Tray conveying mechanism, continuous feeding system and continuous feeding method
By designing a material tray conveying mechanism and a continuous feeding system, and utilizing two positioning drive devices to operate independently, the efficient translation of the material tray between workstations is achieved, solving the problem of low material tray conveying efficiency in existing technologies and realizing efficient continuous feeding.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BOZHON PRECISION IND TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, the material trays are inefficient during the conveying process and cannot achieve continuous and efficient material feeding.
Design a material tray conveying mechanism that uses two positioning drive devices to operate independently, realize the translation of the material tray between the loading, unloading and unloading stations, and realize continuous feeding through the feeding and recycling mechanism.
This improved the conveying efficiency of the material tray, enabling continuous material feeding and increasing production efficiency.
Smart Images

Figure CN116654547B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of material tray conveying technology, and in particular to a material tray conveying mechanism, a continuous feeding system, and a continuous feeding method. Background Technology
[0002] In automated production equipment, when processing materials placed in trays, the trays need to be transported from one station to the next via a conveyor belt. For example, Chinese utility model patent CN209721004U discloses a VCM tray loading and unloading mechanism, including a frame, a belt, a front insertion cylinder, a rear insertion cylinder, a tray limit plate for the loading position, a lifting cylinder a, a tray limit plate for the unloading position, a flipping plate, a lifting cylinder b, and a motor. The frame has a belt connected between two parallel rotating shafts in the middle. Four tray limit plates for the loading position are installed around one side of the top of the frame, forming a tray storage cavity a. Four tray limit plates for the unloading position are installed around the other side of the top of the frame, forming a tray storage cavity b. In the aforementioned utility model patent, when one of the material trays is at the material picking position between the upper and lower material positions, the other material trays can only move up and down, but cannot move horizontally. When the previous material tray leaves the material picking position, the next material tray can move synchronously from the upper material position to the material picking position. The next material tray cannot reach the material picking position faster, and the production efficiency is not maximized. Summary of the Invention
[0003] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is how to achieve more efficient continuous feeding of material trays.
[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a conveying mechanism for a material tray. The conveying mechanism has a loading station, a picking station, and a unloading station arranged sequentially along the positive horizontal X-axis. The conveying mechanism includes a frame, a supporting and guiding device, and a positioning and driving device. The supporting and guiding device includes a first guide rail, which is mounted on the frame and used to support and guide the material tray to move sequentially from the loading station to the picking station and the unloading station. The positioning and driving device includes a positioning component and a driving component. The positioning component is used to position the material tray, and the driving component is mounted on the frame and used to drive the positioning component to move sequentially between the loading station, the picking station, and the unloading station.
[0005] The positioning drive device is configured as two, which are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis and can operate independently.
[0006] In the first working state, the positioning component of one of the positioning drive devices and its positioning tray are located at the material picking station, and the positioning component of the other positioning drive device and its positioning tray can be translated laterally in the positive horizontal X-axis direction of the material picking station.
[0007] In the second working state, the positioning component of one of the positioning drive devices and its positioning tray are located at the material picking station, and the positioning component of the other positioning drive device and its positioning tray can be translated in the negative direction of the horizontal X-axis of the material picking station.
[0008] In the third working state, the positioning component of one of the positioning drive devices and its positioning tray are located at the material picking station, and the positioning component of the other positioning drive device can return to the loading station from the unloading station without load.
[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning component in an unloaded state can pass under the material tray on the supporting guide device along the horizontal X-axis direction. In a third state, the positioning component of one of the positioning drive devices and the material tray it positions are located at the picking station, and the positioning component of the other positioning drive device can pass through the picking station unloaded. In a fourth working state, the positioning components of the two positioning drive devices position the same material tray and are both located at the picking station.
[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning component includes a snap-fit mounting plate and two snap-fit components, the two snap-fit components being located at different positions along the horizontal X-axis and being oscillating up and down connected to the snap-fit mounting plate, and the driving component including a transmission belt, the transmission belt being connected and fixed to the snap-fit mounting plate.
[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning drive device further includes a second guide rail, which is mounted on the frame and used to guide the snap-fit mounting plate to translate along the horizontal X-axis direction.
[0012] The present invention also provides a continuous feeding system for a material tray, including the aforementioned conveying mechanism, a feeding mechanism for transferring a full material tray to a loading station of the conveying mechanism, and a recycling mechanism for transferring an empty material tray from the unloading station of the conveying mechanism.
[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the feeding mechanism includes a first hopper and a first lifting device. The first hopper is used to store multiple layers of full trays, and the first lifting device is used to support the full trays and drive them downward. The first lifting device is located below the first hopper. The first lifting device and the first hopper cooperate with each other to transfer the bottom layer of full trays in the first hopper to the first lifting device. The first lifting device and the conveying mechanism are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis. The first lifting device drives the full trays downward to the loading station of the conveying mechanism.
[0014] The recycling mechanism includes a second hopper and a second lifting device. The second hopper is used to store multiple layers of empty material trays, and the second lifting device is used to support the empty material trays and drive them upward. The second lifting device and the conveying mechanism are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis. The second lifting device lifts the empty material trays at the unloading station of the conveying mechanism. The second lifting device is located below the second hopper, and the second lifting device and the second hopper cooperate with each other to make the empty material trays on the second lifting device rise to the bottom layer of the second hopper.
[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, two first guide rails are provided, the two first guide rails are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis, the two driving components are respectively located below the two first guide rails, the two positioning components are respectively located inside the two first guide rails, and the first lifting device and the second lifting device are located between the two positioning components.
[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first hopper includes a first fixed plate, a first guide plate, a first limiting plate, and a distributing cylinder. The first fixed plate is horizontally arranged and has a first material tray channel that runs vertically through it. The first guide plate is vertically connected to the upper side of the first fixed plate and is arranged at the four corners of the multi-layer full material trays in the form of a edging. The first limiting plate is connected to the upper side of the first fixed plate and can be horizontally extended and retracted. When the distributing cylinder drives the first limiting plate to extend, the first limiting plate restricts the material tray from moving downward away from the first material tray channel and can extend into the space between two adjacent full material trays. When the distributing cylinder drives the first limiting plate to shorten, the first limiting plate allows the full material tray to move downward away from the first material tray channel.
[0017] The second hopper includes a second fixed plate, a second guide plate, and a second limiting plate. The second fixed plate is horizontally arranged and has a second material tray channel that runs vertically through it. The second guide plate is vertically connected to the upper side of the second fixed plate and is arranged at the four corners of the multi-layer empty material tray in the form of a edging. The second limiting plate is connected to the upper side of the second fixed plate and can swing up and down. When the empty material tray moves upward, it drives the second limiting plate to swing up to a set position. After the second limiting plate allows the empty material tray to move upward and enter the second material tray channel, the second limiting plate swings down to the set position under its own weight and restricts the empty material tray from moving downward and leaving the second material tray channel.
[0018] The present invention also provides a continuous feeding method for a material tray, comprising the following steps:
[0019] S1. Provide the continuous feeding system and proceed to step S2;
[0020] S2. At least one of the positioning components is left unloaded at the loading station. The feeding mechanism transfers a tray to the loading station. The tray at the loading station is supported by the first guide rail and positioned by the positioning component of the loading station. The positioning component and the tray at the loading station are moved from the loading station to the unloading station under the drive of the driving component. Then proceed to step S3.
[0021] S3. The material tray at the material picking station is positioned at the material picking station by one of the positioning components, and the material in the material tray at the material picking station is taken away. During this period, the other positioning component is positioned at the material feeding station in an unloaded state. The feeding mechanism transfers the other material tray to the material feeding station. The material tray at the material feeding station is supported by the first guide rail and positioned by the positioning component of the material feeding station. The positioning component and the material tray at the material feeding station are moved from the material feeding station to the waiting area near the material picking station under the drive of the driving component, and then proceed to step S4.
[0022] S4. The positioning component and empty material tray of the picking station are moved from the picking station to the unloading station under the drive of the driving component. At the same time, the positioning component and full material tray of the waiting area are moved from the waiting area to the picking station under the drive of the driving component. Then proceed to step S5.
[0023] S5. The material tray of the picking station is positioned at the picking station by one of the positioning components, and the material in the material tray of the picking station is taken away. During this period, the recycling mechanism transfers the empty material tray of the unloading station away. The positioning component of the unloading station returns to the loading station from the unloading station in an unloaded state under the drive of the drive component, and returns to step S2.
[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, in steps S3 and S5, when the material in the tray of the picking station is greater than a set quantity and there is no tray at the unloading station, both positioning components are located at the picking station and position the same tray of the picking station. When the material in the tray of the picking station is less than a set quantity, one of the positioning components moves to the loading station.
[0025] Compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages: the conveying mechanism of the material tray, the continuous feeding system and the continuous feeding method of the present invention, by setting two positioning drive devices, when one positioning drive device drives the material tray to the picking station, the other positioning drive device can drive the material tray to the waiting area near the picking station. When the material tray at the picking station leaves, the other material tray can reach the picking station more quickly, thereby improving the efficiency of continuous feeding. Attached Figure Description
[0026] To make the content of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.
[0027] Figure 1 A top view of the conveying mechanism for the material tray provided by the present invention;
[0028] Figure 2 An axial view of the conveying mechanism for the material tray provided by the present invention;
[0029] Figure 3 A top view of the continuous feeding system for the material tray provided by the present invention;
[0030] Figure 4 Axial view of the continuous feeding system for the material tray provided by the present invention;
[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the continuous feeding system provided by the present invention.
[0032] Explanation of reference numerals in the accompanying drawings: 01, Material tray; 02, Material tray; 03, Material tray; 11, Loading station; 12, Unloading station; 13, Unloading station; 2, Frame; 21, Side plate; 3, Supporting and guiding device; 31, First guide rail; 4, Positioning drive device; 41, Positioning component; 411, Buckle mounting plate; 412, Buckle component; 413, Positioning cylinder; 42, Drive component; 421, Transmission belt; 422, Motor; 43, Second guide rail; 5, First hopper; 51, First fixing plate; 511, First material tray channel; 52, First guide plate; 53, First limiting plate; 54, Distributing cylinder; 6, First lifting device; 7, Second hopper; 71, Second fixing plate; 711, Second material tray channel; 72, Second guide plate; 73, Second limiting plate; 8, Second lifting device. Detailed Implementation
[0033] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present invention. However, the embodiments described are not intended to limit the present invention.
[0034] Example 1
[0035] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a material tray conveying mechanism has a loading station 11, a picking station 12, and a unloading station 13 arranged sequentially along the positive horizontal X-axis. The conveying mechanism includes a frame 2, a supporting and guiding device 3, and a positioning and driving device 4. The supporting and guiding device 3 includes a first guide rail 31, which is mounted on the frame 2 and used to support and guide the material tray to move sequentially from the loading station 11 to the picking station 12 and the unloading station 13. The positioning and driving device 4 includes a positioning component 41 and a driving component 42. The positioning component 41 positions the material tray, and the driving component 42 is mounted on the frame 2 and used to drive the positioning component 41 to move sequentially between the loading station 11, the picking station 12, and the unloading station 13.
[0036] The aforementioned positioning drive device 4 is configured as two, and the two positioning drive devices 4 are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis direction and can operate independently;
[0037] In the first working state, the positioning component 41 of one of the above-mentioned positioning drive devices 4 and its positioning tray are located at the above-mentioned material picking station 12, and the positioning component 41 of the other of the above-mentioned positioning drive devices 4 and its positioning tray can be translated laterally in the positive direction of the horizontal X-axis of the above-mentioned material picking station 12.
[0038] In the second working state, the positioning component 41 of one of the above-mentioned positioning drive devices 4 and its positioning tray are located at the above-mentioned material picking station 12, and the positioning component 41 of the other above-mentioned positioning drive device 4 and its positioning tray can be translated in the negative direction of the horizontal X-axis of the above-mentioned material picking station 12.
[0039] In the third working state, the positioning component 41 of one of the above-mentioned positioning drive devices 4 and its positioning tray are located at the above-mentioned material picking station 12, and the positioning component 41 of the other above-mentioned positioning drive device 4 can return to the above-mentioned loading station 11 from the above-mentioned unloading station 13 without load.
[0040] The frame 2 includes two side plates 21 located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis. The positioning assembly 41 also includes a positioning cylinder 413 that drives the latching component 412 to swing, and the drive assembly 42 also includes a motor 422 that drives the transmission belt 421 to move circumferentially.
[0041] The conveying mechanism of the aforementioned tray includes the following steps during operation:
[0042] S1.1. At least one of the positioning components 41 is kept in the loading station 11 in an unloaded state. An external feeding mechanism transfers a full tray to the loading station 11. The tray at the loading station 11 is supported by the first guide rail 31 and positioned by the positioning component 41 of the loading station 11. The positioning component 41 and the tray at the loading station 11 are moved from the loading station 11 to the unloading station 12 under the drive of the driving component 42. Then proceed to step S1.2.
[0043] S1.2, the material tray of the material picking station 12 is positioned at the material picking station 12 by one of the positioning components 41, and the material in the material tray of the material picking station 12 is taken away. During this period, the other positioning component 41 is positioned at the material loading station 11 in an unloaded state. The external feeding mechanism transfers another full material tray to the material loading station 11. The material tray of the material loading station 11 is supported by the first guide rail 31 and positioned by the positioning component 41 of the material loading station 11. The positioning component 41 and the material tray of the material loading station 11 are moved from the material loading station 11 to the waiting area near the material picking station 12 under the drive of the drive component 42, and then proceed to step S1.3.
[0044] S1.3, the positioning component 41 and empty material tray of the above-mentioned material picking station 12 are moved from the above-mentioned material picking station 12 to the above-mentioned unloading station 13 under the drive of the drive component 42. At the same time, the positioning component 41 and full material tray of the above-mentioned waiting area are moved from the above-mentioned waiting area to the above-mentioned material picking station 12 under the drive of the drive component 42, and then proceed to step S1.4.
[0045] S1.4 The material tray of the material picking station 12 is positioned at the material picking station 12 by one of the positioning components 41, and the material in the material tray of the material picking station 12 is taken away. During this period, the external recycling mechanism transfers the empty material tray of the material unloading station 13 away. The positioning component 41 of the material unloading station 13 returns to the material loading station 11 from the material unloading station 13 in an unloaded state under the drive of the drive component 42, and returns to step S1.1.
[0046] In a preferred embodiment of this example, the positioning component 41, in an unloaded state, can pass under the tray on the supporting guide device 3 along the horizontal X-axis direction. In a third state, one of the positioning components 41 of the positioning drive device 4 and the tray it positions are located at the material picking station 12, while the other positioning component 41 of the positioning drive device 4 can pass through the material picking station 12 unloaded. In a fourth working state, the positioning components 41 of the two positioning drive devices 4 position the same tray and are both located at the material picking station 12.
[0047] Specifically, the positioning component 41 reciprocates. During this reciprocating motion, the positioning component 41 at the unloading station 13 first reaches the picking station 12 and then returns to the loading station 11. When the conveying mechanism transports the first tray, the two positioning drive components jointly transfer the first tray from the loading station to the picking station. After the material in the tray at the picking station is quickly removed, one of the positioning components returns to the loading station to position the other tray. After the empty tray at the unloading station is transferred away by the external recycling mechanism, the positioning component at the unloading station first reaches the picking station and positions the tray together with the other positioning component. After the material in the picking station is quickly removed, one of the positioning components returns to the loading station and transfers the tray at the loading station to the waiting area. In other embodiments, the positioning component at the unloading station can directly return to the loading station when it performs circumferential cyclical motion.
[0048] In a preferred embodiment of this example, the positioning component 41 includes a snap-fit mounting plate 411 and two snap-fit parts 412. The two snap-fit parts 412 are located at different positions along the horizontal X-axis and are connected to the snap-fit mounting plate 411, allowing them to swing up and down. The driving component 42 includes a transmission belt 421, which is fixedly connected to the snap-fit mounting plate 411. By including snap-fit parts in the positioning component, which can swing up and down, when the positioning component is unloaded, the snap-fit parts can prevent the material tray from passing horizontally from the bottom of the tray. This allows the unloaded positioning component to pass through the material picking station even when both the positioning component and the material tray are present.
[0049] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the positioning drive device 4 further includes a second guide rail 43, which is mounted on the frame 2 and used to guide the snap-fit mounting plate 411 to translate along the horizontal X-axis. By providing the second guide rail, the movement trajectory of the positioning component is more accurate and stable.
[0050] See Figures 3 to 5As shown in the illustration, a continuous feeding system for a material tray includes the aforementioned conveying mechanism, a feeding mechanism for transferring a full material tray to the loading station 11 of the conveying mechanism, and a recycling mechanism for transferring an empty material tray from the unloading station 13 of the conveying mechanism.
[0051] The feeding method of the above-mentioned continuous feeding system for material trays includes the following steps:
[0052] S2.1. At least one of the positioning components 41 is kept in an unloaded state at the loading station 11. The feeding mechanism transfers a full tray 01 to the loading station 11. The tray at the loading station 11 is supported by the first guide rail 31 and positioned by the positioning component 41 of the loading station 11. The positioning component 41 and the tray at the loading station 11 are moved from the loading station 11 to the unloading station 12 under the drive of the driving component 42. Then proceed to step S2.2.
[0053] S2.2, the material tray 02 of the material picking station 12 is positioned at the material picking station 12 under the positioning of one of the positioning components 41, and the material in the material tray 02 of the material picking station 12 is taken away. During this period, the other positioning component 41 is positioned at the material loading station 11 in an unloaded state. The feeding mechanism transfers the other full material tray 01 to the material loading station 11. The material tray of the material loading station 11 is supported by the first guide rail 31 and positioned by the positioning component 41 of the material loading station 11. The positioning component 41 and the material tray of the material loading station 11 are moved from the material loading station 11 to the waiting area near the material picking station 12 under the drive of the driving component 42, and then proceed to step S2.3.
[0054] S2.3, the positioning component 41 and empty material tray of the above-mentioned material picking station 12 are moved from the above-mentioned material picking station 12 to the above-mentioned unloading station 13 under the drive of the drive component 42. At the same time, the positioning component 41 and full material tray of the above-mentioned waiting area are moved from the above-mentioned waiting area to the above-mentioned material picking station 12 under the drive of the drive component 42, and then proceed to step S2.4.
[0055] S2.4 The material tray of the material picking station 12 is positioned at the material picking station 12 by one of the positioning components 41, and the material in the material tray of the material picking station 12 is taken away. During this period, the recycling mechanism transfers the empty material tray 03 of the unloading station 13 away. The positioning component 41 of the unloading station 13 returns to the loading station 11 from the unloading station 13 in an unloaded state under the drive of the drive component 42, and returns to step S2.1.
[0056] In a preferred embodiment of this example, the feeding mechanism includes a first hopper 5 and a first lifting device 6. The first hopper 5 is used to store multiple layers of full pallets, and the first lifting device 6 is used to support the full pallets and drive them downward. The first lifting device 6 is located below the first hopper 5. The first lifting device 6 and the first hopper 5 cooperate with each other to transfer the bottom layer of full pallets in the first hopper 5 onto the first lifting device 6. The first lifting device 6 and the conveying mechanism are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis. The first lifting device 6 drives the full pallets downward to the loading station 11 of the conveying mechanism.
[0057] The aforementioned recycling mechanism includes a second hopper 7 and a second lifting device 8. The second hopper 7 is used to store multiple layers of empty trays, and the second lifting device 8 is used to support empty trays and move them upwards. The second lifting device 8 and the conveying mechanism are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis. The second lifting device 8 lifts the empty trays at the unloading station 13 of the conveying mechanism. The second lifting device 8 is located below the second hopper 7, and the second lifting device 8 and the second hopper 7 cooperate to move the empty trays on the second lifting device 8 to the bottom layer of the second hopper 7. In steps S2.1 and S2.2, the first lifting device receives the full trays in the first hopper at a higher position and moves them down onto the conveying mechanism. In step S2.4, the second lifting device pushes the empty trays on the conveying mechanism into the second hopper at a lower position.
[0058] In this preferred embodiment, two first guide rails 31 are provided, located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis. Two driving components 42 are respectively located below the two first guide rails 31, and two positioning components 41 are respectively located inside the two first guide rails 31. The first lifting device 6 and the second lifting device 8 are located between the two positioning components 41. The conveying mechanism is a double-sided conveying mechanism. The use of lifting devices in conjunction with a double-sided conveying mechanism to transfer materials is existing technology and will not be elaborated further here.
[0059] In a preferred embodiment of this example, the first hopper 5 includes a first fixed plate 51, a first guide plate 52, a first limiting plate 53, and a tray-separating cylinder 54. The first fixed plate 51 is horizontally arranged and has a first tray channel 511 that runs vertically through it. The first guide plate 52 is vertically connected to the upper side of the first fixed plate 51 and is arranged at the four corners of the multi-layer full trays in the form of an edge. The first limiting plate 53 is connected to the upper side of the first fixed plate 51 and can extend and retract horizontally. When the tray-separating cylinder 54 drives the first limiting plate 53 to extend, the first limiting plate 53 restricts the tray from moving downward away from the first tray channel 511 and can extend into the space between two adjacent full trays. When the tray-separating cylinder 54 drives the first limiting plate 53 to shorten, the first limiting plate 53 allows the full tray to move downward away from the first tray channel 511.
[0060] The aforementioned second hopper 7 includes a second fixed plate 71, a second guide plate 72, and a second limiting plate 73. The second fixed plate 71 is horizontally arranged and has a second material tray channel 711 that runs vertically through it. The second guide plate 72 is vertically connected to the upper side of the second fixed plate 71 and is positioned at the four corners of the multi-layer empty material trays in a rimmed manner. The second limiting plate 73 is connected to the upper side of the second fixed plate 71 and can swing up and down. When the empty material tray moves upward, it drives the second limiting plate 73 to swing upward to a set position, after which the second limiting plate 73 allows the empty material tray to move upward into the second material tray channel 711. When the second limiting plate 73 swings downward to the set position under its own weight, it restricts the empty material tray from moving downward away from the second material tray channel 711. The material hopper and lifting device working together to transfer materials is existing technology and will not be described in detail here.
[0061] In the preferred embodiment of this example, in steps S2.2 and S2.4, when the material in the tray at the picking station 12 is greater than the set quantity and there is no tray at the unloading station 13, both positioning components 41 are located at the picking station 12. When the material in the tray at the picking station 12 is less than the set quantity, one of the positioning components 41 moves to the loading station 11. In the above technical solution, one positioning drive device positions and drives one tray to be transferred sequentially from the loading station to the picking station and the unloading station. After the other positioning drive device transfers the empty tray away, it can first assist in positioning the tray at the picking station before transferring the new tray, which can ensure that the tray at the picking station is positioned by the two positioning components for as long as possible.
[0062] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.
Claims
1. A conveying mechanism for a material tray, the conveying mechanism having a loading station, a picking station, and a unloading station arranged sequentially along a horizontal X-axis, the conveying mechanism including a frame, a supporting and guiding device, and a positioning and driving device, the supporting and guiding device including a first guide rail, the first guide rail being mounted on the frame and used to support and guide the material tray to move sequentially from the loading station to the picking station and the unloading station, the positioning and driving device including a positioning component and a driving component, the positioning component being used to position the material tray, the driving component being mounted on the frame and used to drive the positioning component to move sequentially between the loading station, the picking station, and the unloading station. Its features are, The positioning drive device is configured as two, and the two positioning drive devices are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis and can operate independently. The positioning component in an unloaded state can pass under the material tray on the supporting guide device along the horizontal X-axis. In the first working state, the positioning component of one of the positioning drive devices and its positioning tray are located at the material picking station, and the positioning component of the other positioning drive device and its positioning tray can be translated laterally in the positive horizontal X-axis direction of the material picking station. In the second working state, the positioning component of one of the positioning drive devices and its positioning tray are located at the material picking station, and the positioning component of the other positioning drive device and its positioning tray can be translated in the negative direction of the horizontal X-axis of the material picking station. In the third working state, the positioning component of one of the positioning drive devices and its positioning tray are located at the material picking station, and the positioning component of the other positioning drive device can return from the unloading station to the loading station and pass through the material picking station without load. In the fourth working state, the positioning components of the two positioning drive devices are positioned on the same tray and are both located at the material picking station. When the conveying mechanism transports the first tray, the two positioning drive components work together to transfer the first tray from the loading station to the unloading station. After the material in the tray at the unloading station is quickly removed, one of the positioning components returns to the loading station to position the other tray. After the empty tray at the unloading station is transferred away by the external recycling mechanism, the positioning component at the unloading station arrives at the unloading station first and positions the tray together with the other positioning component. After the material in the unloading station is quickly removed, one of the positioning components returns to the loading station and transfers the tray at the loading station to the waiting area.
2. The conveying mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning component includes a snap-fit mounting plate and two snap-fit parts. The two snap-fit parts are located at different positions along the horizontal X-axis and are connected to the snap-fit mounting plate to swing up and down. The driving component includes a transmission belt, which is connected and fixed to the snap-fit mounting plate.
3. The conveying mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, The positioning drive device further includes a second guide rail, which is mounted on the frame and used to guide the snap-fit mounting plate to translate along the horizontal X-axis direction.
4. A continuous feeding system for a material tray, characterized in that, It includes a conveying mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, a feeding mechanism for transferring a full material tray to the loading station of the conveying mechanism, and a recycling mechanism for transferring an empty material tray from the unloading station of the conveying mechanism.
5. The continuous feeding system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The feeding mechanism includes a first hopper and a first lifting device. The first hopper is used to store multiple layers of full trays. The first lifting device is used to support the full trays and drive them downward. The first lifting device is located below the first hopper. The first lifting device and the first hopper cooperate with each other to transfer the bottom layer of full trays in the first hopper to the first lifting device. The first lifting device and the conveying mechanism are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis. The first lifting device drives the full trays downward to the loading station of the conveying mechanism. The recycling mechanism includes a second hopper and a second lifting device. The second hopper is used to store multiple layers of empty material trays, and the second lifting device is used to support the empty material trays and drive them upward. The second lifting device and the conveying mechanism are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis. The second lifting device lifts the empty material trays at the unloading station of the conveying mechanism. The second lifting device is located below the second hopper, and the second lifting device and the second hopper cooperate with each other to make the empty material trays on the second lifting device rise to the bottom layer of the second hopper.
6. The continuous feeding system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first guide rail is configured as two rails, which are located at different positions along the horizontal Y-axis. The two drive components are respectively located below the two first guide rails, and the two positioning components are respectively located inside the two first guide rails. The first lifting device and the second lifting device are located between the two positioning components.
7. The continuous feeding system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first hopper includes a first fixed plate, a first guide plate, a first limiting plate, and a distributing cylinder. The first fixed plate is horizontally arranged and has a first material tray channel that runs vertically through it. The first guide plate is vertically connected to the upper side of the first fixed plate and is arranged at the four corners of the multi-layer full material trays in the form of a edging. The first limiting plate is connected to the upper side of the first fixed plate and can extend and retract horizontally. When the distributing cylinder drives the first limiting plate to extend, the first limiting plate restricts the material tray from moving downwards and leaving the first material tray channel, and can extend into the space between two adjacent full material trays. When the distributing cylinder drives the first limiting plate to shorten, the first limiting plate allows the full material tray to move downwards and leave the first material tray channel. The second hopper includes a second fixed plate, a second guide plate, and a second limiting plate. The second fixed plate is horizontally arranged and has a second material tray channel that runs vertically through it. The second guide plate is vertically connected to the upper side of the second fixed plate and is arranged at the four corners of the multi-layer empty material tray in the form of a edging. The second limiting plate is connected to the upper side of the second fixed plate and can swing up and down. When the empty material tray moves upward, it drives the second limiting plate to swing up to a set position. After the second limiting plate allows the empty material tray to move upward and enter the second material tray channel, the second limiting plate swings down to the set position under its own weight and restricts the empty material tray from moving downward and leaving the second material tray channel.
8. A continuous feeding method for a material tray, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Provide the continuous feeding system as described in any one of claims 4 to 7, and proceed to step S2; S2. At least one of the positioning components is left unloaded at the loading station. The feeding mechanism transfers a tray to the loading station. The tray at the loading station is supported by the first guide rail and positioned by the positioning component of the loading station. The positioning component and the tray at the loading station are moved from the loading station to the unloading station under the drive of the driving component. Then proceed to step S3. S3. The material tray at the material picking station is positioned at the material picking station by one of the positioning components, and the material in the material tray at the material picking station is taken away. During this period, the other positioning component is positioned at the material feeding station in an unloaded state. The feeding mechanism transfers the other material tray to the material feeding station. The material tray at the material feeding station is supported by the first guide rail and positioned by the positioning component of the material feeding station. The positioning component and the material tray at the material feeding station are moved from the material feeding station to the waiting area near the material picking station under the drive of the driving component, and then proceed to step S4. S4. The positioning component and empty material tray of the picking station are moved from the picking station to the unloading station under the drive of the driving component. At the same time, the positioning component and full material tray of the waiting area are moved from the waiting area to the picking station under the drive of the driving component. Then proceed to step S5. S5. The material tray of the picking station is positioned at the picking station by one of the positioning components, and the material in the material tray of the picking station is taken away. During this period, the recycling mechanism transfers the empty material tray of the unloading station away. The positioning component of the unloading station returns to the loading station from the unloading station in an unloaded state under the drive of the drive component, and returns to step S2.
9. The continuous feeding method according to claim 8, characterized in that, In steps S3 and S5, when the material in the tray of the picking station is greater than the set quantity and there is no tray at the unloading station, both positioning components are located at the picking station and position the same tray at the picking station. When the material in the tray of the picking station is less than the set quantity, one of the positioning components moves to the loading station.