An automated oiling apparatus

Abstract

The utility model discloses an automatic oil injection equipment, including machine table, set up on the automatic lifting device of machine table, the fixture for fixing product and the automatic rotating device of driving fixture rotation, is provided with the oil injection pipe on the automatic lifting device, still include: the automatic feeding and discharging mechanism is set up in the side of machine table, is used for moving into and moving out the fixture with the automatic product, and the transfer station is set up on the machine table, and is located the material removal path of fixture and automatic feeding and discharging mechanism, and the positioning identification camera is set up in the side of transfer station, and the servo metering pump, and the outlet of servo metering pump is connected the oil injection pipe through the oil outlet pipe, and, the terminal of oil injection pipe is equipped with pressure sensor, and, controller, and it realizes the high efficiency, precision and intelligent of oil injection production through the combination of automatic feeding and discharging, transfer station supporting camera visual inspection, servo metering pump supporting pressure sensor control oil injection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of oil injection devices, and in particular to an automated oil injection device, which is mainly suitable for high-precision automated quantitative injection of grease and other oils into small cylindrical workpieces. Background Technology

[0002] In industries such as machinery manufacturing, automotive parts, and precision instruments, many core components (such as bearings, gearboxes, and compressor housings) require the injection of specific amounts and types of grease during assembly to ensure smooth operation, reduce wear, and extend service life. The quality of the grease injection process directly determines the performance and reliability of the final product.

[0003] Currently, the basic structure of commonly used oil injection equipment in the industry typically includes a machine platform with a liftable oil injection pipe and a fixture for fixing the product. The fixture is driven to rotate by a rotating device. The workflow is roughly as follows: the operator manually places the product into the fixture, starts the equipment, the oil injection pipe descends and extends into the product's oil injection hole to begin oil injection, and simultaneously, the fixture rotates to evenly fill the product with grease under centrifugal force; after oil injection is complete, the oil injection pipe rises, and the operator manually removes the product.

[0004] However, this traditional oil injection equipment has many technical shortcomings that urgently need to be addressed:

[0005] First, the entire loading and unloading process relies entirely on manual operation. This not only limits the production cycle to the operator's speed, making it difficult to integrate into high-efficiency automated production lines, but also prevents 24-hour continuous production. With rising labor costs, this significantly increases manufacturing costs. Furthermore, manual operation inevitably introduces human uncertainty, such as improper product placement or damage during retrieval, affecting product yield.

[0006] Second, most existing equipment uses pneumatic valves in conjunction with flow sensors or simple metering valves to control the oil injection volume. This control method is inadequate for high-viscosity greases or scenarios requiring milligram-level precision in oil injection. Grease viscosity changes drastically with ambient temperature, and simple open-loop or delayed closed-loop control cannot compensate for this change in real time, resulting in large fluctuations in oil injection volume and poor product consistency. Injecting too much oil may cause grease overflow, contaminating the product or causing waste; injecting too little oil will fail to provide the necessary lubrication, posing a quality risk.

[0007] Third, the equipment often lacks effective safety isolation measures. When operators manually load and unload materials, their limbs are easily close to moving parts such as lifting and rotating parts, which poses a risk of workplace injury.

[0008] Fourth, the existing equipment can only complete the oiling process, but cannot verify whether the oiling is done properly. Quality issues such as whether the oiling hole is blocked, whether the oiling position is correct, and whether the grease filling is sufficient can only be discovered in subsequent processes or through random checks, resulting in delayed problem detection and an inability to comprehensively control the situation. Moreover, the lack of recording and traceability of production data (such as the actual amount of oil injected for each product and the oiling time) is not conducive to further optimization of the production process and analysis of quality problems.

[0009] Therefore, a new technical solution needs to be researched to address the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0010] In view of this, the present invention addresses the deficiencies of the existing technology and its main purpose is to provide an automated oil injection device, which combines automated loading and unloading, a transfer platform equipped with a camera for visual inspection, and a servo metering pump equipped with a pressure sensor to control oil injection, thereby achieving high efficiency, precision and intelligence in oil injection production.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0012] An automated oil injection device includes a machine base, an automatic lifting device mounted on the machine base, a fixture for fixing the product, and an automatic rotating device for driving the fixture to rotate. The automatic lifting device is equipped with an oil injection pipe.

[0013] Also includes:

[0014] An automated loading and unloading mechanism is installed on the side of the machine base to automatically move products into and out of the fixture;

[0015] A transfer station is set on the machine platform and located on the material transfer path between the fixture and the automated loading and unloading mechanism;

[0016] A positioning and recognition camera is set on the side of the transfer station to take pictures and detect the products on the transfer station.

[0017] A servo metering pump, the outlet of which is connected to the injection pipe via an oil outlet pipe; and a pressure sensor is provided at the end of the injection pipe.

[0018] The controller is connected to the automatic lifting device, the automatic rotating device, the automatic loading and unloading mechanism, the RFID reader, the servo metering pump, and the pressure sensor.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment, the oil outlet pipe is covered with a heating kit and a temperature sensor, and the controller is connected to the heating kit and the temperature sensor.

[0020] As a preferred embodiment, the transfer platform is equipped with a weighing sensor, which is connected to the controller.

[0021] As a preferred embodiment, a weighing sensor is integrated on the machine platform below the fixture.

[0022] As a preferred option, it also includes:

[0023] An RFID reader is located on the side of the transfer station and is used to identify the RFID tags on the fixture being changed.

[0024] As a preferred option, it also includes:

[0025] A safety protection system is provided at least around the automatic lifting device, the fixture, and the automated loading and unloading mechanism for safe isolation during equipment operation.

[0026] As a preferred embodiment, the safety protection system includes a safety light curtain and a safety door with pneumatic locking.

[0027] As a preferred embodiment, a conveyor line is arranged on the right side of the machine, and the conveyor line extends forward and backward; the fixture, the transfer platform, and the conveyor line are arranged sequentially from left to right, and the automated loading and unloading mechanism is located behind the conveyor line to connect the conveyor line, the transfer platform, and the fixture.

[0028] As a preferred embodiment, the controller's user interface is positioned facing forward.

[0029] Compared with existing technologies, this utility model has significant advantages and beneficial effects. Specifically, as can be seen from the above technical solution, it mainly achieves high efficiency, precision, and intelligence in oil injection production by combining automated loading and unloading, a camera-based visual inspection system on a transfer platform, and a servo metering pump with a pressure sensor for oil injection control. Among these features, the automated loading and unloading mechanism enables automatic loading and unloading, freeing up manpower and significantly improving production efficiency and cycle consistency. The integration of RFID allows for rapid switching between multiple product varieties, greatly enhancing the equipment's flexible production capabilities. The use of a servo metering pump and pressure sensor dynamically adapts to changes in the physical properties of the grease, ensuring the accuracy and consistency of oil injection.

[0030] In particular, the combination of heating kits and temperature sensors further meets the more stringent requirements for process precision;

[0031] Secondly, through the dual detection of camera vision and weight sensors, the results of the oiling process are fully automated and 100% online, ensuring zero defects in the products leaving the factory and enabling full traceability of production data, providing a foundation for intelligent manufacturing and data analysis.

[0032] In addition, multiple layers of safety protection are constructed through safety light curtains and interlocking safety doors, eliminating the risk of product detachment and personal injury.

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the structural features and effects of this utility model, the following detailed description of this utility model is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an automated oil injection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an automated oil injection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a control block diagram of an automated oil injection device according to one embodiment of the present utility model;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a control block diagram of an automated oil injection device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the working principle of an automated oil injection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 As shown, it illustrates the specific structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0041] An automated oil injection device includes a machine base 10, an automatic lifting device 20 mounted on the machine base 10, a fixture 30 for fixing products, and an automatic rotating device for driving the fixture 30 to rotate. The automatic lifting device 20 is equipped with an oil injection pipe 40. The device also includes an automated loading and unloading mechanism 50, a transfer table 60, an RFID reader / writer 70, a positioning and identification camera 80, a servo metering pump, a controller 90, and a safety protection system.

[0042] The automated loading and unloading mechanism 50 is located beside the machine base 10 and is used to automatically move products into and out of the fixture 30. The automated loading and unloading mechanism 50 can be a six-axis industrial robot, which uses its end effector (such as a pneumatic finger) to pick up the products to be oiled from the conveyor line or tray and place them on the transfer table 60. On the transfer table 60, the positioning and recognition camera 80 identifies the product position and product shape. The identified product position is used by the controller 90 to recalculate the distance from the product's position on the transfer table 60 to the fixture 30, thereby guiding the path of the six-axis industrial robot and facilitating the accurate placement of the product into the fixture 30. The product shape recognition is used by the controller 90 to check for mixed products before oiling, ensuring that the product is the corresponding product model that is compatible with the current fixture 30. If there are mixed products, the six-axis industrial robot removes them from the transfer table 60 as unqualified products.

[0043] The transfer station 60 is mounted on the machine base 10 and is located on the material transfer path between the fixture 30 and the automated loading and unloading mechanism 50.

[0044] The RFID reader 70 is located on the side of the transfer station 60 and is used to identify the RFID tags on the fixture 30 being replaced. The RFID tags on the fixture 30 store the corresponding product model information. The RFID reader on the machine 10 reads this information and transmits it to the controller 90. The controller 90 automatically calls the corresponding product's oiling program (for example, parameters such as oiling volume and rotation speed will be adjusted, and the preset parameters are different for different models). Usually, a quick-change tray is configured on the side of the machine 10, on which several different fixtures are placed. The replacement of fixtures is also completed by the aforementioned six-axis industrial robot. The robot picks up the fixture, places it on the transfer station 60 for RFID reading, and then moves it to the fixture installation position. Subsequently, the fixture is locked by a positioning cylinder connected to the controller 90. When it is necessary to replace the fixture, the controller 90 controls the positioning cylinder to release the lock on the current fixture.

[0045] The positioning and recognition camera 80 is located on the side of the transfer station 60. As a machine vision inspection system, it can be one camera or two different cameras. In the case of two different cameras, one is used for positioning and model identification of the product before oiling, and the other is used to detect the status of the product's oil filling port after oiling. This ensures 100% online visual quality inspection after oiling is completed, automatically identifying whether there are defects such as oil overflow, contamination, or incomplete oiling at the oil filling port, thus realizing full-process quality control.

[0046] The servo metering pump has its outlet connected to the oil injection pipe 40 via an oil outlet pipe 41. A pressure sensor 42 is installed at the end of the oil injection pipe 40. This pressure sensor monitors the oil injection resistance in real time, determining whether the oil injection process is normal (e.g., whether there is a blockage). The controller 9 incorporates a PID control algorithm to adjust the operating parameters of the servo metering pump in real time based on the feedback signal from the pressure sensor 42. This forms a dynamic, adaptive closed-loop control system. When the oil injection resistance changes, the system can instantly adjust the pump output to achieve uniform oil injection, preventing product damage or grease splashing caused by sudden pressure changes, further improving the stability of the oil injection process and product quality. In comparison, the servo metering pump offers significantly higher metering accuracy and controllability than traditional pneumatic valves and metering valves.

[0047] The controller 90 is mounted on the machine base 10 and is connected to the automatic lifting device 20, the automatic rotating device, the automatic loading and unloading mechanism 50, the RFID reader 70, the servo metering pump, and the pressure sensor 42.

[0048] The safety protection system is configured at least around the automatic lifting device 20, the fixture 30, and the automated loading / unloading mechanism 50 for safe isolation during equipment operation. The safety protection system includes a safety light curtain and a safety door with pneumatic locking. The safety light curtain surrounds the equipment's working area, and the safety door is equipped with a switch interlocked with the controller 90. The safety light curtain can immediately stop the machine if personnel unintentionally enter the danger zone, while the interlocked safety door ensures that the door remains locked during equipment operation and cannot be opened, fundamentally eliminating the possibility of personnel contacting high-speed rotating or moving parts.

[0049] Furthermore, a temperature control unit is covered on the oil outlet pipe 41. The temperature control unit includes a heating kit (such as a heating tape) and a temperature sensor. The controller 90 is connected to the heating kit and the temperature sensor, thereby maintaining the grease at a constant optimal working temperature and effectively eliminating the influence of viscosity fluctuations caused by grease temperature changes on the oil injection accuracy, thus ensuring the consistency of oil injection volume under different environments.

[0050] The transfer platform 60 is equipped with a weighing sensor. When a product is placed on the transfer platform 60, it can be weighed. The weighing sensor is connected to the controller 90. When a product is loaded, it is first placed on the transfer platform 60. While its position and shape are being identified, the weighing sensor weighs the product to obtain its weight before oiling and feeds it back to the controller 90. After oiling, the product is removed from the fixture by a six-axis industrial robot and moved to the transfer platform 60. At the same time, it is visually inspected by the positioning and recognition camera 80 and weighed again by the weighing sensor. The overall shape after oiling is checked, and whether there is any grease displacement is mainly determined by taking pictures of the oiling port to analyze whether there are any defects such as oil overflow and whether the weight meets the standard. All this information is fed back to the controller 90. The controller 90 determines whether the product is qualified or unqualified and controls the six-axis industrial robot to unload the oiled product from the transfer platform 60 to the corresponding qualified / unqualified area. In other embodiments, a weighing sensor may be integrated on the machine base 10 below the fixture 30 to verify the weight of the fixture 30 and the product after oiling.

[0051] Furthermore, the entire equipment has a reasonable and compact structural layout. A conveyor line 100 is arranged on the right side of the machine base 10, extending forward and backward. The fixture 30, the transfer station 60, and the conveyor line 100 are arranged sequentially from left to right. The automated loading and unloading mechanism 50 is located behind the conveyor line 100, connecting the conveyor line 100, the transfer station 60, and the fixture 30. The operating interface of the controller 90 faces forward.

[0052] Next, combined Figure 5 The following describes the working principle and process of the entire device:

[0053] 1. A six-axis industrial robot uses its end effector (such as a pneumatic finger) to pick up products to be oiled from the conveyor line and place them on a transfer table 60. On the transfer table 60, a positioning and recognition camera 80 identifies the product's position and shape. At the same time, a weighing sensor weighs the product to obtain its weight before oiling and feeds it back to the controller 90. The product's position is identified so that the controller 90 can recalculate the distance from the product's position on the transfer table 60 to the fixture 30, thereby guiding the path of the six-axis industrial robot. The product's shape recognition allows the controller 90 to check for mixed products before oiling. If there is a mixture, the six-axis industrial robot removes it from the transfer table 60 as a defective product.

[0054] 2. The six-axis industrial robot transfers the product from the transfer table 60 to the fixture 30; then the six-axis industrial robot returns to the transfer table to wait.

[0055] 3. The oil injection program is initiated. The oil injection pipe 40 descends to the designated position, driving the servo metering pump to operate. Grease is injected into the product through the oil outlet pipe 41 and the oil injection pipe 40. The pressure sensor at the end of the oil injection pipe 40 monitors the oil injection pressure in real time, and the data is fed back to the controller 90. The controller dynamically adjusts the speed of the servo metering pump through the built-in PID algorithm to ensure smooth oil injection. At the same time, the temperature control unit covering the oil outlet pipe 41 stabilizes the grease temperature at the set value. During oil injection, the controller controls the automatic rotation device to drive the fixture 30 and the product to rotate at a uniform speed, using centrifugal force to fully fill the internal space of the product with grease until the target amount of oil is reached.

[0056] 4. The controller controls the automatic rotation device to drive the fixture 30 and the product to continue rotating at a constant speed for a set time.

[0057] 5. The six-axis industrial robot takes the product from the fixture 30 and transfers it to the transfer table 60. At the same time, the positioning and recognition camera 80 performs visual inspection and the weighing sensor weighs it again to check the overall shape after oiling, whether there is any grease displacement, and whether the weight meets the standard. The controller 90 determines whether the product is qualified or unqualified and controls the six-axis industrial robot to unload the oiled product from the transfer table 60 to the corresponding qualified / unqualified area.

[0058] The key design feature of this invention lies in its integration of automated loading and unloading, a camera-based visual inspection system on a transfer platform, and a servo metering pump with a pressure sensor to control oil injection, thereby achieving high efficiency, precision, and intelligence in oil injection production. Specifically, the automated loading and unloading mechanism frees up manpower, significantly improving production efficiency and cycle time consistency. The integration of RFID enables rapid switching between multiple product types, greatly enhancing the equipment's flexible production capabilities. The use of a servo metering pump and pressure sensor dynamically adapts to changes in the physical properties of the grease, ensuring the accuracy and consistency of oil injection.

[0059] In particular, the combination of heating kits and temperature sensors further meets the more stringent requirements for process precision;

[0060] Secondly, through the dual detection of camera vision and weight sensors, the results of the oiling process are fully automated and 100% online, ensuring zero defects in the products leaving the factory and enabling full traceability of production data, providing a foundation for intelligent manufacturing and data analysis.

[0061] In addition, multiple layers of safety protection are constructed through safety light curtains and interlocking safety doors, eliminating the risk of product detachment and personal injury.

[0062] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and does not constitute any limitation on the technical scope of the present utility model. Therefore, any minor modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present utility model shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An automated oil injection device, comprising a machine base (10), an automatic lifting device (20) disposed on the machine base (10), a fixture (30) for fixing products, and an automatic rotating device for driving the fixture (30) to rotate, wherein the automatic lifting device (20) is provided with an oil injection pipe (40), characterized in that, Also includes: An automated loading and unloading mechanism (50) is provided on the side of the machine base (10) for automatically moving products into and out of the fixture (30); A transfer station (60) is provided on the machine base (10) and located on the material transfer path between the fixture (30) and the automated loading and unloading mechanism (50); A positioning and identification camera (80) is disposed on the side of the transfer station (60); A servo metering pump, the outlet of which is connected to the oil injection pipe (40) via an oil outlet pipe (41); and a pressure sensor (42) is provided at the end of the oil injection pipe (40); The controller (90) is connected to the automatic lifting device (20), the automatic rotating device, the automatic loading and unloading mechanism (50), the RFID reader (70), the servo metering pump, and the pressure sensor (42).

2. The automated oil injection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The oil outlet pipe (41) is covered with a heating kit and a temperature sensor, and the controller (90) is connected to the heating kit and the temperature sensor.

3. The automated oil injection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transfer station (60) is equipped with a weighing sensor, which is connected to the controller (90).

4. The automated oil injection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, A weighing sensor is integrated on the machine base (10) below the fixture (30).

5. The automated oil injection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An RFID reader (70) is disposed on the side of the transfer station (60) for identifying RFID tags on the fixture (30) being replaced.

6. The automated oil injection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A safety protection system is provided at least around the automatic lifting device (20), the fixture (30), and the automated loading and unloading mechanism (50) for safe isolation during equipment operation.

7. The automated oil injection equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The safety protection system includes a safety light curtain and a safety door with a pneumatic locking mechanism.

8. The automated oil injection equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, A conveyor line (100) is arranged on the right side of the machine (10), and the conveyor line (100) extends forward and backward; the fixture (30), the transfer station (60), and the conveyor line (100) are arranged sequentially from left to right, and the automated loading and unloading mechanism (50) is located behind the conveyor line (100) to connect the conveyor line (100), the transfer station (60), and the fixture (30).

9. The automated oil injection equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, The operating interface of the controller (90) is set to face forward.

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