Full-automatic rubber damper hole shrinkage detection all-in-one machine
By designing a fully automatic rubber shock absorber diameter reduction detection integrated machine, the automatic loading and conveying of rubber parts is achieved by using alternate motion sliding and swing devices, which solves the problem that traditional diameter reduction processing relies on manual or semi-automatic equipment, and improves production efficiency and processing success rate.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510511026.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-17
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
AI Technical Summary
The shrinking processing of traditional rubber shock absorbers relies on manual or semi-automatic equipment, and cannot achieve full-process automated inspection and processing, resulting in low production efficiency and increased risk of processing failure.
A fully automatic rubber shock absorber diameter reduction detection integrated machine is designed, including a conveying device, a sliding device, a moving device and a feeding device. Through alternate sliding and swinging devices, automatic loading, conveying and shrinking processing of rubber parts is realized.
The rubber shock absorber diameter reduction process is fully automated, which improves production efficiency, reduces the risk of processing failure, and meets the needs of mass production.
Smart Images

Figure CN120156094A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of necking detection, and specifically to a full-automatic integrated machine for necking detection of rubber shock absorbers. Background Art
[0002] Rubber shock absorbers are key vibration damping components widely used in industrial equipment, automobiles, rail transit and other fields, and their performance directly affects the stability and service life of equipment. In the manufacturing process of shock absorbers, the necking process is an important link. By compressing the ends of rubber parts to form a specific shape, the assembly performance and shock absorption effect can be ensured. The necking processing of traditional rubber shock absorbers mainly relies on manual or semi-automatic equipment, and there are the following problems: 1. The speed of manual loading, positioning and picking is slow, which is difficult to meet the requirements of mass production; 2. Existing equipment usually requires manual intervention and cannot achieve full-process automated detection and processing; 3. Rubber parts are prone to offset or pile up during transportation, resulting in processing failures. Based on this, the present invention proposes an automatic integrated machine for necking detection of rubber shock absorbers to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention
[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a full-automatic integrated machine for necking detection of rubber shock absorbers to solve the problems raised in the above background art.
[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A full-automatic integrated machine for necking detection of rubber shock absorbers, including four bases. A shock absorber necking machine is fixedly connected to the top of the four bases. A conveying device is correspondingly connected to one side of the shock absorber necking machine. The conveying device includes a sliding device and a moving device. The sliding device is used to drive the rubber part to move horizontally. The moving device is used to drive the swinging device to perform reciprocating motion, so that the movement trajectories of the swinging device and the sliding device are staggered to avoid interference between the two. A blanking device is provided at the feeding end of the conveying device. The blanking device is used to convey the rubber part to the bearing area of the sliding device or the swinging device for subsequent processing by the shock absorber necking machine.
[0005] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the sliding device includes two bottom plates. A support frame is fixedly connected to the top of the two bottom plates. A moving device is fixedly connected to the central groove at the top of the support frame. The outer side of the top of the support frame is fixedly connected to the bottom of the blanking device. First sliding rods are fixedly connected to both ends of the top of the support frame. First sliding blocks are movably connected to the outer surfaces of the two first sliding rods. A first placement block is fixedly connected to the tops of the two first sliding blocks. Several first grooved circular blocks are fixedly connected to the groove at the top of the first placement block.
[0006] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the mobile device includes two rotating blocks, and a conveyor belt is movably connected to the outer surfaces of the two rotating blocks. One end of the outer surface of the conveyor belt is fixedly connected to one end of a connecting plate, and the other end of the connecting plate is fixedly connected to a swinging device.
[0007] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, two second sliding blocks are fixedly connected to the bottom of the swinging device. Second sliding rods are movably connected to the grooves at the bottoms of the two second sliding blocks, and the bottoms of the two second sliding rods are fixedly connected to the central grooves at the top of the support frame. A hollow plate is correspondingly connected to the outside of one of the second sliding rods, and the hollow part of the hollow plate is movably connected to one side of the swinging device.
[0008] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the swinging device includes an L-shaped plate. The bottom of the L-shaped plate is fixedly connected to the tops of the two second sliding blocks. Two third sliding rods are fixedly connected to the inner side of the top of the L-shaped plate. A rectangular block is slidably connected to the outer surfaces of the third sliding rods. One end of the outside of the rectangular block is movably connected to a rotating column, and the outer surface of the top end of the rotating column is movably connected to the hollow part of the hollow plate. A second placing block is fixedly connected to the top of the rectangular block, and several second groove round blocks are fixedly connected to the top of the second placing block.
[0009] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the blanking device includes two long rods. The inner sides of the bottoms of the two long rods are fixedly connected to the outer sides of the top of the support frame. Telescopic columns are movably connected to the tops of the two long rods, and a feeding bucket is fixedly connected to the bottom ends of the two telescopic columns.
[0010] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, one end of the outer surface of the center of the feeding bucket is fixedly connected to a first movable block. A cylinder is movably connected to the central groove of the first movable block. The output shaft end of the cylinder is connected to a second movable block. A sector plate is fixedly connected to the bottom of the second movable block. Rotating shafts are movably connected to both sides of the top of the sector plate, and the bottoms of the two rotating shafts are movably connected to both sides of the bottom of the feeding bucket.
[0011] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: (1) The fully automatic rubber shock absorber diameter reduction detection integrated machine symmetrically arranges first sliding rods at both ends of the top of the support frame. The first sliding rods and the first sliding blocks form a linear guide rail mechanism. The reciprocating linear motion of the first sliding block is realized through a driving device. The first placing block fixedly connected to the top of the first sliding block is provided with a plurality of first groove round blocks, and the groove shape is adapted to the outer shape of the rubber shock absorber workpiece.
[0012] (2) The fully automatic rubber shock absorber diameter reduction detection integrated machine. By arranging a conveyor belt on the outer surfaces of two rotating blocks, when the two rotating blocks rotate driven by external electric power, the conveyor belt will be driven to operate. Since one end of the connecting plate is fixedly connected to the outer surface of the conveyor belt, the operation of the conveyor belt will drive the connecting plate to move together. At this time, the connecting plate will pull the swinging device fixedly connected to its other end to move horizontally. When the swinging device moves driven by the connecting plate, the second sliding block at its bottom will move under the support of two second sliding rods, which can ensure that the moving direction of the swinging device follows a fixed track.
[0013] (3) The fully automatic rubber shock absorber diameter reduction detection integrated machine. By fixedly connecting the L-shaped plate to the top of the second sliding block, the L-shaped plate can move together with the second sliding block. When the L-shaped plate drives the device on its top to move, the rotating column movably connected to the outer end of the long block will move back and forth in the groove of the hollow plate. When the rotating column moves to the bent part of the hollow plate, it will pull the long block connected to its bottom end to slide upward on the outer surface of the third sliding rod. This sliding method has two important functions: First, it can disperse the weight borne by the top of the long block; Second, it can make the second groove round block located at the bottom of the first placing block rise to the same height as the first placing block, and this moving method can improve work efficiency.
[0014] (4) The fully automatic rubber shock absorber diameter reduction detection integrated machine. By connecting the bottom ends of two telescopic columns to both sides of the feeding bucket respectively, under the mutual pushing action of the telescopic columns, the feeding part at the bottom of the feeding bucket can be driven to move. In this way, the rubber parts can be conveniently placed at different positions of the first groove round block and the second groove round block. One end of the outer surface of the feeding bucket is fixedly connected with a first movable block, and the center of the first movable block is connected to a cylinder. When the cylinder drives the second movable block connected to its output shaft end to move, the second movable block will quickly drive the sector plate fixedly connected to its bottom to swing. At this time, the sector plate will rotate under the action of the top rotating shaft, thereby opening the feeding part of the feeding bucket. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Figure 1 It is a front structural schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 It is an overall schematic diagram of the conveying device of the present invention; Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the sliding device in the present invention; Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the moving device in the present invention; Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the swinging device in the present invention; Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the connection relationship of the internal devices of the conveying device of the present invention; Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the blanking device in the present invention; Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the connection relationship on the outer surface of the fan-shaped plate in the present invention.
[0016] In the figure: 1, base; 2, shock absorber necking machine; 3, conveying device; 31, sliding device; 311, bottom plate; 312, support frame; 313, first sliding rod; 314, first sliding block; 315, first placing block; 316, first grooved round block; 32, moving device; 321, rotating block; 322, conveyor belt; 323, connecting plate; 324, second sliding block; 325, second sliding rod; 326, hollow plate; 33, swinging device; 331, L-shaped plate; 332, third sliding rod; 333, rectangular block; 334, rotating column; 335, second placing block; 336, second grooved round block; 34, blanking device; 341, long rod; 342, telescopic column; 343, material discharging bucket; 344, first movable block; 345, cylinder; 346, second movable block; 347, fan-shaped plate; 348, rotating shaft. Specific embodiments
[0017] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
[0018] Embodiment 1: Please refer to Figure 1 - Figure 2 , a full-automatic rubber shock absorber necking detection integrated machine, including four bases 1. A shock absorber necking machine 2 is provided on the top of the four bases 1. The necking process is performed by the shock absorber necking machine 2 to compress and form the end of the rubber part. And the top of the four bases 1 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the shock absorber necking machine 2. A conveying device 3 is correspondingly connected to one side of the shock absorber necking machine 2. The conveying device 3 includes a sliding device 31 and a moving device 32. The sliding device 31 is used to drive the rubber part to move horizontally. The moving device 32 is used to drive the swinging device 33 to perform reciprocating motion, so that the movement trajectories of the swinging device 33 and the sliding device 31 are staggered to avoid interference between the two; A blanking device 34 is provided at the feeding end of the conveying device 3. The blanking device 34 is used to convey the rubber part to the bearing area of the sliding device 31 or the swinging device 33 for subsequent processing by the shock absorber necking machine 2.
[0019] Embodiment 2: On the basis of Embodiment 1, as Figure 3 - 8As shown, the sliding device 31 includes two bottom plates 311. At the top of the two bottom plates 311, there is a support frame 312, and the top of the two bottom plates 311 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the support frame 312. At the central groove at the top of the support frame 312, there is a moving device 32, and the central groove at the top of the support frame 312 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the moving device 32. The outer side at the top of the support frame 312 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the material feeding device 34. At both ends of the top of the support frame 312, there are first sliding rods 313, and both ends of the top of the support frame 312 are fixedly connected to the bottom of the first sliding rods 313. On the outer surfaces of the two first sliding rods 313, there are first sliding blocks 314, and the outer surfaces of the two first sliding rods 313 are movably connected to the grooves of the first sliding blocks 314. At the top of the two first sliding blocks 314, there is a first placing block 315, and the top of the two first sliding blocks 314 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the first placing block 315. By symmetrically arranging the first sliding rods 313 at both ends of the top of the support frame 312, the first sliding rods 313 and the first sliding blocks 314 form a linear guide mechanism. Through the driving device, the reciprocating linear motion of the first sliding blocks 314 is realized. The first placing block 315 fixedly connected to the top of the first sliding blocks 314 is provided with a plurality of first grooved circular blocks 316, and the groove shape is adapted to the outer shape of the rubber shock absorber workpiece. At the groove at the top of the first placing block 315, there are several first grooved circular blocks 316, and the groove at the top of the first placing block 315 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the several first grooved circular blocks 316.
[0020] The moving device 32 includes two rotating blocks 321. On the outer surfaces of the two rotating blocks 321, there is a conveyor belt 322, and the outer surfaces of the two rotating blocks 321 are movably connected to the inner surface of the conveyor belt 322. At one end of the outer surface of the conveyor belt 322, there is a connecting plate 323, and one end of the outer surface of the conveyor belt 322 is fixedly connected to one end of the connecting plate 323. At the other end of the connecting plate 323, there is a swinging device 33, and the other end of the connecting plate 323 is fixedly connected to one side of the swinging device 33.
[0021] Two second sliding blocks 324 are provided at the bottom of the swing device 33, and the bottom of the swing device 33 is fixedly connected to the tops of the two second sliding blocks 324. Second sliding rods 325 are provided at the grooves at the bottoms of the two second sliding blocks 324, and the grooves at the bottoms of the two second sliding blocks 324 are movably connected to the outer surfaces of the second sliding rods 325. The bottoms of the two second sliding rods 325 are fixedly connected to the central grooves at the tops of the support frames 312. A hollow plate 326 is provided on the outside of one of the second sliding rods 325, and the outside of one of the second sliding rods 325 is correspondingly connected to the inner side of the bottom of the hollow plate 326. By providing a conveyor belt 322 on the outer surfaces of the two rotating blocks 321, when the two rotating blocks 321 rotate under the drive of external power, the conveyor belt 322 will be driven to operate. Since one end of the connecting plate 323 is fixedly connected to the outer surface of the conveyor belt 322, the operation of the conveyor belt 322 will drive the connecting plate 323 to move together. At this time, the connecting plate 323 will pull the swing device 33 fixedly connected to its other end to move horizontally. When the swing device 33 moves driven by the connecting plate 323, the second sliding blocks 324 at its bottom will move under the support of the two second sliding rods 325. This not only increases the flexibility of the swing device 33 during movement but also ensures that its moving direction follows a fixed trajectory, and the hollow part of the hollow plate 326 is movably connected to one side of the swing device 33.
[0022] The swing device 33 includes an L-shaped plate 331. The bottom of the L-shaped plate 331 is fixedly connected to the tops of two second sliding blocks 324. Inside the top of the L-shaped plate 331, there are two third sliding rods 332, and the inside of the top of the L-shaped plate 331 is fixedly connected to the outer sides of the two third sliding rods 332. A rectangular block 333 is arranged on the outer surface of the third sliding rod 332, and the inner side of the rectangular block 333 is slidably connected to the outer surface of the third sliding rod 332. One end of the outer side of the rectangular block 333 is provided with a rotating column 334, and one end of the outer side of the rectangular block 333 is movably connected to the bottom end of the rotating column 334. The outer surface of the top end of the rotating column 334 is movably connected to the hollowed-out part of the hollowed-out plate 326. The top of the rectangular block 333 is provided with a second placing block 335, and the top of the rectangular block 333 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the second placing block 335. A plurality of second groove blocks 336 are arranged on the top of the second placing block 335. By fixedly connecting the L-shaped plate 331 to the tops of the second sliding blocks 324, the L-shaped plate 331 can move together with the second sliding blocks 324. When the L-shaped plate 331 drives the devices on its top to move, the rotating column 334 movably connected to one end of the outer side of the rectangular block 333 will move back and forth at the groove of the hollowed-out plate 326. When the rotating column 334 moves to the bent part of the hollowed-out plate 326, it will pull the rectangular block 333 connected to its bottom end to slide upward on the outer surface of the third sliding rod 332. This sliding method has two important functions: First, it can disperse the weight borne by the top of the rectangular block 333; Second, it can make the second groove blocks 336 located at the bottom of the first placing block 315 rise to the same height as the first placing block 315. This left-right staggered movement method can significantly improve work efficiency, and the tops of the second placing blocks 335 are all fixedly connected to the bottoms of a plurality of second groove blocks 336.
[0023] The blanking device 34 includes two long rods 341. The inner sides of the bottoms of the two long rods 341 are fixedly connected to the outer sides of the tops of the support frames 312. Telescopic columns 342 are arranged on the tops of the two long rods 341, and the tops of the two long rods 341 are movably connected to the top ends of the telescopic columns 342. A material discharge bucket 343 is arranged at the bottom ends of the two telescopic columns 342, and the bottom ends of the two telescopic columns 342 are fixedly connected to both sides of the material discharge bucket 343.
[0024] One end of the outer surface of the center of the feeding bucket 343 is provided with a first movable block 344, and one end of the outer surface of the center of the feeding bucket 343 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the first movable block 344. A cylinder 345 is arranged in the central groove of the first movable block 344, and the central groove of the first movable block 344 is movably connected to the bottom of the cylinder 345. The output shaft end of the cylinder 345 is provided with a second movable block 346, and the output shaft end of the cylinder 345 is connected to the center of the second movable block 346. A sector plate 347 is arranged at the bottom of the second movable block 346, and one end of the outer surface of the bottom of the second movable block 346 is fixedly connected to the sector plate 347. Rotating shafts 348 are arranged on both sides of the top of the sector plate 347, and both sides of the top of the sector plate 347 are movably connected to the tops of the rotating shafts 348. By connecting the bottom ends of the two telescopic columns 342 to both sides of the feeding bucket 343 respectively, under the mutual pushing action of the telescopic columns 342, the feeding part at the bottom of the feeding bucket 343 can be driven to move. In this way, it is convenient to place the rubber parts at different positions of the first groove circular block 316 and the second groove circular block 336. One end of the outer surface of the feeding bucket 343 is fixedly connected with a first movable block 344, and the center of the first movable block 344 is connected to the cylinder 345. When the cylinder 345 drives the second movable block 346 connected to its output shaft end to move, the second movable block 346 will quickly drive the sector plate 347 fixedly connected to the bottom to swing. At this time, the sector plate 347 will rotate under the action of the top rotating shaft 348, thereby opening the feeding part of the feeding bucket 343. This design solves the problem of manually placing rubber parts, improves work efficiency, and both bottom ends of the two rotating shafts 348 are movably connected to both sides of the bottom of the feeding bucket 343.
[0025] The working principle of the present invention is as follows: This fully automatic rubber shock absorber necking detection integrated machine is mainly composed of a shock absorber necking machine 2 supported by four bases 1 and a conveying device 3 connected thereto. The conveying device 3 includes a sliding device 31, a moving device 32, a swinging device 33 and a feeding device 34, and its function is to convey rubber parts to the shock absorber necking machine for processing; 1. Automatic feeding of rubber parts: The feeding device 34 includes a feeding bucket 343. Driven by the cylinder 345, the feeding bucket 343 controls the opening and closing through the sector plate 347, and orderly releases the rubber parts to the feeding end of the conveying device 3. After the rubber parts fall into the first groove circular block 316 in the sliding device 31, they are driven by the first sliding block 314 and horizontally move along the first sliding rod 313 to the processing position; 2. Alternating feeding of sliding and swinging: The sliding device 31 and the swinging device 33 adopt alternating motion control to avoid interference. After the sliding device 31 sends the rubber parts to the processing area of the necking machine 2, it immediately returns to its original position to prepare for receiving the next workpiece. At the same time, under the drive of the moving device 32, the swinging device 33 moves horizontally along the second sliding rod 325 under the traction of the conveyor belt 322 and the connecting plate 323, and sends another group of rubber parts to the processing position. The L-shaped plate 331 and the third sliding rod 332 in the swinging device 33 ensure a stable movement trajectory and avoid deviation.
[0026] 3. Necking processing and cyclic operation: When the rubber parts reach the processing position, the necking machine 2 performs the necking process through the shock absorber to compress and form the end of the rubber parts. After the processing is completed, the sliding device 31 or the swinging device 33 alternately removes the finished products and sends them to the next process such as inspection or collection to ensure continuous, efficient and collision-free operation.
[0027] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A fully automatic rubber shock absorber shrinkage detection machine, comprising four bases (1), the tops of the four bases (1) being fixedly connected with shock absorber shrinkage machines (2), characterized in that: A conveying device (3) is correspondingly connected to one side of the shock absorber reducing machine (2), and the conveying device (3) comprises a sliding device (31) and a moving device (32), wherein the sliding device (31) is used to drive the rubber member to move in a horizontal direction, and the moving device (32) is used to drive the swing device (33) to perform reciprocating motion, so that the motion trajectories of the swing device (33) and the sliding device (31) are interlaced to avoid interference between the two. A feeding end of the conveying device (3) is provided with a feeding device (34), and the feeding device (34) is used to convey the rubber parts to the bearing area of the sliding device (31) or the swinging device (33) for subsequent processing by the shock absorber reducing machine (2).
2. The fully automatic rubber shock absorber shrinkage detection integrated machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sliding device (31) comprises two bottom plates (311), the tops of the two bottom plates (311) are fixedly connected to support frames (312), the center groove at the top of the support frame (312) is fixedly connected to a moving device (32), the outer side of the top of the support frame (312) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the unloading device (34), the top ends of the support frame (312) are fixedly connected to first sliding rods (313), the outer surfaces of the two first sliding rods (313) are movably connected to first sliding blocks (314), the tops of the two first sliding blocks (314) are fixedly connected to first placement blocks (315), and the grooves at the tops of the first placement blocks (315) are fixedly connected to a plurality of first groove round blocks (316).
3. The fully automatic rubber shock absorber shrinkage detection integrated machine according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The moving device (32) comprises two rotating blocks (321), the outer surfaces of the two rotating blocks (321) are movably connected to a conveyor belt (322), one end of the outer surface of the conveyor belt (322) is fixedly connected to one end of a connecting plate (323), and the other end of the connecting plate (323) is fixedly connected to a swing device (33).
4. The fully automatic rubber shock absorber shrinkage detection integrated machine according to claim 3 is characterized in that: Two second sliding blocks (324) are fixedly connected to the bottom of the swing device (33); second sliding rods (325) are movably connected to the grooves at the bottom of the two second sliding blocks (324); the bottoms of the two second sliding rods (325) are fixedly connected to the center groove at the top of the support frame (312); a hollow plate (326) is correspondingly connected to the outer side of one of the second sliding rods (325); and the hollow portion of the hollow plate (326) is movably connected to one side of the swing device (33).
5. The fully automatic rubber shock absorber shrinkage detection integrated machine according to claim 4 is characterized in that: The swing device (33) comprises an L-shaped plate (331), the bottom of the L-shaped plate (331) is fixedly connected to the tops of two second sliding blocks (324), the inner side of the top of the L-shaped plate (331) is fixedly connected to two third sliding rods (332), the outer surface of the third sliding rod (332) is slidably connected to a rectangular block (333), one end of the outer side of the rectangular block (333) is movably connected to a rotating column (334), and the outer surface of the top end of the rotating column (334) is movably connected to the hollow part of the hollow plate (326), the top of the rectangular block (333) is fixedly connected to a second placement block (335), and the top of each of the second placement blocks (335) is fixedly connected to a plurality of second grooved round blocks (336).
6. The fully automatic rubber shock absorber shrinkage detection integrated machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The material discharge device (34) comprises two long rods (341), the inner sides of the bottoms of the two long rods (341) are fixedly connected to the outer sides of the tops of the support frames (312), the tops of the two long rods (341) are movably connected to telescopic columns (342), and the bottoms of the two telescopic columns (342) are fixedly connected to material discharge barrels (343).
7. The fully automatic rubber shock absorber shrinkage detection integrated machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: A first movable block (344) is fixedly connected to one end of the central outer surface of the discharge barrel (343); a cylinder (345) is movably connected to the central groove of the first movable block (344); a second movable block (346) is connected to the output shaft end of the cylinder (345); a fan-shaped plate (347) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the second movable block (346); rotating shafts (348) are movably connected to both sides of the top of the fan-shaped plate (347); and the bottoms of the two rotating shafts (348) are movably connected to both sides of the bottom of the discharge barrel (343).