predetermined position, wherein
the first hardware processor operates the component retriever after driving the plurality of orientation adjusters.

8. The component feeder according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a component retriever that retrieves the components housed in the component housing and feeds the components to a predetermined position; and
a sensor that detects a remaining quantity of the components housed in the component housing, wherein
the first hardware processor changes a control parameter of the plurality of orientation adjusters based on a signal from the sensor.

9. The component feeder according to claim 8 , wherein the first hardware processor changes the control parameter of the plurality of orientation adjusters based on efficiency of component retrieval from the component housing by the component retriever.

10. The component feeder according to claim 1 , further comprising an image sensor, wherein the first hardware processor specifies the component information based on an image acquired by the image sensor.

11. The component feeder according to claim 1 , further comprising an operation part that inputs the component information.

12. The component feeder according to claim 1 , wherein the component housing includes
a storage tower in which a cylindrical member having a loading opening for the components is erected on a side peripheral wall, and
a storage tray that is disposed around the storage tower and allows the components to flow into the storage tower from the loading opening.

13. The component feeder according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of orientation adjusters is provided in the storage tower and the storage tray.

14. The component feeder according to claim 12 , further comprising a component retriever that retrieves the components housed in the component housing and feeds the components to a predetermined position, wherein
the first hardware processor operates the component retriever after driving the orientation adjusters provided in the storage tower and the storage tray.

15. The component feeder according to claim 14 , wherein the first hardware processor drives the orientation adjusters provided at least in the storage tower when operating the component retriever.

16. A component feeding method by a component feeder including a component housing that stores a plurality of components, and a plurality of orientation adjusters that adjusts an orientation of the components housed in the component housing, the method comprising storing control parameters of the plurality of orientation adjusters; and controlling driving of the plurality of orientation adjusters by a first hardware processor based on component information related to the components housed in the component housing and the control parameters.

17. A component feeder comprising:
a component housing that stores a plurality of components;
a plurality of orientation adjusters that adjusts an orientation of the components housed in the component housing;
a first hardware processor that controls driving of the plurality of orientation adjusters based on component information related to the components housed in the component housing; and
an operation part that inputs the component information.

18. The component feeder according to claim 17 , wherein
the plurality of orientation adjusters includes at least two of same or different types selected from a vibrator that vibrates the component housing, an elevator that raises and lowers a bottom surface of the component housing, a bottom surface changer that changes the bottom surface of the component housing, a side wall changer that changes a side wall of the component housing, and a rectifier rod that freely protrudes into the component housing.

19. The component feeder according to claim 17 , wherein the first hardware processor further includes a fourth hardware processor,
the second hardware processor stores a plurality of adjustment programs associated with each classification of the components,
the fourth hardware processor determines a classification of the components based on the component information and extracts the adjustment programs associated with the classification having been determined from the second hardware processor, and
the third hardware processor drives the orientation adjusters in accordance with the adjustment programs extracted by the fourth hardware processor.

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Tsujihara Kiyohito
• Sakurada Takumi
• Higuchi Yuki

Classifications

• B65G1/137

  with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed · CPC title

• B65G2203/0283

  Position of the load carrier · CPC title

• B65G2203/0225

  Orientation of the article · CPC title

• B65G2203/044

  Optical · CPC title

• B65G43/08

  Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} · CPC title