An automatic feeding device

Abstract

The present invention discloses an automatic feeding device, which belongs to the field of feeding technology. The core of the device includes a picking barrel, a guide device and an axle pin lifting device in a storage chamber. A through groove and an elliptical annular storage chamber are arranged in the picking barrel. The latter maximizes space utilization, reduces stacking height, and enhances material stability. The lifting device adopts an annular conveyor belt with a lifting plate to realize the rapid transfer of the axle pin from the storage chamber to the guide device. A channel is arranged in the guide device to guide the movement of the axle pin. The device has a high degree of automation, significantly speeds up the feeding speed, and reduces manual intervention and downtime; the elliptical storage chamber design optimizes the spatial layout, improves stability, and reduces the risk of material slippage; an integrated high-precision visual inspection system detects the shape, position and direction of the axle pin in a non-contact manner to ensure product quality; an innovative return mechanism is used to return unqualified axle pins immediately, which reduces waste and improves the yield rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of feeding, and in particular to an automatic feeding device. Background Art

[0002] In modern automated production lines, especially for the production and assembly of small, precision components like axle pins, automated and efficient loading processes are crucial for improving overall production efficiency and product quality. Traditional manual loading methods are not only inefficient and error-prone, but also struggle to meet the demands of large-scale, high-speed production. Furthermore, the storage, transportation, and inspection processes for small components like axle pins also face challenges such as low space utilization, poor material stability, and low inspection accuracy.

[0003] In view of this, the market urgently needs a device that can automatically complete the loading, transmission and detection of small parts such as axle pins. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned technical deficiencies, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic loading device to realize the function of automatic loading and a higher loading success rate.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: The present invention provides an automatic loading device, including a picking barrel and a guide device extending into the interior of the picking barrel:

[0006] A through slot is provided inside the picking barrel, and one end of the guide device passes through the through slot, providing a path for the transfer of the shaft pin from the storage cavity to the guide device. A storage cavity for storing shaft pin parts is provided inside the picking barrel, and a shaft pin lifting device is provided inside the storage cavity. The lifting device can lift the shaft pin to the upper part of the guide device and drop it downward to the guide device, and a channel is provided inside the guide device to push the shaft pin to move;

[0007] In which, the storage cavity is opened on the inner annular surface of the through groove, the storage cavity is an elliptical annular chamber, and the maximum distance of the storage cavity in the horizontal direction is greater than the maximum distance in the vertical direction. The lifting device includes a conveyor belt arranged inside the storage cavity, the conveyor belt moves along the annular surface of the annular chamber, and the conveyor belt is provided with a plurality of lifting plates.

[0008] Preferably, grooves adapted to the conveyor belt are provided on both side walls of the storage cavity, the conveyor belt is embedded in the grooves, the conveyor belt is provided with teeth, and a driving gear meshing with the teeth is rotatably installed inside the picking barrel.

[0009] Preferably, the interior of the picking barrel is provided with side panels on both sides of the storage cavity, and the interior of the side panels is provided with elliptical holes. The two elliptical holes correspond to each other and together constitute a through groove that runs through the entire storage cavity area. The elliptical hole is provided with an inclined slope near the inner side of the storage cavity.

[0010] Preferably, the automatic loading device further comprises a bracket, a fixing hole is provided inside the bracket, and the picking barrel is fixed inside the fixing hole.

[0011] Preferably, the guide device includes a guide bar, a guide groove is provided inside the guide bar, the guide groove extends to both ends of the guide bar, and the guide groove opening faces upward, and one end of the guide bar extends to the inside of the through groove.

[0012] Preferably, a conveyor belt is provided inside the guide groove, and the conveyor belt includes rollers at both ends and a belt connected between the rollers at both ends. A motor for driving the rollers to rotate is fixed on the guide bar.

[0013] Preferably, a return plate is provided on one side of the bottom of the guide bar, and the return plate is an inclined plate with one end high and the other end low, and the lower end of the return plate extends to the interior of the storage cavity, and a return port is provided in the middle of the guide bar, and a visual detection unit is fixed on the guide bar for detecting the shape and position of the pin shaft passing through the guide groove. When the shape and position of the pin shaft are different from the setting, the pin shaft falls from the return port to the return plate and is transferred to the storage cavity.

[0014] Preferably, baffles are rotatably mounted on both side walls of the guide bar, and both baffles rotate in the same direction. When the baffles rotate to above the conveyor belt, the conveying direction of the guide bar changes to above the return plate.

[0015] Preferably, a motor for driving the baffle to rotate is fixed on the guide bar.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0017] The automated loading and conveying system enables fast and accurate loading of small parts such as axle pins, significantly improving the overall efficiency of the production line. This also reduces manual intervention and downtime, lowering production costs. The elliptical annular storage chamber design not only maximizes the use of the internal space within the picking barrel but also improves the overall stability of the material by reducing the vertical stacking height. This design effectively reduces the risk of material slipping and flying out, ensuring production safety. A high-precision visual inspection system is introduced to quickly and accurately detect the shape, position, and forward and reverse orientation of axle pins. This non-contact inspection method ensures the reliability of the test results and effectively improves product quality control. A convenient return plate and return port structure, combined with a rotatable baffle design, enables the automatic return of unqualified axle pins. This instant feedback mechanism reduces waste during the production process and improves production efficiency and yield. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the automatic loading device.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a top view of the automatic loading device.

[0020] Figure 3 This is an internal cross-sectional view of the picking barrel.

[0021] Figure 4 This is the material movement path diagram of the automatic loading device.

[0022] Figure 5 This is an internal cross-sectional view of the automatic loading device.

[0023] In the figure: 1. Picking barrel, 2. Guide bar, 3. Through slot, 4. Conveyor belt, 5. Lifting plate, 6. Storage chamber, 7. Driving gear, 8. Side plate, 9. Bracket, 10. Visual inspection unit, 11. Return plate, 12. Conveyor belt, 13. Baffle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present invention is described below with specific examples, but is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

[0025] Example 1

[0026] like Figure 1-Figure 3As shown, in this embodiment, an automatic loading device is provided, including a picking barrel 1 and a guide device extending to the interior of the picking barrel 1. A through slot 3 is provided inside the picking barrel 1, and one end of the guide device passes through the through slot 3. The picking barrel 1 is the main part, and its interior is designed to accommodate and handle the axle pin parts. The through slot 3 allows a part of the guide device to pass through, providing a path for the axle pin to be transferred from the storage chamber 6 to the guide device. The guide device is a component connecting the inside and outside of the picking barrel 1, and one end of the guide device passes through the through slot 3 of the picking barrel 1 and extends to its interior. A channel is provided inside the guide device to push the axle pin to move. This channel ensures the stability and directionality of the axle pin during the transfer process, and the axle pin is lifted from the storage chamber 6 to the guide device. After being loaded, it further falls to the designated position or the next processing / assembly station through the channel of the guide device. The interior of the picking barrel 1 is provided with a storage chamber 6 for storing axle pin parts. The storage chamber 6 is located inside the picking barrel 1 and is used to store the axle pin parts to be loaded. The interior of the storage chamber 6 is provided with an axle pin lifting device. The lifting device can lift the axle pin to the upper part of the guide device and drop it downward to the guide device. The interior of the guide device is provided with a channel for pushing the axle pin to move. The axle pin lifting device is a key component of this loading device. It is responsible for lifting the axle pin in the storage chamber 6 to the upper part of the guide device. When the axle pin in the storage chamber 6 needs to be loaded, the axle pin lifting device is started to take the axle pin out of the storage chamber 6 and lift it to the upper part of the guide device. The axle pin further falls into the channel of the guide device under the action of gravity or with the help of other auxiliary mechanisms;

[0027] The picking barrel 1 is elliptical in shape, and the storage chamber 6 and the through slot 3 are similar in shape to the picking barrel 1, also elliptical. The storage chamber 6 is located on the inner annular surface of the through slot 3. The storage chamber 6 is an elliptical annular chamber, and the maximum horizontal distance of the storage chamber 6 is greater than the maximum vertical distance. The storage chamber 6 is cleverly designed as an elliptical annular chamber, which combines the dual considerations of space utilization and material storage. The elliptical shape not only maximizes the internal space of the through slot 3, but also, through its unique geometric characteristics, significantly increases the amount of material stored within a limited space. Specifically, the storage chamber 6 extends more widely in the horizontal direction, while its height in the vertical direction is relatively reduced. This layout not only facilitates the uniform distribution and storage of materials in the horizontal direction, but also effectively reduces the vertical stacking height of materials. This design is based on the physical properties of the materials and actual storage requirements. By reducing vertical stacking, the overall stability of the stored materials is improved, the risk of material slipping due to excessive stacking is reduced, and the loss of materials during storage is significantly reduced. In addition, the reduction in the height of the storage chamber 6 also brings another significant advantage: when the material is lifted to a certain height by the lifting plate 5 on the conveyor belt 4, the distance it falls downward is relatively short, which greatly reduces the risk of the material flying out of the storage chamber 6 due to secondary rebound during the falling process, further ensuring the safe and orderly transportation of the material. The lifting device includes a conveyor belt 4 arranged inside the storage chamber 6, and the conveyor belt 4 moves along the annular surface of the annular chamber. The conveyor belt 4 is provided with a number of lifting plates 5. Through the movement of the lifting plates 5, the material at the bottom of the storage chamber 6 is lifted to a higher position for subsequent processing or treatment, which can improve the material transportation efficiency and reduce the accumulation and blockage of the material during the transportation process. When the lifting device starts working, the conveyor belt 4 begins to move along the annular surface of the annular chamber. As the conveyor belt 4 moves, the lifting plates 5 lift the material at the bottom of the storage chamber 6 to a higher position.

[0028] Example 2

[0029] Based on the first embodiment, this embodiment provides the internal structure of the picking barrel 1, which is as follows:

[0030] like Figure 1-Figure 3As shown, grooves matching the conveyor belt 4 are provided on the side walls of the storage chamber 6, and the conveyor belt 4 is embedded in the grooves. The conveyor belt 4 is provided with teeth, and a driving gear 7 meshing with the teeth is installed inside the picking barrel 1. A motor for driving the driving gear 7 to rotate is fixed on the picking barrel 1, and the output shaft of the motor is fixed to the driving gear 7. When the output shaft of the motor rotates, the driving gear 7 will drive the conveyor belt 4 to move along the inner wall of the storage chamber 6 inside the storage chamber 6. During the movement of the conveyor belt 4, the lifting plate 5 installed on the conveyor belt 4 lifts the axle pin inside the storage chamber 6 to a certain height, and then drops it down to the guide device, and the guide device discharges the axle pin to the outside in sequence.

[0031] The interior of the picking barrel 1 is provided with side panels 8 on both sides of the storage chamber 6. The interior of the side panels 8 is provided with an elliptical hole. The two elliptical holes correspond to each other and together constitute a through groove 3 that runs through the entire storage chamber 6 area, ensuring that the guide device can pass through the picking barrel 1. The elliptical hole is provided with an inclined slope near the inner side of the storage chamber 6. These two special slope designs play a key role in the process of the axle pin (the material involved in the present invention) being lifted and dropped. They ensure that the axle pin tends to rebound toward the inside of the storage box when it contacts the slope. Such a design significantly increases the probability of the axle pin rolling inward, thereby greatly reducing the risk of the axle pin being accidentally ejected from the outside of the storage box, and ensuring the stability and safety of material storage and processing.

[0032] The automated loading device also includes a bracket 9 with a mounting hole formed inside. The picking barrel 1 is secured within this hole, ensuring the stability of the entire device during operation. The mounting hole within the bracket 9 matches the outer contour and installation requirements of the picking barrel 1. By securely securing the picking barrel 1 within the mounting hole of the bracket 9, the device is not only securely installed but also prevents it from shaking or shifting during operation, improving the overall performance of the device.

[0033] Example 3

[0034] like Figure 1-Figure 5 As shown, based on the first and second embodiments, this embodiment provides a structural diagram of a guide device, which is as follows:

[0035] The guide device includes a guide bar 2, and a guide groove is provided inside the guide bar 2. The guide groove extends to both ends of the guide bar 2, and the guide groove opening faces upward. One end of the guide bar 2 extends to the inside of the through groove 3. The guide groove inside the guide bar 2 enables the guide groove to form a continuous channel for guiding the smooth movement of the material (the axle pin in the present invention). The opening of the guide groove faces upward. This layout is conducive to the material naturally falling into and sliding along the guide groove under the action of gravity. One end of the guide bar 2 extends to the inside of the through groove 3. This design realizes the seamless connection between the guide device and the storage chamber 6 and the conveying system. When the axle pins are lifted to a certain height by the lifting plate 5 on the conveyor belt 4 and fall, they can accurately fall into the guide groove, and then, under the guidance of the guide bar 2, are discharged to the outside in sequence, completing the entire loading process.

[0036] Inside the guide trough lies a conveyor belt 12, consisting of rollers at both ends and a belt connected between them. A motor, which drives the rollers, is fixed to the guide bar 2. When the motor starts and drives the rollers, the belt, tightly connected to the rollers, begins to move. During this dynamic process, a pin (or axle pin) located above the belt moves smoothly along the predetermined guide trough under the traction of the belt. This coordinated mechanism ensures that the pin is transported from one location to another in an orderly and efficient manner along a predetermined path, thus completing the steps in the automated loading process.

[0037] A return plate 11 is provided on one side of the bottom of the guide bar 2. The return plate 11 is an inclined plate with one end higher than the other. By setting an inclined plate with one end higher than the other as the return plate 11 and combining it with the return port on the guide bar 2, efficient recycling of unqualified pins is achieved. This design not only simplifies the return process, but also reduces manual intervention, improves the automation level and overall efficiency of the production line, the lower end of the return plate 11 extends to the interior of the storage cavity 6, and a return port is provided in the middle of the guide bar 2. A visual inspection unit 10 for detecting the shape and position of the pin passing through the guide groove is fixed on the guide bar 2. The visual inspection unit 10 fixed on the guide bar 2 can accurately detect the shape and position of the pin passing through the guide groove. This non-contact detection method ensures the accuracy and reliability of the test results, effectively avoids the errors that may be caused by manual inspection, and thus improves the level of product quality control. When it is detected that the shape or position of the pin is inconsistent with the setting, the device can react quickly, causing the unqualified pin to fall from the return port to the return plate 11 and be automatically transferred to the storage chamber 6. This instant feedback mechanism helps to discover and solve problems in a timely manner, reduces waste in the production process, and improves production efficiency and yield. When the shape and position of the pin are different from the setting, the pin falls from the return port to the return plate 11 and is transferred to the storage chamber 6, thus completing the return work.

[0038] Baffles 13 are rotatably mounted on both sidewalls of the guide bar 2. A motor is fixed to the guide bar 2 to drive the baffles 13 to rotate. Both baffles 13 rotate in the same direction. When the baffles 13 rotate above the conveyor belt 12, the conveying direction of the guide bar 2 changes to above the return plate 11. By installing rotatable baffles 13 on the sidewalls of the guide bar 2, dynamic adjustment of the guide bar 2 during the conveying process is achieved. When the guide bar 2 rotates above the conveyor belt 12, the rotation of the baffles 13 can quickly change the conveying direction of the guide bar 2, pointing it above the return plate 11. This design not only improves the flexibility of material transportation, but also ensures that unqualified materials are accurately guided to the return plate 11, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the production line.

[0039] Working principle:

[0040] First, the axle pin parts are placed in an orderly manner in the elliptical annular storage cavity 6 in the picking barrel 1. This design not only maximizes the use of the space of the picking barrel 1, but also provides sufficient storage capacity in the horizontal direction, while maintaining low accumulation in the vertical direction, ensuring the stability and safety of the materials. When the production line needs to be loaded, the axle pin lifting device is immediately started. The device consists of a conveyor belt 4 surrounding the storage cavity 6 and lifting plates 5 evenly distributed on it. The conveyor belt 4 runs continuously, driving the lifting plates 5 to move along a circular path, clamping and lifting the axle pins at the bottom of the storage cavity 6 one by one to the top of the storage cavity 6, that is, the lower standby area of ​​the guide device.

[0041] The lifted pin then falls into the guide channel, either under the force of gravity or guided by the guide's internal channel. This channel ensures stable and directional pin transport, preparing it for subsequent processing steps. The pin then moves along the guide groove to the visual inspection area, where a high-precision vision system rapidly and accurately inspects its shape, position, and orientation, ensuring that only qualified products continue to the next stage.

[0042] If the inspection results indicate that the pins do not meet the requirements (e.g., incorrect orientation or shape), the control system immediately responds by driving the baffles 13 on either side of the guide bar 2 to rotate synchronously, changing the conveying direction. This forces the unqualified pins to deviate from their original path and slide through the return port onto the inclined return plate 11. Using gravity, the return plate 11 guides the pins back into the storage chamber 6, completing the automatic return cycle. Qualified pins, on the other hand, continue along the predetermined path to the next process step or collection point.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate rather than limit the technical solutions of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention can still be modified or replaced by equivalents. Any modification or partial replacement that does not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic feeding device, comprising a picking barrel (1) and a guide device extending into the interior of the picking barrel (1), characterized in that: A through slot (3) is provided inside the material picking barrel (1), one end of the guide device passes through the through slot (3), providing a path for the shaft pin to be transferred from the material storage chamber (6) to the guide device, a material storage chamber (6) for storing shaft pin parts is provided inside the material picking barrel (1), a shaft pin lifting device is provided inside the material storage chamber (6), the lifting device can lift the shaft pin to the upper part of the guide device and drop it downward to the guide device, and a channel for pushing the shaft pin to move is provided inside the guide device; The material storage cavity (6) is formed on the inner annular surface of the through groove (3); the material storage cavity (6) is an elliptical annular chamber; the maximum distance of the material storage cavity (6) in the horizontal direction is greater than the maximum distance in the vertical direction; the lifting device comprises a conveyor belt (4) arranged inside the material storage cavity (6); the conveyor belt (4) moves along the annular surface of the annular chamber; and a plurality of lifting plates (5) are arranged on the conveyor belt (4); The guide device comprises a guide bar (2), a guide groove is provided inside the guide bar (2), the guide groove penetrates to both ends of the guide bar (2), and the guide groove opening faces upward, and one end of the guide bar (2) extends to the inside of the through groove (3); A conveyor belt (12) is provided inside the guide groove, the conveyor belt (12) comprising rollers at two ends and a belt connected between the rollers at the two ends, and a motor for driving the rollers to rotate is fixed on the guide strip (2); A return plate (11) is provided on one side of the bottom of the guide bar (2). The return plate (11) is an inclined plate with one end higher than the other end. The lower end of the return plate (11) extends into the interior of the material storage cavity (6). A return port is provided in the middle of the guide bar (2). A visual detection unit (10) is fixed on the guide bar (2) for detecting the shape and position of a pin shaft passing through the guide groove. When the shape and position of the pin shaft are different from the setting, the pin shaft falls from the return port to the return plate (11) and is transferred to the material storage cavity (6).

2. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side walls of the material storage cavity (6) are provided with grooves adapted to the conveyor belt (4), the conveyor belt (4) is embedded in the grooves, the conveyor belt (4) is provided with teeth, and a driving gear (7) meshing with the teeth is rotatably installed inside the picking barrel (1).

3. An automatic feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The interior of the picking barrel (1) is provided with side panels (8) on both sides of the material storage chamber (6), and the interior of the side panels (8) is provided with elliptical holes. The two elliptical holes correspond to each other and together form a through groove (3) that runs through the entire material storage chamber (6). The elliptical hole is provided with an inclined slope near the inner side of the material storage chamber (6).

4. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic loading device further comprises a bracket (9), a fixing hole is provided inside the bracket (9), and the picking barrel (1) is fixed inside the fixing hole.

5. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Baffles (13) are rotatably mounted on both side walls of the guide bar (2), and the two baffles (13) rotate in the same direction. When the baffles (13) rotate to above the conveyor belt (12), the conveying direction of the guide bar (2) changes to above the return plate (11).

6. The automatic feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that: A motor for driving the baffle plate (13) to rotate is fixed on the guide bar (2).

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