Packaging feeding system

Abstract

This invention discloses a packaging feeding system, comprising a paper feeder for conveying packaging paper, a paper picking device for picking up and placing packaging paper, a distributing device for distributing items to be packaged, and a pressing mechanism. The paper picking device includes an automatic paper clamping section and a first linear actuator for driving the automatic paper clamping section to move. The distributing device includes a storage container, a receiving device arranged below the storage container, and a second linear actuator for driving the receiving device to move laterally. The receiving device is equipped with a distributor, and a discharge port is provided at the bottom of the receiving device. In this invention, the paper feeder and the paper picking device work together to pick up and place packaging paper sheet by sheet at the resting position of the carrier device. The distributing device and the pressing mechanism work together to separate the items to be packaged stacked in the storage container according to the required amount and press them onto the packaging paper on the carrier device, thereby solving the technical problem of automatically transferring the items to be packaged and the packaging paper to the carrier device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of packaging equipment technology, and in particular to a feeding system for automatically transferring packaged goods to a conveyor carrying device on a packaging production line. Background Technology

[0002] Some products require packaging in the shape of a cuboid (or near-rectangular) using paper or plastic film. The packaging process involves placing the product on a rectangular piece of paper and then folding the four corners to form a cuboid. Currently, this packaging method is generally done manually, which is inefficient. To replace manual packaging of products in this cuboid shape with automated packaging lines, one of the technical challenges is developing a device that can automatically transfer the required quantity of products to a carrier on the automated packaging line. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a packaging feeding system to solve the technical problem of automatically transferring products to be packaged in the required quantity to the carrier device of an automatic packaging line.

[0004] The packaging feeding system of the present invention includes a paper feeder for conveying packaging paper, a paper picking device for picking up and placing packaging paper, and a dispensing device for dispensing items to be packaged.

[0005] The paper feeding device includes an automatic paper clamping unit and a first linear actuator that drives the automatic paper clamping unit to move forward and backward toward the paper feeder.

[0006] The dispensing device includes a fixedly arranged storage container with a discharge port at its lower end; the dispensing device also includes a second linear actuator arranged next to the storage container; the dispensing device further includes a distributor and a support device driven by the second linear actuator to move horizontally, with the support device positioned lower than the distributor; with the pushing direction of the second linear actuator as the front and the pulling direction as the rear, the rear end of the distributor and the front end of the support device are vertically opposite each other; the distributor is used to horizontally insert into the storage container to dispense materials under the drive of the second linear actuator, and the support device is used to support the items in the storage container when the distributor exits the storage container.

[0007] Furthermore, the dispensing device also includes a receiving device for receiving the items dispensed by the dispensing device, the receiving device being provided with a discharge port, and the dispensing device also includes a pressing mechanism for pressing the items in the receiving device downward from the discharge port.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner cavity of the storage device is rectangular; a loading port is provided on the top or side of the storage device, or a loading port is provided on both the top and side of the storage device.

[0009] Furthermore, the feeder is a V-shaped or U-shaped bent steel wire, or the feeder is a horizontal insert plate or a horizontal insert bar.

[0010] Furthermore, the dispensing device also includes a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the arrangement height of the material carrier.

[0011] Furthermore, the feeder and the support plate are mounted on the feeder, and the feeder is connected to the second linear drive.

[0012] Furthermore, the height adjustment mechanism includes an adjusting screw that is threaded into the material support and whose lower end rests on the material receiver, and a guide pin that is vertically fixed on the material receiver and slides up and down with the material support.

[0013] Alternatively, the height adjustment mechanism may include a vertical plate connected to the end of the feeder, a vertical adjustment groove provided on the vertical plate, and a screw passing through the adjustment groove and connected to the feeder.

[0014] Furthermore, the pressing mechanism includes a cylinder with a piston rod that extends and retracts vertically downwards.

[0015] Furthermore, the pressing mechanism also includes a pressure-applying part disposed on the piston rod end of the cylinder.

[0016] Furthermore, the automatic paper clamping unit is a pneumatic finger or an electric gripper.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0018] The packaging feeding system of the present invention has a paper feeder and a paper picking device that can pick up and place the packaging paper in sheets at the stop position of the carrier device of the automatic packaging line. The dispensing device and the pressing mechanism can separate the items to be packaged stacked in the storage container according to the required amount and press them onto the packaging paper on the carrier device, thereby solving the technical problem of automatically transferring the items to be packaged and the packaging paper to the carrier device. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a packaging feeding system installed on an automated packaging line.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the dispensing device described in the embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0022] In this embodiment, the packaging feeding system includes a paper feeder 1 for conveying packaging paper, a paper picking device for picking up and placing packaging paper, and a distributing device for distributing items to be packaged.

[0023] The paper feeding device includes an automatic paper clamping unit 2 and a first linear actuator 3 that drives the automatic paper clamping unit to move forward and backward toward the paper feeder. In this embodiment, the automatic paper clamping unit 2 is a pneumatic finger; however, in different embodiments, the automatic paper clamping unit 2 can also be an electric gripper, a negative pressure suction cup, or other forms. There are many types of linear actuators, such as cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, electric cylinders, electromagnetic push rods, linear motors, or rack and pinion mechanisms. In this embodiment, the first linear actuator 3 is a cylinder; however, in different embodiments, the first linear actuator 3 can also be of other forms.

[0024] The dispensing device includes a fixedly arranged storage container 4, with a discharge port at its lower end. The dispensing device also includes a second linear actuator 6 arranged beside the storage container. The second linear actuator 6 can be a cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, electric cylinder, electromagnetic push rod, linear motor, or rack and pinion mechanism, etc. The dispensing device also includes a distributor 7 and a support 12 driven by the second linear actuator for translation. The support 12 is positioned lower than the distributor. With the pushing direction of the second linear actuator as the front and the pulling direction as the rear, the rear end of the distributor and the front end of the support 12 are vertically opposite each other. The distributor is used to horizontally insert into the storage container for dispensing under the drive of the second linear actuator, and the support 12 is used to support the items inside the storage container when the distributor retracts from the storage container.

[0025] The working principle of the dispensing device in this embodiment is as follows:

[0026] The storage container 1 is fixedly positioned above the stopping position of the carrying device 11 on the packaging line. The items to be packaged are loaded into the storage container 1. First, the paper feeder 1 outputs a sheet of packaging paper. Then, the first linear drive 3 moves the automatic paper clamping unit 2 forward to the paper picking position. The automatic paper clamping unit 2 then clamps the packaging paper. The first linear drive 3 then pulls the automatic paper clamping unit 2 back, releasing the packaging paper and placing it on the carrying device 11 of the automatic packaging line. Next, the second linear drive 6 pulls the distributor 7 and the carrying device 12 backward. During this process, the distributor 7 gradually inserts into the storage container, separating the items below it. Simultaneously, the carrying device 12 gradually moves away from below the storage container. The items separated by the distributor fall onto the carrying device 11, and the carrying device 11 and the packaged items on it can then be conveyed by the automatic packaging line's conveyor to each packaging station. After separation, the second linear drive 6 pushes the distributor 7 and the support 12 forward. During this process, the distributor 7 will be gradually pulled out of the storage container, and the support 12 will gradually move under the discharge port of the storage container to support the items in the storage container.

[0027] As an improvement to the above-mentioned dispensing device, the dispensing device further includes a receiving device 5 for receiving the items dispensed by the distributor. The receiving device is provided with a discharge port 8. The dispensing device also includes a pressing mechanism 10 for pressing the items in the receiving device downward from the discharge port. In this embodiment, the pressing mechanism is a cylinder with a piston rod that extends and retracts vertically downward. Of course, the pressing mechanism can also be other linear actuators as described above, such as hydraulic cylinders, electric cylinders, electromagnetic push rods, etc. The pressing mechanism can be connected to the storage container 4, or it can be set above the resting position of the support device 11 by a bracket. The receiving device 5 in this improved dispensing device is a rectangular groove. Of course, in different embodiments, the receiving device can also be a receiving plate or other forms. In specific implementation, in this embodiment, the distributor 7 and the support device 12 are both set on the receiving device 5. The receiving device 5, the distributor 7, and the support device 12 are all driven by the second linear actuator 6. Of course, in different embodiments, the receiving device 5 can also be driven by another linear actuator. In this improvement, when the dispensing device is implemented, the storage container 1 needs to be fixedly arranged next to the stopping position of the carrier device 11 on the packaging line. After the distributor separates the items in the storage container into the receiving container, the pressing mechanism 10 transfers the items in the receiving container to the carrier device 6. Although this structure increases the complexity of the dispensing mechanism, it can separate the items in the storage container into the receiving container before the carrier device arrives, and then transfer the items to the carrier device more quickly, which is beneficial to improving packaging efficiency. At the same time, since the arrangement of the dispensing mechanism is off the stopping position of the carrier device 11, it is also beneficial to arrange the paper feeder 1 and paper picking device for picking up and placing packaging materials on both sides of the stopping position of the carrier device.

[0028] The inner cavity shape of the storage container 4 in the above embodiments can be designed according to the characteristics of the packaged items. For example, for round items, the inner cavity shape of the storage container can be designed as round; for rectangular items, the inner cavity shape of the storage container can be designed as rectangular. In this embodiment, for soft items, such as rectangular paper products (e.g., calligraphy, painting, posters, or paper money for sacrifices) and rectangular flexible film products (e.g., decorative films), the inner cavity of the storage container can be designed as a cuboid, and loading ports 9 can be provided on the top and sides of the storage container. Providing loading ports 9 on both the top and sides facilitates loading the storage container. Of course, in specific implementations, a loading port can be provided only on the top of the storage container; or a loading port can be provided only on the side of the storage container.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the separator 7 is a V-shaped bent steel wire. Of course, in different embodiments, the separator can also be a U-shaped bent steel wire, or the separator can also be a thin horizontal insert plate, which can also be smoothly inserted into the items to be separated to achieve item separation.

[0030] The shape of the discharge port 8 at the bottom of the receiving device in the above embodiments can be designed according to the items to be separated. In this embodiment, for rectangular soft items, the shape of the discharge port is designed to be rectangular or concave; at the same time, at least one dimension of the length or width of the discharge port 8 is smaller than the size of the item in the receiving device, so as to avoid the item being discharged directly from the discharge port 8 under the action of gravity before it has been sent to the set position.

[0031] Because the discharge port 8 at the bottom of the receiving device is smaller than the size of the item in the receiving device, the item cannot fall naturally from the discharge port 8 under the action of gravity. The aforementioned pressing mechanism uses a cylinder 10 with a piston rod that extends and retracts vertically downwards. Of course, the pressing mechanism can also use other forms of linear actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders, electric cylinders, electromagnetic push rods, etc. The pressing mechanism can be connected to the storage device 4, or it can be set next to the paper picking device by a bracket. For soft rectangular items, by setting up a pressing mechanism to press down on the item in the receiving device, the item can be pressed out from the discharge port 8, so that the item falls directly onto the carrying device 11 that carries the item and moves along the packaging line. In this embodiment, the discharge method of the discharge port 8 utilizes the soft and bendable characteristics of the item, which is different from the conventional discharge method that requires the discharge port size to be designed to be larger than the item size.

[0032] As an improvement to the above embodiment, the receiving device is provided with a material support 12, and the height between the material support and the distributor is equal to the height of the separated items. With the pushing direction of the second linear actuator as forward and the pulling direction of the linear actuator as backward, the rear end of the distributor 7 and the front end of the material support 12 are directly opposite each other in the vertical direction; during the backward pulling of the second linear actuator, the distributor 7 gradually inserts into the storage container 4, while the material support 12 gradually withdraws from below the separated items; during the forward pushing of the second linear actuator, the distributor 7 gradually withdraws from the storage container 4, while the material support gradually withdraws from below the items inserted into the storage container 4.

[0033] As an improvement to the above embodiment, the dispensing device further includes a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the arrangement height of the material carrier 12. The height adjustment mechanism can be implemented in various ways. For example, the height adjustment mechanism includes an adjusting screw 13 that is threaded onto the material carrier and whose lower end rests on the receiving device, and a guide pin 14 that is vertically fixed to the receiving device and slides vertically with the material carrier. Alternatively, the adjusting screw can be threaded onto the receiving device, and the guide pin 14 can be fixedly mounted on the material carrier. Or, the height adjustment mechanism includes a vertical plate connected to the end of the material carrier, a vertical adjustment groove on the vertical plate, and a screw passing through the adjustment groove and connected to the receiving device. This improvement uses a height adjustment mechanism to determine the position of the material carrier, allowing for convenient adjustment of the height between the material carrier and the dispensing device according to the height of items of different specifications.

[0034] As an improvement to the above embodiment, the pressing mechanism further includes a pressure-applying part 15 disposed on the piston rod end of the cylinder. The pressure-applying part can be in the form of a pressure plate, pressure roller, pressure head, etc. As needed, the pressure-applying part can improve the pressure range of the article so that it can be smoothly discharged from the discharge port 8.

[0035] As an improvement to the above embodiment, the paper feeder 1 is equipped with a sensor 16 for detecting whether packaging paper has been fed into place. The sensor can be an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a laser sensor, etc. Monitoring the paper feeding status of the paper feeder through the sensor 16 can better ensure the reliability of this packaging feeding system.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A packaging feeding system, characterized in that: This includes a paper feeder for conveying packaging paper, a paper picking device for picking up and putting down packaging paper, and a dispensing device for dispensing items to be packaged. The paper feeding device includes an automatic paper clamping unit and a first linear actuator that drives the automatic paper clamping unit to move forward and backward toward the paper feeder. The dispensing device includes a fixedly arranged storage container with a discharge port at its lower end; the dispensing device also includes a second linear actuator arranged next to the storage container; the dispensing device further includes a distributor and a support device driven by the second linear actuator to move horizontally, with the support device positioned lower than the distributor; with the pushing direction of the second linear actuator as the front and the pulling direction as the rear, the rear end of the distributor and the front end of the support device are vertically opposite each other; the distributor is used to horizontally insert into the storage container to dispense materials under the drive of the second linear actuator, and the support device is used to support the items in the storage container when the distributor exits the storage container. The dispensing device further includes a receiving device for receiving the items dispensed by the dispensing device. The receiving device is provided with a discharge port. At least one of the length or width of the discharge port is smaller than the size of the packaged items in the receiving device. The dispensing device also includes a pressing mechanism for pressing the items in the receiving device downward from the discharge port. The feeder and the support are both mounted on the receiving device, and the receiving device, feeder, and support are all driven by a second linear driver.

2. The packaging feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner cavity of the storage device is rectangular; the top or side of the storage device is provided with a loading port, or the top and side of the storage device are provided with loading ports at the same time.

3. The packaging feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeder is a V-shaped or U-shaped bent steel wire, or the feeder is a horizontal insert plate or a horizontal insert bar.

4. The packaging feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dispensing device also includes a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the arrangement height of the material carrier.

5. The packaging feeding system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The feeder and the support plate are mounted on the feeder, which is connected to the second linear drive.

6. The packaging feeding system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The height adjustment mechanism includes an adjusting screw that is threaded into the material feeder and whose lower end rests on the material receiver, and a guide pin that is vertically fixed on the material receiver and slides up and down with the material feeder. Alternatively, the height adjustment mechanism may include a vertical plate connected to the end of the feeder, a vertical adjustment groove provided on the vertical plate, and a screw passing through the adjustment groove and connected to the feeder.

7. The packaging feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressing mechanism includes a cylinder with a piston rod that extends and retracts vertically downwards.

8. The packaging feeding system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The pressing mechanism also includes a pressure-applying part disposed on the piston rod end of the cylinder.

9. The packaging feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic paper clamping unit is a pneumatic finger or an electric gripper.

Images