Filling apparatus and filling method

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a filling device and a filling method. The filling device comprises an extraction and unfolding device, a transfer device and a transport device. The extraction and unfolding device is configured to extract a flat and folded packaging sleeve and unfold the flat and folded packaging sleeve into an upright packaging shell. The transfer device is configured to transfer the packaging shell onto the transport device. The extraction and unfolding device or the transfer device comprises a guide mechanism comprising a receiving space having a width narrowing portion configured to allow the packaging shell to move therethrough. The packaging shell comprises a packaging side surface comprising a first pair of protrusions, and the width narrowing portion is configured to allow the first pair of protrusions to move closer to each other and then move away from each other when the packaging shell moves through the width narrowing portion. By using the above filling device, the pre-folding of the packaging shell can be realized, and the cross-sectional shape of the packaging shell is close to a rectangle or a square, thereby improving the sealing effect and the aesthetic appearance of the packaging shell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a filling device and a filling method. Background Technology

[0002] Numerous filling equipment designs have been developed for filling products, especially liquid foods, into packaging. Typically, the outer packaging shell is first introduced into the filling equipment's hopper, and then transferred to a transport device using a transfer unit. During transport, the packaging shell undergoes several processing steps, such as activation and sealing, and the liquid food is filled into the processed shell, which is then sealed to form the final product. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to at least address the problems of reduced sealing performance and decreased aesthetics caused by the curved edges formed on the outer packaging shell, embodiments of this disclosure provide a filling device and a filling method.

[0004] This disclosure provides a first aspect of a filling apparatus, including an extraction and unfolding device, a transfer device, and a transport device. The extraction and unfolding device is configured to extract a flattened, folded packaging sleeve and unfold it into an upright packaging shell. The transfer device is configured to transfer the packaging shell onto the transport device. The extraction and unfolding device or the transfer device includes a guiding mechanism, the guiding mechanism including a receiving space having a narrowing portion configured to allow the packaging shell to move through it. The packaging shell includes packaging sides, the packaging sides including a first pair of protrusions, the narrowing portion being configured such that when the packaging shell moves through the narrowing portion, the first pair of protrusions first approach each other and then move away from each other.

[0005] In at least some embodiments, the guide mechanism includes a protrusion projecting toward the receiving space to form the width narrowing portion, the protrusion being configured to abut against the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging to bring the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging closer together as the outer casing of the packaging moves through the width narrowing portion.

[0006] In at least some embodiments, the guiding mechanism further includes a first guide rail and a second guide rail, and the protrusion includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion and the second protrusion being located on the first guide rail and the second guide rail respectively and extending along the guiding direction of the guiding mechanism.

[0007] In at least some embodiments, the first guide rail includes: a first profile; a first component located on and connected to the first profile, wherein the first protrusion is located on the first component. The second guide rail includes: a second profile; a second component located on and connected to the second profile, wherein the second protrusion is located on the second component.

[0008] In at least some embodiments, the first component and the second component are made of at least one of metal, alloy and polymer material; the first protrusion and the second protrusion are made of at least one of metal, alloy and polymer material.

[0009] In at least some embodiments, the polymeric material includes Teflon.

[0010] In at least some embodiments, the narrowing portion of the accommodating space includes a first region and a second region distributed along the guiding direction of the guiding mechanism, wherein the width of the narrowing portion in the first region is greater than the width of the narrowing portion in the second region, such that when the outer packaging moves through the narrowing portion along the guiding direction, the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging move from the first region to the second region and simultaneously move toward each other.

[0011] In at least some embodiments, the guiding mechanism includes a protrusion projecting toward the receiving space to form the width-narrowing portion, the protrusion including a deformation region and a holding region distributed along the guiding direction, the deformation region corresponding to the first region and the holding region corresponding to the second region.

[0012] In at least some embodiments, the protrusion further includes: a first sub-protrusion located in the deformation region; and a second sub-protrusion located in the holding region and connected to the first sub-protrusion. The first protrusion height of the first sub-protrusion is less than the second protrusion height of the second sub-protrusion, such that when each of the first pair of protrusions moves from the first region to the second region, the first and second sub-protrusions sequentially lift the protrusion, causing the first pair of protrusions to move toward each other.

[0013] In at least some embodiments, the protrusion includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, with a gap between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; in the deformation zone and the holding zone, the gap gradually decreases from a maximum gap value to a minimum gap value along the guide direction, and the ratio between the minimum gap value and the maximum gap value is 0.2 to 0.8.

[0014] In at least some embodiments, the accommodating space includes: a third region, wherein the second region is located between the first region and the third region along the guide direction; the width of the accommodating space in the third region is greater than the width of the narrowing portion in the second region, such that when the outer packaging shell moves along the guide direction past the narrowing portion, the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging move from the second region to the third region and simultaneously move in a direction away from each other.

[0015] In at least some embodiments, the protrusion further includes: a release region, wherein the holding region is located between the deformation region and the release region along the guide direction; and a third sub-protrusion portion, located in the release region and connected to the second sub-protrusion portion. The third protrusion height of the third sub-protrusion portion is less than the second protrusion height of the second sub-protrusion portion, such that when each of the first pair of protrusions moves from the second region to the third region, the protrusion is released from the width-narrowing portion and the first pair of protrusions moves in a direction away from each other.

[0016] In at least some embodiments, the first sub-protrusion, the second sub-protrusion, and the third sub-protrusion are all smoothly connected. In the guiding direction, the length of the deformation region is greater than or equal to the length of the holding region.

[0017] In at least some embodiments, the ratio of the length of the deformable region to the length of the retaining region is 1 to 50.

[0018] In at least some embodiments, each of the first pair of protrusions has an interior angle in a plane perpendicular to the guiding direction of the guiding mechanism. A angular portion is provided on the side of the protrusion facing the protrusion, the angular portion having an included angle in the plane perpendicular to the guiding direction, the included angle first increasing and then decreasing along the guiding direction, such that when the packaging shell moves along the guiding direction through the receiving space, the interior angle of each of the first pair of protrusions first increases and then decreases.

[0019] In at least some embodiments, the protrusion includes a deformation zone and a holding zone distributed along the guide direction, and the maximum angle value of the included angle is located in at least one of the deformation zone and the holding zone.

[0020] In at least some embodiments, the minimum angle value of the included angle is 80° to 100°, and the maximum angle value is 120° to 130°.

[0021] In at least some embodiments, the packaging side also includes a second pair of protrusions, which are different from the first pair of protrusions. The width narrowing portion is also configured such that when the packaging shell moves through the width narrowing portion, the second pair of protrusions first move away from each other and then move closer to each other.

[0022] In at least some embodiments, at least one of the second pair of protrusions has an arched portion.

[0023] In at least some embodiments, the transfer device includes the guiding mechanism.

[0024] In at least some embodiments, the transfer device further includes an auxiliary mechanism comprising a guard plate extending along the guiding direction of the guiding mechanism and located outside at least one of the second pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging.

[0025] In at least some embodiments, the auxiliary mechanism further includes an auxiliary connector connected to the protective plate, the auxiliary connector being configured to move along the guide direction to move the protective plate together, thereby moving the packaging shell through the width narrowing portion.

[0026] In at least some embodiments, the guard plate has an L-shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the guide direction, and the guard plate has a chamfer at the end away from the auxiliary connector along the guide direction.

[0027] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a filling method comprising: extracting a flattened, folded packaging sleeve and unfolding the flattened, folded packaging sleeve into an upright packaging shell; transferring the packaging shell onto a transport device, wherein the packaging shell includes packaging sides, the packaging sides including a first pair of protrusions, the first pair of protrusions including two protrusions; wherein, in the step of extracting the packaging sleeve and unfolding the packaging sleeve into the packaging shell, or in the step of transferring the packaging shell onto the transport device, the filling method further comprises: moving the packaging shell along a guide mechanism such that, as the packaging shell moves through a narrowing portion of the receiving space of the guide mechanism, the first pair of protrusions first approach each other and then move away from each other.

[0028] In at least some embodiments, the guide mechanism includes a protrusion projecting toward the receiving space to form the width narrowing portion, the protrusion abutting against the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging as the outer casing moves through the width narrowing portion.

[0029] In the filling equipment and filling method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, a guiding mechanism is provided on one of the extraction and unfolding devices and the transfer device. This guiding mechanism includes a width-narrowing portion through which the packaging shell moves. When the packaging shell passes through the width-narrowing portion, a first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging first approach each other and then move away from each other, thereby enabling pre-folding of another pair of protrusions (e.g., a second pair of protrusions) on the side of the packaging, thereby reducing the restoring force. Furthermore, due to the reduced restoring force, the cross-sectional shape of the resulting upright packaging shell is close to rectangular or square, thereby improving the sealing effect and aesthetics of the packaging shell. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below only relate to some embodiments of this disclosure and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flat, foldable packaging sleeve disclosed herein.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional shape of the packaging sleeve disclosed herein.

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional shape of the packaging shell of this disclosure.

[0034] Figure 4A This is a schematic diagram of the filling equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 4B This is a schematic diagram of the extraction and unfolding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the transfer device in the filling equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A partially enlarged view of the transfer device.

[0038] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the packaging shell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first and second components of the guiding mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first protrusion of the guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 10This is another cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first protrusion of the guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the guard plate in the auxiliary mechanism 24 of this disclosure embodiment.

[0043] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional shape of a packaging shell formed using the filling method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0044] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0045] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this patent application specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as “comprising” or “including” indicate that the element or object preceding “comprising” or “including” encompasses the element or object listed following “comprising” or “including” and its equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects. Terms such as “connected” or “linked” are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” and “right” are used only to indicate relative positional relationships, and these relative positional relationships may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described object changes.

[0046] For convenience, terms such as "middle," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer" are used to indicate orientation or positional relationships when describing the positional relationships of the constituent elements with reference to the accompanying drawings. This is solely for the purpose of facilitating the description of this specification and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure. The positional relationships of the constituent elements may be appropriately changed depending on the orientation of each constituent element being described. Therefore, the terminology used is not limited to those described in the specification and may be appropriately replaced as appropriate.

[0047] The filling equipment disclosed herein includes an extraction and unfolding device, a transfer device, and a transport device. Before filling, the packaging shell is arranged in the form of a flattened, folded packaging sleeve, for example, placed in the hopper of the filling equipment. The extraction and unfolding device extracts the flattened, folded packaging sleeve and unfolds it into an upright packaging shell. Then, the transfer device transfers the upright packaging shell to the transport device. The transport device carries the packaging shell to multiple processing stations, where it undergoes multiple processing steps, including top activation, top sealing, liquid filling, bottom activation, and bottom sealing, to produce the finished product.

[0048] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flat, foldable packaging sleeve disclosed herein. (As shown...) Figure 1 As shown, the packaging sleeve 2 includes a top opening 201 and a bottom opening 202. Before filling, it is necessary to... Figure 1 The flat, folded packaging sleeve 2 shown unfolds into an upright packaging shell, facilitating subsequent processing of the packaging shell. In this text, "upright" refers to the packaging shell being able to be placed vertically on a horizontal surface. Compared to the flat state, the upright packaging shell has a certain amount of internal space.

[0049] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional shape of the packaging sleeve of this disclosure. To unfold the flattened, folded packaging sleeve 2 into an upright packaging shell, it can be... Figure 2 The arrows indicate that the packaging sleeve 2 deforms. The packaging sleeve 2 has four protrusions located at the positions of the four side edges 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. Ideally, during deformation, the cross-sectional shape of the packaging sleeve 2 changes as shown... Figure 2 The parallelogram shown transitions to a square or rectangle, meaning that ideally, the interior angle of each protrusion is approximately 90 degrees. In this text, "approximately" or "approximately" refers to values ​​within acceptable limits, allowing for process and measurement errors.

[0050] However, in actual production, the inventors discovered that because the creases on the packaging sleeve 2 used to form the two opposing side edges 2a and 2b were not pre-folded, they had a large restoring force, resulting in a final packaging shell with a non-regular square or rectangular cross-sectional shape, potentially exhibiting a certain degree of curvature or arc at the protrusions (which can be called arc edges). Since the packaging shell is stored or transported in a flat, folded state for an extended period before being introduced into the hopper, the side edges 2a and 2b of the packaging shell generate restoring forces, which have a counteracting effect on the unfolding of the packaging shell. As the initially flat, folded packaging shell is unfolded into a packaging shell forming a parallelogram in cross-section, especially a rectangle, the restoring force increases.

[0051] For example, to improve the aesthetics or grip of packaging, some packaging shells have arched sections (also called gripping areas). For example, in Figure 1 The packaging sleeve 2 is designed with curved crease lines 203 to form the aforementioned arched portion. At this time, if the upper and lower straight crease lines of the curved crease line 203 near the top opening 201 and the bottom opening 202 are not pre-folded, the side edge where the curved crease line 203 is located is more likely to produce an arc edge.

[0052] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional shape of the packaging shell of this disclosure. (See diagram below.) Figure 3 As shown, since it has not been pre-folded, the two oppositely arranged side edges 3 with curved crease lines have obvious curved parts, and the side edges 3 are arc edges, while the other two oppositely arranged side edges do not form curved parts.

[0053] During the production process, curved edges on the packaging shell are unacceptable because they affect the sealing effect of the top or bottom openings. For example, before sealing, the top or bottom opening is preheated using a heating device (e.g., a heating head), a process also known as activation. Heating softens the plastic contained in the packaging material, thus improving the sealing of the top or bottom opening (for details of the activation process, please refer to the prior Chinese patent application No. 201180053901.1). When the heating head is inserted into the top opening with the paper facing inward, the distances from the two curved edges 3 to the heating head differ from the distances from the other two non-curved edges, resulting in uneven activation. This ultimately leads to poorer sealing of the packaging box and reduced product quality. Furthermore, the presence of curved edges also affects the aesthetics of the packaging.

[0054] To address at least one of the above-mentioned problems, at least one embodiment of this disclosure provides a filling apparatus. The filling apparatus includes an extraction and unfolding device, a transfer device, and a transport device. The extraction and unfolding device is configured to extract a flattened, folded packaging sleeve and unfold it into an upright packaging shell. The transfer device is configured to transfer the packaging shell onto the transport device. The extraction and unfolding device or the transfer device includes a guiding mechanism, which includes a receiving space having a narrowing portion configured to allow the packaging shell to move through it. The packaging shell includes packaging sides, the packaging sides including a first pair of protrusions, and the narrowing portion is configured such that when the packaging shell moves through the narrowing portion, the first pair of protrusions first approach each other and then move away from each other.

[0055] In the filling equipment provided in the above embodiments of this disclosure, a guiding mechanism is provided on one of the extraction and unfolding devices and the transfer device. This guiding mechanism includes a width-narrowing portion through which the packaging shell moves. When the packaging shell passes through the width-narrowing portion, a first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging first approach each other and then move away from each other, thereby enabling pre-folding of another pair of protrusions (e.g., a second pair of protrusions) on the side of the packaging, thereby reducing the restoring force. Furthermore, due to the reduced restoring force, the cross-sectional shape of the resulting upright packaging shell is close to rectangular or square, thereby improving the sealing effect and aesthetics of the packaging shell.

[0056] The present disclosure will now be described through several specific embodiments. To keep the following description of the embodiments of the present disclosure clear and concise, detailed descriptions of known functions and components may be omitted. When any component of an embodiment of the present disclosure appears in more than one drawing, the component may be represented by the same reference numerals in each drawing.

[0057] Figure 4A This is a schematic diagram of the filling equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4A As shown, the filling equipment 100 provided in this embodiment includes an extraction and unfolding device 10, a transfer device 20, and a transport device 30.

[0058] For example, multiple flattened, folded packaging sleeves 2 are arranged in the material box 50, each packaging sleeve 2 including, for example, Figure 1 The top opening 201 and bottom opening 202 are shown. The extraction and unfolding device 10 is configured to extract the flattened, folded packaging sleeve 2 and unfold it into an upright packaging shell 1. For example, the extraction and unfolding device 10 includes a plurality of suction elements 9 for acquiring the packaging wall 2e of the packaging sleeve 2.

[0059] Figure 4B This is a schematic diagram of the extraction and unfolding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4B In this configuration, the adsorption element 9 is fixed to a swing arm 11 that is arranged to swing around the vertical direction. Through the swinging motion of the adsorption element 9 around the axis, and in conjunction with the guide element 12, the packaging sleeve 2 can be unfolded.

[0060] For example, the hopper 50 is provided with an extraction side, and the packaging wall 2e of the packaging sleeve 2 is positioned forward facing the adsorption member 9. The packaging wall 2e includes a first packaging wall 2e1 and a second packaging wall 2e2. When the adsorption member 9 extracts the packaging sleeve 2, it does not extract the entire width of the two packaging walls 2e1 and 2e2, but only one of the two packaging walls 2e1 and 2e2. First, the adsorption member 9 swings towards the packaging sleeve 2 and adsorbs the first packaging wall 2e1 by, for example, vacuum adsorption. Then, the packaging sleeve 2 moves along with the adsorption member 9... Figure 4BThe movement path is shown by the dashed line. During the swing stroke of the adsorption member 9, the second packaging wall 2e2 is slidably guided along the arched guide surface of the guide element 12, causing the inner angle of the packaging sleeve to gradually increase. Along the direction of the movement path, a pair of retaining elements (not shown) may also be provided at the end of the arched guide surface and at a position opposite to the end, which can be used to accommodate the unfolded packaging shell 1.

[0061] return Figure 4A The transfer device 20 is configured to transfer the unfolded packaging shell 1 onto the transport device 30. For example, the transport device 30 includes a mandrel 40a and a plurality of forming rods 40b arranged circumferentially around the mandrel 40a. The filling equipment has multiple processing stations; when the mandrel 40a rotates, it drives the forming rods 40b to rotate to different processing stations and pause briefly to complete the corresponding processing. For example, at station p0, the unfolded packaging shell 1 is transferred or fitted onto the forming rods 40b by the transfer device 20; at station p1, the top opening of the packaging shell 1 is activated; at station p3, the top opening is sealed. After the top sealing process is completed, the packaging shell 1 is transferred from the transport device 30 to the filling production line for subsequent liquid filling, bottom activation, bottom sealing, and other processes. For subsequent processes, refer to the processing technology of existing filling equipment; further details are omitted here.

[0062] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the transfer device in the filling equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6 for Figure 5 A partially enlarged view of the transfer device. Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the packaging shell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the transfer device 20 includes a guide mechanism 21, and the packaging shell 1 is configured to move along the guide mechanism 21. For example, the packaging shell 1 moves in the guide mechanism 21 along the guide direction Z.

[0064] In this embodiment of the disclosure, it is possible to Figure 4A The extraction and unfolding device 10 shown is equipped with a guide mechanism 21, which can also be used in... Figure 4A A guide mechanism 21 is provided on the transfer device 20 shown. By providing a guide mechanism 21 on the transfer device 20, the design and modification difficulty of existing filling equipment can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be lowered, thus it is preferred. This disclosure describes an embodiment with a guide mechanism 21 provided on the transfer device 20 as an example.

[0065] For example, Figure 5 The packaging shell 1 is shown in different positions within the guide mechanism 21. Figure 7 For along perpendicular to Figure 5A schematic diagram of the cross-section of the packaging shell 1 taken along the guiding direction Z. (See diagram below.) Figures 5 to 7 As shown, the packaging shell 1 includes packaging sides 1S, which include a first pair of protrusions and a second pair of protrusions. The first pair of protrusions includes two first protrusions 11 and 13 (also referred to as the first pair of protrusions 11 and 13), and the second pair of protrusions includes two second protrusions 12 and 14 (also referred to as the second pair of protrusions 12 and 14). In some embodiments, the two first protrusions 11 and 13 may be arranged opposite each other along the X direction perpendicular to the guide direction Z, and the two second protrusions 12 and 14 may be arranged opposite each other along the Y direction perpendicular to the guide direction Z (i.e., the second direction), which is beneficial for forming a packaged product with a square cross-section. In this document, "opposite arrangement" refers to the positional relationship between the two protrusions being directly opposite each other. It is understood that when the cross-section of the packaged product is rectangular or other shapes, the two protrusions in each protrusion may not be directly opposite each other, for example, they may be offset by a certain distance. This disclosure does not limit this.

[0066] like Figure 6 As shown, the guide mechanism 21 includes a receiving space 22 through which the packaging shell 1 moves. The receiving space 22 has a narrowing portion 23. In this text, the receiving space 22 has a certain width in the transverse direction perpendicular to the guide direction Z, for example, it has a width along... Figure 7 The lateral width in the X direction. When the outer packaging 1 is along... Figure 6 When the guide direction Z enters the narrowing section 23, the distance between the two first protrusions 11 and 13 decreases due to the narrowing width, causing them to move closer together in the X direction. Correspondingly, the distance between the other two second protrusions 12 and 14 increases, causing them to move further apart in the Y direction. As a result, the inner angles of the two second protrusions 12 and 14 decrease due to their movement away from each other, thus achieving [the desired effect]. Figure 2 The pre-folding of the side edges 2a and 2b of the intermediate packaging sleeve 2 reduces the restoring force at the side edges 2a and 2b.

[0067] Furthermore, due to the reduced reset force, the cross-sectional shape of the resulting upright packaging shell is closer to a rectangle or square, meaning the interior angles of the four protrusions are closer to 90 degrees. When the top or bottom opening is activated by heating with a heating head before sealing, the distances from the four side edges 2a to 2d to the heating head are essentially the same, thereby improving the uniformity of activation of the packaging material, thus enhancing the sealing effect of the packaging shell, and also improving the aesthetics of the product appearance.

[0068] like Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the guide mechanism 21 includes a first protrusion 231 and a second protrusion 232 protruding toward the receiving space 22 to form a width-narrowing portion 23. When the packaging shell 1 passes through the width-narrowing portion 23, the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 respectively abut against the two first protrusions 11 and 13 on the packaging side 1S, so that the two first protrusions 11 and 13 on the packaging side 1S are brought closer to each other. By providing the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232, a squeezing force can be generated on the two first protrusions 11 and 13 of the packaging shell 1 when the packaging shell 1 passes through the width-narrowing portion 23, thereby facilitating the pre-folding of the side edges 2a and 2b.

[0069] like Figure 7 As shown, the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 are arranged opposite to each other. For example, the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 are located on the outside of the two first protrusions 11 and 13 respectively and are arranged opposite to each other in the X direction. This facilitates the pre-folding of the packaging shell by squeezing it from the outside.

[0070] like Figure 5 As shown, the guiding mechanism 21 also includes a first guide rail 211 and a second guide rail 212. A first protrusion 231 and a second protrusion 232 are respectively disposed on the first guide rail 211 and the second guide rail 212 and extend along the guiding direction Z of the guiding mechanism 21. In this embodiment, by providing the first guide rail 211 and the second guide rail 212 on the transfer device 20, it is beneficial to transfer the packaging shell 1 from the extraction and unfolding device 10 to the transport device 30. For example, the positions of the first guide rail 211 and the second guide rail 212 are configured such that the packaging shell 1 can be directly fitted onto the forming rod 40b on the transport device 30 at the end of its sliding stroke. This not only reduces wear on the packaging shell but also reduces the number of transfer operation steps for the packaging shell, ensuring that the packaging shell is not damaged during the transfer process.

[0071] like Figure 5 As shown, the first guide rail 211 includes a first profile 221 and a first component 221a, wherein the first component 221a is located on and connected to the first profile 221, and a first protrusion 231 is located on the first component 221a. The second guide rail 212 includes a second profile 222 and a second component 222a, wherein the second component 222a is located on and connected to the second profile 222, and a second protrusion 232 is disposed on the second component 222a. In this embodiment, by respectively providing a first component 221a with a first protrusion 231 and a second component 222a with a second protrusion 232 on the first profile 221 and the second profile 222, the design and modification difficulty of the filling equipment can be reduced, thereby saving manufacturing costs.

[0072] In this embodiment, the first profile 221 and the first component 221a can be integrally formed or detachably connected together. Similarly, the second profile 222 and the second component 222a can be integrally formed or detachably connected together. When they are integrally formed, the manufacturing process is simplified. When they are detachably connected, installation and disassembly are easier, especially when the first component 221a or the second component 222a is deformed or otherwise damaged, facilitating replacement and repair.

[0073] In this embodiment, the first profile 221 and the second profile 222 may be made of at least one of metal, alloy, and polymer materials. The first component 221a and the second component 222a may be made of at least one of metal, alloy, and polymer materials. The first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 may be made of at least one of metal, alloy, and polymer materials. When the packaging shell 1 slides between the first guide rail and the second guide rail, to minimize damage to the packaging shell, the first profile 221 and the second profile 222 are preferably made of polymer materials, such as Teflon, and the first component 221a and the second component 222a are preferably made of polymer materials, such as Teflon. For example, the first protrusion 231 and the first component 221a are both made of Teflon material, and the second protrusion 232 and the second component 222a are both made of Teflon material, and are integrally formed. This not only reduces damage to the packaging shell but also facilitates the replacement or repair of the first component 221a or the second component 222a.

[0074] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first and second components of the guiding mechanism according to an embodiment of this disclosure. For example, Figure 8 Show Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first component 221a and the second component 222a.

[0075] like Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, the narrowing portion 23 of the accommodating space 22 includes a first region S1 and a second region S2 distributed along the guiding direction Z of the guiding mechanism 21. For example, the first region S1 is closer to the packaging shell 1 to be placed into the accommodating space 22 than the second region S2.

[0076] like Figure 8As shown, the first region S1 is located above the width-narrowing portion 23, and the second region S2 is located below the width-narrowing portion 23. The width w1 of the width-narrowing portion 23 in the first region S1 is greater than the width w2 of the width-narrowing portion 23 in the second region S2, such that when the packaging shell 1 moves along the guide direction Z through the width-narrowing portion 23, the first pair of protrusions 11 and 13 move from the first region S1 to the second region S2 and simultaneously move towards each other. By setting the width w1 of the width-narrowing portion 23 in the first region S1 to be greater than the width w2 of the width-narrowing portion 23 in the second region S2, when the packaging shell 1 moves on the guide structure 21, it first enters the wider first region S1 and then the narrower second region S2. In this way, by means of the aforementioned width change, pressure is generated on the first pair of protrusions 11 and 13 of the packaging shell 1, causing them to move closer to each other, thereby achieving pre-folding of the second pair of protrusions 12 and 14.

[0077] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, if the outer packaging shell 1 is not pre-folded, the second pair of protrusions 12, 14 will produce Figure 3 The curved edges shown affect the sealing effect and aesthetics. When using the filling equipment provided in the above embodiments of this disclosure, the packaging shell 1 on the guide mechanism 21 can pre-fold the second pair of protrusions 12, 14 during the sliding transfer process, which not only reduces or even eliminates the possibility of generating curved edges and improves the sealing effect, but also does not bring great design modification difficulty to the filling equipment itself, reducing manufacturing difficulty and cost.

[0078] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, for example, the width w1 of the narrowing portion 23 in the first region S1 is a non-constant value. For example, along the guide direction Z, the width w1 changes continuously, for example, gradually decreasing. During the movement of the packaging shell 1 through the narrowing portion 23, by setting the width w1 to change continuously, the wear or damage to the outer surface of the packaging shell 1 caused by the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 can be reduced.

[0079] Furthermore, the width w2 of the narrowing portion 23 is a constant value in the second region S1. Thus, when the packaging shell 1 moves through the second region S1, it is restricted by the constant width, and the first pair of protrusions 11, 13 are continuously compressed for a period of time, thereby improving the pre-folding effect on the second protrusions 12, 14.

[0080] For example, when the width w1 of the width-narrowing portion 23 is a non-constant value, the width w1 of the width-narrowing portion 23 has an average width value in the first region S1, which is greater than the constant value of the width w2 of the width-narrowing portion 23.

[0081] like Figure 8As shown, for example, in order to smoothly move the outer packaging shell 1 from the first region S1 to the second region S2, the width w1 has a maximum width value and a minimum width value along the guide direction Z, and the width w2 is equal to the minimum width value. In this embodiment, the ratio between the minimum width value and the maximum width value is 0.2 to 0.8. If the above ratio is too large, the pre-folding effect of the outer packaging shell (e.g., a cardboard box) cannot be achieved; if it is too small, the cardboard box is prone to instability, and the excessive compression will increase the friction between the cardboard box and the guide rail, causing scratches on the surface of the cardboard box. Therefore, by setting the above parameters, damage to the surface of the outer packaging shell during its movement can be minimized while ensuring the pre-folding effect is achieved.

[0082] like Figure 8 As shown, for example, the accommodating space 22 also includes a third region S3, and the second region S2 is located between the first region S1 and the third region S3 along the guide direction Z. The width of the accommodating space 22 in the third region S1 is set to w3 (not shown), which is greater than the width w2 of the width narrowing portion 23 in the second region S2, such that when the packaging shell 1 moves along the guide direction Z through the width narrowing portion 23, the first pair of protrusions 11, 13 on the packaging side 1S move from the second region S2 to the third region S2 and simultaneously move in a direction away from each other. Thus, when the outer packaging shell 1 leaves the narrowing section 23 (or the second region S2) along the guide direction Z, the width w3 of the accommodating space 22 increases, causing the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 on both sides to no longer abut against the first pair of protrusions 11 and 13. The first pair of protrusions 11 and 13, which have lost pressure, move away from each other due to the restoring force they generate. Correspondingly, the second pair of protrusions 12 and 14 move closer to each other. At this time, the cross-sectional shape of the outer packaging shell 1 can form a regular square or rectangular shape.

[0083] It should be noted that the packaging shell 1 in this application has a top opening and a bottom opening. When entering the guide mechanism along the guide direction, the top opening can enter the guide mechanism first, or the bottom opening can enter the guide mechanism first. This disclosure does not limit this.

[0084] In this embodiment, the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 may have the same or different structures. When they have the same structure, the manufacturing process can be simplified, so it is preferred. This embodiment is described using the example of the two having the same structure.

[0085] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first protrusion of the guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0086] like Figure 9As shown, for example, the first protrusion 231 includes a deformation region T1 and a holding region T2 distributed along the guide direction Z, wherein the deformation region T1 corresponds to Figure 8 The first region S1, and the corresponding region T2. Figure 8 The second region S2. For example, the first protrusion 231 includes a first sub-protrusion 2311 located in the deformation region T1 and a second sub-protrusion 2312 located in the holding region T2 and connected to the first sub-protrusion 2311. For example, the first protrusion height of the first sub-protrusion 2311 is less than the second protrusion height of the second sub-protrusion 2312, such that when the first protrusion 11 of the packaging shell 1 moves from the first region S1 to the second region S2, the first sub-protrusion 2311 and the second sub-protrusion 2312 abut against the first protrusion 11 in sequence and press the first protrusion 11 into the packaging shell, so that the first pair of protrusions 11, 13 move in a direction closer to each other. In this document, the height of the protrusion refers to the vertical distance between the bottom surface and the surface of the protrusion.

[0087] By setting the first sub-protrusion 2311 and the second sub-protrusion 2312, when the packaging shell 1 moves on the guide structure 21, it is first held by the lower first sub-protrusion 2311 and enters the first region S1 of the storage space 22, and then held by the higher second sub-protrusion 2312 and enters the second region S2 of the storage space 22. In this way, by means of the above-mentioned change in height, pressure is generated on the first pair of protrusions 11 and 13 of the packaging shell 1, causing them to move closer to each other, thereby realizing the pre-folding of the second pair of protrusions 12 and 14.

[0088] Figure 10 This is another cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first protrusion of the guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0089] like Figure 10 As shown, for example, the height H1 of the first sub-protrusion 2311 in the deformation zone T1 is a non-constant value. For example, along the guide direction Z, the height H1 changes continuously, for example, gradually increasing. By setting the height H1 to change continuously, wear or damage to the outer surface of the packaging shell 1 caused by the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 can be reduced.

[0090] Furthermore, the height H2 of the second sub-protrusion 2312 is a constant value in the holding area T2. Thus, as the packaging shell 1 moves through the holding area T2, it is restricted by a constant height, and the first pair of protrusions 11, 13 are continuously compressed for a period of time, thereby improving the pre-folding effect on the second protrusions 12, 14.

[0091] For example, when the height H1 of the first sub-protrusion 2311 is a non-constant value, the height H1 of the first sub-protrusion 2311 has an average width value that is greater than the constant value of the height H2 of the second sub-protrusion 2312.

[0092] For example, in order to smoothly move the outer packaging shell 1 from the deformation zone T1 to the holding zone T2, the height H1 has a maximum height value and a minimum height value along the guide direction Z, and the value of the height H2 is equal to the maximum height value. In this way, damage to the surface of the outer packaging shell can be minimized during the movement of the outer packaging shell while ensuring the pre-folding effect is achieved.

[0093] like Figure 7 As shown, the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 are arranged opposite each other along the X direction. A distance D (i.e., the width of the narrowing portion 23) is set between the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 along the X direction. Then, in the deformation zone T1 and the holding zone T2, the distance D gradually decreases from a maximum distance value to a minimum distance value along the guide direction Z. The ratio between the minimum distance value and the maximum distance value is 0.2 to 0.8. By setting the above parameters, damage to the outer shell surface caused by the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 can be minimized during the movement of the packaging shell while ensuring the pre-folding effect is achieved.

[0094] In this embodiment, the range of the spacing D can be set according to the actual dimensions of the packaged product. For example, the minimum spacing value of D ranges from 5 to 15 mm, and the maximum spacing value ranges from 55 to 65 mm. Similarly, the minimum width value of the narrowing portion 23 ranges from 5 to 15 mm, and the maximum width value ranges from 55 to 65 mm. In one example, if the cross-sectional shape of the packaging shell 1 is a square, and the side length of the square is 48 mm, then the minimum spacing value of the spacing D is 10 mm, and the maximum spacing is 60 mm. By setting the above parameters, a more regular square cross-section can be obtained.

[0095] like Figure 9 As shown, for example, the first protrusion 231 also includes a release region T3, with the holding region T2 located between the deformation region T1 and the release region T3 along the guide direction Z. The first protrusion 231 also includes a third sub-protrusion 2313, located in the release region T3 and connected to the second sub-protrusion 2312. The third protrusion height of the third sub-protrusion 2313 is less than the second protrusion height of the second sub-protrusion 2312, such that when each of the first protrusions of the first pair of protrusions 11, 13 moves from the second region S2 to the third region S3, the protrusion is released from the width narrowing portion 23 and the first pair of protrusions 11, 13 moves in a direction away from each other.

[0096] from Figure 8 and Figure 9 As can be seen, the first sub-protrusion 2311, the second sub-protrusion 2312 and the third sub-protrusion 2313 are all smoothly connected. That is to say, the surfaces of the first sub-protrusion 2311, the second sub-protrusion 2312 and the third sub-protrusion 2313 are smoothly connected. This can further ensure that the surface of the packaging shell 1 will not be scratched when it passes through the deformation zone T1, the holding zone T2 and the release zone T3 in sequence.

[0097] In the guiding direction Z, the length L1 of the deformation zone T1 is greater than or equal to the length L2 of the holding zone T2. Preferably, the length L1 of the deformation zone T1 is greater than the length L2 of the holding zone T2. By setting the length L1 of the deformation zone T1 to be longer, the path of the packaging shell 1 before entering the holding zone T2 can be extended, so that the packaging shell 1 gradually deforms under the pressure of the protrusions 231 and 232, and wear on the packaging shell can also be avoided.

[0098] For example, the ratio of the length L1 of the deformation zone T1 to the length L2 of the holding zone T2 is 1 to 50. In some embodiments, the length of the deformation zone T1 is 5 to 500 mm, and the length of the holding zone T2 is 5 to 10 mm.

[0099] like Figure 7 As shown, for example, the first protrusion 11 and the second protrusion 13 have the same structure, and the first bulge 231 and the second bulge 232 have the same structure. The following description will take the first protrusion 11 and the first bulge 231 as examples.

[0100] The first protrusion 11 has an interior angle B in a plane perpendicular to the guide direction Z. That is, the included angle of the first protrusion 11 toward the interior of the packaging shell 1 is the interior angle B. A corner portion 23A is provided on the side of the first protrusion 231 facing the first protrusion 11, and the corner portion 23A has an included angle A in a plane perpendicular to the guide direction Z. By providing the corner portion 23A on the first protrusion 231, not only is a shape fit achieved between the first protrusion 231 and the first protrusion 11, but the interaction area between the two is also increased, facilitating contact with the first protrusion 11. In this embodiment, the included angle A is greater than or equal to the interior angle B.

[0101] For example, the included angle A of the corner portion 23A first increases and then decreases along the guide direction Z, so that when the outer packaging shell 1 moves through the accommodating space 22 along the guide direction Z, the inner angle B of the first protrusion 231 first increases and then decreases, thus enabling the pre-folding of the second pair of protrusions 12 and 14.

[0102] For example, the maximum angle value of the included angle A of the corner portion 23A is located in at least one of the deformation zone T1 and the holding zone T2.

[0103] In some embodiments, the maximum angle value of the included angle A is located at a certain position in the deformation zone T1. This allows the front end of the packaging shell 1 to be pre-compressed to the maximum angle before reaching the holding zone T2, thereby reducing the frictional force generated by the front end of the shell in the holding zone T2. For example, the minimum angle value of the included angle A is 80° to 100°, and the maximum angle value is 120° to 130°. Figure 10 As shown, for example, the included angle A at position a is 80° to 100°, the included angle A at position b is 100° to 120°, and the included angle A at position c is 120° to 130°. In one example, from position a to position b in deformation zone T1, the included angle A of corner portion 23A gradually increases from 90° to 120°; from position b to position c, the included angle A of corner portion 23A remains at 120°; in holding zone T2, the included angle A of corner portion 23A always remains at 120°; in release zone T3, the included angle A of corner portion 23A gradually decreases from 120° to 90°.

[0104] In other embodiments, the maximum angle value of the included angle A is located at a certain position in the deformation zone T1, and remains unchanged until the holding zone T2. For example... Figure 10 As shown, for example, the included angle A at position a is 80° to 100°, the included angle A at position b is 100° to 120°, and the included angle A at position c is 100° to 120°. In one example, from position a in deformation zone T1 to position c in holding zone T2, the included angle A of corner portion 23A gradually increases from 90° to 120°; in holding zone T2, the included angle A of corner portion 23A remains at 120°; in release zone T3, the included angle A of corner portion 23A gradually decreases from 120° to 90°.

[0105] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, an arched portion for easy gripping may be provided on at least one of the four protrusions 11 to 14 of the packaging shell 1. For example, as Figure 5 As shown, arched portions 15 are provided on two of the second protrusions 12 and 14 among the four protrusions 11 to 14 of the outer packaging shell 1.

[0106] As mentioned earlier, curved edges are more likely to appear on packaging shells with arched sections due to the bending creases on the packaging shell. However, when the guide mechanism 21 in the filling equipment 100 provided in this disclosure is used to transfer the packaging shell with the arched section, curved edges can be avoided, for the following reason:

[0107] like Figure 5As shown, since arched portions 15 are provided on the two second protrusions 12 and 14, there is a straight crease line 16a between the arched portion 15 and the top opening of the packaging shell 1, and a straight crease line 16b between the arched portion 15 and the bottom opening 202. When the packaging shell 1 enters the narrowing portion 23 of the containing space 22, the two first protrusions 11 and 13 are squeezed together in the X direction and move closer to each other, while the two straight crease lines 16a and 16b move away from each other in the Y direction, thereby achieving pre-folding. Compared to the case where the straight crease lines 16a and 16b are not pre-folded, the straight crease lines 16a and 16b after folding are more likely to form regular squares or rectangles, thereby avoiding the generation of curved edges.

[0108] return Figure 5 The transfer device 20 also includes an auxiliary mechanism 24, configured to move on the guide mechanism 21 to drive the packaging shell 1 to move together along the guide direction Z of the guide mechanism 21.

[0109] Reference Figure 4A The unfolding device 10 places the upright unfolded packaging shell 1 onto the transfer device 20. The auxiliary mechanism 24 can reciprocate linearly on the guide mechanism 21. When the auxiliary mechanism 24 moves downward along the guide direction Z, it can drive (e.g., push or pull) the packaging shell 1 along the guide direction Z, thereby causing the packaging shell 1 to pass through the narrowing portion 23 of the accommodating space 22, achieving pre-folding of the packaging shell 1. After the packaging shell 1 detaches from the guide mechanism 21 and is transferred to the forming rod 40b on the transport device 30, the auxiliary mechanism 24 moves upward linearly, returning to its original position. Figure 5 Repeat the above process at the indicated position. Therefore, by setting the auxiliary mechanism 24, not only can the outer packaging shell 1 pass smoothly through the width narrowing section 23, but also rapid, batch pre-folding can be achieved.

[0110] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the guard plate in the auxiliary mechanism 24 according to an embodiment of this disclosure. For example, Figure 11 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the auxiliary mechanism 24.

[0111] like Figure 5 and Figure 11 As shown, the auxiliary mechanism 24 includes a guard plate 242 that extends along the guide direction Z and is located outside the second protrusion 14 of the second pair of protrusions 12, 14 on the packaging side 1S. For example, the second protrusion 14 has an inner side facing the interior of the packaging shell 1 and an outer side facing the exterior of the packaging shell 1, and the guard plate 242 is located outside the second protrusion 14, for example, on the outer surface.

[0112] When the auxiliary mechanism 24 pushes the outer packaging shell 1, if the protective plate 242 is not set, the outer packaging shell 1 is prone to tilting left and right, which will affect the pre-folding effect of the outer packaging shell 1 and may also bump into other parts in the filling equipment, causing damage to the outer shell.

[0113] In this embodiment, by providing a protective plate on the outside of the second protrusion 14, the packaging shell 1 can be prevented from tilting during movement, thus ensuring the pre-folding effect and preventing damage to the packaging shell.

[0114] It is understood that the aforementioned protective plate can also be provided on the outside of the first protrusion 12, or protective plates can be provided on both the outside of the first protrusion 12 and the outside of the second protrusion 14, which can also achieve the above purpose. This disclosure does not limit this.

[0115] like Figure 11 As shown, for example, the protective plate 242 has an L-shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the guide direction Z, and the protective plate 242 has a chamfer 243 at its end away from the auxiliary connector 241 along the guide direction Z. By setting the protective plate 242 to have an L-shape, the stability of the packaging shell 1 during movement is ensured, and it is less likely to tilt. By setting the end of the protective plate 242 to have a chamfer 243, damage to the surface of the packaging shell 1 caused by the protective plate 242 during movement can be reduced. The angle of this chamfer 243 is, for example, 45°.

[0116] like Figure 5 and Figure 11 As shown, the auxiliary mechanism 24 also includes an auxiliary connector 241. The protective plate 242 is connected to the auxiliary connector 241. The auxiliary connector 241 is configured to move along the guide direction Z, thereby driving the protective plate 242 to move together along the guide direction Z, thus pushing the packaging shell 1 to move through the width narrowing section 23. In this way, by setting the auxiliary connector 241, the movement of the packaging shell 1 can be easily controlled by an external control device, which is conducive to realizing automated production.

[0117] like Figure 11 As shown, the auxiliary mechanism 24 also includes a third guide rail 244, an auxiliary connector 241 is located on the third guide rail 244, and the auxiliary connector 241 can perform linear reciprocating motion on the third guide rail 244.

[0118] At least one embodiment of this disclosure also provides a filling method. (See also...) Figure 3 For example, the filling method includes:

[0119] Step 100: Extract the flattened and folded packaging sleeve 2 and unfold the flattened and folded packaging sleeve 2 into an upright packaging shell 1;

[0120] Step 200: Transfer the outer packaging shell 1 to the transport device 30, wherein the outer packaging shell 1 includes packaging side 1S, and the packaging side 1S includes a first pair of protrusions 11, 13;

[0121] In step 100 or step 200, the filling method further includes:

[0122] The packaging shell 1 is moved along the guide mechanism 21 such that when the packaging shell 1 passes through the narrowing portion 23 of the accommodating space 22 of the guide mechanism 21, the first pair of protrusions 11 and 13 first move closer to each other and then move further apart.

[0123] In the filling method provided in the above embodiments of this disclosure, by allowing the outer packaging shell to pass through the narrowed portion of the accommodating space, the first pair of protrusions located on the side of the packaging first approach each other and then move away from each other, thereby achieving pre-folding of another pair of protrusions (e.g., the second pair of protrusions) on the side of the packaging, thereby reducing the restoring force. Furthermore, due to the reduction in restoring force, the cross-sectional shape of the resulting upright outer packaging shell is close to rectangular or square, thereby improving the sealing effect and aesthetics of the outer packaging shell.

[0124] In the above filling method, the guiding mechanism 21 includes a first protrusion 231 and a second protrusion 232 protruding toward the accommodating space 22 to form a width-narrowing portion 23. When the packaging shell 1 passes through the width-narrowing portion 23, the first protrusion 231 and the second protrusion 232 respectively abut against the first pair of protrusions 11 and 13 on the packaging side 1S. For the specific structure and technical effects of each component such as the guiding mechanism 21, the accommodating space 22, the width-narrowing portion 23, the first protrusion 231, the second protrusion 232, the packaging shell 1, and the packaging sleeve 2 in this embodiment, please refer to the description in the previous embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0125] In the filling equipment and filling method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, a guiding mechanism is provided on one of the extraction and unfolding devices and the transfer device. This guiding mechanism includes a width-narrowing portion through which the packaging shell moves. When the packaging shell passes through the width-narrowing portion, a first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging first approach each other and then move away from each other, thereby enabling pre-folding of another pair of protrusions (e.g., a second pair of protrusions) on the side of the packaging, thereby reducing the restoring force. Furthermore, due to the reduced restoring force, the cross-sectional shape of the resulting upright packaging shell is close to rectangular or square, thereby improving the sealing effect and aesthetics of the packaging shell.

[0126] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of a packaging shell formed using the filling method provided in this embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 3Compared to the previous version, the outer packaging shell 1 has a more regular square cross-sectional shape. Even with bending creases on the outer packaging shell 1, it still maintains a good square cross-sectional shape.

[0127] The following points should be noted in this article:

[0128] (1) The accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this disclosure only involve the structures involved in the embodiments of this disclosure. Other structures can be referred to the general design.

[0129] (2) Where there is no conflict, the embodiments of this disclosure and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other to obtain new embodiments.

[0130] The above are merely specific embodiments of this disclosure, but the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A filling device, comprising an extraction and unfolding device, a transfer device, and a transport device, wherein: The extraction and unfolding device is configured to extract the flattened and folded packaging sleeve and unfold the flattened and folded packaging sleeve into an upright packaging shell; The transfer device is configured to transfer the outer packaging shell onto the transport device; The extraction and unfolding device or the transfer device includes a guiding mechanism, the guiding mechanism includes a receiving space, and the receiving space has a narrowed portion configured to allow the packaging shell to move through it. The packaging shell includes a packaging side, the packaging side includes a first pair of protrusions, and the width narrowing portion is configured such that when the packaging shell moves through the width narrowing portion, the first pair of protrusions first move closer to each other and then move further apart from each other; The guiding mechanism includes a protrusion that protrudes toward the accommodating space to form the width narrowing portion. The protrusion is configured such that when the outer packaging moves through the width narrowing portion, the protrusion abuts against the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging to bring the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging closer to each other. The guiding mechanism further includes a first guide rail and a second guide rail, and the protrusion includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion and the second protrusion being respectively located on the first guide rail and the second guide rail and extending along the guiding direction of the guiding mechanism. The narrowing portion of the accommodating space includes a first region and a second region distributed along the guiding direction of the guiding mechanism, wherein the width of the narrowing portion in the first region is greater than the width of the narrowing portion in the second region.

2. The filling equipment according to claim 1, wherein, The first guide rail includes: First profile; A first component is located on and connected to the first profile, and the first protrusion is located on the first component; The second guide rail includes: Second profile; The second component is located on and connected to the second profile, and the second protrusion is located on the second component.

3. The filling equipment according to claim 2, wherein, The first component and the second component are made of at least one of metal, alloy and polymer materials; The first protrusion and the second protrusion are made of at least one of metal, alloy and polymer materials.

4. The filling equipment according to claim 3, wherein, The polymer material includes Teflon.

5. The filling equipment according to claim 1, wherein, As the outer packaging moves along the guide direction through the narrowing section, the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging move from the first region to the second region and simultaneously move toward each other.

6. The filling equipment according to claim 5, in, The protrusion includes a deformation area and a holding area distributed along the guide direction, the deformation area corresponding to the first region and the holding area corresponding to the second region.

7. The filling equipment according to claim 6, in, The protrusion further includes: The first sub-protrusion is located in the deformation zone; and The second sub-protrusion is located in the holding area and is connected to the first sub-protrusion. Wherein, the first protrusion height of the first sub-protrusion is less than the second protrusion height of the second sub-protrusion, such that when each of the first pair of protrusions moves from the first region to the second region, the first sub-protrusion and the second sub-protrusion sequentially lift the protrusion, so that the first pair of protrusions move toward each other.

8. The filling equipment according to claim 7, in, There is a gap between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; In the deformation zone and the holding zone, the spacing gradually decreases from the maximum spacing value to the minimum spacing value along the guide direction, and the ratio between the minimum spacing value and the maximum spacing value is 0.2 to 0.

8.

9. The filling equipment according to claim 7, in, The storage space includes: The third region, wherein the second region is located between the first region and the third region along the guide direction. Wherein, the width of the accommodating space in the third region is greater than the width of the narrowed portion in the second region, such that when the outer packaging moves along the guide direction through the narrowed portion, the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging move from the second region to the third region and simultaneously move away from each other.

10. The filling equipment according to claim 9, in, The protrusion further includes: The release area, wherein the holding area is located between the deformation area and the release area along the guide direction; The third sub-protrusion is located in the release area and is connected to the second sub-protrusion. Wherein, the third protrusion height of the third sub-protrusion is less than the second protrusion height of the second sub-protrusion, such that when each of the first pair of protrusions moves from the second region to the third region, the protrusion is released from the width-narrowing portion and the first pair of protrusions moves in a direction away from each other.

11. The filling equipment according to claim 10, in, The first sub-protrusion, the second sub-protrusion, and the third sub-protrusion are all smoothly connected; In the guiding direction, the length of the deformation zone is greater than or equal to the length of the holding zone.

12. The filling equipment according to claim 11, wherein, The ratio of the length of the deformation zone to the length of the holding zone is 1 to 50.

13. The filling equipment according to claim 1, in, Each of the first pair of protrusions has an interior angle in a plane perpendicular to the guiding direction of the guiding mechanism. The protrusion has a corner portion on the side facing the projection. The corner portion has an included angle in a plane perpendicular to the guide direction. The included angle first increases and then decreases along the guide direction, so that when the packaging shell moves through the accommodating space along the guide direction, the inner angle of each of the first pair of protrusions first increases and then decreases.

14. The filling equipment according to claim 13, in, The protrusion includes a deformation zone and a holding zone distributed along the guide direction, and the maximum angle value of the included angle is located in at least one of the deformation zone and the holding zone.

15. The filling equipment according to claim 14, wherein, The minimum angle value of the included angle is 80°~100°, and the maximum angle value is 120°~130°.

16. The filling equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, The packaging side also includes a second pair of protrusions, which are different from the first pair of protrusions. The width-narrowing portion is also configured such that when the packaging shell moves through the width-narrowing portion, the second pair of protrusions first move away from each other and then move closer to each other.

17. The filling equipment according to claim 16, wherein, At least one of the second pair of protrusions has an arched portion.

18. The filling equipment according to claim 16, wherein, The transfer device includes the guiding mechanism.

19. The filling equipment according to claim 18, wherein, The transfer device further includes: an auxiliary mechanism, the auxiliary mechanism comprising: A protective plate that extends along the guiding direction of the guiding mechanism and is located outside at least one of the second pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging.

20. The filling equipment according to claim 19, wherein, The auxiliary mechanism also includes: Auxiliary connector, which is connected to the guard plate. The auxiliary connector is configured to move along the guide direction to move the protective plate together, thereby moving the outer packaging shell through the narrowing section.

21. The filling equipment according to claim 20, wherein, The guard plate has an L-shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the guide direction, and the guard plate has a chamfer at the end away from the auxiliary connector along the guide direction.

22. A filling method for the filling equipment as described in claim 1, comprising: Extract the flattened and folded packaging sleeve and unfold the flattened and folded packaging sleeve into an upright packaging shell; The outer packaging shell is transferred onto a transport device, wherein the outer packaging shell includes packaging sides, and the packaging sides include a first pair of protrusions; The filling method further includes, in the steps of extracting the flattened folded packaging sleeve and unfolding the flattened folded packaging sleeve into an upright packaging shell, or in the step of transferring the packaging shell onto the transport device: The packaging shell is moved along the guide mechanism such that when the packaging shell moves through the narrowing portion of the accommodating space of the guide mechanism, the first pair of protrusions first move closer to each other and then move further apart.

23. The filling method according to claim 22, wherein, As the outer packaging moves through the narrowing section, the protrusion abuts against the first pair of protrusions on the side of the packaging.

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