Gathering device for gathering plastic members

Provided is a gathering device for gathering plastic members. The gathering device includes a gathering portion and a tray detachably connected to the gathering portion. The gathering portion includes an outer shell, a hollow inner shell and a number of fans. The inner shell is received in the outer shell. The inner shell includes a number of vent. The fans are positioned between the outer shell and the inner shell for blowing ions into the inner shell through the vents. The tray is configured for containing the plastic members passing through the gathering portion.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to gathering devices, and particularly, relates to a gathering device for gathering plastic members made by an injection mold process.

2. Description of Related Art

Plastic members may be produced by an injection molding process and gathered in a gathering bin after the injection molding process. However, static charges may be generated during the injection molding and gathering processes, thus the plastic members may fly along random tracks because of the electrostatic forces. Therefore, it becomes difficult to gather the plastic members.

What is needed therefore is a gathering device addressing the limitations described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-2, a gathering device100for gathering plastic members made by an injection molding process according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The gathering device100includes a gathering portion10and a tray20connected to an end of the gathering portion10.

The gathering portion10includes an outer shell11, an inner shell12received in the outer shell11, and a number of fans13positioned between the outer shell11and the inner shell12.

The outer shell11includes a bottom plate110and a sidewall portion11aconnected to the bottom plate110. The bottom plate110and the sidewall portion11acooperatively define a receiving space115therebetween. The bottom plate110defines a through hole1101generally at a central portion thereof. In the embodiment, the through hole1101is substantially rectangular. However, a shape of the through hole1101can be changed according to demands. The bottom plate110includes two connecting bars1102formed on an outer surface thereof. The connecting bars1102are substantially parallel to each other and respectively positioned at two opposite sides of the through hole1101. Each connecting bar1102includes a first bar member1102a, a second bar member1102band a stop portion1102c. The first bar member1102ais fixedly connected to the bottom plate110, and the second bar member1102bis connected to a side of the first bar member1102aaway from the bottom plate110. The first bar member1102aand the second bar member1102bcooperatively form a substantially L-shaped structure. The second bar members1102bof the connecting bars1102oppositely protrude a distance to each other. The stop portion1102cis connected to and encloses an end of the L-shape structure. The sidewall portion11aincludes a first end1110and a second end1112opposite to the first end1110. The first end1110is an open end. The sidewall portion11aincludes a protrusion1111upwardly protruding from the first end1110. The second end1112is connected to the bottom plate110.

In the embodiment, the bottom plate110and the sidewall portion11aare substantially rectangular. In detail, the sidewall portion11aincludes a first sidewall111, a second sidewall112, a third sidewall113and a fourth sidewall114. The first side wall111and the third sidewall113are substantially parallel to each other, and the second sidewall112and the fourth sidewall114are substantially parallel to each other. The first sidewall111and the second sidewall113are perpendicularly connected to the second sidewall112and the fourth sidewall114.

The outer shell11further includes a number of reinforcing plates116. Each reinforcing plate116is right triangle-shaped. One right angle side of reinforcing plate116is fixedly connected to the bottom plate110, and the other right angle side of the reinforcing plate116is fixedly connected to the sidewall portion11a. In the embodiment, the reinforcing plates116are divide into four groups. Each group of the reinforcing plates116includes two reinforcing plates1161and1162substantially parallel to each other. Each group of the reinforcing plates116are connected to a corner of the sidewall portion11a.

A shape of the inner shell12is substantial a hollow frustum. The inner shell12includes an entrance end121, an exit end122opposite to the entrance end121, and four sidewalls123connected with each other in sequence. An edge1232is formed between each two adjacent sidewalls123. The entrance end121is larger than the exit end122. A shape and size of the exit end122correspond to the shape and size of the through hole1101in the bottom plate110, respectively. The inner shell12defines a number of vents1231allowing air to pass therethrough. The inner shell12further includes a frame1211connected to the entrance end121. The frame1211defines a groove portion1212in a bottom surface and two slots1211aon two opposite side surfaces. The groove portion1212faces toward the exit end122.

The fans13are ion fans for eliminating static charges on the plastic members and/or the inner shell12. The fans113are positioned on an inner surface of the bottom plate110. The fans113blow ions from the second end1112to the first end1110of the sidewall portion11a.

The tray20is substantially rectangular for containing the plastic members. The tray20includes two connecting blocks21protruding from two opposite outer surfaces of the tray20respectively. Each connecting block21is corresponding to a connecting bar1102of the gathering portion10. The tray20further includes a handle portion22formed on an outer side surface thereof.

Referring toFIGS. 3-4, in assembly, the inner shell12is received in the receiving space115of the outer shell11. The protrusion1111of the outer shell11is engaged into the groove portion1212, a side surface of the inner shell12is supported on the reinforcing plates116, and the exit end122of the inner shell12is aligned with the through hole1101. The tray20is detachably connected to the bottom plate110of the outer shell11. In detail, the connecting blocks21are slidably supported on the second bars member1102b. When the tray21is slid to a suitable position along the connecting bars1102, the stop portions1102cstop the tray21. The slots1211aof the inner shell12can be engaged with an injection molding device (not shown).

In use, plastic members enter into the gathering device100from the entrance end121of the inner shell12. The fans13a blow ions into the inner shell12through the vents1231. Static charges on the plastic members and/or the inner shell12can be eliminated by the ions from the fans13. Therefore, the effect of electrostatic attraction during the gathering of the plastic members is prevented, and the plastic members can be easily gathered by the gathering device100. The plastic members exit from the gathering portion10and enter into the tray20through the exit end122of the inner shell12.