Feeding device and feeding system

Abstract

A feeding device and a feeding system, which relate to the field of batteries. The feeding device (10) comprises a first conveying mechanism (100), a first lifting mechanism (200) and a transfer mechanism (300), wherein the first conveying mechanism is configured to convey a tray (910) from a first station (101) to a second station (102), the tray is configured to accommodate a material box (920), and the material box is configured to accommodate a workpiece (930). The first lifting mechanism is arranged at the first station, and is configured to lift the material box in the tray to a position for picking up, so as to enable a manipulator to pick up the workpiece in the material box. The transfer mechanism is configured to transfer, into the tray at the second station, the material box located at the position for picking up. By using the feeding device, a stack of material boxes can be placed in the tray, such that the workpieces in the stack of material boxes can be sequentially supplied to the manipulator under the cooperation of the transfer mechanism and the first lifting mechanism, and after the manipulator picks up the workpieces, the empty material boxes are placed in original trays thereof, such that manual involvement is low, the automation degree is high, and the feeding efficiency is high.

Description

Feeding device and feeding system

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application entitled “Feeding Device and Feeding System” filed on August 9, 2023 (application number: 2023109962773), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of batteries, and in particular to a feeding device and a feeding system. Background Art

[0004] Batteries are widely used in new energy applications, such as electric vehicles and new energy vehicles. These have become a new trend in the automotive industry. Battery production often involves workpiece loading, and workpiece loading efficiency has a significant impact on battery production efficiency. However, current loading efficiency is relatively low.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a feeding device and a feeding system, which are intended to improve the problem of low feeding efficiency in the related art.

[0007] In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a feeding device, which includes a first conveying mechanism, a first lifting mechanism and a transfer mechanism, wherein the first conveying mechanism is used to transport a tray from a first workstation to a second workstation, the tray is used to accommodate a material box, and the material box is used to accommodate a workpiece; the first lifting mechanism is arranged at the first workstation, and the first lifting mechanism is used to lift the material box in the tray to a position to be picked up, so that a robot can pick up the workpiece in the material box; the transfer mechanism is used to transfer the material box located at the position to be picked up to the tray located at the second workstation.

[0008] In the above technical solution, the first conveying mechanism of the feeding device can transport the tray from the first station to the second station. When the tray is at the first station, the first lifting mechanism can lift the material box in the tray, separating the material box from the tray, and lift the material box to the waiting position for the robot to pick up the workpiece in the material box. During the process of the robot picking up the material box, the first conveying mechanism transports the empty tray from the first station to the second station. After the robot has finished picking up the workpiece in the material box, the transfer mechanism can transfer the empty material box from the waiting position to the tray at the second station. Using this feeding device, a stack of material boxes can be placed in the tray. The workpieces in the stack of material boxes can be supplied to the robot in sequence with the cooperation of the transfer mechanism and the first lifting mechanism. After the robot picks up the materials, the empty stack of material boxes is placed in the original tray. This reduces manual intervention, has a high degree of automation, and has high loading efficiency.

[0009] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the transfer mechanism includes a transfer mechanism and a second lifting mechanism, the transfer mechanism switches between the first workstation and the second workstation, and the transfer mechanism is used to transfer the material box located at the to-be-picked position to the second workstation; the second lifting mechanism is arranged at the second workstation, and the second lifting mechanism is used to receive the material box transferred by the transfer mechanism and lower the material box into the tray.

[0010] In the above technical solution, the transfer mechanism can switch between the first and second stations to transfer empty material boxes located at the pickup position to the second station, where they are then transferred to the second lifting mechanism. The second lifting mechanism receives the empty material boxes transferred by the transfer mechanism and lowers them into their original tray. This allows the material boxes to be smoothly transferred from the pickup position to their original tray, minimizing damage to the material boxes and extending their lifespan.

[0011] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the transfer mechanism includes a mobile platform and a picking unit, and the transfer platform can switch between the first workstation and the second workstation by moving along a first direction, and the first direction intersects with the lifting direction of the second lifting mechanism; the picking unit is arranged on the mobile platform, and the picking unit is used to pick up the material box.

[0012] In the above technical solution, the picking unit is connected to the mobile platform and can move with the mobile platform to switch between the first and second stations. After picking up an empty material box at the waiting position, the picking unit, driven by the mobile platform, moves to the second station, where it transfers the picked empty material box to the second lifting mechanism. Then, driven by the mobile platform, it returns to the waiting position, and this reciprocating motion is repeated to transfer the entire stack of material boxes to the original tray.

[0013] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the picking unit includes a clamp and an adsorption component, the clamp is arranged on the mobile platform, and the clamp is used to clamp the material box; the adsorption component is arranged on the mobile platform, and the adsorption component is used to adsorb the material box.

[0014] In the above technical solution, the clamping claw can clamp the material box, and the adsorbing piece can adsorb the material box, and the two work together to achieve stable clamping of the material box and reduce the risk of the material box falling.

[0015] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the feeding device includes a second conveying mechanism, the second conveying mechanism includes a first cache section and a loading section, the first cache section is arranged upstream of the first workstation, and the loading section is arranged upstream of the first cache section, the first cache section is used to cache the pallet conveyed by the loading section and convey the pallet to the first workstation.

[0016] In the above technical solution, by providing a loading section and a first buffer section, multiple full pallets can be manually placed on the loading section at once. These pallets are then sequentially fed into the first buffer section, where they are buffered and delivered to the first workstation when needed. This reduces the need for manual loading for a period of time after manual loading.

[0017] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the conveying mechanism includes multiple loading sections, and the multiple loading sections are all connected to the first cache section.

[0018] In the above technical solution, by providing multiple loading sections, multiple full pallets can be manually placed on the multiple loading sections at once. The multiple full pallets on the multiple loading sections are sequentially fed into the first buffer section, where they are buffered and then transported to the first workstation when needed. This way, after manual loading, there is no need to reload for a period of time, further reducing the frequency of manual loading.

[0019] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the feeding device includes a first carrying platform and a first lifting mechanism, the first carrying platform is located at the first workstation, and the first lifting mechanism is used to lift the material box in the tray located on the first carrying platform; the first lifting mechanism is used to lift the first carrying platform so that the first carrying platform can switch between the first position and the second position. When the first carrying platform is in the first position, the first carrying platform receives the tray conveyed by the first cache segment, and when the first carrying platform is in the second position, the first carrying platform supplies the tray to the first conveying mechanism.

[0020] In the above technical solution, the first lifting mechanism is capable of lifting or lowering the first carrying platform, allowing the first carrying platform to move between a first position and a second position. The first carrying platform is configured to receive a pallet conveyed by the first buffer section when in the first position, and to supply the pallet it carries to the first conveying mechanism when in the second position, so that the first conveying mechanism can convey the pallet from the first station to the second station.

[0021] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the first position is higher than the second position.

[0022] In the above technical solution, the second position is lower than the first position. The first lifting mechanism lifts the material box to drive the material box to move upward to the position to be picked up, and the first lifting mechanism drives the first supporting platform to move downward. In this way, the tray can be completely separated from the material box, reducing the risk of interference between the tray and the material box when moving to the second workstation.

[0023] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the feeding device includes a position detection mechanism, which is used to detect the position of the first carrying platform. The first cache segment responds to the position detection mechanism to transport the pallet to the first carrying platform when the first carrying platform is located at the first position.

[0024] In the above technical solution, when the position detection mechanism detects that the first load platform is in the first position, the first buffer section delivers pallets to the first load platform. When the position detection mechanism detects that the first load platform is in another position or the second position, the first buffer section stops delivering pallets to the first load platform. In this way, pallets cached in the first buffer section can be accurately delivered to the first load platform, and are less likely to interfere with other structures and cause pallets to overturn.

[0025] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the first bearing platform includes a first bearing surface, and the first cache segment includes a second bearing surface. When the first bearing platform is in the first position, the first bearing surface is flush with the second bearing surface.

[0026] In the above technical solution, when the first carrying platform is in the first position, the first carrying surface of the first carrying platform and the second carrying surface of the first cache segment are flush with each other. In this way, the pallet on the second carrying surface can be smoothly transported to the first carrying surface. There is no height difference between the two, which makes it difficult for the pallet to overturn.

[0027] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the feeding device includes a first carrying platform and a first lifting mechanism, and the first carrying platform is located at the first workstation; the first lifting mechanism is used to lift the first carrying platform so that the first carrying platform can switch between the first position and the second position. When the first carrying platform is located at the first position, the first lifting mechanism is used to lift the material box in the tray located on the first carrying platform; when the first carrying platform is located at the second position, the first carrying platform is used to supply the tray to the first conveying mechanism.

[0028] In the above technical solution, the first lifting mechanism is capable of lifting or lowering the first carrying platform, so that the first carrying platform can move between a first position and a second position. The first carrying platform is used to receive a pallet conveyed by the first buffer section when it is in the first position, and the first lifting mechanism is capable of lifting the material box within the pallet received by the first carrying platform. The first carrying platform is also used to supply the pallet it carries to the first conveying mechanism when it is in the second position, so that the first conveying mechanism can convey the pallet from the first station to the second station.

[0029] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the feeding device includes a third conveying mechanism, and the third conveying mechanism includes a second cache section and a unloading section. The second cache section is arranged downstream of the second workstation, and the unloading section is arranged downstream of the second cache section. The second cache section is used to cache the pallets conveyed by the second workstation and convey the pallets to the unloading section.

[0030] In the above technical solution, by providing a second buffer section and a material unloading section, trays loaded with empty material boxes can be cached in the second buffer section. After caching multiple trays, manual unloading is then performed all at once from the material unloading section. This way, after manual unloading, there is no need to unload materials for a period of time, reducing the frequency of manual unloading.

[0031] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the feeding device includes a second carrying platform and a second jacking mechanism, and the second carrying platform is located at the second workstation; the second jacking mechanism is used to lift the second carrying platform so that the second carrying platform can switch between a third position and a fourth position. When the second carrying platform is located at the third position, the second carrying platform receives the pallet conveyed by the first conveying mechanism, and when the second carrying platform is located at the fourth position, the second carrying platform supplies the pallet to the second cache segment.

[0032] In the above technical solution, the second lifting mechanism is capable of raising or lowering the second carrying platform, allowing the second carrying platform to move between a third position and a fourth position. The second carrying platform is configured to receive pallets conveyed by the first conveying mechanism when in the third position, and to deliver the pallets it carries to the second buffer section when in the fourth position, so that the second buffer section can convey the pallets to the unloading section.

[0033] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, the second bearing platform includes a third bearing surface, and the second cache segment includes a fourth bearing surface. When the second bearing platform is in the fourth position, the third bearing surface is flush with the fourth bearing surface.

[0034] In the above technical solution, when the second supporting platform is in the fourth position, the third supporting surface of the second supporting platform and the fourth supporting surface of the second cache segment are flush with each other. In this way, the pallet on the third supporting surface can be smoothly transported to the fourth supporting surface. There is no height difference between the two, which makes it difficult for the pallet to overturn.

[0035] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a feeding system, which includes a plurality of the above-mentioned feeding devices.

[0036] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, each of the feeding devices includes a unloading section, which is arranged downstream of the second workstation, and the unloading section is used to unload the pallets. The feeding system includes a unloading mechanism, and the unloading mechanism is used to unload the pallets on the unloading sections of two adjacent feeding devices.

[0037] In the above technical solution, by setting a blanking mechanism to unload the pallet on the unloading section, manual participation is further reduced, the degree of automation is improved, the unloading efficiency is improved, and the production efficiency is improved.

[0038] As an optional technical solution of an embodiment of the present application, each of the feeding devices includes a loading section, the loading section is arranged upstream of the first workstation, and the loading section and the unloading section are arranged along the first direction; the multiple feeding devices include a first feeding device and a second feeding device, and along the first direction, the unloading section of the first feeding device and the unloading section of the second feeding device are located between the loading section of the first feeding device and the loading section of the second feeding device.

[0039] In the above technical solution, the unloading section of the first feeding device and the unloading section of the second feeding device are located between the loading section of the first feeding device and the loading section of the second feeding device, so that the unloading section of the first feeding device and the unloading section of the second feeding device are relatively close, and the pallets on the unloading section of the first feeding device and the pallets on the unloading section of the second feeding device can be unloaded through a unloading mechanism, thereby reducing the cost of the feeding system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other relevant drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0041] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a feeding device provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0042] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a transfer mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0043] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a second lifting mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0044] FIG4 is a side view schematic diagram of a second lifting mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0045] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a feeding device provided in other embodiments of the present application;

[0046] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the first load-bearing platform and the first lifting mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0047] FIG7 is a side view schematic diagram of a first load-bearing platform and a first lifting mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0048] FIG8 is a schematic block diagram of the connection between a position detection mechanism, a first carrying platform, and a first buffer segment according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0049] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a first conveying mechanism provided in some embodiments of the present application.

[0050] Icons: 10-feeding device; 100-first conveying mechanism; 101-first workstation; 102-second workstation; 110-first conveyor belt; 120-second conveyor belt; 130-fourth driving member; 140-drive shaft; 200-first lifting mechanism; 300-transfer mechanism; 310-transfer mechanism; 311-moving platform; 3111-frame; 3112-mounting bar; 312-picking unit; 3121-clamping claw; 3122-first driving member; 3123-adsorption member; 320-second lifting mechanism; 321- Second driving member; 322-lifting arm; 330-slide rail; 400-second conveying mechanism; 410-loading section; 420-first buffer section; 510-first bearing platform; 511-roller; 520-first lifting mechanism; 521-mounting seat; 522-third driving member; 523-guide member; 530-position detection mechanism; 600-third conveying mechanism; 610-second buffer section; 620-unloading section; 710-second bearing platform; 800-frame; 910-tray; 920-material box; 930-workpiece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0052] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in the specification of this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application. The terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of this application or the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order or a primary-secondary relationship.

[0053] References to "embodiments" in this application mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments.

[0054] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connected," and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, or internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0055] In this application, the term "and / or" simply describes a relationship between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone. Furthermore, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0056] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals represent the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components in different embodiments are omitted. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the various components in the embodiments of this application, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device shown in the drawings are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0057] The term "plurality" used in this application refers to two or more (including two).

[0058] Currently, market developments indicate that batteries are increasingly being used. They are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal, wind, and solar power plants, but are also widely used in electric vehicles like electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. As battery applications continue to expand, market demand is also growing.

[0059] During the battery production process, workpiece loading is often involved. The workpiece loading efficiency has a significant impact on the battery production efficiency. However, the current loading efficiency is relatively low.

[0060] The current feeding method generally involves manually pushing a basket carrying workpieces to a pickup location via a trolley. A robotic arm then grabs the workpiece from the pickup location, and an empty trolley retrieves the empty basket from the unloading location. This method requires frequent manual loading and unloading, resulting in low loading efficiency.

[0061] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a feeding device, comprising a first conveying mechanism, a first lifting mechanism, and a transfer mechanism. The first conveying mechanism is used to transport a tray from a first station to a second station. The tray is used to hold a material box, which is used to hold a workpiece. The first lifting mechanism is disposed at the first station and is used to lift the material box in the tray to a waiting position for a robot to pick up the workpiece in the material box. The transfer mechanism is used to transfer the material box in the waiting position to a tray in the second station.

[0062] The first conveying mechanism of the feeding device can transport a tray from the first station to the second station. When the tray is at the first station, the first lifting mechanism can lift the material box in the tray, separating the material box from the tray and lifting the material box to a waiting position for the robot to pick up the workpiece in the material box. During the process of the robot picking up the material box, the first conveying mechanism transports the empty tray from the first station to the second station. After the robot has picked up the workpiece in the material box, the transfer mechanism can transfer the empty material box from the waiting position to the tray at the second station. Using this feeding device, a stack of material boxes can be placed in the tray. The workpieces in the stack of material boxes can be sequentially supplied to the robot with the cooperation of the transfer mechanism and the first lifting mechanism. After the robot picks up the materials, the empty stack of material boxes is placed back into the original tray. This reduces manual intervention, has a high degree of automation, and improves feeding efficiency.

[0063] The technical solution described in the embodiment of the present application is applicable to the loading of workpieces, which may be aluminum shells, end caps, etc. The technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is used for loading, which has a high loading efficiency.

[0064] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a feeding device 10 provided in some embodiments of the present application. An embodiment of the present application provides a feeding device 10, which includes a first conveying mechanism 100, a first lifting mechanism 200, and a transfer mechanism 300. The first conveying mechanism 100 is used to transport a tray 910 from a first station 101 to a second station 102. The tray 910 is used to accommodate a material box 920, which is used to accommodate a workpiece 930. The first lifting mechanism 200 is provided at the first station 101, and the first lifting mechanism 200 is used to lift the material box 920 in the tray 910 to a position to be picked up, so that a robot can pick up the workpiece 930 in the material box 920. The transfer mechanism 300 is used to transfer the material box 920 located at the position to be picked up to the tray 910 located at the second station 102.

[0065] The first conveying mechanism 100 is a mechanism for conveying the pallet 910 so as to move the pallet 910 from the first workstation 101 to the second workstation 102. The first conveying mechanism 100 may be a conveyor belt conveying mechanism, a roller conveying mechanism, a chain plate conveying mechanism, or the like.

[0066] The tray 910 is a component for accommodating or supporting the material box 920. The tray 910 can accommodate only one material box 920 or a stack of material boxes 920. Each material box 920 can accommodate a plurality of workpieces 930, thereby facilitating the transport of the workpieces 930 to a designated location for the robot to pick up.

[0067] It should be noted that the first and second workstations 101 and 102 are defined based on their locations on the ground. For example, Area A is designated as the first workstation 101 and Area B is designated as the second workstation 102. Areas A and B may be spaced apart. If two components are both located in Area A, but there is a height difference between them, both components are still located in the first workstation 101.

[0068] The first lifting mechanism 200 is used to lift the material box 920 within the tray 910 to separate it from the tray 910. By lifting the material box 920, the first lifting mechanism 200 can elevate the material box 920 to a ready-to-pick-up position, facilitating the robot arm's ability to pick up the workpiece 930 in the material box 920. While the material box 920's height changes before and after being lifted by the first lifting mechanism 200, it remains at the first workstation 101.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first lifting mechanism 200 includes a lifting arm 322 and a lifting drive. The lifting arm 322 is connected to the lifting drive. The lifting arm 322 can be inserted between the tray 910 and the material box 920. The lifting drive can drive the lifting arm 322 to move upward, thereby lifting the material box 920 in the tray 910 to a position to be picked up. The lifting drive can also drive the lifting arm 322 to move downward to prepare for the next lifting.

[0070] In other embodiments, the first lifting mechanism 200 may include a lifting claw and a lifting drive member, the lifting claw is connected to the lifting drive member, the lifting claw grabs the material box 920 in the tray 910, and the lifting drive member drives the lifting claw to move up and down, thereby lifting the material box 920 in the tray 910 to a position to be picked up, or moving downward from the position to be picked up to grab the material box 920 in the tray 910.

[0071] The transfer mechanism 300 is used to transfer a material box 920 located at the pickup position to the tray 910 located at the second workstation 102. The transfer mechanism 300 can pre-receive the material box 920 at the pickup position and, after the workpiece 930 in the material box 920 has been picked up by the robot, transfer the material box 920 to the tray 910 located at the second workstation 102. Alternatively, the transfer mechanism 300 can wait until the workpiece 930 in the material box 920 has been picked up by the robot before receiving the material box 920 at the pickup position and then transferring the material box 920 to the tray 910 located at the second workstation 102.

[0072] The first conveying mechanism 100 of the feeding device 10 can convey the tray 910 from the first workstation 101 to the second workstation 102. When the tray 910 is at the first workstation 101, the first lifting mechanism 200 can lift the material box 920 in the tray 910, separating the material box 920 from the tray 910, and lift the material box 920 to a waiting position for the robot to pick up the workpiece 930 in the material box 920. When the robot picks up the material box 920, the first conveying mechanism 100 conveys the empty tray 910 from the first workstation 101 to the second workstation 102. After the robot has finished picking up the workpiece 930 in the material box 920, the transfer mechanism 300 can transfer the empty material box 920 from the waiting position to the tray 910 in the second workstation 102. By using the feeding device 10, a stack of material boxes 920 can be placed in the tray 910, and the workpieces 930 in the stack of material boxes 920 can be supplied to the robot in sequence with the cooperation of the transfer mechanism 300 and the first lifting mechanism 200. Moreover, after the robot takes the material, the empty stack of material boxes 920 is placed in the original tray 910, with less manual participation, a high degree of automation, and high loading efficiency.

[0073] Please refer to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the transfer mechanism 310 provided in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second lifting mechanism 320 provided in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 4 is a side view schematic diagram of the second lifting mechanism 320 provided in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments, the transfer mechanism 300 includes a transfer mechanism 310 and a second lifting mechanism 320. The transfer mechanism 310 switches between the first workstation 101 and the second workstation 102, and the transfer mechanism 310 is used to transfer the material box 920 located at the position to be picked up to the second workstation 102. The second lifting mechanism 320 is arranged at the second workstation 102, and the second lifting mechanism 320 is used to receive the material box 920 transferred by the transfer mechanism 310 and lower the material box 920 into the tray 910.

[0074] The transfer mechanism 310 can switch between the first station 101 and the second station 102, thereby transferring the material box 920 located at the position to be picked up to the second station 102. The transfer mechanism 310 can either move back and forth between the first station 101 and the second station 102 to transfer the material box 920 located at the position to be picked up to the second station 102, or rotate back and forth between the first station 101 and the second station 102 to transfer the material box 920 located at the position to be picked up to the second station 102.

[0075] The second lifting mechanism 320 is used to receive the material box 920 transferred by the transfer mechanism 310 and lower the material box 920 into the tray 910. Optionally, the second lifting mechanism 320 includes a lifting arm 322 and a second driving member 321, with the lifting arm 322 connected to the second driving member 321. When the transfer mechanism 310 reaches the second workstation 102, the transfer mechanism 310 is positioned above the lifting arm 322, and the transfer mechanism 310 releases the material box 920, which is then received by the lifting arm 322. The second driving member 321 can drive the lifting arm 322 downward, thereby lowering the received material box 920 into the tray 910 located below. When a stack of material boxes 920 is originally loaded in the tray 910, the second driving member 321 can drive the lifting arm 322 to descend by the thickness of one material box 920 each time, so that the next material box 920 can overlap the previous material box 920, until the stack of material boxes 920 is re-stacked on the lifting arm 322. At this time, the second driving member 321 drives the lifting arm 322 to move downward to lower the stack of material boxes 920 into the tray 910. The second driving member 321 can be a linear electric cylinder, a linear air cylinder, a linear oil cylinder, etc.

[0076] The transfer mechanism 310 can switch between the first station 101 and the second station 102 to transfer an empty material box 920 located at the pickup position to the second station 102 and transfer the empty material box 920 to the second lifting mechanism 320. The second lifting mechanism 320 receives the empty material box 920 transferred by the transfer mechanism 310 and lowers it into the original tray 910. This allows the material box 920 to be smoothly transferred from the pickup position to the original tray 910, minimizing damage to the material box 920 and extending its lifespan.

[0077] In other embodiments, only the transfer mechanism 310 may be provided without the second lifting mechanism 320 .

[0078] Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, in some embodiments, the transfer mechanism 310 includes a mobile platform 311 and a pickup unit 312. The transfer platform moves along a first direction to switch between the first workstation 101 and the second workstation 102. The first direction intersects the lifting direction of the second lifting mechanism 320. The pickup unit 312 is disposed on the mobile platform 311 and is used to pick up the material box 920.

[0079] The first workstation 101 and the second workstation 102 are arranged along the first direction, and the transfer platform can move along the first direction, thereby realizing the switching between the first workstation 101 and the second workstation 102. That is to say, the first direction is the movable direction of the movable platform 311. Referring to Figure 2, the first direction can be the X direction shown in the figure. The lifting direction of the second lifting mechanism 320 is also the movement direction of the lifting arm 322. Referring to Figure 3, the lifting direction of the second lifting mechanism 320 can be the Y direction shown in the figure. The angle between the first direction and the lifting direction of the second lifting mechanism 320 can be an acute angle or a right angle. Optionally, the first direction is perpendicular to the lifting direction of the second lifting mechanism 320.

[0080] In some embodiments, a slide rail 330 is provided on the rack 800 . The slide rail 330 extends along a first direction. The sliding platform slidably cooperates with the slide rail 330 , thereby enabling the moving platform 311 to slide along the first direction.

[0081] The picking unit 312 is a structure for picking up the material box 920 . After the picking unit 312 picks up the material box 920 , the picking unit 312 moves the material box 920 from the to-be-picked position to the second workstation 102 as the moving platform 311 moves.

[0082] The picking unit 312 is connected to the mobile platform 311 and can move with the mobile platform 311 to switch between the first workstation 101 and the second workstation 102. After picking up an empty material box 920 at the waiting position, the picking unit 312, driven by the mobile platform 311, moves toward the second workstation 102, where it transfers the picked empty material box 920 to the second lifting mechanism 320. Then, driven by the mobile platform 311, it returns to the waiting position, performing this reciprocating motion to transfer the entire stack of material boxes 920 to the original tray 910.

[0083] 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 , in some embodiments, the pickup unit 312 includes a clamping jaw 3121 and a suction member 3123 . The clamping jaw 3121 is disposed on the mobile platform 311 and is used to clamp the material box 920 . The suction member 3123 is disposed on the mobile platform 311 and is used to suction the material box 920 .

[0084] The clamping jaw 3121 is a component used to clamp the material box 920 to secure it. The clamping jaw 3121 includes a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion, which are arranged opposite to each other. When the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are brought closer together, the material box 920 can be clamped. When the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are moved away from each other, the material box 920 can be released. Optionally, the picking unit 312 includes a first driving member 3122, which is connected to at least one of the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion, and is used to move the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion closer together or farther apart. The first driving member 3122 can be a linear electric cylinder, a linear pneumatic cylinder, a linear oil cylinder, etc.

[0085] The suction member 3123 is used to attract and secure the material box 920. The suction member 3123 may be a negative pressure suction member, which acts on the material box 920 and secures the material box 920 by attracting and securing the material box 920 through a pressure difference. The suction member 3123 may also be a magnet or an electromagnet, so as to secure the material box 920 through magnetic attraction.

[0086] The clamping claws 3121 can clamp the material box 920 , and the adsorbing member 3123 can adsorb the material box 920 . The two work together to stably clamp the material box 920 and reduce the risk of the material box 920 falling.

[0087] In some embodiments, the mobile platform 311 includes a frame 3111 and a mounting bar 3112. The frame 3111 slidably engages with the slide rail 330, and the mounting bar 3112 is disposed within the frame 3111. The clamping jaws 3121 are connected to the frame 3111, and the suction member 3123 is connected to the mounting bar 3112. Thus, when the clamping jaws 3121 and suction member 3123 secure the material box 920, the frame 3111 can still reveal the workpiece 930 in the material box 920, facilitating pickup by the robot.

[0088] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the feeding device 10 provided in other embodiments of the present application. In other embodiments, the feeding device 10 includes a second conveying mechanism 400, which includes a first buffer section 420 and a loading section 410. The first buffer section 420 is disposed upstream of the first workstation 101, and the loading section 410 is disposed upstream of the first buffer section 420. The first buffer section 420 is used to buffer the tray 910 conveyed by the loading section 410 and convey the tray 910 to the first workstation 101.

[0089] The loading section 410 is a portion of the second conveying mechanism 400 for loading full pallets 910. The full pallets 910 can be loaded onto the loading section 410 manually or mechanically.

[0090] The first buffer section 420 is a portion of the second conveyor mechanism 400 that is used to buffer full pallets 910. The first buffer section 420 is located downstream of the loading section 410 and upstream of the first workstation 101. The first buffer section 420 is used to buffer full pallets 910 loaded by the loading section 410 so that the full pallets 910 can be supplied to the first workstation 101 when needed.

[0091] The loading section 410 and the first buffer section 420 can be a conveyor belt conveying mechanism, a roller conveying mechanism, a chain plate conveying mechanism, etc.

[0092] By providing the loading section 410 and the first buffer section 420, multiple full trays 910 can be manually placed on the loading section 410 at one time. The multiple full trays 910 are sequentially fed into the first buffer section 420 and buffered there, and then transported to the first workstation 101 when needed. In this way, after manual loading, no more loading is required for a period of time, reducing the frequency of manual loading.

[0093] In some embodiments, the conveying mechanism includes multiple loading sections 410 , and the multiple loading sections 410 are all connected to the first cache section 420 .

[0094] The conveying mechanism may include two loading sections 410 , three loading sections 410 , four loading sections 410 or more than four loading sections 410 . The plurality of loading sections 410 are all connected to the first buffer section 420 , thereby supplying the tray 910 to the first buffer section 420 .

[0095] By providing multiple loading sections 410, multiple full trays 910 can be manually placed on the multiple loading sections 410 at one time. The multiple full trays 910 on the multiple loading sections 410 are sequentially fed to the first buffer section 420, where they are buffered and transported to the first workstation 101 when needed. In this way, after manual loading, no more loading is required for a period of time, further reducing the frequency of manual loading.

[0096] Please refer to Figures 5, 6, and 7. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the first carrying platform 510 and the first lifting mechanism 520 provided in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 7 is a schematic side view of the first carrying platform 510 and the first lifting mechanism 520 provided in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments, the feeding device 10 includes a first carrying platform 510 and a first lifting mechanism 520. The first carrying platform 510 is located at the first workstation 101, and the first lifting mechanism 200 is used to lift the material box 920 within the tray 910 located on the first carrying platform 510. The first lifting mechanism 520 is used to lift the first carrying platform 510 so that the first carrying platform 510 can switch between the first position and the second position. When the first carrying platform 510 is in the first position, the first carrying platform 510 receives the tray 910 conveyed by the first buffer section 420. When the first carrying platform 510 is in the second position, the first carrying platform 510 supplies the tray 910 to the first conveying mechanism 100.

[0097] The first carrying platform 510 is disposed at the first workstation 101 and is capable of receiving and carrying the tray 910 from the first buffer section 420. Optionally, a plurality of rollers 511 are provided on the first carrying platform 510 to reduce friction between the first carrying platform 510 and the tray 910, thereby facilitating the first buffer section 420 in transferring the tray 910 to the first carrying platform 510. When the first buffer section 420 transfers the tray 910 to the first carrying platform 510, the first lifting mechanism 200 is capable of lifting the material box 920 within the tray 910, separating the material box 920 from the tray 910.

[0098] The first lifting mechanism 520 is used to lift the first carrying platform 510 to switch the first carrying platform 510 between a first position and a second position. The first carrying platform 510 can receive the pallets 910 conveyed by the first buffer section 420 in the first position and supply empty pallets 910 to the first conveying mechanism 100 in the second position.

[0099] Optionally, the first lifting mechanism 520 includes a mounting base 521 and a third driving member 522. The mounting base 521 is disposed below the first supporting platform 510. The third driving member 522 is mounted on the mounting base 521, and the output end of the third driving member 522 is connected to the first supporting platform 510. When the third driving member 522 extends, the first supporting platform 510 rises. When the third driving member 522 shortens, the first supporting platform 510 descends. The third driving member 522 may be a linear electric cylinder, a linear pneumatic cylinder, a linear oil cylinder, etc. The first lifting mechanism 520 may also include a guide member 523 connected to the mounting base 521 and the first supporting platform 510 to guide the movement of the first supporting platform 510. The guide member 523 may be a telescopic rod, one end of which is connected to the mounting base 521 and the other end of which is connected to the first supporting platform 510. When the third driving member 522 extends, the telescopic rod also extends.

[0100] The first lifting mechanism 520 is capable of lifting or lowering the first carrying platform 510, so that the first carrying platform 510 can move between a first position and a second position. The first carrying platform 510 is configured to receive the pallet 910 conveyed by the first buffer section 420 when it is in the first position. The first carrying platform 510 is also configured to supply the pallet 910 it carries to the first conveying mechanism 100 when it is in the second position, so that the first conveying mechanism 100 can convey the pallet 910 from the first station 101 to the second station 102.

[0101] In some embodiments, the first position is higher than the second position.

[0102] The second position is lower than the first position. The first lifting mechanism 200 lifts the material box 920 to drive the material box 920 to move upward to the position to be picked up, and the first lifting mechanism 520 drives the first carrying platform 510 to move downward. In this way, the tray 910 can be completely separated from the material box 920, reducing the risk of interference between the tray 910 and the material box 920 when moving to the second workstation 102.

[0103] 5 , 6 , 7 , and 8 , in some embodiments, the feeding device 10 includes a position detection mechanism 530 for detecting the position of the first loading platform 510. The first buffer section 420 responds to the position detection mechanism 530 to deliver the tray 910 to the first loading platform 510 when the first loading platform 510 is at the first position.

[0104] The position detection mechanism 530 is a mechanism for detecting the position of the first carrying platform 510. The position detection mechanism 530 can be a position sensor or an industrial camera to analyze the position of the first carrying platform 510 by taking pictures.

[0105] The first buffer segment 420 may be directly electrically connected to the position detection mechanism 530 or may be electrically connected to the position detection mechanism 530 through an intermediate component, for example, through a controller.

[0106] When the position detection mechanism 530 detects that the first carrying platform 510 reaches the first position, the first buffer section 420 conveys the tray 910 to the first carrying platform 510 .

[0107] When the position detection mechanism 530 detects that the first load platform 510 is in the first position, the first buffer section 420 delivers the pallet 910 to the first load platform 510. When the position detection mechanism 530 detects that the first load platform 510 is in another position or the second position, the first buffer section 420 stops delivering the pallet 910 to the first load platform 510. In this way, the pallets 910 buffered in the first buffer section 420 can be accurately delivered to the first load platform 510, and are less likely to interfere with other structures and cause the pallets 910 to overturn.

[0108] In some embodiments, the first carrying platform 510 includes a first carrying surface, and the first buffer section 420 includes a second carrying surface. When the first carrying platform 510 is in the first position, the first carrying surface is flush with the second carrying surface.

[0109] The first bearing surface is a surface on the first bearing platform 510 for supporting the tray 910. A plurality of rollers 511 may be provided on the first bearing platform 510. In this case, the tangent points of the plurality of rollers 511 and the tray 910 together constitute the first bearing surface.

[0110] The second bearing surface is the surface of the first buffer section 420 that supports the tray 910. For example, when the first buffer section 420 is a roller conveyor mechanism, the intersection of the multiple rollers of the first buffer section 420 and the tray 910 together constitutes the second bearing surface. When the first buffer section 420 is a conveyor belt conveyor mechanism, the surface of the conveyor belt that contacts the workpiece 930 constitutes the second bearing surface.

[0111] When the first carrying platform 510 is in the first position, the first carrying surface and the second carrying surface are located in the same plane.

[0112] When the first supporting platform 510 is in the first position, the first supporting surface of the first supporting platform 510 and the second supporting surface of the first cache section 420 are flush with each other. In this way, the tray 910 on the second supporting surface can be smoothly transported to the first supporting surface. There is no height difference between the two, and it is not easy to cause the tray 910 to overturn.

[0113] Referring to Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, in some embodiments, the feeding device 10 includes a first carrying platform 510 and a first lifting mechanism 520, wherein the first carrying platform 510 is located at the first workstation 101. The first lifting mechanism 520 is used to lift the first carrying platform 510 so that the first carrying platform 510 can switch between the first position and the second position. When the first carrying platform 510 is in the first position, the first lifting mechanism 200 is used to lift the material box 920 located in the tray 910 on the first carrying platform 510. When the first carrying platform 510 is in the second position, the first carrying platform 510 is used to supply the tray 910 to the first conveying mechanism 100.

[0114] The first lifting mechanism 520 is capable of lifting or lowering the first carrying platform 510, so that the first carrying platform 510 can move between a first position and a second position. The first carrying platform 510 is used to receive the tray 910 conveyed by the first buffer section 420 when it is in the first position, and the first lifting mechanism 200 is capable of lifting the material box 920 in the tray 910 received by the first carrying platform 510. The first carrying platform 510 is also used to supply the tray 910 it carries to the first conveying mechanism 100 when it is in the second position, so that the first conveying mechanism 100 can convey the tray 910 from the first station 101 to the second station 102.

[0115] 5 , 6 , 7 , and 8 , in some embodiments, the feeding device 10 includes a third conveying mechanism 600 , which includes a second buffer section 610 and a material discharge section 620 . The second buffer section 610 is disposed downstream of the second workstation 102 , and the material discharge section 620 is disposed downstream of the second buffer section 610 . The second buffer section 610 is used to buffer the trays 910 delivered by the second workstation 102 and then deliver the trays 910 to the material discharge section 620 .

[0116] The second buffer section 610 is a portion of the third conveying mechanism 600 that is used to buffer trays 910. The second buffer section 610 is located downstream of the second workstation 102 and upstream of the unloading section 620. The second buffer section 610 is used to buffer trays 910 conveyed by the second workstation 102, so that the trays 910 can be supplied to the unloading section 620 when needed.

[0117] The unloading section 620 is a portion of the second conveying mechanism 400 for unloading the tray 910. The tray 910 can be unloaded from the unloading section 620 manually or mechanically.

[0118] The second buffer section 610 and the unloading section 620 can be a conveyor belt conveying mechanism, a roller conveying mechanism, a chain plate conveying mechanism, etc.

[0119] By providing the second buffer section 610 and the unloading section 620, trays 910 loaded with empty material boxes 920 can be cached in the second buffer section 610. After caching multiple trays 910, manual unloading is performed all at once from the unloading section 620. In this way, after manual unloading, no more unloading is required for a period of time, reducing the frequency of manual unloading.

[0120] In some embodiments, the feeding device 10 includes a second carrying platform 710 and a second lifting mechanism. The second carrying platform 710 is located at the second workstation 102. The second lifting mechanism is used to lift the second carrying platform 710 so that the second carrying platform 710 can switch between a third position and a fourth position. When the second carrying platform 710 is in the third position, the second carrying platform 710 receives the pallet 910 conveyed by the first conveying mechanism 100. When the second carrying platform 710 is in the fourth position, the second carrying platform 710 supplies the pallet 910 to the second buffer section 610.

[0121] The second carrying platform 710 is provided at the second station 102 and can receive and carry the tray 910 from the first conveying mechanism 100 . Optionally, a roller conveying mechanism is provided on the second carrying platform 710 to facilitate conveying the tray 910 to the second buffer section 610 .

[0122] The second lifting mechanism is used to lift the second carrying platform 710 to switch between the third position and the fourth position. The second carrying platform 710 can receive the tray 910 conveyed by the first conveying mechanism 100 at the third position and deliver the tray 910 to the second buffer section 610 at the fourth position.

[0123] The structure of the second lifting mechanism may be the same as that of the first lifting mechanism 520 , and will not be described in detail here.

[0124] The second lifting mechanism can lift or lower the second carrying platform 710, allowing the second carrying platform 710 to move between the third position and the fourth position. The second carrying platform 710 is used to receive the pallet 910 conveyed by the first conveying mechanism 100 when it is in the third position. The second carrying platform 710 is also used to supply the pallet 910 it carries to the second buffer section 610 when it is in the fourth position, so that the second buffer section 610 can convey the pallet 910 to the unloading section 620.

[0125] In some embodiments, the second carrying platform 710 includes a third carrying surface, and the second cache segment 610 includes a fourth carrying surface. When the second carrying platform 710 is in the fourth position, the third carrying surface is flush with the fourth carrying surface.

[0126] The third bearing surface is a surface on the second bearing platform 710 for supporting the tray 910. A plurality of rollers 511 may be provided on the second bearing platform 710. In this case, the tangent points of the plurality of rollers 511 and the tray 910 together constitute the third bearing surface.

[0127] The fourth bearing surface is the surface of the second buffer section 610 that supports the tray 910. For example, when the second buffer section 610 is a roller conveyor mechanism, the tangent points between the multiple rollers of the second buffer section 610 and the tray 910 together constitute the fourth bearing surface. When the second buffer section 610 is a conveyor belt conveyor mechanism, the surface where the conveyor belt contacts the workpiece 930 constitutes the fourth bearing surface.

[0128] When the second carrying platform 710 is at the fourth position, the third carrying surface and the fourth carrying surface are located in the same plane.

[0129] When the second supporting platform 710 is in the fourth position, the third supporting surface of the second supporting platform 710 is flush with the fourth supporting surface of the second cache segment 610. In this way, the tray 910 on the third supporting surface can be smoothly transported to the fourth supporting surface. There is no height difference between the two, and it is not easy to cause the tray 910 to overturn.

[0130] Please refer to Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first conveyor mechanism 100 provided in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments, the first conveyor mechanism 100 includes a first conveyor belt 110, a second conveyor belt 120, a fourth drive member 130, and a transmission shaft 140. The first conveyor belt 110 and the second conveyor belt 120 are spaced apart to provide space for the first lifting mechanism 520 and the second lifting mechanism 520. When the first carrying platform 510 is in the second position, the tray 910 on the first carrying platform 510 lands squarely on the first conveyor belt 110 and the second conveyor belt 120. When the second carrying platform 710 is in the third position, the tray 910 on the first conveyor belt 110 and the second conveyor belt 120 can be transported to the second carrying platform 710. The fourth drive member 130 is in transmission connection with the first conveyor belt 110 to drive the first conveyor belt 110. Furthermore, the fourth drive member 130 is in transmission connection with the second conveyor belt 120 via the transmission shaft 140, enabling a single fourth drive mechanism to simultaneously drive the first and second conveyor belts 110 and 120.

[0131] The embodiment of the present application further provides a feeding system, which includes a plurality of the above-mentioned feeding devices 10.

[0132] In some embodiments, each feeding device 10 includes a material unloading section 620, which is disposed downstream of the second workstation 102 and is used to unload the trays 910. The feeding system includes a material unloading mechanism, which is used to unload the trays 910 on the unloading sections 620 of two adjacent feeding devices 10.

[0133] The unloading mechanism is a mechanism for unloading the tray 910 on the unloading section 620. One unloading mechanism can unload the unloading sections 620 of two adjacent feeding devices 10.

[0134] By setting a blanking mechanism to blank the tray 910 on the blanking section 620, manual participation is further reduced, the degree of automation is improved, the blanking efficiency is improved, and the production efficiency is improved.

[0135] In some embodiments, each feeding device 10 includes a loading section 410, which is located upstream of the first workstation 101. The loading section 410 and the unloading section 620 are arranged along a first direction. The multiple feeding devices 10 include a first feeding device and a second feeding device. Along the first direction, the unloading section 620 of the first feeding device and the unloading section 620 of the second feeding device are located between the loading section 410 of the first feeding device and the second feeding device.

[0136] The loading section 410 and the unloading section 620 of each feeding device 10 are arranged side by side. The loading section 410 of the first feeding device and the unloading section 620 of the second feeding device are located on both sides of the unloading section 620 of the first feeding device and the unloading section 620 of the second feeding device.

[0137] The unloading section 620 of the first feeding device and the unloading section 620 of the second feeding device are located between the loading section 410 of the first feeding device and the loading section 410 of the second feeding device, so that the unloading section 620 of the first feeding device and the unloading section 620 of the second feeding device are relatively close, and the tray 910 on the unloading section 620 of the first feeding device and the tray 910 on the unloading section 620 of the second feeding device can be unloaded by a unloading mechanism, thereby reducing the cost of the feeding system.

[0138] According to some embodiments of the present application, please refer to Figures 1 to 8.

[0139] The present embodiment provides a feeding device 10, which includes a first conveying mechanism 100, a first lifting mechanism 200, and a transfer mechanism 300. The first conveying mechanism 100 is used to transport a tray 910 from a first workstation 101 to a second workstation 102. The tray 910 is used to accommodate a material box 920, which is used to accommodate a workpiece 930. The first lifting mechanism 200 is disposed at the first workstation 101 and is used to lift the material box 920 in the tray 910 to a waiting position for a robot to pick up the workpiece 930 in the material box 920. The transfer mechanism 300 is used to transfer the material box 920 located at the waiting position to be picked up to the tray 910 located at the second workstation 102. The first conveying mechanism 100 of the feeding device 10 can convey the tray 910 from the first workstation 101 to the second workstation 102. When the tray 910 is at the first workstation 101, the first lifting mechanism 200 can lift the material box 920 in the tray 910, separating the material box 920 from the tray 910, and lift the material box 920 to a waiting position for the robot to pick up the workpiece 930 in the material box 920. When the robot picks up the material box 920, the first conveying mechanism 100 conveys the empty tray 910 from the first workstation 101 to the second workstation 102. After the robot has finished picking up the workpiece 930 in the material box 920, the transfer mechanism 300 can transfer the empty material box 920 from the waiting position to the tray 910 in the second workstation 102. By using the feeding device 10, a stack of material boxes 920 can be placed in the tray 910, and the workpieces 930 in the stack of material boxes 920 can be supplied to the robot in sequence with the cooperation of the transfer mechanism 300 and the first lifting mechanism 200. Moreover, after the robot takes the material, the empty stack of material boxes 920 is placed in the original tray 910, with less manual participation, a high degree of automation, and high loading efficiency.

[0140] The transfer mechanism 300 includes a transfer mechanism 310 and a second lifting mechanism 320. The transfer mechanism 310 switches between the first workstation 101 and the second workstation 102 and is used to transfer a material box 920 located at the pickup position to the second workstation 102. The second lifting mechanism 320 is located at the second workstation 102 and is used to receive the material box 920 transferred by the transfer mechanism 310 and lower it into the tray 910. The transfer mechanism 310 can switch between the first workstation 101 and the second workstation 102 to transfer an empty material box 920 located at the pickup position to the second workstation 102 and transfer the empty material box 920 to the second lifting mechanism 320. The second lifting mechanism 320 receives the empty material box 920 transferred by the transfer mechanism 310 and lowers it into the original tray 910. In this way, the material box 920 can be smoothly transferred from the to-be-picked position to the original tray 910 , causing less damage to the material box 920 , which is beneficial to extending the life of the material box 920 .

[0141] The feeding device 10 includes a second conveying mechanism 400, and the second conveying mechanism 400 includes a first cache section 420 and a loading section 410. The first cache section 420 is arranged upstream of the first workstation 101, and the loading section 410 is arranged upstream of the first cache section 420. The first cache section 420 is used to cache the pallets 910 conveyed by the loading section 410 and to convey the pallets 910 to the first workstation 101. By setting the loading section 410 and the first cache section 420, multiple full pallets 910 can be manually placed on the loading section 410 at one time, and multiple full pallets 910 are sequentially supplied to the first cache section 420, and cached in the first cache section 420, and conveyed to the first workstation 101 when needed. In this way, after manual loading once, no loading is required for a period of time, thereby reducing the frequency of manual loading.

[0142] The feeding device 10 includes a third conveying mechanism 600, which includes a second buffer section 610 and a discharge section 620. The second buffer section 610 is arranged downstream of the second workstation 102, and the discharge section 620 is arranged downstream of the second buffer section 610. The second buffer section 610 is used to buffer the trays 910 conveyed by the second workstation 102 and convey the trays 910 to the discharge section 620. By providing the second buffer section 610 and the discharge section 620, trays 910 loaded with empty material boxes 920 can be buffered in the second buffer section 610. After buffering multiple trays 910, they are manually discharged from the discharge section 620 at one time. In this way, after manual discharge, no more material is required for a period of time, thereby reducing the frequency of manual discharge.

[0143] The embodiment of the present application further provides a feeding system, which includes a plurality of the above-mentioned feeding devices 10. By providing a plurality of feeding devices 10, the feeding efficiency is further improved.

[0144] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Various modifications and variations are possible for those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A feeding device, wherein: include: A first conveying mechanism, used for conveying a tray from a first station to a second station, wherein the tray is used for accommodating a material box, and the material box is used for accommodating a workpiece; A first lifting mechanism is disposed at the first station, and is used to lift the material box in the tray to a to-be-picked position so that a robot can pick up a workpiece in the material box; A transfer mechanism is used to transfer the material box located at the to-be-picked position to the tray located at the second station.

2. The feeding device according to claim 1, wherein: The transfer mechanism includes: A transfer mechanism, switching between the first station and the second station, the transfer mechanism is used to transfer the material box located at the to-be-picked position to the second station; The second lifting mechanism is arranged at the second workstation, and is used for receiving the material box transferred by the transfer mechanism and placing the material box into the tray.

3. The feeding device according to claim 2, wherein: The transfer mechanism comprises: A mobile platform, capable of switching between the first station and the second station by moving along a first direction, wherein the first direction intersects with a lifting direction of the second lifting mechanism; A picking unit is arranged on the mobile platform, and the picking unit is used to pick up the material box.

4. The feeding device according to claim 3, wherein: The pickup unit comprises: A clamping claw, disposed on the mobile platform, and used for clamping the material box; The adsorption member is arranged on the mobile platform, and the adsorption member is used for adsorbing the material box.

5. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The feeding device includes a second conveying mechanism, which includes a first cache section and a loading section. The first cache section is arranged upstream of the first workstation, and the loading section is arranged upstream of the first cache section. The first cache section is used to cache the pallet conveyed by the loading section and convey the pallet to the first workstation.

6. The feeding device according to claim 5, wherein: The conveying mechanism includes a plurality of feeding sections, and the plurality of feeding sections are all connected to the first buffer section.

7. The feeding device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: The feeding device also includes: A first carrying platform, located at the first work station, and the first lifting mechanism is used to lift the material box in the tray located on the first carrying platform; The first lifting mechanism is used to lift the first carrying platform to switch the first carrying platform between a first position and a second position. When the first carrying platform is in the first position, the first carrying platform receives the pallet conveyed by the first cache segment. When the first carrying platform is in the second position, the first carrying platform supplies the pallet to the first conveying mechanism.

8. The feeding device according to claim 7, wherein: The first position is higher than the second position.

9. The feeding device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: The feeding device further includes a position detection mechanism for detecting a position of the first carrying platform, and the first buffer segment responds to the position detection mechanism to transport the pallet to the first carrying platform when the first carrying platform is located at the first position.

10. The feeding device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein: The first bearing platform includes a first bearing surface, and the first cache segment includes a second bearing surface. When the first bearing platform is in the first position, the first bearing surface is flush with the second bearing surface.

11. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The feeding device also includes: A first carrying platform, located at the first station; The first lifting mechanism is used to lift the first carrying platform so that the first carrying platform can switch between a first position and a second position. When the first carrying platform is located at the first position, the first lifting mechanism is used to lift the material box in the tray located at the first carrying platform; when the first carrying platform is located at the second position, the first carrying platform is used to supply the tray to the first conveying mechanism.

12. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: The feeding device includes a third conveying mechanism, and the third conveying mechanism includes a second cache section and a unloading section. The second cache section is arranged downstream of the second workstation, and the unloading section is arranged downstream of the second cache section. The second cache section is used to cache the pallet conveyed by the second workstation and convey the pallet to the unloading section.

13. The feeding device according to claim 12, wherein: The feeding device also includes: A second carrying platform, located at the second workstation; The second lifting mechanism is used to lift the second carrying platform so that the second carrying platform can switch between a third position and a fourth position. When the second carrying platform is located at the third position, the second carrying platform receives the pallet conveyed by the first conveying mechanism. When the second carrying platform is located at the fourth position, the second carrying platform supplies the pallet to the second cache segment.

14. The feeding device according to claim 13, wherein: The second bearing platform includes a third bearing surface, and the second cache segment includes a fourth bearing surface. When the second bearing platform is in the fourth position, the third bearing surface is flush with the fourth bearing surface.

15. A feeding system, wherein: The feeding system comprises a plurality of feeding devices according to any one of claims 1-14.

16. The feeding system according to claim 15, wherein: Each of the feeding devices includes a material unloading section, which is arranged downstream of the second workstation and is used for unloading the pallets. The feeding system includes a material unloading mechanism, which is used for unloading the pallets on the material unloading sections of two adjacent feeding devices.

17. The feeding system according to claim 16, wherein: Each of the feeding devices comprises a feeding section, the feeding section is arranged upstream of the first station, and the feeding section and the unloading section are arranged along a first direction; The plurality of feeding devices include a first feeding device and a second feeding device. Along the first direction, the lower feeding section of the first feeding device and the lower feeding section of the second feeding device are located between the upper feeding section of the first feeding device and the upper feeding section of the second feeding device.

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