Cup barrel transfer device and popcorn machine

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a cup barrel transmission device and popcorn machine, wherein the cup barrel transmission device includes: a cup dropper, at least one cup drop opening is equipped on the cup dropper, at least one cup body is equipped in each cup drop opening, a transmission slide is equipped below the cup dropper, and the position of transmission slide is opposite fixed with the cup dropper, at least one cup receiving position and receiving port are equipped on the transmission slide, each cup receiving position is opposite set with the cup drop opening, the receiving port is along the extension direction of transmission slide and is equipped in one end of cup receiving position, a weighing assembly is equipped in the receiving port, a clamping piece is equipped in one side of transmission slide, and the clamping piece is used for clamping the cup body in the cup receiving position and moves the cup body to the weighing assembly, a first sensor is equipped in the transmission slide, and the first sensor is used for determining whether the cup body exists in the cup receiving position. The utility model discloses a technical scheme, which realizes the automatic process of cup barrel from storage, release, transmission to accurate positioning receiving.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of popcorn machine technology, and more specifically, to a cup bucket conveying device and a popcorn machine. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, most popcorn machines on the market are semi-self-service, requiring users to manually take the cup and place it in a specific location before waiting for the machine to dispense popcorn. This process involves a significant amount of user intervention and results in a poor user experience. Utility Model Content

[0003] The present invention aims to at least solve the technical problem of the large amount of user operation required for popcorn machine dispensing in the existing technology or related technologies.

[0004] In view of this, an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention provides a cup-and-bucket conveying device.

[0005] A second aspect of this utility model provides a popcorn machine.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, embodiments of this utility model provide a cup-and-cup conveying device, comprising: a cup dropper having at least one cup drop opening, each cup drop opening containing at least one cup body; a conveying slide located below the cup dropper, with the conveying slide and the cup dropper being fixed in position relative to each other, the conveying slide having at least one cup receiving position and a receiving port, each cup receiving position being opposite to the cup drop opening, the receiving port being located at one end of the cup receiving position along the extension direction of the conveying slide; a weighing component located at the receiving port; a clamping member located on one side of the conveying slide, the clamping member being used to clamp the cup body located at the cup receiving position and move the cup body to the weighing component; and a first sensor located on the conveying slide, the first sensor being used to determine whether a cup body exists at the cup receiving position.

[0007] The cup bucket conveying device proposed in this utility model includes a cup dropper, a conveying slide, a weighing component, and a clamping component. It realizes an automated process of cup buckets from storage, release, and conveying to precise positioning and receiving. In general, it ensures that the cup buckets can fall stably and accurately from the cup dropper into the slide and be detected. Only when the cup bucket reaches the receiving position correctly will the clamping component move to push the cup bucket, avoiding empty spinning or jamming. The cup bucket finally reaches the weighing component accurately for weight confirmation, ensuring that popcorn is only dropped when the cup bucket is in place, avoiding waste and spillage, and achieving high reliability, high efficiency, and high safety in cup bucket conveying.

[0008] This solution enables full-process detection and control of the cup container from release to receiving. The alignment of the cup dropper with the slide ensures that the cup container falls accurately into the slide. The clamping component ensures stable transmission of the cup container. The dual detection of the first sensor and the weighing component improves the safety and reliability of the system. The action of the clamping component is controlled by the sensor signal to avoid cupless clamping and reduce failures. The design of multiple cup receiving positions and cup drop ports supports multiple sizes of cup containers and adapts to diverse needs.

[0009] In some technical solutions, optionally, there are multiple cup openings, with at least two cup openings having different diameters.

[0010] In this technical solution, there are multiple cup-dropping openings, with at least two openings holding cups of different diameters to meet the automatic vending needs of cups of different capacities and sizes, thereby improving the flexibility and market adaptability of the equipment. Each cup-dropping opening corresponds to an independent cup-receiving position, and different specifications of cups are received by a conveyor slide to ensure accurate cup conveying path and positioning.

[0011] In some technical solutions, optionally, the geometric center of the cup receiving position is located below the geometric center of the cup rim in the direction of gravity.

[0012] In this technical solution, the geometric center of the cup receiving position and the geometric center of the cup dropping point are vertically aligned in the direction of gravity, which significantly improves the reliability and detection accuracy of the transmission device, avoids cup body offset, jamming and malfunction, ensures stable and efficient operation of the multi-specification cup body transmission system, and improves the overall automation level of the equipment and user experience.

[0013] In some technical solutions, the weighing component may optionally include: a weighing pan, located at the receiving port, with a gap between the outer edge of the weighing pan and the inner edge of the receiving port; a weighing body, located below the weighing pan, and detachably connected to the weighing pan, the weighing body being equipped with a pressure-sensitive sensor; wherein the height of the weighing pan is lower than the height of the slide body of the transmission slide.

[0014] In this technical solution, the weighing pan maintains an appropriate gap with the conveyor slide and is lower than the slide body, ensuring smooth cup transfer and accurate weighing. The weighing body integrates a pressure-sensitive sensor to provide accurate weight detection. Combined with multi-point sensor detection in the overall device, it achieves highly reliable cup placement confirmation and dispensing control, greatly improving the operational stability and user experience of the self-service popcorn vending machine.

[0015] In some technical solutions, the cup-and-bucket conveying device may optionally include a second sensor located on the conveying slide, and the second sensor is used to determine whether a cup is present on the weighing pan.

[0016] In this technical solution, the second sensor is located in the transmission slide, usually installed near the receiving port or at the front of the weighing pan, to detect whether the cup has slid into the weighing pan area. The sensor type can be an infrared reflection sensor, a laser distance sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or other sensors suitable for detecting the presence of objects.

[0017] In some technical solutions, optionally, the inner edge of the receiving port is provided with a downwardly bent flange, and there is a gap between the flange and the weighing component.

[0018] In this technical solution, the downward-bending folded edge design of the inner edge of the receiving port, combined with the gap between the folded edge and the weighing component, is a crucial structural detail ensuring the smooth transfer of the cup to the weighing area. This effectively prevents the cup from sliding out of the slide, protects the weighing component from mechanical interference, and ensures a smooth transition of the cup to the weighing pan at the end of the slide, improving weighing accuracy and equipment stability. Furthermore, the gap design facilitates the maintenance and replacement of the weighing component, enhancing the practicality and reliability of the equipment.

[0019] In some technical solutions, optionally, the conveyor chute specifically includes: a chute body, the chute body having a cup receiving position and a material receiving port; baffles, located on opposite sides of the chute body in the width direction, and a first sensor located on the baffles.

[0020] In this technical solution, the conveyor slide consists of a slide body and two side baffles. The slide body provides the cup carrying and conveying path, while the baffles restrict the lateral movement of the cup and serve as mounting supports for the first sensor. The first sensor is fixedly mounted on the baffles to accurately detect whether a cup is present at the receiving position, ensuring the effective activation of the clamping mechanism and thus guaranteeing the stability and safety of the cup conveying process. The overall design is reasonable and compact, suitable for the automatic conveying and detection needs of cups of various sizes.

[0021] In some technical solutions, the clamping member may optionally include: a sliding part slidably disposed on one side of the transmission slide; and a clamping part connected to the sliding part, wherein at least a portion of the clamping part is projected onto the slide body and is located within the slide body, and the clamping part is used to clamp the cup.

[0022] In this technical solution, the clamping component includes a sliding part and a clamping part. The sliding part is a slidable structure, typically a guide rail, slider, or slide rail mechanism, designed to slide parallel to one side of the transmission slide, facilitating linear movement of the clamping part. The sliding part and the transmission slide can be slidably connected or not connected, as long as the sliding part can slide relative to the transmission slide during movement.

[0023] In some technical solutions, optionally, one of the two opposing baffles is provided with a cup-removing notch, and the sliding part is provided on the other side of the two opposing baffles away from the cup-removing notch.

[0024] In this technical solution, by setting cup-grabbing notches in two opposing baffles, the clamping part can smoothly clamp the cup body, while the sliding part is fixed to the baffle without notches, ensuring the stability and rigidity of the sliding mechanism and avoiding structural weaknesses caused by notches.

[0025] An embodiment of the second aspect of this application provides a popcorn machine, including: a discharging device having a discharging port; a cup-and-bucket conveying device having a receiving port opposite to the discharging port; wherein, the cup body of the cup-and-bucket conveying device moves to a weighing component, and the material in the discharging device flows into the cup body through the discharging port.

[0026] The popcorn machine provided in this application includes a discharging device and a cup conveying device. The discharging device is provided with a material discharge port for outputting popcorn and other materials into the cup body. The discharge port is fixedly installed inside the main body of the popcorn machine and is positioned opposite to the material receiving port of the cup conveying device. A certain distance and spatial layout are maintained between the discharge port and the material receiving port to ensure smooth material flow.

[0027] Since the popcorn machine includes any of the aforementioned cup bucket conveying devices, it has the beneficial effects of any of the aforementioned cup bucket conveying devices, which will not be elaborated here.

[0028] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the description that follows, or may be learned by practice of this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cup-and-bucket conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a cup-and-bucket conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0031] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a cup-and-bucket conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0032] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the gap according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0033] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a popcorn machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a cup-and-bucket conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0035] in, Figures 1 to 6 The correspondence between the reference numerals and component names in the attached drawings is as follows:

[0036] 1: Cup and bucket conveying device; 11: Cup dropper; 111: Cup drop opening; 12: Cup body; 13: Conveyor slide; 131: Cup receiving position; 132: Material receiving port; 1321: Folded edge; 133: Slide body; 134: Baffle; 135: Cup picking notch; 14: Weighing assembly; 141: Weighing pan; 142: Weighing body; 143: Pressure sensor; 15: Clamping component; 151: Sliding part; 152: Clamping part; 16: First sensor; 17: Second sensor; 18: Gap;

[0037] 2: Popcorn machine; 21: Discharge device; 22: Discharge port. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model, the embodiments of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0039] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this application. However, embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0040] In related technologies, self-service popcorn machines generally lack detection functions to monitor the cup bucket's landing and positioning. This results in the machine continuing to dispense popcorn even when the cup fails to land or the cup bucket is not in the receiving position, causing popcorn to spill, resulting in waste and negatively impacting the customer experience. Currently, there are no designs on the market that include a cup bucket detection structure and dual dispensing protection for self-service popcorn machines.

[0041] The following reference Figures 1 to 6 Some embodiments of the present invention are described below.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a cup-and-bucket transfer device 1, including a cup dropper 11, a transfer slide 13, a weighing component 14, and a clamping component 15. It realizes an automated process of cup transfer from storage, release, and transfer to precise positioning and receiving. In general, it ensures that the cup can fall stably and accurately from the cup dropper 11 into the slide and be detected. Only when the cup correctly reaches the receiving position 131 will the clamping component 15 move to push the cup to move, avoiding empty spinning or jamming. The cup finally accurately reaches the weighing component 14 for weight confirmation, ensuring that popcorn is dropped only when the cup is in place, avoiding waste and spillage, and achieving high reliability, high efficiency, and high safety in cup transfer.

[0043] Among them, such as Figure 6 As shown, the cup dropper 11 has at least one cup drop opening 111, and each cup drop opening 111 is pre-loaded with at least one cup body 12, i.e., an empty cup container. The cup dropper 11 is generally a vertically installed structure, with the cup bodies 12 stacked vertically inside the cup drop opening 111. The cup dropper 11 is fixedly installed above the main body of the equipment, with the cup drop opening 111 facing downwards, and the geometric center of each cup drop opening 111 is vertically aligned with the cup receiving position 131 on its corresponding conveyor slide 13. The cup dropper 11 and the conveyor slide 13 are spatially fixed to ensure that the outlet of the cup drop opening 111 is directly opposite the cup receiving position 131 on the slide, so that the cup body 12 can fall smoothly into the slide.

[0044] The cup dropper 11 stores and releases empty cup containers. Through a control mechanism, such as an electromagnetic lock or mechanical baffle 134, cup containers can be released one by one. This ensures precise release of the cup containers, preventing them from falling off-center and causing jamming or falling out of the slide. Furthermore, the cup dropper 11 can also support the release of cup containers of various sizes by providing multiple drop openings 111 to meet the needs of different product specifications.

[0045] The conveyor chute 13 is generally a U-shaped or trough-shaped structure. Its width is designed according to the external dimensions of the cup body 12 to ensure that the cup body 12 can slide freely in the chute without lateral swaying. The conveyor chute 13 is located directly below the cup dropper 11 and is fixed relative to the position of the cup dropper 11. The chute extends horizontally, starting at the cup receiving position 131 and ending at the material receiving port 132. The chute is fixedly connected to the main body of the equipment, with its starting end adjacent to the cup dropping port 111 of the cup dropper 11 and its ending end connected to the location of the weighing component 14.

[0046] The conveyor slide 13 is mainly used to receive the cups released from the cup dropper 11, to prevent the cups from falling directly to the ground or tipping over, to guide the cups to move smoothly along a predetermined path, to ensure the stability of the cups and prevent jamming or tipping over.

[0047] The cup receiving position 131 is a specific area on the conveyor slide 13, located directly below each cup drop opening 111 and vertically aligned with the cup drop opening 111, ensuring that the cup 12 can accurately stop at this position after falling. The cup receiving position 131 is a fixed area on the slide, serving as the initial stopping point after the cup bucket falls.

[0048] This ensures the cup container stops accurately, facilitating the subsequent clamping and pushing actions of the clamping component 15. It also serves as a detection point for the first sensor 16, enabling real-time monitoring of whether the cup container has successfully fallen, preventing the clamping component 15 from moving when there is no cup, and reducing equipment failure rate and mechanical wear.

[0049] The receiving port 132 is located at the end of the conveyor slide 13 along its extension direction. It is the final position for the cup 12 to receive popcorn and other materials. The receiving port 132 is located at one end of the slide and corresponds to the position of the weighing pan 141 of the weighing component 14, with the two positions precisely aligned. The end of the slide is tightly connected to the weighing component 14. Typically, the slide has a perforation or opening at the receiving port 132 to facilitate the smooth entry of the cup into the weighing area, ensuring that the cup accurately reaches the receiving position and that the popcorn falls completely into the cup.

[0050] The weighing component 14 is located at the receiving port 132 and is fixedly installed on the main body of the equipment. It detects whether the cup has reached the receiving position, which serves as one of the trigger conditions for the dispensing action, realizing a dual detection protection mechanism. In conjunction with the first sensor 16, it ensures that dispensing only occurs when the cup is correctly positioned, thus preventing popcorn from spilling.

[0051] The clamping member 15 is installed on one side of the transfer slide 13 and has a structure for clamping the outer wall of the cup body 12. It is usually composed of a robotic arm, a motor-driven clamp, or a cylinder-driven gripper. The clamping member is arranged parallel to the slide, and the clamping part 152 is in contact with the outer wall of the cup. It can push the cup body along the slide direction. The clamping member 15 is mechanically connected to the drive mechanism and electrically connected to the control system to realize the coordinated control of clamping and moving actions.

[0052] The clamping component 15 is mainly used to clamp and push the cup container, moving it from the cup receiving position 131 to the material receiving port 132, preventing the cup container from sliding out of control or tipping over in the slide, and ensuring stable transmission. The action is controlled by the signal from the first sensor 16, and is only activated when the presence of the cup container is detected, avoiding empty clamping action.

[0053] The first sensor 16 is installed at the cup receiving position 131 of the transmission slide 13. Common types include infrared beam sensors, laser sensors, ultrasonic sensors, etc. The sensor is installed at a position aligned with the geometric center of the cup receiving position 131 to ensure accurate detection of the cup container, monitor in real time whether the cup container is present at the cup receiving position 131, ensure that the cup container falls successfully, prevent the clamping part 15 from moving when there is no cup container, and reduce mechanical wear and malfunctions.

[0054] In addition, the first sensor 16 can form a dual detection mechanism with the weighing component 14 to improve detection reliability and equipment safety.

[0055] In summary, this solution achieves full-process detection and control of the cup container from release to receiving. The alignment of the cup dropper 11 with the slide ensures that the cup container falls accurately into the slide. The clamping component 15 ensures stable transmission of the cup container. The dual detection of the first sensor 16 and the weighing component 14 improves the safety and reliability of the system. The action of the clamping component 15 is controlled by the sensor signal to avoid cupless clamping and reduce failures. The design of multiple cup receiving positions 131 and cup dropping ports 111 supports multiple cup container specifications and adapts to diverse needs.

[0056] In some embodiments, there may be multiple cup-dropping openings 111, with at least two cup-dropping openings 111 containing cups 12 of different diameters, to meet the automatic vending needs of cups 12 of different capacities and sizes, thereby improving the flexibility and market adaptability of the equipment. Each cup-dropping opening 111 corresponds to an independent cup-receiving position 131, which receives cups 12 of different specifications through a transmission slide 13, ensuring accurate transmission path and positioning of the cups 12.

[0057] In addition, multiple sets of first sensors 16 correspond to the cup receiving positions 131 of each cup drop opening 111, enabling independent detection of cups 12 of different sizes. This ensures that the clamping component 15 is activated only after each cup 12 of a certain size has successfully dropped. Of course, the clamping component 15 pushes the cups 12 of different sizes along the corresponding slide to the receiving port 132 according to the detection signal, ensuring a stable and smooth transmission process.

[0058] Specifically, the cup dispenser 11 has multiple cup-dropping openings 111, and at least two cups 12 within the openings 111 have different diameters. Each cup-dropping opening 111 holds an empty cup 12 of the corresponding size stacked vertically. The multiple cup-dropping openings 111 are arranged horizontally or vertically, maintaining a fixed spatial distance between them. The geometric center of each cup-dropping opening 111 corresponds to an independent cup-receiving position 131 on the conveyor chute 13.

[0059] Optionally, the conveyor chute 13 is divided into multiple channels or variable-width partitions, each corresponding to a cup 12 of different specifications. Each cup receiving position 131 and receiving port 132 is designed with width and shape according to the specifications of the corresponding cup 12, receiving and guiding cups 12 of different specifications to be conveyed along the corresponding path, so as to avoid confusion or jamming of cups 12 of different specifications.

[0060] Of course, each cup receiving position 131 should be located in the slide channel directly below the corresponding cup dropping opening 111 to ensure accurate positioning of cups 12 of different sizes, so as to facilitate clamping by the clamping component 15, and serve as the detection point of the corresponding first sensor 16 to achieve independent detection.

[0061] In some embodiments, optionally, such as Figure 3As shown, the geometric center of the cup-receiving position 131 is located directly below the geometric center of the cup-dropping opening 111 in the direction of gravity, meaning they are aligned vertically, forming a vertical line. Specifically, the geometric center of the cup-dropping opening 111 refers to the geometric center point of the opening of the cup-dropping opening 111, that is, the center position of the opening, usually the horizontal center point of the cup-dropping opening 111. The geometric center of the cup-receiving position 131 refers to the center point on the conveyor slide 13 corresponding to the cup-receiving position 131, usually the center position of the cup body 12 within the slide cross-section. The direction of gravity refers to the vertically downward direction, that is, the direction in which the cup body 12 falls.

[0062] The vertical alignment of the gravity direction ensures that after the cup body 12 is released from the cup opening 111, it can fall directly into the cup receiving position 131 of the slide along the vertical line under the action of gravity, avoiding the cup body 12 from deviating from the slide or falling into an unplanned position, making the landing position of the cup body 12 stable and controllable, and reducing jamming, tipping over or falling outside the slide caused by deviation.

[0063] The lateral sway of the cup 12 during free fall is reduced, preventing the cup 12 from shaking or tipping over during the fall. This allows the transmission slide 13 to accurately receive the cup 12, reduces the additional guiding requirements of the mechanical structure on the cup 12, and simplifies the mechanical design.

[0064] Since the geometric center of the cup receiving position 131 is perpendicularly aligned with the geometric center of the cup falling mouth 111, the first sensor 16 installed at the cup receiving position 131 can accurately detect whether the cup body 12 has fallen to the designated position, avoiding sensor misjudgment. If the cup body 12 does not fall completely into the detection range, the accuracy and safety of the system operation are improved.

[0065] The vertical alignment of the geometric center of the cup receiving position 131 with the geometric center of the cup dropping mouth 111 in the direction of gravity significantly improves the reliability and detection accuracy of the transmission device, avoids cup body 12 offset, jamming and malfunction, ensures stable and efficient operation of the multi-specification cup body 12 transmission system, and improves the overall automation level of the equipment and user experience.

[0066] In some embodiments, optionally, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the weighing assembly 14 includes a weighing pan 141 and a weighing body 142. The weighing pan 141 is located at the receiving port 132 of the conveying slide 13 and is used to support the cup 12 falling into the receiving port 132. Figure 2As shown, there is a certain gap 18 between the outer edge of the weighing pan 141 and the inner edge of the receiving port 132. This gap 18 ensures that the weighing pan 141 will not contact the slide. It can be understood that the weighing pan 141 is installed in the area of ​​the receiving port 132, at the end of the slide, and its height is lower than the height of the slide body 133. Due to the lower height, the surface of the weighing pan 141 is located below the slide body 133, so that the cup 12 can smoothly slide into the weighing pan 141 from the slide without being blocked by the slide.

[0067] The weighing pan 141 is detachably connected to the weighing body 142, which facilitates maintenance, cleaning and replacement.

[0068] The scale body 142 is located below the weighing pan 141 and integrates a pressure sensor 143 to sense pressure changes on the weighing pan 141 and calculate the weight of the cup 12. The scale body 142 and the weighing pan 141 adopt a detachable connection structure for easy disassembly and maintenance. The scale body 142 is fixedly installed on the main body of the equipment to ensure the stability of the weighing system.

[0069] The built-in pressure sensor 143 detects the weight of the cup 12 in real time, determines whether the cup 12 is in place and whether the material dropping conditions are met, provides accurate weight data, supports a dual detection mechanism, and improves system reliability.

[0070] The weighing pan 141 is located at the receiving port 132, receiving the cup 12 guided by the transfer slide 13 and pushed by the clamping member 15. The gap design between the weighing pan 141 and the slide avoids interference from the mechanical structure and improves the accuracy of weighing. The height of the weighing pan 141 is lower than the height of the slide, so that the cup 12 can slide into the weighing area from the slide without obstruction, preventing jamming and tipping.

[0071] The pressure sensor 143 of the scale body 142 and the first sensor 16 located at the cup receiving position 131 together form a dual detection mechanism to ensure that popcorn is allowed to fall only when the cup body 12 is correctly in place, thus preventing popcorn from spilling.

[0072] In summary, the weighing pan 141 maintains an appropriate gap with the conveyor slide 13 and is lower than the slide body 133, ensuring smooth conveying of the cup 12 and accurate weighing. The weighing body 142 integrates a pressure-sensitive sensor 143 to provide accurate weight detection. Combined with the multi-point sensor detection of the entire device, it achieves highly reliable confirmation of the cup 12's arrival and control of material dropping, greatly improving the operational stability and user experience of the self-service popcorn machine 2.

[0073] In some embodiments, optionally, the second sensor 17 is located on the transfer slide 13, typically installed near the receiving port 132 or at the front end of the weighing pan 141, to detect whether the cup 12 has slid into the weighing pan 141 area. The sensor type can be an infrared reflection sensor, a laser distance sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or other sensors suitable for detecting the presence of an object.

[0074] Optionally, the second sensor 17 is installed on the transfer slide 13 or in front of the receiving port 132, pointing to the detection surface of the weighing pan 141 area. The detection area covers the entrance part of the weighing pan 141 to ensure that it can detect whether the cup 12 has entered the weighing pan 141. The position is above or at the front of the weighing pan 141 to ensure the accuracy of the detection and not to hinder the sliding of the cup 12.

[0075] The second sensor 17 is electrically connected to the equipment control system and transmits detection signals in real time. It can be used in conjunction with the first sensor 16 (which detects whether the cup body 12 has reached the cup receiving position 131) to form a dual detection system.

[0076] It is understood that the second sensor 17 is mainly used to confirm whether the cup 12 exists on the weighing pan 141. When the cup 12 slides from the slide into the weighing pan 141 area, the second sensor 17 detects the presence of the cup 12 and confirms that the cup 12 has correctly reached the weighing position. The system provides a second confirmation point to ensure the reliability of the cup 12's position.

[0077] If the first sensor 16 detects the cup 12, but the second sensor 17 does not, it may indicate that the cup 12 has not slid in correctly or has fallen. The system can take remedial measures accordingly. Conversely, if both sensors detect the cup 12 in sequence and confirm that it is in place, the system can allow subsequent material dropping actions.

[0078] The first sensor 16 detects whether the cup 12 has reached the receiving position 131, and the second sensor 17 confirms that the cup 12 has slid into the weighing pan 141 area. The combination of the two greatly enhances the accuracy and reliability of the detection.

[0079] In some embodiments, optionally, such as Figure 4 As shown, the inner edge of the receiving port 132 is provided with a downwardly bent edge 1321. The bent edge 1321 forms a downwardly protruding edge structure along the periphery of the receiving port 132. The bent edge 1321 and the weighing component 14 below, especially the weighing pan 141, maintain a certain gap and do not directly contact each other.

[0080] The folded edge 1321 is part of the slide body 133 of the receiving port 132. It is usually formed by bending process and fixed to the slide structure. The folded edge 1321 is located on the inner edge of the receiving port 132 and extends downward to form an annular edge that is lower than the slide body 133. The weighing pan 141 of the weighing component 14 is located below the folded edge 1321, but there is a gap between it and the folded edge 1321 to avoid mechanical contact. The height of the weighing pan 141 of the weighing component 14 is lower than the lower edge of the folded edge 1321 to ensure that the cup 12 can slide smoothly from the slide into the weighing pan 141.

[0081] The downward-bent edge 1321 forms a "baffle 134" at the edge of the slide, effectively preventing the cup 12 from sliding out of the slide due to inertia or external force during transport or sliding into the weighing area, ensuring that the cup 12 moves along the predetermined path. The gap design between the edge 1321 and the weighing component 14 avoids direct mechanical contact between the slide structure and the weighing pan 141, preventing damage to the weighing component 14 or weighing errors due to friction, vibration, or thermal expansion and contraction. This gap ensures the sensitivity and accuracy of the weighing component 14 and avoids external forces interfering with the weighing signal. The downward bending and gap design of the edge 1321 allow the cup 12 to slide unobstructed through the edge 1321 at the end of the slide and smoothly enter the weighing pan 141 area. The surface of the weighing pan 141 is slightly lower than the lower edge of the edge 1321, preventing the cup 12 from being stuck by the edge 1321, achieving smooth transfer and avoiding jamming or tipping. The 1321 folded edge is a one-piece molded slide structure, which is simple and sturdy.

[0082] In summary, the downward-bending flange 1321 on the inner edge of the receiving port 132, combined with the gap between the flange 1321 and the weighing component 14, is a crucial structural detail ensuring the smooth transfer of the cup 12 to the weighing area. This effectively prevents the cup 12 from sliding out of the slide, protects the weighing component 14 from mechanical interference, and ensures a smooth transition of the cup 12 to the weighing pan 141 at the end of the slide, improving weighing accuracy and equipment stability. Furthermore, the gap design facilitates the maintenance and replacement of the weighing component 14, enhancing the practicality and reliability of the equipment.

[0083] In some embodiments, the conveying slide 13 includes a slide body 133 and a baffle 134. The slide body 133 is the main part of the conveying slide 13, forming the carrying and guiding path of the cup 12. The slide body 133 has two key areas: a cup receiving position 131 and a material receiving port 132. The slide body 133 extends along the conveying direction, with the starting point being the cup receiving position 131, located directly below the corresponding cup dropping port 111, and the ending point being the material receiving port 132, which is connected to the location of the weighing component 14.

[0084] The slide body 133 is fixedly installed on the main body of the equipment, and its position is relatively fixed. The overall structure of the slide body 133 works in conjunction with the cup dropper 11 and the weighing component 14 to form a continuous transmission path.

[0085] Baffles 134 are located on both sides of the slide body 133 in the width direction, facing each other. The height of the baffles 134 is moderate, sufficient to prevent the cup 12 from falling off laterally during the transmission process. The baffles 134 are arranged parallel to both sides of the slide body 133 to form the boundary of the transmission channel. The first sensor 16 is fixedly installed on the baffle 134, usually located near the cup receiving position 131.

[0086] The baffle 134 restricts the lateral movement of the cup 12, preventing the cup 12 from sliding out of the slide due to inertia or external force. It also provides support for sensor installation, ensuring the stable positioning and accurate detection of the first sensor 16.

[0087] The first sensor 16 can be an infrared beam sensor, a laser sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor, specifically located on the baffle 134 near the cup receiving position 131. The beam or detection area is aligned with the center area of ​​the slide body 133 to detect whether the cup 12 exists at the cup receiving position 131, ensuring that the cup 12 falls successfully and is accurately positioned. This controls the clamping component 15 to start its action, avoiding the activation of the clamping mechanism when there is no cup 12, reducing mechanical wear and malfunctions, improving system stability and safety, and ensuring the accurate execution of subsequent transmission and material dropping actions.

[0088] In summary, the transfer slide 13 consists of a slide body 133 and two side baffles 134. The slide body 133 provides a path for carrying and transferring the cup 12, while the baffles 134 restrict the lateral movement of the cup 12 and serve as mounting supports for the first sensor 16. The first sensor 16 is fixedly mounted on the baffles 134 to accurately detect whether a cup 12 is present at the cup receiving position 131, ensuring the effective activation of the clamping component 15 and thus guaranteeing the stability and safety of the cup 12 transfer process. The overall design is reasonable and compact, suitable for the automatic transfer and detection needs of cups 12 of various sizes.

[0089] In some embodiments, optionally, such as Figure 2 As shown, the clamping member 15 includes a sliding part 151 and a clamping part 152. The sliding part 151 is a slidable structure, typically a guide rail, slider, or slide rail mechanism, designed to slide parallel to one side of the transmission slide 13, facilitating the linear movement of the clamping part 152. The sliding part 151 and the transmission slide 13 can be slidably connected or not connected, as long as the sliding part 151 can slide relative to the transmission slide 13 during movement.

[0090] The sliding part 151 mainly provides linear movement support for the clamping part 152, realizing the clamping and pushing of the cup body 12. By sliding, the movement trajectory of the clamping part 152 is controlled to ensure the accuracy of clamping and pushing.

[0091] The clamping part 152 is connected to the sliding part 151. At least part of the clamping part 152 is within the projection area of ​​the slide body 133. The clamping part 152 can be a claw, a clamping fixture, a spring clamping structure, etc., for clamping the cup body 12.

[0092] The clamping part 152 is fixed on the sliding part 151 and moves along the sliding direction. The clamping part 152 is within the projection area (i.e., the horizontal projection range) on the slide body 133, ensuring that the clamping part 152 does not exceed the slide boundary when clamping and pushing the cup body 12.

[0093] The clamping structure of the clamping part 152 is close to the outer wall of the cup body 12 to ensure that it is firmly clamped during the pushing process. The cup body 12 moves along the slide direction and is pushed from the cup receiving position 131 to the material receiving port 132.

[0094] In some embodiments, optionally, one of the two opposing baffles 134 has a cup-removing notch 135, and the sliding part 151 is provided on the other baffle 134, which is away from the cup-removing notch 135. Two opposing baffles 134 are provided on both sides of the conveyor slide 13, forming the boundary of the cup body 12 along the slide. One of the baffles 134 has a cup-removing notch 135, that is, a notch is opened on the baffle 134 for the removal of the cup body 12 or the clamping action of the clamping member 15.

[0095] Two baffles 134 are located on both sides of the slide width direction and are parallel to each other. The baffle 134 with a cup-retrieving notch 135 serves as the cup-retrieving side, and the position of the notch corresponds to the cup-retrieving action of the clamping member 15.

[0096] The sliding part 151 is installed on the other baffle 134 of the two opposing baffles 134, which is located away from the cup-removing notch 135. The sliding part 151 is disposed on the baffle 134 without notch along the extending direction to ensure the integrity and stability of the structure of the sliding part 151. The sliding direction of the sliding part 151 is parallel to the extending direction.

[0097] The sliding part 151 is fixedly connected to the baffle 134 away from the cup-removing notch 135 and can slide along the extending direction. The clamping part 152 is fixed to the sliding part 151 and can move along the sliding part 151.

[0098] The cup-removing notch 135 provides space for the clamping part 152 to clamp the cup body 12, allowing the clamping part 152 to enter the slide from the notch direction and clamp the outer wall of the cup body 12. The presence of the notch avoids the baffle 134 from obstructing the clamping action, making it easier to remove and move the cup body 12, and improving clamping efficiency and the flexibility of clamping action.

[0099] The sliding part 151 is located on the side of the unnotched baffle 134, which avoids the influence of the notch on the mechanical structure of the sliding part 151, ensures the rigidity and stability of the sliding mechanism, reduces uneven force on the sliding part 151, and the sliding part 151 is installed on the complete baffle 134, so the force is uniform, reducing mechanical wear and failure risk. The sliding part 151 serves as the motion support for the clamping part 152, and its reasonable position ensures smooth and unobstructed clamping action.

[0100] In summary, this solution provides cup-grabbing notches 135 in two opposing baffles 134, enabling the clamping part 152 to smoothly clamp the cup body 12. At the same time, the sliding part 151 is fixed to the baffle 134 without notches, ensuring the stability and rigidity of the sliding mechanism and avoiding structural weaknesses caused by notches.

[0101] like Figure 5 As shown, an embodiment of the second aspect of this application provides a popcorn machine 2, including: a discharging device 21, the discharging device 21 having a discharging port 22; a cup-and-bucket conveying device 1, the receiving port 132 of the cup-and-bucket conveying device 1 being arranged opposite to the discharging port 22; wherein, the cup body 12 of the cup-and-bucket conveying device 1 moves to the weighing component 14, and the material in the discharging device 21 flows into the cup body 12 through the discharging port 22.

[0102] The popcorn machine 2 provided in this application includes a discharging device 21 and a cup-and-bucket conveying device 1. The discharging device 21 is provided with a material discharging port 22 for discharging materials such as popcorn into the cup body 12. The discharging port 22 is fixedly installed inside the main body of the popcorn machine 2 and is positioned opposite to the material receiving port 132 of the cup-and-bucket conveying device 1. A certain distance and spatial arrangement are maintained between the discharging port 22 and the material receiving port 132 to ensure smooth material flow.

[0103] In this solution, the automatic transfer, precise positioning, weighing detection, and accurate material discharge of cups 12 of various specifications are achieved through the cup-and-bucket transfer device 1 and the discharge device 21. The receiving port 132 of the cup-and-bucket transfer device 1 and the discharge port 22 of the discharge device 21 are arranged opposite to each other to ensure that the material flows into the cup 12 accurately during the transfer process, avoiding waste and equipment failure.

[0104] Since the popcorn machine 2 includes the aforementioned cup bucket conveying device 1, it has the beneficial effects of the aforementioned cup bucket conveying device 1, which will not be elaborated here.

[0105] In one specific embodiment, a cup detection structure for a popcorn machine is provided, which includes a cup dropper 11, a slide (i.e., a transmission slide 13), an A-position through-beam sensor and a B-position through-beam sensor (i.e., a first sensor 16), a C-position through-beam sensor (i.e., a second sensor 17), a gripper (i.e., a clamping member 15), an electronic scale (i.e., a scale body 142), and a scale pan 141.

[0106] The cup slide and cup dropper are mounted on the main body of the device. The cup dropper is directly above the slide, ensuring that the cup falls onto the slide precisely when it is dropped. The slide is a U-shaped component, with its width determined by the size of the cup, allowing the cup to slide linearly along it. Infrared through-beam sensors are used, specifically mounted on the slide. The infrared through-beam sensor at position A is installed below the geometric center of the small cup, the infrared through-beam sensor at position B is installed below the geometric center of the large cup, and the infrared through-beam sensor at position C is installed on the weighing pan, with the connecting line passing above the geometric center of the weighing pan. The electronic scale is mounted on the main body of the device, and the weighing pan is mounted on the electronic scale. The slide is hollowed out at the weighing pan, with gaps around the weighing pan to prevent contact and avoid affecting weighing. The hollowed-out sides of the slide are designed with folded edges, and the weighing pan surface is slightly lower than the lower edge of this side, allowing the cup to slide smoothly from the slide onto the weighing pan. The grippers move the cup along the slide.

[0107] The gripper will only proceed with the next action when the infrared sensors at positions A and B detect a cup or bucket falling. The feeding action will only occur when the infrared sensor at position C detects a cup or bucket, preventing popcorn from scattering. If the infrared sensor at position C fails, the presence of a cup or bucket can be determined by measuring its weight on an electronic scale, thus confirming whether to feed popcorn – a double protection mechanism.

[0108] The system utilizes an infrared photoelectric sensor to detect whether the cup container has fallen; only after detection will the next step proceed. This prevents the process from continuing even if the cup dispenser fails to dispense the cup. It can independently detect whether the cup container has fallen at multiple different locations. The device can be equipped with multiple or different types of cup dispensers to allow customers to purchase different sizes of popcorn. Both the electronic scale and the C-position photoelectric sensor can detect the presence of the cup container and determine whether popcorn should be dispensed. If one detection device fails, the other can still maintain this function, providing double protection and preventing popcorn from scattering due to the cup not reaching the designated position before dispensing.

[0109] The sensor can be replaced by a laser sensor, ultrasonic sensor, or other types of sensor. The electronic scale can be replaced by other pressure-sensitive sensors, such as a pressure-sensitive switch.

[0110] This embodiment utilizes a through-beam sensor and an electronic scale. A cup slide is designed below the cup dropper to catch the cups falling from the dropper above. An infrared through-beam sensor below the dropper detects whether the corresponding cup has landed at the designated position. The electronic scale and infrared through-beam sensor also detect whether the cup has moved to the receiving position, accurately determining whether different droppers have dropped cups and whether they have moved to the designated receiving position. This avoids the consequences of machine malfunctions.

[0111] The setting to detect whether the cup is in the receiving position before deciding whether to dispense popcorn is crucial. Therefore, the use of both infrared photoelectric sensors and electronic scales for dual detection eliminates the risk of popcorn spilling before the cup is in position.

[0112] In this utility model, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "multiple" refers to two or more unless otherwise explicitly defined. The terms "install," "connect," "join," and "fix" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connect" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; "join" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0113] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or unit referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0114] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "specific embodiment," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0115] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Various modifications and variations can be made to this utility model by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A cup-and-bucket conveying device, characterized in that, include: A cup dispenser, wherein the cup dispenser is provided with at least one cup dispensing opening, and each cup dispensing opening is provided with at least one cup body; A conveyor slide is provided below the cup dropper, and the position of the conveyor slide and the cup dropper is fixed relative to each other. The conveyor slide is provided with at least one cup receiving position and a material receiving port. Each cup receiving position is arranged opposite to the cup dropping port, and the material receiving port is located at one end of the cup receiving position along the extension direction of the conveyor slide. A weighing component is located at the material inlet; A clamping member is provided on one side of the transmission slide, and the clamping member is used to clamp the cup body located at the cup receiving position and move the cup body to the weighing component; A first sensor is located on the transmission slide, and the first sensor is used to determine whether the cup is present at the cup receiving position.

2. The cup-and-bucket conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are multiple cup-dropping openings, and at least two of the cup-dropping openings have different diameters.

3. The cup-and-bucket conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The geometric center of the cup receiving position is located below the geometric center of the cup dropping point in the direction of gravity.

4. The cup-and-bucket conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The weighing component includes: A weighing pan is provided at the receiving port, and there is a gap between the outer edge of the weighing pan and the inner edge of the receiving port; The scale body is located below the scale pan, and the scale body and the scale pan are detachably connected. The scale body is equipped with a pressure-sensitive sensor. The height of the weighing pan is lower than the height of the slide body of the transmission slide.

5. The cup-and-bucket conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that, Also includes: A second sensor is located on the transmission slide, and the second sensor is used to determine whether the cup is present on the weighing pan.

6. The cup-and-bucket conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inner edge of the receiving port is provided with a downwardly bent edge, and there is a gap between the bent edge and the weighing component.

7. The cup-and-bucket conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The transmission slide specifically includes: The slide body is provided with the cup receiving position and the material receiving port; Baffles are provided on opposite sides of the slide body in the width direction, and the first sensor is provided on the baffles.

8. The cup-and-bucket conveying device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The clamping element specifically includes: A sliding part is slidably disposed on one side of the transmission slide; A clamping part is connected to the sliding part, and at least a portion of the projection of the clamping part on the slide body is located within the slide body. The clamping part is used to clamp the cup body.

9. The cup-and-bucket conveying device according to claim 8, characterized in that, One of the two opposing baffles is provided with a cup-retrieving notch, and the sliding part is provided on the other side of the two opposing baffles away from the cup-retrieving notch.

10. A popcorn machine, characterized in that, include: The discharge device is provided with a discharge port; The cup and barrel conveying device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the receiving port of the cup and barrel conveying device is arranged opposite to the discharge port; In this process, the cup body of the cup-bucket conveying device moves to the weighing component, and the material in the discharging device flows into the cup body through the discharging port.

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