Tools and reel handling systems that can assist robotic arms in picking up and placing reels

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tool capable of assisting a robotic arm in reel placement. The tool comprises a base for connecting to the robotic arm; a drive mechanism mounted on the base; and a reel placement assembly comprising a plurality of hooking members slidably mounted on the base and connected to the drive mechanism. The hooking members are capable of moving together and apart under the drive mechanism, and can engage the reel after passing through a through hole in the reel. The tool and reel handling system provided by the present invention, capable of assisting a robotic arm in reel placement, are intended to address the labor intensity and high costs associated with reel handling.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of wire reel handling, and in particular relates to a tool capable of assisting a robotic arm in taking and placing a wire reel, and a wire reel handling system. Background Art

[0002] Enameled wire is a typical example of wire material, which is often stored in reels. In the existing process of producing wire material, the reels full of wire material still need to be moved manually, resulting in high labor intensity and cost for workers. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to solve all or part of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a tool and a wire reel handling system that can assist a robotic arm in picking up and placing wire reels, so as to solve the problem of high labor intensity and high cost for wire reel handling personnel.

[0004] According to the first aspect of the invention, a tool is provided that can assist a robotic arm in picking up and placing a wire reel, comprising: a base for connecting to the robotic arm; a drive mechanism mounted on the base; a picking and placing assembly, the picking and placing assembly comprising a plurality of hooking members slidably arranged on the base and connected to the drive mechanism, the plurality of hooking members being able to move together and apart under the drive of the drive mechanism, and being able to hook the wire reel after passing through the through hole of the wire reel.

[0005] Furthermore, the pick-and-place assembly further includes a guide rail provided on the base and a slider provided on the guide rail and used to carry the hooking member, and the slider is connected to the driving mechanism and can be driven by the driving mechanism.

[0006] Furthermore, the hooking member includes a base provided on the slider and a hooking portion provided on the base, wherein the hooking portion is in a 7-shape.

[0007] Furthermore, the driving mechanism includes a linear driving component capable of independently driving the corresponding hooking member, and the linear driving component is a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a linear motor.

[0008] Furthermore, the tool includes an orientation recognition module disposed on the base and used to connect to the robotic arm, so that the robotic arm can obtain the orientation of the through hole of the wire drum through the orientation recognition module.

[0009] Furthermore, the orientation recognition module is a camera.

[0010] Furthermore, the tool also includes a first elastic component provided on the base and a first pressure plate installed on the base through the first elastic component, as well as a second elastic component provided on the base and a second pressure plate installed on the base through the second elastic component, wherein the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate are respectively provided on both sides of the pick-and-place assembly, and whenever the plurality of hooking members hook the wire reel, the first elastic component and the second elastic component are compressed and apply pressure to the wire reel through the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate, and prevent the wire reel from shaking on the pick-and-place assembly.

[0011] Furthermore, the first elastic component and the second elastic component both include a guide rod fixed on the first pressure plate or the second pressure plate and vertically passing through the base, an anti-slip component provided on the protruding end of the guide rod and preventing the guide rod from detaching from the base, and a compression spring sleeved on the guide rod and located between the base and the first pressure plate or the second pressure plate.

[0012] Furthermore, a flexible anti-collision pad is provided on each of the first pressing plate and the second pressing plate on one side facing the wire drum.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the invention, a wire reel handling system is provided, comprising the tool disclosed in the first aspect of the invention capable of assisting a robotic arm in picking up and placing wire reels.

[0014] According to the tool and the wire reel handling system capable of assisting a robotic arm in picking up and placing a wire reel of the present invention, the tool can realize automatic extraction and placement of the wire reel by driving the pick-up and placement assembly through a driving mechanism installed on the base, ensuring that the robotic arm can change the position of the tool and the wire reel and complete the wire reel handling. Compared with manual handling, the wire reel handling system using this tool can reduce labor intensity and save handling costs. At the same time, because the tool completes the extraction of the wire reel by passing through the inside of the wire reel through multiple hooking components and then hooking the wire reel, this can effectively avoid the possibility of the hooking components contacting and scratching the wire. In addition, the tool and the wire reel handling system capable of assisting a robotic arm in picking up and placing a wire reel of the present invention have a simple structure, are easy to assemble, are safe and reliable to use, and are easy to implement and promote. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 This is a front view of a tool capable of assisting a robotic arm in taking and placing a wire reel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 A three-dimensional diagram of a tool capable of assisting a robotic arm in taking and placing a wire reel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the base and hook portion of a tool that can assist a robotic arm in taking and placing a wire reel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] In the drawings, like parts are given like reference numerals, but the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a front view of a tool that can assist a robotic arm in taking and placing a wire reel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional diagram of a tool that can assist a robotic arm in taking and placing a wire reel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of the hook portion of the tool that can assist the robot arm to take and put the wire reel according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a tool 100 that can assist a robotic arm in picking up and placing a wire reel, which includes a base 10, a drive mechanism 20, and a pick-and-place assembly 30. The base 10 is used to connect the robotic arm and can install the drive mechanism 20 and the pick-and-place assembly 30. In order to facilitate the connection of the existing robotic arm, a flange structure may be provided on the base 10 so that it can be detachably connected to the robotic arm by bolts. The pick-and-place assembly 30 includes a plurality of hooking members 31 that are slidably provided on the base 10 and connected to the drive mechanism 20. The plurality of hooking members 31 can move together and apart under the drive of the drive mechanism 20, and can hook the wire reel after passing through the through hole of the wire reel. The number of hooking members 31 is not limited, but in order to save costs, the number of hooking members 31 is preferably two or three.

[0021] This tool 100 automatically retrieves and places a wire reel via a drive mechanism mounted on a base, actuating a pick-and-place assembly. This allows the robotic arm to reposition the tool 100 and the reel and complete reel handling. Compared to manual handling, a reel handling system using this tool 100 can reduce labor intensity and handling costs. Furthermore, because the tool 100 utilizes multiple hooking members that first pass through the reel and then engage it, this effectively prevents the hooking members from contacting and scratching the wire.

[0022] In this embodiment, the pick-and-place assembly further includes a guide rail 31 disposed on the base and a slider 33 disposed on the guide rail 31 for carrying the hooking members 31. The slider 33 is connected to and driven by the drive mechanism 20 to ensure that each hooking member 31 is moved together and apart by the slider 33. The hooking member 31 includes a base 311 disposed on the slider 33 and a hook portion 312 disposed on the base 311. The hook portion can be shaped like a figure 7, which can safely hook the wire reel and provide better anti-slip effect. The base 311 and hook portion 312 are preferably an integrated structure.

[0023] In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 20 includes a linear drive assembly that can independently drive the corresponding hooking member 31. The linear drive assembly can be a drive mechanism that can output linear motion, such as a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or a DC motor. Then, considering the low cost, reliable quality and strong adaptability of the cylinder, it is recommended that the drive assembly is preferably a cylinder. When the number of hooking members 31 is two and the linear drive assembly is a cylinder, the two cylinders are staggered and symmetrical, and the two hooking members 31 are also staggered and symmetrical. Each cylinder can drive one hooking member 31 to move, and prompt the two hooking members 31 to complete the closing movement and separation movement together.

[0024] In this embodiment, the tool 100 further includes a position recognition module 40 disposed on the base 10 and connected to a robotic arm. This module enables the robotic arm to determine the position of the through-holes of the wire reel, thereby enabling the robotic arm to pass the hooking members 31 of the tool 100, which are in a closed position, through the through-holes of the wire reel. The position recognition module 40 may be a position detection sensor or a camera. A camera is preferred as the position recognition module 40 due to its advantages of safety, reliability, wide recognition range, and high accuracy.

[0025] In this embodiment, the tool 100 further includes a first elastic component provided on the base 10 and a first pressure plate 61 mounted on the base 10 via the first elastic component, as well as a second elastic component provided on the base 10 and a second pressure plate mounted on the base 10 via the second elastic component, wherein the first pressure plate 61 and the second pressure plate are respectively provided on both sides of the pick-and-place assembly 30. Whenever the plurality of hooking members 31 hook the wire reel, the first elastic component and the second elastic component are compressed and apply pressure to the wire reel via the first pressure plate 61 and the second pressure plate, thereby preventing the wire reel from shaking on the pick-and-place assembly 30. The first elastic component and the second elastic component each include a guide rod 62 fixedly provided on the first pressure plate 61 or the second pressure plate and vertically penetrating the base, an anti-slip member 63 (preferably a nut or a retaining spring) provided on the protruding end of the guide rod 62 and preventing the guide rod 62 from detaching from the base 10, and a compression spring 64 sleeved on the guide rod 62 and located between the base 10 and the first pressure plate 61 or the second pressure plate. The guide rod 62 is used to control the direction of elastic compression. By selecting different types of compression springs 64, it can be adapted to different weights of the wire reels to prevent the wire reels from shaking on the pick-up and placement assembly 30. Preferably, a flexible anti-collision pad is provided on the side of the first pressure plate 61 and the second pressure plate facing the wire reel to provide better protection for the wire reel.

[0026] In an unillustrated embodiment, a wire reel handling system is described, comprising a robotic arm and the aforementioned tool 100. Because the tool 100 can automatically extract and place the wire reel by driving a pick-and-place assembly via a drive mechanism mounted on a base, the robotic arm can change the position of the tool 100 and the wire reel and complete the wire reel handling. Compared to manual handling, a wire reel handling system using the tool 100 can reduce labor intensity and save handling costs. Furthermore, because the tool 100 extracts the wire reel by first passing through the inside of the reel and then hooking it, this effectively avoids the possibility of the hooking members contacting and scratching the wire.

[0027] In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is multiple, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0028] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, terms such as "mounted," "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed or detachable connections, or integration; mechanical or electrical connections; direct or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0029] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily make changes or modifications within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and such changes or modifications should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims. As long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in each embodiment can be combined in any way. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A tool that can assist a robotic arm in taking and placing a wire reel, characterized in that: include: a base, used to be connected to the robotic arm; a driving mechanism, mounted on the base; a pick-and-place assembly, the pick-and-place assembly comprising a plurality of hooking members slidably disposed on the base and connected to the drive mechanism, the plurality of hooking members being capable of moving together and apart under the drive of the drive mechanism, and being capable of hooking the wire reel after passing through the through hole of the wire reel; a first elastic component provided on the base and a first pressure plate mounted on the base via the first elastic component, and a second elastic component provided on the base and a second pressure plate mounted on the base via the second elastic component, wherein the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate are respectively provided on both sides of the pick-and-place assembly, and whenever the plurality of hooking members hook the wire reel, the first elastic component and the second elastic component are compressed and apply pressure to the wire reel via the first pressure plate and the second pressure plate, thereby preventing the wire reel from shaking on the pick-and-place assembly; Wherein, the driving mechanism includes a linear driving assembly capable of independently driving the corresponding hooking member; The pick-and-place assembly further includes a guide rail provided on the base and a slider provided on the guide rail and used to carry the hooking member, wherein the slider is connected to the driving mechanism and can be driven by the driving mechanism; The hooking member includes a base provided on the slider and a hooking portion provided on the base, wherein the hooking portion is in a 7-shape; The first elastic component includes a guide rod fixedly mounted on the first pressure plate and vertically passing through the base, an anti-slip component provided on the guide rod's protruding end and preventing the guide rod from separating from the base, and a compression spring sleeved on the guide rod and located between the base and the first pressure plate. The second elastic component includes a guide rod fixed on the second pressure plate and vertically passing through the base, an anti-slip component arranged on the guide rod's protruding end and preventing the guide rod from detaching from the base, and a compression spring sleeved on the guide rod and located between the base and the second pressure plate.

2. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The linear drive component is a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a linear motor.

3. The tool according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that It includes an orientation recognition module arranged on the base and used to connect to the robotic arm, so that the robotic arm can obtain the orientation of the through hole of the wire drum through the orientation recognition module.

4. The tool according to claim 3, characterized in that The orientation recognition module is a camera.

5. The tool according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that The first elastic component and the second elastic component both include a guide rod fixed on the first pressure plate or the second pressure plate and vertically passing through the base, an anti-slip component provided on the protruding end of the guide rod and preventing the guide rod from detaching from the base, and a compression spring sleeved on the guide rod and located between the base and the first pressure plate or the second pressure plate.

6. The tool according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that A flexible anti-collision pad is respectively provided on one side of the first pressing plate and the second pressing plate facing the wire drum.

7. A wire drum handling system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a robotic arm and a tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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