Carrier positioning mechanism and automatic conveying line

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of automation, in particular to a carrier positioning mechanism and an automatic conveying line. The carrier positioning mechanism comprises a first positioning assembly and a second positioning assembly. The first positioning assembly comprises an abutting part and is used for controllably stopping or releasing a carrier which is supported on the conveying belt and moves along with the conveying belt. The second positioning assembly comprises a matching piece connected to the truss, and the matching piece is used for being detachably connected with the positioning part of the target carrier. The running direction of the conveying belt supported on the truss serves as the first direction, the carrier corresponding to the first positioning assembly in position serves as a target carrier, when the first positioning assembly is started, the position of the abutting portion connected to the truss corresponds to the side face of the bottom of the target carrier in the first direction, and the target carrier is prevented from passing through the first positioning assembly; at the moment, the second positioning assembly is detachably connected to the target carrier. Through combination of coarse positioning and fine positioning, accurate positioning of the carrier is realized with low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of automation, in particular to a carrier positioning mechanism and an automatic transport line. Background Art

[0002] In industrial production, it is often necessary to transfer workpieces from one workstation to the workstation of the next process. In automated production lines, automatic conveying equipment is often used to achieve this goal. Since there are often multiple processes in production, multiple corresponding workstations need to be set up, and automatic conveying equipment is required between adjacent workstations. In order to save costs, continuous automatic transport lines are often used to transfer workpieces between workstations.

[0003] Since the workpiece involves precise operations at each workstation, the position and direction of the workpiece need to be precisely controlled. At present, the workpiece is often constrained by a carrier, and the carrier or workpiece is transferred using servo motors, stepper motors, and manipulators with high precision to ensure the precision of the workpiece position. However, the cost of this automatic transport line is relatively high. Utility Model Content

[0004] The utility model aims to provide a carrier positioning mechanism and an automatic transport line with low cost and high precision.

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the utility model provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] A carrier positioning mechanism, comprising:

[0007] A first positioning assembly, comprising a resisting portion, the resisting portion being used to controllably block or release a carrier, the carrier being supported by a conveyor belt and moving with the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt being supported by a truss and running along a first direction, the carrier whose position corresponds to the first positioning assembly being a target carrier, when the first positioning assembly is turned on, the position of the resisting portion connected to the truss corresponds to the side of the bottom of the target carrier in the first direction, and the target carrier is blocked by the first positioning assembly;

[0008] The second positioning assembly includes a matching piece connected to the truss, the matching piece is detachably connected to the positioning portion of any one of the carriers, and the second positioning assembly is used to connect to the target carrier.

[0009] Optionally, the second positioning assembly includes a plurality of the matching pieces, and the plurality of the matching pieces are detachably connected to a plurality of the positioning portions of the carrier, respectively, and the plurality of the positioning portions are respectively arranged on both sides of the carrier.

[0010] Optionally, the vehicle positioning mechanism further includes a third positioning component for blocking other vehicles other than the target vehicle, and the third positioning component is turned on synchronously with the first positioning component.

[0011] Optionally, the structure of the third positioning component is the same as that of the first positioning component.

[0012] Optionally, the distance between the third positioning component and the first positioning component in the first direction is greater than or equal to the length of the vehicle in the first direction.

[0013] Optionally, the first positioning component includes a swinging member, a rotating shaft and a power member. The swinging member includes the abutting portion and a rotating portion. The abutting portion of the swinging member is connected to one end of the rotating portion, and the height of the abutting portion is higher than that of the rotating portion. The rotating portion is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is connected to the truss. The power member drives the swinging member to rotate controllably along the rotating shaft, so that the height of the abutting portion of the swinging member is converted between a height corresponding to the bottom of the vehicle and a height lower than the bottom of the vehicle.

[0014] Optionally, the swinging member further includes a balancing portion. The balancing portion of the swinging member is connected to the end of the rotating portion away from the abutting portion, and the height of the balancing portion of the swinging member is higher than that of the rotating portion.

[0015] Optionally, the second positioning component further includes a driving member respectively connected to a plurality of the fitting members. The positioning portion of the vehicle is configured as a groove-shaped structure provided at the edge of the vehicle, and the fitting member is configured as a strip-shaped structure adapted to the positioning portion of the vehicle. The driving member is disposed on the truss and connected to the fitting member to drive the fitting member to be controllably inserted into or separated from the positioning portion of the vehicle.

[0016] In a second aspect, the present invention further provides an automatic transportation line including the above vehicle positioning mechanism.

[0017] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the bottom of the target vehicle is blocked by the abutting portion of the first positioning component, so that the target vehicle cannot pass through the abutting portion of the first positioning component, realizing the preliminary positioning of the target vehicle. The fitting member of the second positioning component is detachably connected to the positioning portion of the target vehicle, realizing the precise positioning of the target vehicle. The combination of the two has high precision, and only an ordinary continuous conveyor belt can be used to realize the precise positioning of the vehicle, with low cost and high practicability.

[0018] Furthermore, by providing a plurality of positioning portions on both sides of the vehicle and detachably connecting a plurality of fitting members connected to the truss to the corresponding positioning portions, it helps to improve the binding force of the second positioning assembly on the vehicle and enhance the accuracy of vehicle positioning.

[0019] Furthermore, the third positioning assembly blocks the vehicles adjacent to the target vehicle and not reaching the first positioning assembly, preventing other moving vehicles from colliding with the target vehicle, enhancing the stability of the target vehicle, and facilitating the operation of the workpiece constrained to the target vehicle.

[0020] Furthermore, the distance between the third positioning assembly and the first positioning assembly is greater than or equal to the length of the vehicle, ensuring that when adjacent vehicles are respectively blocked by the third positioning assembly and the first positioning assembly, they do not squeeze each other, preventing other vehicles from squeezing the target vehicle, and helping to improve the stability of the target vehicle.

[0021] Furthermore, the power member drives the swinging member to rotate controllably along the rotation axis, enabling the abutting portion of the swinging member to controllably block in the first direction of the target vehicle or sink below the target vehicle, thereby realizing the blocking and release of the target vehicle. The structure is simple and the cost is low, with high universality and practicability.

[0022] Furthermore, by providing a balancing portion, the swinging member maintains a balanced state when not under force, reducing the loss of the power member and helping to extend the service life of the first positioning assembly.

[0023] Furthermore, by inserting the strip-shaped fitting member into the groove-shaped positioning portions on both sides of the edges of the target vehicle from both sides, the position of the target vehicle in the first direction and the lateral direction is constrained by the second positioning assembly, thereby enabling the positioning of the target vehicle to have high accuracy. Automatically controlling the telescoping of the fitting member by the driving member helps to simplify the operation steps and improve the convenience of operation.

[0024] According to the second aspect of the present invention, precise positioning of the vehicle is achieved at a low cost, with high practicability.

[0025] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to be able to understand the technical means of the present invention more clearly and implement it in accordance with the content of the specification, the following describes in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 It is a vertical sectional view along the first direction of a partial structure of the automatic transportation line shown in the first embodiment of the present invention after removing the conveyor belt;

[0027] Figure 2This is a cross-sectional view on a horizontal plane of a partial structure after removing the conveyor belt of the automatic transportation line shown in the first embodiment of the present utility model.

[0028] Legend: 1 - Truss, 11 - Track plate, 111 - Conveyor track, 12 - Safety frame, 13 - Structural plate, 2 - Carrier, 21 - Support plate, 22 - Stop block, 23 - Positioning part, 231 - Fixed groove, 24 - Limiting part, 31 - First positioning component, 311 - Swing part, 312 - Contact part, 3121 - Interference surface, 313 - Rotating part, 314 - Balancing part, 315 - Rotating shaft, 32 - Second positioning component, 321 - Fitting part, 322 - Accommodating groove, 323 - Driving part, 33 - Third positioning component, 4 - Photoelectric sensor. Detailed implementation manners

[0029] Next, the technical solutions of the present utility model will be described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0030] In the description of the present utility model, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present utility model and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus cannot be construed as a limitation of the present utility model. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0031] In the description of the present utility model, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installation", "connection", "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood according to specific situations.

[0032] In addition, the technical features involved in different embodiments of the present utility model described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2The carrier positioning mechanism protected by the utility model application includes a first positioning component 31 and a second positioning component 32. The first positioning component 31 includes a resistance portion 312, which is used to controllably block or release the carrier 2 supported by the conveyor belt and moving with the conveyor belt. The second positioning component 32 includes a matching piece 321 connected to the truss 1, and the matching piece 321 is used to be detachably connected to the positioning portion 23 of the target carrier 2. Taking the running direction of the conveyor belt supported by the truss 1 as the first direction, and the carrier 2 whose position corresponds to the first positioning component 31 as the target carrier 2, when the first positioning component 31 is turned on, the position of the resistance portion 312 connected to the truss 1 corresponds to the side of the first direction of the bottom of the target carrier 2, preventing the target carrier 2 from passing through the first positioning component 31, and at this time, the second positioning component 32 is detachably connected to the target carrier 2.

[0034] The bottom of the target carrier 2 is blocked by the abutment portion 312 of the first positioning component 31, so that the target carrier 2 cannot pass through the abutment portion 312 of the first positioning component 31, thereby achieving the preliminary positioning of the target carrier 2. The matching piece 321 of the second positioning component 32 is detachably connected to the positioning portion 23 of the target carrier 2, thereby achieving the precise positioning of the target carrier 2. The combination of the two has high accuracy, and the precise positioning of the carrier 2 can be achieved by only using an ordinary continuous conveyor belt, which is low in cost and has high practicality.

[0035] Please refer to the following examples for details.

[0036] Embodiment 1:

[0037] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The automatic transport line shown in a preferred embodiment of the present application includes a truss 1, a conveyor belt, a carrier 2 and a carrier positioning mechanism. The conveyor belt is connected end to end to form a ring and runs along a conveyor track 111 formed by the truss 1. The carrier 2 is supported by the conveyor belt and runs along the conveyor belt under the action of the friction between the carrier 2 and the conveyor belt. The running direction is as follows: Figure 1 The middle arrow is defined as the first direction. A plurality of carrier positioning mechanisms are connected to the truss 1 to position the running carrier 2 at each workstation, so as to load and unload the carrier 2 or operate the workpiece carried on the carrier 2.

[0038] The truss 1 includes a pair of vertically opposed track plates 11, a horizontally arranged safety frame 12 and a structural plate 13. Two relatively horizontally arranged conveying tracks 111 with the same structure and height are formed on the two track plates 11. The multiple structural plates 13 are perpendicular to the track plates 11 and connected between the two track plates 11, thereby improving the overall structural strength of the truss 1. The support frame is supported by the multiple structural plates 13, and its extension direction is parallel to the track plates 11 and its height is lower than the conveying tracks 111. The two conveyor belts run synchronously along the two conveying tracks 111 respectively. Both conveyor belts are rigid conveyor belts that still have a large supporting force in the direction perpendicular to the conveying tracks 111, and the two conveyor belts are separated from each other, forming a long track gap above the safety frame 12.

[0039] The carrier 2 includes a support plate 21, a stopper 22 and a limiter 24. The support plate 21 is constructed as a horizontally arranged flat plate structure, and part of its bottom surface is directly supported on the upper surface of the conveyor belt, so that the carrier 2 moves with the conveyor belt. Long strip-shaped positioning parts 23 are fixedly connected on both sides of the upper surface of the support plate 21. A limiter 24 is arranged between the two positioning parts 23 to match the workpiece to be transported, and the limiter 24 is used to carry the workpiece. The rectangular stopper 22 is connected to the middle of the bottom surface of the support plate 21, and the structure is adapted to the track gap between the two conveyor belts. When the carrier 2 is transported, the bottom surface of the part of the support plate 21 located on both sides of the stopper 22 is supported by the two conveyor belts respectively, and the stopper 22 is embedded in the track gap between the two conveyor belts, and is suspended above the safety frame 12 under the support of the two conveyor belts. Since the safety frame 12 is supported under the conveyor belt, it can prevent the carrier 2 from entering the automatic transport line after accidentally falling from the conveyor belt, thereby improving the safety of the automatic transport line.

[0040] The carrier positioning mechanism includes a first positioning assembly 31 and a second positioning assembly 32. The first positioning assembly 31 is connected to the safety frame 12, and is used to resist the target carrier 2 that reaches the first positioning assembly 31, and prevent the target carrier 2 from continuing to move with the operation of the conveyor belt. The second positioning assembly 32 is connected to the track plate 11, and is used to be detachably connected to the positioning portion 23 of the target carrier 2, so as to keep the position of the target carrier 2 accurate and constant, and facilitate the operation of the workpiece carried by the target carrier 2.

[0041] The first positioning assembly 31 includes a swinging member 311, a rotating shaft 315 and a power member. The rotating shaft 315 is horizontally arranged, parallel to the structural plate 13, and fixedly connected to the bottom of the safety frame 12. The swinging member 311 is vertically arranged, and is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 315. The swinging member 311 includes a resistance part 312, a rotating part 313 and a balancing part 314. The rotating part 313 is constructed in a long strip shape, arranged just below the track gap between the two conveyor belts, and the middle part is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 315. The resistance part 312 is connected to one end of the rotating part 313 in the first direction, and the resistance part 312 is connected to the top of the rotating part 313, and the side of the resistance part 312 away from the first direction is an interference surface 3121. The balancing part 314 is connected to the top of one end of the rotating part 313 away from the resistance part 312. A hollow portion is formed on the safety frame 12 at a position corresponding to the swinging member 311, so that the contact portion 312 and the balancing portion 314 of the swinging member 311 can reach or leave the space above the safety frame 12 through the hollow portion of the safety frame 12. The power member is a rotary cylinder, which drives the swinging member 311 to switch back and forth between the first state and the second state in a controllable manner. Since the weight between the contact portion 312 and the balancing portion 314 of the swinging member 311 is basically balanced, the power member needs to provide less force, which helps save costs and extend service life. When the swing member 311 is in the first state, the end height of the rotating portion 313 in the first direction is relatively low. At this time, the top heights of the interference portion 312 and the balancing portion 314 are both lower than the bottom surface of the block 22. The target carrier 2 does not interfere with the first positioning component 31 and moves freely toward the first direction with the conveyor belt; when the swing member 311 is in the second state, the rotating portion 313 remains horizontal. At this time, the top height of the interference portion 312 is higher than the bottom surface of the block 22 and lower than the bottom surface of the support plate 21. When the target carrier 2 is transferred with the conveyor belt to the point where its block 22 contacts the interference surface 3121 of the swing member 311, it cannot continue to move toward the first direction with the conveyor belt due to the obstruction of the swing member 311, thereby achieving the rough positioning of the target carrier 2.

[0042] The second positioning component 32 includes a mating part 321, a receiving groove 322, and a driving part 323. The driving part 323 is connected to the side of any one track slab 11 away from the other track slab 11. One end of the driving part 323 close to the track slab 11 is connected with a long strip cylindrical mating part 321. The extending direction of the mating part 321 is horizontal and perpendicular to the track slab 11. One end of the mating part 321 away from the driving part 323 can be controllably close to or away from the other track slab 11 under the action of the driving part 323. The receiving groove 322 is connected to the driving part 323 and the track slab 11, and is structurally matched with the mating part 321 for receiving and supporting the mating part 321 and restricting the telescopic direction of the mating part 321. Two fixing grooves 231 structurally matched with the mating part 321 are formed on the side of a positioning part 23 of the vehicle 2 away from the other positioning part 23. The two fixing grooves 231 are separated from each other and are respectively adjacent to both ends of the positioning part 23. A fixing groove 231 is formed in the middle of the other positioning part 23 of the vehicle 2. The second positioning component 32 includes three groups of mating parts 321, receiving grooves 322, and driving parts 323. When the target vehicle 2 is blocked by the first positioning component 31, the positions of the three mating parts 321 are respectively matched with the three fixing grooves 231, and the three driving parts 323 run synchronously to drive the mating parts 321 to insert into the fixing grooves 231 or retract into the receiving grooves 322, so as to accurately position the position of the target vehicle 2.

[0043] In this embodiment, the vehicle positioning mechanism further includes a third positioning component 33. The structure of the third positioning component 33 is the same as that of the first positioning component 31, and is arranged in the direction opposite to the first direction of the first positioning component 31. The distance between the third positioning component 33 and the first positioning component 31 is 1.5 times the length of the vehicle 2 in the first direction. The third positioning component 33 and the first positioning component 31 are started synchronously to make the swing part 311 in the second state. When any vehicle 2 is blocked by the third positioning component 33, another vehicle 2 adjacent to this vehicle 2 in the first direction continues to move towards the first direction, and is blocked by the first positioning component 31 when reaching the first positioning component 31 and is limited by the second positioning component 32. The third positioning component 33 can prevent the target vehicle 2 from being collided and squeezed by other vehicles 2, which helps to improve the stability of the target vehicle 2, reduce the burden on the first positioning component 31 and the second positioning component 32, and extend the service life.

[0044] In this embodiment, an optoelectronic sensor 4 is further arranged in the first direction of the first positioning component 31 for sensing the passing situation of the target vehicle 2.

[0045] By arranging the mutually matched vehicle 2 and the vehicle positioning mechanism, it helps to realize the fixed-point limiting and release of the vehicle 2 at a relatively low cost, has high precision, and is convenient for operating the workpiece carried by the vehicle 2.

[0046] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity of description, not all possible combinations of the various technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, it should be considered as falling within the scope described in this specification.

[0047] The above-described embodiments only express several implementation manners of the present utility model. The description is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present utility model, several modifications and improvements can still be made, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of the present utility model patent shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A carrier positioning mechanism, characterized in that: include: A first positioning component (31), comprising a resisting portion (312), the resisting portion (312) being used to controllably block or release a carrier (2), the carrier (2) being supported by a conveyor belt and moving with the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt being supported by a truss (1) and running along a first direction, the carrier (2) whose position corresponds to the first positioning component (31) being a target carrier (2), when the first positioning component (31) is opened, the position of the resisting portion (312) connected to the truss (1) corresponds to the side of the bottom of the target carrier (2) in the first direction, so that the target carrier (2) is blocked by the first positioning component (31); The second positioning assembly (32) comprises a matching piece (321) connected to the truss (1), wherein the matching piece (321) is detachably connected to a positioning portion (23) of any one of the carriers (2), and the second positioning assembly (32) is used to connect to the target carrier (2).

2. The carrier positioning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second positioning assembly (32) comprises a plurality of matching pieces (321), and the plurality of matching pieces (321) are respectively detachably connected to a plurality of positioning portions (23) of the carrier (2), and the plurality of positioning portions (23) are respectively arranged on two sides of the carrier (2).

3. The carrier positioning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also comprises a third positioning component (33), wherein the third positioning component (33) is used to block the other vehicles (2) except the target vehicle (2), and the third positioning component (33) is opened synchronously with the first positioning component (31).

4. The carrier positioning mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The structure of the third positioning component (33) is the same as that of the first positioning component (31).

5. The carrier positioning mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The distance between the third positioning component (33) and the first positioning component (31) in the first direction is greater than or equal to the length of the carrier (2) in the first direction.

6. The carrier positioning mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The first positioning assembly (31) comprises a swinging member (311), a rotating shaft (315) and a power member. The swinging member (311) comprises a contact portion (312) and a rotating portion (313). The contact portion (312) of the swinging member (311) is connected to one end of the rotating portion (313), and the height of the contact portion (312) is higher than that of the rotating portion (313). The rotating portion (313) is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft (315), and the rotating shaft (315) is connected to the truss (1). The power member drives the swinging member (311) to controllably rotate along the rotating shaft (315), so that the height of the contact portion (312) of the swinging member (311) is switched between a height corresponding to the bottom of the carrier (2) and a height lower than the bottom of the carrier (2).

7. The carrier positioning mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: The swinging member (311) further comprises a balancing portion (314), wherein the balancing portion (314) of the swinging member (311) is connected to an end of the rotating portion (313) away from the abutting portion (312), and the height of the balancing portion (314) of the swinging member (311) is higher than that of the rotating portion (313).

8. The carrier positioning mechanism according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: The second positioning assembly (32) also includes a driving member (323) respectively connected to the plurality of matching members (321); the positioning portion (23) of the carrier (2) is configured as a groove-shaped structure arranged on the edge of the carrier (2), and the matching member (321) is configured as a long strip-shaped structure that matches the positioning portion (23) of the carrier (2); the driving member (323) is arranged on the truss (1) and connected to the matching member (321), driving the matching member (321) to controllably insert into or leave the positioning portion (23) of the carrier (2).

9. An automatic transport line, characterized in that: It comprises a carrier positioning mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-8.

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