Patent Publication Number: US-2017361499-A1

Title: Automatic vacuum film transferring machine

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 from Taiwan Patent Application 105118665, filed on Jun. 15, 2016. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an automatic vacuum film transferring machine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Usually, a component is put on and taken away from a transferring mold by operation workers in a vacuum film transferring machine. This process is time consuming, costly, and burdensome. There is a need to automate a vacuum film transferring process for the component. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an automatic vacuum film transferring machine in an original state according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the automatic vacuum film transferring machine of  FIG. 1  in a feeding state according to the exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the automatic vacuum film transferring machine of  FIG. 1  in an unloading state according to the exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
     An automatic vacuum film transferring machine includes: an upper mold driven to move up and down; at least one lower mold corresponding to the upper mold, the at least one lower mold configured to support a component to be transferred; a transferring support member being located below the upper mold, the transferring support member configured to support one lower mold; a first sliding support member being located on and driven to slide along one side of the transferring support member, the first sliding support member is able to dock onto the transferring support member to transfer one lower mold to the transferring support member; and a second sliding support member located on and driven to slide along an opposite side of the transferring support member, the second sliding support member is able to dock onto the transferring support member to transmit one lower mold from the transferring support member. 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an automatic vacuum film transferring machine  100 . The automatic vacuum film transferring machine  100  includes a machine platform  11 , a transferring support member  12 , a transition support member  13 , a first sliding support member  141 , a second sliding support member  142 , a group of first sliding rails  151 , a group of second sliding rails  152 , an upper mold  16 , and at least one lower mold  17 . 
     The transferring support member  12  is fixed on the machine platform  11 . The transferring support member  12  is configured to support a component to be transferred. In this embodiment, the transferring support member  12  is located on center of one side of the machine platform  11 . 
     The transferring support member  12  defines a plurality of vacuum holes  122  to communicate with a vacuum pump (not shown). The transferring support member  12  includes a first transmission member  121 . The first transmission member  121  is configured to transmit the lower mold  17  and is moved by the use of a driver (not shown). In this embodiment, the first transmission member  121  is a group of wheels, and can be rotated. 
     The transition support member  13  is also fixed on the machine platform  11 . In this embodiment, the transition support member  13  is located on center of another side of the machine platform  11  and is opposite to the transferring support member  12 . The transition support member  12  includes a second transmission member  131 . The second transmission member  121  is also configured to transmit the lower mold  17  and is also moved by the use of a driver (not shown). In this embodiment, the second transmission member  131  is also a group of wheels, and can be rotated. 
     In this embodiment, the transition support member  13  docks onto the transferring support member  12 . In other embodiments, the transition support member  13  may be separated from the transferring support member  12 . 
     The first sliding support member  141  and the second sliding support member  142  are each located on opposite sides of the transition support member  13 , and are each driven to slide by the use of a driver (not shown). A sliding direction of the first sliding support member  141  and a sliding direction of the second sliding support member  142  are each parallel to an arrangement direction of the transition support member  13  and the transferring support member  12 , then the first sliding support member  141  and the second sliding support member  142  can each slide to locate on two opposite side of the transferring support member  12 . 
     The first sliding support member  141  includes a third transmission member  144 . The third transmission member  144  is also configured to transmit the lower mold  17  and is also moved by the use of a driver (not shown). In this embodiment, the third transmission member  144  is also a group of wheels, and can be rotated. The second sliding support member  142  includes a fourth transmission member  145 . The fourth transmission member  145  is also configured to transmit the lower mold  17  and is also moved by the use of a driver (not shown). In this embodiment, the fourth transmission member  145  is also a group of wheels, and can be rotated. 
     In other embodiments, the first transmission member  121 , the second transmission member  131 , the third transmission member  144 , and the fourth transmission member  145  can also be conveyor belts, or rollers. 
     In this embodiment, the first transmission member  121 , the second transmission member  131 , the third transmission member  144 , and the fourth transmission member  145  have substantially the same height. 
     The group of first sliding rails and the group of second sliding rails are fixed on the machine platform. In this embodiment, the first sliding support member  141  and the second sliding support member  142  each includes a group of sliding grooves  143 . The group of first sliding rails  151  is arranged in and corresponding to the group of sliding grooves  143  of the first sliding support member  141 . The group of second sliding rails  152  is arranged in and corresponding to the group of sliding grooves  143  of the second sliding support member  142 . 
     The automatic vacuum film transferring machine  100  includes a feeding portion  101  and an unloading portion  102  each respectively corresponding to opposite sides of the transition support member  142 . The first sliding support member  141  and the second sliding support member  142  at least include an original state (shown in  FIG. 1 ), a feeding state (shown in  FIG. 2 ), and an unloading state (shown in  FIG. 2 ). In the original state, the first sliding support member  141  and the second sliding support member  142  are each arranged on and docked to opposite sides of the transition support member  142  and correspond to the feeding portion  101  and an unloading portion  102 . In the feeding state, the first sliding support member  141  may slide from one side of the transition support member  142  to one side of the transferring support member  12 , and docks onto the transferring support member  12 . In the unloading state, the second sliding support member  142  had slide from another side of the transition support member  142  to another side of the transferring support member  12 , and docks onto the transferring support member  12 . 
     The upper mold  16  is arranged above the transferring support member  12 . The upper mold  16  can be heated by a heater (not shown), and can move up and down by a lifter (not shown). The upper mold  16  defines at least one image whereon. 
     Each lower mold  17  corresponds to the upper mold  16 . Each lower mold  17  defines at least one cavity  171  and a plurality of mold vacuum holes  172  communicated with the cavity  171  and the vacuum holes  122 . The lower mold  17  is configured to support a component. The lower mold  17  and the upper mold  16  are cooperatively configured to transfer the image of the upper mold  16  on a component. 
     In this embodiment, the number of the lower mold  17  is three. In the original state, three of the lower molds  17  are each respectively supported on the transition support member  13 , the first sliding support member  141 , and the second sliding support member  142 . 
     In other embodiments, the upper mold  16  also can define a plurality of mold vacuum holes. 
     In other embodiments, the lower mold  17  can also define at least one image whereon. 
     In practice, the following steps may be included to operate the automatic vacuum film transferring machine  100 . 
     S1, the first sliding support member  141  and the second sliding support member  142  are in the original state, and a component to be transferred is supported on the first sliding support member  141  through one lower mold  17 . 
     S2, the first sliding support member  141  is driven to slide along the first sliding rail  151  to dock onto the transferring support member  12 , then, the first sliding support member  141  and the second sliding support member  142  are in the feeding state. 
     S3, the lower mold  17  together with the component to be supported is positioned on the transferring support member  12  by the third transmission member  144  and the first transmission member  121  rotating cooperatively to transmit the lower mold  17 . 
     S4, the first sliding support member  141  is driven to slide along the first sliding rail  151  to dock onto the transition support member  13  to return back to the original state. 
     S5, the upper mold  16  is driven down to contact with the lower mold  17 . Then, the component to be transferred is heated by the upper mold  16 , and then the component is transferred an image by a vacuuming process to form a transferred component. 
     S6, the lower mold  17  located on the transition support member  13  is positioned on the first sliding support member  141 , and the lower mold  17  located on the second sliding support member  142  is positioned on the transition support member  13  by the second transmission  131 , the third transmission member  144  and the fourth transmission member  145  rotate cooperatively to transmit the lower molds  17 . 
     S7, the second sliding support member  142  is driven to slide along the second sliding rail  152  to dock onto the transferring support member  12 , to place the first sliding support member  141  and the second sliding support member  142  are in the unloading state. 
     S8, the lower mold  17  together with the transferred component are positioned on the second sliding support member  142  by the first transmission member  121  and the fourth transmission member  145  rotating cooperatively to transmit the lower molds  17 . 
     S9, the second sliding support member  142  is driven to slide along the second sliding rail  152  to dock onto the transition support member  13 , to return to the original state. 
     Thereafter, S1 to S9 are repeated. 
     In other embodiments, S5 and S6 can be exchanged. 
     In other embodiments, S4 and S5 can be simultaneously with S6. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. 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, including 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.