Automatic Fresh Flower Sorting, Selection, Feeding, and Sorting Device and Method

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of automated flower sorting. To address the lack of a more intelligent automated sorting and feeding device on the market, this invention provides an automated flower sorting, feeding, and sequencing device, comprising a double-belt clamping conveyor mechanism, a flower-blocking mechanism, and a material-pushing mechanism. The double-belt clamping conveyor mechanism includes a support section, a clamping section, and a flower stem sensing component. The support section is located at the front end of the clamping section, and the support section and clamping section rotate synchronously. The flower stem sensing component is installed below the clamping section and senses the passage of flower stems through the clamping section. The device of this invention features a simple structure, reasonable design, and ease of use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automated flower sorting, and in particular to an automated flower sorting, feeding, and sequencing device and method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, flower feeding requires manual labor to visually determine the feeding location and timing. This leads to extreme eye fatigue over long periods, and the feeding speed decreases as time goes on. To maintain feeding speed, several shifts of people are needed, resulting in high labor costs. To improve manual feeding and reduce fatigue, a more intelligent automatic sorting and feeding device is needed in the market. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an automatic sorting, feeding and sequencing device and method for fresh flowers, in order to address the lack of a more intelligent automatic sorting and feeding device on the market.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: an automatic sorting and feeding device for fresh flowers, including a double belt clamping conveyor mechanism, a flower blocking mechanism and a material feeding mechanism. The double belt clamping conveyor mechanism includes a support section, a clamping section and a flower stem sensing component. The support section is located at the front end of the clamping section. The support section and the clamping section rotate synchronously. The flower stem sensing component is installed below the clamping section and senses the passage of flower stems from the clamping section.

[0005] The flower blocking mechanism and the material feeding mechanism are installed on both sides of the front end of the clamping section. The flower blocking mechanism extends horizontally to block or release the flowers, and the material feeding mechanism works with the flower blocking mechanism to push the released flowers into the flower carrier.

[0006] Furthermore, the feeding mechanism includes a feeding plate, a feeding cylinder, a feeding motor, an eccentric pusher assembly, a feeding gear, an origin sensing plate, and an origin sensor. The feeding motor meshes with the feeding gear. An origin sensing plate is installed on the upper end face of the feeding gear. The origin sensing plate rotates synchronously with the feeding gear. An origin sensor is installed on the outer side of the feeding gear. The origin sensing plate passes the origin sensor once for each rotation. The lower part of the feeding gear is connected to the eccentric pusher assembly. The eccentric pusher assembly is connected to the feeding cylinder through a connector. A feeding plate is installed on the movable end of the feeding cylinder. The eccentric pusher assembly drives the feeding plate to move back and forth, and the feeding cylinder drives the feeding plate to move horizontally left and right.

[0007] Furthermore, the orientation of the origin sensing plate is the same as that of the eccentric connection of the eccentric push-knitting assembly.

[0008] Furthermore, the flower stem sensing component is a paddle-type sensing component, including a swing arm paddle, the front end of which is located directly below the gap between the two belts of the clamping section.

[0009] Furthermore, a first transition block and a second transition block are installed on both sides of the gap at the foremost end of the clamping section.

[0010] Furthermore, the eccentric pusher assembly includes an eccentric wheel, a connecting rod, and a swing arm. The eccentric wheel and the material feeding gear are at the same center. The eccentric connection of the eccentric wheel is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to the swing arm. The front end of the swing arm is perpendicularly connected to the connecting piece.

[0011] A method for automatically sorting, selecting, and loading fresh flowers includes the following steps:

[0012] S1: The first flower is loaded, the clamping belt runs at a preset initial speed, and the servo motor stroke value is marked as S when the flower passes the flower stem sensing component. 当1 Calculated (S) 当1 +L) T1 =S T1 S T1 Stored in a register.

[0013] S2: The second flower is fed. When the flower passes the stem sensing component, the servo motor stroke value is marked as S. 当2 , (S 当2 +L) T2 =S T2 S T2 Stored in a register.

[0014] S3: And so on, the total stroke of the servo motor during operation is accumulated and recorded as S. 总 ,

[0015] S4: When the material feeding time t+NT arrives, the S register is updated. T1 S T2 …S TX The system will determine which flower is closest to the exit, and select S. TX Substitute into formula (S) TX -S 总 ) / T=V 皮 The clamping section of the belt will move in a V-shape. 皮 The corresponding flowers will be transported to the exit at a certain speed.

[0016] S5: The flower blocking mechanism releases the flowers. When the flowers come out of the outlet, the feeding plate pushes the flowers into the flower carrier on the main line. The rotation cycle of the feeding mechanism is coordinated with the rotation cycle of the flower carrier on the main line.

[0017] The distance from the flower stem sensing component to the foremost exit of the clamping section is L;

[0018] The timing of the material feeding cylinder's action is t, where t is a set value; the time for the eccentric wheel to rotate one revolution is T, the rotation time of the material feeding eccentric wheel is an accumulated count NT, where N is a natural number starting from 0, and the material feeding time is t+NT.

[0019] The total stroke of a servo motor during operation is denoted as S. 总 When a flower passes the flower stem sensing component, the stroke value of the servo motor is marked as S. 当 , (S 当 +L) TX =S TX X is a natural number starting from 1.

[0020] Furthermore, the time it takes for the eccentric wheel to rotate one revolution is T, where T is a constant.

[0021] The beneficial effects of the present invention are that the automatic flower sorting and feeding device of the present invention adopts a two-stage feeding (hanging) method. Manual feeding does not require alignment. Just put the flower into the support section with the flower facing the direction. The support section and the clamping section rotate synchronously. After the flower in the support section contacts the clamping section, the friction of the belts on both sides of the clamping section sends the single flower into the gap of the clamping section and clamps it forward.

[0022] A method for automatically sorting and feeding fresh flowers, wherein when a single flower passes through the stem sensing component below the clamping section, the stroke value of the servo motor is marked as S. 当 According to the formula (S) 当 +L) TX =S TX S TX Store the data in the register; at the material feeding time t+NT, find the value S with the smallest distance between the flower and the outlet from the data in the register. TX Substitute into formula (S) TX -S 总 ) / T=V 皮 V 皮 It refers to the rotational speed of the clamping belt. By adjusting the rotational speed of the clamping belt, the action of the feeding cylinder is coordinated to improve the feeding efficiency.

[0023] The feeding of fresh flowers has its own unique characteristics, requiring manual feeding. The speed of manual feeding is uncontrollable, and if the feeding is too fast, the feeding mechanism cannot react in time, causing the flowers to pile up. The problem of piling up is solved and alleviated by calculating the rotation speed of the clamping belt and adjusting the flower conveying speed, thereby improving efficiency.

[0024] In summary, the device of the present invention has the characteristics of simple structure, reasonable design and convenient use, and the feeding calculation method has the characteristics of simple formula and high compatibility with the device. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0026] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0027] Figures 3 to 6 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0028] In the diagram: 10. Support section, 11. Circular belt, 12. Clamping section, 13. Conveyor motor, 14. Drive gear, 15. Synchronous pulley, 16. First transition block, 17. Second transition block;

[0029] 20. Swing arm paddle shifter; 21. Sensor;

[0030] 30. Flower-blocking cylinder; 31. Flower-blocking plate; 32. Flower-blocking slide rail; 33. Flower-blocking slider;

[0031] 40. Feeding plate, 41. Feeding cylinder, 42. Feeding motor, 43. Origin sensor, 44. Feeding gear, 45. Origin sensor plate, 46. Eccentric wheel, 47. Connecting rod, 48. Swing arm, 49. Connecting piece, 50. Feeding slide rail, 51. Feeding slider. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. These drawings are simplified schematic diagrams, illustrating only the basic structure of the invention, and therefore only show the components relevant to the invention.

[0033] like Figures 1 to 6 The automatic flower sorting and feeding device shown includes a double belt clamping conveyor mechanism, a flower blocking mechanism, and a material feeding mechanism.

[0034] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the double-belt clamping conveyor mechanism consists of two sections: a support section 10 and a clamping section 12. The support section 10 and the clamping section 12 share a single conveyor motor 13 as a power source. The conveyor motor 13 drives two active gears 14 to rotate simultaneously via gears. The two active gears 14 are connected to two synchronous pulleys 15 via connecting components. Belts are fitted onto the synchronous pulleys 15 and the driven pulleys. The two belts are installed at intervals to form the clamping section 12. A synchronously rotating circular pulley is installed at the center of the driven pulley in the clamping section 12. A circular belt 11 is fitted onto the circular pulley and the pulley behind it. To prevent the flower stem from falling out of the gap between the tops of the two belts at the foremost outlet of the clamping section 12, a first transition block 16 and a second transition block 17 are installed. There is also a gap between the first transition block 16 and the second transition block 17, and the size of the gap is equal to the gap between the two belts in the clamping section 12.

[0035] Flower stem sensing component: A commercially available paddle-type sensing component. The front end of the swing arm paddle 20 is located directly below the gap between the two belts of the clamping section 12. When the flower stem passes through the flower stem sensing component, the rotation of the swing arm paddle 20 triggers the sensor 21.

[0036] Flower blocking mechanism: When the feeding mechanism has not reached the feeding cycle, it blocks the flowers from moving forward in the clamping section 12. The flower blocking plate 31 is installed on the flower blocking slider 33, and the flower blocking slider 33 is slidably installed on the flower blocking slide rail 32. The movable end of the flower blocking cylinder 30 is connected to the flower blocking slider 33. The movable end of the flower blocking cylinder 30 extends or retracts, causing the flower blocking plate 31 to move horizontally left and right along the flower blocking slide rail 32. Moving to the left blocks the flowers, and moving to the right releases the flowers.

[0037] Material feeding mechanism: An eccentric wheel pushing structure is adopted. The feeding motor 42 drives the feeding gear 44. A home point sensing plate 45 is installed on the upper end face of the feeding gear 44. The home point sensing plate 45 rotates synchronously with the feeding gear 44. A home point sensor 43 is installed on the outer side of the feeding gear 44. The home point sensing plate 45 passes the home point sensor 43 once for each rotation. The lower part of the feeding gear 44 is concentrically mounted with an eccentric wheel 46 through a bearing assembly. The eccentric connection of the eccentric wheel 46 is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting rod 47. The other end of the connecting rod 47... One end is rotatably connected to the rear end of the swing arm 48, and the front end of the swing arm 48 is vertically connected to the connector 49. The bottom of the connector 49 is equipped with a material feeding slide rail 50, and a material feeding slider 51 is slidably installed on the material feeding slide rail 50. A material feeding plate 40 is installed on the material feeding slider 51. The material feeding cylinder 41 is also installed at the bottom of the connector 49, and the movable end of the material feeding cylinder 41 is connected to the material feeding slider 51. The material feeding motor 42 rotates to drive the eccentric wheel 46 to drive the material feeding plate 40 to move horizontally back and forth, and the material feeding cylinder 41 drives the material feeding plate 40 to move horizontally left and right.

[0038] In actual use

[0039] Preparation: 1. Determine the distance L from the flower stem sensing component to the frontmost exit of the clamping section;

[0040] 2. The timing of the material feeding cylinder's action is preset to t;

[0041] 3. Determine the time for the eccentric wheel to rotate one revolution as T, the rotation time of the feeding eccentric wheel as the cumulative count NT, N is a natural number starting from 0, and the feeding time is t+NT.

[0042] Artificial flower application

[0043] The first flower clamping section 12 belt runs at an initial speed. When the flower passes the flower stem sensing component, the servo motor stroke value is marked as S. 当1 , (S 当1 +L) T1 =S T1 S T1 Stored in a register;

[0044] Before the material feeding time t+NT arrives for the second flower, the clamping section 12 belt is still running at an initial speed. When the flower passes the flower stem sensing component, the servo motor stroke value is marked as S.当2 , (S 当2 +L) T2 =S T2 S T2 Stored in a register;

[0045] S accumulates as the flowers are added; S is marked when the first flower touches the stem sensor. 当1 When the second flower touches the flower stem sensing component, it is marked with S. 当2 And so on, from the third flower to the Nth flower.

[0046] Similarly, the total stroke of the servo motor during operation is accumulated and denoted as S. 总 .

[0047] When the material feeding time t+NT arrives, the S in the register... T1 S T2 …S TX The system determines which flower is closest to the exit, such as S. T1 , will S T1 Substitute into formula (S) T1 -S 总 ) / T=V 皮 At this time, the belt of clamping section 12 will move at a V-shape. 皮 The flowers are transported at a certain speed. The flower blocking mechanism releases the flowers. When the flowers reach the exit, the feeding mechanism is ready to push them. The flowers are pushed into the flower carrier on the main line by the feeding plate 40 after exiting the flower. The speed of the clamping section 12 belt is changed by the above calculation in each feeding cycle.

[0048] The rotation cycle of the feeding mechanism is coordinated with the rotation cycle of the main flower carrier.

[0049] The second flower is fed when the first flower's feeding time is t+NT. The clamping section 12 belt is V. 皮 The servo motor travels at a speed of S when the flower passes the flower stem sensing component. 当2 , (S 当2 +L) T2 =S T2 S T2 Stored in a register.

[0050] When the minimum value in the register is used up or only the preset minimum value remains, the clamping section 12 belt resumes its initial speed operation, indicating that there are no more defects on the double belt clamping conveyor mechanism.

[0051] The above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention. Various examples and illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the substantive content of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make modifications or variations to the above-described specific embodiments after reading the specification without departing from the substance and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An automatic flower sorting, selection, feeding, and sequencing device, characterized in that: It includes a double belt clamping conveyor mechanism, a flower blocking mechanism, and a material feeding mechanism. The double belt clamping conveyor mechanism includes a support section, a clamping section, and a flower stem sensing component. The support section is located at the front end of the clamping section. The support section and the clamping section rotate synchronously. The flower stem sensing component is installed below the clamping section and senses the passage of flower stems through the clamping section. The flower blocking mechanism and the material feeding mechanism are installed on both sides of the front end of the clamping section. The flower blocking mechanism extends horizontally to block or release the flowers, and the material feeding mechanism works with the flower blocking mechanism to push the released flowers into the flower carrier. The feeding mechanism includes a feeding plate, a feeding cylinder, a feeding motor, an eccentric pusher assembly, a feeding gear, an origin sensing plate, and an origin sensor. The feeding motor meshes with the feeding gear. An origin sensing plate is installed on the upper end face of the feeding gear. The origin sensing plate rotates synchronously with the feeding gear. An origin sensor is installed on the outer side of the feeding gear. The origin sensing plate passes the origin sensor once for each rotation. The lower part of the feeding gear is connected to the eccentric pusher assembly. The eccentric pusher assembly is connected to the feeding cylinder through a connector. A feeding plate is installed on the movable end of the feeding cylinder. The eccentric pusher assembly drives the feeding plate to move back and forth. The feeding cylinder drives the feeding plate to move horizontally left and right. The flower stem sensing component is a paddle-type sensing component, including a swing arm paddle, the front end of which is located directly below the gap between the two belts of the clamping section. The flower-blocking mechanism includes a flower-blocking plate, which is mounted on a flower-blocking slider. The flower-blocking slider is slidably mounted on a flower-blocking slide rail. The movable end of the flower-blocking cylinder is connected to the flower-blocking slider. The movable end of the flower-blocking cylinder extends or retracts, causing the flower-blocking plate to move horizontally left and right along the flower-blocking slide rail.

2. The automatic flower sorting, selection, feeding, and sequencing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The orientation of the origin sensor plate is the same as that of the eccentric connection of the eccentric push-knitting assembly.

3. The automatic flower sorting, selection, feeding, and sequencing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping section has a first transition block and a second transition block installed on both sides of the gap at its foremost end.

4. The automatic flower sorting, feeding, and sequencing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The eccentric pusher assembly includes an eccentric wheel, a connecting rod, and a swing arm. The eccentric wheel and the material feeding gear are at the same center. The eccentric connection of the eccentric wheel is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to the swing arm. The front end of the swing arm is perpendicularly connected to the connecting piece.

5. A method for automatically sorting, selecting, feeding, and sequencing fresh flowers, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: S1: The first flower is loaded, and the clamping belt runs at a preset initial speed. When the flower passes the flower stem sensing component, the stroke value of the servo motor is marked as Stime1. Calculation shows (Stime1 + L)T1 = Stime1. T1 S T1 Stored in a register. S2: The second flower is fed. When the flower passes the flower stem sensing component, the stroke value of the servo motor is marked as Stime2, (Stime2 + L)T2 = Stime2 T2 S T2 Stored in a register. S3: And so on, the total stroke of the servo motor during operation is accumulated and recorded as S_total. S4: When the material feeding time t+NT arrives, the S register is updated. T1、 S T2 …S TX The system will determine which flower is closest to the exit, and select S. TX Substitute into formula (S) TX -S_total) / T = V_skin, the clamping belt will transport the corresponding flowers to the exit at a speed of V_skin. S5: The flower blocking mechanism releases the flowers. When the flowers come out of the outlet, the feeding plate pushes the flowers into the flower carrier on the main line. The rotation cycle of the feeding mechanism is coordinated with the rotation cycle of the flower carrier on the main line. The distance from the flower stem sensing component to the foremost exit of the clamping section is L; The timing of the material feeding cylinder's action is t, where t is a set value; the time for the eccentric wheel to rotate one revolution is T, the rotation time of the material feeding eccentric wheel is an accumulated count NT, where N is a natural number starting from 0, and the material feeding time is t+NT. The total stroke of the servo motor during operation is recorded as S_total. When the flower passes the flower stem sensing component, the servo motor stroke is marked as S_when. (S_when + L)TX = S_total TX X is a natural number starting from 1.

6. The automatic sorting, selection, feeding, and sequencing method for fresh flowers as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The time it takes for the eccentric wheel to rotate one revolution is T, where T is a constant.

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