An automatic deposit limiter and method of use thereof

Abstract

This invention discloses an automatic storage limiter and its usage method, belonging to the technical field of steel pipe storage and processing equipment. It includes an upper mold, a lower mold, a guide rail mounted on the lower mold, a slider mounted on the guide rail, and a driving device for driving the slider to move on the guide rail. The slider has a mounting part for installing and storing steel pipes. The driving device drives the stored steel pipes to a designated position between the upper and lower molds. This invention automatically delivers the stored steel pipes to the designated position between the upper and lower molds by driving the slider on the guide rail with the driving device, achieving automated positioning and storage of steel pipes. It eliminates the need for manual pushing or adjusting of the steel pipes, significantly reducing the labor intensity of operators and saving labor costs. Simultaneously, automated control ensures the consistency and accuracy of the steel pipe's storage position each time, avoiding repeated adjustments or material waste caused by human error, thus improving production efficiency and the continuous operation capability of the equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of steel pipe storage and processing equipment, specifically to an automatic storage limiter and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] In manufacturing processes such as machining, mold forming, and steel pipe bending, it is often necessary to accurately place long strip workpieces such as steel pipes in specific processing positions (such as stamping stations or limiting stations) between the upper and lower dies. Traditionally, steel pipes are manually pushed or moved into the mold area one by one, and the placement of the steel pipes is adjusted by the operator's visual inspection or simple positioning blocks.

[0003] However, the above-mentioned manual operation method has the following technical drawbacks: High labor intensity and low efficiency: Steel pipes usually have a certain length and weight. Especially in mass production, operators need to repeatedly bend over, move and adjust the position of steel pipes, which consumes a lot of physical strength. Moreover, long working hours can easily lead to a decrease in operating speed, affecting overall production efficiency.

[0004] Positioning accuracy is difficult to guarantee: When placing steel pipes manually, it is difficult to guarantee that each steel pipe can be accurately and consistently fed into the designated position between the upper and lower molds.

[0005] Safety hazards exist: When manually feeding materials in the mold area, the operator's hands need to frequently approach or enter the upper and lower mold closing area. If the equipment starts unexpectedly or is operated incorrectly, it is very easy to cause safety accidents such as pinching and crushing injuries.

[0006] Difficulty in achieving automated production lines: As the manufacturing industry moves towards automation and intelligence, traditional manual material feeding methods cannot be effectively connected with upstream and downstream equipment (such as feeders, robotic arms, conveyor lines, etc.), becoming a bottleneck restricting the automation of the entire production process.

[0007] To address the aforementioned issues, some existing technologies employ simple push cylinders or conveyor belts for feeding. However, such devices often lack precise control and positioning of the final position of the steel pipe within the mold, requiring manual adjustment. Alternatively, they may be complex in structure, costly, and unsuitable for rapid switching between different specifications of steel pipes.

[0008] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a device that can automatically, accurately, and safely store steel pipes at a designated position between the upper and lower molds, in order to reduce reliance on manual labor, improve production efficiency, and enhance processing consistency. Summary of the Invention

[0009] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides an automatic storage limiter and its usage method, thereby increasing the processing and storage efficiency of steel pipes and reducing labor costs.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solution: An automatic storage limiter includes an upper mold, a lower mold, a guide rail disposed on the lower mold, a slider disposed on the guide rail, and a driving device for driving the slider to move on the guide rail. The slider is provided with a mounting part for mounting and storing steel pipes, and the driving device is used to drive the stored steel pipes to a designated position between the upper mold and the lower mold.

[0011] Preferably, limit blocks are provided at both ends of the slide rail.

[0012] Preferably, the mounting part includes a mounting groove formed on the slider, and the storage steel pipe is detachably disposed in the mounting groove.

[0013] Preferably, the driving device includes a bracket, a cylinder mounted on the bracket, a connector and a fixing block mounted on the piston rod of the cylinder, the fixing block being connected to the slider.

[0014] Preferably, the cylinder is connected to an air pipeline, and the air pipeline is connected to a machine tool.

[0015] Preferably, the slider has an installation groove for accommodating the fixing block and a limiting channel for accommodating the piston rod of the cylinder, and the connector, fixing block and piston rod are respectively disposed in the installation groove and the limiting channel.

[0016] Preferably, the slide rail includes inverted L-shaped guide plates disposed on both sides of the slider, with at least two L-shaped guide plates disposed on each side and arranged sequentially along the direction of the slide rail. Adjacent L-shaped guide plates on the same side are spaced apart or attached to each other, and the same side of the L-shaped guide plates on different sides are arranged opposite each other. The slider is disposed between the L-shaped guide plates on different sides. The L-shaped guide plates and the surface of the lower mold form a groove for limiting the slider, and the side of the groove contacts the side of the slider.

[0017] Preferably, the L-shaped guide plate is made of copper.

[0018] Preferably, the system further includes sensor brackets disposed on the lower mold and located at the entrance and exit of the slide rail, respectively, and each sensor bracket is provided with a sensor.

[0019] A method of using an automatic storage limiter includes the following steps: Step 1: In the initial state, the upper mold is in the raised state. Start the drive device to push the stored steel pipe along the slide rail into the upper surface of the lower mold and reach the designated position between the upper and lower molds. Step 2: The upper mold moves down and clamps the stored steel pipe between the upper and lower molds; Step 3: When it is necessary to remove the stored steel pipe, the upper mold moves upward, and the driving device drives the stored steel pipe to move backward until it leaves the space between the upper and lower molds, and the stored steel pipe is removed.

[0020] The present invention achieves the following technical effects compared to the prior art: This invention uses a drive device to move a slider on a guide rail and automatically delivers the stored steel pipe to a designated position between the upper and lower molds. This achieves automated positioning and storage of the steel pipe, eliminating the need for manual pushing or adjusting of the pipe's position. This significantly reduces the labor intensity of operators and saves labor costs. At the same time, automated control ensures the consistency and accuracy of the steel pipe's storage position each time, avoiding repeated adjustments or material waste caused by human error, and improving production efficiency and the continuous operation capability of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; The components include: 1. slider; 2. limit block; 3. sensor; 4. sensor bracket; 5. upper mold; 6. storage steel pipe; 7. fixing block; 8. cylinder; 9. bracket; 10. lower mold; 11. connector; and 12. L-shaped guide plate. Detailed Implementation

[0023] 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 some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] This invention provides an automatic storage limiter and its usage method, which aims to increase the processing and storage efficiency of steel pipes and reduce labor costs.

[0025] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0026] refer to Figure 1An automatic storage limiter includes an upper mold 5, a lower mold 10, a guide rail disposed on the lower mold 10, a slider 1 disposed on the guide rail, and a driving device for driving the slider 1 to move on the guide rail. The slider 1 is provided with a mounting part for mounting and storing steel pipes 6. The driving device is used to drive the stored steel pipes 6 to a designated position between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10. Specifically, the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10 are spatially spaced relative to each other, forming a mold space for processing or limiting the steel pipes. The upper mold 5 can move up and down relative to the lower mold 10 to realize mold closing and mold opening actions. The guide rail is fixedly disposed on the upper surface of the lower mold 10 and extends along the feeding direction of the steel pipes. The number of guide rails is one or two parallel ones to ensure sliding stability. The slider 1 is slidably mounted on the guide rail and can reciprocate along the length direction of the guide rail. The upper part of the slider 1 is provided with a mounting part for detachably mounting the steel pipe to be stored. Furthermore, the mounting section features an arc-shaped groove, a V-shaped groove, or a clamping structure with elastic claws to accommodate steel pipes of different diameters and prevent them from rolling or shifting during movement. The drive device is connected to the slider 1 for transmission, driving the slider 1 to perform linear reciprocating motion on the guide rail. The drive device can be selected as a cylinder 8, a hydraulic cylinder, an electric push rod, a lead screw motor, or a linear module. The drive device has a stroke control function, enabling it to precisely push the slider 1 to the preset working position.

[0027] Working Process: In the initial state, slider 1 is located at the end of the guide rail away from the center area of ​​the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10 (i.e., the loading position). The operator or automatic loading mechanism places a steel pipe on the mounting part of slider 1. Subsequently, the drive device starts, pushing slider 1 and the steel pipe together to move along the guide rail into the mold. When slider 1 is pushed to the predetermined end of the stroke by the drive device, the steel pipe is exactly transported to the designated processing position (i.e., the processing position or the limiting position) between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10. At this time, the upper mold 5 can close towards the lower mold 10 to perform bending, stamping, or limiting tests on the steel pipe. After processing is completed, the drive device drives slider 1 and the steel pipe back to the initial loading position so that the processed steel pipe can be taken out or the next steel pipe to be processed can be put in.

[0028] The drive device moves the slider 1 on the guide rail and automatically delivers the stored steel pipe 6 to the designated position between the upper and lower molds 10, realizing the automated positioning and storage of the steel pipe. It eliminates the need for manual pushing or adjusting of the steel pipe position, significantly reducing the labor intensity of operators and saving labor costs. At the same time, the automated control ensures the consistency and accuracy of the steel pipe's storage position each time, avoiding repeated adjustments or material waste caused by human operation errors, and improving production efficiency and the continuous operation capability of the equipment.

[0029] refer to Figure 1Limiting blocks 2 are provided at both ends of the slide rail. The limiting block 2 located at the end of the guide rail near the loading station is defined as the first limiting block 2, and the limiting block 2 located at the end of the guide rail near the designated processing position between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10 is defined as the second limiting block 2. The first limiting block 2 is used to limit the maximum stroke of the slider 1 in the retraction direction, preventing the slider 1 from disengaging from the end of the guide rail when it moves backward under the drive device, thereby ensuring that the slider 1 always operates within the effective stroke range. Preferably, an elastic buffer pad is provided on the side of the first limiting block 2 facing the slider 1 to absorb the impact energy when the slider 1 retracts to its position, reduce collision noise, and reduce wear on parts. The second limiting block 2 is used to limit the maximum stroke of the slider 1 in the forward direction, and its installation position corresponds to the designated processing position between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10 where the steel pipe needs to be transported. When the slider 1 moves forward under the push of the drive device to contact the second limiting block 2, the slider 1 stops moving forward, and at this time, the steel pipe installed on the slider 1 is precisely fed into the predetermined position in the mold closing area. By adjusting the fixed position of the second limiting block 2 on the guide rail (e.g., by fine-tuning through an elongated hole or shim), it can adapt to the needs of steel pipes of different lengths or different processing positions.

[0030] The limit blocks 2 at both ends mechanically limit the slider 1 from the feed direction and the retraction direction, respectively, to ensure that the slider 1 will not exceed the limit positions at both ends of the guide rail in any working cycle, thereby avoiding faults such as slider 1 derailment, overtravel of the drive device or collision damage, and improving the operational reliability and safety of the equipment.

[0031] The second limiting block 2 acts as a hard limit, stopping the slider 1 at the same physical position each time. This eliminates the deviation in the stopping position caused by speed fluctuations, load changes, or control errors of the driving device (such as cylinder 8 or electric push rod), allowing the steel pipe to be accurately fed into the designated processing position between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10 each time, significantly improving the position consistency and processing qualification rate in mass production.

[0032] refer to Figure 1The mounting section includes a mounting groove formed on the slider 1, within which the steel pipe 6 is detachably mounted. This mounting groove extends axially along the steel pipe, and its cross-sectional shape is adapted to the outer circumferential surface of the steel pipe 6 to prevent rolling or lateral displacement during transportation. Furthermore, the steel pipe 6 is detachably mounted within the mounting groove. Specifically, the steel pipe is placed directly in the mounting groove, maintaining stability under its own weight without additional clamping elements; alternatively, positioning steel balls or springs are elastically embedded in the sidewalls of the mounting groove to apply a slight radial clamping force to the placed steel pipe, preventing it from jumping or detaching from the mounting groove due to inertia when the slider 1 moves rapidly. After the steel pipe is transported to the designated position and processed, it can be easily removed from above the mounting groove, or pushed out by the next steel pipe to be processed, enabling rapid replacement. Furthermore, guide chamfers can be provided at both ends of the mounting groove to facilitate the smooth sliding of the steel pipe from the loading end into the mounting groove, reducing the requirements for loading accuracy. Furthermore, the surface of the mounting groove can be hardened or coated with a wear-resistant coating to resist friction and wear generated during repeated insertion and removal of the steel pipe, thus extending the service life of the slider 1. Additionally, one or more ventilation holes are provided at the bottom of the mounting groove for connecting a negative pressure adsorption device. When the steel pipe is placed in the mounting groove, negative pressure temporarily fixes the steel pipe within the groove, preventing it from shifting during high-speed movement or vibration; once the steel pipe reaches the designated position, the negative pressure is released, allowing the steel pipe to detach freely. This solution is particularly suitable for automated storage of thin-walled or lightweight pipes.

[0033] refer to Figure 1The driving device includes a bracket 9, a cylinder 8 mounted on the bracket 9, and a fixing block 7 mounted on the connector 11 of the cylinder 8. The fixing block 7 is connected to the slider 1. Specifically, the bracket 9 is fixedly installed on the side of the lower mold 10 or on the worktable where the lower mold 10 is located, to provide stable support for the cylinder 8. The bracket 9 can adopt an L-shaped plate, a U-shaped seat, or a gantry structure. Its bottom is rigidly connected to the lower mold 10 or the worktable by bolts, and the upper part or side is provided with a mounting surface for the cylinder 8. Preferably, the bracket 9 has an adjustment elongated hole extending along the axial direction of the cylinder 8 to facilitate adjustment of the initial installation position of the cylinder 8, thereby adapting to different stroke requirements or feeding distances of steel pipes of different specifications. The cylinder 8 is fixedly installed on the bracket, and its cylinder body is locked and fixed to the bracket by a mounting seat. The piston rod of the cylinder 8 extends parallel to the guiding direction of the guide rail, facing the side where the slider 1 is located. The cylinder 8 can be a single-acting spring return cylinder 8 or a double-acting cylinder 8. The former is suitable for rapid retraction, while the latter can provide bidirectional active driving force for forward and backward movement. Preferably, a one-way throttle valve is installed on the inlet and outlet ports of cylinder 8 to regulate the extension and retraction speed of the piston rod, ensuring smooth movement of slider 1 and preventing the steel pipe from jumping or impacting the limit block 2 due to excessive speed. Furthermore, the fixed block 7 and slider 1 are connected by a reversible connection. Specifically, one or more of the following solutions can be adopted: The fixing block 7 is rigidly connected to the side or rear end face of the slider 1 directly by bolts; A T-shaped groove or snap-fit ​​structure is provided on the fixing block 7 to form a plug-in fit with the corresponding protrusion on the slider 1, which facilitates quick assembly and disassembly. The floating joint is used to compensate for the coaxiality error between the piston rod of cylinder 8 and the sliding guide rail of slider 1, and to prevent the piston rod from being subjected to radial force due to installation deviation, which could wear the seal or cause jamming.

[0034] Furthermore, a buffer pad or rubber washer can be provided at the connection position between the fixed block 7 and the slider 1 to absorb the minor impact that the piston rod may generate at the end of its stroke, reduce noise, and reduce the periodic impact load on the slider 1 and the guide rail.

[0035] refer to Figure 1 The lower part of the cylinder 8, which is away from the connector 11, is also set on the lower mold 10.

[0036] refer to Figure 1The slider 1 has an installation groove for accommodating the fixing block 7 and a limiting channel for accommodating the piston rod of the cylinder 8. The connecting block fixing head and the piston rod are respectively located in the installation groove and the limiting channel. Specifically, when the cylinder 8 works, the piston rod extends forward, driving the connecting head fixing block 7 to move forward. Since the fixing block 7 is confined within the installation groove of the slider 1, the movement of the fixing block 7 directly pushes the slider 1 forward along the guide rail, thereby sending the steel pipe in the installation groove to the designated position. Conversely, when the piston rod retracts, the fixing block 7 pulls the slider 1 backward to the initial loading position within the installation groove. The cooperation between the installation groove and the fixing block 7 allows the thrust and pull of the cylinder 8 to act directly and efficiently on the slider 1, without the risk of relative slippage or disengagement. Compared with the rigid connection through bolts, this embedded cooperation ensures transmission reliability while avoiding the loosening problem that may occur in threaded connections under long-term reciprocating vibration.

[0037] refer to Figure 1 The slide rail includes inverted L-shaped guide plates 12 disposed on both sides of the slider 1. At least two L-shaped guide plates 12 are disposed on each side and arranged sequentially along the direction of the slide rail. Adjacent L-shaped guide plates 12 on the same side are spaced apart or fitted together. The same side of the L-shaped guide plates 12 on different sides are arranged opposite each other. The slider 1 is disposed between the L-shaped guide plates 12 on different sides. The L-shaped guide plates 12 and the surface of the lower mold 10 form a groove for limiting the slider 1. The side of the groove does not contact the side of the slider 1. The slide rail includes L-shaped guide plates 12 disposed on both sides of the slider 1. At least two L-shaped guide plates 12 are disposed on each side, and multiple L-shaped guide plates 12 on the same side are arranged sequentially along the direction of the slide rail (i.e., the sliding direction of the slider 1). Adjacent L-shaped guide plates 12 on the same side can be spaced apart (i.e., with a gap) or fitted together (i.e., closely adjacent). The two arrangements can be flexibly selected according to the load size and installation space. The L-shaped guide plates 12 on different sides are arranged in pairs, that is, the left L-shaped guide plate 12 and the right L-shaped guide plate 12 are arranged opposite each other in a cross section perpendicular to the sliding direction, and the same side (e.g., the front edge or the rear edge) is kept aligned to ensure that the slider 1 is subjected to uniform force on both sides during movement. At the same time, the side of the slider 1 and the side of the L-shaped guide plate 12 do not contact each other, that is, a small gap (e.g., 0.5mm to 2mm) is reserved. This means that the side of the L-shaped guide plate 12 only serves as an anti-disengagement limiting structure rather than a sliding guide surface, and the slider 1 is not subject to forced guiding constraint from the side in the horizontal direction.

[0038] Furthermore, the surface of the slider 1 that contacts the bottom edge of the L-shaped guide plate 12 can be fitted with a wear-resistant plate (such as a copper alloy plate or a polymer wear-resistant sheet), or coated with a self-lubricating coating (such as molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene) to reduce the coefficient of sliding friction.

[0039] Furthermore, the L-shaped guide plate 12 is detachably mounted on the lower mold 10.

[0040] Furthermore, the L-shaped guide plate 12 is made of copper. Utilizing the characteristics of copper, such as low friction, self-lubrication, corrosion resistance, good thermal conductivity, and lower hardness than steel, it protects the slider 1, extends the equipment life, and reduces maintenance costs while ensuring smooth sliding and precise positioning of the slider 1.

[0041] refer to Figure 1 The system also includes sensor brackets 4 mounted on the lower mold 10, located at the entrance and exit of the slide rail, respectively. Each sensor bracket 4 is equipped with a sensor 3. Specifically, the entrance sensor bracket 4 is located at the end of the slide rail near the loading station, i.e., the end where the slider 1 is initially positioned. This bracket is used to mount the sensor 3 that detects whether the slider 1 has returned to its initial loading position. The exit sensor bracket 4 is located at the end of the slide rail near the designated processing position between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10, i.e., the end where the slider 1's stroke ends. This bracket is used to mount the sensor that detects whether the slider 1 has delivered the steel pipe to the designated position inside the mold. The two sensor brackets 4 are spaced a certain distance apart along the slide rail, the distance corresponding to the effective stroke length of the slider 1.

[0042] Furthermore, the sensor bracket 4 can be an L-shaped plate, a Z-shaped plate, or a right-angled bent plate with an elongated hole, fixed to the lower mold 10 by bolts or screws. The bracket has adjustment holes extending vertically and horizontally to facilitate fine-tuning of the sensor's three-dimensional position after installation, ensuring accurate alignment of the sensor with the sensing trigger point (such as a sensing boss, magnetic ring, or reflective patch) on the slider 1. The sensor is mounted on the sensor bracket 4 with its sensing head facing the slide rail to detect whether the slider 1 has reached that position.

[0043] Furthermore, the sensor can be selected from one or more of the following types according to actual control requirements: Proximity switch (inductive or capacitive): When slider 1 (metal material) approaches the sensing surface of the sensor, the switch outputs an electrical signal. Suitable for non-contact detection, with fast response and long life. Photoelectric sensor (through-beam or reflective): The position of slider 1 is determined by the continuity of the light path, suitable for applications requiring high detection accuracy or long-distance detection. Mechanical limit switch: The signal is output after slider 1 touches the switch contact; low cost, strong anti-interference ability, suitable for environments with high vibration. Magnetic switch: Used in conjunction with the magnet mounted on slider 1, it enables non-contact detection, especially suitable for working in dusty or oily environments.

[0044] Furthermore, the sensors at the entrance and exit are of the same type to simplify the signal processing logic of the control system.

[0045] Furthermore, the signal output terminals of the two sensors are respectively connected to the equipment's control system (such as a PLC, microcontroller, or relay control circuit). Based on the received sensor signals, the control system executes the following linkage control logic: Inlet sensor signal: When slider 1 returns to the inlet and the sensor is triggered, the control system confirms that slider 1 has returned to the initial loading position, and at this time the next loading operation is allowed (such as issuing a loading prompt signal or automatically starting the loading device).

[0046] Exit sensor signal: When slider 1 moves to the exit and the sensor is triggered, the control system confirms that the steel pipe has been accurately delivered to the designated processing position between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10, and then issues a command to allow mold closing, and starts the upper mold 5 to perform bending, stamping or limiting processing operations.

[0047] Interlock protection: If the control system does not receive the position signal from the sensor at the exit, the upper mold 5 will be prohibited from closing to prevent the mold from being under pressure or damaged due to the steel pipe not being in place; if the sensor at the entrance does not detect the slide 1 retracting within a predetermined time, the system will alarm and suspend the next work cycle.

[0048] The two sensors correspond to the initial loading position and the final processing position of slider 1, respectively, and can accurately determine whether slider 1 has reached the predetermined position. Compared with the method of relying on time control or air pressure detection, the sensors directly detect the physical position, avoiding position deviation caused by air pressure fluctuations, load changes or cylinder 8 wear, and improving the reliability and accuracy of detection (within ±0.5mm).

[0049] A method of using an automatic storage limiter includes the following steps: I. Preparations and Initial State Equipment inspection: The operator confirms that all parts of the equipment are securely installed, the air source for cylinder 8 is connected, the control system is powered on, and the sensor signals are normal.

[0050] Initial position confirmation: The control system detects whether slider 1 is located at the slide rail inlet (i.e., the initial loading position) through the inlet sensor. If the inlet sensor is not triggered, the control system controls the piston rod of cylinder 8 to retract, driving slider 1 to retreat to the inlet until the sensor is triggered.

[0051] Steel pipe placement: The operator or automatic feeding device places a steel pipe to be processed into the mounting groove on the upper surface of slider 1. The V-shaped or U-shaped structure of the mounting groove enables the steel pipe to automatically center and remain stable, and the steel pipe and the mounting groove have a detachable contact fit.

[0052] II. Automatic Steel Pipe Feeding Process Start command: The automatic feeding program is started when the operator presses the start button or the control system receives the "steel pipe in place" signal from the feeding device.

[0053] Slider 1 forward drive: The control system supplies air to the intake pipe of cylinder 8, and the piston rod of cylinder 8 extends out of the cylinder body. The piston rod drives the connecting head fixing block 7 at its end to move forward. Since the fixing block 7 is embedded in the mounting groove of slider 1 and the piston rod passes through the limiting channel on slider 1, the fixing block 7 pushes slider 1 forward along the guide rail direction.

[0054] Sliding Guide and Support: Slider 1 slides on the bottom edges of the L-shaped copper guide plates on both sides. The low coefficient of friction between the copper material and the steel slider 1 ensures smooth movement. A non-contact gap is maintained between the side of slider 1 and the side of the L-shaped guide plate 12, only making contact when subjected to lateral external force or significant vibration, thus preventing detachment. The gap between adjacent L-shaped guide plates 12 on the same side helps to remove any chips or dust that may be present.

[0055] Stroke limit: When slider 1 advances to the exit of the guide rail, the front end or side of slider 1 contacts the second limit block 2 (hard limit) set at the exit end of the guide rail, and slider 1 stops advancing. At this time, the steel pipe installed in the mounting groove of slider 1 is precisely fed into the designated processing position between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 10.

[0056] Position confirmation: The sensor at the exit detects that slider 1 has reached the end position and sends a "steel pipe in position" signal to the control system.

[0057] III. Processing and Mold Closure Mold Closing Permission: After receiving the positioning signal from the sensor at the exit, the control system confirms that the steel pipe is accurately in place and then issues a mold closing permission command to the upper mold 5 drive mechanism.

[0058] Upper die 5 movement: Upper die 5 moves downward and closes with lower die 10, performing preset processing operations (such as bending, stamping, limit testing, etc.) on the steel pipe located between them. During this process, slider 1 and drive device remain stationary, and the steel pipe is securely restrained between upper and lower dies 10.

[0059] Processing complete: After the upper mold 5 completes processing, it retracts upward to the mold opening position. After the control system receives the signal that the upper mold 5 has reached the position, it prepares to perform the material unloading operation.

[0060] IV. Slider 1 Retraction and Material Retrieval Process Retraction Drive: The control system switches the inlet and outlet air directions of cylinder 8, and the piston rod of cylinder 8 begins to retract. The piston rod pulls the slider 1 backward along the guide rail towards the inlet via the connector fixing block 7.

[0061] Retraction Guide: Slider 1 slides again on the L-shaped copper guide plate. The limiting channel and mounting groove ensure smooth transmission between the piston rod and slider 1. During the retraction of slider 1, the machined steel pipe installed in the mounting groove moves backward along with it.

[0062] Retraction limit: When slider 1 retracts to the entrance of the guide rail, the rear end or side of slider 1 contacts the first limit block 2 (hard limit) located at the entrance of the guide rail, and slider 1 stops retracting. The elastic buffer pad on the first limit block 2 absorbs impact energy, reduces noise and protects components.

[0063] Return confirmation: The sensor at the entrance detects that slider 1 has returned to the initial loading position and sends a "slider 1 has returned" signal to the control system.

[0064] Finished product removal: The operator or automatic material handling device removes the processed steel pipe from the mounting slot of slider 1. Since the mounting slot is an open structure and the steel pipe is placed only by its own weight, the material handling operation requires no tools and is extremely convenient.

[0065] V. Circular and Continuous Production Next cycle preparation: After the control system confirms that the sensor at the entrance has been triggered and the material picking action has been completed (which can be determined by auxiliary sensors or time delay), it automatically enters the standby state for the next working cycle.

[0066] New steel pipe loading: The operator or automatic loading device puts the next steel pipe to be processed into the installation slot, and repeats steps one to four above.

[0067] Continuous operation: In batch production, the above process is executed automatically in a loop. The control system can count the number of processes processed, the cycle time, and monitor whether the timing of the sensor signals is normal. If an abnormality occurs (such as the sensor at the exit failing to trigger within a specified time, or the sensor at the entrance failing to return in time), the system will automatically alarm and suspend operation, awaiting manual intervention.

[0068] It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An automatic storage limiter, characterized in that, It includes an upper mold, a lower mold, a guide rail disposed on the lower mold, a slider disposed on the guide rail, and a driving device for driving the slider to move on the guide rail. The slider is provided with a mounting part for storing steel pipes, and the driving device is used to drive the stored steel pipes to a designated position between the upper mold and the lower mold.

2. The automatic storage limiter according to claim 1, characterized in that, Limit blocks are provided at both ends of the slide rail.

3. The automatic storage limiter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting section includes a mounting groove formed on the slider, and the storage steel pipe is detachably disposed in the mounting groove.

4. The automatic storage limiter according to claim 3, characterized in that, The driving device includes a bracket, a cylinder mounted on the bracket, a connector mounted on the piston rod of the cylinder, and a fixing block mounted on the connector. The connector is connected to the piston rod of the cylinder, and the fixing block is connected to the slider.

5. The automatic storage limiter according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cylinder is connected to the air pipeline, and the air pipeline is connected to the machine tool.

6. The automatic storage limiter according to claim 4, characterized in that, The slider has an installation groove for accommodating the fixing block and a limiting channel for accommodating the piston rod of the cylinder. The connector, the fixing block, and the piston rod are respectively disposed in the installation groove and the limiting channel.

7. The automatic storage limiter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slide rail includes inverted L-shaped guide plates disposed on both sides of the slider. At least two L-shaped guide plates are disposed on each side and arranged sequentially along the direction of the slide rail. Adjacent L-shaped guide plates on the same side are spaced apart or attached to each other. The same side of the L-shaped guide plates on different sides are arranged opposite each other. The slider is disposed between the L-shaped guide plates on different sides. The L-shaped guide plates and the surface of the lower mold form a groove for limiting the slider. The side of the groove contacts the side of the slider.

8. The automatic storage limiter according to claim 7, characterized in that, The L-shaped guide plate is made of copper.

9. The automatic storage limiter according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes sensor brackets disposed on the lower mold and located at the entrance and exit of the slide rail, respectively, and each sensor bracket is provided with a sensor.

10. A method of using an automatic storage limiter, characterized in that, The automatic storage limiter according to any one of claims 1 to 9 includes the following steps: Step 1: In the initial state, the upper mold is in the raised state. Start the drive device to push the stored steel pipe along the slide rail into the upper surface of the lower mold and reach the designated position between the upper and lower molds. Step 2: The upper mold moves down and clamps the stored steel pipe between the upper and lower molds; Step 3: When it is necessary to remove the stored steel pipe, the upper mold moves upward, and the driving device drives the stored steel pipe to move backward until it leaves the space between the upper and lower molds, and the stored steel pipe is removed.

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