Medical plastic tube automatic sorting and conveying device and method

Abstract

The present invention discloses an automatic sorting and conveying device for medical plastic tubes and a method thereof, comprising a frame-shaped bracket comprising an upper plate and a lower plate, and a connecting rod securing the upper plate and the lower plate; a feed tray is provided on the upper plate, and a group of circular through-holes are provided on the feed tray for the entry of medical plastic tubes; a transfer block is provided on the lower plate, and a circular through-hole is provided thereon, the number of circular through-holes being the same as the number of the circular through-holes but being arranged in different positions; a receiving assembly is provided below the lower plate to accommodate medical plastic tubes that fall through the circular through-holes. The beneficial effects of the present invention are mainly reflected in the following aspects: the device realizes fully automatic unloading, conveying, and plug-in sorting, and is fully automated, eliminating the need for manual operation and reducing work intensity. At the same time, the principle of gravity is used to automatically drop and plug in medical plastic tubes, which is simple, convenient, and reliable to operate, without the need for mechanical drive, greatly reducing costs, and having a wide range of applicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular to an automatic sorting and conveying device for medical plastic tubes and a method thereof. Background Art

[0002] There are many types of plastic tubular medical products, such as blood collection tubes, blood collection tube caps, pharyngeal swab tubes, syringe straws, and tube caps. They all share the characteristic of being long, slender tubes. The manufacturing process typically involves removing them from the injection mold, transferring them, and sorting them for subsequent processing.

[0003] For example, Chinese patent CN208119510U discloses a plastic tubular sample sorting and packaging machine, which includes a sample loader, a sample conveyor connected to the sample loader, and a sample sorting machine. The sample sorting machine is equipped with a sorting and packaging assembly, a vacuum gripper assembly, a transfer box, and a transfer box conveyor belt. The sorting and packaging assembly includes a sorting trough, and the vacuum gripper assembly includes a vacuum suction cup. After the plastic tubular samples are arranged in the sorting trough, they are grasped by the vacuum suction cup and placed into the transfer box for automated sorting and stacking.

[0004] However, in the above structure, additional sorting and packaging components and transfer boxes are required, and the products cannot be directly taken out and arranged from the injection mold. In addition, there are also many plastic tubular samples formed in one go from the injection mold. When the efficiency of the plastic tubular sample sorting and packaging machine is inconsistent with the efficiency of the injection mold, the products will have to wait, affecting production efficiency and progress. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art and to provide a device and method for automatically sorting and conveying medical plastic tubes.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] An automatic sorting and conveying device for medical plastic tubes, comprising

[0008] A frame-type bracket, comprising an upper plate and a lower plate, and a connecting rod for fixing the two;

[0009] The feeding tray is located on the upper plate and is provided with a group of circular through holes for the medical plastic tubes to enter. The arrangement positions of the circular through holes are the same as the molding positions of the medical plastic tubes in the injection mold.

[0010] An adapter block is provided on the lower plate and is provided with circular through holes. The number of the circular through holes is the same as that of the circular through holes, but the arrangement positions of the circular through holes are different.

[0011] a receiving assembly, located below the lower plate, for accommodating the medical plastic tube that has fallen through the circular through-hole;

[0012] Each of the circular through holes is connected to the circular through hole in a one-to-one correspondence via a hose, and the outer diameter of the hose is the same as the inner diameter of the circular through hole and the circular through hole.

[0013] Preferably, it also includes a vibration component, which includes an upper cylinder, a guide rod and a sliding sleeve. The cylinder shaft of the upper cylinder is fixed to the lower plate, and two groups of sliding sleeves are respectively fixed to the upper plate and the lower plate, with the guide rod passing therebetween.

[0014] Preferably, it also includes a vacuum adsorption plate, on which a group of vacuum adsorbers are fixed, and each of the vacuum adsorbers is provided with a group of adsorption heads for adsorbing the medical plastic tube; the adsorption heads correspond one to one with the position and number of the circular through holes on the feed tray.

[0015] Preferably, the circular through holes on each group of the adsorption heads and each group of the feed trays are arranged in a circular shape, and the circular through holes are arranged in a rectangular shape.

[0016] Preferably, the adapter block includes a main board locked on the lower plate by screws, and semicircular holes are arranged in a linear pattern on the main board; a support plate is provided on both sides of the main board, and semicircular holes are provided on the support plate, which correspond one-to-one with the semicircular holes on the main board to form the circular through holes, and the main board and the support plate are connected by bolts.

[0017] Preferably, the hose is a transparent Teflon tube.

[0018] Preferably, the receiving assembly includes a sliding plate that slides along the guide rail and a supporting plate I and a supporting plate II symmetrically arranged on the sliding plate, and the supporting plate I and the supporting plate II are both provided with a group of receiving holes that are compatible with the plastic tube; the supporting plate I is fixed on the sliding plate, and the supporting plate II is slidably arranged on the sliding plate through a sliding assembly.

[0019] Preferably, the axial spacing between adjacent accommodating holes is half of the axial spacing between adjacent circular through holes.

[0020] Preferably, the sliding assembly includes a sliding rail fixed on the sliding plate, the sliding rail is provided with a slider adapted thereto, the slider is fixed with the supporting plate II, and the sliding plate is also provided with a side push cylinder, the cylinder shaft of the side push cylinder is fixedly connected to the supporting plate II.

[0021] A method for automatically sorting and conveying medical plastic tubes comprises the following steps:

[0022] Step S1: After the adsorption head of the vacuum adsorption plate adsorbs the medical plastic tube from the injection mold, it moves to the top of the upper plate and aligns until the medical plastic tube is at least partially extended and placed in the corresponding circular through hole;

[0023] Step S2, closing the vacuum absorber, allowing the medical plastic tube to pass through the circular through hole, the hose, and the circular through hole in sequence under gravity and then naturally fall into the receiving holes of the supporting plate I and the supporting plate II;

[0024] Step S3: The sliding plate moves horizontally until the receiving hole is full of the plastic tubes, and then moves to the next process.

[0025] Preferably, the optional step includes step S4, starting the side push cylinder to drive the supporting plate II to move toward the supporting plate I until the two are in close contact, and then moving horizontally to the next process through the sliding plate.

[0026] Preferably, in step S2, when the medical plastic tube cannot fall naturally in the hose, the upper cylinder is started to drive the entire bracket to move up and down to generate vibration.

[0027] The beneficial effects of the present invention are mainly reflected in:

[0028] 1. The device realizes fully automatic unloading, conveying and sorting, which is fully automated and does not require manual operation, thus reducing work intensity. At the same time, it uses the principle of gravity to automatically drop and arrange medical plastic tubes. The operation is simple, convenient and reliable, and no mechanical drive is required, which greatly reduces costs and has a wide applicability.

[0029] 2. This device can unload all medical plastic tubes from the injection mold at once and sort them according to the predetermined positions, greatly improving work efficiency;

[0030] 3. The setting of the vibration component can avoid static friction between the medical plastic tube and the soft tube, which causes it to be unable to fall freely, thereby improving the accuracy of plugging;

[0031] 4. The main board and the support board work together to fix the hose, which is simple and convenient to operate, easy to disassemble and replace, and greatly improves the assembly efficiency;

[0032] 5. The hose is made of Teflon tube, which takes advantage of the low friction coefficient of Teflon tube to minimize the friction between the hose and the medical plastic tube. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0034] Figure 1 : A three-dimensional diagram of a medical plastic tube in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 : A three-dimensional diagram of the carrier plate II in a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 3 : A three-dimensional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the first direction, in which only one hose is shown and the other hoses are hidden;

[0037] Figure 4 : A three-dimensional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the second direction, in which only one hose is shown and the other hoses are hidden. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments are not limited to the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined as "first", "second", etc. may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0040] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed, detachable, or integral connections; mechanical or electrical connections; direct or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0041] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with embodiments.

[0042] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, the present invention discloses an automatic sorting and conveying device for medical plastic tubes, comprising a frame-shaped bracket 1, wherein the bracket 1 comprises an upper plate 11 and a lower plate 12, and a connecting rod 13 for fixing the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 12. Of course, an integrated bracket 1 is also possible.

[0043] The upper plate 11 is provided with a feed tray 2. The feed tray 2 and the upper plate 11 can be separate components, as shown. Alternatively, they can be integrated, falling within the scope of the present invention. The feed tray 2 is provided with a set of circular through-holes 21 for the medical plastic tubes 100 to enter. The arrangement of the circular through-holes 21 is identical to the molding position of the medical plastic tubes 100 in the injection mold.

[0044] The lower plate 12 is provided with an adapter block 4. The lower plate 12 and adapter block 4 can be separate, as shown in the figure. Of course, they can also be an integrated structure, both of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. The adapter block 4 is provided with circular through-holes 41. The number of these circular through-holes 41 is the same as the number of the circular through-holes 21, but their arrangement is different.

[0045] Combine Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, each circular through-hole 41 is connected to the circular through-hole 21 via a flexible tube 5, and the outer diameter of the flexible tube 5 is the same as the inner diameter of the circular through-hole 41 and the circular through-hole 21. In this preferred embodiment, the medical plastic tube naturally falls from the circular through-hole 21 through the flexible tube 5 to the circular through-hole 41. This design utilizes the principle of gravity to automatically drop and connect the medical plastic tube. The operation is simple, convenient, and reliable, and no mechanical drive is required, which greatly reduces costs and has wide applicability.

[0046] In this preferred embodiment, the hose 5 is a transparent Teflon tube. The use of Teflon tube utilizes the low friction coefficient of Teflon tube to minimize friction between the hose and the medical plastic tube. Of course, the hose 5 may also be made of other materials with a low friction coefficient, all of which fall within the scope of the present invention and are not further elaborated herein.

[0047] The present invention also includes a vacuum adsorption plate 7, which is fixed with a group of vacuum adsorbers 71. Each vacuum adsorber 71 is equipped with a group of adsorption heads 72 for adsorbing the medical plastic tubes 100. The adsorption heads 72 correspond one-to-one with the position and number of the circular through-holes 21 on the feed tray 2. Each group of adsorption heads 72 and each group of circular through-holes 21 on the feed tray 2 are arranged in a circular pattern, while the circular through-holes 41 are arranged in a rectangular pattern. This design allows all medical plastic tubes in the injection mold to be cut out at once and inserted and arranged in predetermined positions, greatly improving work efficiency.

[0048] The key design features of the present invention also include a vibration assembly, which includes an upper cylinder 62, a guide rod 63 and a sliding sleeve 61. The cylinder shaft of the upper cylinder 62 is fixed to the lower plate 12, and two sets of sliding sleeves 61 are respectively fixed to the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 12, with the guide rod 63 passing therebetween. The provision of the vibration assembly can prevent the medical plastic tube from generating static friction with the hose 5, which would prevent it from falling freely. In addition, the sliding sleeve 61 can be a guide sleeve of the preferred embodiment, or a linear bearing, both of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. When the medical plastic tube 100 cannot fall naturally in the hose 5, the upper cylinder 62 is activated, driving the bracket 1 to move up and down as a whole to generate vibration, thereby allowing the medical plastic tube 100 to fall smoothly in the hose 5.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adapter block 4 comprises a main plate 42 secured to the lower plate 12 by screws. The main plate 42 is provided with a linear array of semicircular holes. A support plate 43 is provided on either side of the main plate 42. These support plates 43 each have semicircular holes formed therein. These holes correspond to the semicircular holes on the main plate 42, forming the circular through-holes 41. The main plate 42 and support plates 43 are connected by bolts. The main plate 42 and support plates 43 cooperate to secure the hose, making it simple and convenient to disassemble and replace, greatly improving assembly efficiency.

[0050] A receiving assembly 3 is also provided below the lower plate 12, which is used to accommodate the medical plastic tube 100 that falls through the circular through-hole 41. Specifically, the receiving assembly 3 includes a sliding plate 31 that slides along the guide rail 38, and a supporting plate I 32 and a supporting plate II 39 symmetrically arranged on the sliding plate 31. The supporting plate I 32 and the supporting plate II 39 are both provided with a group of receiving holes 37 that are compatible with the plastic tube 100. The supporting plate I 32 is fixed on the sliding plate 31, and the supporting plate II 39 is slidably arranged on the sliding plate 31 through a sliding assembly. When the supporting plate II 39 can move relative to the supporting plate I 32, it forms a whole with it to facilitate subsequent processing, improve convenience and work efficiency. In addition, a sensor rack is also provided along the movement direction of the sliding plate 31, and a group of sensors are fixed on the sensor rack.

[0051] The sliding assembly includes a slide rail 33 fixed to the sliding plate 31. The slide rail 33 is provided with a matching slider 34. The slider 34 is fixed to the carrier plate II 39. The sliding plate 31 is also provided with a side push cylinder 35. The cylinder shaft of the side push cylinder 35 is fixed to the carrier plate II 39. When the side push cylinder 35 is activated, it can drive the carrier plate II 39 to move toward or away from the carrier plate I 32.

[0052] It is important to note that, in this preferred embodiment, the axial spacing between adjacent accommodating holes 37 is half of the axial spacing between adjacent circular through holes 41. Figures 2 to 4 As shown, when the first batch of medical plastic tubes are unloaded, the medical plastic tubes that fall from the circular through holes 21 fall into the odd-numbered receiving holes 37 through the hose and the circular through hole 41 in turn; then, the sliding plate 31 moves a distance on the slide rail 33, and the distance is the axial spacing between adjacent receiving holes 37; at this time, when the second batch of medical plastic tubes are unloaded, the medical plastic tubes that fall from the circular through holes 21 fall into the even-numbered receiving holes 37 through the hose and the circular through hole 41 in turn, thereby realizing multi-batch plug-in unloading and greatly improving work efficiency.

[0053] The present invention also discloses a method for automatically sorting and transporting medical plastic tubes, comprising the following steps:

[0054] Step S1: After the adsorption head 72 of the vacuum adsorption plate 7 adsorbs the medical plastic tube 100 from the injection mold, it moves to the top of the upper plate 11 and aligns until the medical plastic tube 100 is at least partially extended and placed in the corresponding circular through hole 21.

[0055] Step S2: close the vacuum absorber 71, and allow the medical plastic tube 100 to pass through the circular through hole 21, the hose 5 and the circular through hole 41 in sequence by gravity and then naturally fall to the supporting plate I. 32 and the accommodating hole 37 of the carrying plate II 39.

[0056] In step S3 , the sliding plate 31 moves horizontally until the receiving holes 37 are fully filled with the plastic tubes 100 , and then moves to the next process.

[0057] The present invention can also selectively include step S4 for the subsequent process, starting the side push cylinder 35 to drive the carrier plate II 39 to move toward the carrier plate I 32 until the two are in close contact, and then horizontally move to the next process through the sliding plate 31.

[0058] It should be understood that although this specification is described in terms of implementation methods, not every implementation method contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative method of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each implementation method can also be appropriately combined to form other implementation methods that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0059] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of the present invention. They are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent implementation methods or changes that do not deviate from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. Automatic sorting and conveying device for medical plastic tubes, characterized by: include A frame-shaped bracket (1) comprising an upper plate (11) and a lower plate (12), and a connecting rod (13) for fixing the upper plate and the lower plate; A feed tray (2) is located on the upper plate (11), and a group of circular through holes (21) are provided on the feed tray (2) for the medical plastic tube (100) to enter, and the arrangement position of the circular through holes (21) is the same as the molding position of the medical plastic tube (100) in the injection mold; An adapter block (4) is arranged on the lower plate (12) and is provided with circular through holes (41). The number of the circular through holes (41) is the same as the number of the circular through holes (21), but the arrangement positions are different. A receiving assembly (3), located below the lower plate (12), for accommodating the medical plastic tube (100) that has fallen through the circular through hole (41); Each of the circular through holes (41) and the circular through hole (21) is connected to each other in a one-to-one correspondence via a hose (5), and the outer diameter of the hose (5) is the same as the inner diameter of the circular through hole (41) and the circular through hole (21); The adapter block (4) includes a main board (42) locked on the lower board (12) by screws, and semicircular holes are arranged in a linear pattern on the main board (42); a support plate (43) is provided on both sides of the main board (42), and a semicircular hole is provided on the support plate (43), which corresponds to the semicircular hole on the main board (42) to form the circular through hole (41), and the main board (42) and the support plate (43) are connected by bolts; The receiving assembly (3) includes a sliding plate (31) sliding along a guide rail (38) and a bearing plate I (32) and a bearing plate II (39) symmetrically arranged on the sliding plate (31), wherein the bearing plate I (32) and the bearing plate II (39) are both provided with a group of receiving holes (37) adapted to the medical plastic tube (100); the bearing plate I (32) is fixed on the sliding plate (31), and the bearing plate II (39) is slidably arranged on the sliding plate (31) through a sliding assembly; The axial spacing between adjacent accommodating holes (37) is half the axial spacing between adjacent circular through holes (41); The sliding assembly includes a sliding rail (33) fixed on the sliding plate (31), a sliding block (34) adapted thereto is provided on the sliding rail (33), the supporting plate II (39) is fixed on the sliding block (34), and a side push cylinder (35) is further provided on the sliding plate (31), and the cylinder shaft of the side push cylinder (35) is fixedly connected to the supporting plate II (39).

2. The automatic sorting and conveying device for medical plastic tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invention also includes a vibration component, which includes an upper cylinder (62), a guide rod (63) and a sliding sleeve (61). The cylinder shaft of the upper cylinder (62) is fixed to the lower plate (12). One group of the sliding sleeves (61) is fixed on the upper plate (11), and one group of the sliding sleeves (61) is fixed on the lower plate (12). The guide rod (63) is passed through the sliding sleeves (61).

3. The automatic sorting and conveying device for medical plastic tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a vacuum adsorption plate (7), on which a group of vacuum adsorbers (71) are fixedly provided, and each of the vacuum adsorbers (71) is provided with a group of adsorption heads (72) for adsorbing the medical plastic tube (100); the positions and numbers of the adsorption heads (72) correspond one to one with the circular through holes (21) on the feed tray (2).

4. The automatic sorting and conveying device for medical plastic tubes according to claim 3, characterized in that: The circular through holes (21) on each group of the adsorption heads (72) and each group of the feed trays (2) are arranged in a circular shape, and the circular through holes (41) are arranged in a rectangular shape.

5. The automatic sorting and conveying device for medical plastic tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hose (5) is a transparent Teflon tube.

6. The method for automatically sorting and conveying medical plastic tubes using the device for automatically sorting and conveying medical plastic tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steps include: Step S1: After the adsorption head (72) of the vacuum adsorption plate (7) adsorbs the medical plastic tube (100) from the injection mold, it is moved to the top of the upper plate (11) and aligned until at least a portion of the medical plastic tube (100) extends and is placed in the corresponding circular through hole (21); Step S2, closing the vacuum absorber (71), allowing the medical plastic tube (100) to pass through the circular through hole (21), the hose (5), and the circular through hole (41) in sequence under gravity and then naturally fall into the receiving holes (37) of the supporting plate I (32) and the supporting plate II (39); Step S3: The sliding plate (31) moves horizontally until the receiving hole (37) is fully filled with the medical plastic tube (100), and then moves to the next process.

7. The method for automatically sorting and transporting medical plastic tubes according to claim 6, characterized in that: The process comprises step S4, wherein the side push cylinder (35) is started to drive the carrier plate II (39) to move toward the carrier plate I (32) until the two are in close contact, and then the carrier plate is moved horizontally to the next process position via the sliding plate (31).

8. The method for automatically sorting and transporting medical plastic tubes according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step S2, when the medical plastic tube (100) cannot fall naturally in the hose (5), the upper cylinder (62) is activated to drive the entire bracket (1) to move up and down to generate vibration.

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