An automatic pipette device

Abstract

The present invention discloses an automatic straw dispensing device, which includes a straw box, a straw channel box installed in the cavity of the straw box, and a straw dispensing component installed on the straw channel box; a straw box door is installed at the top of the straw box, and a straw dropping opening is provided at the bottom; the gap between the straw box and the straw channel in the vertical plane is the straw channel, and the straw can fall from the top of the straw channel into the baffle plates of the straw dispensing component, and under the drive of the straw dispensing component, move clockwise along the straw channel and fall out from the bottom of the straw channel, so as to facilitate customers to drink beverages and improve the customer experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic straw dispensing device for a cabinet-type self-service coffee machine, which realizes the function of providing straws. Background Art

[0002] With the development of the Internet of Things industry and the gradual improvement of people's living standards, unmanned self-service devices have also developed greatly. Therefore, many cabinet-type self-service coffee machines have emerged on the market.

[0003] However, there are few straws provided in the cabinet-type self-service coffee machines on the market, probably for two reasons: First, although the unpacked straws are easy to take, they are likely to cause secondary pollution when placed in the cabinet-type self-service coffee machine, so most customers are reluctant to take them; Second, the straws after (paper or plastic) packaging have irregular shapes, and when placed in the cabinet-type self-service coffee machine, they may block or jam the straw box opening, resulting in the inability to take out the straws, etc., affecting the user experience of customers.

[0004] Therefore, it is urgent to develop a straw dispensing device specifically suitable for cabinet-type self-service coffee machines, and this device has broad application prospects. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above existing technical problems, the present invention provides an automatic straw dispensing device to automatically provide a packaged straw for customers when they take coffee.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic straw dispensing device, which includes a straw box, a straw channel box installed in the cavity of the straw box, and a straw dispensing component installed on the straw channel box; a straw box door is installed at the top of the straw box, and a straw dropping port is opened at the bottom; the gap between the straw box and the straw channel in the vertical plane is the straw channel, and the straw can fall from the top of the straw channel into the baffle of the straw dispensing component and move clockwise along the straw channel under the drive of the straw dispensing component, and then fall out at the bottom of the straw channel.

[0007] Further, a straw dispensing guide hole is opened on the straw channel box along the straw movement route; the straw dispensing component includes a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a synchronous pulley, a baffle synchronous belt, and a driving motor; both ends of the driving shaft and the driven shaft are respectively installed on the front and rear surfaces of the straw channel box, at least one synchronous pulley is sleeved in the middle of each shaft, the baffle synchronous belt is installed on the synchronous pulleys in the same plane along the straw movement route in a closed manner, and the baffle of the baffle synchronous belt extends into the straw channel through the straw dispensing guide hole.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention further includes a straw dropping plate located inside the straw dropping port. The straw dropping plate is installed on the side of the straw guiding holes at the bottom of the straw channel box. The right end thereof is an inclined surface that slopes from the upper right to the lower left, such that the straw drops due to its own gravity and the extrusion force of the straw dropping plate.

[0009] Further, the present invention further includes a first microswitch installed at the bottom of the straw channel box. The first microswitch is located on the right side of the straw dropping port and is respectively connected to the host computer with the driving motor, and is used to control the stop of the driving motor.

[0010] Further, the present invention further includes a second microswitch installed on the right side of the straw channel box and connected to the host computer, which is used to detect whether the straw box needs to be replenished with straws. When the second microswitch is not triggered within a set time, it means that there is no straw or only a very small amount of straw in the straw box, and the host computer will remind the maintainer to add straws.

[0011] Further, the distance between two adjacent baffles of the sub-straw assembly of the present invention is R + 1 mm, where R is the diameter of the straw. This ensures that only one straw can fall between two adjacent straw baffles.

[0012] Further, the present invention further includes a straw guiding frame installed on the left and right inner walls at the top of the straw box. The straw guiding frame is higher than the baffle synchronous belt at the top of the straw channel. The inner side thereof is an inclined surface that slopes from the outside to the inside and downward, such that the straw drops due to its own gravity and the extrusion force of the straw dropping plate.

[0013] Furthermore, the gap between the bottom of the straw guiding frame and the outer side of the synchronous belt of the baffle synchronous belt at the top of the straw channel is the straw inlet, and the distance of the straw inlet is R + 1.5 mm, where R is the diameter of the straw. The straw inlet scrapes off the straws pressing on the upper part of the straws inside the baffle synchronous belt, ensuring that there is only one straw between adjacent straw baffles in the movement route of the straw.

[0014] Further, four flange bearings are installed on the front and rear surfaces of the straw channel box respectively, and the two ends of the driving shaft and the three driven shafts are respectively fitted with the inner rings of the corresponding flange bearings.

[0015] In summary, when the straws are placed into the straw box through the straw box door, the straws move to the bottom of the straw channel along with the baffle synchronous belt. When the first microswitch installed at the bottom edge of the front side of the straw channel box is triggered, the driving motor stops rotating. When receiving the command from the host computer, the driving motor starts again. When the straws reach the straw outlet and move left, they encounter the straw dropping plate and fall downward, so as to be taken by the customer.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the technical advantages of the present invention are as follows:

[0017] 1. It can automatically provide a packaged straw for customers, facilitating customers to drink beverages and improving the customers' usage experience.

[0018] 2. It solves the problem of taking straws with packaging films in unattended vending machines and does not have phenomena such as tube jams.

[0019] 3. It has a simple structure, good straw delivery effect, low failure rate, and is convenient and practical. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 Six-sided schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 One of the structural schematic diagrams of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 Another structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 One of the structural schematic diagrams of the present invention after removing the straw box;

[0024] Figure 5 Another structural schematic diagram of the present invention after removing the straw box;

[0025] Figure 6 One of the structural schematic diagrams of the present invention after removing the straw box and the straw channel rack;

[0026] Figure 7 Another structural schematic diagram of the present invention after removing the straw box and the straw channel rack;

[0027] Figure 8 Structural schematic diagram of the present invention after removing the straw box, the straw channel rack, and the front and rear plates of the shaft support;

[0028] Figure 9 Structural schematic diagram of the straw channel and the movement route of the present invention;

[0029] In the figure: 0100, straw box door; 0200, straw box; 0300, straw guide rack; 0401, bottom plate of the straw channel; 0402, top plate of the straw channel; 0403, left plate of the straw channel; 0404, right plate of the straw channel; 0405, front plate of the shaft support; 0406, rear plate of the shaft support; 0500, sub-straw assembly; 0501, drive motor; 0502, gear; 0503, flange bearing; 0505, driving shaft; 0506, synchronous pulley; 0507, baffle synchronous belt; 0508, driven shaft; 0509, first microswitch; 0519, second microswitch; 0510, straw dropping plate; 0600, straw movement route; 0700, straw dropping port; 0800, straw inlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. When directions (up, down, left, right, front and back) are described, it is based on the Figure 2 structure shown as a reference description, but the actual use direction of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0031] As Figures 1-5 shown, the automatic sub-straw device of the present invention includes a straw box 0200, a straw channel box installed on the inner wall of the straw box 0200, and a sub-straw assembly 0500 installed on the straw channel box. The gap formed between the inner wall of the straw box 0200 and the outer side surface of the straw channel box in the vertical plane is the straw channel.

[0032] As Figure 2 、 3 shown, the front side of the top of the straw box 0200 is installed with a straw box door 0100 through a hinge, a motor operation port is opened in the middle of the front side, and a straw dropping port 0700 is opened on the left side of the bottom surface.

[0033] As Figure 2 shown, two straw guiding frames 0300 are respectively installed on the left and right inner walls of the straw box 0200. The bottom surface of the straw guiding frame 0300 is higher than the top end of the baffle synchronous belt 0507 protruding from the straw channel top plate 0402, and its inner side surface is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the outside to the inside. Specifically, in implementation, the longitudinal section of the straw guiding frame 0300 is a right triangle, its longitudinal right-angled surface is installed on the inner side wall of the straw box 0200, its transverse right-angled surface is parallel and higher than the top end of the baffle synchronous belt passing through the straw channel top plate 0402, its inclined surface slopes downward from the outside to the inside, its front end faces the straw box door 0100, and its rear end is installed on the corresponding inner wall of the straw box 0200.

[0034] Moreover, the vertical distance between the bottom surface of the straw guiding frame 0300 and the outer side surface of the synchronous belt of the baffle synchronous belt 0507 protruding from the straw channel top plate 0402 is the straw inlet 0800, and the distance of the straw inlet 0800 can be set to be 1.5 mm more than the diameter of a straw. Since the straw guiding frame 0300 is provided at the straw inlet 0800, the inclined surface of the straw guiding frame 0300 scrapes off the straws pressing on the straws above the baffle inside the baffle synchronous belt 0507, ensuring that there is only one straw between adjacent baffles entering the straw channel.

[0035] As Figure 3 shown, two straw dropping plates 0510 are respectively installed on the front and rear sides of the sub-straw guiding holes of the straw channel bottom plate 0401, and the right end of the straw dropping plate 0510 is provided with an inclined surface that slopes downward to the left.

[0036] As Figure 4 , 5 shown, the straw channel holder is mainly formed by connecting a straw channel bottom plate 0401, a straw channel top plate 0402, a straw channel left plate 0403, a straw channel right plate 0404, a shaft support front plate 0405 and a shaft support rear plate 0406. And on the straw channel bottom plate, top plate, left plate, and right plate 0401, 0402, 0403, 0404, sub-straw guiding holes are opened along the movement route of the straw.

[0037] As Figures 6-8 shown, the sub-straw assembly 0500 is assembled as a whole in the straw box 0200, and includes a driving shaft 0505 installed between the shaft support front plate 0405 and the shaft support rear plate 0406, three driven shafts 0508 parallel to it, eight synchronous belt pulleys 0506, two baffle synchronizing belts 0507, and a driving motor 0501 installed on the front side surface of the shaft support front plate 0405.

[0038] Both ends of the driving shaft 0505 are respectively installed at the upper left corners of the shaft support front plate 0405 and the shaft support rear plate 0406, and both ends of the three driven shafts 0508 are respectively installed at the upper right corners, lower left corners, and lower right corners of the shaft support front plate 0405 and the shaft support rear plate 0406. During specific implementation, four circular holes are respectively provided on each of the shaft support front plate 0405 and the shaft support rear plate 0406 for installing flange bearings 0503; the inner rings of the eight flange bearings 0503 are matched with the corresponding driving shaft 0505 or driven shaft 0508, and their outer rings are matched with the circular holes on the corresponding shaft support front plate 0405 or shaft support rear plate 0406.

[0039] As Figure 8 shown, two synchronous belt pulleys 0506 are respectively sleeved in the middle of the driving shaft 0505 and the driven shafts 0508, and moreover, the synchronous belt pulleys 0506 located on the front and rear sides of each shaft are respectively in the same vertical plane. During specific implementation, the baffle synchronizing belt 0507 includes a synchronizing belt and a straw baffle connected to its outer side surface, and the distance between two adjacent straw baffles can be set to be 1 mm more than the diameter of a straw. The synchronizing belts of the front and rear baffle synchronizing belts 0507 are respectively meshed with the four synchronous belt pulleys 0506 on the front and rear sides and form a quadrilateral, specifically a right trapezoid with a larger upper part and a smaller lower part, the upper and lower two sides are parallel, the right side is vertical, and the left side is inclined, see Figure 9 . In addition, the two baffle synchronizing belts 0507 protrude from the corresponding sub-straw guiding holes, and the top surface of the baffle synchronizing belt 0507 is higher than the corresponding straw channel board surface by a certain height, such as 9.3 mm.

[0040] As Figure 6 , 7As shown, a gear 0502 is installed at the front end of the output shaft of the driving shaft 0505 extending out of the front plate 0405 of the shaft bracket, and the gear 0502 is connected to the driving motor 0501.

[0041] As Figure 6 、 7 shown, the first micro switch 0509 and the second micro switch 0519 are respectively installed on the right side of the bottom edge and the right side of the front plate 0405 of the shaft bracket, and the first and second micro switches 0509 and 0519 are respectively located near the bottom edge and the right side of the synchronous belt 0507 of the front baffle.

[0042] Moreover, the driving motor 0501 and the first and second micro switches 0509 and 0519 are respectively connected to the host computer. The control circuit among the host computer, the first and second micro switches 0509 and 0519, and the driving motor 0501 shares with other modules of the cabinet type self-service coffee machine, and its circuit function can be realized by using the existing technology.

[0043] During use, the principle and operation process of the present invention are as follows: First, open the straw box door 0100, put the straw into the straw box 0200. Due to the gravity of the straw itself and the action of the inclined surface of the straw guide frame 0300, there will always be a straw falling between the baffles of the baffle synchronous belt 0507, and the distance between adjacent two baffles is set to only allow one straw to fall in.

[0044] Secondly, since a driving shaft 0505 and three driven shafts 0508 are connected together by a synchronous pulley 0506 and a baffle synchronous belt 0507, when the driving motor 0501 rotates, the gear on its output shaft will drive the gear 0502 at the front end of the driving shaft 0505 to rotate, thereby driving the baffle synchronous belt 0507 to rotate from left to right along the straw movement route (indicated by the dotted line) 0600. At the same time, the baffle synchronous belt 0507 will drive the straw falling between its baffles to move along the straw movement route 0600 during the movement.

[0045] When the straw moving to the straw channel bottom plate 0401 triggers the first micro switch 0509 installed at the bottom edge of the front plate 0405 of the shaft bracket, the driving motor 0501 stops rotating. When receiving the command of taking the straw sent by the host computer, the driving motor 0501 starts again, and the baffle synchronous belt 0507 continues to move. When the straw moving to the straw channel bottom plate 0401 reaches the straw dropping port 0700 and moves leftward and encounters the obstacle of the inclined surface of the straw dropping plate 0510, due to its own gravity and the extrusion force of the straw dropping plate 0510, it will move downward and fall into the pickup basket below the straw dropping port 0700 for the customer to use.

[0046] When the second microswitch 0519 on the right side of the front plate 0405 of the shaft bracket is not triggered within the set time, it means that there is no straw or only a very small amount of straw in the straw box. For example Figure 8 , 9 As shown in and

[0047] , there are 14 grids in total from the second microswitch 0519 to the baffle synchronous belt 0507 in the straw box 0200. Assuming that the time interval for the straw in adjacent two grids to trigger the second microswitch 0519 is 1 second, if the second microswitch 0519 is not triggered within 14 seconds, it means that there is no straw in the above 14 grids, which further indicates that there is no straw or only a very small amount of straw in the straw box 0200, and the upper computer can remind the user to open the straw box door 0100 in time to add straw.

[0047] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make equivalent deformations or substitutions without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and these equivalent deformations or substitutions are all included in the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. An automatic pipette device, characterized in that, It includes a straw box, a straw channel box installed in the cavity of the straw box, and a sub-straw assembly installed on the straw channel box; a straw box door is installed at the top of the straw box, and a straw dropping opening is provided at the bottom; the gap between the straw box and the straw channel box in the vertical plane is the straw channel, and the straw can fall from the top of the straw channel into the space between the baffles of the sub-straw assembly, and under the drive of the sub-straw assembly, move clockwise along the straw channel and fall out from the bottom of the straw channel; The straw channel box is mainly formed by connecting a straw channel bottom plate, a straw channel top plate, a straw channel left plate, a straw channel right plate, a shaft support front plate and a shaft support rear plate, and sub-straw guiding holes are provided on the bottom plate, top plate, left plate and right plate of the straw channel along the movement route of the straw; The sub-straw assembly includes a driving shaft installed between the shaft support front plate and the shaft support rear plate, three driven shafts parallel to it, eight synchronous belt pulleys and two baffle synchronous belts, and a driving motor installed on the front side of the shaft support front plate; Both ends of the driving shaft are installed at the upper left corners of the shaft support front plate and the shaft support rear plate respectively, and both ends of the three driven shafts are installed at the upper right corner, the lower left corner and the lower right corner of the shaft support front plate and the shaft support rear plate respectively; two synchronous belt pulleys are sleeved on the middle parts of the driving shaft and the driven shafts respectively; the front end of the driving shaft extending out of the shaft support front plate is installed with a gear, and this gear is connected to the driving motor; The baffle synchronous belt is installed on the synchronous belt pulleys in the same plane along the straw movement route in a closed manner; the baffle synchronous belt includes a synchronous belt and a straw baffle connected to its outer side; the synchronous belts of the front and rear baffle synchronous belts are respectively meshed with the four synchronous belt pulleys on the front and rear sides and form a quadrilateral in a closed manner; and the straw baffle of the baffle synchronous belt extends into the straw channel through the sub-straw guiding hole; It also includes a straw dropping plate located in the straw dropping opening, and this straw dropping plate is installed on the side of the sub-straw guiding hole at the bottom of the straw channel box, and its right end is an inclined surface sloping from the upper right to the lower left; It also includes a first micro switch installed at the bottom of the straw channel box, and this first micro switch is located on the right side of the straw dropping opening and is respectively connected to the upper computer with the driving motor for controlling the stop of the driving motor; When the driving motor rotates, the gear on its output shaft will drive the gear at the front end of the driving shaft to rotate, thereby driving the baffle synchronous belt to rotate from left to right along the straw movement route. At the same time, during the movement of the baffle synchronous belt, the straw falling between its baffles will be driven to move along the straw movement route together; when the straw moving to the straw channel bottom plate triggers the first micro switch installed at the bottom edge of the shaft support front plate, the driving motor stops rotating; When receiving the command of taking the straw sent by the upper computer, the driving motor starts again, and the baffle synchronous belt continues to move. When the straw moving to the straw channel bottom plate reaches the straw outlet and moves leftward and encounters the obstruction of the inclined surface of the straw dropping plate, due to its own gravity and the extrusion force of the straw dropping plate, it will move downward and fall into the picking basket below the straw outlet; It further includes a second microswitch installed on the right side of the straw channel box and connected to the host computer, which is used to detect whether the straw box should be replenished with straws; when the second microswitch is not triggered within a set time, it means that there are no straws or only a very small amount of straws in the straw box.

2. The automatic sub-suction pipe device according to claim 1, wherein, The distance between two adjacent baffles of the sub-straw assembly is R + 1 mm, where R is the diameter of the straw.

3. An automatic pipette separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It further includes a straw guide installed on the left and right inner walls of the top of the straw box. The straw guide is higher than the baffle synchronous belt at the top of the straw channel, and its inner side is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the outside to the inside. The gap between the bottom of the straw guide and the outer side of the synchronous belt of the baffle synchronous belt at the top of the straw channel is the straw inlet. The longitudinal section of the straw guide is a right triangle. Its longitudinal right-angled surface is installed on the inner side wall of the straw box. Its transverse right-angled surface is parallel and higher than the top end of the baffle synchronous belt passing through the top plate of the straw channel. Its inclined surface slopes downward from the outside to the inside, its front end faces the straw box door, and its rear end is installed on the corresponding inner wall of the straw box.

4. The automatic pipette device according to claim 3, characterized in that The distance of the straw inlet is R + 1.5 mm, where R is the diameter of the straw.

5. The automatic sub-suction pipe device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Four flange bearings are installed on the front and rear surfaces of the straw channel box respectively, and the two ends of the driving shaft and the three driven shafts are respectively fitted with the inner rings of the corresponding flange bearings.

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