Fork carriage inter-battery caching device and control method

Abstract

This invention discloses a fork carriage inter-sequence buffering device and control method. The device includes segmented conveyor rollers for conveying the fork carriages; a flipping mechanism for flipping the fork carriages to facilitate subsequent gripping; a truss mechanism with a movable clamp assembly for gripping and placing the fork carriages; and a circular buffer line for placing the fork carriages, with a detection sensor on the circular buffer line to determine the presence of the fork carriages. The segmented conveyor rollers include several connected rollers, each including a first frame with several sprocket rollers at its upper end. Each sprocket roller has supporting side plates at both ends and is driven by a conveyor motor. The rollers at the end of the conveyor also include a longitudinal alignment mechanism, a power system, a lateral alignment mechanism, and a positioning sensor. The longitudinal and lateral alignment mechanisms control the alignment of the fork carriages. This invention ensures that welded fork carriages can be quickly removed from the production line and buffered in large quantities without manual intervention.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of forklift technology, and more particularly to a fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device and control method. Background Technology

[0002] The manufacturing process of forklift fork carriages involves assembly and welding followed by painting. There are many types of fork carriages, and the welding process uses a small-batch production model, where a certain number of units of a single model are produced before switching to another model to improve welding efficiency. The subsequent painting process, however, is carried out according to order sequence. This discrepancy between welding and painting production plans results in significant backlogs after welding is completed.

[0003] The current buffering method involves accumulating the parts on a roller conveyor. However, due to the large length of the fork carriages and the limited number of buffers on the roller conveyor, when the capacity is exceeded, manual hoisting is used to place them in the buffer area. Because of the fork carriage structure, these parts need to be stacked for storage. Manual hoisting and subsequent part retrieval are time-consuming and labor-intensive, significantly impacting production efficiency. Therefore, finding a method for rapid, automated buffering and quick part retrieval in the subsequent painting process is urgently needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Based on the technical problems existing in the background art, the present invention proposes a fork carriage inter-sequence buffering device and control method to ensure that the welded fork carriages can be quickly taken off the production line and buffered in large quantities without manual intervention.

[0005] The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device proposed in this invention includes:

[0006] Segmented conveyor roller conveyors are used for conveying fork carriages;

[0007] A flipping mechanism is used to flip the fork carriage to facilitate subsequent gripping.

[0008] The truss mechanism is equipped with a movable clamp assembly for gripping and placing the fork carriage.

[0009] A ring-shaped buffer line is used for placing the fork carriage. A detection sensor is installed on the ring-shaped buffer line to determine whether the fork carriage is present.

[0010] Preferably, the segmented conveyor roller conveyor includes several connected roller conveyors. Each roller conveyor includes a first frame, and several sprocket rollers are provided at the upper end of the first frame. Support side plates are provided at both ends of each sprocket roller. The sprocket rollers are driven by a conveyor motor. The roller conveyor at the end is also provided with a longitudinal centering mechanism, a power system, a lateral centering mechanism, and a positioning sensor. The longitudinal centering mechanism and the lateral centering mechanism are used to control the centering of the fork carriage.

[0011] Preferably, the flipping mechanism includes a flipping mechanism frame, on which a bracket and a clamping arm are provided to cooperate with each other. The bracket is driven to rotate by a bracket flipping power unit, and the clamping arm is driven to rotate by a clamping arm flipping power unit. Both the bracket flipping power unit and the clamping arm flipping power unit are provided on the flipping mechanism frame. The flipping mechanism frame is also provided with a clamping arm lifting power unit for driving the clamping arm displacement.

[0012] Preferably, the truss mechanism includes a main beam, a column is provided at the lower end of the main beam, and a crossbeam that can be displaced on the main beam is provided at the upper end of the main beam. The crossbeam is provided with a counterweight and a lubrication system.

[0013] Preferably, the clamp assembly includes a fixed plate, a mounting plate is provided at the lower end of the fixed plate, a plurality of springs are provided between the fixed plate and the mounting plate, a fixed claw and a gripper that cooperate with each other are provided at the lower end of the mounting plate, and a drive cylinder for driving the gripper to move is also provided on the mounting plate.

[0014] Preferably, the annular buffer line includes a second frame and a power unit. A ground drag chain assembly is provided on the upper end of the second frame. Several evenly distributed guide posts are provided on the upper end of the ground drag chain assembly. The power unit drives the ground drag chain assembly to move through a tooth-shifting mechanism. The ground drag chain assembly is also provided with a positioning mechanism and several evenly distributed trolley groups.

[0015] Preferably, the power unit includes a drive base, on which a motor and a gearbox are mounted. The motor is connected to the gearbox via a belt assembly, and a tensioning wheel mechanism is also provided at the lower end of the belt assembly.

[0016] Preferably, the tooth-shifting mechanism includes a U-shaped groove frame, with a plurality of tooth-shifting chains at the lower end of the U-shaped groove frame. The tooth-shifting chains are driven by a driven sprocket, and a clutch and a clamping mechanism are provided on one side of the driven sprocket.

[0017] Preferably, the trolley assembly includes a trolley base plate, the upper end of which is provided with a positioning limit plate and a traction plate, and the lower end of which is provided with omnidirectional ball wheels.

[0018] Preferably, the positioning mechanism includes a positioning mechanism base, and a clamping assembly is provided on the upper end of the positioning mechanism base. The clamping assembly is slidably connected to the positioning mechanism base through a lifting slide rail slider and a lifting cylinder. The clamping assembly includes a fixing rod and a clamping rod, and the clamping rod is driven to move by the clamping cylinder.

[0019] The control method for the above-mentioned fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device proposed in this invention comprises the following steps:

[0020] S1: The fork carriage welding process is completed and placed on the segmented conveyor roller conveyor;

[0021] S2: The roller conveyor positions the fork carriage and then adjusts its lateral position according to the workpiece information transmitted from the previous process to ensure that the flipping station is centered.

[0022] S3: The flipping mechanism moves the fork carriage to a vertical position, waiting for the gantry mechanism to grab it;

[0023] S4: The truss mechanism moves to a fixed position above the flipping mechanism, then descends to grab the object. Once the grab is complete, it moves to the placement position.

[0024] S5: The ring buffer line starts rotating and stops when the placement position is empty. The gantry mechanism extends down to place the fork carriage on the empty car and binds the trolley and mast information.

[0025] S6: The operator manually switches the system to the pickup mode, selects the product type, and the circular buffer line automatically rotates to transport the fork carriage to the pickup position. The operator then manually lifts the fork carriage away, clears the trolley position information, and manually switches back to automatic mode. The line resumes operation and continues to buffer the fork carriage.

[0026] Beneficial technical effects of the present invention:

[0027] 1. The longitudinal positioning of the segmented conveyor roller conveyor fork carriage of this invention adopts a two-stage positioning design. The first positioning step does not use a positioning sensor; it is executed but not detected. The second positioning step involves simultaneous sensor detection to determine positioning status, reducing the frequency of system positioning alarms and effectively improving the positioning accuracy. The lateral positioning at the tail end uses an electric cylinder to improve positioning accuracy. The system automatically calculates the pushing distance based on the fork carriage model and extends accordingly to ensure lateral centering of the fork carriage, guaranteeing the stability of subsequent gripping. This ensures the stable operation of the entire buffer device and reduces the frequency of equipment alarms and manual repairs.

[0028] 2. The overall layout of the circular line of the present invention is compact. It adopts a flipping mechanism to reposition the fork carriage, making use of the space in height to reduce the buffer area, and the buffer capacity is increased by 3 times for the same area.

[0029] 3. The gantry gripper of this invention is equipped with a proximity switch. When the gantry grips the fork carriage, it first descends at full speed to a certain point, and then descends slowly. The spring on the gripper is compressed, triggering the proximity switch. The system confirms the position and begins gripping. This enables the system to be compatible with fork carriages of various heights, and also ensures the production of new products on the same line.

[0030] 4. The system of this invention can switch between two modes: buffering and picking. The mode can only be switched when the system is idle, ensuring the safe operation of the entire system. In buffering mode, the system automatically places the forklifts into empty positions on the buffer line. In picking mode, the system can also deliver the required type of forklift to a designated position. This eliminates the searching process, reduces the labor intensity of picking materials, and improves system operating efficiency.

[0031] 5. The ring-shaped drive system of the present invention adopts a belt drive form and is equipped with a tensioning pulley. The motor can be a common stepper motor, which can meet the equipment requirements and reduce the equipment manufacturing cost.

[0032] 6. The drive and buffer lines of the present invention are connected by a tooth-shifting mechanism. The tooth-shifting mechanism is equipped with a clutch, which is spring-pressed. When the system load is greater than the set value, the spring pressing force is insufficient to drive the clutch to run synchronously. The clutch slips, and the loop line stops running, ensuring operational safety and providing system overload protection.

[0033] 7. The floor chain of this invention adopts a cross-shaped structure design, with rollers in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. This ensures that the floor chain rotates within the U-shaped groove. The rolling friction between the rollers and the groove arms reduces friction and improves the stability of equipment operation. The floor chain is equipped with guide posts, which drive the trolley to rotate accordingly. The guide posts and the trolley are connected via external hexagonal shaft holes, and the Z-direction is not locked, eliminating equipment wear caused by vertical movement during operation, improving equipment stability, and resulting in good performance.

[0034] 8. The trolley of this invention adopts an asymmetrical design, with the outer universal ball wheel track being larger than the inner wheel track, ensuring smooth rotation. Replaceable wear-resistant strips are installed on the surface of the circular line to improve the equipment life and ensure equipment stability. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device proposed in this invention;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the segmented conveyor roller conveyor proposed in this invention;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the flipping mechanism proposed in this invention;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the truss mechanism proposed in this invention;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fixture assembly proposed in this invention;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the ring-shaped buffer line proposed in this invention;

[0041] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the power unit structure proposed in this invention;

[0042] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the tooth-shifting mechanism proposed in this invention;

[0043] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ground drag chain assembly proposed in this invention;

[0044] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the trolley assembly proposed in this invention;

[0045] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning mechanism proposed in this invention;

[0046] Figure 12 This is a flowchart of the control method for the fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device proposed in this invention.

[0047] In the diagram: 1-Segmented conveyor roller, 11-First frame, 12-Sprocket roller, 13-Support side plate, 14-Longitudinal centering mechanism, 15-Power system, 16-Transverse centering mechanism, 17-Position sensor, 2-Tilting mechanism, 21-Bracket, 22-Clamping arm, 23-Tilting mechanism frame, 24-Bracket tilting power unit, 25-Clamping arm lifting power unit, 26-Clamping arm tilting power unit, 3-Truss mechanism, 31-Column, 32-Main beam, 33-Crossbeam, 34-Counterweight, 35-Lubrication system, 4-Clamping assembly, 41-Fixing plate, 42-Spring, 43-Cylinder, 44-Fixing claw, 45-Clamping claw, 5-Annular buffer line, 51-Second Frame, 52-Power unit, 521-Drive base, 522-Motor, 523-Reduction gearbox, 524-Tensioning wheel mechanism, 525-Belt assembly, 53-Toggle mechanism, 531-Driven sprocket, 532-Clutch, 533-Pressure mechanism, 534-Toggle chain, 535-U-groove frame, 54-Ground drag chain assembly, 541-Guide column, 55-Trolley assembly, 551-Trolley base plate, 552-Placement limit plate, 553-Universal ball wheel, 554-Traction plate, 56-Positioning mechanism, 561-Positioning mechanism base, 562-Lifting cylinder, 563-Lifting slide rail slider, 564-Fixing rod, 565-Clamping rod, 566-Clamping cylinder. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The present invention will be further explained below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0049] Example 1

[0050] Reference Figure 1The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device proposed in this invention includes: a segmented conveyor roller conveyor 1 for conveying the fork carriage; a flipping mechanism 2 for flipping the fork carriage to facilitate subsequent gripping; a truss mechanism 3 with a movable clamp assembly 4 for gripping and placing the fork carriage; and an annular buffer line 5 for placing the fork carriage, wherein a detection sensor is provided on the annular buffer line 5 to determine whether a fork carriage is present.

[0051] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 2 The segmented conveyor roller 1 includes several connected rollers. The rollers include a first frame 11. Several sprocket rollers 12 are provided on the upper end of the first frame 11. Support side plates 13 are provided at both ends of the sprocket rollers 12. The sprocket rollers 12 are driven by a conveyor motor. The roller at the end is also provided with a longitudinal centering mechanism 14, a power system 15, a transverse centering mechanism 16 and a positioning sensor 17. The longitudinal centering mechanism 14 and the transverse centering mechanism 16 are used to control the centering of the fork carriage.

[0052] In this embodiment, the segmented conveyor roller conveyor is divided into 5 segments, each with its own motor, and each segment can buffer one fork carriage. After the previous fork carriage is gripped, the positioning sensor 17 detects that the fifth roller conveyor segment is empty. The tilting mechanism bracket tilts and descends, falling into the notch set in the support side plate 13. The power system 15 and the front-end power system are activated, and the fork carriage on the fourth segment is conveyed to the fifth segment. The longitudinal alignment mechanism 14 works, making the fork carriage side plate parallel to the top plate of the transverse alignment mechanism. According to the workpiece information transmitted from the previous stage, the transverse alignment mechanism lifts the corresponding distance to ensure the transverse alignment of the fork carriage. The transverse alignment mechanism is driven by an electric cylinder to ensure alignment accuracy. The transverse alignment mechanism is equipped with dual sensors. When both sensors detect the fork carriage, the system confirms that the fifth roller conveyor operation is complete and waits for the next action. When either of the dual sensors fails to detect the fork carriage, the system alarms, and the fork carriage is manually aligned and the system is repaired. The first four sections of the roller conveyor operate on similar principles. The fourth section of the roller conveyor is also equipped with a longitudinal alignment mechanism, but without sensors. The system does not evaluate the longitudinal alignment effect, thus avoiding a large number of system alarms caused by the excessively high longitudinal alignment failure rate of the fifth roller conveyor, which would affect the production line efficiency.

[0053] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 3 The flipping mechanism 2 includes a flipping mechanism frame 23, on which a bracket 21 and a clamping arm 22 are provided to cooperate with each other. The bracket 21 is driven to rotate by a bracket flipping power unit 24, and the clamping arm 22 is driven to rotate by a clamping arm flipping power unit 26. Both the bracket flipping power unit 24 and the clamping arm flipping power unit 26 are provided on the flipping mechanism frame 23. The flipping mechanism frame 23 is also provided with a clamping arm lifting power unit 25 for driving the clamping arm 22 to move.

[0054] The power unit consists of a motor and a gearbox. After the fifth roller conveyor fork carriage is in position, the clamp arm tilting power unit 26 starts, tilting the clamp arm to a horizontal position. Then, the bracket tilting power unit 24 and the clamp arm tilting power unit 26 simultaneously reverse, tilting the fork body to a vertical position, waiting for the gantry mechanism 3 to grab it. After the gantry mechanism 3 has grabbed the fork carriage, the clamp arm lifting power unit 25 starts, lowering the clamp arm through the gear and rack assembly, reducing the gantry mechanism's grabbing and upward movement time and improving the cycle time of the grabbing and placement process. The rack is equipped with a sensor bracket. When the clamp arm is lowered to the predetermined position, the system begins the next process. Wear-resistant strips are provided on the area of ​​the clamp arm that contacts the fork carriage to ensure the stability of the mechanism. After the fork carriage is grabbed, the support arm tilts down into the notch in the roller conveyor support side plate, waiting for the next tilt. The output shafts of the bracket tilting power unit 24 and the clamp arm tilting power unit 26 adopt a concentric structure and use steel back bearings to ensure that the bracket 21 and the clamp arm 22 can move separately or simultaneously, thus meeting the design requirements.

[0055] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 4 The truss mechanism 3 includes a main beam 32, a column 31 at the lower end of the main beam 32, and a crossbeam 33 at the upper end of the main beam 32 that can move on the main beam 32. A counterweight 34 and a lubrication system 35 are provided on the crossbeam 33.

[0056] The truss mechanism employs a double-column design, with the columns fixed to the ground using chemical bolts. The main beam is bolted to the columns, and the connecting flanges feature oblong holes to eliminate installation errors. A sliding platform is mounted on the crossbeam, connected to the main beam via a slider guide structure. Two proximity switches on the platform, in conjunction with position baffles on the main beam, ensure accurate stopping of the truss mechanism at the gripping and placement positions. Two lubrication mechanisms ensure the stability of the crossbeam's lateral and vertical movement. A counterweight is installed on the crossbeam to ensure the stability of the single cantilever gripping forklift and eliminate deformation caused by eccentric loading. The main beam features a mechanical dead stop to enhance system safety.

[0057] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 5 The fixture assembly 4 includes a fixed plate 41, a mounting plate is provided at the lower end of the fixed plate 41, a number of springs 42 are provided between the fixed plate 41 and the mounting plate, a fixed claw 44 and a gripper 45 that cooperate with each other are provided at the lower end of the mounting plate, and a drive cylinder 43 for driving the gripper 45 to move is also provided on the mounting plate.

[0058] The fixed plate is connected to the crossbeam by bolts, and the connection holes are oblong for easy subsequent position adjustment. When the gantry mechanism begins to grip the fork body, the gantry descends until the fixed claw contacts the workpiece, and then continues to descend. When the spring is compressed to a certain distance, the proximity switch detects the position, and the cylinder drives the slider to move the gripper and grip the fork carriage. After the tilting mechanism's clamping arm descends, the gantry mechanism moves to the placement position. After placement is completed, the clamp opens, the gantry mechanism rises, and moves back to the gripping position, waiting for the next gripping.

[0059] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 6 and Figure 9 The annular buffer line 5 includes a second frame 51 and a power unit 52. The upper end of the second frame 51 is provided with a ground drag chain group 54. The upper end of the ground drag chain group 54 is provided with several evenly distributed guide posts 541. The power unit 52 drives the ground drag chain group 54 to move through the tooth-shifting mechanism 53. The ground drag chain group 54 is also provided with a positioning mechanism 56 and several evenly distributed trolley groups 55.

[0060] The second frame is equipped with detection sensors to check if the trolley has a fork carriage. The system also has a memory function to bind fork carriage type information to the trolley. After the previous placement is completed, the power unit drives the tooth-shifting mechanism to rotate. The teeth on the tooth-shifting mechanism drive the ground chain, which has guide posts connected to the trolley, thus causing the trolley to rotate. When the empty trolley moves to the placement station, the movement stops, the positioning mechanism rises, and then clamps the trolley to ensure positional accuracy, ready for the next placement.

[0061] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 7 The power unit 52 includes a drive base 521, on which a motor 522 and a reduction gearbox 523 are mounted. The motor 522 is connected to the reduction gearbox 523 via a belt assembly 525. A tensioning wheel mechanism 524 is also provided at the lower end of the belt assembly 525. After a period of use, the tension can be adjusted via the tensioning wheel to ensure the normal operation of the mechanism.

[0062] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 8 The tooth-shifting mechanism 53 includes a U-shaped groove frame 535, with several tooth-shifting chains 534 arranged at the lower end of the U-shaped groove frame 535. Each tooth-shifting chain 534 is driven by a driven sprocket 531. A clutch 532 and a clamping mechanism 533 are arranged on one side of the driven sprocket 531. When the circular line is overloaded, the spring force of the clamping mechanism is insufficient to make the clutch move with the sprocket, causing the sprocket to idle, thus ensuring the safe operation of the buffer line.

[0063] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 10The trolley assembly 55 includes a trolley base plate 551, with a placement limit plate 552 and a traction plate 554 at the upper end of the trolley base plate 551, and universal ball wheels 553 at the lower end of the trolley base plate 551.

[0064] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 11 The positioning mechanism 56 includes a positioning mechanism base 561. A clamping component is provided on the upper end of the positioning mechanism base 561. The clamping component is slidably connected to the positioning mechanism base 561 through a lifting slide rail slider 563 and a lifting cylinder 562. The clamping component includes a fixing rod 564 and a clamping rod 565. The clamping rod 565 is driven to move by the clamping cylinder 566.

[0065] Switching to pick-up mode is ineffective during system cache processing. When the system is in a waiting state, manual switching to pick-up mode is possible. The operator selects the forklift model to be lifted via the interface. The system automatically moves the trolley containing that forklift to the pick-up position. The operator then moves the forklift to the painting line station. If the sensor detects the trolley is empty, the system clears the forklift information stored on the trolley and continues moving until a trolley carrying the next selected forklift model arrives at the pick-up position, at which point the system stops. If no manually selected type is available on the circular line, the system does not move and alerts the operator that there is no workpiece in the cache. The system automatically removes the selection, and after manual pick-up, the system returns to automatic mode, resuming cache processing.

[0066] Example 2

[0067] Reference Figure 12 The control method of the fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device of the present invention has the following steps:

[0068] S1: The fork carriage welding process is completed and placed on the segmented conveyor roller conveyor;

[0069] S2: The roller conveyor positions the fork carriage and then adjusts its lateral position according to the workpiece information transmitted from the previous process to ensure that the flipping station is centered.

[0070] S3: The flipping mechanism moves the fork carriage to a vertical position, waiting for the gantry mechanism to grab it;

[0071] S4: The truss mechanism moves to a fixed position above the flipping mechanism, then descends to grab the object. Once the grab is complete, it moves to the placement position.

[0072] S5: The ring buffer line starts rotating and stops when the placement position is empty. The gantry mechanism extends down to place the fork carriage on the empty car and binds the trolley and mast information.

[0073] S6: The operator manually switches the system to the pickup mode, selects the product type, and the circular buffer line automatically rotates to transport the fork carriage to the pickup position. The operator then manually lifts the fork carriage away, clears the trolley position information, and manually switches back to automatic mode. The line resumes operation and continues to buffer the fork carriage.

[0074] The longitudinal positioning of the segmented conveyor roller conveyor fork carriage in this invention employs a two-stage positioning design. The first positioning step does not use a positioning sensor; it is executed but not detected. The second step involves simultaneous sensor detection to confirm positioning, reducing system positioning alarm frequency and effectively improving the positioning accuracy. Lateral positioning at the tail end utilizes an electric cylinder to enhance positioning precision. The system automatically calculates the pushing distance based on the fork carriage model and extends accordingly to ensure lateral centering of the fork carriage, guaranteeing the stability of subsequent gripping and thus ensuring the stable operation of the entire buffer device and reducing the frequency of manual repairs due to equipment alarms. The circular line of this invention features a compact overall layout, employing a flipping mechanism to reposition the fork carriage. Utilizing vertical space, it reduces the buffer footprint, increasing the buffer capacity by three times for the same footprint. The gantry gripper of this invention is equipped with a proximity switch. When the gantry grips the fork carriage, it first descends at full speed to a certain point, then slowly descends, compressing a spring on the gripper and triggering the proximity switch. The system confirms positioning and begins gripping. This allows the system to be compatible with fork carriages of various heights and also ensures the smooth production of new products on the same line. The system of this invention can switch between two modes: buffering and picking. The mode can only be switched when the system is idle, ensuring the safe operation of the entire system. In buffering mode, the system automatically places the fork carriage into the empty space on the buffer line. In picking mode, the system can also deliver the required type of fork carriage to the set position. This eliminates the searching process, reduces the labor intensity of picking, and improves system operating efficiency. The circular line drive system of this invention uses belt drive and is equipped with a tensioning pulley. A common stepper motor is sufficient to meet the equipment requirements, reducing equipment manufacturing costs. The drive and buffer lines of this invention are connected by a toothed mechanism with a clutch spring-loaded. When the system load exceeds a set value, the spring force is insufficient to drive the clutch synchronously, causing the clutch to slip and the circular line to stop, ensuring operational safety and providing system overload protection. The ground drag chain of this invention adopts a cross structure design with rollers in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, ensuring that the ground drag chain rotates in the U-shaped groove. The rolling friction between the rollers and the groove arms reduces friction and improves the stability of equipment operation. The ground drag chain is equipped with guide posts that can drive the trolley to rotate accordingly. The guide post and the trolley are connected via an external hexagonal shaft hole, allowing for non-locking in the Z direction. This eliminates equipment wear caused by vertical movement during operation, improves equipment stability, and results in better performance. The trolley of this invention employs an asymmetrical design, with the outer universal ball joint wheel track wider than the inner wheel track, ensuring smooth rotation. Replaceable wear-resistant strips are installed on the circular surface, extending equipment lifespan and ensuring stability.

Claims

1. A fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device, characterized in that, include: Segmented conveyor roller conveyor (1) is used for conveying fork carriages; The flipping mechanism (2) is used to flip the fork carriage to facilitate subsequent gripping; The truss mechanism (3) is equipped with a movable clamp assembly (4) for gripping and placing the fork carriage; The annular buffer line (5) is used for placing the fork carriage. The annular buffer line (5) is equipped with a detection sensor to determine whether the fork carriage exists. The flipping mechanism (2) includes a flipping mechanism frame (23), on which a bracket (21) and a clamping arm (22) are provided. The bracket (21) is driven to rotate by a bracket flipping power group (24), and the clamping arm (22) is driven to rotate by a clamping arm flipping power group (26). Both the bracket flipping power group (24) and the clamping arm flipping power group (26) are provided on the flipping mechanism frame (23). The flipping mechanism frame (23) is also provided with a clamping arm lifting power group (25) for driving the clamping arm (22) to move.

2. The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The segmented conveyor roller (1) includes several connected rollers. The roller includes a first frame (11). Several sprocket rollers (12) are provided at the upper end of the first frame (11). Support side plates (13) are provided at both ends of the sprocket rollers (12). The sprocket rollers (12) are driven by a conveyor motor. The roller at the end is also provided with a longitudinal centering mechanism (14), a power system (15), a transverse centering mechanism (16), and a positioning sensor (17). The longitudinal centering mechanism (14) and the transverse centering mechanism (16) are used to control the centering of the fork carriage.

3. The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The truss mechanism (3) includes a main beam (32), a column (31) is provided at the lower end of the main beam (32), a crossbeam (33) that can be displaced on the main beam (32) is provided at the upper end of the main beam (32), and a counterweight (34) and a lubrication system (35) are provided on the crossbeam (33).

4. The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamp assembly (4) includes a fixing plate (41), a mounting plate is provided at the lower end of the fixing plate (41), a plurality of springs (42) are provided between the fixing plate (41) and the mounting plate, a fixing claw (44) and a clamping claw (45) that cooperate with each other are provided at the lower end of the mounting plate, and a driving cylinder (43) for driving the clamping claw (45) to move is also provided on the mounting plate.

5. The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annular buffer line (5) includes a second frame (51) and a power unit (52). The upper end of the second frame (51) is provided with a ground drag chain group (54). The upper end of the ground drag chain group (54) is provided with a number of evenly distributed guide posts (541). The power unit (52) drives the ground drag chain group (54) to move through a tooth-shifting mechanism (53). The ground drag chain group (54) is also provided with a positioning mechanism (56) and a number of evenly distributed trolley groups (55).

6. The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The power unit (52) includes a drive base (521), on which a motor (522) and a gearbox (523) are mounted. The motor (522) is connected to the gearbox (523) via a belt assembly (525). A tensioning wheel mechanism (524) is also mounted at the lower end of the belt assembly (525).

7. The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The tooth-shifting mechanism (53) includes a U-shaped groove frame (535), and a plurality of tooth-shifting chains (534) are provided at the lower end of the U-shaped groove frame (535). The tooth-shifting chains (534) are connected to driven sprockets (531). A clutch (532) and a clamping mechanism (533) are provided on one side of the driven sprockets (531).

8. The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The trolley assembly (55) includes a trolley base plate (551), the upper end of which is provided with a placement limiting plate (552) and a traction plate (554), and the lower end of which is provided with a universal ball wheel (553).

9. The fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The positioning mechanism (56) includes a positioning mechanism base (561), and a clamping assembly is provided on the upper end of the positioning mechanism base (561). The clamping assembly is slidably connected to the positioning mechanism base (561) through a lifting slide rail slider (563) and a lifting cylinder (562). The clamping assembly includes a fixing rod (564) and a clamping rod (565). The clamping rod (565) is driven to move by the clamping cylinder (566).

10. The control method for the fork carriage inter-sequence buffer device as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The steps are as follows: S1: The fork carriage welding process is completed and placed on the segmented conveyor roller conveyor; S2: The roller conveyor positions the fork carriage and then adjusts its lateral position according to the workpiece information transmitted from the previous process to ensure that the flipping station is centered. S3: The flipping mechanism moves the fork carriage to a vertical position, waiting for the gantry mechanism to grab it; S4: The truss mechanism moves to a fixed position above the flipping mechanism, then descends to grab the object. Once the grab is complete, it moves to the placement position. S5: The ring buffer line starts rotating and stops when the placement position is empty. The gantry mechanism extends down to place the fork carriage on the empty car and binds the trolley and mast information. S6: The operator manually switches the system to the pickup mode, selects the product type, and the circular buffer line automatically rotates to transport the fork carriage to the pickup position. The operator then manually lifts the fork carriage away, clears the trolley position information, and manually switches back to automatic mode. The line resumes operation and continues to buffer the fork carriage.

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