A detector electrode needle automatic assembly device and method

Abstract

The application provides a detector electrode needle automatic assembly device and method, which comprises a rack, a rotating disc mechanism, a profiling base, a bare needle mounting mechanism, a positioning sleeve assembly mechanism, a positioning clamping mechanism, a blank storage mechanism and a vibrating feeding mechanism; the rotating disc mechanism is installed on the rack, four profiling bases are arranged on the rotating disc mechanism, the bare needle mounting mechanism, the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism, the clamping mechanism and the blank storage mechanism are uniformly distributed along the outer periphery of the rotating disc mechanism and correspond to the four profiling bases respectively; the vibrating feeding mechanism respectively feeds the bare needle and the positioning sleeve to the bare needle mounting mechanism and the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism through feeding tracks; the bare needle mounting mechanism is used for inserting the bare needle into the profiling base and positioning; the positioning sleeve assembly mechanism is used for assembling the positioning sleeve to the bare needle at a specified axial position; the positioning clamping mechanism is used for deforming the positioning sleeve and fixing the bare needle; and the blank storage mechanism is used for clamping the assembled positioning needle away from the rotating disc mechanism and storing. The application can improve the assembly efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of precision manufacturing technology for high-end gas chromatograph detectors, specifically to an automatic assembly device and method for detector electrode needles. Background Technology

[0002] The electrode needle of a PDHID detector (pulse discharge helium ionization detector) typically consists of a bare needle and a positioning sleeve fitted at a specific location, such as... Figure 1 As shown, during assembly, a miniature positioning sleeve needs to be precisely fitted onto the bare needle and then secured by micro-deformation. Currently, this process is mostly completed manually with the aid of auxiliary mechanisms, resulting in low efficiency, poor product consistency, and high operator skill requirements. Although some automated equipment has attempted to solve this problem, traditional gripping and placement methods have low success rates and complex mechanisms for miniature, easily tumbling, and difficult-to-precisely-position parts like the positioning sleeve. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an automated device that can efficiently and reliably complete this type of precision assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides an automatic assembly device and method for detector electrode needles, which can improve assembly efficiency.

[0004] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows: An automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles includes a frame, a turntable mechanism, a contour base, a bare needle mounting mechanism, a positioning and assembly mechanism, a positioning and clamping mechanism, a material unloading and storage mechanism, and a vibration feeding mechanism. The turntable mechanism is mounted on the frame. The turntable mechanism is equipped with four contour bases. The bare needle mounting mechanism, the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism, the clamping mechanism, and the material feeding and storage mechanism are evenly distributed along the outer circumference of the turntable mechanism and correspond to the four contour bases respectively. The vibratory feeding mechanism conveys the bare needles and positioning sleeves to the bare needle mounting mechanism and the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism respectively through the feeding track. The bare needle mounting mechanism is used to insert the bare needle into the contour base and position it; the positioning sleeve fitting mechanism is used to fit the positioning sleeve to the set axial position of the bare needle; the positioning clamping mechanism is used to deform the positioning sleeve and fix it to the bare needle; the unloading and storage mechanism is used to clamp the assembled positioning needle away from the turntable mechanism and place it for storage.

[0005] Furthermore, both the bare needle mounting mechanism and the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism include a base, a lifting cylinder, and a feeding pipe connected to the turntable mechanism; The feeding pipe is connected to the base via a lifting cylinder and is arranged vertically. The lower end of the feeding pipe is trumpet-shaped, forming a discharge port adjacent to the turntable mechanism. The upper end of the feeding pipe is connected to the feeding track to form a feed port. The section of the feeding pipe near the discharge port is a flexible section. The base is equipped with a gripper for selectively opening and closing the feeding pipe.

[0006] Furthermore, the feeding track connected to the bare needle mounting mechanism is composed of a thick steel pipe section, a thick flexible tube section, and a thin flexible tube section.

[0007] Furthermore, the upper surface of the contour base is provided with a hole for placing an electrode needle in the middle. The hole includes an inverted frustum section and a cylindrical section. The cylindrical section has the same shape as the tail of the electrode needle. The bottom of the contour base is provided with a lifting stud for adjusting the distance the electrode needle extends into the hole.

[0008] Furthermore, the positioning and clamping mechanism includes a locking driver, a lifting block, a compaction block, and a positioning column; The locking driver is used to drive the lifting block to move vertically. The compaction block is fixed on the lifting block. The compaction block has a protruding pressure groove in the middle of its bottom surface, which is used to fit onto the positioning sleeve to make it plastically deform and fasten to the bare needle. Several positioning posts are evenly distributed on the outside of the pressure groove, which are used to cooperate with the positioning groove provided on the contour base.

[0009] Furthermore, the unloading and storage mechanism includes a six-axis robotic arm, grippers, and a finished product collection box; The six-axis robot arm moves the gripper to above the assembled electrode needle, and the gripper is used to place the electrode needle into the finished product collection box set behind it.

[0010] The present invention also provides an automatic assembly method for detector electrode needles, using the above-mentioned automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles, wherein the automatic assembly method comprises the following steps: S1. Any copying base without a part is rotated by the turntable mechanism to be directly below the bare needle mounting mechanism. The bare needle mounting mechanism outputs the bare needle part and inserts it into the hole of the copying base. S2. The contour base on which the vertical bare needle part is placed continues to rotate with the turntable mechanism to the position sleeve assembly mechanism. The lifting cylinder drives the feeding tube to descend and put the positioning sleeve on the bare needle part. S3. The contour base with the electrode needle positioning sleeve placed on it continues to rotate with the turntable mechanism to the position clamping mechanism. The lifting block drives the compaction block to press into the electrode needle positioning sleeve part, causing the positioning sleeve to undergo plastic deformation and be firmly connected to the bare needle, thus completing the assembly of the electrode needle. S4. Place the contour base with the assembled electrode needles, and as the turntable mechanism continues to rotate, move it directly below the unloading and storage mechanism to clamp the electrode needles away from the turntable mechanism and place them for storage.

[0011] Furthermore, in S2, the feeding tube descends, the lower end of the feeding tube is fitted onto the upper end of the bare needle, the gripper opens, and the positioning sleeve falls from inside the feeding tube under the action of gravity, sliding down along the bare needle until it stops at the set axial position and abuts against the upper surface of the contour base.

[0012] Beneficial effects: 1. This invention uses a four-station turntable assembly setup, where four electrode needles are processed simultaneously on the turntable at the same working time, significantly improving assembly efficiency. The turntable drives the contour base to move to each station. This "moving tube, stationary needle" design cleverly utilizes the bare needle itself as a guide, turning passive into active, and greatly improving the success rate and accuracy of installing the miniature positioning sleeve.

[0013] 2. The positioning and clamping mechanism of the present invention drives the compaction block to move downward through the locking driver, and applies a controllable clamping force to the head of the positioning sleeve to perform physical clamping, causing it to produce slight plastic deformation, thereby fastening it to the bare needle. The pressing process is stable and reliable.

[0014] 3. The present invention, through the setting of the contour base, has holes with the same shape as the tail of the electrode needle, which can ensure the driving and fixing during the installation process; secondly, the requirement for the specified axial position of the electrode needle positioning sleeve is achieved by positioning and adjusting through the lifting stud at the bottom, which is simple and easy to implement. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the assembled electrode needle structure.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Side view.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a bare needle mounting mechanism.

[0019] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the positioning assembly mechanism.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning and clamping mechanism.

[0021] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning and clamping mechanism from another perspective.

[0022] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the contour base structure.

[0023] Among them, 01-machine base, 03-bare needle assembly position, 04-positioning kit positioning, 05-locking station, 06-unloading position, 21-four-station indexing plate, 22-cam divider, 23-contouring base, 32-feeding tube I, 42-feeding tube II, 44-flare mouth, 46-lifting cylinder, 51-locking driver, 52-lifting block, 53-compacting block, 61-six-axis robot, 62-gripper, 63-finished product collection box. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0025] The present invention provides an automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles, including a frame, a turntable mechanism, a contour base 23, a bare needle mounting mechanism, a positioning and assembly mechanism, a positioning and clamping mechanism, a material unloading and storage mechanism, and a vibration feeding mechanism.

[0026] The turntable mechanism is mounted on the frame to form the machine base 01. The turntable mechanism is a driven four-position indexing plate 21, driven by a cam divider 22. The four-position indexing plate 21 has four contour bases 23. A bare needle mounting mechanism, a positioning sleeve mounting mechanism, a clamping mechanism, and a material unloading and storage mechanism are evenly distributed along the outer circumference of the turntable, corresponding to the four contour bases 23 respectively, thus forming four stations: bare needle assembly station 03, positioning sleeve mounting station 04, locking station 05, and unloading station 06. Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, each station is configured to sequentially assemble corresponding parts onto the previous part until the parts are assembled together and stored. The turntable mechanism can perform precise intermittent rotation, allowing the contour base 23 to stop sequentially at four stations: bare needle assembly station 03, positioning kit positioning station 04, locking station 05, and unloading station 06.

[0027] Specifically, the vibratory feeding mechanism transports bare needles and positioning sleeves to the bare needle mounting mechanism and the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism via the feeding track. The bare needle mounting mechanism is used to insert the bare needle into the contour base 23 and position it. The positioning sleeve assembly mechanism is used to assemble the positioning sleeve to the set axial position of the bare needle. The positioning clamping mechanism is used to deform the positioning sleeve and fix it to the bare needle. The unloading and storage mechanism is used to clamp the assembled positioning needle away from the turntable and place it for storage.

[0028] Among them, such as Figure 8 As shown, the contour base 23 is cylindrical, with a hole for placing the electrode needle in the center of its upper surface. The hole includes an inverted frustum section and a cylindrical section, the cylindrical section having the same shape as the tail of the electrode needle. The larger diameter of the frustum section is larger than the smaller diameter, and the inverted frustum section facilitates the insertion of the bare needle. A lifting stud is provided at the bottom of the contour base 23 to adjust the distance the electrode needle extends into the hole. When adjusting the insertion depth of each batch of electrode needles, the electrode needle is first placed into the hole to determine the installation position of the positioning sleeve, and the length of the exposed electrode needle is measured to adjust the lifting stud. The contour base 23 also has a positioning groove corresponding to the positioning pin of the positioning clamping mechanism.

[0029] Both the bare needle mounting mechanism and the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism include a base connected to the turntable, a lifting cylinder, and a feeding pipe. For example... Figure 4 , Figure 5As shown, the feeding pipe is connected to the base via a lifting cylinder and is arranged vertically. The lower end of the feeding pipe is trumpet-shaped, forming an outlet near the turntable mechanism. The upper end of the feeding pipe is connected to the feeding track to form an inlet. The section of the feeding pipe near the outlet is a flexible section. The base is equipped with a gripper for selectively opening and closing the feeding pipe.

[0030] As an improvement, a detection sensor is installed on the outside of the end section of the feeding pipe to detect whether there are any parts to be installed inside the feeding pipe before feeding.

[0031] The feeding track is equipped with an anti-jamming device and a material shortage detection sensor. The feeding track, which is connected to the bare needle mounting mechanism, consists of a thick steel pipe section, a thick flexible tube section, and a thin flexible tube section. The part enters the thick steel pipe section through an external air gun and then transitions into the thin flexible tube section through the thick flexible tube section. Based on the funnel effect, this prevents the part from flipping over.

[0032] like Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the positioning and clamping mechanism includes a locking driver 51, a lifting block 52, a compaction block 53, and positioning posts. The locking driver 51 drives the lifting block 52 to move vertically. The compaction block 53 is fixed on the lifting block 52. The compaction block 53 has a protruding indentation in the center of its bottom surface, which is used to fit onto the positioning sleeve and cause it to undergo plastic deformation to secure it to the bare needle. The compaction block 53 has a hole in its center to ensure that the bare needle can be inserted during the compaction operation. Four positioning posts are evenly distributed on the outside of the indentation and are used to cooperate with the positioning grooves provided on the contour base 23 to ensure that the indentation of the clamping block is accurately fitted into the positioning sleeve. Preferably, the compaction block 53 has a circular cross-section, which is consistent with the cross-section of the contour base 23.

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown, the unloading and storage mechanism includes a six-axis robot 61, a gripper 62, and a finished product collection box 63; the six-axis robot 61 drives the gripper 62 to move above the assembled electrode needle, and the gripper 62 is used to place the electrode needle into the finished product collection box 63 set behind it.

[0034] The present invention also provides an automatic assembly method for detector electrode needles, using the above-mentioned automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles. The automatic assembly method comprises the following steps: S1. Any copying base 23 without a part is rotated by the turntable mechanism to be directly below the bare needle mounting mechanism. The bare needle mounting mechanism outputs the bare needle part and inserts it into the hole of the copying base 23.

[0035] Specifically, the bare needle vibratory feeding mechanism, i.e., the bare needle vibratory plate, sorts the bare needles and then conveys them to the end via the feeding pipe I32, such as... Figure 4 As shown. The bare needle is injected into the thick steel pipe through an external air gun, then transitions into the thin hose through the thick hose, and finally is discharged vertically from the outlet of the feed pipe I32 into the contour base 23 by gravity.

[0036] S2. The contour base 23, on which the vertical bare needle part is placed, continues to rotate with the turntable mechanism until it is directly below the positioning sleeve assembly mechanism. The positioning sleeve vibration feeding mechanism, i.e., the positioning disc vibrating plate, sorts the positioning sleeves and then conveys them through the feeding tube II 42. At this time, the lifting cylinder 46 drives the feeding tube II 42 to descend, so that the lower end of the flared end 44 of the feeding tube II 42 fits over the upper end of the bare needle. This action ensures that the feeding tube II 42 and the bare needle are precisely coaxial. The gripper opens, and the positioning sleeve falls from inside the feeding tube II 42 under the action of gravity, sliding down the surface of the vertical bare needle until it stops at the set axial position and abuts against the upper surface of the contour base 23, thereby fitting the positioning sleeve onto the bare needle part. After completion, the lifting cylinder 46 drives the feeding tube II 42 to rise and reset.

[0037] S3. The contour base 23, on which the electrode needle positioning sleeve is placed, continues to rotate with the turntable mechanism to directly below the positioning and clamping mechanism. The locking driver 51 is a servo electric cylinder. The locking driver 51 drives the lifting block 52 to move the compaction block 53 downward. The pressure indentation at the lower end of the compaction block 53 presses into the head of the electrode needle positioning sleeve and applies a preset clamping force, causing the positioning sleeve to undergo plastic deformation and be firmly connected to the bare needle, thus completing the assembly of the electrode needle.

[0038] The clamping force can be monitored through an integrated pressure sensor to form a closed-loop control, ensuring a stable and reliable pressing process.

[0039] S4. The contour base 23 with the assembled electrode needles is placed and rotates with the turntable mechanism to the bottom of the unloading and storage mechanism. The six-axis robot 61 drives the gripper 62 to move above the electrode needles. After the gripper 62 picks up the electrode needles, it moves them to the finished product collection box 63 for storage.

[0040] The entire process is controlled by a PLC control system, with each workstation working together to form an efficient and continuous automated assembly line.

[0041] In summary, the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles, characterized in that, It includes a frame, turntable mechanism, contour base, bare needle mounting mechanism, positioning assembly mechanism, positioning clamping mechanism, unloading and storage mechanism, and vibratory feeding mechanism; The turntable mechanism is mounted on the frame. The turntable mechanism is equipped with four contour bases. The bare needle mounting mechanism, the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism, the clamping mechanism, and the material feeding and storage mechanism are evenly distributed along the outer circumference of the turntable mechanism and correspond to the four contour bases respectively. The vibratory feeding mechanism conveys the bare needles and positioning sleeves to the bare needle mounting mechanism and the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism respectively through the feeding track. The bare needle mounting mechanism is used to insert the bare needle into the contour base and position it; the positioning sleeve fitting mechanism is used to fit the positioning sleeve to the set axial position of the bare needle; the positioning clamping mechanism is used to deform the positioning sleeve and fix it to the bare needle; the unloading and storage mechanism is used to clamp the assembled positioning needle away from the turntable mechanism and place it for storage.

2. The automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Both the bare needle mounting mechanism and the positioning sleeve mounting mechanism include a base, a lifting cylinder, and a feeding pipe connected to the turntable mechanism. The feeding pipe is connected to the base via a lifting cylinder and is arranged vertically. The lower end of the feeding pipe is trumpet-shaped, forming a discharge port adjacent to the turntable mechanism. The upper end of the feeding pipe is connected to the feeding track to form a feed port. The section of the feeding pipe near the discharge port is a flexible section. The base is equipped with a gripper for selectively opening and closing the feeding pipe.

3. The automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding track connected to the bare needle mounting mechanism is composed of a thick steel pipe section, a thick flexible tube section, and a thin flexible tube section.

4. The automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The upper surface of the contour base has a hole for placing an electrode needle in the middle. The hole includes an inverted frustum section and a cylindrical section. The cylindrical section has the same shape as the tail of the electrode needle. The bottom of the contour base is provided with a lifting stud for adjusting the distance the electrode needle extends into the hole.

5. The automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The positioning and clamping mechanism includes a locking driver, a lifting block, a compaction block, and a positioning column; The locking driver is used to drive the lifting block to move vertically. The compaction block is fixed on the lifting block. The compaction block has a protruding pressure groove in the middle of its bottom surface, which is used to fit onto the positioning sleeve to make it plastically deform and fasten to the bare needle. Several positioning posts are evenly distributed on the outside of the pressure groove, which are used to cooperate with the positioning groove provided on the contour base.

6. The automatic assembly device for detector electrode needles as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The material unloading and storage mechanism includes a six-axis robotic arm, grippers, and a finished product collection box; The six-axis robot arm moves the gripper to above the assembled electrode needle, and the gripper is used to place the electrode needle into the finished product collection box set behind it.

7. An automatic assembly method for detector electrode needles, characterized in that, The automatic assembly method using the detector electrode needle automatic assembly device as described in claim 5 comprises the following steps: S1. Any copying base without a part is rotated by the turntable mechanism to be directly below the bare needle mounting mechanism. The bare needle mounting mechanism outputs the bare needle part and inserts it into the hole of the copying base. S2. The contour base on which the vertical bare needle part is placed continues to rotate with the turntable mechanism to the position sleeve assembly mechanism. The lifting cylinder drives the feeding tube to descend and put the positioning sleeve on the bare needle part. S3. The contour base with the electrode needle positioning sleeve placed on it continues to rotate with the turntable mechanism to the position clamping mechanism. The lifting block drives the compaction block to press into the electrode needle positioning sleeve part, causing the positioning sleeve to undergo plastic deformation and be firmly connected to the bare needle, thus completing the assembly of the electrode needle. S4. Place the contour base with the assembled electrode needles, and as the turntable mechanism continues to rotate, move it directly below the unloading and storage mechanism to clamp the electrode needles away from the turntable mechanism and place them for storage.

8. The automatic assembly method for detector electrode needles as described in claim 7, characterized in that, In S2, the feeding tube descends, and the lower end of the feeding tube is fitted onto the upper end of the bare needle. The gripper opens, and the positioning sleeve falls from inside the feeding tube under the action of gravity, sliding down along the bare needle until it stops at the set axial position and abuts against the upper surface of the contour base.

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