An automated pitch feeding mechanism
By designing an automated spacing feeding mechanism, and utilizing the upper and middle plate structures driven by cylinders and guide rails, automated feeding of pipes between multiple workstations is achieved. This solves the safety hazards and low efficiency problems of pipe punching in existing technologies, and improves processing accuracy and safety.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NINGBO YINZHOU VOCATIONAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-21
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, manual feeding for pipe punching has safety hazards, low efficiency, and difficulty in achieving precise positioning. Especially in multi-station processing, the robot arm moves a long distance and moves frequently, resulting in insufficient positioning accuracy and efficiency.
Design an automated spacing feeding mechanism. Through the combination structure of upper plate, middle plate and lower plate, the upper plate and middle plate can move freely using cylinders and guide rails. Multiple clamping cylinders are used to clamp the workpieces respectively, realizing the automated transfer of feeding, pre-processing and punching stations.
It improves the safety and efficiency of punching, enables rapid and precise positioning of workpieces across multiple workstations, allows for flexible adjustment to workpieces of different shapes, and enhances processing accuracy and production safety.
Smart Images
Figure CN224525814U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automation equipment technology, specifically to an automated spacing feeding mechanism. Background Technology
[0002] In the prior art, automated fixtures are usually used to hold plates or tubes for feeding, so that punches can punch holes in the plates or tubes. Among them, tubes (especially round tubes) are inconvenient to hold, so they usually need to be pre-processed with positioning notches before punching, so as to stabilize the position on the punching machine during punching and ensure the accuracy of the punching position.
[0003] Currently, most pipe fitting punching is done manually. The blank is first placed on a punch press to punch positioning holes, then transferred to another punch press to complete the punching process. Both loading and transfer are done manually, posing safety hazards and resulting in low efficiency. If a single robotic arm is used to handle blank loading, pre-processing loading, punching loading, and unloading, the robotic arm's travel distance is long, and the frequency of loading and unloading is high, leading to low efficiency. Using an equidistant feeding structure with multiple clamps makes it difficult to flexibly adjust the clamping positions according to the punching hole location and material shape (punching requires high workpiece positioning accuracy). Therefore, for this process involving loading, pre-processing, final processing, and unloading, and with specific workpiece positioning accuracy requirements, an automated interval feeding mechanism needs to be designed. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to develop an automated spacing feeding mechanism to solve the problem of difficult automated and accurate feeding of pipe fittings in the punching process in the prior art, thereby improving punching efficiency and production safety.
[0005] This utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: An automated spacing feeding mechanism includes a lower plate, a middle plate, and an upper plate; The lower plate is provided with a first transverse cylinder and a first transverse guide rail; The middle plate is provided with a longitudinal cylinder, a longitudinal guide rail, and a middle plate guide block. The middle plate is slidably connected to the first transverse guide rail through the middle plate guide block. The first transverse cylinder drives the middle plate to move laterally along the first transverse guide rail. The upper plate is provided with a first clamping cylinder, a second clamping cylinder, a third clamping cylinder, a second transverse cylinder, and an upper plate guide block. The upper plate is slidably connected to the longitudinal guide rail through the upper plate guide block. The longitudinal cylinder drives the upper plate to move longitudinally along the longitudinal guide rail. The first clamping cylinder, the second clamping cylinder, and the third clamping cylinder are arranged laterally, and the second lateral cylinder drives the second clamping cylinder to move laterally between the first clamping cylinder and the third clamping cylinder.
[0006] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows: The upper plate and the middle plate are longitudinally slidably connected, and the middle plate and the lower plate are laterally slidably connected, thereby enabling the upper plate to move freely in the horizontal and vertical directions. That is, the first clamping cylinder, the second clamping cylinder, and the third clamping cylinder can move freely in the horizontal and vertical directions. After the clamping cylinders clamp the workpiece, they move longitudinally and laterally until they are aligned with the next station for loading. This is safer and faster than manual material handling. Compared to using the same fixture to hold the workpiece for loading, pre-processing, punching, and unloading, this device uses three linked clamping cylinders to clamp the workpieces at the loading station, pre-processing station, and punching station respectively and transfer them to the next station (the workpieces at the punching station are transferred to the unloading station). The upper plate can move once to simultaneously realize the picking and feeding of materials at the three stations. Furthermore, the second transverse cylinder drives the second clamping cylinder to slide laterally, so as to adjust the position of the second clamping cylinder according to the position of the punching table and the shape of the workpiece. It is highly flexible and especially suitable for clamping workpieces that require precise positioning.
[0007] Specifically, the first clamping cylinder and the third clamping cylinder are respectively disposed at the two ends of the upper plate in the horizontal direction, and the second clamping cylinder is located in the middle of the upper plate.
[0008] In one possible implementation, a second transverse guide rail is provided at the middle position of the upper plate. The second transverse cylinder drives the second clamping cylinder to slide laterally between the first clamping cylinder and the third clamping cylinder along the second transverse guide rail. The second transverse guide rail guides the second transverse cylinder, making its movement path more stable.
[0009] In one possible implementation, the lower plate surface is provided with two parallel first transverse guide rails on both sides of the first transverse cylinder. The provision of two guide rails enhances the stability of the middle plate movement.
[0010] In one possible implementation, the surface of the middle plate is provided with three parallel longitudinal guide rails, and the longitudinal cylinder is located on one side of the middle plate. The provision of three parallel guide rails enhances the stability of the upper plate movement.
[0011] In one possible implementation, the middle plate is a frame structure that is at least partially hollowed out, with a lightweight design, simple overall structure, and easy assembly.
[0012] The aforementioned automated spacing feeding mechanism can be applied to a pipe punching processing platform, which includes a material handling station for placing blank workpieces, a pre-processing station for opening positioning grooves on the blank workpieces, a punching station for punching holes in the pre-processed workpieces, and a material unloading station. When the upper plate is in the first processing position, the first clamping cylinder, the second clamping cylinder, and the third clamping cylinder correspond to the material picking station, the pre-processing station, and the punching station, respectively. When the upper plate is in the second processing position, the first clamping cylinder, the second clamping cylinder, and the third clamping cylinder correspond to the pre-processing station, the punching station, and the unloading station, respectively. Attached Figure Description
[0013] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the automated spacing feeding mechanism provided by this utility model; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Exploded view of a medium-automation spacing feeding mechanism; Figure 3 for Figure 1 Top view of the automated spacing feeding mechanism; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the workstations of a pipe punching processing platform (the upper plate of the automated spacing feeding mechanism is located at the first processing position). Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the workstations of a pipe punching processing platform (the upper plate of the automated spacing feeding mechanism is located at the second processing position). In the diagram, 1 is the lower plate; 11 is the first transverse cylinder; 12 is the first transverse guide rail; 2 is the middle plate; 21 is the longitudinal cylinder; 22 is the longitudinal guide rail; 23 is the middle plate guide block; 3 is the upper plate; 31 is the first clamping cylinder; 32 is the second clamping cylinder; 33 is the third clamping cylinder; 34 is the upper plate guide block; 321 is the second transverse cylinder; 322 is the second transverse guide rail; A is the material picking station; B is the pre-processing station; C is the punching station; D is the material unloading station. Detailed Implementation
[0014] First, those skilled in the art should understand that the following embodiments are merely used to explain the technical principles of the embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific application scenarios.
[0015] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application based on the specific circumstances.
[0016] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0017] To make the objectives, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0018] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment provides an automated spacing feeding mechanism, including a lower plate 1, a middle plate 2, and an upper plate 3; The lower plate 1 is provided with a first transverse cylinder 11 and a first transverse guide rail 12; The middle plate 2 is provided with a longitudinal cylinder 21, a longitudinal guide rail 22, and a middle plate guide block 23. The middle plate 2 is slidably connected to the first transverse guide rail 12 through the middle plate guide block 23. The first transverse cylinder 11 drives the middle plate 2 to move laterally along the first transverse guide rail 12. The upper plate 3 is provided with a first clamping cylinder 31, a second clamping cylinder 32, a third clamping cylinder 33, a second transverse cylinder 321, and an upper plate guide block 34. The upper plate 3 is slidably connected to the longitudinal guide rail 22 through the upper plate guide block 34. The longitudinal cylinder 21 drives the upper plate 3 to move longitudinally along the longitudinal guide rail 22. The first clamping cylinder 31, the second clamping cylinder 32, and the third clamping cylinder 33 are arranged laterally. The second lateral cylinder 321 drives the second clamping cylinder 32 to move laterally between the first clamping cylinder 31 and the third clamping cylinder 33.
[0019] This is to illustrate the structural fit. Figure 2The middle plate guide block 23 and the upper plate guide block 34 shown in the image are respectively assembled on the first transverse guide rail 12 and the longitudinal guide rail 22. In fact, the middle plate guide block 23 and the upper plate guide block 34 are respectively fixedly connected to the lower surface of the middle plate 2 and the lower surface of the upper plate 3.
[0020] In the above structure, the upper plate and the middle plate are longitudinally slidably connected, and the middle plate and the lower plate are laterally slidably connected, thereby enabling the upper plate to move freely in the lateral and longitudinal directions. That is, the first clamping cylinder 31, the second clamping cylinder 32, and the third clamping cylinder 33 can move freely in the lateral and longitudinal directions relative to the lower plate 1. After the clamping cylinders clamp the workpiece, the longitudinal displacement is followed by the lateral displacement until the workpiece is aligned with the next station for loading. This is safer and faster than manual material handling. Compared to using the same fixture to hold the workpiece for loading, pre-processing, punching, and unloading, this device uses three linked clamping cylinders to clamp the workpieces at the loading station, pre-processing station, and punching station respectively and transfer them to the next station (the workpieces at the punching station are transferred to the unloading station). The upper plate can move once to simultaneously realize the picking and feeding of materials at the three stations. Furthermore, the second transverse cylinder drives the second clamping cylinder to slide laterally between the first clamping cylinder and the third clamping cylinder, so as to adjust the position of the second clamping cylinder according to the position of the punching table and the shape of the workpiece, thereby achieving unequal feeding, which is highly flexible and especially suitable for clamping workpieces that require precise positioning.
[0021] In this embodiment, the first clamping cylinder 31 and the third clamping cylinder 33 are respectively disposed at the two ends of the upper plate 3 in the horizontal direction, and the second clamping cylinder 32 is located in the middle of the upper plate 3.
[0022] In one embodiment, a second transverse guide rail 322 is provided at the middle position of the upper plate 3. The second transverse cylinder 321 drives the second clamping cylinder 32 to slide laterally between the first clamping cylinder 31 and the third clamping cylinder 33 along the second transverse guide rail 322. The second transverse guide rail guides the second transverse cylinder, making its movement path more stable.
[0023] In one embodiment, the surface of the lower plate 1 is provided with two parallel first transverse guide rails 12 on both sides of the first transverse cylinder 11; the surface of the middle plate 2 is provided with three parallel longitudinal guide rails 22, and the longitudinal cylinder 21 is provided on one side of the middle plate 2; the middle plate 2 is a frame structure with at least partial openwork.
[0024] This utility model also provides an embodiment of a pipe punching processing platform, including the automated spacing feeding mechanism in the above embodiment, as well as a material picking station for placing blank workpieces, a pre-processing station for opening positioning grooves on blank workpieces, a punching station for punching pre-processed workpieces, and a material unloading station. When the upper plate 3 is in the first processing position, the first clamping cylinder 31, the second clamping cylinder 32, and the third clamping cylinder 33 correspond to the material picking station, the pre-processing station, and the punching station, respectively. When the upper plate 3 is in the second processing position, the first clamping cylinder 31, the second clamping cylinder 32, and the third clamping cylinder 33 correspond to the pre-processing station, the punching station, and the unloading station, respectively.
[0025] like Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, the first clamping cylinder 31 is used to clamp the blank workpiece on the material picking station A and send it to the pre-processing station B where the positioning groove is opened on the workpiece. The second clamping cylinder 32 is used to clamp the pre-processed workpiece after the groove is opened on the pre-processing station B and send it to the punching station C. The third clamping cylinder 33 is used to clamp the finished workpiece after punching on the punching station C and send it to the discharge station D. The discharge station D can be a storage device or the operating table of the next process.
[0026] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that the terms "inner" and "outer" and other terms indicating direction or positional relationship are based on the direction or positional relationship shown in the drawings. This is only for the convenience of description and does not indicate or imply that the device or component must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this application.
[0027] In the description of this application, the reference to terms such as "this embodiment," "an embodiment," etc., means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.
[0028] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An automated spacing feeding mechanism, characterized in that: Including lower plate (1), middle plate (2), upper plate (3); The lower plate (1) is provided with a first transverse cylinder (11) and a first transverse guide rail (12); The middle plate (2) is provided with a longitudinal cylinder (21), a longitudinal guide rail (22), and a middle plate guide block (23). The middle plate (2) is slidably connected to the first transverse guide rail (12) through the middle plate guide block (23). The first transverse cylinder (11) is used to drive the middle plate (2) to move laterally along the first transverse guide rail (12). The upper plate (3) is provided with a first clamping cylinder (31), a second clamping cylinder (32), a third clamping cylinder (33), a second transverse cylinder (321), and an upper plate guide block (34). The upper plate (3) is slidably connected to the longitudinal guide rail (22) through the upper plate guide block (34). The longitudinal cylinder (21) is used to drive the upper plate (3) to move longitudinally along the longitudinal guide rail (22). The first clamping cylinder (31), the second clamping cylinder (32), and the third clamping cylinder (33) are arranged laterally. The second lateral cylinder (321) drives the second clamping cylinder (32) to move laterally between the first clamping cylinder (31) and the third clamping cylinder (33).
2. The automated spacing feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first clamping cylinder (31) and the third clamping cylinder (33) are respectively disposed at the two ends of the upper plate (3), and the second clamping cylinder (32) is located in the middle of the upper plate (3).
3. The automated spacing feeding mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper plate (3) is provided with a second transverse guide rail (322) at the middle position. The second transverse cylinder (321) is used to drive the second clamping cylinder (32) to move laterally along the second transverse guide rail (322).
4. The automated spacing feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first transverse cylinder (11) is disposed on the upper surface of the lower plate (1), and two parallel first transverse guide rails (12) are provided on both sides of the first transverse cylinder (11).
5. The automated spacing feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper surface of the middle plate (2) is provided with three parallel longitudinal guide rails (22), and the longitudinal cylinder (21) is located on one side of the middle plate (2).
6. The automated spacing feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The middle plate (2) is a frame structure that is at least partially hollowed out.