Cup cylinder conveying device and paper cup manufacturing equipment

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of paper cup manufacturing, and provides a cup cylinder conveying device and a paper cup manufacturing equipment. The cup cylinder conveying device comprises a conveying mechanism and a jacking mechanism; the conveying mechanism at least comprises a conveying belt and a plurality of pickup pieces arranged along the circumference of the conveying belt; the conveying belt is provided with a transverse conveying area and a longitudinal conveying area arranged along the circumference of the conveying belt and arranged at an angle; the longitudinal conveying area is located downstream of the transverse conveying area; the jacking mechanism is connected to the conveying mechanism and located upstream of the transverse conveying area; the conveying mechanism has a rotating pivot point; and the jacking mechanism is used for driving the conveying mechanism to swing around the rotating pivot point so that the upstream of the transverse conveying area is intermittently lowered. The cup cylinder conveying device provided by the application can integrate the horizontal and vertical conveying of the cup cylinder, and the cup cylinder can be turned over to change the posture of the cup cylinder during the conveying process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of paper cup manufacturing technology, and in particular to a cup cylinder conveying device and paper cup manufacturing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] During the manufacturing process of paper cups, fan-shaped pieces of paper are typically wrapped tightly around a mold and heat-sealed to form a ring-shaped cup cylinder. After the cup cylinder is formed, a conveyor device transports it to other processes for subsequent operations.

[0003] In related technologies, the cups need to be operated in different postures; for example, in some processes, the cups need to be placed vertically, while in others they need to be placed horizontally. Therefore, the cups also need to be flipped during transport. Consequently, different transport devices need to cooperate with each other during transport, which not only makes the structure complex but also requires consideration of requirements such as the docking accuracy between adjacent transport devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a cup conveying device that can integrate the conveying of cups in both horizontal and vertical directions, and can allow the cups to be flipped during the conveying process to change their posture.

[0005] A cup-conveying device includes a conveying mechanism and a lifting mechanism; the conveying mechanism includes at least a conveyor belt and a plurality of pickups disposed on the conveyor belt and spaced apart circumferentially along the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt having a transverse conveying area and a longitudinal conveying area arranged at an angle along its own circumference, the longitudinal conveying area being located downstream of the transverse conveying area; the lifting mechanism is connected to the conveying mechanism and located upstream of the transverse conveying area, the conveying mechanism having a pivot point, the lifting mechanism being used to drive the conveying mechanism to swing around the pivot point to intermittently lower and raise the transverse conveying area.

[0006] Understandably, the conveyor belt rotation is used to transport the cups. Because the conveyor belt has circumferentially arranged transverse and longitudinal transport zones at an angle, the cups can be flipped during transport. Furthermore, combined with the lifting mechanism's oscillating drive on the entire conveying mechanism, the pick-up component can easily cross the cup's rim from the upstream of the transverse transport zone to engage with the cup wall. Then, under the action of the conveyor belt, the pick-up component drives the cup's transport. This arrangement also facilitates precise and reliable connection by allowing the pick-up component to apply force relative to the cup. In other words, this cup transport device integrates horizontal and vertical transport and allows the cup to flip during transport to change its orientation, eliminating the need for separate transport structures in two directions and reducing the required docking accuracy.

[0007] In some embodiments, the conveying mechanism further includes a mounting base and a plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of drive wheels being spaced apart and rotatably connected to the mounting base to tension the conveyor belt, the pivot point being located on the mounting base, the mounting base being able to swing around the pivot point under the action of the lifting mechanism, and the conveyor belt and drive wheels moving synchronously with the mounting base.

[0008] In some embodiments, the pickup element is a suction cup; the cup conveying device further includes an air passage mechanism, which includes at least an air passage distribution plate rotatably disposed on the mounting base. The air passage distribution plate has a plurality of distribution interfaces spaced apart along its circumference, and each distribution interface is connected to a suction cup. The air passage distribution plate has a first rotational displacement along its circumference, and the first rotational displacement has a first displacement ratio to the circumferential length of the air passage distribution plate. The conveyor belt has a second rotational displacement along its circumference, and the second rotational displacement has a second displacement ratio to the circumferential length of the conveyor belt. The first displacement ratio and the second displacement ratio are the same.

[0009] In some embodiments, the conveying mechanism further includes a drive shaft, a first drive unit, and a second drive unit. The drive shaft is rotatably connected to the mounting base. The first drive unit is connected between the drive shaft and the air distribution plate. The second drive unit is connected between the drive shaft and one of the drive wheels. The drive shaft is rotatable about its own axis to drive the air distribution plate and the drive wheel to rotate through the first drive unit and the second drive unit, respectively.

[0010] In some embodiments, both the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit include a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a timing belt. The driving pulley and the driven pulley tension the timing belt. The driving pulley is connected to the transmission shaft, and the driven pulley is drivenly connected to the air distribution disc or the transmission wheel. In the first transmission unit, the diameter of the driving pulley is smaller than the diameter of the driven pulley, and the two have a first transmission ratio. The first transmission ratio is the same as the first displacement ratio and / or the second displacement ratio.

[0011] In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism includes a lifting drive assembly and a lifting arm, one end of which is connected to the lifting drive assembly, and the other end of which is in contact with the conveyor belt. The lifting arm drives the conveying mechanism to swing around the pivot point under the action of the lifting drive assembly.

[0012] In some embodiments, the conveying mechanism further includes an assembly base and a plurality of drive wheels connected to the assembly base, the plurality of drive wheels jointly tensioning the conveyor belt, and the assembly base having an assembly shaft; the lifting drive assembly includes at least a support base, one end of the lifting arm is rotatably connected to the support base, and the other end of the lifting arm is rotatably connected to the assembly shaft.

[0013] In some embodiments, the lifting drive assembly includes a drive wheel and a drive arm connected to the drive wheel. One end of the drive arm opposite to the drive wheel is connected to the lifting arm. The drive wheel has a first region and a second region arranged circumferentially. The first region protrudes radially from the second region relative to the drive wheel. The drive wheel is rotatable about its own axis so that the first region and the second region may selectively engage with the drive arm.

[0014] In some embodiments, the drive arm includes a fixed part, a swing part, and a lifting part. The swing part is rotatably connected to the fixed part via a rotating shaft. One end of the swing part away from the fixed part is connected to the drive wheel. The lifting part is connected between the swing part and the lifting arm. The swing part can swing around the rotating shaft under the action of the drive wheel to drive the lifting part to reciprocate in the vertical direction.

[0015] This application also provides a paper cup manufacturing apparatus, including a forming device, a carrying device, and the aforementioned cup conveying device. The forming device includes at least a mold corresponding to the transverse conveying area, and the carrying device includes at least a carrying plate corresponding to the longitudinal conveying area. The conveying mechanism is capable of picking up cups from the mold and conveying them to the carrying plate. The paper cup manufacturing apparatus also includes a guiding device, which includes at least a guide cage surrounding a guide channel. One end of the guide cage faces the mold, and the other end faces the carrying plate. The guide cage has an avoidance notch communicating with the guide channel on the side facing the conveyor belt. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a cup conveying device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 2This is a front view of a cup conveying device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a first schematic diagram of the conveying mechanism in a cup conveying device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a second schematic diagram of the conveying mechanism in a cup conveying device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 5 A partial schematic diagram of the conveying mechanism in a cup conveying device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a paper cup manufacturing apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure label:

[0024] 100. Cup / Cylinder Conveying Device; 110. Conveying Mechanism; 111. Conveyor Belt; 112. Pick-up Component; 111a. Lateral Conveying Area; 111b. Longitudinal Conveying Area; 113. Assembly Base; 114. Drive Wheel; 115. Tensioner Wheel; 116. Drive Shaft; 117. First Transmission Unit; 118. Second Transmission Unit; 119. Power Source; 120. Lifting Mechanism; 121. Lifting Drive Assembly; 122. Lifting Arm; 130. Pneumatic Mechanism; 131. Pneumatic Distribution Plate; 132. Support Shaft; 133. First Elastic Component; 200. Forming Device; 210. Mold; 300. Bearing Device; 310. Bearing Plate; 400. Guiding Device; 410. Guide Cage; 50. 0. Cup cylinder; 1101. Rotation fulcrum; 1131. Assembly shaft; 1141. Mounting shaft; 1171. First driving wheel; 1172. First driven wheel; 1173. First synchronous belt; 1181. Second driving wheel; 1182. Second driven wheel; 1183. Second synchronous belt; 1211. Bearing seat; 1212. Drive wheel; 1212a. First area; 1212b. Second area; 1213. Drive arm; 1214. Horizontal plate; 1311. Distribution interface; 4101. Guide channel; 4102. Clearance notch; 12131. Fixing part; 12132. Swinging part; 12133. Lifting part; 12133a. Lifting column; 12133b. Second elastic element. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0026] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "attached to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0027] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0028] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application's specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application.

[0030] Please see Figures 1 to 3One embodiment of this application provides a cup conveying device 100, including a conveying mechanism 110 and a lifting mechanism 120. The conveying mechanism 110 includes at least a conveyor belt 111 and a plurality of pickups 112 disposed on the conveyor belt 111 and spaced apart circumferentially along the conveyor belt 111. The conveyor belt 111 has a transverse conveying area 111a and a longitudinal conveying area 111b arranged circumferentially and at an angle, with the longitudinal conveying area 111b located downstream of the transverse conveying area 111a. The lifting mechanism 120 is connected to the conveying mechanism 110 and located upstream of the transverse conveying area 111a. The conveying mechanism 110 has a pivot point 1101, and the lifting mechanism 120 is used to drive the conveying mechanism 110 to swing about the pivot point 1101 to intermittently lower and raise the transverse conveying area 111a.

[0031] Please combine Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 Taking the cup-tube conveying device 100 for conveying the formed cup-tube to the next process as an example, the mold 210 for forming the cup-tube is placed horizontally, and the support plate 310 for the next process is also placed horizontally. The formed cup-tube 500 needs to move horizontally first under the action of the cup-tube conveying device 100 to detach from the mold 210, and then move vertically so that the bottom of the cup-tube 500 is supported on the support plate 310. That is to say, while satisfying the conveying of the cup-tube 500 between two processes, the cup-tube conveying device 100 can also change the position of the cup-tube 500, that is, adjust the horizontally placed cup-tube 500 to a vertically placed position. Here, the vertical direction is the Z-axis direction, and the axis of the mold 210 is the X-axis direction. Therefore, the cup-tube conveying device 100 first conveys the cup-tube 500 along the X-axis direction, and then conveys the cup-tube 500 along the Z-axis direction. The transverse conveying area 111a is used for conveying the cup 500 along the X-axis, and the longitudinal conveying area 111b is used for conveying the cup 500 along the Z-axis. The longitudinal conveying area 111b is located downstream of the transverse conveying area 111a.

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, the X-axis direction is the left and right direction, and the longitudinal conveying area is located to the left of the transverse conveying area.

[0033] As the conveyor belt 111 rotates circumferentially, the picking member 112 corresponding to the transverse conveying area 111a picks up the formed cup cylinder 500, thereby driving the cup cylinder 500 to move along the X-axis, causing the cup cylinder 500 to detach from the mold 210. After the cup cylinder 500 detaches from the mold 210, it moves to the longitudinal conveying area 111b as the conveyor belt 111 transports it. Since the longitudinal conveying area 111b and the transverse conveying area 111a are set at an angle, the cup cylinder 500 changes its position during the process of being transported from the transverse conveying area 111a to the longitudinal conveying area 111b, thus achieving cup cylinder 500 flipping. At the same time, since the lifting mechanism 120 can drive the conveying mechanism 110 to swing around the rotation fulcrum 1101, the distance between the picking member 112 and the mold 210 is adjusted. When the lifting mechanism 120 drives the conveying mechanism 110 to swing counterclockwise, it causes the transverse conveying area 111a to rotate upward, thereby bringing the pickup 112 closer to the cup 500, which facilitates precise engagement between the pickup 112 and the cup 500. After engagement, the lifting mechanism 120 drives the conveying mechanism 110 to swing clockwise around the pivot point 1101, causing the transverse conveying area 111a to rotate upward, thereby moving the pickup 112 away from the mold 210, which facilitates the movement of the cup 500. Furthermore, the swinging drive of the lifting mechanism 120 on the conveying mechanism 110 makes it easier for the pickup 112 to connect with the cup wall after passing the cup opening, reducing the risk of damage to the cup 500 or the cup 500 directly detaching from the mold 210 during the pickup process.

[0034] The mold 210 used to form the cup cylinder 500 is frustum-shaped, causing the diameter of the formed cup cylinder 500 to gradually decrease from the rim to the bottom along the axial direction of the cup cylinder 500. This results in the side wall of the cup cylinder 500 that mates with the pickup component 112 being an inclined surface that slopes upwards from the rim to the bottom. In this embodiment, the transverse conveying area 111a can be inclined to facilitate the mating of the corresponding pickup component 112 with the inclined cup wall of the cup cylinder 500, reducing the risk of jamming. Furthermore, due to the inclined arrangement of the transverse conveying area 111a, the force exerted on the pickup component 112 relative to the cup cylinder 500 is as perpendicular to the cup wall as possible, reducing the component forces in other directions and improving the connection reliability between the pickup component 112 and the cup cylinder 500.

[0035] In summary, the cup conveying device 100 provided in this embodiment utilizes the rotation of the conveyor belt 111 to convey the cup 500. Because the conveyor belt 111 has a transverse conveying area 111a and a longitudinal conveying area 111b arranged circumferentially and at an angle, the cup 500 can be rotated during conveying. Furthermore, combined with the oscillating drive of the lifting mechanism 120 on the entire conveying mechanism 110, the picking member 112 can easily pass over the mouth of the cup 500 from upstream of the transverse conveying area 111a to engage with the cup wall. Under the action of the conveyor belt 111, the picking member 112 then drives the cup 500 to be conveyed. This arrangement also facilitates precise and reliable connection by allowing the picking member 112 to apply force relative to the cup 500. In other words, the cup conveying device 100 integrates horizontal and vertical conveying, and can rotate the cup 500 to change its posture during the conveying process. There is no need to set up separate conveying structures for the two directions, which reduces the requirements for docking accuracy.

[0036] It should be noted that the conveyor belt 111 is arranged in a closed loop, which causes the multiple pickups 112 on it to rotate circumferentially along the conveyor belt 111. When one pickup 112 picks up the formed cup 500, removes it from the mold 210, and moves to the corresponding position in the longitudinal conveying area 111b, the next pickup 112 can pick up the next formed cup 500, and so on, until all cups 500 are conveyed. It should also be added that the transverse conveying area 111a and the longitudinal conveying area 111b refer to two conveying areas with the transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively, and they do not move with the rotation of the conveyor belt 111.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the conveying mechanism 110 further includes a mounting base 113 and a plurality of drive wheels 114. The plurality of drive wheels 114 are spaced apart and rotatably connected to the mounting base 113 to tension the conveyor belt 111. A pivot point 1101 is located at the mounting base 113, and the mounting base 113 can swing around the pivot point 1101 under the action of the lifting mechanism 120. The conveyor belt 111 and the drive wheels 114 move synchronously with the mounting base 113. In actual use, the conveying mechanism 110 also includes a power source 119, which is connected to one of the drive wheels 114 to drive the drive wheel 114 to rotate. The rotation of the conveyor belt 111 is achieved through the tensioning of the plurality of drive wheels 114 and the conveyor belt 111. The plurality of drive wheels 114 all rotate in the same direction. For example, the plurality of drive wheels 114 all rotate counterclockwise to drive the conveyor belt 111 to rotate counterclockwise.

[0038] In some specific embodiments, three drive wheels 114 are provided and arranged in a triangular interval. Each drive wheel 114 includes multiple wheel bodies arranged at intervals along its own axial direction to increase the axial length of the drive wheel 114, thereby accommodating a wider conveyor belt 111. The three drive wheels 114 are a first drive wheel, a second drive wheel, and a third drive wheel. The first and second drive wheels are arranged at intervals along the Z-axis direction, with the second drive wheel located below the first drive wheel. The third drive wheel is located on one side of the first and second drive wheels along the X-axis direction, and the top of the third drive wheel is lower than the top of the first drive wheel. The conveyor belt 111 is tensioned by the first, second, and third drive wheels. The area of ​​the conveyor belt 111 between the first and third drive wheels is designated as the transverse conveying area 111a, and the area of ​​the conveyor belt 111 between the first and second drive wheels is designated as the longitudinal conveying area 111b.

[0039] In actual use, the conveying mechanism 110 also includes a tensioning wheel 115, which is located between the first drive wheel and the third drive wheel. The tensioning wheel 115 is used to support the transverse conveying area 111a of the conveyor belt 111 and can adjust the tension of the conveyor belt 111.

[0040] The pivot point 1101 is located within the annular area enclosed by the conveyor belt 111 and is positioned along the X-axis close to the longitudinal conveying area 111b. The lifting mechanism 120 can be directly connected to the mounting base 113, thereby causing the mounting base 113 to swing. Alternatively, the lifting mechanism 120 can also abut against the bottom of the third drive wheel on the conveyor belt 111. The pivot point 1101 is eccentrically positioned relative to the common center of mass of the mounting base 113, the multiple drive wheels 114, and the conveyor belt 111 in the conveying mechanism 110, facilitating the downward swing of the mounting base 113 under gravity when the lifting mechanism 120 descends. This is merely an example.

[0041] When the pickup 112 is located upstream of the transverse conveying area 111a, the lifting mechanism 120 causes the mounting base 113 to swing clockwise so that the third drive wheel moves downward, increasing the distance between the upstream of the transverse conveying area 111a and the mold 210. This facilitates the pickup 112 to pass over the cup opening and move to the middle or near the middle of the cup along its own axial direction without contacting the cup. When the pickup 112 is located in the middle of the cup, the lifting mechanism 120 causes the mounting base 113 to swing counterclockwise so that the third drive wheel moves upward, thereby reducing the distance between the upstream of the transverse conveying area 111a and the mold 210, allowing the pickup 112 to move closer to the cup wall for connection. After the pickup 112 is connected to the cup, the lifting mechanism 120 can again cause the mounting base 113 to swing clockwise downward, facilitating the pickup 112 to lift the cup away from the mold 210 and reducing wear between the cup and the mold 210.

[0042] Furthermore, each drive wheel 114 is provided with a groove to facilitate the accommodation of the conveyor belt 111 and reduce the risk of the conveyor belt 111 shifting axially along the drive wheel 114. Each drive wheel 114 is correspondingly provided with a mounting shaft 1141, which is fixed to the mounting base 113. Each drive wheel 114 is provided with a mounting hole for the mounting shaft 1141 to pass through, and a bearing is also provided in the mounting hole to allow the drive wheel 114 to rotate relative to the mounting shaft 1141. The mounting base 113 is provided with a rotation hole located within the annular area surrounded by the conveyor belt 111, and the central axis of the rotation hole can serve as a rotation fulcrum 1101. A rotation shaft passes through the rotation hole, and a bearing is provided between the rotation shaft and the hole wall to allow the mounting base 113 to rotate. The rotation shaft can be fixed to the frame on which the cup conveying device 100 is mounted. This is only an example.

[0043] Please continue reading. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the pickup element 112 is a suction cup. That is, the suction cup is used to pick up the cup, thereby reducing wear on the cup during pickup.

[0044] Furthermore, the cup conveying device 100 also includes a pneumatic mechanism 130, which is connected to the suction cups and provides a vacuum for the suction cups. The pneumatic mechanism 130 includes at least a pneumatic distribution plate 131 rotatably mounted on the mounting base 113. The pneumatic distribution plate 131 has multiple distribution interfaces 1311 spaced apart along its own axial direction, each distribution interface 1311 connected to a suction cup. Specifically, the pneumatic mechanism 130 also includes a pneumatic source connected to the pneumatic distribution plate 131. The pneumatic mechanism 130 also includes multiple air pipes, each suction cup connected to its corresponding distribution interface 1311 via an air pipe to meet pneumatic conveying requirements. Each air pipe is also equipped with a solenoid valve, which allows for pneumatic control of each suction cup, enabling vacuuming and vacuum breaking adjustments. In actual use, when the pickup component 112 needs to pick up the cup, the solenoid valve corresponding to the pickup component 112 can be opened, using the pneumatic source to create a vacuum at the suction cup, thereby adsorbing the cup. When the pickup 112 moves the cup to the downstream of the longitudinal conveying area 111b under the action of the conveyor belt 111, the corresponding solenoid valve can be controlled to close so that the suction cup can release its adsorption effect, thereby causing the cup to detach from the suction cup under its own gravity and fall onto the carrier plate 310.

[0045] Since the pickup 112 moves synchronously with the conveyor belt 111, the air distribution plate 131 also needs to rotate synchronously to ensure that each distribution interface 1311 and each pickup 112 move as closely as possible, thereby reducing the risk of air tube tangling. Specifically, the mounting base 113 is also provided with a support hole, and the air distribution plate 131 is connected to a support shaft 132. The support shaft 132 passes through the support hole and rotates relative to the support shaft 132 to allow the air distribution plate 131 to rotate relative to the mounting base 113. A bearing is provided between the support shaft 132 and the wall of the support hole to reduce rotational wear. At the same time, a first elastic element 133 is also provided between the air support plate and the mounting base 113 to allow the air distribution plate 131 to float axially along the support shaft 132.

[0046] In some specific embodiments, four pickups 112 are provided and are evenly distributed along the circumferential spacing of the conveyor belt 111. The air distribution plate 131 is provided with four distribution ports 1311, and each distribution port 1311 is connected to a pickup 112 through an air pipe.

[0047] Please see Figures 1 to 5 In some embodiments, the air distribution plate 131 has a first rotational displacement along its circumference, and the first rotational displacement has a first displacement ratio to the circumferential length of the air distribution plate 131. The conveyor belt 111 has a second rotational displacement along its circumference, and the second rotational displacement has a second displacement ratio to the circumferential length of the conveyor belt 111. The first displacement ratio and the second displacement ratio are the same. This arrangement ensures that each distribution interface 1311 is always positionally aligned with its corresponding pickup 112, which not only reduces the risk of air tube entanglement but also facilitates precise control of the pickup 112. The downstream of the transverse conveying area 111a is connected to the upstream of the longitudinal conveying area 111b with a rounded transition.

[0048] After the pickup component 112 picks up the cup from the upstream of the transverse conveying area 111a, it moves to the upstream of the longitudinal conveying area 111b. Then, the pickup component 112 needs to break the vacuum so that the cup descends to the support plate 310 under gravity. Therefore, when the pickup component 112 moves a second rotational displacement under the action of the conveyor belt 111, the corresponding distribution interface 1311 rotates a first rotational displacement circumferentially along the air distribution plate 131. This facilitates controlling the corresponding pickup component 112 to break the vacuum and release the cup from its adsorption. Furthermore, the next pickup component 112 is positioned to pick up the cup and a vacuum is drawn to adsorb the cup. Since the circumferential length of the air distribution plate 131 is much smaller than the circumferential length of the conveyor belt 111, it is only necessary to ensure that the first displacement ratio of the air distribution plate 131 and the second displacement ratio of the conveyor belt 111 are the same to guarantee the synchronous movement of the pickup component 112 and the distribution interface 1311.

[0049] The first displacement ratio can also be represented by the number of distribution interfaces 1311. For example, the first displacement ratio corresponding to four distribution interfaces 1311 is one-quarter, and the first displacement ratio corresponding to five distribution interfaces 1311 is one-fifth. That is to say, the multiple distribution interfaces 1311 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the gas path distribution disk 131, so the first rotational displacement of each distribution interface 1311 along the gas path distribution disk 131 is the arc length between any two adjacent distribution interfaces 1311.

[0050] Please continue reading. Figures 1 to 5 In some embodiments, the conveying mechanism 110 further includes a drive shaft 116 and a first transmission unit 117. The first transmission unit 117 is connected between the drive shaft 116 and the air distribution disc 131. The drive shaft 116 can rotate around its own axis to drive the air distribution disc 131 to rotate via the first transmission unit 117. Simultaneously, the conveying mechanism 110 also includes a second transmission unit 118, which is connected between the drive shaft 116 and one of the drive wheels 114. When the drive shaft 116 rotates around its own axis, it can also drive the corresponding drive wheel 114 to rotate via the second transmission unit 118, thereby realizing the rotation of the conveyor belt 111.

[0051] In other words, both the first transmission unit 117 and the second transmission unit 118 can use the transmission shaft 116 as their power source, and the transmission shaft 116 can be connected to the motor. That is, the air distribution plate 131 and the conveyor belt 111 can share a common power source 119 (i.e., a motor), thus simplifying the structure. The second transmission unit 118 can be connected to the first transmission wheel.

[0052] In actual use, the drive shaft 116 passes through the rotating hole of the mounting base 113. The drive shaft 116 can rotate around its own axis within the rotating hole to drive the air distribution plate 131 and the drive wheel 114 to rotate via the first transmission unit 117 and the second transmission unit 118; and the mounting base 113 can also rotate around the drive shaft 116 under the action of the lifting mechanism 120 to adjust the distance between the pickup 112 and the mold 210. The drive shaft 116 can serve as the aforementioned rotation fulcrum 1101.

[0053] In some embodiments, both the first transmission unit 117 and the second transmission unit 118 include a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a synchronous belt. For ease of explanation, the first transmission unit 117 corresponds to the first driving pulley 1171, the first driven pulley 1172, and the first synchronous belt 1173, and the second transmission unit 118 corresponds to the second driving pulley 1181, the second driven pulley 1182, and the second synchronous belt 1183.

[0054] Regarding the first transmission unit 117, the first driving wheel 1171 is connected to the transmission shaft 116, and the first driving wheel 1171 and the first driven wheel 1172 jointly tension the first synchronous belt 1173. The first driven wheel 1172 is connected to the air distribution plate 131. Regarding the second transmission unit 118, the second driving wheel 1181 is connected to the transmission shaft 116, and the second driving wheel 1181 and the second driven wheel 1182 jointly tension the second synchronous belt 1183. The second driven wheel 1182 is connected to one of the transmission wheels 114 (e.g., the first transmission wheel). The first driving wheel 1171 and the second driving wheel 1181 are arranged axially spaced along the transmission shaft 116, which is connected to the motor. The motor drives the transmission shaft 116 to rotate, which in turn drives the first driving wheel 1171 and the second driving wheel 1181 to rotate synchronously. This, in turn, drives the first driven wheel 1172 and the second driven wheel 1182 to rotate via the first synchronous belt 1173 and the second synchronous belt 1183, respectively. The first driven wheel 1172 is connected to the support shaft 132 connected to the air distribution disc 131, thereby driving the air distribution disc 131 to rotate. The second driven wheel 1182 is connected to the mounting shaft 1141 of the first driving wheel to drive the rotation of the conveyor belt 111.

[0055] In practical use, the mounting base 113 has mounting spaces on both sides along the axial direction of the drive shaft 116. The aforementioned motor and the first transmission unit 117 can be located in one of the mounting spaces, while the aforementioned conveyor belt 111, drive wheel 114, air distribution plate 131, and second transmission unit 118 are located in the other mounting space. This arrangement can make full use of the space on both sides of the mounting base 113 along the axial direction of the drive shaft 116, thereby reducing the overall size of the cup conveying device 100 along the axial direction of the drive shaft 116.

[0056] like Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, with respect to the first transmission unit 117, the diameter of the first driving wheel 1171 is smaller than the diameter of the first driven wheel 1172, and the first driving wheel 1171 and the first driven wheel 1172 have a first transmission ratio, which is the same as the aforementioned first displacement ratio. Since the first displacement ratio and the second displacement ratio are the same, the first transmission ratio is the same as the aforementioned second displacement ratio.

[0057] Please combine Figure 4 and Figure 5It is understandable that since both the first transmission unit 117 and the second transmission unit 118 are connected to the same transmission shaft 116, their power input speeds are the same. However, due to the difference in circumferential length between the conveyor belt 111 and the air distribution plate 131, if identical first transmission units 117 and 118 are used directly, the air distribution plate 131 will have rotated multiple times while the conveyor belt 111 rotates once, causing the air pipes to become entangled. Therefore, in this embodiment, the diameter of the first driven wheel 1172 can be increased to slow down the rotational speed transmitted from the first driving wheel 1171 to the first driven wheel 1172, thereby ensuring that the first displacement ratio of the air distribution plate 131 and the second displacement ratio of the conveyor belt 111 are the same.

[0058] Specifically, both the driving and driven gears are gears. The number of teeth on the first driving gear 1171 is less than the size of the first driven gear 1172. The number of teeth on the first driving gear 1171 is the same as the number of teeth on the second driving gear 1181, and the number of teeth on the second driving gear 1181 is the same as the number of teeth on the second driven gear 1182. In some specific embodiments, taking four pickup components 112 as an example, the number of teeth on the first driving gear 1171 is 25, and the number of teeth on the first driven gear 1172 is 25 × 4 = 100. Therefore, the first transmission ratio between the first driving gear 1171 and the first driven gear 1172 is 1:4, and the transmission ratio between the second driving gear 1181 and the second driven gear 1182, as well as the transmission ratio between the second driven gear 1182 and the corresponding transmission gear 114, is 1:1.

[0059] The conveyor belt 111 can be a belt. Alternatively, the conveyor belt 111 can be a chain, or the side of the conveyor belt 111 that mates with the drive wheel 114 can have multiple toothed grooves arranged at intervals along its circumference. The drive wheel 114 can be a gear or a sprocket, and the rotation of the conveyor belt 111 can be achieved by the meshing of the teeth and toothed grooves. This is just an example.

[0060] Please see Figures 1 to 3 In some embodiments, the lifting mechanism 120 includes a lifting drive assembly 121 and a lifting arm 122. One end of the lifting arm 122 is connected to the lifting drive assembly 121, and the other end of the lifting arm 122 contacts the conveyor belt 111. Under the action of the lifting drive assembly 121, the lifting arm 122 drives the conveying mechanism 110 to swing around the pivot point 1101. Specifically, under the action of the lifting drive assembly 121, the lifting arm 122 has reciprocating movement along the Z-axis direction, thereby realizing the swing drive of the conveying mechanism 110.

[0061] Furthermore, the lifting arm 122 is rotatably connected to the mounting base 113 to increase the degree of freedom at the connection between the lifting arm 122 and the mounting base 113 and reduce the risk of jamming. The mounting base 113 is provided with an mounting shaft 1131, and the lifting drive assembly 121 includes at least a support base 1211. One end of the lifting arm 122 is rotatably connected to the support base 1211, and the other end is rotatably connected to the mounting shaft 1131. The support base 1211 can reciprocate along the Z-axis to drive the mounting base 113 to rotate via the lifting arm 122. In this configuration, both ends of the lifting arm 122 are rotatably connected to the mounting base 113 and the support base 1211 respectively, further increasing the degree of freedom and facilitating long-term driving of the mounting base 113.

[0062] In some embodiments, the lifting drive assembly 121 includes a drive wheel 1212 and a drive arm 1213 connected to the drive wheel 1212. One end of the drive arm 1213 facing away from the drive wheel 1212 is connected to the lifting arm 122. Specifically, the drive arm 1213 is connected to a support seat 1211 that supports the lifting arm 122, and thus drives the support seat 1211 to reciprocate along the Z-axis direction under the action of the drive wheel 1212. The drive wheel 1212 has a first region 1212a and a second region 1212b arranged circumferentially. The first region 1212a protrudes radially relative to the second region 1212b of the drive wheel 1212. The drive wheel 1212 can rotate about its own axis so that one of the first region 1212a and the second region 1212b can engage with the drive arm 1213.

[0063] In use, when the drive wheel 1212 rotates to engage with the drive arm 1213 in the first region 1212a, since the first region 1212a protrudes radially relative to the second region 1212b along the drive wheel 1212, the drive arm 1213 can be driven to move upward along the Z-axis by the first region 1212a. The drive arm 1213 can then drive the mounting base 113 to swing counterclockwise through the lifting arm 122 to reduce the distance between the pickup 112 and the mold 210, which is beneficial for the pickup 112 to press against the cup wall of the cup cylinder and achieve a tight fit. When the drive wheel 1212 rotates to the second region 1212b and engages with the drive arm 1213, the drive arm 1213 moves downward along the Z-axis, thereby driving the assembly seat 113 to swing clockwise through the lifting arm 122 to increase the distance between the pickup 112 and the mold 210. This not only makes it easier for the pickup 112 to pass over the cup mouth, but also makes it easier for the pickup 112, after being tightly attached to the cup, to drive the cup to detach from the mold 210.

[0064] In some specific embodiments, the drive wheel 1212 can be directly a cam.

[0065] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2In some embodiments, the drive arm 1213 includes a fixed part 12131, a swing part 12132, and a lifting part 12133. The swing part 12132 is rotatably connected to the fixed part 12131 via a pivot. One end of the swing part 12132 facing away from the fixed part 12131 is connected to the drive wheel 1212. The lifting part 12133 is connected between the swing part 12132 and the lifting arm 122. The swing part 12132 can swing around the pivot under the action of the drive wheel 1212 to drive the lifting part 12133 to reciprocate in the vertical direction.

[0066] Specifically, the fixing part 12131 can also be fixed to the frame on which the cup conveying device 100 is installed to maintain assembly stability. One end of the swinging part 12132 is rotatably connected to the fixing part 12131 via a rotating shaft, and the other end can be connected to the drive wheel 1212. The drive wheel 1212 is provided with a receiving groove, and the end of the swinging part 12132 is received in the receiving groove, which can not only reduce the offset of the swinging part 12132 along the axial direction of the drive wheel 1212, but also reduce the risk of the swinging part 12132 disengaging from the drive wheel 1212. Alternatively, the end of the swinging part 12132 is provided with a receiving groove that mates with the drive wheel 1212, as long as it can ensure a reliable connection between the swinging part 12132 and the drive wheel 1212. The end of the swinging part 12132 can also be provided with a roller, which contacts the drive wheel 1212 to reduce friction. In this case, the drive wheel 1212 does not need to rotate completely, but only swings along its own axis. Of course, the drive wheel can also rotate a full circle; this is just an example.

[0067] The lifting section 12133 is fixed to the middle of the swing section 12132. The lifting section 12133 includes two lifting columns 12133a arranged at intervals along the Y-axis. The top of the lifting columns 12133a is connected to the aforementioned support seat 1211, and the bottom of the two lifting columns 12133a is fixed to the swing section 12132 by a horizontal plate 1214. Each lifting column 12133a includes a first column and a second column that are nested together. The top of the first column is connected to the support seat 1211, and the bottom of the second column is connected to the horizontal plate 1214. A second elastic element 12133b is also pressed between the bottom of the first column and the horizontal plate 1214 to allow the support seat 1211 to float along the Z-axis, thereby reducing vibration.

[0068] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6Another embodiment of this application provides a paper cup manufacturing device, including a forming device 200, a carrying device 300, and the aforementioned cup cylinder conveying device 100. The forming device 200 is used to form cup cylinders 500. The formed cup cylinders 500 are conveyed to the carrying device 300 via the cup cylinder conveying device 100. The carrying device 300 can transfer the cup cylinders 500 to the operating station. The carrying device 300 is also the material handling device corresponding to the next tool of the forming device 200.

[0069] The forming device 200 includes at least a mold 210 corresponding to the transverse conveying area 111a, and the carrying device 300 includes at least a carrying tray 310 corresponding to the conveying area. The conveying mechanism 110 can pick up the cup 500 from the mold 210 and convey it to the carrying tray 310. In actual use, the paper cup manufacturing equipment also includes a guiding device 400, which is located between the forming device 200 and the carrying device 300 to guide the conveying of the cup 500. The guiding device 400 includes at least a guide cage 410, one end of which faces the mold 210, and the other end of which faces the carrying tray 310. The guide cage 410 is surrounded by a guide channel 4101, and the side of the guide cage 410 facing the conveyor belt 111 has a clearance notch 4102 that connects to the guide channel 4101. The clearance notch 4102 facilitates the avoidance of the pick-up piece 112 on the conveyor belt 111.

[0070] Specifically, the fan-shaped paper sheet is conveyed to the forming device 200 and wound onto the mold 210, then heat-sealed to form a ring-shaped cup 500. When the conveyor belt 111 moves the pickup 112 to the upstream of the transverse conveying area 111a, the mounting base 113 is in a downward swinging state, which facilitates the pickup 112 to move past the cup opening of the cup 500 to the cup wall. When the pickup 112 aligns with the cup wall, the lifting mechanism 120 drives the mounting base 113 to swing upward so that the pickup 112 presses against the cup wall and fits tightly. After the pickup 112 is stably connected to the cup wall, the lifting mechanism 120 drives the mounting base 113 to swing downward so that the conveyor belt 111, through the pickup 112, can move the cup 500 away from the mold 210 and towards the upstream of the longitudinal conveying area 111b. The cup 500 approaches the guide cage 410 and enters the guide channel 4101. When the cup 500 moves to the upstream of the longitudinal conveying area 111b, the pick-up piece 112 releases its grip on the cup 500, and the cup 500 falls onto the support plate 310 under gravity within the guide channel 4101. The support plate 310 can then move the cup 500 to the operating position for the next process operation.

[0071] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0072] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the patent protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cup-conveying device, characterized in that, include: The conveying mechanism (110) includes at least a conveyor belt (111) and a plurality of pickups (112) disposed on the conveyor belt (111) and spaced apart circumferentially along the conveyor belt (111). The conveyor belt (111) has a transverse conveying area (111a) and a longitudinal conveying area (111b) arranged circumferentially and at an angle. The longitudinal conveying area (111b) is located downstream of the transverse conveying area (111a). The conveyor belt (111) is rotatable circumferentially. The pickups (112) corresponding to the transverse conveying area (111a) can pick up the formed cup (500) and convey it to the longitudinal conveying area (111b) to cause the cup (500) to flip. A lifting mechanism (120) is connected to the conveying mechanism (110) and located upstream of the transverse conveying area (111a). The conveying mechanism (110) has a pivot point (1101). The lifting mechanism (120) is used to drive the conveying mechanism (110) to swing around the pivot point (1101) so that the transverse conveying area (111a) intermittently rises and falls. The transverse conveying area (111a) can drive the picking member (112) to move closer to the mold (210) to pick up the cup (500) or away from the mold (210) to convey the cup (500).

2. The cup conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism (110) further includes a mounting base (113) and a plurality of drive wheels (114). The plurality of drive wheels (114) are arranged at intervals and rotatably connected to the mounting base (113) to tension the conveyor belt (111). The pivot point (1101) is located on the mounting base (113). The mounting base (113) can swing around the pivot point (1101) under the action of the lifting mechanism (120). The conveyor belt (111) and the drive wheels (114) move synchronously with the mounting base (113).

3. The cup conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pickup (112) is a suction cup, and the cup conveying device (100) also includes an air passage mechanism (130). The air passage mechanism (130) includes at least an air passage distribution plate (131) rotatably disposed on the mounting base (113). The air passage distribution plate (131) is provided with a plurality of distribution interfaces (1311) arranged at intervals along its circumference. Each distribution interface (1311) is connected to a suction cup. The air distribution plate (131) has a first rotational displacement along its circumference, and the first rotational displacement has a first displacement ratio to the circumferential length of the air distribution plate (131). The conveyor belt (111) has a second rotational displacement along its circumference, and the second rotational displacement has a second displacement ratio to the circumferential length of the conveyor belt (111). The first displacement ratio and the second displacement ratio are the same.

4. The cup conveying device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism (110) further includes a drive shaft (116), a first transmission unit (117), and a second transmission unit (118). The drive shaft (116) is rotatably connected to the mounting base (113). The first transmission unit (117) is connected between the drive shaft (116) and the air distribution plate (131). The second transmission unit (118) is connected between the drive shaft (116) and one of the transmission wheels (114). The drive shaft (116) can rotate around its own axis to drive the air distribution plate (131) and the transmission wheel (114) to rotate through the first transmission unit (117) and the second transmission unit (118), respectively.

5. The cup conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first transmission unit (117) and the second transmission unit (118) each include a driving wheel, a driven wheel and a synchronous belt. The driving wheel and the driven wheel tension the synchronous belt. The driving wheel is connected to the transmission shaft (116) and the driven wheel is connected to the air distribution plate (131). In the first transmission unit (117), the diameter of the driving wheel is smaller than that of the driven wheel and the two have a first transmission ratio, the first transmission ratio being the same as the first displacement ratio and / or the second displacement ratio.

6. The cup conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first transmission unit (117) and the second transmission unit (118) each include a driving wheel, a driven wheel and a synchronous belt. The driving wheel and the driven wheel tension the synchronous belt. The driving wheel is connected to the transmission shaft (116) and the driven wheel is connected to the transmission wheel (114). In the first transmission unit (117), the diameter of the driving wheel is smaller than that of the driven wheel and the two have a first transmission ratio, the first transmission ratio being the same as the first displacement ratio and / or the second displacement ratio.

7. The cup conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lifting mechanism (120) includes a lifting drive assembly (121) and a lifting arm (122). One end of the lifting arm (122) is connected to the lifting drive assembly (121), and the other end of the lifting arm (122) is in contact with the conveyor belt (111). Under the action of the lifting drive assembly (121), the lifting arm (122) drives the conveying mechanism (110) to swing around the pivot point (1101).

8. The cup conveying device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism (110) further includes a mounting base (113) and a plurality of drive wheels (114) connected to the mounting base (113). The plurality of drive wheels (114) together tension the conveyor belt (111). The mounting base (113) is provided with a mounting shaft (1131). The lifting drive assembly (121) includes at least a support base (1211), one end of the lifting arm (122) is rotatably connected to the support base (1211), and the other end of the lifting arm (122) is rotatably connected to the assembly shaft (1131).

9. The cup conveying device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The lifting drive assembly (121) includes a drive wheel (1212) and a drive arm (1213) connected to the drive wheel (1212). One end of the drive arm (1213) opposite to the drive wheel (1212) is connected to the lifting arm (122). The drive wheel (1212) has a first region (1212a) and a second region (1212b) arranged circumferentially. The first region (1212a) protrudes radially from the second region (1212b) relative to the drive wheel (1212). The drive wheel (1212) is rotatable about its own axis so that the first region (1212a) and the second region (1212b) can be selectively engaged with the drive arm (1213).

10. The cup conveying device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The drive arm (1213) includes a fixed part (12131), a swing part (12132), and a lifting part (12133). The swing part (12132) is rotatably connected to the fixed part (12131) via a rotating shaft. One end of the swing part (12132) away from the fixed part (12131) is connected to the drive wheel (1212). The lifting part (12133) is connected between the swing part (12132) and the lifting arm (122). The swing part (12132) can swing around the rotating shaft under the action of the drive wheel (1212) to drive the lifting part (12133) to reciprocate in the vertical direction.

11. A paper cup manufacturing device, characterized in that, The device includes a forming device (200), a carrying device (300), and a cup and tube conveying device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10. The forming device (200) includes at least a mold (210) corresponding to the transverse conveying area (111a), and the carrying device (300) includes at least a carrying plate (310) corresponding to the longitudinal conveying area (111b). The conveying mechanism (110) is capable of picking up the cup and tube (500) on the mold (210) and conveying it to the carrying plate (310). The paper cup manufacturing equipment also includes a guiding device (400), which includes at least a guide cage (410) surrounding a guide channel (4101). One end of the guide cage (410) faces the mold (210), and the other end of the guide cage (410) faces the support plate (310). The guide cage (410) has a clearance notch (4102) communicating with the guide channel (4101) on the side facing the conveyor belt (111).

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