Tools for packaging metal nails

Abstract

Metallic auxiliary device for packaging nails, comprising: i) a body 1 designed to be positioned on a solid surface, wherein a plurality of suction cups 2 are arranged below the body 1 to attach the body 1 to the surface in order to secure the body 1 to the surface; ii) a storage chamber 3 arranged in the body 1 in which several metal nails are stored, wherein an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 4 is installed in the body 1 and paired with a processor to capture and process multiple images of the body 1 and to determine the position of the nails in the chamber 3; iii) a robot arm 5 installed in the body 1, which is actuated by an integrated microcontroller to grasp several nails from the chamber 3 in order to position the grasped nails between a first and a second electromagnetic plate 7 arranged in the body 1, the microcontroller actuating the plates to generate an optimal magnetic field between the plates in order to engage the head and tip of the nail on the first plate and the second plate, respectively; and iv) a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor embedded in the body 1 and synchronized with the imaging unit 4 to monitor the orientation of the nails engaged, wherein, if the orientation corresponds to a predefined threshold orientation, the microcontroller instructs the arm to grasp a grip of the aligned nails from the plates in order to pack the grasped nails into a bag which is positioned by the user near the body 1 in order to position the packed bag on a tray configured with the body 1, enabling the user to retrieve the packed bag of nails.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a metallic nail packing auxiliary device that determines the positioning of the nails to align the nails and monitors the orientation of the engaged nails to pack the nails along with generating a sound signal to notify the user to collect the packed bag of nails. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional devices for continuously sealing containers containing selected items, and especially selected items, generally have not included provisions for creating a slight negative pressure within the sealed container. Such continuous packaging devices generally utilize movable heat-sealing heads to bond a covering material to the container and seal the container. The sealed container is thus at atmospheric pressure. This type of sealed container has typically been acceptable to consumers.

[0003] Traditional methods used in nail packaging include assembly lines, boxes, bags, etc., but these methods are irrelevant. Existing traditional methods are unable to determine the positioning of the nails in the chamber, align the nails, and notify the user to collect the packaged bag of nails. More manual labor is required, and the process is time-consuming.

[0004] EP1206397A1 The invention relates to a packaging device comprising a container, a closure element in the form of an inner seal, and a flexible and sealing film attached to the inner seal, forming a variable-volume compensation chamber connected to the outside through a perforation provided in the inner seal. The device is intended for containing a substance, e.g., water, whose volume increases upon freezing. The maximum internal volume of the compensation chamber is not less than the volume increase of the substance, so that neither the container nor the inner seal are damaged or broken when the substance increases in volume. The device is particularly suitable for the production of ice in hermetically sealed packages.

[0005] US4807424A A sealing device for covering containers, which has an element that reduces the volume of the container prior to sealing, and in which the element is released after sealing to allow a vacuum circuit in the sealed container. A further feature is that the steps of volume reduction, sealing, and releasing take place while the containers are continuously moved along a conveyor.

[0006] Conventionally, many nail packaging devices have been developed that are suitable for packaging. However, the devices are unable to determine the positioning of the nails to align them. Furthermore, these existing devices are unable to monitor the orientation of the engaged nails to package the nails in a bag positioned nearby by the user.

[0007] To overcome the above drawbacks, there is a need in the art to develop a device that determines the positioning of the nails to align the nails and monitors the orientation of the nails engaged to pack the nails along with generating a sound signal to notify the user to collect the packed bag of nails. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The main object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of determining the positioning of the nails in order to align the nails.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop an apparatus capable of monitoring the orientation of the engaged nails in order to package the nails.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device capable of generating a sound signal to notify the user to pick up the packaged bag of nails.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon closer examination of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to a metal nail packing auxiliary device capable of determining the positioning of nails to align the nails.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an auxiliary device for packaging metal nails comprises a body designed to be positioned on a fixed surface, a plurality of suction cups arranged under the body for attaching the body to the surface, a storage chamber arranged in the body and in which a plurality of metal nails are stored, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit installed in the body and paired with a processor for acquiring and processing a plurality of images of the body, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit installed in the body and paired with a processor for acquiring and processing a plurality of images of the body.to determine the position of the nails in the chamber, a robotic arm installed in the body to grasp a plurality of nails from the chamber, to position the grasped nails between a first and a second electromagnetic plate arranged in the body, the plates generating an optimal magnetic field between the plates to detect the head and the tip of the nail on the first plate and the second plate, respectively.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor embedded in the body and synchronized with the imaging unit to monitor the orientation of the grasped nails if the orientation corresponds to a predetermined threshold orientation, the arm for detecting a grip of the aligned nails from the plates for packing the grasped nails into a bag positioned near the body by the user, with a view to positioning the packed bag on a tray configured with the body, thereby allowing the user to collect the packed bag of nails, a battery is configured with the device for providing a continuous power supply to electronically operated components connected to the device.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations may be possible which would fall within the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0017] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a metallic nail packing auxiliary device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description contains the preferred best mode for carrying out an embodiment of the present invention. It will be apparent from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms “comprising,” “comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with “including,” “with,” and “characterized by”) may be replaced by the respective partially closed terms “consists essentially of,” “consists essentially of,” and the like, or the respective closed terms “consists of,” “consists of,” and the like.

[0020] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to both the singular and the plural unless it is expressly stated that only the singular is meant.

[0021] The present invention relates to an auxiliary device for packing metal nails, which is capable of determining the positioning of the nails to align the nails, monitoring the orientation of the nails in engagement to pack the nails, and generating a sound signal to notify the user to collect the packed bag of nails.

[0022] Referring to Fig.1 is a perspective view of a metallic nail wrapping auxiliary device comprising a body 1 designed to be positioned on a solid surface, a plurality of suction cups 2 arranged below the body 1, a storage chamber 3 arranged in the body 1, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 4 installed in the body 1, a robot arm 5 installed in the body 1, a first electromagnetic plate 6 and a second electromagnetic plate 7 arranged in the body 1, and a speaker 8 installed on the body 1.

[0023] The proposed device consists of a body 1 designed to be positioned on a solid surface, and a plurality of suction cups 2 arranged beneath the body 1 to attach and secure the body 1 to the surface. The suction unit includes a suction cup that provides additional grip to the body 1. When actuated by the microcontroller, the suction unit creates an airtight connection between the flexible edge of the suction cup and the surface to seal the area within the suction cup. The flexible edge of the suction cup is designed to ensure an airtight seal between the body 1 and the surface.The suction cups used here are made of silicone rubber, which slightly relieves the pressure inside the suction cup to create a vacuum between the suction cup and the surface, resisting any slipping or movement of the body 1 on the surface.

[0024] After the body 1 is attached to the surface, an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 4 installed in the body 1 captures multiple images of the body 1 and processes them to determine the position of the metal nails in the chamber 3. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 4 consists of a camera lens and a processor. The 360-degree rotatable camera captures multiple images of the body 1, and the processor then performs a series of steps, including preprocessing, feature extraction, and segmentation. During preprocessing, unwanted data such as noise and background are removed and the image is converted into a format recommended for feature extraction. The features such as pixel intensities of the foreground image are extracted and passed for classification to determine the position of the metal nails in the chamber 3.

[0025] After determining the position of the metal nails in the chamber 3, a robot arm 5 installed in the housing 1 is actuated by a built-in microcontroller to pick up several nails from the chamber 3 and position the picked nails between a first and a second electromagnetic plate 7 arranged in the housing 1. The robot arm 5 consists of a robot joint and a clamp attached to the joint.

[0026] The robot link consists of several segments connected by joints, also called axes. Each joint of the segments contains a rotating stepper motor that enables the robot link to perform a specific arm movement. When the robot arm 5 is actuated by the microcontroller, the motor drives the movement of the clamp to position the gripped nails between a first and a second electromagnetic plate 7 arranged in the body 1.

[0027] After positioning the gripped nails between a first and a second electromagnetic plate 7 arranged in the body 1, the microcontroller actuates the plates to create an optimal magnetic field between the plates so that the head and tip of the nail rest against the first plate and the second plate. The electromagnetic plate is a special type of magnet in which the magnetic field is generated by an electric current, with the electromagnetic plate consisting of a wire wound into a coil. As the current flows through the wire, it creates a magnetic field concentrated in the hole at the center of the coil, thus exciting the electromagnetic plate to engage the head and tip of the nail on the first plate and the second plate.

[0028] When the head and tip of the nail touch the first and second plates, a Hall-effect sensor embedded in the plates measures the magnetic field, which the microcontroller uses to control the actuation of the electromagnetic plates. The Hall-effect sensor works on the principle of the Hall effect, which involves the interaction between a magnetic field and a current-carrying conductor. It consists of a thin semiconductor material through which a current flows. A magnetic field is applied perpendicular to this current flow. When a magnetic field is applied, it exerts a force on the mobile charge carriers in the semiconductor, resulting in a voltage difference across the material known as the Hall voltage. This voltage is directly proportional to the strength of the magnetic field and the current flowing through the sensor. By measuring this Hall voltage, the sensor sends the signal to the microcontroller.The microcontroller processes the signal received from the sensor and thus controls the operation of the electromagnetic plates.

[0029] A LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor embedded in the body 1 and synchronized with the imaging unit 4 monitors the orientation of the engaged nails. The LiDAR sensor emits fast laser pulses in a sweeping motion toward the engaged nails to monitor the alignment of the engaged nails. These pulses travel through the air and interact with the engaged nails. When the laser pulses hit the engaged nails, the laser bounces off the surface of the engaged nails. The LiDAR sensor precisely measures the time it takes these laser pulses to travel to the surface of the engaged nails and back to the sensor. The sensor performs calculations based on the time interval between the transmitted signal and the received echo to monitor the alignment of the engaged nails.

[0030] If the orientation corresponds to a predetermined threshold orientation, the microcontroller instructs the arm to capture a grasp of the aligned nails from the plates to pack the grasped nails into a bag positioned by the user near the body 1 to position the packed bag on a tray configured with the body 1, allowing the user to pick up the packed bag of nails.

[0031] Furthermore, a speaker 8 is installed on the body 1 to generate audio signals to notify the user to retrieve the wrapped bag from the tray. The speaker 8 operates by receiving signals from the microcontroller, converting them into sound waves through the vibration of a diaphragm, and generating audible sounds with the aid of an amplification and control circuit to notify the user to retrieve the wrapped bag from the tray.

[0032] Finally, the device contains a battery connected to the microcontroller, which supplies power to all electrically operated components that require a certain amount of electrical energy to perform their functions and operate efficiently. The battery used here is typically a dry cell battery made of lithium-ion material, providing the device with a long lifespan and efficient direct current, helping all components function properly and efficiently. Since the device is battery-operated, it does not require electrical voltage to operate.

[0033] The proposed device works best as follows: The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 4, installed in the body 1 and paired with a processor, captures multiple images of the body 1 and processes them to determine the position of the nails in the chamber 3. After determining the position of the nails in the chamber 3, the robotic arm 5 is actuated by a built-in microcontroller to grab multiple nails from the chamber 3 and position the grabbed nails between a first and a second electromagnetic plate 7 arranged in the body 1. The microcontroller controls the plates to generate an optimal magnetic field between the plates so that the head and tip of the nail rest against the first and second plates, respectively. The Hall-effect sensor measures the magnetic field, based on which the microcontroller controls the actuation of the electromagnetic plates.Furthermore, the LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor monitors the orientation of the engaged nails. If the orientation corresponds to a predetermined threshold orientation, the microcontroller instructs the arm to grasp the aligned nails from the plates, pack the grasped nails into a bag, which the user positions near the body 1, and place the packed bag on a tray configured with the body 1, allowing the user to retrieve the packed bag of nails. The speaker 8 generates audio signals to alert the user to remove the packed bag from the tray.

[0034] Although the scope of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 1206397A1

[0004] US 4807424A

[0005]

Claims

[1] A metallic auxiliary device for packing nails, comprising: i) a body 1 designed to be positioned on a solid surface, wherein a plurality of suction cups 2 are arranged below the body 1 to attach the body 1 to the surface to secure the body 1 to the surface; ii) a storage chamber 3 arranged in the body 1, in which a plurality of metal nails are stored, wherein an artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 4 is installed in the body 1 and paired with a processor to capture and process a plurality of images of the body 1 or to determine the position of the nails in the chamber 3; iii) a robot arm 5 installed in the body 1, which is actuated by a built-in microcontroller to grasp a plurality of nails from the chamber 3, to position the grasped nails between a first and a second electromagnetic plate 7 arranged in the body 1, wherein the microcontroller actuates the plates to generate an optimal magnetic field between the plates to engage the head and the tip of the nail on the first plate and the second plate, respectively; and iv) a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor embedded in the body 1 and synchronized with the imaging unit 4 to monitor the orientation of the engaged nails, wherein, if the orientation corresponds to a predetermined threshold orientation, the microcontroller instructs the arm to detect a grip of the aligned nails from the plates to pack the grasped nails into a bag positioned by the user near the body 1 to position the packed bag on a tray configured with the body 1, allowing the user to pick up the packed bag of nails. [2] The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a speaker 8 is installed on the body 1 to generate audio signals to notify the user to collect the wrapped bag from the tray. [3] Device according to claim 1, in which a Hall effect sensor is embedded in the plates to measure the magnetic field, on the basis of which the microcontroller controls the actuation of the electromagnetic plates. [4] The device of claim 1, wherein a battery is configured with the device to provide a continuous power supply to electronically operated components connected to the device.

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