Empty container handling and stacking device

Abstract

This utility model discloses an empty box handling and stacking device, relating to the field of aluminum shell processing technology. It includes a frame and a clamping mechanism that cooperates with empty boxes. A stackable empty box rack is supported below the frame. An electric gear and rack lifting mechanism and an electric gear and rack translation mechanism are installed above the frame to drive the clamping mechanism to rise, fall, and translate. The rack also includes a lateral limiting mechanism and a bottom conveying mechanism that cooperate with the empty boxes. This utility model greatly improves the stability of empty box handling and stacking, thereby enhancing overall operational safety and reliability, while ensuring a sufficient number of stackable empty boxes, thus significantly improving overall practicality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of aluminum shell processing technology, and more specifically, to an empty box handling and stacking device. Background Technology

[0002] Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are fundamental electronic components. The aluminum casing, serving as the outer shell, protects the capacitor core and isolates it from the external environment. During the process of transferring aluminum casings between processes into turnover boxes, empty boxes need to be recycled to return them to the shelf for later use. However, traditional empty box recycling is mostly done manually. As each empty box flows out of the conveyor belt, it is manually handled and stacked, which is extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0003] Existing technologies include research on empty box handling and stacking devices, such as patent application CN107867449A, which describes a fully automatic blank packing machine suitable for press forming and its implementation method. These devices can achieve mechanized handling and stacking of empty boxes to a certain extent by coordinating an empty box handling device that can clamp and move the empty boxes horizontally and vertically with an empty box placement rack, thereby improving the efficiency of empty box handling and stacking.

[0004] However, in existing technologies, empty box handling is often carried out by direct cylinder drive for translation or lifting operations, resulting in generally poor stability during empty box handling and affecting overall operational safety and reliability. At the same time, most existing technologies cannot guarantee the stability of empty box stacking, which can easily lead to uneven stacking, collapse, or even damage. This further affects the overall operational safety and reliability. In addition, the number of empty boxes that can be stacked in existing empty box racks is limited, which also limits their overall practicality.

[0005] Therefore, a new technical solution is needed to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this utility model is to provide an empty box handling and stacking device to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background art, such as the general stability of empty box handling and stacking, which affects the overall operational safety and reliability, and the limited number of empty boxes that can be stacked in the prior art, which also limits the overall practicality.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] An empty box handling and stacking device includes a horizontally arranged frame and a clamping mechanism that cooperates with the empty boxes. A stackable rack for empty boxes is supported below the frame. An electric gear and rack lifting mechanism and an electric gear and rack translating mechanism are installed above the frame to drive the clamping mechanism to lift and translate. The rack has a vertical frame structure with openings at the front and top. The rack also has a lateral limiting mechanism and a bottom conveying mechanism that cooperate with the empty boxes. The bottom conveying mechanism also has a lifting baffle that cooperates with it.

[0009] Furthermore, the bottom conveying mechanism includes two symmetrically arranged limiting plates I with column feet on the inner bottom of the material rack. The limiting plates I are both horizontally arranged and their length direction is parallel to the length direction of the support plate. A plurality of rollers for carrying empty boxes are vertically connected between the two limiting plates I. The plurality of rollers are arranged sequentially at intervals along the length direction of the limiting plates I. A motor III for simultaneously driving the plurality of rollers to rotate is installed on the outer side of the limiting plates I. The lateral limiting mechanism includes two symmetrically arranged limiting plates II. The two limiting plates II are horizontally parallel and mounted above the rollers between the two limiting plates I, and a conveying channel for empty boxes to pass through is formed between the two limiting plates II. The lifting baffle includes a crossbeam that is vertically fixed to the bottom of the two limiting plates I and a lifting cylinder that is vertically fixed to the front surface of the crossbeam. The output direction of the lifting cylinder is upward and a baffle is installed at the output end. The baffle is raised and lowered between two adjacent rollers by the lifting cylinder.

[0010] Furthermore, the electric gear and rack translation mechanism includes two base plates, which are horizontally fixed to the top of the frame. A linear slide rail I is fixed to the top of each base plate along its length. A slider I is slidably connected above each linear slide rail I. A horizontally positioned support plate is fixed to the top of each slider I. A limit switch that cooperates with the support plate is installed on the frame. The length direction of the support plate is perpendicular to the length direction of the linear slide rail I. A rack I parallel to the linear slide rail I is horizontally fixed to the outer side of each linear slide rail I on the base plate. Gears mesh with the top of each rack I. I. A linkage shaft is rotatably mounted on the top of the support plate along its length. The linkage shaft is horizontally connected between two gears I. A motor I is also mounted above the support plate. The output end of the motor I is equipped with a helical gear for driving the linkage shaft to rotate. The electric gear and rack lifting mechanism includes a support frame vertically fixed to the front end of the top of the support plate. The support frame has a slot-shaped structure with the opening facing backward, and a motor II is horizontally mounted inside the support frame. The output end of the motor II passes forward through the support frame and is equipped with gear II. A lifting plate is vertically spaced at the front of the support frame. The rear surface of the lifting plate extends along its length... Two vertically arranged linear slide rails II are symmetrically fixed. A gear II is located between the two linear slide rails II. Each linear slide rail II is slidably connected to a slider II, which is also fixed to the front surface of the support frame. A rack II is also fixed along the length of the rear surface of the lifting plate. The rack II meshes with the gear II. The clamping mechanism includes two sets of clamping assemblies. Each set of clamping assemblies includes a horizontally arranged transverse cylinder and a slider III installed at the output end of the transverse cylinder. An L-shaped main clamping plate is vertically fixed at the end of the slider III away from the transverse cylinder. The opening of the main clamping plate faces the slider III and is positioned such that... A longitudinal cylinder is vertically mounted on the side of the clamping plate opposite to the slider III. A horizontally arranged auxiliary clamping plate is mounted on the output end of the longitudinal cylinder. The auxiliary clamping plate is located below the main clamping plate. A proximity switch that cooperates with the empty box is also mounted on the main clamping plate. Two transverse cylinders are symmetrically fixed to the lower surface of a horizontally arranged mounting plate. The length direction of the support plate is parallel to the length direction of the mounting plate. A linear slide rail III that cooperates with the slider III is also fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate. Two connecting plates are symmetrically and vertically fixed to the upper surface of the mounting plate. The rear ends of the two connecting plates are simultaneously and vertically fixed to the lower end of the front surface of the lifting plate.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0012] 1. This utility model, based on a stackable empty box rack and a clamping mechanism that cooperates with the empty boxes, with the rack positioned below a machine frame, utilizes an electric rack and pinion lifting mechanism and an electric rack and pinion translating mechanism mounted above the machine frame to drive the clamping mechanism in raising, lowering, and translating. This achieves the gradual translation and raising / lowering of empty boxes driven by the rack and pinion meshing, which is more reliable than the traditional direct cylinder drive method. This significantly improves the stability of empty box transportation during translation and raising / lowering after clamping, thus enhancing overall operational safety and reliability. Furthermore, the rack of this utility model also includes a mechanism that cooperates with the empty boxes... The lateral limiting mechanism and the bottom conveying mechanism effectively limit the stacked empty boxes, preventing them from collapsing or being damaged due to uneven stacking. This significantly improves the stability of the stacked boxes and enhances overall operational safety and reliability. The bottom conveying mechanism provides bottom support for the empty boxes while simultaneously conveying them into the rack. Once the previous set of empty boxes is stacked to a suitable height, it is conveyed into the rack to make way for the next set, ensuring that the next set can be stacked after being moved into place. This maximizes the number of stackable empty boxes and significantly improves overall usability.

[0013] 2. The frame of this utility model is equipped with a limit switch that cooperates with the support plate of the electric gear rack translation mechanism. The main clamping plate of the clamping mechanism of this utility model is equipped with a proximity switch that cooperates with the empty box. This utility model utilizes the non-contact detection function of the proximity switch and the contact detection function of the limit switch. Through the coordinated operation of the proximity switch and the clamping mechanism, as well as the limit switch and the electric gear rack translation mechanism, the stability and reliability of the clamping and translation operation are further ensured, thereby further improving the overall operational safety and reliability.

[0014] 3. The bottom conveying mechanism of this utility model includes two limiting plates I, multiple rollers vertically connected between the two limiting plates I, and a motor III for simultaneously driving the multiple rollers to rotate. This utility model realizes the conveying of empty boxes into the material rack through the coordinated action of motor III and rollers. On this basis, the two limiting plates II located above the rollers between the two limiting plates I are used to limit the left and right sides of the empty boxes in the material rack. This fully ensures the stability of the stacking of empty boxes and the conveying after stacking, thereby further improving the overall operational safety and reliability.

[0015] 4. The lifting baffle in this utility model includes a crossbeam that is vertically fixed to the bottom of two limiting plates I, and a lifting cylinder that is vertically fixed to the front surface of the crossbeam. The output direction of the lifting cylinder is upward and the output end is equipped with a baffle. In this utility model, through the coordinated action of the crossbeam, the lifting cylinder and the baffle, the empty boxes being stacked in the material rack are effectively limited, preventing them from being conveyed or collapsing due to accidental situations. This further ensures the stability of the stacked empty boxes, thereby further ensuring the overall operational safety and reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0018] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point C;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a front view schematic diagram of the clamping mechanism of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a side view of the connection and installation structure of the clamping mechanism and the electric gear and rack lifting mechanism of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 7 This is a top view of the connection and installation structure between the clamping mechanism and the electric gear and rack lifting mechanism of this utility model.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a side view of the material rack of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the lifting baffle of this utility model;

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Frame, 2. Material rack, 3. Base plate, 4. Linear slide rail I, 5. Rack I, 6. Slider I, 7. Support plate, 8. Gear I, 9. Linkage shaft, 10. Motor I, 11. Helical gear, 12. Support frame, 13. Motor II, 14. Gear II, 15. Linear slide rail II, 16. Slider II, 17. Lifting plate, 18. Rack II, 19. Horizontal cylinder, 20. Slider III, 21. Main clamping plate, 22. Longitudinal cylinder, 23. Auxiliary clamping plate, 24. Proximity switch, 25. Linear slide rail III, 26. Connecting plate, 27. Limiting plate I, 28. Roller, 29. Motor III, 30. Limiting plate II, 31. Crossbeam, 32. Lifting cylinder, 33. Baffle, 34. Limit switch, 35. Mounting plate. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The following embodiments are used to further illustrate the content of this utility model, and do not limit the application of this utility model.

[0027] Please see Figures 1-9 This diagram illustrates an empty box handling and stacking device, comprising a horizontally arranged frame 1 (the basic structures of existing empty box handling and stacking devices, such as controllers and balance racks, are not specifically described here, but this should not limit their functionality). Two base plates 3 are fixed parallel to each other along the length of the top of the frame 1 (conventional fixing methods such as bolt connections are common knowledge and will not be described in detail here, nor are they shown in the accompanying drawings). Each base plate 3 has a linear slide rail I4 and a rack I5 fixed along its length at its top, with the rack I5 parallel to the outer side of the corresponding linear slide rail I4. Above each linear slide rail I is a slider I6 that slides and engages with it (the number of sliders I6 can be set as needed). The sliders I6 are all fixed to the lower surface of a horizontally arranged support plate 7, whose length is perpendicular to the length of the linear slide rail I4. The frame is also equipped with components that engage with the support plate 7. Limit switch 34 (the functions and structures of conventional components such as limit switches and proximity switches are well known in the art, and the connection settings are also common knowledge, so they will not be described in detail here. For example, in this embodiment, the limit switch 34 can be set on the path of the reciprocating motion of the support plate 7 and electrically connected to the controller so as to control its moving speed as needed). Each rack I5 is provided with a gear I8 that meshes with it. The two gears I8 are connected horizontally to a linkage shaft 9. The linkage shaft 9 is rotatably mounted on the top of the support plate 7 (the basic structure such as the bearing seat equipped when the linkage shaft is normally installed is not specifically described here, but it should not limit its function) and parallel to the support plate 7. A motor I10 is also mounted on the top of the support plate 7. The output end of the motor I10 is equipped with a helical gear 11, which drives the linkage shaft 9 to rotate through the helical gear 11 (here, the linkage shaft 9 is equipped with a helical gear that meshes with the helical gear 11).

[0028] Furthermore, a support frame 12 is vertically fixed to the top front end of the support plate 7. The support frame 12 has a groove-shaped structure with the opening facing rearward, and a motor II 13 is horizontally installed inside. A gear II 14 is installed at the output end of the motor II 13, and the gear II 14 meshes with a rack II 18. A lifting plate 17 is vertically spaced in front of the support frame 12. The rack II 18 is vertically fixed to the rear surface of the lifting plate 17 and is arranged along its length. Two vertically arranged linear slide rails II 15 are symmetrically fixed to the rear surface of the lifting plate 17 along its length. The rack II 18 is located between the two linear slide rails II 15. Each linear slide rail II 15 is slidably connected to a slider II 16 (the number of sliders II 16 can be set as needed). The sliders II 16 are also fixed to the front surface of the support frame 12. Two connecting plates 26 are vertically fixed to the lower end of the front surface of the lifting plate 17. The two connecting plates 26 are symmetrically arranged on the left and right, and a horizontally fixed part is vertically fixed to their bottom front ends. The mounting plate 35 is positioned with its length direction parallel to that of the support plate 7. Two horizontally arranged transverse cylinders 19 are symmetrically fixed on the lower surface of the mounting plate 35. The output directions of the two transverse cylinders 19 are opposite, and each output end is equipped with a slider Ⅲ 20. The end of the slider Ⅲ 20 away from the transverse cylinders 19 is vertically fixed with an L-shaped main clamping plate 21 (in this embodiment, the main clamping plate 21 is composed of a vertical plate and a polyurethane plate fixed to the lower end of the side wall of the vertical plate). A proximity switch 24 that cooperates with the empty box is installed on the main clamping plate 21. The openings of the main clamping plate 21 are all set facing the corresponding slider Ⅲ 20. The side of the main clamping plate 21 away from the corresponding slider Ⅲ 20 is vertically mounted with a longitudinal cylinder 22. The output direction of the longitudinal cylinders 22 is downward, and each output end is equipped with a horizontally arranged auxiliary clamping plate 23. The lower surface of the mounting plate 35 is also fixed with a linear slide rail Ⅲ 25 that slides and connects with the slider Ⅲ 20 along its length direction.

[0029] Furthermore, a material rack 2 is supported below the frame 1. The material rack 2 is a vertical frame structure with openings at the front and top (the vertical frame can be equipped with a fence as needed). Two parallel limiting plates I 27 with column feet are arranged side-by-side on the inner bottom of the material rack 2 (the connection and installation method between normal column feet and various frame structures is common knowledge, so it will not be explained in detail here, nor is it shown in detail in the attached drawings). The length direction of the limiting plates I 27 is parallel to the length direction of the support plate 7. Multiple rollers 28 for carrying empty boxes are vertically connected between the two limiting plates I 27. The multiple rollers 28 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the limiting plates I 27. A device is also installed on the outer side of the limiting plates I 27 to simultaneously drive the multiple rollers 28 to rotate. Motor Ⅲ29 (the sprocket and chain drive method of a normal motor is well known in the art, so it will not be described in detail here, nor is it shown in the attached drawings). Above the roller 28 between the two limiting plates Ⅰ27, two limiting plates Ⅱ30 are also horizontally and parallel to each other. The length direction of the limiting plates Ⅱ30 is parallel to the length direction of the limiting plates Ⅰ27, and a conveying channel for empty boxes to pass through is formed between the two limiting plates Ⅱ30. The bottom of the two limiting plates Ⅰ27 is also vertically fixed with a horizontally arranged crossbeam 31. A lifting cylinder 32 is vertically fixed on the front surface of the crossbeam 31. The output direction of the lifting cylinder 32 is upward and a baffle 33 is installed at the output end. The baffle 33 is raised and lowered between two adjacent rollers 28 by the lifting cylinder 32.

[0030] The working principle and workflow of this utility model are as follows:

[0031] When it is necessary to move empty boxes from the conveyor belt (in sequence: move forward, descend, clamp, rise, place):

[0032] Forward movement: Start motor I10, which drives the linkage shaft 9 to rotate, which in turn drives the gear I8 on the linkage shaft 9 to rotate, so that gear I8 meshes with rack I5, and through the meshing of gear I8 on rack I5, the support plate 7 moves forward, and the forward movement of the support plate 7 also drives the lifting plate 17 and the clamping components on the lifting plate 17 to move forward.

[0033] Lowering: Start motor II13, which drives gear II14 to rotate, causing gear II14 to mesh with rack II18. Through the meshing of gear II14 on rack II18, the lifting plate 17 is lowered, which in turn drives the clamping assembly on the lifting plate 17 to lower.

[0034] Clamping: Activate the transverse cylinder 19. Under the action of the piston rod of the transverse cylinder 19, the main clamping plate 21 clamps the empty box (here, the main clamping plate 21 uses its own L-shaped structure to hold the top outer edge of the empty box, while the auxiliary clamping plate 23 can play an auxiliary clamping role). During this process, the proximity switch 24 detects whether the empty box to be clamped is close (i.e., whether there is an empty box).

[0035] Lifting: Start motor II13, which drives gear II14 to rotate, causing gear II14 to mesh with rack II18. Through the meshing of gear II14 with rack II18, lifting plate 17 is lifted, which in turn lifts the empty box held on lifting plate 17.

[0036] Placement: First, start motor I10, which drives the linkage shaft 9 to rotate, causing gear I8 on the linkage shaft 9 to rotate as well. Gear I8 meshes with rack I5, and through the meshing of gear I8 with rack I5, the support plate 7 moves backward. The backward movement of support plate 7 also causes the lifting plate 17 and the empty box held on the lifting plate 17 to move backward. Then, start motor II13, which drives gear II14 to rotate, causing gear II14 to mesh with rack II18. Through the meshing of gear II14 with rack II18, the lifting plate 17 descends, causing the lifting plate to descend as well. The empty box held on 17 descends within the material rack 2; finally, after the empty box is placed, the transverse cylinder 19 is activated first. Under the action of the piston rod of the transverse cylinder 19, the main clamping plate 21 releases the empty box (after the empty box is placed, the auxiliary clamping plate 23 can be pushed down by the longitudinal cylinder 22 first, and then the main clamping plate 21 can be removed from the empty box under the action of the transverse cylinder 19, thereby avoiding damage to the empty box). Then, the motor II 13 is activated, and the motor II 13 drives the gear II 14 to rotate, so that the gear II 14 meshes with the rack II 18. Through the meshing of the gear II 14 on the rack II 18, the lifting plate 17 rises and resets.

[0037] Throughout the process, empty boxes can be stacked sequentially from bottom to top on rollers 28 inside the rack 2 (the empty boxes are simultaneously located between two limiting plates II 30). After the previous set of empty boxes is stacked to a suitable height, it is conveyed into the rack 2 (at this time, motor III 29 starts, driving rollers 28 to rotate) to make way for the next set of empty boxes so that the next set of empty boxes can continue to be stacked after being moved to the correct position. In addition, the lifting and lowering of baffle 33, in conjunction with the limiting plates II 30, can limit the empty boxes being stacked inside the rack 2 to prevent them from being conveyed or collapsing due to unexpected circumstances.

Claims

1. A container handling stacker apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed frame and a gripping mechanism for engaging a container, characterised in that, The frame is supported by a stackable empty box rack at the bottom. An electric gear and rack lifting mechanism and an electric gear and rack translation mechanism are installed above the frame to drive the clamping mechanism to lift and translate. The rack is also equipped with a lateral limiting mechanism and a bottom conveying mechanism that cooperate with the empty box.

2. A container handling and stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The electric gear rack translation mechanism includes two base plates that are horizontally fixed to the top of the frame. A linear slide rail I is fixed to the top of each base plate along its length. A rack I is horizontally fixed to the outer side of each linear slide rail I on the base plate. The racks I are all arranged parallel to the linear slide rails I.

3. A container handling device according to claim 2, wherein, Each linear slide rail I is slidably connected to a slider I above it. The top of each slider I is fixed with a horizontally arranged support plate. The length direction of the support plate is perpendicular to the length direction of the linear slide rail I. A limit switch that cooperates with the support plate is also installed on the frame.

4. A container handling and stacking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The rack I is fitted with gear I on each side, and a linkage shaft connects the two gears I. The linkage shaft is rotatably mounted on the top of the support plate and is horizontally arranged along the length of the support plate. A motor I is also mounted on the top of the support plate, and a helical gear for driving the linkage shaft to rotate is installed at the output end of the motor I.

5. A container handling and stacking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The electric gear and rack lifting mechanism includes a support frame with a groove-shaped structure and an opening facing rearward, and a motor II horizontally installed inside the support frame. The support frame is vertically fixed to the top front end of the support plate. The output end of the motor II passes forward through the support frame and is equipped with a gear II. A lifting plate is vertically spaced at the front of the support frame. Two vertically arranged linear slide rails II are symmetrically fixed on the rear surface of the lifting plate along its length direction. The gear II is located between the two linear slide rails II.

6. A container handling and stacking apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, Each of the linear slide rails II is slidably connected to a slider II, which is simultaneously fixed to the front surface of the support frame. The rear surface of the lifting plate is also fixed with a rack II along its length, and the rack II meshes with a gear II.

7. The empty box handling and stacking device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The clamping mechanism includes a clamping assembly, which includes a horizontally arranged transverse cylinder and a slider III installed at the output end of the transverse cylinder. An L-shaped main clamping plate is vertically fixed at the end of the slider III away from the transverse cylinder. A longitudinal cylinder is vertically installed on the side of the main clamping plate facing the slider III and away from the slider III. A horizontally arranged auxiliary clamping plate is installed at the output end of the longitudinal cylinder. The auxiliary clamping plate is located below the main clamping plate. A proximity switch that cooperates with the empty box is also installed on the main clamping plate.

8. A container handling device according to claim 7, wherein, The clamping assembly is provided in two symmetrical sets on the left and right. The transverse cylinders of the two sets of clamping assemblies are fixed symmetrically on the lower surface of a horizontally set mounting plate. The length direction of the support plate is parallel to the length direction of the mounting plate. The lower surface of the mounting plate is also fixed with a linear slide rail III that slides and cooperates with the slider III. The upper surface of the mounting plate is symmetrically and vertically fixed with two connecting plates. The rear ends of the two connecting plates are simultaneously and vertically fixed to the lower end of the front surface of the lifting plate.

9. A container handling device according to claim 1, wherein, The material rack has a vertical frame structure with openings at the front and top. The bottom conveying mechanism is also equipped with a lifting baffle. The bottom conveying mechanism includes two horizontally arranged limiting plates I with column feet. The limiting plates I are symmetrically arranged on the inner bottom of the material rack, and the length direction of the limiting plates I is parallel to the length direction of the support plate. Multiple rollers for carrying empty boxes are vertically connected between the two limiting plates I. The multiple rollers are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the limiting plates I. A motor III for simultaneously driving the multiple rollers to rotate is installed on the outer side of the limiting plates I.

10. A container handling device according to claim 9, wherein, The lateral limiting mechanism includes two limiting plates II arranged symmetrically on the left and right. The two limiting plates II are horizontally parallel and mounted above the roller between the two limiting plates I, and a conveying channel for empty boxes to pass through is formed between the two limiting plates II. The lifting baffle includes a crossbeam that is vertically fixed to the bottom of the two limiting plates I. A vertically arranged lifting cylinder is fixed to the front surface of the crossbeam. The output direction of the lifting cylinder is upward and a baffle is installed at the output end. The baffle is vertically and can be raised and lowered below between two adjacent rollers by the lifting cylinder.

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