Mechanical hand for forming injection-molded parts

Abstract

This utility model discloses a robotic arm for injection molding, including a worktable, a robotic arm, a blower, a material collection tray, a negative pressure generating component, and a gripper mechanism. The robotic arm is connected to the gripper via a flipping device and a hopper is fixed by a support plate. The hopper is connected to the negative pressure generating component via a first guide pipe, and the negative pressure generating component is connected to the material collection tray via a second guide pipe. The negative pressure generating component is equipped with a connector, a conical guide groove, and a guide hole. The blower delivers high-pressure air to the negative pressure generating component through an air guide pipe, creating negative pressure within the first guide pipe by utilizing the velocity difference. After the gripper picks up the injection molded part, it flips it above the hopper and releases it. Under the action of negative pressure, the injection molded part falls into the material collection tray through the guide pipe. This structure eliminates the need for the robotic arm to move back and forth between the mold area and the placement area, significantly improving material handling efficiency and making it suitable for automated production of injection molded parts.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of injection molding technology, specifically relating to a robotic arm for injection molding parts. Background Technology

[0002] Injection molding is a process used for shaping industrial products, mainly divided into two categories: rubber injection molding and plastic injection molding. In addition, injection molding also includes two other forms: injection molding compression molding and die casting. An injection molding machine is the core equipment that processes thermoplastic or thermosetting plastics into various shapes of plastic products through plastic molds. The injection molding process relies on the coordinated action of the injection molding machine and the mold.

[0003] Injection molding robots play a crucial role in the injection molding process, boasting a high degree of automation and being widely used across numerous industries. However, current injection molding robots on the market require back-and-forth movement between the mold area and the placement area when picking up and placing materials, resulting in slow picking and placing speeds and low work efficiency.

[0004] Chinese utility model patent CN222177757U discloses a robotic arm for injection molding, comprising a robotic arm body, a mounting base fixedly connected to the output end of the robotic arm body, a sealing cover detachably connected to the bottom of the mounting base, a fixing mechanism disposed at the bottom of the mounting base, a switching mechanism disposed inside the mounting base, and a cleaning mechanism disposed outside the mounting base. The fixing mechanism includes a vacuum generator and a vacuum suction cup, the vacuum suction cup being fixedly connected to the bottom of the vacuum generator. The switching mechanism includes a forward / reverse motor, a worm gear, a rotating shaft, a worm wheel, a mounting plate, and a limit rod, the worm gear being fixedly connected to the output shaft of the forward / reverse motor. With the cooperation of the fixing mechanism and the switching mechanism, the working direction of the robotic arm can be quickly changed for gripping and releasing injection molded parts, achieving simultaneous pick-up and drop-off of injection molded parts, improving work efficiency and the convenience of operation. However, the need for the robotic arm to move back and forth between the mold area and the placement area results in a slow pick-up and drop-off speed, leading to low work efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a robotic arm for injection molding to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a robotic arm for injection molding, comprising a worktable on which a robotic arm is fixedly mounted. The worktable is also fixed with a blower and a material collection tray. The blower is connected to a negative pressure generating component via an air duct. The robotic arm is fixedly mounted with grippers via a flipping device. A hopper is fixedly mounted on the robotic arm via a support plate. The hopper is connected to the negative pressure generating component via a first material guide pipe. The negative pressure generating component is connected to the material collection tray via a second material guide pipe. The negative pressure generating component has a connector, a conical guide groove, and a material guide hole coaxial with the conical guide groove. The connector communicates with the conical guide groove, and the conical guide groove communicates with the material guide hole.

[0007] Preferably, the robotic arm is fixedly mounted with a support, and the support is movably mounted with a fixing member. The fixing member is provided with a guide hole, and the guide hole is movably connected to the first material guide tube.

[0008] Preferably, four guide wheels are movably mounted in a ring array on the sidewall of the guide hole.

[0009] Preferably, springs are provided inside the walls of both the first and second feed tubes.

[0010] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0011] This utility model's robotic arm is equipped with grippers fixedly mounted via a flipping device, and a hopper is fixedly mounted on the robotic arm via a support plate. The hopper is connected to a negative pressure generating component via a first guide pipe, and the negative pressure generating component is connected to a collection tray via a second guide pipe. During operation, a blower guide pipe guides high-pressure air into the negative pressure generating component. The high-pressure air is guided through a conical guide groove and blown directly out from the second guide pipe. Due to the velocity difference, a negative pressure is generated in the first guide pipe and acts on the hopper. After the grippers pick up the injection molded part, the flipping device positions the grippers above the hopper. At this point, the grippers release, and the injection molded part falls into the hopper. Through the negative pressure, it passes through the first and second guide pipes and falls into the collection tray, quickly completing the collection of the injection molded part. During material handling, the robotic arm does not need to move back and forth between the mold area and the placement area, improving work efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a structural view of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a structural view of the negative pressure generating component of this utility model.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a structural view of the fastener of this utility model.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the feed tube of this utility model.

[0016] The diagram is labeled as follows: 1. Workbench; 2. Robotic arm; 3. Blower; 4. Collection tray; 5. Air duct; 6. Negative pressure generating component; 7. Tilting device; 8. Gripper; 9. Support plate; 10. Hopper; 11. First guide pipe; 12. Second guide pipe; 13. Connector; 14. Conical guide groove; 15. Guide hole; 16. Support; 17. Fixing component; 18. Guide hole; 19. Guide wheel; 20. Spring. Detailed Implementation

[0017] 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.

[0018] Example 1:

[0019] This utility model provides a robotic arm for injection molding, comprising a worktable 1, on which a robotic arm 2 is fixedly mounted. The worktable 1 is also fixed with a blower 3 and a material collection tray 4. The blower 3 is connected to a negative pressure generating component 6 via an air guide pipe 5. The robotic arm 2 is fixedly mounted with a gripper 8 via a flipping device 7. A hopper 10 is fixedly mounted on the robotic arm 2 via a support plate 9. The hopper 10 is connected to the negative pressure generating component 6 via a first material guide pipe 11. The negative pressure generating component 6 is connected to the material collection tray 4 via a second material guide pipe 12. The negative pressure generating component 6 has a connector 13, a conical guide groove 14, and a guide hole 15 coaxial with the conical guide groove 14. The connector 13 communicates with the conical guide groove 14, and the conical guide groove 14 communicates with the guide hole 15. The robotic arm 2 is fixedly mounted with a support 16, on which a fixing member 17 is movably mounted. The fixing member 17 has a guide hole 18, which is movably connected to the first material guide pipe 11. Four guide wheels 19 are movably mounted in a ring array on the sidewall of the guide hole 18. Springs 20 are provided inside the tube walls of both the first guide tube 11 and the second guide tube 12.

[0020] Through the above technical solution, the robotic arm 2 of this utility model is fixedly installed with grippers 8 via a flipping device 7, and with a hopper 10 fixedly installed via a support plate 9. The hopper 10 is connected to a negative pressure generating component 6 via a first guide pipe 11, and the negative pressure generating component 6 is connected to a collection tray 4 via a second guide pipe 12. During operation, the blower 3 guides the air duct 5 to blow high-pressure air into the negative pressure generating component 6. The high-pressure air is guided by a conical guide groove 14 and blown directly out from the second guide pipe 12. Due to the difference in flow rate, the first guide pipe 11 generates negative pressure, which acts on the hopper 10. After the grippers 8 pick up the injection molded part, the flipping device 7 makes the grippers 8 above the hopper 10. At this time, the grippers 8 are released, and the injection molded part falls into the hopper 10. Through the negative pressure, it passes through the first guide pipe 11 and the second guide pipe 12 and falls into the collection tray 4, quickly completing the collection of the injection molded part. When picking up and putting down materials, the robotic arm 2 does not need to move back and forth between the mold area and the placement area, improving work efficiency.

[0021] Example 2:

[0022] In this embodiment, a robotic arm 2 is fixedly mounted on the workbench 1. The workbench 1 is equipped with a blower 3 and a material collection tray 4. The blower 3 is connected to a negative pressure generating assembly 6 via an air duct 5. The robotic arm 2 is equipped with grippers 8 for picking up injection molded parts via a flipping device 7, and a hopper 10 is fixedly mounted on it via a support plate 9. The hopper 10 is connected to the negative pressure generating assembly 6 via a first material guide pipe 11, and the negative pressure generating assembly 6 is connected to the material collection tray 4 via a second material guide pipe 12.

[0023] The negative pressure generating assembly 6 has a connector 13, a conical guide groove 14, and a guide hole 15 coaxial with the conical guide groove 14. The connector 13 is connected to the conical guide groove 14, and the conical guide groove 14 is connected to the guide hole 15. This structural design allows the high-pressure airflow generated by the blower 3 to effectively create a negative pressure effect within the negative pressure generating assembly 6.

[0024] During operation, the blower 3 blows high-pressure airflow into the negative pressure generating assembly 6 through the air duct 5. After being guided by the conical guide groove 14, the high-pressure airflow is rapidly discharged from the second guide pipe 12. Due to the high-speed flow of the airflow, a negative pressure effect is generated at the first guide pipe 11. This negative pressure effect is transmitted to the hopper 10 through the first guide pipe 11, forming a suction force.

[0025] The robotic arm 2 moves the gripper 8 to the mold position, where it picks up the molded injection part. Then, the flipping device 7 rotates the gripper 8 above the hopper 10. At this point, the gripper 8 releases, and the injection part falls into the hopper 10 under gravity. Due to the negative pressure suction within the hopper 10, the injection part is rapidly drawn into the first guide pipe 11, passes through the guide hole 15 of the negative pressure generating component 6 and the second guide pipe 12, and finally falls into the collection tray 4 for collection.

[0026] Throughout the process, robotic arm 2 does not need to move back and forth between the mold area and the placement area; it only needs to be positioned once to complete the picking and placing of the injection molded part. The special structural design of the negative pressure generating component 6 ensures smooth airflow and stable generation of the negative pressure effect. The tapered guide channel 14's tapered structure effectively increases the airflow velocity and enhances the negative pressure effect. The coaxial design of the material guide hole 15 and the tapered guide channel 14 ensures smooth passage of airflow and material.

[0027] This robotic arm integrates grippers 8 and a hopper 10 onto the robotic arm 2, and works in conjunction with a negative pressure conveying system to achieve rapid picking, placing, and automatic collection of injection molded parts. The design of the flipping device 7 allows grippers 8 to quickly switch between gripping and unloading states. The entire system has a compact structure and simplified operation, significantly improving the efficiency of injection molding production.

[0028] Example 3:

[0029] In this embodiment, the robotic arm 2 is fixedly mounted with a support 16, and a fixing member 17 is movably mounted on the support 16. The fixing member 17 is provided with a guide hole 18, which is movably connected to the first guide tube 11. This structural design allows the first guide tube 11 to slide freely within the guide hole 18 during the extension and retraction of the robotic arm 2, thereby automatically adjusting its length to adapt to the extension and retraction changes of the robotic arm 2.

[0030] In practice, the support 16 is bolted to the end of the robotic arm 2 and has a sliding groove inside. The fixing member 17 adopts a sliding bearing structure and can move axially along the sliding groove of the support 16. The guide hole 18 in the middle of the fixing member 17 has a smooth inner wall design to ensure the smooth sliding of the first guide tube 11 in the hole. The first guide tube 11 is made of flexible material, one end of which is fixedly connected to the hopper 10, and the other end passes through the guide hole 18 of the fixing member 17 and is connected to the negative pressure generating component 6.

[0031] When the robotic arm 2 extends or retracts, the fixed component 17 changes position accordingly. At this time, the first guide tube 11 slides relative to the guide hole 18, and the tube length automatically adjusts to accommodate the extension and retraction of the robotic arm 2. This design avoids the pipe pulling or twisting problems caused by traditional fixed connections, ensuring the stability of the negative pressure suction process. The inner diameter of the guide hole 18 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the first guide tube 11, ensuring smooth sliding while maintaining sufficient sealing to prevent negative pressure leakage.

[0032] In actual operation, after the robotic arm 2 drives the gripper 8 to pick up the injection molded part, the gripper 8 is rotated above the hopper 10 by the flipping device 7. At this time, the gripper 8 is released, and the injection molded part falls into the hopper 10. The high-pressure airflow generated by the blower 3 forms a negative pressure through the negative pressure generating component 6, which transports the injection molded part in the hopper 10 sequentially through the first guide pipe 11 and the second guide pipe 12 to the collection tray 4. Since the first guide pipe 11 adopts a movable connection design, the extension and retraction movement of the robotic arm 2 after completing the picking action will not affect the normal operation of the guiding system.

[0033] The key to this embodiment lies in the coordinated design of the support 16, the fixing member 17, and the guide hole 18, which achieves dynamic adaptation between the first guide tube 11 and the telescopic movement of the robotic arm 2. The fixing member 17 can be mounted on the support 16 using a linear guide or ball bearing slide structure to ensure smooth movement. A wear-resistant coating can be applied to the inner wall of the guide hole 18 to extend its service life. The sliding stroke of the first guide tube 11 within the guide hole 18 needs to be determined based on the maximum telescopic range of the robotic arm 2 to ensure effective connection in any working position.

[0034] This structural design effectively solves the problem of traditional robotic arms requiring reciprocating motion when picking up and placing materials. It achieves rapid material collection through a negative pressure conveying system, and the extension and retraction of the robotic arm 2 are not restricted by the guide pipe, greatly improving work efficiency. Throughout the entire system operation, the first guide pipe 11 remains in an appropriate working state, neither overstretched due to the extension of the robotic arm 2 nor causing accumulation due to its shortening.

[0035] Example 4:

[0036] In this embodiment, the robotic arm 2 uses a flipping device 7 to drive the gripper 8 to perform the gripping and releasing operations of the injection molded parts. After the gripper 8 grips the injection molded part, the flipping device 7 rotates the gripper 8 to a position above the hopper 10. At this time, the gripper 8 releases, and the injection molded part falls into the hopper 10. Under the action of the blower 3, the high-pressure airflow enters the negative pressure generating component 6 through the air guide pipe 5, and after being guided by the conical guide groove 14, it is discharged at high speed from the second guide pipe 12, thereby forming a negative pressure area in the first guide pipe 11. This negative pressure draws the injection molded parts in the hopper 10 into the first guide pipe 11 and transports them to the collection tray 4 via the second guide pipe 12 for collection.

[0037] The support 16 is fixedly installed on the movable part of the robotic arm 2, and the fixing member 17 inside it is slidably connected to the first guide tube 11 through the guide hole 18. When the robotic arm 2 performs telescopic movements, the first guide tube 11 can slide freely within the guide hole 18 to adapt to the pipe position adjustment requirements caused by changes in the length of the robotic arm 2. The four guide wheels 19, which are installed in a ring array on the side wall of the guide hole 18, maintain rolling contact with the outer wall of the first guide tube 11, effectively reducing the frictional resistance of the first guide tube 11 when sliding within the guide hole 18.

[0038] The guide rollers 19 employ a precision bearing structure, with their installation angle parallel to the movement direction of the first guide tube 11. Four guide rollers 19 are evenly distributed around the circumference of the guide hole 18, forming a stable guiding support structure. When the first guide tube 11 undergoes axial displacement as the robotic arm 2 extends and retracts, the guide rollers 19 ensure smooth tube movement through rolling contact, preventing jamming due to frictional resistance. This design is particularly suitable for scenarios involving frequent extension and retraction of the robotic arm 2, effectively preventing the first guide tube 11 from becoming skewed or jammed within the guide hole 18.

[0039] The conical guide groove 14 of the negative pressure generating component 6 is coaxially arranged with the guide hole 15 to ensure a smooth transition of the airflow channel. After the high-pressure airflow enters from the connector 13, it is accelerated by the conical guide groove 14 to form a high-speed airflow, generating a significant negative pressure effect at the outlet of the guide hole 15. This negative pressure is transmitted to the hopper 10 through the first guide pipe 11, achieving stable suction of the injection molded part. The entire airflow path design ensures the high efficiency and stability of negative pressure generation, providing a reliable guarantee for the rapid transfer of the injection molded part.

[0040] The overall workflow of the robotic arm enables continuous automated operation of injection molded parts from the mold to the collection point. After gripper 8 completes the grasping process, the injection molded part is directly transferred to hopper 10 via flipping device 7, and then conveyed under negative pressure. The entire process eliminates the need for robotic arm 2 to move back and forth between the mold area and the placement area. This design significantly improves work efficiency, while the guide wheel 19 support structure ensures the reliability and stability of the first guide tube 11 during the movement of robotic arm 2, providing a guarantee for continuous and efficient production.

[0041] Example 5:

[0042] In this embodiment, a robotic arm 2 is fixedly installed on the workbench 1. The robotic arm 2 is equipped with grippers 8 via a flipping device 7 for gripping injection molded parts. A hopper 10 is also fixedly installed on the robotic arm 2 via a support plate 9. The hopper 10 is connected to the negative pressure generating component 6 via a first guide pipe 11. The negative pressure generating component 6 is connected to the collection tray 4 via a second guide pipe 12, forming a complete material conveying channel.

[0043] Springs 20 are installed inside the walls of both the first and second feed tubes 11 and 12. These springs 20 are firmly connected to the inner walls of the tubes via an insert injection molding process, becoming part of the feed tube structure. The springs 20 are evenly distributed along the axial direction of the feed tubes, providing radial support to the tube walls. When the feed tubes are subjected to external forces, the springs 20 can effectively resist deformation, maintaining the circular cross-section and unobstructed flow of the tubes.

[0044] The supporting function of spring 20 is mainly reflected in the following aspects: First, during the operation of the robotic arm 2, the guide tube may bend and deform due to the movement of the robotic arm 2. The built-in spring 20 can provide sufficient stiffness to prevent the tube from bending excessively. Second, under negative pressure, a certain contraction force will be generated inside the guide tube. Spring 20 can counteract this contraction force and maintain the shape stability of the tube. In addition, when the injection molded part passes through the guide tube, the support of spring 20 can ensure that the inner wall of the tube remains smooth, reducing the resistance to material passage.

[0045] When the negative pressure generating component 6 is working, the high-pressure airflow generated by the blower 3 enters the negative pressure generating component 6 through the air guide pipe 5. Guided by the conical guide groove 14, the airflow forms a high-speed airflow at the material guide hole 15, thereby generating negative pressure at the inlet of the first material guide pipe 11. This negative pressure draws the injection molded part from the hopper 10 into the first material guide pipe 11 and then conveys it to the collection tray 4 through the second material guide pipe 12. Throughout the conveying process, the built-in spring 20 ensures that both material guide pipes remain unobstructed and do not collapse or bend excessively due to negative pressure or external force, thus guaranteeing the smooth conveying of the injection molded part.

[0046] In this embodiment, the spring 20 and the guide tube are integrated using an insert injection molding process. During manufacturing, the spring 20 is first pre-placed in the mold, and then plastic material is injected to encapsulate the spring 20, forming an integrated guide tube structure. This manufacturing process ensures a strong bond between the spring 20 and the tube wall, while maintaining the overall flexibility and strength of the guide tube. The material selection for the spring 20 takes into account factors such as fatigue resistance and elastic modulus to ensure it can continuously provide stable support during long-term use.

[0047] In practical applications, after the robotic arm 2 drives the gripper 8 to grasp the injection molded part, the flipping device 7 rotates the gripper 8 above the hopper 10 and releases it, allowing the injection molded part to fall into the hopper 10. Under negative pressure, the injection molded part is sucked into the first guide pipe 11, passes through the negative pressure generating component 6, enters the second guide pipe 12, and finally falls into the collection tray 4 for collection. The entire process, supported by the spring 20 inside the guide pipe, ensures the continuity and reliability of material conveying, greatly improving work efficiency.

[0048] 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.

[0049] The above description is only used to illustrate the technical solution of this utility model and is not intended to limit it. Any other modifications or equivalent substitutions made by those skilled in the art to the technical solution of this utility model, as long as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of this utility model, should be covered within the scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A robot for molding an injection molded part, comprising a table to which a robot arm is fixedly attached, characterized in that, The workbench is fixed with a blower and a collection tray. The blower is connected to a negative pressure generating component through an air guide pipe. The robotic arm is fixedly equipped with a gripper through a flipping device. The robotic arm is fixedly equipped with a hopper through a support plate. The hopper is connected to the negative pressure generating component through a first guide pipe. The negative pressure generating component is connected to the collection tray through a second guide pipe. The negative pressure generating component is provided with a connector, a conical guide groove, and a guide hole coaxial with the conical guide groove. The connector is connected to the conical guide groove, and the conical guide groove is connected to the guide hole.

2. The robot according to claim 1, wherein The robotic arm is fixedly mounted on a support, and a fixing component is movably mounted on the support. The fixing component has a guide hole, and the guide hole is movably connected to the first material guide tube.

3. The robotic arm for injection molding according to claim 2, characterized in that, The guide hole sidewall is movably mounted with four guide wheels in a ring array.

4. The robotic arm for injection molding according to claim 1, characterized in that, Springs are installed inside the walls of both the first and second feed tubes.

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