USB-c workpiece welding apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses a USB-C workpiece welding device, and relates to the technical field of machining equipment. The USB-C workpiece welding device comprises a base, a transmission assembly line, a linear module, two welding mechanisms, a taking-carrying mechanical hand and a carrying mechanism. The transmission assembly line, the linear module and the welding mechanisms are installed on the base. The linear module and the welding mechanisms are located above the transmission assembly line. The taking-carrying mechanical hand comprises a sliding block connecting plate, a mounting plate and at least two clamping jaw assemblies. The sliding block connecting plate is connected with the moving end of the linear module. The mounting plate is fixed on the sliding block connecting plate. The two clamping jaw assemblies are installed on the mounting plate at intervals. The clamping jaw assemblies are used for clamping welding fixtures. The carrying mechanism is used for fixing the welding fixtures, so that the welding mechanisms weld workpieces on the welding fixtures on the carrying mechanism. The technical effect of the technical scheme provided by the application is that multiple workpiece fixtures can be simultaneously gripped to match the welding operation rhythm of the welding mechanisms, so that the working efficiency of the whole USB-C workpiece welding device is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of processing equipment technology, and in particular to a USB-C workpiece welding device. Background Technology

[0002] In the industrial manufacturing sector, automated welding has become a key means to improve production efficiency and ensure product quality. Existing automated welding workstations typically include a welding robot, a loading mechanism for moving workpieces, and supporting positioning and clamping mechanisms. The general workflow is as follows: the loading mechanism picks up the workpiece from the loading position, moves it to the welding station for positioning and clamping, then the welding robot performs the welding operation, and finally the workpiece is moved to the unloading position.

[0003] However, under the existing processing mode, within a single work cycle, the loading mechanism only serves the movement and positioning of one workpiece, failing to fully leverage its high-speed and high-precision performance advantages. Because only one workpiece can be processed per work cycle, the overall production cycle time is limited by the cumulative time of all processes. This results in the welding robot only performing welding operations for a short period after workpiece positioning, while spending most of its time idle waiting for the loading mechanism to perform auxiliary tasks such as loading and transferring, significantly reducing the overall efficiency of the welding equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a USB-C workpiece welding device, which is designed to be equipped with a clamp that can simultaneously grip multiple workpieces to match the welding operation rhythm of the welding mechanism, thereby improving the overall working efficiency of the USB-C workpiece welding device.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a USB-C workpiece welding device, the USB-C workpiece welding device comprising: Base; A transport assembly line, wherein the transport assembly line is mounted on the base; A linear module, which is mounted on the base and located above the conveyor line; Two welding mechanisms are mounted on the base and located above the conveyor line; A carrier-grabbing robot includes a slider connecting plate, a mounting plate, and at least two gripper assemblies. The slider connecting plate is connected to the moving end of the linear module. The mounting plate is fixed to the slider connecting plate. The two gripper assemblies are spaced apart on the mounting plate and oriented towards the conveyor line. The gripper assemblies are used to hold welding fixtures. A loading mechanism is provided adjacent to the welding mechanism for fixing a welding fixture, so that the welding mechanism can weld the workpiece on the welding fixture on the loading mechanism. The two welding mechanisms are located on both sides of the loading mechanism so that the two welding mechanisms can simultaneously weld two positions of the workpiece on the welding fixture on the loading mechanism. In this embodiment, one of the two gripper assemblies of the carrier-retrieving robot is used to grip the welding fixture of the conveyor line and transfer it to the loading mechanism for positioning and fixing, while the other gripper assembly is used to transfer the welded fixture from the loading mechanism to the conveyor line.

[0006] In one embodiment, the gripper assembly includes: A gripper cylinder is mounted on the mounting plate. Two grippers, each gripper connected to a telescopic rod of a gripper cylinder; and Two adjusting plates, each of which is connected to one of the grippers; The gripper cylinder is used to move the two adjusting plates closer together or further apart to grip or release the welding fixture.

[0007] In one embodiment, each of the two adjusting plates has at least one spring plunger on one side facing each other, the spring plunger being used to elastically abut against the welding fixture.

[0008] In one embodiment, each of the two adjustment plates has at least one positioning pin on one side facing each other, the positioning pin being used to be inserted into the positioning hole of the welding fixture for positioning.

[0009] In one embodiment, the carrier-grabbing robot further includes two photoelectric sensors, each of which is disposed on a gripper assembly and is used to detect whether the gripper assembly is holding a welding fixture.

[0010] In one embodiment, the transport pipeline includes: A production line body, the production line body being used to transport welding fixtures loaded with unprocessed workpieces and welding fixtures loaded with welded workpieces; and A lifting assembly, located below the production line body, is used to lift the welding fixture of the unprocessed workpiece so that the pick-up robot can grasp it.

[0011] In one embodiment, the lifting assembly includes: A slide cylinder, wherein the slide cylinder is connected to the assembly line body; and A lifting positioning plate is provided, which is connected to the telescopic rod of the slide cylinder and is used to pass through the production line body to lift the welding fixture; a positioning post is provided on the side of the lifting positioning plate facing away from the slide cylinder, and the positioning post is used to insert and cooperate with the positioning hole of the welding fixture.

[0012] In one embodiment, the conveyor line further includes a blocking mechanism, the blocking mechanism comprising: A brake cylinder, wherein the brake cylinder is connected to the assembly line body; and A blocking block is connected to the telescopic rod of the brake cylinder, and a roller is rotatably connected to one end of the blocking block away from the telescopic rod of the brake cylinder. The brake cylinder is used to lift the blocking block to prevent the welding fixture from continuing to be transported on the production line body.

[0013] In one embodiment, the transport pipeline further includes a check valve mechanism, the check valve mechanism comprising: Check valve seat, the check valve seat being connected to the production line body; and A check block is rotatably connected to the check seat, and the check block is provided with a guide slope that is inclined upward in the transmission direction of the transmission pipeline.

[0014] The technical solution of this invention, a USB-C workpiece welding equipment, includes a base, a conveyor line, a linear module, a welding mechanism, a carrier-grabbing robot, and a loading mechanism. The conveyor line is mounted on the base and is used to transport welding fixtures. The linear module is located above the conveyor line, and its moving end is connected to the carrier-grabbing robot. The welding mechanism is located above the conveyor line, and the loading mechanism is arranged adjacent to the welding mechanism to fix the welding fixtures for welding operations. The carrier-grabbing robot includes a slider connecting plate, a mounting plate, and gripper assemblies. The slider connecting plate is connected to the linear module, the mounting plate is fixed to the slider connecting plate, and the gripper assemblies are spaced apart on the mounting plate for holding the welding fixtures. By setting up an independent conveyor line and cooperating with the two gripper components of the carrier-lifting robot to achieve a multi-station collaborative operation mechanism, while the welding mechanism is completing the welding of the current workpiece, one gripper component of the carrier-lifting robot has already positioned the next workpiece to the loading mechanism. At this time, the other gripper component of the carrier-lifting robot picks up the workpiece that has been welded and places the next workpiece in place. This enables the welding mechanism to perform welding operations continuously, significantly improving equipment utilization. At the same time, the symmetrical layout of the dual welding mechanisms allows the welding actions on both sides to be performed in parallel, directly eliminating the waiting time between processes, and eliminating the need for additional moving tracks or rotating mechanisms, thus avoiding the problem of increased equipment complexity caused by adding execution units. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure of an embodiment of the USB-C workpiece welding device provided by the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the robotic arm for picking up a USB-C workpiece welding device provided by the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the conveyor line of the USB-C workpiece welding equipment provided by the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting assembly of the USB-C workpiece welding equipment provided by the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the blocking mechanism of the USB-C workpiece welding equipment provided by the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the check mechanism of the USB-C workpiece welding equipment provided by the present invention.

[0017] Explanation of icon numbers: 10. Base; 20. Conveyor line; 21. Conveyor line body; 22. Lifting assembly; 221. Slide cylinder; 222. Lifting positioning plate; 222a. Positioning column; 23. Blocking mechanism; 231. Braking cylinder; 232. Blocking block; 24. Check mechanism; 241. Check seat; 242. Check block; 30. Linear module; 40. Welding mechanism; 50. Carrier-retrieving robot; 51. Slider connecting plate; 52. Mounting plate; 53. Gripper assembly; 531. Gripper cylinder; 532. Gripper; 533. Adjusting plate; 533a. Spring plunger; 533b. Positioning pin; 54. Photoelectric sensor; 60. Loading mechanism.

[0018] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0021] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0022] In existing technologies, automated welding equipment typically employs a serial operation mode, where a feeding mechanism sequentially transfers workpieces to the welding station. After completing its task, the welding robot enters a waiting state until the next workpiece arrives. This mode results in a short effective working time for the welding robot, low equipment utilization, and an overall production cycle time limited by the cumulative time of each process, making it difficult to meet the demands for high-efficiency production.

[0023] To address the aforementioned issues, a technical solution is needed to reduce equipment downtime and improve the continuity of welding operations.

[0024] Therefore, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 This application proposes a technical solution for a USB-C workpiece welding equipment, including a base 10, a conveyor line 20, a linear module 30, a welding mechanism 40, a carrier-retrieving robot 50, and a loading mechanism 60. The conveyor line 20 is mounted on the base 10 and is used to transport welding fixtures; the linear module 30 is located above the conveyor line 20, and its moving end is connected to the carrier-retrieving robot 50; the welding mechanism 40 is located above the conveyor line 20, and the loading mechanism 60 is arranged adjacent to the welding mechanism 40 for fixing the welding fixtures to perform welding operations. The carrier-retrieving robot 50 includes a slider connecting plate 51, a mounting plate 52, and gripper assemblies 53. The slider connecting plate 51 is connected to the linear module 30, the mounting plate 52 is fixed to the slider connecting plate 51, and the gripper assemblies 53 are spaced apart on the mounting plate 52 for holding the welding fixtures.

[0025] In this embodiment, the conveyor line 20 refers to a conveying device for continuously conveying welding fixtures, which can be implemented using a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor. The linear module 30 refers to a precision transmission mechanism that drives the robot to perform linear motion, which can be implemented using a combination of a ball screw and a servo motor, and is used to precisely control the movement trajectory of the gripper assembly 53. The welding mechanism 40 refers to the equipment that performs the welding operation, which can be implemented using a laser welding head or a resistance welding machine. Its installation position must correspond to the loading mechanism 60 to ensure welding accuracy. The gripper assembly 53 of the carrier robot 50 clamps the welding fixture through a clamping action. The two gripper assemblies 53 are arranged at intervals. One gripper assembly 53 of the carrier robot 50 is used to clamp the welding fixture of the conveyor line 20 and transfer it to the loading mechanism 60 for positioning and fixing. The other gripper assembly 53 is used to transfer the welded fixture from the loading mechanism 60 to the conveyor line 20. Multiple welding fixtures can be processed simultaneously. The loading mechanism 60 refers to the positioning platform used to fix the welding fixture. Specifically, it can be implemented by pneumatic fixtures or electromagnetic chucks, and its surface can be provided with positioning pins 533b to cooperate with the fixture holes.

[0026] Specifically, the conveyor line 20 continuously transports the welding fixture loaded with the workpiece to a predetermined position, and the linear module 30 drives the carrier-retrieving robot 50 to move along the conveying direction. When the welding fixture reaches the designated station, a gripper assembly 53 clamps the welding fixture and transfers it to the loading mechanism 60 for positioning and fixation. The welding mechanism 40 performs welding operations on the workpieces on the loading mechanism 60. At the same time, the conveyor line 20 continues to transport the next fixture to be processed. When the linear module 30 drives the carrier-retrieving robot 50 back to the conveyor line 20, the welding fixture reaches the designated station. One gripper assembly 53 clamps the welding fixture and transfers it to the loading mechanism 60. At this time, the welding mechanism 40 completes the welding of the previous workpiece on the loading mechanism 60. The other gripper assembly 53 of the carrier-retrieving robot 50 clamps the previous workpiece that has been welded and transfers the next unwelded workpiece on one gripper assembly 53 to the loading mechanism 60. The welding mechanism 40 continues to perform welding operations on the workpieces on the loading mechanism 60. This cycle continues. Through the coordinated action of the independent conveyor line 20 and the two gripper assemblies 53 of the carrier-retrieving robot 50, the continuous gripping and transfer of fixtures is achieved, enabling the welding mechanism 40 to work alternately at different stations and eliminating the waiting time between processes.

[0027] Compared with existing technologies, traditional solutions rely on a single robotic arm to sequentially perform loading and transfer actions, resulting in a significant amount of idle time for the welding mechanism 40. This solution, by setting up an independent conveyor line 20 and a multi-station collaborative operation mechanism, allows the welding mechanism 40 to complete the welding of the current workpiece while the next workpiece is already positioned in the loading mechanism 60, thereby achieving continuous execution of welding operations and significantly improving equipment utilization.

[0028] Through the above technical solutions, this application achieves parallel execution of the welding process and the fixture transfer process, effectively reducing the idle waiting time of the welding mechanism 40 and improving the overall production cycle time. The cooperative design of the gripper assembly 53 and the linear module 30 ensures that the fixture transfer process is fast and accurate, the fixing method of the loading mechanism 60 ensures the stability of the welding operation, and the continuous conveying mechanism of the conveyor line 20 further optimizes the continuity of the production process.

[0029] Please see Figure 2 This application further proposes a gripper assembly 53 including a gripper cylinder 531, two grippers 532 and two adjusting plates 533. The gripper cylinder 531 is disposed on the mounting plate 52. Each gripper 532 is connected to a telescopic rod of the gripper cylinder 531. Each adjusting plate 533 is connected to a gripper 532. The gripper cylinder 531 is used to drive the two adjusting plates 533 to move closer or further apart to grip or release the welding fixture.

[0030] In this embodiment, the gripper cylinder 531 refers to an actuator that achieves linear motion through pneumatic drive. Specifically, it can be implemented using a double-acting cylinder, with its two output ends connected to two grippers 532 respectively to achieve synchronous reverse motion. The gripper 532 refers to a transition structure used to transmit clamping force and adapt to the fixture size. Specifically, it can be implemented using a metal plate with mounting holes, which is rigidly connected to the adjusting plate 533 to maintain the stability of the clamping trajectory. The adjusting plate 533 refers to the clamping component that directly contacts the welding fixture. Specifically, it can be implemented using an alloy steel component with anti-slip texture, and its surface can be provided with cushioning material to reduce the risk of fixture damage.

[0031] Specifically, after the gripper cylinder 531 is activated, the two grippers 532 are driven to move symmetrically along the moving direction of the linear module 30. At this time, the adjusting plate 533 moves synchronously with the grippers 532. When it is necessary to clamp the welding fixture, the gripper cylinder 531 drives the two adjusting plates 533 to move in opposite directions until they contact the side wall of the fixture, forming a stable clamping through the planar contact area of ​​the adjusting plates 533. When releasing the fixture, the gripper cylinder 531 moves in the opposite direction to separate the adjusting plates 533, at which point the fixture is released from the clamping state.

[0032] This solution uses symmetrically distributed adjustment plates 533 to form surface contact clamping, automatically compensating for fixture dimensional tolerances during clamping, and eliminating local stress concentration problems caused by single-point clamping. The separate design of the adjustment plates 533 and the grippers 532 allows for quick replacement of adapter components according to fixture dimensions without having to replace the entire gripper assembly 53.

[0033] Please see Figure 2This application further proposes that each of the two adjusting plates 533 has at least one spring plunger 533a on one side facing each other, and the spring plunger 533a is used to elastically abut against the welding fixture.

[0034] In this embodiment, the spring plunger 533a refers to a cylindrical positioning element with a built-in spring. Specifically, it can be implemented using a structure with retractable steel balls or ball bearings. When the adjusting plate 533 contacts the welding fixture, the spring plunger 533a generates contact pressure through elastic deformation. The adjusting plate 533 refers to a rigid plate connected to the gripper 532 in the gripper assembly 53. Specifically, it can be made of aluminum alloy or steel, and its surface is provided with mounting holes for fixing the spring plunger 533a, ensuring the positioning accuracy of the welding fixture during clamping.

[0035] Specifically, when the gripper cylinder 531 drives the two adjusting plates 533 to approach each other, the spring plunger 533a first contacts the side of the welding fixture, forming an elastic abutment under the action of the spring force. At this time, the welding fixture is restricted between the two adjusting plates 533. Due to the elastic deformation capability of the spring plunger 533a, even if there are slight positional deviations or dimensional tolerances in the welding fixture, it can still be adaptively adjusted by the compression of the spring plunger 533a, avoiding positioning interference caused by rigid contact. In the clamping state, the spring plunger 533a continuously applies elastic pressure to ensure that the welding fixture does not shift during transportation.

[0036] Compared to existing technologies, traditional gripper assemblies typically use rigid positioning blocks to directly clamp the workpiece. When there are machining errors or installation deviations in the welding fixture, it can easily lead to uneven clamping force or positioning failure. In contrast, this solution uses the elastic abutment design of the spring plunger 533a to maintain positioning accuracy while allowing for a certain range of positional tolerances, thus reducing the dependence on the machining accuracy of the welding fixture.

[0037] Please see Figure 2 This application further proposes a gripper assembly 53 including a gripper cylinder 531 disposed on a mounting plate 52, each of the two grippers 532 being connected to a telescopic rod of the gripper cylinder 531, and two adjusting plates 533 each being connected to a gripper 532. The gripper cylinder 531 is used to drive the two adjusting plates 533 to move closer or further apart to grip or release the welding fixture. Each of the two adjusting plates 533 is provided with at least one positioning pin 533b on one side facing each other, and the positioning pin 533b is used to be inserted into the positioning hole of the welding fixture for positioning.

[0038] In this embodiment, the positioning pin 533b refers to a rigid protrusion structure provided on the adjustment plate 533 of the gripper assembly 53. Specifically, it can be implemented using a cylindrical metal pin, the diameter of which forms a clearance fit with the positioning hole of the welding fixture. The positioning hole refers to a pre-set hole-like structure on the welding fixture, which can be machined as a through hole or a blind hole, and its position corresponds to the distribution of the positioning pin 533b.

[0039] Specifically, when the gripper cylinder 531 drives the adjusting plate 533 to move, the positioning pin 533b moves synchronously with the adjusting plate 533. During the gripping of the welding fixture, the positioning pin 533b is inserted into the positioning hole of the welding fixture, physically limiting the relative position of the welding fixture in the gripper assembly 53. Because the positioning pin 533b and the positioning hole form a clearance fit, it allows for minor assembly tolerances while ensuring that the welding fixture maintains the preset orientation in the gripping state, avoiding positional deviations in subsequent welding processes due to gripping offset.

[0040] Through the above technical solution, this application can ensure that the welding fixture always maintains the predetermined clamping position during the clamping process, eliminating lateral offset or angular deflection caused by the closing action of the jaws, thereby avoiding welding defects caused by workpiece position deviation in subsequent welding processes. At the same time, the mating structure between the positioning pin 533b and the positioning hole automatically completes position calibration during the clamping process, eliminating the need for additional positioning detection procedures and effectively shortening the fixture replacement cycle.

[0041] Please see Figure 2 This application further proposes that the carrier-retrieving robot 50 also includes two photoelectric sensors 54, each photoelectric sensor 54 being disposed on a gripper assembly 53 for detecting whether the gripper assembly 53 is holding the welding fixture.

[0042] In this embodiment, the photoelectric sensor 54 refers to a non-contact detection device that detects the presence of an object through light signals. Specifically, it can be implemented using a combination structure of an infrared transmitter and a receiver. When the gripper assembly 53 is not holding the welding fixture, the light path of the photoelectric sensor 54 is not blocked, and the output signal of the receiver changes. The photoelectric sensor 54 is mounted on the gripper assembly 53 and is used to monitor the contact state between the gripper 532 and the welding fixture in real time.

[0043] Specifically, when the robotic arm 50 performs the gripping action, the gripper cylinder 531 drives the adjusting plate 533 to clamp the welding fixture. At this time, two photoelectric sensors 54 detect the gripping status of the corresponding gripper assembly 53. If a gripper 532 fails to grip successfully, the photoelectric sensor 54 immediately triggers a signal feedback to the control system to prevent the welding fixture from falling off or shifting its position due to gripping failure. For example, during the gripper closing process, if there are foreign objects or dimensional deviations on the surface of the welding fixture that cause improper gripping, the photoelectric sensor 54 can promptly identify the abnormality through the interruption of the light signal.

[0044] Compared to existing technologies, traditional welding equipment typically relies on manual visual inspection or mechanical limit switches to determine the clamping status, which carries the risks of response lag and misjudgment. This solution achieves non-contact real-time detection through photoelectric sensor 54, completing the status determination the instant the gripper 532 closes, effectively avoiding processing interruptions or workpiece damage caused by clamping failure.

[0045] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3 This application further proposes a conveyor line 20 including a conveyor line body 21 and a lifting assembly 22. The conveyor line body 21 is used to convey a welding fixture loaded with unprocessed workpieces and a welding fixture loaded with welded workpieces. The lifting assembly 22 is located below the conveyor line body 21 and is used to lift the welding fixture with unprocessed workpieces so that the pick-up robot arm 50 can pick them up.

[0046] In this embodiment, the production line body 21 refers to the conveyor device used to carry and continuously transport the welding fixture. Specifically, it can be implemented using a belt-type or roller-type conveyor belt structure, with guide grooves or limiting blocks on its surface to constrain the movement trajectory of the welding fixture. The lifting assembly 22 refers to the lifting mechanism installed below the production line body 21. Specifically, it can be implemented using a cylinder-driven structure in conjunction with a lifting positioning plate 222. The lifting positioning plate 222 passes through the gap in the production line body 21 to lift the welding fixture to a predetermined height, making it easy for the robot arm to grip it.

[0047] Specifically, when the welding fixture of the unprocessed workpiece moves with the production line body 21 to the corresponding position of the lifting assembly 22, the lifting assembly 22 activates and lifts the welding fixture away from the production line body 21, suspending it at a fixed height. At this time, the carrier robot 50 precisely grips the lifted fixture through the gripper assembly 53. Subsequently, the lifting assembly 22 resets, and the production line body 21 continues to transport other fixtures. Through the coordinated action of the lifting action and the robot, positioning deviations caused by the continuous operation of the production line body 21 are avoided, ensuring a stable and reliable gripping process.

[0048] Compared to existing technologies, conventional transmission devices typically rely on robotic arms to directly grasp grippers on the production line. However, the continuous operation of the production line can easily cause the grippers to shift position, requiring frequent shutdowns for adjustment. This solution, on the other hand, uses a lifting assembly 22 to lift and fix the grippers off the production line, eliminating the impact of dynamic transmission on positioning accuracy. At the same time, it allows the production line body 21 to continue operating continuously in non-lifting areas, reducing the waiting time for the robotic arm.

[0049] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4This application further proposes that the lifting assembly 22 includes a slide cylinder 221 and a lifting positioning plate 222. The slide cylinder 221 is connected to the production line body 21, and the lifting positioning plate 222 is connected to the telescopic rod of the slide cylinder 221 for passing through the production line body 21 to lift the welding fixture. The lifting positioning plate 222 has a positioning post 222a on the side facing away from the slide cylinder 221, which is used to engage with the positioning hole of the welding fixture.

[0050] In this embodiment, the slide cylinder 221 refers to an actuator that achieves linear reciprocating motion through pneumatic drive. Specifically, it can be implemented using a dual-axis guided cylinder, and its extension rod stroke can be adjusted according to the height difference between the assembly line body 21 and the lifting positioning plate 222. The lifting positioning plate 222 refers to a metal plate that supports the welding fixture. Specifically, it can be made of aluminum alloy with anti-slip texture on the surface, and its size is adapted to the bottom contour of the welding fixture. The positioning post 222a refers to a cylindrical protrusion structure that forms an interlocking fit with the welding fixture. Specifically, it can be made of hard alloy material and surface hardened, and its diameter forms a clearance fit with the positioning hole of the welding fixture.

[0051] Specifically, when the conveyor line 20 transports the welding fixture to the lifting station, the slide cylinder 221 drives the lifting positioning plate 222 to rise vertically, causing the positioning pin 222a to insert into the positioning hole at the bottom of the welding fixture. At this time, the lifting positioning plate 222 lifts the welding fixture from the conveyor track of the conveyor body 21, causing it to detach from the conveyor state and remain stationary. After the carrier robot 50 grips the lifted welding fixture through the gripper assembly 53, the slide cylinder 221 drives the lifting positioning plate 222 to descend and reset, the positioning pin 222a disengages from the welding fixture, and the conveyor body 21 resumes its conveying operation.

[0052] Compared with existing technologies, traditional lifting devices simply lift the plate by pushing it with a cylinder, lacking precise positioning capabilities and easily causing the welding fixture to shift during the lifting process. This solution sets a positioning post 222a on the lifting positioning plate 222, which forms an interlocking fit with the welding fixture, effectively constraining the horizontal displacement of the fixture. At the same time, the dual-axis guiding structure of the slide cylinder 221 ensures the verticality of the lifting process, avoiding positioning errors caused by tilting.

[0053] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves precise positioning of the welding fixture during the lifting process, prevents the fixture from shifting due to inertia or vibration, ensures that the carrier-lifting robot 50 can accurately hold the welding fixture, and at the same time, the linear motion characteristics of the slide cylinder 221 ensure the stability and repeatability of the lifting action, thereby improving the working reliability of the automated welding equipment.

[0054] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 5This application further proposes that the conveyor line 20 also includes a blocking mechanism 23, which includes a brake cylinder 231 and a blocking block 232. The brake cylinder 231 is connected to the conveyor line body 21; the blocking block 232 is connected to the telescopic rod of the brake cylinder 231, and a roller is rotatably connected to one end of the blocking block 232 away from the telescopic rod of the brake cylinder 231; the brake cylinder 231 is used to drive the blocking block 232 to rise, so as to prevent the welding fixture from continuing to be conveyed in the conveyor line body 21.

[0055] In this embodiment, the brake cylinder 231 refers to an actuator that achieves linear motion through pneumatic drive. Specifically, it can be implemented using a standard slide cylinder 221, used to precisely control the lifting and lowering motion of the blocking block 232. The blocking block 232 is a metal component with a specific profile, specifically made of aluminum alloy, used to mount rollers for rotation, forming a physical blocking surface through its lifting motion. The rollers are smooth cylindrical rotating components, specifically employing a polyurethane-coated bearing structure, achieving smooth guidance by reducing the coefficient of sliding friction with the welding fixture.

[0056] Specifically, when the welding fixture moves to the predetermined station along the conveyor direction, the brake cylinder 231 drives the telescopic rod to extend, causing the blocking block 232 to rise vertically a preset distance to form a mechanical limit. At this time, the outer edge of the roller protrudes 3-5 mm from the conveyor plane, and the welding fixture stops moving after the leading edge contacts the roller. Since the roller can rotate freely around its axis, the welding fixture is allowed to make a small displacement during the blocking process to eliminate inertial impact and avoid positioning deviation caused by rigid collision. After the clamping operation is completed, the brake cylinder 231 drives the blocking block 232 to descend and reset, and the roller retracts below the conveyor plane to ensure that subsequent fixtures can pass through without obstruction.

[0057] Compared to existing technologies, traditional transmission lines using fixed stops are prone to increased equipment wear and cannot adapt to the positioning requirements of fixtures of different sizes. This solution achieves dynamic interception through a liftable blocking mechanism 23. The roller structure changes the sliding friction of the blocking contact surface to rolling friction, effectively reducing contact surface wear. At the same time, the cylinder-driven method makes the blocking height adjustable.

[0058] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the positioning deviation problem caused by the inertial slippage of the welding fixture in the transmission line 20. The rotation characteristics of the rollers allow the fixture to be finely adjusted when it comes into contact with the blockage, ensuring that the welding fixture is in a precise alignment state during each gripping operation by the carrier robot 50.

[0059] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 6This application further proposes that the transmission line 20 also includes a check mechanism 24, which includes a check seat 241 and a check block 242. The check seat 241 is connected to the transmission line body 21, and the check block 242 is rotatably connected to the check seat 241. The check block 242 is provided with a guide slope, which is inclined upward in the transmission direction of the transmission line 20.

[0060] In this embodiment, the check seat 241 refers to a support structure fixed to the side of the assembly line body 21, which can be made of aluminum alloy profile and is used as a rotating connecting component to support the check block 242. The check block 242 refers to a movable stop block with a guide slope, which can be formed by bending stainless steel plate and forms a rotating pair with the check seat 241 through a hinge shaft. The guide slope refers to the inclined surface that contacts the workpiece, and its inclination direction is consistent with the transmission direction, so that the workpiece can slide along the slope when it is transmitted in the forward direction and is blocked when it moves in the reverse direction.

[0061] Specifically, when the welding fixture moves normally along the transmission direction, its bottom edge contacts the guide ramp of the check block 242, pushing the check block 242 to rotate clockwise around the hinge point, allowing the welding fixture to pass smoothly. If an abnormal situation occurs causing the welding fixture to move in the opposite direction, the check block 242 rotates counterclockwise under the action of gravity, and its vertical surface forms mechanical interference with the welding fixture, preventing reverse sliding. This structure achieves unidirectional transmission control through physical limiting, requiring no additional power source.

[0062] In some specific embodiments, a damping shaft can be provided between the check block 242 and the check seat 241, for example, using an oil-impregnated bearing and a torsion spring structure, which can ensure smooth rotation and enhance reset stability. The inclination angle of the guide ramp can be adjusted according to the weight of the welding fixture.

[0063] Compared to existing technologies, traditional production lines typically use electric stoppers or photoelectric detection devices to achieve anti-backflow functionality, requiring the configuration of sensors and control systems. This solution achieves unidirectional anti-backflow through a purely mechanical structure, offering advantages such as zero energy consumption and maintenance-free operation. It is particularly suitable for welding environments with vibration interference, avoiding the risk of malfunctions caused by electronic component failures.

[0064] This application further proposes a USB-C workpiece welding device including two welding mechanisms 40, which are mounted on the base 10 and located on both sides of the loading mechanism 60, so that the two welding mechanisms 40 simultaneously weld the workpiece at two positions on the welding fixture on the loading mechanism 60.

[0065] In this embodiment, the welding mechanism 40 refers to the execution unit used to perform welding operations. Specifically, it can be implemented using a robotic arm structure with a welding torch. The welding of the workpiece is completed by controlling the movement trajectory of the welding torch and the welding parameters. The dual-side mounting method of the loading mechanism 60 means that the two welding mechanisms 40 are respectively arranged symmetrically on the left and right or front and back of the loading fixture. Specifically, this can be achieved by setting mounting brackets on both sides of the base 10. This layout allows the welding mechanism 40 to weld different positions of the workpiece simultaneously, avoiding the problem of repeated positioning caused by the limited range of a single welding operation.

[0066] Specifically, after the robotic arm 50 places the welding fixture onto the loading mechanism 60, the two welding mechanisms 40 simultaneously perform welding actions from both sides of the workpiece. For example, in the processing scenario of a USB-C interface, two solder points may be distributed on both sides of the connector. In this case, the welding mechanisms 40 on both sides can simultaneously weld their respective solder points. This synchronous operation method combines the process that originally required two independent welding operations into one, and eliminates the need to readjust the fixture or workpiece position after each welding operation.

[0067] Compared to existing technologies, current welding equipment typically only has a single welding mechanism 40. After welding on one side is completed, it is necessary to wait for the fixture to reset or the workpiece to be repositioned before welding on the other side can begin. This solution, however, utilizes a symmetrical layout of two welding mechanisms 40, allowing welding actions on both sides to be performed in parallel, directly eliminating the waiting time between processes. Furthermore, since the welding mechanism 40 is directly fixed to the base 10, there is no need for additional moving tracks or rotating mechanisms, avoiding the increased equipment complexity caused by adding execution units.

[0068] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of low equipment utilization when a single welding mechanism 40 is operating. By using parallel welding, the processing time of a single workpiece is reduced by nearly half, while maintaining the compactness of the equipment structure. The coordinated operation of the two welding mechanisms 40 also avoids the cumulative error caused by multiple positioning of the workpiece during the welding process, which is especially suitable for the processing of precision electronic components with symmetrical welding points.

[0069] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A USB-C workpiece welding device, characterized in that, The USB-C workpiece welding equipment includes: Base; A transport assembly line, wherein the transport assembly line is mounted on the base; A linear module, which is mounted on the base and located above the conveyor line; Two welding mechanisms are mounted on the base and located above the conveyor line; A carrier-grabbing robot includes a slider connecting plate, a mounting plate, and at least two gripper assemblies. The slider connecting plate is connected to the moving end of the linear module. The mounting plate is fixed to the slider connecting plate. The two gripper assemblies are spaced apart on the mounting plate and oriented towards the conveyor line. The gripper assemblies are used to hold welding fixtures. A loading mechanism is provided adjacent to the welding mechanism for fixing a welding fixture, so that the welding mechanism can weld the workpiece on the welding fixture on the loading mechanism. The two welding mechanisms are located on both sides of the loading mechanism so that the two welding mechanisms can simultaneously weld two positions of the workpiece on the welding fixture on the loading mechanism. In this embodiment, one of the two gripper assemblies of the carrier-retrieving robot is used to grip the welding fixture of the conveyor line and transfer it to the loading mechanism for positioning and fixing, while the other gripper assembly is used to transfer the welded fixture from the loading mechanism to the conveyor line.

2. The USB-C workpiece welding equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The gripper assembly includes: A gripper cylinder is mounted on the mounting plate. Two grippers, each gripper connected to a telescopic rod of a gripper cylinder; and Two adjusting plates, each of which is connected to one of the grippers; The gripper cylinder is used to move the two adjusting plates closer together or further apart to grip or release the welding fixture.

3. The USB-C workpiece welding equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the two adjustment plates has at least one spring plunger on one side facing each other, and the spring plunger is used to elastically abut against the welding fixture.

4. The USB-C workpiece welding equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the two adjustment plates has at least one positioning pin on one side facing each other, and the positioning pin is used to be inserted into the positioning hole of the welding fixture for positioning.

5. The USB-C workpiece welding equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The carrier-retrieving robot also includes two photoelectric sensors, each of which is located on one of the gripper assemblies and is used to detect whether the gripper assembly is holding the welding fixture.

6. The USB-C workpiece welding equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission pipeline includes: A production line body, the production line body being used to transport welding fixtures loaded with unprocessed workpieces and welding fixtures loaded with welded workpieces; and A lifting assembly, located below the production line body, is used to lift the welding fixture of the unprocessed workpiece so that the pick-up robot can grasp it.

7. The USB-C workpiece welding equipment as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The lifting assembly includes: A slide cylinder, wherein the slide cylinder is connected to the assembly line body; and A lifting positioning plate is provided, which is connected to the telescopic rod of the slide cylinder and is used to pass through the production line body to lift the welding fixture; a positioning post is provided on the side of the lifting positioning plate facing away from the slide cylinder, and the positioning post is used to insert and cooperate with the positioning hole of the welding fixture.

8. The USB-C workpiece welding equipment as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The conveyor line further includes a blocking mechanism, the blocking mechanism comprising: A brake cylinder, wherein the brake cylinder is connected to the assembly line body; and A blocking block is connected to the telescopic rod of the brake cylinder, and a roller is rotatably connected to one end of the blocking block away from the telescopic rod of the brake cylinder. The brake cylinder is used to lift the blocking block to prevent the welding fixture from continuing to be transported on the production line body.

9. The USB-C workpiece welding equipment as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The conveyor pipeline further includes a check mechanism, the check mechanism comprising: Check valve seat, the check valve seat being connected to the production line body; and A check block is rotatably connected to the check seat, and the check block is provided with a guide slope that is inclined upward in the transmission direction of the transmission pipeline.

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