A split ring resonator, production device and production process

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of optical fiber communication device manufacturing, and provides a split type ring resonator, a production device and a production process.The first shell piece and the second shell piece are consistent in structure and are oppositely spliced to form a closed ring cavity, the inner side surfaces of the first shell piece and the second shell piece are respectively provided with a circumferential positioning structure and an edge interlocking structure, the middle parts of the first shell piece and the second shell piece are respectively provided with an inner ring hole, and the outer side edges of the first shell piece and the second shell piece are respectively provided with a round corner;the circumferential positioning structures are mutually spliced to form ring positioning in the spliced state, and the edge interlocking structures are cross-embedded. The application only needs a single set of molds to produce general parts, reduces the mold cost, and improves the mass production yield and assembly reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical fiber communication device manufacturing technology, specifically to a modular ring circuit, production device, and production process. Background Technology

[0002] In the manufacturing of fiber optic loopers, the housing structure is usually made of one-piece injection molding or a split structure with left and right mirror symmetry.

[0003] The presence of a closed annular cavity inside the one-piece structure necessitates the design of a complex core-pulling mechanism for the mold. This not only increases the mold cost but also results in a long melt flow path, uneven filling pressure, and a tendency to warp deformation, making it difficult to improve the yield rate in mass production.

[0004] While the left-right mirror split structure simplifies the mold, it requires the development of two sets of molds and the management of two types of parts. There is a risk of mismatch during assembly, which increases production costs and management complexity.

[0005] In addition, such circuits typically have a large through-hole in the middle to meet the positioning requirements of the fiber optic ring. However, in the automated material handling process after injection molding, the central hollow cannot form the sealing surface required for vacuum adsorption, and conventional vacuum chucks are not applicable. If mechanical grippers or ejector pins are used for free material dropping, they are very likely to cause extrusion deformation or scratches to precision structures such as thin-walled connecting ears, which seriously affects the product's dimensional accuracy and assembly reliability, and restricts the efficiency of automated mass production. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the problems of complex mold structure, low mass production yield, and difficulties in automated material handling and product damage caused by the central hollow structure in existing ring circuit devices, this invention provides a modular ring circuit device, production device, and production process, which simplifies the mold structure, enables high-precision product forming, and achieves automated and non-destructive material handling.

[0007] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical solutions: A modular ring circuit includes: a first housing component and a second housing component, the first housing component and the second housing component having identical structures and being joined together with their inner surfaces facing each other to form a closed ring cavity; both the first housing component and the second housing component have a circumferential positioning structure and an edge interlocking structure on their inner surfaces, and both the first housing component and the second housing component have an inner ring hole in their middle, with rounded corners on the outer edges of the inner ring hole; when the first housing component and the second housing component are joined together, the circumferential positioning structure of the first housing component and the circumferential positioning structure of the second housing component interlock to form a ring positioning, and the edge interlocking structure of the first housing component and the edge interlocking structure of the second housing component are cross-fitted.

[0008] Preferably, the inner surfaces of both the first housing member and the second housing member include an inner ring platform; the circumferential positioning structure is disposed on the inner ring platform and includes a mating boss and a mating groove alternately arranged along the circumferential direction; when the first housing member and the second housing member are joined together, the mating boss of the first housing member is embedded in the mating groove of the second housing member, and the mating groove of the first housing member accommodates the mating boss of the second housing member.

[0009] Preferably, the inner surfaces of both the first housing component and the second housing component include an outer ring shell wall; the edge interlocking structure includes a connecting lug disposed at one end of the inner side of the outer ring shell wall and a locking portion disposed at the other end of the inner side of the outer ring shell wall; when the first housing component and the second housing component are joined together, the connecting lug of the first housing component and the locking portion of the second housing component are cross-fitted, and the locking portion of the first housing component and the connecting lug of the second housing component are cross-fitted.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a production apparatus for a modular annular circuit, used to automatically pick up the first housing part or the second housing part from the injection mold during the injection molding production of the aforementioned modular annular circuit. The apparatus includes a picking fixture, which includes a gripping mechanism. The gripping mechanism includes a pre-positioning guide component and a radially inner support gripping component. The pre-positioning guide component is configured to establish a guiding engagement with the injection mold before the first housing part or the second housing part is ejected from the cavity of the injection mold, thereby limiting the ejection trajectory of the first housing part or the second housing part. The radially inner support gripping component is sleeved on the outer periphery of the pre-positioning guide component and configured to perform gripping by radial expansion and abutting against the inner annular hole when the first housing part or the second housing part is ejected to a preset position along the pre-positioning guide component.

[0011] Preferably, the radial inner support gripping assembly includes: a fixed sleeve fitted outside the prepositioning guide assembly; a flexible gripper fitted on the outer wall of the fixed sleeve, configured to achieve radial expansion through controlled expansion; and an auxiliary limiting member fitted on the outer wall of the fixed sleeve and located on the side of the flexible gripper closer to the injection mold, configured to axially limit the first housing member or the second housing member when the flexible gripper expands.

[0012] Preferably, the pre-positioning guide assembly includes a docking rod; the lower mold core of the injection mold is provided with a docking sleeve, and the docking sleeve is provided with an elastic reset member; in the mold-closed state, the top surface of the docking sleeve is flush with the forming surface of the lower mold core; in the mold-open state, the elastic reset member drives the docking sleeve to pop out, so that the docking rod preferentially docks with the docking sleeve and inserts into the inner ring hole of the first housing part or the second housing part.

[0013] Preferably, the flexible gripping component is a gripping airbag, and the auxiliary limiting component is an auxiliary airbag; the fixed sleeve has an independent first ventilation pipe and a second ventilation pipe inside, the first ventilation pipe is connected to the gripping airbag, and the second ventilation pipe is connected to the auxiliary airbag; in the gripping state, the inflation pressure of the auxiliary airbag is greater than the inflation pressure of the gripping airbag, and the expansion diameter of the auxiliary airbag is greater than the inner ring hole diameter of the first housing component or the second housing component.

[0014] Preferably, the gripping mechanism further includes a push-and-release assembly, which includes: multiple sets of sliding grooves formed on the outer wall of the fixed sleeve; multiple sets of release members, each corresponding to one of the multiple sets of sliding grooves, the release members being L-shaped and having an elastic body at the push-end; and a push-out port formed at the end of the fixed sleeve. In the released state, the pre-positioning guide assembly extends outward, driving the multiple sets of release members to move along the sliding grooves, so that the multiple sets of release members pass through the push-out port to push and release the first housing member or the second housing member; the multiple sets of release members limit the radial movement of the pre-positioning guide assembly during the sliding process.

[0015] Preferably, the material handling fixture further includes: a first support plate and a second support plate, the first support plate and the second support plate being fixedly connected by a connecting rod to form a frame body; multiple sets of radially inward gripping components, arranged in an array on the first support plate according to the number of molding cavities of the injection mold; and multiple sets of driving components, arranged on the second support plate, each set of driving components being connected to the radially inward gripping component at a corresponding position to drive the prepositioning guide component to perform a telescopic action.

[0016] Furthermore, this invention also provides a manufacturing process for an integrated ring-shaped circuit breaker, comprising the following steps: raw material pretreatment, including drying, dust removal, and mixing pretreatment of the injection molding raw materials; injection molding, performing integrated injection molding using an injection molding machine; demolding and unloading, after the injection mold opens and before the first housing part or the second housing part leaves the cavity of the injection mold, controlling a pre-positioning guide component to extend and establish a guiding fit with the injection mold, defining the ejection trajectory of the first housing part or the second housing part; controlling the ejection mechanism of the injection mold to guide the first housing part or the second housing part along the pre-positioning guide component. The positioning guide assembly is ejected to a preset position; the flexible inner support gripper is controlled to expand radially and abut against the inner ring hole wall of the first or second housing part to perform gripping; after being transferred to the target position, the flexible inner support gripper is controlled to contract, and the push-out ejector is controlled to apply axial thrust to the first or second housing part to perform ejection and release; post-processing involves fine trimming of the parting line and minor flash, while cleaning the inner and outer surfaces of the product; inspection involves using special gauges, calipers, and image measuring instruments to perform sampling and full inspection of key dimensions to obtain the finished first or second housing part.

[0017] Beneficial effects: The modular annular circuit maker provided by this invention uses a first and second shell component with identical structures to form a closed annular cavity. This allows for the manufacture of universal parts with only a single mold, completely avoiding the complex core-pulling mechanism required for an integrated structure and the double molds required for a mirrored structure, significantly reducing mold development and maintenance costs. Simultaneously, the semi-open shell structure shortens the melt flow path, resulting in a more uniform distribution of filling pressure, effectively reducing molding warpage and improving product dimensional consistency and mass production yield. The synergistic effect of the circumferential positioning structure and the edge interlocking structure ensures assembly coaxiality and sealing while achieving self-locking and anti-loosening, enhancing the overall structural stability.

[0018] The production apparatus and process provided by this invention effectively limit the ejection trajectory of the shell component by establishing a pre-positioning guide before ejection, avoiding gripping failure or product damage caused by demolding deviation; the use of a radial inner support gripping component to replace the traditional vacuum suction cup solves the industry problem that the central hollow structure cannot be negatively pressure adsorbed, and avoids the squeezing deformation of thin-walled precision structures through flexible contact; the differentiated air pressure control of the auxiliary limiting component and the flexible gripping component realizes the decoupling of axial limiting and radial gripping, preventing product slippage or posture deflection during the gripping process; the push-out component provides active axial thrust during the release stage, overcoming the problem of material hanging caused by uneven airbag contraction, ensuring the smoothness and reliability of automated unloading, and significantly improving production efficiency and finished product qualification rate. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit body structure of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit body structure of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the combined structure of the two sets of circuit device bodies of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the material handling fixture structure in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the material handling fixture structure in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the gripping mechanism structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the gripping mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the docking structure between the material handling tool and the injection mold in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the docking rod and the docking sleeve in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the docking structure between the docking rod and the docking sleeve in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the docking sleeve in the lower mold core of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the initial position structure of the stripper in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the initial position structure of the stripper in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the material pushing position structure of the stripper in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the contact structure between the stripper and the circuit body in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] In the diagram: 100, First housing component; 101, Outer ring shell wall; 102, Inner ring platform; 103, Connecting ear; 104, Locking platform; 105, Docking boss; 106, Docking groove; 107, Inner ring hole; 200, Second housing component; 10, Connecting arm; 20, Material handling fixture; 21, First support plate; 22, Second support plate; 23, Gripping mechanism; 231, Docking rod; 232, Fixing sleeve; 2321, Slide groove; 233, Stop; 234, Gripping airbag; 235, Stop plate; 2351, Push port; 236, Positioning sleeve; 237, Ventilation pipe; 238, Auxiliary airbag; 239, Docking sleeve; 2310, Elastic reset component; 2311, Stripping component; 24, Drive assembly; 30, Lower mold; 31, Ejector rod; 32, Lower mold core. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments described in this application without creative effort will fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0023] Example 1 like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment provides a modular ring circuit device, which includes a first housing component 100 and a second housing component 200. The first housing component 100 and the second housing component 200 have completely identical structures and are joined together with their inner surfaces facing each other to form a closed ring cavity.

[0024] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first housing component 100 and the second housing component 200 are completely identical in physical shape, size, and surface features, i.e., they adopt an isomorphic design. Both can be produced by the same set of injection molds. During assembly, there is no need to distinguish between left and right parts or front and back sides; any two housing components can be paired with each other. Compared with the traditional left and right mirror-image split structure, the isomorphic mating design of this embodiment only requires the development and maintenance of one set of molds, significantly reducing mold manufacturing costs and management complexity. At the same time, by avoiding the problem of accumulated fitting tolerances caused by mold differences or molding parameter fluctuations in mirror-image parts, the consistency of products and mass production yield are effectively improved. In the mating state, the inner surfaces of the two housing components fit tightly together, jointly enclosing a closed annular cavity for accommodating and protecting the precision optical fiber ring. This cavity structure is complete and well-sealed, providing a stable physical protection environment for the internal optical components.

[0025] Furthermore, both the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 are provided with circumferential positioning structures and edge interlocking structures on their inner surfaces. When the two are joined together, the circumferential positioning structures of the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 interlock with each other to form a ring positioning. At the same time, the edge interlocking structures of the first housing 100 and the second housing 200 interlock with each other.

[0026] Specifically, the circumferential positioning structure is mainly used to limit the relative rotation and misalignment of the two housing parts in the circumferential direction, ensuring the overall coaxiality after mating; the edge interlocking structure focuses on providing axial and radial connection holding forces to prevent the housing parts from separating or loosening under vibration or external force. These two structures are distributed synergistically on the inner surface, forming a dual connection mechanism of positioning and locking, which ensures assembly accuracy and enhances the mechanical stability of the overall structure. It should also be understood that although the specific forms of these two structures will be described in detail in the following embodiments, in other feasible implementations, any equivalent structural replacement that can achieve the circumferential limiting and edge interlocking functions falls within the protection scope of this invention.

[0027] Both the first housing component 100 and the second housing component 200 have an inner annular hole 107 in their middle portions, and the outer edge of the inner annular hole 107 is rounded. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the inner ring hole 107 penetrates the central area of ​​the housing component. Its main function is to serve as a centering reference for the fiber optic ring assembly, ensuring that the geometric centering of the fiber optic ring within the cavity meets optical performance requirements. Additionally, the inner ring hole 107 can also serve as a gripping interface in subsequent automated production processes, with its aperture size and shape adapted to the subsequent material handling fixture 20. Furthermore, the rounded corner transition on the outer edge of the inner ring hole 107 effectively eliminates stress concentration during injection molding and assembly, preventing cracks or whitening in thin-walled areas.

[0028] Example 2 Based on Embodiment 1, this embodiment further details the specific implementation of the circumferential positioning structure and the edge interlocking structure. The inner surfaces of both the first housing member 100 and the second housing member 200 include an inner ring platform 102. The circumferential positioning structure is disposed on the inner ring platform 102 and includes alternating mating bosses 105 and mating grooves 106 along the circumferential direction.

[0029] Specifically, in combination Figures 1 to 3As shown, the inner ring platform 102 is an annular stepped surface extending outward around the inner ring hole 107, providing a flat and precise installation reference for the circumferential positioning structure. The mating boss 105 and the mating groove 106 have complementary geometric shapes on the mating surface of the inner ring platform 102, such as alternating trapezoidal teeth, rectangular teeth, or wavy teeth. When the first housing part 100 and the second housing part 200 are engaged, the mating boss 105 of the first housing part 100 is precisely embedded in the mating groove 106 of the second housing part 200, while the mating groove 106 of the first housing part 100 accommodates the mating boss 105 of the second housing part 200. The two interlock and splice to form a continuous annular positioning interface. This staggered interlocking fit essentially forms multiple mechanical stops between the mating surfaces of the two housing parts, effectively limiting the relative rotation and radial offset of the two housing parts in the circumferential direction. Compared to traditional solutions that rely solely on planar friction or single-point pin positioning, the annular interlocking structure in this embodiment can evenly distribute the internal tension generated by the fiber winding to the entire circumferential contact surface, significantly improving the overall coaxiality and dimensional stability after assembly, and fundamentally avoiding the risk of shell misalignment or fiber extrusion damage caused by local stress concentration.

[0030] Furthermore, both the inner surfaces of the first housing member 100 and the second housing member 200 include an outer ring shell wall 101. The edge interlocking structure includes a connecting lug 103 disposed at one end of the inner side of the outer ring shell wall 101 and a locking portion disposed at the other end of the inner side of the outer ring shell wall 101. In this embodiment, the locking portion is specifically manifested as a locking platform 104 structure. However, it should be understood that in other feasible embodiments, the locking portion may also take the form of a hook, an elastic buckle, or an interference fit rib, as long as it can achieve the locking function with the connecting lug 103.

[0031] Specifically, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the connecting lug 103 and the locking platform 104 are located at opposite ends along the circumferential direction on the inner side of the outer ring shell wall 101, and are arranged in pairs or groups on a single shell component. When the first shell component 100 and the second shell component 200 are joined together, the connecting lug 103 of the first shell component 100 and the locking portion of the second shell component 200 are cross-fitted, and the locking portion of the first shell component 100 and the connecting lug 103 of the second shell component 200 are cross-fitted. In this embodiment, the cross-fitting means that the connecting lug 103 and the locking platform 104 on the two shell components overlap each other in the axial projection and undergo mechanical interference, achieving fastening and locking through the slight elastic deformation of the injection molding material. This structure mainly bears the function of axial connection retention force, effectively resisting high-frequency vibration, impact loads, and thermal expansion and contraction effects caused by changes in ambient temperature during equipment operation, preventing axial separation or loosening and cracking of the shell components.

[0032] This embodiment achieves high-precision circumferential and radial positioning through the mating boss 105 and mating groove 106 on the inner ring platform 102, while reliable axial self-locking is achieved through the connecting lug 103 and locking part on the outer ring shell wall 101. The two locking structures are spatially partitioned and functionally complementary, forming an integrated connection system that achieves 360° precise alignment and vibration resistance without the need for additional fasteners. This connection system not only simplifies the mold structure and assembly process, but more importantly, it provides an extremely stable physical protective cavity for the internal precision fiber optic ring, ensuring the performance reliability of the optical device throughout its entire life cycle.

[0033] Example 3 like Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 8 As shown, this embodiment provides a production apparatus for assembled annular circuit devices, used to automatically pick up the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 from the injection mold during the injection molding production of assembled annular circuit devices as described in Embodiment 1. The production apparatus includes a picking fixture 20, which includes a gripping mechanism 23. The gripping mechanism 23 includes a pre-positioning guide component and a radially inward gripping component. The pre-positioning guide component is configured to establish a guiding engagement with the injection mold before the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 disengages from the cavity of the injection mold, thereby defining the ejection trajectory of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200.

[0034] Specifically, the core of this embodiment lies in the timing control of intervention before demolding. Because the inner side of the shell component in Embodiment 1 has a thin-walled, high-precision connecting lug 103 and other precision structures, residual temperature and internal stress remain after injection molding, resulting in low structural rigidity. If traditional ejector pins are used for free-falling after ejection or for repositioning after ejection, uneven ejection force can easily lead to product displacement and instability, causing defects such as deformation of the connecting lug 103 under pressure, scratches on the surface, or whitening of the snap-fit ​​area. This embodiment uses a pre-positioning guide component to insert and establish a rigid guide channel before the product is completely freed from the mold cavity constraint, forcibly limiting the product's ejection path. This fundamentally eliminates the risk of random displacement in the early stages of demolding, ensuring precise alignment of subsequent gripping actions and the safety of the product structure.

[0035] The radial inner support gripping component is sleeved on the outer periphery of the prepositioning guide component and is configured to perform gripping by radial expansion and abutting against the inner ring hole 107 when the first housing 100 or the second housing 200 is pushed out to a preset position along the prepositioning guide component.

[0036] Specifically, regarding the structural feature of the housing component in Embodiment 1, which has a large through-hole inner ring 107 in the middle, the commonly used vacuum suction cups in the industry completely fail because they cannot form an effective sealed negative pressure cavity in the central hollow area, while mechanical grippers are prone to causing extrusion damage to the thin-walled inner ring. The radial inner support gripping method adopted in this embodiment utilizes the uniform radial friction force generated by the controlled expansion of flexible material against the inner wall of the inner ring 107 to achieve lifting. This not only adapts to the geometric characteristics of the centrally hollowed-out product but also avoids hard pressure on the precision inner wall through flexible contact. Simultaneously, since the radial inner support gripping component is coaxially sleeved on the outer periphery of the pre-positioning guide component, the two are highly integrated in space, ensuring that the guide reference and gripping reference coincide, further guaranteeing the coaxiality and stability of the gripping process.

[0037] The overall production equipment in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the system also includes a material handling fixture 20, which comprises a first support plate 21 and a second support plate 22. These two plates are fixedly connected by a connecting rod to form a stable frame body, and are connected to an external robotic arm or drive source via a connecting arm 10. The first support plate 21 has multiple sets of radially inward-supporting gripping components arranged in an array according to the number of molding cavities in the injection mold. The second support plate 22 has correspondingly multiple sets of drive components 24. Each drive component 24 independently drives a pre-positioned guide component at a corresponding position to perform a telescopic action. This arrayed and independently driven design allows the entire production device to flexibly adapt to molds with different numbers of cavities (in actual industry, due to cost control, a multi-cavity production method is usually adopted), and an abnormality at a single workstation does not affect the normal operation of other workstations, significantly improving the efficiency and fault tolerance of industrial mass production.

[0038] In the actual operation process, the production device strictly follows the sequence of guiding, ejection, and gripping: the robot arm moves the material handling fixture 20 to above the mold, and the pre-positioning guide component extends first and inserts into the pre-reserved guide position of the mold; then the mold ejector rod 31 moves, and the product slides smoothly along the pre-positioning guide component to the preset height; finally, the radial inner support gripping component expands and locks the inner ring hole 107 to complete the material handling, and transfers it to the next process for release, realizing the automated unloading of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200. The collaborative mechanism of this embodiment completely solves the industry pain points of difficult and easily damaged automated material handling of precision injection molded parts with central hollow thin walls, and realizes efficient, non-destructive, and stable continuous production.

[0039] It should be noted that, as Figure 8As shown, in Embodiment 1, the production process of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 involves an injection mold. The injection mold includes an upper mold and a lower mold 30. An upper mold core and a lower mold core 32 are respectively provided in the middle of the upper mold and the lower mold 30. The upper mold core and the lower mold core 32 cooperate to form a molding cavity when the mold is closed, thereby injection molding the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200. The specific structure and molding method of the injection mold are existing mature technologies. For the parting position and snap-fit ​​structure (connecting ear 103, locking platform 104, etc.) of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 in Embodiment 1, the use of inclined ejector can also be conventionally designed according to the specific structure of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200. The specific structure and molding process of the injection mold are not described in detail in this embodiment.

[0040] Specifically, after the injection mold is closed, formed, and cooled, the upper and lower molds 30 of the injection mold are opened under the control of the injection molding machine. After the mold is opened, the production device of this embodiment is used for automated material unloading, and the ejector pin 31 of the mold itself is used for demolding to realize the mass production of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 on the assembly line.

[0041] Example 4 Based on Embodiment 3, this embodiment further describes the detailed structure of the radially inward-supporting gripping assembly. The radially inward-supporting gripping assembly includes a fixed sleeve 232, a flexible gripping component, and an auxiliary limiting component. The fixed sleeve 232 is fitted over the pre-positioning guide assembly, serving as the mounting base and basic carrier of the entire radially inward-supporting gripping assembly. The flexible gripping component is fitted over the outer wall of the fixed sleeve 232 and configured to perform a gripping action by radial expansion through controlled expansion. The auxiliary limiting component is also fitted over the outer wall of the fixed sleeve 232 and is located on the side of the flexible gripping component closer to the injection mold. It is configured to axially limit the first housing component 100 or the second housing component 200 when the flexible gripping component expands.

[0042] Specifically, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the fixed sleeve 232 has a hollow cylindrical structure, which houses the pre-positioning guide component (such as the docking rod 231) inside, and sequentially supports the flexible gripper and the auxiliary limiting component on the outside. In this embodiment, the flexible gripper is specifically manifested as a gripping airbag 234, and the auxiliary limiting component is specifically manifested as an auxiliary airbag 238, both of which are annular bladder structures made of elastic flexible material. It should be understood that although an airbag is used as the preferred implementation in this embodiment, in other feasible implementations, the flexible gripper can also adopt a hydraulic expansion sleeve, a mechanically tightening valve, or a shape memory alloy ring, etc., which can generate controllable radial displacement; the auxiliary limiting component can also adopt a spring-driven telescopic stop, an electromagnetic adsorption ring, or a pneumatic piston retainer ring, etc., as long as it can achieve the corresponding radial support and axial blocking functions. The design of the flexible gripper and the auxiliary limiting component decouples the two major functions of radial gripping and axial limiting to two independent physical components, providing a necessary foundation for subsequent implementation of differentiated control.

[0043] In this embodiment, regarding spatial layout and positional relationship, the auxiliary airbag 238 is explicitly positioned on the side of the gripping airbag 234 closest to the injection mold (i.e., Figure 7 (Left side of the image). When the radially inner support gripping assembly extends into the inner ring hole 107 and inflates, the auxiliary airbag 238, being located below, contacts the lower edge of the inner ring hole 107 first or simultaneously, and after inflation, forms a rigid or semi-rigid axial blocking surface with a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner ring hole 107. This blocking surface essentially constitutes a virtual flange, effectively blocking the path of the product sliding downwards axially. If this auxiliary limiting component is lacking or placed above the gripping airbag 234, the friction between the gripping airbag 234 and the inner wall alone is insufficient to completely resist gravity and inertial forces, especially when the inner ring hole 107 has a large rounded corner (small contact area). The gripping airbag 234 is prone to axial slippage along the rounded corner slope, leading to gripping failure or product posture deflection. Therefore, the specific positioning of the auxiliary limiting component is a structural prerequisite for ensuring gripping stability.

[0044] Furthermore, to avoid functional confusion and ensure independent control, the fixed sleeve 232 has independent ventilation pipes 237 inside, which are respectively connected to the grabbing airbag 234 and the auxiliary airbag 238. For example... Figure 7As shown, the two air lines are arranged isolated inside the fixed sleeve 232, without interfering with each other, allowing the two airbags to receive different air pressure signals or timing commands. This air path independence is the basis for realizing differentiated control logic for high-pressure limiting and low-pressure grasping. At the same time, a baffle 235 is also provided on the fixed sleeve 232 to limit the position of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 pushed out by the push rod 31, and to ensure that the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 remains horizontal after being pushed out, which facilitates the subsequent limiting of the grasping airbag 234 and the auxiliary airbag 238. Furthermore, a baffle 233 is provided at the front end of the fixed sleeve 232, which limits the side wall of the auxiliary airbag 238 and further promotes the radial expansion of the auxiliary airbag 238. A positioning sleeve 236 is also provided at the end of the fixed sleeve 232 away from the injection mold to support and guide the long ventilation pipe 237, preventing it from getting tangled or interfering during the extension and retraction of the connecting rod 231, thereby further improving the compactness and reliability of the structure.

[0045] The structure described in this embodiment has the following advantages: First, the fixed sleeve 232 serves as an integrated base, simplifying the assembly process and ensuring the coaxiality of each functional component. Second, the spatial partitioning and functional decoupling of the auxiliary limiting component and the flexible gripping component fundamentally solves the technical contradiction that a single airbag cannot simultaneously achieve stable gripping and anti-slip. Third, the independent air path design provides an interface for refined control, enabling the device to adapt to product variations of different weights, sizes, or surface characteristics. Fourth, the overall structure maintains a small radial dimension while ensuring functional completeness, making it suitable for application scenarios where the space of the inner ring hole 107 is limited. These advantages collectively support the production device's requirement for efficient and non-destructive material handling of precision thin-walled parts in high-speed automated production lines.

[0046] Example 5 Based on Embodiment 3 or Embodiment 4, this embodiment further describes in detail the specific mating structure between the pre-positioning guide component and the injection mold. The pre-positioning guide component includes a docking rod 231, and a docking sleeve 239 is provided inside the lower mold core 32 of the injection mold. An elastic reset member 2310 is provided inside the docking sleeve 239.

[0047] Specifically, in combination Figures 9 to 11As shown, the docking rod 231 serves as an active guide element on the side of the material handling fixture 20. Its lower end is cylindrical or conical, used to insert into the inner ring hole 107 of the product and establish a guiding reference. The docking sleeve 239 serves as a passive mating element on the mold side. It is embedded in the center area of ​​the inner ring hole 107 corresponding to the lower mold core 32, and its outer diameter is strictly smaller than the diameter of the inner ring hole 107 to avoid encroaching on the effective molding area of ​​the product. In this embodiment, the elastic reset element 2310 is preferably a compression spring, but it can also be a spring sheet, rubber pad, or gas spring, etc., which have axial rebound capability. It is accommodated in the mounting groove at the bottom of the docking sleeve 239, with one end abutting the bottom surface of the mounting groove and the other end abutting the inner wall step of the docking sleeve 239, providing a continuous upward ejection force for the docking sleeve 239.

[0048] In the closed state, the upper mold core applies downward pressure, forcing the mating sleeve 239 to overcome the elastic force of the elastic reset member 2310 and descend until the top surface of the mating sleeve 239 is completely flush with the forming surface of the lower mold core 32. This ensures the integrity and sealing of the injection cavity and avoids leaving indentations or flash on the product surface. In the open state, as the upper mold core is lifted, the elastic reset member 2310 releases its stored elastic potential energy, driving the mating sleeve 239 to pop up and extend a certain distance beyond the forming surface. The purpose of the dynamic extension and retraction mechanism of the mating sleeve 239 is to achieve the principle of soft mating priority: when the material handling fixture 20 descends to prepare for material handling, the mating rod 231 first contacts the top of the popped-out mating sleeve 239, rather than the precision mold forming surface. Even if there is a slight positioning error in the robot arm, the mating rod 231 will only rub or collide with the replaceable, wear-resistant mating sleeve 239, thus completely avoiding the hard metal mating rod 231 directly scratching or damaging the expensive mold forming surface, significantly extending the service life of the mold and reducing maintenance costs.

[0049] Furthermore, the top end face of the docking sleeve 239 is provided with a mating groove, the shape of which is adapted to the end of the docking rod 231, for example, it can be in the form of a conical groove, a spherical groove, or a cylindrical hole with chamfers. When the docking rod 231 extends and docks with the docking sleeve 239, its end is preferentially inserted into the mating groove to achieve secondary precise guidance. Specifically, even if there is a slight axial misalignment of the docking rod 231 at the initial contact, the inclined or arc surface of the mating groove can smoothly guide the docking rod 231 to the correct center position through the mechanical self-centering effect. Subsequently, the docking rod 231 continues to descend, pressing the docking sleeve 239 to retract until the two reach the predetermined mating depth. This secondary guiding structure effectively compensates for the cumulative error caused by insufficient repeatability of the robot or thermal expansion of the mold, ensuring that the subsequent gripping airbag 234 can accurately enter the central area of ​​the inner ring hole 107.

[0050] The structural design of this embodiment specifically addresses the problem of unstable product posture during the initial stage of demolding. In traditional processes, the product is often in a semi-constrained state when ejected by the ejector pin 31, making it highly susceptible to tilting, displacement, or even overturning due to uneven ejection force or gravity, leading to automated gripping failure or product drop damage. This embodiment, however, uses an elastic reset component 2310 to pre-expand the mating sleeve 239 at the moment of mold opening, allowing the mating pin 231 to intervene before or simultaneously with the ejector pin 31, creating a rigid axial guide channel for the product about to leave the cavity. The product is consistently constrained within this guide channel during ejection, its trajectory forcibly limited to linear motion along the axis of the mating pin 231, fundamentally eliminating the risk of lateral displacement and posture instability. This not only significantly improves the success rate of material picking and production cycle time, but it should also be understood that although this embodiment shows the solution of the elastic reset member 2310 being built into the docking sleeve 239, in other feasible embodiments, the elastic reset member 2310 can also be set outside the docking sleeve 239 or indirectly driven by a linkage mechanism. As long as the dynamic matching function of mold opening pop-out and mold closing flattening can be achieved, it falls within the protection scope of this invention.

[0051] Example 6 Based on Embodiment 4 or Embodiment 5, this embodiment further details the differentiated air pressure control logic of the dual airbags. The flexible gripping component is the gripping airbag 234, and the auxiliary limiting component is the auxiliary airbag 238. Specifically, although Embodiment 4 mentioned the separate design of the two airbags, structural separation alone is insufficient to guarantee perfect functional decoupling; specific control parameters must be used to achieve the desired gripping effect. In this embodiment, the fixed sleeve 232 has independent first and second air passages inside. The first air passage is connected to the gripping airbag 234, and the second air passage is connected to the auxiliary airbag 238. Figure 7 and Figure 9 As shown, these two pipelines are physically isolated within the wall thickness of the fixed sleeve 232 or the central cavity, and do not communicate with each other, thus ensuring the independence of the air source control. This independent air path design in this embodiment is the basis for subsequent differentiated air pressure control, enabling the two airbags to respond to different pressure commands without interfering with each other. It should be understood that although the figure shows a scheme where the pipelines are built into the sleeve wall, in other feasible embodiments, multiple independent air pipes can be inserted in parallel, or air paths can be distributed through rotary joints, as long as the independent controllability of the air supply channels for the two airbags can be guaranteed.

[0052] More importantly, in the grasping state, the inflation pressure of the auxiliary airbag 238 is greater than that of the grasping airbag 234, and the expansion diameter of the auxiliary airbag 238 is greater than the diameter of the inner ring hole 107 of the first housing component 100 or the second housing component 200. This parameter relationship constitutes the core control logic for the grasping stability of this embodiment. Specifically, the higher inflation pressure allows the auxiliary airbag 238 to expand faster and possess higher rigidity after expansion. When its expansion diameter exceeds the diameter of the inner ring hole 107, a rigid axial stop or virtual flange surface is formed at the lower end of the inner ring hole 107. This stop effectively resists the product's gravity and inertial force, completely blocking the path for the product to slide downwards axially. Meanwhile, the gripping airbag 234 uses a relatively low inflation pressure, allowing it to maintain appropriate softness and elasticity after inflation. It primarily maintains the product's circumferential positioning and posture stability through radial deformation and the generation of uniform flexible friction against the inner wall of the inner ring hole 107, preventing deformation of the thin-walled inner ring or surface damage due to excessive local contact stress. These two mechanisms work together to form a dual protection mechanism: high-pressure limiting to prevent slippage and low-pressure flexible gripping to prevent damage.

[0053] Specifically, in this embodiment, after the upper and lower molds of the injection mold open, but before the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 is ejected, the robotic arm moves the material handling fixture 20 to the set gripping position (i.e., directly above the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200). The drive assembly 24 drives the connecting rod 231 to extend, and the connecting rod 231 is inserted into the inner ring hole 107 of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200, preferentially engaging with the end face of the connecting sleeve 239. The sleeve 239 is inserted into the mating groove until its bottom surface moves down to abut against the backing plate, achieving alignment before gripping. Then, the injection molding machine drives the ejector rod 31 to eject the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 from the lower mold core 32 for demolding. During ejection, the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 moves upward along the axial direction of the ejector rod 231, thereby indirectly extending the auxiliary airbag 238 and the gripping airbag 234 into the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200. The airbag 238 extends out of the inner ring hole 107 and is pushed out to a set position (i.e., the upper surface of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 contacts the baffle 235). At this time, the auxiliary airbag 238 extends out of the inner ring hole 107. The external air source control system inflates the auxiliary airbag 238 and the grasping airbag 234. The auxiliary airbag 238 has a higher inflation pressure and expands faster than the grasping airbag 234. The auxiliary airbag 238 axially limits the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200, while the grasping airbag 234 radially limits the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200. Effective gripping is achieved, thereby gripping the first housing component 100 or the second housing component 200. The push rod 31 retracts, and then the robot arm drives the material handling fixture 20 to move the gripped first housing component 100 or the second housing component 200 to the next process position. The external air source control system deflates the gripping airbag 234 and the auxiliary airbag 238, and the first housing component 100 or the second housing component 200 falls off due to its own weight, thus releasing the first housing component 100 or the second housing component 200.

[0054] In practical engineering applications, external air source control systems are common existing technologies. The air pressure difference can be dynamically adjusted by a precision pressure reducing valve or an electro-proportional valve to adapt to products of different weights or materials. The diameter difference can be achieved by selecting airbag materials with different initial dimensions, wall thicknesses, or elastic moduli. This embodiment does not limit the uniqueness of this, but aims to cover all implementation schemes that satisfy the above parameter relationships to achieve the same technical effect.

[0055] Example 7 Based on Embodiments 4 to 6, this embodiment further optimizes the material release mechanism of the production device by adding a push-top material release component. In actual production, although the flexible gripper (such as the gripping airbag 234) can achieve stable gripping through radial expansion, during the release phase, due to the viscoelastic hysteresis effect or uneven contraction of the airbag material itself, it is often difficult to instantly and completely retract to the initial diameter, resulting in a certain amount of friction or adsorption force remaining between the hole wall of the inner ring hole 107 of the product and the surface of the airbag. If the product is passively dropped based solely on its own weight, it is very easy for the product to tilt and hang on the radial inner support gripping component, which cannot be successfully detached, i.e., the so-called "material hanging problem" in the industry. This not only interrupts the automated production cycle but may also cause damage to the product during subsequent forced peeling. Therefore, this embodiment introduces an active mechanical push-top material release mechanism to ensure the determinism and reliability of the release process.

[0056] Specifically, the push-top ejector assembly includes multiple sets of chutes 2321, multiple sets of ejector components 2311, and a push port 2351. Combined with... Figures 12 to 15 As shown, multiple sets of grooves 2321 are axially formed on the outer wall of the fixed sleeve 232, serving as guide rails for the ejector component 2311. The ejector components 2311 are slidably disposed in the grooves 2321, and each ejector component 2311 has an L-shaped structure, with its vertical side conforming to the outer wall of the fixed sleeve 232 or the side wall of the connecting rod 231, while its horizontal side extends towards the product. A push port 2351 is formed on the baffle 235 at the end of the fixed sleeve 232, and its position corresponds to the grooves 2321 and the ejector component 2311, providing a channel for the ejector component 2311 to pass through the baffle 235 and contact the product. It should be understood that although the stripper 2311 is preferably an L-shaped plate structure in this embodiment, in other feasible embodiments, a T-shaped slider, a Z-shaped connecting rod or other irregular structure that can convert axial displacement into end face thrust can also be used; the number of grooves 2321 is not limited to three sets, and can be set to four or more sets according to the product size and stripping force requirements, as long as the uniform distribution of the pushing force can be guaranteed.

[0057] In the released state, the pre-positioning guide assembly (i.e., the docking rod 231) extends outward, driving multiple sets of ejector components 2311 to move along the slide groove 2321. This causes the ejector components 2311 to pass through the push port 2351 and push the first housing component 100 or the second housing component 200 to eject the material. There is an axial linkage between the docking rod 231 and the ejector components 2311 (e.g., through pin connection, slot engagement, or integral molding). When the drive assembly 24 drives the docking rod 231 to extend downward relative to the fixed sleeve 232, the ejector components 2311 are simultaneously driven to slide downward along the slide groove 2321. Their horizontal pushing tip then passes through the push port 2351 on the baffle 235 and directly abuts against the non-functional area at the edge of the inner ring hole 107, applying a defined axial thrust. This thrust, combined with the product's self-addition, is sufficient to overcome the residual friction or adsorption force of the airbag, forcibly separating the product from the radially inner support gripping assembly. This active unloading method completely eliminates the dependence on gravity, ensuring the immediacy and accuracy of product release even under complex working conditions such as high-speed transfer or tilting.

[0058] To protect the appearance and dimensional accuracy of precision injection molded parts, the ejector tip of the stripper 2311 is equipped with an elastomer. Specifically, this elastomer can be a rubber pad, polyurethane block, or silicone cap embedded in the ejector tip, or it can be a soft coating covering the entire ejector tip. When the stripper 2311 comes into contact with the product, the elastomer first undergoes a slight compression deformation, converting the rigid mechanical impact force into a flexible buffer thrust, effectively preventing hard metal or plastic ejectors from leaving indentations, scratches, or causing stress whitening on the product surface. At the same time, the presence of the elastomer can also compensate for the slight height differences that may exist between multiple sets of strippers 2311, ensuring that the force on each ejector tip is uniform and preventing local deformation of the product due to excessive force at a single point.

[0059] More ingeniously, the push-out ejector assembly in this embodiment not only performs the ejection function but also serves as a radial limiter for the pre-positioning guide assembly. Specifically, multiple sets of ejector components 2311 limit the radial movement of the pre-positioning guide assembly during the sliding process. Figure 12 and Figure 14As shown, since the docking rod 231 is usually a slender rod, it is prone to radial sway or bending due to its own weight or lateral load during long-stroke telescopic movements, which can affect the guiding accuracy or even cause jamming. In this embodiment, multiple sets of stripping parts 2311 are distributed at intervals along the circumferential direction (for example, three sets are evenly distributed at 90° or 120°). The vertical sides of their L-shaped structures are close to the outer wall of the docking rod 231 or embedded in the guide groove of the inner wall of the fixing sleeve 232, which essentially constitutes multiple sliding bearing fulcrums that move along the axial direction. When the docking rod 231 attempts to deflect radially, the stripping parts 2311 in the deflection direction will be subject to the constraint reaction force of the side wall of the slide groove 2321, thereby forcibly restricting the docking rod 231 to the central axis. This embodiment significantly improves the motion stiffness and straightness of the slender docking rod 231 without adding additional guiding parts, ensuring high-precision execution of the pre-positioning guidance and pushing stripping actions. At the same time, it makes the overall structure more compact, which is conducive to reducing the radial dimension of the material handling fixture 20 to adapt to the narrow mold space.

[0060] It should be further noted that in this embodiment, the running distance of the stripper 2311 is less than the distance of the docking rod 231 extending out from the docking sleeve 239. This avoids the phenomenon of the stripper 2311 pushing against the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 during docking.

[0061] Example 8 Based on Embodiments 3 to 7, this embodiment further details the multi-station array engineering implementation of the production device. The material handling fixture 20 also includes a first support plate 21 and a second support plate 22, which are fixedly connected by connecting rods to form the main frame.

[0062] Specifically, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the first support plate 21 and the second support plate 22 are arranged parallel to each other and are fastened together by multiple high-strength connecting rods (not individually labeled in the figure), forming a double-layer frame structure with high rigidity and high stability. This frame body serves as the load-bearing base for the entire material handling fixture 20. On the one hand, it is connected to an external robotic arm or automated transfer mechanism via the connecting arm 10; on the other hand, it provides a precise installation reference surface for the various internal functional components. It should be understood that although this embodiment shows an open frame form with double-layer plates and connecting rods, in other feasible embodiments, a box-type structure, a truss structure, or an integrally cast frame can also be used, as long as sufficient structural rigidity can be provided to support the inertial loads during the synchronous movement of the multi-component gripping mechanism 23.

[0063] Multiple gripping mechanisms 23 are arrayed on the first support plate 21 according to the number of molding cavities in the injection mold. Specifically, the arrangement of the gripping mechanisms 23 on the first support plate 21 is a one-to-one mirror mapping relationship with the distribution position of the product cavity in the lower mold core 32 of the injection mold. For example, if the mold is a four-cavity design, four sets of gripping mechanisms 23 are installed on the first support plate 21 accordingly; if the mold is upgraded to an eight-cavity or sixteen-cavity design, only the corresponding specification of the first support plate 21 needs to be replaced and the corresponding number of gripping mechanisms 23 needs to be added. This array design allows multiple products to be demolded and transferred simultaneously in a single material handling cycle, thus multiplying production efficiency. It should be noted that the array here is not limited to a regular rectangular matrix arrangement. In actual engineering, depending on the mold runner design and cavity layout, the gripping mechanisms 23 can also adopt a ring array, staggered arrangement, or other irregular spatial distribution forms, as long as they can be accurately aligned with the mold cavities.

[0064] Multiple drive components 24 are mounted on the second support plate 22. Each drive component 24 is connected to a corresponding gripping mechanism 23 to drive the pre-positioning guide component to perform a telescopic movement. This one-to-one independent drive configuration is key to achieving flexible production and high reliability in this embodiment. Specifically, each drive component 24 (such as a pneumatic cylinder, electric cylinder, or hydraulic cylinder) is only responsible for driving the gripping mechanism 23 directly below it, and the power transmission and control signals between each group are independent of each other. This decoupled design brings significant engineering advantages: First, it achieves fault isolation. When a drive component 24 or gripping mechanism 23 of a certain acupoint malfunctions (such as airbag rupture, air pipe leakage, or cylinder jamming), only that station stops working, while the other stations can continue to operate normally. This avoids the risk of a single point failure causing a complete line shutdown in traditional linkage structures, greatly improving the overall uptime of the equipment. Second, it provides the ability to independently adjust process parameters. For individual acupoints where the demolding force changes due to mold wear or molding differences, the thrust, speed, or stroke of the corresponding drive component 24 can be adjusted individually without compromising the overall system, thus ensuring the consistency of material quality for each product. Finally, independent drive also reserves interfaces for subsequent intelligent upgrades. For example, by integrating pressure sensors or displacement sensors into each drive loop, real-time monitoring and closed-loop feedback of the material handling status of each station can be achieved, providing underlying data support for the construction of a digital workshop.

[0065] This embodiment constructs a highly modular, scalable, and fault-tolerant industrial automated material handling system by organically combining the main frame, the arrayed gripping mechanism 23, and the independent drive component 24. This system not only perfectly adapts to the large-scale mass production needs of modular ring circuits, but also effectively addresses various abnormal operating conditions that may occur in actual production through redundant structural design and decoupling control strategies, significantly improving the stability and economic efficiency of the production line.

[0066] Example 9 This embodiment provides a manufacturing process for a modular ring circuit, which is based on the modular ring circuit and manufacturing apparatus described in the previous embodiment. The manufacturing process includes the following steps: Raw material pretreatment involves drying, dust removal, and mixing of the injection molding raw materials. Specifically, since modular annular circuit breakers are typically made of engineering plastics such as polycarbonate (PC), polyetherimide (PEI), or liquid crystal polymer (LCP), these materials are extremely sensitive to moisture. In this embodiment, the raw materials need to be dried at 120°C to 150°C for 4 to 6 hours to reduce the moisture content to below 0.02% to prevent the formation of bubbles, silver streaks, or strength reduction due to hydrolytic degradation during injection molding. Simultaneously, a magnetic frame and filter in the automatic feeding system remove metallic impurities and dust from the raw materials, and color masterbatch or glass fiber reinforcement is added in a predetermined ratio for uniform mixing. This step is fundamental to ensuring the quality of subsequent injection molding and effectively avoids defects such as uneven shell light transmittance, internal stress concentration, or fluctuations in dimensional shrinkage caused by raw material issues.

[0067] Injection molding is a process where a pre-treated raw material is injected into a heated barrel, plasticized by a screw, and then injected into the mold cavity at high pressure and high speed. In this embodiment, the injection molding process parameters need to be specifically optimized for the thin-walled characteristics and precision snap-fit ​​structure of the first housing part 100 and the second housing part 200. For example, the melt temperature is controlled between 280°C and 320°C, the mold temperature is maintained between 80°C and 120°C, the holding pressure is set to 60% to 80% of the injection pressure, and the holding time is precisely calculated based on the wall thickness to compensate for shrinkage. The cooling time must be sufficient to ensure that the product is completely solidified and shaped before mold opening to prevent ejection deformation. Through integrated injection molding, not only is efficient mass production of the housing parts achieved, but the consistency of the dimensions of the two housing parts under the isomorphic design is also ensured, providing a prerequisite for subsequent seamless assembly.

[0068] For demolding and material handling, after the injection mold opens and before the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 leaves the cavity of the injection mold, the pre-positioning guide component is extended to establish a guiding fit with the injection mold, limiting the ejection trajectory of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200. Specifically, when the injection molding machine issues an opening signal and the moving and fixed molds are separated, the robot arm drives the material handling fixture 20 to move quickly to directly above the mold. At this time, the drive component 24 immediately drives the docking rod 231 to extend downward, so that its end is preferentially inserted into the docking sleeve 239 that pops out in the lower mold core 32, completing the establishment of a rigid guide channel. This action must be completed before or simultaneously with the ejector rod 31 to ensure that the product is axially constrained at the moment of ejection, completely eliminating the risk of lateral displacement and instability caused by uneven ejection force or gravity.

[0069] Subsequently, the ejection mechanism of the injection mold ejects either the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 to a preset position along the pre-positioning guide assembly. Specifically, the ejector rod 31 rises smoothly under hydraulic or electric drive, pushing the product vertically upward along the axis of the docking rod 231 until the upper surface of the product contacts the stop plate 235 on the picking fixture 20 or reaches the height threshold set by the sensor. During this process, the pre-positioning guide assembly constantly restricts the degree of freedom of the product, ensuring the repeatability and positioning accuracy of the gripping station.

[0070] Next, the flexible inner support gripper expands radially to abut against the inner ring hole 107 wall of the first housing 100 or the second housing 200 to perform gripping. Specifically, when the product reaches the preset gripping position, the air supply system supplies air to the auxiliary airbag 238 and the gripping airbag 234 respectively. The auxiliary airbag 238 is inflated with a higher air pressure (e.g., 0.4MPa to 0.6MPa), causing its expansion diameter to be larger than the diameter of the inner ring hole 107, forming a rigid axial stop; the gripping airbag 234 is inflated with a lower air pressure (e.g., 0.15MPa to 0.25MPa), causing it to expand moderately and generate uniform flexible friction with the inner wall of the inner ring hole 107. This differentiated air pressure control strategy prevents the product from slipping along the rounded corner slope during lifting and avoids deformation of the thin-walled inner ring due to excessive radial pressure, achieving a stable and damage-free gripping.

[0071] After being transferred to the target position, the flexible inner support gripper retracts, and the pusher ejector 2311 applies axial thrust to the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 to perform ejection. Specifically, after the robot moves the gripped housing part above the next process (such as an assembly station or conveyor belt), the air supply system first cuts off the air supply and exhausts the air, causing the auxiliary airbag 238 and the gripping airbag 234 to quickly retract back to their initial state. At the same time or shortly thereafter, the drive assembly 24 drives the docking rod 231 to extend downward for a certain distance, causing the L-shaped ejector 2311 to slide along the slide groove 2321 and pass through the push port 2351 on the baffle 235, directly abutting against the non-functional surface of the first housing part 100 or the second housing part 200 to apply a downward axial thrust. The active pushing action, in conjunction with the airbag contraction, forcibly overcomes the residual adsorption force that may be generated by the viscoelastic hysteresis of the airbag material, ensuring that the product can be dropped vertically to the designated position in an instant. This completely solves the problems of material snagging, tilting, or jamming that are common in traditional passive material dropping methods, and ensures the continuity of the automation cycle.

[0072] Post-processing involves fine trimming of the parting line and minor flash, while cleaning the inner and outer surfaces of the product. Specifically, after demolding, the housing may have trace amounts of flash or burrs remaining at the edge of the inner ring hole 107 or the parting surface. This step uses ultrasonic deburring equipment or precision trimming tools to remove these burrs, and then wipes the inner and outer surfaces of the product with a lint-free cloth dampened with a special cleaning agent to remove mold release agent residue, fingerprints, and electrostatically attracted dust. For looper housings used in fiber optic communication, surface cleanliness directly affects the transmission loss and long-term reliability of optical signals; therefore, this step must be performed in a Class 1000 or Class 10,000 cleanroom environment to meet the assembly environment requirements of precision optical components.

[0073] Inspection employs specialized gauges, calipers, and optical image measuring instruments to conduct random and full inspections of critical dimensions, resulting in either the first housing component 100 or the second housing component 200 of the finished product. Specifically, the inspection includes, but is not limited to: the diameter and cylindricity of the inner ring hole 107, the positional accuracy of the mating boss 105 and the mating groove 106, the height and thickness of the connecting lug 103 and the mounting plate 104, and the flatness and coaxiality of the overall housing. For initial mass production or critical batches, a coordinate measuring machine or optical image measuring instrument can be used for full-dimensional inspection; during stable mass production, dedicated go / no-go gauges and pneumatic measuring instruments can be designed for rapid online full inspection, supplemented by periodic laboratory random checks. Only housing components that pass all dimensional tolerance and appearance inspection standards can be deemed qualified finished products and enter the subsequent assembly stage. This multi-level quality control system ensures that each pair of assembled ring circuits meets stringent optical packaging requirements.

[0074] It should be understood that although this embodiment is illustrated using specific process parameters and equipment configuration as examples, in other feasible implementations, the specific execution order, parameter range, or equipment selection of the above steps can be adjusted according to actual production conditions. For example, a dehumidifying dryer can be used instead of a hot air dryer for raw material pretreatment; the airbag inflation sequence in the demolding and material removal step can be gradually controlled using a proportional valve instead of step control; and the detection step can also integrate a machine vision system for online appearance defect identification. As long as the core process logic of this application is followed, it falls within the protection scope of this invention.

[0075] The foregoing has provided a detailed description of one embodiment of the present invention, but this description is merely a preferred embodiment and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. All equivalent variations and modifications made within the scope of the claims of this invention should still fall within the patent coverage of this invention.

Claims

1. A modular ring circuit breaker, characterized in that, include: The first housing component and the second housing component have the same structure and are joined together with their inner surfaces facing each other to form a closed annular cavity; Both the first housing component and the second housing component have a circumferential positioning structure and an edge interlocking structure on their inner surfaces. Both the first housing component and the second housing component have an inner ring hole in the middle, and the outer edge of the inner ring hole is rounded. When the first housing component and the second housing component are joined together, the circumferential positioning structure of the first housing component and the circumferential positioning structure of the second housing component interlock to form a ring positioning, and the edge interlocking structure of the first housing component and the edge interlocking structure of the second housing component are cross-fitted.

2. The assembled ring circuit device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner surfaces of both the first housing component and the second housing component include an inner ring platform; The circumferential positioning structure is disposed on the inner ring platform and includes a docking boss and a docking groove that are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction. When the first housing component and the second housing component are joined together, the mating boss of the first housing component is embedded in the mating groove of the second housing component, and the mating groove of the first housing component accommodates the mating boss of the second housing component.

3. The composite ring circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner surfaces of both the first housing component and the second housing component include an outer ring shell wall; The edge interlocking structure includes a connecting lug disposed at one end of the inner side of the outer ring shell wall and a locking part disposed at the other end of the inner side of the outer ring shell wall; When the first housing component and the second housing component are joined together, the connecting lug of the first housing component and the engaging portion of the second housing component are cross-fitted together, and the engaging portion of the first housing component and the connecting lug of the second housing component are cross-fitted together.

4. A production apparatus for a modular annular circuit breaker, used for automatically taking material from the first housing part or the second housing part in the injection mold during the injection molding production of the modular annular circuit breaker as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It includes a material handling fixture, which includes a gripping mechanism, and the gripping mechanism includes a pre-positioning guide component and a radially inward gripping component; The prepositioning guide component is configured to establish a guiding engagement with the injection mold before the first housing part or the second housing part leaves the cavity of the injection mold, so as to limit the ejection trajectory of the first housing part or the second housing part. The radial inner support gripping component is sleeved on the outer periphery of the prepositioning guide component and is configured to perform gripping by radial expansion and abutting against the inner ring hole when the first housing component or the second housing component is pushed out to a preset position along the prepositioning guide component.

5. The assembly-type ring circuit production device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The radial inner support gripping component includes: A fixed sleeve is fitted over the prepositioning guide assembly; A flexible gripper, fitted onto the outer wall of the fixed sleeve, is configured to achieve radial expansion through controlled expansion; and An auxiliary limiting component is sleeved on the outer wall of the fixed sleeve and located on the side of the flexible gripper closer to the injection mold. It is configured to axially limit the first housing component or the second housing component when the flexible gripper expands.

6. The assembly-type ring circuit production device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pre-positioning guide assembly includes a docking rod; The lower mold core of the injection mold is provided with a mating sleeve, and the mating sleeve is provided with an elastic reset element. In the mold-closed state, the top surface of the mating sleeve is flush with the forming surface of the lower mold core; in the mold-open state, the elastic reset member drives the mating sleeve to pop out, so that the mating rod preferentially mates with the mating sleeve and inserts into the inner ring hole of the first housing part or the second housing part.

7. The assembly-type ring circuit production device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The flexible gripper is a gripping airbag, and the auxiliary limiting component is an auxiliary airbag; The fixed sleeve is provided with a first ventilation pipe and a second ventilation pipe that are independent of each other. The first ventilation pipe is connected to the grasping airbag, and the second ventilation pipe is connected to the auxiliary airbag. In the grasping state, the inflation pressure of the auxiliary airbag is greater than the inflation pressure of the grasping airbag, and the expansion diameter of the auxiliary airbag is greater than the inner ring hole diameter of the first housing component or the second housing component.

8. The assembly-type ring circuit production apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The gripping mechanism further includes a push-top ejector assembly, which includes: Multiple sets of sliding grooves are formed on the outer wall of the fixed sleeve; Multiple sets of ejector components are slidably arranged in the multiple sets of grooves, and each ejector component is L-shaped with an elastic body at its top end. A push port is provided at the end of the fixed sleeve; In the released state, the prepositioning guide component extends outward, driving multiple sets of ejector components to move along the slide groove, so that the multiple sets of ejector components pass through the push port to push and eject the first housing component or the second housing component; the multiple sets of ejector components limit the radial movement of the prepositioning guide component during the sliding process.

9. The assembly-type ring circuit production device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material handling fixture also includes: A first support plate and a second support plate are fixedly connected by a connecting rod to form a frame body. Multiple sets of radially inward-supporting gripping components are arrayed on the first support plate according to the number of molding cavities in the injection mold. Multiple sets of drive components are disposed on the second support plate. Each set of drive components is connected to the radial inner support gripping component at the corresponding position to drive the prepositioning guide component to perform a telescopic action.

10. A manufacturing process for a modular ring circuit breaker, characterized in that, The production of the assembled ring circuit device of claim 1 using the production apparatus as described in claim 4 includes the following steps: Raw material pretreatment involves drying, dust removal, and mixing of the injection molding raw materials. Injection molding, which involves integral injection molding using an injection molding machine; Demolding and material removal: After the injection mold is opened and before the first housing part or the second housing part is removed from the cavity of the injection mold, the pre-positioning guide component is controlled to extend and establish a guiding engagement with the injection mold to limit the ejection trajectory of the first housing part or the second housing part. The ejection mechanism of the injection mold is controlled to eject the first housing component or the second housing component to a preset position along the prepositioning guide assembly; The flexible inner support gripper is controlled to expand radially and abut against the inner annular hole wall of the first housing component or the second housing component to perform gripping; After being transferred to the target position, the flexible inner support gripper is controlled to retract, and the pushing and unloading component is controlled to apply an axial thrust to the first housing component or the second housing component to perform unloading and release. Post-processing involves fine trimming of parting lines and minor flash, while cleaning the inner and outer surfaces of the product. Inspection involves using specialized gauges, calipers, and image measuring instruments to conduct random and full inspections of key dimensions, resulting in the first or second housing component of the finished product.

Images