CN212330456U - Move and carry positioning mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a shifting positioning mechanism, which comprises a horizontal linkage platform and at least two jacking clamping mechanisms, wherein the horizontal linkage platform comprises a base, a first driving component and an installation platform; the jacking clamping mechanism comprises a mounting support, a jacking platform and a second driving assembly, and a clamping assembly used for clamping at least one material is arranged on the jacking platform. The utility model provides a move and carry transfer process that positioning mechanism can effectively realize the material between the at least three station on same straight line, should move and carry positioning mechanism and guarantee that the material all is fixed position on every station, the position accuracy and the degree of accuracy of processing station have been guaranteed, and should move and carry positioning mechanism's simple structure, control accuracy is high, the centre gripping is effectual, the motion stroke is accurate and steady, this jacking clamping mechanism still includes clamping component, the adjustment through this clamping component can be applicable to not moving of unidimensional material and carry, compatibility is strong, switch convenient and fast.

Description

Move and carry positioning mechanism

Technical Field

The utility model belongs to the technical field of machining equipment technique and specifically relates to a move and carry positioning mechanism is related to.

Background

Along with the continuous development of science and technology, more and more equipment can replace the manpower to solve the operation process on a lot of technical processing, has realized various intelligent operation through mechanized equipment, along with the continuous development of these mechanized automation equipment, has impeld the continuous promotion of industrial production efficiency. However, in the automatic mechanical equipment, a transfer mechanism is generally required to perform a material transfer operation, that is, the material is transferred from one processing station to the next processing station on the automatic mechanical equipment to transfer the material in the automatic mechanical equipment, so as to ensure efficient and orderly operation of the automatic mechanical equipment. At present, in the production of new energy automobile power batteries, an end plate of a positioning clamping module is required to be moved from one station to the next station so as to prepare for the processing of the next station. The horizontal transfer mechanism in the existing production line of the new energy automobile power battery is used for transferring the end plate, the precision of the robot mechanism during transfer is high, and the robot mechanism meets the production requirements, but the robot system is complex in structure and high in cost, and large-scale applicable production is not facilitated. Or the existing horizontal transfer mechanism adopts a belt pulley assembly line or a conventional gear rack transfer mechanism, and the transfer precision of the traditional transfer mechanism can not meet the requirement of the production line.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model aims to solve the current move and carry among the positioning mechanism or the structure complex cost is higher to be unfavorable for using in the production and processing of being applicable to the scale, or move the shortcoming that moves the demand that the precision can't reach production and processing in the traditional structure, provide one kind and move and carry positioning mechanism.

The utility model provides a technical scheme that its technical problem adopted is: a shifting positioning mechanism comprises a horizontal linkage platform and at least two jacking clamping mechanisms arranged on the horizontal linkage platform, wherein the horizontal linkage platform comprises a base, a first driving assembly and an installation platform driven by the first driving assembly to move horizontally along the arrangement direction of the base; jacking clamping mechanism include with mounting platform fixed connection's installing support, jacking platform and be fixed in be used for the drive on the installing support jacking platform is in the second drive assembly that the top of installing support goes up and down, be provided with the clamping component who is used for pressing from both sides tight at least one material on the jacking platform.

Furthermore, the clamping assembly comprises a first linear slide rail arranged on the jacking platform, a third driving assembly and a fourth driving assembly arranged on two sides of the jacking platform, a first linkage plate driven by the third driving assembly and a second linkage plate driven by the fourth driving assembly, wherein the first linkage plate and the second linkage plate move in the opposite direction or move back to back on the first linear slide rail.

Specifically, at least one left clamping block is fixed on the first linkage plate, at least one right clamping block is fixed on the second linkage plate, and the left clamping block and the right clamping block clamp the material along with the opposite movement between the first linkage plate and the second linkage plate.

Specifically, the third driving assembly comprises a first connecting plate and a third driving piece, the first connecting plate is located on the side face of the jacking platform and fixedly connected with the first linkage plate, and the third driving piece is fixed below the jacking platform and drives the first connecting plate to move along the setting direction of the first linear sliding rail.

Specifically, the clamping assembly further comprises two groups of limiting assemblies arranged on the side face of the jacking platform and used for limiting the horizontal moving distance of the first linkage plate or the second linkage plate.

Further, the first driving assembly comprises a first driving piece arranged in the base and at least two second linear sliding rails arranged on the top surface of the base, the second linear sliding rails are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence manner with the jacking clamping mechanisms, a driving block is arranged on the first driving piece, and a sliding block is arranged on the second linear sliding rails.

Specifically, the mounting platform include with driving block fixed connection's fixed connection board, be fixed in two at least mobile mounting panels on the fixed connection board, mobile mounting panel with second linear slide rail one-to-one sets up, mobile mounting panel's bottom with slider fixed connection, mobile mounting panel's top with installing support fixed connection.

Specifically, the horizontal linkage platform further comprises a detection device arranged on the base and used for detecting the horizontal movement distance of the mounting platform.

Specifically, the mounting bracket of the jacking clamping mechanism comprises a horizontal mounting plate for fixing the second driving assembly and a vertical mounting plate fixedly connected with the movable mounting plate.

Specifically, the second drive assembly is including being fixed in the guiding axle of second driving piece and two vertical installations on the horizontal installation board, be provided with the elevator on the second driving piece, the jacking platform with elevator fixed connection just along the vertical lift of the direction that sets up of guiding axle.

The utility model provides a move and carry positioning mechanism's beneficial effect lies in: including horizontal linkage platform and jacking clamping mechanism, can effectively realize the transfer process of the material between the at least three station on same straight line, should move and carry positioning mechanism not only can shift the material to the second station and carry out the processing operation on the third station by first station with the material according to the processing order effectively, can also be in shift and course of working to the material centre gripping location effectively, guarantee that the material all is fixed position on every station, the position accuracy and the degree of accuracy of processing station have been guaranteed, and this moves and carries positioning mechanism's simple structure, control accuracy is high, the centre gripping is effectual, the motion stroke is accurate and steady, this jacking clamping mechanism still includes clamping component, can be applicable to the moving of not unidimensional material through this clamping component's adjustment and carry, compatibility is strong, switch convenient and fast.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a transfer positioning mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1 at A;

fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a jacking clamping mechanism in a transfer positioning mechanism according to the present invention.

In the figure: 100-shifting positioning mechanism, 10-horizontal linkage platform, 11-base, 12-first driving component, 121-first driving component, 1211-driving block, 122-second linear slide rail, 1221-slide block, 13-mounting platform, 131-fixed connecting plate, 132-movable mounting plate, 14-detection device, 141-photoelectric sensor, 142-detection piece, 143-buffer, 20-jacking clamping mechanism, 21-mounting bracket, 211-horizontal mounting plate, 212-vertical mounting plate, 22-jacking platform, 23-second driving component, 231-second driving component, 2311-lifting block, 232-guide shaft, 24-clamping component, 241-first linear slide rail, 242-third driving component, 2421-first connecting plate, 2422-third driving piece, 243-fourth driving component, 244-first linkage plate, 2441-left clamping block, 245-second linkage plate, 2451-right clamping block, 246-limiting component, 2461-limiting shaft, 2462-buffer block and 30-material.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

Referring to fig. 1-3, a transfer positioning mechanism 100 according to the present invention is provided. The shifting positioning mechanism 100 can be applied to the field of power battery production of new energy vehicles, and is used for horizontally shifting and transferring end plates or end insulating sheets in power batteries. The transfer positioning mechanism 100 includes a horizontal linkage platform 10 and at least two jacking clamping mechanisms 20 disposed on the horizontal linkage platform 10. As shown in fig. 1, in this embodiment, the transfer positioning mechanism 100 includes a horizontal linkage platform 10 and two jacking-clamping mechanisms 20 disposed on the horizontal linkage platform 10. The number of the jacking clamping mechanisms 20 is determined by the required transfer station. In this embodiment, two jacking clamping mechanisms 100 in the shifting and positioning mechanism 100 can realize the shifting of the same batch of materials 30 between three different stations. If the number of the stations required to be transferred is increased, the number of the jacking clamping mechanisms 20 on the horizontal linkage platform 10 is only increased, and the transfer among the stations is realized. In this embodiment, the horizontal linkage platform 10 can realize the loading operation at the first station, the processing operation at the second station, and the unloading operation at the third station.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 1, the horizontal linkage platform 10 includes a base 11, a first driving assembly 12, and a mounting platform 13 driven by the first driving assembly 12 to move horizontally along the setting direction of the base 11. This horizontal linkage platform 10 drives this mounting platform 13 through first drive assembly 12 and can drive a plurality of jacking clamping mechanism 20 that set up in mounting platform 13 top horizontal migration in the direction that sets up of base 11 in the top horizontal migration of base 11, realizes the ascending transfer operation in the horizontal direction between the station.

Further, the first driving assembly 12 in the horizontal linkage platform 10 includes a first driving member 121 disposed in the base 11 and at least two second linear slides 122 disposed on the top surface of the base 11, the second linear slides 122 are disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the jacking and clamping mechanisms 20, the first driving member 121 is provided with a driving block 1211, and the second linear slides 122 are provided with sliders 1221. The first driving assembly 12 can drive the mounting platform 13 to move horizontally on the second linear guideway 122. The number of the second linear guide rails 122 is the same as that of the jacking clamping mechanisms 20. In the present embodiment, two sets of second linear slides 122 are respectively disposed at two ends above the base 11. Each set of second linear sliding rails 122 is used for one jacking clamping mechanism 20. In this embodiment, the first driving member 121 is a rodless cylinder, and the driving block 1211 of the rodless cylinder can horizontally reciprocate along with the arrangement direction of the rodless cylinder. That is, the driving block 1211 can horizontally reciprocate along the arrangement direction of the susceptor 12.

Further, as shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, the mounting platform 13 on the horizontal linkage platform 10 includes a fixed connection plate 131 fixedly connected to the driving block 1211, and at least two movable mounting plates 132 fixed to the fixed connection plate 131, the movable mounting plates 132 are disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the second linear sliding rails 122, the bottoms of the movable mounting plates 132 are fixedly connected to the sliding blocks 1221, and the tops of the movable mounting plates 132 are fixedly connected to the mounting brackets 21. The mounting platform 13 is to be able to provide a plurality of sets of the climbing clamping mechanisms 20, and in this embodiment, the number of the climbing clamping mechanisms 20 is two. The number of the movable mounting plates 132 on the mounting platform 13 corresponds to the number of the jacking-clamping mechanisms 20. The fixed connection plate 131 allows the first driving assembly 12 to simultaneously drive the movement of the plurality of moving mounting plates 132 in the horizontal direction. The fixed connecting plate 131 is fixedly connected to the driving block 1211 of the first driving assembly 12 such that all components on the movable mounting plate 132 and the driving block 1211 can move horizontally together.

Further, as shown in fig. 2, in the transfer positioning mechanism 100 provided by the present invention, the accuracy in the horizontal moving direction is ensured. The horizontal linkage platform 10 further comprises a detection device 14 arranged on the base 11 and used for detecting the horizontal moving distance of the mounting platform 13. The detecting device 14 includes two photoelectric sensors 141 disposed on two sides of the first driving assembly 12 of the base 11, a detecting plate 142 disposed on the driving block 1211 of the first driving assembly 12, and a buffer 143 disposed on two sides of the first driving assembly 12 of the base 11. The detecting plate 142 moves horizontally on the base 12 along with the driving block 1211 of the first driving assembly 12, and the photoelectric sensors 141 at both ends detect the specific position of the detecting plate 142, thereby detecting the horizontal moving position of the mounting platform 13 on the base 11. And the buffers 143 provided at both sides of the first driving unit 12 serve to limit the reciprocating movement of the driving block 1211 in the horizontal direction.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 1, the structures of the jacking-clamping mechanisms 20 arranged on the horizontal linkage platform 10 are all identical. One of the jacking-clamping mechanisms 20 is described for example. The jacking clamping mechanism 20 comprises an installation support 21 fixedly connected with the installation platform 13, a jacking platform 22 and a second driving assembly 23 fixed on the installation support 21 and used for driving the jacking platform 22 to lift above the installation support 21, and a clamping assembly 24 used for clamping at least one material 30 is arranged on the jacking platform 22. The second driving assembly 23 of the jacking-clamping mechanism 20 can drive the clamping assembly 24 of the jacking platform 22 to ascend and descend in the vertical direction. At least one material 30 can be held by the clamping assembly 24. In this embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the clamping assembly 24 on one jacking-clamping mechanism 20 can simultaneously clamp four materials 30 on the same jacking platform 22. The number of the materials 30 held by the holding assembly 24 is determined by actual requirements, and if more materials 30 need to be moved simultaneously, the number of the holding blocks on the holding assembly 24 is correspondingly increased, so that the number of the transferred materials 30 on the same jacking platform can be increased.

Further, the mounting bracket 21 of the jacking-clamping mechanism 20 includes a horizontal mounting plate 211 for fixing the second driving assembly 23 and a vertical mounting plate 212 fixedly connected to the moving mounting plate 132. The horizontal mounting plate 211 of the mounting bracket 21 is used for fixing the second driving assembly 23, so that the second driving assembly 23 can support and drive the jacking platform 22 to ascend and descend above the same. The vertical mounting plate 212 of the mounting bracket 21 is used to fixedly connect the whole jacking clamping mechanism 20 with the mounting platform 13 of the horizontal linkage platform 10, so that the whole jacking clamping mechanism 20 can horizontally move together with the mounting platform 13. Specifically, the vertical mounting plate 212 of the mounting bracket 21 is fixedly connected with the movable mounting plate 132 on the mounting platform 13, so as to realize a fixed linkage structure of the horizontal linkage platform 10 and the jacking clamping mechanism 20.

Further, as shown in fig. 3, the second driving assembly 23 provided in the jacking clamping mechanism 20 of the shifting positioning mechanism 100 provided by the present invention includes the second driving member 231 fixed on the horizontal mounting plate 211 and two vertically installed guide shafts 232, the second driving member 231 is provided with the lifting block 2311, and the jacking platform 22 is fixedly connected with the lifting block 2311 and vertically lifted along the setting direction of the guide shafts 232. The second driving assembly 23 is fixed on the horizontal mounting plate 211 of the mounting bracket 21, and is used for driving the lifting platform 22 above the horizontal mounting plate 211 to lift. In this embodiment, the second driving element 231 is a driving motor, the driving motor drives the lifting block 2311 to ascend and descend, and the lifting block 2311 is fixedly connected to the jacking platform 22, so that the second driving assembly 23 drives the jacking platform 22 to ascend and descend. The guiding axle 232 that lies in horizontal installation board 211 both sides simultaneously is vertical form through the oilless bush and is fixed in horizontal installation board 211 on, and the top butt of guiding axle 232 is to jacking platform 22 on, guarantees jacking platform 22 at the stationarity of lift in-process.

Further, as shown in fig. 3, a schematic perspective view of the jacking clamping mechanism 20 in the transfer positioning mechanism 100 according to the present invention is provided. The clamping assembly 24 in the jacking clamping mechanism 20 includes a first linear sliding rail 241 disposed on the jacking platform 22, a third driving assembly 242 and a fourth driving assembly 243 disposed on two sides of the jacking platform 22, and a first linkage plate 244 driven by the third driving assembly 242 and a second linkage plate 245 driven by the fourth driving assembly 243 and disposed on the first linear sliding rail 241, wherein the first linkage plate 244 and the second linkage plate 245 move towards or away from each other on the first linear sliding rail 241. The third driving assembly 242 and the fourth driving assembly 243 on the lifting platform 22 interact with each other to cause the first linkage plate 244 and the second linkage plate 245 to move towards or away from each other along the arrangement direction of the first linear sliding rail 241, so as to clamp and position the material 30.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, at least one left clamping block 2441 is fixed to the first linkage plate 244, and at least one right clamping block 2442 is fixed to the second linkage plate 245. The left and right clamping blocks 2441, 2442 are identical in number, i.e., the left and right clamping blocks 2441, 2442 are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. In this embodiment, the first linkage plate 244 is provided with four left clamping blocks 2441, and the second linkage plate 245 is provided with four right clamping blocks 2442, so that four pairs of clamping blocks can be realized on the jacking platform 22, and a material 30 can be clamped between each pair of clamping blocks.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, a left clamping block 2441 on first linkage plate 244 and a right clamping block 2442 on second linkage plate 245 clamp material 30 as the first linkage plate 244 and the second linkage plate 245 move toward each other. In this embodiment, the clamping assembly 24 on the lifting platform 22 can clamp the same material 30 by the left clamping block 2441 and the right clamping block 2442 through the relative movement between the first linkage plate 244 and the second linkage plate 245, so that four pairs of clamping blocks are simultaneously arranged on the clamping assembly 24, and the four materials 30 can be clamped and released simultaneously. And the second driving component 23 on the jacking platform 22 can also drive the jacking platform 22 to ascend and descend in the vertical direction, so that the four materials 30 can ascend and descend in the vertical direction. Meanwhile, the jacking clamping mechanism 20 can also move horizontally along with the horizontal linkage platform 10 in the setting direction of the base 11, and two jacking clamping mechanisms are arranged on the horizontal linkage platform 10, namely, the eight materials 30 can move horizontally. The utility model provides a move and carry positioning mechanism 100 through horizontal linkage platform 10 and jacking clamping mechanism 20 mutually supporting, the centre gripping can realize a plurality of materials 30 in with loosen and go up and down and horizontal migration's various operations. And the accuracy of the position of the horizontal movement and the vertical movement can be realized through the first driving assembly 12 and the second driving assembly 23, and the accurate operation of the position is ensured when the material 30 moves every time.

Specifically, the third driving assembly 242 and the fourth driving assembly 243 on the clamping assembly 24 have the same structure and are symmetrically disposed on both sides of the jacking platform 22. The third driving assembly 242 is taken as an example for description. The third driving assembly 242 includes a first connecting plate 2421 located at the side of the jacking platform 22 and fixedly connected to the first linkage plate 244, and a third driving element 2422 fixed below the jacking platform 22 and driving the first connecting plate 2421 to move along the setting direction of the first linear guideway 241. The third driving element 2422 is disposed at the bottom of the jacking platform 22, and the disposing direction of the third driving element 2422 is the same as the disposing direction of the first linear slide rail 241 on the jacking platform 22, so that the point driving element 2422 can drive the first connecting plate 2421 to move back and forth along the disposing direction of the first linear slide rail 241. In this embodiment, the third driving element 2422 is a clamping cylinder, and a piston of the clamping cylinder drives the first connecting plate 2421 to reciprocate along the direction of the first linear guideway 241. The first connecting plate 2421 is fixedly connected to the first linkage plate 244 disposed on the first linear slide rail 241, so that the third driving element 2422 drives the first linkage plate 244 on the first linear slide rail 241 to move horizontally.

Further, in order to ensure that the first linkage plate 244 and the second linkage plate 245 on the clamping assembly 24 move relatively or away from each other within a designed movement range, and prevent the first linkage plate 244 or the second linkage plate 245 from slipping off from the first linear sliding rail 241, the clamping assembly 24 further includes two sets of limiting assemblies 246 disposed on the side surface of the jacking platform 22 for limiting the horizontal movement distance of the first linkage plate 244 or the second linkage plate 245. The limiting assembly 246 limits the range of movement of the first linkage plate 244 on the first linear slide 241 by limiting the range of movement of the first linkage plate 2421 located on the side of the jacking platform 22. Specifically, the limiting assembly 246 includes a limiting shaft 2461 disposed on a side surface of the jacking platform 22 and a buffering block 2462 disposed at an end portion of the limiting shaft 2461, and the first connecting plate 2421 is sleeved on the limiting shaft 2461. A space in which the first connection plate 2421 can move is formed between the buffer block 2462 and the side of the lifting platform 22. By adjusting the distance between the buffer block 2462 and the side surface of the jacking platform 22, the distance that the first linkage plate 244 can move horizontally back and forth on the first linear guide rail 241 can be adjusted.

The utility model provides a move and carry positioning mechanism 100, including horizontal linkage platform 10 and jacking clamping mechanism 20, can effectively realize the transfer process of material 30 between at least three stations on the same straight line, should move and carry positioning mechanism 100 not only can effectively shift material 30 from the first station to the second station and the third station according to the processing order and carry out the processing operation, can also effectively clamp and position material 30 in the transfer and processing process, guarantee that material 30 is the fixed position on each station, the position precision and the accuracy of processing station are guaranteed, and the move and carry positioning mechanism 100 simple structure, the control precision is high, the clamping effect is good, the motion stroke is accurate and steady, this jacking clamping mechanism 20 still includes clamping component 24, can be applicable to the move and carry of material 30 of different sizes through the adjustment of this clamping component 24, the compatibility is strong, and the switching is convenient and fast.

The above description is only exemplary of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention, and any modifications, equivalents and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. A shifting positioning mechanism is characterized by comprising a horizontal linkage platform and at least two jacking clamping mechanisms arranged on the horizontal linkage platform, wherein the horizontal linkage platform comprises a base, a first driving assembly and an installation platform driven by the first driving assembly to horizontally move along the arrangement direction of the base; jacking clamping mechanism include with mounting platform fixed connection's installing support, jacking platform and be fixed in be used for the drive on the installing support jacking platform is in the second drive assembly that the top of installing support goes up and down, be provided with the clamping component who is used for pressing from both sides tight at least one material on the jacking platform.

2. A transfer positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping assembly comprises a first linear slide rail disposed on said lifting platform, a third driving assembly and a fourth driving assembly disposed on two sides of said lifting platform, and a first linkage plate disposed on said first linear slide rail and driven by said third driving assembly and a second linkage plate driven by said fourth driving assembly, said first linkage plate and said second linkage plate moving towards or away from each other on said first linear slide rail.

3. A transfer positioning mechanism as recited in claim 2 wherein said first linkage plate has at least one left clamp block attached thereto and said second linkage plate has at least one right clamp block attached thereto, said left clamp block and said right clamp block clamping said material as said first linkage plate and said second linkage plate move toward each other.

4. A transfer positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said third driving assembly includes a first connecting plate located at a side of said lifting platform and fixedly connected to said first linkage plate, and a third driving member fixed below said lifting platform for driving said first connecting plate to move along a direction of said first linear guideway.

5. The transfer positioning mechanism of claim 4, wherein said clamping assembly further comprises two sets of limiting assemblies disposed on the side of said lift platform for limiting the horizontal movement distance of said first linkage plate or said second linkage plate.

6. A transfer positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first driving assembly comprises a first driving member disposed inside said base and at least two second linear slides disposed on the top surface of said base, said second linear slides being disposed in one-to-one correspondence with said jacking-clamping mechanisms, said first driving member having a driving block disposed thereon, said second linear slides having a sliding block disposed thereon.

7. A transfer positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein said mounting platform comprises a fixed connecting plate fixedly connected to said driving block, and at least two movable mounting plates fixed to said fixed connecting plate, said movable mounting plates being disposed in one-to-one correspondence with said second linear slides, the bottom of said movable mounting plate being fixedly connected to said slide block, and the top of said movable mounting plate being fixedly connected to said mounting bracket.

8. A transfer positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein said horizontal linkage platform further comprises a detection device disposed on said base for detecting a horizontal moving distance of said mounting platform.

9. A transfer positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mounting bracket of said jacking-gripping mechanism includes a horizontal mounting plate for securing said second drive assembly and a vertical mounting plate fixedly connected to said movable mounting plate.

10. A transfer positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second driving assembly includes a second driving member fixed to said horizontal mounting plate and two vertically mounted guiding shafts, said second driving member having a lifting block thereon, said lifting platform being fixedly connected to said lifting block and vertically movable along the direction of arrangement of said guiding shafts.

Images