Manipulator for automatically grabbing lifting lugs at four corners

Through the machine vision control system and camera to identify the position of the lifting lugs, combined with the suction cup and hook lifting mechanism, the complex structure and low efficiency problems in the grasping process of four corner lifting lugs in the ton bag are solved, and an efficient and reliable lifting and packaging process is achieved.

CN223071393UActive Publication Date: 2025-07-08HARBIN BOSHI AUTOMATION CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202422328579.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-09-24
Publication Date
2025-07-08
Estimated Expiration
2034-09-24

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the prior art, the process of picking up four-corner hanging lugs for ton bags is complex and cumbersome, resulting in low work efficiency and prone to failure to hook the hanging lugs, affecting the overall packaging efficiency.

Method used

The machine vision control system is used to identify the position of the lifting lugs and the camera, and combine the suction cup and hook lug mechanism to absorb the lifting lugs through the suction cup and hook the hook body. The pneumatic jaws and cylinder drive are used to achieve reliable grasping of the lifting lugs, and the image clarity is improved with the complementary lights and light shields to ensure the accurate positioning and grasping order of the lifting lugs.

Benefits of technology

The grabbing action of hanging ears is simplified, the grab success rate and equipment reliability are improved, the lifting ears are successfully entered into subsequent processes, and the packaging efficiency and equipment practicality are improved.

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Abstract

A manipulator capable of automatically grabbing four-corner lifting lugs belongs to the field of ton bag packaging machinery and comprises a hanging bracket, the hanging bracket is connected to an external robot, grabbing mechanisms are arranged at the four-corner ends of the hanging bracket, every two adjacent grabbing mechanisms are symmetrically arranged about the X-axis or the Y-axis, and each grabbing mechanism comprises a suction cup and a lifting lug hooking mechanism. The suction cup can suck and lift the lifting lugs stacked on the upper surface of the ton bag in a lifting mode, a hook body capable of swinging up and down is arranged on the lifting lug hooking mechanism, and when the hook body swings to the lower position, the lower end of the hook body is lower than the bottom end of the suction cup and can penetrate into the inner sides of the lifting lugs lifted after being sucked by the suction cup. The camera is connected with the machine vision control system, the camera obtains an image of the upper surface of the ton bag, and the machine vision control system identifies and confirms the position of the lifting lug and controls the external robot to drive the suction cup to move to the position above the middle of the lifting lug. According to the lifting lug grabbing device, the lifting lugs can be accurately recognized and grabbed, the success rate of grabbing the lifting lugs is increased, and the overall packaging efficiency is improved.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a manipulator for automatically grasping four-corner lifting lugs, belonging to the field of ton bag packaging machinery. Background Art

[0002] Patent document CN219970151U discloses a device for automatically clamping the four-corner lifting lugs of a ton bag. After the device sucks the upper surface of the ton bag by a bag-sucking and clip-lifting-ear manipulator and lifts it to the bag-supporting plate of four supporting lifting-ear mechanisms, the supporting plates move away from the center of the ton bag simultaneously to hook the lifting lugs stacked on the upper surface of the ton bag and then expand outwards. Then, the swinging clamping plate in the manipulator clamps the lifting lugs and drives the ton bag to move into the subsequent ton bag bagging and hook-hanging lifting lug processes. Although the device realizes the function of automatically clamping the four-corner lifting lugs of the ton bag, during the clamping process, four supporting lifting-ear mechanisms need to cooperate with the bag-sucking and clip-lifting-ear manipulator to complete the clamping action simultaneously, and its structure is relatively complex and the clamping action is relatively cumbersome. In addition, when the four supporting plates move away from the center of the ton bag simultaneously, it is easy to cause the situation that some supporting plates fail to hook the lifting lugs and expand outwards, and the lifting lugs cannot be clamped by the swinging clamping plate in the manipulator, and the ton bag cannot enter the subsequent ton bag bagging and hook-hanging lifting lug processes. At this time, the ton bag should be removed from the production line, resulting in a reduction in the overall packaging efficiency. Content of the Utility Model

[0003] In order to solve the problems of cumbersome actions and low working efficiency when clamping the four-corner lifting lugs of a ton bag in the prior art, the utility model provides a manipulator for automatically grasping four-corner lifting lugs, which comprises a suspension bracket connected to an external robot. Grabbing mechanisms are arranged at the four corners of the suspension bracket, and two adjacent groups of grabbing mechanisms are symmetrically arranged about the X axis or the Y axis. The grabbing mechanism comprises a vertically arranged sucker and a vertically arranged hook-lifting-ear mechanism. The sucker can be lifted and lowered to suck and lift the lifting lugs stacked on the upper surface of the ton bag. A hook body that can swing up and down is arranged on the hook-lifting-ear mechanism. When the hook body swings to the lower position, the lower end of the hook body is lower than the bottom end of the sucker and can penetrate into the inner side of the lifting lug sucked and lifted by the sucker. A camera is arranged in the middle of the lower end of the suspension bracket. The camera is connected to a machine vision control system. The camera acquires an image of the upper surface of the ton bag. The machine vision control system identifies and confirms the position of the lifting lugs, and controls the external robot to drive the sucker to move above the middle of the lifting lugs.

[0004] The hook-lifting-ear mechanism comprises a pneumatic clamping jaw. Hook bodies are respectively arranged at the two swinging ends on the lower part of the pneumatic clamping jaw. The pneumatic clamping jaw can drive the hook bodies to swing downwards to close. A sucker is arranged in the middle below the pneumatic clamping jaw. The upper end of the sucker is connected to the lower end of a mounting plate. The upper end of the mounting plate is connected to the fixed end of the pneumatic clamping jaw. The bottom end of the sucker is higher than the lower end after the hook bodies swing and close.

[0005] The hook-lifting-ear mechanism is connected to a rotary cylinder, and the rotary cylinder drives the hook-lifting-ear mechanism to rotate in the horizontal plane.

[0006] The middle part of the lifting lug stacked on the upper surface of the ton bag is provided with a lifting lug positioning color block. The machine vision control system can identify and confirm the position coordinates of the lifting lug positioning color block, and control the external robot to drive the suction cup to move directly above the lifting lug positioning color block.

[0007] The grasping mechanism is connected to the cylinder rod of the horizontal cylinder. The cylinder body of the horizontal cylinder is connected to the hanging frame, and the axis of the cylinder rod of the horizontal cylinder passes through the center of the hanging frame.

[0008] The suction cup is a needle-punched suction cup.

[0009] A supplementary light is also provided at the lower end of the hanging frame, and a light-shielding plate is provided at the upper end of the hanging frame.

[0010] The grasping mechanism further includes a lifting cylinder, and the lifting cylinder drives the suction cup to vertically lift.

[0011] The grasping mechanism further includes a lifting cylinder, and the lifting cylinder drives the suction cup and the hook lifting lug mechanism to vertically lift simultaneously.

[0012] The beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows:

[0013] A. By using the machine vision control system and the camera to identify and position the lower lifting lug, and controlling the grasping mechanism to perform the action of grasping the lifting lug, it ensures that the suction cup can suck the lifting lug at a suitable position and complete the grasping, reduces the requirement for the regularity of manually stacking ton bags, greatly improves the success rate of grasping the lifting lug, and its grasping structure and action are simple, improving the overall packaging efficiency.

[0014] B. The suction cup and the hook lifting lug mechanism vertically lift simultaneously. During the upward movement of the suction cup after sucking the lifting lug, the hook body can swing downward and close, which can avoid the problem of grasping failure caused by the accidental dropping of the lifting lug during the upward pulling of the lifting lug by the suction cup, improving the reliability of the equipment.

[0015] C. By using two groups of hook bodies to swing downward to form a closure, it avoids the phenomenon of accidental unhooking during the process of the manipulator grasping the lifting lug and moving it to the subsequent bag sleeving and hanging device, providing guarantee for its smooth entry into the subsequent lifting lug handover process.

[0016] D. By using the provided needle-punched suction cup, when sucking, the steel needles penetrate into the lifting lug, which can more reliably pull up the lifting lug and reduce the risk of dropping during the pulling up of the lifting lug, further improving the reliability of the equipment.

[0017] E. By using the provided supplementary light and light-shielding plate, it can increase the supplementary light effect when obtaining the image, reduce the influence of external factors such as reflection, make the image clearer, the machine vision control system can more accurately position the lifting lug, and improve the accuracy of the movement of the external robot.

[0018] F. A lifting lug positioning color block is provided on the lifting lug, so that the machine vision control system can determine the exact position of the lifting lug by identifying the coordinates of the lifting lug positioning color block, while reducing the recognition difficulty of the machine vision control system.

[0019] G. The use of machine vision control system greatly improves the practicality of the manipulator. According to the position of the lifting lugs located by the system, the order of grabbing the lifting lugs can be controlled to achieve optimal work efficiency.

[0020] H. Use the horizontal cylinder to drive the grabbing mechanism to move horizontally outward, so that the lifting lug grabbed by the manipulator moves to the vicinity of the hook of the bag hook device, providing a guarantee for the lifting lug to be hooked and handed over smoothly.

[0021] I. Use a rotary cylinder to drive the pneumatic gripper to rotate in the horizontal plane to change the direction of the hook body. On the one hand, when the hook body cannot pass through the lifting ear after swinging downward, the direction of the hook body can be adjusted to meet the grabbing action of the lifting ear. On the other hand, when the lifting ear is separated from the hook body, its opening direction can avoid the hook of the bag hook hanging device, further ensuring that the lifting ear can be hooked and handed over smoothly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional axonometric view of the robot arm of the utility model.

[0023] Figure 2 It is the front view of the manipulator of the utility model.

[0024] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Bottom view of .

[0025] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a ton bag.

[0026] Figure 5 It is a structural diagram of the grasping mechanism.

[0027] Figure 6 It is a structural diagram of the hook and lug mechanism.

[0028] Figure 7 It is a state diagram of the camera acquiring an image.

[0029] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of a single suction cup sucking a lifting ear.

[0030] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the state where four suction cups simultaneously absorb the lifting ears.

[0031] Figure 10 It is a schematic diagram of the state of the robot arm completing the grasping of the lifting ear.

[0032] Figure 11It is a schematic diagram of the state of the manipulator transfer lifting lug.

[0033] Figure 12 It is a schematic diagram of the state of the manipulator completing the transfer lifting lug. Specific implementation manner

[0034] The embodiments of the present utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are exemplary and are intended to explain the present utility model, but should not be construed as limiting the present utility model.

[0035] See Figures 1 to 10 , a manipulator for automatically grasping the four-corner lifting lugs, which includes a suspension bracket 1 connected to an external robot. The four corners of the suspension bracket 1 are provided with grasping mechanisms 2. Adjacent two groups of grasping mechanisms 2 are symmetrically arranged about the X-axis or Y-axis. The grasping mechanism 2 includes a vertically arranged suction cup 21 and a vertically arranged hook lifting lug mechanism 22. The suction cup 21 can be lifted to suck and lift the lifting lug B stacked on the upper surface of the ton bag A. The hook lifting lug mechanism 22 is provided with a hook body 221 that can swing up and down and is approximately L-shaped. When the hook body 221 swings to the lower position, its lower end is lower than the bottom end of the suction cup 21 and can penetrate into the inner side of the lifting lug B that has been sucked and lifted by the suction cup 21. In the middle of the lower end of the suspension bracket 1, there is a camera 3 connected to the machine vision control system. The camera 3 acquires the image of the upper surface of the ton bag A. The machine vision control system identifies and confirms the position of the lifting lug B, and controls the external robot to drive the suction cup 21 to move above the middle of the lifting lug B. The system determines the order of grasping the lifting lug B according to the position coordinates of the lifting lug B, and can control some of the grasping mechanisms 2 to grasp the lower lifting lug B first, and then sequentially control the external robot to move so that the remaining grasping mechanisms 2 grasp the lower lifting lug B. The system can also directly control the four groups of grasping mechanisms 2 to grasp the lower lifting lug B according to the position coordinates.

[0036] Further, a lifting lug positioning color block C is provided in the middle of the lifting lug B stacked on the upper surface of the ton bag A. The machine vision control system can identify and confirm the position coordinates of the lifting lug positioning color block C, and control the external robot to drive the suction cup 21 to move directly above the lifting lug positioning color block C. The machine vision control system can determine the accurate position of the lifting lug B by identifying the position coordinates of the lifting lug positioning color block C.

[0037] Further, a supplementary light 4 is also provided at the lower end of the suspension bracket 1, and a light-shielding plate 5 is provided at the upper end of the suspension bracket 1 to increase the supplementary light effect and reduce the influence of external factors such as reflection, so that the acquired image is clearer, and the machine vision control system can more accurately identify the position coordinates of the lifting lug positioning color block C on the lifting lug B.

[0038] Further, the grasping mechanism 2 further includes a lifting cylinder 23, and the lifting cylinder 23 drives the suction cup 21 and the hook and lug mechanism 22 to vertically lift simultaneously; after the suction cup 21 vertically descends to suck the lug B stacked on the upper surface of the empty bag and then rises, the suction cup 21 pulls the lug B upward to form a loop; during the process that the suction cup 21 vertically rises and drives the lug B to be pulled upward, the hook body 221 provided on the hook and lug mechanism 22 swings downward and penetrates into the inner side of the lug B sucked by the suction cup 21; the hook and lug mechanism 22 may not lift simultaneously with the suction cup 21, that is, the lifting cylinder 23 drives the suction cup 21 to lift alone. After the suction cup 21 drives the lug B to vertically rise to the initial position, the hook body 221 provided on the hook and lug mechanism 22 then penetrates into the inner side of the lug B sucked by the suction cup 21.

[0039] Further, the suction cup 21 is preferably a needle suction cup, and other structures such as Bernoulli suction cups can also be used. When the needle suction cup vertically descends to suck the lug B, its steel needles penetrate into the lug B. When the needle suction cup vertically rises, the part of the lug B penetrated by the needles is driven to be pulled upward.

[0040] Further, the hook and lug mechanism 22 includes a pneumatic gripper 222. Hook bodies 221 are respectively provided at the swinging ends on both sides of the lower part of the pneumatic gripper 222. The pneumatic gripper 222 can drive the hook bodies 221 to swing downward and close. A suction cup 21 is provided in the middle below the pneumatic gripper 222. The upper end of the suction cup 21 is connected to the lower end of the mounting plate 223, and the upper end of the mounting plate 223 is connected to the fixed end of the pneumatic gripper 222. The bottom end of the suction cup 21 is higher than the lower end after the hook bodies 221 swing and close; during the process that the suction cup 21 vertically descends to suck the lug B, the pneumatic gripper 222 is in an open state of swinging upward; in addition to the structural form in which the two groups of hook bodies 221 swing downward and close to hook the lug B, a structural form in which a group of hook bodies 221 swing downward and penetrate into the inner side of the lug B lifted after being sucked by the suction cup 21 can also be adopted.

[0041] Further, referring to Figure 11 the grasping mechanism 2 is connected to the cylinder rod of the horizontal cylinder 6. The cylinder body of the horizontal cylinder 6 is connected to the hanging frame 1, and the axis of the cylinder rod of the horizontal cylinder 6 passes through the center of the hanging frame 1; preferably, the cylinder rod of the horizontal cylinder 6 is connected to the cylinder body of the lifting cylinder 23 inside the grasping mechanism 2. The cylinder rod of the horizontal cylinder 6 can also be connected to the hook and lug mechanism 22 or the rotary cylinder 24 etc. inside the grasping mechanism 2; the horizontal cylinder 6 drives the grasping mechanism 2 to horizontally move outward, so that the lug B grasped by the hook body 221 moves near the hook of the bag-sleeving and hanging device, for preparing the hooking handover of the lug B.

[0042] Further, referring to Figure 12, the hook and hanger mechanism 22 is connected to the rotary cylinder 24, and the rotary cylinder 24 drives the hook and hanger mechanism 22 to rotate in the horizontal plane to change the direction of the hook body 221; the rotary cylinder 224 is preferably connected to the cylinder rod of the lifting cylinder 23, and can also be connected to the hanger 1 or the cylinder rod end of the horizontal cylinder 6; during the subsequent hook and hanger operation, the hook body 221 needs to approach the hook connection hanger B of the bag-sleeving hook and hanger device. Before the hook body 221 opens to release the hanger B, it can rotate a certain angle to avoid the hook of the bag-sleeving hook and hanger device and complete the hanger connection operation.

[0043] See Figures 7 to 12 , to illustrate the working principle of the embodiment of the present invention:

[0044] The external robot drives the manipulator to move, so that the hanger 1 moves directly above the ton bag A, and the camera 33 acquires the images of the ton bag A and the hanger B stacked on the upper surface of the ton bag A;

[0045] The machine vision control system identifies the ear positioning color blocks C on the hanger B, confirms the position coordinates of the four ear positioning color blocks C, and according to the coordinate position situation, the system selects the grasping method and controls the movement of the external robot, so that one group of suction cups 21 is directly above the ear positioning color block C on one of the corner hangers B;

[0046] The lifting cylinder 23 drives the suction cup 21 to descend vertically to suck the lower hanger B and then rise, and the pneumatic gripper 222 drives the hook body 221 to swing downward to close and hook the hanger B sucked by the suction cup 21;

[0047] The system controls the movement of the external robot to successively make the remaining three groups of suction cups 21 face the ear positioning color blocks C on the hanger B and perform grasping in sequence to complete the grasping operation of the four corner hangers;

[0048] After the grasping is completed, the external robot drives the manipulator and the ton bag A to move to the lower part of the middle of the bag-sleeving hook and hanger device. The horizontal cylinder 6 drives the grasping mechanism 2 to move outward synchronously, so that the upper end of the hanger B moves to the inside of the hook. The suction cup 21 releases the hanger B, and the rotary cylinder 24 drives the pneumatic gripper 222 to rotate 90 degrees in the horizontal plane. The pneumatic gripper 222 drives the hook body 221 to swing upward to open, so that the upper end of the hanger B falls and is hooked on the hook to complete the hanger B handover operation.

Claims

1. A manipulator for automatically grasping four-corner lifting lugs, which comprises a hanging frame (1), and the hanging frame (1) is connected to an external robot, and is characterized in that: The four corner ends of the hanger (1) are provided with grasping mechanisms (2). Two adjacent sets of grasping mechanisms (2) are symmetrically arranged with respect to the X-axis or the Y-axis. The grasping mechanism (2) includes a vertically arranged suction cup (21) and a vertically arranged hook and hanger mechanism (22). The suction cup (21) can be lifted and lowered to suck and lift the hanger (B) stacked on the upper surface of the ton bag (A). The hook and hanger mechanism (22) is provided with an L-shaped hook body (221) that can swing up and down. When the hook body (221) swings to the lower position, its lower end is lower than the bottom end of the suction cup (21) and can penetrate into the inner side of the hanger (B) that is sucked and lifted by the suction cup (21). A camera (3) is provided in the middle of the lower end of the hanger (1). The camera (3) is connected to the machine vision control system. The camera (3) acquires an image of the upper surface of the ton bag (A). The machine vision control system identifies and confirms the position of the hanger (B), and controls the external robot to drive the suction cup (21) to move above the middle of the hanger (B).

2. The manipulator for automatically grasping the four-corner lifting lugs according to claim 1, wherein: The hook and hanger mechanism (22) includes a pneumatic gripper (222). Hook bodies (221) are respectively provided at the swinging ends on both sides of the lower part of the pneumatic gripper (222). The pneumatic gripper (222) can drive the hook bodies (221) to swing downward and close. A suction cup (21) is provided in the middle below the pneumatic gripper (222). The upper end of the suction cup (21) is connected to the lower end of the mounting plate (223). The upper end of the mounting plate (223) is connected to the fixed end of the pneumatic gripper (222). The bottom end of the suction cup (21) is higher than the lower end after the hook bodies (221) swing and close.

3. The mechanical hand for automatically grasping the four-corner lifting lugs according to claim 1, wherein: The hook and hanger mechanism (22) is connected to a rotary cylinder (24). The rotary cylinder (24) drives the hook and hanger mechanism (22) to rotate in the horizontal plane.

4. The mechanical hand for automatically grasping four-corner lifting lugs according to claim 1, characterized in that: A hanger positioning color block (C) is provided in the middle of the hanger (B) stacked on the upper surface of the ton bag (A). The machine vision control system can identify and confirm the position coordinates of the hanger positioning color block (C), and control the external robot to drive the suction cup (21) to move directly above the hanger positioning color block (C).

5. The manipulator for automatically grasping the four-corner lifting lugs according to claim 1, wherein: The grasping mechanism (2) is connected to the cylinder rod of a horizontal cylinder (6). The cylinder body of the horizontal cylinder (6) is connected to the hanger (1). The axis of the cylinder rod of the horizontal cylinder (6) passes through the center of the hanger (1).

6. The manipulator for automatically grasping the four-corner lifting lugs according to claim 1, wherein: The suction cup (21) is a needle-punched suction cup.

7. The manipulator for automatically grasping the four-corner lifting lugs according to claim 1, wherein: A supplementary light (4) is further provided at the lower end of the hanger (1), and a light-shielding plate (5) is provided at the upper end of the hanger (1).

8. The mechanical hand for automatically grasping the four-corner lifting lugs according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The grasping mechanism (2) further includes a lifting cylinder (23). The lifting cylinder (23) drives the suction cup (21) to vertically lift and lower.

9. The manipulator for automatically grasping the four-corner lifting lugs according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that: The grasping mechanism (2) further includes a lifting cylinder (23). The lifting cylinder (23) drives the suction cup (21) and the hook and hanger mechanism (22) to vertically lift and lower simultaneously.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Device for automatically clamping lifting lugs at four corners of ton bag

    CN219970151U