Four-station thermoforming method and system

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of decorative rhinestone production. Disclosed are a four-station thermoforming method and system. The system comprises a frame and two thermoforming lines thereon, the two thermoforming lines sharing one heating unit, and each thermoforming line comprising a dual-station rhinestone screening station, four screening plates, two cover plates, a plate joining and flipping station, a sheet storage station, a screen plate manipulator, a cover plate manipulator, a thermoforming station, a finished product flipping station, a clamping plate, a cover plate conveying device, a cover plate tray, a plate separating device, a lifting / lowering support device, and a finished product stacking station. Each thermoforming line is provided with two cover plates, while one cover plate is subjected to thermoforming, the other cover plate is subjected to circulation and plate separation; and the two cover plates are used alternately, so that there is always a cover plate being processed at the thermoforming station, thereby improving the utilization efficiency of the thermoforming station and increasing the speed. By using four screening plates, it can be ensured that there are always two screening plates in operation, thereby improving the utilization rate of the dual-station rhinestone screening station. The overall speed of a 000 machine is increased. In addition, the finished product flipping station only needs to perform flipping without displacement, thereby improving the processing speed.

Description

A four-station vacuum forming method and system

[0001] Technical Field

[0002] This invention belongs to the field of diamond manufacturing technology, and specifically relates to a four-station vacuum forming method and system.

[0003] Background Technology

[0004] During the painting or silvering process of rhinestones, it is necessary to fix the rhinestones to a vacuum forming sheet with one side exposed. Existing technology uses a vacuum forming machine to fix the rhinestones to the sheet. To improve efficiency, existing technologies include two-station or four-station vacuum forming machines.

[0005] For example, patent application number CN202211295108.9 discloses a dual-station screening and drilling device, including a feeding hopper, a symmetrically arranged first screening and drilling station and a second screening and drilling station, the first screening and drilling station having a first screen plate and the second screening and drilling station having a second screen plate, the feeding hopper being used to evenly distribute decorative drills on the first screen plate and the second screen plate; a rotary manipulator, a symmetrically arranged first and second composite plate flipping station, the first composite plate flipping station having a third screen plate and the second composite plate flipping station having a fourth screen plate, the rotary manipulator exchanging the positions of the first and third screen plates, and then the rotary manipulator passing through the first... One track moves to the other end, and the rotary manipulator swaps the positions of the second and fourth sieve plates; the first and second sieve plate flipping stations are respectively equipped with a first sieve plate flipping motor and a second sieve plate flipping motor; the first and second sieve plate flipping stations move via a first transverse track and a second transverse track, respectively; a first lifting manipulator and a second lifting manipulator are symmetrically arranged, the first lifting manipulator is used to cover the first sieve plate located at the first sieve plate flipping station with a first cover plate, and similarly, the second lifting manipulator is used to cover the second sieve plate located at the second sieve plate flipping station with a second cover plate; The system includes a sheet storage station, a mobile robotic arm, and symmetrically arranged first and second loading platforms. It also includes a symmetrically arranged first and second vacuum forming station. The sheet storage station stores plastic sheets. The mobile robotic arm has a furnace head at its end furthest from the sheet storage station, and a suction nozzle at a position corresponding to the sheet storage station. The suction nozzle is used to hold the plastic sheets. A symmetrically arranged first and second finished product flipping station, along with a first and second finished product flipping motor, are also included. When the first sieve plate containing decorative drills is closed with the first cover plate, the first sieve plate flipping motor and the first finished product flipping motor flip the plates. After flipping, the decorative drills are transferred to the first cover plate. Then, the first sieve plate flipping station and the first finished product flipping motor... The second plywood flipping station moves to the corresponding first platform and first vacuum forming station via the first transverse track. At this time, the first cover plate is transferred to the first platform, and the moving robot transfers the plastic sheet to the first vacuum forming station. The first vacuum forming station transfers the plastic sheet to the first cover plate located on the first platform via the first clamping plate. Then, the furnace head heats the first cover plate, causing all the decorative drills to adhere to the plastic sheet. Then, the first clamping plate returns the first cover plate with the plastic sheet to the first vacuum forming station. Then, the first finished product flipping station flips the first cover plate with the plastic sheet and transfers it to the position of the first lifting robot. The first lifting robot retrieves the first cover plate and places the plastic sheet with the decorative drill into the storage frame. Similarly, when the second screen plate containing the decorative drill closes with the second cover plate, the second plywood flipping motor and the second finished product flipping motor flip, and the decorative drill is transferred to the second cover plate after flipping. Then, the second plywood flipping station and the second plywood flipping station move to the corresponding second platform and second vacuum forming station via the second transverse track.At this point, the second cover plate is transferred to the second platform. The moving robot transfers the plastic sheet to the second vacuum forming station. The second vacuum forming station transfers the plastic sheet to the second cover plate located on the second platform via the second clamping plate. Then, the furnace head heats the second cover plate, causing all the decorative rhinestones to adhere to the plastic sheet. Next, the second clamping plate returns the second cover plate with the plastic sheet to the second vacuum forming station. Then, the second finished product flipping station flips the second cover plate with the plastic sheet and transfers it to the position of the second lifting robot. The second lifting robot retrieves the second cover plate and places the plastic sheet with the decorative rhinestones into the storage frame.

[0006] In the aforementioned patent, a single vacuum forming line has only one cover plate. The finished product flipping station needs to flip the cover plate with the plastic sheet and transfer it to the position of the lifting robot. The lifting robot retrieves the cover plate and places the plastic sheet with decorative rhinestones into the storage frame. The cover plate has a waiting time, which affects the processing time.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a four-station vacuum forming method and system. Each vacuum forming line is equipped with two cover plates. One cover plate is used simultaneously with vacuum forming, while the other cover plate is used for circulation and separation. The two cover plates are used in conjunction, ensuring that there is always a cover plate at each vacuum forming station, thereby increasing speed. The technical solution is as follows:

[0009] On one hand, this invention provides a four-station thermoforming system. The system includes a frame and two thermoforming lines arranged side-by-side on it, sharing a single furnace head. Each thermoforming line includes a dual-station sieving and drilling station, multiple sieve plates, at least one cover plate 1, a plate-folding station, a sheet storage station, a sieve plate robot, a cover plate robot, a thermoforming station, a finished product flipping station, and a clamping plate. The dual-station sieving and drilling station, plate-folding station, thermoforming station, finished product flipping station, and sheet storage station are arranged sequentially from front to back. The plate-folding station can move backward to directly above the thermoforming station and can rotate 180°. The sieve plate robot can move forward and backward and can place the sieve plate between the dual-station sieve and the thermoforming station. The process involves transferring materials between the drilling station and the plate flipping station. The cover plate robot can move vertically and transfer cover plate 1. The clamping plate can move forward and backward and transfer the vacuum forming sheet 2 and the combination of vacuum forming sheet 2 and cover plate 1. The screen plate robot and the cover plate robot are arranged sequentially from front to back. The finished product flipping station can flip 180°. The furnace head can move left and right and can move between the two vacuum forming stations. The vacuum forming line includes two cover plates 1. The vacuum forming line also includes a cover plate conveying device 3, a cover plate tray 4 on the cover plate conveying device 3 that can move forward and backward, a plate separating device 5 at the front end of the cover plate conveying device 3, a lifting support device 6 at the rear end of the cover plate conveying device 3, and a support device directly below the plate separating device 5. The finished product stacking station has an empty station between the plywood flipping station and the vacuum forming station. The cover plate conveying device 3 is located directly below the vacuum forming station, with its rear end directly below the finished product flipping station and its front end directly below the empty station. The cover plate tray 4 cooperates with the cover plate 1, clamping the cover plate 1 and conveying it forward. The front and back of the finished product flipping station are equipped with cover plate clamping structures for fixing the cover plate 1. The lifting support device 6 and the plate separating device 5 are both located below the cover plate tray 4. The plywood flipping station can be moved to the empty station. After the clamping plate transfers the vacuum-formed cover plate 1 to the finished product flipping station, the finished product flipping station rotates 180°. The lower cover clamping structure is released and the lifting support device 6 rises to the adjacent lower part of the cover 1; then, the lifting support device 6 descends and sends the cover 1 onto the cover tray 4, at which time the cover tray 4 is located at the lifting support device 6; after the cover tray 4 sends the cover 1 forward to the separating device 5, the cover robot lifts the cover 1 upward to separate the cover 1 from the cover tray 4, the cover robot then moves downward to the separating device 5, the separating device 5 moves and cooperates with the cover robot to move upward to separate the cover 1 from the blister sheet 2, the blister sheet 2 falls downward to the finished product stacking station, and the cover 1 moves upward to the top of the empty station to wait for assembly.

[0010] Preferably, the vacuum forming line in this embodiment of the invention includes four screen plates, and the screen plate robotic arms include two robotic arms arranged side by side, both of which can move up and down; at the dual-station screen drilling station, one robotic arm first picks up the screen plate with decorative diamonds, and then moves back and forth, while the other robotic arm places the empty screen plate; at the plate flipping station, one robotic arm first picks up the empty screen plate, and then moves back and forth, while the other robotic arm places the screen plate with decorative diamonds.

[0011] In this embodiment of the invention, the lower center of the cover plate 1 is coaxially provided with a clamping post 11 that cooperates with the cover plate manipulator and the cover plate clamping structure, and multiple positioning posts 12 are provided at its lower outer edge; the positioning posts 12 are vertically arranged; the middle part of the cover plate tray 4 is provided with a stepped circular hole 41 that cooperates with the cover plate 1, and multiple pneumatic clamping structures 42 are provided on it; the multiple pneumatic clamping structures 42 are evenly distributed around the stepped circular hole 41; the pneumatic clamping structure 42 is arranged radially along the stepped circular hole 41, and it can move inward to the adjacent upper edge of the cover plate 1, it is located outside the blister sheet 2, and it cooperates with the positioning posts 12; when the pneumatic clamping structure 42 moves inward, it abuts against the corresponding positioning post 12; the lifting support device 6 includes a lifting disc and a lifting cylinder for driving the lifting disc to move up and down. The lifting disc is located directly below the finished product flipping station, below the cover plate tray 4, and can pass upward through the stepped circular hole 41. It is coaxially arranged with the cover plate 1 on the finished product flipping station. When the lifting disc is in a high position, it is located adjacent to the cover plate 1 below the finished product flipping station. The plate separating device 5 includes two baffles 51 arranged in opposite directions. Both baffles 51 can move towards each other or away from each other in the front and back directions, and there is a material blocking notch 52 on their opposite sides. When separating the plates, the cover plate robot first moves downward, allowing the cover plate 1 and the blister sheet 2 to move below the baffles 51. At this time, the two baffles 51 are in a separated state. The cover plate robot then moves upward, and at the same time, the two baffles 51 move towards each other. The cover plate 1 can pass upward through the material blocking notch 52, while the blister sheet 2 cannot pass upward through the material blocking notch 52.

[0012] Specifically, in this embodiment of the invention, the cover plate 1 is provided with four positioning posts 12, which are evenly distributed and located at the front left, front right, rear left and rear right of the cover plate 1 respectively; the cover plate tray 4 is provided with two pneumatic clamping structures 42; the two pneumatic clamping structures 42 are arranged opposite to each other and cooperate with the two opposite positioning posts 12, and are located on the adjacent outer sides of the two opposite sides of the blister sheet 2; the clamping blocks of the pneumatic clamping structures 42 are provided with U-shaped notches that cooperate with the positioning posts 12.

[0013] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, the cover plate conveying device 3 has baffle slide rails 53 on both the left and right sides along the front and rear directions, and a stop block 54 is provided in the middle of the baffle slide rail 53; two baffles 51 are respectively located in front of and behind the stop block 54, and their corresponding sides are slidably disposed on the front and rear of the baffle slide rail 53, and a translation cylinder 55 for driving the baffles 51 to move back and forth is provided on their opposite sides; the two translation cylinders 55 are driven synchronously, and the material blocking notch 52 is an arc notch that cooperates with the cover plate 1; when the two baffles 51 are in the facing state, the ends of the opposite sides of the two baffles 51 respectively abut against the front and rear sides of the stop block 54, the two translation cylinders 55 extend synchronously, and the material blocking notch 52 is located on the adjacent outer side of the cover plate 1.

[0014] Furthermore, the blister forming line in this embodiment of the invention also includes a blister sheet placement and positioning station and a blister sheet robot. The blister sheet 2 is a regular polygon. The blister sheet placement and positioning station is located between the sheet storage station and the finished product flipping station. The blister sheet robot can move back and forth and can transfer the blister sheet 2 from the sheet storage station to the blister sheet placement and positioning station. Correspondingly, the clamping plate can transfer the blister sheet 2 from the blister sheet placement and positioning station to the blister forming station. The blister sheet placement and positioning station positions the blister sheet 2 by simultaneously clamping the opposite sides of the blister sheet 2.

[0015] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, an upper slide rail is provided on the frame above the dual-station screening and drilling station. The upper slide rail is arranged in the front-to-back direction, and the screen plate robot and the blister sheet robot are slidably mounted on the upper slide rail. The dual-station screening and drilling station, the board flipping station, the empty station, the blister station, the finished product flipping station, the blister sheet placement and positioning station, and the sheet storage station are flush with each other and located on the same front-to-back straight line, with lower slide rails on their left and right sides. The finished product flipping station and the clamping plate are slidably mounted on the lower slide rails. The cover plate robot is arranged vertically and its lower end is provided with a clamp that cooperates with the clamping column 11.

[0016] On the other hand, embodiments of the present invention also provide a vacuum forming method, comprising the following steps:

[0017] Screening: The screen plate robot sends the screen plate with decorative drills from the dual-station screen drilling station to the plate flipping station. At the same time, the screen plate robot returns to its original position and sends the empty screen plate to the dual-station screen drilling station.

[0018] Panel assembly: The panel assembly turning station moves backward to an empty station, and the cover plate robot places the cover plate 1 downward on the upper side of the screen plate; the panel assembly turning station presses the cover plate 1 and the screen plate together and rotates it 180°.

[0019] Vacuum forming: The plywood flipping station continues to move backward to the vacuum forming station, places the cover plate 1 in the vacuum forming station, then returns to its original position and brings the screen plate back; at the same time, the clamping plate transfers the vacuum forming sheet 2 from the sheet storage station to the vacuum forming station to place the vacuum forming sheet 2 on the upper side of the cover plate 1; the furnace head moves to the top of the vacuum forming station and moves downward to realize vacuum forming.

[0020] Material Discharge and Tilting: After the thermoforming is completed, the furnace head returns to its original position, and the clamping plate moves the cover plate 1 backward to the finished product tilting station. The cover plate clamping structure on the upper side of the finished product tilting station fixes the cover plate 1, and the finished product tilting station is tilted 180°.

[0021] Cover plate circulation: The cover plate clamping structure under the finished product flipping station releases the cover plate 1. At the same time, the lifting support device 6 rises to support the cover plate 1. Then, the lifting support device 6 descends, and the cover plate 1 is output to the cover plate tray 4. The cover plate tray 4 moves forward to directly below the empty station. The cover plate robot first moves downward and then upward to remove the cover plate 1 from the cover plate tray 4. The cover plate tray 4 returns to its original position. The cover plate robot moves downward again to move the cover plate 1 to the separating device. The separating device is activated and the cover plate robot moves upward to separate the cover plate 1 from the blister sheet 2. The blister sheet 2 moves downward to the finished product stacking station, and the cover plate 1 moves upward to wait for the assemblies to be assembled.

[0022] Preferably, the screen plate robot in the embodiment of the present invention includes two robots arranged side by side; in the dual-station screen drilling station, one robot first picks up the screen plate with decorative drills, and then moves back and forth, while the other robot puts out the empty screen plate; in the plate flipping station, one robot first picks up the empty screen plate, and then moves back and forth, while the other robot puts out the screen plate with decorative drills.

[0023] Specifically, in this embodiment of the invention, the lifting cylinder of the lifting support device 6 extends to raise the lifting disc of the lifting support device 6, at which time the lifting disc passes upward through the stepped circular hole 41 of the cover plate tray 4; when the lifting cylinder retracts, the lifting disc passes downward through the stepped circular hole 41 and is located below the cover plate tray 4; when the cover plate 1 is placed on the stepped circular hole 41, the two pneumatic clamping structures 42 on the cover plate tray 4 move synchronously towards each other to clamp the two opposing positioning posts 12 on the cover plate 1; the cover plate tray 4 moves forward to directly below the empty work position, at which time the cover plate robot moves downward and clamps the clamping posts 11 on the cover plate 1, and at the same time, the two moving clamping structures 42 move synchronously away from each other to the outside of the cover plate 1 and the blister sheet 2; then the cover plate robot... The cover plate 1 rises, separating from the cover plate tray 4, and the cover plate tray 4 moves backward. The cover plate robot then moves downward. At this time, the two translation cylinders 55 of the separating device 5 retract, and the two baffles 51 of the separating device 5 are in a separated state. The cover plate 1 and the blister sheet 2 pass downward through the baffle 51. Then the cover plate robot moves upward. At this time, the two translation cylinders 55 extend, and the two baffles 51 are in a facing state. The cover plate 1 can pass upward through the baffle 51, while the blister sheet 2 cannot pass upward through the baffle 51 and falls downward to the finished product stacking station.

[0024] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention are as follows: The embodiments of the present invention provide a four-station vacuum forming method and system. Each vacuum forming line is equipped with two cover plates. While one cover plate is vacuum forming, the other cover plate is circulating and separating the sheets. The two cover plates are used in conjunction, ensuring that there is always a cover plate processing at the vacuum forming station, improving the utilization efficiency of the vacuum forming station and increasing the speed. The use of four screen plates ensures that two screen plates are always working, improving the utilization rate of the dual-station screen drilling station. The use of two cover plates and four screen plates together improves the overall speed of the vacuum forming machine (the processing time of a single vacuum forming sheet is less than 20 seconds). In addition, two vacuum forming lines share one furnace head, which is more energy-efficient. Furthermore, the finished product flipping station only needs to flip, without any movement (the furnace head needs to move left and right, reducing interference between forward and backward and left and right movements), improving the processing speed. The cover plate robot has multiple functions: first, separating the cover plate from the cover plate tray; second, separating the cover plate from the vacuum forming sheet; and third, merging the cover plate with the screen plate. In addition, the cover plate pallet clamps and positions the cover plate during the transportation process to ensure the accuracy of the cover plate and the screen plate being assembled.

[0025] Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the four-station vacuum forming system in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the cover plate;

[0028] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cover plate after vacuum forming;

[0029] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the combination of cover plate conveying device, cover plate tray, plate separating device and lifting support device;

[0030] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of Figure 4 when the cover plate is conveyed forward;

[0031] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of Figure 4 when the cover plate tray is directly below the empty workstation;

[0032] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the combination of cover tray, cover and blister sheet.

[0033] In the diagram: 1. Cover plate, 2. Vacuum forming sheet, 3. Cover plate conveying device, 4. Cover plate tray, 5. Plate separating device, 6. Lifting support device;

[0034] 11 Clamping post; 12 Positioning post;

[0035] 41 stepped circular holes, 42 pneumatic clamping structure;

[0036] 51 Baffle, 52 Material stop notch, 53 Baffle slide rail, 54 Stop block, 55 Translation cylinder.

[0037] Detailed Implementation

[0038] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] Example 1

[0040] Referring to Figures 1-7, Embodiment 1 provides a four-station thermoforming system. The system includes a frame and two thermoforming lines arranged side by side on the frame. The two thermoforming lines share a single furnace head, which can move left and right (driven by a corresponding structure), can move between two thermoforming stations, and can move vertically.

[0041] The vacuum forming line includes a dual-station sieving and drilling station, four sieve plates, two cover plates 1, a slab flipping station, an empty station, a sheet storage station, a sieve plate robot, a cover plate robot, a vacuum forming station, a finished product flipping station, clamping plates, a vacuum forming sheet placement and positioning station, a vacuum forming sheet robot, a cover plate conveying device 3, a cover plate tray 4, a slab separating device 5, a lifting support device 6, and a finished product stacking station. The dual-station sieving and drilling station, slab flipping station, empty station, vacuum forming station, finished product flipping station, vacuum forming sheet placement and positioning station, and sheet storage station are arranged sequentially from front to back, aligned and located on the same straight line in the same front-back direction.

[0042] The assembly plate flipping station can move backward to directly above the vacuum forming station, and it can rotate 180°. It clamps the cover plate 1 and the screen plate, and can move to the empty station and the vacuum forming station (i.e., it can move between the three stations). This is the existing structure. The screen plate robot can move back and forth and can transfer the screen plate between the dual-station screen drilling station and the assembly plate flipping station. The cover plate robot is located in the empty station and can move vertically. It can transfer the cover plate 1. It is vertically set, and its lower end is equipped with a clamp that cooperates with the clamping column 11. It has three lifting strokes. The clamping plate can move back and forth and can transfer the vacuum forming sheet 2 and the combination of the vacuum forming sheet 2 and the cover plate 1. It can move up and down and is equipped with a suction cup (to adsorb the vacuum forming sheet 2) and a clamp (to transfer the cover plate 1). It can transfer the vacuum forming sheet 2 from the vacuum forming sheet placement and positioning station to the vacuum forming station. This is the existing structure. The vacuum forming robot can move forward and backward and vertically, and can transfer the vacuum forming sheet 2 from the sheet storage station to the vacuum forming sheet placement and positioning station. The vacuum forming sheet placement and positioning station positions the vacuum forming sheet 2 by simultaneously clamping the opposite edges. The sieve plate robot and the cover plate robot are arranged sequentially from front to back. The finished product flipping station (non-moving) can be flipped 180°, and both its front and back sides are equipped with cover plate clamping structures for fixing the cover plate 1 (both can fix the cover plate 1).

[0043] Specifically, an upper slide rail (with a notch at the rear for furnace head movement) is installed on the frame above the dual-station screening and drilling station. The upper slide rail runs longitudinally, and the screen plate robot and the vacuum forming robot slide on it. The dual-station screening and drilling station, the plate flipping station, the empty station, the vacuum forming station, the finished product flipping station, the vacuum forming sheet placement and positioning station, and the sheet storage station are aligned and located on the same longitudinal straight line, with lower slide rails on their left and right sides. The finished product flipping station and the clamping plate slide on the lower slide rails.

[0044] The cover plate 1 has a clamping post 11 (with a convex ring at the upper end) coaxially arranged at the center of its lower side, which cooperates with the cover plate robot and the cover plate clamping structure. Multiple positioning posts 12 (specifically cylindrical) are located at its lower outer edge. The positioning posts 12 are vertically arranged. The vacuum forming sheet 2 is a regular polygon (specifically a regular octagon).

[0045] The cover plate conveying device 3 is located directly below the thermoforming station. It is arranged in the front-to-back direction, with its rear end located directly below the finished product flipping station and its front end located directly below the empty station.

[0046] The cover tray 4 mates with the cover 1 and is slidably mounted on the cover conveying device 3. It can slide back and forth on the cover conveying device 3 (driven by a corresponding structure), clamping the cover 1 and conveying it forward (placed on the stepped circular hole 41). Specifically, the cover tray 4 has a stepped circular hole 41 in the middle that mates with the cover 1, and multiple pneumatic clamping structures 42 are provided on it. These pneumatic clamping structures 42 are evenly distributed around the stepped circular hole 41. The pneumatic clamping structures 42 are arranged radially along the stepped circular hole 41 and can move inward to the adjacent upper edge of the cover 1, located outside the blister pack 2, and mate with the positioning post 12. When the pneumatic clamping structure 42 moves inward, it abuts against the corresponding positioning post 12 to fix and position the cover 1.

[0047] The lifting support device 6 is located at the rear end of the cover plate conveying device 3, below the cover plate tray 4, and is used to convey the cover plate 1 downwards. Specifically, the lifting support device 6 includes a lifting disc (a circular plate smaller than the stepped circular hole 41) and a lifting cylinder (vertically arranged) for driving the lifting disc to move up and down. The lifting disc is located directly below the finished product turning station, below the cover plate tray 4, and can pass upwards through the stepped circular hole 41. It is coaxially arranged with the cover plate 1 on the finished product turning station. When the lifting disc is in a high position, it is located adjacent to and below the cover plate 1 on the lower side of the finished product turning station.

[0048] The separating device 5 is located at the front end of the cover plate conveying device 3, below the cover plate tray 4, and is used to separate the cover plate 1 from the blister sheet 2. Specifically, the separating device 5 includes two baffles 51 arranged opposite each other (arranged in the left-right direction). Both baffles 51 can move towards each other or away from each other in the front-back direction, and their opposite sides are provided with material-blocking notches 52. During the separating process, the cover plate robot first moves downward, allowing the cover plate 1 and the blister sheet 2 to move below the baffles 51, at which point the two baffles 51 are in a separated state; then the cover plate robot moves upward, and at the same time, the two baffles 51 move towards each other, allowing the cover plate 1 to pass upward through the material-blocking notches 52, while the blister sheet 2 cannot pass upward through the material-blocking notches 52.

[0049] The finished product stacking station is located directly below the plate separating device 5, and it is used to stack the blister sheets 2 one on top of the other.

[0050] The system operates as follows: The clamping plate transfers the vacuum-formed cover plate 1 to the finished product flipping station. The flipping station rotates 180°, releasing the lower cover plate clamping structure (which was on the upper side before flipping), and the lifting support device 6 rises to the adjacent lower position of cover plate 1. Then, the lifting support device 6 descends (to below the cover plate tray 4) and sends cover plate 1 onto the cover plate tray 4, which is now located at the rear end of the lifting support device 6 (located at the rear end of the cover plate conveying device 3). The cover plate tray 4 then sends cover plate 1 forward to the separating device 5 (the cover plate tray 4 moves to the front end of the cover plate conveying device 3). The cover plate robot lifts cover plate 1 upwards to separate it from the cover plate tray 4. The cover plate robot then moves downwards to the separating device 5, which operates in conjunction with the upward movement of the cover plate robot to separate cover plate 1 from the vacuum-formed sheet 2. The vacuum-formed sheet 2 falls downwards to the finished product stacking station, while cover plate 1 moves upwards to the top of the empty station to await assembly.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, the cover plate conveying device 3 has baffle slide rails 53 on both the left and right sides along the front-back direction, and a stop block 54 (specifically a rectangular block arranged along the front-back direction) is provided in the middle of the baffle slide rail 53. Two baffles 51 are located in front of and behind the stop block 54, respectively, and their corresponding sides are slidably disposed on the front and rear parts of the baffle slide rail 53, respectively. A translation cylinder 55 for driving the baffles 51 to move back and forth is provided on their opposite sides. The two translation cylinders 55 are driven synchronously and are both arranged along the front-back direction. The material blocking notch 52 is an arc notch that cooperates with the cover plate 1. When the two baffles 51 are in the facing state, the ends of the opposite sides of the two baffles 51 abut against the front and rear sides of the stop block 54, respectively. At this time, the two translation cylinders 55 extend synchronously, and the material blocking notch 52 is located on the adjacent outer side of the cover plate 1.

[0052] Example 2

[0053] Example 2 provides a four-station vacuum forming system. The structure of this system is basically the same as that of Example 1, except that the screen plate robot in this example includes two robots arranged side by side, both capable of vertical movement. At the dual-station screen drilling station, one robot (e.g., the rear robot) first picks up the screen plate with decorative rhinestones and then moves it back and forth, while the other robot (e.g., the front robot) then places the empty screen plate. At the plate flipping station, one robot (e.g., the front robot) first picks up the empty screen plate and then moves it back and forth, while the other robot (e.g., the rear robot) then places the screen plate with decorative rhinestones.

[0054] Example 3

[0055] Example 3 provides a four-station vacuum forming system. The structure of this system is basically the same as that of Example 1, except that: in this example, the cover plate 1 is provided with four positioning posts 12, which are evenly distributed and located at the front left, front right, rear left, and rear right positions of the cover plate 1, respectively. The cover plate tray 4 is provided with two pneumatic clamping structures 42. The two pneumatic clamping structures 42 are arranged opposite each other, cooperating with the two opposing positioning posts 12. They are located on the adjacent outer sides of two opposite sides of the vacuum forming sheet 2, respectively at the front right and rear left positions of the cover plate tray 4. The clamping blocks of the pneumatic clamping structures 42 are provided with U-shaped notches (opening inwards and arranged radially along the stepped circular holes 41) that cooperate with the positioning posts 12.

[0056] Example 4

[0057] Referring to Figures 1-7, Example 4 provides a vacuum forming method using the vacuum forming machine disclosed in Example 1, including the following steps:

[0058] Screening: The screen plate robot transports the screen plate with decorative drills from the dual-station screen drilling station to the plate flipping station. Simultaneously, the screen plate robot returns to its original position and transports the empty screen plate to the dual-station screen drilling station. Specifically, the screen plate robot consists of two robots arranged side-by-side. At the dual-station screen drilling station, one robot first picks up the screen plate with decorative drills and then moves back and forth, while the other robot places the empty screen plate. At the plate flipping station, one robot first picks up the empty screen plate and then moves back and forth, while the other robot places the screen plate with decorative drills.

[0059] Panel assembly: The panel assembly flipping station moves backward to an empty station, and the cover plate robot places cover plate 1 downward on the upper side of the screen plate. The panel assembly flipping station presses cover plate 1 and screen plate together and flips it 180°.

[0060] Vacuum forming: The plywood flipping station continues to move backward to the vacuum forming station, placing the cover plate 1 there, then returning to its original position and bringing the screen plate back with it. Simultaneously, the clamping plate transfers the vacuum forming sheet 2 from the sheet storage station to the vacuum forming station, placing it on top of the cover plate 1. The furnace head moves to directly above the vacuum forming station and then downwards to complete the vacuum forming process.

[0061] Material Discharge and Tilting: After the thermoforming is completed, the furnace head returns to its original position, and the clamping plate moves the cover plate 1 backward to the finished product tilting station. The cover plate clamping structure on the upper side of the finished product tilting station fixes the cover plate 1, and the finished product tilting station is tilted 180°.

[0062] Cover plate circulation: The cover plate clamping structure under the finished product flipping station releases cover plate 1. At the same time, the lifting support device 6 rises to support cover plate 1. Then, the lifting support device 6 descends, and cover plate 1 is output to cover plate tray 4. Cover plate tray 4 moves forward to directly below the empty station. The cover plate robot first moves downward and then upward to remove cover plate 1 from cover plate tray 4. Cover plate tray 4 returns to its original position. The cover plate robot then moves downward to move cover plate 1 to the separating device. The separating device actuates, and the cover plate robot moves upward to separate cover plate 1 from the blister sheet 2. The blister sheet 2 moves downward to the finished product stacking station, and cover plate 1 moves upward to wait for assembly.

[0063] The specific process is as follows: The lifting cylinder extends to raise the lifting disc of the lifting support device 6, at which point the lifting disc passes upward through the stepped circular hole 41. When the lifting cylinder retracts, the lifting disc passes downward through the stepped circular hole 41 and is positioned below the cover plate tray 4. When the cover plate 1 is placed on the stepped circular hole 41 (specifically, the outer edge of the cover plate 1 is placed on the stepped surface), the two pneumatic clamping structures 42 move synchronously towards each other to clamp the two opposing positioning posts 12 on the cover plate 1. The cover plate tray 4 moves forward to directly below the empty workstation. At this time, the cover plate robot moves downward and clamps the clamping posts 11. Simultaneously, the two moving clamping structures 42 move synchronously away from each other to the outside of the cover plate 1 and the blister pack 2. Then, the cover plate robot rises, separating the cover plate 1 from the cover plate tray 4, and the cover plate tray 4 moves backward. The cover robot moves downwards again. At this time, the two translation cylinders 55 retract, and the two baffles 51 are in a separated state. The cover 1 and the blister sheet 2 pass downwards through the baffles 51. Then the cover robot moves upwards again. At this time, the two translation cylinders 55 extend, and the two baffles 51 are in a facing state. The cover 1 can pass upwards through the baffles 51, while the blister sheet 2 cannot pass upwards through the baffles 51 and falls downwards to the finished product stacking station.

[0064] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A four-station thermoforming system, comprising a frame and two thermoforming lines arranged side-by-side on the frame, the two thermoforming lines sharing a single furnace head, each thermoforming line comprising a dual-station sieving and drilling station, multiple sieves, at least one cover plate (1), a sieve assembly and flipping station, a sheet storage station, a sieve robot, a cover robot, a thermoforming station, a finished product flipping station, and a clamping plate, wherein the dual-station sieving and drilling station, the sieve assembly and flipping station, the thermoforming station, the finished product flipping station, and the sheet storage station are arranged sequentially from front to back, and the sieve assembly and flipping station can be moved backward to directly above the thermoforming station. Furthermore, it can rotate 180°, the screen plate robot can move forward and backward and can transfer the screen plate between the dual-station screen drilling station and the plate flipping station, the cover plate robot can move vertically and can transfer the cover plate (1), the clamping plate can move forward and backward and can transfer the vacuum forming sheet (2) and the combination of the vacuum forming sheet (2) and the cover plate (1); the screen plate robot and the cover plate robot are arranged sequentially from front to back, the finished product flipping station can rotate 180°, the furnace head can move left and right and can move between the two vacuum forming stations; its characteristic is that, The vacuum forming line includes two cover plates (1), and also includes a cover plate conveying device (3), a cover plate tray (4) on the cover plate conveying device (3) that can move back and forth, a plate separating device (5) at the front end of the cover plate conveying device (3), a lifting support device (6) at the rear end of the cover plate conveying device (3), and a finished product stacking station directly below the plate separating device (5). There is an empty station between the plate flipping station and the vacuum forming station. The cover plate conveying device (3) is located directly below the vacuum forming station, its rear end is located directly below the finished product flipping station, and its front end is located directly below the empty station. The cover plate tray (4) cooperates with the cover plate (1) and can clamp the cover plate (1) and convey the cover plate (1) forward. The front and back of the finished product flipping station are provided with cover plate clamping structures for fixing the cover plate (1). The lifting support device (6) and the plate separating device (5) are both located below the cover plate tray (4). The plate flipping station can be moved to the empty station. After the clamping plate transfers the thermoformed cover plate (1) to the finished product flipping station, the finished product flipping station flips 180°, the cover plate clamping structure on the lower side is released and the lifting support device (6) rises to the adjacent lower part of the cover plate (1); then, the lifting support device (6) descends and sends the cover plate (1) to the cover plate tray (4), at which time the cover plate tray (4) is located at the lifting support device (6); After the cover plate tray (4) sends the cover plate (1) forward to the separating device (5), the cover plate robot lifts the cover plate (1) upward to separate the cover plate (1) from the cover plate tray (4). The cover plate robot (1) then moves downward to the separating device (5). The separating device (5) moves and cooperates with the cover plate robot to move upward to separate the cover plate (1) from the blister sheet (2). The blister sheet (2) falls downward to the finished product stacking station. The cover plate (1) moves upward to the top of the empty station to wait for the plates to be assembled.

2. The four-station vacuum forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vacuum forming line includes four screen plates, and the screen plate robotic arms include two robotic arms arranged side by side, both of which can move up and down. At the dual-station screen drilling station, one robotic arm first picks up the screen plate with decorative diamonds, then moves back and forth, while the other robotic arm places the empty screen plate. At the plate flipping station, one robotic arm first picks up the empty screen plate, then moves back and forth, while the other robotic arm places the screen plate with decorative diamonds.

3. The four-station vacuum forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover plate (1) has a clamping post (11) coaxially arranged at the lower center, which cooperates with the cover plate manipulator and the cover plate clamping structure, and a plurality of positioning posts (12) are arranged at its lower outer edge; the positioning posts (12) are arranged vertically. The cover plate tray (4) has a stepped circular hole (41) in the middle that mates with the cover plate (1), and multiple pneumatic clamping structures (42) are provided on it; the multiple pneumatic clamping structures (42) are evenly distributed around the stepped circular hole (41); the pneumatic clamping structure (42) is arranged radially along the stepped circular hole (41), and it can move inward to the adjacent upper edge of the cover plate (1), it is located outside the blister sheet (2), and it mates with the positioning post (12); when the pneumatic clamping structure (42) moves inward, it abuts against the corresponding positioning post (12); The lifting support device (6) includes a lifting disc and a lifting cylinder for driving the lifting disc to move up and down; the lifting disc is located directly below the finished product flipping station, below the cover plate tray (4), and can pass upward through the stepped circular hole (41), and is coaxially arranged with the cover plate (1) on the finished product flipping station; when the lifting disc is in a high position, it is located adjacent to the cover plate (1) on the lower side of the finished product flipping station. The plate separating device (5) includes two baffles (51) arranged in opposite directions. Both baffles (51) can move towards each other or away from each other in the front and back directions, and there is a material blocking notch (52) on their opposite sides. When separating the plates, the cover plate robot first moves downward, so that the cover plate (1) and the blister sheet (2) move to the bottom of the baffle (51). At this time, the two baffles (51) are in a state of separation. The cover plate robot then moves upward. At the same time, the two baffles (51) move towards each other. The cover plate (1) can pass through the material blocking notch (52) upward, while the blister sheet (2) cannot pass through the material blocking notch (52) upward.

4. The four-station vacuum forming system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cover plate (1) is provided with four positioning posts (12), which are evenly distributed and located at the front left, front right, rear left and rear right of the cover plate (1); the cover plate tray (4) is provided with two pneumatic clamping structures (42); the two pneumatic clamping structures (42) are arranged opposite to each other and cooperate with the two opposite positioning posts (12), and are located on the adjacent outer sides of the two opposite sides of the blister sheet (2); the clamping blocks of the pneumatic clamping structures (42) are provided with U-shaped notches that cooperate with the positioning posts (12).

5. The four-station vacuum forming system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cover plate conveying device (3) has baffle slide rails (53) on both sides along the front and back direction. A stop block (54) is provided in the middle of the baffle slide rail (53). Two baffles (51) are located in front of and behind the stop block (54), respectively. Their corresponding sides are slidably provided in front of and behind the baffle slide rail (53). A translation cylinder (55) for driving the baffle (51) to move back and forth is provided on the opposite side. The two translation cylinders (55) are driven synchronously. The material blocking notch (52) is an arc notch that cooperates with the cover plate (1). When the two baffles (51) are in the opposite position, the ends of the opposite sides of the two baffles (51) are respectively abutted against the front and back sides of the stop block (54). The two translation cylinders (55) extend synchronously. The material blocking notch (52) is located on the adjacent outer side of the cover plate (1).

6. The four-station vacuum forming system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The blister forming line also includes a blister sheet placement and positioning station and a blister sheet robot. The blister sheet (2) is a regular polygon. The blister sheet placement and positioning station is located between the sheet storage station and the finished product flipping station. The blister sheet robot can move back and forth and can transfer the blister sheet (2) from the sheet storage station to the blister sheet placement and positioning station. Correspondingly, the clamp can transfer the blister sheet (2) from the blister sheet placement and positioning station to the blister forming station. The blister sheet placement and positioning station positions the blister sheet (2) by simultaneously clamping the opposite sides of the blister sheet (2).

7. The four-station vacuum forming system according to claim 6, characterized in that, An upper slide rail is provided on the frame above the dual-station screening and drilling station. The upper slide rail is arranged in the front-to-back direction. The screen plate robot and the blister sheet robot are slidably arranged on the upper slide rail. The dual-station screening and drilling station, the plate flipping station, the empty station, the blister station, the finished product flipping station, the blister sheet placement and positioning station, and the sheet storage station are flush with each other and located on the same front-to-back straight line. Lower slide rails are provided on their left and right sides. The finished product flipping station and the clamping plate are slidably arranged on the lower slide rail. The cover plate robot is arranged vertically and its lower end is provided with a clamp that cooperates with the clamping column (11).

8. A vacuum forming method using the four-station vacuum forming system disclosed in claim 1, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Screening: The screen plate robot sends the screen plate with decorative diamonds from the dual-station screen drilling station to the plate flipping station. At the same time, the screen plate robot returns to its original position and sends the empty screen plate to the dual-station screen drilling station. Panel assembly: The panel assembly turning station moves backward to an empty station, and the cover plate robot places the cover plate (1) downward on the upper side of the screen plate; the panel assembly turning station presses the cover plate (1) together with the screen plate and rotates it 180°. Vacuum forming: The plywood flipping station continues to move backward to the vacuum forming station, places the cover plate (1) in the vacuum forming station, then returns to its original position and brings the screen plate back; at the same time, the clamping plate transfers the vacuum forming sheet (2) from the sheet storage station to the vacuum forming station to place the vacuum forming sheet (2) on the upper side of the cover plate (1); the furnace head moves to the top of the vacuum forming station and moves downward to realize vacuum forming; Material discharge and flipping: After the thermoforming is completed, the furnace head returns to its original position, the clamping plate moves the cover plate (1) backward to the finished product flipping station, the cover plate clamping structure on the upper side of the finished product flipping station fixes the cover plate (1), and the finished product flipping station flips 180°. Cover plate circulation: The cover plate clamping structure on the underside of the finished product flipping station loosens the cover plate (1). At the same time, the lifting support device (6) rises to support the cover plate (1). Then, the lifting support device (6) descends, and the cover plate (1) is output to the cover plate tray (4). The cover plate tray (4) moves forward to the bottom of the empty station. The cover plate robot moves down first and then up to remove the cover plate (1) from the cover plate tray (4). The cover plate tray (4) returns to its original position. The cover plate robot moves down again to move the cover plate (1) to the separating device. The separating device operates and the cover plate robot moves up to separate the cover plate (1) from the blister sheet (2). The blister sheet (2) moves down to the finished product stacking station, and the cover plate (1) moves up to wait for the assemblies to be assembled.

9. The vacuum forming method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The screen plate robot consists of two robots arranged side by side. In the dual-station screen drilling station, one robot first picks up the screen plate with decorative drills and then moves back and forth, while the other robot puts out the empty screen plate. In the plate flipping station, one robot first picks up the empty screen plate and then moves back and forth, while the other robot puts out the screen plate with decorative drills.

10. The vacuum forming method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The lifting cylinder of the lifting support device (6) extends to raise the lifting disc of the lifting support device (6), at which time the lifting disc passes upward through the stepped circular hole (41) of the cover plate tray (4); when the lifting cylinder retracts, the lifting disc passes downward through the stepped circular hole (41) and is located below the cover plate tray (4). When the cover plate (1) is placed on the stepped circular hole (41), the two pneumatic clamping structures (42) on the cover plate tray (4) move synchronously towards each other to clamp the two opposing positioning posts (12) on the cover plate (1); The cover plate tray (4) moves forward to directly below the empty workstation. At this time, the cover plate robot moves downward and clamps the clamping column (11) on the cover plate (1). Simultaneously, the two moving clamping structures (42) move outward synchronously to the outside of the cover plate (1) and the blister sheet (2). Then the cover plate robot rises, separating the cover plate (1) from the cover plate tray (4), and the cover plate tray (4) moves backward. The cover plate robot moves downward again. At this time, the separating device (5)... The two translation cylinders (55) retract, and the two baffles (51) of the plate separating device (5) are in a separated state. The cover plate (1) and the blister sheet (2) pass downward through the baffle (51). Then the cover plate robot moves upward. At this time, the two translation cylinders (55) extend, and the two baffles (51) are in a facing state. The cover plate (1) can pass upward through the baffle (51), while the blister sheet (2) cannot pass upward through the baffle (51) and falls downward to the finished product stacking station.

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