Automatic feeding and discharging device for plate production line

Abstract

The utility model discloses an automatic feeding and discharging device for board production line, including frame, feeding and discharging mechanism and conveying mechanism. The feeding and discharging mechanism includes board material bin, board transport subassembly and board push assembly, and board transport subassembly is located in the board material bin discharge end, and includes the first transport subassembly and second transport subassembly who sets up in sequence along the conveying direction, and the board push assembly includes first push subassembly and second push subassembly, and first push subassembly is used for pushing board from board material bin to first transport subassembly, and second push subassembly is used for pushing board from first transport subassembly to second transport subassembly, and second transport subassembly is connected with conveying mechanism to complete conveying, and the utility model discloses through relay type push and segmented transmission, effectively improves the feeding and discharging efficiency and running stability, and significantly reduces the risk of board surface damage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of sheet metal processing equipment technology, specifically to an automatic loading and unloading device for a sheet metal production line. Background Technology

[0002] In the modern sheet metal processing and manufacturing industry, automation and intelligentization have become key development directions for improving production efficiency, ensuring product quality, and reducing labor costs. Sheet metal production lines typically include multiple processes such as cutting, conveying, processing, and stacking. Among these, the loading and unloading process, as a crucial node connecting warehousing and processing stations, directly affects the operational efficiency and stability of the entire production line due to its level of automation.

[0003] Traditional sheet metal loading and unloading methods rely heavily on manual operation or semi-automatic equipment. For example, operators must manually remove sheets from the stacked hopper one by one and place them on the conveyor line, or use a simple pusher mechanism to push the sheets. These methods are not only labor-intensive and inefficient, but also prone to human error leading to scratches, misalignment, or even equipment collisions, affecting subsequent processing accuracy. Furthermore, in high-speed, continuous production scenarios, traditional loading and unloading devices struggle to achieve precise coordination with the conveyor mechanism, easily causing problems such as jamming, stacking, or conveyor interruptions.

[0004] To address these issues, the industry has developed various automated loading and unloading devices, such as solutions using vacuum suction cups in conjunction with robotic arms for sheet material gripping and transfer. However, existing technologies still have several shortcomings: vacuum suction requires high levels of surface cleanliness and flatness of the sheets, and the equipment is expensive and complex to maintain. Additionally, robotic arms are used for loading and unloading. However, robotic arm solutions typically have high equipment investment and maintenance costs, and for larger sheets or sheets with high surface finish requirements, maintaining stability and preventing damage during the gripping process presents significant technical challenges.

[0005] For example, Chinese invention patent CN 120864113 A discloses a loading and unloading device for sheet metal production, which achieves automatic loading and unloading of sheets metal through a truss assembly, an adjustable adsorption clamping mechanism, and a sheet metal loading and unloading mechanism. Although the device has a certain degree of self-adaptability, its structure is complex, relies on vacuum adsorption and multiple adjustment mechanisms, and has a high manufacturing cost.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to develop an adaptable and cost-controllable automatic loading and unloading device to meet the needs of modern sheet metal production lines for high efficiency, high precision and continuous operation. Utility Model Content

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic loading and unloading device for sheet metal production lines. This device solves the technical problems of low efficiency and easy damage to sheets metal caused by traditional manual or semi-automatic loading and unloading methods, as well as the high cost, stringent requirements on sheet metal surface, or insufficient stability of existing automation solutions. This invention aims to provide a highly adaptable device that can achieve stable and efficient automatic transfer of sheet metal.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: An automatic loading and unloading device for a sheet metal production line includes a frame, a loading and unloading mechanism mounted on the frame, and a conveying mechanism for conveying the sheet metal; the loading and unloading mechanism includes: A material storage compartment for holding the sheet material; A sheet metal transport assembly, disposed at the discharge end of the sheet metal hopper, is used to transport sheet metal ejected from the hopper to a conveying mechanism. The transport assembly includes a first transport assembly and a second transport assembly arranged sequentially along the sheet metal conveying direction. A sheet material pushing assembly is disposed on the side of the sheet material bin away from the transport assembly for pushing the sheet material; The sheet material pushing assembly includes a first pushing assembly and a second pushing assembly. The first pushing assembly is configured to push the sheet material from the sheet material bin to a first transport assembly, and the second pushing assembly is configured to push the sheet material from the first transport assembly to a second transport assembly. The second transport assembly is connected to the conveying mechanism to complete the conveying of the sheet material.

[0009] Furthermore, the board material storage compartment includes multiple guide posts, which are arranged vertically to guide the stacking of boards and to position the boards.

[0010] Furthermore, the first transport component is vertically and elliptically mounted at the discharge end of the board material bin. The first transport component includes a transport frame and a lifting drive component. The lifting drive component is used to drive the transport frame to lift and lower to transport the board material. The lifting drive component is one of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric push rod.

[0011] Furthermore, the first transport component has a first transport position and a second transport position, the first transport position being configured to allow the first pushing component to push the sheet onto the transport frame, and the second transport position being configured to allow the second pushing component to push the sheet onto the second transport component.

[0012] Furthermore, the bottom of the transport frame is provided with at least two support rods spaced apart along the length of the plate to reduce the friction of the plate moving on the transport frame.

[0013] Furthermore, the second push assembly is disposed above the first push assembly. Both the first and second push assemblies include a push rod and a push plate. The push rod is one of a pneumatic push rod, a hydraulic push rod, or an electric push rod. The push plate is used to contact and push the plate.

[0014] Furthermore, the push plate is provided with a buffer pad to reduce the impact when pushing the plate.

[0015] Furthermore, the second transport component includes a tilting frame having an L-shaped limiting structure rotatable relative to the frame for supporting and transferring the sheet metal to the conveying mechanism by tilting.

[0016] Furthermore, the tilting frame is fixed to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is rotatably fixed to the machine frame; the automatic loading and unloading device also includes a drive motor, which is fixed to the machine frame, and the output end of the drive motor is connected to the rotating shaft to drive the rotating shaft to rotate.

[0017] Furthermore, the conveying mechanism includes guide rollers or a conveyor belt for conveying the sheet metal to subsequent processing stations.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, this utility model has the following beneficial effects: This invention employs a relay-type transmission system consisting of a first pushing component, a first transport component, a second pushing component, and a second transport component. The first pushing component only needs to push the sheet material from the hopper to the first transport component, which has a shorter distance, and then the second pushing component completes the secondary pushing to the second transport component. Compared to the traditional method where a single pushing component completes a long-stroke push, this step-by-step pushing method significantly shortens the stroke and time of individual actuators, allowing each component to work together efficiently and quickly, thereby improving the overall cycle time. At the same time, the short-stroke pushing reduces the risk of deviation and jamming caused by the sheet material sliding over long distances, and reduces the load and wear on the pushing components, ensuring the long-term stability and reliability of the device.

[0019] This invention establishes an effective surface protection mechanism for sheet metal through a liftable first transport component and optimized contact design. The first transport component uses a lifting drive to elevate the sheet metal from the hopper via a transport frame. Multiple support rods at the bottom of the transport frame form line contact or small-area contact with the bottom surface of the sheet metal, greatly reducing the contact area and friction, thus fundamentally preventing scratches on the bottom surface. Furthermore, the push plate of the pushing component has a buffer pad that cushions the impact when pushing the sheet metal, effectively preventing damage to the edges or surface of the sheet metal caused by rigid impact. This design is particularly suitable for sheet metal requiring high surface finish, such as stainless steel, coated steel, and mirror steel.

[0020] The second transport component of this invention adopts a tilting frame structure. Its unique L-shaped limiting structure can reliably support the sheet metal in a horizontal position, and the motor-driven tilting action smoothly transfers the sheet metal to the conveying mechanism. This tilting discharge method has a simple structure and reliable operation, and can adapt well to conveyor line interfaces of different heights and types, solving the problems of poor connection between the sheet metal and the conveying mechanism and easy jamming in traditional pushing methods. The entire device has a reasonable layout, integrating storage, transfer, and output. It does not require expensive robotic arms or vacuum adsorption systems, and while ensuring the degree of automation and functional integrity, it significantly reduces the manufacturing and maintenance costs of the equipment, making it widely applicable to sheet metal processing enterprises of different sizes and production needs. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below only involve some embodiments of this utility model, and are not intended to limit this utility model.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the loading and unloading mechanism of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention from another perspective; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the transportation of the sheet metal according to this utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the transportation of sheet metal from another perspective of this utility model.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1-Frame; 2-Loading / unloading mechanism; 21-Sheet material bin; 211-Guide column; 22-First transport assembly; 221-Transport frame; 222-Lifting drive component; 23-Second transport assembly; 231-Tilting frame; 232-Rotating shaft; 233-Drive motor; 24-First pushing assembly; 241-Push rod; 242-Push plate; 25-Second pushing assembly; 3-Conveying mechanism; 4-Sheet material; Detailed Implementation To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The components of the embodiments of this utility model described and shown in the accompanying drawings can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0024] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this patent document shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this utility model pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this utility model patent specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, the terms "an," "a," or "the" do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. The terms "comprising" or "including" indicate that the element or object preceding "comprising" encompasses the element or object listed following "comprising" or its equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects. Terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly. 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0026] 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.

[0027] Example 1: like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, this embodiment provides an automatic loading and unloading device for a sheet metal production line. This device is mainly used to achieve automated and efficient loading and unloading operations for rectangular sheet metal (such as metal sheets, wood sheets, composite boards, etc.). Its core design concept lies in decomposing the long-distance sheet metal conveying task into multiple short-stroke, high-precision coordinated actions through "relay-style" pushing and transmission. This improves efficiency while maximizing the protection of the sheet metal surface quality and ensuring smooth connection with downstream conveyor lines.

[0028] The automatic loading and unloading device mainly includes a frame 1, a loading and unloading mechanism 2, and a conveying mechanism 3.

[0029] The frame 1 serves as the structural foundation of the entire device and is typically constructed from structural steel (such as square steel or angle steel) connected by welding or bolting to form a sturdy frame. Its dimensions and strength are designed according to the size and weight of the plates to be processed, ensuring that it maintains overall rigidity and stability under dynamic loads.

[0030] The loading and unloading mechanism 2 is the core of this utility model. It is configured on the frame 1 and is mainly responsible for the storage, separation, and intermediate transfer of the sheet metal. This mechanism further includes a sheet material bin 21, a sheet metal transport assembly, and a sheet metal pushing assembly.

[0031] The material storage bin 21 is used to neatly stack multiple sheets of material 4 to be processed. It typically includes a base plate and multiple guide posts 211. In this embodiment, four guide posts 211 are provided, located at the four corners of the storage bin and arranged vertically. These guide posts 211 together form a rectangular space, providing circumferential restraint and guidance for the stacked sheets 4, preventing the sheets from tilting or misaligning during stacking or retrieval. The guide posts 211 can be in the form of round rods, with line contact with the sheets 4, which helps reduce friction; alternatively, guide strips made of nylon or engineering plastic can be installed on their inner sides to further protect the edges of the sheets.

[0032] The sheet material transport assembly is located at the discharge end of the sheet material bin 21 (i.e., Figure 2 (As shown on the right). It is used to support the sheet material 4 pushed out from the sheet material bin 21 and transfer it in stages to the conveying mechanism 3. The transport assembly includes a first transport assembly 22 and a second transport assembly 23 arranged sequentially along the sheet material transport direction (i.e., from the sheet material bin 21 to the conveying mechanism 3).

[0033] like Figures 2 to 3As shown, the first transport component 22 is liftable and is located at the discharge end of the board material bin 21, directly opposite the path through which the board is pushed out. Its main function is to receive the board pushed out of the bin and lift it to prepare for subsequent secondary pushing. The main function of the first transport component 22 is to receive the board 4 pushed out of the bin and to separate and position the board 4 through lifting motion. The first transport component 22 specifically includes a transport frame 221 and a lifting drive component 222. The transport frame 221 is a frame structure welded from multiple square tubes. In order to greatly reduce the friction of the board 4 when moving on the transport frame 221 and prevent scratching the bottom surface of the board, at least two support rods are arranged at intervals along the length of the board at the bottom of the transport frame 221. The support rods are made of stainless steel tubes with polished surfaces and form line contact with the bottom surface of the board 4, effectively reducing the contact area and frictional resistance. It is worth emphasizing that the first transport component 220 has two precisely positioned positions: a first transport position and a second transport position. In the first transport position, the top of the upper surface support rod of the transport frame 221 is slightly lower than the bottom surface of the bottom layer of the sheet material in the sheet material bin 210. This position is configured to allow the first push assembly 24 to smoothly push the sheet material from the bin onto the transport frame. In the second transport position, the transport frame 221 is raised. This position is configured to allow the second push assembly 25 to smoothly push the sheet material on the transport frame onto the second transport assembly.

[0034] The lifting drive component 222 is used to drive the transport frame 221 to move up and down. In this embodiment, the lifting drive component 222 is preferably a cylinder. Two cylinders are configured, and the cylinder bodies of the two cylinders are fixedly mounted on the frame 1, with the ends of their piston rods connected to the bottom of the transport frame 221. By controlling the extension and retraction of the cylinders, the transport frame 221 can be raised (to receive and support the plate) and lowered (reset to the waiting position). It is understood that the lifting drive component 222 can also be a hydraulic cylinder or an electric push rod, and those skilled in the art can select according to the requirements of load, speed, and control accuracy.

[0035] The second transport component 23 is located downstream of the first transport component 22. Its function is to receive the plate 4 pushed from the first transport component 22 and ultimately transfer it to the conveying mechanism 3. In this embodiment, the second transport component 23 includes a tilting frame 231. The tilting frame 231 has an L-shaped limiting structure, which consists of a horizontal support arm and a vertical stop arm. The horizontal support arm supports the plate 4, and the vertical stop arm limits the tilting process to prevent the plate from slipping out. The tilting frame 231 is rotatably connected to the frame 1 via a rotating shaft 232. To drive its tilting, the device also includes a drive motor 233. The drive motor 233 is fixed to the frame 1, and its output end is connected to the rotating shaft 232 via a transmission mechanism. When the drive motor 233 is working, it drives the rotating shaft 232 to rotate, thereby driving the entire tilting frame 231 to rotate around the axis of the rotating shaft 232, realizing the tilting and tilting of the supported plate 4 onto the conveying mechanism 3. The transmission mechanism is configured as a worm gear transmission mechanism.

[0036] The plate pushing assembly is located on the side of the plate material bin 21 away from the transport assembly (i.e. Figure 1 (As shown on the left). Its function is to provide power for the horizontal movement of the plate 4. The plate pushing assembly is not a single component, but includes a first pushing assembly 24 and a second pushing assembly 25.

[0037] The first pushing component 24 is positioned at a low position and has a short stroke. It is specifically designed to push the sheet material 4 in the sheet material bin 21 horizontally onto the transport frame 221 of the first transport component 22.

[0038] The second pushing assembly 25 is positioned above the first pushing assembly 24. Its function is to continue to push the plate 4, which is already on the transport frame 221 of the first transport assembly 22, horizontally onto the flipping frame 231 of the second transport assembly 23.

[0039] In this embodiment, both the first pushing assembly 24 and the second pushing assembly 25 include a push rod 241 and a push plate 242. The push rod 241 provides power and is preferably a pneumatic push rod because it has the advantages of fast action, cleanliness, and easy control. Of course, a hydraulic push rod (suitable for heavy loads) or an electric push rod (suitable for high-precision control) can also be used. The push plate 242 is fixedly connected to the end of the push rod and is used to directly contact and push the side (usually the long side) of the plate 4. In order to protect the edge of the plate from impact damage during the pushing moment, a buffer pad is provided on the surface of the push plate 242 that contacts the plate. The buffer pad can be made of elastic materials such as polyurethane or rubber.

[0040] The conveying mechanism 3 is connected to the second transport component 23 and is used to receive the sheet metal 4 transferred from the flipping frame 231 and continuously transport it to subsequent processing stations, such as cutting, stamping, and engraving equipment. The conveying mechanism 3 can be a common guide roller mechanism (such as...). Figure 3 As shown, it consists of a series of rollers driven by a motor, or it can be a conveyor belt mechanism. Its specific form depends on the overall layout and requirements of the production line.

[0041] The workflow of this embodiment is as follows: Initial state: Multiple sheets of board 4 are stacked in the board material silo 21. The transport frame 221 of the first transport assembly 22 is in the first transport position, with the top surface of its bottom support rod slightly lower than the bottom surface of the bottommost board in the silo. The push plates 242 of the first and second push assemblies 24 and 25 are both in the retracted state. The tilting frame 231 of the second transport assembly 23 is in a horizontal receiving position.

[0042] Step 1: Pushing and receiving: The push rod 241 of the first pushing assembly 24 extends, driving the push plate 242 (with buffer pad) to move forward, pushing the plate 4 in the plate material bin 21 so that it slides out of the bin and is completely placed on the transport frame 221 of the first transport assembly 22. After completion, the first pushing assembly 24 retracts back to its original position.

[0043] First lifting and separation: The lifting drive component 222 (cylinder) of the first transport component 22 works, driving the transport frame 221 to lift upward, and the first transport component 22 is in the second transport position.

[0044] The second step involves pushing: the push rod 241 of the second pushing assembly 25 extends, driving its push plate 242 with a buffer pad to move forward. Since the bottom of the plate 4 is a low-friction support rod, only a small pushing force is needed to smoothly and steadily push it from the transport frame 221 of the first transport assembly 22 into the L-shaped limiting structure of the flipping frame 231 of the second transport assembly 23.

[0045] Tilting and unloading: After the plate 4 is fully pushed into the tilting frame 231, the drive motor 233 of the second transport component 23 is activated, driving the tilting frame 231 to rotate clockwise (e.g., 90°) around the rotating shaft 232. During this process, the plate 4 slides down the L-shaped inclined surface of the tilting frame 231 under the action of gravity and is placed smoothly on the guide rollers of the conveying mechanism 3.

[0046] Reset and Cycle: The tilting frame 231 resets to a horizontal position under the action of the drive motor 233. Simultaneously, the transport frame 221 of the first transport assembly 22 descends and resets. The entire device returns to its initial state, ready for the next work cycle. The conveying mechanism 3 continues to operate, transporting the received sheet metal 4 away.

[0047] In summary, this invention successfully constructs a highly efficient, stable, damage-free, and highly adaptable automatic loading and unloading system by using the step-by-step relay pushing of the first and second pushing components, combined with the liftable and low-friction support design of the first transport component, and the flipping unloading structure of the second transport component. It effectively overcomes the inherent defects of existing technologies, such as low efficiency during long-stroke pushing, easy jamming, damage to the material, and poor docking.

[0048] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An automatic loading and unloading device for a sheet metal production line, comprising a frame, a loading and unloading mechanism mounted on the frame, and a conveying mechanism for conveying sheet metal; characterized in that, The loading and unloading mechanism includes: A material storage compartment for holding the sheet material; A sheet metal transport assembly, disposed at the discharge end of the sheet metal hopper, is used to transport sheet metal ejected from the hopper to a conveying mechanism. The transport assembly includes a first transport assembly and a second transport assembly arranged sequentially along the sheet metal conveying direction. A sheet material pushing assembly is disposed on the side of the sheet material bin away from the transport assembly for pushing the sheet material; The sheet material pushing assembly includes a first pushing assembly and a second pushing assembly. The first pushing assembly is configured to push the sheet material from the sheet material bin to a first transport assembly, and the second pushing assembly is configured to push the sheet material from the first transport assembly to a second transport assembly. The second transport assembly is connected to the conveying mechanism to complete the conveying of the sheet material.

2. The automatic loading and unloading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The board material storage compartment includes multiple guide columns, which are arranged vertically to guide the stacking of boards and position the boards.

3. The automatic loading and unloading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first transport component is vertically and flexibly disposed at the discharge end of the plate material bin. The first transport component includes a transport frame and a lifting drive component. The lifting drive component is used to drive the transport frame to lift and lower to transport the plate material. The lifting drive component is one of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric push rod.

4. The automatic loading and unloading device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first transport component has a first transport position and a second transport position, the first transport position being configured to allow the first pusher component to push the sheet onto the transport frame, and the second transport position being configured to allow the second pusher component to push the sheet onto the second transport component.

5. The automatic loading and unloading device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bottom of the transport frame is provided with at least two support rods spaced apart along the length of the plate to reduce the friction of the plate as it moves on the transport frame.

6. The automatic loading and unloading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second jacking assembly is positioned above the first jacking assembly. Both the first and second jacking assemblies include a push rod and a push plate. The push rod is one of a pneumatic push rod, a hydraulic push rod, or an electric push rod. The push plate is used to contact and push the plate.

7. The automatic loading and unloading device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The push plate is equipped with a buffer pad to reduce the impact when pushing the plate.

8. The automatic loading and unloading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second transport component includes a tilting frame having an L-shaped limiting structure that can rotate relative to the frame for supporting and transferring the sheet metal to the conveying mechanism by tilting.

9. The automatic loading and unloading device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The tilting frame is fixed to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is rotatably fixed to the machine frame; the automatic loading and unloading device also includes a drive motor, which is fixed to the machine frame, and the output end of the drive motor is connected to the rotating shaft to drive the rotating shaft to rotate.

10. The automatic loading and unloading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism includes guide rollers or a conveyor belt for conveying the sheet metal to subsequent processing stations.

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