A feeding device and method for wire pipe fittings

Abstract

This invention discloses a feeding device and method for wire-connected pipe fittings. The device comprises a lifting mechanism, a linear feeding mechanism, and a clamping mechanism on a support plate. The lifting mechanism feeds the wire-connected pipe fittings into the linear feeding mechanism, which then delivers them to the rear end of the conveying process. The clamping mechanism picks up the wire-connected pipe fittings from the rear end of the conveying process and feeds them to the next feeding position. The lifting mechanism includes a lifting hopper, a baffle cylinder, and a baffle plate. The support plate is vertically oriented, and the lifting hopper is slidably connected to the side of the support plate, with its bottom inclined downwards towards the support plate. The linear feeding mechanism includes a feeding track, which is located on the other side of the support plate opposite the lifting hopper. The baffle plate is located at the upper end of the support plate and blocks the lifting hopper and the feeding track. The output end of the baffle cylinder is connected to the baffle plate and drives the baffle plate to move up and down. This device offers fast feeding speed and high efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a feeding device and method for pipe fittings, and more particularly to a feeding device and method for threaded pipe fittings. Background Technology

[0002] Threaded connections, also known as threaded joints, are a type of connection used in pipelines for water supply, heating, oil lines, compressed air, etc. Threaded pipe fittings are a general term for threaded pipe fittings. During the manufacturing process, threaded pipe fittings require internal or external threads to facilitate connection. Threaded pipe fittings can be used alone or combined with other structures to form other types of pipe fittings; for example, unions, also called augers, are common pipe fittings that are easy to install and disassemble, mainly composed of a nut, a cap, and a flat joint; the cap, also known as a threaded joint, is a type of threaded pipe fitting.

[0003] Threaded pipe fittings require machining such as turning and tapping during production. These machining processes necessitate loading the fittings into the feed chutes of the machining equipment. These machines require the fittings to maintain a consistent feeding posture, placing high demands on the loading posture. Currently, there are two main methods for loading fittings into the feed chutes: one is manual placement, where each fitting is manually placed into the feed chute to ensure proper feeding posture. While this method allows each operator to replenish the threaded sections on multiple feed chutes to maintain the normal operation of multiple machining machines, if one machine malfunctions, the operator must immediately address the issue and cannot place fittings into other feed chutes, causing other machines to stop processing. This method not only results in low automation and high manpower and material costs but also low production efficiency. Another method is vibratory feeder feeding, which uses vibration to automatically and orderly arrange disordered wire pipe fittings and accurately transport them to the upper conveyor. Compared with the manual placement of wire pipe fittings, although each operator can supervise the feeding of 2 to 3 processing machines and ensure the normal operation of other processing machines when one processing machine needs maintenance, each vibratory feeder contains a large number of wire pipe fittings. During vibration, not only will it generate a lot of noise, but it will also cause collisions that affect the appearance of the wire pipe fittings. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an efficient feeding device for wire pipe fittings; the present invention also provides a feeding method for wire pipe fittings.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A lifting mechanism, a linear feeding mechanism, and a clamping mechanism are provided on a support plate; the lifting mechanism feeds the wire pipe fitting into the linear feeding mechanism, which then delivers the wire pipe fitting to the rear end of the conveying process; the clamping mechanism clamps the wire pipe fitting from the rear end of the conveying process and sends it to the loading position of the next process; the lifting mechanism includes a lifting hopper, a baffle cylinder, and a baffle plate; the support plate is vertically arranged, and the lifting hopper is slidably connected to the side of the support plate, with the bottom of the lifting hopper inclined downwards towards the support plate; the linear feeding mechanism includes a feeding track, which is arranged on the other side of the support plate opposite to the lifting hopper; the baffle plate is located at the upper end of the support plate and blocks between the lifting hopper and the feeding track; the output end of the baffle cylinder is connected to the baffle plate and drives the baffle plate to move up and down.

[0006] The upper surface of the support plate of the present invention is positioned obliquely downward toward the direction of the feeding track relative to the lifting hopper.

[0007] The support plate on the upper part of the feeding track of the present invention is provided with a sliding baffle; the upper end of the sliding baffle is directly opposite the upper end of the support plate and the lower end of the sliding baffle is directly opposite the feeding track.

[0008] The baffle plate of the present invention blocks the material sliding baffle plate.

[0009] The clamping mechanism of the present invention includes a horizontal slide rail, a connecting slide rail, a vertical slide rail, a feed cylinder, a lifting cylinder, a rotary cylinder, and a gripper cylinder; the connecting slide rail is slidably connected to the horizontal slide rail and connected to the feed cylinder that pushes it to slide; the vertical slide rail is provided on the connecting slide rail, and the rotary cylinder is slidably connected to the vertical slide rail and connected to the lifting cylinder that pushes it to slide; the output end of the rotary cylinder faces downward and is connected to the gripper cylinder; the gripper of the gripper cylinder is set downward and can move between the rear end of the feeding track and the loading position of the next process.

[0010] The gripper of the present invention is equipped with a direction sensor for determining the direction of the wire pipe fitting.

[0011] The method of the present invention uses the above-mentioned feeding device, and the method steps are as follows: 1) The lifting hopper lifts the wire pipe fitting inside to the upper position of the support plate;

[0012] 2) The baffle cylinder drives the baffle plate to rise, and the threaded pipe fitting slides from the lifting hopper through the top of the support plate to the feeding track under the action of gravity;

[0013] 3) The wire pipe fitting is fed into the rear end of the conveyor along the feeding track;

[0014] 4) The gripper cylinder drives the gripper to pick up the wire connector, and then, under the action of the feed cylinder and the lifting cylinder, it is sent to the loading position of the next process.

[0015] In step 4) of the method of the present invention, the rotary cylinder decides whether to rotate based on the direction determined by the direction sensor.

[0016] The beneficial effects of adopting the above technical solution are as follows: This invention employs a structure where the feeding track and the lifting hopper are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the support plate. The threaded pipe fittings lifted by the lifting hopper can fall into the feeding track under gravity, thus achieving feeding of the feeding track. This invention uses a baffle plate and a baffle cylinder design to feed the feeding track as needed, preventing the threaded pipe fittings in the lifting hopper from falling into the feeding track or falling out at once, thereby effectively controlling the feeding process. This invention features fast feeding speed and high efficiency, effectively saving labor and improving feeding and processing efficiency.

[0017] The clamping mechanism of the present invention is equipped with a rotary cylinder, which can rotate according to the posture of the clamped wire pipe fitting, thereby feeding the wire pipe fitting into the next processing equipment in a qualified posture; the present invention has the characteristics of qualified feeding posture and high feeding efficiency.

[0018] This invention utilizes the cooperation between a feeding track and a lifting hopper. The threaded pipe fittings lifted by the lifting hopper fall into the feeding track under gravity, thus feeding the track. The design of the baffle plate and baffle cylinder allows for feeding the track as needed, preventing the threaded pipe fittings in the lifting hopper from falling into the track or falling out entirely at once, thereby effectively controlling the feeding process. This invention features fast feeding speed and high efficiency, effectively saving labor and improving feeding and tapping efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram from another perspective of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the lifting mechanism and the linear feeding mechanism of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the clamping mechanism of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the clamping mechanism of the present invention from another perspective.

[0025] In the diagram: Support plate 1; Sliding baffle 21, Lifting hopper 22, Baffle cylinder 23, Baffle plate 24, Lifting slider 25, Lifting slide 26, Inclined plate 27, Fixing frame 28, Base plate 29, Baffle 210; Feeding track 31, Vibrating feeder 32, Anti-drop baffle 33; Fixing plate 41, Feeding cylinder 42, Lifting cylinder 43, Rotating cylinder 44, Gripper cylinder 45, Gripper 46, Horizontal slide 47, Horizontal slider 48, Connecting slide plate 49, Vertical slide 410, Direction sensor 411, Vertical slider 412; Threaded pipe fitting 5. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the feeding device for this wire-connected pipe fitting includes a lifting mechanism, a linear feeding mechanism, and a clamping mechanism. The lifting mechanism feeds the wire-connected pipe fitting into the linear feeding mechanism, which then delivers it to the rear end of the conveyor. The clamping mechanism picks up the wire-connected pipe fitting from the rear end of the conveyor and sends it to the feeding position of the next process. The lifting mechanism, the linear feeding mechanism, and the clamping mechanism are all mounted on a support plate 1, which is a vertically arranged plate structure.

[0027] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3As shown, the lifting mechanism of the feeding device for this wire pipe fitting includes a lifting hopper 22, a baffle cylinder 23, and a baffle plate 24. A vertical lifting slide 26 is provided at the front end of one vertical side of the support plate 1. A lifting slider 25 is connected to the lifting slide 26, and the lifting hopper 22 is fixed to the lifting slider 25. Thus, the lifting hopper 22 slides up and down at the front end of the vertical side of the support plate 1. The lifting hopper 22 can be driven by a cylinder or motor to slide up and down. The lifting hopper 22 has a bucket-shaped structure, with openings at its top and on the side facing the support plate 1, i.e., the discharge port faces the support plate 1. The bottom surface of the lifting hopper 22 is inclined downwards towards the support plate 1. In this way, the wire pipe fitting 5 inside the lifting hopper 22 can slide down to the discharge port under gravity, and because the support plate 1 can block the discharge port, it can prevent the wire pipe fitting inside the lifting hopper 22 from falling during the lifting process. The linear feeding mechanism includes a feeding track 31 and a vibrating feeder 32. The feeding track 31 is located on another vertical side of the support plate 1. A sliding baffle 21 is provided on the support plate above the feeding track 31. The sliding baffle 21 is inclined, with its upper end facing the upper end of the support plate 1 and its lower end facing the feeding track 31. The sliding baffle 21 includes an inclined base plate 29 and baffles 210 on both sides of the base plate to prevent the threaded pipe fittings from falling off. The upper surface of the support plate 1 is inclined relative to the lifting hopper 22, and is inclined downwards towards the feeding track 31. In this way, after the lifting hopper 22 is raised to the upper position of the support plate, the threaded pipe 5 inside it slides down under the action of gravity. Since the inclined plate 27 and the upper surface of the support plate at this location are inclined, and the sliding baffle 21 is also inclined, the threaded pipe 5 can slide along the inclined plate 27, the upper surface of the support plate, and the sliding baffle 21 onto the feeding track 31. If there is a gap between the lifting hopper 22 and the sliding baffle 21, an inclined plate 27 can be set above the support plate 1, and the inclined plate 27 is located within the gap. The inclined plate 27 is inclined, with its upper end corresponding to the lower end of the discharge port of the lifting hopper 22 after it is raised, and its lower end corresponding to the upper part of the sliding baffle 21. In this way, the inclined plate 27 can connect between the lifting hopper 22 and the sliding baffle 21.

[0028] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3As shown, the baffle plate 24 of the lifting mechanism of the feeding device for this wire pipe fitting is located above the sliding baffle plate 21 and can completely block the sliding baffle plate 21; the baffle cylinder 23 is fixed on the support plate 1 by the fixing frame 28, and the output end of the baffle cylinder 23 is connected downward to the baffle plate 24; in this way, when the baffle cylinder 23 drives the baffle plate 24 to rise, the baffle plate 24 no longer blocks the sliding baffle plate 21, and the wire pipe fitting can slide along the sliding baffle plate 21 onto the feeding track 31; when the baffle cylinder 23 drives the baffle plate 24 to fall, the baffle plate 24 blocks the sliding baffle plate 21, and the wire pipe fitting is blocked and will not slide down onto the feeding track 31.

[0029] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the linear feeding mechanism of the feeding device for this wire-connected pipe fitting has a feeding track 31 that extends horizontally from the front end of the support plate 1 to the rear end of the support plate; the vibrating feeder 32 is located below the feeding track 31; thus, the feeding track 31 can deliver the wire-connected pipe fitting 5 to the rear end of the feeding track under the action of the vibrating feeder 32. The feeding track 31 has a long groove-like structure, and the groove width matches the length between the pipe openings of the wire-connected pipe fitting 5; thus, the wire-connected pipe fitting 5 can only be conveyed in the feeding track 31 with the pipe opening plane vertical. Anti-drop baffles 33 are provided on one or both sides of the upper end of the feeding track 31 to prevent the conveyed wire-connected pipe fitting from falling; the feeding track 31 does not have anti-drop baffles 33 at the rear end of the conveying section because the anti-drop baffles 33 would interfere with the clamping mechanism's gripping of the wire-connected pipe fitting 5. When the lifting mechanism is a linear feeding mechanism, the wire pipe 5 slides downward along the inclined bottom surface of the sliding baffle 21. During the sliding process, the opening of the wire pipe 5 contacts the bottom surface of the sliding baffle 21. When it slides down the lower end of the sliding baffle 21 and falls towards the feeding track 31, the wire pipe 5 will form a vertical or obliquely upward posture with the opening plane, so that it can fall onto the feeding track 31 with the opening plane vertical.

[0030] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 5As shown, the clamping mechanism of the feeding device for this wire connector is located at the rear end of one side of the feeding track 31, and includes a horizontal slide 47, a connecting slide plate 49, a vertical slide 410, a feeding cylinder 42, a lifting cylinder 43, a rotating cylinder 44, and a gripper cylinder 45. The horizontal slide 47 is horizontally mounted on a fixed plate 41, which is fixedly connected to the upper part of the support plate 1. The connecting slide plate 49 is vertically mounted and slidably connected to the horizontal slide 47 via a horizontal slider 48. The feeding cylinder 42 is fixed to the fixed plate 41, and its output end extends horizontally and connects to the connecting slide plate 49 or the horizontal slider 48; thus, the feeding cylinder 42 can push the connecting slide plate 49 to slide horizontally. The vertical slide 410 is vertically mounted on the connecting slide plate 49, and a vertical slider 412 is slidably connected to the vertical slide 410; the rotating cylinder 44 is fixedly connected to the vertical slider 412. The lifting cylinder 43 is fixed to the connecting slide plate 49. The output end of the lifting cylinder 43 extends downward and is connected to the rotary cylinder 44 or the vertical slider 412; thus, the lifting cylinder 43 can push the rotary cylinder 44 to slide up and down vertically. The output end of the rotary cylinder 44 points downward and is connected to the cylinder body of the gripper cylinder 45; the gripper 46 of the gripper cylinder is set downward. The gripper 46 of the gripper cylinder can move between the rear end of the feeding track 31 and the loading position of the next process under the drive of the feeding cylinder 42 and the lifting cylinder 43. The clamping mechanism has a directional sensor 411 on its jaws 46. The directional sensor 411 is a proximity switch, and there are two of them, which are respectively installed on the two jaws of the clamping jaws 46. When the clamping jaws 46 clamp the wire pipe fitting 5, one of the directional sensors faces the end face of the large opening of the wire pipe fitting and is not opposite to the end face of the small opening, and the other directional sensor faces the end face of the small opening of the wire pipe fitting and is not opposite to the end face of the large opening. In this way, the direction of the wire pipe fitting 5 can be determined according to the triggering status of the two directional sensors. With the above structure, the feed cylinder 42 horizontally drives the gripper 46 to move, and the lifting cylinder 43 vertically drives the gripper 46 to move. After the gripper 46 moves to the rear end of the feeding track 31, since the rear end of the feeding track 31 is not equipped with a drop-proof baffle 33, the gripper cylinder 45 drives the gripper to directly grip the wire pipe fitting 5. Then, driven by the feed cylinder 42 and the lifting cylinder 43, it moves to the loading position of the next process. The gripper cylinder 45 releases the gripper, and the loading of the next process can be realized. During the process of moving to the loading position of the next process, the rotary cylinder 44 rotates 180° or does not rotate according to the direction of the wire pipe fitting determined by the direction sensor 411.

[0031] Figures 1-5 As shown, the feeding method of this wire connector adopts the above-mentioned feeding device. The steps of the method are: (1) The lifting hopper 22 descends to the lower part of the support plate 1 to receive the feed from the previous process.

[0032] (2) The lifting hopper 22 moves upward on the support plate 1 and drives the wire pipe fitting inside it to move upward until the inclined bottom end of the lifting hopper 22 is flush with the upper end of the support plate 1. At this time, since the bottom surface of the lifting hopper 22 is inclined, the wire pipe fitting 5 will slide down to the position of the support plate 1, be blocked by the baffle plate 24 and pile up together.

[0033] (3) The baffle cylinder 23 drives the baffle plate 24 to rise, forming a channel below the baffle plate 24 that allows the wire pipe fittings to pass through. Some of the wire pipe fittings will then pass through this channel into the sliding baffle plate 21 and slide down along it to the front end of the feeding track 31. Due to the limited groove width of the feeding track 31 and the posture adjustment during the sliding process, the wire pipe fittings 5 ​​on the feeding track 31 are positioned with their pipe openings vertical. By controlling the baffle cylinder 23 to raise or lower the baffle plate 24, the feeding speed to the feeding track 31 can be controlled.

[0034] (4) Under the action of the vibrating feeder 32, the wire pipe fitting on the feeding track 31 is fed into the rear end of the conveyor. The vibrating feeder 32 then stops working.

[0035] (5) The gripper cylinder 45 drives the gripper to pick up the wire pipe fitting 5; then, driven by the feed cylinder 42 and the lifting cylinder 43, it moves to the loading position of the next process; during the movement, the rotating cylinder 44 rotates 180° or does not rotate according to the direction of the wire pipe fitting determined by the direction sensor 411; after moving to the loading position of the next process, the gripper cylinder 45 releases the gripper, and the wire pipe fitting 5 can be sent into the next process in a specific posture.

[0036] (6) The feed cylinder 42 drives the gripper 46 to move horizontally, and the lifting cylinder 43 drives the gripper 46 to move up and down. Under the combined drive of the feed cylinder 42 and the lifting cylinder 43, the gripper 46 moves to the rear end of the feeding track 31. The vibrating feeder 32 then starts working.

Claims

1. A feeding device for wire pipe fittings, characterized in that: It has a lifting mechanism, a linear feeding mechanism and a clamping mechanism on the support plate (1); the lifting mechanism feeds the wire pipe fitting (5) into the linear feeding mechanism, the linear feeding mechanism sends the wire pipe fitting (5) to the rear end of the conveying, and the clamping mechanism clamps the wire pipe fitting (5) at the rear end of the conveying and sends it to the loading position of the next process; the lifting mechanism includes a lifting hopper (22), a baffle cylinder (23) and a baffle plate (24); the support plate (1) is vertically set, the lifting hopper (22) is slidably connected to the side of the support plate, and the bottom of the lifting hopper (22) is inclined downward towards the support plate; the The linear feeding mechanism includes a feeding track (31), which is a long groove-shaped structure, and the width of the groove matches the length between the pipe openings of the wire-connected fitting (5). The clamping mechanism has a direction sensor (411) on its gripper (46). The direction sensor (411) is a proximity switch, and there are two of them, which are respectively set on the two jaws of the gripper (46). When the gripper (46) clamps the wire-connected fitting (5), one of the direction sensors faces the end face of the large pipe opening of the wire-connected fitting and does not face the end face of the small pipe opening, and the other direction sensor faces the end face of the small pipe opening of the wire-connected fitting and does not face the large pipe opening. The end faces are opposite each other; the direction of the wire pipe fitting (5) is determined according to the triggering status of the two direction sensors; the feeding track (31) is set on the other side of the support plate opposite to the lifting hopper; the baffle plate (24) is located at the upper end of the support plate and is blocked between the lifting hopper (22) and the feeding track (31); the output end of the baffle cylinder (23) is connected to the baffle plate (24) and drives the baffle plate (24) to move up and down; the clamping mechanism includes a horizontal slide (47), a connecting slide plate (49), a vertical slide (410), a feeding cylinder (42), a lifting cylinder (43), and a rotating cylinder. The cylinder (44) and the gripper cylinder (45) are slidably connected to the horizontal slide rail (47) and connected to the feed cylinder (42) that pushes it to slide; the vertical slide rail (410) is provided on the connecting slide rail (47), and the rotary cylinder (44) is slidably connected to the vertical slide rail (410) and connected to the lifting cylinder (43) that pushes it to slide; the output end of the rotary cylinder (44) is downward and connected to the gripper cylinder (45); the gripper (46) of the gripper cylinder (45) is set downward and can move between the rear end of the feeding track (31) and the loading position of the next process.

2. The feeding device for a wire pipe fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper surface of the support plate (1) is positioned opposite the lifting hopper (22) at an angle downward toward the feeding track.

3. The feeding device for a wire pipe fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper support plate (1) of the feeding track is provided with a sliding baffle (21); the upper end of the sliding baffle (21) is directly opposite the upper end of the support plate, and the lower end of the sliding baffle (21) is directly opposite the feeding track (31).

4. The feeding device for a wire pipe fitting according to claim 3, characterized in that: The baffle plate (24) blocks the material sliding baffle plate (21).

5. A feeding device for a wire pipe fitting according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that: The gripper (46) is equipped with a direction sensor (411) for determining the direction of the wire pipe fitting.

6. A method for feeding wire-connected pipe fittings, using the feeding device described in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The method steps are as follows: 1) The lifting hopper (22) lifts the wire pipe fitting inside it to the upper position of the support plate (1); 2) The baffle cylinder (23) drives the baffle plate (24) to rise, and the threaded pipe fitting slides from the lifting hopper (22) through the top of the support plate to the feeding track (31) under the action of gravity. 3) The wire pipe fitting (5) is fed into the rear end of the conveyor along the feeding track (31); 4) The gripper cylinder (45) drives the gripper (56) to pick up the wire pipe fitting, and then under the action of the feed cylinder (42) and the lifting cylinder (43), it is sent to the loading position of the next process.

7. The feeding method for a wire pipe fitting according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step 4), the rotary cylinder (44) decides whether to rotate based on the direction determined by the direction sensor (411).

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