A feeding machine platform and electronic cigarette production line

Abstract

The application relates to the field of electronic cigarette production equipment, and discloses a feeding machine table and an electronic cigarette production line, which comprise: a plurality of vibrating discs used for vibrating workpieces so that at least part of the workpieces has a set side facing upward; a feeding manipulator arranged above the vibrating discs and comprising a clamping jaw used for clamping the workpieces in the vibrating discs and a rotation adjusting device used for adjusting the rotation angle of the clamping jaw; a visual detection device electrically connected with the feeding manipulator and used for detecting the position information and the posture information of the workpieces with the set side facing upward in the vibrating discs; the visual detection device sends the position information and the posture information of the workpieces with the set side facing upward to the feeding manipulator, and the feeding manipulator adjusts the position and the rotation angle of the clamping jaw based on the received information, so that the clamping jaw can accurately clamp the workpieces with the set side facing upward. The feeding machine table and the electronic cigarette production line have a larger feeding application range.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electronic cigarette production equipment, and more particularly to a feeding machine and an electronic cigarette production line. Background Technology

[0002] Current e-cigarette production lines include a feeding machine, which typically uses a vibratory feeder. The vibratory feeder vibrates to gradually arrange the workpieces along the discharge track to the set discharge position. Then, a robotic arm picks up the workpieces from the discharge position and places them in the next processing or inspection station.

[0003] The existing feeding machine's discharge track can only handle workpieces of one specification. If the specification of the workpiece to be discharged needs to be changed, the discharge track must be replaced, resulting in a limited range of applicability for the feeding machine and hindering flexible production.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to design a feeding machine and an electronic cigarette production line to improve the applicability of the feeding machine. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a feeding machine and an electronic cigarette production line to improve the applicability of the feeding machine.

[0006] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A feeding machine, comprising:

[0008] Several vibratory feeders are used to vibrate the workpiece so that at least a portion of the workpiece's designated side faces upward;

[0009] The loading robot is located on the top side of the vibratory feeder and includes grippers for gripping the workpiece in the vibratory feeder and a rotation adjustment device for adjusting the rotation angle of the grippers.

[0010] A visual inspection device, connected to the loading robot arm, is used to detect the position and posture information of a workpiece with its side facing upward in the vibratory feeder.

[0011] The vision detection device sends the position and posture information of the workpiece with the set side facing upward to the loading robot. Based on the received information, the loading robot adjusts the position and rotation angle of the gripper so that the gripper can accurately grasp the workpiece with the set side facing upward.

[0012] Optionally, the feeding machine also includes a storage box, which has a discharge port facing the adjacent vibratory feeder, and the discharge port is equipped with an openable and closable electric discharge door; the electric discharge door is electrically connected to the vision inspection device.

[0013] The visual inspection device is used to control the opening or closing of the electric discharge door.

[0014] Optionally, a rotating platform is provided on the side of the vibratory feeder away from the storage box, and at least two material carrier plates are provided on the rotating platform, and the at least two material carrier plates are arranged in a circumferential array about the center of the rotating platform on the top surface of the rotating platform;

[0015] The rotary table has a receiving position and a discharging position. When one of the material carrier plates is located at the receiving position, the other material carrier plate is located at the discharging position.

[0016] Optionally, the material carrier plate is rotatably connected to the rotary table via a rotating shaft, and an elastic element is provided on the rotary table to reset the material carrier plate so that the material carrier plate is parallel to the top surface of the rotary table; when the material carrier plate is reset, the opening of the storage groove on the material carrier plate faces upward.

[0017] A lifting device is provided on one side of the bottom of the discharge position. The lifting device is used to extend the lifting shaft to drive the material carrier plate to rotate around the rotating shaft by °, so that the opening of the storage tank on the material carrier plate faces away from the receiving position.

[0018] The rotary table is provided with a clearance through hole to avoid the lifting shaft.

[0019] Optionally, the vibratory feeder includes a base plate and a surrounding plate that surrounds the base plate to form a material cavity.

[0020] The enclosure panel has a surrounding step near the bottom of the base plate, and the height of the surrounding step is less than the height of the workpiece lying on its side.

[0021] Optionally, the angle between the enclosure and the base plate is greater than °.

[0022] Optionally, the visual inspection device is mounted on the robotic arm;

[0023] The visual inspection device includes a lifting drive device fixedly connected to the loading robot, a support frame disposed on the lifting part of the lifting drive device, a detection CCD camera fixedly connected to the support frame, and a supplementary light plate for supplementing light to the vibratory feeder.

[0024] Optionally, the bottom of the carrier plate is provided with a detection hole, and the top is provided with a through detection groove;

[0025] A first detection device is provided on one side of the bottom of the receiving position to detect whether the storage tank is filled with a workpiece through the detection hole.

[0026] A second detection device is provided on one side of the bottom of the discharge position to detect whether the workpiece in the storage tank has fallen out from the detection groove;

[0027] Both the first detection device and the second detection device are optical sensors.

[0028] Optionally, during the vibration of the vibratory feeder, the loading robot adjusts the position and rotation angle of the gripper in real time based on the position and posture information of the workpiece with its side facing upward.

[0029] An electronic cigarette production line includes a feeding machine as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0031] In this embodiment, the vibratory feeder vibrates the workpiece, causing at least a portion of the workpiece to flip upwards on a predetermined side. Then, the loading robot accurately grips the workpiece on the vibratory feeder with its predetermined side facing upwards, based on the position and posture information detected by the vision inspection device. Furthermore, the rotation angle of the workpiece during discharge can be adjusted by a rotation adjustment device to achieve accurate discharge. This embodiment, through the ingenious combination of the vibratory feeder, the loading robot, and the vision inspection device, expands the applicability of the loading machine, enabling the transport of workpieces with a wider range of sizes. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] The structures, proportions, sizes, etc., shown in the accompanying drawings of this specification are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to limit the conditions under which the present invention can be implemented. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives that the present invention can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention.

[0034] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the feeding machine provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the feeding machine provided in an embodiment of the present invention from another view;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a top view of the feeding machine provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 4 for Figure 1 An enlarged view of position A in the middle;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the rotary table and the material carrier plate provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Illustrations: 1. Vibratory feeder; 101. First detection device; 102. Second detection device; 11. Base plate; 12. Enclosure plate; 13. Surrounding steps; 2. Loading robot; 21. Gripper; 22. Rotation adjustment device; 3. Vision inspection device; 31. Lifting drive device; 32. Support frame; 33. Detection CCD camera; 34. Lighting plate; 4. Storage box; 5. Electric discharge door; 6. Rotary table; 7. Carrying plate; 71. Storage trough; 701. Detection trough; 8. Elastic element; 9. Lifting device. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of this invention more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0041] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. It should be noted that when a component is considered to be "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be a component positioned centrally in the connection.

[0042] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0043] Example 1

[0044] This invention provides a feeding machine that can effectively improve the applicability of the feeding machine and can feed workpieces of a larger size range.

[0045] Please see Figures 1 to 5 The feeding machine includes:

[0046] Several vibratory feeders 1 are used to vibrate the workpiece so that at least a portion of the workpiece's designated side faces upwards. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the vibratory feeders 1 can be adjusted by changing the vibration frequency and amplitude, thereby causing at least a portion of the workpiece to flip, thus ensuring that a portion of the workpiece's designated side faces upwards. The workpiece can be a disc-shaped workpiece or a cuboid-like workpiece, etc. The number of vibratory feeders 1 can be a positive integer.

[0047] The loading robot 2 is positioned above the vibratory feeder 1 and includes a gripper 21 for gripping workpieces in the vibratory feeder 1 and a rotation adjustment device 22 for adjusting the rotation angle of the gripper 21.

[0048] The visual inspection device 3 is electrically connected to the loading robot 2 and is used to detect the position and posture information of the workpiece with the set side facing up in the vibratory feeder 1.

[0049] The vision inspection device 3 sends the position and posture information of the workpiece with the side facing upward to the loading robot 2. Based on the received information, the loading robot 2 adjusts the position and rotation angle of the gripper 21 so that the gripper 21 can accurately pick up the workpiece with the side facing upward.

[0050] It should be noted that the feeding machine in this embodiment has two feeding methods:

[0051] The first method involves the vibratory feeder 1 vibrating to align at least a portion of the workpiece with its designated side facing upwards, followed by the vibratory feeder 1 stopping. Then, the vision inspection device 3 detects the position and orientation information of the workpieces with their designated sides facing upwards in the vibratory feeder 1. Based on this received position and orientation information, the loading robot 2 adjusts the spatial position and rotation angle of the gripper 21 to ensure accurate gripping of the workpieces with their designated sides facing upwards. After the gripper 21 grips the workpiece, the rotation adjustment device 22 drives the gripper 21 to rotate, thereby causing the workpiece gripped by the gripper 21 to return to the correct rotation angle output.

[0052] The second method involves the loading robot 2 adjusting the spatial position and rotation angle of the gripper 21 in real time based on the position and posture information of the workpiece with its side facing upwards during the vibration of the vibratory feeder 1. That is, while the vibratory feeder 1 is working, the loading robot 2 is simultaneously performing the unloading process, achieving faster unloading. Similarly, during the unloading process, the gripper 21 and the rotation adjustment device 22 cooperate to accurately grip the workpiece and return it to the correct angle for output.

[0053] It is particularly important to emphasize that, in this embodiment, the loading machine does not require an output track. Instead, through the ingenious cooperation between the vibratory feeder 1, the loading robot 2, and the vision inspection device 3, it can load workpieces of different sizes and specifications, thus broadening its applicability. In this embodiment, the vibratory feeder 1, the loading robot 2, and the vision inspection device 3 are creatively combined to form a new loading method.

[0054] Optionally, the feeding machine also includes a storage box 4, which has a discharge port facing the adjacent vibratory feeder 1, and the discharge port is equipped with an openable and closable electric discharge door 5. The electric discharge door 5 is electrically connected to the vision inspection device 3. The vision inspection device 3 is used to control the opening or closing of the electric discharge door 5. Specifically, when the vision inspection device 3 detects that the number of workpieces in the vibratory feeder 1 is less than a set value, the vision inspection device 3 controls the electric discharge door 5 to open for a set time, so that a certain number of workpieces enter the vibratory feeder 1. The set time is set according to the number of workpieces in the vibratory feeder 1. Generally, the more workpieces in the vibratory feeder 1, the shorter the set time.

[0055] Specifically, the workpieces on the storage box 4 can be automatically replenished through the electric discharge gate 5, thereby preventing the vibratory feeder 1 from having too few workpieces. It should be noted that too few workpieces on the vibratory feeder 1 will significantly affect the set number of workpieces with their sides facing upwards, thus affecting the gripping efficiency of the loading robot 2; however, too many workpieces on the vibratory feeder 1 will not only affect the vibration and flipping of the workpieces but also affect the gripping success rate of the loading robot 2. In this embodiment, the vibratory feeder 1, based on the vision detection device 3, is automatically replenished through the electric discharge gate 5, which can better maintain the stability of the loading efficiency.

[0056] Optionally, a rotary table 6 is provided on the side of the vibratory feeder 1 away from the storage box 4. At least two material carrier plates 7 are mounted on the rotary table 6, and these plates are arranged in a circumferential array about the center of the rotary table 6 on its top surface. The rotary table 6 has a receiving position and a discharging position; when one material carrier plate 7 is in the receiving position, the other is in the discharging position. Specifically, the loading robot 2 clamps the workpiece into the storage groove 71 of the material carrier plate 7, and then the rotary table 6 rotates 180°, 90°, 60°, 45°, or other angles to discharge the workpiece. The number of material carrier plates 7 is even.

[0057] Optionally, the material carrier plate 7 and the rotary table 6 are rotatably connected by a rotating shaft, and the rotary table 6 is provided with an elastic element 8 to reset the material carrier plate 7 so that the material carrier plate 7 is parallel to the top surface of the rotary table 6; when the material carrier plate 7 is reset, the groove opening of the storage trough 71 on the material carrier plate 7 faces upward; a lifting device 9 is provided on one side of the bottom of the discharge position, and the lifting device 9 is used to extend the lifting shaft to drive the material carrier plate 7 to rotate 90° around the rotating shaft so that the groove opening of the storage trough 71 on the material carrier plate 7 is aligned with the material position; the rotary table 6 is provided with a clearance through hole to avoid the lifting shaft.

[0058] Specifically, in this embodiment, after the material carrier plate 7 rotates to the discharge position, the lifting device 9 rotates the material carrier plate 7 at the discharge position by 90°, thereby changing the storage tank 71 from an upward-facing state to a horizontal-facing state, thus better completing the discharge. In this embodiment, by switching the state of the material carrier plate 7, a new method for discharge is provided, enabling the subsequent material handling robot to better pick up or grip the workpieces on the material carrier plate 7.

[0059] Optionally, the vibratory feeder 1 includes a base plate 11 and a surrounding plate 12 that surrounds the base plate 11, with the surrounding plate 12 forming a material cavity around the base plate 11; a surrounding step 13 is provided near the bottom of the surrounding plate 11, and the height of the surrounding step 13 is less than the height of the workpiece lying on its side. The presence of the surrounding step 13 allows the gripper 21 to also grip the workpiece on its side.

[0060] Optionally, the angle between the enclosure 12 and the base plate 11 is greater than 90°. In this way, even if some workpieces are piled on the inclined enclosure 12, they can quickly slide down to the base plate 11 under the vibration of the vibratory feeder 1.

[0061] Optionally, the vision inspection device 3 is mounted on a robotic arm. The vision inspection device 3 includes a lifting drive device 31 fixedly connected to the loading robotic arm 2, a support frame 32 mounted on the lifting section of the lifting drive device 31, a detection CCD camera 33 fixedly connected to the support frame 32, and a supplementary lighting plate 34 for providing supplementary lighting to the vibratory feeder 1. On one hand, the detection CCD camera 33 is height-adjustable, allowing for the inspection of workpieces of different specifications at different heights, thus broadening its applicability. On the other hand, the supplementary lighting plate 34 moves along with the detection CCD camera 33, providing better illumination.

[0062] Optionally, the bottom of the material carrier plate 7 is provided with a detection hole, and the top is provided with a through detection groove 701; a first detection device 101 with a self-detection hole is provided on one side of the bottom of the receiving position to detect whether the storage tank 71 is filled with a workpiece; a second detection device 102 with a self-detection groove 701 is provided on one side of the bottom of the discharging position to detect whether the workpiece in the storage tank 71 has fallen out; both the first detection device 101 and the second detection device 102 are optical sensors.

[0063] Specifically, when the loading robot 2 places the workpiece in the receiving position storage tank 71, the first detection device 101 detects whether there is a workpiece in the storage tank 71; when the workpiece is transferred to the discharge position, the second detection device 102 detects whether the workpiece on the loading plate 7 after being flipped 90° has fallen off through the detection slot 701, thereby facilitating subsequent discharge.

[0064] Example 2

[0065] This embodiment discloses an electronic cigarette production line, including a feeding machine as described in any of the preceding embodiments.

[0066] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A feeding machine, characterized in that, include: Several vibratory feeders are used to vibrate the workpiece so that at least a portion of the workpiece's designated side faces upward; A loading robot is positioned above the vibratory feeder and includes grippers for picking up the workpiece from the vibratory feeder and a rotation adjustment device for adjusting the rotation angle of the grippers. A visual inspection device, connected to the loading robot arm, is used to detect the position and posture information of a workpiece with its side facing upward in the vibratory feeder. The visual inspection device sends the position and posture information of the workpiece with the set side facing upward to the loading robot. Based on the received information, the loading robot adjusts the position and rotation angle of the gripper so that the gripper can accurately grasp the workpiece with the set side facing upward. It also includes a storage box, which has a discharge port facing the adjacent vibratory feeder, and the discharge port is equipped with an openable and closable electric discharge door; the electric discharge door is electrically connected to the vision inspection device. The visual inspection device is used to control the opening or closing of the electric discharge door; A rotating platform is provided on the side of the vibratory feeder away from the storage box. At least two material carrier plates are provided on the rotating platform, and the at least two material carrier plates are arranged in a circumferential array about the center of the rotating platform on the top surface of the rotating platform. The rotary table has a receiving position and a discharging position. When one of the material carrier plates is located at the receiving position, the other material carrier plate is located at the discharging position. The material carrier plate is rotatably connected to the rotary table via a rotating shaft, and an elastic element is provided on the rotary table to reset the material carrier plate so that the material carrier plate is parallel to the top surface of the rotary table; when the material carrier plate is reset, the opening of the storage groove on the material carrier plate faces upward. A lifting device is provided on one side of the bottom of the discharge position. The lifting device is used to extend the lifting shaft to drive the material carrier plate to rotate 90° around the rotating shaft so that the opening of the storage trough on the material carrier plate faces away from the receiving position. The rotary table is provided with a clearance through hole to avoid the lifting shaft.

2. The feeding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vibratory feeder includes a base plate and a surrounding plate that surrounds the base plate, the surrounding plate forming a material cavity around the base plate; The enclosure panel has a surrounding step near the bottom of the base plate, and the height of the surrounding step is less than the height of the workpiece lying on its side.

3. The feeding machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The angle between the enclosure and the base plate is greater than 90°.

4. The feeding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The visual inspection device is installed on the loading robot arm; The visual inspection device includes a lifting drive device fixedly connected to the loading robot, a support frame disposed on the lifting part of the lifting drive device, a detection CCD camera fixedly connected to the support frame, and a supplementary light plate for supplementing light to the vibratory feeder.

5. The feeding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the carrier plate is provided with a detection hole, and the top is provided with a through detection groove; A first detection device is provided on one side of the bottom of the receiving position to detect whether the storage tank is filled with a workpiece through the detection hole. A second detection device is provided on one side of the bottom of the discharge position to detect whether the workpiece in the storage tank has fallen out from the detection groove; Both the first detection device and the second detection device are optical sensors.

6. The feeding machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the vibration of the vibratory feeder, the loading robot adjusts the position and rotation angle of the gripper in real time based on the position and posture information of the workpiece with its side facing upward.

7. An electronic cigarette production line, characterized in that, It includes a feeding machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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