A small unpowered workpiece overturning and position changing device

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of unpowered small workpiece overturning displacement device, including base, base is inclined and is arranged support plate, the both sides of support plate are symmetrically arranged positioning plate, V-shaped groove and arc-shaped groove are opened on positioning plate, the front of two positioning plates is arranged support arm, support arm and positioning plate and base form the U-shaped positioning structure for the clamping jaw of support workpiece and can be used for the clamping jaw of workpiece.The unpowered small workpiece overturning displacement device disclosed in the application, support plate, positioning plate and support arm are arranged on base, can be respectively used for placing disc type workpiece, shaft type workpiece and stepped shaft type workpiece, clamp is grabbed from another angle or position, the overturning displacement of workpiece is realized, structure is simple and does not need power, can be used for the overturning displacement of multiple types of workpiece, improve the efficiency of production line.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automated machining technology, and more specifically, to a non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device. Background Technology

[0002] In automated turning and grinding production lines for small workpieces, articulated robots are responsible for transporting workpieces from their grippers to the processing equipment at designated positions, allowing for the flipping and repositioning of workpieces of various sizes. For different processing steps of the same workpiece, the orientation of the workpiece may need to be adjusted during transport, i.e., flipping. Flipping can change the loading and unloading direction of the workpiece, enabling flipping processing. The quality of its design directly affects the operating efficiency of the entire automated production line and is an essential and crucial component of the production line.

[0003] There are several ways to flip a workpiece. One way is for the robot to place the workpiece on a flipping mechanism and then pick it up again from the other side, thus completing the flip. For example, for shaft-type workpieces, the robot can grasp one end of the workpiece, place it in a positioning groove that matches the shaft diameter or in the pneumatic gripper of the flipping mechanism, and then pick up the workpiece from the other end, thus completing the flip. Another way is to use the flipping mechanism's own power mechanical structure to flip the workpiece, after which the robot removes the flipped workpiece. For example, for disc-type workpieces, the robot places the workpiece in the pneumatic gripper of the flipping mechanism, the flipping mechanism swaps the workpiece to the gripper on the other side, and finally the robot removes the flipped workpiece.

[0004] Patent document CN217668737U discloses a flipping and repositioning device for robotic machining, comprising a base, a placement platform on top of the base, a turntable on the placement platform, a connecting shaft below the turntable, a first gear ring on the connecting shaft, a bearing seat below the connecting shaft, a first motor behind the bearing seat, a first gear at the output end of the first motor, supports on both sides of the placement platform, a slider between the supports on the same side of the placement platform, a connecting seat below the slider, and a hydraulic cylinder below the connecting seat. This utility model's flipping and repositioning device for robotic machining facilitates flipping and repositioning of workpieces of various specifications, has a wide range of applications, facilitates multi-angle flipping of workpieces, has good stability, and can improve machining accuracy and efficiency; it is easy to assemble and disassemble, simple to use and maintain, and has low operating costs.

[0005] Since a production line usually needs to handle different processing techniques for various types of workpieces, and a single flipping mechanism can usually only complete the flipping task of a specific type of workpiece, a single flipping mechanism cannot meet the flipping requirements of different types of workpieces. The flipping mechanism requires power to drive it, which reduces the efficiency of the production line.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to propose a non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device to solve the problems existing in the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The summary section introduces a series of simplified concepts, which will be further explained in detail in the detailed description section. The summary section of this invention is not intended to limit the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor is it intended to determine the scope of protection of the claimed technical solution.

[0008] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device, comprising a base, a support plate inclinedly arranged on the base, positioning plates symmetrically arranged on both sides of the support plate, V-shaped grooves and arc grooves formed on the positioning plates, and support arms arranged at the front of the two positioning plates, the support arms, positioning plates and base forming a U-shaped positioning structure for supporting the workpiece and allowing the jaws of a clamping fixture to enter and exit.

[0009] Preferably, mounting grooves are provided on the front opposite sides of the two positioning plates, the mounting grooves extend to the top surface of the support plate, the mounting grooves are located at the front of the arc-shaped groove and are spaced apart from the arc-shaped groove, the support arm is installed in the mounting groove, and the top surface of the support arm is in the same horizontal plane as the top surface of the positioning plate.

[0010] Preferably, the width of the mounting groove is the same as the width of the support arm.

[0011] Preferably, multiple arc-shaped grooves are provided along the length of the positioning plate, and the radius of the arc-shaped grooves gradually increases in the direction away from the support arm.

[0012] Preferably, the length direction of the arc-shaped groove is perpendicular to the length direction of the positioning plate and is set horizontally.

[0013] Preferably, an arc-shaped positioning groove is formed on the inclined surface of the support plate, and the length direction of the arc-shaped positioning groove is consistent with the length direction of the support plate.

[0014] Preferably, the V-groove is located on the side of the arc groove away from the support arm, the included angle between the two sidewalls of the V-groove is 90 degrees, and the edge of the arc positioning groove and the sidewall of the rear part of the V-groove are in the same plane.

[0015] Preferably, the V-groove and the support plate form a V-shaped positioning structure for supporting stepped shaft workpieces. The side of the front part of the V-groove contacts the end face of the stepped shaft workpiece, and the arc-shaped positioning groove contacts the outer circumferential surface of the maximum shaft diameter of the stepped shaft workpiece.

[0016] Preferably, it also includes a fixing member, which is disposed on the rear side wall of the base and is used to fix the position of the base.

[0017] Preferably, the base, positioning plate, and support arm are made of metal or polymer materials.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device of the present invention is provided with a support plate, a positioning plate and a support arm on the base, which can be used to place disc-shaped workpieces, shaft-shaped workpieces and stepped shaft-shaped workpieces respectively. The clamps then grab the workpiece from another angle or position to realize the flipping and repositioning of the workpiece. The structure is simple and does not require power. It can be used for flipping and repositioning of various types of workpieces, thereby improving the efficiency of the production line.

[0019] The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device of the present invention, other advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be apparent in part from the following description, and in part will be understood by those skilled in the art through study and practice of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device disclosed in this invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning plate disclosed in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the support plate disclosed in this invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the gear blank being placed into the U-shaped positioning structure as disclosed in this invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the gear blank being flipped, repositioned, and gripped according to the present invention. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the shaft being placed in the arc-shaped groove as disclosed in this invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the stepped shaft being placed on the V-shaped positioning structure disclosed in this invention. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the stepped shaft placement disclosed in this invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the flipping and repositioning gripping of the stepped shaft disclosed in this invention.

[0021] The components are: 1. base, 2. support plate, 3. positioning plate, 4. V-groove, 5. arc groove, 6. support arm, 7. mounting groove, 8. arc positioning groove, 9. edge, 10. fastener, 101. gear blank, 102. shaft, 103. stepped shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can implement it based on the description.

[0023] It should be understood that terms such as “having,” “comprising,” and “including” as used herein do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements or combinations thereof.

[0024] like Figures 1-9 As shown, the present invention provides a non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device, including a base 1, a support plate 2 inclinedly arranged on the base 1, positioning plates 3 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the support plate 2, a V-shaped groove 4 and an arc groove 5 opened on the positioning plates 3, and a support arm 6 arranged at the front of the two positioning plates 3. The support arm 6, the positioning plates 3 and the base 1 form a U-shaped positioning structure for supporting the workpiece and allowing the jaws of the clamping fixture to enter and exit.

[0025] Furthermore, mounting grooves 7 are opened on the opposite sides of the front of the two positioning plates 3. The mounting grooves 7 extend to the top surface of the support plate 2. The mounting grooves 7 are set at the front of the arc-shaped groove 5 and spaced apart from the arc-shaped groove 5. The support arm 6 is installed in the mounting groove 7. The top surface of the support arm 6 is in the same horizontal plane as the top surface of the positioning plate 3.

[0026] Furthermore, the width of the mounting groove 7 is the same as the width of the support arm 6.

[0027] Furthermore, multiple arc-shaped grooves 5 are provided along the length of the positioning plate 3, and the radius of the arc-shaped grooves 5 gradually increases in the direction away from the support arm 6.

[0028] Furthermore, the length direction of the arc-shaped groove 5 is perpendicular to the length direction of the positioning plate 3 and is set horizontally.

[0029] Furthermore, an arc-shaped positioning groove 8 is formed on the inclined surface of the support plate 2, and the length direction of the arc-shaped positioning groove 8 is consistent with the length direction of the support plate 2.

[0030] Furthermore, the V-groove 4 is located on the side of the arc groove 5 away from the support arm 6, the included angle between the two side walls of the V-groove 4 is 90 degrees, and the edge 9 of the arc positioning groove 8 is in the same plane as the side wall of the rear part of the V-groove 4.

[0031] Furthermore, the V-groove 4 and the support plate 2 form a V-shaped positioning structure for supporting stepped shaft workpieces. The side of the front part of the V-groove 4 contacts the end face of the stepped shaft workpiece, and the arc-shaped positioning groove 8 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the maximum shaft diameter of the stepped shaft workpiece.

[0032] Furthermore, it also includes a fastener 10, which is disposed on the rear side wall of the base 1 and is used to fix the position of the base 1.

[0033] Furthermore, the base 1, positioning plate 3, and support arm 6 are made of metal or polymer materials.

[0034] The working principle of the above technical solution: When workpieces need to be flipped or repositioned during processing, some workpieces, due to their special shapes and lack of support at their center of gravity, cannot maintain stability when placed on a flat surface and are prone to tilting or rolling (e.g., stepped shaft workpieces). Therefore, flipping mechanisms suitable for such workpieces typically require a movable gripper to hold the workpiece to be flipped. Furthermore, some workpieces require the robot gripper to be directly in front of them (e.g., disc-shaped workpieces), and the flipping of these workpieces usually relies on the flipping mechanism's own power mechanical structure.

[0035] A single flipping mechanism cannot meet the needs of various workpieces. Due to the special nature of the workpieces, a single flipping mechanism is often incompatible with multiple types of workpieces. Therefore, many flexible production lines need to install multiple different flipping mechanisms to achieve flipping operations on different types of workpieces in order to meet the processing needs of various workpieces.

[0036] The existing flipping mechanism lacks functional expandability. During future process modifications to the production line, if the size of a certain type of workpiece changes significantly, or if new types of workpieces requiring flipping are needed, the existing flipping mechanism may struggle to adapt to the new workpieces through simple modifications. For example, if the diameter of a disc-shaped workpiece increases, and the pneumatic grippers on the flipping mechanism used to hold the disc-shaped workpiece cannot hold the larger workpiece, it usually requires replacing the entire gripper or even the entire mechanism to achieve the workpiece flipping function. This results in high modification costs and a long turnaround time.

[0037] The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device of the present invention has a simple and easy-to-understand structure, is applicable to a wide range of non-standard workpieces, and the individual positioning mechanism components can be customized or installed according to the process requirements of the production line, and can complete the flipping process of various workpieces.

[0038] The U-shaped positioning structure consists of two forward-extending support arms 6. These arms 6 can be made of metal or high-strength, wear-resistant non-metallic materials, such as polymers. The support arms 6 can be mounted on the positioning plate 3 or directly fixed to the base 1. The U-shaped positioning structure is used to place disc-shaped workpieces, such as… Figure 4 As shown, taking gear blank 101 as an example, the principle of flipping and repositioning disc-shaped workpieces is explained. When it is necessary to flip the workpiece, after the fixture grips the gear blank 101, it places the gear blank 101 on the two support arms 6. During placement, the distance between the axis of the gear blank 101 and the two support arms 6 is the same. After the fixture releases the gear blank 101, it grips the gear blank 101 from below, as shown. Figure 5As shown, the fixture grips the gear blank 101 again from below. One of the grippers can extend through the space between the two support arms 6 to the side of the gear blank 101 and grip it again, thus realizing the flipping and repositioning of the workpiece. The U-shaped positioning structure can flip and reposition disc-shaped workpieces such as gears, sprockets, and rings.

[0039] Similarly, the fixture can first place the gear blank 101 onto the two support arms 6 from below. At this time, one of the clamps must pass through the space between the two support arms 6. After the clamp is placed, it is released and then the gear blank 101 is gripped from above to complete the material handling process and realize the flipping and repositioning of the workpiece.

[0040] The support arm 6 can be set on the positioning plate 3. The front of the two positioning plates 3 is provided with mounting grooves 7, which extend to the top surface of the support plate 2. The mounting grooves 7 are set at the front of the arc groove 5 and are spaced apart from the arc groove 5. The support arm 6 is installed in the mounting groove 7. At least two mounting holes can be opened at the rear end of the support arm 6. Threaded holes are opened on the lower side wall of the mounting groove 7 at the position opposite to the mounting holes. The support arm 6 is installed on the positioning plate 3 using countersunk screws. Alternatively, a similar structure can be used to directly install the support arm on the base 1. The principle is the same as that of installing it on the positioning plate 3, and will not be described in detail here.

[0041] like Figure 6 As shown, taking shaft 102 as an example, the principle of flipping and repositioning shaft-type workpieces is explained. When flipping and repositioning shaft 102, it can be placed on the corresponding arc-shaped groove 5 according to the diameter of the shaft-type workpiece. During placement, the center of gravity of shaft 102 should be positioned between the two positioning plates, preferably in the middle of the two positioning plates 3, to maintain the stability of shaft 102 after placement. After the fixture releases shaft 102, it can be gripped again from another position and angle to complete the material handling process and realize the flipping and repositioning of the workpiece. Shaft-type workpieces such as smooth shafts, blanks, and slender shafts can be operated in the same manner as the flipping and repositioning of shaft 102.

[0042] like Figures 7-9 As shown, when flipping and repositioning the stepped shaft 103, the fixture adjusts the axial direction of the stepped shaft 103 to be parallel to the direction of the inclined surface of the support plate 2, and then places the stepped shaft 103 onto the V-shaped positioning structure. The side of the front part of the V-shaped groove 4 contacts the end face of the stepped shaft 103, and the arc-shaped positioning groove 8 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the maximum shaft diameter of the stepped shaft 103. Because the arc-shaped positioning groove 8 on the inclined surface of the support plate 2 supports the outer circumferential surface of the maximum shaft diameter of the stepped shaft 103, the stability of the stepped shaft 103 is ensured, and rolling will not occur. Figure 8As shown, the robot uses a gripper at the end of the machine to grasp the upper part of the workpiece and place the semi-finished workpiece at a 45° angle on the arc-shaped positioning groove of the V-shaped positioning structure. After the gripper releases the stepped shaft 103, it continues to execute the material handling command. The gripper moves to the lower part of the stepped shaft 103 to complete the material handling process and realize the flipping and repositioning of the workpiece.

[0043] When flipping or repositioning stepped shaft workpieces, the end of the stepped shaft closest to the center of gravity should be placed downwards and tilted on the V-shaped positioning structure to better maintain the stability of the stepped shaft workpiece.

[0044] The V-groove 4 can be set as a V-groove with an included angle of 90 degrees between the two side walls, and it is set symmetrically. The included angle between the two sides of the V-groove 4 and the vertical plane is 45 degrees.

[0045] The fixing component 10 is set on the rear side wall of the base 1. The fixing component 10 is used to fix the position of the base 1. The position of the base 1 refers to the position of the base 1 in the automatic production line. It can be set according to the specific structure of the automatic production line to make the running path of the fixture more reasonable. The fixing component 10 is fixedly connected to the base 1, which can be connected by bolts to ensure the stability of the base 1.

[0046] The base 1, positioning plate 3 and support plate 2 can all be made of metal materials, or they can be made of high-strength and rigid polymer materials.

[0047] The small workpiece flipping and repositioning device requires no additional power for its workpiece positioning and flipping mechanisms. It relies solely on the robot's grippers to place the workpiece on the designated positioning structure and then remove it from another position or angle, making operation simple. Since the robot does not need to wait for the power unit to complete the flipping process before removing the workpiece, it also reduces the time spent on the flipping process, improving production line efficiency.

[0048] The small workpiece flipping and repositioning device integrates three independent positioning mechanisms: U-shaped positioning structure, arc groove, and V-shaped groove positioning structure. It can realize the positioning and flipping adaptation of various workpieces (disc-type workpieces such as gears and sprockets, shaft-type workpieces such as optical shafts, slender shafts, and stepped shafts), thereby significantly reducing the area occupied by the flipping and repositioning mechanism in the production line.

[0049] The small workpiece flipping and repositioning device has a simple structure. Each positioning structure can be disassembled and replaced individually. If the existing flipping mechanism is not suitable for the size of a new workpiece, only 1-2 parts of the flipping and repositioning mechanism need to be replaced to complete the modification. If a certain positioning structure is not required for the corresponding workpiece flipping work in the current production stage, the unnecessary parts can be removed directly, and only the necessary parts are retained.

[0050] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows: The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device of the present invention is provided with a support plate, a positioning plate and a support arm on the base, which can be used to place disc-shaped workpieces, shaft-shaped workpieces and stepped shaft-shaped workpieces respectively. The clamps then grab the workpiece from another angle or position to realize the flipping and repositioning of the workpiece. The structure is simple and does not require power. It can be used for flipping and repositioning of various types of workpieces, thereby improving the efficiency of the production line.

[0051] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0052] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0053] Although embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed above, they are not limited to the applications listed in the specification and embodiments. They can be applied to various fields suitable for the present invention. Other modifications can be easily made by those skilled in the art. Therefore, without departing from the general concept defined by the claims and their equivalents, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrations shown and described herein.

Claims

1. A non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device, characterized in that, Includes a base (1), a support plate (2) is inclinedly arranged on the base (1), and positioning plates (3) are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the support plate (2). V-shaped grooves (4) and arc grooves (5) are opened on the positioning plates (3). Support arms (6) are arranged at the front of the two positioning plates (3). The support arms (6), the positioning plates (3) and the base (1) form a U-shaped positioning structure for supporting the workpiece and allowing the jaws of the clamping fixture to enter and exit. The length direction of the arc groove (5) is perpendicular to the length direction of the positioning plate (3) and is set horizontally; The V-groove (4) and the support plate (2) form a V-shaped positioning structure. An arc-shaped positioning groove (8) is opened on the inclined surface of the support plate (2). The length direction of the arc-shaped positioning groove (8) is consistent with the length direction of the support plate (2). The V-groove (4) is set on the side of the arc groove (5) away from the support arm (6). The included angle between the two side walls of the V-groove (4) is 90 degrees. The edge (9) of the arc positioning groove (8) and the side wall of the rear part of the V-groove (4) are in the same plane.

2. The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Mounting grooves (7) are opened on the opposite sides of the front of the two positioning plates (3). The mounting grooves (7) extend to the top surface of the positioning plates (3). The mounting grooves (7) are set at the front of the arc grooves (5) and spaced apart from the arc grooves (5). The support arm (6) is installed in the mounting grooves (7). The top surface of the support arm (6) is in the same horizontal plane as the top surface of the positioning plates (3).

3. The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The width of the mounting slot (7) is the same as the width of the support arm (6).

4. The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device according to claim 3, characterized in that, Multiple arc-shaped grooves (5) are provided along the length of the positioning plate (3), and the radius of the arc-shaped grooves (5) gradually increases in the direction away from the support arm (6).

5. The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The V-shaped positioning structure is used to support stepped shaft workpieces. The side of the front part of the V-shaped groove (4) contacts the end face of the stepped shaft workpiece, and the arc-shaped positioning groove (8) contacts the outer circumferential surface of the maximum shaft diameter of the stepped shaft workpiece.

6. The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a fastener (10), which is set on the rear side wall of the base (1) and is used to fix the position of the base (1).

7. The non-powered small workpiece flipping and repositioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base (1), positioning plate (3) and support arm (6) are made of metal or polymer materials.

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