A powder feeder

Abstract

This invention relates to a powder feeder, which periodically opens or closes the discharge port by rotating a stirring element, thereby ensuring that the powder in the material cylinder falls evenly and guaranteeing the uniformity of line thickness during marking. At the same time, closing the discharge port by the stirring element effectively eliminates the need for a lower end cover. Furthermore, a valve assembly located at the upper end of the material cylinder is used to open or close the inlet. Without introducing a new power source, this invention achieves an automated effect of opening the receiving valve and automatically closing the valve during marking, effectively preventing foreign objects and rainwater from falling into the material cylinder and ensuring the smooth operation of marking work in complex environments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of construction line marking device technology, specifically to a powder feeder. Background Technology

[0002] Construction refers to the production activities during the implementation phase of a project. It is the process of building various types of structures, or the process of turning the lines on design drawings into a physical object at a designated location. It includes foundation construction, main structure construction, roofing construction, and decoration construction. The site where construction work takes place is called the "construction site" or "building site."

[0003] During construction, lines are pre-marked using powdered materials (such as lime powder) for better positioning. Currently, to save time and manpower, and to avoid inaccurate marking due to manual operation, an automatic marking device has been developed. This device uses a movable trolley to drive a powder feeder for feeding and marking. However, during the lime powder discharge process, blockages can easily occur, hindering smooth discharge and affecting marking efficiency. Furthermore, existing marking devices typically do not have a cover at the top of the powder feeder for convenient and timely feeding, while a cover is placed at the bottom to prevent powder from falling. This presents the following inconveniences:

[0004] Rainy weather is common at construction sites, but the construction progress cannot be delayed. Therefore, when marking lines in rainy weather, the lime powder may get wet, which not only causes the powder to solidify but also damages the equipment due to high temperature. Even without rainy weather, construction spray water may sometimes be encountered, which will have an adverse effect on the marking.

[0005] The existing powder feeder has a cover at the bottom, which needs to be opened every time a line is drawn. A detachable cover may be lost, while a movable cover may cause powder to get stuck in the gap. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the existing powder feeder. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Based on the above description, the present invention provides a powder feeder to solve the aforementioned technical problems in the prior art.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:

[0008] A powder feeder includes a material cylinder, a discharge assembly, and a valve assembly;

[0009] The inside of the material cylinder has a receiving space for containing the powder, and the upper and lower ends of the material cylinder form an inlet and an outlet, respectively.

[0010] The discharge assembly includes a stirring element and a power source. The stirring element is rotatably disposed inside the material cylinder and close to the discharge port. The power source is disposed outside the material cylinder and is connected to the stirring element for transmission. The stirring element rotates to periodically open or close the discharge port.

[0011] The valve assembly is located at the upper end of the feed cylinder and is used to open or close the feed inlet.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this application has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0013] The powder feeder provided in this application periodically opens or closes the discharge port by rotating the agitator, thereby ensuring that the powder in the cylinder falls evenly and guaranteeing the uniformity of the line thickness during marking. At the same time, closing the discharge port by the agitator effectively eliminates the need for a lower cover. Furthermore, the valve assembly located at the upper end of the cylinder is used to open or close the inlet, which can effectively prevent foreign objects and rainwater from falling into the cylinder and ensure the smooth operation of marking work in complex environments.

[0014] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows.

[0015] Furthermore, the material cylinder includes a cylinder body, a drum seat, and a discharge component. The inlet is located at the upper end of the cylinder body, the discharge component is located at the lower end of the cylinder body, and the discharge port is located at the discharge component. The drum seat is located inside the cylinder body, and both ends of the drum seat are connected to the inner wall of the cylinder body. The middle part of the drum seat has a vertically arranged discharge channel, and the lower end of the discharge channel is connected to the discharge port. The stirring component includes a drum, which is rotatably mounted on the drum seat. The outer side of the drum has multiple teeth formed radially, and a receiving groove is formed between adjacent teeth. When the teeth rotate with the drum to a horizontal position, the outer end of the teeth contacts the inner wall of the drum seat to close the discharge channel.

[0016] Furthermore, the power source includes a DC geared motor, which is mounted on one side of the material cylinder via a motor bracket, and the motor shaft of the DC geared motor extends into the cylinder and is connected to the drum via a transmission connection.

[0017] Furthermore, both ends of the drum are connected to the drum base via bearings, and a sealing ring is provided at the connection between the bearing and the drum.

[0018] Furthermore, the discharge assembly also includes a vibration source, which includes a first bracket, a first vibration motor, a second bracket, and a second vibration motor. The first bracket is connected to one side of the material cylinder, and the first vibration motor is connected to the first bracket to drive the material cylinder to vibrate. The drum has a receiving cavity in the middle, the second bracket is inserted into the middle of the drum and has a mounting groove, and the second vibration motor is mounted in the mounting groove to drive the drum to vibrate.

[0019] Furthermore, a full-level sensor is connected near the upper end of the cylinder, and a discharge window is formed in the cylinder.

[0020] Furthermore, it also includes a connecting bracket and a feed position sensor; the connecting bracket is connected to the upper end of the cylinder and is used to connect to a moving device with a powder hopper, and the feed position sensor is connected to the connecting bracket and is set corresponding to the feed inlet.

[0021] Furthermore, the valve assembly includes a movable valve, an actuator, and a reset element;

[0022] The movable valve has a rotating end and a shielding end connected to each other. The movable valve is rotatably connected to the lower end of the connecting bracket via the rotating end. The shielding end can move between a first position shielding the feed inlet and a second position opening the feed inlet under the drive of the rotating end. The actuator is movably disposed on the connecting bracket. The actuator is pultrusively connected to the rotating end and can drive the movable valve to rotate under the action of external force, so that the shielding end moves from the first position to the second position. The reset member is connected between the actuator and the connecting bracket and is used to drive the actuator to reset, so that the shielding end moves from the second position to the first position.

[0023] Furthermore, a gear is provided on the outer side of the rotating end; the actuator is slidably mounted on the connecting bracket and has a rack that meshes with the gear; the reset member includes a compression spring; the actuator has a first end located near the material hopper and a second end opposite to it; when the actuator moves from the first end to the second end, it drives the shielding end to move from the first position to the second position; the compression spring is used to force the actuator to move from the second end to the first end and to make the first end extend out of the connecting bracket.

[0024] Furthermore, it also includes a laser rangefinder sensor, which is mounted on the connecting bracket and is used to detect the distance between the feed inlet and the hopper. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a powder feeder provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a powder feeder provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 In the embodiments of the present invention, the valve assembly is relative to... Figure 1 Another schematic diagram of the positional state;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the drum structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the valve assembly in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of this application will be thorough and complete.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application.

[0033] It is understood that spatial relation terms such as "below," "under," "below," "below," "above," "above," etc., can be used here to describe the relationship between one element or feature shown in the figure and other elements or features. It should be understood that, in addition to the orientation shown in the figure, spatial relation terms also include different orientations of the device in use and operation. For example, if the device in the figure is flipped, the element or feature described as "below" or "below" of the other element or feature will be oriented "above" the other element or feature. Therefore, the exemplary terms "below" and "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. Furthermore, the device may also include other orientations (e.g., rotated 90° or other orientations), and the spatial descriptive terms used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0034] It should be noted that when one element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or connected to the other element through an intermediary element. In the following embodiments, "connection" should be understood as "electrical connection," "communication connection," etc., if the connected circuits, modules, units, etc., have the transmission of electrical signals or data between them.

[0035] When used herein, the singular forms of “a,” “an,” and “the” may also include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” or “having,” etc., specify the presence of the stated feature, whole, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof, but do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, this application provides a powder feeder, which includes a material cylinder 10, a discharge assembly 20 and a valve assembly 30.

[0037] The material cylinder 10 has an internal space for holding the powder. The upper and lower ends of the material cylinder are respectively formed by the inlet 10a and the outlet 10b. The process of marking the lines is the process of the powder in the holding space continuously falling from the outlet 10b onto the ground.

[0038] The discharge assembly 20 includes a stirring element 21 and a power source 22. The stirring element 21 is rotatably disposed inside the material cylinder 10 and close to the discharge port 10b. The power source 22 is disposed outside the material cylinder 10 and is connected to the stirring element 21 in a transmission manner. The stirring element 21 rotates to periodically open or close the discharge port 10b.

[0039] Specifically, the material cylinder 10 includes a cylinder body 11, a drum seat 12, and a discharge component 13. The inlet 10a is located at the upper end of the cylinder body 11, and the discharge component 13 is located at the lower end of the cylinder body 11, with the outlet 10a located at the discharge component 13.

[0040] For example, the cylinder 11 can be made of stainless steel alloy or other metal materials with a certain strength, and there is no limitation on this. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the cylinder 11 is made of stainless steel alloy. In this way, the cylinder 11 can be guaranteed to have a certain compressive strength, and avoid deformation caused by collision with obstacles during use, which would affect normal material discharge.

[0041] The drum seat 12 is disposed inside the cylinder 11. Both ends of the drum seat 12 are connected to the inner wall of the cylinder 11. The drum seat 12 has a vertically arranged discharge channel 12a in the middle. The lower end of the discharge channel 12a is connected to the discharge port 10b.

[0042] The stirring component 21 includes a drum 211, which is rotatably mounted on the drum base 12. The outer side of the drum 211 has a plurality of teeth 212 formed radially, and a receiving groove 21a is formed between adjacent teeth 212. When the teeth 212 rotate with the drum 211 to a horizontal position, the outer end of the teeth 212 contacts the inner wall of the drum base 12 to close the discharge channel 12a.

[0043] The power source 22 includes a DC geared motor 221, which is mounted on one side of the material cylinder 10 via a motor bracket 222. The motor shaft of the DC geared motor 21 extends into the cylinder 11 and is connected to the drum 211 for transmission.

[0044] The power source 22 can also be other power components, as long as they can drive the drum 211 to rotate, and there are no restrictions on this.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the drum seat 12 is a horizontally arranged cylindrical structure with a discharge channel 12a extending through its outer periphery. A guide surface is formed on the side wall of the edge portion of the discharge channel 12a to facilitate the smooth entry of the powder material in the cylinder 11 into the discharge channel 12a. The drum seat 12 has round holes at both ends for accommodating the two ends of the drum 211, which are connected to the round holes through bearings 223. During the rotation of the drum 211, when the end face of the tooth 212 contacts the inner wall of the drum seat 12, the discharge channel 12a can be closed. At this time, it can prevent the powder material above the horizontal tooth 212 from falling, and the powder material below it will fall due to the downward orientation of the corresponding receiving groove.

[0046] When the DC geared motor 221 drives the drum 211 to rotate, the teeth 212 rotate to stir the powder that reaches the discharge channel 12a, thereby preventing the powder in the drum 11 from clumping and blocking the discharge port 10b, which would prevent normal marking. During the stirring and rotation process, the amount of powder falling at one time is controlled by the periodic opening and closing of the discharge channel 12a, ensuring that the amount of powder falling is uniform during each cycle of opening and closing, and thus the lines drawn by the powder are of uniform thickness. This application provides that the contact between the teeth 212 and the inner wall of the drum seat 12 realizes the closure of the discharge channel 12a, eliminating the step of covering the discharge port 10a with a cover, simplifying the structure and improving the marking efficiency.

[0047] To facilitate the installation of the drum tube 211, in this application, the drum tube 211 is composed of two parts, which are connected into a whole by plugging or snapping.

[0048] In order to effectively prevent material powder and dust from entering the rotary mechanism composed of the drum 211 and the DC geared motor 221, which could cause the mechanism to jam, a sealing ring 224 is provided at the connection between the bearing 223 and the drum 221.

[0049] The discharge assembly 20 also includes a vibration source, which includes a first bracket 231, a first vibration motor 232, a second bracket 233, and a second vibration motor 234. The first bracket 231 is connected to one side of the material cylinder 10, and the first vibration motor 232 is connected to the first bracket 231 to drive the material cylinder 10 to vibrate. The drum 221 has a receiving cavity in the middle, and the second bracket 233 is inserted into the middle of the drum 221 and has a mounting groove. The second vibration motor 234 is installed in the mounting groove to drive the drum 221 to vibrate. Vibration motors are provided on both the outside of the material cylinder 10 and inside the drum 221, so that the powder can fall smoothly and prevent the powder from sticking to the side wall of the material cylinder 10 or the outside wall of the drum 221 and causing blockage.

[0050] In the embodiments of this application, the DC geared motor 221, the first bracket 231 and the first vibration motor 232 are located on the same side of the cylinder 11 and are covered by a protective cover 15 to prevent dust from entering.

[0051] The cylinder 11 is connected to a full material level sensor 14 near the upper end to accurately determine the feeding height. The cylinder 11 has a discharge window, which can be used to clear the blocked powder when it is accidentally blocked.

[0052] To facilitate the connection between the powder feeder and the motion mechanism, the powder feeder also includes a connecting bracket 40 and a feed position sensor 50.

[0053] The connecting bracket 40 is connected to the upper end of the cylinder 11 and is used to connect to a moving device with a powder hopper. This moving device is generally an automatic marking robot. The feed position sensor 50 is connected to the connecting bracket 40 and is set corresponding to the feed port 10a.

[0054] In the embodiments of this application, the feed position sensor 50 is connected to the connecting bracket 40 through the material level sensor bracket 51, and the lower end of the feed position sensor 50 is also equipped with a material level sensor cover 52 for protection.

[0055] When feeding is required, the feed pipe moves above the feed inlet 10a and is located between the feed position sensor 50 and the feed inlet 10a. When the feed position sensor 50 senses that the distance between itself and the upper end of the feed pipe is the shortest, it indicates that the axis of the feed pipe and the axis of the feed inlet 10a are on the same vertical plane, ensuring the stability and accuracy of feeding.

[0056] The valve assembly 30 is disposed at the upper end of the feed cylinder 10 and is used to open or close the feed inlet 10a. The valve assembly 30 should open the valve when feeding and close the valve when marking, so as to prevent foreign objects and rainwater from falling into the feed cylinder 10 and the drum 221.

[0057] In this application, the valve mechanism opens the valve under the action of the slide table when receiving materials and automatically closes the valve when marking lines to prevent foreign objects and rainwater from falling into the drum.

[0058] The valve assembly 30 includes an active valve 31, an actuator 32, and a reset member 33.

[0059] The movable valve 31 has a rotating end 311 and a shielding end 312 connected to each other. The movable valve 31 is rotatably connected to the lower end of the connecting bracket 40 via the rotating end 311. The shielding end 312, driven by the rotating end 311, can shield the feed inlet 10a at a first position (e.g., ...). Figure 3 (as shown) and the second position of opening the feed inlet 10b (as shown) Figure 1 The movement between (as shown) means that the active valve 31 rotates to either block the feed inlet 10a or open the feed inlet 10a.

[0060] The actuator 32 is movably disposed on the connecting bracket 40. The actuator 312 is connected to the rotating end 311 and can drive the movable valve 31 to rotate under the action of external force, so that the shielding end 312 moves from the first position to the second position, that is, the actuator 312 can open the movable valve 31 under the action of external force.

[0061] The reset member 33 is connected between the actuator 32 and the connecting bracket 40, and is used to drive the actuator 32 to reset, so that the shielding end 312 moves from the second position to the first position, that is, the reset member 33 can drive the actuator 312 to close the active valve 32.

[0062] Preferably, a gear 313 is provided on the outer side of the rotating end 312; the actuator 32 is slidably mounted on the connecting bracket 40 and has a rack 321 that cooperates with the gear 313. In this embodiment, the rotating end 312 is rotatably connected to the connecting bracket 40 through a pin 34. A limiting strip hole 32a is formed on the actuator 32. The limiting strip hole 32a is fitted on the limiting screw 35. The limiting screw 35 is fixedly connected to the connecting bracket. The movement distance of the actuator 32 is limited by the cooperation of the limiting screw 35 and the limiting strip hole 32a. The actuator 32 also has a through hole. The rotating end 312 is disposed in the through hole. The rack 321 is formed on one side wall of the through hole. The other side wall of the through hole is tangent to the rotating end 312.

[0063] When the actuator 32 is pushed, the rack 321 drives the gear 313 to rotate, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the movable valve 31.

[0064] The reset element 33 includes a compression spring.

[0065] The actuator 32 has a first end 3201 located near the hopper and a second end 3202 located opposite it. When the actuator 32 moves from the first end 3201 to the second end 3202, it drives the movable valve 31 to open. The compression spring is used to force the actuator 32 to move from the second end 3202 to the first end 3201, and to make the first end 3201 extend out of the connecting bracket 40.

[0066] In actual use, when not in a feeding state, the actuator 32 extends from the connecting bracket 40 at its first end 3201 under the action of the compression spring, and the movable valve 31 is closed. When feeding is required, the feeder is driven by the robotic arm on the marking robot to approach the powder hopper. The marking robot contacts the first end 3201 and pushes the actuator 32 to the second end 3202. The rack 321 drives the gear 313 to rotate, thereby opening the movable valve 31 to facilitate feeding. After receiving the powder, the robotic arm extends to detach the feeder from the vehicle body. At this time, the rack 321 moves towards the first end 3201 under the action of the compression spring, and the movable valve 31 closes. Thus, without introducing a new power source, the automation effect of opening the movable valve 31 when receiving material and automatically closing the movable valve 31 when marking is achieved is realized.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the powder feeder further includes a laser rangefinder 41, which is mounted on the connecting bracket 40 and is used to detect the distance between the feed inlet 10a and the powder chamber to ensure accurate material receiving.

[0068] In summary, the powder feeder provided in this application periodically opens or closes the discharge port by rotating the agitator, thereby ensuring that the powder in the cylinder falls evenly and guaranteeing the uniformity of the line thickness during marking. At the same time, closing the discharge port by the agitator effectively eliminates the need for a lower cover. Furthermore, the valve assembly located at the upper end of the cylinder opens or closes the inlet, achieving an automated effect of opening the receiving valve and automatically closing it during marking without introducing a new power source. This effectively prevents foreign objects and rainwater from falling into the cylinder, ensuring the smooth operation of marking work in complex environments.

[0069] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A powder feeder, characterized in that, The device includes a material cylinder, a discharge assembly, and a valve assembly. The material cylinder has an internal space for containing powder, and an inlet and an outlet are formed at its upper and lower ends, respectively. The discharge assembly includes a stirring element and a power source. The stirring element is rotatably disposed inside the material cylinder and near the outlet. The power source is located outside the material cylinder and is connected to the stirring element for transmission. The stirring element rotates to periodically open or close the outlet. The valve assembly is located at the upper end of the material cylinder and is used to open or close the feed inlet. The material cylinder includes a cylinder body, a drum seat, and a discharge component. The feed inlet is located at the upper end of the cylinder body, the discharge component is located at the lower end of the cylinder body, the drum seat is located inside the cylinder body, and both ends of the drum seat are connected to the inner wall of the cylinder body. The drum seat has a vertically arranged discharge channel in the middle, and the lower end of the discharge channel is connected to the discharge inlet. The stirring component includes a drum, which is rotatably mounted on the drum seat. The outer side of the drum has multiple teeth formed radially, and a receiving groove is formed between adjacent teeth. When the teeth rotate with the drum to a horizontal position, the outer end of the teeth contacts the inner wall of the drum seat to close the discharge channel. The powder feeder also includes a connecting bracket and a feed position sensor, the connecting bracket being connected to the upper end of the cylinder; The valve assembly includes a movable valve, an actuator, and a reset component. The movable valve has a rotating end and a shielding end connected to each other. The movable valve is rotatably connected to the lower end of the connecting bracket via the rotating end. The actuator is movably disposed on the connecting bracket, and a gear is disposed on the outer side of the rotating end. The actuator is slidably mounted on the connecting bracket and has a rack that meshes with the gear. The reset component includes a compression spring. The actuator has a first end located near the hopper and a second end opposite to it. When the actuator moves from the first end to the second end, it drives the shielding end to move from the first position to the second position. The compression spring is used to force the actuator to move from the second end to the first end, and to make the first end extend out of the connecting bracket.

2. The powder feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power source includes a DC geared motor, which is mounted on one side of the material cylinder via a motor bracket. The motor shaft of the DC geared motor extends into the cylinder and is connected to the drum via a transmission connection.

3. The powder feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both ends of the drum are connected to the drum base via bearings, and a sealing ring is provided at the connection between the bearing and the drum.

4. The powder feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The discharge assembly further includes a vibration source, which includes a first bracket, a first vibration motor, a second bracket, and a second vibration motor. The first bracket is connected to one side of the material cylinder, and the first vibration motor is connected to the first bracket to drive the material cylinder to vibrate. The drum has a receiving cavity in the middle, the second bracket is inserted into the middle of the drum and has a mounting groove, and the second vibration motor is mounted in the mounting groove to drive the drum to vibrate.

5. The powder feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, A full material level sensor is connected near the upper end of the cylinder, and a discharge window is formed in the cylinder.

6. The powder feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting bracket is used to connect with a moving device having a powder hopper, and the feed position sensor is connected to the connecting bracket and is set corresponding to the feed port.

7. The powder feeder according to claim 6, characterized in that, The shielding end, driven by the rotating end, can move between a first position where the feed inlet is shielded and a second position where the feed inlet is open; the actuator is connected to the rotating end and can drive the movable valve to rotate under external force, causing the shielding end to move from the first position to the second position; the reset member is connected between the actuator and the connecting bracket, and is used to drive the actuator to reset, causing the shielding end to move from the second position to the first position.

8. The powder feeder according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a laser rangefinder sensor, which is mounted on the connecting bracket and is used to detect the distance between the feed inlet and the powder hopper.

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