Automatic rivet loading system

Abstract

An automatic rivet loading system is used for assembling and storing rivets and spacer blocks. Comprising a vibration feeding unit which is provided with a rivet vibration disc and a spacer block vibration disc which are used for providing rivets and spacer blocks respectively; the rivet sorting unit is used for sorting and correcting the rivets provided by the rivet vibration disc, so that the rivets are conveyed according to a preset posture; the rivet assembling and disassembling unit comprises an assembling and disassembling channel, the diameter of the assembling and disassembling channel is matched with the rivets and the spacer blocks, the rivet assembling and disassembling unit is used for alternately feeding the rivets and the spacer blocks provided by the vibration feeding unit into the assembling and disassembling channel from one end of the assembling and disassembling channel, and the rivets and the spacer blocks are assembled in the assembling and disassembling channel; and the rivet box unit comprises a rivet containing box, and the rivet containing box communicates with the other end of the assembling and disassembling channel and is used for containing the rivets and the spacer blocks assembled in the assembling and disassembling channel. The rivets and the spacer blocks are alternately fed into the loading and unloading channel, so that the rivets and the spacer blocks can be assembled in the loading and unloading channel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of aviation assembly equipment technology, and in particular to an automatic rivet loading system. Background Technology

[0002] In the aerospace assembly field, it is often necessary to assemble and store rivets of specific specifications for later use in drilling and riveting. However, in existing technologies, this assembly process is mostly done by loading rivets. With current rivet loading devices, due to the different dimensions at both ends of the rivets, rivets are prone to stacking, tilting, or getting stuck in the pipes, affecting production efficiency. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an automatic rivet loading system that can avoid rivet jamming and improve assembly and production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, this application provides an automatic rivet loading system that can avoid rivet jamming and improve assembly efficiency and production efficiency.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides an automatic rivet loading system for assembling and storing rivets and spacers; comprising: a vibratory feeding unit having a rivet vibratory plate and a spacer vibratory plate for providing rivets and spacers respectively; a rivet sorting unit for sorting and correcting the rivets provided by the rivet vibratory plate, so that the rivets are conveyed in a predetermined posture; a rivet loading and unloading unit including a loading and unloading channel, the diameter of which is adapted to the rivets and spacers, the loading and unloading unit for alternately feeding the rivets and spacers provided by the vibratory feeding unit into the loading and unloading channel from one end, and assembling the rivets and spacers within the loading and unloading channel; a rivet box unit including a rivet box connected to the other end of the loading and unloading channel for holding the assembled rivets and spacers within the loading and unloading channel; and a control unit electrically connected to the vibratory feeding unit, the rivet sorting unit, and the rivet loading and unloading unit.

[0005] Using the above structure, rivets and spacers provided by the vibratory feeding unit are alternately fed into the loading and unloading channel, allowing the rivets and spacers to be assembled within the channel. This allows the spacers to limit the rivets' position, maintaining their correct posture within the channel and preventing tilting. This, in turn, avoids rivet jamming and improves assembly and production efficiency.

[0006] In some embodiments, the loading and unloading unit includes a feeding mechanism and a loading and unloading mechanism. The feeding mechanism includes: a rivet pipe for receiving rivets provided by the rivet vibratory feeder; and a spacer block pipe for receiving spacers provided by the spacer block vibratory feeder. The loading and unloading mechanism includes the loading and unloading channel and further includes: a first slider with a first connecting hole; and a first drive cylinder slidably connected to the first slider to drive the first slider to slide, such that one end of the first connecting hole is connected to the rivet pipe or the spacer block pipe, and the other end of the first connecting hole is connected to the loading and unloading channel.

[0007] With the above structure, the first sliding block can be driven by the first driving cylinder to slide, connecting the first connecting hole with the rivet pipe or spacer block pipe, thereby allowing the rivet or spacer block to enter the first connecting hole. The first sliding block can also be driven by the first driving cylinder to slide, connecting the first connecting hole with the loading / unloading channel, thereby allowing the rivet or spacer block in the first connecting hole to enter the loading / unloading channel. Therefore, by driving the first sliding block with the first driving cylinder, the rivet and spacer block can be spaced out and inserted into the loading / unloading channel.

[0008] In some embodiments, the loading and unloading mechanism further includes: a first connecting block, on which a second connecting hole and a third connecting hole are provided, the second connecting hole and the third connecting hole being arranged along the sliding direction of the first slider, one end of the second connecting hole being connected to the rivet pipeline, and one end of the third connecting hole being connected to the spacer block pipeline; a second slider, on which the first connecting block is fixedly mounted, forming a sliding space for the first slider between the first connecting block and the second slider; and a fourth connecting hole on which the second slider is provided, the fourth connecting hole being located at a position corresponding to the second connecting hole or the third connecting hole, the first slider sliding to make the first connecting hole communicate with the second connecting hole or the third connecting hole.

[0009] By employing the above structure and placing the fourth connecting hole at the position corresponding to the second or third connecting hole, the rivet pipeline or spacer block pipeline can be directly connected to the loading and unloading channel when the first connecting hole is connected to the second or third connecting hole, thereby allowing the rivet or spacer block to directly enter the loading and unloading channel. This simplifies the structure of the loading and unloading unit and reduces the control difficulty of the control unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the loading and unloading channels are provided in multiple ways, and the loading and unloading mechanism further includes: a second drive cylinder, which is connected to the second slider in a transmission manner to drive the second slider to slide, so that the fourth connecting hole is connected to one of the multiple loading and unloading channels.

[0011] By employing the above structure and setting multiple loading and unloading channels, a predetermined number of rivets and spacers can be assembled in one channel and transported to the rivet box unit. During this transport, the second drive cylinder drives the second slider to slide, connecting the fourth connecting hole to other loading and unloading channels. This allows for the continuous assembly of rivets and spacers in other channels while the assembled rivets and spacers are being transported to the rivet box unit. This eliminates waiting time and improves production efficiency.

[0012] In some embodiments, the fourth connecting hole is disposed at a position corresponding to the second connecting hole; the loading and unloading rivet unit further includes: a stop mechanism, the stop mechanism being used to connect the second connecting hole and the rivet pipeline, and to control the rivets in the rivet pipeline, so that one of the rivets passes through when the first connecting hole connects the second connecting hole and the fourth connecting hole.

[0013] With the above structure, the rivets can be controlled by a stop mechanism. When a rivet needs to enter the loading / unloading channel, the stop mechanism controls one rivet to enter the channel at a time. This improves the control over the rivets, prevents multiple rivets from entering the loading / unloading channel simultaneously, and thus avoids assembly errors.

[0014] In some embodiments, the stopping mechanism includes: a second connecting block, the second connecting block being fixedly mounted on the first connecting block, the second connecting block having a fifth connecting hole, the fifth connecting hole connecting the rivet conduit and the second connecting hole; a first stopping pin, the first stopping pin being slidably connected to the second connecting block and extending radially into the fifth connecting hole; a second stopping pin, the second stopping pin being slidably connected to the second connecting block and extending radially into the fifth connecting hole; a third driving cylinder, the third driving cylinder being operatively connected to the first stopping pin; and a fourth driving cylinder, the fourth driving cylinder being operatively connected to the second stopping pin; wherein, the dimension of the fifth connecting hole between the first stopping pin and the second stopping pin is adapted to the length of the rivet, the third driving cylinder drives the first stopping pin to extend into and move out of the fifth connecting hole, causing one of the rivets to enter between the first stopping pin and the second stopping pin, and the fourth driving cylinder drives the second stopping pin to extend into and move out of the fifth connecting hole, causing the rivet between the first stopping pin and the second stopping pin to enter the second connecting hole.

[0015] With the above structure, the first and second stop pins can be driven by the third and fourth drive cylinders to ensure that the rivets in the rivet pipeline are output one at a time. This improves the control over the rivets, prevents multiple rivets from entering the loading / unloading channel simultaneously, and thus avoids assembly errors.

[0016] In some embodiments, the loading and unloading mechanism is provided in multiple ways, and the loading and unloading channel of each loading and unloading mechanism corresponds to the rivet of different specifications; the feeding mechanism further includes: a third slider, the third slider is provided with a sixth connecting hole and a seventh connecting hole, the second connecting block is fixedly installed on the third slider, the fifth connecting hole communicates with the sixth connecting hole, and the spacer block pipe communicates with the seventh connecting hole; a fifth driving cylinder, the fifth driving cylinder is slidably connected to the third slider, and drives the third slider to slide, so that the sixth connecting hole and the seventh connecting hole communicate with the second connecting hole and the third connecting hole of one of the multiple loading and unloading mechanisms, respectively.

[0017] By adopting the above structure and setting up loading and unloading units for rivets of different specifications, the fifth drive cylinder is controlled to drive the third slider to slide as needed, so that the sixth and seventh connecting holes are connected to the second and third connecting holes of the corresponding loading and unloading channel group, respectively. This allows the automatic rivet loading system to be adapted to the assembly of rivets and spacers of different specifications, thereby improving the applicability of the automatic rivet loading system.

[0018] In some embodiments, the sorting rivet unit includes: a conveyor belt for conveying rivets provided by the rivet vibratory feeder to the loading and unloading rivet unit; and a turning station located at a position corresponding to the conveyor belt for rotating the rivets on the conveyor belt in the opposite direction by 180°.

[0019] By adopting the above structure, the rivets on the conveyor belt are rotated 180° by the turning station, which prevents the rivets from entering the rivet pipeline in the reverse state, and thus avoids the problem of the rivets reversing when entering the loading and unloading channel for assembly.

[0020] In some embodiments, the sorting nail unit further includes an air blowing device for blowing away rivets that do not conform to predetermined specifications from the conveyor belt.

[0021] By adopting the above structure, an air blowing device is installed to blow away rivets that do not conform to the predetermined specifications on the conveyor belt, thereby preventing rivets of the wrong specifications from entering the rivet pipeline and thus preventing rivets of the wrong specifications from entering the loading and unloading channel.

[0022] In some embodiments, the sorting rivet unit further includes a camera for acquiring image information of rivets on the conveyor belt, and the control unit determines whether the rivet conforms to a predetermined specification and whether the rivet is reversed based on the image information.

[0023] With the above structure, when the control unit determines from the image information that the rivets on the conveyor belt are reversed or do not meet the specifications, it can control the steering station to rotate the reversed rivets 180°, and can also control the air blowing device to blow away the rivets on the conveyor belt that do not meet the predetermined specifications, thereby avoiding the occurrence of errors.

[0024] These and other aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of several embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The various features of the present invention and the relationships between them are further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are exemplary; some features are not shown to scale, and some drawings may omit conventional features in the field of this application that are not essential to this application, or additional features that are not essential to this application may be shown. The combination of features shown in the drawings is not intended to limit the present application. Furthermore, throughout this specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same things. Specific descriptions of the drawings are as follows:

[0026] Figure 1 This is one of the three-dimensional structural schematic diagrams of the automatic rivet loading system in this application;

[0027] Figure 2 This is the second three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the automatic rivet loading system in this application;

[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the vibratory feeding unit and the sorting pin unit;

[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the loading and unloading unit;

[0030] Figure 5 for Figure 4 One of the three-dimensional structural diagrams of the loading and unloading mechanism;

[0031] Figure 6 for Figure 4 The second three-dimensional structural diagram of a portion of the loading and unloading nail unit;

[0032] Figure 7 for Figure 4 A side view of part of the loading and unloading nail unit;

[0033] Figure 8 for Figure 4 A side view of the stop mechanism.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0035] 10 Automatic rivet loading system; 100 Vibratory feeding unit; 110 Rivet vibratory feeder; 120 Spacer block vibratory feeder; 200 Rivet sorting unit; 210 Conveyor belt; 220 Camera; 230 Air blowing device; 240 Turning station; 300 Rivet loading and unloading unit; 310 Feeding mechanism; 311 Rivet pipeline; 312 Spacer block pipeline; 313 Third slider; 320 Stop mechanism; 321 Second connecting block; 322 Third drive cylinder; 323 Fourth drive cylinder; 330 Loading and unloading mechanism; 331 First slider; 331a First connecting hole; 332 First drive cylinder; 333 First connecting block; 333a Second connecting hole; 333b Third connecting hole; 334 Second slider; 334a Support part; 334b ​​Fourth connecting hole; 335 Loading and unloading channel; 400 Rivet box unit; 500 Control unit; 20 Rivets; 30 spacers. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The terms "first, second, third, etc." or similar terms such as module A, module B, module C, etc., used in the specification and claims are only used to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of objects. It is understood that a specific order or sequence may be interchanged where permitted so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein.

[0037] The term "comprising" as used in the specification and claims should not be construed as limiting itself to what follows; it does not exclude other elements. Therefore, it should be interpreted as specifying the presence of the mentioned feature, integral, or component, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the statement "equipment comprising means A and B" should not be limited to an equipment consisting solely of components A and B.

[0038] The term "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" as used in this specification means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the terms "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but may refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, the particular features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0039] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, possible embodiments of the automatic rivet loading system 10 of this application will be described by way of example.

[0040] The automatic rivet loading system 10 provided in this application is used to assemble and store rivets 20 and spacers 30. The automatic rivet loading system 10 includes a vibratory feeding unit 100, a rivet sorting unit 200, a rivet loading / unloading unit 300, a rivet box unit 400, and a control unit 500. The vibratory feeding unit 100 has a rivet vibratory feeder 110 and a spacer vibratory feeder 120, used to provide rivets 20 and spacers 30 respectively. The rivet sorting unit 200 is used to sort and correct the rivets 20 provided by the rivet vibratory feeder 110, so that the rivets 20 are transported according to a predetermined posture. The rivet loading / unloading unit 300 includes a loading / unloading channel 335, the diameter of which is adapted to the rivets 20 and spacers 30. The rivet loading / unloading unit 300 is used to alternately feed the rivets 20 and spacers 30 provided by the vibratory feeding unit 100 into the loading / unloading channel 335 from one end, and the rivets 20 and spacers 30 are assembled within the loading / unloading channel 335. The rivet box unit 400 includes a rivet box, which is connected to the other end of the loading / unloading channel 335, and is used to hold the assembled rivets 20 and spacers 30 within the loading / unloading channel 335. The control unit 500 is electrically connected to the vibratory feeding unit 100, the rivet sorting unit 200, and the rivet loading / unloading unit 300.

[0041] As described above, by alternately feeding the rivets 20 and spacers 30 provided by the vibratory feeding unit 100 into the loading and unloading channel 335, the rivets 20 and spacers 30 can be assembled within the loading and unloading channel 335. Therefore, the spacers 30 can limit the movement of the rivets 20, ensuring their correct posture within the loading and unloading channel 335, thus preventing tilting of the rivets 20 and avoiding jamming, thereby improving assembly and production efficiency.

[0042] In some embodiments, the loading and unloading unit 300 includes a feeding mechanism 310 and a loading and unloading mechanism 330. The feeding mechanism 310 includes a rivet pipe 311 and a spacer block pipe 312, and the loading and unloading mechanism 330 includes a first slider 331 and a first drive cylinder. The rivet pipe 20 is used to receive rivets 20 provided by the rivet vibratory feeder 110, and the spacer block pipe 312 is used to receive spacers 30 provided by the spacer block vibratory feeder 120. The first slider 331 is provided with a first connecting hole 331a. The first drive cylinder is slidably connected to the first slider 331, driving the first slider 331 to slide, so that one end of the first connecting hole 331a communicates with the rivet pipe 311 or the spacer block pipe 312, and the other end of the first connecting hole 331a communicates with the loading and unloading channel 335. Therefore, the first sliding block 331 can be driven by the first driving cylinder to slide, so that the first connecting hole 331a connects with the rivet pipe 311 or the spacer block pipe 312, thereby allowing the rivet 20 or the spacer block 30 to enter the first connecting hole 331a. The first sliding block 331 can also be driven by the first driving cylinder to slide, so that the first connecting hole 331a connects with the loading / unloading channel 335, thereby allowing the rivet 20 or the spacer block 30 in the first connecting hole 331a to enter the loading / unloading channel 335. Thus, the first sliding block 331 can be driven by the first driving cylinder to slide, thereby allowing the rivet 20 and the spacer block 30 to enter the loading / unloading channel 335 at intervals.

[0043] In some embodiments, the loading and unloading mechanism 330 further includes a first connecting block 333 and a second slider 334. The first connecting block 333 is provided with a second connecting hole 333a and a third connecting hole 333b, which are arranged along the sliding direction of the first slider 331. One end of the second connecting hole 333a is connected to the rivet conduit 311, and one end of the third connecting hole 333b is connected to the spacer block conduit 312. The first connecting block 333 is fixedly mounted on the second slider 334, forming a sliding space for the first slider 331 between the first connecting block 333 and the second slider 334. The second slider 334 is provided with a fourth connecting hole 334b, which is located at a position corresponding to either the second connecting hole 333a or the third connecting hole 333b. When the first slider 331 slides, the first connecting hole 331a communicates with either the second connecting hole 333a or the third connecting hole 333b. Therefore, by setting the fourth connecting hole 334b ​​at the position corresponding to the second connecting hole 333a or the third connecting hole 333b, when the first connecting hole 331a is connected to the second connecting hole 333a or the third connecting hole 333b, the rivet pipe 311 or the spacer block pipe 312 can be directly connected to the loading and unloading channel 335, thereby allowing the rivet 20 or the spacer block 30 to directly enter the loading and unloading channel 335. This simplifies the structure of the loading and unloading unit 300 and reduces the control difficulty of the control unit 500.

[0044] In some other embodiments, the fourth connecting hole 334b ​​is offset from the second connecting hole 333a and the third connecting hole 333b. The first driving cylinder drives the first slider 331 to slide, connecting the first connecting hole 331a with the second connecting hole 333a. After the rivet 20 falls into the first connecting hole 331a, the first connecting hole 331a is then connected to the fourth connecting hole 334b, causing the rivet 20 to fall into the loading / unloading channel 335. Then, the first connecting hole 331a is connected to the third connecting hole 333b. After the spacer block 30 falls into the first connecting hole 331a, the first connecting hole 331a is then connected to the fourth connecting hole 334b, causing the spacer block 30 to fall into the loading / unloading channel 335. Thus, the rivet 20 and the spacer block 30 can enter the loading / unloading channel 335 at intervals.

[0045] In some embodiments, multiple loading and unloading channels 335 are provided, and the loading and unloading mechanism 330 further includes a second drive cylinder, which is tractively connected to a second slider 334. The second drive cylinder drives the second slider 334 to slide, so that the fourth connecting hole 334b ​​communicates with one of the multiple loading and unloading channels 335. Thus, by providing multiple loading and unloading channels 335, when a predetermined number of rivets 20 and spacers 30 are assembled in one loading and unloading channel 335 and are being transported to the rivet box unit 400, the second drive cylinder drives the second slider 334 to slide, so that the fourth connecting hole 334b ​​communicates with other loading and unloading channels 335. This allows for the continuous assembly of rivets 20 and spacers 30 in other loading and unloading channels 335 while the assembled rivets 20 and spacers 30 are being transported to the rivet box unit 400. This eliminates waiting time and improves production efficiency.

[0046] In some embodiments, the fourth connecting hole 334b ​​is located at the position corresponding to the second connecting hole 333a. The loading and unloading rivet unit 300 also includes a stop mechanism 320, which connects the second connecting hole 333a and the rivet conduit 311. The stop mechanism 320 controls the rivets 20 in the rivet conduit 311 so that one rivet 20 passes through when the first connecting hole 331a connects the second connecting hole 333a and the fourth connecting hole 334b. Thus, the stop mechanism 320 can control the rivets 20, allowing only one rivet 20 to enter the loading and unloading channel 335 when necessary. This improves the control capability of the rivets 20, preventing multiple rivets 20 from entering the loading and unloading channel 335 simultaneously, thereby avoiding assembly errors.

[0047] In some embodiments, the stop mechanism 320 includes a second connecting block 321, a first stop pin, a second stop pin, a third drive cylinder 322, and a fourth drive cylinder 323. The second connecting block 321 has a fifth connecting hole that connects the rivet conduit 311 and the second connecting hole 333a. The first stop pin is slidably connected to the second connecting block 321 and extends radially into the fifth connecting hole. The second stop pin is also slidably connected to the second connecting block 321 and extends radially into the fifth connecting hole. The third drive cylinder 322 is drively connected to the first stop pin, and the fourth drive cylinder 323 is drively connected to the second stop pin. The fifth connecting hole, located between the first and second stop pins, is sized to match the length of the rivet 20. The third drive cylinder 322 drives the first stop pin to extend into and exit the fifth connecting hole, allowing one rivet 20 to enter between the first and second stop pins. The fourth drive cylinder 323 drives the second stop pin to extend into and exit the fifth connecting hole, allowing the rivet 20 between the first and second stop pins to enter the second connecting hole 333a. Thus, by using the third and fourth drive cylinders 322 and 323 to drive the first and second stop pins, the rivets 20 in the rivet conduit 311 can only be output one at a time. This improves the control over the rivets 20, preventing multiple rivets 20 from simultaneously entering the loading / unloading channel 335, thereby avoiding assembly errors.

[0048] In some embodiments, multiple loading and unloading mechanisms 330 are provided, and the loading and unloading channels 335 of each loading and unloading mechanism 330 correspond to rivets 20 of different specifications. The feeding mechanism 310 also includes a third slider 313 and a fifth drive cylinder. The third slider 313 is provided with a sixth connecting hole and a seventh through hole. The second connecting block 321 is fixedly installed on the third slider 313. The fifth connecting hole communicates with the sixth connecting hole, and the spacer block 30 pipe communicates with the seventh through hole. The fifth drive cylinder is slidably connected to the third slider 313, driving the third slider 313 to slide, so that the sixth connecting hole and the seventh through hole communicate with the second connecting hole 333a and the third connecting hole 333b of one of the multiple loading and unloading mechanisms 330, respectively. Thus, the automatic rivet loading system 10 can be adapted to the assembly of rivets 20 and spacer blocks 30 of different specifications, thereby improving the applicability of the automatic rivet loading system 10.

[0049] In some embodiments, the sorting rivet unit 200 includes a conveyor belt 210 and a turning station 240. The conveyor belt 210 transports rivets 20 provided by the rivet vibratory feeder 110 to the loading / unloading rivet unit 300. The turning station 240 is positioned corresponding to the conveyor belt 210 and is used to rotate rivets 20 that are moving in the opposite direction on the conveyor belt 210 by 180°. Thus, by rotating the rivets 20 moving in the opposite direction on the conveyor belt 210 by 180° through the turning station 240, the rivets 20 can be prevented from entering the rivet conduit 311 in the opposite direction, thereby preventing the rivets 20 from reversing when entering the loading / unloading channel 335 for assembly.

[0050] In some embodiments, the sorting unit 200 further includes an air blowing device for blowing away rivets 20 that do not conform to a predetermined specification on the conveyor belt 210. Thus, by providing an air blowing device to blow away rivets 20 that do not conform to a predetermined specification on the conveyor belt 210, it is possible to prevent rivets 20 of the wrong specification from entering the rivet conduit 311, and consequently, to prevent rivets 20 of the wrong specification from entering the loading / unloading channel 335.

[0051] In some embodiments, the sorting unit 200 further includes a camera for acquiring image information of the rivets 20 on the conveyor belt 210. The control unit 500 determines whether the rivets 20 conform to predetermined specifications and whether the rivets 20 are reversed based on the image information. Therefore, when the control unit 500 determines from the image information that the rivets 20 on the conveyor belt 210 are reversed or do not conform to specifications, it can control the steering station 240 to rotate the reversed rivets 20 by 180°, and can also control the air blowing device to blow away the rivets 20 that do not conform to predetermined specifications from the conveyor belt, thereby preventing errors from occurring.

[0052] The above description provides an exemplary description of possible embodiments of the automatic aircraft rivet loading system 10 in this application. Below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a detailed description of the specific structure of the automatic aircraft rivet loading system 10 in a particular embodiment will be provided.

[0053] Figure 1 This is one of the three-dimensional structural schematic diagrams of the automatic rivet loading system 10 in this application; Figure 2 This is the second three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the automatic rivet loading system 10 in this application. Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, the automatic rivet loading system 10 adopts a split-type box structure. The upper layer is the material sorting and assembly unit and safety door, and the lower layer integrates the pneumatic unit and control cabinet. The overall dimensions of the automatic rivet loading system 10 are: length 2085mm × width 1100mm × height 1935mm. The automatic rivet loading system 10 includes a vibratory feeding unit 100, a rivet sorting unit 200, a rivet loading and unloading unit 300, a rivet box unit 400, and a control unit 500. The vibratory feeding unit 100 provides rivets 20 and spacers 30. The rivet sorting unit 200 sorts and corrects the rivets 20 provided by the rivet vibratory feeder 110, ensuring that the rivets 20 are conveyed according to a predetermined posture. The rivet loading and unloading unit 300 assembles the rivets 20 and spacers 30 provided by the vibratory feeding unit 100 together. The rivet box unit 400 collects the assembled rivets 20 and spacers 30. The control unit 500 is electrically connected to the vibratory feeding unit 100, the sorting nail unit 200, and the loading and unloading nail unit 300, and is used to control the vibratory feeding unit 100, the sorting nail unit 200, and the loading and unloading nail unit 300.

[0054] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the vibratory feeding unit 100 and the sorting nail unit 200, as shown below. Figure 3 As shown, the vibratory feeding unit 100 includes a rivet vibratory feeder 110 and a spacer vibratory feeder 120, which are used for the automatic dispersion, orderly arrangement, and conveying of rivets 20 and spacers 30, respectively. Both the rivet vibratory feeder 110 and the spacer vibratory feeder 120 have a hopper diameter of 500mm and a vibration frequency range of 50Hz-180Hz. The spacer vibratory feeder 120 is equipped with a color sensor to identify spacers 30 of different specifications. Both the rivet vibratory feeder 110 and the spacer vibratory feeder 120 have a material shortage detection function, sending a feeding signal to the control unit 500 when there is no material.

[0055] like Figure 3 As shown, the rivet sorting unit 200 uses a conveyor belt 210 as the main material conveying line and is equipped with a laser switch, a CCD camera 220, an air blowing device 230, and a turning station 240. The laser switch assists in detecting and counting incoming materials, while the CCD camera 220 compares the real-time captured images of the rivets 20 with preset standard contours to identify the specifications and orientation of the rivets 20. Rivets 20 that do not meet the specifications are blown back to the rivet vibrating plate 110 by the air blowing device 230, and rivets 20 with incorrect orientation are corrected by rotating 180° by the motor of the turning station 240. Simultaneously, the rivet sorting unit 200 also has a quantity control function, preventing subsequent materials from entering when the material reaches a set upper limit.

[0056] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the loading and unloading nail unit 300; Figure 5 for Figure 4One of the three-dimensional structural diagrams of the loading and unloading mechanism 330; Figure 6 for Figure 4 The second three-dimensional structural diagram of part of the loading and unloading nail unit 300; Figure 7 for Figure 4 A side view of part of the structure of the loading and unloading nail unit 300. (See attached diagram.) Figures 4-7 As shown, the rivet loading / unloading unit 300 includes a feeding mechanism 310, a stop mechanism 320, and a loading / unloading mechanism 330. The feeding mechanism 310 connects to the vibratory feeding unit 100 to acquire and supply rivets 20 and spacers 30. The stop mechanism 320 controls the rivets 20 fed by the feeding mechanism 310 to the loading / unloading mechanism 330. The loading / unloading mechanism 330 assembles the rivets 20 and spacers 30 provided by the feeding mechanism 310. Three loading / unloading mechanisms 330 are provided, each corresponding to a different specification of rivet 20. The feeding mechanism 310 can switch between the three loading / unloading mechanisms 330 to adapt to the assembly of rivets 20 of different specifications.

[0057] like Figure 4 As shown, the feeding mechanism 310 includes a rivet pipe 311, a spacer block pipe 312, a third slider 313, and a fifth drive cylinder. The rivet pipe 311 connects to the rivet vibratory feeder 110 to obtain rivets 20 provided by the vibratory feeder 110. The spacer block pipe 312 connects to the spacer block vibratory feeder 120 to obtain spacer blocks 30 provided by the vibratory feeder 120. The rivet pipe 311 is compatible with four sizes of rivets 20, and the spacer block pipe 312 is compatible with three sizes of spacer blocks 30: 7mm, 10.5mm, and 12mm. The third slider 313 has a sixth connecting hole and a seventh through hole. The rivet pipe 311 is fixedly mounted on the third slider 313 via a stop mechanism 320 and communicates with the sixth connecting hole via the stop mechanism 320. The spacer block pipe 312 is fixedly mounted on the third slider 313 and communicates with the seventh connecting hole. The fifth drive cylinder is connected to the third slider 313, driving the third slider 313 to slide, thereby allowing the feeding mechanism 310 to switch between the three loading and unloading mechanisms 330. Specifically, the third slider 313 is slid to a position above one of the three loading and unloading mechanisms 330, so that the sixth connecting hole is aligned with the axis of the second connecting hole 333a of the loading and unloading mechanism 330, allowing the rivet 20 to be fed into the second connecting hole 333a from the sixth connecting hole. At the same time, the seventh connecting hole is aligned with the axis of the third connecting hole 333b of the loading and unloading mechanism 330, allowing the spacer block 30 to be fed into the third connecting hole 333b from the seventh connecting hole.

[0058] like Figures 5-7As shown, the loading / unloading mechanism 330 includes a first slider 331, a first drive cylinder 332, a first connecting block 333, a second slider 334, a second drive cylinder, and a loading / unloading channel 335. The upper surface of the second slider 334 has two parallel support portions 334a. The first connecting block 333 is fixedly mounted on the two support portions 334a, forming a rectangular sliding space between the first connecting block 333 and the second slider 334. The first slider 331 is a rectangular block-shaped component disposed within the slider space. The upper surface of the first slider 331 is in contact with the lower surface of the first connecting block 333, and the lower surface of the first slider 331 is in contact with the upper surface of the second slider 334. The first drive cylinder 332 is drively connected to the first slider 331, driving the first slider 331 to slide between the two support portions 334a.

[0059] like Figure 7 As shown, the first slider 331 has a first connecting hole 331a, the first connecting block 333 has a second connecting hole 333a and a third connecting hole 333b, and the second slider 334 has a fourth connecting hole 334b. The first drive cylinder 332 drives the first slider 331 to slide, so that when one end of the first slider 331 abuts against a support part 334a, the axis of the first connecting hole 331a coincides with the second connecting hole 333a and the fourth connecting hole 334b, meaning the first connecting hole 331a, the second connecting hole 333a, and the fourth connecting hole 334b ​​are connected. The first drive cylinder 332 drives the first slider 331 to slide, so that when the other end of the first slider 331 abuts against another support part 334a, the axis of the first connecting hole 331a coincides with the third connecting hole 333b, meaning the first connecting hole 331a and the third connecting hole 333b are connected. Two loading / unloading channels 335 are provided, located below the second slider 334. The second drive cylinder is connected to the second slider 334 in a transmission manner, driving the second slider 334 to slide, so that the lower end of the fourth connecting hole 334b ​​is connected to one of the two loading and unloading channels 335.

[0060] As described above, the first drive cylinder 332 drives the first slider 331 to slide, connecting the first connecting hole 331a with the second connecting hole 333a and the fourth connecting hole 334b. Then, the rivet 20 can fall into the loading / unloading channel 335 through the sixth connecting hole, the second connecting hole 333a, the first connecting hole 331a, and the fourth connecting hole 334b. Next, the first drive cylinder 332 drives the first slider 331 to slide, connecting the first connecting hole 331a with the third connecting hole 333b. Then, the spacer block 30 can enter the second connecting hole 333a through the seventh connecting hole and the third connecting hole 333b. Finally, the first drive cylinder 332 drives the first slider 331 to slide, connecting the first connecting hole 331a again with the second connecting hole 333a and the fourth connecting hole 334b, allowing the spacer block 30 to enter the loading / unloading channel 335 through the fourth connecting hole 334b. Therefore, rivets 20 and spacers 30 can alternately enter the loading / unloading channel 335 in the sequence of "rivet 20-spacer 30-rivet 20-spacer 30", with an assembly cycle of 2-2.5 seconds per group. Furthermore, when the number of rivets 20 and spacers 30 accommodated in one loading / unloading channel 335 reaches a predetermined value, the second drive cylinder can drive the second slider 334 to slide, connecting the fourth channel with another loading / unloading channel 335. Thus, during the process of conveying rivets 20 and spacers 30 from the loading / unloading channel 335 to the rivet box unit 400, another loading / unloading channel 335 can alternately accommodate and assemble rivets 20 and spacers 30, thereby improving production rhythm and efficiency.

[0061] Figure 8 for Figure 4 A side view of the stop mechanism 320. (See attached diagram.) Figure 8As shown, the stop mechanism 320 includes a second connecting block 321, a first stop pin, a second stop pin, a third drive cylinder 322, and a fourth drive cylinder 323. The second connecting block 321 is fixedly mounted on the third slider 313, and a fifth connecting hole is vertically provided on the second connecting block 321, connecting the rivet conduit 311 and a sixth connecting hole. The first and second stop pins are disposed within the second connecting block 321, slidably connected to it, and extend radially into the fifth connecting hole. The third drive cylinder 322 is drive-connected to the first stop pin, and the fourth drive cylinder 323 is drive-connected to the second stop pin. The fifth connecting hole, located between the first and second stop pins, is sized to match the length of the rivet 20. The third drive cylinder 322 drives the first stop pin to extend into and exit the fifth connecting hole, allowing one rivet 20 to enter between the first and second stop pins. The fourth drive cylinder 323 drives the second stop pin to extend into and exit the fifth connecting hole, allowing the rivet 20 between the first and second stop pins to enter the sixth connecting hole. Thus, by using the third and fourth drive cylinders 322 and 323 to drive the first and second stop pins in coordination, the rivets 20 in the rivet conduit 311 can be output one by one as needed, achieving single-piece rivet dropping control with an action cycle of 0.5 seconds. This improves the control capability of the rivets 20, preventing multiple rivets 20 from entering the loading / unloading channel 335 simultaneously, thereby avoiding assembly errors.

[0062] like Figure 2 As shown, the rivet box unit 400 includes a rivet box, a cleaning box, and an RFID reader / writer sensor. The rivet box comes in three sizes, corresponding to 7mm, 10.5mm, and 12mm spacer block 30 combinations. It is equipped with a vacuum generator, a stop cylinder, and a cleaning switching cylinder to provide rivet loading assistance and cleaning functions. Before rivet loading, an automatic evacuation cycle is performed to clear residual material from the pipeline. After assembly, an air blowing function blows the assembled rivet 20 and spacer block 30 materials into the rivet box. The RFID reader / writer sensor reads and writes the chip information inside the rivet box, recording data such as material specifications and quantity. The rivet box is compatible with automatic riveting systems and can be directly inserted and used.

[0063] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the control unit 500 integrates a PLC controller, an HMI human-machine interface, and a pneumatic control module. It is used to receive sensor signals from each unit, control the actions of each actuator, and realize automated control of the work process, parameter setting, and fault alarm.

[0064] The above content provides a detailed description of the specific structure of the automatic aircraft rivet loading system 10 in this embodiment. The workflow of the automatic aircraft rivet loading system 10 in this embodiment includes:

[0065] Preparation phase: According to production needs, the operator replaces the rivet pipe 311 and spacer block pipe 312 corresponding to the loading and unloading rivet unit 300, and sets parameters such as material specifications and assembly quantity through the HMI human-machine interface; puts the rivet 20 and spacer block 30 into the corresponding rivet vibratory feeder 110 and spacer block vibratory feeder 120 respectively, and closes the safety door.

[0066] Emptying and circulating: After the system starts, it first performs an automatic emptying and circulating of the rivet box. Through the air blowing function, the residual material in the rivet box is blown into the cleaning box to avoid mixing.

[0067] Feeding and sorting: The vibratory feeding unit is activated to disperse and orderly convey the rivets 20 and spacers 30 to the conveyor belt 210. The incoming materials are detected by a laser switch, and the CCD camera 220 compares the images of the rivets 20 in real time. Materials that do not meet the specifications are blown back to the vibratory feeder by the blowing system, and materials with incorrect orientation are rotated and corrected by the turning station 240. Materials that meet the requirements continue to be conveyed.

[0068] Assembly: Rivets 20 and spacers 30 enter their respective pipes. The stop mechanism 320 uses a dual-cylinder alternating action of the third drive cylinder 322 and the fourth drive cylinder 323 to drop individual rivets 20. Simultaneously, driven by the first drive cylinder 332, the material alternately enters the loading and unloading channel 335 in the sequence of "rivet 20-spacer 30-rivet 20-spacer 30". The two loading and unloading channels 335 operate alternately. When one loading and unloading channel 335 is completed, the second drive cylinder is activated, and the other loading and unloading channel 335 continues to operate. At the same time, the assembled material is blown into the rivet box.

[0069] The detailed assembly process of rivet 20 and spacer block 30 is as follows: In the initial state, the first rivet 20 enters the loading and unloading channel 335 and flows into the pipe, while subsequent rivets 20 are temporarily blocked by the stop mechanism 320. Subsequently, the first drive cylinder 332 extends, guiding the spacer block 30 into the first connecting hole 331a; after the first drive cylinder 332 retracts, the spacer block 30 enters the loading and unloading channel 335, at which point the stop mechanism 320 releases the next rivet 20 into the loading and unloading channel 335, thus forming an alternating combination of "rivet 20-spacer block 30".

[0070] Cleaning stage: After the operation is completed, manually clean the residual material in the rivet vibratory plate 110 and the spacer vibratory plate 120 into the receiving box, and start the cleaning function of the rivet box through the manual valve to clean the residual material in the box.

[0071] Note that the above are merely preferred embodiments and the technical principles employed in this application. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, although the present application has been described in detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include many other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic rivet loading system, characterized in that, For assembling and storing rivets and spacers; including: A vibratory feeding unit, comprising a rivet vibratory plate and a spacer block vibratory plate, used to provide rivets and spacers respectively; The rivet sorting unit is used to sort and correct the rivets provided by the rivet vibratory feeder, so that the rivets are transported in a predetermined posture. The rivet loading and unloading unit includes a loading and unloading channel, the diameter of which is adapted to the rivet and the spacer block. The rivet loading and unloading unit is used to alternately feed the rivet and the spacer block provided by the vibratory feeding unit into the loading and unloading channel from one end of the loading and unloading channel, and the rivet and the spacer block are assembled in the loading and unloading channel. A rivet box unit, the rivet box unit including a rivet box, the rivet box being connected to the other end of the loading and unloading channel, for holding the rivets and the spacers assembled in the loading and unloading channel; The control unit is electrically connected to the vibratory feeding unit, the sorting nail unit, and the loading and unloading nail unit.

2. The automatic rivet loading system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The loading and unloading unit includes a feeding mechanism and a loading and unloading mechanism, wherein the feeding mechanism includes: A rivet conduit, wherein the rivet conduit is used to receive the rivets provided by the rivet vibratory plate; Spacer block piping, the spacer block piping being used to accommodate the spacer blocks provided by the spacer block vibrating plate; The loading and unloading mechanism includes the loading and unloading channel, and further includes: A first slider, wherein a first connecting hole is provided on the first slider; The first driving cylinder is slidably connected to the first slider, driving the first slider to slide so that one end of the first connecting hole is connected to the rivet pipe or the spacer block pipe, and the other end of the first connecting hole is connected to the loading and unloading channel.

3. The automatic rivet loading system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The loading and unloading mechanism also includes: A first connecting block is provided with a second connecting hole and a third connecting hole. The second connecting hole and the third connecting hole are arranged along the sliding direction of the first slider. One end of the second connecting hole is connected to the rivet pipeline, and one end of the third connecting hole is connected to the spacer block pipeline. The second slider has the first connecting block fixedly installed on it, forming a sliding space between the first connecting block and the second slider. The second slider has a fourth connecting hole, which is located at the position corresponding to the second connecting hole or the third connecting hole. The first slider slides to make the first connecting hole connect with the second connecting hole or the third connecting hole.

4. The automatic rivet loading system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The loading and unloading channels are provided in multiple ways, and the loading and unloading mechanism further includes: The second drive cylinder is connected to the second slider in a transmission manner, driving the second slider to slide so that the fourth connecting hole is connected to one of the plurality of loading and unloading channels.

5. The automatic rivet loading system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fourth connecting hole is located at the position corresponding to the second connecting hole; the loading and unloading nail unit further includes: A stop mechanism is installed on the first connecting block, connecting the second connecting hole and the rivet pipeline, and is used to control the rivets in the rivet pipeline so that one rivet can pass through when the first connecting hole connects the second connecting hole and the fourth connecting hole.

6. The automatic rivet loading system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The stopping mechanism includes: The second connecting block is provided with a fifth connecting hole, which connects the rivet pipe to the second connecting hole. The first stop pin is slidably connected to the second connecting block and extends radially into the fifth connecting hole; The second stop pin is slidably connected to the second connecting block and extends radially into the fifth connecting hole; The third drive cylinder is connected to the first stop pin in a transmission manner; The fourth drive cylinder is connected to the second stop pin in a transmission manner; Wherein, the fifth connecting hole between the first stop pin and the second stop pin is sized to match the length of the rivet. The third drive cylinder drives the first stop pin to extend into and out of the fifth connecting hole, so that one of the rivets enters between the first stop pin and the second stop pin. The fourth drive cylinder drives the second stop pin to extend into and out of the fifth connecting hole, so that the rivet between the first stop pin and the second stop pin enters the second connecting hole.

7. The automatic rivet loading system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The loading and unloading mechanism is provided in multiple ways, and the loading and unloading channel of each loading and unloading mechanism corresponds to the rivets of different specifications; the feeding mechanism further includes: The third slider is provided with a sixth connecting hole and a seventh connecting hole. The second connecting block is fixedly installed on the third slider. The fifth connecting hole is connected to the sixth connecting hole, and the spacer block pipe is connected to the seventh connecting hole. The fifth drive cylinder is slidably connected to the third slider and drives the third slider to slide, so that the sixth and seventh connecting holes are respectively connected to the second and third connecting holes of one of the plurality of loading and unloading mechanisms.

8. The automatic rivet loading system according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The sorting pin unit includes: A conveyor belt for conveying rivets provided by the rivet vibratory feeder to the rivet loading and unloading unit; A turning station, located at a position corresponding to the conveyor belt, is used to rotate the rivet on the conveyor belt in the opposite direction by 180°.

9. The automatic rivet loading system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The sorting pin unit also includes: An air blowing device is used to blow away rivets on the conveyor belt that do not conform to predetermined specifications.

10. The automatic rivet loading system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The sorting pin unit also includes: A camera is used to acquire image information of rivets on the conveyor belt. The control unit determines whether the rivets meet the predetermined specifications and whether the rivets are reversed based on the image information.

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