A glass packaging line silo and method of use thereof

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of glass processing automation equipment, and particularly relates to a glass packing line material bin and a use method thereof. The glass packing line material bin comprises a mechanical hand, and a material bin. A lifting driving mechanism is arranged in the material bin. The lifting driving mechanism is connected with a storage mechanism. A detection control unit for cooperation with the mechanical hand for grabbing is arranged in the material bin. Through the gear and rack transmission structure of the lifting driving mechanism, cooperation with the guide rail sliding block guide, automatic lifting compensation of the material can be realized, so that the material always maintains a constant grabbing height of the mechanical hand, and the mechanical hand parameter does not need to be frequently adjusted. The present application solves the problems of low automation degree, poor grabbing precision, weak universality and insufficient safety of the traditional material bin, and effectively improves the glass packing operation efficiency and packing quality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of automatic glass processing equipment, and specifically relates to a material storage bin for a glass packing line and a use method thereof. Background Art

[0002] In the deep processing production process of glass, corner wood and side vertical plates are required to protect and wrap the glass stack in the finished glass packing procedure, so as to prevent the glass from being bumped and damaged during transfer and transportation. At present, most of the material bins matched with the existing glass packing production lines are of fixed simple structure with low automation level, and there are obvious technical defects in actual production.

[0003] Traditional material bins do not have the function of automatic lifting and material replenishing. After materials are grabbed layer by layer by a mechanical arm, the height of the material surface continues to drop, leading to deviation of grabbing positions, which requires frequent manual debugging of mechanical arm parameters and operation tracks. The debugging is cumbersome, the production efficiency is low, failures such as empty grabbing and material collision are very prone to occur, and material consumption and equipment failure rate are relatively high. Meanwhile, the limiting structure of traditional material bins is simple, cannot adapt to the problems of easy skewing, displacement and material collapse of stacked materials, resulting in poor stacking regularity. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The invention is carried out to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a material storage bin for a glass packing line and a use method thereof that can perform automatic constant-height material replenishment and ensure accurate grasping positions of a mechanical arm. To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the invention is as follows: a material storage bin for a glass packing line, comprising a mechanical arm and a material bin, wherein a lifting drive mechanism is arranged in the material bin, the lifting drive mechanism is connected with a material storage mechanism, and a detection control unit matched with the mechanical arm for grasping is arranged in the material bin.

[0005] The material storage mechanism comprises a first fixing plate and a bin supporting plate, the lifting drive mechanism is arranged on the first fixing plate, the bin supporting plate is arranged on the lifting drive mechanism, and limiting structures are arranged at two ends of the first fixing plate.

[0006] The lifting drive mechanism comprises a drive motor and a discharging assembly plate, the discharging assembly plate is connected with the bin supporting plate, a guide rail and a rack are arranged on the first fixing plate, a sliding block is arranged on the guide rail, the sliding block is fixedly connected with the discharging assembly plate, the drive motor is arranged on the discharging assembly plate, a gear is connected at the end of an output shaft of the drive motor, and the gear is meshed with the rack.

[0007] Baffle plates are arranged at two ends of the first fixing plate, a limiting plate is arranged on each baffle plate, and the limiting plate is located between the first fixing plate and the bin supporting plate.

[0008] The limiting structure comprises a second fixing plate, the second fixing plate is arranged on the baffle plate, and a telescopic limiting rod is arranged on the second fixing plate along the stacking direction.

[0009] The detection and control unit includes a diffuse reflection photoelectric switch and a PLC controller. The diffuse reflection photoelectric switch is disposed on a first fixed plate and a limiting plate. Photoelectric sensors are disposed at the upper and lower ends of the limiting plate. The PLC controller is connected to the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch, the photoelectric sensors and the robot arm.

[0010] The material silo includes a square frame with feet at the bottom and a safety door hinged to the square frame.

[0011] A limit switch is installed between the safety door and the square frame, and the limit switch is connected to the PLC controller.

[0012] The hopper pallet is either a square plate or a trapezoidal plate.

[0013] A method for using a glass packing line chemical hopper is as follows: Step 101: Open the safety door, trigger the limit switch to block the corresponding hopper grab signal, manually stack the materials, adjust the telescopic limit rod to limit and fix the materials, and close the safety door. Step 102: The photoelectric switch detects the material status and, in conjunction with the PLC controller, controls the start and stop of the lifting drive mechanism to keep the material at a constant gripping height of the robot arm. The diffuse reflection photoelectric switch detects the orientation of the corner piece end, and the PLC controller controls the robot arm to orient and grip the corner piece and side plate. Step 103: After the material is emptied, the lifting drive mechanism automatically resets and switches to the waiting-to-load state, repeating the above process to achieve automated continuous packaging operation.

[0014] The technical advantages of this invention are as follows: The equipment uses a square frame of the material silo as its supporting base, and with the help of bottom feet, it achieves overall stability, shock absorption, and anti-shifting positioning. When manually loading materials, the safety door is opened, and the limit switch triggers a signal, which, through the PLC controller, shields the grabbing action of this material silo, avoiding safety risks. Workers can adjust the telescopic limit rod on the second fixed plate in the limiting structure according to the material specifications. This, in conjunction with the limit plates on the inner sides of the baffles at both ends of the first fixed plate, provides lateral limit correction for the materials stacked on the silo pallet, preventing material tilting or displacement. It is suitable for stacking materials of various specifications. After the door is closed, the equipment unlocks and enters standby mode. During production, the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch on the first fixed plate monitors the material level in real time. After the robotic arm picks up the material, the PLC controller controls the drive motor to operate, driving the gear and rack to mesh and transmit power. This, combined with the guide rail and slider guide and limit, ensures that the material unloading assembly plate smoothly lifts and fills the gap in the silo pallet, always maintaining the material at a constant grabbing height for the robotic arm. Simultaneously, the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch on the limit plate identifies the orientation of the corner pieces, triggering the robotic arm to directionally grab and properly place the materials. Once the material is exhausted, the hopper pallet triggers the limit signals of the photoelectric sensors at the upper and lower ends of the limit plate, driving the motor to reverse and reset, and the equipment returns to the ready-to-load state. The entire machine operates in a cyclical manner, with a high degree of automation and stable gripping accuracy, effectively improving the efficiency of glass packaging production and the quality of finished products. Attached Figure Description

[0015] This manual includes the following figures, which illustrate the following: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a glass packing line material silo according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the lifting drive mechanism and the storage mechanism of the glass packing line material silo according to the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a glass packing line silo according to the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the corner timber structure of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the side panel structure of the present invention.

[0016] The markings in the diagram are as follows: 1. Material bin; 101. Square frame; 102. Foot; 103. Safety door; 2. Lifting drive mechanism; 201. Drive motor; 202. Discharge assembly plate; 203. Guide rail; 204. Rack; 205. Slider; 206. Gear; 3. Storage mechanism; 301. First fixed plate; 302. Bin support plate; 4. Detection and control unit; 401. Diffuse reflection photoelectric switch; 402. Photoelectric sensor; 5. Limiting structure; 501. Second fixed plate; 502. Telescopic limit rod; 6. Baffle; 601. Limiting plate; 7. Limit switch. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in order to help those skilled in the art to have a more complete, accurate and in-depth understanding of the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention, and to facilitate its implementation.

[0018] like Figures 1-5 As shown, a glass packaging line silo includes a robotic arm and a material bin 1. The material bin 1 contains a lifting drive mechanism 2, which is connected to a storage mechanism 3. The material bin 1 also contains a detection and control unit 4 that works in conjunction with the robotic arm for gripping. The material bin 1 serves as the installation foundation and safety protection frame for the entire machine, providing a stable installation reference and protective space for the lifting drive mechanism 2, the storage mechanism 3, and the detection and control unit 4. The lifting drive mechanism 2 receives control signals from the detection and control unit 4, driving the storage mechanism 3 and the corner pieces and side panels stored inside to automatically rise and compensate. This solves the defects of traditional fixed silos that cannot rise and fall, and whose material gripping height continuously decreases, ensuring that the material gripping position remains consistent. This eliminates the need for frequent adjustments to the robotic arm's operating program and movement trajectory, improving packaging efficiency and equipment adaptability.

[0019] The storage mechanism 3 is used to neatly store protective materials such as corner pieces and side panels required for glass packaging, and can realize multi-layer material stacking storage; at the same time, it has a material limit correction function, which can effectively avoid the tilting, offset and misalignment of material stacking, and ensure that the stacking posture of each batch of materials is uniform and the position is accurate, providing a basic condition for the stable and accurate grasping of the robot arm, and reducing the grasping failure rate and material loss.

[0020] The detection and control unit 4 serves as the intelligent control center of the equipment, which detects in real time the presence or absence of materials, the orientation of the material end, the limit position of the mechanism, the opening and closing status of the safety door, and other working condition signals; it controls the start, stop, forward and reverse rotation of the lifting drive mechanism 2, and communicates with the robot arm to realize fully automatic functions such as corner log tail recognition, directional grasping, safety interlock, and automatic reset, replacing manual auxiliary judgment and adjustment, and improving the automation level and operational safety of the equipment.

[0021] The storage mechanism 3 includes a first fixed plate 301 and a hopper support plate 302. The lifting drive mechanism 2 is mounted on the first fixed plate 301, and the hopper support plate 302 is mounted on the lifting drive mechanism 2. Limiting structures 5 are provided at both ends of the first fixed plate 301. The first fixed plate 301 is vertically fixedly installed on the internal frame of the material hopper 1. The first fixed plate 301 is vertically fixedly installed and serves as the common mounting base for the lifting drive mechanism 2 and the limiting structure 5. Its overall position is fixed and does not shift with the lifting action.

[0022] The first fixed plate 301 centrally supports and fixes the lifting drive mechanism 2 and the two end limiting structures 5, ensuring the verticality and parallelism of the lifting mechanism 2 assembly, and avoiding malfunctions such as deviation, jamming, and abnormal noise during long-term lifting operation.

[0023] The material hopper pallet 302 serves as a direct carrying platform for corner pieces, side panels, and glass packaging materials. It is used for multi-layer stacking and storing packaging materials, ensuring that the bottom of the materials is flat and the stacking is stable. At the same time, it is raised and lowered synchronously with the lifting drive mechanism 2, dynamically compensating for the height difference after the materials are grasped, and continuously providing a constant and uniform grasping height for the robot arm. This solves the problems of traditional fixed material hoppers, which result in the material being lowered as it is retrieved, the grasping position shifting, and the need for frequent debugging of the robot arm program.

[0024] The limiting structure 5 is arranged on the left and right sides of the material stacking area to provide lateral limiting constraints on the stacked corner pieces and side uprights, effectively restricting the material from shifting left and right or misaligning front and back; avoiding tilting, skewing, and collapse of materials after multiple layers are stacked, ensuring that each stack of materials is placed in a uniform posture and with accurate position, greatly reducing the failure of the robotic arm to grasp, miss, or collide with materials, and improving the stability and yield of packaging.

[0025] The lifting drive mechanism 2 includes a drive motor 201 and a feeding plate 202. The feeding plate 202 is connected to the hopper support plate 302. A guide rail 203 and a rack 204 are provided on the first fixed plate 301. A slider 205 is provided on the guide rail 203. The slider 205 is fixedly connected to the feeding plate 202. The drive motor 201 is provided on the feeding plate 202. A gear 206 is connected to the end of the output shaft of the drive motor 201. The gear 206 meshes with the rack 204.

[0026] The guide rail 203 and rack 204 are both vertically and parallelly fixedly mounted on the surface of the first fixed plate 301, forming a fixed reference structure that remains stationary, providing guidance and transmission reference for the entire lifting motion. The gear 206 and rack 204 convert the rotational motion of the drive motor 201 into vertical linear lifting motion, achieving high transmission accuracy, stable power output, and controllable stroke. This allows for precise fine-tuning of the material height, ensuring that the top surface of the material is always maintained at the standard gripping height of the robotic arm, thus solving the defect of traditional silo height compensation.

[0027] The slider 205 is mounted on the outside of the guide rail 203, allowing it to slide freely vertically along the guide rail 203. The guide rail 203 and the slider 205 form a linear guiding structure, restricting the horizontal swaying and offset of the feeding plate 202, while retaining only the vertical lifting freedom. This ensures smooth lifting of the hopper pallet 302, maintains the neat stacking posture of materials, and effectively improves the gripping accuracy of the robotic arm. The outer side of the slider 205 is firmly connected to the feeding plate 202, allowing the feeding plate 202 to move vertically up and down along the guide rail 203 with the slider 205. The drive motor 201 is fixedly mounted on the feeding plate 202 and can move synchronously with the feeding plate 202. A gear 206 is fixedly mounted at the end of the output shaft of the drive motor 201. The gear 206 meshes with a vertically arranged rack 204, forming a gear and rack transmission pair. The bottom of the feeding plate 202 is rigidly connected to the hopper pallet 302, directly driving the entire hopper pallet 302 to move synchronously up and down.

[0028] During normal operation, the guide rail 203 and rack 204 on the first fixed plate 301 remain stationary, providing a stable reference for the lifting motion. After the robotic arm grabs the material on the top layer of the hopper, the overall height of the material decreases, and the detection control unit 4 sends a feedback signal to the PLC controller, which then starts the drive motor 201.

[0029] The drive motor 201 drives the gear 206 at the end of the output shaft to rotate. The gear 206 meshes with the fixed rack 204 for transmission. Utilizing the principle of relative motion between the gear and rack, the drive motor 201 and the feeding plate 202 as a whole are vertically displaced upwards. At the same time, the feeding plate 202 slides vertically along the guide rail 203 via the slider 205.

[0030] The material feeding plate 202 synchronously drives the lower hopper tray 302 and the remaining material to rise as a whole. After the material rises to the preset constant gripping height of the robot arm, the detection control unit 4 sends a feedback signal, and the drive motor 201 stops, completing the automatic height compensation.

[0031] Once all the material inside the hopper has been grabbed, the control system issues a reset command, driving motor 201 to reverse and gear 206 to mesh in the opposite direction, driving the feeding plate 202 and hopper tray 302 to descend smoothly along guide rail 203 to a low position, entering the waiting-to-load state. This cycle repeats to achieve fully automatic constant-height feeding operation, effectively simplifying the movement path of the robotic arm and improving the efficiency and automation of packaging operations.

[0032] The first fixed plate 301 has baffles 6 at both ends, and limit plates 601 are installed on the baffles 6. The limit plates 601 are located between the first fixed plate 301 and the hopper pallet 302. The baffles 6 are symmetrically fixed at the left and right ends of the first fixed plate 301. The baffles 6 and the first fixed plate 301 form a rigid whole and are fixed static structures that do not move with the hopper pallet 302. They provide support for the limit plates 601. The limit plates 601 provide lateral restraint and correction for the corner pieces and side plates stacked on the hopper pallet 302. The best placement effect is achieved when the corner pieces and side plates are placed on the hopper pallet 302 and abut against the limit plates 601, with the corner pieces and side plates located in the exact center of the hopper pallet 302.

[0033] The limiting structure 5 includes a second fixing plate 501, which is mounted on the baffle 6. A telescopic limiting rod 502 is mounted on the second fixing plate 501 along the stacking direction. The second fixing plate 501 is fixedly installed on the outer side of the baffle 6. The second fixing plate 501 is a fixed base plate, its installation position is fixed, and it remains stationary along with the baffle 6 and the first fixing plate 301, not moving with the lifting or lowering of the hopper pallet 302, thus providing a stable installation reference for the telescopic limiting rod 502. The telescopic limiting rod 502 can laterally limit the stacked corner pieces and side panels. For corner pieces and side panels that are stacked, the extension distance can be adjusted via telescopic extension to ensure that the entire stack of materials is stacked vertically, neatly, and centered. This solves the shortcomings of traditional fixed limiters, such as inability to adapt to multiple specifications of materials, easy stacking skewing, large gripping deviation of robotic arms, and high gripping failure rate, thus improving the equipment's versatility and gripping stability.

[0034] The detection and control unit 4 includes a diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 and a PLC controller. The diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 is mounted on the first fixed plate 301 and the limiting plate 601. Photoelectric sensors 402 are installed at both ends of the limiting plate 601. The PLC controller is connected to the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401, the photoelectric sensors 402, and the robotic arm. The diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 has two sets of installation points. One set is fixedly installed on the first fixed plate 301 at the corresponding material stacking area, facing the material end face of the hopper pallet 302. The other set is fixedly installed on the inner side of the limiting plate 601, at the diagonal wood side position. All diffuse reflection photoelectric switches 401 are electrically connected to the PLC controller to realize material signal acquisition and transmission. The diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 on the first fixed plate 301 is used to detect in real time whether there is packaging material on the hopper pallet 302, determine the presence or absence of material, and provide a trigger signal for the automatic height adjustment of the lifting mechanism; the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 on the limit plate 601 is specifically used to detect the orientation of the corner log with triangular plate end, accurately distinguish the posture of the corner log tail, solve the problem that traditional equipment cannot identify the orientation of corner logs and the problem of misplacement, provide accurate signal basis for the robot arm to grasp and stack in a standardized manner, and effectively improve the stability of glass stack packaging. Photoelectric sensors 402 are fixedly mounted on the upper and lower ends of the limiting plate 601, respectively, corresponding to the upper and lower limit positions of the lifting of the hopper pallet 302. The signal terminals of the photoelectric sensors 402 are electrically connected to the PLC controller to realize the limit detection of the lifting stroke. The upper photoelectric sensor 402 is used to detect the maximum limit position of the lifting of the hopper pallet 302, to prevent the motor from continuing to rise after the material is emptied, which could cause the mechanism to jam or be damaged. The lower photoelectric sensor 402 is used to detect the lowest limit position of the lowering and resetting of the hopper pallet 302, to determine the waiting state of the hopper, and to realize closed-loop protection of the lifting stroke, thereby improving the safety and stability of equipment operation.

[0035] During normal operation, the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 on the first fixed plate 301 monitors the material status of the hopper in real time. When the robot arm removes the top layer of material and the sensor detects a no-material signal, it sends feedback to the PLC controller. The PLC immediately controls the drive motor 201 to start, driving the hopper tray 302 to rise and fill the gap until the material blocks the photoelectric detection area. The sensor then sends a material signal, and the drive motor 201 stops immediately, ensuring that the material is always at a constant gripping height.

[0036] Meanwhile, the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 on the limit plate 601 continuously scans and detects the orientation of the corner pieces, transmitting the positive and negative attitude signals of the corner pieces to the PLC controller in real time. The PLC controls the robotic arm to grasp the angle and place the corner pieces according to the preset program, ensuring that the corner pieces with the triangular plates are uniformly facing upwards and stacked in a cross-shaped and standardized manner, eliminating the problem of misplacement and ensuring the quality of glass packaging and protection.

[0037] As the material in the hopper is gradually emptied, the hopper pallet 302 continues to rise and triggers the limit signal of the upper photoelectric sensor 402. The PLC controller determines that the material is empty and controls the drive motor to reverse, causing the pallet to descend and reset. When the pallet falls back to the low position and triggers the signal of the lower photoelectric sensor 402, the motor stops, and the hopper enters the waiting-to-load state. The entire process is controlled by a PLC closed-loop linkage, achieving constant height feeding from the hopper, directional grabbing of corner pieces, limit safety protection, and fully automatic cyclic operation without manual adjustment or intervention, ensuring continuous and stable operation of the production line.

[0038] Material silo 1 includes a square frame 101 with feet 102 at the bottom and a safety door 103 hinged to it. The square frame 101 is filled with glass to form a closed protective space, effectively preventing dust and foreign objects from entering the equipment, avoiding jamming of the moving mechanism and false sensing by sensors, while protecting internal precision components, extending equipment lifespan, and ensuring the stability of long-term continuous operation. The feet 102 serve as shock absorbers and fixed supports, securely locking the square frame 101 and the entire machine in the designated installation position on the production line. They effectively counteract vibrations generated by high-frequency lifting and lowering operations and robotic gripping, preventing overall equipment shifting, shaking, and displacement, ensuring long-term accurate and consistent gripping at the silo, and eliminating gripping deviations and material offsets caused by equipment shaking. The safety door 103 provides safety protection, prevents accidental contact, and provides dust protection; when open, it exposes the internal silo space, facilitating manual replenishment, equipment maintenance, and troubleshooting.

[0039] A limit switch 7 is installed between the safety door 103 and the square frame 101, and the limit switch 7 is connected to the PLC controller. The limit switch 7 is fixedly installed at the opening and closing engagement position of the square frame 101 and the safety door 103. It is a mechanical position detection element, and the switch contacts correspond to the closed pressing surface of the safety door 103. The limit switch 7 is electrically connected to the equipment PLC controller separately via a signal line, which can transmit the opening and closing status signal of the safety door 103 to the PLC controller in real time. When manual loading or maintenance of equipment is required, the safety door 103 is flipped open, releasing the pressure of the limit switch 7. The limit switch 7 then triggers an opening signal, which is transmitted to the PLC controller. The PLC controller immediately blocks the material grabbing signal and lifting response signal of the hopper, locking the hopper and suspending its operation. The production line robot automatically skips the current hopper and switches to another normal hopper to grab materials, preventing accidental robot movements that could cause safety hazards when manual operations are performed at close range.

[0040] After manual replenishment, cleaning, or maintenance is completed, the safety door 103 is closed, pressing the limit switch 7, which then resets its signal. Upon detecting the door-closing reset signal, the PLC controller releases the shielding lock of the hopper, restoring its normal standby detection, automatic lifting, and robotic arm gripping functions, re-entering fully automatic cyclic operation. This system features intelligent interlocking logic that enables automatic shutdown upon door opening and automatic resumption of production upon door closing, eliminating the need for manual start / stop of the equipment and improving automation and production safety.

[0041] The 302 hopper pallet is either square or trapezoidal. The square pallet has a flat and regular surface, which is suitable for materials with flat bottoms and square dimensions. It can fully fit the bottom surface of the material, distribute the force evenly, and ensure that multi-layer materials are stacked flat, without tilting or suspension. The material stacking stability is high, and it is suitable for the storage and feeding of conventional glass packaging materials.

[0042] The trapezoidal plate has an inclined fitting structure that can fit corner pieces with beveled bottoms. It can fit the bottom contour of the corner pieces, solving the problem of corner pieces not being able to be placed stably and easily shifting and shaking. It effectively prevents irregularly shaped materials from being stacked crookedly, misaligned and falling, and greatly expands the range of material specifications that the equipment can be used for.

[0043] A method for using a glass packing line chemical hopper is as follows: Step 101: Open safety door 103. Limit switch 7 triggers and blocks the corresponding hopper grab signal. Manually stack the material, adjust the telescopic limit rod 502 to limit and fix the material, and close safety door 103. Before the equipment starts production or after the hopper is empty, the equipment enters the waiting-to-load state. Manually flip and open the safety door 103 hinged on the square frame 101. After the safety door 103 is opened, it is released from the pressure limit of limit switch 7. The state of limit switch 7 changes and immediately transmits the door opening detection signal to the PLC controller. After receiving the door opening signal, the PLC controller immediately executes the safety interlock logic, forcibly blocking the robot grab signal of the current material hopper 1 and the automatic response signal of the lifting drive mechanism 2, so that the automatic operation of this hopper is suspended. The production line robot automatically skips the hopper and switches to other standby hoppers for grabbing operations, completely avoiding manual close-range loading and equipment malfunction during maintenance, and ensuring the safety of human and machine operation. Subsequently, based on the specifications of the corner pieces and side panels required for this production, the staff pre-adjusted the telescopic limiting rods 502 on the second fixed plate 501 of the two-sided limiting structure 5. By adjusting the extension length of the limiting rods, the stacking height of the materials was matched. After the adjustment was completed, the corner pieces and side panels were neatly stacked layer by layer on the surface of the silo pallet 302. Relying on the double limiting constraints of the telescopic limiting rods 502 and the limiting plate 601 on both sides, the stacked materials were laterally corrected and fixed to prevent tilting, offset, misalignment, and suspension during the stacking process, ensuring that the entire stack of materials was centered, neat, and vertically stacked. After the materials are stacked, the safety door 103 is manually closed. The safety door 103 presses the limit switch 7 again, the limit switch 7 signal is reset and transmitted to the PLC controller; the PLC controller removes the signal shield of this hopper, restores the linkage between the lifting drive mechanism 2 and the robotic arm, and the hopper enters the automatic detection standby state to prepare for subsequent automated feeding operations. Step 102: The photoelectric switch detects the material status and, in conjunction with the PLC controller, controls the start and stop of the lifting drive mechanism 2 to keep the material at a constant gripping height of the robot arm. The diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 detects the orientation of the corner piece end, and the PLC controller controls the robot arm to orient and grip the corner piece and side plate. During standby operation of the silo, the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 installed on the first fixed plate 301 continuously detects the material presence status above the silo tray 302 in real time and continuously feeds back the detection signal of whether there is material to the PLC controller; when the production line robot completes a single top-level material grab, the top-level material of the silo is empty, the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 detects the no-material signal and uploads it to the PLC controller. The PLC controller determines the need for height compensation through its internal preset logic program and immediately issues a start command to control the drive motor 201 of the lifting drive mechanism 2 to operate. The drive motor 201 drives the gear 206 at the end of the output shaft to rotate. The gear 206 meshes with the rack 204 fixed on the first fixed plate 301, converting the rotational motion into vertical linear lifting motion. At the same time, the feeding plate 202 slides precisely vertically along the guide rail 203 via the slider 205, without deviation or jamming. The material feeding plate 202 synchronously drives the hopper tray 302 and the remaining material on top to rise upwards until the top layer of material blocks the detection area of ​​the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401. The sensor feeds back a material presence signal to the PLC controller, which immediately controls the drive motor 201 to stop, thus stopping the material lifting action. This step is repeated cyclically, automatically raising the material level each time it is grabbed, so that the top layer of material is always maintained at the fixed grabbing height preset by the robot arm. No manual leveling or modification of the robot arm's operating program is required, completely solving the problems of traditional hoppers lowering the material level as it is grabbed, inconsistent grabbing height, and large grabbing deviation. The orientation of the corner piece is detected by the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401, and the PLC controller controls the robot arm to grasp and place the corner piece and the side plate in a specific direction. While the material is being fed at a constant height, the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 installed on the limit plate 601 continuously scans and detects the end shape of the top corner piece, identifies the orientation of the corner piece with the triangular plate end in real time, accurately distinguishes the positive and negative attitude of the corner piece tail, and transmits the attitude signal to the PLC controller in real time. The PLC controller has a built-in logic program for standard placement of corner pieces. Based on the received end orientation signal, it outputs angle compensation and posture control commands in real time, which are linked with the production line robot to adjust the gripping angle, clamping position and placement posture, forcing directional gripping and standardized placement. No matter whether the corner pieces are misaligned during manual loading, the equipment can automatically identify and correct them, always ensuring that the ends of the corner pieces are uniformly facing upwards and stacked neatly in a cross pattern, and that the side panels are simultaneously and vertically aligned, eliminating problems such as corner pieces being upside down, placed crookedly, or stacked improperly. This step effectively improves the regularity and stability of the glass packaging and protection structure, avoids quality problems such as uneven stress on the glass stack, loose packaging, and protection failure caused by the misplacement of corner pieces, and realizes standardized and regulated material handling operations. Step 103: After the material is emptied, the lifting drive mechanism 2 automatically resets and switches to the waiting-to-load state, and repeats the above process to realize automated continuous packaging operation; as the robot arm continues to grab the material layer by layer, the hopper pallet 302 continuously and automatically rises to compensate for the height. When all the corner pieces and side panels inside the hopper are completely grabbed and emptied, the hopper pallet 302 continues to rise to the highest limit position of the equipment, triggering the photoelectric sensor 402 at the upper end of the limit plate 601; The upper limit photoelectric sensor 402 transmits the no-load limit signal to the PLC controller. The PLC controller determines that the material in the hopper is exhausted and immediately controls the drive motor 201 to reverse. Through the meshing of the gear and rack, the material feeding plate 202 and the hopper tray 302 are driven to fall smoothly down and reset along the guide rail 203. When the hopper tray 302 descends to the lowest standby position of the equipment, the photoelectric sensor 402 at the lower end of the limit plate 601 is triggered. The PLC controller controls the drive motor 201 to stop, and the hopper tray 302 stays in the initial waiting position. The equipment automatically switches to the waiting-to-load state. After the equipment completes one work cycle, it can execute step 101, the manual feeding and limiting process, again to continuously repeat the entire process of safe feeding, constant height replenishment, directional gripping, and no-load reset. This achieves fully automatic, unmanned, and uninterrupted continuous material supply for the glass packaging line, significantly improving the automation level and production efficiency of the glass packaging production line, and reducing the cost of manual intervention and the error rate. The role and effect of the embodiments

[0044] The equipment uses the square frame 101 of the material bin 1 as the supporting base, and with the bottom feet 102, the whole machine is stabilized, shock-absorbing, and positioned to prevent displacement. When manually loading materials, the safety door 103 is opened, the limit switch 7 triggers a signal and the PLC controller shields the grabbing action of this material bin to avoid safety risks. According to the material specifications, the operator can adjust the telescopic limit rod 502 on the second fixed plate 501 in the limit structure 5, and with the limit plate 601 on the inner side of the baffle 6 at both ends of the first fixed plate 301, the material stacked on the bin pallet 302 is laterally limited and corrected to prevent the material from tilting or shifting. It is suitable for stacking materials of multiple specifications. After the door is closed, the equipment is unlocked and enters the standby state. During production, the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 on the first fixed plate 301 monitors the material inventory in real time. After the robotic arm picks up the material, the PLC controller controls the drive motor 201 to operate, driving the gear 206 and rack 204 to mesh and transmit power. This, combined with the guide rail 203 and slider 205, guides and limits the material, allowing the feeding plate 202 to smoothly lift and fill the gap on the hopper tray 302, maintaining the material at a constant gripping height for the robotic arm. Simultaneously, the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch 401 on the limit plate 601 identifies the orientation of the corner pieces, triggering the robotic arm to orient and precisely grip and place the material. Once the material is exhausted, the hopper tray 302 triggers the limit signals of the photoelectric sensors 402 at the upper and lower ends of the limit plate 601, causing the drive motor 201 to reverse and reset, returning the equipment to the ready-to-load state. The entire machine operates in a cyclical manner, exhibiting a high degree of automation and stable gripping accuracy, effectively improving the efficiency of glass packaging production and the quality of the finished product.

[0045] The present invention has been described above by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the specific implementation of the present invention is not limited to the above-described manner. Any non-substantial improvements made using the inventive concept and technical solution; or the direct application of the inventive concept and technical solution to other situations without modification, are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A glass packaging line material hopper, comprising a robotic arm, characterized in that, It includes a material bin (1), a lifting drive mechanism (2) is provided in the material bin (1), a storage mechanism (3) is connected to the lifting drive mechanism (2), and a detection control unit (4) is provided in the material bin (1) to cooperate with the robot arm for gripping.

2. The glass packing line material hopper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage mechanism (3) includes a first fixed plate (301) and a hopper tray (302). The lifting drive mechanism (2) is mounted on the first fixed plate (301) and the hopper tray (302) is mounted on the lifting drive mechanism (2). Limiting structures (5) are provided at both ends of the first fixed plate (301).

3. The glass packing line material hopper according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lifting drive mechanism (2) includes a drive motor (201) and a feeding plate (202). The feeding plate (202) is connected to the hopper support plate (302). The first fixed plate (301) is provided with a guide rail (203) and a rack (204). The guide rail (203) is provided with a slider (205). The slider (205) is fixedly connected to the feeding plate (202). The drive motor (201) is provided on the feeding plate (202). The output shaft end of the drive motor (201) is connected to a gear (206). The gear (206) meshes with the rack (204).

4. The glass packing line material hopper according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first fixing plate (301) is provided with baffles (6) at both ends, and a limiting plate (601) is provided on the baffle (6). The limiting plate (601) is located between the first fixing plate (301) and the hopper support plate (302).

5. The glass packing line material hopper according to claim 4, characterized in that: The limiting structure (5) includes a second fixing plate (501), which is disposed on the baffle (6), and a telescopic limiting rod (502) is disposed on the second fixing plate (501) along the stacking direction.

6. The glass packing line material hopper according to claim 4, characterized in that: The detection control unit (4) includes a diffuse reflection photoelectric switch (401) and a PLC controller. The diffuse reflection photoelectric switch (401) is mounted on a first fixed plate (301) and a limiting plate (601). Photoelectric sensors (402) are mounted on the upper and lower ends of the limiting plate (601). The PLC controller is connected to the diffuse reflection photoelectric switch (401), the photoelectric sensor (402), and the robot arm.

7. The glass packing line material hopper according to claim 6, characterized in that: The material silo (1) includes a square frame (101), the bottom of the square frame (101) is provided with a foot (102), and a safety door (103) is hinged on the square frame (101).

8. The glass packing line material hopper according to claim 7, characterized in that: A limit switch (7) is provided between the safety door (103) and the square frame (101), and the limit switch (7) is connected to the PLC controller.

9. The glass packing line material hopper according to claim 2, characterized in that: The hopper pallet (302) is a square plate or a trapezoidal plate.

10. A method of using the glass packing line chemical hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: Specifically: Step 101: Open the safety door (103), trigger the limit switch (7) to shield the corresponding hopper grab signal, manually complete the material stacking, adjust the telescopic limit rod (502) to limit and fix the material, and close the safety door (103). Step 102: The photoelectric switch detects the material status and, in conjunction with the PLC controller, controls the start and stop of the lifting drive mechanism (2) so that the material is always kept at a constant gripping height of the robot arm. The diffuse reflection photoelectric switch (401) detects the orientation of the corner wood end, and the PLC controller controls the robot arm to orient and grip the corner wood and side plate. Step 103: After the material is emptied, the lifting drive mechanism (2) automatically resets and switches to the waiting-to-load state, and repeats the above process to realize automated continuous packaging operation.

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