JP2022089603A - Tip holder transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the amount of work until a tip holder is put into a tip holder transport device.
SOLUTION: A tip holder transport device 10 is movable along a transport rail 20 extending in the X-axis direction and supporting the tip holder 14 and a transport rail 20 extending in the extending direction, and is supported by the transport rail 20. It is configured to include a pusher 24 for transporting the tip holder 14 along the transport rail 20 by pushing the tip holder 14. The transport rail 20 includes two support rails 50 arranged in parallel in a horizontal plane. The two support rails 50 support the tip holder 14 containing the plurality of nozzle tips 12 from below.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Description

The present invention relates to a chip holder transfer device that conveys a chip holder accommodating a plurality of nozzle chips.

In the medical field, a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid sample contained in a container to another container is used. In the dispensing device, a liquid sample is sucked from a container by a nozzle, and the sucked liquid material is discharged to another container in a dispensing process.

It is not desirable for unintended liquids to enter the liquid sample during the dispensing process. Therefore, a disposable member called a nozzle tip is attached to the tip of the nozzle, and then the dispensing process is performed, and the nozzle tip may be replaced every time the dispensing process is performed. Therefore, the dispensing device may be provided with a nozzle tip supplying device for supplying a new nozzle tip, or a nozzle tip feeding device may be attached to the dispensing device.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a plate-shaped support member that supports a plurality of nozzle chips is placed on a rack body, and a nozzle that conveys the nozzle chips by transporting a chip rack composed of the support member and the rack body is provided. The chip feeder is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-19670

For example, as in Patent Document 1, a chip holder transport device for transporting a chip holder (chip rack in Patent Document 1) containing a plurality of nozzle chips instead of transporting the nozzle chips one by one has been conventionally proposed. Was there. Here, in the conventional chip holder transfer device, the chip holder accommodating a plurality of nozzle chips is not directly conveyed, but is used as a transfer pedestal member for supporting the chip holder (for example, the rack body of Patent Document 1). The chip holder was set and then transported.

Therefore, conventionally, as a worker who supplies the tip holder to the tip holder transport device, it is necessary to set the tip holder on the transport pedestal member. As a result, there is a problem that the labor or work time of the worker becomes large.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of work required to put the tip holder into the tip holder transport device.

The chip holder transfer device according to the present disclosure is a transfer rail that directly and movably supports a chip holder accommodating a plurality of nozzle chips, and the chip holder supported by the transfer rail by pushing the transfer rail. It is characterized by including a pusher for transporting the tip holder along the line.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of work required to load the tip holder into the tip holder transport device.

It is a perspective view of the chip holder transporting apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a simple plan view of the chip holder transfer apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a side view of a nozzle tip. It is a top view of the tip holder. It is sectional drawing of a chip holder. It is a perspective view of a transport rail. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the chip holder which accommodated a plurality of nozzle chips is supported by a transport rail. It is the figure which looked at the transport rail from the upstream in the transport direction. It is a perspective view of a pusher. It is a figure which shows the 1st state of the pusher which can push the tip holder supported by the 1st transport rail, and is seen from the downstream in the transport direction. It is a figure seen from the downstream in the transport direction which shows the 2nd state of the pusher which can push the tip holder supported by the 2nd transport rail. It is a perspective view of a stopper mechanism. It is a perspective view of Traversa. It is a left side view of Traversa. It is a figure seen from the downstream in the transport direction which shows the unlocked state of a stopper member. It is a perspective view of a fixing mechanism. It is a top view which shows the state before the chip holder is fixed by the fixing mechanism. It is a top view which shows the state which the chip holder is fixed by the fixing mechanism. It is a perspective view which shows the path to the collection area of an empty tip holder.

<Overview of Tip Holder Transfer Device 10>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tip holder transport device 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tip holder transport device 10. The chip holder transfer device 10 is a device that conveys a nozzle tip 12 attached to a nozzle of a dispensing device that dispenses a liquid sample contained in a container to another container. As will be described later, the tip holder transfer device 10 conveys the tip holder 14 accommodating a plurality of nozzle tips 12. The tip holder transfer device 10 is incorporated in the dispensing device or is provided in parallel with the dispensing device.

The tip holder transfer device 10 is movable along a transfer rail 20 that directly supports the tip holder 14 and a pusher rail 22 (see FIG. 2) provided along the extension direction of the transfer rail 20, and the transfer rail 20 It is configured to include a pusher 24 for transporting the tip holder 14 along the transport rail 20 by pushing the tip holder 14 supported by the rail 20.

In the present embodiment, the transport rail 20 is a rail that extends in one direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the transport rail 20 includes a first transport rail 20A and a second transport rail 20B arranged side by side so that their extension directions are parallel to each other. When the first transfer rail 20A and the second transfer rail 20B are not particularly distinguished, they are simply described as the transfer rail 20.

In the present specification, as shown in FIGS. 1 or 2, the horizontal direction, which is the extension direction of the transport rail 20 and the transport direction of the chip holder 14, is represented by the X-axis, and the negative direction of the X-axis is “upstream”. "Or" left ", the positive direction of the X-axis is called" downstream "or" right ". Further, the orthogonal direction which is the horizontal direction orthogonal to the extension direction (X axis) of the transport rail 20 is represented by the Y axis, the positive direction of the Y axis is referred to as "back", and the negative direction of the Y axis is referred to as "front". Further, the height direction (that is, the vertical direction) of the chip holder transport device 10 is represented by the Z axis, the positive direction of the Z axis is referred to as "up", and the negative direction of the Z axis is referred to as "down".

A tip holder 14 accommodating a plurality of nozzle tips 12 is placed on the transport rail 20 by an operator. Structurally, the worker can mount the tip holder 14 at an arbitrary position on the transport rail 20, but in general, the worker mounts the tip holder 14 on the upstream end of the transport rail 20. The tip holder 14 mounted on the transport rail 20 is pushed downstream by the pusher 24, so that the tip holder 14 is transported downstream along the transport rail 20.

Further, the tip holder transport device 10 preferably abuts on the tip holder 14 located at the downstream end of the transport rail 20 in order to prevent the tip holder 14 from falling off from the downstream end of the transport rail 20. It is configured to include a stopper mechanism 26 (only a part thereof is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) for suppressing the movement of the tip holder 14 to the downstream side.

Further, the chip holder transfer device 10 is preferably movable along a traverser rail 28 laid on a frame base 27 that extends in a direction different from the extension direction of the transfer rail 20 (Y-axis direction in this embodiment). The tip holder 14 is held up to the mounting area 30 in which the tip holder 14 transferred from the transport rail 20 is held and the nozzle tip 12 housed in the tip holder 14 is mounted on the nozzle of the dispensing device. It is configured to include a traverser 32 to be moved.

Further, the tip holder transfer device 10 preferably includes a fixing mechanism 34 for fixing the tip holder 14 moved to the mounting area 30. Further, the tip holder transfer device 10 includes a collection area 36 for collecting the tip holder 14 that has been emptied by mounting the nozzle tip 12 by the nozzle of the dispensing device.

Hereinafter, details of each part of the nozzle tip 12, the tip holder 14, and the tip holder transfer device 10 will be described.

<Nozzle tip and tip holder>
FIG. 3 is a side view of the nozzle tip 12. The nozzle tip 12 is a cylindrical member extending in one direction. The nozzle tip 12 includes a body portion 12A having a tapered tip and a base portion 12B on the base end side of the body portion 12A. By inserting the nozzle into the nozzle tip 12 from the base 12B side, the nozzle tip 12 is attached to the nozzle. The diameter of the base portion 12B of the nozzle tip 12 is larger than the diameter of the body portion 12A. As a result, there is a step between the side surface of the body portion 12A and the side surface of the base portion 12B, and the jaw portion 12Ba is formed on the lower side surface of the base portion 12B.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tip holder 14, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tip holder 14 in the cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. The chip holder 14 is made of a polymer such as polystyrene. In the present embodiment, the chip holder 14 is a plate-shaped member having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The tip holder 14 has a plurality of insertion holes 40 penetrating the upper side surface and the lower side surface. A nozzle tip 12 is inserted into each insertion hole 40. When the nozzle tip 12 is inserted into the insertion hole 40 from above, the jaw portion 12Ba (see FIG. 3) of the nozzle tip 12 is caught on the edge of the insertion hole 40, so that the nozzle tip 12 is housed in the tip holder 14. In the state of being housed in the tip holder 14, the nozzle tip 12 is in an upright posture in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the tip holder 14 is provided with 96 insertion holes 40. Therefore, one tip holder 14 can accommodate 96 nozzle tips 12.

In the present embodiment, in the state of being delivered from the manufacturer of the nozzle tip 12, a plurality of tip holders 14 are inserted into the plurality of insertion holes 40, that is, a plurality of nozzle tips 12 are housed in the tip holder 14. It is in a state.

The tip holder 14 has a downward projecting portion 42 that projects downward from the lower side surface 14A (see FIG. 5). The downward protrusion 42 has conventionally been used to position the tip holder 14 with respect to the transport pedestal member when the tip holder 14 is set on the transport pedestal member. In the chip holder transport device 10 according to the present embodiment, as will be described later, the downward protrusion 42 is used for another purpose. The downward protrusion 42 is provided on the edge of the lower side surface 14A. In the present embodiment, the downward projecting portions 42 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction, substantially in the center of the chip holder 14 in the lateral direction.

In the present embodiment, the tip holder 14 has a plate shape, but if it can be placed directly on the transport rail 20 and can be transported along the transport rail 20 by being pushed into the pusher 24. , Other shapes may be used.

<Transport rail>
As described above, the tip holder transfer device 10 has the first transfer rail 20A and the second transfer rail 20B, but the first transfer rail 20A and the second transfer rail 20B have the same structure. Therefore, here, one of the transport rails 20 will be described as a representative. In this embodiment, the transfer rail 20 has the first transfer rail 20A and the second transfer rail 20B in order to increase the number of chip holders 14 that can be mounted on the transfer rail 20. By increasing the number of tip holders 14 that can be mounted on the transfer rail 20, the operator can put many chip holders 14 into the transfer rail 20 at one time, thereby improving the work efficiency of the operator. Can be done. Further, in order to increase the number of chip holders 14 that can be mounted on the transport rail 20, it is conceivable to increase the length of one transport rail 20 in the transport direction. However, if the length of the transfer rail 20 is increased, the transfer rail 20 tends to bend, and the tip holder 14 may not be smoothly transferred along the transfer rail 20. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of transfer rails are transferred. A rail 20 is provided.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the transport rail 20. The transport rail 20 includes two support rails 50 arranged in parallel in a horizontal plane and two guide rails 52 provided in parallel with the support rail 50 immediately above the support rail 50. The support rail 50 and the guide rail 52 are supported by a rail frame 53 having a welded structure. In the present embodiment, both the support rail 50 and the guide rail 52 are provided so as to extend in the X-axis direction. The two support rails 50 and the two guide rails 52 are both provided apart from each other, but the two guide rails 52 are separated more than the two support rails 50. In the present embodiment, the two support rails 50 are provided at a distance slightly shorter than the longitudinal length of the chip holder 14, and the two guide rails 52 are longer than the longitudinal length of the chip holder 14. It is installed at a distance of a little long distance.

The tip holder 14 containing the plurality of nozzle tips 12 is placed on the support rail 50 by an operator. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the chip holder 14 accommodating the plurality of nozzle chips 12 is placed on the support rail 50. Specifically, the chip holder 14 is placed on the support rail 50 in a direction in which the lateral direction thereof and the extension direction of the support rail 50 coincide with each other. As a result, the support rail 50 supports the chip holder 14 from below. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the two support rails 50 are provided at a distance slightly shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction of the tip holder 14, the two support rails 50 are provided with the tip holder 14. The longitudinal end of the lower side surface 14A is supported from below. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a space is formed below between the two support rails 50. This is because the body portion 12A of the nozzle tip 12 housed in the tip holder 14 projects downward from the tip holder 14, so that the body portion 12A of the nozzle tip 12 projecting downward from the chip holder 14 supported by the support rail 50. This is to prevent the nozzle from interfering with (contacting) other members.

In this way, the transport rail 20 (specifically, the support rail 50) can directly support the chip holder 14. Therefore, the operator can directly mount the tip holder 14 on the support rail 50 without having to set the tip holder 14 on the transport pedestal member as in the conventional case. As a result, the amount of work required to load the tip holder 14 into the transport rail 20 is reduced, at least as compared with the case where the tip holder 14 set on the transport pedestal member is transported. That is, the labor of the operator when the tip holder 14 is put into the transport rail 20 is reduced, and the working time is also shortened.

In particular, in the present embodiment, as described above, a plurality of nozzle tips 12 are housed in the chip holder 14 in the state of being delivered from the manufacturer of the nozzle tip 12. Therefore, when the tip holder 14 is put into the transport rail 20, the operator only needs to open the tip holder 14 and place the tip holder 14 on the support rail 50. In other words, the transport rail 20 can directly support the tip holder 14 in which the nozzle tip 12 is housed in the delivered state.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the two guide rails 52 are provided at a distance slightly longer than the longitudinal length of the tip holder 14 immediately above the support rail 50, and therefore the two guide rails 52 are provided. The guide rails 52 are located on both the front side and the back side of the chip holder 14 supported by the support rail 50. As a result, in the two guide rails 52, the tip holder 14 supported by the support rail 50 moves to the front side or the back side, or the direction of the tip holder 14 in the lateral direction is the extension direction of the transport rail 20. It exerts a function of suppressing tilting so as to deviate from the rail. With this function, when the tip holder 14 is pushed by the pusher 24, the tip holder 14 can be conveyed more smoothly. Further, the tip holder 14 supported by the support rail 50 is prevented from falling off in the front side direction or the back side direction.

FIG. 8 shows the support rail 50 on the front side of the two support rails 50 supporting the chip holder 14 and the guide rail on the same side as the support rail 50 on the two guide rails 52, that is, the guide rail on the front side. It is the figure which looked at 52 from the upstream side. In the following description, the center line side of the transport rail 20 (that is, the line between the two separated support rails 50 or the two guide rails 52) in the Y-axis direction is referred to as "inside". The opposite direction is described as "outside".

As shown in FIG. 8, the support rail 50 has an upper ridge 54 extending upward along the extension direction of the support rail 50 and projecting upward from the upper side surface 50A. In the present embodiment, the upper ridge 54 is provided at the inner end portion of the upper side surface 50A. In a state where the support rail 50 supports the tip holder 14, the upper protrusion 54 is located inside the lower protrusion 42 provided at the front end portion of the lower side surface 14A of the tip holder 14. As shown in FIG. 8, the side surface of the downward projecting portion 42 is inclined so that its diameter increases toward the lower side surface 14A side, so that the side surface of the downward projecting portion 42 faces the inclined side surface of the downward projecting portion 42. , The outer surface of the upper protrusion 54 is inclined so as to face upward.

Further, although only the support rail 50 on the front side is shown in FIG. 8, the support rail 50 on the opposite side, that is, the back side also has the upper protrusion 54 as well. Further, as described above, the downward protruding portion 42 is also provided at the rear end portion of the tip holder 14.

The downward protrusions 42 and the upper ridges 54 of the two support rails 50 provided at both ends of the tip holder 14 in the longitudinal direction are such that the tip holder 14 supported by the support rail 50 is on the front side or the back side together with the guide rail 52. It exerts a function of suppressing the movement to the side or tilting of the tip holder 14 in the lateral direction so as to deviate from the extension direction of the transport rail 20. Specifically, first, the movement or inclination of the tip holder 14 to the front side or the back side is suppressed by the cooperation between the upper protrusion 54 and the lower protrusion 42, and a stronger force is applied to the tip holder 14 to cause an upward protrusion. Even if the downward protrusion 42 rides on the strip 54, the front side or the back side surface of the tip holder 14 comes into contact with the inner side surface 52A of the guide rail 52, so that the tip holder 14 moves or tilts. It is strongly suppressed.

The height of the upper protrusion 54 (upward protrusion length from the upper side surface 50A) is larger than the length of the lower protrusion portion 42 (downward protrusion length from the lower side surface 14A). Therefore, in a state where the support rail 50 supports the tip holder 14, the upper end of the upper ridge 54 abuts on the lower side surface 14A of the tip holder 14 (particularly, the lower side surface 14A inside the lower protrusion 42). The lower end of the lower protrusion 42 does not abut on the upper side surface 50A of the support rail 50. That is, the tip holder 14 is supported by the support rail 50 by the upper end portion of the upper ridge 54 abutting on the lower side surface 14A. This prevents damage to the downward protrusion 42 when the chip holder 14 is transported along the transport rail 20.

From the viewpoint of preventing damage to the nozzle tip 12, the nozzle tip 12 and the transfer rail 20 (particularly the support rail 50) are prevented from coming into contact with each other when the tip holder 14 is supported by the transfer rail 20. In particular, in the transport rail 20, when the tip holder 14 moves to the front side or the back side, in other words, the tip holder 14 is accommodated in the tip holder 14 in a state where the side surface of the tip holder 14 is in contact with the guide rail 52. The nozzle tip 12 does not come into contact with the support rail 50. With reference to FIG. 8, for example, the state in which the front side surface 14B of the tip holder 14 abuts on the inner side surface 52A of the guide rail 52 is the state in which the tip holder 14 has moved to the frontmost side. In, the body portion 12A of the nozzle tip 12 (particularly, the side surface 12Aa on the front side of the body portion 12A) does not come into contact with the inner side surface 50B of the support rail 50.

In the present embodiment, the distance L1 in the Y-axis direction from the inner side surface 52A of the guide rail 52 to the inner side surface 50B of the support rail 50 on the same side as the guide rail 52 is the tip holder 14 facing the guide rail 52. It is smaller than the distance L2 in the Y-axis direction from the side surface 14B of the above to the insertion hole 40. Here, the support rail 50 on the same side as the guide rail 52 is the support rail 50 on the front side if the guide rail 52 is on the front side, and the support rail on the back side if the guide rail 52 is on the back side. It means 50. Further, the side surface 14B of the chip holder 14 facing the guide rail 52 means the front side surface if the guide rail 52 is on the front side, and the back side surface if the guide rail 52 is on the back side. Further, the insertion hole 40 means the insertion hole 40 closest to the side surface 14B of the tip holder 14, and in particular, the side end of the tip holder 14 of the insertion hole 40 on the side surface 14B side. This prevents the nozzle tip 12 housed in the tip holder 14 from coming into contact with the support rail 50 when the side surface 14B of the tip holder 14 is in contact with the inner side surface 52A of the guide rail 52.

<Pusher>
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the pusher 24. The pusher 24 includes a base 62 that moves along the pusher rail 22 by the action of a motor 60 provided on the pusher rail 22, and an arm portion 64 that is supported by the base 62 and extends from the base 62 to the front side and the back side. Consists of. At the front end of the front arm 64A, which is the arm 64 extending from the base to the front, a contact portion 66A that abuts on the upstream side surface of the tip holder 14 supported by the first transport rail 20A is provided. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of contact portions 66A (two in the present embodiment) are provided along the Y-axis direction. The plurality of contact portions 66A may be formed at the downstream end portion of one member. Further, a contact portion 66B that abuts on the upstream side surface of the tip holder 14 supported by the second transport rail 20B is provided at the inner tip of the inner arm portion 64B, which is the arm portion 64 extending from the base portion to the inner side. .. A plurality of contact portions 66B (two in the present embodiment) are also provided along the Y-axis direction. A plurality of contact portions 66B may also be formed at the downstream end portion of one member.

Since the arm portion 64 is supported by the base portion 62, the arm portion 64 also moves in the X-axis direction by moving the base portion 62 along the pusher rail 22 (that is, in the X-axis direction). As a result, the tip holder 14 supported by the first transport rail 20A, which is in contact with the contact portion 66A, is pushed by the contact portion 66A, and the tip holder 14 is pushed along the first transport rail 20A. In this way, the contact portion 66A functions as a first pushing portion for pushing the tip holder 14 supported by the first transport rail 20A. When the first transport rail 20A supports a plurality of tip holders 14, the contact portion 66A pushes in the tip holder 14 on the most upstream side. As a result, all the chip holders 14 supported by the first transport rail 20A are pushed in and transported to the downstream side.

Further, as the base portion 62 moves along the pusher rail 22, the tip holder 14 supported by the second transport rail 20B, which is in contact with the contact portion 66B, is pushed by the contact portion 66B, and the tip holder 14 is pushed. It is pushed along the second transport rail 20B. In this way, the contact portion 66B functions as a second pushing portion for pushing the tip holder 14 supported by the second transport rail 20B. When the second transport rail 20B supports a plurality of tip holders 14, the contact portion 66B pushes in the tip holder 14 on the most upstream side. As a result, all the chip holders 14 supported by the second transport rail 20B are pushed in and transported to the downstream side.

Further, the position in the X-axis direction (specifically, the position of the downstream end) of the contact portions 66A provided side by side in the Y-axis direction is adjusted so that the tip holder 14 can be pushed in parallel to the X-axis. It is possible. Similarly, the positions of the plurality of contact portions 66B provided in the X-axis direction can be adjusted.

The arm portion 64 can rotate within a certain angle range in a vertical plane (YZ plane) about the rotation axis AX1 which passes through the base portion 62 and is parallel to the X axis by the action of the motor 68 provided on the base portion 62. It has become.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the arm portion 64 is rotated so that the front side arm portion 64A is on the lower side and the back side arm portion 64B is on the upper side. In this state, the abutting portion 66A can come into contact with the tip holder 14 supported by the first transport rail 20A, that is, the tip holder 14 can be pushed in. On the other hand, the abutting portion 66B is located above the chip holder 14 supported by the second transport rail 20B and cannot abut on the chip holder 14, that is, the chip holder 14 can be pressed. I can't push it in. That is, the state in which the arm portion 64 is rotated as shown in FIG. 10 is the first state in which the pusher 24 can push only the tip holder 14 supported by the first transport rail 20A.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the arm portion 64 is rotated so that the front side arm portion 64A is on the upper side and the back side arm portion 64B is on the lower side. In this state, the abutting portion 66B can come into contact with the tip holder 14 supported by the second transport rail 20B, that is, the tip holder 14 can be pushed in. On the other hand, the abutting portion 66A is located above the chip holder 14 supported by the first transport rail 20A and cannot abut on the chip holder 14, that is, the chip holder 14 can be pressed. I can't push it in. That is, the state in which the arm portion 64 is rotated as shown in FIG. 11 is the second state in which the pusher 24 can push only the tip holder 14 supported by the second transport rail 20B.

In this way, the pusher 24 can transition between the first state and the second state, that is, the pusher 24 has a chip holder 14 supported by the first transport rail 20A and a second transport rail. Both the chip holder 14 supported by the 20B and the chip holder 14 are not pushed in at the same time, but one of them is pushed in.

<Stopper mechanism>
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the stopper mechanism 26. The stopper mechanism 26 is provided at the downstream end of each of the two transport rails 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The stopper mechanism 26 moves in the vertical direction with respect to the frame base 27 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the fixing portion 70 fixed to the rail frame 53 supporting the transport rail 20 (see FIG. 6), and the fixing portion 70. It is configured to include a possible movable support portion 72 and a stopper member 74 supported by the movable support portion 72. Specifically, the bottom surface 70X of the fixing portion 70 is fixed to the frame base 27, and the side surface 70Y located slightly above the fixing portion 70 is fixed to the rail frame 53. By fixing the fixed portion 70 not only to the frame base 27 but also to the rail frame 53 of the welded structure, the fixed portion 70 is fixed more firmly (the rigidity of the fixed portion 70 is improved).

The fixed portion 70 has a vertical plate portion 70A, and the movable support portion 72 is attached to the vertical plate portion 70A so as to be movable in the vertical direction along the vertical plate portion 70A. .. As a method for attaching the movable support portion 72 to the upright plate portion 70A, a known method can be adopted. For example, even if an elongated hole extending in the vertical direction is provided in the vertical plate portion 70A and a screw or the like inserted through the movable support portion 72 is inserted through the elongated hole to attach the movable support portion 72 to the fixed portion 70. good.

Further, below the range of motion of the movable support portion 72 of the upright plate portion 70A, a spring fixing portion 70B protruding in the Y-axis direction (back side in the example of FIG. 12) is provided. The lower end of the spring 76 whose upper end is fixed to the movable support portion 72 is fixed to the spring fixing portion 70B (in FIG. 12, the lower end of the spring 76 is shown in a state of being removed from the spring fixing portion 70B). .. As a result, the movable support portion 72 is always urged downward by the spring 76.

The movable support portion 72 includes a vertical plate portion 72A that extends in a vertical plane (YZ plane) orthogonal to the extension direction of the transfer rail 20 (that is, the transfer direction of the tip holder 14). The vertical plate portion 72A is provided at the downstream end portion of the movable support portion 72, particularly at the downstream end portion of the stopper mechanism 26. On the downstream side surface of the vertical plate portion 72A, the shape of the side view seen from the X-axis direction is a circle, and the shape is a cylinder that can rotate around the rotation axis AX2 that passes through the center of the circle and is parallel to the X axis. A roller 78 is provided. In the present embodiment, the roller 78 is provided at the front end of the vertical plate portion 72A. The side surface of the roller 78 is made of a resin such as urethane. Since the roller 78 is attached to the movable support portion 72, it moves up and down together with the movable support portion 72.

In the present embodiment, the stopper member 74 is attached to the upper end of the movable support portion 72. Since the stopper member 74 is also attached to the movable support portion 72, it moves up and down together with the movable support portion 72. The stopper member 74 includes a stopper plate 74A that extends in a vertical plane (YZ plane) orthogonal to the extension direction of the transport rail 20. The stopper plate 74A abuts on the downstream side surface of the tip holder 14 located at the downstream end of the transport rail 20. This suppresses the movement of the chip holder 14 to the downstream side. Specifically, when the movable support portion 72 is lowered downward by the urging force of the spring 76, the stopper plate 74A hits the downstream side surface of the chip holder 14 located at the downstream end portion of the transport rail 20. Contact. In this state, the movement of the chip holder 14 to the downstream side is suppressed, so this state is called a locked state. On the other hand, when the movable support portion 72 (that is, the stopper member 74) is raised upward by the mechanism described later, the stopper plate 74A abuts on the chip holder 14 located at the downstream end of the transport rail 20. do not do. In this state, the tip holder 14 is allowed to move to the downstream side, so this state is called an unlocked state.

<Traversa>
13 is a perspective view of the traverser 32, and FIG. 14 is a left side view of the traverser 32. As described above, the traverser 32 can move along the traverser rail 28 extending in a direction different from the extension direction of the transport rail 20 (in the present embodiment, the Y-axis direction). The tip of the downstream end of the first transport rail 20A (on the extension of the downstream side of the first transport rail 20A), the tip of the downstream end of the second transport rail 20B, and the mounting area 30 are included (see FIG. 2). .. The traverser 32 moves along the traverser rail 28 by the action of a motor (not shown).

When the traverser 32 is at the tip of the downstream end of the first transfer rail 20A and the tip holder 14 supported by the first transfer rail 20A is pushed by the pusher 24, the tip holder 14 is pushed into the downstream end of the first transfer rail 20A. A certain tip holder (that is, the most downstream side of the first transfer rail 20A) is extruded from the first transfer rail 20A and transferred to the traverser 32. At this time, as will be described later, the stopper mechanism 26 is in the unlocked state. In this embodiment, since the two chip holders 14 can be placed side by side on the traverser 32, the two chip holders 14 are transferred from the first transport rail 20A. After that, the traverser 32 moves along the traverser rail 28, and the two tip holders 14 are moved to the mounting area 30.

Similarly, when the traverser 32 is at the tip of the downstream end of the second transport rail 20B, when the tip holder 14 supported by the second transport rail 20B is pushed by the pusher 24, the downstream side of the second transport rail 20B is pushed. The two tip holders 14 at the ends are extruded from the second transport rail 20B and transferred to the traverser 32. After that, the traverser 32 moves along the traverser rail 28, and the two tip holders 14 are moved to the mounting area 30.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the traverser 32 has a front side wall 80, a back side wall 82 at the same height as the front side wall 80, a left side wall 84 at a height considerably lower than the front side wall 80 and the back side wall 82, and It has a substantially box-shaped shape including the right side wall 86 and the upper side is open. The height of the left side wall 84 is considerably low because, as will be described later, when the chip holder 14 accommodating the plurality of nozzle chips 12 is transferred from the transport rail 20, it protrudes below the chip holder 14. This is to prevent contact with the nozzle tip 12.

At the upper end of the front side wall 80, when the traverser 32 is at the tip of the transport rail 20, the traverser side support rail 88 extending in the X-axis direction communicating with the support rail 50 of the transport rail 20 and the traverser side support rail 88 extend. A traverser-side upper ridge 90 and a traverser-side guide rail 92 that extend along the direction and project upward from the upper side surface 50A are provided. Similarly, the traverser side support rail 88, the traverser side upper ridge 90, and the traverser side guide rail 92 are also provided on the upper end portion of the back side wall 82.

When the traverser 32 is at the tip of the transport rail 20, the support rail 50 and the traverser side support rail 88 communicate with each other. Therefore, the tip holder 14 supported by the support rail 50 is pushed downstream by the pusher 24. The tip holder 14 is transferred onto the traverser side support rail 88. That is, the tip holder 14 transferred to the traverser 32 is supported from below by the traverser side support rail 88.

The upper ridge 90 on the traverser side exhibits the same function as the upper ridge 54 of the support rail 50. That is, in a state where the traverser side support rail 88 supports the tip holder 14, the traverser side upper ridge 90 is inside (in the Y-axis direction) from the downward protrusion 42 provided on the lower side surface 14A of the tip holder 14. It is located on the center side of the traverser 32). As a result, the tip holder 14 supported by the traverser side support rail 88 moves to the front side or the back side, or the direction of the tip holder 14 in the lateral direction deviates from the extension direction of the traverser side support rail 88. Demonstrates the function of suppressing tilting.

Further, in a state where the traverser side support rail 88 supports the tip holder 14, the traverser side guide rail 92 is located on the front side and the back side side of the tip holder 14. Therefore, in the traverser side guide rail 92, like the guide rail 52, the tip holder 14 supported by the traverser side support rail 88 moves to the front side or the back side, or the direction of the tip holder 14 in the lateral direction is the traverser. It exerts a function of suppressing tilting of the side support rail 88 so as to deviate from the extension direction. The traverser side upper ridge 90 is provided with a notch 90A, and the traverser side guide rail 92 is provided with an insertion hole 92A at a position corresponding to the notch 90A in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). There is. A receiving portion (described later) included in the fixing mechanism 34 is inserted into the notch 90A and the insertion hole 92A.

A trapezoidal sheet metal 94 is provided on the left side wall 84 of the traverser 32. As shown in FIG. 14, the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 includes a front side sheet metal 94A on the front side, a central sheet metal 94B adjacent to the back side of the front side sheet metal 94A, and a back side sheet metal 94C adjacent to the back side of the center sheet metal 94B. It is composed of and. The front side sheet metal 94A, the center sheet metal 94B, and the back side sheet metal 94C are all L-shaped metal fittings composed of a vertical plate standing in the vertical direction and a protruding plate orthogonal to the vertical plate. The vertical plates of the front side sheet metal 94A, the center sheet metal 94B, and the back side sheet metal 94C are screwed to the left side wall 84, so that the protruding plate of each sheet metal protrudes to the left side from the left side wall 84.

The front side sheet metal 94A is attached so as to be inclined so that the protruding plate 94Aa is on the upper side toward the back side. The central sheet metal 94B is attached so that the projecting plate 94Ba is connected to the inner end (which may be called the upper end) of the projecting plate 94Aa of the front side sheet metal 94A and is horizontal. The back side sheet metal 94C is inclined so that the protruding plate 94Ca becomes lower toward the back side, and its front end (which may be called the upper end) is the back side of the protruding plate 94Ba of the central sheet metal 94B. It is attached so that it connects to the end.

The trapezoidal plate portion formed from the projecting plates 94Aa, 94Ba, and 94Ca in terms of side view serves as a path through which the roller 78 (see FIG. 12) provided in the stopper mechanism 26 passes. That is, the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 also moves along the Y-axis direction together with the traverser 32, but the roller 78 of the stopper mechanism 26 provided on the first transport rail 20A and the first roller 78 on the movement path of the trapezoidal sheet metal 94. 2 There is a roller 78 of the stopper mechanism 26 provided on the transport rail 20B. Hereinafter, the operation of the roller 78 and the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 and the stopper mechanism 26 as viewed from the downstream side (right side). In FIG. 15, most of the traverser 32 other than the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 is not shown. First, consider a case where the stopper mechanism 26 shown in FIG. 15 is provided on the first transport rail 20A, and the traverser 32 moves from the mounting area 30 side to the front side as shown by the arrow AR1. When the roller 78 of the stopper mechanism 26 does not act on the trapezoidal sheet metal 94, as described above, the movable support portion 72 of the stopper mechanism 26 is lowered downward by the urging force of the spring 76, and the stopper member 74 The stopper plate 74A is in a locked state in contact with the chip holder 14 at the downstream end of the first transport rail 20A.

When the traverser 32 moves to the front side, the roller 78 rides on the protruding plate 94Aa of the front side sheet metal 94A. Since the projecting plate 94Aa is inclined so as to be upward toward the back side, the roller 78 moves with respect to the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 as the traverser 32 (that is, the trapezoidal sheet metal 94) moves toward the front side (in other words, the roller 78 with respect to the trapezoidal sheet metal 94). By moving relatively to the back side), the roller 78 is pushed upward by the inclined protruding plate 94Aa. Along with this, as indicated by the arrow AR2, the movable support portion 72 is also pushed upward. Then, in a state where the traverser 32 is located at the tip of the downstream end of the first transport rail 20A (a state in which the support rail 50 and the traverser side support rail 88 communicate with each other), the roller 78 rides on the protruding plate 94Ba of the central sheet metal 94B. It becomes a state. In this state, the roller 78 is pushed up to the highest position, and the movable support portion 72 and the stopper member 74 are also pushed up to the highest position accordingly. This state is the unlocked state in which the stopper plate 74A does not abut on the tip holder 14 at the downstream end of the first transport rail 20A.

As shown by the arrow AR3, when the traverser 32 moves to the back side, the roller 78 moves to the front side relative to the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 with the movement of the traverser 32, and descends the inclined protruding plate 94Aa. To go. Along with this, the movable support portion 72 is lowered downward by the urging force of the spring 76. When the movable support portion 72 is lowered to some extent, the locked state is formed again.

Next, the stopper mechanism 26 shown in FIG. 15 is provided on the second transport rail 20B, and as shown by the arrow AR3, the traverser 32 moves from the first transport rail 20A side to the back side. think.

When the traverser 32 moves to the back side, the roller 78 rides on the protruding plate 94Ca of the back side sheet metal 94C. Since the projecting plate 94Ca is inclined so as to be upward toward the front side, the roller 78 moves toward the front side with respect to the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 as the traverser 32 moves toward the back side (in other words, the roller 78 moves toward the front side with respect to the trapezoidal sheet metal 94. (By moving), the roller 78 is pushed upward by the inclined protruding plate 94Ca. Along with this, as indicated by the arrow AR2, the movable support portion 72 is also pushed upward. Then, in a state where the traverser 32 is located at the tip of the downstream end of the second transport rail 20B (a state in which the support rail 50 and the traverser side support rail 88 communicate with each other), the roller 78 rides on the protruding plate 94Ba of the central sheet metal 94B. It becomes a state. In this state, the roller 78 is pushed up to the highest position, and the movable support portion 72 and the stopper member 74 are also pushed up to the highest position accordingly. This state is an unlocked state in which the stopper plate 74A does not abut on the tip holder 14 at the downstream end of the second transport rail 20B.

Further, as shown by the arrow AR3, when the traverser 32 moves toward the back side toward the mounting area 30, the roller 78 moves toward the front side with respect to the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 as the traverser 32 moves. , Going down the inclined protrusion plate 94Aa. Along with this, the movable support portion 72 is lowered downward by the urging force of the spring 76. When the movable support portion 72 is lowered to some extent, the locked state is formed again.

In this way, the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 provided on the traverser 32 acts on the roller 78 provided on the movable support portion 72 of the stopper mechanism 26, so that the stopper mechanism 26 can be released from the lock state. That is, the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 functions as a stopper acting member that acts on the stopper mechanism 26. In particular, in the present embodiment, due to the cooperation of the roller 78 and the trapezoidal sheet metal 94, the tip holder 14 falls only when the traverser 32 is at the tip of the downstream end of the transport rail 20, that is, from the downstream end of the transport rail 20. The stopper mechanism 26 can be unlocked only when there is no risk of this, and when the traverser 32 is not ahead of the downstream end of the transport rail 20, that is, the chip holder 14 is from the downstream end of the transport rail 20. If there is a risk of falling, the stopper mechanism 26 can be locked. Moreover, the state transition between the locked state and the unlocked state of the stopper mechanism 26 can be performed only by moving the traverser 32. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the state transition of the stopper mechanism 26 can be suitably performed without using the motor for performing the state transition of the stopper mechanism 26.

In the present embodiment, the trapezoidal sheet metal 94 functions as a stopper acting member that acts on the stopper mechanism 26, but as long as the state transition of the stopper mechanism 26 can be performed only by the movement of the traverser 32. Other aspects can be adopted as the stopper acting member. Further, the moving direction of the stopper plate 74A accompanying the state transition of the stopper mechanism 26 may be a direction other than the vertical direction.

<Fixing mechanism>
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the fixing mechanism 34. The fixing mechanism 34 is provided near the inner end of the movement path of the traverser 32 (that is, the inner end of the traverser rail 28). The fixing mechanism 34 includes a base portion 100 that is fixedly provided, and a left L-shaped member 102 and a right L-shaped member 104 that are attached to the base portion 100. The left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member 104 are provided symmetrically apart from each other with respect to the center line in the left-right direction of the traverser 32.

The left L-shaped member 102 has a base portion 102A extending in one horizontal direction (X-axis direction in the posture of FIG. 16) and a horizontal direction substantially orthogonal to the base portion 102A (in the posture of FIG. 16). It is composed of an arm portion 102B extending in the Y-axis direction). A contact surface 102Ba extending in the vertical direction is formed at the tip of the arm portion 102B. As will be described later, the contact surface 102Ba is a portion that abuts on the left side surface of the chip holder 14 that has been moved to the mounting area 30. Further, a guide surface 102Bb is formed on the right side surface of the base end portion of the arm portion 102B. The guide surface 102Bb is positioned slightly to the left of the contact surface 102Ba when the arm portion 102B is in an extended position in the Y-axis direction.

The left L-shaped member 102 can rotate within a predetermined angle in a horizontal plane about a rotation axis AX3 parallel to the Z-axis direction through a joint portion (L-shaped corner portion) between the base portion 102A and the arm portion 102B. Attached to the base 100. Specifically, the left L-shaped member 102 can be rotated clockwise several degrees to ten and several degrees in a plan view from a posture in which the base portion 102A is parallel to the X axis. The rotation direction in which the left L-shaped member 102 rotates clockwise in a plan view is described as "opening direction", and the rotation direction in which the left L-shaped member 102 rotates counterclockwise is described as "closing direction". Further, the posture in which the base portion 102A is parallel to the X axis is described as the "closed state" of the left L-shaped member 102, and in the closed state, the contact surface 102Ba at the tip of the arm portion 102B is in the Y-axis direction, that is, The left side surface of the chip holder 14 held by the traverser 32 and moved to the mounting area 30 (Since the traverser 32 can hold two chip holders 14 in this embodiment, the left side chip holder 14 held by the traverser 32. It becomes parallel to the left side of).

A bearing 105 is provided at the tip of the base portion 102A so as to face the front side. The bearing 105 also rotates integrally with the base portion 102A, that is, the left L-shaped member 102. Further, a receiving portion 106 provided corresponding to the front side is provided in the vicinity of the left L-shaped member 102, which is the inner end portion of the base portion 100. The receiving portion 106 is a member that receives the downward protruding portion 42 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the tip holder 14 held by the traverser 32 that has moved from the front side toward the mounting area 30.

Further, although not shown in FIG. 16, one end is attached to the base 100 and the other end is attached to the spring 108 (right L-shaped member 104) attached to the left L-shaped member 102 (arm portion 102B in this embodiment). (See the spring 112 provided) is provided. The left L-shaped member 102 is always urged in the opening direction by the spring 108. The state in which the left L-shaped member 102 is rotated clockwise to the maximum in a plan view by the urging force of the spring 108 is referred to as an "open state".

Since the right L-shaped member 104 has a symmetrical structure with the left L-shaped member 102, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Generally, the right L-shaped member 104 includes a base portion 104A and an arm portion 104B, and the arm portion 104B is provided with a contact surface 104Ba and a guide surface 104Bb. The right L-shaped member 104 is rotatably attached to the base 100 within a predetermined angle in a horizontal plane about the rotation axis AX4. A bearing 109 is provided at the tip of the base portion 104A. Further, a spring 112 having one end attached to the base portion 100 and the other end attached to the arm portion 104B of the right L-shaped member 104 is provided. Further, a receiving portion 110 provided corresponding to the front side is provided in the vicinity of the right L-shaped member 104, which is the inner end portion of the base portion 100. The rotation direction in which the right L-shaped member 104 rotates counterclockwise in a plan view is described as "opening direction", and the rotation direction in which the right L-shaped member 104 rotates clockwise is described as "closing direction". Further, the posture in which the base portion 104A is parallel to the X axis is described as the "closed state" of the right L-shaped member 104, and in the closed state, the contact surface 104Ba at the tip of the arm portion 104B is in the Y-axis direction, that is, It becomes parallel to the right side surface of the chip holder 14 moved to the mounting area 30 (the right side surface of the right side chip holder 14 held by the traverser 32). Further, a state in which the right L-shaped member 104 is rotated counterclockwise to the maximum in a plan view due to the urging force of the spring 112 is referred to as an "open state".

In the present embodiment, the horizontal distance (distance in the X-axis direction) between the contact surface 102Ba of the left L-shaped member 102 in the closed state and the contact surface 104Ba of the right L-shaped member 104 in the closed state is the chip. It is twice the length of the holder 14 in the lateral direction.

The left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member 104 rotate with the movement of the traverser 32, thereby holding and fixing the tip holder 14 that has moved to the mounting area 30. Hereinafter, the operation of the fixing mechanism 34 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the traverser 32 is not in contact with the left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member 104 before the tip holder 14 is moved to the mounting area 30, the left L-shaped member 102 is not in contact with the left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member 104. The right L-shaped member 104 is opened by the urging force of the spring 108, and the right L-shaped member 104 is opened by the urging force of the spring 112. In this state, the contact surface 102Ba of the left L-shaped member 102 is located on the left side in the X-axis direction from the left side surface 14C of the left side chip holder 14 held by the traverser 32, and is positioned on the left side of the right L-shaped member. The contact surface 104Ba of the 104 is located on the right side in the X-axis direction from the right side surface 14D of the right tip holder 14 held by the traverser 32.

When the traverser 32 moves to the back side, first, the tip holder 14 is moved in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) by the guide surface 102Bb provided on the left L-shaped member 102 and the guide surface 104Bb provided on the right L-shaped member 104. It is roughly positioned. By being roughly positioned, the receiving portions 106 and 110 (not shown in FIG. 17, see FIG. 16) can enter the insertion hole 92A and the notch 90A (see FIG. 13) provided in the traverser 32, and receive. The portion 106 can receive the downward protruding portion 42 of the left chip holder 14, and the receiving portion 109 can receive the downward protruding portion 42 of the right chip holder 14. Then, when the traverser 32 is further moved to the back side, the traverser 32 (the traverser side guide rail 92 provided at the upper end of the back side wall 82) becomes the bearing 105 provided on the left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member. It abuts on the bearing 109 provided on the 104. When the traverser 32 further moves to the back side from that state, the bearings 105 and 109 are pushed to the back side. Then, the left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member 104 rotate in the closing direction.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the traverser 32 moves to the innermost part, that is, when the tip holder 14 held by the traverser 32 moves to the mounting area 30, the bearings 105 and 109 are pushed to the end by the traverser 32 and left L. The base portion 102A of the character member 102 and the base portion 104A of the right L-shaped member 104 are parallel to the X axis. That is, the left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member 104 are in a closed state. In this state, the contact surface 102Ba of the left L-shaped member 102 abuts on the left side surface 14C of the chip holder 14, and the contact surface 104Ba of the right L-shaped member 104 abuts on the right side surface 14D of the chip holder 14. The tip holder 14 is sandwiched and fixed from the left and right.

In the fixed state in which the tip holder 14 is fixed by the left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member 104, the nozzle tip 12 housed in the tip holder 14 is mounted on the nozzle by the dispensing device. That is, the nozzle tip 12 is pulled out from the tip holder 14 by the nozzle. At this time, since the tip holder 14 is fixed by the fixing mechanism 34, the nozzle of the dispensing device can more accurately mount the nozzle tip 1.

When all the nozzle tips 12 housed in the tip holder 14 are pulled out, the traverser 32 moves to the front side. Along with this, the pushing force of the traverser 32 toward the back side of the bearings 105 and 109 is released. As a result, the left L-shaped member 102 transitions to the open state by the urging force of the spring 108 and the right L-shaped member 104 by the urging force of the spring 112, that is, the left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member 102. The fixed state by 104 is released.

In this way, the left L-shaped member 102 and the right L-shaped member 104 can form the fixed state of the tip holder 14 as the traverser 32 moves to the mounting area 30. Further, the fixed state of the chip holder 14 can be released as the traverser 32 moves from the mounting area 30. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the fixing state of the tip holder 14 can be formed and released by the fixing mechanism 34 without using a motor for operating the fixing mechanism 34.

<Collection area>
The traverser 32 holding the empty tip holder 14 from which the nozzle tip 12 is pulled out by the nozzle of the dispensing device in the mounting area 30 is moved to the tip of the downstream end of the transport rail 20. In the present embodiment, the traverser 32 moves to the tip of the first transport rail 20A and the second transport rail 20B, whichever is the next to which the tip holder 14 is transported by the pusher 24. Here, as shown in FIG. 19, it is assumed that the traverser 32 has moved ahead of the first transfer rail 20A.

In this state, when the tip holder 14 supported by the first transport rail 20A is pushed by the pusher 24, the tip holder 14 at the downstream end of the first transport rail 20A moves to the traverser 32 and the traverser 32. The empty tip holder 14 held by is pushed by the tip holder 14 transferred from the first transfer rail 20A, and is pushed out to the right side of the traverser 32. Then, the empty tip holder 14 falls off from the right side of the traverser 32 and falls as shown by the arrow in FIG. A collection area 36 is provided at the point where the empty chip holder 14 falls. As shown in FIG. 19, a guide plate 120 may be provided to encourage the empty chip holder 14 that has fallen off from the traverser 32 to move to the collection area 36.

The empty chip holder 14 collected in the collection area 36 is discarded.

Although the embodiments according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

10 Tip Holder Transport Device, 12 Nozzle Tip, 14 Tip Holder, 20 Transport Rail, 24 Pusher, 26 Stopper Mechanism, 32 Traverser, 34 Fixing Mechanism, 36 Recovery Area, 40 Insertion Hole, 42 Downward Protrusion, 50 Support Rail, 52 Guide rail, 62 base, 64 arm, 66A, 66B contact, 72 movable support, 74 stopper member, 78 roller, 94 trapezoidal sheet metal, 102 left L-shaped member, 104 right L-shaped member.

Claims (10)

A transport rail that directly and movably supports a chip holder that houses multiple nozzle chips,
By pushing the tip holder supported by the transport rail, the pusher for transporting the tip holder along the transport rail and
A tip holder transfer device characterized by being provided with. The tip holder is a plate-shaped member having a plurality of insertion holes into which the nozzle tip is inserted.
The tip holder transfer device according to claim 1. The transport rail is two support rails arranged in parallel in a horizontal plane, and is parallel to the support rail on both sides of the support rail that supports the chip holder from below and the chip holder supported by the support rail. Including two guide rails provided,
The tip holder transfer device according to claim 2. The tip holder has a downward protrusion that protrudes downward from its lower side surface.
The support rail has an upward ridge extending upward from its upper side surface extending along the extending direction of the support rail.
With the support rail supporting the tip holder, the upper ridge is located inside the transport rail with respect to the downward protrusion.
The tip holder transfer device according to claim 3. When the side surface of the tip holder is in contact with the guide rail, the nozzle tip housed in the tip holder does not come into contact with the support rail.
The tip holder transfer device according to claim 3. The tip holder facing the guide rail with a horizontal distance orthogonal to the extension direction of the transport rail from the inner surface of the guide rail to the inner surface of the support rail on the same side as the guide rail. Less than the orthogonal horizontal distance from the side surface to the insertion hole,
The tip holder transfer device according to claim 5. A stopper mechanism including a stopper member that abuts on the chip holder located at the downstream end of the transport rail and suppresses the movement of the chip holder to the downstream side.
The tip holder transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising. A traverser that holds the tip holder transferred from the downstream end of the transport rail and moves in a direction different from the extension direction of the transport rail, and includes a stopper acting member that acts on the stopper mechanism. ,
Further prepare
The stopper mechanism is a movable support portion that supports the stopper member, and when the traverser is located at the tip of the downstream end of the transport rail, the stopper member is caused by the action of the stopper acting member to cause the tip holder. It has a movable support portion that moves the stopper member so as not to come into contact with the stopper member.
The tip holder transfer device according to claim 7. The tip holder transferred from the downstream end of the transfer rail is held and moved in a direction different from the extension direction of the transfer rail, and the tip reaches the mounting area where the nozzle tip is mounted on the nozzle. A traverser that moves the holder, and
A fixing mechanism for fixing the tip holder moved to the mounting area, and a fixing mechanism for forming a fixed state of the tip holder with the movement of the traverser to the mounting area.
The tip holder transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising. The transport rail includes a first transport rail and a second transport rail.
The pusher includes a first pushing portion for pushing the tip holder supported by the first transport rail and a second pushing portion for pushing the tip holder supported by the second transport rail, and the first pushing portion is provided. The first state in which the portion abuts on the chip holder and the second push-in portion does not abut on the chip holder, and the first push-in portion does not abut on the chip holder and the second push-in portion does not abut on the chip holder. State transition between the abutting second state,
The tip holder transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tip holder transport device is characterized.

Images