A tobacco storage cabinet outfeed door structure

Abstract

This application discloses a discharge door structure for a tobacco storage tank, relating to the field of tobacco machinery technology. It includes a support frame, a gate assembly, and a drive assembly. The gate assembly consists of a door panel, a rotating shaft, and two side baffles. The bottom end of the door panel is connected to the rotating shaft, and the two side baffles are located on both sides of the door panel and extend into the storage tank, forming a trough-like structure. The drive assembly is connected to and drives the rotating shaft to rotate, causing the gate assembly to swing around the shaft axis, giving it an inclined guiding position for connecting to the discharge port and an upward-flipping closed position. During use, this application replaces traditional flexible traction with a rigid integral swing mechanism, completely eliminating movement gaps. It effectively blocks the path of lateral leakage of tobacco during and after closing, fundamentally solving the problem of mixing different brands of tobacco. Simultaneously, the trough-like structure serves both to guide materials and to allow residual tobacco to flow back. The structure is simple, reliable, and has good sealing performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of tobacco machinery technology, specifically to a structure for the discharge door of a tobacco storage cabinet. Background Technology

[0002] In the cigarette manufacturing process, tobacco storage cabinets are key equipment used for temporary storage, moisture balancing, and buffering process flow. Multiple cabinets typically feed tobacco from top to bottom onto a shared discharge conveyor belt for subsequent cigarette production. With the increasing market demand for small-batch, multi-brand cigarettes, frequent switching of tobacco brands during production has become commonplace, placing extremely high demands on the isolation and control capabilities of the storage cabinet discharge outlets.

[0003] Chinese patent application number CN202020694242.6 discloses a "Tobacco Storage Tank Discharge Hopper Anti-Mixing Device". The patented solution uses a traction rope, pulley, and crank mechanism to control the opening and closing of the baffle. However, this solution has shortcomings in practical application. During the baffle closing process, due to its flexible single-point traction, there is a gap between the baffle and the side wall of the discharge port, causing tobacco to easily leak from the gaps on both sides and fall onto the discharge conveyor belt. After the baffle closes, it is difficult to form a tight, rigid seal with the tank body, and fine tobacco will continue to leak from the mating surface under equipment vibration or airflow. This leakage problem, both dynamic and static, directly causes the mixing of different brands of tobacco, seriously affecting product quality and constituting a long-standing technical bottleneck that has not been effectively resolved.

[0004] Therefore, this application proposes a tobacco storage tank discharge door structure that can prevent tobacco leakage during the opening and closing process of the storage tank discharge port and after closing, thereby avoiding the mixing of tobacco of different brands. Utility Model Content

[0005] The main purpose of this application is to provide a discharge door structure for a tobacco storage tank, which aims to solve the technical problem that existing traction rope baffles, during the closing process and after closing, cause tobacco to continuously leak from the side gaps, resulting in the mixing of tobacco of different brands.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A structure for the discharge door of a tobacco storage tank includes:

[0008] Support frame, installed at the discharge port of the storage tank;

[0009] The gate assembly includes a door panel that is interference-fitted with the inner contour of the support frame, a pivot horizontally disposed at the lower edge of the opening of the support frame, and two baffles respectively disposed on both sides of the door panel in the width direction; the door panel is located in the support frame and its bottom end is connected to the pivot, and the two baffles extend into the storage cabinet on the side away from the door panel to form a groove-shaped structure together with the door panel;

[0010] A drive assembly, which is connected to the rotating shaft, is used to drive the rotating shaft to rotate and cause the gate assembly as a whole to swing around the axis of the rotating shaft.

[0011] As a further improvement of this application, the gate assembly further includes a sleeve fixedly sleeved outside the rotating shaft and at least one stiffening plate; the bottom end of the gate plate is fixedly connected to the side wall of the sleeve, and the lower edge of the opening of the support frame is provided with an arc-shaped groove that matches the outer contour of the sleeve; the stiffening plate is connected between the sleeve and the gate plate; and an extension section is provided at the end of each of the two baffles facing away from the material flow direction in the storage tank.

[0012] As a further improvement of this application, the drive assembly includes a motor, a drive wheel coaxially connected to the output end of the motor, and at least one transmission belt. The motor is located on the outer wall of the storage cabinet and on one side of the door panel height direction. Each transmission belt surrounds the drive wheel and the end of the shaft adjacent to the motor.

[0013] As a further improvement of this application, the drive wheel and the shaft adjacent to the motor end are both synchronous pulleys, and their outer circumferences are provided with meshing teeth; the transmission belt is a synchronous belt, and its inner ring is provided with tooth grooves that match the meshing teeth.

[0014] As a further improvement of this application, the structure of the tobacco storage tank discharge door also includes a PLC controller, which is connected to the power supply circuit of the motor and is used to control the start, stop and rotation angle of the motor.

[0015] The technical solution provided in this application may include the following beneficial effects:

[0016] In use, this application utilizes a rigidly connected door panel and side baffles to form a single, integrated slotted gate assembly, driven by a bottom-mounted rotating shaft for rigid, integrated swinging. During closing, the side baffles synchronously and rigidly conceal all lateral gaps between the door panel and the frame, blocking the leakage path of tobacco during the closing action. When fully closed, it forms a tight, rigid seal with the supporting frame and the inner wall of the storage tank, eliminating any gaps and effectively resisting vibration and airflow disturbances even in a static state. This achieves complete sealing of tobacco leakage, fundamentally resolving the quality hazard of mixed tobacco brands. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the discharge door structure of a tobacco storage tank. Figure 1 ;

[0019] Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the discharge door structure of a tobacco storage tank. Figure 2 ;

[0020] Figure label:

[0021] 1. Support frame; 11. Arc-shaped groove; 2. Gate assembly; 21. Gate panel; 22. Rotating shaft; 23. Baffle; 24. Sleeve; 25. Stiffening plate; 3. Drive assembly; 31. Motor; 32. Drive wheel; 33. Transmission belt. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0023] Figure 1 An embodiment of the discharge door structure of a tobacco storage tank according to this application is shown. See [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1 In this embodiment, the tobacco storage tank discharge door structure includes: a support frame 1, a gate assembly 2, and a drive assembly 3.

[0024] Among them, see Figure 1The support frame 1 is installed at the discharge port of the storage tank. The gate assembly 2 includes a door plate 21 that is interference-fitted with the inner contour of the support frame 1, a rotating shaft 22 horizontally disposed at the lower edge of the opening of the support frame 1, and two baffles 23 respectively disposed on both sides of the door plate 21 in the width direction. The door plate 21 is located inside the support frame 1 and its bottom end is connected to the rotating shaft 22. The two baffles 23 extend into the storage tank on the side away from the door plate 21 to form a groove-shaped structure together with the door plate 21. The drive assembly 3 is connected to the rotating shaft 22 for driving the rotating shaft 22 to rotate and causing the gate assembly 2 to swing around the axis of the rotating shaft 22. In the solution provided in this embodiment, the door plate 21 and the two side baffles 23 are rigidly connected to form an integral groove-shaped gate assembly 2, which is driven by the bottom rotating shaft 22 to perform rigid overall swing. During the closing process, the two side baffles 23 can synchronously and rigidly cover all lateral gaps between the door panel 21 and the frame, blocking the leakage path of tobacco when the closing action occurs; when fully closed, they can form a tight rigid contact seal with the support frame 1 and the inner wall of the storage cabinet, eliminating any movement gaps, and can effectively resist vibration and airflow disturbances even in static conditions, achieving a complete seal against tobacco leakage and fundamentally solving the quality hazard of mixed tobacco brands.

[0025] Further, see Figure 2 The gate assembly 2 also includes a sleeve 24 fixedly fitted around the rotating shaft 22. The bottom end of the gate plate 21 is fixedly connected to the side wall of the sleeve 24. The lower edge of the opening of the support frame 1 is provided with an arc-shaped groove 11 that matches the outer contour of the sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 and the arc-shaped groove 11 provided at the lower edge of the opening of the support frame 1 constitute the core kinematic pair and sealing pair. When the drive assembly 3 drives the rotating shaft 22 to rotate, the rotating shaft 22 transmits torque to the gate plate 21 and the two side baffles 23 rigidly connected to it through the sleeve 24, driving the entire gate assembly 2 to achieve stable overall swinging. During this movement, the outer wall of the sleeve 24 is always constrained circumferentially and supported radially by the arc-shaped groove 11, which greatly enhances the rigidity and stability of the gate assembly 2 in the opening and closing movement and effectively prevents lateral swaying. More importantly, when the gate is in the closed position, this closely fitted interface, together with the gate plate 21 and the baffle 23, forms a continuous physical barrier, completely eliminating the path for smoke and fine tobacco to leak outward from the installation area of ​​the rotating shaft 22, and significantly improving the overall static sealing reliability.

[0026] Further, see Figure 2The gate assembly 2 further includes at least one stiffening plate 25, which is rigidly connected between the outer peripheral wall of the sleeve 24 and the inner bottom wall of the gate plate 21 by welding or integral molding. This stiffening plate effectively transmits and distributes the material load and torsional load borne by the gate plate 21 to the more rigid sleeve 24 and rotating shaft 22 structure through its own strong bending and shear stiffness. This ensures that even under conditions of frequent oscillation and material impact, the connection between the gate plate 21 and the rotating shaft 22 transmission mechanism remains stable and precise, thereby guaranteeing the long-term reliability and sealing consistency of the entire gate assembly 2, fundamentally extending the service life of the equipment and reducing maintenance requirements.

[0027] Further, see Figure 2 Both baffles 23 have an extension section at the end facing away from the material outflow direction in the storage tank, so that during the entire swing process of the gate assembly 2, they form a dynamic overlapping and sealing relationship with the door plate 21 and the inner wall of the support frame 1, further eliminating possible leakage points and ensuring complete isolation of the tobacco.

[0028] Further, see Figure 2 The drive assembly 3 includes a motor 31, a drive pulley 32 coaxially connected to the output end of the motor 31 via a keyway, and at least one transmission belt 33. The motor 31 is fixed to the outer wall of the storage tank by a mounting base, and its layout is optimized, being positioned on one side of the door panel 21 in the height direction, effectively utilizing the unused space on the side of the storage tank and avoiding interference with the discharge flow. Each transmission belt 33 tightly wraps around the drive pulley 32 and the end of the rotating shaft 22 adjacent to the motor 31, forming a simple and efficient remote transmission system. After the motor 31 starts, its torque is directly input through the drive pulley 32, and through the traction of the transmission belt 33, the rotational motion is efficiently and synchronously transmitted to the rotating shaft 22, thereby driving the entire gate assembly 2 to swing precisely around the axis of the rotating shaft 22.

[0029] Optionally, both the drive pulley 32 and the shaft 22 can be equipped with synchronous belt pulleys, whose outer circumference is precision machined to form regular meshing teeth; the transmission belt 33 is a synchronous belt with a series of matching tooth grooves on its inner ring. Power and motion are transmitted through the precise meshing of teeth and grooves, fundamentally eliminating the elastic slippage and slippage phenomena that are unavoidable in traditional friction transmission.

[0030] Furthermore, the tobacco storage tank discharge gate structure also includes a PLC controller. The PLC controller establishes an electrical connection with the drive circuit and power supply circuit of motor 31 through an industrial communication cable or hardwire, forming a complete closed-loop motion control system. Operators or higher-level production management systems can issue commands through the human-machine interface. After receiving and parsing the command, the PLC controller sends precise pulse signals to the motor 31 driver according to the internally stored programming logic, thereby controlling the start / stop, rotation direction, and preset rotation angle of motor 31. This allows the swing process of gate assembly 2—from the material guiding position to the closed position, and the speed of movement in between—to be precisely programmed and controlled. This achieves a high degree of automation and intelligence in the opening and closing operation of the discharge gate, replacing the traditional inefficient manual crank method that is prone to human error. This not only improves production efficiency and process consistency but also ensures stable and reliable sealing of the gate each time it closes through precise angle control, thus maximizing its anti-leakage performance.

[0031] Optionally, the PLC controller can be extended to connect to a human-machine interface touch screen. Operators can preset or call different brand production formulas through the screen, and the controller will automatically control the rotation angle of motor 31 according to the formula parameters to achieve precise, adjustable and traceable discharge gate opening. It can also receive limit switch signals to realize closed-loop control and fault interlock.

[0032] For example, the working principle of the discharge door structure of the tobacco storage tank is as follows:

[0033] When the tobacco storage tank needs to discharge, the PLC controller drives the motor 31 to rotate, which in turn precisely drives the rotating shaft 22 to rotate via a synchronous belt. This causes the entire gate assembly 2 to swing downwards as a rigid unit to the inclined guiding position. At this point, the trough-like structure it forms can effectively receive and guide the tobacco to flow out. When closing, the motor 31 rotates in the opposite direction, driving the gate assembly 2 to swing upwards back to the closed position. During this process, the remaining tobacco in the trough is blocked by the inner wall and naturally flows back into the tank. At the same time, the side baffles 23 and their extensions always cover the side and top gaps, and finally, the door panel 21 and the frame fit tightly together to achieve a reliable seal.

[0034] In this embodiment, an integral gate assembly 2, driven by a rotating shaft 22 and rigidly connected to a door panel 21 and two side baffles 23, replaces the existing rope-traction baffles 23. This design effectively guides materials and prevents lateral leakage during opening and closing, and forms a tight seal with the cabinet when closed, fundamentally solving the major quality problem of mixing different brands of tobacco. Simultaneously, the structure is stable in operation, easy to maintain, and can achieve automated control, improving the precision and reliability of tobacco processing.

[0035] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A tobacco storage cabinet outfeed door structure, characterised in that, include: Support frame (1) is installed at the discharge port of the storage tank; The gate assembly (2) includes a door panel (21) that is interference-fitted with the inner contour of the support frame (1), a pivot (22) horizontally disposed at the lower edge of the opening of the support frame (1), and two baffles (23) respectively disposed on both sides of the door panel (21) in the width direction; the door panel (21) is located inside the support frame (1) and its bottom end is connected to the pivot (22); the two baffles (23) extend into the storage cabinet on the side away from the door panel (21) to form a groove structure together with the door panel (21); The drive assembly (3) is connected to the rotating shaft (22) for driving the rotating shaft (22) to rotate and causing the gate assembly (2) to swing around the axis of the rotating shaft (22).

2. A tobacco cabinet door construction according to claim 1, characterised in that, The gate assembly (2) further includes a sleeve (24) fixedly sleeved outside the rotating shaft (22) and at least one stiffening plate (25); the bottom end of the door plate (21) is fixedly connected to the side wall of the sleeve (24), and the lower edge of the opening of the support frame (1) is provided with an arc-shaped groove (11) that matches the outer contour of the sleeve (24); the stiffening plate (25) is connected between the sleeve (24) and the door plate (21); both baffles (23) are provided with an extension section at the end facing away from the material flow direction in the storage tank.

3. A tobacco cabinet door construction according to claim 1, wherein, The drive assembly (3) includes a motor (31), a drive wheel (32) coaxially connected to the output end of the motor (31), and at least one transmission belt (33). The motor (31) is located on the outer wall of the storage cabinet and on one side of the door panel (21) in the height direction. Each transmission belt (33) surrounds the drive wheel (32) and the shaft (22) near one end of the motor (31).

4. A tobacco cabinet door construction according to claim 3, wherein, The drive wheel (32) and the shaft (22) are both synchronous pulleys near the end of the motor (31), and their outer circumferences are provided with meshing teeth; the transmission belt (33) is a synchronous belt, and its inner ring is provided with tooth grooves that match the meshing teeth.

5. A tobacco cabinet door construction according to claim 3, wherein, It also includes a PLC controller, which is connected to the power supply circuit of the motor (31) and is used to control the start, stop and rotation angle of the motor (31).

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