Abstract:
An automatic seam detection machine is disclosed herein, including a conveying device and a seam detection device. The conveying device includes a feeding station, provided with a feed valve. When a sample can is conveyed to the feeding station, the feed valve opens and the sample can arrives at the detecting station of the seam detection device through the feed valve. Since more sample cans can be placed in the conveying device, operators can place batches of sample cans in the conveying device in one time; and the sample cans can be automatically conveyed to the feeding station by the conveying device, then conveyed to the seam detection device for detection automatically by opening the feed valve. Compared with prior arts, this invention can achieve automatic feeding, so as to facilitate the batch detection, with high degree of automation.

Description:
The current application claims a foreign priority to application number 201610087135.5 filed on Feb. 16, 2016 in China 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to the technical field of sample can seam measurement, and in particular, to an automatic seam detection machine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The sealing of metal cans refers to the flange of can body and the round seam of can lid in the can seamer, to roll the can body and the can lid and form a closely overlapping seam. The roll seam is called double-seam. The sealing of double-seam is completed mainly by four parts: chuck, first roller of tray and two roller devices. 
     The sealing quality of cans and easy opening cans has a decisive significance for the product quality. If the sealing is not qualified, it will not only cause damage to the appearance of cans and easy opening cans, but also the air and bacteria may enter the cans, to deteriorate the products, causing can leaking and shortening the shelf life. The double-seam sealing technology can firmly connect the can body and can lid, forming an airtight sealing state and smooth seam, which can enhance the organoleptic quality of cans and extend the shelf life of the products. 
     To this end, it is necessary to cut and measure the seams of cans and easy opening cans apart from the production. The traditional cutting and measurement method is as follows: an employee cuts the seam of sample cans with a cutting tool, then manually places the sample can to a detection device to scan for capturing the images, then analyzes the images to know if the seam of sample can is qualified. Since it is cut manually, the detection of a large batch of sample cans usually requires repetitive work, and it is slow and labor-intensive, moreover, the manual-cutting of cans will bring a high risk of injuries. 
     For the above shortcomings, an automatic seam cutting measuring machine is proposed. This measuring machine can achieve automatic cutting and measurement of the sample cans when placed in the detecting station. Although this equipment can achieve automatic detection, it can detect only one sample can each time; thus, during the batch detection process, operators shall place cans in the site, reducing the degree of automation of the equipment. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object of the invention is to provide an automatic seam detection machine with high degree of automation that can automatically feed to facilitate the detection in batches. 
     In order to achieve the object, the invention adopts the following technical solutions: 
     An automatic seam detection machine, comprising a seam detection device and a conveying device that can accommodate at least two sample cans, wherein the conveying device includes a feeding station, provided with a feed valve corresponding to the detecting station of the seam detection device, when a sample can is conveyed to the feeding station, the feed valve opens and the sample can arrives at the detecting station of the seam detection device through the feed valve. 
     Wherein, it further comprises a partition board, and the conveying device is provided at one side of the partition board and the seam detection device is provided at the other side of the partition board, the feed valve includes a feed port arranged at the partition board and a bolt plate arranged at the feed port, when the feed valve is in a closed state, the bolt plate blocks the feed port. 
     Wherein, the conveying device comprises a conveying turntable, with at least two feeding holes, when the feeding holes rotate to the conveying station, the feeding holes are aligned with the feed port. 
     Wherein, the feeding station is provided with a feeding device, and when the feed valve is opened, the feeding device can convey the sample cans on the feeding station to the detecting station, or convey the sample cans on the detecting station to the feeding station. 
     Wherein, the feeding device comprises a feeding cylinder and a gripping device, the gripping device grips the sample can and the feeding cylinder drives the gripping device to come close to/leave away the feed port. 
     Wherein, the gripping device comprises a sucker, a can-pressing cylinder and a top lever that connects the can-pressing cylinder, and the can-pressing cylinder can drive the top lever to push the sample can away from the sucker. 
     Wherein, the seam detection device comprises a clamping device, a cutting device, a feed mechanism and a camera, the clamping device reaches the seam detection device to fix the sample can, the feed mechanism drives the cutting device to move to the sample can, the cutting device cuts the sample can to form a notch at the rim, and the camera captures the image of the notch. 
     Wherein, the clamping device comprises a clamping turntable and a rotating motor, the sample can is fixed at the clamping turntable and the clamping turntable is driven by the rotating motor to rotate to drive sample can to rotate. 
     Wherein, the cutting device comprises a cutting motor, a cutting blade and a push block, the cutting motor drives the cutting blade to cut the sample can, and the push block pushes against the cutting place of the sample can to form an opening. 
     Wherein, the cutting blade comprises a first blade and a second blade arranged in parallel, and the pressing block is arranged between the first blade and the second blade. 
     The invention can achieve the following beneficial effects: 
     The automatic seam detection machine disclosed in the invention comprises a conveying device and a seam detection device. The conveying device includes a feeding station, provided with a feed valve. When a sample can is conveyed to the feeding station, the feed valve opens and the sample can arrives at the detecting station of the seam detection device through the feed valve. Since more sample cans can be placed in the conveying device, operators can place batches of sample cans in the conveying device one time; and the sample cans can be automatically conveyed to the feeding station by the conveying device, then conveyed to the seam detection device for detection automatically by opening the feed valve. Compared with prior arts, this invention can achieve automatic feeding, so as to facilitate the batch detection, with high degree of automation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows the three-dimensional structure of seam detection device in the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows the schematic diagram of seam detection device of a linear feed mechanism in the invention (I). 
         FIG. 3  shows the schematic diagram of seam detection device of a linear feed mechanism in the invention (II). 
         FIG. 4  shows the schematic diagram of seam detection device of a projector in the invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows the schematic diagram of seam detection device of a pressure port linkage frame in the invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows the A-A section view in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows the schematic diagram of a clamping arm in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  shows the schematic diagram of a three-jaw clamp in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  shows the three-dimensional structure of a conveying device in the invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows the three-dimensional structure of a feeding device in the invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows the cross-sectional view of a gripping device in the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention provides a specific embodiment of an automatic seam detection machine, comprising a conveying device, a seam detection device and a partition board  91  used for separating the conveying device and the seam detection device. Specifically, the conveying device is arranged above the partition board  91  and the seam detection device is arranged below the partition board  91 . A feed port  931  is provided on the partition board  91 . The upper part of the feed port  931  corresponds to the conveying station of the conveying device, and lower part of the feed port  931  corresponds to the detecting station of the seam detection device. A bolt plate  932  is provided at the feed port  931 , and the bolt plate  932  and the feed port  931  constitute a feed valve. The bolt plate  932  can block the feed port  931  driven by the bolt cylinder  932 , thus the feed valve is at the closed state to prevent the sample cans from entering the seam detection device. The bolt cylinder  933  can also drive bolt plate  932  to depart from the feed port  931 , so that the feed valve is in the open state and the sample cans can pass through the feed port  931  smoothly to arrive at the detecting station of the seam detection device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the conveying device in this embodiment comprises a conveying turntable  92  and a feeding device arranged at the conveying station. There are a number of feeding holes  921  on the conveying turntable  92 ; when detecting, the sample cans are placed in the feeding hole  921 . By rotating, the conveying turntable  92  can convey the sample cans at the feeding hole  921  to the conveying station. When sample cans are conveyed to the conveying station, the system can control to open the feed valve, and the feeding device will push the sample can to the detecting station of the seam detection device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the feeding device comprises a feeding cylinder  941  and a vertical slab  942 . The vertical slab  942  is provided with a feeding guide rail  943 , above which is mounted a gripping mounting base  952  that can move along the feeding guide rail  943  back and forth. A gripping device that can grip sample cans is fixed on the gripping mounting base  952 , and a push disc  944  is arranged at the end of the feeding cylinder  941 . The push disc  944  is connected to the gripping mounting base  952  and the feeding cylinder  941  drives the push disc  944 , to drive the gripping mounting base  952  to move up and down. 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG. 11 , the gripping device comprises a sucker  951  and a sucker mounting base  954 . The sucker  951  is mounted below the sucker mounting base  954 , and a can-pressing cylinder  953  is arranged above the sucker mounting base  954 . A top lever  955  driven by the can-pressing cylinder  953  is provided in the inner chamber of the sucker mounting base  954 . When a sample can is conveyed to the conveying station, the can-pressing cylinder  953  drives the top lever  955  to contract upwards, the feeding cylinder  941  drives the gripping device to move downwards until the sucker  951  sucks the sample can tightly, then the feed valve is opened, the gripping device is driven by the feeding cylinder  941  to move downwards, to drive the sample can to move downwards until the detecting station of the seam detection device, and the seam detection device clamps the sample can to complete detection. The gripping device driven by the feeding cylinder  941  moves upwards, to bring the sample can back to the above of the partition board  91 . The feed valve is closed, and the can-pressing cylinder  953  drives the top lever  955  to the sample can, to detach the sample can from the sucker  951 , then the conveying turntable  92  is rotated to move the sample can that is detected away from the feeding station and convey the next sample can to the feeding station. With this feeding device, the sample can be smoothly conveyed to the detecting station, and after detection, the sample can will be taken out from the detecting device by the feeding device, to facilitate the next detection. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 - FIG. 8 , the seam detection device in this embodiment comprises a base plate  1 , a linear feed mechanism  2 , a projector  3 , a cutting device  4 , a pressure port linkage frame  5  and a sample can clamping device  6  arranged at the detecting station. The sample can clamping device  6  is arranged on the base plate  1 , the linear feed mechanism  2  is arranged on one side of the sample can clamping device  6 , and the cutting device  4  is arranged on the linear feed mechanism  2 , which moves towards the sample can clamping device  6  driven by the linear feed mechanism  2 , to cut the sample can  7  on the sample can clamping device  6 . The pressure port linkage frame  5 , arranged on the cutting device  4 , can press the sample can  7  on the cutting opening after the sample can  7  is cut by the cutting device  4 . The projector  3 , corresponding to the other side of the sample can clamping device  6 , is arranged on the base plate  1 . 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG. 2 , the linear feed mechanism  2  comprises a feeding cylinder  21 , a sliding seat  22 , a linear guide rail  23  and a sliding block  24  that is adapted to the linear guide rail  23 . The sliding seat  22  is arranged on the linear guide rail  23  movably via the sliding block  24 , the body of the feeding cylinder  21  is fixed on the base plate  1 , and the piston rod of the feeding cylinder  21  is connected with the sliding seat  22  via the connecting base. In other embodiments, the linear feed mechanism  2  can adopts other structure, for example, the linear feed mechanism  2  comprises a stepping motor  25 , a feed screw  26 , a sliding seat  22 , a linear guide rail  23  and a sliding block  24  adapted to the linear guide rail  23 ; the sliding seat  22  is arranged on the linear guide rail  23  movably via the sliding block  24  and the bottom of the sliding seat  22  is provided with nuts adapted to the feed screw  26 . The feed screw  26  passes through the nut and it is arranged on the base plate  1  through the bearing block. The stepping motor  25  is arranged on the base plate  1  and the rotating shaft of the stepping motor  25  is connected with the feed screw  26  through a coupling. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the cutting device  4  comprises a cutting motor  41  and two saw blades  42 . The two saw blades  42  are provided on the rotating shaft of the cutting motor  41 , and the cutting motor  41  is provided on the sliding seat  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , one end of the pressure port linkage frame  5  is fixed on the sliding seat  22 , and the other end of which is extended between two saw blades  42  and provided with a push block  8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the clamping device  6  comprises a vertical plate  61 , a three-jaw clamp  62 , a clamping shaft  63 , a rotating motor  64 , a base plate  65 , a clamping cylinder  67  and two clamping arms  68 . The vertical plate  61  is vertically arranged on the base plate  1 , the seat board  65  is arranged horizontally above the vertical plate  61 . A sample can port is provided on the seat board  65  and the side of clamping cylinder  67  corresponding to the sample can port is arranged on the seat board  65 , and two clamping arms  68  are symmetrically arranged on the clamping cylinder  67 ; the rotating motor  64  corresponding to the sample can port is arranged on the base plate  1  and the rotating shaft of the rotating motor  64  faces upwards. The three-jaw clamp  62  is connected with the rotating shaft of the rotating motor  64  through the clamping shaft  63 . A proximity switch  69  and a sensor  60  are provided on the three-jaw clamp  62 . 
     Preferably, referring to  FIG. 4 , a projector baffle  10  is provided on the side of the projector  3  corresponding to the sliding seat  22 , to prevent the foreign matters from splashing to the projector  3  and effectively protect the projector  3 , enhancing the shooting resolution. In order to enhance the flexibility, the projector  3  is arranged on the base plate  1  through the linear guide rail assembly  9  whose trajectory is consistent with the feed trajectory of the linear feed mechanism  2 , to meet the demands for detecting sample cans of different sizes. 
     During operation, operators can place the sample cans in batch on the conveying device in one time. The conveying device can automatically convey the sample cans to the feeding station, and by opening the feed valve, sample cans can be automatically delivered to the clamping device  6 , and the linear feed mechanism  2  drives the cutting device  4  to cut. It can achieve good cutting effect, free of distortion or burrs, moreover, after cutting, the pressure port linkage frame  5  can be driven to press the seam notch; the linear feed mechanism  2  drives the cutting device  4  and pressure port linkage frame  5  to return, so that the seam sections of sample can  7  can be exposed outside, to facilitate the projector  3  to get the seam cross-sectional images quickly and clearly, and then conduct analysis and processing of images by the analysis system, to get the related parameters of the seam of the sample can  7 , such as seam length, can body hook length, can lid hook length, iterative length, seam gap length, iterative rate, can body hook overlap percentage, can lid hook overlap percentage, seam image thickness, fitting length, to determine if the seam of the sample can  7  is acceptable. Besides, these relevant parameters and images are stored in the database for easy access, and these seam images saved can be used for re-measurement at any time. 
     The whole operation process is simple, convenient, easy to implement, which can replace the previous measurement method of cans cut manually. It can achieve automatic feeding, automatic can cutting and automatic acquisition of images, and the measurement results are more accurate, reliable, greatly enhancing the measurement accuracy and speed, reducing the labor intensity while enhancing the efficiency. It can be applied to sample cans of different types. 
     The invention has been disclosed in details as above. Those technicians skilled in the art can change and modify the above mode of execution. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein, and some modifications and changes to the invention shall fall into the scope of protection. In addition, although some specific terms used herein, they are merely for convenience of explanation, rather than restriction on the invention. As stated in above embodiments, other machinery with the same or similar structures shall fall into the scope of protection of the invention.