Plastic bag folding mechanism

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of plastic bag manufacturing, especially a plastic bag folding mechanism, including frame, and the reciprocating manipulator set up at the frame, be provided with plastic bag folding station under the manipulator motion path, its characterized in that: the manipulator includes support and the clamping portion and bottom plate that are oppositely set up in the support upside and downside, the bottom plate is slid along the manipulator movement direction and is set up in the support downside, the bottom plate is installed in the support downside through drive mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of plastic bag manufacturing technology, and in particular to a plastic bag folding mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] During the manufacturing process of plastic bags, stacks of plastic bags need to be folded to compress the space before packaging. In the existing technology, the folding process of plastic bags requires the cooperation of a robotic arm and a folding station to drag the plastic bags past the folding station and then clamp them a second time to form the folded effect.

[0003] This folding method has problems in two directions. When the plastic bag is too large, the volume of the plastic bag after simply dragging and clamping it is still too large, which is not conducive to subsequent packaging and boxing, and the size needs to be further reduced.

[0004] Meanwhile, there are aesthetic requirements within the industry regarding packaging plastic bags, with a preference for bags where the ends face outwards, ideally folding inwards with the folded portion facing outwards. Therefore, when folding a plastic bag, the fold is often not achieved by clamping the bag in the middle to form a fold.

[0005] After the plastic bag has been folded once in the previous process, the position where the robotic arm grips and drags the plastic bag is itself the fold position. For the sake of the aesthetic requirements of the final folded product, the fold position is not necessarily the middle of the plastic bag. After dragging the fold position past the plastic bag folding station, this part needs to hang down naturally. Then, the robotic arm grips the plastic bag that is still at the plastic bag folding station a second time. When the fold position is closer to the edge, it still remains on the plastic bag folding station. Only part of the plastic bag is overlapped. The plastic bag is easily pulled by the naturally hanging folded part, causing part of the plastic bag on the plastic bag folding platform to fall off, thus causing the folded plastic bag to unravel. In order to prevent the plastic bag from unraveling, it is necessary to increase the folding allowance, which makes it more difficult to control the folded size of the plastic bag.

[0006] Meanwhile, in the existing folding methods described above, the plastic bag relies on natural hanging down and then being clamped twice before being clamped again. The folding size of the plastic bag is affected by multiple factors, making it difficult to actively control the folding size of the plastic bag or to modify it directly and in a timely manner. Utility Model Content

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to address the above-mentioned technical deficiencies by providing a plastic bag folding mechanism. This mechanism employs a retractable base plate on a robotic arm, which, after the robotic arm grips the plastic bag and moves backward, allows the base plate to extend forward and engage with the plastic bag folding station, achieving gripping of one-third of the plastic bag. Furthermore, after the robotic arm releases the plastic bag, a second gripping is performed, achieving a three-fold gripping of the plastic bag. This further increases the folding area of ​​the plastic bag and enables the folding process for large plastic bags.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: it includes a frame and a reciprocating robot arm set on the frame, and a plastic bag folding station is set under the movement path of the robot arm. The robot arm is characterized in that: the robot arm includes a bracket and a clamping part and a base plate arranged opposite to each other on the bracket; the base plate is slidably arranged on the lower side of the bracket along the movement direction of the robot arm, and the base plate is installed on the lower side of the bracket through a drive mechanism.

[0009] To further optimize this technical solution, the clamping part includes an upper clamping cylinder and a clamping plate on one side of the extension end of the clamping cylinder for clamping relative to the clamping cylinder.

[0010] To further optimize this technical solution, the base plate is arranged parallel to the direction of movement of the robotic arm, and a slide rail is provided on the base plate along the direction of movement; the lower side of the bracket is slidably arranged within the slide rail.

[0011] To further optimize this technical solution, the drive mechanism includes a drive motor mounted on a bracket and a rack mounted on a base plate; the drive end of the drive motor is disposed on one side of the rack through gear meshing.

[0012] To further optimize this technical solution, the folding station can be raised and lowered; a lifting drive mechanism is provided on the lower side of the folding station; a pressing cylinder is provided on the upper side of the frame corresponding to the folding station, which is used to press the plastic bag part onto the folding station when the plastic bag passes by.

[0013] To further optimize this technical solution, a gap corresponding to the downward pressure cylinder is set on the base plate.

[0014] To further optimize this technical solution, a gap is left under the movement path of the robot arm on one side of the plastic bag folding station, so that the robot arm can hold the tail of the plastic bag and hang it down after it leaves the folding station.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, this utility model has the following advantages: The relatively movable gripping part and base plate on the robotic arm enable the gripping part to pick up a folded plastic bag from the feeding mechanism. Through the relative movement of the gripping part and the base plate, the plastic bag is stretched onto the base plate. The downward-pressing cylinder on the upper side of the plastic bag folding station can press down and straighten the stretched portion of the plastic bag on the base plate. When the gripping part moves back to the plastic bag folding station to pick up the plastic bag and drag it to the folding station in the width direction of the plastic bag, the volume after folding is significantly reduced compared to folding it in half again. Simultaneously, the distance the gripping part moves relative to the base plate is the folded size of the plastic bag; by adjusting the relative movement distance, the folded size can be directly adjusted. When this robotic arm picks up the plastic bag again at the folding station, the plastic bag is already folded, avoiding the problem of the plastic bag easily unraveling when folded by its own weight. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the plastic bag folding mechanism.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a partial side view of the plastic bag folding mechanism.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a plastic bag folding mechanism when holding a plastic bag.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the robotic arm structure of a plastic bag folding mechanism.

[0020] In the diagram: 1. Frame; 2. Robotic arm; 3. Plastic bag folding station; 4. Support; 5. Clamping part; 6. Base plate; 7. Clamping cylinder; 8. Clamping plate; 9. Slide rail; 10. Drive motor; 11. Rack; 12. Pressing cylinder; 13. Gap; 14. Empty space; 15. Plastic bag. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these descriptions are merely exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Furthermore, descriptions of well-known structures and technologies are omitted in the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concept of this utility model.

[0022] Detailed implementation method: combined with Figure 1-3As shown, the plastic bag folding mechanism includes a frame 1 and a reciprocating robotic arm 2 mounted on the frame 1. Driving the robotic arm 2 to reciprocate on the frame 1 is prior art and can be achieved by using a belt drive mechanism in conjunction with a motor. A plastic bag folding station 3 is located along the movement path of the robotic arm 2. The lifting and lowering of the plastic bag folding station 3 is achieved by using a push cylinder or an electric lever to pull it up and down.

[0023] The robotic arm 2 includes a support 4 and a clamping part 5 and a base plate 6 arranged opposite to each other on the support 4. The base plate 6 is slidably arranged on the lower side of the support 4 along the movement direction of the robotic arm 2, and is mounted on the lower side of the support 4 by a drive mechanism. The clamping part 5 includes an upper clamping cylinder 7 and a clamping plate 8 on one side of the telescopic end of the clamping cylinder 7 for clamping opposite to the clamping cylinder 7. The base plate 6 is arranged parallel to the movement direction of the robotic arm 2, and a slide rail 9 is arranged on the base plate 6 along the movement direction; the lower side of the support 4 is slidably arranged in the slide rail 9. The drive mechanism includes a drive motor 10 mounted on the support 4 and a rack 11 mounted on the base plate 6; the drive end of the drive motor 10 is arranged on one side of the rack 11 through gear meshing. The folding station is height-adjustable; a lifting drive mechanism is provided on the lower side of the folding station; a pressing cylinder 12 is provided on the upper side of the frame 1 at the position corresponding to the folding station, which is used to press part of the plastic bag 15 onto the plastic bag folding station 3 when the plastic bag 15 passes by.

[0024] This is used to press the plastic bag 15 partially onto the folding station as it passes by. A gap 13 corresponding to the pressing cylinder 12 is provided on the base plate 6. A gap 14 is left under the movement path of the robot arm 2 on one side of the plastic bag folding station 3, so that the robot arm 2 can hold the tail of the plastic bag 15 and hang it down after leaving the folding station.

[0025] In use, when in the initial position, the base plate 6 is located behind the clamping part 5. After the clamping part 5 clamps the plastic bag 15 on the frame 1, it is dragged over the plastic bag folding station 3. Then, driven by the drive motor 10, the base plate 6 extends toward the plastic bag folding station 3. At this time, one end of the plastic bag 15 is clamped by the clamping part 5, and the rear side of the plastic bag 15 is located on the upper side of the base plate 6. The relative distance between the clamping part 5 and the base plate 6 corresponds to the folding size of the plastic bag 15, so that the folding size can be controlled more precisely.

[0026] At this point, if the plastic bag 15 is too long, the part of the plastic bag 15 that is not laid flat on the base plate 6 will hang down to the empty space on one side of the plastic bag folding station 3. If the plastic bag 15 is not too long, the part that is laid flat on the base plate 6 is the bottom of the folded part.

[0027] Then, driven by the downward cylinder 12, it presses down along the gap 13 on the upper edge of the base plate 6, pressing down on the plastic bag 15 located on the upper and lower sides of the base plate 6, pressing it onto the plastic bag folding station 3. Then the base plate 6 retracts backward, and the plastic bag folding station 3 rises. The clamping part 5 on the robot arm 2 clamps the part of the plastic bag 15 located on one side of the plastic bag folding station 3. When the plastic bag 15 did not originally hang down over the plastic bag folding station 3, the folding is completed. When the plastic bag 15 is too long and has a hanging part extending to the outside of the plastic bag folding station 3, it is dragged backward again by the robot arm 2. When the plastic bag 15 is dragged to the subsequent work platform, the plastic bag 15 is also folded.

[0028] The control method of this utility model is automatic control through a controller. The control circuit of the controller can be implemented by simple programming by those skilled in the art, which is common knowledge in the field. Furthermore, this utility model is mainly used to protect mechanical devices, so the control method and circuit connection will not be explained in detail.

[0029] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative or explanatory of the principles of this utility model and do not constitute a limitation thereof. Therefore, any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model should be included within its protection scope. Furthermore, the appended claims are intended to cover all variations and modifications falling within the scope and boundaries of the appended claims, or equivalent forms of such scope and boundaries.

Claims

1. A plastic bag folding mechanism, comprising a frame (1) and a reciprocating manipulator (2) mounted on the frame (1), wherein a plastic bag folding station (3) is provided along the movement path of the manipulator (2), characterized in that: The robotic arm (2) includes a support (4) and a clamping part (5) and a base plate (6) arranged opposite to each other on the support (4); the base plate (6) is slidably arranged on the underside of the support (4) along the movement direction of the robotic arm (2), and the base plate (6) is installed on the underside of the support (4) by a drive mechanism.

2. The plastic bag folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping part (5) includes an upper clamping cylinder (7) and a clamping plate (8) on the telescopic end side of the clamping cylinder (7) for clamping relative to the clamping cylinder (7).

3. The plastic bag folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base plate (6) is arranged parallel to the movement direction of the robot (2), and a slide rail (9) is provided on the base plate (6) along the movement direction; the bracket (4) is slidably arranged in the slide rail (9) on its lower side.

4. The plastic bag folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive mechanism includes a drive motor (10) mounted on a bracket (4) and a rack (11) mounted on a base plate (6); the drive end of the drive motor (10) is set on one side of the rack (11) through gear meshing.

5. The plastic bag folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The folding station can be raised and lowered; a lifting drive mechanism is provided on the lower side of the folding station; a pressing cylinder (12) is provided on the upper side of the frame (1) corresponding to the folding station, which is used to press the plastic bag (15) part onto the folding station when the plastic bag (15) passes by.

6. The plastic bag folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A gap (13) corresponding to the downward pressure cylinder (12) is provided on the base plate (6).

7. The plastic bag folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A gap (14) is left under the movement path of the robot arm (2) on one side of the plastic bag folding station (3) so that the robot arm (2) can hang down after the tail of the plastic bag (15) is removed from the folding station.

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