Blank feeding method for wide-mouth bottle blank

Abstract

A blank feeding method for wide-mouth bottle blanks comprises the following steps that b, charging and conveying are carried out, limiting spaces of temporary storage frames of a bottle blank stacking mechanism are filled with the wide-mouth bottle blanks, and the wide-mouth bottle blanks are sequentially conveyed to a lifting mechanism; c, jacking and feeding are conducted, and the wide-mouth bottle blanks in the temporary storage frame are lifted upwards through a lifting mechanism; d, material taking and transferring are carried out, the clamping and conveying mechanism sequentially takes away the wide-mouth bottle blanks located at outlets in the top ends of the temporary storage frames and sends out the wide-mouth bottle blanks, the step a is further carried out before the step b, and the bottle blank stacking and storing mechanism is further provided with temporary storage frame adjusting units which are the same as the temporary storage frames in number and correspond to the temporary storage frames one to one; and according to the size of the wide-mouth bottle blank, each temporary storage frame adjusting unit is adopted to adjust the limiting space of each temporary storage frame, so that each temporary storage frame adapts to the wide-mouth bottle blank. The step a and the temporary storage frame adjusting unit are additionally arranged before the step b, so that the limiting space of each temporary storage frame can be adjusted according to the size of the wide-mouth bottle blank so as to adapt to the wide-mouth bottle blank, the operation is convenient and rapid, and the varied market requirements can be met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for loading preforms of wide-mouth bottles. Background Art

[0002] Preforms of wide-mouth bottles cannot be automatically sorted and discharged using a general blank sorting mechanism. As a result, the feeding mechanism of such blow molding machines usually requires manual insertion of the preforms one by one onto the feeding mechanism, and then a manipulator is used to transfer the preforms to the heating track, which is costly and inefficient. To solve the problem of automatic preform loading for wide-mouth bottles, the prior art uses a rotary wide-mouth bottle preform storage device in cooperation with a lifting mechanism and a pinch-feed mechanism to achieve automatic preform loading for wide-mouth bottles. For example, an automatic wide-mouth bottle preform feeding system disclosed in a Chinese patent document with an application publication number of CN114393810A and a title of "An Automatic Wide-Mouth Bottle Preform Feeding System and Its Method" includes a preform stacking mechanism for stacking wide-mouth bottle preforms at a high position, a pick-up and transfer module with a pick-up end at a high position and a discharge end at a low position, a lifting mechanism arranged below the pick-up end of the pick-up and transfer module, and a feeding and transfer mechanism arranged at a low position at the discharge end of the pick-up and transfer module. The automatic preform loading method for wide-mouth bottles adopted by this system includes the following steps: Step 1, jacking and feeding: A number of wide-mouth bottle preforms are stacked at a high position on the preform stacking mechanism, and the lifting mechanism lifts them from the bottom of each wide-mouth bottle preform and feeds them to the clamping mechanism by means of step-by-step jacking; Step 2, pick-up and transfer: The clamping mechanism holds and transfers the wide-mouth bottle preforms lifted by the lifting mechanism to the slideway mechanism, so that the wide-mouth bottle preforms slide automatically towards the low-position feeding and transfer mechanism; Step 3, feeding and transfer: After the wide-mouth bottle preforms are transferred to the discharge end of the slideway mechanism, the slideway mechanism releases a group of wide-mouth bottle preforms to the lower part of the feeding and transfer mechanism through intermittent blocking to cooperate with the feeding and transfer mechanism for clamping and feeding. It can achieve automatic preform loading for wide-mouth bottles.

[0003] However, the applicant has found that using the above-mentioned equipment and method to complete the automatic preform loading for wide-mouth bottles can only be applied to wide-mouth bottle preforms of a single caliber. Once the producer needs to replace wide-mouth bottle preforms of different calibers, the above-mentioned equipment and method cannot work properly. Operators need to add a working step before production, manually operate and adjust the size of the limiting space of each temporary storage rack of the preform stacking mechanism one by one to make it suitable for the wide-mouth bottle preforms. Moreover, the debugging process requires continuous trial runs and continuous adjustment according to the actual situation, which is very troublesome, time-consuming and laborious, and cannot adapt to the current situation where the wide-mouth bottle preforms to be processed by producers change frequently. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for loading preforms of wide-mouth bottles, which can conveniently and quickly adjust the size of the limiting space of each temporary storage rack of the preform stacking mechanism. The technical solution adopted is as follows: A method for loading preforms of wide-mouth bottles, comprising the following steps: b. Loading and conveying: filling the limiting spaces of each temporary storage rack of the preform stacking mechanism with wide-mouth bottle preforms and sequentially sending them to the lifting mechanism; c. Lifting and feeding: the lifting mechanism lifts the wide-mouth bottle preforms in the temporary storage rack upward; d. Picking and transferring: the clamping and conveying mechanism sequentially picks up the wide-mouth bottle preforms located at the top outlet of the temporary storage rack and sends them out. It is characterized in that: before step b, there is also step a. The preform stacking mechanism is also provided with temporary storage rack adjusting units that are the same in number as and correspond one by one to the temporary storage racks. According to the size of the wide-mouth bottle preforms, each temporary storage rack adjusting unit is used to respectively adjust the limiting space of each temporary storage rack to make it suitable for the wide-mouth bottle preforms; In step a, the temporary storage rack includes at least three limiting rods. On the top surface of the temporary storage rack adjusting unit, there are multiple slidable and adjustable parts that can slide radially along the top surface. The number of limiting rods is the same as and corresponds one by one to the slidable and adjustable parts. Each limiting rod is respectively installed on the corresponding slidable and adjustable part. Inside the temporary storage rack adjusting unit, an active adjusting part that can rotate on a plane parallel to the top surface is used to synchronously adjust the positions of the slidable and adjustable parts. The adjusting method is to rotate the active adjusting part and convert the rotation of the active adjusting part into a linear relative movement or linear reverse movement of the slidable and adjustable parts along the radial direction of the top surface, thereby adjusting the size of the limiting space.

[0005] In a preferred solution, the top surface of the active adjusting part is provided with a helical rack, and the bottom surface of the slidable and adjustable part is provided with a straight rack. The helical rack meshes with the straight racks on the bottom surfaces of all the slidable and adjustable parts.

[0006] In one solution, in step a, a motor drives the active adjusting part to rotate through a chain drive mechanism or a belt drive mechanism.

[0007] In another solution, in step a, a power input part drives the active adjusting part to rotate through a gear set.

[0008] In one solution, the power input part selects an operating handle, and power is input by manually operating the operating handle.

[0009] In another solution, the power input part selects a power receiving gear, and the power receiving gear is driven to rotate by a motor and a transmission mechanism to input power.

[0010] In a more preferred solution, in step a, a synchronous drive unit synchronously outputs power to the power input parts of all the temporary storage rack adjusting units; the synchronous drive unit uses a power device to drive a crown gear to rotate through a gear transmission group, and then drives the power input parts (i.e., power receiving gears) of all the slidable and adjustable parts to rotate through the crown gear.

[0011] The beneficial effects of the present invention compared with the prior art are that, due to adding step a and the temporary storage rack adjustment unit before step b, the limit space of each temporary storage rack can be adjusted according to the size of the wide-mouth bottle blank, making it adaptable to the wide-mouth bottle blank. Moreover, the operation is convenient and fast, and it can meet the ever-changing market demands. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the equipment adopted in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is Figure 1 a schematic diagram after removing the frame of the shown embodiment; Figure 3 is Figure 1 a schematic diagram of the bottle blank stacking mechanism of the shown embodiment; Figure 4 is Figure 3 a schematic diagram after removing all the temporary storage racks; Figure 5 is Figure 4 a schematic diagram after removing the turntable and the turntable drive unit; Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of the temporary storage rack adjustment unit in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is Figure 6 the exploded view of the parts; Figure 8 is Figure 7 the bottom-up perspective view of the cover body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0013] As Figures 1 - 5 shown, the method for loading the wide-mouth bottle blanks in an embodiment of the present application includes the following steps: b. Loading and conveying: filling the limit space of each temporary storage rack 203 of the bottle blank stacking mechanism 2 with wide-mouth bottle blanks and sequentially sending them to the lifting mechanism 4; c. Lifting and feeding: the lifting mechanism 4 lifts the wide-mouth bottle blanks in the temporary storage rack 203 upward; d. Picking and transferring: the clamping and conveying mechanism 3 sequentially picks up the wide-mouth bottle blanks at the top outlet of the temporary storage rack 203 and sends them out, Before step b, there is also step a. The bottle blank stacking mechanism 2 is also provided with temporary storage rack adjustment units 204 that are the same in number as and correspond one by one to the temporary storage racks 203. Each temporary storage rack adjustment unit 204 adjusts the limit space of each temporary storage rack 203 according to the size of the wide-mouth bottle blank to make it adaptable to the wide-mouth bottle blank; In step a, the temporary storage rack 203 includes at least three limiting rods 2031. On the top surface of the temporary storage rack adjusting unit 204, there are multiple slidable adjustable members 2046 that can slide radially along the top surface. The number of the limiting rods 2031 is the same as that of the slidable adjustable members 2046 and they correspond one by one. Each limiting rod 2031 is respectively installed on the corresponding slidable adjustable member 2046. Inside the temporary storage rack adjusting unit 204, an adjusting member 2044 that can rotate on a plane parallel to the top surface is used to synchronously adjust the positions of the slidable adjustable members 2046. The adjusting method is to rotate the active adjusting member 2044 and convert the rotation of the active adjusting member 2044 into a linear relative movement or a linear reverse movement of the slidable adjustable members 2046 along the radial direction of the top surface, thereby adjusting the size of the limiting space.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, a helical rack 20441 is provided on the top surface of the active adjusting member 2044, and a straight rack 20461 is provided on the bottom surface of the slidable adjustable member 2046. The helical rack 20441 meshes with the straight racks 20461 on the bottom surfaces of all the slidable adjustable members 2046.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, in step a, a motor drives the active adjusting member 2044 to rotate through a chain drive mechanism or a belt drive mechanism.

[0016] As Figures 1 - 8 shown, in an alternative embodiment, in step a, a power input member 2045 drives the active adjusting member 2044 to rotate through a gear set.

[0017] As Figures 6 - 8 shown, in an alternative embodiment, the power input member 2045 selects an operating handle 20454, and power is input by manually operating the operating handle 20454.

[0018] As Figure 5 shown, in an alternative embodiment, the power input member 2045 selects a power receiving gear 20453, and the power receiving gear 20453 is driven to rotate by a motor and a transmission mechanism to input power.

[0019] As Figure 5 shown, in an alternative embodiment, in step a, a synchronous drive unit 205 synchronously outputs power to the power input members 2045 of all the temporary storage rack adjusting units 204; the synchronous drive unit 205 uses a power device 2052 to drive a crown gear to rotate through a gear transmission group 2053, and then drives the power input members (i.e., the power receiving gears 20453) of all the slidable adjustable members 2046 to rotate through the crown gear.

[0020] As Figures 1 - 4As shown in the figure, in an alternative embodiment, the bottle preform stacking and storage mechanism 2 of step b further includes a turntable 201 and a turntable driving unit 202. All the temporary storage rack adjusting units 204 are respectively installed on the turntable 201. The turntable driving unit 202 drives the turntable 201 to rotate, and successively sends the temporary storage racks 203 filled with wide-mouth bottle preforms to the lifting mechanism 4.

[0021] The following will combine Figures 1 - 8 to introduce in detail the specific structure of the equipment used in this method: The equipment includes a frame 1 and a bottle preform stacking and storage mechanism 2, a lifting mechanism 4 respectively installed on the frame 1. The bottle preform stacking and storage mechanism 2 includes a turntable 201, a turntable driving unit 202, and a plurality of temporary storage racks 203. The temporary storage racks 203 form a temporary storage space for longitudinally stacking wide-mouth bottle preforms. The turntable 201 is rotatably installed on the frame 1. The turntable driving unit 202 is installed on the frame 1 and the turntable driving unit 202 is connected to the turntable 201 and drives the turntable 201 to rotate. The temporary storage rack 203 includes a plurality of limiting rods 2031. The bottle preform stacking and storage mechanism 2 further includes a plurality of temporary storage rack adjusting units 204. The number of the temporary storage rack adjusting units 204 and the temporary storage racks 203 is the same and they correspond one by one. Each temporary storage rack 203 is respectively installed on the corresponding temporary storage rack adjusting unit 204. The temporary storage rack adjusting unit 204 includes a base 2041, a rotating shaft seat 2042, a cover body 2043, a main adjusting member 2044, a power input member 2045, and a plurality of slidable and adjustable members 2046. The base 2041 is installed on the top surface of the turntable 201. The cover body 2043 is installed on the base 2041. A plurality of sliding grooves 20431 are formed on the top surface of the cover body 2043. A limiting sleeve 20432 is provided on the inner top surface of the cover body 2043. The rotating shaft seat 2042 is installed on the inner top surface of the cover body 2043 and is located outside the limiting sleeve 20432. The rotating shaft seat 2042 and the limiting sleeve 20432 cooperate with each other to rotatably limit the main adjusting member 2044 between the rotating shaft seat 2042 and the cover body 2043. A spiral rack 20441 is provided at the top end of the main adjusting member 2044. A first crown gear 20442 is provided at the bottom end of the main adjusting member 2044. A straight rack 20461 that can be engaged with the spiral rack 20441 is provided at the bottom end of each slidable and adjustable member 2046. The number of the slidable and adjustable members 2046 and the sliding grooves 20431 is the same and they correspond one by one. Each slidable and adjustable member 2046 is respectively slidably arranged in the corresponding sliding groove 20431. The straight racks 20461 of each slidable and adjustable member 2046 are respectively engaged with the spiral rack 20441. The power input member 2045 includes a power input rotating shaft 20452 and an input gear 20451 that can be engaged with the first crown gear 20442. The power input rotating shaft 20452 is rotatably installed on the rotating shaft seat 2042. The input gear 20451 is installed on the power input rotating shaft 20452, and the input gear 20451 is engaged with the first crown gear 20442.

[0022] As Figures 6 - 8 shown, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the chute 20431 extends radially along the top surface of the cover 2043.

[0023] As Figures 6 - 8 shown, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the staging rack adjustment unit 204 further includes at least one auxiliary power member 2047. The auxiliary power member 2047 includes a power gear 20471 and a positioning rotating shaft 20472. The positioning rotating shaft 20472 is rotatably mounted on the rotating shaft seat 2042. The power gear 20471 is mounted on the positioning rotating shaft 20472, and the power gear 20471 meshes with the first crown gear 20442.

[0024] As Figures 6 - 8 shown, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the power input member 2045 and all the auxiliary power members 2047 are evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the first crown gear 20442. In this embodiment, the number of the auxiliary power members 2047 is two.

[0025] As Figures 3 - 5 shown, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the preform stacking mechanism 2 further includes a synchronous drive unit 205. Power receiving gears 20453 are mounted at the outer ends of the power input rotating shafts 20452 of all the staging rack adjustment units 204. The synchronous drive unit 205 includes a second crown gear 2051, a power device 2052, and a gear transmission group 2053. The second crown gear 2051, the power device 2052, and the gear transmission group 2053 are respectively mounted on the frame 1. The second crown gear 2051 is horizontally arranged and meshes with all the power receiving gears 20453. The power device 2052 drives the second crown gear 2051 to rotate through the gear transmission group 2053.

[0026] As Figure 4 , 5 shown, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, all the power receiving gears 20453 of the staging rack adjustment units 204 are evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the second crown gear 2051.

[0027] In an alternative embodiment of the present application, the power device 2052 is a servo reducer.

[0028] As Figure 5 shown, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the power device 2052 is an operating handwheel.

[0029] As Figures 6 - 8 ​As shown in the figure, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the power input member 2045 of each temporary storage rack adjustment unit 204 further includes an operating handle 20454, and the operating handle 20454 is installed at the outer end of the power input rotating shaft 20452.

[0030] As Figure 3 shown in the figure, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the number of limit rods 2031 of each temporary storage rack 203 and the number of slidable members 2046 to be adjusted corresponding to the temporary storage rack adjustment unit 204 are the same and are in one-to-one correspondence, and each limit rod 2031 is respectively installed on the corresponding slidable member 2046 to be adjusted.

[0031] As Figure 3 shown in the figure, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the number of the limit rods 2031 is three.

[0032] Due to the provision of the temporary storage rack adjustment unit 204, producers can adjust the size of the space inside the temporary storage rack 203 according to the caliber of the wide-mouth bottle blanks; while the synchronous drive unit 205 enables producers to conveniently and quickly adjust all the temporary storage rack adjustment units 204.

[0033] As Figure 3 、 4 shown in the figure, in an alternative embodiment of the present application, the turntable drive unit 202 is composed of a servo motor 2021 and a cam divider 2022.

[0034] Since step a is added and the temporary storage rack adjustment unit 204 is added, when replacing wide-mouth bottle blanks with different calibers or when it is found during the production process that the wide-mouth bottle blanks are stacked and skewed or the conveying is not smooth, etc., the size of the space inside all the temporary storage racks 203 can be adjusted manually or by motor drive so that it can cooperate well with the wide-mouth bottle blanks.

[0035] In addition, it should be noted that for the specific embodiments described in this specification, the names of their respective parts, etc. can be different. Any equivalent or simple changes made according to the structure, features, and principles described in the inventive concept of this invention patent are included in the protection scope of this invention patent. Those skilled in the technical field to which this invention belongs can make various modifications, supplements, or use similar methods to replace the specific embodiments described, as long as they do not deviate from the structure of this invention or exceed the scope defined by this patent claim, they should all fall within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A method for loading preforms of wide-mouth bottles, comprising the following steps: b. Loading and conveying: filling the limiting spaces of each temporary storage rack of the preform stacking mechanism with preforms of wide-mouth bottles and sequentially sending them to the lifting mechanism; c. Lifting and feeding: the lifting mechanism lifts the preforms of wide-mouth bottles in the temporary storage rack upward; d. Picking and transferring: the clamping and conveying mechanism sequentially picks up the preforms of wide-mouth bottles located at the top outlet of the temporary storage rack and sends them out, It is characterized in that: before step b, there is also step a. The preform stacking mechanism is also provided with temporary storage rack adjusting units that are the same in number as and correspond one by one to the temporary storage racks. According to the size of the preforms of wide-mouth bottles, each temporary storage rack adjusting unit is used to respectively adjust the limiting space of each temporary storage rack to make it suitable for the preforms of wide-mouth bottles; In step a, the temporary storage rack includes at least three limiting rods. The top surface of the temporary storage rack adjusting unit is provided with a plurality of slidable adjustable parts that can slide along the radial direction of the top surface. The number of limiting rods is the same as and corresponds one by one to the slidable adjustable parts. Each limiting rod is respectively installed on the corresponding slidable adjustable part. The inside of the temporary storage rack adjusting unit uses an active adjusting part that can rotate on a plane parallel to the top surface to synchronously adjust the positions of the slidable adjustable parts. The adjusting method is to rotate the active adjusting part and convert the rotation of the active adjusting part into a linear relative movement or a linear reverse movement of the slidable adjustable part along the radial direction of the top surface, so as to adjust the size of the limiting space.

2. The method for feeding the preform of the wide-mouth bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top surface of the active adjusting part is provided with a spiral rack, and the bottom surface of the slidable adjustable part is provided with a straight rack. The spiral rack meshes with the straight racks on the bottom surfaces of all the slidable adjustable parts.

3. The method for feeding the preform of the wide-mouth bottle according to claim 2, characterized in that: In step a, a motor drives the active adjusting part to rotate through a chain drive mechanism or a belt drive mechanism.

4. The method for feeding the preform of the wide-mouth bottle according to claim 2, characterized in that: In step a, a power input part drives the active adjusting part to rotate through a gear set.

5. The method for loading the upper blank of the wide-mouth bottle blank according to claim 4, characterized in that: The power input part selects an operating handle, and power is input by manually operating the operating handle.

6. The method for feeding the preform of a wide-mouth bottle according to claim 4, characterized in that: The power input part selects a power receiving gear, and the power receiving gear is driven to rotate by a motor and a transmission mechanism to input power.

7. The method for the upper blank of the wide-mouth bottle blank according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step a, a synchronous drive unit synchronously outputs power to the power input parts of all the temporary storage rack adjusting units; the synchronous drive unit uses a power device to drive a crown gear to rotate through a gear transmission group, and then drives the power input parts of all the slidable adjustable parts to rotate through the crown gear.

8. The method for feeding a preform of a wide-mouth bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step b, the preform stacking mechanism is also provided with a turntable and a turntable drive unit. All the temporary storage rack adjusting units are respectively installed on the turntable, and the turntable drive unit is used to drive the turntable to rotate, and sequentially send the temporary storage racks filled with preforms of wide-mouth bottles to the lifting mechanism.

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