An automated production line for solid spheres

Abstract

The application relates to a solid ball automatic production line, which comprises a liner forming line and a ball skin forming line arranged in parallel and a finished product compression forming line connected downstream of the liner forming line and the ball skin forming line, the liner forming line sequentially comprises a liner secondary hot pressing and shaping device, a true circle detection device, a liner temporary storage device and a liner gluing device; the ball skin forming line sequentially comprises a first injection molding machine and a second injection molding machine arranged side by side, a first pad printing device and a ball skin gluing device; the finished product compression forming line sequentially comprises a first laminating device and a second laminating device arranged side by side, a dispensing and pressure maintaining device and a second pad printing device. The solid ball automatic production line prepares the solid spherical liner coated with glue through the liner forming line, prepares the two half ball skins coated with glue through the ball skin forming line arranged in parallel, and then compresses the two to form a complete solid ball in the finished product compression forming line. The whole production line has few processes, reduces production cost and improves production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the manufacturing technology of sports balls, and more specifically, to an automated production line for solid balls. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional ball sports such as basketballs, soccer balls, and rugby balls use inflatable bodies. A hollow inner bladder is placed inside a spherical outer shell. By inflating the bladder, the entire ball expands into a spherical structure, thus providing a rebound force that allows the ball to bounce back after impacting an object. However, inflatable balls slowly leak air over time, causing them to deform and deflate, resulting in inconvenience. Furthermore, the traditional production process for inflatable balls includes the inner tube process, the rubber outer skin process, the outer skin process, and the molding process. The inner tube process includes refining, open mixing, sheeting, cutting, molding, vulcanization, ball extraction, inflation inspection, and winding. The rubber outer skin process includes refining, open mixing, applying the outer skin, vulcanization, inflation, gluing, and drying. The outer skin process includes cutting, trimming, embossing, gluing, and drying. The molding process includes manual application of the outer skin, shaping, visual inspection, leak inspection, and manual packaging of the finished product. The entire production process of inflatable balls is complex and involves many steps, requiring multiple production lines to complete. This not only occupies a large area but also increases turnover costs, resulting in low production efficiency, high labor intensity, unstable product quality, and numerous safety hazards during production. In addition, traditional production lines have low levels of automation, making it difficult to achieve large-scale, high-precision production. Utility Model Content

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide an automated production line for solid balls with fewer processes and higher production efficiency, in view of the above-mentioned defects of the prior art.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by this application to solve its technical problem is as follows: An automated production line for solid spheres is proposed, comprising a parallel inner liner forming line and a sphere forming line, and a finished product pressing and forming line connected downstream of the inner liner forming line and the sphere forming line. The inner liner forming line sequentially includes an inner liner secondary hot-pressing and shaping device for secondary hot-pressing and shaping the foamed inner liner into a spherical inner liner, a true roundness detection device for true roundness detection of the spherical inner liner, an inner liner temporary storage device for temporarily storing qualified spherical inner liners that pass the detection, and an inner liner gluing device for applying glue to the outer surface of the qualified spherical inner liners within the inner liner temporary storage device. The sphere forming line sequentially includes parallel-arranged... The system comprises a first injection molding machine and a second injection molding machine for injection molding elastic plastic granules into hemispherical skins, a first transfer printing device for transferring ribs onto the hemispherical skins, and a ball skin coating device for coating the inner surface of the hemispherical skins with adhesive; the finished product pressing molding line sequentially includes a first bonding device and a second bonding device arranged side by side for bonding two coated hemispherical skins to the surface of a coated spherical inner bladder to obtain a complete solid ball, a dispensing and pressure holding device for applying adhesive to the mold line of the solid ball obtained by the first bonding device and the second bonding device and holding pressure to form a pressed solid ball, and a second transfer printing device for transferring decorative patterns onto the pressed solid ball to obtain a finished solid ball.

[0005] In one embodiment of the solid ball automated production line according to this application, the inner liner forming line, the ball skin forming line, and the finished product pressing forming line are all arranged in a straight line.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the solid ball automated production line described in this application, the inner liner forming line further includes a cooling water device disposed on the side of the inner liner secondary hot pressing and shaping equipment for cooling the secondary hot pressing and shaping mold of the inner liner secondary hot pressing and shaping equipment.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the solid sphere automated production line described in this application, the inlet end of the true roundness detection equipment is connected to the outlet end of the inner liner forming equipment, the outlet end of the true roundness detection equipment is connected to the inner liner temporary placement device, and a first conveying module for sending the spherical inner liner in the inner liner temporary placement device into the inner liner gluing device is provided between the inner liner temporary placement device and the inner liner gluing device.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the solid ball automated production line described in this application, the ball skin forming line further includes a second transport module disposed downstream of the first injection molding machine and the second injection molding machine and between the first pad printing equipment.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the solid ball automated production line described in this application, the feeding end of the dispensing and pressure holding equipment is connected to the dispensing end of the first bonding equipment and the second bonding equipment, a third conveying module is provided between the dispensing and pressure holding equipment and the second pad printing equipment, and a fourth conveying module is provided downstream of the second pad printing equipment.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the solid sphere automated production line described in this application, the solid sphere automated production line further includes a finished product post-processing line connected downstream of the fourth handling module. The finished product post-processing line sequentially includes an appearance inspection device for performing appearance inspection on the finished solid spheres, a coding device for printing MES barcodes on the surface of the finished solid spheres, a scanning device for scanning the MES barcodes on the surface of the finished solid spheres for inputting the system, a packaging device for sealing the surface of the finished solid spheres with heat shrink film, and an automatic box opener, a box sealing robot, and an automatic box sealing machine for automatically packing the packaged finished solid spheres into boxes.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the solid sphere automated production line described in this application, a fifth handling module is provided between the appearance inspection equipment and the coding equipment, the output end of the coding equipment is connected to the infeed end of the scanning equipment, the carton sealing robot is provided between the packaging equipment and the automatic carton sealing machine, and the automatic carton unscrewing machine is provided at the carton infeed end of the automatic carton sealing machine.

[0012] In one embodiment of the solid sphere automated production line according to this application, the first handling module, the second handling module, the third handling module, the fourth handling module and the fifth handling module are all handling robots.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the solid ball automated production line described in this application, the solid ball automated production line further includes a palletizing robot and a finished product palletizing area disposed downstream of the automatic carton sealing machine.

[0014] The automated solid ball production line of this application has the following beneficial effects: According to the embodiments of this application, the automated solid ball production line produces a solid spherical inner liner coated with adhesive through an inner liner forming line, and produces two inner liner coated with adhesive through parallel spherical skin forming lines. These two inner liners are then pressed together in a finished product pressing line to form a complete solid ball. The entire production line has fewer processes, a significantly reduced length, and can achieve a complete production process layout without requiring a large floor space, reducing turnover, lowering production costs, and improving production efficiency. Furthermore, the automated solid ball production line according to the embodiments of this application achieves full automation from raw material input to finished product output through the coordinated work of various devices, ensuring consistent product quality and reducing the defect rate. At the same time, the automated production line reduces manual intervention, lowers production costs, and improves production safety. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The present application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. In the accompanying drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 This is an architectural diagram of an automated production line for solid spheres according to one embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the layout of an automated production line for solid spheres.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals: 100-Solid ball automated production line; 10-Inner liner forming line; 11-Inner liner secondary hot pressing and shaping equipment; 12-Cold water device; 13-Perfect roundness detection equipment; 14-Inner liner temporary placement device; 15-First handling module; 16-Inner liner gluing equipment; 20-Ball skin forming line; 21-First injection molding machine; 22-Second injection molding machine; 23-Second handling module; 24-First pad printing equipment; 25-Ball skin gluing equipment; 30-Finished product pressing and molding line; 31-First bonding equipment; 32-Second bonding equipment; 33-Dispensing and pressure holding equipment; 34-Third handling module; 35-Second pad printing equipment; 36-Fourth handling module; 40-Finished product post-processing line; 41-Appearance inspection equipment; 42-Fifth handling module; 43-Inkjet printing equipment; 44-Scanning equipment; 45-Packaging equipment; 46-Automatic case opener; 47-Case packing robot; 48-Automatic case sealing machine; 51-Palletizing robot; 52-Finished product palletizing area. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other unless otherwise specified.

[0020] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the architecture of an automated solid sphere production line 100 according to one embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 This shows a layout diagram of the automated solid sphere production line 100. (See attached diagram.) Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the solid ball automated production line 100 mainly consists of an inner liner forming line 10, a ball skin forming line 20, a finished product pressing and forming line 30, and a finished product post-processing line 40. The inner liner forming line 10 and the ball skin forming line 20 are arranged in parallel. The finished product pressing and forming line 30 is connected downstream of the inner liner forming line 10 and the ball skin forming line 20. The finished product post-processing line 40 is connected downstream of the finished product pressing and forming line 30.

[0021] See details Figure 2As shown, the inner liner forming line 10 adopts a linear arrangement and includes an inner liner secondary hot pressing and shaping equipment 11, a cooling water device 12, a true roundness detection device 13, an inner liner temporary placement device 14, a first handling assembly 15, and an inner liner adhesive coating device 16. The inner liner secondary hot pressing and shaping equipment 11 is used to perform secondary hot pressing and shaping of the incoming foamed inner liner into a spherical inner liner. This foamed inner liner can be sourced externally or manufactured from upstream production lines. The foamed inner liner can be obtained by foaming elastic plastic beads such as TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), TPEE (Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer), and EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate). The inner liner secondary hot-pressing and shaping equipment 11 rapidly heats and cools the foamed inner liner using a secondary hot-pressing and shaping mold, shaping it into a spherical inner liner that meets the required performance. Furthermore, the inner liner secondary hot-pressing and shaping equipment 11 is also equipped with a cooling water device 12 on its side for cooling the secondary hot-pressing and shaping mold of the inner liner forming equipment 11. After the secondary hot-pressing and shaping mold has cooled, it is opened, and the shaped spherical inner liner is removed and sent from the discharge end of the inner liner secondary hot-pressing and shaping equipment 11 to the inlet end of the docked roundness detection equipment 12. The roundness detection equipment 13 performs roundness detection on the spherical inner liner, which is crucial for the sphere's eccentricity and flight stability. The roundness inspection device 12 can use, for example, a multi-laser displacement sensor system or a high-speed 3D vision system to detect the deviation of the spherical inner liner surface contour from the ideal sphere. Unqualified spherical inner liners are discarded, for example, by being sent to a waste bin, while qualified spherical inner liners are sent to an inner liner temporary placement device 14 (e.g., a storage bin) that connects to the discharge end of the roundness inspection device. The first handling module 15 is preferably a handling robot, connected between the inner liner storage device 14 and the inner liner gluing device 16, used to grasp the spherical inner liners in the inner liner temporary placement device 14 and send them to the inner liner gluing device 16, where the qualified spherical inner liners are coated with glue. The inner liner gluing device 16 can use a conveyor belt to transport the qualified spherical inner liners to the gluing station, where the glue is applied to the surface of the spherical inner liners by spraying, ensuring a uniform glue thickness. The glue is preferably polyurethane adhesive (PU glue), and the glue thickness is preferably 0.1-0.3 mm.

[0022] See also Figure 2As shown, the ball skin forming line 20 is also arranged in a straight line, located on one side of the inner liner forming line 10 in the direction of travel. It includes a first injection molding machine 21, a second injection molding machine 22, a second transport module 23, a first pad printing device 24, and a ball skin coating device 25. The first injection molding machine 21 and the second injection molding machine 22 are arranged side-by-side and are used to injection mold elastic plastic granules into hemispherical skins. These elastic plastic granules can be various suitable ball skin material granules, such as those obtained by high-temperature melt extrusion granulation of modified TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) materials. Ball skins made using this material can improve the ball's elasticity, wear resistance, and anti-aging properties. The dried elastic plastic granules are injected into the first injection molding machine 21 and the second injection molding machine 22 to be injection molded into hemispherical skins. The injection temperature is 170-200℃, the injection pressure is 50-80 bar, the injection speed is 40-70 mm / s, and the injection time is 3-5 seconds. After cooling, the injection-molded hemispherical skins can be removed. The second handling module 23 is preferably a handling robot, located downstream of the first injection molding machine 21 and the second injection molding machine 22 and between the first pad printing device 24. It is used to grip the injection-molded hemispherical skin and feed it into the first pad printing device 24, where the first pad printing device 24 applies three-color rib stripes to the outer surface of the hemispherical skin to ensure that the final solid ball meets the design specifications of a standard ball. The ball skin gluing device 15 is connected to the discharge end of the first pad printing device 24 and is used to apply glue to the inner surface of the hemispherical skin. The ball skin gluing device 25 may be equipped with a fixture for positioning the hemispherical skin. Preferably, the glue is applied to the inner surface of the hemispherical skin by spraying to ensure a uniform glue thickness. Similarly, polyurethane adhesive (PU glue) is preferably used, and the glue thickness is preferably 0.1-0.3 mm.

[0023] See further Figure 2As shown, the finished product pressing and molding line 30 adopts a linear arrangement and includes a first bonding device 31, a second bonding device 32, a dispensing and pressure holding device 33, a third transport module 34, a second pad printing device 35, and a fourth transport module 36. The first bonding device 31 and the second bonding device 32 are arranged side by side and are used to bond two hemispherical skins with glue to the surface of a spherical inner liner with glue to obtain a complete solid sphere. Specifically, the first bonding device 31 and the second bonding device 32 are each equipped with two pressure plates arranged opposite each other. The pressure plates are provided with hemispherical grooves, and the hemispherical grooves are provided with vacuum suction holes so that each pressure plate can adsorb one hemispherical skin. During the pressing operation, the two pressure plates move closer to each other and bond the two hemispherical skins to the surface of the spherical inner liner, so that the hemispherical skins are firmly bonded to the spherical inner liner, thus obtaining a complete solid sphere. The feeding end of the dispensing and pressure-holding device 33 connects to the output ends of the first bonding device 31 and the second bonding device 32. It is used to perform dispensing and pressure-holding treatment on the solid balls obtained from the first bonding device 31 and the second bonding device 32 along the mold line, forming the final pressed solid ball. The solid ball formed by bonding and pressing two hemispherical skins and a spherical inner liner with glue can withstand 10,000 impacts without delamination, and the peel force is greater than 3 kg. The third transport module 34 is preferably a transport robot, located between the dispensing and pressure-holding device 33 and the second pad printing device 35. It is used to feed the pressed solid ball into the second pad printing device 35, where decorative patterns are transferred onto the pressed solid ball to obtain the finished solid ball. The fourth transport module 36 is preferably a transport robot, located at the output end of the second pad printing device 35, used to deliver the finished solid ball.

[0024] See further Figure 2As shown, the solid ball automated production line 100 also includes a finished product post-processing line 40 connected downstream of the fourth handling module 36 for processing finished solid balls for shipment. The finished product post-processing line 40 may sequentially include an appearance inspection device 41, a fifth handling module 42, a coding device 43, a scanning device 44, a packaging device 45, an automatic box opener 46, a box sealing robot 47, and an automatic box sealing machine 48. The appearance inspection device 41 is used to perform appearance inspection on the finished solid balls sent from the fourth handling module 36. For example, AOI appearance inspection technology can be used to automatically check the appearance quality of the solid balls. Finished solid balls that fail the inspection are discarded, for example, sent to a waste bin, while finished solid balls that pass the inspection are sent to the coding device 43 by the fifth handling module 42 (e.g., a handling robot) located between the appearance inspection device 41 and the coding device 43. The coding device 43 then prints MES barcodes on the surface of the finished solid balls. The output end of the coding device 43 connects to the input end of the scanning device 44, which scans the MES barcode on the surface of the finished solid spheres for input into the system. The packaging device 45 connects to the output end of the scanning device 44 and is used to seal the surface of the finished solid spheres with heat-shrink film, effectively protecting them. A carton sealing robot 47 is positioned between the packaging device 45 and the automatic carton sealing machine 48, used to feed the finished solid spheres wrapped in heat-shrink film into the packaging boxes on the automatic carton sealing machine 48. An automatic carton opener 46 is positioned at the carton inlet of the automatic carton sealing machine 48, used to shape stacked packaging boxes for placing the solid spheres inside. After a predetermined number of solid spheres are loaded into the packaging boxes, the automatic carton sealing machine 48 seals them. Then, the packed solid spheres are transported by a palletizing robot 51 located downstream of the automatic carton sealing machine 48 to the finished product palletizing area 52, ready for shipment.

[0025] The solid ball automated production line 100 according to the above embodiments of this application realizes full-process automation from raw material input to finished product output through the coordinated work of various devices. Moreover, the entire production line has fewer processes and a significantly reduced production line length. It can realize the layout of the complete production process without a large floor area, reducing turnover, lowering production costs, and improving production efficiency.

[0026] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A solid sphere automated production line, characterized by, This includes parallel inner liner forming lines and outer sphere forming lines, as well as a finished product pressing forming line downstream of the inner liner forming lines and outer sphere forming lines, wherein: The inner liner forming line includes, in sequence, an inner liner secondary hot pressing and shaping device for hot pressing and shaping the foamed inner liner into a spherical inner liner, a true roundness detection device for true roundness detection of the spherical inner liner, an inner liner temporary storage device for temporarily storing the qualified spherical inner liner that has passed the detection, and an inner liner gluing device for applying glue to the outer surface of the qualified spherical inner liner in the inner liner temporary storage device. The ball skin forming line includes, in sequence, a first injection molding machine and a second injection molding machine arranged side by side, for injection molding elastic plastic granules into hemispherical skins, a first transfer printing device for transferring ribs onto the hemispherical skins, and a ball skin coating device for coating the inner surface of the hemispherical skins with adhesive. The finished product pressing molding line includes, in sequence, a first bonding device and a second bonding device arranged side by side, for bonding two glued hemispherical skins to the surface of a glued spherical inner liner to obtain a complete solid ball; a gluing and pressure holding device for applying glue to the mold line and holding pressure on the solid balls obtained by the first bonding device and the second bonding device to form a pressed solid ball; and a second transfer printing device for transferring decorative patterns onto the pressed solid ball to obtain a finished solid ball.

2. The solid sphere automated production line according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner liner forming line, the ball skin forming line, and the finished product pressing forming line are all arranged in a straight line.

3. The automated production line for solid spheres according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner liner forming line also includes a cooling water device located on the side of the inner liner secondary hot pressing and shaping equipment, used to cool down the secondary hot pressing and shaping mold of the inner liner secondary hot pressing and shaping equipment.

4. The solid sphere automated production line according to claim 1, characterized by, The inlet end of the true roundness detection device is connected to the outlet end of the inner liner forming device, and the outlet end of the true roundness detection device is connected to the inner liner temporary placement device. A first conveying module for sending the spherical inner liner in the inner liner temporary placement device into the inner liner adhesive coating device is provided between the inner liner temporary placement device and the inner liner adhesive coating device.

5. The solid sphere automated production line according to claim 4, characterized in that, The ball skin forming line also includes a second transport module disposed downstream of the first injection molding machine and the second injection molding machine and between the first pad printing equipment.

6. The solid sphere automated production line according to claim 5, wherein The feeding end of the dispensing and pressure holding equipment is connected to the dispensing end of the first bonding equipment and the second bonding equipment. A third transport module is provided between the dispensing and pressure holding equipment and the second pad printing equipment. A fourth transport module is provided downstream of the second pad printing equipment.

7. The solid sphere automated production line according to claim 6, characterized in that, The solid sphere automated production line also includes a finished product post-processing line connected downstream of the fourth handling module. The finished product post-processing line includes, in sequence, an appearance inspection device for inspecting the appearance of the finished solid spheres, a coding device for printing MES barcodes on the surface of the finished solid spheres, a scanning device for scanning the MES barcodes on the surface of the finished solid spheres for inputting the system, a packaging device for sealing the surface of the finished solid spheres with heat shrink film, and an automatic box opener, a box sealing robot, and an automatic box sealing machine for automatically packing the packaged finished solid spheres into boxes.

8. The solid sphere automated production line according to claim 7, characterized in that, A fifth handling module is provided between the appearance inspection device and the coding device. The output end of the coding device is connected to the feed end of the scanning device. The sealing robot is located between the packaging device and the automatic sealing machine. The automatic box opener is located at the box feed end of the automatic sealing machine.

9. The solid sphere automated production line according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first carrying module, the second carrying module, the third carrying module, the fourth carrying module and the fifth carrying module are all carrying manipulators.

10. The solid sphere automated production line according to claim 8, characterized in that, The solid ball automatic production line further comprises a stacking manipulator and a finished product stacking area arranged downstream of the automatic box sealing machine.

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