A multi-station material transfer method

Abstract

The present application relates to material transfer technical field, especially to a kind of multi-station material transfer method;Based on the transfer device being arranged between conveying line and numerical control machine tool, the transfer device includes rack, n material stopping stations are sequentially arranged in rack along X direction, the X direction is transfer direction, mobile piece is equipped on the rack and can move along X direction, lifting piece is connected on the mobile piece, first sensor for sensing material is equipped on each material stopping station, second sensor for sensing the position of mobile piece is equipped on the rack;Only need to drive mobile piece to move along X direction and the two actions of lifting piece up and down movement, i.e. material can be automatically and orderly transferred between each material stopping station, realize the transfer and transfer of material from numerical control machine tool processing and its feeding to conveying line, so that each numerical control machine tool and conveying line realize orderly material stopping.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of material handling technology, and in particular to a multi-station material handling method. Background Technology

[0002] Chinese patent CN114455277A discloses a device and method for feeding materials of different lengths from multiple workstations into the finished product area. It only requires one conveyor line to realize the operation of feeding materials of different lengths from multiple workstations into the finished product area. In the above patent solution, each workstation corresponds to a CNC machine tool. Since the time point for feeding materials from each workstation into the finished product area depends on the material already carried on the conveyor line, it is difficult to achieve transfer between each CNC machine tool and the conveyor line through a simple conveyor belt. However, after a material is processed by the CNC machine tool, it needs to be stopped in an orderly manner to facilitate the transfer to the conveyor line without interference.

[0003] Therefore, how to design a multi-station material transfer method to achieve orderly material stopping between each CNC machine tool and the conveyor line has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is: how to design a multi-station material transfer method so that each CNC machine tool and the conveyor line can stop material in an orderly manner. This is an urgent technical problem to be solved.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A multi-station material transfer method is based on a transfer device set between a conveyor line and a CNC machine tool. The transfer device includes a frame with n stopping stations arranged sequentially along the X direction, where the X direction is the transfer direction. The frame is provided with a movable component that can move along the X direction. A lifting component is connected to the movable component. Each stopping station is provided with a first sensor for sensing the material. The frame is provided with a second sensor for sensing the position of the movable component.

[0007] The multiplex material transfer method includes the following steps:

[0008] S1: Control the lifting component to descend and detach from the material; sequentially acquire the sensing signals of the first sensor in the reverse direction along the X direction. When the sensing signal of one of the first sensors is obtained for the first time and there is no material, record the position of the stopping station as the first position. Continue to acquire the sensing signals of the first sensor in the reverse direction along the X direction. When the sensing signal of one of the first sensors is obtained for the first time and there is material, record the position of the stopping station as the second position.

[0009] S2: Obtain the current position of the moving part through the second sensor, control the moving part to move to the second position, control the lifting part to rise, and lift the material placed at the second position;

[0010] S3: Control the moving part to the first position;

[0011] Repeat steps S1-S3 above.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned multi-station material transfer method, in the transfer device, the frame is provided with a rack arranged along the X direction, the moving part is provided with a drive motor, the drive motor is connected to a gear, and the gear meshes with the rack;

[0013] In the aforementioned transfer method, in step S2: controlling the moving part to move to the second position specifically involves controlling the drive motor to drive the gear to rotate, and through the meshing of the gear and rack, causing the moving part to move to the second position;

[0014] In S3, controlling the moving part to move to the first position specifically involves controlling the drive motor to drive the gear to rotate, and through the meshing of the gear and rack, the moving part moves to the first position.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned multi-station material transfer method, the transfer device has a limiting shaft arranged along the X direction on the frame, and the moving part has a bushing that slides with the limiting shaft.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned multi-station material transfer method, in the transfer device, stopping platforms are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the limiting shaft, and a first arc-shaped limiting groove is provided on the stopping platform for each stopping station. The first sensor is a first proximity switch, and the first proximity switch is disposed in the first arc-shaped limiting groove.

[0017] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned multi-station material transfer method, in the transfer device, the second sensor is a second proximity switch respectively set at each stopping station position, and the moving part is provided with a stop for sensing proximity to the second proximity switch.

[0018] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned multi-station material transfer method, the transfer device includes a lifting component comprising a lifting cylinder and a material support seat. The cylinder body of the lifting cylinder is connected to the moving component, and the material support seat is connected to the upper end of the piston rod of the lifting cylinder. The lifting seat is provided with a second arc-shaped limiting groove.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The multi-station material transfer method of the present invention only requires two actions: driving the moving part to move along the X direction and lifting the part to move up and down. This can realize the automatic and orderly transfer of materials between each stopping station, realize the transfer and stop of materials processed by CNC machine tools and their loading to the conveyor line. It can overcome the problem of the difficulty of transfer caused by the time difference between the output of CNC machine tools and the loading of materials on the conveyor line, and realize orderly stopping of materials between each CNC machine tool and the conveyor line. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transfer device involved in a multi-station material transfer method according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a transfer device involved in a multi-station material transfer method according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of part A;

[0023] Figure 4 This is an X-axis view of a transfer device involved in a multi-station material transfer method according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 for Figure 4 BB-direction cross-section diagram;

[0025] Label Explanation:

[0026] 1. Frame; 11. First sensor; 12. Second sensor; 13. Rack; 14. Limit shaft;

[0027] 2. Stop station; 21. First arc-shaped limiting groove;

[0028] 3. Moving parts; 31. Gears; 32. Stops;

[0029] 4. Lifting component; 41. Lifting cylinder; 42. Material support seat; 421. Second arc-shaped limiting groove;

[0030] 5. Materials. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To explain in detail the technical content, objectives, and effects of the present invention, the following description is provided in conjunction with the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0032] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5The present invention relates to a multi-station material transfer method based on a transfer device set between a conveyor line and a CNC machine tool. The transfer device includes a frame 1, with n stopping stations 2 arranged sequentially along the X direction, where the X direction is the transfer direction. The frame 1 is provided with a movable component 3 that can move along the X direction. A lifting component 4 is connected to the movable component 3. Each stopping station 2 is provided with a first sensor 11 for sensing the material 5, and the frame 1 is provided with a second sensor 12 for sensing the position of the movable component 3.

[0033] The multiplex material 5 transfer method includes the following steps:

[0034] S1: Control the lifting component 4 to descend and detach from the material 5; sequentially acquire the sensing signals of the first sensor 11 in the reverse direction along the X direction. When the sensing signal of one of the first sensors 11 is obtained for the first time that there is no material 5, record the position of the stopping station 2 as the first position. Continue to acquire the sensing signals of the first sensor 11 in the reverse direction along the X direction. When the sensing signal of one of the first sensors 11 is obtained for the first time that there is material 5, record the position of the stopping station 2 as the second position.

[0035] S2: Obtain the current position of the moving part 3 through the second sensor 12, control the moving part 3 to move to the second position, control the lifting part 4 to rise, and lift the material 5 placed at the second position;

[0036] S3: Control the moving part 3 to move to the first position;

[0037] Repeat steps S1-S3 above.

[0038] The following explanation of the above steps is based on a specific embodiment: Taking n=5 as an example, a first stopping station 2, a second stopping station 2, a third stopping station 2, a fourth stopping station 2, and a fifth stopping station 2 are sequentially arranged along the X direction on the frame 1. The first stopping station 2 is the loading station, and the fifth stopping station 2 is the unloading station. In one simulated scenario, there is material 5 on the first stopping station 2, the fourth stopping station 2, and the fifth stopping station 2, while there is no material 5 on the second stopping station 2 and the third stopping station 2. At this time, it is first found that there is no material 5 on the third stopping station 2, and then it is found that there is material 5 on the first stopping station 2. At this time, the position of the moving part 3 is obtained through the second sensor 12, and the moving part 3 is controlled to move to the first stopping station 2, lift the material 5 on the first stopping station 2, and transfer it to the third stopping station 2.

[0039] The above embodiments are applicable to the scenario disclosed in Chinese Patent Publication No. CN114455277A, which describes a device and method for feeding materials 5 of different lengths from multiple workstations into the finished product area. Specifically, it is applied to the temporary transfer of materials 5 between each processing workstation and the conveyor line. For example, after a CNC machine tool at one of the processing workstations processes a material 5, it is first transferred to the first stopping workstation 2 by an industrial robot. Then, using the method described above, the moving part 3 is used to transfer the material 5 sequentially to a position close to the fifth stopping workstation 2. When the material 5 is transferred to the fifth stopping workstation 2, a corresponding judgment is made according to the device and method disclosed in Chinese Patent Publication No. CN114455277A, which describes a device and method for feeding materials 5 of different lengths from multiple workstations into the finished product area. If it is determined that there is currently an empty space on the conveyor line, the material 5 at the fifth stopping workstation 2 is transferred to the conveyor line by an industrial robot.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the transfer device includes a rack 13 arranged along the X direction on the frame 1, a drive motor on the moving part 3, and a gear 31 connected to the drive motor, which meshes with the rack 13.

[0041] In the aforementioned transfer method, in step S2: controlling the moving part 3 to move to the second position specifically involves controlling the drive motor to drive the gear 31 to rotate, and through the meshing of the gear 31 with the rack 13, causing the moving part 3 to move to the second position;

[0042] In S3, controlling the moving part 3 to move to the first position specifically means controlling the drive motor to drive the gear 31 to rotate, and through the meshing of the gear 31 and the rack 13, the moving part 3 moves to the first position.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the transfer device includes a limiting shaft 14 arranged along the X direction on the frame 1, and a bushing that slides with the limiting shaft 14 on the moving part 3.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, in the transfer device, stopping platforms are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the limiting shaft 14. Each stopping platform is provided with a first arc-shaped limiting groove 21 at the position of each stopping station 2. The first sensor 11 is a first proximity switch, which is disposed in the first arc-shaped limiting groove 21.

[0045] In the above embodiments, since material 5 is a cylindrical shaft-like part, during the material 5 transfer process, material 5 can be limited by the first arc-shaped limiting groove 21, and the first proximity switch can be used to identify whether material 5 is stopped at the current stopping station 2.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, in the transfer device, the second sensor 12 is a second proximity switch respectively set at each stop station 2, and the moving part 3 is provided with a stop block 32 for sensing proximity to the second proximity switch.

[0047] In the above embodiments, since the moving part 3 is accurately stopped at the corresponding stopping station 2 after the previous transfer, the current position information of the moving part 3 can be obtained by the signal of the second proximity switch at the corresponding stopping station 2 being blocked by the stop block 32, so as to carry out the next movement according to the steps.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the lifting component 4 in the transfer device includes a lifting cylinder 41 and a material support 42. The cylinder body of the lifting cylinder 41 is connected to the moving component 3, and the material support 42 is connected to the upper end of the piston rod of the lifting cylinder 41. The lifting support is provided with a second arc-shaped limiting groove 421.

[0049] In the above embodiments, when transferring material 5, the material support 42 is first controlled to move downward, thereby avoiding interference between the moving part 3 and the material 5 at each stopping station 2 when the moving part 3 moves. When it moves to the target station where the material 5 needs to be transferred, the lifting cylinder 41 is controlled to lift upward, so that the second arc-shaped limiting groove 421 of the material support 42 limits and lifts the material 5 at the stopping station 2, so that the material 5 is removed from the first arc-shaped limiting groove 21 at the stopping station 2. Then the moving part 3 is controlled to move, so that the material 5 can be transferred between each stopping station 2.

[0050] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent modifications made based on the content of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-station material transfer method, characterized in that, Based on the transfer device set between the conveyor line and the CNC machine tool, the transfer device includes a frame, with n stopping stations arranged sequentially along the X direction, where the X direction is the transfer direction. The frame is provided with a movable component that can move along the X direction, and a lifting component is connected to the movable component. Each stopping station is provided with a first sensor for sensing the material, and the frame is provided with a second sensor for sensing the position of the movable component. The multiplex material transfer method includes the following steps: S1: Control the lifting component to descend and detach from the material; sequentially acquire the sensing signals of the first sensor in the reverse direction along the X direction. When the sensing signal of one of the first sensors is obtained for the first time and there is no material, record the position of the stopping station as the first position. Continue to acquire the sensing signals of the first sensor in the reverse direction along the X direction. When the sensing signal of one of the first sensors is obtained for the first time and there is material, record the position of the stopping station as the second position. S2: Obtain the current position of the moving part through the second sensor, control the moving part to move to the second position, control the lifting part to rise, and lift the material placed at the second position; S3: Control the moving part to move to the first position; Repeat steps S1-S3 above.

2. The multi-station material transfer method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the transfer device, the frame is provided with a rack arranged along the X direction, the moving part is provided with a drive motor, the drive motor is connected to a gear, and the gear meshes with the rack; In the aforementioned transfer method, in step S2: controlling the moving part to move to the second position specifically involves controlling the drive motor to drive the gear to rotate, and through the meshing of the gear and rack, causing the moving part to move to the second position; In S3, controlling the moving part to move to the first position specifically involves controlling the drive motor to drive the gear to rotate, and through the meshing of the gear and rack, the moving part moves to the first position.

3. The multi-station material transfer method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the transfer device, the frame is provided with a limiting shaft arranged along the X direction, and the moving part is provided with a bushing that slides with the limiting shaft.

4. The multi-station material transfer method according to claim 3, characterized in that, In the transfer device, stopping platforms are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the limiting shaft. Each stopping platform is provided with a first arc-shaped limiting groove for each stopping station. The first sensor is a first proximity switch, which is located in the first arc-shaped limiting groove.

5. The multi-station material transfer method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the transfer device, the second sensor is a second proximity switch respectively set at each material stop position, and the moving part is provided with a stop for sensing proximity to the second proximity switch.

6. The multi-station material transfer method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the transfer device, the lifting component includes a lifting cylinder and a material support seat. The cylinder body of the lifting cylinder is connected to the moving component, and the material support seat is connected to the upper end of the piston rod of the lifting cylinder. The lifting component is provided with a second arc-shaped limiting groove.

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