Sapphire crystal directional transfer device

Abstract

The invention discloses a sapphire crystal directional transfer device, and relates to the technical field of crystal processing, and the sapphire crystal directional transfer device comprises a bearing platform, a crystal positioning and adjusting mechanism, a turnover mechanism and a crystal rotating mechanism; the crystal positioning and adjusting mechanism comprises a transverse moving mechanism, a vertical lifting mechanism, a horizontal rotating mechanism and a crystal supporting assembly; the turnover mechanism comprises an L-shaped turnover platform, a turnover hinge, a crystal tray, a tray sliding block and at least two crystal fixing blocks; the crystal rotating mechanism comprises a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism, a crystal front-end rotating belt pulley mechanism and a crystal rear-end rotating belt pulley mechanism, the crystal front-end rotating belt pulley mechanism is arranged at the front end of the crystal tray, and the crystal rear-end rotating belt pulley mechanism is arranged at the rear end of the crystal tray. According to the invention, the problems of accurate positioning, reliable fixing and efficient transfer and connection among procedures in a multi-dimensional space can be effectively solved, and manual operation is replaced by mechanical operation on the whole, so that the safety, the precision and the efficiency are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of crystal processing technology, and in particular to a sapphire crystal orientation transfer device. Background Technology

[0002] Sapphire crystals, due to their excellent physicochemical properties (such as high hardness, high melting point, good light transmittance, and chemical stability), are widely used in LED substrates, optical windows, and cover glass for consumer electronics. In the processing of sapphire crystals, orientation (determining the crystallographic orientation of the crystal) is a crucial step, directly affecting the precision and yield of subsequent processes such as cutting and grinding. This orientation operation presents significant challenges, especially for large-scale sapphire crystals (tens or even hundreds of kilograms).

[0003] Currently, the orientation and handling of large-kilogram sapphire crystals mainly rely on manual labor. This traditional method has the following significant drawbacks: High safety risks: Sapphire crystals are heavy and brittle, making them prone to slipping and collisions during manual handling and flipping. This can damage the expensive crystals and pose a serious threat to the personal safety of operators. Low positioning accuracy: Manual operation makes it difficult to achieve precise and fine control over the spatial angles (such as rotation around its own axis, and fine-tuning angles in the horizontal plane) and positions (height, horizontal displacement) of large and heavy crystals. This makes it difficult to guarantee the accuracy and consistency of crystal orientation, directly affecting the quality of the final product. Low operational efficiency: The manual handling, flipping, angle adjustment, and subsequent fixing (such as gluing) processes are cumbersome, time-consuming, and labor-intensive, greatly restricting production efficiency, especially when repeated angle adjustments are required for orientation. Lack of connection between fixing and transfer: After the crystal is oriented and initially fixed, the traditional method lacks a convenient and safe dedicated interface or mechanism to separate it from the orientation station and transfer it to the subsequent cutting station. The intermediate links are inefficient and pose a risk of secondary damage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this application proposes a sapphire crystal orientation and transfer device, which can effectively solve the problems of precise positioning in multi-dimensional space, reliable fixation, and efficient transfer and connection between processes. Moreover, the device replaces manual labor with mechanized operation, significantly improving safety, accuracy, and efficiency.

[0005] This application provides a sapphire crystal orientation and transfer device, including: a support platform, a crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism, a flipping mechanism, and a crystal rotation mechanism; The crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism includes a horizontal moving mechanism, a vertical lifting mechanism, a horizontal rotating mechanism, and a crystal support assembly. The horizontal moving mechanism is located at one end of the bearing platform. The fixed end of the vertical lifting mechanism is slidably mounted on the horizontal moving mechanism. The sliding end of the vertical lifting mechanism is detachably connected to the crystal support assembly. The horizontal rotating mechanism is connected to the crystal support assembly and can abut against the crystal to be oriented. The flipping mechanism includes an L-shaped flipping platform, a flipping hinge, a crystal tray, a tray slider, and at least two crystal fixing blocks. The bent end of the L-shaped flipping platform is connected to the bearing platform through the flipping hinge. The tray slider is slidably disposed on the upper surface of the L-shaped flipping platform. The crystal tray is disposed on the tray slider. The two crystal fixing blocks are symmetrically fixed at the two side edges of the upper surface of the crystal tray. The crystal fixing blocks are used to fix the crystal to be oriented to the crystal tray. The crystal rotation mechanism includes a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism, a crystal front-end rotating pulley mechanism, and a crystal rear-end rotating pulley mechanism. The crystal front-end rotating pulley mechanism is located at the front end of the crystal tray, and the crystal rear-end rotating pulley mechanism is located at the rear end of the crystal tray. The first driving mechanism is connected to the crystal front-end rotating pulley mechanism, and the second driving mechanism is connected to the crystal rear-end rotating pulley mechanism. The working surfaces of the belts of both the crystal front-end rotating pulley mechanism and the crystal rear-end rotating pulley mechanism are pressed against the crystal to be oriented.

[0006] According to some embodiments of this application, the vertical lifting mechanism is a vertical lifting guide rail, and the horizontal moving mechanism is a translation guide rail that matches the vertical lifting guide rail.

[0007] According to some embodiments of this application, the crystal support assembly includes two crystal support plates, one end of each of the two crystal support plates being detachably connected to the sliding end of the vertical lifting mechanism. The horizontal rotation mechanism includes two rotating shafts and two rotating bearings. The crystal support plates, the rotating shafts, and the rotating bearings correspond one-to-one. The rotating bearings are sleeved on the corresponding rotating shafts. The crystal support plates are connected to the outer wall of the corresponding rotating bearings. The rotating shafts can also abut against the crystal to be oriented. A V-shaped structure is formed between the two crystal support plates.

[0008] According to some embodiments of this application, the flipping mechanism further includes a horizontal rotation damper, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the crystal tray and the support platform.

[0009] According to some embodiments of this application, the flipping mechanism further includes at least two fine-tuning support blocks, both of which are disposed on the bearing platform, both of which are disposed close to the flipping hinge, and both of which are symmetrically disposed on both sides of the flipping hinge.

[0010] According to some embodiments of this application, the flipping mechanism further includes at least two L-shaped flipping platform buffer blocks, each of which is mounted on the bearing platform, and the two L-shaped flipping platform buffer blocks are respectively located at the positions where the two free ends of the L-shaped flipping platform fall when the L-shaped flipping platform is at its maximum tilting angle.

[0011] According to some embodiments of this application, the flipping mechanism further includes a hydraulic flipping drive mechanism, which is connected to the L-shaped flipping platform. The hydraulic flipping drive mechanism is used to drive the L-shaped flipping platform to rotate around the flipping hinge, so as to drive the crystal to be oriented to flip.

[0012] According to some embodiments of this application, the flip hinge includes a solid rotating shaft, a first heavy-duty bearing assembly, and a second heavy-duty bearing assembly. The first heavy-duty bearing assembly and the second heavy-duty bearing assembly are respectively sleeved on both ends of the solid rotating shaft, and the first heavy-duty bearing assembly is connected to the L-shaped flip platform, and the second heavy-duty bearing assembly is connected to the bearing platform.

[0013] According to some embodiments of this application, the first heavy-duty bearing assembly includes a first heavy-duty bearing and a first bearing housing. The first heavy-duty bearing is sleeved on one end of the solid rotating shaft, and the first heavy-duty bearing is mounted on the first bearing housing. The first bearing housing is disposed at the bent end of the L-shaped tilting platform.

[0014] According to some embodiments of this application, the second heavy-duty bearing assembly includes a second heavy-duty bearing and a second bearing housing. The second heavy-duty bearing is sleeved on the other end of the solid rotating shaft, the second heavy-duty bearing is mounted on the second bearing housing, and the second bearing housing is disposed on the bearing platform.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this application are reflected in: Flipping Mechanism: Through core components such as the L-shaped flipping platform and flipping hinge, the heavy sapphire crystal can be safely and controllably flipped from a vertical position to a horizontal position (0-100° tilting range), replacing dangerous manual flipping operations and significantly reducing the risk of crystal damage and personnel injury; Crystal fixing blocks: Crystal fixing blocks are symmetrically fixed on both sides of the crystal tray. After the crystal position is determined, the crystal can be reliably fixed and prevented from loosening or shifting during subsequent operations or transportation, thus eliminating safety hazards during handling. Crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism: lateral movement mechanism and vertical lifting mechanism: provide the crystal with precise displacement adjustment capability in the horizontal and vertical directions, ensuring that the crystal can be accurately positioned to the required spatial coordinate position; Horizontal rotation mechanism: Combined with the crystal support assembly, it allows the part supporting the crystal to be finely rotated and adjusted within a certain angle (such as -30° to 30°) in the horizontal plane to meet the small angle correction required for orientation; 5. Crystal rotation mechanism: The front end of the crystal rotating pulley mechanism and the rear end of the crystal rotating pulley mechanism: The working surfaces of their belts are pressed against the crystal to be oriented, and the crystal is driven to rotate precisely 360° around its own axis by friction, which is used to find the specific crystal orientation of the crystal; 6. Synergistic Effect: The positioning and adjustment mechanism (translation, lifting, and horizontal rotation) and the rotation mechanism (rotation around an axis) together constitute a complete four-degree-of-freedom (or more) adjustment capability, enabling the crystal to be precisely adjusted to any desired angle and position in space, greatly improving orientation accuracy; flipping, translation, lifting, horizontal rotation, and rotation around an axis are all achieved through mechanical devices, replacing laborious and time-consuming manual operations, resulting in faster speed and better consistency; compared to manually rotating the heavy crystal, the belt pulley drive provides efficient and stable rotational power around the axis; the crystal support assembly is detachably connected to the sliding end of the lifting mechanism, the crystal tray is slidably mounted on the flipping platform via a tray slider, and the crystal fixing block is used for fixation. The post-orientation transfer design facilitates the fixation of the crystal after orientation, the disassembly of the supporting components, and the separation of the entire crystal tray (with the fixed crystal) from the orientation device. This provides partitioned clamping positions for direct lifting or transfer in subsequent cutting processes, significantly saving the conversion time from orientation to cutting. The design of the crystal fixing block and crystal tray allows the entire crystal tray (along with the fixed crystal) to be easily removed from the L-shaped flipping platform as a whole module after the crystal is reliably fixed at the orientation station. Alternatively, it can be lifted off the carrying platform using the designed lifting points and directly transferred to the cutting station, achieving a seamless and safe connection between the orientation and cutting processes.

[0016] This application solves the problem of precise positioning in multi-dimensional space by using a crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism (translation, lifting, and horizontal rotation) and a crystal rotation mechanism (rotation around an axis); it solves the problems of reliable fixing and efficient transfer between processes by using a crystal fixing block and a modular tray design; and it replaces manual labor with mechanized and automated operation, which significantly improves safety, accuracy and efficiency.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood in conjunction with the following description of the embodiments, in which: Figure 1 A schematic front view of the sapphire crystal orientation transfer device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 A top view of the sapphire crystal orientation transfer device provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A side view of the sapphire crystal orientation transfer device provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0019] Figure label: 11. Crystal support plate, 12. Rotary bearing, 13. Rotary shaft, 14. Vertical lifting guide rail, 15. Translation guide rail, 21. L-shaped flipping platform, 22. Flipping hinge, 23. Fine-tuning support block, 24. Crystal tray, 25. Bearing platform, 26. L-shaped flipping platform buffer block, 27. Crystal fixing block, 28. Tray slider, 30. Crystal to be oriented, 41. Horizontal rotation damper, 42. Crystal front end rotating belt, 43. Crystal rear end rotating belt. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0021] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0022] In the description of this application, the use of "first" and "second" is for the purpose of distinguishing technical features only, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated or the order of the technical features indicated.

[0023] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, terms such as "setup," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this application in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0024] Sapphire crystals, due to their excellent physicochemical properties (such as high hardness, high melting point, good light transmittance, and chemical stability), are widely used in LED substrates, optical windows, and cover glass for consumer electronics. In the processing of sapphire crystals, orientation (determining the crystallographic orientation of the crystal) is a crucial step, directly affecting the precision and yield of subsequent processes such as cutting and grinding. This orientation operation presents significant challenges, especially for large-scale sapphire crystals (tens or even hundreds of kilograms).

[0025] Currently, the orientation and handling of large-kilogram sapphire crystals mainly rely on manual labor. This traditional method has the following significant drawbacks: High safety risks: Sapphire crystals are heavy and brittle, making them prone to slipping and collisions during manual handling and flipping. This can damage the expensive crystals and pose a serious threat to the personal safety of operators. Low positioning accuracy: Manual operation makes it difficult to achieve precise and fine control over the spatial angles (such as rotation around its own axis, and fine-tuning angles in the horizontal plane) and positions (height, horizontal displacement) of large and heavy crystals. This makes it difficult to guarantee the accuracy and consistency of crystal orientation, directly affecting the quality of the final product. Low operational efficiency: The manual handling, flipping, angle adjustment, and subsequent fixing (such as gluing) processes are cumbersome, time-consuming, and labor-intensive, greatly restricting production efficiency, especially when repeated angle adjustments are required for orientation. Lack of connection between fixing and transfer: After the crystal is oriented and initially fixed, the traditional method lacks a convenient and safe dedicated interface or mechanism to separate it from the orientation station and transfer it to the subsequent cutting station. The intermediate links are inefficient and pose a risk of secondary damage.

[0026] To address the aforementioned problems, this application proposes a sapphire crystal orientation transfer device. The embodiments of this application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Reference Figures 1 to 3This application provides a sapphire crystal orientation and transfer device, including a support platform 25, a crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism, a flipping mechanism, and a crystal rotation mechanism. The crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism includes a horizontal moving mechanism, a vertical lifting mechanism, a horizontal rotating mechanism, and a crystal support assembly. The horizontal moving mechanism is located at one end of the support platform 25. The fixed end of the vertical lifting mechanism is slidably mounted on the horizontal moving mechanism. The sliding end of the vertical lifting mechanism is detachably connected to the crystal support assembly. The horizontal rotating mechanism is connected to the crystal support assembly and can abut against the crystal 30 to be oriented. The flipping mechanism includes an L-shaped flipping platform 21, a flipping hinge 22, a crystal tray 24, a tray slider 28, and at least two crystal fixing blocks 27. The bent end of the L-shaped flipping platform 21 is connected to the support platform 25 through the flipping hinge 22. The tray slider 28 is slidably mounted on the L-shaped flipping platform 25. On the upper surface of 1, a crystal tray 24 is disposed on a tray slider 28. Two crystal fixing blocks 27 are symmetrically fixed at the two sides of the upper surface of the crystal tray 24. The crystal fixing blocks 27 are used to fix the crystal 30 to be oriented to the crystal tray 24. The crystal rotation mechanism includes a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism, a crystal front end rotating belt 42 wheel mechanism, and a crystal rear end rotating belt 43 wheel mechanism. The crystal front end rotating belt 42 wheel mechanism is disposed at the front end of the crystal tray 24, and the crystal rear end rotating belt 43 wheel mechanism is disposed at the rear end of the crystal tray 24. The first driving mechanism is connected to the crystal front end rotating belt 42 wheel mechanism, and the second driving mechanism is connected to the crystal rear end rotating belt 43 wheel mechanism. The working surfaces of the belts of the crystal front end rotating belt 42 wheel mechanism and the crystal rear end rotating belt 43 wheel mechanism are both pressed against the crystal 30 to be oriented.

[0028] It should be noted that the crystal fixing block 27 is used by workers to apply glue and fix it to the crystal tray 24 after the crystal orientation is determined, which facilitates subsequent handling and prevents loosening and displacement; the tray slider is used to provide rotational sliding for the crystal 30 to be oriented; the crystal front end rotating belt 42 is set at the front end of the crystal 30 to be oriented, and rotates the crystal 30 to be oriented through friction; the crystal front end rotating belt 42 wheel mechanism is set at the rear end of the crystal 30 to be oriented, and rotates the crystal 30 to be oriented through friction; the crystal rear end rotating belt 43 wheel mechanism is fixed at the rear end of the crystal, and rotates the crystal 30 to be oriented through friction.

[0029] In this embodiment, two crystal fixing blocks 27 are provided; in other embodiments, four crystal fixing blocks 27 may also be provided, with the four crystal fixing blocks 27 symmetrically fixed in pairs to the two sides of the upper surface of the crystal tray 24. Other numbers of fine-tuning support blocks 23 may also be provided, and the embodiment is not limited to that of this application.

[0030] It should be noted that the crystal 30 to be oriented is first turned from vertical to horizontal by the flipping mechanism, the crystal positioning adjustment mechanism performs three-dimensional position calibration on the horizontal crystal, the crystal rotation mechanism drives the crystal to rotate around the axis to complete the orientation, and finally the crystal fixed block 27 locks the oriented crystal and transfers it to the cutting station.

[0031] Specifically, the lateral moving mechanism is fixed to one end of the bearing platform 25, providing horizontal (X / Y axis) displacement adjustment of the crystal to match subsequent lifting and rotation operations; the fixed end of the vertical lifting mechanism is slidably installed on the lateral moving mechanism; the sliding end is detachably connected to the crystal support assembly to achieve precise adjustment of the crystal height (Z axis) to adapt to crystals of different sizes; the crystal support assembly is detachably connected to the sliding end of the lifting mechanism to form a V-shaped support structure that fits the surface of the cylindrical crystal and improves stability.

[0032] It should be noted that the bent end of the L-shaped flipping platform 21 is hinged to the carrying platform 25 through the flipping hinge 22, carrying the crystal 30 to be oriented and achieving safe flipping from 0° (vertical) to 100° (tilting); the tray slider 28 is slidably installed on the upper surface of the L-shaped flipping platform 21, so that the crystal tray 24 can slide horizontally, which facilitates the fine adjustment of the position of the crystal 30 to be oriented and subsequent separation and transfer; the crystal tray 24 is fixed on the tray slider 28, directly supporting the crystal, and locking the crystal in cooperation with the fixing component; the crystal fixing blocks 27 are symmetrically installed on both sides of the crystal tray 24, and after orientation, the crystal is fixed by adhesive to prevent loosening during transfer.

[0033] It should be noted that the front and rear rotating pulley mechanisms of the crystal are respectively installed at the front and rear of the crystal tray 24. The crystal is pressed in both directions by the working surface of the belt, and the crystal is driven to rotate 360° around its own axis by friction. The first drive mechanism is connected to the front rotating belt 42 wheel mechanism of the crystal to provide rotation power and precisely control the speed of the front of the crystal. The second drive mechanism is connected to the rear rotating belt 43 wheel mechanism of the crystal to synchronously drive the rear of the crystal and ensure that the crystal rotates around the axis without slippage.

[0034] In some embodiments, the crystal front-end rotating belt 42 wheel mechanism includes a front-end rotating belt, a first driving wheel, and a first driven wheel; the crystal rear-end rotating belt 43 wheel mechanism includes a rear-end rotating belt, a second driving wheel, and a second driven wheel. The front-end rotating belt is respectively sleeved on the first driving wheel and the first driven wheel, and the rear-end rotating belt is respectively sleeved on the second driving wheel and the second driven wheel. The first driving wheel and the first driven wheel are symmetrically mounted on the support of the flipping platform or the carrying platform 25, and the second driving wheel and the second driven wheel are symmetrically mounted on the support of the flipping platform or the carrying platform 25. The working surface of the front-end rotating belt contacts specific friction surfaces at both ends of the crystal 30 to be oriented or at both ends of the crystal tray 24, and the working surface of the rear-end rotating belt contacts specific friction surfaces at both ends of the crystal 30 to be oriented or at both ends of the crystal tray 24. Both the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism are motors. The first driving mechanism is connected to the first driving wheel, and the second driving mechanism is connected to the second driving wheel. The first driving mechanism drives the first driving wheel to rotate, and the front-end rotating belt moves accordingly. The second driving mechanism drives the second driving wheel to rotate, and the rear-end rotating belt moves accordingly. Because of the friction between the front and rear rotating belts and the contact surfaces of the crystal 30 or crystal tray 24 to be oriented, the crystal 30 or crystal tray 24 to be oriented is driven to rotate around its axis. The front and rear rotating belts are single long belts in a closed loop to ensure smooth rotation. Through friction, the crystal tray 24, together with the crystal 30 to be oriented, is driven to rotate precisely from 0 to 360° around the crystal axis.

[0035] The beneficial effects of this application are reflected in: 1. Flipping mechanism: Through core components such as L-shaped flipping platform 21 and flipping hinge 22, the heavy sapphire crystal can be safely and controllably flipped from a vertical position to a horizontal position (0-100° tilting range), replacing the dangerous manual flipping operation and significantly reducing the risk of crystal damage and personnel injury; 2. Crystal fixing blocks 27: Crystal fixing blocks 27 are symmetrically fixed on both sides of the crystal tray 24. After the crystal position is determined, the crystal can be reliably fixed to prevent it from loosening or shifting during subsequent operations or transportation, thus eliminating safety hazards during the handling process. 3. Crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism: lateral movement mechanism and vertical lifting mechanism: provide the crystal with precise displacement adjustment capability in the horizontal and vertical directions, ensuring that the crystal can be accurately positioned to the required spatial coordinate position; 4. Horizontal rotation mechanism: Combined with the crystal support assembly, it allows the part supporting the crystal to be finely rotated and adjusted within a certain angle (such as -30° to 30°) in the horizontal plane to meet the small angle correction required for orientation; 5. Crystal rotation mechanism: The front end of the crystal rotates the belt wheel 42 mechanism and the rear end of the crystal rotates the belt wheel 43 mechanism: The working surfaces of their belts are pressed against the crystal to be oriented 30, and the crystal is driven to rotate 360° precisely around its own axis by friction, which is used to find the specific crystal orientation of the crystal; 6. Synergistic Effect: The positioning and adjustment mechanism (translation, lifting, and horizontal rotation) and the rotation mechanism (rotation around the axis) together constitute a complete four-degree-of-freedom (or more) adjustment capability, enabling the crystal to be precisely adjusted to any desired angle and position in space, greatly improving orientation accuracy; the flipping, translation, lifting, horizontal rotation, and rotation around the axis operations are all achieved through mechanical devices, replacing laborious and time-consuming manual operations, resulting in faster speed and better consistency; compared to manually rotating the heavy crystal, the belt pulley drive provides efficient and stable rotational power around the axis; the crystal support assembly is detachably connected to the sliding end of the lifting mechanism, the crystal tray 24 is slidably mounted on the flipping platform via the tray slider 28, and the crystal fixing block 27 is used for fixing and transporting the crystal. This design facilitates the fixing of the crystal after orientation, the disassembly of the supporting components, and the separation of the entire crystal tray 24 (with the fixed crystal) from the orientation device. It provides partitioned clamping positions for direct lifting or transfer in subsequent cutting processes, significantly saving the conversion time from orientation to cutting. The design of the crystal fixing block 27 and the crystal tray 24 allows the entire crystal tray 24 (along with the fixed crystal) to be easily removed from the L-shaped flipping platform 21 via the tray slider 28 at its bottom after the crystal is reliably fixed at the orientation station. Alternatively, it can be lifted off the carrying platform 25 using the designed lifting points and directly transferred to the cutting station, achieving a seamless and safe connection between the orientation and cutting processes.

[0036] This application solves the problem of precise positioning in multi-dimensional space by using a crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism (translation, lifting, and horizontal rotation) and a crystal rotation mechanism (rotation around an axis); it solves the problems of reliable fixing and efficient transfer between processes by using a crystal fixing block 27 and a modular tray design; and it replaces manual labor with mechanized and automated operation, which significantly improves safety, accuracy and efficiency.

[0037] Reference Figure 1 It is understandable that the vertical lifting mechanism is the vertical lifting guide rail 14, and the horizontal moving mechanism is the translation guide rail 15 that matches the vertical lifting guide rail 14.

[0038] Reference Figure 1It is understood that the crystal support assembly includes two crystal support plates 11, one end of each crystal support plate 11 is detachably connected to the sliding end of the vertical lifting mechanism, and the horizontal rotation mechanism includes two rotating shafts 13 and two rotating bearings 12. The crystal support plates 11, rotating shafts 13 and rotating bearings 12 correspond one-to-one. The rotating bearings 12 are sleeved on the corresponding rotating shafts 13. The crystal support plates 11 are connected to the outer wall of the corresponding rotating bearings 12. The rotating shafts 13 can also abut against the crystal 30 to be oriented. A V-shaped structure is formed between the two crystal support plates 11.

[0039] It should be noted that the rotating shaft 13 is connected to the crystal support plate 11 through the rotating bearing 12; the end of the rotating shaft 13 abuts against the crystal and rotates with the crystal support plate 11 around the vertical axis to achieve micro-angle orientation of the crystal in the horizontal plane.

[0040] Reference Figure 3 It is understood that the flipping mechanism also includes a horizontal rotation damper 41, the two ends of which are connected to the crystal tray 24 and the support platform 25, respectively.

[0041] In this embodiment, the horizontal rotation damper 41 is connected to the crystal tray and the support platform 25. The damper is a composite structure consisting of a first bearing, a first rotating shaft, a shaft damping plate, and a fixing plate. The damping plate is installed on the support platform 25 and connected to the first rotating shaft to ensure that the crystal 30 to be oriented can be stopped and locked when it is rotated horizontally to any angle. The fixing plate is installed on the first rotating shaft and connected to the crystal tray 24 to fix the crystal tray 24, which is horizontal after being flipped. The first bearing is installed and fixed on the support platform 25 to facilitate the horizontal rotation of the crystal 30 to be oriented.

[0042] It should be noted that the two ends of the horizontal rotation damper 41 are connected to the crystal tray 24 and the bearing platform 25 respectively, providing rotational resistance so that the crystal tray 24 can be self-locked at any angle after horizontal rotation.

[0043] Reference Figure 1 It is understood that the flipping mechanism also includes at least two fine-tuning support blocks 23. Both fine-tuning support blocks 23 are set on the bearing platform 25. Both fine-tuning support blocks 23 are set close to the flipping hinge 22, and the two fine-tuning support blocks 23 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the flipping hinge 22.

[0044] It should be noted that the fine-tuning support block 23 is symmetrically arranged on the bearing platform 25 on both sides of the flip hinge 22. After flipping, it supports the L-shaped flip platform 21 to prevent gravity displacement and improve stability.

[0045] In this embodiment, two fine-tuning support blocks 23 are provided; in other embodiments, four fine-tuning support blocks 23 may also be provided, with the four fine-tuning support blocks 23 symmetrically arranged in pairs on both sides of the flip hinge 22, or other numbers of fine-tuning support blocks 23 may be provided, and are not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0046] Reference Figures 1 to 3 It is understood that the tilting mechanism also includes at least two L-shaped tilting platform buffer blocks 26. The L-shaped tilting platform buffer blocks 26 are both installed on the bearing platform 25, and the two L-shaped tilting platform buffer blocks 26 are respectively located at the positions where the two free ends of the L-shaped tilting platform 21 fall when the L-shaped tilting platform 21 is at its maximum tilting angle.

[0047] It should be noted that the L-shaped flipping platform buffer block 26 is installed on the bearing platform 25 and is located at the free end landing point when the L-shaped flipping platform 21 is at its maximum tilting angle. It is used to buffer the flipping impact force and protect the crystal and mechanical structure.

[0048] In this embodiment, two L-shaped flipping platform buffer blocks 26 are provided; in other embodiments, four L-shaped flipping platform buffer blocks 26 may also be provided, with the four L-shaped flipping platform buffer blocks 26 symmetrically arranged in pairs at the positions where the two free ends of the L-shaped flipping platform 21 fall when the L-shaped flipping platform 21 is at its maximum tilting angle. Other numbers of fine-tuning support blocks 23 may also be provided, and the embodiment is not limited to that of this application.

[0049] It is understood that the flipping mechanism also includes a hydraulic flipping drive mechanism (not shown in the figure). The hydraulic flipping drive mechanism is connected to the L-shaped flipping platform 21 and is used to drive the L-shaped flipping platform 21 to rotate around the flipping hinge 22 so as to drive the crystal 30 to be oriented to flip.

[0050] It should be noted that the output end of the hydraulic tilting drive mechanism is connected to the L-shaped tilting platform 21, providing stable hydraulic power to drive the tilting of heavy crystals, replacing manual operation.

[0051] It is understood that the flip hinge 22 includes a solid rotating shaft, a first heavy bearing assembly and a second heavy bearing assembly (not shown in the figure). The first heavy bearing assembly and the second heavy bearing assembly are respectively sleeved on both ends of the solid rotating shaft, and the first heavy bearing assembly is connected to the L-shaped flip platform 21, and the second heavy bearing assembly is connected to the bearing platform 25.

[0052] Understandably, the first heavy-duty bearing assembly includes a first heavy-duty bearing and a first bearing housing. The first heavy-duty bearing is sleeved on one end of the solid rotating shaft, and the first heavy-duty bearing is mounted on the first bearing housing. The first bearing housing is located at the bent end of the L-shaped tilting platform 21.

[0053] Understandably, the second heavy-duty bearing assembly includes a second heavy-duty bearing and a second bearing housing. The second heavy-duty bearing is sleeved on the other end of the solid rotating shaft, and the second heavy-duty bearing is mounted on the second bearing housing, which is located on the bearing platform 25.

[0054] It should be noted that the solid rotating shaft of the flip hinge 22 is connected to the L-shaped platform and the load-bearing platform 25 at both ends by heavy-duty bearing assemblies. It is the core load-bearing hub to ensure the structural strength when the large-tonnage crystal is flipped. The bearing of the first heavy-duty bearing assembly is installed in the bearing seat at the end of the L-shaped platform and is fitted with the solid rotating shaft to share the flipping torque and reduce the wear at the end of the L-shaped platform. The bearing of the second heavy-duty bearing assembly is installed in the bearing seat at the end of the load-bearing platform 25 and is fitted with the other end of the solid rotating shaft to balance the side load of the load-bearing platform 25 and prevent the rotating shaft from swaying.

[0055] It should be noted that the overall workflow of this application is as follows: Crystal loading: A large kilogram-level sapphire crystal placed vertically is fixed on a flipping mechanism; Safe flipping: The crystal is smoothly tilted from a vertical state to a horizontal state (0°→100°) through the flipping mechanism; Three-dimensional positioning calibration: The spatial position (X / Y / Z axis) and horizontal plane angle (-30° to 30°) of the horizontal crystal are finely adjusted using a crystal positioning adjustment mechanism; Crystal orientation: The crystal is driven to rotate 360° around its own axis through a crystal rotation mechanism, and the target crystal orientation is determined in conjunction with the detection equipment; Crystal fixing: After the crystal orientation is determined, the crystal is glued and locked to the crystal tray 24 using a crystal fixing block 27; Separation and transfer: The crystal tray 24 with the fixed crystal is separated from the orientation device and directly transferred to the cutting station.

[0056] For example, the working steps of this application are as follows: Step 1: Initial loading and fixing of crystal (vertical state) operation: The sapphire crystal to be oriented is placed vertically on the crystal tray 24 of the flipping mechanism; the crystal fixing blocks 27 are symmetrically activated to temporarily fix the crystal and prevent displacement before tilting (e.g., by mechanical clamping or temporary bonding); Key components: L-shaped flipping platform 21: supports the vertical crystal; Crystal fixing blocks 27 (27): symmetrically distributed on both sides of the tray to provide initial fixation. Step 2: Safe flipping of crystal (vertical → horizontal); Operation: The hydraulic flipping drive mechanism is started to drive the L-shaped flipping platform 21 to rotate around the flipping hinge 22; The L-shaped flipping platform 21 is slowly tilted from 0° (vertical) to nearly 100° (nearly horizontal). During the process: the support blocks 23 are finely adjusted to symmetrically support the flipping platform to prevent gravity displacement; the L-shaped flipping platform buffer block 26 absorbs the impact at the maximum tilting angle to protect the crystal and mechanical structure; Finally, the crystal is stabilized in a horizontal state. Key Design: Flip Hinge 22: A solid rotating shaft and heavy-duty bearing assembly (first / second heavy-duty bearings) bear large tonnage torque, ensuring smooth flipping. Step 3: Crystal 3D Positioning Calibration (Horizontal State): Operation: Horizontal Position Adjustment: Activate the horizontal movement mechanism (translation guide rail 15) to drive the vertical lifting mechanism (lifting guide rail) along the X / Y axes, aligning the crystal support assembly with the crystal; Height Adjustment: Control the sliding end of the lifting guide rail to adjust the Z-axis position of the crystal support plate 11 to accommodate the crystal size; Horizontal Angle Fine Adjustment: Operate the horizontal rotation mechanism (including the rotating shaft 13 and the rotating bearing 12) to rotate the crystal support plate 11 around the vertical axis within the range of -30° to 30°, correcting the horizontal angle of the crystal; Key Structure: Crystal Support Assembly: The two support plates form a V-shaped structure, fitting the cylindrical crystal surface to improve stability. Step 4: Crystal rotation and orientation (crystal orientation determination): Operation: Start the crystal rotation mechanism: The first drive mechanism (motor) drives the front end of the crystal to rotate the belt wheel mechanism 42; the second drive mechanism (motor) drives the rear end of the crystal to rotate the belt wheel mechanism 43; the working surfaces of the front and rear belts (42 / 43) press the crystal bidirectionally, and drive the crystal to rotate 360° around its own axis synchronously through friction; combined with X-ray diffractometer and other detection equipment, the crystal orientation is monitored in real time until the target crystallographic orientation is located; Key design: synchronous drive of double belt pulleys: avoids slippage caused by single-sided drive and ensures rotation accuracy; horizontal rotation damper 41: provides resistance during rotation, so that the crystal can self-lock and stop at any angle. Step 5: Crystal Fixing and Device Separation: Operation: After the crystal orientation is determined, disconnect the pulley mechanism from the crystal; permanently fix the crystal to the crystal tray 24 using the crystal fixing block 27 (such as a symmetrical adhesive block) (manual glue application and curing); disassemble the connection between the crystal support assembly and the lifting mechanism (detachable design); slide the tray slider 28 to move the crystal tray 24 with the fixed crystal horizontally out of the orientation station along the L-shaped flipping platform 21.Step 6: Transfer the oriented crystal to the cutting station: Operation: The entire module (including the crystal tray 24 + fixed crystal) is directly transferred to the cutting process using hoisting equipment or a track system; the tray slider 28 at the bottom of the tray is designed with a clamping interface compatible with the cutting equipment to achieve a seamless connection between "orientation and cutting".

[0057] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0058] The above description is the preferred embodiment of this application. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of this application, and these improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of this application.

[0059] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A sapphire crystal orientation and transfer device, characterized in that, Includes: a support platform, a crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism, a flipping mechanism, and a crystal rotation mechanism; The crystal positioning and adjustment mechanism includes a horizontal moving mechanism, a vertical lifting mechanism, a horizontal rotating mechanism, and a crystal support assembly. The horizontal moving mechanism is located at one end of the bearing platform. The fixed end of the vertical lifting mechanism is slidably mounted on the horizontal moving mechanism. The sliding end of the vertical lifting mechanism is detachably connected to the crystal support assembly. The horizontal rotating mechanism is connected to the crystal support assembly and can abut against the crystal to be oriented. The flipping mechanism includes an L-shaped flipping platform, a flipping hinge, a crystal tray, a tray slider, and at least two crystal fixing blocks. The bent end of the L-shaped flipping platform is connected to the bearing platform through the flipping hinge. The tray slider is slidably disposed on the upper surface of the L-shaped flipping platform. The crystal tray is disposed on the tray slider. The two crystal fixing blocks are symmetrically fixed at the two side edges of the upper surface of the crystal tray. The crystal fixing blocks are used to fix the crystal to be oriented to the crystal tray. The crystal rotation mechanism includes a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism, a crystal front-end rotating pulley mechanism, and a crystal rear-end rotating pulley mechanism. The crystal front-end rotating pulley mechanism is located at the front end of the crystal tray, and the crystal rear-end rotating pulley mechanism is located at the rear end of the crystal tray. The first driving mechanism is connected to the crystal front-end rotating pulley mechanism, and the second driving mechanism is connected to the crystal rear-end rotating pulley mechanism. The working surfaces of the belts of both the crystal front-end rotating pulley mechanism and the crystal rear-end rotating pulley mechanism are pressed against the crystal to be oriented.

2. The sapphire crystal orientation transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vertical lifting mechanism is a vertical lifting guide rail, and the horizontal moving mechanism is a translation guide rail that matches the vertical lifting guide rail.

3. The sapphire crystal orientation transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The crystal support assembly includes two crystal support plates, one end of each of the two crystal support plates being detachably connected to the sliding end of the vertical lifting mechanism. The horizontal rotation mechanism includes two rotating shafts and two rotating bearings. The crystal support plates, the rotating shafts, and the rotating bearings are in one-to-one correspondence. The rotating bearings are sleeved on the corresponding rotating shafts. The crystal support plates are connected to the outer walls of the corresponding rotating bearings. The rotating shafts can also abut against the crystal to be oriented. A V-shaped structure is formed between the two crystal support plates.

4. The sapphire crystal orientation transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flipping mechanism also includes a horizontal rotation damper, the two ends of which are connected to the crystal tray and the support platform, respectively.

5. The sapphire crystal orientation transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flipping mechanism further includes at least two fine-tuning support blocks, both of which are disposed on the bearing platform, both of which are disposed close to the flipping hinge, and both of which are symmetrically disposed on both sides of the flipping hinge.

6. The sapphire crystal orientation transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flipping mechanism also includes at least two L-shaped flipping platform buffer blocks, which are all installed on the bearing platform. The two L-shaped flipping platform buffer blocks are located at the positions where the two free ends of the L-shaped flipping platform fall when the L-shaped flipping platform is at its maximum tilting angle.

7. The sapphire crystal orientation transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flipping mechanism also includes a hydraulic flipping drive mechanism, which is connected to the L-shaped flipping platform. The hydraulic flipping drive mechanism is used to drive the L-shaped flipping platform to rotate around the flipping hinge, so as to drive the crystal to be oriented to flip.

8. The sapphire crystal orientation transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flip hinge includes a solid rotating shaft, a first heavy-duty bearing assembly, and a second heavy-duty bearing assembly. The first heavy-duty bearing assembly and the second heavy-duty bearing assembly are respectively sleeved on both ends of the solid rotating shaft. The first heavy-duty bearing assembly is connected to the L-shaped flip platform, and the second heavy-duty bearing assembly is connected to the load-bearing platform.

9. The sapphire crystal orientation transfer device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first heavy-duty bearing assembly includes a first heavy-duty bearing and a first bearing housing. The first heavy-duty bearing is sleeved on one end of the solid rotating shaft and mounted on the first bearing housing. The first bearing housing is located at the bent end of the L-shaped tilting platform.

10. The sapphire crystal orientation transfer device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second heavy-duty bearing assembly includes a second heavy-duty bearing and a second bearing housing. The second heavy-duty bearing is sleeved on the other end of the solid rotating shaft, and the second heavy-duty bearing is mounted on the second bearing housing, which is disposed on the bearing platform.

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