Inner star wheel feeding machine
The automated feeding mechanism of the inner star wheel feeder solves the problem of inaccurate material supply from the inner star wheel, achieving an efficient and stable production process and reducing manual intervention and resource consumption.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202423301874.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing feeders suffer from problems such as inaccurate material supply, easy damage, large footprint, and high maintenance costs when handling small and complex shaped metal parts, such as inner star wheels, making it difficult to meet the automation needs of mass production.
The feeding mechanism, consisting of components such as pallets, cylinders, motors, detection sensors, and bidirectional lead screws, enables automated positioning and precise conveying of materials. The detection sensors monitor the material position, the motor drives the bidirectional lead screw to move the slider, and the cylinder pushes the material to the target position, ensuring a smooth process.
It improves the accuracy and speed of the inner star wheel feeding, reduces human error, ensures production stability, reduces labor intensity and resource expenditure, and improves production efficiency and economic benefits.
Smart Images
Figure CN223547306U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of feeding machine technology, and more particularly to an internal star wheel feeding machine. Background Technology
[0002] Currently, the production and assembly of key components in automotive transmission systems, such as CV joints, inner star wheels, and three-pin shafts, typically rely heavily on manual labor for handling these precision parts. With technological advancements and the gradual shift towards intelligent manufacturing, many companies have begun introducing robotics and automated equipment to improve efficiency and reduce costs. However, for small, complex-shaped metal parts, especially products with compact internal structures like inner star wheels, traditional assembly line operations still face numerous bottlenecks. The material supply stage, in particular, struggles to completely eliminate human intervention, limiting the potential for further improvements in overall production line efficiency.
[0003] Currently, to meet the needs of mass production, the industry generally adopts several different types of feeding mechanisms. Firstly, there are vibratory feeders, which guide objects to designated positions via specially designed tracks to complete the arrangement and orientation tasks. Secondly, belt conveyors with push rods or grippers achieve intermittent propulsion, thus achieving orderly discharge. Thirdly, there are rotating cylinders with baffles forming a spiral upward channel, allowing items to be discharged sequentially to meet the needs of the next process. However, all of these modes have certain limitations and drawbacks. For example, vibratory feeders are prone to causing small objects to jam, increasing the risk of damage; belt conveyors, while stable, occupy a large area, which is not conducive to integrated layout design; and spiral conveyors are prone to jamming, resulting in a high frequency of occurrence and high maintenance costs.
[0004] While existing traditional feeding methods can solve some automation problems to a certain extent, they fall short when dealing with small, irregularly shaped, slender workpieces such as inner star wheels. Due to the unique geometric characteristics of the inner star wheel, not only are its placement posture strictly controlled, but its positioning accuracy also requires high standards. Therefore, when relying on traditional robotic arms or other simple transfer tools for single-cycle placement activities, problems such as inaccurate placement and even collision damage often occur, seriously affecting the stability and consistency of product quality, and thus restricting the work rhythm and development potential of the entire production line. Utility Model Content
[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, this utility model provides an internal star wheel feeder, which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and aims to solve the problems in the background art.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution: an internal star wheel feeder, comprising a pallet, a frame fixedly installed on the top of the pallet, a hopper fixedly installed on the inner wall of the frame, a cover plate rotatably connected to the top of the hopper, a cylinder fixedly installed on the top of the pallet, a push plate fixedly connected to the output end of the cylinder, two symmetrically formed sliding grooves on the top of the pallet, a motor fixedly installed on the outer side of the pallet, a bidirectional lead screw fixedly connected to the power output shaft of the motor, two sliders symmetrically threaded along the outer edge of the bidirectional lead screw, and a movable plate fixedly installed on the top of each slider, and two detection sensors fixedly installed on the outer side of the movable plate.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, two brackets are symmetrically fixedly installed on the bottom of the tray, and the two brackets are made of aluminum alloy and are symmetrically arranged on the bottom of the tray.
[0008] By adopting the above technical solution, the pallet can be effectively supported, ensuring its stability and firmness.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, a side plate is fixedly installed on the outer side of the pallet, and a controller is installed on the outer side of the side plate. The detection sensor, motor and cylinder are all electrically connected to the controller. The controller model is E3Z-T81C, with a resolution of up to ±0.1mm.
[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, the position of the material can be monitored in real time using detection sensors, thereby monitoring the material flow status to ensure smooth operation of the process and providing real-time feedback information to the controller to adjust parameters to maintain optimal performance. It can also be used to control the operation of motors and cylinders in a timely manner.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, a limiting groove is formed on the top of the pallet, a limiting rod is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the limiting groove, two limiting blocks are slidably connected to the outer edge of the limiting rod, and the top of the two limiting blocks is fixedly connected to the bottom of the two movable plates.
[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, the two moving plates can be limited during movement, thereby ensuring that the two moving plates move stably and synchronously and achieving position adjustment.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, a bearing is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the slide groove, and the end of the bidirectional lead screw away from the motor is fixedly connected to the inner ring of the bearing.
[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the stability of the bidirectional lead screw during rotation can be guaranteed, ensuring that it will not swing arbitrarily during rotation, thus preventing friction with the inner wall of the slide groove. It can also ensure that the two sliders are stably sliding on the inner wall of the slide groove to adjust the position of the moving plate.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, a fixing frame is fixedly installed on the outer side of the tray, and the end of the motor away from the bidirectional lead screw is fixedly installed on the inner side of the motor.
[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, it can be used to position the motor, ensure the stability of the motor during operation, and prevent the motor from being suspended in the air.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom outlet of the hopper is located in the middle of the two moving plates, and the bottom of the push plate is slidably connected to the top of the support plate.
[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the material on the inner wall of the hopper will slide and fall to the middle position of the two moving plates on the top of the pallet. Then, the cylinder will drive the push plate to move against the top of the pallet, which can push the material to the target receiving point.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, buffer pads are fixedly installed on the inner sides of both movable plates, and both buffer pads are made of rubber.
[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the smoothness of material movement can be guaranteed, preventing it from rubbing against hard objects and improving the protection effect during material feeding.
[0021] The beneficial effects of this application are:
[0022] 1. This internal star wheel feeder achieves automatic feeding of the internal star wheel through its feeding mechanism, reducing the impact of human factors, improving work efficiency and quality stability, significantly enhancing the speed and accuracy of internal star wheel feeding, effectively eliminating the uncertainty of errors in manual operation, ensuring continuous and stable production capacity, reducing labor intensity, saving human resource expenses, and bringing considerable economic and social benefits to the enterprise.
[0023] 2. This internal star wheel feeder uses a drive motor to rotate a bidirectional lead screw, which in turn drives two sliders to slide on the inner wall of a chute. This, in turn, drives two moving plates to move against the top of a pallet, thereby limiting the movement of materials of different sizes and ensuring that they do not deviate during movement, thus improving the accuracy of the feeding position. Attached Figure Description
[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this application;
[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded structure of this application;
[0026] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of this application;
[0027] Figure 4 This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional structural diagram of this application.
[0028] The following are the labels in the diagram: 1. Pallet; 2. Bracket; 3. Side plate; 4. Controller; 5. Frame; 6. Hopper; 7. Cover plate; 8. Cylinder; 9. Push plate; 10. Slide groove; 11. Motor; 12. Double-acting lead screw; 13. Slider; 14. Moving plate; 15. Buffer pad; 16. Detection sensor; 17. Limit block; 18. Limit rod; 19. Limit groove; 20. Bearing. Detailed Implementation
[0029] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.
[0030] Reference Figure 1-4 An internal star wheel feeder includes a pallet 1, a frame 5 fixedly mounted on the top of the pallet 1, a hopper 6 fixedly mounted on the inner wall of the frame 5, a cover plate 7 rotatably connected to the top of the hopper 6, a cylinder 8 fixedly mounted on the top of the pallet 1, a push plate 9 fixedly connected to the output end of the cylinder 8, two symmetrically formed sliding grooves 10 on the top of the pallet 1, a motor 11 fixedly mounted on the outer side of the pallet 1, a bidirectional lead screw 12 fixedly connected to the power output shaft of the motor 11, two sliders 13 symmetrically threaded along the outer edge of the bidirectional lead screw 12, and a moving plate 14 fixedly mounted on the top of each slider 13, and two detection sensors 16 fixedly mounted on the outer side of the moving plate 14.
[0031] See Figure 1 painting Figure 2 Two brackets 2 are symmetrically fixedly installed on the bottom of the pallet 1. The two brackets 2 are made of aluminum alloy and are symmetrically arranged on the bottom of the pallet 1, so as to effectively support the pallet 1 and ensure the stability and firmness of the pallet 1.
[0032] See Figure 1 and Figure 2A side plate 3 is fixedly installed on the outside of the pallet 1, and a controller 4 is installed on the outside of the side plate 3. The detection sensor 16, motor 11 and cylinder 8 are all electrically connected to the controller 4. The controller 4 is model E3Z-T81C with a resolution of up to ±0.1mm, which allows the detection sensor 16 to monitor the position of the material in real time, thereby monitoring the material flow status to ensure smooth operation of the process and providing real-time feedback information to the controller 4 to adjust parameters to maintain optimal performance. It can also cooperate to control the operation of motor 11 and cylinder 8 in a timely manner.
[0033] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 A limiting groove 19 is provided on the top of the pallet 1. A limiting rod 18 is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the limiting groove 19. Two limiting blocks 17 are slidably connected to the outer edge of the limiting rod 18. The top of the two limiting blocks 17 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the two moving plates 14, so that the two moving plates 14 can be limited during movement, thereby ensuring that the two moving plates 14 move stably and synchronously and realize position adjustment.
[0034] See Figure 4 A bearing 20 is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the slide groove 10. The end of the bidirectional lead screw 12 away from the motor 11 is fixedly connected to the inner ring of the bearing 20, which ensures the stability of the bidirectional lead screw 12 during rotation and prevents it from swinging randomly during rotation, thus preventing friction with the inner wall of the slide groove 10. It also ensures that the two sliders 13 are stably slid on the inner wall of the slide groove 10 to adjust the position of the moving plate 14.
[0035] See Figures 1-4 A mounting bracket is fixedly installed on the outer side of the support plate 1. The end of the motor 11 away from the bidirectional lead screw 12 is fixedly installed on the inner side of the motor 11, so that it can be used to position the motor 11, ensure the stability of the motor 11 during operation, and ensure that the motor 11 is not suspended.
[0036] See Figures 1-3 The bottom outlet of the hopper 6 is located in the middle of the two moving plates 14. The bottom of the push plate 9 is slidably connected to the top of the pallet 1, so that the material on the inner wall of the hopper 6 will slide and fall to the middle of the two moving plates 14 on the top of the pallet 1. Then, the cylinder 8 runs and drives the push plate 9 to move against the top of the pallet 1, which can push the material to the target receiving point.
[0037] See Figure 4 Both movable plates 14 have buffer pads 15 fixedly installed on their inner sides. Both buffer pads 15 are made of rubber, which ensures the smoothness of material movement and prevents it from rubbing against hard objects, thus improving the protection effect during material feeding.
[0038] Working principle: When using this device, first open the cover plate 7 and place the material into the inner cavity of the feeding hopper 6. Then, the material will fall through the outlet at the bottom of the feeding hopper 6 to the middle position of the two moving plates 14 on the top of the pallet 1. Then, drive the cylinder 8 to push the push plate 9 to move on the top of the pallet 1, thereby pushing the material to the target receiving point. The drive motor 11 drives the bidirectional lead screw 12 to rotate, which in turn drives the two sliders 13 to slide on the inner wall of the slide groove 10, thereby driving the two moving plates 14 to move against the top of the pallet 1, thus limiting the movement of the material and ensuring that it does not deviate during movement, improving the accuracy of the feeding position.
[0039] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "both ends," "one end," and "the other end," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0040] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" 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 a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.
[0041] The present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, those skilled in the art should understand that these descriptions are exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the present invention based on its spirit and principles, and these modifications and variations are also within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An internal star wheel feeder, comprising a pallet (1), characterized in that, A frame (5) is fixedly installed on the top of the pallet (1), a hopper (6) is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the frame (5), a cover plate (7) is rotatably connected to the top of the hopper (6), a cylinder (8) is fixedly installed on the top of the pallet (1), a push plate (9) is fixedly connected to the output end of the cylinder (8), two sliding grooves (10) are symmetrically opened on the top of the pallet (1), a motor (11) is fixedly installed on the outer side of the pallet (1), a double-acting screw (12) is fixedly connected to the power output shaft of the motor (11), two sliders (13) are symmetrically threaded on the outer edge of the double-acting screw (12), and a moving plate (14) is fixedly installed on the top of each of the two sliders (13), and two detection sensors (16) are fixedly installed on the outer side of the moving plate (14).
2. The internal star wheel feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two brackets (2) are symmetrically fixedly installed at the bottom of the tray (1), and the two brackets (2) are made of aluminum alloy and are symmetrically arranged at the bottom of the tray (1).
3. The internal star wheel feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, A side plate (3) is fixedly installed on the outside of the pallet (1), and a controller (4) is installed on the outside of the side plate (3). The detection sensor (16), motor (11) and cylinder (8) are all electrically connected to the controller (4). The controller (4) is model E3Z-T81C with a resolution of up to ±0.1mm.
4. The internal star wheel feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the pallet (1) has a limiting groove (19), and the inner wall of the limiting groove (19) is fixedly installed with a limiting rod (18). The outer edge of the limiting rod (18) is slidably connected to two limiting blocks (17), and the top of the two limiting blocks (17) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the two moving plates (14).
5. The internal star wheel feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the slide (10) is fixedly installed with a bearing (20), and the end of the bidirectional lead screw (12) away from the motor (11) is fixedly connected to the inner ring of the bearing (20).
6. The internal star wheel feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, A fixing frame is fixedly installed on the outer side of the tray (1), and the end of the motor (11) away from the bidirectional lead screw (12) is fixedly installed on the inner side of the motor (11).
7. The internal star wheel feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom outlet of the hopper (6) is located in the middle of the two moving plates (14), and the bottom of the push plate (9) is slidably connected to the top of the support plate (1).
8. The internal star wheel feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both of the movable plates (14) have a buffer pad (15) fixedly installed on their inner sides, and both buffer pads (15) are made of rubber.