A finished cigarette case correcting device
By designing a finished cigarette box straightening device, which uses elastic components and movable baffles to adjust the position of the cigarette box, the problem of damage to the robotic arm and low efficiency caused by the cigarette box not being centered during the destacking process is solved, thus achieving efficient destacking and reducing equipment damage.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHINA TOBACCO HENAN IND CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
The finished cigarette boxes were not centered during the unpacking process, which caused damage to the robot's suction cups and low outbound efficiency.
Design a finished cigarette box straightening device, including a fixed release station and a straightening mechanism. The device uses front and rear movable baffles connected by elastic components to automatically adjust the position of the cigarette box to center it and avoid contact with the joints of the robotic arm.
It improves the operating efficiency of the robotic arm, avoids damage to the smoke box and the joints of the robotic arm, and reduces the labor intensity of operators and maintenance personnel.
Smart Images
Figure CN224492669U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of production logistics technology, and in particular to a finished cigarette box straightening device. Background Technology
[0002] Currently, most cigarette factories in China use wooden pallets as the carrier when finished cigarettes enter high-bay warehouses. Cigarettes are stacked in specific quantities according to a certain stacking pattern on the pallets and then transported into the warehouse by conveyors and stacker cranes. When cigarettes are removed from the warehouse, stacker cranes and conveyors are used to transport the entire pallet of cigarettes to the corresponding workstation of a robotic arm. After the robotic arm unstackings the pallets, the entire pallet of cigarettes becomes a single carton. Following conveying, sorting, and loading, the outbound operation is completed. When the pallets of cigarettes are not stacked neatly, the position of the robotic arm's suction cups (grippers) holding the cigarette cartons is not centered. When releasing the cigarette cartons to the conveyor release station, the robotic arm's suction cups (grippers) may drag the cartons along with them against the edge of the release station, causing damage to both the cigarette cartons and the robotic arm joints, and also affecting outbound efficiency.
[0003] Based on this, a correction device for the finished cigarette box was designed. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a finished cigarette box straightening device with high technical reliability, high stacking efficiency, and low cigarette damage rate.
[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:
[0006] A finished cigarette box straightening device includes: a fixed release station and a straightening mechanism. The fixed release station is composed of several electric rollers arranged horizontally at equal intervals. The straightening mechanism includes a front frame and a rear frame, a front movable baffle and a rear movable baffle, and an elastic component. One end of the elastic component is connected to the frame, and the other end is connected to the movable baffle. The movable baffle can elastically expand and contract under the action of the elastic component.
[0007] Preferably, in the above technical solution, the front frame corresponds to the front movable baffle via a corresponding elastic component, and the rear frame corresponds to the rear movable baffle via a corresponding elastic component.
[0008] Preferably, in the above technical solution, the elastic component includes a first spring, a second spring, a third spring, and a fourth spring, wherein the front frame is connected to the front movable baffle through the first spring and the second spring, and the rear frame is connected to the rear movable baffle through the third spring and the fourth spring.
[0009] Preferably, in the above technical solution, the upper parts of the front movable baffle and the rear movable baffle are both inclined, and the inclination angle is 30°-60°.
[0010] Preferably, in the above technical solution, the front movable baffle can elastically extend and retract along the front frame when the cigarette box is squeezed, and reset under the elastic force of the first spring and the second spring after release. The rear movable baffle can elastically extend and retract along the rear frame when the cigarette box is squeezed, and reset under the elastic force of the third spring and the fourth spring after release. The front movable baffle and the rear movable baffle act separately or together to push the cigarette box to the center.
[0011] Preferably, in the above technical solution, the distance between the front frame and the rear frame is greater than the length of a single finished cigarette box, with a difference of 3-4 cm.
[0012] Preferably, in the above technical solution, the fixed release station is adapted to the unpacking operation of the robot arm, the gripper of the robot arm is a suction cup, and when the robot arm releases the smoke box, the distance between the bottom of the smoke box and the electric roller is 1-2 cm.
[0013] This application widens the original front and rear borders and adds a movable border that is tilted at a certain angle and can be elastically extended and retracted by the finished cigarette box correction device. This ensures that when the robot releases the cigarette box that is not centered to the release station, it is forcibly corrected back to the centered position, thus avoiding damage to the joints of the cigarette box and the robot.
[0014] The above-mentioned technical solution of this utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0015] (1) Improved the operating efficiency of the robotic arm;
[0016] (2) Avoid damage to the joints of the smoke box and the robotic arm;
[0017] (3) It reduced the workload of operation and maintenance personnel. Attached Figure Description
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a finished cigarette box straightening device.
[0020] Figure 2 This is another schematic diagram of the finished cigarette box straightening device.
[0021] Wherein: 1-first spring, 2-front frame, 3-second spring, 4-front movable baffle, 5-electric roller, 6-third spring, 7-rear frame, 8-fourth spring, 9-rear movable baffle. Detailed Implementation
[0022] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention.
[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, this application discloses a finished cigarette box straightening device, which belongs to the finished cigarette outbound system. The system includes a high-bay warehouse, a stacker crane, a conveyor, a robotic arm, a sorting machine, etc.
[0024] When the finished goods outbound system is operating normally, the Warehouse Management System (WMS) issues outbound tasks to the Warehouse Control System (WCS). The WCS schedules the stacker crane to remove the palletized cigarettes and deliver them to the corresponding conveyor. The conveyor then transports the palletized cigarettes to the robotic arm depalletizing station, where the robotic arm depalletizes the cigarettes. The robotic arm's suction cups pick up the cigarettes (usually two cartons), move them above the electric roller 5, and lower them to a certain height (basically touching the electric roller) before releasing them onto the electric roller 5. After the robotic arm completes the release, it sends a release completion signal to the PLC controlling the release station. The PLC then controls the electric roller to move, conveying the disassembled single cartons of cigarettes to the next outbound stage.
[0025] The finished cigarette box straightening device of this application includes: a fixed release station and a straightening mechanism. The fixed release station is composed of several electric rollers 5 arranged horizontally at equal intervals. The straightening mechanism includes a front frame 2 and a rear frame 7, a front movable baffle 4 and a rear movable baffle 9, and an elastic component. One end of the elastic component is connected to the frame and the other end is connected to the movable baffle. The movable baffle can elastically expand and contract under the action of the elastic component.
[0026] Furthermore, the elastic component includes a first spring 1, a second spring 3, a third spring 6, and a fourth spring 8. The front frame 2 is connected to the front movable baffle 4 via the first spring 1 and the second spring 3, and the rear frame 7 is connected to the rear movable baffle 9 via the third spring 6 and the fourth spring 8. The upper parts of both the front movable baffle 4 and the rear movable baffle 9 are inclined, with an inclination angle of 30°-60°.
[0027] Furthermore, the front movable baffle 4 can elastically extend and retract along the front frame 2 when the cigarette box is squeezed, and reset under the elastic force of the first spring 1 and the second spring 3 after release. Similarly, the rear movable baffle 9 can elastically extend and retract along the rear frame 7 when the cigarette box is squeezed, and reset under the elastic force of the first spring 6 and the fourth spring 8 after release. The front movable baffle 4 and the rear movable baffle 9 act separately or together to push the cigarette box to the center. Furthermore, the distance between the front frame 2 and the rear frame 7 is greater than the length of a single finished cigarette box, with a difference of 3-4 cm.
[0028] Furthermore, the fixed release station is adapted for the unpacking operation of the robot arm. The gripper of the robot arm is a suction cup, and when the robot arm releases the smoke box, the distance between the bottom of the smoke box and the electric roller 5 is 1-2cm.
[0029] The release station includes an electric roller 5 and a release station frame (front frame 2 and rear frame 7). The distance between the front and rear frames is crucial to the movement trajectory of the released smoke box. If it is too small, smoke will be easily squeezed out; if it is too large, the smoke box's running posture will be poor, causing blockage in the next stage. Generally, the frame is designed and installed to be slightly larger than the length of a single smoke box by 3-4 cm.
[0030] Therefore, the distance between the front and rear edges of the release station (the distance between the front edge 2 and the rear edge 7) is crucial for the robot arm to release the cigarette box correctly. If the cigarettes on the tray are not centered, the cigarette box will also be out of center when the robot arm's suction cup picks it up. Thus, when the robot arm moves above the electric roller 5 at the release station and presses against the descending cigarette box, two situations may occur: 1. It will squeeze the front edge 2 or the rear edge 7. Whether the finished cigarette box straightening device can automatically extend and retract the front and rear edges is key to successful straightening.
[0031] Therefore, the distance between the front and rear edges of the original release station is increased, and spring-loaded front movable baffles 4 and rear movable baffles 9 are installed on the front and rear edges respectively. When the cigarette box on the robotic arm's suction cup is not centered and extends too far upward beyond the edge of the suction cup, the robotic arm moves above the electric roller 5. During its descent, the downward force of the robotic arm will use the forward force to compress the front movable baffle 4, ensuring that the robotic arm can release the cigarette box onto the electric roller 5 at the release station normally. After release, the front movable baffle 4 pushes the cigarette box back to the correct position under the elastic force of the first spring 1 and the third spring 3. Similarly, when the cigarette box extends too far backward beyond the edge of the suction cup, the correction process is similar to the above and will not be repeated here.
[0032] Therefore, by using this cigarette box correction device, the problem of the cigarette box not being centered on the suction cup of the robotic arm is solved, and the cigarette box will not squeeze the edge of the release station when it is released, thus avoiding damage to the joints of the cigarette box and the robotic arm. In addition, it greatly improves the efficiency of finished cigarettes leaving the warehouse and reduces the labor intensity of operators and maintenance personnel.
[0033] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make various different choices and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A finished cigarette box straightening device, characterized in that, include: The fixed release station and the correction mechanism are composed of several electric rollers (5) arranged horizontally at equal intervals. The correction mechanism includes a front frame (2) and a rear frame (7), a front movable baffle (4) and a rear movable baffle (9) and an elastic component. One end of the elastic component is connected to the frame and the other end is connected to the movable baffle. The movable baffle can elastically expand and contract under the action of the elastic component.
2. The finished cigarette box straightening device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front frame (2) corresponds to the front movable baffle (4) through a corresponding elastic component, and the rear frame (7) corresponds to the rear movable baffle (9) through a corresponding elastic component.
3. The finished cigarette box straightening device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic component includes a first spring (1), a second spring (3), a third spring (6), and a fourth spring (8), wherein the front frame (2) is connected to the front movable baffle (4) through the first spring (1) and the second spring (3), and the rear frame (7) is connected to the rear movable baffle (9) through the third spring (6) and the fourth spring (8).
4. The finished cigarette box straightening device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The front movable baffle (4) and the rear movable baffle (9) are both inclined at an angle of 30°-60°.
5. The finished cigarette box straightening device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The front movable baffle (4) can elastically extend and retract along the front frame (2) when the cigarette box is squeezed, and reset under the elastic force of the first spring (1) and the second spring (3) after release. The rear movable baffle (9) can elastically extend and retract along the rear frame (7) when the cigarette box is squeezed, and reset under the elastic force of the third spring (6) and the fourth spring (8) after release. The front movable baffle (4) and the rear movable baffle (9) act separately or together to push the cigarette box to the center.
6. The finished cigarette box straightening device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance between the front frame (2) and the rear frame (7) is greater than the length of a single finished cigarette box, with a difference of 3-4 cm.
7. The finished cigarette box straightening device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed release station is adapted to the unpacking operation of the robot arm. The gripper of the robot arm is a suction cup, and when the robot arm releases the cigarette box, the distance between the bottom of the cigarette box and the electric roller (5) is 1-2cm.