Cup discharging device and ice cream production system

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a cup discharging device and an ice cream production system, the cup discharging device comprises an ejection assembly, the ejection assembly comprises a tray and an ejection rod capable of driving the tray to move up and down, the tray comprises a middle supporting part used for supporting the middle area of the bottom of the cup and an edge supporting part used for supporting the edge of the bottom of the cup, and a height difference exists between the upper surface of the middle supporting part and the upper surface of the edge supporting part. According to the tray, through cooperation of the middle supporting part and the edge supporting part, the stability of the tray for supporting the paper cup can be improved, and the phenomenon that the paper cup shakes in the ejection process can be avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of paper cup processing technology, and more specifically, to a cup dispensing device and an ice cream production system. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the food packaging industry, paper cups, as a common food container, are widely used for serving hot and cold beverages. In the ice cream production sector, paper cups not only need to meet food safety standards but also require good structural stability and load-bearing capacity. Paper cup forming equipment, as a key piece of equipment in paper cup production, directly affects the quality and production efficiency of the paper cups. In existing technologies, paper cup forming equipment typically includes processes such as paper cup forming, rim rolling, and bottom sealing, ultimately conveying the formed paper cups to the dispensing station. However, during the dispensing process, due to the thinness and relatively fragile structure of the paper cup material, coupled with the high dispensing speed, the paper cups are prone to tilting, deformation, or even tipping over. This not only affects subsequent ice cream filling processes but may also lead to production line downtime for maintenance, reducing production efficiency. Therefore, ensuring the stability of the paper cups during dispensing has become a crucial technical issue in the design of paper cup forming equipment. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a cup dispensing device and an ice cream production system that can improve the stability of paper cup dispensing.

[0004] The embodiments of this utility model can be implemented as follows:

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a cup dispensing device, including a ejection assembly. The ejection assembly includes a tray and a push rod capable of moving the tray up and down. The tray includes a central support portion for supporting the middle area of ​​the bottom of the cup and an edge support portion for supporting the edge of the bottom of the cup. A height difference is provided between the upper surface of the central support portion and the upper surface of the edge support portion.

[0006] In an optional embodiment, the intermediate support portion is disc-shaped, and the edge support portion is disc-shaped or annular.

[0007] In an optional embodiment, the intermediate support portion and the edge support portion are integrally formed.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, a transition portion is further provided between the intermediate support portion and the edge support portion. Along the direction away from the intermediate support portion, the height of the upper surface of the transition portion gradually decreases from d1 to d2, where d1 is the height of the upper surface of the intermediate support portion and d2 is greater than or equal to the height of the upper surface of the edge support portion.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, the transition portion is integrally formed with the intermediate support portion.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the top of the push rod is provided with a threaded area, the threaded area is provided with an external thread, the middle part of the edge support is provided with a through hole, the middle support is provided with a downward-opening half hole, and both the through hole and the half hole are provided with internal threads that can be threadedly connected with the external thread.

[0011] In an alternative implementation, a conveyor belt and a transfer assembly capable of transferring cups from a tray to the conveyor belt are also included.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the transfer assembly includes a robotic gripper for picking up the cup or a suction cup assembly for holding the cup.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the transfer assembly includes a drive device, and the robotic gripper or suction cup assembly is detachably connected to the drive device.

[0014] Secondly, this utility model provides an ice cream production system, including the cup dispensing device described in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the cup dispensing device and ice cream production system provided in this embodiment of the invention include:

[0016] The tray in this application, through the cooperation of the middle support and the edge support, can improve the stability of the tray supporting the paper cup, which helps to prevent the paper cup from shaking during the ejection process. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this utility model and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a paper cup adapted to the cup dispensing device of this application;

[0019] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the cup dispensing device provided in this application from a first-view perspective;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of one structure of the tray in the cup dispensing device provided in this embodiment.

[0021] Icons: 100 - Paper cup; 110 - Middle area; 120 - Edge; 200 - Tray; 210 - Middle support; 220 - Edge support; 230 - Transition section; 300 - Top rod; 400 - Conveyor belt; 500 - Transfer assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0022] In the applicant's existing cup dispensing equipment, a flat tray 200 is used to support the prepared ice cream. However, during the lifting process, due to the light weight of the paper cup 100, the paper cup 100 may wobble or shift, especially during start-up, turning, and stopping, affecting the subsequent injection of ice cream. To solve the above problems, the applicant has filed this application.

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this utility model described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0024] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0026] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer" are used to indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the utility model product is usually placed during use, 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0027] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0028] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the features in the embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other.

[0029] This utility model provides a cup dispensing device, such as... Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the cup includes an ejection assembly, which includes a tray 200 and an ejector rod 300 capable of moving the tray 200 up and down. The tray 200 includes a central support 210 for supporting the central area 110 of the bottom of the cup and an edge support 220 for supporting the edge 120 of the bottom of the cup. A height difference is provided between the upper surface of the central support 210 and the upper surface of the edge support 220.

[0030] In the prior art, the bottom of a paper cup 100 typically includes a flat portion perpendicular to the axis of the paper cup 100 and an edge 120 approximately parallel to the axis of the paper cup 100, wherein the flat portion is located in the middle region 110 of the bottom of the cup, and the edge 120 is disposed around the flat portion.

[0031] The cup dispensing device in this embodiment is mainly used for Figure 1 Similar to the paper cup 100, the tray 200 can be shaped like a two-layer cake. The middle support 210 is located on the upper layer and is used to support the middle area 110 at the bottom of the cup. Its size only needs to be smaller than the area of ​​the middle area 110 of the paper cup 100 to be dispensed and be able to contact the flat part at the bottom of the paper cup 100. The edge support 220 is located on the lower layer, and the upper surface of the edge support 220 contacts the lowest point of the prepared edge 120. The shape and size of the edge support 220 are not required, as long as it can support the edge 120 of the cup.

[0032] The tray 200 in this application, through the cooperation of the middle support part 210 and the edge support part 220, can improve the stability of the tray 200 supporting the paper cup 100, which helps to avoid the paper cup 100 shaking during the ejection process.

[0033] In an optional embodiment, the intermediate support portion 210 is disc-shaped, and the edge support portion 220 is disc-shaped or annular.

[0034] The intermediate support portion 210 can be circular, square, or other shapes, preferably a disc shape, to match the shape of the bottom flat portion of the cup; the edge support portion 220 can also be a disc shape, with a diameter larger than the diameter of the bottom edge 120 of the cup. If the edge support portion 220 is annular, then the inner diameter must be smaller than the diameter of the bottom edge 120 of the cup, and the outer diameter must be larger than the diameter of the bottom edge 120 of the cup.

[0035] In an optional embodiment, the intermediate support 210 and the edge support 220 are integrally formed, which facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the equipment.

[0036] In an optional embodiment, a transition portion 230 is further provided between the intermediate support portion 210 and the edge support portion 220. Along the direction away from the intermediate support portion 210, the height of the upper surface of the transition portion 230 gradually decreases from d1 to d2, where d1 is the height of the upper surface of the intermediate support portion 210 and d2 is greater than or equal to the height of the upper surface of the edge support portion 220.

[0037] In some cases, the cup's position may deviate from the preset position. In this situation, the intermediate support 210 may interfere with the cup's edge 120, causing the cup to tilt or even tip over. The transition section 230 provides a horizontal force to the cup's edge 120, allowing the cup to move and reducing the deviation between the cup and the preset position. Simultaneously, the gradually decreasing height of the upper surface of the transition section 230 helps to buffer interference with the cup's edge 120. Therefore, the presence of the transition section 230 helps improve the stability of the cup's dispensing process.

[0038] In an optional embodiment, the transition portion 230 is integrally formed with the intermediate support portion 210, which facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the equipment.

[0039] In an optional embodiment, the top of the push rod 300 is provided with a threaded area, the threaded area is provided with an external thread, the edge support 220 is provided with a through hole in the middle, the middle support 210 is provided with a downward-opening half hole, and both the through hole and the half hole are provided with internal threads that can be threadedly connected with the external thread.

[0040] Paper cups 100 may come in different models depending on the type of ice cream they contain or the specifications of the ice cream. Different models of paper cups 100 may have different diameters at the bottom and different heights at the edge 120.

[0041] For paper cups 100 with different diameters of the bottom flat portion, generally, it is sufficient to satisfy that the area of ​​the middle support portion 210 is smaller than the diameter of the smallest bottom flat portion and the diameter of the edge support portion 220 is larger than the diameter of the largest edge 120.

[0042] For paper cups 100 with different edge heights 120, the height difference between the bottom flat portion and the lowest point of the edge 120 is different. Therefore, the height difference between the upper surface of the intermediate support portion 210 and the upper surface of the edge support portion 220 needs to be adjustable. Therefore, in this application, the intermediate support portion 210 and the edge support portion 220 are threadedly connected to the top rod 300. Since the intermediate support portion 210 needs to fit against the flat portion, a half hole is provided on the lower surface of the intermediate support portion 210 to prevent the top rod 300 from passing through the intermediate support portion 210 and affecting the stability of the support for the paper cup 100. A through hole is provided on the edge support portion 220, and the edge support portion 220 is threadedly connected to the top rod 300, so that the height of the edge support portion 220 can be adjusted as needed, so that the tray 200 in this application can be adapted to the preparation of various models.

[0043] In some embodiments, cushioning pads can also be provided on the upper surfaces of the intermediate support portion 210 and the edge support portion 220. The cushioning pads can be silicone pads or disc-shaped air bags. Since the paper cup 100 is relatively light, the cushioning effect of silicone pads is limited. It is preferable to use an air bag, for example, an air bag with an inflation rate (the ratio of the inflation volume to the total capacity of the air bag) of 50%-70%. At this time, the air bag can play a cushioning role while also having good deformability. When the edge of the cup 120 presses on the air bag on the edge support portion 220, an indentation will be generated on the air bag, which plays a role in limiting the cup. The air bags on both sides of the edge 120 bulge, which plays a supporting role for the edge 120, which helps to further improve the stability of the cup.

[0044] In an alternative implementation, a conveyor belt 400 and a transfer assembly 500 capable of transferring cups from the tray 200 onto the conveyor belt 400 are also included.

[0045] The ejection assembly needs to ensure that the cup rises stably to the height required by the unloading clamp during the ejection process. The transfer assembly 500 enables the cup to be stably placed on the conveyor belt 400 after being gripped. The conveyor belt 400 can reduce the distance that the transfer assembly 500 moves, and better adapt to the production line speed.

[0046] The ejector component ejects the cup, and the transfer component 500 transfers the ejected cup to the conveyor belt 400. The cup can then proceed to the next process without manual operation, which can improve the level of automation.

[0047] In an optional embodiment, the transfer assembly 500 includes a robotic gripper for picking up the cup or a suction cup assembly for holding the cup.

[0048] The robotic gripper can be an Airtac gripper. Since the overall size of the paper cup 100 gradually decreases from top to bottom and is shaped like an inverted cone, the gripper will not affect the top when clamping the middle area 110 on both sides of the cup. By combining with a servo motor, the unloading gripper can reciprocate, realizing the gripping and releasing of the paper cup 100. The suction cup assembly can be adapted to the side wall of the paper cup 100. Using suction cups allows for the preparation of various sizes, offering greater versatility compared to the robotic gripper.

[0049] In an optional embodiment, the transfer assembly 500 includes a drive device that is detachably connected between the robotic gripper or suction cup assembly and the drive device.

[0050] The driving device can be a servo motor. In some embodiments, the transfer component 500 is composed of a servo motor and a discharge clamp. After the discharge clamp smoothly grips the paper cup 100, the servo motor drives the discharge clamp or suction cup assembly to the top of the conveyor belt for discharge. The material is then transported to the next process by the conveyor belt to realize the transfer function.

[0051] The robotic gripper or suction cup assembly is detachably connected to the drive device, allowing for easy replacement of the robotic gripper or suction cup assembly as needed.

[0052] This utility model also provides an ice cream production system, including the cup dispensing device described in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0053] The above description is only a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A cup-dispensing device, characterized in that, The device includes an ejection assembly, which includes a tray and a push rod capable of moving the tray up and down. The tray includes a central support for supporting the middle area of ​​the bottom of the cup and an edge support for supporting the edge of the bottom of the cup. A height difference is provided between the upper surface of the central support and the upper surface of the edge support.

2. The cup dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intermediate support portion is disc-shaped, and the edge support portion is disc-shaped or ring-shaped.

3. The cup dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The intermediate support and the edge support are integrally formed.

4. The cup dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A transition section is also provided between the intermediate support section and the edge support section. Along the direction away from the intermediate support section, the height of the upper surface of the transition section gradually decreases from d1 to d2, where d1 is the height of the upper surface of the intermediate support section and d2 is greater than or equal to the height of the upper surface of the edge support section.

5. The cup dispensing device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The transition section and the intermediate support section are integrally formed.

6. The cup dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the push rod is provided with a threaded area, and the threaded area is provided with an external thread. The middle part of the edge support is provided with a through hole, and the middle support is provided with a downward-facing half hole. Both the through hole and the half hole are provided with internal threads that can be threadedly connected to the external thread.

7. The cup dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a conveyor belt and a transfer assembly that can transfer cups from a tray to the conveyor belt.

8. The cup dispensing device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The transfer assembly includes a robotic gripper for picking up the cup or a suction cup assembly for holding the cup in place.

9. The cup dispensing device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The transfer assembly includes a drive device, and the robotic gripper or suction cup assembly is detachably connected to the drive device.

10. An ice cream production system, characterized in that, Includes the cup dispensing device according to any one of claims 1-9.

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