Feeding device

Abstract

The application relates to a feeding device. The feeding device comprises a feeding mechanism, a conveying mechanism and a control mechanism. The feeding mechanism comprises a material tank and a first joint connected with the material tank. The conveying mechanism comprises a conveying pipe and a second joint arranged on the conveying pipe and capable of being detachably connected with the first joint. The control mechanism comprises a support and a controller. The support is provided with a guide groove. The conveying pipe and the second joint are slidingly arranged in the guide groove. The controller pushes the second joint to move close to or away from the first joint. Since the controller pushes the second joint to move close to or away from the first joint, the time for connecting and detaching the first joint and the second joint can be greatly reduced, that is, the waiting time before the fragrance is conveyed can be reduced, so that the working efficiency of the feeding device for conveying the fragrance to the production line is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of mechanical tooling technology, and in particular to a feeding device. Background Technology

[0002] In cigarette manufacturing, flavorings are injected into the production line via a feeding device. This device typically includes a container, a male connector, a female connector, and a hose. The male connector connects to the container, and the female connector connects to the hose. Before injecting the flavorings, the male and female connectors must be connected so that the flavorings from the container are delivered to the production line via the hose. However, with traditional feeding devices, the male and female connectors are manually connected, which affects the ease of operation and ultimately impacts the efficiency of the feeding device in delivering the flavorings. Utility Model Content

[0003] One of the technical problems addressed by this application is how to improve the working efficiency of the feeding device.

[0004] A feeding device, comprising:

[0005] A feeding mechanism, comprising a material tank and a first connector, wherein the first connector is connected to the material tank;

[0006] A conveying mechanism includes a conveying pipe and a second connector, the second connector being disposed on the conveying pipe and detachably connected to the first connector; and

[0007] The control mechanism includes a support member and a controller. The support member is provided with a guide groove. The delivery pipe and the second connector are slidably disposed in the guide groove. The controller pushes the second connector to move closer to or away from the first connector.

[0008] In one embodiment, the controller includes a first control unit, a second control unit, and a seal. The first control unit is disposed on the support member. The first control unit drives the second control unit to slide along the extension direction of the guide groove. The second control unit drives the seal to clamp the second connector.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first control unit includes a double-acting cylinder.

[0010] In one embodiment, the second control unit includes a pneumatic clamp.

[0011] In one embodiment, the seal is made of silicone material.

[0012] In one embodiment, the sealing member exerts a clamping force of 0N to 50N on the second connector.

[0013] In one embodiment, the controller further includes a pressure sensing unit for providing feedback on the pressure information of the seal on the second connector.

[0014] In one embodiment, the support member forms a receiving cavity, and the guide groove is recessed on the outer surface of the support member. A connecting groove communicating with the receiving cavity is formed on the bottom wall of the guide groove. The first control unit is received in the receiving cavity, and the second control unit slides in cooperation with the connecting groove.

[0015] In one embodiment, the control mechanism further includes an anti-slip layer disposed on the bottom wall and / or side wall of the guide groove.

[0016] In one embodiment, it further includes at least one of the following schemes:

[0017] The controller further includes a displacement sensing unit, which is disposed on the controller and is used to provide feedback on the relative displacement information between the second connector and the first connector.

[0018] The controller also includes a photoelectric sensing unit, which is disposed on the controller and is used to provide feedback on the position information of the material tank and the first connector.

[0019] The first connector is a male connector, and the second connector is a female connector.

[0020] One technical advantage of one embodiment of this application is that, since the controller pushes the second connector closer to or further away from the first connector, the time for connecting and disconnecting the first and second connectors can be significantly reduced, i.e., the waiting time before spice delivery is reduced, thereby greatly improving the efficiency of the feeding device in delivering spices to the production line. Simultaneously, the controller can effectively control the force applied to the second connector, preventing damage and thus avoiding spice leakage during delivery. Furthermore, the controller can precisely position the second and first connectors, thereby improving the connection accuracy between them. Repeated trial and error and adjustments are unnecessary, reducing adjustment time and improving the connection efficiency between the second and first connectors, further enhancing the efficiency of the feeding device in delivering spices to the production line. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a feeding device provided in one embodiment.

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A partial three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the feeding device shown.

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional sectional structure.

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A partial structural diagram.

[0025] Reference numerals: feeding device 10, feeding mechanism 100, material tank 110, first connector 120, conveying mechanism 200, conveying pipe 210, second connector 220, control mechanism 300, support member 310, guide groove 311, receiving cavity 312, connecting groove 313, controller 320, first control unit 321, second control unit 322, sealing member 323, photoelectric sensing unit 324, displacement sensing unit 325. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0027] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application 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 application.

[0028] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0029] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., 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, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0030] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0031] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0032] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3Figure 10 illustrates a feeding device 10 provided in one embodiment of this application for conveying spices, specifically conveying the spices to the production line, thereby achieving spice feeding to the production line. The feeding device 10 includes a feeding mechanism 100, a conveying mechanism 200, and a control mechanism 300. The feeding mechanism 100 includes a material tank 110 and a first connector 120, which is connected to the material tank 110 for storing spices. The conveying mechanism 200 includes a conveying pipe 210 and a second connector 220, which is disposed on the conveying pipe 210 and detachably connected to the first connector 120. The first connector 120 can be a male connector, and the second connector 220 can be a female connector; alternatively, the first connector 120 can be a female connector, and the second connector 220 can be a male connector. When the first connector 120 and the second connector 220 are connected, the conveying pipe 210 is connected to the material tank 110, allowing the spices in the material tank 110 to be conveyed to the production line through the conveying pipe 210. After the material tank 110 has finished conveying the fragrance to the production line, the second connector 220 can be removed from the first connector 120.

[0033] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The control mechanism 300 includes a support member 310 and a controller 320. The support member 310 is provided with a guide groove 311. The delivery pipe 210 and the second connector 220 are slidably disposed in the guide groove 311. The controller 320 pushes the second connector 220 closer to or away from the first connector 120. When it is necessary to connect the second connector 220 to the first connector 120, the controller 320 can push the second connector 220 closer to the first connector 120 until they make contact, so that the first connector 120 and the second connector 220 form a connection relationship. When it is necessary to detach the second connector 220 from the first connector 120, the controller 320 can push the second connector 220 away from the first connector 120, so as to release the connection relationship between the first connector 120 and the second connector 220.

[0034] If the first connector 120 and the second connector 220 are connected and disconnected manually, the connection and disconnection time will be prolonged, resulting in a longer waiting time before the fragrance is conveyed, thus affecting the efficiency of the feeding device 10 in conveying fragrance to the production line. Furthermore, manual operation is prone to damage to the second connector 220 due to uneven force, leading to leakage of fragrance during conveying. In addition, it is difficult to accurately align the second connector 220 and the first connector 120, requiring repeated trial and error adjustments, which can also affect the connection accuracy between the two connectors.

[0035] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 Regarding the feeding device 10 implemented above, since the controller 320 pushes the second connector 220 closer to or further away from the first connector 120, the time for connecting and disconnecting the first connector 120 and the second connector 220 can be significantly reduced, i.e., the waiting time before spice delivery is reduced, thereby greatly improving the working efficiency of the feeding device 10 in delivering spices to the production line. At the same time, the controller 320 can effectively control the force applied to the second connector 220, avoiding damage to the second connector 220 and thus preventing spice leakage during delivery. Furthermore, the controller 320 can precisely position the second connector 220 and the first connector 120, thereby improving the connection accuracy between the second connector 220 and the first connector 120. Repeated trial and error and adjustments are unnecessary, thus reducing adjustment time, improving the connection efficiency of the second connector 220 and the first connector 120, and further improving the working efficiency of the feeding device 10 in delivering spices to the production line.

[0036] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the controller 320 includes a first control unit 321, a second control unit 322, and a seal 323. The first control unit 321 is mounted on the support 310, and the second control unit 322 is connected to the first control unit 321, such that the first control unit 321 drives the second control unit 322 to slide along the extension direction of the guide groove 311. The seal 323 is mounted on the second control unit 322, and the second control unit 322 drives the seal 323 to clamp the second connector 220. For example, the first control unit 321 includes a double-acting cylinder, and the second control unit 322 includes a pneumatic clamping member. The second control unit 322 can be mounted on the piston rod of the first control unit 321, and the cylinder of the first control unit 321 can be fixed to the support 310. When the piston rod of the first control unit 321 extends or retracts, it can push the second control unit 322 to slide back and forth along the extension direction of the guide groove 311. In other embodiments, the first control unit 321 may include a single-acting cylinder, and the second control unit 322 may also include a clamping member in the form of a cam or linkage.

[0037] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4In some embodiments, the support member 310 can be generally rectangular in shape, forming a receiving cavity 312. A guide groove 311 is recessed on the outer surface of the support member 310, and a connecting groove 313 is formed on the bottom wall of the guide groove 311, connecting the guide groove 311 and the receiving cavity 312. The first control unit 321 is housed in the receiving cavity 312, and the second control unit 322 slides within the connecting groove 313. By placing the first control unit 321 within the receiving cavity 312, the first control unit 321 can fully utilize the existing space of the receiving cavity 312, avoiding the first control unit 321 occupying installation space outside the receiving cavity 312, thereby simplifying the structure of the control mechanism 300. It also allows the support member 310 to effectively protect the first control unit 321, preventing external impacts from affecting its operation. By providing the connecting groove 313, on the one hand, the connecting groove 313 can provide good clearance space to ensure that the second control unit 322 is connected to the seal 323 to drive the seal 323 to clamp the second connector 220. On the other hand, the connecting groove 313 can provide good limiting effect for the sliding of the second control unit 322, thereby improving the sliding accuracy of the second control unit 322.

[0038] In some embodiments, the control mechanism 300 further includes an anti-slip layer disposed on the bottom wall and / or side wall of the guide groove 311. For example, the anti-slip layer may be disposed only on the bottom wall of the guide groove 311, or only on the side wall of the guide groove 311, or simultaneously on both the bottom wall and side wall of the guide groove 311. By providing the anti-slip layer, the frictional resistance of the second connector 220 sliding within the guide groove 311 can be reasonably increased, thereby improving the alignment accuracy between the first connector 120 and the second connector 220. In other embodiments, the width of the guide groove 311 can be adjusted so that the guide groove 311 can accommodate second connectors 220 and conveying pipes 210 of different sizes, thereby improving the applicability of the feeding device 10 to various working conditions.

[0039] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4In some embodiments, the seal 323 is made of food-grade corrosion-resistant silicone material, which gives the seal 323 a certain degree of elasticity, allowing the sealing pressure of the seal 323 to be greater than 0.6 MPa, thereby improving the sealing effect at the connection between the first connector 120 and the second connector 220. The clamping force of the seal 323 on the second connector 220 is 0N to 50N, for example, the clamping force of the seal 323 on the second connector 220 can be 0N, 30N or 50N, etc. By providing a reasonable clamping force on the second connector 220, the controller 320 can smoothly push the second connector 220 and the delivery pipe 210 to move in the guide groove 311, and also allows the second connector 220 to smoothly disengage from the first connector 120 and release the connection relationship with the first connector 120.

[0040] In some embodiments, the controller 320 further includes a pressure sensing unit, which is used to provide feedback on the pressure information of the seal 323 on the second connector 220. Therefore, by setting the pressure sensing unit, the clamping force of the seal 323 on the second connector 220 can be precisely controlled, ensuring that the controller 320 can smoothly push the second connector 220 and the delivery pipe 210 to move in the guide groove 311, and also ensuring that the second connector 220 can smoothly disengage from the first connector 120 and disconnect from the first connector 120.

[0041] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the controller 320 further includes a photoelectric sensing unit 324, which is disposed on the controller 320. The photoelectric sensing unit is used to provide feedback on the positioning information of the material tank 110 and the first connector 120. Before connecting the second connector 220 and the first connector 120, the material tank 110 and the first connector 120 need to be moved to a designated position. When the material tank 110 and the first connector 120 have just moved to the designated position, the photoelectric sensing unit will generate feedback information, thereby generating information indicating that the material tank 110 and the first connector 120 have moved into position.

[0042] See Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4In some embodiments, the controller 320 further includes a displacement sensing unit 325, which is disposed on the controller 320 and is used to provide feedback on the relative displacement information between the second connector 220 and the first connector 120. Before the second connector 220 and the first connector 120 are connected, and after the material tank 110 and the first connector 120 have moved to a designated position, the material tank 110 can be finely adjusted at that designated position, allowing the material tank 110 to perform six-degree-of-freedom attitude adjustment. The motion trajectory is dynamically corrected through a PID control algorithm to ensure that the axial deviation between the first connector 120 and the second connector 220 is controlled within ±0.1mm, thereby improving the alignment accuracy and connection accuracy between the first connector 120 and the second connector 220.

[0043] Therefore, by including photoelectric sensing unit 324 and displacement sensing unit 325 in the controller 320, millisecond-level response can be achieved in conjunction with the PLC controller 320, which can improve work efficiency by more than 300% compared with manual operation, and can meet the high-frequency and large-volume flavoring supply operation requirements of modern tobacco production lines.

[0044] During operation, the second control unit 322 controls the sealing element 323 to clamp the second connector 220. Then, the first control unit 321 drives the second control unit 322, the sealing element 323, and the second connector 220 to gradually move closer to the first connector 120 until the second connector 220 and the first connector 120 are connected. The sealing element 323 also seals the connection between the second connector 220 and the first connector 120, allowing the material tank 110 to supply fragrance to the production line through the delivery pipe 210. After the fragrance supply is complete, the second control unit 322 controls the sealing element 323 to clamp the second connector 220, and the first control unit 321 drives the second control unit 322 to move away from the material tank 110, thus completely disengaging the second connector 220 from the first connector 120.

[0045] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0046] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A charging device, characterized by, include: A feeding mechanism, comprising a material tank and a first connector, wherein the first connector is connected to the material tank; A conveying mechanism includes a conveying pipe and a second connector, the second connector being disposed on the conveying pipe and detachably connected to the first connector; and The control mechanism includes a support member and a controller. The support member is provided with a guide groove. The delivery pipe and the second connector are slidably disposed in the guide groove. The controller pushes the second connector to move closer to or away from the first connector.

2. The charging device according to claim 1, characterized in that The controller includes a first control unit, a second control unit, and a seal. The first control unit is disposed on the support member. The first control unit drives the second control unit to slide along the extension direction of the guide groove. The second control unit drives the seal to clamp the second connector.

3. The charging device according to claim 2, characterized in that The first control unit includes a double-acting cylinder.

4. The charging device of claim 2, wherein The second control unit includes a pneumatic clamping component.

5. The charging device of claim 2, wherein The seal is made of silicone material.

6. The charging device of claim 2, wherein The clamping force of the seal on the second joint is 0N to 50N.

7. The charging device of claim 2, wherein The controller also includes a pressure sensing unit, which is used to provide feedback on the pressure information of the seal on the second connector.

8. The charging device of claim 2, wherein The support member forms a receiving cavity, and the guide groove is recessed on the outer surface of the support member. A connecting groove communicating with the receiving cavity is formed on the bottom wall of the guide groove. The first control unit is received in the receiving cavity, and the second control unit slides in cooperation with the connecting groove.

9. The charging device of claim 8, wherein The control mechanism also includes an anti-slip layer, which is disposed on the bottom wall and / or side wall of the guide groove.

10. The charging device of claim 1, wherein It also includes at least one of the following options: The controller further includes a displacement sensing unit, which is disposed on the controller and is used to provide feedback on the relative displacement information between the second connector and the first connector. The controller also includes a photoelectric sensing unit, which is disposed on the controller and is used to provide feedback on the position information of the material tank and the first connector. The first connector is a male connector, and the second connector is a female connector.

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