A transit agency

Abstract

This utility model provides a transfer mechanism, belonging to the field of mechanical technology. It solves the problem of workpieces needing to be transferred between processes. This transfer mechanism includes a frame, a slide rail, a slide plate, and a lifting drive component. Several horizontally spaced pneumatic grippers are fixed to the top of the slide plate. Each gripper has a clamping opening between its two fingers for holding the workpiece. A dust collection box is also fixed to the frame, located below the pneumatic grippers. The top of the dust collection box has several through holes extending vertically, the number of which is the same as the number of clamping openings, and each through hole is located directly below one of the clamping openings. Several air nozzles that blow air towards the through holes are fixed inside the dust collection box. These air nozzles are divided into two groups, with their outlets located on either side of the through holes. This transfer mechanism has the advantage of being easy to modify.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of mechanical technology and relates to a transfer mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] With increasing mechanization and automation, robotic arms are widely used in the machining field. They can automatically load and unload workpieces, thereby connecting multiple processes of equipment together to form an automated production line.

[0003] In automated production lines, due to the different processing times and positions of the workpieces in each process, there will be not only a processing time difference between two adjacent processes, such as the processing speed of the previous process being faster than that of the next process, but also different posture requirements of the workpieces to be processed, that is, the orientation of the workpieces when they are clamped is different in the previous process and the next process.

[0004] If a robotic arm were to handle all workpiece storage and orientation adjustments in such cases, it would significantly increase the cost and size of the robotic arm. Furthermore, adjusting the workpiece orientation would directly reduce the robotic arm's loading and unloading efficiency, thereby affecting the overall efficiency of the production line. Therefore, a separate transfer mechanism needs to be designed to temporarily store workpieces between two adjacent processes, facilitating the transfer of workpieces between the two processes. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the aforementioned problems in the existing technology by proposing a transfer mechanism that solves the problem of workpieces needing to be transferred between processes.

[0006] The objective of this utility model can be achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A transfer mechanism includes a frame, characterized in that the transfer mechanism further includes a slide rail, a slide plate, and a lifting drive component that can drive the slide plate to move up and down along the slide rail, all vertically fixed on the frame. Several pneumatic grippers are fixed to the top of the slide plate at horizontal intervals. Each pneumatic gripper has two fingers that can approach each other, forming a clamping opening between the two fingers of each pneumatic gripper for holding a workpiece. The fingers of the pneumatic grippers extend from the same side of the slide plate. A dust collection box is also fixed on the frame. The dust collection box is located below the pneumatic grippers, and its top has several through holes extending vertically. The number of through holes is the same as the number of clamping openings, and the through holes are located directly below each clamping opening. Several air nozzles that can blow air towards the through holes are fixed inside the dust collection box. The air nozzles are divided into two groups, and the air outlets of the two groups of air nozzles are located on both sides of the through holes.

[0008] This transfer mechanism is located between two adjacent processes on an automated production line. After the previous process is completed, the unloading robot of the previous process can grab the workpiece and transport it to the pneumatic grippers, where the grippers hold the workpiece. Here, several grippers can hold and temporarily store multiple workpieces. After feeding, the lifting drive drives the slide plate downwards, which in turn moves the workpieces fixed in the pneumatic grippers at the top of the slide plate downwards. The lower part of the workpiece enters the dust collection box through the through hole. The air nozzles in the dust collection box are divided into two groups and located on both sides of the through hole. They can be set to the front and back sides or the left and right sides as needed. In this way, the two groups of air nozzles can blow air on the opposite sides of the workpiece to blow away the accumulated chips and liquids on the lower part of the workpiece that extends into the dust collection box due to processing, thus cleaning the surface of the workpiece. After cleaning, the lifting drive drives the slide plate upwards, where the loading robot of the next process can grab the lower part of the workpiece, release the fingers of the pneumatic grippers, and the workpiece can be transported by the loading robot to the next process for processing.

[0009] In this transfer mechanism, multiple existing pneumatic grippers are set up for temporary storage of workpieces, eliminating the need to design a separate dedicated robotic arm. This makes the modification relatively convenient and facilitates the connection between the preceding and following processes. There is no need to pause the robotic arm's feeding action, ensuring the continuity and smoothness of the work. The air nozzles and dust collection boxes can clean the lower outer surface of the workpiece, preventing impurities on the workpiece surface from affecting the clamping accuracy when changing the robotic arm gripper, thus ensuring the accuracy of subsequent processing.

[0010] In the aforementioned transfer mechanism, two elongated fixing seats are fixed inside the dust collection box. These two fixing seats are located on either side of the through hole, and their length direction aligns with the distribution direction of the several pneumatic grippers. Two sets of air nozzles are respectively fixed to the two fixing seats. The two elongated fixing seats are used to secure the air nozzles, ensuring their stability during the air blowing process. Simultaneously, this keeps the distance between the air nozzles and the workpiece entering the dust collection box through the through hole relatively constant, ensuring the cleaning effect of the air blowing.

[0011] In one of the aforementioned transfer mechanisms, the dust collection box is equipped with a top-open drawer located below several through holes. The side of the dust collection box has an opening for the drawer to enter and exit. The top of the drawer is open to catch impurities blown off the workpiece. After a certain period of operation, it can be pulled out through the opening for cleaning.

[0012] In one of the aforementioned transfer mechanisms, the lifting drive component is a cylinder, and the outer end of the cylinder's piston rod is fixed to the slide plate. Choosing a cylinder as the lifting drive component unifies the drive source for the gripper, air nozzle, and drive component, facilitating standardized connection.

[0013] In one of the aforementioned transfer mechanisms, an air tank for supplying air to the pneumatic grippers and nozzles is fixed at the bottom of the frame. By directly mounting the air source on the frame, the placement of the frame is not limited by its installation location, making it suitable for various positions on the production line.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, this transit facility has the following advantages:

[0015] 1. Multiple existing pneumatic grippers are set up for temporary workpiece storage, which can meet the needs of workpiece transfer and temporary storage between two adjacent processes. There is no need to design a special robot, the modification is relatively convenient, and it facilitates the connection between the two processes. There is no need to stop the robot's feeding action, ensuring the continuity and smoothness of the work.

[0016] 2. The air nozzle and dust collection box are designed to clean the lower outer surface of the workpiece, preventing impurities on the workpiece surface from affecting the clamping accuracy when changing the gripper of the robot, thus ensuring the accuracy of subsequent processing.

[0017] 3. The design of this transfer mechanism allows the preceding and following robotic arms to grip workpieces in different postures, such as forward and reverse, to adapt to the different posture requirements of the workpieces in the preceding and following processes. It eliminates the need for a single robotic arm to achieve frequent changes in these different postures, which is more conducive to the connection between processes and also ensures smooth feeding. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this transfer mechanism.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the transit agency from another perspective.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the dust removal box in this transfer mechanism.

[0021] In the diagram, 1 is the frame; 2 is the slide rail; 3 is the slide plate; 4 is the lifting drive component; 5 is the pneumatic gripper; 51 is the finger; 52 is the gripping opening; 6 is the dust collection box; 61 is the through hole; 62 is the drawer; 7 is the air nozzle; 8 is the fixed base; and 9 is the air tank. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, which are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0023] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, this transfer mechanism includes a frame 1, two rod-shaped slide rails 2 vertically fixed to the frame 1, a vertically arranged plate-shaped slide plate 3, and a lifting drive component 4. The slide plate 3 has at least two protruding cylindrical sleeves, which are respectively fitted onto the outer sides of the two slide rails 2. The lifting drive component 4 is a cylinder, with its cylinder body fixed to the frame 1 and its piston rod facing upwards. The upper end of the piston rod is fixed to the slide plate 3, allowing the cylinder to push the slide plate 3 up and down along the slide rails 2.

[0024] Several pneumatic grippers 5 are fixed to the top of the slide plate 3 at horizontal intervals. Each pneumatic gripper 5 has two fingers 51 on the same side that can approach each other. A gripping opening 52 for holding the workpiece is formed between the two fingers 51 of each pneumatic gripper 5. The fingers 51 of the pneumatic grippers 5 all extend from the same side of the slide plate 3. Here, the pneumatic grippers 5 are existing components, which can be driven by gas as a power source to bring the two fingers 51 together to grip the workpiece, or to move the two fingers 51 apart to release the workpiece.

[0025] A dust collection box 6 is also fixed on the frame 1. This dust collection box 6 is located below the pneumatic grippers 5, and its top has several through holes 61 extending vertically. The number of through holes 61 is the same as the number of pneumatic grippers 5, and each through hole 61 is located directly below a number of clamping openings 52. Several air nozzles 7 are fixed inside the dust collection box 6, capable of blowing air towards the through holes 61. These air nozzles 7 are divided into two groups, with their outlets located on either side of the through holes 61. Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, elongated mounting bases 8 are fixed on opposite side walls inside the dust collector 6. The two mounting bases 8 are located on either side of the through hole 61, and the length direction of the mounting bases 8 is consistent with the distribution direction of the several air grippers 5. Two sets of air nozzles 7 are respectively fixed on the two mounting bases 8. The air outlet of the air nozzle 7 is lower than the top surface of the dust collector 6, and the air outlet faces the through hole 61 at an upward angle. A top-opening drawer 62 is provided inside the dust collector 6. The drawer 62 is located below the several through holes 61, and an opening is provided on the side of the dust collector 6 for the drawer 62 to enter and exit.

[0026] In addition, for the convenience of arranging this transfer mechanism, an air storage tank 9 is fixed at the bottom of the frame 1. This air storage tank 9 is connected to the aforementioned pneumatic gripper 5, lifting drive 4, and air nozzle 7 via pipelines for air supply. A pressure boosting valve is also connected to the pipeline leading to the air nozzle 7. All air supply pipelines are also equipped with an air unit for controlling the air supply, such as controlling the on / off state of the air supply. This air unit is an existing structure and will not be described in detail.

[0027] This transfer mechanism is located between two adjacent processes in an automated production line. After the previous process is completed, the unloading robot of the previous process can grab the workpiece and transport it to the pneumatic gripper 5, where the pneumatic gripper 5 holds the workpiece.

[0028] After feeding is completed, the lifting drive 4 drives the slide plate 3 to move downwards, which in turn moves the workpieces in the several pneumatic grippers 5 fixed on the top of the slide plate 3 downwards synchronously. The lower part of the workpiece enters the dust collection box 6 through the through hole 61. The two sets of air nozzles 7 in the dust collection box 6 can blow air onto the opposite sides of the workpiece to blow away the accumulated chips and liquids on the lower part of the workpiece that extend into the dust collection box 6 due to processing, thereby cleaning the surface of the workpiece. After cleaning is completed, the lifting drive 4 drives the slide plate 3 to move upwards, so that the loading robot of the next process can grab the lower part of the workpiece, release the fingers 51 of the pneumatic grippers 5, and the workpiece can be transported by the loading robot to the next process for processing.

[0029] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative examples illustrating the spirit of this utility model. Those skilled in the art to which this utility model pertains may make various modifications or additions to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods to substitute them, without departing from the spirit of this utility model or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A transfer mechanism, comprising a frame (1), characterized in that, The transfer mechanism also includes a slide rail (2) and a slide plate (3) vertically fixed on the frame (1), and a lifting drive (4) that can drive the slide plate (3) to move up and down along the slide rail (2). Several pneumatic grippers (5) are fixed on the top of the slide plate (3) at intervals along the horizontal direction. Each pneumatic gripper (5) has two fingers (51) that can approach each other. A clamping opening (52) for clamping the workpiece is formed between the two fingers (51) of each pneumatic gripper (5). The fingers (51) of the pneumatic grippers (5) extend from the same side of the slide plate (3). The frame (1) 1) A dust collection box (6) is also fixed on the top. The dust collection box (6) is located below the air gripper (5) and the top of the dust collection box (6) is provided with several through holes (61) in the vertical direction. The number of the several through holes (61) is the same as the number of the clamping ports (52) and the several through holes (61) are located directly below the several clamping ports (52) in a one-to-one correspondence. Several air blowing nozzles (7) that can blow air towards the through holes (61) are fixed inside the dust collection box (6). The several air blowing nozzles (7) are divided into two groups and the air outlets of the two groups of air blowing nozzles (7) are located on both sides of the above-mentioned through holes (61).

2. A transfer mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dust collection box (6) has two long strip-shaped fixing seats (8) fixed inside. The two fixing seats (8) are located on both sides of the through hole (61) and the length direction of the fixing seats (8) is consistent with the distribution direction of several air claws (5). The two sets of air nozzles (7) are respectively fixed on the two fixing seats (8).

3. A transfer mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The dust collector (6) is provided with a drawer (62) with an open top. The drawer (62) is located below several through holes (61). The side of the dust collector (6) has an opening for the drawer (62) to enter and exit.

4. A transfer mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The lifting drive component (4) is a cylinder, and the outer end of the piston rod of the cylinder is fixed to the slide plate (3).

5. A transfer mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bottom of the frame (1) is fixed with an air tank (9) for supplying air to the pneumatic gripper (5) and the air nozzle (7).

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