A variable pitch material handling mechanism and material handling module

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of material handling technology, specifically disclosing a variable-pitch material handling mechanism and a material handling module. The variable-pitch material handling mechanism includes: a plurality of suction heads arranged side by side, each suction head having a locking protrusion on its top; an outer guide rail assembly having an outer locking groove matching the outer side of each locking protrusion; and an inner guide rail assembly having an inner locking groove matching the inner side of each locking protrusion. The outer and inner guide rail assemblies have an extended state with a relatively long overall length and a retracted state with a relatively short overall length. The variable-pitch material handling mechanism and material handling module provided by this invention effectively solve the problem of the non-adjustable material handling quantity in existing material handling mechanisms.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of loading and unloading technology, and in particular to a variable-pitch material handling mechanism and a material handling module. Background Technology

[0002] The existing material handling mechanism includes a support assembly and several suction heads mounted on the support assembly. Generally, the suction heads are mounted side by side on the support assembly, and each suction head can pick up one battery. Therefore, several batteries can be picked up in a single material handling operation.

[0003] The number of suction heads that can be installed on the existing support assembly is fixed; therefore, the number of batteries that the existing picking mechanism can pick up in one operation is also fixed. However, in actual operation, some production lines need to pick up a larger number of batteries, while others need to pick up a smaller number. In order to meet the picking requirements of different production lines, a dedicated picking mechanism is generally equipped for each production line. This leads to a significant decrease in the versatility of the picking mechanism and is not conducive to reducing production costs.

[0004] Therefore, the existing material handling mechanism needs to be improved to solve the problem of its non-adjustable material handling quantity.

[0005] The information disclosed in this background section is included only to enhance the understanding of the context of this disclosure, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One objective of this invention is to provide a variable-pitch material handling mechanism and a material handling module, which can effectively solve the problem that the material handling quantity of existing material handling mechanisms is not adjustable.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a variable-pitch material handling mechanism, including an outer guide rail assembly, an inner guide rail assembly, and a plurality of suction heads arranged side by side;

[0008] Each of the suction heads is detachably mounted on the outer guide rail assembly and / or the inner guide rail assembly;

[0009] The outer guide rail assembly and the inner guide rail assembly have an extended state with a relatively long overall length and a retracted state with a relatively short overall length.

[0010] Optional, also includes:

[0011] An outer guide rail fixing plate, wherein the outer guide rail assembly is securely mounted on the outer guide rail fixing plate;

[0012] An inner guide rail fixing plate is provided, and the inner guide rail assembly is securely mounted on the inner guide rail fixing plate.

[0013] Optional, also includes:

[0014] The mounting plate, the outer guide rail fixing plate and the inner guide rail fixing plate are both fastened to the mounting plate.

[0015] Optionally, both the outer guide rail fixing plate and the inner guide rail fixing plate are provided with guide rail slider assemblies between themselves and the mounting plate.

[0016] Optionally, clamping cylinders are installed on both the outer guide rail fixing plate and the inner guide rail fixing plate, and a clamping plate is connected to the drive end of each clamping cylinder.

[0017] Optionally, each of the suction heads has two snap-fit ​​protrusions on its top.

[0018] Optionally, the outer guide rail assembly includes two oppositely arranged outer guide rails, each of which has an outer locking groove on its inner side. The outer locking groove of one outer guide rail engages with the outer side of a row of locking protrusions, and the outer locking groove of the other outer guide rail engages with the outer side of another row of locking protrusions.

[0019] Optionally, the inner guide rail assembly includes two opposing inner guide rails, each with an inner slot on its outer side. The inner slot of one inner guide rail engages with the inner side of a row of engaging protrusions, and the inner slot of the other inner guide rail engages with the inner side of another row of engaging protrusions.

[0020] Optionally, the snap-fit ​​boss is cylindrical, and both the outer and inner snap-fit ​​grooves are arc grooves.

[0021] On the other hand, a material handling module is provided, including at least two sets of the aforementioned variable-pitch material handling mechanisms arranged in parallel.

[0022] The beneficial effect of this invention is that it provides a variable pitch material handling mechanism and a material handling module:

[0023] When a small number of workpieces need to be adsorbed, the outer guide rail assembly and the inner guide rail assembly can be in a retracted state with a shorter overall length, which can accommodate a smaller number of suction heads, and therefore, a smaller number of workpieces can be adsorbed.

[0024] When a large number of workpieces need to be adsorbed, the outer guide rail assembly and the inner guide rail assembly can be in an extended state with a long overall length, which can accommodate a large number of suction heads, and therefore, a large number of workpieces can be adsorbed.

[0025] Therefore, the variable-pitch material handling mechanism and material handling module provided by the present invention can effectively solve the problem that the material handling quantity of the existing material handling mechanism is not adjustable. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the material handling module provided in the embodiment;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the variable pitch material handling mechanism provided in the embodiment;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the variable-pitch material handling mechanism in the retracted state, provided in the embodiment;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the variable pitch material handling mechanism in the extended state provided in the embodiment.

[0031] In the picture:

[0032] 100. Variable pitch material handling mechanism; 200. Workpiece;

[0033] 1. Mounting plate;

[0034] 2. External guide rail fixing plate;

[0035] 3. Inner guide rail fixing plate;

[0036] 401. Fastener; 402. Fastening hole;

[0037] 5. Guide rail and slider assembly;

[0038] 6. Outer guide rail assembly; 601. Outer guide rail; 6011. Outer slot;

[0039] 7. Inner guide rail assembly; 701. Inner guide rail; 7011. Inner slot;

[0040] 8. Suction head; 801. Snap-fit ​​boss;

[0041] 9. Clamping cylinder;

[0042] 10. Plywood. Detailed Implementation

[0043] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of this invention more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0044] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that when a component is considered to be "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present simultaneously. When a component is considered to be "set" on another component, it can be directly set on the other component or there may be an intermediate component present simultaneously.

[0045] Furthermore, terms such as “long,” “short,” “inner,” and “outer” indicate orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the purpose of describing the present invention and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have this specific orientation or operate in a specific orientational configuration. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations of the present invention.

[0046] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0047] This invention provides a variable-pitch material handling mechanism and a material handling module having the variable-pitch material handling mechanism, which is suitable for application scenarios of batch grasping and adsorption of workpieces such as batteries. It can effectively solve the problem that the material handling quantity of existing material handling mechanisms is not adjustable, so as to meet the production needs of adjustable material handling quantity.

[0048] See Figure 1 In this embodiment, the material handling module includes at least two sets of parallel variable-pitch material handling mechanisms 100, such as two sets, three sets, four sets or even more.

[0049] Specifically, see Figure 2 The variable-pitch material handling mechanism 100 includes a mounting plate 1. Below the mounting plate 1 are horizontally arranged outer guide rail fixing plates 2 and 3. Both the outer guide rail fixing plates 2 and 3 are fastened to the mounting plate 1 by fasteners 401 such as locking bolts. Furthermore, guide rail slider assemblies 5 are provided between both the outer guide rail fixing plates 2 and 3 and the mounting plate 1. Both the outer guide rail fixing plates 2 and 3 have a plurality of fastening holes 402 arranged along the sliding direction of the guide rail slider assemblies 5.

[0050] Understandably, after loosening the fastener 401, the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3 can slide along the corresponding guide rail slider assembly 5, thereby adjusting the relative position between the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3. For example, by simultaneously sliding the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3 outwards, the distance between them can be increased; conversely, by simultaneously sliding the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3 inwards, the distance between them can be decreased. After adjusting the relative position between the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3, the fastener 401 is tightened into the corresponding fastening hole 402 after the adjustment, thus completing the relative positioning of the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3.

[0051] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 In this embodiment, the variable-pitch material handling mechanism 100 further includes an outer guide rail assembly 6, an inner guide rail assembly 7, and a plurality of suction heads 8 arranged side by side. Each suction head 8 is detachably mounted on the outer guide rail assembly 6 and / or the inner guide rail assembly 7, wherein the outer guide rail assembly 6 and the inner guide rail assembly 7 have an extended state with a relatively long overall length and a retracted state with a relatively short overall length.

[0052] Each of the suction heads 8 has two snap-fit ​​protrusions 801 on its top.

[0053] The outer guide rail assembly 6 is fastened to the bottom of the outer guide rail fixing plate 2. The outer guide rail assembly 6 includes two oppositely arranged outer guide rails 601. The inner side of each of the two outer guide rails 601 is provided with an outer slot 6011. The outer slot 6011 of one outer guide rail 601 engages with the outer side of a row of engaging protrusions 801, and the outer slot 6011 of the other outer guide rail 601 engages with the outer side of another row of engaging protrusions 801.

[0054] Accordingly, the inner guide rail assembly 7 is fastened to the bottom of the inner guide rail fixing plate 3. The inner guide rail assembly 7 includes two opposing inner guide rails 701. The outer sides of the two inner guide rails 701 are provided with inner slots 7011. The inner slot 7011 of one inner guide rail 701 engages with the inner side of a row of engagement protrusions 801, and the inner slot 7011 of the other inner guide rail 701 engages with the inner side of another row of engagement protrusions 801.

[0055] Optionally, the snap-fit ​​boss 801 is cylindrical, and both the outer snap-fit ​​groove 6011 and the inner snap-fit ​​groove 7011 are arc grooves.

[0056] Since the distance between the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3 is adjustable, the relative positions of the outer guide rail assembly 6 and the inner guide rail assembly 7 along the arrangement direction of each suction head 8 are adjustable.

[0057] See Figure 3 When a smaller number of workpieces 200 need to be adsorbed, the distance between the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3 can be appropriately reduced. At this time, the outer guide rail assembly 6 and the inner guide rail assembly 7 are in a retracted state with a shorter overall length (the left end of the outer guide rail assembly 6 is flush with the left end of the inner guide rail assembly 7, the right end of the outer guide rail assembly 6 is flush with the right end of the inner guide rail assembly 7, and the two outer guide rails 601 and the two inner guide rails 701 are in contact with each suction head 8). The number of suction heads 8 that can be loaded is also smaller. Therefore, the number of workpieces 200 that can be adsorbed is smaller.

[0058] See Figure 4 When a large number of workpieces 200 need to be adsorbed, the distance between the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3 can be appropriately increased. At this time, the outer guide rail assembly 6 and the inner guide rail assembly 7 are in an extended state with a relatively long overall length (the left end of the outer guide rail assembly 6 protrudes to the left of the inner guide rail assembly 7, the right end of the outer guide rail assembly 6 protrudes to the right of the inner guide rail assembly 7, the suction head 8 on the left only contacts the outer guide rail 601, the suction head 8 in the middle position contacts both outer guide rails 601 and both inner guide rails 701 at the same time, and the suction head 8 on the right only contacts the inner guide rail 701). The number of suction heads 8 that can be loaded is also larger, so the number of workpieces 200 that can be adsorbed is larger.

[0059] In this embodiment, both the outer guide rail fixing plate 2 and the inner guide rail fixing plate 3 are fixedly installed with clamping cylinders 9 at their bottoms, and each clamping cylinder 9 is connected to a clamping plate 10 at its drive end. When each suction head 8 adsorbs the corresponding workpiece 200, the two clamping cylinders 9 retract simultaneously, thereby clamping all the workpieces 200 arranged side by side and preventing the workpieces 200 from falling off due to insufficient suction during the transfer process.

[0060] It should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This way of describing the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0061] The detailed descriptions listed above are merely specific descriptions of feasible embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent embodiments or modifications made without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A variable-pitch material handling mechanism, characterized in that, Includes an outer guide rail assembly, an inner guide rail assembly, and several suction heads arranged side by side; Each of the suction heads is detachably mounted on the outer guide rail assembly and / or the inner guide rail assembly; The outer guide rail assembly and the inner guide rail assembly have an extended state with a relatively long overall length and a retracted state with a relatively short overall length. Each of the suction heads has two snap-fit ​​protrusions on its top; The outer guide rail assembly includes two oppositely arranged outer guide rails. The inner side of each of the two outer guide rails is provided with an outer slot. The outer slot of one outer guide rail engages with the outer side of a row of engaging protrusions, and the outer slot of the other outer guide rail engages with the outer side of another row of engaging protrusions. The inner guide rail assembly includes two opposing inner guide rails. The outer sides of both inner guide rails are provided with inner slots. The inner slot of one inner guide rail engages with the inner side of a row of engagement protrusions, and the inner slot of the other inner guide rail engages with the inner side of another row of engagement protrusions. When in the retracted state, the left end of the outer guide rail assembly is flush with the left end of the inner guide rail assembly, and the right end of the outer guide rail assembly is flush with the right end of the inner guide rail assembly. All four of the outer and inner guide rails are in contact with each suction head. When in the extended state, the left end of the outer guide rail assembly protrudes horizontally to the left beyond the left end of the inner guide rail assembly, and the right end of the outer guide rail assembly protrudes to the right beyond the right end of the inner guide rail assembly. The suction head on the left only contacts the outer guide rail, the suction head in the middle contacts both outer guide rails and both inner guide rails, and the suction head on the right only contacts the inner guide rail.

2. The variable-pitch material handling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An outer guide rail fixing plate, wherein the outer guide rail assembly is securely mounted on the outer guide rail fixing plate; An inner guide rail fixing plate is provided, and the inner guide rail assembly is securely mounted on the inner guide rail fixing plate.

3. The variable-pitch material handling mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: Mounting plate, the outer guide rail fixing plate and the inner guide rail fixing plate are both fastened to the mounting plate.

4. The variable-pitch material handling mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, Both the outer guide rail fixing plate and the inner guide rail fixing plate are provided with guide rail slider assemblies between themselves and the mounting plate.

5. The variable-pitch material handling mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the outer guide rail fixing plate and the inner guide rail fixing plate are equipped with clamping cylinders, and each clamping cylinder is connected to a clamping plate at its drive end.

6. The variable-pitch material handling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The snap-fit ​​boss is cylindrical, and both the outer and inner snap-fit ​​grooves are arc grooves.

7. A material handling module, characterized in that, It includes at least two sets of variable pitch material handling mechanisms arranged in parallel as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images