An automated production line and method for malleable iron pipe fittings

Abstract

This invention discloses an automated production line and method for malleable iron pipe fittings, integrating an automatic tilting and filling mechanism, an automatic tilting and unloading mechanism, an empty can transport line, an aerial transport device, a ground transport device, and a turnover cage. This achieves automated production of malleable iron pipe fittings. The automatic tilting and filling mechanism automatically tilts the pipe fittings from the turnover cage into the unloading hopper, replacing manual bending and hoeing for filling, thus reducing labor intensity. The change in filling method increases filling efficiency by more than 50%. The automatic tilting and unloading device automatically tilts the pipe fittings from the annealing tank into the empty turnover cage, replacing overhead crane lifting and manual can breaking and unloading, further reducing labor intensity and eliminating safety hazards. The automatic empty can transport line automatically transfers empty cans to the filling station, replacing forklift handling and manual stacking, reducing ineffective handling and improving production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an automated production line and method for malleable iron pipe fittings. Background Technology

[0002] The annealing process for malleable iron pipe fittings is a crucial step in the material conversion of malleable iron, ensuring that the pipe fittings meet performance standards. The main production operations in this process involve loading and unloading from cans, which facilitates the entry and exit of malleable iron billets from the kiln.

[0003] Currently, the automation level of malleable iron pipe fittings is low. During annealing, workers still need to load the pipe fittings into the annealing tank. When unloading the tank, manual operation is required to manually turn the annealing tank over to unload the material, which results in wasted motion, waste of transportation, and waste of physical labor, as well as certain operational risks. In addition, each process is currently set up in a scattered manner and has not yet formed a complete automated production line. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide an automated production line and method for malleable iron pipe fittings.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution:

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide an automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings, including an automatic tilting filling mechanism, an automatic tilting unloading mechanism, an empty can transport line, an aerial transport device, a ground transport device, and a turnover device;

[0007] The ground transport device is used to place the raw preforms to be canned into the automatic tipping canning hopper;

[0008] The automatic tilting canning mechanism is used to pour the raw materials from the feeding hopper into the can body. It includes a feeding hopper, a wire rope, a lifting motor, a slide rail, and a support. The slide rail is fixed on the support and includes a vertically arranged straight slide rail section and an arc-shaped slide rail section at the end of the straight slide rail section. The center of the arc-shaped slide rail is below the arc-shaped slide rail. The bottom of the feeding hopper is equipped with a traveling wheel, which slides along the slide rail. A lifting motor is installed at the top of the support. The lifting motor pulls the feeding hopper along the slide rail via the wire rope. A container hopper is installed inside the support. The bottom of the container hopper is a gate, and the opening and closing of the gate is controlled by a cylinder.

[0009] The tank is then fed into an annealing furnace;

[0010] The aforementioned aerial transport device lifts the annealed tank onto the automatic tipping and unloading mechanism;

[0011] The automatic tipping and unloading mechanism includes a moving vehicle, a rotating device, and a clamping device. A support frame is set on the moving vehicle, and the rotating device and the clamping device are installed on the support frame. The clamping device includes two left and right clamping arms, which are retractable to clamp the tank. The rotating device drives the clamping arms of the clamping device to rotate, pouring the material in the tank into the turnover device.

[0012] Empty cans are placed on an empty can transport line, which transports the empty cans to the bottom of an automatic tipping can filling mechanism.

[0013] As a further technical solution, the bottom transport device is a forklift, which picks up and transports the raw materials to be canned and places them into the automatic tipping canning hopper.

[0014] As a further technical solution, the aerial transport device is a crane, which lifts the annealed annealing tank onto an automatic tilting and unloading mechanism.

[0015] As a further technical solution, the track of the trolley is located above the empty tank transport line and is perpendicular to the empty tank transport line.

[0016] As a further technical solution, multiple automatic tilting can filling mechanisms can be set up, located on one or both sides of the empty can transport line.

[0017] As a further technical solution, multiple automatic tipping and unloading mechanisms can be set up, located on one or both sides of the empty tank transport line.

[0018] As a further technical solution, the mobile trolley is set on a track, which is perpendicular to the transport direction of the empty tank transport line.

[0019] Based on the aforementioned automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings, this invention also proposes a production method, as follows:

[0020] Step 1: The ground transportation device picks up the green blanks to be canned and places them into the automatic tilting canning feeding hopper. The lifting motor on the support rotates and tilts the feeding hopper to a certain angle, so that the pipes in the feeding hopper are tilted into the holding hopper.

[0021] Step 2: The cylinder opens the gate of the hopper, allowing the pipe to slide automatically into the annealing tank. Once the tank is full, the cylinder closes the gate, completing the automatic filling process.

[0022] Step 3: After the cans are annealed in the annealing kiln, the annealed cans are hoisted to the automatic tilting and unloading mechanism by an aerial transport device when they are discharged from the kiln. The tilting mechanism moves and tilts, tilting the pipes inside the cans into the turnover cage to complete the unloading action. At the same time, the empty cans are placed on the empty can conveying mechanism.

[0023] Step 4: The empty tanks are automatically transported to the automatic tipping and filling mechanism via the empty tank conveying mechanism, so as to realize the online recycling of the tanks.

[0024] The beneficial effects of the above embodiments of the present invention are as follows:

[0025] This invention proposes an automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings, integrating an automatic tilting and filling mechanism, an automatic tilting and unloading mechanism, an empty can transport line, an aerial transport device, a ground transport device, and a turnover cage. This achieves automated production of malleable iron pipe fittings. The automatic tilting and filling mechanism automatically tilts the pipe fittings from the turnover cage into the unloading hopper, replacing manual bending and hoeing for filling, thus reducing labor intensity. The change in filling method increases filling efficiency by more than 50%. The automatic tilting and unloading device automatically tilts the pipe fittings from the annealing tank into the empty turnover cage, replacing overhead crane lifting and manual can breaking and unloading, further reducing labor intensity and eliminating safety hazards. The automatic empty can transport line automatically transfers empty cans to the filling station, replacing forklift handling and manual stacking, reducing inefficient handling and improving production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall production line of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This invention relates to an automatic tipping can filling mechanism.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hopper for holding the components of this invention;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic tilting unloading mechanism of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the empty can conveying mechanism;

[0032] 1 Automatic tipping filling mechanism, 2 Container hopper, 3 Automatic tipping unloading mechanism, 4 Empty can conveying mechanism, 5 Turnover cage, 6 Traveling guide rail; 7 Forklift;

[0033] 1-1 Lifting motor, 1-2 Support frame, 1-3 Slide rail, 1-4 Slide chute, 1-5 Tank body, 1-6 Feeding hopper, 1-7 Wire rope, 1-8 Traveling wheels; 1-12 Holding hopper, 1-9 Gate, 1-10 Controller, 1-11 Cylinder, 3-1 Moving trolley, 3-2 Clamping drive device, 3-3 Slide rail, 3-4 Rotation drive device, 3-5 Controller, 3-6 Clamping arm. Detailed Implementation

[0034] It should be noted that the following detailed description is illustrative and intended to provide further explanation of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used in this invention have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0035] 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 scope of exemplary embodiments according to the invention. As used herein, unless otherwise expressly indicated by the invention, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. 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.

[0036] Terminology Explanation: The terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing" in this invention should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal connection of two components or the interaction relationship between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0037] As described in the background section, there are shortcomings in the existing technology. In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this invention proposes an automated production line and method for malleable iron pipe fittings.

[0038] In a typical embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings disclosed in this embodiment includes an automatic tilting filling mechanism, an automatic tilting unloading mechanism, an empty can transport line, an aerial transport device, a ground transport device, and a turnover cage.

[0039] The ground transport device is used to place the raw preforms to be canned into the automatic tipping canning hopper; in this embodiment, the ground transport device adopts an existing forklift.

[0040] The automatic tilting canning mechanism is used to pour the raw materials from the feeding hopper into the can body. It includes a feeding hopper, a wire rope, a lifting motor, a slide rail, and a support. The slide rail is fixed on the support and includes a vertically arranged straight slide rail section and an arc-shaped slide rail section at the end of the straight slide rail section. The center of the arc-shaped slide rail is below the arc-shaped slide rail. The bottom of the feeding hopper is equipped with a traveling wheel, which slides along the slide rail. A lifting motor is installed at the top of the support. The lifting motor pulls the feeding hopper along the slide rail via the wire rope. A container hopper is installed inside the support. The bottom of the container hopper is a gate, and the opening and closing of the gate is controlled by a cylinder.

[0041] The tank is then fed into an annealing furnace;

[0042] The aerial transport device lifts the annealed cans onto the automatic tipping and unloading mechanism. In this embodiment, the aerial transport device uses an existing overhead crane, whose track is located above the empty can transport line and perpendicular to it.

[0043] The automatic tipping and unloading mechanism includes a moving vehicle, a rotating device, and a clamping device. A support frame is set on the moving vehicle, and the rotating device and the clamping device are installed on the support frame. The clamping device includes two clamping arms, which are retractable to clamp the tank. The rotating device drives the clamping arms of the clamping device to rotate, pouring the material in the tank into the turnover cage.

[0044] Empty cans are placed on the empty can transport line, which transports the empty cans to the workstation below the automatic tipping and filling mechanism. The aforementioned automatic tipping and unloading mechanism, aerial transport device, automatic tipping and filling mechanism, and ground transport device are automatically controlled by the control system to achieve unified and coordinated operation of each device.

[0045] The aforementioned empty can conveying line is used to transport empty cans, and automatic tilting filling mechanism and automatic tilting unloading mechanism are set on both sides or one side of it; and the number of automatic tilting filling mechanism and automatic tilting unloading mechanism is set according to actual needs.

[0046] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3As shown, the automatic tipping canning mechanism 1 in this embodiment includes a feeding hopper 1-6, a wire rope 1-7, a lifting motor 1-1, a slide rail 1-3, and a support 1-2. The slide rail 1-3 is fixed on the support 1-2. The slide rail 1-3 includes a vertically arranged straight slide rail section and an arc-shaped slide rail section located at the end of the straight slide rail section. The center of the arc-shaped slide rail is below the arc-shaped slide rail. The bottom of the feeding hopper 1-6 is provided with a traveling wheel 1-8. The traveling wheel 1-8 moves along the... The slide rail is slidable as described above; a lifting motor 1-1 is installed at the top of the support 1-2, and the lifting motor pulls the feeding hopper 1-6 along the slide rail via a steel wire rope 1-7. A holding hopper 1-12 is installed inside the support 1-2. Due to the arc-shaped slide rail section, when the feeding hopper 1-6 slides to the end of the arc-shaped slide rail section, the feeding hopper 1-6 tilts downward as a whole, and the pipes inside the feeding hopper 1-6 tilt into the holding hopper 1-12. The structure of the holding hopper 1-12 is as follows. Figure 3 As shown, the bottom of the hopper 1-12 is a gate 1-9. The opening and closing of the gate 1-9 is controlled by a cylinder 1-11. When the empty tank moves to the bottom of the hopper, the gate at the bottom of the hopper 1-12 opens, the pipe falls into the tank, and then the tank continues to be conveyed forward by the conveying device.

[0047] Furthermore, the automatic tilting unloading mechanism in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 4 As shown, the device includes a mobile trolley 3-1, a rotary drive device, and a clamping drive device. A support frame is mounted on the mobile trolley 3-1, and the rotary device and clamping device are installed on the support frame. The clamping drive device uses an existing clamping device, including two clamping arms 3-6, which are telescopic to clamp the can. The rotary drive device drives the clamping arms of the clamping device to rotate, realizing the can transfer. A turnover cage is set below the can transfer. The rotary drive device includes a motor, which drives the two clamping arms 3-6 to rotate through a transmission device (one clamping arm corresponds to one motor, and the two motors are controlled simultaneously by a controller). The two clamping arms can be existing hydraulic cylinders, with the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder extending out of the clamping cylinder body, and then the motor drives the hydraulic cylinder to rotate through the transmission device. The mobile trolley is set on a track, which is perpendicular to the transport direction of the empty can transport line.

[0048] The specific work process is as follows:

[0049] The automatic tilting and unloading mechanism consists of five actions: can picking up, can tilting, can returning to its original position, emptying the can, and returning to the origin. A clamping device is used to control the can to clamp and pick up the can. By pressing the control button on the control box, the trolley is moved to the unloading position. A rotary motor is used to control the tilting angle of the can to tilt it, pouring the pipes in the can into the turnover cage below. After tilting is completed, the can rotates back to its original position. At the same time, the trolley is moved to place the empty can in the waiting position. The tilting mechanism returns to the origin to pick up the can, realizing the reciprocating action.

[0050] The aforementioned automatic tilting and unloading mechanism tilts the tubing in the can into the turnover cage 5, then places the empty can on the empty can conveyor line. The empty can conveyor line uses a conveyor motor to drive the rollers to rotate, automatically transporting the empty can to the empty can station below the automatic tilting and filling mechanism for filling and use, thus realizing the online transfer and recycling of annealing cans. (See...) Figure 5 (As shown)

[0051] Based on the production line described above, this embodiment also proposes a production method, as follows:

[0052] 1. The forklift picks up the raw materials to be canned and places them into the automatic tilting canning hopper. Then the control system controls the motor on the lifting frame to rotate and tilt the hopper to a certain angle, so that the pipes in the hopper are tilted into the container hopper.

[0053] 2. Control the hopper: Open the gate of the hopper by controlling the extension and retraction of the cylinder, so that the pipes can be automatically slid into the annealing tank. After the tank is full, the control system controls the cylinder to close the gate, thus completing the automatic filling action.

[0054] 3. After the annealing cans are annealed in the annealing kiln, when they are discharged from the kiln, the control system controls the crane to lift the annealed cans to the automatic tilting and unloading mechanism. Then the control system controls the tilting mechanism to move and tilt, tilting the pipes into the empty turnover cage. The unloading action is completed in this step, and the empty annealing cans are placed on the empty can conveying mechanism.

[0055] 4. The annealing can is automatically transported to the automatic tilting and filling mechanism via the empty can conveying mechanism, so as to realize the online recycling of the annealing can.

[0056] The automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings disclosed in this embodiment integrates an automatic tilting and filling mechanism, an automatic tilting and unloading mechanism, an empty can transport line, an aerial transport device, a ground transport device, and a turnover cage, realizing the automated production of malleable iron pipe fittings. Simultaneously, the automatic tilting and filling mechanism automatically tilts the pipe fittings in the turnover cage to the unloading hopper, replacing the manual bending and hoeing action of filling cans, reducing labor intensity; through the change in filling method, filling efficiency is increased by more than 50%; the automatic tilting and unloading device automatically tilts the pipe fittings in the annealing tank to the empty turnover cage, replacing the actions of overhead crane hoisting and manual can breaking and unloading, not only reducing labor intensity but also eliminating safety hazards; the automatic empty can conveyor line automatically transports empty cans to the filling station, replacing the actions of forklift handling and manual stacking, reducing ineffective handling and improving production efficiency.

[0057] Finally, it should be noted that relational terms such as first and second are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations.

[0058] 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.

Claims

1. An automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings, characterized in that, This includes automatic tipping filling mechanisms, automatic tipping unloading mechanisms, empty can transport lines, aerial transport devices, ground transport devices, and turnover devices; The ground transport device is used to place the raw preforms to be canned into the automatic tipping canning hopper; The automatic tilting canning mechanism is used to pour the raw materials from the feeding hopper into the can body. It includes a feeding hopper, a wire rope, a lifting motor, a slide rail, and a support. The slide rail is fixed on the support and includes a vertically arranged straight slide rail section and an arc-shaped slide rail section at the end of the straight slide rail section. The center of the arc-shaped slide rail is below the arc-shaped slide rail. The bottom of the feeding hopper is equipped with a traveling wheel, which slides along the slide rail. A lifting motor is installed at the top of the support. The lifting motor pulls the feeding hopper along the slide rail via the wire rope. A container hopper is installed inside the support. The bottom of the container hopper is a gate, and the opening and closing of the gate is controlled by a cylinder. The tank is then fed into an annealing furnace; The aforementioned aerial transport device lifts the annealed tank onto the automatic tipping and unloading mechanism; The automatic tipping and unloading mechanism includes a moving trolley, a rotating device, and a clamping device. A support frame is set on the moving trolley, and the rotating device and the clamping device are installed on the support frame. The clamping device includes two clamping arms, which are retractable to clamp the tank. The rotating device drives the clamping arms of the clamping device to rotate, pouring the material in the tank into the turnover device. Empty cans are placed on an empty can transport line, which transports the empty cans to the empty can station below the automatic tipping and filling mechanism. The aforementioned aerial transport device is a crane, which lifts the annealed annealing tank onto an automatic tilting and unloading mechanism; The track of the vehicle is located above the empty tank transport line and is perpendicular to the empty tank transport line; The mobile trolley is mounted on a track, which is perpendicular to the transport direction of the empty tank transport line.

2. The automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings as described in claim 1, characterized in that; The ground transportation device is a forklift, which picks up and transports the raw materials to be canned and places them into the automatic tipping canning hopper.

3. The automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings as described in claim 1, characterized in that; Multiple automatic tilting and filling mechanisms are provided, located on one or both sides of the empty can transport line.

4. The automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings as described in claim 1, characterized in that; Multiple automatic tipping and unloading mechanisms are provided, located on one or both sides of the empty tank transport line.

5. The production method of the automated production line for malleable iron pipe fittings as described in any one of claims 1-4 is as follows: Step 1: The ground transportation device picks up the green blanks to be canned and places them into the automatic tilting canning feeding hopper. The lifting motor on the support rotates and tilts the feeding hopper to a certain angle, so that the pipes in the feeding hopper are tilted into the holding hopper. Step 2: The cylinder opens the gate of the hopper, allowing the pipe to slide automatically into the annealing tank. Once the tank is full, the cylinder closes the gate, completing the automatic filling process. Step 3: After the cans are annealed in the annealing kiln, the annealed cans are hoisted to the automatic tilting and unloading mechanism by an aerial transport device when they are discharged from the kiln. The tilting mechanism moves and tilts, tilting the pipes inside the cans into the turnover cage to complete the unloading action. At the same time, the empty cans are placed on the empty can conveying mechanism. Step 4: The empty tanks are automatically transported to the automatic tipping and filling mechanism via the empty tank conveying mechanism, so as to realize the online recycling of the tanks.

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