A cup cover storage module
By designing the switching block and drive source in the cup lid storage module, the problem of cup lids sticking together was solved, enabling precise removal of individual cup lids and improving the success rate of automated lid removal and equipment reliability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- YIBO HEALTH TECHNOLOGY (NINGBO) CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
In existing cup lid storage devices, cup lids are prone to sticking together due to electrostatic adsorption or deformation and nesting, causing the lid retrieval mechanism to pull out multiple cup lids at once, resulting in lid jamming or empty cup delivery failures. Furthermore, the lack of an effective isolation structure leads to insufficient separation success rate and frequent manual intervention is required.
A cup lid storage module is designed, comprising a storage component, a switching block, and a drive source. The switching block includes a base and an arm. By controlling the sliding state of the switching block, a single cup lid can be accurately removed, preventing multiple cup lids from falling at the same time.
It enables precise removal of individual cup lids, reduces lid jamming and empty cup delivery failures, improves the success rate of automated lid removal, and reduces the need for manual intervention.
Smart Images
Figure CN224491702U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of beverage machines, specifically to a cup lid storage module. Background Technology
[0002] With the increasing popularity of self-service beverage machines, automated lid dispensing has become a key aspect of improving user experience. In existing technologies, lids, due to their lightweight and soft material (PP / PS plastic), thin edges, and high curvature, are prone to nesting and sticking during stacking due to electrostatic adsorption or deformation. When the machine removes lids one by one from the top of the stack, the lid-removing mechanism often pulls out multiple lids at once due to the physical adsorption effect of the lid edges, leading to lid jamming or empty cup delivery malfunctions. Conventional cylindrical lid storage bins rely on mechanical grippers or vacuum suction cups to grasp lids from top to bottom.
[0003] For example, Chinese utility model patent application number 202022315043.2 (authorization announcement number CN214139165U), entitled "A Cup Dropping and Lid-Sealing Device," discloses a cup dropping and lid-sealing device, including at least one cup dropper disposed on the upper end of a frame for placing the cup and its contents; a cup receiving and translating mechanism disposed in the middle of the frame and below the cup dropper; a lid feeding mechanism disposed on one side of the end of the translating component, including a lifting component and a lid holder disposed on the lifting component for placing the lid; and a lid pressing mechanism disposed above the end of the translating component, including a rodless cylinder and a gripping component disposed on the rodless cylinder. The rodless cylinder drives the gripping component to move horizontally and reciprocally between the lid holder and the end of the translating component to press the lid onto the cup. Although automated cup sealing is achieved, there is no effective isolation structure between the lids, resulting in insufficient success rate of separation when they stick together, requiring frequent manual intervention.
[0004] Therefore, the existing cup lid storage and retrieval device needs to be improved. Utility Model Content
[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a cup lid storage module that can remove one cup lid at a time, in view of the above-mentioned technical status.
[0006] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is: a cup lid storage module, comprising...
[0007] A storage component having a receiving cavity for receiving multiple stacked cup lids; the bottom of the receiving cavity has a lid outlet;
[0008] Its features include:
[0009] A switching block is slidably disposed at the end of the storage component and can partially cover the outlet; the switching block includes a base and two arms disposed on the base and spaced apart from each other; the top of the arms is higher than the top of the base;
[0010] The drive source is located on the storage component and drives the displacement of the switching block;
[0011] When the switching block is in the closed state, the base blocks the bottom cup lid, and the arm is detached from the cup lid;
[0012] When the switching block is in the open state, the base is detached from the cup lid, and the arm blocks the second to last cup lid from the bottom.
[0013] Preferably, the storage component includes a bottom plate, a top plate, and connecting columns disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate, wherein there are multiple connecting columns spaced apart from each other; the multiple connecting columns form a receiving cavity for storing a cup lid.
[0014] For ease of assembly, preferably, both the switching block and the drive source are located at the bottom of the base plate.
[0015] In order to control the sliding direction of the switching block so that it can be in a closed or open state, preferably, the base plate has a slide rail for mounting the arm, and the switching block slides along the slide rail.
[0016] In order to control the sliding direction of the switching block so that it can be in a closed or open state, preferably, the base extends downward to form a mounting part, which is connected to the drive source.
[0017] To facilitate assembly and prevent the switching block from falling off, preferably, the bottom of the base plate is provided with a blocking plate to block the mounting part.
[0018] There are multiple ways to achieve the sliding of the switching block. Preferably, the driving source is a solenoid valve iron, and the telescopic rod of the solenoid valve iron is installed on the mounting part.
[0019] In order for the arm to block the cup lid, preferably, one side of the base is formed with a relief opening to facilitate the cup lid falling out. Correspondingly, the end of each arm protrudes inward to form a convex part, and the distance between two convex parts is smaller than the outer diameter of the cup lid.
[0020] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are as follows: the cup lid storage module controls the falling of the cup lid by a switching block that can partially cover the lid opening. The switching block includes a base and two arms disposed on the base and spaced apart from each other. When the switching block is in the closed state, the base blocks the bottom cup lid, and the arms are detached from the cup lid. When the switching block is in the open state, the base is detached from the bottom cup lid, and the arms block the second to last cup lid from the bottom, so that the bottom cup lid can be removed but the second to last cup lid from the bottom cannot be removed. Since the top of the arms is higher than the top of the base, after the switching block returns from the open state to the closed state, the original second to last cup lid from the bottom falls down and is blocked by the base. Attached Figure Description
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment;
[0022] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of an embodiment;
[0023] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an embodiment;
[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the switching block in an embodiment;
[0025] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of an embodiment (the switching block is in the off state);
[0026] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment (the switching block is in the open state). Detailed Implementation
[0027] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0028] like Figure 1-6 The diagram shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cup lid storage module includes a storage component 1, a switching block 2, a drive source 3, and a telescopic rod 4.
[0029] The storage component 1 is used to store the cup lid 100 and has a lid outlet 11 at the bottom. The storage component 1 includes a bottom plate 12, a top plate 13, and connecting posts 14 disposed between the bottom plate 12 and the top plate 13. There are multiple connecting posts 14, which are spaced apart from each other. A receiving cavity 15 for storing the cup lid 100 is formed between the multiple connecting posts 14. The lid outlet 11 is formed on one side of the bottom plate 12. A lid inlet 131 for feeding the cup lid 100 is formed on the top plate 13. The switching block 2 and the drive source 3 are both disposed at the bottom of the bottom plate 12. The bottom plate 12 has a slide rail 121 for mounting the arm 22. The two ends of the slide rail 121 are connected to the outside. The switching block 2 slides along the slide rail 121. The bottom of the base plate 12 is provided with a baffle plate 122 for blocking the mounting part 211, and the top of the baffle plate 122 forms a blocking surface 123. During the process of the bottom cup lid 100 falling, since the cup lid 100 is relatively light, the blocking surface 123 will block the cup lid 100, temporarily restricting it between the blocking surface 123 and the second to last cup lid 100 at the bottom, making it easier for the user to remove, rather than letting it fall directly. When the cup lid storage module is applied to beverage machines and other equipment, the bottom cup lid 100 on the blocking surface 123 can be directly detached from the cup by controlling the translation of the cup lid storage module.
[0030] The switching block 2 is slidably disposed at the end of the storage component 1 and partially covers the outlet 11; as Figure 4As shown, the switching block 2 includes a base 21 and two arms 22 disposed on the base 21 and spaced apart from each other; the top of the arms 22 is higher than the top of the base 21; the base 21 extends downward to form a mounting portion 211, which has a mounting hole 212 and is slidably connected to the drive source 3. A clearance opening 213 is formed on one side of the base 21 to facilitate the cup lid 100 falling out; correspondingly, the ends of the arms 22 protrude inward to form protrusions 221, and the distance between the two protrusions 221 is smaller than the outer diameter of the cup lid 100.
[0031] The drive source 3 is mounted on the storage component 1 and drives the switching block 2 to move. The drive source 3 can be implemented in various ways. In this embodiment, the drive source 3 is a solenoid valve iron. The telescopic rod 4 of the solenoid valve iron is mounted on the mounting part 211 and fixedly connected to the mounting part 211 through the mounting hole 212. The drive source 3 is provided with a return spring (not shown in the figure) that forces the telescopic rod 4 to always maintain the tendency to extend outward. When the drive source 3 is de-energized, the telescopic rod 4 extends, and the switching block 2 moves away from the drive source 3 and is in a closed state. When the drive source 3 is energized, the telescopic rod 4 retracts, and the switching block 2 moves closer to the drive source 3 and is in an open state. In other embodiments, the drive source 3 is energized to extend the telescopic rod 4 and de-energized to retract the telescopic rod 4. The drive source 3 can also be any kind of motor, piston, or other means that can drive the telescopic rod 4 to extend or retract.
[0032] The working process of this utility model is as follows:
[0033] like Figure 5 As shown, when the drive source 3 is de-energized, the telescopic rod 4 extends, and the switching block 2 moves away from the drive source 3 and is thus in a closed state; the base 21 blocks the bottom cup lid 100, and the arm 22 disengages from the cup lid 100;
[0034] like Figure 6 As shown, when the drive source 3 is powered on, the telescopic rod 4 retracts, and the switching block 2 approaches the drive source 3 and is thus in the open state. The base 21 disengages from the cup lid 100, and the arm 22 blocks the second to last cup lid 100 at the bottom, causing the bottom cup lid 100 to fall off, but the second to last cup lid 100 at the bottom is blocked by the protrusion 221 of the arm 22, so that the user only takes out one cup lid 100.
[0035] When the switching block 2 changes from the open state to the closed state, the switching block 2 gradually moves away from the drive source 3, and the arm 22 disengages from the cup lid 100, causing the cup lid 100, which was originally blocked by the arm, to move downward until it is blocked by the base 21, becoming the new bottom cup lid 100.
Claims
1. A cup lid storage module, comprising: The storage component (1) has a receiving cavity (15) for receiving multiple cup lids (100) stacked together; the bottom of the receiving cavity (15) forms a lid outlet (11); Its features are: Also includes The switching block (2) is slidably disposed at the end of the storage component (1) and can partially cover the cover opening (11); the switching block (2) includes a base (21) and two arms (22) disposed on the base (21) and spaced apart from each other; the top of the arms (22) is higher than the top of the base (21); The drive source (3) is located on the storage component (1) and drives the switching block (2) to move. When the switching block (2) is in the closed state, the base (21) blocks the bottom cup lid (100), and the arm (22) is disengaged from the cup lid (100); When the switching block (2) is in the open state, the base (21) is disengaged from the cup lid (100), and the arm (22) blocks the second to last cup lid (100) at the bottom.
2. The cup lid storage module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage component (1) includes a bottom plate (12), a top plate (13), and a connecting column (14) disposed between the bottom plate (12) and the top plate (13). There are multiple connecting columns (14) and they are spaced apart from each other. The aforementioned receiving cavity (15) is formed between the multiple connecting columns (14).
3. The cup lid storage module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The switching block (2) and the driving source (3) are both located at the bottom of the base plate (12).
4. The cup lid storage module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The base plate (12) has a slide rail (121) for mounting the arm (22), and the switching block (2) slides along the slide rail (121).
5. The cup lid storage module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The base (21) extends downward to form a mounting part (211), and the switching block (2) is connected to the drive source (3) through the mounting part (211).
6. The cup lid storage module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The bottom of the base plate (12) is provided with a blocking plate (122) for blocking the mounting part (211).
7. The cup lid storage module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The driving source (3) is a solenoid valve iron, and the telescopic rod (4) of the solenoid valve iron is installed on the mounting part (211).
8. The cup lid storage module according to claim 1, characterized in that: One side of the base (21) forms a relief opening (213) to facilitate the cup lid (100) falling out; the end of each arm (22) protrudes inward to form a protrusion (221), and the distance between two protrusions (221) is smaller than the outer diameter of the cup lid (100).