A vacuum suction cup for preventing drop during injection molding part handling

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of injection molded part material handling, specifically to an anti-drop vacuum suction cup for handling injection molded parts. It includes a main suction cup for adhering to the surface of the injection molded part to form negative pressure adsorption. The main suction cup is bowl-shaped or disc-shaped and has a flexible adsorption surface. A hollow connecting rod is included, with one end connected to the main suction cup and the other end connected to a vacuum generator for actively pumping air to enhance the adsorption force. A negative pressure chamber for transmitting negative pressure is formed inside the hollow connecting rod. An inner support airbag is sealed and embedded in the top of the negative pressure chamber of the hollow connecting rod, and the inner support airbag has an inflation port. A one-way check valve is located inside the negative pressure chamber of the hollow connecting rod. In this utility model, by setting up a triple anti-drop structure of negative pressure adsorption, mechanical locking, and vacuum pressure holding, even if the vacuum source is briefly interrupted, the mechanical hook can still maintain a locked state, effectively preventing the workpiece from falling and significantly improving handling safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of material handling for injection molded parts, and in particular to a vacuum suction cup for preventing the parts from falling off during handling. Background Technology

[0002] In the automated production of plastic products, after the mold is opened, the injection molded parts need to be automatically transported by a robotic arm in conjunction with a vacuum suction cup to a cooling table, inspection station or packaging line. The plastic parts that have just been demolded are at a high temperature and may have residual mold release agent on the surface. Moreover, the shape is mostly curved or has a flanged structure, such as thin injection molded parts such as automotive interior parts, home appliance panels, and barrel containers. On automated production lines, the handling of injection molded parts usually relies on vacuum suction cups to achieve non-contact gripping. The principle is to use negative pressure to make the suction cup fit tightly against the surface of the workpiece and use atmospheric pressure to fix the workpiece.

[0003] Most vacuum suction cups in the current technology are made of silicone or polyurethane, with a planar or corrugated structure. The anti-drop capability of these suction cups mainly depends on the stability of the vacuum negative pressure. However, traditional vacuum suction cups have the following defects when handling injection molded parts: First, they lack mechanical locking redundancy design. When the vacuum system suddenly fails, such as a broken air pipe, a vacuum pump shutdown, or a solenoid valve malfunction, the air pressure in the negative pressure chamber rises rapidly, the seal between the suction cup and the workpiece fails, and the workpiece falls off instantly, posing risks of product damage, equipment damage, and personnel safety. Second, some suction cups equipped with mechanical grippers require additional cylinders or motors for drive, which increases the overall weight of the suction cup and affects the dynamic response speed of the robotic arm.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to invent a vacuum suction cup for handling injection molded parts to prevent them from falling off and solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a vacuum suction cup for handling injection molded parts to prevent them from falling off. By converting the expansion action of the inner support airbag into the radial locking action of the mechanical locking component, it can solve the technical problem of workpiece falling off due to vacuum source failure in the prior art, and improve the safety and reliability of the handling process.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a vacuum suction cup for handling injection molded parts, comprising...

[0007] The main adsorption plate is used to adhere to the surface of the injection molded part to form a negative pressure adsorption. The main adsorption plate is bowl-shaped or disc-shaped and has a flexible adsorption surface.

[0008] A hollow connecting rod, one end of which is connected to the main adsorption disk and the other end of which is connected to a vacuum generating device, and a negative pressure cavity for transmitting negative pressure is formed inside the hollow connecting rod;

[0009] An inner support airbag is sealed and embedded in the outer wall of the hollow connecting rod, and the inner support airbag is provided with an inflation port;

[0010] A one-way check valve is installed in the negative pressure chamber of the hollow connecting rod, allowing negative pressure airflow to flow from the main adsorption plate to the vacuum generator and preventing reverse airflow.

[0011] The pressure relief valve, which can be electromagnetically controlled, is used to quickly balance the internal and external air pressure when the suction cup needs to be released.

[0012] An elastic reset ring is fitted around the outside of the negative pressure cavity of the main adsorption disk;

[0013] The mechanical locking component is evenly distributed around the main adsorption disk and includes at least three radially outwardly extending anti-detachment winglets. Each anti-detachment winglet has a downwardly bent hook at its free end, with the hook tip facing the side wall of the injection molded part.

[0014] Preferably, the main adsorption plate is integrally molded from food-grade silicone.

[0015] Preferably, the edge of the adsorption surface of the main adsorption disk is provided with an anti-detachment annular baffle. The cross-section of the anti-detachment annular baffle is wedge-shaped, and its outer inclined surface forms an acute angle with the surface of the injection molded part to enhance the edge sealing during adsorption.

[0016] Preferably, the inflation port of the inner support airbag is connected to the air circuit of the robot end effector via a quick-connect connector.

[0017] Preferably, the one-way check valve has a diaphragm structure.

[0018] Preferably, the elastic reset ring is Ω-shaped, with its open end abutting against the lower surface of the anti-detachment wing.

[0019] Preferably, the elastic reset ring has outwardly extending limiting wings at both ends, and the limiting wings form line contact with the lower surface of the anti-detachment wing.

[0020] Preferably, the hook tip is covered with a polyoxymethylene wear-resistant sleeve to prevent scratching the sidewall of the injection molded part and improve the reliability of the fastening.

[0021] Preferably, the mechanical locking component further includes a fixing seat, which is integrally formed with the outer wall of the main adsorption disk, and the middle part of the anti-detachment wing is rotatably connected to the fixing seat through a pin.

[0022] The technical effects and advantages provided by this utility model in the above technical solution are as follows:

[0023] This invention features a linkage design between an internal support airbag and a mechanical locking component. Even if the vacuum source is briefly interrupted, the mechanical claw can remain locked, effectively preventing the workpiece from falling and improving handling safety. By utilizing the expansion of the internal support airbag to drive the radial movement of the anti-detachment winglets, the claw automatically engages with the demolding undercut or the root of the reinforcing rib on the side wall of the injection molded part, forming a reliable lateral limit. This structure does not require additional cylinders or motors; it can be achieved solely through the air circuit of the robot's end effector, reducing additional equipment and control components, lowering system complexity and cost, and improving system reliability and economy. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall three-dimensional structure of this utility model;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the entire invention from another perspective;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall three-dimensional structure of this utility model, broken down into sections.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural disassembly diagram of the mechanical locking component in this utility model.

[0029] Legend:

[0030] 10. Main adsorption plate; 101. Anti-detachment annular skirt; 102. Negative pressure chamber; 11. Hollow connecting rod; 20. Inner support airbag; 21. Inflation port; 30. One-way check valve; 31. Pressure relief valve; 40. Elastic reset ring; 50. Mechanical locking component; 51. Anti-detachment wing; 511. Hook; 512. Polyoxymethylene wear-resistant sleeve; 52. Fixing base. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of this utility model, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] This utility model provides, for example Figure 1 and Figure 2 The vacuum suction cup shown is for preventing the parts from falling off during injection molding. It includes:

[0033] The main adsorption plate 10 is used to form a negative pressure adsorption by adhering to the surface of the injection molded part. The main adsorption plate 10 is bowl-shaped or disc-shaped and has a flexible adsorption surface. The main adsorption plate 10 is made of food-grade silicone with a Shore hardness of 50A to 60A. The main adsorption plate 10 is used to adhere to the top surface of the injection molded part to achieve initial adsorption. The flexible adsorption surface of the main adsorption plate 10 can adapt to the flatness error of the injection molded part surface within 0.5mm to ensure effective adhesion. The edge of the adsorption surface of the main adsorption plate 10 is provided with an anti-detachment annular baffle 101. The cross-section of the anti-detachment annular baffle 101 is wedge-shaped, and its outer inclined surface forms an acute angle with the surface of the injection molded part. During the adsorption process, an edge pre-pressure effect is generated to enhance the edge sealing during adsorption and prevent a sudden drop in adsorption force due to local air leakage.

[0034] like Figure 1 - Figure 3 As shown, a hollow connecting rod 11 is connected at one end to the main adsorption disk 10, and at the other end to a vacuum generator for actively pumping air to enhance the adsorption force. A negative pressure cavity 102 is formed inside the hollow connecting rod 11 for transmitting negative pressure, serving as an airflow channel and a space for installing functional components.

[0035] like Figure 1 - Figure 3 As shown, the inner support airbag 20 is sealed and embedded in the outer wall of the hollow connecting rod 11. The inner support airbag 20 is provided with an inflation port 21. When the inner support airbag 20 is inflated, its radial expansion is 3mm to 8mm, thereby pushing the anti-detachment wing 51 to rotate. This causes the hook 511 of the anti-detachment wing 51 to elastically engage with the demolding undercut or the root of the reinforcing rib on the side wall of the injection molded part. The inflation port 21 of the inner support airbag 20 is connected to the air circuit of the robot end effector through a quick-connect connector. The inflation pressure can be continuously adjusted between 0.15MPa and 0.35MPa to match the lateral support requirements of injection molded parts with different wall thicknesses.

[0036] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the mechanical locking element 50 is evenly distributed around the main adsorption disk 10, including at least three radially outwardly extending anti-detachment winglets 51. The included angle between adjacent anti-detachment winglets 51 is equal to ensure a balanced distribution of locking force. Each anti-detachment winglet 51 has a downwardly bent hook 511 at its free end, with the hook tip of the hook 511 facing the side wall of the injection molded part. When the inner support airbag 20 inflates, the anti-detachment winglets 51 retract inward under the action of radial force, so that the hook 511 accurately engages with the side wall of the injection molded part. The demolding undercut, the root of the reinforcing rib, or the process groove of the wall form a mechanical lateral lock. The hook tip of the hook 511 is covered with a polyoxymethylene wear-resistant sleeve 512 with a surface roughness Ra of less than 0.8μm. It has both high hardness and low friction characteristics to prevent scratching the side wall of the injection molded part and improve the reliability of the fastening. The mechanical locking part 50 also includes a fixing seat 52, which is integrally formed with the outer wall of the main adsorption plate 10. The middle part of the anti-detachment wing 51 is rotatably connected to the fixing seat 52 through a pin.

[0037] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the one-way check valve 30 is located in the negative pressure chamber 102 of the hollow connecting rod 11. It allows negative pressure airflow from the main adsorption plate 10 to the vacuum generator, but prevents reverse airflow from entering. It is used to maintain a residual vacuum level in the negative pressure chamber 102 of no less than -60 kPa after an unexpected disconnection of the vacuum source. The one-way check valve 30 is a diaphragm type with an opening pressure of no more than -5 kPa and a closing backflow rate of less than 0.5 L / min. When the external vacuum source is unexpectedly interrupted due to compressed air fluctuations or pipeline loosening, the one-way check valve 30 automatically closes, maintaining a residual vacuum level in the negative pressure chamber 102 greater than -60 kPa. kPa ensures that the main suction cup 10 can maintain its adsorption state on the injection molded part within a buffer period of 3 to 5 seconds, preventing the workpiece from suddenly falling off during transportation and improving safety. The pressure relief valve 31 can be electromagnetically controlled, using a two-position three-way solenoid valve. Its coil is electrically connected to the robot I / O module through an M8 aviation plug. The control signal is 24VDC / 0.5A, which is used to quickly balance the internal and external air pressure when the suction cup needs to be released. When the workpiece needs to be released, the operator or control system triggers the pressure relief valve 31 to quickly balance the internal and external air pressure of the negative pressure chamber 102, release the adsorption force, and prepare for subsequent unloading.

[0038] like Figure 1 - Figure 3As shown, the elastic reset ring 40 is sleeved on the outside of the negative pressure cavity 102 of the main suction plate 10. The elastic reset ring 40 is Ω-shaped, and its open end abuts against the lower surface of the anti-detachment wing 51. When the vacuum source is reconnected, the elastic force of the elastic reset ring 40 drives the anti-detachment wing 51 to open outward, so that the hook 511 automatically disengages from the side wall of the injection molded part, realizing non-destructive unloading. The two ends of the elastic reset ring 40 are provided with outwardly extending limiting wings 41. The limiting wings 41 form line contact with the lower surface of the anti-detachment wing 51 to control the maximum opening angle of the hook 511 to be less than 45°, preventing excessive deformation and failure.

[0039] Working principle: In use, first connect the hollow connecting rod 11 to the vacuum generator. The inflation port 21 is connected to the air circuit of the robot end effector through a quick-connect connector. When the robotic arm drives the main adsorption plate 10 to approach the injection molded part to be transported, the main adsorption plate 10 first contacts the top surface of the workpiece. The control system starts the vacuum generator, and a negative pressure is formed in the negative pressure chamber 102. The main adsorption plate 10 begins to adsorb. The wedge-shaped edge of the anti-detachment annular skirt 101 is tightly attached to the surface of the workpiece, so that the adsorption surface of the main adsorption plate 10 adheres to the workpiece to form a preliminary negative pressure fixation. Then, the air circuit of the robot end effector inflates the inward airbag 20, causing it to expand and drive the symmetrically distributed anti-detachment wings 51 to retract towards the center. The hooks 511 at their free ends engage with the demolding undercut or the root of the reinforcing rib on the side wall of the injection molded part to form a mechanical lock, which works in conjunction with the negative pressure adsorption to fix the workpiece. At this time, the one-way check valve 30 remains open to ensure stable adsorption.

[0040] During the handling process, if the vacuum source is accidentally disconnected, the one-way check valve 30 prevents the airflow in the negative pressure chamber 102 from flowing in the opposite direction, maintains the vacuum level in the negative pressure chamber 102, ensures that the main adsorption plate 10 continues to adsorb, and prevents the workpiece from falling off. At this time, the elastic reset ring 40 stores elastic potential energy due to pressure, so it does not affect the locking state of the hook 511. The negative pressure adsorption of the main adsorption plate 10, together with the mechanical locking of the hook 511 on the workpiece, forms a redundant anti-detachment structure.

[0041] When the workpiece needs to be unloaded at the target location, the control system outputs a signal to the coil of the electromagnetic pressure relief valve 31, opening the pressure relief valve 31. The negative pressure chamber 102 is connected to the atmosphere within 0.3s to 0.5s, releasing the adsorption force of the main suction plate 10. At the same time, the inner support airbag 20 is deflated, and the elastic reset ring 40 pushes the anti-detachment wing 51 to open outward, thereby causing the hook 511 to detach from the side wall of the workpiece. After the main suction plate 10 loses the negative pressure, it separates from the workpiece, completing the entire handling process. By setting the combination of negative pressure adsorption and mechanical locking, it is suitable for thin injection molded parts of 0.5mm to 3mm with demolding undercuts or reinforcing ribs. It solves the problem of workpiece falling off when the vacuum source fails, and avoids damage to the surface of the workpiece.

[0042] The foregoing description only illustrates certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Undoubtedly, those skilled in the art can modify the described embodiments in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the above drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A non-dropping vacuum chuck for handling injection molded parts, characterized in that, include: The main adsorption disk (10) is used to adhere to the surface of the injection molded part to form negative pressure adsorption. The main adsorption disk (10) is bowl-shaped or disc-shaped and has a flexible adsorption surface. Hollow connecting rod (11), one end of which is connected to the main adsorption disk (10), and the other end of which is connected to a vacuum generating device, and a negative pressure cavity (102) for transmitting negative pressure is formed inside the hollow connecting rod (11). An inner support airbag (20) is sealed and embedded in the outer wall of the hollow connecting rod (11), and the inner support airbag (20) is provided with an inflation port (21). A one-way check valve (30) is installed in the negative pressure chamber (102) of the hollow connecting rod (11), allowing negative pressure airflow to flow from the main adsorption plate (10) to the vacuum generator and preventing reverse airflow. The pressure relief valve (31) can be electromagnetically controlled and is used to quickly balance the internal and external air pressure when the suction cup needs to be released. An elastic reset ring (40) is sleeved on the outside of the negative pressure cavity (102) of the main adsorption disk (10); The mechanical locking element (50) is evenly distributed around the main adsorption disk (10) and includes at least three radially outwardly extending anti-detachment wing pieces (51). Each anti-detachment wing piece (51) has a downwardly bent hook (511) at its free end, with the hook tip of the hook (511) facing the side wall of the injection molded part.

2. A non-dropping vacuum chuck for handling injection molded parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main adsorption plate (10) is integrally molded from food-grade silicone.

3. A non-dropping vacuum chuck for handling injection molded parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The edge of the adsorption surface of the main adsorption plate (10) is provided with an anti-detachment annular baffle (101). The cross-section of the anti-detachment annular baffle (101) is wedge-shaped, and its outer inclined surface forms an acute angle with the surface of the injection molded part to enhance the edge sealing during adsorption.

4. A non-dropping vacuum chuck for handling injection molded parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inflation port (21) of the inner support airbag (20) is connected to the air circuit of the robot end effector via a quick-connect connector.

5. A non-dropping vacuum chuck for handling injection molded parts as defined in claim 1, wherein: The one-way check valve (30) has a diaphragm structure.

6. A non-dropping vacuum chuck for handling injection molded parts as defined in claim 1, wherein: The elastic reset ring (40) is Ω-shaped, and its open end abuts against the lower surface of the anti-detachment wing (51).

7. A non-dropping vacuum chuck for handling injection molded parts as defined in claim 1, wherein: The elastic reset ring (40) has outwardly extending limiting wings (41) at both ends, and the limiting wings (41) form line contact with the lower surface of the anti-detachment wing (51).

8. A non-dropping vacuum chuck for handling injection molded parts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hook tip of the hook (511) is covered with a polyoxymethylene wear-resistant sleeve (512) to prevent scratching the sidewall of the injection molded part and improve the reliability of the fastening.

9. A vacuum suction cup for preventing slippage during injection molding part handling according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mechanical locking component (50) also includes a fixed seat (52), which is integrally formed with the outer wall of the main adsorption plate (10), and the middle part of the anti-detachment wing (51) is rotatably connected to the fixed seat (52) through a pin.

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