Conveyor

A conveyor for separating, singulating or conveying bulk material comprises a conveying plate, a substructure and a pulse generator for generating an oscillation. The substructure stands on a base surface. The conveying plate is arranged on the substructure at a distance from the base surface. The pulse generator is fixed on the substructure and is/can be brought into an operative connection with the conveying plate. The oscillation generated by the pulse generator can be transmitted to the conveying plate and a force is exerted on the substructure by the oscillation. The conveyor comprises an equalising pulse generator which is fixed on the substructure and creates a counter-oscillation. A counter-force which is in an opposite direction to the force is exerted on the substructure by the counter-oscillation. A resultant force which results from the force and the counter-force and which acts on the substructure is reduced by the counter-force.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a conveyor for separating, singulating and/or conveying at least one component by means of at least one mechanical pulse.

BACKGROUND

Conveyors are used in particular in order to separate and singulate components by one or more pulses and/or oscillations. “Separate” in the present case means that the components are detached from each other, for example screws or clips which have become caught together, nuts which are attached to each other or the like. In contrast, “singulate” in the present case means that the components are arranged in relation to each other such that they are at a minimum distance from each other and can thus be picked up, for example by a person or a machine.

Frequently, such conveyors are brought into an operative connection with a hopper system, with components which are stored in the hopper system being poured onto the conveying plate. By one or more pulses or oscillations, the components can be conveyed away from the hopper system and displaced on the conveying plate in the direction of a receiving region. In this case, the components are usually also singulated by the pulse or pulses or the oscillation, so that they can be picked up in the receiving region by a machine. The machines used for receiving the components in the receiving region are usually what are called handling devices.

The conveyors described are frequently used within partially or fully automated manufacturing plants which have handling systems which are adapted to the conveyors. The handling systems have for example camera systems by means of which the components which are arranged on the conveying plate can be detected, in order thus to determine which of the components can be picked up from the conveying plate, for example by means of a gripper. Insofar as the handling system ascertains that none of the components can be picked up by means of the gripper, one or more pulses are applied to the conveyor, or the conveyor is caused to oscillate in order to distance the components from each other such that they can be picked up by means of the gripper.

The conveyors known from the prior art, of the type described first hereinbefore, are used in particular in the precision engineering production sector, for example in producing clocks, mobile telephones or the like, i.e. everywhere where components of relatively small dimensions are processed.

The larger the components to be conveyed, the larger the conveyors used also have to be, since greater forces have to be exerted on the components to be conveyed. With the conveyors known from the prior art, it is not possible to scale beyond a certain size, since the necessary pulses or oscillation and the resulting force which acts on the substructure would exceed an acceptable amount. In this case, a limitation arises for scaling not only from the increasingly large forces, which act in particular on the substructure, but in particular also from the fact that the conveyor due to its operation and the vibrations produced thereby also has an adverse effect on adjoining regions of the manufacturing plant.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a conveyor with which components even of a large component size can be conveyed, and in so doing as little vibrations as possible are transmitted to the surroundings.

This object is achieved in that the conveyor comprises at least one equalising pulse generator which is fixed on the substructure, by which pulse generator at least one counter-pulse can be generated, wherein a counter-force which is in an opposite direction to the force is exerted on the substructure by the counter-pulse, and wherein a resultant force which results from the force and the counter-force and which acts on the substructure is reduced by the counter-force. In this case, provision is advantageously made that the pulse generator and the equalising pulse generator are coupled together such that the counter-pulse generated by the equalising pulse generator destructively interferes with the pulse generated by the pulse generator.

Provision is made that the pulse generators have for example a mass and/or can be brought into an operative connection with a mass which is displaceable out of a non-operative position by means of suitable action means and thus applies a pulse to the conveyor. The action means may be for example electromagnetic, electromechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or similar actuators. Furthermore, provision is advantageously also made that the mass which can be subjected to one of the pulses by one of the pulse generators may comprise one of the elements of the conveyor, for example the conveying plate.

Provision is advantageously made that the pulse generator and the equalising pulse generator can be brought into an operative connection mechanically with each other, for example by means of springs, coupling rods or the like. With such a mechanical coupling, provision is made in particular that the pulse of the pulse generator is transmitted to the equalising pulse generator by a mechanical coupling system such that the pulse and the counter-pulse are in opposite directions to each other.

Particularly preferably, both the pulse generator and the equalising pulse generator are advantageously designed as electromagnetic pulse generators and brought into an operative connection with each other by means of electrical and/or electromagnetic and/or magnetic effects. In this case, it is in particular possible for the pulse generator and the equalising pulse generator to be brought into an operative connection with a control unit, with the control unit generating the pulse by means of the pulse generator and the counter-pulse by means of the equalising pulse generator.

One advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides that the equalising pulse generator comprises a counter-mass and/or is/can be brought into an operative connection with a counter-mass, wherein the counter-force can be increased by the counter-mass. By such a configuration of the conveyor, it is made possible for the resultant force which acts on the substructure to be able to be reduced further. It is also possible and provided that the counter-mass may be designed such that the counter-force when the conveyor is used as intended is greater than the force.

Provision is advantageously made that the counter-mass can be formed for example by a solid body, for instance a metal part, but alternatively by a liquid, for example a hydraulic fluid which can be introduced into an expandable hydraulic hose.

Parameters by means of which a suitable counter-mass of the conveyor can usefully be selected are in particular a weight of the conveying plate, a weight of the components, dimensions of the components or the like. The greater a mass of the system formed from the pulse generator, the conveying plate and the components is, the larger the counter-mass also has to be in order to be able to generate a sufficiently large counter-force.

One advantageous configuration of the invention provides that the counter-mass is/can be adapted to the conveyor such that an amount of the force is equal to an amount of the counter-force, so that the resultant force can be cancelled completely. Complete cancelling of the resultant force advantageously leads to no forces acting on the substructure and thus affecting of the surroundings of the conveyor being minimised or prevented by its use as intended.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is made that an amount of the counter-pulse which can be generated by the equalising pulse generator is changeable, so that the counter-force can be increased without the counter-mass having to be changed. An increase in the amount of the counter-pulse and/or the amplitude of the counter-oscillation while the frequency of the counter-oscillation remains the same leads to greater acceleration, so that the counter-force can be increased while the counter-mass remains the same.

One advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides that the substructure comprises a plate receptacle at a distance from the base surface, on which receptacle the conveying plate can be fixed, wherein the pulse generator is/can be brought into an operative connection with the plate receptacle and wherein the conveying plate is/can be brought into an operative connection with the pulse generator by means of the plate receptacle. Particularly preferably, the plate receptacle has a tool-less quick-change system, by means of which the conveying plate can be fixed on the plate receptacle. Such a configuration of the conveyor makes it possible for the conveyor to be adaptable to different demands in a simple manner.

It is furthermore also possible and provided that the conveyor may have oscillation-influencing elements, for example springs, dampers or the like. In this case, provision is made in particular that the plate receptacle can be fixed on the substructure by means of an upper spring arrangement and be resiliently mounted thereby, so that a mechanically resonant system can be formed by the plate receptacle, the conveying plate and the upper spring arrangement, which system can be caused to oscillate by means of the pulse generator.

One advantageous configuration of the invention provides that the substructure comprises at least one stand element, wherein the substructure when used as intended stands on the base surface with the stand element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is advantageously made that the substructure may have a plurality of stand elements, wherein at least one of the stand elements comprises a height adjustment mechanism, so that the substructure can advantageously be oriented parallel to the base surface.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is made that at least one stand element has vibration-damping properties. Provision is made that such vibration-damping properties can be obtained in particular in that the stand element is produced at least in portions from an elastomer.

One advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides that the conveyor comprises at least one coupling means, wherein the conveyor can be fixed on the base surface by means of the coupling means. The coupling means may for example be designed as a tab, the tab having a cutout which penetrates through the tab, with a screw which can be able to be screwed to the base surface being able to be passed through the cutout.

Furthermore, provision is advantageously also made that the coupling means may comprise quick-release closures and/or be compatible with quick-release closures, for example with latch hooks, bayonet locks, magnetic catches or the like. Particularly preferably, the coupling means is fixed on the substructure.

One advantageous configuration of the invention provides that the conveyor comprises at least two pulse generators, wherein a first partial conveying pulse can be generated by one of the pulse generators, wherein a second partial conveying pulse can be generated by another of the pulse generators, wherein the first partial conveying pulse and the second partial conveying pulse can be superimposed in the conveying plate to form a conveying pulse, wherein a conveying force can be exerted on the components by the conveying plate which is subjected to the conveying pulse, so that the components arranged on the conveying plate are displaceable from a first storage position into a second storage position. In order to be able to generate conveying forces which are directed in different directions, provision is furthermore advantageously made that the conveyor may also have more than two pulse generators.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is made that the conveyor comprises at least two equalising pulse generators, wherein a first partial counter-pulse can be generated by one of the equalising pulse generators, wherein a second partial counter-pulse can be generated by another of the equalising pulse generators, wherein the first partial counter-pulse and the second partial counter-pulse can be superimposed to form a total counter-pulse, wherein a resultant counter-force is exerted on the substructure by the total counter-pulse, wherein the resultant counter-force is in an opposite direction to a disruptive force exerted on the substructure by the conveying pulse, and wherein the resultant force which acts on the substructure and which results from the resultant counter-force and the disruptive force is reduced by the resultant counter-force. In order to be able to produce a conveyor thus configured particularly efficiently, provision is advantageously made that an equalising pulse generator is associated with each pulse generator.

Particularly preferably, the counter-mass in this case is advantageously designed as a plate-shaped element which is brought into an operative connection with all the equalising pulse generators of the conveyor. In this case, provision is made in particular that the counter-mass can be fixed on the substructure by means of a lower spring arrangement and be resiliently mounted thereby, so that a mechanically resonant system can be formed by the counter-mass and the lower spring arrangement, which system is subjected to the counter-pulse and/or can be caused to counter-oscillate by means of the equalising pulse generator.

One advantageous configuration of the invention provides that the conveying plate is produced at least in portions from an at least translucent material. Furthermore, provision is advantageously likewise made that the conveying plate can be produced also at least in portions from a transparent material. “Transparent” here in the present case means that the conveying plate is completely transparent to visible light, “translucent” meaning that the conveying plate scatters visible light, for example by being configured as a pane of frosted glass.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is made that the conveyor comprises an illumination means, wherein the conveying plate can be backlit by means of the illumination means. “Can be backlit” in this case means that components arranged on the conveying plate can be illuminated from the side by which they lie on the conveying plate. By such a configuration of the conveyor, analysis of components which are arranged on the conveying plate is facilitated, in particular if the analysis takes place by means of an optical system.

One advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides that the conveyor comprises a device control unit, wherein at least the pulse generators of the conveyor are controllable by means of the device control unit, wherein the device control unit comprises an interface means, wherein the conveyor can be brought into an operative connection with an external device by means of the interface means of the device control unit. Such a configuration of the conveyor makes it possible for the conveyor to be able to be brought into an operative connection for example with a process control system, so that operation of the conveyor can be coordinated with further devices which take part in a production process.

In a particularly preferred configuration of the conveyor, provision is made that the conveyor comprises a cancellation control unit and a device control unit, wherein the cancellation control unit controls the equalising pulse generators independently of the pulse generators controlled by the device control unit. Such a configuration of the conveyor makes it possible for cancelling of undesirable vibrations to be able to be carried out independently by the conveyor.

In particular in order to be able to displace the components even over relatively long displacement paths with as uniform as possible a movement from the first component position to the second component position, provision is advantageously made that at least one of the pulse generators is designed as an oscillator, wherein an oscillation can be generated by the pulse generator which is designed as an oscillator. With such a configuration of the conveyor, provision may be made that in each case instead of and/or in addition to the pulse and the counter-pulse an oscillation and a counter-oscillation can be able to be generated by the pulse generators which are designed as oscillators, wherein the oscillation and the counter-oscillation, the oscillation and the counter-pulse and/or the pulse and the counter-oscillation can be adapted to each other such that they at least in part interfere destructively with each other, so that the resultant force which acts on the substructure can be reduced.

In the case of pulse generators which act as oscillators, provision is advantageously made that the oscillation can be transmitted to the equalising pulse generator with a phase shift of 180 degrees, so that the counter-oscillation can be generated by the equalising pulse generator.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is made that an amplitude of the counter-oscillation which can be generated by the equalising pulse generator which acts as an oscillator is changeable, so that the counter-force can be increased without the counter-mass having to be changed. An increase in the amplitude of the counter-oscillation while the frequency of the counter-oscillation remains the same leads to greater acceleration, so that the counter-force can be increased while the counter-mass remains the same.

In the case of pulse generators which act as oscillators, provision is furthermore advantageously made that a first partial conveying oscillation can be generated by one of the pulse generators, wherein a second partial conveying oscillation can be generated by another of the pulse generators, wherein the first partial conveying oscillation and the second partial conveying oscillation in the conveying plate can be superimposed to form a conveying oscillation, wherein the conveying force can be exerted on the components by the conveying plate which is caused to oscillate with the conveying oscillation, so that the components arranged on the conveying plate are displaceable from the first storage position to the second storage position.

Furthermore, provision is advantageously also made that merely one of the two pulse generators can act as an oscillator, so that the first partial conveying oscillation can be generated by the pulse generator which acts as an oscillator, wherein the first partial conveying pulse can be generated by the other pulse generator, wherein the first partial conveying oscillation and the first partial conveying pulse can be superimposed in the conveying plate to form the conveying oscillation, wherein the conveying force can be exerted on the components by the conveying plate which is caused to oscillate with the conveying oscillation, so that the components arranged on the conveying plate are displaceable from the first storage position to the second storage position.

In this case, provision is advantageously also made that one of the partial conveying oscillations may have a frequency of 0 Hz, or that one of the partial conveying pulses has an amount of 0, i.e. that at least one of the pulse generators is not actively deflected out of its non-operative position.

Furthermore, in the case of pulse generators which act as oscillators, provision is advantageously made that a first partial counter-oscillation can be generated by one of the equalising pulse generators, wherein a second partial counter-oscillation can be generated by another of the equalising pulse generators, wherein the first partial counter-oscillation and the second partial counter-oscillation can be superimposed to form a total counter-oscillation, wherein the resultant counter-force is exerted on the substructure by the total counter-oscillation, wherein the resultant counter-force is in an opposite direction to the disruptive force exerted on the substructure by the conveying oscillation and/or the conveying pulse and wherein the resultant force which acts on the substructure and which results from the resultant counter-force and the disruptive force is reduced by the resultant counter-force.

Below, some exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept, which are illustrated in the drawings, will be discussed in greater detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a schematically illustrated sectional view of an embodiment of a conveyor1. The conveyor1comprises a conveying plate2, a substructure3and also four pulse generators4.

In the sectional view shown, merely two of the four pulse generators4are visible, of which one is provided with a reference numeral. In each case both a pulse and an oscillation can be generated by the pulse generators4. The pulse generators4are fixed on the substructure3, and the substructure3stands on a base surface5. The substructure3comprises a plate receptacle6at a distance from the base surface, on which the conveying plate2is fixed in a clamping manner. The pulse generators4are designed as electromagnetic components which have a coil portion7. A magnetic field can be generated by the coil portion7. The magnetic field generated may also be a pulsating one. “Pulsating” in the present case means that the magnetic field has a field strength which is changeable over time with an in particular sinusoidal form. The plate receptacle6comprises reaction elements8which are arranged above the coil portions7of the pulse generators4. Between the pulse generators4and the plate receptacle6, an operative connection is produced in that the magnetic field generated by the coil portions7of the pulse generators4acts on the reaction element8. The conveying plate2is brought into an operative connection with the pulse generators4by means of the plate receptacle6. The pulse generated by the pulse generators4by means of the reaction elements8can thus be transmitted to the conveying plate2.

The plate receptacle6is fixed on the substructure3by means of an upper spring arrangement9and is resiliently mounted by spring elements of the upper spring arrangement9. The plate receptacle6, the conveying plate2and the upper spring arrangement9form a mechanically resonant system which can be subjected to the pulse electromagnetically by means of the coil portions7of the pulse generators4and the reaction elements8which are fixed on the plate receptacle6. The conveyor1shown inFIG. 1is illustrated in its non-operative state, with no forces other than gravity acting on the elements of the conveyor1in the non-operative state.

Three schematically illustrated components10are arranged on the conveying plate2. By displacement of the plate receptacle by means of a pulse generated by the pulse generators4, the components10can be separated from each other, singulated and conveyed, with a force being exerted on the substructure3by the pulse.

The conveyor1comprises four equalising pulse generators11and also a counter-mass12. Of the four equalising pulse generators11, only two are visible in the sectional view shown, of which one is designated. The equalising pulse generators11, similarly to the pulse generators4, are designed as electromagnetic components which have a coil portion7. A magnetic field, which may also be a pulsating one, can be generated by the coil portion7of the equalising pulse generators11as well. The counter-mass12comprises reaction elements8which are arranged beneath the coil portions7of the equalising pulse generators11. Between the equalising pulse generators11and the counter-mass12, an operative connection is produced in that the magnetic field generated by the coil portions7of the equalising pulse generators11acts on the reaction element8.

The counter-mass12is fixed on the substructure3by means of a lower spring arrangement13and is resiliently mounted by spring elements of the spring arrangement13. The counter-mass12and the lower spring arrangement13form a mechanically resonant system which is displaceable electromagnetically by means of the coil portions7of the equalising pulse generators11and the reaction elements8which are fixed on the counter-mass12, in that said system can be subjected to a counter-pulse.

A counter-force which is in an opposite direction to the force is exerted on the substructure3by the counter-pulse. A resultant force resulting from the force and the counter-force, which acts on the substructure3, is reduced by the counter-force. In the embodiment illustrated, the counter-mass is adapted to the conveyor1such that an amount of the force is equal to an amount of the counter-force, so that the resultant force can be cancelled completely.

The conveyor1shown inFIG. 1also comprises four stand elements14with which the substructure3stands on the base surface5. The stand elements14are manufactured from an elastomer and have vibration-damping properties. The conveying plate2of the conveyor1is produced from a translucent material and the conveyor1can be brought into an operative connection with an illumination means by means of which the conveying plate2can be backlit.

FIG. 2shows a schematically illustrated perspective view of the conveyor1illustrated inFIG. 1, with merely the four pulse generators4, the conveying plate2, the substructure3, the four equalising pulse generators11and the counter-mass12being illustrated. A component10is arranged on the conveying plate2of the conveyor1.

A first partial conveying pulse15is generated by one of the pulse generators4of the conveyor1illustrated. A second partial conveying pulse16is generated by a further pulse generator4. The partial conveying pulses15,16are superimposed in the conveying plate2to form a conveying pulse17. The first partial conveying pulse15has a first pulse vector18, the amount of which is greater than an amount of a second pulse vector19of the second partial conveying pulse16, the partial conveying pulses15,16being oriented parallel to each other and acting simultaneously on the conveying plate2. A conveying force20is exerted on the component10by the conveying plate2which is subjected to the conveying pulse17, so that the component10arranged on the conveying plate2is displaceable from a first storage position21into a second storage position22.

In the conveyor1illustrated, a first partial counter-pulse23is generated by one of the equalising pulse generators11. A second partial counter-pulse24is generated by another of the equalising pulse generators11. The two partial counter-pulses23,24are superimposed in the counter-mass12to form a total counter-pulse25.

A disruptive force26is exerted on the substructure3by the conveying pulse17. A resultant counter-force27which is in an opposite direction to the disruptive force26is exerted on the substructure3by the total counter-pulse25, with an amount of the resultant counter-force27being equal to an amount of the disruptive force26. The two forces26,27neutralise each other.

FIG. 3shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the conveyor1with a cancellation control unit28and a device control unit29. Furthermore, a pulse generator4of the conveyor1which is fixed on the substructure3is illustrated which is brought into an operative connection with a conveying plate2which is illustrated merely schematically. With the pulse generator4illustrated there is associated an equalising pulse generator11which likewise is fixed on the substructure3and which is brought into an operative connection with the counter-mass12.

A pulse-generator control unit30is brought into an operative connection with the equalising pulse generator11of the conveyor1, with merely one of the equalising pulse generators11being illustrated and designated. A frequency and an amplitude of the counter-oscillation generated by the equalising pulse generator11can be changed by the pulse-generator control unit30.

The pulse generator4can be controlled by means of the device control unit29of the conveyor1illustrated. The device control unit29comprises an interface means31by means of which the conveyor1can be brought into an operative connection with an external device32.

FIGS. 4A and 4Bshow schematically illustrated sectional views of an embodiment of the conveyor1, with merely the substructure3, the conveying plate2and the counter-mass12being illustrated and designated.

InFIG. 4A, the conveyor1is shown in its non-operative state, in which the conveying plate2and the counter-mass12are arranged in their respective non-operative positions. InFIG. 4B, the conveyor1is shown once the conveying plate2has been subjected to the conveying pulse and the counter-mass12to the counter-pulse, as a result of which a distance33between the conveying plate2and the counter-mass12is increased.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS