A flexible clamping plate flipping conveyor line

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of electronic circuit manufacturing equipment technology, and discloses a flexible clamping board flipping conveyor line, including: a frame, on which a feeding conveyor line, a flipping device, and a discharging conveyor line are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction; the flipping device includes two flipping structures arranged opposite each other on both sides of the frame, and the flipping structure includes: a rotating mechanism; a guiding component, disposed at the output end of the rotating mechanism, including two rows arranged in parallel vertically, which together form a guide groove for accommodating the board, the rotating mechanism is used to drive the guide groove to rotate around its central axis in the depth direction, and to connect one end of the guide groove with the feeding conveyor line and the other end with the discharging conveyor line; this utility model controls the release and reset function of the elastic component through a traction mechanism, automatically completing the clamping and releasing actions, with a high degree of automation, reducing additional manual intervention or complex independent drive systems, and making the equipment structure simpler and more reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electronic circuit manufacturing equipment technology, and more specifically, to a flexible clamping plate flipping conveyor line. Background Technology

[0002] In the manufacturing process of PCBs (printed circuit boards) and carrier boards, frequent flipping of the boards is required on the production line to complete processes such as double-sided mounting, inspection, labeling, and cutting. Currently, there are two main flipping methods commonly used in the industry: one is to use a six-axis robotic arm for gripping and flipping, and the other is to use an independent flipping station mechanism.

[0003] However, these traditional methods have many inherent drawbacks, severely restricting further improvements in production efficiency and product quality: 1. The time required for a single cycle of gripping, lifting, flipping, and placing by the robotic arm is relatively long, typically exceeding 5 seconds, disrupting the continuous logistics of the production line. Furthermore, the flipped panels are prone to positional shifts, with accuracy usually only at the ±0.5mm level, often requiring secondary positioning and correction at subsequent workstations. Stable flipping is impossible, increasing production cycle time. 2. Both the vacuum suction cups of the robotic arm and dedicated clamps pose a risk of hard contact or friction with the panel surface during gripping and holding, easily scratching the delicate circuitry or solder mask layer on the carrier board surface, leading to a decrease in product qualification rate. 3. Independent flipping mechanisms or robotic workstations occupy valuable workshop space, have poor equipment layout flexibility, and their complex mechanical structures and control systems result in high purchase costs. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the defects of the prior art and provide an elastically clamped board flipping conveyor line to solve the technical problem of how to achieve board flipping by elastic clamping to avoid damage to the panel and ensure stable board flipping.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model is a flexible clamping plate flipping conveyor line, comprising: a frame, on which a feeding conveyor line, a flipping device, and a discharging conveyor line are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction; the flipping device includes two flipping structures arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the frame, each flipping structure including: a rotating mechanism; a guiding component, disposed at the output end of the rotating mechanism, comprising two rows arranged in parallel vertically to form a guide groove for accommodating the plate, the rotating mechanism being used to drive the guide groove to rotate around its central axis in the depth direction, and to connect one end of the guide groove to the feeding conveyor line and the other end to the discharging conveyor line; a clamping mechanism, respectively disposed at the inlet and outlet ends of the guide groove, comprising an elastic element that extends into the guide groove to form a blockage by elastic reset; and a traction mechanism, corresponding to the clamping mechanism, being used to drive the elastic element out of the guide groove.

[0006] The sheet metal is fed into the flipping device via the feeding conveyor, with its two sides entering corresponding guide slots. The feeding end traction mechanism actuates, causing the elastic element at that point to retract, allowing the sheet metal to enter; meanwhile, the elastic element at the discharge end remains extended under spring pressure, blocking the output end of the guide slot. When the front end of the sheet metal contacts the elastic element at the discharge end, the feeding end traction mechanism releases, and the elastic elements on both sides automatically clamp the side edges of the sheet metal under the action of a restoring force, achieving flexible clamping. Subsequently, the rotating mechanism drives the entire guide slot to rotate 180° around its central axis in the depth direction, smoothly transporting the sheet metal to the discharge station. Finally, the discharge end traction mechanism actuates, causing the elastic element at that point to retract, and the sheet metal is output under the friction of the discharge conveyor, completing the flipping. The entire process achieves automatic, stable, and damage-free flipping and conveying of the sheet metal.

[0007] By cooperating with the clamping and traction mechanisms at both ends of the guide groove, a flexible clamping force is applied to the side of the board using elastic elements. This ensures the stability of the board during the flipping process, preventing it from coming off, and effectively avoids scratches or bumps to the sides of the board caused by rigid clamping. It is particularly suitable for processing boards with high surface quality requirements, such as PCB boards and LCD panels. One end of the guide groove connects to the infeed conveyor line, and the other end connects to the outfeed conveyor line. Its rotation center is set along the depth direction, so that one end of the guide groove connects to the infeed conveyor line and the other end connects to the outfeed conveyor line, realizing a smooth transition of the board during entry, flipping, and output. The functions of rotation, guiding, clamping, and releasing are integrated into the flipping structure, and the traction mechanism controls the withdrawal of the elastic elements and their own reset function, automatically completing the clamping and releasing actions. The high degree of automation reduces additional manual intervention or complex independent drive systems, making the equipment structure simpler and more reliable.

[0008] Furthermore, the rotating mechanism includes a rotating component and a rotating plate driven by the rotating component, and the guiding component and the clamping mechanism are mounted on the rotating plate.

[0009] Furthermore, the rotating mechanism also includes a detection component for detecting the rotation angle, the detection component including a sensor fixed to the rotating component and a trigger plate fixed to the output shaft of the rotating component.

[0010] Furthermore, the guiding component consists of several rollers that are rolled and mounted on a rotating plate, with the upper and lower rows of rollers together forming a guiding groove.

[0011] Furthermore, when the guide trough rotates to a horizontal position, the tops of several rollers in the lower row remain coplanar with the conveying surfaces of the feed conveyor and the discharge conveyor.

[0012] Furthermore, the clamping mechanism also includes a mounting block, a connecting pin, and a spring. The connecting pin is fixed to the output end of the rotating mechanism, the mounting block is slidably sleeved on the connecting pin, the elastic element is fixed to the mounting block, and a spring is provided between the mounting block and the tail end of the connecting pin to provide elastic reset.

[0013] Furthermore, the elastic element is a rubber block or a polyurethane block.

[0014] Furthermore, the traction mechanism includes a linear drive element, the actuating end of which is provided with a traction hook for pulling the clamping mechanism.

[0015] Furthermore, it also includes a drive device. The frame includes a fixed mounting plate and a movable mounting plate. The drive end of the drive device is connected to the movable mounting plate to drive the movable plate to move and adjust the distance between it and the fixed mounting plate.

[0016] Furthermore, the driving device is a servo motor-driven lead screw and nut mechanism, a cylinder, or a hydraulic cylinder.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: by cooperating with the clamping mechanism and the traction mechanism set at both ends of the guide groove, the elastic element applies a flexible clamping force to the side of the plate, which can not only ensure the stability of the plate during the flipping process and prevent it from falling out, but also effectively avoid scratches or bumps to the side of the plate caused by rigid clamping. It is particularly suitable for processing materials with high surface quality requirements, such as PCB boards and LCD panels.

[0018] One end of the guide trough is connected to the feeding conveyor line, and the other end is connected to the discharging conveyor line. Its rotation center is set along the depth direction, so that one end of the guide trough is connected to the feeding conveyor line and the other end is connected to the discharging conveyor line, realizing a smooth transition of the plate during the process of entering, flipping and outputting.

[0019] The rotation, guiding, clamping and releasing functions are integrated into the flipping structure, and the withdrawal of the elastic element and its own reset function are controlled by the traction mechanism. The clamping and releasing actions are completed automatically, with a high degree of automation, reducing additional manual intervention or complex independent drive systems, and the equipment structure is simpler and more reliable. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flipping device of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 2 The top view of the flipped structure shown.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the flipping structure of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the clamping mechanism of this utility model.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Frame; 2. Feed conveyor line; 3. Discharge conveyor line; 4. Tilting device; 5. Tilting structure; 6. Rotating mechanism; 61. Rotating component; 62. Rotating plate; 7. Guiding component; 8. Clamping mechanism; 81. Elastic component; 82. Mounting block; 83. Connecting pin; 84. Spring; 9. Traction mechanism; 91. Linear drive element; 92. Pull hook; 10. Trigger plate; 11. Sensor; 12. Drive device; 13. Fixed mounting plate; 14. Movable mounting plate; 15. Slide rod; 16. Base. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this invention. To better illustrate the following embodiments, some components in the drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced, and do not represent the actual dimensions of the product. It is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted in the drawings.

[0027] like Figure 1-5 As shown, the present invention provides a flexible clamping plate flipping conveyor line, comprising:

[0028] A base 16 on which a drive unit 12 is mounted;

[0029] The frame 1 consists of two opposing mounting plates, one of which is a fixed mounting plate 13, fixed to the base 16; the other is a movable mounting plate 14, movably mounted on the base 16. A slide rod 15 is fixed on the base 16, and the movable mounting plate 14 is slidably connected to the slide rod 15. The drive device 12 is used to push the movable mounting plate 14 closer to or further away from the fixed mounting plate 13, thereby adjusting the distance between the two mounting plates to accommodate plates of different widths. In this embodiment, the drive device 12 adopts a servo motor with a lead screw and nut structure, but it can also be replaced with linear drive components such as hydraulic cylinders or pneumatic cylinders.

[0030] A feeding conveyor line 2, a tilting device 4, and a discharging conveyor line 3 are sequentially arranged on the frame 1 along the material flow direction. The tilting device 4 includes two tilting structures 5 respectively arranged on both sides of the frame 1. Each tilting structure 5 includes the following components:

[0031] Rotating mechanism 6 includes a rotating component 61 and a rotating plate 62. The rotating component 61 is mounted on the mounting plate, and its output end is fixedly connected to the rotating plate 62. The rotating component 61 can be a servo motor or a geared motor. A sensor 11 is mounted on the motor housing, and a trigger plate 10 is fixed on the output shaft. When the trigger plate 10 rotates with the shaft to the sensing area of ​​the sensor 11, the sensor 11 is triggered. This action can accurately record the number of rotations. Multiple sensors 11 can be set. By observing whether the position of the sensor 11 has been exceeded, the approximate angle of rotation can be determined. The sensor 11 can be a photoelectric sensor.

[0032] Guide component 7: Two rows of parallel guide slots are arranged on the rotating plate 62 to form guide slots for inserting the plate. The rotating mechanism 6 drives the guide slots around the central axis in the depth direction. Figure 4 The guide trough rotates along a horizontal central axis. One end of the guide trough connects to the feed conveyor line 2, and the other end connects to the discharge conveyor line 3. When the guide trough rotates to the lower part, its inner bottom surface remains coplanar with the conveying surfaces of the feed conveyor line 2 and the discharge conveyor line 3, ensuring a smooth transition of the sheet metal. The guiding component 7 is specifically a roller, and the inner bottom surface of the guide trough is formed by the top surface of the lower roller.

[0033] Clamping mechanism 8: Located at the inlet and outlet ends of the guide groove, it includes an elastic element 81 that normally extends into the guide groove to form a blockage. Specifically, it also includes a mounting block 82, a connecting pin 83, and a spring 84. The connecting pin 83 is fixed on the rotating plate 62, and the mounting block 82 is slidably fitted onto the connecting pin 83. A spring 84 is provided between the mounting block 82 and the end of the connecting pin 83. The elastic element 81 is mounted on the mounting block 82, and the rotating plate 62 has a insertion hole communicating with the guide groove. Under the action of the spring, the elastic element 81 is normally kept extended into the guide groove through the insertion hole.

[0034] Traction mechanism 9: Corresponding to the clamping mechanism 8, it is used to pull the elastic element 81 out of the guide groove. Traction mechanism 9 includes a linear drive element 91 and a pull hook 92, with the pull hook 92 mounted on the actuating end of the linear drive element 91. In this embodiment, the linear drive element 91 is a cylinder; an electric push rod or similar device can also be used, which are conventional choices in the art and will not be described in detail here. The pull hook 92 is fixed to the telescopic end of the cylinder. When the cylinder retracts, the pull hook 92 pulls the mounting block 82 to compress the spring 84, causing the elastic element 81 to exit from the guide groove.

[0035] The work process is as follows:

[0036] The traction mechanism 9 on the feeding conveyor line 2 actuates, causing the elastic element 81 of the clamping mechanism 8 on that side to disengage from the guide groove inlet end, while the elastic element 81 on the discharging conveyor line 3 remains blocked. The plate is fed into the flipping device 4 via the feeding conveyor line 2, with its two sides entering the guide grooves on both sides respectively. When the front end of the plate contacts the elastic element 81 at the output end, the feeding end traction mechanism 9 is released, and the spring 84 pushes the elastic element 81 to press against the side end face of the plate, forming a clamp. The elastic elements 81 on both sides clamp the plate together, ensuring that the plate does not come out or get damaged during the flipping process.

[0037] Subsequently, the rotating mechanism 6 drives the guide groove and its internal plates to rotate as a whole, typically by 180°, flipping the plates to the side of the discharge conveyor line 3. At this time, the discharge end traction mechanism 9 activates, causing the elastic element 81 on that side to detach from the plates, and the plates are output under the friction of the discharge conveyor line 3, completing a single flip.

[0038] It should be noted that after flipping, the functions of the inlet and outlet ends of the original guide groove are swapped. Repeating the above process can achieve continuous flipping. If flipping is not required, all elastic elements 81 are disengaged, the guide groove remains unobstructed, and the plate can pass directly.

[0039] Obviously, the above embodiments of this utility model are merely examples for clearly illustrating the technical solution of this utility model, and are not intended to limit the specific implementation of this utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the claims of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A flexible clamping plate flipping conveyor line, characterized in that, include: The frame (1) is provided with a feeding conveyor line (2), a turning device (4) and a discharging conveyor line (3) in sequence along the conveying direction. The flipping device (4) includes two flipping structures (5) disposed opposite each other on both sides of the frame (1), and the flipping structure (5) includes: Rotating mechanism (6); The guide component (7) is located at the output end of the rotating mechanism (6) and includes two rows arranged in parallel to each other, which together form a guide groove for accommodating the plate. The rotating mechanism (6) is used to drive the guide groove to rotate around its central axis in the depth direction and to connect one end of the guide groove with the feeding conveyor line (2) and the other end with the discharging conveyor line (3). The clamping mechanism (8) is respectively disposed at the inlet end and the outlet end of the guide groove, including an elastic element (81) that extends into the guide groove to form a blockage by elastic reset. The traction mechanism (9) is provided in correspondence with the clamping mechanism (8) and is used to drive the elastic element (81) out of the guide groove.

2. The plate flipping conveyor line with elastic clamping according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating mechanism (6) includes a rotating component (61) and a rotating plate (62) driven by the rotating component (61), and the guide component (7) and the clamping mechanism (8) are mounted on the rotating plate (62).

3. The plate flipping conveyor line with elastic clamping according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rotating mechanism (6) further includes a detection component for detecting the rotation angle, the detection component including a sensor (11) fixed on the rotating component (61) and a trigger plate (10) fixed on the output shaft of the rotating component (61).

4. The plate flipping conveyor line with elastic clamping according to claim 2, characterized in that: The guiding component (7) consists of several rollers that are rolled on the rotating plate (62), and the upper and lower rows of rollers together form a guiding groove.

5. The plate flipping conveyor line with elastic clamping according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the guide trough rotates to the horizontal, the top of several rollers in the lower row are coplanar with the conveying surface of the feed conveyor (2) and the conveying surface of the discharge conveyor (3).

6. The plate flipping conveyor line with elastic clamping according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping mechanism (8) further includes a mounting block (82), a connecting pin (83), and a spring (84). The connecting pin (83) is fixed to the output end of the rotating mechanism (6). The mounting block (82) is slidably sleeved on the connecting pin (83). The elastic element (81) is fixed on the mounting block (82). A spring (84) is provided between the mounting block (82) and the tail end of the connecting pin (83) to provide elastic reset.

7. The plate flipping conveyor line with elastic clamping according to claim 6, characterized in that: The elastic element (81) is a rubber block or a polyurethane block.

8. The plate flipping conveyor line with elastic clamping according to claim 1, characterized in that: The traction mechanism (9) includes a linear drive element (91), the actuating end of which is provided with a traction hook (92) for pulling the clamping mechanism (8).

9. A flexible clamping plate flipping conveyor line according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that: It also includes a drive device (12), the frame (1) includes a fixed mounting plate (13) and a movable mounting plate (14), the drive device (12) is connected to the movable mounting plate (14) at the drive end, and is used to drive the movable mounting plate (14) to move to adjust the distance between it and the fixed mounting plate (13).

10. A flexible clamping plate flipping conveyor line according to claim 9, characterized in that: The driving device (12) is a servo motor driven screw and nut mechanism, cylinder or hydraulic cylinder.

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