A reciprocating conveying device for automatic production of photovoltaic cables

Abstract

A kind of reciprocating conveying device for photovoltaic cable automatic production, including guide rail and clamp system;Guide rail is equipped with fixed support part and sliding track part;Clamp system includes clamp base, reciprocating clamp and fixed clamp;Clamp base is by the first segment and the second segment of split and is made of fixed end and mobile end, fixed end is connected fixed support part, and mobile end is slidably arranged in sliding track part;Reciprocating clamp is arranged in mobile end, including reciprocating left clamp, reciprocating right clamp and reciprocating bottom chain;Fixed clamp is arranged in fixed end, including fixed left clamp, fixed right clamp and fixed bottom chain;The butt joint surface of mobile end and fixed end is equipped with complementary positioning mechanism;Guide rail is along line and is arranged multiple stations, and mobile end is alternately butted with the fixed end of different stations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of automatic manufacturing of photovoltaic cables, and specifically relates to a reciprocating conveying device for automatic production of photovoltaic cables. Background Art

[0002] As a key carrier for energy transmission in photovoltaic power generation systems, the reliability of performance and manufacturing efficiency of photovoltaic cables are directly related to the long-term stable operation and levelized cost of energy of the entire renewable energy system. In harsh outdoor environments, photovoltaic cables must withstand challenges such as high-intensity ultraviolet radiation, extreme temperature changes, and damp corrosion for a long time, which puts forward extremely high requirements on the uniformity and compactness of cable insulation and sheath materials, as well as the mechanical strength of the overall structure. Therefore, automated, high-precision, and high-reliability manufacturing processes, especially the non-destructive and efficient conveying of cables between different processes in continuous production, have become a core technical link to enhance the competitiveness of the photovoltaic industry and achieve the strategic goal of energy transition. Its industrial economic value is not only reflected in the cost optimization brought by large-scale production, but also in guaranteeing the service life and system safety of end products through the improvement of manufacturing accuracy.

[0003] In the current automated manufacturing process of photovoltaic cables, especially in the conveying link connecting processes such as cable core preparation, insulation extrusion, sheath extrusion, cooling, detection, and coiling, there are still some technical bottlenecks and industrial pain points. First, the compatibility problem of interfaces between different manufacturing equipment, and the risk of connector damage caused by tension fluctuation or positioning deviation when the cable is moving at high speed, are the key factors affecting production continuity and product qualification rate. Second, traditional conveying methods tend to exert improper torsion or lateral stress on the cable when the sheath is not completely cured, leaving hidden dangers of reduced mechanical properties or even cracking of the sheath. Furthermore, the commonly used continuous linear or annular conveying systems are difficult to adapt to the complex process requirements of multi-station, step-by-step processing that requires precise stopping at specific positions. When switching stations, the entire system often needs to be stopped or relies on complex mechanical conversion mechanisms, which greatly limits the production rhythm and flexibility. Finally, the high dependence on manual intervention in some key links not only introduces operational errors and safety risks, but also becomes the main obstacle restricting the improvement of overall production efficiency and product quality consistency.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, the technological pathways and industrial upgrading directions urgently needed in the photovoltaic cable manufacturing industry have become increasingly clear. On the one hand, there is an urgent need to collaboratively promote material and process innovation and improve safety standards, developing new sheath materials and structures that are adaptable to high-speed automated production and can ensure reliability in extreme environments. On the other hand, the core lies in the disruptive technological iteration of intelligent conveying systems, requiring the system to have the ability to achieve precise, non-destructive, and asynchronous material transfer between multiple workstations during continuous operation, and to integrate highly reliable automatic clamping, positioning, docking, and tension control mechanisms. At the same time, promoting the deep integration of cross-process equipment systems and the application of digital twin technology to achieve visualized monitoring, dynamic optimization, and predictive maintenance of the conveying process is key to building future smart factories. In addition, for the production needs of a globalized layout, the modular and reconfigurable design of the conveying system to meet the customized compliance requirements of different regional markets for cable specifications, certification standards, and manufacturing processes is also particularly important. Against this background, this article focuses on solving the core challenges of efficient, precise, and non-destructive conveying between multiple workstations in the continuous production process of photovoltaic cables. Utility Model Content

[0005] As the core transmission medium of photovoltaic power generation systems, photovoltaic cables require multiple precision processes in their manufacturing, including core wire preparation, insulation extrusion, sheath forming, and testing. In response to some technical bottlenecks mentioned in the background, this paper proposes a reciprocating conveying device for the automatic production of photovoltaic cables. Through modular guide rails and a split clamping system, dynamic docking between the moving end and the fixed end is achieved, enabling efficient asynchronous conveying between multiple workstations while ensuring zero damage to the cables.

[0006] A reciprocating conveying device for automated photovoltaic cable production achieves efficient conveying through the collaborative innovation of the following core components: The guide rail consists of a fixed support section and a sliding track section, which are independently constructed. The fixed support section serves as the reference frame for the entire line, ensuring the spatial positioning accuracy of each workstation. The sliding track section is specially customized for the mobile end and uses a low-resistance, high-rigidity material, allowing the mobile end to reciprocate along the production line direction in a zero-disturbance state. This split structure breaks through the rigid constraints of traditional integrated guide rails, enabling the mobile end to operate independently of the entire line of equipment, laying the physical foundation for asynchronous conveying.

[0007] The clamp base innovatively adopts a decoupled design between the first section (fixed end) and the second section (moving end). The first section is rigidly connected to the guide rail fixed support part by bolts to form an immovable clamping reference point. The second section is equipped with a precision slider embedded in the guide rail sliding track part to achieve millimeter-level smooth displacement. The two are mechanically isolated but can be dynamically coupled, which not only ensures the clamping stability of the fixed end, but also gives the moving end full-stroke freedom, completely eliminating the transmission damage of equipment vibration to the cable.

[0008] The mobile terminal integrates a reciprocating left clamp, a reciprocating right clamp, and a reciprocating bottom chain. The reciprocating bottom chain is mounted on the upper surface of the mobile terminal using a dual-degree-of-freedom hinge, with the left and right jaws connected to its two ends respectively. When clamping the cable, the bottom chain automatically adjusts the force angle of the left and right jaws to ensure that the cable is subjected to uniform radial pressure, avoiding local deformation of the sheath caused by traditional single-point clamping. Especially in the stage where the cable sheath is not cured, this design can control the surface indentation depth within 0.05mm. The reciprocating bottom chain and the fixed bottom chain are equipped with elastic pre-tightening modules to adapt to changes in cable diameter.

[0009] The fixed end is equipped with a fixed left clamp, a fixed right clamp, and a fixed bottom chain. The fixed bottom chain also adopts a hinge structure, but innovatively adds an elastic pre-tightening module. When the moving end docks with it, the fixed clamp dynamically adjusts the clamping gap according to the cable diameter to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion and contraction effects, ensuring zero slippage clamping of cables of different specifications.

[0010] The docking surfaces of the mobile and fixed ends are equipped with a complementary positioning mechanism. At the moment of docking, the conical guide achieves sub-millimeter level self-correction. This mechanism quickly completes mechanical locking, with a positioning repeatability of ±0.1mm, and there is no risk of air source failure, making it particularly suitable for high-dust workshop environments.

[0011] The mobile end reciprocates along the guide rail and mechanically docks with the fixed end of the current workstation before the movement begins; after moving to the target workstation, it mechanically docks with the fixed end of the target workstation.

[0012] Several workstations are arranged linearly along the guide rail, hereinafter referred to as the first workstation, the second workstation, and the third workstation. Multiple fixed ends are evenly distributed at the front end of each workstation. The moving ends strictly follow the equidistant movement rule: the displacement distance of each movement is exactly equal to the distance between the fixed clamps of the adjacent workstations. This design enables the cable to be transferred in a "leapfrog" manner between processes, avoiding the synchronous start and stop of all equipment. Beneficial effects

[0013] This device breaks through the synchronization limitations of traditional conveying systems. Its split-type clamp design, combined with a precise docking mechanism, enables asynchronous transfer of cables between multiple workstations, avoiding efficiency losses caused by starting and stopping the entire equipment line, significantly improving production cycle time. The dynamic coupling structure between the moving and fixed ends ensures that there are no sudden tension changes or mechanical twisting during cable transfer, especially protecting the structural integrity of uncured sheaths and reducing defect rates. The modular workstation layout and equidistant movement logic give the production line high flexibility, adapting to different cable specifications and customized process flows. By replacing manual intervention with fully automated closed-loop conveying, it reduces operational errors and safety risks, improves product consistency, optimizes equipment utilization with asynchronous conveying mode, and extends cable service life with non-destructive clamping mechanism, meeting reliability requirements in harsh environments. In summary, this device provides underlying technical support for the large-scale intelligent production of photovoltaic cables, helping the renewable energy industry reduce costs and increase efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a top view of the workstation of a reciprocating conveyor device for automated production of photovoltaic cables. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a reciprocating conveyor device for automated production of photovoltaic cables. Figure 3 Analysis of the internal components of a reciprocating conveyor device for automated production of photovoltaic cables; In the diagram, 1. Fixture system; 101. Fixture base; 102. Reciprocating fixture; 1021. Reciprocating left clamp; 1022. Reciprocating right clamp; 1023. Reciprocating bottom chain; 103. Fixed fixture; 1031. Fixed left clamp; 1032. Fixed right clamp; 1033. Fixed bottom chain; 2. Cable; 3. Guide rail; 4. Station 1; 5. Station 2; 6. Station 3. Detailed Implementation

[0015] To enhance understanding of this utility model, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to explain the present utility model and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0016] Fixture system 1, fixture base 101, reciprocating fixture 102, reciprocating left clamp 1021, reciprocating right clamp 1022, reciprocating bottom chain 1023, fixed fixture 103, fixed left clamp 1031, fixed right clamp 1032, fixed bottom chain 1033, cable 2, guide rail 3, station 1 4, station 2 5, station 3 6.

[0017] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown in Figure 3, the reciprocating conveyor device for the automatic production of photovoltaic cables 2 in this paper will be described in detail below: Guide rail 3 and clamping system 1 The guide rail 3 is set along the forward direction of the assembly line and consists of a fixed support part and a sliding track part. The fixed support part serves as the reference frame for the entire line and is fixed to the ground by anchor bolts. The sliding track part adopts a high-rigidity linear guide rail 3 with a low-friction surface treatment. The clamping system 1 is installed on the guide rail 3 and includes a clamping base 101, a reciprocating clamp 102, and a fixed clamp 103. The clamping base 101 is divided into a first section and a second section that are independent of each other. The first section forms the fixed end and is rigidly connected to the fixed support part of the guide rail 3 by bolts. The second section forms the moving end, with a precision slider installed at the bottom and embedded in the sliding track part of the guide rail 3 to achieve reciprocating motion with a repeatability of ±0.1mm.

[0018] The reciprocating clamp 102 is located at the moving end and includes a reciprocating left clamp 1021, a reciprocating right clamp 1022, and a reciprocating bottom chain 1023 connecting the two. The reciprocating bottom chain 1023 is mounted on the upper surface of the moving end via a two-degree-of-freedom hinge, with the left and right jaws respectively hinged at its two ends. The fixed clamp 103 is located at the fixed end and includes a fixed left clamp 1031, a fixed right clamp 1032, and a fixed bottom chain 1033, with the same structure as the reciprocating clamp 102. Both the reciprocating bottom chain 1023 and the fixed bottom chain 1033 are equipped with an elastic pre-tightening module, which can dynamically compensate for the diameter tolerance of the cable 2, adapt to the clamping requirements of cables 2 with diameters from 4mm to 10mm, and ensure uniform radial pressure distribution.

[0019] Mobile terminal integration mechanism The docking surfaces of the mobile and fixed ends are equipped with a complementary positioning mechanism. A tapered guide pin is installed on the mobile end side, and a tapered guide sleeve is matched on the fixed end side. During docking, sub-millimeter positioning is achieved through self-correction of the tapered surface, and a rigid connection is completed through an electromagnetic locking mechanism. This design does not require an external air source and is suitable for high dust environments.

[0020] In actual operation, before each movement of the mobile terminal, it is necessary to complete the mechanical docking with the fixed terminal of the current workstation; when the mobile terminal moves to the target workstation, it immediately completes the mechanical docking with the fixed terminal of the target workstation to ensure that there is no sudden change in cable tension when the clamping power is switched.

[0021] Multi-station layout and motion logic Multiple workstations are arranged linearly along guide rail 3, including workstation 4, workstation 5, and workstation 6. Each workstation has multiple fixed ends at its front end. The distance between adjacent fixed ends is constant at the design value L. The moving end moves a distance strictly equal to L each time. It is driven by a servo motor and achieves precise displacement through closed-loop control by a grating ruler.

[0022] Implementation Example Taking the transfer of cable 2 from station 1 (station 4) to station 3 (station 6) as an example, the operation process is as follows: Initial state: The mobile terminal is located at station 4, and its reciprocating clamp 102 holds the cable 2 that has completed insulation extrusion. The fixed clamp 103 at station 4 is in the loose state.

[0023] Forward movement and docking: The moving end moves a distance L to the right along the guide rail 3 to the second station 5, and is mechanically locked by the tapered guide pin and the guide sleeve at the fixed end of the second station 5.

[0024] Transfer of clamping control: Fixture 103 at station 2 clamps cable 2, while reciprocating clamp 102 at the moving end releases cable 2.

[0025] Reverse movement reset: The moving end moves a distance L to the left and returns to station 4, where it docks and locks with the fixed end of that station.

[0026] Secondary clamping and cross-station transport: The reciprocating clamp 102 of the mobile end re-clamps the cable 2, and the fixed clamp 103 of station 1 releases the cable 2; the mobile end carries the cable 2 to the right by twice the distance (2L), directly to station 3 and completes the docking.

[0027] Cyclic effect: During the process of cable 2 being transported from station 1 to station 3, the clamping force is controlled by the elastic pre-tightening module throughout to avoid deformation of the sheath; the moving end strictly follows the equidistant movement rule to perform "L-2L" leap-type transport, and the equipment at each station does not need to start and stop synchronously.

[0028] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A reciprocating conveying device for automated production of photovoltaic cables, characterized in that, include: Guide rail and clamping system; The guide rail is arranged along the forward direction of the assembly line and includes: a fixed support part and a sliding rail part; The clamping system is mounted on the guide rail and includes: a clamping base, a reciprocating clamp, and a fixed clamp; The clamp base is composed of a first section and a second section that are independent of each other. The first section forms a fixed end and the second section forms a movable end. The first section of the clamp base is fixedly connected to the fixed support part of the guide rail, and the second section is slidably disposed on the sliding track part of the guide rail. The reciprocating clamp is located at the moving end and includes: a reciprocating left clamp, a reciprocating right clamp, and a reciprocating bottom chain connecting the two. The fixing clamp is located at the fixing end and includes: a fixing left clamp, a fixing right clamp, and a fixing bottom chain connecting the two.

2. The reciprocating conveying device for automatic production of photovoltaic cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mobile end reciprocates along the guide rail and mechanically docks with the fixed end of the current workstation before the movement begins. After moving to the target workstation, it mechanically docks with the fixed end of the target workstation.

3. The reciprocating conveying device for automatic production of photovoltaic cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reciprocating bottom chain of the reciprocating clamp is mounted on the upper surface of the moving end, and the two ends are respectively hinged to the reciprocating left clamp and the reciprocating right clamp; The fixing bottom chain of the fixing clamp is installed on the upper surface of the fixing end, and the two ends are respectively hinged to the fixing left clamp and the fixing right clamp; The reciprocating bottom chain and the fixed bottom chain are equipped with elastic pre-tensioning modules.

4. The reciprocating conveying device for automatic production of photovoltaic cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes multiple workstations arranged sequentially along the guide rail, each workstation having several fixed ends at its front end, and the mobile ends alternately docking with the fixed ends of different workstations. The multiple workstations include at least a first workstation, a second workstation, and a third workstation.

5. The reciprocating conveying device for automatic production of photovoltaic cables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The docking surfaces of the mobile and fixed ends are equipped with a complementary positioning mechanism to achieve a precise mechanical connection.

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