Automated loading and unloading system and docking device for circuit board production line

Abstract

This invention relates to an automated loading and unloading system for a circuit board production line, comprising a docking device and an automated guided vehicle (AGV). The docking device has two lifting platforms and two lateral conveyor components. Each lifting platform can carry materials and can be raised or lowered in a controlled manner. The lateral conveyor components are mounted on the lifting platforms and allow materials to move laterally on the platforms. One lifting platform can be lowered, and the AGV moves a material above it. The lifting platform then raises the material to the feed platform of the production line equipment, and the lateral conveyor components move the material to the feed platform. The other lifting platform can operate in reverse to transfer materials from the discharge platform to the AGV. In this way, the AGV can exchange materials with the production line equipment, allowing the factory to remove the original conveyor belts and replace them with AGVs for loading and unloading.

Description

Automated loading and unloading system and docking device for circuit board production line Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a material handling device, and more particularly to an automated material docking device for handling semi-finished printed circuit boards between different pieces of equipment on a production line. Prior Technology

[0002] The fabrication of a circuit board involves hot-pressing copper foil onto the side of a prepreg board, followed by etching circuitry onto the copper foil to form a single-layer circuit board. Existing circuit boards are primarily multilayer boards, which are formed by stacking prepreg board and copper foil on a single-layer board, followed by hot-pressing and etching to create a double-layer board. These steps can be repeated as needed to create a multilayer circuit board. Specifically, before hot-pressing, the raw materials to be hot-pressed are stacked on a sturdy metal base plate. A conveyor belt then transports the metal base plate and the stacked circuit board materials into a hot press for the hot-pressing process.

[0003] Because conveyor belt tracks are typically fixed to the ground and cannot be moved, they inevitably divide factory space into several isolated islands that are difficult to connect with each other. This makes it difficult to arrange other equipment and reduces the flexibility of production processes. Therefore, with the maturity of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), factories tend to replace traditional conveyor belts with AGVs.

[0004] However, the infeed / outfeed platform heights of the existing equipment in the production line vary significantly. Because the existing conveyor belts are fixed and large, their input and output ends can rise or fall considerably to correspond to the heights of the infeed / outfeed platforms. However, the Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), due to its size limitations, can only lift or lower materials within a limited range, failing to accommodate the varying infeed / outfeed platform heights of the existing equipment. Therefore, the AGV cannot replace the existing conveyor belts.

[0005] Therefore, existing circuit board production lines need to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the aforementioned shortcomings and deficiencies of the prior art, this invention provides an automatic loading and unloading system for circuit board production lines and its docking device to improve existing circuit board production lines.

[0007] To achieve the aforementioned creative objectives, the technical means employed in this invention is to design a docking device for a circuit board production line, which, together with an unmanned transport vehicle (UGV), forms an automated loading and unloading system. This automated loading and unloading system is used to feed material into and receive material from the production line equipment. A carrying unit of the UGV is used to carry the material. The docking device includes: Two lifting platforms, one of which is positioned to correspond to a feeding platform of the production line equipment, and the other of which is positioned to correspond to a discharging platform of the production line equipment. Each lifting platform has... A lifting platform; the lifting platform is used to carry the material and forms a carrier passage; the carrier passage runs vertically through the lifting platform and forms a carrier opening on one side of the lifting platform; the width of the carrier passage is narrower than the width of the material, and is used to allow the unmanned transport vehicle to move into the carrier passage through the carrier opening of the lifting platform; Each of the lifting platforms can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby making the height of the lifting platform correspond to the corresponding feeding platform or discharging platform; Each of the elevators can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby making the height of the lifting platform correspond to that of the unmanned transport vehicle; Two transverse conveying assemblies are respectively disposed on the two lifting platforms of the two elevators, and each transverse conveying assembly has... At least one power transfer component; the at least one power transfer component is used to move the material laterally on the lifting platform, thereby moving the material from the lifting platform to the feed platform of the production line equipment, or moving the material from the discharge platform of the production line equipment to the lifting platform.

[0008] To achieve the aforementioned creative objectives, this invention further provides a docking device for a circuit board production line, used to form an automated loading and unloading system with an unmanned transport vehicle. This automated loading and unloading system is used in conjunction with production line equipment, and a carrying unit of the unmanned transport vehicle carries a material. The docking device includes: A lifting platform, positioned to correspond to an inlet / outlet platform of the production line equipment, the lifting platform having... A lifting platform; the lifting platform is used to carry the material and forms a carrier passage; the carrier passage runs vertically through the lifting platform and forms a carrier opening on one side of the lifting platform; the width of the carrier passage is narrower than the width of the material, and is used to allow the unmanned transport vehicle to move into the carrier passage through the carrier opening of the lifting platform; The elevator can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the feed / discharge platform; The elevator can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby making the height of the lifting platform correspond to that of the unmanned transport vehicle; A transverse conveying assembly, which is mounted on the lifting platform, and has... At least one power transfer component; the at least one power transfer component is used to move the material laterally on the lifting platform, thereby moving the material from the lifting platform to the feed / discharge platform of the production line equipment, or moving the material from the feed / discharge platform of the production line equipment to the lifting platform.

[0009] To achieve the aforementioned creative objectives, this invention further provides an automated loading and unloading system for a circuit board production line, used in conjunction with a production line device. This automated loading and unloading system for the circuit board production line includes... A docking device, having: Two lifting platforms, one of which is positioned to correspond to a feeding platform of the production line equipment, and the other of which is positioned to correspond to a discharging platform of the production line equipment; each of the lifting platforms has A lifting platform; the lifting platform is used to carry a material and forms a carrier passage; the carrier passage runs vertically through the lifting platform and forms a carrier opening on one side of the lifting platform; the width of the carrier passage is narrower than the width of the material, and is used to allow an unmanned transport vehicle to move into the carrier passage through the carrier opening of the lifting platform; The elevator can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby making the height of the lifting platform correspond to the corresponding feeding platform or discharging platform; Two transverse conveying assemblies are respectively disposed on the two lifting platforms of the two elevators, and each transverse conveying assembly has... At least one power transfer component; the at least one power transfer component is used to move the material laterally on the lifting platform, thereby moving the material from the lifting platform to the feeding platform of the production line equipment, or moving the material from the discharging platform of the production line equipment to the lifting platform; An unmanned transport vehicle can move through the vehicle opening of any of the lifting platforms of the elevator to the corresponding vehicle passage, and a carrying part of the unmanned transport vehicle is used to carry the material; Each of the elevators can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby making the height of the lifting platform correspond to that of the unmanned transport vehicle.

[0010] To achieve the aforementioned creative objectives, this invention further provides an automated loading and unloading system for a circuit board production line, used in conjunction with a production line device. This automated loading and unloading system for the circuit board production line includes... A docking device, having A lifting platform, positioned to correspond to an inlet / outlet platform of the production line equipment, the lifting platform having... A lifting platform; the lifting platform is used to carry a material and forms a carrier passage; the carrier passage runs vertically through the lifting platform and forms a carrier opening on one side of the lifting platform; the width of the carrier passage is narrower than the width of the material; The elevator can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the corresponding infeed or discharge platform; A transverse conveying assembly is disposed on the lifting platform and has at least one power transfer member; the at least one power transfer member is used to move the material laterally on the lifting platform, thereby moving the material from the lifting platform to the feed / discharge station of the production line equipment, and moving the material from the feed / discharge station of the production line equipment to the lifting platform; An unmanned transport vehicle can move into the vehicle passage through the vehicle opening of the lifting platform, and a carrying part of the unmanned transport vehicle is used to carry the material; The elevator can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby making the height of the lifting platform correspond to that of the unmanned transport vehicle.

[0011] This device can be used with different types of production line equipment to perform material feeding and / or discharging operations. Taking a production line with a single infeed / discharge station as an example, during the feeding operation, the automated guided vehicle (AGV) carrying the material first moves to the carrier channel of the lifting platform, positioning the material above the lifting platform. Next, the lifting platform rises; because the width of the carrier channel is narrower than the material, the material is lifted by the lifting platform and separated from the AGV. When the lifting platform rises to a height corresponding to the infeed / discharge station of the production line equipment, the transverse conveyor component moves the material to the infeed station, thus completing the material feeding operation.

[0012] When performing the unloading operation, simply reverse the feeding action. The feeding and unloading platform is not limited to having both feeding and unloading functions simultaneously; it may also have only one of them.

[0013] This invention can also be used with production line equipment that has independent feeding and discharging platforms. In this case, the docking device of this invention includes two lifting platforms, which are respectively positioned to correspond to the feeding and discharging platforms of the production line equipment and perform feeding and discharging operations respectively.

[0014] The advantage of this invention is that by setting up an elevator and a lateral conveyor, it can significantly raise or lower the height of materials and can transfer materials with unmanned transport vehicles and production line equipment. This allows factories to remove the original conveyor belts and replace them with unmanned transport vehicles for loading and unloading operations, making the factory's equipment layout easier and increasing the flexibility of production process adjustments. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0015] Figure 1 is a top view of the first embodiment of this invention. Figure 2 is a front view schematic diagram of the first embodiment of this invention. Figures 3 to 6 are side view action diagrams of the first embodiment of this invention. Figures 3 to 4 show the action of the unmanned transport vehicle moving into the carrier channel of the lifting platform. Figures 4 to 5 show the action of the top cover transfer machine covering the material with the process top cover. Figures 5 to 6 show the action of the transverse conveyor component moving the material to the feeding platform. Figure 7 is a top view of the second embodiment of this invention. Implementation

[0016] The following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments of this invention, further illustrates the technical means employed to achieve the intended creative purpose.

[0017] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3. The automated loading and unloading system for the circuit board production line of this invention is used to feed a material B to be processed into a production line device E, and to receive the processed material B from the production line device E. The automated loading and unloading system for the circuit board production line includes a docking device 60 and an unmanned transport vehicle V.

[0018] The docking device 60 includes two elevators 61 and two transverse conveyor assemblies 62, and preferably also includes a cover placement platform 63 and a cover transfer machine 64.

[0019] One elevator 61 corresponds to a feeding platform E1 of production line equipment E, and the other elevator 61 corresponds to a discharging platform E2 of production line equipment E. Here, "corresponding" refers to being adjacent in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the production line equipment has independent feeding platforms E1 and E2 (which can be considered as two feeding and discharging platforms), therefore, there are two elevators 61 and two horizontal conveyor components 62. In the second embodiment of this invention (as shown in Figure 7), when the cooperating production line equipment E has only a single feeding and discharging platform E3, there is one elevator 61 and one horizontal conveyor component 62, with the elevator 61 corresponding to the feeding and discharging platform E3.

[0020] Each elevator 61 has a lifting platform 611. The lifting platform 611 is used to carry material B and forms a carrier passage 612 (as shown in Figure 1). The carrier passage 612 extends vertically through the lifting platform 611 and forms a carrier opening 613 on one side of the lifting platform 611. The width W1 of the carrier passage 612 (as shown in Figure 1) is narrower than the width W2 of material B (as shown in Figure 1).

[0021] Please refer to Figures 3 to 5. The elevator 61 can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform 611, thereby making the height of the lifting platform 611 correspond to the corresponding feed platform E1 or discharge platform E2 (as shown in Figure 5). The elevator 61 can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform 611, thereby making the height of the lifting platform 611 correspond to the height of the automated guided vehicle V (as shown in Figures 3 and 4). The height correspondence here refers to the fact that the automated guided vehicle V can enter the vehicle passage 612 when loaded with material B. Specifically, the platform height of the lifting platform 611 is slightly lower than the top surface height of a support part V1 on the automated guided vehicle V.

[0022] Please refer to Figures 1, 5, and 6. The two transverse conveying components 62 mentioned above are respectively installed on the two lifting platforms 611 of the two elevators 61. Each transverse conveying component 62 has at least one power transfer member 621. The at least one power transfer member 621 can move material B laterally on the lifting platform 611 (as shown in Figures 5 and 6), thereby moving material B from the lifting platform 611 to the feeding platform E1 of the production line equipment E, or moving material B from the discharging platform E2 of the production line equipment E to the lifting platform 611.

[0023] In this embodiment, the number of powered transfer components 621 is multiple, and each powered transfer component 621 is a controllable rotating roller. The powered transfer components 621 are arranged on both sides of the vehicle channel 612.

[0024] Please refer to Figures 1, 4, and 5. The aforementioned cover placement platform 63 can hold multiple process covers B1. In this embodiment, the production line equipment E is a hot press. Before the material B enters the hot press, it must be covered with the process cover B1 before the hot pressing operation can be performed.

[0025] Each of the aforementioned cover transfer machines 64 has a cover gripper 641, which can grip one of the process covers B1 on the cover placement platform 63. The cover transfer machine 64 can be controlled to move the cover gripper 641 between the cover placement platform 63 and the two lifting platforms 611 of the two elevators 61 to cover one of the process covers B1 onto the material B on the lifting platform 611 corresponding to the feeding platform E1, and can transfer the process cover B1 on the material B on the lifting platform 611 corresponding to the discharging platform E2 to the cover placement platform 63 for later use. In this embodiment, the cover transfer machine 64 is a robotic arm and the cover gripper 641 is a gripper, both of which are standard components of the prior art.

[0026] Please refer to Figures 1, 3, and 4. The aforementioned unmanned transport vehicle V's carrying section V1 is used to carry material B and can move into the carrier channel 612 via the carrier opening 613 of the lifting platform 611. In this embodiment, the width W3 of the carrying section V1 of the unmanned transport vehicle V (as shown in Figure 1) is narrower than the width W1 of the carrier channel 612. Therefore, when the height of the lifting platform 611 corresponds to the carrying section V1, the unmanned transport vehicle V can enter the carrier channel 612.

[0027] This invention is best used in conjunction with a hot press (i.e., production line equipment E). An automated guided vehicle (AGV) retrieves material B from an automated stacking device (not part of this invention). Material B comprises a base plate and multilayer circuit board raw materials stacked on it, awaiting hot pressing. After the lifting platform 611 descends to a height slightly lower than material B, the AGV moves into the carrier aisle 612. The lifting platform 611 then raises material B to the height of the feed platform E1, and the transverse conveyor assembly 62 moves material B to the feed platform E1.

[0028] After material B is hot-pressed in production line equipment E, it is transferred to the unloading platform E2. At this time, the lifting platform 611 and the transverse conveying component 62 corresponding to the unloading platform E2 will work together to transfer the hot-pressed material B to the unmanned transport vehicle V, and then the unmanned transport vehicle V will transport it to the next equipment in the production line for subsequent processing.

[0029] In summary, this invention, by setting up the elevator 61 and the lateral conveyor component 62, can significantly raise or lower the height of the material B, and can transfer materials with the unmanned transport vehicle V and the production line equipment E. This allows the factory to remove the original conveyor belt and replace it with the unmanned transport vehicle V for loading and unloading operations, making the factory's equipment layout easier and increasing the flexibility of production process adjustments.

[0030] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this invention and is not intended to limit this invention in any way. Although this invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit this invention. Anyone skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of this invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of this invention without departing from the scope of this invention shall still fall within the scope of this invention.

[0031] 60: Docking device 61: Elevator 611: Lifting Platform 612: Vehicle Access 613: Vehicle opening 62: Lateral Conveyor Component 621: Dynamic transfer component 63: Top cover placement platform 64: Top Cover Transfer Machine 641: Top Cover Grabber B: Materials B1: Process Cover E: Production line equipment E1: Feeding Platform E2: Discharge Platform E3: Feed / Discharge Platform V: Unmanned transport vehicle V1: Bearing section W1: Width W2: Width W3: Width

Claims

1. A docking device for a circuit board production line, used to form an automatic loading and unloading system with an unmanned transport vehicle (ARTV), the automatic loading and unloading system being used to feed a material into and receive the material from the production line equipment, and a carrying unit of the ARTV being used to carry the material; the docking device for the circuit board production line includes: two elevators, one elevator positioned to correspond to a feeding platform of the production line equipment, and the other elevator positioned to correspond to a discharging platform of the production line equipment, each elevator having a lifting platform; the lifting platform being used to carry the material and forming a carrier channel; the carrier channel extending vertically through the lifting platform and forming a carrier opening on one side of the lifting platform; the width of the carrier channel being narrower than the width of the material, and used to allow the ARTV to move into the carrier channel through the carrier opening of the lifting platform; wherein... Each of the lifting platforms can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the corresponding feeding platform or discharging platform; wherein, each of the lifting platforms can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the unmanned transport vehicle; two lateral conveying assemblies are respectively disposed on the two lifting platforms of the two lifting platforms, each lateral conveying assembly having at least one power transfer member; the at least one power transfer member is used to move the material laterally on the lifting platform, thereby moving the material from the lifting platform to the feeding platform of the production line equipment, or moving the material from the discharging platform of the production line equipment to the lifting platform.

2. The circuit board production line docking device as described in claim 1, further comprising a cover placement platform for carrying a plurality of process covers; a cover transfer machine; each cover transfer machine having a cover gripper for gripping one of the process covers on the cover placement platform; wherein, The cover transfer machine can be controlled to move the cover gripper between the cover placement platform and the two lifting platforms of the two lifts to cover one of the process covers onto the material on the lifting platform corresponding to the feed platform, and to transfer the process cover on the material on the lifting platform corresponding to the discharge platform to the cover placement platform.

3. The docking device for a circuit board production line as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of the at least one power transfer member of each of the transverse conveying components is plurality of, and each power transfer member is a roller.

4. The docking device for the circuit board production line as described in claim 3, wherein the power transfer components of each of the transverse conveying assemblies are respectively arranged on both sides of the carrier channel.

5. A docking device for a circuit board production line, used to form an automated loading and unloading system with an unmanned transport vehicle (ARTV), the automated loading and unloading system being used in conjunction with production line equipment, wherein a carrying portion of the ARTV is used to carry a material; the docking device comprises: a lift positioned to align with an inlet / outlet platform of the production line equipment, the lift having a lifting platform; the lifting platform carrying the material and forming a carrier passage; the carrier passage extending vertically through the lifting platform and forming a carrier opening on one side of the lifting platform; the width of the carrier passage being narrower than the width of the material, and used to allow the ARTV to move into the carrier passage via the carrier opening of the lifting platform; wherein... The elevator is controllable to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the infeed / outfeed platform; wherein the elevator is controllable to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the unmanned transport vehicle; a lateral conveying assembly is disposed on the lifting platform and has at least one power transfer member; the at least one power transfer member is used to move the material laterally on the lifting platform, thereby moving the material from the lifting platform to the infeed / outfeed platform of the production line equipment, or moving the material from the infeed / outfeed platform of the production line equipment to the lifting platform.

6. The circuit board production line docking device as described in claim 5, further comprising a cover placement platform for carrying a plurality of process covers; a cover transfer machine; each cover transfer machine having a cover gripper for gripping one of the process covers on the cover placement platform; wherein, The cover transfer machine can be controlled to move the cover gripper between the cover placement platform and the lifting platform to cover one of the process covers onto the material on the lifting platform.

7. An automatic loading and unloading system for a circuit board production line, used in conjunction with a production line device, the automatic loading and unloading system for the circuit board production line includes a docking device, comprising: two lifting platforms, one of which is positioned to align with a feeding platform of the production line device, and the other of which is positioned to align with a discharging platform of the production line device; each lifting platform has a lifting table; the lifting table is used to carry a material and forms a carrier channel; the carrier channel extends vertically through the lifting table and forms a carrier opening on one side of the lifting table; the width of the carrier channel is narrower than the width of the material; wherein, The elevator can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the corresponding feed platform or discharge platform; two transverse conveying assemblies are respectively disposed on the two lifting platforms of the two elevators, each transverse conveying assembly having at least one power transfer member; the at least one power transfer member is used to move the material laterally on the lifting platform, thereby moving the material from the lifting platform to the feed platform of the production line equipment, or moving the material from the discharge platform of the production line equipment to the lifting platform; an unmanned transport vehicle can be moved through the carrier opening of the lifting platform of any of the elevators to the corresponding carrier channel, a carrying part of the unmanned transport vehicle is used to carry the material; wherein, each elevator can be controlled to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the unmanned transport vehicle.

8. An automatic loading and unloading system for a circuit board production line, used in conjunction with a production line device, the automatic loading and unloading system for the circuit board production line includes a docking device, having a lift positioned to align with an inlet / outlet platform of the production line device, the lift having a lifting platform; the lifting platform for carrying a material and forming a carrier channel; the carrier channel extending vertically through the lifting platform, and forming a carrier opening on one side of the lifting platform; the width of the carrier channel being narrower than the width of the material; wherein, The elevator is controllable to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the corresponding infeed / outfeed platform; a lateral conveying assembly is disposed on the lifting platform and has at least one power transfer member; the at least one power transfer member is used to move the material laterally on the lifting platform, thereby moving the material from the lifting platform to the infeed / outfeed platform of the production line equipment, and moving the material from the infeed / outfeed platform of the production line equipment to the lifting platform; an unmanned transport vehicle is movable into the carrier passage via the carrier opening of the lifting platform, and a carrying part of the unmanned transport vehicle is used to carry the material; wherein, the elevator is controllable to raise or lower the lifting platform, thereby aligning the height of the lifting platform with the unmanned transport vehicle.

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