IP Library Granted Patent US 12,221,295
Granted Patent B2
US 12,221,295 · App. 17/786,460 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Pallet assembly and sorting robot

Inventor: Jinhu Zhang (Beijing, CN)
Assignee: Beijing Jingdong Qianshi Technology Co., Ltd.
B65G47/962B60P1/04B65G47/965B07C3/02B60P1/165
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,221,295
App. No.
17/786,460
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pallet assembly includes a flap assembly including a first flap and a second flap. The flap assembly has a first state in which the first flap and the second flap are coplanar so as to form a carrying surface for carrying goods, and a second state in which any one of the first flap and the second flap is turned so as to make the goods slide off.

Claims (34)

1. A pallet assembly, comprising:

a flap assembly comprising a first flap and a second flap, wherein the flap assembly has a first state in which the first flap- and the second flap are coplanar so as to form a carrying surface for carrying goods, and a second state in which any one of the first flap and the second flap is turned so as to make the goods slide off;

a flap driving assembly configured to selectively drive any one of the first flap and the second flap to flap with respect to another one of the first flap and the second flap; and

a base, wherein when the flap assembly is in the first state, the flap assembly is in parallel with and spaced apart from the base, the flap assembly is located above the base, and the flap driving assembly is disposed between the flap assembly and the base;

wherein the flap driving assembly comprises a drive unit and a transmission unit, wherein the transmission unit comprises:

a transmission shaft disposed horizontally;

a first transmission rod group connected to the first flap and the transmission shaft separately; and

a second transmission rod group connected to the second flap and the transmission shaft separately;

wherein the drive unit is configured to drive the transmission shaft to reciprocate horizontally in left-right directions perpendicular to the transmission shaft so as to selectively drive any one of the first transmission rod group and the second transmission rod group to rotate about an axis parallel to the transmission shaft.

2. The pallet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first transmission rod group is provided with a first elongated hole, the second transmission rod group is provided with a second elongated hole, and the transmission shaft passes through the first elongated hole and the second elongated hole; and

when the flap assembly is in the first state, a lengthwise direction of the first elongated hole and a lengthwise direction of the second elongated hole are horizontally arranged and perpendicular to an axis of the transmission shaft, the transmission shaft is located at a first end of the first elongated hole and a first end of the second elongated hole, and a second end of the first elongated hole and a second end of the second elongated hole are respectively located at two sides of the transmission shaft.

3. The pallet assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first transmission rod group comprises a first support rod and a first connection rod, a first end of the first support rod is connected to the first flap, a second end of the first support rod is hinged to the base, a first end of the first connection rod is provided with the first elongated hole, and a second end of the first connection rod extends in a direction away from the transmission shaft and is hinged to the first support rod; and

wherein the second transmission rod group comprises a second support rod and a second connection rod, a first end of the second support rod is connected to the second flap, a second end of the second support rod is hinged to the base, a first end of the second connection rod is provided with the second elongated hole, and a second end of the second connection rod extends in a direction away from the first connection rod and is hinged to the second support rod.

4. The pallet assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first end of the first elongated hole is located at one end of the first elongated hole close to a connection position of the first connection rod and the first support rod, and the first end of the second elongated hole is located at one end of the second elongated hole close to a connection position of the second connection rod and the second support rod.

5. The pallet assembly of claim 4 , wherein the transmission unit comprises at least two first transmission rod groups and at least two second transmission rod groups, the at least two first transmission rod groups and the at least two second transmission rod groups are arranged side by side and spaced apart in a lengthwise direction of the transmission shaft.

6. The pallet assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first support rod and the second support rod each comprises a first rod portion, a second rod portion and a third rod portion which are connected in sequence from bottom to top, wherein when the flap assembly is in the first state, the first rod portion is vertically arranged and a lower end of the first rod portion is connected to the base; the third rod portion is horizontally arranged and connected to the first flap corresponding to the third rod portion ( 22213 ) or the second flap corresponding to the third rod portion; and the second rod portion is obliquely arranged with respect to a horizontal direction, and an included angle between the second rod portion and a connection rod or the second connection rod corresponding to the second rod portion is an acute angle.

7. The pallet assembly of claim 6 , wherein the transmission unit comprises at least two first transmission rod groups and at least two second transmission rod groups, the at least two first transmission rod groups and the at least two second transmission rod groups are arranged side by side and spaced apart in a lengthwise direction of the transmission shaft.

8. The pallet assembly of claim 3 , wherein the transmission unit comprises at least two first transmission rod groups and at least two second transmission rod groups, the at least two first transmission rod groups and the at least two second transmission rod groups are arranged side by side and spaced apart in a lengthwise direction of the transmission shaft.

9. The pallet assembly of claim 8 , wherein the transmission unit comprises at least one of:

a first connection shaft, wherein the first connection shaft is in parallel with and spaced apart from the transmission shaft, one end of the first connection rod away from the transmission shaft is rotationally sleeved on the first connection shaft, and the first connection shaft is vertically connected to the first support rod; and

a second connection shaft, wherein the second connection shaft is in parallel with and spaced apart from the transmission shaft, one end of the second connection rod away from the transmission shaft is rotationally sleeved on the second connection shaft, and the second connection shaft is vertically connected to the second support rod.

10. The pallet assembly of claim 3 , wherein the drive unit comprises:

a drive motor arranged on the base;

a lead screw arranged horizontally and perpendicular to the transmission shaft, wherein a first end of the lead screw is connected to an output shaft of the drive motor, and a second end of the lead screw is rotationally connected to the base; and

a lead nut base sleeved on the lead screw and capable of moving in a lengthwise direction of the lead screw, wherein the lead nut base is connected to the transmission shaft.

11. The pallet assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:

a connection base provided with a mounting hole and a shaft connection hole, a center line of the mounting hole is perpendicular to a center line of the shaft connection hole, the lead nut base is inserted in the mounting hole, and the transmission shaft passes through the shaft connection hole.

12. The pallet assembly of claim 11 , wherein an upper end face of the connection base is provided with a connection groove, the connection groove penetrates two opposite side walls of the connection base in the lengthwise direction of the lead screw, each of the first connection rod and the second connection rod partially extends into the connection groove, and at least one side surface of each of the first connection rod and the second connection rod abuts against a corresponding groove wall of the connection groove.

13. The pallet assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a reset assembly arranged to reset the first flap and the second flap to an initial horizontal position after the first flap and the second flap are turned.

14. The pallet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first flap and the second flap each comprises a frame, and a support plate portion arranged horizontally, wherein the frame encloses a periphery of the support plate portion, and when the flap assembly is in the first state, upper surfaces of support plate portions of the first flap and the second flap are coplanar so as to form the carrying surface.

15. The pallet assembly of claim 14 , wherein the support plate portion comprises a plurality of support slats arranged side by side and spaced apart, wherein a slot is formed between adjacent two support slats of the plurality of support slats and when the flap assembly is in the first state, a support slat of any one of the first flap and the second flap is inserted in a slot of another one of the first flap and the second flap.

16. A sorting robot, comprising the pallet assembly of claim 1 , a cart body and a control mechanism;

wherein the cart body is configured to achieve a movement of the sorting robot, and the control mechanism is configured to control an operation of the sorting robot.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2022
From: ZHANG, JINHU
To: BEIJING JINGDONG QIANSHI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060267/0109 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202010219538.7 · Mar 25, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230048868A1 · Feb 16, 2023
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