Automatic flip feeding device and automatic laser engraving equipment including the device

By designing automatic flip loading devices and integrated multi-function automation devices in laser engraving equipment, the problems of low automation level, large errors and long production cycles in the prior art are solved, and efficient and accurate laser engraving production is achieved.

CN115716598BActive Publication Date: 2025-05-16SUZHOU XINDALU PLASTIC HARDWARE IND
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202111459885.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2021-12-02
Publication Date
2025-05-16
Estimated Expiration
2041-12-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Most of the existing laser laser processing equipment are semi-automatic, with low automation level, resulting in large errors during processing, which cannot meet the requirements of precision instruments for high positioning accuracy. At the same time, the equipment covers a large area, long material flow time, and lengthen the production cycle.

Method used

An automatic flip feeding device is designed, including a lifting mechanism and a flip mechanism. By lifting and flipping, the flow time of materials between stations is shortened, and the station space is reduced, and multiple functional devices such as feeding, transporting, positioning, laser engraving, and cutting are integrated to improve the degree of automation.

Benefits of technology

Through automatic flip loading device and integrated multi-function device, the degree of automation of laser engraving equipment is improved, artificial errors are reduced, material flow time and production cycle are shortened, and laser engraving efficiency and accuracy are improved.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention discloses an automatic flipping feeding device and an automated laser engraving device including the device, wherein the feeding device comprises a lifting mechanism and a flipping mechanism arranged on a machine platform; a feeding station is formed on the feeding device, the feeding device realizes picking up materials from a material conveying device and loading the materials to the loading station, the material conveying device realizes the transportation of the materials placed thereon; the lifting mechanism realizes lifting the materials on the material conveying device; the flipping mechanism is erected on the material conveying device, the flipping mechanism is configured to pick up the lifted materials from the lifting mechanism, and flip the picked up materials to the loading station; after the materials on the lifting mechanism are picked up by the flipping mechanism, the unloaded lifting mechanism is reset, and the materials on the material conveying device are reloaded to the lifting mechanism. The feeding device disclosed in the present invention reduces feeding interference by lifting the materials off the conveyor belt, and reduces the time and space requirements for material circulation by flipping the materials.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of laser equipment, and in particular to an automatic flipping and feeding device and automated laser engraving equipment comprising the device. Background Art

[0002] Laser processing, also known as laser processing, is a process that uses a high-energy density light beam to irradiate the surface of a material to vaporize or change the color of the material. As an advanced manufacturing technology, laser processing has been widely used in many fields such as automobiles, metallurgy, aerospace, machinery, textiles, chemicals, construction, shipbuilding, instrumentation, microelectronics industry, art production, daily necessities and industrial products manufacturing due to its non-contact, no need for tools and molds, clean, high efficiency, convenient numerical control and can be used for special processing. It is used for punching, cutting, milling, welding, etching, strengthening and repairing of large parts, material surface modification and material synthesis, rapid manufacturing of molds, models and parts, production and cleaning of arts and crafts, product marking and anti-counterfeiting, etc.

[0003] Laser processing is also increasingly applied to the field of precision instrument manufacturing technology such as laptops and mobile phones. Precision instruments have high requirements for the position accuracy of lasers, and some products need to laser out unique marks at specific locations. Therefore, in the laser process, it is necessary to determine the processing surface, processing angle, and specific processing position positioning at specific locations. High-precision operations, which place high requirements on the positioning and adjustability of products by laser equipment during the processing process. However, most existing laser processing equipment is semi-automatic, and there is a large room for improvement in the level of automation. In addition, the degree of human participation in the semi-automatic mode is high, and the error is considered to be large during the processing process, which is not suitable for the high positioning accuracy requirements of precision instruments. On this basis, the existing laser engraving equipment occupies a large space, the flow of materials between various workstations takes up a lot of time, and the workstation design is unreasonable, resulting in a prolonged production cycle. Therefore, in actual production, the existing semi-automatic mode laser processing equipment still has many defects and deficiencies. It is necessary to improve the existing technology and design a laser equipment with a high degree of automation for precision instruments. Summary of the invention

[0004] This section summarizes some aspects of the prior disclosure and briefly introduces some preferred embodiments. Simplifications or omissions in this section may avoid hiding the purpose of this section, abstract and title, just like the description in the abstract or title. These simplifications or omissions are not intended to limit the scope of the prior disclosure.

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a feeding device with automatic flipping feeding function, which includes an action mechanism for lifting and flipping materials. The material flow time between workstations is shortened by lifting and flipping materials, and the workstation space is reduced by setting the flipping workstation. In addition, a plurality of workstations are correspondingly arranged on the machine platform, and the connection between the workstations is reasonable, which conforms to the material flow mode and saves material flow time. The detailed technical scheme of the present invention is as follows:

[0006] An automatic turning and loading device comprises a machine platform, and a lifting mechanism and a turning mechanism respectively arranged on the machine platform;

[0007] A loading station is formed on the loading device, the loading device is configured to pick up materials from the material conveying device and place the picked up materials on the loading station, the material conveying device is arranged on the machine platform, and the material conveying device is configured to transport the materials placed thereon;

[0008] The lifting mechanism is configured to lift the material on the material conveying device;

[0009] The flipping mechanism is mounted on the material conveying device, and the flipping mechanism is configured to pick up the lifted material from the lifting mechanism, and flip the picked up material to the loading station of the loading device. After the loading device completes the loading, the subsequent processing equipment picks up the material from the loading station;

[0010] After the material on the lifting mechanism is picked up by the turning mechanism, the unloaded lifting mechanism is reset, and the material on the material conveying device is reloaded onto the lifting mechanism.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above technical solution, a feeding station and a lifting station are sequentially arranged on the material conveying device along the material conveying direction.

[0012] Furthermore, a feeding device is provided on the feeding station, and the feeding device places the materials to be laser engraved on the material conveying device in an orderly manner at equal intervals. The materials to be laser engraved are placed in a material storage tray, and the material storage tray carrying the materials to be laser engraved is placed on the material conveying device by the feeding device.

[0013] Furthermore, when the lifting mechanism is in the initial position, the lifting station is formed thereon. When the lifting mechanism lifts the material upward from the initial position, the lifting station is lifted upward to form a loading and turning station. When the unloaded lifting mechanism is reset, the lifting mechanism is reset to the lifting station.

[0014] Furthermore, the material conveying device includes a conveyor belt and a driving motor for driving the conveyor belt to move, the conveyor belt is configured to realize the conveyance of materials, and the lifting mechanism lifts the materials transported thereto from the conveyor belt.

[0015] Furthermore, the material conveying device also includes a material receiving tray, which is placed on the feeding station of the conveyor belt. The material receiving tray is configured to accommodate materials. The material receiving tray containing materials moves along with the conveyor belt on the conveyor belt. Driven by the conveyor belt, the material receiving tray moves from the feeding station to the lifting station.

[0016] Furthermore, two lifting mechanisms are relatively arranged on the platform, and the two lifting mechanisms are relatively arranged on both sides of the conveyor belt along the width direction of the conveyor belt.

[0017] Furthermore, the lifting mechanism includes a lifting block and a lifting drive assembly, and the lifting drive assembly drives the lifting block to reciprocate up and down. The lifting block is close to the side edge of the conveyor belt, and two relatively arranged lifting blocks form a lifting station of the material storage tray.

[0018] At a certain moment, the height of the jacking block is basically flush with or lower than the upper surface of the conveyor belt. After the material storage tray carrying the material is transferred to the jacking station, the lifting drive assembly drives the jacking block to move upward, so that the material storage tray is lifted off the conveyor belt, and the material is placed in the material storage tray with the surface to be laser engraved facing upward.

[0019] Furthermore, the flipping mechanism is arranged adjacent to the lifting mechanism.

[0020] Furthermore, the flipping mechanism includes a fixed frame and a flipping assembly connected to the fixed frame, and one or more suction cups are arranged on the flipping assembly. The suction cups form a loading station of the loading device, and the suction cups at the loading station are arranged in a direction away from the conveyor belt.

[0021] Furthermore, the flipping assembly is configured to rotate along the fixed frame so that the suction cup thereon rotates toward the lifting station and picks up the material on the material storage tray from the lifting station. After the material is picked up, the flipping assembly rotates and resets to the loading station, and the surface of the material to be laser engraved is placed downward on the suction cup.

[0022] Furthermore, the flip assembly includes a flip shaft connected to the fixed frame, and a flip arm connected to the flip shaft, and the suction cup is arranged on the flip arm; at a certain moment, the flip arm is horizontally arranged on one side of the flip shaft, and the material storage tray is arranged on the other side of the flip tray, and the suction cup on the flip arm is away from the conveyor belt to form a loading station; when the material storage tray is lifted from the jacking station to the loading and flipping station, the flip arm rotates along the central axis of the flip shaft, driving the suction cup to rotate toward the conveyor belt, so that the suction cup absorbs and picks up the material from the loading and flipping station; after the material is picked up, the flip arm rotates along the central axis of the flip shaft and resets to the loading station, and the unloaded material storage tray is reset to the jacking station as the jacking block descends, and the surface to be laser engraved of the material at the loading station faces the conveyor belt.

[0023] Furthermore, the central axis of the flip shaft is perpendicular to the central axis of the conveyor belt.

[0024] Based on the automatic flipping and loading device provided above, the present invention also provides an automated laser engraving device, which not only includes the automatic flipping and loading device described above, but also includes:

[0025] The transfer device, positioning device, laser engraving device and unloading device are arranged on the machine platform, wherein:

[0026] The transfer device is configured to pick up materials from the loading device, place the picked up materials on the positioning device for positioning, and then transfer the positioned materials to the laser engraving station of the laser engraving device;

[0027] The laser engraving device is configured to perform laser engraving on the surface of the material at the laser engraving station;

[0028] The transfer device is also configured to transfer the laser-engraved material from the laser engraving station to the unloading device;

[0029] The unloading device is configured to deliver the material transferred thereto to a subsequent workstation.

[0030] The feeding device is configured to feed the automated laser engraving equipment.

[0031] The above technical solution further comprises that the transfer device includes a base, a first connecting arm, a second connecting arm, a third connecting arm and an adsorption assembly, the base is fixedly connected to the machine, one end of the first connecting arm is movably connected to the base, and the other end is movably connected to the second connecting arm, one end of the third connecting arm is movably connected to the second connecting arm, and the other end is movably connected to the adsorption assembly.

[0032] Furthermore, the first connecting arm can rotate horizontally relative to the base, the second connecting arm and the first connecting arm can rotate relative to each other in the vertical direction, the third connecting arm and the second connecting arm can rotate relative to each other in the vertical direction, the adsorption component can rotate relative to the third connecting arm in the vertical direction, and the adsorption component can rotate along the connection between it and the third connecting arm.

[0033] Furthermore, the adsorption component includes a claw plate and one or more suction cups arranged on the claw plate, and the transfer device adsorbs materials from the feeding device through the suction cups and places the adsorbed materials on the positioning device.

[0034] Furthermore, the positioning device includes a positioning fixture, which includes a positioning panel, a positioning component installed on the edge of the positioning panel, and a positioning adsorbent; the positioning panel is mounted on the machine platform through a bracket, the positioning panel has a through hole in the center, and the positioning adsorbent is installed in the through hole through a connecting plate.

[0035] Furthermore, the positioning panel is a rectangular panel having two relatively long sides and two relatively short sides, one long side and one short side are respectively provided with grooves recessed inward from the edge of the rectangular panel, a positioning block is embedded in the groove, a locking piece is clamped on the outer edge of the other short side, and a plurality of supporting protrusions are provided on the positioning panel close to the other long side.

[0036] Furthermore, the transfer device places the adsorbed material on the positioning panel, the positioning block, the positioning member and the supporting protrusion jointly position the material, the positioning adsorbent adsorbs and fixes the material, and the surface of the material to be laser engraved faces the positioning adsorbent.

[0037] Furthermore, when the transfer device picks up the positioned material from the positioning fixture, the positioning adsorbent releases the adsorbed material.

[0038] Furthermore, the laser engraving device has a laser light source, and the light beam emitted by the laser light source directly irradiates the laser engraving station. The transfer device transfers the positioned material to the laser engraving station, and faces the surface of the material to be laser engraved toward the laser light source. When the laser engraving device completes the laser engraving of the material, the transfer device transfers the laser engraved material to the unloading device, and the transfer device places the surface of the material that has been laser engraved facing downward on the unloading device.

[0039] Furthermore, the unloading device is arranged adjacent to the loading device, and the unloading device has the same structure as the loading device. The suction cup on the flipping mechanism of the unloading device forms an unloading station, and the transfer device transfers the material that has completed laser engraving to the unloading station. The flipping mechanism of the unloading device rotates toward the material storage tray on the lifting mechanism of the unloading device, and the material storage tray is located on the unloading flipping station. The material that has completed laser engraving is released by the suction cup on the unloading device and placed in the material storage tray. The surface of the material that has completed laser engraving is placed upward in the material storage tray, and the material storage tray carrying the material that has completed laser engraving descends to the return station along the lifting mechanism of the unloading device. The return station is located on the conveyor belt, and the transmission belt transports the material storage tray carrying the material that has completed laser engraving to the subsequent dust removal station.

[0040] Compared with the prior art, the automatic flip loading device provided by the present invention includes an action mechanism for lifting and flipping materials, which shortens the material flow time between workstations by lifting and flipping materials, and reduces the workstation space by setting the flipping workstation. Such a structural design makes the connection between each workstation more reasonable, conforms to the material flow mode, and saves material flow time.

[0041] Furthermore, the automated laser engraving equipment with the automatic flipping loading device integrates multiple functional devices for loading, transferring, positioning, laser engraving, and unloading. The various devices cooperate with each other, and the degree of automation is high. No human participation is required in the laser engraving process. The positioning of the laser engraving position is adjusted by the machine standard, and a batch of products produced have a unified production standard. The overall reduction of inaccurate positioning caused by human intervention and the lack of unified positioning standards, the fully automatic production mode can improve production efficiency; and further, the automated laser engraving equipment provided by the present invention has a reasonable arrangement between each workstation, and accelerates the flow of materials through lifting, flipping and all-round transfer devices, shortening the material flow time and distance, thereby improving the material laser engraving efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0043] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the change in position of a material flowing in the device when the laser engraving device provided by the present invention is used to perform laser engraving on a designated single side of a material in an embodiment;

[0044] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a laser engraving device provided by the present invention at a viewing angle in one embodiment;

[0045] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a feeding device of a laser engraving device provided by the present invention in one embodiment at a viewing angle;

[0046] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a transfer device of a laser engraving device provided by the present invention in one embodiment at a viewing angle;

[0047] Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of a positioning device of a laser engraving device provided by the present invention in one embodiment at a viewing angle;

[0048] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a structure of a partial structure of a laser engraving device provided by the present invention in one embodiment at a viewing angle, wherein a loading device and a unloading device installed on a material conveying device are shown;

[0049] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of a positioning panel of a laser engraving device provided by the present invention in one embodiment;

[0050] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of a state in which the turning mechanism of the feeding device of the present invention absorbs materials from the material receiving tray on the jacking station in one embodiment;

[0051] Fig. 9 for Figure 8 The schematic diagram of the state of the overturning mechanism shown in the figure after the material adsorption is completed and the material is driven to overturn and reset;

[0052] Fig.10 It is a schematic diagram of the state of the unloading device when the transfer device of the present invention places the laser-engraved material on the suction cup of the turning mechanism of the unloading device in one embodiment;

[0053] Fig.11 for Fig.10 The schematic diagram of the state in which the turning mechanism of the unloading device absorbs the material through the suction cup and drives the material to turn over and release it into the material receiving tray on the lifting station of the unloading device;

[0054] Fig.12 This is a schematic diagram of the overall layout structure of a fully automatic laser engraving equipment production line containing 7 laser engraving equipment in one embodiment.

[0055] Among them: 10-machine;

[0056] 20- material conveying device; 21- conveyor belt; 22- driving motor; 23- material storage tray;

[0057] 30-feeding device; 31-lifting mechanism; 311-lifting block; 312-lifting drive assembly; 32-turning mechanism; 321-fixed frame; 322-turning assembly; 323-turning shaft; 324-turning arm; 325-suction cup;

[0058] 40-transfer device; 41-base; 42-first connecting arm; 43-second connecting arm; 44-third connecting arm; 45-adsorption assembly; 451-claw plate;

[0059] 50-positioning device; 51-positioning fixture; 511-positioning panel; 5111-through hole; 512-positioning assembly; 5121-positioning block; 5122-positioning member; 5123-supporting protrusion; 513-positioning adsorption member; 5131-connecting plate;

[0060] 60- laser engraving device; 61- laser light source;

[0061] 70-feeding device; 71-lifting mechanism; 711-lifting block; 712-lifting drive assembly; 72-turning mechanism; 721-fixed frame; 722-turning assembly; 723-turning shaft; 724-turning arm; 725-suction cup;

[0062] 80- mobile phone back shell; A- back side of mobile phone back shell; B- front side of mobile phone back shell; -Complete the laser engraving on the back of the phone case;

[0063] 90-dust removal device;

[0064] Feeding station a, lifting station b, loading and turning station c, loading station d, positioning station e, laser engraving station f, unloading station g, unloading and turning station h, falling back station i, dust removal station j. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0066] The detailed description of the present invention is mainly presented through procedures, steps, logic blocks, processes or other symbolic descriptions, which directly or indirectly simulate the operation of the technical solutions in the present invention. Those skilled in the art use these descriptions and statements here to effectively introduce the essence of their work to other technicians in the art.

[0067] The "one embodiment" or "embodiment" described herein means that the features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiment can be included in at least one implementation of the present invention. The "in one embodiment" appearing in different places in the present invention does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it necessarily refer to a separate or selected embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. In addition, the order of modules in the method, flow chart or functional block diagram representing one or more embodiments is not a fixed order, does not refer to any specific order, and does not constitute a limitation of the present invention.

[0068] like Figure 1 As shown, it shows a schematic diagram of the position state change of the material flowing in the device when the laser engraving device provided by the present invention is used to perform laser engraving on a specified single side of the material. The figure schematically shows a flat rectangular material, which can be understood as having a front and back side. The side marked with A in the figure is defined as the back side, which is also the target surface to be laser engraved, and the side marked with B is the front side, which does not need to be laser engraved. Therefore, the material shown in the figure needs to set the laser engraving device to automatically flip and position to achieve the specified single-sided laser engraving. Figure 1 Marked as The surface is the A surface after laser engraving. In one embodiment, the material can be the back cover of an Apple mobile phone circulating in the market, and the back of the back cover of the mobile phone needs to be laser engraved with a pattern.

[0069] The laser engraving device provided by the present invention is used for Figure 1 The standard process for laser engraving the materials shown is as follows:

[0070] Step 1: feeding materials. The material receiving tray 23 carrying materials is sequentially placed on the conveyor belt 21 of the material conveying device 20. At this time, the material to be laser engraved is placed on the material receiving tray 23 with the surface facing upward. The material receiving tray 23 can be made of insulating materials such as foam to protect the outer surface of the material to avoid surface wear during the conveying process. The material receiving tray 23 carrying materials can be placed on the conveyor belt 21 manually or by a feeding device such as a robot.

[0071] Step 2: Loading: The loading device 30 lifts and picks up the material from the conveyor belt 21 through the lifting mechanism 31, and absorbs the material from the lifting mechanism 31 through the suction cup 325 of the flipping mechanism 32. After the material is absorbed, the flipping mechanism 32 flips and resets, so that the surface of the material to be laser engraved faces downward and is placed on the suction cup 325;

[0072] Step three, positioning the material and transferring it to the laser engraving station for laser engraving, this step specifically includes: picking up the material from the suction cup 325 of the flip mechanism 32 by the transfer device 40, and placing the material on the positioning device 50 for positioning; after the positioning is completed, the transfer device 40 picks up the material from the positioning device 50 and transfers the material to the laser engraving station of the laser engraving device 60, so that the surface of the material to be laser engraved faces the laser light source 61 of the laser engraving device 60, and the laser engraving device 60 completes the laser engraving of the material.

[0073] Step 4: unload the laser-engraved material onto the conveyor belt 21 and transport it to the downstream station. Specifically, the material that has been laser-engraved is transferred to the suction cup 725 of the flipping mechanism 72 of the unloading device 70 through the transfer device 40. The surface of the material that has been laser-engraved is placed downward on the suction cup 725. The flipping mechanism 72 of the unloading device 70 drives the material to flip toward the lifting mechanism 71 of the unloading device 70, so that the suction cup 725 releases the material into the material storage tray 23 on the lifting station of the lifting mechanism 71. The surface of the material that has been laser-engraved is placed upward in the material storage tray 23. The lifting mechanism 71 descends and resets so that the material storage tray 23 carrying the laser-engraved material is placed on the conveyor belt 21. The material storage tray 23 carrying the laser-engraved material is transported to the downstream dust removal station by the conveyor belt 21. At this point, the complete laser engraving process of a material is completed.

[0074] In order to improve the efficiency of laser engraving of materials, from the perspective of a single device, we can start from the above four steps respectively and develop an automation device for each operation step, so as to realize the automation of the operation step. Furthermore, it is also necessary to develop suitable sub-devices or mechanisms for the sub-steps within each step to realize the automation of the sub-step. For example, for the feeding device 30, since this step includes two sub-steps such as material lifting and material adsorption and flipping, it may be necessary to develop two sub-devices or mechanisms for the above two sub-steps. Of course, in order to realize the automation of the whole process of laser engraving of materials, these automation devices for each step can also be integrated together. The present invention is proposed based on the above-mentioned inventive concept. The following will use multiple embodiments to exemplify the automation devices for each operation step of the present invention and a complete set of automatic laser engraving equipment for materials.

[0075] Material conveying device

[0076] In this embodiment, the present invention provides a material conveying device 20, which may include a conveyor belt 21 and a driving motor 22 for driving the conveyor belt 21 to move. The conveyor belt 21 is configured to realize the conveying of materials, the loading device 30 picks up materials from the conveyor belt 21, and the unloading device 70 transfers the materials transferred thereto to the subsequent workstation through the conveyor belt 21. Therefore, the material conveying device 20 is mainly used to cooperate with the loading device 30 and the unloading device 70 to realize the loading of materials to be laser engraved and the recycling and transfer of laser engraved materials, and is an important functional device for the automation of laser engraving equipment.

[0077] Of course, see Figure 6 , Figure 6 In one embodiment, a structure of the material conveying device 20 is shown. The material conveying device 20 shown in the figure mainly uses the main body of the main transmission line of the conveyor belt 21. Of course, this is also a more common technical implementation method in the conveying device at this stage. Of course, under the premise of ensuring the function, the conveyor belt 21 has low cost, strong versatility, and well-developed maintenance and replacement methods. In actual production, the application of the conveyor belt 21 is an efficient production method that saves costs and reduces the difficulty of fault repair.

[0078] Continue to see Figure 6 The material conveying device 20 shown in the figure is also provided with a material receiving tray 23, and the material receiving tray 23 is placed on the conveyor belt 21. The material receiving tray 23 is configured to realize the storage of materials. The material receiving tray 23 storing materials moves along with the conveyor belt 21 on the conveyor belt 21. The use of the receiving tray avoids the wear on the surface of the material. The use of a mechanized structure to realize automatic loading during the feeding process can also avoid the wear of the material by hard objects such as mechanical structures.

[0079] Feeding device

[0080] In this embodiment, the present invention provides a material loading device 30. It can realize the loading of materials, and can load the materials to the loading station for the transfer device 40 to pick up and then perform laser engraving.

[0081] The feeding device 30 can transport and flip the materials to be laser engraved. At this time, there are actually two processes in the feeding device 30. The first process is the feeding process, and the next process is the flipping process. Obviously, the feeding device 30 can also be split into a feeding device 30 and a flipping device according to the process. The split feeding device 30 can also be used as a feeding device 30 of other material operation devices, which is not particularly limited in this embodiment.

[0082] like Figure 3 , 6As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , a lifting station and a loading station are formed in the loading device 30 in the embodiment of the present invention. The loading device 30 may include two lifting mechanisms 31 arranged opposite to each other, and a turning mechanism 32 arranged adjacent to the lifting mechanisms 31.

[0083] In one embodiment, see Figure 6 The two lifting mechanisms 31 are relatively arranged on both sides of the width direction of the conveyor belt 21. The lifting mechanism 31 includes a lifting block 311 and a lifting drive assembly 312. The lifting drive assembly 312 drives the lifting block 311 to reciprocate up and down. The lifting block 311 is close to the side edge of the conveyor belt 21. The two lifting blocks 311 arranged relatively form a lifting station of the material storage tray 23. The lifting drive assembly 312 can be a driving cylinder, which has a driving rod, and the driving rod is connected to the lifting block 311. The driving cylinder can realize the lifting or falling of the lifting block 311 according to the control of the equipment control device.

[0084] At a certain moment, the height of the lifting block 311 is substantially flush with or lower than the upper surface of the conveyor belt 21, so that the material storage tray 23 can be freely transported on the conveyor belt 21 without being blocked by the lifting block 311. Of course, the distance between the two relatively arranged lifting blocks 311 is smaller than the distance between the material storage tray 23 in the width direction of the conveyor belt 21. When the material storage tray 23 carrying the material is transferred to the lifting station, the lifting drive assembly 312 drives the lifting block 311 to move upward, so that the material storage tray 23 is lifted off the conveyor belt 21, and the surface of the material to be laser engraved is placed upward in the material storage tray 23.

[0085] In one embodiment, the above-mentioned flipping mechanism 32 may include a fixed frame 321 and a flipping component 322 connected to the fixed frame 321, and one or more suction cups 325 are arranged on the flipping component 322. The flipping component 322 is configured to rotate along the fixed frame 321, so that the suction cup 325 thereon picks up the material on the material storage tray 23 from the jacking station. After the material is picked up, the flipping component 322 rotates and resets, so that the surface to be laser engraved of the material is placed face down on the suction cup 325. The flipping of the flipping mechanism 32 can make the surface to be laser engraved face down. After that, when the transfer device 40 transfers the material to the positioning device 50 during the transfer process, the surface to be laser engraved faces the positioning panel 511 for precise positioning.

[0086] In one embodiment, the fixing frame 321 of the above-mentioned flipping mechanism 32 may include two brackets arranged opposite to each other, and the two brackets are respectively arranged on the two side edges in the width direction of the conveyor belt 21, and the above-mentioned flipping assembly 322 is mounted on the two brackets.

[0087] In one embodiment, the above-mentioned flip assembly 322 includes a flip shaft 323 connected to the fixed frame 321, and a flip arm 324 connected to the flip shaft 323, the flip arm 324 is provided with the suction cup 325, the two ends of the flip shaft 323 are respectively movably connected to the above-mentioned two brackets, the flip arm 324 and the flip shaft 323 can be integrally formed or separately connected and fixed to each other, the flip arm 324 can include one or more cantilever frames extending outward from the side surface of the flip shaft 323, and each cantilever frame is provided with one or more soft suction cups 325. At a certain moment, the flip arm 324 is horizontally arranged on one side of the flip shaft 323, the material storage tray 23 is arranged on the other side of the flip tray, and the suction cup 325 on the flip arm 324 is away from the conveyor belt 21 to form a loading station.

[0088] When the material receiving tray 23 is lifted from the initial position, the flip arm 324 rotates along the central axis of the flip shaft 323, driving the suction cup 325 to rotate toward the conveyor belt 21, so that the suction cup 325 absorbs and picks up the material. Figure 8 After the material is picked up, the flip arm 324 rotates and resets along the central axis of the flip shaft 323, and the unloaded material storage tray 23 is reset as the lifting block 311 descends, and the surface of the material to be laser engraved faces the conveyor belt 21. Fig. 9 .

[0089] See also Figure 6 The central axis of the flip shaft 323 is perpendicular to the central axis of the conveyor belt 21 , and the flip shaft 323 is mounted on the conveyor belt 21 .

[0090] In one embodiment, the fixed frame 321 of the flipping mechanism 32 can be an L-shaped bracket, one end of the bracket is installed on the side of the conveyor belt 21, and the other end is suspended above the conveyor belt 21. The flipping component 322 can be connected to the bracket through a connecting piece, so that one arm of the bracket is suspended as the rotation axis of the flipping arm 324, and the flipping arm 324 is movably connected to one arm of the bracket, thereby realizing the adsorption and flipping of the material.

[0091] It should be noted here that the lifting mechanism 31 can only descend and reset after the material carried on it is picked up by the flipping mechanism 32, that is, when there is no material on the jacking station. This design can form a closed-loop feedback. When the material is transmitted to the flipping mechanism 32, it proves that the material on the lifting mechanism 31 has indeed been transmitted away, which can prevent the material from being transmitted to the right place, or "rushing" causing the material on the lifting mechanism 31 to fall back with the lifting mechanism before being picked up, resulting in material feeding disorder, thereby reducing the possibility of errors in production.

[0092] The loading device 30 provided in the embodiment of the present invention can be used as a component and integrated with the material conveying device 20, the transfer device 40, and the unloading device 70 to form a complete set of equipment for automatic material flow. It can be used in conjunction with the laser engraving device 60, and can also be used in conjunction with other functional devices. This embodiment does not impose any special restrictions.

[0093] Of course, the lifting mechanism 31 and the flipping mechanism 32 in the loading device 30 can also be split according to their functions and used in different application scenarios. The lifting mechanism 31 can be used as the loading device 30 of other types of material handling devices. For example, the structure of the unloading device 70 in the present invention is the same as that of the loading device 30, and both are functionally connected to the transfer device 40. The functional process of the unloading device 70 is the reverse of the working process of the loading device 30, that is, the loading device 30 first lifts and lifts the material and then flips over to load the material, while the unloading device 70 first flips over to feed the material and then lifts and unloads the material.

[0094] Those skilled in the art should be aware that when the turning mechanism 32 is used as an independent turning device, it may be necessary to provide a feeding mechanism on its feeding side to feed the material to the feeding position of the turning mechanism 32 .

[0095] When the feeding device 30 is used as a component of a complete set of automatic material packaging equipment, the specific process of the relevant operations of the feeding device 30 after feeding the material to be laser engraved can refer to the relevant content in the following embodiments.

[0096] Transfer device

[0097] In this embodiment, the present invention provides a transfer device 40. Figure 1 and Figure 4 The transfer device 40 can pick up materials from the loading station, and then position the materials in the positioning device 50. After the positioning is completed, the materials are transferred to the laser engraving station for laser engraving.

[0098] See Figure 4 The transfer device 40 provided in this embodiment may include a base 41, a first connecting arm 42, a second connecting arm 43, a third connecting arm 44 and an adsorption component 45. The base 41 is fixedly connected to the machine 10, one end of the first connecting arm 42 is movably connected to the base 41, and the other end is movably connected to the second connecting arm 43, one end of the third connecting arm 44 is movably connected to the second connecting arm 43, and the other end is movably connected to the adsorption component 45.

[0099] In one embodiment, see Figure 4The first connecting arm 42 can rotate horizontally relative to the base 41. In one case, the first connecting arm 42 fits the surface of the base 41, and the first connecting arm 42 can rotate along the central axis of the base 41, which is flexible to transport.

[0100] The second connecting arm 43 and the first connecting arm 42 are relatively rotated in the vertical direction. In one case, see Figure 4 One end of the first connecting arm 42 forms a connecting seat of the second connecting arm 43, and the connecting seat is a groove. One end of the second connecting seat is movably inserted in the groove, and the second connecting arm 43 can rotate back and forth along the central axis of the groove.

[0101] The third connecting arm 44 and the second connecting arm 43 are relatively rotated in the vertical direction. In one case, see also Figure 4 One end of the second connecting arm 43 forms a connecting seat of the third connecting arm 44, and the connecting seat is a groove. One end of the third connecting seat is movably inserted in the groove, and the third connecting arm 44 can rotate back and forth along the central axis of the groove.

[0102] The adsorption assembly 45 rotates relative to the third connecting arm 44 in the vertical direction, and the adsorption assembly 45 can rotate along the connection between it and the third connecting arm 44, that is, the adsorption assembly 45 and the third connecting arm 44 have two degrees of freedom, see Figure 4 A rotating part is provided at one end of the adsorption component 45, which can be a universal joint. The adsorption component 45 itself has the function of rotation. On this basis, the rotating part of the adsorption component 45 which can rotate by itself is inserted into the groove at the end of the third connecting arm 44. The adsorption component 45 can rotate back and forth along the central axis of the groove. Therefore, the overall structure of the transfer device 40 has an extremely high degree of freedom, and can realize the transfer of materials in all directions.

[0103] In one embodiment, see Figure 4 The adsorption assembly 45 may include a claw plate 451 and one or more suction cups disposed on the claw plate 451. The transfer device 40 adsorbs materials from the feeding device 30 through the suction cups, and places the adsorbed materials on the positioning device 50. Figure 4 The claw plate 451 shown in the figure is a rectangular claw plate 451 , and one or more suction cups (not shown) may be provided on the lower surface of the claw plate 451 .

[0104] Of course, the adsorption component 45 of the transfer device 40 provided in this embodiment can also be directly grasped by a robot, but in actual applications, the robot is prone to scratching the surface of the material, and the uneven force on the material during the grasping process will cause the positioned material to shift under the grasping force state, reducing the positioning accuracy or making the positioning invalid.

[0105] It should be noted that the transfer device 40 provided in the embodiment of the present invention can be used as an independent device or as a component, integrated with the feeding device 30 and the like to form a complete set of automated equipment.

[0106] A person skilled in the art should be aware that when the transfer device 40 is used as an independent device, a loading mechanism may need to be provided on its loading side to load materials to the loading point of the transfer device 40, and an unloading mechanism may also need to be provided on its unloading side to receive the transferred materials.

[0107] In the whole set of automated equipment, some stations in two different functional devices can overlap or partially overlap, and some structural components can be reused. For example, the loading station of the transfer device 40 is actually the loading station formed on the suction cup 325 in the loading device 30, and the unloading station of the transfer device 40 is actually the unloading station formed by the suction cup 325 in the unloading device 70. This is a station overlap state formed by the combination of multiple functional devices, which is a simplified borrowing of stations. That is, some of the stations mentioned in this embodiment actually overlap in the equipment structure.

[0108] Positioning device

[0109] In this embodiment, the present invention provides a positioning device 50. Figure 5 and Figure 7 The positioning device 50 can accurately position the materials placed thereon, ensuring the positioning accuracy when the transfer device 40 takes the materials.

[0110] In one embodiment, the positioning device 50 is mounted on the machine 10, and may include a positioning fixture 51, the positioning fixture 51 includes a positioning panel 511, a positioning component 512 installed on the edge of the positioning panel 511, and a positioning adsorption component 513; the positioning panel 511 is mounted on the machine 10 through a bracket, the positioning panel 511 has a through hole 5111 in the center, and the positioning adsorption component 513 is installed in the through hole 5111 through a connecting plate 5131.

[0111] See also Figure 7 The positioning panel 511 can be a rectangular panel having two long sides and two short sides arranged opposite to each other. A groove recessed inward from the edge of the rectangular panel is respectively provided on one long side and one short side, and a positioning block 5121 is embedded in the groove. A locking piece 5122 is clamped on the outer edge of the other short side, and a plurality of supporting protrusions 5123 are provided on the positioning panel 511 close to the other long side.

[0112] When the transfer device 40 places the adsorbed material on the positioning panel 511, the positioning block, the locking member 5122 and the supporting protrusion 5123 jointly position the material, and the positioning adsorbent 513 adsorbs and fixes the material, with the surface of the material to be laser engraved facing the positioning adsorbent 513; when the transfer device 40 picks up the positioned material from the positioning fixture 51, the positioning adsorbent 513 releases the adsorbed material.

[0113] In order to improve the positioning accuracy of the material and meet the requirements of high-precision instruments for laser engraving accuracy, the present invention uses a positioning device 50 to perform secondary positioning on the material, and the adsorption component 45 of the transfer device 40 is used to adsorb and grasp the material to achieve a high degree of positioning accuracy of the material.

[0114] Laser engraving device

[0115] This embodiment provides a laser engraving device 60, which can realize laser engraving on the surface of a material.

[0116] In one embodiment, the laser engraving device 60 has a laser light source 61, and the light beam emitted by the laser light source 61 directly irradiates the laser engraving station. The transfer device 40 transfers the positioned material to the laser engraving station, and faces the surface of the material to be laser engraved toward the laser light source 61. When the laser engraving device 60 completes the laser engraving of the material, the transfer device 40 transfers the laser engraved material to the unloading device 70, and the transfer device 40 places the surface of the material that has been laser engraved facing downward on the unloading device 70.

[0117] Feeding device

[0118] See the above embodiment for introducing the feeding device 30. Figure 6 The unloading device 70 provided in this embodiment is arranged adjacent to the loading device 30. The unloading device 70 has the same structure as the loading device 30. The suction cup 725 on the flip mechanism 72 of the unloading device 70 forms an unloading station. The transfer device 40 transfers the laser engraved material to the unloading station. Fig.10 The flip mechanism 72 of the unloading device 70 rotates toward the material storage tray 23 on the lifting station of the unloading device 70, and the laser-engraved material is released by the suction cup 725 on the unloading device 70 and placed in the material storage tray 23, see Fig.11 The surface of the material that has been laser engraved is placed upward in the material storage tray 23 of the unloading device 70. The material storage tray 23 carrying the material that has been laser engraved falls onto the conveyor belt 21 along the lifting mechanism 71 of the unloading device 70. The transmission belt transports the material storage tray 23 carrying the material that has been laser engraved to the subsequent dust removal station.

[0119] It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the above-mentioned loading device 30, transfer device 40, positioning device 50, laser engraving device 60 and unloading device 70 are not necessarily completely independent in structure, and one or several structural parts may be reused between the devices. Correspondingly, the processing stations in each device are not necessarily completely staggered in spatial position, and some stations may partially overlap or even completely overlap. The above-mentioned structural reuse and station overlap can shorten the material circulation distance and time, save equipment space, and simplify the equipment structure.

[0120] In some embodiments, each device is provided with independent internal transfer components as required, and these internal transfer components only move inside the device to which they belong so as to realize the transfer of paper materials between various processing stations inside the device to which they belong. For example, the turning mechanism 72 is actually also a transfer mechanism, which is a transfer mechanism inside the unloading device 70. The machine 10 is additionally provided with a transfer device 40, which can reciprocate between the devices to transfer materials from one device to another.

[0121] Compact automated laser engraving equipment

[0122] It can be seen from the description in the above embodiments that the compact and fully automatic flipping and positioning laser engraving equipment can be integrated by a material conveying device 20 , a loading device 30 , a transfer device 40 , a positioning device 50 , a laser engraving device 60 and a unloading device 70 .

[0123] According to the device functions, the loading device 30 needs to cooperate with material conveying and the unloading device 70 also needs to cooperate with material conveying. In order to avoid mixing of materials to be laser engraved and materials that have been laser engraved, it is necessary to allocate corresponding material conveying mechanisms to the loading device 30 and the unloading device 70 respectively. Such a setting undoubtedly increases the material conveying cost and increases the equipment space. Therefore, it is necessary to further optimize the layout of these functional devices, so as to make the structure of the compact fully automatic flip positioning laser engraving equipment more compact, and facilitate material conveying to prevent mixing.

[0124] In this embodiment, the present invention provides a compact fully automatic flipping and positioning laser engraving device, which includes the material conveying device 20, the loading device 30, the transfer device 40, the positioning device 50, the laser engraving device 60 and the unloading device 70 mentioned in some of the above embodiments, and optimizes the layout of each functional device, or optimizes the layout of each operating station of the paper box. When describing the structure of each functional component in the compact fully automatic flipping and positioning laser engraving device, the relevant description and related drawings in the above embodiments can still be used.

[0125] Before introducing the compact fully automatic flip positioning laser engraving device in this embodiment, we first define three coordinate axes: the first horizontal axis X, the second horizontal axis Y, and the longitudinal axis Z. Among them: the first horizontal axis X and the second horizontal axis Y are two mutually perpendicular coordinate axes located on the horizontal plane, the longitudinal axis Z is a coordinate axis located on the vertical plane, and the X axis, Y axis and Z axis are mutually perpendicular. In the following, we will use these three coordinate axes as a reference to describe the arrangement of each station on the laser engraving device.

[0126] Combination Figure 1 ,refer to Figure 2 As shown, the fully automatic flipping and positioning laser engraving equipment with compact structure in this embodiment has a feeding station a, a lifting station b, a loading and flipping station c, a loading station d, a positioning station e, a laser engraving station f, a material unloading station g, a material unloading and flipping station h, a falling station i, and a dust removal station j formed on the machine platform 10, wherein:

[0127] The feeding station a, the lifting station b, the falling station i, and the dust removal station j are sequentially arranged on a first axis parallel to the first horizontal axis X. The loading and turning station c, the loading station d, the unloading station g, and the unloading and turning station h are sequentially arranged on a second axis parallel to the first horizontal axis X. The first axis and the second axis are parallel to each other, and the horizontal height of the first axis is lower than the horizontal height of the second axis.

[0128] The loading station d and the positioning station e are sequentially arranged on a third axis parallel to the second horizontal axis Y. The positioning station e and the laser engraving station f are sequentially arranged on a fourth axis parallel to the longitudinal axis Z.

[0129] It should be noted here that Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the position state change of the material flowing in the equipment is only a workstation layout diagram under one device layout mode. The arrangement order of the flipping mechanism and the lifting mechanism of the loading device, and the arrangement order of the flipping mechanism and the lifting mechanism of the unloading device can be arranged according to actual conditions. The arrangement order of the lifting mechanism and the flipping mechanism affects the rotation direction of the flipping arm of the flipping mechanism when sucking materials, and the installation position of the suction cup on the flipping arm. Without violating the principle shown in the schematic diagram of the position state change of the material flowing in the equipment described in the present invention, those skilled in the art can arrange the material according to the following method: Figure 1 Obtain the position state change diagram of other similar materials flowing within the equipment.

[0130] The laser engraving equipment in this embodiment includes a material conveying device 20 , a loading device 30 , a transfer device 40 , a positioning device 50 , a laser engraving device 60 and a unloading device 70 .

[0131] The feeding station a, the lifting station b, the falling station i, and the dust removal station j are sequentially arranged on the material conveying device 20. The loading and turning station c, the loading station d, the unloading station g, and the unloading and turning station h are sequentially arranged directly above the material conveying device 20.

[0132] Using the laser engraving device provided by the embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 The back side of the mobile phone back cover 80 shown is laser engraved. The station flow and material state of the mobile phone back cover 80 from material feeding to laser engraving completion on the laser engraving equipment can be described as follows:

[0133] See also Figure 1 , place the back side A of the mobile phone rear shell 80 upward on the material storage tray 23, and then place the material storage tray 23 on the conveyor belt 21 of the material conveying device 20, the material storage tray 23 is conveyed from the feeding station a on the conveyor belt 21 to the lifting station b, and the lifting station b is provided with a sensor. When it is detected that the material storage tray 23 is conveyed to the lifting station b, the lifting mechanism 31 at the lifting station b lifts the material storage tray 23 on the lifting station b upward to the feeding and flipping station c;

[0134] The flip arm 324 of the flip mechanism 32 located between the loading flip station c and the loading flip station d rotates from the initial position to the loading flip station c, so that the suction cup 325 on the flip arm 324 sucks the mobile phone rear shell 80 from the loading flip station c. Figure 1 It can be seen that the orientation of the front and back sides of the mobile phone rear shell 80 is changed by the flipping of the flipping mechanism 32. The back side A of the mobile phone rear shell 80 at the loading flipping station c faces upward, while the front side B of the mobile phone rear shell at the loading station d faces upward.

[0135] The transfer device 40 absorbs the mobile phone rear shell 80 at the loading station d through the flexible suction cup 325 component and places it on the positioning panel 511 of the positioning device 50 for precise positioning. The positioning panel 511 forms the positioning station e. After the positioning is completed, the transfer device 40 absorbs the mobile phone rear shell 80 from the positioning station e, and the transfer device 40 realizes the flipping of the adsorbed mobile phone rear shell 80 through the first connecting arm 42, the second connecting arm 43 and the third connecting arm 44 thereon, as well as the freedom of the adsorption component 45 itself, so that the reverse side A of the mobile phone rear shell 80 is flipped to Facing the laser source of the laser engraving device 60, the adsorption component 45 of the transfer device 40 adsorbs the mobile phone rear shell 80 and places it in the air on the laser engraving station f of the laser engraving device 60. At this time, the adsorption component 45 actually forms the laser engraving station f. After the laser engraving device 60 completes the laser engraving of the back side A of the mobile phone rear shell 80, the adsorption component 45 of the transfer device 40 adsorbs the mobile phone rear shell 80 and moves again, so that the adsorption component 45 of the transfer device 40 turns the mobile phone rear shell 80 while shifting it, so that the front side B of the mobile phone rear shell 80 is placed upward on the unloading station g of the unloading device 70;

[0136] The flipping arm 724 of the flipping mechanism 72 of the unloading device 70 located between the unloading station g and the unloading flipping station h rotates from the initial position to the unloading flipping station h. A material storage tray 23 is placed on the unloading flipping station h. The flipping arm 724 places the mobile phone case on the unloading station h in the material storage tray 23. The lifting mechanism 71 of the unloading device 70 descends and returns the material storage tray 23 carrying the laser-engraved mobile phone back shell 80 to the falling station i. At this time, the material storage tray 23 carrying the laser-engraved mobile phone back shell 80 moves with the conveyor belt 21 of the material conveying device 20 to the dust removal station j for dust removal, and is packaged after dust removal.

[0137] It should be noted that the material conveying device 20, the loading device 30, the transfer device 40, the positioning device 50, the laser engraving device 60 and the unloading device 70 in the laser engraving equipment in this embodiment respectively adopt the structures in the above embodiments. Since the specific structures and working processes of these devices have been described in detail in the previous text, they will not be repeated here.

[0138] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 As shown, in order to realize automatic feeding of materials and further improve equipment efficiency, preferably, a material storage mechanism located in front of the feeding station a can also be formed on the machine 10.

[0139] Finally, it should be noted that the above-mentioned multiple embodiments of the present invention describe the various components of the compact and fully automatic flipping and positioning laser engraving equipment from different perspectives. Some embodiments focus on describing one component, while another embodiment focuses on describing another component. Under the premise of no contradiction, the detailed description of a component in one embodiment can also be used to understand the same component in another embodiment.

[0140] Fully automatic laser engraving equipment production line

[0141] Based on the above-mentioned compact fully automatic flipping and positioning laser engraving equipment, this embodiment provides a multi-linked automated laser engraving equipment production line, which can be composed of several laser engraving equipment, and the multiple laser engraving equipment basically achieves synchronous action under the control of the control system.

[0142] The following is a brief description of the operating principle of a line containing seven laser engraving devices:

[0143] See also Fig.12 The production line shown in the figure includes 7 laser engraving devices. The production line has a material conveyor device for loading materials. The material conveyor device is arranged in a straight line on one side of the 7 laser engraving devices. The 7 laser engraving devices are arranged in a row on the same side of the material conveyor device. One end of the material conveyor device is used for loading materials, and the other end is provided with a dust removal device for dust removal of the laser engraved materials.

[0144] In the initial state, 7 laser engraving devices are on standby, and materials are loaded onto the conveyor belt of the material conveyor device first. The spacing between each material is the same. When the first material placed on the conveyor belt reaches the 7th laser engraving device (the 7 devices are named in sequence along the material conveying direction of the material conveyor device, Fig.12 The arrow P in the figure indicates the material conveying direction. The seven laser engraving devices are: the first laser engraving device, the second laser engraving device, the third laser engraving device, the fourth laser engraving device, the fifth laser engraving device, the sixth laser engraving device, and the seventh laser engraving device. The seventh laser engraving device is close to the dust removal device 90. The machine under the sixth laser engraving device is not displayed, but it can be understood that the machines under the seven laser engraving devices are actually the same. When the lifting station of the first to sixth laser engraving devices is started, it means that there are also materials on the lifting stations of the first to sixth laser engraving devices. At this time, the seven laser engraving devices are started at the same time, which means that the action rhythm of the seven laser engraving devices is consistent and they will definitely complete the action together;

[0145] When the 7 laser engraving devices start to work at the same time, the 7 lifting stations lift the materials on them off the conveyor belt. At this time, there is no material on the conveyor belt. Then, during the working time of the laser engraving devices, the materials can continue to be conveyed on the conveyor belt until materials appear again on the lifting station of the 7th laser engraving device (it should be supplemented here that after the materials on the lifting station are picked up by the flipping mechanism, the lifting mechanism is reset, and the lifting station is flush with the conveyor belt or slightly lower than the conveyor belt again. Therefore, the 7 laser engraving devices work synchronously, and the 7 lifting stations are reset synchronously. After resetting, they continue to load materials on the conveyor belt, and the 7 lifting stations have materials again). The lifting mechanism rises again to lift the materials on the lifting station off the conveyor belt;

[0146] When the 7 laser engraving equipment finished their work, the 7 unloading stations received the unloading materials from the transfer device at the same time. Through the flipping and falling actions of the unloading device, the 7 laser engraved materials were sent to the dust removal station for dust removal in turn.

[0147] In order to save working hours, when the transfer device completes unloading from the unloading device, the loading device has completed loading, so that the materials on the loading station can be directly picked up by the transfer device. Therefore, the description of the action principle of the 7 units in the above production line has formed an action cycle from the first loading to the second loading. The production line can continue to cycle in this cycle. Therefore, during the action, no matter how many machines are on the production line, the action cycle can be realized, so as to ensure that the actions of multiple laser engraving equipment are basically synchronized and realize multiple linkage.

[0148] Fig.12 Only one production line structure of multiple linked laser engraving devices is shown. In one embodiment, the material conveying device can also be arranged in a curved shape, such as an S-shaped arrangement. This arrangement can densely arrange the production line equipment to save space.

[0149] In one embodiment, the present invention also provides a linkage method for a production line of multiple linked laser engraving devices, which may include the following steps:

[0150] Place a number of material storage trays 23 carrying materials on the conveyor belt 21 of the material conveying device 20 one by one at equal intervals, so that there is material on the lifting station corresponding to each laser engraving device, and multiple laser engraving devices are controlled by the control device to start at the same time, and the material to be laser engraved is placed in the material storage tray 23 with the surface facing up;

[0151] The loading devices of multiple laser engraving equipment load the materials on their respective lifting stations to the loading stations respectively, so that there is material on each loading station, and the transfer device of each laser engraving equipment picks up the material from the corresponding loading station, and the unloaded lifting station is reset under the drive of the lifting mechanism of the loading device;

[0152] The transfer device of each laser engraving equipment transfers the picked-up materials to the laser engraving device for laser engraving;

[0153] After the multiple unloaded lifting stations are reset, a number of material storage trays 23 carrying materials are placed one by one at equal intervals on the conveyor belt 21 of the material conveying device 20, so that the lifting stations corresponding to each laser engraving device are re-filled with materials. The loading device loads the materials on the lifting stations to the loading stations, and the transfer device that has completed unloading picks up the materials from the loading stations again;

[0154] The laser-engraved material is unloaded by the transfer device to the unloading station of the unloading device. The unloading device transports the material on the unloading station to the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt transports the laser-engraved material to the subsequent station.

[0155] The above-mentioned multiple linked laser engraving equipment production line may include several laser engraving equipment, and the action process of one of the laser engraving equipment can be specifically described as follows:

[0156] The loading device 30 lifts and picks up the material from the conveyor belt 21 through the lifting mechanism 31, and absorbs the material from the lifting mechanism 31 through the suction cup of the flipping mechanism 32. After the material is absorbed, the flipping mechanism 32 flips and resets, so that the surface of the material to be laser engraved faces downward and is placed on the suction cup;

[0157] The transfer device 40 picks up the material from the suction cup of the flip mechanism 32, and places the material on the positioning device 50 for positioning. After the positioning is completed, the transfer device 40 picks up the material from the positioning device 50 and transfers the material to the laser engraving station of the laser engraving device 60, so that the surface of the material to be laser engraved faces the laser light source 61 of the laser engraving device 60, and the laser engraving device 60 completes the laser engraving of the material;

[0158] The transfer device 40 transfers the material that has completed laser engraving to the suction cup of the flipping mechanism 72 of the unloading device 70, and the surface of the material that has completed laser engraving is placed downward on the suction cup, and the flipping mechanism 72 of the unloading device 70 drives the material to flip toward the lifting mechanism 71 of the unloading device 70, so that the suction cup releases the material into the material storage tray 23 on the lifting station of the lifting mechanism 71, and the surface of the material that has completed laser engraving is placed upward in the material storage tray 23, and the lifting mechanism 71 descends and resets so that the material storage tray 23 carrying the material that has completed laser engraving is placed on the conveyor belt 21, and the material storage tray 23 carrying the material that has completed laser engraving is transported by the conveyor belt 21 to the subsequent dust removal station.

[0159] The present invention has been described in sufficient detail with certain particularity. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the description in the embodiments is merely exemplary, and all changes made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. The scope of protection claimed by the present invention is defined by the claims, rather than by the above description in the embodiments.

Claims

1. An automatic flip feeding device, characterized in that: It includes a machine platform, and a lifting mechanism and a turning mechanism respectively arranged on the machine platform; A loading station is formed on the loading device, and the loading device is configured to pick up materials from the material conveying device and place the picked up materials on the loading station. The material conveying device is arranged on the machine platform, and the material conveying device is configured to transport the materials placed thereon; The lifting mechanism is configured to lift the material on the material conveying device; The flipping mechanism is mounted on the material conveying device, and is configured to pick up the lifted material from the lifting mechanism, and flip the picked up material to the loading station of the loading device. After the loading device completes the loading, the subsequent processing equipment picks up the material from the loading station. After the material on the lifting mechanism is picked up by the turning mechanism, the empty lifting mechanism is reset, and the material on the material conveying device is reloaded onto the lifting mechanism. The material conveying device (20) comprises a conveyor belt (21) and a driving motor (22) for driving the conveyor belt (21) to move, the conveyor belt (21) being configured to convey materials, the lifting mechanism lifting the materials conveyed thereon from the conveyor belt (21); the material conveying device (20) further comprises a material receiving tray (23), the material receiving tray using an insulating material to protect the surface of the materials, Two lifting mechanisms are arranged on the platform in a relative manner, and the two lifting mechanisms are arranged on both sides of the conveyor belt in a relative manner along the width direction of the conveyor belt; The lifting mechanism (31) comprises a lifting block (311) and a lifting drive assembly (312), wherein the lifting drive assembly (312) drives the lifting block (311) to reciprocate up and down, and the lifting block (311) is close to the side edge of the conveyor belt (21), and two lifting blocks (311) arranged opposite to each other form a lifting station of the material storage tray (23); At a certain moment, the height of the lifting block (311) is substantially flush with or lower than the upper surface of the conveyor belt (21). After the material storage tray (23) carrying the material is conveyed to the lifting station, the lifting drive assembly (312) drives the lifting block (311) to move upward, so that the material storage tray (23) is lifted off the conveyor belt (21), and the material is placed in the material storage tray (23) with the surface to be laser engraved facing upward. The turning mechanism (32) is arranged adjacent to the lifting mechanism (31); The turning mechanism (32) comprises a fixed frame (321) and a turning assembly (322) connected to the fixed frame (321), one or more suction cups are arranged on the turning assembly (322), the suction cups form a loading station of the loading device, and the suction cups at the loading station are arranged in a direction away from the conveyor belt; The flip assembly (322) is configured to rotate along the fixed frame (321) so that the suction cup thereon rotates toward the lifting station and picks up the material on the material storage tray (23) from the lifting station. After the material is picked up, the flip assembly (322) rotates and returns to the loading station, and the surface of the material to be laser engraved is placed downward on the suction cup.

2. The automatic flipping and loading device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The material conveying device is provided with a feeding station and a lifting station in sequence along the material conveying direction; The feeding station is provided with a feeding device, which can place the materials to be laser engraved one by one in order at equal intervals on the material conveying device. The materials to be laser engraved are placed in a material storage tray, and the material storage tray carrying the materials to be laser engraved is placed on the material conveying device by the feeding device; When the lifting mechanism is in the initial position, the jacking station is formed thereon. When the lifting mechanism lifts the material upward from the initial position, the jacking station is lifted upward to form a loading and turning station. When the unloaded lifting mechanism is reset, the lifting mechanism is reset to the jacking station.

3. The automatic turning and loading device according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The material receiving tray (23) is placed on the feeding station of the conveyor belt (21). The material receiving tray (23) is configured to receive materials. The material receiving tray (23) receiving materials moves along with the conveyor belt (21) on the conveyor belt (21). Driven by the conveyor belt, the material receiving tray (23) moves from the feeding station to the lifting station.

4. The automatic flipping and loading device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The flip assembly (322) comprises a flip shaft (323) connected to the fixed frame (321), and a flip arm (324) connected to the flip shaft (323), and the flip arm (324) is provided with the suction cup; at a certain moment, the flip arm (324) is horizontally arranged on one side of the flip shaft (323), and the material storage tray (23) is arranged on the other side of the flip shaft, and the suction cup on the flip arm (324) is away from the conveyor belt (21) to form a loading station; when the material storage tray (23) is lifted from the lifting station to After the loading and turning station, the turning arm (324) rotates along the central axis of the turning shaft (323), driving the suction cup to rotate toward the conveyor belt (21), so that the suction cup absorbs and picks up the material from the loading and turning station; after the material is picked up, the turning arm (324) rotates along the central axis of the turning shaft (323) and returns to the loading station, and the empty material storage tray (23) is lowered and returned to the lifting station along with the lifting block (311), and the surface to be laser engraved at the loading station faces the conveyor belt (21); The central axis of the turning shaft (323) is perpendicular to the central axis of the conveyor belt (21).

5. An automated laser engraving device, characterized in that: It comprises the automatic flipping and loading device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the loading device is configured to load the automatic laser engraving equipment; It also includes: A transfer device (40), a positioning device (50), a laser engraving device (60) and a material unloading device (70) are arranged on a machine platform (10), wherein: The transfer device (40) is configured to pick up materials from the loading device (30), place the picked up materials on the positioning device (50) for positioning, and then transfer the positioned materials to the laser engraving station of the laser engraving device (60); The laser engraving device (60) is configured to perform laser engraving on the surface of the material at the laser engraving station; The transfer device (40) is also configured to transfer the material that has been laser engraved from the laser engraving station to the unloading device (70); The unloading device (70) is configured to deliver the material transferred thereto to a subsequent workstation.

6. The automated laser engraving equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The transfer device (40) comprises a base (41), a first connecting arm (42), a second connecting arm (43), a third connecting arm (44) and an adsorption assembly (45); the base (41) is fixedly connected to the machine (10); one end of the first connecting arm (42) is movably connected to the base (41), and the other end is movably connected to the second connecting arm (43); one end of the third connecting arm (44) is movably connected to the second connecting arm (43), and the other end is movably connected to the adsorption assembly (45); The first connecting arm (42) can rotate horizontally relative to the base (41), the second connecting arm (43) and the first connecting arm (42) can rotate relative to each other in the vertical direction, the third connecting arm (44) and the second connecting arm (43) can rotate relative to each other in the vertical direction, the adsorption component (45) can rotate relative to the third connecting arm (44) in the vertical direction, and the adsorption component (45) can rotate along the connection between it and the third connecting arm (44); The adsorption component (45) includes a claw plate (451) and one or more suction cups arranged on the claw plate (451). The transfer device (40) adsorbs materials from the loading device (30) through the suction cups and places the adsorbed materials on the positioning device (50).

7. The automated laser engraving equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The positioning device (50) comprises a positioning fixture (51), the positioning fixture (51) comprises a positioning panel (511), a positioning component (512) mounted on the edge of the positioning panel (511), and a positioning adsorption component (513); the positioning panel (511) is mounted on the machine platform (10) through a bracket, the positioning panel (511) has a through hole (5111) at the center, and the positioning adsorption component (513) is installed in the through hole (5111) through a connecting plate (5131); The positioning panel (511) is a rectangular panel having two long sides and two short sides arranged opposite to each other, one long side and one short side are respectively provided with grooves sunken inward from the edge of the rectangular panel, a positioning block (5121) is embedded in the groove, a positioning piece (5122) is clamped on the outer edge of the other short side, and a plurality of supporting protrusions (5123) are provided on the positioning panel (511) close to the other long side; The transfer device (40) places the adsorbed material on the positioning panel (511), the positioning block, the positioning member (5122) and the supporting protrusion (5123) jointly position the material, the positioning adsorbent (513) adsorbs and fixes the material, and the surface of the material to be laser engraved faces the positioning adsorbent (513); When the transfer device (40) picks up the positioned material from the positioning fixture (51), the positioning adsorbent (513) releases the adsorbed material; The laser engraving device (60) has a laser light source (61), and the light beam emitted by the laser light source (61) directly irradiates the laser engraving station. The transfer device (40) transfers the positioned material to the laser engraving station, and faces the surface of the material to be laser engraved toward the laser light source (61). When the laser engraving device (60) completes the laser engraving of the material, the transfer device (40) transfers the laser engraved material to the unloading device (70), and the transfer device (40) places the surface of the material that has been laser engraved facing downward on the unloading device (70).

8. The automated laser engraving equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The unloading device (70) is arranged adjacent to the loading device (30). The unloading device (70) has the same structure as the loading device (30). The suction cup on the flipping mechanism (72) of the unloading device (70) forms an unloading station. The transfer device (40) transfers the laser-engraved material to the unloading station. The flipping mechanism (72) of the unloading device (70) rotates toward the material storage tray (23) on the lifting mechanism of the unloading device (70). The material storage tray (23) is located on the unloading flipping station. The material that has been laser engraved is released by the suction cup (725) on the unloading device (70) and placed in the material storage tray (23). The surface of the material that has been laser engraved is placed upward in the material storage tray (23). The material storage tray (23) carrying the material that has been laser engraved is lowered to the return station along with the lifting mechanism (71) of the unloading device (70). The return station is located on the conveyor belt (21). The conveyor belt transports the material storage tray (23) carrying the material that has been laser engraved to the subsequent dust removal station.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Automatic overturning feeding device and automatic laser etching equipment comprising same

    CN217417395U