Container autorotation device and container autorotation method

• US 10,112,781 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leadway (Hk) Limited (Akatsuki Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Leadway (Hk) Limited (Akatsuki Corp.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Hao, Yang, Yigang, Yang, Jianxiong, Wu, Gang
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R
• Application Number:
  US15/446,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20180251319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 198375, 198379, 19837701, 19837702
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/48 Controlling attitudes of load-carriers during movement B65G17/18 takes precedence; guides B65G21/20; inverting or tilting load carriers to discharge contents B65G47/38
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/244 by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/252 about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/846 Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0439 Rotary sample carriers, i.e. carousels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

Provided is a container autorotation device and method. The container autorotation device comprises a conveying rack used for conveying a plurality of containers, at least one container base connected therewith and comprising a container clamping end and a driving end, and a driving component used for driving the container base to autorotate and comprising a motor and a clamping part driven by the motor. A slot matched with the driving end is formed in the clamping part such that when the driving end moves into the slot and stay, the driving end is driven by the clamping part to rotate. The slot in the clamping part is designed so that the driving end is pushed against the slot when entering the slot and rotating in the slot. Autorotation is achieved with mutual cooperation between the clamping part and the driving end.

Claims

1. A container autorotation device, comprising a conveying rack, at least one container base and a driving component, wherein the conveying rack is used for conveying a plurality of containers;

the container base is connected with the conveying rack;

the driving component is used for driving the container base to autorotate;

the container base comprises a container clamping end and a driving end, and wherein

the driving component comprises a motor and a clamping part driven by the motor;

a slot matched with the driving end is formed in the clamping part;

when the driving end moves into the slot and stays, the driving end is driven by the clamping part to rotate.

2. The container autorotation device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping part is mounted on a conveying route of the driving end.

3. The container autorotation device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the driving end is greater than the width of the driving end;

the length of the driving end is greater than the length of the slot; and

the width of the driving end is less than the width of the slot.

4. The container autorotation device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide part for adjusting direction of the driving end and urging the driving end to enter the slot.

5. The container autorotation device according to claim 4, wherein the guide part is arranged on a side of the conveying route of the driving end;

and a gap is formed between the guide part and the driving end.

6. The container autorotation device according to claim 5, wherein the guide part comprises a first guide plate, which is arranged on an inner side of the conveying route of the driving end.

7. The container autorotation device according to claim 6, wherein the first guide plate is arranged at the entrance of the slot.

8. The container autorotation device according to claim 6, wherein the first guide plate is distributed on the whole conveying route of the driving end;

a first notch is formed, facing to the side of the driving end, in the first guide plate;

the clamping part is contained in the first notch; and

the clamping part and the driving end are rotated inside the first notch.

9. The container autorotation device according to claim 8, wherein the guide part further comprises a second guide plate which is distributed in parallel to the first guide plate;

the second guide plate is arranged on the other side of the conveying route of the driving end;

a second notch is formed, facing to the side of the first notch, in the second guide plate;

the clamping part is contained in a through hole formed by two notches; and

the clamping part and the driving end are rotated inside the through hole.

10. A container autorotation method, comprising the following steps:

a) providing a container autorotation device which comprises a conveying rack, at least one container base and a driving component, wherein the conveying rack is used for conveying a plurality of containers;

the container base is connected with the conveying rack;

the driving component is used for driving the container base to autorotate;

the container base comprises a container clamping end and a driving end;

the driving component comprises a motor and a clamping part driven by the motor;

a slot matched with the driving end is formed in the clamping part;

when the driving end moves into the slot and stays, the driving end is driven by the clamping part to rotate;

b) retaining the clamping part on the conveying route of the driving end, and maintaining the position of the clamping part to enable the driving end to enter the slot;

c) controlling the conveying rack to start to convey the containers, and when the driving end moves to the slot of the clamping part, controlling the conveying rack to stop conveying to retain the driving end in the slot;

d) enabling the motor to drive the clamping part to rotate, enabling the clamping part to be pushed against and fit to the driving end, enabling the clamping part to drive the driving end to autorotate to drive the container base to autorotate;

e) enabling the motor to control the clamping part to stop rotation, and maintaining the position of the clamping part when the clamping part stops rotation, so as to enable the driving end to leave the slot along the conveying route; and

f) repeating steps c-e.