Automatic feeding apparatus and production line

Abstract

The utility model discloses an automatic feeding equipment and production line relates to the technical field of dynamic production equipment, and this automatic feeding equipment includes frame, discharge bin, material blocking mechanism and removes the mechanism, and the frame has the full material output station, the material taking station and the empty tray recovery station that set up in the transverse direction in proper order interval, and the discharge bin defines the first material stacking channel that extends along the up and down, and the lower extreme of first material stacking channel is equipped with the discharge gate, and the material blocking mechanism includes the material blocking piece and reset portion, and the material blocking piece has the material blocking position of being close to the discharge gate to with the first recess plug connection and the release position of being far from the discharge gate to exit the first recess, and the removal mechanism includes the removal portion and the drive portion, and can pass through full material output station, material taking station and empty tray recovery station in the mobile process of removal portion, and the drive portion is used for driving the material blocking piece to move from the material blocking position to the release position in full material output station.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automated production equipment technology, and in particular to an automatic feeding device and production line. Background Technology

[0002] In the manufacturing process of electronic appliances, products to be processed are usually placed in trays. Full trays carrying the products are then transported to the loading area and stacked for batch processing. Currently, manual loading and unloading or loading and unloading by individual robotic arms are commonly used, resulting in low automation and production efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0003] The main purpose of this invention is to propose an automatic feeding device, which aims to improve the efficiency of material handling and feeding.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model proposes an automatic feeding device, comprising: The frame has a full material output station, a material picking station and an empty tray recycling station arranged sequentially and at intervals in the horizontal direction; The discharge hopper is located on the frame and defines a first stacking channel extending vertically. The lower end of the first stacking channel is provided with a discharge port, which is set to correspond to the full material output station. The first stacking channel is used to store multiple stacked trays, and each tray has a first groove on its side wall. A material blocking mechanism includes a material blocking block and a reset part. The material blocking block is movably mounted on the frame and positioned near the discharge port. The material blocking block has a material blocking position near the discharge port for insertion into a first groove and a release position away from the discharge port for exiting the first groove. The reset part is drively connected to the material blocking block and is used to drive the material blocking block from the release position to the material blocking position. The transfer mechanism includes a transfer section and a drive section. The transfer section is movably mounted on the frame and can pass through the full material output station, the material picking station, and the empty tray recycling station during its movement. The drive section is mounted on the transfer section and is used to drive the material blocking block to move from the material blocking position to the release position at the full material output station, so that the material tray located at the bottom can fall from the discharge port onto the transfer section.

[0005] In one embodiment, the transfer mechanism further includes a guide rail that extends laterally and is disposed on the frame; The transfer unit includes a movable seat and a lifting seat. The movable seat can move laterally along the guide rail. The lifting seat includes a slide and a platform. The slide is movably disposed on the movable seat in the vertical direction. The platform is disposed at the upper end of the slide and below the discharge port. The platform has a loading surface for receiving the material tray. The driving unit includes a movable block and a driving component. The movable block is movably disposed on the platform and can abut against the stop block during movement. The driving component is drivenly connected to the movable block and is used to drive the movable block to abut against the stop block.

[0006] In one embodiment, the automatic feeding device further includes: A recycling bin is located on the frame and defines a second stacking channel extending vertically. The lower end of the second stacking channel has a feed inlet corresponding to the empty tray recycling station. The second stacking channel is used to store multiple stacked trays. The fixing mechanism includes two clamping parts disposed on the frame, the two clamping parts being located on opposite sides of the material tray, the fixing mechanism having a fixed state in which the two clamping parts are close to each other to clamp the material tray located at the bottom of the second material stacking channel, and a released state in which the two clamping parts are far apart to release the material tray located at the bottom of the second material stacking channel. The platform is located below the recycling bin, and the lifting seat moves the material tray on the platform upward so that the material tray can enter the second stacking channel through the feed inlet.

[0007] In one embodiment, a second groove is provided on each of the opposite side walls of the material tray; the clamping part includes: Mounting base, the mounting base being disposed in the recycling hopper and located near the feed inlet; and A clamping member, comprising a rotating shaft and a clamping plate, wherein the rotating shaft is rotatable about its axis and is disposed on the mounting base, and the clamping plate is disposed on the rotating shaft; In the fixed state, the two clamping members are inserted into the two second grooves respectively to jointly receive the material tray; in the released state, the two rotating shafts rotate in the direction away from the material tray so that the two clamping members are respectively disengaged from the two second grooves.

[0008] In one embodiment, the driving unit further includes a positioning block, which protrudes from the loading surface and is used for limiting and inserting into the first groove of the tray.

[0009] In one embodiment, the upper end face of the material tray is provided with at least one material groove, and the groove wall of at least one material groove includes two guide slopes that are opposite to each other and inclined downward. The transfer mechanism also includes a vibration unit disposed on the loading platform, the vibration unit being used to generate vibration to drive the material tray located on the loading platform to vibrate.

[0010] In one embodiment, the lower end of the stop block is provided with an abutting inclined surface, and the abutting inclined surface is inclined. The driving part is an abutment block protruding from the edge of the platform; During the process of the lifting seat driving the driving unit to rise, it can maintain contact with the abutting inclined surface to drive the material stop block from the material stop position to the release position.

[0011] In one embodiment, the material blocking mechanism further includes a guide post, one end of which is connected to the side of the material blocking block away from the discharge hopper, and the other end of the guide post away from the material blocking block is connected to the reset part. The end of the reset part away from the guide post is fixedly connected to the frame.

[0012] In one embodiment, the automatic feeding device further includes a material handling mechanism, which is set corresponding to the material handling station, and the material handling mechanism is a mechanical gripper or an adsorption mechanism.

[0013] This application also provides a production line including the automatic feeding equipment described above.

[0014] The automatic feeding equipment provided by this utility model, through its collaborative structural design including a frame, a discharge hopper, a blocking mechanism, and a transfer mechanism, can solve the problem of low automation in the feeding methods of existing electronic products during manufacturing. Specifically, in the initial state, multiple stacked trays are placed in the first stacking channel of the discharge hopper. The first groove on the lower end face of the lowest tray in the first stacking channel is blocked by a blocking block in the blocking position of the blocking mechanism to prevent the tray from falling. Since the transfer unit can move between the full-load output station, the picking station, and the empty tray recycling station, when the transfer unit reaches the full-load output station, the drive unit on the transfer unit drives the blocking block from the blocking position to the release position, causing it to exit the first groove of the lowest tray. After the blocking block is released, the lowest tray falls through the discharge port under the action of gravity and is caught by the transfer unit directly below. At the same time, the reset unit drives the blocking block from the release position back to the blocking position, blocking the first groove of the new lowest tray, preparing for the next feeding. Subsequently, the transfer unit, carrying the material tray, moves along the transverse path of the frame, sequentially passing through the material picking station (for other transfer equipment to grab or for processing by the processing equipment) and the empty tray recycling station (for placing empty material trays). Finally, after completing one cycle, the transfer mechanism returns to the full material output station, ready for the next transport. In this application, the material discharge hopper supports the stacking of material trays, which is very suitable for the batch processing needs in antenna manufacturing, facilitating material management and centralized supply. Furthermore, the insertion design of the retaining block and the first groove, the reset design of the retaining block and the reset unit, and the linkage design of the retaining block and the drive unit ensure that only one material tray is released at a time, avoiding the situation of multiple trays falling simultaneously or being picked up incorrectly.

[0015] In summary, the automatic feeding equipment provided in this application, through the mechanical linkage of the material blocking mechanism and the transfer mechanism, can replace manual operation or simple robotic arms that require human intervention, reducing reliance on manpower and lowering labor costs. At the same time, the batch material unloading bin and automated transfer process enable continuous supply of material trays, avoiding time loss from manual operation, accelerating the production pace, and the stable and efficient feeding also reduces equipment idle time caused by waiting for feeding, thus lowering production costs. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the automatic feeding device provided by this utility model; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the transfer mechanism provided by this utility model; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the automatic feeding device provided by this utility model.

[0018] Explanation of icon numbers: 1000 Automatic Feeding Equipment 1. Frame; 2. Discharge bin; 21. First stacking channel; 3. Barrier mechanism; 31. Barrier block; 311. Abutting slope; 32. Guide column; 4. Transfer mechanism; 41. Transfer section; 411. Lifting seat; 4111. Slide table; 4112. Loading platform; 42. Drive section; 43. Positioning block; 5. Recycling bin; 51. Second stacking channel; 6. Fixing mechanism; 61. Clamping section; 611. Mounting base; 612. Clamping component; 7. Material tray; 71. First groove; 72. Second groove; 73. Material trough.

[0019] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0020] 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 scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0021] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0022] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0023] This utility model proposes an automatic feeding device.

[0024] Please see Figure 1 In one embodiment, the automatic feeding device includes: The frame 1 has a full material output station, a material picking station and an empty tray recycling station arranged sequentially and at intervals in the horizontal direction; The discharge hopper 2 is located on the frame 1. The discharge hopper 2 defines a first stacking channel 21 extending vertically. The lower end of the first stacking channel 21 is provided with a discharge port, which is set to correspond to the full material output station. The first stacking channel 21 is used to store multiple stacked material trays 7. Each material tray 7 has a first groove 71 on its side wall. The material blocking mechanism 3 includes a material blocking block 31 and a reset part. The material blocking block 31 is movably mounted on the frame 1 and positioned near the discharge port. The material blocking block 31 has a material blocking position near the discharge port for insertion into the first groove 71 and a release position away from the discharge port for withdrawal from the first groove 71. The reset part is drively connected to the material blocking block 31 and is used to drive the material blocking block 31 from the release position to the material blocking position. The transfer mechanism 4 includes a transfer section 41 and a drive section 42. The transfer section 41 is movably mounted on the frame 1 and can pass through the full material output station, the material picking station and the empty tray recycling station during its movement. The drive section 42 is mounted on the transfer section 41 and is used to drive the material blocking block 31 from the blocking position to the release position at the full material output station so that the material tray 7 located at the bottom can fall from the discharge port onto the transfer section 41.

[0025] It should be noted that the "frame 1" in this embodiment is the basic load-bearing structure constituting the automatic feeding equipment. Its main function is to provide a stable support platform for installing, fixing, and positioning various functional components in the equipment, such as the discharge hopper 2, the material blocking mechanism 3, and the transfer mechanism 4, ensuring that these components can operate stably and coordinately according to the predetermined workflow and relative positional relationships. The frame 1 is designed with a specific workstation layout in its transverse structure: a full-load output workstation, where the material tray 7 that has been fed or processed is finally conveyed away from the equipment; a material retrieval workstation, where the transfer mechanism 4 retrieves the material tray 7 from the discharge hopper 2; and an empty tray recovery workstation, which is used to receive and temporarily store the empty material tray 7 unloaded from the transfer mechanism 4 for subsequent processing or return to the hopper.

[0026] The main purpose of the discharge hopper 2 is to form a vertical channel to accommodate the stacking of full material trays 7, which can be achieved by a robot or manually. The discharge hopper 2 is usually composed of a side, a bottom (or a part connected to the frame 1), and a possible top structure, which together enclose the space of the first stacking channel 21. For example, at least two opposing vertical plate-like structures are provided on the frame 1 as side plates or side support columns of the discharge hopper 2. These two side plates or side support columns extend in the vertical direction and are parallel to each other or maintain a certain distance (enough to accommodate the width of a material tray 7). The two side plates or side support columns can be provided with snap-fit ​​grooves on their inner side walls that are compatible with the material tray 7. The top of the first stacking channel 21 is usually open, allowing the material tray 7 to be stacked from above so that the material tray 7 falls one after another on top of the material tray 7 below, forming a vertical stack. The bottom of the first stacking channel 21 is connected to the frame 1 and a discharge port is opened at its center or a specific position. The size of the discharge port matches the size of the material tray 7 and generally needs to be slightly larger than the material tray 7 so that the material tray 7 can pass through.

[0027] Since the trays 7 are mostly square or rectangular, the shape of the first groove 71 on the tray 7 can be designed to be rectangular or square. This not only facilitates processing but also provides sufficient and clearly defined contact surface to ensure that the stop block 31 can be stably engaged or disengaged. The first groove 71 is usually located at the center of the side wall of the tray 7. This central arrangement helps ensure that when the stop block 31 is engaged, the weight of the tray 7 can be relatively evenly distributed to the stop block 31, reducing local stress concentration and thus helping to maintain the overall stability of the trays 7 stack. When the tray 7 is relatively light and small in size, the first groove 71 can be located only on one side of the side wall of the tray 7 and does not penetrate through the opposite side wall. A clamping piece can then be used to achieve effective engagement and disengagement. When the tray 7 is heavy or large, the first groove 71 can be made through the two opposite side walls of the tray 7, or the first groove 71 can be made on the two opposite side walls of the tray 7 respectively. Then, two opposite clamping pieces can be flexibly selected. This design can clamp the tray 7 from both sides at the same time, providing stronger axial constraint force to further enhance the reliability of the clamping and the stability of the tray 7 stacking. Specifically, to effectively avoid the risk of deformation of a single first groove 71 due to uneven local stress on the tray 7 or its own material factors, which could affect the stability of feeding, a more robust design can be adopted: first grooves 71 are symmetrically set at the four corners of the tray 7, and correspondingly, four clamping plates are selected so that they can precisely cooperate with these four first grooves 71 to simultaneously clamp the tray 7 from four directions. This multi-point support and clamping method can significantly disperse the force and minimize the deformation of the tray 7 during the clamping process, ensuring the accuracy and consistency of each feeding. Moreover, when a corner is deformed, causing the first groove 71 at that location to deform, change size, or shift position, the first grooves 71 at the other three corners and the corresponding clamping plates can still provide sufficient support and clamping force. In this way, a local problem at a single point will not cause the entire feeding mechanism to fail, which not only improves the robustness of the equipment but also improves the reliability of the entire automatic feeding process.

[0028] The drive unit 42 is a key execution unit integrated on the transfer unit 41. Its core function is to trigger the action of the material blocking mechanism 3 when the transfer unit 41 reaches the full material output station. After the transfer unit 41 carries the moving part to the predetermined position, the drive unit 42 will start and drive the material blocking block 31 by physical means (such as pushing or pulling) to move it from the blocking position that is blocking the bottom of the material tray 7 to the release position, thereby removing the obstruction to the falling of the material tray 7. This action allows the material tray 7 stacked at the bottom to smoothly detach from the discharge port and accurately fall onto the bearing surface of the transfer unit 41 below. The drive unit 42 can be implemented in various forms, including but not limited to small cylinders, servo motor driven linkage mechanisms, etc. The specific solution to be selected depends on factors such as the overall design of the equipment, accuracy requirements, and cost.

[0029] Furthermore, the electronic products that the automatic feeding equipment of this application can serve are not limited to electronic components or assemblies such as antennas, flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs), filters, and connectors.

[0030] In summary, in this embodiment, the automatic feeding device, by adopting a collaborative structural design including a frame 1, a discharge hopper 2, a blocking mechanism 3, and a transfer mechanism 4, can solve the problem of low automation in existing antenna manufacturing processes. Specifically, in the initial state, multiple stacked trays 7 are placed in the first stacking channel 21 of the discharge hopper 2. The first groove 71 on the lower end face of the lowest tray 7 in the first stacking channel 21 is blocked by the blocking block 31 of the blocking mechanism 3 to prevent the tray 7 from falling. Since the transfer unit 41 can move between the full material output station, the material picking station, and the empty tray recycling station, when the transfer unit 41 reaches the full material output station, the drive unit 42 on the transfer unit 41 drives the stop block 31 from the blocking position to the release position, causing it to exit the first groove 71 of the bottom tray 7. After the stop block 31 is released, the bottom tray 7 falls through the discharge port under the action of gravity and is caught by the transfer unit 41 directly below. At the same time, the reset unit drives the stop block 31 from the release position back to the blocking position, locking the first groove 71 of the new bottom tray 7, preparing for the next loading. Subsequently, the transfer unit 41, carrying the tray 7, moves along the transverse path of the frame 1, passing sequentially through the material picking station (for other transfer equipment to grab or for processing equipment to process) and the empty tray recycling station (for placing empty trays 7). Finally, after completing one cycle, the transfer mechanism 4 returns to the full material output station, ready for the next transport. In this application, the material hopper 2 supports the stacking of material trays 7, which is very suitable for the batch processing needs in antenna manufacturing, facilitates material management and centralized supply, and the plug-in design of the material blocking block 31 and the first groove 71, the reset design of the material blocking block 31 and the reset part, and the linkage design of the material blocking block 31 and the drive part 42 ensure that only one material tray 7 is released at a time, avoiding the situation of multiple trays falling at the same time or being picked up by mistake.

[0031] The automatic feeding equipment provided in this application, through the mechanical linkage of the material blocking mechanism 3 and the transfer mechanism 4, can replace manual operation or simple robotic arms that require manual intervention, reducing reliance on manpower and lowering labor costs. At the same time, the batch material discharge bin 2 and the automated transfer process realize the continuous supply of material trays 7, avoiding the time loss of manual operation, speeding up the production pace, and the stable and efficient feeding also reduces the equipment idle time caused by waiting for feeding, thus reducing production costs.

[0032] In one embodiment, the automatic feeding equipment further includes a material handling mechanism, which is set up corresponding to the material handling station. The material handling mechanism is a mechanical gripper or an adsorption mechanism.

[0033] Please see Figure 2 In one embodiment, the transfer mechanism 4 further includes a guide rail that extends laterally on the frame 1; the transfer unit 41 includes a movable seat and a lifting seat 411, the movable seat being movable laterally along the guide rail; the lifting seat 411 includes a slide table 4111 and a loading platform 4112, the slide table 4111 being movable vertically on the movable seat, the loading platform 4112 being located at the upper end of the slide table 4111 and below the discharge port, the loading platform 4112 having a loading surface for receiving the tray 7; and the drive unit 42 being located on the loading platform 4112.

[0034] It should be noted that the guide rails fixed on the frame 1 provide precise guidance and support for the lateral movement of the movable seat. The power source driving the lateral movement of the movable seat can be a servo motor or a stepper motor, which converts the rotational motion of the motor into the linear reciprocating motion of the transfer seat through gear and rack transmission, ball screw transmission or synchronous belt transmission, etc.

[0035] The slide table 4111 is movable in the vertical direction on the movable seat, so that the height of the platform 4112 and the loading surface on it can be adjusted as needed. The slide table 4111 usually integrates a lifting mechanism, for example: using a linear motor to directly generate linear thrust to drive the slide table 4111 to move up and down; or, installing a ball screw driven by a motor inside or below the transfer seat, and driving the nut (connected to the slide table 4111) to move up and down by rotating the screw; or, using a cylinder or hydraulic cylinder to directly push the transfer seat to lift and lower.

[0036] In this embodiment, the transfer process is as follows: First, the movable seat moves laterally along the guide rail, precisely positioning the platform 4112 directly below the discharge port. Next, the lifting seat 411 drives the platform 4112 to rise smoothly to a predetermined height. Then, the drive unit 42 activates, pushing or pulling the stop block 31 located at the stop position to the release position, releasing the obstruction of the lowest tray 7 and allowing it to fall freely. At this time, the platform 4112 below catches the falling tray 7, and the stop block 31 returns to the stop position under the action of the reset unit, locking the first groove 71 of the new lowest tray 7. Next, the lifting seat 411 lowers the platform 4112 and tray 7 together to a suitable working height. The movable seat again drives the platform 4112 (along with the tray 7) to move along the guide rail to the material retrieval station, waiting for the subsequent process to complete the material retrieval. Finally, the transfer unit 41 continues to move to the empty tray recycling station, transporting the empty tray 7 to the designated recycling area. This transfer mechanism 4 design, which integrates lateral transfer (guide rail, movable seat), longitudinal adjustment (slide table 4111), and release trigger (drive unit 42, movable block), makes the entire feeding process highly automated, coordinated in action, accurate in positioning, and reliable in release, significantly improving the efficiency and stability of the automatic feeding equipment.

[0037] It should be noted that there are several ways in which the drive unit 42 can pull or push the stop block 31. For example, the drive unit 42 can be designed to directly contact the stop block 31 and apply a pushing or pulling force to make it move against the force of the reset part (such as a spring). This method has a simple structure and direct force transmission. Alternatively, a magnet (permanent magnet or electromagnet) can be integrated on the drive unit 42, and a corresponding magnetic material (such as an iron component) can be provided on the stop block 31. When the drive unit 42 approaches, the stop block 31 can be moved by magnetic attraction or repulsion. Alternatively, a protruding buckle or hook can be provided on the drive unit 42, and a corresponding slot or recess can be provided on the stop block 31. When the drive unit 42 moves, the buckle enters the slot, moving the stop block 31. When the drive unit 42 moves in the opposite direction or disengages, the buckle disengages from the slot, and the stop block 31 returns to its original position under the action of the reset part.

[0038] To facilitate the recycling of empty material trays 7, in one embodiment, the automatic feeding device further includes: A recycling bin 5 is located on the frame 1. The recycling bin 5 defines a second stacking channel 51 extending vertically. The lower end of the second stacking channel 51 has a feed inlet, which corresponds to the empty tray recycling station. The second stacking channel 51 is used to store multiple stacked trays 7. The fixing mechanism 6 includes two clamping parts 61 disposed on the frame 1. The two clamping parts 61 are respectively located on opposite sides of the material tray 7. The fixing mechanism 6 has a fixed state in which the two clamping parts 61 are close to each other to clamp the material tray 7 located at the bottom of the second material stacking channel 51, and a released state in which the two clamping parts 61 are far apart to release the material tray 7 located at the bottom of the second material stacking channel 51. The platform 4112 is located below the recycling bin 5. The lifting seat 411 drives the material tray 7 on the platform 4112 to move upward so that the material tray 7 can enter the second stacking channel 51 through the feed port.

[0039] It should be noted that the main purpose of the recycling bin 5 is to form a vertical channel for accommodating the stacking of empty material trays 7. It is usually composed of a side, a bottom (or a part connected to the frame 1), and a possible top structure, which together enclose the space of the second stacking channel 51. For example, at least two opposing vertical plate-like structures are provided on the frame 1 as side plates or side support columns of the recycling bin 5. These two side plates or side support columns extend vertically and are parallel to each other or maintain a certain distance (enough to accommodate the width of one tray 7). The two side plates or side support columns can be provided with snap-fit ​​grooves on their inner side walls that are adapted to the trays 7. The top of the first stacking channel 21 is usually open, allowing the trays 7 to be removed from above. The bottom of the second stacking channel 51 is connected to the frame 1 and has a feed inlet at its center or a specific position so that the trays 7 can enter the second stacking channel 51 one after another from the feed inlet to form a vertical stack. The size of the feed inlet matches the size of the trays 7, and generally needs to be slightly larger than the trays 7 to allow the trays 7 to pass through.

[0040] In this embodiment, the movable seat first moves the platform 4112 (along with the empty tray 7 on it) to the empty tray recycling station. Then, the lifting seat 411 raises the platform 4112, allowing the empty tray 7 to pass through the feed inlet and enter the second stacking channel 51 inside the storage hopper, where it is stacked at the bottom of the existing trays 7 (becoming the new bottommost tray 7). As the lifting seat 411 continues to rise, the fixing mechanism 6 simultaneously switches to a release state, releasing its grip on the previously bottommost tray 7. This allows the lifting seat 411 to continue moving all the trays 7 in the channel upwards, making room for the new empty tray 7. Once the new empty tray 7 is in place and stably stacked, the fixing mechanism 6 switches back to a fixed state, clamping the new bottommost tray 7, completing one cycle. Thus, the design combining automatic recycling (transfer unit 41, storage bin, lifting seat 411) and stable stacking (fixing mechanism 6) provided in this embodiment makes the recycling management of empty material tray 7 more efficient, orderly and reliable, further reducing manual intervention and optimizing the overall automation level and material management capabilities of the equipment.

[0041] Of course, in other embodiments, other structures can be used instead of the fixing mechanism 6. For example, a platform or block with friction material can be provided at the bottom or side wall of the storage bin, or a pneumatic / electric friction wheel / friction belt can be used to prevent the sliding by increasing the friction with the bottom or side of the bottom tray 7; or, one or more vacuum suction cups can be provided on the side wall of the storage bin to generate vacuum suction force to hold the bottom of the bottom tray 7.

[0042] Please see Figure 1 In one embodiment, the opposite side walls of the material tray 7 are provided with second grooves 72; the clamping part 61 includes: Mounting base 611, the mounting base 611 is located in the recycling bin 5 and is positioned near the inlet; and The clamping member 612 includes a rotating shaft and a clamping plate. The rotating shaft can rotate around its axis and is located on the mounting base 611. The clamping plate is located on the rotating shaft. In the fixed state, the two clamping members 612 are inserted into the two second grooves 72 respectively to jointly receive the material tray 7; in the released state, the two rotating shafts rotate in the direction away from the material tray 7 so that the two clamping members 612 are respectively disengaged from the two second grooves 72.

[0043] In this embodiment, by employing a design that creates second grooves 72 on both sides of the material tray 7 and uses a clamping part 61 with a rotating shaft and clamping plates, the problems of inaccurate positioning, unstable support, and difficulty in reliable release of the bottom material tray 7 when it is stacked in the storage bin can be solved. Specifically, the clamping part 61 can switch between a fixed state (the clamping plates are inserted into the second grooves 72 to jointly support the material tray 7) and a released state (the clamping plates rotate out of the second grooves 72) through a simple rotational action. When the lifting seat 411 lifts the material tray 7 into the feed inlet and contacts the lowest material tray 7 in the storage bin, the existing material tray 7 will push or drive the clamping piece 612 (especially its rotating shaft or the part connected to the rotating shaft). Since the rotating shaft is rotatable, this upward thrust will be converted into a torque that makes the rotating shaft rotate in the opposite direction to the material tray 7, so that the clamping piece disengages from the second groove 72 of the lower material tray 7, making room for the entry of the next material tray 7. When the new empty material tray 7 is in place, the two clamping pieces 612 on the mounting seat 611 can be inserted into the second groove 72 on both sides of the newly entered lowest material tray 7, and the fixation is completed.

[0044] It is known that after the new tray 7 has been basically in place, the clamping piece 612 needs to be reset so that it can be inserted into the second groove 72 of the newly entered bottom tray 7. This action can be achieved through various structures. For example, a torsion spring can be set on the rotating shaft. When the external force (the tray 7 moves upward) disappears, the elastic force of the torsion spring will automatically rotate the clamping piece back to the position of insertion into the groove; or, damping can be combined so that the clamping piece rotates smoothly when released and returns to the initial position slowly or quickly by its own weight or a slight reset force after the external force disappears; or, a simple driver (such as a small cylinder, electromagnet, or motor) can be set up so that after detecting that the new tray 7 is in place (through a photoelectric sensor, etc.), the rotating shaft is automatically driven to rotate, so that the clamping piece is inserted into the second groove 72.

[0045] In one embodiment, the drive unit 42 further includes a positioning block 43, which protrudes from the work surface and is used for limiting and inserting into the first groove 71 of the tray 7.

[0046] It should be noted that the first positioning block 43 can be integrally formed with the stage 4112 or installed on the stage 4112 by fasteners, and its shape needs to be roughly compatible with the first groove 71.

[0047] In this embodiment, after the positioning block 43 and the first groove 71 are engaged and positioned, the driving unit 42 can stably drive the carrying surface and the tray 7 together to move to the target position (e.g., the receiving station or the next processing station). Since the position of the tray 7 has been precisely fixed, the transfer process is more stable and reliable.

[0048] Since most of the antenna products are piled up in the material tank 73, it makes it extremely difficult for the material picking mechanism at the material picking station to accurately pick them up, and may even lead to material loading failure.

[0049] To solve the above problems, in one embodiment, at least one material groove 73 is provided on the upper end surface of the material tray 7. The groove wall of the at least one material groove 73 includes two guide slopes that are opposite to each other and inclined downwards, and the bottom of the at least one material groove 73 is provided with a clamping space. The transfer mechanism 4 also includes a vibration part provided on the platform 4112. The vibration part is used to generate vibration to drive the material tray 7 located on the platform 4112 to vibrate.

[0050] In this embodiment, by employing a material trough 73 with a relatively downward inclined guide slope on the upper surface of the material tray 7, and in conjunction with a vibrating part on the stage 4112, the problems of material jamming, accumulation, or uneven arrangement that may occur in the material tray 7 can be solved. Specifically, when the vibrating part vibrates, this vibration energy is transmitted to the stage 4112, thereby causing the material tray 7 and the material in the tray to vibrate together. During the vibration process, the antenna will experience slight jumps and slides within the material trough 73. Since the guide slope is inclined downward and relatively inclined, the antenna will be guided by the slope when it jumps and falls with each vibration, causing it to gradually move and converge towards the narrower end or bottom center of the material trough 73, thus preventing the antenna from getting stuck in a specific position in the material trough 73.

[0051] Please see Figure 3 In one embodiment, the lower end of the stop block 31 is provided with an abutting slope 311, which is inclined and faces the drive unit 42; the drive unit 42 is an abutting block protruding from the edge of the platform 4112; wherein, during the process of the lifting seat driving the drive unit 42 to rise, it can maintain contact with the abutting slope 311 to drive the stop block 31 to move from the stop position to the release position.

[0052] In this embodiment, when the lifting seat raises the platform 4112 and its edge abutment blocks, the abutment blocks slide along the abutment slope 311 at the lower end of the stop block 31. This sliding method converts the vertical upward movement of the lifting seat into a horizontal thrust, thereby pushing the stop block 31 from the stop position to the release position, thus releasing the obstruction to the falling of the material tray 7. The abutment block eliminates the need for additional drive devices (such as the cylinders, electromagnets, etc. mentioned above) and their mounting structures, greatly simplifying the mechanical design and improving the compactness of the structure. Moreover, this process is automatically triggered without the need for additional sensors or independent drive commands.

[0053] It should be noted that since the abutting block needs to drive the baffle block 31 to move away from the discharge port during the upward process, the abutting slope 311 needs to be set on the side of the baffle block 31 closer to the first discharge port, and the abutting block can contact the abutting slope 311 of the baffle block 31 first when it moves upward.

[0054] In one embodiment, the material blocking mechanism 3 further includes a guide post 32, one end of which is connected to the side of the material blocking block 31 away from the discharge hopper 2, and the other end of the guide post 32 away from the material blocking block 31 is connected to a reset part; the other end of the reset part away from the guide post 32 is fixedly connected to the frame 1.

[0055] In this embodiment, the reset part is made of an elastic element such as a spring or elastic rubber. When the stop block 31 moves from the stop position to the release position to allow the tray 7 to fall, the reset part is compressed to store energy. When the lowest tray 7 falls, the stop block 31 loses the support or blocking force from the tray 7. At this time, the reset part acts on the guide post 32 with its stored elastic restoring force, and smoothly pushes the stop block 31 through the guide post 32, so that it inserts into the first groove 71 of the new tray 7 to return to the stop position. In this way, not only can the subsequent tray 7 be stopped in time, but the system structure is also simplified.

[0056] This application also provides a production line including the aforementioned automatic feeding equipment. The specific structure of the automatic feeding equipment is as described in the above embodiments. Since the production line adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0057] It should be noted that the production line is used to straighten the manufactured antennas. In addition to automatic feeding equipment, it usually includes a straightening host, guiding and centering devices, measuring and testing devices, etc., to form a complete automated production process.

[0058] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present utility model and the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An automatic feeding device, characterized in that, include: The frame has a full material output station, a material picking station and an empty tray recycling station arranged sequentially and at intervals in the horizontal direction; The discharge hopper is located on the frame and defines a first stacking channel extending vertically. The lower end of the first stacking channel is provided with a discharge port, which is set to correspond to the full material output station. The first stacking channel is used to store multiple stacked trays, and each tray has a first groove on its side wall. A material blocking mechanism includes a material blocking block and a reset part. The material blocking block is movably mounted on the frame and located near the discharge port. The material blocking block has a material blocking position close to the discharge port for insertion into the first groove and a release position away from the discharge port for exiting the first groove. The reset part is drivenly connected to the material blocking block and is used to drive the material blocking block from the release position to the material blocking position. as well as The transfer mechanism includes a transfer section and a drive section. The transfer section is movably mounted on the frame and can pass through the full material output station, the material picking station, and the empty tray recycling station during its movement. The drive section is mounted on the transfer section and is used to drive the material blocking block to move from the material blocking position to the release position at the full material output station, so that the material tray located at the bottom can fall from the discharge port onto the transfer section.

2. The automatic loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The transfer mechanism also includes a guide rail, which extends laterally and is disposed on the frame; The transfer unit includes a movable seat and a lifting seat. The movable seat can move laterally along the guide rail. The lifting seat includes a slide and a platform. The slide is movably disposed on the movable seat in the vertical direction. The platform is disposed at the upper end of the slide and below the discharge port. The platform has a loading surface for receiving the material tray. The drive unit is located on the platform.

3. The automatic feeding equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The automatic feeding equipment also includes: A recycling bin is located on the frame and defines a second stacking channel extending vertically. The lower end of the second stacking channel has a feed inlet corresponding to the empty tray recycling station. The second stacking channel is used to store multiple stacked trays. The fixing mechanism includes two clamping parts disposed on the frame, the two clamping parts being located on opposite sides of the material tray, the fixing mechanism having a fixed state in which the two clamping parts are close to each other to clamp the material tray located at the bottom of the second material stacking channel, and a released state in which the two clamping parts are far apart to release the material tray located at the bottom of the second material stacking channel. The platform is located below the recycling bin, and the lifting seat moves the material tray on the platform upward so that the material tray can enter the second stacking channel through the feed inlet.

4. The automatic loading apparatus of claim 3, wherein The material tray has second grooves on both opposite side walls; the clamping part includes: Mounting base, the mounting base being disposed in the recycling hopper and located near the feed inlet; and A clamping member, comprising a rotating shaft and a clamping plate, wherein the rotating shaft is rotatable about its axis and is disposed on the mounting base, and the clamping plate is disposed on the rotating shaft; In the fixed state, the two clamping members are inserted into the two second grooves respectively to jointly receive the material tray; in the released state, the two rotating shafts rotate in the direction away from the material tray so that the two clamping members are respectively disengaged from the two second grooves.

5. The automatic loading apparatus of claim 2, wherein The lower end of the baffle block is provided with an abutting inclined surface, which is inclined. The driving part is an abutment block protruding from the edge of the platform; During the process of the lifting seat driving the driving unit to rise, it can maintain contact with the abutting inclined surface to drive the material stop block from the material stop position to the release position.

6. The automatic feeding device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The drive unit also includes a positioning block, which protrudes from the loading surface and is used for limiting and inserting into the first groove of the material tray.

7. The automatic feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein The upper end face of the material tray is provided with at least one material groove, and the groove wall of at least one material groove includes two guide slopes that are opposite to each other and inclined downward. The transfer mechanism further includes a vibration unit disposed on the loading platform, the vibration unit being used to generate vibration to drive the material tray located on the loading platform to vibrate.

8. The automatic feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The material blocking mechanism further includes a guide column, one end of which is connected to the side of the material blocking block away from the discharge hopper, and the other end of the guide column away from the material blocking block is connected to the reset part. The end of the reset part away from the guide post is fixedly connected to the frame.

9. The automatic feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The automatic feeding equipment also includes a material handling mechanism, which is set up corresponding to the material handling station. The material handling mechanism is a mechanical gripper or an adsorption mechanism.

10. A production line, characterized in that, Includes the automatic feeding equipment as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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