US20140157571A1

US20140157571A1 - Automatic Shoe-Cover Machine and Shoe-Cover Packaging Mechanism

Info

Publication number: US20140157571A1
Application number: US14/122,235
Authority: US
Inventors: Liangjie Xu
Original assignee: OTO Industry (Shanghai) Co Ltd
Current assignee: OTO INDUSTRY(SHANGHAI) Co Ltd; OTO Industry (Shanghai) Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-05-25
Filing date: 2012-03-02
Publication date: 2014-06-12
Also published as: US20160297601A1; WO2012159476A1

Abstract

The present invention provides an automatic shoe-cover machine, including a shoe-cover roller, a blocking device, a cutting device and a sliding pull hook, wherein a plurality of shoe-covers are capable of being wound on the shoe-cover roller, wherein each of shoe-covers has a foot inserting opening, wherein a blocking device, a cutting device and a sliding pull hook are orderly provided with the shoe-cover roller along the radial direction thereof, wherein the sliding pull hook is connected to a driver, wherein the driver is connected with an electric motor and an electric controller. The automatic shoe-cover machine can utilize the action of dragging from a foot and the characteristics of connecting of the coordinating shoe-covers to achieve the object of automatically wearing shoe-covers, generating shoe-covers and is reliable. The present invention further provides an automatic packaging mechanism for an automatic shoe-cover machine.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a non-provisional application that claims the benefit of priority under 35U.S.C.§119 to a PCT application, application number PCT/CN2012/071864, filed Mar. 2, 2012.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic shoe-cover machine, and the present invention further relates to a shoe-cover packaging mechanism adapted for the automatic shoe-cover machine.
2. Description of Related Arts
In order to solve the environmental sanitation problems, for example keeping indoor sanitation clean, many patents and products involved to automatic shoe-cover machine have been published and/or on the market at present, for example an drag-automatic shoe-cover machine (CN patent number 200810046882.X, 200810048320.9) which I myself brought to market in 2009. Although the automatic shoe-cover machine is able to solve the problems, for example low shoe-cover getting rate, complex structure and high cost of pre-existing automatic shoe-cover machines, but because the processes of the shoe-cover for the automatic shoe-cover machine is complicated, as the drag-automatic shoe-cover machines are accepted by the majority of users and brought to the market in abundant supply, the shoe-cover shortage begins to appear, which seriously limits the sales and market popularity of the automatic shoe-cover machine. The shoe-cover shortage is a common problem about the automatic shoe cover machines on the market and patented technology being published, which has not been reasonably solved and paid sufficient attention to, for example Stephen Liye Chen's patent (Pub. No.: US2007/0204568 A1) disclosed a shoe-cover packaging method and an application equipment technology, wherein the organized shoe-covers are needed for the application equipment of the patent and at least one guide rail has to be needed and aligned with each of the organized shoe-covers, which results in a complicated manufacturing process so as not to supply to a mass production of the shoe-covers cannot be achieved and make the shoe-cover have a high cost, and if employing an automatic manufacturing equipment for packaging these shoe-covers to solve this problem, and because the shoe-coves having a high level of packaging are required in this technology, so the automatic manufacturing equipment will be very complex and difficult to succeed, and the research and development funds are very large such that it cannot be developed and prepared.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantage so as to provide an automatic shoe-cover machine and a shoe-cover packaging mechanism, wherein the automatic shoe-cover machine and the shoe-cover packaging mechanism both have no need of special requirements for manufacturing or packaging the shoe-covers used for the automatic shoe-cover machine, and the drag-action from a foot of a user and the corresponding shoe-covers having a connecting relationship can be utilized to make automatic and continuous actions of wearing shoe-covers to be achieved.
The object of the present invention is achieved by the following automatic shoe-cover machine:
an automatic shoe-cover machine comprising a shoe-cover roller, a blocking device, a cutting device and a sliding pull hook, wherein multiple serially-connected shoe-covers are wound on the shoe-cover roller, wherein each of shoe-covers has a foot inserting opening, wherein the blocking device, the cutting device and the sliding pull hook are sequentially provided in the radial direction thereof, wherein the sliding pull hook is connected to a driver, wherein the driver is connected with an electric motor and an electric controller.
In the above technical solution, each of the shoe-covers is made of soft material and has a bag-shaped structure, wherein multiple shoe-covers are aligned in a linear manner by connecting points provided respectively at two ends of each of the shoe-covers and wound on the shoe-cover roller to define a coil-shaped structure.
In the above technical solution, the blocking device comprises a blocking portion and two supporting portion, wherein the blocking portion is a coordinating member, or a blocking panel or a blocking strip, wherein each of the blocking panel and the blocking strip is movably arranged, wherein each of the supporting portions is provided with the blocking portion.
Further, the blocking device is a single blocking member or two or more blocking members provided side by side, wherein the cutting device is provided above the blocking device.
Further, the cutting device comprises a cutter and an electric driving device, wherein a cutter protecting casing is provided on the cutter.
In the above technical solution, one or more shoe-cover transmitting wheels are provided below the shoe-cover roller, wherein the shoe-cover transmitting wheel is connected with a shoe-cover in a thread-shaped connection.
In the above technical solution, the driver comprises a driving band and two driving wheels, wherein the two driving wheels are respectively provided outside of the shoe-cover roller and outside of the sliding pull hook, wherein the driving band has two ends covering the two driving wheels respectively and connected with the sliding pull hook, wherein the driving band is a belt or a chain, each of the driving wheels is a pulley or a chain wheel.
In the above technical solution, the driver comprises a driving screw and a screw nut, wherein the driving screw is provided below the shoe-cover roller, and the screw nut is sleeved on the driving screw and is connected with the sliding pull hook.
In the above technical solution, the driver comprises a driving chain and a driving gear, wherein the driving gear is provided below the shoe-cover roller, the driving chain and the driving gear are engaged with each other, and the driving chain is connected with the sliding pull hook.
In the above technical solution, the shoe-cover roller is a hollow sleeve, wherein a central fixing rod of the shoe-cover roller is provided in the hollow sleeve, and a cone-shaped fixing casing and a stopping friction material for the shoe-cover roller are respectively provided on two ends of the central fixing rod, wherein the stopping friction material for the shoe-cover roller is adapted for controlling the friction force resulted from the turning of the central fixing rod by adjusting a regulating bolt.
A shoe-cover packaging mechanism comprises a shoe-cover roller and the shoe-covers wound on the shoe-cover roller, wherein each of the shoe-covers has a bag-shaped structure having an inserting opening, wherein the inserting opening has elastic material provided thereon, and multiple shoe-covers are serially connected in a linear manner by the connecting points respectively provided on two ends of each of the shoe-covers and are wound on the shoe-cover roller to be packaged to define a coil-shaped structure, wherein the shoe-cover roller is provided in an axis of the coil-shaped structure made of the shoe-covers.
In the above technical solution, the shoe-cover roller is a cylinder-shaped roller.
Further, the shoe-cover roller has a protrusion provided in a middle portion thereof, wherein the protrusion has a cross section bigger than a cross section of each of to two ends of the cylinder-shaped roller. Further, the shoe-covers having the inserting openings which are under an opened state are provided on the middle portion of the shoe-cover roller or two ends of the protrusion provided on the middle portion of the shoe-cover roller.
Further, the shoe-cover package and the protrusion of the shoe-cover roller are round, oval, spindle-shaped or rectangular.
In the above technical solution, the connecting point provided between two neighboring shoe-covers is a structure accordingly defined during the edge banding process of two ends of each of the two neighboring shoe-covers.
Further, one of the connecting points of one shoe-cover is connected to one end or two ends of another neighboring connecting point.
In the above technical solution, the shoe-cover roller is a hollow sleeve, wherein a central fixing rod of the shoe-cover roller is provided in the hollow sleeve, and two cone-shaped fixing casings are respectively provided with two ends of the central fixing rod, wherein the two ends of the central fixing rod extend out of the shoe-cover roller, wherein a smaller opening of each of the cone-shaped fixing casings faces the middle portion of the shoe-cover roller.
The present invention employing the above technical solution has the following advantages:
1. Utilizing the drag-action of a foot and the connection relationships among the corresponding shoe-covers to enable automatic and continuous actions of wearing shoe-covers to be achieved.
2. Utilizing the connecting points formed accordingly during the heat sealing for edge banding process of the shoe-covers, and the connecting process of the shoe-covers is simple and reliable, has no need of additional manual operations and components.
3. The sequentially-connected shoe-covers are wound on the shoe-cover roller, which helps the automatic shoe-cover machine to be operated in a continuous and reliable manner so that the production cost is decreased and the production efficiency is greatly improved.
4. The shoe-cover packaging process employing the shoe-cover roller, which only need a rolling device provided in the terminal of the shoe-cover manufacturing device, is able to accomplish the whole automatic operation for manufacturing and packaging the shoe-covers and gives a great contribute to stable quality and mass production of the shoe-covers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a first connection between the shoe-covers of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a second connection between the shoe-covers of the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of a third connection between the shoe-covers of the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a schematic diagram of a fourth connection between the shoe-covers of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a first structure type of the shoe-cover roller of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a second structure type of the shoe-cover roller of the present invention.

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of a third structure type of the shoe-cover roller of the present invention.

FIG. 2D is a schematic diagram of a fourth connection between the shoe-covers of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a first packaging method for the shoe-covers having a connection type of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of a second packaging method for the shoe-covers having a connection type of the present invention.

FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of a third packaging method for the shoe-covers having a connection type of the present invention.

FIG. 3D is a schematic diagram of a fourth packaging method for the shoe-covers having a connection type of the present invention.

FIG. 3E is a schematic diagram of the shoe-covers shown in FIG. 3D, wherein the shoe-covers are under a wound state.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a fixing device for the shoe-cover sleeve of the present invention

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a first step of the operating process according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a second step of the operating process according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram of a third step of the operating process according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5D is a schematic diagram of a fourth step of the operating process according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5E is a schematic diagram of a fifth step of the operating process according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5F is a schematic diagram of a sixth step of the operating process according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a concise schematic diagram of a first step of the operating principle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a concise schematic diagram of a second step of the operating principle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6C is a concise schematic diagram of a third step of the operating principle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6D is a concise schematic diagram of a fourth step of the operating principle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6E is a concise schematic diagram of a fifth step of the operating principle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6F is a concise schematic diagram of a sixth step of the operating principle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of a first structure type of a shoe-cover transmitting wheel of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram of a second structure type of a shoe-cover transmitting wheel of the present invention.

FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram of a third structure type of a shoe-cover transmitting wheel of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a stopping element of a shoe-cover of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of a blocking portion for shoe-covers of the present invention, wherein the blocking portion for shoe-covers is a first coordinating member, wherein the first coordinating member is under a first work state.

FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of a blocking portion for shoe-covers of the present invention, wherein the blocking portion for shoe-covers is a first coordinating member, wherein the first coordinating member is under a second work state.

FIG. 9C is a schematic diagram of a blocking portion for shoe-covers of the present invention, wherein the blocking portion for shoe-covers is a second coordinating member, wherein the first coordinating member is under a first work state.

FIG. 9D is a schematic diagram of a blocking portion for shoe-covers of the present invention, wherein the blocking portion for shoe-covers is a second coordinating member, wherein the first coordinating member is under a second work state.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of a first driver for a shoe-cover sliding pull hook of the present invention.

FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram of a second driver for a shoe-cover sliding pull hook of the present invention.

FIG. 10C is a schematic diagram of a third driver for a shoe-cover sliding pull hook of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a protecting casing for a cutting device of the present invention.

FIG. 12A is a concise schematic diagram of a first step of the operating principle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12B is a concise schematic diagram of a second step of the operating principle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12C is a concise schematic diagram of a third step of the operating principle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12D is a concise schematic diagram of a fourth step of the operating principle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a concise schematic diagram of a control circuit of the present invention.

In the drawings: 1. shoe-cover, 2. shoe-cover connecting point, 3. Elastic material, 4. foot inserting opening, 5. shoe-cover roller, 5-1. protrusion provided at the middle portion of the shoe-cover roller, 6. cutting device, 7. blocking device, 7-1. blocking portion, 7-2. supporting portion, 8. transmitting wheel for shoe-covers, 9. regulating spring, 10. central fixing rod for a shoe-cover roller, 11. cone-shaped fixing casing, 12. stopping friction material for a shoe-cover roller, 13. pressing panel for friction material, 14. regulating bolt, 15. sliding pull hook, 16. coordinating member for a stopping mechanism, 17. driving band, 18. driving wheel, 19. driving screw, 20. screw nut, 21. driving chain, 22. driving gear, 23. cutter, 24. cutter protecting casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The following description is disclosed to illustrate detailedly two typical embodiments of the present invention, but the embodiments of the present invention are exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. At the same time, the advantages of the present invention will be more clearly and easier to understand by the detailed description. A plurality of relatively independent concise schematic diagrams direct to involved components of the present invention, for example a driving device and a control circuit, are respectively given to understand clearly and illustrating the description and make the description more simple and clear.
Referring to the drawings, the following description will be apparent: an automatic shoe-cover machine of the present invention comprises a shoe-cover roller 5, wherein multiple serially connected shoe-covers 1 are wound on the shoe-cover roller 5, wherein each of the shoe-covers 1 has a foot inserting opening 4, wherein a blocking device 7, a cutting device 6 and a sliding pull hook 15 are sequentially provided on the radial direction of shoe-cover roller 5, wherein the sliding pull hook 15 is connected to a driver, wherein the driver is connected with an electric motor and an electric controller.
The shoe-cover 1 is made of soft material and has a bag-shaped structure, wherein multiple serially-connected shoe-covers 1 are aligned in a linear manner by a plurality of connecting points 2 provided respectively at two ends each of the shoe-covers and wound on the shoe-cover roller 5 to define a coil-shaped structure.
The blocking device 7 comprises a blocking portion 7-1 and two supporting portions 7-2, wherein the blocking portion 7-1 is a coordinating member, or a blocking panel or blocking strip arranged movably, wherein each of the supporting portions 7-2 is connected with the blocking portion 7-1.
The blocking device 7 is a single blocking member provided independently, or two or more blocking members provided side by side, wherein the cutting device 6 is provided above the blocking device 7.
The cutting device 6 comprises a cutter 23 and an electric driving device, wherein a cutter protecting casing 24 is movably provided on the cutter 23.
A shoe-cover transmitting wheel 8 is provided below the shoe-cover roller 5, wherein the shoe-cover transmitting wheel 8 is connected to the shoe-covers arranged in a linear manner.
The driver comprises a driving belt 17 and two driving wheels 18, wherein the two driving wheels 18 are respectively provided outside of the shoe-cover roller 5 and outside of the sliding pull hook 15, wherein the driving belt 17 has two ends, wherein the two ends of the driving belt 17 are respectively sleeved on the two driving wheels 18 and are connected with the sliding pull hook 15, wherein the driving belt 17 is a belt or a chain, each of the driving wheels 18 is a pulley or a chain wheel.
The driver comprises a driving screw 19 and a screw nut 20, wherein the driving screw 19 is provided below the shoe-cover roller 5, and the screw nut 20 is sleeved on the driving screw 19 and is connected with the sliding pull hook 15.
The driver comprises a driving chain 21 and a driving gear 22, wherein the driving gear 22 is provided below the shoe-cover roller 5, the driving chain 21 and the driving gear 22 are engaged with each other, and the driving chain 21 is connected with the sliding pull hook 15.
The shoe-cover roller 5 is a hollow sleeve, wherein a central fixing rod 10 for the shoe-cover roller 5 is provided in the hollow sleeve, and two cone-shaped fixing casings 11 and a stopping friction material 12 for the shoe-cover roller 5 are respectively provided on the end portions of the central fixing rod 10, wherein the stopping friction material 12 for the shoe-cover roller 5 is adapted for controlling the friction force resulted from the turning of the central fixing rod 10 by adjusting a regulating bolt 14.
Referring to the drawings, the following description is apparent: A shoe-cover packaging mechanism of the present invention comprises a shoe-cover roller 5 and the shoe-covers 1 wound on the shoe-cover roller 5, wherein each of the shoe-covers 1 has a bag-shaped structure, wherein the shoe-cover 1 has an inserting opening 4 provided thereat, wherein the inserting opening 4 has elastic material provided thereat, and multiple shoe-covers 1 are connected in a linear manner by a plurality of the connecting points 2 provided respectively at two ends of each of the shoe-covers 1 and are wound on the shoe-cover roller 5 to be packaged to define a coil-shaped structure, wherein the shoe-cover roller 5 is provided in an axis of the coil-shaped structure made of the shoe-covers 1.
The shoe-cover roller 5 is a cylinder-shaped roller.
The shoe-cover roller 5 has a protrusion 5-1 provided in a middle portion thereof, wherein the protrusion 5-1 has a cross section bigger than a cross sections of each of two ends of the cylinder-shaped roller.
The inserting opening 4 is under an opened state and is provided at the middle portion of the shoe-cover roller 5 or two ends of the protrusion 5-1 provided at the middle portion of the shoe-cover roller 5.
The shoe-cover package and the protrusion 5-1 of the shoe-cover roller 5 are round, oval, spindle-shaped or rectangular.
The connecting point 2 between two neighboring shoe-covers is a structure defined accordingly during the edge banding process of two ends of each of the two neighboring shoe-covers.
The connecting point 2 of one shoe-cover 1 is connected to one end or two ends of the connecting point 2 of another neighboring shoe-cover.
The shoe-cover roller 5 is a hollow sleeve, wherein a central fixing rod 10 for the shoe-cover roller 5 is provided in the hollow sleeve, and two cone-shaped fixing casings 11 are respectively provided on two ends of the central fixing rod 10, wherein the two ends of the central fixing rod 10 extend out of the shoe-cover roller 5, wherein a smaller opening end of each of the cone-shaped fixing casings 11 faces the middle portion of the shoe-cover roller 5.

Embodiment 1

In order to make the operating process of the present invention be understood more clearly, the illustration is given by a blocking device being two blocking members provided side by side in a first embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 5A-5F and FIGS. 6A-6F, an automatic shoe-cover machine of the present invention comprises a shoe-cover roller 5, wherein multiple serially-connected shoe-covers 1 are wound on the shoe-cover roller 5, wherein each of shoe-covers 1 has a foot inserting opening 4, wherein a blocking device 7, a cutting device 6 and a sliding pull hook 15 are sequentially provided on the radial direction of the shoe-cover roller 5, wherein the sliding pull hook 15 is connected to a driver, wherein the driver is connected with an electric motor and an electric controller.
The blocking device 7 is two blocking members provided side by side, wherein the cutting device 6 is provided between the front blocking member and the back blocking member, wherein each of the front blocking member and the back blocking member comprises a blocking portion 7-1 and two supporting portions 7-2, wherein the blocking portion 7-1 has a V-shaped structure and is wider from bottom to top, wherein each of the supporting portions 7-2 is a cross rod, which are respectively provided on two ends of the blocking portion 7-1.
As shown in FIG. 1A-FIG. 5D, FIG. 2A-FIG. 2D and FIG. 3A-FIG. 3D, the shoe-cover 1 of the present invention is made of soft material and has a bag-shaped structure, wherein a plurality of shoe-covers 1 are aligned in a linear manner by a plurality of connecting points 2 provided respectively at two ends of each of the shoe-covers and wound on the shoe-cover roller 5 to define a coil-shaped structure.
The connecting point 2 of the shoe-cover 1 is a banded edge or a portion of a banded edge formed at one end of the shoe-cover 1 during the manufacturing process, wherein the banded edge may be defined by various processes and technologies, such as electric heating, ultrasonic welding, sewing, bonding, wherein the rolled shoe-cover package is cylindrical, drum-shaped, rectangular or fusiform, wherein the foot inserting opening 4 of the shoe-cover 1 is under a closed state and provided in a rolled side, or under an opened state and provided on the middle portion of the shoe-cover roller 5 or two ends of the protrusion 5-1 of the middle portion of the shoe-cover roller 5.
For the shoe-cover 1 having an inserting opening under the closed state, the automatic shoe-cover machine requires an opening mechanism to open previously the foot inserting opening of the shoe-cover 1 so as to make the sliding pull hook 15 insert the shoe-cover 1.
In order to illustrate simply and clearly the present invention, an application example that the shoe-cover 1 having an inserting opening under the closed state is used for an automatic shoe-cover machine is given, but in a practical application, an additional opening mechanism may be provided to ensure the foot inserting opening 4 of the shoe-cover 1 be under the opened state so as to get better results.
As shown in FIGS. 5A-5F and FIGS. 9A-9D, the blocking device 7 comprises a blocking portion 7-1 and two supporting portions 7-2, wherein the blocking portion 7-1 is a coordinating member, or a blocking panel or blocking strip arranged movably, wherein the supporting portions 7-2 are connected with the blocking portion 7-1.
The blocking portion 7-1 is movably provided in a middle portion of the foot inserting opening 4 of a dragged shoe-cover 1 to prevent multiple connected linear shoe-covers being dragged disorderly and keep the foot inserting opening 4 of the dragged shoe-cover 1 being under an opened state.
As shown in FIGS. 5A-5F, the blocking portion 7-1 is made of smooth and elastic material, wherein the blocking portion 7-1 has a V-shaped structure and is wider from bottom to top, wherein the blocking portion can be deformed under the effect of a suitable external force to allow the shoe-cover to go through, and in practical applications, the blocking portion 7-1 may achieve the objects of blocking and allowing the shoe-cover to go through by supplying an additional spring provided at the blocking device to pre-determine a torsion force, besides the blocking panel or blocking strip made of smooth and elastic material.
As shown in FIGS. 9A-9D, the blocking portion 7-1 may be a coordinating member which can be driven by a driving device to be closed and opened to make the foot inserting opening be easier to be inserted and enable the foot inserting opening 4 to be opened at a pre-determined position, or a blocking panel or blocking strip provided movably to accomplish a reverse and achieve the objects of blocking and allowing the shoe-cover to go through by actuation from a coordinating element 16, or two or more blocking portions are provided with the supporting portions, and in practical applications, the blocking portion may be a combination of the above types to define one or more arrangements thereof.
In order to illustrate simply and clearly the present invention, only one example of the blocking portion 7-1 made of smooth and elastic material is given, wherein the blocking portion 7-1 is a blocking panel or blocking strip having a V-shaped structure, wherein the blocking panel or blocking strip is wider from bottom to top.
As shown in FIGS. 5A-5F and FIGS. 12A-12D, the blocking device 7 of the present invention is a single blocking member provided independently, or two blocking members provided side by side, the cutting device 6 is provided above the blocking device 7, wherein the blocking portion 7-1 has a V-shaped structure and is wider from bottom to top to make the foot inserting opening be easier to be inserted and keep the foot inserting opening being opened in a greatest degree, wherein the blocking portion 7-1 is provided in an inclined manner and the cutting device 6 is provided above the blocking device 7 to ensure the foot inserting opening to be at a best opened position.
As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5F, FIG. 11 and FIG. 13, the cutting device 6 comprises a cutter 23 and an electric actuating and controlling device, wherein the cutting device 6 comprises a cutter protecting casing 24, wherein the cutter protecting casing 24 is able to move up and down to prevent other portions of the shoe-cover 1 being cut by mistake, and the cutter 23 may be a rotatable blade to achieve the object of cutting off.
As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, a shoe-cover transmitting wheel 8 is provided below the shoe-cover roller 5 to align the shoe-covers in a linear manner, and the swing position of the shoe-cover transmitting wheel 8 can be adjusted by providing an additional spring 9 to maintain a suitable pulling intensity of the shoe-cover 1 connected with the shoe-cover transmitting wheel 8.
The shoe-cover transmitting wheel 8 is a mechanism being separated, wherein the shape of the shoe-cover transmitting wheel 8 may has a common roller-shaped structure for tensioning or temporary passing, or the shoe-cover wheel 8 is designed into a rotating member having a bigger central portion and two smaller edge portion or a rotating wheel having forward thread and reverse thread provided symmetrically therein from the middle portion to two ends so as to make the foot inserting opening of the shoe-cover 1 be further opened and maintained during the moving process of the shoe-covers 1 aligned in a linear manner, and the shoe-cover transmitting wheel 8 may be a combination of above structure types to define one or more arrangements thereof.
In order to illustrate simply and clearly the present invention herein, the foot inserting opening 4 of the linear shoe-cover 1 is under an opened state, and the elastic material 3 provided at the shoe-cover 1 has a suitable tension strengthen, so the shoe-cover transmitting wheel 8 is not illustrated in the specific operating process of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C and FIG. 13, the driver comprises a driving belt 17 and two driving wheels 18, wherein the two driving wheels 18 are respectively provided outside of the shoe-cover roller 5 and outside of the sliding pull hook 15, wherein the driving belt 17 has two ends, wherein the two ends of the driving belt 17 is respectively sleeved on the two driving wheels 18 and are connected with the sliding pull hook 15, wherein the driving belt 17 is a belt or a chain, each of the driving wheels 18 is a pulley or a chain wheel, wherein each of the driving wheels is actuated by an electric motor or electrical controller.
Optionally, the driver comprises a driving screw 19 and a screw nut 20, wherein the driving screw 19 has two ends extended outside of the shoe-cover roller 5 and outside of the sliding pull hook 15, wherein the screw nut 20 is sleeved on the driving screw 19 and is connected with the sliding pull hook 15, wherein the driving screw 19 is actuated by an electric motor or electrical controller.
Optionally, the driver comprises a driving chain 21 and a driving gear 22, wherein the driving gear 22 is provided below the shoe-cover roller 5, the driving chain 21 and the driving gear 22 are engaged with each other, and the driving chain 21 is connected with the sliding pull hook 15 and actuated by an electric motor or electrical controller.
The sliding pull hook 15 is symmetrically and respectively provided on both sides of the shoe-cover 1 and connected with the driver, wherein the driver and the cutting device 6 are actuated by an electric motor or electrical control device.
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8, the shoe-cover roller 5 is a hollow sleeve, wherein a central fixing rod 10 of the shoe-cover roller is provided in the hollow sleeve, and two cone-shaped fixing casings 11 are respectively provided on two ends of the central fixing rod 10, wherein each of the two ends of the central fixing rod 10 extends out of the shoe-cover roller 5, wherein a smaller opening of each of the cone-shaped fixing casings 11 faces a middle portion of the shoe-cover roller 5 to make the central fixing rod 10 pass through the shoe-cover rolling sleeve, wherein the central fixing rod 10 is located by the cone-shaped fixing casings 11 to facilitate the installation of the shoe-covers 1 and decrease the production cost of the shoe-covers, wherein stopping friction material 12 is arranged to rub against one end of the central fixing rod 10 to prevent the shoe-covers rotating freely of the shoe-cover roller 5, wherein the friction force can be adjusted by a regulating bolt 14.
Referring to FIG. 1A to FIG. 13, the operating process of the present invention is detailedly illustrated:
Multiple shoe-covers are serially connected with by a plurality of connecting points 2, wherein the connecting points 2 are formed by heat edge banding, wherein the corresponding shoe-covers 1 are wound on the shoe-cover roller 5, wherein the foot inserting opening 4 of each of the shoe-covers 1 is under an opened state, wherein a first shoe-cover 1 wound on the shoe-cover roller 5 is dragged and the foot inserting opening 4 of the first shoe-cover 1 is sleeved on a first blocking portion of two blocking portion 7-1 provided side by side, wherein each of the blocking portion 7-1 is made of smooth and elastic material, wherein each of the blocking portion 7-1 is V-shaped and inclinedly provided at a front end of the shoe-cover roller 5 so that an elastic material 3 sleeved on the first blocking portion 7-1 can go up to a top end of the first blocking portion 7-1 arranged inclinedly by a tensile force of the elastic material 3 of the first shoe-cover 1 to drive a switch K3 of a control circuit to move downwardly, so the switch K3 is turn on, and a relay begins to work, a normally open contract is electrically communicated and a motor begins to rotate forward to drive the driver to move, wherein the sliding pull hook 15 is connected with the driving belt 17 of the driver so that when the motor begins to rotate forward, the sliding pull hook 15 is driven to move towards the blocking device 7, and when the sliding pull hook 15 moves to the first blocking portion 7-1 and a hook end of the sliding pull hook 15 is push down and passes over the elastic material 3 of the shoe-cover 1 wound on the blocking portion 7-1, the sliding pull hook 15 touches a switch K2 of the control circuit, and the switch is turn off, a switch K1 is communicatedly connected with the switch K2 and the switch K1 are under a state of interlocking, the normally open contract of the relay is cut off, the motor stops rotating forward, at the same time, a normally closed contract of the relay is powered, and the motor begins to rotate in reverse to drive the sliding pull hook 15 to move back to reset, and because the hook end of the sliding pull hook 15 passes over the elastic material 3 of the shoe-cover 1 covering the blocking portion 7-1 before the sliding pull hook 15 stops moving forward, when the sliding pull hook 15 moves back to reset, the sliding pull hook 15 hooks the elastic material 3 of the first shoe-cover 1 and drags it back to open the foot inserting opening 4 thereof, and when the sliding pull hook 15 catches the elastic material 3 of the first shoe-cover 1 and passes through the first blocking portion 7-1, the elastic material 3 of the first shoe-cover 1 upwardly presses the first blocking portion 7-1 to deform so as to allow the first shoe-cover to go through, and when the sliding pull hook 15 hooks the elastic material 3 of the first shoe-cover 1 and passes through the second blocking portion 7-1, the elastic material 3 of the first shoe-cover 1 upwardly presses the second blocking portion 7-1 to deform so as to allow the first shoe-cover to go through, and then the sliding pull hook catching the elastic material 3 of the first shoe-cover 1 keeps moving back and the connecting point 2 of the first shoe-cover 1 begins to press upwardly the first blocking portion 7-1 to deform and allow the first shoe-cover to pass through, at the same time, the first shoe-cover 1 leads a front end of the elastic material 3 of the second shoe-cover 1 to go through the first blocking portion 7-1, and the elastic material 3 of the backend of the first shoe-cover 1, which is next to the connecting point 2 of the first shoe-cover 1, covers the second blocking portion 7-1, and because the blocking portion 7-1 is made of smooth and elastic material 3 and is inclinedly provided, the elastic material 3 of the backend of the first shoe-cover 1 may be dragged by a backward force from the sliding pull hook 15 to move toward an upper end of the second blocking portion 7-1, and when the sliding pull hook 15 moves back to a pre-determined position, the switch K1 of the control circuit is touched and the switch K1 is cut off, the motor stops rotating in reverse, at the same time, the electric controller drives the cutting device 6 to move downwardly, and after the cutter 23 cuts off the connecting point 2 provided between the first shoe-cover 1 and the second shoe-cover 1, the cutting device 6 resets, and the dragged first shoe-cover 1 is separated from the second shoe-cover 1, at the moment, the foot inserting opening 4 of the first shoe-cover is kept under an opened state by the sliding pull hook 15 and the second blocking portion 7-1, and the elastic material 3 of the front end of the second shoe-cover 1 goes through the first blocking portion 7-1, and the connecting point 2 provided at the front end of the second shoe-cover 1 is cut off, so the elastic material 3 of the second shoe-cover 1, which covers the first blocking portion 7-1, loses the dragging of the first shoe-cover and is driven by an restoring force thereof to move upwardly to the top end of the first blocking portion 7-1 to accomplish the preparation work, at the moment, a user is able to put a foot into the first shoe-cover 1 through the foot inserting opening 4 and drag downwardly and backwardly the first shoe-cover 1 to deform the second blocking portion so as to make the elastic material 3 of the backend of the first shoe-cover 1, which covers the second blocking portion 7-1, separate from the second blocking portion 7-1 and be worn on the foot of the user, so as to finish a cycle. Because the foot downwardly and backwardly drags the first shoe-cover 1, the switch K3 is touched and turn on again, so the sliding pull hook 15 is driven by the motor and the driving belt 17 to move toward so as to start a next cyclic process.

Embodiment 2

In the second embodiment, we illustrate the present invention by an example of the blocking device 7 comprising a single blocking member provided independently.
As shown in FIGS. 12A-12D and FIG. 13, the first shoe-cover 1 wound on the shoe-cover roller 5 is dragged out and the foot inserting opening 4 of the first shoe-cover 1 is opened to cover a single blocking portion 7-1, because the blocking portion 7-1 is made of smooth and elastic material and inclinedly provided, the elastic material 3 of a front end of the first shoe-cover 1, which covers the blocking portion 7-1, may be driven by a tensile force from the elastic material 3 of the shoe-cover 1 to move to a top end of the blocking portion 7-1 provided inclinedly and touch the switch K3, and the sliding pull hook 15 drives the elastic material 3 provided at a front end of the first shoe-cover 1 to move backwardly and open the foot inserting opening 4, and when the sliding pull hook 15 moves to a pre-determined position, the switch K2 is touched and the sliding pull hook 15 stops moving, at the moment, the foot inserting opening 4 is completely opened and kept under an opened state, wherein a foot of a user can be put into the first shoe-cover 1 through the foot inserting opening 4 and is downwardly and backwardly dragged, and then the elastic material 3 of the elastic material 3 of a backend of the first shoe-cover 1, which covers the blocking portion 7-1, is driven by an external force from the foot to deform the blocking portion 7-1 so as to separate from the blocking portion 7-1, and the elastic material 3 of a front end of a following second shoe-cover 1, which is connected to the first shoe-cover 1, is dragged to pass through the blocking portion 7-1, so the blocking portion 7-1 loses the external force from the elastic material 3 and resets to insert into the foot inserting opening 4 of the second shoe-cover 1, and during the resetting process of the blocking portion 7-1, the cutting device 6 is synchronously actuated, at the moment, the first shoe-cover 1 is dragged to a pre-determined position and waits for several seconds for cutting off the corresponding connecting point 2, at the same time, the switch K3 is touched and the switch K3 is turn on again, and the sliding pull hook 15 is driven by the motor and the driving belt 17 to move toward so as to prepare for a next cycle, so the connecting point 2 provided between the first shoe-cover 1 and the second shoe-cover 1 is cut off, and the first shoe-cover is worn on the foot, wherein the second shoe-cover loses a pulling force from the first shoe-cover 1 and the foot inserting opening 4 of the second shoe-cover 1 is provided on the blocking portion 7-1, and the elastic material 3 covering the blocking portion 7-1 is driven by an restoring force thereof to move upwardly to the top end of the blocking portion 7-1 provided inclinedly to preparing for being opened by the sliding pull hook 15. At the moment, a whole cycle is finished, the remaining work process which is not detailedly described is same as the first embodiment.
It should be noted that: for these skilled in the art, all modifications and deformations without departing from the spirit should be included within scope of the present invention.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. An automatic shoe cover machine, comprising:

a shoe cover roller;

a plurality of shoe covers being linked in a serial manner and being rolled up at said shoe cover roller, wherein each of said shoe covers has a foot inserting opening;

a blocking device coupled at said shoe cover at a first position to retain said first shoe cover in position;

an electric motor;

a sliding pull hook driven to move by said electric motor to automatically pull said first shoe cover from said shoe cover roller so as to open up said foot inserting opening of said first shoe cover; and

a cutter device being automatically actuated to cut off said first shoe cover from a subsequent shoe cover, wherein said blocking device, said cutting device and said sliding pull hook are sequentially provided on a radial direction of the shoe cover roller.

20. The automatic shoe cover machine, as recited in claim 19, wherein said blocking device comprises a first blocking portion and a second blocking portion, wherein when said sliding pull hook is engaged with said first shoe cover to pull said first shoe cover, said first blocking portion is engaged with a front end of said subsequent shoe cover while said second blocking portion is engaged with a back end of said first shoe cover so as to open up said foot inserting opening of said first shoe cover between said second blocking portion and said sliding pull hook.

21. The automatic shoe cover machine, as recited in claim 20, wherein each of said first and second blocking portions has a V-shape to hold said shoe cover in position.

22. The automatic shoe cover machine, as recited in claim 19, wherein said electric motor generates a forward power to drive said sliding pull hook moving toward said first shoe cover at the radial direction so as to couple with said first shoe cover and generates a reverse power to drive said sliding pull hook moving away from said first shoe cover at the radial direction so as to pull said first show cover from said shoe cover roller.

23. The automatic shoe cover machine, as recited in claim 19, wherein the shoe cover is made of soft material and has a bag-shaped structure, wherein said shoe covers are aligned in a linear manner and are connected by a plurality of connecting points that each connecting point is provided between two ends of two consequently shoe covers, wherein said shoe covers are wound around said show cover roller to form a coil-shaped structure.

24. The automatic shoe cover machine, as recited in claim 19, wherein said cutting device comprises a cutter and an electric driving device, wherein said cutting device is located above said blocking device.

25. The automatic shoe cover machine, as recited in claim 19, further comprising a transmitting wheel provided below the shoe cover roller to ensure said shoe covers to be aligned in a linear manner.

26. The automatic shoe cover machine, as recited in claim 19, further comprising a driver operatively linked between said electric motor and said sliding pull hook, wherein said driver comprises a driving belt and two driving wheels, wherein said two driving wheels are respectively provided at outer sides of said shoe cover roller and outer sides of the sliding pull hook, wherein said driving belt is coupled with said driving wheels and is connected with said sliding pull hook, wherein said driving belt is selected from the group consisting of a belt and a chain, wherein each of said driving wheels is selected from the group consisting of a pulley or a chain wheel.

27. The automatic shoe cover machine, as recited in claim 19, further comprising a driver operatively linked between said electric motor and said sliding pull hook, wherein said driver comprises a driving screw and a screw nut, wherein said driving screw is provided below said shoe cover roller, wherein said screw nut is sleeved on said driving screw and is connected with said sliding pull hook.

28. The automatic shoe cover machine, as recited in claim 19, further comprising a driver operatively linked between said electric motor and said sliding pull hook, wherein said driver comprises a driving chain and a gear, wherein said driving chain is provided below said shoe cover roller, wherein said driving gear and said driving chain are engaged with each other, wherein said driving chain is connected with said sliding pull hook.

29. A shoe cover packaging mechanism, comprises:

a shoe cover roller; and

a plurality of shoe covers wound on the shoe cover roller, wherein each of said shoe covers has a bag-shaped structure having an elastic inserting opening, wherein said shoe covers are aligned in a linear manner and are connected with each other via a plurality of connecting points that each connecting point is provided between two ends of two consequent shoe covers, wherein said shoe covers are rolled up at said shoe cover roller with respect to an axis thereof to form a coil shape structure to be packaged.

30. The shoe cover packaging mechanism, as recited in claim 29, wherein the shoe cover roller is a cylinder-shaped roller.

31. The shoe cover packaging mechanism, as recited in claim 29, wherein said shoe cover roller has a protrusion provided at a middle portion thereof, wherein said protrusion has a cross section bigger than a cross section of each of two ends of said cylinder-shaped roller.

32. The shoe cover packaging mechanism, as recited in claim 31, wherein said inserting opening of said shoe cover is opened at an opened state that said inserting opening of said opened shoe cover is aligned with said middle portion of said shoe cover roller and a width of said inserting opening is within two ends of said protrusion.

33. The shoe cover packaging mechanism, as recited in claim 32, wherein said shoe covers are rolled up at said protrusion of said shoe cover roller, wherein a shape of said protrusion of the shoe cover roller is selected from the group consisting of round, oval, spindle-shaped and rectangular.

34. The shoe cover packaging mechanism, as recited in claim 29, wherein said shoe cover roller is a hollow sleeve, wherein a central fixing rod for said shoe cover roller is provided in said hollow sleeve, and two cone-shaped fixing casings for said shoe cover roller are respectively provided on two ends of said central fixing rod, wherein each of said cone-shaped fixing casings has a smaller opening, wherein said smaller opening faces a middle portion of said shoe cover roller.

35. A method of automatically dispensing shoe covers, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of shoe covers being linked in a serial manner and being rolled up at a shoe cover roller, wherein each of said shoe covers has afoot inserting opening;

(b) coupling a first shoe cover at a blocking device;

(c) driving a sliding pull hook to move couple with said first show cover;

(d) automatically pulling said first shoe cover from said shoe cover roller by said sliding pull hook so as to open up said foot inserting opening of said first shoe cover;

(e) cutting off said first shoe cover from a subsequent shoe cover via a cutter device, wherein said blocking device, said cutting device and said sliding pull hook are sequentially provided on a radial direction of the shoe cover roller.

36. The method as recited in claim 35 wherein in the step (c), said sliding pull hook is moved toward said first shoe cover at the radial direction to couple with said first shoe cover by a forward power generated by an electric motor, wherein in the step (d), said sliding pull hook is moved away from said first shoe cover at the radial direction to pull said first show cover from said shoe cover roller by a reverse power generated by said electric motor.

37. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the step (d) further comprising the steps of:

(d.1) engaging a first blocking portion of said blocking device with a front end of said subsequent shoe cover; and

(d.2) engaging a second blocking portion of said blocking device with a back end of said first shoe cover so as to open up said foot inserting opening of said first shoe cover between said second blocking portion and said sliding pull hook.

38. The method, as recited in claim 35, wherein the shoe cover is made of soft material and has a bag-shaped structure, wherein said shoe covers are aligned in a linear manner and are connected by a plurality of connecting points that each connecting point is provided between two ends of two consequently shoe covers, wherein said shoe covers are wound around said show cover roller to form a coil-shaped structure.