A new type of automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart for flow warehouse

Abstract

This utility model discloses a novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment trolley with a flow-flow storage design, relating to sorting technology. It includes a rectangular support frame, within which a conveyor belt and a flow-flow plate that moves relative to the side of the conveyor belt are fixedly installed. The flow-flow plate has multiple rollers arranged in a matrix, rotating towards the conveyor belt. This utility model replaces the fixed sidewall with a flow-flow plate composed of multiple sets of rollers, transforming the sliding friction between the cigarettes and the sidewall into rolling friction. This not only effectively reduces conveying resistance and friction but also provides a pushing and guiding effect on the cigarettes, ensuring that the entire carton of cigarettes is smoothly conveyed to the sorting channel in a neat and straight manner, significantly reducing cigarette jamming issues.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to sorting technology, specifically a new type of automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow warehouse. Background Technology

[0002] In automated cigarette sorting systems, automatic replenishment trolleys are used to connect and transport unpacked cartons of cigarettes to designated horizontal sorting conveyors to meet the requirements of continuous operation of the sorting line. Existing automatic replenishment trolleys typically include a cigarette clamping mechanism, fixed storage compartment sidewalls, a bottom conveyor belt, and an integrated electronic control compartment. The clamping mechanism is driven by a motor and controlled by photoelectric or proximity switches; the fixed storage compartment sidewalls are generally made of metal with a rust-proof paint coating and are equipped with limit photoelectric sensors; the bottom of the storage compartment houses an adjustable-speed conveyor belt, a traveling mechanism, and photoelectric limit switches; the electronic control compartment, as the control core, integrates a control system for multiple functions, including trolley movement, limit control, clamping, and conveying.

[0003] In actual operation, the automatic replenishment cart receives instructions from the sorting system and performs the task of replenishing the horizontal sorting conveyor. To ensure the normal operation of the horizontal sorting conveyor, the replenishment cart must ensure that the cigarettes, after being removed from their original packaging boxes, maintain their original neat arrangement inside the boxes and can smoothly and accurately deliver the entire carton of cigarettes into the automatic conveying channel of the conveyor.

[0004] However, existing automated replenishment carts using fixed sidewall warehouses still have the following technical problems in practical use:

[0005] First, there is significant frictional resistance between the cigarettes and the side walls during transport within the warehouse. Although most cigarette cartons sold on the market are packaged in smooth plastic film with a low coefficient of friction, the actual frictional properties of the film materials chosen by different cigarette manufacturers still vary. When the cigarette clamping mechanism pushes the entire carton of cigarettes against the fixed side wall, the friction between the carton and the side wall hinders the movement of the cigarettes. This friction directly affects the stability of the cigarette cartons during transport within the warehouse, easily causing the approximately 25 cartons at the back of the carton to become disordered, or even fall into the warehouse. This not only triggers frequent alarms from the replenishment trolley but also causes physical damage to the cigarettes.

[0006] Secondly, the structural design of the fixed sidewall is flawed. While contacting and rubbing against the cigarette packs, this sidewall also creates reverse resistance to the movement of the cigarette packs due to its structural form. This resistance, combined with the aforementioned friction, further increases the difficulty of moving the cigarette packs within the warehouse, causing a continuous adverse impact on the smoothness of the conveying process and the maintenance of the cigarette packs' posture.

[0007] Furthermore, the aforementioned design flaws in the automated replenishment carts also have a direct negative impact on the operation of the downstream horizontal sorting conveyor. Due to the combined effects of friction and resistance within the warehouse, cigarette cartons often fail to maintain an ideal, neat, and straight posture when entering the sorting conveyor. This abnormal posture can lead to malfunctions such as jamming within the conveyor, increasing not only the downtime and maintenance costs of the sorting line but also further exacerbating the risk of mechanical damage to the cigarettes.

[0008] Therefore, how to improve the design of existing fixed sidewall warehouses to reduce conveying resistance and ensure the stability of cigarette pack posture has become an urgent technical problem to be solved in this field. Utility Model Content

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment trolley-type flow warehouse to address the aforementioned shortcomings in the prior art.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a novel automatic cigarette sorting and replenishment trolley with a flow-flow storage compartment, comprising a rectangular support, wherein a conveyor belt and a flow plate that is driven to move relative to the side of the conveyor belt are fixedly installed inside the rectangular support, and the flow plate is provided with a plurality of rollers arranged in a matrix and rotating toward the side of the conveyor belt.

[0011] Preferably, the axial direction of the roller is consistent with the conveying direction of the conveyor belt.

[0012] Preferably, the roller is a rigid plastic roller.

[0013] Preferably, the top and bottom of the rectangular bracket are symmetrically provided with drive shafts, and at least two of the four drive shafts are double-threaded lead screws.

[0014] Preferably, the two double-groove lead screws are distributed diagonally.

[0015] Preferably, a drive motor is fixedly mounted on the rectangular bracket, and the output end of the drive motor is fixedly connected to the double-threaded transmission screw.

[0016] Preferably, the flow plate is fixedly installed with limit sensing sensors distributed adjacent to the conveyor belt on the side facing the conveyor belt.

[0017] Preferably, connecting plates are slidably arranged on the two drive shafts on the same vertical plane, and the two connecting plates are provided with protrusions facing the conveyor belt. The sides of the protrusions are higher than the conveyor belt, and the flow plate is fixedly installed on the protrusions.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow warehouse provided by this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. By replacing the fixed side wall of the automatic replenishment cart's storage compartment with a flow ramp, and arranging multiple sets of rollers on the flow ramp, the cigarettes are effectively reduced in friction and resistance between the cigarettes and the side wall as they move within the storage compartment, driven by the movement of the bottom conveyor belt.

[0020] 2. The new type of warehouse sidewall, composed of multiple sets of horizontally arranged rollers, is consistent with the direction of cigarette movement within the warehouse. At the same time, the multiple sets of rollers provide a certain boost to the moving cigarettes, resulting in better overall guiding effect.

[0021] 3. With the innovative design of the side wall of the automatic cigarette replenishment cart, the entire carton of cigarettes can be transported to the sorting machine in a neat and straight posture. The operation of the sorting machine is smoother and more stable, and the cigarette jamming failure caused by improper posture during cigarette transportation is greatly reduced. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure provided for an embodiment of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the limit sensing sensor provided in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the planar structure provided for an embodiment of this utility model.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0027] 1. Rectangular support; 2. Conveyor belt; 3. Flow plate; 31. Roller; 4. Drive shaft; 41. Connecting plate; 42. Protrusion; 5. Double-groove drive screw; 6. Drive motor; 7. Limit sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of this utility model, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Please see Figure 1-3This utility model provides a technical solution: a novel automatic cigarette sorting and replenishment trolley with a flow-type warehouse, including a rectangular support 1, a conveyor belt 2 and a flow plate 3 that moves relative to the side of the conveyor belt 2 are fixedly installed in the rectangular support 1, and the flow plate 3 is rotatably arranged with multiple rollers 31 in a matrix on one side of the conveyor belt 2.

[0030] Specifically, the aforementioned design replaces the fixed sidewall of the automatic replenishment cart's storage compartment with a flow plate 3, on which multiple sets of rollers 31 are arranged. When cigarettes move within the storage compartment, the movement of the bottom conveyor belt drives the rollers 31 to move in the same direction, effectively reducing friction and resistance between the cigarettes and the sidewall. Furthermore, the new storage compartment sidewall, composed of multiple sets of horizontally arranged rollers 31, maintains the same direction of translation as the cigarettes within the compartment. Simultaneously, the multiple sets of rollers 31 provide a certain boosting force to the moving cigarettes, resulting in better overall guidance. Secondly, with this innovative design of the automatic cigarette replenishment cart's storage compartment sidewall, the entire carton of cigarettes can be transported to the sorting machine in a neat and straight posture, making the machine's operation smoother and more stable. This significantly reduces cigarette jamming malfunctions in the sorting machine caused by improper cigarette posture during transport.

[0031] It should be noted that the axial direction of the roller 31 is consistent with the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 2.

[0032] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, combined with Figure 1 As shown, the warehouse also integrates a clamping mechanism for driving the flow board 3 to move. Specifically, two drive shafts 4 are symmetrically arranged at the top and bottom of the rectangular support 1. At least two of these four drive shafts 4 are double-threaded lead screws 5. A key design feature is that these two double-threaded lead screws 5 are distributed along the diagonal direction of the rectangular support 1. The driving power comes from the drive motor 6 fixedly mounted on the rectangular support 1, which drives the double-threaded lead screws 5 to rotate.

[0033] The clamping mechanism comprises the following components: two drive shafts 4 located on the same vertical plane (i.e., the left or right side), each with a sliding connecting plate 41. The two connecting plates 41 extend protrusions 42 facing one side of the conveyor belt 2, with the side height of these protrusions designed to be higher than the bearing surface of the conveyor belt 2. The aforementioned flow plate 3 is fixedly mounted on these two protrusions 42. When the drive motor 6 operates, the rotation of the double-threaded drive screw 5 synchronously drives the connecting plates 41 and flow plate 3 on both sides to move towards or away from each other, thereby achieving the clamping and release of cigarettes of different widths.

[0034] As another embodiment of this utility model, combined with Figure 1As shown, in order to achieve precise sensing and control of the clamping state, a limit sensor 7 is fixedly installed on the side of the flow plate 3 facing the conveyor belt 2. This sensor is preferably arranged close to the conveyor belt 2 to detect in real time whether the array of rollers 31 is in effective contact with the side wall of the cigarette and to feed the signal back to the electronic control system to assist in controlling the movement stroke of the clamping mechanism.

[0035] It should be noted that the aforementioned limit sensor 7 and control program are common technical knowledge to those skilled in the art, and therefore will not be described in detail.

[0036] The foregoing description only illustrates certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Undoubtedly, those skilled in the art can modify the described embodiments in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the above drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow-through warehouse, characterized in that, It includes a rectangular support (1), in which a conveyor belt (2) and a flow plate (3) that is driven to move relative to the side of the conveyor belt (2) are fixedly installed. The flow plate (3) is rotatably arranged with a plurality of rollers (31) in a matrix arrangement facing the side of the conveyor belt (2).

2. The novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial direction of the roller (31) is consistent with the conveying direction of the conveyor belt (2).

3. The novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that, The roller (31) is a rigid plastic roller.

4. A novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow-through warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top and bottom of the rectangular bracket (1) are symmetrically provided with drive shafts (4), and at least two of the four drive shafts (4) are double-threaded lead screws (5).

5. A novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow-through warehouse according to claim 4, characterized in that, The two double-groove lead screws (5) are distributed along the diagonal.

6. A novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow warehouse according to claim 4, characterized in that, A drive motor (6) is fixedly installed on the rectangular bracket (1), and the output end of the drive motor (6) is fixedly connected to the double-groove transmission screw (5).

7. A novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow-through warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow plate (3) is fixedly installed with limit sensing sensors (7) distributed adjacent to the conveyor belt (2) on the side facing the conveyor belt (2).

8. A novel automated cigarette sorting and replenishment cart flow warehouse according to claim 4, characterized in that, Connecting plates (41) are slidably arranged on the two drive shafts (4) on the same vertical plane, and the two connecting plates (41) are provided with protrusions (42) facing the conveyor belt (2). The side of the protrusions (42) is higher than the conveyor belt (2), and the flow plate (3) is fixedly installed on the protrusions (42).

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