Sandwiching blanking apparatus
By integrating workstation layout and automated separation equipment, the problems of low separation efficiency, insufficient positioning accuracy and closed-loop material circulation of existing sandwich feeding equipment have been solved, thereby improving production efficiency and yield, and realizing full-process traceability and low-cost model switching.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHANGHAI U-EASTAR ELECTRO-MECHANICAL CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-06-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing sandwich feeding equipment suffers from problems such as low separation efficiency, insufficient positioning accuracy, inability to achieve closed-loop material circulation, excessive manual intervention, and poor versatility, resulting in low production efficiency, low yield, difficulty in quality control, and high cost of model switching.
It adopts an integrated workstation layout, triple material separation process, closed-loop return track and full-process traceability system. Through the coordinated action of the track flow line, lifting positioning and clamping mechanism, handling mechanism, barcode traceability module and control unit, it realizes the automatic separation and return of carrier, product and cover plate. The integrated barcode traceability module is compatible with carriers and trays of different specifications.
It has increased production efficiency by more than 30%, achieved product unloading position accuracy of ±0.05mm, realized automatic return of carrier and cover plate, reduced labor costs, has full-process traceability function, shortened model switching time, low adaptation cost, and high equipment stability.
Smart Images
Figure CN122380033A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of automated production equipment technology, and in particular to a sandwich feeding device. Background Technology
[0002] In the current automated production lines of the precision manufacturing industry, in order to achieve safe transfer and protection of products between multiple processes, a three-in-one sandwich material receiving mode of "carrier + product + cover plate" is generally adopted: the product is placed in the cavity of a special carrier, covered with a protective cover plate, and the three are transported as a whole between processes on the production line. This not only avoids collisions and scratches to the product during the transfer process, but also ensures that the positioning benchmark of the product is consistent between processes, thereby improving production stability.
[0003] However, in the final unloading process, the product needs to be separated from the carrier and cover plate and transferred to a tray for subsequent inspection, packaging, or storage. Simultaneously, the empty carrier and cover plate need to be returned to the upstream process for reuse. Current industry solutions for this process have several pain points. For example, low separation efficiency and high error rates: Existing equipment often uses a step-by-step separation process, where the cover plate is separated at a single station, the product is transferred to another station for separation, and finally the carrier is returned at a third station. This dispersed process results in a large equipment footprint, and multiple transfers can easily cause product position shifts and process connection errors, reducing production efficiency. Insufficient positioning accuracy and low yield: Some simple equipment only uses single-lift positioning, without double positioning and clamping of the incoming carrier and tray. This leads to positional deviations when the product is picked up and placed, especially for precision products. Even small deviations can cause product damage or prevent the tray from properly containing the product, significantly reducing the yield rate. The lack of closed-loop material circulation and excessive manual intervention: Most equipment only implements the product unloading function and lacks a return channel for carriers and covers. Empty carriers and covers need to be manually transported back to the front-end process, which not only increases labor costs but also introduces risks such as human contamination and material loss, failing to meet the closed-loop design requirements of automated production lines. Lack of traceability and difficulty in quality control: Most existing equipment does not integrate a barcode tracking module, making it impossible to bind product and carrier flow information. Once product quality issues arise, it is impossible to trace the production process data, hindering quality control and problem investigation. Poor versatility and insufficient adaptability: Most equipment is customized for specific products and cannot be compatible with different specifications of carriers, products, and trays. When product models are changed, large-scale equipment modifications are required, resulting in high adaptation costs and long cycles. These shortcomings lead to a serious bottleneck in the yield of existing sandwich unloading equipment.
[0004] However, existing technologies urgently need to provide support for automated feeding equipment that can solve the problems of efficient separation, high-precision feeding, and closed-loop material circulation of three-in-one incoming materials through integrated workstation layout, triple material separation process, closed-loop reflux track, and full-process traceability system, so as to improve production efficiency and product yield, reduce manual intervention costs, and have good versatility and scalability. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In view of the technical problems existing in the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide a sandwich unloading device that can realize the integrated separation of carrier, product and cover plate into one material, reduce transfer process, improve production efficiency, ensure high precision of product gripping and placement, improve yield, realize automatic return of empty carrier and empty cover plate, reduce manual intervention, integrate barcode scanning and traceability module to realize information binding and traceability of the entire product production process, has good versatility, can be adapted to carriers, products and trays of different specifications, and reduce model switching costs.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A sandwich feeding device includes a frame body, a guide rail, a lifting, positioning and clamping mechanism, a conveying mechanism, a barcode scanning and traceability module and a control unit; The flow lines include three parallel flow lines: A, B, and C. Flow line A is the material inlet conveyor, flow line B is the product unloading and tray conveyor, and flow line C is the carrier and cover plate return conveyor. The conveying directions of flow lines A, B, and C are parallel to each other, and the conveying directions of flow lines A and C are opposite to the tray outflow direction of flow line B. The lifting, positioning and clamping mechanism includes a lifting and positioning A and a side pressure cylinder and a blocking mechanism disposed on the rail flow line A, and a lifting and positioning B and a side push cylinder disposed on the rail flow line B. The handling mechanism is a multi-axis servo-driven Cartesian coordinate robot, which is set above the streamline and can move in both horizontal and vertical directions. The end effector of the handling mechanism integrates a cover suction cup, a product suction cup and a carrier gripper. The barcode scanning and traceability module is located between track flow line A and track flow line B, and is used to scan the barcode of the carrier entering the equipment to realize the information binding between the product and the carrier. The control unit is electrically connected to the rail flow line, the lifting, positioning and clamping mechanism, the conveying mechanism, and the barcode tracking module, and is used to control the coordinated action of each mechanism to realize the automated operation of the equipment.
[0007] Furthermore, the rail flow line A is used to transport the integrated material assembly of carrier, product, and cover plate. The rail flow line A is provided with a material blocking position, and the blocking mechanism is set at the material blocking position to block and position the material assembly. The lifting and positioning A is set below the blocking mechanism, which can lift the entire material assembly away from the rail flow line A to achieve precise positioning of the material assembly. The side pressure cylinders are set on both sides of the rail flow line A to laterally clamp the lifted material assembly to prevent it from shifting.
[0008] Furthermore, the guide rail B is used to transport the tray, and a tray blocking position is provided on the guide rail B. The blocking mechanism is located at the tray blocking position to block and position the tray. The lifting and positioning B is located below the blocking mechanism and can lift the tray away from the guide rail B. The side-push cylinder is located on one side of the guide rail B and is used to push the lifted tray laterally to achieve dual positioning and clamping of the tray, ensuring the accuracy of product placement.
[0009] Furthermore, the track flow line C is a return track, including a carrier return channel and a cover plate return channel, which are used to transport empty carriers and empty cover plates back to the front-end process, respectively. The track flow line C is equipped with a return blocking mechanism, which can temporarily store and orderly transport the returning carriers and cover plates.
[0010] Furthermore, the horizontal stroke of the conveying mechanism covers the workstation areas of rail lines A, B, and C, while the vertical stroke enables the picking and placing of covers, products, and carriers. The cover suction cup is a vacuum suction cup adapted to the surface shape of the cover, allowing for stable suction of the cover. The product suction cup is a customized vacuum suction cup adapted to the shape of the product, allowing for stable suction of the product without damage. The carrier gripper is a pneumatic gripper adapted to the edge structure of the carrier, allowing for stable gripping of empty carriers.
[0011] Furthermore, the barcode scanning and traceability module includes a barcode scanner and a data acquisition unit. The barcode scanner is directed toward the material receiving stop of the guide flow line A and can scan the QR code or barcode on the carrier after it has been lifted and positioned. The data acquisition unit binds the scanned information with the product information and uploads it to the factory's MES system to achieve full-process traceability of the product.
[0012] Furthermore, the control unit uses a PLC as the main controller and integrates a servo control module, a cylinder control module, a vacuum control module, and a data communication module, which can realize the timing control of the actions of each mechanism, fault alarm, and data interaction; the control unit has built-in parameter configuration programs for various product models, which can be quickly switched through the HMI interface to adapt to different specifications of carriers, products, and trays.
[0013] Furthermore, the main body of the frame adopts an aluminum profile frame structure, and the surface is provided with a sheet metal protective shell. The protective shell is provided with a transparent observation window and a safety door. The safety door is provided with a safety lock to ensure personnel safety during equipment operation. The bottom of the main body of the frame is provided with adjustable feet and casters to facilitate the installation, leveling and movement of the equipment.
[0014] Furthermore, the device is also equipped with a vacuum detection module and a pressure detection module, which are used to detect the vacuum pressure of the cover suction cup and the product suction cup, and the clamping pressure of the side pressure cylinder and the side push cylinder, respectively. When the pressure is abnormal, the control unit triggers an alarm and stops the device from running to prevent the product from falling or being damaged.
[0015] Furthermore, the equipment is also equipped with a buffer station, which can temporarily store incoming components, trays, empty carriers and empty covers. When a short-term failure occurs in the upstream or downstream process, the equipment can maintain normal operation for a certain period of time, improving the stability of the production line.
[0016] Furthermore, the working process of the sandwich feeding device of the present invention is as follows: 1. Material conveying and blocking positioning: The material receiving assembly, which combines the carrier, product and cover plate, enters the flow line A and is blocked at the material blocking position by the blocking mechanism on the flow line A; at the same time, the empty tray enters the flow line B and is blocked at the tray blocking position by the blocking mechanism on the flow line B.
[0017] 2. Scanning and Traceability and Lifting and Clamping: The barcode scanner scans the carrier on the flow line A, binds the carrier information with the product information, and uploads it to the MES system; then, Lifting and Positioning A lifts the incoming material assembly as a whole off the flow line A, and the side pressure cylinder clamps the incoming material assembly laterally; Lifting and Positioning B lifts the tray on the flow line B off the flow line B, and the side push cylinder pushes the tray laterally to achieve dual positioning and clamping.
[0018] 3. Cover plate separation and handling: The handling mechanism moves above the flow line A, the Z-axis descends, and the cover plate suction cup picks up the cover plate of the incoming material assembly; the Z-axis of the handling mechanism rises to separate the cover plate from the carrier; then the handling mechanism moves above the flow line C, the Z-axis descends, and the cover plate is placed on the cover plate return channel of the flow line C, and the cover plate returns to the front-end process along the flow line C.
[0019] 4. Product Separation and Unloading: The conveying mechanism moves again above the flow line A, the Z-axis descends, and the product suction cup picks up the product from the carrier cavity; the conveying mechanism rises along the Z-axis to separate the product from the carrier; then the conveying mechanism moves above the flow line B, the Z-axis descends, and the product is placed in the tray on the flow line B; after the product is placed, the lifting and positioning B descends, and the tray flows out of the equipment along the flow line B to enter the subsequent process.
[0020] 5. Carrier Separation and Return: The carrier grippers of the conveying mechanism grab the empty carrier on the flow line A. Then, the conveying mechanism moves above the flow line C, the Z-axis descends, and the empty carrier is placed on the carrier return channel of the flow line C. The empty carrier returns to the front-end process along the flow line C.
[0021] 6. Cyclic Operation: After the above steps are completed, rail flow lines A, B and C continue to transport materials, and the equipment repeats the above process to achieve automated continuous operation.
[0022] Compared with the prior art, the sandwich feeding device of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: By integrating the separation of incoming materials, product unloading, and carrier return into a single machine, material transfer steps are reduced, errors and malfunctions caused by multiple transfers are avoided, and production efficiency is increased by more than 30% compared to existing step-by-step equipment. This integrated workstation layout significantly improves efficiency. Track flow line A employs a dual positioning method of lifting and side pressure, while track flow line B uses a dual clamping method of lifting and side pushing. This ensures the positional accuracy of the incoming components and trays, and the product unloading position deviation can be controlled within ±0.05mm, significantly improving the product yield. Therefore, it can achieve multiple positioning and clamping, resulting in high unloading accuracy. Track flow line C enables automatic return of empty carriers and empty covers, eliminating the need for manual handling, reducing labor costs, and avoiding the risks of human contamination and material loss, thus achieving a closed-loop material circulation. An integrated barcode traceability module binds and uploads product and carrier flow information to the MES system, enabling full-process traceability from unloading to subsequent processes, facilitating quality control and problem identification. The control unit has built-in parameter configuration programs for various product models. The end effector can be changed according to product specifications, and the track width can be adjusted to adapt to different sized carriers and trays. Model switching time is short, adaptation cost is low, and it boasts strong versatility and wide adaptability. Equipped with vacuum detection, pressure detection, and safety protection devices, it can promptly detect equipment abnormalities and trigger alarms to prevent product damage and safety accidents. The design of the buffer station enhances the equipment's adaptability to failures in upstream and downstream processes, ensuring stable, safe, reliable, and highly stable operation of the production line. Attached Figure Description
[0023] Figure 1 A top view of the overall structure of a sandwich feeding device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the lifting, positioning, and clamping mechanism of a sandwich feeding device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3This is a schematic diagram illustrating the end effector structure of the conveying mechanism of a sandwich feeding device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 To illustrate the timing diagram of the sandwich feeding device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] Figure 5 This is a block diagram illustrating the control unit 15 of a sandwich feeding device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1-Traction line A; 2-Traction line B; 3-Traction line C; 4-Lifting and positioning A; 5-Lifting and positioning B; 6-Side pressure cylinder; 7-Side push cylinder; 8-Blocking mechanism; 9-Transporting mechanism; 10-Cover plate suction cup; 11-Product suction cup; 12-Carrier gripper; 13-Code scanner; 14-Frame body; 15-Control unit; 16-Positioning pin; 17-Product suction cup mounting plate; 18-Cover plate suction cup mounting plate; 19-Carrier; 20-Cover plate; 21-Product (PCB board). Detailed Implementation
[0026] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that this description is exemplary, and the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described.
[0027] Example 1 like Figure 1-4 As shown, this embodiment provides a sandwich material feeding device suitable for the three-in-one material feeding process of 3C electronic products. The main frame 14 of the device is constructed of 40×40mm aluminum profiles, with dimensions of 2000mm×800mm×1500mm. The surface is covered with a sheet metal protective shell, which is equipped with a transparent acrylic observation window and a safety door. The safety door is equipped with a safety lock. The bottom of the frame is equipped with four adjustable feet and two casters for easy installation, leveling, and movement of the device. The device includes three flow lines: parallel flow lines A1, B2, and C3. The lengths of flow lines A1 and C3 are 1500mm, the length of flow line B2 is 2000mm, and the center distance between the three is 250mm. Track A1 is a three-in-one material conveying track for carriers, products, and covers. It uses a double-speed chain conveyor and can accommodate carriers with a width of 150-200mm. Track B2 is a tray conveying track, also using a double-speed chain conveyor and can accommodate trays with a width of 200-250mm. Track C3 is a return track, divided into a carrier return channel and a cover return channel. It uses a belt conveyor and can respectively transport empty carriers 19 and empty covers 20 back to the front-end process.
[0028] The equipment is also equipped with a lifting, positioning, and clamping mechanism, which includes a lifting and positioning A4, a side-pressure cylinder 6, and a blocking mechanism 8 on track A1, and a lifting and positioning B5, a side-push cylinder 7, and a blocking mechanism 8 on track B2. The blocking mechanism 8 uses a cylinder-driven blocking block to flexibly block the material and prevent collisions. Both lifting and positioning A4 and lifting and positioning B5 use cylinder-driven lifting platforms with a lifting stroke of 20mm. Positioning pins 16 are installed on the lifting platforms, which can cooperate with positioning holes on the carrier or tray to achieve precise positioning. The side-pressure cylinder 6 and the side-push cylinder 7 are small pneumatic sliding cylinders with a thrust of 50N and a stroke of 30mm, which can laterally clamp the lifted material to prevent displacement.
[0029] The equipment is also equipped with a handling mechanism 9, which is a three-axis Cartesian coordinate robot with an X-axis travel of 1800mm, a Y-axis travel of 600mm, and a Z-axis travel of 300mm. All are driven by servo motors, and the repeatability is ±0.02mm. The end effector of the handling mechanism 9 integrates a cover suction cup 10 (mounted on the cover suction cup mounting plate 18), a product suction cup 11 (mounted on the product suction cup mounting plate 17), and a carrier gripper 12 (mounted below the actuator and flush with both ends of the carrier 19): the cover suction cup 10 consists of four 8mm diameter vacuum suction cups arranged in a rectangle to fit the surface shape of the cover; the product suction cup 11 consists of six 5mm diameter vacuum suction cups to fit the shape of the product, and the suction cup surface is made of anti-static material to avoid electrostatic damage to the product 21; the carrier gripper 12 is a pneumatic two-finger gripper with anti-slip rubber pads on the inner side of the gripper to stably grasp the edge structure of the carrier 19. In one embodiment of the present invention, the product 21 is a PCB board.
[0030] The equipment also includes a barcode traceability module, which consists of a barcode scanner 13 and a data acquisition unit (not shown). The barcode scanner 13 is an industrial-grade 2D barcode scanner, mounted on a bracket between flow lines A1 and B2, facing the material receiving stop of flow line A1. It has a scanning accuracy of 0.1mm / s and can scan QR codes on the carrier. The data acquisition unit is electrically connected to the barcode scanner 13, binding the scanned information with product information and uploading it to the factory's MES system via Ethernet, enabling full-process product traceability. It should be noted that although the barcode scanner 13 of the traceability module is located between flow lines A1 and B2, in reality, each flow line (A1, B2, C3) will be equipped with a barcode scanner 13. For simplicity, only one barcode scanner 13 is shown in the diagram. The traceability module only needs to be installed at the feeding position.
[0031] like Figure 5As shown, the control unit 15 uses a Siemens S7-1200 series PLC as the main controller, integrating a servo control module, cylinder control module, vacuum control module, and data communication module. It can realize timing control of the actions of each mechanism, fault alarms, and data interaction. The control unit has built-in parameter configuration programs for three product models, which can be quickly switched via the HMI interface to adapt to different specifications of carriers, products, and trays. The equipment is also equipped with a vacuum detection module and a pressure detection module, used to detect the vacuum pressure of the cover suction cup 10 and the product suction cup 11, and the clamping pressure of the side pressure cylinder 6 and the side push cylinder 7, respectively. When the pressure is lower than the set threshold, the control unit 15 triggers an audible and visual alarm and stops the equipment operation to prevent the product from falling or being damaged. Typically, this control unit 15 is installed on the guide rail A1.
[0032] See Figure 4 The timing diagram is shown below, and the equipment workflow is explained in detail. The workflow is as follows: 1. Incoming material conveying and blocking positioning: The incoming material assembly, which combines the carrier, product and cover plate, enters the flow line A1 through the upstream conveyor line. The double-speed chain of the flow line A1 drives the incoming material assembly forward and is blocked at the incoming material blocking position by the blocking mechanism 8 on the flow line A1. At the same time, the empty tray enters the flow line B2 through the upstream conveyor line and is blocked at the tray blocking position by the blocking mechanism 8 on the flow line B2.
[0033] 2. Scanning and Traceability & Lifting and Clamping: The barcode scanner 13 scans the QR code on the carrier on the guide rail A1. The data acquisition unit binds the carrier information with the product information and uploads it to the MES system. Subsequently, the cylinder of lifting and positioning A4 extends to lift the lifting platform, lifting the incoming material assembly as a whole away from the double-speed chain of the guide rail A1. The positioning pin on the lifting platform is inserted into the positioning hole of the carrier to achieve precise positioning. The side pressure cylinder 6 extends to clamp the lifted incoming material assembly laterally to prevent it from shifting. At the same time, the cylinder of lifting and positioning B5 extends to lift the tray away from the double-speed chain of the guide rail B2, and the side push cylinder 7 extends to push the tray laterally, achieving dual positioning and clamping.
[0034] 3. Cover plate separation and handling: The X-axis of the handling mechanism 9 moves above the flow line A1, the Z-axis descends to the set height, the cover plate suction cup 10 opens the vacuum and picks up the cover plate of the incoming component; the Z-axis of the handling mechanism 9 rises and separates the cover plate from the carrier; then the X-axis of the handling mechanism 9 moves above the flow line C3, the Z-axis descends, the cover plate suction cup 10 closes the vacuum and places the cover plate on the cover plate return channel of the flow line C3, and the cover plate returns to the front-end process along the belt conveyor line of the flow line C3.
[0035] 4. Product Separation and Unloading: The X-axis of the conveying mechanism 9 moves again above the flow line A1, and the Z-axis descends to the set height. The product suction cup 11 activates the vacuum to suck up the product from the carrier cavity. The Z-axis of the conveying mechanism 9 rises to separate the product from the carrier. Then, the X-axis of the conveying mechanism 9 moves above the flow line B2, and the Z-axis descends. The product suction cup 11 deactivates the vacuum and places the product in the tray on the flow line B2. After the product is placed, the cylinder of the lifting and positioning B5 retracts, and the tray flows out of the equipment along the double-speed chain of the flow line B2 to enter the subsequent inspection process.
[0036] 5. Carrier separation and return: The carrier grippers 12 of the conveying mechanism 9 open and move to the top of the empty carrier on the flow line A1. The grippers close and grab the empty carrier. Then, the X-axis of the conveying mechanism 9 moves to the top of the flow line C3, the Z-axis descends, the grippers open, and the empty carrier is placed on the carrier return channel of the flow line C3. The empty carrier returns to the front-end process along the belt conveyor line of the flow line C3.
[0037] 6. Cyclic Operation: After the above steps are completed, the material conveyor lines A1, B2 and C3 continue to convey materials. The blocking mechanism 8 releases the next incoming material component and tray. The equipment repeats the above process to achieve automated continuous operation.
[0038] As a preferred implementation, the following actions can also be taken to shorten the CT time: The carrier 19, product 21, and cover plate 20 enter the A rail in a 3-in-1 manner to the blocking position. The barcode scanner scans the streamline carrier. After the barcode is scanned, the side pressure cylinder extends, and the first section of the rail flow line A1 is raised to lift the carrier 19 to contact the side pressure cylinder 6. The tray enters the rail flow line B2 and flows to the blocking position. The A1 rail lifting and positioning mechanism lifts and positions the carrier 19, product 21, and cover plate 20 in a 3-in-1 configuration. The B2 rail lifting and positioning mechanism lifts the tray and clamps it with the side-push cylinder 6, awaiting material release. The Z-axis of the conveying mechanism 9 descends and extends, while the cover plate connecting cylinder drives the cover plate suction cup 10 to settle onto the cover plate surface. The A1 rail lifting and positioning mechanism rises a second distance, separating the cover plate 20. The cover plate suction cup 10 opens a vacuum to adsorb the cover plate, and the cover plate connecting cylinder retracts, completing the cover plate adsorption and detachment. The A1 rail lifting and positioning mechanism rises a third distance, lifting the product onto the carrier surface. The product suction cup opens a vacuum to remove the product from the carrier cavity. The A1 rail lifting and positioning mechanism then falls a short distance. The side pressure cylinder 6 retracts, and the Z-axis of the conveying mechanism 9 rises, with the second-stage gripper clamping the carrier 19. The conveying mechanism 9 then moves the separated cover plate 20, product 21, and carrier 19 to the flow line C3. The Z-axis of the conveying mechanism 9 descends, placing the carrier 19 on the flow line C3 and passing through the flow path. The conveying mechanism 9 continues to move the separated cover plate 20 and product 21 to the flow line B2. The Z-axis of the conveying mechanism 9 descends, placing the product into the product tray and flowing out through the flow line B2. Finally, the conveying mechanism 9 moves the separated cover plate 20 back to the flow line C3. The Z-axis of the conveying mechanism 9 descends, placing the cover plate on the flow line C3 and continuing the reverse flow through the track.
[0039] In this embodiment, the device performance parameters can be set as follows: Parameter items and specific indicators Equipment dimensions: 2000mm × 800mm × 1500mm Compatible with vehicle dimensions of 150-200mm (width) Compatible with tray sizes 200-250mm (width) Repeatability ±0.02mm Material feeding position deviation within ±0.05mm Production efficiency: 15 pieces / minute Compatible product types: 3C electronic products, precision optical components, etc. Control method: PLC + HMI control The traceability function supports data interaction with the MES system. The sandwich cutting equipment of this embodiment, after being applied to the production line of a 3C electronics company, has achieved significant results. Production efficiency has increased by 35% compared to the original step-by-step equipment, with single-shift output increasing from 5,000 pieces to 6,750 pieces. Product cutting position deviation is controlled within ±0.05mm, and the yield rate has increased from 98.5% to 99.8%. Automatic return of carriers and covers has been achieved, reducing two manual handling positions and lowering labor costs. The full-process traceability function enables real-time uploading of product information, shortening the time for investigating quality problems from 4 hours to less than 10 minutes. Model switching time has been shortened from 4 hours to less than 30 minutes, significantly reducing adaptation costs.
[0040] Example 2 This embodiment has a basically the same structure as Embodiment 1, the difference being: 1. The rail conveyor uses a synchronous belt conveyor instead of a double-speed chain conveyor, which is suitable for lighter small vehicles and trays, with lower operating noise and higher conveying accuracy; 2. The end effector of the conveying mechanism has been equipped with a CCD vision positioning module, which can perform visual positioning of the product on the flow line A and the tray on the flow line B, further improving the positional accuracy of product unloading; 3. A cleaning station for carriers and covers is set up on the flow line C. The return carriers and covers are cleaned by ion air guns to remove dust and prevent product contamination. 4. The control unit has been enhanced with remote monitoring capabilities, enabling remote monitoring and fault diagnosis of equipment operating status via the Industrial Internet, thus facilitating equipment maintenance and management.
[0041] The equipment in this embodiment is suitable for the production process of precision optical devices with higher requirements for cleanliness and positioning accuracy, further improving the equipment's versatility and scalability.
[0042] The present invention has been described in detail above with reference to specific embodiments. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the description is exemplary and various modifications and changes can be made. As long as they do not depart from the spirit and purpose of the present invention, all such modifications and changes should fall within the protection scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A sandwich filling feeding device, characterized in that, Includes the main frame, rail flow line, lifting, positioning and clamping mechanism, handling mechanism, barcode scanning and traceability module and control unit; The track flow lines include parallel track flow lines A, B and C, wherein track flow line A is the material conveying track, track flow line B is the product unloading and tray conveying track, and track flow line C is the carrier and cover plate return track. The lifting, positioning and clamping mechanism includes a lifting and positioning A, a side pressure cylinder and a blocking mechanism disposed on the track flow line A, and a lifting and positioning B, a side push cylinder and a blocking mechanism disposed on the track flow line B. The conveying mechanism is located above the track flow line and can move in both horizontal and vertical directions. The end effector of the conveying mechanism integrates a cover suction cup, a product suction cup, and a carrier gripper. The barcode scanning and traceability module is located between track flow line A and track flow line B, and is used to scan the barcodes of the vehicles entering the equipment. The control unit is electrically connected to the rail flow line, the lifting, positioning and clamping mechanism, the conveying mechanism, and the barcode tracking module, and is used to control the coordinated action of each mechanism.
2. The sandwich feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blocking mechanism on the rail flow line A is set at the incoming material blocking position, and the lifting positioning A is set below the blocking mechanism, which can lift the incoming material assembly as a whole away from the rail flow line A; the side pressure cylinder is set on both sides of the rail flow line A, and is used to laterally clamp the lifted incoming material assembly.
3. The sandwich feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blocking mechanism on the track flow line B is set at the tray blocking position, and the lifting positioning B is set below the blocking mechanism, which can lift the tray away from the track flow line B; the side push cylinder is set on one side of the track flow line B, and is used to push the lifted tray sideways.
4. The sandwich feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow line C includes a carrier return channel and a cover plate return channel, which are used to transport empty carriers and empty cover plates back to the front-end process, respectively. A return blocking mechanism is provided on the flow line C.
5. The sandwich feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The handling mechanism is a three-axis Cartesian coordinate robot. The X-axis travel covers the work area of the flow lines A, B and C, and the Z-axis travel can realize the picking and placing of cover plates, products and carriers. The cover plate suction cup and product suction cup are vacuum suction cups, and the carrier gripper is a pneumatic gripper.
6. The sandwich feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The barcode scanning and traceability module includes an industrial two-dimensional barcode scanner and a data acquisition unit. The barcode scanner is directed toward the material receiving block position of the flow line A. The data acquisition unit can bind the barcode scanning information with product information and upload it to the MES system.
7. The sandwich feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit uses a PLC as the main controller and integrates a servo control module, a cylinder control module, a vacuum control module, and a data communication module.
8. The sandwich feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body of the frame adopts an aluminum profile frame structure, and the surface is provided with a sheet metal protective shell. The protective shell is provided with a transparent observation window and a safety door. The bottom of the frame is provided with adjustable feet and casters.
9. The sandwich feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device is also equipped with a vacuum detection module and a pressure detection module, which are used to detect the vacuum pressure of the cover suction cup and the product suction cup, and the clamping pressure of the side pressure cylinder and the side push cylinder, respectively. When the pressure is abnormal, the control unit triggers an alarm and stops the device from running.
10. The sandwich feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The equipment is also equipped with a buffer station, which can temporarily store incoming components, trays, empty carriers, and empty covers.