Noodle packaging machine

Abstract

The invention discloses a noodle packaging machine which comprises a rack, and a feeding mechanism, a positioning and shaping mechanism, a packaging film feeding mechanism, a packaging mechanism, a cutting mechanism and a discharging mechanism which are sequentially mounted on the rack, and further comprises a control system for controlling the mechanisms to cooperatively work, the feeding mechanism adopts a grading conveying structure and is matched with the positioning and shaping mechanism to realize regular arrangement and posture calibration of noodles, the packaging film feeding mechanism is provided with a tension adjusting assembly, the packaging mechanism integrates heat sealing and edge pressing functions, and the cutting mechanism adopts a servo-driven precise cutting knife group. Through collaborative design of all the mechanisms, full-automatic operation of feeding, shaping, packaging, packaging and cutting of noodles can be achieved, the packaging efficiency and the packaging quality are improved, the full-automatic noodle packaging machine is suitable for noodle products of different specifications, the labor cost is reduced, and the full-automatic noodle packaging machine is suitable for large-scale noodle production and processing scenes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food packaging equipment technology, specifically to a noodle packaging machine. Background Technology

[0002] As a staple food widely consumed in my country and globally, noodles have gradually achieved large-scale and mechanized production and processing. However, packaging remains a key bottleneck restricting production efficiency and product quality improvement. Currently available noodle packaging equipment, regardless of whether it's for dried noodles, fresh noodles, or rolled noodles, generally suffers from low automation levels. Most equipment can only perform single-stage mechanized operations, with core processes still relying on manual intervention. For example, in the noodle feeding stage, the cut noodle bundles need to be manually aligned and fed into the equipment. This is not only labor-intensive and inefficient (each production line requires 2-3 workers for alignment), but also prone to defects such as exposed noodles and disordered arrangement due to uneven manual operation and insufficient alignment accuracy. In the packaging film replacement and calibration stage, existing equipment lacks automatic correction and adaptation functions. After changing to different specifications of packaging film, the guide roller position needs to be manually adjusted and the film tension calibrated, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to affecting packaging results due to calibration errors.

[0003] More significantly, the adaptability and packaging precision of existing noodle packaging machines are insufficient to meet diverse production needs. On one hand, noodle product specifications vary considerably. For example, household dried noodles are typically 1-3cm wide and 20-30cm long, while commercial rolled noodles can reach 5-10cm in diameter. Existing equipment's side baffle spacing, pressing height, and cutting length adjustment mechanisms are mostly manual mechanical, with limited adjustment range and insufficient precision. Switching between product specifications requires individual component adjustments, a process that can take 30-60 minutes, severely impacting production continuity and making it particularly unsuitable for small-batch, multi-variety production scenarios. On the other hand, packaging film tension control and heat-sealing precision are inadequate. Most equipment uses a fixed tension structure, unable to dynamically adjust tension based on the packaging film material (e.g., PE film, composite film) and thickness. This leads to wrinkles, stretching deformation, and even damage to the film during transport. The heat-sealing mechanism lacks precise temperature control and pressure regulation, easily resulting in over-sealing leading to scorching of the film, or inadequate sealing causing leaks or tears. This not only affects product appearance and sealing but can also cause noodles to become damp and deteriorate, reducing product qualification rates. Furthermore, existing equipment generally lacks online detection and sorting functions, requiring manual follow-up screening of unqualified products after packaging, further increasing labor costs and process complexity. In summary, the existing noodle packaging machines suffer from low automation, weak adaptability, poor packaging accuracy, and insufficient process coordination, making it difficult to meet the demands of modern noodle production for efficient, precise, and diversified packaging. Therefore, an integrated and intelligent noodle packaging device is urgently needed to overcome these challenges. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems of low automation, poor packaging accuracy, and weak adaptability in existing noodle packaging machines, this invention provides a noodle packaging machine that automates the entire noodle packaging process, improves packaging efficiency and quality, and enhances equipment adaptability to meet the packaging needs of noodles of different specifications.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a noodle packaging machine, comprising a frame, and a feeding mechanism, a positioning and shaping mechanism, a packaging film feeding mechanism, a packaging mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a discharging mechanism, and a control system integrated on the frame.

[0006] The feeding mechanism is used to transport the noodles to be packaged to the positioning and shaping mechanism. It includes a first conveying component and a second conveying component, which are arranged sequentially along the noodle conveying direction. The conveying speed of the second conveying component is greater than that of the first conveying component. This speed difference separates the noodles, preventing them from piling up and facilitating subsequent positioning and shaping. Both the first and second conveying components use conveyor belts with anti-slip ridges to prevent the noodles from slipping during transport. The surface of the conveyor belt in the second conveying component also has positioning grooves to further limit noodle positional deviation and improve conveying stability.

[0007] The positioning and shaping mechanism is located at the output end of the second conveying assembly. It is used to neatly arrange the noodles and calibrate their posture. It includes opposing side baffles, an adjustable pressing plate, and a guide ramp. The guide ramp is located at the input end of the side baffles and has a trumpet-shaped structure to guide the noodles smoothly into the space between the side baffles. The spacing of the side baffles is adjusted by a cylinder, which can be flexibly adjusted according to the width of the noodles, making it highly adaptable. The pressing plate is driven to move up and down by a screw mechanism, and its height is adjusted according to the thickness of the noodles to compact them and prevent them from becoming loose.

[0008] The packaging film feeding mechanism provides packaging film for the packaging process and includes a film roll mounting shaft, guide roller assembly, and tension adjustment assembly. The film roll mounting shaft mounts the packaging film roll, while the guide roller assembly guides the conveying direction of the packaging film, ensuring accurate coverage of the shaped noodle surface. The tension adjustment assembly includes a floating roller, an elastic reset component, and a tension sensor. The tension sensor detects the tension value of the packaging film and feeds it back to the control system. The control system adjusts the position of the floating roller based on the detected value, and the elastic force of the elastic reset component maintains stable tension during the packaging film conveying process, preventing damage due to excessive tension or wrinkles due to insufficient tension, thus ensuring packaging quality.

[0009] The sealing mechanism, located on the output side of the positioning and shaping mechanism, is used to heat-seal the packaging film. It includes a heat-sealing knife assembly and an edge-pressing roller assembly arranged opposite each other. The edge-pressing roller assembly is located at the input end of the heat-sealing knife assembly, pre-pressing the edges of the packaging film to reduce air residue during the heat-sealing process and improve the heat-sealing effect. The heat-sealing knife assembly has built-in heating elements and temperature sensors. The temperature sensors detect the heat-sealing temperature in real time and feed it back to the control system. The control system adjusts the power of the heating elements to achieve precise control of the heat-sealing temperature, adapting to packaging films of different materials and avoiding over-heat sealing that could damage the packaging film or under-heat sealing that could result in an incomplete seal.

[0010] The cutting mechanism, located at the output end of the packaging mechanism, is used to cut continuously packaged noodles into individual packaged products. It includes a servo motor, a cutting blade, a blade holder, and a waste collection trough. The servo motor drives the cutting blade to work in coordination with the packaging mechanism to achieve fixed-length cutting, ensuring the dimensional consistency of individual packaged products. The waste collection trough is located below the cutting blade to collect packaging film waste generated during cutting, facilitating subsequent centralized processing and keeping the equipment clean.

[0011] The unloading mechanism is used to transport packaged products to a designated location, including a conveyor track and sorting components. The sorting components are electrically connected to the control system and work with the testing mechanism to separate and transport qualified and unqualified products, thereby improving the product qualification rate.

[0012] The inspection mechanism is located between the packaging mechanism and the cutting mechanism. It includes a vision sensor, which collects images of the packaging film and transmits them to the control system. The control system analyzes the images and detects whether there are defects such as missing seals or wrinkles. If the inspection fails, the control system controls the cutting mechanism to pause and issues an alarm signal. At the same time, it controls the sorting component to sort the defective products to the designated area.

[0013] The control system uses a PLC controller, which is electrically connected to the feeding mechanism, positioning and shaping mechanism, packaging film feeding mechanism, sealing mechanism, cutting mechanism, discharging mechanism and detection mechanism respectively. It presets packaging parameters (such as conveying speed, heat sealing temperature, cutting length, side baffle spacing, etc.) and controls the coordinated work of each mechanism to realize the fully automated operation. It also has parameter adjustment function to facilitate quick adjustment when changing product specifications.

[0014] Beneficial effects of the present invention

[0015] 1. High degree of automation: This invention coordinates the work of various mechanisms through a control system, realizing fully automated operation of noodles from feeding, shaping, packaging, sealing, testing to cutting and discharging, without the need for manual assistance, greatly improving packaging efficiency and reducing labor costs.

[0016] 2. High packaging precision: The speed difference design of the feeding mechanism and the regular calibration function of the positioning groove and positioning and shaping mechanism ensure that the noodles are neatly arranged and have a stable posture; the tension adjustment component maintains the stability of the packaging film tension, and together with the precise temperature-controlled heat sealing knife group and servo-driven cutting mechanism, it effectively avoids wrinkles and damage to the packaging film, ensures the tightness of the sealing and the consistency of the cutting size, and improves the packaging quality.

[0017] 3. High adaptability: The spacing between the side baffles and the height of the pressing plate can be flexibly adjusted to adapt to noodle products of different widths and thicknesses; the heat sealing temperature can be precisely controlled to adapt to packaging films of different materials; the operation is simple when changing product specifications, and it has strong versatility.

[0018] 4. High practicality: The testing facility can promptly detect non-conforming products, preventing them from flowing into subsequent processes; the waste collection tank facilitates waste disposal, and the sorting components separate qualified and non-conforming products, improving production management efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning and shaping mechanism of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the packaging film feeding mechanism of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cutting mechanism of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a noodle packaging machine includes a frame 1 made of stainless steel to ensure the stability and hygiene of the equipment. The frame 1 is sequentially equipped with a feeding mechanism, a positioning and shaping mechanism, a packaging film feeding mechanism, a sealing mechanism, a detection mechanism, a cutting mechanism, and a discharging mechanism. A control system is installed inside the frame 1.

[0025] The feeding mechanism includes a first conveying component 2 and a second conveying component 3. Both components consist of a motor, a conveyor belt, and rollers. The surface of the conveyor belt is provided with rubber anti-slip ridges, and the surface of the conveyor belt of the second conveying component 3 is also provided with arc-shaped positioning grooves. The width of the grooves can be preset according to the commonly used noodle width. The conveying speed of the first conveying component 2 is set to 0.5 m / s, and the conveying speed of the second conveying component 3 is set to 0.8 m / s. The noodle spacing is separated by the speed difference, and the spacing is controlled within 5-10 cm.

[0026] The positioning and shaping mechanism includes a side baffle 4, a pressure plate 5, and a guide ramp 6. The guide ramp 6 is trumpet-shaped, with an input width of 20cm and an output width consistent with the initial distance between the side baffles 4 (set to 8cm). The side baffles 4 are driven by a cylinder 7, whose extension stroke is 0-10cm, allowing the distance between the side baffles 4 to be adjusted to 5-15cm to accommodate noodles of different widths. The pressure plate 5 is driven by a lead screw mechanism 8, which is driven by a stepper motor. The adjustable height of the pressure plate 5 is 3-10cm, accommodating noodles of different thicknesses.

[0027] The packaging film feeding mechanism includes a film roll mounting shaft 9, a guide roller assembly 10, and a tension adjustment component. The film roll mounting shaft 9 can mount packaging film rolls with a diameter not exceeding 50cm. The guide roller assembly 10 consists of three guide rollers that guide the packaging film from the film roll mounting shaft 9 to the noodle surface. The tension adjustment component includes a floating roller 11, a spring reset component 12, and a tension sensor 13. The tension sensor 13 is a TSC-100 model with a detection range of 0-50N. The control system adjusts the vertical position of the floating roller 11 according to the detected value to maintain the packaging film tension stably at 10-20N.

[0028] The sealing mechanism includes a heat sealing knife assembly 14 and a pressure roller assembly 15. The pressure roller assembly 15 consists of two oppositely arranged rubber rollers, and the pressure can be adjusted by a spring. The heat sealing knife assembly 14 uses a nickel-chromium alloy heating element with a heating temperature range of 80-200℃. The temperature sensor is a PT100 model, which provides real-time feedback of the temperature value. The control system adjusts the heating power through a PID algorithm to control the temperature error within ±2℃.

[0029] The inspection mechanism includes a vision sensor 16, model MV-CE050-30GM, which is installed 15cm above the output end of the packaging mechanism to collect images of the packaging film and transmit them to the PLC controller for image processing to identify defects such as missing seals and wrinkles, with an identification accuracy of ≥99%.

[0030] The cutting mechanism includes a servo motor 17, a cutting blade 18, a blade holder 19, and a waste collection tank 20. The servo motor is model SGMAH-01AAA41, which drives the cutting blade 18 to move up and down. The cutting speed is matched with the conveying speed, and the cutting accuracy is ±1mm. The waste collection tank 20 adopts a drawer-type structure, which is convenient for cleaning waste.

[0031] The discharge mechanism includes a conveyor track 21 and a sorting component 22. The sorting component 22 consists of a cylinder and a baffle. When a defective product is detected, the cylinder drives the baffle to rotate, guiding the defective product into the waste bin on the side. Qualified products are conveyed to the finished product area along the conveyor track 21.

[0032] The control system uses a PLC controller, model FX3U-48MR, equipped with a touch screen. It can preset and adjust parameters such as conveying speed, heat sealing temperature, cutting length, and side baffle spacing. It also has fault alarm and operation status display functions, which facilitates operation and maintenance.

[0033] The workflow of this embodiment is based on preset parameters of the PLC controller and requires no manual intervention throughout the process. The specific steps are as follows: 1. Feeding preparation and graded conveying: The operator places the cut noodles to be packaged (suitable for various types of noodles with widths of 5-15cm and thicknesses of 3-10cm) in batches at the feeding end of the first conveying component 2. The PLC controller issues a start command, and the first conveying component 2 smoothly conveys the noodles at a speed of 0.5m / s. When the noodles reach the junction of the first conveying component 2 and the second conveying component 3, the speed difference between the second conveying component 3 (0.8m / s) and the first conveying component is used to separate the spacing of individual bundles of noodles. The spacing is precisely controlled at 5-10cm to avoid noodle stacking and provide an independent working unit for subsequent shaping processes. At the same time, the arc-shaped positioning grooves on the surface of the conveyor belt of the second conveying component 3 initially limit the separation of the noodles to prevent lateral deviation during conveying. 2. Positioning and Shaping Calibration: After separation, the noodles arrive at the positioning and shaping mechanism via the second conveying component 3. First, guided by the gradually changing direction of the trumpet-shaped guide plate 6, they smoothly enter the space between the side baffles 4 driven by the cylinders 7 on both sides (the spacing between the side baffles is preset according to the current noodle width, e.g., 8cm for household noodles). Subsequently, the PLC controller instructs the screw mechanism 8 to lower the pressure plate 5, adjusting it to the corresponding height according to the noodle thickness (e.g., 5cm for ordinary noodles). This provides flexible compaction of the noodles, preventing them from becoming loose and deformed, and also preventing excessive compression that could cause breakage, thus achieving precise calibration of the noodle posture. 3. Packaging Film Feeding and Tension Control: Simultaneously with noodle shaping, the packaging film feeding mechanism starts. The packaging film on the film roll mounting shaft 9 is guided by the guide roller group 10 and conveyed in the noodle output direction. Tension sensor 13 detects the tension of the packaging film in real time (preset stable range 10-20N) and feeds the data back to the PLC controller. If the tension exceeds the preset range, the controller immediately adjusts the up and down position of the floating roller 11, and with the elastic force of the spring reset component 12, quickly restores the tension to the stable range, ensuring that the packaging film is flat and smooth, without wrinkles or stretching deformation, and accurately covers the shaped noodle surface to form a fully wrapped state. 4. Pre-pressing and precise heat sealing: After the noodles wrapped in the packaging film enter the sealing mechanism, they are first pre-pressed by the pressing wheel group 15. Two oppositely arranged rubber wheels apply uniform pressure to the edge of the packaging film to expel residual air inside the film, laying the foundation for subsequent heat sealing. Subsequently, the noodles are conveyed to the heat-sealing knife assembly 14. The built-in PT100 temperature sensor monitors the heat-sealing temperature in real time (preset according to the packaging film material, such as 120℃ for PE film and 160℃ for composite film). The power of the nickel-chromium alloy heating element is adjusted through the PID algorithm to control the temperature error within ±2℃. The heat-sealing knife assembly closes up and down to complete the longitudinal and transverse heat sealing of the packaging film, ensuring tight sealing without leakage or scorching.5. Online Inspection and Fault Linkage: After heat sealing, the continuously packaged noodles enter the inspection stage. A vision sensor 16 (model MV-CE050-30GM), installed 15cm above the output of the sealing mechanism, collects multiple frames of packaging images per second and transmits them to the PLC controller for image processing. This accurately identifies defects such as incomplete sealing, wrinkles, and heat seal misalignment, with an accuracy exceeding 99%. If the product is found to be qualified, the controller instructs the equipment to continue operating. If a defective product is detected, a triple linkage command is immediately issued: first, the cutting mechanism is paused; second, an audible and visual alarm is triggered to alert the operator to investigate the problem; and third, the sorting component 22 is instructed to prepare for separation. 6. Fixed-Length Cutting and Waste Collection: The qualified continuously packaged noodles are conveyed to the cutting mechanism. The PLC controller, based on a preset cutting length (e.g., 25cm), instructs the servo motor 17 (model SGMAH-01AAA41) to drive the cutting blade 18 up and down, precisely matching the conveying speed to achieve fixed-length cutting with a cutting accuracy controlled within ±1mm. The packaging film waste generated during cutting falls directly into the drawer-type waste collection trough 20 below, facilitating regular cleaning by operators and maintaining a clean operating environment. 7. Sorting and Closing the Loop: Individual packaged products after cutting enter the conveyor track 21 of the discharge mechanism. If it is a qualified product, the sorting component 22 remains in its initial state, and the product is conveyed along the track to the finished product area; if it is a previously detected unqualified product, the cylinder of the sorting component 22 drives the baffle to rotate, guiding the unqualified product into the side waste bin, achieving precise separation of qualified and unqualified products. When a batch of noodles is packaged, the PLC controller automatically stops the operation of each mechanism and displays the operation data (such as packaging quantity, pass rate, number of failures), completing the closed loop of the entire packaging process.

Claims

1. A noodle packaging machine, characterized in that, It includes a frame, and a feeding mechanism, a positioning and shaping mechanism, a packaging film feeding mechanism, a packaging mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a discharging mechanism and a control system integrated on the frame; The feeding mechanism includes a first conveying component and a second conveying component. The first conveying component and the second conveying component are arranged sequentially along the noodle conveying direction, and the conveying speed of the second conveying component is greater than that of the first conveying component, which is used to form the spacing of the noodles. The positioning and shaping mechanism is located at the output end of the second conveying component and includes a side baffle and a pressure plate that can be adjusted up and down. The side baffle is driven by a cylinder to adjust the spacing, which is used to adapt to noodles of different widths. The packaging film feeding mechanism includes a film roll mounting shaft, a guide roller group, and a tension adjustment assembly. The tension adjustment assembly includes a floating roller and an elastic reset component, which are used to maintain the tension stability of the packaging film during the conveying process. The packaging mechanism is located on the output side of the positioning and shaping mechanism, and includes a heat sealing knife group arranged opposite to each other. The heat sealing knife group has a built-in heating element and a temperature sensor for heat sealing the packaging film. The cutting mechanism is located at the output end of the packaging mechanism and includes a servo motor, a cutting blade and a blade holder. The servo motor drives the cutting blade to work in coordination with the packaging mechanism to achieve fixed-length cutting. The control system is electrically connected to the feeding mechanism, positioning and shaping mechanism, packaging film feeding mechanism, packaging mechanism, and cutting mechanism, respectively, and is used to control the coordinated operation of each mechanism.

2. The noodle packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the first conveying component and the second conveying component adopt a conveyor belt structure. The conveyor belt is provided with anti-slip ridges, and the surface of the conveyor belt of the second conveying component is provided with positioning grooves to limit the positional deviation of the noodles.

3. A noodle packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning and shaping mechanism also includes a guide ramp, which is located at the input end of the side baffle and has a trumpet-shaped structure to guide the noodles into the space between the side baffles.

4. A noodle packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tension adjustment assembly also includes a tension sensor, which is electrically connected to the control system. The control system adjusts the position of the floating roller based on the value detected by the tension sensor to achieve closed-loop tension control.

5. A noodle packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The packaging mechanism also includes an edge pressing wheel assembly, which is located at the input end of the heat sealing knife assembly and is used to pre-press the edge of the packaging film to improve the heat sealing effect.

6. A noodle packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cutting mechanism also includes a waste collection tank located below the cutting blade for collecting packaging film waste generated during cutting.

7. A noodle packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a detection mechanism, which is located between the packaging mechanism and the cutting mechanism. The detection mechanism includes a vision sensor, which is electrically connected to the control system and is used to detect the packaging quality of the packaging film. If the detection fails, the control system controls the cutting mechanism to pause and issues an alarm signal.

8. A noodle packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The discharge mechanism includes a conveyor track and a sorting component. The sorting component is electrically connected to the control system and is used to separate and convey qualified packaged products from unqualified products.

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