Feeding device and appearance inspection equipment

Abstract

This invention discloses a feeding device and an appearance inspection device. The appearance inspection device includes a feeding station and a loading station located above it. The loading station has a first loading area and a second loading area arranged along a first direction for two sets of material-picking components to pick up materials respectively. The feeding device includes a feeding module and a pushing module. The feeding module includes a feeding part for carrying a tray loaded with materials. The feeding part can reciprocate in a vertical direction and can flow between the feeding station and the first loading area to move the tray loaded with materials from the feeding station to the first loading area. The pushing module is located at the loading station and includes a pushing part that can reciprocate in a first direction. The pushing part can flow between the first loading area and the second loading area to move the tray loaded with materials or an empty tray in the first loading area to the second loading area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of intelligent inspection equipment technology, and in particular to a feeding device and an appearance inspection device. Background Technology

[0002] In industrial production, product appearance inspection is a crucial part of quality control. Take flexible boards as an example, such as flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs), flexible display substrates, and flexible films. Appearance defects in flexible boards include scratches, dents, protrusions, foreign objects, open / short circuits, edge burrs, and uneven thickness. After production, the appearance of the flexible board needs to be inspected to determine if any of these defects exist. In related technologies, appearance inspection methods typically include manual inspection and single-station, single-task inspection. Before appearance inspection, materials are usually fed and transferred using methods such as manual assisted feeding, vibratory feeder feeding, or belt conveyor feeding. However, these methods all suffer from problems such as positioning deviations in material posture, easy damage to materials, and inconsistent material feeding. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to provide a feeding device and an appearance inspection equipment, which aims to solve the problems of material positioning deviation, material damage, and discontinuous feeding that easily occur during the feeding process in existing product appearance inspection.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a feeding device for an appearance inspection equipment. The appearance inspection equipment includes a feeding station and a feeding station located above it. The feeding station is arranged along a first direction with a first feeding area and a second feeding area for two sets of material-picking components to pick up materials respectively. The feeding device includes:

[0005] A feeding module includes a feeding section for carrying a tray of loaded materials, the feeding section being reciprocating vertically and flowing between the feeding station and the first feeding area to move the tray of loaded materials from the feeding station to the first feeding area; and,

[0006] A material pushing module is provided at the loading station and includes a material pushing part that can reciprocate along a first direction. The material pushing part can move between the first loading area and the second loading area to transfer the material tray or empty material tray loaded in the first loading area to the second loading area.

[0007] Optionally, a transition station is formed between the feeding station and the loading station. The transition station is provided with a loading transition area at a position directly opposite the first loading area. The loading part flows between the feeding station and the loading transition area in a first state and between the loading transition area and the first loading area in a second state.

[0008] Optionally, the feeding module further includes a primary drive unit and a secondary drive unit that can move vertically. The primary drive unit drives and connects to the feeding unit to drive the feeding unit to flow between the feeding station and the feeding transition zone in a first state. The secondary drive unit drives and connects to the feeding unit to drive the feeding unit to flow between the feeding transition zone and the first feeding zone in a second state.

[0009] Optionally, the feeding module further includes a feeding rack and a support frame. The feeding rack spans the feeding station and the first feeding area in a vertical direction. The support frame is movably mounted on the feeding rack in a vertical direction. The feeding part is movably mounted on the support frame in a vertical direction.

[0010] The primary drive unit is connected to the support frame, and the secondary drive unit is connected to the feeding unit.

[0011] Optionally, the feeding module further includes a feeding guide, wherein:

[0012] The feeding guide is located between the feeding frame and the support frame, and is arranged vertically; and / or,

[0013] The feeding guide is located between the support frame and the feeding part, and is arranged in the vertical direction.

[0014] Optionally, the feeding module further includes a feeding base plate disposed at the feeding station and two feeding side plates disposed on the feeding base plate, which together define the feeding area at the feeding station. The two feeding side plates are arranged side by side along the first direction and can move relative to each other in the first direction to adjust the size of the feeding area.

[0015] Optionally, the feeding device further includes a receiving part, which spans the first feeding area and the second feeding area. In the first feeding area, the receiving part receives the material tray from the feeding part, and the pushing part is located above the receiving part.

[0016] The material feeding module further includes a material feeding drive unit, which drives the material feeding unit to move between the first feeding area and the second feeding area.

[0017] Optionally, the pushing module further includes a pushing adjustment part disposed on the receiving part. The pushing adjustment part can reciprocate in the vertical direction and is driven to connect to the pushing part, so as to adjust the relative distance between the pushing part and the receiving part in the vertical direction.

[0018] Optionally, the feeding device further includes a receiving module located at the feeding station. The receiving module includes two sets of receiving components. The two sets of receiving components are continuously arranged in a first direction and are respectively located in the first feeding area and the second feeding area. The receiving component located in the first feeding area receives the material tray loaded with material from the feeding part, and the receiving component located in the second feeding area receives the material tray loaded with material or an empty material tray from the pushing part.

[0019] Optionally, the receiving assembly includes two receiving plates arranged side by side at intervals in a second direction, which can move away from or move closer to each other relative to each other; the two receiving plates move away from each other relative to each other so that when the feeding part is feeding, the material tray can be driven to pass between the two receiving plates and be located above them; when the feeding part is in place, the two receiving plates move closer to each other relative to each other, and when the feeding part moves toward the feeding station, the material tray on it falls onto the two receiving plates;

[0020] The receiving plates of the two receiving assemblies are arranged side by side and continuously in a first direction.

[0021] Optionally, the receiving module further includes a receiving frame and a receiving adjustment part. The receiving frame spans the first feeding area and the second feeding area along a first direction. The receiving adjustment part includes two adjustment plates disposed on the receiving frame. The two adjustment plates are arranged side by side and spaced apart in a second direction and can move relative to each other. Each adjustment plate spans the first feeding area and the second feeding area along the first direction.

[0022] The receiving plates of the two sets of receiving assemblies are respectively movably mounted on the two adjusting plates.

[0023] Optionally, the feeding station is provided with a feeding area and a receiving area along the first direction. The feeding area is located below the first feeding area and is used to feed the material trays loaded with materials. The receiving area is located below the second feeding area and is used to receive empty material trays.

[0024] The feeding section moves between the feeding area and the first feeding area;

[0025] The feeding device further includes a tray ejection module, which includes a tray ejection section that can reciprocate in a vertical direction. The tray ejection section moves between the second feeding area and the receiving area to transfer the empty tray in the second feeding area to the receiving area.

[0026] Optionally, a transition station is formed between the feeding station and the loading station, and the transition station is provided with a tray removal transition area at the position directly opposite the first loading area;

[0027] The unloading module further includes two-stage unloading drive units that can move vertically; wherein the first-stage unloading drive unit drives and connects to the unloading unit to drive the unloading unit to move between the receiving area and the unloading transition area, and the other-stage unloading drive unit drives and connects to the unloading unit to drive the unloading unit to move between the unloading transition area and the second loading area.

[0028] The present invention also proposes an appearance inspection device, wherein the appearance inspection device is sequentially provided with a feeding station, a loading station, an inspection station and a discharging station, and the appearance inspection device includes:

[0029] The feeding device at least transfers the material on the feeding station to the loading station;

[0030] The transfer module includes at least two sets of material handling components for transferring materials from the loading station to the detection station;

[0031] A detection module, located at the detection station, includes a first detection component for detecting the appearance of the material from a first perspective, and a second detection component for detecting the appearance of the material from a second perspective; and,

[0032] A discharge module, located at the discharge station, includes two sets of discharge components for collecting qualified and defective products respectively and completing the discharge; and,

[0033] The feeding assembly, at least partially, moves between the detection station and the discharge station to transfer the detected material to one of the two sets of discharge assemblies respectively;

[0034] The feeding device is configured as described above.

[0035] The technical solution provided by this invention has at least the following advantages:

[0036] The feeding device provided by this invention includes a feeding module and a pushing module. The feeding section of the feeding module moves between the feeding station and the first feeding area to transfer a material-loaded tray from the feeding station to the first feeding area. The pushing section of the pushing module moves between the first and second feeding areas to transfer a material-loaded tray or an empty tray from the first feeding area to the second feeding area. The feeding and transfer are completed by using the tray as a whole to carry the material, ensuring that the material is always placed in a preset positioning position within the tray, thus eliminating material positioning deviation from the carrying method. The unique direction and path of the feeding and pushing sections ensure that the transfer trajectory of the tray and its contents is error-free, thereby guaranteeing the accuracy of the material's feeding position and posture. Simultaneously, by using the tray as the material carrying medium, the material does not directly contact moving parts during feeding and pushing, avoiding damage to the material during feeding, thereby improving the accuracy of appearance inspection and product yield. The reciprocating motion of both the loading and pushing sections utilizes smooth mechanical transmission, ensuring the stability of the trays and materials during transport. This prevents material collisions and compression damage caused by module movement, thereby improving the accuracy of appearance inspection and product yield. Furthermore, the coordinated operation of the loading and pushing modules enables dual-zone loading, allowing for alternating or simultaneous feeding between the two zones, eliminating waiting gaps associated with single-station feeding. The pushing module can transport both loaded and empty trays, achieving integrated feeding and empty tray recovery, ensuring the continuity of the loading process and improving the overall operational efficiency of the appearance inspection equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0037] 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.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first embodiment of a feeding device provided by the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the feeding device (from another perspective);

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a feeding device provided by the present invention;

[0041] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the feeding device (from another perspective);

[0042] Figure 5This invention provides a schematic diagram of the structure of a feeding module in a feeding device.

[0043] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the feeding module's structure with respect to the feeding area;

[0044] Figure 7 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the feeding module's structure with respect to the feeding area (from another perspective);

[0045] Figure 8 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the feeding module regarding the feeding section and drive;

[0046] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the feeding device and the pushing module provided by the present invention;

[0047] Figure 10 for Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the pusher module (from another perspective);

[0048] Figure 11 for Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the pusher module with respect to the receiving component;

[0049] Figure 12 for Figure 11 An enlarged schematic diagram of part A of the receiving assembly;

[0050] Figure 13 for Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the pusher module with respect to the pusher section;

[0051] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an appearance inspection device provided by the present invention.

[0052] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0053] 1000 Appearance Inspection Equipment; a. Feeding Station; a1. Feeding Area; a2. Receiving Area; b. Loading Station; b1. First Loading Area; b2. Second Loading Area; c. Inspection Station; d. Discharge Station; e. Transition Station; e1. Loading Transition Area; e2. Unloading Transition Area; 100 Loading Device; 1. Loading Module; 11. Loading Section; 12. Primary Drive Section; 13. Secondary Drive Section; 14. Loading Rack; 15. Support Frame; 16. Loading Guide Section; 171. Loading Base Plate; 172. Loading Side Plate; 173. Side Plate Adjustment Drive Section; 1731. Side Plate Adjustment Motor; 1732. Conveyor Belt; 1733. Connector; 2. Pushing Module; 21. Pushing Section; 211. Pushing Rod; 212. Pulley; 22. Pushing Drive Section; 23. Pushing Adjustment Section; 24. 25 Pusher rack; 3 Pusher guide; 3 Receiving module; 31 Receiving assembly; 311 Receiving plate; 32 Receiving rack; 33 Receiving adjustment unit; 331 Adjustment plate; 332 Receiving adjustment drive unit; 4 Unloading module; 41 Unloading unit; 42 Unloading drive unit; 200 Transfer module; 201 Picking assembly; 300 Detection module; 301 First detection assembly; 302 Second detection assembly; 400 Discharge module; 500 Unloading assembly; 600 Material tray.

[0054] 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

[0055] 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 the embodiments. 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.

[0056] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0057] 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 meaning of "and / or" throughout the text includes 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.

[0058] In industrial production, product appearance inspection is a crucial part of quality control. Take flexible boards as an example, such as flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs), flexible display substrates, and flexible films. Appearance defects in flexible boards include scratches, dents, bumps, foreign objects, open / short circuits, edge burrs, and uneven thickness. After production, the appearance of the flexible board must be inspected to determine if any of these defects exist.

[0059] To ensure accurate material positioning, no damage, and continuous feeding during product appearance inspection, this invention improves the feeding device 100 of the appearance inspection equipment 1000. The structure of the feeding device 100 is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0060] Please see Figure 14 , Figures 1 to 4 The appearance inspection equipment 1000 is set with feeding station a, loading station b, inspection station c and unloading station d in sequence. The appearance inspection equipment 1000 includes loading device 100, transfer module 200, inspection module 300, unloading module 400 and unloading component 500.

[0061] The feeding device 100 transfers material from the feeding station a to the feeding station b. The transfer module 200 includes at least two sets of picking components 201 for transferring material from the feeding station b to the inspection station c. The inspection module 300 is located at the inspection station c and includes a first inspection component 301 for inspecting the appearance of the material from a first perspective and a second inspection component 302 for inspecting the appearance of the material from a second perspective. The discharge module 400 is located at the discharge station d and includes two sets of discharge components for collecting qualified products and defective products respectively and completing the discharge. The unloading component 500 at least partially flows between the inspection station c and the discharge station d to transfer the inspected material to one of the two sets of discharge components respectively.

[0062] The material to be inspected is placed at the feeding station a, and the feeding device 100 transfers the material from the feeding station a to the feeding station b. The transfer module 200 transfers the material from the feeding station a to the inspection station c. A first inspection component 301 and a second inspection component 302 are installed at the inspection station c to inspect the appearance of the material. After inspection, the unloading component 500 transfers the qualified material to the unloading component for collecting qualified products and completes the unloading; the unloading component 500 can also transfer the unqualified material to the unloading component for collecting defective products and complete the unloading.

[0063] Through the collaborative operation of multiple workstations and mechanisms, automated material inspection is achieved. Compared with manual inspection, automated inspection is more efficient and accurate, and can meet the needs of mass production.

[0064] At the same time, by utilizing the first and second detection components, multi-view appearance inspection of materials can be achieved, which not only enables comprehensive product inspection but also meets the diverse needs of products and inspection items.

[0065] Furthermore, the unloading component 500 transfers the inspected materials to one of the two discharging components respectively, thereby achieving the sorting and transfer of qualified and defective products. This ensures that qualified products are accurately collected and discharged, further guaranteeing the quality of the output.

[0066] Please see Figures 1 to 4 The loading station b is provided with a first loading area b1 and a second loading area b2 along a first direction, for the two sets of material picking components 201 to pick up materials respectively. The loading device 100 includes a loading module 1 and a pushing module 2. The loading module 1 includes a loading part 11 for carrying the loading tray 600 of the material. The loading part 11 can reciprocate in the vertical direction and can flow between the feeding station a and the first loading area b1 to transfer the loading tray 600 of the material from the feeding station a to the first loading area b1.

[0067] The material pushing module 2 is located at the loading station b and includes a material pushing part 21 that can reciprocate along a first direction. The material pushing part 21 can move between the first loading area b1 and the second loading area b2 to transfer the material tray 600 or the empty material tray 600 loaded in the first loading area b1 to the second loading area b2.

[0068] The feeding unit 11 of the feeding module 1 moves between the feeding station a and the first feeding area b1 to transfer the material-loaded tray 600 from the feeding station a to the first feeding area b1. The pushing unit 21 of the pushing module 2 moves between the first feeding area b1 and the second feeding area b2 to transfer the material-loaded tray 600 or the empty tray 600 in the first feeding area b1 to the second feeding area b2. The feeding and transfer are completed by using the tray 600 as a whole to carry the material. The material is always placed in a preset positioning posture within the tray 600, eliminating material positioning deviation from the carrying method. The uniqueness of the direction and path of the feeding unit 11 and the pushing unit 21 ensures that the transfer trajectory of the tray 600 and the material within it is without deviation, thereby ensuring that the material feeding position and posture are without deviation.

[0069] Meanwhile, by using the material tray 600 as the material-carrying medium, the material will not directly contact the moving parts during the feeding and pushing processes, avoiding damage to the material during feeding and thus improving the accuracy of appearance inspection and product yield. Furthermore, the reciprocating motion of the feeding section 11 and the pushing section 21 are both smooth mechanical transmissions, ensuring that the material tray 600 and the material remain stable during transport, preventing material collisions or compression damage due to module movement, thereby improving the accuracy of appearance inspection and product yield.

[0070] Furthermore, the dual-zone feeding is achieved through the coordinated operation of the feeding module 1 and the pushing module 2. The two feeding zones can alternate or supply materials simultaneously, avoiding the waiting gaps associated with single-station feeding. The pushing module 2 can move both the loaded material tray 600 and the empty material tray 600, realizing integrated operation of feeding a full material tray 600 and recovering an empty material tray 600. This ensures the continuity of the feeding process and improves the overall operating efficiency of the appearance inspection equipment 1000.

[0071] The automated transfer and feeding of the 600 material trays by the mechanical module replaces the manual feeding operation, which not only reduces the cost of manual operation, but also avoids subjective operation errors in the manual feeding process, improves the standardization and automation level of the feeding process, and adapts to the development needs of industrial automated production.

[0072] As mentioned above, the reciprocating motion of the feeding section 11 and the pushing section 21 is a smooth mechanical transmission, and the material tray 600 and the material remain stable during the transfer process.

[0073] To further ensure the stability and accuracy of the feeding process in the feeding section 11, please refer to [the relevant documentation / reference]. Figures 1 to 4 In one embodiment, a transition station e is formed between the feeding station a and the loading station b. The transition station e is provided with a loading transition area e1 at a position directly opposite the first loading area b1. The loading part 11 flows between the feeding station a and the loading transition area e1 in a first state and between the loading transition area e1 and the first loading area b1 in a second state.

[0074] Feeding station a is the replenishment station for the input of materials and the tray 600, while loading station b is the work station for supplying materials to the material handling component 201. Using transition station e as a connecting point, the movement of the loading unit 11 is broken down into a step-by-step flow of feeding → transition → loading, which improves the overall smoothness of the device's operation. The loading transition zone e1 is positioned directly opposite the first loading zone b1, providing a precise intermediate positioning reference for the loading unit 11. After the tray 600 completes attitude calibration and position zeroing through the loading transition zone e1, it is then transferred to the first loading zone b1, further ensuring the positioning accuracy of the tray 600 and its internal materials in the first loading zone b1.

[0075] During the feeding process, the feeding unit 11 moves between the feeding station a and the feeding transition zone e1 in the first state. To meet the replenishment needs of the feeding station a, the feeding unit 11 can adopt a large stroke and highly adaptable operating mode to meet the requirements of batch transfer and coarse positioning of 600 material trays, thereby improving the efficiency of feeding and replenishing.

[0076] The feeding unit 11 moves between the feeding transition zone e1 and the first feeding zone b1 in the second state. To adapt to the requirements of precision feeding, it can switch to a high-precision, short-stroke, and stable-speed operation mode to accurately match the positioning reference of the first feeding zone b1, ensuring that the material tray 600 and the working position of the picking component 201 are completely matched, and avoiding picking deviation.

[0077] Furthermore, the step-by-step flow and dual-state feeding design makes the movement trajectory and range of motion of the feeding unit 11 more in line with actual operation requirements, avoiding large strokes, high frequencies and unnecessary mechanical movements caused by direct flow, reducing wear and impact of transmission components, reducing operating losses of the device and extending the overall service life of the equipment.

[0078] This invention does not impose specific limitations on the method of implementing step-by-step transfer and dual-state feeding.

[0079] In one embodiment, the feeding module 1 is provided with a feeding drive unit. When the feeding unit 11 moves between the feeding station a and the feeding transition zone e1, after receiving the start signal, the single feeding drive unit drives the feeding unit 11 to move vertically from the feeding station a in a mode with a large stroke and adaptable load, until the feeding unit 11 touches the first stroke limit of the feeding transition zone e1, at which point the feeding drive unit stops immediately, completing the coarse positioning and transfer.

[0080] When the loading unit 11 moves between the loading transition zone e1 and the first loading zone b1, the single loading drive unit automatically switches to a short stroke, high precision, and low speed mode, driving the loading unit 11 to continue a short vertical movement from the transition zone until it reaches the secondary stroke limit of the first loading zone b1, at which point the loading drive unit stops, completing the precise positioning and transfer.

[0081] After the feeding unit 11 completes the feeding, the single feeding drive unit unlocks the secondary and primary limit switches in sequence according to the reverse stroke of the first feeding zone b1 → feeding transition zone e1 → feeding station a, and resets according to the speed and stroke mode of the corresponding state to realize the cyclic flow.

[0082] By employing phased pushing with coarse and fine positioning, the cumulative error and inertial offset of long-stroke propulsion are effectively eliminated, improving the final positioning accuracy of the loaded parts. Simultaneously, differentiated motion parameter settings for the two strokes reduce start-up and shutdown shocks and vibrations, minimizing mechanical wear on the drive mechanism and transmission components, and enhancing equipment stability and lifespan. Furthermore, the stroke length and speed of each stroke can be independently adjusted, accommodating the loading requirements of workpieces of various specifications. The transition station (e) can also be used to avoid path obstacles in the production line layout, enhancing adaptability to different operating conditions.

[0083] In one embodiment, please refer to Figures 5 to 8 The feeding module 1 also includes a primary drive unit 12 and a secondary drive unit 13 that can move vertically. The primary drive unit 12 drives and connects to the feeding unit 11 to drive the feeding unit 11 to move between the feeding station a and the feeding transition area e1 in a first state. The secondary drive unit 13 drives and connects to the feeding unit 11 to drive the feeding unit 11 to move between the feeding transition area e1 and the first feeding area b1 in a second state.

[0084] The first-level drive unit 12 is adapted to the first state flow of the feeding station a to the feeding transition zone e1. It can be designed as a drive structure with large load and large stroke to meet the operation requirements of material tray 600 transfer and coarse positioning, ensure the efficiency of feeding and replenishing, and at the same time, it does not need to take high precision into account, reducing the precision control cost of large stroke movements.

[0085] The secondary drive unit 13 is adapted to the second state transition from the feeding transition zone e1 to the first feeding zone b1. It can be designed as a high-precision, short-stroke, and stable-speed drive structure to accurately match the positioning requirements of precision feeding, so that the position error when the material tray 600 is transferred to the first feeding zone b1 is controlled within a very small range. The short-stroke design further improves the response speed and stability of the action.

[0086] The primary and secondary drive units 13 are independent vertical drive components. The two flow actions can be flexibly adjusted according to the work rhythm. For example, when the feeding unit 11 completes the posture calibration in the transition zone, the secondary drive unit 13 can be controlled to make slight adjustments independently without linking the primary drive unit 12, so as to achieve precise fine-tuning and local controllability, and greatly improve the flexibility of the material tray 600 positioning.

[0087] The independent design of the dual drive units provides redundancy in the drive system of the feeding module 1. In continuous operation scenarios in industrial production, if a minor fault occurs in one drive unit, emergency operation can be achieved through small adjustments of the other drive unit. For example, when the accuracy of the secondary drive unit 13 decreases, the positioning deviation can be compensated by slight adjustments of the primary drive unit 12, ensuring the continuity of the core feeding process and improving the fault tolerance of the equipment.

[0088] The present invention does not impose specific limitations on the structure of the primary drive unit 12. The primary drive unit 12 may include a long-stroke cylinder, a linear motor, a servo motor, and a lead screw and nut.

[0089] The present invention does not impose specific limitations on the structure of the secondary drive unit 13. The primary drive unit 12 may include a short-stroke cylinder or an electric push rod.

[0090] Please see Figures 5 to 8 The loading module 1 also includes a loading rack 14 and a support frame 15. The loading rack 14 spans the feeding station a and the first loading area b1 in a vertical direction. The support frame 15 is movably mounted on the loading rack 14 in a vertical direction, and the loading part 11 is movably mounted on the support frame 15 in a vertical direction. The primary drive unit 12 drives and connects to the support frame 15, and the secondary drive unit 13 drives and connects to the loading part 11.

[0091] The primary drive unit 12 and the support frame 15 form a coarse positioning drive unit. The support frame 15 drives the loading unit 11 to perform a large-stroke, high-load vertical movement along the loading rack 14 to complete the coarse positioning and transfer of the material tray 600. The cross-station design of the loading rack 14 provides the support frame 15 with a precise linear motion trajectory, avoiding trajectory deviation during large-stroke movements.

[0092] The secondary drive unit 13 and the loading unit 11 form a precision positioning drive unit. The secondary drive unit 13 directly drives the loading unit 11 to perform small-stroke, high-precision vertical micro-movements on the support frame 15 without having to drive the support frame 15 as a whole, which greatly reduces the load of the fine-tuning action and allows the positioning error of the loading unit 11 to be controlled within a smaller range. At the same time, the support frame 15 provides a stable fine-tuning reference for the loading unit 11.

[0093] The loading rack 14 spans the feeding station a and the first loading area b1 vertically, eliminating the need for an additional horizontal transmission mechanism between the two stations in the entire loading module 1. Cross-station operation can be achieved solely through the vertical extension of the rack, reducing the horizontal space occupied by the device. Furthermore, the double-layered vertical movable structure of the support frame 15 and the loading section 11 integrates the dual drive units and the functional components carried by the material tray 600 within the vertical space of the loading rack 14. This achieves a three-dimensional layout of the functional components, avoiding horizontal structural redundancy, improving the space utilization of the loading module 1, and making the overall structure of the device more compact, thus enhancing the overall integration of the equipment.

[0094] Specifically, the loading module 1 also includes a fixed frame located on the loading rack 14, at the feeding station a. The primary drive unit 12 includes a servo motor, a lead screw nut, and a belt assembly. The servo motor is mounted on the fixed frame. The lead screw nut is vertically oriented and rotatably mounted on the loading rack 14. The nut is sleeved around the lead screw, and a support frame 15 is connected to the nut. The belt assembly is connected to one end of the lead screw on the output shaft of the servo motor.

[0095] The secondary drive unit 13 includes a short-stroke cylinder, the cylinder seat of which is mounted on the support frame 15, and the free end of its piston rod drives and connects to the feeding unit 11.

[0096] It should be noted that the feeding section 11 is configured as a feeding platform or feeding plate, and its upper surface is used to support the feeding tray 600. A limit block or positioning pin for the limiting plate can be installed on it.

[0097] To further improve the stability of the material transfer tray 600 in the feeding section 11, in one embodiment, the feeding module 1 further includes a feeding guide section 16, wherein:

[0098] The feeding guide 16 is located between the feeding frame 14 and the support frame 15 and is arranged in the vertical direction. The feeding guide 16 between the feeding frame 14 and the support frame 15 restricts the support frame 15 to reciprocating linear motion only in the vertical direction, avoiding horizontal deviation and circumferential swaying during the large stroke coarse positioning process, providing a precise vertical reference for the movement of the support frame 15, and ensuring that the coarse positioning trajectory driven by the first-stage drive unit 12 is without deviation.

[0099] The feeding guide 16 is located between the support frame 15 and the feeding part 11 and is arranged in the vertical direction. The feeding guide 16 between the support frame 15 and the feeding part 11 limits the feeding part 11 to only make small-stroke fine-tuning movements in the vertical direction, and prevents it from slight deviations caused by uneven load and impact during fine positioning, so that the fine-tuning movement of the secondary drive unit 13 is executed completely along the preset vertical trajectory.

[0100] It should be noted that the two technical features mentioned above, namely the feeding guide 16 between the feeding rack 14 and the support frame 15, and the feeding guide 16 between the support frame 15 and the feeding part 11, can be either selected or provided simultaneously. Specifically, both technical features are provided simultaneously.

[0101] Specifically, the feeding guide 16 between the feeding frame 14 and the support frame 15 includes a feeding slider and a feeding slide rail. The feeding slide rail is located on the feeding frame 14 and is arranged in the vertical direction. The feeding slider is located on the support frame 15 and is slidably installed on the feeding slide rail.

[0102] The slider-rail is a surface-contact guide structure with a large contact area and dispersed force, effectively bearing the overall heavy load of the support frame 15, the feeding section 11, and the material tray 600, avoiding deformation and jamming of the guide structure under heavy loads. Simultaneously, the feeding rail is arranged along its entire vertical stroke, with a small and uniform clearance between the feeding slider and the feeding rail, providing continuous and gapless guidance for the long-distance vertical movement of the support frame 15, eliminating horizontal offset and circumferential sway during large-stroke movements, and ensuring the accuracy of coarse positioning. Furthermore, the cooperation between the slider and the rail reduces frictional resistance during the movement of the support frame 15, making the power transmission of the first-stage drive section 12 more efficient and improving the smoothness of large-stroke movements.

[0103] Specifically, the feeding guide section 16 between the support frame 15 and the feeding section 11 includes a feeding guide hole and a feeding guide post that are in a guiding fit. One of the feeding guide hole and the feeding guide post is located on the support frame 15, and the other is located on the feeding section 11.

[0104] The feeding guide post is a line-contact guide with a clearance fit between the shaft and hole, ensuring high precision. This allows the fine-tuning action of the secondary drive unit 13 to be executed entirely along the preset axis, guaranteeing the final positioning accuracy of the material tray 600 in the first feeding zone b1. Simultaneously, the feeding guide post has a simple structure, small radial dimension, and no redundant kinematic pairs. The micro-stroke movement of the feeding unit 11 along the guide post has no trajectory redundancy, resulting in a fast response speed. This allows it to adapt to the small-stroke, low-speed fine-tuning commands of the secondary drive unit 13, achieving precise control of the material tray 600's positioning. Furthermore, the rigid fit between the shaft and hole of the feeding guide post can counteract off-center loads, preventing tilting of the feeding unit 11 caused by off-center loads and ensuring the stability of the material tray 600's horizontal posture during fine positioning.

[0105] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The feeding module 1 also includes a feeding base plate 171 located at the feeding station a, and two feeding side plates 172 located on the feeding base plate 171, which together define the feeding area a1 at the feeding station a. The two feeding side plates 172 are arranged side by side along the first direction and can move relative to each other in the first direction to adjust the size of the feeding area.

[0106] The design of the two feeding side plates 172, which move relative to each other along the first direction, allows for flexible adjustment of the spacing according to the size of the material tray 600 or the material in the first direction. This enables the feeding area a1 to accurately match material trays 600 of different specifications and sizes. By simply adjusting the spacing of the side plates, the compatibility of multiple material trays 600 can be achieved, improving the compatibility of the feeding device 100 with different production needs.

[0107] Meanwhile, the bottom plate 171 and the two side plates 172 together form a semi-enclosed feeding area a1, which provides three-dimensional positioning constraints for the tray 600, including bottom support and side limit. The spacing between the side plates can be precisely matched with the size of the tray 600, so that the tray 600 has no horizontal displacement space at the feeding station a. This avoids the tray 600 from shifting, tipping, or tilting at the feeding station a due to factors such as tray 600 placement, vibration, and manual replenishment, ensuring that the tray 600 always maintains a standard horizontal posture and preset position.

[0108] Specifically, the feeding module 1 also includes a side plate adjustment drive unit 173. The side plate adjustment drive unit 173 includes a side plate adjustment motor 1731 and a side plate adjustment transmission assembly disposed on the feeding base plate 171. The side plate adjustment motor 1731 is disposed on the feeding base plate 171. The side plate adjustment transmission assembly includes a drive wheel and a driven wheel disposed on the feeding base plate 171, and a conveyor belt 1732 sleeved around the two. The drive wheel and the driven wheel are arranged along a first direction, and the conveyor belt 1732 has a first conveying section and a second conveying section arranged side by side in a second direction.

[0109] Two connectors 1733 are respectively installed on the first and second conveyor sections, and each connector 1733 is connected to a different feeding side plate 172. When the side plate adjusting motor 1731 drives the drive wheel to rotate, the conveyor belt 1732 circulates. Since the first and second conveyor sections convey in opposite directions, the two connectors 1733 move in opposite directions. In this way, relative movement of the two feeding side plates 172 can be achieved.

[0110] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 9 and Figure 10 The feeding device 100 also includes a receiving section, which spans the first feeding area b1 and the second feeding area b2. In the first feeding area b1, the receiving section receives the material tray 600 from the feeding section 11, and the pushing section 21 is located above the receiving section. The pushing module 2 also includes a pushing drive section 22, which drives the pushing section 21 to move between the first feeding area b1 and the second feeding area b2.

[0111] The receiving section receives the tray 600 from the feeding section 11 in the first feeding area b1, achieving precise load-bearing connection between the feeding module 1 and the pushing module 2. The receiving section spans both the first and second feeding areas, ensuring that the entire process of transferring the tray 600 from the first feeding area b1 to the second feeding area b2 is carried out on a unified bearing surface. This eliminates the problems of tray 600 jamming and offset caused by height differences and coaxiality deviations between different workstations, providing a stable, uninterrupted bearing benchmark for the cross-area transfer of the tray 600. Furthermore, the receiving section ensures a smooth transition of the tray 600 from vertical to horizontal transport, preventing shaking and tipping caused by sudden changes in the bearing surface during workstation switching, thus guaranteeing the stability of the tray 600 and its internal materials.

[0112] Meanwhile, the pushing section 21 is located above the receiving section, forming a layered spatial layout. The pushing section 21 only performs horizontal pushing motion, while the receiving section only supports the material tray 600. The movement directions and working spaces of the two are completely separated, thus avoiding mechanical interference between the pushing motion and the supporting structure. Moreover, the layered layout ensures that the movement trajectory of the pushing section 21 is unobstructed. The pushing drive section 22 can drive the pushing section 21 to perform precise linear pushing along the supporting surface of the receiving section, ensuring the smoothness and continuity of the pushing motion.

[0113] Furthermore, after the feeding module 1 completes the feeding of the tray 600 in the first feeding zone b1, the receiving part immediately receives the tray 600, and the pushing drive unit 22 can simultaneously drive the pushing part 21 to push the tray 600 to the second feeding zone b2, realizing the parallel operation of replenishing the first feeding zone b1 and feeding the second feeding zone b2, ensuring that both feeding zones are always in a material-rich state and shortening the feeding waiting interval of a single feeding zone. The independent drive of the pushing part 21 allows the pushing action to flexibly match the feeding rhythm of the feeding module 1. After the feeding module 1 completes one feeding of the tray 600, the pushing module 2 can immediately complete one cross-zone push, thereby ensuring the continuous and uninterrupted material picking of the appearance inspection equipment 1000 and improving the overall feeding efficiency.

[0114] The present invention does not impose specific limitations on the structure of the feeding drive unit 22. The feeding drive unit 22 may include a feeding motor and a feeding belt assembly. The feeding drive unit 22 may also include a feeding linear motor.

[0115] Specifically, the pusher module 2 further includes a pusher frame 24 and a pusher guide 25. The pusher frame 24 is located at the receiving section and spans the first loading area b1 and the second loading area b2 along the first direction. The pusher section 21 is movably mounted on the pusher frame 24 along the first direction, and the pusher drive section 22 drives and connects to the pusher section 21. The pusher guide 25 is located between the pusher frame 24 and the pusher section 21.

[0116] More specifically, the pusher guide 25 includes a pusher slider and a pusher rail. The pusher rail is located on the pusher frame 24 and is arranged along a first direction. The pusher slider is located on the pusher section 21 and is slidably mounted on the pusher rail.

[0117] Specifically, the pusher module 2 also includes a pusher adjustment part 23 located in the receiving part. The pusher adjustment part 23 can reciprocate in the vertical direction and drive the pusher part 21 to adjust the relative distance between the pusher part 21 and the receiving part in the vertical direction.

[0118] For thick material trays 600 or trays 600 with raised sides, the pusher adjustment part 23 is moved upward to prevent the pusher part 21 from getting stuck or scraping against the side of the tray 600 in the vertical direction. For thin material trays 600 or trays 600 with low sides, the pusher adjustment part 23 is moved downward to ensure that the pusher part 21 and the push contact point of the tray 600 are precisely aligned, ensuring effective transmission of pushing force. Without replacing the pusher part 21 or modifying the structure of the pusher module 2, adaptation to multiple specifications of trays 600 can be achieved simply by adjusting the vertical direction of the pusher adjustment part 23. This forms a full-process tray 600 specification compatibility with the adjustable feeding area a1 of the feeding station a, allowing the entire feeding device 100 to adapt to the appearance inspection feeding requirements of different materials and improving the overall versatility of the equipment.

[0119] More specifically, the pusher module 2 also includes a pusher adjustment frame, which is movably disposed on the pusher frame 24 along a first direction, and a pusher guide 25 is disposed on the pusher adjustment frame and the pusher frame 24. The pusher part 21 is movably disposed on the pusher adjustment frame in a vertical direction, and the pusher adjustment part 23 is disposed on the pusher adjustment frame and drivenly connected to the pusher part 21.

[0120] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 13 The material pushing part 21 includes a material pushing rod 211 and a lever 212. The material pushing rod 211 is arranged along a second direction and can move along a first direction. The lever 212 is provided on the material pushing rod 211 so that it can contact the material tray 600 and push the material tray 600 when the material pushing rod 211 moves.

[0121] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 11 and Figure 12 The feeding device 100 also includes a receiving module 3 located at the feeding station b. The receiving module 3 includes two sets of receiving components 31. The two sets of receiving components 31 are continuously arranged in a first direction and are located in the first feeding area b1 and the second feeding area b2, respectively. The receiving component 31 located in the first feeding area b1 receives the material tray 600 loaded with material from the feeding part 11. The receiving component 31 located in the second feeding area b2 receives the material tray 600 loaded with material or the empty material tray 600 from the pushing part 21.

[0122] Two sets of receiving components 31 are arranged one-to-one with the first and second feeding areas, serving as the bearing reference for the material trays 600 in the corresponding feeding areas. The receiving component 31 of the first feeding area b1 accurately receives the material trays 600 from the feeding part 11, and the receiving component 31 of the second feeding area b2 accurately receives the material trays 600 or empty material trays 600 from the pushing part 21. The material trays 600 are accurately aligned with the material picking components 201 of each feeding area from the receiving end, avoiding the positioning offset of the material trays 600 caused by the cross-area reference deviation.

[0123] The two sets of receiving components 31 are continuously arranged along the first direction to ensure the continuity of the trajectory of the material tray 600 from the first feeding area b1 to the second feeding area b2, and to ensure that the positioning reference of the material tray 600 in the two feeding areas is unified, so as to meet the accuracy requirements of the two sets of picking components 201 picking up materials synchronously or alternately.

[0124] Meanwhile, the receiving component 31 in the first feeding zone b1 only receives the material tray 600 from the feeding section 11 to the first feeding zone b1, and its action is only linked to the vertical feeding action of the feeding module 1. The receiving component 31 in the second feeding zone b2 only receives the material tray 600 from the pushing section 21 to the second feeding zone b2, and its action is only linked to the horizontal pushing action of the pushing module 2. The two receiving components 31 operate independently, avoiding the action interference problem that occurs when adapting to both vertical feeding and horizontal pushing at the same time, and ensuring that the material tray 600 flows smoothly and efficiently from the feeding station a to the dual feeding zones.

[0125] Furthermore, during cross-zone loading, the material tray 600 is prone to warping and deformation due to excessive cantilever length and a single stress point. However, the dual-receiving assembly 31 provides precise, distributed load-bearing for the material tray 600. The receiving assembly 31 in the first loading zone b1 supports the inlet end of the material tray 600, while the receiving assembly 31 in the second loading zone b2 supports the outlet end. The material tray 600 is subjected to uniform stress without localized stress concentration, preventing internal material displacement and compression caused by deformation. When the pushing part 21 pushes the material tray 600 to the second loading zone b2, the front end of the material tray 600 is immediately received by the receiving assembly 31 in the second loading zone b2, eliminating any suspended sections and preventing scraping of the device components caused by the front end of the material tray 600 sagging. At the same time, the material inside the material tray 600 remains in a stable loading state without shaking or bumping, ensuring the integrity of the material's appearance.

[0126] Specifically, please refer to Figures 10 to 12The receiving assembly 31 includes two receiving plates 311 arranged side-by-side at intervals in the second direction, which can move away from or towards each other. The two receiving plates 311 move away from each other so that when the feeding section 11 feeds material, the material tray 600 can pass between the two receiving plates 311 and be positioned above them. When the feeding section 11 is in place, the two receiving plates 311 move towards each other, and when the feeding section 11 moves towards the feeding station a, the material tray 600 falls onto the two receiving plates 311. The receiving plates 311 of the two receiving assemblies 31 are arranged side-by-side and continuously in the first direction.

[0127] When the feeding unit 11 drives the material tray 600 to vertically feed the material into the first feeding area b1, the two receiving plates 311 move away from each other, forming a sufficient clearance space. The material tray 600 can pass smoothly between the two plates and be positioned above the plate body, avoiding mechanical interference from the receiving plates 311 to the vertical feeding of the material tray 600, avoiding scraping and jamming between the material tray 600 and the receiving plates 311 during the feeding process, and ensuring the smoothness of the feeding action.

[0128] After the material is loaded into place by the loading section 11, the two receiving plates 311 immediately come together to form a bearing surface that matches the bottom of the material tray 600. When the material section moves back to the feeding station a, the material tray 600 falls steadily onto the two receiving plates 311 by its own weight, ensuring the positioning accuracy of the material tray 600, without offset or tipping.

[0129] Meanwhile, the two receiving plates 311 are spaced apart along the second direction and provide two-point support. This not only precisely avoids the reinforcing ribs, positioning posts, and other protruding structures at the bottom of the material tray 600, but also ensures precise contact with the flat area at the bottom of the material tray 600, preventing tilting or shaking of the material tray 600 due to interference between the bearing surface and the bottom structure of the material tray 600, thus ensuring that the material tray 600 remains horizontal after receiving the material. Furthermore, it effectively distributes the weight of the material tray 600, avoiding localized stress concentration caused by single-point bearing, preventing deformation of the material tray 600, and ensuring uniform force distribution on the material tray 600 during subsequent material pushing and conveying processes.

[0130] Furthermore, the receiving plates 311 of the first and second feeding zones are seamlessly and continuously arranged along the first direction, forming an integrated continuous bearing surface spanning both feeding zones. When the tray 600 is horizontally transferred from the first feeding zone b1 to the second feeding zone b2, its bottom always maintains continuous contact with the receiving plate 311, without any breaks, height differences, or gaps in the bearing surface. This not only ensures the smoothness of the cross-zone transfer but also keeps the transfer trajectory of the tray 600 along the first direction straight, avoiding skewness of the tray 600 caused by discontinuities in the bearing surface. This ensures that the tray 600 is accurately transferred to the preset position in the second feeding zone b2, improving the positioning accuracy of the cross-zone transfer.

[0131] After the receiving plate 311 in the first feeding zone b1 receives the tray 600, the pushing part 21 can directly push the tray 600 to the second feeding zone b2 along the continuous bearing surface. The receiving plate 311 in the second feeding zone b2 immediately achieves precise bearing. There is no gap between the two sets of receiving components 31, which enhances the flow coordination of the two feeding zones and improves the continuous feeding efficiency. When one feeding zone is performing material picking and empty tray 600 recycling operations, the corresponding receiving plate 311 can operate independently without affecting the receiving and transfer of the tray 600 in the other feeding zone, ensuring the independent operation capability of the two feeding zones and avoiding interference from the operation of a single feeding zone to the overall process.

[0132] The receiving assembly 31 also includes a receiving plate drive unit, which drives two receiving plates 311 to move relative to each other.

[0133] The present invention does not impose specific limitations on the number and structure of the receiving plate driving units. In one embodiment, a set of receiving plate driving units is provided, including a receiving plate 311 motor and a transmission assembly, and the two receiving plates 311 are driven to move relative to each other through the set of receiving plate driving units.

[0134] In another embodiment, the receiving plate drive unit is provided in two sets, including two receiving plate 311 cylinders, for driving the two receiving plates 311 to move respectively.

[0135] Specifically, please refer to Figures 10 to 12 The receiving module 3 also includes a receiving frame 32 and a receiving adjustment section 33. The receiving frame 32 spans a first feeding area b1 and a second feeding area b2 along a first direction. The receiving adjustment section 33 includes two adjustment plates 331 disposed on the receiving frame 32. The two adjustment plates 331 are arranged side by side and spaced apart in a second direction and can move relative to each other. Each adjustment plate 331 spans the first feeding area b1 and the second feeding area b2 along the first direction. The receiving plates 311 of the two sets of receiving components 31 are respectively movably disposed on the two adjustment plates 331.

[0136] Two adjusting plates 331 move relative to each other along the second direction and span the double feeding area along the first direction. The receiving plates 311 of the two sets of receiving components 31 are respectively movably arranged on the adjusting plates 331, so that the receiving width of the double feeding area is uniformly controlled by the relative position of the two adjusting plates 331. The spacing between the receiving plates 311 of the first and second feeding areas can be changed synchronously by the adjusting plates 331 moving closer or further apart, so as to realize the integrated adjustment of the receiving width of the double feeding area.

[0137] The receiving rack 32 spans two feeding zones along the first direction, providing a unified and rigid installation reference for the two adjusting plates 331. The adjusting plates 331 move linearly along the receiving rack 32 in the second direction without offset or shaking. The receiving plates 311 are correspondingly set on the adjusting plates 331 spanning the zones, allowing the two sets of receiving plates 311 to naturally maintain a continuous and coaxial arrangement along the first direction, without the need to separately calibrate the cross-zone connection accuracy of the receiving plates 311.

[0138] The receiving rack 32 provides basic rigid support for the entire receiving module 3. The double adjustment plates 331 are arranged across the area and rigidly connected to the receiving rack 32 to form a middle-layer load-bearing adjustment structure. The receiving plate 311 is correspondingly set on the adjustment plate 331 to form the end-station load-bearing structure. The receiving rack 32, adjustment plate 331, and receiving plate 311 are nested in a three-layer structure with rigid transmission, which improves the overall structural rigidity of the receiving module 3 and can effectively bear the heavy load of a full material tray 600, avoiding the sinking of the receiving plate 311 and the offset of the spacing due to structural deformation.

[0139] The adjusting plate 331 provides a continuous mounting surface across the receiving plate 311, allowing the force on the receiving plate 311 to be evenly transmitted to the receiving frame 32 through the adjusting plate 331. This avoids local deformation of the receiving plate 311 due to single-point force, ensures the horizontal posture of the material tray 600 when receiving, and prevents internal material displacement and compression caused by the tilt of the material tray 600.

[0140] The present invention does not impose specific limitations on the adjustment method of the adjusting plate 331. The two adjusting plates 331 can be manually adjusted before feeding. Alternatively, the two adjusting plates 331 can be adjusted before feeding via the receiving adjustment drive unit 332.

[0141] Understandably, after the materials in the first feeding area b1 and the second feeding area b2 are removed, the empty material tray 600 needs to be emptied to ensure the continuity of subsequent feeding. After the materials on the material tray 600 in the first feeding area b1 are removed, the empty material tray 600 will be transferred to the second feeding area b2 by the pushing module 2.

[0142] To automate the empty material tray 600 operation based on the above structure, please refer to one embodiment. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The feeding station a is provided with a feeding area a1 and a receiving area a2 along the first direction. The feeding area a1 is located below the first feeding area b1 and is used to feed the material tray 600 that is loaded with materials. The receiving area a2 is located below the second feeding area b2 and is used to receive empty material trays 600.

[0143] The feeding section 11 moves between the feeding area a1 and the first feeding area b1. The feeding device 100 also includes a tray removal module 4, which includes a tray removal section 41 that can reciprocate in the vertical direction. The tray removal section 41 moves between the second feeding area b2 and the receiving area a2 to transfer the empty tray 600 of the second feeding area b2 to the receiving area a2.

[0144] Feeding area a1 corresponds to the area below the first feeding area b1 and is dedicated to feeding full material trays 600. Receiving area a2 corresponds to the area below the second feeding area b2 and is dedicated to recycling empty material trays 600. The two areas are independently arranged along the first direction and each has its own dedicated flow path, which isolates the feeding process of full material trays 600 from the recycling process of empty material trays 600, avoiding overlapping motion trajectories, collisions of material trays 600, and interference between the two.

[0145] The loading section 11 is only responsible for transferring the full material tray 600 from the feeding area a1 to the first loading area b1, and the unloading section 41 is only responsible for transferring the empty material tray 600 from the second loading area b2 to the receiving area a2. The two have completely independent working spaces and action paths with no overlap, ensuring the smoothness of the loading and unloading actions of the material tray 600.

[0146] Meanwhile, the unloading unit 41 is an independently driven component, capable of precise reciprocating motion in the vertical direction. Its unloading action is only matched with the material-taking rhythm of the second loading zone b2. Once the second loading zone b2 has finished taking material and formed an empty tray 600, the unloading unit 41 can immediately start to transfer it to the receiving zone a2 without needing to link with the loading module 1 or the pushing module 2, making the action response more flexible. The vertical transfer path of the unloading unit 41 is precisely aligned with the second loading zone b2 and the receiving zone a2. The empty tray 600 falls vertically from the second loading zone b2 and is transferred to the receiving zone a2 without any unnecessary horizontal movement, ensuring the positioning accuracy of the empty tray 600 recovery.

[0147] Furthermore, the full material tray 600 moves vertically upward from the feeding area a1 via the loading section 11 to the first loading area b1, and the empty material tray 600 moves vertically downward from the second loading area b2 via the unloading section 41 to the receiving area a2. Both loading and unloading of the material tray 600 are completed vertically, eliminating the need for an additional horizontal transmission mechanism and reducing the horizontal space occupied by the material tray 600. The feeding area a1 and receiving area a2 are arranged along the first direction at the feeding station a, corresponding vertically to the first and second loading areas, creating a compact layout for the entire material tray 600 circulation system. This design is suitable for industrial scenarios with dense surrounding workstations and limited space, improving the overall space utilization and integration of the equipment.

[0148] This design automates the entire process of material tray 600's flow—from feeding from a full tray 600, to loading, dual-zone feeding, empty tray 600 retrieval, and storage in receiving area a2—through mechanical mechanisms. Only personnel are required at the feeding station a to periodically refill and empty trays 600, reducing manual intervention and avoiding errors and inefficiencies associated with manual operation. Furthermore, the fully automated flow standardizes and regulates the loading and unloading actions of the tray 600, ensuring consistent loading accuracy and flow efficiency for each tray, improving the standardization of the appearance inspection process, and meeting the needs of industrial automated mass production.

[0149] Specifically, a transition station e is formed between the feeding station a and the loading station b. The transition station e has a tray removal transition area e2 located directly opposite the first loading area b1. The tray removal module 4 also includes a two-stage tray removal drive unit 42 that can move vertically. The first-stage tray removal drive unit 42 drives and connects to the tray removal unit 41 to drive the tray removal unit 41 to move between the receiving area a2 and the tray removal transition area e2. The second-stage tray removal drive unit 42 drives and connects to the tray removal unit 41 to drive the tray removal unit 41 to move between the tray removal transition area e2 and the second loading area b2.

[0150] The unloading transition zone e2 is directly opposite the first loading zone b1 and is located at the transition station e between the feeding station a and the loading station b. It breaks down the empty material tray 600 into a step-by-step flow: second loading zone b2 → unloading transition zone e2 → receiving zone a2. This avoids trajectory deviation and stroke errors caused by the unloading unit 41's direct reciprocating motion between high and low positions and different functional stations. Simultaneously, it creates spatial staggering between the unloading action and the loading action of the loading unit 11 at the transition station e, preventing movement interference between the two at the transition station e and ensuring the smoothness of the loading and unloading processes.

[0151] The unloading transition zone e2 provides a standardized intermediate positioning reference for the unloading section 41. After the empty material tray 600 completes position zeroing and attitude calibration in the transition zone, it is then transferred to the receiving area a2. This eliminates the transfer deviation caused by station spacing and installation errors between the second loading area b2 and the receiving area a2, ensuring that the empty material tray 600 falls accurately into the receiving area a2 and preventing the empty material tray 600 from tipping over or shifting when stacked.

[0152] It should be noted that since the unloading action of the unloading section 41 is the same as the loading action of the loading section 11, please refer to [the relevant documentation]. Figure 8 The unloading drive unit 42 and unloading unit 41 can be configured to have the same structure as the loading unit 11 and loading drive unit.

[0153] The vertical step-by-step rotation of the unloading section 41 is consistent with the loading action of the loading section 11. There is no need to develop and design a separate drive and execution structure for the unloading module 4; the structure validated by the loading process is directly adopted, eliminating design redundancy caused by structural differences between the two modules. The identical structure ensures a high degree of uniformity in the motion trajectory and action logic of the loading and unloading modules 4, avoiding action connection deviations caused by structural differences. This guarantees the smoothness of the dual processes of loading the material tray 600 and unloading the empty material tray 600, enhancing the overall operational stability of the device.

[0154] The drive unit, actuator unit, and supporting guide and limit components of the feeding and unloading module 4 are all general-purpose parts, which can be purchased in batches and produced in a standardized manner, reducing the unit price of parts and the manufacturing cost. The identical structure makes the installation process, assembly benchmark, and connection method of the feeding and unloading module 4 completely unified. Assembly personnel do not need to master two different assembly processes, which can achieve standardized assembly, reduce assembly difficulty and human operation error, and improve assembly efficiency and assembly accuracy.

[0155] Furthermore, the identical structure ensures that the loading section 11 and the unloading section 41 have perfectly matched action response speed, running accuracy, and load capacity. While the loading section 11 completes loading of the full pallet 600, the unloading section 41 can unload the empty pallet 600 at the same rhythm, achieving synchronous parallel operation of loading and unloading, thus improving the closed-loop circulation efficiency of the pallet 600. Simultaneously, the positioning accuracy and stroke error of both are completely consistent, ensuring that the full pallet 600 is accurately transferred to the first loading zone b1 and the empty pallet 600 is accurately retrieved to the receiving zone a2. It also ensures that the positioning of the empty pallet 600 in the unloading transition zone e2 and the second loading zone b2 is consistent with the positioning reference of the full pallet 600 in the loading transition zone e1 and the first loading zone b1, improving the consistency of accuracy throughout the entire pallet 600 circulation process.

[0156] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made under the concept of the present invention using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A feeding device for appearance inspection equipment, characterized in that, The appearance inspection equipment is equipped with a feeding station and a loading station located above it. The loading station is arranged with a first loading area and a second loading area along a first direction for two sets of material picking components to pick up materials respectively. The loading device includes: A feeding module includes a feeding section for carrying a tray of loaded materials, the feeding section being reciprocating vertically and flowing between the feeding station and the first feeding area to move the tray of loaded materials from the feeding station to the first feeding area; and, A material pushing module is provided at the loading station and includes a material pushing part that can reciprocate along a first direction. The material pushing part can move between the first loading area and the second loading area to transfer the material tray or empty material tray loaded in the first loading area to the second loading area. A transition station is formed between the feeding station and the loading station. The transition station is provided with a loading transition area at a position directly opposite the first loading area. The loading part flows between the feeding station and the loading transition area in a first state and between the loading transition area and the first loading area in a second state. The feeding module further includes a primary drive unit and a secondary drive unit that can move vertically. The primary drive unit drives and connects to the feeding unit to drive the feeding unit to flow between the feeding station and the feeding transition area in a first state. The secondary drive unit drives and connects to the feeding unit to drive the feeding unit to flow between the feeding transition area and the first feeding area in a second state. The feeding module further includes a feeding rack and a support frame. The feeding rack spans the feeding station and the first feeding area in a vertical direction. The support frame is movably mounted on the feeding rack in a vertical direction. The feeding part is movably mounted on the support frame in a vertical direction. The primary drive unit is connected to the support frame, and the secondary drive unit is connected to the feeding unit. The feeding device further includes a receiving module located at the feeding station. The receiving module includes two sets of receiving components. The two sets of receiving components are continuously arranged in a first direction and are respectively located in the first feeding area and the second feeding area. The receiving component located in the first feeding area receives the material tray loaded with material from the feeding part, and the receiving component located in the second feeding area receives the material tray loaded with material or the empty material tray from the pushing part.

2. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding module further includes a feeding guide, wherein: The feeding guide is located between the feeding frame and the support frame, and is arranged vertically; and / or, The feeding guide is located between the support frame and the feeding part, and is arranged in the vertical direction.

3. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding module also includes a feeding base plate disposed at the feeding station and two feeding side plates disposed on the feeding base plate, which together define the feeding area at the feeding station. The two feeding side plates are arranged side by side along a first direction and can move relative to each other in the first direction to adjust the size of the feeding area.

4. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding device further includes a receiving part, which spans the first feeding area and the second feeding area. In the first feeding area, the receiving part receives the material tray from the feeding part, and the pushing part is located above the receiving part. The material feeding module further includes a material feeding drive unit, which drives the material feeding unit to move between the first feeding area and the second feeding area.

5. The feeding device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pushing module also includes a pushing adjustment part disposed on the receiving part. The pushing adjustment part can reciprocate in the vertical direction and is driven to connect to the pushing part, so as to adjust the relative distance between the pushing part and the receiving part in the vertical direction.

6. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The receiving assembly includes two receiving plates arranged side by side at intervals in a second direction, which can move away from or move closer to each other relative to each other; the two receiving plates move away from each other relative to each other so that when the feeding part is feeding, the material tray can be driven to pass between the two receiving plates and be located above them; when the feeding part is in place, the two receiving plates move closer to each other relative to each other, and when the feeding part moves toward the feeding station, the material tray on it falls onto the two receiving plates; The receiving plates of the two receiving assemblies are arranged side by side and continuously in a first direction.

7. The feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The receiving module further includes a receiving frame and a receiving adjustment part. The receiving frame spans the first feeding area and the second feeding area along a first direction. The receiving adjustment part includes two adjustment plates disposed on the receiving frame. The two adjustment plates are arranged side by side and spaced apart in a second direction and can move relative to each other. Each adjustment plate spans the first feeding area and the second feeding area along the first direction. The receiving plates of the two sets of receiving assemblies are respectively movably mounted on the two adjusting plates.

8. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding station is provided with a feeding area and a receiving area along the first direction. The feeding area is located below the first feeding area and is used to feed the material trays that are loaded with materials. The receiving area is located below the second feeding area and is used to receive empty material trays. The feeding section moves between the feeding area and the first feeding area; The feeding device further includes a tray ejection module, which includes a tray ejection section that can reciprocate in a vertical direction. The tray ejection section moves between the second feeding area and the receiving area to transfer the empty tray in the second feeding area to the receiving area.

9. The feeding device according to claim 8, characterized in that, A transition station is formed between the feeding station and the loading station, and the transition station has a tray removal transition area set up at the position directly opposite the first loading area; The unloading module further includes two-stage unloading drive units that can move vertically; wherein the first-stage unloading drive unit drives and connects to the unloading unit to drive the unloading unit to move between the receiving area and the unloading transition area, and the other-stage unloading drive unit drives and connects to the unloading unit to drive the unloading unit to move between the unloading transition area and the second loading area.

10. An appearance inspection device, characterized in that, The appearance inspection equipment is sequentially equipped with a feeding station, a loading station, an inspection station, and a discharging station. The appearance inspection equipment includes: The feeding device at least transfers the material on the feeding station to the loading station; The transfer module includes at least two sets of material handling components for transferring materials from the loading station to the detection station; A detection module, located at the detection station, includes a first detection component for detecting the appearance of the material from a first perspective, and a second detection component for detecting the appearance of the material from a second perspective; and, A discharge module, located at the discharge station, includes two sets of discharge components for collecting qualified and defective products respectively and completing the discharge; and, The feeding assembly, at least partially, moves between the detection station and the discharge station to transfer the detected material to one of the two sets of discharge assemblies respectively. The feeding device is configured as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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