A tracking and printing system for cigarette packing machines

Abstract

This invention discloses a tracking and printing system for a cigarette pack packaging machine, comprising a first proximity switch, a first displacement sensor, a second displacement sensor, a first position sensor, and a controller. The first proximity switch is installed at the entrance of the cigarette box lifting channel; the first displacement sensor is installed at a push rod on the first cigarette pack conveying channel; and the second displacement sensor is installed at a push rod on the second cigarette pack conveying channel. The first position sensor is installed in front of a laser head along the conveying direction on the cigarette pack lifting channel and is used for communication with the laser head. The controller is communicatively connected to the first proximity switch, the first displacement sensor, the second displacement sensor, and the first position sensor. This application enables real-time monitoring of the cigarette box and cigarette pack conveying process, avoiding confusion of the associated QR codes caused by cigarette jamming or operator removal during cigarette pack conveying, and ensuring the accuracy of online association between the cigarette box and cigarette pack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of cigarette production equipment, and more specifically, to a tracking system and a printing system for a cigarette packing machine. Background Technology

[0002] Because export tobacco products require QR codes or barcodes linked on boxes, cartons, and packs for product traceability, the current carton packaging machines in the production workshop lack online QR code printing and linking capabilities. Therefore, the laser head for online QR code printing is currently located on the rear lifting channel of the carton packaging machine to print codes on the cigarette packs. During production, cigarettes may get stuck or be removed by operators during the conveying of small boxes and cigarette packs. If these rejected boxes or packs cannot be detected, the QR code linking between the carton and pack will become incorrect. This requires disassembling the incorrectly linked cigarette packs and re-assigning the QR codes, impacting production efficiency and wasting resources. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address at least one of the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a tracking system for a cigarette packing machine. By installing proximity switches, displacement sensors, and position sensors on the conveying channel of the packing machine, and cooperating with the tracking unit in the controller, real-time monitoring of the cigarette box and cigarette pack during the conveying process is achieved. This avoids confusion of the associated QR codes caused by cigarettes getting stuck or being removed by the operator during the cigarette pack conveying process, and ensures the accuracy of the online association between the cigarette box and the cigarette pack.

[0004] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution: a tracking system for a cigarette pack packaging machine, comprising a first proximity switch, a first displacement sensor, a second displacement sensor, a first position sensor, and a controller; the first proximity switch is installed at the entrance of the cigarette pack lifting channel to detect cigarette packs passing through the entrance of the cigarette pack lifting channel; the first displacement sensor is installed at a push rod on the first cigarette pack conveying channel to detect the passage of cigarette packs; the second displacement sensor is installed at a push rod on the second cigarette pack conveying channel to detect the passage of cigarette packs; the first position sensor is installed in front of a laser head along the conveying direction of the cigarette pack lifting channel to detect the position information of the cigarette packs; the first position sensor is used for communication with the laser head. The controller is communicatively connected to the first proximity switch, the first displacement sensor, the second displacement sensor, the first position sensor, the first smart camera and laser head on the cigarette box lifting channel or the carton packaging station; the controller includes a counting unit and a tracking unit; the counting unit is used to count the number of times the first proximity switch is triggered, and when the number of triggers reaches a preset value, it transmits a signal to the first smart camera; the tracking unit is used to receive signals from the first displacement sensor, the second displacement sensor and the first position sensor to track the position of the cigarette carton, and when the first displacement sensor, the second displacement sensor or the first position sensor does not detect a cigarette carton, it transmits a signal to the tracking unit, and the tracking unit feeds back to the printing system to cancel the printing of the barcode of that cigarette carton.

[0005] Preferably, it also includes a second proximity switch; the second proximity switch is installed in front of the first smart camera along the conveying direction of the strip bag machine, and the second proximity switch is used to communicate with the first smart camera.

[0006] Preferably, the second proximity switch is installed at the stack height of five cigarette boxes at the exit of the cigarette box lifting channel.

[0007] Preferably, multiple first displacement sensors are provided, and the multiple first displacement sensors are respectively installed at multiple push rods on the first cigarette conveying channel, and the multiple first displacement sensors are all communicatively connected to the tracking unit in the controller.

[0008] Preferably, multiple second displacement sensors are provided, and the multiple second displacement sensors are respectively installed at multiple push rods on the second cigarette bar conveying channel, and the multiple second displacement sensors are all communicatively connected to the tracking unit in the controller.

[0009] Preferably, it also includes a second position sensor, which is installed in front of the second smart camera on the cigarette bar lifting channel along its conveying direction. The second position sensor is communicatively connected to the tracking unit and is used for communicatively connecting with the second smart camera.

[0010] Preferably, it also includes a third proximity switch; the third proximity switch is installed at the stack height of ten cigarette boxes at the carton packaging station, and the third proximity switch is communicatively connected to both the tracking unit and the control system of the carton packaging machine.

[0011] This application also provides a printing system for a cigarette pack packaging machine, including any of the tracking systems described above, a first intelligent camera, a laser head, and a controller further including a QR code association unit and a printing unit; the first intelligent camera is installed on the cigarette box lifting channel or the pack packaging station, and is communicatively connected to both the counting unit and the QR code association unit, for starting the first intelligent camera to scan the cigarette box according to the counting unit, and transmitting the scanned information to the QR code association unit; the laser head is installed on the cigarette pack lifting channel, and is communicatively connected to both the first position sensor and the printing unit, for using the signal from the first position sensor... The laser head is activated to print the barcode within the printing unit online. The QR code association unit generates a barcode based on the received scanning information. The QR code association unit is communicatively connected to both the tracking unit and the printing unit. It transmits the barcode generation signal to the tracking unit to activate it, cancels the association information for a cigarette pack in the QR code association unit when no cigarette pack is detected, and transmits the generated barcode to the printing unit for queuing and printing. The printing unit receives the barcode generated by the QR code association unit, queues it, and controls the laser head to print. The printing unit is communicatively connected to the tracking unit and cancels the queuing of the corresponding barcode for a cigarette pack in the printing unit when no cigarette pack is detected.

[0012] Preferably, it also includes a second smart camera; the second smart camera is installed behind the laser head on the cigarette bar lifting channel along its conveying direction, and the second smart camera is communicatively connected to the QR code association unit for scanning and verifying the cigarette bar.

[0013] Preferably, the tracking system includes a second position sensor, which is communicatively connected to a second smart camera.

[0014] The present invention provides a tracking system and a printing system for a cigarette packing machine, which have the following advantages:

[0015] This application implements a first proximity switch at the entrance of the cigarette box lifting channel to detect cigarette boxes entering the channel, a second proximity switch at the exit of the channel at a height of five cigarette boxes to detect whether five cigarette boxes are stacked, and a third proximity switch at the carton packaging station to detect whether ten cigarette boxes are stacked. When a cigarette box is found to have cigarettes stuck in it or is removed by a worker, the smart camera or the carton packaging station will not activate, and the cigarette box will be rejected at the rejection point. Several first displacement sensors and several second displacement sensors are respectively installed on the first and second cigarette carton conveying channels. The real-time position of the cigarette carton can be confirmed according to the displacement sensor number. A first position sensor is installed in front of the laser head in the cigarette carton lifting channel to detect whether the cigarette carton has reached the laser head. When a cigarette carton is found to have cigarettes stuck in it or is removed by a worker, feedback is sent to the tracking unit of the controller, and the controller cancels the printing of the corresponding barcode of the cigarette carton. This achieves real-time monitoring of the cigarette box and cigarette carton conveying process, avoiding the confusion of associated QR codes caused by cigarettes being stuck in it or being removed by the operator during the cigarette carton conveying process, and ensuring the accuracy of the online association between cigarette boxes and cigarette cartons. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To better understand the above and other objects, features, advantages, and functions of the present invention, reference can be made to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same parts. Those skilled in the art should understand that the drawings are intended to schematically illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention in any way; the parts in the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0017] Figure 1 A block diagram of a printing system for a cigarette pack machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 A circuit diagram showing the installation of a displacement sensor in a printing system for a cigarette pack machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided.

[0019] Figure 3 A diagram showing the arrangement of a cigarette pack lifting channel in a printing system for a cigarette packing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0021] 11. Cigarette box lifting channel; 12. Carton packaging station; 13. First cigarette carton conveying channel; 14. Plastic oil film packaging station; 15. Second cigarette carton conveying channel; 16. Cigarette carton lifting channel; 2. First proximity switch; 3. Second proximity switch; 4. Third proximity switch; 5. First displacement sensor; 6. Second displacement sensor; 7. First position sensor; 8. Second position sensor; 9. Controller; 91. Counting unit; 92. Tracking unit; 93. QR code association unit; 94. Printing unit; 101. First smart camera; 102. Laser head; 103. Second smart camera; 104. Power supply. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, including various details of the embodiments to aid understanding, and should be considered merely exemplary. Therefore, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Similarly, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted in the following description.

[0023] The term "comprising" and its variations as used herein signify open inclusion, i.e., "including but not limited to". Unless otherwise stated, the term "or" means "and / or". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The terms "one example embodiment" and "one embodiment" mean "at least one example embodiment". The term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment". The terms "first", "second", etc., may refer to different or the same objects. Other explicit and implicit definitions may also be included below.

[0024] To at least partially address one or more of the aforementioned problems and other potential issues, one embodiment of this disclosure proposes a tracking system for a cigarette packing machine, comprising a first proximity switch 2, a first displacement sensor 5, a second displacement sensor 6, a first position sensor 7, and a controller 9; the first proximity switch 2 is installed at the entrance of the cigarette pack lifting channel 11 to detect cigarette packs passing through the entrance of the cigarette pack lifting channel 11; the first displacement sensor 5 is installed at a push rod on the first cigarette pack conveying channel 13 to detect the passage of cigarette packs; the second displacement sensor 6 is installed at a push rod on the second cigarette pack conveying channel 15 to detect the passage of cigarette packs; the first position sensor 7 is installed in front of a laser head 102 along the conveying direction of the cigarette pack lifting channel 16 to detect the positioning information of the cigarette packs; the first position sensor 7 is used to interact with the laser head 102. The laser head 102 is connected for communication; the controller 9 is connected for communication with the first proximity switch 2, the first displacement sensor 5, the second displacement sensor 6, the first position sensor 7, the first smart camera 101 on the cigarette box lifting channel 11 or the carton packaging station 12, and the laser head 102; the controller 9 includes a counting unit 91 and a tracking unit 92; the counting unit 91 is used to count the number of times the first proximity switch 2 is triggered, and when the number of triggers reaches a preset value, it transmits a signal to the first smart camera 101; the tracking unit 92 is used to receive signals from the first displacement sensor 5, the second displacement sensor 6, and the first position sensor 7 to track the position of the cigarette pack, and when the first displacement sensor 5, the second displacement sensor 6, or the first position sensor 7 does not detect a cigarette pack, it transmits a signal to the tracking unit 92, and the tracking unit 92 feeds back to the printing system to cancel the printing of the cigarette pack barcode.

[0025] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the existing cigarette packing machine includes a cigarette box conveyor belt, a cigarette box lifting channel 11, a carton packaging station 12, a first cigarette pack conveying channel 13, a plastic oil film packaging station 14, a second cigarette pack conveying channel 15, and a cigarette pack lifting channel 16 arranged in sequence, as well as a first smart camera 101 installed on the cigarette box lifting channel 11 or the carton packaging station 12 for scanning the QR code on the cigarette box and a laser head 102 installed on the cigarette pack lifting channel 16 for online printing of barcodes on the cigarette pack.

[0026] The tracking system of this application includes a first proximity switch 2, a first displacement sensor 5, a second displacement sensor 6, a first position sensor 7, a power supply 104, and a controller 9. The controller 9 is communicatively connected to both the first smart camera 101 and the laser head 102. The controller 9 includes a counting unit 91 and a tracking unit 92. The first proximity switch 2, the first displacement sensor 5, the second displacement sensor 6, and the first position sensor 7 are all preferably photoelectric sensors. The first proximity switch 2 is installed at the entrance of the cigarette box lifting channel 11 and is used to detect cigarette boxes passing through the entrance of the cigarette box lifting channel 11. The first proximity switch 2 is communicatively connected to the counting unit 91. When the first proximity switch 2 is triggered and detects that a cigarette box has passed through the entrance of the cigarette box lifting channel 11, it transmits a signal to the counting unit 91. The counting unit 91 counts the cigarette boxes. When a preset value is reached, the counting unit 91 transmits a signal to the first smart camera 101. In this embodiment, the preset value is set to 5. The first smart camera 101 then starts scanning the stacked cigarette boxes. In some embodiments, the tracking system of this application further includes a second proximity switch 3, which is preferably a photoelectric sensor. The second proximity switch 3 is installed in front of the first smart camera 101 along the conveying direction of the packing machine. The second proximity switch 3 is used to communicate with the first smart camera 101. Preferably, the second proximity switch 3 is installed at the stack height of five packs of cigarettes at the exit of the cigarette box lifting channel 11. When the stacked five packs of cigarettes pass through the exit of the cigarette box lifting channel 11, the second proximity switch 3 is triggered to transmit a signal to the first smart camera 101. The first smart camera 101 starts to scan the stacked cigarette boxes, ensuring that the first smart camera 101 scans the stacked cigarette boxes. In other embodiments, the tracking system of this application further includes a third proximity switch 4, which is preferably a photoelectric sensor. The third proximity switch 4 is installed at the stack height of ten cigarette boxes on the carton packaging station 12. The third proximity switch 4 is communicatively connected to the tracking unit 92 and the control system of the carton packaging machine. When the stacked ten cigarette boxes reach the carton packaging station 12, the third proximity switch 4 is triggered to transmit a signal to the tracking unit 92 and the control system of the carton packaging machine. The carton packaging station 12 of the carton packaging machine packages the ten cigarette boxes into cigarette cartons, and the tracking unit 92 starts tracking.

[0027] like Figure 2As shown, a first displacement sensor 5 is installed at a push rod on the first cigarette pack conveying channel 13 to detect the passage of cigarette packs. The first displacement sensor 5 is communicatively connected to the tracking unit 92. Preferably, multiple first displacement sensors 5 are provided, each installed at a push rod on the first cigarette pack conveying channel 13, and all of them are communicatively connected to the tracking unit 92. A second displacement sensor 6 is installed at a push rod on the second cigarette pack conveying channel 15 to detect the passage of cigarette packs. The second displacement sensor 6 is communicatively connected to the tracking unit 92. Preferably, multiple second displacement sensors 6 are provided, each installed at a push rod on the second cigarette pack conveying channel 15, and all of them are communicatively connected to the tracking unit 92 in the controller 9. The system determines the real-time position of the cigarette pack based on the cigarette pack number, push rod position, and the number of the first displacement sensor 5 or the second displacement sensor 6. When the first displacement sensor 5, the second displacement sensor 6, or the first position sensor 7 fails to detect a cigarette pack, a signal is transmitted to the tracking unit 92, which then feeds back to the printing system to cancel the printing of the cigarette pack barcode.

[0028] like Figure 3 As shown, a first position sensor 7 is installed on the cigarette pack lifting channel 16 in front of the laser head 102 along its conveying direction to detect the cigarette pack's position information. The first position sensor 7 is communicatively connected to the tracking unit 92 and to the laser head 102. When the cigarette pack triggers the first position sensor 7, the first position sensor 7 transmits a signal to the tracking unit 92 and the laser head 102, and the laser head 102 starts online printing. For some cigarette pack machines, a second smart camera 103 is installed behind the laser head 102 on the cigarette pack lifting channel 16. The tracking system of this application also includes a second position sensor 8, which is installed on the cigarette pack lifting channel 16 in front of the second smart camera 103 along its conveying direction. The second position sensor 8 is communicatively connected to the tracking unit 92 and to the second smart camera 103. When the cigarette pack with the printed barcode triggers the second position sensor 8, the second position sensor 8 transmits a signal to the tracking unit 92 and the second smart camera 103, and the second smart camera 103 starts barcode scanning verification.

[0029] The first proximity switch 2, the second proximity switch 3, the third proximity switch 4, the first displacement sensor 5, the second displacement sensor 6, the first position sensor 7, and the third position sensor are all connected by a three-wire system and are all electrically connected to the power supply 104.

[0030] This application also provides a printing system for a cigarette packing machine, including a tracking system for a cigarette packing machine as described above, a first intelligent camera 101, a laser head 102, and a controller 9 further including a QR code association unit 93 and a printing unit 94; the first intelligent camera 101 is installed on the cigarette box lifting channel 11 or the carton packaging station 12, preferably, the first intelligent camera 101 is installed at the stack height of five cigarette boxes at the exit of the cigarette box lifting channel 11, the first intelligent camera 101 is communicatively connected to both the counting unit 91 and the QR code association unit 93, and is used to activate the first intelligent camera 101 to scan the cigarette box according to the counting unit 91, and to transmit the scanned information to the QR code association unit 93; in some embodiments, the tracking system includes a second proximity switch 3, the second proximity switch 3 is communicatively connected to the first intelligent camera 101; the laser head 102 is installed on the cigarette pack lifting channel 16, the laser head 102 is communicatively connected to both the first position sensor 7 and the printing unit 94, and is used to activate the laser head 102 to print the barcode in the printing unit 94 online according to the signal of the first position sensor 7; preferably, as Figure 3 As shown, the first position sensor 7 is installed at the seventh height of the cigarette bar lifting channel 16, and the laser head 102 is installed near the top of the first position sensor 7. The printing system of this application also includes a second smart camera 103. The tracking system includes a second position sensor 8. The second smart camera 103 is installed on the cigarette bar lifting channel 16 behind the laser head 102 along its conveying direction. The second position sensor 8 is preferably installed at the ninth height of the cigarette bar lifting channel 16, and the laser head 102 is installed near the top of the second position sensor 8. The second smart camera 103 is communicatively connected to the second position sensor 8 and the QR code association unit 93 for scanning and verifying the cigarette bar.

[0031] The QR code association unit 93 is used to generate a barcode based on the received scanning information. The QR code association unit 93 is communicatively connected to the tracking unit 92 and the printing unit 94, respectively. It is used to transmit the signal for generating the barcode to the tracking unit 92 to start the tracking unit 92, and to cancel the association information of the cigarette stick in the QR code association unit 93 when a cigarette stick is not detected. It is also used to transmit the generated barcode to the printing unit 94 for queuing and printing. The printing unit 94 is used to receive the barcode generated by the QR code association unit 93, queue it, and control the laser head 102 to print. The printing unit 94 is communicatively connected to the tracking unit 92 and is used to cancel the queuing of the barcode corresponding to the cigarette stick in the printing unit 94 when a cigarette stick is not detected.

[0032] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or technical improvements to the embodiments in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand this document.

Claims

1. A printing system for a cigarette pack machine, characterized in that: It includes a first proximity switch (2), a first displacement sensor (5), a second displacement sensor (6), a first position sensor (7), a controller (9), a first smart camera (101), and a laser head (102); The first proximity switch (2) is installed at the entrance of the cigarette box lifting channel (11) to detect the cigarette boxes passing through the entrance of the cigarette box lifting channel (11); The first displacement sensor (5) is installed at the push rod on the first cigarette bar conveying channel (13) to detect the passage of the cigarette bar; The second displacement sensor (6) is installed on the push rod of the second cigarette conveying channel (15) to detect the passage of the cigarette; The first position sensor (7) is installed in front of the laser head (102) along the conveying direction of the cigarette bar lifting channel (16) to detect the position information of the cigarette bar; The controller (9) is communicatively connected to the first proximity switch (2), the first displacement sensor (5), the second displacement sensor (6), the first position sensor (7), the laser head (102), the cigarette box lifting channel (11), or the first smart camera (101) on the carton packaging station (12); the controller (9) includes a counting unit (91), a tracking unit (92), a QR code association unit (93), and a printing unit (94); the counting unit (91) is used to count the number of times the first proximity switch (2) is triggered, and when the number of triggers reaches a preset value, it transmits a signal to the first smart camera (101); the tracking unit (92) is used to receive signals from the first displacement sensor (5), the second displacement sensor (6), and the first position sensor (7) to track the position of the cigarette carton. The QR code association unit (93) is used to generate a barcode based on the received scanning information. The QR code association unit (93) is communicatively connected to the tracking unit (92) and the printing unit (94) respectively. It is used to transmit the signal of generating the barcode to the tracking unit (92) to start the tracking unit (92), and to cancel the association information of the cigarette in the QR code association unit (93) when a cigarette is not detected, and to transmit the generated barcode to the printing unit (94) for queuing and printing. The printing unit (94) is used to receive the barcode generated by the QR code association unit (93), queue it, and control the laser head (102) to print. The printing unit (94) is communicatively connected to the tracking unit (92) and is used to cancel the queuing of the barcode corresponding to the cigarette in the printing unit (94) when a cigarette is not detected. The first intelligent camera (101) is installed on the cigarette box lifting channel (11) or the carton packaging station (12). The first intelligent camera (101) is communicatively connected to the counting unit (91) and the QR code association unit (93). It is used to start the first intelligent camera (101) to scan the cigarette box according to the counting unit (91) and to transmit the scanned information to the QR code association unit (93). The laser head (102) is installed on the cigarette bar lifting channel (16). The laser head (102) is communicatively connected to the first position sensor (7) and the printing unit (94) and is used to start the laser head (102) to print the barcode in the printing unit (94) online according to the signal of the first position sensor (7).

2. The printing system for a cigarette pack machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a second proximity switch (3); the second proximity switch (3) is installed in front of the first smart camera (101) along the conveying direction of the strip machine, and the second proximity switch (3) is used to communicate with the first smart camera (101).

3. The printing system for a cigarette pack machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second proximity switch (3) is installed at the stack height of five cigarette boxes at the exit of the cigarette box lifting channel (11).

4. The printing system for a cigarette pack machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple first displacement sensors (5) are provided. Multiple first displacement sensors (5) are respectively installed at multiple push rods on the first cigarette conveying channel (13). Multiple first displacement sensors (5) are all connected to the tracking unit (92) in the controller (9).

5. A printing system for a cigarette pack machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple second displacement sensors (6) are provided. Multiple second displacement sensors (6) are respectively installed at multiple push rods on the second cigarette conveying channel (15). Multiple second displacement sensors (6) are all connected to the tracking unit (92) in the controller (9).

6. The printing system for a cigarette pack machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a second smart camera (103); the second smart camera (103) is installed on the cigarette bar lifting channel (16) behind the laser head (102) along its conveying direction, and the second smart camera (103) is communicatively connected to the QR code association unit (93) for scanning and verifying the cigarette bar.

7. A printing system for a cigarette pack machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a second position sensor (8), which is installed on the cigarette bar lifting channel (16) in front of the second smart camera (103) along its conveying direction. The second position sensor (8) is communicatively connected to the tracking unit (92) and is used for communicatively connecting with the second smart camera (103).

8. A printing system for a cigarette pack machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a third proximity switch (4); the third proximity switch (4) is installed at the stack height of ten cigarette boxes on the carton packaging station (12), and the third proximity switch (4) is communicatively connected to the tracking unit (92) and the control system of the carton packaging machine.

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