Assembling apparatus and assembling method for assembling electrode connector of electronic cigarette

Abstract

An assembling apparatus and an assembling method for automatically assembling an electrode connector of an electronic cigarette are provided according to the present application. The assembling apparatus includes a rotating disk, a rotating disk driving device, material fixing seats, a first material sensing area, a sensor, a material picking arm and a controller. The electrode connector of the electronic cigarette may be assembled automatically by the material picking arm, which reduces the labor efforts and improves the efficiency and also saves the cost. Further, during the assembling operation, the material picking arms picks up the material and places the material on the material fixing seat to achieve the assembling operation, thereby improving the precision during the assembling operation, and avoiding material wastage caused by inaccurate operation or excessive force being applied, and further avoiding unnecessary waste.

1 . An assembling apparatus for assembling an electrode connector of an electronic cigarette, comprising a rotatable rotating disk, a rotating disk driving device, material fixing seats, a first material sensing area, a sensor, a material picking arm and a controller; wherein
 the material fixing seats are arranged on the rotating disk and surrounding the rotating disk;   the rotating disk is drivably connected to the rotating disk driving device, to allow the rotating disk driving device to drive the rotating disk to rotate;   the sensor is provided in the first material sensing area, to allow the sensor to generate a triggering signal in the case that the sensor senses that a material is located in the first material sensing area; and   the controller is electrically connected to each of the sensor, the material picking arm, and the rotating disk driving device, to allow the controller to control the material picking arm according to the triggering signal to pick up the material and place the material on the material fixing seat.   
     
     
         2 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a material vibrating disk, on which the material is to be placed, and a material guide rail; wherein,
 the material vibrating disk is configured to vibrate and deliver the material, to allow the material to move to the material guide rail in a preset state, and the preset state of the material is a state that an axis of a hollow portion of each material is perpendicular to a plane on which the material vibrating disk is located;   the material guide rail is arranged between the material vibrating disk and the rotating disk, and is configured to continue to deliver the material delivered by the material vibrating disk in a direction towards the rotating disk;   the first material sensing area is located at an end, close to the rotating disk, of the material guide rail; and   the material guide rail is provided with a material blocking valve configured to fix the material in the first material sensing area.   
     
     
         3 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises an outer electrode, an inner electrode configured to be inserted into the outer electrode, and an insulating ring configured to be inserted between the outer electrode and the inner electrode;
 the material vibrating disk comprises an outer electrode material vibrating disk on which the outer electrode is to be placed, an insulating ring material vibrating disk on which the insulating ring is to be placed, and an inner electrode material vibrating disk on which the inner electrode is to be placed;   the material guide rail comprises an outer electrode material guide rail configured to cooperate with the outer electrode material vibrating disk, an insulating ring material guide rail configured to cooperate with the insulating ring material vibrating disk, and an inner electrode material guide rail configured to cooperate with the inner electrode material vibrating disk; and   the material picking arm comprises an insulating ring picking arm, a first grasping arm configured to grasp the outer electrode, and a second grasping arm configured to grasp the inner electrode.   
     
     
         4 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein,
 a top end of the insulating ring picking arm is provided with an abutting sleeve, and a needle made of an elastic material, the needle is insertedly connected to the abutting sleeve and is movable with respect to the abutting sleeve, the diameter of the needle is larger than the diameter of a hollow portion of the insulating ring, to allow the needle to be in interference fit with the hollow portion of the insulating ring in the case that the needle is pressed into the hollow portion of the insulating ring when the insulating ring picking arm picks up the insulating ring; and   an elastic mechanism is arranged inside the abutting sleeve, and is connected to each of the abutting sleeve and the needle, to allow the needle to move towards the elastic mechanism in the case that the needle abuts against the material fixing seat, till the needle is disengaged from the insulating ring.   
     
     
         5 . The assembling apparatus according to the  claim 3 , wherein,
 at least two clamping sub-arms in cooperation with each other are extending from a top end of each of the first grasping arm and the second grasping arm; and   a clamping driving mechanism is arranged at an end of each of the first grasping arm and the second grasping arm and is connected to the plurality of respective clamping sub-arms, and the clamping driving mechanism is connected to the controller, to allow the clamping driving mechanism, under the control of the controller, to control the plurality of respective clamping sub-arms to move towards each other or away from each other, to allow the clamping sub-arms moving away from each other to clamp the material.   
     
     
         6 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein,
 the insulating ring material vibrating disk, the outer electrode material vibrating disk and the inner electrode material vibrating disk are sequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk; and   the insulating ring picking arm, the first grasping arm and the second grasping arm are sequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk.   
     
     
         7 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein,
 a first sub-seat, a second sub-seat and a third sub-seat are coaxially and fixedly provided on the material fixing seat, and are arranged sequentially in a direction away from the rotating disk;   each of the first sub-seat, the second sub-seat and the third sub-seat has a cylindrical shape, and the diameters of the first sub-seat, the second sub-seat and the third sub-seat are reduced in order;   the second sub-seat is configured to match with a hollow portion of the insulating ring, to allow the insulating ring picking arm to sleeve the insulating ring on the second sub-seat;   the first sub-seat is configured to match with a hollow portion of the outer electrode, to allow the first grasping arm to sleeve the outer electrode on the first sub-seat; and   the third sub-seat is configured to match with a hollow portion of the inner electrode, to allow the second grasping arm to sleeve the inner electrode on the third sub-seat.   
     
     
         8 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first pressing arm configured to press the outer electrode and the insulating ring located on the material fixing seat, to allow the outer electrode and the insulating ring to be fixed with respect to each other;   a third grasping arm configured to lift up the outer electrode and the insulating ring located on the material fixing seat and fixed with respect to each other, to allow the outer electrode and the insulating ring to move to a preset position, and the third grasping arm further configured to sleeve the outer electrode and the insulating ring, both of which has moved to the preset position, on the material fixing seat on which the inner electrode is sleeved, to form the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette; and   a second pressing arm configured to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette;   wherein the insulating ring picking arm, the first grasping arm, the first pressing arm, the third grasping arm, the second grasping arm, and the second pressing arm are sequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk; and   the preset position is between the second grasping arm and the second pressing arm in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.   
     
     
         9 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising a first support column and a second support column; wherein,
 each of the first support column and the second support column is arranged under the rotating disk, and the first support column is located at a position corresponding to the first pressing arm, and the second support column is located a position corresponding to the second pressing arm; and the first support column is configured to push the rotating disk upwards to balance the rotating disk in the case that the material fixing seat rotates to a position below the first pressing arm, and the second support column is configured to push the rotating disk upwards to balance the rotating disk in the case that the material fixing seat rotates to a position below the second pressing arm.   
     
     
         10 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein,
 the inner electrode material vibrating disk, the insulating ring material vibrating disk, and the outer electrode material vibrating disk are sequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk; and   the second grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm and the first grasping arm are sequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.   
     
     
         11 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein a cylindrical magnetic column made of magnetic material is provided inside the material fixing seat, and the diameter of the magnetic column is equal to the diameter of the inner electrode; and
 a subsidiary magnetic column is arranged at a top end of the magnetic column and is configured to match with a hollow portion of the inner electrode, to allow the second grasping arm to sleeve the inner electrode on the subsidiary magnetic column, to further allow the insulating ring picking arm to sleeve the insulating ring on the inner electrode, and to further allow the first grasping arm to sleeve the outer electrode on the insulating ring, to form the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         12 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a fourth pressing arm configured to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette; wherein, the second grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm, the first grasping arm and the fourth pressing arm are sequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk.   
     
     
         13 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein,
 a jacking driving mechanism is provided inside the material fixing seat and is connected to the magnetic column, and the jacking driving mechanism is further connected to the controller, to allow the controller to control the magnetic column by the jacking driving mechanism to rise up, to further allow the fourth pressing arm and the magnetic column moving towards each other to jointly press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         14 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising a fourth grasping arm configured to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on the material fixing seat, and place the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a first discharge guide rail; wherein
 a second material sensing area is provided on the first discharge guide rail, and located below a soldering arm configured to solder the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette;   a sensor is provided in the second material sensing area, and is configured to generate a triggering signal in the case that the sensor senses that the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is located in the second material sensing area; and   the controller is further electrically connected to each of the soldering arm and the sensor, to allow the controller to control the soldering arm according to the triggering signal to solder the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         15 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a fourth grasping arm configured to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on the material fixing seat, and place the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a first discharge guide rail; wherein
 a second material sensing area is provided on the first discharge guide rail, and located below a soldering arm configured to solder the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette;   a sensor is provided in the second material sensing area, and is configured to generate a triggering signal in the case that the sensor senses that the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is located in the second material sensing area; and   the controller is further electrically connected to each of the soldering arm and the sensor, to allow the controller to control the soldering arm according to the triggering signal to solder the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         16 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a vibrating feeder, wherein the material guide rail is arranged on the vibrating feeder, and the horizontal plane on which an end, away from the rotating disk, of the material guide rail is higher than the horizontal plane on which an end, close to the rotating disk, of the material guide rail.   
     
     
         17 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein,
 the outer electrode material vibrating disk, the insulating ring material vibrating disk, and the inner electrode material vibrating disk are sequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk; and   the first grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm and the second grasping arm are sequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.   
     
     
         18 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein,
 the material fixing seat is provided with an accommodating circular ring, to allow the first grasping arm to insertedly fix the grasped outer electrode into the accommodating circular ring, to further allow the outer electrode to be fixedly arranged on the material fixing seat, to further allow the insulating ring picking arm to insert the insulating ring into a hollow portion of the outer electrode located on the material fixing seat, and to further allow the second grasping arm to insert the inner electrode into a hollow portion of the insulating ring located on the material fixing seat.   
     
     
         19 . The assembling apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a third pressing arm configured to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on the material fixing seat; and   a fifth grasping arm configured to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette and rotate the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180 degrees to be soldered, and further rotate the soldered electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180 degrees to place the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a second discharge guide rail;   wherein the first grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm, the second grasping arm, the third pressing arm, and the fifth grasping arm are sequentially arranged in the direction of rotation of the rotating disk.   
     
     
         20 . An assembling method for assembling an electrode connector of an electronic cigarette, comprising:
 sensing, by a sensor, whether each of an insulating ring, an outer electrode, and an inner electrode is in a first material sensing area;   generating, by the sensor, a first triggering signal in the case that the sensor senses that the insulating ring is located in the first material sensing area;   controlling, by a controller, an insulating ring picking arm according to the first triggering signal to pick up the insulating ring and place the insulating ring on a material fixing seat, wherein multiple material fixing seats are arranged on a rotating disk and surrounding the rotating disk;   generating, by the sensor, a second triggering signal in the case that the sensor senses the outer electrode is located in the first material sensing area;   controlling, by the controller, a first grasping arm according to the second triggering signal to pick up the outer electrode and place the outer electrode on the material fixing seat;   generating, by the sensor, a third triggering signal in the case that the sensor senses that the inner electrode is located in the first material sensing area; and   controlling, by the controller, a second grasping arm according to the third triggering signal to pick up the inner electrode and place the inner electrode on the material fixing seat.   
     
     
         21 . The assembling method according to  claim 20 , wherein controlling, by a controller, an insulating ring picking arm according to the first triggering signal to pick up the insulating ring and place the insulating ring on a material fixing seat comprises:
 controlling, by the controller, a top end of the insulating ring picking arm according to the first triggering signal to move to a position above the insulating ring located in the first material sensing area;   controlling, by the controller, the insulating ring picking arm to move downwards in a direction towards the insulating ring, to press a needle into a hollow portion of the insulating ring;   controlling, by the controller, an abutting sleeve to move downwards in a direction towards the insulating ring in the case that the controller determines that the insulating ring is sleeved on the material fixing seat by the insulating ring picking arm, till the needle abuts against the material fixing seat, to disengage the needle from the insulating ring; and   controlling, by the controller, the insulating ring picking arm to return to its original position.   
     
     
         22 . The assembling method according to  claim 20 , wherein controlling, by the controller, a first grasping arm according to the second triggering signal to pick up the outer electrode and place the outer electrode on the material fixing seat comprises:
 controlling, by the controller, the first grasping arm according to the second triggering signal to move to a position above the outer electrode located in the first material sensing area;   controlling, by the controller, the first grasping arm to move downwards in a direction towards the outer electrode, to move a plurality of first clamping sub-arms of the first grasping arm into a hollow portion of the outer electrode;   controlling, by the controller, the plurality of first clamping sub-arms by a clamping driving mechanism to move away from each other, to clamp the outer electrode;   controlling, by the controller, the plurality of first clamping sub-arms to move towards each other in the case that the controller determines that the outer electrode is placed on the material fixing seat by the first grasping arm, to disengage the outer electrode from the first grasping arm; and   controlling, by the controller, the first grasping arm to return to its original position.   
     
     
         23 . The assembling method according to  claim 20 , wherein controlling, by the controller, a second grasping arm according to the third triggering signal to pick up the inner electrode and place the inner electrode on the material fixing seat comprises:
 controlling, by the controller, the second grasping arm according to the third triggering signal to move to a position above the inner electrode located in the first material sensing area;   controlling, by the controller, the second grasping arm to move downwards in a direction towards the inner electrode, to move a plurality of second clamping sub-arms of the second grasping arm into a hollow portion of the inner electrode;   controlling, by the controller, the plurality of second clamping sub-arms by a clamping driving mechanism to move away from each other, to clamp the inner electrode;   controlling, by the controller, the plurality of second clamping sub-arms to move towards each other in the case that the controller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the material fixing seat by the second grasping arm, to disengage the inner electrode from the second grasping arm; and   controlling, by the controller, the second grasping arm to return to its original position.   
     
     
         24 . The assembling method according to  claim 20 , wherein the insulating ring picking arm, the first grasping arm, a first pressing arm, a third grasping arm, the second grasping arm and a second pressing arm are sequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk; and
 the assembling method further comprises:
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by a rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the insulating ring is placed on a target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the first grasping arm; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the outer electrode is placed on the target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the first pressing arm; 
 controlling, by the controller, the first pressing arm to press the outer electrode and the insulating ring located on the target material fixing seat; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the outer electrode and the insulating ring is pressed together, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the third grasping arm; 
 controlling, by the controller, the third grasping arm to lift up the outer electrode and the insulating ring located on the target material fixing seat and fixed with respect to each other; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the outer electrode and the insulating ring are lifted; 
 controlling, by the controller, the grasped outer electrode and insulating ring by the third grasping arm to move linearly to a preset position; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to the preset position; 
 controlling, by the controller, the third grasping arm to sleeve the outer electrode and the insulating ring on the target material fixing seat on which the inner electrode is sleeved, to form the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on the target material fixing seat is pressed together, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the second pressing arm; and 
 controlling, by the controller, the second pressing arm to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on the target material fixing seat. 
   
     
     
         25 . The assembling method according to  claim 24 , wherein,
 controlling, by the controller, the first pressing arm to press the outer electrode and the insulating ring located on the target material fixing seat comprises:   while controlling, by the controller, the first pressing arm to press the outer electrode and the insulating ring, further controlling, by the controller, a first support column to rise up, to allow the first pressing arm and the first support column moving towards each other to press and fix the outer electrode and the insulating ring, wherein the first support column is located under the rotating disk at a position corresponding to the first pressing arm;   controlling, by the controller, the second pressing arm to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette located on the target material fixing seat comprises:   while controlling, by the controller, the second pressing arm to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, further controlling, by the controller, a second support column to rise up, to allow the second pressing arm and the second support column moving towards each other to press and fix the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, wherein the second support column is located under the rotating disk at a position corresponding to the second pressing arm.   
     
     
         26 . The assembling method according to  claim 20 , wherein the second grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm, the first grasping arm and a fourth pressing arm are sequentially arranged in a direction of rotation of the rotating disk;
 the assembling method further comprises:
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by a rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the inner electrode is placed on a target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the insulating ring picking arm; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the insulating ring is placed on the target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the first grasping arm; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the outer electrode is placed on the target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the fourth pressing arm; and 
 controlling, by the controller, the fourth pressing arm to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette. 
   
     
     
         27 . The assembling method according to  claim 26 , wherein controlling, by the controller, the fourth pressing arm to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette comprises:
 while controlling, by the controller, the fourth pressing arm to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, further controlling, by the controller, a magnetic column of the target material fixing seat to rise up, to allow the fourth pressing arm and the magnetic column moving towards each other to press the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette together, wherein the magnetic column is located inside the material fixing seat, and the diameter of the magnetic column is equal to the diameter of the inner electrode.   
     
     
         28 . The assembling method according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate, to rotate the target material fixing seat, on which the pressed electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is placed, to a position below the fourth grasping arm;   controlling, by the controller, the fourth grasping arm to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, and place the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a first discharge guide rail;   generating, by a sensor located on the first discharge guide rail, a fourth triggering signal in the case that the sensor determines that the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is located in a second material sensing area, wherein the second material sensing area is located below a soldering arm; and   controlling, by the controller, the soldering arm according to the fourth triggering signal to solder the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         29 . The assembling method according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate, to rotate the target material fixing seat, on which the pressed electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is placed, to a position below the fourth grasping arm;   controlling, by the controller, the fourth grasping arm to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette, and place the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a first discharge guide rail;   generating, by a sensor located on the first discharge guide rail, a fourth triggering signal in the case that the sensor determines that the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is located in a second material sensing area, wherein the second material sensing area is located below a soldering arm; and   controlling, by the controller, the soldering arm according to the fourth triggering signal to solder the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         30 . The assembling method according to  claim 20 , wherein the first grasping arm, the insulating ring picking arm, the second grasping arm, a third pressing arm, and a fifth grasping arm are sequentially arranged along a direction of rotation of the rotating disk;
 the assembling method further comprises:
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by a rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the outer electrode is placed on a target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the insulating ring picking arm; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the insulating ring is placed on the target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the second grasping arm; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the inner electrode is placed on the target material fixing seat, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the third pressing arm; 
 controlling, by the controller, the third pressing arm to press the inner electrode, the insulating ring and the outer electrode, to form the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette; 
 controlling, by the controller, the rotating disk by the rotating disk driving device to rotate in the case that the controller determines that the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is pressed together, to rotate the target material fixing seat to a position below the fifth grasping arm; 
 controlling, by the controller, the fifth grasping arm to grasp the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette and rotate the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180 degrees to be soldered; and 
 controlling, by the controller, the fifth grasping arm to rotate the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette by 180 degrees in the case that the controller determines that the soldering of the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette is finished, and place the electrode connector of the electronic cigarette on a second discharge guide rail.