Abstract:
The present invention discloses a stacker for a tray feeder including: a plurality of frames for forming an outer portion of the stacker; an elevator capable of moving upwardly and downwardly and positioned at a side of an auxiliary frame of the plurality of frames; a driving means for driving the elevator; and a magazine for receiving the tray plates and mounted to the elevator. According to the present invention, the tray plate on which the electronic parts is positioned is precisely mounted by the magazine having the alignment bars due to operation of the stacker, and safely transferred to a predetermined position, to improve productivity and reliability.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a stacker for a tray feeder, and in particular to an improved stacker for a tray feeder which can stably precisely transfer a tray on which electronic parts are mounted to an electronic parts mount device.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Background Art  
           [0004]    In general, a flat-back type electronic parts implies an electronic parts received in a tray. It is mostly supplied to an electronic parts feeder.  
           [0005]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a conventional electronic parts feeder picking out the flat-back type electronic parts from the tray, a magazine  3  receiving the electronic parts  4  is supported by a lifter  7  lifted or lowered along a ball screw  6  driven by a motor  5 . When the electronic parts  4  is selected, the lifter  7  is moved in a vertical direction. The magazine  3  receiving a tray plate  2  is connected at the upper portion of the lifter  7 . When a position of the lifter  7  is decided, the tray plate  2  received in the magazine  3  is transferred by driving of a tray plate fetch unit  8 .  
           [0006]    Thereafter, a movement unit  10  having a moving nozzle is operated to move or displace the electronic parts to a center table  11 . The center table  11  where the electronic parts  4  is positioned is moved to the electronic parts mount device, thereby feeding the electronic parts  4 .  
           [0007]    In the conventional art, when the electronic parts mount device is operated, the lifter  7  of the electronic parts feeder  20  is moved in an upward/downward direction. However, while the electronic parts mount device is operated, it is impossible to supply the electronic parts.  
           [0008]    In addition, there is a disadvantage that the electronic parts cannot be replaced during the operation of the electronic parts mount device, which reduces productivity.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stacker for a tray feeder including a tray plate which can stably receive an electronic parts, a magazine which can stably receive the tray plate, and an elevator which can stably transfer the magazine.  
           [0010]    In order to achieve the above-described object of the invention, there is provided a stacker for a tray feeder comprising: a plurality of frames for forming an outer portion of the stacker; an elevator capable of moving upwardly and downwardly and positioned at a side of an auxiliary frame of the plurality of frames; a driving means for driving the elevator; and a magazine for receiving the tray plates and mounted to the elevator. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a unit for receiving a tray to a magazine in a conventional electronic parts feeder;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the conventional electronic parts feeder;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a stacker for a tray feeder including an exchange in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a magazine mounted in the stacker; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a tray plate received in the magazine.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    A stacker for a tray feeder in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 3.  
         [0018]    Firstly, the tray feeder (also known as an electronic parts feeder) includes a stacker  100  composing an outer portion of the tray feeder, a magazine  300 , a transfer  400  and an exchange  500 .  
         [0019]    The stacker  100  includes a main frame  120  and a cover frame  110 . The main frame  120  is composed of a plurality of horizontal frames  111 , a plurality of vertical frames  112 , a plurality of longitudinal frames  113  and a base unit  114 .  
         [0020]    A auxiliary frame  140  is provided to one side portion of the main frame  120 , and the transfer  400  and the exchange  500  are connected to the upper portion of the main frame  120 .  
         [0021]    A motor  160  is installed at one side portion of the auxiliary frame  140 , a ball screw  130  is connected to a motor shaft (not shown) of the motor  160 , and one side portion of an elevator  200  is connected to the ball screw  130 , thereby driving the elevator  200  by the motor  160 .  
         [0022]    A plurality of LM guides  141  are disposed on one surface of a auxiliary frame  140  to guide the elevator  200  positioned on the base unit  114 .  
         [0023]    A plurality of guide blocks  151  connected to one surface of the guide frame  150  connected to one side of the elevator  200  are inserted into the plurality of LM guides  141  formed on one surface of the auxiliary frame  140  in order to be moved along the plurality of LM guides  141 .  
         [0024]    On the other hand, the exchange  500  is positioned on the main frame  120  with the transfer  400 , and a nozzle unit (not shown) for holding a tray plate  600  is disposed at one side portion of the exchange  500 .  
         [0025]    In addition, first and second plates  430  and  440  for transferring the tray plate  600  are provided at both upper end portions of the transfer  400  facing each other, and a driving unit (not shown) is disposed at one side portion of the transfer  400 , so that the tray  450  on which the electronic parts is mounted can drive the first and second plates  430  and  440 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the magazine mounted in the stacker, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the tray plate received in the magazine.  
         [0027]    As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the magazine  300  mounted on the elevator  200  includes a bottom plate  310 , guide plates  350  and a top plate  320 .  
         [0028]    The bottom plate  310  is connected to the lower portion of the magazine  300 , and the guide plates  350  are installed at both end portions of the bottom plate  310 , separating from each other by a predetermined distance and facing with each other. A plurality of guide grooves  351  are formed at one side portions of the guide plates  350  to receive the plurality of tray plates  600 .  
         [0029]    The tray plate  600  includes a bottom surface  610 , support jaws  620 , support bar guides  630  and a tray support bar  640 .  
         [0030]    The support bar guides  630  are formed at both end portions of the bottom surface  610  of the tray plate  600 , and the support jaws  620  having a predetermined width are disposed at both end portions of the tray plate  600  to be supported, sucked and held by the nozzle unit positioned at one side portion of the exchange  500  (refer to FIG. 3).  
         [0031]    Support bar guide jaws  631  are formed at both end portions of the outer surface of the support bar guide  630  to be inserted into the guide groove  351  of the guide plate  350 , and a support bar guide groove  632  is formed on the inner surface of the support bar guide  630  in order for the tray support bar  640  to be inserted thereinto.  
         [0032]    A position of the tray support bar  640  is changed along the support bar guide grooves  632 . Fixed pushers  650  having springs  651  are connected to the bottom portions of both end potions of the tray support bar  640 . Here, the fixed pushers  650  have a tension, and are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. Protrusions  641  are formed at both end portions of the tray support bar  640 , and inserted into the support bar guide groove  632  of the tray plate  600 . The top plate  320  is connected to the upper portion of the guide plate  350 .  
         [0033]    A first cylinder  341 , a second cylinder  342 , a third cylinder  343  and a fourth cylinder  344  are installed at four edges of the top plate  320 .  
         [0034]    The first to fourth cylinders  341 ,  342 ,  343  and  344  have the identical constitution and connection state, and thus the first cylinder  341  will now be only explained.  
         [0035]    The first cylinder  341  includes a piston  341   a , a hinge  341   b , a rotation shaft  341   c  and a rotation shaft support block  341   d.    
         [0036]    The first cylinder  341  is connected to the rotation shaft  341   c  with a predetermined length which is inserted into a predetermined portion of one edge of the top plate  320 . One end portion of the rotation shaft  341   c  is connected to one end portion of a first alignment bar  331 . The first alignment bar  331  rotated with the rotation shaft  341   c  supports one side portion of the tray plate  600  with a second alignment bar  332 .  
         [0037]    A flat surface (not shown) having a predetermined width is formed on the outer surface of the first alignment bar  331 , for supporting both end portions of one side portion of the tray plate  600 .  
         [0038]    The rotation shaft support block  341   d  is fixed to and supported by the end portion of the rotation shaft  341   c , the hinge  341   b  is connected to the end portion of the other side portion of the rotation shaft support block  341   d , and the piston  341   a  is connected to the hinge  341   b  and performs a straight line movement by the first cylinder  341 .  
         [0039]    The operation and operation modes of the stacker for the tray feeder in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail.  
         [0040]    In the stacker for the tray feeder, the elevator  200  carrying the magazine receiving the plurality of tray plates  600  on which the tray  450  receiving the electronic parts  4  from the electronic parts feeder is mounted is lifted or lowered by the driving unit of the auxiliary frame  140  disposed at one side portion of the main frame  120 .  
         [0041]    When the ball screw  130  connected to the motor shaft (not shown) is rotated due to driving of the motor  160  of the driving unit, the plurality of guide blocks  151  of the guide frame  150  installed at one side portion of the elevator  200  lowers the elevator  200  along the plurality of LM guides  141  of the auxiliary frame  140  formed at one side portion of the main frame  120 , and stops the elevator  200  at a predetermined position.  
         [0042]    The cylinders  341 ,  342 ,  343  and  344  positioned at the upper portion of the magazine  300  mounted on the elevator  200  are operated. The constitution and operation of the first to fourth cylinders  341 ,  342 ,  343  and  344  are identical, and thus the first cylinder  341  will now be only explained.  
         [0043]    When the piston  341   a  connected to the first cylinder  341  performs a forward movement due to driving of the first cylinder  341 , the end portion of the piston  341   a  is inserted into the middle portion of the hinge  341   b , and rotated. The rotation shaft support block  341   d  is inserted into both end portions of the hinge  341   b , and rotated due to the forward movement of the piston  341   a  by a predetermined angle with the rotation shaft  341   c  inserted into the other end portion. One end portion of the rotation shaft  341   c  is connected to one end portion of the first alignment bar  331 . When the first alignment bar  331  is rotated with the rotation shaft  341   c , the first alignment bar  331  is rotated toward the outer portion of the magazine  300 , so that the flat surface (not shown) of the first alignment bar  331  can be positioned on a straight line with the guide groove  351 .  
         [0044]    When the flat surfaces of the third and fourth alignment bars  333  and  334  having the same constitution and connection state as the first alignment bar  331  face each other, a space of an entrance of the magazine  300  is obtained to receive the tray plate  600 .  
         [0045]    When the tray plate  600  is received, the proceeded piston  341   a  is retreated due to reverse driving of the first cylinder  341 , the hinge  341   b  connected to the piston  341   a  is pulled, and the rotation shaft support block  341   d  connected to the hinge  341   b  is rotated along the rotation shaft  341   d  in a direction of pulling the piston  341   a . When the rotation shaft support block  341   d  is rotated, the rotation shaft support block  341   d  is rotated toward the magazine  300  with the rotation shaft  341   c  having its end portion inserted into the rotation shaft support block  341   d . The third and fourth alignment bars  333  and  334  having their flat surfaces connected to face each other are rotated toward the magazine  300  due to driving of the third and fourth cylinders  343  and  344 . Accordingly, the flat surfaces of the third and fourth alignment bars  333  and  334  support the support jaw  620  formed at one side portion of the tray plate  600 , thereby achieving safety of the tray plate  600  when the magazine  300  is lifted or lowered.  
         [0046]    When the third and fourth alignment bars  333  and  334  are rotated toward the outer portion of the magazine  300  due to driving of the third and fourth cylinders  343  and  344  formed on the magazine  300 , and the flat surfaces of the third and fourth alignment bars  333  and  334  face each other, a space for receiving the tray plate  600  on which the electronic parts is mounted is obtained at the rear portion of the magazine  300 , thereby receiving the tray plate  600 .  
         [0047]    When the receiving operation of the plurality of tray plates  600  is finished, the third and fourth cylinders  343  and  344  are inversely driven, and the facing third and fourth alignment bars  333  and  334  are respectively inversely rotated, thereby firmly supporting the support jaw  620  disposed at one side portion of the mounted tray plate  600 .  
         [0048]    At this time, when the magazine  300  is lifted by a predetermined distance due to reverse driving of the motor  160  installed at one side portion of the main frame  120  and stopped at a predetermined position, the first and second alignment bars  331  and  332  are rotated from the inner portion of the magazine  300  to the outer portion thereof due to driving of the first and second cylinders  341  and  342 . When the flat surfaces of the first and second alignment bars  331  and  332  face each other, a space of an outlet of the magazine  300  is obtained to fetch the tray plate  600  from the inner portion of the magazine  300 .  
         [0049]    When the nozzle unit of the exchange  500  is forward-driven to held the tray plate  600  received in the magazine  300 , moved in a backward direction to suck and support the support jaw  620  formed at one side portion of the tray plate  600 , and stopped on the first plate  440  disposed at one upper end portion of the transfer  400 , the tray plate  600  is mounted on the first plate  400  due to removal of an inhalation force of the nozzle unit (not shown) of the exchange  500 .  
         [0050]    Here, the tray plate  600  finishing the mounting operation of the electronic parts is mounted on the second plate  430  positioned at the other side end portion of the transfer  400 . The first and second plates  440  and  430  are crossly moved in an upward/downward direction. Therefore, the first plate  440  is moved to the mount device, and the second plate  430  is moved to the exchange  500 , thereby exchanging their positions.  
         [0051]    The tray plate  600  mounted on the second plate  430  is sucked and held due to driving of the nozzle unit of the retreated exchange  500 , and the nozzle unit of the exchange  500  is moved to the inner portion of the magazine  300  having the outlet space due to the first and second alignment bars  331  and  332 . Thus, the tray plate  600  is received in the guide groove  351  formed on the guide plate  350  of the magazine  300 .  
         [0052]    When the receiving operation of the tray plate  600  is finished, the first and second alignment bars  331  and  332  are inversely rotated toward the inner portion of the magazine  300  due to driving of the first and second cylinders  341  and  342 , thereby firmly supporting both ends of the support jaw  620  formed at one side portion of the received tray plate  600 .  
         [0053]    When the elevator  200  is lowered by driving of the motor  160  formed at one side portion of the auxiliary frame  140  and stopped at a predetermined position, the third and fourth alignment bars  333  and  334  are rotated due to driving of the third and fourth cylinders  343  and  344  installed on the magazine  300  mounted on the elevator  200 , thereby obtaining the entrance space. Accordingly, the tray plate  600  is fetched to receive the electronic parts.  
         [0054]    The guide jaws  632  formed at both end portions of the tray support bar  640  are inserted into the guide grooves  631  of the support bar guides  630  formed at both end portions of the upper portion of the bottom surface  610  of the fetched tray plate  600 . In a state where the tray support bar  640  firmly supports the tray  450  receiving the electronic parts, the guide jaw  632  of the support bar guide  630  is guided to the guide groove  351  of the guide plate  350  formed in the magazine  300 , and safely received in the magazine  300 .  
         [0055]    In accordance with the present invention, the tray on which the electronic parts is mounted is firmly supported by the support bar on the tray plate, the tray plate is safely received and supported by the plurality of alignment bars at the outer portion of the magazine, and thus the tray is safely precisely transferred by the elevator on which the magazine is mounted. Therefore, the electronic parts is easily fed to the corresponding device, which results in improved productivity and reliability.  
         [0056]    As discussed earlier, the tray plate on which the electronic parts is positioned is precisely mounted by the magazine having the alignment bars due to operation of the stacker, and safely transferred to a predetermined position, to improve productivity and reliability.  
         [0057]    As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiment is not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.