Sponge suction cup, manipulator and robot for flexible package products

Abstract

The invention discloses a sponge suction cup, a manipulator and a robot for flexible package products, and belongs to the technical field of logistics storage sorting. A plurality of adsorption holes are formed in the bottom surface of an adsorption base of the sponge suction cup, and a vacuum adsorption area is arranged in the center of a sponge body on the bottom surface, so that the problem of air leakage caused by deformation of a flexible package due to the weight of a product in the process of transferring the flexible package product after the flexible package product is adsorbed is solved; the thickness d of one side, close to the vacuum adsorption area, of the sponge body is set to be gradually reduced, so that the vacuum adsorption area can better adsorb the flexible package products; furthermore, an air inlet is formed in the sponge sucker base, so that the adsorbed flexible package product can be quickly released after being adsorbed and transferred to a destination.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sponge suction cup, robotic arm, and robot for flexible packaging products, belonging to the field of logistics warehousing and sorting technology. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of e-commerce and intelligent manufacturing in the apparel industry, the massive volume of orders has placed higher demands on the automated sorting capabilities of warehousing and logistics. Vacuum suction technology, due to its flexible gripping characteristics, has been widely adopted in the field of automated apparel sorting (e.g., for plastic bags). However, conventional rigid vacuum suction cups present some problems when adsorbing such flexible packaged products. For example, packaged garments awaiting sorting are often stacked together, and due to the wrinkles caused by the stacking, the suction cups cannot completely adhere to the surface of the flexible packaged products as they can to products with smooth surfaces such as sheet metal or glass, thus resulting in ineffective adsorption.

[0003] As a flexible suction cup solution, sponge suction cups utilize porous sponge material that can be compressed and deformed to conform to the wrinkles and curves of clothing surfaces. They achieve effective adsorption through localized sealing, significantly reducing the requirements for workpiece flatness. However, problems still exist in actual use. During the transfer process after adsorption, the weight of the clothing causes it to sag under gravity, leading to deformation of the soft packaging surface. This reduces the effective adsorption area, causing products to fall during transfer and reducing sorting efficiency.

[0004] To ensure a strong and stable adhesion of plastic products during the sorting process, the existing sponge suction cups need to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the issue of unstable adsorption in the current automated sorting process of garment products, this invention provides a sponge suction cup for flexible packaging products. The sponge suction cup includes an adsorption base and a sponge body. The adsorption base is a closed cavity with several adsorption holes on its bottom surface. The sponge body is fixed around the bottom surface of the adsorption base, and the thickness of the sponge body is d. Under the enclosure of the sponge body, a vacuum adsorption zone is formed at the center of the bottom surface of the adsorption base, so as to solve the problem of air leakage caused by the deformation of the flexible packaging due to the weight of the product during the transfer process.

[0006] Optionally, the adsorption holes are evenly distributed on the bottom surface of the adsorption base.

[0007] Optionally, the thickness d of the sponge on the side adjacent to the vacuum adsorption zone decreases.

[0008] Optionally, the adsorption base is provided with an air extraction port, which is connected to an external vacuum pump to achieve vacuuming.

[0009] Optionally, a vacuum generator is provided inside the adsorption base to achieve vacuuming.

[0010] Optionally, the adsorption base is also provided with an air inlet, and a valve is provided inside the adsorption base at the air inlet.

[0011] Optionally, the shape of the vacuum adsorption zone formed by the adsorption base and the center of its bottom surface can be any one of a rectangle, square, circle, ellipse or triangle.

[0012] Optionally, the sponge material includes EPDM sponge, open-cell EPDM foam, high-density rubber sponge, and shock-absorbing foam.

[0013] The second objective of this invention is to provide a robotic arm for flexible packaging products, wherein the suction cup of the robotic arm terminal is the aforementioned sponge suction cup.

[0014] A third objective of this invention is to provide a robot for flexible packaging products, the robot comprising the aforementioned sponge suction cup or the aforementioned robotic arm.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: By setting several adsorption holes on the bottom surface and a vacuum adsorption zone in the center of the sponge on the bottom surface, the problem of air leakage caused by the deformation of the soft packaging due to the weight of the product during the transfer process is solved. Moreover, by setting the thickness d of the side of the sponge near the vacuum adsorption zone to decrease, the vacuum adsorption zone can better adsorb the soft packaging product. Furthermore, the sponge suction cup base is provided with an air inlet, so that the adsorbed soft packaging product can be quickly released after it has been adsorbed and transferred to the destination. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a sponge suction cup used to absorb flexible packaging products; Figure 2 A side view of a sponge suction cup used to absorb flexible packaging products; Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a sponge suction cup used to absorb flexible packaging products; Figures 1-3 In the middle, 1-adsorption base, 2-air inlet, 3-sponge body, 4-adsorption hole, 5-vacuum adsorption zone.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a scenario where a robotic arm is used to absorb flexible packaging products. Among them, 6-product frame to be sorted, 7-sorting robot, 8-robotic arm, 9-sponge suction cup. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the embodiments of this invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0020] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0021] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only if they are feasible for those skilled in the art. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0022] Example 1 This embodiment provides a sponge suction cup for adsorbing flexible packaging products, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes an adsorption base 1 and a sponge 3; the adsorption base 1 is a closed cavity with several adsorption holes 4 on its bottom surface; the sponge 3 is fixed around the bottom surface of the adsorption base 1, and the thickness of the sponge 3 is d, as shown. Figure 2 As shown, a vacuum adsorption zone 5 is formed at the center of the bottom surface of the adsorption base 1 under the enclosure of the sponge 3, so as to solve the problem of air leakage caused by the deformation of the soft packaging due to the weight of the product during the transfer process after adsorbing the soft packaging product.

[0023] Adsorption holes 4 are evenly distributed on the bottom surface of the adsorption base 1, and the part covered by the sponge body 3 is also provided with adsorption holes 4.

[0024] In one implementation, the adsorption base 1 is provided with an air extraction port, which is connected to a vacuum pump (the air extraction port and vacuum pump are not shown in the figure). The air extraction port can be set on any side except the bottom surface, depending on the needs of the actual scenario.

[0025] In another implementation, a vacuum generator is installed inside the adsorption base 1. The specific model can be selected based on the size and flow rate of the vacuum generator according to the actual application of the suction cup.

[0026] The adsorption base 1 is also equipped with an air inlet 2, which can be placed on any side except the bottom. Figure 1 The example shown is an adsorption base 1 with the product positioned on the side. A valve (not shown in the figure) is located inside the adsorption base 1 at the air inlet 2. When the suction cup adsorbs the product, the valve closes, creating a vacuum adsorption zone 5 at the center of the bottom surface of the adsorption base 1, encased by the sponge 3 and the adsorbed flexible packaging product. Under the pressure difference between the inside and outside, the flexible packaging product is firmly adsorbed by the suction cup. During the transfer process after the suction cup has adsorbed the flexible packaging product, the product, due to its weight, droops under gravity, causing some deformation of the outer flexible packaging. However, because the center of the suction cup is concave, creating a vacuum adsorption zone at its center, and because the bottom surface of the adsorption base 1 has several adsorption holes 4, the product is still prevented from falling off. When the suction cup reaches the destination location after adsorbing the flexible packaging product, the valve at the air inlet 2 opens, allowing for rapid release of the product.

[0027] In practical applications, the adsorption base 1 is made of metal or plastic, and the sponge 3 can be made of EPDM sponge, open-pore EPDM foam, high-density rubber sponge, and shock-absorbing foam, etc.

[0028] In this application, the shape of the adsorption base 1 and the shape of the vacuum adsorption zone 5 formed at the center of its bottom surface are not limited, and can be rectangular, square, circular, elliptical, triangular, etc.

[0029] Furthermore, the thickness d of the sponge 3 decreases on the side adjacent to the vacuum adsorption zone, thereby allowing the vacuum adsorption zone 5 to better adsorb flexible packaging products, such as... Figure 3 As shown.

[0030] Example 2 This embodiment provides a robotic arm for adsorbing flexible packaging products. See [link / reference] Figure 4 The robotic arm includes a sponge suction cup for adsorbing soft packaging products as provided in Embodiment 1, with a square sponge suction cup 9 as an example.

[0031] Figure 4 One application scenario for the robotic arm used to adsorb flexible packaging products provided in this embodiment is to transfer the flexible packaging products one by one from the product frame 6 to be sorted onto the sorting robot 7, and then transport them to the next destination in the sorting process, such as the packaging area, the shelf area, etc.

[0032] The robotic arm for adsorbing soft packaging products provided in this embodiment includes a robotic arm 8 and a sponge suction cup 9 at the end of the robotic arm 8. The robotic arm 8 can be an existing four-axis, six-axis or seven-axis robotic arm. This application does not limit the robotic arm.

[0033] This embodiment is attached. Figure 4 The sorting robot 7 in the picture is an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) with self-navigation function.

[0034] This application improves the structure of the sponge suction cup by creating several suction holes on the bottom surface of the suction base and a vacuum suction zone at the center of the sponge body on the bottom surface. This solves the problem of air leakage caused by the deformation of soft packaging due to product weight during transfer. Furthermore, by setting the thickness d of the sponge body near the vacuum suction zone to decrease progressively, the vacuum suction zone better adsorbs the soft packaging. Additionally, the sponge suction cup base is equipped with an air inlet, allowing for rapid release after the adsorbed soft packaging is transferred to its destination. When a robotic arm or robot equipped with the sponge suction cup provided in this application is used in a garment logistics sorting system, it not only eliminates the need for garments to be placed flat but also ensures that soft-packaged garments do not fall during the adsorption and transfer process, thus guaranteeing sorting efficiency.

[0035] Some steps in the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using software, and the corresponding software program can be stored in a readable storage medium, such as an optical disc or a hard disk.

[0036] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is 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 sponge suction cup for flexible packaging products, characterized in that, The sponge suction cup includes an adsorption base (1) and a sponge body (3). The adsorption base (1) is a closed cavity with several adsorption holes (4) on its bottom surface. The sponge body (3) is fixed around the bottom surface of the adsorption base (1). The thickness of the sponge body (3) is d. Under the enclosure of the sponge body (3), a vacuum adsorption area (5) is formed at the center of the bottom surface of the adsorption base (1) so as to solve the problem of air leakage caused by the deformation of the soft packaging due to the weight of the product during the transfer process after adsorbing the soft packaging product.

2. The sponge suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption holes (4) are evenly arranged on the bottom surface of the adsorption base (1).

3. The sponge suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness d of the sponge (3) on the side near the vacuum adsorption zone decreases.

4. The sponge suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption base (1) is provided with an air extraction port, which is connected to an external vacuum pump to achieve vacuuming.

5. The sponge suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption base (1) is equipped with a vacuum generator to achieve vacuuming.

6. The sponge suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption base (1) is also provided with an air inlet (2), and a valve is provided inside the adsorption base (1) at the air inlet (2).

7. The sponge suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shape of the vacuum adsorption zone (5) formed by the adsorption base (1) and the center of its bottom surface is any one of rectangle, square, circle, ellipse or triangle.

8. The sponge suction cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The materials of the sponge (3) include EPDM sponge, open-pore EPDM foam, high-density rubber sponge and shock-absorbing foam.

9. A robotic arm for flexible packaging products, characterized in that, The suction cup of the robotic arm terminal is the sponge suction cup as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. A robot for flexible packaging products, characterized in that, The robot includes the sponge suction cup as described in any one of claims 1-8 or the robotic arm as described in claim 9.

Images