AU724869B2 - A shell feeder apparatus - Google Patents

Description

WO 98/42197 PCT/AU98/001 79

TITLE

A SHELL FEEDER APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a shell feeder apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a shell feeder apparatus including a conveyor means arranged to receive shells and transport them to a further location, wherein the conveyor means is arranged to orientate the shells to face in a specific direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of part of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 showing a conveyor means and a carousel means; WO 98/42197 PCT/AU98/00179 Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 to a further enlarged scale showing more details of the conveyor means and the carousel means; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the carousel means shown in Figure 3 and a further conveyor means; and Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a shell orientation means forming part of the apparatus of Figures 1 to

DESCRIPTION

In Figure 1, there is shown a shell feeder apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention including a ground engaging support frame 12 on which is mounted a conveyor means 14. The conveyor means 14 includes an endless belt which is formed of a plurality of blocks 16 connected together in end to end manner. Each block 16 contains an aperture 18 which, as can best be seen in Figure 4, is generally circular but includes a cut out portion 20 at a trailing location of the aperture 16 relative to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt 15 as will be described. Thus, the conveyor belt 15 includes a plurality of spaced apertures 18.

To one side of the conveyor belt 15 on an upper run thereof there is located a bench 22. Further, a shell feeder tray 24 is located adjacent an end of the bench 22 to a side thereof remote from the conveyor belt 15. The tray 24 is, in use, connected to WO 98/42197 PCT/AU98/00179 a bulk shell bin (not shown). Further, the tray 24 is located adjacent a Station A of the apparatus The conveyor belt 15 is connected to endless chains (not shown) which pass over sprockets 26 (see Figures 3 and 4) located at each end of the conveyor means 14.

As can be seen in figures 1 and 3, the sprockets 26 at one end of the conveyor means 14 are operatively connected to an electric drive motor 28. The sprockets 26 and associated equipment are covered by guards 30 at each end of the conveyer means 14.

A shell orientating means 32 is disposed within the apparatus 10. The orientating means 32 is shown in figure 6. The orientating means 32 includes an electric motor 34 connected to a drive pulley 36. The drive pulley 36 is connected by means of an endless belt 38 to an idler pulley 40 via a plurality of intermediate pulleys 42. The upper run of the endless belt 38 extends just below the conveyor belt 15 at a Station B (see Figure 1) to facilitate orientation of shells carried on the conveyer belt 15 in the apertures 18 as will be described Further, away from the Station B there is a guide plate 44 (see Figures 3 and 4) located below the upper run of the conveyer belt 15. The guide plate 44 defines a longitudinal channel for engagement with shells located in the apertures 18 as will be described.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a carousel 50 which includes a plurality of robot arms 51 having suction cups 52 mounted thereon.

WO 98/42197 PCT/AU98/00179 Each suction cup 52 is mounted on an L-shaped support arm 60 of a robot arm 51 which support arm 60 is in turn mounted on a U-shaped bracket 61. Each bracket 61 is pivotally mounted at a pivot 62 on a base 64. Each bracket 61 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 66 which extends between the bracket 61 of the robot arm 51 and a circular bulkhead 56 centrally located in the carousel Further, each suction cup 52 is provided with a pneumatically operated rotary actuator 68. Still further, each arm 60 is provided with a pneumatically operated rotary actuator 70 located within the corresponding bracket 61.

A plurality of tubes 72 extend from the bulkhead 56 to each of the cylinders 66, the actuators 68 and the actuators A valve terminal 74 (See Figure 3) is located within the bulkhead 56 and is connected to the tubes 72 which lead to each of the pneumatic cylinders 66, the actuators 68 and the actuators 70. Further, the valve terminal 74 is connected to a vacuum generator 73.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the carousel 50 is mounted on an axially rotatable vertical shaft 80 having an electric motor mounted 82 mounted thereon. The shaft is provided with bearings 84 upon which the shaft 80 is supported in a ground engaging frame 86.

WO 98/42197 PCT/AU98/00179 There is also provided an air coupling 88 which is arranged to be connected to an air supply (not shown). In addition, an electrical cable 90 leads to the motor 82 from a suitable power supply (not shown). Other electrical cables 90 are also shown leading to electrically operated components.

Further, there is shown a computer 92 which is operatively connected to the components of the apparatus 10 to provide control thereof As can be seen in Figure 3, the shaft 80 continues upwardly into the region of the carousel 50 within the bulkhead 56. A slip ring 94 is provided at an upper end of the shaft 80. Also, as can be seen the electric cable 90 emerges from the top of the shaft 80 and the slip ring 94.

Further, as can be seen in Figure 1, there is also a secondary conveyor 100 located at a Station D of the carousel 50. The conveyor 100 includes an electric motor 102 mounted on a frame 104. There are also provided a plurality of axially rotatable upright shafts 106 and two pairs of rollers 108 on the shafts 106. The shafts 106 have ends mounted in the frame 104 by means of bearings 110. Further, a respective belt 112 extends around each pair of rollers 108. The nearest belt 112 seen in Figure 1 travels in an anticlockwise direction whilst the farthest belt 112 travels in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 1. The belts 112 have regions 114 at which they run closely adjacent one another. Further, tensioning rollers 116 are located within each of the belts 112 to maintain the tension thereof at a desired level.

WO 98/42197 PCT/AU98/00179 In operation, a supply of shells particularly scallop shells are placed in the bulk shell bin 24. The apparatus 10 is energised so that the conveyor belt 15 commences moving in its upper run towards the carousel 50. Simultaneously, the carousel commences to rotate and the conveyer 100 commences to operate. The shells slide onto the feeder tray 24 and then across the bench 22 on to the conveyor belt 15 at Station A shown in Figure 1. The shells fall in to the individual apertures 18 in the blocks 16 of the moving conveyor belt The lower ends of shells in the apertures 18 slide along the guide plate 44 below the upper run of the conveyor belt At Station B shown in Figure 1, the shell orientating means 32 is located. At this point the lower ends of the shells in the apertures 18 contact the upper runs of the belt means 38 moving in opposite directions. The relative motion of the two parts of the belt 38 cause the shells to be rotated in the apertures 18 until the hinges of the shells are forced into the cut out portions 20. The hinges engage with the cut out portions 20 and the shells then remain in this orientation.

The shells are now oriented with their hinges trailing and the shells themselves facing forwardly.

At Station C shown in Figure 1, each suction cup 52 is pivoted downwardly in sequence under control of the computer 92 about the corresponding pivot point 62 WO 98/42197 PCT/AU98/00 79 by the corresponding cylinder 66 so that the suction cup 52 engages with a shell on the conveyor belt 15. The suction cup 52 at this point has a vacuum applied thereto so that the suction cup 52 becomes affixed to the shell. The robot arm 51 then reverts back to the upright position shown in Figures 3 and 4, with the shell attached.

Simultaneously, a colour sensor (not shown) identifies which face of the shell is facing upwardly on the conveyor belt 15. If the incorrect face is facing upwardly a signal is sent to the computer 92. The computer 92 then activates the valve terminal 74 which causes air to be supplied to the corresponding actuator 70 causing the arm and the actuator 68 and the suction cup 52 to be rotated through 1800 about a vertical axis. All of the shells now have their faces facing in the same direction.

Also, at the same time, in the case of all suction cups 52 holding shells, a further signal from the computer 92 to the valve terminal 74 causes air to be supplied to the corresponding actuator 68 rotating each suction cup 52 and the attached shells through approximately 900 about a horizontal axis. The shells are now in a hinge down position.

The carousel 50 continues to rotate so that each shell arrives at Station D shown in Figure 1 under control of the motor 82. Signals are passed between the computer 92 and the rotating carousel 50 via the slip ring 94 and the electrical cables WO 98/42197 PCT/AU98/00179 At Station D, the shells are placed in the secondary conveyor 100 and the computer then causes the valve terminal 74 to release air to the suction cup 52 so that the shell is released into the conveyor 100. The shells are placed between the belts 112 in the regions 114 and are gripped by the belts 112. The suction cups 52 are located adjacent to but below the belts 112. The belts 112 take the released shell to Station E. Each robot arm 51 is then reset for the next cycle.

In the case where a robot arm 51 has been rotated through 1800 as described above, the robot arm 51 is then pivoted downwardly to avoid contacting shells in the conveyor 100 and subsequently returned to its normal upright position.

The belts 112 are formed of foam rubber. The conveyor 100 is driven by the motor 102.

As discussed above, the shells are positioned by the robot arms 51 so that the top parts of the shells are pinched between the two moving belts 112. Thus, the shells are conveyed to Station E shown in Figure 1 at which suction cups from a scallop processing apparatus become affixed to both sides of the shells and the shells are transferred to the scallop processor from the shell feeder. A suitable scallop processing apparatus is described in detail in copending International Patent Application Number PCT/AU97/00787 in the name of the present applicant the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinto by reference.

WO 98/42197 PCT/AU98/00179 The motion of the conveyor means 14, the carousel 50 and the conveyer means 100 are all synchronised and continuous while the apparatus 10 is operating under control of the computer 92. Also, the motion of the shell orientator 32 is continuous. The motion of the robot arms 51 and the actuators is intermittent.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. A shell feeder apparatus including a conveyor belt arranged to receive shells and transport them to a further location characterised in that there is provided a plurality of robot arms each with a respective pneumatic suction cup, each robot arm being arranged to be individually pivoted so that the suction cup thereof engages with a shell on the conveyor belt, and then removes the shell from the conveyor belt.

2. A shell feeder apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in the robot arms are mounted on a carousel.

3. A shell feeder apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each robot arm includes a normally upright support arm on which is mounted the respective suction cup, each support arm being pivotally mounted on a base and being arranged to pivot downwardly to enable the suction cup to engage with a shell on the conveyer belt, and then pivoted upwardly to remove the shell from the conveyor belt as vacuum is applied to the suction cup.

4. A shell feeder apparatus corresponding to claim 3 characterised in that each support arm is connected to a pneumatic cylinder which is arranged to pivot the support arm relative to the base.

A shell feeder apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that each suction cup is arranged to be rotated about a horizontal axis when the support arm thereof is in its normal upright position and holding a shell so that the shell can be orientated in a hinge down position.

6. A shell feeder apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that means is provided for sensing which face of a shell is facing upwardly on the conveyor belt, and each robot arm is arranged such that, if necessary, 3 C AMENDED SHEET (Article 34) (IPEA/AU) PCT/AU98/00179 Received 04 May 1999 the support arm may be rotated through an angle of approximately 1800 about a substantially vertical axis after it has returned to its normal upright position.

7. A shell feeder apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by including a secondary conveyor arranged to convey shells to a shell processing apparatus and means for releasing air to a suction cup holding a shell allowing the shell to be released to the secondary conveyor after the air is released to the suction cup.

8. A shell feeder apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the secondary conveyor includes a pair of feed members arranged to grip a shell therebetween and transport the shell to the shell processing apparatus. AMENDED SHEET (Article 34) (IPEA/AU)