A material feeding device

Abstract

This utility model discloses a material feeding device, including a first belt conveyor line, which is connected to the outlet of a vibratory feeder and conveys material along a first direction. The conveying speed of the first belt conveyor line is the same as the feeding speed of the vibratory feeder. A second belt conveyor line is in the same conveying direction as the first belt conveyor line, located in front of and connected to the first belt conveyor line, and its conveying speed is greater than that of the first belt conveyor line. A positioning mechanism is located in front of and connected to the second belt conveyor line, and is used to position a piece of material conveyed by the second belt conveyor line. The feeding device utilizes the speed difference of the belt conveyors to achieve material separation, eliminating the need for a cutting device and avoiding material accumulation and conveying failure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automated processing equipment technology, and in particular to a material feeding device. Background Technology

[0002] In automated processing equipment, material feeding is typically done using a vibratory feeder. The vibratory feeder's outlet is connected to a linear feeder, which conveys the material in a straight line. A cutting mechanism is then installed at the outlet of the linear feeder, switching the material one by one perpendicular to the feeder's output direction. However, in this traditional feeding method, the cutting device is prone to cutting failures, especially when the material is irregularly shaped. It can easily get stuck on the linear feeder, causing conveying failure and affecting material feeding. Utility Model Content

[0003] To overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a material feeding device that uses the speed difference of the belt conveyor to separate materials, eliminating the need for a cutting device and avoiding material accumulation and conveying failure.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is: a material feeding device, comprising: A first belt conveyor line is connected to the outlet of a vibratory feeder and conveys materials along a first direction. The conveying speed of the first belt conveyor line is the same as the feeding speed of the vibratory feeder. The second belt conveyor line has the same conveying direction as the first belt conveyor line. The second belt conveyor line is located in front of the first belt conveyor line in the conveying direction and is connected to the first belt conveyor line. The conveying speed of the second belt conveyor line is greater than that of the first belt conveyor line. A positioning mechanism is located in front of and connected to the second belt conveyor in the conveying direction. The positioning mechanism is used to position a material conveyed by the second belt conveyor. The advantages of this invention are as follows: it eliminates the need for traditional vibratory feeders and cutting mechanisms, instead using belt conveyors for material transport, preventing material jamming. Simultaneously, two belt conveyors with different speeds are used to separate the materials, and a positioning mechanism then positions the separated material. This results in smoother material feeding and reduces the likelihood of jamming or cutting failures for irregular materials.

[0005] Furthermore, the conveying surface of the second belt conveyor that contacts the material is lower than the conveying surface of the first belt conveyor that contacts the material. After the material travels a certain distance from the first belt conveyor, it gradually detaches from it. With the reduced support surface, it naturally falls onto the second belt conveyor due to its own weight. The separation by its own weight and the pulling force caused by the different contact surfaces with the second belt conveyor resolve the phenomenon of materials being stuck together and unable to detach. Furthermore, the positioning mechanism includes a support plate and a blocking assembly. Two blocking assemblies are symmetrically arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the horizontal plane. Each blocking assembly includes a transverse drive and a baffle plate that reciprocates along the second direction under the drive of the transverse drive. The material on the second belt conveyor can slide along the bearing plate to reach a first position that abuts against the baffle plate, and the robot arm grabs the material at the first position.

[0006] Furthermore, the baffle plate includes an inclined pushing surface that can abut against the material. The pushing surfaces of the two baffle plates approach each other along the conveying direction of the second belt conveyor, and a gap is always maintained between the two baffle plates.

[0007] Furthermore, the blocking assembly also includes an air knife fixedly connected to the baffle plate. The air knife is located in a first direction on the side of the baffle plate closer to the second belt conveyor. The air knife blows air to move the material on the support plate toward the first position. The air knife provides force for the movement of the material on the support plate, ensuring that the material reaches the first position where it abuts against the baffle plate at the initial position.

[0008] Furthermore, the air knife is provided with multiple air outlets, which are inclined and tilted toward the baffle plate relative to the second direction. Furthermore, a limiting plate is fixed on the air knife above the material, and the material is located between the limiting plate and the bearing plate. The limiting plate is used to limit the height position of the material.

[0009] Furthermore, a first material blocking mechanism is provided at the outlet of the first belt conveyor line, which is used to prevent the material on the first belt conveyor line from moving to the second belt conveyor line.

[0010] Furthermore, a second material blocking mechanism is provided at the outlet of the second belt conveyor line. The second material blocking mechanism is used to prevent the material on the second belt conveyor line from moving onto the positioning mechanism.

[0011] Furthermore, the positioning mechanism includes a sensor. When the sensor detects the material, the second belt conveyor stops conveying, thereby enabling the feeding of a single material. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 These are side views and partial enlarged views of embodiments of the present utility model; Figure 2 This is a top view of an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the positioning mechanism in an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the first belt conveyor line and the second belt conveyor line in the embodiments of this utility model.

[0013] In the picture: 1. First belt conveyor line; 2. Second belt conveyor line; 3. Vibratory feeder; 4. Materials; 5. Positioning mechanism; 51. Bearing plate; 52. Blocking assembly; 521. Lateral drive component; 522. Baffle plate; 5221. Pushing surface; 523. Air knife; 524. Limiting plate; 53. Sensor; 6. First stop mechanism; 7. Second material blocking mechanism. Detailed Implementation The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that the advantages and features of the present invention can be more easily understood by those skilled in the art, thereby making a clearer and more definite definition of the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0014] In the figures below, the first direction is the X direction, the second direction is the Y direction, and the hollow arrows indicate the conveying directions of the first belt conveyor line 1 and the second belt conveyor line 2.

[0015] This utility model provides a material feeding device for feeding materials 4 one by one.

[0016] See appendix Figure 1 and attached Figure 2 As shown, the feeding device includes a vibratory feeder 3, a first belt conveyor 1, a second belt conveyor 2, a positioning mechanism 5, and a robotic arm (not shown in the figure).

[0017] The first belt conveyor 1 is connected to the outlet of the vibrating plate 3 and conveys the material 4 along the first direction. The conveying speed of the first belt conveyor 1 is the same as the feeding speed of the vibrating plate 3. At this time, the material 4 is closely arranged on the first belt conveyor 1 for conveying.

[0018] The second belt conveyor 2 has the same conveying direction as the first belt conveyor 1. The second belt conveyor 2 is located ahead of and connected to the first belt conveyor 1 in its conveying direction. The conveying speed of the second belt conveyor 2 is greater than that of the first belt conveyor 1. Due to the differential speed conveying between the second belt conveyor 2 and the first belt conveyor 1, the material 4 is separated on the second belt conveyor 2. The material 4 is no longer densely arranged on the second belt conveyor, but rather spaced apart.

[0019] The positioning mechanism 5 is located in front of the second belt conveyor 2 in the conveying direction and is connected to the second belt conveyor 2. The positioning mechanism 5 is used to position a material 4 conveyed by the second belt conveyor 2. The robot arm handles the material 4 positioned by the positioning mechanism 5.

[0020] In this embodiment, the feeding mechanism eliminates the need for a traditional vibratory feeder and cutting mechanism. Instead, it utilizes a belt conveyor for transport, preventing material 4 from jamming. Two belt conveyors with different speeds are simultaneously installed, using the speed difference to separate the material 4. The separated material 4 is then positioned by the positioning mechanism 5. This ensures smoother feeding of material 4 and reduces the likelihood of jamming or cutting failure for irregularly shaped materials.

[0021] In one embodiment, the conveying surface of the second belt conveyor 2 that contacts the material 4 is lower than the conveying surface of the first belt conveyor 1 that contacts the material 4. As the material gradually detaches from the first belt conveyor, and the supporting surface decreases, it naturally falls onto the second belt conveyor due to its own weight. The separation due to its own weight and the pulling force caused by the different contact surfaces of the second belt conveyor solve the problem of products being stuck together and unable to detach.

[0022] The first belt conveyor line 1 and the second belt conveyor line 2 are both belt conveyor lines, including structures such as driving components, driving wheels, driven wheels and transmission belts. The driving components drive the driving wheels to rotate the transmission belts that are wound around the driving wheels and driven wheels, so as to convey the material 4.

[0023] See appendix Figure 4 As shown, the belt conveyor also includes baffles spaced apart along the second direction. The baffles limit the position of the material 4 in the second direction and prevent the material 4 from detaching from the drive belt in the second direction. The material 4 is located between two baffles.

[0024] In one embodiment, a first blocking mechanism 6 is provided at the outlet of the first belt conveyor 1. The first blocking mechanism 6 is used to prevent the material 4 on the first belt conveyor 1 from moving onto the second belt conveyor 2. Because the distance between the first belt conveyor 1 and the second belt conveyor 2 is extremely small, the first unloading mechanism uses a clamping method to limit the position of the material 4.

[0025] For example, the first baffle mechanism 6 includes a first baffle cylinder and a first baffle rod. The first baffle cylinder drives the first baffle rod to reciprocate along the second direction. When the piston rod of the first baffle cylinder extends, the first baffle rod moves toward the material 4 on the first belt conveyor line 1, pressing the material 4 against the baffle to limit the material 4 from continuing to move.

[0026] A second baffle mechanism 7 is provided at the outlet of the second belt conveyor 2. The second baffle mechanism 7 is used to prevent the material 4 on the second belt conveyor 2 from moving onto the positioning mechanism 5. For example, the second baffle mechanism 7 includes a second baffle cylinder and a second baffle rod. When the piston rod of the second baffle cylinder extends, the second baffle rod moves toward the material 4 on the second belt conveyor 2. The second baffle rod moves in front of the material 4, limiting the material 4 from continuing to move.

[0027] See appendix Figure 3 As shown, the positioning mechanism 5 includes a sensor 53. When the sensor 53 detects material 4 on the positioning mechanism 5, the second belt conveyor 2 stops conveying.

[0028] When the positioning mechanism 5 defines the position of a material 4, the second belt conveyor 2 stops conveying, and at the same time, the first blocking mechanism 6 and the second blocking mechanism 7 both block the material 4 to prevent excess material 4 from interfering with the positioning of the positioning mechanism 5.

[0029] In this embodiment, the material 4 always moves along the first direction in the feeding device, and there will be no cutting in the second direction, so as to avoid misalignment between the material 4 and the cutting mechanism, which would cause cutting failure.

[0030] See appendix Figure 3 As shown, the positioning mechanism 5 includes a support plate 51 and a blocking assembly 52. ​​Two blocking assemblies 52 are symmetrically arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the horizontal plane. The blocking assembly 52 includes a transverse drive 521 and a baffle plate 522 that reciprocates along the second direction under the drive of the transverse drive 521. The material 4 on the second belt conveyor 2 can reach a first position that abuts against the baffle plate 522, and the robot arm grabs the material 4 at the first position.

[0031] In the first position, material 4 and baffle 522 are in contact. When the sensor detects the material in the first position, the lateral drive 521 retracts, and the material will be unobstructed, which is convenient for the overhead camera to capture the image and for the camera to guide the robot arm to grasp it in the next step.

[0032] The height of the bearing surface of the support plate 51, which carries the material 4, is no higher than the conveying surface of the second belt conveyor 2 that contacts the material 4, so that the material 4 on the second belt conveyor 2 can reach the support plate 51 under the action of inertia. The support plate 51 is made of a material with low friction and wear resistance; for example, the support plate 51 is tempered glass.

[0033] The baffle plate 522 includes an inclined pushing surface 5221, which abuts against the material 4. The pushing surfaces 5221 of the two baffle plates 522 approach each other along the conveying direction of the second belt conveyor line 2. In the initial position, that is, when the baffle plates 522 are close to each other, the gap between them is smaller than the size of the material 4, which is insufficient for the material 4 to pass through the gap between the two baffle plates 522. The inclined pushing surface 5221 ensures that the collision fluctuation range is small when the material stops at the first position. At the same time, when the air knife airflow blows over, the bottom gap and the middle gap disperse the airflow, preventing the airflow shock wave from causing the product to blow back. The gap also guides the airflow direction, providing auxiliary guidance for the material's movement direction.

[0034] Relying solely on the inertia of material 4, it may not be able to reach the first position. Therefore, the blocking assembly 52 also includes an air knife 523 fixedly connected to the baffle plate 522. The air knife 523 is located in the first direction on the side of the baffle plate 522 closer to the second belt conveyor 2. The air knife 523 blows air to move the material 4 on the support plate 51 toward the first position. The air knife 523 provides force for the movement of the material 4 on the support plate 51, ensuring that the material 4 can reach the first position where it abuts against the baffle plate 522 at the initial position. The air knife 523 is equipped with multiple air outlets, which are inclined relative to the second direction and directed towards the baffle plate 522. Only by inclining the air outlets can the material 4 be blown towards the baffle plate 522. A limiting plate 524 is also fixed on the air knife 523 above the material 4. The material 4 is located between the limiting plate 524 and the bearing plate 51. The limiting plate 524 is used to limit the height position of the material 4 and prevent the material 4 from shifting upward.

[0035] When the robotic arm moves the material 4 at the first position, the lateral drive of the blocking component 52 retracts. At this time, the two limit plates 524 move away from each other and will not block the robotic arm from moving the material 4 from above.

[0036] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of this utility model. Their purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of this utility model and implement it. They cannot be used to limit the protection scope of this utility model. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of this utility model should be covered within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A material feeding device, characterized in that: include: A first belt conveyor line is connected to the outlet of a vibratory feeder and conveys materials along a first direction. The conveying speed of the first belt conveyor line is the same as the feeding speed of the vibratory feeder. The second belt conveyor line has the same conveying direction as the first belt conveyor line. The second belt conveyor line is located in front of the first belt conveyor line in the conveying direction and is connected to the first belt conveyor line. The conveying speed of the second belt conveyor line is greater than that of the first belt conveyor line. A positioning mechanism is located in front of and connected to the second belt conveyor in the conveying direction. The positioning mechanism is used to position a material conveyed by the second belt conveyor.

2. The material feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveying surface of the second belt conveyor that contacts the material is lower than the conveying surface of the first belt conveyor that contacts the material.

3. The material feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning mechanism includes a support plate and a blocking assembly. Two blocking assemblies are symmetrically arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the horizontal plane. Each blocking assembly includes a transverse drive and a baffle plate that reciprocates along the second direction under the drive of the transverse drive. The material on the second belt conveyor can slide along the bearing plate to reach a first position that abuts against the baffle plate, and the robot arm grabs the material at the first position.

4. The material feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The baffle plate includes an inclined pushing surface that can abut against the material. The pushing surfaces of the two baffle plates approach each other along the conveying direction of the second belt conveyor, and a gap is always maintained between the two baffle plates.

5. The material feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The blocking assembly also includes an air knife fixedly connected to the baffle plate. The air knife is located in a first direction on the side of the baffle plate closer to the second belt conveyor line. The air knife blows air to move the material on the support plate toward the first position.

6. The material feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The air knife is provided with multiple air outlets, which are inclined and tilted toward the baffle plate relative to the second direction.

7. The material feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The air knife is also fixed with a limiting plate located above the material, and the material is located between the limiting plate and the bearing plate.

8. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that: A first material blocking mechanism is provided at the outlet of the first belt conveyor line. The first material blocking mechanism is used to prevent the material on the first belt conveyor line from moving to the second belt conveyor line.

9. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that: A second material blocking mechanism is provided at the outlet of the second belt conveyor line. The second material blocking mechanism is used to prevent the material on the second belt conveyor line from moving onto the positioning mechanism.

10. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning mechanism includes a sensor, and when the sensor detects the material, the second belt conveyor line stops conveying.

Images