Automatic rice ball packing machine

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of rice ball automatic packing machine, including rack, carousel, driving device, transmission and motion conversion system and actuating mechanism. The driving device is converted into the intermittent rotary motion of carousel and the linear reciprocating motion of at least one actuating mechanism by the transmission and motion conversion system, with its continuous rotary motion. The motion rhythm of the actuating mechanism is matched with the intermittent motion rhythm of carousel, realizes that actuating mechanism is lifted when carousel rotates, and actuating mechanism is pressed down when carousel is stationary. Transmission and motion conversion system preferably includes intermediate output shaft driven by driving device, and the intermediate output shaft is connected intermittent driving mechanism driving carousel and motion conversion mechanism driving linkage assembly simultaneously. The utility model realizes the accurate mechanical linkage of carousel intermittent rotation and multiple actuating mechanism linear pressing down by single driving source, effectively improves packaging efficiency, simplifies equipment structure and ensures action synchronism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of food packaging machinery technology, and in particular to an automatic rice ball packaging machine for automatically packaging shaped rice balls and seaweed. Background Technology

[0002] Rice balls, as a traditional convenience food, have a huge market demand. However, the packaging process, especially the automatic wrapping and securing of shaped rice balls (such as triangular rice balls) with seaweed sheets, has long faced technical challenges.

[0003] Initially, packaging relied entirely on manual operation, which was not only inefficient and costly, but more importantly, it made it difficult to guarantee food hygiene and safety, and resulted in poor product consistency. To overcome the drawbacks of manual packaging, automated packaging equipment emerged. However, existing automated rice ball packaging machines still have many significant shortcomings, hindering their widespread application. In terms of drive and control methods, most machines use multiple independent drive sources, such as multiple cylinders or servo motors to control the intermittent rotation of the turntable, the pressing of the rice ball, the folding of the seaweed, and the ejection of the finished product. This decentralized drive scheme directly leads to complex equipment structure, large space occupation, and high manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the synchronization between each action depends entirely on the precise timing of the electrical control system. If any actuator responds late or malfunctions, it can easily cause interference, leading to machine jamming or material damage, resulting in low equipment reliability.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a new type of automatic rice ball packaging machine that can fundamentally optimize the drive and transmission scheme, simplify the mechanical structure, improve the inherent synchronicity and reliability between various execution actions, and effectively solve the process problem of automatic edge folding and wrapping of seaweed. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides an automatic rice ball packaging machine that optimizes the drive and transmission scheme, simplifies the mechanical structure, and improves the inherent synchronicity and reliability between various execution actions.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: An automatic rice ball packaging machine includes a frame and a turntable mounted on the frame. The turntable has multiple workstations for holding materials. The machine also includes: A driving device; A transmission and motion conversion system is connected to the power output end of the drive device; The transmission and motion conversion system is configured to simultaneously convert the continuous rotational motion of the drive device into the intermittent rotational motion of the turntable and the linear reciprocating motion of at least one actuator. The movement rhythm of the actuator is coordinated with the intermittent movement rhythm of the turntable, so that when the turntable rotates, the actuator is in the raised position, and when the turntable is stationary, the actuator performs a pressing action.

[0007] Furthermore, the transmission and motion conversion system includes: An intermediate output shaft driven by the aforementioned drive device; An intermittent drive mechanism is connected between the intermediate output shaft and the turntable, used to drive the turntable to perform intermittent indexing motion; A motion conversion mechanism is disposed on the intermediate output shaft and is used to drive a linkage component to perform the linear reciprocating motion.

[0008] Furthermore, the motion conversion mechanism is a cam disk, and the end face of the cam disk is provided with a closed cam track groove. The profile of the cam track groove is designed to drive the linkage component to achieve the linear reciprocating motion.

[0009] Furthermore, the linkage component includes a lever, a guide wheel, and a linkage rod; the guide wheel is embedded in the cam track groove of the cam disk; one end of the lever is rotatably connected to the frame, and one side of the lever is connected to the guide wheel, and the other end of the lever is hinged to one end of the linkage rod; the other end of the linkage rod is connected to a hanger plate, and the actuator is mounted on the hanger plate.

[0010] Furthermore, the actuator includes a feeding and pressing mechanism, which includes a sleeve fixed to the hanger plate, a sliding rod slidably inserted in the sleeve, and a pressing plate disposed at the end of the sliding rod, wherein an elastic element is disposed on the sliding rod.

[0011] Furthermore, the actuator includes a discharge mechanism, which includes a discharge push plate disposed on the hanger plate.

[0012] Furthermore, an eccentric block is also provided on the intermediate output shaft. The eccentric block is connected to a hot-pressing drive mechanism, which is used to drive a hot-pressing component to hot-press and fix the folded seaweed.

[0013] Furthermore, the hot pressing drive mechanism includes an eccentric frame that cooperates with the eccentric block. The eccentric frame is connected to the frame through a vertically arranged slide rail slider assembly. The eccentric frame is connected to a drive rod, and the drive rod drives the hot pressing bracket on which the hot pressing element is installed to move.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a discharge conveyor belt, which is located below the turntable at a position corresponding to the discharge station; the side output end of the intermittent drive mechanism is provided with a discharge drive pulley, which is connected to the drive roller of the discharge conveyor belt through a belt transmission mechanism to drive the discharge conveyor belt.

[0015] Furthermore, a fixed base is closely attached to the bottom of the turntable, and the fixed base has a discharge port at the corresponding discharge station.

[0016] Furthermore, it also includes a seaweed folding mechanism, which comprises an active folding component driven by a motor and a fixedly positioned passive folding component.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: 1. This utility model abandons the complex configuration of multiple independent drive sources (such as multiple cylinders or motors), and innovatively adopts a single drive device. Through an integrated transmission and motion conversion system, it synchronously converts continuous rotary motion into intermittent rotation of the turntable and linear reciprocating motion of multiple actuators. This core design greatly simplifies the overall structure and reduces the number of parts, which not only significantly reduces manufacturing costs, but also fundamentally reduces the risk of equipment jamming caused by asynchronous multiple drive sources or single failure, thus improving the reliability and stability of the equipment.

[0018] 2. Through a kinematic chain composed of purely mechanical components such as cam discs, levers, and linkages, this invention achieves a rigid and inherent synchronization at the mechanical level between the intermittent motion of the turntable and the downward pressing action of the actuator: "When the turntable moves, the actuator lifts; when the turntable stops, the actuator presses down." This mechanical linkage does not rely on easily interfered-with electrical timing control, ensuring precise and stable action rhythm, guaranteeing the accuracy and consistency of processing at each workstation, thereby effectively improving the packaging success rate and overall production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the automatic rice ball packaging machine.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the driving principle of an automatic rice ball packaging machine.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing another perspective on the driving principle of the automatic rice ball packaging machine.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding and pressing mechanism and the discharging mechanism.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the top material feeding mechanism.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the first rice-pushing component and the second rice-pushing component.

[0025] Figure 7 This is a detailed structural diagram of the first rice-pushing component.

[0026] Figure 8 This is a detailed structural diagram of the first rice-pushing component from another perspective.

[0027] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the seaweed folding mechanism.

[0028] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the laver edge-folding mechanism from another perspective.

[0029] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the pre-folded edge guide plate.

[0030] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the intermittent drive mechanism driving the discharge conveyor belt.

[0031] Figure Descriptions: 1. Frame; 2. Feeding and pressing mechanism; 3. Laver folding mechanism; 4. Discharge mechanism; 5. Drive device; 6. Intermittent drive mechanism; 7. Turntable; 8. Motion conversion mechanism; 9. Linkage assembly; 13. Fixed base; 14. Discharge port; 33. Sleeve; 34. Sliding rod; 35. Push plate; 36. Elastic element; 37. Waist-shaped hole; 41. Discharge push plate; 73. Station slot; 81. Cam plate; 82. Cam track slot; 83. Intermediate output shaft; 84. First 85. Second sprocket; 86. Motor sprocket; 87. Third sprocket; 91. Lever; 92. Guide wheel; 93. Pivot; 94. Linkage rod; 95. Hanging plate; 97. First slide rail slider assembly; 101. Laver feeding mechanism; 102. Top material mechanism; 111. Laver hopper; 112. Negative pressure adsorption head; 113. Horizontal moving device; 114. Laver placement position; 115. Top material motor; 116. Top plate; 201. First rice pushing assembly; 202. First drive motor 203. Machine; 204. Transmission belt; 205. Clamping block; 206. Rice pushing slider; 207. Horizontal track; 208. First pulley; 209. Second pulley; 210. Fixed track; 210. Push plate; 2101. Triangular notch; 211. Second rice pushing assembly; 212. Second drive motor; 213. Push plate; 214. Limiting baffle; 301. Left folding edge assembly; 302. Folding edge motor; 303. Left folding edge plate; 304. Left folding edge plate notch; 305. Right folding edge assembly. Side plate; 306, right side folded edge plate notch; 401, eccentric block; 402, second slide rail slider assembly; 403, eccentric frame; 404, drive rod; 405, elliptical hole; 406, left side hot press support; 407, left side hot press block; 408, right side hot press support; 409, right side hot press block; 410, pre-folded edge guide plate; 411, triangular hole; 412, discharge conveyor belt; 413, discharge drive roller; 414, discharge driven roller; 415, discharge drive pulley. Detailed Implementation

[0032] This utility model provides an automatic rice ball packaging machine for automatically packaging shaped rice balls and seaweed into finished products. The following is in conjunction with the attached... Figure 1-11 The technical solution of this utility model will be described in detail with specific embodiments. It should be noted that the content described in this section is more specific and richer than the scope of the claims, and is intended to fully disclose this utility model, but the scope of protection of this utility model should be determined by the claims.

[0033] The automatic rice ball packaging machine mainly includes a frame 1, a drive unit 5, an intermittent drive mechanism 6, a turntable 7, a fixed base 13, a motion conversion mechanism 8, a linkage component 9, a feeding and pressing mechanism 2, a seaweed folding mechanism 3, and a discharging mechanism 4. In addition, to achieve a complete automated process, a rice ball feeding mechanism, a seaweed feeding mechanism 101, and a top-feeding mechanism 102 are also provided. The frame 1 is welded from structural steel, forming the main support structure of the entire equipment, and each functional component is installed in its corresponding position on the frame 1.

[0034] The core of this invention lies in the mechanical linkage between the precise intermittent rotation of the turntable 7 and the linear reciprocating pressing of the feeding and pressing mechanism 2, the discharging mechanism 4, and other actuators, achieved through a drive device 5 and the transmission and motion conversion system driven by it. The basic timing relationship is precisely configured as follows: when the turntable 7 rotates, the actuators lift; when the turntable 7 stops at a certain processing station, the actuators press down to complete the corresponding operation.

[0035] Core Drive, Transmission, and Motion Conversion: The drive unit 5 employs a high-torque servo motor, fixedly mounted on the lower platform of the frame 1. Its power output is distributed through a transmission mechanism. Specifically, the motor sprocket 86 on the servo motor output shaft is connected to the first sprocket 84 on the intermediate output shaft 83 via a first chain, forming the first stage of chain drive. This intermediate output shaft 83 is a key component for power distribution.

[0036] The core components of the transmission and motion conversion system are all connected to the intermediate output shaft 83. A portion of the system drives the turntable 7 to rotate intermittently: the second sprocket 85 on the intermediate output shaft 83 is connected via a second chain to the third sprocket 87 on the input shaft of the intermittent drive mechanism 6 (in this embodiment, a high-precision cam divider), forming a second-stage chain drive. The output end of the cam divider extends upwards, and the turntable 7 is fixedly mounted on the output end of the cam divider through its central mounting hole.

[0037] Another part of the system is used to drive the actuator to perform linear reciprocating motion: the motion conversion mechanism 8 includes a cam disk 81 fixedly mounted on the intermediate output shaft 83. The end face of the cam disk 81 is machined with a closed cam track groove 82 with a specific profile. The profile curve of the cam track groove 82 is precisely calculated and designed, and its radius variation law is the key to achieving the specific motion sequence.

[0038] The turntable 7 is a horizontally placed circular disc, which is fixedly mounted on the output end of the cam divider (intermittent drive mechanism 6) through a central hole. Therefore, the turntable 7 is the core rotating component driven by the drive system, and it performs intermittent indexing rotation. On the edge of the circumferential surface of the turntable 7, there are multiple (six in this embodiment) triangular cross-section work slots 73 at equal intervals for holding rice balls.

[0039] The fixed base 13 is a key stationary component. It is securely mounted on the frame 1 via a support frame, and its mounting position allows its upper surface to fit tightly against the bottom of the turntable 7. The fixed base 13 itself is completely stationary. This "moving top, stationary bottom" relationship is the core of its function: at most workstations, the solid upper surface of the fixed base 13 tightly supports the bottom of the workstation slot 73 on the turntable 7, forming a complete receiving cavity to prevent the rice balls from falling during processing. A unique discharge port 14 is provided at a specific position on the circumference of the fixed base 13. Only when the turntable 7 rotates intermittently, causing the workstation slot 73 carrying the finished rice balls to move precisely to a position aligned vertically with the discharge port 14, does the bottom of the workstation slot 73 lose the support of the fixed base 13, forming a discharge channel.

[0040] Linkage assembly 9 and actuator: Linkage assembly 9 is used to convert the rotational motion of the cam disk 81 into linear motion. It includes a lever 91, a guide wheel 92, a pivot 93, a linkage rod 94, and a hanger plate 95. The pivot 93 is fixedly mounted on the frame 1. One end of the lever 91 is sleeved on the pivot 93 and can rotate around it. The guide wheel 92 is mounted in the middle of the lever 91 through a bearing and is embedded in the cam track groove 82 of the cam disk 81. The other end (acting end) of the lever 91 is connected to the upper end of the vertically arranged linkage rod 94 through a hinge pin. The upper end of the linkage rod 94 passes through the clearance hole on the fixed base 13 and the turntable 7 and is connected to the hanger plate 95. To ensure smooth movement of the linkage rod 94, a first slide rail slider assembly 97 is also provided in its middle.

[0041] The feeding and clamping mechanism 2 and the discharging mechanism 4 are key actuators, and their linear drive units are both mounted on the hanger plate 95. The feeding and clamping mechanism 2 includes a sleeve 33, a sliding rod 34, a pressing plate 35, and an elastic element 36. The sleeve 33 is vertically fixed to the hanger plate 95 by bolts. The sliding rod 34 is slidably inserted into the sleeve 33, and the pressing plate 35 is fixed to the lower end of the sliding rod 34. The elastic element 36 is a stainless steel helical spring, sleeved on the outside of the sliding rod 34, with its two ends abutting against the pressing plate 35 and the lower end of the sleeve 33, respectively. An oblong hole 37 is provided on the wall of the sleeve 33, and a pin passes through the oblong hole 37 and is fixed to the sliding rod 34. This design has a dual function: firstly, by abutting the pins at both ends of the oblong hole 37, it limits the maximum stroke of the sliding rod 34 relative to the sleeve 33; secondly, and more importantly, it effectively prevents the sliding rod 34 and the push plate 35 from rotating circumferentially during movement, ensuring that the push plate 35 always maintains the correct orientation alignment with the triangular work station groove 73 on the turntable 7 throughout the entire working cycle.

[0042] The discharging mechanism 4 includes a fixed rod that is fixedly connected to the other end of the hanging plate 95. The installation position of the fixed rod is precisely designed so that the discharging push plate 41 at its end can be precisely aligned with and extend into the work station slot 73 on the turntable 7, which has been rotated to the discharging position, when the hanging plate 95 is pressed down. The shape of the discharging push plate 41 is adapted to the cross-section (such as a triangle) of the work station slot 73 to ensure an effective pushing action. Its working principle is as follows: when the turntable 7 carries the packaged rice ball to the discharging position (i.e., the position where the work station slot 73 is aligned with the discharging port 14 on the fixed base 13) and stops, the linkage component 9 drives the hanging plate 95 to press down as a whole. The fixed rod and the discharging push plate 41 of the discharging mechanism 4 then descend synchronously with the hanging plate 95, reliably pushing the finished rice ball out of the work station slot 73, which has lost its support below, and allowing it to fall into the collection device through the discharging port 14.

[0043] When the intermediate output shaft 83 drives the cam disk 81 to rotate continuously, the cam track groove 82, through its contour acting on the guide wheel 92, drives the lever 91 to swing around the pivot 93, thereby causing the linkage rod 94 and the hanger plate 95 to perform precise linear reciprocating motion as a whole. Its motion is designed as follows: when the cam divider drives the turntable 7 to rotate, the cam track groove 82 pushes the linkage component 9 to raise the hanger plate 95; when the turntable 7 rotates to its position and stops, the cam track groove 82 drives the linkage component 9 to lower the hanger plate 95. This means that every time the turntable stops, the hanger plate 95 drives the feeding and pressing mechanism 2 and the discharging mechanism 4 on it to press down synchronously once, completing the pressing and ejecting actions at different workstations.

[0044] The feeding process of rice balls and seaweed: The seaweed feeding mechanism 101 is set at the starting position of the equipment. It includes a seaweed hopper 111, a negative pressure adsorption head 112, and a horizontal moving device 113. The horizontal moving device 113 drives the negative pressure adsorption head 112 to move to the picking position of the seaweed hopper 111. The negative pressure adsorption head 112 descends and picks up the topmost sheet of seaweed. It should be noted that the seaweed is a pre-made seaweed sheet packaged in a waterproof or oil-proof paper bag. This packaging can effectively prevent the rice balls from spoiling due to moisture migration when the seaweed comes into direct contact with them. At the same time, the surface of the packaging material has a hot-melt coating (the surface of the packaging paper bag uses a food-grade hot-melt coating, which meets national food safety standards. Its components are stable, non-toxic, and odorless. During the hot pressing process, only local fusion occurs to achieve sealing and fixation. It will not migrate into the food and will not affect the edibility of the rice balls at all), providing the necessary conditions for the subsequent hot pressing and fixing process after folding. It is then lifted and moved horizontally to the predetermined seaweed placement position 114, the vacuum is released, and the seaweed is precisely placed in that position.

[0045] Next, the first rice-pushing component 201 of the rice ball feeding mechanism begins to operate. It includes a first drive motor 202, a transmission belt 203 driven by the motor, a clamping block 204 fixedly mounted on the transmission belt 203, and a rice-pushing slider 205. A transverse track 206 is machined on the top of the clamping block 204. A first pulley 207 and a second pulley 208 are mounted on the rice-pushing slider 205. A fixed track 209, composed of a large-radius arc segment and a straight segment, is fixedly mounted on the frame 1. The first pulley 207 of the rice-pushing slider 205 is embedded in the transverse track 206 of the clamping block 204, while the second pulley 208 is embedded in the fixed track 209. A push plate 210 is provided at the lower end of the rice-pushing slider 205, and the bottom of the push plate 210 is designed with triangular notches 2101 that match the two sides of a triangular rice ball.

[0046] 1. Initial state: The rice ball is delivered to the initial position by the upstream conveyor belt. At this time, the rice pusher 205 and its pusher plate 210 are in the waiting position, and the triangular notch 2101 of the pusher plate 210 is not in contact with the rice ball.

[0047] 2. Detection and Start-up: When the sensor on the conveyor belt detects that the rice ball has arrived, the first drive motor 202 starts.

[0048] 3. Hand-waving stage: The first drive motor 202 drives the clamping block 204 to move via the transmission belt 203, which in turn pulls the rice-pushing slider 205. Under the constraint of the arc segment of the fixed track 209, the rice-pushing slider 205 rotates, moving it from the waiting position to the working position. During this process, the triangular notch 2101 on the push plate 210 rotates accordingly, and finally precisely aligns with and adheres to the two adjacent sides of the triangular rice ball.

[0049] 4. Pull-back stage: After the second pulley 208 of the rice pusher 205 enters the straight section of the fixed track 209, the rice pusher 205 is constrained to move in a straight line. The clamping block 204 continues to move, pulling the rice ball back from the initial conveyor belt position through the push plate 210, and first accurately placing it at the positioning position below the seaweed placement position 114.

[0050] 5. Placement of seaweed: Subsequently, the seaweed feeding mechanism 101 places the pre-taken packaged seaweed on top of the rice ball, forming a "rice ball-seaweed" stacked structure.

[0051] 6. Pre-folding and Lifting: The lifting motor 115 of the lifting mechanism 102 is activated, driving the top plate 116 to rise and lift the "rice ball-seaweed" assembly together. During the lifting path, the assembly passes through a fixed pre-folding guide plate 410, which has triangular holes 411 that match the shape of the rice ball. When the assembly is lifted, the edge of the seaweed contacts the triangular holes 411 of the pre-folding guide plate 410, and is initially folded towards the side of the rice ball, with the rice ball just slightly exceeding the triangular holes 411.

[0052] 7. Horizontal Pushing and Bottom Folding: The second rice-pushing component 211 of the rice ball feeding mechanism begins operation. Driven by the second drive motor 212 via a belt, it propels a clamping block directly connected to the push plate 213 in a linear motion. The push plate 213 horizontally pushes the lifted "rice ball-seaweed" assembly. During this process, the seaweed located behind the rice ball naturally folds to the bottom of the rice ball due to the horizontal pushing force, completing the bottom wrapping of the seaweed. Finally, it is accurately pushed to the entrance of the workstation slot 73 of the turntable 7. At the entrance of the workstation slot 73, a limiting baffle 214 is fixedly installed on the frame 1 to prevent over-pushing.

[0053] Packaging, folding, and heat pressing workflow: Pressing Stage: Under the drive of the linkage component 9, the hanging plate 95 is pressed down as a whole, and the pushing plate 35 of the feeding and pressing mechanism 2 completely presses the rice ball and seaweed into the triangular work station groove 73. After pressing, the rice ball is located in the groove, while the two sides of the seaweed packaging paper bag at the bottom of the rice ball are higher than the work station groove 73. This structure prepares for the subsequent side folding and hot pressing process.

[0054] Turntable 7 rotates again, bringing the rice ball to the left folding station. Here, the left folding assembly 301 of the seaweed folding mechanism 3 begins to work. This assembly includes a left folding plate 303 driven by a folding motor 302. The left folding plate 303 rotates from its initial position (located on one side of turntable 7), folding the seaweed edge protruding from the left side of the rice ball to the right side and pressing it tightly. At the same time, the hot pressing assembly linked to the main drive operates: the eccentric block 401 set on the intermediate output shaft 83 rotates with the shaft. The eccentric block 401 is fitted into an elliptical hole 405 in an eccentric frame 403. The major axis of the elliptical hole 405 is arranged vertically. As the eccentric block 401 rotates continuously with the intermediate output shaft 83, it makes a circular motion within the elliptical hole 405, and its radial component drives the eccentric frame 403 to make a precise up-and-down reciprocating linear motion under the guidance of the vertically set second slide rail slider assembly 402. An eccentric frame 403 is connected to a drive rod 404, which drives a left-side hot-pressing bracket 406 to move. A left-side hot-pressing block 407 is installed on the left-side hot-pressing bracket 406. The left-side folding plate 303 is designed with a left-side folding plate notch 304. When the left-side folding plate 303 completes the folding and holds its position, the left-side hot-pressing block 407 extends out from the left-side folding plate notch 304 to hot-press the folded seaweed edge, making it adhere to the surface of the rice ball.

[0055] After the left-side folding and hot pressing are completed, the turntable 7 continues to rotate to the right-side folding station. During this process, the raised seaweed edge on the right side of the rice ball will come into contact with a right-side folding plate 305 (as a passive folding component) that is fixedly suspended above the turntable 7, and will be passively folded to the left. When the turntable 7 stops, the hot pressing equipment corresponding to this station starts to work. The right-side hot pressing block 409 is driven by the right-side hot pressing bracket 408 on the same drive rod 404. The right-side folding plate 305 also has a right-side folding plate notch 306, and the right-side hot pressing block 409 extends from the right-side folding plate notch 306 to hot-press and fix the right-side fold.

[0056] Discharge Process: After the above steps, the rice ball is packaged into a finished product. The turntable 7 continues to rotate, carrying the finished product to a station aligned with the discharge port 14 on the fixed base 13. At this point, the bottom of the station slot 73 loses its support. The turntable 7 stops, and the hanging plate 95 presses down again. The discharge push plate 41 of the discharge mechanism 4 then descends, pushing the finished rice ball out of the station slot 73, allowing it to fall through the discharge port 14 into the collection device below, completing the entire automated packaging process.

[0057] See appendix Figure 12The collecting device is a discharge conveyor belt 412, which is horizontally arranged below the discharge port 14 and includes a conveyor belt, a discharge drive roller 413, and a discharge driven roller 414. A discharge drive pulley 415 is correspondingly provided on the side output end of the intermittent drive mechanism 6. This pulley is linked to the pulley on the discharge drive roller 413 of the discharge conveyor belt 412 via a belt. When the intermittent drive mechanism 6 is working, its side output end rotates synchronously with the intermittent movement of the turntable 7, thereby driving the discharge conveyor belt 412 to move intermittently through the discharge drive pulley 415, accurately receiving the finished rice balls falling from the discharge port 14 and outputting them to the next process. This design utilizes existing drive sources, eliminating the need for additional motors or cylinders, significantly simplifying the equipment structure, reducing costs, and ensuring the inherent synchronization between the discharge action and the packaging rhythm. This completes the entire automated packaging process.

[0058] Complete Workflow Summary: The complete workflow of this automatic rice ball packaging machine can be summarized into the following core stages: 1. Material feeding stage: Rice ball positioning: The rice ball is delivered by the conveyor belt and, after the "hand-waving and pulling" action of the first rice pushing component 201, is first precisely placed at the positioning position below the seaweed placement position 114.

[0059] Seaweed placement: The seaweed feeding mechanism 101 precisely places the packaged seaweed sheets with a food-grade hot-melt coating on top of the rice ball using negative pressure adsorption, forming a "rice ball-seaweed" stacked structure.

[0060] Pre-folding and bottom wrapping: The top feeding mechanism 102 lifts the assembly, allowing it to pass through the triangular hole 411 of the pre-folding guide plate 410, and the edge of the seaweed is initially folded towards the side of the rice ball. Subsequently, the second rice pushing component 211 horizontally pushes the assembly, and the seaweed located at the back of the rice ball naturally folds to the bottom of the rice ball due to the pushing force, completing the bottom wrapping pre-forming of the seaweed.

[0061] 2. Pressing stage: The linkage component 9 drives the hanging plate 95 to press down, and the feeding and pressing mechanism presses the rice ball and seaweed into the work station groove 73. After pressing, the rice ball is located in the groove, and the two sides of the seaweed packaging paper bag at the bottom of the rice ball are higher than the work station groove 73, which prepares for the subsequent side folding.

[0062] 3. Folding and Hot Pressing Stage: Turntable 7 sequentially indexes to the left and right folding stations. The left side undergoes active folding via a motor-driven folding plate, and is immediately fixed by a hot pressing mechanism linked to the main drive; the right side undergoes passive folding via a fixed folding plate, and is completed by another hot pressing mechanism.

[0063] 4. Discharge stage: The turntable 7 carries the finished product to the discharge station and then stops; the linkage component 9 drives the hanging plate 95 to press down again, and the discharge mechanism pushes the finished rice ball out from the station slot 73 and falls into the collection device through the discharge port 14 of the fixed chassis 13.

[0064] The entire process is controlled and coordinated by a single drive unit 5 through a precise mechanical transmission and motion conversion system, achieving efficient, stable, and continuous automated packaging.

[0065] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model. Various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present utility model by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present utility model should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An automatic rice ball packaging machine, comprising a frame (1) and a turntable (7) disposed on the frame (1), wherein the turntable (7) is provided with a plurality of workstations for holding materials, characterized in that, Also includes: A driving device (5); A transmission and motion conversion system is connected to the power output end of the drive device (5); The transmission and motion conversion system is configured to simultaneously convert the continuous rotational motion of the drive device (5) into the intermittent rotational motion of the turntable (7) and the linear reciprocating motion of at least one actuator. The movement rhythm of the actuator is coordinated with the intermittent movement rhythm of the turntable (7), so that when the turntable (7) rotates, the actuator is in the raised position, and when the turntable (7) is stationary, the actuator performs a pressing action.

2. The automatic rice ball packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission and motion conversion system includes: An intermediate output shaft (83) driven by the drive device (5); An intermittent drive mechanism (6) is connected between the intermediate output shaft (83) and the turntable (7) for driving the turntable (7) to perform intermittent indexing motion; A motion conversion mechanism (8) is disposed on the intermediate output shaft (83) for driving a linkage component (9) to perform the linear reciprocating motion.

3. The automatic rice ball packaging machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The motion conversion mechanism (8) is a cam disk (81), and a closed cam track groove (82) is provided on the end face of the cam disk (81). The profile of the cam track groove (82) is designed to drive the linkage component (9) to achieve the linear reciprocating motion.

4. The automatic rice ball packaging machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The linkage assembly (9) includes a lever (91), a guide wheel (92), and a linkage rod (94); the guide wheel (92) is embedded in the cam track groove (82) of the cam disk (81); one end of the lever (91) is rotatably connected to the frame (1), and one side of the lever (91) is connected to the guide wheel (92); the other end of the lever (91) is hinged to one end of the linkage rod (94); the other end of the linkage rod (94) is connected to a hanger plate (95), and the actuator is mounted on the hanger plate (95).

5. The automatic rice ball packaging machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The actuator includes a feeding and pressing mechanism (2), which includes a sleeve (33) fixed on the hanger plate (95), a sliding rod (34) slidably inserted in the sleeve (33), and a push plate (35) disposed at the end of the sliding rod (34). An elastic element (36) is disposed on the sliding rod (34).

6. The automatic rice ball packaging machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The actuator includes a discharge mechanism (4), which includes a discharge push plate (41) disposed on the hanger plate (95).

7. The automatic rice ball packaging machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, An eccentric block (401) is also provided on the intermediate output shaft (83). The eccentric block (401) is connected to a hot-pressing drive mechanism. The hot-pressing drive mechanism is used to drive a hot-pressing component to hot-press and fix the folded seaweed.

8. The automatic rice ball packaging machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The hot press drive mechanism includes an eccentric frame (403) that cooperates with the eccentric block (401). The eccentric frame (403) is connected to the frame (1) through a vertically arranged slide rail slider assembly (402). The eccentric frame (403) is connected to a drive rod (404), and the drive rod (404) drives the hot press bracket on which the hot press element is installed to move.

9. The automatic rice ball packaging machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, It also includes a discharge conveyor belt (412), which is located below the turntable (7) at a position corresponding to the discharge station; the side output end of the intermittent drive mechanism (6) is provided with a discharge drive pulley (415), which is connected to the drive roller (413) of the discharge conveyor belt (412) through a belt drive mechanism to drive the discharge conveyor belt (412).

10. The automatic rice ball packaging machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, It also includes a seaweed folding mechanism (3), which includes an active folding component driven by a motor and a passive folding component that is fixedly set.

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