A test tube inversion labelling apparatus
By designing a test tube flipping labeling device, the device enables automatic posture switching of test tubes during the feeding, labeling, and unloading processes, solving the problems of complex structure and low labeling accuracy of existing equipment, and improving labeling efficiency and equipment automation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HUIZHOUCITY BESTAM PRECISION MASCH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing test tube labeling equipment suffers from complex structure, interference in operation, poor labeling accuracy and stability, and labels are prone to shifting or wrinkling due to the upright posture of the test tubes during the loading, conveying, labeling and unloading processes.
A test tube flipping and labeling device was designed. The device provides test tubes in an upright position through a feeding component, flips them to a horizontal position through a picking component and places them on a supporting component, and flips them back to an upright position after labeling is completed. By combining the gripping and flipping actions of the clamping execution end, the posture of the test tubes can be automatically changed at different stages to ensure accurate labeling.
It improves the smoothness and accuracy of the labeling process, enhances the automation level and labeling efficiency of the equipment, and simplifies the equipment structure, ensuring the convenience of material feeding operations.
Smart Images
Figure CN122101643A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of test tube production technology, and more specifically, to a test tube flipping and labeling device. Background Technology
[0002] In fields such as medical testing, biopharmaceuticals, and chemical analysis, accurate labeling of test tubes is a crucial step in sample information traceability. Test tubes are typically labeled using labeling equipment. Existing labeling equipment keeps the test tubes upright throughout the loading, conveying, labeling, and unloading processes. Because the test tubes are vertical, the labeling mechanism needs to perform complex spatial movements around the tubes to attach the labels, resulting in a complex overall structure and a susceptibility to interference. Furthermore, the higher center of gravity of upright test tubes makes them prone to swaying during labeling, affecting labeling accuracy. Additionally, the vertical application of labels can cause them to shift or wrinkle due to gravity, making it difficult to ensure a smooth and even fit between the label and the test tube surface. Summary of the Invention
[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a test tube flipping labeling device with a reasonable layout that can realize the change of test tube posture, thereby optimizing the labeling effect and improving the labeling quality, while taking into account the stability and convenience of test tube loading and unloading.
[0004] A test tube flipping labeling device, comprising: Label supply unit, used to provide labels; A test tube loading mechanism includes a feeding component, a picking component, and a carrying component. The feeding component provides test tubes to be labeled, and the picking component picks up the test tubes from the feeding component, rotates them from an upright position to a horizontal position, and places them on the carrying component. The actuator includes a labeling actuator and a clamping actuator. The labeling actuator is used to obtain a label from the label feeding mechanism and attach the label to the circumferential surface of the test tube on the carrier component. The supporting component is used to support the test tube in a horizontal position and can flip the test tube to an upright position after labeling. The clamping execution end is used to clamp the test tube flipped to an upright position and transfer it for unloading.
[0005] In the above technical solution, the test tubes are provided in an upright position by the feeding component, and then the picking component flips the test tubes into a horizontal position and places them on the carrying component. This keeps the test tubes in a state where the circumference is easy to attach during labeling, ensuring that the labeling execution end can accurately attach the label to the circumference of the test tube. After labeling, the carrying component flips the test tubes back to an upright position, so that the clamping execution end can clamp and unload the test tubes in an upright position that conforms to the conventional storage of test tubes. This realizes the automatic conversion of the posture of the test tubes at different stages of feeding, labeling and unloading, ensuring the smoothness and accuracy of the labeling process, while also taking into account the convenience of unloading operations, significantly improving the automation level and labeling efficiency of the equipment.
[0006] Furthermore, the material handling component includes a first clamping component, a moving drive component, and a first rotating drive component. The first clamping component is used to clamp the test tube from the feeding component. The moving drive component is used to drive the first clamping component to move in the horizontal and vertical directions. The first rotating drive component is used to drive the first clamping component to rotate.
[0007] In the above technical solution, the first clamping component can clamp the test tube from the feeding component. The moving drive component drives the first clamping component to move horizontally from the feeding component to the carrying component. At the same time, the first rotation drive component drives the first clamping component to rotate, smoothly rotating the test tube from an upright posture to a horizontal posture. Then, the test tube is placed on the carrying component, realizing the automation of test tube picking and posture conversion, and ensuring that the test tube is stable and reliable during the transfer process.
[0008] Furthermore, the bearing assembly includes a bearing platform, a tilting drive, a roller assembly, and a limiting assembly. The roller assembly and the limiting assembly are both mounted on the bearing platform, and the tilting drive is connected to the bearing platform to drive the bearing platform to rotate.
[0009] In the above technical solution, a flipping drive is used to drive the entire carrier platform to rotate, so that the roller assembly and the limiting assembly can flip synchronously with the platform. After the test tube is labeled, the carrier platform and the test tube can be flipped together to an upright position. The structure is compact and the flipping action is smooth. The posture conversion can be achieved without setting up an additional complex test tube transfer mechanism, which simplifies the equipment structure.
[0010] Furthermore, the roller assembly includes two adjacent load-bearing rollers and a roller drive assembly. The two load-bearing rollers are parallel in axis. The roller drive assembly is connected to one of the load-bearing rollers and is used to drive the corresponding roller to rotate, thereby causing the test tube to rotate.
[0011] In the above technical solution, two axially parallel bearing rollers jointly support the horizontally positioned test tube. With the help of the roller drive assembly, one of the rollers is driven to rotate, which can drive the test tube to rotate smoothly around its own axis. This allows the labeling execution end to evenly attach the label to the entire circumference of the test tube, ensuring tight label adhesion and improving labeling quality.
[0012] Furthermore, the limiting component includes a radial limiting unit and an axial limiting unit. The radial limiting unit is used to abut against the circumferential surface of the test tube, and the axial limiting unit is used to abut against one end of the test tube along its axial direction, so as to support the test tube from below after it has been flipped to an upright position.
[0013] In the above technical solution, the limiting component includes a radial limiting unit and an axial limiting unit. The radial limiting unit abuts against the circumference of the test tube before the bearing platform is flipped, which can firmly position the test tube between the two bearing rollers and prevent the test tube from moving radially during the flipping process. The axial limiting unit supports one end of the test tube from below after the flipping, so that the test tube can obtain stable support in an upright posture, which is convenient for the clamping execution end to clamp.
[0014] Furthermore, the labeling execution end includes a mounting plate, a labeling component disposed on the lower end face of the mounting plate, and a tilting drive component connected to one end of the mounting plate. The tilting drive component is used to drive the mounting plate to rotate so that the mounting plate tilts.
[0015] In the above technical solution, the labeling execution end is equipped with a tilting drive component to drive the mounting plate to rotate, so that the mounting plate can adjust the tilt angle according to the labeling needs, thereby bringing one end of the labeling component closer to the test tube, so that one end of the label contacts the circumference of the test tube, and then the test tube is driven to rotate by the bearing roller, so that the label can be smoothly attached to the circumference of the test tube, improving the flexibility and stability of the labeling execution end.
[0016] Furthermore, the labeling assembly includes a labeling roller and a suction plate, with the labeling roller and the suction plate arranged adjacent to each other. When the mounting plate is tilted, the circumferential surface of the labeling roller is lower than the suction surface of the suction plate.
[0017] In the above technical solution, the labeling roller and the suction plate are arranged adjacent to each other. When the mounting plate is tilted, the circumferential surface of the labeling roller is lower than the adsorption surface of the suction plate. The labeling roller abuts against the circumferential surface of the test tube at a height lower than the suction plate, which can gradually press the label onto the surface of the test tube from one end to the other, ensuring that the label is flat and adhered and avoiding wrinkles.
[0018] Furthermore, the clamping execution end includes a second clamping component and a second rotation drive component. The second clamping component is used to clamp the test tube in an upright position from the support component, and the second rotation drive component is used to drive the second clamping component to rotate, so as to drive the test tube to rotate along its axial direction.
[0019] In the above technical solution, after the second clamping component picks up the test tube in an upright position from the supporting component, the second rotation driving component can drive the test tube to rotate along its axis, which facilitates multi-angle visual inspection or posture adjustment of the test tube during the transfer process, and ensures that the labeling quality of the test tube meets the requirements before unloading.
[0020] Furthermore, it also includes a tray transfer mechanism, which includes an upper conveyor belt, a lower conveyor belt, and a lifting component. The upper conveyor belt and the lower conveyor belt are arranged opposite each other vertically, and the lifting component is located at one end of the upper conveyor belt and the lower conveyor belt.
[0021] In the above technical solution, the material tray transfer mechanism adopts an upper conveyor belt and a lower conveyor belt arranged opposite to each other, and with the lifting component at one end, it can realize the cyclical transport of the material tray. When the upper material tray is full of test tubes, it can be transferred to the lower layer for return through the lifting component, realizing automatic replacement and recycling of the material tray, and improving the continuous operation capability of the unloading process.
[0022] Furthermore, a vision inspection component is provided between the carrying component and the tray transfer mechanism.
[0023] In the above technical solution, a vision inspection component is set between the carrier component and the tray transfer mechanism, so that after the clamping execution end picks up the test tube, it can perform online vision inspection during the transfer to the tray, promptly detect unqualified test tubes, prevent unqualified products from flowing into the finished product tray, and realize real-time monitoring and automatic screening of labeling quality.
[0024] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the feeding component provides test tubes in an upright position, and the picking component flips the test tubes to a horizontal position before placing them on the carrying component. This ensures that the test tubes are in a state where the circumference is easy to attach during labeling, guaranteeing that the labeling execution end can accurately attach the label to the circumference of the test tubes. After labeling is completed, the carrying component flips the test tubes back to an upright position, allowing the clamping execution end to clamp and unload the test tubes in an upright position that conforms to the conventional storage of test tubes. This realizes the automatic conversion of the posture of the test tubes at different stages of feeding, labeling, and unloading, ensuring the smoothness and accuracy of the labeling process, while also taking into account the convenience of the unloading operation, significantly improving the automation level and labeling efficiency of the equipment. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the test tube flipping and labeling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the test tube feeding mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the material handling component according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the carrier component according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the axial limiting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the labeling execution end and the clamping execution end according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the material tray transfer mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the label feeding mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] Explanation of icon numbers: Label feeding mechanism 1, label printing device 11, label transfer assembly 12, label detection assembly 13, test tube loading mechanism 2, feeding assembly 21, vibratory feeder 211, cutting assembly 212, cutting drive 2121, sliding seat 2122, sliding groove 2123, material picking assembly 22, first clamping assembly 221, first clamping drive 2211, first gripper 2212, moving drive assembly 222, horizontal drive 2221, vertical drive 2222, first rotation drive assembly 223, bearing assembly 23, bearing platform 231, flipping drive 232, roller assembly 233, bearing roller 233 1. Roller drive assembly 2332, limiting assembly 234, radial limiting unit 2341, axial limiting unit 2342, actuator 3, labeling execution end 31, mounting plate 311, labeling assembly 312, labeling roller 3121, suction plate 3122, tilting drive assembly 313, tilting drive component 3131, connecting block 3132, clamping execution end 32, second clamping assembly 321, second clamping drive component 3211, second gripper 3212, second rotation drive assembly 322, bracket 33, tray transfer mechanism 4, upper conveyor belt 41, lower conveyor belt 42, lifting assembly 43, vision inspection assembly 5. Detailed Implementation
[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.
[0036] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0037] Please refer to Figure 1 In a preferred embodiment, the test tube flipping and labeling device of the present invention mainly includes a label feeding mechanism 1, a test tube loading mechanism 2, and an execution mechanism 3. The label feeding mechanism 1 provides labels to be affixed. The test tube loading mechanism 2 includes a feeding component 21, a picking component 22, and a supporting component 23. The feeding component 21 provides the test tubes to be labeled, and the picking component 22 picks up the test tubes from the feeding component 21, rotates the test tubes from an upright position to a horizontal position, and places them on the supporting component 23. The execution mechanism 3 includes a labeling execution end 31 and a clamping execution end 32. The labeling execution end 31 obtains the labels from the label feeding mechanism 1 and affixes the labels to the circumference of the test tubes on the supporting component 23. The supporting component 23 supports the horizontally positioned test tubes and can flip the test tubes to an upright position after labeling. The clamping execution end 32 picks up the flipped-up test tubes and transfers them for unloading.
[0038] It should be noted that the test tube in this embodiment is generally cylindrical, with its upright posture having its axis parallel to the vertical direction and its horizontal posture having its axis parallel to the horizontal direction.
[0039] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the test tubes are provided in an upright position by the feeding component 21, and then the picking component 22 flips the test tubes into a horizontal position and places them on the carrying component 23. This keeps the test tubes in a state where the circumference is easy to attach when labeling, ensuring that the labeling execution end 31 can accurately attach the label to the circumference of the test tube. After labeling, the carrying component 23 flips the test tubes back to an upright position, so that the clamping execution end 32 can clamp and unload the test tubes in an upright position that conforms to the conventional storage of test tubes. This realizes the automatic conversion of the posture of the test tubes in different stages of feeding, labeling and unloading, ensuring the smoothness and accuracy of the labeling process, while also taking into account the convenience of unloading operations, and significantly improving the automation level and labeling efficiency of the equipment.
[0040] Please refer to Figure 9The label feeding mechanism 1 includes a label printing device 11, which can be an existing label printer capable of printing and outputting labels. The output end of the label printing device 11 is equipped with a label transfer assembly 12. Exemplarily, the label transfer assembly 12 includes a carrier plate for carrying the labels and a linear cylinder for driving the carrier plate to move linearly. The label printing device 11 outputs the labels to the carrier plate, and the linear cylinder drives the carrier plate to move, thereby moving the labels to the picking position. In this embodiment, a label detection assembly 13 is mounted above the picking position to detect the labels, ensuring that the label content is clear and correct.
[0041] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The feeding assembly 21 includes a vibratory feeder 211 and a cutting assembly 212. The cutting assembly 212 is connected to the output end of the vibratory feeder 211 and is used to cut the test tubes separately from the output end of the vibratory feeder 211 so that the material picking assembly 22 can pick them up. For example, the cutting assembly 212 includes a cutting drive 2121, a sliding seat 2122, and a sliding groove 2123. The cutting drive 2121 can be a linear cylinder, and its output end is connected to the sliding seat 2122. The sliding seat 2122 is provided with a positioning groove for positioning the test tubes. When the test tube enters the positioning groove from the output end of the vibratory feeder 211, the cutting drive 2121 drives the sliding seat 2122 to move linearly along the sliding groove 2123, thereby separating the test tubes separately.
[0042] Please refer to Figure 4 The material handling component 22 includes a first clamping component 221, a moving drive component 222, and a first rotating drive component 223. The first clamping component 221 is used to clamp the test tube from the feeding component 21. The moving drive component 222 is used to drive the first clamping component 221 to move in the horizontal and vertical directions. The first rotating drive component 223 is used to drive the first clamping component 221 to rotate, so as to change the posture of the test tube.
[0043] For example, the first clamping assembly 221 includes a first clamping drive member 2211 and a first gripper 2212. The first clamping drive member 2211 can be a clamping cylinder, and its output end is connected to the first gripper 2212, which can drive the first gripper 2212 to clamp or open. The first rotation drive assembly 223 can be a rotary cylinder, and its output end is connected to the first clamping drive member 2211, which can drive the first clamping assembly 221 to rotate, thereby causing the test tube to flip. The moving drive assembly 222 includes a horizontal drive member 2221 and a vertical drive member 2222. The horizontal drive member 2221 can be an existing linear drive device, such as a linear module driven by a servo motor, and the vertical drive member 2222 can be a linear cylinder. The horizontal drive member 2221 and the vertical drive member 2222 can respectively drive the first clamping assembly 221 to move in the horizontal and vertical directions, thereby realizing the gripping and transfer of the test tube.
[0044] The specific workflow of the material handling component 22 is as follows: the test tube is output from the vibratory plate 211 and separated individually by the cutting component 212. The horizontal drive component 2221 drives the first clamping component 221 to move above the cutting component 212. The vertical drive component 2222 drives the first clamping component 221 to descend and clamp the test tube. Then the vertical drive component 2222 resets. The horizontal drive component 2221 drives the first clamping component 221 to move horizontally to the bearing component 23. At the same time, the first rotation drive component 223 drives the first clamping component 221 to rotate 90°, smoothly rotating the test tube from an upright posture to a horizontal posture. The vertical drive component 2222 drives the first clamping component 221 to descend and place the test tube on the bearing component 23, thereby realizing the automation of test tube material handling and posture conversion, ensuring the stability and reliability of the test tube during the transfer process.
[0045] Please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The support assembly 23 includes a support platform 231, a tilting drive 232, a roller assembly 233, and a limiting assembly 234. Both the roller assembly 233 and the limiting assembly 234 are mounted on the support platform 231. The tilting drive 232 is connected to the support platform 231 and is used to drive the support platform 231 to rotate. The tilting drive 232 can be a servo motor, which is connected to the support platform 231 via a transmission belt to drive the support platform 231 to rotate.
[0046] The rotating drive component 232 drives the entire carrying platform 231 to rotate, so that the roller assembly 233 and the limiting assembly 234 can rotate synchronously with the platform. After the test tube is labeled, the carrying platform 231 and the test tube can be rotated together to an upright position. The structure is compact and the rotation action is smooth. The posture conversion can be achieved without setting up an additional complex test tube transfer mechanism, which simplifies the equipment structure.
[0047] The roller assembly 233 includes two adjacent support rollers 2331 and a roller drive assembly 2332. The two support rollers 2331 are parallel in axis. The roller drive assembly 2332 is connected to one of the support rollers 2331 and is used to drive the corresponding roller to rotate, thereby causing the test tube to rotate. For example, the two support rollers 2331 are adjacent and their axes are parallel to the horizontal direction. The roller drive assembly 2332 includes a servo motor, which is connected to the shaft of one of the support rollers 2331 via a transmission belt, and is used to drive the support roller 2331 to rotate, thereby causing the test tube placed between the two support rollers 2331 to rotate.
[0048] The test tube, which is lying horizontally, is supported by two axially parallel bearing rollers 2331. With the help of the roller drive assembly 2332, one of the rollers is driven to rotate, which can drive the test tube to rotate smoothly around its own axis. This allows the labeling execution end 31 to evenly attach the label to the entire circumference of the test tube, ensuring that the label adheres tightly and improving the labeling quality.
[0049] The limiting assembly 234 includes a radial limiting unit 2341 and an axial limiting unit 2342. The radial limiting unit 2341 abuts against the circumferential surface of the test tube, and the axial limiting unit 2342 abuts against one axial end of the test tube to support the test tube after it has been flipped to an upright position. For example, the radial limiting unit 2341 includes a first linear cylinder and a first limiting block. The first linear cylinder is mounted on the support platform 231, and its output end is connected to the first limiting block, which can drive the first limiting block to move linearly, causing the first limiting block to move above the two support rollers 2331 and abut against the circumferential surface of the test tube placed between the two support rollers 2331. The axial limiting unit 2342 includes a second linear cylinder and a second limiting block. The second linear cylinder is mounted on the bearing platform 231, and its output end is connected to the second limiting block. The second limiting block is located on one side of the axial direction of the two bearing rollers 2331. The two linear cylinders can drive the second limiting block to move so that the second limiting block is opposite to the end of the test tube, so that it can support the test tube after the test tube is flipped.
[0050] Before the bearing platform 231 is flipped, the radial limiting unit 2341 abuts against the circumference of the test tube, which can firmly position the test tube between the two bearing rollers 2331 to prevent the test tube from moving radially during the flipping process. After the flipping, the axial limiting unit 2342 supports one end of the test tube from below, so that the test tube can obtain stable support in an upright posture, which is convenient for the clamping execution end 32 to clamp.
[0051] Please refer to Figure 7 The labeling execution end 31 includes a mounting plate 311, a labeling component 312 disposed on the lower end face of the mounting plate 311, and a tilting drive component 313 connected to one end of the mounting plate 311. The tilting drive component 313 is used to drive the mounting plate 311 to rotate so that the mounting plate 311 tilts.
[0052] For example, both the labeling execution end 31 and the clamping execution end 32 are mounted on a bracket 33. The tilting drive assembly 313 includes a tilting drive member 3131 and a connecting block 3132. The tilting drive member 3131 is a linear cylinder, which is connected to the bracket 33 through a rotatable plate. The output end of the tilting drive member 3131 is connected to the connecting block 3132. The connecting block 3132 is rotatably connected to one end of the mounting plate 311, and the other end of the mounting plate 311 is rotatably connected to the bracket 33. The tilting drive member 3131 can drive the mounting plate 311 to rotate relative to the bracket 33 through the connecting block 3132, thereby tilting the mounting plate 311.
[0053] The labeling execution end 31 is equipped with a tilt drive component 313 to drive the mounting plate 311 to rotate, so that the mounting plate 311 can adjust the tilt angle according to the labeling needs, so that one end of the labeling component 312 is close to the test tube, and one end of the label is in contact with the circumference of the test tube. Then, the test tube is driven to rotate by the bearing roller 2331, so that the label can be smoothly attached to the circumference of the test tube, which improves the flexibility and stability of the labeling execution end 31.
[0054] The labeling assembly 312 includes a labeling roller 3121 and a suction plate 3122. The labeling roller 3121 and the suction plate 3122 are arranged adjacent to each other. When the mounting plate 311 is tilted, the circumferential surface of the labeling roller 3121 is lower than the adsorption surface of the suction plate 3122. The suction plate 3122 is connected to a negative pressure generating device (not shown), which can adsorb the label through negative pressure. During adsorption, one end of the label is located below the suction plate 3122, and the other end is located below the labeling roller 3121. Because the labeling roller 3121 and the suction plate 3122 are arranged adjacent to each other, and the circumferential surface of the labeling roller 3121 is lower than the adsorption surface of the suction plate 3122 when the mounting plate 311 is tilted, the labeling roller 3121, at a height lower than the suction plate 3122, abuts against the circumferential surface of the test tube. This allows the label to be gradually pressed onto the surface of the test tube from one end to the other, ensuring a flat and adhered label and avoiding wrinkles.
[0055] The clamping execution end 32 includes a second clamping component 321 and a second rotation drive component 322. The second clamping component 321 is used to clamp the test tube in an upright position from the support component 23, and the second rotation drive component 322 is used to drive the second clamping component 321 to rotate, so as to drive the test tube to rotate along its axis.
[0056] For example, the second clamping assembly 321 includes a second clamping drive member 3211 and a second gripper 3212. The second clamping drive member 3211 may be a clamping cylinder, which is connected to the second gripper 3212 and can drive the second gripper 3212 to engage or disengage. The second rotation drive assembly 322 may be a hollow servo motor, which is connected to the second clamping assembly 321 and can drive the second clamping assembly 321 to rotate, thereby causing the test tube to rotate around its axis.
[0057] After the second clamping component 321 clamps the test tube in an upright position from the bearing component 23, the second rotation drive component 322 can drive the test tube to rotate along its axis, which facilitates multi-angle visual inspection or posture adjustment of the test tube during the transfer process, ensuring that the labeling quality of the test tube meets the requirements before unloading.
[0058] It should be noted that the actuator 3 also includes a drive unit, which is used to drive the labeling actuator 31 and the clamping actuator 32 to move. The drive unit body can adopt an existing multi-axis drive device, such as a multi-axis robotic arm.
[0059] Please refer to Figure 8 The test tube flipping and labeling device of this embodiment also includes a tray transfer mechanism 4. The tray transfer mechanism 4 includes an upper conveyor belt 41, a lower conveyor belt 42, and a lifting component 43. The upper conveyor belt 41 and the lower conveyor belt 42 are arranged vertically opposite each other, and the lifting component 43 is located at one end of the upper conveyor belt 41 and the lower conveyor belt 42. It is understood that the lifting component 43 can be an existing transfer module with lifting function, which will not be described in detail here. The tray transfer mechanism 4 uses the upper conveyor belt 41 and the lower conveyor belt 42 arranged vertically opposite each other, and with the lifting component 43 at one end, it can realize the cyclical transport of the tray. When the upper tray is full of test tubes, it can be transferred to the lower tray for return through the lifting component 43, realizing automatic tray replacement and recycling, and improving the continuous operation capability of the unloading process.
[0060] In this embodiment, a vision inspection component 5 is provided between the carrier component 23 and the tray transfer mechanism 4. The vision inspection component 5 can be an existing vision inspection module. By setting the vision inspection component 5 between the carrier component 23 and the tray transfer mechanism 4, the clamping execution end 32 can perform online vision inspection during the transfer of the test tube to the tray after clamping it, so as to detect unqualified test tubes in time, prevent unqualified products from flowing into the finished product tray, and realize real-time monitoring and automatic screening of labeling quality.
[0061] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that terms such as "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and 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 limiting this invention.
[0062] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0063] 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. A test tube flipping and labeling device, characterized in that, include: Label supply unit, used to provide labels; The test tube feeding mechanism includes a feeding component, a picking component, and a carrying component. The feeding component is used to provide test tubes to be labeled, and the picking component is used to pick up the test tubes from the feeding component, rotate the test tubes from an upright position to a horizontal position, and place them on the carrying component. as well as The actuator includes a labeling actuator and a clamping actuator. The labeling actuator is used to obtain a label from the label feeding mechanism and attach the label to the circumferential surface of the test tube on the carrier component. The supporting component is used to support the test tube in a horizontal position and can flip the test tube to an upright position after labeling. The clamping execution end is used to clamp the test tube flipped to an upright position and transfer it for unloading.
2. The test tube flipping and labeling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material handling assembly includes a first clamping assembly, a moving drive assembly, and a first rotating drive assembly. The first clamping assembly is used to clamp test tubes from the feeding assembly. The moving drive assembly is used to drive the first clamping assembly to move in the horizontal and vertical directions. The first rotating drive assembly is used to drive the first clamping assembly to rotate.
3. The test tube flipping and labeling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bearing assembly includes a bearing platform, a tilting drive, a roller assembly, and a limiting assembly. The roller assembly and the limiting assembly are both mounted on the bearing platform. The tilting drive is connected to the bearing platform and is used to drive the bearing platform to rotate.
4. The test tube flipping and labeling device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The roller assembly includes two adjacent load-bearing rollers and a roller drive assembly. The two load-bearing rollers are parallel in axis. The roller drive assembly is connected to one of the load-bearing rollers and is used to drive the corresponding roller to rotate, thereby causing the test tube to rotate.
5. The test tube flipping and labeling device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The limiting component includes a radial limiting unit and an axial limiting unit. The radial limiting unit is used to abut against the circumferential surface of the test tube, and the axial limiting unit is used to abut against one end of the test tube along its axial direction, so as to support the test tube from below after it has been flipped to an upright position.
6. The test tube flipping and labeling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The labeling execution end includes a mounting plate, a labeling component disposed on the lower end face of the mounting plate, and a tilting drive component connected to one end of the mounting plate. The tilting drive component is used to drive the mounting plate to rotate so that the mounting plate tilts.
7. The test tube flipping and labeling device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The labeling assembly includes a labeling roller and a suction plate. The labeling roller is arranged adjacent to the suction plate. When the mounting plate is tilted, the circumferential surface of the labeling roller is lower than the suction surface of the suction plate.
8. The test tube flipping and labeling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping execution end includes a second clamping component and a second rotation drive component. The second clamping component is used to clamp the test tube in an upright position from the support component, and the second rotation drive component is used to drive the second clamping component to rotate so as to drive the test tube to rotate along its axis.
9. The test tube flipping and labeling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a material tray transfer mechanism, which includes an upper conveyor belt, a lower conveyor belt, and a lifting component. The upper and lower conveyor belts are arranged opposite each other, and the lifting component is located at one end of the upper and lower conveyor belts.
10. The test tube flipping and labeling device according to claim 9, characterized in that, A vision inspection component is provided between the bearing component and the tray transfer mechanism.