A spherical shell turnover conveying mechanism

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of spherical shell overturning conveying mechanisms, including frame head-to-tail connected belt conveyor and synchronous belt conveyor, and synchronous belt conveyor has two synchronous belts;The two sides of the top of belt conveyor and synchronous belt conveyor are symmetrically installed with guide plate, and the guide plate is opened to guide one end corresponding to spherical shell conveying upstream, the distance between two guide plates is adapted to the outer diameter size of spherical shell;Multiple friction rubber pads are installed on the guide plate of one side equidistantly along the direction of belt conveyor and synchronous belt conveyor. By setting belt conveyor and synchronous belt conveyor, respectively conveying right and upside-down spherical shell, centrally positioning in conveying process through guide plate, and through equidistantly arranged friction rubber pad, spherical shell is rotated around vertical axis in conveying process by friction force to change direction, so that industrial camera can be right and upside-down spherical shell omnidirectional shooting quality inspection, avoid appearing visual dead angle to cause flaw omission.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of spherical shell quality inspection equipment, specifically a spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] The spherical shell of an automotive universal joint is an important component of the universal joint. It is a semi-circular metal shell with an inner cavity that opens outwards. The inner cavity is a spherical surface, and its axis is aligned with the axis of the shaft. It is mainly used to accommodate and support the universal joint ball, enabling shaft power output in different directions. The outer surface is cylindrical, and the surface between it and the cylindrical surface of the shaft is conical.

[0003] The production of spherical shells often employs a forging-based, non-cutting machining process. After production, various quality inspections are required, with surface defect inspection being a crucial component. Currently, the primary method for surface defect inspection of spherical shells involves transporting the shells via a linear conveyor. Two industrial cameras, with lenses pointing upstream and downstream at different angles, are positioned above the conveyor to acquire images without stopping the machine. These images are then processed using a matching vision inspection program.

[0004] However, existing linear conveyors can only transport spherical shells in a straight line. Due to the viewing angle, the industrial camera can only capture one side at a time. The junction of the two sides is not directly facing the industrial camera, resulting in unclear images and making it easy to miss defects. Therefore, this issue needs to be addressed. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism, which solves the problem that existing linear conveyors can only convey spherical shells in a straight line, resulting in unclear images of the spherical shells not facing the industrial camera and easily causing missed defects.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A spherical shell flipping conveyor mechanism includes a belt conveyor and a synchronous belt conveyor connected end to end of the frame, wherein the synchronous belt conveyor has two synchronous belts;

[0008] Guide plates are symmetrically installed on both sides of the top of the belt conveyor and the synchronous belt conveyor. The guide plates open to guide one end of the spherical shell conveyor upstream. The distance between the two guide plates is adapted to the outer diameter of the spherical shell.

[0009] Multiple friction pads are equidistantly installed on one side of the guide plate along the direction of the belt conveyor and the synchronous belt conveyor;

[0010] A stop bar is provided at the top of the upstream end of the synchronous belt conveyor, corresponding to the opening position of the guide plate. The stop bar is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the synchronous belt conveyor.

[0011] Preferably, the guide plate is fixed to a fixing frame on its opposite side, and the guide plate is movably mounted on the frame of the belt conveyor and the synchronous belt conveyor through bolt slots and fastening bolts on the fixing frame.

[0012] Preferably, the guide plate is provided with an installation groove at the position corresponding to the friction pad, the friction pad is provided on the outside of the guide plate, and the friction pad is provided with a protruding ridge that penetrates the installation groove and extends to the inside of the guide plate. The outer side of the guide plate is fitted with a fixing plate to hold the friction pad by fixing bolts.

[0013] Preferably, the protruding ridges are vertically arranged and closely spaced and equidistant along the direction of the guide plate, and each guide plate is provided with three friction pads. The overall size of the protruding ridges along the direction of the guide plate is one-third of the circumference of the spherical shell.

[0014] Preferably, the vertical distance between the protruding ridge and the opposite guide plate is less than the outer diameter of the spherical shell.

[0015] Preferably, the stop bar is fixedly installed by a stand, and the distance between the stop bar and the synchronous belt on the synchronous belt conveyor is less than the height of the spherical shell.

[0016] Preferably, the inner wall of the belt conveyor frame is equidistantly installed with multiple sets of idlers for supporting the two synchronous belts on both sides along the synchronous belt direction. The idlers are T-shaped rollers with flanges supporting the edges of the synchronous belts.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] This invention utilizes a belt conveyor and a synchronous belt conveyor to transport upright and inverted spherical shells respectively. During transport, a guide plate centers the shells, and friction pads spaced at equal intervals cause the shells to rotate around a vertical axis, changing their orientation. This allows an industrial camera to capture images of both upright and inverted shells from all angles for quality inspection, avoiding blind spots and preventing defects from being missed. This improves quality inspection and product quality, solving the problem that existing linear conveyors can only transport shells in a straight line, resulting in unclear images of shells not facing the camera and easily leading to missed defects. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a top view of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a top view of the guide plate of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a top view of a partial structure of the friction pad of this utility model at the corresponding position;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a top cross-sectional view of the corresponding position of the friction pad of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a front view of the friction pad of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a side view of the corresponding stop position of the synchronous belt conveyor of this utility model.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Belt conveyor; 2. Synchronous belt conveyor; 3. Synchronous belt; 4. Guide plate; 5. Spherical shell; 6. Friction pad; 7. Stop bar; 8. Fixing frame; 9. Mounting groove; 10. Protruding rib; 11. Fixing plate; 12. Vertical frame; 13. Idler roller; 14. Industrial camera. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0027] like Figure 1-6 As shown, this utility model provides a technical solution: a spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism, including a belt conveyor 1 and a synchronous belt conveyor 2 with the frame connected end to end. The synchronous belt conveyor 2 has two synchronous belts 3. Multiple sets of idlers 13 are installed at equal intervals on both sides of the inner wall of the frame of the belt conveyor 1 along the direction of the synchronous belts 3 to support the two synchronous belts 3 respectively. The idlers 13 are T-shaped rollers with flanges supported at the edge of the synchronous belts 3 to provide support force, prevent lateral displacement, and ensure that the spherical shell 5 is smoothly conveyed.

[0028] Guide plates 4 are symmetrically installed on both sides of the top of belt conveyor 1 and synchronous belt conveyor 2. The guide plates 4 open and guide the upstream end of the spherical shell 5. A fixed frame 8 is fixed on the back side of the guide plate 4. The guide plate 4 is movably installed on the frame of belt conveyor 1 and synchronous belt conveyor 2 through the bolt groove and fastening bolt on the fixed frame 8. The distance can be adjusted to adapt to different models of spherical shell 5.

[0029] The distance between the two guide plates 4 is adapted to the outer diameter of the spherical shell 5. Multiple friction pads 6 are equidistantly installed on one of the guide plates 4 along the direction of the belt conveyor 1 and the synchronous belt conveyor 2. The guide plate 4 is provided with a mounting groove 9 corresponding to the position of the friction pad 6. The friction pad 6 is located on the outside of the guide plate 4, and the friction pad 6 is provided with a protruding ridge 10 that penetrates the mounting groove 9 and extends to the inside of the guide plate 4. The outer side of the guide plate 4 is fixed with a fixing plate 11 to hold the friction pad 6. New friction pads 6 can be replaced according to the wear condition to ensure that there is enough friction force to make the spherical shell 5 rotate.

[0030] The protruding ribs 10 are vertically arranged and closely spaced and equidistant along the direction of the guide plate 4. Each guide plate 4 is provided with three friction pads 6. The overall size of the protruding ribs 10 along the direction of the guide plate 4 is one-third of the circumference of the spherical shell 5. The spherical shell 5 is rotated 120° each time, and optical quality inspection is carried out by taking pictures and videos through three corresponding industrial cameras. The vertical distance between the protruding ribs 10 and the opposite guide plate 4 is less than the outer diameter of the spherical shell 5.

[0031] A stop bar 7 is provided above the guide plate 4 at the top of the upstream end of the synchronous belt conveyor 2, corresponding to the opening position of the guide plate 4. The stop bar 7 is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the synchronous belt conveyor 2. The stop bar 7 is fixedly installed by the stand 12, and the distance between the stop bar 7 and the synchronous belt 3 on the synchronous belt conveyor 2 is less than the height of the spherical shell 5. The upright spherical shell 5 is pushed over by the stop bar 7 during the conveying process. When the spherical shell 5 is upright, optical quality inspection is performed on the surface. When it is upside down, optical quality inspection is performed on the inside of the spherical shell 5.

[0032] Working principle:

[0033] A spherical shell 5 is manually placed upright on the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 1. Under the action of the guide plate 4, the spherical shell 5 is centered on the conveyor centerline of the belt conveyor 1. During the conveying process, the spherical shell 5 is squeezed and subjected to friction by the protruding ridges 10 of the friction pads 6, causing it to rotate around the vertical axis. The image is then captured by the corresponding industrial camera. The overall size of the protruding ridges 10 along the direction of the guide plate 4 is one-third of the circumference of the spherical shell 5. Each friction pad 6 allows the spherical shell 5 to rotate 120°. The corresponding three industrial cameras can capture images from all directions. When the spherical shell 5 reaches the synchronous belt conveyor 2, it is blocked by the stop bar 7, and the upper end tilts to the upstream side, changing from an upright to an inverted state. It is then clamped and lifted by the two synchronous belts 2 of the synchronous belt conveyor 2. The inverted spherical shell 5 is rotated and photographed for quality inspection in the same way as on the belt conveyor 1. By capturing images of the upright and inverted spherical shell 5 from all directions for quality inspection, blind spots are avoided, thereby improving the quality inspection effect and product quality.

[0034] It should be noted that, in this document, terms such as “comprising,” “including,” or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0035] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism, characterized in that: It includes a belt conveyor (1) with the frame connected end to end and a synchronous belt conveyor (2), wherein the synchronous belt conveyor (2) has two synchronous belts (3); The belt conveyor (1) and the synchronous belt conveyor (2) are symmetrically equipped with guide plates (4) on both sides of the top. The guide plates (4) open and guide the upstream end of the spherical shell (5) and the distance between the two guide plates (4) is adapted to the outer diameter of the spherical shell (5). On one side of the guide plate (4), multiple friction pads (6) are installed at equal intervals along the direction of the belt conveyor (1) and the synchronous belt conveyor (2); The upstream top of the synchronous belt conveyor (2) is provided with a stop bar (7) located above the guide plate (4) at the opening position. The stop bar (7) is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the synchronous belt conveyor (2).

2. The spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide plate (4) is fixed to a fixing frame (8) on its opposite side. The guide plate (4) is movably mounted on the frame of the belt conveyor (1) and the synchronous belt conveyor (2) through the bolt groove and fastening bolt on the fixing frame (8).

3. The spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide plate (4) is provided with an installation groove (9) at the position corresponding to the friction pad (6). The friction pad (6) is provided on the outside of the guide plate (4), and the friction pad (6) is provided with a protruding ridge (10) that penetrates the installation groove (9) and extends to the inside of the guide plate (4). The outer side of the guide plate (4) is fitted with a fixing plate (11) to hold the friction pad (6) by fixing bolts.

4. The spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The protruding ribs (10) are vertically arranged and closely spaced and equidistant along the direction of the guide plate (4). Each guide plate (4) is provided with three friction pads (6). The overall size of the protruding ribs (10) along the direction of the guide plate (4) is one-third of the circumference of the spherical shell (5).

5. The spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The vertical distance between the protruding ridge (10) and the opposite guide plate (4) is less than the outer diameter of the spherical shell (5).

6. The spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stop bar (7) is fixedly installed by the stand (12), and the distance between the stop bar (7) and the synchronous belt (3) on the synchronous belt conveyor (2) is less than the height of the spherical shell (5).

7. The spherical shell flipping and conveying mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the frame of the belt conveyor (1) is equidistantly installed with multiple sets of idlers (13) for supporting the two synchronous belts (3) respectively. The idlers (13) are T-shaped rollers with flanges supported at the edge of the synchronous belts (3).

Images