An automatic drum cleaning device

Abstract

This invention provides an automatic drum cleaning device, belonging to the field of tobacco drum cleaning technology. It includes a linear drive mechanism, fixedly mounted on an external frame, for driving the cleaning mechanism to move inside the drum; and a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the inner wall of the drum, connected to the linear drive mechanism. The cleaning mechanism includes a water supply pipe, one end of which is rotatably connected to a pipe connector, and the other end connected to a nozzle. This invention has a compact structure and is directly mounted on a mounting bracket outside the drum. It can be activated at the end of each workday or periodically for one-button cleaning, requiring no manual intervention and greatly improving convenience. Regular cleaning also significantly reduces the accumulation of e-liquid and debris, preventing large clumps of e-liquid from forming and making cleaning difficult.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tobacco drum cleaning technology, and more specifically to an automatic drum cleaning device. Background Technology

[0002] Drum rollers are widely used in the tobacco processing industry, such as in processes like loosening and conveying tobacco. As the tobacco shreds move in a circular motion within the roller, tobacco residue inevitably adheres to the inner wall of the roller due to the presence of tar. Frequent cleaning is necessary to keep the roller clean and thus ensure the quality of the tobacco.

[0003] Currently, tobacco factories mainly use manual rinsing to clean the drums. However, manual cleaning is troublesome and time-consuming. In addition, it is difficult to ensure thorough cleaning, and there is a risk of some areas not being cleaned properly.

[0004] To address this issue, some manufacturers have begun researching automatic cleaning devices. Patent application number 202510858718.2 discloses an automatic cleaning device for tobacco feeding rollers. This device adjusts the cleaning components to a suitable position when cleaning is required. Using remote control, it drives a compressed gas treatment device, a tap water treatment device, and a drive mechanism on the frame. The connecting pipe is then slowly propelled forward by the drive mechanism. A high-pressure jetting mechanism supplies gas or liquid into the connecting pipe, and the nozzles spray the gas or liquid into the inner wall of the roller, achieving cleaning. The start / stop of the spraying, the delay time, and the intervals between spraying can all be set and operated through a human-machine interface. Real-time management and monitoring are also possible. This eliminates the need for frequent worker entry into the roller, significantly reducing the risk of accidents and effectively improving cleaning efficiency.

[0005] The nozzle of this design has 49 nozzles. The advantage of this cleaning structure is its wide cleaning coverage, which can cover the entire inner wall of the drum. However, it also has corresponding disadvantages, namely, the water flow is relatively dispersed. When dealing with some crevices or corners where e-liquid has accumulated heavily, it is easy to encounter situations where the nozzle covers the area but is not completely cleaned. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention provides an automatic drum cleaning device to solve the technical problems in the prior art.

[0007] To solve the above problems, the automatic drum cleaning device provided by the present invention adopts the following technical solution: it includes a linear drive mechanism, which is fixedly installed on an external frame and is used to drive the cleaning mechanism to move inside the drum; A cleaning mechanism for cleaning the inner wall of a drum. The cleaning mechanism is connected to a linear drive mechanism. The cleaning mechanism includes a water supply pipe, one end of which is rotatably connected to a pipe joint, and the other end of which is connected to a nozzle. The drive mechanism is used to drive the cleaning mechanism to rotate, so that the cleaning range of the nozzle can cover the inner wall of the drum. A swing structure, located beside the cleaning mechanism, is used to drive the nozzle to swing, thereby expanding the rinsing range of the nozzle. A connecting frame is fixedly connected to the side of the water supply pipe near the nozzle, and the nozzle is rotatably mounted on the connecting frame via a pin. The swing structure includes a reciprocating shaft slidably mounted on the side of the water supply pipe, the reciprocating shaft being arranged parallel to the water supply pipe. The pin extends out of the connecting frame and is fixedly connected to a swing gear. A swing rack that meshes with the swing gear is fixedly connected to the reciprocating shaft. A differential structure is provided at the end of the reciprocating shaft away from the swing rack to drive the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating shaft, thereby driving the nozzle to swing back and forth.

[0008] As a further improvement, the linear drive mechanism includes a translation structure and a guide structure.

[0009] As a further improvement, the translation structure includes, but is not limited to, a pneumatic cylinder, an electric cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a lead screw and nut mechanism, or a synchronous belt mechanism.

[0010] As a further improvement, the drive mechanism includes a drive motor and a connecting sleeve fixedly connected to the side of the drive motor. The water supply pipe is rotatably assembled inside the connecting sleeve. The drive motor is keyed with a drive gear, and a driven gear is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe. The drive gear and the driven gear mesh with each other, so that the drive motor drives the nozzle to rotate 360°.

[0011] As a further improvement, the number of teeth on the driving gear is less than the number of teeth on the driven gear, and the transmission ratio is adjusted to reduce the rotational speed of the water pipe.

[0012] As a further improvement, the differential structure includes a first differential gear, which is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor through a bearing. The first differential gear is located on the side close to the rocker rack. A second differential gear is connected to the water pipe by a bearing. The first differential gear and the second differential gear mesh with each other, so that a differential is formed between the second differential gear and the driven gear. The second differential gear is fixedly connected to an end face cam on the side near the nozzle, and the reciprocating shaft is also connected to a return spring, so that during the rotation of the water pipe, the end face cam pushes the reciprocating shaft to slide back and forth along its length, thereby driving the nozzle to swing back and forth.

[0013] As a further improvement, a roller is rotatably connected to the side of the reciprocating shaft near the end face cam to reduce friction.

[0014] As a further improvement, the diameter of the driving gear is the same as the diameter of the first differential gear, and the diameter of the driven gear is the same as the diameter of the second differential gear.

[0015] As a further improvement, the nozzle outlet is in the shape of a straight line, a rectangle, an ellipse, or a row of several drainage holes.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the above-described technical solution of the present invention are as follows: 1. This invention features a compact structure and is directly mounted on the external mounting bracket of the drum. It allows for one-button cleaning at the end of each workday or periodically, eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly improving convenience. Regular cleaning also greatly reduces the accumulation of e-liquid and debris, preventing large build-ups that make cleaning difficult.

[0017] 2. The nozzle of this invention is in the shape of a straight line, which generates a relatively concentrated impact force, and has a better cleaning effect on some gaps, dead corners or stubborn e-liquid.

[0018] To address the drawbacks of this type of nozzle, the present invention also designs a drive mechanism and a differential structure to enable the nozzle to rotate and oscillate simultaneously, thereby improving the cleaning range of the cleaning mechanism.

[0019] 3. The present invention has fewer electrical components. Apart from the linear drive mechanism, there is only one electrical component, the drive motor. All other functions are implemented using mechanical structures, which avoids the high failure rate caused by complex circuits or too many electrical components, and greatly improves the operational stability of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent upon reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation, and like or corresponding reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts, wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic drum cleaning device of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the differential speed structure of the automatic drum cleaning device of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the swing structure of the automatic drum cleaning device of the present invention.

[0021] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Linear drive mechanism; 110. Translation structure; 120. Guide structure; 200. Cleaning mechanism; 210. Pipe joint; 220. Water pipe; 230. Connecting frame; 240. Nozzle; 300. Drive mechanism; 310. Connecting sleeve; 320. Driven gear; 330. Drive gear; 340. Drive motor; 400. Differential structure; 410. First differential gear; 420. Second differential gear; 430. End face cam; 500. Rocking structure; 510. Roller; 520. Reciprocating shaft; 530. Rocking rack; 540. Rocking gear. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments described below are only some, not all, of the embodiments disclosed. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] In the existing technology, tobacco factories mainly use manual rinsing to clean the drums. However, manual cleaning is troublesome and time-consuming. In addition, it is difficult to ensure thorough cleaning, and there is a tendency for some areas to be uncleaned.

[0024] Although some manufacturers have begun to research cleaning devices for automatic cleaning, the cleaning effect does not meet the requirements. When faced with some crevices or dead corners or areas with serious e-liquid buildup, it is easy to find that although the nozzle covers the area, it is not completely clean.

[0025] Regarding the above-mentioned problems, the concept of this invention is as follows: Firstly, using a nozzle with relatively concentrated impact force provides good cleaning results, but its small cleaning area results in a very slow cleaning speed. Therefore, it is necessary to oscillate back and forth during the nozzle's rotation to increase the cleaning area and significantly improve cleaning efficiency.

[0026] Therefore, how to achieve simultaneous rotation and oscillation of the spray head is a crucial issue. If the oscillation structure is directly installed on the water supply pipe, a separate electrical drive is required. However, the water supply pipe itself needs to rotate, which makes the circuitry more complex. Furthermore, during the cleaning process, the drum is filled with water mist, making the circuitry or electrical components more prone to failure.

[0027] Therefore, it is necessary to simplify the circuit and ensure its sealing effect. This invention ultimately employs a differential structure to achieve simultaneous rotation and oscillation of the nozzle. Specifically, a first differential gear and a second differential gear are respectively connected to bearings on the drive motor and the water supply pipe. This way, after the drive motor starts, it cannot directly drive the first and second differential gears to rotate; there will be a speed difference between the differential structure and the water supply pipe. The second differential gear is connected to an end-face cam, and the reciprocating shaft rotates around the water supply pipe and is connected to a return spring. This allows the reciprocating shaft to move back and forth along its length after the motor starts, driving the nozzle to oscillate back and forth through the gear and rack structure.

[0028] The electrical components of this invention consist of only one drive motor, resulting in a simple circuit structure and easy sealing. Even in the event of a malfunction, the cause can be quickly identified. The nozzle oscillation is achieved through a purely mechanical structure, which is ingenious yet not overly complex. Each roller washing machine can be equipped with one of the cleaning devices of this invention. Furthermore, installation is convenient, the cost is relatively low, and it offers good practicality.

[0029] After introducing the basic principles of the present invention, various non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Any number of elements in the accompanying drawings is for illustrative purposes only and not for limitation, and any naming is for distinction only and has no limiting meaning.

[0030] The principles and spirit of the present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to several representative embodiments.

[0031] Embodiment 1 of the automatic drum cleaning device provided by the present invention: like Figures 1-3 As shown, the automatic drum cleaning device includes a linear drive mechanism 100, a cleaning mechanism 200, a drive mechanism 300, and a swing structure 500.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the linear drive mechanism 100 is fixedly mounted on the external frame and is used to drive the cleaning mechanism 200 to move inside the drum. The linear drive mechanism 100 includes a translation structure 110 and a guide structure 120. The guide structure 120 is used to ensure the precise and stable operation of the cleaning mechanism 200. The guide structure 120 includes a guide sleeve and a guide shaft, with the guide shaft slidably mounted inside the guide sleeve. The translation structure 110 includes, but is not limited to, a cylinder, an electric cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a lead screw and nut mechanism, or a synchronous belt mechanism, which can be adjusted according to the actual situation. In this embodiment, a cylinder is used as an example. The output shaft of the cylinder is fixedly connected to the guide shaft through a connecting rod, and the guide shaft is fixedly connected to the cleaning mechanism 200. When the cylinder moves, it drives the entire cleaning mechanism 200 to move.

[0033] The cleaning mechanism 200 is used to clean the inner wall of the drum. The cleaning mechanism 200 is connected to the linear drive mechanism 100. The cleaning mechanism 200 includes a water supply pipe 220, one end of which is rotatably connected to a pipe connector 210. This rotatable connection allows the water supply pipe 220 to rotate freely. The pipe connector 210 connects to an external water source. The other end of the water supply pipe 220 is connected to a nozzle 240. In this embodiment, a connecting frame 230 is fixedly connected to the side of the water supply pipe 220 near the nozzle 240. The connecting frame 230 is U-shaped, and the nozzle 240 is rotatably mounted on the connecting frame 230 via a pin. There are two ways to connect the nozzle 240 and the water supply pipe 220: one is to directly connect them via a flexible hose, which ensures the nozzle 240 can swing; the other is to make the connecting frame 230 a hollow structure with a hole in the pin, allowing water to enter the nozzle 240 through the connecting frame 230 and the pin. In this embodiment, the water outlet of the nozzle 240 is in the shape of a straight line, rectangle, or ellipse, or a row of several drainage holes. Although such a structure has a relatively small rinsing range, the impact force is relatively concentrated, resulting in a better cleaning effect.

[0034] like Figure 2 As shown, the drive mechanism 300 drives the cleaning mechanism 200 to rotate, so that the cleaning range of the nozzle 240 can cover the inner wall of the drum. In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 300 includes a drive motor 340 and a connecting sleeve 310 fixedly connected to the side of the drive motor 340. The drive motor 340 and the connecting sleeve 310 are connected by a connecting piece (or connecting rod), and the connecting piece is fixedly connected to the aforementioned guide shaft. The water supply pipe 220 is rotatably mounted inside the connecting sleeve 310. The drive motor 340 is keyed to a drive gear 330, and a driven gear 320 is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe 220. The drive gear 330 and the driven gear 320 mesh with each other, so that the drive motor 340 drives the nozzle 240 to rotate 360°.

[0035] The number of teeth of the driving gear 330 is less than the number of teeth of the driven gear 320, and the transmission ratio is adjusted to reduce the rotational speed of the water pipe 220.

[0036] A swing structure 500 is disposed beside the cleaning mechanism 200 and is used to drive the nozzle 240 to swing, thereby expanding the rinsing range of the nozzle 240. The swing structure 500 includes a reciprocating shaft 520 slidably mounted on the side of the water supply pipe 220. The reciprocating shaft 520 is arranged parallel to the water supply pipe 220. A pin extends out of the connecting bracket 230 and is fixedly connected to the swing gear 540. A swing rack 530 that meshes with the swing gear 540 is fixedly connected to the reciprocating shaft 520. A differential structure 400 is provided at the end of the reciprocating shaft 520 away from the swing rack 530 for driving the reciprocating shaft 520 to move back and forth, thereby driving the nozzle 240 to swing back and forth.

[0037] The differential structure 400 includes a first differential gear 410, which is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 340 via a bearing. The first differential gear 410 is located on the side near the rocker rack 530. A second differential gear 420 is connected to the water pipe 220 via a bearing. The first differential gear 410 and the second differential gear 420 mesh with each other, so that a differential speed is formed between the second differential gear 420 and the driven gear 320. The second differential gear 420 is fixedly connected to the end face cam 430 on the side near the nozzle 240. The reciprocating shaft 520 is also connected to a return spring (the return spring is not shown in the figure, its main purpose is to ensure that the reciprocating shaft 520 can be reset, so as to realize reciprocating movement). When the water pipe 220 rotates, the end face cam 430 pushes the reciprocating shaft 520 to slide back and forth along its length, thereby driving the nozzle 240 to swing back and forth.

[0038] In this embodiment, a roller 510 is rotatably connected to the side of the reciprocating shaft 520 near the end face cam 430 to reduce friction. The diameter of the driving gear 330 is the same as the diameter of the first differential gear 410, and the diameter of the driven gear 320 is the same as the diameter of the second differential gear 420.

[0039] While various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Many modifications, alterations, and alternatives will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and essence of the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in the practice of the invention. The appended claims are intended to define the scope of the invention and therefore cover any modular compositions, equivalents, or alternatives within the scope of these claims.

Claims

1. An automatic drum cleaning device, characterized in that, include: A linear drive mechanism (100), which is fixedly mounted on an external frame, is used to drive the cleaning mechanism (200) to move inside the drum; A cleaning mechanism (200) is used to clean the inner wall of the drum. The cleaning mechanism (200) is connected to a linear drive mechanism (100). The cleaning mechanism (200) includes a water supply pipe (220), one end of which is rotatably connected to a pipe joint (210), and the other end of which is connected to a nozzle (240). A drive mechanism (300) is used to drive the cleaning mechanism (200) to rotate so that the cleaning range of the nozzle (240) can cover the inner wall of the drum; A swing structure (500) is disposed beside the cleaning mechanism (200) to drive the nozzle (240) to swing, thereby expanding the rinsing range of the nozzle (240); a connecting frame (230) is fixedly connected to the side of the water pipe (220) near the nozzle (240), and the nozzle (240) is rotatably mounted on the connecting frame (230) by a pin; the swing structure (500) includes a reciprocating shaft (520) slidably mounted on the side of the water pipe (220). The reciprocating shaft (520) is arranged parallel to the water pipe (220). The pin extends out of the connecting frame (230) and is fixedly connected to the rocker gear (540). The reciprocating shaft (520) is fixedly connected to a rocker rack (530) that meshes with the rocker gear (540). The end of the reciprocating shaft (520) away from the rocker rack (530) is provided with a differential structure (400) for driving the reciprocating shaft (520) to move back and forth, so as to drive the nozzle (240) to swing back and forth.

2. The automatic drum cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The linear drive mechanism (100) includes a translation structure (110) and a guide structure (120).

3. The automatic drum cleaning device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The translation structure (110) includes, but is not limited to, a pneumatic cylinder, an electric cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a lead screw and nut mechanism, or a synchronous belt mechanism.

4. The automatic drum cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive mechanism (300) includes a drive motor (340) and a connecting sleeve (310) fixedly connected to the side of the drive motor (340). The water supply pipe (220) is rotatably assembled inside the connecting sleeve (310). The drive motor (340) is keyed with a drive gear (330). The water supply pipe (220) is fixedly connected with a driven gear (320). The drive gear (330) and the driven gear (320) mesh with each other, so that the drive motor (340) drives the nozzle (240) to rotate 360°.

5. The automatic drum cleaning device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The number of teeth of the driving gear (330) is less than the number of teeth of the driven gear (320), and the transmission ratio is adjusted to reduce the rotational speed of the water pipe (220).

6. The automatic drum cleaning device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The differential structure (400) includes a first differential gear (410), which is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor (340) via a bearing. The first differential gear (410) is located on the side close to the rocker rack (530). A second differential gear (420) is connected to the water pipe (220) via a bearing. The first differential gear (410) and the second differential gear (420) mesh with each other, so that a differential is formed between the second differential gear (420) and the driven gear (320). The second differential gear (420) is fixedly connected to an end face cam (430) on the side near the nozzle (240). The reciprocating shaft (520) is also connected to a return spring, so that during the rotation of the water pipe (220), the end face cam (430) pushes the reciprocating shaft (520) to slide back and forth along its length direction, thereby driving the nozzle (240) to swing back and forth.

7. The automatic drum cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The reciprocating shaft (520) is rotatably connected to a roller (510) on the side near the end face cam (430) to reduce friction.

8. The automatic drum cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The diameter of the driving gear (330) is the same as the diameter of the first differential gear (410), and the diameter of the driven gear (320) is the same as the diameter of the second differential gear (420).

9. The automatic drum cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The nozzle (240) has a straight, rectangular, or elliptical outlet, or a row of several drainage holes.

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