FULLY-AUTOMATIC VERIFICATION SYSTEM FOR INTELLIGENT ELECTRIC ENERGY METERS

• US 20130299306A1
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Electric Power Corporation (Government of South Korea)
• Original Assignee: Korea Electric Power Corporation (Government of South Korea)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yan, Huang, Jinjuan, Jiang, Xueming, Zhu, Jiong, Yao, Li, Xiao, Tao, Xu, Yonglin, Xie, Feng
• Granted Patent: US 9,207,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/339.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 49/00 Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/04 of instruments for measuring time integral of power or current

Abstract

A fully-automatic verification system for intelligent electric energy meters comprises a plurality of verification units for automatic verification of the electric energy meters, main transport lines for connecting the verification units, and a verification management system for coordinating the work of the verification units. The main transport lines comprise upper transport lines for transporting boxes carrying electric energy meters to be verified to the verification units and lower transport lines for transporting the boxes carrying the electric energy meters back to the warehouse. The verification system for electric energy meters can implement fully-automatic verification, thus enhancing the efficiency and the verification accuracy.

Claims

1. A fully-automatic verification system for a smart electricity meter comprising a plurality of verification units for the automatic verification of the electricity meter, a main conveying line for connecting the verification units, and a verification management system for coordinating operations of the verification units, wherein

the main conveying line comprises an upper conveying line for conveying a meter box, which has an electricity meter to be verified, to the verification unit and a lower conveying line for conveying the meter box, the electricity meter in which has been verified, back to a warehouse.

2. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 1, wherein an entrance of the main conveying line is provided with a supplying meter box temporary storage area for temporarily storing the meter box and a meter box barcode reading apparatus;

and

the meter box barcode reading apparatus is located in front of the meter box temporary storage area.

3. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 2, wherein an entrance of the verification unit is provided with:

a shunting apparatus connected to the upper conveying line of the main conveying line, for shunting the meter box located on the upper conveying line and having an electricity meter to be verified to corresponding verification unit; and

a supplying meter box temporary storage area for temporarily storing the meter box; and

an exit of the verification unit is provided with a merging apparatus connected to the lower conveying line of the main conveying line, for merging the meter box, the electricity meter in which have been verified, into the lower conveying line.

4. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 3, wherein the shunting apparatus is provided with a shunting barcode reading apparatus for reading barcodes of smart electricity meters to determine types of the smart electricity meters, to adjust the operating modes of the verification units.

5. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 4, wherein the verification management system comprises a supplying-discharging control module for controlling the coordinated conveying between the warehouse and the main conveying line, a distributing module for controlling the shunting and the merging of a single verification unit, and a master control module for job scheduling and information monitoring.

6. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 1, wherein the verification unit for the electricity meter comprises a logistics conveying line connected to the main conveying line for conveying a turnover box;

a loading device located beside a loading station of the logistics conveying line, for moving an electricity meter located on the loading station of the logistics conveying line to a verification conveying line;

the verification conveying line for moving the electricity meter to stations corresponded to various devices;

a voltage-withstand testing device for a high-voltage detection of the electricity meter;

a programmable switch trigger device for turning a cover of the electricity meter and pressing a programmable switch;

a verification device for verifying items of the electricity meter to be verified one by one;

a lead sealing and laser marking apparatus for the lead sealing and identification information recording of a qualified electricity meter;

an unloading device located beside an unloading station of the logistics conveying line, for transferring the electricity meter having been verified from the verification conveying line to the logistics conveying line; and

a verification unit management module for coordinating operations among various devices, the logistics conveying line and the verification conveying line, and an accurate sorting of the electricity meter based on information from the voltage-withstand testing device and the verification device.

7. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 6, wherein the loading device, the voltage-withstand testing device, the programmable switch trigger device, the verification device, the lead sealing and laser marking device, and the unloading device are arranged sequentially along the advancing convey direction of the verification conveying line.

8. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 7, wherein the programmable switch trigger device comprises a frame, a base plate fixed to the frame, a cover-turning cylinder assembly for turning the cover of the electricity meter, a motor drive assembly for increasing an angle that the cover of the electricity meter is turned, and a button-pressing cylinder assembly for pressing the programmable switch of the electricity meter, and the cover-turning cylinder assembly, the motor drive assembly and the button-pressing cylinder assembly are provided on the base plate;

the cover-turning cylinder assembly comprises a cover-turning cylinder a cylinder body of which is fixed to the base plate and a piston rod of the same is passed through the base plate downwardly;

a cylinder seat connected to an end portion of the piston rod of the cover-turning cylinder;

two clamping jaws pivotally connected to the cylinder seat each clamping jaw is provided with a hook portion which has an inclined surface for insertion, and hook portions of the two clamping jaws are provided opposite to each other; and

the cover-turning cylinder assembly further comprises;

a guide post parallel to the piston rod of the cover-turning cylinder, and the guide post is fixedly connected to the cylinder seat after passed through a guide hole on the base plate;

an elastic pulling member is provided between the two clamping jaws, such that the two clamping jaws are pulled inwardly to hook the cover.

9. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 8, wherein the motor drive assembly comprises a motor, a belt driven by the motor and movable forward and backward, a roller for contacting with an inner side of the cover so as to change the angle that the cover is turned, and a driving frame connecting the belt with the roller;

and

the motor drive assembly further comprises a driving wheel connected to the motor, and a driven wheel pivotally connected to the base plate, and the driving wheel and the driven wheel are arranged from front to rear; and

the motor is vertically fixed on the base plate, a shaft of the motor is passed through the base plate and is connected to the driving wheel, and the belt is sleeved on peripheries of the driving wheel and the driven wheel.

10. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meters according to claim 9, wherein the driving wheel and the driven wheel are toothed wheels, and the belt is a synchronous toothed belt cooperated with the toothed wheels;

upper and lower end portions of each of the driving wheel and the driven wheel are provided with outwardly protruded disc-shaped limiting members;

the driving frame comprises a clamping portion cooperated with the belt, a moving frame which is fixedly connected to the clamping portion and has a guide hole, and a guide rod cooperated with the guide hole of the moving frame and fixed to the base plate in the front and rear direction; and

the roller comprises a rigid shaft body at a middle portion and a flexible protective sleeve sleeved on the shaft body, and the shaft body of the roller is vertically and pivotally connected to the moving frame.

11. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 10, wherein the button-pressing cylinder assembly comprises a button-pressing cylinder a cylinder body of which is fixed to the base plate and a piston rod of the same is passed through the base plate downwardly;

and a pressing head provided at a lower end portion of the piston rod of the button-pressing cylinder; and

the pressing head is an elastic pressing head which comprises a pressing portion and a mounting portion having a diameter larger than that of the pressing portion, the mounting portion is provided with an insertion hole cooperated with the piston rod of the button-pressing cylinder, and the diameter of the insertion hole is less than that of the piston rod of the button-pressing cylinder, and a limiting member, upper and lower fixed positions of which is adjustable, is provided on the piston rod of the button-pressing cylinder.

12. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 6, wherein the verification unit further comprises a charge controlling and parameter setting device, an appearance inspecting device for taking pictures of an appearance and a display screen of the electricity meter and performing corresponding processes, an unloading temporary storage area located between the unloading device and the verification device for temporarily storing the electricity meter having been detected, a loading temporary storage area located between the voltage-withstand testing device and the verification device for temporarily storing the electricity meter to be detected, and a turnover box temporary storage area located between the loading device and the unloading device for conveying an empty turnover box at the loading station to the unloading station and temporarily storing the same;

the turnover box temporary storage area is provided with a turnover box conveying line and a turnover box protecting mechanism;

the charge controlling and parameter setting device comprises a main control module for automatically changing a card, an analog card which can be inserted into a card slot of the electricity meter being detected, an analog card drive mechanism connected with the analog card for driving the analog card to move up and down so as to achieve the insertion and removal of the analog card, a card reading module for reading information of the electricity meter being detected, an analog card contact determining module for determining contact information of the analog card based on the information read from the card, and an automatic card changing control module for controlling an SCM to change the card;

the programmable switch trigger unit comprises a power supply for supplying power to the electricity meter, a cover-opening mechanism for opening the cover of the electricity meter and a programmable switch-pressing mechanism for pressing the programmable switch;

the turnover box temporary storage area is provided with a turnover box conveying line and a turnover box protecting mechanism; and

the appearance inspecting device is provided on a station at which the voltage-withstand testing device or the verification device is located.

13. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 6, wherein the verification conveying line comprises a frame, a driving motor provided on the frame for driving a belt to move forward, a belt conveyor connected with a rotary shaft of the driving motor, a stopping mechanism provided on the frame for accurately stopping a pallet on the belt conveyor, a counter provided on the frame for counting the electricity meter, a barcode scanner provided on the frame for recording information of the electricity meter, and a sorting mechanism for sorting the electricity meter;

each verification unit is provided with a plurality of verification branches arranged in parallel;

each verification branch is provided with one verification device; and

the beginning and the end of the verification conveying line are connected with each other, and the verification conveying line is provided with a pallet which is cooperated with the verification conveying line and configured for carrying the electricity meter, such that the electricity meter is sequentially conveyed to stations at which the voltage-withstand testing device, the verification device, and the lead sealing and laser marking device are located;

a pallet temporary storage area is provided on the verification conveying line between the unloading device and the loading device for temporarily storing the pallet, and the pallet temporary storage area responds to the loading requirement of the loading device.

14. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 6, wherein the loading device, comprises a loading robot for accurately placing an electricity meter, which is to be verified and located on the logistics conveying line, onto a pallet on the verification conveying line and grabbing a turnover material box onto the unloading conveying line such that it is conveyed to the unloading station;

the loading robot comprises a loading robot arm, a controller for controlling the, action of the robot arm, and a loading clamp connectable to the lower end of the robot arm;

the unloading device comprises an unloading robot configured for placing an electricity meter having been detected located on the pallet of the verification conveying line into a turnover material box and grabbing the turnover material box onto the logistics conveying line;

the unloading robot comprises an unloading robot arm, a controller for controlling the robot arm to act, and an unloading clamp connectable to a lower end of the unloading robot arm; and

the loading robot is provided with a locating platform for accurately locating the electricity meter, and the loading robot arm grabs the electricity meter on the logistics conveying line and places the same on the locating platform such that it is located, and then grabs the electricity meter again and places the same on the pallet located on the verification conveying line.

15. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 6, wherein the robot loading-unloading device for the electricity meter comprises a meter box conveying chain, a pallet conveying chain and an empty box temporary storage chain, and a multi-axis linkage robot arm is provided among the three chains;

the robot arm is provided with a connection joint;

a carton clamp and an electricity meter sucking disc are respectively provided with a connection interface cooperated with the connection joint, and the carton clamp and the electricity meter sucking disc are arranged on a replacement platform; and

an electricity meter transfer platform is provided at a side of the robot arm, and the transfer platform is provided with electricity meter locating protrusions.

16. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 15, wherein the carton clamp comprises a clamp frame, one side of the clamp frame is fitted with a connection interface, and the other side thereof is provided with a plurality of pneumatic clamping jaws;

and

there are three pneumatic clamping jaws which are arranged on the clamp frame in a triangle shape, and two of the pneumatic clamping jaws have the same clamping direction.

17. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 6, wherein the voltage-withstand testing device for the electricity meter comprises a voltage-withstand platform, a longitudinal crimp drive mechanism provided on the voltage-withstand platform, a connecting terminal connected to the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism and is movable longitudinally, a drive control module connected to the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism for controlling the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism, and a test module connected to the connecting terminal;

and

the connecting terminal comprises a terminal block connected to the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism and a plurality of probes passed through the terminal block, the probes comprise voltage/current probes for supplying electric power to the electricity meter and signal probes connected with the test module for transmitting detection information of the electricity meter.

18. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 17, wherein the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism comprises a cylinder which has a piston rod, a dragging plate connected with the piston rod, and a fixed plate arranged below the dragging plate and fixedly connected to the voltage-withstand platform;

the cylinder is arranged longitudinally, and the body of the cylinder is fixedly connected to the fixed plate, and the dragging plate is slidably connected to the fixed plate;

the terminal block is provided with two rows of probe holes through which the probes pass, among which the upper row of holes are signal probe holes, and the lower row of holes are voltage/current probe holes, each of the signal probe hole and the voltage/current probe hole is provided with a buffer spring, with one end of the buffer spring abutting against the probe; and

a plurality of separating plates are provided at the end of the terminal block connected to the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism, with adjacent current probe holes being provided with one separating plate.

19. The fully-automatic verification system for the smart electricity meter according to claim 6, wherein the verification device comprise a frame, a longitudinal crimp drive mechanism provided on the frame, a connecting terminal which is connected to the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism and is movable longitudinally, a drive control module connected with the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism for controlling the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism to act, and a test module connected with the connecting terminal;

the connecting terminal comprises a terminal block connected with the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism, and a plurality of probes passed through the terminal block,

the probe comprises strong and weak electricity pins for connecting the electricity meter; and

the voltage-withstand device is provided with a high voltage program-controlled power source connected with strong and weak electric connecting terminals of the electricity meter for providing a high voltage output, and a voltage-withstand platform fixed to the frame, wherein the longitudinal crimp drive mechanism of the voltage-withstand device is provided on the voltage-withstand platform.