Automatic feeding machine with switchable conveyor

An automatic feeding machine for transferring semi-manufactured products (40) between a progressive die (10) and a single station die (30), includes a frame (22), a feeding device (20), and a manipulator (50). The feeding device is positioned on the frame, which includes a curved slide (24), an active conveyor (27), a passive conveyor (25), and a locating table (23). The semi-manufactured products are transported on the active conveyor, the passive conveyor and the locating table in turn. Thereafter the semi-manufactured products are fetched by the manipulator. When the passive conveyor is fully occupied with semi-manufactured products, the active conveyor pivots to a position in alignment with the curved slide, so that unneeded semi-manufactured products slide out along the curved slide.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a feeding machine used on a manufacturing production line, and particularly to an automatic feeding machine which transfers semi-manufactured products between two dies that operate with different stamping frequencies.

2. Description of the Related Art

The stamping process of a product with a complicated structure is often completed by two sets of stamping machines. Firstly, a raw material is stamped by a progressive die to form a continuous series of discrete semi-manufactured products. Then the semi-manufactured products are transferred to a single station die to complete the stamping process. Typically, a frequency of stamping of the progressive die is greater than a frequency of processing of the single station die. Therefore the semi-manufactured product cannot be transferred from the progressive die to the single station die directly. Accordingly, either of the two following means of transferring is adopted in order to smoothly transfer the semi-manufactured products between the two dies.

The first means of transferring requires manual work by operators. A first operator removes the semi-manufactured products from the progressive die, and piles them on a worktable between the progressive die and the single station die. Then a second operator takes the semi-manufactured products away from the worktable, and puts them onto the single station die. This means of transferring is highly labor-intensive, and correspondingly inefficient.

The second means of transferring is achieved via an automatic worktable and a manipulator. Firstly, an operator removes the semi-manufactured products one by one from the progressive die, and piles them on the automatic worktable. Then the manipulator takes the semi-manufactured products away from the automatic worktable, and puts them on the single station die. Once the topmost semi-manufactured product is taken away from the automatic worktable, the next semi-manufactured product is automatically raised a predetermined height in order to facilitate the next operation. This means of transferring saves manpower. However, it is only feasible for semi-manufactured products which have a regular shape that allows them to be stacked on the worktable.

Thus, an automatic feeding machine which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic feeding machine with switchable conveyor which transfers semi-manufactured products between two dies that operate with different stamping frequencies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic feeding machine assembly which has high efficiency.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, an automatic feeding machine with switchable conveyor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame, a feeding device, and a manipulator. The feeding device is positioned on the frame, comprising a curved slide, an active conveyor, a passive conveyor, and a locating table. The active conveyor is pivotally connected on a left side of the frame. The passive conveyor is positioned on a central of the frame. A plurality of transverse cantilevers extends from a same long side of the passive conveyor. A plurality of cylinders and sensors are assembled on each cantilever. The locating table is secured on a right end of the frame. A plurality of sensors is positioned on the locating table. Two baffle posts protrude upwardly from a right end of the locating table. The semi-manufactured products that are stamped by a progressive die slid to the active conveyor, and then are transported on the passive conveyor and the locating table in turn. Thereafter the semi-manufactured products are taken away by a manipulator to a single station die for further processing. When the passive conveyor is fully occupied with semi-manufactured products, the active conveyor pivots to a position in alignment with the curved slide, so that unneeded semi-manufactured products slide out along the curved slide.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the attached drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 4, an automatic feeding machine with switchable conveyor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame22, a feeding device20and a manipulator50. The feeding device20is positioned between a progressive die10and a single station die30. The manipulator50is positioned between the feeding device20and the single station die30.

The progressive die10is connected to the feeding device20via a straight slide16. A continuous series of semi-manufactured products40is formed by repeated stamping of a moving metal sheet by the progressive die10. The semi-manufactured products40slide to the feeding device20along the straight slide16.

The feeding device20is positioned on the frame22, and comprises a curved slide24, an active conveyor27, a passive conveyor25and a locating table23. The active conveyor27and the passive conveyor25each comprise an endless moving belt system to provide conveyance.

A U-shaped girder222is attached on a pair of main beams224of the frame22, so that it straddles the main beams224. A crossbeam228interconnects the main beams224near the U-shaped girder222. A supporting post226extends upwardly from a middle of the crossbeam228. A pedestal26is mounted on a left end of the frame22. The pedestal26comprises a base board261, and a pair of symmetrically opposite side plates262extending upwardly from the base board261. A pivot aperture264is defined in each side plate262. A transverse fixed board266extends downwardly from an inner side of the base board261. A generally U-shaped first bracket265is mounted on an inmost side of the fixed board266. A pair of aligned first pivot holes267is defined in the first bracket265.

The curved slide24is mounted between the supporting post226and a front one of the main beams224. Two baffle flanges242are bent upwardly from opposite lateral sides of the curved slide24respectively.

A pair of pivots272is pivotably engaged in the pivot apertures264of the pedestal26, so that the active conveyor27is pivotably connected with the pedestal26. A connecting board276is secured to a right part of an underside of the active conveyor27. A pair of second brackets277extends downwardly from the connecting board276. A second pivot hole278is defined in each second bracket277. A bottom end of a first cylinder assembly29is pivotably connected to the first bracket265via the first pivot holes267. A top end of the first cylinder assembly29is pivotably connected to the second brackets277via the second pivot holes278. The first cylinder assembly29is controlled by an electrical system (not shown).

One end of the passive conveyor25is secured on the U-shaped girder222, and the other end is connected to the locating table23. Two spaced, transverse cantilevers251,256extend from a same long side of the passive conveyor25, such that they are disposed horizontally a predetermined distance above the passive conveyor25. A pair of vertical second cylinder assemblies253and a pair of sensors252is provided on each cantilever251,256. Furthermore, a third cylinder assembly254is arranged alongside and parallel to said long side of the passive conveyor25. The third cylinder assembly254is connected to a driving board255.

The locating table23is secured on a right side of the frame22. A plurality of baffle posts257protrudes upwardly from an end of the locating table23that is adjacent the single station die30. A pair of sensors252is positioned on opposite lateral sides of the locating table23respectively.

In operation, each semi-manufactured product40freshly stamped by the progressive die10slides to the active conveyor27along the straight slide16. The semi-manufactured product40is transferred to the passive conveyor25by the active conveyor27, and is transported along the passive conveyor25. When the sensors252of the cantilevers251,256detect that no semi-manufactured products40are under either of the cantilevers251,256, piston rods (not labeled) of the second cylinder assemblies253are in retracted positions, to allow a series of semi-manufactured products40to be continuously transported along the passive conveyor25. At the same time, the electronic system controls the third cylinder assembly254to drive the driving board255to push a leading one of the semi-manufactured products40to the locating table23. The semi-manufactured product40is stopped by the baffle posts257of the locating table23, and is then taken away by the manipulator50to the single station die30for further processing. A frequency of stamping of the progressive die10is greater than a frequency of processing of the single station die30. As a result, the passive conveyor25becomes fully occupied with a plurality of semi-manufactured products40after a period of time. At this point in time, the sensors252of the cantilevers251,256and the locating table23all detect the presence of semi-manufactured products40. The sensors252send corresponding signals to the electronic system, which controls the piston rods of the second cylinder assemblies253of the cantilevers251,256to extend downwardly in order to block semi-manufactured products40from traveling along the passive conveyor25. At this time, the belts of the active conveyor27and the passive conveyor25are still moving, and the belt of the passive conveyor25skids under semi-manufactured products40that are blocked by the piston rods of the second cylinder assemblies253. Simultaneously, the electronic system controls a piston rod (not labeled) of the first cylinder assembly29to retract, so that the active conveyor27pivots to a position in alignment with the curved slide24. Thereafter, semi-manufactured products40sliding down the straight slide16are transported by the active conveyor27to the curved slide24. The semi-manufactured products40slide out from the curved slide24, and are collected by an operator. Thus the passive conveyor25does not become jammed with semi-manufactured products40. When the sensors252detect that the number of semi-manufactured products40on the locating table23is reduced, the sensors252send corresponding signals to the electronic system. The electronic system controls the piston rod (not labeled) of the first cylinder assembly29to extend, so that the active conveyor27pivots upwardly to a position in alignment with the passive conveyor25once again. Thereupon, semi-manufactured products40continue to be transported in the normal way as described above. At a later time, the operator can stop the progressive die10, and put the collected semi-manufactured products40on the passive conveyor25for transportation.