Buffered feed device and buffered feed apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of buffer feeding device and buffer feeding equipment, it is related to the technical field of automatic production equipment, the buffer feeding device is used for the buffer and feeding of fin, fin includes fin body, and the material collecting needle is passed in fin body, both ends of material collecting needle are stretched out on the two sides of fin body along second direction, buffer feeding device includes: buffer feeding mechanism, including opposite two sets of lifting mechanism, the accommodating space of accommodating fin body is formed between two lifting mechanisms, every lifting mechanism is spaced apart and is provided with multiple material supporting stations along the lifting direction, material supporting station can be lifted along third direction with lifting mechanism, second direction and third direction intersect;Two lifting mechanisms support the part of material collecting needle that stretches out from fin body by material supporting station, to support fin;The technical scheme of the application can realize the buffer and feeding of fin, and can solve the problem that fin is easily damaged when stacking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automated production equipment technology, and in particular to a buffer feeding device and a buffer feeding equipment. Background Technology

[0002] The assembly of air conditioner fins (evaporator and condenser) is gradually being automated, for example, through automatic fin threading. The prerequisite for automation is proper control of incoming materials, and these materials must have a certain buffer to allow for uninterrupted production. Current fin buffering technologies generally use manual or robotic stacking, with fins often separated by cardboard or directly stacked together, posing a risk of fin damage. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to provide a buffer feeding device and a buffer feeding equipment, which aims to achieve fin buffering and feeding, and to solve the problem of fin damage during fin stacking.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a buffer feeding device for buffering and feeding fins. The fin includes a fin body and a collecting pin passing through the fin body. Both ends of the collecting pin extend from both sides of the fin body along a second direction. The buffer feeding device includes:

[0005] The buffer feeding mechanism includes two sets of lifting mechanisms arranged opposite to each other, and a receiving space for accommodating the fin body is formed between the two lifting mechanisms. Each lifting mechanism is provided with multiple material support stations at intervals along its lifting direction. The material support stations can be lifted and lowered along a third direction with the lifting mechanism. The second direction and the third direction intersect.

[0006] The two lifting mechanisms respectively support the part of the collecting needle that extends out of the fin body through the material support station, so as to support the fin.

[0007] In one embodiment, the two lifting mechanisms are arranged opposite to each other along a first direction, and each lifting mechanism includes a first lifting component and a second lifting component arranged opposite to each other along a second direction;

[0008] The first lifting assembly is provided with a plurality of first material support members spaced apart along the third direction, and the second lifting assembly is provided with a plurality of second material support members spaced apart along the third direction. The first material support members and the second material support members are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence along the second direction. The first material support members are used to support the first end of the collecting needle, and the second material support members are used to support the second end of the collecting needle. The first material support members and the second material support members located at the same height and corresponding to each other are combined to form a material support station. The first direction, the second direction and the third direction intersect each other.

[0009] In one embodiment, the lifting mechanism further includes a transmission component and a drive component. The transmission component drives the first lifting component and the second lifting component, and the drive component drives the transmission component. The drive component drives the transmission component to move, thereby causing the first lifting component and the second lifting component to lift synchronously.

[0010] In one embodiment, the buffer feeding device further includes a frame, and the transmission assembly includes a drive shaft rotatably mounted on the frame;

[0011] The first lifting assembly includes a first drive wheel and a first driven wheel arranged opposite to each other along a third direction, and a first transmission member surrounding the first drive wheel and the first driven wheel, with a plurality of first material support members spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface of the first transmission member;

[0012] The second lifting assembly includes a second drive wheel and a second driven wheel arranged opposite to each other along the third direction, and a second transmission member surrounding the second drive wheel and the second driven wheel, with a plurality of second material support members spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface of the second transmission member;

[0013] The first drive wheel and the second drive wheel are respectively connected to the two ends of the drive shaft. The first driven wheel and the second driven wheel are rotatably mounted on the frame. The drive assembly is driven to the drive shaft to drive the drive shaft to rotate.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first material support and the second material support are in the form of hooks;

[0015] And / or, the first material support component can be adjusted in installation position relative to the first lifting assembly along the third direction; the second material support component can be adjusted in installation position relative to the second lifting assembly along the third direction.

[0016] In one embodiment, the buffer feeding device further includes a frame with a storage bin having an opening extending through the top surface of the frame. The buffer feeding mechanism is housed within the storage bin, and the top of the buffer feeding mechanism is exposed through the opening into the storage bin.

[0017] In one embodiment, a first limiting member is provided on both sides of the fin body along the second direction in the storage bin. The first limiting member extends along the third direction and is used to limit the fin body.

[0018] In one embodiment, the spacing between the two first limiting members opposite each other along the second direction is adjustable.

[0019] In one embodiment, the fin body is provided with at least two first limiting members on the same side in the second direction, and the buffer feeding device further includes a first detection element disposed on the frame. The first detection element is located between two adjacent first limiting members on the same side of the fin body, and the first detection element is used to detect the position of the two first limiting members.

[0020] In one embodiment, a second limiting member is provided at each end of the material collecting needle in the storage bin. The second limiting member extends along the third direction and is used to limit the material collecting needle.

[0021] In one embodiment, the buffer feeding device further includes a second detection element disposed on the top of the frame, the second detection element being used to detect whether the uppermost layer of the buffer feeding mechanism is loaded with fins;

[0022] And / or, the buffer feeding device further includes a third detection element located at the bottom of the frame, the third detection element being used to detect whether the lowest layer of the buffer feeding mechanism is loaded with fins.

[0023] In one embodiment, the frame is provided with a fin temporary storage station, and the fin temporary storage station is provided with a pre-positioning component. The pre-positioning component is used to pre-position the fins so as to adjust the fins to a posture suitable for the picking robot to grasp.

[0024] In one embodiment, the pre-positioning component includes a first pre-positioning element and a second pre-positioning element. The first pre-positioning element is used to pre-position one side of the fin body, and the second pre-positioning element is used to pre-position one end of the collecting needle.

[0025] The present invention also proposes a buffer feeding device, comprising:

[0026] The buffer feeding device described above has a fin temporary storage station;

[0027] A material handling robot is used to pick up fins from the fin storage station and transfer them to the buffer feeding mechanism for buffering; and

[0028] A feeding robot is used to pick up the fins from the buffer feeding mechanism and transfer them to the automatic fin threading equipment.

[0029] The technical solution of this invention employs a buffer feeding mechanism, comprising two opposing lifting mechanisms. A receiving space for the fin body is formed between the two lifting mechanisms. Each lifting mechanism has multiple material-supporting stations along its lifting direction. The two lifting mechanisms support the material-collecting needles extending from the fin body through these stations, thus supporting the fins. During stacking, the uppermost material-supporting station of the two lifting mechanisms first supports the fins, and then the material-supporting stations carrying the fins descend layer by layer. This allows for the stacking of multiple layers of fins from top to bottom, achieving fin buffering. Because there is a certain interval between the upper and lower material-supporting stations, there is a gap between the upper and lower layers of fins, preventing collisions or friction and effectively reducing the risk of fin damage. After the fins are stacked, the two lifting mechanisms can further lift the fins layer by layer to achieve fin feeding. The technical solution of this invention achieves fin buffering and feeding, and solves the problem of fin damage during stacking. Attached Figure Description

[0030] 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 the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the buffer feeding device provided by the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0033] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a structural embodiment of the lifting mechanism;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fin structure;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario of an embodiment of the buffer feeding device provided by the present invention.

[0036] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0037] 10. Buffer feeding device; 11. Buffer feeding mechanism; 11a. Lifting mechanism; 110. Material support station; 110a. First material support component; 110b. Second material support component; 111. First lifting assembly; 1111. First transmission wheel; 1112. First driven wheel; 1113. First transmission component; 112. Second lifting assembly; 1121. Second transmission wheel; 1122. Second driven wheel; 1123. Second transmission component; 113. Transmission assembly; 113 1. Drive shaft; 1132. First mounted bearing; 114. Drive assembly; 1141. Drive component; 1142. Coupling; 115. Second mounted bearing; 116. Bearing support; 12. Frame; 121. Storage bin; 122. Fin temporary storage station; 123. First pre-positioning component; 124. Second pre-positioning component; 13. First limiting component; 14. First detection element; 15. Second limiting component; 16. Second detection element; 17. Third detection element;

[0038] 20. Fin; 21. Fin body; 22. Collecting pin; 23. Side plate;

[0039] 100. Buffer feeding equipment; 10. Buffer feeding device; 20. Picking robot; 30. Loading robot;

[0040] 200. Workbench; 300. Automatic film threading equipment.

[0041] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0043] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indications are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0044] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0045] The assembly of fins in air conditioner evaporators and condensers is gradually being automated, for example, through automatic fin threading. The prerequisite for automation is proper control of incoming materials, and these materials must have a certain buffer to allow for uninterrupted production. Current fin buffering technologies generally employ manual or robotic palletizing. Manual palletizing is extremely labor-intensive and inefficient; prolonged fatigue can damage the fins. Robotic palletizing is expensive and also carries the risk of fin damage.

[0046] The present invention proposes a buffer feeding device 10, which can realize the automated buffering and feeding of fins 20.

[0047] The following describes the structure of fin 20. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the fin 20 includes a fin body 21 and a collecting needle 22 passing through the fin body 21. The two ends of the collecting needle 22 extend from both sides of the fin body 21 along a second direction. The fin body 21 can be formed by stacking multiple fin units. Each fin unit has multiple through holes spaced apart along a first direction. The collecting needle 22 passes through one of these through holes, connecting multiple fin units together in series. The specific number of collecting needles 22 is not limited; it can be one, two, or more. The fin 20 also includes side plates 23 disposed on opposite sides of the fin body 21 along the second direction.

[0048] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3In one embodiment of the present invention, the buffer feeding device 10 includes a buffer feeding mechanism 11. The buffer feeding mechanism 11 includes two sets of lifting mechanisms 11a arranged opposite to each other, and a receiving space for accommodating the fin body 21 is formed between the two lifting mechanisms 11a. Each lifting mechanism 11a is provided with a plurality of material support stations 110 at intervals along its lifting direction. The material support stations 110 can be lifted and lowered along a third direction with the lifting mechanism 11a. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other. The two lifting mechanisms 11a respectively support the part of the collecting needle 22 that extends out of the fin body 21 through the material support station 110 to support the fin 20.

[0049] by Figure 1 Taking the perspective of the buffer feeding device 10 as an example, the first direction can be the left-right direction, the second direction can be the front-back direction, and the third direction can be the up-down direction.

[0050] The buffer feeding mechanism 11 includes two sets of lifting mechanisms 11a arranged opposite each other. The two lifting mechanisms 11a respectively support the portion of the collecting needle 22 extending from the fin body 21 via the material support station 110, thereby supporting the fin 20. For example, when there is one collecting needle 22, the two sets of lifting mechanisms 11a can respectively support both ends of the collecting needle 22 via the material support station 110, thereby supporting the fin 20. As another example, when there are at least two collecting needles 22, the two sets of lifting mechanisms 11a can respectively support both ends of at least two of the collecting needles 22 via the material support station 110, thereby providing more stable support for the fin 20.

[0051] The following explanation mainly uses the example of a fin body 21 with two collecting needles 22 as an example. Figure 4As shown, two collecting needles 22 are arranged side-by-side at intervals along a first direction, with their ends extending from both sides of the fin body 21 along a second direction. For example, two lifting mechanisms 11a can be arranged opposite each other and at intervals along the first direction, with the material-supporting station 110 of one lifting mechanism 11a supporting the ends of one collecting needle 22, and the material-supporting station 110 of the other lifting mechanism 11a supporting the ends of the other collecting needle 22. During stacking, a robot can pick up the fin 20 and place it between the two lifting mechanisms 11a. The material-supporting station 110 of one lifting mechanism 11a supports the ends of one collecting needle 22 of the fin 20, and the material-supporting station 110 of the other lifting mechanism 11a supports the ends of the other collecting needle 22 of the fin 20, thereby achieving stable support for the fin 20. For example, the two lifting mechanisms 11a can also be arranged opposite each other and spaced apart along the second direction. The material-supporting station 110 of one lifting mechanism 11a is used to simultaneously support the first ends of the two material-collecting needles 22, and the material-supporting station 110 of the other lifting mechanism 11a is used to simultaneously support the second ends of the two material-collecting needles 22. During stacking, the fin 20 can be picked up by a robot and placed between the two lifting mechanisms 11a. The material-supporting station 110 of one lifting mechanism 11a supports the first ends of the two material-collecting needles 22 of the fin 20 at the same time, and the material-supporting station 110 of the other lifting mechanism 11a supports the second ends of the two material-collecting needles 22 of the fin 20 at the same time, which can also achieve stable support for the fin 20.

[0052] The technical solution of this invention involves setting up a buffer feeding mechanism 11, which includes two sets of lifting mechanisms 11a arranged opposite each other. A receiving space for accommodating the fin body 21 is formed between the two lifting mechanisms 11a. Each lifting mechanism 11a has multiple material-supporting stations 110 along its lifting direction. The two lifting mechanisms 11a support the portion of the collecting needle 22 extending from the fin body 21 through the material-supporting stations 110, thereby supporting the fin 20. Thus, during stacking, the uppermost material-supporting station 110 of the two lifting mechanisms 11a first supports the fin 20, and then the material-supporting stations 110 carrying the fin 20 descend layer by layer. In this way, multiple layers of fins 20 can be stacked from top to bottom, achieving buffering of the fins 20. Because there is a certain interval between the upper and lower material-supporting stations 110, there is a certain gap between the upper and lower layers of fins 20, preventing them from colliding or rubbing against each other, thereby effectively reducing the risk of damaging the fins 20. After the fins 20 are stacked, the two lifting mechanisms 11a can also lift the fins 20 layer by layer to achieve fin feeding. The technical solution of the present invention can realize the buffering and feeding of fins 20, and can solve the problem of fin damage during stacking.

[0053] like Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, in one embodiment, the two lifting mechanisms 11a are arranged opposite to each other along the first direction. Each lifting mechanism 11a includes a first lifting component 111 and a second lifting component 112 arranged opposite to each other along the second direction. The first lifting component 111 is provided with a plurality of first material support members 110a at intervals along the third direction, and the second lifting component 112 is provided with a plurality of second material support members 110b at intervals along the third direction. The first material support members 110a and the second material support members 110b are arranged one-to-one in the second direction. The first material support member 110a is used to support the first end of the material collecting needle 22, and the second material support member 110b is used to support the second end of the material collecting needle 22. The first material support members 110a and the second material support members 110b located at the same height and corresponding to each other form a material support station 110.

[0054] In this embodiment, each lifting mechanism 11a includes a first lifting component 111 and a second lifting component 112 arranged opposite to each other. When buffering or feeding the fin 20, the first lifting component 111 can support the first end of the collecting needle 22 through the first material support member 110a, and the second lifting component 112 can support the second end of the collecting needle 22 through the second material support member 110b. Taking two collecting needles 22 arranged side by side along the first direction as an example, the first material support member 110a and the second material support member 110b of one lifting mechanism 11a respectively support the first end and the second end of one collecting needle 22 of the fin 20, and the first material support member 110a and the second material support member 110b of the other lifting mechanism 11a respectively support the first end and the second end of the other collecting needle 22 of the fin 20. In this way, both ends of each collecting needle 22 can be supported, thereby achieving stable support for the fin 20. The first material support 110a can rise and fall with the first lifting assembly 111, and the second material support 110b can rise and fall with the second lifting assembly 112, thereby realizing the layer-by-layer descent buffering or layer-by-layer upward feeding of the fins 20. It is understood that, to ensure the stability of buffering and feeding, the lifting speeds of the first material support 110a and the second material support 110b at the same height are consistent. The first lifting assembly 111 and the second lifting assembly 112 can be driven by independent drive assemblies 114, or they can be driven by the same set of drive assemblies 114, as long as the first lifting assembly 111 and the second lifting assembly 112 can move synchronously during buffering or feeding. Furthermore, the first material support 110a and / or the second material support 110b may have shapes including, but not limited to, hook-shaped or flat-shaped, as long as they can support the collecting needle 22.

[0055] In order to better ensure the consistency of movement of the first lifting assembly 111 and the second lifting assembly 112, such as Figure 3 As shown, in one embodiment, the lifting mechanism 11a further includes a transmission component 113 and a drive component 114. The transmission component 113 drives the first lifting component 111 and the second lifting component 112. The drive component 114 drives the transmission component 113. The drive component 114 drives the transmission component 113 to move, thereby causing the first lifting component 111 and the second lifting component 112 to lift synchronously.

[0056] In this embodiment, the drive assembly 114 drives the transmission assembly 113 to move, thereby causing the first lifting assembly 111 and the second lifting assembly 112 to rise and fall synchronously. This better ensures the consistency of movement of the first lifting assembly 111 and the second lifting assembly 112, so that the lifting speed of the first material support 110a and the second material support 110b at the same height is consistent, thus ensuring the stability of buffering and feeding. Furthermore, the first lifting assembly 111 and the second lifting assembly 112 share a single drive assembly 114, which also reduces costs and the space occupied by the entire device. The first lifting assembly 111 and / or the second lifting assembly 112 include, but are not limited to, using a sprocket lifting structure, a synchronous belt lifting structure, a linear slide lifting structure, etc.

[0057] Please combine Figure 1 and Figure 3 In one embodiment, the buffer feeding device 10 further includes a frame 12, and the transmission assembly 113 includes a transmission shaft 1131 rotatably mounted on the frame 12; the first lifting assembly 111 includes a first transmission wheel 1111 and a first driven wheel 1112 arranged opposite to each other along a third direction, and a first transmission member 1113 surrounding the first transmission wheel 1111 and the first driven wheel 1112, and a plurality of first material support members 110a are spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface of the first transmission member 1113; the second lifting assembly 112 includes a second transmission shaft 1131 arranged opposite to each other along the third direction. The machine includes a driving wheel 1121 and a driven wheel 1122, and a second transmission member 1123 surrounding the second driving wheel 1121 and the second driven wheel 1122. A plurality of second material support members 110b are spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface of the second transmission member 1123. The two ends of the transmission shaft 1131 are respectively connected to the first transmission wheel 1111 and the second transmission wheel 1121. The first driven wheel 1112 and the second driven wheel 1122 are rotatably mounted on the frame 12. The drive assembly 114 is drivenly connected to the transmission shaft 1131 to drive the transmission shaft 1131 to rotate.

[0058] In this embodiment, the drive assembly 114 drives the drive shaft 1131 to rotate, which in turn drives the first drive wheel 1111 and the second drive wheel 1121 at both ends of the drive shaft 1131 to rotate. This, in turn, drives the first driven wheel 1112 and the second driven wheel 1122 to rotate via the first drive member 1113 and the second drive member 1123, respectively. Thus, the first lifting assembly 111 and the second lifting assembly 112 can move synchronously. The first drive member 1113 and / or the second drive member 1123 may include, but are not limited to, drive chains or timing belts. For example, when the first drive member 1113 uses a drive chain, the first drive wheel 1111 and the first driven wheel 1112 may be sprockets. When the first drive member 1113 uses a timing belt, the first drive wheel 1111 and the second drive wheel 1121 may be timing pulleys. Optionally, both the first drive member 1113 and the second drive member 1123 may use drive chains, resulting in higher structural strength and less slippage with the sprockets during rotation, thus improving stability.

[0059] The first transmission member 1113 is arranged in a ring shape, and multiple first material support members 110a are spaced apart along its circumference. By rotating the first transmission member 1113 in both directions, the first material support members 110a can be raised and lowered. The second transmission member 1123 is arranged in a ring shape, and multiple second material support members 110b are spaced apart along its circumference. By rotating the second transmission member 1123 in both directions, the second material support members 110b can be raised and lowered.

[0060] For example, during palletizing, the drive assembly 114 drives the transmission shaft 1131 to rotate forward, thereby causing the first transmission component 1113 and the second transmission component 1123 to move synchronously, so that the corresponding first material support component 110a and the second material support component 110b can descend synchronously layer by layer to achieve buffering of the fins 20. When feeding is required, the drive assembly 114 drives the transmission shaft 1131 to rotate in reverse, thereby causing the first transmission component 1113 and the second transmission component 1123 to move synchronously, so that the corresponding first material support component 110a and the second material support component 110b can rise synchronously layer by layer to achieve feeding of the fins 20.

[0061] Optionally, such as Figure 3As shown, the transmission assembly 113 also includes a first mounted bearing 1132 for supporting the transmission shaft 1131. The first mounted bearing 1132 is fixed to the frame 12, and the transmission shaft 1131 is engaged with the inner ring of the first mounted bearing 1132 to ensure the rotational stability of the transmission shaft 1131. Optionally, at least two first mounted bearings 1132 are spaced apart along the axial direction of the transmission shaft 1131 to further ensure stable support for the transmission shaft 1131. The first driven wheel 1112 and the second driven wheel 1122 can be mounted on the frame 12 respectively via second mounted bearings 115. Optionally, the frame 12 is also provided with a bearing support 116 for supporting the second mounted bearings 115.

[0062] Optionally, such as Figure 3 As shown, the drive assembly 114 includes a drive element 1141 and a coupling 1142. The output shaft of the drive element 1141 is connected to the transmission shaft 1131 via the coupling 1142, thus enabling the drive element 1141 to drive the transmission shaft 1131 to rotate. The drive element 1141 can specifically be a drive motor, including but not limited to servo motors and stepper motors. Optionally, the drive element 1141 can be a servo geared motor, which can achieve high precision, high transmission efficiency, and high torque output.

[0063] It is understandable that the collecting needle 22 is generally cylindrical and prone to rolling on a flat surface. To improve the support stability of the collecting needle 22, in one embodiment, the first material support member 110a and the second material support member 110b are hook-shaped. For example, the first material support member 110a and the second material support member 110b can be configured as a U-shaped hook structure, and the collecting needle 22 can be accommodated in the groove of the U-shaped hook. The radial movement of the collecting needle 22 can be limited by the sidewalls on both sides of the groove, thereby improving the support stability of the collecting needle 22 and thus improving the overall support stability of the fin 20.

[0064] In order to ensure that sufficient gaps are left between the fins 20, in one embodiment, the first material support 110a can be adjusted in installation position relative to the first lifting assembly 111 along the third direction; the second material support 110b can be adjusted in installation position relative to the second lifting assembly 112 along the third direction.

[0065] Based on the above embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the buffer feeding device 10 further includes a frame 12, the frame 12 is provided with a storage bin 121, the storage bin 121 has an opening through the top surface of the frame 12, the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is housed in the storage bin 121, and the top of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is exposed to the storage bin 121 through the opening.

[0066] In this embodiment, the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is located within the storage bin 121 of the frame 12, which fully utilizes the internal space of the frame 12 and provides some protection for the buffered fins 20. The top of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is exposed to the storage bin 121 through an opening, allowing for easy placement of the fins 20 by manual labor or robots on the top layer of the buffer feeding mechanism 11, and also facilitating easy removal of the fins 20 from the top layer by manual labor or robots. Specifically, the frame 12 may include a top plate and a bottom plate arranged opposite to each other and spaced apart, and multiple columns supported between the top plate and the bottom plate. The storage bin 121 is formed between the top plate and the bottom plate, and the top surface of the top plate has an opening communicating with the storage bin 121. The buffer feeding mechanism 11 can be fixed to the bottom plate of the frame 12.

[0067] The number of storage bins 121 can be set according to actual needs, and can be one, two or more. Accordingly, each storage bin 121 is equipped with a buffer feeding mechanism 11.

[0068] Optionally, the frame 12 is provided with two storage bins 121, each of which is equipped with a buffer feeding mechanism 11. The two storage bins 121 can be used to buffer fins 20 in two different postures respectively. For example, the difference between the two different postures of fins 20 is that one is upright and the other is reversed, and the collecting needles 22 on them have a relative distance of 10.5mm.

[0069] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the storage bin 121 is provided with first limiting members 13 on both sides of the fin body 21 along the second direction. The first limiting members 13 extend along the third direction and are used to limit the fin body 21.

[0070] In this embodiment, after the fins 20 are stacked in place, the fin body 21 is located between two first limiting members 13 that are opposite each other along the second direction. The two first limiting members 13 limit the fin body 21, so that the position of each layer of fins 20 will not be significantly misaligned after stacking, which is beneficial to the subsequent material handling operation. The first limiting member 13 can be a limiting bar, limiting plate, or other structure that extends along the third direction.

[0071] Fin expansion height is the average length of the heat transfer tubes between the two end plates of a tube-plate heat exchanger. Fins 20 with different heat exchange efficiencies have different fin expansion heights. To accommodate fins 20 with different expansion heights, in one embodiment, the distance between the two opposing first limiting members 13 along the second direction is adjustable. For example, at least one of the two opposing first limiting members 13 along the second direction can move back and forth relative to the frame 12 in the second direction, so that sufficient space is reserved between the two first limiting members 13 to accommodate the fin body 21.

[0072] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the fin body 21 is provided with at least two first limiting members 13 on the same side of the second direction. The buffer feeding device 10 further includes a first detection element 14 disposed on the frame 12. The first detection element 14 is located between two adjacent first limiting members 13 on the same side of the fin body 21. The first detection element 14 is used to detect the position of the two first limiting members 13.

[0073] In this embodiment, at least two first limiting members 13 are provided on the same side of the fin body 21 in the second direction. By limiting the same side of the fin body 21 with at least two first limiting members 13, it can be ensured that the sides of the fin body 21 are flush and will not tilt significantly. Furthermore, by using a first detection element 14 to detect the position of the first limiting members 13 on both sides, it can be ensured that the first limiting members 13 are in the correct installation position. The first detection element 14 includes, but is not limited to, using infrared detection, fiber optic detection, or ultrasonic detection to check whether the first limiting members 13 are in the correct position. For example, the first detection element 14 can use a detection fiber to realize position detection.

[0074] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the storage bin 121 is provided with second limiting members 15 at both ends corresponding to the collecting needle 22. The second limiting members 15 extend along the third direction and are used to limit the collecting needle 22.

[0075] In this embodiment, after the fins 20 are stacked in place, both ends of each collecting needle 22 are limited by the second limiting member 15, so that the position of each layer of fins 20 after stacking will not be significantly misaligned, which is beneficial to the subsequent material handling operation. The second limiting member 15 can be a limiting rod, limiting plate, or other structure extending in a third direction. Optionally, the side of the second limiting member 15 facing the collecting needle 22 has a limiting groove, and the end of the collecting needle 22 can be accommodated in the limiting groove. Specifically, the limiting groove can be a U-shaped groove open towards the collecting needle 22. The bottom wall of the limiting groove can limit the axial movement of the collecting needle 22, and the side walls of the limiting groove can limit the radial movement of the collecting needle 22.

[0076] Optionally, the storage bin 121 is provided with first limiting members 13 on both sides of the fin body 21 along the second direction. The first limiting members 13 extend along the third direction and are used to limit the fin body 21. The storage bin 121 is provided with second limiting members 15 on both ends of the collecting needle 22. The second limiting members 15 extend along the third direction and are used to limit the collecting needle 22. In this way, by limiting the fin body 21 and the collecting needle 22 with the first limiting members 13 and the second limiting members 15 respectively, the stacking posture of the fins 20 is more accurate, which can better ensure that the position of the fins 20 does not shift significantly, which is beneficial to the subsequent material handling operation.

[0077] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the buffer feeding device 10 further includes a second detection element 16 disposed on the top of the frame 12, the second detection element 16 being used to detect whether the uppermost layer of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is loaded with fins 20; and / or, the buffer feeding device 10 further includes a third detection element 17 disposed on the bottom of the frame 12, the third detection element 17 being used to detect whether the lowermost layer of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is loaded with fins 20.

[0078] In this embodiment, the material storage status of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 can be detected by the second detection element 16 and / or the third detection element 17. The second detection element 16 can detect whether the uppermost layer of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is loaded with fins 20; the third detection element 17 can detect whether the lowermost layer of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is loaded with fins 20. The second detection element 16 and / or the third detection element 17 include, but are not limited to, photoelectric detection, ultrasonic detection, etc., for material detection. For example, the second detection element 16 and / or the third detection element 17 may include through-beam photoelectric sensors placed on both sides of the buffer feeding mechanism 11. For example, when the uppermost layer of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is loaded with fins 20, the fins 20 block the transmission path between the two through-beam photoelectric sensors, and the second detection element 16 outputs a first signal indicating that fins 20 are loaded; when the upper layer of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is empty, the transmission path between the two through-beam photoelectric sensors is open, and the second detection element 16 outputs a second signal indicating that fins 20 are not loaded. For example, if the third detection element 17 detects that the bottom layer of the buffer feeding mechanism 11 is loaded with fins 20, it indicates that the buffer feeding mechanism 11 has reached its maximum storage capacity and will no longer continue to buffer.

[0079] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the frame 12 is provided with a fin temporary storage station 122, which is equipped with a pre-positioning component. The pre-positioning component is used to pre-position the fins 20 to adjust them to a posture suitable for the picking robot 20 to grasp. For example, the fins 20 after the side plate 23 has been installed can be moved to the fin temporary storage station 122 manually or by a robot. The pre-positioning component pre-positions the posture of the fins 20 to ensure that their position does not deviate significantly. This facilitates the subsequent picking robot 20 to grasp the fins 20 at the fin temporary storage station 122 and move them to the buffer feeding mechanism 11 for buffering, which is conducive to automatic feeding and further improves production efficiency.

[0080] Optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the pre-positioning component includes a first pre-positioning element 123 and a second pre-positioning element 124. The first pre-positioning element 123 is used to pre-position one side of the fin body 21, and the second pre-positioning element 124 is used to pre-position one end of the collecting needle 22.

[0081] In this embodiment, when the fin 20 is transferred to the fin temporary storage station 122, one side of the fin body 21 along the first direction abuts against the first pre-positioning member 123, and the same end of the two collecting needles 22 abuts against the second pre-positioning member 124, thereby enabling the fin 20 to be held in a posture suitable for the grasping robot 20. The first pre-positioning member 123 can be one or more. For example, the first pre-positioning member 123 can be an elongated strip extending along the second direction, or at least two first pre-positioning members 123 can be spaced apart along the second direction. The second pre-positioning member 124 can be one or more. For example, the second pre-positioning member 124 can be an elongated strip extending along the first direction, with the ends of the two collecting needles 22 simultaneously abutting against the second pre-positioning member 124. Alternatively, two second pre-positioning members 124 can be spaced apart along the first direction, with the end of each collecting needle 22 abutting against one second pre-positioning member 124.

[0082] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 5 The present invention also proposes a buffer feeding device 100, which includes a buffer feeding unit 10, a picking robot 20, and a loading robot 30. The buffer feeding unit 10 has a fin temporary storage station 122; the picking robot 20 is used to pick up the fins 20 on the fin temporary storage station 122 and transfer them to the buffer feeding mechanism 11 for buffering; the loading robot 30 is used to pick up the fins 20 from the buffer feeding mechanism 11 and transfer them to an automatic fin threading device 300. The specific structure of the buffer feeding unit 10 is as described in the above embodiments. Since the buffer feeding device 100 adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0083] In this embodiment, the buffer feeding device 100 can be positioned between the workbench 200 and the automatic lamination device 300. The picking robot 20 and the loading robot 30 can be gantry robots positioned above the buffer feeding device 10. Manual assembly of the side plates 23 is performed on the workbench 200, and then the assembled fins 20 are transported to the fin temporary storage station 122 of the buffer feeding device 10. The picking robot 20 picks up the fins 20 from the fin temporary storage station 122 and transfers them to the buffer feeding mechanism 11 for stacking and buffering. When feeding is required, the buffer feeding mechanism 11 lifts the fins 20 layer by layer upwards, and the loading robot 30 picks up the topmost fins 20 from the buffer feeding mechanism 11 and transfers them to the automatic lamination device 300 for automatic lamination. This achieves a series of processes including automatic buffering, feeding, and automatic lamination of the fins 20, effectively improving production efficiency.

[0084] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A buffer feeding device for buffering and feeding fins, the fins comprising a fin body and a collecting pin passing through the fin body, the two ends of the collecting pin extending out from both sides of the fin body along a second direction, characterized in that, The buffer feeding device includes: The buffer feeding mechanism includes two sets of lifting mechanisms arranged opposite to each other, and a receiving space for accommodating the fin body is formed between the two lifting mechanisms. Each lifting mechanism is provided with multiple material support stations at intervals along its lifting direction. The material support stations can be lifted and lowered along a third direction with the lifting mechanism. The second direction and the third direction intersect. The two lifting mechanisms respectively support the part of the collecting needle that extends out of the fin body through the material support station, so as to support the fin; The buffer feeding device further includes a frame, the frame is provided with a storage bin, the storage bin has an opening that penetrates the top surface of the frame, the buffer feeding mechanism is housed in the storage bin, and the top of the buffer feeding mechanism is exposed to the storage bin through the opening; The storage bin is provided with second limiting members at both ends of the collecting needle. The second limiting members extend along the third direction and are used to limit the collecting needle. The second limiting member has a limiting groove on the side facing the collecting needle, and the end of the collecting needle can be accommodated in the limiting groove.

2. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The two lifting mechanisms are arranged opposite each other along a first direction, and each lifting mechanism includes a first lifting component and a second lifting component arranged opposite each other along a second direction; The first lifting assembly is provided with a plurality of first material support members spaced apart along the third direction, and the second lifting assembly is provided with a plurality of second material support members spaced apart along the third direction. The first material support members and the second material support members are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence along the second direction. The first material support members are used to support the first end of the collecting needle, and the second material support members are used to support the second end of the collecting needle. The first material support members and the second material support members located at the same height and corresponding to each other are combined to form a material support station. The first direction, the second direction and the third direction intersect each other.

3. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The lifting mechanism further includes a transmission component and a drive component. The transmission component drives the first lifting component and the second lifting component, and the drive component drives the transmission component. The drive component drives the transmission component to move, thereby causing the first lifting component and the second lifting component to lift synchronously.

4. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The buffer feeding device further includes a frame, and the transmission assembly includes a drive shaft rotatably mounted on the frame; The first lifting assembly includes a first drive wheel and a first driven wheel arranged opposite to each other along a third direction, and a first transmission member surrounding the first drive wheel and the first driven wheel, with a plurality of first material support members spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface of the first transmission member; The second lifting assembly includes a second drive wheel and a second driven wheel arranged opposite to each other along the third direction, and a second transmission member surrounding the second drive wheel and the second driven wheel, with a plurality of second material support members spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface of the second transmission member; The first drive wheel and the second drive wheel are respectively connected to the two ends of the drive shaft. The first driven wheel and the second driven wheel are rotatably mounted on the frame. The drive assembly is driven to the drive shaft to drive the drive shaft to rotate.

5. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first and second material support components are hook-shaped; And / or, the first material support component can be adjusted in installation position relative to the first lifting assembly along the third direction; the second material support component can be adjusted in installation position relative to the second lifting assembly along the third direction.

6. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The storage bin is provided with first limiting members on both sides of the fin body along the second direction. The first limiting members extend along the third direction and are used to limit the fin body.

7. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The spacing between the two first limiting members that are opposite each other along the second direction is adjustable.

8. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The fin body is provided with at least two first limiting members on the same side in the second direction. The buffer feeding device further includes a first detection element disposed on the frame. The first detection element is located between two adjacent first limiting members on the same side of the fin body. The first detection element is used to detect the position of the two first limiting members.

9. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The buffer feeding device further includes a second detection element located at the top of the frame, the second detection element being used to detect whether the uppermost layer of the buffer feeding mechanism is loaded with fins; And / or, the buffer feeding device further includes a third detection element located at the bottom of the frame, the third detection element being used to detect whether the lowest layer of the buffer feeding mechanism is loaded with fins.

10. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The frame is provided with a fin temporary storage station, and the fin temporary storage station is provided with a pre-positioning component. The pre-positioning component is used to pre-position the fins so as to adjust the fins to a posture suitable for the picking robot to grasp.

11. The buffer feeding device as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The pre-positioning component includes a first pre-positioning element and a second pre-positioning element. The first pre-positioning element is used to pre-position one side of the fin body, and the second pre-positioning element is used to pre-position one end of the collecting needle.

12. A buffer feeding device, characterized in that, include: The buffer feeding device as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the buffer feeding device has a fin temporary storage station; A material handling robot is used to pick up the fins on the fin temporary storage station and transfer them to the buffer feeding mechanism for buffering. as well as A feeding robot is used to pick up the fins from the buffer feeding mechanism and transfer them to the automatic fin threading equipment.

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