A flexible air suction device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a flexible air suction device, comprising a telescopic rod provided with an air hole, one end of which is located on the end surface of the telescopic rod and the other end of which is used to install an air source interface. The device also includes a guide block and a spring. The guide block serves as a guide component for the reciprocating telescopic movement of the telescopic rod. The spring is sleeved on the telescopic rod, with both ends of the spring limited by the guide block and the stop of the telescopic rod. When assembled, the spring is in a pre-compressed state. The telescopic rod is also provided with a stop block for limiting the reciprocating telescopic travel of the telescopic rod. The present invention has a simple structure and can be used in various applications requiring air suction to pick up products, and can avoid damage to products caused by rigid compression during air suction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automation technology, in particular to a flexible air suction device. Background Art

[0002] In the automation construction of factories, it is usually necessary to use robotic arms to achieve the loading and unloading of various products. The picking methods for loading and unloading products include mechanical clamping and air suction clamping. Mechanical clamping is often used to pick up products with good rigidity, while air suction picking is often used for thin-walled and easily deformable products. However, air suction picking usually also requires a certain amount of interference between the suction cup and the product, and the seal is ensured by the close contact between the product and the suction cup, so that the air suction picking of the product can be achieved. For thin-walled products, a large amount of interference during air suction picking will cause irreversible deformation of the product. It is difficult to achieve precise control of the interference by the robotic arm itself, which is not convenient for carrying out automated loading and unloading work for such products. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is that for thin-walled products, the large interference fit during air suction picking can lead to irreversible deformation of the product. This makes it difficult to precisely control the interference fit using a robotic arm, making it difficult to carry out automated loading and unloading of such products. This invention addresses this problem by providing a flexible air suction device that can achieve flexible picking of thin-walled products, eliminating the risk of product deformation caused by existing rigid air suction picking methods. This device can be used for automated loading and unloading, effectively resolving the current difficulties in automated loading and unloading of thin-walled products.

[0004] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0005] A flexible air suction device comprises a telescopic rod, wherein the telescopic rod is provided with an air hole, one end of the air hole is located on the end surface of the telescopic rod, and the other end of the air hole is used to install an air source interface, comprising a guide block and a spring; the guide block serves as a guide component for the reciprocating telescopic movement of the telescopic rod; the spring is sleeved on the telescopic rod, and the two ends of the spring are limited by the guide block and the stop of the telescopic rod, and when the assembly is completed, the spring is in a pre-compressed state; the telescopic rod is also provided with a stop block for limiting the reciprocating telescopic stroke of the telescopic rod.

[0006] The retractable flexible air suction device provided by the present invention has a simple structure and is used to be installed on a robot arm adapter (it can be directly connected to the robot arm adapter through a guide block, or the guide block can be connected to the robot arm adapter through a connecting block). The working principle is: when picking up thin-walled products, the air suction device is driven by the robot arm to move to the target product position, so that the suction cup installed at the end of the telescopic rod is in close contact with the surface of the thin-walled product to perform air suction operation. When the air suction picking produces an interference fit, a reverse squeezing effect is simultaneously generated on the telescopic rod. The telescopic rod moves along the guide block in the direction away from the product, the spring is compressed, and at the same time, the negative pressure air source inside the telescopic rod is opened through the control end to suck the product. The spring assembly ensures both rigidity and flexibility during the pickup process. Pre-compression of the spring during assembly imparts a certain degree of rigidity to the telescopic rod, ensuring a defined initial posture for accurate positioning during pickup. Furthermore, the spring's compressibility allows for a certain amount of interference between the suction cup and the product during the pickup operation, avoiding the risk of product deformation associated with existing rigid suction systems while also reducing the motion precision requirements for robotic arm commissioning. This system can be used for automated loading and unloading, effectively resolving the current difficulties in automated loading and unloading of thin-walled products.

[0007] Further preferably, a penetrating guide hole is provided on the guide block, one end of the telescopic rod passes through the guide hole, and the telescopic rod reciprocates and telescopes along the guide hole.

[0008] Further preferably, the side wall of the guide block is provided with a waist-shaped hole for allowing the air source interface on the telescopic rod to move back and forth.

[0009] Further preferably, the end rod section of the telescopic rod is provided with an external thread, and the external thread is adapted to be connected with the internal thread of the nut, and the nut serves as a stop block.

[0010] Further preferably, the inner end of the orifice of the air hole on the end face of the telescopic rod is processed with a G1 / 8 pipe thread for installing an air circuit adapter or a standard suction cup.

[0011] Further preferably, a threaded hole is provided at the inner end of the other end of the air hole for threaded connection with the air source interface.

[0012] More preferably, it further includes a connecting block, one end of which is connected to the guide block, and the other end of which is used to connect to the robotic arm adapter.

[0013] Further preferably, the connecting block is provided with a countersunk hole for connecting to the robot arm adapter, and the connecting block is fixed to the robot arm adapter by screws.

[0014] Further preferably, the connecting block and the guide block are connected by screws.

[0015] Further preferably, the connecting block is provided with a variable-diameter through hole, which includes through hole I and through hole II in sequence along the through hole direction, and the inner diameter of through hole II is smaller than the inner diameter of through hole I; the telescopic rod passes through through hole II and through hole I in sequence; the stop block is located at one end of the telescopic rod passing through through hole I, the maximum outer diameter of the stop block is smaller than the inner diameter of through hole I and larger than the inner diameter of through hole II, and the stop block slides along through hole I.

[0016] The present invention has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0017] The present invention can achieve flexible contact of the robot arm for air suction picking, avoiding irreversible deformation of thin-walled products; and can be applied to various occasions requiring air suction picking by replacing the adapter and the standard suction cup. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, constitute a part of this application, and do not constitute a limitation of the embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the retractable flexible air suction device of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the axial cross-sectional structure of the retractable flexible air suction device of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of application scenario I of the retractable flexible air suction device of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of application scenario II of the retractable flexible air suction device of the present invention.

[0023] The marks and corresponding parts names in the accompanying drawings are: 1-connecting block, 2-guide block, 3-telescopic rod, 4-spring, 5-nut, 6-air circuit adapter, 7-robotic arm adapter, 8-waist-shaped hole, 9-air source interface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with examples and drawings. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0025] Example 1

[0026] This embodiment provides a flexible air suction device, such as Figure 1 and 2 As shown, it includes a telescopic rod 3, a guide block 2 and a spring 4.

[0027] The telescopic rod 3 is provided with an air hole, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the telescopic rod 3. One end of the air hole is located on the end face of the telescopic rod 3 and is used to connect to the suction cup. The inner end of the air hole on the end face of the telescopic rod 3 is preferably machined with a G1 / 8 pipe thread for mounting an air circuit adapter 6 or a standard suction cup. The air circuit adapter 6 ensures compatibility with suction cups with different threaded interfaces. The other end of the air hole is located on the side wall of the telescopic rod 3 for mounting an air source interface 9. The inner end of this hole is provided with an M5 threaded hole for threaded connection to the air source interface 9. An external air source is input through the air source interface 9 on the telescopic rod 3.

[0028] The guide block 2 serves as a guide for the reciprocating telescopic rod 3, which reciprocates linearly along its own axis. A guide hole runs axially through the guide block 2, through which one end of the telescopic rod 3 passes, allowing the rod 3 to reciprocate along the guide hole. A waist-shaped hole 8 is provided on the sidewall of the guide block 2 to allow for the reciprocating movement of the air source interface 9 on the telescopic rod 3.

[0029] Spring 4 is sleeved onto telescopic rod 3. Its axial ends are restrained by guide block 2 and the stopper of telescopic rod 3. When assembled, spring 4 is pre-compressed. The elastic modulus and geometric dimensions of spring 4 can be selected according to specific needs. Telescopic rod 3 is also equipped with a stopper to limit the reciprocating travel of telescopic rod 3. The end section of telescopic rod 3 is externally threaded, which mates with the internal thread of nut 5, which acts as a stopper. The outer diameter of nut 5 is larger than the inner diameter of the guide hole.

[0030] Example 2

[0031] Based on the further improvement of Example 1, it also includes a connecting block 1, which is provided with countersunk holes for connecting to the robot arm adapter 7. The countersunk hole spacing and hole diameter are consistent with the corresponding threaded holes of the robot arm adapter 7. The connecting block 1 is fixed to the robot arm adapter 7 by screws; the connecting block 1 and the guide block 2 are connected by bolts.

[0032] The connecting block 1 is provided with a variable-diameter through hole, which includes through hole I and through hole II in sequence along the through hole direction. The inner diameter of through hole II is smaller than the inner diameter of through hole I, and the axes of through hole I, through hole II and guide hole coincide; the telescopic rod 3 passes through through hole II and through hole I in sequence; the maximum outer diameter of the nut 5 is smaller than the inner diameter of through hole I and larger than the inner diameter of through hole II. The telescopic rod 3 moves back and forth in the through hole, and the nut 5 slides along through hole I; the nut 5 is used to limit the reciprocating telescopic stroke of the telescopic rod 3, and the stroke amount can be adjusted by changing the thickness of the nut 5 or the depth of through hole I on the connecting block 1.

[0033] The retractable flexible suction device provided in this embodiment can be applied to single-head and double-head application scenarios through different installation methods, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown.

[0034] The specific implementation methods described above further illustrate the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present invention in detail. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific implementation method of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible air suction device, comprising a telescopic rod, wherein the telescopic rod is provided with an air hole, one end of the air hole is located on the end surface of the telescopic rod, and the other end of the air hole is used to install an air source interface, characterized in that: Including guide block and spring; The guide block serves as a guide component for the reciprocating telescopic movement of the telescopic rod; The spring is sleeved on the telescopic rod, and both ends of the spring are limited by the guide block and the stop of the telescopic rod, and when the assembly is completed, the spring is in a pre-compressed state; The telescopic rod is also provided with a stop block to limit the reciprocating telescopic stroke of the telescopic rod; It also includes a connecting block, one end of which is connected to the guide block and the other end is used to connect to the robot arm adapter. The connecting block is provided with variable-diameter through holes, which include through hole I and through hole II in sequence along the through hole direction, and the inner diameter of through hole II is smaller than the inner diameter of through hole I; The telescopic rod passes through through hole II and through hole I in sequence. The end section of the telescopic rod is provided with an external thread, which is adapted to be connected with the internal thread of the nut. The maximum outer diameter of the nut is smaller than the inner diameter of through hole I and larger than the inner diameter of through hole II. The telescopic rod moves back and forth in the through hole, and the nut slides along through hole I. The stop block is located at one end of the telescopic rod passing through the through hole I. The maximum outer diameter of the stop block is smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole I and larger than the inner diameter of the through hole II. The stop block slides along the through hole I.

2. A flexible air suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide block is provided with a penetrating guide hole, one end of the telescopic rod passes through the guide hole, and the telescopic rod reciprocates and telescopes along the guide hole.

3. A flexible air suction device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The side wall of the guide block is provided with a waist-shaped hole for allowing the air source interface on the telescopic rod to move back and forth.

4. A flexible air suction device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The end rod section of the telescopic rod is provided with an external thread, which is adapted to be connected with the internal thread of the nut, and the nut serves as a stop block.

5. The flexible air suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner end of the orifice of the air hole on the end face of the telescopic rod is processed with a G1 / 8 pipe thread for installing an air circuit adapter or a standard suction cup.

6. A flexible air suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A threaded hole is provided at the inner end of the other end of the air hole for threaded connection with the air source interface.

7. The flexible air suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting block is provided with a countersunk hole for connecting to the robot arm adapter, and the connecting block is fixed to the robot arm adapter by screws.

8. The flexible air suction device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting block is connected to the guide block via screws.

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