Spacing machine and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of material conveying, and discloses a spacing machine and a control method thereof. The spacing machine comprises a rack and a conveying system, the rack is provided with a feeding port and a discharging port, and the conveying system comprises a first conveying device, a second conveying device, a third conveying device, a fourth conveying device and a fifth conveying device; the driving system comprises a first driving part, a second driving part, a third driving part, a fourth driving part and a fifth driving part which are respectively connected with and drive the first conveying device to the fifth conveying device; and the beating plate mechanism comprises a beating plate moving seat, a beating plate fixing seat and a beating plate driving part, the beating plate fixing seat is installed on the third conveying device, and the beating plate driving part is fixed to the beating plate fixing seat, is in transmission connection with the beating plate moving seat and drives the beating plate moving seat to slide in the direction perpendicular to the material conveying direction. Through cooperative work of the five independent driving parts, segmented accurate control over the material spacing is achieved, and the problems that due to the fixed speed, a traditional spacing machine fails in plate stacking and tracking are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of material transportation, and particularly to a spacing machine and its control method. Background Art

[0002] Existing spacing machines are mainly used to adjust the spacing of materials (such as circuit boards) between front and back processes in an electroplating production line to meet the strict requirements for board spacing in different process sections. Due to the extremely large difference in spacing between the front station and the back station, traditional equipment usually adopts a single drive system. The above single drive system causes the entire spacing machine to usually drive material transportation at a fixed speed, thus unable to achieve continuous and precise spacing adjustment through speed gradients. At the same time, existing equipment only has a single design for spacing adjustment and does not segmentally design functions such as spacing expansion, correction, and compression. There is a lack of coordinated control between each process. For example, due to the lack of segmented design, the speed of the driving part is single, and it is impossible to accurately match the material position and transportation speed, which may cause the material to shift in the clapper area due to speed mismatch, or signal abnormalities due to stacked boards. Further, due to single-speed driving and mixed functions, materials are prone to stacking or tracking failure in the board chasing area due to improper spacing control. For example, when stacking boards, the sensor signal is continuously triggered, resulting in the failure of the clapper action. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a spacing machine and its control method to solve problems such as the inability of the spacing machine in related technologies to achieve continuous and precise spacing adjustment.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a spacing machine, including: A frame and a conveying system, the conveying system is installed on the frame, and a feed port and a discharge port respectively communicating with both ends of the conveying system are provided on the frame. Along the conveying direction of the material, the conveying system successively includes a first conveying device, a second conveying device, a third conveying device, a fourth conveying device, and a fifth conveying device; A drive system, including a first drive member, a second drive member, a third drive member, a fourth drive member, and a fifth drive member, which are respectively connected to and drive the first conveying device, the second conveying device, the third conveying device, the fourth conveying device, and the fifth conveying device; A clapper mechanism, including a clapper moving seat, a clapper fixed seat, and a clapper drive member. The clapper fixed seat is installed on the third conveying device, and the clapper drive member is fixed to the clapper fixed seat and is in transmission connection with the clapper moving seat to drive the clapper moving seat to slide in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the material; Among them, the second conveying device is used to increase the spacing between two adjacent materials, the clapper mechanism is used to clap the materials to align them in the conveying direction, and the fourth conveying device is used to reduce the spacing between two adjacent materials.

[0005] Beneficial effects: Through the collaborative work of five independent driving components, the drive system realizes the segmented and precise control of the material spacing, solving problems such as overlapping plates and tracking failures caused by the fixed speed of traditional spacing machines. The speed setting of each driving component is tailored to specific process requirements (such as expanding the spacing, clapper correction, compressing the spacing), thus ensuring the efficiency and stability of the entire conveying process. It should be noted that the spacing machine of the present invention can achieve a continuous transition from a spacing of ≥50 mm at the front station to a spacing of ≤3 mm at the rear station, and through precise control, it avoids problems such as material offset or overlapping plates, significantly improving the continuity and stability of the electroplating production line.

[0006] In an optional embodiment, the rotational speed of the fourth driving component is greater than the rotational speed of the fifth driving component.

[0007] Beneficial effects: The high-speed operation of the fourth conveying device can quickly reduce the material spacing, preventing the problem of overlapping plates caused by too small a spacing between materials. At the same time, through the speed gradient design between the fourth conveying device and the fifth conveying device of the present invention, it can ensure that the materials reach the target spacing before entering the rear station.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, the rotational speed of the first driving component is less than the rotational speed of the second driving component.

[0009] Beneficial effects: In this embodiment, by setting the rotational speed of the first driving component to be less than that of the second driving component, the segmented control of the material spacing is realized. Among them, the first driving component provides the basic conveying speed, thus realizing a stable transition from the pre-stage process to the spacing machine and avoiding problems such as material wear or damage caused by too large a speed difference between the two; the second driving component accelerates to expand the spacing, laying a foundation for the subsequent clapper mechanism stage, ensuring that there is enough space between the materials for the clapper mechanism to correct, thus avoiding the problem of overlapping plates caused by too small a spacing in the subsequent process.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, when the material is upstream of the clapper mechanism, the rotational speed of the third driving component is the first rotational speed; when the same material is downstream of the clapper mechanism, the rotational speed of the third driving component is the second rotational speed, where the first rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.

[0011] Beneficial effects: The variable-speed design of the third driving member can ensure that the shutter mechanism performs correction when the material position is stable, avoiding deviation or correction failure caused by speed fluctuations. Specifically, the upstream deceleration reduces the risk of material accumulation, and the downstream acceleration shortens the correction time. The combination of the two ensures the continuous operation of the shutter area and avoids process interruption caused by shutter failure. In addition, the rotational speed change of the third driving member is synchronized with the correction action of the shutter mechanism, so as to adapt to the correction requirements for different material thicknesses or shapes.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, it further includes: A vision system, including a vision camera and a transparent observation window. The transparent observation window is installed on the frame and above the fourth conveying device. The vision camera is installed on the frame and above the transparent observation window, and the vision camera is arranged facing the transparent observation window; A controller, which is respectively connected to the vision camera and the fourth driving member. The controller is used to receive the spacing data sent by the vision camera and control and adjust the rotational speed of the fourth driving member according to the spacing data. Wherein, the spacing data includes the spacing size between two adjacent materials.

[0013] Beneficial effects: By introducing the vision system and the controller, the present invention realizes the real-time dynamic adjustment of the material spacing on the fourth conveying device. The vision camera collects the material spacing data through the transparent observation window, and the controller adjusts the rotational speed of the fourth driving member according to the data to ensure that the spacing always meets the requirements of the subsequent process (≤3 mm). This design solves the problems of plate stacking and tracking failure caused by the fixed speed of the traditional spacing machine, and significantly improves the accuracy and stability of the electroplating production line.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the conveying system includes a plurality of conveying rollers arranged at intervals in sequence along the conveying direction of the material; the driving system is in transmission connection with the conveying rollers in the conveying system through a transmission assembly; Wherein, the transmission assembly includes a conveyor belt, a transmission shaft, a first bevel gear and a second bevel gear. The two ends of the conveyor belt are respectively sleeved on the driving end of the driving system and the transmission shaft. The first bevel gear is sleeved and fixed on the transmission shaft, and the second bevel gear is sleeved and fixed on the end of the conveying roller. The first bevel gear and the second bevel gear are meshed.

[0015] Beneficial effects: Through the transmission assembly composed of a conveyor belt, a transmission shaft, and bevel gears, the present invention achieves efficient and stable power transmission between the drive system and the conveying rollers. This structure has the advantages of flexible spatial arrangement, high transmission efficiency, and good control accuracy, and is particularly suitable for use in an electroplating production line spacing machine that requires multi-stage speed control. In combination with a servo motor and a controller, it is also possible to precisely regulate the conveying speed of each conveying device, thereby achieving a seamless transition from a large spacing at the front station to an extremely small spacing at the rear station, significantly improving the automation level and production efficiency of the equipment.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, a slide bar extending perpendicular to the material conveying direction is provided on the shutter fixing seat, and a slide sleeve is provided on the shutter moving seat, and the slide sleeve is sleeved on the slide bar; a lead screw is installed at the driving end of the shutter driving member, the lead screw extends perpendicular to the material conveying direction and the other end thereof is rotatably connected to the shutter fixing seat, and a nut is further provided on the shutter moving seat, and the nut is sleeved on the lead screw; Wherein, a plurality of push rods are provided on the shutter moving seat along the material transportation direction, the push rods pass through the gaps between two adjacent conveying rollers and are arranged higher than the conveying rollers; correspondingly, a plurality of reference rods are provided on the shutter fixing seat along the material transportation direction, the reference rods pass through the gaps between two adjacent conveying rollers and are arranged higher than the conveying rollers.

[0017] Beneficial effects: The shutter mechanism of the present invention realizes efficient and high-precision correction of materials during the conveying process through the guiding structure composed of a slide bar and a slide sleeve, the transmission structure composed of a lead screw and a nut, and the correction system composed of a push rod and a reference rod. This structure has the following core advantages: (1) Stable guiding: The slide bar and slide sleeve ensure smooth movement of the shutter moving seat; (2) Precise transmission: The combination of the lead screw and nut enables controllable displacement; (3) Efficient correction: The multi-point push rods act synchronously to quickly complete alignment; (4) Good dynamic response: It can be integrated into a continuous conveying process without interrupting the main line conveying rhythm.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a control method for a spacing machine, which is applied to the spacing machine as described in the first aspect of the present invention, and includes: In response to the material entering the spacing machine, controlling the rotational speed of the first driving member to be a first preset rotational speed and the rotational speed of the second driving member to be a second preset rotational speed, wherein the first preset rotational speed is less than the second preset rotational speed; When the material enters the third conveying device, obtaining the position information of the material on the third conveying device and controlling and adjusting the rotational speed of the third driving member according to the position information; Controlling the rotational speed of the fourth driving member to be a third preset rotational speed and the rotational speed of the fifth driving member to be a fourth preset rotational speed, wherein the third preset rotational speed is greater than the fourth preset rotational speed.

[0019] Beneficial effects: Through the collaborative work of five independent driving components, the driving system achieves segmented and precise control of the material spacing, solving problems such as overlapping plates and tracking failures caused by the fixed speed of traditional spacing machines. The speed setting of each driving component is tailored to specific process requirements (such as expanding the spacing, patting the plate for correction, compressing the spacing), thus ensuring the efficiency and stability of the entire conveying process. It should be noted that the spacing machine of the present invention can achieve a continuous transition from a spacing of ≥50 mm at the front station to a spacing of ≤3 mm at the rear station, and through precise control, it avoids material offset or overlapping plate problems, significantly improving the continuity and stability of the electroplating production line.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the step of controlling the rotation speed of the third driving component to be adjusted based on the third preset rotation speed according to the position information specifically includes: In response to the material being in the deceleration area, controlling the rotation speed of the third driving component to be reduced to the fifth preset rotation speed; In response to the material being in the acceleration area, controlling the rotation speed of the third driving component to be increased to the sixth preset rotation speed; Wherein, in the material conveying direction, the deceleration area is located upstream of the plate patting mechanism; the acceleration area is located downstream of the plate patting mechanism; the fifth preset rotation speed is less than the first preset rotation speed, and the sixth preset rotation speed is greater than the second preset rotation speed.

[0021] Beneficial effects: The above steps achieve precise positioning of the deceleration and acceleration areas through the linkage of the sensor and the controller, ensuring the efficiency of plate patting correction. At the same time, the hierarchical design of the fifth preset rotation speed and the sixth preset rotation speed can avoid mechanical shocks or material jitters caused by sudden speed changes. It can be understood that the deceleration area prolongs the correction time, the acceleration area improves the conveying efficiency, the overall beat is more compact, and production stagnation is reduced. In addition, the whole process is completed by the collaborative work of the sensor, the controller and the driving system without manual intervention, reducing the operation cost.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the spacing machine further includes a vision system, including a vision camera and a transparent observation window. The transparent observation window is installed on the frame and is located above the fourth conveying device. The vision camera is installed on the frame and is located above the transparent observation window. The vision camera is arranged facing the transparent observation window; The control method further includes: Receiving the spacing data sent by the vision camera, and controlling and adjusting the rotation speed of the fourth driving component according to the spacing data, wherein the spacing data includes the spacing size between two adjacent materials.

[0023] Beneficial effects: Through the cooperation of multiple driving components, visual feedback closed-loop control, and dynamic speed regulation, the present invention achieves high-precision and high-stability control of the material spacing. The core lies in the organic combination of speed difference, shutter correction, and visual feedback, solving problems such as overlapping plates and uneven spacing caused by fixed speeds in traditional spacing machines, and is applicable to high-precision and continuous industrial production scenarios. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0025] Figure 1 It is one of the schematic structural diagrams of a spacing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 It is another schematic structural diagram of a spacing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 It is one of the schematic structural diagrams of the internal structure of a spacing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 It is Figure 3 The enlarged schematic diagram at A in Figure 5 It is another schematic structural diagram of the internal structure of a spacing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 It is one of the schematic structural diagrams of the conveying system and the driving system of a spacing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 It is another schematic structural diagram of the conveying system and the driving system of a spacing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 It is one of the schematic structural diagrams of the shutter mechanism of a spacing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 It is another schematic structural diagram of the shutter mechanism of a spacing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 It is the schematic diagram of the steps of a control method of a spacing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Explanation of the reference numerals: 1. Frame; 11. Feeding port; 12. Discharging port; 2. Conveying system; 201. Conveying roller; 21. First conveying device; 22. Second conveying device; 23. Third conveying device; 24. Fourth conveying device; 25. Fifth conveying device; 26. Sixth conveying device; 31. First driving member; 32. Second driving member; 33. Third driving member; 34. Fourth driving member; 35. Fifth driving member; 36. Sixth driving member; 4. Clapper mechanism; 41. Clapper moving seat; 42. Clapper fixed seat; 43. Clapper driving member; 44. Slide bar; 45. Slide sleeve; 46. Lead screw; 47. Push rod; 48. Reference rod; 51. Vision camera; 52. Transparent observation window; 53. Light source; 61. Conveyor belt; 62. Transmission shaft; 63. First bevel gear; 64. Second bevel gear; 7. Spraying system; 71. Spraying water pump; 72. Spraying pipeline. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0028] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as a limitation to the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0029] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "connected" and "coupled" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0030] In the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the first feature being "on" or "under" the second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are indirectly in contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "over" and "on top of" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature being "under", "beneath" and "underneath" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0031] The following introduces a spacing machine and its control method according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] As Figures 1 to 9 shown, the spacing machine according to the first aspect embodiment of the present invention includes a frame 1, a conveying system 2, a driving system, and a clapper mechanism 4.

[0033] The conveying system 2 is installed on the frame 1. The frame 1 is provided with a feed inlet 11 and a discharge outlet 12 that are respectively communicated with both ends of the conveying system 2. Along the conveying direction of the material, the conveying system 2 sequentially includes a first conveying device 21, a second conveying device 22, a third conveying device 23, a fourth conveying device 24, and a fifth conveying device 25.

[0034] The driving system includes a first driving member 31, a second driving member 32, a third driving member 33, a fourth driving member 34, and a fifth driving member 35, which are respectively connected to and drive the first conveying device 21, the second conveying device 22, the third conveying device 23, the fourth conveying device 24, and the fifth conveying device 25. The clapper mechanism 4 includes a clapper moving seat 41, a clapper fixing seat 42, and a clapper driving member 43. The clapper fixing seat 42 is installed on the third conveying device 23. The clapper driving member 43 is fixed to the clapper fixing seat 42 and is in transmission connection with the clapper moving seat 41 to drive the clapper moving seat 41 to slide in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the material.

[0035] Among them, the second conveying device 22 is used to increase the spacing between two adjacent materials, the clapper mechanism 4 is used to clap the materials to align them along the conveying direction, and the fourth conveying device 24 is used to reduce the spacing between two adjacent materials.

[0036] The specific structure of the spacing machine according to the embodiments of the present invention is introduced as follows: The frame 1 serves as the basic framework of the overall device and is used to support and fix the conveying system 2, the driving system, and the clapper mechanism 4. Among them, the frame 1 is provided with a feed inlet 11 and a discharge outlet 12, which are respectively communicated with both ends of the conveying system 2, so as to ensure the continuous conveying of materials.

[0037] The conveying system 2 includes the first conveying device 21 to the fifth conveying device 25 in sequence along the material conveying direction. Each conveying device is independently driven by a driving system, for example, the first driving member 31 to the fifth driving member 35 correspond to the first conveying device 21 to the fifth conveying device 25 respectively. The third conveying device 23 is equipped with a clapper mechanism 4 for material correction.

[0038] The specific functions of each conveying device are as follows: the first conveying device 21 is used to receive materials and convey them at a basic speed. The second conveying device 22 is used to increase the distance between adjacent materials by accelerating. The third conveying device 23 is used to cooperate with the clapper mechanism 4 to correct the position of the materials. The fourth conveying device 24 is used to reduce the distance by high-speed operation. The fifth conveying device 25 is used to deliver materials at an appropriate discharging speed to match the process requirements of the back station.

[0039] The drive system includes a first drive member 31 to a fifth drive member 35, which respectively drive corresponding conveying devices. Each drive member is connected to the corresponding conveying device through a transmission component (such as a conveyor belt 61, gears, etc.). The functions of each drive member are as follows: the first drive member 31 is used to provide a basic conveying speed, which is usually matched with the discharge speed of the previous process. The second drive member 32 is used to accelerate the operation to expand the spacing and ensure that the clapper mechanism 4 has sufficient operating space. The third drive member 33 is used to dynamically adjust the rotation speed according to the material position and cooperate with the clapper correction. The fourth drive member 34 is used to run at high speed to reduce the spacing, and the speed can be adjusted in real time through visual feedback. The fifth drive member 35 is used to output at the discharge speed to ensure continuous operation of subsequent processes.

[0040] The clapper mechanism 4 includes a clapper moving seat 41, a clapper fixed seat 42, and a clapper driving member 43. Among them, the clapper fixed seat 42 is installed on the third conveying device 23, and the clapper driving member 43 is fixed to the clapper fixed seat 42, and is connected to the clapper moving seat 41 through a transmission structure such as a screw 46 and a nut. Furthermore, the clapper moving seat 41 can also cooperate with the slide rod 44 through a sliding sleeve 45 to achieve sliding perpendicular to the conveying direction. In this way, the clapper driving member 43 drives the clapper moving seat 41 to slide, and the material is clapped and corrected to align it along the conveying direction to avoid deviation.

[0041] Based on the specific structure of the above spacing machine, the specific working principle of the spacing machine of the present invention is as follows: By providing a plurality of mutually independent conveying devices and their corresponding driving members, the present invention realizes functional zoning during the material transportation process, enabling each conveying device and its corresponding driving member to relatively independently complete a certain step. Among them, the first driving member 31 to the fifth driving member 35 each work independently, but cooperate with each other to achieve the overall function. In this way, on the one hand, each conveying device and driving member operate independently, and the speed adjustment of a single driving member will not affect other stages, reducing material deviation or jamming caused by speed fluctuations. On the other hand, the structure of functional zoning allows for flexible adjustment of the driving member parameters for different processes (such as desmearing and electroless copper plating, flash plating), thus adapting to diverse production requirements. In addition, since each driving member is only responsible for a specific task, it is possible to avoid wear of a single driving member caused by frequent speed changes or high loads, extending the service life of the equipment.

[0042] Furthermore, by specifically adjusting the parameters of a plurality of mutually independent driving members, the present invention can also effectively manage the material spacing, thereby achieving segmented and precise control of the material spacing and avoiding problems such as material stacking, skewing, and excessive or insufficient spacing during material transportation. For example, the present invention can set different speeds for different driving members (such as accelerating the second driving member 32 and the fourth driving member 34 chasing the board at a high speed), realizing a continuous transition from a large spacing to a small spacing. For example, the speed of the second driving member 32 is set higher than that of the first driving member 31 to increase the distance between adjacent materials when the materials pass through the second conveying device 22. Similarly, the speed of the fourth driving member 34 is designed to be faster than that of the fifth driving member 35 to reduce the spacing when the materials reach the fourth conveying device 24. Through this carefully designed speed difference, the driving system can effectively manage the material spacing, laying a foundation for subsequent processing.

[0043] Furthermore, the specific working process of the present invention is as follows: The materials of the present invention first enter the system through the first conveying device 21, maintaining the initial spacing during this process. When the materials reach the second conveying device 22, since the speed of the second driving member 32 is greater than that of the first driving member 31, the spacing between the materials begins to increase. Subsequently, the materials enter the area of the third conveying device 23, and at this time, the board-clamping mechanism 4 starts to function. The board-clamping driving member 43 is activated, driving the board-clamping moving seat 41 to move perpendicular to the material conveying direction to align and arrange the materials. Moving further forward, when the materials reach the fourth conveying device 24, since the speed of the fourth driving member 34 is higher than that of the fifth driving member 35, the spacing between the materials gradually decreases, preparing for subsequent processing.

[0044] In summary, through the collaborative work of five independent driving components, the driving system achieves segmented and precise control of the material spacing, solving problems such as overlapping plates and tracking failures caused by a fixed speed in traditional spacing machines. The speed setting of each driving component is tailored to specific process requirements (such as expanding the spacing, plate patterning correction, compressing the spacing), thereby ensuring an efficient and stable entire conveying process. It should be noted that the spacing machine of the present invention can achieve a continuous transition from a spacing of ≥50 mm at the front station to a spacing of ≤3 mm at the rear station, and through precise control, it avoids problems such as material offset or overlapping plates, significantly improving the continuity and stability of the electroplating production line.

[0045] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the rotational speed of the fourth driving component 34 is greater than the rotational speed of the fifth driving component 35.

[0046] In this embodiment, the fourth driving component 34 reduces the spacing between adjacent materials by running at a high speed, making it meet the requirement of a spacing of ≤3 mm for the process at the rear station (such as the flash plating section). Specifically, the rotational speed of the fourth driving component 34 needs to be significantly higher than that of the fifth driving component 35, so that the conveying speed of the fourth conveying device 24 is significantly higher than that of the fifth conveying device 25 to achieve rapid board chasing. For example, the conveying speed of the fourth conveying device 24 (such as 3.6 m / min) can be set to 3 times the conveying speed of the fifth conveying device 25 (such as 1.2 m / min), thereby shortening the material spacing by accelerating.

[0047] The fifth driving component 35 runs at a constant rotational speed, thereby driving the fifth conveying device 25 to send the materials out of the system at a constant speed (matched with the process at the rear station), ensuring that the materials smoothly enter the subsequent process (such as fixture grasping). For example, the conveying speed of the fifth conveying device 25 needs to be consistent with the fixture grasping speed of the rear station process (such as the flash plating section) (such as 1.2 m / min), avoiding material jitter or clamping failure caused by speed differences.

[0048] It can be understood that in this embodiment, by increasing the rotational speed of the fourth driving component 34, the linear speed of the conveying device is shortened, thereby reducing the moving distance of the materials per unit time and gradually compressing the spacing between adjacent materials.

[0049] In this way, the high-speed operation of the fourth conveying device 24 can quickly reduce the material spacing and prevent the problem of overlapping plates caused by too small a spacing. At the same time, through the speed gradient design between the fourth conveying device 24 and the fifth conveying device 25, the present invention can ensure that the materials reach the target spacing before entering the rear station.

[0050] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the rotational speed of the first driving component 31 is less than the rotational speed of the second driving component 32.

[0051] In this embodiment, the first driving member 31 is used to drive the first conveying device 21 and is responsible for the initial conveying of materials. Among them, after the materials enter the system, the first driving member 31 operates at a basic speed to ensure that the materials smoothly enter the subsequent conveying section from the feeding port 11. It can be understood that the first driving member 31 serves as the benchmark for the speed adjustment of subsequent driving members, and the conveying speed of the first conveying device 21 driven by it needs to match the discharging speed of the previous process. For example, if the discharging speed of the previous process is 1.5 m / min, the conveying speed of the first conveying device 21 is 1.1 times the speed of 1.5 m / min, so as to provide a stable starting point for subsequent pitch adjustment.

[0052] The second driving member 32 drives the second conveying device 22 and is used to increase the pitch between adjacent materials. The speed of the second driving member 32 is higher than that of the first driving member 31. In this way, the second driving member 32 can accelerate to widen the pitch between adjacent materials and avoid the problem of overlapping plates caused by too small a pitch in subsequent processes.

[0053] It can be understood that the main purpose of the second driving member 32 is to initially expand the pitch through the speed difference, so as to complete the preliminary adjustment of the pitch before the materials enter the flapping area, and then ensure that there is enough space between the materials for the flapping mechanism 4 to correct.

[0054] In summary, in this embodiment, by setting the rotation speed of the first driving member 31 to be less than that of the second driving member 32, segmented control of the material pitch is achieved. Among them, the first driving member 31 provides a basic conveying speed, so as to achieve a stable transition from the previous process to the pitch machine and avoid problems of material wear or damage caused by too large a speed difference between the two; the second driving member 32 accelerates to expand the pitch, laying a foundation for the subsequent flapping mechanism 4 stage, ensuring that there is enough space between the materials for the flapping mechanism 4 to correct, and thus avoiding the problem of overlapping plates caused by too small a pitch in subsequent processes.

[0055] According to some embodiments of the present invention, when the material is upstream of the flapping mechanism 4, the rotation speed of the third driving member 33 is the first rotation speed; when the same material is downstream of the flapping mechanism 4, the rotation speed of the third driving member 33 is the second rotation speed, where the first rotation speed is less than the second rotation speed.

[0056] In this embodiment, the present invention performs variable speed control on the third driving member 33, decelerates upstream, that is, reduces the material moving speed at the first rotation speed, so as to extend the correction time of the flapping mechanism 4 and ensure the stable position of the material; accelerates downstream, that is, increases the material moving speed at the second rotation speed, reduces the residence time in the flapping area, and avoids the accumulation of subsequent materials.

[0057] The specific working principle of the above design is explained as follows: When the material is upstream of the flapper mechanism 4, the third driving member 33 operates at a lower first rotational speed (e.g., 1.2 m / min) to reduce the material moving speed. The purpose is to provide a stable operation window for the flapper mechanism 4, ensure that the material is fixed in position before entering the flapper area, and avoid deviation or correction failure caused by excessive speed.

[0058] When the material is downstream of the flapper mechanism 4, the third driving member 33 switches to operate at a higher second rotational speed (e.g., 2.1 times the speed of 1.5 m / min) to increase the material moving speed. The purpose is to shorten the residence time of the material in the flapper area, improve the overall conveying efficiency, and avoid the accumulation of subsequent materials.

[0059] The variable speed logic of the above-mentioned third driving member 33 (i.e., decelerating upstream and accelerating downstream) can adapt to the different stage requirements of the material in the flapper area, thus avoiding correction failure or process interruption caused by a fixed speed. It can be understood that if the third driving member 33 always operates at a high rotational speed, the material may move too fast for the flapper mechanism 4 to correct in time; if it always operates at a low speed, it may lead to material accumulation.

[0060] Among them, the flapper mechanism 4 slides along a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction through the flapper moving seat 41 to correct the material so that it is aligned along the conveying direction (i.e., one side is against the edge vertically). It should be noted that in traditional spacing machines, the flapper mechanism 4 and the drive system operate independently, and the material is prone to deviation due to speed mismatch in the flapper area. In the present invention, the sliding speed of the flapper moving seat 41 needs to match the rotational speed of the third driving member 33 to ensure the accuracy of the correction action. In this way, through the variable speed design of the third driving member 33 and the rotational speed design of the flapper driving member 43, it can be ensured that the flapper action is synchronized with the material moving speed, thereby further improving the correction accuracy.

[0061] Furthermore, the specific working process of the third driving member 33 is as follows: When the material enters the upstream of the flapper area, after the upstream sensor detects the material, it triggers a deceleration signal for the third driving member 33, and the third driving member 33 operates at the first rotational speed. For example, the third driving member 33 decelerates to 1.2 m / min. At this time, the material slowly approaches the flapper area, thus ensuring a stable spacing of the material before entering the flapper area.

[0062] When the material passes through the flapper area, the flapper mechanism 4 is activated. At this time, the flapper driving member 43 drives the flapper moving seat 41 to slide in the vertical direction to correct the material.

[0063] When the material enters the downstream of the flapper area, after the downstream sensor detects the position of the material, it triggers the acceleration signal of the third driving member 33, and the third driving member 33 switches to the second rotational speed. For example, the third driving member 33 accelerates to 2.1 times the speed of 1.5 m / min. At this time, the material quickly leaves the flapper area, thus ensuring that the material quickly enters the next process when the flapper action is completed. After the flapper is completed, the third driving member 33 maintains the second rotational speed, and the material quickly enters the fourth conveying device 24. In this way, the residence time of the material in the flapper area can be shortened, and the overall conveying efficiency can be improved.

[0064] In summary, the variable speed design of the third driving member 33 can ensure that the flapper mechanism 4 is corrected when the material position is stable, avoiding deviation or correction failure caused by speed fluctuations. Specifically, the upstream deceleration reduces the risk of material accumulation, and the downstream acceleration shortens the correction time. The combination of the two ensures the continuous operation of the flapper area and avoids process interruption caused by flapper failure. In addition, the rotational speed change of the third driving member 33 is synchronized with the correction action of the flapper mechanism 4, so as to adapt to the correction requirements of different material thicknesses or shapes.

[0065] As described above, the above design solves the problems of material deviation and flapper failure caused by speed mismatch in the traditional spacing machine, and significantly improves the correction accuracy and production efficiency of the spacing machine.

[0066] As Figures 1 to 3 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the spacing machine further includes a vision system and a controller.

[0067] The vision system includes a vision camera 51 and a transparent observation window 52. The transparent observation window 52 is installed on the frame 1 and is located above the fourth conveying device 24. The vision camera 51 is installed on the frame 1 and is located above the transparent observation window 52. The vision camera 51 is arranged facing the transparent observation window 52.

[0068] The controller is respectively connected to the vision camera 51 and the fourth driving member 34. The controller is used to receive the spacing data sent by the vision camera 51 and control and adjust the rotational speed of the fourth driving member 34 according to the spacing data. Among them, the spacing data includes the spacing size between two adjacent materials.

[0069] In this embodiment, the transparent observation window 52 is installed on the frame 1 and is located above the fourth conveying device 24. Its purpose is to provide an unobstructed observation area, so that the vision camera 51 can clearly capture the material image and avoid image blurring caused by the structure of the conveying device or material occlusion.

[0070] The vision camera 51 is installed on the rack 1, above the transparent observation window 52, and is oriented towards the transparent observation window 52. The vision camera 51 can capture the material images on the fourth conveying device 24 in real time, and through image processing algorithms (such as edge detection, template matching), extract the spacing data between two adjacent materials, and send the data to the controller. For example, if the edge distance between two adjacent materials is 40 mm, the camera identifies and transmits this value to the controller.

[0071] The controller is respectively connected to the vision camera 51 and the fourth driving member 34. The controller receives the spacing data from the vision camera 51 (such as the spacing size between two adjacent materials). According to the spacing data, the controller analyzes whether the current spacing meets the requirements of the subsequent process (such as ≤ 3 mm). For example, if the spacing is too large (such as > 3 mm), the controller instructs the fourth driving member 34 to run at an accelerated speed to shorten the spacing; if the spacing is too small (such as < 3 mm), the controller instructs the fourth driving member 34 to run at a decelerated speed to prevent overlapping of plates.

[0072] It can be understood that the controller indirectly controls the linear speed of the fourth conveying device 24 by adjusting the rotational speed of the fourth driving member 34, thereby dynamically adjusting the material spacing. For example, if the spacing is 50 mm (much larger than the target value of 3 mm), the controller increases the rotational speed of the fourth driving member 34 to 3 times the discharging speed; if the spacing is 2 mm (close to the target value), the controller reduces the rotational speed of the fourth driving member 34 to 1.2 m / min to prevent overlapping of plates. Among them, the vision camera 51 captures images every 0.5 seconds, and the controller analyzes the spacing data in real time and adjusts the rotational speed of the fourth driving member 34 to form a closed-loop control.

[0073] In this way, based on the above structure, it can dynamically adapt to the change of material flow rate, ensure that the spacing is always within the range required by the subsequent process (≤ 3 mm), and at the same time avoid the problems of too large or too small spacing caused by traditional fixed-speed driving.

[0074] Furthermore, the specific working process of the above vision system is as follows: Materials enter the fourth conveying device 24. The vision camera 51 starts to capture the material images and transmits the spacing data to the controller. If the vision camera 51 detects that the spacing between two adjacent materials is 50 mm, the controller analyzes that this spacing is much larger than the target value of 3 mm. The controller issues an instruction to increase the rotational speed of the fourth driving member 34 to a higher speed, accelerate the material moving speed, and gradually reduce the spacing. If the vision camera 51 detects that the spacing between two adjacent materials is 3 mm, the controller analyzes that this spacing meets the target value. The controller maintains the current rotational speed of the fourth driving member 34 to keep the material spacing stable. If the vision camera 51 detects that the spacing between two adjacent materials is 2 mm, the controller analyzes that this spacing is less than the target value of 3 mm and there is a risk of overlapping of plates. The controller issues an instruction to further reduce the rotational speed of the fourth driving member 34 to slow down the material moving speed and prevent the occurrence of overlapping of plates.

[0075] After multiple adjustments, the material spacing is stabilized within the range of ≤3 mm and is sent out of the system at a constant speed by the fifth driving member 35 and enters the subsequent process (such as fixture grasping).

[0076] It can be understood that the present invention monitors the spacing in real time through the vision camera 51, and the controller dynamically adjusts the rotation speed of the fourth driving member 34 to ensure that the spacing is always within the safe range. Specifically, the controller can adjust the rotation speed of the fourth driving member 34 according to the real-time spacing data to ensure that the material spacing is always within the shooting range of the camera.

[0077] Thus, the controller can, in combination with the real-time feedback of the vision camera 51, achieve precise adjustment of the rotation speed of the fourth driving member 34, improving the response speed and accuracy of spacing adjustment. For example, if the material flow rate suddenly increases, the controller can quickly increase the rotation speed of the fourth driving member 34 to maintain the target spacing. At the same time, the automatic linkage between the vision system and the controller reduces the dependence on manual debugging and lowers the operation cost.

[0078] In summary, by introducing the vision system and the controller, the present invention realizes real-time dynamic adjustment of the material spacing on the fourth conveying device 24. The vision camera 51 collects the material spacing data through the transparent observation window 52, and the controller adjusts the rotation speed of the fourth driving member 34 according to the data to ensure that the spacing always meets the requirements of the subsequent process (≤3 mm). This design solves the problems such as overlapping plates and tracking failure caused by the fixed speed of the traditional spacing machine, significantly improving the accuracy and stability of the electroplating production line.

[0079] As Figures 1 to 2 shown, further, the vision system further includes a light source 53. The light source 53 is installed above the fourth conveying device 24 and inside the transparent observation window 52. The light source 53 is used to provide sufficient visible environment when the vision camera 51 works to ensure the clarity of the captured photos.

[0080] As Figures 1 to 4 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the conveying system 2 includes a plurality of conveying rollers 201 arranged at intervals in sequence along the conveying direction of the material; the driving system is in transmission connection with the conveying rollers 201 in the conveying system 2 through a transmission assembly.

[0081] Among them, as Figure 4 shown, the transmission assembly includes a conveyor belt 61, a transmission shaft 62, a first bevel gear 63 and a second bevel gear 64. Both ends of the conveyor belt 61 are respectively sleeved on the driving end of the driving system and the transmission shaft 62. The first bevel gear 63 is sleeved and fixed on the transmission shaft 62. The second bevel gear 64 is sleeved and fixed on the end of the conveying roller 201, and the first bevel gear 63 and the second bevel gear 64 are meshed with each other.

[0082] In this embodiment, the conveying system 2 of the spacing machine consists of a plurality of conveying rollers 201 arranged in sequence along the material conveying direction. These conveying rollers 201 together constitute a plurality of conveying devices (such as the first conveying device 21 to the fifth conveying device 25), which are used to achieve continuous conveying and spacing adjustment of the material. For example, any one of the first conveying device 21 to the fifth conveying device 25 includes a plurality of conveying rollers 201.

[0083] In order to drive these conveying rollers 201 to rotate, the present invention adopts a driving system (such as a servo motor) and transmits the power to each conveying roller 201 through a transmission component. It should be noted that the number of transmission components is equal to the number of conveying devices and the number of driving parts. That is to say, at least five groups of transmission components are provided in the spacing machine of the present invention, and the five groups of transmission components are respectively used to achieve the transmission connection between the first driving part 31 to the fifth driving part 35 and the first conveying device 21 to the fifth conveying device 25.

[0084] Specifically, each group of transmission components includes a conveyor belt 61, a transmission shaft 62, a first bevel gear 63 and a second bevel gear 64. Among them, the function of the conveyor belt 61 is to serve as a flexible transmission medium to transmit the power of the driving system from the driving end to the transmission shaft 62. The two ends of the conveyor belt 61 are respectively sleeved on the output shaft (driving end) of the driving system and the transmission shaft 62 to form a closed loop. The above conveyor belt 61 can adopt a synchronous toothed belt or a flat belt, which is specifically selected according to the torque requirements and installation space. The transmission shaft 62 is an intermediate transmission component, which is used to receive the power from the conveyor belt 61 and further transmit the power to the conveying roller 201. The transmission shaft 62 is supported on the frame 1 by bearings to ensure that it can rotate freely.

[0085] The first bevel gear 63 (that is, the driving bevel gear) is used to convert the rotational motion on the transmission shaft 62 into a rotational motion in the vertical direction so as to drive the second bevel gear 64 meshing with it. The first bevel gear 63 is fixedly sleeved on the transmission shaft 62, and usually ensures synchronous rotation through key connection or interference fit and other methods. The second bevel gear 64 (that is, the driven bevel gear) is used to receive the rotational power of the first bevel gear 63 and transmit the power to the corresponding conveying roller 201. The second bevel gear 64 is fixedly sleeved on one end of the conveying roller 201, and also realizes synchronous rotation through key connection and other methods.

[0086] The transmission process of the above transmission assembly is as follows: When the drive system is started, the driving member (such as a servo motor) outputs rotational power to drive the output shaft to rotate. The power is transmitted to the transmission shaft 62 through the conveyor belt 61. The output shaft drives the conveyor belt 61 to operate, and then drives the transmission shaft 62 to rotate. The transmission shaft 62 transmits power through the first bevel gear 63, and the first bevel gear 63 rotates synchronously with the transmission shaft 62. The first bevel gear 63 meshes with the second bevel gear 64, and the first bevel gear 63 transmits the rotational power to the meshing second bevel gear 64. The second bevel gear 64 is fixedly connected to the conveying roller 201, so it drives the conveying roller 201 to rotate together, thereby driving the material to move forward.

[0087] It can be understood that each conveying device can be connected to the corresponding driving member through an independent transmission assembly, which is convenient for disassembly and maintenance and also supports multi-segment speed control. Moreover, the transmission assembly combines a servo motor and bevel gear transmission, enabling precise speed matching and position control to adapt to complex pitch adjustment requirements. In addition, the above vertical transmission structure uses bevel gears to achieve a 90° steering of the power direction, saving space and being suitable for a compact equipment layout.

[0088] In summary, the present invention realizes efficient and stable power transmission between the drive system and the conveying roller 201 through the transmission assembly composed of the conveyor belt 61, the transmission shaft 62 and the bevel gears. This structure has the advantages of flexible space layout, high transmission efficiency, good control accuracy, etc., and is particularly suitable for being applied to the pitch machine of an electroplating production line that requires multi-segment variable speed control. Combined with a servo motor and a controller, it can also achieve precise regulation of the conveying speed of each conveying device, thereby completing a seamless transition from a large pitch at the front station to a very small pitch at the rear station, significantly improving the automation level and production efficiency of the equipment.

[0089] As Figure 8 and Figure 9 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, a slide bar 44 extending perpendicular to the material conveying direction is provided on the shutter fixing seat 42, and a slide sleeve 45 is provided on the shutter moving seat 41. The slide sleeve 45 is sleeved on the slide bar 44; a lead screw 46 is installed at the driving end of the shutter driving member 43. The lead screw 46 extends perpendicular to the material conveying direction and its other end is rotatably connected to the shutter fixing seat 42. A nut is also provided on the shutter moving seat 41, and the nut is sleeved on the lead screw 46; Wherein, a plurality of push rods 47 are provided on the shutter moving seat 41 along the material transportation direction. The push rods 47 pass through the gap between two adjacent conveying rollers 201 and are arranged higher than the conveying rollers 201; correspondingly, a plurality of reference rods 48 are provided on the shutter fixing seat 42 along the material transportation direction. The reference rods 48 pass through the gap between two adjacent conveying rollers 201 and are arranged higher than the conveying rollers 201.

[0090] In this embodiment, the beater fixing seat 42 is fixed on the frame 1, above the conveying rollers 201. The beater fixing seat 42 is provided with a slide bar 44 extending perpendicular to the material conveying direction, and at the same time, a plurality of reference bars 48 are provided to provide a reference surface for material positioning. It can be understood that the beater fixing seat 42 is used to carry the entire beater mechanism 4 and serve as the basis for movement guidance; and at the same time, it provides a reference surface in contact with the material to achieve alignment and correction of the material.

[0091] The beater moving seat 41 is provided with a sliding sleeve 45 that can be sleeved on the slide bar 44 of the beater fixing seat 42 to achieve sliding guidance; a nut is provided at its lower part, which cooperates with the lead screw 46 to achieve linear movement input by the driving member. In addition, the beater moving seat 41 is also provided with a plurality of push rods 47, corresponding to the positions of the reference bars 48, and inserted between the conveying rollers 201. It can be understood that the beater moving seat 41 can reciprocally move along the direction of the slide bar 44 under the action of the driving member, and push the material close to the reference bar 48 through the push rods 47 to complete the alignment and correction operation.

[0092] Among them, the slide bar 44 and the sliding sleeve 45 in the above structure are used to provide high-precision linear sliding guidance to ensure the stable movement of the beater moving seat 41 in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The lead screw 46 and the nut in the above structure are used to convert the rotational movement of the beater driving member 43 into a linear movement, so as to achieve precise displacement control of the beater moving seat 41.

[0093] It should be explained that the beater process is mainly achieved by the push rods 47 and the reference bars 48. Specifically, a plurality of push rods 47 and a plurality of reference bars 48 are respectively installed on the beater moving seat 41 and the beater fixing seat 42, corresponding to each other one by one, and both pass through the gaps between adjacent conveying rollers 201; the heights of the push rods 47 and the reference bars 48 are higher than the surface of the conveying rollers 201 to ensure effective contact with the edges of the material. In this way, during the movement of the beater moving seat 41, the push rods 47 can push the material towards the reference bars 48; the reference bars 48 serve as the alignment reference surface for the material, so that the material finally leans against the specified side.

[0094] Furthermore, the specific working process of the beater mechanism 4 is as follows: The material approaches the beater area, and the material enters the area where the beater mechanism 4 is located from the front conveying device; the sensor detects the arrival of the material and triggers the beater action preparation signal. The third driving member 33 decelerates, so that the third conveying device 23 reduces the conveying speed and slows down the speed of the material passing through the beater area to leave a time window for correction.

[0095] The controller issues an instruction, and the beater driving member 43 drives the lead screw 46 to rotate. Under the cooperation of the lead screw 46 and the nut, the beater moving seat 41 moves along the slide bar 44 towards the reference bar 48. The push rod 47 gradually contacts the edge of the material and pushes it towards the reference bar 48; multiple push rods 47 act synchronously to ensure that the entire column of materials is neatly arranged; after the alignment is completed, the edge of the material closely adheres to the reference bar 48, completing the one-sided vertical alignment against the edge. The controller instructs the beater driving member 43 to reverse, causing the beater moving seat 41 to return to its original position. At this time, the beater action ends and does not affect the processing of the next material. The third driving member 33 accelerates, and the material continues to be conveyed to the fourth conveying device 24 for pitch compression.

[0096] In summary, the beater mechanism 4 of the present invention realizes the efficient and high-precision alignment of materials during the conveying process through the guiding structure formed by the slide bar 44 and the sliding sleeve 45, the transmission structure composed of the lead screw 46 and the nut, and the alignment system composed of the push rod 47 and the reference bar 48. This structure has the following core advantages: (1) Stable guiding: The slide bar 44 and the sliding sleeve 45 ensure the smooth movement of the beater moving seat 41; (2) Precise transmission: The combination of the lead screw 46 and the nut enables controllable displacement; (3) Efficient alignment: Multiple push rods 47 act synchronously to quickly complete the alignment; (4) Good dynamic response: It can be integrated into the continuous conveying process without interrupting the main line conveying rhythm.

[0097] As Figures 1 to 3 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the pitch machine further includes a spraying system 7, and the spraying system 7 includes a spraying water pump 71, a spraying pipeline 72, a baffle, and a liquid storage barrel.

[0098] The liquid storage barrel is fixed on the frame 1 and is located outside the conveying device. The spraying pipeline 72 is located above the conveying device and extends along a direction perpendicular to the material conveying direction. A plurality of liquid spraying holes facing the conveying rollers 201 of the conveying device are provided on the spraying pipeline 72. The liquid storage barrel is communicated with the spraying pipeline through the spraying water pump 71.

[0099] The baffle is located below the conveying device and is provided with a liquid discharge hole, and the liquid discharge hole is communicated with the liquid storage barrel. In this way, after the pure water is sprayed out from the spraying pipeline 72, it falls on the inclined baffle and then enters the liquid storage barrel through the liquid discharge hole for recycling.

[0100] It can be understood that the main purpose of the spraying system 7 is to drip water on the surface of the material, thereby forming a protective water film to prevent the material from oxidizing due to contact with air and achieving full protection of the material.

[0101] As Figures 1 to 7As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the conveying system 2 further includes a sixth conveying device 26 located downstream of the fifth conveying device 25, and the driving system includes a sixth driving member 36, which is drivingly connected to the sixth conveying device 26 through a transmission assembly. During the conveying process, the fifth driving member 35 and the sixth driving member 36 both operate at the same speed, so that the conveying speed of the sixth conveying device 26 is the same as the conveying speed of the fifth conveying device 25, and both are consistent with the flash plating speed in the subsequent process.

[0102] A control method for a spacing machine provided by the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The control method can be applied to the spacing machine described in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0103] like Figure 10 As shown, the control method includes: Step S1, in response to the material entering the spacing machine, controlling the rotation speed of the first driving member 31 to be a first preset rotation speed, and the rotation speed of the second driving member 32 to be a second preset rotation speed, wherein the first preset rotation speed is less than the second preset rotation speed; Step S2: when the material enters the third conveying device 23, obtain the position information of the material on the third conveying device 23, and control and adjust the rotation speed of the third driving member 33 according to the position information; Step S3, controlling the rotation speed of the fourth driving member 34 to be a third preset rotation speed and the rotation speed of the fifth driving member 35 to be a fourth preset rotation speed, wherein the third preset rotation speed is greater than the fourth preset rotation speed.

[0104] According to the control method of the spacing machine of the embodiment of the present invention, its core logic is based on the segmented speed control strategy, and the continuous spacing adjustment of the material from the front station to the rear station is realized by accurately adjusting the rotation speed of each driving member. In the initial stage (step S1), the first driving member 31 and the second driving member 32 run at different speeds (the first preset speed < the second preset speed), and the speed difference is used to widen the material spacing, reserving space for subsequent correction and compression operations. In the intermediate stage (step S2), the rotation speed of the third driving member 33 is adjusted according to the real-time position information of the material on the third conveying device 23 through a dynamic response mechanism, ensuring that the clapper mechanism 4 decelerates when the material enters the correction area to extend the correction time, and accelerates after the material leaves to improve the conveying efficiency. In the final stage (step S3), the fourth driving member 34 and the fifth driving member 35 run at opposite speed gradients (the third preset speed > the fourth preset speed), and the target value (such as ≤3mm) is achieved by gradually compressing the spacing. The entire logic coordinates the working rhythm of each driving member through staged functional division and dynamic feedback adjustment, taking into account the continuity of material transportation and the accuracy of spacing adjustment.

[0105] The specific execution process of the control method of the present invention is divided into three stages: First, when the material enters the spacing machine, the controller starts the first driving member 31 and the second driving member 32, which operate at the first preset speed and the second preset speed respectively, so that the material spacing gradually expands; Second, when the material enters the third conveying device 23, the vision system or sensor detects its position information, and the controller dynamically adjusts the speed of the third driving member 33 accordingly: if the material approaches the beater area, it decelerates, and if it has left, it accelerates to match the action requirements of the beater mechanism 4; Finally, after the material is corrected, the controller switches to the fourth driving member 34 and the fifth driving member 35. The former quickly compresses the spacing at a higher speed, and the latter stably outputs at a lower speed to ensure that the material enters the subsequent process with the target spacing. The entire process realizes seamless connection from spacing expansion, correction to compression through closed-loop feedback and the cooperation of driving members, ensuring the stability and efficiency of equipment operation.

[0106] Further, the step of controlling the speed of the third driving member 33 based on the position information on the basis of the third preset speed specifically includes: In response to the material being in the deceleration area, controlling the speed of the third driving member 33 to be reduced to the fifth preset speed; In response to the material being in the acceleration area, controlling the speed of the third driving member 33 to be increased to the sixth preset speed.

[0107] Wherein, in the material conveying direction, the deceleration area is located upstream of the beater mechanism 4, and the acceleration area is located downstream of the beater mechanism 4; the fifth preset speed is less than the first preset speed, and the sixth preset speed is greater than the second preset speed.

[0108] In this embodiment, when the material enters the deceleration area upstream of the beater mechanism 4 (that is, close to the beater correction position but not yet reaching the beater area), the controller detects this signal and reduces the speed of the third driving member 33 to the fifth preset speed. On the one hand, the purpose is to extend the residence time of the material in the correction area and provide a more sufficient correction window for the beater mechanism 4; on the other hand, it is to avoid correction errors caused by high-speed conveying (such as insufficient contact between the push rod 47 and the reference rod 48). For example, the entire system detects the material position through a photoelectric sensor or a vision system and triggers a deceleration command; the controller adjusts the speed of the third driving member 33 based on a preset algorithm (such as PID control) to ensure a smooth deceleration process and prevent material jitter or offset.

[0109] When the material leaves the acceleration area downstream of the flapper mechanism 4 (i.e., it has passed the flapper correction and enters the subsequent conveying section), the controller detects this signal and increases the rotational speed of the third driving member 33 to the sixth preset rotational speed. On the one hand, the purpose is to accelerate the flow rate of the material towards the fourth conveying device 24 and reduce the risk of congestion in the flapper area; on the other hand, it is to match the requirements of the subsequent compression spacing (such as the high-speed chasing of the fourth driving member 34). For example, the system uses a position sensor or encoder to provide real-time feedback on the position of the material and trigger the acceleration command; the controller adjusts the rotational speed of the third driving member 33 through a frequency converter or servo driver to ensure a smooth acceleration process and avoid fluctuations in the gap caused by the inertia of the material.

[0110] It should be noted that the fifth preset rotational speed is less than the first preset rotational speed, which can ensure that the rotational speed in the deceleration area is lower than the rotational speed of the first driving member 31 in the initial stage (step S1), forming a speed gradient to gradually decelerate the material and avoid mechanical shock caused by sudden changes. The sixth preset rotational speed is greater than the second preset rotational speed, which can ensure that the rotational speed in the acceleration area is higher than the rotational speed of the second driving member 32 in the initial stage (step S1), thereby reducing the material spacing and advancing the chasing process between materials to facilitate the smooth completion of subsequent chasing of the board.

[0111] In this way, the above steps are linked by the sensor and the controller to achieve precise positioning of the deceleration and acceleration areas and ensure the high efficiency of the flapper correction. At the same time, the hierarchical design of the fifth preset rotational speed and the sixth preset rotational speed can avoid mechanical shock or material jitter caused by sudden speed changes. It can be understood that the deceleration area prolongs the correction time, the acceleration area improves the conveying efficiency, the overall beat is more compact, and production stagnation is reduced. In addition, the whole process is completed by the cooperation of the sensor, the controller and the drive system without manual intervention, reducing the operation cost.

[0112] Furthermore, the spacing machine further includes a vision system, including a vision camera 51 and a transparent observation window 52. The transparent observation window 52 is installed on the frame 1 and is located above the fourth conveying device 24. The vision camera 51 is installed on the frame 1 and is located above the transparent observation window 52. The vision camera 51 is arranged facing the transparent observation window 52. The control method further includes: Receiving the spacing data sent by the vision camera 51 and controlling and adjusting the rotational speed of the fourth driving member 34 according to the spacing data, where the spacing data includes the size of the spacing between two adjacent materials.

[0113] It should be noted that the logical core of the above steps lies in achieving dynamic optimization of the material spacing through the closed-loop collaboration between the vision system and the driving component. First, the vision camera 51 collects images of the materials on the fourth conveying device 24 in real time through the transparent observation window 52, extracts the spacing data of adjacent materials using image processing algorithms (such as edge detection or deep learning models), and transmits the data to the controller. The controller dynamically adjusts the rotation speed of the fourth driving component 34 according to the deviation between the spacing data and the target value (such as ≤3mm).

[0114] When the spacing is greater than the target value, the controller instructs the fourth driving component 34 to accelerate to compress the spacing; when the spacing is less than the target value, the controller instructs it to decelerate to prevent overlapping of plates; when the spacing is close to the target value, the current rotation speed is maintained for stable output. This logic combines the principles of feedforward and feedback control. Through the real-time monitoring of the vision system and the dynamic response of the driving component, a closed-loop control loop is formed to ensure that the material spacing is always within the range required by the process. In addition, the rotation speed adjustment of the fourth driving component 34 needs to match the stable output speed of the fifth driving component 35 to form a speed difference to further optimize the spacing compression efficiency.

[0115] The specific control process is divided into four stages: (1) Image acquisition and data processing: The vision camera 51 takes images of the materials on the fourth conveying device 24 at a fixed frequency (such as 0.5 seconds / time), and calculates the spacing between adjacent materials (such as 40mm) through an edge detection algorithm.

[0116] (2) Deviation analysis and instruction generation: After receiving the spacing data, the controller compares it with the target value (such as 3mm), calculates the deviation value, and generates a control instruction. If the current spacing is 40mm (> target value), the controller determines that acceleration is required; if the spacing is 2.5mm (< target value), it determines that deceleration is required.

[0117] (3) Adjustment of the rotation speed of the driving component: The controller adjusts the rotation speed of the fourth driving component 34 through a frequency converter. For example, when the spacing is 40mm, the rotation speed of the fourth driving component 34 is increased to quickly compress the spacing; when the spacing is 2.5mm, the rotation speed of the fourth driving component 34 is decreased to extend the material spacing.

[0118] (4) Dynamic optimization and stable output: The fifth driving component 35 outputs stably at a fixed rotation speed. Acting together with the speed difference of the fourth driving component 34, it ensures that the materials enter the subsequent process with the target spacing (≤3mm). The entire process realizes precise control of the material spacing through the real-time feedback of the vision system and the dynamic response of the driving component.

[0119] In summary, the above steps significantly improve the accuracy and stability of pitch adjustment. Through the millimeter-level pitch detection of the vision system and the dynamic speed regulation of the fourth driving member 34, the material pitch can be controlled within the target value (≤3 mm), effectively preventing problems such as overlapping plates or tracking failures. At the same time, the response speed based on closed-loop control enables the system to quickly adapt to changes in the material flow rate and ensure the continuity of the production rhythm.

[0120] A specific embodiment of the pitch machine and its control method according to the present invention is given below.

[0121] After the material enters the pitch machine, the first driving member 31 runs at 1.65 m / min (i.e., 1.1 times the speed of 1.5 m / min), and the second driving member 32 runs at 1.8 m / min (i.e., 1.2 times the speed of 1.5 m / min), forming a speed difference (0.15 m / min). Under the action of the speed difference between the two, the material pitch is widened, and the initial pitch is expanded to more than 50 mm, providing an operating space for subsequent plate clapping correction and pitch compression. The above 1.5 m / min is the discharge speed of the pre-stage process.

[0122] When the discharge sensor detects that the previous piece of material leaves the plate clapping area, the third driving member 33 immediately accelerates to 3.15 m / min (i.e., 2.1 times the speed of 1.5 m / min) to quickly "chase the plate" to avoid material accumulation. When the feed sensor detects that new material enters the plate clapping area, the third driving member 33 decelerates to 1.2 m / min to extend the residence time of the material in the correction area. At this stage, the plate clapping mechanism 4 performs one-sided alignment correction on the material to ensure that the edge of the material is aligned with the reference rod 48 and eliminate the offset.

[0123] The vision camera 51 collects images of the materials on the fourth conveying device 24 in real time through the transparent observation window 52 and calculates the pitch between adjacent materials (such as 40 mm). The controller dynamically adjusts the rotation speed of the fourth driving member 34 according to the pitch data. Among them, when the pitch is too large (such as >3 mm), the fourth driving member 34 accelerates to 3.6 m / min (i.e., 3 times the speed of 1.2 m / min) to quickly compress the pitch; when the pitch is too small (such as <2 mm), the fourth driving member 34 decelerates to 0.8 m / min to prevent overlapping plates; when the pitch is appropriate (≈3 mm), the rotation speed of 1.2 m / min is maintained for stable output. In this way, through the closed-loop feedback of the vision system, the material pitch is accurately compressed to ≤3 mm to meet the process requirements of the subsequent station.

[0124] Both the fifth driving member 35 and the sixth driving member 36 operate at a speed of 1.2 m / min to form a stable output speed. At the same time, a speed difference of 2.4 m / min is formed with the high-speed plate chasing (3.6 m / min) of the fourth driving member 34, further optimizing the spacing compression efficiency. The material enters the subsequent process (such as electroplating or SMT) at the target spacing (≤3 mm), ensuring the continuity and stability of the subsequent process. Among them, 1.2 m / min is the feeding speed of the subsequent process.

[0125] In summary, through the cooperation of multiple driving members, visual feedback closed-loop control, and dynamic speed regulation, the present invention realizes the high-precision and high-stability control of the material spacing. The core lies in the organic combination of speed difference, plate correction, and visual feedback, solving the problems of plate stacking and uneven spacing caused by the fixed speed of traditional spacing machines, and is applicable to high-precision and continuous industrial production scenarios.

[0126] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such modifications and variations fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A spacing machine, characterized in that, Comprising: A frame (1) and a conveying system (2), the conveying system (2) is installed on the frame (1), and a feeding port (11) and a discharging port (12) which are respectively communicated with two ends of the conveying system (2) are arranged on the frame (1). Along the conveying direction of the material, the conveying system (2) successively comprises a first conveying device (21), a second conveying device (22), a third conveying device (23), a fourth conveying device (24) and a fifth conveying device (25); A driving system, comprising a first driving member (31), a second driving member (32), a third driving member (33), a fourth driving member (34) and a fifth driving member (35), which are respectively connected to and drive the first conveying device (21), the second conveying device (22), the third conveying device (23), the fourth conveying device (24) and the fifth conveying device (25); A clapper mechanism (4), comprising a clapper moving seat (41), a clapper fixing seat (42) and a clapper driving member (43). The clapper fixing seat (42) is installed on the third conveying device (23), and the clapper driving member (43) is fixed to the clapper fixing seat (42) and is in transmission connection with the clapper moving seat (41) to drive the clapper moving seat (41) to slide in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the material; Wherein, the second conveying device (22) is used to increase the distance between two adjacent materials, the clapper mechanism (4) is used to clap the materials so that they are arranged in alignment along the conveying direction, and the fourth conveying device (24) is used to reduce the distance between two adjacent materials.

2. The spacing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotational speed of the fourth driving member (34) is greater than the rotational speed of the fifth driving member (35).

3. The spacing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotational speed of the first driving member (31) is less than the rotational speed of the second driving member (32).

4. The spacing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the material is upstream of the clapper mechanism (4), the rotational speed of the third driving member (33) is a first rotational speed; when the same material is downstream of the clapper mechanism (4), the rotational speed of the third driving member (33) is a second rotational speed, wherein the first rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.

5. The spacing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Further comprising: A vision system, comprising a vision camera (51) and a transparent observation window (52). The transparent observation window (52) is installed on the frame (1) and above the fourth conveying device (24), and the vision camera (51) is installed on the frame (1) and above the transparent observation window (52). The vision camera (51) is arranged to face the transparent observation window (52); A controller, which is respectively connected to the vision camera (51) and the fourth driving member (34). The controller is used to receive the spacing data sent by the vision camera (51) and control and adjust the rotational speed of the fourth driving member (34) according to the spacing data, wherein the spacing data includes the size of the distance between two adjacent materials.

6. The spacing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The conveying system (2) includes a plurality of conveying rollers (201) arranged at intervals in sequence along the conveying direction of the material; the driving system is in transmission connection with the conveying rollers (201) in the conveying system (2) through a transmission assembly; Wherein, the transmission assembly includes a conveyor belt (61), a transmission shaft (62), a first bevel gear (63) and a second bevel gear (64). Both ends of the conveyor belt (61) are sleeved on the driving end of the driving system and the transmission shaft (62) respectively. The first bevel gear (63) is sleeved and fixed on the transmission shaft (62), and the second bevel gear (64) is sleeved and fixed on the end of the conveying roller (201). The first bevel gear (63) and the second bevel gear (64) are meshed.

7. The spacing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, A slide bar (44) extending in a direction perpendicular to the material conveying direction is provided on the beater fixing seat (42), and a slide sleeve (45) is provided on the beater moving seat (41). The slide sleeve (45) is sleeved on the slide bar (44); a lead screw (46) is installed at the driving end of the beater driving member (43). The lead screw (46) extends in a direction perpendicular to the material conveying direction and the other end thereof is rotatably connected to the beater fixing seat (42). A nut is further provided on the beater moving seat (41), and the nut is sleeved on the lead screw (46); Wherein, a plurality of push rods (47) are provided on the beater moving seat (41) along the material transportation direction. The push rods (47) pass through the gap between two adjacent conveying rollers (201) and are arranged higher than the conveying rollers (201); correspondingly, a plurality of reference rods (48) are provided on the beater fixing seat (42) along the material transportation direction. The reference rods (48) pass through the gap between two adjacent conveying rollers (201) and are arranged higher than the conveying rollers (201).

8. A control method for a spacing machine, applied to the spacing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that Including: In response to the material entering the spacing machine, controlling the rotation speed of the first driving member (31) to be a first preset rotation speed and the rotation speed of the second driving member (32) to be a second preset rotation speed, wherein the first preset rotation speed is less than the second preset rotation speed; When the material enters the third conveying device (23), obtaining the position information of the material on the third conveying device (23) and controlling and adjusting the rotation speed of the third driving member (33) according to the position information; Controlling the rotation speed of the fourth driving member (34) to be a third preset rotation speed and the rotation speed of the fifth driving member (35) to be a fourth preset rotation speed, wherein the third preset rotation speed is greater than the fourth preset rotation speed.

9. The control method of the spacing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, The step of controlling the rotation speed of the third driving member (33) to be adjusted on the basis of the third preset rotation speed according to the position information specifically includes: In response to the material being located in the deceleration area, controlling the rotation speed of the third driving member (33) to be reduced to a fifth preset rotation speed; In response to the material being located in the acceleration area, controlling the rotation speed of the third driving member (33) to be increased to a sixth preset rotation speed; Wherein, in the material conveying direction, the deceleration area is located upstream of the flapper mechanism (4); the acceleration area is located downstream of the flapper mechanism (4); the fifth preset speed is less than the first preset speed, and the sixth preset speed is greater than the second preset speed.

10. The control method of the spacing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, The spacing machine further includes a vision system, including a vision camera (51) and a transparent observation window (52). The transparent observation window (52) is installed on the frame (1) and is located above the fourth conveying device (24). The vision camera (51) is installed on the frame (1) and is located above the transparent observation window (52). The vision camera (51) is arranged facing the transparent observation window (52); The control method further includes: Receiving the spacing data sent by the vision camera (51), and controlling and adjusting the speed of the fourth driving member (34) according to the spacing data, wherein the spacing data includes the spacing size between two adjacent materials.

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