A membrane handling and cleaning mechanism and method for a melt indexer

Abstract

This application discloses a membrane handling and cleaning mechanism for a melt indexer. The melt indexer includes a material tank and a membrane. The material tank stores molten material, and the membrane is located at the outlet of the material tank. The membrane has a central hole formed on it for the molten material to flow out. The mechanism includes: a handling device comprising a movable ejector mechanism with an elastic buffer structure, the ejector mechanism being inserted into the central hole of the membrane to position and support it; an ejector device comprising a movable ejector component configured to press down on the membrane from above and cooperate with the ejector mechanism to remove the membrane from the material tank; a cleaning device disposed on the movement path of the handling device for cleaning the surface and circumference of the removed membrane; and a drive control device connected to the handling device, the ejector device, and the cleaning device. This membrane handling and cleaning mechanism solves the problems of manual handling, easy damage during automation, and discontinuous cleaning process in existing technologies.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of laboratory automation equipment, and more specifically, to a membrane handling and cleaning mechanism and method for a melt indexer. Background Technology

[0002] A melt flow indexer is a key device used to determine the melt flow rate of thermoplastics under specific conditions. During the test, the molten material must flow through a tiny, precision component called a "mold" or "die" (its central aperture is typically about 2 mm). After use, the surface and central aperture of the mold are easily clogged by residual molten material, and must be cleaned to ensure the accuracy of subsequent tests.

[0003] Currently, the handling and cleaning of membranes rely heavily on manual operation. Operators must manually remove the membrane from the instrument, clean it using tools such as scrapers and brushes, and then manually reinstall it. This method has the following main drawbacks: 1) Due to the small size of the membrane, manual handling and cleaning require a high level of operator skill, are time-consuming, and cannot meet the needs of automated continuous testing. 2) If a rigid automated mechanism is used for handling, the membrane, being a precision component, is highly susceptible to damage due to rigid collisions, misalignment, or excessive force during handling. 3) The manual operation disrupts the automated continuity of the overall testing process, making it impossible to achieve a closed-loop automated operation of testing, cleaning, and retesting.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a mechanism that can automate membrane handling, non-destructive handling, and integrate cleaning functions to address the aforementioned technical challenges. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this application is to provide a membrane handling and cleaning mechanism and method for a melt indexer, in order to solve the problems of membrane handling relying on manual labor, automation being easily damaged, and the cleaning process being inconsistent in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of this application proposes a membrane handling and cleaning mechanism for a melt indexer. The melt indexer includes a material tank and a membrane. The material tank is used to store molten material, and the membrane is disposed at the outlet of the material tank. A central hole for the molten material to flow out is formed on the membrane. The mechanism includes: a handling device, which includes a movable ejector mechanism with an elastic buffer structure, the ejector mechanism being used to insert into the central hole of the membrane to position and support it; an ejector device, which includes a movable ejector component configured to press down from above the membrane and cooperate with the ejector mechanism to remove the membrane from the material tank; a cleaning device, which is disposed on the movement path of the handling device, for cleaning the surface and circumference of the removed membrane; and a drive control device, which is connected to the handling device, the ejector device, and the cleaning device respectively, for driving the handling device to transfer the membrane between the material tank and the cleaning device, and controlling the coordinated operation of each device.

[0007] Furthermore, the ejector mechanism includes: a rotary table driven by a drive source to achieve horizontal rotation; a pressure block on which an ejector is fixedly mounted; a connector on which the pressure block is slidably mounted on the rotary table; an elastic member sleeved on the connector, with both ends of the elastic member elastically abutting between the pressure block and the rotary table; and a lifting device mounted on the rotary table for driving the lifting of the pressure block.

[0008] Furthermore, the ejector pin includes: a tip portion with an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the central hole of the membrane, for insertion into the central hole; and a support portion connected to the bottom of the tip portion, the support portion having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the central hole, for supporting the bottom of the membrane.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes a locking device for locking the perforated membrane onto the material tank. In the membrane loading state, the ejector mechanism pushes the perforated membrane into the mounting slot of the material tank, and the locking device extends into the mounting slot under the drive of the drive device to lock the perforated membrane.

[0010] Furthermore, the cleaning device includes a positioning unit driven by a drive device to press the perforated membrane on the ejector mechanism to a preset height before the cleaning operation.

[0011] Furthermore, the cleaning device also includes an upper surface cleaning unit, which includes a cleaning tool that is driven to reciprocate by a drive device. The cleaning tool is used to clean the upper surface residue of the pore membrane.

[0012] Furthermore, the positioning unit is a positioning rod made of polytetrafluoroethylene, which is driven by a cylinder to achieve reciprocating lifting and lowering.

[0013] Furthermore, the cleaning tools are scrapers or wire brushes.

[0014] Furthermore, the cleaning device also includes a peripheral cleaning unit, which includes a pair of symmetrically arranged rotating wire brushes; wherein each rotating wire brush is connected to a drive device and the rotating wire brush is mounted on an opening and closing gripper so that the rotating wire brush contacts the cylindrical peripheral surface of the pore membrane through the closing of the gripper.

[0015] The second aspect of this application proposes a method for handling and cleaning a perforated membrane for a melt indexer, comprising the following steps: inserting a pin mechanism with an elastic buffer structure into the center hole of the perforated membrane from below to position and support the membrane; pressing down on the membrane from above and cooperating with the pin to remove the membrane from the material container of the melt indexer; transferring the removed membrane to a cleaning station for cleaning its surface and circumference; and controlling the coordinated actions of the pin mechanism, the downward pressure, and the cleaning station to achieve the transfer and cleaning of the membrane between the material container and the cleaning station.

[0016] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application may include the following beneficial effects:

[0017] In this application, the elastic buffer structure of the ejector mechanism and the synergistic effect of the ejection device enable non-destructive disassembly and stable clamping of the membrane, thereby avoiding membrane deformation or contamination caused by manual operation. The cleaning device is integrated along the transport path, shortening the membrane transport distance and reducing waiting time, thus improving overall operational efficiency. The drive control device provides centralized and coordinated control of all devices, ensuring automated and continuous execution of the pick-up, placement, and cleaning processes, reducing manual intervention costs, and guaranteeing the consistency and stability of membrane cleaning quality through standardized operating procedures. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the application and to make other features, objects, and advantages of the application more apparent. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain the application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the application. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 A side view of the fuse indexer provided in this application;

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the membrane loading and cleaning mechanism provided in this application;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The schematic diagram shows a side cross-sectional view of the melt indexer formed along the axis of the membrane inside the barrel.

[0022] Figure 4 Another structural schematic diagram of the membrane pick-up and cleaning mechanism provided in this application shows the pick-up device and the upper surface cleaning unit.

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the front view of the melt indexer shows the connection between the loading and unloading device and the material bucket.

[0024] Figure 6 Another structural side view of the membrane pick-up and cleaning mechanism provided in this application shows the pick-up device and the peripheral cleaning unit.

[0025] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified view of point I is shown below;

[0026] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating the steps of the membrane placement and cleaning method provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0028] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this application described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0029] In this application, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "middle," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0030] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] Furthermore, the terms "installation," "setup," "equipped with," "connection," "linked," and "socketing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] Figure 1 and Figure 3 A structural view of a melt indexer 200 is shown, on which a membrane pick-up and cleaning mechanism 100 provided in this application is provided. Figure 2 The structure of the membrane pick-up and cleaning mechanism 100 provided in this application is shown.

[0033] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the melt indexer 200 uses a membrane loading and cleaning mechanism 100. The melt indexer 200 includes a material tank 201 and a membrane 202 (e.g., ...). Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown), the hopper 201 is used to store molten material, and the perforated membrane 202 is disposed at the outlet of the hopper 201. A central hole 2021 for the molten material to flow out is formed on the perforated membrane 202. The device includes: a pick-and-place device 1, which includes a movable ejector mechanism 11 with an elastic buffer structure, the ejector mechanism 11 being inserted into the central hole 2021 of the perforated membrane 202 to position and support the perforated membrane 202; and an ejector device (not shown), which includes a movable ejector component (e.g., adapted to the central hole of the hopper 201). The ejector is configured to press down from above the perforated membrane 202 and cooperate with the ejector pin mechanism 11 to remove the perforated membrane 202 from the material container 201; the cleaning device 2 is located on the moving path of the pick-and-place device 1 and is used to clean the surface and circumference of the removed perforated membrane 202; the drive control device (not shown in the figure) is connected to the pick-and-place device 1, the ejector and the cleaning device 2 respectively, and is used to drive the pick-and-place device 1 to transfer the perforated membrane 202 between the material container 201 and the cleaning device 2, and control the coordinated operation of each device.

[0034] In practical use, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the membrane pick-up and cleaning mechanism 100, after receiving a start signal, controls the pick-up device 1 to move below the material tank 201 at the melt indexer 200 station. The ejector pin mechanism 11 rises and inserts into the center hole 2021 of the membrane 202 for positioning and support. Subsequently, the ejector component of the ejector device is inserted from above the material tank 201 and presses down on the membrane 202, working in conjunction with the ejector pin mechanism 11 to remove the membrane 202 from the material tank 201. The pick-up device 1 carries the membrane 202 along a preset path to the cleaning device 2, which cleans the surface and circumference of the membrane 202. After cleaning, the pick-up device 1 transfers the membrane 202 back to the material tank 201 for installation or designated storage, and all devices reset to await the next cycle. When it is necessary to install the perforated membrane 202, after cleaning, the perforated membrane 202 returns to the working position of the material tank 201 along the original path, and is installed on the material tank 201 by the opposite action of disassembly (see below for details).

[0035] Through the above-described configuration, the membrane pick-up and cleaning mechanism 100 of this embodiment of the invention, through the synergistic effect of the elastic buffer structure of the ejector mechanism 11 and the ejection device, can achieve non-destructive disassembly and stable clamping of the membrane 202, thereby avoiding deformation or contamination of the membrane 202 caused by manual operation. The cleaning device 2 is integrated along the transport path, shortening the transport distance of the membrane 202 and reducing waiting time, thus improving overall operational efficiency. The drive control device provides centralized and coordinated control of each device, ensuring the automated and continuous execution of the pick-up and cleaning processes, reducing the cost of manual intervention, and simultaneously ensuring the consistency and stability of the cleaning quality of the membrane 202 through standardized operating procedures.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 4 Furthermore, the ejector mechanism 11 may include: a rotary table 111, which is driven by a drive source to achieve horizontal rotation; a pressure block 112, on which an ejector 116 is fixedly disposed; a connecting member 113, on which the pressure block 112 is slidably disposed on the rotary table 111; an elastic member 114, which is sleeved on the connecting member 113, and whose two ends elastically abut against the pressure block 112 and the rotary table 111; and a lifting device 115, which is mounted on the rotary table 111 for driving the lifting and lowering of the pressure block 112.

[0037] In this application, the rotary table 111 can adopt a hollow flange structure, and its bottom can be connected to a servo motor via a harmonic reducer. The pressure block 112 can be a rectangular metal plate, and the rotary table 111 can be provided with a guide sleeve that slides in cooperation with the connecting member 113. The connecting member 113 can be a guide rod structure. The elastic component 114 can be a cylindrical helical compression spring, with the spring wire diameter and free length matching a preset buffer stroke. The lifting device 115 can be composed of a stepper motor and a limiting block set at the drive end of the stepper motor. The limiting block abuts against the top of the pressure block 112 and cooperates with the elastic component 114. When the pick-and-place device 1 receives a transfer command, the lifting device 115 drives the limiting block to rise, and the pressure block 112 drives the ejector pin 116 to rise under the action of the elastic component 114. The ejector pin 116 inserts into the center hole 2021 of the perforated membrane 202, realizing flexible support for the perforated membrane 202. The rotary table 111 drives the membrane 202 to rotate at any angle from 0 to 360° according to the cleaning process requirements, so as to achieve the cleaning work.

[0038] With the above configuration, the elastic buffer system composed of the guide rod structure and the compression spring can adapt to the thickness deviation and downward pressure stiffness of the pore membrane 202, thereby avoiding damage to the pore membrane 202 caused by rigid contact.

[0039] Please continue to refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 Furthermore, the ejector pin 116 may include: a tip portion 1161, the outer diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the central hole 2021 of the porous membrane 202, for insertion into the central hole 2021; and a support portion 1162, which is connected to the bottom of the tip portion 1161, the outer diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the central hole 2021, for supporting the bottom of the porous membrane 202.

[0040] In this application, the diameter of the needle tip 1161 is close to or slightly fitted to the size of the central hole of the perforated membrane 202. This allows the needle tip 1161 to push out residual material from the central hole of the membrane 202 after insertion, thus achieving preliminary cleaning of the membrane 202's inner hole. The ejector pin 116 can be integrally molded, with the needle tip 1161 featuring a frustum-shaped transition design and a mirror-polished surface. The support portion 1162 has a disc-shaped structure. When the pick-and-place device 1 moves below the perforated membrane 202, the lifting device 115 drives the ejector pin 116 upwards, allowing the needle tip 1161 to insert first into the central hole 2021 of the membrane 202, until the top surface of the support portion 1162 is fully in contact with the bottom of the membrane 202, achieving stable support and concentric positioning of the membrane 202.

[0041] Through the above-described design, the frustum-shaped needle tip reduces the difficulty of inserting the central hole 2021, and the mirror-polished surface reduces frictional resistance with the inner wall of the membrane 202. The support portion 1162 enhances positioning stability. The integrated structure improves the mechanical strength of the ejector pin 116, effectively preventing deformation or breakage during long-term use, and ensuring the reliability of the membrane 202 insertion and removal process and the structural integrity of the membrane 202.

[0042] Back Figure 1 Furthermore, it may also include a locking device 3 for locking the perforated membrane 202 onto the material tank. In the membrane loading state, the ejector mechanism 11 pushes the perforated membrane 202 into the mounting slot (not shown in the figure) of the material tank 201. The locking device 3 extends into the mounting slot under the drive of the drive device to lock the perforated membrane 202. Conversely, it is used when removing the membrane.

[0043] In this application, the locking device 3 includes a locking part (e.g., a positioning pin or a locking pin) that matches the mounting slot. The drive cylinder extends and retracts along the radial direction of the material barrel 201 by driving the locking part to abut or disengage from the outer wall of the perforated membrane 202. During membrane loading, after the ejector mechanism 11 pushes the perforated membrane 202 into the mounting slot of the material barrel, the drive control device triggers the locking device 3 to operate. The drive cylinder pushes the locking part into the slot, and the locking part forms a mechanical engagement with the outer peripheral wall of the perforated membrane 202. After fixing, the ejector mechanism 11 descends and moves to its initial position for later use, thus completing the repositioning. During disassembly, the drive cylinder pulls the locking part out of the slot, releasing the locking state.

[0044] Through the above-described mechanical interlocking locking design, a rigid connection between the perforated membrane 202 and the material tank can be achieved, preventing displacement of the perforated membrane 202 due to vibration or pressure during the melt flow index test. Furthermore, the locking device 3 is compatible with perforated membrane 202 specifications of different thicknesses, and the locking part design ensures that the edges of the perforated membrane 202 are not damaged during the locking process, improving membrane loading stability and repeatability accuracy.

[0045] Please refer to Figure 6 Furthermore, the cleaning device 2 may include a positioning unit 21, which is driven by a driving device to press the perforated membrane 202 on the ejector mechanism 11 to a preset height before the cleaning operation.

[0046] In this application, the positioning unit 21 can be a positioning rod driven by a servo drive module. An elastic buffer pad can be embedded at the bottom of the positioning rod. The servo drive module controls the positioning rod to move vertically through a ball screw pair. When the pick-and-place device 1 transfers the perforated membrane 202 to the cleaning station, the drive control device triggers the positioning unit 21 to move. The servo drive module pushes the positioning rod downward, and the perforated membrane 202 is pressed to a preset cleaning height by the elastic buffer pad before resetting.

[0047] Through the above settings, the positioning method combining servo drive and elastic buffer is used to achieve precise control of the cleaning height of the pore membrane 202, avoiding cleaning blind spots or cleaning obstacles caused by the position of the pore membrane 202, significantly improving the adhesion accuracy between the cleaning tool and the surface of the pore membrane 202, and ensuring the consistency of the cleaning effect.

[0048] Please return Figure 4 Furthermore, the cleaning device 2 may also include an upper surface cleaning unit 22, which may include a cleaning tool 221 driven to reciprocate by a driving device. The cleaning tool 221 is used to clean the residue on the upper surface of the pore membrane 202.

[0049] In this application, the upper surface cleaning unit 22 can be composed of a linear slide module, a replaceable cleaning head, and a position sensor. The cleaning head adopts a modular design and can be adapted to different cleaning tools such as scrapers or wire brushes. The linear slide is driven by a servo motor to achieve horizontal reciprocating motion, with a stroke covering the diameter range of the upper surface of the porous membrane 202. After the porous membrane 202 is pressed to a preset height by the positioning unit 21, the drive control device starts the upper surface cleaning unit 22. The servo motor drives the cleaning head to reciprocate at a uniform speed along the radial direction of the porous membrane 202, removing residues through contact friction between the cleaning head and the surface of the porous membrane 202. After cleaning, the cleaning head returns to its initial position, waiting for the next cleaning instruction.

[0050] With the above-mentioned configuration, the modular cleaning head design allows for rapid switching of cleaning tools based on the characteristics of residues, enhancing cleaning adaptability. Servo-driven reciprocating motion, combined with closed-loop control via a position sensor, ensures that the cleaning trajectory covers the entire surface of the pore membrane 202 without any blind spots. Simultaneously, by adjusting the motion speed and pressure parameters, damage to the surface of the pore membrane 202 is avoided while efficiently removing residues, ensuring the structural integrity of the pore membrane 202 after cleaning.

[0051] Furthermore, the cleaning tool 221 can be a scraper or a wire brush.

[0052] In this application, a scraper or a wire brush is used as the cleaning tool 221, which can achieve differentiated cleaning for different types of residues: the scraper is suitable for removing blocky or sticky residues adhering to the surface of the membrane 202, achieving efficient scraping through planar contact; the wire brush is suitable for cleaning fine particles or fibrous residues, utilizing the elastic deformation of the bristles to penetrate deep into the pores of the membrane 202 surface. The switchable design of the two cleaning tools can adapt to the cleaning needs of the membrane 202 in different usage scenarios, ensuring thorough removal of residues while avoiding excessive wear on the surface of the membrane 202 caused by a single cleaning method, thus improving the adaptability of cleaning operations and the reusability of the membrane 202.

[0053] Furthermore, the positioning unit 21 can be a positioning rod made of polytetrafluoroethylene, which is driven by a cylinder to achieve reciprocating lifting and lowering.

[0054] In this application, the positioning rod made of polytetrafluoroethylene can effectively prevent adhesion or scratching to the surface of the porous membrane 202, ensuring the integrity of the porous membrane 202 during the positioning process.

[0055] Please continue to refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 Furthermore, the cleaning device 2 may also include a peripheral cleaning unit 23, which includes a pair of symmetrically arranged rotating wire brushes 231; wherein each rotating wire brush 231 is connected to a driving device, and the rotating wire brush 231 is mounted on an opening and closing gripper 232 so that the rotating wire brush contacts the cylindrical peripheral surface of the perforated membrane 202 through the closing of the gripper 232.

[0056] In this application, the peripheral cleaning unit 23 consists of a symmetrically configured dual-axis drive assembly. Each rotating wire brush 231 is independently connected to a servo motor as a rotation drive source. The brush body is made of wear-resistant steel wire bundles arranged in a spiral shape. The opening and closing grippers 232 achieve synchronous centering movement through a pneumatic slide. The stroke of the grippers 232 can be adjusted by a limit sensor to accommodate membranes 202 of different diameters. After the membrane 202 has completed the cleaning of its upper surface, the drive control device commands the opening and closing grippers 232 to drive the rotating wire brushes 231 to move closer synchronously. When the brush body contacts the cylindrical peripheral surface of the membrane 202, the servo motor drives the wire brush to rotate at high speed, while the grippers 232 maintain a constant clamping force. The membrane 202 rotates slowly with the positioning unit 21 to achieve full-angle cleaning of the peripheral surface. After the cleaning cycle is completed, the grippers 232 open and reset.

[0057] Through the above configuration, the symmetrical design of the dual brushes, combined with the rotation of the perforated membrane 202, achieves thorough cleaning of the circumferential surface without any blind spots. The spiral steel wire bundle structure enhances the ability to remove residue from even the smallest crevices. The independent servo drive, linked with the pneumatic gripper 232 pressure feedback system, automatically adjusts the clamping force according to the diameter of the perforated membrane 202, preventing deformation of the membrane 202 or excessive wear of the brush bristles due to overpressure, significantly improving the uniformity of circumferential cleaning and extending the equipment's lifespan.

[0058] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the drive device or drive source mentioned in this application may be a conventionally configured drive device such as a cylinder or motor.

[0059] like Figure 8As shown, according to a second aspect of this application, a method 300 for picking up, placing, and cleaning a perforated membrane 202 for a melt indexer 200 is provided, comprising the following steps: S1, inserting a pin mechanism 11 with an elastic buffer structure into the center hole 2021 of the perforated membrane 202 from below to position and support the perforated membrane 202; S2, pressing down from above the perforated membrane 202 and cooperating with the pin 116 to remove the perforated membrane 202 from the material tank 201 of the melt indexer 200; S3, transferring the removed perforated membrane 202 to a cleaning station, where the surface and circumference of the perforated membrane 202 are cleaned; S4, controlling the coordinated action of the pin mechanism 11, the downward pressure, and the cleaning station to realize the transfer and cleaning operation of the perforated membrane 202 between the material tank 201 and the cleaning station.

[0060] Through the above-described configuration, the elastic buffer design of the ejector mechanism 11 and the coordinated disassembly method achieve non-destructive separation of the perforated membrane 202 from the material container 201, avoiding deformation or edge damage of the perforated membrane 202 caused by traditional manual operation. The cleaning station provides targeted treatment to the surface and periphery of the perforated membrane 202, effectively removing residual molten material and improving the stability of the membrane 202 for reuse. The coordinated control mechanism of each process ensures the automated and continuous execution of the pick-up, placement, and cleaning processes, reducing manual intervention and operational errors. Simultaneously, standardized operating procedures ensure the consistency of the cleaning quality of the perforated membrane 202, thereby improving the reliability of the melt indexer 200's detection data.

[0061] It should be noted that the steps shown in the flowchart in the accompanying drawings can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions, and although a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases the steps shown or described may be executed in a different order than that shown here.

[0062] Obviously, those skilled in the art should understand that the various units or steps of this application described above can be implemented using general-purpose computing devices. They can be centralized on a single computing device or distributed across a network of multiple computing devices. Optionally, they can be implemented using computer-executable program code, thereby storing them in a storage device for execution by a computing device, or fabricating them separately as individual integrated circuit devices, or fabricating multiple devices or steps as a single integrated circuit device. Thus, this application is not limited to any particular combination of hardware and software.

[0063] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A membrane loading and cleaning mechanism for a melt indexer, the melt indexer comprising a material tank and a membrane, the material tank for storing molten material, the membrane being disposed at the outlet of the material tank, and the membrane having a central hole formed thereon for the molten material to flow out, characterized in that, include: The pick-and-place device includes a movable pin mechanism with an elastic buffer structure, the pin mechanism being inserted into the center hole of the porous membrane to position and support the porous membrane; An ejection device includes a movable ejection member configured to press down from above the perforated membrane and cooperate with the ejector pin mechanism to remove the perforated membrane from the hopper. A cleaning device is provided on the moving path of the picking and placing device for cleaning the surface and circumference of the picked-up membrane. A drive control device is connected to the pick-and-place device, the ejection device, and the cleaning device, respectively, for driving the pick-and-place device to transfer the perforated membrane between the material bucket and the cleaning device, and controlling the coordinated operation of each device.

2. The membrane placement and cleaning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ejector pin mechanism includes: A rotary table, which is driven by a drive source to achieve horizontal rotation; A pressure block, on which a ejector pin is fixedly installed; A connector, wherein the pressure block is slidably mounted on the rotating platform via the connector; An elastic member, sleeved on the connector, wherein both ends of the elastic member elastically abut against the pressure block and the rotating table; and A lifting device, which is installed on the rotating platform, is used to drive the lifting and lowering of the pressure block.

3. The membrane placement and cleaning mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, The ejector pin includes: The needle tip, with an outer diameter smaller than that of the central aperture of the membrane, is used for insertion into the central aperture; and A support portion, which is connected to the bottom of the needle tip portion, has an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the central hole and is used to support the bottom of the pore membrane.

4. The membrane placement and cleaning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a locking device for locking the perforated membrane onto the material tank. In the membrane loading state, the ejector mechanism pushes the perforated membrane into the mounting slot of the material tank, and the locking device extends into the mounting slot under the drive of the drive device to lock the perforated membrane.

5. The membrane placement and cleaning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning device includes a positioning unit, which is driven by a driving device to press the perforated membrane on the ejector mechanism to a preset height before the cleaning operation.

6. The membrane placement and cleaning mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cleaning device further includes an upper surface cleaning unit, which includes a cleaning tool that is driven to reciprocate by a driving device. The cleaning tool is used to clean the upper surface residue of the pore membrane.

7. The membrane placement and cleaning mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that, The positioning unit is a positioning rod made of polytetrafluoroethylene, which is driven by a cylinder to achieve reciprocating lifting and lowering.

8. The membrane placement and cleaning mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cleaning tool is a scraper or a wire brush.

9. The membrane placement and cleaning mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cleaning device further includes a peripheral cleaning unit, which includes a pair of symmetrically arranged rotating wire brushes; wherein each of the rotating wire brushes is connected to a driving device, and the rotating wire brushes are mounted on opening and closing jaws so that the rotating wire brushes contact the cylindrical peripheral surface of the perforated membrane through the closing of the jaws.

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