Paper feeding device

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of paper feeding, and discloses a paper feeding device which comprises a stock bin, a material taking mechanism and a separating mechanism, the stock bin is configured to contain a material pile formed by stacking a plurality of pieces of paper, and the material taking mechanism comprises a material taking head and a driving module. The driving module is configured to drive the material taking head to carry the uppermost paper from the stock bin, a plurality of pieces of paper stacked in the stock bin are continuously taken out one by one through the material taking head, and when the material taking head carries the uppermost paper in the stock bin every time, the paper is taken out one by one through the driving module. The separating mechanism can separate the paper carried by the material taking head from the paper adjacent to the paper in the stock bin, so that the paper carried by the stock bin is prevented from adhering to other paper in the stock bin, it is guaranteed that only one piece of paper is taken by the material taking head at a time, and then it is guaranteed that only one product specification is contained in all packaging boxes.

Description

Paper feeding device Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of paper feeding technology, and in particular to a paper feeding device. Background Technology

[0002] In automated product packaging production lines, product manuals, as accessories, must be packaged simultaneously with the product (e.g., electronic products, pharmaceuticals, household appliances). Furthermore, to facilitate placement into packaging boxes, product manuals are typically designed as single-fold or multi-fold paper documents.

[0003] Therefore, to improve feeding efficiency, existing technologies generally use hoppers to store and stack a pile of papers. These papers are continuously and one by one taken out of the hopper and transported to the packaging station. However, during the process of taking out the papers one by one, due to the physical properties of the paper, adjacent papers are very likely to stick together. This leads to the situation where two or more papers are taken out at a time, which can easily result in some packaging boxes containing two or more product manuals. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a paper feeding device to solve the problem that, during the process of taking out paper one by one, due to the physical characteristics of paper, two adjacent sheets of paper are very likely to stick together. This leads to the situation where two or more sheets of paper are taken out at a time, which in turn easily results in some packaging boxes containing two or more product manuals.

[0005] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] Paper feeding device, including:

[0007] The hopper is configured to hold a stack of paper sheets;

[0008] The material handling mechanism includes a material handling head and a drive module, wherein the drive module is configured to drive the material handling head to move in order to pick up the paper located at the top of the hopper;

[0009] The separating mechanism includes at least one blowing section configured to blow air onto the side of a sheet of paper picked up by the feeding head and the side of a sheet of paper adhered to it below, to separate the two sheets of paper that are stuck together.

[0010] Preferably, the air blowing section includes at least one air blowing head, which is disposed toward the side of the material pile contained in the hopper.

[0011] Preferably, the paper feeding device further includes a lifting mechanism configured to lift the pile of paper so that the bottom of the uppermost paper is level with the air outlet of the blower head.

[0012] Preferably, the blower head is provided with an air outlet, which extends along the lifting direction of the lifting mechanism.

[0013] Preferably, the lifting mechanism includes a lifting plate and a driving member, the driving member being configured to drive the lifting plate to move in a vertical direction;

[0014] The bottom of the silo is provided with an opening, and a pad is provided inside the silo. The material is placed on the pad, and the lifting plate can extend into the silo through the opening and lift the pad.

[0015] Preferably, the lifting plate is provided with a suction nozzle, and the lifting plate is attached to the bottom of the pad by the suction nozzle.

[0016] Preferably, a pad is provided on the pad, and the pad is disposed on one side of the pad.

[0017] Preferably, the separation mechanism further includes a brush that can sweep across the side of the paper being picked up by the picking head and the side of the paper attached below it when the picking head picks up the topmost paper.

[0018] Preferably, the separation mechanism includes at least two brushes, both of which are disposed on the hopper and arranged around the outer periphery of the material pile.

[0019] Preferably, the feeding mechanism further includes a photoelectric sensor configured to detect whether the feeding head has picked up the paper.

[0020] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0021] This invention uses a feeding head to continuously and one by one remove several stacked papers from a hopper. Moreover, when the feeding head picks up the paper on top of the hopper each time, a separation mechanism can separate the paper picked up by the feeding head from the paper adjacent to that paper in the hopper, so as to prevent the paper picked up by the hopper from sticking to other papers in the hopper. This ensures that the feeding head picks up only one paper at a time, and thus ensures that each packaging box contains only one product instruction manual. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the paper structure in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the paper feeding device in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 3 is a second structural schematic diagram of the paper feeding device in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 4 is a magnified view of part A in Figure 3;

[0026] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the hopper, separation mechanism, and lifting mechanism in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0027] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the silo in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0028] Figure 7 is a structural schematic diagram of the lifting mechanism in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0029] In the picture:

[0030] 100. Paper; 101. Fold; 102. Crease;

[0031] 1. Material hopper; 11. Opening; 12. Pad; 121. Pad block; 13. Magnetic suction component; 2. Material handling mechanism; 21. Material handling head; 22. Drive module; 23. Photoelectric sensor; 31. Air blowing section; 311. Air blowing head; 3111. Air outlet; 32. Brush; 4. Lifting mechanism; 41. Lifting plate; 411. Suction nozzle; 42. Drive component. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, not the entire structure.

[0033] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0034] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0035] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," and "left," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, 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. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0036] Please refer to Figures 2 to 7, and in conjunction with Figure 1, this embodiment provides a paper feeding device. The paper feeding device includes a hopper 1 and a picking mechanism 2. The hopper 1 is placed at the feeding station and is configured to hold a stack of several sheets of paper 100. The picking mechanism 2 includes a picking head 21 and a drive module 22. The drive module 22 is configured to drive the picking head 21 to move and pick up the top sheet of paper 100 in the hopper 1. It can be understood that after the picking head 21 picks up the top sheet of paper 100 from the hopper 1, the drive module 22 drives the picking head 21 to move to the packaging station, thereby transporting the sheet of paper 100 to the downstream packaging equipment. That is, the drive module 22 can drive the picking head 21 to move between the feeding station and the packaging station, thereby continuously and sequentially picking up and transporting the several sheets of paper 100 stacked in the hopper 1 to the packaging station.

[0037] For example, in this embodiment, the drive module 22 is an industrial robot. Of course, in other optional embodiments, the drive module 22 may also be a three-axis mobile platform or other drive structures. This embodiment does not impose any specific limitations on this.

[0038] It is worth noting that in this embodiment, the hopper 1 is transported to the feeding station by an automated transfer module (not shown in the figure), and after all the stacked papers 100 in it have been removed, it is transported away from the feeding station by the automated transfer module. At the same time, the automated transfer module can transport the next hopper 1 containing several papers 100 to the feeding station. In addition, a magnetic suction component 13 is provided at the bottom of the hopper 1. The magnetic suction component 13 can attract the hopper 1 to the feeding station to prevent the hopper 1 from shifting during the process of the picking head 21 picking up the papers 100, thereby ensuring that the picking head 21 can accurately pick up the papers 100 from the hopper 1.

[0039] In addition to the hopper 1 and the feeding mechanism 2, the paper feeding device also includes a separation mechanism. The separation mechanism includes an air blowing section 31, which is configured to blow air onto the side of the paper 100 picked up by the feeding head 21 and the side of the paper 100 attached below it, so as to separate the two papers 100 that are stuck together. That is, in this embodiment, the separation mechanism separates the paper 100 picked up by the feeding head 21 from the paper 100 adjacent to it, so as to prevent the paper 100 picked up by the feeding head 21 from sticking to other papers 100 in the hopper 1 when the feeding head 21 picks up the paper 100 at the top in the hopper 1, thereby ensuring that the feeding head 21 picks up only one paper 100 at a time.

[0040] It is understood that in this embodiment, the paper 100 is the product manual with a single or multiple fold structure as mentioned above. Of course, in other optional embodiments, the paper 100 can also be printing paper, drawing paper, copy paper, etc. That is, in other optional embodiments, the paper feeding device can also be used to feed other types of paper 100 such as printing paper, drawing paper, and copy paper. This embodiment does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0041] Based on the above, in this embodiment, the picking head 21 continuously and one by one removes several stacked papers 100 from the hopper 1. Moreover, each time the picking head 21 picks up the paper 100 at the top of the hopper 1, the separation mechanism can separate the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 from the paper 100 adjacent to that paper 100 in the hopper 1, so as to prevent the paper 100 picked up by the hopper 1 from sticking to other papers 100 in the hopper 1, thereby ensuring that the picking head 21 picks up only one paper 100 at a time, and thus ensuring that each packaging box contains only one product instruction manual.

[0042] It is understandable that when only one piece of paper 100 remains in the hopper 1, no separation mechanism is needed to perform separation work during the process of the material handling head 21 taking the paper 100 from the hopper 1.

[0043] Additionally, it is worth noting that in other alternative embodiments, the separating mechanism may also include two or more air blowing sections 31, all of which can blow air onto the side of the paper 100 picked up by the feeding head 21 and the side of the paper 100 adhered to below the paper 100, thereby more effectively separating the two paper 100s that are stuck together. This embodiment does not impose any specific limitations on this.

[0044] Based on the foregoing, by way of example, in this embodiment, the feeding head 21 is a suction cup, which is configured to pick up the paper 100. In this embodiment, the paper 100 is picked up from the hopper 1 by the suction cup, which makes it easier to take the paper 100 out of the hopper 1.

[0045] In addition, the feeding mechanism 2 also includes a photoelectric sensor 23, which is configured to detect whether the feeding head 21 has picked up paper 100. That is, the photoelectric sensor 23 is configured to detect whether the suction cup has picked up paper 100, thereby ensuring that the feeding mechanism 2 can accurately pick up one piece of paper 100 each time.

[0046] For example, the photoelectric sensor 23 can be selected as an infrared sensor or a fiber optic sensor, etc., and this embodiment does not impose specific limitations on it.

[0047] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the air blowing section 31 includes a blower head 311, which is disposed toward the side of the material pile contained in the hopper 1, so as to blow air onto the side of the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the side of the paper 100 adhered to the bottom of the paper 100. That is, the blower head 311 can blow air onto the contact area between the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the paper 100 adjacent to the paper 100, so as to allow air to enter between the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the paper 100 adjacent to the paper 100, thereby removing the adhesive force of the paper 100 itself, and thus separating the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the paper 100 adjacent to the paper 100.

[0048] Based on the above, when only one piece of paper 100 remains in the hopper 1, the blower head 311 does not need to work during the process of the material handling head 21 taking the paper 100 from the hopper 1.

[0049] Therefore, in this embodiment, the paper feeding device also includes a lifting mechanism 4, which is configured to lift the material pile so that the bottom of the topmost paper 100 is level with the air outlet of the blower head 311. That is, in this embodiment, the lifting mechanism 4 lifts the paper 100 in the hopper 1, thereby causing the several stacked papers 100 in the hopper 1 to rise sequentially to a specified height, which makes it easier for the material pick-up head 21 to pick up the topmost paper 100.

[0050] Specifically, after the material bin 1 is placed at the feeding station, for several sheets of paper 100 stacked in the material bin 1, the lifting mechanism 4 lifts the top sheet of paper 100 to a specified height, and the picking head 21 picks up the top sheet of paper 100 from the specified height, thereby removing the top sheet of paper 100. After that, the lifting mechanism 4 lifts the sheets of paper 100 in the material bin 1 multiple times, and each lifting height is the thickness of a single sheet of paper 100. After each lifting by the lifting mechanism 4, the picking head 21 removes one sheet of paper 100, until all the sheets of paper 100 in the material bin 1 are removed.

[0051] Furthermore, after rising, the bottom of the topmost paper 100 is aligned with the air outlet of the blower head 311. That is, for the topmost paper 100 in the hopper 1, when it rises to the designated height, the contact area between the two topmost papers 100 is directly opposite the blower head 311, so that the blower head 311 can accurately blow air between the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the paper 100 adjacent to it. This ensures that the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the paper 100 adjacent to it can be accurately separated, thereby ensuring that the picking head 21 can smoothly pick up one paper 100 at a time.

[0052] It is understandable that if there is only one piece of paper 100 left in the hopper 1, when the paper 100 rises to the specified height, the bottom of the paper 100 is flush with the blower head 311. When the pick-up head 21 picks up the paper 100, the blower head 311 does not work.

[0053] It is worth noting that in other optional embodiments, the blowing section 31 may also include two or more blowing heads 311, all of which are arranged at the same height and are all arranged facing the side of the material pile contained in the hopper 1, so that they blow air together onto the side of the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the side of the paper 100 attached below the paper 100. This embodiment does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0054] In this embodiment, the bottom of the silo 1 is provided with an opening 11, and a pad 12 is provided inside the silo 1. The material is placed on the pad 12. The lifting mechanism 4 includes a lifting plate 41 and a driving member 42. The driving member 42 is configured to drive the lifting plate 41 to move in the vertical direction so that the lifting plate 41 can extend into the silo 1 through the opening 11 and lift the pad 12.

[0055] As described above, in this embodiment, the pad 12 supports the stack of several sheets of paper 100, and the lifting plate 41 lifts the pad 12, so that all the sheets of paper 100 contained in the hopper 1 can rise steadily in the vertical direction.

[0056] Understandably, after all the paper 100 in the hopper 1 has been removed, the drive unit 42 drives the lifting plate 41 to descend and move out of the hopper 1 through the opening 11, so that the pad 12 can be placed back on the bottom of the hopper 1, and the hopper 1 can be moved away by the feeding operator.

[0057] For example, in this embodiment, the drive unit 42 is a linear drive structure composed of a motor and a lead screw module. Of course, in other optional embodiments, the drive unit 42 may also be other linear drive structures such as a cylinder or an electric cylinder. This embodiment does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0058] Moreover, in this embodiment, the lifting plate 41 is provided with a suction nozzle 411, and the lifting plate 41 is adsorbed to the bottom of the pad plate 12 through the suction nozzle 411, so that the lifting plate 41 can drive the pad plate 12 more smoothly and drive all the papers 100 contained in the hopper 1 to rise in the vertical direction.

[0059] Based on the above, in this embodiment, the blower head 311 is provided with an air outlet 3111, and the blower head 311 blows air through the air outlet 3111 to the contact area between the two uppermost sheets of paper 100.

[0060] It is worth noting that the number of folded layers of paper 100 contained in different hoppers 1 may be different, that is, the thickness of paper 100 contained in different hoppers 1 may be different. In other words, different hoppers 1 may contain paper 100 of different specifications. In order to accommodate paper 100 of different specifications, the air outlet 3111 extends along the lifting direction of the lifting mechanism 4. Thus, for paper 100 of different specifications, when the lifting mechanism 4 lifts the uppermost paper 100 to a specified height, since the air outlet 3111 is strip-shaped in the vertical direction, the bottom of the paper 100 that has risen to the specified height can be flush with the air outlet 3111.

[0061] Therefore, the paper feeding device in this embodiment is compatible with feeding paper 100 of different specifications.

[0062] Furthermore, based on the foregoing, this embodiment uses a pad 12 to support a stack of several sheets of paper 100. It is understood that for sheets of paper 100 with a single or multiple fold structure, the thickness of the crease 102 and the part closer to the crease 102 is greater than the thickness of the part farther from the crease 102 for two adjacent layers of folds 101 on the sheet 100. Moreover, since it is difficult to ensure that all creases 102 of several sheets of paper 100 stacked together are consistent, the height of the stack on both sides in the horizontal direction will be inconsistent.

[0063] To ensure that the top surfaces of all the paper 100s placed on the pad 12 remain horizontal, a pad block 121 is provided on the pad 12. The pad block 121 is located on one side of the pad 12. When the height of the paper pile is inconsistent on both sides in the horizontal direction due to the creases 102 of the paper 100, the pad block 121 is installed on the pad 12 to raise the side of the paper pile with lower height, thereby ensuring that the top surfaces of all the paper 100s in the paper pile remain horizontal.

[0064] It is understood that the specific shape and size of the pad 121 can be designed according to the actual use, and this embodiment does not impose specific restrictions on it.

[0065] Furthermore, in addition to the blower head 311, the separation mechanism also includes a brush 32. When the picking head 21 picks up the topmost paper 100, the brush 32 sweeps across the side of the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the side of the paper 100 adhered below it. That is, when the picking head 21 picks up the topmost paper 100, the brush 32 sweeps across the contact area between the paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the adjacent paper 100. Therefore, in this embodiment, the brush 32 can... The auxiliary air blowing unit 31 separates the paper 100 picked up by the feeding head 21 from the paper 100 adjacent to it. When the brush 32 sweeps across the contact area of ​​the two adjacent papers 100, the two adjacent papers 100 can be separated by the bristles of the brush 32, thereby separating the two papers 100. In addition, it also makes it convenient for the air blowing unit 31 to blow air between the two adjacent papers 100, thereby ensuring that the paper 100 picked up by the feeding head 21 and the paper 100 adjacent to it can be accurately separated.

[0066] Therefore, in this embodiment, the separation mechanism includes two brushes 32, both of which are disposed on the hopper 1 and arranged on the outer periphery of the material pile. The two brushes 32 together sweep across the contact area of ​​two adjacent sheets of paper 100, thereby further ensuring that the sheet of paper 100 picked up by the picking head 21 and the sheet of paper 100 adjacent to the sheet of paper 100 can be accurately separated.

[0067] Specifically, the brush 32 is set at a designated height. When the lifting mechanism 4 lifts the material pile so that the topmost paper 100 rises to be level with the air outlet of the blower head 311, the topmost paper 100 is level with the brush 32. Then, as the picking head 21 picks up the topmost paper 100 and leaves, the brush 32 sweeps across the contact area of ​​the two topmost papers 100. With the help of the blowing part 31, the two topmost papers 100 are accurately separated.

[0068] Of course, in other optional embodiments, three or more brushes 32 may be provided, all of which are provided on the hopper 1 and surround the outer periphery of the material pile. This embodiment does not impose specific restrictions on this.

[0069] Obviously, the above embodiments of this utility model are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present utility model, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present utility model. Those skilled in the art can make various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions without departing from the protection scope of this utility model. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A paper feeding device, characterized in that, include: The hopper (1) is configured to hold a stack of several sheets of paper (100) stacked together; The material handling mechanism (2) includes a material handling head (21) and a drive module (22), the drive module (22) being configured to drive the material handling head (21) to move in order to pick up the paper (100) located at the top in the hopper (1); the separation mechanism includes at least one air blowing part (31), the air blowing part (31) being configured to blow air onto the side of the paper (100) picked up by the material handling head (21) and the side of the paper (100) adhered below the paper (100) to separate the two papers (100) that are adhered together.

2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air blowing section (31) includes at least one air blowing head (311) which is disposed toward the side of the material pile contained in the hopper (1).

3. The paper feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The paper feeding device also includes a lifting mechanism (4), which is configured to lift the pile of paper so that the bottom of the uppermost paper (100) is level with the air outlet of the blower head (311).

4. The paper feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The blower head (311) is provided with an air outlet (3111), which extends along the lifting direction of the lifting mechanism (4).

5. The paper feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The lifting mechanism (4) includes a lifting plate (41) and a driving member (42). The driving member (42) is configured to drive the lifting plate (41) to move in a vertical direction. The bottom of the hopper (1) is provided with an opening (11). A pad (12) is provided inside the hopper (1). The material pile is placed on the pad (12). The lifting plate (41) can extend into the hopper (1) through the opening (11) and lift the pad (12).

6. The paper feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The lifting plate (41) is provided with a suction nozzle (411), and the lifting plate (41) is attached to the bottom of the pad (12) through the suction nozzle (411).

7. The paper feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that, A pad (121) is provided on the pad (12), and the pad (121) is located on one side of the pad (12).

8. The paper feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The separation mechanism also includes a brush (32), which can sweep across the side of the paper (100) picked up by the picking head (21) and the side of the paper (100) attached to the bottom of the paper (100) when the picking head (21) picks up the topmost paper (100).

9. The paper feeding device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The separation mechanism includes at least two brushes (32), both of which are disposed on the hopper (1) and arranged around the periphery of the material pile.

10. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding mechanism (2) further includes a photoelectric sensor (23), which is configured to detect whether the feeding head (21) has picked up the paper (100).

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