ELONGATED MATERIAL SUPPLY DEVICE AND BENDING APPARATUS

Abstract

An elongated material supply device includes a conveyor, a sorter, and a detector. The conveyor conveys a rod-shaped or linear elongated material. The sorter allows the elongated material to pass through when a variation in shape of the elongated material is within a predetermined variation range. The detector detects presence or absence of the elongated material at a position downstream from an inlet of the sorter in a conveyance direction of the elongated material.

Claims

1. An elongated material supply device, comprising: a conveyor to convey a rod-shaped or linear elongated material; a sorter to allow the elongated material to pass through when a variation in shape of the elongated material is within a predetermined variation range; and a detector to detect presence or absence of the elongated material at a position downstream from an inlet of the sorter in a conveyance direction of the elongated material.

2. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, wherein the sorter is formed of a single member or a plurality of members that define a passage allowable width that allows passage of the elongated material when the variation in shape of the elongated material is within the predetermined variation range.

3. The elongated material supply device according to claim 2, wherein the passage allowable width is larger than a width of the elongated material and is equal to or less than six times the width of the elongated material.

4. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, wherein the sorter and the detector are disposed downstream from the conveyor in the conveyance direction of the elongated material.

5. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, wherein the detector includes a movable member to move in contact with the elongated material and a sensor to detect displacement of the movable member.

6. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, wherein the detector includes a sensor to detect light shielding due to passage of the elongated material.

7. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a notifier to notify that the elongated material has not passed through the sorter.

8. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller to control the conveyor to retry to pass the elongated material through the sorter in a case that the elongated material has not passed through the sorter.

9. The elongated material supply device according to claim 2, wherein the passage allowable width is changeable.

10. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated material is formed of a flexible metal material with a full length of 100 millimeters or more and a width of 3 millimeters or less.

11. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated material is made of iron, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or an alloy containing iron, stainless steel, aluminum, or copper.

12. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated material has a circular or polygonal cross section.

13. The elongated material supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sorters including the sorter and a plurality of detectors including the detector, wherein the plurality of sorters and the plurality of detectors are disposed downstream from the conveyor in the conveyance direction of the elongated material.

14. A bending apparatus, comprising: the elongated material supply device according to claims 1; and a processing unit to bend the elongated material supplied by the elongated material supply device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A more complete appreciation of embodiments of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a bending apparatus including an elongated material supply device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIGS. 9A to 9I are diagrams illustrating processing of a wire, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where a wire introduced into the bending apparatus of FIG. 1 has no deformation;

[0019] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a case where the wire having no deformation is introduced into the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a case where a wire introduced into the bending apparatus of FIG. 1 has a large deformation;

[0021] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation when the wire having a large deformation is introduced into the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a case where a wire introduced into the bending apparatus of FIG. 1 has a small deformation;

[0023] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation when the wire having a small deformation is introduced into the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a procedure of control of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 17 is a flowchart of another procedure of control of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1:

[0026] FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the bending apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams illustrating a detector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a sorter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the sorter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIGS. 22A and 22B are diagrams illustrating a sorter that can change a passage allowable width, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIGS. 23A and 23B are diagrams illustrating a sorter that can change the passage allowable width, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating the sorter capable of changing the allowable passage width, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0033] FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a bending apparatus in which a plurality of sorters and a plurality of detectors are arranged, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. Also, identical or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.

[0036] Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0037] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure, elements or components having identical or similar functions or shapes are given similar reference numerals as far as distinguishable, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bending apparatus including an elongated material supply device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] First, a configuration of the bending apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a bending apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a pair of conveyance rollers 11 that conveys a wire 10 that is an elongated material, a cylindrical sorter 12 that sorts the wire 10, a detector 13 that detects the presence or absence of the wire 10 that has passed through the sorter, a guide member 14 that guides the wire 10, a pressing member 15 that presses the wire 10 for bending, and a body case 16.

[0041] The body case 16 is an exterior part that houses the conveyance roller 11, the sorter 12, the detector 13, the guide member 14, and the pressing member 15 therein. An upper portion of the body case 16 has an introduction port 16a through which the wire 10 is introduced. On the other hand, a lower portion of the body case 16 has a discharge port 16b through which the processed wire 10 is discharged.

[0042] The pair of conveyance rollers 11 is a conveyor that conveys the wire 10 while nipping the wire. The conveyance rollers 11 are disposed below the introduction port 16a so as to approach or contact each other. When the wire 10 is introduced into between the rotating conveyance rollers 11, the wire 10 is conveyed while being nipped by the conveyance rollers 11. As conveyors that convey the wire 10, conveyors other than the conveyance rollers 11 such as rotating belt members may be used.

[0043] The sorter 12 is a member that sorts a wire suitable for processing and a wire unsuitable for processing. The sorter 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is provided below the conveyance rollers 11. The sorter 12 has a passage hole 12a through which the wire 10 suitable for processing passes in the center thereof.

[0044] The detector 13 includes a fan-shaped feeler 17 as a movable member provided so as to be swingable below the sorter 12, and a sensor 18 as a sensing unit that detects displacement of the feeler 17. The sensor 18 is a transmissive optical sensor including a light projection unit that emits light and a light reception unit that receives light emitted from the light projection unit, for example. When the feeler 17 swings (displaces) from the position indicated by a solid line to the position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the light emitted from the light projection unit of the sensor 18 is blocked by the feeler 17, whereby the sensor 18 detects the displacement of the feeler 17.

[0045] The guide member 14 is a cylindrical member disposed below the detector 13. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the guide member 14 is formed longer than the sorter 12 in the same cylindrical shape. The guide member 14 has a guide hole 14a for guiding the wire 10 in the center thereof.

[0046] The pressing member 15 is a member that presses and bends the wire 10 guided by the guide member 14. The pressing member 15 is disposed below the guide member 14 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the horizontal direction.

[0047] Although a detailed processing operation will be described later, the pressing member 15 moves in the horizontal direction to bend the wire 10 in cooperation with the guide member 14. That is, in the present embodiment, the guide member 14 and the pressing member 15 constitute a processing unit 3 that bends the wire 10. On the other hand, the pair of conveyance rollers 11, the sorter 12, and the detector 13 disposed above the processing unit 3 constitute an elongated material supply device 2 that supplies the wire (elongated material) 10 suitable for processing to the processing unit 3. As described above, the bending apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the elongated material supply device 2 formed by the pair of conveyance rollers 11, the sorter 12, and the detector 13, the pressing member 15, and the processing unit 3 formed by the guide member 14.

[0048] Next, the operations of the bending apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0049] First, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the wire 10 is introduced into the body case 16 through the introduction port 16a, the leading end (lower end in the drawing) of the wire 10 is nipped by the pair of rotating conveyance rollers 11. Then, the wire 10 is conveyed downward along with the rotation of the conveyance rollers 11.

[0050] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the leading end of the wire 10 conveyed by the pair of conveyance rollers 11 has passed through the sorter 12. In this case, since the wire 10 is a wire suitable for processing, the wire 10 has passed through the passage hole 12a of the sorter 12. The leading end of the wire 10 that has passed through the sorter 12 contacts the feeler 17 on standby near the outlet of the passage hole 12a to swing the feeler 17. Along with the swinging of the feeler 17, the sensor 18 is brought into the light shielding state so that the swinging (displacement) of the feeler 17 is detected. As a result, the passage of the wire 10 through the sorter 12 is indirectly detected.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the wire 10 has been conveyed to the processing position. As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the leading end of the wire 10 passes through the guide hole 14a of the guide member 14 and protrudes downward from the guide hole 14a by a preset length, the rotation of the conveyance rollers 11 stops to stop the conveyance of the wire 10.

[0052] In this state, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the pressing member 15 moves in the horizontal direction (the right direction in the drawing) and presses the wire 10, the wire 10 is bent. Specifically, when the pressing member 15 moves in the horizontal direction, the pressing member 15 comes into contact with the wire portion protruding downward from the guide member 14, so that the wire 10 is pressed in the horizontal direction. With this press, the wire 10 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface (guide hole 14a) of the guide member 14. When the pressing member 15 further moves in the horizontal direction, the wire 10 is bent at a right angle from the lower end of the guide member 14 as a starting point.

[0053] When the wire 10 is bent, the pressing member 15 moves in the opposite direction (the left direction in the drawing) and retracts from the conveying path of the wire 10 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Then, the rotation of the conveyance rollers 11 is started, and the conveyance of the wire 10 is restarted.

[0054] Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the rear end (the upper end in the drawing) of the wire 10 passes through the conveyance rollers 11 and the holding of the wire 10 by the conveyance rollers 11 is stopped, the wire 10 falls due to its own weight.

[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the rear end of the wire 10 passes between the conveyance rollers 11, the rotation of the conveyance rollers 11 is stopped. When the wire 10 falls and the rear end (the upper end in the drawing) of the wire 10 passes through the feeler 17, the feeler 17 returns to the original standby position, and the sensor 18 brings into the light transmitting state again. Then, the falling wire 10 is discharged from the discharge port 16b of the body case 16, and is placed on an installation surface on which the bending apparatus 1 is installed, a tray disposed on the installation surface, or the like. Accordingly, a series of bending operations is completed.

[0056] FIGS. 9A to 9I are diagrams illustrating an example of processing of the wire 10.

[0057] In this example, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the pressing member 15 reciprocates in the horizontal direction to bend the wire 10. Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 9D, the wire 10 is conveyed downward, and the wire 10 is stopped and held at the next processing position. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 9E, the pressing member 15 moves in the horizontal direction again to press the wire 10 to bend the wire 10. At this time, in order to prevent the leading end of the wire 10 to be bent from interfering with the lower end of the guide member 14, a conveyance amount L1 (see FIG. 9D) of the wire 10 immediately before needs to be secured to be larger than a distance L2 (see FIG. 9E) from the wire 10 to the outer periphery of the lower end of the guide member 14.

[0058] Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 9F, the pressing member 15 continues to move and passes below the guide member 14, and waits at a position opposite to the original position (the position illustrated in FIG. 9A). Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 9G, the wire 10 is further conveyed downward, and is stopped and held at the next processing position. As illustrated in FIG. 9H, the pressing member 15 moves toward the wire 10 (the left direction in the drawing), so that the wire 10 is bent in a direction opposite to the first and second processing. As illustrated in FIG. 9I, the pressing member 15 moves in the horizontal direction (the right direction in the drawing) to retract from the conveying path of the wire 10, and the bending operation is completed.

[0059] In this manner, the bending of the wire may be performed a plurality of times. The wire can be formed into a desired shape by adjusting as appropriate the direction and the number of times of bending.

[0060] Wires introduced into the bending apparatus may include a wire unsuitable for processing, such as a wire having a deformed leading end. In particular, in a case where the degree of deformation is large, when the wire is conveyed as it is into the bending apparatus, there is a possibility that the processing is not completed as intended even if the bending is performed.

[0061] Therefore, in the bending apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, whether the wire 10 is suitable for processing can be determined before the wire 10 is supplied to the processing unit 3. Hereinafter, a method of wire discrimination according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0062] As described above, since the bending apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the sorter 12 that permits the passage of the wire 10 suitable for processing. Thus, when the wire 10 suitable for processing without deformation is introduced into the bending apparatus 1 as illustrated in FIG. 10, the passage of the wire 10 through the sorter 12 (passage hole 12a) is permitted as illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0063] On the other hand, when the wire 10 that has a greatly deformed leading end and is not suitable for processing is introduced into the bending apparatus 1 as illustrated in FIG. 12, the leading end of the wire 10 abuts on the edge of the inlet side of the sorter 12 (the upstream end of the sorter 12 in the wire conveyance direction), whereby the passage of the wire 10 is prevented as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0064] In addition, the wire 10 that has a slightly deformed leading end but may not be unsuitable for processing may be introduced as illustrated in FIG. 14. In this case, in the present embodiment, the wire 10 is determined as suitable for processing, and the passage of the wire 10 through the sorter 12 (passage hole 12a) is permitted as illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0065] As described above, in the present embodiment, since the passage of the wire 10 suitable for processing is permitted and the passage of the wire 10 not suitable for processing is not permitted, only the wire 10 suitable for processing can be supplied to the processing unit 3. This prevents unnecessary processing.

[0066] In the present embodiment, in addition to the wire 10 having no deformation as illustrated in FIG. 10, the wire 10 having some deformation as illustrated in FIG. 14 but not being a deformation not suitable for processing is permitted to pass through the sorter 12. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an inner diameter (width) d1 of the passage hole 12a of the sorter 12 is set to a passage permissible width W with which the passage of the wire 10 is allowed when the wire 10 has a variation in shape within a predetermined variation range (see FIGS. 10, 12, and 14).

[0067] The optimum value of the inner diameter d1 (passage allowable width W) of the passage hole 12a varies depending on the allowable deformation amount. However, if the inner diameter d1 of the passage hole 12a is too large, an object not suitable for processing cannot be excluded. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the inner diameter d1 (passage allowable width W) of the passage hole 12a is set to be larger than the outer diameter d2 (width) of the wire 10 and to be equal to or smaller than 6 times the outer diameter d2 (width) of the wire 10 so that if the deformation of the wire 10 exceeds 3 times the outer diameter d2 (width) of the wire 10, the wire 10 can be determined as obviously not suitable for processing and excluded.

[0068] Since the bending apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the detector 13 (the feeler 17 and the sensor 18) that detects the presence or absence of the wire 10 at a position downstream from the sorter 12 in the wire conveyance direction (the conveyance direction of the elongated material), the passage of the wire 10 is detected by the detector 13 when the wire 10 is suitable for processing as illustrated in FIG. 11 or 15. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 13, when the wire 10 is not suitable for processing, the detector 13 does not detect the wire 10.

[0069] As described above, in the present embodiment, when the wire 10 passes through the sorter 12, the passage of the wire 10 is detected by the detector 13, and when the wire 10 does not pass through the sorter 12, the passage of the wire 10 is not detected by the detector 13. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the wire 10 is suitable for processing based on the detection result of the detector 13, and it is possible to detect the wire 10 that is not suitable for processing. As a result, the following measures can be taken.

[0070] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, when the passage of the wire 10 is not detected by the detector 13 within a predetermined time after the conveyance of the wire 10 is started by the conveyance roller 11, it is determined that there is a possibility that a wire unsuitable for processing is introduced, and the conveyance and processing of the wire 10 are stopped. This prevents unnecessary processing and avoids the occurrence of defective products. On the other hand, when the detector 13 detects the wire 10 within a predetermined time from the start of the conveyance of the wire 10, it is determined that the wire is suitable for processing, and the wire 10 is subjected to a bending process.

[0071] As in the example illustrated in FIG. 17, when the passage of the wire 10 through the sorter 12 is not permitted, the wire 10 may be re-conveyed to the sorter 12 to recheck whether the wire 10 is suitable for processing. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 17, when the passage of the wire 10 is not detected by the detector 13 within a predetermined time from the start of the conveyance of the wire 10, the conveyance of the wire 10 is temporarily stopped, and then the wire 10 is re-conveyed. When the passage of the wire 10 is detected by the detector 13 within a predetermined time from the start of the re-conveyance, the wire 10 is subjected to a bending process. On the other hand, when the passage of the wire 10 is not detected by the detector 13 within a predetermined time from the start of the re-conveyance, the conveyance and processing of the wire 10 are stopped.

[0072] As described above, when the passage of the wire is not detected, reconveying the wire makes it possible to recheck whether the wire is suitable for processing. As a result, even if a wire suitable for processing cannot pass due to variations in the conveyance operation, a temporary conveyance failure, or the like, the wire can be used for processing as long as the wire is re-conveyed and the passage of the wire is permitted.

[0073] FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the bending apparatus 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0074] In the block diagram illustrated in FIG. 18, the bending apparatus 1 includes a controller 30 that controls operations of the conveyance roller 11 and the pressing member 15. The controller 30 is implemented by, for example, an information processing device such as a personal computer (PC). In this example, the bending apparatus 1 also includes a notifier 31. The notifier 31 is a device that makes sound or emits light, or a display that displays characters or the like on a screen, for example, and is controlled by the controller 30 based on the result of detection by the detector 13. With the presence of the notifier 31, when the passage of the wire is not detected by the detector 13, the notifier 31 can notify the user of the fact. This allows the user to immediately know that the wire is not suitable for processing, and easily perform the subsequent handling or processing.

[0075] Although an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the bending apparatus and the elongated material supply device according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified in design without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the detector including the feeler 17 is used as the detector 13 that detects the passage of the wire 10 passes. However, the detector 13 may not include the feeler 17 as in the example illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B.

[0077] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B, a transmissive sensor (optical sensor) 19 is used as a sensing unit that detects the passage of the wire 10. In this example, the sorter 12 is provided with a light-transmitting hole 12b through which light emitted from the transmissive sensor 19 passes. The light-transmitting hole 12b is provided so as to cross the passage hole 12a through which the wire 10 passes. As illustrated in FIG. 19A, in a state where the wire 10 does not exist in the passage hole 12a, the light passes through the passage hole 12a so as to cross the passage hole 12a. Then, from this state, when the wire 10 passes through the passage hole 12a, the light is blocked by the passing wire 10, so that the passage of the wire 10 is detected based on a detection signal from the sensor 19 at this time as illustrated in FIG. 19B.

[0078] As described above, the passage of the wire 10 can also be detected using the detector 13 having no feeler 17. As in this example, the detector 13 detects the presence or absence of the wire 10 at a position downstream from the inlet 121 in the wire conveyance direction. The inlet 121 is the upstream end of the passage hole 12a in the wire conveyance direction (the longitudinal material conveyance direction). Therefore, in the prevent invention, the presence or absence of the passage of the wire 10 may be detected using the feeler 17 on the downstream side (outlet side) in the wire conveyance direction of the sorter 12 as in the above embodiment or using the sensor 19 that emits light passing through the sorter 12 as in the example illustrated in FIG. 19.

[0079] In addition, the sorter 12 in the present invention may be formed of a single cylindrical member or may be formed of a plurality of members.

[0080] For example, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 20, the sorter 12 may be formed of two members 20. In this case, the two members 20 are members having a semicircular cross section obtained by dividing a cylindrical member into two. When the two members 20 are arranged so as to face each other, the passage allowable width W that allows the passage of the wire 10 suitable for processing (variation in shape is within a predetermined variation range) is formed therebetween.

[0081] As in the example illustrated in FIG. 21, the two members 20 constituting the sorter 12 may be arranged so as to be shifted from each other in the wire conveyance direction (the conveyance direction of the elongated material).

[0082] In addition, the elongated material used in the present invention may be a wire having a circular cross section, or may be a wire having a polygonal cross section such as a triangular cross section or a quadrangular cross section. Similarly to the elongated material, the cross-sectional shape of the passage hole 12a of the sorter 12 may also be a circle or a polygon such as a triangle or a quadrangle.

[0083] Examples of the elongated material used in the present invention include a material made of a flexible metallic material having a full length of 100 millimeters (mm) or more and a width of 3 mm or less. Examples of the material of the elongated material include iron, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and an alloy containing iron, stainless steel, aluminum, or copper. However, the elongated material is not limited to them, and may be made of another elongated material.

[0084] The passage allowable width that allows the passage of the wire 10 of the sorter 12 (passage hole 12a) may be changeable.

[0085] For example, as in the example illustrated in FIGS. 22A and 22B, the passage allowable width may be changed by moving the two opening width adjusters 22 close to and away from each other. In this case, the sorter 12 includes a cylindrical or circular cylindrical main body 21 with the same passage hole 12a as in the above embodiment, and two opening width adjusters 22 provided movably on the side of the inlet 121 of the main body 21 (upstream opening end side of the passage hole 12a). The two opening width adjusters 22 have divided opening portions 22a formed of a semicircular notch, and are movable in directions approaching and separating from each other.

[0086] As illustrated in FIG. 22A, when the two opening width adjusters 22 are separated from each other and retract from above the main body 21, the inner diameter d1 of the passage hole 12a of the main body 21 defines the passage allowable width W1.

[0087] On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 22B, when the two opening width adjusters 22 are arranged so as to approach (or contact) each other, a circular passage hole is formed by the divided opening portions 22a of the opening width adjusters 22. In this case, the inner diameter d2 of the passage hole formed by the two divided opening portions 22a defines the passage allowable width W2. That is, since the inner diameter d2 of the passage hole formed by the two divided opening portions 22a is set to be smaller than the inner diameter d1 of the passage hole 12a of the main body 21, the passage allowable width can be decreased by bringing the two opening width adjusters 22 closer to each other.

[0088] As described above, in the example illustrated in FIG. 22, the passage allowable width of the sorter 12 can be changed according to the required dimensional accuracy of the elongated material by bringing the two opening width adjusters 22 close to or away from each other.

[0089] As in the example illustrated in FIGS. 23A and 23B, a belt-shaped member 23 (sorter 12) having flexibility may be used as the sorter 12. In this example, one end side in the longitudinal direction of the belt-shaped member 23 is wound in a cylindrical shape, and the end of the wound side is fixed. When the end opposite to the end of the fixed side is pulled from the state illustrated in FIG. 23A to the state illustrated in FIG. 23B, the wound portion of the belt-shaped member 23 contracts, so that the passage allowable width can be decreased (changed from the large width W1 to the small width W2). In addition, the passage allowable width can be increased (changed from the small width W2 to the large width W1) by loosening the tensile force at the opposite end. As described above, the passage allowable width may be made changeable using the belt-shaped member 23 having flexibility.

[0090] As in the example illustrated in FIG. 24, a plurality of sorters 12A and 12B having different inner diameters d1 and d2 (passage allowable widths W1 and W2) may be prepared. In this case, the passage allowable widths W1 and W2 can be changed by replacing the sorters 12A and 12B.

[0091] As in the example illustrated in FIG. 25, pluralities of (two each in this example) sorters 12 and detectors 13 may be arranged downstream from the conveyance roller 11 in the wire conveyance direction (longitudinal material conveyance direction). As illustrated in FIG. 25, the passage allowable width may be made different such that the passage allowable width W2 of the sorter 12 arranged on the downstream side is smaller than the passage allowable width W1 of the sorter 12 arranged on the upstream side.

[0092] The bending apparatus and the elongated material supply device according to the present invention are not limited to the configuration in which the elongated material (wire 10) is conveyed from the upper side to the lower side as in the above embodiment, and may be configured to convey the elongated material in the horizontal direction or other directions.

[0093] To summarize the aspects of the present invention described above, the present invention includes an elongated material supply device and a bending apparatus having at least the following configurations.

First Aspect

[0094] An elongated material supply device supplies a rod-shaped or linear elongated material. The elongated material supply device includes: a conveyor to convey the elongated material; a sorter to allow the elongated material to pass through when a variation in shape of the elongated material is within a predetermined variation range; and a detector to detect presence or absence of the elongated material at a position downstream from an inlet of the sorter in a conveyance direction of the elongated material with respect to.

Second Aspect

[0095] In the elongated material supply device according to the first aspect, the sorter is formed of a single member or a plurality of members that define a passage allowable width that allows passage of the elongated material whose shape variation is within the predetermined variation range.

Third Aspect

[0096] In the elongated material supply device according to the second aspect, the passage allowable width is larger than the width of the elongated material and is equal to or less than six times the width of the elongated material.

Fourth Aspect

[0097] In the elongated material supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the sorter and the detector are disposed downstream from the conveyor in the conveyance direction of the elongated material or a plurality of sorters including the sorter and a plurality of detectors including the detector are disposed downstream from the conveyor in the conveyance direction of the elongated material.

Fifth Aspect

[0098] In the elongated material supply device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the detector includes a movable member to move in contact with the elongated material and a sensing unit to detect displacement of the movable member.

Sixth Aspect

[0099] In the elongated material supply device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the detector includes a sensing unit to detect light shielding due to passage of the elongated material.

Seventh Aspect

[0100] The elongated material supply device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects further includes a notifier that, in a case that the elongated material has not passed through the sorter, notifies that the elongated material has not passed through the sorter.

Eighth Aspect

[0101] In the elongated material supply device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, in a case that the elongated material has not passed through the sorter, the conveyor is controlled to retry to pass the elongated material through the sorter.

Ninth Aspect

[0102] In the elongated material supply device according to the second or third aspect, the passage allowable width is changeable.

Tenth Aspect

[0103] In the elongated material supply device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the elongated material is formed of a flexible metal material with a full length of 100 mm or more and a width of 3 mm or less.

Eleventh Aspect

[0104] In the elongated material supply device in any one of the first to tenth aspects, the elongated material is made of iron, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or an alloy containing iron, stainless steel, aluminum, or copper.

Twelfth Aspect

[0105] In the elongated material supply device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the elongated material has a circular or polygonal cross section.

Thirteenth Aspect

[0106] A bending apparatus bends a rod-shaped or linear elongated material. The bending apparatus includes: the elongated material supply device according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects; and a processing unit to bend the elongated material supplied by the elongated material supply device.

[0107] The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention. Any one of the above-described operations may be performed in various other ways, for example, in an order different from the one described above.