Automatic fluid replacement device and fluid convey joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11975958-B2
Application number	US-202217975520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2022
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

An automatic fluid replacement device is adapted to be mounted on an opening of a storage barrel. The automatic fluid replacement device includes a robotic arm, at least one fluid convey joint and a controller. The robotic arm has a gripper. The fluid convey joint includes a convey pipe, a sleeve and a sealing bag. The convey pipe is configured to deliver a fluid. The sleeve is sleeved on the convey pipe. The gripper clamps the sleeve. The sealing bag is sleeved on the sleeve. The controller is configured for automatically controlling the robotic arm to move the fluid convey joint into the opening and controlling the sealing bag to be inflated to seal the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic fluid replacement device, adapted to be mounted on an opening of a storage barrel, comprising:
a robotic arm, having a gripper;
at least one fluid convey joint, comprising:
a convey pipe, configured to deliver a fluid;
a sleeve, sleeved on the convey pipe, wherein the gripper clamps the sleeve; and
a sealing bag, sleeved on the sleeve; and
a controller, configured for automatically controlling the robotic arm to move the fluid convey joint into the opening and controlling the sealing bag to be inflated to seal the opening;
wherein the sealing bag has a flange structure; when the opening is sealed by the sealing bag, the flange structure is engaged with an inner surface of the storage barrel.

2. The automatic fluid replacement device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid convey joint further comprises a first pressure sensor, the first pressure sensor is configured to measure an air pressure inside the sealing bag, and the controller is configured to control an air inflation amount of the sealing bag according to the air pressure inside the sealing bag.

3. The automatic fluid replacement device according to claim 2 , wherein the fluid convey joint further comprises an inflation pipe, the sleeve has an inflation channel, the inflation channel is in fluid communication with the sealing bag, the inflation pipe is connected to the sleeve and in fluid communication with the sealing bag through the inflation channel, and the first pressure sensor is disposed on the inflation pipe.

4. The automatic fluid replacement device according to claim 2 , wherein the fluid convey joint further comprises a second pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor is configured to measure an air pressure inside the storage barrel, and the controller is configured to control the air inflation amount of the sealing bag according to the air pressure inside the storage barrel and the air pressure inside the sealing bag.

5. The automatic fluid replacement device according to claim 4 , wherein the fluid convey joint further comprises a fluid pipe, the fluid pipe is connected to the sleeve and in fluid communication with the convey pipe, and the second pressure sensor is disposed on the fluid pipe.

6. The automatic fluid replacement device according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a clamped portion and a mount portion connected to each other, the clamped portion is configured to be clamped by the gripper of the robotic arm, and the sealing bag is sleeved on the mount portion of the sleeve.

7. A fluid convey joint, adapted to be mounted at an opening of a storage barrel, comprising:
a convey pipe, configured to deliver a fluid;
a sleeve, sleeved on the convey pipe;
a sealing bag, sleeved on the sleeve; and
a first pressure sensor, configured to measure an air pressure inside the sealing bag;
wherein the sealing bag has a flange structure; when the opening is sealed by the sealing bag, the flange structure is engaged with an inner surface of the storage barrel.

8. The fluid convey joint according to claim 7 , wherein the fluid convey joint further comprises an inflation pipe, the sleeve has an inflation channel, the inflation channel is in fluid communication with the sealing bag, the inflation pipe is connected to the sleeve and in fluid communication with the sealing bag through the inflation channel, and the first pressure sensor is disposed on the inflation pipe.

9. The fluid convey joint according to claim 7 , wherein the fluid convey joint further comprises a second pressure sensor, and the second pressure sensor is configured to measure an air pressure inside the storage barrel.

10. The fluid convey joint according to claim 9 , wherein the fluid convey joint further comprises a fluid pipe, the fluid pipe is connected to the sleeve and in fluid communication with the convey pipe, and the second pressure sensor is disposed on the fluid pipe.

11. The fluid convey joint according to claim 7 , wherein the sleeve comprises a clamped portion and a mount portion connected to each other, the clamped portion is configured to be clamped by a gripper of a robotic arm, and the sealing bag is sleeved on the mount portion of the sleeve.

Assignees

• Ind Tech Res Inst

Inventors

• Tsai Cheng-Han
• Pan Wei-Lung
• Wu Chih-Ta
• Lin I-Hsin

Classifications

• B67C3/34 Primary

  Devices for engaging filling-heads with filling-apertures · CPC title

• B05C11/10

  Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent material; Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material {(B05C1/0813, B05C5/0225, B05C17/002 and B05C19/06 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B67D7/0288 Primary

  Container connection means (for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0829) · CPC title

• B25J9/044

  with forearm providing vertical linear movement · CPC title