Feeding device

Abstract

The application provides a feeding device. The application provides a feeding device, which comprises a tray, a bin, a first driving assembly, a second driving assembly, a clamping assembly and a third driving assembly. The tray is used for accommodating materials. The bin is used for accommodating a plurality of trays. The first driving assembly is configured to drive the tray to move from a feeding position to a feeding position. The second driving assembly is configured to drive the tray to move from the feeding position to a fixed position. The clamping assembly is configured to drive the tray to move from the fixed position to a clamping position, and also drive the tray to move from the clamping position to a discharging position. The clamping assembly clamps the tray at the clamping position. The third driving assembly is connected to the clamping assembly, and the third driving assembly is configured to drive the tray at the discharging position to move to a recycling position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of feeding equipment technology, and more particularly to a feeding device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, material feeding typically involves manually loading materials onto pulleys, which then transport the materials. However, using pulleys for material feeding results in a large surface area being occupied by the pulleys. Furthermore, pulleys provide a limited amount of material at a time, requiring frequent manual loading, leading to low production efficiency. Additionally, the waste generated after material handling is difficult to recycle, resulting in high costs. Utility Model Content

[0003] To address the issues of low production efficiency and high cost of current feeding equipment, this application provides a feeding device that improves production efficiency and reduces costs.

[0004] This application provides a feeding device, which includes a material tray, a hopper, a first driving assembly, a second driving assembly, a clamping assembly, and a third driving assembly. The material tray is used to hold material. The hopper is used to hold multiple material trays. The first driving assembly is configured to drive the material tray from a feeding position to a feeding position. The second driving assembly is configured to drive the material tray from the feeding position to a fixed position. The clamping assembly is configured to move the material tray from the fixed position to a clamping position, and can also move the material tray from the clamping position to a discharging position, whereby the clamping assembly clamps the material tray at the clamping position. The third driving assembly is connected to the clamping assembly and is configured to drive the material tray located at the discharging position to a retraction position.

[0005] Understandably, by accommodating multiple trays in the hopper, multiple materials can be held, allowing for simultaneous loading of multiple items and thus improving production efficiency. The first and second drive components transport the trays to the pick-up point. Furthermore, a clamping component ensures the stability of the trays during the pick-up process, and a third drive component drives the trays for recycling, thereby reducing production costs.

[0006] In one embodiment, the clamping assembly includes a first driving member and a feeding member, the fixed position is disposed at the feeding member, the second driving member can drive the material tray into the feeding member, and the first driving member can drive the material tray to move along a first direction until the material tray is pressed against the feeding member.

[0007] In one embodiment, the third driving component includes a second driving member and a first connecting member, the tray being detachably connected to the first connecting member, and the second driving member being capable of driving the first connecting member to move along a second direction.

[0008] In one embodiment, the third driving component further includes an electromagnetic component connected to the first connecting component. When the electromagnetic component is energized, it is magnetically connected to the tray. When the electromagnetic component is de-energized, it is demagnetized from the tray.

[0009] In one embodiment, the feeding device further includes a limiting component, which includes a limiting member that can abut against the hopper in a first direction and limit the displacement of the hopper in the first direction.

[0010] In one embodiment, the hopper has a limiting hole, and the limiting component further includes a third driving member. The limiting member is connected to the third driving member, and the third driving member drives the limiting member to move to at least partially extend into the limiting hole. Along the first direction, the limiting member can abut against the wall of the limiting hole.

[0011] In one embodiment, the limiting component further includes a second connector, which has an adjustment hole. One end of the second connector is connected to the third driving member, and the other end can move within the adjustment hole. The third driving member drives the second connector to move along a second direction. When part of the second connector moves within the adjustment hole, the second connector drives the limiting member to move along a third direction. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other.

[0012] In one embodiment, a plurality of limiting holes are provided at intervals along the first direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, a plurality of the material trays are spaced apart in the hopper along a first direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first drive component drives the hopper to move along the first direction. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a feeding device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0016] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the clamping assembly and the third drive assembly of a feeding device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the hopper of a feeding device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another state of the clamping assembly and the third drive assembly of the feeding device provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of a feeding device with a limiting component provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0020] Explanation of key component symbols:

[0021] 100. Feeding device; 1. Material tray; 2. Material bin; 21. Limiting hole; 3. First drive assembly; 31. Fourth drive component; 32. Base; 321. Loading position; 322. Feeding position; 4. Second drive assembly; 5. Clamping assembly; 51. First drive component; 52. Discharging component; 521. Fixing position; 522. Clamping position; 523. Unloading position; 524. Opening; 525. Receiving groove; 6. Third drive assembly; 61. Second drive component; 62. First connecting component; 621. Recycling position; 63. Electromagnetic component; 7. Limiting assembly; 71. Limiting component; 711. Adjusting hole; 72. Third drive component; 73. Second connecting component; 200. Material; Z, First direction; X, Second direction; Y, Third direction.

[0022] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will further illustrate this application. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The following description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings for a more complete description of the present application. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present application. However, the present application may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. These exemplary embodiments are provided to make the present application thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the present application to those skilled in the art. Similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present application. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to also include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, when used herein, “comprising” and / or “including” and / or “having,” integers, steps, operations, components, and / or components, but without excluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, components, and / or groups thereof. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. Furthermore, unless explicitly defined herein, terms such as those defined in a general dictionary should be interpreted as having the same meaning as they have in the relevant technology and in the content of this application, and should not be interpreted as having an idealized or overly formal meaning.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, this application embodiment provides a feeding device 100, which includes a material tray 1, a hopper 2, a first driving assembly 3, a second driving assembly 4, a clamping assembly 5, and a third driving assembly 6. The material tray 1 is used to hold material 200. The hopper 2 is used to hold multiple material trays 1. The first driving assembly 3 is configured to drive the material trays 1 from the loading position 321 to the feeding position 322. The second driving assembly 4 is configured to drive the material trays 1 from the feeding position 322 to the fixed position 521. The clamping assembly 5 is configured to move the material trays 1 from the fixed position 521 to the clamping position 522, and can also move the material trays 1 from the clamping position 522 to the unloading position 523, whereby the clamping assembly 5 clamps the material trays 1 at the clamping position 522. The third driving assembly 6 is connected to the clamping assembly 5 and is configured to drive the material trays 1 located at the unloading position 523 to the recovery position 621.

[0025] For ease of reading, this application introduces the terms first direction Z, second direction X, and third direction Y to describe the embodiments of this application. The first direction Z, second direction X, and third direction Y can be three non-parallel straight lines in space; further, the first direction Z, second direction X, and third direction Y can be three mutually perpendicular directions in a three-dimensional coordinate system (a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system). In subsequent embodiments, the first direction Z is described as the Z-axis direction of the three-dimensional coordinate system, the second direction X as the X-axis direction of the three-dimensional coordinate system, and the third direction Y as the Y-axis direction of the three-dimensional coordinate system.

[0026] In this embodiment, material 200 can consist of multiple magnetic pieces mounted on a cardboard sheet, which is then placed on a tray 1 for easy transport. Previously, material 200 using a conventional feeding device 100 typically consisted of multiple magnetic pieces, cardboard, and a blister pack. However, in this embodiment, material 200 can be fed efficiently using only cardboard and magnetic pieces without a blister pack, thus saving packaging costs. On both sides of the hopper 2 in the third direction Y, multiple limiting holes 21 are spaced apart along the first direction Z. Multiple trays 1 on both sides of the third direction Y can extend into and be limited by the limiting holes 21. The multiple trays 1 are spaced apart along the first direction Z within the hopper 2, thus accommodating multiple trays 1. During loading, material 200 can be manually loaded onto the trays 1, and then the trays 1 can be installed into the hopper 2. After the hopper 2 is placed at the loading position 321, no further manual operation is required. It is understood that in other embodiments, a multi-degree-of-freedom robot can also be used to load the material 200 onto the tray 1, install the tray 1 into the hopper 2, and place the hopper 2 at the loading position 321 to achieve automated feeding.

[0027] The first drive assembly 3 drives the hopper 2 to move along the first direction Z, thus enabling multiple trays 1 spaced apart along the first direction Z to move from the loading position 321 to the feeding position 322. The first drive assembly 3 includes a fourth drive component 31 and a base 32. The fourth drive component 31 can be a linear motor module and is connected to the hopper 2 to drive the hopper 2 to move along the first direction Z. The shape of the base 32 can be set to correspond to the shape of the hopper 2. Along the first direction Z, the hopper 2 can be located within the base 32 and move along the base 32. The base 32 can limit the displacement of the hopper 2 in the third direction Y, thereby making the movement of the hopper 2 along the first direction Z stable and reliable. The loading position 321 is the position where the hopper 2 is placed in the base 32 after the tray 1 is manually loaded. At this time, the hopper 2 is connected to the fourth drive component 31, which drives the hopper 2 to move along the first direction Z. Furthermore, the fourth drive component 31 drives the hopper 2 to move upward, so that the tray 1 located in the hopper 2 moves to the feeding position 322. The feeding position 322 is the position where the second drive component 4 can move the tray 1. After one tray 1 has finished feeding, the hopper 2 will continue to move along the first direction Z, so that other trays 1 can also be driven by the second drive component 4 and fed.

[0028] The second drive assembly 4 includes a cylinder. When the material tray 1 is located at the feeding position 322, the second drive assembly 4 can abut against the material tray 1 and push the material tray 1 to move along the second direction X to the fixed position 521. The fixed position 521 is located at the top of the first drive member 51 of the clamping assembly 5, so that the first drive member 51 of the clamping assembly 5 can continue to drive the material tray 1 to the clamping position 522. The material tray 1 is clamped at the clamping position 522. At this time, the robot or other picking workpiece can pick up the material 200 located at the clamping position 522. After picking up the material, the first drive member 51 of the clamping assembly 5 drives the material tray 1 to move to the unloading position 523. The unloading position 523 may be located in the same position as the fixed position 521 or may not be located in the same position as the fixed position 521. The material tray 1 can be driven by the second drive member 61 of the third drive assembly 6 to move to the recycling position 621 at the unloading position 523. The material tray 1 is recycled at the recycling position 621.

[0029] It is understandable that by accommodating multiple trays 1 in the hopper 2, multiple materials 200 can be accommodated, allowing multiple materials 200 to be loaded at once, thereby improving production efficiency. The first drive assembly 3 and the second drive assembly 4 drive the trays 1 for transportation, ensuring they are transported to the designated location for material retrieval. Furthermore, a clamping assembly 5 ensures the stability of the trays 1 during the retrieval process, and a third drive assembly 6 drives the trays 1 for recycling, thereby reducing production costs.

[0030] Further integration Figure 4As shown, in one embodiment, the clamping assembly 5 includes a first driving member 51 and a feeding member 52. The fixed position 521 is provided at the feeding member 52. The second driving assembly 4 can drive the material tray 1 into the feeding member 52. The first driving member 51 can drive the material tray 1 to move along the first direction Z until the material tray 1 is pressed against the feeding member 52.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first driving component 51 can be a cylinder, capable of driving the material tray 1 to move along the first direction Z, or capable of driving the material tray 1 from the fixed position 521 to the clamping position 522 and then to the unloading position 523. No further restrictions are imposed. The unloading component 52 is a box-shaped object located on one side of the first driving component 3 in the second direction X, and capable of accommodating the material tray 1 pushed by the second driving component 4. When the material tray 1 is located inside the unloading component 52, i.e., when the material tray 1 is located in the fixed position 521, the material tray 1 is located on top of the first driving component 51. Thus, the first driving component 51 can drive the material tray 1 to move along the first direction Z until the material tray 1 abuts against the top of the unloading component 52. The top of the unloading component 52 is provided with an opening 524. The first driving component 51 drives the material tray 1 to abut against the top of the unloading component 52 to clamp the material tray 1. The material 200 communicates with the outside through the opening 524, allowing the robotic arm or other material handling components to pick up the material 200.

[0032] It is understandable that the material feeding component 52 and the first driving component 51 are configured to clamp the material tray 1 during the material picking process, thereby ensuring a secure and reliable picking process. Furthermore, the transportation of the material tray 1 can be completed through the cooperation between the various components, saving manpower.

[0033] In one embodiment, the third driving component 6 includes a second driving member 61 and a first connecting member 62. The tray 1 is detachably connected to the first connecting member 62, and the second driving member 61 can drive the first connecting member 62 to move along the second direction X.

[0034] In this embodiment, the second driving member 61 can be a cylinder, the first connecting member 62 can be a plate, and the material tray 1 is detachably connected to the first connecting member 62. The second driving member 61 is connected to the first connecting member 62 and can drive the first connecting member 62 to move along the second direction X. When the material tray 1 is connected to the first connecting member 62, the material tray 1 can follow the first connecting member 62 to move along the second direction X, thereby realizing the movement of the material tray 1 from the unloading position 523 to the recycling position 621. The feeding member 52 can be provided with a receiving groove 525 to receive the two ends of the first connecting member 62, so that the first connecting member 62 can move relative to the feeding member 52 along the second direction X. When the material tray 1 is in the fixed position 521, the first connecting member 62 does not need to be connected to the material tray 1. In order to prevent the first connecting member 62 from blocking the material tray 1 from moving to the clamping position 522, the second driving member 61 drives the first connecting member 62 to move outside the feeding member 52. After the material 200 is picked up, the material tray 1 moves to the unloading position 523. The first connecting member 62 then moves back into the feeding member 52 under the drive of the second driving member 61 and connects with the material tray 1. Then, the second driving member 61 drives the first connecting member 62 to move along the second direction X. At this time, the first connecting member 62 drives the material tray 1 to move to the recycling position 621.

[0035] It is understandable that the arrangement of the second driving component 61 and the first connecting component 62 enables the material tray 1 to move along the second direction X under the drive of the third driving component 6, and to move from the unloading position 523 to the recycling position 621 for recycling of the material tray 1.

[0036] In one embodiment, the third drive component 6 further includes an electromagnetic component 63, which is connected to the first connector 62. When the electromagnetic component 63 is energized, it is magnetically connected to the tray 1. When the electromagnetic component 63 is de-energized, it is released from the magnetic connection with the tray 1.

[0037] In this embodiment, the electromagnetic component 63 can be an electromagnet. Since the tray 1 contains metal parts, it can be magnetically attracted by the electromagnetic component 63 when energized. When the tray 1 moves to the unloading position 523, the first connecting member 62 drives the electromagnetic component 63 to move into the unloading member 52. At this time, the electromagnetic component 63 is located above the tray 1. When the electromagnetic component 63 is energized, the tray 1 can be magnetically connected to the electromagnetic component 63. Then, the second driving member 61 drives the first connecting member 62 to move along the second direction X, thereby driving the electromagnetic component 63 and the tray 1 to move along the second direction X and move the tray 1 to the recycling position 621. At this time, the electromagnetic component 63 is de-energized, and the tray 1 is no longer connected to the electromagnetic component 63. Under the action of gravity, the tray 1 falls naturally. A synchronous belt can be set below the recycling position 621. After the tray 1 falls onto the synchronous belt, it moves with the synchronous belt to the recycling box.

[0038] It is understandable that by setting up the electromagnetic component 63, the connection between the material tray 1 and the first connecting component 62 can be controlled by controlling whether the electromagnetic component 63 is energized. The control is relatively simple and convenient. The connection and disassembly of the material tray 1 and the first connecting component 62 can be realized without manual disassembly and installation. It is also convenient for the material tray 1 to be recycled, which can further save costs.

[0039] like Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment, the feeding device 100 further includes a limiting component 7, which includes a limiting member 71. The limiting member 71 can abut against the hopper 2 in the first direction Z and limit the displacement of the hopper 2 in the first direction Z.

[0040] In this embodiment, the limiting member 71 can be a block-shaped object that can extend into the limiting hole 21 of the hopper 2 and abut against the wall of the limiting hole 21 in the first direction Z to limit the displacement of the hopper 2 in the first direction Z. Thus, when a tray 1 is located at the feeding position 322, the limiting component 7 can limit the displacement of the hopper 2 in the first direction Z, thereby ensuring reliable subsequent movement of the tray 1. After a tray 1 completes transportation and material retrieval, the limiting member 71 no longer extends into the limiting hole 21 to limit the position of the hopper 2 in the first direction Z. At this time, the hopper 2 can move along the first direction Z and move another tray 1 to the feeding position 322.

[0041] In one embodiment, the limiting component 7 further includes a third driving member 72, and the limiting member 71 is connected to the third driving member 72. The third driving member 72 drives the limiting member 71 to move to at least partially extend into the limiting hole 21. Along the first direction Z, the limiting member 71 can abut against the wall of the limiting hole 21.

[0042] In this embodiment, the third driving member 72 can be a cylinder. The third driving member 72 can directly drive the limiting member 71 to move along the third direction Y until it at least partially enters the limiting hole 21 and can abut against the wall of the limiting hole 21, thereby limiting the displacement of the hopper 2 in the first direction Z. The third driving member 72 can also be connected to the limiting member 71 in other ways, as long as it can drive the limiting member 71 to move along the third direction Y. No further restrictions are imposed here.

[0043] It is understandable that by driving the limiting component 71 to move through the third driving component 72, the limiting component 71 can limit the movement of the hopper 2 in the first direction Z when necessary, making the material picking process more stable and reliable.

[0044] In one embodiment, the limiting component 7 further includes a second connector 73. The limiting component 71 has an adjustment hole 711. One end of the second connector 73 is connected to the third driving component 72, and the other end can move within the adjustment hole 711. The third driving component 72 drives the second connector 73 to move along the second direction X. When part of the second connector 73 moves within the adjustment hole 711, the second connector 73 drives the limiting component 71 to move along the third direction Y.

[0045] In this embodiment, the portion of the second connector 73 located within the adjustment hole 711 can be a cylindrical object. The projection shape of the adjustment hole 711 on a plane parallel to the second direction X and the third direction Y can be an elongated oval, and it is inclined, neither parallel to the second direction X nor parallel to the third direction Y. Thus, when the third driving member 72 drives the second connector 73 to move along the second direction X, the second connector 73 moves along the adjustment hole 711 within the adjustment hole 711, thereby driving the limiting member 71 to move along the third direction Y, so that the limiting member 71 can extend into the limiting hole 21 of the hopper 2 and be limited and fixed.

[0046] It is understandable that by adjusting the setting of the hole 711 and the second connecting member 73, the movement of the second connecting member 73 driven by the third driving member 72 along the second direction X can be converted into the movement of the limiting member 71 along the third direction Y, thereby positioning the hopper 2 and facilitating subsequent material retrieval.

[0047] The specific embodiments of this application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and substitutions can be made to the specific embodiments of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. All such changes and substitutions fall within the scope defined by this application.

Claims

1. A supply device, characterized in that The feeding device includes: A tray is used to hold materials. A hopper for holding a plurality of the aforementioned trays; A first drive component is configured to drive the tray to move from the loading position to the feeding position; A second drive component is configured to drive the tray to move from the feed position to the fixed position; A clamping assembly is configured to move the material tray from the fixed position to the clamping position, and can also move the material tray from the clamping position to the unloading position, wherein the clamping assembly clamps the material tray at the clamping position; A third drive assembly is connected to the clamping assembly and is configured to drive the tray located at the unloading position to the recycling position.

2. The feeder of claim 1, wherein The clamping assembly includes a first driving member and a feeding member. The fixed position is located at the feeding member. The second driving member can drive the material tray into the feeding member. The first driving member can drive the material tray to move along a first direction until the material tray is pressed against the feeding member.

3. The feeder of claim 1, wherein The third driving component includes a second driving member and a first connecting member. The tray is detachably connected to the first connecting member, and the second driving member can drive the first connecting member to move along a second direction.

4. The feeder of claim 3, wherein The third driving component further includes an electromagnetic component connected to the first connecting component. When the electromagnetic component is energized, it is magnetically connected to the tray. When the electromagnetic component is de-energized, it is released from magnetic connection with the tray.

5. The feeder of claim 1, wherein The feeding device further includes a limiting component, which includes a limiting member that can abut against the hopper in a first direction and limit the displacement of the hopper in the first direction.

6. The feeder of claim 5, wherein The hopper has a limiting hole, and the limiting component further includes a third driving member. The limiting member is connected to the third driving member, and the third driving member drives the limiting member to move to at least partially extend into the limiting hole. Along the first direction, the limiting member can abut against the wall of the limiting hole.

7. The feeder of claim 6, wherein The limiting component further includes a second connector, which has an adjustment hole. One end of the second connector is connected to the third driving component, and the other end can move within the adjustment hole. The third driving component drives the second connector to move along a second direction. When part of the second connector moves within the adjustment hole, the second connector drives the limiting component to move along a third direction. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other.

8. The feeder of claim 6, wherein The limiting holes are arranged at intervals along the first direction.

9. The feeder of claim 1, wherein Multiple material trays are spaced apart in the hopper along a first direction.

10. The feeder of claim 9, wherein The first drive component drives the hopper to move along the first direction.

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