Mouthpiece assembly and suction device

Abstract

The application provides a suction nozzle assembly, which comprises a suction nozzle body, a suction head and a light-reflecting piece. The suction nozzle body is provided with an airflow channel and is used to be connected with a mechanical arm or a three-axis platform. The suction head is arranged at one end of the suction nozzle body and is communicated with the airflow channel. The suction head is used to form suction with a workpiece surface. The light-reflecting piece is arranged around the suction head and is used to reflect light to the workpiece when the suction head approaches the workpiece, so that a camera can obtain an image of the workpiece. The light-reflecting piece in the suction nozzle assembly reflects external light to the back of the workpiece, realizes double-side illumination, makes the camera accurately collect the image in a complex environment and improves the positioning accuracy of the workpiece. The application also provides a suction device comprising the suction nozzle assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of suction technology, specifically to a suction nozzle assembly and a suction device having the suction nozzle assembly. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of precision assembly, pick-and-place devices are widely used in the placement of electronic components. A typical pick-and-place device includes a nozzle, a positioning assembly, and a robotic arm. The nozzle adheres to the workpiece surface through vacuum or air pressure; the positioning assembly is used to precisely position the workpiece in the X / Y / Z directions; and the robotic arm is responsible for driving the nozzle and its attached positioning assembly to complete three-dimensional motion, performing actions such as picking up, transporting, and placing the workpiece.

[0003] In existing technologies, the working principle of positioning components is to first acquire raw images using a camera, and then perform preprocessing and contour extraction steps to finally determine the position of the workpiece in space. Among these steps, image acquisition is particularly important because the visual information captured by the camera directly affects the effectiveness of subsequent positioning algorithms. If the acquisition results are unstable, subsequent processing will struggle to accurately identify the edges or contours of the workpiece.

[0004] However, due to the variability of environmental conditions and workpiece characteristics, cameras struggle to consistently acquire clear and stable images, resulting in unreliable detection of workpiece edges in some cases. Consequently, the positioning components struggle to accurately calculate the workpiece position, affecting the alignment accuracy between the assembly area and the workpiece, ultimately leading to poor workpiece assembly. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the above, it is necessary to provide a suction nozzle assembly and a suction device to improve the positioning accuracy of the workpiece.

[0006] A suction nozzle assembly includes a suction nozzle body, an adsorption head, and a reflector. The suction nozzle body has an airflow channel and is used to connect to a moving mechanism. The adsorption head is disposed at one end of the suction nozzle body and communicates with the airflow channel; the adsorption head is used to form an adsorption surface with a workpiece. The reflector is disposed around the adsorption head and is used to reflect light back to the workpiece when the adsorption head approaches it, so that a camera can acquire an image of the workpiece.

[0007] In some embodiments, the suction nozzle assembly further includes an internal light-emitting element disposed on the suction head, the internal light-emitting element being used to reflect light to the workpiece.

[0008] In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly further includes a mounting base, the nozzle body includes a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion, the mounting base is disposed on the first portion, the mounting base is used to connect the moving mechanism, and the end of the second portion away from the first portion is connected to the suction head.

[0009] In some embodiments, the reflector is a ring structure, and the reflector is arranged around the opening of the adsorption head.

[0010] In some embodiments, a limiting plate protrudes from one side of the opening of the adsorption head, the limiting plate being used to hold one side of the workpiece.

[0011] In some embodiments, the reflective element includes an aluminum-coated film or a reflective film with a microprism structure.

[0012] A suction device includes a machine base, a positioning component, a moving mechanism, an external light-emitting element, and a suction nozzle assembly as described above. The positioning component, the moving mechanism, and the external light-emitting element are all disposed on the machine base. The suction nozzle assembly is disposed on the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism is electrically connected to the positioning component. The external light-emitting element is used to emit visible light to the reflector. The positioning component is used to position the workpiece. The moving mechanism is used to drive the suction nozzle assembly to achieve three-dimensional movement.

[0013] In some embodiments, the positioning component includes a camera and an image processing unit, wherein the camera is used to capture an image of the workpiece, and the image processing unit is used to process the image to determine the position information of the workpiece in three-dimensional space.

[0014] In some embodiments, the moving mechanism includes a robotic arm or a three-axis platform, and the moving mechanism is used to move the workpiece according to the position information.

[0015] In some embodiments, the suction device further includes a movable limiting member, which includes a limiting body and a limiting head connected to the limiting body. The end of the limiting body away from the limiting head is connected to the moving mechanism. The limiting head movably passes through the suction nozzle body and is used to cooperate with the suction head to clamp the workpiece.

[0016] In the above-mentioned suction nozzle assembly and suction device, by setting a reflector on the suction nozzle body, the reflector can reflect the light emitted by the external light-emitting element to the back of the workpiece during the process of the suction head contacting or approaching the workpiece, thereby illuminating both the front and back of the workpiece. This enables the camera to accurately acquire image information of the workpiece in complex environments, improves the accuracy of the positioning component in acquiring workpiece position information, and thus helps to improve the stability and yield of the bonding process. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a suction device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the suction nozzle assembly and movable limiting member of the suction device shown.

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 2 The diagram shows a suction nozzle assembly.

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Another angle view of the nozzle assembly shown.

[0021] Figure 5 for Figure 4 The nozzle assembly shown is a cross-sectional view along line VV.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a partial schematic diagram of a suction nozzle assembly provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0023] Explanation of main component symbols Suction device 100 Machine 10 Nozzle assembly 20 Mounting base 21 Nozzle body 22 Part 1, page 221 Part 2, 222 airflow channel 22a Adsorption head 23 Limit plate 231 Reflective element 24 Positioning component 30 Mobile mechanism 40 Internal light-emitting element 41 External light-emitting element 50 Limiting body 61 Limit head 62 Phone case 200 Microphone 201. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0025] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between the two; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication between two elements or the interaction between two elements. In the description of this application, it should be noted that "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise expressly and specifically limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0026] The embodiments of this case will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Please see Figure 1 One embodiment of this application provides a suction device 100 for assisting in attaching a microphone 201 to a predetermined area of ​​a mobile phone casing 200. In other embodiments, the suction device 100 can also be used to pick up and transport other precision electronic components, such as camera modules, fingerprint recognition modules, or vibrators, to automate the handling of various small components during the assembly process.

[0028] The suction device 100 includes a base 10 and a suction nozzle assembly 20, a positioning assembly 30, a moving mechanism 40, and an external light-emitting element 50 disposed on the base 10. The suction nozzle assembly 20 is connected to the moving mechanism 40. The suction nozzle assembly 20 is used to form an adsorption with the surface of the microphone 201 through vacuum, so that the microphone 201 remains stable during transportation. The external light-emitting element 50 is used to emit visible light towards the front of the microphone 201. The positioning assembly 30 is used to accurately locate the position of the microphone 201, providing accurate coordinate information for the movement of the suction nozzle assembly 20. The moving mechanism 40 is used to drive the suction nozzle assembly 20 to achieve three-dimensional movement, completing actions such as picking up, transporting, and placing the microphone 201. Among them, the positioning assembly 30 includes a camera and an image processing unit. The camera is responsible for capturing images of the microphone 201 and its surrounding environment in real time, and the image processing unit performs preprocessing, edge extraction, feature matching, and other calculations on the acquired images to determine the position of the microphone 201 in three-dimensional space. The moving mechanism 40 can be either a robotic arm or a three-axis platform. The moving mechanism 40 is used to guide the nozzle assembly 20 to move precisely to the target position according to the position coordinates output by the positioning component 30.

[0029] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4The nozzle assembly 20 includes a mounting base 21, a nozzle body 22, an suction head 23, and a reflector 24. The mounting base 21 is connected to one side of the nozzle body 22 and is used to connect the moving mechanism 40. The nozzle body 22 has an airflow channel 22a inside (see...). Figure 5 One end of the airflow channel 22a is connected to a vacuum generator, which generates negative pressure airflow, enabling the airflow channel 22a to form a vacuum suction force with the connected suction head 23. The suction head 23 is located at the end of the nozzle body 22 away from the moving mechanism 40 and is connected to the airflow channel 22a. The suction head 23 has an opening. When the vacuum generator is activated, the opening of the suction head 23 can be tightly fitted with the surface of the microphone 201, thereby firmly adsorbing the microphone 201 onto the suction head 23, facilitating subsequent handling and placement. The reflector 24 is located at the end of the nozzle body 22 facing the suction head 23. Based on its relative position to the suction head 23, it illuminates and reflects light onto the surface of the microphone 201 when the suction head 23 is close to the microphone 201, so that the camera can acquire an image of the microphone 201 and identify its edge contour. In other embodiments, the mounting base 21 can be omitted. In this case, the nozzle body 22 is connected to the moving mechanism 40 by fasteners (e.g., screws) or snap fasteners.

[0030] The suction nozzle assembly 20 provided in this application, by setting a reflector 24 on the suction nozzle body 22, allows the reflector 24 to reflect the light emitted by the external light-emitting element 50 to the back of the microphone 201 when the suction head 23 contacts or approaches the microphone 201. This results in both the front and back of the microphone 201 being illuminated, enabling the camera to accurately acquire image information of the microphone 201 in complex environments. Specifically, when the suction head 23 attaches to the front of the microphone 201, the reflector 24 reflects the light emitted by the external light-emitting element 50 to various sides or the back of the microphone 201, thereby forming clear and uniform light spots in the camera's field of view to enhance the contrast between the microphone 201 and the background. In this way, the image processing algorithm no longer relies solely on the original two edges for positioning, but simultaneously extracts multiple edges (such as seven edges) of the microphone 201 for geometric fitting and spatial positioning, calculating the position and orientation deviation of the microphone 201 with higher accuracy. In this way, even in the presence of obstructions or changes in ambient light, the microphone 201 can be picked up and mounted quickly and accurately, thereby significantly improving the stability and yield of the entire mounting process.

[0031] In this embodiment, the suction nozzle body 22 is generally wedge-shaped, including a first part 221 and a second part 222 connecting the first part 221. The cross-section of the first part 221 is generally square, and the cross-section of the second part 222 is generally trapezoidal. A mounting base 21 is disposed on the first part 221, and the mounting base 21 is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 211 for inserting fasteners (e.g., screws) to achieve a stable connection with the moving mechanism 40. The second part 222 is connected to the suction head 23. A limiting plate 231 protrudes from one side of the opening of the suction head 23, and the limiting plate 231 is used to hold one side of the microphone 201. The first part 221, the second part 222, and the suction head 23 are integrally formed structures.

[0032] Please see also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The suction device 100 also includes a movable limiting member 60, which cooperates with the suction head 23 of the suction nozzle. The movable limiting member 60 abuts against the other side of the microphone 201, thereby limiting the microphone 201. The movable limiting member 60 includes a limiting body 61 and a limiting head 62 connected to the limiting body 61. The end of the limiting body 61 away from the limiting head 62 is connected to the moving mechanism 40 and moves as a whole with the moving mechanism 40. A through hole is provided on the limiting body 61, through which the second part 222 of the suction nozzle body 22 passes. Since the cross-section of the second part 222 is trapezoidal, it can slide in the through hole but cannot rotate when inserted into the through hole. This ensures the axial fit accuracy of the limiting body 61 relative to the suction nozzle body 22, and also allows the limiting body 61 to remain coaxial with the suction nozzle body 22 during sliding. When the nozzle body 22 descends to near the microphone 201, the limiting head 62 will push inward along the direction of the through hole through the limiting body 61, together with the limiting plate 231 on the side of the suction head 23, to clamp and support both sides of the microphone 201, ensuring that the microphone 201 remains flat and does not tilt or slide during suction, transportation and placement.

[0033] Please see Figure 6 In some embodiments, the suction nozzle assembly 20 further includes an internal light-emitting element 41, which is disposed between the suction head 23 and the reflector 24. The internal light-emitting element 41 is annular or arc-shaped, matching the bottom contour of the suction head 23, and its overall shape is close to the planar mounting surface, allowing the internal light-emitting element 41 to fit tightly against the space between the side edge of the suction head 23 opening and the inner side of the reflector 24. The internal light-emitting element 41 includes a first light-emitting surface and a second light-emitting surface. The first light-emitting surface is located on one side of the internal light-emitting element 41 and emits visible light towards the back of the microphone 201 to directly illuminate the bottom area of ​​the microphone 201. The second light-emitting surface is located on the side corresponding to the reflector 24 and emits visible light towards the reflector 24, so that the light first hits the reflector 24, is reflected by the reflector 24, and is then projected onto the back of the microphone 201.

[0034] In operation, the external light-emitting element 50 illuminates the front of the microphone 201, covering the entire front. Meanwhile, the first light-emitting surface of the internal light-emitting element 41 and the second light-emitting surface, reflected by the reflector 24, supplement the illumination from the back or rear side of the microphone 201. This arrangement not only fills in the shadows cast by the adsorption head 23 on the area below the microphone 201 during the adsorption process but also creates a more uniform lighting environment around the edges and bottom of the microphone 201, enabling the camera to obtain clearer and more complete images. Based on this, the image processing algorithm can more accurately extract more edge and texture features when recognizing the microphone 201's contour, further improving positioning accuracy and pickup success rate.

[0035] In some embodiments, the nozzle body 22 has a wiring channel, and the bottom of the internal light-emitting element 41 is connected to the wiring channel. The wiring channel is a curved groove extending along the inner sidewall of the nozzle body 22, parallel to but not intersecting with the airflow channel 22a, ensuring that it does not affect the airflow and can fix the cable route when passing through. The opening of the wiring channel has an embedded slot, which can push the wire along the groove and then close it with a cover plate to prevent the wire from loosening or being exposed. The internal light-emitting element 41 includes at least one LED light source, which is disposed on the suction head 23 and can emit light towards the reflector 24 and the microphone 201.

[0036] In some embodiments, the reflector 24 is an annular structure, concentrically arranged with the adsorption head 23. The inner edge of the reflector 24 is in contact with the outer periphery of the adsorption head 23, forming a smooth and continuous transition. The annular cross-section of the reflector 24 is slightly flared outward, resembling a trumpet shape, so as to uniformly reflect the light projected by the light-emitting element to the back of the microphone 201 being adsorbed. The reflector 24 is made of a high-reflectivity material, including an aluminum-coated film or a microprism-structured reflective film.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application.

Claims

1. A suction nozzle assembly, characterized in that, include: A suction nozzle body, wherein the suction nozzle body is provided with an airflow channel, and the suction nozzle body is used to connect to a moving mechanism; An adsorption head is disposed at one end of the nozzle body and is connected to the airflow channel. The adsorption head is used to form an adsorption with the surface of a workpiece. A reflector is disposed around the adsorption head and is used to reflect light to the workpiece when the adsorption head approaches the workpiece so that the camera can acquire an image of the workpiece.

2. The suction nozzle assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The suction nozzle assembly also includes an internal light-emitting element, which is disposed on the suction head and is used to reflect light to the workpiece.

3. The suction nozzle assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The suction nozzle assembly further includes a mounting base. The suction nozzle body includes a first part and a second part connected to the first part. The mounting base is disposed on the first part and is used to connect the moving mechanism. The end of the second part away from the first part is connected to the suction head.

4. The suction nozzle assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reflector has a ring structure and is arranged around the opening of the adsorption head.

5. The suction nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, A limiting plate protrudes from one side of the opening of the adsorption head, and the limiting plate is used to hold one side of the workpiece.

6. The suction nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The reflective element includes an aluminum-coated film or a reflective film with a microprism structure.

7. A suction device, characterized in that, The device includes a machine base, a positioning component, a moving mechanism, an external light-emitting element, and a suction nozzle assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 6. The positioning component, the moving mechanism, and the external light-emitting element are all disposed on the machine base. The suction nozzle assembly is disposed on the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism is electrically connected to the positioning component. The external light-emitting element is used to emit visible light to the reflector. The positioning component is used to position the workpiece. The moving mechanism is used to drive the suction nozzle assembly to achieve three-dimensional movement.

8. The suction device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The positioning component includes a camera and an image processing unit. The camera is used to capture images of the workpiece, and the image processing unit is used to process the images to determine the position information of the workpiece in three-dimensional space.

9. The suction device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, The moving mechanism includes either a robotic arm or a three-axis platform, and is used to move the workpiece according to the position information.

10. The suction device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The suction device further includes a movable limiting member, which includes a limiting body and a limiting head connected to the limiting body. The end of the limiting body away from the limiting head is connected to the moving mechanism. The limiting head movably passes through the suction nozzle body and is used to cooperate with the suction head to clamp the workpiece.

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