Quick bead changing mechanism

Abstract

The utility model discloses a quick bead changing mechanism which comprises a supporting frame and a stock bin rotationally connected with the supporting frame. A plurality of partition plates are arranged in the stock bin to form a containing cavity used for containing steel balls of different sizes. The stock bin comprises a turntable and a chassis which are rotationally connected and are provided with blanking holes with corresponding sizes; the supporting frame is provided with an eccentric driving assembly which controls the positioning block and the discharging pipe to ascend and descend, and friction between the discharging pipe and the rotating disc is avoided. The stock bin side metal plate is provided with an observation window and a transparent plate, and the state of the steel balls is conveniently monitored. Rapid switching feeding of steel balls of various sizes can be achieved, the operation stability of equipment is improved, the service life of the equipment is prolonged, and meanwhile operation convenience is enhanced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of feeding equipment, and in particular to a quick bead changing mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] In industrial production, steel balls are a crucial component, widely used in bearings, precision instruments, and other mechanical devices. To meet the demands of different product specifications, production lines typically require rapid switching and loading of steel balls of various sizes. However, existing steel ball loading mechanisms have significant design shortcomings. Their hoppers usually only hold steel balls of the same size, and the unloading process only allows for the loading of a single size of steel ball. This design necessitates stopping the machine and manually replacing the hopper or refilling the steel balls when changing the size, which is not only inefficient but also increases the complexity of manual operation and the possibility of errors. Furthermore, existing mechanisms lack flexibility in switching steel ball sizes, making it difficult to adapt to the needs of multi-specification, small-batch production, thus limiting the automation level and overall efficiency of the production line.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, designing a feeding mechanism capable of rapidly switching between different specifications of steel balls has become a pressing technical challenge. An ideal solution should enable automatic switching and precise feeding of steel balls of various specifications without interrupting the production process, while avoiding impacts on equipment stability and lifespan due to friction in mechanical parts or structural limitations. Therefore, developing a feeding mechanism with efficient ball-changing capabilities is of great significance for improving production efficiency, reducing manual intervention, and meeting diverse production needs. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a quick bead changing mechanism to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A rapid ball-changing mechanism includes a support frame and a hopper rotatably connected to the support frame. The hopper has multiple partitions forming separate cavities for holding steel balls of different sizes. A base is fixedly mounted on the top of the support frame. The hopper includes a turntable rotatably connected to the base. The turntable has multiple discharge holes of different diameters, and one half of the base has multiple discharge holes of the same number and size as the turntable. When the turntable rotates to a certain position, the discharge holes on the turntable align with the discharge holes on the base, and steel balls of the corresponding size fall from the discharge holes into the corresponding discharge tubes.

[0007] Furthermore, the support frame is equipped with an eccentric drive assembly, and a positioning block is slidably mounted on one side of the support frame. The positioning block is equipped with multiple material drop tubes, and the eccentric drive assembly controls the lifting and lowering movement of the positioning block relative to the support frame. The top end of each material drop tube passes through a material drop hole provided in the chassis, thereby achieving separation or contact between the material drop tube and the chassis during the lifting and lowering process of the positioning block. A sliding groove is provided on one side of the positioning block, and the power output end of the eccentric drive assembly is movably connected to the sliding groove. The eccentric drive assembly includes an eccentric motor mounted on the support frame, and a transition disk is rotatably connected to the output end of the eccentric motor. A rolling bearing is hinged to the other side of the transition disk, and the rolling bearing is not coaxially arranged with the transition disk, sliding on the sliding groove. Through this structure, the operation of the eccentric motor can drive the rolling bearing to move along the sliding groove, thereby realizing the lifting and lowering action of the positioning block.

[0008] Specifically, the side sheet metal of the hopper features a circular array of observation windows, and a transparent panel slides along the inner side of the hopper. A handle is fixed to the top of the transparent panel and snaps into the top of the side sheet metal. The bottom of the handle has an upward-extending locking groove, through which the handle is secured to the top of the side sheet metal. The transparent panel design allows operators to monitor the status of the steel balls inside the hopper in real time, while the observation windows provide convenient multi-angle observation.

[0009] Furthermore, a guide block is fixedly installed on one side of the support frame, and the material drop tube passes through the guide block and is slidably connected to it. The guide block acts as a counter-limiting element during the up-and-down movement of the material drop tube, preventing unnecessary shaking or deviation. This structural design ensures the vertical stability of the material drop tube during lifting and lowering.

[0010] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0011] By incorporating a hopper with multiple cavities and a rotatable turntable, rapid switching between feeding steel balls of different sizes is achieved. The design of the feeding hole between the turntable and the base ensures that when the turntable rotates to a specific position, steel balls of the corresponding size can smoothly pass through the feeding hole and enter the corresponding feeding tube. The coordinated design of the eccentric drive assembly and the positioning block not only realizes the lifting and lowering of the feeding tube but also avoids friction between the top of the feeding tube and the bottom wall of the turntable, thereby improving the stability and service life of the equipment. Furthermore, the design of the observation window and transparent plate allows operators to monitor the status of the steel balls in real time, further enhancing the ease of use of the equipment. Through the rational layout and precise coordination of each component, this invention significantly optimizes the functionality and practicality of the steel ball feeding mechanism. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural view of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model, ignoring the top cover;

[0014] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the present invention, ignoring the outer shell of the hopper;

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the eccentric drive assembly of this utility model.

[0016] Attached image annotations:

[0017] 1. Hopper; 2. Support frame; 3. Partition; 4. Observation window; 5. Sliding groove; 6. Handle; 7. Transparent plate; 8. Turntable; 9. Chassis; 10. Drop hole; 11. Positioning block; 12. Eccentric motor; 13. Transition disc; 14. Rolling bearing; 15. Drop pipe; 16. Guide block. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. Therefore, this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0019] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly attached to the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. When the number of elements is referred to as "multiple," it can be any number of two or more. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0021] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings:

[0022] A quick bead changing mechanism, as described below in conjunction with the appendix. Figure 1 To be continued Figure 4 The specific embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. This rapid ball-changing mechanism enables rapid switching and feeding of steel balls of different sizes. Its core structure includes a support frame 2, a hopper 1, a turntable 8, a chassis 9, an eccentric drive assembly, and a positioning block 11, among other main components. Through the coordinated operation of these components, an efficient and stable steel ball feeding process is achieved.

[0023] The main structure of the quick ball-changing mechanism consists of a support frame 2 and a hopper 1, with the hopper 1 and support frame 2 rotating relative to each other via a rotatable connection. The hopper 1 contains multiple partitions 3, which divide it into several independent chambers, each for storing a specific size of steel ball. In practice, operators pre-load steel balls of different sizes into the respective chambers according to production needs. The top of the hopper 1 has an openable cover for easy replenishment or replacement of steel balls. Observation windows 4 are arranged in a circular array on the side sheet metal of the hopper 1. The number and position of these windows are carefully designed to ensure that operators can monitor the status of the steel balls inside the hopper from multiple angles in real time. Furthermore, a transparent plate 7 slides along the inner side of the hopper 1. The transparent plate 7 is installed and removed via a handle 6 fixed at the top. The bottom of the handle 6 extends upwards to form a snap-fit ​​groove, allowing the handle 6 to securely engage with the top of the side sheet metal of the hopper 1. The presence of the transparent panel 7 not only further enhances the visibility inside the hopper, but also allows it to be easily removed for cleaning or maintenance when needed.

[0024] A base 9 is fixedly mounted on the top of the support frame 2. The base 9 and the turntable 8 in the hopper 1 are rotatably connected to achieve synchronous rotation. The turntable 8 has multiple discharge holes 10 of different diameters, the positions and sizes of which correspond one-to-one with the discharge holes 10 on the base 9. One half of the base 9 has multiple discharge holes 10 of the same number and size as the turntable 8, while the other half has no discharge holes 10. When the hopper 1 rotates to a specific position, a discharge hole 10 on the turntable 8 will coincide with the corresponding discharge hole 10 on the base 9, allowing the steel ball in the corresponding receiving cavity of that discharge hole 10 to pass smoothly and enter the subsequent discharge tube 15. To ensure precise correspondence between the discharge holes 10, the rotation angle of the hopper 1 is strictly controlled and can be precisely positioned by an external controller or manual adjustment.

[0025] An eccentric drive assembly is installed on one side of the support frame 2. The core components of this assembly include an eccentric motor 12, a transition disk 13, and a rolling bearing 14. The eccentric motor 12 is fixedly mounted on the support frame 2, and its output end is rotatably connected to the transition disk 13. The other side of the transition disk 13 is hinged to the rolling bearing 14, which is not coaxial with the transition disk 13. One end of the rolling bearing 14 slides in a sliding groove 5 opened on one side of the positioning block 11. The design of the sliding groove 5 allows the rolling bearing 14 to move along a predetermined trajectory within the groove. When the eccentric motor 12 is started, the transition disk 13 rotates accordingly, thereby driving the rolling bearing 14 to move up and down along the sliding groove 5. This motion converts the rotational motion of the eccentric motor 12 into the linear lifting motion of the positioning block 11. A plurality of material drop tubes 15 are installed on one side of the positioning block 11. The top end of the material drop tubes 15 penetrates the material drop hole 10 on the chassis 9, thereby achieving separation or contact between the material drop tubes 15 and the chassis 9 during the lifting and lowering process of the positioning block 11. When the positioning block 11 rises, the top of the discharge pipe 15 maintains a certain gap with the bottom wall of the turntable 8 to avoid friction between the two; when the positioning block 11 falls, the top of the discharge pipe 15 reconnects with the discharge hole 10 of the chassis 9, and the steel ball can smoothly pass through the discharge pipe 15 to enter the next process.

[0026] To further enhance the stability of the material drop tube 15 during lifting, a guide block 16 is fixedly installed on one side of the support frame 2. The material drop tube 15 passes through the guide block 16 and is slidably connected to it. The design of the guide block 16 effectively prevents unnecessary shaking or deviation of the material drop tube 15 during lifting. The inner wall of the guide block 16 is precision machined to ensure a tight but non-obstructive sliding fit with the material drop tube 15. This structural design significantly improves the operating accuracy of the material drop tube 15 and extends the service life of the equipment.

[0027] The operating principle of the rapid ball-changing mechanism is as follows: S1 The operator selects the target size of steel balls according to production needs and rotates the hopper 1 so that the corresponding receiving cavity is above the discharge hole 10 of the turntable 8. S2 When the hopper 1 is rotated into position, the discharge hole 10 on the turntable 8 and the discharge hole 10 on the chassis 9 are completely aligned. At this time, the steel balls of the corresponding size begin to enter the discharge tube 15 through the discharge hole 10. S3 At the same time, the eccentric drive assembly is activated, and the eccentric motor 12 drives the transition disc 13 to rotate, which in turn pushes the positioning block 11 down through the rolling bearing 14. S4 During the descent of the positioning block 11, the top of the discharge tube 15 re-aligns with the discharge hole 10 of the chassis 9, and the steel balls can smoothly pass through the discharge tube 15 to enter the next process. S5 After completing one loading cycle, the eccentric drive assembly reverses its direction, driving the positioning block 11 up, so that the top of the discharge tube 15 and the bottom wall of the turntable 8 maintain a certain gap, avoiding friction between the two. If it is necessary to switch to other sizes of steel balls, repeat the above steps and adjust the position of the receiving cavity by rotating the hopper 1.

[0028] In practical applications, rapid ball-changing mechanisms are widely used in automated production lines, particularly excelling in the processing or assembly of multi-specification steel balls. For example, in the manufacturing of automotive parts, different types of bearings require steel balls of different sizes, and traditional single-specification feeding mechanisms cannot meet the need for rapid switching. This invention, by incorporating multiple receiving cavities and a rotatable turntable 8, can quickly switch between steel balls of different sizes, significantly improving production efficiency. Furthermore, the design of the observation window 4 and the transparent plate 7 allows operators to monitor the status of the steel balls inside the hopper at any time, enabling timely replenishment or replacement of steel balls and preventing production interruptions due to material shortages.

[0029] In summary, this invention achieves rapid switching and feeding of steel balls of different sizes through reasonable structural design and precise motion control. The multiple receiving cavities inside the hopper 1, the design of the discharge holes 10 on the turntable 8 and chassis 9, the cooperation between the eccentric drive assembly and the positioning block 11, and the limiting function of the guide block 16 together constitute a highly efficient and stable steel ball feeding system. The addition of the transparent plate 7 and the observation window 4 further enhances the ease of operation and practicality of the equipment. Through optimized layout and coordinated operation of various components, this invention significantly improves the functional deficiencies of traditional steel ball feeding mechanisms, providing a more reliable solution for production in related fields.

[0030] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as the combination of these technical features does not contradict each other, it should be considered within the scope of this specification. For those skilled in the art, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A quick bead changing mechanism, characterized in that: The device includes a support frame and a hopper rotatably connected to the support frame. The hopper has multiple separate cavities for holding steel balls of different sizes. A base is fixedly installed on the top of the support frame. The hopper includes a turntable, which is rotatably connected to the base. The turntable has multiple discharge holes of different diameters. One half of the base has multiple discharge holes of the same number and size as the turntable.

2. The rapid bead changing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The support frame is equipped with an eccentric drive assembly, and a positioning block is also slidably mounted on one side of the support frame. The positioning block is equipped with multiple material drop tubes. The eccentric drive assembly controls the lifting and lowering movement of the positioning block relative to the support frame. The top end of the material drop tube passes through the material drop hole set in the chassis.

3. The rapid bead changing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A sliding groove is provided on one side of the positioning block, and the power output end of the eccentric drive component is movably connected to the sliding groove.

4. The quick bead changing mechanism as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The eccentric drive assembly includes an eccentric motor mounted on a support frame. The output end of the eccentric motor is rotatably connected to a transition disk. A rolling bearing is hinged to the other side of the transition disk. The rolling bearing is not coaxial with the transition disk and slides on a sliding groove.

5. The rapid bead changing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The side sheet metal of the hopper has observation windows arranged in a ring array. A transparent plate is also slidably installed on the inside of the hopper. A handle is fixedly installed on the top of the transparent plate and is snapped into the top of the side sheet metal of the hopper.

6. The rapid bead changing mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that: A guide block is also fixedly installed on one side of the support frame, and the material discharge pipe passes through the guide block and is slidably connected to the guide block.

7. The rapid bead changing mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The bottom of the handle has an upward-extending snap-fit ​​groove, through which the handle is fastened to the top of the side sheet metal of the hopper.

8. The rapid bead changing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The silo has multiple partitions inside, and the partitions form a receiving cavity.

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