Automated Packaging Production Line for the Rear Section of Central Kitchen Boxed Meals

Abstract

The present invention provides an automated packaging production line for the latter stage of central kitchen boxed meals, including: a manual meal distribution conveyor line for loading boxed meals placed manually; a heat shrink film packaging machine that uses a shrink film to wrap around the product or packaging, and after heating, the shrink film shrinks and tightly wraps the boxed meals; an automatic confluence system that automatically combines the boxed meals from two meal distribution lines onto a main line; a circulating pusher mechanism that enables the boxed meals to enter the next conveyor line row by row regularly; a microwave heating conveyor line that microwaves the boxed meals; and a robotic automatic boxing system that automatically converges the boxed meals conveyed out by the microwave heating conveyor line onto the robotic grasping conveyor line. By connecting in series the manual meal distribution line, the heat shrink film packaging machine, the automatic confluence system, the circulating pusher mechanism, the microwave heating conveyor line, and the robotic automatic boxing system, the present invention can achieve the automated production of boxed meals except for meal distribution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of packaging assembly lines, and specifically to an automated packaging assembly line for the latter stage of central kitchen boxed meals. Background Art

[0002] The so-called central kitchen distributes dishes using refrigerated trucks, and all directly-operated stores implement unified procurement and distribution. Previously, the way restaurants stocked goods was that, except for dry goods such as tripe and duck intestines, all fresh vegetables were purchased by each directly-operated store individually. After adopting central kitchen distribution, it saves about 30% of the cost compared to traditional distribution.

[0003] The central kitchen uses a huge operation room, and each link such as procurement, vegetable selection, cutting, and seasoning is responsible by a dedicated person. The semi-finished products and the prepared seasonings are transported together in a unified transportation method and delivered to the branch stores within the specified time.

[0004] Previously in the central kitchen industry, there was no automated assembly line for the latter stage of boxed meal packaging. The entire latter stage packaging process of boxed meals relied on manual labor. There was a manual confluence conveyor line where workers took the heated boxed meals from the microwave heating conveyor line and then loaded them into insulated boxes and then distributed them to various places. Therefore, it has the following disadvantages:

[0005] Disadvantage 1: A large amount of manual labor is required throughout the process, and the labor cost is very high;

[0006] Disadvantage 2: The labor intensity is high, the personnel turnover rate is high, and it is difficult to recruit workers;

[0007] Disadvantage 3: The degree of automation is low and the production efficiency is low. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automated packaging assembly line for the latter stage of central kitchen boxed meals, aiming to solve the problem that a large amount of manual labor is required throughout the central kitchen industry and the labor cost is very high.

[0009] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: An automated packaging assembly line for the latter stage of central kitchen boxed meals, including:

[0010] A manual meal distribution conveyor line for loading boxed meals placed manually;

[0011] A heat shrink film packaging machine that wraps a shrink film around the outside of the product or packaging, and after heating, makes the shrink film shrink and tightly wrap the boxed meal;

[0012] An automatic confluence system that automatically combines the boxed meals from two meal distribution lines onto one main line;

[0013] A circulating pusher mechanism that allows the boxed meals to enter the next conveyor line row by row regularly;

[0014] A microwave heating conveyor line that microwaves the boxed lunches;

[0015] A robotic automatic boxing system that allows the boxed lunches conveyed by the microwave heating conveyor line to automatically converge onto the robotic grasping conveyor line, and the robotic automatic boxing system automatically completes the boxing of the boxed lunches;

[0016] The heat shrink film packaging machine is located between the manual meal distribution conveyor line and the automatic confluence system, the automatic confluence system is located between the heat shrink film packaging machine and the circulating pusher mechanism, and the microwave heating conveyor line is located between the circulating pusher mechanism and the robotic automatic boxing system.

[0017] Preferably, the manual meal distribution conveyor line includes a meal distribution conveyor belt driven by a driving motor.

[0018] Preferably, the heat shrink film packaging machine includes a feeding support, with a lower conveyor belt and an upper conveyor belt installed at the upper end of the feeding support; the front end of the feeding support frame is connected to a stacked feeding support, and the front end of the stacked feeding support is a film sleeving and sealing mechanism; a lifting workbench is provided near the upper and lower conveyor belts of the stacked feeding support, turning blades are provided on both sides of the upper end of the lifting workbench, a turning start motor is provided at the top of the lifting workbench, and a stacked workbench is in the middle of the stacked feeding support; a counting switch that rises into the upper conveyor belt is installed on the side of the upper end of the stacked feeding support, and an anti-ballistic device for the object to be packaged is also provided near the upper and lower conveyor belts at the upper end of the stacked feeding support.

[0019] Preferably, the automatic confluence system includes a horizontal conveyor and a vertical conveyor, and the conveying directions of the horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor are perpendicular to each other; the horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor respectively include a support, rollers, and a conveyor belt. Rollers are installed on both sides of the support, and the rollers are connected to a motor and a conveyor roller assembly. The horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor drive the conveyor belt through the connecting motor and the conveyor roller to make the conveyor work by friction of the rollers.

[0020] Preferably, the circulating pusher mechanism includes a number of cylinders for pushing the boxed lunches into the microwave heating conveyor line.

[0021] Preferably, the microwave heating conveyor line includes an outer housing, an internal conveyor belt, a motor for driving the conveyor belt, and a microwave energy feeding device.

[0022] Preferably, the robotic automatic boxing system includes a support, a detection component, and a packaging component, and a conveyor belt is provided below the support.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0024] By connecting in series an artificial meal distribution line, a heat shrink film wrapping machine, an automatic confluence system, a circulating pusher mechanism, a microwave heating and conveying line, and a robot automatic boxing system, the present invention can achieve the automated production of boxed meals except for meal distribution, save 10 - 20 employees, reduce the labor cost of the entire central kitchen, and improve the problem of difficult recruitment. The automated production also greatly improves production efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 is a top view schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of the artificial meal distribution and conveying line of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the heat shrink film packaging machine of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the automatic confluence system, the circulating pusher mechanism, and the microwave heating and conveying line of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of the robot automatic boxing system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 1-6 , the present invention provides a technical solution: an automated packaging production line for the back-end of boxed meals in a central kitchen, including:

[0033] An artificial meal distribution and conveying line 1 for loading boxed meals placed manually;

[0034] A heat shrink film packaging machine 2 that wraps a shrink film around the product or packaging and, after heating, causes the shrink film to shrink and tightly wrap the boxed meal;

[0035] An automatic confluence system 3 that automatically combines the boxed meals from two meal distribution lines onto one main line;

[0036] A circulating pusher mechanism 4 that allows the boxed meals to enter the next conveying line row by row regularly;

[0037] The microwave heating conveyor line 5 microwave-heats the boxed lunches;

[0038] The robotic automatic boxing system 6 enables the boxed lunches conveyed out by the microwave heating conveyor line 5 to automatically converge onto the robotic grasping conveyor line, and the robotic automatic boxing system 6 automatically completes the boxing of the boxed lunches;

[0039] The heat shrink film packaging machine 2 is located between the manual meal distribution conveyor line 1 and the automatic confluence system 3. The automatic confluence system 3 is located between the heat shrink film packaging machine 2 and the circulating pusher mechanism 4. The microwave heating conveyor line 5 is located between the circulating pusher mechanism 4 and the robotic automatic boxing system 6.

[0040] The manual meal distribution conveyor line 1 includes a meal distribution conveyor belt driven by a drive motor.

[0041] The heat shrink film packaging machine 2 includes a feeding support. An upper conveyor belt and a lower conveyor belt are installed at the upper end of the feeding support; the front end of the feeding support frame is connected to a stacked feeding support. The front end of the stacked feeding support is a film sleeving and sealing mechanism; a lifting workbench is provided near the upper and lower conveyor belts of the stacked feeding support. Flipping blades are provided on both sides of the upper end of the lifting workbench. A flipping start motor is provided at the top end of the lifting workbench. The middle of the stacked feeding support is a stacked workbench; a counting switch that rises into the upper conveyor belt is installed on the side of the upper end of the stacked feeding support. A bulletproof device for the item to be packaged is also provided near the upper and lower conveyor belts at the upper end of the stacked feeding support.

[0042] The automatic confluence system 3 includes a horizontal conveyor and a vertical conveyor. The conveying directions of the horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor are perpendicular to each other; the horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor respectively include a support, rollers, and a conveyor belt. Rollers are installed on both sides of the support. The rollers are connected to a motor and a conveyor roller assembly. The horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor drive the conveyor belt through the connection motor and conveyor rollers to make the conveyor work through the friction rollers.

[0043] The circulating pusher mechanism 4 includes a number of air cylinders for pushing the boxed lunches into the microwave heating conveyor line.

[0044] The microwave heating conveyor line 5 includes an outer housing, an internal conveyor belt, a motor for driving the conveyor belt, and a microwave energy feeding device.

[0045] The robotic automatic boxing system 6 includes a support, a detection component, and a packing component. A conveyor belt is provided below the support.

[0046] The working principle of the present invention is as follows: After manual meal distribution, the meals automatically enter a heat shrink film packaging machine. After the boxed meals are wrapped with film, they enter an automatic confluence system. The boxed meals from two meal distribution lines automatically converge onto a main line and are transported by the main line to a circulating pusher system, enabling the boxed meals to enter the microwave heating conveyor line regularly row by row. After the boxed meals pass through the microwave heating conveyor line, the robotic automatic boxing system automatically arranges the materials, allowing the boxed meals conveyed out by the microwave heating conveyor line to automatically converge onto the robotic grasping conveyor line, and the robotic boxing system automatically completes the boxing of the boxed meals.

Claims

1. The automated packaging production line for the latter stage of central kitchen boxed meals is characterized in that, Including: Manual meal distribution conveyor line (1), used for loading boxed lunches placed manually; Shrink film packaging machine (2), which uses shrink film to wrap around the product or packaging, and after heating, makes the shrink film shrink and tightly wrap the boxed lunch; Automatic confluence system (3), which automatically combines the boxed lunches from two meal distribution lines onto one main line; Circular pushing mechanism (4), which enables the boxed lunches to enter the next conveyor line row by row regularly; Microwave heating conveyor line (5), which microwaves the boxed lunches; Robot automatic boxing system (6), which enables the boxed lunches conveyed by the microwave heating conveyor line (5) to automatically converge onto the robot grasping conveyor line, and the robot automatic boxing system (6) automatically completes the boxing of the boxed lunches; The shrink film packaging machine (2) is located between the manual meal distribution conveyor line (1) and the automatic confluence system (3), the automatic confluence system (3) is located between the shrink film packaging machine (2) and the circular pushing mechanism (4), and the microwave heating conveyor line (5) is located between the circular pushing mechanism (4) and the robot automatic boxing system (6).

2. The automated packaging pipeline for the latter stage of the central kitchen boxed meals according to claim 1, wherein: The manual meal distribution conveyor line (1) includes a meal distribution conveyor belt, which is driven by a driving motor.

3. The automated packaging production line for the latter stage of the central kitchen boxed meals according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shrink film packaging machine (2) includes a feeding support, and an upper conveyor belt and a lower conveyor belt are installed at the upper end of the feeding support; The front end of the feeding support frame is connected with a stacked feeding support. The front end of the stacked feeding support is a film sleeving and sealing mechanism; there is a lifting workbench near the upper and lower conveyor belts of the stacked feeding support. There are flipping blades on both sides of the upper end of the lifting workbench, and a flipping start motor is arranged at the top of the lifting workbench. The middle of the stacked feeding support is a stacked workbench; a counting switch that rises into the upper conveyor belt is installed on the side of the upper end of the stacked feeding support, and an anti-ballistic device for the object to be packaged is also arranged near the upper and lower conveyor belts at the upper end of the stacked feeding support.

4. The automated packaging production line for the latter stage of the central kitchen boxed meals according to claim 1, wherein: The automatic confluence system (3) includes a horizontal conveyor and a vertical conveyor, and the conveying directions of the horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor are perpendicular to each other; the horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor respectively include a support, rollers, and a conveyor belt. Rollers are installed on both sides of the support, and the rollers are connected to motors and conveyor roller assemblies. The horizontal conveyor and the vertical conveyor drive the conveyor belt through the connecting motors and conveyor rollers to make the conveyor work by friction rollers.

5. The automated packaging production line for the latter stage of central kitchen boxed meals according to claim 1, wherein: The circular pushing mechanism (4) includes several cylinders, which are used to push the boxed lunches into the microwave heating conveyor line.

6. The automated packaging pipeline for the latter stage of central kitchen boxed meals according to claim 1, wherein: The microwave heating conveyor line (5) includes an outer shell, an internal conveyor belt, a motor for driving the conveyor belt, and a microwave energy feeding device.

7. The automated packaging production line for the latter stage of the central kitchen boxed meals according to claim 1, characterized in that: The robot automatic boxing system (6) includes a support, a detection component, and a packing component, and a conveyor belt is arranged below the support.

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