A positioning and locking device for chain conveyor pallets

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of positioning locking device for chain conveyor tray, including two sets of positioning locking mechanism of left-right symmetry arrangement;Every positioning locking mechanism includes fixed frame, positioning execution mechanism, two guide structures and moving plate frame;Positioning execution mechanism is arranged in the middle part of fixed frame and its output end is connected with the outside end surface of moving plate frame, two guide structures are symmetrically arranged on fixed frame to linearly guide moving plate frame.The positioning locking device for chain conveyor tray of the utility model solves the problem that the positioning pin, the key components such as stop block are prone to wear, looseness or position deviation due to the positioning mechanism in related technology being in frequent action and impact load environment for a long time, resulting in the alignment accuracy of tray in the process of parking declining, unable to realize accurate positioning and reliable locking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of logistics and transportation technology, and in particular relates to a positioning and locking device for a pallet of a chain conveyor. Background Technology

[0002] Chain conveyors are a common and important material handling device in industrial automated production lines. They use a continuously rotating chain as the traction component, and by installing various types of carriers or attachments on the chain, they achieve continuous conveying and transfer of various materials. This equipment is robust in structure, has a high load-bearing capacity, and can operate stably in complex environments such as heavy loads, high temperatures, or dust, thus it is widely used in heavy manufacturing, assembly lines, and warehousing and logistics. To meet the requirements for pallet positioning accuracy in automated production, existing chain conveyors typically have positioning and locking mechanisms at specific workstations. Through mechanical pins, pneumatic stops, or servo-controlled precision structures, pallets can be accurately stopped and fixed during processing, assembly, or inspection processes, thereby ensuring operational accuracy and system synchronization. However, because the positioning mechanisms in these technologies are subjected to frequent movements and impact loads, key components such as positioning pins and stops are prone to wear, loosening, or positional misalignment. This leads to a decrease in the alignment accuracy of the pallet during stopping, making it impossible to achieve precise positioning and reliable locking. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the present invention aims to at least partially solve one of the related technical problems.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0005] A positioning and locking device for a chain conveyor pallet includes two sets of positioning and locking mechanisms arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides.

[0006] Each of the aforementioned positioning and locking mechanisms includes a fixed frame, a positioning execution mechanism, two guide structures, and a movable plate frame;

[0007] The positioning actuator is located in the middle of the fixed frame and its output end is connected to the outer end face of the movable plate frame. The two guide structures are symmetrically arranged on the fixed frame to provide linear guidance for the movable plate frame.

[0008] The movable plate frame is equipped with two sets of floating positioning mechanisms, which are located on the same side of the movable plate frame and arranged side by side.

[0009] Each of the floating positioning mechanisms includes two fixed blocks, a guide rod, two floating springs, two preload adjusting nuts, a floating slider, and a slotted hole. The two fixed blocks are vertically arranged between the slotted baffles of the movable plate frame. The guide rod is horizontally arranged and its front and rear ends are respectively connected to the corresponding fixed blocks. The two floating springs are symmetrically sleeved on the guide rod. The floating slider is arranged between the two floating springs and slides in cooperation with the guide rod. The slotted hole is arranged on the movable plate frame and the floating slider is slidably arranged in the slotted hole. Each floating spring is provided with a preload adjusting nut between it and the corresponding fixed block, and the preload adjusting nut is threadedly engaged with the guide rod.

[0010] An adaptive positioning component is provided on the inner end face of the fixed block of each of the floating positioning mechanisms.

[0011] Furthermore, the positioning actuator is an electric push rod, and the output end of the electric push rod is connected to the outer end face of the movable plate frame.

[0012] Furthermore, the guide structure includes a slide rod, a guide block, and a limiting block. The slide rod slides in conjunction with the movable plate frame through the guide block. The limiting block is disposed at the outer end of the slide rod, and the inner end of the slide rod is connected to the outer end face of the movable plate frame.

[0013] Furthermore, two strip-shaped baffles are symmetrically arranged on the outer end face of the movable plate frame, and two fixing blocks are fixed between the two strip-shaped baffles. The pre-tightening adjusting nuts are respectively located between the corresponding floating spring and the corresponding fixing block and are threadedly engaged with the guide rod.

[0014] Furthermore, the cross-section of the fixing frame is C-shaped.

[0015] Furthermore, the adaptive positioning component includes a fixed plate, a joint bearing, a positioning rod, a limiting sleeve, and a spherical positioning block. The fixed plate is disposed on the inner end face of the floating slider. One end of the positioning rod is connected to the fixed plate through the joint bearing, and the other end of the positioning rod is provided with the spherical positioning block. The limiting sleeve is sleeved on the outside of the positioning rod, and a swingable gap is left between the positioning rod and the limiting sleeve.

[0016] Furthermore, a sleeve assembly is provided on the side of the pallet. The sleeve assembly includes a positioning sleeve, a threaded sleeve, and a mounting plate. The inner end of the positioning sleeve is connected to the mounting plate through the threaded sleeve. The mounting plate is located on the side of the pallet. The outer end of the inner wall of the positioning sleeve is provided with a flared structure. The positioning sleeve can cooperate with the positioning rod.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the positioning and locking device for a chain conveyor pallet described in this utility model has the following advantages:

[0018] 1. This solution utilizes a double floating spring guide structure and an adjustable preload mechanism to enable the floating slider to have controllable elastic displacement on the guide rod, thus creating an automatic conforming and buffering effect during tray insertion. This not only effectively absorbs the impact force when the positioning rod inserts into the positioning sleeve, preventing component wear or jamming caused by rigid collisions, but also allows for fine-tuning of the device's positioning accuracy via the preload nut during long-term use, ensuring structural stability and reliability, easy maintenance, and significantly extending the overall machine's service life.

[0019] 2. This solution employs a combination of spherical bearings and spherical positioning blocks to form an adaptive positioning structure, enabling the positioning rod to have multi-directional angle compensation capabilities. This arrangement can automatically adjust the posture when there are slight offsets or angular errors in the pallet position, allowing the spherical positioning block to smoothly enter the positioning sleeve and form a stable fit. By controlling the swing clearance of the limiting sleeve, smooth insertion is ensured while maintaining sufficient locking rigidity, thereby improving the positioning accuracy and assembly stability of the entire chain conveyor under complex working conditions, making it suitable for use in automated production lines that operate at high frequencies for extended periods. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this utility model, are used to provide a further understanding of the utility model. The illustrative embodiments of the utility model and their descriptions are used to explain the utility model and do not constitute an undue limitation of the utility model. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a positioning and locking device for a chain conveyor pallet according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the floating positioning mechanism described in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the adaptive positioning component described in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the sleeve assembly described in an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0026] 100. Mounting bracket; 200. Positioning actuator; 300. Guide structure; 400. Adaptive positioning assembly; 410. Fixing plate; 420. Positioning rod; 430. Spherical positioning block; 500. Moving plate frame; 600. Floating positioning mechanism; 610. Floating slider; 620. Floating spring; 630. Preload nut; 640. Fixing block; 700. Sleeve assembly; 710. Mounting plate; 720. Threaded sleeve; 730. Positioning sleeve. Detailed Implementation

[0027] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0028] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0029] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0030] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0031] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. However, these embodiments are only used to illustrate the structure and working principle of this utility model, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection.

[0032] This embodiment provides a positioning and locking device for pallets on a chain conveyor. The device comprises two sets of positioning and locking mechanisms symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides, used to accurately stop and reliably lock the pallet at the target workstation on the conveyor line. Each positioning and locking mechanism mainly consists of a fixed frame, a positioning execution mechanism 200, two guide structures 300, a movable plate frame 500, two sets of floating positioning mechanisms 600, an adaptive positioning component 400, and a sleeve assembly 700 that cooperates with the pallet.

[0033] The fixed frame is an integrated structure with a C-shaped cross-section, used to install the guide structure 300 and the positioning actuator 200, while also forming a limiting channel for the movable plate frame 500. The positioning actuator 200 is located in the middle of the fixed frame, using an electric push rod as the power unit. Its output end is fixedly connected to the outer end face of the movable plate frame 500, driving the movable plate frame to perform reciprocating linear motion along the guide direction. To ensure smooth and reliable movement, two guide structures 300 are symmetrically installed on the fixed frame. Each guide structure 300 includes a slide rod, a guide block, and a limiting block. The slide rod slides against the movable plate frame 500 through the guide block. The limiting block is installed on the outer end of the slide rod to limit its travel. The inner end of the slide rod is firmly connected to the outer end face of the movable plate frame 500, thus achieving stable linear guidance and preventing end detachment.

[0034] The movable plate frame 500 is an integrated frame structure with two symmetrical strip-shaped baffles on its outer end face to form the installation space for the floating positioning mechanism 600. Each positioning and locking mechanism has two sets of floating positioning mechanisms 600 arranged on the same side of the movable plate frame 500, side-by-side to correspond to the positions of the front and rear positioning points on the tray. The floating positioning mechanism 600 includes two fixing blocks 640, a guide rod, two floating springs 620, two preload adjusting nuts, a floating slider 610, and a slotted hole. The two fixing blocks 640 are vertically installed between the two strip-shaped baffles, and the guide rod passes horizontally through them, connecting to the corresponding fixing blocks 640 at the front and rear ends. The two floating springs 620 are symmetrically sleeved on the guide rod, and the floating slider 610 is positioned between the two floating springs 620 and slides in cooperation with the guide rod. The slotted hole is opened on the movable plate frame 500, and the floating slider 610 slides within the slotted hole to achieve axial elastic floating compensation. Each floating spring 620 is provided with a preload adjustment nut between itself and the corresponding fixed block 640. The nut is threaded with the guide rod and can be tightened or loosened to adjust the preload of the spring to adapt to different pallet weights or positioning stiffness requirements.

[0035] Each floating positioning mechanism 600 has an adaptive positioning component 400 on the inner end face of its fixed block 640, which is used to cooperate with the positioning sleeve on the tray to achieve spherical flexible insertion. The adaptive positioning component 400 includes a fixed plate 410, a spherical bearing, a positioning rod 420, a limiting sleeve, and a spherical positioning block 430. The fixed plate 410 is installed on the inner end face of the floating slider 610. The spherical bearing is used to hinge the positioning rod 420 to the fixed plate 410 to allow the positioning rod to produce micro-angle deflection in multiple directions. The front end of the positioning rod 420 is provided with a spherical positioning block 430 for insertion into the positioning sleeve on the side of the tray. The limiting sleeve is sleeved on the outside of the positioning rod, and a swingable gap is left between the positioning rod and the limiting sleeve, so that the positioning rod can automatically correct deviations and absorb minor installation errors during insertion, thereby ensuring smooth insertion without jamming.

[0036] A sleeve assembly 700 is provided on the corresponding side of the pallet for docking with the aforementioned positioning assembly. The sleeve assembly 700 includes a mounting plate 710, a threaded sleeve 720, and a positioning sleeve 730. The mounting plate 710 is fixed to the metal frame of the pallet, and the threaded sleeve 720 is used to detachably connect the positioning sleeve 730 to the mounting plate 710. The inner end of the positioning sleeve 730 is connected to the mounting plate 710 through the threaded sleeve 720, and its outer end has a flared structure to guide the spherical end of the positioning rod to smoothly enter and achieve circumferential limiting and axial locking after insertion.

[0037] How this example works

[0038] Step 1: During the operation of the chain conveyor, when the pallet moves to the target work position, the control system sends a signal to the electric push rod, the positioning actuator 200 starts and pushes the moving plate frame 500 to move towards the pallet side along the guide structure 300, so that the adaptive positioning component 400 of the floating positioning mechanism 600 gradually approaches the sleeve component 700 of the pallet.

[0039] Step Two: As the moving plate frame 500 continues to advance, the spherical positioning block 430, guided by the flared end, enters the positioning sleeve 730 and completes the insertion; the floating spring 620 compresses to form an elastic limit, while the swing clearance of the spherical bearing and the limiting sleeve absorbs the angular deviation between the tray and the device, achieving flexible positioning and reliable locking. When the electric push rod is reversed, the moving plate frame 500 retracts to the initial position, the tray is unlocked, and the conveying continues.

[0040] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are 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 shall be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A positioning and locking device for a pallet of a chain conveyor, characterized in that: Includes two sets of positioning and locking mechanisms arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides; Each of the positioning and locking mechanisms includes a fixed frame, a positioning actuator (200), two guide structures (300), and a movable plate frame (500); The positioning actuator (200) is located in the middle of the fixed frame and its output end is connected to the outer end face of the movable plate frame (500). The two guide structures (300) are symmetrically arranged on the fixed frame to provide linear guidance for the movable plate frame (500). The movable plate frame (500) is provided with two sets of floating positioning mechanisms (600), which are located on the same side of the movable plate frame (500) and arranged side by side. Each of the floating positioning mechanisms (600) includes two fixed blocks (640), a guide rod, two floating springs (620), two preload adjusting nuts, a floating slider (610), and a slotted hole. The two fixed blocks (640) are vertically arranged between the slotted baffles of the movable plate frame (500). The guide rod is horizontally arranged and its front and rear ends are respectively connected to the corresponding fixed blocks (640). The two floating springs (620) are symmetrically sleeved on the guide rod. The floating slider (610) is arranged between the two floating springs (620) and slides in cooperation with the guide rod. The slotted hole is arranged on the movable plate frame (500), and the floating slider (610) slides in the slotted hole. Each floating spring (620) is provided with a preload adjusting nut between itself and the corresponding fixed block (640), and the preload adjusting nut is threadedly engaged with the guide rod. An adaptive positioning component (400) is provided on the inner end face of the fixing block (640) of each of the floating positioning mechanisms (600).

2. The positioning and locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning actuator (200) is an electric push rod, and the output end of the electric push rod is connected to the outer end face of the movable plate frame (500).

3. The positioning and locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide structure (300) includes a slide rod, a guide block and a limiting block. The slide rod is slidably engaged with the movable plate frame (500) through the guide block. The limiting block is disposed at the outer end of the slide rod, and the inner end of the slide rod is connected to the outer end face of the movable plate frame (500).

4. The positioning and locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two strip-shaped baffles are symmetrically arranged on the outer end face of the movable plate frame (500). Two fixed blocks (640) are fixed between the two strip-shaped baffles. The pre-tightening adjusting nuts are respectively located between the corresponding floating spring (620) and the corresponding fixed block (640) and are threadedly engaged with the guide rod.

5. The positioning and locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-section of the fixing frame is C-shaped.

6. The positioning and locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adaptive positioning component (400) includes a fixed plate (410), a joint bearing, a positioning rod (420), a limiting sleeve, and a spherical positioning block (430). The fixed plate (410) is disposed on the inner end face of the floating slider (610). One end of the positioning rod (420) is connected to the fixed plate (410) through the joint bearing. The other end of the positioning rod (420) is provided with the spherical positioning block (430). The limiting sleeve is sleeved on the outside of the positioning rod (420) and a swingable gap is left between the positioning rod (420) and the limiting sleeve.

7. The positioning and locking device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The side of the pallet is provided with a sleeve assembly (700), which includes a positioning sleeve (730), a threaded sleeve (720) and a mounting plate (710). The inner end of the positioning sleeve (730) is connected to the mounting plate (710) through the threaded sleeve (720). The mounting plate (710) is provided on the side of the pallet. The outer end of the inner wall of the positioning sleeve (730) is provided with a flared structure. The positioning sleeve (730) can cooperate with the positioning rod (420).

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