The subject matter herein generally relates to marking devices.
In automatic machining, workpieces can be marked by a marking device. During marking, the workpieces are fed to the marking device.
Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.
Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.
The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.
The present disclosure is in relation to a marking device including a support member, a transmission member, a feeding mechanism, a discharging mechanism, a driving mechanism, a positioning tool, and a marking mechanism. In at least one embodiment, the marking device can also be a selecting device. The transmission member can be mounted on the support member and configured to convey a workpiece. The feeding mechanism can be positioned on the support member above the transmission member. The feeding mechanism can include a driving assembly coupled to the support member and a coupling member coupled to the driving assembly. The discharging mechanism can be positioned on the support member above the transmission member. The discharging mechanism can include a driving assembly coupled to the support member and a coupling member coupled to the driving assembly of the discharging mechanism. The driving mechanism can be positioned adjacent to the transmission member. The positioning tool can be coupled to the driving mechanism. The marking mechanism can be positioned adjacent to the transmission member. The driving assembly of the feeding mechanism can be configured to drive the coupling assembly of the feeding mechanism to lift up the workpiece, the driving mechanism is configured to drive the positioning tool to position the workpiece, and the marking mechanism is configured to mark the workpiece. The driving mechanism can be further configured to move the positioning tool and the workpiece being marked to below the discharging mechanism, the driving assembly of the discharging mechanism can be configured to drive the coupling assembly of the discharging mechanism to carry the workpiece after being marked to the transmission member.
The support member 10 can be substantially a frame and include a first support portion 11, a second support portion 13, and a third support portion 15. The second support portion 13 and the third support portion 15 can be arranged on the first support portion 11 and located above the first support portion 11. The second support portion 13 and the third support portion 15 can be parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the first support portion 11. The first support portion 11 can be configured to support the transmission member 20. The second support portion 13 can be configured to support the feeding mechanism 30. The third support portion 15 can be configured to support the discharging mechanism 40. In at least one embodiment, the first support portion 11 can be a standing frame structure. The second support portion 13 and the third support portion 15 each can be substantially the shape of a stepped tower. The transmission member 20 can be a transmission belt coupled to the first support portion 11 for conveying the workpiece 200. The transmission member 20 can be horizontally positioned below the second support portion 13 and the third support portion 15.
The feeding mechanism 30 can include a driving assembly 31 and a coupling assembly 33. The driving assembly 31 can be mounted on the second support portion 13 and positioned above the transmission member 20. The coupling assembly 33 can be coupled to the driving assembly 31.
The driving assembly 31 can include a pair of fixing blocks 311, a guiding member 313, and a sliding member 315. The pair of fixing blocks 311 can be coupled to the second support portion 13. An imaginary line connecting the pair of fixing block 311 can be substantially vertical. A first end portion and a second end portion of the guiding member 313 can be respectively fixed to each of the pair of fixing blocks 311. The guiding member 313 can be vertically arranged and substantially perpendicular to the transmission member 20. In at least one embodiment, the guiding member 313 can include two parallel guiding rods. The sliding member 315 can be slidably sleeved on the guiding member 313 to slide along the guiding member 313. In at least one embodiment, the driving assembly 31 can be substantially in the shape of a cylinder.
The coupling assembly 33 can be coupled to the sliding member 315 and include a coupling member 331 and at least one coupling member 333. The coupling member 331 can be fixed to the sliding member 315. Thus, the coupling member 331 with the sliding member 315 can slide along the guiding member 313 to move towards or away from the transmission member 20. In at least one embodiment, the coupling assembly 33 can include four coupling members 333. The coupling members 333 can be mounted at a side of the coupling member 331 adjacent to the transmission member 20. Each coupling member 333 can be positioned at each of the four corners of the coupling member 331.
The discharging mechanism 40 has a structure similar to that of the feeding mechanism 30. The discharging mechanism 40 can include a driving assembly 41 and a coupling assembly 43. The driving assembly 41 can be mounted on the third support portion 15 and positioned above the transmission member 20. The coupling assembly 43 can be mounted on the driving assembly 41. The coupling assembly 43 can include a coupling member 431 and at least one coupling member 433. The coupling member 431 can be mounted on the driving assembly 41. The at least one coupling member 433 can be coupled to a side of the coupling member 431 adjacent to the transmission member 20. In at least one embodiment, the coupling assembly 43 can include four coupling members 433.
In at least one embodiment, the driving mechanism 50 can be a robot arm (partially shown in
The mounting member 63 can define an inserting hole 631 and four through holes 633. The inserting hole 631 can be defined at a substantially central portion and the through holes 633 can be arranged around the inserting hole 631. The sucking members 62 are mounted within the through holes 633. The mounting member 63 can be sleeved on the sucking members 62 via the through holes 633 and located above the bearing member 61. The mounting member 63 can be coupled to the actuating end 51 of the driving mechanism 50. In this way, the driving mechanism 50 can move the positioning tool 60.
The driving member 64 can be coupled to the bearing member 61. The driving member 64 can be received in the receiving chamber 6111 and partially pass through the inserting hole 631 of the mounting member 63. The driving member 64 can be configured to drive the limiting member 65 to move towards or away from the bearing member 61. In at least one embodiment, the driving member 64 can substantially be in the shape of a cylinder. The limiting member 65 can be movably positioned on the mounting member 63 and located at a side of the mounting member 63 away from the driving member 64. The limiting member 65 can be coupled to the driving member 64. The limiting member 65 resembles a cross within a square and the sidewalls of the limiting member 65 can be inclined towards a central axis of the limiting member 65 along a direction away from the driving member 64. An area of a top surface of the limiting member 65 can be smaller than that of the bottom surface of the limiting member 65. A limiting portion 651 can protrude from each sidewall of the limiting member 64. Each limiting portion 651 can be inclined inwardly along a direction away from the mounting member 63. The limiting member 65 can define at least one guiding hole 653. In at least one embodiment, the limiting member 65 can define four guiding holes 653 and the positioning tool 60 can include four guiding members 66 corresponding to the number of guiding holes 653. The guiding members 66 can be coupled to the mounting member 63 and inserted into the guiding holes 653 and configured to guide the limiting member 65 when driven by the driving member 64.
In at least one embodiment, the limiting member 65 can include four limiting portions 651 and the positioning tool 60 can include two pairs of engaging members 67 and two pairs of positioning members 68, to matingly engage with the four limiting portions 651. The engaging member 67 can substantially be a block. The engaging members 67 can be positioned around the limiting member 65 and can engage with the limiting member 65. Each engaging member 67 can include an inclined surface 671 directing a limiting portion 651. An inclination direction of the inclined surface 671 can be same inclination as that of the limiting portion 651. Each inclined surface 671 can define an engaging groove 673 (also shown in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In use, the workpiece 200 can be carried by the transmission member 20. When the workpiece 200 is located below the feeding mechanism 30, the coupling members 333 of the feeding mechanism 30 lift up the workpiece 200 and the sliding member 315 drives the coupling assembly 33 and the workpiece 200 to move away from the transmission member 20 along the guiding member 313. The driving mechanism 50 drives the positioning tool 60 to move below the coupling assembly 33 and then the coupling assembly 33 releases the workpiece 200. Thus, the workpiece 200 is put onto the sucking members 62 of the positioning tool 60. The driving member 64 can drive the limiting member 65 to move towards the workpiece 200 along the guiding members 66. The limiting portions 651 of the limiting member 65 can slide along the engaging grooves 673. Because the limiting portion 651 can be inclined outwardly along a direction towards the driving member 64, the limiting portions 651 can direct the engaging members 67 to move away from the central axis of the limiting member 65. Thus, the positioning members 68 can move outwardly to hold the workpiece 200. After the workpiece 200 has been positioned, the driving mechanism 50 can drive the positioning tool 60 and the workpiece 200 to the marking mechanism 70 for marking. At the same time, a next workpiece can be carried to the feeding mechanism 30 via the transmission member 20, and the feeding mechanism 30 can select the next workpiece in preparation.
When marking the workpiece 200, the driving mechanism 50 can drive the positioning tool 60 to rotate the workpiece 200. The marking mechanism 70 can mark the workpiece 200 at different locations. After marking, the driving mechanism 50 can drive the positioning tool 60 and the workpiece 200 to be below the discharging mechanism 40. The driving member 64 of the positioning tool 60 can drive the limiting member 65 to move away from the workpiece 200 to release the workpiece 200. The sucking members 62 can stop vacuum-lifting the workpiece 200. The coupling member 433 can lift up the workpiece 200 after being marked. The driving assembly 41 can drive the coupling assembly 43 and the workpiece 200 towards the transmission member 20 to put the workpiece 200 on the transmission member 20. The driving mechanism 50 can move the positioning tool 60 to put the next workpiece in place.
In at least one embodiment, the positioning member 68 can be omitted and then the limiting member 65 can direct the engaging members 67 to directly position the workpiece 200. The engaging groove 673 of the engaging member 67 can be omitted and then the limiting portion 651 can directly direct the inclined surface 671.
The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a feeding device. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013 1 02881381 | Jul 2013 | CN | national |
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20150015653 A1 | Jan 2015 | US |