Automatic feeding device

Abstract

The utility model discloses an automatic feeding device which comprises a machine frame, a workpiece feeding station and an empty tray discharging station are arranged on the machine frame, and vacant positions are arranged at the workpiece feeding station and the empty tray discharging station of the machine frame. The charging tray translation mechanism is arranged on the rack in a horizontal moving manner and can move between a workpiece loading station and an empty charging tray unloading station; the material tray lifting and transferring mechanism is arranged on the rack and comprises Z-axis conveying modules which are located below the workpiece feeding station and the empty material tray discharging station respectively; the transfer placing platform is arranged on the rack; and the feeding mechanism is movably arranged on the rack and moves between the workpiece feeding station and the transfer placement platform. The device is high in automation degree, reduces the manual participation degree, and effectively improves the efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of automation equipment, and in particular relates to an automatic feeding device. Background Art

[0002] To improve production efficiency, automated equipment is increasingly being used in production lines. Chinese Utility Model Patent No. 2024202426987 discloses an automatic material grabbing and sorting device that can automatically grab and sort workpieces. However, this device cannot automatically shift and collect material trays; manual removal, replacement, and replenishment of trays are still required. The degree of automation needs to be further improved, and manual collection and replacement of trays are required before material sorting can resume, impacting efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0003] In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic feeding device with a high degree of automation and the ability to improve production efficiency.

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0005] An automatic loading device comprises: a frame, on which a workpiece loading station and an empty tray unloading station are provided, and the frame is provided with empty positions for the feed tray to pass through at the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station; a tray translation mechanism horizontally movably arranged on the frame, and the tray translation mechanism can move between the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station; a tray lifting and transferring mechanism arranged on the frame, and the tray lifting and transferring mechanism includes a Z-axis conveying module respectively located below the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station; a loading mechanism movably arranged on the frame; a transfer placement platform arranged on the frame, and the loading mechanism can move between the workpiece loading station and the transfer placement platform.

[0006] Furthermore, the transfer placement platform is a loading and changing distance module and / or a secondary positioning fixture.

[0007] Furthermore, it also includes feeding stations arranged on the frame and located below the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station respectively.

[0008] Furthermore, the feeding station includes a workpiece loading conveyor located below the workpiece loading station and an empty tray unloading conveyor located below the empty tray unloading station.

[0009] Furthermore, the loading mechanism includes an X-axis linear module arranged on the frame, a Y-axis linear module arranged on the X-axis linear module through a first slide, and a workpiece gripper arranged on the Y-axis linear module through a second slide; the X-axis linear module controls the first slide to move along the X-axis direction, and the Y-axis linear module controls the second slide to move along the Y-axis direction; the workpiece gripper is movably arranged on the second slide along the Z-axis direction, and the workpiece gripper moves along the Z-axis direction.

[0010] Furthermore, the workpiece gripper is arranged on a rotary cylinder, and the rotary cylinder controls the workpiece gripper to rotate in a horizontal direction.

[0011] Furthermore, the Z-axis conveying module includes a fixed frame fixed to the frame, a material tray support plate movably arranged on the fixed frame, and a support plate lifting drive unit that drives the material tray support plate to move up and down.

[0012] Furthermore, the tray translation mechanism includes a transfer frame, a frame translation drive unit that drives the transfer frame to move horizontally, and a vacuum suction cup and / or tray clamp arranged on the transfer frame.

[0013] Furthermore, a horizontal slide rail is provided on the frame, which extends through the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station, and is located on opposite sides of the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station, and the transfer frame is provided on the horizontal slide rail.

[0014] Furthermore, the transfer frame is in a U-shape, and a suction cup fixing plate is provided at each end of the transfer frame in the length direction. The suction cup fixing plate extends along the width direction of the transfer frame, and at least one vacuum suction cup is provided on the suction cup fixing plate; the transfer frame is provided with a clamp fixing plate located between the suction cup fixing plates, and the clamp fixing plate is provided with the material tray clamps arranged at intervals.

[0015] Furthermore, a tray clamping assembly is provided on the frame, and the tray clamping assembly includes clamping bars located on the left and right sides of each workstation and capable of clamping the tray, and a driving device for driving the clamping bars to move horizontally.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0017] The utility model is capable of collecting material trays and replenishing workpieces by setting up a material tray lifting and transferring mechanism. At the same time, the empty material tray can be automatically moved to the empty material tray unloading station through the material tray translation mechanism, thereby realizing automation in the collection and output of empty material trays and the replenishment of new material trays (workpieces), reducing the degree of manual participation, having a high degree of automation and improving efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the automatic feeding device according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an automatic loading device with a blank workstation according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of the Z-axis conveying module of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of the feeding mechanism of an embodiment of the utility model;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the horizontal transfer unit of the material tray of the utility model;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the utility model's tray horizontal transfer unit transferring large-sized trays;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the utility model's tray horizontal transfer unit transferring small-sized trays. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific implementation methods.

[0026] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the automatic loading device of this embodiment includes: a frame 1, a loading mechanism 2, a tray lifting and transfer mechanism 3, a tray translation mechanism 4, a workpiece loading conveyor 5, an empty tray unloading conveyor 6, and a loading pitch variable module 7. The loading mechanism 2, the tray lifting and transfer mechanism 3, the tray translation mechanism 4, the workpiece loading conveyor 5, the empty tray unloading conveyor 6, and the loading pitch variable module 7 are all arranged on the frame 1.

[0027] In this embodiment, the frame 1 is equipped with two workstations: a workpiece loading station A and an empty tray unloading station B. Workpieces are loaded at the workpiece loading station A, where the loading mechanism 2 transfers the workpieces placed in the tray to the loading and discharging module 7. Empty tray unloading station B automatically collects and transports empty trays. In this embodiment, the loading and discharging module 7, the workpiece loading station A, and the empty tray unloading station B are sequentially arranged on the frame 1, with the loading and discharging module 7 and the workpiece loading station A positioned adjacent to each other.

[0028] The workpiece loading station A and the empty tray unloading station B of the frame 1 are both provided with empty spaces, and the full tray can be raised from below to the empty space, and the empty tray can be lowered from the empty space to the height of the empty tray unloading conveyor 6.

[0029] The tray lift and transfer mechanism 3 is located below the workpiece loading station A and the empty tray unloading station B. In this embodiment, the tray lift and transfer mechanism 3 includes two sets of Z-axis conveyor modules, one located below each station. The Z-axis modules are used to transport the trays in the Z-axis direction, for example, moving the trays upward to the empty spaces corresponding to the workstations on the frame 1, or downward to the empty tray unloading conveyor 6 below the empty spaces.

[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, the Z-axis conveying module of this embodiment includes a fixed frame 3-1, a tray support plate 3-2 and a tray lifting drive unit 3-3. The fixed frame 3-1 is installed on the frame 1 and is fixed to the frame 1. The tray support plate 3-2 is arranged on the fixed frame 3-1 so as to be movable up and down. The tray support plate 3-2 is used to place the trays. Several trays stacked together are placed on the tray support plate 3-2. When the tray support plate 3-2 moves up and down under the drive of the tray lifting drive unit 3-3, it drives the trays located thereon to move together. The tray lifting drive unit 3-3 of this embodiment adopts a motor. The motor is connected to the screw rod (not shown) on the inside of the fixed frame through a synchronous belt to form a transmission structure (not shown) to drive the tray support plate 3-2 to move up and down. In other embodiments, the motor can also drive the tray support plate to move up and down through conventional transmission structures such as chains, synchronous belts, gear racks, etc., or adopt other conventional drive units such as cylinders and linear modules to drive the tray support plate to move.

[0031] The trays moved up and down by the Z-axis conveying module are centrally placed at the feeding station and can be collected / placed manually or transported by a conveyor. The feeding station of this embodiment includes a workpiece loading conveyor 5 and an empty tray unloading conveyor 6, which are respectively located below the workpiece loading station A and the empty tray unloading station B. The workpiece loading conveyor 5 is used to realize the movement of the tray loaded with workpieces in the Y-axis direction, and the empty tray unloading conveyor 6 is used to realize the movement of the empty tray in the Y-axis direction. For example, the workpiece loading conveyor 5 conveys the tray loaded with workpieces from the outside to the inside to the Z-axis conveying module below the workpiece loading station A; the empty tray unloading conveyor 6 conveys the empty tray on the tray support plate 3-2 of the Z-axis conveying module below the empty tray unloading station B from the inside to the outside, and conveys it to the AVG trolley docked with the empty tray unloading conveyor 6.

[0032] The workpiece loading conveyor 5 and the empty tray unloading conveyor 6 of this embodiment have the same structure and can both adopt conventional conveyors, such as the structure of patent publication number CN106219159A-swinging conveyor belt, or synchronous belt conveyor products of companies such as Dongguan Yiheta Automation Technology Co., Ltd., Suzhou Yiheta Automation Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Yiheta Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd., etc. The specific model can be an intermediate drive double-groove profile double-row type.

[0033] The feeding mechanism 2 is used to transfer the workpiece from the material tray to the feeding variable distance module 7. Figure 4 As shown, the loading mechanism 2 of this embodiment includes a workpiece gripper 2-1, a rotary cylinder 2-2, a Y-axis linear module 2-3 and an X-axis linear module 2-4. The X-axis linear module 2-4 is arranged on the frame 1, and the Y-axis linear module 2-3 is arranged on the X-axis linear module 2-4 through the first slide 2-5. The X-axis linear module 2-4 can control the first slide 2-5 to move in the X-axis direction, thereby driving the Y-axis linear module 2-3 to move in the X-axis direction. The workpiece gripper 2-1 is arranged on the Y-axis linear module 2-3 through the second slide 2-6. The Y-axis linear module 2-3 can control the second slide 2-6 to move in the Y-axis direction, thereby driving the workpiece gripper 2-1 to move in the Y-axis direction. Through the cooperation of the X-axis linear module 2-4 and the Y-axis linear module 2-3, the movement of the workpiece gripper 2-1 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions is realized. The workpiece gripper 2-1 is mounted on the second carriage 2-6 so as to be movable up and down (along the Z-axis). In this embodiment, the up and down movement of the workpiece gripper 2-1 is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder (not shown), which drives the workpiece gripper 2-1 in the Z-axis direction. The workpiece gripper 2-1 of this embodiment is mounted on a rotary cylinder 2-2, which can control the horizontal rotation of the workpiece gripper 2-1. The rotary cylinder 2-2 can achieve 90° clockwise or counterclockwise reversal of the workpiece as needed, thereby adjusting the position and direction of the workpiece. The purpose is to achieve a consistent direction when the workpiece on the tray is inconsistent with the grasping direction of the workpiece gripper by turning the workpiece.

[0034] In this embodiment, a transfer placement platform 7 is provided on the frame 1. The transfer placement platform of this embodiment adopts a loading and displacing module. The loading and displacing module is provided with a workpiece placement position. The function of the loading and displacing module is to adjust the interval between the workpiece positions to facilitate the loading mechanism 2 to transfer the workpiece. After the workpiece is transferred to the workpiece placement position on the loading and displacing module by the loading mechanism 2, the loading and displacing module can realize secondary positioning of the workpiece. The loading and displacing module of the utility model adopts a ready-made structure, such as a variable distance module disclosed in the invention patent application No. CN116494002A and a variable distance mechanism disclosed in the utility model patent No. CN214568797U. In other embodiments, the transfer placement platform 7 can also adopt a secondary positioning fixture, which is used to receive the workpiece and realize secondary positioning of the workpiece. It will not be described here.

[0035] The tray translation mechanism 4 can be horizontally movably arranged on the frame 1, and can move between the workpiece loading station A and the empty tray unloading station B, so as to transfer the empty tray after loading to the empty tray unloading station B.

[0036] like Figure 5As shown, the tray translation mechanism 4 includes a transfer frame 4-1, a vacuum suction cup 4-2, a tray clamp 4-3 and a frame translation drive unit 4-4. The frame translation drive unit 4-4 of this embodiment adopts a motor, and the motor drives the transfer frame 4-1 to move horizontally through a synchronous belt transmission structure. In this embodiment, a horizontal slide rail is provided on the frame 1, and the horizontal slide rail is located on the opposite sides of the workpiece loading station A and the empty tray unloading station B. The transfer frame 4-1 is provided on the horizontal slide rail and can move along the horizontal slide rail to transfer the empty tray between different stations. In other embodiments, the motor can also drive the transfer frame to move horizontally through conventional transmission structures such as chains, screw rods, crawlers, gear racks, etc., or adopt other conventional drive units such as cylinders and linear modules to drive the transfer frame to move.

[0037] In this embodiment, a push block 4-5 is provided on the transfer frame 4-1, and a push rack 4-6 connected to the push block 4-5 is provided on the synchronous belt. When the motor drives the synchronous belt to move, the push rack 4-6 on the synchronous belt drives the transfer frame 4-1 via the push block 4-5 as it moves along with the synchronous belt. In other embodiments, a pneumatic cylinder can also be used as the frame translation drive unit 4-4 to control the horizontal movement of the transfer frame 4-1.

[0038] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the transfer frame 4-1 of this embodiment is in the shape of a square. A suction cup fixing plate 4-7 and a clamp fixing plate 4-8 are provided on the transfer frame 4-1. A suction cup fixing plate 4-7 is provided at each end of the transfer frame 4-1 in the longitudinal direction. The suction cup fixing plates 4-7 extend along the width of the transfer frame 4-1. Each suction cup fixing plate 4-7 is provided with at least one vacuum suction cup 4-2 spaced apart.

[0039] like Figure 6 As shown, the vacuum suction cup 4-2 is used to absorb the material tray with larger size or larger suction surface. The clamping claw fixing plate 4-8 is set between the two suction cup fixing plates 4-7. A pair of material tray clamping claws 4-3 arranged at intervals are set on the clamping claw fixing plate 4-8. The material tray clamping claws 4-3 of this embodiment use cylinder clamping fingers to clamp the edge of the material tray. Figure 7 As shown, the spacing between the tray clamping jaws 4-3 can be adjusted to clamp smaller trays or special-shaped trays. The tray translation mechanism 4 of this embodiment can transfer trays of different sizes and types, and has good versatility. In other embodiments, the suction cup fixing plate 4-7 can also be a single plate, set in the center of the transfer frame 4-1, as long as the suction cup has sufficient suction force to absorb the tray. Alternatively, the clamping jaw fixing plate 4-8 and the tray clamping jaw 4-3 can be separately provided and adjusted according to actual conditions.

[0040] In order to more accurately maintain the position of the material tray at the workstation, a material tray clamping assembly is optionally provided on the left and right sides of each workstation on the frame 1. The material tray clamping assembly includes a pair of clamping bars 8 and a driving device for driving the clamping bars 8 to move horizontally. The driving device can be a driving structure conventionally used by people in this field, such as various cylinders, electric rods, and screws. In this embodiment, the driving device is a cylinder 9. When the material tray is delivered to the corresponding workstation, the clamping bars 8 on both sides of the material tray move toward each other under the action of the cylinder 9, thereby clamping the material tray. After the clamping bars 8 release the material tray, the material tray can fall on the material tray support plate 3-2 or on the material tray stacked on the material tray support plate 3-2.

[0041] The working process of the automatic loading device of this embodiment is described below in conjunction with all the drawings.

[0042] The AVG trolley (not shown) delivers the stacked full trays filled with workpieces to the workpiece loading conveyor 5 at the workpiece loading station A. The workpiece loading conveyor 5 and the AVG trolley are docked and transport the trays received from the AVG trolley inward to the tray support plate 3-2 of the Z-axis conveying module at the workpiece loading station A.

[0043] The tray support plate 3-2 of the Z-axis conveying module at the workpiece loading station A moves upward, causing the trays stacked on the tray support plate 3-2 to move upward; after moving into position, that is, the tray at the top rises to the empty position, and the loading mechanism 2 picks up the workpieces in the tray one by one and transfers the workpieces to the workpiece placement position of the loading variable distance module 7;

[0044] When all the workpieces on a tray have been transferred, the tray translation mechanism 4 moves to the workpiece loading station A and picks up the empty tray at the top. At this time, the tray support plate 3-2 of the Z-axis conveying module at the workpiece loading station A moves downward to a position a distance away from the tray or avoids a certain distance to avoid interference when the tray translation mechanism 4 moves. The tray translation mechanism 4 moves horizontally with the tray and sends the empty tray to the empty tray unloading station B; at this time, the tray support plate 3-2 of the Z-axis conveying module corresponding to the empty tray unloading station B moves upward to wait for the empty tray that has moved horizontally;

[0045] After the empty tray is translated into position, the vacuum suction cup 4-2 or the tray clamping claw 4-3 of the tray translation mechanism 4 releases the empty tray, and the empty tray falls on the tray support plate 3-2 of the Z-axis conveying module corresponding to the empty tray unloading station B. The tray translation mechanism 4 stands by at the empty tray unloading station B.

[0046] After the empty tray is removed, the tray support plate 3-2 of the Z-axis conveying module corresponding to the workpiece loading station A moves upward to a position of one tray distance, and the next full tray rises to the empty position, and the loading mechanism 2 continues to move the workpiece to the loading variable distance module 7;

[0047] When all the workpieces on the trays on the Z-axis conveyor module of the workpiece loading station A have been transferred, a new full tray can be sent by the AVG trolley and the above steps are repeated to automatically load the workpieces.

[0048] When the empty trays received by the Z-axis conveying module at the empty tray unloading station B are stacked to a preset height or quantity and no more empty trays can be stacked, the empty tray unloading conveyor 6 at the empty tray unloading station B will transport the neatly stacked empty trays from the inside to the outside to the AVG trolley, thereby realizing automatic collection and unloading of the empty trays.

[0049] Those skilled in the art can make various other corresponding changes and modifications based on the technical solutions and concepts described above, and all of these changes and modifications should fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An automatic feeding device, characterized in that: include: A frame, wherein a workpiece loading station and an empty tray unloading station are provided on the frame, and a space for a feed tray to pass through is provided at the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station; A tray translation mechanism is horizontally movably arranged on the frame, and the tray translation mechanism can move between the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station; A tray lifting and transferring mechanism is provided on the frame, wherein the tray lifting and transferring mechanism includes a Z-axis conveying module located below the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station respectively; a feeding mechanism movably arranged on the frame; A transfer placement platform is arranged on the frame, and the loading mechanism can move between the workpiece loading station and the transfer placement platform.

2. The automatic loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transfer placement platform is a feeding variable distance module and / or a secondary positioning fixture.

3. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes feeding positions arranged on the frame and located below the workpiece loading position and the empty tray unloading position respectively.

4. The automatic feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The feeding station includes a workpiece loading conveyor located below the workpiece loading station and an empty tray unloading conveyor located below the empty tray unloading station.

5. The automatic loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The loading mechanism includes an X-axis linear module arranged on the frame, a Y-axis linear module arranged on the X-axis linear module through a first slide, and a workpiece gripper arranged on the Y-axis linear module through a second slide; the X-axis linear module controls the first slide to move along the X-axis direction, the Y-axis linear module controls the second slide to move along the Y-axis direction, and the workpiece gripper is movably arranged on the second slide along the Z-axis direction, and the workpiece gripper moves along the Z-axis direction.

6. The automatic loading device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The workpiece gripper is arranged on a rotary cylinder, and the rotary cylinder controls the workpiece gripper to rotate in a horizontal direction.

7. The automatic loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Z-axis conveying module includes a fixed frame fixed to the frame, a material tray supporting plate arranged on the fixed frame so as to be movable up and down, and a supporting plate lifting drive unit for driving the material tray supporting plate to move up and down.

8. The automatic loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tray translation mechanism includes a transfer frame, a frame translation drive unit for driving the transfer frame to move horizontally, and a vacuum suction cup and / or a tray clamp arranged on the transfer frame.

9. The automatic loading device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The frame is provided with a horizontal slide rail, which extends through the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station and is located on opposite sides of the workpiece loading station and the empty tray unloading station, and the transfer frame is provided on the horizontal slide rail.

10. The automatic loading device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The transfer frame is in a U-shaped shape, and a suction cup fixing plate is provided at each end of the transfer frame in the length direction. The suction cup fixing plate extends along the width direction of the transfer frame, and at least one vacuum suction cup is provided on the suction cup fixing plate. The transfer frame is provided with a clamping claw fixing plate located between the suction cup fixing plates, and the clamping claw fixing plate is provided with the material tray clamping claws arranged at intervals.

11. The automatic loading device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frame is provided with a tray clamping assembly, which includes clamping bars located on the left and right sides of each workstation and capable of clamping the tray, and a driving device for driving the clamping bars to move horizontally.

Images