Carrier conveying device and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a carrier conveying device which comprises a first carrier conveying mechanism, a second carrier conveying mechanism, a first carrier returning area and a second carrier returning area, the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism are arranged in parallel, and the first carrier returning area and the second carrier returning area are connected to form a carrier circulation loop. The first tool returning area is provided with a first carrier positioning mechanism and a first pushing mechanism, the second tool returning area is provided with a second carrier positioning mechanism and a second pushing mechanism, and the first pushing mechanism is used for pushing rows of carriers on the second carrier conveying mechanism to the first carrier positioning mechanism and the first carrier conveying mechanism. The second pushing mechanism is used for pushing the rows of carriers on the first carrier conveying mechanism in the direction of the second carrier positioning mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism. The invention further discloses a carrier conveying method. The carrier conveying device and method have the advantages that the material arranging and taking requirements are met, material shortage and no-load carrier taking are avoided, and the carrier utilization rate is increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of food and medicine packaging machinery and equipment, and in particular to a carrier conveying device and method. Background Art

[0002] At present, in the production process of injection pens, it is necessary to transport the pen caps and pen meters of the injection pens between the front-end material discharge mechanism and the rear-end material collection mechanism. At present, the transportation of pen caps and pen meters between the front-end material discharge mechanism and the rear-end material collection mechanism is generally carried out manually, which has low labor efficiency, high labor intensity, poor transportation accuracy, and easily causes the material collection mechanism to fail to successfully collect materials. There are also carrier conveying systems for pen caps and pen meters, but the existing carrier conveying systems either use one or more columns of carrier conveying mechanisms, or use a circulating carrier conveying mechanism. The carriers are all installed on the conveying mechanism. After the carrier is out of material, it will be difficult to replenish the injection pens transported in rows, so it is difficult to meet the requirements of the rear-end material collection mechanism to collect materials in rows, and it is difficult to avoid the rear-end material collection mechanism from taking empty carriers that are out of material; and in order to recycle the carriers, the multi-column carrier conveying mechanism and the circulating carrier conveying mechanism will cause a large volume and occupy a large space, which is difficult to meet the installation requirements of limited space. Summary of the invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a carrier conveying device and method that meets the requirements of a material taking mechanism to take materials in rows and avoids the material taking mechanism taking empty carriers that are short of materials, thereby improving the utilization rate of the carriers, having a small size, and occupying a small space, which is conducive to meeting the installation requirements of limited spaces.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] A carrier conveying device comprises a first carrier conveying mechanism, a second carrier conveying mechanism, a first tool return area and a second tool return area, wherein the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism are arranged in parallel and connected through the first tool return area and the second tool return area to form a carrier circulation loop, the first tool return area is provided with a first carrier positioning mechanism and a first pushing mechanism, the second tool return area is provided with a second carrier positioning mechanism and a second pushing mechanism, the first pushing mechanism is used to push the rows of carriers on the second carrier conveying mechanism toward the first carrier positioning mechanism and the first carrier conveying mechanism, and the second pushing mechanism is used to push the rows of carriers as a whole and the designated serial numbers on the first carrier conveying mechanism toward the second carrier positioning mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism.

[0006] As a further improvement of the above technical solution:

[0007] The first carrier positioning mechanism includes a positioning platform and a plurality of positioning components. The positioning platform is connected between the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism. Each of the positioning components is disposed on the positioning platform and arranged side by side along the conveying direction of the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism.

[0008] The positioning assembly includes a linear guide portion and a locking member. The linear guide portion is provided on the positioning platform and is perpendicular to the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism. The bottom of the carrier is provided with a matching portion that slides with the linear guide portion. The locking member is provided on the positioning platform and is used to lock and release the carrier.

[0009] The linear guide portion is in a groove shape, and the locking piece is arranged on the bottom wall of the linear guide portion.

[0010] The second carrier positioning mechanism has the same structure as the first carrier positioning mechanism.

[0011] The second pushing mechanism includes a plurality of independently operated telescopic pushing components, each of which is arranged side by side along the conveying direction of the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism. A material detection mechanism is provided on one side of each of the telescopic pushing components for detecting whether there is a shortage of material on the corresponding carrier.

[0012] The first pushing mechanism includes a pushing plate and a telescopic driving assembly, wherein the telescopic driving assembly is connected to the pushing plate and is used to drive the pushing plate to push the carriers in rows.

[0013] The first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism are both mesh belt conveying mechanisms, and the rotating shafts of the mesh belt conveying mechanisms are arranged horizontally.

[0014] A suction mechanism is provided on the other side of the second carrier conveying mechanism relative to the second carrier positioning mechanism, and the suction mechanism is used to suck and convey the carrier on the second carrier positioning mechanism to the second carrier conveying mechanism.

[0015] A carrier conveying method is performed using the above-mentioned carrier conveying device, wherein the conveying directions of the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism are opposite, and comprises the following steps:

[0016] S1, rows of empty carriers are positioned by the first carrier positioning mechanism and then loaded;

[0017] S2. The loaded row of carriers are pushed by the first pushing mechanism or transferred to the first carrier conveying mechanism by other mechanisms, and then conveyed to the side of the second pushing mechanism by the first carrier conveying mechanism;

[0018] S3, detecting whether the row of carriers on the side of the second pushing mechanism is short of materials. If there are empty carriers that are short of materials, the empty carriers are pushed to the second carrier conveying mechanism by the second pushing mechanism until the row of carriers on the side of the second pushing mechanism is not short of materials. The second pushing mechanism then pushes the row of carriers on the side as a whole to the second carrier positioning mechanism, and the carriers are positioned by the second carrier positioning mechanism before unloading;

[0019] S4, the empty carrier after unloading is pushed by the second pushing mechanism or transferred to the second carrier conveying mechanism by other mechanisms, and then conveyed to the side of the first pushing mechanism by the second carrier conveying mechanism;

[0020] S5, the first pushing mechanism pushes the rows of empty carriers to the first carrier positioning mechanism;

[0021] S6. Repeat S1 to S5.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0023] In the carrier conveying device of the present invention, the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism are connected through the first return area and the second return area to form a carrier circulation loop, that is, the carrier is not installed on the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism. During transportation, the carrier is just placed on the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism, and is conveyed by the first carrier conveying mechanism and the second carrier conveying mechanism. In this way, if there are empty carriers that are short of materials in the row of carriers on the side of the second pushing mechanism, the empty carriers can be pushed to the second carrier conveying mechanism by the second pushing mechanism, and the first carrier conveying mechanism then conveys the carriers forward so that the loaded carriers at the rear fill the position of the original empty carriers, until the row of carriers on the side of the second pushing mechanism is not short of materials, and the second pushing mechanism then pushes the row of carriers on the side as a whole to the second carrier positioning mechanism for unloading. In other words, the carrier conveying device can remove empty carriers and fill them on the first carrier conveying mechanism, which can ensure that the carriers entering the material picking station (where the second carrier positioning mechanism is located) are not short of materials, meet the requirements of the material picking mechanism to pick up materials in rows, and avoid the material picking mechanism picking up empty carriers that are short of materials. In addition, empty carriers can be transported back for recycling, which improves the utilization rate of the carriers. Moreover, the carrier circulation loop mainly formed by connecting the first carrier conveying mechanism, the second carrier conveying mechanism, the first return area and the second return area is small in size and occupies little space, which is conducive to meeting the installation requirements of limited space.

[0024] In the carrier conveying method of the present invention, if there are empty carriers that are short of materials in the row of carriers on the side of the second pushing mechanism, the empty carriers can be pushed to the second carrier conveying mechanism by the second pushing mechanism, and the first carrier conveying mechanism then conveys the carriers forward so that the carriers with materials in the rear can fill the positions of the original empty carriers, until the row of carriers on the side of the second pushing mechanism is not short of materials, and the second pushing mechanism then pushes the row of carriers on the side as a whole to the second carrier positioning mechanism for unloading. In other words, empty carriers can be removed and filled on the first carrier conveying mechanism, which can ensure that the carriers entering the material picking station (where the second carrier positioning mechanism is located) are not short of materials, meet the requirements of the material picking mechanism for picking up materials in rows, and avoid the material picking mechanism picking up empty carriers that are short of materials. In addition, the empty carriers can be transported back for recycling, thereby improving the utilization rate of the carriers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the carrier conveying device of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the top view of the carrier conveying device of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the first carrier positioning mechanism of the carrier conveying device of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of the positioning assembly of the carrier conveying device of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of the second pushing mechanism of the carrier conveying device of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of the first pushing mechanism of the carrier conveying device of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the carrier conveying method of the present invention, wherein a1 is a state diagram in which the rows of carriers on the side of the second pushing mechanism are short of materials, a2 is a state diagram in which the second pushing mechanism pushes the empty carriers on the side to the second carrier conveying mechanism, a3 is a state diagram in which the first carrier conveying mechanism conveys carriers to the rows of carriers on the side without any shortage of materials, and a4 is a state diagram in which the second carrier conveyor conveys carriers in the direction of the first pushing mechanism.

[0032] The symbols in the figure represent:

[0033] 1. First carrier conveying mechanism; 2. Second carrier conveying mechanism; 3. First carrier positioning mechanism; 31. Positioning platform; 32. Positioning assembly; 321. Linear guide portion; 322. Locking member; 4. Second carrier positioning mechanism; 5. First pushing mechanism; 51. Push plate; 52. Telescopic driving assembly; 6. Second pushing mechanism; 61. Telescopic pushing assembly; 62. Material detection mechanism; 7. Carrier; 71. Matching portion; 8. Suction mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside" and "outside" etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0036] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0037] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "assemble", "connect", "connect", "fix" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0038] Embodiment 1:

[0039] Figures 1 to 6An embodiment of a carrier conveying device of the present invention is shown. The carrier conveying device of this embodiment includes a first carrier conveying mechanism 1, a second carrier conveying mechanism 2, a first return area and a second return area. The first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 are arranged in parallel and connected through the first return area and the second return area to form a carrier circulation loop. The first return area is provided with a first carrier positioning mechanism 3 and a first pushing mechanism 5, and the second return area is provided with a second carrier positioning mechanism 4 and a second pushing mechanism 6. The first pushing mechanism 5 is used to push the rows of carriers 7 on the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 toward the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 and the first carrier conveying mechanism 1, and the second pushing mechanism 6 is used to push the rows of carriers 7 on the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 as a whole and with designated serial numbers toward the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2.

[0040] The production process of the carrier conveying device is as follows: in the first step, the rows of empty carriers 7 are positioned by the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 and then loaded; in the second step, the loaded rows of carriers 7 are pushed by the first pushing mechanism 5 or transferred by other mechanisms to the first carrier conveying mechanism 1, and then conveyed by the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 to the side of the second pushing mechanism 6; in the third step, it is detected whether the rows of carriers 7 on the side of the second pushing mechanism 6 are short of material. If there are empty carriers 7 that are short of material, the empty carriers 7 are pushed by the second pushing mechanism 6 to the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 until the second pushing mechanism 6 The rows of carriers 7 on the side are not short of materials, and the second pushing mechanism 6 pushes the rows of carriers 7 on the side as a whole to the second carrier positioning mechanism 4, and the carriers 7 are positioned by the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 and then unloaded; in the fourth step, the empty carriers 7 after unloading are pushed by the second pushing mechanism 6 or transferred by other mechanisms to the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, and then conveyed to the side of the first pushing mechanism 5 by the second carrier conveying mechanism 2; in the fifth step, the first pushing mechanism 5 pushes the rows of empty carriers 7 to the first carrier positioning mechanism 3; in the sixth step, repeat the first step to the fifth step.

[0041] In the present carrier conveying device, the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 are connected through the first return area and the second return area to form a carrier circulation loop, that is, the carrier 7 is not installed on the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2. During transportation, the carrier 7 is just placed on the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, and is conveyed by the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2. In this way, if there are empty carriers 7 that are short of materials in the row of carriers 7 on the side of the second pushing mechanism 6, the empty carriers 7 can be pushed to the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 by the second pushing mechanism 6, and the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 then conveys the carriers 7 forward so that the loaded carriers 7 at the rear fill the position of the original empty carriers 7, until the row of carriers 7 on the side of the second pushing mechanism 6 is not short of materials, and the second pushing mechanism 6 then pushes the row of carriers 7 on the side as a whole to the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 for unloading. In other words, the carrier conveying device can remove empty carriers 7 and fill them on the first carrier conveying mechanism 1, which can ensure that the carriers 7 entering the material taking station (the location of the second carrier positioning mechanism 4) are not short of materials, meet the requirements of the material taking mechanism to take materials in rows, and avoid the material taking mechanism taking empty carriers 7 that are short of materials. In addition, the empty carriers 7 can be returned for recycling, which improves the utilization rate of the carriers 7. Moreover, the carrier circulation loop mainly formed by connecting the first carrier conveying mechanism 1, the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, the first return area and the second return area is small in size and occupies a small space, which is conducive to meeting the installation requirements of limited space.

[0042] Further, the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 and the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 are located between the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 (the so-called between can be in the gap between the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, or can be on the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 or the second carrier conveying mechanism 2), the conveying directions of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 are opposite, and the first tool return area and the second tool return area are arranged at intervals along the conveying direction of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1. Preferably, the first tool return area and the second tool return area are respectively located at the two ends of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, that is, the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 and the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 are respectively located at the two ends of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2. It can be explained that: the first tool return area and the second tool return area are two areas respectively located between the two ends of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2. The first tool return area can be located between one end of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, and the second tool return area can be located between the other end of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2. It can also be that one end of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 is located in the first tool return area, and the other end of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 is located in the second tool return area. In other words, the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 and the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 can be arranged between the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 to space the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, or they can be arranged on the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and / or the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 to reduce the interval between the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2.

[0043] Furthermore, if Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 includes a positioning platform 31 and a plurality of positioning components 32. The positioning platform 31 is connected between the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2. Each positioning component 32 is arranged on the positioning platform 31 and arranged side by side along the conveying direction of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2. The positioning platform 31 is connected between the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, so that the carriers 7 on the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 are conveniently guided to the first carrier positioning mechanism 3. Each positioning component 32 is arranged side by side along the conveying direction of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, so that the first pushing mechanism 5 pushes the rows of carriers 7 on the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 to the rows of positioning components 32, and also pushes the rows of carriers 7 on the rows of positioning components 32 to the first carrier conveying mechanism 1, that is, it is convenient for the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 to discharge the rows of carriers 7, and it is convenient for the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 to feed the rows of carriers 7.

[0044] Further, in this embodiment, the positioning assembly 32 includes a linear guide portion 321 and a locking member 322, the linear guide portion 321 is provided on the positioning platform 31 and is perpendicular to the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, the bottom of the carrier 7 is provided with a matching portion 71 that is slidably matched with the linear guide portion 321, and the locking member 322 is provided on the positioning platform 31 for locking and releasing the carrier 7. The linear guide portion 321 facilitates the guiding of the carrier 7 between the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, so that the carrier 7 is guided directionally along the linear guide portion 321.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the linear guide portion 321 is in a groove shape, and the locking member 322 is disposed on the bottom wall of the linear guide portion 321. The linear guide portion 321 is in a T-shaped groove shape, a dovetail groove shape, or the like.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 has the same structure as the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 , which is convenient for manufacturing. However, the number of positioning components 32 of the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 and the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 may be different.

[0047] Furthermore, if Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the second pushing mechanism 6 includes a plurality of independently operated telescopic pushing components 61, and each telescopic pushing component 61 is arranged side by side along the conveying direction of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2. A material detection mechanism 62 is provided on one side of each telescopic pushing component 61 for detecting whether there is a shortage of material on the corresponding carrier 7.

[0048] On the one hand, each telescopic pushing assembly 61 can operate independently, so that the carrier 7 can be selectively pushed out. When the empty carrier 7 on the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 is pushed, the loaded carrier 7 is not pushed. After all the carriers 7 in a row are not short of materials, they are pushed to the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 at the same time. On the other hand, the material detection mechanism 62 is connected to the corresponding telescopic pushing assembly 61 by signal, so that the telescopic pushing assembly 61 corresponding to the carrier 7 (empty carrier 7) with a specified serial number can be operated to push the carrier 7 with the specified serial number. The telescopic pushing assembly 61 can be a pneumatic cylinder, an oil cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0049] Furthermore, if Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the first pushing mechanism 5 includes a push plate 51 and a telescopic driving assembly 52, and the telescopic driving assembly 52 is connected to the push plate 51, and is used to drive the push plate 51 to push the carrier 7 in a row. The structure is simple and the processing is convenient. The telescopic driving assembly 52 can be a cylinder, an oil cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0050] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 are both mesh belt conveying mechanisms, and the rotating shafts of the mesh belt conveying mechanisms are arranged horizontally.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a suction mechanism 8 is provided on the other side of the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 relative to the second carrier positioning mechanism 4, and the suction mechanism 8 is used to suck and convey the carrier 7 on the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 to the second carrier conveying mechanism 2. Since the suction mechanism 8 is provided, the pushing distance of the second pushing mechanism 6 can be reduced, which is convenient for the selection of the mechanism.

[0052] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the second pushing mechanism 6 is used to push the row of carriers 7 as a whole and the designated serial numbers on the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 toward the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2, where the so-called designated serial number refers to the serial number of the empty carrier 7 in the original row of carriers 7, that is, the second pushing mechanism 6 can only push the empty carriers 7, or can push the row of carriers 7 on one side at the same time.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the locking member 322 is a suction member or an electric locking member.

[0054] Embodiment 1:

[0055] Figure 7 An embodiment of the carrier conveying method of the present invention is shown. The carrier conveying method of this embodiment is performed using the carrier conveying device of the first embodiment. The conveying directions of the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 and the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 are opposite, and the method includes the following steps:

[0056] S1, rows of empty carriers 7 are positioned by the first carrier positioning mechanism 3 and then loaded;

[0057] S2, the loaded row of carriers 7 are pushed by the first pushing mechanism 5 or transferred by other mechanisms to the first carrier conveying mechanism 1, and then conveyed by the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 to the side of the second pushing mechanism 6;

[0058] S3, check whether the row of carriers 7 on the side of the second pushing mechanism 6 is short of material, if there is an empty carrier 7 (such as Figure 7 The empty carrier 7 is pushed by the second pushing mechanism 6 to the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 (as shown in a1 in FIG. Figure 7 As shown in a2 in the figure, until the row of carriers 7 on the side of the second pushing mechanism 6 is not short of material (as shown in a2 in the figure). Figure 7 The second pushing mechanism 6 then pushes the row of carriers 7 on the side as a whole to the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 (as shown in a3 in FIG. Figure 7 As shown in a4, the carrier 7 is positioned by the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 and then unloads;

[0059] S4, the empty carrier 7 after unloading is pushed by the second pushing mechanism 6 or transferred to the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 by other mechanisms, and then conveyed to the side of the first pushing mechanism 5 by the second carrier conveying mechanism 2;

[0060] S5, the first pushing mechanism 5 pushes the rows of empty carriers 7 to the first carrier positioning mechanism 3;

[0061] S6. Repeat S1 to S5.

[0062] In the carrier conveying method, if there are empty carriers 7 lacking materials in the row of carriers 7 on the side of the second pushing mechanism 6, the empty carriers 7 can be pushed to the second carrier conveying mechanism 2 by the second pushing mechanism 6, and the first carrier conveying mechanism 1 then conveys the carriers 7 forward so that the carriers 7 with materials in the rear fill the positions of the original empty carriers 7, until the row of carriers 7 on the side of the second pushing mechanism 6 are not lacking materials, and the second pushing mechanism 6 then pushes the row of carriers 7 on the side as a whole to the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 for unloading. In other words, the empty carriers 7 can be removed and filled on the first carrier conveying mechanism 1, which can ensure that the carriers 7 entering the material picking station (where the second carrier positioning mechanism 4 is located) are not lacking materials, meet the requirements of the material picking mechanism for picking up materials in rows, and avoid the material picking mechanism picking up empty carriers 7 lacking materials. In addition, the empty carriers 7 can be transported back for recycling, thereby improving the utilization rate of the carriers 7.

[0063] Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any technician familiar with the art can make many possible changes and modifications to the technical solution of the present invention by using the technical content disclosed above without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention, or modify it into an equivalent embodiment of equivalent changes. Therefore, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention should fall within the scope of protection of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A carrier conveying device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a first carrier conveying mechanism (1), a second carrier conveying mechanism (2), a first tool return area and a second tool return area. The first carrier conveying mechanism (1) and the second carrier conveying mechanism (2) are arranged in parallel and connected through the first tool return area and the second tool return area to form a carrier circulation loop. The first tool return area is provided with a first carrier positioning mechanism (3) and a first pushing mechanism (5). The second tool return area is provided with a second carrier positioning mechanism (4) and a second pushing mechanism (6). The first pushing mechanism (5) is used to push the rows of carriers (7) on the second carrier conveying mechanism (2) in the direction of the first carrier positioning mechanism (3) and the first carrier conveying mechanism (1). The second pushing mechanism (6) is used to push the rows of carriers (7) on the first carrier conveying mechanism (1) as a whole and with designated serial numbers in the direction of the second carrier positioning mechanism (4) and the second carrier conveying mechanism (2).

2. The carrier conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first carrier positioning mechanism (3) comprises a positioning platform (31) and a plurality of positioning components (32); the positioning platform (31) is connected between the first carrier conveying mechanism (1) and the second carrier conveying mechanism (2); each of the positioning components (32) is arranged on the positioning platform (31) and arranged side by side along the conveying direction of the first carrier conveying mechanism (1) and the second carrier conveying mechanism (2).

3. The carrier conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The positioning assembly (32) comprises a linear guide portion (321) and a locking member (322); the linear guide portion (321) is disposed on the positioning platform (31) and is perpendicular to the first carrier conveying mechanism (1) and the second carrier conveying mechanism (2); a matching portion (71) that is slidably matched with the linear guide portion (321) is disposed at the bottom of the carrier (7); and the locking member (322) is disposed on the positioning platform (31) and is used to lock and release the carrier (7).

4. The carrier conveying device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The linear guide portion (321) is in a groove shape, and the locking member (322) is arranged on the bottom wall of the linear guide portion (321).

5. The carrier conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second carrier positioning mechanism (4) has the same structure as the first carrier positioning mechanism (3).

6. The carrier conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The second pushing mechanism (6) comprises a plurality of independently operated telescopic pushing components (61), each of the telescopic pushing components (61) being arranged side by side along the conveying direction of the first carrier conveying mechanism (1) and the second carrier conveying mechanism (2), and a material detection mechanism (62) is provided on one side of each of the telescopic pushing components (61) for detecting whether there is a shortage of material on the corresponding carrier (7).

7. The carrier conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The first pushing mechanism (5) comprises a pushing plate (51) and a telescopic driving assembly (52); the telescopic driving assembly (52) is connected to the pushing plate (51) and is used to drive the pushing plate (51) to push the carriers (7) in a row.

8. The carrier conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The first carrier conveying mechanism (1) and the second carrier conveying mechanism (2) are both mesh belt conveying mechanisms, and the rotating axes of the mesh belt conveying mechanisms are arranged horizontally.

9. The carrier conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: A suction mechanism (8) is provided on the other side of the second carrier conveying mechanism (2) relative to the second carrier positioning mechanism (4), and the suction mechanism (8) is used to suck and convey the carrier (7) on the second carrier positioning mechanism (4) to the second carrier conveying mechanism (2).

10. A carrier conveying method, characterized in that: The method is performed by using the carrier conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the conveying directions of the first carrier conveying mechanism (1) and the second carrier conveying mechanism (2) are opposite, and comprises the following steps: S1, rows of empty carriers (7) are positioned by the first carrier positioning mechanism (3) and then loaded; S2, the loaded row of carriers (7) are pushed by the first pushing mechanism (5) or transferred by other mechanisms to the first carrier conveying mechanism (1), and then conveyed by the first carrier conveying mechanism (1) to the side of the second pushing mechanism (6); S3, detecting whether the row of carriers (7) on the side of the second pushing mechanism (6) is short of material. If there is an empty carrier (7) that is short of material, the empty carrier (7) is pushed by the second pushing mechanism (6) to the second carrier conveying mechanism (2) until the row of carriers (7) on the side of the second pushing mechanism (6) is not short of material. The second pushing mechanism (6) then pushes the row of carriers (7) on the side as a whole to the second carrier positioning mechanism (4), and the carrier (7) is positioned by the second carrier positioning mechanism (4) before unloading; S4, the empty carrier (7) after unloading is pushed by the second pushing mechanism (6) or transferred by other mechanisms to the second carrier conveying mechanism (2), and then transported by the second carrier conveying mechanism (2) to the side of the first pushing mechanism (5); S5, the first pushing mechanism (5) pushes the rows of empty carriers (7) to the first carrier positioning mechanism (3); S6. Repeat S1 to S5.

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