Deflation and storage device for inflatable balls

Abstract

The application relates to a deflation and storage device for inflatable balls, and a method for storage by using the device. The deflation and storage device for inflatable balls comprises a base, a centering chuck installed above the center of the base, a motor installed on the side of the centering chuck and matched with the centering chuck in power, and the motor is connected with an alternating current power supply through a switch; the centering chuck is also matched with a deflation device for deflation while the centering chuck extrudes the ball; and a control device is connected with the motor through a signal. The motor is a servo motor. The centering chuck is a three-jaw centering chuck or a four-jaw centering chuck. The centering chuck is provided with clamping claws, and the top ends of all the clamping claws are arc-shaped, so that no pressure mark is left when the ball is extruded, the outer cover of the ball is not damaged, and the clamping claws do not contact when being stored to the topmost point.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a deflation and storage device for inflatable balls, specifically a device for deflation and folding of inflatable balls. Background Technology

[0002] Inflatable balls, being hollow spheres, are lightweight, but occupy a significant volume when inflated, especially when transporting and storing large quantities. In the large-scale transport of basketballs, soccer balls, and volleyballs, current methods of shipping pre-inflated balls often increase logistics costs and product prices due to their large space requirements. While deflating the balls before shipping compresses them into a semi-circle, the existing method involves inflating / deflating nozzles between the inner and outer bladders during manufacturing. These nozzles are relatively long, and their ends extend into the inner bladder. When compressing the ball into a semi-circle, the nozzle's end is easily crushed by the deflated inner bladder, and prolonged compression can damage the rubber nozzle. Therefore, it is necessary to design a new device to meet the storage needs of inflatable balls and the large-volume transport and storage requirements of manufacturers and retailers. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above, the present invention provides a deflation and storage device for inflatable balls, which can well meet the actual transportation and storage needs and has good application and promotion effects.

[0004] A deflation and storage device for an inflatable ball includes a base, a centering chuck installed at the center of the base, a motor for powering the centering chuck installed on the side of the centering chuck, and the motor connected to an AC power source via a switch; a deflation device is also provided with the centering chuck to deflate the ball while it is being compressed by the centering chuck; and a control device is connected to the motor via a signal connection.

[0005] The motor mentioned is a servo motor.

[0006] The centering chuck is a three-jaw or four-jaw centering chuck, and the centering chuck is a commercially available product; preferably, it is a four-jaw centering chuck. Compared to a three-jaw centering chuck, since the inner liner of an inflatable ball is made of four pieces of butyl vulcanized rubber of equal size, which are heat-fused together, the four-jaw centering chuck can compress the inner liner into a four-lobed shape better according to the splicing line contour, unlike the three-lobed shape compressed by a three-jaw centering chuck. Furthermore, when the three-lobed shape is further compressed, one lobe will inevitably tilt to one side, making... The sphere experiences asymmetrical forces when compressed, which negatively impacts its circumference after inflation during long-term compressed storage. However, when compressed into a four-lobed shape using a four-jaw centering chuck, it can be symmetrically compressed into a flattened X shape. The sphere experiences symmetrical forces during compression, and inflation does not negatively affect its circumference. Furthermore, in the four-lobed shape, the inflation nozzle is located at the center, ensuring adequate space even when the sphere is compressed, preventing the inflation nozzle from being squeezed by the inner wall and thus avoiding deformation damage.

[0007] The centering chuck has jaws, and the tips of all the jaws are rounded to prevent indentations from being left when the ball is squeezed, thus avoiding damage to the outer shell of the ball. Furthermore, the jaws do not contact each other when retracted to their highest point. The gaps between the jaws ensure that the jaws will not damage the outer shell of the ball even if the motor malfunctions.

[0008] The deflation device is a hollow rigid rod with an outer diameter smaller than the opening of the inflation nozzle, which facilitates the insertion of the rigid rod into the inflation nozzle. The control device is an electrical control box.

[0009] The aforementioned deflation device has a handle containing a pressure sensor. At the front end of the pressure sensor is a hollow, rigid rod with an outer diameter smaller than the opening of the inflation nozzle, facilitating insertion of the rod into the nozzle. The pressure sensor is connected to a control device, which is also connected to a motor next to the centering chuck. The control device is powered by a power source. During use, the deflation device and the centering chuck are linked; that is, only when the pressure sensor detects pressure can the centering chuck compress inward under the drive of the motor. When the pressure sensor does not detect pressure, the centering chuck does not operate. A through hole for easy deflation is provided in the upper half of the rigid rod.

[0010] The pressure sensor and control device are both commercially available products, and the control device is a microcontroller, a PLC programmable controller, or a computer.

[0011] When the deflation device is simply a hollow rigid rod, a storage method for a deflation and storage device similar to an inflatable ball is as follows:

[0012] Connect the motor next to the centering chuck to the AC power supply, and adjust the centering chuck to the open position;

[0013] Place the ball to be deflated between the jaws in the centering chuck, with the inflation nozzle of the ball facing upwards, and insert the rigid rod into the inflation nozzle on the ball;

[0014] When the control box is activated, the jaws on the centering chuck move inward, compressing the high-pressure air inside the sphere. The high-pressure air inside the sphere is then expelled outward at high speed through the rigid rod.

[0015] After the sphere is compressed and contracted into a predetermined shape, the drive motor is stopped by the electronic control box, and the rigid rod used as a venting device is pulled out.

[0016] Adjust the centering chuck to the open position using the electronic control box, remove the deflated and stored sphere, and insert a new sphere to be stored, repeating this process continuously.

[0017] When the deflation device has a handle, a pressure sensor is located inside the handle, and a hollow rigid rod is located at the front end of the pressure sensor, a method for storing an inflatable ball-type deflation and storage device is as follows:

[0018] After the equipment is properly adjusted, connect the motor next to the centering chuck to the AC power supply, and adjust the centering chuck to the open position.

[0019] Place the ball to be deflated between the jaws in the centering chuck, with the inflation nozzle of the ball facing upwards, and insert the rigid rod into the inflation nozzle on the ball;

[0020] The pressure sensor at the top of the rigid rod senses the pressure and transmits the signal to the control device. The control device sends a squeezing command to the motor, and the jaws on the centering chuck move inward, squeezing the high-pressure air inside the ball. The high-pressure air inside the ball is then expelled outward at high speed through the rigid rod.

[0021] After the sphere is compressed and contracted into the predetermined shape, the rigid rod used as the venting device is pulled out. The pressure on the pressure sensor disappears, the sphere stops venting, and at the same time, the control device sends a reset command to the motor. The jaws on the centering chuck reset to the open state, and the vented and stored sphere can be taken out. A new sphere to be stored is then placed in, and this process is repeated.

[0022] This invention is ingeniously conceived, simple in structure, and easy to use. It is highly efficient in deflating and storing the spheres, and the storage effect is good. Compared with existing methods of transporting without deflation, it greatly improves space utilization efficiency and reduces logistics costs. Compared with directly flattening into a hemispherical shape, it can effectively avoid the compression of the inflation nozzle by the hemispherical shape, reducing the probability of damage to the spheres caused by compression during transportation. It has good application and promotion effects. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0024] Figure 1This is a top view of the deflation and storage device for an inflatable ball according to the present invention (the ball is not yet stored, and the control device is not shown).

[0025] Figure 2 This is a top view of the deflation and storage device for an inflatable ball according to the present invention (the ball has been stored, but the control device is not shown).

[0026] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an inflatable ball-type deflation and storage device according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the venting device of the present invention, which has a handle, a pressure sensor inside the handle, and a hollow rigid rod at the front end of the pressure sensor.

[0028] Figure 5 The diagrams show a hemispherical sphere that is not housed using this invention (top view and cross-sectional view, respectively).

[0029] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the storage method in Example 1.

[0030] Figure 7 This is a flowchart of the storage method in Example 2. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The following will refer to the appendices in the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 1-7 The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 A deflation and storage device for an inflatable ball includes a base 4, a centering chuck 1 mounted at the center of the base 4, a motor 2 mounted on the side of the centering chuck 1 for power supply, and the motor 2 connected to an AC power source via a switch; a deflation device 6 is also provided with the centering chuck 1 for deflation while the centering chuck 1 compresses the ball 5; and a control device 3 is connected to the motor 2 via a signal connection.

[0034] The motor 2 mentioned is a servo motor.

[0035] The centering chuck 1 is a three-jaw centering chuck or a four-jaw centering chuck, and the centering chuck 1 is a commercially available product; preferably, it is a four-jaw centering chuck. Compared with a three-jaw centering chuck, since the inner liner of an inflatable ball is made of four pieces of butyl vulcanized rubber of equal size by hot-melt splicing, the four-jaw shape formed by the four-jaw centering chuck can better conform to the splicing line contour of the inner liner for uniform compression, compared with the three-lobed shape formed by the three-jaw centering chuck. Moreover, when the three-lobed shape is further compressed, one lobe will inevitably tilt to one side, so that the ball 5 The asymmetrical force under contraction can negatively affect the circumference of the inflated sphere 5 after long-term compression storage. When compressed into a four-lobed shape using a four-jaw centering chuck, it can be symmetrically compressed into a flattened X shape. The sphere 5 is symmetrically compressed and has no adverse effect on the circumference after inflation. Furthermore, in the four-lobed shape, the inflation nozzle of the sphere 5 is located in the center. Even when the sphere 5 is compressed, there is just enough space to ensure that the inflation nozzle 5-1 is not squeezed by the inner wall from beginning to end, thus preventing deformation and damage.

[0036] The centering chuck 1 has jaws 1-1, and the tips of all jaws 1-1 are arc-shaped so as not to leave indentations when squeezing the ball 5 and damage the outer shell of the ball 5. Furthermore, the jaws 1-1 do not contact each other when retracted to their highest point. The gaps left between the jaws 1-1 ensure that the jaws 1-1 will not damage the outer shell of the ball 5 even if the motor 2 malfunctions.

[0037] The deflation device 6 is a hollow rigid rod with an outer diameter smaller than the opening of the inflation nozzle 5-1, which facilitates the insertion of the rigid rod into the inflation nozzle 5-1. The control device 3 is an electrical control box.

[0038] When the deflation device 6 is simply a hollow rigid rod, a method for storing a deflation and storage device for an inflatable ball-like device is as follows:

[0039] Connect the motor 2 next to the centering chuck 1 to the AC power supply, and adjust the centering chuck 1 to the open position;

[0040] Place the deflated ball 5 between the jaws 1-1 in the centering chuck 1, with the inflation nozzle 5-1 of the ball 5 facing upwards, and insert the rigid rod into the inflation nozzle 5-1 on the ball 5.

[0041] When the control box is activated, the jaws 1-1 on the centering chuck 1 move inward, compressing the high-pressure air inside the ball 5. The high-pressure air inside the ball 5 is then expelled outward at high speed through the rigid rod.

[0042] After the sphere 5 is compressed and contracted into a predetermined shape, the drive motor 2 is stopped by the electronic control box, and the rigid rod used as a venting device is pulled out.

[0043] Adjust the centering chuck 1 to the open position using the electronic control box, then remove the deflated and stored sphere 5, and insert a new sphere 5 to be stored, repeating this process continuously.

[0044] Example 2

[0045] Reference Figure 1-4 and Figure 7 A deflation and storage device for an inflatable ball includes a base 4, a centering chuck 1 mounted at the center of the base 4, a motor 2 mounted on the side of the centering chuck 1 for power supply, and the motor 2 connected to an AC power source via a switch; a deflation device 6 is also provided with the centering chuck 1 for deflation while the centering chuck 1 compresses the ball 5; and a control device 3 is connected to the motor 2 via a signal connection.

[0046] The motor 2 mentioned is a servo motor.

[0047] The centering chuck 1 is a three-jaw centering chuck or a four-jaw centering chuck, and the centering chuck 1 is a commercially available product; preferably, it is a four-jaw centering chuck. Compared with a three-jaw centering chuck, since the inner liner of an inflatable ball is made of four pieces of butyl vulcanized rubber of equal size by hot-melt splicing, the four-jaw centering chuck can compress the ball into a four-lobed shape better according to the splicing line contour of the inner liner, compared with the three-lobed shape compressed by a three-jaw centering chuck. Furthermore, when the three-lobed shape is further compressed, one lobe will inevitably tilt to one side, so that the ball 5 is... The asymmetrical force under contraction can negatively affect the circumference of the inflated sphere 5 after long-term compression storage. When compressed into a four-lobed shape using a four-jaw centering chuck, it can be symmetrically compressed into a flattened X shape. The sphere 5 is symmetrically compressed and has no adverse effect on the circumference after inflation. Furthermore, in the four-lobed shape, the inflation nozzle 5-1 of the sphere 5 is located in the center. Even when the sphere 5 is compressed, there is just enough space to ensure that the inflation nozzle 5-1 is not squeezed by the inner wall from beginning to end, thus preventing deformation and damage.

[0048] The centering chuck 1 has jaws 1-1, and the tips of all jaws 1-1 are arc-shaped so as not to leave indentations when squeezing the ball 5 and damage the outer shell of the ball 5. Furthermore, the jaws 1-1 do not contact each other when retracted to their highest point. The gaps left between the jaws 1-1 ensure that the jaws 1-1 will not damage the outer shell of the ball 5 even if the motor 2 malfunctions.

[0049] The deflation device 6 has a handle 6-1, within which is a pressure sensor 6-2. At the front end of the pressure sensor 6-2 is a hollow rigid rod 6-3, the outer diameter of which is smaller than the opening of the inflation nozzle 5-1, facilitating insertion of the rigid rod 6-3 into the nozzle 5-1. The pressure sensor 6-2 is connected to a control device 3, which is also connected to a motor next to the centering chuck 1. The control device 3 is powered. In use, the deflation device 6 and the centering chuck 1 are linked; that is, only when the pressure sensor 6-2 detects pressure can the centering chuck 1 compress inward under the drive of the motor 2. When the pressure sensor 6-2 does not detect pressure, the centering chuck 1 does not operate. The upper half of the rigid rod 6-3 has a through hole 6-3-1 for easy deflation.

[0050] The pressure sensor 6-2 and the control device 3 are both commercially available products. The control device 3 is a microcontroller, a PLC programmable controller, or a computer.

[0051] When the deflation device 6 has a handle 6-1, a pressure sensor 6-2 inside the handle 6-1, and a hollow rigid rod 6-3 at the front end of the pressure sensor 6-2, the storage method of a deflation and storage device for an inflatable ball is as follows:

[0052] After the equipment is properly adjusted, connect the motor 2 next to the centering chuck 1 to the AC power supply, and adjust the centering chuck 1 to the open position.

[0053] Place the deflated ball 5 between the jaws 1-1 in the centering chuck 1, with the inflation nozzle 5-1 of the ball 5 facing upwards, and insert the rigid rod 6-3 into the inflation nozzle 5-1 on the ball 5.

[0054] The pressure sensor 6-2 at the upper end of the rigid rod 6-3 senses the pressure and transmits the signal to the control device 3. The control device 3 sends a squeezing command to the motor 2. The jaw 1-1 on the centering chuck 1 moves inward and squeezes the high-pressure air in the ball 5. The high-pressure air in the ball 5 is squeezed outward at high speed through the rigid rod 6-3.

[0055] After the sphere 5 is compressed and contracted into a predetermined shape, the rigid rod 6-3 used as a venting device is pulled out, the pressure on the pressure sensor 6-2 disappears, the sphere 5 stops venting, and at the same time the control device 3 sends a reset command to the motor 2, the jaws 1-1 on the centering chuck 1 reset to the open state, the vented and stored sphere 5 can be taken out, and a new sphere 5 to be stored can be put in, and so on.

Claims

1. A deflation and storage method of an inflatable ball, wherein the deflation device is a hollow hard rod, characterized in that: the motor beside the centering chuck is connected with the AC power supply, and the centering chuck is adjusted to an open state; the ball to be deflated is placed between the claws of the centering chuck, with the inflation nozzle of the ball facing upward, and the hard rod is inserted into the inflation nozzle on the ball; the electric control box is started, the claws on the centering chuck move inward to squeeze the high-pressure air in the ball, and the high-pressure air in the ball is squeezed out at high speed through the hard rod; after the ball is squeezed and shrunk to a predetermined shape, the hard rod used as the deflation device is pulled out; the centering chuck is adjusted to an open state through the electric control box, and the deflated and stored ball is taken out; and a new ball to be stored is placed, and the process is repeated.

2. The deflation and storage device of the inflatable ball, comprising a base, a centering chuck installed at the center of the top of the base, a motor installed on the side of the centering chuck and matched with the centering chuck in power, and a switch connected with the motor and the AC power supply; the device is also matched with a deflation device for deflation while the centering chuck squeezes the ball; and a control device is connected with the motor through a signal.

3. The centering chuck is a three-claw or four-claw centering chuck.

4. The motor is a servo motor.

5. The claws on the centering chuck have arc-shaped tips, and the claws do not contact when they are stored to the top.

6. The deflation device is a hollow hard rod, and the outer diameter of the hard rod is smaller than the opening of the inflation nozzle.

7. The control device is an electric control box.

8. A deflation and storage method of an inflatable ball, wherein the deflation device has a handle, the handle has a pressure sensor, and the pressure sensor has a hollow hard rod, characterized in that: the device is debugged, the motor beside the centering chuck is connected with the AC power supply, and the centering chuck is adjusted to an open state; the ball to be deflated is placed between the claws of the centering chuck, with the inflation nozzle of the ball facing upward, and the hard rod is inserted into the inflation nozzle on the ball; the pressure sensor on the upper end of the hard rod senses the pressure and transmits the signal to the control device, the control device sends a squeezing instruction to the motor, the claws on the centering chuck move inward to squeeze the high-pressure air in the ball, and the high-pressure air in the ball is squeezed out at high speed through the hard rod; after the ball is squeezed and shrunk to a predetermined shape, the hard rod used as the deflation device is pulled out, the pressure on the pressure sensor disappears, the ball stops discharging air, the control device sends a reset instruction to the motor, the claws on the centering chuck reset to an open state, the deflated and stored ball is taken out, a new ball to be stored is placed, and the process is repeated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

9. The deflation and storage device of the inflatable ball, comprising a base, a centering chuck installed at the center of the top of the base, a motor installed on the side of the centering chuck and matched with the centering chuck in power, and a switch connected with the motor and the AC power supply; the device is also matched with a deflation device for deflation while the centering chuck squeezes the ball; and a control device is connected with the motor through a signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: ​ 4. The method of claim 1, wherein: ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The centering chuck is a three-jaw centering chuck or a four-jaw centering chuck.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein: The motor is a servo motor.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein: The centering chuck has clamping jaws, all of which have arc-shaped top ends, and the clamping jaws do not contact when they are accommodated to the topmost points.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein: The deflation device has a handle, a pressure sensor in the handle, a hollow hard rod at the front end of the pressure sensor, and the outer diameter of the hard rod is smaller than the opening of the inflation nozzle, so that the hard rod is easily inserted into the inflation nozzle; the pressure sensor is signal-connected with a control device, the control device is also signal-connected with a motor beside the centering chuck, the control device is connected with a power supply; and a through hole for facilitating deflation is formed in the upper half of the hard rod.

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