Round cap mounting clamp

Abstract

The utility model discloses a round cap containing clamp which comprises a bottom cover and a top cover, a rotating shaft is arranged between the bottom cover and the top cover, a cylindrical cap containing box is arranged between the bottom cover and the top cover, the cap containing box can rotate along the rotating shaft, the cap containing box comprises an upper-layer cap containing box body located on the upper side and a lower-layer cap containing box body located on the lower side, the upper cap containing box is provided with a plurality of cap containing spaces with upward openings, the lower cap containing box is provided with a plurality of cap containing spaces with downward openings, the cap containing spaces of the upper cap containing box correspond to the cap containing spaces of the lower cap containing box in a one-to-one mode, each cap containing space can contain an electrode cap, and cap clamping openings are formed in the top cover and the bottom cover. The cap containing space can pass through the cap clamping opening one by one, and the cap clamping opening can allow a robot to stretch into the cap containing space to take out the electrode caps. The electrode cap clamping device has the advantages of being capable of clamping two facing electrode caps simultaneously, small in occupied space, high in efficiency and the like.

Description

A round hat clip Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of electrode cap grinding equipment, specifically a circular cap clamp. Background Technology

[0002] In modern production lines, resistance welding of automotive body sheet metal typically employs robots for spot welding. During welding, the electrode caps undergo high-temperature oxidation and deformation under pressure. The increased oxide layer increases electrode resistance, reducing welding current. Deformation of the electrode cap also increases the electrode tip area, dispersing the welding current and affecting weld quality and increasing energy consumption. Damaged electrode caps severely impact weld quality. To eliminate the adverse effects of electrode cap wear and oxide layers, electrode caps are typically re-grinded after a certain number of uses. The re-grinding mechanism usually includes a cap holder for storing electrode caps. A robot clamps the electrode caps in the holder and transports them to the re-grinding mechanism for grinding. In the prior art, a utility model patent application (application number 202420392087.0) entitled "An Electrode Cap Holder" discloses an electrode cap holder comprising two cap boxes, arranged side-by-side. When both upward-facing and downward-facing electrode caps need to be clamped simultaneously, a robotic gripper must pick them up one by one, resulting in low clamping efficiency. Furthermore, using a left-right distributed cap holder requires a large space and is difficult to install flexibly in a grinding machine. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a circular cap clamp that can simultaneously clamp two electrode caps, and is small in size and saves installation space.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model includes a bottom cover and a top cover. Its structural features are as follows: a pivot is provided between the bottom cover and the top cover, and a cylindrical cap-holding box is provided between the bottom cover and the top cover. The cap-holding box can rotate along the pivot. The cap-holding box includes an upper cap-holding box located on the upper side and a lower cap-holding box located on the lower side. The upper cap-holding box has multiple cap-holding spaces with upward openings, and the lower cap-holding box has multiple cap-holding spaces with downward openings. The cap-holding spaces of the upper and lower cap-holding boxes correspond one-to-one, and each cap-holding space can hold one electrode cap. Both the top cover and the bottom cover are provided with cap-clamping openings, and the cap-holding spaces can pass through the cap-clamping openings one by one. The cap-clamping openings allow a robot to reach into the cap-holding spaces to retrieve the electrode caps.

[0005] With the above structure, the cap holder includes an upper cap holder and a lower cap holder. The upper and lower cap holders store electrode caps facing different directions. The electrode caps in the upper and lower cap holders face different directions, and the cap spaces in the upper and lower cap holders correspond one-to-one. When they rotate to the cap clamping opening at the same time, they can be picked up by the robot gripper. Then, the two electrode caps facing opposite directions enter the grinding machine and are ground by the same double-sided grinding blade, which greatly improves the clamping efficiency. At the same time, the double-layer structure reduces the space occupied by the cap clamp and facilitates the installation of the cap clamp on the grinding machine.

[0006] A torsion spring is fitted onto the rotating shaft. An intermediate plate is provided between the upper and lower cap-holding boxes. Screws inside the cap-holding boxes secure the upper cap-holding box, intermediate plate, and lower cap-holding box. A torsion spring fixing seat, fixed to the bottom cover, is provided at the lower end of the lower cap-holding box. The torsion spring fixing seat has a groove for one end of the torsion spring to extend into. The intermediate plate has a groove for the other end of the torsion spring to extend into. A cover lock is installed on the cap clamping opening to prevent the electrode cap at the clamping opening from rotating. The upper cap-holding box, intermediate plate, and lower cap-holding box are fixed together and rotate simultaneously. One end of the torsion spring extends into the torsion spring fixing seat, and the other end extends into the intermediate plate. When the torsion spring twists, its torque can drive the intermediate plate to rotate, thereby driving the upper and lower cap-holding boxes, which are fixedly connected to the intermediate plate, to rotate. This causes the cap-holding spaces containing the electrode caps to pass through the cap clamping opening one by one. When the electrode cap is at the cap clamping opening, it is blocked by the cover lock. The electrode cap is positioned inside the clamping opening until it is picked up by the robot. Then, the cap box is rotated by the torsion spring until the next electrode cap passes through the clamping opening. Automatic feeding is achieved through the cap lock setting.

[0007] The cover lock is fixed to the top plate, and the cover lock block extends into the cap clamping opening. The outer end face of the cover lock block is an arc-shaped surface that can fit the outer end face of the electrode cap. The distance between the cover lock block and the cap box is less than the height of the electrode cap extending out of the cap box. The arc-shaped surface can fit the electrode cap, increasing the contact area. The distance between the cover lock block and the cap box is less than the height of the electrode cap extending out, so the cover lock block can fit the protruding part of the electrode cap. When the electrode cap rotates to the cap clamping opening, it will be blocked by the cover lock block, fixing the position of the cap box and facilitating the robot's gripping.

[0008] Sensors are installed on both the top and bottom covers. By detecting whether there are electrode caps in the capping space, the remaining amount of electrode caps in the capping clamp can be determined. The sensors transmit signals to facilitate the monitoring of the capping clamp, facilitate the replenishment of electrode caps in the capping clamp, and improve automation efficiency.

[0009] An outer shell is fixed between the bottom cover and the top cover. The outer shell is a cylinder that fits over the hat box. The distance between the bottom cover and the top cover is fixed by the outer shell, which facilitates the overall installation and fixation of the hat clip.

[0010] The cap box is equipped with a pressing device that can fix the electrode cap in the cap space. The pressing device fixes the position of the electrode cap, preventing the electrode cap from loosening or moving, and at the same time prevents the electrode cap in the cap space with the lower opening from falling off due to gravity, thus ensuring the stability of the clamping.

[0011] The pressing device includes a spring pressure pin installed inside the cap box. The spring pressure pin can extend into the cap space. Each cap space is provided with a spring pressure pin located on the radial line of the cap space. The spring pressure pin radially presses the electrode cap in the cap space. By applying pressure to a point on the electrode cap, the pressure between the side wall of the cap space and the electrode cap increases, thereby fixing the electrode cap and ensuring stability.

[0012] In summary, this utility model has the advantages of being able to clamp two facing electrode caps simultaneously, occupying little space, and being highly efficient. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of this utility model;

[0014] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the hat box;

[0015] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention from the front view;

[0016] Figure 4 is a top view of the structure shown in Figure 3;

[0017] Figure 5 is a top view of the structure of this utility model (without the top cover shown);

[0018] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure viewed along line AA in Figure 3;

[0019] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure viewed along line BB in Figure 4. Detailed Implementation

[0020] As shown in Figures 1-7, this utility model is a circular cap holder, comprising a bottom cover 1 and a top cover 2. A rotating shaft 31 is provided between the axis of the bottom cover 1 and the top cover 2. A cap holder box is provided between the bottom cover 1 and the top cover 2, fitted onto the rotating shaft 31 and rotatable along the rotating shaft 31. The cap holder box has a cap space 34 for placing electrode caps. The cap holder box includes an upper cap holder box 32 located on the upper side and a lower cap holder box 33 located on the lower side. A shell 8 is installed between the bottom cover 1 and the top cover 2. The shell 8 is a cylindrical shape with openings at the top and bottom. The shell 8 fits over the cap holder box and restricts the position of the cap holder box. The upper cap holder box 32 has multiple vertically arranged cap spaces 34 with openings at the top, and the lower cap holder box 33 has vertically arranged cap spaces 34 with openings at the bottom. The cap spaces 34 are used to place and store electrode caps, and the cap spaces 34 are evenly arranged around the axis. Each cap-loading space 34 can hold one electrode cap. A robotic gripper picks up the electrode cap from the cap-loading space 34 and moves it to the next process for grinding. The cap-loading spaces 34 of the upper cap-loading box 32 and the lower cap-loading box 33 are symmetrical, meaning the electrode caps in the upper cap-loading box 32 and the lower cap-loading box 33 face opposite directions. This allows the robotic gripper to simultaneously hold two electrode caps facing opposite directions, improving gripping efficiency. Furthermore, this circular cap-loading clamp occupies little space, saving space. Using separate cap-loading spaces 34, each holding one electrode cap, prevents the electrode cap from tipping over, ensuring stability during each gripping and thus improving efficiency.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1-7, both the bottom cover 1 and the top cover 2 are provided with cap clamping openings 4. After the cap mounting space 34 is rotated, it can pass through the cap clamping openings 4 one by one. The height of the cap mounting space 34 provided in the upper cap mounting box 32 and the lower cap mounting box 33 is less than the height of the electrode cap. When the electrode cap is installed in the cap mounting space 34, the open end of the electrode cap will protrude from the cap mounting space 34. The cap clamping openings 4 on the bottom cover 1 and the top cover 2 are aligned with each other. A cover lock 41 is fixedly connected to the cap clamping openings 4 of the bottom cover 1 and the top cover 2. The cover lock 41 includes a cover lock seat 411 that can be fixedly connected to the bottom cover 1 or the top cover 2 and a cover lock block 412 that extends into the cap clamping opening 4. The outer end face of the cover lock block 412 is an arc-shaped surface, and the arc angle of the arc-shaped surface can fit with the outer surface of the electrode cap. The outer surface of the locking block 412 faces the rear side of the cap box in the direction of rotation, and the distance between the locking block 412 and the cap box is less than the height of the electrode cap extending out of the cap space 34. When the cap box rotates, if an electrode cap is installed in the cap space corresponding to the cap clamping opening 4, the protruding end of the electrode cap will fit against the arc-shaped surface of the locking block 412, and the locking block 412 will prevent the cap box from rotating.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1-7, a torsion spring 5 is fitted onto the rotating shaft 31 inside the hat box, and a torsion spring fixing seat 51 is provided at the lower end of the lower hat box 33. The torsion spring fixing seat 51 is fixedly connected to the bottom cover 1, and a radial groove is provided inside the torsion spring fixing seat 51. The torsion spring 5 has two protruding ends, and the lower protruding end is inserted into the groove of the torsion spring fixing seat 51. The position of the lower end of the torsion spring 5 is fixed by the torsion spring fixing seat 51. When the other protruding end of the torsion spring 5 drives the torsion spring 5 to twist, the torque generated by the torsion spring 5 drives the torsion spring 5 to return to its original position. In this embodiment, an intermediate plate 35 is provided between the upper hat box 32 and the lower hat box 33. Bolts are provided inside the hat box, and the intermediate plate 35 is fixedly connected to the upper hat box 32 and the lower hat box 33 by the bolts, thereby ensuring the synchronous rotation between the upper hat box 32 and the lower hat box 33. In this embodiment, the number of cap-holding spaces 34 in the upper cap-holding box 32 and the lower cap-holding box 33 are the same and correspond one-to-one. The cap-clamping openings 4 of the top cover 2 and the bottom cover 1 also correspond vertically. This allows for the simultaneous clamping of two electrode caps on the upper and lower sides, improving clamping efficiency. Both the upper cap-holding box 32 and the lower cap-holding box 33 are cylindrical, and the diameters of the two cap-holding boxes 3 are equal. A middle plate of the same diameter is installed between the upper cap-holding box 32 and the lower cap-holding box 33. The upper cap-holding box 32 and the lower cap-holding box 33 are fixedly connected by the middle plate to achieve coaxial rotation. A sliding bearing is installed between the middle plate and the rotating shaft 31. The sliding bearing facilitates the rotation of the upper cap-holding box 32 and the lower cap-holding box 33. The middle plate also has a groove, and the other end of the torsion spring 5 is fixedly connected to the cap-holding box through the groove on the middle plate. The torsion spring 5 applies a rotational force to the upper cap box 32 and the lower cap box 33. When multiple electrode caps are placed in the cap box, the torsion spring 5 drives the electrode caps to rotate. When the cap space 34 containing the electrode caps rotates to align with the cap clamping openings 4 of the upper and lower covers, the side of the electrode cap abuts against the arc-shaped surface of the cover locking block 412, preventing the cap box from rotating. After the electrode caps in the cap space 34 are gripped and removed by the robot gripper, the cover locking block 412 offers no resistance to the cap box, and the torque of the torsion spring 5 drives the cap box to rotate until the next cap space 34 containing electrode caps rotates to the cap clamping opening 4. Once all electrode caps are clamped, the torsion spring 5 returns to a state without torque. At this point, the upper cap box 32 and the lower cap box 33 are rotated to install electrode caps, and the torsional force of the torsion spring 5 gradually increases until all the cap spaces 34 are filled with electrode caps. The automatic feeding of the cap clamp is achieved by setting the torsion spring 5, which improves the overall clamping efficiency.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1-7, multiple spring pressure pins 36 are installed inside the cap holder, extending into the cap holder space 34. The cap holder space 34 is cylindrical and fits against the outer end face of the electrode cap. Each cap holder space 34 has a spring pressure pin 36 located on its radial line, with its inner end face penetrating deep into the space. When the electrode cap is placed in the space, the spring pressure pins 36 radially press against it, preventing the cap from shaking or falling out. The cap holder space 34 in the lower layer of the cap holder opens downwards, and the spring pressure pins 36 compress the electrode cap, preventing it from falling out due to gravity. This ensures the stability of the cap holder in holding the electrode cap. Simultaneously, by using the spring pressure pin 36, when the robot gripper holds the electrode cap, the force of the spring pressure pin 36 will not hinder the electrode cap from being gripped and ejected. This ensures the stability of the electrode cap within the cap mounting space 34 and prevents damage to the electrode cap during gripping, thus avoiding damage to the electrode cap. This improves efficiency while ensuring a high yield rate.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1-7, sensor holes for mounting sensors 7 are provided on the top cover 2 and the bottom cover 1. Sensor 7 is installed in the sensor holes. Sensor 7 detects whether there are electrode caps in the cap-loading space 34. In this embodiment, sensor 7 is located on the left side of the cap-clamping opening 4. When the cap-loading clamp rotates counterclockwise, sensor 7 detects that it is located in front of the clamping opening 4 in the direction of rotation. If sensor 7 detects that there are no electrode caps in the cap-loading space 34, it can be determined that after a fixed number of clamping cycles, all electrode caps in the cap-loading clamp have been clamped out. Sensor 7 serves to detect the number of remaining electrode caps in the cap-loading clamp, and the automated process is controlled through the transmission of signals from sensor 7.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1-7, a cap clamp fixing seat is installed under the bottom cover 1. The cap clamp fixing seat includes a fixing plate 61 and a base plate 62. The fixing plate 61 is fixedly connected to the cap clamp bottom cover 1, and a rubber pad is provided between the base plate 62 and the fixing plate 61. The base plate 62 has mounting holes, through which the cap clamp is fixed to the whole machine, thereby fixing the position of the cap clamp, facilitating the automation of the equipment and saving processes. A constraint device for constraining the position of the cap clamp is fixedly connected to the fixing plate 61. The constraint device includes a rotating constraint seat 91 installed on the fixing plate 61, which fits against the outer surface of the cap clamp housing 8. The fixing plate 61 has two constraint wheels 92, which are symmetrically arranged along the cap clamp. The constraint wheels 92 also fit against the outer surface of the cap clamp housing 8. The cap clamp is fixed from three points by the two constraint wheels 92 and the rotating constraint seat 91. Since the cap clamp is cylindrical, the position of the cap clamp can be fixed by three points. This ensures accurate positioning of the robotic gripper when automatically holding the electrode cap, maintaining gripping efficiency.

Claims

1. A circular cap clip, comprising a bottom cap (1) and a top cap (2), characterized in that: A pivot (31) is provided between the bottom cover (1) and the top cover (2). A cylindrical hat box is provided between the bottom cover (1) and the top cover (2). The hat box can rotate along the pivot (31). The hat box includes an upper hat box (32) located on the upper side and a lower hat box (33) located on the lower side. The upper hat box (32) has multiple hat-holding spaces (34) with upward openings. The lower cap box (33) is provided with multiple cap-loading spaces (34) with downward openings. The cap-loading spaces (34) of the upper cap box (32) and the cap-loading spaces (34) of the lower cap box (33) correspond one-to-one. Each cap-loading space (34) can hold one electrode cap. Both the top cover (2) and the bottom cover (1) are provided with cap-clamping openings (4). Each cap-loading space (34) can pass through the cap-clamping opening (4). The cap-clamping opening (4) allows the robot to reach into the cap-loading space (34) to take out the electrode cap.

2. The circular capping holder of claim 1, wherein: A torsion spring (5) is fitted on the rotating shaft (31). An intermediate plate (35) is provided between the upper cap box (32) and the lower cap box (33). Screws are provided in the cap box to fix the upper cap box (32), the intermediate plate (35) and the lower cap box (33). The lower cap box (33) has a torsion spring fixing seat (51) fixed to the bottom cover (1) at its lower end. The torsion spring fixing seat (51) has a groove for one end of the torsion spring (5) to extend into. The intermediate plate (35) has a groove for the other end of the torsion spring (5) to extend into. A cover lock (41) that can prevent the electrode cap at the cap clamping opening (4) from rotating is installed on the cap clamping opening (4).

3. The circular capping holder of claim 2, wherein: The cover lock (41) is fixed to the top plate with a cover lock seat (411) and a cover lock block (412) extending into the cap opening (4). The outer end face of the cover lock block (412) is an arc-shaped surface that can fit the outer end face of the electrode cap. The distance between the cover lock block (412) and the cap box is less than the height of the electrode cap extending out of the cap space (34).

4. The circular hat clip as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Sensors (7) are installed on both the top cover (2) and the bottom cover (1).

5. The circular hat clip as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A shell (8) is fixed between the bottom cover (1) and the top cover (2), and the shell (8) is a cylinder fitted outside the hat box.

6. The circular capping holder of claim 1, wherein: The cap box is equipped with a pressure device that can fix the electrode cap in the cap space (34).

7. The circular capping holder of claim 6, wherein: The pressure device includes a spring pressure pin (36) installed in the cap box. The spring pressure pin (36) can extend into the cap space (34). Each cap space (34) is provided with a spring pressure pin (36) located on the radial line of the cap space (34).

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