JP2608798B2 - Variable pitch device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a variable pitch device used in a transport system or the like.

(Prior art) In general, when exchanging ICs for a plurality of sockets set vertically and horizontally on an aging board in an aging work line of an IC (integrated circuit), the ICs are arranged on the side of the work line. The IC stored in the storage case is gripped by a plurality of tentacles, respectively, and inserted into a socket of an aging board on a work line. In this case, since the arrangement state of the ICs in the storage case and the arrangement state of the sockets of the aging board are different, when the IC is gripped and transported by a plurality of tentacles, the space between the tentacles is required. Needs to be changed, and a pitch varying device is used for that purpose.

As such a variable pitch device, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality (four in the figure) of tentacles are provided so as to be movable in the same direction along guide shafts a, a. , The plurality of (three in the figure) cylinders c, c, c provided between the two adjacent units b, b, and the rotational force of the servo motor d, respectively.
A plurality of units b, b,... Are provided with a driving means f for transmitting to and moving these units b, b,. ing.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-described conventional device, the pitch between the units can be changed only to two modes of the length when the cylinder is extended and the length when the cylinder is contracted. There is a defect that lacks in nature. In addition, there is a problem that the structure is complicated and the piping must be routed to each cylinder, and the installation is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a simple configuration using a rack-and-pinion mechanism and to make it possible to change the pitch between units at an equal pitch and freely. No device is provided.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, a solution of the present invention is to provide three or more units arranged in a straight line and movably provided in the direction, and the distance between these units is adjusted. In a pitch variable device that changes at a pitch, a drive unit that moves the units at both ends independently to change the distance between them is attached to a unit located at the center of three adjacent units. And a pair of racks respectively attached to the remaining two of the three adjacent units and meshing with the pinion.

Here, as one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, four units 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are arranged in a straight line along the guide shafts 2, 2 and provided so as to be movable in that direction. The case of the object will be described.

Both sides of the four units, that is, the first unit 1a and the fourth unit 1d are independently moved by driving means (not shown) so that the distance between them can be freely changed. . In the set of three adjacent units, that is, in the set of the first to third units 1a to 1c and the set of the second to fourth units 1b to 1d, the second unit located at the center of the set 1b and 3rd unit
Pinions 3a, 3b are attached to 1c, respectively, and a pair of racks 4a, 4b, or 4c that mesh with the pinions 3a or 3b respectively on the remaining two units 1a, 1c or 1b, 1d of each set. 4d is installed.

(Operation) With the above configuration, in the present invention, for example, in the case of a unit having four moving units 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d as one embodiment, the units 1a and 1d on both sides thereof are independently moved by the driving means. When the distance L between the two is changed,
In the set of the first to third units 1a to 1c, the distance l1 between the first unit 1a and the second unit 1b and the second unit 1b by the action of the pinion 3a and the pair of racks 4a and 4b. The distance l2 between the first and third units 1c is always kept equal, and in the set of the second to fourth units 1b to 1d, the second operation is performed by the pinion 3b and the pair of racks 4c and 4d. Between the unit 1b and the third unit 1c
l2, the distance between the third unit 1c and the fourth unit 1d
l3 is always kept equal. Therefore, the four moving units 1a to 1d have the same pitch (l1 = l2 = l3).
It will be changed as it is.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 to 6 show a variable pitch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes a base supported in a suspended state by a plurality of suspension columns 12, 12,. Reference numeral 11 denotes a configuration in which a pair of guide rails 15 and 15 are interposed on both left and right sides between an upper plate 13 and a lower plate 14 extending horizontally in the front-rear direction. Below the lower plate 14, there are arranged four guide shafts 16, 16,... Extending horizontally in parallel with each other at a predetermined distance from the lower surface thereof.
Both ends of each of the guide shafts 16 are supporting members 17, 17 respectively.
And is supported by the lower plate 14 via the.

On the guide shafts 16, 16,..., Four first to fourth rectangular units 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d are mounted in a line. In the mounting structure of these units 21a to 21d, as shown in FIG.
A cylindrical bush member 22 with a flange is slidably fitted to the front and rear two members. On the other hand, the first unit 21a and the second unit 21b are fitted and fixed to the four bush members 22, 22, ... in the front row of the guide shaft 16, and are fitted with play. Are performed alternately. Also, the third unit 21c and the fourth unit 21d
Are the four bush members 22, 2 in the rear row of the guide shaft 16.
In the same manner, fitting and fixing are alternately performed with the two. Therefore, each of the four units 21a to 21d is a bush member.
It is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction along the guide shaft 16 via 22 and to be relatively displaceable so as to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance from the illustrated proximity state. As shown in FIG. 4, side plates 23 are attached to the left and right sides (only one side is shown in the figure) of each of the units 21a to 21d, and the guide rails of the base body 11 are attached to the respective side plates 23. A roller 24 that rolls in the inside 15 is provided, and the units 21a to 21b can move under the guidance of the roller 24 and the guide rail 15.

Further, two servo motors 25, 25, which can be rotated forward and backward, are attached to the front portion of the base body 11 via vertical plates 26, which are respectively provided from the lower plate 14 of the base body 11. The driving force of each of the servo motors 25, 25 is reduced by a pair of gears 27a, 27b and transmitted to a driving pulley 28. The driving pulley 28 It is coaxial with 27b and is supported so as to be integrally rotatable. In correspondence with each drive pulley 28 described above,
Vertical plate from its lower plate 14 to the rear of the base body 11
29 is provided to be suspended, and the pulley driven by the vertical plate 29 is provided.
30 are rotatably supported. A belt 31a or 31b is wound around each of the driving pulleys 28 and the corresponding driven pulley 30.
31a is connected to the first unit 21a via the connecting member 32a, and the other belt 31b is connected to the fourth unit 21d via the connecting member 32b.
Respectively. By the above, the two servo motors 25, 25 are independently rotated forward and reverse,
The first unit 21a and the fourth unit 21d, which are the units at both ends of the four units 21a to 21d, can be independently moved, and the distance between them can be freely changed within a predetermined length range. The driving means 33 is configured.

Further, pinions 34a and 34b are rotatably mounted on the lower surfaces of the second and third units 21b and 21c, respectively, via a vertical support shaft 35, and the first and third units 21a and 21b are respectively rotatable. The pinion 3 above on the bottom of 21c
A pair of racks 36a, 36b meshing with 4a are pinion 34a mutually.
Are attached by bolts 41 so as to extend in the front-rear direction in parallel with the second unit and the fourth unit 21b,
A pair of racks 36c, 36d meshing with the upper and lower pinions 34b, respectively, are attached to the lower surface of 21d by bolts 42 so as to extend in parallel in the front-rear direction with the pinions 34bb interposed therebetween.

Reference numeral 37 denotes a tensioner device provided on the vertical plate 29 corresponding to each driven pulley 30.
37 is a long hole in the front-rear direction provided on the vertical plate 29
This is to adjust the tension of the belt 31a or 31b by changing the position of the rotation shaft of the driven pulley 30 in the front and rear directions within 38.

Next, to explain the operation of the above embodiment, when the two left and right servo motors 25, 25 in the driving means 33 are rotated forward or backward in a synchronized state, the four units 21a to 2
1d, the first and fourth units 21a and 21b on both sides are integrally formed in the front-rear direction along the guide shafts 16, 16,... While keeping the distance between their center lines L constant. Moving. For this reason, the second and third units 21b,
21c is also located between the first and fourth units 21a, 21d, and moves in the front-rear direction along the guide shafts 16, 16,.

On the other hand, when the two servo motors 25, 25 independently rotate and stop, respectively, the first unit 21a and the fourth unit 21d move different distances along the guide shafts 16, 16,. The distance L between the center lines is changed.
At this time, in the set of the first to third units 21a to 21c, the center line distance l1 between the first unit 21a and the second unit 21b is set by the operation of the pinion 34a and the pair of racks 36a and 36b. The center line interval l2 between the second unit 21b and the third unit 21c is always kept equal (l1 = l2), and in the set of the second to fourth units 21b to 21d,
The pinion 34b and the pair of racks 36c and 36d function to
Center line spacing between the unit 21b and the third unit 21c
Since the center line spacing l3 between l2, the third unit 21c, and the fourth unit 21d is always kept equal, the center line spacing of the four units 21a to 21d is equal pitch (l1 = l2 =
l3) The extension / shrinkage will be changed as it is.

As described above, since the center line intervals of the four units 21a to 21d can be freely changed while maintaining the same pitch, the versatility as a pitch variable device becomes high. In addition, a mechanism for maintaining the same pitch is provided by the pinions 34a and 34b and the racks 36a to 36a.
Since it is simple composed of d, the reliability of operation can be improved and the cost can be reduced. Further, there is no troublesome work such as routing of piping at the time of installation of the apparatus as in the conventional variable pitch apparatus, and the workability can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the case where the four units 21a to 21d are provided so as to be movable along the guide shaft 16 has been described.However, the present invention relates to a case where the number of units is three, or five or more. Of course, it can be applied to the case.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the pitch variable device of the present invention, the units at both ends can be moved independently to freely change the distance between them, and one unit can be set for every three adjacent units. With a simple configuration with only one pinion and two racks, the pitch between units can be changed at equal pitches and freely, improving operation reliability, reducing costs and facilitating installation work. And so on.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a pitch variable device according to the present invention. 2 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a part of the pitch varying device cut away, FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof, and FIG. The right half is cut along the line AA in FIG. 2, and the left half is cut along the line BB in FIG. 2, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are VV of FIG. It is sectional drawing in a line and a VI-VI line. FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a conventional example. 1a to 1d, 21a to 21d ... Units 3a, 3b, 34a, 34b ... Pinions 4a to 4d, 36a to 36d ... Rack 33 ... Drive means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pitch variable device in which three or more units are arranged in a straight line and are movably provided in the direction, and the pitch of the units is changed at an equal pitch. A driving means that can be moved to change the distance between them freely, a pinion attached to a unit located at the center of the three adjacent units, and the remaining two units of the three adjacent units And a pair of racks respectively attached to the pinion and meshing with the pinion.