An automatic feeding device

By designing an automated feeding device with a feeding hopper, material handling, flipping, and loading mechanism, the problem of changing the posture of parts was solved, achieving efficient flipping and posture adjustment of parts, and improving the space utilization efficiency of the equipment.

CN117104860BActive Publication Date: 2026-02-24SKYVERSE TECH CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202210542161.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-05-17
Publication Date
2026-02-24
Estimated Expiration
2042-05-17

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the automated production of 3C parts, the parts are inserted vertically into the carrier tray and need to be placed horizontally. There is a lack of automatic feeding equipment that can flip the parts in the carrier tray to a horizontal position.

Method used

An automatic feeding device was designed, including a feeding hopper, a picking device, a flipping device, and a feeding device. Through the coordinated work of these devices, the parts are flipped from a vertical position to a horizontal position and transported to the subsequent process equipment.

Benefits of technology

It achieves changes in the posture of parts, improves the efficiency and space utilization of automatic feeding equipment, and has a compact layout, reducing the space occupied.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The application discloses an automatic feeding equipment, which comprises a feeding bin device, a taking device, a turnover device and a feeding device. The turnover device comprises a turnover extraction piece, a turnover rotating piece and a turnover driving assembly. When it is needed to feed a part to a subsequent process equipment, a tray carrying the part in a first posture is first transported to a taking station by the feeding bin device, then the part is extracted from the tray in the taking station by the taking device and is transported to a transfer station in the first posture. Then the part is extracted from the transfer station to a calibration station by the turnover driving assembly driving the turnover extraction piece, and the turnover rotating piece is driven to turn over by the turnover driving assembly, so as to drive the part on the turnover extraction piece to turn over from the first posture to a second posture. Finally, the part in the calibration station is extracted by the feeding device and is transported to the subsequent process equipment in the second posture, so that the automatic feeding equipment changes the placing posture of the part during feeding.
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Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of automation equipment, in particular to an automatic feeding equipment. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the automatic production process of 3C parts, in order to reduce the size of the carrier disc, the parts are vertically inserted into the carrier disc, and the parts need to be placed horizontally in some assembly or detection process. Therefore, an automatic feeding equipment capable of turning the parts in the carrier disc into a horizontal shape and feeding them to the corresponding process equipment is urgently needed. SUMMARY

[0003] The main purpose of the present application is to provide an automatic feeding equipment capable of changing the placement posture of the parts during feeding.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment provides an automatic feeding equipment, comprising:

[0005] A feeding bin device for conveying a carrier disc loaded with parts in a first posture to a taking station;

[0006] A taking device for extracting parts from the carrier disc of the taking station and transporting the parts in the first posture to a transfer station;

[0007] A turning device comprising a turning extraction piece, a turning rotating piece and a turning driving assembly, the turning extraction piece being connected to the turning rotating piece, the turning extraction piece being used to extract the parts, the turning driving assembly being used to drive the turning rotating piece to turn, so as to drive the parts on the turning extraction piece to turn from the first posture to a second posture, and drive the parts to move from the transfer station to a calibration station; and

[0008] A feeding device for extracting the parts of the calibration station and transporting the parts in the second posture to a subsequent process equipment.

[0009] In an embodiment, the feeding bin device is used to drive the carrier disc to make linear lifting movement along a first axis and linear translation movement along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, so as to realize the stacking of the carrier disc on the feeding bin device along the first axis, and transport the carrier disc to the taking station along the second axis;

[0010] The taking device is used to drive the parts to make linear lifting movement along the first axis, and linear translation movement along the second axis and a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis, so as to transport the parts from the taking station to the transfer station;

[0011] The turnover device is used to drive the part to make linear translation movement along the second axis to transport the part from the transfer station to the calibration station, and to make rotation around the third axis to turn the part from the first posture to the second posture and place the part to the calibration station.

[0012] The feeding device is used to drive the part to make linear lifting movement along the first axis, linear translation movement along the second axis, and rotation around the first axis to transport the part from the calibration station to the subsequent process equipment.

[0013] In one embodiment, the turnover extraction member is configured as a turnover suction cup, the turnover rotating member is configured as a turnover rotating shaft, and the turnover driving assembly comprises a turnover linear driving unit, a turnover guide rail, and a turnover motor; the turnover suction cup is used to adsorb the part, the turnover suction cup is connected to the turnover rotating shaft, the turnover rotating shaft extends along the second axis, and the output shaft of the turnover motor is coaxially connected with the turnover rotating shaft to drive the turnover suction cup to rotate around the axis of the turnover rotating shaft; the turnover guide rail extends along the second axis, the turnover motor is slidingly connected with the turnover guide rail, and the turnover linear driving unit is used to drive the turnover motor, the turnover rotating shaft, and the turnover suction cup to make linear translation movement along the turnover guide rail between the transfer station and the calibration station.

[0014] In one embodiment, the feeding device comprises:

[0015] Two portal frames, the two portal frames are spaced apart along the second axis;

[0016] Two first feeding guide rails, the two first feeding guide rails are respectively connected with the two portal frames in one-to-one correspondence, and the first feeding guide rail extends along the third axis;

[0017] A connecting beam, two ends of the connecting beam are respectively slidingly connected with the first feeding guide rails on the two portal frames, and the connecting beam extends along the second axis;

[0018] A first feeding linear driving unit, the first feeding linear driving unit is installed on the portal frame, and the first feeding linear driving unit is used to drive the connecting beam to slide on the first feeding guide rail;

[0019] A second feeding guide rail, the second feeding guide rail is connected to the connecting beam, and the second feeding guide rail extends along the second axis;

[0020] A connecting plate, the connecting plate is slidingly connected with the second feeding guide rail;

[0021] A second feeding linear driving unit, the second feeding linear driving unit is installed on the connecting beam, and the second feeding linear driving unit is used to drive the connecting plate to slide on the second feeding guide rail;

[0022] a third material taking guide rail connected to the connecting plate, the third material taking guide rail extending along the first axis;

[0023] a material taking extraction member in sliding connection with the third material taking guide rail, the material taking extraction member being used to extract the part; and

[0024] a third material taking linear drive unit mounted to the connecting plate, the third material taking linear drive unit being used to drive the material taking extraction member to slide on the third material taking guide rail.

[0025] In one embodiment, the feeding device comprises:

[0026] a first material feeding guide rail extending along a second axis;

[0027] a movable seat in sliding connection with the first material feeding guide rail;

[0028] a first material feeding linear drive unit being used to drive the movable seat to slide on the first material feeding guide rail;

[0029] a rotating arm having one end in rotational connection with the movable seat;

[0030] a rotating motor mounted to the movable seat, an output end of the rotating motor being connected with the rotating arm, so as to drive the rotating arm to rotate around the first axis;

[0031] a mounting plate connected to a free end of the rotating arm;

[0032] a second material feeding guide rail connected to the mounting plate, the second material feeding guide rail extending along the first axis;

[0033] a material feeding extraction member in sliding connection with the second material feeding guide rail; and

[0034] a second material feeding linear drive unit mounted to the mounting plate, the second material feeding linear drive unit being used to drive the material feeding extraction member to slide on the second material feeding guide rail.

[0035] In one embodiment, the feeding bin device comprises:

[0036] a disc separating mechanism configured to separate a lowermost disc from a plurality of stacked discs;

[0037] two tray feeding mechanisms, the two tray feeding mechanisms are arranged in an up-down interval in a vertical direction; wherein the tray feeding mechanism located at the upper side is configured to be controlled to make a linear translational motion along a second axial direction between the feeding station and the taking station, so as to be capable of receiving the tray from the tray separating mechanism and transporting the tray to the taking station;

[0038] a transferring mechanism, the transferring mechanism is configured to be controlled to make a linear lifting motion along a first axial direction between the taking station and the recycling station, so as to be capable of receiving the tray from the taking station and transferring the tray to the recycling station; the tray feeding mechanism located at the lower side is configured to be controlled to make a linear translational motion along a second axial direction between the recycling station and the stacking station, so as to be capable of receiving the tray from the recycling station and transporting the tray to the stacking station; and

[0039] a stacking mechanism, the stacking mechanism is configured to receive the tray from the stacking station, and stack the tray in a manner of one by one from the lower side to the upper side in a space between the feeding station and the stacking station.

[0040] In an embodiment, a fine positioning device is further included, the fine positioning device is arranged at the calibration station, and is used to receive the part placed to the calibration station by the overturning device in the second posture and perform fine positioning on the part.

[0041] In an embodiment, the fine positioning device includes a positioning seat, and a positioning cavity is arranged on a side of the positioning seat facing the overturning extracting part; the positioning cavity has a positioning center part and a positioning guide part, the positioning center part is located at the center of the positioning cavity, the shape of the positioning center part is matched with the side of the part facing the positioning center part, the positioning guide part is arranged around the positioning center part, and the radial dimension of the positioning guide part gradually increases in a direction away from the positioning center part, and the positioning guide part is used to guide the movement of the part to the positioning center part to achieve fine positioning on the part.

[0042] In an embodiment, the taking device includes two taking extracting parts, the taking device is configured to extract two parts in the first posture from the taking station at a time and transport to the transfer station; the overturning device includes two overturning extracting parts, the overturning device is configured to extract two parts in the first posture from the transfer station at a time; the positioning seat has four positioning cavities, the overturning device is configured to overturn the two parts in the first posture to the second posture and place into the positioning cavities, the taking device and the overturning device work back and forth twice to transport four parts to be placed into the four positioning cavities one by one in correspondence; the feeding device includes four feeding extracting parts, the feeding extracting parts are configured to extract four parts in the second posture from the four positioning cavities of the positioning seat at a time and transport to the subsequent process equipment.

[0043] In one embodiment, the automatic feeding device further comprises a machine body, one side of the machine body has an inlet opening, the feeding hopper device is installed at the inlet opening, the feeding hopper device, the fine positioning device, the turnover device and the feeding device are sequentially arranged along a third axis in the machine body, the height of the taking device in the first axis is higher than that of the feeding hopper device, the fine positioning device and the turnover device, and the length of the taking device in the third axis spans the feeding hopper device, the fine positioning device and the turnover device.

[0044] According to the automatic feeding device in the above embodiment, the automatic feeding device comprises a feeding hopper device, a taking device, a turnover device and a feeding device. The turnover device comprises a turnover extraction member, a turnover rotating member and a turnover driving assembly. When it is needed to feed the parts to the subsequent process equipment, the tray carrying the parts in the first posture is first transported to the taking station by the feeding hopper device, then the parts are extracted from the tray in the taking station by the taking device and are transported to the transfer station in the first posture. Then the parts are extracted from the transfer station to the calibration station by the turnover driving assembly driving the turnover extraction member, and the turnover rotating member is driven by the turnover driving assembly to flip over, so as to drive the parts on the turnover extraction member to flip over from the first posture to the second posture. Finally, the parts in the calibration station are extracted by the feeding device and are transported to the subsequent process equipment in the second posture, so that the automatic feeding device changes the placing posture of the parts when feeding. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0045] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an automatic feeding device in one embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an automatic feeding device in one embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a feeding hopper device in one embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the path of the tray transported by the feeding hopper device in one embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a taking device in one embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a turnover device in one embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0051] Figure 7 FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of a turnover device in one embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0052] Figure 8This is a schematic diagram of the feeding device in one embodiment of this application;

[0053] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the precision positioning device in one embodiment of this application;

[0054] Reference numerals: 100, Material feeding hopper device;

[0055] 110. Tray splitting mechanism; 120. Tray delivery mechanism; 130. Transfer mechanism; 140. Stacking mechanism;

[0056] 200. Material handling device;

[0057] 210. Gantry frame; 220. First material handling guide rail; 230. Connecting beam; 240. First material handling linear drive unit; 250. Second material handling guide rail; 260. Connecting plate; 270. Second material handling linear drive unit; 280. Third material handling guide rail; 290. Material handling and extraction component; 2100. Third material handling linear drive unit;

[0058] 300. Tilting device;

[0059] 310. Tilting extraction component; 320. Tilting rotating component; 330. Tilting drive assembly; 331. Tilting linear drive unit; 332. Tilting guide rail; 333. Tilting motor;

[0060] 400. Feeding device;

[0061] 410. First feeding guide rail; 420. Movable seat; 430. First feeding linear drive unit; 440. Rotating arm; 450. Rotary motor; 460. Mounting plate; 470. Second feeding guide rail; 480. Feeding and extraction component; 490. Second feeding linear drive unit;

[0062] 500. Precision positioning device;

[0063] 510. Positioning seat; 511. Positioning cavity; 5111. Positioning center; 5112. Positioning guide;

[0064] 600. Body;

[0065] 610. Feed opening. Detailed Implementation

[0066] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Similar elements in different embodiments are referred to by associated similar element reference numerals. In the following embodiments, many details are described to facilitate a better understanding of this application. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that some features may be omitted in different situations, or may be replaced by other elements, materials, or methods. In some cases, certain operations related to this application are not shown or described in the specification. This is to avoid obscuring the core parts of this application with excessive description. For those skilled in the art, detailed description of these related operations is not necessary; they can fully understand the related operations based on the description in the specification and general technical knowledge in the art.

[0067] Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various embodiments. At the same time, the steps or actions in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are only for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a necessary order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.

[0068] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).

[0069] This embodiment provides an automatic feeding device.

[0070] Please refer to Figures 1-9 The automatic feeding equipment includes a feeding hopper device 100, a material handling device 200, a tilting device 300, and a feeding device 400.

[0071] The feeding hopper device 100 is used to transport a tray carrying parts in a first orientation to a picking station. The picking device 200 is used to extract parts from the tray at the picking station and transport the parts in the first orientation to a transfer station. The flipping device 300 includes a flipping extraction component 310, a flipping rotating component 320, and a flipping drive assembly 330. The flipping extraction component 310 is connected to the flipping rotating component 320 and is used to extract parts. The flipping drive assembly 330 is used to drive the flipping rotating component 320 to flip, thereby causing the parts on the flipping extraction component 310 to flip from the first orientation to a second orientation, and to move the parts from the transfer station to the calibration station. The loading device 400 is used to extract parts from the calibration station and transport the parts in the second orientation to the subsequent process equipment.

[0072] When parts need to be loaded onto subsequent processing equipment, the feeding hopper device 100 first transports a tray containing parts in a first orientation to the picking station. Then, the picking device 200 extracts the parts from the tray at the picking station and transports them to the transfer station in the first orientation. Next, the flipping drive assembly 330 drives the flipping extractor 310 to extract the parts from the transfer station to the calibration station. The flipping drive assembly 330 also drives the flipping rotating component 320 to flip, causing the parts on the flipping extractor 310 to flip from the first orientation to the second orientation. Finally, the loading device 400 extracts the parts from the calibration station and transports them to the subsequent processing equipment in the second orientation, thus enabling the automatic loading equipment to change the placement orientation of the parts during loading.

[0073] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the "first posture" can be a vertical posture, and the "second posture" can be a horizontal posture. The flipping device 300 is used to flip the part by 90°. In other embodiments, the angle between the first posture and the second posture can also be 30°, 60°, etc. The "transfer station" is the position of the transfer part between the picking device 200 and the flipping device 300. The transfer station can be any intersection of the movement path of the picking extraction part 290 and the movement path of the flipping extraction part 310, and can be flexibly set according to actual needs. The "calibration station" is used to carry the part and perform precise positioning on the part. The movement paths of the flipping extraction part 310 and the loading extraction part 480 both pass through the calibration station.

[0074] Please refer to Figures 1-4 In one embodiment, the feeding hopper device 100 is used to drive the pallet to make a linear lifting motion along a first axial direction and a linear translation motion along a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction, so as to realize the stacking of the pallet on the feeding hopper device 100 along the first axial direction and the transportation of the pallet to the picking station along the second axial direction.

[0075] The material handling device 200 is used to drive the part to make a linear lifting motion along the first axis and a linear translation motion along the second and third axes, so as to transport the part from the material handling station to the transfer station. The third axis is perpendicular to the first and second axes.

[0076] The flipping device 300 is used to drive the part to make a linear translation along the second axis to transport the part from the transfer station to the calibration station, and to drive the part to flip around the third axis to flip the part from the first posture to the second posture and place it in the calibration station.

[0077] The feeding device 400 is used to drive the parts to make linear lifting and lowering motion along the first axis, linear translational motion along the second axis, and rotate around the first axis, so as to transport the parts from the calibration station to the subsequent process equipment.

[0078] The feeding hopper device 100, the picking device 200, the tilting device 300, and the loading device 400 drive the parts to perform translational, lifting, and tilting movements in three axes. This achieves two goals: firstly, it allows for the simultaneous loading and adjustment of the parts' posture; secondly, through the rational design of the parts' movement path, the structure of the feeding hopper device 100, the picking device 200, the tilting device 300, and the loading device 400 can be made more compact. For details, please refer to... Figure 2 In this embodiment, the first axial direction is Figure 2 The direction indicated by the middle A axis, and the direction of the second axis are... Figure 2 The direction indicated by the B-axis, and the direction of the third axis are... Figure 2 The direction indicated by the C-axis.

[0079] Please refer to Figure 1 and 2 In one embodiment, the automatic feeding device further includes a body 600, with a feeding opening 610 on one side. A feeding hopper device 100 is installed in the feeding opening 610. The feeding hopper device 100, the precision positioning device 500, the tilting device 300, and the feeding device 400 are arranged sequentially along a third axis inside the body 600. The height of the picking device 200 in the first axis is higher than that of the feeding hopper device 100, the precision positioning device 500, and the tilting device 300, and the length of the picking device 200 in the third axis spans across the feeding hopper device 100, the precision positioning device 500, and the tilting device 300.

[0080] By rationally arranging the feeding hopper device 100, the tilting device 300, the precision positioning device 500, and the feeding device 400 within the machine body 600, the three-dimensional space within the machine body 600 is effectively utilized. This facilitates a compact layout of the multiple devices within the machine body 600, thereby reducing the space occupied by the machine body 600.

[0081] Please refer to Figures 1-4 In one embodiment, the feeding hopper device 100 includes a tray-dividing mechanism 110, two tray-feeding mechanisms 120, a transfer mechanism 130, and a stacking mechanism 140.

[0082] The tray-separating mechanism 110 is configured to separate the bottommost tray from a plurality of stacked trays, and two tray-feeding mechanisms 120 are arranged vertically at intervals. The upper tray-feeding mechanism 120 is configured to controllably move linearly along a second axis between a feeding station and a picking station, so as to receive the tray separated by the tray-separating mechanism 110 from the feeding station and transport the tray to the picking station. The transfer mechanism 130 is configured to controllably move linearly up and down along a first axis between the picking station and a recycling station, so as to receive the tray from the picking station and transfer the tray to the recycling station. The lower tray-feeding mechanism 120 is configured to controllably move linearly along a second axis between the recycling station and a stacking station, so as to receive the tray from the recycling station and transport the tray to the stacking station. The stacking mechanism 140 is configured to receive trays from the stacking station and stack the trays one by one from bottom to top in the space between the feeding station and the stacking station.

[0083] For details, please refer to Figure 3 and 4 , Figure 3 The second path L2 is parallel to the first axis, and the first path L1 and the third path L3 are parallel to the second axis. The feeding station is... Figure 3 Workstation a in the middle, the material picking station is Figure 3 Workstation b in the middle, the recycling workstation is Figure 3 Workstation c in the middle, stacked workstations are Figure 3 At station d, during the loading process, the upper tray-separating mechanism 110 separates the trays containing parts from the feeding station a along the first path L1 and transports them to the picking station b. The transfer mechanism 130 receives and carries the trays so that the picking and extracting component 290 can extract the parts from the trays. After the picking and extracting component 290 has extracted all the parts from the trays, the transfer mechanism 130 transports the empty trays from the picking station b to the recycling station c along the second path L2. The lower tray-separating mechanism 110 receives the empty trays from the recycling station c and transports them along the third path L3 to the stacking station d. The trays are then stacked one by one from bottom to top in the space between the feeding station a and the stacking station d.

[0084] Please refer to Figure 1 , 2 In one embodiment, the material handling device 200 includes two gantry frames 210, two first material handling guide rails 220, a connecting beam 230, a first material handling linear drive unit 240, a second material handling guide rail 250, a connecting plate 260, a second material handling linear drive unit 270, a third material handling guide rail 280, a material handling extraction component 290, and a third material handling linear drive unit 2100.

[0085] Two gantry frames 210 are spaced apart along a second axis, and two first material-retrieving guide rails 220 are respectively connected to the two gantry frames 210 one-to-one. The first material-retrieving guide rails 220 extend along a third axis. The two ends of a connecting beam 230 are slidably connected to the first material-retrieving guide rails 220 on the two gantry frames 210, and the connecting beam 230 extends along the second axis. A first material-retrieving linear drive unit 240 is mounted on the gantry frame 210 and is used to drive the connecting beam 230 to slide on the first material-retrieving guide rails 220. A second material-retrieving guide rail 250 is connected to the connecting beam 230 and extends along the second axis. A connecting plate 260 is slidably connected to the second material-retrieving guide rail 250. A second material-retrieving linear drive unit 270 is mounted on the connecting beam 230 and is used to drive the connecting plate 260 to slide on the second material-retrieving guide rail 250. The third material handling guide rail 280 is connected to the connecting plate 260 and extends along the first axial direction. The material handling extraction component 290 is slidably connected to the third material handling guide rail 280 and is used to extract parts. The third material handling linear drive unit 2100 is mounted on the connecting plate 260 and is used to drive the material handling extraction component 290 to slide on the third material handling guide rail 280.

[0086] Through the cooperation of the first material handling linear drive unit 240, the second material handling linear drive unit 270, and the third material handling linear drive unit 2100, the material handling extraction component 290 can be driven to move to any point in the three-dimensional space formed by the two gantry frames 210, greatly increasing the freedom and flexibility of the material handling extraction component 290's movement path. Furthermore, the main part of the material handling device 200 is located above the material feeding bin device 100, the tilting device 300, and the precision positioning device 500, effectively utilizing the three-dimensional space and making the structure of the automatic feeding equipment more compact, thereby reducing the space occupied by the automatic feeding equipment.

[0087] Specifically, in this embodiment, the material extraction component 290 adopts a suction cup structure. In other embodiments, for example, when the part is made of magnetic metal, the material extraction component 290 can be an electromagnet adsorption structure.

[0088] Optionally, the first material handling linear drive unit 240, the second material handling linear drive unit 270, and the third material handling linear drive unit 2100 can be selected from cylinders, motor screw structures, motor drive belt structures, motor drive chain structures, or other suitable linear drive units.

[0089] Specifically, the motor lead screw structure may include a motor and a lead screw connected to the output end of the motor. The motor drives the lead screw to rotate, thereby causing a movable component electrically mounted on the lead screw to move linearly along the extension direction of the lead screw. The motor drive belt structure may include a motor, drive pulleys located at both ends of the linear motion path, and a synchronous belt. The output end of the motor is connected to a drive pulley. The motor drives the pulley to rotate, driving the synchronous belt to move, which in turn drives the movable component connected to the synchronous belt to move linearly. Similarly, the motor drive chain structure can replace the drive pulley in the motor drive belt structure with a drive sprocket, and replace the synchronous belt with a drive chain.

[0090] During the actual material handling process, the first material handling linear drive unit 240 drives the connecting beam 230 to slide on the first material handling guide rail 220, and the second material handling linear drive unit 270 drives the connecting plate 260 to slide on the second material handling guide rail 250. This causes the material handling extraction component 290 to move within the horizontal plane formed by the second and third axes, thereby aligning the material handling extraction component 290 with the material handling station below. Then, the third material handling linear drive unit 2100 drives the material handling extraction component 290 to slide on the third material handling guide rail 280, causing the material handling extraction component 290 to move along the first axis until it contacts the part at the material handling station, thus extracting the part from the material handling station. Similarly, the material handling extraction component 290 can then drive the part to the transfer station.

[0091] Please refer to Figure 1 , 2 In one embodiment, as described in points 6 and 7, the flipping extraction component 310 is configured as a flipping suction cup, the flipping rotating component 320 is configured as a flipping shaft, and the flipping drive assembly 330 includes a flipping linear drive unit 331, a flipping guide rail 332, and a flipping motor 333. The flipping suction cup is used to adsorb parts and is connected to the flipping shaft, which extends along a second axial direction. The output shaft of the flipping motor 333 is coaxially connected to the flipping shaft to drive the flipping suction cup to rotate around the axis of the flipping shaft. The flipping guide rail 332 extends along the second axial direction, and the flipping motor 333 is slidably connected to the flipping guide rail 332. The flipping linear drive unit 331 drives the flipping motor 333, the flipping shaft, and the flipping suction cup to perform linear translational motion along the flipping guide rail 332 between the transfer station and the calibration station.

[0092] During the loading process, the flipping motor 333, flipping shaft, and flipping suction cup are first driven by the flipping linear drive unit 331 to move linearly towards one end of the flipping guide rail 332, so that the flipping suction cup can extract the part from the transfer station. Then, the flipping motor 333 drives the flipping shaft and flipping suction cup to rotate 90° around the axis of the flipping shaft, thereby flipping the part from the first posture to the second posture. And the flipping linear drive unit 331 drives the flipping motor 333, flipping shaft, and flipping suction cup to move linearly towards the other end of the flipping guide rail 332, so that the part can be moved to the calibration station. In other embodiments, for example, when the part is made of magnetic metal, the flipping extraction component 310 can be an electromagnet adsorption structure.

[0093] Optionally, the flipping motor and the flipping rotating component can be directly connected or indirectly connected through a transmission structure, such as a belt drive structure, a chain drive structure, or a gear drive structure.

[0094] Optionally, the tilting linear drive unit 331 can be a cylinder, a motor screw structure, a motor drive belt structure, a motor drive chain structure, or other suitable linear drive units.

[0095] Specifically, the motor lead screw structure may include a motor and a lead screw connected to the output end of the motor. The motor drives the lead screw to rotate, thereby causing a movable component electrically mounted on the lead screw to move linearly along the extension direction of the lead screw. The motor drive belt structure may include a motor, drive pulleys located at both ends of the linear motion path, and a synchronous belt. The output end of the motor is connected to a drive pulley. The motor drives the pulley to rotate, driving the synchronous belt to move, which in turn drives the movable component connected to the synchronous belt to move linearly. Similarly, the motor drive chain structure can replace the drive pulley in the motor drive belt structure with a drive sprocket, and replace the synchronous belt with a drive chain.

[0096] Please refer to Figure 1 , 2 In one embodiment, the automatic feeding equipment further includes a precision positioning device 500, which is disposed at the calibration station. The precision positioning device 500 is used to receive the parts placed at the calibration station by the flipping device 300 in a second posture and to perform precision positioning on the parts.

[0097] On the one hand, the precision positioning device 500 serves to receive and carry parts at the calibration station. On the other hand, the precision positioning device 500 precisely positions the carried parts so that the loading device 400 can more accurately extract and transport the parts on the precision positioning device.

[0098] Please refer to Figure 1 , 2In one embodiment, the precision positioning device 500 includes a positioning seat 510, which has a positioning cavity 511 on the side facing the flip-out extractor 310. The positioning cavity 511 has a positioning center portion 5111 and a positioning guide portion 5112. The positioning center portion 5111 is located at the center of the positioning cavity 511, and the shape of the positioning center portion 5111 matches the side of the part facing the positioning center portion 5111. The positioning guide portion 5112 is disposed around the positioning center portion 5111, and the radial dimension of the positioning guide portion 5112 gradually increases in the direction away from the positioning center portion 5111. The positioning guide portion 5112 is used to guide the part to move to the positioning center portion 5111 to achieve precision positioning of the part.

[0099] When the flipping device 300 places the part into the calibration station, due to possible errors, the part may first come into contact with the positioning guide part 5112 of the positioning cavity 511. Then, under the action of gravity and the guidance of the positioning guide part 5112, the part moves to the positioning center part 5111 and fits into the positioning center part 5111, thus achieving precise positioning of the part.

[0100] Please refer to Figure 1 , 2 In one embodiment, as shown in 5-9, the picking device 200 includes two picking extractors 290, configured to pick up two parts in a first posture at a time from the picking station and transport them to the transfer station. The flipping device 300 includes two flipping extractors 310, configured to pick up two parts in a first posture at a time from the transfer station. The positioning seat 510 has four positioning cavities 511, and the flipping device 300 is configured to flip the two parts in the first posture to a second posture and place them into the positioning cavities 511. The picking device 200 and the flipping device 300 work back and forth twice, transporting four parts one-to-one into the four positioning cavities 511. The feeding device 400 includes four feeding extractors 480, which are configured to extract four parts in a second posture from the four positioning cavities 511 of the positioning seat 510 at one time and transport them to the subsequent process equipment, thereby improving the efficiency of the picking device 200, the flipping device 300 and the feeding device 400 in transporting parts.

[0101] Please refer to Figure 1 , 2 In one embodiment, the feeding device 400 includes a first feeding guide rail 410, a movable seat 420, a first feeding linear drive unit 430, a rotating arm 440, a rotary motor 450, a mounting plate 460, a second feeding guide rail 470, a feeding extraction component 480, and a second feeding linear drive unit 490.

[0102] A first feeding guide rail 410 extends along a second axial direction, and a movable seat 420 is slidably connected to the first feeding guide rail 410. A first feeding linear drive unit 430 drives the movable seat 420 to slide on the first feeding guide rail 410, and one end of a rotating arm 440 is rotatably connected to the movable seat 420. A rotary motor 450 is mounted on the movable seat 420, and the output end of the rotary motor 450 is connected to the rotating arm 440 to drive the rotating arm 440 to rotate around the first axial direction. A mounting plate 460 is connected to the free end of the rotating arm 440, and a second feeding guide rail 470 is connected to the mounting plate 460, extending along the first axial direction. A feeding extraction component 480 is slidably connected to the second feeding guide rail 470. A second feeding linear drive unit 490 is mounted on the mounting plate 460 and drives the feeding extraction component 480 to slide on the second feeding guide rail 470.

[0103] During the loading process, the first loading linear drive unit 430 drives the movable seat 420 to slide on the first loading guide rail 410, thereby moving the loading extraction component 480 above the precision positioning device 500. Then, the second loading linear drive unit 490 drives the loading extraction component 480 to slide on the second loading guide rail 470, causing it to contact the part on the precision positioning device 500 and move the part above it. Next, the first loading linear drive unit 430 drives the movable seat 420 to slide on the first loading guide rail 410, moving the loading extraction component 480 to a position opposite to the subsequent process equipment. Finally, the rotary motor 450 drives the rotating arm 440 to rotate around the first axis, conveying the part to the subsequent process equipment. Specifically, in this embodiment, the loading extraction component 480 uses a suction cup structure. In other embodiments, for example, when the part is made of magnetic metal, the loading extraction component 480 can be an electromagnet adsorption structure.

[0104] The above examples illustrate the present invention only to aid in understanding it and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make various simple deductions, modifications, or substitutions based on the principles of this invention.

Claims

1. An automatic feeding device, characterized in that, include: A material feeding hopper device is used to transport a tray carrying a part in a first posture to a material picking station. A material handling device is used to pick up parts from the tray at the material handling station and transport the parts to the transfer station in a first posture; A flipping device includes a flipping extraction component, a flipping rotating component, and a flipping drive assembly. The flipping extraction component is connected to the flipping rotating component and is used to extract the part. The flipping drive assembly is used to drive the flipping rotating component to flip, thereby causing the part on the flipping extraction component to flip from a first posture to a second posture, and causing the part to move from the transfer station to the calibration station. as well as A feeding device is used to extract the parts from the calibration station and transport the parts to the subsequent process equipment in a second posture; It also includes a precision positioning device, which is disposed at the calibration station. The precision positioning device is used to receive the part placed at the calibration station by the flipping device in a second posture and to perform precision positioning on the part. The precision positioning device includes a positioning seat, and the positioning seat has a positioning cavity on the side facing the flipped extractor. The material handling device includes two material handling extractors, configured to extract two parts in a first posture from the material handling station at a time and transport them to the transfer station; the flipping device includes two flipping extractors, configured to extract two parts in a first posture from the transfer station at a time; the positioning seat has four positioning cavities, the flipping device is configured to flip the two parts in the first posture to a second posture and place them into the positioning cavities, the material handling device and the flipping device work back and forth twice, transporting four parts one-to-one into the four positioning cavities; the loading device includes four loading extractors, configured to extract four parts in the second posture from the four positioning cavities of the positioning seat at a time and transport them to the subsequent process equipment.

2. The automatic feeding equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding hopper device is used to drive the carrier tray to make a linear lifting motion along the first axis and a linear translation motion along the second axis perpendicular to the first axis, so as to realize the stacking of the carrier tray on the feeding hopper device along the first axis and the transportation of the carrier tray to the picking station along the second axis. The material handling device is used to drive the part to make a linear lifting motion along the first axis and a linear translation motion along the second and third axes, so as to transport the part from the material handling station to the transfer station. The third axis is perpendicular to the first and second axes. The flipping device is used to drive the part to make a linear translation along the second axis to transport the part from the transfer station to the calibration station, and to drive the part to flip around the third axis to flip the part from the first posture to the second posture and place it in the calibration station. The feeding device is used to drive the part to make linear lifting and lowering motion along the first axis and linear translational motion along the second axis, as well as to rotate around the first axis, so as to transport the part from the calibration station to the subsequent process equipment.

3. The automatic feeding equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The flipping extraction component is configured as a flipping suction cup, the flipping rotating component is configured as a flipping shaft, and the flipping drive assembly includes a flipping linear drive unit, a flipping guide rail, and a flipping motor. The flipping suction cup is used to adsorb the part, and the flipping suction cup is connected to the flipping shaft, which extends along a second axis. The output shaft of the flipping motor is coaxially connected to the flipping shaft to drive the flipping suction cup to rotate around the axis of the flipping shaft. The flipping guide rail extends along the second axis, and the flipping motor is slidably connected to the flipping guide rail. The flipping linear drive unit is used to drive the flipping motor, the flipping shaft, and the flipping suction cup to perform linear translational motion along the flipping guide rail between the transfer station and the calibration station.

4. The automatic feeding equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The material handling device includes: Two gantry cranes are spaced apart along a second axis; Two first material picking guides are connected to two gantry frames one to one, and the first material picking guides extend along the third axis. A connecting beam, the two ends of which are slidably connected to the first material handling guide rails on the two gantry frames respectively, and the connecting beam extends along the second axis; A first material handling linear drive unit is installed on the gantry frame and is used to drive the connecting beam to slide on the first material handling guide rail. The second material handling guide rail is connected to the connecting beam and extends along the second axial direction; A connecting plate, which is slidably connected to the second material handling guide rail; The second material handling linear drive unit is installed on the connecting beam and is used to drive the connecting plate to slide on the second material handling guide rail. The third material handling guide rail is connected to the connecting plate and extends along the first axial direction; A material extraction component, slidably connected to the third material extraction guide rail, is used to extract the part; and The third material handling linear drive unit is mounted on the connecting plate and is used to drive the material handling extraction component to slide on the third material handling guide rail.

5. The automatic feeding equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The feeding device includes: The first feeding guide rail extends along the second axis; The movable seat is slidably connected to the first feeding guide rail; The first feeding linear drive unit is used to drive the movable seat to slide on the first feeding guide rail; A rotating arm, one end of which is rotatably connected to the movable seat; A rotary motor is mounted on the movable base, and the output end of the rotary motor is connected to the rotating arm to drive the rotating arm to rotate around the first axis. Mounting plate, the mounting plate being connected to the free end of the rotating arm; The second feeding guide rail is connected to the mounting plate and extends along the first axial direction; The feeding and extraction component is slidably connected to the second feeding guide rail; and The second feeding linear drive unit is mounted on the mounting plate and is used to drive the feeding extraction component to slide on the second feeding guide rail.

6. The automatic feeding device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The feeding hopper device includes: A tray-splitting mechanism is configured to separate the bottommost tray from a plurality of stacked trays. Two tray feeding mechanisms are arranged vertically at an interval; wherein the upper tray feeding mechanism is configured to controllably perform linear translational movement along a second axis between the feeding station and the picking station, so as to receive the trays separated by the tray feeding mechanism from the feeding station and transport the trays to the picking station. A transfer mechanism is configured to controllably move linearly up and down along a first axis between a picking station and a recycling station, capable of receiving a tray from the picking station and transferring the tray to the recycling station; a tray delivery mechanism located below is configured to controllably move linearly along a second axis between a recycling station and a stacking station, capable of receiving a tray from the recycling station and transporting the tray to the stacking station; and A stacking mechanism is configured to receive trays from a stacking station and stack the trays one by one from bottom to top in the space between the feeding station and the stacking station.

7. The automatic feeding equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning cavity has a positioning center and a positioning guide. The positioning center is located at the center of the positioning cavity. The shape of the positioning center matches the side of the part facing the positioning center. The positioning guide is arranged around the positioning center, and the radial dimension of the positioning guide gradually increases in the direction away from the positioning center. The positioning guide is used to guide the part to move to the positioning center to achieve precise positioning of the part.

8. The automatic feeding equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a machine body, one side of which has a feeding opening. The feeding hopper device is installed at the feeding opening. The feeding hopper device, the precision positioning device, the tilting device, and the loading device are arranged sequentially along the third axis inside the machine body. The height of the picking device in the first axis is higher than that of the feeding hopper device, the precision positioning device, and the tilting device, and the length of the picking device in the third axis spans across the feeding hopper device, the precision positioning device, and the tilting device.

Citation Information

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