Folding device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11926499-B2
Application number	US-202117631090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2021
Priority date	May 27, 2020
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

A folding device is provided. The folding device includes a bearing and fixing mechanism (1) configured to bear and fix a main body portion (21) of a to-be-folded device (2); a folding mechanism (3) located on at least one side of the bearing and fixing mechanism (1), the folding mechanism (3) being rotatably connected to the bearing and fixing mechanism (1) and configured to bear and fix a to-be-folded portion (22) of the to-be-folded device (2); and a driving mechanism (4) connected to the folding mechanism (3), the driving mechanism (4) being configured to drive the folding mechanism (3) to turn relative to the bearing and fixing mechanism (1), so as to fold the to-be-folded portion (22) to a side in a thickness direction of the main body portion (21). The folding device can fold automatically, and manual folding is avoided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A folding device, comprising:
a bearing and fixing mechanism configured to bear and fix a main body portion of a to-be-folded device;
a folding mechanism located on at least one side of the bearing and fixing mechanism, the folding mechanism being rotatably connected to the bearing and fixing mechanism and configured to bear and fix a to-be-folded portion of the to-be-folded device;
a driving mechanism connected to the folding mechanism, the driving mechanism being configured to drive the folding mechanism to turn relative to the bearing and fixing mechanism, so as to fold the to-be-folded portion to one side in a thickness direction of the main body portion.

2. The folding device of claim 1 , wherein the folding device further comprises: a base;
wherein the bearing and fixing mechanism comprises:
a first bearing stage disposed on the base, the first bearing stage having a first bearing surface located on a side of the first bearing stage away from the base;
side plates located on opposite sides of the first bearing stage, the side plates being disposed on the base;

wherein each side plate is connected to the folding mechanism through a first rotating shaft, and a distance between an axis of the first rotating shaft and the base is larger than a distance between the first bearing surface and the base.

3. The folding device of claim 2 , wherein the bearing and fixing mechanism further comprises: a fixing member disposed on at least one side of the first bearing stage, the fixing member being disposed on the base, the fixing member having a fixed state and an unfixed state, wherein a portion of the fixing member in the fixed state presses and covers the main body portion; and an orthographic projection of the fixing member in the unfixed state on the base is positioned outside an orthographic projection of the first bearing stage on the base;
wherein, the fixing member and the folding mechanism are located on different sides of the first bearing stage.

4. The folding device of claim 3 , wherein the fixing member comprises:
a second rotating shaft disposed on the base;
a fixing part rotatably connected to the base through the second rotating shaft;
a pressing and covering part disposed on the fixing part, the pressing and covering part having a pressing and covering end facing the to-be-folded device, the pressing and covering end of the pressing and covering part and the second rotating shaft being located on the same side of the fixing part, the pressing and covering part being capable of moving close to or away from the base, and the pressing and covering end being configured to press and cover the main body portion on the bearing and fixing mechanism when the fixing part is in the fixed state.

5. The folding device of claim 3 , wherein the bearing and fixing mechanism further comprises: a first driving member connected to the fixing member and configured to drive the fixing member to switch between the fixed state and the unfixed state.

6. The folding device of claim 2 , wherein the bearing and fixing mechanism further comprises: a limiter disposed on at least one side of the first bearing stage, a portion of the limiter being positioned on the first bearing surface and abutting a boundary of a preset area on the first bearing surface, the preset area being an area adapted to bear the main body portion.

7. The folding device of claim 2 , wherein a first vacuum absorption hole is disposed on the first bearing stage, one end of the first vacuum absorption hole being positioned on the first bearing surface.

8. The folding device of claim 1 , wherein the folding mechanism comprises:
a mounting carrier rotatably connected to the bearing and fixing mechanism;
a second bearing stage disposed on the mounting carrier, the second bearing stage having a second bearing surface configured to bear the to-be-folded portion, a second vacuum adsorption hole being disposed on the second bearing stage, and one end of the second vacuum adsorption hole being positioned on the second bearing surface.

9. The folding device of claim 8 , wherein the mounting carrier comprises: a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm disposed opposite to each other, and a connecting arm fixedly connected between the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm; wherein the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm are each rotatably connected to the bearing and fixing mechanism, and the second bearing stage is connected between the first mounting arm and the second mounting arm.

10. The folding device of claim 9 , wherein a side of the first mounting arm facing the second mounting arm and a side of the second mounting arm facing the first mounting arm are each provided with a mounting slot;
wherein the folding mechanism further comprises:
bearing stage mounts disposed at both ends of the second bearing stage, at least a portion of the bearing stage mount extending into the mounting slot; the bearing stage mounts being displaceable relative to the mounting carrier along an extension direction of the first mounting arm;
at least one support disposed on the connecting arm, the support comprising a supporting end facing the second bearing stage;
an elastic telescopic member with one end connected to the second bearing stage and the other end connected to the connecting arm;
wherein the support has an extended state and a retracted state, when the support is in the extended state a distance between the supporting end and the connecting arm is larger than when the support is in the retracted state, and is larger than a length of the elastic telescopic member in a natural state.

11. The folding device of claim 10 , wherein the folding mechanism further comprises: a rolling member disposed on the bearing stage mount and configured to roll along an inner wall of the mounting slot.

12. The folding device of claim 11 , wherein both an upper surface and a lower surface of the bearing stage mount are provided with the rolling member, the rolling member being a spherical plunger.

13. The folding device of claim 10 , wherein the folding mechanism comprises two of the supports, the two supports being disposed proximate an end of the second bearing stage facing the first mounting arm and an end of the second bearing stage facing the second mounting arm, respectively.

14. The folding device of claim 10 , wherein the second bearing stage is a transparent stage.

15. The folding device of claim 2 , wherein the folding device further comprises:
a glue applicator mechanism configured to apply glue to the to-be-folded portion;
a curing mechanism configured to cure the glue on the to-be-folded portion.

16. The folding device of claim 15 , wherein the glue applicator mechanism comprises:
a first guide rail disposed on the base and extending in a first direction;
a stand disposed on the first guide rail and configured to move along the first guide rail;
a second guide rail disposed on the stand and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction;
an applicator head disposed on the second guide rail and configured to output glue and move along the second guide rail.

17. The folding device of claim 16 , wherein two of the first guide rails are disposed on both sides of the bearing and fixing mechanism;
wherein the stand comprises: two upright portions disposed opposite to each other, the two upright portions being disposed on the two first guide rails on both sides of the bearing and fixing mechanism, respectively; wherein two ends of the second guide rail are disp

Assignees

• Boe Technology Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Liu Shuqi
• Lu Xinhong
• Fu Wenyue
• Gao Haoran
• Yuan Guangcai
• Li Li
• Sun Shaodong
• Fang Song
• Du Dongfeng
• Qi Qi

Classifications

• B65H45/16 Primary

  Rotary folders · CPC title

• B05C5/0212

  only at particular parts of the articles (at particular part of web, band, strip, belt or ribbon B05C5/025) · CPC title

• B05C9/12 Primary

  the auxiliary operation being performed after the application (B05C9/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05C13/02

  for particular articles · CPC title

• B65H45/30

  Folding in combination with creasing, smoothing or application of adhesive (folding or adhesive application in article or web delivering B65H37/00) · CPC title