A variable-pitch box loading device for indexable tools

Abstract

The present invention provides a variable pitch box loading device for indexable tools, comprising: a controller, a screw assembly, a corner assembly arranged below the screw assembly, a variable pitch assembly installed under the screw assembly, and multiple air gripper assemblies arranged below the variable pitch assembly; the screw assembly is used to drive the variable pitch assembly and the multiple air gripper assemblies to move to a preset position; the corner assembly places the indexable tool; the variable pitch assembly drives the multiple air gripper assemblies to be arranged at a preset spacing; the air gripper assembly is used to grab the indexable tool placed on the corner assembly; the controller is electrically connected to the screw assembly, the air gripper assembly and the variable pitch assembly, and is used to control the screw assembly to drive the variable pitch assembly and the air gripper assembly to move to the corner assembly to grab the indexable tool, and control the multiple air gripper groups clamping the indexable tool to be arranged at a preset spacing, and control the screw assembly to place the indexable tool in the material box, thereby solving the problems of low efficiency in carrying the indexable tool and material dropping and throwing during the carrying and transfer process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of transporting indexable tools, and in particular to a variable-distance boxing device for indexable tools. Background Art

[0002] In the process of mechanical manufacturing and production, mechanical grippers are needed to automatically shift objects. Mechanical grippers can replace repetitive human labor to achieve mechanization and automation of production, and can operate in harmful environments to protect personal safety. Therefore, they are widely used in mechanical manufacturing, metallurgy, electronics and other departments.

[0003] Indexable inserts are a product of powder metallurgy. During the production process of indexable inserts, the processing and packaging of the inserts require grasping and transfer. Currently, indexable inserts are grasped and moved using a clamp, which is generally done through a module transmission mechanism and parallel opening and closing of the clamp. There is a problem that the indexable inserts being clamped and transferred are easy to fall off, and the boxing method is one at a time. For example, if there are 10 pieces in a box, it needs to be moved back and forth 10 times to complete the loading of a box. For products that can only be loaded into the box at a special angle, the current method uses a rotating motor to adjust the blade angle before it can be put into the box, which is less efficient. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention discloses a variable-distance box loading device for indexable tools, aiming to solve the problems of low handling efficiency of indexable tools and material dropping and throwing during the handling and transfer process.

[0005] The embodiment of the present invention provides a variable pitch box loading device for indexable tools, comprising: a controller, a screw assembly, a corner assembly arranged below the screw assembly, a variable pitch assembly installed below the screw assembly, and a plurality of air claw assemblies arranged below the variable pitch assembly;

[0006] The screw assembly is arranged on the workbench and is used to drive the variable pitch assembly and the plurality of air claw assemblies to move to a preset position;

[0007] The corner assembly is used to place an indexable tool;

[0008] The variable pitch assembly is used to drive the plurality of air gripper assemblies to be arranged at a preset pitch;

[0009] The air gripper assembly is used to grasp the indexable tool placed on the corner assembly;

[0010] A controller is electrically connected to the screw assembly, the air gripper assembly and the pitch-changing assembly, and is used to control the screw assembly to drive the pitch-changing assembly and the air gripper assembly to move to the corner assembly to grab the indexable tool, and to control the multiple air gripper assemblies that clamp the indexable tools to be arranged at a preset spacing, and to control the screw assembly to place the indexable tool in the material box.

[0011] Preferably, the screw assembly includes: a bracket arranged on the workbench, a first guide rail arranged on the bracket, a first screw arranged on the first guide rail, a first motor whose output shaft is connected to the first screw, a first slider sleeved on the first screw, a second guide rail fixed on the slider, a second screw arranged on the second guide rail, a second slider sleeved on the second screw, and the variable pitch assembly is arranged on the second slider.

[0012] Preferably, the variable pitch assembly includes: a support plate fixed on the second slider, a driving member arranged on the support plate, a cross bar arranged on the support plate, a plurality of moving blocks arranged on the cross bar, and a limit block arranged above every two moving blocks, wherein the first moving block is connected to the output shaft of the driving member, and the last moving block is fixed on the support plate, and the driving member is electrically connected to the output end of the controller.

[0013] Preferably, a slot is provided above the moving block, and the limiting blocks are arranged on two adjacent slots.

[0014] Preferably, the limit block includes a horizontal plate, a first vertical plate, a second vertical plate and a third vertical plate vertically arranged below the horizontal plate;

[0015] The first vertical plate is configured on the groove body of the current moving block, the second vertical plate and the third vertical plate form a cavity, and the cavity is adapted on the side wall of the groove body of the next moving block close to the current moving block.

[0016] Preferably, the driving member is a first cylinder, wherein the output end of the controller is electrically connected to the solenoid valve of the first cylinder, and the output shaft of the first cylinder is connected to the first moving block.

[0017] Preferably, the corner assembly includes a carrier fixed on the bracket, and a rod body arranged on the carrier;

[0018] The end of the carrier is provided with a plurality of protrusions, a groove is formed between two adjacent protrusions, and the two ends of the indexable tool are placed on the two adjacent protrusions.

[0019] Preferably, each of the air gripper assemblies comprises: a second air cylinder, a first finger arm, and a second finger arm;

[0020] The second cylinder is fixed on the moving block, and the first finger arm and the second finger arm are connected to the output end of the second cylinder, wherein the solenoid valve of the second cylinder is electrically connected to the output end of the controller.

[0021] Preferably, a first bending portion is configured at the bottom of the first finger arm, and a second bending portion is configured at the bottom of the second finger arm.

[0022] Preferably, the controller is a PLC controller.

[0023] Based on a variable pitch box loading device for indexable tools provided by the present invention, the controller controls the screw rod to drive the variable pitch assembly and the air gripper assembly to move to the corner assembly, and the air gripper assembly grabs multiple indexable tools that are regularly placed on the corner assembly at one time. The margin assembly can transform multiple air gripper assemblies that grab indexable tools to be arranged at a preset spacing according to the size of the material box, and control the screw rod assembly to place the indexable tools in the material box, wherein a bending portion is arranged on the finger arm of each of the air gripper assemblies, which opens when passing through the central opening of the indexable tool, and the bending portion holds up the indexable tool to prevent the indexable tool from falling off during transportation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a variable-pitch box loading device for indexable tools provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a variable pitch assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a variable pitch assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention when it is contracted;

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a variable pitch assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention when it is retracted;

[0028] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a variable pitch assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention when it is opened;

[0029] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a variable pitch assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention when it is opened;

[0030] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a corner assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 8 It is a schematic structural diagram of an air gripper assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed for protection, but merely represents the selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0034] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0035] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or may include that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" and "above" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" and "below" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0036] The specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] The invention discloses a variable-distance box loading device for indexable tools, aiming to solve the problems of low handling efficiency of indexable tools and material dropping and throwing during the handling and transfer process.

[0038] See also Figure 1 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a variable pitch box loading device for indexable tools, comprising: a controller, a screw assembly, a corner assembly arranged below the screw assembly, a variable pitch assembly installed under the screw assembly, and a plurality of air claw assemblies arranged below the variable pitch assembly;

[0039] The screw assembly is arranged on the workbench and is used to drive the variable pitch assembly and the plurality of air claw assemblies to move to a preset position;

[0040] The corner assembly is used to place an indexable tool;

[0041] The variable pitch assembly is used to drive the plurality of air gripper assemblies to be arranged at a preset pitch;

[0042] The air gripper assembly is used to grasp the indexable tool placed on the corner assembly;

[0043] A controller is electrically connected to the screw assembly, the air gripper assembly and the pitch-changing assembly, and is used to control the screw assembly to drive the pitch-changing assembly and the air gripper assembly to move to the corner assembly to grab the indexable tool, and to control the multiple air gripper assemblies that clamp the indexable tools to be arranged at a preset spacing, and to control the screw assembly to place the indexable tool in the material box.

[0044] It should be noted that in the production process of indexable cutting tools, steps such as handling, transferring and boxing are often required. Existing handling equipment may throw away and drop materials during the handling process. When transporting to the material box, it can often only carry one indexable cutting tool at a time. When a special angle is required for boxing, it is necessary to change the angle through a rotating motor before loading it into the material box, and its working efficiency is low.

[0045] In this embodiment, the controller outputs a control signal to the screw assembly to move, thereby driving the variable pitch assembly and a plurality of air gripper assemblies arranged below the variable pitch assembly to move to the corner assembly, and controlling the air gripper assembly to grab the indexable tools regularly placed on the corner assembly, so that multiple indexable tools can be grabbed at one time, wherein the number of the air gripper assemblies can be 5, but not limited to this. After multiple air gripper assemblies grab the indexable tools, the spacing between the multiple air gripper assemblies can be changed according to the size of the material box, so that multiple indexable tools can be loaded into the material box at one time, thereby improving the loading efficiency while ensuring that the indexable tools will not fall during the transfer process.

[0046] Please continue reading Figure 1 In this embodiment, the screw assembly includes: a bracket 1 arranged on the workbench, a first guide rail 2 arranged on the bracket 1, a first screw 3 arranged on the first guide rail 2, a first motor 10 whose output shaft is connected to the first screw 3, a first slider 5 sleeved on the first screw 3, a second guide rail 8 fixed on the slider, a second screw 7 arranged on the second guide rail 8, a second slider 6 sleeved on the second screw 7, and the variable pitch assembly is arranged on the second slider 6.

[0047] It should be noted that the controller can output a predetermined number of pulses to the first motor 10, so that the first motor 10 drives the first screw rod 3 to rotate, drives the first slider 5 and the second guide rail 8 configured on the first slider 5 to move to a preset position, wherein the first slider 5 reciprocates in the Y-axis direction. The controller can output a predetermined number of pulses to the second motor 9, so that the second motor 9 drives the second screw rod 7 to rotate, drives the second slider 6 and the margin assembly configured on the second slider 6 to move to a preset position, wherein the second slider 6 reciprocates in the Z-axis direction. Of course, in other embodiments, the screw rod assembly can also be configured with an X-axis direction screw rod module to drive the margin assembly to reciprocate in the X-axis direction. No specific limitation is made here, but these schemes are all within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0048] See also Figure 2 and Figure 6In this embodiment, the pitch-changing assembly includes: a support plate 17 fixed on the second slider 6, a driving member 14 arranged on the support plate 17, a cross bar 15 arranged on the support plate 17, a plurality of moving blocks 16 arranged on the cross bar 15, and a limit block is arranged above every two moving blocks 16, wherein the first moving block 16 is connected to the output shaft of the driving member 14, and the last moving block 16 is fixed on the support plate 17, and the driving member 14 is electrically connected to the output end of the controller.

[0049] It should be noted that the last moving block 16 can be fixed on the support plate 17, the last limit block can be fixed on the moving block 16, and the other moving blocks 16 can move on the cross bar 15. The controller can output a control signal to the driving member 14, so that the driving member 14 pushes the first moving block 16, so that the multiple moving blocks 16 are contracted and arranged equidistantly. The driving member 14 can also pull the first moving block 16 according to the control signal, so that the multiple moving blocks 16 are contracted and arranged equidistantly.

[0050] In this embodiment, a slot 26 is formed above the moving block 16 , and the limiting blocks are disposed on two adjacent slots 26 .

[0051] In this embodiment, the limit block includes a horizontal plate 25, a first vertical plate 24, a second vertical plate 23 and a third vertical plate 22 vertically arranged below the horizontal plate 25;

[0052] The first vertical plate 24 is disposed on the groove 26 of the current moving block 16 , and the second vertical plate 23 and the third vertical plate 22 form a cavity, which is adapted on the side wall of the groove 26 of the next moving block 16 close to the current moving block 16 .

[0053] It should be noted that when the variable pitch assembly is in the open state, taking the first moving block 16 and the second moving block 16 as an example, the first vertical plate 24 of the limit block is arranged in the groove body 26 of the first moving block 16, and moves in the groove body 26 along the pushing direction of the driving member 14, and a space is formed between the first vertical plate 24 and the second vertical plate 23, for the first moving block 16 to move along the pushing direction of the driving member 14 close to the side wall of the first moving block 16, and the cavity of the second vertical plate 23 and the third vertical plate 22 is adapted on the side wall of the second moving block 16 close to the first moving block 16. When the driving member 14 receives a pushing control signal, it pushes the first moving block 16 so that the groove body 26 contacts the second vertical plate 23, thereby pushing the second moving block 16.

[0054] When the variable pitch assembly is in the retracted state and the driving member 14 receives a pulling control signal, the second vertical plate 23 pulls the first moving block 16 to move close to the side wall of the second moving block 16, so that the first vertical plate 24 contacts the side wall of the first moving block 16 close to the second moving block 16, and then the cavity formed by the second vertical plate 23 and the third vertical plate 22 pulls the second moving block 16.

[0055] In this embodiment, the driving member 14 may be a first cylinder, wherein the output end of the controller is electrically connected to the solenoid valve of the first cylinder, and the output shaft of the first cylinder is connected to the first moving block 16 .

[0056] It should be noted that the controller outputs an electrical signal to the solenoid valve of the first cylinder, so that the air circuit of the first cylinder is in an on or off state, which is used to push or pull the moving block 16, thereby making the variable pitch assembly in a retracted or open state. In other embodiments, the driving member 14 can also be a screw module to push the moving block 16. These schemes can be selected according to actual conditions and are not specifically limited here, but these schemes are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0057] See also Figure 7 In this embodiment, the corner assembly includes a carrier 11 fixed on the bracket 1, and a rod 29 arranged on the carrier 11;

[0058] The end of the carrier 11 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 28 , a groove is formed between two adjacent protrusions 28 , and the two ends of the indexable tool are placed on two adjacent protrusions 28 .

[0059] It should be noted that the indexable tool is generally transported from a certain workstation to the corner assembly by a robot, and the rod body 29 can be used as a positioning reference during the early debugging of the robot, wherein the groove formed by the adjacent protrusions 28 corresponds to the opening in the middle of the indexable tool, and the air gripper assembly opens after passing through the opening, which can avoid the collision of the air gripper assembly with the carrier 11 during the grasping process.

[0060] See also Figure 8 In this embodiment, each of the air gripper assemblies comprises: a second air cylinder 13, a first finger arm 18, and a second finger arm 19;

[0061] The second cylinder 13 is fixed on the moving block 16, and the first finger arm 18 and the second finger arm 19 are connected to the output end of the second cylinder 13, wherein the solenoid valve of the second cylinder 13 is electrically connected to the output end of the controller.

[0062] In this embodiment, a first bending portion 20 is disposed at the bottom of the first finger arm 18 , and a second bending portion 21 is disposed at the bottom of the second finger arm 19 .

[0063] It should be noted that the controller outputs an electrical signal to the solenoid valve of the second cylinder 13, and the solenoid valve controls the opening and closing of the air circuit, and then controls the opening and closing of the first finger arm 18 and the second finger arm 19. When the first finger arm 18 and the second finger arm 19 are closed, they are inserted into the opening of the indexable tool. When the indexable tool is to be moved, the first finger arm 18 and the second finger arm 19 are opened so that the first bending portion 20 and the second bending portion 21 arranged under the first finger arm 18 and the second finger arm 19 are in contact with the bottom of the indexable tool. At the same time, the first finger arm 18 and the second finger arm 19 support the opening of the indexable tool to ensure that the material will not be thrown off or dropped during the movement.

[0064] In this embodiment, the controller may be a PLC controller.

[0065] It should be noted that the input and output ends of the controller can be configured with a button module for controlling the movement of the screw assembly and the variable pitch assembly. In other embodiments, the controller can also be other types of controllers. For example, a single-chip microcomputer, an industrial computer, etc. can be used to send electrical signals to the solenoid valve coil to open and close the air circuit, and can be used to send pulse signals to the motor to make it rotate a predetermined number of times. No specific limitations are made here, but these schemes are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0066] Based on a variable pitch box loading device for indexable tools provided by the present invention, the controller controls the screw rod to drive the variable pitch assembly and the air gripper assembly to move to the corner assembly, and the air gripper assembly grabs multiple indexable tools that are regularly placed on the corner assembly at one time. The margin assembly can transform multiple air gripper assemblies that grab indexable tools to be arranged at a preset spacing according to the size of the material box, and control the screw rod assembly to place the indexable tools in the material box, wherein a bending portion is arranged on the finger arm of each of the air gripper assemblies, which opens when passing through the central opening of the indexable tool, and the bending portion holds up the indexable tool to prevent the indexable tool from falling off during transportation.

[0067] The above are only preferred implementations of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions under the concept of the present invention belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A variable-pitch box loading device for indexable tools, characterized in that: include: A controller, a screw assembly, a corner assembly arranged below the screw assembly, a pitch-changing assembly installed below the screw assembly, and a plurality of air claw assemblies arranged below the pitch-changing assembly; The screw assembly is arranged on the workbench and is used to drive the variable pitch assembly and the plurality of air claw assemblies to move to a preset position; The corner assembly is used to place an indexable tool; The variable pitch assembly is used to drive the plurality of air gripper assemblies to be arranged at a preset pitch; The air gripper assembly is used to grasp the indexable tool placed on the corner assembly; A controller, which is electrically connected to the screw assembly, the air gripper assembly and the pitch-changing assembly, and is used to control the screw assembly to drive the pitch-changing assembly and the air gripper assembly to move to the corner assembly to grab the indexable tool, and to control the plurality of air gripper assemblies holding the indexable tool to be arranged at a preset spacing, and to control the screw assembly to place the indexable tool in the material box; The screw assembly includes: a bracket arranged on the workbench, a first guide rail arranged on the bracket, a first screw arranged on the first guide rail, a first motor whose output shaft is connected to the first screw, a first slider sleeved on the first screw, a second guide rail fixed on the slider, a second screw arranged on the second guide rail, a second motor whose output shaft is connected to the second screw, a second slider sleeved on the second screw, and the pitch-changing assembly is arranged on the second slider; The corner assembly includes a carrier fixed on the bracket and a rod body arranged on the carrier; wherein the end of the carrier is provided with a plurality of protrusions, a groove is formed between two adjacent protrusions, and the two ends of the indexable tool are placed on the two adjacent protrusions; The pitch-changing assembly comprises: a support plate fixed on the second slider, a driving member arranged on the support plate, a crossbar arranged on the support plate, a plurality of moving blocks arranged on the crossbar, and a limit block arranged above every two moving blocks, wherein the first moving block is connected to the output shaft of the driving member, the last moving block is fixed on the support plate, and the driving member is electrically connected to the output end of the controller; Each of the air gripper assemblies comprises: a second air cylinder, a first finger arm, and a second finger arm; the second air cylinder is fixed on the moving block, the first finger arm and the second finger arm are connected to the output end of the second air cylinder, wherein the solenoid valve of the second air cylinder is electrically connected to the output end of the controller; A first bending portion is disposed at the bottom of the first finger arm, and a second bending portion is disposed at the bottom of the second finger arm.

2. The variable-pitch box loading device for indexable tools according to claim 1, characterized in that: A slot body is provided above the moving block, and the limiting blocks are arranged on two adjacent slot bodies.

3. The variable-pitch box loading device for indexable tools according to claim 2, characterized in that: The limit block includes a horizontal plate, a first vertical plate, a second vertical plate and a third vertical plate vertically arranged below the horizontal plate; The first vertical plate is arranged on the groove body of the current moving block, the second vertical plate and the third vertical plate form a cavity, and the cavity is adapted on the side wall of the groove body of the next moving block close to the current moving block.

4. The variable-pitch box loading device for indexable tools according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving member is a first cylinder, wherein the output end of the controller is electrically connected to the solenoid valve of the first cylinder, and the output shaft of the first cylinder is connected to the first moving block.

5. The variable-pitch box loading device for indexable tools according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller is a PLC controller.

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