A hot forming material plate double-station centering device with deviation rectifying function

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of hot forming processing equipment, comprising: a guide lower plate, the guide lower plate is divided into a front guide lower main plate and a rear guide lower main plate, the front guide lower main plate and the rear guide lower main plate are fixedly connected in succession; a guide upper plate is arranged above the guide lower plate, the length of the guide upper plate is consistent with the sum of the lengths of the front guide lower main plate and the rear guide lower main plate, and the guide upper plate is used for limiting the plate. The front guide lower main plate is designed as two left and right parts and an inclined jet port is opened, the airflow with a 15°-30° inclination angle sprayed on the left and right sides forms a stable air film at the bottom of the plate and generates a centering force for pushing to the middle, so that non-contact pre-centering of the plate before entering the deviation correction station is realized, and the problems of insufficient thrust of the pure mechanical structure under high-speed or heavy-load working conditions and easy scratching of the plate surface by rigid contact are effectively avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to thermoforming processing equipment technology, and in particular relates to a double-station centering device for thermoforming material plates with deviation rectification function. Background Art

[0002] In the thermoforming process, before plastic or composite material plates enter the heating station or forming station, it is necessary to ensure that their conveying path is accurately centered. If the plate is deviated, it will directly cause quality problems such as uneven heating, forming misalignment, or edge crushing during mold clamping.

[0003] At present, the common thermoforming material plate deviation rectification devices on the market are mainly active edge centering systems (EPC), which are equipped with photoelectric or ultrasonic sensors on both sides of the conveying path to detect the edge position of the plate in real time, and transmit the deviation signal to the servo drive unit, which drives the entire conveying platform or the paired pinch roller sets to swing transversely as a whole, so as to dynamically correct the traveling direction of the plate.

[0004] The active EPC system has a complex structure and high equipment cost, and due to the involved transverse movement of the integral platform, it has large motion inertia and slow response speed, which is difficult to meet the real-time deviation rectification requirement of high-speed continuous production lines, and frequent swinging easily affects the connection stability of the front and rear stations. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Based on this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a double-station centering device for thermoforming material plates with deviation rectification function, so as to solve the technical problems that existing deviation rectification devices cannot balance high-efficiency deviation rectification and lossless conveyance, and cannot adapt to the smooth switching of plates of different specifications.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: A double-station centering device for thermoforming material plates with deviation rectification function, comprising: a lower guide plate, which is divided into a front lower main guide plate and a rear lower main guide plate, and the front lower main guide plate and the rear lower main guide plate are continuously and fixedly connected; an upper guide plate, arranged above the lower guide plate, the length of the upper guide plate is consistent with the sum of the lengths of the front lower main guide plate and the rear lower main guide plate, and is used for limiting the position of the plate; a pair of mounting frames, respectively arranged at both ends of the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate, the mounting frame is in a shape of a Chinese character "kou" (closed square), the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate are respectively arranged at the upper edge and lower edge positions of the mounting frame, so as to form a structure with two open ends for the plate to pass through; the front lower main guide plate is divided into a left part and a right part, on which a plurality of jet orifices are opened, the jet orifices on the left part eject airflow at a rightward inclination of 15°-30°, and the jet orifices on the right part eject airflow at a leftward inclination of 15°-30°, which is used to apply a force pushing the plate toward the middle and form an air film at the bottom of the plate.

[0007] The invention is further configured such that the rear guide lower main board is divided into left and right parts, with a guide frame horizontally arranged at its bottom. A pair of connecting rods are symmetrically arranged on both sides between the front and rear mounting frames, and the connecting rods are used to install the guide frame. A pair of drive bases are provided on the guide frame in conjunction with the left and right rear guide lower main boards. Each drive base is connected to a telescopic shaft at its top, which extends upwards to one side of the upper guide plate. A rotating motor is fixed to the side of the telescopic shaft near the upper guide plate. The output shaft of the rotating motor near the upper guide plate extends into the upper guide plate and connects to a tapered guide shaft. The tapered structure of the tapered guide shaft is used to correct the alignment of the plate during rotation. An extension... The extension plate has a top pressure spring at its bottom, which is connected to the rotating motor. The top of the drive base is equipped with a buffer seat that supports the rotating motor. Both the telescopic shaft and the buffer seat are telescopic structures, used to support the rotating motor while cooperating with the top pressure spring to move the rotating motor up and down. A pair of mounting frames have a bottom frame at their bottom, and a base plate is installed between the pair of bottom frames. The top of the base plate is equipped with an air treatment structure that is connected to the front guide lower main board. The air treatment structure includes an air compressor, an air tank, a refrigerated dryer, and a filter plate connected in sequence. The bottom of the front guide lower main board is equipped with a pair of control valve plates that are connected to the left and right sets of nozzles to distribute the treated gas into each nozzle for spraying.

[0008] The present invention is further configured such that the upper guide plate is also provided with a guide groove in conjunction with the tapered guide shaft, so that the tapered guide shaft can move within a predetermined distance; the tapered guide shaft extends into the upper guide plate, and when the plate passes the lower front guide plate, it contacts the tapered guide shaft. Through the tapered surface structure of the tapered guide shaft, when the tapered guide shaft rotates, the plate gathers towards the center position along with the tapered surface.

[0009] The present invention is further configured such that the airflow ejected from the nozzles on the left and right sides of the front guide motherboard meets at the bottom of the board, pushes it apart to form an air film, and forms a negative pressure to ensure the centering effect of the board.

[0010] The invention is further configured such that the distance between the left and right portions of the lower guide plate is adjustable. A pair of mounting frames have slots for the front and rear lower guide main boards, which slide left and right along these slots. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted within the slots. A drive motor is mounted on the outside of the mounting frames, cooperating with the drive shaft. The drive motor drives the drive shaft to rotate, thereby adjusting the distance between the left and right portions of the lower guide plate. A steel strip is provided between the left and right portions of the front and rear lower guide main boards to ensure the flatness of the entire top surface of the lower guide plate. A traction shaft and a winding shaft are respectively provided within the left and right portions of the front and rear lower guide main boards, cooperating with the steel strip. As the distance between the left and right portions of the lower guide plate is adjusted, the traction shaft and the winding shaft work together to tighten and loosen the steel strip. The steel strip is positioned between the left and right front lower guide main boards and between the left and right rear lower guide main boards, and the tightening and loosening of the steel strip is synchronized with the adjustment of the distance between the left and right portions of the lower guide plate.

[0011] The present invention is further configured such that the guide frame is horizontally disposed at the bottom of the rear guide motherboard, and the drive base is disposed on the guide frame and corresponds to the positions of the left and right rear guide motherboards respectively.

[0012] The present invention is further configured such that a pair of control valve plates are respectively disposed at the bottom of the left and right parts of the front guide lower main board, and each control valve plate independently adjusts the gas distribution of the corresponding side of the jet port.

[0013] The present invention is further configured such that the air compressor, air tank, refrigerated dryer and filter plate are connected in sequence along the airflow direction, and the air outlet of the filter plate is connected to the air inlet of the control valve plate.

[0014] The invention is further configured such that the groove on the mounting frame is a horizontal guide groove, the drive shaft is rotatably disposed in the guide groove, and the edges of the front guide lower motherboard and the rear guide lower motherboard are in transmission cooperation with the drive shaft, so that when the drive shaft rotates, the front guide lower motherboard and the rear guide lower motherboard slide along the guide groove.

[0015] The present invention is further configured such that the connecting rods are symmetrically arranged on both sides between the front and rear mounting frames, and the two ends of the guide frame are respectively mounted on the connecting rods on both sides.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are: By designing the front guide lower main board into two parts with inclined jet nozzles, the airflow ejected from the left and right sides at an angle of 15°-30° forms a stable air film at the bottom of the board and generates a centering force that pushes the board towards the center. This achieves non-contact pre-alignment of the board before it enters the correction station, effectively avoiding the problems of insufficient thrust in high-speed or heavy-load conditions and easy scratching of the board surface by rigid contact in purely mechanical structures. On this basis, the rear guide lower main board, together with the guide frame, drive base, telescopic shaft, rotating motor, and conical guide shaft extending into the upper guide plate, performs secondary flexible correction of the board through the physical guidance of the rotating conical surface. The top pressure spring and the buffer seat work together to allow the rotating motor to float up and down, avoiding hard squeezing and damage to the board. At the same time, the guide groove provides the conical guide shaft with a predetermined range of freedom of movement, further reducing the impact on the edge of the board. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the present invention from another perspective; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the top structure of the base plate of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a bottom view of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a partial structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the lower plate structure of the present invention.

[0018] Reference numerals: 1. Front lower guide plate; 2. Rear lower guide plate; 3. Upper guide plate; 4. Connecting rod; 5. Mounting frame; 6. Bottom frame; 7. Base plate; 8. Steel strip; 9. Nozzle; 10. Conical guide shaft; 11. Drive motor; 12. Drive shaft; 13. Air compressor; 14. Air tank; 15. Refrigerated dryer; 16. Filter plate; 17. Control valve plate; 18. Guide groove; 19. Extension plate; 20. Top pressure spring; 21. Rotary motor; 22. Telescopic shaft; 23. Drive base; 24. Buffer seat; 25. Guide frame; 26. Traction shaft; 27. Rewind shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0020] A double-station centering device for thermoformed material plates with deviation rectification function, as Figure 1 shown, comprises a lower guide plate, which is integrally in a flat plate-like structure extending along the plate conveying direction. The lower guide plate is divided into a front main lower guide plate 1 and a rear main lower guide plate 2. The front main lower guide plate 1 and the rear main lower guide plate 2 are continuously and fixedly connected along the traveling direction of the plate. The continuous and fixed connection means that the rear end edge of the front main lower guide plate 1 and the front end edge of the rear main lower guide plate 2 are seamlessly connected by means of welding, bolt fastening or integral molding, so that the two form a complete, uninterrupted support plane in the plate conveying direction. The reason for the segmented configuration is that the front main lower guide plate 1 and the rear main lower guide plate 2 have functional differences: the front main lower guide plate 1 is mainly used for air flotation pre-centering, and the rear main lower guide plate 2 is mainly used for rigid and flexible deviation rectification, and the two work in coordination.

[0021] The difference between the front main lower guide plate 1 and the rear main lower guide plate 2 lies in their different positions, that is, the front main lower guide plate 1 is located on the upstream side where the plate arrives first, and the rear main lower guide plate 2 is located on the downstream side where the plate arrives later. The two have different deviation rectification effects on the plate: the former uses an air film and air flow thrust to perform non-contact centering pre-adjustment, and the latter uses the conical surface rotation of the conical guide shaft 10 to perform physical contact type precise deviation rectification.

[0022] An upper guide plate 3 is arranged above the front main lower guide plate 1 and the rear main lower guide plate 2, and the upper guide plate 3 is a plate-shaped member arranged parallel to and opposite to the lower guide plate. The length of the upper guide plate 3 is consistent with the sum of the lengths of the front main lower guide plate 1 and the rear main lower guide plate 2, that is, the upper guide plate 3 extends from the foremost end to the rearmost end of the device, and its coverage range is the same as the length of the entire lower guide plate. The function of the upper guide plate 3 is to limit the upper position of the passing plate, prevent the plate from arching upward or warping under the action of air flotation force or deviation rectification force, and ensure that the plate always travels smoothly in the channel between the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate 3.

[0023] A pair of mounting frames 5 are respectively arranged at both ends of the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate 3. The mounting frame 5 is the skeleton support member of the entire device, which is in a "square" shape, that is, the mounting frame 5 is a rectangular frame-like structure. The lower guide plate and the upper guide plate 3 are respectively arranged at the upper edge position and the lower edge position of the "square"-shaped mounting frame 5. Specifically, the edge of the upper guide plate 3 is fixed to the inner side of the upper cross beam of the mounting frame 5, and the edge of the lower guide plate is fixed to the inner side of the lower cross beam of the mounting frame 5. Through such an arrangement, the lower guide plate, the upper guide plate 3 and the mounting frames 5 at both ends jointly enclose to form a channel-type structure with two open ends for the plate to pass through horizontally, and the plate can enter from one end of the channel and exit from the other end.

[0024] as Figure 2As shown, the front guide lower main board 1 is divided into two parts in the left-right direction: a left half and a right half. A gap is left between the two parts, within which a steel strip 8 is installed. Several nozzles 9 are respectively formed on the upper surface of the left and right parts of the front guide lower main board 1. These nozzles 9 are air passages penetrating the thickness direction of the front guide lower main board 1, with their openings facing upwards, used to spray compressed air upwards. The number and arrangement of the nozzles 9 can be designed according to actual needs; for example, they can be distributed in an array of multiple rows and columns along the direction of material movement.

[0025] The nozzle 9 on the left side does not eject air vertically upwards, but rather at an angle of 15° to 30° to the right. "To the right" here refers to the direction towards the center of the channel. The nozzle 9 on the right side symmetrically ejects air at an angle of 15° to 30° to the left. When compressed air is ejected from the nozzles 9 on both sides, it generates rightward and leftward tilted airflows at the bottom of the board. These airflows exert a horizontal force pushing the bottom of the board inwards, while simultaneously gathering to form a continuous air film. This air film slightly lifts the board from the surface of the guide plate, placing it in a near-suspended state, thus significantly reducing the friction between the board and the guide plate. At the same time, because the airflows on both sides are directed towards the center, they meet in the middle area at the bottom of the board and then diffuse outwards, forming a localized positive pressure zone. Meanwhile, the airflow below the edge of the board forms a relatively low-pressure zone. This pressure difference creates a negative pressure effect that pulls the board towards the center, further ensuring the board's centered positioning. This structure allows the front-guided motherboard 1 to complete initial alignment without contacting the board material, effectively avoiding scratches on the board material surface.

[0026] It should be noted that the tilt angle of the nozzle 9 can be selected according to actual working conditions. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tilt angle of the nozzle 9 is 15°, suitable for thin or lightweight plates; in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tilt angle is 30°, suitable for thicker or heavier plates; in yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tilt angle is 22.5°, suitable for general-purpose plates. Those skilled in the art can reasonably select any angle value within the above range according to parameters such as the material, thickness, and conveying speed of the plate.

[0027] The rear guide mainboard 2 is also divided into two parts in the left-right direction, namely the left half and the right half. A guide frame 25 is horizontally arranged below the rear guide mainboard 2. "Horizontally arranged" means that the length of the guide frame 25 is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the material. The guide frame 25 serves as the mounting base and supporting frame for the entire rear station alignment mechanism.

[0028] A pair of connecting rods 4 are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides between the two mounting frames 5. The connecting rods 4 are rod-shaped components extending along the conveying direction of the plate, and their two ends are fixed to the corresponding sides of the two mounting frames 5. The function of the connecting rods 4 is to install and support the guide frame 25. Specifically, the two ends of the guide frame 25 are fixedly installed on the connecting rods 4 on the left and right sides, so that the guide frame 25 spans across the bottom of the conveying channel.

[0029] On the guide frame 25, a pair of drive bases 23 are provided in conjunction with the left and right rear lower guide main boards 2. That is, there are two drive bases 23, corresponding to the left and right rear lower guide main boards 2 respectively. The drive bases 23 are mounted on the upper surface of the guide frame 25 and can slide or be fixed along the length direction of the guide frame 25, i.e., the left-right direction. Each drive base 23 is connected to a telescopic shaft 22 at its top. The telescopic shaft 22 is a shaft-shaped component that can extend and retract along its own axis, i.e., the up-down direction. It can be implemented in the form of a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder, a piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder, or a telescopic rod of an electric push rod. The lower end of the telescopic shaft 22 is fixedly or rotatably connected to the drive base 23, and the upper end extends upward to one side of the upper guide plate 3.

[0030] A rotary motor 21 is fixedly installed on the side of the telescopic shaft 22 near the guide plate 3, i.e., on the inner side or upper end of the telescopic shaft 22. The rotary motor 21 is a miniature electric motor capable of outputting rotational power. An output shaft is provided on the side of the rotary motor 21 near the guide plate 3, i.e., the side of the rotary motor 21 facing the inside of the channel. This output shaft extends outward from the housing of the rotary motor 21 and extends into the interior of the guide plate 3, where it is fixedly connected to a tapered guide shaft 10 disposed within the guide plate 3. The tapered guide shaft 10 is a shaft-shaped component with a tapered outer surface, i.e., a diameter that gradually changes along the axial direction. It is used to generate a converging corrective force towards the center through the contact between the tapered surface and the edge of the plate during rotation. Specifically, when the rotating motor 21 drives the tapered guide shaft 10 to rotate, the edge of the plate will come into contact with the tapered surface of the tapered guide shaft 10. Due to the inclined characteristics of the tapered surface, under the driving force of the plate's travel direction, the tapered surface will give the plate a frictional force component in the direction of the large end of the tapered guide shaft 10, that is, in the direction of the channel center, thereby pushing the plate towards the middle.

[0031] like Figure 6As shown, to further improve the flexibility of the correction and protect the surface of the plate, an extension plate 19 is provided on the upper guide plate 3 above the rotary motor 21. The extension plate 19 is a lug or bracket structure extending outward from the upper surface of the upper guide plate 3. At the bottom of the extension plate 19, i.e., on the side of the extension plate 19 facing the rotary motor 21, a top compression spring 20 is provided. The top compression spring 20 is a cylindrical helical compression spring. The upper end of the top compression spring 20 is fixedly connected to or abuts against the extension plate 19, and the lower end is fixedly connected to or abuts against the top housing of the rotary motor 21. When the plate comes into contact with the tapered guide shaft 10, an upward reaction force is generated. This reaction force is transmitted to the rotary motor 21 through the tapered guide shaft 10. When the rotary motor 21 moves upward, it compresses the top compression spring 20. After being compressed, the top compression spring 20 generates a downward elastic restoring force. This elastic restoring force causes the rotary motor 21 and the tapered guide shaft 10 to return to their original position, thereby maintaining appropriate contact pressure between the tapered guide shaft 10 and the edge of the plate. This elastic floating structure can avoid damage to the sheet material caused by rigid compression, while automatically adapting to slight fluctuations in the sheet material thickness.

[0032] A buffer seat 24 is also provided on the top of the drive base 23 in conjunction with the rotating motor 21. The buffer seat 24 is an elastic support component located between the top of the drive base 23 and the bottom of the rotating motor 21, which is used to provide auxiliary support for the rotating motor 21. The buffer seat 24 can be made of elastic materials such as rubber pads, polyurethane buffer blocks, or small gas springs. Both the telescopic shaft 22 and the buffer seat 24 are telescopic structures, and their telescopic movements cooperate with each other. While supporting the rotating motor 21, they can also work with the top pressure spring 20 to allow the rotating motor 21 to float within a certain range in the vertical direction. That is, when the rotating motor 21 is subjected to an upward thrust, the telescopic shaft 22 shortens, the buffer seat 24 is compressed, and the rotating motor 21 moves upward; when the thrust disappears, the telescopic shaft 22 extends, the buffer seat 24 springs back, and the rotating motor 21 returns to its original position. The telescopic characteristics of the telescopic shaft 22, the buffer seat 24, and the top pressure spring 20 work together to form a flexible suspension system that can absorb vibration and impact.

[0033] A guide groove 18 is provided on the upper guide plate 3 to accommodate the tapered guide shaft 10. The guide groove 18 is an elongated slot or guide hole extending in the left-right direction, and its width is slightly larger than the diameter of the tapered guide shaft 10. The tapered guide shaft 10 passes through the guide groove 18 and extends into the interior of the upper guide plate 3. The guide groove 18 guides and limits the tapered guide shaft 10, allowing it to move a predetermined distance in the left-right direction within the length of the guide groove 18. This predetermined distance can be set according to actual needs, for example, between 10 mm and 50 mm. The presence of the guide groove 18 allows the tapered guide shaft 10 to move synchronously with the sliding of the drive base 23 on the guide frame 25, thereby accommodating plates of different widths.

[0034] After the sheet material completes its air-float pre-alignment on the front guide plate 1, it continues to move backward to the rear guide plate 2 area. At this point, the left and right edges of the sheet material come into contact with the conical guide shafts 10, which are respectively located on both sides and extend into the upper guide plate 3. Due to the conical structure of the conical guide shaft 10 and its continuous rotation driven by the rotating motor 21, at the moment the sheet material contacts the conical surface, the rotation of the conical surface generates a frictional force component pointing towards the center along the width direction of the sheet material. Simultaneously, the sheet material's own traveling speed and the tangential speed of the conical surface combine to form a resultant force that gradually pushes the sheet material towards the larger end of the conical guide shaft 10. As the sheet material continues to move forward, guided by the conical surface, the two sides of the sheet material are synchronously converged towards the centerline of the middle channel, ultimately achieving precise centering and correction. During this process, the rotational speed of the conical guide shaft 10 can be adjusted according to the traveling speed of the sheet material, typically controlled between 100 and 500 revolutions per minute.

[0035] At the bottom of a pair of mounting frames 5, a bottom frame 6 is provided. The bottom frame 6 is a supporting beam structure connecting the lower ends of the two mounting frames 5, which is used to support the base plate 7. The base plate 7 is installed between the pair of bottom frames 6. The base plate 7 is a horizontally arranged flat plate, with its left and right ends fixed to the bottom frames 6 on both sides respectively. The base plate 7 provides an installation platform for the air handling structure.

[0036] like Figure 4 As shown, an air handling structure is installed on the top of the base plate 7, in conjunction with the position of the front guide lower main plate 1. This air handling structure includes an air compressor 13, an air tank 14, a refrigerated dryer 15, and a filter plate 16. These components are connected sequentially along the airflow direction; that is, the air outlet of the air compressor 13 is connected to the air inlet of the air tank 14 via a pipe, the air outlet of the air tank 14 is connected to the air inlet of the refrigerated dryer 15 via a pipe, and the air outlet of the refrigerated dryer 15 is connected to the air inlet of the filter plate 16 via a pipe.

[0037] Air compressor 13 is a general-purpose power device that compresses and increases the pressure of air in the atmosphere, providing the power source for the entire air flotation system. Air tank 14 is a sealed pressure vessel with a certain volume, used to store the compressed air discharged from air compressor 13, stabilize air pressure, and buffer airflow pulsations. Refrigerated air dryer 15 is a refrigerated air drying device, used to cool and condense moisture in the compressed air and discharge it, thereby lowering the dew point of the compressed air and preventing moisture from condensing on the surface of the plate or inside the nozzle 9 after being sprayed out with the airflow, affecting the air flotation effect. Filter plate 16 is an air purification filter element, which can contain an activated carbon filter layer, a precision filter element, or a sintered metal filter element, etc., to remove solid particles, oil mist, microorganisms, and other impurities from the compressed air, ensuring that the sprayed airflow is clean and uncontaminated. The air outlet of filter plate 16 is connected to a pipe joint located at the bottom of the front guide lower main plate 1 via a pipeline.

[0038] like Figure 5 As shown, at the bottom of the main board 1 under the front guide, a pair of control valve plates 17 are provided to cooperate with the left and right sets of nozzles 9. Specifically, the control valve plate 17 on the left corresponds to the nozzles 9 on the left side, and the control valve plate 17 on the right corresponds to the nozzles 9 on the right side. The control valve plate 17 is a distribution device that integrates multiple flow regulating valves, and its interior is provided with gas flow channels and throttling valve cores corresponding one-to-one with the nozzles 9. The air inlet end of the control valve plate 17 is connected to the air outlet of the filter plate 16, and its air outlet end is connected to the air inlet of each nozzle 9. The function of the control valve plate 17 is to distribute the treated clean and dry compressed air to each nozzle 9 according to the predetermined flow rate and pressure. By adjusting the individual throttling valves in the control valve plate 17, the air volume of each nozzle 9 can be independently controlled to achieve more precise air flotation adjustment. Each control valve plate 17 can independently adjust the total flow rate of all nozzles 9 on the corresponding side, and can also independently adjust the individual flow rate of each nozzle 9.

[0039] In this device, the distance between the left and right portions of the guide plate is adjustable. That is, the lateral distance between the left and right halves of the front guide plate 1 can be changed, and the lateral distance between the left and right halves of the rear guide plate 2 can also be changed simultaneously. To achieve this function, slots are provided on a pair of mounting frames 5 to accommodate the front guide plate 1 and the rear guide plate 2. Specifically, a guide groove is provided horizontally on the inner sidewall of each of the left and right mounting frames 5. This guide groove is a horizontally elongated groove, its length direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the plate. The left and right edges of the front guide plate 1 and the rear guide plate 2 are respectively embedded into the corresponding guide grooves and can slide left and right along these guide grooves.

[0040] like Figure 3As shown, a drive shaft 12 is rotatably mounted within the guide groove. The drive shaft 12 is a long shaft extending in the left-right direction, with its two ends rotatably supported in bearing seats of the left and right mounting frames 5, respectively. The drive shaft 12 has threaded sections or gear racks and pinions for transmission, forming a transmission engagement with the edges of the front guide lower main plate 1 and the rear guide lower main plate 2. A drive motor 11 is mounted on the outside of the mounting frame 5, cooperating with the drive shaft 12. The output shaft of the drive motor 11 is fixedly connected to one end of the drive shaft 12 via a coupling. When the drive motor 11 starts, its output shaft drives the drive shaft 12 to rotate. The drive shaft 12, through its threaded or geared structure, converts the rotational motion into linear sliding of the front guide lower main plate 1 and the rear guide lower main plate 2 along the guide groove, thereby achieving precise adjustment of the distance between the left and right parts. The drive motor 11 can be a stepper motor or a servo motor to achieve precise position control. The controller of the drive motor 11 can be connected to the overall control system of the production line to achieve automatic width adjustment.

[0041] A steel strip 8 is provided between the left and right parts of the front guide lower main board 1 and the rear guide lower main board 2. The steel strip 8 is a thin stainless steel strip of a certain width, which extends along the conveying direction of the sheet metal and crosses the gap between the left and right parts of the front guide lower main board 1 and the rear guide lower main board 2. The upper surface of the steel strip 8 is flush with the upper surface of the left and right guide lower plates, thereby ensuring the flatness of the top surface of the entire guide lower plate and preventing the sheet metal from sinking or getting stuck when passing through the gap between the left and right parts.

[0042] like Figure 7As shown, traction shafts 26 and winding shafts 27 are respectively installed inside the left and right parts of the front guide lower plate 1 and the rear guide lower plate 2, in conjunction with the steel strip 8. Both traction shafts 26 and winding shafts 27 are rotatable slender shafts, with the two ends of the steel strip 8 wound around them respectively. As the distance between the left and right parts of the lower guide plate is adjusted, the traction shafts 26 and winding shafts 27 work together to tighten and loosen the steel strip 8. Specifically, when the left and right parts of the lower guide plate slide outwards and the distance increases, the winding shaft 27 in the left part rotates forward to release the steel strip 8, while the traction shaft 26 in the right part rotates forward to pull out and tension the steel strip 8, ensuring that the width of the steel strip 8 always adapts to the new distance. When the left and right parts slide inwards and the distance decreases, the winding shaft 27 rotates in the opposite direction to wind up the excess steel strip 8, while the traction shaft 26 rotates in the opposite direction to provide appropriate tension, keeping the steel strip 8 flat. The rotation of the traction shaft 26 and the take-up shaft 27 can be driven by independent micro motors or linked to the drive motor 11 via gear transmission, thereby achieving synchronous adjustment of the spacing and winding / unwinding of the steel belt 8. The steel belt 8 is positioned between the two front guide plates 1 and the two rear guide plates 2, meaning that the steel belt 8 between the front and rear workstations is continuous and integrated. Its tightening and loosening actions are synchronized with the adjustment of the distance between the left and right parts of the guide plates to ensure the flatness of the entire conveying plane at all times.

[0043] The complete working process of the dual-station centering device for thermoformed material plates with correction function of the present invention is as follows: Before starting the machine, the drive motor 11 drives the drive shaft 12 to rotate according to the actual width of the material to be processed, adjusting the left and right parts of the front guide lower plate 1 and the rear guide lower plate 2 to a suitable distance. During this process, the traction shaft 26 and the winding shaft 27 move synchronously to tighten or loosen the steel belt 8, keeping the top surface of the guide lower plate flat. Then, the air compressor 13 is started. The compressed air is stabilized by the air tank 14, dehumidified by the refrigerated dryer 15, and purified by the filter plate 16. It is then distributed to each nozzle 9 through the control valve plate 17, and the nozzle 9 begins to spray air at a set angle.

[0044] The thermoformed sheet enters from the front inlet of the device and first reaches above the front guide lower main board 1. At this time, the airflow ejected obliquely from both sides slightly lifts the sheet to form an air film, while the horizontal component of the airflow pushes the sheet towards the center, achieving non-contact pre-alignment. The sheet continues to move forward on the air film, leaving the front guide lower main board 1 and entering the area of ​​the rear guide lower main board 2.

[0045] When the edge of the sheet material contacts the tapered guide shaft 10 extending into the upper guide plate 3, the rotating motor 21 drives the tapered guide shaft 10 to rotate. The tapered surface of the tapered guide shaft 10 generates rolling friction with the edge of the sheet material, further pushing the sheet material towards the center. Simultaneously, the reaction force generated by the contact between the sheet material and the tapered guide shaft 10 compresses the top pressure spring 20 through the rotating motor 21. The rotating motor 21 floats upward under the support of the telescopic shaft 22 and the buffer seat 24, thereby avoiding hard compression. As the sheet material continues to move forward, the tapered guide shafts 10 on both sides continue to act, gradually correcting the sheet material to the center line of the channel.

[0046] After coordinated correction at the two workstations, the sheet metal is output from the end outlet of the device. At this point, the sheet metal is precisely centered and can be directly fed into the subsequent heating furnace or forming mold station. Throughout the entire operation, the control valve plate 17 can adjust the airflow of each nozzle 9 in real time to adapt to the instantaneous offset changes of the sheet metal.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inclination angle of the jet nozzle 9 is 22.5°, and the jet nozzle 9 is arranged in an alternating manner on the front guide plate 1, that is, the positions of two adjacent rows of jet nozzles 9 are staggered by half a hole distance in the left and right directions, so as to make the airflow coverage on the bottom of the plate more uniform.

[0048] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tapered guide shaft 10 is provided with a plurality of fine grooves or knurled patterns extending axially on its tapered surface to increase the coefficient of friction between the tapered surface and the edge of the plate and improve the correction efficiency.

[0049] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a position sensor is installed on the drive base 23 to detect the position of the drive base 23 on the guide frame 25 in real time and feed the position signal back to the control system to realize closed-loop control.

[0050] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the guide plate 3 near the side through which the plate passes is provided with a friction-reducing coating, which is a polytetrafluoroethylene coating or a molybdenum disulfide coating, to prevent friction damage between the upper surface of the plate and the guide plate 3 during the floating process.

[0051] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, grooves are provided on the upper surfaces of both the front guide lower main board 1 and the rear guide lower main board 2, the upper surface of the steel strip 8 is lower than or equal to the height of the upper surface of the guide lower board, and a smooth transition is formed between the edge of the steel strip 8 and the edge of the guide lower board to ensure that no step impact is generated when the plate moves.

[0052] Detailed operating principle of width adjustment: When switching from processing A-size sheet metal to processing B-size sheet metal, the control system sends a forward rotation command to the drive motor 11. The drive motor 11 drives the drive shaft 12 to rotate, and the drive shaft 12 pushes the left and right parts of the front guide lower plate 1 and the rear guide lower plate 2 to slide outward (away from the center line) simultaneously through threaded transmission. At the same time, the left and right take-up shafts 27 and traction shafts 26 rotate at a predetermined speed ratio, releasing the steel strip 8 and allowing the width of the steel strip 8 to adapt to the new, larger spacing. Throughout the adjustment process, because the steel strip 8 is always maintained at an appropriate tension by the traction shaft 26 and the take-up shaft 27, the upper surface of the steel strip 8 remains flush with the upper surface of the guide lower plate, preventing slack sagging or over-tension that could cause the steel strip 8 to break.

[0053] Conversely, when switching from a wide specification to a narrow specification, the drive motor 11 reverses direction, and both the left and right sections slide inward simultaneously. The winding shaft 27 and the traction shaft 26 rotate in opposite directions to wind up the steel strip 8, wrapping the excess steel strip 8 around the winding shaft 27, thus maintaining the flatness of the upper surface. This adjustment method can be performed without stopping the machine, achieving rapid specification switching and significantly improving production efficiency.

[0054] Meanwhile, the control valve plate 17 in the air handling structure is a key control element of the entire air flotation system. The control valve plate 17 integrates multiple parallel throttling channels, each corresponding to a nozzle 9. The control valve plate 17 has a main air inlet and multiple branch air outlets. The main air inlet is connected to the outlet of the filter plate 16 via a pipeline, and each branch air outlet is connected to the inlet of its corresponding nozzle 9 via a flexible or rigid pipe. Inside the control valve plate 17, each throttling channel is equipped with a needle valve or a miniature solenoid valve. The opening of the valve core is controlled by rotating an adjustment knob or by an electrical signal, thereby independently adjusting the airflow of each nozzle 9. The left and right control valve plates 17 correspond to the left and right sets of nozzles 9 respectively, and they can be controlled independently or in conjunction.

[0055] Preferably, the control valve plate 17 also integrates a pressure sensor and a flow sensor to detect the working pressure and flow rate of each nozzle 9 in real time, and transmit the detection signals to the PLC controller. The PLC controller automatically adjusts the opening of each valve according to a preset control algorithm to ensure that the outlet pressure and flow rate of all nozzles 9 are consistent, thus ensuring the uniformity of the air film thickness. When the width of the plate changes, the PLC controller can also automatically close some nozzles 9 on the outer edge according to the actual width of the plate, saving compressed air consumption.

[0056] Through the synergistic effect of the aforementioned components and structures, this invention achieves dual-station collaborative operation of air-float pre-centering and flexible conical surface precision correction. The front guide main board 1 utilizes the inclined airflow to form an air film and pre-adjust the centering of the sheet material, avoiding damage to the sheet surface caused by rigid contact. Simultaneously, the negative pressure effect of the airflow enhances the centering stability of the sheet material. The rear guide main board 2 contacts the edge of the sheet material through the rotating conical surface of the conical guide shaft 10. Utilizing the inclined surface effect of the conical surface and the frictional force component generated by rotation, it precisely pushes the sheet material to the centerline position. The floating support structure of the top pressure spring 20 and the buffer seat 24 allows for adjustable contact pressure of the conical guide shaft 10, effectively preventing pressure damage to the edge of the sheet material from rigid contact. The guide groove 18 provides the conical guide shaft 10 with a degree of freedom of movement, further enhancing the flexibility of the correction. The cooperative structure of the steel belt 8 with the traction shaft 26 and the winding shaft 27, combined with the width adjustment mechanism of the drive motor 11 and the drive shaft 12, enables the device to adapt to sheet materials of different widths, while maintaining the flatness of the conveying plane throughout the width adjustment process. The air handling structure provides a stable, clean, and dry air source for the air flotation system, ensuring the long-term reliability of the air flotation effect. The connecting rod 4, guide frame 25, drive base 23, and other mounting support structures provide a solid foundation for the entire post-station correction mechanism, guaranteeing long-term operational accuracy and stability. The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Anyone skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dual-station centering device for thermoformed sheet metal with a correction function, characterized in that, comprises: a lower guide plate, which is divided into a front lower main guide plate (1) and a rear lower main guide plate (2), the front lower main guide plate (1) and the rear lower main guide plate (2) are fixedly connected in a continuous manner; an upper guide plate (3), arranged above the lower guide plate, the length of the upper guide plate (3) is consistent with the sum of the lengths of the front lower main guide plate (1) and the rear lower main guide plate (2), and is used for limiting the position of the plate material; a pair of mounting frames (5), respectively arranged at both ends of the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate (3), the mounting frame (5) is in a shape of a Chinese character "kou" (closed square), the lower guide plate and the upper guide plate (3) are respectively arranged at the upper edge and the lower edge of the mounting frame (5), so as to form a structure with both ends open for the plate material to pass through; The front lower main guide plate (1) is divided into a left part and a right part, on which a plurality of jet orifices (9) are opened, the jet orifices (9) on the left part eject air flow at a rightward inclination angle of 15°-30°, and the jet orifices (9) on the right part eject air flow at a leftward inclination angle of 15°-30°, which is used for applying a force pushing the plate material toward the middle and forming an air film at the bottom of the plate material.

2. The double-station centering device for thermoformed material plates with deviation rectification function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rear lower main guide plate (2) is divided into a left part and a right part, and a guide frame (25) is transversely arranged at the bottom thereof, A pair of connecting rods (4) are symmetrically arranged on both sides between the front and rear mounting frames (5), and the connecting rods (4) are used for mounting the guide frame (25); The guide frame (25) is provided with a pair of driving bases (23) in cooperation with the left and right rear lower main guide plates (2), the top of each driving base (23) is connected with a telescopic shaft (22), the telescopic shaft (22) extends upward to one side of the upper guide plate (3), a rotating motor (21) is fixed on the side of the telescopic shaft (22) close to the upper guide plate (3), the output shaft on the side of the rotating motor (21) close to the upper guide plate (3) extends into the upper guide plate (3) and is connected with a conical guide shaft (10), and the conical surface structure of the conical guide shaft (10) is used for rectifying the deviation of the plate material during rotation; An extension plate (19) is arranged on the upper guide plate (3) at the top of the rotating motor (21), a top pressure spring (20) is arranged at the bottom of the extension plate (19), and the top pressure spring (20) is connected with the rotating motor (21); The top of the driving base (23) is provided with a buffer seat (24) in cooperation with the rotating motor (21), the buffer seat (24) supports the rotating motor (21), and both the telescopic shaft (22) and the buffer seat (24) are of telescopic structures, which are used for enabling the rotating motor (21) to move up and down in cooperation with the top pressure spring (20) while supporting. A bottom frame (6) is provided at the bottom of a pair of mounting frames (5), and a base plate (7) is installed between the pair of bottom frames (6). The top of the base plate (7) is provided with an air treatment structure in conjunction with the front guide lower main board (1). The air treatment structure includes an air compressor (13), an air tank (14), a refrigerated dryer (15), and a filter plate (16) connected in sequence. The bottom of the front guide lower main board (1) is provided with a pair of control valve plates (17) in conjunction with the left and right sets of nozzles (9) for distributing the treated gas into each nozzle (9) for spraying.

3. The dual-station centering device for thermoforming plates with correction function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper guide plate (3) is also provided with a guide groove (18) to cooperate with the tapered guide shaft (10), so that the tapered guide shaft (10) can move within a predetermined distance; The tapered guide shaft (10) extends into the upper guide plate (3). When the plate passes the lower guide plate (1) and comes into contact with the tapered guide shaft (10), the plate gathers towards the center as the tapered guide shaft (10) rotates due to the tapered surface structure of the tapered guide shaft (10).

4. The dual-station centering device for thermoforming plates with correction function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airflow ejected from the nozzles (9) on the left and right sides of the front guide motherboard (1) meets at the bottom of the board, pushes it apart to form an air film, and forms a negative pressure to ensure the centering effect of the board.

5. The dual-station centering device for thermoforming plates with correction function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spacing between the left and right parts of the lower guide plate is adjustable. A pair of mounting frames (5) are provided with slots to cooperate with the front lower guide plate (1) and the rear lower guide plate (2). The front lower guide plate (1) and the rear lower guide plate (2) slide left and right along the slots. A drive shaft (12) is provided in the slot. A drive motor (11) is provided on the outside of the mounting frame (5) to cooperate with the drive shaft (12). The drive motor (11) drives the drive shaft (12) to rotate, thereby adjusting the spacing between the left and right parts of the lower guide plate. A steel strip (8) is provided between the left and right parts of the front guide lower plate (1) and the rear guide lower plate (2). The steel strip (8) is used to ensure the flatness of the top surface of the entire guide lower plate. The left and right parts of the front guide lower plate (1) and the rear guide lower plate (2) are respectively equipped with a traction shaft (26) and a winding shaft (27) in coordination with the steel strip (8). As the distance between the left and right parts of the guide lower plate is adjusted, the traction shaft (26) and the winding shaft (27) work together to tighten and loosen the steel strip (8). The steel strip (8) is positioned between the two front guide lower main plates (1) and the two rear guide lower main plates (2), and the tightening and loosening of the steel strip (8) are synchronized with the adjustment of the distance between the left and right parts of the guide lower plates.

6. The dual-station centering device for thermoforming plates with correction function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The guide frame (25) is horizontally positioned at the bottom of the rear guide motherboard (2), and the drive base (23) is positioned on the guide frame (25) and corresponds to the positions of the left and right rear guide motherboards (2).

7. The dual-station centering device for thermoforming plates with correction function according to claim 2, characterized in that, A pair of control valve plates (17) are respectively disposed at the bottom of the left and right parts of the front guide main board (1), and each control valve plate (17) independently adjusts the gas distribution of the corresponding side of the jet port (9).

8. The dual-station centering device for thermoforming plates with correction function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air compressor (13), air tank (14), refrigerated dryer (15) and filter plate (16) are connected in sequence along the airflow direction, and the air outlet of the filter plate (16) is connected to the air inlet of the control valve plate (17).

9. The dual-station centering device for thermoforming plates with correction function according to claim 5, characterized in that, The groove opened on the mounting frame (5) is a horizontal guide groove. The drive shaft (12) is rotatably disposed in the guide groove. The edges of the front guide lower motherboard (1) and the rear guide lower motherboard (2) are in transmission cooperation with the drive shaft (12). When the drive shaft (12) rotates, it drives the front guide lower motherboard (1) and the rear guide lower motherboard (2) to slide along the guide groove.

10. The dual-station centering device for thermoforming plates with correction function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting rods (4) are symmetrically arranged on both sides between the front and rear mounting frames (5), and the two ends of the guide frame (25) are respectively installed on the connecting rods (4) on both sides.

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