Unmanned material refilling method, storage medium and application thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses an unmanned material feeding method, a storage medium and an application thereof. The unmanned material feeding method comprises the following steps: S1, preparing materials in a material preparation module; S2, receiving a material connection signal generated by the material feeding module; S3, in response to the material connection signal, controlling the connection module to perform a material connection action, and connecting the material belt in the material preparation module with the target material belt. Through the above arrangement, the present invention can realize the process of automatic material connection without manual participation, with a high degree of automation, reducing labor costs and improving work efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of surface mounting, and in particular to an unmanned material feeding method, a storage medium and applications thereof. Background Art

[0002] SMT (surface mount technology) is a processing technology for printed circuit boards. Specifically, it is a circuit assembly technology that mounts pinless or short-lead surface mount components (abbreviated as SMC / SMD, called chip components in Chinese) on the surface of a printed circuit board or other substrate, and assembles them by soldering through reflow soldering or dip soldering.

[0003] Among them, the core equipment is the placement machine, which is the core step to complete the placement of components. Through the automated and precise picking and placement of components, the assembly efficiency can be greatly improved. In conjunction with this, one or more component supply devices are installed on one side of the placement machine to continuously convey the rolled tape with sheet components installed to the placement machine. The problem that follows is that when the tape of the roll in a component supply device is delivered, the placement machine needs to wait for the new roll to be replaced, and manually connect the head of the new tape with the tail end of the old tape before continuing the placement operation, resulting in interruption of the placement process and reducing the placement efficiency of the placement machine.

[0004] In the prior art, the component supply device generally refers to a feeder, which is a feeder for feeding material tapes in SMT. Some technicians have tried to design a new feeder structure to solve the problem of low efficiency in manual material connection and reel changing. The specific direction is: the feeder is provided with two feed ports, and two sets of drive gears and two reels are provided at the same time. When the feeding of one of the reels is interrupted, the unwinding of the other reel is immediately started to achieve seamless feeding.

[0005] However, in actual production, if the front and rear rolls of material are directly conveyed without being spliced, the traction on the front section of the material and the pushing on the rear section of the material will often cause force fluctuations and inconsistencies, and blank spaces or overlapping stacks will appear at the joints of the two sections of the material. This will affect the placement action of the placement machine and even cause the placement process to be interrupted, reducing the placement efficiency of the placement machine. Summary of the invention

[0006] In order to solve the defect in the prior art that the feeder material receiving process reduces the efficiency of the placement machine, the present invention proposes an unmanned material feeding method, a storage medium and applications thereof.

[0007] As a first aspect, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is an unmanned feeding method, comprising the following steps:

[0008] S1, preparing materials in the material preparation module;

[0009] S2, receiving the material receiving signal generated by the material feeding module;

[0010] S3. In response to the material connection signal, control the connection module to execute the material connection action to connect the material tape in the material preparation module with the target material tape.

[0011] Preferably, S3 includes:

[0012] S31, cutting off the empty material at the tail end of the unwinding tape in the feeding module, and moving the cut tail end of the unwinding tape to the docking station as the target tape;

[0013] S32, moving the end of the material strip of the material preparation module to the docking station;

[0014] S33, controlling the connection module to perform a material connection action to connect the tail end of the target material tape with the connector end of the spare material tape.

[0015] Preferably, before moving the tail end of the unwinding tape to the docking station in S31, the method further includes: moving the docking module to the docking station.

[0016] Preferably, the step S2 of obtaining a material receiving signal comprises: detecting that the tail of the unwinding material belt in the material feeding module is empty and sending a material receiving signal; and / or,

[0017] Detect the roll diameter of the unwinding material tape placed in a roll, and send a material connection signal when the roll diameter becomes smaller than the preset value.

[0018] Preferably, before S3, the step of: SA is further included, forming a buffer area, the unwinding tape passes through the buffer area and then enters the working equipment, and part of the unwinding tape is buffered in the buffer area.

[0019] Preferably, the length of the material strip cached in the cache area is detected, and a corresponding signal is sent:

[0020] When it is detected that the length of the buffered material strip reaches a first preset value, a first signal is sent out, wherein the first signal is used to control the material feeding module to stop feeding;

[0021] When it is detected that the length of the buffered material strip reaches a second preset value, a second signal is sent out, and the second signal is used to control the material feeding module to start feeding.

[0022] Preferably, the method further includes: S4, judging the operation progress; if the total amount of the existing material strips cannot meet the requirements of the remaining operation progress, then executing S1-S3 in sequence to form a loop.

[0023] Preferably, when the result of S4 judging the operation process is that S1-S3 needs to be executed again to form a cycle, it also includes: SB, exchanging the working position of the material preparation module after automatic material reception in S32 with the material supply module that cuts off the old material belt in S31.

[0024] As a second aspect, the present invention further proposes a storage medium on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the unmanned feeding method as described above is implemented.

[0025] As a third aspect, the present invention further proposes an application of the above-mentioned unmanned material feeding method in surface mounting technology.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0027] 1. It can realize the process of automatic material receiving without manual participation, with high degree of automation, reducing labor costs and improving work efficiency;

[0028] 2. The process of automatic splicing of a single tape is greatly shortened, so the splicing of multiple tapes can be realized in a relatively short time, which relieves the pressure of splicing of multi-line synchronous placement machines, and can significantly improve the multi-line placement capability of placement machines and improve the placement efficiency;

[0029] 3. Set up a buffer area to pre-buffer part of the tape. When the unwinding of the tape is finished, the buffered part of the tape can continue to maintain normal patching for a period of time, which provides sufficient time for reel change and tape splicing, and avoids material breakage and downtime, so that the patch feeding can be seamlessly connected, which is conducive to improving the patch efficiency.

[0030] 4. The entire roll-changing and tape-splicing system has a connection process, reasonable equipment distribution, precise coordination between the front and rear processes, and clear division of labor. Material preparation can be done mechanically or manually, with low dependence on operators. It can achieve a high degree of automated operation, meets the high requirements of unmanned workshops, and is conducive to the realization of unmanned workshops. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a normal unwinding system in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 1 is a schematic diagram of a system after the material feed module has finished unwinding in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a system for receiving materials in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of a system when performing a position avoidance operation after the material receiving is completed in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 It is a method flow chart of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] 1. Feeder of the placement machine; 2. Cache module; 3. Feeding module; 4. Material preparation module; 5. Connection module; 51. Material receiving mechanism; 52. Mounting frame; 6. Receiver plate; 7. Material belt; 8. Guide mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] An automatic material splicing system is mainly used for splicing the material of the mounting machine in the SMT industry, especially in the production of LED related products. However, its application in any other field where strip-shaped items need to be spliced ​​should also fall within the application scope of the system. For ease of understanding, the following embodiments are explained using the application on the mounting machine as an example.

[0039] Specifically, if Figure 1 As shown, the automatic material receiving system includes a material feeding module 3, a material preparation module 4, a detection module and a connection module 5.

[0040] The feeding module 3 is located at the feeding station, that is, in the feeding feeder, and is used to transport the roll material tape 7 installed therein to the feeder 1 of the placement machine;

[0041] The material preparation module 4 is located at the material preparation station, that is, in the material preparation flyer, and is used to keep the roll material belt 7 installed therein in the material preparation state, and replenish the material belt 7 at the material refilling station in time after it is used up;

[0042] The detection module is installed on the feeding module 3. In another embodiment, it can also be installed on the frame, which monitors the feeding condition of the feeding module 3 and sends a material receiving signal when it detects that the tail end of the feeding module is empty;

[0043] The docking module 5 comprises a mounting frame 52 and a material receiving mechanism 51 arranged on the mounting frame 52, wherein both sides of the material receiving mechanism are respectively provided with inlets for inserting the material belt of the material feeding module and the material belt of the material preparation module;

[0044] The cutting module is arranged on the path where the material belt 7 is outputted from the feeding module 3 and performs a cutting action in response to the receiving signal.

[0045] After the feeding module 3 of the unmanned feeding system completes the feeding, the detection module will send a material connection signal to the control system, and then the cutting module will cut off the tail of the material belt 7 of the feeding module 3, and move the cut tail of the material belt 7 to the docking station. At the same time, the joint end of the material belt 7 in the material preparation station is also moved to the docking station, and then the docking module 5 is started to complete the connection of the two sections of the material belt 7, thereby realizing automatic connection and continuous feeding. Through the cooperation between the above multiple modules, the process of automatic material connection can be realized without human participation, with a high degree of automation, reducing labor costs and improving work efficiency.

[0046] In one embodiment, there are multiple feeding modules 3 and only one preparation module 4. Therefore, every time the material belt 7 in a feeding module 3 is unwound, it needs to be joined with the material belt 7 in the preparation module 4. This simplifies the number and structural complexity of the preparation modules 4, which can significantly reduce the size of the equipment and reduce costs.

[0047] In another embodiment, there is only one feeding module 3 and multiple preparation modules 4. Therefore, after the material belt 7 in the feeding module 3 is unwound, it can be connected with one of the multiple preparation modules 4. In this way, after preparing multiple preparation modules 4 at one time, automatic feeding can be achieved for a long time, and manual regular preparation is no longer required, thereby extending the time of automated production.

[0048] In another embodiment, Figure 2-4 As shown, both the feed module 3 and the preparation module 4 are provided in multiple numbers, and the numbers can be the same and correspond one to one, or the numbers can be different. In this embodiment, a driving mechanism is also provided on the mounting frame 52 of the docking module 5, and the driving mechanism is dynamically connected to the material receiving mechanism 51, and the motion trajectory of the material receiving mechanism 51 passes through at least multiple docking stations between all the feed modules 3 and the preparation modules 4. With this arrangement, only one docking module 5 needs to be provided between the feed module 3 and the preparation module 4, and through the cooperation of the driving mechanism and the mounting frame 52, the docking module 5 performs the material receiving action at different docking stations in turn, thereby reducing the number of docking modules 5, simplifying the structure of the overall equipment, and reducing the cost.

[0049] At the same time, the material receiving system also includes a material receiving and conveying mechanism, which includes:

[0050] At least one material feeding conveying gear, the material belt of the material feeding module is matched with the material feeding conveying gear, and when the material feeding conveying gear rotates in a first direction, the material belt of the material feeding module is driven to be inserted into the first entrance of the material receiving mechanism;

[0051] At least one material preparation conveying gear, the material belt of the material preparation module is in transmission cooperation with the material preparation conveying gear, and when the material preparation conveying gear rotates, the material belt of the material preparation module is driven to be inserted into the second entrance of the material receiving mechanism.

[0052] That is, the material belts in the feeding module and the preparation module are transported to the docking station through their respective corresponding conveying gears. Based on this, they can be transported before the material receiving machine arrives at the docking station. This operation can save the overall splicing time and improve efficiency; they can also be transported after the material receiving machine is in place. This operation can avoid possible interference problems between the material belt and the material receiving machine, and facilitate the material belt to enter the docking station smoothly.

[0053] In one embodiment, the detection module can be an infrared sensing component or an optical fiber sensor component or a CCD image sensor installed on the feed module 3, and when the tail of the unwinding material belt 7 is detected to be empty, a material connection signal is issued; in one embodiment, the detection module also includes a second detection component, which is an infrared sensing component or an optical fiber sensor component installed on the feed module 3 for detecting distance, and detects the roll diameter of the unwinding material belt 7 placed in a roll. When the roll diameter decreases to a preset value, a second material connection signal is issued, and the preset value can be the diameter of the material belt in the feed module after unwinding. Of course, these two can also be used as detection modules at the same time in one embodiment.

[0054] Furthermore, considering that the docking module 5 needs to be displaced between different docking stations, there will be position interference between the docking module 5 and the material strip 7 that has completed the material connection. Here, the material connection mechanism 51 of the docking module 5 can be one of the common snap-on material connection machines, glue-on material connection machines, press-on material connection machines, or hot-melt film material connection machines. The specific selection depends on the product or manufacturer's requirements.

[0055] To address this problem, in one embodiment, the driving mechanism includes a horizontal driving member and a vertical driving member, wherein the horizontal driving member drives the docking module 5 to move between different docking stations, and the vertical driving member drives the docking module 5 to move closer to or away from the material belt 7 constrained on the docking station. Specifically, a horizontal slide rail is provided on the mounting frame 52, and the material receiving mechanism 51 of each docking module 5 is vertically slidably connected to the mounting seat, and the mounting seat is horizontally slidably connected to the slide rail of the mounting frame 52, so that the material receiving mechanism 51 can achieve horizontal and vertical position adjustment. Among them, the horizontal driving member and the vertical driving member can be the same or different, and can be one of the common driving structures such as a cylinder, an oil cylinder, a linear motor, a screw structure, etc. Even when multiple docking stations are arranged in a circle, the horizontal driving member can also be a motor and a connecting rod structure.

[0056] In another embodiment, Figure 2-4As shown, a receiving plate 6 is rotatably connected to the mounting frame 52, and the material belt 7 of the material preparation module 4 is fixedly constrained on the receiving plate 6, and when the receiving plate 6 rotates, the constraint on the material belt 7 is released, that is, the mounting frame is rotatably connected to a receiving plate at each of the docking stations, the end of the material belt of the material preparation module is supported on the receiving plate, and when the receiving plate rotates downward, the material belt of the material preparation module is separated from the docking module.

[0057] Therefore, in this embodiment, the installation position of the receiving plate 6 is the docking station on the mounting frame 52, which is used to place the joint end of the prepared material belt 7 on the receiving plate 6, and a baffle structure corresponding to the position of the receiving plate 6 can also be provided on the mounting frame 52. When the receiving plate 6 rotates to a horizontal position, it cooperates with the baffle structure to form a flow channel, which facilitates the insertion of the joint end of the prepared material belt 7 and forms a limit constraint effect. A conveying gear can also be installed on the baffle structure, and the gear corresponds to the hole on the material belt 7. The material belt 7 can be conveyed by rotating the gear.

[0058] Specifically, one side of the receiving plate 6 is rotatably connected to the mounting frame 52, and the other side can be connected and fixed by a pin or buckle structure. When the receiving plate 6 needs to rotate downward, the pin or buckle is manually or system-controlled to be pulled out, so that the material belt 7 that has completed the material connection will naturally fall and separate from the docking module 5, and will not affect the movement of the docking module 5. Of course, the other side of the receiving plate 6 may not be connected to the mounting frame 52, but only the rotation angle of the receiving plate 6 is controlled by the rotation connection on one side. At this time, the rotation connection method can be a connection method with a position locking effect such as hinge, gear transmission, etc. Of course, in another embodiment, the receiving plate 6 can also be installed on the material preparation module, and the material belt in the material preparation module enters the material receiving machine through the receiving plate 6, and the tail end of the material belt in the material feeding module on the other side also enters the material receiving machine. After the material connection is completed, the receiving plate rotates, and the material belt of the material preparation is separated from the receiving plate. At this time, the material receiving machine is removed, and the joined material belt is separated from the docking module, and the entire material belt falls downward.

[0059] In this embodiment, if Figure 2-4 As shown, a guide structure can also be set on the side of the mounting frame 52 close to the placement machine, and the tail end of the material belt 7 of the feeding module 3 passes through the guide structure, and the guide structure is a plate or box body rotatably mounted on the frame. When the tail end of the material belt 7 of the feeding module 3 is engaged with the joint end of the material belt 7 of the preparation module 4, when the receiving plate 6 rotates downward, the guide structure also rotates downward synchronously and resists the material belt 7 of the feeding module 3, causing it to move downward, thereby achieving the effect of separating the material belt 7 from the connection module 5.

[0060] In one embodiment, a feed guide mechanism is also provided on one side of the mounting frame 52 close to the material preparation module 4, which may be a plurality of movable rod assemblies or a feed track with an arc-shaped guide surface. After the end of the material strip 7 in the material preparation station or the unwinding station enters the guide mechanism, it will eventually enter the docking station at the same angle, thereby ensuring that the material strips 7 at different positions can become material strips 7 in a preparation state, thereby expanding the applicability of the docking station.

[0061] In one embodiment, based on the above content, Figure 2-4 As shown, a buffer module 2 is also provided, which includes a buffer area provided on the path from the feeding module 3 conveying the material belt 7 to the placement machine flyer 1, and part of the unwinding material belt 7 is buffered in the buffer area. Since the buffer area is provided, part of the material belt 7 is pre-buffered therein, so that when the unwinding material belt 7 is finished, the buffered part of the material belt 7 can continue to maintain normal placement for a period of time, which provides sufficient time for reeling and splicing, and also avoids the situation of material breakage and shutdown, so that the patch feeding is seamlessly connected, which is conducive to improving the patch efficiency.

[0062] In this embodiment, if Figure 2-4 As shown, the buffer module 2 can be just a blank area, one end of the material belt 7 of the feeding module 3 enters the feeder 1 of the placement machine, and the other end is located in the feeding module, and the material belt 7 passing through the buffer area hangs down, forming a buffer part. In another embodiment, a separate buffer stick can also be provided, and part of the material belt 7 is wound on the stick.

[0063] At the same time, the buffer module 2 also includes a sensor component, which is a length sensor for sensing the length of the material belt 7 in the buffer area, or a position sensor for sensing the position of the material belt 7 in the buffer area, or even a CCD image recognition device. In this embodiment, a position sensor is used, which can be an infrared sensor or an optical fiber sensor, for detecting the height of the sagging point of the material belt 7. When the sagging point of the material belt 7 is continuously increased until it exceeds the position of the sensor, the sensor is triggered, indicating that there is no material belt 7 in the feeding module 3 that can continue to be conveyed, so that a material receiving signal or a signal for starting and stopping the feeding module can be issued.

[0064] The present application also proposes an unmanned material feeding method, which can be applied to any of the above-mentioned multiple automatic material receiving systems, including the following steps:

[0065] S1. Prepare materials in the material preparation module; that is, in addition to the feeding module that normally performs material feeding and conveying, another material preparation module is formed, and when the feeding module is performing normal material feeding, material preparation is performed simultaneously, so that the material preparation action will not delay normal material feeding, and spare material belts can be prepared in advance, avoiding the problem of long time caused by concentrated operations when multiple feeding material belts need to be connected at the same time.

[0066] S2. Obtain the material receiving signal generated by the material feeding module in the unwinding state, and send the material receiving signal to the control system. Specifically, it can be to detect the empty material at the end of the unwinding material belt 7 and send a material receiving signal; or to detect the roll diameter of the unwinding material belt 7 placed in a roll, and send a material receiving signal when the roll diameter becomes smaller than a preset value; or both are used at the same time.

[0067] S3. In response to the material receiving signal, the connecting module is controlled to perform the material receiving action to connect the material tape in the material preparation module with the target material tape. The control system controls the connecting module 5 to perform the material receiving action according to the material receiving signal.

[0068] Specifically, S3 automatic material receiving includes:

[0069] S31, cutting off the empty material at the tail end of the unwinding tape in the feeding module, and moving the cut tail end of the unwinding tape to the docking station as the target tape;

[0070] S32, moving the end of the material strip of the material preparation module to the docking station;

[0071] S33, controlling the connection module to perform a material connection action to connect the tail end of the target material strip with the connector end of the spare material strip;

[0072] Since there may be different numbers of docking stations and different numbers of docking modules in different embodiments, in embodiments where a plurality of docking stations share a small number of docking modules, before S31 is executed, the docking module needs to be moved to the target docking station in advance, so as to facilitate the insertion of the ends of the subsequent target material belt and spare material belt into the docking module for the splicing operation.

[0073] In another embodiment, step SA is also included before S3 to form a buffer area, and the unwinding tape 7 enters the working device after passing through the buffer area, and part of the unwinding tape 7 is buffered in the buffer area. This step can be performed after S2 or before S2. In this embodiment, S2 obtains the material connection signal by detecting the buffer length of the tape 7 in the buffer area, and when the buffer length is shortened to a preset value, a material connection signal is issued; or by detecting the height position of the bottom of the buffer tape, when it rises to a preset height, it indicates that the buffer length becomes smaller, and a material connection signal is issued.

[0074] In another embodiment, the length of the material strip cached in the cache area is detected, and a corresponding signal is sent:

[0075] When it is detected that the length of the buffered material strip reaches a first preset value, a first signal is sent out, wherein the first signal is used to control the material feeding module to stop feeding;

[0076] When it is detected that the length of the buffered material strip reaches a second preset value, a second signal is sent out, and the second signal is used to control the material feeding module to start feeding;

[0077] When it is detected that the length of the buffered material tape reaches a third preset value, a third signal is sent out, and the third signal is used to control the material feeding module to release all the remaining material tapes.

[0078] Specifically, the first preset value is the maximum value of the cached material tape. When it is detected that the length of the cached material tape reaches the first preset value, it means that the material tape in the cache area is sufficient and the feeding of the feeding module can be suspended; the second preset value is the minimum value of the cached material tape. When it is detected that the length of the cached material tape reaches the second preset value, it means that the length of the material tape in the cache area is already less and it is necessary to start the feeding module to replenish new material tape in time; the third preset value is the minimum value of the cached material tape length. When it is detected that the length of the cached material tape reaches the third preset value, it means that the material tape in the feeding module has been fully unwound and there is no spare material to be fed. At this time, it is necessary to control the feeding module to release the empty material at the tail end of the material tape to avoid equipment damage and to remind the operator to shut down in time.

[0079] In another embodiment, it further includes S34, the docking station releases the limit constraint on the joint end of the spare material belt 7, and the joint end of the spare material belt 7 is displaced and separated from the docking module 5. In another embodiment, the avoidance can also be: driving the docking module 5 to displace and separate from the spare material belt 7, and the displacement direction of the docking module 5 does not interfere with the conveying direction of the spare material belt 7; in another embodiment, it can also be that the docking station contacts the constraint on the spare material belt, and the docking module is also displaced to avoid interference.

[0080] Then the conveying device is started to convey the joined new material belt 7 to the working device. In an embodiment applied to a chip mounter, the conveying gear in the feeder is controlled to convey the material belt 7 .

[0081] S4, judging the operation progress, if the total amount of the existing material belt 7 cannot meet the requirements of the remaining operation progress, then execute S1-S3 in sequence to form a cycle. If the total amount of the existing material belt 7 meets the needs of this production, it is no longer necessary to execute the steps of the next cycle. However, when the result of judging the operation progress is that it is necessary to execute S1-S3 again to form a cycle, it also includes step SB: swap the position of the new material belt 7 after the automatic material connection in S32 with the old material belt 7 cut off in S31, that is, swap the position of the new material preparation module with the new material feeding module, so that the material preparation module is always at the material preparation station, and the material feeding module is always at the material feeding station. In this way, the feeder at the material preparation station is in an empty material state, and the material preparation operation of the next cycle can be executed again.

[0082] In another embodiment, the operation progress may not be judged, but S1-S3 may be directly executed in sequence to form a loop until a stop instruction is received, and then the loop is stopped.

[0083] In addition, the present invention also discloses a storage medium on which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the unmanned material refilling method as described above is implemented.

[0084] Finally, any application of the automatic material receiving device or unmanned material feeding method in the above embodiments in the field of SMT technology should also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0085] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", etc. 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 application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. Unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" 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 it can be an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be a connection between the two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0086] It should be noted that, in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, the elements defined by the sentence "comprise a ..." do not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the elements.

[0087] The above description is only a specific implementation of the present application, so that those skilled in the art can understand or implement the present application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application will not be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but will conform to the widest range consistent with the principles and novel features applied for herein.

Claims

1. An unmanned feeding method, characterized in that: The steps include: S1, preparing materials in the material preparation module; S2, receiving the material receiving signal generated by the material feeding module; S3, in response to the material connection signal, controlling the connection module to perform a material connection action, connecting the material strip in the material preparation module with the target material strip; Wherein, the S3 includes: S31, cutting off the empty material at the tail end of the unwinding tape in the feeding module, and driving the cut tail end of the unwinding tape to move to the first entrance of the docking station as the target tape through gear rotation; S32, driving the joint end of the spare material belt in the material preparation module to move to the second entrance of the docking station through gear rotation, the receiving plate is located at the docking station, the joint end of the spare material belt is placed on the receiving plate, and a baffle structure corresponding to the position of the receiving plate is also provided on the docking module. When the receiving plate is rotated to a horizontal position, it cooperates with the baffle structure to form a flow channel for the insertion of the joint end of the spare material belt and forms a limit constraint; S33, controlling the connection module to perform a material connection action to connect the tail end of the target material strip with the connector end of the spare material strip; S34, by rotating the receiving plate, the docking station releases the limit constraint on the joint end of the spare material belt, and the joint end of the spare material belt is displaced and detached from the docking module; Wherein, before S3, it also includes: SA, forming a buffer area, the material tape of the unwinding material tape passes through the buffer area and enters the working equipment, and part of the material tape of the unwinding material tape is buffered in the buffer area.

2. The unmanned feeding method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before moving the tail end of the unwinding tape to the docking station in S31, the method further includes: moving the docking module to the docking station.

3. The unmanned feeding method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The S2 includes: detecting that the tail of the unwinding material belt in the material feeding module is empty and sending a material receiving signal; and / or, Detect the roll diameter of the unwinding material tape placed in a roll, and send a material connection signal when the roll diameter becomes smaller than the preset value.

4. The unmanned feeding method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the material strip cached in the cache area is detected and a corresponding signal is issued: When it is detected that the length of the buffered material strip reaches a first preset value, a first signal is sent out, wherein the first signal is used to control the material feeding module to stop feeding; When it is detected that the length of the buffered material strip reaches a second preset value, a second signal is sent out, and the second signal is used to control the material feeding module to start feeding.

5. The unmanned feeding method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: S4, judging the operation progress, if the total amount of existing material strips cannot meet the requirements of the remaining operation progress, then execute S1-S3 in sequence to form a loop.

6. The unmanned feeding method according to claim 5, characterized in that: When the result of S4 judging the operation process is that S1-S3 needs to be executed again to form a cycle, it also includes: SB, exchanging the working position of the material preparation module after automatic material reception in S32 with the material supply module that cuts off the old material belt in S31.

7. A storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the computer program is executed by a processor, the unmanned feeding method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 is implemented.

8. Application of the unmanned material feeding method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in surface mounting technology.

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