Automatic stacking equipment for soft package materials

Abstract

The invention discloses automatic stacking equipment for soft package materials. The automatic stacking equipment comprises a conveying device and a stacking device. The conveying device is sequentially provided with a feeding conveying belt, an adjusting pivot and a telescopic conveying belt, and posture correction and telescopic conveying of the material bags are achieved. The stacking device is sequentially provided with a bearing mechanism, a transverse arrangement mechanism and a stacking mechanism, and transverse uniform arrangement, highly accurate stacking and stable pushing into a container of the material packages are achieved. Through image recognition and mechanical correction, it is ensured that the postures of the material packages are regular; flexible transverse arrangement is realized through the bidirectional roll shafts and the adjustable baffle plates; automatic layer-by-layer stacking inside the container is achieved through cooperation of the double-layer lifting mechanism and telescopic conveying. The equipment realizes full-process automation of soft package material encasement, has the advantages of high stacking efficiency, high uniformity, good adaptability and low labor intensity, and is suitable for automatic stacking operation of containers with soft package materials in the fields of logistics, warehousing and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of material handling and palletizing equipment technology, specifically to an automatic stacking device for soft-packaged materials. Background Technology

[0002] In the transportation of bagged and boxed flexible materials, as well as in commercial logistics and warehousing operations, large quantities of flexible materials often need to be loaded into containers for transshipment. Currently, most container loading operations still rely on manual labor, which is labor-intensive, inefficient, and prone to problems such as uneven stacking, unstable stacking, and low space utilization. Although existing technologies have developed automated equipment such as depalletizing robots that can complete initial depalletizing and loading, the deformable nature of flexible materials makes it difficult to maintain a neat posture after falling from the loading conveyor belt, affecting the subsequent orderly stacking inside the container. In addition, the limited internal space of a container makes it difficult for traditional conveying equipment to reach inside for layer-by-layer stacking, often still requiring manual assistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an integrated device that can automatically correct the posture of the packages and achieve orderly automatic stacking inside the container. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides an automatic stacking device for flexible packaging materials, which aims to solve the problems of uneven posture, misalignment, low stacking efficiency, and excessive manual intervention caused by the easy deformation of flexible packaging materials during the stacking process in containers. It realizes full-process automation, high efficiency and high neatness operation from material receiving, shaping, conveying to stacking.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] An automated stacking device for flexible packaging materials mainly includes interconnected conveying and palletizing devices, forming a complete automated processing line. The conveying device is responsible for receiving and organizing the flexible packaging materials from upstream and accurately transporting them to the palletizing station; the palletizing device is responsible for arranging the materials horizontally and stacking them vertically, finally neatly placing them into a container.

[0006] Specifically, the conveying device includes, in sequence along the material travel direction, a loading conveyor belt, an adjusting hub, and a telescopic conveyor belt. The loading conveyor belt serves as the inlet, receiving soft-packaged materials placed by the depalletizing robot or other upstream equipment. The adjusting hub, located at the end of the loading conveyor belt, functions primarily to detect and automatically correct any deviations or tilts in the soft-packaged materials through visual recognition and a rotary pressing mechanism. This ensures that each package enters the subsequent process with a standard posture, and a translation mechanism transfers the corrected package to the telescopic conveyor belt. The telescopic conveyor belt features a retractable design, with its retractable portion extending deep into the container to directly transport materials to predetermined drop points at different depths within the container, creating conditions for internal palletizing.

[0007] The palletizing device comprises, in sequence along the travel direction, a receiving mechanism, a transverse arrangement mechanism, and a stacking mechanism. The receiving mechanism, fixed to the discharge end of the telescopic conveyor belt, receives individual packages falling from the conveyor belt and continues to transport them forward to the transverse arrangement mechanism. The transverse arrangement mechanism has multiple independently controllable, reverse-rotating rollers. By controlling the rotation direction and start / stop of the rollers through a program, the transported packages are evenly spaced along the width of the container, forming a neat row. The stacking mechanism is located behind the transverse arrangement mechanism. Its core components are a lifting platform with secondary lifting function and a laterally movable push rod. After a row of packages is arranged on the transverse arrangement mechanism, it is pushed onto the lifting platform. The stacking mechanism automatically adjusts the height of the lifting platform according to the height of the already stacked materials inside the container, ensuring it matches the height of the layer to be stacked. Subsequently, the push rod actuates, smoothly pushing the entire row of packages away from the lifting platform, accurately placing them on the already stacked material pile inside the container, completing one layer of stacking. Through cyclical operation, the automated and neat layer-by-layer stacking of flexible packaging materials inside the container can be achieved.

[0008] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0009] 1. Full-process automation is achieved, greatly improving operational efficiency: This invention integrates a complete automated process from material feeding, posture correction, telescopic conveying, lateral arrangement to stacking and pushing, replacing the traditional cumbersome and high-intensity manual palletizing operations, realizing continuous and efficient unmanned operation, and significantly improving the container loading speed and overall logistics efficiency.

[0010] 2. Ensures neat stacking and stack stability: By setting up adjustment hubs and utilizing a combination of image recognition and mechanical rotation and pressing, the posture of each bale is automatically corrected, ensuring the neatness of the bales from the source. Combined with the precise distribution and baffle limiting of the lateral arrangement mechanism, each row of bales is arranged tightly and neatly. The whole-row pushing and smooth dropping stacking method creates a highly stable stack, reducing the risk of collapse during transportation and improving the space utilization of the container.

[0011] 3. Innovative solution to the challenge of automated stacking inside containers: By designing a retractable conveyor belt, the equipment can directly and continuously transport packages to different depths inside the container. Combined with the precise height control of the double-layer lifting of the stacking mechanism and the pushing function of push rod B, automated, layer-by-layer stacking is achieved in the enclosed, narrow space of a container, overcoming the technical bottleneck that makes it difficult for automated equipment to operate deep inside containers.

[0012] 4. Excellent flexibility and adaptability: The spacing of the baffle mechanism in the transverse arrangement is adjustable, allowing it to flexibly adapt to soft-pack materials of different shapes and sizes. The independent zone control logic of motor D enables the equipment to intelligently stop the rotation of rollers in areas where material bags are filled, avoiding unnecessary wear on the material packaging and demonstrating the equipment's wide adaptability and protective capabilities for materials of different specifications.

[0013] 5. Stable and reliable structural design, precise operation: The telescopic conveyor belt adopts a gear and rack drive, ensuring smooth transmission and accurate positioning. The stacking mechanism uses a double-layer lifting design with a lifting plate and a lifting platform, enabling precise and accurate adjustment of the stacking height of the material bags. All actuators (such as rotary cylinders, telescopic cylinders, and motors) are controlled by a unified control system, ensuring coordinated and orderly operation and guaranteeing the reliability and accuracy of the entire palletizing process.

[0014] 6. Reduced labor costs and safety risks: Fully automated operation completely frees workers from heavy and repetitive container loading labor, significantly reducing labor costs. At the same time, it avoids the potential safety hazards of manual entry into the container, improving operational safety. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the adjustment hub structure;

[0017] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the conveyor device after the adjustment hub has been removed;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the palletizing device;

[0019] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An exploded view from one perspective;

[0020] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 An exploded view from another perspective;

[0021] Figure 7 This is a structural view of the pusher mechanism.

[0022] Reference numerals: 100. Conveying device; 110. Feeding conveyor belt; 120. Adjustment hub; 121. Frame A; 122. Rotary cylinder; 123. Telescopic cylinder A; 124. Pressure plate; 125. Image recognition probe; 126. Friction protrusion; 127. Telescopic cylinder B; 128. Baffle; 130. Telescopic conveyor belt; 131. Fixed part; 1311. Frame B; 1312. Conveyor belt assembly A; 1313. Slide chute A; 132. Telescopic part; 1321. Frame C; 1322. Conveyor belt assembly B; 1323. Slider A; 1324. Rack A; 133. Drive mechanism A; 1331. Motor A; 1332. Gear A; 200. Palletizing device; 210. Receiving mechanism; 211. Car body; 212. Roller conveyor belt; 212 1. Frame D; 2122. Roller A; 213. Motor B; 214. Pushing mechanism; 2141. Guide rail A; 2142. Guide rod; 2143. Telescopic cylinder C; 2144. Push rod A; 2145. Motor C; 220. Lateral arrangement mechanism; 221. Frame E; 222. Roller B; 223. Motor D; 224. Baffle mechanism; 2241. Baffle; 2242. Screw; 2243. Locking nut; 2244. Clamping plate; 230. Stacking mechanism; 231. Guide rail B; 232. Lifting plate; 233. Lifting platform; 234. Push rod B; 235. Motor F; 236. Gear B; 237. Rack B; 238. Slide B; 239. Motor E; 2310. Gear C; 2311. Rack C; 2312. Self-propelled device. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0025] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] As shown in Figure 71, the automatic stacking equipment for flexible packaging materials of the present invention includes a conveying device 100 and a palletizing device 200. The conveying device 100 includes, in sequence along the material travel direction, a feeding conveyor belt 110, an adjusting hub 120, and a telescopic conveyor belt 130. The palletizing device 200 includes, in sequence along the travel direction, a receiving mechanism 210, a transverse arranging mechanism 220, and a stacking mechanism 230. The entire equipment is connected to the container entrance, and the telescopic conveyor belt 130 can extend into the container.

[0027] The feeding conveyor belt 110 receives soft-packaged materials placed by the upstream depalletizing robot. Because soft-packaged materials are easily deformed, they may deflect, tilt, or have other irregular postures after being dropped.

[0028] The material package enters below adjustment hub 120. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the frame A121 of the adjustment hub 120 spans the end of the feeding conveyor belt 110. An image recognition probe 125 (such as an industrial camera) on the lower surface of the frame A121 captures an image of the material bag entering its field of view and compares it with a preset standard posture, calculating the posture angle deviation value. After receiving the deviation value, the control system first controls the extension rod of the telescopic cylinder A123 to extend, driving the pressure plate 124 to descend until the friction protrusions 126 on the lower surface of the pressure plate 124 are tightly pressed against the upper surface of the material bag. Subsequently, the control system controls the rotary cylinder 122 to rotate according to the calculated deviation angle, driving the pressure plate 124 and the pressed material bag to rotate together through the telescopic cylinder A123 until the material bag's posture is corrected to the preset standard posture.

[0029] Next, the adjustment hub 120 performs the transfer task. The telescopic cylinder B127, installed on the telescopic conveyor belt 130, is activated, its telescopic rod extending to push the connected frame A121 horizontally towards the telescopic conveyor belt 130. During this process, the baffle 128 on the inner side of the frame A121 moves synchronously, pushing the already calibrated material bag below it out of the feeding conveyor belt 110 area and smoothly transitioning it onto the fixed part 131 of the telescopic conveyor belt 130. Afterwards, all mechanisms reset, preparing for the next work cycle.

[0030] like Figure 3As shown, the fixed portion 131 of the telescopic conveyor belt 130 includes a frame B1311 and a conveyor belt assembly A1312 mounted thereon. A groove A1313 is provided on the frame B1311 along the conveying direction. The telescopic portion 132 includes a frame C1321 and a conveyor belt assembly B1322. Slider blocks A1323 are fixed on both sides of the frame C1321, and the sliders A1323 are nested within the grooves A1313 and can slide. A rack A1324 extends from the bottom of the slider A1323. The motor A1331 of the drive mechanism A133 is fixed to the frame B1311, and the gear A1332 on its output shaft meshes with the rack A1324. When it is necessary to stack materials deeper into the container, the motor A1331 rotates forward, driving the telescopic portion 132, along with the materials on it, to extend into the container through gear and rack transmission. After one layer is stacked, motor A1331 reverses, driving the telescopic part 132 to retract, and the next cycle begins. This structure ensures that the material bags can be directly delivered to different depth positions inside the container.

[0031] After being conveyed by the telescopic conveyor belt 130, the neatly shaped material bag falls from the end of its telescopic part 132 and enters the receiving mechanism 210 of the palletizing device 200.

[0032] like Figure 4 As shown, the body 211 of the receiving mechanism 210 is fixed to the frame C1321 of the telescopic part 132. The roller conveyor belt 212 on the body 211 consists of a frame D2121 and multiple rollers A2122, one of which is driven by a motor B213 as the drive roller. A common conveyor belt (not shown) is fitted on all rollers A2122 to receive and continue to transport the falling material bags to the transverse arrangement mechanism 220.

[0033] The length of the frame E221 of the laterally arranged mechanism 220 is adapted to the internal width of the container. For example... Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, multiple independently rotatable rollers B222 are mounted on the frame E221. All rollers B222 are divided into left and right groups, with the center line of the frame E221 as the boundary. Each group of rollers B222 is driven by multiple symmetrically distributed motors D223. The control system can control the left motor D223 to drive the left roller B222 to rotate clockwise, and the right motor D223 to drive the right roller B222 to rotate counterclockwise. When a bale is delivered from the receiving mechanism 212 and falls near the center line of the frame E221, the left and right rollers B222 rotate in opposite directions at intervals, distributing the bale to one side. By controlling the start and stop of the motors D223 through a program, the bales can be evenly spaced in the width direction. Once a bale has been arranged in a certain area (such as the leftmost end), the motor D223 in that area stops working to prevent continuous roller rotation from wearing down the bale.

[0034] To accommodate material bags of different widths, the frame E221 is equipped with adjustable baffle mechanisms 224 at both ends. Figure 5 As shown, baffle 2241 is mounted on the beam of frame E221 via screw 2242, locking nut 2243, and clamping plate 2244. By loosening locking nut 2243, moving screw 2242 and baffle 2241 to the desired position, and then tightening locking nut 2243, clamping plate 2244 onto frame E221, baffle 2241 is fixed. The spacing between the two baffles 2241 is slightly larger than the total width of a single row of material bags, ensuring that the material bags are arranged tightly without being excessively compressed.

[0035] Once a row of material bags is arranged on the transverse arranging mechanism 220, the pushing mechanism 214 of the receiving mechanism 210 is activated. Motor C2145 starts, driving the two guide rails A2141 to flip from a flat position to an upright position. The guide rod 2142, which slides with the guide rail A2141, and its end push rod A2144 rise accordingly, making the height of the push rod A2144 the same as the height of the material bags on the transverse arranging mechanism 220. Next, the telescopic cylinder C2143 extends, pushing the guide rod 2142 and push rod A2144 forward along the guide rail A2141, thereby synchronously pushing the entire row of neatly arranged material bags forward on the transverse arranging mechanism 220, causing them to fall into the stacking mechanism 230 behind.

[0036] like Figure 4 , Figure 6 As shown, the lifting plate 232 of the stacking mechanism 230 is slidably mounted in the guide rail B231, which is vertically fixed on the frame E221, via a slider. The motor F235 meshes with the rack B237 fixed on the lifting plate 232 via a gear B236, driving the lifting plate 232 to rise and fall as a whole. The lifting plate 232 has a groove B238, in which the lifting platform 233 is slidably mounted via a slider. The motor E239 is fixed to the bottom of the lifting platform 233, and the gear C2310 on its output shaft meshes with the rack C2311 fixed on the lifting plate 232, driving the lifting platform 233 to rise and fall a second time relative to the lifting plate 232.

[0037] Once a row of material bags is pushed onto the lifting platform 233, the system controls motors F235 and E239 to work together according to the height of the stacked materials inside the container. Through the lifting adjustment of the lifting plate 232 and the lifting platform 233, the row of material bags on the lifting platform 233 is raised to the same height as the stacking layer inside the container.

[0038] At this time, the telescopic part 132 of the telescopic conveyor belt 130 extends forward under the drive of the motor A1331, positioning its discharge end above the lifting platform 233. Next, the push rod B234 on the lifting platform 233 moves under the drive of the self-propelled devices 2312 at both ends (such as sliders with drive wheels), smoothly pushing the entire row of material bags off the lifting platform 233 and placing them onto the already stacked material pile inside the container, completing one layer of stacking. Subsequently, the push rod B234 retracts, the lifting platform 233 descends, and all mechanisms reset, ready to receive and stack the next row of material bags.

[0039] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An automatic stacking device for flexible packaging materials, characterized in that, Includes a conveying device (100) and a palletizing device (200); The conveying device (100) includes a feeding conveyor belt (110), an adjustment hub (120), and a telescopic conveyor belt (130); The palletizing device (200) includes a receiving mechanism (210), a lateral arrangement mechanism (220), and a stacking mechanism (230); in: The feeding conveyor belt (110) is used to receive the soft packaged materials after destacking and transport them to the telescopic conveyor belt (130); The adjustment hub (120) is located between the feeding conveyor belt (110) and the telescopic conveyor belt (130) and is used to correct the posture of the material bag and transfer it to the telescopic conveyor belt (130); The telescopic conveyor belt (130) includes a fixed part (131) and a telescopic part (132), wherein the telescopic part (132) can telescopically move relative to the fixed part (131); The receiving mechanism (210) is located at the discharge end of the telescopic conveyor belt (130) and is used to receive the material package and convey it forward. The lateral arrangement mechanism (220) is located behind the receiving mechanism (210) and is used to arrange the material bags laterally; The stacking mechanism (230) is located behind the transverse arrangement mechanism (220) and is used to stack the arranged material bags and push them into the container.

2. The automatic stacking equipment for soft-packaged materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment hub (120) includes a frame A (121), on which a rotary cylinder (122) is provided. The rotating part of the rotary cylinder (122) is connected to a telescopic cylinder A (123), and the end of the telescopic rod of the telescopic cylinder A (123) is connected to a pressure plate (124). An image recognition probe (125) is provided on the lower surface of the frame A (121), and the image recognition probe (125) is electrically connected to the rotary cylinder (122) and the telescopic cylinder A (123); The lower surface of the pressure plate (124) is provided with friction protrusions (126).

3. The automatic stacking equipment for soft-packaged materials according to claim 2, characterized in that, The adjustment hub (120) also includes a telescopic cylinder B (127), which is installed on the telescopic conveyor belt (130) and connected to the frame A (121) to drive the frame A (121) and the material bag to move towards the telescopic conveyor belt (130); The frame A (121) is also provided with a baffle (128) for pushing the material bag during movement.

4. The automatic stacking equipment for soft-packaged materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed part (131) includes a frame B (1311) and a conveyor belt assembly A (1312), and the frame B (1311) is provided with a chute A (1313) extending along the conveying direction; The telescopic part (132) includes a frame C (1321) and a conveyor belt assembly B (1322). The frame C (1321) is provided with sliders A (1323) on both sides. The sliders A (1323) slide in the groove A (1313) and are provided with racks A (1324) at the bottom. The telescopic conveyor belt (130) also includes a drive mechanism A (133), which includes a motor A (1331) and a gear A (1332), and the gear A (1332) meshes with a rack A (1324).

5. The automatic stacking equipment for soft-packaged materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, The receiving mechanism (210) includes a vehicle body (211), and a roller conveyor belt (212) is provided on the upper part of the vehicle body (211); The roller conveyor belt (212) includes a frame D (2121) and a plurality of rollers A (2122), wherein at least one roller A (2122) is a drive roller driven by a motor B (213); The receiving mechanism (210) further includes a pushing mechanism (214), which includes a guide rail A (2141), a guide rod (2142), a telescopic cylinder C (2143), and a push rod A (2144). One end of the guide rail A (2141) is rotatably connected to the vehicle body (211) and driven to rotate by the motor C (2145). The guide rod (2142) is slidably mounted on the guide rail A (2141) and driven by the telescopic cylinder C (2143). The push rod A (2144) is located at the end of the guide rod (2142).

6. The automatic stacking equipment for soft-packaged materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transverse arrangement mechanism (220) includes a frame E (221), on which a plurality of rollers B (222) are rotatably mounted; The roller B (222) is set on both sides with the center line of the frame E (221) as the boundary, and the two rollers B (222) can rotate in opposite directions; Multiple motors D (223) are symmetrically arranged on the frame E (221), and the motors D (223) drive the rollers B (222) in the corresponding areas to rotate.

7. The automatic stacking equipment for soft-packaged materials according to claim 6, characterized in that, The transverse arrangement mechanism (220) also includes two adjustable baffle mechanisms (224), which are respectively located at the left and right ends of the frame E (221); The baffle mechanism (224) includes a baffle (2241), the back of which is connected to a screw (2242), and both ends of the screw (2242) are fixed to the frame E (221) by locking nuts (2243) and clamping plates (2244).

8. The automatic stacking equipment for soft-packaged materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stacking mechanism (230) includes a guide rail B (231), a lifting plate (232), a lifting platform (233), and a push rod B (234) mounted on the frame E (221); The lifting plate (232) is slidably mounted in the guide rail B (231) and is driven to rise and fall by the motor F (235) through the gear B (236) and the rack B (237); The lifting platform (233) is slidably mounted in the slide groove B (238) of the lifting plate (232) and is driven to lift by the motor E (239) through the gear C (2310) and the rack C (2311); Push rod B (234) is mounted on lifting platform (233), with self-propelled devices (2312) at both ends.

9. The automatic stacking equipment for soft-packaged materials according to claim 6, characterized in that, There are an even number of motors D(223), which are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the center line of the frame E(221). Each motor D(223) independently controls the rotation and stopping of the roller B(222) in the corresponding area.

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