Storage device for lower nameplates of electric energy meters

Abstract

The invention is suitable for the technical field of electric energy meter production, and provides an electric energy meter lower nameplate storage device which comprises a material groove, a gravity hammer mechanism, a linear guide rail, a quick-release positioning pin, a material blocking mechanism, a base and a sensor detection device. The trough is obliquely arranged and used for containing and conveying the lower nameplates of the electric energy meters, the trough is composed of a bottom plate and a top plate, and the width of the trough is adjusted by adjusting the position of the top plate; the linear guide rail is fixed at the bottom of the trough; the gravity hammer mechanism slides along the linear guide rail; the material blocking mechanism is arranged at the front end of the material groove. And the sensor detection device is mounted on the base and is positioned at the discharge hole of the trough. The automatic feeding device realizes automatic and continuous feeding and is adaptive to an automatic production line; the material blocking mechanism can allow a single lower nameplate to pass through, prevent materials behind from being separated and prevent the lower nameplate from being damaged. A handle of the gravity hammer mechanism facilitates manual pushing of a balancing weight to the rear end of the trough for feeding, locking is achieved after feeding is completed, the original state is recovered, and the feeding operation process is simplified.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of electricity meter manufacturing technology, and particularly relates to a material storage device for the nameplate under an electricity meter. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the power industry, the market demand for electricity meters continues to grow, and mass production with high efficiency has become the core goal of the industry. In the electricity meter production process, nameplate installation is a key step to ensure accurate product information labeling, and its operational efficiency and quality directly affect the overall production progress and product qualification rate of electricity meters.

[0003] However, in the traditional production model, this process relies entirely on manual operation, specifically in two forms: one is that workers directly grab the nameplates and complete the installation by hand, and the other is that a vertical material box manual material handling device is used to assist the operation. Among them, the method of workers directly grabbing the nameplates for installation has obvious efficiency and quality bottlenecks; while the structure of the vertical material box manual material handling device is designed with the material box placed vertically and a baffle at the bottom to prevent materials from falling. During operation, workers need to take materials one by one from the vertical material box to complete the installation, and after taking materials, they also need to replenish the material box in a timely manner. Whether it's manual material handling and installation or using a vertical material box for assisted material handling, both essentially remain within the core mode of manual operation and suffer from the same bottlenecks: First, inefficiency. When using a vertical material box for assisted material handling, the replenishment interval is extremely short (replenishment is required every 10 nameplates installed), requiring workers to repeat the material handling and replenishment actions. This manual operation is time-consuming and cannot meet the demands of high-speed production lines. Second, high quality risk. Manual operation is highly susceptible to errors such as incorrect or missing installations due to negligence. This makes the traditional manual installation mode a core bottleneck restricting the improvement of electricity meter production efficiency and quality stability, failing to meet the market's demand for mass production and high-quality electricity meters.

[0004] To overcome this bottleneck, the industry began exploring automation solutions, and the mechanical push rod type material storage device (related technology published in "Automation Instrumentation" Issue 5, 2023) is a representative device that emerged in this context. The initial design purpose of this device was to replace some manual operations with mechanical structures, reducing human intervention to improve efficiency and stability. Its structure mainly includes a horizontal material trough and an electric push rod. During operation, the electric push rod pushes the nameplates in the horizontal material trough towards the material handling station. Simultaneously, additional sensors are required for material positioning to ensure pushing accuracy, thereby helping to improve the automation level of the nameplate installation process. However, while mechanical push rod type material storage devices have improved in terms of automation, they still have obvious drawbacks: First, the efficiency is not as expected. Although it is better than manual operation, it still cannot meet the needs of current high-speed electricity meter production lines. Second, the structure is complex, requiring the integration of multiple components such as motors, guide rails, and sensors, which significantly increases the equipment manufacturing cost. Third, the operational stability is poor. During long-term pushing, the electric push rod is prone to jamming due to slight material deviation or component wear. According to statistics, its failure rate is as high as 15%. Frequent failures and repairs will interrupt the production process, making it difficult to achieve continuous and efficient operation. Fourth, the space utilization rate is low. The horizontal material trough needs to reserve enough pushing stroke space for the electric push rod, which makes the overall area occupied by the device large. This is not conducive to the compact layout of the production line and, to some extent, limits the further improvement of production efficiency.

[0005] In summary, the traditional manual operation method in the current nameplate installation process of electricity meters suffers from bottlenecks in efficiency and quality, while mechanical push-rod type material storage devices have not fully solved the above problems and still cannot meet the actual needs of mass production, high speed, and high quality of electricity meters. Therefore, this invention proposes a material storage device for the nameplate of electricity meters. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a material storage device for the nameplate under an electricity meter, which aims to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0007] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0008] A storage device for nameplates under an electricity meter includes a base, a material trough, a gravity hammer mechanism, a linear guide rail, a quick-release positioning pin, a material blocking mechanism, and a sensor detection device. The material trough is inclined to accommodate and transport nameplates under the electricity meter. The material trough consists of a bottom plate and a top plate. The bottom plate is mounted on the base via a quick-release positioning pin and has an elongated hole. A guide pin is fixed to the bottom of the top plate, which slides within the elongated hole and is secured to the top plate by a locking bolt. The linear guide rail is fixed to the bottom of the material trough. The gravity hammer mechanism is mounted within the material trough via the linear guide rail and can slide along it. The material blocking mechanism is located at the front end of the material trough to restrict the position of the nameplates and allow single nameplates to pass through. The sensor detection device is mounted on the base and located at the outlet of the material trough. It detects the presence or absence of nameplates, provides a trigger signal for the grasping action of the production line's material handling mechanism, and alerts the user to replenish nameplates when material is insufficient.

[0009] Furthermore, the inclination angle of the feed trough is 15°±2°, and the material is aluminum alloy.

[0010] Furthermore, the gravity hammer mechanism includes a counterweight, a pneumatic caliper, and a handle; the counterweight is an L-shaped stainless steel structure; the pneumatic caliper is integrated into the bottom front end of the counterweight and is used to lock or release the counterweight; the handle is fixedly connected to the counterweight.

[0011] Furthermore, the weight of the counterweight is 1.5 kg.

[0012] Furthermore, the working air pressure of the pneumatic caliper is 0.4MPa, and it is linked with the production line PLC, releasing after a 0.1-second delay after the material pick-up signal is triggered.

[0013] Furthermore, the material blocking mechanism includes a material blocking block, and a 0.5mm gap is reserved between the material blocking block and the material trough.

[0014] Furthermore, the material of the stop block is polyurethane, the hardness of the stop block is Shore A70±5, and the deformation force of the stop block is <5N.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0016] The energy meter nameplate storage device provided by this invention can achieve multiple practical effects: In terms of feeding function, with the help of an inclined material trough, a gravity hammer mechanism that can slide along a linear guide rail, and a pneumatic clamp linked to the production line PLC, the nameplate can be automatically pushed forward after the material pick-up signal is triggered. After the front end of the nameplate reaches the position of the stop block, the counterweight block is locked to avoid excessive compression, thereby realizing automatic and continuous feeding of the nameplate and adapting to the feeding needs of automated production lines; In terms of structure and protection, the material trough made of aluminum alloy is used to reduce the overall weight of the device, and the stop block made of polyurethane with a specific hardness and a precise gap reserved with the material trough can not only allow the nameplate to flexibly deform and pass through the gap after being pushed, but also prevent the material behind from falling out, while avoiding damage to the nameplate; In terms of operation convenience, the handle equipped with the gravity hammer mechanism can be used to manually push the counterweight block to the rear end of the material trough for feeding when the nameplate needs to be replenished. After feeding is completed, the counterweight block is locked again to restore the device to its initial state, simplifying the feeding operation process. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the material storage device under the nameplate of the electricity meter.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a front view of the material storage device under the nameplate of the electricity meter.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the linear guide rail and counterweight in the storage device under the nameplate of an electricity meter.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic clamp in the storage device under the nameplate of an electricity meter.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the base plate in the nameplate storage device under the electricity meter.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Material trough, 11. Base plate, 12. Long hole, 13. Guide pin, 2. Gravity hammer mechanism, 21. Counterweight, 22. Pneumatic caliper, 23. Handle, 3. Linear guide rail, 4. Quick release positioning pin, 5. Material stop block, 6. Base, 7. Sensor detection device. Detailed Implementation

[0023] In order to provide a clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives and beneficial effects of the present invention, the technical solution of the present invention will now be described in detail below, but it should not be construed as limiting the scope of implementation of the present invention.

[0024] The specific implementation of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0025] like Figures 1-3As shown, one embodiment of the present invention provides a nameplate storage device for an electricity meter, including a material trough 1, a gravity hammer mechanism 2, a linear guide rail 3, a quick-release positioning pin 4, a material blocking mechanism, a base 6, and a sensor detection device 7; the material trough 1 is mounted on the base 6 via the quick-release positioning pin 4; the sensor detection device 7 is mounted on the base 6 and located at the outlet of the material trough 1, used to detect the presence or absence of the nameplate, provide a trigger signal for the grasping action of the material picking mechanism (such as a robotic arm) on the production line, and remind the operator to replenish the nameplate when there is a shortage of material.

[0026] like Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material trough 1 is inclined at 15°±2° to accommodate the nameplate of the electricity meter and provide a storage and conveying channel. The inclined angle helps the nameplate to move forward with the assistance of the component of gravity. The material is aluminum alloy (lightweight), which can reduce the overall weight of the device.

[0027] The material trough 1 consists of a bottom plate 11 and a top plate. The bottom plate 11 is mounted on the base 6 via quick-release positioning pins 4, and several elongated holes 12 are provided on the bottom plate 11. A guide pin 13 is fixed to the bottom of the top plate, and the guide pin 13 can slide within the elongated holes 12 and is fixed in position by locking bolts. The position of the top plate can be manually adjusted and fixed according to the size of the lower nameplate, thereby adjusting the width of the material trough 1 to accommodate different lower nameplate sizes.

[0028] like Figures 1-3 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the linear guide rail 3 is fixed to the bottom of the trough 1 to provide guidance for the sliding of the gravity hammer mechanism 2, ensuring that the gravity hammer mechanism 2 moves smoothly in a specific direction.

[0029] like Figures 1-4 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gravity hammer mechanism 2 is installed in the material trough 1 via a linear guide rail 3 and can slide along the linear guide rail 3. The gravity hammer mechanism 2 includes:

[0030] Counterweight 21: Made of stainless steel, weighing 1.5kg, L-shaped, it provides thrust for the lower nameplate to move forward by sliding along the linear guide rail 3; combined with the inclination angle of the material trough 1 and the friction coefficient of the lower nameplate (μ=0.2), the 1.5kg counterweight 21 can provide stable thrust for the lower nameplate by the formula F=mg(sinθ-μcosθ) (θ is the inclination angle of the material trough 1).

[0031] Pneumatic caliper 22: Integrated at the bottom front of counterweight 21, with a working air pressure of 0.4MPa, used to lock or release counterweight 21, control the thrust output, and avoid excessive squeezing of the nameplate; it is also linked with the production line PLC, and releases after a 0.1-second delay after the material pick-up signal is triggered, ensuring that the nameplate is completely detached before pushing.

[0032] Handle 23: Fixedly connected to counterweight 21, making it convenient for manual pushing of counterweight 21 to the rear end of material trough 1, so as to add nameplates into material trough 1.

[0033] In this embodiment of the invention, after the lower nameplate is placed into the material trough 1, when the lower nameplate at the discharge end is removed, since the material trough 1 is arranged at an inclination, the gravity hammer mechanism 2 will slide down along the linear guide rail 3 under the action of the gravity component. After sliding down to the position, the pneumatic clamp 22 of the gravity hammer mechanism 2 is ventilated and locked, and the lower nameplate is prevented from being excessively squeezed by locking the counterweight block 21, thus preventing the lower nameplate from continuously popping out.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material blocking mechanism is located at the front end of the material trough 1 and includes a material blocking block 5 (made of polyurethane). A 0.5mm gap is reserved between the material blocking block 5 and the material trough 1 (the gap tolerance is ±0.05mm, and the accuracy is ensured by CNC milling). The hardness of the material blocking block 5 is Shore A70±5 to ensure that its deformation force is <5N (to avoid damage to the nameplate).

[0035] In this embodiment of the invention, during operation, the lower nameplate, due to its flexibility, deforms flexibly under thrust, allowing it to pass through the gap between the baffle block 5 and the material trough 1. Simultaneously, this gap, combined with the characteristics of the baffle block 5, blocks subsequent material, preventing it from detaching from the gap. This precise control of the gap enables automatic material feeding while also preventing damage to the lower nameplate.

[0036] The working principle of this invention is:

[0037] The working process of the material storage device under the nameplate of the electricity meter is as follows:

[0038] Initial state: Pneumatic caliper 22 is locked, counterweight 21 is fixed, and lower nameplate is stacked at the front end of material trough 1.

[0039] Material picking trigger: When the lower nameplate at the front end is removed, the material picking signal is transmitted to the PLC. After a delay of 0.1 seconds, the pneumatic clamp 22 is released, and the counterweight 21 slides down the linear guide rail 3 under the action of gravity, pushing the remaining lower nameplates forward. The displacement is equal to the thickness of a single lower nameplate, until the lower nameplate at the front end reaches the stop block 5.

[0040] Reset: The pneumatic caliper 22 is re-energized and locked, locking the counterweight 21 to prevent it from continuing to advance and causing excessive pressure on the nameplate.

[0041] Feeding process: When material needs to be added to the material trough 1, release the pneumatic clamp 22, and manually push the counterweight 21 to the rear end of the material trough 1 through the handle 23. After adding the new nameplate to the material trough 1, the pneumatic clamp 22 locks again and the device returns to its initial state.

[0042] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. These modifications and improvements will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of the present invention or the practicality of the patent.

Claims

1. A storage device for the nameplate under an electricity meter, comprising a base, characterized in that, It also includes a material trough, a gravity hammer mechanism, a linear guide rail, a quick-release positioning pin, a material blocking mechanism, and a sensor detection device. The material trough is inclined to accommodate and transport the nameplates under the energy meter. The material trough consists of a bottom plate and a top plate. The bottom plate is mounted on a base via a quick-release positioning pin and has an elongated hole. A guide pin is fixed to the bottom of the top plate, which slides within the elongated hole and is secured to the top plate by a locking bolt. The linear guide rail is fixed to the bottom of the material trough. The gravity hammer mechanism is mounted within the material trough via the linear guide rail and can slide along it. The material blocking mechanism is located at the front end of the material trough to restrict the position of the nameplates and allow single nameplates to pass through. The sensor detection device is mounted on the base and located at the outlet of the material trough. It detects the presence or absence of nameplates, provides a trigger signal for the grasping action of the production line's material handling mechanism, and alerts the user to replenish nameplates when there is a shortage.

2. The energy meter nameplate storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inclination angle of the trough is 15°±2°, and the material is aluminum alloy.

3. The energy meter nameplate storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gravity hammer mechanism includes a counterweight, a pneumatic caliper, and a handle; the counterweight is an L-shaped stainless steel structure; the pneumatic caliper is integrated into the bottom front end of the counterweight and is used to lock or release the counterweight; the handle is fixedly connected to the counterweight.

4. The energy meter nameplate storage device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The counterweight weighs 1.5 kg.

5. The energy meter nameplate storage device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pneumatic caliper operates at an air pressure of 0.4 MPa and is linked to the production line PLC, releasing after a 0.1-second delay following the material pick-up signal.

6. The energy meter nameplate storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material blocking mechanism includes a material blocking block, and a 0.5mm gap is reserved between the material blocking block and the material trough.

7. The energy meter nameplate storage device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The material of the stop block is polyurethane, the hardness of the stop block is Shore A70±5, and the deformation force of the stop block is <5N.

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