Intelligent trolley for picking and sorting table tennis balls
By designing an intelligent ping-pong ball picking and sorting vehicle, which utilizes negative pressure suction and camera recognition technology, it can automatically distinguish and collect good and bad ping-pong balls, solving the problem that existing pickers cannot distinguish damaged balls and improving ball picking efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202423201633.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-25
AI Technical Summary
Existing ping-pong ball retrievers cannot automatically distinguish damaged ping-pong balls, forcing athletes to manually pick out the damaged balls, which wastes time.
A smart trolley for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls was designed. It uses components such as a horn-shaped collection box, a suction tube, a sorting pipe, a camera, and an electric telescopic rod. It automatically sorts the ping-pong balls into different collection boxes by sucking them up with negative pressure and using the camera to identify good and bad ones.
It enables automatic pickup and sorting of ping-pong balls, saving athletes time and allowing them to focus on the game itself.
Smart Images
Figure CN223831728U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ping-pong ball picking and sorting technology, specifically to an intelligent ping-pong ball picking and sorting vehicle. Background Technology
[0002] During table tennis games or training, a large number of table tennis balls are often scattered around the table. To avoid wasting valuable time for athletes and enthusiasts by manually retrieving the balls, various table tennis ball retrievers have been developed. These retrievers can be categorized into semi-automatic and fully automatic types based on their level of automation, and into various types based on their structure, such as telescopic, roller, and vacuum cleaner types. Regardless of the type of retriever, they can significantly reduce the manual time required to retrieve the balls.
[0003] However, a major drawback of existing ping-pong ball retrievers is their lack of ability to distinguish damaged balls. All retrievers simply gather scattered ping-pong balls, but ping-pong balls are fragile, so damaged balls are often mixed in with the piles of balls being retrieved again. This requires ping-pong players to manually pick out the damaged balls, thus wasting time.
[0004] Therefore, if there were an intelligent ball-collecting robot that could automatically pick up and sort balls to replace manual ball-collecting, it would bring great convenience to people, allowing them to focus more on playing the game itself. Utility Model Content
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an intelligent vehicle for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: an intelligent trolley for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls, comprising a sorting trolley chassis and wheels, wherein the wheels are installed at the lower end of the sorting trolley chassis, a control circuit board is fixedly connected to the upper end of the sorting trolley chassis, and a sorting mechanism is connected to the upper end of the sorting trolley chassis.
[0007] The sorting mechanism includes a horn-shaped gathering box fixedly connected to the upper left side of the sorting cart chassis. A feed pipe is fixedly connected to the right end of the horn-shaped gathering box, and a suction pipe is fixedly connected to the other end of the feed pipe. A sorting pipe is fixedly connected to the other end of the suction pipe. A support column is fixedly connected to the upper rear end of the sorting cart chassis, and a fan is installed at the upper end of the support column. A support frame is fixedly connected to the upper left side of the sorting cart chassis. First cameras are installed at the front and rear ends of the upper left side of the support frame. A first support rod is fixedly connected to the upper left side of the sorting cart chassis, below the sorting pipe. A fixing ring is fixedly connected to the upper end of the first support rod. A second camera is installed on the inner side of the ring. A second support rod is fixedly connected to the upper side of the sorting cart chassis to the right of the first support rod. An electric telescopic rod is hinged to the upper right side of the second support rod. T-shaped shafts are fixedly connected to the front and rear ends of the outer right side of the sorting pipe. A rocker arm is rotatably connected to the outer side of the T-shaped shaft. A rectangular frame is fixedly connected to the lower outer side of the sorting pipe. A miniature electric push rod is installed at the bottom inner side of the rectangular frame. A stop block is fixedly connected to the upper end of the output shaft of the miniature electric push rod. A first receiving box is fixedly connected to the right side of the sorting cart chassis. A second receiving box is fixedly connected to the right side of the sorting cart chassis to the right of the first receiving box.
[0008] A further improvement is that the air inlet of the exhaust fan is fixedly connected to the rear end of the suction pipe, so that by starting the exhaust fan, a negative pressure is generated inside the suction pipe, which can suck the ping-pong ball gathered by the horn-shaped collecting box into the suction pipe through the feeding pipe.
[0009] A further improvement is that the sorting pipe is made of mesh wire, and the pore size of the pipe wall is smaller than the diameter of a ping-pong ball, which helps to filter impurities that are sucked into the suction pipe along with the ping-pong ball.
[0010] A further improvement is that a sliding hole is provided at the position above the rectangular frame in the sorting pipe, and the outer side of the block is slidably connected to the inner side of the rectangular frame and the sliding hole. Thus, by activating the micro electric push rod, the block is moved to its upper end and into the sorting pipe, thereby blocking the ping-pong balls entering the sorting pipe.
[0011] A further improvement is that three second cameras are installed on the inner side of the fixing ring, and the three second cameras are installed on the inner side of the fixing ring with equal arc, so that the ping-pong balls staying in the sorting pipe can be observed comprehensively from different angles by the three second cameras on the inner side of the fixing ring.
[0012] A further improvement is that the right end of the output shaft of the electric telescopic rod is hinged to the lower left end of the rocker arm, so that when the output shaft of the electric telescopic rod is started to move, the rocker arm can be driven to rotate around the T-shaped axis.
[0013] A further improvement is that a sealing plate is hinged to the upper right end of the first and second receiving boxes. The lower side of the sealing plate abuts against the upper side of the first support rod and the second receiving box. The bottom of the second receiving box is an inclined surface, with the left side higher than the right side, so that the ping-pong ball falling into the first or second receiving box will roll to the right along with the inclined bottom of the first and second receiving boxes.
[0014] In summary, this application discloses an intelligent vehicle for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls.
[0015] This technical solution uses a blower to create negative pressure inside the suction pipe, drawing ping-pong balls collected in a funnel-shaped collection box into the suction pipe via the feed pipe. Then, the blower is turned off, causing the ping-pong balls to fall into a sorting pipe for automatic pickup. A second camera installed inside the fixing ring then inspects the ping-pong balls in the sorting pipe. Based on the quality of the balls, an electric telescopic rod rotates the rocker arm to the first or second collection box, sorting the balls into different boxes for storage. This intelligent ball-picking cart, which automatically picks and sorts balls, replaces manual ball picking, saving athletes time and allowing them to focus more on playing.
[0016] Furthermore, the ping-pong balls entering the first or second receiving box will roll to the right along with the tilted bottom of the first and second receiving boxes, and then accumulate to the inner right side of the first and second receiving boxes. Since the upper right side of the first and second receiving boxes is covered by the upper sealing plate, the ping-pong balls collected in the first and second receiving boxes are prevented from being ejected from the first and second receiving boxes due to the movement of the sorting cart chassis. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a front view of the main structure of this utility model;
[0018] Figure 2 This is a rear view of the main structure of this utility model;
[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a portion of the sorting mechanism of this utility model;
[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure at the outer end of the sorting pipe of this utility model;
[0021] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the sorting pipe structure of this utility model;
[0022] Figure 6This is a schematic diagram of the sealing plate structure of this utility model.
[0023] In the diagram: 1. Sorting cart chassis; 2. Wheels; 3. Control circuit board; 401. Horn-shaped collection box; 402. Feed pipe; 403. Suction pipe; 404. Sorting pipe; 405. Support column; 406. Exhaust fan; 407. Support frame; 408. First camera; 409. First support rod; 410. Fixing ring; 411. Second camera; 412. Second support rod; 413. Electric telescopic rod; 414. T-shaped shaft; 415. Rocker arm; 416. Rectangular frame; 417. Miniature electric push rod; 418. Stop block; 419. First collection box; 420. Second collection box; 5. Sealing plate. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0025] Please see Figures 1-6 This utility model provides a technical solution: an intelligent trolley for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls, including a sorting trolley chassis 1 and wheels 2. The wheels 2 are installed at the lower end of the sorting trolley chassis 1, and a control circuit board 3 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the sorting trolley chassis 1. A sorting mechanism is connected to the upper end of the sorting trolley chassis 1.
[0026] The sorting mechanism includes a horn-shaped collecting box 401 fixedly connected to the upper left side of the sorting cart chassis 1. A feeding pipe 402 is fixedly connected to the right end of the horn-shaped collecting box 401. A suction pipe 403 is fixedly connected to the other end of the feeding pipe 402. A sorting pipe 404 is fixedly connected to the other end of the suction pipe 403. A support column 405 is fixedly connected to the upper rear end of the sorting cart chassis 1. An exhaust fan 406 is installed at the upper end of the support column 405. The air inlet of the exhaust fan 406 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the suction pipe 403. By starting the exhaust fan 406, a negative pressure is generated inside the suction pipe 403, which can suck the ping-pong balls collected by the horn-shaped collecting box 401 into the suction pipe 403 through the feeding pipe 402, thus completing the ping-pong ball picking. Then, by turning off the exhaust fan 406, the ping-pong balls fall into the sorting pipe 404.
[0027] The sorting pipe 404 is made of mesh wire, and the pore size of the pipe wall is smaller than the diameter of a ping-pong ball, which helps to filter impurities that are sucked into the suction pipe 403 along with the ping-pong ball.
[0028] A support frame 407 is fixedly connected to the upper left end of the sorting cart chassis 1. A first camera 408 is installed at the front and rear ends of the upper left side of the support frame 407. A first support rod 409 is fixedly connected to the upper left end of the sorting cart chassis 1 below the sorting pipe 404. A fixing ring 410 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the first support rod 409. A second camera 411 is installed inside the fixing ring 410. A second support rod 412 is fixedly connected to the upper right side of the sorting cart chassis 1 to the right of the first support rod 409. An electric telescopic rod 413 is hinged to the upper right side of the second support rod 412. A T-shaped shaft 414 is fixedly connected to the front and rear ends of the outer right side of the sorting pipe 404. A rocker arm 415 is rotatably connected to the outside. A rectangular frame 416 is fixedly connected to the lower outer end of the sorting pipe 404. A miniature electric push rod 417 is installed at the bottom inner side of the rectangular frame 416. A stop block 418 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the output shaft of the miniature electric push rod 417. A sliding hole is opened in the sorting pipe 404 above the rectangular frame 416. The outer side of the stop block 418 is slidably connected to the rectangular frame 416 and the inner side of the sliding hole. Thus, by activating the miniature electric push rod 417, the stop block 418 moves up to its upper end and into the sorting pipe 404, which can block the ping-pong ball entering the sorting pipe 404 so that the ping-pong ball can stay in the sorting pipe 404 for a short time for recognition by the second camera 411.
[0029] Three second cameras 411 are installed on the inner side of the fixing ring 410, and the three second cameras 411 are installed on the inner side of the fixing ring 410 with equal arc, so that the ping-pong balls staying in the sorting pipe 404 can be observed from different angles by the three second cameras 411 on the inner side of the fixing ring 410 and it can be determined whether they are damaged.
[0030] The right end of the output shaft of the electric telescopic rod 413 is hinged to the lower left end of the rocker arm 415. When the output shaft of the electric telescopic rod 413 is activated and moves, it can drive the rocker arm 415 to rotate around the T-shaped shaft 414, thereby changing the feeding direction of the ping-pong ball rolling out above the rocker arm 415.
[0031] The control circuit board 3 and the machine vision algorithm of artificial intelligence form a circuit control system, which is used to control the forward, backward, turning and speed adjustment of the intelligent car, control the recognition of the first camera 408 and the second camera 411, control the movement of the stop block 418 and the rocker arm 415 and the switch of the exhaust fan 406.
[0032] A first receiving box 419 is fixedly connected to the right end of the sorting cart chassis 1. A second receiving box 420 is fixedly connected to the right end of the sorting cart chassis 1, to the right of the first receiving box 419. A sealing plate 5 is hinged to the upper right end of the first receiving box 419 and the second receiving box 420. The lower side of the sealing plate 5 abuts against the upper side of the first support rod 409 and the second receiving box 420. The bottom end of the second receiving box 420 is an inclined surface, with the left side higher than the right side, so that the material falling into the first receiving box 419 or the second receiving box 420 is more likely to fall into the second receiving box 420. The ping-pong balls in the material box 420 will roll to the right along with the bottom of the tilted first material box 419 and second material box 420, and then accumulate to the inner right end of the first material box 419 and second material box 420. Since the upper right end of the first material box 419 and second material box 420 is covered by the sealing plate 5, the ping-pong balls collected in the first material box 419 and second material box 420 are prevented from popping out of the first material box 419 and second material box 420 due to the movement of the sorting cart chassis 1.
[0033] Working principle: During the ping-pong ball picking and sorting, the first camera 408 observes the position of the ping-pong balls on the ground and controls the sorting trolley to move towards them. The ping-pong balls on the ground are gathered into the funnel-shaped collection box 401. Then, the exhaust fan 406 is activated to create negative pressure inside the suction pipe 403, drawing the ping-pong balls gathered in the funnel-shaped collection box 401 into the suction pipe 403 through the feed pipe 402. Then, the exhaust fan 406 is turned off, and the ping-pong balls in the suction pipe 403 fall into the sorting pipe 404, where they are blocked by the stop block 418 and remain in the sorting pipe 404. At the same time, impurities sucked into the suction pipe 403 fall out of the wall holes of the sorting pipe 404 and are discharged. Then, the second camera 408 observes the position of the ping-pong balls. 11. Observe the ping-pong balls in the sorting pipe 404, and according to the quality of the ping-pong balls, control the electric telescopic rod 413 to push the rocker arm 415 to rotate to the upper end of the first receiving box 419 or the second receiving box 420 where the ping-pong balls are to be stored. Then, activate the micro electric push rod 417 to move the stop block 418 down so that it no longer blocks the ping-pong balls in the sorting pipe 404, so that they slide down the inside of the sorting pipe 404 into the rocker arm 415 and then fall into the first receiving box 419 or the second receiving box 420 to be collected. This completes the picking and sorting of ping-pong balls. Thus, the cart can automatically pick up and sort the balls, replacing manual ball picking, saving athletes time and allowing them to focus more on playing the game.
[0034] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.
Claims
1. A smart cart for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls, comprising a sorting cart chassis (1) and wheels (2), wherein the wheels (2) are mounted on the lower end of the sorting cart chassis (1), characterized in that: The upper end of the sorting cart chassis (1) is fixedly connected to a control circuit board (3), and the upper end of the sorting cart chassis (1) is connected to a sorting mechanism. The sorting mechanism includes a horn-shaped collecting box (401) fixedly connected to the upper left side of the sorting cart chassis (1). A feeding pipe (402) is fixedly connected to the right end of the horn-shaped collecting box (401). A suction pipe (403) is fixedly connected to the other end of the feeding pipe (402). A sorting pipe (404) is fixedly connected to the other end of the suction pipe (403). A support column (405) is fixedly connected to the upper rear end of the sorting cart chassis (1). A fan (406) is installed at the upper end of the sorting cart chassis (1). A support frame (407) is fixedly connected to the upper left end of the sorting cart chassis (1). A first camera (408) is installed at the front and rear ends of the upper left side of the support frame (407). A first support rod (409) is fixedly connected to the upper left end of the sorting cart chassis (1) below the sorting pipe (404). A fixing ring (410) is fixedly connected to the upper end of the first support rod (409). A second camera (411) is installed on the inner side of the sorting trolley chassis (1). A second support rod (412) is fixedly connected to the upper side of the sorting trolley chassis (1) to the right of the first support rod (409). An electric telescopic rod (413) is hinged to the upper right side of the second support rod (412). T-shaped shafts (414) are fixedly connected to the front and rear ends of the outer right side of the sorting pipe (404). A rocker arm (415) is rotatably connected to the outer side of the T-shaped shaft (414). A rectangular frame (416) is fixedly connected to the lower outer side of the sorting pipe (404). A miniature electric push rod (417) is installed at the bottom inner side of the rectangular frame (416). A stop block (418) is fixedly connected to the upper end of the output shaft of the miniature electric push rod (417). A first receiving box (419) is fixedly connected to the right end of the sorting trolley chassis (1). A second receiving box (420) is fixedly connected to the right side of the sorting trolley chassis (1) to the right of the first receiving box (419).
2. The intelligent cart for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air inlet of the exhaust fan (406) is fixedly connected to the rear end of the suction pipe (403).
3. The intelligent cart for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sorting pipe (404) is made of mesh wire, and the pore size of the pipe wall is smaller than the diameter of a ping-pong ball.
4. The intelligent vehicle for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sorting pipe (404) has a sliding hole located above the rectangular frame (416), and the outer side of the stop block (418) is slidably connected to the inner side of the rectangular frame (416) and the sliding hole.
5. The intelligent cart for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls according to claim 1, characterized in that: Three second cameras (411) are installed on the inner side of the fixing ring (410), and the three second cameras (411) are installed on the inner side of the fixing ring (410) with equal arc.
6. The intelligent cart for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls according to claim 1, characterized in that: The right end of the output shaft of the electric telescopic rod (413) is hinged to the lower left end of the rocker arm (415).
7. The intelligent cart for picking up and sorting ping-pong balls according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper right end of the first receiving box (419) and the second receiving box (420) is hinged with a sealing plate (5). The lower side of the sealing plate (5) abuts against the upper side of the first support rod (409) and the second receiving box (420). The bottom end of the second receiving box (420) is an inclined surface, and it is higher on the left and lower on the right.