Negative pressure sorting trolley, conveying belt and sorting device

Abstract

The application provides a negative pressure type sorting trolley, a conveying belt and a sorting device, which can be applied to the technical field of warehouse logistics and intelligent logistics. The negative pressure type sorting trolley comprises a bottom plate, a plurality of negative pressure bin assemblies arranged on the bottom plate, and a transmission device comprising a conveying belt, wherein a plurality of first negative pressure holes are arranged on the conveying belt, and the plurality of first negative pressure holes can be aligned with the plurality of negative pressure bin assemblies during rotation of the conveying belt. The negative pressure bin assembly is suitable for adsorbing a to-be-sorted article on the conveying belt through the first negative pressure hole, so that the adhesion between the conveying belt and the to-be-sorted article is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of warehousing and logistics and smart logistics technology, and more specifically, to a negative pressure sorting trolley, a conveyor belt and a sorting device. Background Technology

[0002] In smart logistics, automated sorting equipment, such as cross-belt equipment and slider sorting devices, all have problems with packages drifting during turning, climbing, and sorting processes. This is especially true for thin, smooth items with low friction with the sorting equipment (including letters, low-weight items, etc.) and items with a high center of gravity.

[0003] Packages may fly out of the sorting equipment during the turning process. This is mainly because items pass through the turning point of the sorting equipment at high speed, and the centrifugal force of the turning causes the items to fly out of the sorting equipment.

[0004] Packages may fall off the sorting equipment during the climbing process. This is mainly because items pass through the climbing section of the sorting equipment at high speed, and the items are affected by gravity, causing them to fall out of the sorting equipment.

[0005] Packages may drift during the release process of the sorting equipment. This is mainly due to the friction causing the items to slip after the equipment applies a release force at the corresponding sorting port, or due to tilting, causing the packages to drift into the wrong sorting slot.

[0006] In related technologies, narrowing the scope of applicable sorting items is often used to reduce the problem of loose items in automated sorting equipment for this type of logistics. However, this significantly reduces sorting efficiency. Therefore, how to solve the problem of loose items such as thin, smooth-surfaced items with low friction with sorting equipment during the sorting process is a pressing technical issue that needs to be addressed. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this, the present invention provides a negative pressure sorting trolley, a conveyor belt, and a sorting device, which can improve the adhesion between the conveyor belt and the items to be sorted and reduce the risk of the items to be sorted moving off the conveyor belt.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention provides a negative pressure sorting cart, comprising:

[0009] Base plate;

[0010] Multiple negative pressure chamber components are mounted on the base plate;

[0011] The transmission device includes a conveyor belt, on which a plurality of first negative pressure holes are provided, wherein the plurality of first negative pressure holes can be aligned with a plurality of negative pressure chamber components during the rotation of the conveyor belt;

[0012] The negative pressure chamber assembly is adapted to adsorb the items to be sorted on the conveyor belt through the first negative pressure hole, so as to improve the adhesion between the conveyor belt and the items to be sorted.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of said negative pressure chamber assemblies include:

[0014] Multiple first negative pressure chambers are arranged in an array in the target area of ​​the base plate; and

[0015] Multiple secondary negative pressure chambers are respectively arranged around the target area;

[0016] The plurality of second negative pressure chambers are adapted to adsorb the area outside the first negative pressure holes on the conveyor belt, so that the conveyor belt is in contact with the plurality of first negative pressure chambers. The first negative pressure chambers are adapted to cooperate with the first negative pressure holes to adsorb the items to be sorted on the conveyor belt, so as to improve the adhesion between the conveyor belt and the items to be sorted.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, both the first negative pressure chamber and the second negative pressure chamber include:

[0018] The bottom plate of the negative pressure chamber has a first through hole for connecting to the negative pressure source; and

[0019] The negative pressure chamber side plate is located on the periphery of the bottom plate of the negative pressure chamber.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes:

[0021] Multiple support rods are spaced apart and vertically arranged on the base plate; and

[0022] A top plate is connected to the top of the plurality of support rods, the top plate abuts against the top of the negative pressure chamber side plate, and the top plate is provided with a plurality of second negative pressure holes;

[0023] During the rotation of the conveyor belt, the plurality of first negative pressure holes can be aligned one by one with the plurality of second negative pressure holes in the central region of the top plate.

[0024] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of the first negative holes form a plurality of array units, and the plurality of array units are distributed at equal intervals on the conveyor belt.

[0025] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the number of array units is two or three.

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes:

[0027] The vehicle body side panels are located on both sides of the bottom plate, and the vehicle body side panels are provided with second through holes;

[0028] A negative pressure main pipe, connecting to the second through holes on the two side panels of the vehicle body, the negative pressure main pipe being suitable for connecting to a negative pressure device or a negative pressure main pipe or plug of an adjacent sorting cart; and

[0029] Multiple negative pressure branch pipes, each of which is connected to the negative pressure main pipe and a first through hole.

[0030] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes:

[0031] Multiple solenoid valves are provided, with one solenoid valve installed between each of the first through holes and the negative pressure branch pipe.

[0032] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes:

[0033] The transmitter is positioned between the solenoid valve and the first through-hole.

[0034] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes:

[0035] The male connector extends vertically outward from the outer side of one of the vehicle body side panels; and

[0036] A female connector extends vertically outward from the outer side of another vehicle body side panel, and the female connector is pivotally connected to the male connector of an adjacent negative pressure sorting trolley.

[0037] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes:

[0038] Rollers are disposed at both ends of the base plate, and the conveyor belt is sleeved on the rollers;

[0039] A drive motor is mounted on the base plate and is connected to the roller drive to drive the conveyor belt to rotate.

[0040] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes:

[0041] A tensioning structure is provided on the side panel of the vehicle body, and the tensioning structure is connected to the roller to tension the conveyor belt.

[0042] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes:

[0043] A control device is connected to the solenoid valve and the drive motor respectively. The controller is configured to first start the drive motor and then close the solenoid valve in response to the negative pressure sorting trolley moving to a predetermined sorting position.

[0044] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes:

[0045] The traveling wheels are mounted on the base plate and are adapted to the traveling track of the sorting device.

[0046] Another aspect of the present invention provides a conveyor belt having a plurality of first negative pressure holes, the plurality of first negative pressure holes being adapted to align with a plurality of first negative pressure chambers of a negative pressure sorting trolley during the rotation of the conveyor belt;

[0047] In this process, the second negative pressure chamber of the negative pressure sorting trolley adsorbs the area outside the first negative pressure hole on the conveyor belt, and the area where the first negative pressure hole is located on the conveyor belt is attached to the first negative pressure chamber; the first negative pressure hole is adapted to cooperate with the first negative pressure chamber to adsorb the items to be sorted on the conveyor belt, so as to improve the adhesion between the conveyor belt and the items to be sorted.

[0048] Another aspect of the present invention provides a sorting apparatus, comprising:

[0049] The negative pressure sorting cart described above.

[0050] According to some embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple negative pressure sorting carts, which are connected in series, and the negative pressure main pipes of two adjacent negative pressure sorting carts are connected.

[0051] The sorting device further includes:

[0052] The negative pressure machine is connected to the negative pressure main pipe of the negative pressure sorting cart located at the outer end; and

[0053] The plug is connected to the negative pressure main pipe of another negative pressure sorting cart located at the outer end.

[0054] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the sorting device further includes:

[0055] An image acquisition device is disposed above the movement path of the negative pressure sorting trolley. The image acquisition device is suitable for acquiring the projected shape of the item to be sorted on the conveyor belt.

[0056] The solenoid valve of the first negative pressure chamber within the projected shape coverage area is activated to adsorb the items to be sorted.

[0057] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley uses a second negative pressure chamber to adsorb the conveyor belt onto a first negative pressure chamber. The first negative pressure chamber, in conjunction with a first negative pressure hole, adsorbs the bottom of the items to be sorted, thereby increasing the friction between the items to be sorted and the conveyor belt, and increasing the adhesion between the trolley and the items to be sorted. This reduces the risk of items to be sorted floating out of the trolley during the sorting process (e.g., when turning, rising or falling, or when sorting at the sorting port), and improves sorting efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0058] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0059] Figure 1 A perspective view of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically;

[0060] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The exploded view of the negative pressure sorting cart shown is shown below.

[0061] Figure 3 A perspective view of the negative pressure chamber of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0062] Figure 4 A perspective view of the support rod and related components of a negative pressure sorting trolley according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0063] Figure 5 A perspective view schematically illustrating the internal structure of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0064] Figure 6 A perspective view of the top plate of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0065] Figure 7 A perspective view of the conveyor belt of a negative pressure sorting trolley according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0066] Figure 8 A perspective view of the air duct of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0067] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 Enlarged schematic diagram of a local part of the structure;

[0068] Figure 10 This schematic diagram illustrates the structure of the connecting assembly of the negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0069] Figure 11A perspective view of the rollers and related components of a negative pressure sorting trolley according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0070] Figure 12 A schematic diagram illustrating the connection relationship between the rollers and conveyor belt of a negative pressure sorting trolley according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0071] Figure 13 A perspective view of a sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown; and

[0072] Figure 14 yes Figure 13 An enlarged schematic diagram of region A in the middle.

[0073] The meanings of the reference numerals in the above figures are as follows:

[0074] 1-Base plate;

[0075] 2-First negative pressure chamber;

[0076] 3-Second negative pressure chamber;

[0077] 4-Conveyor belt;

[0078] 5-First negative pressure hole;

[0079] 6-Negative pressure chamber bottom plate;

[0080] 7-Negative pressure chamber side plate;

[0081] 8-Support rod;

[0082] 9-Top plate;

[0083] 10 - Second negative pressure hole;

[0084] 11-Side panels of the vehicle body;

[0085] 12-Negative pressure main pipe;

[0086] 13-Negative pressure branch pipe;

[0087] 14-Solenoid valve;

[0088] 15 - Transmitter;

[0089] 16-Connect male connector;

[0090] 17-Connecting female connector;

[0091] 18-roller;

[0092] 19-Tension structure;

[0093] 20-Walking wheels;

[0094] 21-Guard plate;

[0095] 22-Transition plate;

[0096] 23 - Limit wheel;

[0097] 01-Travel track;

[0098] 02-Negative pressure sorting cart;

[0099] 03-Sorting Port;

[0100] 04-Sorting port conveyor line. Detailed Implementation

[0101] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention for ease of explanation. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known structures and techniques are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concept of the invention.

[0102] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The terms “comprising,” “including,” etc., as used herein indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, or components.

[0103] All terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein are to be interpreted in a manner consistent with the context of this specification, and not in an idealized or overly rigid way.

[0104] When using expressions such as "at least one of A, B and C", they should generally be interpreted in accordance with the meaning that is commonly understood by those skilled in the art (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B and C" should include, but is not limited to, a system having A alone, a system having B alone, a system having C alone, a system having A and B, a system having A and C, a system having B and C, and / or a system having A, B and C, etc.).

[0105] To address the issue of lightweight, smooth-surfaced items with low friction easily drifting away in related technologies, this invention improves the sorting cart by creating negative pressure holes in the conveyor belt. This, combined with a negative pressure chamber and equipment, forms a negative pressure area on the conveyor belt surface. This facilitates the adhesion of lightweight, smooth-surfaced items with low friction to the conveyor belt surface, increasing the bonding force between the items to be sorted and the sorting cart, thereby reducing the risk of these items drifting away.

[0106] Figure 1 A perspective view of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the negative pressure sorting cart.

[0107] One aspect of the present invention provides a negative pressure sorting cart, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the system includes: a base plate 1, negative pressure chamber assemblies, and a conveying device. Multiple negative pressure chamber assemblies are mounted on the base plate 1. The conveying device includes a conveyor belt 4 with multiple first negative pressure holes 5. During the rotation of the conveyor belt 4, the multiple first negative pressure holes 5 can align with multiple negative pressure chamber assemblies. The negative pressure chamber assemblies are designed to adsorb items to be sorted on the conveyor belt 4 through the first negative pressure holes 5, thereby improving the adhesion between the conveyor belt 4 and the items to be sorted.

[0108] In this embodiment, a first negative pressure hole 5 is provided on the conveyor belt 4. The negative pressure component works in conjunction with the first negative pressure hole 5 to adsorb the bottom surface of the items to be sorted, thereby improving the adhesion between the items to be sorted and the conveyor belt 4 and preventing items from drifting.

[0109] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of negative pressure chamber assemblies include a first negative pressure chamber 2 and a second negative pressure chamber 3. The plurality of first negative pressure chambers 2 are arranged in an array in the target area of ​​the base plate 1. The plurality of second negative pressure chambers 3 are respectively arranged on the periphery of the target area. The conveying device includes a conveyor belt 4, on which a plurality of first negative pressure holes 5 are provided, wherein, during the rotation of the conveyor belt 4, the plurality of first negative pressure holes 5 can be aligned with the plurality of first negative pressure chambers 2.

[0110] Multiple second negative pressure chambers 3 are used to adsorb the area outside the first negative pressure hole 5 on the conveyor belt 4, so that the conveyor belt 4 and multiple first negative pressure chambers 2 are in contact. The first negative pressure chambers 2 are used to cooperate with the first negative pressure hole 5 to adsorb the items to be sorted on the conveyor belt 4, so as to improve the adhesion between the conveyor belt 4 and the items to be sorted.

[0111] In this embodiment, the negative pressure sorting trolley uses the second negative pressure chamber 3 to adsorb the conveyor belt 4 onto the first negative pressure chamber 2. The first negative pressure chamber 2, together with the first negative pressure hole 5, adsorbs the bottom of the items to be sorted, thereby increasing the friction between the items to be sorted and the conveyor belt 4, thus increasing the adhesion between the negative pressure sorting trolley and the items to be sorted. This can prevent the trolley from floating out of the trolley during the sorting process (e.g., turning, rising or falling, or at the sorting port), thereby improving sorting efficiency.

[0112] According to some embodiments of the present invention, for ease of description and understanding, Figure 1 Taking the negative pressure sorting trolley state as an example, in the plane where the upper surface of the conveyor belt 4 is located, the direction in which the conveyor belt 4 rolls is defined as left and right, and the direction perpendicular to the rolling direction of the conveyor belt 4 is defined as front and back. The directional qualifiers (including but not limited to left, right, front and back) appearing in subsequent embodiments shall refer to the above definitions, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0113] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the base plate 1 is the main pressure-bearing component of the negative pressure sorting trolley, and multiple first negative pressure chambers 2 are arranged in the target area of ​​the base plate 1. The target area refers to the area on the base plate 1 where the items to be sorted are projected onto the conveyor belt 4. The specific projection position and shape of different items to be sorted vary, but they are generally located near the center of the base plate 1. Therefore, the central area of ​​the base plate 1 is defined as the target area. It should be understood that the aforementioned central area is not strictly the exact center; the target area can be offset to the left, right, front, or back by a certain amount, for example, 0-20%, which is also within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0114] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the area ratio of the target area to the base plate 1 ranges from 20% to 90%. Preferably, the area ratio of the target area to the base plate 1 ranges from 50% to 80%.

[0115] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of first negative pressure chambers 2 form an array unit on the base plate 1. Optionally, the shape of the array unit includes rectangle, circle, rhombus, ellipse, rounded rectangle, etc.

[0116] According to some optional embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of second negative pressure chambers 3 are respectively disposed on the periphery of the target area. For example, a plurality of second negative pressure chambers 3 are evenly disposed on the periphery of the array unit. Optionally, the plurality of second negative pressure chambers 3 may be in the form of a ring, an elliptical ring, a hollow rectangle, a hollow rhombus, etc., matching the array unit.

[0117] According to some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the array unit is a rectangular array, and a plurality of second negative pressure chambers 3 are respectively located on the left and right sides of the rectangular array, or a plurality of second negative pressure chambers 3 are respectively located on the front and rear sides of the rectangular array.

[0118] According to some optional embodiments of the present invention, the shape of the array unit formed by the plurality of first negative pressure chambers 2 is the same as the shape (planar shape) formed by the plurality of first negative pressure holes 5. During the rotation of the conveyor belt 4, there is a position in which the shape formed by the plurality of first negative pressure holes 5 is aligned with the array unit in the vertical direction.

[0119] Figure 3 A perspective view of the negative pressure chamber of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0120] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, both the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3 include: a negative pressure chamber bottom plate 6 and a negative pressure chamber side plate 7.

[0121] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bottom plate 6 of the negative pressure chamber has a first through hole for connecting to a negative pressure source. Optional negative pressure sources include a negative pressure compressor, a vacuum pump, etc.

[0122] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure chamber side plate 7 is disposed on the periphery of the negative pressure chamber bottom plate 6.

[0123] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3 form multiple trough-shaped structures through the negative pressure chamber bottom plate 6 and the negative pressure chamber side plate 7. A gap exists between the top of the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3 and the conveyor belt 4 to ensure that the conveyor belt 4 does not contact the top of the first negative pressure chamber 2 or the second negative pressure chamber 3 when the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3 are not activated, thus preventing friction between the conveyor belt 4 and the first negative pressure chamber 2 or the second negative pressure chamber 3 during rotation. Simultaneously, to ensure that the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3 can form multiple relatively sealed spaces with the conveyor belt 4 when the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3 are activated, the width of the gap should not be too large. The width of the gap ranges from 0.1 mm to 5 mm, preferably from 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

[0124] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bottoms of the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3 are respectively provided with first through holes for connecting the negative pressure device. When the second negative pressure chamber 3 is in a negative pressure state, the area on the conveyor belt 4 opposite to the second negative pressure chamber 3, that is, the area outside the array unit formed by the first negative pressure holes 5, is adsorbed. The conveyor belt 4, the bottom plate 6 of the negative pressure chamber, and the side plate 7 of the negative pressure chamber 3 form a sealed space, so that the array unit area formed by the first negative pressure holes 5 on the conveyor belt 4 is in contact with the top of the first negative pressure chamber 2, that is, the width of the gap is 0 or close to 0. After the top of the first negative pressure chamber 2 is in contact with the conveyor belt 4, the negative pressure device forms a negative pressure space in the first negative pressure chamber 2 through the first through hole. The first negative pressure chamber 2, together with the conveyor belt 4 and the first negative pressure holes 5 on the conveyor belt 4, can adsorb the items to be sorted on the conveyor belt 4, thereby improving the adhesion between the items to be sorted and the conveyor belt 4, thereby preventing the items to be sorted from slipping out or floating out of the cart.

[0125] Figure 4 A perspective view of the support rod and related components of a negative pressure sorting trolley according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically. Figure 5 A perspective view schematically illustrating the internal structure of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 6 A perspective view of the top plate of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0126] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the negative pressure sorting trolley also includes: support rod 8 and top plate 9.

[0127] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of support rods 8 are spaced apart and vertically arranged on the base plate 1.

[0128] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the top plate 9 is connected to the top of a plurality of support rods 8, the top plate 9 abuts against the top of the negative pressure chamber side plate 7, and a plurality of second negative pressure holes 10 are provided on the top plate 9.

[0129] According to some embodiments of the present invention, during the rotation of the conveyor belt 4, a plurality of first negative pressure holes 5 can be aligned one-to-one with a plurality of second negative pressure holes 10 in the central region of the top plate 9.

[0130] According to some optional embodiments of the present invention, the diameter of the second negative pressure hole 10 is equal to the diameter of the first negative pressure hole 5. When the conveyor belt 4 rotates to the preset position, the second negative pressure hole 10 and the first negative pressure hole 5 are aligned one by one in the vertical direction.

[0131] According to some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the diameter of the second negative pressure hole 10 is larger than the diameter of the first negative pressure hole 5. When the conveyor belt 4 rotates to the preset position, there are multiple first negative pressure holes 5 within the range of each second negative pressure hole 10.

[0132] According to some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the aperture of the second negative pressure hole 10 is smaller than that of the first negative pressure hole 5. When the conveyor belt 4 rotates to a preset position, multiple second negative pressure holes 10 correspond to one first negative pressure hole 5. Among them, some of the second negative pressure holes 10 correspond to the area of ​​the array unit region on the conveyor belt 4 that is not the first negative pressure hole 5, which can help the second negative pressure chamber 3 to adsorb the conveyor belt 4 to the top of the first negative pressure chamber 2.

[0133] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the top plate 9 is a rigid plate structure, such as a steel plate, acrylic plate, or other non-deformable material. The first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3 are in contact with the conveyor belt 4 through the top plate 9, which can reduce the degree of deformation of the conveyor belt 4 under the negative pressure state of the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3, and prevent the conveyor belt 4 from separating from the bottom surface of the items to be sorted, thus preventing a decrease in friction.

[0134] Figure 7 A perspective view of the conveyor belt of a negative pressure sorting trolley according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0135] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of first negative holes 5 form a plurality of array units, and the plurality of array units are distributed equidistantly on the conveyor belt 4.

[0136] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the number of array elements is two or three.

[0137] According to some embodiments of the present invention, when receiving or sorting items, when there are two array units, the conveyor belt 4 rotates 1 / 2 revolution for each item to be sorted; when there are three array units, the conveyor belt 4 rotates 1 / 3 revolution for each item to be sorted.

[0138] Figure 8 A perspective view of the air duct of a negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically. Figure 9 yes Figure 8 Enlarged schematic diagram of a local part of the structure.

[0139] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 4-5 , Figures 8-9 As shown, the negative pressure sorting trolley also includes: a side panel 11, a main negative pressure pipe 12, and a branch negative pressure pipe 13.

[0140] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle body side plate 11 is disposed on both sides of the bottom plate 1, and a second through hole is provided on the vehicle body side plate 11.

[0141] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure main pipe 12 connects to the second through holes on the two vehicle body side plates 11. The negative pressure main pipe 12 is suitable for connecting to the negative pressure device or the negative pressure main pipe 12 or plug (also called end cap, not shown in the figure) of the adjacent sorting trolley.

[0142] According to some embodiments of the present invention, each of the plurality of negative pressure branch pipes 13 is connected to the negative pressure main pipe 12 and a first through hole.

[0143] In this embodiment, the two ends of the negative pressure main pipe 12 pass through the two vehicle side panels 11 respectively, so as to facilitate connection with the adjacent negative pressure sorting trolley or negative pressure device. One end of each negative pressure branch pipe 13 is connected to the negative pressure main pipe 12, and the other end is connected to the bottom of the corresponding first negative pressure chamber 2 or second negative pressure chamber 3 so as to communicate with the first through hole.

[0144] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air passage of the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes a negative pressure chamber pipe, which is an L-shaped pipe suitable for connecting the first through hole and the negative pressure branch pipe 13.

[0145] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley also includes a plurality of solenoid valves 14, and a solenoid valve 14 is provided between each first through hole and the negative pressure branch pipe 13.

[0146] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes a transmitter 15, which is disposed between the solenoid valve 14 and the first through hole to facilitate the detection of the gas pressure in the corresponding negative pressure chamber.

[0147] According to some embodiments of the present invention, each solenoid valve 14 independently controls the opening and closing of the gas path corresponding to a negative pressure chamber. Furthermore, the opening and closing of the solenoid valves can be controlled based on the gas pressure monitored by the transmitter 15. For example, when multiple solenoid valves 14 connected to the second negative pressure chamber 3 are opened, the corresponding second negative pressure chamber 3 adsorbs the area of ​​the conveyor belt 4 outside the first negative pressure hole 5. If the gas pressure monitored by the transmitter of a certain second negative pressure chamber 3 is higher than a preset threshold, that is, the negative pressure level of the second negative pressure chamber 3 does not reach the preset level, then the solenoid valve 14 is closed. The cause of the above problem may be that foreign objects are adhered to the top of the conveyor belt 4 or the second negative pressure chamber 3, or deformation occurs, causing the second negative pressure chamber 3 to fail to close, resulting in continuous air intake. Closing the solenoid valve reduces the impact on other negative pressure chambers and negative pressure devices.

[0148] Furthermore, the transmitter 15 monitors the air pressure within the first negative pressure chamber 2. When the items to be sorted are transferred onto the conveyor belt 4, all the solenoid valves of the first negative pressure chambers 2 are opened. If the items to be sorted partially cover the first negative pressure holes 5, and all the first negative pressure holes 5 in some of the first negative pressure chambers 2 are completely covered, the gas pressure within those chambers can be smoothly reduced to a preset value, and the solenoid valve remains open. If the first negative pressure holes 5 in some of the chambers 2 are not completely covered, or are not covered at all, causing the transmitter 15 to detect that the gas pressure within those chambers cannot be reduced to the preset value, the solenoid valves 14 corresponding to those chambers are closed to reduce the impact on other chambers 2.

[0149] Figure 10 The schematic diagram illustrates the structure of the connecting assembly of the negative pressure sorting cart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0150] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 4 and Figure 10 As shown, the negative pressure sorting trolley also includes a connecting assembly, which includes a male connector 16 and a female connector 17.

[0151] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the male connector 16 extends vertically outward from the outer side of a vehicle body side panel 11.

[0152] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the female connector 17 extends vertically outward from the outer side of another vehicle body side panel 11, and the female connector 17 can form a pivotal engagement connection with the male connector of an adjacent negative pressure sorting trolley.

[0153] According to some optional embodiments of the present invention, the female connector 17 includes a spherical hinge support, and the male connector 16 includes a ball head. The ball head of the male connector 16 is slidably engaged in the spherical hinge support to realize the pivotal connection between the female connector 17 and the male connector 16.

[0154] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes: roller 18 and drive motor (not shown in the figure).

[0155] According to some embodiments of the present invention, rollers 18 are disposed at both ends of the base plate 1, and conveyor belt 4 is sleeved on rollers 18.

[0156] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a drive motor is mounted on a base plate 1 and is connected to a roller 18 for driving the conveyor belt 4 to rotate.

[0157] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley further includes a tensioning structure 19, which is disposed on the side plate 11 of the trolley body. The tensioning structure 19 is connected to the roller 18 to tension the conveyor belt 4, so that a certain gap is maintained between the conveyor belt 4 and the top plate 9, thereby reducing wear and improving service life.

[0158] In this embodiment, the tensioning structure 19 mounts two rollers 18 at both ends of the base plate 1, and the conveyor belt 4 is fitted onto the two rollers 18. The drive motor drives the rollers 18 and rotates the conveyor belt 4. Optionally, the drive motor is a stepper motor.

[0159] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting cart further includes a control device connected to the solenoid valve 14 and the drive motor respectively. The controller is configured to first start the drive motor and then close the solenoid valve 14 in response to the negative pressure sorting cart moving to a predetermined sorting position.

[0160] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the negative pressure sorting trolley also includes a traveling wheel 20, which is disposed on the base plate 1 and is adapted to the traveling track of the sorting device.

[0161] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a body beam is also provided on the base plate 1 to enhance the strength and rigidity of the negative pressure sorting trolley.

[0162] The negative pressure sorting cart disclosed in this application will be further described below with reference to a specific embodiment. It should be understood that this specific embodiment is only for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, and should not be regarded as an inappropriate limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0163] Example 1

[0164] like Figures 1-12 As shown, the negative pressure sorting trolley includes a base plate 1, a first negative pressure chamber 2, a second negative pressure chamber 3, a conveyor belt 4, a roller 18, a support rod 8, a top plate 9, a trolley body side plate 11, a tensioning structure 19, a negative pressure main pipe 12, a negative pressure branch pipe 13, a solenoid valve 14, a transmitter 15, and traveling wheels 20.

[0165] The base plate 1 has vehicle body side plates 11 on its front and rear sides, and rollers 18 on its left and right ends. A conveyor belt 4 is fitted onto the two rollers 18, and a transition plate 22 is provided on the outside of the rollers 18 to protect the conveyor belt 4. The bottom of the base plate 1 has traveling wheels 20. Optionally, the bottom side of the base plate 1 is provided with limiting wheels 23 for guiding and limiting.

[0166] A tensioning structure 19 is provided on the side panel 11 of the vehicle body. The tensioning structure is connected to the rollers 18 and is used to adjust the distance between the two rollers 18 to achieve the purpose of tensioning the conveyor belt 4. The drive motor is connected to the rollers 18 to drive the conveyor belt 4 to rotate. Optionally, a guard plate 21 is also provided on the outer side of the side panel 11 of the vehicle body to protect the tensioning structure 19.

[0167] Multiple rows and columns of first negative pressure chambers 2 are arranged horizontally and vertically within the target area on the base plate 1. One or more rings of second negative pressure chambers 3 are arranged outside the outermost ring of first negative pressure chambers 2. Both the first negative pressure chambers 2 and the second negative pressure chambers 3 are rectangular trough-shaped structures without top caps. Multiple first negative pressure chambers 2 and multiple second negative pressure chambers 3 form a grid-like multi-trough structure, wherein each trough has a first through hole at the bottom.

[0168] Below the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3, an air circuit assembly is provided. The air circuit assembly includes a negative pressure main pipe 12 that passes through the two side panels 11 of the vehicle body, and a negative pressure branch pipe 13 that connects the negative pressure main pipe 12 and the first through hole. Between the negative pressure branch pipe 13 and the first through hole, there is a solenoid valve 14 for controlling the opening and closing of the negative pressure branch pipe 13, a transmitter 15 for monitoring the air pressure intensity, and a negative pressure chamber pipe for connecting the two.

[0169] The conveyor belt 4 is provided with two array units formed by first negative pressure holes 5. During the rotation of the conveyor belt 4, the first negative pressure hole 5 of one of the array units can be aligned with the first negative pressure chamber 2 in the vertical direction.

[0170] A top plate 9 is provided above the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the second negative pressure chamber 3. The top plate 9 has multiple second negative pressure holes 10. The top plate 9 is sealed to the top of the first negative pressure chamber 2 and the top of the second negative pressure chamber 3. The top plate 9 is fixed to the bottom plate 1 by multiple support rods 8. There is a gap between the top plate 9 and the inner side of the conveyor belt 4. The width of this gap ranges from 0.1mm to 5mm, preferably from 0.5mm to 2mm.

[0171] Two connecting pieces are provided on the two side panels 11 of the vehicle body to facilitate the series connection of two adjacent negative pressure sorting carts. The connecting pieces include a male connector 16 and a female connector 17, and the male connector 16 and the female connector 17 are pivotally connected.

[0172] Another aspect of the present invention provides a conveyor belt 4 having a plurality of first negative pressure holes 5, the plurality of first negative pressure holes 5 being adapted to align with a plurality of first negative pressure chambers 2 of a negative pressure sorting trolley during the rotation of the conveyor belt 4.

[0173] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in response to the second negative pressure chamber 3 of the negative pressure sorting trolley adsorbing the area outside the first negative pressure hole 5 on the conveyor belt 4, the area where the first negative pressure hole 5 is located on the conveyor belt 4 is attached to the first negative pressure chamber 2; the first negative pressure hole 5 is adapted to cooperate with the first negative pressure chamber 2 to adsorb the items to be sorted on the conveyor belt, so as to improve the adhesion between the conveyor belt 4 and the items to be sorted.

[0174] Figure 13 A perspective view of a sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically; Figure 14 yes Figure 13 An enlarged schematic diagram of region A in the middle.

[0175] Another aspect of the present invention provides a sorting device, such as Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, it includes a sorting conveyor line, a walking track 01 is provided on the sorting conveyor line, and a negative pressure sorting trolley 01 is provided on the walking track 01.

[0176] According to some embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple negative pressure sorting carts 02, which are connected in series, and the negative pressure main pipes of two adjacent negative pressure sorting carts 02 are connected. The sorting device also includes a negative pressure generator and a plug. The negative pressure generator is connected to the negative pressure main pipe of the negative pressure sorting cart 01 located at the outer end. The plug is connected to the negative pressure main pipe of another negative pressure sorting cart located at the outer end.

[0177] According to some optional embodiments of the present invention, multiple negative pressure sorting trolleys 02 are connected in series on the walking track 01, with a predetermined number of trolleys spaced apart. For example, every 10 negative pressure sorting trolleys are connected in series, and the negative pressure main pipes between them are connected sequentially. The negative pressure sorting trolley located at the beginning (or end) is connected to a trolley equipped with a negative pressure machine, which is connected to the negative pressure main pipe of the negative pressure sorting trolley at that end. One end of the negative pressure main pipe of the negative pressure sorting trolley at the other end is sealed by a plug. The walking track 01 is provided with multiple sets of the above-mentioned trolley assemblies.

[0178] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the sorting device further includes an image acquisition device disposed above the movement path of the negative pressure sorting trolley. The image acquisition device is adapted to acquire the projected shape of the item to be sorted on the conveyor belt. The solenoid valve of the first negative pressure chamber covering the area of ​​the projected shape is activated to adsorb the item to be sorted.

[0179] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the image acquisition device may be the same as the camera device for scanning documents, or it may be a separate device. Optionally, the image acquisition device may include a grayscale meter, a camera, an infrared sensor, etc.

[0180] In this embodiment, the image acquisition device can acquire the projected shape of the item to be sorted on the conveyor belt, select the solenoid valve of the first negative pressure chamber that completely covers the projected shape to open, and use it to adsorb the bottom surface of the item to be sorted. At the same time, combined with the air pressure monitored by the transmitter, the device selects the solenoid valve of the first negative pressure chamber that does not reach the preset value to close, so as to reduce the impact on other normally operating first negative pressure chambers. In addition, it can also reduce energy consumption and achieve energy saving and emission reduction.

[0181] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of sorting ports 03 are provided on one or both sides of the sorting conveyor line, and a sorting port conveyor line 04 (or a packaging device, such as a packing box, bag, etc.) is provided below the sorting port 03 for conveying the sorted items to the next process (or packaging).

[0182] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the specific sorting process, which includes steps one through four.

[0183] Step 1: After allocating an empty negative pressure sorting trolley, the sorting device calculates the time it takes for items to enter the negative pressure sorting trolley based on the speed of the supply belt conveyor. Once the items enter the negative pressure sorting trolley, the solenoid valve corresponding to the vacuum chamber (second negative pressure chamber) on the outer perimeter of the trolley is opened. The second negative pressure chamber then adheres to the belt around the top surface of the negative pressure sorting trolley, ensuring complete contact between the belt and the top plate, guaranteeing a sealed environment between the belt and the top plate during item sorting.

[0184] Step Two: The vehicle passes an image acquisition device (including but not limited to instruments that detect the coverage of items, such as cameras, infrared, grayscale meters, etc.) to determine the position of the negative pressure sorting cart occupied by the item. The solenoid valve of the first negative pressure chamber, which fully covers the item, is opened (the corresponding chamber for partially covered items remains closed to prevent air leakage). The negative pressure then holds the sorted item in place.

[0185] Step 3: Monitor the gas pressure in the first negative pressure chamber corresponding to the solenoid valve in the open state using a transmitter. If the monitoring result indicates that the gas pressure value is within the preset range, the solenoid valve corresponding to the first negative pressure chamber remains open; if the monitoring result indicates that the gas pressure value exceeds the preset range, the solenoid valve corresponding to the first negative pressure chamber closes. This solves the problem of some first negative pressure holes not being able to contact the object, resulting in air leakage and pressure loss, when the bottom area is smaller than the maximum surface area (such as spherical or cylindrical horizontal placement).

[0186] Step 4: After the items to be sorted arrive at the corresponding sorting port, activate the sorting release mechanism (including but not limited to electric rollers and other drive methods), and then close all opened electronic valves (including the first and second negative pressure chambers). During this process, ensure that the items to be sorted reach the same speed as the conveyor belt at the moment of startup, and then quickly release the negative pressure to ensure the conveyor line can rotate normally and the items can be released normally. The release action and the negative pressure closing action are sequential, and the negative pressure closing action needs to be as precise as possible, with the interval between the negative pressure closing action and the release action minimized to reduce the impact of negative pressure preventing the conveyor belt from rotating.

[0187] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that implementations not illustrated or described in the drawings or the main text of the specification are forms known to those skilled in the art and are not described in detail. Furthermore, the definitions of the components described above are not limited to the various specific structures, shapes, or methods mentioned in the embodiments, and those skilled in the art can easily modify or substitute them.

[0188] It should also be noted that, in specific embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise stated otherwise, the numerical parameters in this specification and the appended claims are approximate values ​​and can be changed according to the desired characteristics obtained from the content of the present invention. Specifically, all numbers used in the specification and claims to indicate dimensions, range conditions, etc., of the composition should be understood to be modified by the term "about" in all cases. Generally, this means that there may be variations of ±10% in some embodiments, ±5% in some embodiments, ±1% in some embodiments, and ±0.5% in some embodiments.

[0189] Those skilled in the art will understand that the features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present invention can be combined or combined in various ways, even if such combinations or combinations are not explicitly described in the present invention. In particular, the features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present invention can be combined or combined in various ways without departing from the spirit and teachings of the present invention. All such combinations and / or combinations fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0190] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A negative pressure sorting trolley, comprising: a bottom plate; a plurality of negative pressure bin assemblies arranged on the bottom plate, comprising: a plurality of first negative pressure bins arranged in an array on a target area of the bottom plate; and a plurality of second negative pressure bins arranged on the periphery of the target area respectively; a conveying device comprising a conveying belt, wherein a plurality of first negative pressure holes are arranged on the conveying belt, and the plurality of first negative pressure holes can be aligned with the plurality of negative pressure bin assemblies during rotation of the conveying belt; wherein the plurality of second negative pressure bins are adapted to adsorb the area outside the first negative pressure holes on the conveying belt, so that the conveying belt is in close contact with the plurality of first negative pressure bins, and the first negative pressure bins are adapted to adsorb the to-be-sorted articles on the conveying belt through the first negative pressure holes to improve the adhesion between the conveying belt and the to-be-sorted articles; wherein the negative pressure bin assemblies are adapted to adsorb the to-be-sorted articles on the conveying belt through the first negative pressure holes to improve the adhesion between the conveying belt and the to-be-sorted articles.

2. The negative pressure sorting trolley according to claim 1, wherein, The first negative pressure bin and the second negative pressure bin each comprise: a negative pressure bin bottom plate provided with a first through hole for connecting a negative pressure source; and a negative pressure bin side plate arranged on the periphery of the negative pressure bin bottom plate.

3. The negative pressure sorting trolley according to claim 2, wherein, The negative pressure sorting trolley further comprises: a plurality of support rods arranged on the bottom plate in a spaced and vertical manner; and a top plate connected to the top of the plurality of support rods, the top plate abutting against the top of the negative pressure bin side plate, and the top plate is provided with a plurality of second negative pressure holes; wherein the plurality of first negative pressure holes can be aligned one by one with the plurality of second negative pressure holes in the middle area of the top plate during rotation of the conveying belt.

4. The negative pressure sorting trolley according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of first negative pressure holes form a plurality of array units, and the plurality of array units are equidistantly distributed on the conveying belt.

5. The negative pressure sorting trolley according to claim 4, wherein, The number of array units is two or three.

6. The negative pressure sorting trolley according to claim 2, wherein, The negative pressure sorting trolley further comprises: a trolley side plate arranged on both sides of the bottom plate, the trolley side plate being provided with a second through hole; a negative pressure main pipe connecting the second through holes on the two trolley side plates, the negative pressure main pipe being adapted to connect a negative pressure device or a negative pressure main pipe or a plug of an adjacent sorting trolley; and a plurality of negative pressure branch pipes, each negative pressure branch pipe connecting the negative pressure main pipe and one first through hole.

7. The negative pressure sorting trolley according to claim 6, wherein, The negative pressure sorting trolley further comprises: a plurality of electromagnetic valves, each first through hole being provided with an electromagnetic valve between the first through hole and the negative pressure branch pipe.

8. The negative pressure sorting trolley according to claim 7, wherein, The negative pressure sorting trolley further comprises: a transmitter arranged between the electromagnetic valve and the first through hole.

9. The negative pressure sorting trolley of claim 6, wherein, The negative pressure sorting trolley further comprises: a male connector extending vertically outward from the outer side of one trolley side plate; and a female connector extending vertically outward from the outer side of the other trolley side plate, the female connector being capable of forming a pivotal connection with the male connector of an adjacent negative pressure sorting trolley.

10. The negative pressure sorting trolley of claim 7, wherein, The negative pressure sorting trolley further comprises: rollers arranged at both ends of the bottom plate, the conveying belt being sleeved on the rollers; a drive motor arranged on the bottom plate, the drive motor being in transmission connection with the rollers to drive the conveying belt to rotate.

11. The negative pressure sorting trolley of claim 10, wherein, The negative pressure sorting trolley further comprises: A tensioning structure is arranged on the side plate of the vehicle body, and the tensioning structure is connected with the roller to tension the conveying belt.

12. The negative pressure sorting trolley of claim 10, wherein, The negative pressure type sorting trolley further comprises: A control device is connected with the electromagnetic valve and the driving motor respectively, and the control device is configured to control the driving motor to start and then close the electromagnetic valve in response to the negative pressure type sorting trolley moving to a predetermined sorting position.

13. The negative pressure sorting trolley of claim 1, wherein, The negative pressure type sorting trolley further comprises: A walking wheel is arranged on the bottom plate, and the walking wheel is matched with a walking track of the sorting device.

14. A sorting device, comprising: The negative pressure type sorting trolley according to any one of claims 1-13.

15. The sorting device of claim 14, wherein, The number of the negative pressure type sorting trolleys is multiple, and the multiple negative pressure type sorting trolleys are connected in series, and the negative pressure main pipes of two adjacent negative pressure type sorting trolleys are communicated. The sorting device further comprises: A negative pressure machine is connected with the negative pressure main pipe of the negative pressure type sorting trolley located at the outer end; and A plug is connected with the negative pressure main pipe of another negative pressure type sorting trolley located at the outer end.

16. The sorting device of claim 15, wherein, The sorting device further comprises: An image acquisition device is arranged above the moving route of the negative pressure type sorting trolley, and the image acquisition device is suitable for acquiring a projection shape of the to-be-sorted article on the conveying belt. The electromagnetic valve of the first negative pressure bin of the projection shape covering area is allowed to start to adsorb the to-be-sorted article.

Images