Workpiece separation apparatus

Abstract

There is provided a workpiece separation apparatus permitting to input a mixture of workpieces and chips stably within a flow current and to separate them accurately and efficiently. The workpiece separation apparatus includes an input cylinder ( 120 ) inserted within a separating container ( 110 ) and a fluid supplying means ( 130 ) arranged so as to supply fluid to the separating container ( 110 ) from a part lower than a lower end of the input cylinder ( 120 ), and configured such that the fluid overflows and flows out of the upper end of the separating container ( 110 ) due to a flow current generated within the separating container ( 110 ) and such that a fluid level of the fluid rises up in the input cylinder ( 120 ) and the fluid does not flow out of the upper end of the input cylinder ( 120 ).

1 . A workpiece separation apparatus, comprising:
 a separating container in which fluid is stored;   an input cylinder configured to input a mixture of workpieces and chips; and   a fluid supplying means configured to supply the fluid to the separating container;   
       characterized in that
 the input cylinder is disposed such that a lower end thereof is inserted and is located within the separating container; 
 the fluid supplying means supplies the fluid to the separating container from a part lower than a lower end of the input cylinder; 
 an upper end of the input cylinder projects above an upper end of the separating container; and 
 the separating container and the input cylinder are arranged such that the fluid overflows and flows out of the upper end of the separating container by a flow current generated within the separating container from a lower part to an upper part thereof and such that the fluid within the input cylinder does not flow out of the upper end thereof. 
 
     
     
         2 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the input cylinder is disposed such that a center line of the input cylinder is aligned with a center line of the separating container. 
     
     
         13 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the input cylinder has a funnel portion whose outer shape expands upward at the part projecting above the upper end of the separating container. 
     
     
         14 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 13 , characterized in that a separating plate convexly formed toward the upper part of the funnel portion is provided around a mixture input opening of the funnel portion. 
     
     
         15 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of fluid inflow holes for introducing the fluid into the separating container is provided in a vicinity of the lower end of the separating container. 
     
     
         16 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a ringed slit for introducing the fluid into the separating container is provided in a vicinity of the lower end of the separating container. 
     
     
         17 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a bottom portion of the separating container is constructed to be removable. 
     
     
         18 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an opening for discharging the separated and sedimented workpieces or chips together with the fluid is provided at the bottom portion of the separating container. 
     
     
         19 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 18 , characterized in that an inclined surface inclined so as to guide the workpieces or chips separated from each other and sedimented to the opening is formed on an inner circumferential surface on the bottom side of the separating container. 
     
     
         20 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an upper receiving portion for receiving the fluid flown out of the upper end of the separating container is disposed around the upper portion of the separating container. 
     
     
         21 . The workpiece separation apparatus according to  claim 20 , characterized in that a fluid guide portion having an inclined surface for guiding the fluid overflowing from the upper end of the separating container to the upper receiving portion is formed at the upper end of the separating container.