Automatic grinding device for plastic shell of thermometer

Abstract

The utility model relates to an automatic plastic shell grinding device for thermometers. The automatic plastic shell grinding device comprises a base, and the base is provided with a positioning seat used for placing a plastic shell, a motor used for grinding the surface of a plastic part, a mechanical arm used for carrying the plastic shell and a visual detection module; the visual detection module comprises a first industrial camera and a second industrial camera which are used for acquiring images of the plastic shell; the first industrial camera is arranged on the base, a portal frame is further arranged on the base, the second industrial camera is fixedly arranged on the portal frame, and the second industrial camera is located above the motor. The device has the beneficial effects that the polishing precision is high, the surface treatment quality can be remarkably improved, real-time image collection and analysis are conducted on the surface of the plastic shell of the thermometer through the visual detection module, the position, size and distribution characteristics of burrs can be accurately recognized, and the polishing consistency and the yield are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of thermometer manufacturing equipment, and in particular to an automatic grinding device for the plastic casing of thermometers. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, thermometers are widely used in medical, industrial, laboratory, and daily life fields as common temperature measuring instruments. To ensure the product's appearance quality and user experience, its plastic shell usually needs to undergo surface polishing after injection molding to remove defects such as burrs, flash, and parting lines, and to improve surface smoothness.

[0003] Currently, the industry mostly uses manual sanding with handheld sandpaper or simple clamps in conjunction with benchtop sanders to polish the plastic casings of thermometers. Manual sanding is inefficient, labor-intensive, and the polishing quality depends heavily on the operator's experience, resulting in inconsistent quality. It also struggles to achieve uniform polishing of complex curved surfaces or intricate structures, easily leading to missed areas, over-polishing, or scratches. While some general-purpose automatic sanding equipment exists, it is not specifically optimized for small, irregularly shaped, high-volume plastic parts like thermometer casings, resulting in poor adaptability, insufficient positioning accuracy, and unsatisfactory polishing results. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides an automatic grinding device for the plastic shell of a thermometer, which has the effects of high grinding precision, significantly improving surface treatment quality, and increasing grinding consistency and yield.

[0005] The automatic grinding device for plastic casings of thermometers provided in this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] An automatic grinding device for plastic casings of thermometers includes a base, on which are mounted a positioning seat for placing the plastic casing, a motor for grinding the surface of the plastic casing, a robotic arm for transporting the plastic casing, and a vision inspection module. The vision inspection module includes a first industrial camera and a second industrial camera for acquiring images of the plastic casing. The first industrial camera is mounted on the base, and a gantry frame is also mounted on the base. The second industrial camera is fixedly mounted on the gantry frame and is located above the motor.

[0007] Preferably, a waste box is placed on the base below the grinding end of the motor.

[0008] Preferably, the gantry includes uprights arranged opposite each other on both sides of the motor, and a crossbeam fixedly mounted on the top of the uprights on both sides; a protective seat is slidably mounted on the crossbeam, and the protective seat is tightened and fixed to the bottom of the crossbeam by fasteners; the second industrial camera is fixedly mounted in the protective seat, and the camera of the second industrial camera faces the grinding end of the motor below.

[0009] Preferably, a reinforcing base is fixedly provided between the upright frame and the horizontal frame.

[0010] Preferably, the robotic arm is equipped with a vacuum generator, and the vacuum port of the vacuum generator is fitted with a suction cup for vacuum adsorption of the plastic shell.

[0011] Preferably, the base is provided with a linear guide rail, and a mounting seat is fixedly installed on the slider of the linear guide rail. A receiving box for storing the polished plastic shell is detachably provided on the mounting seat.

[0012] Preferably, the inner wall of the receiving box is provided with a plurality of partitions arranged in sequence at intervals, and the partitions divide the interior of the receiving box into a plurality of storage cavities.

[0013] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0014] The visual inspection module performs real-time image acquisition and analysis on the surface of the thermometer's plastic casing, which can accurately identify the location, size, and distribution characteristics of burrs.

[0015] The robotic arm dynamically adjusts the polishing path and posture based on the detection results, enabling on-demand polishing, avoiding ineffective or excessive polishing, and significantly improving the surface treatment quality.

[0016] Completed by robotic arms, eliminating the need for manual hand-held operation, significantly reducing labor intensity, increasing production cycle time, and suitable for large-scale continuous production;

[0017] Vacuum adsorption is used to fix the plastic shell, avoiding indentations, deformation, or scratches caused by traditional grippers. This method is especially suitable for thin-walled, fragile plastic parts. Compared to manual polishing that relies on experience, standardized visual judgment and mechanical execution ensure consistent polishing parameters for each product, effectively controlling quality fluctuations and improving the finished product yield. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0019] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure from another perspective;

[0020] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of Embodiment 2 of this application;

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a partial structural explosion.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Base; 10. Linear guide rail; 2. Positioning seat; 3. Motor; 4. Robotic arm; 40. Vacuum generator; 41. Suction cup; 5. Vision inspection module; 50. First industrial camera; 51. Second industrial camera; 6. Gantry frame; 60. Vertical frame; 61. Horizontal frame; 62. Protective seat; 63. Reinforcing seat; 7. Waste box; 8. Mounting seat; 80. Baffle; 81. Limiting groove; 9. Receiving box; 90. Limiting strip; 91. Partition; 92. Storage cavity. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] This application discloses an automatic grinding device for the plastic casing of a thermometer. Example 1

[0025] Reference Figure 1 An automatic grinding device for the plastic casing of a thermometer includes a horizontally placed base 1, a positioning seat 2 for placing the plastic casing, a motor 3 for grinding the surface of the plastic component, a robotic arm 4 for transporting the plastic casing, and a vision inspection module 5. The base 1 has evenly spaced threaded holes, which facilitate the tightening and fixing of the aforementioned components onto the base 1 using bolts or other fasteners.

[0026] As shown in the figure, the positioning seat 2 is detachably installed on the base 1 by bolts. The top of the positioning seat 2 is provided with a positioning cavity whose shape matches the shape of the plastic shell. By placing the plastic shell to be polished flat in the positioning cavity, the plastic shell can be accurately positioned, ensuring that the robotic arm 4 can accurately adsorb the plastic shell in the later stage, thereby improving the consistency and yield of subsequent polishing.

[0027] As shown in the figure, the vision inspection module 5 includes a first industrial camera 50 and a second industrial camera 51 for acquiring images of the plastic casing. The first industrial camera 50 and the second industrial camera 51 are mainly used to identify the location of burrs, flash, or defects on the surface of the thermometer's plastic casing, providing guidance information for the subsequent precise grinding by the robotic arm 4.

[0028] The working principle of the vision inspection module 5 includes: using a high-resolution industrial camera, such as a CMOS or CCD camera, in conjunction with a ring LED light source or a coaxial light source, to perform multi-angle, high-contrast imaging of the plastic shell after it has been adsorbed and positioned by the robotic arm 4. Next, the original image is denoised using operations such as Gaussian filtering, grayscale conversion, contrast enhancement, and edge sharpening to improve the accuracy of subsequent analysis. Then, image processing algorithms are used to identify abnormal areas, and the defect locations in the image coordinate system are transformed to the world coordinate system of the robotic arm 4 through hand-eye calibration. The vision inspection module 5 sends the grinding target points and path suggestions to the main controller, which then plans the motion trajectory of the robotic arm 4.

[0029] As shown in the figure, the first industrial camera 50 is detachably and fixedly mounted on the base 1 by bolts, and the first industrial camera 50 is located on one side of the positioning seat 2. A gantry frame 6 is detachably and fixedly mounted on the base 1 by bolts. The gantry frame 6 includes two uprights 60 arranged opposite each other on both sides of the motor 3, and a horizontal frame 61 fixedly mounted on the top of the uprights 60. A protective seat 62 is slidably mounted on the horizontal frame 61 in the horizontal direction, and the protective seat 62 is tightened and fixed to the bottom of the horizontal frame 61 by bolts. The second industrial camera 51 is fixedly mounted in the protective seat 62, and the camera of the second industrial camera 51 faces the grinding end of the motor 3 below. A reinforcing seat 63 is fixedly provided between the uprights 60 and the horizontal frame 61. The reinforcing seat 63 connects and fixes the uprights 60 and the horizontal frame 61, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the connection between the two, and also supporting the upper horizontal frame 61 to improve the load-bearing capacity of the horizontal frame 61.

[0030] As shown in the figure, a vacuum generator 40 is provided at the end of the robotic arm 4. When compressed air is ejected at high speed through the nozzle, a partial vacuum will be formed in the mixing chamber of the vacuum generator 40, thereby drawing in external air through the vacuum port to achieve the purpose of adsorbing the workpiece. The vacuum port of the vacuum generator 40 is equipped with a suction cup 41 for adsorbing and fixing the plastic shell. A through hole communicating with the vacuum port of the vacuum generator 40 is provided on the central shaft of the suction cup 41. Example 2

[0031] As shown in the figure, the structure differs from that of Embodiment 1: a waste box 7 is placed on the base 1 below the grinding end of the motor 3. When the grinding end of the motor 3 grinds the surface of the plastic shell, the waste generated during grinding will fall into the waste box 7 below under its own gravity. The waste box 7 collects the waste, thereby effectively preventing the waste from falling onto the base 1 and ensuring the cleanliness of the base 1.

[0032] As shown in the figure, a linear guide rail 10 is fixedly mounted on the base 1. A mounting seat 8 is fixedly mounted on the slider of the linear guide rail 10. The slider drives the mounting seat 8 to slide along the length of the linear guide rail 10. A receiving box 9 for storing the polished plastic shell is detachably mounted on the mounting seat 8. Baffles 80 are fixedly mounted on the mounting seat 8 on both sides of the receiving box 9. The baffles 80 are provided with limiting grooves 81 facing the receiving box 9. The length of the limiting grooves 81 extends along the direction in which the receiving box 9 is placed on the mounting seat 8. A limiting strip 90 is fixedly mounted on the outer wall of the receiving box 9, inserted from top to bottom into the limiting grooves 81.

[0033] As shown in the figure, the receiving box 9 is stably positioned on the mounting base 8 by the interlocking of the limiting strips 90 and the limiting grooves 81. By lifting the receiving box 9 upwards until the limiting strips 90 disengage from their respective limiting grooves 81, the receiving box 9 can be easily removed from the mounting base 8. Multiple partitions 91 are fixedly installed on the inner wall of the receiving box 9, and the partitions 91 are arranged at intervals along the length of the linear guide rail 10. The partitions 91 divide the interior of the receiving box 9 into multiple independent storage chambers 92.

[0034] As shown in the figure, after motor 3 finishes grinding the plastic shell, robotic arm 4 moves the plastic shell to the top opening of storage cavity 92. Then, vacuum generator 40 eliminates the negative pressure in suction cup 41, restoring it to atmospheric pressure, thus releasing the suction force. At this time, the plastic shell will fall into storage cavity 92 located at the unloading station below under its own weight. The plastic shells will be stacked in storage cavity 92 one by one. When the number of plastic shells in storage cavity 92 reaches the preset value, linear guide rail 10 will drive receiving box 9 to move backward until the adjacent empty storage cavity 92 is moved to the unloading station. This cycle is repeated until all storage cavities 92 are full of plastic shells, completing one cycle. By neatly arranging the plastic shells in storage cavity 92, it is convenient for the next automated process, reducing the time for secondary positioning, improving the efficiency of subsequent processes, avoiding mutual scratching between workpieces, ensuring surface quality, and providing standardized input for subsequent automated assembly or packaging processes, significantly improving the overall production line efficiency and product consistency.

[0035] The implementation principle is as follows: The visual inspection module 5 performs real-time image acquisition and analysis on the surface of the thermometer's plastic casing, accurately identifying the location, size, and distribution characteristics of burrs. The robotic arm 4 dynamically adjusts the polishing path and posture based on the inspection results, achieving on-demand polishing, avoiding ineffective or excessive polishing, and significantly improving surface treatment quality. Completed collaboratively by the robotic arm 4, it eliminates the need for manual hand operation, greatly reducing labor intensity, increasing production cycle time, and making it suitable for large-scale continuous production. Vacuum adsorption is used to fix the plastic casing, avoiding indentations, deformation, or scratches caused by traditional grippers, making it particularly suitable for thin-walled, fragile plastic parts. Compared to manual polishing that relies on experience, this device ensures consistent polishing parameters for each product through standardized visual judgment and mechanical execution, effectively controlling quality fluctuations and improving the finished product qualification rate.

[0036] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An automatic polishing device for plastic cases of thermometers, characterized in that: The utility model provides a plastic shell surface polishing device, including base (1), be provided with the positioning seat (2) for placing plastic shell, motor (3) for polishing plastic piece surface, mechanical arm (4) for carrying plastic shell and visual inspection module (5) on base (1), visual inspection module (5) includes first industrial camera (50) and second industrial camera (51) for obtaining plastic shell image, first industrial camera (50) is arranged on base (1), gantry (6) is also arranged on base (1), second industrial camera (51) is fixedly arranged on gantry (6), and second industrial camera (51) is located above motor (3).

2. The automatic polishing apparatus for plastic cases of thermometers according to claim 1, wherein: The base (1) is provided with a waste box (7) below the polishing end of the motor (3).

3. The automatic polishing device for plastic thermometer shell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gantry (6) includes vertical supports (60) arranged on both sides of the motor (3), and a crossbar (61) fixedly arranged on the top of the vertical supports (60); a protective seat (62) is slidably arranged on the crossbar (61) and is fixedly screwed to the bottom of the crossbar (61) by fasteners; the second industrial camera (51) is fixedly installed in the protective seat (62), and the camera of the second industrial camera (51) faces the polishing end of the motor (3) below.

4. The apparatus for automatic polishing of plastic cases for thermometers according to claim 3, characterized in that: A reinforcing seat (63) is fixedly arranged between the vertical supports (60) and the crossbar (61).

5. The automatic polishing device for plastic thermometer shell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mechanical arm (4) is provided with a vacuum generator (40), and a vacuum port of the vacuum generator (40) is provided with a suction cup (41) for vacuum adsorbing the plastic shell.

6. The automatic polishing device for plastic thermometer shell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base (1) is provided with a linear guide rail (10), and a mounting seat (8) is fixedly installed on the sliding block of the linear guide rail (10); a material collecting box (9) for storing the polished plastic shell is detachably arranged on the mounting seat (8).

7. The apparatus for automatic polishing of plastic cases for thermometers according to claim 6, characterized in that: The mounting seat (8) is provided with a baffle (80), and the baffle (80) is provided with a limiting groove (81) facing the material collecting box (9); the length of the limiting groove (81) extends along the direction in which the material collecting box (9) is placed on the mounting seat (8); and the outer side wall of the material collecting box (9) is provided with a limiting strip (90) inserted into the limiting groove (81).

8. The apparatus for automatic polishing of plastic cases for thermometers according to claim 7, characterized in that: The inner side wall of the material collecting box (9) is provided with a plurality of partition plates (91) arranged in sequence and at intervals; and the inner side of the material collecting box (9) is divided into a plurality of storage cavities (92) by the partition plates (91).

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