Automatic feeding and discharging device and cigarette production line

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of automatic material supplementing and discharging device and cigarette production line, and automatic material supplementing and discharging device includes material channel component, receiving and throwing component and material separation component, and material channel component has the blanking passageway of feeding stack falling;Receiving and throwing component is arranged to reach the entrance of blanking passageway to stop feeding stack and throw into blanking passageway, and can leave the entrance of blanking passageway to allow feeding stack to throw into blanking passageway;Material separation component is arranged at the outlet of blanking passageway, for alternately expanding and reducing the discharge opening of blanking passageway.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of packaging production line technology, and in particular to an automatic feeding and discharging device and a cigarette production line. Background Technology

[0002] Many product packaging materials utilize thin paper or other types of sheet materials to enhance product quality and protect the contents, such as the label paper in cigarette packaging. Real-time automatic replenishment of sheet materials is crucial for improving product packaging production efficiency and capacity, preventing production interruptions due to insufficient material reserves. Current product packaging production lines experience interruptions primarily because some materials are damaged and discarded during handling, not effectively handled, or over-handled. Material output is unstable, with consumption exceeding the required amount for product packaging production, and the replenishment rate of the material replenishment device is insufficient to keep pace with the material consumption rate. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides an automatic feeding and discharging device for stable material output suitable for high-frequency small-batch replenishment, aiming to solve the problems of easy production interruption and low efficiency. On this basis, a cigarette production line including the automatic feeding and discharging device is also provided.

[0004] The automatic feeding and discharging device of this utility model includes a material channel assembly, a receiving and discharging assembly, and a material separation assembly. The material channel assembly has a material drop channel for the material stack to fall. The receiving and discharging assembly is configured to reach the entrance of the material drop channel to stop the material stack from being discharging into the material drop channel, and to leave the entrance of the material drop channel to allow the material stack to be discharging into the material drop channel. The material separation assembly is located at the outlet of the material drop channel and is used to alternately expand and shrink the discharge opening of the material drop channel.

[0005] Compared with the prior art, the automatic feeding and discharging device of this utility model can stably discharge sheet materials, making it suitable for high-frequency, small-batch replenishment of sheet materials. The material separation component can prevent excessive material discharge from the bottom of the material stack at one time. Therefore, when the material stack reaches the outlet of the material drop channel, the material at the bottom of the material stack can leave the material drop channel quantitatively and orderly, without any abnormal or sudden changes in the material stack consumption rate. The receiving and discharging component can arrive at and leave the inlet of the material drop channel at a stable frequency, so the material replenishment rate matches the material discharge rate. The material discharge from the bottom of the material channel component and the material arrival from the top of the material channel component are carried out synchronously and orderly, and the production process is less prone to interruption or low efficiency.

[0006] In some embodiments, the material discharge channel includes a natural falling section and a blocked falling section arranged sequentially along the height direction. The blocked falling section is the one of the two falling sections that is relatively closer to the outlet. The cross-sectional dimension of the natural falling section is larger than that of the blocked falling section.

[0007] In some embodiments, the feed channel assembly includes a longitudinal baffle and an additional baffle, the longitudinal baffle including a stop side for forming the inner wall of the feed channel, and the additional baffle protruding beyond the stop side.

[0008] In some embodiments, the material channel assembly further includes a first longitudinal side plate and a second longitudinal side plate spaced apart, which together with the longitudinal baffle form a material discharge channel;

[0009] A portion of the material separation assembly is configured to protrude from the inside of the first longitudinal side plate and / or the second longitudinal side plate, and the protrusion height is variable.

[0010] In some embodiments, the material separation assembly includes a pivot, a reciprocating oscillating member, and a deflector, wherein the reciprocating oscillating member is rotatably connected to the material channel assembly about the pivot, and the deflector is fixed to the reciprocating oscillating member and protrudes from the inner wall of the material discharge channel.

[0011] In some embodiments, the feed channel assembly includes a longitudinal side plate for forming a material drop channel, a pivot member having an oscillation center around which a reciprocating oscillating member rotates and which is parallel to the longitudinal side plate, and an actuating member including a pawl protruding from the inner side of the longitudinal side plate, the pawl including a holding surface for holding material, the holding surface forming an obtuse angle with the inner side of the longitudinal side plate.

[0012] In some embodiments, the material separation assembly also includes a driver that drives the reciprocating oscillating element.

[0013] In some embodiments, the material separation component is slidably installed on the material channel component along a preset material channel extension direction and has a toggle member protruding from the inner wall of the material discharge channel. The automatic material replenishment and discharge device also includes a lifting adjustment component, which includes an adjustment part and an output part that acts on the material separation component along the material channel extension direction.

[0014] In some embodiments, the output section is a lead screw connected to the adjustment section, and the material separation assembly includes a lifting frame that is threadedly engaged with the lead screw. The lifting frame is slidably installed on the material channel assembly along the material channel extension direction, and the lead screw extends along the material channel extension direction.

[0015] In some implementations, a stock monitoring device is also included, which is communicatively connected to the receiving and dispensing component. The stock monitoring device is used to monitor the stock of material in the material discharge channel. When the stock of material in the material discharge channel is lower than a preset allowable lower limit, the receiving and dispensing component arrives at the entrance.

[0016] In some embodiments, the material channel assembly further includes a material stack receiving area disposed above the material drop channel, the material stack receiving area being blocked from the material drop channel when the receiving and dispensing component arrives at the inlet, and connected when the receiving and dispensing component leaves the inlet; the automatic material replenishment and discharge device also includes an arrival monitoring element for monitoring whether there is a material stack in the material stack receiving area.

[0017] In some embodiments, the positioning monitoring device includes a first positioning sensor and a second positioning sensor. The first positioning sensor and the second positioning sensor are offset from each other in the preset feeding direction and the material channel extension direction. The material channel extension direction is the extension direction of the material drop channel and is perpendicular to the preset feeding direction.

[0018] In some embodiments, the receiving and dispensing component includes a receiving shovel and a receiving rolling element. The receiving shovel is movably connected to the material channel component along a preset telescopic direction, and the receiving rolling element is rotatably mounted on the side of the receiving shovel facing away from the outlet.

[0019] In some embodiments, the feed channel assembly includes a front longitudinal baffle and a rear longitudinal baffle spaced apart along a preset feeding direction, forming a material stack receiving area and a material drop channel between the front longitudinal baffle and the rear longitudinal baffle. The front longitudinal baffle has a material stack inlet communicating with the material stack receiving area, wherein:

[0020] The material receiving area is located vertically above the material drop channel; and / or,

[0021] The preset feeding direction is perpendicular to the preset telescopic direction, and both are perpendicular to the extension direction of the discharge channel; and / or,

[0022] The rotation center of the receiving rolling element is perpendicular to the preset feeding direction and perpendicular to the extension direction of the discharge channel; and / or,

[0023] The number of receiving rolling elements is multiple, and the multiple receiving rolling elements are arranged sequentially along a preset feeding direction.

[0024] The cigarette production line of this utility model includes a material conveying line, a material transfer device, and an automatic material replenishment and discharge device. The material conveying line is used to convey material stacks to the material channel assembly, and the material transfer device is used to remove the material leaving the discharge opening and transfer the material to the packaging production station. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an automatic feeding and discharging device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the material channel assembly of an automatic feeding and discharging device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the material separation component of an automatic feeding and discharging device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the receiving and dispensing component of an automatic feeding and discharging device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 10, Material channel assembly; 11, Material stack receiving area; 111, Material stack inlet; 12, Material drop channel; 121, Natural descent section; 122, Obstructed descent section; 130, Longitudinal baffle; 131, Front longitudinal baffle; 132, Rear longitudinal baffle; 133, Additional baffle; 140, Longitudinal side plate; 141, First longitudinal side plate; 1411, First shovel inlet; 142, Second longitudinal side plate; 1421, Second shovel inlet; 20, Receiving and feeding assembly; 21. Receiving shovel plate; 22. Receiving rolling element; 23. Telescopic guide unit; 231. Telescopic guide seat; 232. Telescopic slide table; 233. Slide rail; 234. Guide column; 30. Material separation assembly; 31. Pivot component; 32. Reciprocating swing component; 33. Actuating component; 331. Actuating claw; 34. Lifting frame; 41. Inventory monitoring component; 421. First position sensor; 422. Second position sensor; 50. Lifting adjustment assembly; 51. Adjustment section; 52. Output section. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "or / and" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0032] This invention provides an automatic material replenishment and discharging device for use in product packaging production lines, such as cigarette packaging production lines. The device can acquire materials from a material conveyor line, buffer the materials, and automatically supply them to the packaging workstations. This automatic material replenishment and discharging device aims to replace manual labor for replenishing the material storage area.

[0033] The automatic feeding and discharging device of this invention is used to acquire sheet-like materials. When the automatic feeding and discharging device is used in a cigarette packaging production line, the sheet-like material is label paper. Multiple sheet-like materials are stacked to form a stack, and multiple stacks are transported on the material conveyor line. The automatic feeding and discharging device acquires and buffers the stacks, and then supplies the materials to the packaging workstations one by one.

[0034] See Figure 1 The automatic feeding and discharging device of this utility model includes a material channel assembly 10, a receiving and discharging assembly 20, and a material separation assembly 30. The material channel assembly 10 has a material stack receiving area 11 and a material dropping channel 12. The material stack receiving area 11 is used to receive material stacks from the material conveyor line, and the material dropping channel 12 allows the material stacks to fall by gravity. The receiving and discharging assembly 20 is controllably and movable relative to the material channel assembly 10. The receiving and discharging assembly 20 can reach the entrance of the material dropping channel 12 to stop the material stack from being placed into the material dropping channel 12, and can leave the entrance of the material dropping channel 12 to allow the material stack to be placed into the material dropping channel 12. The material separation assembly 30 is located at the outlet of the material dropping channel 12 and is used to alternately expand and shrink the discharge opening of the material dropping channel 12. The outlet of the material discharge channel 12 is formed by the material channel component 10. The discharge opening is formed by the material channel component 10 and the material separation component 30. The material separation component 30 is set in a controlled and movable manner relative to the material channel component 10, so that the opening of the discharge opening alternately expands and contracts. After the material is discharged from the discharge opening, it leaves the material channel component 10 and is transferred to the packaging production station.

[0035] Specifically, when the receiving and dispensing component 20 arrives at the entrance of the material drop channel 12, the material stack receiving area 11 and the material drop channel 12 are blocked by the receiving and dispensing component 20. The material stack leaving the material conveying line enters the material stack receiving area 11 and is stably supported by the receiving and dispensing component 20. When the receiving and dispensing component 20 leaves the entrance of the material drop channel 12, the material stack receiving area 11 and the material drop channel 12 are restored to a connected state. After losing the support of the receiving and dispensing component 20, the material stack in the material stack receiving area 11 is automatically dispensed into the material drop channel 12 by gravity.

[0036] With this configuration, the receiving and dispensing component 20 automatically replenishes materials to the material discharge channel 12 by switching back and forth between the states of arriving at the entrance of the material discharge channel 12 and leaving the entrance of the material discharge channel 12. This ensures that a certain amount of sheet-like materials can always be stored in the material discharge channel 12. These sheet-like materials are still stored in the material discharge channel 12 in a layered stacking manner, that is, multiple sheet-like materials still form a material stack in the material discharge channel 12. The material at the bottom of the material stack in the material discharge channel 12 can withstand the pressure from the material above. Finally, the material at the bottom of the material stack approaches the exit of the material discharge channel 12 under the pressure of the other materials.

[0037] Whether the material at the bottom of the stack in the discharge channel 12 leaves the discharge channel 12 when it reaches the outlet of the discharge channel 12 depends on the position of the material separation component 30 and the opening of the discharge opening. When the position of the material separation component 30 increases the opening of the discharge opening, the material at the bottom of the stack can leave the discharge channel 12 through the discharge opening; when the position of the material separation component 30 decreases the opening of the discharge opening, the material at the bottom of the stack cannot leave the discharge channel 12 through the discharge opening.

[0038] With this configuration, the material separation component 30 reciprocates relative to the material channel component 10, achieving intermittent switching of the discharge opening between an expanding and contracting state. Therefore, the buffered material in the discharge channel 12 can leave the channel intermittently with pauses, rather than continuously. This intermittent discharge adapts to the work rhythm of the packaging production station. When the rhythm of material leaving the discharge channel 12 matches the rhythm of material retrieval at the packaging production station, all material can be retrieved without waste. When the discharge opening remains at a large opening for an equal duration and at a small opening for an equal duration, the opening of the discharge opening changes repeatedly at a definite rhythm. This allows the material channel component 10 to discharge a fixed amount of material each time the discharge opening increases. The amount of material discharged each time the discharge opening increases is equal to the amount discharged the previous time the opening increased, thus avoiding material waste. As the material at the bottom of the material stack in the material drop channel 12 leaves the material drop channel 12 intermittently, the material buffer in the material drop channel 12 slowly decreases. When the material in the material drop channel 12 drops to a certain minimum value, the receiving and dispensing component 20 returns to the entrance of the material drop channel 12 to receive the material stack.

[0039] Specifically, see Figures 1-2 The material channel assembly 10 includes a longitudinal baffle 130 and a longitudinal side plate 140. The longitudinal baffle 130 includes a front longitudinal baffle 131 and a rear longitudinal baffle 132 spaced apart along a preset feeding direction. The longitudinal side plate 140 includes a first longitudinal side plate 141 and a second longitudinal side plate 142 spaced apart along a preset telescopic direction. The preset feeding direction is the direction in which the material conveyor line sends the material stack into the material channel assembly 10. The receiving and dispensing component 20 arrives at and leaves the entrance of the dropping channel 12 along the preset telescopic direction. The front longitudinal baffle 131, the rear longitudinal baffle 132, the first longitudinal side plate 141 and the second longitudinal side plate 142 form a hollow structure that is approximately cuboid. The front longitudinal baffle 131, the rear longitudinal baffle 132, the first longitudinal side plate 141 and the second longitudinal side plate 142 together enclose a material stack receiving area 11 and a dropping channel 12 that are connected in the vertical direction. The entrances of the material stack receiving area 11 and the dropping channel 12 are adjacent to each other. The dropping channel 12 extends in the vertical direction. The rear longitudinal baffle 132 has a material stack inlet 111 that connects to the material stack receiving area 11. After leaving the material conveying line, the material stack enters the material stack receiving area 11 through the material stack inlet 111. The front longitudinal baffle 131 is used to stop the material stack from entering the material stack receiving area 11. At least one of the first longitudinal side plate 141 and the second longitudinal side plate 142 has a shovel plate inlet. The shovel plate inlet allows the receiving and dispensing component 20 to pass through and exit. The receiving and dispensing component 20 reaches the entrance of the material drop channel 12 by passing through the shovel plate inlet along a preset telescopic direction, and leaves the entrance of the material drop channel 12 by exiting the shovel plate inlet along the preset telescopic direction.

[0040] Optionally, both the preset feeding direction and the preset telescopic direction are horizontal and perpendicular to each other. There are two receiving and dispensing components 20. The first longitudinal side plate 141 and the second longitudinal side plate 142 are respectively provided with a first shovel inlet 1411 and a second shovel inlet 1421. The two receiving and dispensing components 20 move towards each other, passing through the first shovel inlet 1411 and the second shovel inlet 1421 respectively, until both components reach the entrance of the dropping channel 12 and block the material stack receiving area 11 and the dropping channel 12. The two receiving and dispensing components 20 work together to carry the material stack entering the material stack receiving area 11. The two receiving and dispensing components 20 can also move in opposite directions, exiting the first shovel inlet 1411 and the second shovel inlet 1421 respectively, until both components leave the entrance of the dropping channel 12, thus restoring communication between the material stack receiving area 11 and the dropping channel 12. The material stack then falls into the dropping channel 12 by its own weight.

[0041] Further, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The material discharge channel 12 includes a natural falling section 121 and a blocked falling section 122 arranged sequentially from high to low along the height direction. Specifically, the natural falling section 121 is the one of the two falling sections relatively closer to the inlet of the material discharge channel 12, and the blocked falling section 122 is the one of the two falling sections relatively closer to the outlet of the material discharge channel 12. If the material discharge channel assembly 10 is cut by a horizontal plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the material discharge channel, the size of the shape obtained by cutting the natural falling section 121 by this horizontal plane is larger than the size of the shape obtained by cutting the blocked falling section 122 by this horizontal plane. Specifically, the size of the shape obtained by cutting the natural falling section 121 by a horizontal plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the material discharge channel is greater than or equal to the outline size of the sheet-like material, and the size of the shape obtained by cutting the blocked falling section 122 by a horizontal plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the material discharge channel is slightly smaller than the outline size of the sheet-like material.

[0042] With this configuration, when the material stack in the material drop channel 12 is within the height range of the natural fall section 121, the material stack is only subject to gravity and almost no other resistance. The material stack approximates free fall motion, and the free fall motion allows the newly arrived material that has just entered the material drop channel 12 to quickly replenish the obstructed fall section 122. When the material stack in the material drop channel 12 enters the obstructed fall section 122 from the natural fall section 121, in addition to gravity, the material stack will also be subject to frictional resistance from the inner wall of the obstructed fall section 122. The friction of the inner wall of the obstructed fall section 122 on the material stack gradually reduces the falling speed of the material stack, preventing all the sheet-like materials in the material stack from leaving the material drop channel 12 at once. When the material stack is about to reach the outlet of the material drop channel 12, the falling rate of the material stack drops to almost zero. This makes it easier for the material sorting mechanism to take away the material at the bottom of the material stack in a fixed quantity each time, and then transfer the material to the packaging production station. In addition, it also makes the speed of the material stack when it reaches the outlet of the material drop channel 12 match the rhythm of the expansion and contraction of the discharge opening, so as to ensure that a small amount of material can be discharged in a fixed quantity each time the discharge opening is expanded.

[0043] Optionally, the material dispensing mechanism is a material transfer device located at the bottom of the material channel assembly 10. The material transfer device includes a suction tray for adsorbing sheet-like materials and a transfer mechanism connected to the suction tray. The transfer mechanism reciprocates between the material channel assembly 10 and the packaging production station.

[0044] Specifically, the feed channel assembly 10 also includes a baffle plate 133, and the longitudinal baffle plate 130 includes a stop side for forming the inner wall of the natural fall section 121. The baffle plate 133 protrudes from the stop side and forms the inner wall of the obstructed fall section 122. Figures 1-2 As shown, the longitudinal baffle 130 includes a front longitudinal baffle 131 and a rear longitudinal baffle 132 spaced apart along a preset feeding direction. The stop side includes a first stop side and a second stop side formed on the front longitudinal baffle 131 and the rear longitudinal baffle 132, respectively. The first stop side and the second stop side are spaced apart and facing each other along the preset feeding direction, forming the inner wall of the natural falling section 121. The baffle plate 133 can be connected to the front longitudinal baffle 131 and protrude from the first stop side, or it can be connected to the rear longitudinal baffle 132 and protrude from the second stop side. Alternatively, two baffle plates 133 can be provided, with the two baffle plates 133 respectively connected to the front longitudinal baffle 131 and the rear longitudinal baffle 132. The baffle plate 133 connected to the front longitudinal baffle 131 protrudes from the first stop side, and the baffle plate 133 connected to the rear longitudinal baffle 132 protrudes from the second stop side.

[0045] The baffle plate 133 is inclined relative to the longitudinal baffle plate 130. Along the direction close to the ground, the height of the baffle plate 133 protruding from the stop side gradually increases. If the obstructed falling section 122 is cut by a horizontal plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the material channel, the outline of the pattern obtained by the obstructed falling section 122 being cut by the horizontal plane gradually decreases along the direction close to the ground. With this configuration, as the material stack falls and moves within the obstructed falling section 122, the frictional force and lateral pressure exerted by the baffle plate 133 on the material stack gradually increase, resulting in a better deceleration effect during the material stack's descent. Furthermore, as the material stack approaches the outlet of the material drop channel 12, it gradually bends and deforms. The bent material stack exhibits a shape with a convex bottom and a concave top, thus causing slight separation of the lamellar material within the material stack. A tiny gap is formed between any two adjacent lamellar materials. This gap prevents the material channel component 10 from discharging excessive material due to close contact or even mutual adsorption between the materials. The material separation component 30 can slightly enter the gap by taking advantage of the reduced opening of the discharge opening of the material drop channel 12, thereby achieving the separation of the material at the bottom of the material stack from other materials above it. It can also exit the gap by taking advantage of the expanded opening of the discharge opening of the material drop channel 12, causing the material at the bottom of the material stack to be pressed down by the material above and slightly moved downward for discharge.

[0046] See Figure 1 and Figure 3 The material separation assembly 30 includes a pivot 31, a reciprocating swing member 32, a deflector 33, and a driver. The pivot 31 is disposed on the material channel assembly 10 and provides a swing center extending linearly in the horizontal direction. The reciprocating swing member 32 is rotatably connected to the material channel assembly 10 about the swing center of the pivot 31. The driver provides the power required for the reciprocating swing member 32 to swing back and forth. The deflector 33 is fixed to the reciprocating swing member 32 and protrudes from the inner wall of the material discharge channel 12. The deflector 33 can follow the reciprocating swing member 32 and reciprocate relative to the inner wall of the material discharge channel 12. The actuating element 33 and the material channel assembly 10 together define the discharge opening. The actuating element 33 abuts against the side of the material pile located in the material drop channel 12. By following the reciprocating swinging element 32, the height of the actuating element 33 protruding from the inner wall of the material drop channel 12 repeatedly increases and decreases. The opening of the discharge opening intermittently expands and shrinks with the reciprocating motion of the actuating element 33. The pressure of the actuating element 33 acting on the side of the material pile in the material drop channel 12 repeatedly increases and decreases.

[0047] like Figure 3As shown, the actuating element 33 is a claw 331 fixed to the reciprocating swinging element 32. The claw 331 is inclined relative to the extension direction of the material channel, and the tip of the claw 331 protrudes from the inner wall of the material drop channel 12 and abuts against the side of the material stack. When the height of the actuating element 33 protruding from the inner wall of the material drop channel 12 increases, the opening of the discharge opening decreases, and the pressure of the actuating element 33 acting on the side of the material stack decreases slightly, thereby allowing the material at the bottom of the material stack to leave the material drop channel 12; when the height of the actuating element 33 protruding from the inner wall of the material drop channel 12 decreases, the opening of the discharge opening increases, and the pressure of the actuating element 33 acting on the side of the material stack increases slightly, thereby stopping the material at the bottom of the material stack from leaving the material drop channel 12. The driver can precisely control the swing amplitude of the reciprocating oscillating component 32, thereby precisely controlling the reciprocating motion amplitude of the actuating component 33, ensuring that the change in the opening of the discharge opening is precise and the change amplitude is small, and ensuring that the pressure of the actuating component 33 on the side of the material stack is precisely changed, reducing the probability of the material channel assembly 10 discharging too much material at one time.

[0048] The pivoting member 31 provides a swing center that extends along a preset feeding direction. The first longitudinal side plate 141 and the second longitudinal side plate 142 are both parallel to the swing center of the pivoting member 31. Two material separation components 30 are provided. The actuating members 33 of the two material separation components 30 protrude from the inner sides of the first longitudinal side plate 141 and the second longitudinal side plate 142, respectively. The inner sides of the first longitudinal side plate 141 and the inner sides of the second longitudinal side plate 142 are arranged at intervals facing each other along a preset extension direction. The actuating claw 331 forming the actuating member 33 has an abutting surface for abutting the side of the material stack. The abutting surface of the actuating member 33 protruding from the inner side of the first longitudinal side plate 141 forms an obtuse angle with the inner side of the first longitudinal side plate 141. The abutting surface of the actuating member 33 protruding from the inner side of the second longitudinal side plate 142 forms an obtuse angle with the inner side of the second longitudinal side plate 142. The discharge opening is defined by the bottom end of the front longitudinal baffle 131, the bottom end of the rear longitudinal baffle 132, the actuating element 33 of one material separation component 30, and the actuating element 33 of the other material separation component 30.

[0049] With this configuration, the two actuating elements 33 abut against opposite sides of the material stack. The pressure exerted by each actuating element 33 on the side of the material stack is inclined upward. The pressure exerted by the actuating element 33 on the material stack includes a vertical upward component and a horizontal component. The vertical upward component allows the actuating element 33 to bear a larger weight of material stack, so that more material can be buffered in the material channel assembly 10, reducing the frequency of material stacks being fed from the receiving and feeding assembly 20 to the material dropping channel 12. The horizontal component can slightly bend the material to form gaps between the materials, preventing the materials from sticking together tightly and being difficult to separate, which helps to discharge a single material each time.

[0050] It is understood that in other embodiments, the actuating members 33 of the two material separation components 30 protrude from the front longitudinal baffle 131 and the rear longitudinal baffle 132, respectively. In this case, the discharge opening is defined by the bottom end of the first longitudinal side plate 141, the bottom end of the second longitudinal side plate 142, the actuating member 33 of one material separation component 30, and the actuating member 33 of the other material separation component 30.

[0051] The actuating element 33 extends into the obstructed falling section 122 by protruding from the inner side of the longitudinal side plate 140. This allows the actuating element 33 to actuate the bottom of the material stack closest to the outlet of the material falling channel 12, without affecting the free fall motion of newly arrived materials in the natural falling section 121, nor affecting the replenishment of newly arrived materials into the obstructed falling section 122. By setting the drive stroke of the driver on the reciprocating oscillating element 32, the oscillation amplitude of the reciprocating oscillating element 32 can be precisely controlled. The opening range of the discharge opening can be adjusted to ensure that only one piece of material is discharged at a time, so that the material transfer device can take away one piece of material at a time, avoiding waste due to taking more material.

[0052] Furthermore, the material separation component 30 is slidably installed on the material channel component 10 along the extension direction of the material channel. The automatic feeding and discharging device also includes a lifting adjustment component 50, which includes an adjustment part 51 and an output part 52. The output part 52 can apply force to the material separation component 30 along the extension direction of the material channel. Therefore, the adjustment part 51 can be manipulated to drive the material separation component 30 to slide along the extension direction of the material channel, so as to change the vertical height of the material separation component 30. Specifically, it changes the vertical height of the actuating member 33. The supporting force of the actuating member 33 on the bottom of the material pile in the material drop channel 12 increases as the actuating member 33 rises and decreases as the actuating member 33 falls.

[0053] As mentioned above, the baffle plate 133 protrudes from the stop side of the longitudinal baffle plate 130. The baffle plate 133 can bear part of the weight of the material stack in the material drop channel 12. That is, the weight of the material stack in the material drop channel 12 is shared by the baffle plate 133 and the actuating member 33. When the supporting force of the actuating member 33 on the side of the material stack decreases, the force of the baffle plate 133 on the material stack increases, the bending deformation of the material stack increases, the gap between the material at the bottom of the material stack and the material above the bottom material increases, the separation of the material at the bottom of the material stack is easier, the material transfer device can pick up the material at the bottom of the material stack more effortlessly and smoothly, and the gap between the materials prevents the material at the bottom of the material stack from adhering to each other and being difficult to separate. This can effectively prevent the material at the bottom of the material stack from sticking to and carrying other materials away from the material stack when picking up the material at the bottom of the material stack, and is more conducive to the discharge of a single sheet of material each time from the discharge opening.

[0054] Specifically, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, the adjustment part 51 is a rotating wheel, the output part 52 is a lead screw connected to the rotating wheel, and the material separation assembly 30 also includes a lifting frame 34. The lifting frame 34 is slidably installed on the longitudinal side plate 140 along the extension direction of the material channel. The lead screw and the lifting frame 34 are threaded together. The extension direction of the axis of the lead screw is consistent with the extension direction of the material channel. The pivot part 31 and the reciprocating swing part 32 are both installed on the lifting frame 34.

[0055] In some embodiments, the automatic material replenishment and discharging device further includes a quantity monitoring component 41 communicatively connected to the receiving and discharging component 20. The quantity monitoring component 41 is used to monitor the material quantity in the material discharge channel 12. When the material quantity in the material discharge channel 12 is lower than a preset allowable lower limit, the receiving and discharging component 20 immediately arrives at the entrance of the material discharge channel 12 to wait for the material conveyor line to deliver the material stack to the material stack receiving area 11. After obtaining the material stack, the receiving and discharging component 20 immediately leaves the entrance of the material discharge channel 12 so that the material stack in the material stack receiving area 11 falls into the material discharge channel 12. The quantity monitoring component 41 and the receiving and discharging component 20 can be directly connected via wired or wireless means, or they can be connected to the control system. The quantity monitoring component 41 sends the monitoring result signal to the control system, and the control system issues a control command based on the monitoring result signal to determine whether the receiving and discharging component 20 arrives at the entrance of the material discharge channel 12.

[0056] Optionally, in some embodiments, the inventory monitoring device 41 is a pressure sensor or a gravity sensor. The inventory monitoring device 41 determines whether the material inventory in the material discharge channel 12 is lower than a preset allowable lower limit by sensing the weight or pressure of the material pile in the material discharge channel 12; in other embodiments, see [reference needed]. Figures 1-2 The inventory monitoring component 41 is a photoelectric sensor switch installed on the longitudinal baffle 130 and / or the longitudinal side plate 140. The installation height of the inventory monitoring component 41 is lower than the height of the shovel inlet and the receiving and feeding component 20. When the inventory monitoring component 41 cannot sense the photoelectric signal, the height of the material pile formed by the buffered material in the material drop channel 12 is lower than the installation height of the inventory monitoring component 41. At this time, the material inventory in the material drop channel 12 is lower than the preset allowable lower limit.

[0057] It is worth noting that in other embodiments, the material drop channel 12 may also eliminate the natural falling section 121, after which the entire material drop channel 12 becomes the obstructed falling section 122.

[0058] Further, see Figure 2 and Figure 4The first shovel inlet 1411 and the second shovel inlet 1421 are both horizontally extending strip-shaped openings. The two receiving and discharging components 20 each have two receiving shovels 21. The two receiving shovels 21 are always set in a horizontal position. The two receiving shovels 21 reach the entrance of the material discharge channel 12 by passing through the first shovel inlet 1411 and the second shovel inlet 1421 respectively. At this time, the two receiving shovels 21, the front longitudinal baffle 131, the rear longitudinal baffle 132, the first longitudinal side plate 141 and the second longitudinal side plate 142 together form the material stack receiving area 11. The material stack receiving area 11 is a cuboid space area and is suitable for receiving cuboid-shaped material stacks.

[0059] When the material stack entering the material stack receiving area 11 is cuboid, the material stack is more smoothly placed into the material drop channel 12, and it is less likely to cause blockage inside the material drop channel 12. In order to monitor whether the material stack entering the material stack receiving area 11 is cuboid, the automatic material replenishment and discharge device also includes a positioning monitoring element for monitoring whether there is a material stack in the material stack receiving area 11. The positioning monitoring element includes a first positioning sensor 421 and a second positioning sensor 422 installed on the longitudinal side plate 140. The first positioning sensor 421 and the second positioning sensor 422 are offset in the preset feeding direction and also offset in the material channel extension direction, which is the extension direction of the material drop channel 12.

[0060] The material stacks transported on the material conveyor line have equal heights, and the amount of layered material in all stacks is equal. The misalignment distance between the first positioning sensor 421 and the second positioning sensor 422 along the extension direction of the material channel is set to be equal to the height of the material stack, and the misalignment distance between the first positioning sensor 421 and the second positioning sensor 422 along the preset feeding direction is set to be equal to the dimension of the material stack along the preset feeding direction.

[0061] Both the first positioning sensor 421 and the second positioning sensor 422 can detect whether there is an object in the material stack receiving area 11. When at least one of the first positioning sensor 421 and the second positioning sensor 422 detects an object, it indicates that the material stack has entered the material stack receiving area 11. If the material stack entering the material stack receiving area 11 is a cuboid, the first positioning sensor 421 and the second positioning sensor 422 are triggered at the two opposite corners of the material stack, respectively. That is, when the first positioning sensor 421 and the second positioning sensor 422 detect the material stack at the same time, it indicates that the material stack entering the material stack receiving area 11 is a cuboid and there is no tilting. If only the first positioning sensor 421 or only the second positioning sensor 422 detects the material stack, it indicates that the material stack entering the material stack receiving area 11 is not a cuboid and there is tilting. When it is confirmed that the material stack is rectangular and not skewed, the receiving and feeding component 20 directly leaves the entrance of the material drop channel 12 to feed the material stack into the material drop channel 12; when it is confirmed that the material stack is not rectangular and is skewed, the shape of the material stack must be corrected first to restore the material stack to a rectangular shape, and then the receiving and feeding component 20 is controlled to leave the entrance of the material drop channel 12.

[0062] See Figure 4 The receiving and dispensing assembly 20 also includes a telescopic guide unit 23 and a receiving rolling element 22. The telescopic guide unit 23 includes a telescopic guide seat 231 fixedly disposed relative to the material channel assembly 10, and a telescopic slide 232 fixedly disposed on the telescopic guide seat 231. The telescopic slide 232 has a slide rail 233 extending along a preset telescopic direction and a guide post 234. The receiving shovel 21 is slidably disposed on the telescopic slide 232 and forms a sliding engagement with the slide rail 233 and the guide post 234. The slide rail 233 and the guide post 234 guide the receiving shovel 21 to move relative to the telescopic slide 232 along the preset telescopic direction, so that the two receiving shovels 21 can pass through and exit the first shovel inlet 1411 and the second shovel inlet 1421 respectively, and restrict the other degrees of freedom of movement of the two receiving shovels 21, thereby ensuring that the two receiving shovels 21 always maintain a horizontal posture. The receiving rolling element 22 is rotatably installed on the side of the receiving shovel plate 21 facing away from the outlet of the material drop channel 12. The receiving rolling element 22 can replace the receiving shovel plate 21 to directly roll and contact the bottom of the material pile, avoiding direct sliding contact between the bottom of the material pile and the receiving shovel plate 21. With the momentum of the material pile leaving the material conveying line, and through the rolling contact between the receiving rolling element 22 and the bottom of the material pile, the material pile can maintain a cuboid shape and enter the material pile receiving area 11. The friction between the layers of material in the material pile is greater than the rolling friction of the receiving rolling element 22 on the bottom of the material pile, so the overall shape of the material pile is stable and not easy to loosen.

[0063] like Figure 4 As shown, the receiving rolling element 22 consists of multiple rolling pins arranged sequentially along a preset feeding direction. The rotation center of each rolling pin is set horizontally and perpendicular to the preset feeding direction.

[0064] This utility model also provides a cigarette production line, which includes a material conveying line, a material transfer device, and an automatic feeding and discharging device of this utility model. Referring to the foregoing, the material conveying line is used to convey material stacks to the material channel assembly, and the material transfer device is used to remove the material leaving the discharge opening and transfer the material to the packaging production station.

[0065] The technical features of the above-described 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.

[0066] Those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model. Any appropriate changes and variations made to the above embodiments within the scope of the essential spirit of the present utility model shall fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present utility model.

Claims

1. An automatic feeding and discharging device, characterized by, It includes a material conveyor assembly (10), a receiving and dispensing assembly (20), and a material separation assembly (30), wherein: The material channel assembly (10) has a material drop channel (12) for feeding the material stack to fall; The receiving and dispensing component (20) is configured to be able to reach the entrance of the material drop channel (12) to block the material stack from being dispensed into the material drop channel (12), and to be able to leave the entrance of the material drop channel (12) to allow the material stack to be dispensed into the material drop channel (12); The material separation component (30) is located at the outlet of the discharge channel (12) and is used to alternately expand and shrink the discharge opening of the discharge channel (12).

2. The automatic feeding and discharging device according to claim 1, wherein The material discharge channel (12) includes a natural falling section (121) and a blocked falling section (122) arranged sequentially along the height direction. The blocked falling section (122) is the one of the two falling sections that is relatively closer to the outlet. The cross-sectional dimension of the natural falling section (121) is larger than the cross-sectional dimension of the blocked falling section (122).

3. The automatic feeding and discharging device according to claim 2, wherein The material channel assembly (10) includes a longitudinal baffle (130) and an additional baffle (133). The longitudinal baffle (130) includes a stop side for forming the inner wall of the material drop channel (12). The additional baffle (133) protrudes from the stop side. The material channel assembly (10) also includes a first longitudinal side plate (141) and a second longitudinal side plate (142) arranged at intervals. The two, together with the longitudinal baffle (130), enclose the material drop channel (12). The material separation component (30) protrudes from the inside of the first longitudinal side plate (141) and / or the second longitudinal side plate (142) and the protrusion height is variable.

4. The automatic feeding and discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The material separation assembly (30) includes a pivot (31), a reciprocating swing member (32), and a deflector (33). The reciprocating swing member (32) is rotatably connected to the material channel assembly (10) around the pivot (31). The deflector (33) is fixed to the reciprocating swing member (32) and protrudes from the inner wall of the material discharge channel (12).

5. The automatic feeding and discharging device according to claim 4, wherein The material channel assembly (10) includes a longitudinal side plate (140) for forming the material drop channel (12), the pivot (31) has an oscillation center around which the reciprocating oscillating member (32) rotates, the actuating member (33) protrudes from the inner side of the longitudinal side plate (140) and includes an abutting surface for abutting material, the abutting surface forming an obtuse angle with the inner side of the longitudinal side plate (140); and / or, the material separation assembly (30) further includes a driver that drives the reciprocating oscillating member (32).

6. The automatic feeding and discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The material separation component (30) is slidably installed on the material channel component (10) along the preset material channel extension direction, and has a toggle member (33) protruding from the inner wall of the material drop channel (12). The automatic material replenishment and discharge device also includes a lifting adjustment component (50), which includes an adjustment part (51) and an output part (52) acting on the material separation component (30) along the material channel extension direction.

7. The automatic feeding and discharging device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The output part (52) is a lead screw connected to the adjustment part (51). The material separation assembly (30) includes a lifting frame (34) that is threadedly engaged with the lead screw. The lifting frame (34) is slidably installed on the material channel assembly (10) along the material channel extension direction. The lead screw extends along the material channel extension direction.

8. The automatic feeding and discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The material channel assembly (10) further includes a material stack receiving area (11) disposed above the material drop channel (12). The material stack receiving area (11) and the material drop channel (12) are blocked when the receiving and dispensing component (20) arrives at the entrance of the material drop channel (12), and are connected when the receiving and dispensing component (20) leaves the entrance. The automatic material replenishment and discharge device further includes a material level monitoring component (41), which is used to monitor the material level in the material discharge channel (12). The receiving and dispensing component (20) arrives at the entrance of the material discharge channel (12) when the material level in the material discharge channel (12) is lower than a preset allowable lower limit; and / or, The automatic feeding and discharging device further includes a first positioning sensor (421) and a second positioning sensor (422) for monitoring whether there is a material stack in the material stack receiving area (11). The first positioning sensor (421) and the second positioning sensor (422) are offset in both the preset feeding direction and the preset material channel extension direction, and the material channel extension direction is perpendicular to the preset feeding direction; and / or, The receiving and dispensing component (20) includes a receiving shovel plate (21) and a receiving rolling body (22). The receiving shovel plate (21) is movably connected to the material channel component (10) along a preset telescopic direction. The receiving rolling body (22) is rotatably mounted on the side of the receiving shovel plate (21) facing away from the outlet.

9. The automatic feed and discharge apparatus according to claim 8, wherein The material channel assembly (10) includes a front longitudinal baffle (131) and a rear longitudinal baffle (132) spaced apart along a preset feeding direction. A material stack receiving area (11) and a material drop channel (12) are formed between the front longitudinal baffle (131) and the rear longitudinal baffle (132). The front longitudinal baffle (131) has a material stack inlet (111) that communicates with the material stack receiving area (11), wherein: The material receiving area (11) is located above the material discharge channel (12); and / or, The preset feeding direction is perpendicular to the preset telescopic direction, and both are perpendicular to the extension direction of the discharge channel (12); and / or, The rotation center of the receiving rolling element (22) is perpendicular to the preset feeding direction and perpendicular to the extension direction of the discharge channel (12); and / or, The number of the receiving rolling elements (22) is multiple, and the multiple receiving rolling elements (22) are arranged sequentially along the preset feeding direction.

10. A cigarette production line, characterized by, The device includes a material conveying line, a material transfer device, and an automatic material replenishment and discharge device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9. The material conveying line is used to convey material stacks to the material channel assembly, and the material transfer device is used to remove the material leaving the discharge opening and transfer the material to the packaging production station.

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