Automatic cover pressing mechanism for full-self-service beverage machine
By introducing a cup lid correction component and a buffer component into the self-service beverage machine, the problems of positional deviation and system complexity of the automatic capping mechanism are solved, achieving efficient cup lid correction and sealing protection, and improving the capping success rate and system stability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HEBEI HUIJIN ELECTROMECHANICAL
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-10
AI Technical Summary
The existing automatic capping mechanism of self-service beverage machines lacks adaptive correction capability, resulting in poor capping tolerance, easy deformation of paper cups and low success rate, as well as high system complexity and cost.
An automatic capping mechanism was designed, comprising a cap-dropping component, a cup holder moving component, a buffer component, and a cap correction component. The cap correction component corrects the position of the cap and provides buffer protection during the capping process, reducing the requirements for the overall positioning system.
It improves the success rate of capping and sealing reliability, reduces system complexity and manufacturing costs, and enhances the adaptability to cap position deviations.
Smart Images
Figure CN121817684A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of beverage machines, more specifically, it relates to an automatic capping mechanism for a full self-service beverage machine. BACKGROUND
[0002] With the popularity of unmanned retail and automated services, the application of full self-service beverage machines (such as self-service coffee machines) is becoming increasingly widespread. Among them, automatic capping is a key process to complete beverage packaging and ensure sealing and hygiene. At present, there is a relatively common "push rod motor type automatic capping mechanism" on the market, which usually includes a push rod motor, a base, a motor fixator, and a pressing plate and other components. Its basic working process is: through a conveying mechanism, a paper cup containing a beverage is transported to the capping station, the cup cover falls from the cover storage bin to the cup opening through the separator, and then the push rod motor drives the pressing plate to directly press down, completing the capping. However, this capping scheme has the following defects: 1) Poor position tolerance, this scheme requires high accuracy of the alignment of the cup cover drop point and the cup opening, and if the cup cover is slightly skewed or not accurately centered in the cup opening, direct pressing down can easily result in capping failure or damage to the cup opening.
[0003] 2) Lack of self-adaptive correction capability, the capping process is simply vertical pressing down, without the function of automatically sensing and correcting the position or angle deviation of the cup cover at the initial stage of capping, completely relying on the high-precision positioning of the front-end cup cover separation and conveying system, poor system stability.
[0004] 3) No buffer protection mechanism, using rigid pressing down method, the pressure control is not fine. When the paper cup is slightly deformed or the liquid in the cup is too much, excessive pressing down force can easily cause the paper cup to be crushed and the beverage to overflow.
[0005] 4) High system complexity, in order to ensure the accuracy of the cup cover drop point, a precise cup cover separator, a visual positioning system or a complex mechanical coordinate positioning mechanism is needed, which increases the manufacturing cost and maintenance difficulty of the whole machine.
[0006] Therefore, it is urgent to research and develop an automatic capping mechanism that can self-adaptively correct the position of the cup cover, has a buffer protection function, and has low requirements for the overall positioning system. SUMMARY
[0007] The purpose of the present application is to provide an automatic capping mechanism for a full self-service beverage machine, aiming to solve the technical problems of poor capping tolerance, easy deformation of the paper cup and low success rate caused by the lack of self-adaptive correction and buffer functions in the existing automatic capping mechanism of the self-service beverage machine.
[0008] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present application is: providing an automatic capping mechanism for a full self-service beverage machine, comprising: A cover falling assembly has a warehouse for accommodating a cup cover, the bottom of the warehouse has a separator for the cup cover to fall one by one; A cup holder moving assembly has a cup holder with vertical moving freedom, the cup holder is located directly below the separator, the upper end of the cup holder is used to place a cup body, and the cup cover falling from the separator falls on the upper end of the cup body; A buffer assembly is connected to the bottom of the cup holder and is used to elastically support the cup holder and buffer the pressure of the cup cover on the cup body during the cover pressing process; A cup cover correction assembly is located between the separator and the cup holder and has two states of closing and opening, when in the closing state, the cup holder moving assembly drives the cup body and the cup cover on the upper end to move upward, if there is a deviation between the cup cover and the cup body during the upward movement, the cup body and the cup cover are driven to move in place for position correction through the cup cover correction assembly, and the upward movement is continued to complete the cover pressing action.
[0009] In a possible implementation, the cup cover correction assembly comprises: A fixed frame has a through hole in the middle for the cup cover to pass through when falling; A first cup cover alignment half ring is connected to one side of the bottom of the fixed frame and is in the shape of a half circular ring; A second cup cover alignment half ring is connected to the other side of the bottom of the fixed frame and is in the shape of a half circular ring, a passage for the cup cover to pass through when falling is formed between the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring, the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring abut each other to form a closing state and are away from each other to form an open state, the second cup cover alignment half ring and the first cup cover alignment half ring abut each other to form a guide circular ring, the guide circular ring is used to correct the cup body and the cup cover and forms a positioning area, after the cup cover falls on the upper end of the cup body, the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring close and move to the positioning area under the joint action, and the position correction and the cover pressing action are completed during the movement.
[0010] In a possible implementation, the cup cover correction assembly further comprises: A first driver is connected to the fixed frame, the power output end of the first driver is connected to the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring, the first driver is used to drive the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring to move simultaneously to form a closing state or an open state, the open state is used to provide a falling space for the cup cover, and the closing state forms a positioning correction module, the position correction and the cover pressing action are completed through the upward movement of the cup holder under the action of the positioning correction module.
[0011] In a possible implementation, the cup holder moving assembly comprises: The second driver has a lifting end moving vertically, the buffer assembly is connected to the upper end of the lifting end, the cup holder is connected to the upper end of the buffer assembly, and the second driver is used to drive the lifting end to move up and down.
[0012] In a possible implementation, the cover falling assembly further comprises: The fixed seat has a mounting hole for the cup cover to pass through when falling vertically, and the cup holder moving assembly and the cup cover correcting assembly are connected to the fixed seat. The separator is connected to the upper end of the fixed seat, the warehouse body is vertically arranged and connected to the upper end of the separator, the cup cover inside the warehouse body falls to the separator, the separator is used to drive multiple cup covers to fall and separate one by one, and the falling cup cover passes through the mounting hole.
[0013] In a possible implementation, the fixed seat has a cavity for accommodating and connecting the fixed frame, the through hole and the mounting hole are coaxially arranged vertically, and the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring are located inside the cavity.
[0014] In a possible implementation, the fixed seat is connected to a support column on the side, and the cup holder moving assembly is connected to the support column.
[0015] In a possible implementation, the automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine further comprises: The control module is electrically connected to the separator, the cup holder moving assembly and the cup cover correcting assembly respectively and is used to control the operation respectively.
[0016] In a possible implementation, the bottom of the warehouse body is detachably connected to the top of the separator.
[0017] In a possible implementation, the automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine further comprises: The cover shell covers the separator, the cup holder moving assembly, the cup holder and the cup cover correcting assembly, the cover shell is open on the side close to the cup holder to expose the cup holder and provide the user with the cup body.
[0018] The automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine has the advantages that compared with the prior art, the automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine can correct the position of the cup cover on the upper end of the cup holder through the cup cover correcting assembly, accurately press and seal the cup body and the cup cover, and ensure the sealing performance.
[0019] The cup holder moves up by the cup holder moving assembly, the cup body is close to the cup cover, the cup cover falling from the separator can fall on the upper end of the cup body, then the cup cover is corrected in position, and the cup holder is moved up again to realize the compression sealing of the cup cover and the cup body.
[0020] The buffer assembly is arranged at the bottom of the cup holder, which can buffer the cup body during the compression of the cover, preventing the cup body from being compressed too much. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or prior art description will be briefly introduced as follows. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.
[0022] Figure 1 A structural schematic view of an automatic cover compression mechanism for a full self-service beverage machine is provided in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 2 A structural schematic view of an automatic cover compression mechanism for a full self-service beverage machine is provided in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 3 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 2 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 4 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 3 A bottom view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 5 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 3 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 6 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 5 A bottom view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 7 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 2 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 8 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 2 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 9 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 2 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 10 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 2 A structural schematic view of a cup cover correction assembly in the embodiments of the present application is provided. Figure 11 A structural schematic view of a support column of an automatic cover compression mechanism for a full self-service beverage machine is provided in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 12 A structural schematic view of a support column of an automatic cover compression mechanism for a full self-service beverage machine is provided in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 11 A structural schematic view of a support column of an automatic cover compression mechanism for a full self-service beverage machine is provided in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 13 for Figure 11 Another perspective view of the supporting column; Figure 14 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the fixed base structure; Figure 15 for Figure 2 Another perspective view of the fixed base; Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the silo and separator provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 17 for Figure 16 A schematic diagram of the separator structure and multiple cup lid structures in the image; Figure 18 for Figure 17 Another perspective schematic diagram of the separator structure in the image; Figure 19 for Figure 17 Another perspective schematic diagram of the separator structure in the image; Figure 20 This is a schematic diagram of a cup holder structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 21 for Figure 20 A schematic diagram showing the bottom view of the cup holder.
[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Lid assembly; 110. Chamber body; 120. Separator; 130. Cup lid; 140. Fixing base; 141. Mounting hole; 142. Chamber; 143. Through hole; 200. Cup holder moving assembly; 210. Cup holder; 220. Second actuator; 221. Lifting end; 222. Plate holder; 223. Second motor; 224. Second lead screw; 225. Second lead screw nut; 226. Second slide rail; 230. Support column; 300. Cushioning assembly; 310. Spring; 320. Base; 400. Cup lid alignment assembly; 410. Fixing frame; 411. Through hole; 420. First cup lid alignment half ring; 430. Second cup lid alignment half ring; 440. Channel; 450. First driver; 451. Support plate; 452. First motor; 453. First lead screw; 454. First slide rail; 455. First lead screw nut; 456. Slider; 500, Cup body; 600. Control module; 700, casing. Detailed Implementation
[0024] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present application clearer, the present application will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only intended to explain the present application and not to limit the present application.
[0025] Please refer to Figures 1 to 21 , now a kind of automatic capping mechanism for full self-service beverage machine provided by the present application will be described. The automatic capping mechanism for full self-service beverage machine, including falling cover assembly 100, cup holder moving assembly 200, buffer assembly 300 and cup cover correction assembly 400, falling cover assembly 100 has a warehouse body 110 for accommodating cup cover, the bottom of the warehouse body 110 has a separator 120 for cup cover 130 falling one by one; Cup holder moving assembly 200 has a cup holder 210 with vertical movement freedom, the cup holder 210 is located directly below the separator 120, the upper end of the cup holder 210 is used to place the cup body 500, the cup cover 130 falling from the separator 120 falls on the upper end of the cup body 500; Buffer assembly 300 is connected to the bottom of the cup holder 210, used to elastically support the cup holder 210 and buffer the pressure of the cup cover 130 on the cup body 500 during capping process; Cup cover correction assembly 400 is located between the separator 120 and the cup holder 210, has two states of closing and opening, when in the closing state, the cup holder moving assembly 200 drives the cup body 500 and the cup cover 130 on the upper end to move upwards, if there is deviation between the cup cover 130 and the cup body 500 during the upward movement, the cup body 500 and the cup cover 130 are driven to move in the center to correct the position through the cup cover correction assembly 400, and the capping action is continued to move upwards.
[0026] The automatic capping mechanism for full self-service beverage machine provided by the present application, compared with the prior art, through setting the cup cover correction assembly 400, the position of the cup cover 130 on the upper end of the cup holder 210 can be corrected, so as to accurately press and seal the cup body 500 and the cup cover 130, and ensure the sealing performance.
[0027] Through the cup holder moving assembly 200, the cup holder 210 can be driven to move upwards, so that the cup body 500 approaches the cup cover 130, the cup cover 130 falling from the separator 120 can fall on the upper end of the cup body 500, then after the position correction of the cup cover 130, the cup holder 210 is moved upwards again, so as to realize the press and sealing of the cup cover 130 and the cup body 500.
[0028] Through setting the buffer assembly 300 at the bottom of the cup holder 210, the buffer effect on the cup body 500 during the capping process can be achieved, so as to prevent the cup body 500 from being crushed or excessively compressed.
[0029] The inside of the bin body 110 in the embodiment is hollow, and a plurality of cup covers 130 are placed in the bin body 110. The plurality of cup covers 130 are arranged in a stack, and the cup covers 130 in the bin body 110 sequentially fall through the separator 120 from bottom to top. After falling, the cup covers 130 can be located on the upper end of the cup body 500. The separator 120 can be a separator 120 in the prior art. The upper end of the bin body 110 is open, and the cup cover 130 can be placed in the bin body 110.
[0030] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 20 to 21 , the buffer assembly 300 includes a plurality of springs 310 and a base 320. The plurality of springs 310 are arranged at the bottom of the base 320 and provide elastic support for the base 320. The cup holder 210 is arranged at the upper end of the base 320. The arrangement of the plurality of springs 310 does not cause the cup holder 210 to be greatly skewed and does not affect the stability of the support of the cup holder 210 to the cup body 500. In the embodiment, the plurality of springs 310 only have a vertical elastic expansion degree of freedom and do not cause the cup holder 210 to be skewed to the side.
[0031] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 2 to 6 , the cup cover correction assembly 400 includes a fixed frame 410, a first cup cover alignment half ring 420, and a second cup cover alignment half ring 430. The fixed frame 410 has a through hole 411 in the middle for the cup cover 130 to fall through. The first cup cover alignment half ring 420 is in the shape of a half ring and is connected to one side of the bottom of the fixed frame 410. The second cup cover alignment half ring 430 is in the shape of a half ring and is slidingly connected to the other side of the bottom of the fixed frame 410. The first cup cover alignment half ring 420 and the second cup cover alignment half ring 430 form a passage 440 for the cup cover 130 to fall through. The first cup cover alignment half ring 420 and the second cup cover alignment half ring 430 abut each other to form a closed state and move away from each other to form an open state. When the second cup cover alignment half ring 430 and the first cup cover alignment half ring 420 abut each other, they form a guide ring. The guide ring and the cup cover 130 are used to correct the cup body 500 and the cup cover 130 and form a positioning area. After the cup cover 130 falls onto the upper end of the cup body 500, the first cup cover alignment half ring 420 and the second cup cover alignment half ring 430 close and move to the positioning area under the joint action of the two. During the movement, the position correction and the capping action are completed.
[0032] Normally, the cup cover 130 is located in the positioning area. Whether the cup cover 130 falls into the positioning area or not, the cup cover 130 is pushed and lifted by the joint action of the first cup cover alignment half ring 420 and the second cup cover alignment half ring 430 to be placed in the positioning area. Specifically, the cup cover 130 is moved by the movement of the inner side walls of the first cup cover alignment half ring 420 and the second cup cover alignment half ring 430, and then moves to the centering position. After the centering is completed, the capping process is started to achieve capping and sealing.
[0033] The cross-sectional shape of the first cup lid alignment half ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half ring 430 matches the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the cup lid 130. That is, the guide ring can form a surround around the cup lid 130, preventing misalignment or movement during the capping process, further improving the accuracy and quality of capping, and enhancing the sealing effect between the cup lid 130 and the cup body 500.
[0034] In some embodiments, after the cup lid 130 falls from the through hole 411 in the middle of the fixing frame 410, if its position is deviated and it is not completely in the center of the ideal channel 440 between the first cup lid aligning half ring 420 and the second cup lid aligning half ring 430, the first cup lid aligning half ring 420 and the second cup lid aligning half ring 430 are simultaneously driven to move towards each other. During this process, the inner sidewalls of the first cup lid aligning half ring 420 and the second cup lid aligning half ring 430 will contact and push against the cup lid 130, causing the cup lid 130 to move until the outer peripheral wall of the cup lid 130 is in contact with the inner sidewalls of the first cup lid aligning half ring 420 and the second cup lid aligning half ring 430, that is, the cup lid 130 is accurately pushed into the positioning area defined by the guide ring formed by the two.
[0035] The inner diameter of the guide ring is adapted to the outer diameter of the cup lid 130, and is usually designed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cup lid 130 to allow the cup lid 130 to enter smoothly and be stably clamped, while avoiding excessive tightness that could cause the cup lid 130 to deform or become difficult to remove. Once the cup lid 130 is aligned with the positioning area, the cup holder 210 moves upward, lifting the cup body 500 and connecting it to the cup lid 130. During the upward movement of the cup holder 210, the lower edge of the cup lid 130 contacts the upper edge of the cup body 500, and under continuous upward pressure, a tight seal is achieved between the cup lid 130 and the cup body 500.
[0036] This design effectively compensates for possible positional deviations of the cup lid 130 during its descent through active correction of the mechanical structure, ensuring that the cup lid 130 and the central axis of the cup body 500 are highly aligned during each capping operation. This significantly improves the success rate of capping and the reliability of sealing, and is especially suitable for various slight posture or positional errors that may occur in the automatic cup lid 130 supply system.
[0037] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 2 to 6The cup lid correction assembly 400 also includes a first driver 450, which is connected to the side of the fixed frame 410. Its power output end is connected to the first cup lid alignment half ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half ring 430. The first driver 450 is used to drive the first cup lid alignment half ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half ring 430 to move simultaneously to form a closed state or an open state. When it is in the open state, it is used to provide space for the cup lid 130 to fall. When it is in the closed state, it forms a positioning correction module. Under the action of the positioning correction module, the cup holder 210 moves upward to complete the position correction and lid pressing action.
[0038] Specifically, the first driver 450 includes a support plate 451 connected to the side wall of the fixed frame 410 at one end, a first motor 452 connected to the support plate 451, and a first lead screw 453 rotatably connected to the fixed frame 410 and extending out of the side of the fixed frame 410 and connected to the power output end of the first motor 452. The surface of the first lead screw 453 located inside the fixed frame 410 is provided with positive and negative threads along its axial direction. A first slide rail 454 is provided inside the fixed frame 410, and the length direction of the first slide rail 454 is parallel to the axial direction of the first lead screw 453. The first cup lid alignment half-ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half-ring 430 are each provided with a first lead screw nut 455 and a slider 456 at their upper ends. The first lead screw nut 455 is threadedly connected to the first lead screw 453, while the slider 456 is slidably connected to the first slide rail 454. Thus, by rotating the first lead screw 453, the two sets of first lead screw nuts 455 can be driven to move closer to each other or separate away from each other at the same time. The first slide rail 454 plays the role of guiding the two sets of sliders 456 to slide, thereby enabling the first cup lid alignment half-ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half-ring 430 to move closer to each other and close or move away from each other and open, so that the cup lid 130 moves towards the positioning area and realizes the correction of the cup lid 130.
[0039] In actual operation, a photoelectric module is also provided to monitor the falling position of the cup lid 130 in real time. The photoelectric module can acquire the specific position information of the cup lid 130 and detect whether the cup lid 130 has roughly fallen within the preset initial position range. If a positional deviation or incorrect posture of the cup lid 130 is detected, an action command will be sent to the first driver 450.
[0040] At this time, the first motor 452 starts and drives the first lead screw 453 to rotate around its axis. Then the two sets of first lead screw nuts 455 can move closer to each other or move away from each other, so that the first cup lid alignment half ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half ring 430 can be pushed to move closer to each other or move away from each other to open, and gradually guide the cup lid 130 into the positioning area.
[0041] Once the cup lid 130 is successfully aligned and stably clamped in the positioning area, the first driver 450 receives a stop command, the first motor 452 stops operating, and the first cup lid alignment half-ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half-ring 430 remain in their current positions until the cup holder 210 completes the upward pressing action. Then, the first motor 455 reverses the operation according to the subsequent program, driving the first cup lid alignment half-ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half-ring 430 back to their initial positions, preparing for the next pressing operation. This method of driving the first cup lid alignment half-ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half-ring 430 to move closer together or further apart makes the cup lid alignment component 400 more adaptable, capable of handling the alignment needs of cup lids 130 of different sizes and with different falling postures, further improving the automation level and operational stability of the automatic pressing mechanism.
[0042] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 11 to 13 The cup holder moving assembly 200 includes a second driver 220, which has a vertically movable lifting end 221. A buffer assembly 300 is connected to the upper end of the lifting end 221, and the cup holder 210 is connected to the upper end of the buffer assembly 300. The second driver 220 is used to drive the lifting end 221 to move vertically. The second driver 220 can drive the lifting end 221 to move vertically, thereby adjusting the height of the cup holder 210, so that the cup body 500 can be pressed or separated from the cup lid 130.
[0043] The cushioning component 300 plays a crucial protective role during the cup holder 210's upward capping process. When the cup holder 210 moves the cup body 500 upward, and the cup lid 130 contacts and begins to press against the cup body 500, the cushioning component 300 absorbs the instantaneous impact force, thereby mitigating the impact and protecting the cup body 500 and cup lid 130 from damage. Simultaneously, the cushioning component 300 can adapt to cup bodies 500 of different heights or slight dimensional differences, compensating for minor height errors through its own elastic deformation, ensuring a stable capping effect for each cup body 500.
[0044] Furthermore, the structural design of the cup holder 210 must be compatible with cups 500 of different sizes. The upper part of the cup holder 210 typically has a groove that matches the bottom contour of the cup 500. The diameter of the groove is slightly larger than the bottom diameter of the cup 500 to ensure that the cup 500 can stand stably without tipping over when placed inside. A flexible material pad, such as a silicone or rubber pad, can be installed on the inner wall of the groove. This not only increases the friction between the cup 500 and the cup holder 210, preventing the cup 500 from sliding during lifting and lowering, but also provides cushioning and anti-slip properties.
[0045] In some preferred embodiments, a pressure sensor or position sensor may also be provided at the bottom of the groove of the cup holder 210 to detect whether the cup body 500 is correctly placed in the cup holder 210, and to provide feedback on whether the pressure reaches a preset threshold during the capping process. These signals can be transmitted to the control system of the fully automated beverage machine to realize closed-loop control of the capping process, further improving the level of automation and capping reliability.
[0046] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 14 to 15 The lid-dropping assembly 100 includes a fixed base 140, which has vertical mounting holes 141 for the lids 130 to pass through during descent. The cup holder moving assembly 200 and the lid-correcting assembly 400 are both connected to the fixed base 140. A separator 120 is connected to the upper end of the fixed base 140. The chamber 110 is vertically positioned and its bottom is connected to the upper end of the separator 120. The lids 130 inside the chamber 110 fall to the separator 120. The separator 120 drives multiple lids 130 to separate and fall one by one, with the falling lids 130 passing through the mounting holes 141. The upper half of the fixed base 140 has two vertically aligned mounting holes 141. The separator 120 is connected to the upper end of the fixed base 140 and is cylindrical, cooperating with the mounting holes 141. The lids 130 discharged from the separator 120 can pass precisely through the mounting holes 141 and fall onto the upper end of the cup body 500.
[0047] The compartment 110 has an internal cavity for accommodating stacked cup lids 130. The inner diameter of the cavity is matched with the outer diameter of the cup lids 130 to ensure that the cup lids 130 can be stably stacked in the compartment 110 and are not prone to displacement.
[0048] The bottom of the chamber 110 is tightly connected to the upper surface of the separator 120, and a sealing ring can be provided at the connection to prevent dust or impurities from entering. The separator 120 is equipped with a separation drive and a separation claw. The separation drive can be a motor or a cylinder. When it is necessary to release the cup lid 130, the separation drive drives the separation claw to separate the bottommost single cup lid 130 from the stacked cup lid 130 group and let it fall through the outlet at the lower end of the separator 120 into the mounting hole 141 of the fixing seat 140.
[0049] When the cup body 500 needs to be capped, the cup holder moving assembly 200 drives the cup holder 210 to move directly below the mounting hole 141. After the cup lid 130 falls and is corrected, the capping action is performed to complete the capping. Then the cup holder moving assembly 200 moves the capped cup body 500 down to the cup retrieval station.
[0050] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 14 to 15The fixing base 140 has a chamber 142 for accommodating and connecting the fixing frame 410. The through hole 411 and the mounting hole 141 are arranged coaxially along the vertical axis. The first cup lid alignment half ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half ring 430 are both located inside the chamber 142. The upper half of the fixing base 140 has a box-shaped structure, forming the chamber 142 inside. Mounting holes 141 are provided at both the upper and lower ends of the box-shaped structure. The mounting holes 141 are aligned vertically, forming a correction and position adjustment for the cup lid 130 inside the chamber 142.
[0051] The first cup lid alignment half ring 420 and the second cup lid alignment half ring 430 are arranged opposite each other, together forming a circular correction channel 440 for radially limiting the falling cup lid 130.
[0052] Specifically, the bottom of the mounting base 140 is provided with multiple bolts, which are used to fix the mounting base 140 to an object.
[0053] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 10-13 The fixed base 140 is connected to a support column 230 on its side. The cup holder moving assembly 200 is connected to the support column 230. The support column 230 is vertically arranged and is located in the middle of the fixed base 140.
[0054] Specifically, the second drive unit 220 includes a plate support 222, a second motor 223, a second lead screw 224, a second lead screw nut 225, and a second slide rail 226. The plate support 222 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the support column 230 and is horizontally arranged. The second motor 223 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the plate support 211, with its power output end passing through the plate support 222 and facing upwards. The second lead screw 224 is vertically arranged, with its upper and lower ends rotatably connected to the upper and lower ends of the support column 230, respectively. The second lead screw nut 225 is threadedly connected to the second lead screw 224. The second lead screw nut 225 is slidably connected to the second slide rail 226. Thus, the second motor 223 drives the second lead screw 224 to rotate circumferentially, and the second lead screw 224 can drive the second lead screw nut 225 to move vertically up and down. At the same time, the second lead screw nut 225 slides on the second slide rail 226, which guides the second lead screw nut 225 during lifting and lowering.
[0055] The bottom of the buffer assembly 300 is connected to the upper end or side of the second lead screw nut 224, thereby enabling vertical movement.
[0056] The lifting end 221 is a triangular plate that is bolted to the second lead screw nut 225. The end of the lifting end 221 away from the second lead screw nut 225 is used to connect to the bottom end of the buffer assembly 300. The lifting end 221 passes through the fixed base 140, and the buffer assembly 300 and the second lead screw nut 225 are respectively located on both sides of the fixed base 140.
[0057] A vertical through hole 143 is provided on the fixed base 140, and the lifting end 221 passes through the through hole 143 and moves vertically.
[0058] To achieve automated control during the capping process, please refer to the following embodiments: Figure 10 The automatic capping mechanism for the fully automated beverage machine also includes a control module 600. The control module 600 is electrically connected to the separator 120, the cup holder moving assembly 200, and the cup lid correction assembly 400, and is used to control their respective operations. In this embodiment, the control module 600 adopts existing technology and has control units that control the operation of the separator 120, the cup holder moving assembly 200, and the cup lid correction assembly 400 respectively. The control module 600 can control the automated capping operation.
[0059] Specifically, the control module 600 can receive a capping command from the beverage machine's main control system. When the beverage cup to be capped is transported to the predetermined capping position of the cup holder 210 component, the control module 600 first controls the cup cap correction component 400 to start, and adjusts the posture of the cup cap 130 separated by the separator 120 and transported to the correction station to ensure that the opening of the cup cap 130 is facing down and its center is aligned with the center of the cup mouth of the beverage cup to be capped below.
[0060] After calibration, the control module 600 sends a control signal to the cup holder moving assembly 200, driving it to move the cup holder 210 carrying the beverage cup upwards, so that the rim of the beverage cup contacts the calibrated lid 130 and applies a preset pressure, completing the lid-pressing action. After the lid-pressing is completed, the control module 600 controls the cup holder moving assembly 200 to reset the cup holder 210, waiting for the next lid-pressing cycle.
[0061] In addition, the control module 600 can also integrate sensor signal processing functions, such as receiving feedback signals from sensors used to detect whether the cup lid 130 exists, whether the cup lid 130 is properly aligned, and whether the cup holder 210 has moved to the target position, so as to achieve accurate monitoring and abnormal handling of the capping process. For example, when the cup lid 130 is detected to be missing or the cup lid 130 fails to be aligned, the control module 600 can issue an alarm signal and pause the capping process to ensure the reliability and safety of the capping action.
[0062] To facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the compartment 110 and to allow the cup lid 130 to be placed inside the compartment 110, please refer to the following embodiments: Figures 16 to 19 The bottom of the compartment 110 and the top of the separator 120 are detachably connected. In this embodiment, the detachable connection is achieved through multiple bolts.
[0063] Preferably, the bottom edge of the hopper 110 extends outward to form an annular mounting flange, and the mounting flange has multiple bolt holes evenly distributed circumferentially; the top of the separator 120 is also provided with a matching connecting flange corresponding to the mounting flange, and the connecting flange has threaded holes that correspond one-to-one with the bolt holes of the mounting flange.
[0064] During assembly, simply align and fit the mounting flange at the bottom of the hopper 110 with the connecting flange at the top of the separator 120, making the bolt holes and threaded holes coaxial. Then, pass the bolts through the bolt holes and screw them into the threaded holes to tighten them, thus achieving a stable connection between the hopper 110 and the separator 120.
[0065] When it is necessary to add the cup lid 130 to the inside of the chamber 110 or to clean and maintain the inside of the chamber 110, simply loosen and remove these bolts one by one using tools, and the entire chamber 110 can be disassembled from the separator 120. The operation is convenient and efficient, effectively reducing the difficulty and time cost of daily maintenance. This detachable connection method not only ensures the reliability of the connection, ensuring that the chamber 110 will not shake or shift during equipment operation, but also provides great convenience for equipment installation, commissioning, and subsequent component replacement.
[0066] To enhance aesthetics and provide dust and wind protection, please refer to the following embodiments: Figure 1 The automatic capping mechanism for the fully self-service beverage machine also includes a cover 700, which covers the separator 120, the cup holder moving assembly 200, the cup holder 210, and the cup lid correction assembly 400. The side of the cover 700 near the cup holder 210 is open to expose the cup holder 210 and allow the user to place or remove the cup 500. The cover 700 is knife-shaped with an air vent on its side. The cover 700 is connected to the support column 230. The cover 700 does not affect the normal operation of the invention; that is, it does not affect the operation of the cup lid correction assembly 400 or the cup holder moving assembly 200.
[0067] Specifically, in this embodiment, the cover 700 is made of food-grade ABS material through one-piece injection molding. The surface is frosted, which makes it delicate to the touch and not easy to attract fingerprints, thus matching the overall modern and minimalist style of the beverage machine.
[0068] The inner wall of the top is fixed with a layer of sound-absorbing cotton, which can effectively absorb the noise generated by the separator 120 and the cup lid correction assembly 400 during operation and reduce the interference of the equipment to the surrounding environment when it is working.
[0069] The air outlet of the housing 700 is equipped with a removable dust filter. The dust filter is made of high-density nylon material, which can intercept dust and impurities in the air and prevent them from entering the interior of the housing 700 and affecting the normal operation of various components. The dust filter is also designed with elastic buckles on the edge. When disassembling and cleaning, you can simply press the buckles gently to remove it, making maintenance very convenient.
[0070] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An automatic capping mechanism for a fully self-serve beverage machine, characterized by, Comprise: A cover falling assembly, having a warehouse for containing cup cover, the warehouse bottom has a separator for cup cover falling one by one; A cup holder moving assembly, having a cup holder along the vertical moving degree of freedom, the cup holder is located directly below the separator, the cup holder upper end is used for placing the cup body, the cup cover falling from the separator falls to the cup body upper end; A buffer assembly, connected to the cup holder bottom, used for elastically supporting the cup holder and buffering the pressure of the cup cover to the cup body during the capping process; A cup cover correction assembly, located between the separator and the cup holder, having two states of closing and opening, when in the closing state, the cup holder moving assembly drives the cup body and the cup cover on the upper end to move up, if there is deviation between the cup cover and the cup body during the moving up, the cup body and the cup cover are driven to move in place for position correction through the cup cover correction assembly, and the moving up is continued to complete the capping action.
2. The automatic capping mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine according to claim 1, the cup cover correction assembly comprising: A fixed frame, having a through hole in the middle for the cup cover to pass through when falling; A first cup cover alignment half ring, in the shape of a half circular ring, connected to one side of the bottom of the fixed frame; A second cup cover alignment half ring, in the shape of a half circular ring, connected to the other side of the bottom of the fixed frame, forming a passage for the cup cover to pass through when falling between the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring, the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring abutting each other to form a closing state, and moving away from each other to form an open state, the second cup cover alignment half ring and the first cup cover alignment half ring abutting each other to form a guide circular ring, the guide circular ring being used for correcting the cup body and the cup cover and forming a positioning area, after the cup cover falls to the upper end of the cup body, the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring close and move to the positioning area under the joint action, completing the position correction and capping action during the moving process.
3. The automatic capping mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine according to claim 2, the cup cover correction assembly further comprising: A first driver connected to the fixed frame, the power output end of the first driver being connected to the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring, the first driver being used for driving the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring to move simultaneously to form a closing state or an open state, the open state being used for providing a cup cover falling space, and the closing state being used for forming a positioning correction module, the positioning correction module being used for completing the position correction and capping action through the cup holder moving up.
4. The automatic capping mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine according to claim 1, the cup holder moving assembly comprising: A second driver having a lifting end moving vertically, the buffer assembly being connected to the upper end of the lifting end, the cup holder being connected to the upper end of the buffer assembly, the second driver being used for driving the lifting end to move up and down.
5. The automatic capping mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine according to claim 2, the cover falling assembly further comprising: A fixed seat having a mounting hole along the vertical direction for the cup cover to pass through when falling, the cup holder moving assembly and the cup cover correction assembly being connected to the fixed seat. The separator is connected to the upper end of the fixed seat, the bin body is vertically arranged and the bottom is connected to the upper end of the separator, the inside of the bin body is used for dropping the cup cover, the separator is used for driving the cup cover to drop one by one, and the dropped cup cover passes through the mounting hole.
6. The automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine according to claim 5, wherein the fixed seat has a cavity for accommodating and connecting the fixed frame, the through hole and the mounting hole are coaxially arranged in the vertical direction, and the first cup cover alignment half ring and the second cup cover alignment half ring are located in the cavity.
7. The automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine according to claim 5, wherein the fixed seat is connected with a support column at the side, and the cup holder moving assembly is connected to the support column.
8. The automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine further comprises: a control module, which is electrically connected to the separator, the cup holder moving assembly and the cup cover correcting assembly respectively and is used for controlling the operation respectively.
9. The automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the bin body is detachably connected to the top of the separator.
10. An automatic capping mechanism for a fully self-serve beverage machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The automatic cover pressing mechanism for the full self-service beverage machine further comprises: a cover, which covers the separator, the cup holder moving assembly, the cup holder and the cup cover correcting assembly, and the side of the cover is arranged to be open near the cup holder to expose the cup holder and provide the user with the cup body.