Clamp and shaping equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a clamp and shaping equipment, the clamp is used for clamping and transferring a cylindrical silicon rod, the clamp comprises a clamping mechanism and an anti-overpressure assembly, the clamping mechanism comprises a bracket capable of moving in multiple directions, a clamping jaw assembly arranged on the bracket and a driving assembly for driving the clamping jaw assembly to clamp the silicon rod. The anti-overpressure assembly comprises a first detector and a controller electrically connected with the first detector, the first detector is installed on the support, when the clamping jaw assembly is about to release the silicon rod to a placing position, the first detector can detect foreign matter at the placing position, and the controller is electrically connected with the first detector. The first detector can generate an abnormal signal and transmit the abnormal signal to the controller, and the controller can control the driving assembly to enable the clamping jaw assembly to stop releasing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of photovoltaic material processing equipment, and in particular to a clamp and shaping equipment. Background Art

[0002] Crystalline silicon is an important semiconductor material or photovoltaic material, and is widely used in the prior art. For example, in the production process of silicon wafers, the silicon material must first be made into silicon rods, and then the silicon rods must be cut into silicon wafers using shaping equipment for subsequent use. Therefore, the silicon rods need to be repeatedly moved during the production process of silicon wafers. In the prior art, silicon rods are moved by clamps such as manipulators or grippers. However, during the transportation of the clamp when clamping the material, the material is often placed down without detecting whether there are silicon rods or other foreign objects blocking the placement position, resulting in overpressure and damage to the silicon rods, which is not conducive to production and use. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention provides a clamp that can accurately identify and avoid obstacles at the placement position before the silicon rod is released, thereby effectively preventing overpressure damage to the silicon rod.

[0004] The clamp according to the first aspect of the present invention is used to clamp and transport cylindrical silicon rods, and includes a clamping mechanism and an overpressure prevention component. The clamping mechanism includes a multi-directionally movable bracket, a clamping claw assembly arranged on the bracket, and a driving component that drives the clamping claw assembly to clamp the silicon rod. The overpressure prevention component includes a first detector and a controller electrically connected to the first detector. The first detector is installed on the bracket. When the clamping claw assembly is about to release the silicon rod to the placement position, the first detector can detect foreign matter at the placement position. The first detector can generate an abnormal signal and transmit it to the controller. The controller can control the driving component to stop the release of the clamping claw assembly.

[0005] The clamp according to the embodiment of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: through the integrated overpressure protection component, the clamp proposed by the present invention can detect the safety of the silicon rod release position in real time, effectively prevent overpressure damage caused by foreign matter, and ensure the stable operation of the production line. In addition, the automated detection and control process reduces the need for manual intervention and improves production efficiency. On the other hand, reducing silicon rod damage means reducing downtime and material waste caused by quality problems, which helps to reduce production costs in the long run.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first detector is located above the silicon rod, and the first detector is located at the front side of the silicon rod along its own moving direction.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bracket is provided with a mounting member, the mounting member is used to mount the first detector, and the mounting member can be rotated and adjusted to change the angle of the first detector.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mounting member is provided with a mounting groove for accommodating the first detector, and the position of the first detector can be adjusted along the mounting groove to adjust the height of the first detector.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mounting groove is an arc-shaped groove.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first detector is connected to at least two fixing rods, both of which pass through the arc groove. The first detector can adjust the angle and height simultaneously through the arc groove, and is fixed to the mounting member by a lock nut.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the overpressure protection assembly further includes a buffer module, the buffer module includes a telescopic part, the bracket is installed on the telescopic part, and when the silicon rod abuts against a foreign object and is about to move downward, the pressure of the foreign object on the silicon rod is transmitted to the telescopic part via the clamping jaw assembly and the bracket.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the telescopic member includes a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate connected to the bracket, the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are arranged opposite to each other, and the first mounting plate serves as a basis for installing the bracket, and a plurality of telescopic rods are arranged between the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the buffer module also includes a second detector, which is connected to the second mounting plate. When the telescopic rod is retracted, the second detector is used to obtain the distance between the second mounting plate and the first mounting plate and transmit it to the controller. When the distance is reduced to a threshold value, the controller controls the clamping mechanism to stop.

[0014] A plastic surgery device according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention comprises a clamp as described in any one of the above items.

[0015] The shaping equipment according to the embodiment of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: by installing the clamp at the appropriate position of the shaping equipment, we can achieve automatic clamping, transfer and precise placement of silicon rods, thereby improving the efficiency and product quality of the entire production line.

[0016] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description and in part will be obvious from the following description, or will be learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 It is a partial schematic diagram of the mounting part of the clamp according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Reference numerals: clamping mechanism 100 ; bracket 110 ; clamping jaw assembly 120 ; driving assembly 130 ; overpressure protection assembly 200 ; first detector 210 ; fixing rod 211 ; mounting member 220 ; mounting groove 221 ; first mounting plate 230 ; second detector 231 ; second mounting plate 240 ; telescopic rod 250 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0020] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientations, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., and orientations or positional relationships indicated 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, and do not indicate or imply 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.

[0021] In the description of the present invention, "several" means one or more, "more" means more than two, "greater than", "less than", "exceed" etc. are understood as not including the number itself, and "above", "below", "within" etc. are understood as including the number itself. If there is a description of "first" or "second", it is only used for the purpose of distinguishing the technical features, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0022] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, the words such as setting, installing, connecting, etc. should be understood in a broad sense, and the technical personnel in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above words in the present invention in combination with the specific content of the technical solution. In the description of the present invention, the description of the reference terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "illustrative embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in combination with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In the description of the present specification, the description of the reference terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "illustrative embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in combination with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0023] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The present invention proposes a clamp for clamping silicon rods, specifically including a clamping mechanism 100 and an overpressure protection assembly 200. The clamping mechanism 100 is responsible for clamping and transporting silicon rods, and specifically includes a multi-directional movable bracket 110, a clamping jaw assembly 120 and a driving assembly 130, wherein the bracket 110 is allowed to move flexibly in three-dimensional space to meet the clamping requirements of silicon rods at different positions. The clamping jaw assembly 120 is arranged on the bracket 110, and is used to directly clamp the silicon rod. The driving assembly 130 provides power to the clamping jaw assembly 120, and controls its opening and closing to achieve the clamping and release of the silicon rod.

[0024] It should be noted that the overpressure prevention assembly 200 is used to detect the safety of the placement position before the silicon rod is released, and specifically includes a first detector 210 and a controller, wherein the first detector 210 is installed on the bracket 110, and when the jaw assembly 120 is ready to release the silicon rod to the predetermined placement position, the first detector 210 can scan and detect whether there is a silicon rod or other foreign matter at the position. The controller is electrically connected to the first detector 210 and receives a signal from the detector. When the first detector 210 detects an abnormality, an abnormal signal is generated and transmitted to the controller. It is easy to understand that the control logic mentioned here is the control logic built into the controller, which can respond to the abnormal signal and immediately control the drive assembly 130 to stop the jaw assembly 120 from releasing the silicon rod, thereby avoiding overpressure damage.

[0025] It is understandable that, through the integrated overpressure prevention component 200, the clamp proposed by the present invention can detect the safety of the silicon rod release position in real time, effectively prevent overpressure damage caused by foreign matter, and ensure the stable operation of the production line. In addition, the automated detection and control process reduces the need for manual intervention and improves production efficiency. On the other hand, reducing silicon rod damage means reducing downtime and material waste caused by quality problems, which helps to reduce production costs in the long run.

[0026] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In order to achieve more accurate detection, the first detector 210 is located above the silicon rod and in front of its moving direction. This layout ensures that when the gripper assembly 120 carries the silicon rod and approaches the placement position, the first detector 210 can detect any potential obstacles in advance, providing sufficient time to stop releasing the silicon rod in time.

[0027] It should be noted that the clamping mechanism 100 proposed in the present invention is specifically to fix the silicon rod by clamping the two ends of the silicon rod, and the bracket 110 is specifically a cuboid arranged along the axis of the silicon rod, so in the horizontal direction, the movement direction of the silicon rod can be along the axis of the silicon rod or in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the silicon rod, so one or more first detectors 210 can be set. When one is set, the first detector 210 is usually set on one side of the bracket 110 along the length direction, and can be disassembled and assembled to adjust the position according to the actual moving direction when necessary. When multiple first detectors 210 are set, including but not limited to being set at both ends and both sides of the bracket 110, when the bracket 110 moves in different directions in the horizontal direction, it can detect whether there are foreign objects in different placement positions to ensure that the silicon rod will not be damaged by overpressure due to contact with foreign objects.

[0028] It is understandable that the first detector 210 can be a laser rangefinder sensor. The laser rangefinder sensor calculates the distance to the obstacle by emitting a laser beam and measuring the time it takes for it to be reflected back. When the jaw assembly 120 carries the silicon rod and approaches the predetermined placement position, the laser rangefinder sensor will be activated in advance and emit a laser beam to scan the placement area. If the sensor detects the presence of an obstacle, that is, the laser beam is reflected back and the calculated distance is less than the preset safety distance, it will immediately generate an abnormal signal and transmit it to the controller. After receiving the signal, the controller will immediately control the drive assembly 130 to stop the release action of the jaw assembly 120, thereby avoiding the silicon rod from colliding with the obstacle.

[0029] In other embodiments, the first detector 210 uses a machine vision camera. The camera captures an image of the placement area and uses an image processing algorithm to identify and analyze obstacles in the image. When the gripper assembly 120 carries the silicon rod close to the placement position, the machine vision camera will start capturing images and analyze the object contour, color and other information in the image in real time. If the camera recognizes that there is an object in the image that is similar in shape or color to the silicon rod, it will generate an abnormal signal and transmit it to the controller. It should be noted that the first detector 210 of the present invention can also use a variety of different sensors such as ultrasonic sensors, diffuse reflection sensors, infrared proximity sensors, etc. to achieve its function. The specific selection of which sensor depends on factors such as the needs of the application scenario, cost budget, and technical feasibility.

[0030] In order to increase the flexibility of detection, a rotatable adjustment mounting member 220 is provided on the bracket 110. The mounting member 220 not only provides a stable mounting base for the first detector 210, but also allows the user to adjust the angle of the detector as needed to ensure the best detection range and accuracy. Furthermore, a mounting groove 221 is provided on the mounting member 220 along the height direction. The mounting groove 221 is an elongated groove. The first detector 210 is fixedly connected to the mounting groove 221 by fasteners such as screws and nuts, and the height can be adjusted along the length direction of the mounting groove 221 and also in the vertical direction, thereby improving the flexibility of the first detection component to adapt to the monitoring requirements of silicon rods of different sizes, different production environments, and different foreign objects.

[0031] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In other embodiments, the mounting groove 221 is an arc-shaped groove, and the arc-shaped groove is inclined upward or downward from one side of the bracket 110 toward the front end of the moving direction of the bracket 110. This arc-shaped groove not only allows the detector to be adjusted in angle on the horizontal plane, but also allows it to be adjusted in height in the vertical direction.

[0032] Specifically, the starting end of the arc groove is located at a lower position, while the end is located at a higher position. When the height of the first detector 210 needs to be adjusted, it can be slid upward along the groove body to the desired position. In order to fix the position of the detector, we use a combination of a fixing rod 211 and a lock nut. One end of the fixing rod 211 is connected to the detector, and the other end passes through the arc groove and extends out of the groove. On the part extending out of the groove, we installed a lock nut. By tightening the lock nut, the fixing rod 211 can be tightly fixed to the groove body, thereby ensuring that the detector remains stable in the adjusted position.

[0033] On the other hand, the starting end of the arc-shaped groove inclined downward is located at a higher position, while the end is located at a lower position. When the height of the first detector 210 needs to be lowered, it can be slid down along the groove body to the desired position. Similarly, in order to fix the position of the detector, a combination of a fixing rod 211 and a lock nut is used. One end of the fixing rod 211 is connected to the detector, and the other end passes through the arc-shaped groove and extends out of the groove, and the position of the detector is fixed by tightening the lock nut.

[0034] It should be noted that, in the specific implementation, the target height and angle of the first detector 210 are first determined according to the detection requirements. Then, the detector is placed at the starting end or end of the arc groove and slides along the groove body to the target position. During the sliding process, we can preliminarily judge whether its height and angle meet the requirements by observing the position change of the first detector 210. When the detector slides to the target position, one end of the fixed rod 211 is connected to the detector, and the other end passes through the arc groove and extends out of the groove. Then, a lock nut is installed on the part extending out of the groove, and the lock nut is tightened to fix the position of the rod 211. The detector is fixed, and the height and angle are also accurately adjusted. By adopting a combination of an arc groove, a fixed rod 211 and a lock nut, precise adjustment of the height and angle of the first detector 210 can be easily achieved. Not only the accuracy and flexibility of detection are improved, but also the difficulty of adjustment and maintenance costs are reduced.

[0035] Reference Figure 3 It should be noted that in order to more stably mount the first detector 210 on the mounting member 220, the first detector 210 is provided with at least two fixing rods 211, and the two fixing rods 211 pass through the arc groove and are locked on the mounting member 220 by lock nuts, thereby ensuring that the first detector 210 remains stable in the adjusted position.

[0036] In order to prevent the silicon rod from being damaged by contacting the foreign object during the release process when the first detector 210 misjudges or fails to detect the foreign object, the overpressure prevention assembly 200 also includes a buffer module. Specifically, the buffer module includes a telescopic member, and the bracket 110 is installed on the telescopic member. When the silicon rod is about to contact the foreign object, the buffering effect of the telescopic member can reduce the pressure on the silicon rod, thereby reducing the risk of damage.

[0037] Specifically, the telescopic member is composed of a first mounting plate 230 and a second mounting plate 240, and the first mounting plate 230 and the second mounting plate 240 are arranged opposite to each other. Specifically, the second mounting plate 240 is arranged on the side of the bracket 110 away from the clamping jaw assembly 120, and the first mounting plate 230 is arranged on the side of the second mounting plate 240 away from the bracket 110. In some embodiments, referring to Figure 1The first mounting plate 230 is located above the first mounting plate 230, wherein the first mounting plate 230 is used as the base for mounting the bracket 110 and is connected to the mechanism that drives the entire clamping mechanism 100 to move in multiple directions, while the second mounting plate 240 is directly connected to the bracket 110. A plurality of telescopic rods 250 are arranged between the first mounting plate 230 and the second mounting plate 240 to provide necessary buffering and support.

[0038] It should be noted that the telescopic rod 250 is composed of a plurality of mutually nested rods, and the rods are connected by sliding or hydraulic drive to achieve telescopic movement. When the silicon rod is subjected to external pressure, the pressure is transmitted to the second mounting plate 240 through the bracket 110, and then transmitted to the telescopic rod 250. After being compressed, the telescopic rod 250 can absorb and disperse the pressure through its telescopic movement. In particular, when a sliding connection is adopted, the telescopic rod 250 can respond quickly and adjust its length, thereby effectively alleviating the pressure on the silicon rod. In extreme cases, such as when the silicon rod is subjected to excessive impact force or pressure, the telescopic rod 250 can serve as a protective mechanism to absorb these impact forces or pressures to prevent the silicon rod from being damaged.

[0039] In order to minimize the damage to the silicon rods in extreme cases, the second mounting plate 240 is connected to a second detector 231. When the telescopic rod 250 retracts due to pressure, the second detector 231 records the distance between the second mounting plate 240 and the first mounting plate 230 and transmits this information to the controller. When the distance is reduced to a preset threshold, the controller immediately controls the clamping mechanism 100 to stop to prevent further damage.

[0040] It should be noted that the second detector 231 may be a proximity switch, an infrared sensor or a laser sensor, etc.

[0041] In other embodiments, the buffer module may be a mechanism of slide columns and springs, which is intended to further absorb and disperse the impact force that the silicon rod may encounter during the release process, thereby protecting the silicon rod from damage.

[0042] Specifically, the sliding column, as the main load-bearing component of the buffer module, is made of high-strength, wear-resistant materials, such as stainless steel or alloy steel. One end of the sliding column is connected to the bracket 110 or the clamping jaw assembly 120, and the other end is connected to the spring, which is connected to the mechanism that drives the entire clamping mechanism 100 to move. As a key component of the buffer module, the spring is responsible for absorbing and storing impact force and gradually releasing it. When the silicon rod encounters an obstacle during the release process or needs to slow down the impact force, the sliding column will first contact the obstacle and be subjected to pressure. As the pressure increases, the sliding column will move backward along its axial direction, while compressing the spring, maximizing the reduction and dispersion of the pressure on the silicon rod, ensuring that the silicon rod will not be seriously damaged due to strong pressure.

[0043] The second aspect of the present invention also proposes a shaping device. By installing the clamp at the appropriate position of the shaping device, we can achieve automatic clamping, transportation and precise placement of silicon rods, thereby improving the efficiency and product quality of the entire production line.

[0044] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made within the knowledge scope of ordinary technicians in the relevant technical field without departing from the purpose of the present invention.

Claims

1. A clamp for clamping and transporting cylindrical silicon rods, characterized in that: include: The clamping mechanism comprises a multi-directionally movable bracket, a clamping claw assembly arranged on the bracket, and a driving assembly driving the clamping claw assembly to clamp the silicon rod; The overpressure protection component includes a first detector and a controller electrically connected to the first detector, wherein the first detector is mounted on the bracket, and when the clamping jaw assembly is about to release the silicon rod to a placement position, the first detector can detect foreign matter at the placement position, and the first detector can generate an abnormal signal and transmit it to the controller, and the controller can control the driving assembly to stop releasing the clamping jaw assembly.

2. The clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first detector is located above the silicon rod. The first detector is located at the front side of the silicon rod along its moving direction.

3. The clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bracket is provided with a mounting piece, and the mounting piece is used to mount the first detector. The mounting piece can be rotated and adjusted to change the angle of the first detector.

4. The clamp according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mounting member is provided with a mounting groove for accommodating the first detector, and the position of the first detector can be adjusted along the mounting groove to adjust the height of the first detector.

5. The clamp according to claim 4, characterized in that: The mounting groove is an arc-shaped groove.

6. The clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first detector is connected to at least two fixing rods, and both of the fixing rods pass through the arc groove. The first detector can adjust the angle and height simultaneously through the arc groove, and is fixed to the mounting member by a lock nut.

7. The clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that: The overpressure prevention assembly also includes a buffer module, which includes a telescopic part. The bracket is installed on the telescopic part. When the silicon rod abuts against a foreign object and is about to move downward, the pressure of the foreign object on the silicon rod is transmitted to the telescopic part through the clamping jaw assembly and the bracket.

8. The clamp according to claim 7, characterized in that: The telescopic member includes a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate connected to the bracket, the first mounting plate is arranged opposite to the second mounting plate, and the first mounting plate serves as a base for mounting the bracket, and a plurality of telescopic rods are arranged between the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate.

9. The clamp according to claim 8, characterized in that The buffer module also includes a second detector, which is connected to the second mounting plate. When the telescopic rod is retracted, the second detector is used to obtain the distance between the second mounting plate and the first mounting plate and transmit it to the controller. When the distance is reduced to a threshold, the controller controls the clamping mechanism to stop.

10. A plastic surgery device, characterized in that: Comprising the clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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