Abstract:
A transfer device configured to transfer a workpiece includes a rotary table, a fixing seat, and a supporting member. The rotary table is capable of rotating a predetermined angle. The fixing seat is mounted on the rotary table. The supporting member is slidably mounted on the fixing seat and configured to support the workpiece. The supporting member raises or lowers the workpiece when sliding on the fixing seat, and the supporting member rotates with the rotary table.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject matter herein generally relates a transfer device, and more particularly to a transfer device which can transfer workpieces. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Conveyors comprising endless conveyor belts have long been used for transporting workpieces. There is often a need to transport workpieces from a first direction to a second direction, where the first direction and the second direction are not longitudinally extending from on another. Specialized turning belt conveyors are used to convey workpieces along different directions. However, the turning belt conveyors are adapted to workpiece having a small size. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a transfer device, the transfer device is positioned between two conveyors. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another angle. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the transfer device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another angle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    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 may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0009]    Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
         [0010]    The term “coupled” is defined as coupled, 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 coupled or releastably coupled. 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. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure is described in relation to a transfer device configured to convey workpieces between two conveyors. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates that a transfer device  100  is located near a first conveyor  200  and a second conveyor  400 . The transfer device  100  can be used to transfer workpieces (not shown) from the first conveyor  200  to the second conveyor  400 , and the first conveyor  200  and the second conveyor  400  can form a ninety degree angle. The first conveyor  200  can include a first conveyor portion  210 , and the second conveyor  400  can include a second conveyor portion  410 . The workpiece can be positioned on a rack shelf stack  500  and conveyed from the first conveyor portion  410  to the second conveyor portion  510 . 
         [0013]    The transfer device  100  can include a base  10 , a rotary table  20 , a drive motor  30 , a fixing seat  50 , and a supporting member  70 . The rotary table  20  can be rotatably mounted on the base  10 , and the drive motor  30  can be mounted on the base  10  and configured to drive the rotary table  20  to rotate. The rotary table  20  can rotate a predetermined angle to rotate the workpiece coupled to the rotary table  20 . The fixing seat  50  can be fixed to a surface of the base  10 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates that the supporting member  70  can be slidably mounted on the fixing seat  50 . The supporting member  70  can be configured to support the workpiece. When the supporting member  70  moves along the fixing seat  50 , the workpiece can be raised or lowered by the supporting member  70 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates that the drive motor  30  can be coupled to the rotary table  20  by a chain wheel  40  and a chain  42 . The chain wheel  40  can be coupled to the drive motor  30 . The chain wheel  40  can be mounted on the bracket  10 , and the chain  42  can be wound on the chain wheel  40  and rotary table  20 , thus the rotary table  20  can be rotated when driven by the drive motor  30 . There can be two tensioning wheels  44  mounted on the bracket  10  and spaced from each other. The two tensioning wheels  44  can be mounted between the chain wheel  40  and the rotary table  20 , and the two tensioning wheels  44  can be meshed with the chain  42 , thus the chain  42  would not loose during working. 
         [0016]    The fixing seat  50  can include a bottom plate  52 , a top plate  54 , and a side plate  56  coupled between the bottom plate  52  and the top plate  54 . The bottom plate  52 , the top plate  54 , and the side plate  56  can be cooperatively form a receiving space  58 . The bottom plate  52  can be fixedly mounted on the rotary table  20 . The side plate  56  can include a first side plate  562 , a second side plate  564 , a third side plate  566 , and a fourth side plate  568 . The first side plate  562  can be positioned opposite to the third side plate  566 , and the second side plate  564  can be positioned opposite to the fourth side plate  568 . A width of the first side plate  562  can be smaller than a distance between the second side plate  564  and the fourth side plate  568 , thus two openings  59  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) can be formed at two sides of the first side plate  562 . The two openings  59  can be in communication with the receiving space  58 . A surface of the third side plate  566  toward the first side plate  562  can include two parallel guide rails  5662 . 
         [0017]    The transfer device  100  can further include a driving member  60  configured to drive the supporting member  70  to move along the guide rails  5662  of the fixing seat  50 . The driving member  60  can be received and mounted in the receiving space  58 . The driving member  60  can include a drive portion  62  and a drive shaft  64  protruded out of the drive portion  62 . The drive portion  62  can be mounted on a surface of the top plate  54  toward the bottom plate  52 . In at least one embodiment, the driving member  60  can be a cylinder. The supporting member  70  can include a mounting frame  73  and a supporting frame  75  coupled to the mounting frame  73 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates that the mounting frame  73  can include a main body  732 , a side wall  734 , and at least one mounting portion  738 . The main body  732  can be coupled to the drive shaft  64 , and the side wall  734  can vertically extend from edges of the main body  732 . The side walls  734  can include two sliding blocks  736 , and the sliding blocks  736  can be positioned corresponding to the guide rails  5662 . Each of the sliding blocks  736  can define a slide groove  7362 . The guide rails  5662  can be coupled to the slide grooves  7362 , thus the mounting frame  73  can slide along the fixing seat  50 . In at least one embodiment, there are two mounting portions  738 , and the two mounting portions  738  can be mounted at two sides of the side wall  734 . Each mounting portion  738  can extend from one end of the side wall  734  adjacent to the main body  732  and away from the sliding blocks  736 , and the two mounting portions  738  can protrude out of the receiving space  58  from the openings  59 . 
         [0019]    The supporting frame  75  can be configured to support the workpieces. In at least one embodiment, the supporting frame  75  can be substantially U-shaped and include a connecting portion  752  and two arms  754 . The connecting portion  752  can be coupled to the two ends of the two mounting portions  738  away from the side wall  734 . The two arms  754  can be coupled to two sides of the connecting portion  752  and extend along a direction away from the fixing seat  50 . One end of each arm  754  away from the fixing seat  50  can include two fixing blocks  7542  configured to limit the movement of the workpiece. Each arm  754  can further include a proximity switch  80  configured to feedback a signal that the workpiece is clamped by the arm  754 . The proximity switch  80  can be mounted on one end of the arm  754  away from the fixing seat  50  and adjacent to the fixing block  7542 . 
         [0020]    The transfer device  100  can further include a plurality of magnetic switches  90 . In at least one embodiment, the magnetic switches  90  can be mounted on the drive portion  62  and spaced from each other. The magnetic switches  90  can be configured to control a rotation angle of the rotary table  20  and a sliding distance of the supporting member  70 . 
         [0021]    In assembling the transfer device  100 , the rotary table  20  and the drive motor  30  can be mounted on the bracket  10  and spaced from each other, and the rotary table  20  and the drive motor  30  can be coupled by the chain  42 . Then, the fixing seat  50  can be fixed on the rotary table  20  and would not rotate relative tot he rotary table  20 . The driving member  60  can be fixed on the top plate  54  of the fixing seat  50 , and the mounting frame  73  can be coupled to the driving member  60 . After that, the supporting frame  75  can be coupled to the mounting frame 
         [0022]    In operation, the transfer device  100  can be positioned between the first conveyor  200  and the second conveyor  400 , and the first conveyor  200  and the second conveyor  400  can form a ninety degree angle. In an initial state, the two arms  754  can be positioned at two sides of the first conveyor  200  and below the first conveyor portion  210 . The workpiece and the rack shelf stack  500  can be conveyed by the first conveyor  200 , and the proximity switch  80  can sense the workpiece. The driving member  60  can drive the supporting frame  75  to slide away from the rotary table  20 , the fixing blocks  7542  can be positioned at two sides of the rack shelf stack  500  to prevent the rack shelf stack  500  from moving relative to the supporter  70 . The rack shelf stack  500  and the workpiece positioned on the rack shelf stack  500  can be raised up as the driving member  60  drives the supporting frame  75 . Then, the rotary table  20  can rotate a predetermined angle driven by the drive motor  30  and move to a position above the second conveyor  400 . At this time, the driving member  60  can drive the supporting frame  75  to move toward the rotary table  20 , and the workpiece and the rack shelf stack  500  can be lowered and positioned on the second conveyor portion  410  of the second conveyor  400 . After that, the rotary table  20  can rotate the predetermined angle driven by the drive motor  30 , and the supporting member  70  can move to a position below the first conveyor portion  210 . 
         [0023]    The transfer device  100  can raise and rotate the workpiece, and the transfer device  100  has a small size and adapted for small working space. As the supporting member  70  can be configured to support the workpiece, so the workpiece has a large size can be transferred by the transfer device  100 . 
         [0024]    In other embodiments, the transfer device  100  can be used to convey workpieces between two conveyors forming any other angles. 
         [0025]    In other embodiments, the bracket  10  can be omitted, and the rotary table  20  can be rotatably mounted on a worktable. 
         [0026]    In other embodiments, the two tensioning wheels can be omitted, and the chain  42  can be wound on periphery of the chain wheel  40  and the rotary table  20 . 
         [0027]    In other embodiments, the first side plate  562 , the second side plate  564 , and the fourth side plate  568  can be omitted, and the drive portion  62  can be fixed at the bottom plate  52  or the side plate  56 . 
         [0028]    In other embodiments, the mounting bracket  73  can be omitted, and the supporting bracket  75  can be coupled to the drive shaft  64  of the driving member  60 . 
         [0029]    The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a transfer 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.