Trolley conveying positioning device and conveying switching system

Abstract

The invention discloses a trolley conveying and positioning device and a conveying and switching system. The trolley conveying and positioning device and a trolley servo switching mechanism work cooperatively. A control unit schedules an air receiving device in a unified mode to conduct pneumatic unlocking on corresponding parts. Then, a driving lever part and a servo device of the servo switching mechanism respectively drive an overturning subassembly and a sliding device to move to a preset target position for the new vehicle type; and finally pneumatic locking is completed by the air connecting device. Through a standardized mechanical connector, deep cooperation of the conveying device and the servo switching mechanism is achieved, full-automatic, high-precision and high-efficiency switching of supporting and positioning of multi-vehicle-type vehicle bodies is achieved, and the production requirements of modern automobiles for flexibility and high takt are met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention discloses a trolley conveying positioning device and a conveying switching system, belonging to the field of vehicle body conveying technology. Background Technology

[0002] As the automotive industry continues to evolve towards high automation and intelligence, traditional production lines are gradually being replaced by intelligent, fully automated production lines, significantly improving production efficiency and product consistency. However, in complex scenarios involving mixed production of multiple vehicle models, the versatility and adaptability of conveying equipment remain a core challenge hindering the full implementation of automated production lines. Traditional conveying devices generally suffer from poor adaptability to multiple vehicle models, reliance on manual operation for model switching, and insufficient coordination with automated switching mechanisms. This results in low switching efficiency, limited flexibility, and difficulty in achieving high-cycle production requirements.

[0003] In existing technologies, several servo switching devices for trolleys have been proposed to address the automation issues in vehicle model switching. For example, Chinese patent CN118848350A discloses a servo switching device and method for trolleys. Its core lies in using a lever to drive a dial head to move the tilting part on the trolley body to the working position, and using an air-connecting device to control the unlocking and locking of the brakes on the tilting part and the positioning part. This device further utilizes a servo drive mechanism to move the chuck, causing the movable chuck to open or clamp, thereby switching the corresponding positioning part to the desired vehicle model's working position and locking it in place. This servo switching device can achieve vehicle model switching in confined working environments through pneumatic and servo mechanisms. It has advantages such as compact structure, high degree of automation, flexible operation, and precise and efficient switching and positioning of different vehicle models, providing important technical support for flexible multi-vehicle mixed-line production.

[0004] However, the servo switching device described in CN118848350A is primarily a "mechanism" and "method" for switching and positioning components; it is not a complete, universal "cart conveying device." This patent focuses on explaining how to precisely operate the "tilting section" and "positioning section" on the cart using servo and pneumatic methods to adapt to different vehicle models. It does not provide a cart base plate as a load-bearing foundation, multiple sets of sliding devices for supporting the specific structure of the vehicle body and capable of moving along rails, or an overall solution for how these physical load-bearing components achieve deep collaboration with the servo switching mechanism.

[0005] Therefore, even with the advanced servo switching technology shown in CN118848350A, there is still a lack of an integrated device that can deeply integrate the aforementioned servo switching capabilities with a universal, high-strength, and high-precision trolley conveyor platform. Traditionally, the load-bearing components of the conveyor still require manual adjustment or lack seamless linkage with the servo switching mechanism, which prevents the full realization of the potential for automated switching. In practical applications, automotive welding production lines urgently need a trolley conveyor positioning device that can not only stably bear loads and accurately convey materials, but also achieve deep collaboration with existing or advanced trolley servo switching mechanisms (such as the mechanism described in CN118848350A) and fully automated switching and positioning throughout the entire process. This would completely solve the shortcomings of existing conveyor devices in terms of multi-vehicle adaptability, automated switching, and collaboration, thereby meeting the production requirements of intelligent, high-cycle, and compact space requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the following problems existing in the background art: When dealing with multi-model mixed production, the existing automotive welding production line conveyor devices generally have weak model adaptability, the model switching process relies heavily on manual labor, and the degree of automation is low; at the same time, the existing conveyor devices lack a mechanical interface with deep collaborative design with advanced automated switching mechanisms (such as the trolley servo switching device disclosed in CN118848350A), which makes it impossible to fully realize the automation potential of the entire system and makes it difficult to meet the production requirements of modern automobile manufacturing for flexibility, high precision and high cycle time.

[0007] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a trolley conveying and positioning device and its conveying and switching system. This device can achieve deep collaboration and seamless linkage with the trolley servo switching mechanism, thereby realizing fully automated, high-precision, and high-efficiency switching of vehicle body support positioning in multi-vehicle production.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a trolley conveying and positioning device, characterized in that it comprises: a trolley base plate; an air receiving device fixed to the trolley base plate and having multiple air passage interfaces; multiple sets of sliding devices installed on the trolley base plate, each set of sliding devices comprising: a linear slide rail; a sliding body movable along the linear slide rail; a brake assembly pneumatically connected to each air passage interface of the air receiving device and mechanically connected to the sliding body; a driven lever block disposed on the sliding body, the driven lever block having a structure for being clamped; at least two sets of flipping assembly assemblies symmetrically installed on the trolley base plate, each set of flipping assembly assemblies comprising: a flipping assembly that can flip relative to the trolley base plate around a hinge axis; and a lever groove provided on the flipping assembly.

[0009] As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trolley base plate is a high-strength steel integral forming part.

[0010] As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, some of the multiple sets of sliding devices are arranged longitudinally along the bottom plate of the trolley, and the other part is arranged vertically.

[0011] As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the linear slide rail is a high-precision ball bearing slide rail.

[0012] As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flipping assembly includes a mounting plate, a hinge, and a flip plate, and the slot is disposed at the tail of the flip plate.

[0013] As a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flipping assembly further includes a limiting device; the hinge rotatably connects the mounting plate and the flipping plate; the limiting device is fixed to the mounting plate and limits its maximum flipping stroke relative to the mounting plate by interfering with the movement path of the flipping plate.

[0014] The present invention also discloses a conveying switching system, which includes a trolley conveying and positioning device; and a trolley servo switching device, the servo switching device including: multiple sets of levers, the lever heads of which can engage with the slots mounted on the flipping part of the trolley conveying and positioning device; multiple servo devices, the clamps of which can clamp with the driven blocks on the sliding device of the trolley conveying and positioning device; and a control unit, the signal output terminal of which is electrically connected to the levers, the servo devices and the air receiving device on the trolley conveying and positioning device respectively.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: Compared with the prior art, this invention has significant advantages. The core advantage of this invention lies in its innovative provision of a standardized mechanical interface by pre-setting a "driven block" on the sliding device and a "groove" on the flipping assembly. This allows the trolley conveying and positioning device, as the execution end, to achieve deep collaboration with the trolley servo switching device, as the driving end. Based on this, the entire vehicle model switching process can be uniformly scheduled by the control unit, realizing full automation of the "flipping-sliding-locking" process without any manual intervention. This highly automated collaboration, combined with the high-precision linear guide rails, servo drives, and limiting devices of the flipping assembly itself, ensures high-precision positioning of each support point in the X and Z axes and angles. The overall positioning error can be controlled within ±0.5mm, not only meeting the stringent precision requirements of automotive welding but also enabling the device to flexibly adapt to three or more different vehicle models, demonstrating excellent flexible production capabilities. Therefore, compared to traditional methods relying on manual adjustments, the fully automated switching of this invention improves vehicle model switching efficiency by over 80%, reducing single switching time to less than one minute, significantly shortening production line downtime, and substantially improving production cycle time and equipment utilization. Overall, this invention integrates carrying, conveying, positioning, and collaborative interfaces with external automation systems into a single unit. Its compact and rational structural design, with all switching actions precisely driven by a servo system, avoids errors and inconsistencies that may arise from manual operation, thus ensuring high stability and reliability of the switching process and vehicle body support. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments disclosed in this invention, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments will be briefly described below. These drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the trolley conveying and positioning device of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a single sliding device in this invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a single flipping component in this invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the effect of the invention on supporting the vehicle body after implementation.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the trolley conveying and positioning device and the trolley servo switching mechanism of the present invention.

[0022] In the diagram, 1-car base plate; 2-air receiving device; 3-sliding device; 31-driven lever; 32-sliding body; 33-linear slide rail; 34-brake assembly; 4-tilting assembly; 41-tilting assembly; 411-mounting plate; 412-hinge; 413-tilting plate; 414-limiting device; A-car conveying device; B-car servo switching device. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions (including preferred technical solutions) of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and by way of listing some optional embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] like Figure 1-5 As shown, the present invention provides a trolley conveying and positioning device and its conveying switching system. The core of the system lies in the precise collaborative operation between the trolley conveying and positioning device designed in this invention as a passive execution end and a trolley servo switching device as disclosed in CN118848350A as an active driving end.

[0025] The trolley conveying and positioning device of the present invention is based on a trolley base plate 1, which provides a solid mounting platform for all functional components. An air receiving device 2, multiple sets of sliding devices 3, and at least two sets of tilting assembly assemblies 4 are strategically arranged on the trolley base plate 1, and their positional relationships are as follows: Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 The flipping assembly 4 is symmetrically installed on the left and right edges of the trolley base plate 1. This symmetrical layout allows it to extend outwards and flip upwards, thereby precisely supporting and positioning the side skirts or sill beams on both sides of the vehicle body, which serves as the benchmark for defining the width of the vehicle body.

[0026] Each set of flipping assembly includes a flipping assembly 41, whose internal structural connection is as follows: the mounting plate 411 serves as a fixed base and is firmly mounted on the trolley base plate 1; the hinge 412 rotatably connects the mounting plate 411 and the flipping plate 413, forming a rotating pair, allowing the flipping plate 413 to flip around its axis; and the limiting device 414 is fixed on the mounting plate 411, its position set so that when the flipping plate 413 flips to a preset working angle, it can mechanically block its continued movement, thereby achieving precise limitation of its maximum flipping stroke. The tail of the flipping plate 413 is provided with a slot for engaging with the lever of the trolley servo switching device.

[0027] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 Multiple sets of sliding devices 3 are widely distributed in the central area of ​​the trolley base plate 1 and at different longitudinal positions, located inside the left and right sets of flipping assembly 4, forming a complementary layout of "central + two sides" and "horizontal + vertical".

[0028] In this invention, a portion of the sliding device has a linear slide rail 33 laid along the longitudinal X-axis of the trolley floor 1 to support the front, middle, and rear longitudinal bearing points of the vehicle floor, in order to adapt to the wheelbase of different vehicle models.

[0029] Another part of the sliding device of the present invention is designed to move along the vertical Z-axis direction to support structural points with different heights on the vehicle body floor.

[0030] Each sliding device of the present invention includes a sliding body 32 on which a driven lever 31 is fixed. The sliding body 32 achieves high-precision linear movement through a linear guide rail 33. The brake assembly 34 is pneumatically connected to the air-connecting device 2 for locking.

[0031] The air receiving device 2 of the present invention is installed on the trolley base plate 1 in a fixed position that is easy to maintain and does not interfere with any moving parts. Its core is a functional connection network relationship. Through preset pneumatic pipelines, the air outlet of the air receiving device 2 is radially connected to the brake assembly 34 of each sliding device 3 and the pneumatic brake mechanism of each tilting assembly 4, so as to realize remote centralized control of all moving parts.

[0032] The essence of this invention lies in its fully automated switching process that works in conjunction with the trolley servo switching device. When switching vehicle models, the entire system operates as follows: Step 1: Trolley positioning and preparation The trolley conveying and positioning device enters the switching station and completes the initial positioning. At this time, the air receiving device 2 is in the air-off state, and the brake assemblies of all sliding devices 3 and tilting assembly 4 are in the brake-locked state.

[0033] Step 2: Automatic switching of the flip assembly 4 Unlock: The control unit instructs the air supply device 2 to ventilate the tilting assembly 4 that needs adjustment, thereby releasing its brake lock.

[0034] Drive: The lever of the trolley servo switching device moves, and its lever head extends precisely and engages with the slot at the tail of the flip plate 413.

[0035] Positioning: The lever is activated, causing the flip plate 413 to rotate around the hinge 412 until it is blocked by the limiting device 414, thus achieving precise positioning.

[0036] Locking: The control unit commands the air supply device 2 to cut off the air supply to the tilting assembly 4, and the brake assembly immediately locks it at the new working angle.

[0037] Step 3: Automatic switching of sliding device 3 Unlock: The control unit instructs the air supply device 2 to ventilate the sliding device 3 that needs adjustment, thereby releasing the lock of its brake assembly 34.

[0038] Drive: The servo device of the trolley servo switching device is activated, and its chuck moves to the driven block 31 on the sliding body 32 and clamps it firmly.

[0039] Positioning: The servo motor is precisely driven by the program, and the entire sliding body 32 is dragged to the target coordinate position of the new model through the linear guide rail 33.

[0040] Locking: Once in position, the control unit instructs the air supply device 2 to cut off the air supply, and the brake assembly 34 immediately locks the sliding body 32. The servo chuck releases and retracts.

[0041] Step 4: Switching complete Once all the support components that need adjustment have been switched and locked into the preset positions for the new model, the entire automated switching process is complete.

[0042] In summary, this invention, through the ingenious design of the driven block 31 and standardized mechanical interfaces such as the slot, and the strategic layout of each supporting component, perfectly combines a universal passive conveying platform with an active and intelligent servo switching system, achieving complete automation, high precision, and high efficiency in the vehicle model switching process.

[0043] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A trolley conveying and positioning device, characterized in that, Includes a trolley base plate (1); an air receiving device (2) fixed to the trolley base plate (1); and multiple sets of sliding devices (3) installed on the trolley base plate (1), each set of sliding devices (3) including: Linear slide rail (33); sliding body (32) movable along the linear slide rail (33); brake assembly (34) pneumatically connected to the air receiving device (2) and mechanically connected to the sliding body (32); driven lever (31) disposed on the sliding body (32); at least two sets of flipping assembly (4) symmetrically installed on the trolley base plate (1), each set of flipping assembly (4) includes a flipping assembly (41) which can be flipped relative to the trolley base plate (1) around a hinge axis; a lever groove is provided on the flipping assembly (41).

2. The trolley conveying and positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The trolley base plate (1) is a high-strength steel integral forming part.

3. The trolley conveying and positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Some of the multiple sliding devices (3) are arranged longitudinally along the bottom plate (1) of the trolley, while the other part is arranged vertically.

4. The trolley conveying and positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The linear slide rail (33) is a high-precision ball bearing slide rail.

5. The trolley conveying and positioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flipping assembly (41) includes a mounting plate (411), a hinge (412), and a flip plate (413), with the slot provided at the tail of the flip plate (413).

6. The trolley conveying and positioning device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The flipping assembly (4) further includes a limiting device (414); the hinge (412) rotatably connects the mounting plate (411) and the flip plate (413); the limiting device (414) is fixed to the mounting plate (411) and limits its maximum flipping stroke relative to the mounting plate (411) by interfering with the movement path of the flip plate (413).

7. A conveying and switching system, characterized in that, The device includes the trolley conveying and positioning device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; and a trolley servo switching device, the servo switching device including multiple sets of levers whose lever heads can engage with the slots on the flipping part (41) of the trolley conveying and positioning device; multiple servo devices whose clamps can clamp the driven levers (31) on the sliding device of the trolley conveying and positioning device; and a control unit whose signal output terminal is electrically connected to the levers, the servo devices and the air receiving device (2) on the trolley conveying and positioning device.

Images