Automatic feeding device and method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of non-standard automation, in particular to an automatic feeding device and method.The automatic feeding device comprises a machine box, a feeding fixing assembly, a feeding pushing assembly and a feeding driving assembly, the machine box is provided with a cavity, a feeding guide plate is arranged in the cavity, the feeding fixing assembly is composed of a plurality of feeding fixing plates, and the feeding fixing plates are arranged on the feeding fixing assembly; the multiple feeding fixing plates are sequentially arranged in a step shape, a V angle is formed between each feeding fixing plate and the feeding guide plate, a movable sliding groove is formed between every two adjacent feeding fixing plates, the feeding pushing assembly comprises multiple feeding pushing plates, the tail portions of the multiple feeding pushing plates are provided with pushing connecting blocks, the pushing connecting blocks are connected with one another and arranged on the movable sliding grooves, and the pushing connecting blocks are connected with the feeding pushing plates. The first feeding push plate is arranged between the feeding guide plate and the first feeding fixing plate. According to the automatic feeding device, the problems of part clamping stagnation, extrusion deformation or surface scratching possibly caused by a traditional vibration disc or a conveying belt are solved, and the automatic feeding device is particularly suitable for automatic feeding of workpieces with regular shapes and high surface requirements.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of non-standard automation, in particular to an automatic feeding device and method. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the field of automated production, automatic feeding device is one of the key equipment to realize efficient and continuous operation, and its performance directly affects the running efficiency and stability of the whole production line. At present, the common automatic feeding methods mainly include vibrating disc feeding, belt or chain conveying, mechanical hand grabbing, etc. Although the vibrating disc can realize automatic orientation and ordering of parts, it works on the principle of vibration, and for workpieces with high surface finish requirement, easy-to-damage structure or special shape, it is easy to cause part surface scratch, deformation or even material jam due to frequent collision, affecting product quality and feeding reliability. While the traditional conveying belt type feeding mechanism, although conveying is stable, often lacks effective segmented buffering and precise positioning function, and in the occasion of multi-station intermittent feeding, it is difficult to realize rhythm coordination, which is easy to cause material accumulation or material breakage, affecting the continuity of subsequent assembly or machining process. In addition, the existing feeding equipment generally has problems of loose structure, large space occupation, poor adaptability to different specifications of workpieces, etc., especially in the space-limited automated integrated scene, it is difficult to realize compact layout and flexible production. Therefore, an automatic feeding scheme with compact structure, stable feeding, strong applicability and effective protection of workpiece surface is urgently needed to meet the demand of modern intelligent manufacturing for high precision, high reliability and high flexibility feeding. SUMMARY

[0003] To solve the above problems, the present application uses the V angle formed by the feeding fixed plate and the feeding guide plate to naturally guide and preliminarily limit the product, and combines the multiple feeding fixed plates arranged in a stepped manner to realize the orderly buffering and step-by-step transmission of the material, effectively avoiding the problems of part jamming, extrusion deformation or surface scratch caused by traditional vibrating disc or conveying belt, and is particularly suitable for the automatic feeding robot taking method and readable storage medium of workpieces with regular shape and high surface requirement.

[0004] The technical scheme adopted by the present application is: an automatic feeding device, comprising a machine box, a feeding fixing assembly, a feeding pushing assembly and a feeding driving assembly, the machine box is provided with a cavity, the cavity is provided with an inlet guide plate, the feeding fixing assembly is composed of a plurality of feeding fixing plates, the plurality of feeding fixing plates are arranged in a stepped manner, a V-shaped angle is formed between the feeding fixing plate and the inlet guide plate, an active chute is arranged between the adjacent two feeding fixing plates, the feeding pushing assembly is composed of a plurality of feeding push plates, the tail of the plurality of feeding push plates is provided with a pushing connecting block connected with each other and arranged on the active chute, the first feeding push plate is arranged between the inlet guide plate and the first feeding fixing plate; the feeding driving assembly is used for driving the feeding pushing assembly to move, so as to push the product introduced by the inlet guide plate.

[0005] Further improvement of the above scheme is that the machine box is formed by assembling two side plates, end plates and a plurality of bottom plates, the two side plates are connected by the bottom plates and the end plates to form a cavity, and the plurality of feeding fixing plates are arranged between the two side plates.

[0006] Further improvement of the above scheme is that one end of the machine box is provided with a discharge end, the discharge end is opposite to the inlet guide plate, the last feeding fixing plate is arranged at the discharge end, and the feeding fixing plate is provided with a discharge guide plate.

[0007] Further improvement of the above scheme is that the end of the feeding fixing plate is provided with a fixed baffle, one side of the feeding push plate is provided with a transmission roller, the transmission roller is located between the feeding fixing plate and the feeding push plate, and the outer diameter of the transmission roller is in abutment with the surface of the feeding fixing plate.

[0008] Further improvement of the above scheme is that the feeding driving assembly comprises a driving support, a driving module, a transmission guide rail and a transmission connecting piece, the driving support is arranged in the cavity, the driving module is arranged on the driving support, the transmission guide rail is arranged on the side of the machine box, and the transmission connecting piece is used for connecting the transmission guide rail and the feeding push plate.

[0009] Further improvement of the above scheme is that one side of the feeding push plate facing the inlet guide plate is provided with a bearing surface, and the feeding push plate is provided with a gravity sensor.

[0010] Further improvement of the above scheme is that a central control unit is further included, the central control unit is in communication connection with the gravity sensor and the feeding driving assembly; the central control unit is configured to execute the following control logic: Real-time receiving of the weight data on the bearing surface of the feeding push plate detected by the gravity sensor; When the weight data continuously falls below a preset empty load threshold for a first time period, it is determined that the material is insufficient, and a material shortage alarm signal is generated. When the weight data first reaches or exceeds a preset full load threshold, it is determined that the single product has been accurately positioned, and a start command is issued to the feeding drive assembly.

[0011] A further improvement of the above scheme is that the central control unit uses a fuzzy PID control algorithm to accurately control the movement of the feeding drive assembly; the fuzzy PID control algorithm takes the real-time weight data of the gravity sensor as the process variable, and takes the stable weight conveying state as the set value, dynamically adjusts the output power and start-stop timing of the feeding drive assembly, and ensures that the product smoothly and without impact slides to the specified position within the V angle.

[0012] A further improvement of the above scheme is that the central control unit is also configured to realize adaptive feeding control based on data feedback from the gravity sensor; specifically, it includes: monitoring the fluctuation of weight data in real time during the movement of the feeding drive assembly driving the feeding pushing assembly; if the weight data is detected to suddenly decrease and then quickly recover, it is identified that the product has a short-term jam or bounce within the V angle, and the feeding drive assembly is controlled to perform a small reverse retreat action, and then continue to advance to eliminate the jam.

[0013] A further improvement of the above scheme is that the central control unit is integrated with a production statistics module, which is configured to: count the number of times the weight data reaches the full load threshold as the feeding quantity; accumulate the total running time and start-up times of the feeding drive assembly; based on the feeding quantity and running time, calculate the average feeding tempo, and provide data basis for predictive maintenance.

[0014] An automatic feeding method based on an automatic feeding device, comprising the following steps: Step S1, initialization and readiness confirmation: after the system is powered on, the central control unit performs self-checking to confirm that the feeding drive assembly and the gravity sensor are in normal working condition; the feeding drive assembly is controlled to move the feeding pushing assembly to the initial position, i.e. the first feeding push plate is located below the material inlet guide plate; at this time, the weight detected by the gravity sensor should be lower than the empty load threshold, and the system enters the material waiting ready state.

[0015] Step S2, material sensing and single separation: pour batch products into the material inlet guide plate, the products slide into the V angle formed by the material inlet guide plate and the first feeding fixed plate under the action of gravity, and are naturally stacked; one product at the bottom falls onto the bearing surface of the first feeding push plate, and its weight is detected by the gravity sensor; when the central control unit determines that the weight data reaches or exceeds the full load threshold, it is confirmed that the single product has been successfully separated and positioned.

[0016] Step S3, cooperative pushing and relay transmission: the central control unit sends instructions to the feeding drive assembly to drive the entire feeding pushing assembly to move forward by one step along the movable chute; the first feeding pushing plate pushes the product carried thereby to the work station corresponding to the next feeding fixed plate, while the adjacent next feeding pushing plate moves to below the feeding guide plate to receive the next product; the cycle is repeated to realize step-by-step relay transmission of the product between the feeding fixed plates arranged in steps.

[0017] Step S4, discharge confirmation and cycle triggering: when the product is pushed to the terminal feeding fixed plate and slides out to the discharge end through the discharge guide plate, one feeding cycle is completed; the gravity sensor on the terminal feeding pushing plate detects the removal of the weight, and the signal is fed back to the central control unit; the central control unit determines that one feeding cycle is completed, and immediately triggers the pushing instruction of the next cycle to form a continuous automatic cycle.

[0018] Step S5, state monitoring and intelligent decision making: during the entire feeding process, the central control unit continuously performs the following monitoring and decision making: Shortage monitoring: real-time analysis of the data of the gravity sensors on each feeding pushing plate; if the feeding pushing plate at the feeding station is continuously empty for more than a set time, it is determined that there is a shortage, and an audible and visual alarm is sounded and the equipment is paused; Jam processing: during the pushing process, if abnormal fluctuations in the weight data are detected, an anti-jamming algorithm is started to control the feeding drive assembly to perform a "micro-backward-moving-then-forward-moving" action to try to eliminate the fault; Data recording: cumulative number of successful feedings, monitoring equipment running efficiency, providing data support for production management and maintenance.

[0019] The present application has the following advantages: Compared with existing automatic feeding, the present application uses the V-shaped angle formed by the feeding fixed plate and the feeding guide plate to naturally guide and preliminarily position the product, in combination with the plurality of feeding fixed plates arranged in steps, to realize orderly buffering and step-by-step transmission of the material, effectively avoiding the problems of part jamming, extrusion deformation or surface scratching that may be caused by traditional vibrating discs or conveyors, and is particularly suitable for automatic feeding of workpieces with regular shape and high surface requirements. Through the overall linkage design of the feeding pushing assembly, i.e. the plurality of feeding pushing plates are connected to each other through the feeding pushing connecting blocks and are driven by the same feeding drive assembly, the synchronization and consistency of the pushing actions of each station are ensured. The device can automatically create space for the next workpiece while pushing the workpiece at the inlet to the outlet in one feeding cycle, forming a continuous and smooth relay feeding process, greatly improving the feeding efficiency and rhythm stability. The overall structure is compact and has high integration. The stepped arrangement fully utilizes the vertical space, so that the equipment occupies a small area and the feeding path is lengthened, which is conducive to realizing multi-station buffering and smooth transition in a limited equipment space.

[0020] The one side of the feeding push plate facing the feeding guide plate is provided with a bearing surface, and the feeding push plate is provided with a gravity sensor. A central control unit is further included, which is in communication connection with the gravity sensor and the feeding driving assembly; the gravity sensor can directly and timely sense whether there is a workpiece on the bearing surface and the weight thereof, thereby providing reliable physical quantity feedback for control. The central control unit can accurately judge two key states of "single piece in place" and "complete lack of material" by comparing the weight data with a preset threshold. The traditional photoelectric or mechanical sensor is replaced, the false detection caused by changes in the color and posture of the workpiece is avoided, the upgrade from simple position detection to weight information discrimination is realized, the control logic is more rigorous and reliable, and the accuracy and success rate of the feeding action are greatly improved. After judging that the single product is accurately in place, the driving assembly can be automatically and timely instructed without manual intervention or waiting for an external trigger signal, thereby realizing the continuous automatic cycle of "sensing and action". Meanwhile, the lack of material alarm function enables the equipment to have the state self-diagnosis capability, can timely inform the operator to supplement the material, avoids the energy waste and time loss caused by the idling of the equipment, ensures the continuity of the production process, and provides a technical basis for unmanned production. The weight-based discrimination mechanism can effectively identify abnormal conditions such as double-piece overlap (weight over limit) or workpiece defect (weight deficiency), and can easily realize the rejection or alarm of these defective products by extending the control logic, thereby preventing the defective workpieces from flowing into the subsequent processing link and improving the consistency of product quality from the source. The intelligent process monitoring provides key data support for building lean production and digital workshop.

[0021] The automatic feeding method based on the automatic feeding device realizes full automation, high reliability and intelligentization of the feeding process by deeply integrating hardware actions with intelligent control logic, and produces multiple beneficial effects. A complete control closed loop from "single piece perception" to "cooperative pushing" and then to "discharge confirmation" is constructed with the real-time weight data of the gravity sensor as the core feedback. The triggering of each action is based on a clear physical quantity (weight threshold) rather than rough time estimation or position judgment, ensuring the accuracy of single piece separation and pushing. More importantly, the design of steps S3 and S4 enables the "pushing" and "receiving" actions to be completed simultaneously in one drive, and the next cycle is automatically triggered by the unloading signal at the end, forming an efficient, smooth and seamless continuous operation cycle, greatly improving the feeding rhythm and overall efficiency. The built-in state monitoring and intelligent decision mechanism (step S5) is the core advantage. The system can not only realize self-diagnosis and active alarm through "material shortage monitoring", avoiding idle running of the equipment, but also can intelligently identify and try to eliminate faults in the pushing process through "material jam processing". This judgment based on abnormal fluctuations in weight data and the "micro-retraction-re-entry" response strategy endow the equipment with certain fault tolerance and self-recovery ability, reducing the stringent requirements for the attitude of the workpiece and the dependence on manual intervention, and ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the production line. Through the "data recording" function, the method automatically accumulates the feeding times and monitors the running efficiency, and these real-time data provide objective basis for analyzing equipment utilization, tracking production quantity and planning preventive maintenance, which helps to promote the development of production management towards digitization and refinement. In summary, the method not only ensures the efficiency and reliability of the feeding action itself, but also significantly improves the automation level and manageability of the entire production system through intelligent decision and data accumulation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the automatic feeding device of the present application; Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the automatic feeding device in the present application; Figure 1 Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the side view of the automatic feeding device in the present application; Figure 1 Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a sectional view of A-A in the present application; Figure 3 Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of part of the structure of the material taking mechanism in the present application; Figure 1 Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a connection diagram of the central control unit in the present application; Figure 7 FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the automatic feeding method of the present application.

[0023] ​​​​Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Chassis; 11. Cavity; 12. Feed guide plate; 13. Side plate; 14. End plate; 15. Bottom plate; 16. Discharge end; 2. Feeding fixing assembly; 21. Feeding fixing plate; 211. Discharge guide plate; 212. Fixed baffle; 22. Movable slide; 3. Feeding push assembly; 31. Feeding push plate; 31. Transmission roller; 311. Gravity sensor; 312. Pushing connecting block; 32. Feeding drive assembly; 4. Drive bracket; 41. Drive module; 42. Transmission guide rail; 43. Transmission connecting piece; 44. Central control unit; 5. Production statistics module; 51. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of the invention.

[0025] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly attached to the other component or there may be an intervening component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intervening component.

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Figures 1-6As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, an automatic feeding device is provided, including a chassis 1, a feeding fixing component 2, a feeding pushing component 3, and a feeding driving component 4. The chassis 1 is provided with a cavity 11, and an inlet guide plate 12 is provided in the cavity 11. The feeding fixing component 2 is composed of multiple feeding fixing plates 21, which are arranged in a stepped manner and form a V angle with the inlet guide plate 12. A movable slide 22 is provided between two adjacent feeding fixing plates 21. The feeding pushing component 3 is composed of multiple feeding push plates 31, and the tails of the multiple feeding push plates 31 are provided with pushing connecting blocks 32 that are connected to each other and are provided on the movable slide 22. The first feeding push plate 31 is provided between the inlet guide plate 12 and the first feeding fixing plate 21. The feeding driving component 4 is used to drive the feeding pushing component 3 to move so as to push the product introduced by the inlet guide plate 12. This embodiment utilizes the V-angle formed by the feeding fixing plate 21 and the infeed guide plate 12 to naturally guide and initially limit the product. Combined with multiple feeding fixing plates 21 arranged in a stepped manner, it achieves orderly buffering and step-by-step transmission of materials, effectively avoiding problems such as part jamming, extrusion deformation, or surface scratches that may be caused by traditional vibratory feeders or conveyor belts. It is particularly suitable for automated feeding of workpieces with regular shapes and high surface requirements. Through the overall linkage design of the feeding and pushing component 3, that is, multiple feeding push plates 31 are interconnected through the pushing connecting block 32 and driven by the same feeding drive component 4, the synchronization and consistency of the pushing actions at each station are ensured. This allows the device to automatically make room for the next workpiece while pushing the workpiece at the entrance to the exit after completing a feeding cycle, forming a continuous and smooth relay feeding process, which greatly improves feeding efficiency and rhythm stability. The overall structure is compact and highly integrated. The stepped layout makes full use of vertical space, resulting in a small equipment footprint while extending the feeding path, which is conducive to achieving multi-station buffering and smooth transition within a limited equipment space.

[0027] The chassis 1 is assembled from two side plates 13, an end plate 14, and multiple base plates 15. The two side plates 13 are connected by the base plates 15 and the end plates 14 to form a cavity 11. Multiple feeding fixing plates 21 are disposed between the two side plates 13. In this embodiment, the use of a chassis 1 structure assembled from side plates 13, end plates 14, and base plates 15 in a modular fashion brings significant technical benefits. First, this structure greatly facilitates the manufacturing, transportation, and maintenance of the device. Each plate can be processed separately, reducing the molding difficulty and mold cost of individual parts, and can be transported in a flatbed form, saving space and reducing transportation costs. It is also easy to adjust and position during on-site assembly. The frame structure has excellent overall rigidity and stability. The two side plates 13 are firmly connected by the base plates 15 and the end plates 14 to form a robust, sealed cavity 11, providing a stable and reliable installation foundation for the internal precision feeding fixing components 2 and pushing components, effectively resisting vibration and impact during operation, ensuring the long-term accuracy of the feeding trajectory, and extending the service life of the equipment.

[0028] One end of the chassis 1 is provided with a discharge end 16, which is opposite to the infeed guide plate 12. The end of the chassis 1 is provided with a feeding fixing plate 21, and a discharge guide plate 211 is provided on the feeding fixing plate 21. In this embodiment, by arranging the discharge end 16 opposite to the infeed guide plate 12 and configuring the discharge guide plate 211, the feeding path is straightened and made more efficient. Firstly, the linear layout of "feed-push-discharge" is compact and has the shortest path, effectively reducing unnecessary steps such as turning and adjusting the product during transmission. This not only simplifies the mechanical structure but also greatly improves the efficiency of material flow and reduces the risk of jamming. The key function of the discharge guide plate 211, located on the end feeding fixing plate 21, is to ensure that the product is accurately and smoothly guided to the next process or receiving device. It can withstand the pushing force from the feeding pusher plate 31 and slide the product out in a controllable trajectory and posture, avoiding the product from bouncing, rolling or deviating at the moment of discharge, ensuring the reliability and stability of discharge, and laying a solid foundation for the seamless connection of the entire automated production line.

[0029] A fixed baffle 212 is provided at the end of the feeding fixed plate 21, and a transmission roller 311 is provided on one side of the feeding push plate 31. The transmission roller 311 is located between the feeding fixed plate 21 and the feeding push plate 31, and the outer diameter of the transmission roller 311 abuts against the surface of the feeding fixed plate 21. In this embodiment, by providing a fixed baffle 212 at the end of the feeding fixed plate 21 and a transmission roller 311 on the feeding push plate 31, the stability and positioning accuracy of the device operation are improved. The primary technical effect of the fixed baffle 212 is to provide precise mechanical limit for each pushing action. When the feeding push plate 31 pushes the product to the target station, the fixed baffle 212 can effectively prevent the product from overshooting due to inertia or pushing force, ensuring that it can stop at the preset and accurate position each time, creating stable conditions for subsequent relay transmission or discharge actions. The design of the transmission roller 311 transforms the sliding friction between the feeding push plate 31 and the fixed plate into rolling friction. The transformation significantly reduces the friction that the drive components need to overcome during the pushing process, which not only reduces the drive load and energy consumption, but also makes the pushing action smoother and more fluid. It effectively reduces jamming, vibration and wear problems caused by fluctuations in frictional resistance, thereby ensuring the reliability and stability of the equipment in long-term operation.

[0030] The feeding drive assembly 4 includes a drive bracket 41, a drive module 42, a transmission guide rail 43, and a transmission connector 44. The drive bracket 41 is disposed within the cavity 11, the drive module 42 is mounted on the drive bracket 41, the transmission guide rail 43 is disposed on the side of the housing 1, and the transmission connector 44 is used to connect the transmission guide rail 43 to the feeding push plate 31. In this embodiment, by adopting an integrated feeding drive assembly 4 design, the power transmission accuracy, operational stability, and space utilization efficiency of the automatic feeding device are improved. This design securely mounts the drive module 42 on the drive bracket 41 disposed within the cavity 11 of the housing 1, utilizing the structural strength of the housing 1 to provide the power source with a rigid mounting reference, effectively absorbing the vibration and reaction force during motor operation, and preventing the feeding accuracy from being affected by bracket swaying. The transmission guide rail 43 is disposed on the side of the housing 1, achieving separation of the power transmission path and the workpiece conveying path. This layout is not only compact and optimizes internal space, but more importantly, the linear motion of the guide rail is precisely transmitted to the feeding pusher plate 31 by the transmission connector 44, forming a high-rigidity guiding system. This ensures that the feeding pusher plate 31 maintains linear motion throughout the long-stroke pushing process, effectively resisting lateral forces and avoiding possible swaying or jamming of the pusher plate, thus guaranteeing high precision, high reliability, and long service life throughout the entire feeding process.

[0031] The feeding pusher plate 31 has a bearing surface on the side facing the infeed guide plate 12, and a gravity sensor 312 is installed inside the feeding pusher plate 31. It also includes a central control unit 5, which is communicatively connected to the gravity sensor 312 and the feeding drive assembly 4. The central control unit 5 is configured to execute the following control logic: receive weight data detected by the gravity sensor 312 on the bearing surface of the feeding pusher plate 31 in real time; when the weight data is continuously lower than a preset empty load threshold for a first time period, it is determined to be a material shortage state and a material shortage alarm signal is generated; when the weight data first reaches or exceeds a preset full load threshold, it is determined that a single product has been accurately placed and a start command is issued to the feeding drive assembly 4.

[0032] In this embodiment, the gravity sensor 312 can directly and in real time sense whether a workpiece exists on the bearing surface and its weight, providing reliable physical quantity feedback for control. The central control unit 5, by comparing weight data with a preset threshold, can accurately determine two key states: "single piece in place" and "complete material shortage." This replaces traditional photoelectric or mechanical sensors, avoiding false detections caused by changes in workpiece color or posture. It also represents an upgrade from simple position detection to weight information discrimination, resulting in more rigorous and reliable control logic and significantly improving the accuracy and success rate of the loading action. After determining that a single product is accurately in place, it can automatically and instantly send instructions to the drive components without manual intervention or waiting for external trigger signals, achieving a continuous automated cycle of "sensing as action." Simultaneously, the material shortage alarm function enables the equipment to have self-diagnostic capabilities, promptly notifying operators to replenish materials, avoiding energy waste and time loss caused by equipment idling, ensuring the continuity of the production process, and providing a technical foundation for unmanned production. Weight-based discrimination mechanisms can effectively identify anomalies such as overlapping double pieces (overweight) or defective workpieces (underweight). By extending the control logic, these defective products can be easily rejected or trigger alarms, preventing defective workpieces from entering subsequent processing stages and improving product quality consistency from the source. Intelligent process monitoring provides crucial data support for building lean manufacturing and digital workshops.

[0033] The central control unit 5 is also configured to implement adaptive feeding control based on data feedback from the gravity sensor 312. Specifically, this includes: monitoring weight data fluctuations in real time during the movement of the feeding drive component 4 driving the feeding push component 3; if a sudden drop in weight data is detected followed by a rapid recovery, it is identified as a brief jam or bounce of the product within the V-angle, and the feeding drive component 4 is controlled to perform a small reverse retraction action before continuing forward to eliminate the jam. In this embodiment, by introducing data feedback from the gravity sensor 312 and configuring the central control unit 5 to achieve adaptive feeding control, the intelligence level and operational reliability of the feeding device are greatly improved. Traditional rigid mechanical control is upgraded to a flexible control with "tactile" perception and intelligent decision-making. During the feeding process, the weight data monitored in real time by the gravity sensor 312 acts like the "nerves" of the device, sensitively capturing slight jamming, bounce, or abnormal posture of the product within the V-shaped guide angle (manifested as a sudden drop and recovery of weight data). The central control unit 5 acts as the "brain," instantly recognizing this abnormal pattern and automatically triggering a sophisticated corrective strategy—controlling the feeding drive assembly 4 to perform a slight reverse retraction. This action cleverly breaks the abnormal force state between the product and the guide plate, allowing it to reset and straighten before continuing its advance. This proactive intervention fundamentally prevents temporary jamming from escalating into severe jamming or product rollover, significantly reducing downtime and achieving true preventative maintenance and adaptive production. It is particularly suitable for precision automated production lines with extremely high requirements for feeding stability.

[0034] The central control unit 5 integrates a production statistics module 51, which is configured to: count the number of times the weight data reaches the full load threshold each time, as the feeding quantity; accumulate the total running time and start-up count of the feeding drive component 4; calculate the average feeding cycle time based on the feeding quantity and running time, and provide data basis for predictive maintenance. In this embodiment, by integrating the production statistics module 51 into the central control unit 5, the automatic feeding device is endowed with powerful data management and decision support capabilities, realizing the transformation from a simple execution mechanism to an intelligent production node. By accurately counting the number of times the full load threshold is reached each time, automated and error-free statistics of the feeding quantity are achieved, providing an accurate data foundation for production management and material traceability, and completely replacing the error-prone manual recording. By accumulating the total running time and start-up count of the feeding drive component 4, the actual workload and wear level of the core components can be accurately assessed. Most importantly, the "average feeding cycle time" calculated by combining the feeding quantity and running time provides a key quantitative indicator for optimizing the production process and balancing the overall production line capacity. The long-term accumulated operating data provides a scientific basis for implementing predictive maintenance. Based on historical data trends, it can provide early warnings of performance degradation or potential failures in key components such as drive components, thereby transforming passive maintenance into proactive maintenance and effectively reducing unplanned downtime and improving the overall intelligent management level of the production line.

[0035] like Figures 1-7 As shown, an automatic feeding method based on an automatic feeding device includes the following steps: Step S1, Initialization and Readiness Confirmation: After the system is powered on, the central control unit 5 performs a self-test to confirm that the feeding drive component 4 and the gravity sensor 312 are in normal working condition; it controls the feeding drive component 4 to move the feeding push component 3 to the initial position, that is, the first feeding push plate 31 is located below the feeding guide plate 12; at this time, the weight detected by the gravity sensor 312 should be lower than the no-load threshold, and the system enters the waiting-for-materials-ready state.

[0036] Step S2, Material Sensing and Single-Piece Separation: Batch of products are poured into the feed guide plate 12. Under the action of gravity, the products slide along the inclined plane into the V-angle formed by the feed guide plate 12 and the first feeding fixing plate 21, and are naturally stacked. The bottom product falls onto the bearing surface of the first feeding push plate 31, and its weight is detected by the gravity sensor 312. When the central control unit 5 determines that the weight data reaches or exceeds the full load threshold, it confirms that the single product has been successfully separated and placed.

[0037] Step S3, Coordinated Push and Relay Transmission: The central control unit 5 sends a command to the feeding drive assembly 4, driving the entire feeding push assembly 3 to move forward one step along the movable slide 22; the first feeding push plate 31 pushes the product it carries to the workstation corresponding to the next feeding fixed plate 21, and at the same time, the adjacent next feeding push plate 31 moves to the bottom of the infeed guide plate 12 to receive the next product; this cycle is repeated to realize the step-by-step relay transmission of products between the stepped feeding fixed plates 21.

[0038] Step S4, material discharge confirmation and cycle triggering: When the product is pushed to the end feeding fixing plate 21, it slides out to the discharge end 16 through the discharge guide plate 211, completing one feeding cycle; the gravity sensor 312 on the end feeding push plate 31 detects the weight removal, and the signal is fed back to the central control unit 5; the central control unit 5 determines that one feeding cycle is completed based on this, and immediately triggers the push command for the next cycle, forming a continuous automatic cycle.

[0039] Step S5, Status Monitoring and Intelligent Decision-Making: Throughout the entire material loading process, the central control unit 5 continuously performs the following monitoring and decision-making: Material shortage monitoring: Real-time analysis of the data from the gravity sensor 312 on each feeding pusher plate 31. If the feeding pusher plate 31 located at the feeding station is continuously unloaded for more than the set time, it is determined to be material shortage, and an audible and visual alarm is issued and the equipment is suspended. Material jamming handling: If abnormal fluctuations in weight data are detected during the feeding process, the anti-jamming algorithm is activated, and the feeding drive component 4 is controlled to perform a "micro-retract-re-advance" action to try to eliminate the fault; Data recording: cumulative number of successful material loadings, monitoring equipment operating efficiency, and providing data support for production management and maintenance.

[0040] In this embodiment, by deeply integrating hardware actions with intelligent control logic, the fully automated, highly reliable, and intelligent feeding process is achieved, resulting in multiple beneficial effects. Using real-time weight data from gravity sensor 312 as the core feedback, a complete control loop is constructed, from "single-piece sensing" to "collaborative pushing" and then to "discharge confirmation." Each action is triggered based on a specific physical quantity (weight threshold), rather than a rough time estimate or position judgment, ensuring the accuracy of single-piece separation and pushing. More importantly, the design of steps S3 and S4 allows the "pushing" and "receiving" actions to be completed synchronously in a single drive, and automatically triggers the next cycle through the unloading signal at the end, forming a highly efficient, smooth, and seamless continuous operation cycle, greatly improving the feeding cycle time and overall efficiency. The built-in status monitoring and intelligent decision-making mechanism (step S5) is a core advantage. The system can not only achieve self-diagnosis and proactive alarm through "material shortage monitoring" to avoid equipment idling, but also intelligently identify and attempt to eliminate faults in the pushing process through "material jam handling." This method, based on the judgment of abnormal fluctuations in weight data and the "micro-retreat-re-advance" response strategy, endows the equipment with a certain degree of fault tolerance and self-recovery capability, reduces the stringent requirements on workpiece posture and the reliance on manual intervention, and ensures the continuous and stable operation of the production line. Through the "data recording" function, the method automatically accumulates the number of feeding operations and monitors operational efficiency. This real-time data provides objective evidence for analyzing equipment utilization, tracking production quantities, and planning preventative maintenance, helping to promote the development of production management towards digitalization and refinement. In summary, this method not only ensures the efficiency and reliability of the feeding action itself, but also significantly improves the automation level and manageability of the entire production system through intelligent decision-making and data accumulation.

[0041] The above embodiments merely illustrate several implementation methods of the present invention, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An automatic feeding device, characterized in that: The device includes a chassis, a feeding and fixing assembly, a feeding and pushing assembly, and a feeding and driving assembly. The chassis has a cavity, and an inlet guide plate is disposed within the cavity. The feeding and fixing assembly consists of multiple feeding and fixing plates arranged in a stepped manner, forming a V-angle between the feeding and fixing plates and the inlet guide plate. A movable slide groove is provided between two adjacent feeding and fixing plates. The feeding and pushing assembly consists of multiple feeding push plates, and the tails of the multiple feeding push plates are provided with pushing connecting blocks that are interconnected and disposed on the movable slide groove. The first feeding push plate is disposed between the inlet guide plate and the first feeding and fixing plate. The feeding and driving assembly is used to drive the feeding and pushing assembly to move, so as to push the product introduced by the inlet guide plate.

2. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The chassis is assembled from two side plates, an end plate, and multiple base plates. The two side plates are connected by the base plate and the end plate to form a cavity. Multiple feeding fixing plates are arranged between the two side plates.

3. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the chassis is provided with a discharge end, which is opposite to the infeed guide plate. The feeding fixing plate at the end is provided with a discharge guide plate.

4. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A fixed baffle is provided at the end of the feeding fixed plate, and a transmission roller is provided on one side of the feeding push plate. The transmission roller is located between the feeding fixed plate and the feeding push plate, and the outer diameter of the transmission roller abuts against the surface of the feeding fixed plate.

5. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding drive assembly includes a drive bracket, a drive module, a transmission guide rail, and a transmission connector. The drive bracket is disposed in the cavity, the drive module is disposed on the drive bracket, the transmission guide rail is disposed on the side of the chassis, and the transmission connector is used to connect the transmission guide rail to the feeding push plate.

6. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding pusher plate has a bearing surface on the side facing the infeed guide plate, and a gravity sensor is installed inside the feeding pusher plate.

7. The automatic feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a central control unit, which is communicatively connected to the gravity sensor and the feeding drive assembly; the central control unit is configured to execute the following control logic: The system receives weight data on the bearing surface of the feeding pusher plate in real time, as detected by the gravity sensor. When the weight data remains below a preset no-load threshold for a first time period, it is determined to be a material shortage state and a material shortage alarm signal is generated. When the weight data reaches or exceeds a preset full load threshold for the first time, it is determined that the single product has been accurately placed and a start command is sent to the feeding drive component. The central control unit uses a fuzzy PID control algorithm to precisely control the movement of the feeding drive component. The fuzzy PID control algorithm uses the real-time weight data of the gravity sensor as the process variable and the stable weight conveying state as the set value to dynamically adjust the output power and start / stop timing of the feeding drive component, ensuring that the product slides smoothly and without impact to the designated position within the V angle.

8. The automatic feeding device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The central control unit is also configured to achieve adaptive feeding control based on data feedback from the gravity sensor; specifically, it includes: monitoring the fluctuation of weight data in real time during the process of the feeding drive component driving the feeding push component to move; if the weight data is detected to drop sharply and then recover quickly, it is identified as the product experiencing a brief jam or bounce within the V-angle, and the feeding drive component is controlled to perform a small reverse retraction action before continuing to move forward to eliminate the jam.

9. The automatic feeding device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The central control unit integrates a production statistics module, which is configured to: count the number of times the weight data reaches the full load threshold each time, and use this as the feeding quantity; and accumulate the total running time and number of starts of the feeding drive component. Based on the quantity of materials fed and the running time, the average feeding cycle time is calculated, providing data for predictive maintenance.

10. An automatic feeding method based on the automatic feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: Step S1, Initialization and Readiness Confirmation: After the system is powered on, the central control unit performs a self-test to confirm that the feeding drive component and gravity sensor are in normal working condition; it controls the feeding drive component to move the feeding push component to the initial position, that is, the first feeding push plate is located below the feeding guide plate; at this time, the weight detected by the gravity sensor should be lower than the no-load threshold, and the system enters the material waiting and ready state. Step S2, Material Sensing and Single-Piece Separation: Batch products are poured into the feed guide plate. Under the action of gravity, the products slide along the inclined plane into the V-angle formed by the feed guide plate and the first feeding fixing plate, and stack naturally. The bottom product falls onto the bearing surface of the first feeding push plate, and its weight is detected by the gravity sensor. When the central control unit determines that the weight data reaches or exceeds the full load threshold, it confirms that the single product has been successfully separated and placed. Step S3, Coordinated Push and Relay Transmission: The central control unit sends a command to the feeding drive assembly, driving the entire feeding push assembly to move forward one step along the movable slide; the first feeding pusher pushes the product it carries to the workstation corresponding to the next feeding fixed plate, while at the same time, the adjacent next feeding pusher moves to the bottom of the infeed guide plate to receive the next product; this cycle is repeated to realize the step-by-step relay transmission of products between the stepped feeding fixed plates; Step S4, Discharge Confirmation and Cycle Trigger: When the product is pushed to the end feeding plate, it slides out to the discharge end through the discharge guide plate, completing one feeding cycle; the gravity sensor on the end feeding push plate detects the weight removal, and the signal is fed back to the central control unit; the central control unit determines that one feeding cycle is completed based on this, and immediately triggers the push command for the next cycle, forming a continuous automatic cycle. Step S5, Status Monitoring and Intelligent Decision-Making: Throughout the entire material loading process, the central control unit continuously performs the following monitoring and decision-making: Material shortage monitoring: Real-time analysis of the data from the gravity sensors on each feeding pusher. If the feeding pusher at the feeding station is continuously unloaded for more than a set time, it is determined to be material shortage, and an audible and visual alarm is issued and the equipment is suspended. Material jamming handling: If abnormal fluctuations in weight data are detected during the feeding process, the anti-jamming algorithm is activated to control the feeding drive component to perform a "micro-retract-re-advance" action in an attempt to eliminate the fault; Data recording: cumulative number of successful material loadings, monitoring equipment operating efficiency, and providing data support for production management and maintenance.

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