A device for fixing a material tray in a laser engraving machine

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of fixed material tray devices, and provides a fixed material tray device for laser engraving equipment, including a housing. Inside the housing are a support platform and a robotic arm, with the robotic arm located in front of the support platform. A semi-finished product hopper assembly and a finished product hopper assembly are mounted on top of the support platform. A transport assembly is provided between the semi-finished product hopper assembly and the finished product hopper assembly. This device solves the problem that the material trays in various positions are too close together and cannot be separated, resulting in a close proximity between the manual material feeding area and the robotic arm's working area, which could easily threaten the safety of workers. Furthermore, after the material trays are fed, multiple products are processed directly on the trays. This method avoids mutual interference between adjacent products, achieving the goal of isolating the material trays in each position. The products on the trays are loaded and unloaded by the robotic arm to complete the laser engraving operation, which not only improves safety but also prevents adjacent products from interfering with each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fixed tray devices, and more specifically, to a fixed tray device for laser engraving equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Laser engraving equipment uses a laser beam to carve permanent marks on the surface of materials or inside transparent materials. The laser beam can produce two types of effects on materials: chemical and physical effects. When a material absorbs the laser light, it produces a physical or chemical reaction, thereby engraving marks or displaying patterns or text. In order to keep the laser engraving equipment running continuously, it is necessary to feed materials through a material tray. When using existing material tray devices, materials are stacked and multiple trays are loaded and unloaded as a whole. However, the material trays in different positions are close to each other and cannot be separated. This results in the manual material feeding area being close to the robotic arm's working area, which can easily threaten the safety of workers. Furthermore, after the material tray is fed, multiple products are processed directly on the tray. This method can cause adjacent products to interfere with each other. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide a device for fixing the material tray in a laser engraving equipment.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a laser engraving equipment material tray fixing device, comprising a housing, a support platform and a robotic arm installed inside the housing, the robotic arm being located in front of the support platform, a semi-finished product hopper assembly and a finished product hopper assembly installed on the top of the support platform, a transport assembly being provided between the semi-finished product hopper assembly and the finished product hopper assembly, the transport assembly being slidably connected to the top of the support platform, one side of the robotic arm being located above the transport assembly, a transfer assembly being installed on the top of the housing and on one side of the robotic arm, a sensing assembly being installed on the top of the housing, the sensing assembly being located above the transport assembly, a judgment assembly being installed on one side of both the semi-finished product hopper assembly and the finished product hopper assembly, an isolation assembly being provided on the top of the housing, and both the semi-finished product hopper assembly and the finished product hopper assembly being located inside the isolation assembly.

[0005] The present invention is further configured such that: the transfer component includes a base, the base is installed inside the housing, the top of the base is rotatably connected to a transfer seat, and two transfer disks are symmetrically installed on the top of the transfer seat.

[0006] The invention is further configured such that: the sensing component includes a support rod and a top plate, the top plate is installed on the top of the housing, the support rod is installed inside the housing, and a camera is installed between the top of the support rod and the bottom of the top plate.

[0007] The present invention is further configured such that: the semi-finished product silo assembly includes a support frame, the support frame being two sets, both sets of the support frame being installed on the top of the support platform, both sets of the support frame having a material distribution plate installed on the top of the top of the silo, a cylinder being installed on the top of the silo body, the cylinder being located below the material distribution plate, and a bearing plate being installed on the piston rod of the cylinder.

[0008] The present invention is further configured such that: the finished product silo assembly includes a second support, which consists of two sets, both sets of the second support are installed on the top of the support platform, and a receiving tray is installed on the top of each set of the second support. A second cylinder is provided below the receiving tray, and the bottom of the second cylinder is installed on the top of the housing. A second bearing plate is installed on the piston rod of the second cylinder.

[0009] The present invention is further configured such that: the transport component includes a slide rail, the slide rail is mounted on the top of the support platform, two sliders are slidably connected to the top of the slide rail, a base plate is mounted on the top of the two sliders, the height of the base plate is lower than the height of the dispensing tray and the receiving tray, and the base plate is a frame structure.

[0010] The present invention is further configured such that: the isolation component includes an isolation net, the isolation net is sleeved outside the material distribution tray and the material receiving tray, an isolation door is hinged to the middle of the isolation net, and the isolation door is disposed opposite to the substrate.

[0011] The invention is further configured such that: the isolation net is composed of multiple mesh panels spliced ​​together, and through grooves are provided at the bottom of two opposite mesh panels; a locking mechanism is installed between one side of the isolation door and the side wall of a mesh panel.

[0012] The present invention is further configured such that: the judgment component includes an empty tray sensor and an empty tray alarm, both of which are installed on one side of the material distribution tray position, and a full tray sensor is installed on one side of the material receiving tray position.

[0013] The advantages of this invention are,

[0014] (1) By setting up a transport component, the transport component is used to remove the un-laser-engraved products from the semi-finished product silo component and stay between the semi-finished product silo component and the finished product silo component. The robot arm removes the removed products for laser engraving and puts the laser-engraved products back onto the transport component. The transport component then sends the laser-engraved products to the finished product silo component for storage. This method avoids the situation where the displacement of adjacent products affects the laser engraving effect caused by directly processing products on the material tray.

[0015] (2) When the robot is loading and unloading, it will place the un-laser-engraved products on a turntable. At this time, the turntable will rotate, causing the robot to load the products onto another turntable. At the same time, the external laser engraving and handling equipment will remove the un-laser-engraved products from one turntable and send them to the laser engraving equipment for laser engraving. This turntable will be empty. After the laser engraving is completed, the turntable will be moved again. The robot will remove the finished products and place them on the transport components. Then, the semi-finished products will be placed on the turntable. Through the above steps, the continuous feeding is achieved and the products do not affect each other.

[0016] (3) By setting up isolation components, the isolation components are used to separate the semi-finished material silo components, the finished material silo components and the transportation components. Since the finished material silo components require manual pallet retrieval and the semi-finished material silo components require manual pallet placement, the manual material retrieval and placement are separated from the robot's working area, which greatly improves safety.

[0017] (4) The empty tray sensor is used to sense the trays in the material distribution tray. If the tray is empty, the empty tray alarm will sound an alarm. If the tray is full, the full tray sensor will sense the full tray in the receiving tray to avoid the situation where there are no products to process and affect the normal operation of the laser engraving equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the front structure of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the housing of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the finished product silo assembly and the semi-finished product silo assembly and the housing according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the robotic arm and the housing of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the transport component and the container of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Front view structural diagram;

[0025] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the isolation component structure of the present invention;

[0026] In the diagram: 1. Box body; 2. Robotic arm; 3. Transfer assembly; 31. Base; 32. Transfer seat; 33. Transfer plate; 4. Sensing assembly; 41. Support rod; 42. Camera; 43. Top plate; 5. Semi-finished product silo assembly; 51. Bracket 1; 52. Distributor tray; 53. Cylinder 1; 54. Bearing plate 1; 6. Finished product silo assembly; 61. Bracket 2; 62. Receiving tray; 63. Cylinder 2; 64. Bearing plate 2; 7. Isolation assembly; 71. Isolation door; 72. Isolation net; 73. Locking mechanism; 74. Through slot; 8. Transport assembly; 81. Slide rail; 82. Slider; 83. Base plate; 9. Judgment assembly; 91. Empty tray sensor; 92. Empty tray alarm; 93. Full tray sensor; 10. Support platform. Detailed Implementation

[0027] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0028] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains.

[0029] In this invention, unless otherwise stated, the directional terms such as "up" and "down" generally refer to the directions shown in the accompanying drawings, or to the vertical, perpendicular, or gravitational direction; similarly, for ease of understanding and description, "left" and "right" generally refer to the left and right shown in the accompanying drawings; "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours of each component itself, but the above directional terms are not intended to limit this invention.

[0030] Example

[0031] Please see Figure 1-8This invention provides the following technical solution: a laser engraving equipment tray fixing device, comprising a housing 1, inside which a support platform 10 and a robotic arm 2 are installed. The robotic arm 2 is located in front of the support platform 10, and a suction cup is installed on the robotic arm 2, i.e., the robotic arm 2 and the suction cup cooperate to transfer products. A semi-finished product hopper assembly 5 and a finished product hopper assembly 6 are installed on the top of the support platform 10. The semi-finished product hopper assembly 5 is used to hold and place un-laser-engraved products, and the finished product hopper assembly 6 is used to hold and place laser-engraved products. A transport assembly 8 is provided between the semi-finished product hopper assembly 5 and the finished product hopper assembly 6. The transport assembly 8 is slidably connected to the top of the support platform 10. One side of the robotic arm 2 is located above the transport assembly 8. The transport assembly 8 is used to remove un-laser-engraved products from the semi-finished product hopper assembly 5, and the robotic arm 2 removes the removed products for laser engraving and places the laser-engraved products back onto the transport assembly 8. The transport component 8 then delivers the laser-engraved products to the finished product silo component 6 for storage. A transfer component 3 is installed on the top of the box 1 and on one side of the robot arm 2. The transfer component 3 works with the external laser engraving handling equipment and the robot arm 2 to exchange and transfer un-engraved and laser-engraved products. A sensing component 4 is installed on the top of the box 1, located above the transport component 8. Judgment components 9 are installed on one side of both the semi-finished product silo component 5 and the finished product silo component 6. Judgment components 9 are used to determine whether the semi-finished product silo component 5 is empty and whether the finished product silo component 6 is full. An isolation component 7 is set on the top of the box 1. Both the semi-finished product silo component 5 and the finished product silo component 6 are located inside the isolation component 7. The finished product silo component 6 requires manual removal of the tray, and the semi-finished product silo component 5 requires manual placement of the tray. The isolation component 7 is used to isolate the manual material handling and placement from the working area of ​​the robot arm 2.

[0032] The semi-finished product silo assembly 5 includes a support frame 51, which consists of two sets. Both sets of support frames 51 are installed on the top of the support platform 10. A material distribution plate 52 is installed on the top of each set of support frames 51. A cylinder 53 is installed on the top of the housing 1. The cylinder 53 is located below the material distribution plate 52. A bearing plate 54 is installed on the piston rod of the cylinder 53. The material tray is placed above the material distribution plate 52. The cylinder 53 and the bearing plate 54 cooperate to support the material tray inside the semi-finished product silo assembly 5. The height of the bearing plate 54 and the material tray within the material distribution plate 52 is controlled by extending and retracting the cylinder 53.

[0033] The finished product silo assembly 6 includes a second support 61, which consists of two sets. Both sets of second support 61 are installed on the top of the support platform 10. A receiving tray position 62 is installed on the top of each set of second support 61. A second cylinder 63 is installed below the receiving tray position 62. The bottom of the second cylinder 63 is installed on the top of the housing 1. A second bearing plate 64 is installed on the piston rod of the second cylinder 63. The material tray is taken out from above the receiving tray position 62. The second cylinder 63 and the second bearing plate 64 cooperate to support the material tray inside the finished product silo assembly 6. The height of the second bearing plate 64 and the material tray inside the receiving tray position 62 is controlled by the extension and retraction of the second cylinder 63.

[0034] The transport component 8 includes a slide rail 81, which is mounted on the top of the support platform 10. Two sliders 82 are slidably connected to the top of the slide rail 81. A base plate 83 is mounted on the top of the two sliders 82. The height of the base plate 83 is lower than the height of the dispensing tray 52 and the receiving tray 62. The base plate 83 has a frame structure. The two sliders 82 slide on the slide rail 81 to adjust the position of the base plate 83. The base plate 83 can switch between being below the dispensing tray 52 and the receiving tray 62. When the base plate 83 moves below the dispensing tray 52, the tray in the dispensing tray 52 will fall to the top of the base plate 83. At this time, the base plate 83 moves between the dispensing tray 52 and the receiving tray 62. At this time, the robot arm 2 can carry and laser engrave the product in the tray on the top of the base plate 83. After the product is laser engraved, the base plate 83 continues to move below the receiving tray 62 to collect the product and the tray carrying the product into the receiving tray 62.

[0035] The isolation component 7 includes an isolation net 72, which is sleeved on the outside of the material distribution tray 52 and the material receiving tray 62. An isolation door 71 is hinged to the middle of the isolation net 72 and is positioned opposite to the base plate 83. The isolation net 72 is used to separate the semi-finished product hopper assembly 5, the finished product hopper assembly 6, and the transport assembly 8. Since the finished product hopper assembly 6 requires manual tray removal and the semi-finished product hopper assembly 5 requires manual tray placement, the isolation net 72 separates the manual tray removal and placement from the working area of ​​the robot arm 2, thereby improving safety.

[0036] The isolation net 72 is composed of multiple mesh panels spliced ​​together, and the bottom of two opposite mesh panels is provided with through grooves 74. A locking mechanism 73 is installed between one side of the isolation door 71 and the side wall of a mesh panel. When the isolation net 72 separates the manual material handling and the working area of ​​the robot arm 2, the isolation door 71 closes the manual material handling and the working area of ​​the robot arm 2. If there is an abnormality in the working area of ​​the robot arm 2, it can be opened through the isolation door 71 for the staff to quickly repair.

[0037] The judgment component 9 includes an empty tray sensor 91 and an empty tray alarm 92. Both the empty tray sensor 91 and the empty tray alarm 92 are installed on one side of the dispensing tray position 52. The empty tray sensor 91 is used to sense the trays in the dispensing tray position 52. If an empty tray occurs in the dispensing tray position 52, the empty tray alarm 92 will issue an alarm. A full tray sensor 93 is installed on one side of the receiving tray position 62. If a full tray occurs in the receiving tray position 62, the full tray sensor 93 will sense the full tray in the receiving tray position 62.

[0038] The transfer component 3 includes a base 31, which is installed inside the housing 1. A transfer seat 32 is rotatably connected to the top of the base 31. Two transfer trays 33 are symmetrically installed on the top of the transfer seat 32. When the robot arm 2 loads or unloads materials, it places the un-laser-engraved products on one transfer tray 33. At this time, the transfer seat 32 rotates, causing the robot arm 2 to unload materials onto the other transfer tray 33. At the same time, the external laser engraving and handling equipment removes the un-laser-engraved products from one transfer tray 33 and sends them to the laser engraving equipment for laser engraving. This transfer tray 33 is in an empty state. After the laser engraving is completed, the transfer tray 33 is moved again. The robot arm 2 removes the finished product and places it on the transport component 8, and then places the semi-finished product on the transfer tray 33. The above steps are repeated.

[0039] The sensing component 4 includes a support rod 41 and a top plate 43. The top plate 43 is installed on the top of the housing 1, and the support rod 41 is installed inside the housing 1. A camera 42 is installed between the top of the support rod 41 and the bottom of the top plate 43. The camera 42 on the sensing component 4 is used for visual guidance to determine whether there is incoming material on the top of the finished product transport component 8 and whether the incoming product has a film.

[0040] Specifically, the staff places the product to be laser-engraved on the supporting tray and places the tray above the distributing tray position 52. The cylinder 53 and the supporting plate 54 cooperate to support the tray inside the semi-finished product hopper assembly 5, and the height of the supporting plate 54 and the tray inside the distributing tray position 52 is controlled by extending and retracting the cylinder 53.

[0041] By controlling the two sliders 82 to slide on the slide rail 81, the position of the substrate 83 can be adjusted. The substrate 83 can switch between the material distribution plate position 52 and the material receiving plate position 62. That is, when the substrate 83 moves to the bottom of the material distribution plate position 52, the piston rod of the cylinder 53 retracts, causing the material tray in the material distribution plate position 52 to move down. When the support plate 54 moves to the bottom of the substrate 83, the bottommost material tray falls to the top of the substrate 83.

[0042] At this time, the substrate 83 moves between the material distribution tray 52 and the material receiving tray 62. The camera 42 on the sensing component 4 is used for visual guidance to determine whether there is incoming material on the top of the finished product transport component 8 and whether the incoming product has a film attached.

[0043] Robot 2 lifts the un-laser-engraved product from the top tray of substrate 83 and places it on a turntable 33. At this time, the turntable 32 rotates, causing robot 2 to feed material onto another turntable 33. Simultaneously, an external laser engraving and handling device removes the un-laser-engraved product from one turntable 33 and sends it to the laser engraving device for laser engraving. This turntable 33 is then empty. After the laser engraving is completed, this turntable 33 is moved again. Robot 2 removes the finished product and places it on the transport component 8, and then places the semi-finished product on the turntable 33. The above steps are repeated.

[0044] After all the products on the top tray of the substrate 83 have been laser-engraved, the substrate 83 continues to move to the bottom of the receiving tray position 62. The piston rod of the second cylinder 63 extends and drives the second support plate 64 to move upward. The second support plate 64 lifts the tray into the receiving tray position 62. The positioning mechanism in the receiving tray position 62 fixes the tray so that it will not slip. The second cylinder 63 and the second support plate 64 are reset.

[0045] The isolation net 72 is used to separate the semi-finished product silo assembly 5, the finished product silo assembly 6, and the transport assembly 8. Since the finished product silo assembly 6 requires manual pallet retrieval and the semi-finished product silo assembly 5 requires manual pallet placement, it isolates the manual pallet retrieval and placement from the working area of ​​the robotic arm 2, thereby improving safety. The empty pallet sensor 91 is used to sense the pallets in the distribution pallet position 52. If an empty pallet occurs in the distribution pallet position 52, the empty pallet alarm 92 will issue an alarm. If the pallets in the receiving pallet position 62 are full, the full pallet sensor 93 is used to sense the full pallet in the receiving pallet position 62.

[0046] After the isolation net 72 separates the manual material handling area from the robot arm 2 working area, the isolation door 71 closes the manual material handling area from the robot arm 2 working area. If there is an abnormality in the robot arm 2 working area, it can be opened through the isolation door 71 for staff to quickly repair.

[0047] Obviously, the embodiments described above are merely some, not all, embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0048] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0049] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0050] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for fixing a material tray in a laser engraving machine, comprising a housing (1), characterized in that: The housing (1) is equipped with a support platform (10) and a robotic arm (2). The robotic arm (2) is located in front of the support platform (10). A semi-finished product silo assembly (5) and a finished product silo assembly (6) are installed on the top of the support platform (10). A transport assembly (8) is provided between the semi-finished product silo assembly (5) and the finished product silo assembly (6). The transport assembly (8) is slidably connected to the top of the support platform (10). One side of the robotic arm (2) is located above the transport assembly (8). A transfer component (3) is installed on the top of the box (1) and on one side of the robot (2). A sensing component (4) is installed on the top of the box (1) and is located above the transport component (8). A judgment component (9) is installed on one side of both the semi-finished product silo component (5) and the finished product silo component (6). An isolation component (7) is provided on the top of the box (1). Both the semi-finished product silo component (5) and the finished product silo component (6) are located inside the isolation component (7). The transfer component (3) includes a base (31), which is installed inside the housing (1). A transfer seat (32) is rotatably connected to the top of the base (31), and two transfer disks (33) are symmetrically installed on the top of the transfer seat (32). The sensing component (4) includes a support rod (41) and a top plate (43). The top plate (43) is installed on the top of the housing (1), and the support rod (41) is installed inside the housing (1). A camera (42) is installed between the top of the support rod (41) and the bottom of the top plate (43). The semi-finished product silo assembly (5) includes a support frame (51), which consists of two sets. Both sets of the support frame (51) are installed on the top of the support platform (10). The top of both sets of the support frame (51) is equipped with a material distribution plate (52). The top of the box body (1) is equipped with a cylinder (53). The cylinder (53) is located below the material distribution plate (52). The piston rod of the cylinder (53) is equipped with a bearing plate (54). The finished product silo assembly (6) includes a second support (61), which consists of two sets. Both sets of the second support (61) are installed on the top of the support platform (10). A receiving tray (62) is installed on the top of each set of the second support (61). A cylinder (63) is installed below the receiving tray (62). The bottom of the cylinder (63) is installed on the top of the box (1). A bearing plate (64) is installed on the piston rod of the cylinder (63). The transport component (8) includes a slide rail (81) mounted on the top of the support platform (10). Two sliders (82) are slidably connected to the top of the slide rail (81). A base plate (83) is mounted on the top of the two sliders (82). The height of the base plate (83) is lower than the height of the dispensing tray (52) and the receiving tray (62). The base plate (83) is a frame structure. The isolation component (7) includes an isolation net (72), which is sleeved on the outside of the material distribution tray (52) and the material receiving tray (62). An isolation door (71) is hinged to the middle of the isolation net (72), and the isolation door (71) is disposed opposite to the substrate (83). The isolation net (72) is made up of multiple mesh panels, and a through groove (74) is provided at the bottom of two opposite mesh panels. A locking mechanism (73) is installed between one side of the isolation door (71) and the side wall of a mesh panel. The judgment component (9) includes an empty tray sensor (91) and an empty tray alarm (92). The empty tray sensor (91) and the empty tray alarm (92) are both installed on one side of the material distribution tray (52), and a full tray sensor (93) is installed on one side of the material receiving tray (62).

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