A labeling and capping inkjet printing workstation

By designing an automated labeling and gage injection workstation, the problems of low efficiency and high cost of manual operation in biosynthetic test tube production are solved, automated operation is realized, and production efficiency is improved.

CN116280570BActive Publication Date: 2024-12-31EUROPEAN AUTOMATION TECH (SHANGHAI) CO LTD
View PDF 0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202310393489.2
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-04-13
Publication Date
2024-12-31
Estimated Expiration
2043-04-13

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In biosynthetic test tube production, the label processing process relies on manual operations, resulting in low efficiency and high cost.

Method used

A labeling and glove injection coding workstation was designed, including a control system, rack, working turntable, labeling, glove and injection coding station. Through the entire row mechanism, jaw mechanism, labeling mechanism, labeling mechanism, and cap The mechanism and the inkjet code mechanism automatically complete the labeling, glanding and inkjet code.

Benefits of technology

Automatic operation is realized, labor costs are reduced, and test tube production efficiency is improved.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN116280570B_ABST
    Figure CN116280570B_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present invention provides a labeling, capping and coding workstation, comprising a control system, a frame, a workbench arranged on the frame and a work turntable arranged on the workbench, wherein a loading station, a labeling station, a capping station, a coding station and a unloading station are arranged on the work turntable; the labeling, capping and coding processes of the device are all automatically completed by the equipment, the overall structure is simple, the labor cost is reduced, and the production efficiency of the test tube is improved.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of automation equipment, in particular to a labeling, capping and coding workstation. Background Art

[0002] After the production of test tubes for biosynthesis, subsequent labeling processing is required, which is usually divided into three parts. First, the test tubes are labeled, then the test tube caps are closed, and finally the labels are scanned to produce identification codes, and then the identification codes are sprayed on the test tubes. Currently, all three parts are completed manually, which is inefficient and has high production costs. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to solve the above problems raised by the background technology, the present invention proposes a labeling, capping and coding workstation.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: a labeling, capping and coding workstation, comprising a control system, a frame, a workbench arranged on the frame and a work turntable arranged on the workbench, wherein the work turntable is provided with a loading station, a labeling station, a capping station, a coding station and a unloading station; an arranging mechanism, which is arranged on one side of the workbench and is connected to the workbench; a first clamping mechanism, which is arranged on one side of the work turntable and is used to clamp the test tubes in the arranging mechanism into the loading station; a labeling mechanism, which is used to print labels and peel the labels off the material belt; a labeling mechanism, which comprises a labeling motor and a labeling roller connected to the output shaft of the labeling motor, wherein the labeling roller contacts the test tubes on the labeling station; a capping mechanism, which comprises a capping housing and a capping stopper arranged on one side of the capping housing. Block, a capping inlet is provided on the side of the capping shell near the capping stopper, the capping inlet is communicated with the first channel, the first channel is communicated with the second channel, the first channel is used to move the test tube cap to the capping position, the second channel is used to press the test tube cap and the test tube in the capping station, and a capping outlet is provided on the side of the capping shell near the second channel, the capping inlet, the first channel, the second channel and the capping outlet are communicated with each other; a coding mechanism is used to spray identification codes on the test tubes at the coding station; a second clamping mechanism is arranged on one side of the tray loading mechanism, and is used to move the test tubes at the unloading station into the empty tray; the tray loading mechanism is arranged on the other side of the working turntable, and is used to load the empty tray; the tray unloading structure is used to unload the tray filled with test tubes after labeling, capping and coding.

[0005] Preferably, a first rubber block and a second rubber block are provided on one side of the first channel, and the first rubber block and the second rubber block are in contact with the test tube; a wedge-shaped stopper is provided on the other side of the first channel, and the thickness of the wedge-shaped stopper increases sequentially from the pressure cover entrance to the second channel, and the shape of the top surface of the wedge-shaped stopper matches the shape of the test tube cover.

[0006] Preferably, the second channel includes a first gland section and a second gland section, the height of the first gland section gradually decreases and is connected to the second gland section.

[0007] Preferably, a scanning station is also provided on the working turntable, and a scanning device and a lifting clamp are provided on one side of the scanning station.

[0008] Preferably, the first clamping mechanism includes an X-axis moving device, a Z-axis moving device is fixed to the moving end of the X-axis moving device, and a first clamping jaw is fixed to the moving end of the Z-axis moving device; the second clamping mechanism includes a six-axis robotic arm and a second clamping jaw connected to the six-axis robotic arm.

[0009] Preferably, the tray loading mechanism includes a material rack, and the trays without test tubes are stacked in sequence in the material rack. A lifting cylinder is provided on the lower side of the material rack, and the lifting cylinder is connected to the top plate; a first positioning mechanism and a second positioning mechanism are provided on both sides of the material rack, and the first positioning mechanism and the second positioning mechanism include a positioning cylinder and a positioning block, and the positioning block cooperates with the positioning groove of the tray; the tray unloading mechanism has the same structure as the tray loading mechanism.

[0010] Preferably, a belt conveyor is provided at the lower side of the tray unloading mechanism and the tray loading mechanism, and the belt conveyor connects the tray loading mechanism and the tray unloading mechanism.

[0011] Preferably, a limiting device is provided on one side of the belt conveyor, and the limiting device includes a limiting cylinder and a limiting block connected to the limiting cylinder.

[0012] Preferably, the labeling mechanism includes a spraying platform and a Y-axis moving device connected to the spraying platform.

[0013] Preferably, the label mechanism comprises a label printer and a label peeling device, the label peeling device comprises a peeling knife, and the peeling knife is arranged on one side of the labeling roller.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] The labeling, capping and coding workstation provided by the present invention can automatically complete the labeling, capping and coding processes through the equipment, has a simple overall structure, reduces labor costs, and improves the production efficiency of test tubes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the positions of various mechanisms of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the positions of the mechanisms of the present invention from a second viewing angle;

[0018] Figure 3A top view of the capping mechanism of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 A bottom view of the capping mechanism of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the positions of various workstations of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 for Figure 5 The enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0022] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of the material tray loading mechanism and the material tray unloading mechanism of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 8 It is a structural schematic diagram of the limiting mechanism of the present invention;

[0024] Fig. 9 for Figure 8 The enlarged view of point B in the figure;

[0025] Fig.10 It is a structural schematic diagram of the first clamping jaw mechanism of the present invention;

[0026] Fig.11 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the coding of the present invention;

[0027] Fig.12 It is a structural schematic diagram of the label mechanism of the present invention;

[0028] Fig.13 is a structural schematic diagram of the second clamping jaw mechanism of the present invention;

[0029] Fig.14 It is a schematic diagram of the position of the scanning device of the present invention;

[0030] Fig.15 Schematic diagram of the position of the rack of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] Therefore, the present invention is directed to the problems in the prior art, such as Figure 1-15As shown, the present invention proposes a labeling, capping and coding workstation, including a control system, a frame 100, a workbench 101 arranged on the frame 100, and a work turntable 102 arranged on the workbench 101, wherein the work turntable 102 is provided with a loading station 103, a labeling station 104, a capping station 105, a coding station 106 and a unloading station 107;

[0033] The aligning mechanism 108 is arranged on one side of the workbench 101 and is connected to the workbench 101. It should be noted that the uncovered test tubes are placed in the aligning mechanism 108, and are aligned in a row by the aligning mechanism 108 and transported to the side of the working turntable 102. The aligning mechanism 108 can be a vibrating aligning device, which is a commercially available product and will not be described in detail here.

[0034] The first clamping mechanism 200 is arranged at one side of the working turntable 102 . The first clamping mechanism 200 includes an X-axis moving device 201 . A Z-axis moving device 202 is fixed to the moving end of the X-axis moving device 201 . A first clamping jaw 203 is fixed to the moving end of the Z-axis moving device 202 .

[0035] It should be noted that the first clamp 203 clamps the test tubes arranged in a row in the arranging mechanism 108 into the loading station 103, wherein the X-axis moving device 201 and the Z-axis moving device 202 can be linear moving devices composed of screw sliders, thereby driving the first clamp 203 to move in the X-axis and Z-axis;

[0036] The label mechanism 300 is used for printing labels and peeling labels from a material strip; the label mechanism 300 comprises a label printer 301 and a label peeling device 302 , and the label peeling device 302 comprises a peeling knife 3021 .

[0037] It should be noted that the lower side of the working turntable 102 is connected to the turntable motor (not shown in the figure), so after the test tube is placed on the loading station 103, the working turntable 102 rotates to move the test tube to the labeling station 104. At this time, the label printer 301 (commercially available product) prints the label, and the label material tape with the printed label is wrapped around the stripping device 302 and tensioned by the tensioning wheel of the stripping device 302. When stripping the label, the stripping motor of the stripping device 302 is started, driving the label material tape to rotate, and the printed label moves to the position of the stripping knife 3021, and the label is peeled off from the label material tape.

[0038] Furthermore, a label detection device may be provided on the label stripping device 302, and the label detection device detects whether the label on the label material strip is printed in place, thereby further improving the accuracy of the test tube labeling.

[0039] The labeling mechanism 400 includes a labeling motor 401 and a labeling roller 402 connected to the output shaft of the labeling motor 401, the labeling roller 402 contacts the test tube on the labeling station 104, and the stripping knife 3021 is arranged on one side of the labeling roller 402, more specifically, the stripping knife 3021 is arranged between the labeling roller 402 and the test tube.

[0040] It should be further explained that after the label is peeled off from the material strip, the labeling motor 401 rotates, thereby driving the labeling roller 402 to rotate. Since the peeling knife 3021 is arranged between the labeling roller 402 and the test tube, the peeled label is arranged between the labeling roller 402 and the test tube. When the labeling roller 402 rotates, it drives the test tube to rotate, thereby driving the label to be attached to the test tube.

[0041] Furthermore, in order to better drive the test tube to rotate, the labeling roller 402 can be made of rubber.

[0042] The capping mechanism 500 includes a capping shell 501 and a capping stopper 502 arranged on one side of the capping shell 501. A capping inlet 503 is provided on the side of the capping shell 501 close to the capping stopper 502. The capping inlet 503 is connected to a first channel 504. The first channel 504 is connected to a second channel 505. The first channel 504 is used to move the test tube cap to the capping position. The second channel 505 is used to press the test tube cap and the test tube in the capping station 105 together. A capping outlet 506 is provided on the side of the capping shell 501 close to the second channel 505. The capping inlet 503, the first channel 504, the second channel 505 and the capping outlet 506 are connected to each other.

[0043] It should be noted that after the test tube labeling is completed, the working turntable 102 continues to rotate, and the test tube moves toward the capping station 105. When it moves to the position of the capping stopper 502, since the height of the capping stopper 502 matches the height of the test tube cover, that is, the capping stopper 502 is always blocking the front side of the test tube cover, while the working turntable 102 rotates, the test tube cover is always located on the outside of the working turntable 102 due to the obstruction of the capping stopper 502, and the test tube cover is not allowed to enter the capping inlet 503. Since a space is provided between the capping stopper 502 and the capping inlet 503, the test tube cover can enter the capping inlet 503 from the space avoidance position. Such structural treatment is to adjust the position of the test tube cover, so that the test tube cover can finally enter the capping inlet 503, in preparation for the subsequent capping.

[0044] Furthermore, the gland stopper 502 may be configured as a plastic stopper.

[0045] A first rubber block 507 and a second rubber block 508 (not shown) are provided on one side of the first channel 504, and the first rubber block 507 and the second rubber block 508 are in contact with the test tube; a wedge-shaped stopper 509 is provided on the other side of the first channel 504, and the thickness of the wedge-shaped stopper 509 increases in sequence from the pressure cover inlet 503 to the second channel 505, and the shape of the top surface of the wedge-shaped stopper 509 matches the shape of the test tube cover.

[0046] It should be noted that after the test tube enters the first channel 504, the first rubber block 507 and the second rubber block 508 are in contact with the test tube, so the test tube will rotate in the first channel 504. Due to the setting of the wedge-shaped stopper 509, when the test tube cover is in the initial position of the first channel 504, the test tube cover is located on the working turntable 102. During the rotation of the test tube, since the test tube cover is in contact with the wedge-shaped stopper 509, the test tube cover will move upward along the height direction of the wedge-shaped stopper 509. Finally, when the test tube moves to the position of the second channel 505, the test tube cover is located above the test tube.

[0047] The second channel 505 includes a first gland section 510 and a second gland section 511 . The height of the first gland section 510 gradually decreases and is communicated with the second gland section 511 .

[0048] It should be noted that, as the height of the first capping section 510 gradually becomes lower, the test tube cover is gradually pressed against the test tube during the process of moving the test tube to the capping station 105, and the second capping section 511 is at the same height as the lowest point of the first capping section 510, and it is a channel with a constant height. The test tube and the test tube cover are further pressed together while maintaining pressure in the second capping section 511.

[0049] The work turntable 102 is also provided with a scanning station 110, and a scanning device 111 and a lifting clamp 112 are provided on one side of the scanning station 110. The capped test tube moves to the scanning station 110, and the lifting clamp 112 sucks up the test tube to scan the label on the test tube to produce an identification code.

[0050] The coding mechanism 600, the labeling mechanism 400 includes a coding station 401 and a Y-axis moving device 402 connected to the coding station 401, which is used to spray identification codes on the test tubes at the coding station 106, and the test tubes are moved to the unloading station 107 after coding.

[0051] The second clamping mechanism 700 is disposed on one side of the tray loading mechanism 800 and is used to move the test tube from the unloading station 107 into the empty tray 109 .

[0052] The tray loading mechanism 800 is arranged on the other side of the working turntable 102, and is used to load the empty tray 109; the tray unloading structure 900 is used to unload the tray 109 filled with test tubes after labeling, capping and coding.

[0053] The second gripper mechanism 700 includes a six-axis robotic arm 701 and a second gripper 702 connected to the six-axis robotic arm 701 .

[0054] The tray loading mechanism 800 includes a material rack 801, and the trays 109 without test tubes are stacked in sequence in the material rack 801. A lifting cylinder 802 is provided on the lower side of the material rack 801, and the lifting cylinder 802 is connected to the top plate 803; a first positioning mechanism 804 and a second positioning mechanism 805 are provided on both sides of the material rack 801, and the first positioning mechanism 804 and the second positioning mechanism 805 both include a positioning cylinder 8041 and a positioning block 8042, and the positioning block 8042 cooperates with the positioning groove 1091 of the tray 109; the tray unloading mechanism 900 has the same structure as the tray loading mechanism 800.

[0055] A belt conveyor 113 is provided at the lower side of the tray unloading mechanism 900 and the tray loading mechanism 800 , and the belt conveyor 113 connects the tray loading mechanism 800 and the tray unloading mechanism 900 .

[0056] A limiting device 114 is disposed on one side of the belt conveyor 113 . The limiting device 114 includes a limiting cylinder 1141 and a limiting block 1142 connected to the limiting cylinder 1141 .

[0057] It should be noted that when the tray loading mechanism 800 is loading, the lifting cylinder 802 is started to drive the top plate 803 to move to the lower side of the tray 109, the cylinder rod of the positioning cylinder 8041 retracts to drive the positioning block 8042 to be pulled out from the positioning groove 1091, so that the empty tray is lowered onto the top plate 803, and then the cylinder rod of the positioning cylinder 8041 extends to clamp the previous tray 109, and the cylinder rod of the lifting cylinder 802 retracts to drive the empty tray 109 to move to the belt conveyor 113, and the belt conveyor 113 is started. The empty material tray 109 is driven to move to the position of the limit block 1142. The empty material tray 109 is limited by the limit block 1142. At this time, the second clamp 702 moves the test tube of the unloading station 107 into the material tray 109. After the material tray 109 is full, the cylinder rod of the limit cylinder retracts, and the material tray 109 moves into the material tray unloading mechanism 900. Then, it is stacked one by one by the top plate 803 of the material tray unloading mechanism 900 into the material rack 801 of the material tray unloading mechanism 900. After it is full, the material rack 801 of the material tray unloading mechanism 900 can be taken away.

[0058] All motors and cylinders provided in the present invention are connected with control system signals.

[0059] It should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device.

[0060] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A labeling and capping workstation, characterized in that: The invention comprises a control system, a frame (100), a workbench (101) arranged on the frame (100), and a work turntable (102) arranged on the workbench (101), wherein the work turntable (102) is provided with a loading station (103), a labeling station (104), a capping station (105), a coding station (106), and a unloading station (107); An aligning mechanism (108) is disposed on one side of the workbench (101) and is connected to the workbench (101); A first clamping mechanism (200) is arranged on one side of the working turntable (102) and is used to clamp the test tubes in the array mechanism into the loading station (103); A label mechanism (300), used for printing labels and peeling the labels off the material strip; A labeling mechanism (400) comprises a labeling motor (401) and a labeling roller (402) connected to an output shaft of the labeling motor (401), wherein the labeling roller (402) contacts a test tube on a labeling station (104); A capping mechanism (500) comprises a capping housing (501) and a capping stopper (502) arranged on one side of the capping housing (501); a capping inlet (503) is arranged on a side of the capping housing (501) close to the capping stopper (502); the capping inlet (503) is communicated with a first channel (504); the first channel (504) is communicated with a second channel (505); the first channel (504) is used to move a test tube cap to a capping position; the second channel (505) is used to press the test tube cap in a capping station (105) with the test tube; a capping outlet (506) is arranged on a side of the capping housing (501) close to the second channel (505); the capping inlet (503), the first channel (504), the second channel (505) and the capping outlet (506) are communicated with each other; A coding mechanism (600) for spraying identification codes on the test tubes at the coding station (106); A second clamping mechanism (700) is disposed on one side of the tray loading mechanism (800) and is used to move the test tube from the unloading station (107) into an empty tray (109); A material tray loading mechanism (800) is arranged on the other side of the working turntable (102) and is used to load an empty material tray (109); A material tray unloading mechanism (900) is used to unload the material tray (109) filled with test tubes that have been labeled, capped and coded; A first rubber block (507) and a second rubber block (508) are provided on one side of the first channel (504), and the first rubber block (507) and the second rubber block (508) are in contact with the test tube; A wedge-shaped stopper (509) is provided on the other side of the first channel (504), the thickness of the wedge-shaped stopper (509) increases in sequence from the capping inlet (503) to the second channel (505), and the shape of the top surface of the wedge-shaped stopper (509) matches the shape of the test tube cover; The second channel (505) comprises a first gland section (510) and a second gland section (511), wherein the height of the first gland section (510) gradually decreases and is communicated with the second gland section (511); A scanning station (110) is also provided on the working turntable (102), and a scanning device (111) and a lifting clamp (112) are provided on one side of the scanning station (110); The material tray loading mechanism (800) comprises a material rack (801), the material trays (109) without test tubes are stacked in sequence in the material rack (801), a lifting cylinder (802) is provided at the lower side of the material rack (801), and the lifting cylinder (802) is connected to a top plate (803); A first positioning mechanism (804) and a second positioning mechanism (805) are provided on both sides of the material rack (801), and the first positioning mechanism (804) and the second positioning mechanism (805) both include a positioning cylinder (8041) and a positioning block (8042), and the positioning block (8042) cooperates with the positioning groove (1091) of the material tray (109); The material tray unloading mechanism (900) has the same structure as the material tray loading mechanism (800).

2. A labeling and capping workstation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first clamping jaw mechanism (200) comprises an X-axis moving device (201), a Z-axis moving device (202) is fixed to the moving end of the X-axis moving device (201), and a first clamping jaw (203) is fixed to the moving end of the Z-axis moving device (202); The second gripper mechanism (700) comprises a six-axis robotic arm (701) and a second gripper (702) connected to the six-axis robotic arm (701).

3. A labeling and capping workstation according to claim 2, characterized in that: A belt conveyor (113) is provided at the lower side of the tray unloading mechanism (900) and the tray loading mechanism (800), and the belt conveyor (113) is connected to the tray loading mechanism (800) and the tray unloading mechanism (900).

4. A labeling and capping workstation according to claim 3, characterized in that: A limiting device (114) is provided on one side of the belt conveyor (113), and the limiting device (114) comprises a limiting cylinder (1141) and a limiting block (1142) connected to the limiting cylinder (1141).

5. The labeling and capping and coding workstation according to claim 4, characterized in that: The labeling mechanism (400) comprises a spraying platform and a Y-axis moving device connected to the spraying platform.

6. A labeling and capping workstation according to claim 5, characterized in that: The label mechanism (300) comprises a label printer (301) and a label stripping device (302); the label stripping device (302) comprises a stripping knife (3021); and the stripping knife (3021) is arranged on one side of the labeling roller (402).