Grabbing mechanism for molded tray

Abstract

The utility model provides a mould pressing tray grabbing mechanism which comprises a clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprises a base, a clamping piece, air cylinder pistons and a translation rod, the air cylinder pistons comprise the first air cylinder piston and the second air cylinder piston, the first air cylinder piston is used for controlling the base to ascend and descend, and the second air cylinder piston is used for controlling the second air cylinder piston to ascend and descend. The second air cylinder piston is used for controlling opening and closing of the clamping pieces, and stable grabbing and releasing of the workpiece are achieved. The horizontal moving power source provides power for the horizontal moving rod to stably slide along the track so as to drive the clamping assembly to horizontally move left and right, and therefore the workpiece grabbing and transferring efficiency is improved.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to the earlier Chinese application, application number 2024212534600, filed on June 3, 2024; and claims priority to the earlier Chinese application, application number 2024112066234, filed on August 30, 2024; all of the contents of which are part of this utility model. Technical Field

[0002] This utility model belongs to the field of machinery, and specifically relates to a gripping mechanism for a molded pallet. Background Technology

[0003] As the most basic containerization equipment in unitized logistics, pallets are closely related to the development of the logistics industry. In recent years, the logistics industry has grown steadily, and with the nationwide implementation of palletized transport, the pallet industry has also flourished. Pallets, as the main component in cargo movement and handling, are primarily used to protect goods, automate cargo transportation, and improve cargo flow efficiency. In today's bulk commodity trading system, weight is mostly used as the unit of measurement for transaction value, such as for weighing the goods themselves, preventing overweight transport vehicles, and measuring real-time weight increases or decreases during cargo use. Therefore, enabling the visualization of cargo weight would greatly improve trade efficiency.

[0004] Molded pallets, also known as plant fiber molded flat industrial pallets, are typically made from raw materials such as wood shavings, plant straw, and bamboo. They feature a one-piece structure, with the panel and support legs molded in a single process. The upper surface of the pallet is smooth and flat, suitable for transporting various goods, while the lower surface has reinforcing ribs. The pallet has balanced longitudinal and transverse stress, and its nine legs allow for four-way forklift entry, making it a flat, four-way entry single-sided pallet.

[0005] Since molded pallets are made from recyclable resources such as straw, branches, wood chips, bamboo chips, and bamboo fertilizer, and the production process usually uses hot pressing, both the raw materials and the process are relatively environmentally friendly. Therefore, molded pallets are increasingly becoming the mainstay of the pallet market, and research on molded pallets is becoming more and more intensive. How to better utilize environmentally friendly raw materials and how to improve the load-bearing capacity and strength of pallets are key research directions for molded pallets.

[0006] Compared to traditional plastic or wooden pallets, molded pallets offer advantages such as environmentally friendly materials, simplified manufacturing processes, lower manufacturing costs, less environmental pollution during manufacturing, and fewer post-manufacturing processing steps. Regarding the pallet itself, because molded pallets are made from compacted waste materials, the resulting material has a higher density, higher compressive strength, better wear resistance, and a wider range of applications compared to plastic pallets. Compared to traditional wooden pallets, molded pallets undoubtedly have a significant advantage in terms of material sourcing. Molded pallets are typically made from processing waste such as sawdust or agricultural waste, such as straw. Compared to wooden pallets that require logging, molded pallets not only reduce costs but also meet the requirements of energy conservation, environmental protection, and the protection of non-renewable resources.

[0007] After molding, the outer surface of the molded pallet has many burrs, which need to be ground to obtain the final molded pallet product. Currently, there are two methods for grinding molded pallets: one is manual, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, inefficient, and costly due to the large size of the pallets, and the dust pollution generated is harmful to the health of the operators. Moreover, the grinding effect varies from person to person, which is not conducive to the quality control of the molded pallet. The other method is to use a grinding mechanism to grind the molded pallet. However, the way the grinding mechanism grips the molded pallet affects the grinding efficiency. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find a method that can automatically grip the molded pallet and achieve fully automated control of the grinding process. Utility Model Content

[0008] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a gripping mechanism for a molded pallet, including a clamping assembly and a translating rod. The clamping assembly includes a base, clamping plates, and cylinder pistons. The cylinder pistons include a first cylinder piston and a second cylinder piston. The first cylinder piston controls the raising and lowering of the base, and the second cylinder piston controls the opening and closing of the clamping plates, achieving stable gripping and releasing of the workpiece. The translating rod, powered by a horizontal movement power source, slides stably along a track, thereby driving the clamping assembly to move horizontally left and right, thus improving the efficiency of workpiece gripping and transfer.

[0009] A gripping mechanism for a molded pallet includes a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly includes a base, a clamping plate, a cylinder piston, and a translation rod. The cylinder piston includes a first cylinder piston and a second cylinder piston. The first cylinder piston is used to control the raising and lowering of the base, and the second cylinder piston is used to control the opening and closing of the clamping plate, thereby realizing the gripping and releasing of the workpiece.

[0010] In some methods, the clamping assembly is used to grip the workpiece in two ways: first, gripping the workpiece to be ground and moving it into the automatic edge grinding mechanism; second, gripping the workpiece that has already been ground and transferring it from the automatic edge grinding mechanism. During the workpiece edge grinding process, the clamping assembly moves back and forth above the automatic edge grinding mechanism. To improve gripping efficiency, these two gripping methods are performed simultaneously. That is, while the first clamping assembly places the workpiece to be ground into the automatic edge grinding mechanism, the second clamping assembly is simultaneously placing the workpiece that has already been ground into a second position. Synchronous operation improves the operating efficiency of the clamping assembly, and synchronous control of the first and second clamping assemblies ensures control accuracy while reducing control costs.

[0011] In some configurations, the automatic edge grinding mechanism is located in the middle, while the clamping components are located on both sides of the automatic edge grinding mechanism. These components can be located at any position in the front, back, left, or right of the automatic edge grinding mechanism, as long as they are not in the same position.

[0012] In some embodiments, the workpiece is a molded tray. The molded tray is large in volume and heavy in weight. To facilitate use and reduce the risk of errors, the first clamping assembly and the second clamping assembly are preferably respectively located on the left and right sides of the automatic edge grinding mechanism.

[0013] Furthermore, the clamping piece includes a left clamping piece and a right clamping piece.

[0014] In some embodiments, the base is matched to the shape and size of the molded tray, with two clamping tabs located on either side of the base.

[0015] Furthermore, the clamping piece is a unidirectional long clamping piece, which makes the clamping process more stable.

[0016] In some methods, unidirectional long clamps can make large-area contact with and clamp the edges of the molding tray, ensuring a more stable clamping process and helping to achieve precise displacement of the molding tray.

[0017] Furthermore, the second cylinder piston includes a left cylinder piston and a right cylinder piston.

[0018] In some configurations, after the clamping assembly moves above the molding tray, the first cylinder piston pushes the base downwards to approach the molding tray, and then the second cylinder piston pushes the clamping plates to close and grip both sides of the molding tray.

[0019] In some configurations, the left and right cylinder pistons are used to control the opening and closing of the two clamping plates, respectively. When the second cylinder piston opens, the two clamping plates close towards the center; when the second cylinder piston closes, the two clamping plates open to the sides.

[0020] Furthermore, it also includes a translation rod, which is fixedly connected to the base.

[0021] Furthermore, the translation rod is driven by a horizontal movement power source to drive the clamping assembly to achieve horizontal displacement.

[0022] Furthermore, the motion of the translation rod includes horizontal reciprocating motion.

[0023] In an automatic edge grinding mechanism, the clamping assembly above the automatic edge grinding mechanism repeatedly transfers the workpiece to be edged into the automatic edge grinding mechanism or transfers the workpiece that has been edged from the automatic edge grinding mechanism.

[0024] Furthermore, the horizontal movement power source includes a drive unit, a belt, and pulleys.

[0025] In some embodiments, a horizontal movement power source includes a drive unit, a belt and two pulleys, and the horizontal movement power source is connected to a clamping assembly and drives it to move horizontally.

[0026] Furthermore, the belt is fixed to the translation rod, and the driving device drives the pulley to move the belt horizontally, thereby the belt drives the translation rod to move horizontally.

[0027] In the automatic edge grinding mechanism, two horizontal moving power sources are set. One is used to drive the first clamping component to grab the workpiece to be ground and move it into the automatic edge grinding mechanism, and the other is used to drive the second clamping component to grab the workpiece that has been ground and transfer it out of the automatic edge grinding mechanism.

[0028] Furthermore, parallel moving tracks are provided on both sides of the translation rod, and the translation rod is slidably connected to the moving tracks via a slider.

[0029] If the clamping component is moved horizontally back and forth by belt alone, it may cause the clamping component to shift in position. Therefore, the design of the track can help stabilize the movement of the clamping component and prevent positional deviation. It is equivalent to the combination of belt and moving track, which together provide a stable double insurance for the repeated horizontal movement of the clamping component, ensuring the accuracy of the horizontal movement position and improving the efficiency of molded pallet gripping and transfer.

[0030] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0031] (1) This utility model provides a gripping mechanism for a molded pallet, including a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly includes a base, a clamping plate, and a cylinder piston. The cylinder piston includes a first cylinder piston and a second cylinder piston. The first cylinder piston is used to control the rising and falling of the base, and the second cylinder piston is used to control the opening and closing of the clamping plate, so as to realize stable gripping and releasing of the workpiece.

[0032] (2) The clamping assembly also includes a translation rod, which, through the combined action of a horizontal moving power source and a track, enables the gripping mechanism to move horizontally and accurately, thereby improving the efficiency of gripping and transferring workpieces. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the clamping assembly in Example 1;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a partial structural diagram of the clamping assembly in Example 1;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the horizontal movement power source structure in Example 1;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the automatic edge grinding mechanism in Example 2;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the gripping mechanism structure of the automatic edge grinding mechanism in Example 2. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are intended to facilitate the understanding of the present invention and do not constitute any limitation thereof.

[0039] Example 1: A gripping mechanism for a molded pallet

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, a gripping mechanism for a molded pallet includes a clamping assembly 1. The clamping assembly 1 includes a base 2, a translation rod 3, a clamping plate 4, and a cylinder piston 5. The translation rod 3 is fixedly connected to the base 2. The cylinder piston 5 includes a first cylinder piston 6 and a second cylinder piston 7. The first cylinder piston 6 is used to control the raising and lowering of the base, and the second cylinder piston 7 is used to control the opening and closing of the clamping plate 4, thereby realizing the gripping and releasing of the workpiece.

[0041] like Figure 2As shown, the clamping plate 4 includes a left clamping plate 8 and a right clamping plate 9, which are respectively disposed on both sides of the base 2. The second cylinder piston 7 includes a left cylinder piston 10 and a right cylinder piston 11. The left clamping plate 8 and the right clamping plate 9 are unidirectional long clamping plates, which can contact and clamp the edges of the workpiece over a large area, ensuring a more stable clamping process and helping to achieve precise displacement of the workpiece. The left cylinder piston 10 and the right cylinder piston 11 control the opening and closing of the left clamping plate 8 and the right clamping plate 9, respectively. When the left cylinder piston 10 and the right cylinder piston 11 are open, the left clamping plate 8 and the right clamping plate 9 close towards the middle. When the left cylinder piston 10 and the right cylinder piston 11 are closed, the left clamping plate 8 and the right clamping plate 9 open to both sides. After the clamping assembly 1 moves above the workpiece, the first cylinder piston 6 pushes the clamping assembly 1 downward to get closer to the workpiece, and then the left cylinder piston 10 and the right cylinder piston 11 push the left clamping plate 8 and the right clamping plate 9 to close and grab the two sides of the workpiece respectively.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, the clamping assembly 1 requires a horizontal moving power source 12 to transfer the workpiece. The horizontal moving power source 12 includes a drive device 13, a belt 14, and pulleys 15. One horizontal moving power source 12 includes a drive device 13, a belt 14, and two pulleys 15. The translation rod 3 is fixed to the belt 14. The drive device 13 drives the two pulleys 15 to rotate, causing the belt 14 to move back and forth horizontally. Thus, the belt 14 drives the clamping assembly 1 to move back and forth horizontally. One horizontal moving power source 12 connects to one clamping assembly 1 and drives it to move back and forth horizontally. To ensure stable and precise displacement of the clamping assembly 1, moving rails 16 are provided on both sides of the translation rod 3 of the clamping assembly 1. The translation rod 3 is slidably connected to the moving rails 16 through sliders 17. The clamping component 1 is fixed on a single belt 14, so the design of the moving track 16 can help stabilize the moving position of the clamping component 1 and prevent positional deviation. The combination of belt 14 and moving track 16 provides a stable double insurance for the repeated horizontal movement of the clamping component 1, ensuring the accuracy of the horizontal movement position and improving the efficiency of workpiece gripping and transfer.

[0043] Example 2: Working method of the gripping mechanism

[0044] like Figures 4-5As shown, the automatic edge grinding mechanism 18 is located in the middle position, and the clamping components 1 are respectively disposed on both sides of the automatic edge grinding mechanism 18. They can be located at any position in the front, back, left, or right of the automatic edge grinding mechanism 18, as long as they are not in the same position. The workpiece gripped by the clamping components 1 is a molding tray 19. The shape and size of the molding tray 19 match the base 2 of the clamping components 1. The molding tray 19 is large in volume and heavy in weight. For ease of use and to reduce the risk of errors, the clamping components 1 are preferably respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the automatic edge grinding mechanism, namely the first gripping mechanism 20 and the second gripping mechanism 21. The first horizontal movement power source 22 controls the horizontal back-and-forth movement of the first gripping mechanism 20, and the second horizontal movement power source 23 controls the horizontal back-and-forth movement of the second gripping mechanism 21. The first gripping mechanism 20 moves back and forth above the first position 24 and the automatic edge grinding mechanism 18, transferring the molded tray 19 to be edged from the first position 24 to the automatic edge grinding mechanism 18. The second gripping mechanism 21 moves back and forth between the automatic edge grinding mechanism 18 and the second position 25, transferring the edged molded tray 19 from the edge grinding mechanism 18 to the second position 25. The first gripping mechanism 20 and the second gripping mechanism 21 need to operate simultaneously and work synchronously. When the first gripping mechanism 20 is moving horizontally from the first position 24 to the automatic edge grinding mechanism 18 while gripping the molded tray 19 to be ground, the second gripping mechanism 21 is also gripping the edged molded tray 19 and transferring it from the automatic edge grinding mechanism 18 to the second position 25. Synchronous operation can improve the operating efficiency of the first gripping mechanism 20 and the second gripping mechanism 21. Synchronous control of the first gripping mechanism 20 and the second gripping mechanism 21 can ensure control accuracy and reduce control costs.

[0045] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A gripping mechanism for a molded pallet, characterized in that, The device includes a clamping assembly comprising a base, clamping plates, and cylinder pistons. The cylinder pistons include a first cylinder piston and a second cylinder piston. The first cylinder piston controls the raising and lowering of the base, and the second cylinder piston controls the opening and closing of the clamping plates, thereby enabling the gripping and releasing of the edges of the molding tray. The clamping plates include a left clamping plate and a right clamping plate. The clamping plates are unidirectional long clamping plates for more stable clamping. The second cylinder piston includes a left cylinder piston and a right cylinder piston. The left and right cylinder pistons control the opening and closing of the left and right clamping plates, respectively. When the left and right cylinder pistons are open, the left and right clamping plates close towards the center; when the left and right cylinder pistons are closed, the left and right clamping plates open to both sides.

2. The gripping mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping assembly also includes a translation rod, which is fixedly connected to the base.

3. The gripping mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The translation rod is driven by a horizontal movement power source to drive the clamping assembly to achieve horizontal displacement.

4. The gripping mechanism as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The movement of the translation rod includes horizontal reciprocating motion.

5. The gripping mechanism as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The horizontal movement power source includes a drive unit, a belt, and pulleys.

6. The gripping mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The belt is fixed to the translation rod, and the drive device drives the pulley to move the belt horizontally, thereby the belt drives the translation rod to move horizontally.

7. The gripping mechanism as described in claim 6, characterized in that, Parallel moving tracks are provided on both sides of the translation rod, and the translation rod is slidably connected to the moving tracks by a slider.

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