An anti-offset alignment baffle structure for a napkin stacking machine

Abstract

This invention relates to an anti-offset alignment baffle structure for a napkin stacking machine, comprising a U-shaped baffle structure. One side of the U-shaped baffle structure is provided with an alignment component for limiting and aligning the sides of the napkins during the stacking and cutting process. The other side of the U-shaped baffle structure is provided with a pushing component for pushing the napkins stacked within the U-shaped baffle structure towards the center position after the stacking and cutting process is completed. The alignment component includes a guide block slidably connected to one side of the U-shaped baffle structure, a longitudinal slider slidably connected within the guide block, a transverse slider slidably connected within the longitudinal slider, and an alignment plate fixedly connected to one end of the transverse slider. The alignment component also includes a drive unit for driving the longitudinal slider, transverse slider, and alignment plate to perform compound movements. This invention integrates the two major functions of alignment limiting and center pushing into one unit. Through a single drive mechanism, it can not only drive the alignment plate to complete the alignment task but also automatically trigger the pushing plate action during the alignment plate reset process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of napkin processing equipment technology, specifically to an anti-offset alignment baffle structure for a napkin stacking machine. Background Technology

[0002] In the production and processing of napkins, the slit individual napkins need to be neatly stacked to a certain thickness before final cutting (i.e., "stack cutting") to form a regular product. During this process, ensuring that the napkin stack does not shift during conveying and positioning and that the edges remain neat is the key to ensuring cutting quality and product specifications. Currently, a simple solution commonly used on production lines is to set fixed limiting baffles or bars on the side of the conveyor platform or cutting station. When the napkin stack moves to the cutting station with the conveyor belt, its side will contact the fixed baffle, and under the action of friction, it will achieve single-sided alignment. However, this existing anti-offset alignment structure has obvious functional defects. Specifically, because one side of the tissue stack is close to the fixed baffle during cutting, after cutting, the neat tissue stack is still in a position close to the side wall of the equipment. When operators or robotic arms pick up this stack of tissues, the position is relatively remote, the operating space may be limited, and the picking action is not convenient. If it is desired to move the tissue stack to a more convenient position, an additional pushing mechanism or manual intervention is often required. This not only increases the complexity and cost of the equipment, but also reduces the overall production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide an anti-offset alignment baffle structure for a napkin stacking machine.

[0004] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution: an anti-offset alignment baffle structure for a napkin stacking machine, comprising a U-shaped baffle structure; One side of the U-shaped baffle structure is provided with an alignment component for limiting and aligning the sides of the napkins during the stacking and cutting process, and the other side of the U-shaped baffle structure is provided with a pushing component for pushing the napkins stacked in the U-shaped baffle structure toward the middle position after the stacking and cutting process is completed. The alignment assembly includes a guide block slidably connected to one side of the U-shaped baffle structure, a longitudinal slider slidably connected to the guide block, a transverse slider slidably connected to the longitudinal slider, and an alignment plate fixedly connected to one end of the transverse slider. The alignment assembly also includes a drive unit for driving the longitudinal slider, the transverse slider, and the alignment plate to perform compound motion. The pushing component includes a pushing plate that moves in conjunction with the horizontal slider.

[0005] The drive unit includes an L-shaped connecting rod rotatably connected to the inner cavity of the longitudinal slider, a limiting pin slidably connected to the L-shaped connecting rod, two contact wheels rotatably connected to the L-shaped connecting rod, a turntable rotatably connected to the guide block, and a protrusion fixedly connected to the surface of the turntable.

[0006] One end of the limiting pin is fixedly connected to the surface of the transverse slider, and both contact wheels are in contact with the surface of the turntable.

[0007] The alignment assembly further includes a first elastic reset unit for resetting the L-shaped link; the first elastic reset unit includes connecting posts fixedly connected to the surface of the L-shaped link and the center of the turntable, and tension springs at both ends respectively snapped onto the two connecting posts.

[0008] The pushing component also includes a U-shaped pull rod slidably connected within the U-shaped baffle structure. One end of the U-shaped pull rod is fixedly connected to the pushing plate, and the other end extends to the bottom of the horizontal slider. A pushing plate for pushing the surface of the U-shaped pull rod is fixedly connected to the bottom of the horizontal slider. A second elastic reset unit for driving the pushing plate and the U-shaped pull rod to reset is also provided within the U-shaped baffle structure.

[0009] The second elastic reset unit includes a guide post slidably connected to the U-shaped baffle structure. The top end of the guide post is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the push plate. An elastic element is sleeved on the guide post, and the two ends of the elastic element act on the U-shaped baffle structure and the push plate, respectively.

[0010] Both the alignment plate and the push plate are disposed in the inner space of the U-shaped baffle structure, and a gap is left between the surface of the alignment plate and the corresponding inner wall of the U-shaped baffle structure.

[0011] A mounting block is fixedly connected to one side of the guide block. A connecting shaft is rotatably connected to the inner cavity of the mounting block via a bearing. One end of the connecting shaft is fixedly connected to the turntable, and the other end extends to the outside of the mounting block and is fixedly connected to a rocker arm.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: 1. This invention integrates two major functions: alignment and positioning, and intermediate pushing. Through a set of drive mechanisms, it can not only drive the alignment plate to complete the alignment task, but also automatically trigger the action of the pushing plate during the alignment plate reset process. Specifically, when the alignment component completes its work and begins to reset, its moving parts will drive the pushing plate to press down, thereby pushing the pull rod connected to the pushing plate. Finally, the pushing plate will smoothly push the neatly cut napkin stack, which is close to one side, to the middle position of the equipment. This changes the predicament of the paper stack being in a remote position and inconvenient to pick up after cutting in the traditional way. There is no need to add an independent pushing mechanism or rely on manual handling, which significantly reduces the complexity and cost of the equipment, while improving the continuity and efficiency of the overall production process. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the driving unit of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the U-shaped tie rod of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the L-shaped connecting rod of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a split view of the alignment component of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a disassembled diagram of the driving unit of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second elastic reset unit of the present invention.

[0014] Labeling Explanation: 1. U-shaped baffle structure; 2. Guide block; 201. Longitudinal slider; 202. Transverse slider; 203. Alignment plate; 3. Push plate; 4. L-shaped connecting rod; 401. Limit pin; 402. Contact wheel; 403. Turntable; 404. Protrusion; 5. Connecting post; 501. Tension spring; 6. U-shaped tie rod; 601. Push plate; 7. Guide post; 701. Elastic element; 8. Mounting block; 801. Connecting shaft; 802. Rocker arm. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments: like Figure 1-8 The diagram shown is an embodiment of an anti-offset alignment baffle structure for a napkin stacking machine provided by the present invention, including a U-shaped baffle structure 1; One side of the U-shaped baffle structure 1 is provided with an alignment component for limiting and aligning the side of the napkin during the stacking and cutting process, and the other side of the U-shaped baffle structure 1 is provided with a pushing component for pushing the napkin stack in the U-shaped baffle structure 1 toward the middle position after the stacking and cutting process is completed. The alignment assembly includes a guide block 2 slidably connected to one side of the U-shaped baffle structure 1, a longitudinal slider 201 slidably connected to the guide block 2, a transverse slider 202 slidably connected to the longitudinal slider 201, and an alignment plate 203 fixedly connected to one end of the transverse slider 202. The alignment assembly also includes a drive unit for driving the longitudinal slider 201, the transverse slider 202 and the alignment plate 203 to perform compound motion. The push component includes a push plate 3 that moves in conjunction with the horizontal slider 202; The core benefit of this solution lies in integrating alignment and pushing functions by setting alignment components and pushing components on both sides of a U-shaped baffle structure 1. Its working mechanism is as follows: during the stacking and cutting process, the alignment component actively aligns the napkin stack placed within the U-shaped baffle structure 1 precisely laterally, ensuring neat cutting edges. After the stacking and cutting process is completed, the pushing component immediately moves, pushing the napkin stack closest to one side to the middle position of the U-shaped baffle structure 1, facilitating retrieval by the operator. This fundamentally solves the problem of limited functionality of traditional single baffles, leading to inconvenience in retrieving paper. The alignment component, through the composite sliding connection of guide block 2, longitudinal slider 201, transverse slider 202, and alignment plate 203, provides the basis for the alignment plate 203 to achieve complex motion trajectories. The motion linkage design between the pushing plate 3 and the transverse slider 202 ensures the automatic sequential connection of the two functions.

[0016] The drive unit includes an L-shaped connecting rod 4 rotatably connected to the inner cavity of the longitudinal slider 201, a limiting pin 401 slidably connected to the L-shaped connecting rod 4, two contact wheels 402 rotatably connected to the L-shaped connecting rod 4, a turntable 403 rotatably connected to the guide block 2, and a protrusion 404 fixedly connected to the surface of the turntable 403. A further beneficial effect of this scheme is that it discloses a drive unit configuration that can drive the alignment plate 203 to complete the required composite motion. Its working mechanism is as follows: by rotating the turntable 403, the protrusion 404 on it is used as the active drive element; the protrusion 404 contacts and pushes the two contact wheels 402 in sequence during rotation, thereby forcing the L-shaped link 4 to reciprocate around its fulcrum at a specific angle; the swing of the L-shaped link 4 is then converted into planar motion control of the transverse slider 202 through the limiting pin 401 that slides with it; this cam and link combination mechanism can convert a single rotation input into a controllable composite output motion containing transverse and longitudinal components.

[0017] One end of the limiting pin 401 is fixedly connected to the surface of the transverse slider 202, and both contact wheels 402 are in contact with the surface of the turntable 403; The beneficial effect of this scheme is that it clarifies the connection and contact relationship of key transmission components, ensuring the reliability and accuracy of motion transmission. Its working mechanism is as follows: one end of the limiting pin 401 is fixed to the transverse slider 202, making it a rigid motion transmission link between the L-shaped connecting rod 4 and the transverse slider 202. The swing angle of the L-shaped connecting rod 4 is converted into the displacement of the transverse slider 202 without loss. At the same time, the two contact wheels 402 always maintain contact with the surface of the turntable 403. This rolling contact method not only has low friction and low wear, but also ensures that the relative position between the L-shaped connecting rod 4 and the turntable 403 is constrained regardless of whether the protrusion 404 is in the active phase, making the motion trajectory of the entire mechanism stable.

[0018] The alignment assembly also includes a first elastic reset unit for resetting the L-shaped link 4; the first elastic reset unit includes connecting posts 5 fixedly connected to the surface of the L-shaped link 4 and the axis of the turntable 403 respectively, and tension springs 501 with their two ends respectively snapped onto the two connecting posts 5; The beneficial effect of this solution is that it provides an automatic reset function for the drive unit, enabling the alignment assembly to automatically and quickly return to its initial standby position after the alignment action is completed, ready for the next work cycle. Its working mechanism is as follows: a first elastic reset unit consisting of connecting post 5 and tension spring 501 is set up; when the L-shaped connecting rod 4 is driven by the protrusion 404 to swing, it will stretch the tension spring 501 and store elastic potential energy; once the force of the protrusion 404 on the contact wheel 402 is released (for example, the protrusion 404 rotates through a specific angle), the potential energy stored in the tension spring 501 is immediately released, which pulls the two connecting posts 5, forcing the L-shaped connecting rod 4 to swing in the opposite direction, thereby driving the entire alignment assembly (longitudinal slider 201, transverse slider 202, alignment plate 203) to reset; this simplifies the operation and improves the equipment rhythm.

[0019] The pushing component also includes a U-shaped pull rod 6 slidably connected within the U-shaped baffle structure 1. One end of the U-shaped pull rod 6 is fixedly connected to the pushing plate 3, and the other end extends to the bottom of the horizontal slider 202. A pushing plate 601 for pushing the surface of the U-shaped pull rod 6 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the horizontal slider 202. A second elastic reset unit for driving the pushing plate 601 and the U-shaped pull rod 6 to reset is also provided in the U-shaped baffle structure 1. The beneficial effects of this solution are that it cleverly achieves automatic triggering of the pushing function, and the power comes from the movement of the alignment component itself, without the need for an additional independent drive source. The structure is compact and the cost is low. Its working mechanism is as follows: the pushing component is equipped with a U-shaped pull rod 6 and a push plate 601; one end of the U-shaped pull rod 6 is connected to the push plate 3, and the other end is located below the moving path of the horizontal slider 202; when the horizontal slider 202 moves to a specific position during the alignment or reset process, the push plate 601 at its bottom will push this end of the U-shaped pull rod 6; after the U-shaped pull rod 6 is subjected to force, it transmits linear motion to the push plate 3 at the other end, thereby executing the pushing action; the second elastic reset unit ensures that the U-shaped pull rod 6 and the push plate 3 can automatically reset after the pushing action is completed.

[0020] The second elastic reset unit includes a guide post 7 slidably connected to the U-shaped baffle structure 1. The top end of the guide post 7 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the push plate 601. An elastic element 701 is sleeved on the guide post 7. The two ends of the elastic element 701 act on the U-shaped baffle structure 1 and the push plate 601 respectively. This scheme further clarifies the specific implementation of the second elastic reset unit, and its beneficial effects are smooth reset action and good guidance. Its working mechanism is as follows: the guide post 7 provides precise vertical guidance for the up and down movement of the push plate 601, preventing it from swaying; the elastic element 701 (such as a spring) sleeved on the guide post 7 is pre-compressed or further compressed during operation; when the push plate 601 presses down on the U-shaped pull rod 6, the restoring force of the elastic element 701 will push it up and reset through the push plate 601, thereby relieving the pressure on the U-shaped pull rod 6; the U-shaped pull rod 6 and the push plate 3 are pushed back by the indirect action of the elastic element 701 without external pressure.

[0021] Both the alignment plate 203 and the push plate 3 are set in the inner space of the U-shaped baffle structure 1, and there is a gap between the plate surface of the alignment plate 203 and the corresponding inner wall of the U-shaped baffle structure 1. The beneficial effect of this scheme is that by limiting the position and gap of key working components, it ensures that the moving parts do not interfere with each other and operate smoothly. Its working mechanism is as follows: both the alignment plate 203 and the push plate 3 are located in the inner working space of the U-shaped baffle structure 1, so that they can effectively act on the napkin stack. At the same time, a gap is left between the alignment plate 203 and the inner wall of the U-shaped baffle structure 1. This gap provides the necessary avoidance space for the alignment plate 203 when it extends laterally, retracts, and smooths up and down, preventing the alignment plate 203 from rigidly colliding or rubbing against the U-shaped baffle structure 1 itself.

[0022] A mounting block 8 is fixedly connected to one side of the guide block 2. A connecting shaft 801 is rotatably connected to the inner cavity of the mounting block 8 via a bearing. One end of the connecting shaft 801 is fixedly connected to the turntable 403, and the other end extends to the outside of the mounting block 8 and is fixedly connected to a rocker arm 802. The beneficial effects of this solution are that it provides a simple and reliable manual operation method and ensures stable transmission of drive input. Its working mechanism is as follows: through the mounting block 8 and the bearing-supported connecting shaft 801, the external rotational operation (rocking the rocker arm 802) is smoothly transmitted to the internal turntable 403. The rocker arm 802 provides a force-saving operating lever, allowing the operator to easily drive the entire mechanism. This design is simple in structure and easy to maintain, making it particularly suitable for production scenarios requiring manual intervention or semi-automation.

[0023] The working principle and process of the anti-misalignment baffle structure for napkin stacking and cutting described in this invention are as follows: First, the U-shaped baffle structure 1 is fixedly installed on a suitable work position of the napkin stacking and cutting device (such as a conveyor platform or cutting table); during operation, a stack of napkins to be stacked and cut is placed in the inner space of the U-shaped baffle structure 1, and one side of it is pre-attached to the surface of the push plate 3 to determine the initial position. The entire working process is triggered and controlled by a continuous rotation drive. Initially, the operator drives the joystick 802, which drives the connecting shaft 801 and the turntable 403 fixed on it to rotate within the guide block 2. The protrusions 404 on the surface of the turntable 403 rotate together, becoming the trigger source for a series of sequential actions. When the turntable 403 rotates, the protrusion 404 first contacts and pushes the first contact wheel 402; the rotation of the contact wheel 402 is connected to the L-shaped connecting rod 4, so the thrust of the protrusion forces the L-shaped connecting rod 4 to swing with its rotation connection point in the inner cavity of the longitudinal slider 201 as the fulcrum; the swing of the L-shaped connecting rod 4 is transmitted to the transverse slider 202 fixed to one end of the limiting pin 401 through the limiting pin 401 slidably connected in its long rod section; This unique transmission design makes the movement of the lateral slider 202 complex. Initially, the lateral slider 202 mainly drives the alignment plate 203 fixed at one end to move laterally to the side of the napkin stack (roughly towards the direction of the push plate 601), completing the initial lateral alignment and limiting. Then, due to the special geometric structure of the L-shaped connecting rod 4 and the sliding constraints of the guide block 2 and the longitudinal slider 201, the continued movement of the lateral slider 202 will drive the longitudinal slider 201 to slide upward along the guide block 2. Thus, after completing the lateral alignment, the alignment plate 203 immediately generates an upward longitudinal movement, thereby smoothing out any uneven tops that may exist in the napkin stack and ensuring a flat stack shape. When the alignment plate 203 completes the alignment and smoothing action, but has not yet started to reset (i.e., the protrusion 404 is still acting on the first contact wheel 402, or is in a state of being about to separate but not yet separated), the rotating turntable 403 can be paused; at this time, the alignment plate 203 remains in the extended working position, and the napkin stack is stably limited in the aligned state; at this time, the stack cutting device can be started to cut the napkin stack that has been precisely aligned and smoothed. After the stacking and cutting is completed, the turntable 403 can continue to rotate; when the protrusion 404 disengages from the first contact wheel 402, it will contact and push the second contact wheel 402; at this time, the L-shaped connecting rod 4 swings in the opposite direction under the action of the protrusion; this swinging again drives the horizontal slider 202 to move in the opposite direction through the limit pin 401, thereby causing the vertical slider 201 to slide down and reset, and finally driving the alignment plate 203 to completely retract from the working position and disengage from the stacked and cut napkins; The crucial action connection occurs the instant that the protrusion 404 disengages from the first contact wheel 402; at this moment, the L-shaped connecting rod 4, under the action of related structures (such as the possible tension spring 501), will produce a rapid swinging motion; this swinging motion, through the limit pin 401, will pull the transverse slider 202 a small distance in a specific direction for the last time; it is this movement that causes the push plate 601, which is fixed at the bottom of the transverse slider 202, to be pushed to the end of the U-shaped pull rod 6 located directly below it; When the U-shaped pull rod 6 is pushed, its other end drives the push plate 3, which is fixedly connected to it, to move towards the napkin stack (towards the original position of the alignment plate 203), smoothly pushing the neatly stacked paper that has been cut and is close to one side to the middle position of the U-shaped baffle structure 1, which greatly facilitates the subsequent picking and taking operation; during this process, the U-shaped pull rod 6 will compress the elastic element 701 sleeved on the guide post 7 to store the reset energy; Finally, when the turntable 403 rotates until the protrusion 404 is completely disengaged from the second contact wheel 402, all active driving actions are released; at this time, the alignment plate 203 is in the reset state; at the same time, the compressed elastic element 701 releases energy, pushing the guide post 7 and the push plate 601 fixed to its top upward, causing the push plate 601 to disengage from the U-shaped tie rod 6; the U-shaped tie rod 6 and the push plate 3 are also reset under their own structure or auxiliary elastic action, ready to start the next working cycle; In summary, this structure, through a rotary input (rocker 802, turntable 403, protrusion 404), ingeniously utilizes the linkage formed by the L-shaped connecting rod 4, two contact wheels 402, and limit pin 401 to sequentially and automatically trigger a series of coherent actions, including lateral alignment, longitudinal smoothing, pause stacking and cutting, alignment reset, intermediate pushing, and complete reset, thus efficiently solving the problems raised in the background technology.

Claims

1. An anti-offset alignment baffle structure for a napkin stacking machine, comprising a U-shaped baffle structure (1); characterized in that One side of the U-shaped baffle structure (1) is provided with an alignment component for limiting and aligning the side of the napkin during the stacking and cutting process, and the other side of the U-shaped baffle structure (1) is provided with a pushing component for pushing the napkin stack in the U-shaped baffle structure (1) towards the middle position after the stacking and cutting process is completed. The alignment assembly includes a guide block (2) slidably connected to one side of the U-shaped baffle structure (1), a longitudinal slider (201) slidably connected to the guide block (2), a transverse slider (202) slidably connected to the longitudinal slider (201), and an alignment plate (203) fixedly connected to one end of the transverse slider (202). The alignment assembly also includes a drive unit for driving the longitudinal slider (201), the transverse slider (202), and the alignment plate (203) to perform compound motion. The pushing component includes a pushing plate (3) that moves in conjunction with the horizontal slider (202).

2. A misalignment preventing alignment baffle structure of a napkin stacker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive unit includes an L-shaped connecting rod (4) rotatably connected to the inner cavity of the longitudinal slider (201), a limiting pin (401) slidably connected to the L-shaped connecting rod (4), two contact wheels (402) rotatably connected to the L-shaped connecting rod (4), a turntable (403) rotatably connected to the guide block (2), and a protrusion (404) fixedly connected to the surface of the turntable (403).

3. A misalignment preventing alignment baffle structure of a napkin stacker according to claim 2, characterized in that: One end of the limiting pin (401) is fixedly connected to the surface of the transverse slider (202), and both contact wheels (402) are in contact with the surface of the turntable (403).

4. A misalignment preventing alignment baffle structure of a napkin stacker according to claim 3, characterized in that: The alignment assembly further includes a first elastic reset unit for resetting the L-shaped link (4); the first elastic reset unit includes a connecting post (5) fixedly connected to the surface of the L-shaped link (4) and the axis of the turntable (403), and a tension spring (501) with both ends respectively snapped onto the two connecting posts (5).

5. A misalignment preventing alignment baffle structure of a napkin stacker according to claim 4, characterized in that: The pushing component also includes a U-shaped pull rod (6) slidably connected within the U-shaped baffle structure (1). One end of the U-shaped pull rod (6) is fixedly connected to the pushing plate (3), and the other end extends to the bottom of the horizontal slider (202). A push plate (601) for pushing the surface of the U-shaped pull rod (6) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the horizontal slider (202). The U-shaped baffle structure (1) is also provided with a second elastic reset unit for driving the push plate (601) and the U-shaped pull rod (6) to reset.

6. The anti-offset alignment baffle structure of a napkin stacking machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second elastic reset unit includes a guide post (7) slidably connected to the U-shaped baffle structure (1). The top end of the guide post (7) is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the push plate (601). An elastic element (701) is sleeved on the guide post (7). The two ends of the elastic element (701) act on the U-shaped baffle structure (1) and the push plate (601) respectively.

7. A misalignment preventing alignment baffle structure of a napkin stacker according to claim 6, characterized in that: Both the alignment plate (203) and the push plate (3) are disposed in the inner space of the U-shaped baffle structure (1), and a gap is left between the plate surface of the alignment plate (203) and the corresponding inner wall of the U-shaped baffle structure (1).

8. A misalignment preventing alignment baffle structure of a napkin stacker according to claim 7, characterized in that: A mounting block (8) is fixedly connected to one side of the guide block (2). A connecting shaft (801) is rotatably connected to the inner cavity of the mounting block (8) through a bearing. One end of the connecting shaft (801) is fixedly connected to the turntable (403), and the other end extends to the outside of the mounting block (8) and is fixedly connected to a rocker arm (802).

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