Feeding mechanism for bead-connected bead blanks, bead turning machine and processing method

Abstract

The invention discloses a feeding mechanism for bead-connected bead blanks, a bead turning machine and a machining method. The feeding mechanism comprises a base, a clamp, a positioning assembly, a feeding assembly, a first driving device and a second driving device. The base can move in the second direction, the clamp and the positioning assembly are both installed on the base, and a positioning column of the positioning assembly can stretch into a cavity of the bead connecting bead blank. The feeding assembly is provided with a first claw tooth and a second claw tooth. The first driving device comprises a linear driving device for driving the two claw teeth to get close to or away from each other and a swing driving device for driving the two claw teeth to swing reversely, and the two claw teeth abut against the outer side faces of the adjacent bead bodies respectively. The second driving device drives the feeding assembly to move in the first direction, and the bead-connected bead blanks are pushed to be fed in a stepping mode through the abutting force of the claw teeth. Clamping, accurate positioning and automatic stepping pushing of the bead-connected bead blanks are achieved, accurate controllability and high consistency of the feeding distance are guaranteed, and the production efficiency and the machining precision are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of metal jewelry processing equipment, and in particular to a feeding mechanism, a bead-making machine, and a processing method for stringing beads. Background Technology

[0002] In the metal jewelry manufacturing industry, especially when mass-producing bracelets and necklaces with various beads (including round beads, square beads, and irregularly shaped beads), traditional processing methods typically involve first machining the metal raw material into individual bead blanks using turning or milling; then finishing or engraving these individual blanks; and finally drilling holes in each bead. Each bead blank requires independent loading, unloading, positioning, and clamping operations, which are time-consuming and make continuous, automated production difficult, thus limiting capacity increases. Furthermore, multiple clamping operations introduce cumulative positioning errors, leading to inconsistencies in size, shape, and hole positions among mass-produced beads, affecting product aesthetics and assembly accuracy. In addition, individual processing generates a significant amount of scrap material, especially in precious metal jewelry manufacturing, where material costs constitute a large proportion of the overall cost. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to propose a feeding mechanism, a bead-making machine, and a processing method for stringing bead blanks, aiming to solve the technical problem of how to stably clamp the bead blanks and achieve precise feeding.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a feeding mechanism for a series of bead blanks, wherein the series of bead blanks are workpieces formed by stamping and sequentially connecting cylindrical beads, and the series of bead blanks have cavities extending and penetrating along a first direction, the first direction being parallel to the axis of the series of bead blanks. The feeding mechanism includes: The base is configured to reciprocate along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction; A clamp, mounted on the base, is used to hold and drive the series of bead blanks to rotate about its axis; A positioning component is mounted on the base and located on one side of the clamp along the axis of the string of beads. The positioning component includes a positioning post that can extend into the cavity of the string of beads. A feeding assembly is disposed on the base, and the feeding assembly includes a first claw tooth and a second claw tooth disposed opposite to each other; The first driving device includes a first linear driving device and a first oscillating driving device. The first linear driving device is connected to the feeding assembly and is used to drive the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to move closer or further away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first oscillating driving device is connected to the feeding assembly and is used to drive the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to oscillate in opposite directions around an axis perpendicular to the first direction after the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth move closer to each other, so that the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth respectively abut against the outer surfaces of different beads in the two adjacent beads. Connected to the feeding assembly, the first driving device is configured to drive the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to move closer to or further away from each other. The first driving device is also configured to drive the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to swing in opposite directions so that the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth respectively contact the adjacent bead. The second driving device is connected to the feeding assembly and is used to drive the feeding assembly to reciprocate along the first direction so as to push the string of bead blanks to feed through the abutting force of the first claw teeth and the second claw teeth.

[0005] In some embodiments, the opposing gripping ends of the first and second claw teeth are respectively provided with sensing devices, the sensing devices being signal-connected to the first swing drive device and configured as follows: When the first swing drive device drives the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to swing, the contact state between them and the surface of the bead is detected in real time. When the sensing device detects that the contact state meets the preset conditions, it sends a signal to the first swing drive device to control the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to stop swinging.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first claw tooth includes a first clamping portion, and the second claw tooth includes a second clamping portion. The first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are disposed opposite to each other. Along the direction from the first clamping portion to the second clamping portion, the size of the first clamping portion gradually decreases along the direction parallel to the axis of the string of beads. Along the direction from the second clamping portion to the first clamping portion, the size of the second clamping portion gradually decreases along the direction parallel to the axis of the string of beads.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are offset along a direction parallel to the axis of the string of bead blanks.

[0008] In some embodiments, the positioning component includes a first positioning post and a second positioning post arranged coaxially. The first positioning post is configured to pass through the cavity and is located on the side of the bead body to be processed of the string of bead blanks near the fixture. The second positioning post is configured to be inserted into or withdrawn from the interior of the bead body to be processed along the first direction.

[0009] In some embodiments, the positioning component includes a third driving device and a guide member. The guide member is connected to the output end of the third driving device and has a guide hole. The second positioning post is inserted into the guide hole. The guide member is configured to be able to be driven by the third driving device to insert into or retract from the inner wall of the bead to be processed.

[0010] In some embodiments, the positioning assembly further includes a positioning member, which is mounted on the base and has a mounting hole coaxial with the guide hole. The positioning member has a reinforcing portion on the side away from the guide member, and the mounting hole passes through the reinforcing portion so that the second positioning post can extend from the guide member into the mounting hole and out of the reinforcing portion.

[0011] A second aspect of the present invention provides a bead-making machine, comprising: Base; A cutting tool module, mounted on the machine base, includes a shaping blade and a dividing blade. The shaping blade is used to shape and cut the beads to be processed from the continuous bead blanks, and the dividing blade is used to cut the shaped beads from the continuous bead blanks. The feeding mechanism described in any of the above embodiments is mounted on the machine base.

[0012] In some embodiments, the positioning assembly includes a third driving device, a guide member, and a positioning member. The guide member has a guide hole, and the positioning member has a mounting hole coaxial with the guide hole. The positioning member has a reinforcing portion on the side away from the guide member, and the mounting hole penetrates the reinforcing portion. The second positioning post is inserted into the guide hole and the mounting hole, and extends out of the mounting hole and into the bead body to be processed. The third driving device is connected to the guide member and can drive the guide member to move toward or away from the string of bead blanks, so that the second positioning post is inserted into or withdrawn from the inner wall of the string of bead blanks. After the dividing blade cuts the completed bead body of the continuous bead blank, the third driving device drives the guide to move the second positioning post away from the continuous bead blank until the bead body abuts against the reinforcing part and disengages from the second positioning post.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention provides a processing method applicable to processing the string of bead blanks using a bead-turning machine described in any of the above embodiments. The processing method includes: Hollow tube structures are processed from raw materials, and the hollow tube structures are stamped to obtain a series of bead blanks; One end of the string of bead blanks is inserted into the clamp and guided to the feeding assembly; The first driving device is controlled to drive the first claw teeth and the second claw teeth to clamp the string of bead blanks; The second driving device is controlled to drive the feeding assembly to move along a direction parallel to the axis of the continuous bead blanks toward the side closer to the positioning assembly, thereby pushing the entire continuous bead blanks to move so that the end of the bead to be processed arrives and is supported from the inner wall by the positioning column; The clamp is controlled to clamp the string of bead blanks, the first driving device is controlled to drive the first and second claw teeth to release the string of bead blanks, and the second driving device is controlled to drive the feeding assembly to move and reset to the side away from the positioning assembly. The base is controlled to move the clamp, the positioning component, and the clamped string of bead blanks to the first processing position, so that the bead to be processed is located in the processing area of ​​the shaping blade of the tool module; the clamp is controlled to rotate the string of bead blanks, and the tool module is controlled to cut and shape the outer surface of the bead to be processed; The base is controlled to move to the second processing position, so that the shaped bead is located in the processing area of ​​the dividing blade of the cutting tool module, and the dividing blade is controlled to cut and separate the bead from the series of bead blanks.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: In the technical solution of this invention, a first linear drive device drives the first and second claw teeth to move towards each other, approaching the connection point between two adjacent beads on a string of bead blanks; a first swing drive device drives the first and second claw teeth to swing in opposite directions around an axis perpendicular to the blank axis, so that the first and second claw teeth respectively abut against the outer surfaces of two adjacent beads. A second drive device drives the entire feeding assembly to move along the blank axis, using the abutting force of the first and second claw teeth to push the string of bead blanks to achieve precise step-by-step feeding. Simultaneously, the clamp mounted on the base and the positioning assembly with positioning pins move synchronously with the base, ensuring that the feeding distance of the beads to be processed on the string of bead blanks is controllable throughout the feeding process. Even when dealing with beads of different sizes, the feeding accuracy of the beads to be processed remains consistent, effectively avoiding processing deviations caused by differences in bead size. The positioning pins support the beads to be processed from the inner wall, and combined with the stable clamping of the clamps, significantly improve the structural stability and positional repeatability during processing. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a bead-making machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the first-view structure of the bead-carving machine after some of its structure has been hidden in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the second-view structure of the bead-carving machine after the hidden part of the structure is shown in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 In one embodiment of the present invention, the bead-carving machine is used... Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A in the middle section; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the third-view structure of the bead-carving machine in one embodiment of the present invention after the hidden part of the structure is shown. Figure 6 In one embodiment of the present invention, the bead-carving machine is used... Figure 5 A magnified schematic diagram of a portion B in the middle; wherein, the fixture holding the string of bead blanks is located at the first processing position; Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the feeding mechanism in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the working process of a dividing blade cutting a shaped bead in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a dividing blade cutting a shaped bead in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth swinging in opposite directions after they approach each other in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 This is a schematic flowchart of a processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 A finished bead body processed using the method of the present invention; Figure 13 This is another type of finished bead produced using the method described in this invention.

[0017] Explanation of icon numbers: Bead-making machine 10; Feeding mechanism 100; Base 110; clamp 120; positioning assembly 130; positioning post 131; first positioning post 131a; second positioning post 131b; third drive device 132; guide member 133; guide hole 1331; positioning member 134; mounting hole 1341; reinforcing part 1342; clearance space 135; Feeding assembly 140; first claw tooth 141; first clamping part 1411; second claw tooth 142; second clamping part 1421; First drive unit 150; Second drive unit 160; Drive module 170; Base 200; Tool module 300; Shaping tool 310; Dividing tool 320; String of bead blanks M; bead body m; finished bead body P; First direction X; second direction Y.

[0018] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] In related technologies, traditional processes for processing high-value, highly ductile materials such as gold face significant technical bottlenecks when producing diverse bead shapes. These technologies typically employ a single-bead processing method: first, the gold material is machined into individual bead blanks using turning or milling, and then the outer surface is machined separately. However, this method has the following drawbacks: First, there are inherent defects in positioning and clamping. Due to the unique softness and ductility of gold, uncontrollable deformation and displacement can easily occur during repeated clamping, causing the machining datum to drift continuously. For non-circular cross-section beads, traditional clamping systems cannot provide stable and damage-free clamping and positioning, resulting in poor product dimensional consistency and difficulty in guaranteeing geometric accuracy.

[0021] Secondly, there are serious limitations in surface processing capabilities. Existing technologies can typically only achieve simple surface treatments, such as basic texture processing like sanding and polishing, and cannot achieve intricate processing such as precise engraving, gradient textures, or three-dimensional patterns on curved or complex geometric surfaces. This technological limitation directly affects the aesthetic value and artistic expression of the product. Furthermore, frequent repositioning not only leads to low processing efficiency but also exacerbates material waste when processing high-value gold materials, resulting in a significant increase in production costs.

[0022] In addition, traditional processes cannot achieve precise feeding and stable transmission when dealing with the needs of large-volume and multi-variety bead processing. During the feeding process, the bead blank is prone to displacement, excessive displacement or insufficient displacement, which leads to a decrease in feeding accuracy and affects the positioning accuracy of subsequent processing steps.

[0023] Therefore, please refer to Figure 7 This invention provides a feeding mechanism 100 for a series of bead blanks M. The series of bead blanks M is a string of blanks integrally formed from metal material through a stamping process, consisting of multiple cylindrical beads m connected sequentially along their axial direction (i.e., the first direction X). The series of bead blanks M has a central cavity penetrating all the beads m along the first direction X. It is understood that the shape of the beads m on the series of bead blanks M can be circular, elliptical, polygonal, or irregular. For ease of description, the following embodiments use a circular bead m as an example.

[0024] The feeding mechanism 100 includes a base 110, a clamp 120, a positioning component 130, a feeding component 140, a first drive device 150, and a second drive device 160. The base 110 can be connected to the base 200 of the bead-making machine 10 via multiple sets of linear guides, enabling it to reciprocate along the second direction Y. The base 110 has internal reinforcing ribs and counterweights to ensure smooth movement and structural rigidity. The clamp 120 is mounted on the base 110 and can employ structures including, but not limited to, a three-jaw pneumatic chuck, capable of firmly clamping a series of bead blanks M and driving them to rotate around their own axis.

[0025] The positioning assembly 130 is fixedly mounted on the base 110 and located on one side of the clamp 120 along the axial direction (i.e., the first direction X) of the bead blank M. The positioning assembly 130 includes a positioning post 131. After the initial loading is completed, the positioning post 131 can extend into the through cavity of the bead blank M. It can provide axial guidance and radial support for the bead blank M, increasing its rigidity during processing and preventing bending deformation. The loading assembly 140 is also disposed on the base 110, and includes a first claw tooth 141 and a second claw tooth 142 disposed opposite to each other. The first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 can be driven to move towards or away from each other.

[0026] The first driving device 150 includes a first linear driving device (not shown separately in the figure) and a first oscillating driving device (not shown separately in the figure). The first linear driving device (which may be, but is not limited to, a cylinder or an electric slide) is connected to the feeding assembly 140 and is used to drive the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 to move closer to or further away from each other along a direction perpendicular to the first direction X (which can be understood as another direction in the horizontal plane, and in some embodiments, it can be understood as another direction perpendicular to both the first direction X and the second direction Y). The first oscillating driving device (which may be, but is not limited to, a rotary cylinder or a servo motor in conjunction with a linkage mechanism) is also connected to the feeding assembly 140. It is configured such that after the first linear driving device 150 drives the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 to move closer to each other, that is, to the part between two adjacent beads m on the string of bead blanks M, the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 are driven to oscillate in opposite directions around an axis perpendicular to the first direction X (which may be vertical). This swinging motion causes the end of the first claw tooth 141 to abut against the outer surface of one of the two adjacent beads m, while the end of the second claw tooth 142 abuts against the outer surface of the other bead. (See also...) Figure 10 At this point, the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 form a lateral clamping effect on the two adjacent beads m, ensuring that the series of bead blanks M are accurately positioned and do not deviate during the feeding process. Specifically, the first claw tooth 141 can swing towards the side closer to the bead m to be processed, while the second claw tooth 142 swings synchronously towards the side farther away from the bead m to be processed. This avoids the first claw tooth 141 transmitting the thrust to the series of bead blanks M during the swinging process, which would cause the series of bead blanks M to undergo axial displacement or disturbance. That is, the reverse swinging of the second claw tooth 142 plays a force balancing role, effectively counteracting the axial thrust generated when the first claw tooth 141 swings, so that the series of bead blanks M are reset.

[0027] The second drive device 160 (which may be, but is not limited to, a linear module) is connected to the feeding assembly 140. It drives the entire feeding assembly 140 to reciprocate linearly along the first direction X. When the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 have respectively abutted against the outer surfaces of the two beads m as described above, the second drive device 160 is activated, and the feeding assembly 140 moves along the first direction X. At this time, the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142, through their abutting force, jointly push the entire string of bead blanks M to move one step in the same direction, thereby achieving precise step feeding.

[0028] In some embodiments, the opposing clamping ends (i.e., the ends for contacting the bead) of the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 may both be equipped with sensing devices. The sensing devices may include, but are not limited to, contact sensors (such as microswitches), proximity sensors, or force sensors.

[0029] The sensing device can be connected to the control unit of the first swing drive device via a signal line. It is configured to perform the following function: during the reverse swinging process of the first swing drive device driving the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142, the sensing device detects in real time the contact state between the clamping end of its claw tooth and the surface of the bead m. This "contact state" can be reflected in whether physical contact occurs, the magnitude of the contact pressure, or changes in the distance signal.

[0030] When both sensors detect that the contact state meets preset conditions (e.g., the pressure value reaches a set threshold, or a switch is triggered), they send a feedback signal to the control unit of the first swing drive. Upon receiving this signal, the control unit immediately stops the first swing drive, thereby stopping the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 at the current swing angle. This ensures that both claw teeth reliably and with appropriate force abut against the surface of the bead, improving the reliability of the feeding action and adaptability to beads of different sizes.

[0031] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments, the first claw tooth 141 includes a first clamping portion 1411, and the second claw tooth 142 includes a second clamping portion 1421. The first clamping portion 1411 and the second clamping portion 1421 are disposed opposite to each other. For ease of understanding, along the direction from the first clamping portion 1411 to the second clamping portion 1421, the dimension of the first clamping portion 1411 gradually decreases in the direction parallel to the axis of the string of beads M, forming a wedge-shaped structure. Similarly, along the direction from the second clamping portion 1421 to the first clamping portion 1411, the dimension of the second clamping portion 1421 also gradually decreases in the direction parallel to the axis of the string of beads M, also forming a wedge-shaped structure.

[0032] The first clamping part 1411 and the second clamping part 1421 are not directly opposite each other in the direction parallel to the axis (first direction X) of the series of bead blanks M, but are arranged in a staggered manner. That is, the projection of the center line of the first clamping part 1411 in the X direction does not coincide with the projection of the center line of the second clamping part 1421 in the X direction, and there is an offset between them. In this way, when the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 move towards each other, especially when performing the subsequent reverse swinging action, improper squeezing or sliding of the bead m can be reduced, ensuring the accuracy of the contact action.

[0033] The positioning assembly 130 includes a first positioning post 131a and a second positioning post 131b coaxially arranged. (See also...) Figure 8 and Figure 9The first positioning post 131a is configured to pass through the cavity of the bead blank M. In the processing state, the first positioning post 131a is located on the side of the bead m to be processed on the bead blank M closest to the fixture 120. The second positioning post 131b is configured to reciprocate linearly along the first direction X to insert into or withdraw from the internal cavity of the bead m. When the second positioning post 131b is inserted, it provides radial support and positioning for the bead m. After the bead m is cut and separated, the second positioning post 131b moves away from the first positioning post 131a along the first direction X, withdrawing from the interior of the just-separated finished bead P. The finished bead P can automatically detach. Subsequently, the second positioning post 131b immediately moves towards the first positioning post 131a, inserting into the interior of the next bead m to be processed on the bead blank M, preparing for the next processing cycle.

[0034] It should be noted that, compared to the method of positioning beads for processing using a pin structure in related technologies, this application achieves radial constraint and support for each bead m in the series of bead blanks M by setting the first positioning post 131a in the through cavity of the series of bead blanks M and cooperating with the second positioning post 131b which can move relative to the first positioning post 131a. This effectively prevents the beads from shaking or shifting during processing and significantly improves positioning accuracy and stability. Moreover, the movable design of the second positioning post 131b relative to the first positioning post 131a allows the processed bead m to quickly detach from the positioning component 130 without interfering with the processing of subsequent beads m, ensuring a continuous and efficient processing flow.

[0035] In some embodiments, the first positioning post 131a has a recessed hole at one end near the second positioning post 131b, the recessed hole having an inclined wall surface. The second positioning post 131b has a protruding shaft at one end near the first positioning post 131a, the protruding shaft having an inclined surface that matches the inclined wall surface of the recessed hole. The protruding shaft is configured to be able to insert into or retract from the recessed hole. When the second positioning post 131b moves toward and inserts into the first positioning post 131a, the protruding shaft slides into the recessed hole along the inclined wall surface, forming a self-aligning fit to ensure coaxial positioning.

[0036] To facilitate the cutting of the shaped bead m by the dividing blade 320, in some embodiments, please refer to... Figure 9 When the bead m to be processed is in the second processing position, the second positioning post 131b moves a distance away from the first positioning post 131a along the first direction X, so that the outer convex shaft is disengaged from the inner concave hole. Thus, a clearance space 135 is formed between the first positioning post 131a and the second positioning post 131b. The existence of this clearance space 135 can provide sufficient operating clearance for the cutting of the dividing blade 320 and avoid interference between the blade and the positioning assembly 130.

[0037] Please see Figure 2 The feeding mechanism 100 also includes a drive module 170. This drive module 170 is connected to the base 110 and can drive the base 110 to move vertically along the second direction Y. The drive module 170 can employ a transmission method including, but not limited to, a servo motor combined with a planetary reducer and a ball screw. The servo motor is equipped with a high-precision encoder to achieve closed-loop position control. The ball screw can provide suitable movement speed while ensuring sufficient thrust, ensuring safe movement.

[0038] To automate the insertion and withdrawal of the second positioning pin 131b, the positioning assembly 130 also includes a third drive device 132 and a guide member 133. The third drive device 132 can be a cylinder or a linear motor. The guide member 133 is fixedly connected to the output end of the third drive device 132. A guide hole 1331 is machined on the guide member 133. The second positioning pin 131b is inserted into the guide hole 1331 with a clearance fit to ensure the straightness of the movement of the second positioning pin 131b.

[0039] The third drive device 132 drives the guide member 133 to move in a direction parallel to the axis of the continuous bead blank M. When support is needed, the third drive device 132 pushes the guide member 133 to move towards the workpiece, and the guide member 133 drives the second positioning post 131b forward together until the second positioning post 131b is inserted into the inner wall of the bead body m. After processing is completed, the third drive device 132 pulls the guide member 133 back, and the second positioning post 131b is then withdrawn from the workpiece.

[0040] The third drive unit 132 can be driven by a servo motor and a ball screw, and equipped with a position sensor. This allows for precise control of the insertion depth of the second positioning pin 131b, making it adaptable to balls with different inner hole depths, and providing force control upon contact with the workpiece to avoid impact.

[0041] To improve the bending strength and stability of the second positioning post 131b in its extended support state, the positioning assembly 130 also includes a positioning element 134. (See also...) Figure 7 The positioning element 134 is fixedly installed on the base 110 and is located on the rear side of the guide element 133 along the retraction direction of the second positioning post 131b. The positioning element 134 is provided with a mounting hole 1341, which is strictly coaxial with the guide hole 1331 on the guide element 133.

[0042] The positioning member 134 has a reinforcing portion 1342 on the side away from the guide member 133. The mounting hole 1341 extends through the entire positioning member 134 and its reinforcing portion 1342. When the third drive device 132 drives the second positioning post 131b to fully extend to support the workpiece, the tail end of the second positioning post 131b is not only located in the guide hole 1331, but also continues to extend rearward, passing through the mounting hole 1341 and exiting through the reinforcing portion 1342. In this way, when the second positioning post 131b is in the extended working state, its tail end is supported by the positioning member 134, especially the reinforcing portion 1342, over a long distance with high rigidity, which greatly reduces the cantilever length and thus effectively suppresses machining vibration.

[0043] In addition, the reinforcement 1342 facilitates the precise cutting of the finished bead P. Specifically, after the dividing blade 320 completes the cutting of the shaped bead m, the third drive device 132 drives the guide 133 to move the second positioning post 131b away from the series of bead blanks M, until the finished bead P abuts against the reinforcement 1342 and detaches from the second positioning post 131b. During the movement of the second positioning post 131b, the finished bead P moves with it, thereby moving away from the cutting area and achieving effective separation of the finished product from the cutting debris.

[0044] In some embodiments, the reinforcing part 1342 is an adjustable pre-tightening structure. The fitting clearance between the second positioning post 131b and the mounting hole 1341 can be finely adjusted by adjusting the screw to ensure that appropriate fitting accuracy can be maintained under different working scenarios.

[0045] In some embodiments, the working surfaces of the first clamping portion 1411 and the second clamping portion 1421 may be inlaid with polyurethane or engineering plastic pads, which increase friction to prevent slippage and protect the surface of the beads from scratches. The pads may be removable and easy to replace after wear.

[0046] Please see Figures 1 to 7A second aspect of the present invention provides a bead-turning machine 10, which includes a base 200, a tool module 300, and a feeding mechanism 100 as described in any of the above embodiments. The base 200 may be a welded steel frame with a mounting reference surface on its surface. The tool module 300 is fixedly mounted on the base 200. The tool module 300 includes a shaping tool 310 and a dividing tool 320 that are independently arranged and controlled. A fixture 120 is used to hold a series of bead blanks M, and a drive module 170 can drive the fixture 120 to move. The shaping tool 310 and the dividing tool 320 are arranged at intervals along the second direction Y and are respectively located on two opposite sides of the held series of bead blanks M. Specifically, the shaping tool 310 may be arranged on the upper side of the series of bead blanks M, and the dividing tool 320 may be arranged on the lower side. The drive module 170 is configured to drive the fixture 120 and the workpiece it holds to reciprocate along the second direction Y, and can switch between a preset first processing position and a second processing position. When the drive module 170 drives the fixture 120 to the first processing position, the bead m to be processed on the series of bead blanks M is aligned with the tip of the shaping cutter 310, at which point the outer surface shaping can be performed. When the drive module 170 drives the fixture 120 to the second processing position, the portion between the shaped bead m and the unshaped bead m on the series of bead blanks M is aligned with the cutting surface of the dividing cutter 320, thereby performing cutting and separation. The drive module 170 can adopt a linear motion mechanism of servo motor and ball screw, guided by precision guide rails to ensure position repeatability accuracy.

[0047] By separating the shaping and cutting processes at different stations and coordinating the precise positioning and switching of the fixture 120, this invention effectively avoids the problems of tool interference and sequential actions in a single station, significantly improving processing efficiency and accuracy. Driven by the drive module 170, the fixture 120 can quickly and accurately switch between the first and second processing positions, achieving continuous, high-cycle automated production. The coordinated control of each module ensures that each bead immediately enters the cutting process after shaping, guaranteeing shape and position consistency while significantly shortening the processing cycle.

[0048] In some embodiments, the fixture 120 further has a preparatory position. This preparatory position is located between the first processing position and the second processing position in the second direction Y. Specifically, the first processing position, the preparatory position, and the second processing position are arranged sequentially from top to bottom along the second direction Y, with the first processing position and the second processing position located on opposite sides of the preparatory position, respectively. It should be noted that the second direction Y is not strictly limited to the vertical direction; the direction in which the first processing position and the second processing position are located on opposite sides of the string of bead blanks M can be considered as the second direction Y. In some embodiments, the second direction Y can also be any direction perpendicular to the first direction X. Thus, when the bead m to be processed is located in the first processing position with the fixture 120, and it is aligned with the shaping cutter 310 and undergoes shaping and cutting, the debris will fall naturally due to gravity, avoiding accumulation and interference with processing. When the shaped bead m moves with the fixture 120 to the second processing position and is aligned with the dividing cutter 320 for cutting, the shaped bead m can naturally detach from the material flow under gravity and be collected, thereby achieving automatic unloading.

[0049] The drive module 170 can be programmed and controlled to drive the fixture 120 to switch orderly between the first machining position, the preparatory position, and the second machining position. The preparatory position provides a safe and convenient operating space for auxiliary processes such as loading / unloading, positioning, and inspection, avoiding interference with the working tool. Parameters for different bead specifications are preset; when changing products, simply calling the corresponding program will automatically adjust the preparatory position to the optimal height.

[0050] It is understood that any position between the first processing position and the second processing position can be regarded as a preparatory position. When any of the following actions occur: the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 perform clamping or loosening actions, the feeding assembly 140 performs the feeding operation of the series of bead blanks M, or the second positioning post 131b inserts into or exits the inner wall of the bead body m to be processed, it can be regarded as a preparatory position.

[0051] When the clamp 120 is positioned in the ready position by the drive module 170, the first drive device 150 and the second drive device 160 are activated to perform the loading operation. Specifically, the first drive device 150 drives the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 to move closer together to clamp the string of beads. The second drive device 160 drives the entire loading assembly 140 to push forward one bead spacing. Then, the first drive device 150 drives the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 to move away from each other to release the string of bead blanks M. The second drive device 160 drives the loading assembly 140 to return to its original position, thus completing one step loading cycle.

[0052] The first drive unit 150 and the second drive unit 160 can be selected from servo motors, stepper motors, or cylinders. In one embodiment, both are servo motors to achieve precise closed-loop control of position and speed. The loading assembly 140 may also integrate a force sensor to detect clamping force and prevent workpiece damage or slippage due to insufficient clamping force.

[0053] Please see Figure 2 The shaping cutter 310 can be a multi-functional tool. Specifically, the shaping cutter 310 has a carrier for mounting multiple tools, including but not limited to a rotating cutter head, which has multiple workstations. Each workstation can independently mount a tool, such as a turning tool, milling cutter, or grinding head, to achieve multi-process continuous processing of the bead blank. For example, a rounding tool can be mounted for rough machining of curved contours, and a finishing tool or grooving tool can be mounted for finishing or engraving patterns. By switching different tools, complex multi-process processing of beads can be completed on the same machine. The cutter head can be driven by a servo motor to achieve precise indexing and tool changing. The tools at each workstation are arranged according to the processing sequence, so that multiple processes such as turning, milling, grooving, and polishing can be completed in one clamping, effectively improving processing accuracy and efficiency. When a tool wears out, the corresponding workstation tool can be replaced individually, reducing maintenance costs. It is understood that the tools on the cutter head can adopt a symmetrical layout to balance the centrifugal force during rotation, reduce vibration, and improve processing stability.

[0054] To enable automatic tool switching for the multi-station shaping cutter 310, the tool module 300 also includes a fourth drive unit. This fourth drive unit is connected to the shaping cutter 310 and drives it to perform rotational or translational movements, thereby switching the desired tool to the working position. The fourth drive unit can be a servo motor and can be used in conjunction with a worm gear reducer or a precision cam divider to achieve accurate angular positioning and reliable locking.

[0055] The fourth drive unit can integrate position feedback and torque control functions. During tool changing, the system can detect whether the tool change is in place and automatically reverse to protect against jamming, preventing damage to the tool and mechanism.

[0056] The working process of the bead-making machine 10 is as follows: At the start of processing, the feeding assembly 140 pushes the series of bead blanks M in a step-by-step manner, so that a bead m to be processed arrives at the processing position, and the second positioning post 131b in the positioning assembly 130 extends into its inner wall to provide radial support. It should be noted that during the advancement of the series of bead blanks M, the clamp 120 releases the series of bead blanks M, and after the feeding assembly 140 delivers the bead m to be processed to the processing position, the clamp 120 re-clamps the series of bead blanks M.

[0057] Subsequently, the drive module 170 moves the base 110, bringing the bead m to the working position corresponding to the shaping cutter 310, i.e., the first processing position. At this point, in some embodiments, the shaping cutter 310 can be driven to rotate by a fourth drive device so that the cutter can cut the bead m. Simultaneously, the clamp 120 clamps the series of bead blanks M and drives them to rotate, changing the processing surface of the bead m so that it contacts the shaping cutter 310 along a predetermined trajectory. This allows for complex curved surfaces and multi-angle cutting, achieving the three-dimensional forming of the bead m.

[0058] It should be noted that during this cutting process, the base 110 drives the fixture 120 and the series of bead blanks M to feed towards the cutting tool, thereby controlling the cutting depth. After shaping, the base 110, driven by the drive module 170, moves the fixture 120, the series of bead blanks M, and the positioning component 130 to the second processing position, aligning the shaped bead m with the working position of the dividing blade 320. The fixture 120 continues to clamp the series of bead blanks M and rotates them. The base 110 drives the fixture 120 and the series of bead blanks M to feed towards the dividing blade 320, causing the dividing blade 320 to cut along the gap between adjacent bead m, completing the separation and cutting of a single bead. During this process, the control system can coordinate the timing, allowing the auxiliary action of the loading component 140 to prepare for positioning the next bead m to be executed in parallel with the current cutting action of the bead m, thereby effectively shortening the work cycle.

[0059] Understandably, after the shaped bead m is separated from the string of bead blanks M, the individual bead m, supported by the second positioning post 131b, does not fall off with the cutting debris. After cutting, the third drive device drives the guide member 132 to move, causing the second positioning post 131b to move away from the string of bead blanks M. At this time, the shaped and separated individual bead m located on the second positioning post 131b moves away from the processing area along with it. As the second positioning post 131b continues to move until it exits the reinforcing section, the bead m abuts against the reinforcing section 1342 and detaches from the second positioning post 131b. Therefore, a receiving trough or conveying device can be provided below the reinforcing section 1342 to receive the detached finished beads, facilitating subsequent collection or transfer to the next process. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 12 and Figure 13 The illustrations show finished beads P processed using the scheme of this application, with the outer surface of the beads having a smooth curved surface. Subsequently, the second positioning post 131b, driven by the third driving device, inserts into the reinforcing part 1342 of the positioning member 134, preparing for the next processing step.

[0060] In some embodiments, the fourth driving device can drive the dividing blade 320 to adjust the tool position. When cutting the bead m to be processed, the dividing blade 320 does not rotate, while the fixture 120 drives the series of bead blanks M to rotate and achieves cutting through the feed of the base 110.

[0061] The second positioning column 131b provides support from within the workpiece, greatly enhancing the rigidity of the thin-walled ball m during the cutting process and effectively suppressing deformation and vibration. Combined with a dedicated machining station with spatial separation, this ensures extremely high dimensional accuracy and consistent surface quality of the product. Secondly, the fully automated stepping feeding and parallel operation logic significantly reduce manual intervention and equipment idle time, resulting in a substantial leap in production efficiency. Furthermore, the machine's compact and rational structural layout, with each functional module working in an orderly manner in space and time, not only ensures stable and reliable operation and ease of maintenance but also enhances operational safety.

[0062] Understandably, the bead-making machine 10 of this application can be equipped with multiple sets of fixtures 120 to alternately perform feeding, shaping, and cutting operations, thereby improving production efficiency. Under the coordinated control of the drive module 170, the multiple sets of fixtures 120 cyclically switch positions to achieve a streamlined operation of feeding, shaping, and cutting. When one set of fixtures 120 is in the first processing position for shaping or in the second processing position for cutting, another set of fixtures 120 can complete feeding and positioning at a preparatory position, and immediately enter the next position after the previous process is completed, thereby minimizing idle travel time.

[0063] Please see Figure 11 A third aspect of the present invention also provides a processing method applicable to processing a series of bead blanks using a bead-making machine described in any of the above embodiments to obtain finished beads. It should be noted that the finished beads can be spherical, elliptical, polyhedral, or irregularly shaped with smooth, flowing surfaces, etc. The processing method includes the following steps: S101: A hollow tube structure is processed from raw materials. The outer contour of the hollow tube structure can be circular, elliptical, or polygonal. The hollow tube structure is stamped to obtain a series of bead blanks M. It is understood that the outer contour shape of the beads m on the series of bead blanks M can be spherical, elliptical, or polyhedral, etc.

[0064] S102: Insert one end of the string of bead blanks M into the clamp 120 and guide it to the feeding assembly 140. It should be noted that during this process, the clamp 120 is in a loose state so that the string of bead blanks M can move smoothly.

[0065] S103: Prepare for loading. Control the first drive device 150 to drive the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 to clamp the string of bead blanks M. The clamping point can be between adjacent beads m behind the bead m to be processed.

[0066] S104: Perform step-by-step pushing. Control the second drive device 160 to drive the loading assembly 140 to move along the axis of the string of bead blanks M towards the side closer to the positioning assembly 130. The pushing distance is preset according to the bead diameter, usually the bead diameter plus the process clearance. During the pushing process, the entire string of bead blanks moves forward synchronously, so that the bead m to be processed reaches the processing start position. The second positioning post 131b extends from the positioning assembly 130 and inserts into the inner wall of the bead m to be processed to provide radial support. Then control the clamp 120 to clamp the string of bead blanks M, and simultaneously control the first drive device 150 to drive the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 to release the string of bead blanks M, and simultaneously control the second drive device 160 to drive the loading assembly 140 to move away from the positioning assembly 130 to reset.

[0067] S105: Perform shaping. The control drive module 170 drives the base 110 to move the entire workpiece system to the first processing position. The fixture 120 is activated to drive the series of bead blanks M to rotate, while the shaping cutter 310 of the tool module 300 is controlled to cut and shape the outer surface of the bead m. During this process, the drive module 170 continuously drives the base 110 to feed or retract towards the shaping cutter 310 until the predetermined outer diameter is formed.

[0068] S106: Perform segmentation processing. After shaping, the control base 110 moves to the second processing position so that the segmenting blade 320 can cut and separate the shaped bead m from the string of bead blanks M. It should be noted that during the cutting process, the drive module 170 always drives the base 110 to feed slightly closer to the segmenting blade 320 to ensure a smooth cut without burrs. At the same time, the second positioning post 131b slowly retracts a certain distance before the cutting is completed to avoid interference with the tool. After the shaped bead m is separated, it moves away from the string of bead blanks M along with the second positioning post 131b until it abuts against the positioning member 134 and disengages from the second positioning post 131b.

[0069] While the cutting and unloading are being carried out, the preparation work for loading the next bead can be performed in parallel, including the clamping of the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142, the insertion of the second positioning post 131b, etc., so as to achieve the overlap of processing, unloading and loading time and improve equipment utilization.

[0070] In some embodiments, while controlling the first drive device 150 to drive the first claw tooth 141 and the second claw tooth 142 to release the string of bead blanks M, the second drive device 160 is immediately activated to drive the feeding assembly 140 to move and reset towards the side away from the positioning assembly 130. These two actions can be controlled to be executed in parallel to minimize the idle travel time.

[0071] It should be noted that if directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) are involved in the embodiments of the present invention, these directional indications are only used to explain the relative positional relationships and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly. When a direction reference is introduced in a specific embodiment, unless the direction is specifically limited to unidirectional, the direction can be unidirectional or bidirectional (two parallel and opposite directions). Whether it is unidirectional or bidirectional depends on what those skilled in the art can achieve. When the direction reference is bidirectional, it should be considered that two parallel and different embodiments have been introduced simultaneously.

[0072] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or," "and / or," or "and / or" throughout the text implies three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0073] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the patent. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the specification and drawings of the present invention under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the scope of patent protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A feeding mechanism for a string of beads, the string of beads being a workpiece in which cylindrical beads formed by punching are connected in series, the string of beads having a cavity extending in a first direction and through the string of beads, the first direction being parallel to an axis of the string of beads, characterized by, The feeding mechanism comprises: a base configured to reciprocate along a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; a clamp mounted on the base for clamping and driving the series of zygotes to rotate around the axis thereof; a positioning assembly mounted on the base and located on one side of the clamp along the direction of the axis of the series of zygotes, the positioning assembly comprising a positioning column capable of extending into the cavity of the series of zygotes; a feeding assembly provided on the base, the feeding assembly comprising a first claw tooth and a second claw tooth arranged oppositely; a first driving device comprising a first linear driving device and a first swing driving device, the first linear driving device being connected with the feeding assembly for driving the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to approach or move away from each other along a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first swing driving device being connected with the feeding assembly for driving the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to swing in opposite directions around an axis perpendicular to the first direction after the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth approach each other, so that the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth respectively abut against the outer side surface of different beads of the two adjacent beads; the first driving device is further configured to drive the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to swing in opposite directions, so that the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth respectively contact the adjacent beads; a second driving device connected with the feeding assembly for driving the feeding assembly to reciprocate along the first direction, so as to push the series of zygotes for feeding by the abutting force of the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth.

2. The feeding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the opposite clamping ends of the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth are respectively provided with sensing devices, the sensing devices being signal-connected with the first swing driving device and being configured to: detect the contact state of the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth with the surface of the beads in real time when the first swing driving device drives the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to swing; send a signal to the first swing driving device to control the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to stop swinging when the sensing devices detect that the contact state meets a preset condition.

3. The feeding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first claw tooth comprises a first clamping part, and the second claw tooth comprises a second clamping part, the first clamping part and the second clamping part being arranged oppositely, along a direction from the first clamping part to the second clamping part, the first clamping part gradually decreasing in size along a direction parallel to the axis of the series of zygotes, and along a direction from the second clamping part to the first clamping part, the second clamping part gradually decreasing in size along a direction parallel to the axis of the series of zygotes.

4. The feeding mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the first clamping part and the second clamping part are arranged in a staggered manner along a direction parallel to the axis of the series of zygotes.

5. The feeding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein The positioning assembly comprises a first positioning column coaxially arranged in the cavity and a second positioning column, the first positioning column is configured to be inserted into the cavity, and the first positioning column is located at the side of the to-be-processed bead of the bead string close to the clamp, and the second positioning column is configured to be inserted into or withdrawn from the interior of the to-be-processed bead along the first direction.

6. The feeding mechanism according to claim 5, wherein, The positioning assembly comprises a third driving device and a guide, the guide is connected to the output end of the third driving device, the guide has a guide hole, the second positioning column is inserted into the guide hole, and the guide is configured to be driven by the third driving device to be inserted into or withdrawn from the inner wall of the to-be-processed bead.

7. The feeding mechanism according to claim 6, wherein, The positioning assembly further comprises a positioning member, the positioning member is mounted on the base and is provided with a mounting hole coaxial with the guide hole, and the side of the positioning member away from the guide is provided with a reinforcing portion, and the mounting hole penetrates through the reinforcing portion, so that the second positioning column can extend from the guide into the mounting hole and pass through the reinforcing portion.

8. A bead machine characterised in that, including: a machine base; a tool module mounted on the machine base, the tool module comprising a shaping cutter and a dividing cutter, the shaping cutter being used for shaping cutting of the to-be-processed bead of the bead string, and the dividing cutter being used for cutting the shaped bead of the bead string; and the feeding mechanism according to any one of claims 1-7, the feeding mechanism being mounted on the machine base.

9. The bead rolling machine according to claim 8, wherein, The positioning assembly comprises a third driving device, a guide and a positioning member, the guide has a guide hole, the positioning member has a mounting hole coaxial with the guide hole, the side of the positioning member away from the guide is provided with a reinforcing portion, the mounting hole penetrates through the reinforcing portion, the second positioning column is inserted into the guide hole and the mounting hole and passes through the mounting hole and can extend into the to-be-processed bead, and the third driving device is connected to the guide and can drive the guide to move towards or away from the bead string, so that the second positioning column is inserted into or withdrawn from the inner wall of the bead string; After the dividing cutter cuts the shaped bead of the bead string, the third driving device drives the guide to drive the second positioning column to move away from the bead string until the bead abuts against the reinforcing portion and is separated from the second positioning column.

10. A method of processing, suitable for processing said series of beads using the beadbeating machine according to any one of claims 8-9, characterized in that, The processing method comprises: processing a hollow tube structure from a raw material, and stamping the hollow tube structure to obtain a bead string; inserting one end of the bead string into the clamp and guiding to the feeding assembly; controlling the first driving device to drive the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to clamp the bead string; controlling the second driving device to drive the feeding assembly to move along a direction parallel to the axis of the bead string towards the side close to the positioning assembly, to push the whole bead string to move, so that the end of the to-be-processed bead abuts against and is supported by the positioning column from the inner wall. controlling the clamp to clamp the series of bead embryos, controlling the first driving device to drive the first claw tooth and the second claw tooth to release the series of bead embryos, and controlling the second driving device to drive the feeding assembly to move to a position away from the positioning assembly and reset; controlling the base to drive the clamp, the positioning assembly, and the clamped series of bead embryos to move to a first machining position, so that the bead to be machined is located in a machining area of a shaping cutter of the cutter module; controlling the clamp to drive the series of bead embryos to rotate, and controlling the cutter module to perform cutting and shaping on the outer surface of the bead to be machined; controlling the base to move to a second machining position, so that the shaped bead is located in a machining area of a dividing cutter of the cutter module, and controlling the dividing cutter to cut and separate the bead from the series of bead embryos.

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