Automatic cleaning device for copper strip chain of tobacco cutter
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202522599297.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-12-08
AI Technical Summary
[0003]但输送过程存在问题:上下铜排链间通道渐窄,烟叶受挤压和摩擦,碎末易粘附到铜排链的凹槽内
[0032]1、通过与实际生产结合,本实用新型能够使铜排链在清洁保养过程中实现自动化,凹槽内烟沫得到有效清洁,避免了铜排链在人工清洁过程中保养不彻底的情况,一方面极大地减轻了操作工的劳动强度,另一方面有效提高了设备的清洁保养效率,确保了输送物料过程的均匀稳定,进一步保障了切丝的质量。
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Figure CN224916838U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of cigarette production technology, specifically relating to an automatic cleaning device and cleaning method for a copper chain of a shredder. Background Technology
[0002] In the tobacco processing workshop, the copper busbar chain of the shredder is a key component for material conveying. During production, the material is fed to the lower copper busbar chain by the feeding trolley. The upper copper busbar chain is inclined and forms an angle with the lower copper busbar chain. As they move in opposite directions, the material is compressed and conveyed to the cutter gate by the lower copper busbar chain, where it is cut into tobacco shreds by the rotating cutter roller.
[0003] However, problems exist in the conveying process: the channel between the upper and lower copper busbar chains gradually narrows, causing the tobacco leaves to be squeezed and rubbed, and the debris easily adheres to the grooves of the copper busbar chains. If cleaning is not thorough during maintenance, the tobacco dust will repeatedly accumulate and clump together, gradually increasing in quantity. This will fill the grooves, reducing the friction between the tobacco leaves and the copper busbar chains, causing the material to slip and shift, affecting the stability of the conveying process, and even leading to uneven cutting, equipment jamming, and impacting production efficiency and quality.
[0004] Furthermore, current methods for maintaining copper busbar chains have limitations. Most workshops still rely on manual cleaning with handheld brushes, requiring the equipment to be shut down. Because copper busbar chains are several meters long with fine grooves, cleaning the accumulated soot requires repeated wiping, which is not only labor-intensive but also inefficient for individual machines. Moreover, the effectiveness of manual cleaning is affected by the adherence to proper operating procedures; if cleaning is incomplete, residual soot will accelerate subsequent accumulation, creating a vicious cycle.
[0005] To address the above problems, this utility model is proposed. Utility Model Content
[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of a shredder. This device does not alter the original structure of the shredder; it is simply fixed to the wall panel of the shredder by magnets. Located directly behind the lower copper busbar chain, the device's design ensures that soot in the grooves of the copper busbar chain is promptly cleaned during chain operation, preventing the soot from becoming compacted and hardened. Simultaneously, it reduces the workload for operators in the daily maintenance of the copper busbar chain.
[0007] This utility model relates to a cleaning device for a copper busbar chain of a wire cutting machine, comprising a drive motor, an eccentric wheel, a connecting rod, a brush plate fixing rod, a brush spring, a brush plate, a compressed air blowing port, a support plate, and positioning magnets. The drive motor is mounted on the support plate, and an eccentric wheel is mounted on the motor's output shaft. The eccentric wheel is connected to the brush plate fixing rod via the connecting rod, converting the motor's rotational motion into the reciprocating linear motion of the brush plate fixing rod. A spring and a brush plate are installed at one end of the brush plate fixing rod. The spring's function is to keep the brush plate close to the copper busbar chain during the reciprocating motion, improving the cleaning effect. Two compressed air blowing ports are opened on the support plate to blow away the soot removed by the brush. In addition, positioning magnets and springs are installed at the four corners of the support plate to fix the copper busbar chain cleaning device to the side walls at the tail end of the chain, reducing vibration during operation. The device can be removed promptly after cleaning.
[0008] This utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:
[0009] The first aspect of this utility model provides an automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of a shredder, which includes a support plate, a drive motor, an eccentric wheel, a connecting rod, a brush plate fixing rod, a brush spring, and a brush plate;
[0010] The drive motor is mounted on the support plate, and the eccentric wheel is mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor. The eccentric wheel is connected to the brush plate fixing rod through the connecting rod, so as to convert the rotational motion of the drive motor 1 into the reciprocating linear motion of the brush plate fixing rod.
[0011] A brush spring is installed at the end of the brush plate fixing rod away from the connecting rod, and the brush plate is connected at the end of the brush spring away from the brush plate fixing rod. The function of the brush spring is to keep the brush plate close to the copper busbar chain during the reciprocating motion, thereby improving the cleaning effect.
[0012] The support plate includes a main board and side plates located on both sides of the main board. The main board has an opening. The main board includes a front side and a back side. The drive motor, the eccentric wheel, and the connecting rod are located on the back side of the main board. The brush spring and the brush plate are located on the front side of the main board. The brush plate fixing rod passes through the opening so that both ends of the brush plate fixing rod are connected to the connecting rod on the back side of the main board and the brush spring on the front side of the main board, respectively.
[0013] Preferably, the opening is elongated, with its long side parallel to the connecting rod, so that the brush plate fixing rod can reciprocate along the long side of the opening within the opening.
[0014] Preferably, the main board of the support plate has a compressed air blowing port on its front side, and the compressed air blowing port faces the brush plate located on the front side of the main board, so as to blow away the smoke particles cleaned by the brush.
[0015] Preferably, there are two compressed air blowing ports, located on both sides of the brush plate.
[0016] Preferably, a positioning magnet is installed on the side plate of the support plate to fix the copper chain cleaning device to the wire cutter wall plate on both sides of the chain tail end.
[0017] Preferably, each side plate has two positioning magnets, which are located at the top and bottom of the side plate, respectively, which is equivalent to a total of four positioning magnets. The four positioning magnets are located at the four corners of the support plate to balance the force at the four corners of the support plate, which facilitates fixing the copper busbar chain cleaning device to the two side wall plates at the tail end of the copper busbar chain of the wire cutter.
[0018] Preferably, the positioning magnet is located on the reverse side of the side plate, that is, on the side of the side plate away from the brush plate. The positioning magnet is connected to the magnet support through a connecting shaft (hidden inside the positioning magnet spring, not shown in the figure). The magnet support is located on the front side of the side plate. The connecting shaft passes through the side plate, so that one end is connected to the magnet support located on the front side of the side plate, and the other end is connected to the positioning magnet located on the reverse side of the side plate.
[0019] A positioning magnet spring is sleeved around the connecting shaft, and the positioning magnet spring is located between the magnet support and the front of the side plate.
[0020] During operation, the copper busbar chain cleaning device is fixed to the wall panels of the shredder on both sides of the tail end of the busbar chain by the positioning magnet. During cleaning, the brush plate moves back and forth, causing vibration and impact on the equipment from left to right. As the shredder vibrates, the positioning magnet moves, thereby driving the magnet support to move through the connecting shaft. The magnet support reduces the movement of the front side plate by compressing the positioning magnet spring and using spring deformation to buffer the vibration, thus reducing the vibration of the copper busbar chain cleaning device. When the magnet is attracted to the wall, the brush moves back and forth, causing vibration and impact on the equipment from left to right. The impact vibration is reduced on both sides by changing the spring compression.
[0021] The second aspect of this utility model provides an automatic cleaning method for the copper busbar chain of a shredder, using the automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of a shredder described in the first aspect of this utility model, which includes the following steps:
[0022] S1, fix the automatic cleaning device of the copper busbar chain of the shredder to the tail end of the copper busbar chain of the shredder;
[0023] S2, start the drive motor, the output shaft of the drive motor drives the eccentric wheel to rotate, the eccentric wheel converts the rotational motion into the reciprocating linear motion of the brush plate fixing rod through the connecting rod, so that the brush plate fixing rod moves back and forth along the opening in the middle of the support plate;
[0024] S3, with the help of the elastic force of the brush spring installed at one end of the brush plate fixing rod, the brush plate at the end of the brush spring is pressed tightly against the surface of the copper busbar chain of the wire cutting machine. With the reciprocating linear movement of the brush plate fixing rod, the brush plate reciprocates to clean the surface of the copper busbar chain.
[0025] S4. After cleaning, remove the automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder in a timely manner.
[0026] Preferably, positioning magnets are installed on the side plates of the support plate, and each side plate has two positioning magnets, which are located at the upper and lower positions of the side plate respectively; in step S1, the positioning magnets at the four corners of the support plate are attracted to the side wall plates of the tail of the shredder, and the positioning magnets are used to fix the device and reduce vibration during the cleaning process.
[0027] The main board of the support plate has a compressed air cleaning port on its front side, and the compressed air cleaning port faces the brush plate located on the front side of the main board. Step S3 also includes a cleaning impurity blowing step: while the brush plate is cleaning the copper busbar chain, the compressed air cleaning port is opened to promptly blow away the soot cleaned by the brush plate, thereby completing the copper busbar chain cleaning operation.
[0028] Preferably, in step S3, the brush spring is kept compressed throughout the cleaning process to ensure that the brush plate remains in close contact with the surface of the copper busbar chain during the cleaning process.
[0029] In step S1, the adsorption force of the positioning magnet is greater than the vibration force generated by the device during the cleaning process, ensuring that the device does not shift during the cleaning operation.
[0030] In step S3, the airflow direction of the compressed air cleaning port forms an angle with the reciprocating motion direction of the brush plate, ensuring that the smoke is quickly blown away from the cleaning area after it detaches from the surface of the copper busbar chain.
[0031] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0032] 1. By integrating with actual production, this utility model enables the automation of the cleaning and maintenance process of copper busbar chains, effectively cleaning the soot in the grooves and avoiding the situation of incomplete maintenance during manual cleaning of copper busbar chains. On the one hand, it greatly reduces the labor intensity of operators, and on the other hand, it effectively improves the cleaning and maintenance efficiency of equipment, ensuring the uniformity and stability of the material conveying process, and further guaranteeing the quality of shredding.
[0033] 2. This utility model uses a positioning magnet to fix the device to the tail end wall plate of the shredder. It uses a motor to drive the eccentric wheel. The eccentric wheel converts the rotational motion into the reciprocating linear motion of the brush plate fixing rod through the connecting rod, so as to realize the cleaning of the entire groove of the copper busbar chain by the brush plate. During the cleaning process, the brush spring provides elastic support to the brush plate, so that the copper busbar chain is effectively cleaned.
[0034] 3. The automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder of this utility model has a compressed air cleaning port on the front of the main board of the support plate. The compressed air cleaning port faces the brush plate located on the front of the main board, so as to clean the smoke and dust cleaned by the brush.
[0035] 4. The automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder of this utility model has a positioning magnet spring between the positioning magnet and the side plate. During operation, the vibration can be reduced by the buffering effect of the spring deformation. Attached Figure Description
[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the main board on the reverse side of the automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder of this utility model.
[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of one side of the front of the main board of the automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder of this utility model.
[0038] The names of the reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are as follows: 1-Drive motor, 2-Eccentric wheel, 3-Connecting rod, 4-Support plate, 5-Compressed air blowing port, 6-Positioning magnet, 7-Brush plate fixing rod, 8-Brush plate, 9-Brush spring, 41-Main board, 42-Side plate, 43-Opening, 411-Front side of main board, 412-Back side of main board, 421-Front side of side plate, 422-Back side of side plate, 61-Positioning magnet spring, 62-Magnet support. Detailed Implementation
[0039] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments.
[0040] Those skilled in the art will understand that the following embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Where specific techniques or conditions are not specified in the embodiments, they are performed in accordance with the techniques or conditions described in the literature in the field or according to the product instructions. Materials or equipment whose manufacturers are not specified are all conventional products that can be obtained by purchase.
[0041] Those skilled in the art will understand that, unless specifically stated otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “the,” and “the” used herein may also include the plural forms. It should be further understood that the word “comprising” as used in this specification means the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. It should be understood that when we say an element is “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or there may be an intermediate element. Furthermore, the term “connected” as used herein can include wireless connections.
[0042] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more. The terms "inner", "upper", "lower", etc., indicate the orientation or state relationship based on the orientation or state relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.
[0043] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "equipped with" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.
[0044] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in general dictionaries should be understood to have the same meaning as in the context of the prior art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless defined as herein.
[0045] Example
[0046] This embodiment is an automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of a shredder, which includes a support plate 4, a drive motor 1, an eccentric wheel 2, a connecting rod 3, a brush plate fixing rod 7, a brush spring 9, and a brush plate 8.
[0047] The drive motor 1 is mounted on the support plate 4, and the eccentric wheel 2 is mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor 1. The eccentric wheel 2 is connected to the brush plate fixing rod 7 through the connecting rod 3, so as to convert the rotational motion of the drive motor 1 into the reciprocating linear motion of the brush plate fixing rod 7.
[0048] A brush spring 9 is installed at the end of the brush plate fixing rod 7 away from the connecting rod 3. A brush plate 8 is connected to the end of the brush spring 9 away from the brush plate fixing rod 7. The function of the brush spring 9 is to make the brush plate 8 close to the copper busbar chain during the reciprocating motion, thereby improving the cleaning effect.
[0049] The support plate 4 includes a main plate 41 and side plates 42 located on both sides of the main plate. The main plate 41 has an opening 43. The main plate 41 includes a front side 411 and a back side 412. The drive motor 1, the eccentric wheel 2, and the connecting rod 3 are located on the back side 412 of the main plate. The brush spring 9 and the brush plate 8 are located on the front side 411 of the main plate. The brush plate fixing rod 7 passes through the opening 43 so that both ends of the brush plate fixing rod 7 are connected to the connecting rod 3 on the back side 412 of the main plate and the brush spring 9 on the front side 411 of the main plate, respectively.
[0050] The opening 43 is elongated, with its long side parallel to the connecting rod 3, so that the brush plate fixing rod 7 can reciprocate along the long side of the opening 43 within the opening 43.
[0051] The support plate 4 has a compressed air cleaning port 5 on the front side 411 of the main board. The compressed air cleaning port 5 faces the brush plate 8 located on the front side 411 of the main board, so as to clean the smoke particles cleaned by the brush.
[0052] There are two compressed air blowing ports 5, located on both sides of the brush plate 8.
[0053] A positioning magnet 6 is installed on the side plate 42 of the support plate 4 to fix the copper chain cleaning device to the wire cutter wall plate on both sides of the chain tail end.
[0054] Each side plate 42 has two positioning magnets 6, which are located at the top and bottom of the side plate 42, respectively, which is equivalent to a total of four positioning magnets 6. The four positioning magnets 6 are located at the four corners of the support plate to balance the force at the four corners of the support plate, which makes it easier to fix the copper busbar chain cleaning device to the two side wall plates at the tail end of the copper busbar chain of the wire cutter.
[0055] The positioning magnet is located on the reverse side 422 of the side plate, that is, the side of the side plate away from the brush plate. The positioning magnet is connected to the magnet support 62 through a connecting shaft (hidden inside the positioning magnet spring, not shown in the figure). The magnet support 62 is located on the front side 421 of the side plate. The connecting shaft passes through the side plate, so that one end is connected to the magnet support 62 located on the front side 421 of the side plate, and the other end is connected to the positioning magnet located on the reverse side 422 of the side plate.
[0056] A positioning magnet spring 61 is sleeved around the connecting shaft, and the positioning magnet spring 61 is located between the magnet support 62 and the front side plate 421.
[0057] During operation, the copper busbar chain cleaning device is fixed to the wall panels of the shredder on both sides of the tail end of the busbar chain by the positioning magnets. During cleaning, the brush plate moves back and forth, causing vibration and impact on the equipment from side to side. As the shredder vibrates, the positioning magnets move, thereby driving the magnet support 62 to move through the connecting shaft. The magnet support 62 reduces the movement of the front side plate 421 by compressing the positioning magnet spring 61 and buffering the spring deformation, thereby reducing the vibration of the copper busbar chain cleaning device. When the magnet is attracted to the wall, the brush moves back and forth, causing vibration and impact on the equipment from side to side. The impact vibration is reduced by changing the spring compression on both sides (when the positioning magnet moves outward, the positioning magnet spring is compressed, and the whole thing moves outward; when the positioning magnet moves inward, the positioning magnet spring is released, and the whole thing moves inward; the positioning magnet, connecting shaft, and magnet support move as a whole).
[0058] This embodiment discloses an automatic cleaning method for the copper busbar chain of a shredder, using the aforementioned automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder, which includes the following steps:
[0059] S1, fix the automatic cleaning device of the copper busbar chain of the shredder to the tail end of the copper busbar chain of the shredder;
[0060] S2, start the drive motor, the output shaft of the drive motor drives the eccentric wheel to rotate, the eccentric wheel converts the rotational motion into the reciprocating linear motion of the brush plate fixing rod through the connecting rod, so that the brush plate fixing rod moves back and forth along the opening in the middle of the support plate;
[0061] S3, with the help of the elastic force of the brush spring installed at one end of the brush plate fixing rod, the brush plate at the end of the brush spring is pressed tightly against the surface of the copper busbar chain of the wire cutting machine. With the reciprocating linear movement of the brush plate fixing rod, the brush plate reciprocates to clean the surface of the copper busbar chain.
[0062] S4. After cleaning, remove the automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder in a timely manner.
[0063] Positioning magnets 6 are installed on the side plates 42 of the support plate 4. Each side plate 42 has two positioning magnets 6, which are located at the upper and lower positions of the side plate 42, respectively. In step S1, the positioning magnets at the four corners of the support plate are attracted to the side walls of the tail of the shredder. The positioning magnets are used to fix the device and reduce vibration during the cleaning process.
[0064] The support plate 4 has a compressed air cleaning port 5 on the front side 411 of the main board. The compressed air cleaning port 5 faces the brush plate 8 located on the front side 411 of the main board. Step S3 also includes a cleaning impurity blowing step: while the brush plate is cleaning the copper busbar chain, the compressed air cleaning port is opened to promptly blow away the soot cleaned by the brush plate, thus completing the copper busbar chain cleaning operation.
[0065] In step S3, the brush spring remains compressed throughout the cleaning process to ensure that the brush plate remains in close contact with the copper busbar chain surface during the cleaning process.
[0066] In step S1, the adsorption force of the positioning magnet is greater than the vibration force generated by the device during the cleaning process, ensuring that the device does not shift during the cleaning operation.
[0067] In step S3, the airflow direction of the compressed air cleaning port forms an angle with the reciprocating motion direction of the brush plate, ensuring that the smoke is quickly blown away from the cleaning area after it detaches from the surface of the copper busbar chain.
[0068] As shown in the figure Figure 1 , Figure 2This is an overall structural diagram of the present invention. 1 is a drive motor, 2 is an eccentric wheel, 3 is a connecting rod, 4 is a support plate, 5 is a compressed air blowing port, 6 is a positioning magnet, 7 is a brush plate fixing rod, 8 is a brush plate, 9 is a brush spring, 41 is a main board, 42 is a side plate, 43 is an opening, 411 is the front of the main board, 412 is the back of the main board, 421 is the front of the side plate, 422 is the back of the side plate, 61 is a positioning magnet spring, and 62 is a magnet support. The drive motor is mounted on the support plate, and the eccentric wheel is mounted on the motor output shaft. The eccentric wheel converts the rotational motion into the reciprocating linear motion of the brush plate fixing rod through the connecting rod. A groove is opened in the middle of the support plate, and the brush plate fixing rod moves back and forth within the groove. A brush spring and a brush plate are installed at one end of the brush plate fixing rod. The spring keeps the brush plate tightly against the copper busbar chain, improving the cleaning effect. Two compressed air vents are located on the support plate, angled directly towards the cleaning area of the brush plate, ensuring timely removal of cleaning residue. Positioning magnets are installed at the four corners of the support plate; these magnets provide stability and reduce vibration during use, attaching the copper busbar cleaning device to the side walls at the tail of the shredder. During operation, the brush plate remains in close contact with the copper busbar for cleaning. This significantly improves cleaning efficiency while greatly reducing manual labor intensity.
Claims
1. An automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of a shredder, characterized in that, It includes a support plate, a drive motor, an eccentric wheel, a connecting rod, a brush plate fixing rod, a brush spring, and a brush plate; The drive motor is mounted on the support plate, and the eccentric wheel is mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor. The eccentric wheel is connected to the brush plate fixing rod through the connecting rod, so as to convert the rotational motion of the drive motor into the reciprocating linear motion of the brush plate fixing rod. A brush spring is installed at the end of the brush plate fixing rod away from the connecting rod, and a brush plate is connected to the end of the brush spring away from the brush plate fixing rod. The support plate includes a main board and side plates located on both sides of the main board. The main board has an opening. The main board includes a front side and a back side. The drive motor, the eccentric wheel, and the connecting rod are located on the back side of the main board. The brush spring and the brush plate are located on the front side of the main board. The brush plate fixing rod passes through the opening so that both ends of the brush plate fixing rod are connected to the connecting rod on the back side of the main board and the brush spring on the front side of the main board, respectively.
2. The automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening is elongated, with its long side parallel to the connecting rod, so that the brush plate fixing rod can reciprocate along the long side of the opening within the opening.
3. The automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main board of the support plate has a compressed air blowing port on its front side, which faces the brush plate located on the front side of the main board, so as to blow away the smoke particles cleaned by the brush.
4. The automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder according to claim 3, characterized in that, There are two compressed air blowing ports, located on both sides of the brush plate.
5. The automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder according to claim 1, characterized in that, Positioning magnets are installed on the side plates of the support plate to fix the copper chain cleaning device to the shredder wall plates on both sides of the chain tail end.
6. The automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the side plates has two positioning magnets, which are located at the top and bottom positions of the side plate, respectively.
7. The automatic cleaning device for the copper busbar chain of the shredder according to claim 5, characterized in that, The positioning magnet is located on the reverse side of the side plate, that is, on the side of the side plate away from the brush plate. The positioning magnet is connected to the magnet support through a connecting shaft. The magnet support is located on the front side of the side plate. The connecting shaft passes through the side plate, so that one end is connected to the magnet support located on the front side of the side plate, and the other end is connected to the positioning magnet located on the reverse side of the side plate. A positioning magnet spring is sleeved around the connecting shaft, and the positioning magnet spring is located between the magnet support and the front of the side plate.