Cigarette storage device for special-shaped cigarette compartment

By using automated data acquisition and robotic arm drive in the irregularly shaped cigarette storage device, the problem of low efficiency in traditional manual sorting has been solved. This has enabled efficient and orderly storage of cigarettes and a suitable storage and retrieval process, thereby improving storage and retrieval efficiency and cigarette quality.

CN223792268UActive Publication Date: 2026-01-13ULANQAB MUNICIPAL TOBACCO MONOPOLY BUREAU (CO)
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202520448067.5
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-03-14
Publication Date
2026-01-13
Estimated Expiration
2035-03-14

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Traditional cigarette storage relies on manual sorting, which is inefficient, prone to errors, and cannot accurately record cigarette specifications and shape information, resulting in wasted space and increased difficulty in finding items.

Method used

The device employs a uniquely shaped cigarette storage compartment. It utilizes a high-definition camera and image sensor in the transmission module for automatic data acquisition. A robotic arm and electric cylinder drive the top plate to achieve automatic sorting and storage of cigarettes. Combined with a temperature control module and a monitoring module, it ensures a suitable environment and achieves efficient storage and retrieval.

Benefits of technology

It significantly improves the orderliness and accuracy of cigarette storage, increases storage and retrieval efficiency, and ensures cigarette quality through a temperature control module, achieving a highly automated storage and retrieval process.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model discloses a cigarette storage device for a special-shaped cigarette compartment, and belongs to the field of cigarette storage. The special-shaped cigarette cargo compartment cigarette storage device comprises a protective shell, a feeding port is formed in the protective shell, a storage box and a moving block are arranged on the protective shell, and a mechanical arm, a second conveying belt, a top plate and a containing plate are further arranged on the protective shell. Cigarette data are transmitted through a high-definition camera and an image sensor of the transmission module, an external system analyzes the cigarette data and then controls a second electric air cylinder to drive a top plate, automatic classified storage of different special-shaped cigarettes is achieved in cooperation with a mechanical arm, and the storage orderliness and accuracy are greatly improved; the external system starts the first electric air cylinder, the storage box and the moving block are promoted to slide to form an opening, the mechanical arm grabs the cigarettes to the first conveying belt to be conveyed out in a linkage mode, and the storing and taking efficiency is greatly improved through the highly-automatic process.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of cigarette storage, and in particular to a cigarette storage device for irregularly shaped cigarette compartments. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional cigarette storage relies heavily on manual sorting. Workers must identify cigarettes of different shapes using experience and visual inspection. This method is not only inefficient, but also prone to errors due to human fatigue when handling large quantities of cigarettes. Furthermore, the lack of precise data collection equipment makes it difficult to accurately record information such as the specific specifications and shapes of cigarettes, hindering orderly storage. For example, in some small warehouses, irregularly shaped cigarettes are often piled up haphazardly, wasting space and increasing the difficulty of subsequent searching and retrieval. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a cigarette storage device for irregularly shaped cigarette compartments to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A cigarette storage device for irregularly shaped cigarette compartments includes a protective shell with a feed inlet, a storage box, and a movable block.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the protective shell is further provided with a robotic arm, a second conveyor belt, a top plate, and a placement plate.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the storage box is configured as a frame structure, a closed structure, or a semi-open structure.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the storage box and the moving block are an integral structure.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the protective shell is provided with a rotating roller and a conveyor belt.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the protective shell is provided with an electric cylinder and a slide rail, and the output end of the electric cylinder drives a storage box through a piston rod.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the slide rail and the storage box are in a close sliding relationship.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the protective shell is provided with a temperature control module and a monitoring module in sequence, wherein the temperature control module includes a cooler and a heater, and the monitoring module includes an infrared sensor or a camera.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, an electric cylinder two is connected to the protective shell, and the output end of the electric cylinder two drives a top plate through a piston rod.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the protective shell is provided with a transmission module, which includes a high-definition camera and an image sensor.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the transmission module is located directly above the second transport belt.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, this utility model provides a cigarette storage device for irregularly shaped cigarette compartments, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] In the storage stage, this invention relies on the high-definition camera and image sensor of the transmission module to transmit cigarette data. After analysis by the external system, the electric cylinder drives the top plate, and the robotic arm works in conjunction to automatically classify and store cigarettes of different shapes, greatly improving the orderliness and accuracy of storage. In the storage and retrieval stage, after monitoring by the monitoring module, the external system activates the electric cylinder to cause the storage box and the moving block to slide and form an opening. The robotic arm then grabs the cigarettes and transports them to the conveyor belt. The highly automated process greatly improves storage and retrieval efficiency. In addition, in terms of environmental protection, the temperature control module adjusts the temperature inside the protective shell according to preset conditions to maintain a suitable storage environment for the cigarettes and effectively protect the quality of the cigarettes. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the irregularly shaped cigarette storage device for cigarette compartments proposed in this utility model.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the irregularly shaped cigarette storage device for cigarettes in this utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the irregularly shaped cigarette storage device for cigarettes in this utility model;

[0021] Figure 4 This is an exploded structural diagram of the irregularly shaped cigarette storage device for cigarette compartments proposed in this utility model.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the irregularly shaped cigarette storage device for cigarettes in this utility model;

[0023] Figure 6 This is an enlarged structural diagram of node A of the irregularly shaped cigarette storage device for the cigarette compartment proposed in this utility model.

[0024] Figure 7 This is an enlarged structural diagram of node B of the irregularly shaped cigarette storage device proposed in this utility model.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Protective shell; 2. Feed inlet; 3. Rotary roller; 4. Conveyor belt one; 5. Electric cylinder one; 6. Slide rail; 7. Storage box; 8. Moving block; 9. Robotic arm; 10. Conveyor belt two; 11. Electric cylinder two; 12. Top plate; 13. Placement plate; 14. Temperature control module; 15. Monitoring module; 16. Transmission module. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0027] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., 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 utility model 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 limitations on this utility model.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] refer to Figures 1-7 A non-standard cigarette storage device includes a protective shell 1, an inlet 2 on the protective shell 1, a storage box 7 and a movable block 8 on the protective shell 1.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the protective shell 1 serves as the main structure of the entire device, and has a feed inlet 2 for feeding cigarettes. Inside the protective shell 1 are a storage box 7 and a movable block 8. The storage box 7 stores cigarettes, and its structure can be frame-type, closed, or semi-open to accommodate different types of cigarette storage needs. The storage box 7 and the movable block 8 are an integrated structure, facilitating overall movement. The movable block 8 is connected to the storage box 7 and slides within the protective shell 1 via a slide rail 6, allowing for position adjustment of the storage box 7.

[0031] The protective shell 1 is also equipped with a robotic arm 9, a conveyor belt 10, a top plate 12, and a placement plate 13.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, robotic arm 9 is used to grasp and place cigarettes, improving storage and retrieval efficiency. Conveyor belts 4 and 10 are used for conveying cigarettes; conveyor belt 4 may be used to transport cigarettes from the feed inlet 2 to a designated location, while conveyor belt 10 may be used to output cigarettes from the storage box 7. Electric cylinder 5 drives the movement of the storage box 7 via a piston rod, achieving precise positioning of the storage box 7 within the protective casing 1.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the top plate 12 is used to seal the top of the protective shell 1, preventing external dust and moisture from entering. The electric cylinder 11 drives the top plate 12 to open and close via a piston rod.

[0034] Storage box 7 can be a frame structure, a closed structure, or a semi-open structure.

[0035] The storage box 7 and the moving block 8 are integrated into one unit.

[0036] The protective shell 1 is equipped with a rotating roller 3 and a conveyor belt 4.

[0037] The protective shell 1 is equipped with an electric cylinder 5 and a slide rail 6. The output end of the electric cylinder 5 drives the storage box 7 through the piston rod.

[0038] As a preferred embodiment, the slide rail 6 provides guidance for the movement of the storage box 7, ensuring that the storage box 7 can slide smoothly and accurately.

[0039] The slide rail 6 and the storage box 7 are in a sliding contact relationship.

[0040] The protective shell 1 is provided with a temperature control module 14 and a monitoring module 15 in sequence. The temperature control module 14 includes a cooler and a heater, and the monitoring module 15 includes an infrared sensor or a camera.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the temperature control module 14 is used to regulate the temperature inside the protective shell 1 to ensure that the cigarettes are stored in a suitable temperature environment. The temperature control module 14 consists of a cooler and a heater.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the monitoring module 15 is used to monitor the storage status and retrieval of cigarettes. The monitoring module 15 includes an infrared sensor or a camera.

[0043] An electric cylinder 11 is connected to the protective shell 1. The output end of the electric cylinder 11 drives the top plate 12 through the piston rod.

[0044] The protective shell 1 is equipped with a transmission module 16, which includes a high-definition camera and an image sensor.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the transmission module 16 is located directly above the second conveyor belt 10 and is used to monitor the condition of the cigarettes on the second conveyor belt 10 and to classify and clamp them into the storage box 7. The transmission module 16 includes a high-definition camera and an image sensor.

[0046] The transmission module 16 is located directly above the second conveyor belt 10.

[0047] As a preferred implementation, the cigarette storage device is connected to a remote monitoring center via Internet of Things (IoT) technology to achieve real-time remote monitoring and fault early warning. The remote monitoring center can view the cigarette storage status, environmental parameters, and equipment operating status in real time, and promptly identify and address potential problems.

[0048] In another embodiment, a soft brush strip can be installed at the feed inlet 2, which can play a role in initially cleaning the dust on the surface of the cigarette when the cigarette passes through.

[0049] As a preferred embodiment, the robotic arm 9 employs a multi-joint structure with at least three movable joints: a shoulder joint, an elbow joint, and a wrist joint. The shoulder joint is responsible for the horizontal rotation of the robotic arm, expanding its working range; the elbow joint enables the robotic arm to swing up and down, precisely adjusting its height; and the wrist joint can rotate at a certain angle, ensuring the accuracy of posture when grasping and placing cigarettes. Each joint is driven by a high-precision motor, ensuring smooth and precise movements. The gripper design features a specially designed gripper at the end of the robotic arm 9, consisting of two opposing jaws. The inner side of the jaws is made of a soft, friction-resistant rubber material, which firmly grasps the cigarettes while preventing damage during the grasping process. The opening and closing of the jaws is controlled by a micro-cylinder; by precisely adjusting the cylinder's air pressure, it can adapt to the grasping needs of cigarettes of different sizes.

[0050] The upper cigarette is gripped; after the external system receives the storage command, 16 transmits the position information of the cigarette on the conveyor belt 10 to the control system of the robotic arm 9. The robotic arm moves the gripper above the target cigarette by rotating the shoulder joint and extending the elbow joint.

[0051] During the grasping phase, the wrist joint makes slight adjustments to align the gripper with the cigarette. A miniature cylinder drives the gripper to slowly close until it firmly holds the cigarette. At this time, the control system of the robotic arm 9 monitors the gripping force of the gripper in real time to ensure that the force is moderate, neither causing the cigarette to fall nor causing it to be squeezed or deformed.

[0052] Lifting phase: After the gripper grabs the cigarette, the elbow joint retracts, smoothly lifting the cigarette to a certain height to avoid collisions with other objects during movement.

[0053] The lower cigarette is placed; the shoulder joint rotates, moving the robotic arm 9 along with the held cigarette to the top of the storage box 7. Based on the cigarettes already stored in the storage box 7, the robotic arm 9 adjusts the position and posture of the cigarettes through the coordinated movements of the elbow and wrist joints to ensure accurate placement at the target location.

[0054] During the lowering and placement phase, the elbow joint slowly extends, gradually lowering the cigarette to the designated position within storage box 7. A miniature cylinder controls the grippers to slowly open, gently placing the cigarette smoothly into storage box 7. After placement, the robotic arm pauses briefly to confirm the cigarette is securely placed before retracting the grippers, preparing for the next operation.

[0055] The control method is through programming; the operation of robotic arm 9 is controlled by a pre-written program. The program details the robotic arm's motion path, speed, acceleration, and the opening and closing timing and force of the grippers at different operational stages. Precise settings of these parameters ensure that the robotic arm can accurately and efficiently complete the task of gripping and placing cigarettes.

[0056] Sensor feedback control: The robotic arm is equipped with various sensors, such as position sensors and force sensors. Position sensors monitor the position information of each joint of the robotic arm in real time and feed it back to the control system so that the robotic arm's movements can be adjusted in a timely manner to ensure it accurately reaches the target position. Force sensors are installed on the grippers to monitor the gripping force of the cigarettes in real time. When the gripping force exceeds the preset range, the control system automatically adjusts the air pressure of the miniature cylinder to ensure that the gripping force is always at a suitable level.

[0057] The robotic arm 9's control system is closely connected to an external system. Based on the cigarette data collected by the transmission module 16 and the status information of the storage box 7 fed back by the monitoring module 15, the external system sends operation commands to the robotic arm 9's control system. Upon receiving the commands, the robotic arm 9 executes the corresponding actions according to a preset program and feeds back the results to the external system, achieving automated and intelligent control of the entire storage process.

[0058] Example 2

[0059] According to Embodiment 1 above, ultraviolet disinfection lamps are installed inside the protective casing 1, especially above the storage box 7 and conveyor belts 4 and 10. After each cigarette storage or retrieval operation, the ultraviolet disinfection lamps automatically turn on, disinfecting the internal space of the device and the surface of the conveyor belts for a certain period of time. This effectively kills any bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms that may be present, further ensuring the hygiene of the cigarette storage environment and preventing the growth of microorganisms from affecting cigarette quality.

[0060] Example 3

[0061] According to the above embodiment 1, a touch-screen human-machine interface is installed on the outside of the protective shell 1. Operators can use this interface to intuitively view the quantity of cigarettes stored in each storage box 7, current temperature, humidity, and other environmental parameters, as well as the equipment's operating status. Simultaneously, operators can manually issue commands on the interface, such as initiating storage and retrieval operations for specific storage boxes 7, and viewing historical data reports. The interface design is simple and clear, easy to operate, and facilitates quick understanding and intervention by staff.

[0062] Working principle: First, the cigarettes enter the protective shell 1 through the feed inlet 2 and are placed on the conveyor belt 10 for transportation. Then, the transmission module 16 transmits the cigarette data to the external system through a high-definition camera and image sensor. The external system analyzes the data and then controls one of the electric cylinders 11 to drive the top plate 12 to move through the piston rod, pushing the cigarettes into the placement plate 13. Then, the corresponding robotic arm 9 sorts the cigarettes into the storage box 7 on the lower side. Similarly, different irregularly shaped cigarettes are classified and stored.

[0063] During storage, the temperature control module 14 adjusts the temperature inside the protective shell 1 according to preset conditions to ensure a suitable storage environment for cigarettes.

[0064] Once storage is complete, when the cigarettes need to be retrieved, the monitoring module 15 first monitors the cigarettes, and then the external system activates the electric cylinder 5. The electric cylinder 5 then drives the storage box 7 to slide along the slide rail 6 to one side via the piston rod. At the same time, the moving block 8 moves in the same way, thus forming an opening on the protective shell 1. At this time, the robotic arm 9 grabs the cigarettes from the storage box 7 according to the linkage of the monitoring module 15 and places them on the conveyor belt 4. The conveyor belt 4 then transports the cigarettes out, thus completing the efficient storage and retrieval.

Claims

1. A cigarette storage device for a special-shaped cigarette and goods compartment, comprising a protective shell (1), an inlet (2) being formed on the protective shell (1), characterized in that, The protection shell (1) is provided with a storage box (7) and a moving block (8). The protection shell (1) is further provided with a mechanical arm (9), a conveying belt two (10), a top plate (12) and a placing plate (13) respectively.

2. The cigarette storage device of claim 1, wherein, The storage box (7) is provided in a frame structure, a closed structure or a semi-open structure.

3. The cigarette storage device of claim 1, wherein, The storage box (7) and the moving block (8) are in an integrated structure.

4. The cigarette storage device of claim 1, wherein the cigarette storage device is a cigarette storage device for a vehicle. The protection shell (1) is provided with a rotating roller (3) and a conveying belt one (4).

5. The cigarette storage device of claim 1, wherein, The protection shell (1) is provided with an electric cylinder one (5) and a sliding rail (6) respectively, and the output end of the electric cylinder one (5) drives the storage box (7) through a piston rod.

6. The cigarette storage device of claim 5, wherein, The sliding rail (6) and the storage box (7) are in a close sliding relationship.

7. The shaped cigarette carrier of claim 1, wherein, The protection shell (1) is sequentially provided with a temperature control module (14) and a monitoring module (15), wherein the temperature control module (14) comprises a refrigerator and a heater, and the monitoring module (15) comprises an infrared sensor or a camera.

8. The shaped cigarette carrier of claim 1, wherein, The protection shell (1) is connected with an electric cylinder two (11), and the output end of the electric cylinder two (11) drives the top plate (12) through a piston rod.

9. The shaped cigarette carrier of claim 1, wherein, The protection shell (1) is provided with a transmission module (16), wherein the transmission module (16) comprises a high-definition camera and an image sensor.

10. The cigarette storage device of claim 9, wherein, The transmission module (16) is located directly above the conveying belt two (10).