Condom deployment device and method

Abstract

The invention provides a condom unfolding device and method, and the device comprises a first negative pressure mechanism which is provided with a negative pressure port; one end of the feeding pipeline is located in the charging tray where the condom is placed, and the other end of the feeding pipeline is connected with the negative pressure opening; the conveying pipeline is communicated with the feeding pipeline; the positive pressure mechanism is provided with a positive pressure opening, and the positive pressure mechanism is arranged on the conveying pipeline; wherein the first negative pressure mechanism is started, so that the condom enters the overhanging position of the feeding pipeline from the material disc and overhangs, the positive pressure mechanism is started to generate positive pressure in the conveying pipeline so as to drive the condom to enter the conveying pipeline from the overhanging position and expand, and the expanded condom makes contact with the inner wall of the conveying pipeline till the condom is in an open state. The condom is grabbed through negative pressure adsorption, the condom is evenly expanded under the action of airflow through positive pressure driving cooperation, and the condom unfolding efficiency and quality are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of condom technology, specifically relating to a condom deployment device and method. Background Technology

[0002] In the automated production process of condoms, the curled or folded condoms need to be unfolded into a tube shape that approximates the shape used in use, so that the integrity can be checked or the condoms can be packaged automatically.

[0003] In existing technologies, a positive pressure feeder is used to directly push the condom, and the positive pressure airflow acts directly on the curled condom. This not only prolongs the path and wastes positive pressure airflow, but also results in uneven force exerted by the positive pressure airflow on the condom due to the long unfolding path. This can easily lead to wrinkles or damage due to excessive local force, or the condom may not be able to fully expand due to airflow dispersion, making it difficult to adhere to the inner wall of the tube and form effective support. As a result, the shape after opening is inconsistent, which affects the quality and efficiency of condom unfolding and the accuracy of subsequent testing. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides a condom unfolding device to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] This invention provides a condom unfolding device, comprising: a first negative pressure mechanism with a negative pressure port; a feeding pipe, one end of which is located in a tray for placing condoms, and the other end of which is connected to the negative pressure port; a positive pressure mechanism with a positive pressure port; and a conveying pipe connected to the feeding pipe; wherein, when the first negative pressure mechanism is activated, the condom enters the feeding pipe from the tray and hangs in a suspended position; when the positive pressure mechanism is activated, positive pressure is generated in the conveying pipe to drive the condom from the suspended position into the conveying pipe and expand; the expanded condom contacts the inner wall of the conveying pipe until the condom is in an open state.

[0006] In one optional embodiment, the condom deployment device further includes a second negative pressure mechanism disposed above the positive pressure mechanism. The second negative pressure mechanism is capable of generating negative pressure to adsorb the condom in a suspended state at the suspended position.

[0007] In one optional embodiment, the second negative pressure mechanism is a vacuum shut-off valve, which has a material chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is connected to the suspended position, and the outlet is connected to the delivery pipeline, so that the condom enters the delivery pipeline from the suspended position through the material chamber.

[0008] In one optional embodiment, the second negative pressure mechanism includes a negative pressure gun and a negative pressure gun control valve, the negative pressure gun control valve being adapted to adjust the pressure of the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure gun.

[0009] In one optional embodiment, the first negative pressure mechanism includes: a centrifugal fan with the negative pressure port; a fan pipeline with one end connected to the negative pressure port; and a fan control valve located at the other end of the fan pipeline, the fan control valve being adapted to adjust the negative pressure flow rate.

[0010] In one alternative embodiment, the condom deployment device further includes a three-way filter tube connected to the negative pressure port, the feed line, and the delivery line.

[0011] In one optional embodiment, the feed line and the delivery line each include multiple sections of corrugated hose, and adjacent sections of the corrugated hose are connected by a straight-through reducer.

[0012] In one alternative embodiment, the delivery path of the delivery pipeline includes at least one arc-shaped bend.

[0013] In one optional embodiment, the feed inlet of the feed pipe is provided with a diameter-reducing joint, with the larger diameter of the diameter-reducing joint facing the material conveying direction.

[0014] The present invention also proposes a condom deployment method, employing any of the condom deployment devices described in the present invention. The method includes: activating a first negative pressure mechanism to allow the condom to enter the suspension position of the feed pipe for suspension; closing the first negative pressure mechanism and activating the positive pressure mechanism to generate positive pressure in the conveying pipe to drive the condom from the suspension position into the conveying pipe and expand it, wherein the expanded condom contacts the inner wall of the conveying pipe until the condom is in an open state.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: by using negative pressure to adsorb and grasp the condom, and using positive pressure to drive it, the condom expands evenly under the action of airflow, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of condom deployment. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a condom unfolding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of a condom deployment device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the second negative pressure mechanism of the condom unfolding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the display size-changing section of a condom unfolding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display size-changing section of a condom unfolding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of a condom unfolding method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0024] 1. Frame; 10. First negative pressure mechanism; 11. Centrifugal fan; 12. Fan pipeline; 13. Fan control valve; 20. Feed pipeline; 30. Positive pressure mechanism; 40. Conveying pipeline; 50. Second negative pressure mechanism; 51. Negative pressure gun; 52. Negative pressure gun control valve; 60. Three-way filter tube; 61. Suspension chamber; 70. Corrugated hose; 80. Straight-through reducer; 90. Small-diameter reducer; 2. Material tray; 3. Discharge control valve; 4. Discharge pipeline. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do 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, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0027] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0028] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0029] The following is combined Figures 1 to 6 The following describes embodiments of the present invention.

[0030] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, according to an embodiment of the invention, a condom unfolding device is provided, comprising: a first negative pressure mechanism 10, having a negative pressure port; a feeding pipe 20, one end of which is located in a material tray 2 for placing condoms, and the other end of which is connected to the negative pressure port; a conveying pipe 40, connected to the feeding pipe 20; and a positive pressure mechanism 30, having a positive pressure port, which is located on the conveying pipe. When the first negative pressure mechanism 10 is activated, the condom enters the feeding pipe 20 from the material tray 2 and hangs there. When the positive pressure mechanism 30 is activated, positive pressure is generated in the conveying pipe 40 to drive the condom from the hanging position into the conveying pipe 40 and expand. The expanded condom contacts the inner wall of the conveying pipe 40 until the condom is in an open state.

[0031] In this embodiment, the condom unfolding device can automatically grab the condom from the material tray 2 and feed it into the pipeline through the synergistic effect of negative pressure adsorption and positive pressure drive, and then automatically open it through positive and negative pressure.

[0032] The first negative pressure mechanism 10 is equipped with a power component that can generate negative pressure and a negative pressure port. The negative pressure port is connected to the feed pipe 20 through a pipeline, which can form a stable adsorption force.

[0033] One end of the feed pipe 20 extends into the tray 2 where condoms are placed. The condoms in the tray 2 are stacked randomly. The other end of the feed pipe 20 is sealed to the negative pressure port. The inner diameter of the feed pipe 20 is adapted to the size of the condom when it is not unfolded, ensuring that only one condom is adsorbed at a time.

[0034] The positive pressure mechanism 30 includes a positive pressure generating device and a positive pressure port, which can output a controllable positive pressure airflow. The positive pressure port is connected to the upper end of the feed pipe 20 through the conveying pipe 40 to form an airflow passage.

[0035] The connection between the delivery pipe 40 and the feed pipe 20 is equipped with a smooth transition structure to prevent the condom from getting stuck during transfer. The inner diameter of the delivery pipe 40 is smaller than the maximum diameter of the condom after it is unfolded, so that the outer surface of the condom can contact the inner wall of the delivery pipe 40. Friction is generated between the outer surface of the condom and the inner wall of the delivery pipe 40, so that the condom moves along the path of the delivery pipe 40 and gradually unfolds under the combined action of high-pressure airflow and friction.

[0036] The positive pressure mechanism 30 can be a positive pressure feeder, which is located at one end of the conveying pipeline 40 and the three-way filter pipe 60.

[0037] The working principle of the condom opening device: Condoms are fed into the material tray 2 in batches by the feeding mechanism inside the equipment. The first negative pressure mechanism 10 is activated, and the negative pressure port generates suction force. The end of the feeding pipe 20 that extends into the material tray 2 forms negative pressure. Under the action of negative pressure, the condoms are fed one by one from the material tray 2 by the feeding mechanism inside the equipment, and move along the feeding pipe 20 to the preset hanging position, that is, the connection point of the feeding pipe 20 and the conveying pipe 40. At this time, the condoms are kept in a hanging state due to the negative pressure and are not fully unfolded.

[0038] After the first negative pressure mechanism 10 is closed and the negative pressure disappears, the positive pressure mechanism 30 is immediately activated. The positive pressure port injects high-pressure airflow into the delivery pipeline 40, and the airflow pushes the suspended safety sleeve into the delivery pipeline 40.

[0039] Under the continuous action of positive pressure airflow, the condom gradually expands in the delivery pipe 40. Its outer wall contacts the inner wall of the delivery pipe 40 and is evenly spread open, eventually fully unfolded into an open state, which is convenient for subsequent use or automated assembly.

[0040] Beneficial technical effects:

[0041] 1. Condoms can be grasped and opened without human contact, reducing the risk of contamination from manual operation and greatly improving operational efficiency. It is especially suitable for scenarios with strict hygiene requirements, such as medical and public health settings.

[0042] 2. Negative pressure adsorption ensures that only one condom is grabbed at a time, avoiding taking too many or missing condoms; positive pressure drive, combined with pipeline size design, allows the condoms to expand evenly under the action of airflow, resulting in a high degree of consistency in opening effect, reducing problems such as jamming and breakage, and ensuring a stable and reliable grabbing and opening process.

[0043] 3. The device has few components and a compact layout. By adjusting the inner diameter of the pipeline and the air pressure parameters, it can be adapted to different sizes of condoms. It is also easy to integrate into automated production lines or self-service equipment. It has flexible application scenarios, simple structure, and strong adaptability.

[0044] Furthermore, the condom deployment device also includes a second negative pressure mechanism 50, which is located above the positive pressure mechanism 30. The second negative pressure mechanism 50 can generate negative pressure to hold the condom in a suspended state at the hanging position.

[0045] The condom deployment device features a second negative pressure mechanism 50, which provides targeted suction force after the condom reaches the hanging position, further optimizing the stability of gripping and transfer.

[0046] The first negative pressure mechanism 10 is activated, adsorbing the condom from the material tray 2 and sending it to the suspension position. At this time, the condom is in a preliminary suspension state, but there may be a risk of position displacement due to friction of the inner wall of the pipeline or airflow disturbance.

[0047] The innovatively designed second negative pressure mechanism 50 provides multi-point suction force during the condom suspension stage. This mechanism forms a relay suction with the first negative pressure mechanism 10. After the condom is pulled up to the suspension position by the first negative pressure mechanism 10, the second negative pressure mechanism 50 is immediately activated, ensuring that the condom maintains a stable suspension posture while waiting for positive pressure delivery, effectively avoiding delivery jamming caused by shaking.

[0048] After the first negative pressure mechanism 10 is closed, the second negative pressure mechanism 50 maintains a brief adsorption for about 0.5-1 seconds. When the positive pressure mechanism 30 is activated and the positive pressure airflow begins to push the condom, the air passage of the second negative pressure mechanism 50 is cut off by the solenoid valve, the negative pressure disappears, and the condom smoothly enters the delivery pipeline 40 and expands under the action of positive pressure.

[0049] After the condom moves from the feed pipe 20 to the suspended position, it may shift due to airflow fluctuations at the moment the first negative pressure mechanism 10 closes or due to its own gravity. The local adsorption of the second negative pressure mechanism 50 can firmly fix its position, ensuring that the condom can accurately enter the delivery pipe 40 when driven by positive pressure, avoiding jamming or failure to expand smoothly due to positional deviation, and significantly reducing the probability of failure.

[0050] The first negative pressure mechanism 10 is responsible for long-distance grasping, while the second negative pressure mechanism 50 focuses on precise fixation of the suspended position. The two mechanisms achieve relay adsorption through airflow control. This division of labor avoids force fluctuations during switching from a single negative pressure source, making the entire process of condom grasping and transfer smoother, optimizing the seamlessness of negative pressure switching, and improving operational continuity. It is especially suitable for condoms made of thin, easily deformable materials.

[0051] When the condoms in the tray 2 are stacked tightly and slight adhesion occurs during gripping, or when there are small impurities on the inner wall of the pipeline that increase friction, the additional adsorption force of the second negative pressure mechanism 50 can counteract the interference factors, ensure the stability of the condoms in the suspended position, improve the reliability of the device in different environments, and enhance its adaptability to complex working conditions.

[0052] The first negative pressure mechanism 10 does not need to maintain excessively high negative pressure to balance long-distance grasping and suspension fixation. The power requirements of the first negative pressure mechanism 10 can be reduced by the local enhanced adsorption of the second negative pressure mechanism 50. This simplifies the performance dependence on the first negative pressure mechanism 10, helps to reduce energy consumption and equipment wear, and extends the service life of the device.

[0053] Furthermore, the second negative pressure mechanism 50 is a vacuum shut-off valve. The vacuum shut-off valve has a material chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is connected to the suspended position, and the outlet is connected to the conveying pipeline 40, so that the condom enters the conveying pipeline 40 from the suspended position through the material chamber.

[0054] The vacuum shut-off valve integrates negative pressure adsorption and gas path switching through its built-in material chamber, which can further optimize the fixation and transfer process of the condom in the hanging position.

[0055] As an integrated component, the vacuum shut-off valve has an independent material chamber inside. The size of the material chamber is adapted to the suspended state of the condom when it is not deployed; that is, the length of the material chamber is slightly longer than the length of the condom when it is not deployed, and the inner diameter of the material chamber is slightly larger than the diameter of the condom. The material chamber has an inlet and an outlet at both ends.

[0056] In the initial state, the valve core of the vacuum shut-off valve opens the passage between the material chamber and the negative pressure port, and closes the passage with the conveying pipeline 40. After the first negative pressure mechanism 10 is started, the negative pressure enters the material chamber through the outlet, and then is transmitted to the feed pipeline 20 through the inlet, adsorbing a safety sleeve from the material tray 2, so that it enters the material chamber along the feed pipeline 20 and is suspended.

[0057] When the positive pressure mechanism 30 is activated, the positive pressure airflow enters the material chamber through the conveying pipeline 40 and the material chamber outlet, pushing the safety condom from the material chamber inlet to the outlet and into the conveying pipeline 40. Under the action of positive pressure, the safety condom gradually expands within the conveying pipeline 40 and eventually opens.

[0058] The vacuum shut-off valve integrates "negative pressure adsorption" and "gas path blocking / opening" functions, enabling the switching from negative pressure adsorption to positive pressure delivery without the need for an additional control valve assembly, thus reducing misalignment between components. The valve core's rapid switching (millisecond-level response) shortens the interval between the disappearance of negative pressure and the activation of positive pressure, preventing the condom from falling off due to loss of restraint during switching and improving the device's operating efficiency.

[0059] The inner wall of the feeding chamber can be designed with a smooth, rounded structure, and both the inlet and outlet have rounded corners to reduce friction between the condom and the tubing when entering and exiting the feeding chamber. Simultaneously, the vacuum shut-off valve's precise control of the airflow prevents excessive stretching of the condom due to excessive negative pressure, or breakage caused by sudden positive pressure impact, thus protecting the condom's integrity and reducing the risk of breakage.

[0060] Designing the second negative pressure mechanism 50 as a vacuum shut-off valve reduces the need for independent negative pressure pumps, pipeline connections, and other components, resulting in a more compact overall structure that facilitates integration into miniaturized devices. Furthermore, the integrated component has a lower failure rate, requiring only maintenance of the vacuum shut-off valve during later maintenance, thus reducing maintenance costs.

[0061] By replacing the material chamber with one of different sizes, or by designing a material chamber with an adjustable inner diameter, the vacuum shut-off valve can adapt to condoms of different lengths and thicknesses without requiring significant modifications to the overall structure of the device, thus improving the equipment's versatility.

[0062] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the second negative pressure mechanism 50 includes a negative pressure gun 51 and a negative pressure gun control valve 52. The negative pressure gun control valve 52 is adapted to adjust the pressure of the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure gun 51 so that the negative pressure can adsorb the condom in a suspended state.

[0063] In this embodiment, the suspension cavity 61 is located at the uppermost part of the three-way filter tube 60, allowing the condom to suspend before falling into the second negative pressure mechanism 50 and being transported through the pipe. Through precise local negative pressure control, the stable adsorption of the condom in the suspended position can be enhanced.

[0064] The suspension cavity 61 is set as an independent cavity in the suspended position, that is, at the connection node between the feed pipe 20 and the conveying pipe 40. The inner wall of the suspension cavity 61 is a smooth curved surface to avoid friction damage when the condom comes into contact.

[0065] The suction nozzle of the negative pressure gun 51 faces the center of the suspension chamber 61, which can generate a localized concentrated negative pressure. The negative pressure gun control valve 52 is connected in series in the air path between the negative pressure gun 51 and the negative pressure source. It is like an electromagnetic proportional valve. The control system can adjust the air pressure generated by the negative pressure gun 51, that is, the negative pressure intensity, to achieve precise control of the adsorption force. For example, the negative pressure value can be adjusted according to the thickness of the condom material to avoid deformation due to excessive adsorption or fall-off due to excessive looseness.

[0066] The first negative pressure mechanism 10 is activated, adsorbing the condom from the material tray 2 and pushing it into the suspension chamber 61 along the feed pipe 20. At this time, the condom is initially in a suspended state, but may sway slightly due to inertia or airflow in the pipe.

[0067] After the condom enters the suspension chamber 61, the negative pressure gun control valve 52 opens, and the negative pressure gun 51 generates a local negative pressure of preset intensity, which precisely adsorbs a specific position of the condom, such as the top or middle of the condom, so that it remains stably suspended in the suspension chamber 61, completely eliminating shaking or displacement.

[0068] After the first negative pressure mechanism 10 is closed, the negative pressure gun 51 continues to maintain adsorption. The adsorption force can be finely adjusted by the control valve to adapt to the weight of the condom until the positive pressure mechanism 30 is activated: when the positive pressure airflow enters the delivery pipeline 40, the negative pressure gun control valve 52 is quickly closed, the negative pressure disappears, and the condom is pushed away from the suspension cavity 61 by the positive pressure, enters the delivery pipeline 40 and expands.

[0069] The localized concentrated negative pressure of the negative pressure gun 51 can specifically adsorb key parts of the condom, such as the opening end. Compared with the overall cavity negative pressure, the adsorption force is more focused, which can effectively counteract the displacement caused by the condom's own weight or airflow disturbance, ensuring that it is fixed in position within the hovering cavity 61, greatly reducing the risk of falling off during the transfer process, making the adsorption more accurate and significantly improving stability.

[0070] The negative pressure intensity can be flexibly adjusted via the negative pressure gun control valve 52: for thinner, lighter condoms, the negative pressure can be reduced to avoid excessive stretching; for thicker, heavier condoms, the negative pressure can be increased to ensure a firm adhesion. This adjustable adhesion force allows the device to be compatible with various sizes and types of condoms, enhancing its versatility.

[0071] The smooth inner wall of the hovering cavity 61, combined with the targeted adsorption of the negative pressure gun 51, avoids large-area friction between the condom and the inner wall of the tubing. Simultaneously, the controllable negative pressure intensity prevents material stretching or breakage due to excessive adsorption force, protecting the integrity of the condom and reducing damage.

[0072] The rapid response of the negative pressure gun control valve 52 enables instantaneous closure of the negative pressure, seamlessly connecting with the activation of the positive pressure mechanism 30. This prevents the condom from falling off during the "unrestrained" phase after the negative pressure disappears and before the positive pressure takes effect, ensuring a smooth and efficient transfer process.

[0073] The hovering chamber 61, negative pressure gun 51, and control valve are independent modular components. If any component malfunctions, such as a blocked negative pressure gun 51 or a failed control valve, it can be replaced individually without disassembling the entire device, thus reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, the adsorption effect can be further optimized by upgrading the precision of the control valve or the design of the negative pressure gun 51 nozzle; the upgrade process is relatively simple.

[0074] The adsorption of the local negative pressure gun 51 is not affected by the airflow fluctuations in the feed pipe 20 or the delivery pipe 40 (the suspension cavity 61 forms a relatively independent space). Even if a slight airflow disturbance occurs when the first negative pressure mechanism 10 is closed, the condom can still be stably fixed by the negative pressure gun 51, which improves the anti-interference ability of the device and enhances the reliability of the device under complex working conditions.

[0075] Furthermore, such as Figure 1As shown, the first negative pressure mechanism 10 includes: a centrifugal fan 11 with a negative pressure port; a fan pipeline 12, one end of which is connected to the negative pressure port; and a fan control valve 13, located at the other end of the fan pipeline 12, which is adapted to adjust the negative pressure flow.

[0076] In this embodiment, the first negative pressure mechanism 10 includes a centrifugal fan 11, a fan pipeline 12, and a fan control valve 13. The first negative pressure mechanism 10 serves as the initial power source for condom delivery. It provides stable negative pressure through the centrifugal fan 11 and, in conjunction with the pipeline and control valve, achieves precise control of the adsorption force.

[0077] The centrifugal fan 11 is an industrial-grade centrifugal fan 11 with suitable flow rate and negative pressure value, such as a medium-pressure centrifugal fan 11. The negative pressure port of the fan is the negative pressure output end. The negative pressure parameters can be designed according to the weight of the condom and the length of the pipeline to ensure that a single condom can be stably adsorbed.

[0078] The fan duct 12 is made of rigid plastic or metal with a smooth inner wall to reduce airflow resistance. One end of the fan duct 12 is connected to the negative pressure port of the centrifugal fan 11 via a sealed joint, and the other end extends to connect with the air passage node of the second negative pressure mechanism 50, forming a negative pressure transmission channel from the fan to the adsorption point. The duct diameter is designed according to the size of the condom to avoid excessive airflow velocity and damage to the condom due to an insufficiently small duct diameter.

[0079] The fan control valve 13 is installed at the end of the fan pipeline 12 away from the negative pressure port, that is, near the second negative pressure mechanism 50. The pneumatic valve is set up to adjust the negative pressure flow in the pipeline by changing the valve core opening, that is, the air flow rate passing through per unit time, and indirectly control the magnitude of the negative pressure adsorption force (the greater the flow rate, the stronger the adsorption force).

[0080] After the centrifugal fan 11 is started, the negative pressure enters the fan pipeline 12 through the negative pressure port, and is adjusted to the preset flow rate by the fan control valve 13, so that a stable adsorption negative pressure is formed at the end of the pipeline.

[0081] The negative pressure is transmitted through the fan pipe 12 to the second negative pressure mechanism 50, such as the inlet of the suspension chamber 61 or the material chamber of the vacuum shut-off valve, and then acts on the feed pipe 20 to adsorb a safety sleeve from the material tray 2, causing it to move along the feed pipe 20 to the suspension position.

[0082] Once the condom reaches the hanging position and is secured by the second negative pressure mechanism 50, the flow rate is reduced or closed by the fan control valve 13 to lower the negative pressure and prepare for subsequent switching to positive pressure delivery.

[0083] The centrifugal fan 11 provides a stable negative pressure output, making it more suitable for continuous operation scenarios compared to small vacuum pumps, and ensuring consistency in the adsorption process of batches of condoms. Simultaneously, the flow rate can be adjusted via the fan control valve 13, flexibly adapting to condoms of different materials and thicknesses. For example, thin condoms require reduced negative pressure to prevent breakage, while thicker condoms require increased negative pressure to ensure adsorption, thus improving equipment compatibility.

[0084] The centrifugal fan 11 consumes less energy than a vacuum pump with the same negative pressure output and operates with less noise, making it suitable for production scenarios where environmental noise is a concern. Furthermore, adjusting the flow rate via a control valve prevents the fan from always operating at full load, further saving energy.

[0085] The fan duct 12 is made of a hard and smooth material, which can reduce the resistance loss of airflow during transmission, ensure that the negative pressure is efficiently transmitted to the adsorption point, reduce the negative pressure transmission loss, and improve the adsorption efficiency.

[0086] The centrifugal fan 11, pipelines, and control valves are all mature, universal components with low procurement costs and easy replacement. Routine maintenance of the fan only requires periodic cleaning of the impeller and pipelines, without the need for complex professional operations, thus reducing the long-term operating costs of the equipment.

[0087] The centrifugal fan 11 has a strong negative pressure output capability. Combined with the reasonably designed fan pipeline 12, it can adapt to longer feed pipelines 20, such as scenarios where the material tray 2 is far from the suspension position. This ensures that the negative pressure can still maintain sufficient adsorption force after long-distance transmission, thus expanding the layout flexibility of the equipment.

[0088] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the condom unfolding device also includes a three-way filter tube 60, which is connected to the negative pressure port, the feed line 20 and the delivery line 40.

[0089] The three-way filter tube 60 is a key component in the condom deployment device that connects the air passage and the material passage. Its main body is a three-way structure, such as the Y-type three-way filter tube 60, with the three ports corresponding to:

[0090] One end is connected to the negative pressure port of the centrifugal fan 11 through the fan pipe 12 and connected to the negative pressure source;

[0091] The other end is connected to the feed pipe 20 to receive the safety condoms conveyed from the material tray 2;

[0092] The third end connects to the delivery pipeline 40, guiding the condom to the subsequent opening process.

[0093] The three-way filter tube 60 integrates a filter component, such as a metal filter screen. The filter component, such as a metal filter screen or a polymer filter element, can be integrated inside the tube. The filter screen pore size is smaller than the minimum size of the condom. It can intercept dust, debris or tiny impurities that may be mixed in the airflow or fall off the material tray 2, and prevent impurities from entering the fan or clogging the negative pressure gun 51, control valve and other precision components.

[0094] The tube integrates a filter component, such as a metal filter or a polymer filter element. The filter mesh size is smaller than the minimum size of a condom, which can intercept dust, debris, or tiny impurities that may be mixed in the airflow or fall off the material tray 2, preventing impurities from entering the fan or clogging precision components such as the negative pressure gun 51 and control valve.

[0095] The three-way structure of the filter tube 60 forms a compact air path node with the negative pressure port, feed line 20 and delivery line 40. This optimizes the air path connection, reduces negative pressure loss, and compared with multi-section pipeline splicing, reduces the possibility of airflow bends and leaks, reduces the loss of negative pressure during transmission, and ensures stable adsorption force.

[0096] The filter assembly adopts an arc-shaped filter screen design (smoothly transitioning with the inner wall of the tube), without right angles or protruding structures, which can prevent the condom from being hooked or stuck by the edge of the filter screen when passing through the tee interface, ensuring its smooth transfer from the feed pipe 20 to the delivery pipe 40.

[0097] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, the feed line 20 and the conveying line 40 each include multiple corrugated hose sections 70, and adjacent corrugated hose sections 70 are connected by a straight-through reducer.

[0098] The corrugated hose 70 can be made of food-grade or medical-grade elastic materials, such as silicone or EPDM rubber. The hose body is in the shape of a ring corrugation, which has good flexibility and extensibility and can adapt to multiple angle bends in the equipment layout. For example, when feeding, it needs to extend obliquely from the material tray 2 to the three-way filter tube 60, and when conveying, it needs to turn to open the mechanism.

[0099] The straight-through reducer connects two adjacent corrugated hose sections 70. As the safety sleeve passes through various pipelines, the inner diameter of the built-in reducer becomes smaller. When the safety sleeve passes through the smaller aperture, friction and compression cause the material to unfold step by step. The inner diameter of the reducer is set to different sizes according to its location in different pipelines. Reducers are distributed at the joints of each corrugated hose and in the inner cavity of the 90mm reducer.

[0100] The multi-section corrugated hose 70 is connected by a reducing joint, allowing for flexible adjustment of the pipe length, bending angle, and direction according to the equipment installation space. This solves the problem of rigid pipes being difficult to adapt to irregular layouts. For example, when there is a height difference or lateral offset between the material tray 2 and the three-way filter pipe 60, the corrugated hose 70 can compensate for the distance by bending, eliminating the need to redesign the overall pipe structure and reducing the difficulty of equipment installation and modification.

[0101] The elastic structure of the corrugated hose 70 can absorb the airflow impact force during negative pressure adsorption or positive pressure push, reducing the rigid collision between the condom and the tube wall; at the same time, the smooth transition of the variable diameter joint avoids airflow turbulence caused by sudden changes in tube diameter, preventing the condom from being "stuck" at the tube diameter change or from wrinkling or breaking due to airflow impact, making it especially suitable for the delivery of thin and easily damaged condoms.

[0102] By replacing the corrugated hose 70 with different diameters and the corresponding reducers, the inner diameter of the pipeline can be quickly adjusted, such as from one that fits a standard size condom to one that fits a larger size model. This eliminates the need to redesign the entire pipeline, improves the equipment's compatibility with multiple product specifications, and reduces the time cost of production line changeover.

[0103] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, the delivery path of the delivery pipeline 40 includes at least one arc-shaped bend.

[0104] The curved corners of the conveying pipeline 40 employ a large radius of curvature, for example, 3-5 times the inner diameter of the pipeline. The inner wall of the corner transitions smoothly without right angles or protrusions, avoiding the formation of dead airflow angles or material jamming points. For example, when the conveying pipeline 40 needs to change from a horizontal to a vertical direction, the bending angle of the curved corner can be designed as 90°, 120°, etc., according to layout requirements, ensuring that the safety sleeve can slide naturally along the arc when changing direction.

[0105] The smooth transition design of the curved corners guides the condom to turn naturally along the arc, significantly reducing collisions and friction between the material and the tube wall compared to right-angle corners. For example, when the condom passes through a corner at a certain speed, the curved structure disperses the impact force, avoiding wrinkles, jamming, or even damage caused by right-angle obstruction, which is especially suitable for ultra-thin condoms or condoms with less lubricant, ensuring continuous and stable delivery.

[0106] The airflow path is smoother at curved corners, reducing airflow resistance losses compared to the vortex phenomenon at right-angle corners. For example, pressure loss is reduced by approximately 30%-50%, ensuring that the power of negative pressure adsorption or positive pressure push is efficiently transferred to the end. This is particularly important for long-distance transport or scenarios requiring precise pressure control, preventing transport stagnation due to insufficient pressure.

[0107] The end of the conveying pipeline 40 is also equipped with a discharge control valve 3, and the discharge end of the discharge control valve 3 is connected to the discharge pipeline 4.

[0108] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the feed inlet of the feed pipe 20 is provided with a variable diameter section 90, with the larger opening of the variable diameter section 90 facing the material conveying direction.

[0109] A reducing joint 90 is installed at the inlet of the feed pipe 20 of the unsleeving device. This reducing joint has a large opening and a small opening; the small opening faces the material tray, and the large opening connects to the feed pipe. Thus, the safety sleeve passes through the reducing joint once upon first entering the air passage, opening the safety sleeve. Partial stretching or complete curling is achieved through the first small opening, and then multiple resistances are applied by the small holes of the subsequent reducing joint, resulting in complete unfolding. This forms a transitional connection structure from the material tray 2 to the internal conveying channel of the equipment, establishing a link between static placement and dynamic conveying of the material.

[0110] For condoms stacked or curled in tray 2, the small opening creates a cohesive adsorption effect, allowing the condoms to be sucked into the pipeline more orderly and smoothly, laying a good foundation for the subsequent positive pressure unfolding process and reducing problems such as unfolding failure and repeated processing caused by uneven adsorption.

[0111] In the equipment's pneumatic system, the larger opening faces the material conveying outlet, allowing the material to fully unfold after passing through multiple variable-diameter sections of the resistance sleeve. When the condom is completely disengaged, it remains in a fully unfolded, elongated state at the larger opening. Because the material itself is relatively thin when fully unfolded, the larger opening also prevents the condom from tearing due to strong friction caused by resistance.

[0112] Working backward from the positive pressure feeding stage, stable and uniform material adsorption, combined with a well-designed airflow inlet, allows for more controllable interaction between airflow and material during positive pressure feeding. As the positive pressure propels the safety sleeve through the pipeline for transport and deployment, the smooth initial adsorption and airflow transition reduces energy consumption due to positive pressure compensation for airflow turbulence, thus optimizing the overall energy consumption of the pneumatic system and improving the equipment's energy efficiency ratio.

[0113] like Figure 1 As shown, the condom unfolding device is also equipped with a frame 1, and the first negative pressure mechanism 10 and the material tray 2 are both mounted on the frame 1.

[0114] like Figure 6 As shown, the present invention also proposes a condom deployment method, employing any of the condom deployment devices described above, the method comprising the following steps:

[0115] Step S101: Activate the first negative pressure mechanism 10 to allow the condom to enter the suspension position of the feed pipe 20 for suspension;

[0116] Step S103: Activate the positive pressure mechanism 30 to generate positive pressure in the delivery pipeline 40, so as to drive the condom from the suspended position into the delivery pipeline 40 and expand it. The expanded condom contacts the inner wall of the delivery pipeline 40 until the condom is in the open state.

[0117] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely examples for clear illustration and are not intended to limit the implementation.

[0118] For those skilled in the art, various variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom remain within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A condom unfolding device, characterized in that, include: The first negative pressure mechanism is equipped with a negative pressure port; The feed pipe has one end located inside the tray where the condoms are placed, and the other end of the feed pipe is connected to the negative pressure port; The conveying pipeline is connected to the feed pipeline; A positive pressure mechanism is provided with a positive pressure port, and the positive pressure mechanism is located on the conveying pipeline; Specifically, the first negative pressure mechanism is activated, causing the condom to enter the suspended position of the feed pipe from the material tray and remain suspended. The positive pressure mechanism is activated to generate positive pressure in the conveying pipe, thereby driving the condom to enter the conveying pipe from the suspended position and expand. The expanded condom contacts the inner wall of the conveying pipe until the condom is in an open state.

2. The condom deployment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a second negative pressure mechanism, which is located above the positive pressure mechanism. The second negative pressure mechanism is capable of generating negative pressure to hold the condom in a suspended state at the suspended position.

3. The condom deployment device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second negative pressure mechanism is a vacuum shut-off valve. The vacuum shut-off valve has a material chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is connected to the suspended position, and the outlet is connected to the delivery pipeline, so that the condom enters the delivery pipeline from the suspended position through the material chamber.

4. The condom unfolding device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second negative pressure mechanism includes a negative pressure gun and a negative pressure gun control valve, wherein the negative pressure gun control valve is adapted to adjust the pressure of the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure gun.

5. The condom deployment device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first negative pressure mechanism includes: The centrifugal fan is equipped with the aforementioned negative pressure port; One end of the fan duct is connected to the negative pressure port; A fan control valve is located at the other end of the fan pipeline, and the fan control valve is adapted to regulate the negative pressure flow.

6. The condom deployment device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, It also includes a three-way filter tube, which is connected to the negative pressure port, the feed line and the delivery line.

7. The condom deployment device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The feed pipeline and the conveying pipeline each include multiple corrugated hose sections, and adjacent corrugated hose sections are connected by a straight-through reducer.

8. The condom deployment device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The delivery path of the delivery pipeline includes at least one arc-shaped bend.

9. The condom deployment device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The feed inlet of the feed pipeline is equipped with a variable diameter section, with the larger diameter of the variable diameter section facing the material conveying direction.

10. A method for unfolding a condom, characterized in that, The method, employing the condom deployment device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, comprises: The first negative pressure mechanism is activated, causing the condom to enter the suspension position of the feed pipe and hang there. The positive pressure mechanism is activated to generate positive pressure in the delivery pipeline, thereby driving the condom to enter the delivery pipeline from the suspended position and expand. The expanded condom contacts the inner wall of the delivery pipeline until the condom is in the open state.

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