A feeding and discharging mechanism for a plastic suction machine

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of feeding and discharging mechanisms for blister machine, it is related to the technical field of feeding and discharging equipment for blister machine sheet material, including support frame, the support frame is equipped with the suction plate assembly of being able to grab sheet material, the transverse track of the suction plate assembly is equipped with the material transfer area of accepting sheet material, the vertical track of the suction plate assembly is equipped with the material taking area of placing sheet material pile, the longitudinal track of the suction plate assembly is equipped with the unloading area of accepting finished product, the suction plate assembly is connected with support frame by mechanical arm component, the top of the suction plate assembly is fixed with supporting plate, longitudinal push subassembly, which can push finished product to receiving area, is installed on the suction plate assembly, the utility model can reduce the number of functional area, thereby be favorable to reduce the diameter of the material clamping carousel of blister machine, so that the volume of entire blister equipment can be reduced, and then the space requirement of the environment can be reduced, save space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of sheet material loading and unloading equipment for blister packaging machines, and specifically to a loading and unloading mechanism for blister packaging machines. Background Technology

[0002] A vacuum forming machine, also known as a thermoforming machine, is a machine used to process heated and plasticized thermoplastic sheets into products of various shapes. The vacuum forming machine includes a horizontally arranged clamping turntable. The circumferential line of the clamping turntable corresponds to the feeding area, heating area, vacuum forming area, and product unloading area in sequence. Under normal circumstances, after the sheet is fed into the feeding area by the feeding mechanism, the clamping turntable drives the sheet to pass through the above areas in sequence to complete the product processing.

[0003] Existing feeding mechanisms mainly use suction cups to grip flat sheets. However, the surface of the formed product is no longer flat, so an unloading area with a feeding mechanism is needed. The existing method has the following drawback: the more functional areas on the circumferential line of the clamping turntable, the larger the diameter of the clamping turntable, which makes the whole equipment relatively large and thus requires a large space. Therefore, we propose a feeding mechanism for a vacuum forming machine to improve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine to address the aforementioned shortcomings in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine includes a support frame. The support frame houses a suction cup assembly capable of gripping sheet materials. The suction cup assembly has a transverse track with a material transfer area for receiving sheet materials, a vertical track with a material picking area for placing stacked sheet materials, and a longitudinal track with a material unloading area for receiving finished products. The suction cup assembly is connected to the support frame via a robotic arm assembly. A support plate is fixed to the top of the suction cup assembly, and a longitudinal pushing component capable of pushing finished products to the receiving area is installed on the suction cup assembly.

[0007] Preferably, the robotic arm assembly includes a horizontal rail assembly fixed on a support frame, a transfer platform slidably mounted on the horizontal rail assembly, a vertical column fixed to a suction cup plate assembly slidably mounted on the transfer platform, a first drive mechanism connected to the horizontal rail assembly, and a second drive mechanism connected to the vertical column. The first drive mechanism provides driving force for the movement of the transfer platform on the horizontal rail assembly, and the second drive mechanism provides driving force for the vertical movement of the vertical column.

[0008] Preferably, the support frame includes a base frame that contacts the ground, a top frame on the top of the base frame, and the base frame and the top frame are connected and fixed by multiple support columns to form a cage-like structure.

[0009] Preferably, the suction cup assembly includes a crossbeam fixed to the vertical column, and an integrated vacuum suction cup module is fixed to the bottom of the crossbeam.

[0010] Preferably, the transverse rail assembly includes a track beam fixed to the support frame, and a plurality of guide rails are fixed to the top of the track beam, each of which is slidably fitted with a slider fixed to the transfer platform.

[0011] Preferably, the transfer platform includes a horizontal beam column parallel to the horizontal plane, and a sleeve adapted to connect with the vertical column is fixed on the horizontal beam column.

[0012] Preferably, the first drive mechanism includes a first servo motor fixed to the crossbeam column, a first drive gear fixed on the output shaft of the first servo motor, and a first rack meshing with the first drive gear and fixed parallel to the track beam.

[0013] Preferably, the second drive mechanism includes a second servo motor fixed to the sleeve, a second drive gear fixed on the output shaft of the second servo motor, and a second rack fixed to the vertical column meshing on the second drive gear.

[0014] Preferably, the longitudinal thrust assembly includes a rodless cylinder fixed to the crossbeam, and a push plate is fixed on the drive slider of the rodless cylinder.

[0015] Preferably, the bottom of the pallet is fixed to the crossbeam by multiple supporting rods, and the surface of the pallet is provided with a track groove for the extrusion plate to pass through.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0017] In this utility model, a suction cup plate assembly capable of gripping and releasing sheet material is set in the support frame, and a material transfer area is set on the horizontal trajectory of the suction cup plate assembly, a material picking area is set on the vertical direction of the suction cup plate assembly, and a material unloading area for receiving finished products is set on the longitudinal trajectory of the suction cup plate assembly. The suction cup plate assembly is connected to the support frame by a robotic arm assembly, so that the sheet material on the suction cup plate assembly can be transported from the material picking area to the material transfer area. Furthermore, by setting a pallet and a longitudinal pushing assembly, the product can be pushed to the unloading area.

[0018] The technical solution in this application can transport the sheet material from the picking area to the conveying area, and at the same time, it can transport the finished product from the conveying area to the unloading area. This is beneficial to merging the feeding area and unloading area of ​​the vacuum forming machine, reducing the number of functional areas, thereby reducing the diameter of the clamping turntable of the vacuum forming machine, which in turn reduces the size of the entire vacuum forming equipment, thereby reducing the space requirements of the surrounding environment and saving space.

[0019] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and illustrative only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0020] This application provides an overview of various implementations or examples of the technology described in this disclosure, and is not a full disclosure of the entire scope or all features of the disclosed technology. Attached Figure Description

[0021] 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.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This utility model Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism of the loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to the present invention.

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

[0027] 1. Support frame; 1.1 Base frame; 1.2 Top frame; 1.3 Support column; 2. Suction cup plate assembly; 2.1 Crossbeam rod; 2.2 Integrated vacuum suction cup module; 3. Horizontal rail assembly; 3.1 Track beam; 3.2 Guide rail; 3.3 Slider; 4. Transfer platform; 4.1 Crossbeam column; 4.2 Sleeve; 5. Vertical column; 6. First drive mechanism; 6.1 First servo motor; 6.3 First rack; 7. Second drive mechanism; 7.1 Second servo motor; 7.3 Second rack; 8. Support plate; 9. Vertical push assembly; 10. Robotic arm assembly; 11. Rodless cylinder; 12. Extrusion plate; 13. Support rod; 14. Track groove; 15. Lifting platform. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this disclosure shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms "comprising" or "including," and similar terms used in this disclosure, mean that an element or object preceding the term encompasses the elements or objects listed following the term and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may also include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; these relative positional relationships may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described objects changes.

[0030] Please see Figures 1-4 This utility model provides a loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine, including a support frame 1. The support frame 1 is provided with a suction cup plate assembly 2 capable of gripping sheet material. The suction cup plate assembly 2 has a material transfer area for receiving sheet material on its horizontal trajectory, a material picking area for placing stacked sheet material on its vertical trajectory, and a material unloading area for receiving finished product on its longitudinal trajectory. The suction cup plate assembly 2 is connected to the support frame 1 through a robotic arm assembly 10. A support plate 8 is fixed on the top of the suction cup plate assembly 2, and a longitudinal pushing component 9 capable of pushing finished product to the receiving area is installed on the suction cup plate assembly 2.

[0031] Specifically, the origin point is the location where the extended horizontal trajectory of the suction cup assembly 2, the extended vertical trajectory of the plate assembly 2, and the extended vertical trajectory of the suction cup assembly 2 intersect. In addition, a lifting platform 15 is provided in the material transfer area. The lifting platform 15 is located directly below the loading and unloading ports of the vacuum forming machine. Its platform surface has a lowered mode and a raised mode in the vertical direction. The lifting platform 15 is existing equipment and will not be described in detail.

[0032] In actual use, when the lifting platform 15 is in the lowered state, the suction cup assembly 2, driven by the robotic arm assembly 10, moves the sheet material in the picking area along the vertical trajectory to the origin position. Then, the suction cup assembly 2 moves from the origin position along the horizontal trajectory line to the material transfer area, so that the sheet material is on top of the lowered lifting platform 15. At this time, in the vertical direction from bottom to top in the material transfer area, the sequence is: lifting platform 15, sheet material, suction cup assembly 2, pallet 8, and unloading port of the vacuum forming machine. The vacuum forming machine releases the vacuum-formed product from the loading and unloading ports, so that the product falls on the top of the pallet 8. At the same time, the suction cup assembly 2 releases the sheet material on the top of the lifting platform 15. Then, the suction cup assembly 2 carries the product along the horizontal trajectory line to the origin position through the pallet 8. Then, the longitudinal push assembly 9 extends and moves, thereby pushing the product on the pallet 8 along the longitudinal trajectory line to the unloading area. Then, the longitudinal push assembly 9 retracts and resets.

[0033] When it is necessary to reload, the suction cup plate assembly 2 moves from the origin position along the vertical trajectory to the picking position to pick up the material, and then moves the sheet in the picking area along the vertical trajectory back to the origin position. Then the suction cup plate assembly 2 moves from the origin position along the horizontal trajectory line to the material transfer area. This movement is repeated back and forth. During the above process, the lifting platform 15 switches from the lowered state to the raised state. After the sheet is placed at the loading and unloading port of the vacuum forming machine, the lifting platform 15 returns to the lowered state.

[0034] In summary, this solution can transport the sheet material from the picking area to the conveying area, and simultaneously transport the finished product from the conveying area to the unloading area. This simplifies the loading and unloading steps of the vacuum forming machine, facilitates the merging of the loading and unloading areas, reduces the number of functional areas, and consequently reduces the diameter of the vacuum forming machine's clamping turntable. This results in a reduction in the overall size of the vacuum forming equipment, thereby lowering the space requirements of the surrounding environment and saving space.

[0035] In another embodiment of this utility model, the robotic arm assembly 10 includes a horizontal rail assembly 3 fixed on a support frame 1, a transfer platform 4 slidably mounted on the horizontal rail assembly 3, a vertical column 5 fixed to the suction cup plate assembly 2 slidably mounted on the transfer platform 4, a first drive mechanism 6 connected to the horizontal rail assembly 3, and a second drive mechanism 7 connected to the vertical column 5. The first drive mechanism 6 provides driving force for the movement of the transfer platform 4 on the horizontal rail assembly 3, and the second drive mechanism 7 provides driving force for the vertical movement of the vertical column 5.

[0036] Specifically, the horizontal rail assembly 3 includes a track beam 3.1 fixed to the support frame 1. The length direction line of the track beam 3.1 is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the length direction line of the track beam 3.1 forms the transverse trajectory of the suction cup plate assembly 2. Multiple guide rails 3.2 are fixed to the top of the track beam 3.1. Each guide rail 3.2 is slidably fitted with a slider 3.3 fixed to the transfer platform 4. The length direction line of the guide rail 3.2 is parallel to the length direction line of the track beam 3.1. The slider 3.3 has a dovetail groove structure adapted to the guide rail 3.2. The slider 3.3 is preferably a ball slider. The cross-sectional outline of the guide rail 3.2 is a dovetail structure. There are two guide rails 3.2. Limiting blocks are fixed at both ends of the track beam 3.1. The limiting blocks can prevent the transfer platform 4 from falling off the end of the track beam 3.1.

[0037] Among them, the transfer platform 4 includes a horizontal beam column 4.1 parallel to the horizontal plane. The column body of the horizontal beam column 4.1 is perpendicular to the track beam 3.1. The horizontal beam column 4.1 is located above the track beam 3.1. A sleeve 4.2 adapted to be connected to the vertical column 5 is fixed on the horizontal beam column 4.1. The axis of the sleeve 4.2 is perpendicular to the horizontal beam column 4.1.

[0038] Furthermore, the first drive mechanism 6 includes a first servo motor 6.1 fixed to the crossbeam column 4.1. A first drive gear is fixed on the output shaft of the first servo motor 6.1. A first rack 6.3, which is fitted with a first rack fixed parallel to the track beam 3.1, is meshed on the first drive gear. The length direction line of the first rack 6.3 is parallel to the length direction line of the track beam 3.1.

[0039] The second drive mechanism 7 includes a second servo motor 7.1 fixed to the sleeve 4.2. A second drive gear is fixed on the output shaft of the second servo motor 7.1. A second rack 7.3 fixed to the vertical column 5 is meshed on the second drive gear. The length direction line of the second rack 7.3 is parallel to the length direction line of the vertical column 5.

[0040] In actual use, the first servo motor 6.1 is driven by the first drive gear along the first rack 6.3, so that the transfer platform 4 can move linearly on the track beam 3.1, realizing the reciprocating movement of the suction cup plate assembly 2 along the transverse trajectory line between the origin and the material transfer area; similarly, the second servo motor 7.1 is driven by the second drive gear along the second rack 7.3, so that the vertical column 5 can move vertically, thereby realizing the reciprocating movement of the suction cup plate assembly 2 along the transverse trajectory line between the origin and the material picking area. Through the linear coordinated drive of the first servo motor 6.1 and the second servo motor 7.1, the reciprocating movement of the suction cup plate assembly 2 between the material picking area and the material transfer area is realized.

[0041] In another embodiment of this utility model, the support frame 1 includes a base frame 1.1 in contact with the ground. The top of the base frame 1.1 is provided with a top frame 1.2. The base frame 1.1 and the top frame 1.2 are connected and fixed by multiple support columns 1.3 to form a cage-like structure. It should be noted that the suction cup plate assembly 2 includes a crossbeam 2.1 fixed to the vertical column 5. The body of the crossbeam 2.1 is fixed perpendicularly to the vertical column 5 and parallel to the horizontal plane. An integrated vacuum suction cup module 2.2 is fixed to the bottom part of the crossbeam 2.1. The integrated vacuum suction cup module 2.2 is prior art and will not be described in detail.

[0042] In another embodiment of this utility model, the longitudinal push assembly 9 includes a rodless cylinder 11 fixed on the crossbeam 2.1. A push plate 12 is fixed on the drive slider of the rodless cylinder 11. The rodless cylinder 11 can also be replaced by a straight rod motor. The surface of the push plate 12 is perpendicular to the surface of the support plate 8. The bottom of the support plate 8 is fixed to the crossbeam 2.1 by multiple support rods 13. The surface of the support plate 8 is provided with a track groove 14 for the push plate 12 to pass through. The length direction line of the track groove 14 is parallel to the longitudinal track line of the suction cup plate assembly.

[0043] In actual use, when the rodless cylinder 11 is in the retracted state, the extrusion plate 12 is located at the edge of the pallet 8. When the rodless cylinder 11 extends, the extrusion plate 12 pushes the product on the pallet 8 toward the unloading area along the track groove 14 until the product reaches the unloading area. Then the rodless cylinder 11 retracts and returns to the initial state, at which point the extrusion plate 12 is located at the edge of the pallet 8.

[0044] 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 loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine, comprising a support frame (1), characterized in that: The support frame (1) is equipped with a suction cup plate assembly (2) capable of gripping sheet material. The suction cup plate assembly (2) has a material transfer area for receiving sheet material on its horizontal trajectory, a material picking area for placing stacked sheet material on its vertical trajectory, and a material unloading area for receiving finished product on its longitudinal trajectory. The suction cup plate assembly (2) is connected to the support frame (1) through a robotic arm assembly (10). A support plate (8) is fixed on the top of the suction cup plate assembly (2), and a longitudinal pushing assembly (9) capable of pushing finished product to the receiving area is installed on the suction cup plate assembly (2).

2. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The robotic arm assembly (10) includes a horizontal rail assembly (3) fixed on a support frame (1), a transfer platform (4) slidably mounted on the horizontal rail assembly (3), a vertical column (5) fixed to the suction cup plate assembly (2) slidably mounted on the transfer platform (4), a first drive mechanism (6) connected to the horizontal rail assembly (3) and a second drive mechanism (7) connected to the vertical column (5) are mounted on the transfer platform (4). The first drive mechanism (6) provides driving force for the movement of the transfer platform (4) on the horizontal rail assembly (3), and the second drive mechanism (7) provides driving force for the vertical column (5) to move vertically.

3. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The support frame (1) includes a base frame (1.1) in contact with the ground, and a top frame (1.2) is provided on the top of the base frame (1.1). The base frame (1.1) and the top frame (1.2) are connected and fixed by multiple support columns (1.3) to form a cage-like structure.

4. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The suction cup assembly (2) includes a crossbeam (2.1) fixed to the vertical column (5), and an integrated vacuum suction cup module (2.2) is fixed to the bottom part of the crossbeam (2.1).

5. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The horizontal rail assembly (3) includes a track beam (3.1) fixed to the support frame (1), and a plurality of guide rails (3.2) are fixed to the top of the track beam (3.1). Each guide rail (3.2) is slidably fitted with a slider (3.3) fixed to the transfer platform (4).

6. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The transfer platform (4) includes a horizontal beam (4.1) parallel to the horizontal plane, and a sleeve (4.2) adapted to be connected to the vertical column (5) is fixed on the horizontal beam (4.1).

7. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first drive mechanism (6) includes a first servo motor (6.1) fixed to the crossbeam column (4.1), a first drive gear is fixed on the output shaft of the first servo motor (6.1), and a first rack (6.3) is fitted on the first drive gear and fixed parallel to the track beam (3.1).

8. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second drive mechanism (7) includes a second servo motor (7.1) fixed to the sleeve (4.2), a second drive gear fixed on the output shaft of the second servo motor (7.1), and a second rack (7.3) fixed to the vertical column (5) meshing on the second drive gear.

9. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The longitudinal push assembly (9) includes a rodless cylinder (11) fixed on a crossbeam rod (2.1), and a push plate (12) is fixed on the drive slider of the rodless cylinder (11).

10. The loading and unloading mechanism for a vacuum forming machine according to claim 9, characterized in that, The bottom of the pallet (8) is fixed to the crossbeam (2.1) by multiple support rods (13), and the surface of the pallet (8) is provided with a track groove (14) for the push plate (12) to pass through.

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