A self-sustaining film type plastic packaging mechanism for long strip agricultural products

Abstract

This application relates to the field of food preservation film packaging and proposes a self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products. The mechanism includes a frame, a film roll assembly, a clamping assembly, a drive mechanism, and a heat-sealing component. The clamping assembly has a fixed clamping plate and a movable clamping plate arranged vertically opposite each other. A fixing part is provided on the upper part of the movable clamping plate for fixing the free end of the thermoplastic film. The drive mechanism drives the movable clamping plate to open and close horizontally. The heat-sealing component is located on the surface of the movable clamping plate facing the fixed clamping plate. Its transverse heating part has a first functional edge and a second functional edge arranged opposite each other along the extension direction. The first functional edge is used to melt and heat-seal the film carrying the product, while the second functional edge heat-bonds any unmelted film to form a continuous new film. The packaging mechanism disclosed in this application completes product sealing and film self-continuation simultaneously through a single heating process, realizing material recycling and continuous automation of the packaging process, effectively solving the problems of material waste and the need for frequent manual film replenishment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of food preservation film packaging, and more particularly to a self-continuous film-type sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products. Background Technology

[0002] In the automated processing and packaging of fresh agricultural products, especially long, root vegetables such as scallions, celery, and carrots, plastic wrap sealing is a crucial downstream process for ensuring product freshness and preventing damage during transportation. Currently, the mainstream plastic wrap packaging technology on production lines generally adopts linear heat sealing. Its basic workflow is as follows: the product is placed on a flat sheet of plastic wrap, and a drive mechanism presses down and heats the linear heat sealing element, melting and sealing the film covering the product and the films on both sides along a straight line. This achieves wrapping of one or three sides (top and sides) of the product. Then, a crank-slider mechanism and other mechanisms complete the stretching and transfer of the film for the next packaging step.

[0003] However, this existing technology based on single-line heat sealing has a significant and long-standing unresolved technical drawback: the film cannot be recycled, and its automation continuity is poor. Specifically, this technology only utilizes the single characteristic of the plastic wrap that it can melt and seal when heated. In each packaging operation, the linear heat seal inevitably severs the film used in this packaging from subsequent films while sealing the product. This results in most of the film outside the heat seal line becoming waste after each packaging, except for a small amount necessary for wrapping the product, leading to extremely low material utilization and high packaging costs.

[0004] More importantly, because each sealing creates a break rather than a continuation point in the film at the workstation, a continuous supply of film cannot be achieved. Therefore, after each sealing and packaging process, manual intervention is required to pull the new film segment to the designated workstation, preventing truly continuous, unloaded operation. This not only increases labor costs but also severely restricts the automation level and operational efficiency of the production line. Application content

[0005] In view of this, this application proposes a self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products, aiming to solve the technical problems in the prior art, where the plastic film is cut and discarded after each plastic sealing packaging, and cannot be automatically continued, resulting in serious material waste and the need for frequent manual film replenishment, and low degree of automation.

[0006] The technical solution of this application is implemented as follows: This application provides a self-continuous film-type sealing packaging mechanism for long, strip-shaped agricultural products, comprising: frame; A film roll assembly, mounted on the frame, is used to release the thermoplastic film. A clamping assembly is mounted on the frame. The clamping assembly includes a vertically arranged fixed clamping plate and a movable clamping plate. The fixed clamping plate is fixedly connected to the frame, and the movable clamping plate is arranged opposite to the fixed clamping plate. A fixing part is provided on the upper part of the movable clamping plate for fixing the free end of the thermoplastic film that passes over the fixed clamping plate and the movable clamping plate in sequence. A drive mechanism, mounted on the frame and connected to the movable clamping plate, is used to drive the movable clamping plate to perform opening and closing actions that move closer to or away from the fixed clamping plate; A heat-sealing component is disposed on the surface of the movable clamping plate facing the fixed clamping plate and located below the fixed part; the heat-sealing component includes a transverse heating part, the transverse heating part having a first functional side and a second functional side disposed opposite to each other along its extending direction; When the driving mechanism drives the movable clamping plate away from the fixed clamping plate, the thermoplastic film is pulled out and positioned between the surfaces of the fixed clamping plate and the movable clamping plate; when the driving mechanism drives the movable clamping plate closer to the fixed clamping plate, causing the heat-sealing component to adhere and heat the thermoplastic film, the first functional side is used to melt and heat-seal the first part of the film carrying the product, and the second functional side is used to thermally bond the second part of the film that has not been melted to form a continuous new film.

[0007] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, both the fixed clamp and the movable clamp are made of heat-insulating material; both the fixed clamp and the movable clamp are U-shaped structures with the opening facing downwards.

[0008] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, the heat-sealing component further includes two longitudinal heating parts, which extend downward from both ends of the transverse heating part and together with the transverse heating part form a U-shaped structure.

[0009] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, the distance between the two longitudinal heating parts is less than or equal to the width of the thermoplastic film; the length of the transverse heating part is greater than the width of the thermoplastic film; and the length of the two longitudinal heating parts is greater than or equal to the height required for side sealing after the agricultural product to be packaged is wrapped by the thermoplastic film.

[0010] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, it also includes a receiving plate, which is horizontally movable on the frame and located below the clamping assembly, for receiving agricultural products after plastic sealing packaging, and the width of the receiving plate is smaller than the opening size of the fixed clamping plate and the movable clamping plate.

[0011] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, it also includes a floating component. The floating component is located on the side of the movable clamping plate away from the fixed clamping plate. The floating component includes a first mounting plate and several elastic elements. The first mounting plate can move horizontally along the opening and closing direction of the movable clamping plate. The first mounting plate has a downward-facing gate-shaped structure and is adapted to the shape and contour of the movable clamping plate. Several elastic elements are spaced apart between the first mounting plate and the movable clamping plate. The two ends of the elastic elements are fixedly connected to the first mounting plate and the movable clamping plate respectively. The driving mechanism is connected to the first mounting plate.

[0012] Based on the above technical solutions, preferably, a booting component is also included; The guiding assembly includes a support plate and a guide plate disposed on the support plate, and a weight sensor is disposed between the support plate and the guide plate. The guiding component is rotatably disposed above the frame and is used to guide agricultural products falling onto the guiding plate onto the thermoplastic film between the movable clamping plate and the fixed clamping plate.

[0013] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, the driving mechanism includes a driving source, a first link and a second link; The output shaft of the drive source is connected to the guide component for driving the guide component to rotate; One end of the first connecting rod is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the drive source; One end of the second link is hinged to the other end of the first link, and the other end of the second link is driven to the movable clamp.

[0014] Based on the above technical solution, preferably, the film winding assembly includes a roll and at least one guide roller; the roll is rotatably mounted on the frame for mounting the film roll; at least one guide roller is rotatably mounted on the frame for guiding the thermoplastic film drawn from the film roll.

[0015] This application has the following advantages over the prior art: 1) The self-continuous film sealing packaging mechanism disclosed in this application fixes the film path through clamping components, controls opening, closing, and stretching through a drive mechanism, and simultaneously completes product sealing and film self-continuation through a single heating process using a heat-sealing component with a special functional edge. This mechanism fundamentally changes the traditional linear heat sealing working mode that inevitably cuts the film. While completing one packaging cycle, it automatically generates a continuous film for the next packaging cycle, realizing material recycling and continuous automation of the packaging process, effectively solving the technical problems of material waste and the need for frequent manual film replenishment.

[0016] 2) By incorporating a U-shaped heat-sealing component, the film can achieve melting and sealing along the entire inner area of ​​this U-shaped outline. The transverse heating section seals the long side of the product and achieves the melting, separation, and reconnection of the film, while the two longitudinal heating sections simultaneously seal the two sides of the product. Ultimately, a single heating action allows the film to wrap around the bottom and two sides of the product, forming a three-sided sealed package, i.e., 360° full-coverage protection. This significantly enhances the tightness and integrity of the packaging, effectively solving the side opening or leakage problems that may occur with traditional linear heat sealing, providing more comprehensive protection for long and strip-shaped agricultural products.

[0017] 3) By setting up a receiving plate, controllable support is provided, while limiting the release length of the film and ensuring the certainty of the sealing area; the specific width of the receiving plate matches the opening of the clamping plate, ensuring the integrity of the heat sealing component's stroke and the thoroughness of the sealing; and the horizontally movable characteristic of the receiving plate enables the automatic removal of packaged products and the reset of the workstation, further improving the automation level and continuous operation efficiency of the entire packaging mechanism.

[0018] 4) By introducing floating components, the original rigid pressing action is transformed into elastic pressing with local adaptive capability, which effectively overcomes the problem of insufficient pressing caused by the unevenness of the film itself. This allows the heat sealing component to achieve good contact with the film of the entire target area in one pressing action, thereby ensuring the integrity of the heat sealing effect and the reliability of the seal, and improving the stability of packaging quality.

[0019] 5) By introducing a second mounting plate structure with a lifting module, the position of the heat-sealing component is made adjustable in the vertical direction. This improvement allows the same packaging mechanism to flexibly adapt to long and narrow agricultural products with different outer diameters. By adjusting the heat-sealing position and optimizing the amount of film and the tightness of the wrapping, the problem of loose packaging or poor adhesion caused by changes in product size is effectively solved, significantly improving the adaptability of the packaging mechanism and the stability of the final packaging quality. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the self-continuous film-type sealing packaging mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2This is a first-view perspective three-dimensional structural diagram of the self-continuous film sealing packaging mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application after removing the frame; Figure 3 This is a second-view perspective three-dimensional structural diagram of the self-continuous film sealing packaging mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application after removing the frame; Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the clamping component disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the clamping assembly disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 6 This is a side view of the clamping assembly disclosed in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the self-continuous film sealing packaging mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application when it is not in operation; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the state of the film release process of the self-continuous film-type sealing packaging mechanism disclosed in the embodiments of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the state of agricultural products falling onto the membrane as disclosed in an embodiment of this application. Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the state of agricultural products after packaging, as disclosed in the embodiments of this application. Figure label: 1. Frame; 2. Film roll assembly; S. Thermoplastic film; W. Agricultural products; 3. Clamping assembly; 31. Fixed clamping plate; 32. Movable clamping plate; 321. Fixing part; 33. Lifting module; 34. Second mounting plate; 4. Drive mechanism; 5. Heat sealing component; 51. Transverse heating section; 511. First functional side; 512. Second functional side; 52. Longitudinal heating section; 6. Floating assembly; 61. First mounting plate; 62. Elastic element; 7. Guide assembly; 71. Support plate; 72. Guide plate; 73. Weight sensor; 41. Drive source; 42. First connecting rod; 43. Second connecting rod; 8. Receiving plate; 9. Film winding assembly; 91. Roll; 92. Guide roller. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, combined with Figure 2-10This application discloses a self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products, including a frame 1, a film roll assembly 9, a clamping assembly 3, a drive mechanism 4, and a heat sealing component 5.

[0024] Among them, the frame 1 serves as the installation foundation and support structure for the entire mechanism. All functional components are directly or indirectly installed on the frame 1, ensuring the overall stability and rigidity of the mechanism.

[0025] The film roll assembly 9 is mounted on the frame 1. The film roll assembly 9 is used to carry and release the rolled thermoplastic film S, continuously providing film material for subsequent packaging processes. The film is drawn out from the film roll assembly 9 and enters the packaging station.

[0026] In some embodiments, the film roll assembly 9 includes a roll 91 and at least one guide roller. The roll 91 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1, and its core function is to mount and carry the rolled thermoplastic film S, i.e., the film roll. The rotation of the roll 91 allows the film roll to be released under external traction, providing a material source for continuous packaging operations.

[0027] At least one guide roller is also rotatably mounted on the frame 1. The function of the guide roller is to guide the path of the thermoplastic film S drawn from the film roll. As the film is conveyed from the roll 91 to the clamping assembly 3, the guide roller supports and changes the direction of travel of the film through its own rotation. This guiding action ensures that the film moves along a preset, smooth trajectory, preventing the film from deviating during conveying.

[0028] The clamping assembly 3 is mounted on the frame 1 and includes a fixed clamping plate 31 and a movable clamping plate 32. The fixed clamping plate 31 is fixedly disposed relative to the frame 1 and remains stationary. The movable clamping plate 32 is disposed opposite to the fixed clamping plate 31, and both are in a vertical position. A fixing part 321 is provided on the upper part of the movable clamping plate 32. The free end of the thermoplastic film S led out from the film winding assembly 9 passes over the top of the fixed clamping plate 31 and the top of the movable clamping plate 32 in sequence, and is finally fixed on the fixing part 321. This arrangement makes the film suspended in the clamping assembly 3.

[0029] In some embodiments, the fixing part 321 can be configured as a movable pressure plate to press the free end of the thermoplastic film S. In other embodiments, the fixing part 321 can be configured as a rotatable pressure roller, which presses the free end of the thermoplastic film S by flipping. It should be noted that the fixing part 321 only needs to be able to constrain and fix the free end of the thermoplastic film S, and its structural form is not limited to the situations listed in this embodiment.

[0030] The drive mechanism 4 is mounted on the frame 1 and connected to the movable clamping plate 32. The function of the drive mechanism 4 is to drive the movable clamping plate 32 to reciprocate in the horizontal direction, thereby performing the opening and closing action of moving closer to or away from the fixed clamping plate 31, so as to realize the clamping and releasing of the membrane.

[0031] The heat-sealing component 5 is disposed on the surface of the movable clamping plate 32 facing the fixed clamping plate 31, and located below the fixing part 321. The heat-sealing component 5 includes a transverse heating part 51. This transverse heating part 51 is embedded in the surface of the movable clamping plate 32, with only the heating surface protruding from the surface of the movable clamping plate 32. In this way, during the heat-sealing process, it does not affect the clamping of the film by the movable clamping plate 32 and the fixed clamping plate 31 other than the heat-sealing component 5. In the extending direction of the transverse heating part 51 itself, there are a first functional edge 511 and a second functional edge 512 disposed opposite to each other. The first functional edge 511 is closer to the product packaging area between the two clamping plates, while the second functional edge 512 is closer to the movable clamping plate 32 and its fixing part 321.

[0032] A preferred embodiment of the heat-sealing component 5 is a resistance-heated welding wire. This laterally arranged welding wire heats up after being energized, and the heat transfer softens the thermoplastic film S in the specific area it adheres to. The first functional edge 511 along the extension direction of the welding wire corresponds to the product packaging area, where the film is heated to a molten state. Under clamping pressure, it fuses with the film below to achieve a seal and is simultaneously melted and separated. Simultaneously, the second functional edge 512 of the welding wire acts on the film outside the product area. After softening, this film, under pressure, diffuses and entangles with the subsequent film from the side of the movable clamp 32, forming a strong molecular-level bond upon cooling, thus achieving automatic film splicing. The core of this mechanism lies in the fact that a single transverse welding wire, through the synchronous heating of different sections of the film, relies on the hot-melting and hot-adhesive properties of the thermoplastic material to continuously complete the two processes of packaging separation and splicing within one operating cycle.

[0033] The organization's working process is as follows: First, the drive mechanism 4 drives the movable clamping plate 32 to move away from the fixed clamping plate 31. Since the free end of the thermoplastic film S is fixed to the movable clamping plate 32, this action pulls the film out of the film roll assembly 9, causing it to hang flat in the area between the fixed clamping plate 31 and the movable clamping plate 32. When the agricultural product W to be packaged is placed on the film in this area, the drive mechanism 4 drives the movable clamping plate 32 to close towards the fixed clamping plate 31. During the closing process, the heat-sealing member 5 comes into contact with the film suspended in the middle and begins to heat. At this time, the first functional edge 511 of the transverse heating part 51 acts on the film, causing the first part of the film carrying the agricultural product to be heated and sealed, while simultaneously melting off from the entire film section, thereby completing the independent plastic sealing packaging of a single product. At the same time, the second functional edge 512 of the transverse heating part 51 also acts on the film, causing the second part of the film adjacent to the first part of the film but not melted to soften due to heat. Under the pressure of the movable clamp 32, the softened film undergoes thermal fusion bonding with the original film from the film roll assembly 9, which is attached to the movable clamp 32. After cooling, the two are firmly bonded together to form a complete and continuous new film, ready for the next packaging cycle.

[0034] In this embodiment, the thermoplastic film S can be a polymer film that meets food packaging safety standards, such as a plastic wrap made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. When heated to its specific softening and melting temperature range, this type of material can both fuse with itself to achieve a seal and thermally bond with similar materials. In practical applications, depending on the specific material of the selected film, the heating temperature of the heat-sealing component 5 needs to be adjusted to a suitable range to ensure good melting, sealing, and bonding effects.

[0035] This type of packaging mechanism is suitable for long, rectangular agricultural products with regular shapes, such as root vegetables like scallions, yams, celery, and carrots. The shape of these products allows them to be naturally supported by the vertically suspended film, accommodating subsequent clamping and full-circumferential or partial wrapping actions. Its core design addresses the problems of film waste and discontinuous operation in automated packaging of such products.

[0036] The self-continuous film sealing packaging mechanism provided in this embodiment uses clamping component 3 to fix the film path, driving mechanism 4 to control opening, closing and stretching, and heat sealing component 5 with special functional edge to heat simultaneously complete the product sealing and film self-continuation. This mechanism fundamentally changes the traditional linear heat sealing working mode that inevitably cuts the film. While completing one packaging, it automatically generates a continuous film for the next packaging, realizing the recycling of materials and continuous automation of the packaging process, effectively solving the technical problems of material waste and the need for frequent manual film replenishment.

[0037] In some embodiments, both the fixed clamp 31 and the movable clamp 32 are made of heat-insulating material. Using heat-insulating material to manufacture the clamps effectively prevents the heat generated by the heat-sealing component 5 during operation from being transferred to the clamp body and other parts of the mechanism. This significantly reduces unnecessary heat dissipation, allowing heat to be more concentrated on the thermoplastic film S, improving heat-sealing efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

[0038] In some embodiments, both the fixed clamp 31 and the movable clamp 32 are configured as a U-shaped structure with the opening facing downwards. This structure makes the clamp body have an inverted U-shaped profile, forming a receiving space with an open bottom in the middle. During packaging, the long strip of agricultural product to be processed falls from top to bottom into this space formed by the two U-shaped clamps, so that when the clamps close to perform clamping and heat sealing actions, their inner contours can surround the agricultural product, rather than pressing directly against the product. This provides the necessary accommodation margin for the product, effectively avoiding physical damage to the agricultural product caused by direct squeezing of the clamps, while ensuring that the heat sealing component 5 can accurately heat the film in the corresponding area of ​​the outer periphery of the product.

[0039] In some embodiments, the heat-sealing member 5 further includes two longitudinal heating portions 52. These two longitudinal heating portions 52 extend vertically downward from the left and right ends of the transverse heating portion 51, respectively. Thus, the transverse heating portion 51 and the two longitudinal heating portions 52 are connected to form a whole, together constituting an upward-opening gate-shaped structure.

[0040] The heat-sealing component 5, with its U-shaped structure, matches the outline of the U-shaped clamping plate structure. During operation, when the movable clamping plate 32, carrying the U-shaped heat-sealing component 5, closes towards the fixed clamping plate 31, the suspended film and the agricultural product placed on it are enclosed within this U-shaped outline. Subsequently, during heating, heat is transferred not only from the transverse heating section 51 but also from the two longitudinal heating sections 52 to the film in contact with them. This expands the heat application range from a simple transverse line to a three-sided closed outline surrounding the lower part and sides of the agricultural product.

[0041] This structure allows the film to melt and seal along the entire inner area of ​​the U-shaped outline. The transverse heating section 51 seals the long side of the product and achieves the melting, separation, and reconnection of the film, while the two longitudinal heating sections 52 simultaneously seal the two sides of the product. Ultimately, a single heating action allows the film to wrap around the bottom and two sides of the product, forming a three-sided sealed package, i.e., 360° full-coverage protection. This significantly enhances the tightness and integrity of the packaging, effectively solving the problem of side openings or leaks that may occur with traditional linear heat sealing, and providing more comprehensive protection for long and narrow agricultural products.

[0042] In order to achieve reliable heat sealing, melting and splicing of thermoplastic film S, this embodiment also adopts a technical solution.

[0043] Specifically, in this embodiment, the distance between the two longitudinal heating portions 52 must be less than or equal to the width of the thermoplastic film S. This dimensional relationship ensures that when the film covers and is stretched on the contour of the U-shaped heat-sealing member 5, the effective width of the film can completely cover the area between the two longitudinal heating portions 52, so that the two longitudinal heating portions 52 will definitely act on the film during heating. This is a prerequisite for achieving reliable side heat sealing. If the distance is greater than the film width, the longitudinal heating portions 52 may not be able to contact or fully act on the film, resulting in side sealing failure.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the length of the transverse heating section 51 must be greater than the width of the thermoplastic film S. This dimensional requirement ensures that the transverse heating section 51 can completely cover and extend beyond the entire width of the film in the width direction. During the heat sealing process, the transverse heating section 51 needs to completely melt and separate the film covering the product from the entire roll of film along its contour line. If its length is less than or equal to the film width, it may not be able to completely cut the film, resulting in the product not being able to separate independently or the film being incompletely connected, affecting the continuous automated packaging process.

[0045] In addition, in this embodiment, the length of the two longitudinal heating sections 52 must be greater than or equal to the height required for side sealing after the agricultural product to be packaged is wrapped by the thermoplastic film S. This length requirement directly corresponds to the side area of ​​the product being wrapped, and the longitudinal heating section 52 must have sufficient effective heating length to ensure a complete and continuous heat seal of the predetermined packaging area on the side of the product from bottom to top. If the length is insufficient, the side sealing height of the product will be insufficient, resulting in an opening and affecting the packaging seal.

[0046] In some embodiments, the packaging mechanism also includes a receiving plate 8, which is horizontally movably mounted on the frame 1 and positioned directly below the fixed clamping plate 31 and the movable clamping plate 32. Its primary function is to receive agricultural products. During the packaging process, when the agricultural product falls onto the bearing surface formed by the film, its own weight causes the film to continue being released from the film roll assembly 9. At this time, the receiving plate 8 plays a crucial role in physical blocking and support. It catches the falling agricultural product, preventing it from continuing to fall due to gravity, thereby precisely controlling the length of the film being pulled out. This control ensures that the height of the side film area that needs to be heat-sealed after wrapping the agricultural product does not exceed the effective working length of the longitudinal heating section 52, creating conditions for complete and reliable side sealing.

[0047] Since the receiving plate 8 is located directly below the movable clamping plate 32, and the movable clamping plate 32 needs to move horizontally, there must be a gap between the movable clamping plate 32 and the receiving plate 8. As a result, there will be a gap between the bottom of the longitudinal heating part 52 and the receiving plate 8. This will cause the bottom of the longitudinal heating part 52 to not completely cover the lowest area of ​​the membrane side, resulting in a leak.

[0048] Therefore, in this embodiment, the width of the receiving plate 8 is limited to be less than or equal to the opening size of the fixed clamping plate 31 and the movable clamping plate 32. Since the two clamping plates have a U-shaped structure, there is an opening at the bottom. When the narrower receiving plate 8 is located below it, after the agricultural product is received, its two ends in the longitudinal direction will naturally extend beyond the edge of the receiving plate 8, hanging outside the width range of the receiving plate 8. This arrangement allows the lower end of the longitudinal heating part 52 of the U-shaped heat-sealing member 5, which closes from above for heat sealing, to extend downwards without obstruction, and even move below the horizontal plane where the receiving plate 8 is located. Therefore, the heat sealing effect can completely cover the entire side area from the top to the bottom of the agricultural product, ensuring that the heat-sealing area of ​​the longitudinal heating part 52 fully meets and may exceed the actual required side sealing height, thereby obtaining a high-quality sealing effect without leakage.

[0049] In this embodiment, the receiving plate 8 can move horizontally to achieve the unloading operation. In a single packaging cycle, after the heat sealing action is completed and the agricultural product has been plastic-sealed, the receiving plate 8 is driven to move horizontally. For example, it can be manually pulled or driven by a linear module to slide it away from the clamping component 3. At this time, the packaged agricultural product supported on it can be removed from the packaging area, completing the unloading operation. Subsequently, the receiving plate 8 is moved horizontally back to its original position, precisely positioned directly below the clamping component 3, ready to receive the next packaged product, thus realizing a continuous automated operation cycle of packaging, unloading, and resetting.

[0050] By setting up the receiving plate 8, controllable support is provided, while limiting the release length of the film and ensuring the certainty of the sealing area; the specific width of the receiving plate 8 matches the opening of the clamping plate, ensuring the integrity of the movement stroke of the heat sealing component 5 and the thoroughness of the sealing; and the horizontally movable feature of the receiving plate 8 realizes the automatic removal of packaged products and the reset of the workstation, further improving the automation level and continuous operation efficiency of the entire packaging mechanism.

[0051] Because the surface of the membrane may not be perfectly flat after supporting agricultural products and being stretched, but may have local looseness or wrinkles. If the movable clamp 32 is a rigid integral pressing and applies uniform pressure, the flat parts of the membrane will be pressed tight, while the wrinkled or loose parts may not be able to fully contact the heat sealing component 5 with the membrane due to insufficient pressure, resulting in local heat sealing failure or incomplete sealing.

[0052] To address this technical problem, a floating component 6 is provided in this embodiment. Specifically, the floating component 6 is disposed on the side of the movable clamping plate 32 facing away from the fixed clamping plate 31. The floating component 6 includes a first mounting plate 61 and several elastic members 62. The first mounting plate 61 can be driven and can move horizontally along the opening and closing direction of the movable clamping plate 32. In particular, the first mounting plate 61 is constructed as a downward-facing U-shaped structure, and its shape and contour are adapted to the shape of the movable clamping plate 32. This adapted U-shaped structure design ensures that the transmission path of the driving force is well matched with the force-bearing surface of the movable clamping plate 32.

[0053] Several elastic elements 62 are arranged at intervals between the first mounting plate 61 and the movable clamping plate 32. Each elastic element 62 is fixedly connected at both ends to the first mounting plate 61 and the movable clamping plate 32, respectively. Therefore, the movable clamping plate 32 is not directly rigidly connected to the drive mechanism 4, but rather elastically connected to the first mounting plate 61 through these evenly distributed elastic elements 62. The drive mechanism 4 is ultimately connected to the first mounting plate 61, and the driving force it generates is transmitted through the first mounting plate 61 and then acts on the movable clamping plate 32 via the elastic elements 62.

[0054] During the packaging process, the floating assembly 6 plays a crucial role when the movable clamping plate 32 is driven to close towards the fixed clamping plate 31 to press the thermoplastic film S containing agricultural products. Specifically, through the floating assembly 6 of this embodiment, the spaced elastic elements 62 allow different areas of the movable clamping plate 32 to produce small, independent elastic deformations during pressing. When the movable clamping plate 32 contacts the film, the elastic elements 62 in the flat areas of the film are first compressed to equilibrium, while the elastic elements 62 corresponding to the wrinkled or loose areas of the film can continue to be compressed over a larger stroke, thereby enabling that local area of ​​the movable clamping plate 32 to adaptively follow and press the uneven film surface. This ensures that the entire heat-sealing component 5, especially the various parts of its U-shaped profile, can achieve a full and uniform fit with the film, thus achieving a complete and reliable heat seal.

[0055] In this embodiment, the elastic element 62 is preferably a compression spring.

[0056] By introducing the floating component 6, the original rigid pressing action is transformed into an elastic pressing action with local adaptive capability, which effectively overcomes the problem of insufficient pressing caused by the unevenness of the film itself. This allows the heat sealing component 5 to achieve good contact with the film in the entire target area in one pressing action, thereby ensuring the integrity of the heat sealing effect and the reliability of the seal, and improving the stability of packaging quality.

[0057] In conventional designs, the installation position of the heat-sealing component 5 on the movable clamp 32 is fixed, which results in a relatively fixed position of the encapsulation contour formed by its transverse heating section 51. When packaging agricultural products with a large outer diameter, the film can be fully stretched and tightly wrap the product. However, when switching to agricultural products with a smaller outer diameter, since the heat-sealing position remains unchanged, after encapsulation, the agricultural product may become loose or wobble within the packaging space formed by the film due to insufficient wrapping, affecting the packaging's tightness and appearance.

[0058] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the following technical solution is adopted in this embodiment.

[0059] See attached document Figure 4 and 6 As shown, a second mounting plate 34 is slidably disposed on the side of the movable clamping plate 32 facing the fixed clamping plate 31. The heat-sealing component 5 is fixedly mounted on the side of the second mounting plate 34 facing away from the movable clamping plate 32. The outer contour of the second mounting plate 34 is adapted to the movable clamping plate 32, so that the two can maintain a relatively stable fit. In addition, a lifting module 33 is also provided on the movable clamping plate 32. The lifting module 33 is drivenly connected to the second mounting plate 34 and is used to drive the second mounting plate 34, together with the heat-sealing component 5 thereon, to move vertically relative to the movable clamping plate 32.

[0060] Through the lifting module 33 of this embodiment, the operator or automated control system can flexibly adjust the vertical height of the second mounting plate 34 and the heat-sealing component 5 according to the typical outer diameter of the agricultural product to be packaged. Specifically, when packaging agricultural products with smaller outer diameters, the lifting module 33 can be controlled to drive the second mounting plate 34 downward, thereby causing the entire heat-sealing component 5 to move downward. This allows the sealing position of the film to shift downward during the heat-sealing action, enabling more film material to be used to wrap the product under the combined effect of the agricultural product's own weight and film tension. This design reduces the space of the final packaging bag, making it more suitable for the shape of small-sized products, eliminating the looseness caused by excessive wrapping material, and ensuring a compact and close-fitting packaging effect for products of different sizes.

[0061] By introducing a second mounting plate 34 structure with a lifting module 33, the heat-sealing component 5 is given vertical positional adjustability. This improvement allows the same packaging mechanism to flexibly adapt to long strip agricultural products with different outer diameters. By adjusting the heat-sealing position and optimizing the amount of film and the tightness of the wrapping, the problem of loose packaging or poor fit caused by changes in product size is effectively solved, significantly improving the adaptability of the packaging mechanism and the stability of the final packaging quality.

[0062] In some embodiments, the packaging mechanism further includes a guide assembly 7 located above the frame 1 and configured to rotate about an axis. The guide assembly 7 consists of a support plate 71 and a guide plate 72 fixedly mounted thereon. A weight sensor 73 is installed between the support plate 71 and the guide plate 72, which enables the guide plate 72 to sense whether it is carrying an object.

[0063] In the packaging process, agricultural products processed in the previous stage are conveyed and placed onto a horizontal guide plate 72. Upon detecting a load, a weight sensor 73 generates a trigger signal. This signal can be used to initiate or synchronize subsequent packaging procedures. Subsequently, the guide assembly 72 rotates under drive, gradually changing from a horizontal state to an inclined state towards the clamping assembly 3. As the inclination angle increases, the agricultural products placed on the guide plate 72 slide smoothly down the inclined surface under the influence of gravity.

[0064] The end outlet of the guide plate 72 is precisely aligned with the area above the tensioned thermoplastic film S located between the fixed clamping plate 31 and the movable clamping plate 32. Therefore, falling agricultural products are accurately guided and placed onto the film, completing automated feeding and positioning. This process replaces traditional manual placement or complex mechanical clamping, achieving gentle, directional transport of agricultural products.

[0065] In order to achieve synchronous operation of the drive mechanism 4, the guide component 7, and the movable clamping plate 32, this embodiment discloses a structural method of the drive mechanism 4.

[0066] Specifically, the drive mechanism 4 includes a drive source 41, a first connecting rod 42, and a second connecting rod 43. The output shaft of the drive source 41 is drivenly connected to the guide assembly 7, and its function is to directly drive the guide assembly 7 to rotate around its pivot axis, thereby realizing the switching of the guide plate 72 between a horizontal receiving state and an inclined unloading state. In this embodiment, the drive source 41 is a geared motor.

[0067] One end of the first link 42 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the drive source 41. This means that when the drive source 41 is started and its output shaft rotates, it will simultaneously drive the first link 42 to rotate around the output shaft.

[0068] One end of the second connecting rod 43 is hinged to the other end of the first connecting rod 42, while the other end of the second connecting rod 43 is driven to the movable clamping plate 32. This connection constitutes a variation of a crank-rocker or crank-slider mechanism. When the first connecting rod 42 rotates with the output shaft, the circular motion at its end is transmitted and converted by the second connecting rod 43, and is changed to drive the movable clamping plate 32 to reciprocate linearly in the horizontal direction, thereby realizing the opening and closing action of the movable clamping plate 32 moving closer to or away from the fixed clamping plate 31.

[0069] The core design of this drive mechanism 4 lies in its mechanical linkage structure, formed by a single drive source 41 and the first and second connecting rods 42 and 43, which synchronously decomposes and transforms the rotational motion of the output shaft into two strictly coordinated actions: one is to drive the guide component 7 to rotate, and the other is to drive the movable clamping plate 32 to move horizontally. For example, when the drive source 41 drives the output shaft to rotate in one direction by a specific angle, the guide plate 72 can be simultaneously moved from horizontal to tilted, and the movable clamping plate 32 can be moved from the closed position. This mechanically forced synchronization ensures precise timing matching and seamless connection of various steps such as agricultural product feeding, film tensioning, and heat sealing.

[0070] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. 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 self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products, characterized in that, include: frame; A film roll assembly, mounted on the frame, is used to release the thermoplastic film. A clamping assembly is mounted on the frame. The clamping assembly includes a vertically arranged fixed clamping plate and a movable clamping plate. The fixed clamping plate is fixedly connected to the frame, and the movable clamping plate is arranged opposite to the fixed clamping plate. A fixing part is provided on the upper part of the movable clamping plate for fixing the free end of the thermoplastic film that passes over the fixed clamping plate and the movable clamping plate in sequence. A drive mechanism, mounted on the frame and connected to the movable clamping plate, is used to drive the movable clamping plate to perform opening and closing actions that move closer to or away from the fixed clamping plate; A heat-sealing component is disposed on the surface of the movable clamping plate facing the fixed clamping plate and located below the fixed part; the heat-sealing component includes a transverse heating part, the transverse heating part having a first functional side and a second functional side disposed opposite to each other along its extending direction; When the driving mechanism drives the movable clamping plate away from the fixed clamping plate, the thermoplastic film is pulled out and positioned between the surfaces of the fixed clamping plate and the movable clamping plate; when the driving mechanism drives the movable clamping plate closer to the fixed clamping plate, causing the heat-sealing component to adhere and heat the thermoplastic film, the first functional side is used to melt and heat-seal the first part of the film carrying the product, and the second functional side is used to thermally bond the second part of the film that has not been melted to form a continuous new film.

2. The self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Both the fixed clamp and the movable clamp are made of heat-insulating material; both the fixed clamp and the movable clamp are U-shaped structures with the opening facing downwards.

3. The self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The heat-sealing component also includes two longitudinal heating sections, which extend downward from both ends of the transverse heating section and together with the transverse heating section form a U-shaped structure.

4. The self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The distance between the two longitudinal heating sections is less than or equal to the width of the thermoplastic film; the length of the transverse heating section is greater than the width of the thermoplastic film; and the length of the two longitudinal heating sections is greater than or equal to the height required for side sealing after the agricultural product to be packaged is wrapped by the thermoplastic film.

5. The self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: It also includes a receiving plate, which is horizontally movable on the frame and located below the clamping assembly. It is used to receive agricultural products after plastic sealing and packaging, and the width of the receiving plate is less than or equal to the opening size of the fixed clamping plate and the movable clamping plate.

6. The self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products as described in claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a floating component located on the side of the movable clamp away from the fixed clamp. The floating component includes a first mounting plate and several elastic elements. The first mounting plate can move horizontally along the opening and closing direction of the movable clamp. The first mounting plate has a downward-facing U-shaped structure and is adapted to the shape and contour of the movable clamp. Several elastic elements are spaced apart between the first mounting plate and the movable clamp. The two ends of the elastic elements are fixedly connected to the first mounting plate and the movable clamp, respectively. The driving mechanism is connected to the first mounting plate.

7. The self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The movable clamping plate has a second mounting plate slidably disposed on the side facing the fixed clamping plate. The heat sealing component is fixedly disposed on the side of the second mounting plate away from the movable clamping plate. The second mounting plate and the movable clamping plate are adapted to each other in shape. The movable clamping plate is provided with a lifting module for driving the second mounting plate to move up and down.

8. The self-continuous film-type sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a bootstrapping component; The guiding assembly includes a support plate and a guide plate disposed on the support plate, and a weight sensor is disposed between the support plate and the guide plate. The guiding component is rotatably disposed above the frame and is used to guide agricultural products falling onto the guiding plate onto the thermoplastic film between the movable clamping plate and the fixed clamping plate.

9. The self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The drive mechanism includes a drive source, a first link, and a second link; The output shaft of the drive source is connected to the guide component for driving the guide component to rotate; One end of the first connecting rod is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the drive source; One end of the second link is hinged to the other end of the first link, and the other end of the second link is driven to the movable clamp.

10. The self-continuous film-type plastic sealing packaging mechanism for long strip-shaped agricultural products as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The film winding assembly includes a roll and at least one guide roller; the roll is rotatably mounted on the frame for mounting the film roll; at least one guide roller is rotatably mounted on the frame for guiding the thermoplastic film drawn from the film roll.

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