A method of feeding sheet material

Abstract

The application relates to the conveying technical field, in particular to a sheet material feeding method; the method comprises the following steps: controlling a push plate assembly to push a stacked sheet material along a first horizontal direction until one side of the stacked sheet material is attached to a baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet material is in a first preset posture; based on the fact that the stacked sheet material is in the first preset posture, confirming the sheet material at the top of the stacked sheet material as a first sheet material; controlling a suction cup assembly to move above the stacked sheet material and adsorb the first sheet material; controlling the suction cup assembly to place the adsorbed first sheet material above a conveying assembly and release the adsorption of the first sheet material; thus, the problem that the negative pressure between the stacked sheet material layers is easy to cause adhesion, the vacuum suction cup is easy to take the lower layer when taking the material, and it is difficult to ensure the stable single sheet feeding is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of conveying technology, and more specifically, to a method for feeding sheet materials. Background Technology

[0002] The shell is typically manufactured using a steel sheet stamping process. In the pre-production stage, vertically stacked sheets are fed one by one to a cutting machine for cutting. The cut sheets are then processed through bending, stamping, and shaping to form the shell. Current feeding methods typically use vacuum suction cups to grip the top layer of stacked sheets.

[0003] However, adjacent sheets can easily adhere tightly due to negative pressure. When the vacuum suction cup adsorbs the top sheet, it can easily lift one or more sheets below it, resulting in two or more sheets being fed into the machine. This can cause abnormal sheet thickness when fed into the cutting equipment, potentially leading to cutting size deviations, tool damage, or sheet scrap, thus affecting production stability and product yield. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a sheet feeding method that can reduce the impact of adjacent sheet adhesion and improve the reliability of single-sheet feeding. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the issues of adhesion caused by negative pressure between stacked sheets, and the tendency for lower layers to be lifted during vacuum suction, making it difficult to ensure stable feeding of single sheets, this application provides a sheet feeding method, including:

[0005] The pusher assembly pushes the stacked sheets along a first horizontal direction until one side of the stacked sheets comes into contact with the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheets are in a first preset posture; wherein, the stacked sheets are vertically stacked multiple layers of sheets; the baffle assembly and the pusher assembly are parallel to each other; the pusher assembly makes an acute angle with the horizontal plane; and the top of the pusher assembly is inclined toward the baffle assembly.

[0006] Based on the stacked sheets being in the first preset posture, the topmost sheet of the stacked sheets is identified as the first sheet;

[0007] The suction cup assembly is moved above the stacked sheets to adsorb the first sheet.

[0008] The suction cup assembly is controlled to place the adsorbed first sheet above the conveying assembly and release the adsorption of the first sheet.

[0009] Optionally, the control pusher assembly pushes the stacked sheet along a first horizontal direction until one side of the stacked sheet abuts against the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in a first preset posture, including:

[0010] The pusher assembly is controlled to push the stacked sheet along a first horizontal direction until one side of the stacked sheet is in contact with the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in an inclined posture; wherein, when the stacked sheet is in the inclined posture, multiple sheets in the stacked sheet move horizontally towards the baffle assembly from bottom to top by a preset distance.

[0011] Based on the stacked sheet being in the tilted posture, the lifting assembly is controlled to lift one end of the first sheet near the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in the first preset posture;

[0012] The first preset posture includes the first sheet forming an acute angle with the horizontal plane; the baffle assembly has a lifting opening; the lifting assembly can extend and retract vertically within the lifting opening to lift the first sheet.

[0013] Optionally, the step of controlling the lifting assembly to lift one end of the first sheet near the baffle assembly based on the stacked sheet being in the tilted posture, so that the stacked sheet is in the first preset posture, includes:

[0014] Based on the stacked sheet being in the tilted posture, the baffle assembly is controlled to move toward the side away from the pusher assembly, so that there is a first movable gap between the stacked sheet and the baffle assembly;

[0015] Based on the first movable gap between the stacked sheet and the baffle assembly, the lifting assembly is controlled to lift the end of the first sheet close to the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in the first preset posture.

[0016] Optionally, the lifting opening is located at the middle position in the vertical direction of the baffle assembly.

[0017] Optionally, the suction cup assembly includes a first suction cup unit and a second suction cup unit;

[0018] The control suction cup assembly moves above the stacked sheets to adsorb the first sheet, including:

[0019] Control the suction cup assembly to move above the stacked sheet so that the first suction cup unit adsorbs the side of the first sheet near the baffle assembly;

[0020] Based on the completion of adsorption by the first suction cup unit, the first suction cup unit is controlled to move upward to a first height so that the first sheet is detached from the lifting assembly;

[0021] Based on the upward movement of the first suction cup unit, the second suction cup unit is controlled to adsorb the side of the first sheet that is close to the push plate assembly.

[0022] Optionally, the suction cup assembly further includes a third suction cup unit;

[0023] The control suction cup assembly moves above the stacked sheets to adsorb the first sheet, and further includes:

[0024] Once the second suction cup unit has completed its adsorption, the third suction cup unit is controlled to adsorb the middle portion of the first sheet.

[0025] Optionally, the adsorption area of ​​the third suction cup unit with the first sheet is a first preset area; the adsorption areas of the first suction cup unit and the second suction cup unit with the first sheet are respectively a second preset area; the first preset area is smaller than the second preset area.

[0026] Optionally, controlling the suction cup assembly to place the adsorbed first sheet above the conveying assembly and releasing the adsorption of the first sheet includes:

[0027] The suction cup assembly is controlled to place the adsorbed first sheet above the conveying assembly;

[0028] Control the first suction cup unit and the second suction cup unit to release the adsorption force on the first sheet;

[0029] Based on the release of the adsorption force by the first suction cup unit and the second suction cup unit, the third suction cup unit is controlled to release the adsorption force on the first sheet.

[0030] Optionally, the sheet feeding method further includes:

[0031] Based on the first sheet being placed above the conveying assembly, the baffle assembly is controlled to reset so that the baffle assembly and the pusher assembly clamp the stacked sheet;

[0032] Based on the completion of the baffle assembly reset, the control top conveying assembly moves the stacked sheet upward to a second height, and returns to the execution based on the stacked sheet being in the tilted posture, controlling the lifting assembly to lift the end of the first sheet near the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in the first preset posture; wherein, the second height is equal to the vertical thickness of a single piece of the first sheet.

[0033] Optionally, the vertical height of the pusher assembly and the baffle assembly is 110% to 120% of the initial total height of the stacked sheets.

[0034] To address the issues of adhesion caused by negative pressure between stacked sheets, and the tendency for lower layers to be lifted during vacuum suction, making it difficult to ensure stable feeding of single sheets, this application offers the following advantages:

[0035] By cooperating with the pusher and baffle assemblies, the stacked sheets are pushed along the first horizontal direction, causing them to tilt and shift. The actual overlapping contact area between adjacent layers is significantly reduced compared to when stacked flush, and the interlayer air gap increases accordingly. This greatly weakens the negative pressure adsorption force formed by atmospheric pressure between the upper and lower sheets. The reduction in negative pressure directly lowers the interlayer viscous resistance. Therefore, when the suction cup assembly moves above the stacked sheets to adsorb the topmost sheet, its adsorption force reliably overcomes the weight of the top sheet and the residual contact force between adjacent sheets, reducing the possibility of the second and third layers being lifted by the negative pressure. This effectively reduces erroneous actions when adsorbing multiple layers of sheets. After adsorbing a single sheet, the suction cup assembly moves the first sheet above the conveying assembly and releases it, ultimately achieving automated single-sheet transfer from the loading station to the conveying station, significantly improving the stability of the loading cycle and the consistency of incoming materials. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 A flowchart of a sheet feeding method according to one embodiment is shown;

[0037] Figure 2 A simplified schematic diagram of a sheet feeding device according to one embodiment is shown;

[0038] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a lifting assembly lifting a first sheet is shown in one embodiment;

[0039] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the lifting assembly lifting the first sheet is shown;

[0040] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a baffle assembly according to one embodiment is shown;

[0041] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a suction cup assembly according to one embodiment is shown.

[0042] Reference numerals: Push plate assembly 10; Baffle assembly 20; Baffle body 21; Lifting port 22; Suction cup assembly 30; First suction cup unit 31; Second suction cup unit 32; Third suction cup unit 33; Body unit 34; Lifting assembly 40; Top conveying assembly 50; Stacking sheet 60; Conveying assembly 70; Guide rail assembly 80; First horizontal direction Q1. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are discussed only to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and thus implement the present disclosure, and are not intended to imply any limitation on the scope of the disclosure.

[0044] As used herein, the term "comprising" and its variations are to be interpreted as open-ended terms meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" is to be interpreted as "at least partially based on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" are to be interpreted as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" is to be interpreted as "at least one other embodiment". The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "vertical", "horizontal", "lateral", "longitudinal", etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation or being constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the above terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientations or positional relationships; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. In addition, the terms "installed", "set up", "equipped with", "connected", and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are mainly used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (the specific types and structures may be the same or different), and are not used to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0045] In this embodiment, a sheet feeding method is provided, such as... Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6As shown, the feeding device applied to the sheet feeding method includes a pusher assembly 10, a baffle assembly 20, a suction cup assembly 30, a lifting assembly 40, a conveying assembly 50, a stacked sheet 60, a conveying assembly 70, and a guide rail assembly 80. The baffle assembly 20 includes a baffle body 21 and a lifting opening 22 disposed on the baffle body 21; the suction cup assembly 30 includes a first suction cup unit 31, a second suction cup unit 32, a third suction cup unit 33, and a main body unit 34 for supporting each suction cup unit. The pusher assembly 10 and the baffle assembly 20 are arranged opposite each other to clamp and position the stacked sheet 60. The terms "the side closer to the baffle assembly 20" and "the side closer to the pusher assembly 10" used herein refer to the relative position of the stacked sheet 60 between the pusher assembly 10 and the baffle assembly 20. The main body unit 34 moves on the guide rail assembly 80, which provides guidance for the reciprocating motion of the suction cup assembly 30 between the stacked sheet 60 and the conveying assembly 70.

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, the sheet feeding method includes steps S10 to S40. The sheet feeding method executes steps S10, S20, S30 and S40 sequentially.

[0047] In step S10, the pusher assembly 10 is controlled to push the stacked sheet 60 along the first horizontal direction Q1 until one side of the stacked sheet 60 is in contact with the baffle assembly 20. The stacked sheet 60 is formed by vertically stacking multiple layers of sheets. The pusher assembly 10 and the baffle assembly 20 are parallel to each other, the pusher assembly 10 is set at an acute angle relative to the horizontal plane, and its top tip is inclined towards the baffle assembly 20. The stacked sheet 60 is reliably clamped by the pusher assembly 10 and the baffle assembly 20, and the position of each layer of sheet is relatively fixed to facilitate the reliable feeding of the subsequent stacked sheet 60.

[0048] Step S20: Based on the stacked sheet 60 being in a first preset posture, the topmost sheet of the stacked sheet 60 is identified as the first sheet.

[0049] Step S30: Control the suction cup assembly 30 to move above the stacked sheet 60 and adsorb the first sheet.

[0050] In step S40, the suction cup assembly 30 is controlled to place the first sheet material above the conveying assembly 70 and release the suction of the first sheet material, so that the first sheet material is continued to be conveyed by the conveying assembly 70 to the subsequent cutting equipment, thereby realizing the automated feeding and supply of single sheets in the stacked sheets 60.

[0051] In this embodiment, the pusher assembly 10 and the baffle assembly 20 work together to push the stacked sheet 60 along the first horizontal direction Q1, causing the stacked sheet 60 to shift and tilt. The actual overlapping contact area between two adjacent layers of sheets is significantly reduced compared to when they are stacked flat, and the air gap between layers increases accordingly. This greatly weakens the negative pressure adsorption force formed between the upper and lower sheets due to atmospheric pressure. The weakening of negative pressure directly reduces the interlayer viscous resistance. Therefore, when the suction cup assembly 30 moves above the stacked sheet 60 to adsorb the topmost sheet, its adsorption force reliably overcomes the weight of the top sheet and the residual contact force, reducing the possibility of the second and third layers of sheets being lifted by the negative pressure, thereby effectively reducing the false action of adsorbing multiple layers of sheets. After the single sheet adsorption is completed, the suction cup assembly 30 moves the first sheet above the conveying assembly 70 and releases the adsorption, finally realizing the automated single-sheet transfer of the sheet from the loading station to the conveying station, significantly improving the stability of the loading cycle and the consistency of incoming materials.

[0052] Further, step S10 includes steps S11 and S12. The sheet feeding method executes steps S11, S12, S20, S30 and S40 in sequence.

[0053] In step S11, the pusher assembly 10 is controlled to push the stacked sheet 60 along the first horizontal direction Q1 until one side of the stacked sheet 60 is in contact with the baffle assembly 20, so that the stacked sheet 60 is in an inclined posture. While the stacked sheet 60 is in an inclined posture, multiple sheets in the stacked sheet 60 move horizontally towards the baffle assembly 20 sequentially from bottom to top a predetermined distance.

[0054] In step S12, based on the stacked sheet 60 being in an inclined position, the lifting assembly 40 is controlled to lift the end of the first sheet near the baffle assembly 20, so that the stacked sheet 60 is in a first preset posture. The first preset posture includes the first sheet forming an acute angle with the horizontal plane, the baffle assembly 20 having a lifting opening 22, and the lifting assembly 40 being able to extend and retract vertically within the lifting opening 22 to lift the first sheet.

[0055] It should be understood that the process of stacked sheet 60 entering the first preset posture is divided into two stages.

[0056] The first stage is the formation of the tilted posture: the pusher assembly 10 is controlled to push the stacked sheet 60 along the first horizontal direction Q1, so that one side of it is in contact with the baffle assembly 20. Since the pusher assembly 10 itself is tilted at an acute angle, during the pushing process, multiple sheets in the stacked sheet 60 move horizontally towards the baffle assembly 20 from bottom to top in sequence by a preset distance, and the whole presents a tilted posture.

[0057] The second stage is lifting and separation: Since the stacked sheet 60 is already in an inclined position, the lifting component 40 extends vertically through the lifting opening 22 on the baffle component 20, lifting the end of the first sheet closest to the baffle component 20. This lifting component 40 lifts the first sheet, allowing air to enter the gap where the first sheet is lifted, thus preventing the suction cup component 30 from adsorbing the sheet below, ensuring reliable feeding of individual sheets. After lifting, a waiting time of 2-5 seconds is maintained to allow air to fully enter the gap between the first sheet and its lower layer, further breaking the negative pressure adhesion. After lifting, the first sheet forms an acute angle with the horizontal plane, and the stacked sheet 60 enters the first preset posture. At this point, the position of the first sheet is clear and it is initially separated from the lower layer, reducing the negative pressure adhesion between adjacent sheets.

[0058] Further, step S12 includes steps S121 and S122. The sheet feeding method executes steps S11, S121, S122, S20, S30 and S40 in sequence.

[0059] Step S121: Based on the stacked sheet 60 being in an inclined position, control the baffle assembly 20 to move toward the side away from the pusher assembly 10, so that there is a first movable gap between the stacked sheet 60 and the baffle assembly 20.

[0060] Step S122: Based on the first movable gap between the stacked sheet 60 and the baffle assembly 20, control the lifting assembly 40 to lift the end of the first sheet close to the baffle assembly 20 so that the stacked sheet 60 is in a first preset posture.

[0061] It should be understood that, in order to further improve the smoothness and safety of the lifting operation, the baffle assembly 20 is moved backward before the lifting assembly 40 is controlled to lift. Specifically, since the stacked sheet 60 is already in an inclined position, the baffle assembly 20 is first controlled to move away from the pusher assembly 10 (i.e., Figure 3The stacked sheet 60 is moved a certain distance to the right, creating a first movable gap between it and the baffle assembly 20. This retraction operation has multiple functions: firstly, the gap facilitates air entry into the area between the first sheet and the baffle assembly 20; secondly, it prevents frictional damage between the first sheet and the baffle assembly 20 and the pusher assembly 10 during the lifting process; furthermore, the rightward movement of the baffle assembly 20 allows the first sheet to come into contact with the pusher assembly 10, which makes the stacked sheet 60 more stable than the leftward retraction of the pusher assembly 10. After the first movable gap is formed, the lifting assembly 40 is controlled to lift the end of the first sheet closest to the baffle assembly 20 through this gap, so that the stacked sheet 60 finally enters the first preset posture. Thus, through the two-step coordination of retraction and lifting, the smooth implementation of the lifting operation is ensured, and frictional wear between the sheet and the assembly is avoided.

[0062] Figure 3 and Figure 4 These are two different embodiments of this application. Figure 4 The lifting opening 22 is located vertically above the baffle body 21, eliminating the need for the baffle assembly 20 to retract, thus enabling the lifting operation of the first sheet.

[0063] Furthermore, the lifting opening 22 is located at the center of the baffle assembly 20 in the vertical direction. It should be understood that, as... Figure 3 , Figure 5 As shown, the baffle assembly 20 includes a baffle body 21, and a lifting opening 22 is formed on the baffle body 21. The lifting opening 22 is located at the middle position in the vertical direction of the baffle assembly 20, which helps to ensure the stability of the lifting. Specifically, the lifting opening 22 at the middle position is adapted to the aforementioned step of the baffle assembly 20 retracting, so that after the baffle assembly 20 retracts, the lifting component 40 in the lifting opening 22 can accurately align with the end of the first sheet near the baffle assembly 20 to perform the lifting operation, which can apply a balanced lifting force to the first sheet and avoid uneven force or skewed posture of the first sheet due to the offset of the lifting point.

[0064] Further, step S30 includes steps S31 to S33. The sheet feeding method executes steps S11, S121, S122, S20, S31, S32, S33 and S40 in sequence.

[0065] Step S31: Control the suction cup assembly 30 to move above the stacked sheet 60 so that the first suction cup unit 31 adsorbs the side of the first sheet near the baffle assembly 20.

[0066] Step S32: Based on the completion of adsorption by the first suction cup unit 31, control the first suction cup unit 31 to move upward to a first height so that the first sheet is detached from the lifting assembly 40.

[0067] Step S33: Based on the upward movement of the first suction cup unit 31, control the second suction cup unit 32 to adsorb the side of the first sheet that is close to the push plate assembly 10.

[0068] It should be understood that the first suction cup unit 31 and the second suction cup unit 32 are used to perform zoned adsorption on different areas of the first sheet. The adsorption process adopts a step-by-step sequential adsorption strategy: First, the suction cup assembly 30 is controlled to move above the stacked sheet 60, so that the first suction cup unit 31 adsorbs the side of the first sheet near the baffle assembly 20 (i.e., the side that has been lifted). The first suction cup unit 31 first performs initial adsorption on the larger area of ​​this side. Based on the completion of adsorption by the first suction cup unit 31, the first suction cup unit 31 is controlled to move upward to a first height, so that the first sheet is completely detached from the lifting assembly 40; during the upward movement, air can further enter the gap between the first sheet and the sheet below it, further weakening the negative pressure adhesion state. Subsequently, based on the completion of the upward movement of the first suction cup unit 31, the second suction cup unit 32 is controlled to adsorb the side of the first sheet near the pusher assembly 10. At this point, the two sides of the first sheet are firmly adsorbed by the first suction cup unit 31 and the second suction cup unit 32 respectively, and air has fully entered between the first sheet and the adjacent sheet. The first sheet will no longer be negatively pressured to stick to the lower sheet, thus effectively ensuring the reliability of the feeding.

[0069] Furthermore, step S30 also includes step S34. The sheet feeding method sequentially executes steps S11, S121, S122, S20, S31, S32, S33, S34 and S40.

[0070] Step S34: Based on the completion of adsorption by the second suction cup unit 32, the third suction cup unit 33 is controlled to adsorb the middle position of the first sheet. It should be understood that after the second suction cup unit 32 completes adsorption on the side of the first sheet near the push plate assembly 10, the third suction cup unit 33 is further controlled to adsorb the middle position of the first sheet. By adding the auxiliary adsorption of the middle of the first sheet by the third suction cup unit 33, the stability of adsorption can be increased, thereby further improving the overall reliability of the suction cup assembly 30 in adsorbing the first sheet and ensuring that the first sheet will not slip or shift its posture during subsequent transfer.

[0071] Furthermore, the adsorption area of ​​the third suction cup unit 33 with the first sheet is a first preset area; the adsorption areas of the first suction cup unit 31 and the second suction cup unit 32 with the first sheet are respectively a second preset area; the first preset area is smaller than the second preset area.

[0072] It should be understood that the first preset area is smaller than the second preset area. This area design consideration is as follows: the first suction cup unit 31 and the second suction cup unit 32 bear the main adsorption and bearing functions, requiring a larger adsorption area to provide sufficient adsorption force to overcome the weight of the sheet and maintain stability during the transfer process; while the third suction cup unit 33 mainly plays an auxiliary stabilizing role, and a smaller adsorption area can meet the requirements. At the same time, when the first sheet is in the first preset posture, and the third suction cup unit 33 adsorbs the first sheet in an inclined state, reducing the adsorption area can further improve the adsorption reliability.

[0073] Further, step S40 includes steps S41 to S43. The sheet feeding method executes steps S11, S121, S122, S20, S31, S32, S33, S34, S41, S42 and S43 in sequence.

[0074] Step S41: Control the suction cup assembly 30 to place the first sheet material it has been adsorbed on the conveying assembly 70.

[0075] Step S42: Control the first suction cup unit 31 and the second suction cup unit 32 to release the adsorption force on the first sheet.

[0076] Step S43: Based on the release of the adsorption force on the first sheet by the first suction cup unit 31 and the second suction cup unit 32, control the third suction cup unit 33 to release the adsorption force on the first sheet.

[0077] It should be understood that this release sequence allows the first sheet to still be held in place by the third suction cup unit 33 in the middle during the initial placement phase, and the suction is completely released after the first sheet has been stably placed on the conveying assembly 70. This helps to reduce the attitude deviation of the sheet on the conveying assembly 70 and maintain the sheet regularity required for subsequent cutting.

[0078] Furthermore, the sheet feeding method also includes steps S50 and S60. The sheet feeding method executes steps S11, S12, S20, S30, S40, S50 and S60 in sequence.

[0079] In step S50, based on the first sheet being placed above the conveying assembly 70, the baffle assembly 20 is reset so that the baffle assembly 20 and the pusher assembly 10 clamp the stacked sheet 60.

[0080] In step S60, after the baffle assembly 20 has been reset, the top conveying assembly 50 is controlled to move the stacked sheet 60 upward to a second height, and then the process returns to step S12. The second height is equal to the vertical thickness of a single first sheet.

[0081] It should be understood that after the first sheet is successfully placed on the conveying assembly 70, a reset and top-feeding operation is performed to prepare for the next round of feeding. First, the baffle assembly 20 is reset, so that the baffle assembly 20 and the pusher assembly 10 re-clamp the remaining stacked sheets 60. If top-feeding is performed directly before the baffle assembly 20 is reset, the stacked sheets 60 may collapse or become unstable due to the loss of unilateral constraint from the baffle assembly 20; therefore, resetting the baffle assembly 20 first and then top-feeding can effectively prevent collapse during the top-feeding process. Based on the completion of the baffle assembly 20 reset, the top-feeding assembly 50 is controlled to move the entire stacked sheets 60 up to a second height, which is equal to the vertical thickness of a single first sheet, thereby raising the new top sheet to approximately the same height as the previous first sheet. It is worth noting that the upward movement of the top-feeding component 50 is parallel to that of the pusher assembly 10, i.e., it moves upward along an inclined direction, to ensure that the stacked sheet 60 maintains a good contact with the pusher assembly 10 and the baffle assembly 20 throughout the top-feeding process. After the top-feeding is completed, the next feeding cycle begins. With the cooperation of the top-feeding component 50, the positional accuracy requirement of the suction cup assembly 30 during suction is reduced. That is, after each top-feeding, the topmost sheet is always at a fixed target height, and the suction cup assembly 30 does not need to re-search and reposition the sheet height each time, thereby improving overall reliability and efficiency.

[0082] Furthermore, the vertical height of the pusher assembly 10 and the baffle assembly 20 is 110% to 120% of the initial total height of the stacked sheet 60.

[0083] It should be understood that, in the initial stage of feeding, the vertical height can cover the height range of the stacked sheet 60; during the pushing, baffle retraction, lifting and continuous material removal processes, the push plate assembly 10 and the baffle assembly 20 can provide effective limiting for the stacked sheet 60, thereby helping to maintain the overall stability of the stacked sheet 60.

[0084] In use, the sheet feeding method of this application first places vertically stacked multi-layer sheets (stacked sheets 60) between the pusher assembly 10 and the baffle assembly 20; the pusher assembly 10 is controlled to push the stacked sheets 60 along the first horizontal direction Q1 until they are in contact with the baffle assembly 20, so that the stacked sheets 60 enter an inclined posture; then the baffle assembly 20 is controlled to retract to form a first movable gap, and then the lifting assembly 40 is controlled to lift the end of the first sheet near the baffle assembly 20 through the lifting port 22, so that the stacked sheets 60 enter a first preset posture; then the suction cup assembly 30 is controlled to move above the stacked sheets 60, and the first suction cup unit 3 is pressed. The first sheet is adsorbed in stages: adsorption, lifting to a first height, adsorption by the second suction cup unit 32, and adsorption by the third suction cup unit 33. After adsorption, the suction cup assembly 30 is controlled to move the first sheet above the conveying assembly 70. The first suction cup unit 31 and the second suction cup unit 32 release the adsorption force on the first sheet first, followed by the third suction cup unit 33 releasing the adsorption force on the first sheet. Finally, the baffle assembly 20 is controlled to reset and clamp the stacked sheet 60, and the top conveying assembly 50 is controlled to move the stacked sheet 60 to a second height equal to the sheet thickness, returning to the lifting step to begin the next cycle. The sheet can be used to manufacture components such as fuel tank housings and muffler housings.

[0085] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific examples of implementing this disclosure, and in practical applications, various changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for feeding sheet material, characterized in that, The sheet feeding method includes: The pusher assembly pushes the stacked sheets along a first horizontal direction until one side of the stacked sheets comes into contact with the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheets are in a first preset posture; wherein, the stacked sheets are vertically stacked multiple layers of sheets; the baffle assembly and the pusher assembly are parallel to each other; the pusher assembly makes an acute angle with the horizontal plane; and the top of the pusher assembly is inclined toward the baffle assembly. Based on the stacked sheets being in the first preset posture, the topmost sheet of the stacked sheets is identified as the first sheet; The suction cup assembly is moved above the stacked sheets to adsorb the first sheet. The suction cup assembly is controlled to place the adsorbed first sheet above the conveying assembly and release the adsorption of the first sheet.

2. The sheet feeding method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control pusher assembly pushes the stacked sheet along a first horizontal direction until one side of the stacked sheet is in contact with the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in a first preset posture, including: The pusher assembly is controlled to push the stacked sheet along a first horizontal direction until one side of the stacked sheet is in contact with the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in an inclined posture; wherein, when the stacked sheet is in the inclined posture, multiple sheets in the stacked sheet move horizontally towards the baffle assembly from bottom to top by a preset distance. Based on the stacked sheet being in the tilted posture, the lifting assembly is controlled to lift one end of the first sheet near the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in the first preset posture; The first preset posture includes the first sheet forming an acute angle with the horizontal plane; the baffle assembly has a lifting opening; the lifting assembly can extend and retract vertically within the lifting opening to lift the first sheet.

3. The sheet feeding method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of controlling the lifting assembly to lift one end of the first sheet near the baffle assembly based on the stacked sheet being in the tilted posture, so that the stacked sheet is in the first preset posture, includes: Based on the stacked sheet being in the tilted posture, the baffle assembly is controlled to move toward the side away from the pusher assembly, so that there is a first movable gap between the stacked sheet and the baffle assembly; Based on the first movable gap between the stacked sheet and the baffle assembly, the lifting assembly is controlled to lift the end of the first sheet close to the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in the first preset posture.

4. The sheet feeding method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The lifting opening is located at the middle of the vertical direction of the baffle assembly.

5. The sheet feeding method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The suction cup assembly includes a first suction cup unit and a second suction cup unit; The control suction cup assembly moves above the stacked sheets to adsorb the first sheet, including: Control the suction cup assembly to move above the stacked sheet so that the first suction cup unit adsorbs the side of the first sheet near the baffle assembly; Based on the completion of adsorption by the first suction cup unit, the first suction cup unit is controlled to move upward to a first height so that the first sheet is detached from the lifting assembly; Based on the upward movement of the first suction cup unit, the second suction cup unit is controlled to adsorb the side of the first sheet that is close to the push plate assembly.

6. The sheet feeding method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The suction cup assembly also includes a third suction cup unit; The control suction cup assembly moves above the stacked sheets to adsorb the first sheet, and further includes: Once the second suction cup unit has completed its adsorption, the third suction cup unit is controlled to adsorb the middle portion of the first sheet.

7. A sheet feeding method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The adsorption area of ​​the third suction cup unit with the first sheet is a first preset area; the adsorption areas of the first suction cup unit and the second suction cup unit with the first sheet are respectively a second preset area; the first preset area is smaller than the second preset area.

8. A sheet feeding method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control of the suction cup assembly to place the adsorbed first sheet above the conveying assembly and to release the adsorption of the first sheet includes: The suction cup assembly is controlled to place the adsorbed first sheet above the conveying assembly; Control the first suction cup unit and the second suction cup unit to release the adsorption force on the first sheet; Based on the release of the adsorption force by the first suction cup unit and the second suction cup unit, the third suction cup unit is controlled to release the adsorption force on the first sheet.

9. A sheet feeding method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sheet feeding method further includes: Based on the first sheet being placed above the conveying assembly, the baffle assembly is controlled to reset so that the baffle assembly and the pusher assembly clamp the stacked sheet; Based on the completion of the baffle assembly reset, the control top conveying assembly moves the stacked sheet upward to a second height, and returns to the execution based on the stacked sheet being in the tilted posture, controlling the lifting assembly to lift the end of the first sheet near the baffle assembly, so that the stacked sheet is in the first preset posture; wherein, the second height is equal to the vertical thickness of a single piece of the first sheet.

10. A sheet feeding method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vertical height of the pusher assembly and the baffle assembly is 110% to 120% of the initial total height of the stacked sheets.

Images