An automatic feeding machine

Abstract

This utility model provides an automatic unloading machine, relating to the field of automation equipment technology. It includes a conveyor belt for communicating with the discharge end of a laser cutting machine, a material length positioning mechanism disposed above the conveyor belt, and a unloading mechanism disposed on the side of the conveyor belt. The material length positioning mechanism is used to detect the length of the pipe fitting. The unloading mechanism includes a pusher, a collecting component, and a discharging component. The pusher pushes pipe fittings of a predetermined length from the conveyor belt into the collecting component. The discharging component is disposed at the discharge end of the collecting component to receive the pipe fittings collected in the collecting component and lower them into a material frame, thus achieving automatic unloading and improving the problems of low unloading efficiency and high labor intensity in existing laser cutting machines.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automation equipment technology, and more specifically, to an automatic feeding machine. Background Technology

[0002] Existing laser cutting machines operate by manually loading materials in batches, followed by automatic feeding, cutting, and conveyor belt transport to the unloading rack. Finally, workers manually remove the fittings from the unloading rack and place them into the plastic frames. However, both picking up and placing the fittings involve bending over, resulting in high labor intensity and wasted effort. Furthermore, the manual unloading operation, with its one-person-one-machine work mode, is inefficient, fails to meet production demands, and incurs significant labor costs. Utility Model Content

[0003] This utility model discloses an automatic feeding machine, which aims to improve the problems of low feeding efficiency and high labor intensity of existing laser cutting machines.

[0004] The present invention adopts the following solution:

[0005] An automatic feeding machine includes a conveyor belt for communicating with the discharge end of a laser cutting machine, a material length positioning mechanism disposed above the conveyor belt, and a feeding mechanism disposed on the side of the conveyor belt. The material length positioning mechanism is used to detect the length of the pipe. The feeding mechanism includes a pusher, a collecting member, and a discharging member. The pusher is used to push pipes of a predetermined length from the conveyor belt into the collecting member. The discharging member is disposed at the discharge end of the collecting member to receive the pipes assembled in the collecting member and to lower the pipes into a material frame.

[0006] As a further improvement, the material length positioning mechanism includes a guide rail, a first probe seat, a second probe seat, and a baffle plate. The first probe seat and the second probe seat are movably configured on the guide rail, and both probe seats are equipped with photoelectric probes. The baffle plate is adjustable in height. When one of the photoelectric probes fails to detect the pipe, the baffle plate rises so that the tail pipe located on the conveyor belt can be transported to the tail frame along with the conveyor belt.

[0007] As a further improvement, the pusher includes a pusher plate and a pusher cylinder for driving the pusher plate to move, the pusher plate having a pusher portion that bends toward the collecting member.

[0008] As a further improvement, the collecting component includes a guide trough inclined from the conveyor belt toward the discharging component, and adjusting plates are provided on both sides of the guide trough to align each pipe within the guide trough.

[0009] As a further improvement, a baffle is provided below the guide trough. The baffle is driven by a lifting drive to extend or shorten, and is driven by a moving drive to move along the extension direction of the guide trough, so that the baffle is inserted into the discharge end of the guide trough to prevent the pipe from sliding out, or inserted into the feed end of the guide trough to push the pipe toward the discharge member.

[0010] As a further improvement, the bottom of the guide trough is composed of multiple spaced rods, and the top of the guide trough is equipped with an upwardly inclined guide rod.

[0011] As a further improvement, the adjusting plate is sleeved on the adjusting shaft and the transmission screw, and the transmission screw is driven to rotate by a motor so that the adjusting plate moves along the adjusting shaft.

[0012] As a further improvement, the feeding component includes an X-axis drive, a Z-axis drive, and two pick-and-place clamps. The X-axis drive is used to drive the pick-and-place clamps to move along the X-axis direction, and the Z-axis drive is used to drive the pick-and-place clamps to move up and down along the Z-axis direction. The two pick-and-place clamps are configured to be driven to move via a clamping plate drive to adjust the distance between the two pick-and-place clamps.

[0013] As a further improvement, the pick-and-place clamp includes a U-shaped plate and a clamping plate. The opening of the U-shaped plate faces the collecting member. The U-shaped groove on the U-shaped plate is inclined from the feeding end to the discharging end. The clamping plate has a feeding portion for extending into the U-shaped groove and is configured to be driven by a feeding drive member to move toward or away from the U-shaped plate, corresponding to clamping or releasing the pipe.

[0014] As a further improvement, a set of feeding mechanisms is installed on each side of the conveyor belt, and the two sets of feeding mechanisms are configured to operate alternately.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention can achieve the following technical effects:

[0016] 1. By setting a material length positioning mechanism to detect the length of the pipe fittings, when the pipe fitting meets the predetermined length, the pusher pushes it into the collecting unit, where the pipe fittings are batch-assembled. Then, they are conveyed to the unloading unit, which lowers the pipe fittings into the material frame, thus achieving automatic pipe fitting unloading. This process eliminates the need for manual handling of pipe fittings, reducing the frequent bending movements required during unloading, lowering labor intensity, allowing one person to operate multiple machines, ensuring unloading efficiency, and saving labor costs.

[0017] 2. The material length positioning mechanism is equipped with a liftable stop. When the length of the pipe does not meet the predetermined length, the stop rises, allowing the pipe to continue to be driven by the conveyor belt to the tail material frame, thereby realizing the automatic diversion of the tail material.

[0018] 3. A set of feeding mechanisms is installed on each side of the conveyor belt. The two sets of feeding mechanisms are set to work alternately to reduce standby time and further improve feeding efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this utility model and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figures 1 to 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention from different perspectives;

[0021] Figures 4 to 6 This is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention along different sections;

[0022] Figure 7 This is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the material length positioning mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the pusher component according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the material collecting component according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the material stop component according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 13 This is a structural schematic diagram of an X-axis drive component according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 14 and Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the material feeding component of one embodiment of the present invention from different perspectives;

[0030] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the pick-and-place clip according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 17This is an exploded view of the pick-and-place clip according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] icon:

[0033] 1-Conveyor belt;

[0034] 2-Material length positioning mechanism; 21-Guide rail; 22-First probe holder; 23-Second probe holder; 24-Baffle plate; 25-Photoelectric probe; 26-Baffle cylinder;

[0035] 3-Pusher component; 31-Push plate; 311-Pusher section; 32-Pusher cylinder;

[0036] 4-Collecting component; 41-Guide chute; 411-Rod; 412-Guide rod; 42-Adjusting plate; 43-Adjusting shaft; 44-Transmission screw; 45-Blocking component; 46-Lifting drive component; 47-Moving drive component;

[0037] 5- Unloading component; 51-X-axis drive component; 511-Drive wheel; 512-Driven wheel; 513-Synchronous belt; 52-Z-axis drive component; 521-Mounting base; 53-Pick-and-place clamp; 531-U-shaped plate; 532-Clamping plate; 5321-Unloading section; 533-Unloading drive component; 54-Clamping plate drive component;

[0038] 6-Material frame;

[0039] 7-Tail material frame;

[0040] 8-Pipe fittings. Detailed Implementation

[0041] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this utility model provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed utility model, but merely represents selected embodiments of this utility model. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0042] The terms “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only. The terms “first,” “second,” etc., are only used to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or the quantity, specific order, or primary or secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. The term “several” means one or more, and “multiple” means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified. Example

[0043] Combination Figures 1 to 17 This embodiment provides an automatic feeding machine, including a conveyor belt 1 for communicating with the discharge end of a laser cutting machine, a material length positioning mechanism 2 disposed above the conveyor belt 1, and a feeding mechanism disposed on the side of the conveyor belt 1. The material length positioning mechanism 2 is used to detect the length of the tube 8. The feeding mechanism includes a pusher 3, a collecting component 4, and a discharging component 5. The pusher 3 is used to push the tube 8 of a predetermined length from the conveyor belt 1 into the collecting component 4. The discharging component 5 is disposed at the discharge end of the collecting component 4 to receive the tube 8 integrated in the collecting component 4 and to lower the tube 8 into the material frame 6.

[0044] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the length positioning mechanism 2 is set to detect the length of the pipe fitting 8. When the pipe fitting 8 meets the predetermined length, the pusher 3 pushes it into the collecting container 4, and the pipe fitting 8 is batch-assembled in the collecting container 4. Then, it is transported to the unloading container 5, and then the unloading container 5 lowers the pipe fitting 8 into the material frame 6, thereby realizing the automatic unloading of the pipe fitting 8. In this process, there is no need for manual handling of the pipe fitting 8, eliminating the frequent bending over actions of manual labor during the unloading process, reducing the labor intensity of manual labor, allowing one person to operate multiple machines, ensuring unloading efficiency, and saving labor costs.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the material length positioning mechanism 2 includes a guide rail 21, a first probe seat 22, a second probe seat 23, and a baffle plate 24. The first probe seat 22 and the second probe seat 23 are movably mounted on the guide rail 21, and each probe seat is equipped with a photoelectric probe 25. The baffle plate 24 is adjustable in height. When one of the photoelectric probes 25 fails to detect the pipe 8, the baffle plate 24 rises, allowing the tail pipe located on the conveyor belt 1 to be conveyed to the tail frame 7 along with the conveyor belt 1. The two probe seats can move along the guide rail 21 and are fixed by locking components, such as screws, after the distance is adjusted, so that the material length positioning mechanism 2 can be used to detect pipes 8 of different lengths. The baffle plate 24 is configured to be raised and lowered by the baffle cylinder 26. Initially, the distance between the baffle plate 24 and the transmission belt is less than the outer diameter of the pipe 8. When both photoelectric sensors 25 detect the pipe 8, it indicates that the length of the pipe 8 has reached the set value. At this time, the pusher 3 is activated, pushing the pipe 8 into the collecting container 4. When the collecting container 4 is full of pipe 8, the integrated pipe 8 is simultaneously pushed into the discharging container 5. Then, the discharging container 5 is activated to discharge the material, so that the pipe 8 in the material frame 6 can be neatly arranged. If one photoelectric sensor 25 does not detect the pipe 8, it indicates that the pipe 8 is the tail material. At this time, the baffle cylinder 26 drives the baffle plate 24 to rise, allowing the pipe 8 to continue to be transmitted with the conveyor belt 1 to the tail material frame 7, realizing the automatic diversion of tail material and further improving the material discharge efficiency. The photoelectric sensor 25 and the baffle cylinder 26 can be electrically connected to the control unit, which is preferably a PLC. Its circuit principle is existing technology and will not be described in detail here.

[0046] Furthermore, the pusher 3 includes a pusher plate 31 and a pusher cylinder 32 for driving the pusher plate 31 to move. The pusher plate 31 is provided with a pusher part 311 that bends toward the collecting part 4 to ensure that the pipe 8 will not move in the opposite direction when pushed, and to ensure that the movement of the pipe 8 is accurate.

[0047] Based on the above embodiments, in an optional embodiment of this utility model, the collecting component 4 includes a guide trough 41 inclined from the conveyor belt 1 to the discharging component 5. Adjusting plates 42 are provided on both sides of the guide trough 41 to align the pipe fittings 8 within the guide trough 41. The guide trough 41 is inclined so that the pipe fittings 8 can move along the guide trough 41 under gravity. Preferably, the adjusting plates 42 are sleeved on the adjusting shaft 43 and the transmission screw 44. The transmission screw 44 is driven to rotate by a motor, causing the adjusting plates 42 to move along the adjusting shaft 43 to accommodate pipe fittings 8 of different lengths.

[0048] In another embodiment, a baffle 45 is disposed below the guide trough 41. The baffle 45 is driven by a lifting drive 46 to extend or retract, and by a moving drive 47 to move along the extension direction of the guide trough 41, such that the baffle 45 is inserted into the discharge end of the guide trough 41 to prevent the pipe 8 from sliding out, or inserted into the feed end of the guide trough 41 to push the pipe 8 toward the discharge member 5. For example, both the lifting drive 46 and the moving drive 47 are cylinders. When it is necessary to collect material in the guide trough 41, the baffle 45 is inserted into the discharge end of the guide trough 41 to prevent the pipe 8 from sliding out from the discharge end; when it is necessary to push the pipe 8 in the guide trough 41 to the discharge member 5, the baffle 45 is first retracted, then moved to the feed end of the guide trough 41 and inserted into the feed end, and then moved toward the discharge end in the inserted state, thereby pushing the pipe 8 into the discharge member 5. Among them, the material stop 45 has the functions of stopping and pushing materials. It has a simple and compact structure, which is conducive to the structural space arrangement of the feeding machine.

[0049] In one embodiment, the bottom of the guide trough 41 is composed of multiple spaced rods 411, and the top of the guide trough 41 is provided with an upwardly inclined guide rod 412. The stop member 45 can pass between two rods 411 to be inserted into the guide trough 41. The guide rod 412 further ensures the direction of movement of the pipe 8.

[0050] Based on the above embodiments, in an optional embodiment of this utility model, the feeding component 5 includes an X-axis drive component 51, a Z-axis drive component 52, and two pick-and-place clamps 53. The X-axis drive component 51 is used to drive the pick-and-place clamps 53 to move along the X-axis direction, and the Z-axis drive component 52 is used to drive the pick-and-place clamps 53 to rise and fall along the Z-axis direction. The two pick-and-place clamps 53 are configured to be driven to move via a clamping plate drive component 54 to adjust the distance between the two pick-and-place clamps 53. When the width of the material frame 6 is greater than twice the length of the pipe 8, the pick-and-place clamps 53 can be driven to move along the X-axis direction by the X-axis drive component 51, and then driven to fall into the material frame 6 by the Z-axis drive component 52 to place two or more rows of pipes 8. The X-axis drive unit 51 includes a motor, a drive wheel 511, a driven wheel 512, and a synchronous belt 513 connecting the drive wheel 511 and the driven wheel 512. A mounting base 521, equipped with the Z-axis drive unit 52, is adapted to the synchronous belt 513 to move with it. The Z-axis drive unit 52 is a cylinder or motor-screw structure. The distance between the two pick-and-place clamps 53 is adjustable to accommodate pipes 8 of different lengths, ensuring a proper distance between the clamps and preventing the pipe 8 from slipping during lowering. The clamp drive unit 54 includes a motor and a screw, but is not limited to these. For example, depending on the product's cutting length, the position of the two pick-and-place clamps 53 can be adjusted via the clamp drive unit 54 to prevent the pipe 8 from falling before the clamps are released.

[0051] For example, the pick-and-place clamp 53 includes a U-shaped plate 531 and a clamping plate 532. The opening of the U-shaped plate 531 faces the collecting member 4. The U-shaped groove on the U-shaped plate 531 is arranged to be inclined from the feeding end to the discharging end so that the tube 8 can move orderly along the U-shaped groove. The clamping plate 532 has a discharge portion 5321 for extending into the U-shaped groove and is configured to be driven by the discharge drive member 533 to move toward or away from the U-shaped plate 531, corresponding to clamping or releasing the tube 8. The feeding drive component 533 is a cylinder. When the pipe 8 in the collecting component 4 is pushed towards the discharging component 5, it enters along the U-shaped groove so that the pipe 8 is hung on the U-shaped groove and clamped by the feeding part 5321, so that each pipe 8 can move synchronously with the pick-and-place clamp 53. When the pick-and-place clamp 53 descends to the material frame 6, the clamping plate drive component 54 drives the U-shaped plate 531 to move to both sides and drives the clamping plate 532 to move inward so that both ends of the pipe 8 are disengaged from the U-shaped groove. Then, the clamping plate 532 is driven to move outward to release the pipe 8, realizing the lowering of the pipe 8. The clamping plate 532 can prevent the pipe 8 from being hung on only one side of the U-shaped plate 531, preventing the pipe 8 from tilting and falling.

[0052] In other embodiments, a set of feeding mechanisms is installed on each side of the conveyor belt 1, namely a first feeding mechanism and a second feeding mechanism. The two feeding mechanisms are configured to operate alternately. For example, when the first feeding mechanism is collecting material, the second feeding mechanism is in the discharging state, so that collecting and discharging can be carried out simultaneously, thereby reducing standby time and further improving feeding efficiency. The working principle of this embodiment is as follows:

[0053] Based on the product's cutting length, the control motor adjusts the adjusting plates 42 on both sides of the guide chute 41, and the pusher 3 pushes the pipe 8 into the first or second collecting component for alignment.

[0054] When the pipe fittings 8 in the guide trough 41 are full, the baffle 45 retracts and moves to the feed end of the guide trough 41. After the baffle 45 is inserted into the feed end of the guide trough 41, it moves toward the discharge end to push all the pipe fittings 8 into the U-shaped groove.

[0055] The tube is clamped by the clamping plate 532, and then the Z-axis drive 52 is driven to lower the pick-and-place clamp 53 to the material frame 6. Then the clamping plates 532 at both ends of the tube 8 are released, allowing the tube 8 to fall into the material frame 6.

[0056] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this utility model. The protection scope of this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions that fall within the scope of this utility model's concept are protected by this utility model.

Claims

1. An automatic unloader, characterized by, The device includes a conveyor belt for communicating with the discharge end of a laser cutting machine, a material length positioning mechanism disposed above the conveyor belt, and a feeding mechanism disposed on the side of the conveyor belt. The material length positioning mechanism is used to detect the length of the pipe. The feeding mechanism includes a pusher, a collecting member, and a discharging member. The pusher is used to push pipes of a predetermined length from the conveyor belt into the collecting member. The discharging member is disposed at the discharge end of the collecting member to receive the pipes assembled in the collecting member and to lower the pipes into the material frame.

2. The automatic unloader of claim 1, wherein The material length positioning mechanism includes a guide rail, a first probe seat, a second probe seat, and a baffle plate. The first probe seat and the second probe seat are movably configured on the guide rail, and both probe seats are equipped with photoelectric probes. The baffle plate is adjustable in height. When one of the photoelectric probes fails to detect the pipe, the baffle plate rises so that the tail pipe located on the conveyor belt can be transported to the tail frame along with the conveyor belt.

3. The automatic unloader of claim 1, wherein The pusher includes a pusher plate and a pusher cylinder for driving the pusher plate to move. The pusher plate has a pusher portion that bends toward the collecting component.

4. The automatic unloader of claim 1, wherein The material collection component includes a guide trough inclined from the conveyor belt toward the discharge component, and adjusting plates are provided on both sides of the guide trough to align each pipe within the guide trough.

5. The automatic unloader of claim 4, wherein, A baffle is disposed below the material guide trough. The baffle is driven by a lifting drive to extend or shorten, and is driven by a moving drive to move along the extension direction of the material guide trough, so that the baffle is inserted into the discharge end of the material guide trough to prevent the pipe from sliding out, or inserted into the feed end of the material guide trough to push the pipe toward the discharge component.

6. The automatic unloader of claim 5, wherein, The bottom of the material guide trough is composed of multiple spaced rods, and the top of the material guide trough is equipped with an upwardly inclined guide rod.

7. The automatic unloader of claim 4, wherein The adjusting plate is sleeved on the adjusting shaft and the transmission screw. The transmission screw is driven to rotate by a motor so that the adjusting plate moves along the adjusting shaft.

8. The automatic unloader of claim 1, wherein, The feeding component includes an X-axis drive, a Z-axis drive, and two pick-and-place clamps. The X-axis drive is used to drive the pick-and-place clamps to move along the X-axis direction, and the Z-axis drive is used to drive the pick-and-place clamps to move up and down along the Z-axis direction. The two pick-and-place clamps are configured to move via a clamping plate drive to adjust the distance between the two pick-and-place clamps.

9. The automatic feeding machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, The pick-and-place clamp includes a U-shaped plate and a clamping plate. The opening of the U-shaped plate faces the collecting member. The U-shaped groove on the U-shaped plate is inclined from the feeding end to the discharging end. The clamping plate has a feeding part for extending into the U-shaped groove and is configured to be driven by a feeding drive member to move toward or away from the U-shaped plate, corresponding to clamping or releasing the pipe.

10. The automatic unloader of claim 1, wherein, Each side of the conveyor belt is equipped with a set of feeding mechanisms, and the two sets of feeding mechanisms are configured to operate alternately.

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