AU749367B2

AU749367B2 - Device for conveying objects by blowing and element defining at least said device blowing chamber

Info

Publication number: AU749367B2
Application number: AU30394/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Frederic Bernard
Original assignee: Rafale Technologie
Current assignee: Rafale Technologie
Priority date: 1998-04-10
Filing date: 1999-04-01
Publication date: 2002-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-01
Also published as: JP2002511373A; WO1999052802A1; KR20010042556A; BR9909557A; CA2324891A1; MXPA00009894A; AU3039499A; CN1299331A; FR2777267A1; EP1070014A1; FR2777267B1

Description

TITLE: Device for conveying objects by blowing and member defining at least one longitudinal portion of the blowing chamber of said device.

The present invention relates to a device for conveying objects by blowing.

Although more especially intended for transporting bottles, flasks or similar items, it can also be used to convey other types of object, in particular those provided with protuberances.

At the present time, in the bottle conveying field, there are known devices including blowing chambers, capable of enabling a stream of air under pressure to be ejected in order to ensure transfer of the bottles. For this purpose, said chambers are provided with a stream emitting zone, in particular in the form of a channel, inside which the bottle necks travel.

In order to maintain the required pressure, air is introduced into the blowing chambers in the area of supply zones provided at given intervals along the conveying line.

Owing to the inner structure of the devices currently used, there is noted to be a disturbance in the progress of the bottles in the vicinity of the supply zones. At such points, the behaviour of the air in the blowing chambers is, in fact, inadequately controlled. The flow is turbulent.

When it is wished to have different pressures available along certain portions of the conveying device, it is also known to use means for regulating the flow rates of air introduced to modulate the pressure upstream and downstream of said supply zones.

Such pressure differences make it possible, for example, to group the bottles together before propelling them in successive trains.

However, given the lack of control over the air ejection pressure in the vicinity of the supply zones, control over the bottle grouping points remains unsatisfactory. Furthermore, regulation of the pressures upstream and downstream of each of the supply zones proves complicated as these parameters remain highly inter-dependent.

P:\WPDOCS\RE'T7532740cIemn.do-I 11/03/2 -2- With presently known devices, non-negligible pressure losses due to swirling flow of the air in the blowing chambers at the point at which it is introduced are also to be noted.

The present invention provides a device for conveying objects that remedies the aforementioned drawbacks and makes it possible to ensure better control over the pressure of the stream ejected onto said objects over the entire length of their path.

The present invention also provides a device for conveying objects that enables air streams to be ejected towards the objects conveyed from zone of different pressure, with the frontiers between each zone being sharp and clear.

The present invention also provides a device for conveying objects in which regulation of the pressure obtaining in the different portions of its blowing chamber is more independent from one portion to the next.

The present invention also provides a device for conveying objects that makes it possible to limit pressure losses in the area of the fluid supply zones of its blowing chamber.

15 Further advantages of the invention will emerge in the course of the description that follows, which is given only by way of illustration and which is not intended to limit same.

The present invention relates to a device for conveying objects, in particular bottles, flasks or other items, including at least a blowing chamber, capable of permitting •ooo the ejection therefrom, under pressure, of a propelling fluid in the area of an emission zone provided at least partially along said chamber, to ensure the transfer of said objects by means of said propelling fluid in a first direction, or so-called conveying direction, and means for introducing said propelling fluid into said chamber, in the area of at least one supply zone, in a second direction, intersecting with said conveying direction characterised by the fact that, in the area of at least one said supply zone, said chamber includes means 25 for isolating one part, or so-called protected part, of said emission zone in relation to said supply zone in order to divert into the remainder of said chamber, beyond said protected part, the fluid introduced in the area of said supply zone, and by the fact that said protected part is maintained open in communication with the remainder of said chamber at one of its longitudinal ends.

The invention also relates to a member defining at least one longitudinal portion of the blowing chamber of the conveying device described above, said member including at least one said supply zone in the area of which are provided said isolating means.

The invention will be more readily understood from a study of the following description, accompanied by the annexed drawings, which form an integral part thereof, and wherein: Fig. 1 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a conveying device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line 11-11 shown in preceding Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line Ill-111 shown in preceding Fig. 1.

The invention relates to a device for conveying objects by blowing.

Although more especially intended for the transport of bottles, flasks or similar items, it can also be used in all fields of industrial activity in which it is wished to transport objects, in particular those provided with protuberances.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the device according to the invention includes at least a blowing chamber 1 capable of enabling a propelling fluid, in particular air, to be ejected under pressure, in the area of an emission zone 2, for example in the direction of the arrows bearing the number 3.

Said emission zone 2 is provided, at least partially, along said chamber 1 to ensure the transport of said objects in a first direction 4, or socalled conveying direction. In this connection, in the remainder of the text, direction 4 illustrating the direction of movement of the objects conveyed will serve to define the notions of 'upstream' and 'downstream'.

Said blowing chamber 1 has, for example, a rectangular cross-section and said emission zone is defined, in particular, by a channel 5, for example in the shape of an inverted U, provided in the area of the lower face of said chamber 1 all along the path of the objects. To enable the fluid to be ejected, said channel 5 is provided, in particular, with slits 6 directed so as to ensure the setting up of a propulsion force designed to act on objects travelling through said channel 5. A guide rail 7 is further provided for this purpose, in particular along the longitudinal edges of said channel This being said, to set up and maintain at a relatively constant level the propulsion force acting on the objects, the blowing chamber has to be supplied constantly. The device according to the invention thus includes means 8 for introducing the fluid. Such an operation is carried out in the area of at least one supply zone 9, in a second direction, 10, intersecting with said conveying direction 4.

According to the invention, in the area of at least one said supply zone 9, said chamber 1 includes means 11 for isolating a part, the so-called protected part 12, of said emission zone 2 in relation to said supply zone 9.

Furthermore, said protected part 12 is maintained open in communication with the remainder of said chamber 1 at one of its longitudinal ends 13, whereas said isolated part 12, thanks to said isolating means 11, remains closed off in respect of the remainder of said chamber 1.

The expression "longitudinal ends" is to be taken as meaning those transverse to conveying direction 4.

With such a solution, a stable pressure is maintained in the area of said emission zone 2, even in the vicinity of said supply area 9, by preventing the fluid introduced from having a direct influence on said emission zone 2. More precisely, in protected part 12, a pressure is ensured that is substantially equal to that set up in the remainder of the blowing chamber 1, and the objects can thus be transferred without disturbance.

Furthermore, if the pressure, this being a possibility expanded on hereinafter, is different upstream and downstream of supply zone 9, said protected part 12 will then be at the pressure, indicated by P0, of the part of blowing chamber 1 with which it communicates.

In the area of its closed longitudinal end 14, the pressure will be P0 under said isolating means 11 and, on the other side, will rise sharply to the value, indicated by P1, established in the corresponding part of blowing chamber 1.

Said protected part 12 defines, for example, an elongate, rectangular parallelepipedal volume along conveying direction 4 and locally includes said channel 5. Said volume is open, in particular, on one of its faces orthogonal to said conveying direction 4, and closed elsewhere.

Its length is designed to be sufficient to divert the fluid introduced to a part of blowing chamber 1 where its direction of flow will be relatively parallel to said conveying direction 4 and pressure will be stabilised in said chamber 1.

Said supply zone 9 is constituted, for example, by an orifice 15, and the fluid is supplied, in particular, in a direction orthogonal to said conveying direction 4.

Said orifice 15 is located, for example, on the upper surface, that is to say opposite channel 6, of said blowing chamber 1.

As illustrated, said isolating means 11 are constituted, in particular, by a plate 16 entirely traversing said chamber 1 between said supply zone 9 and said emission zone 2.

Said plate 16 is thus provided, for example, over the entire width of chamber 1, just above channel 6.

It is located at least perpendicularly beneath said supply zone 9 and has, for example, a length of two to three times that of orifice 15, in relation to which it may possibly be centred.

Said plate 16 has, in particular, an angled portion 17 at its longitudinal end 14 to close said protected part 12 in this area.

To favour laminar flow of the fluid introduced, said angled portion 17 is inclined, for example, in relation to the direction of said plate 16, at an angle of less than 90 in particular of 10 to 300 A return portion 18 may possibly be provided in the area of the longitudinal end 13 of protected part 12 so as to favour pressure maintenance therein.

The device according to the invention can further include, for example, means 19 for orientating the flow of the fluid through said chamber 1 upstream and downstream from supply zone 9.

In order to prevent the occurrence of swirling flow, said orientation means 19 are designed on a unitary basis for each direction, upstream and downstream. They are thus constituted, in particular, by a deflecting surface for each of said directions.

Said deflecting surfaces have, for example, a given curvature, in particular one that is substantially elliptical. Their transverse ends 21, 22 are thus, for example, on one hand, tangential to fluid introduction direction and, on the other hand, to conveying direction 4.

Said deflecting surfaces 20 are located in said blowing chamber 1, in particular, perpendicularly beneath said orifice 15, with one of their ends, 21, being on a level with the latter, while their other ends, 22, end, in particular, in the area of said plate 16 of isolating means 11, for example, perpendicularly beneath the transverse edges of said orifice Said deflecting surfaces 20 are, possibly, symmetrical in relation to one another.

In order to avoid pressure losses, said deflecting surfaces 20 are, for example, designed so as to be contiguous along their edges 21 located opposite said supply zone 9.

Said edge 21 may possibly be centred in relation to said orifice particularly in order to ensure balanced distribution of the fluid introduced, with possible regulation of pressure upstream and downstream thereof taking place elsewhere.

In this connection, the device according to the invention can include means 23 for regulating the flow rate of fluid orientated respectively upstream and downstream from said supply zone 9. Independent pressures are thus set up on each of the sides of orifice 15, in particular in order to be able to accelerate and/or slow down the objects conveyed.

As mentioned earlier, thanks to the invention, the area of pressure change in the vicinity of emission zone 2 is very precisely located, namely in the area of the closed longitudinal end 14 of protected part 12. As a result, it is possible to exercise finer control over conveying.

Said adjusting means 23 are constituted, for example, by registers, or dampers, 24. So as to favour a laminar type of fluid flow, said orientating means 19 and said registers 24 have, in particular, the same curvature, approximating, for example, to that of deflecting surfaces As shown, said blowing chamber 1 may, possibly, include one said register 24 for each direction, upstream and downstream. Said register or registers 24 are hinged, for example, so as to rotate about a transverse axis They thus define, in particular, valves the surfaces of which can close off blowing chamber 1, at least partially, in order to control the quantity of fluid travelling from supply zone 9 in the upstream and/or downstream directions in blowing chamber 1.

By way of example, in the minimum closure position, the curvature of said registers 24 and that of said deflecting surfaces 19 are substantially parallel. One of the transverse edges of said registers 24 is on a level with said orifice 15, and each of said registers 24 defines two conduits the crosssection of which is substantially identical, at the very least in the vicinity of said orifices Said hinge pin 25 is located, for example, perpendicularly below said orifice According to another form of embodiment, not shown, said regulating means 23 can be constituted, in particular, by said deflecting surfaces 8 designed to be hinged for rotation independently of one another in the area of their common edge 21.

Said means 8 for introducing the propelling fluid are constituted, for example, by means, not shown, for generating a stream of fluid under pressure, such as a fan, connected to said chamber 1 in the area of each of said supply zones 9 by a conduit 26.

A master register 27 modulating the quantity of fluid introduced into blowing chamber 1 can possibly be provided in said conduit 26.

Said register is hinged for rotation, for example, about a pin constituting an axis of symmetry of said register. Said pin 50 is orientated, in particular, orthogonally to common edge 21 of deflecting surfaces 20. Such an orientation makes it possible to favour independent adjustment of pressures P. and P 1 upstream and downstream.

The invention also relates to a member 28 defining at least one 15 longitudinal portion of blowing chamber 1 of the conveying device described above, said member 28 including at least one said supply zone 9 in the area of which are provided said isolating means 11.

According to the invention, said member 28 is, possibly, designed to be removable in relation to the remainder of the conveying device, in particular to facilitate its assembly/disassembly.

Other forms of embodiment, within the grasp of one skilled in the art, could, of course, have been contemplated without thereby departing from *o°Oo ••scope of the invention.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context 25 requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken Sas, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

1. Device for conveying objects, in particular bottles, flasks or other items, including at least a blowing chamber, capable of permitting the ejection therefrom, under pressure, of a propelling fluid in the area of an emission zone, provided at least partially along said chamber, to ensure the transfer of said objects by means of said propelling fluid in a first direction, or so-called conveying direction, and means for introducing said propelling fluid into said chamber, in the area of at least one supply zone, in a second direction, intersecting with said conveying direction, characterised by the fact that, in the area of at least one said supply zone, said chamber includes means for isolating one part, or so-called protected part, of said emission zone in relation to said supply zone in order to divert into the remainder of said chamber, beyond said protected part, the fluid introduced in the area of said oooo supply zone, and by the fact that said protected part is maintained open in i:1: 5communication with the remainder of said chamber at one of its longitudinal ends.

2. Device according to claim 1, in which said isolating means are constituted by a plate entirely traversing said chamber between said supply zone and said supply zone and said emission zone, said plate having an angled portion at one of its longitudinal ends to close said protected part in this area.

3. Device according to claim 2, in which said angled portion is inclined in relation to the direction of said plate by an angle of less than o*

4. Device according to claim 1, further including means for orientating the flow of the fluid through said chamber upstream and downstream from the supply zone, said orientating means being designed on a unitary basis for each of the directions, upstream and downstream P \WPDOCS\RET7532740clcankdoc-l 1J/312 Device according to claim 4, in which said orientating means are constituted by a deflecting surface for each of said directions, upstream and downstream.

6. Device according to claim 5, in which said deflecting surfaces are designed to be contiguous along one of their edges located opposite said supply zone.

7. Device according to claim 4, further including means for regulating the flow rate of the fluid, orientated respectively upstream and downstream from said supply zone.

8. Device according to claim 7, in which said regulating means are constituted by registers, said orientating means and said registers having same curvature.

9. Device according to claim 1, in which said means for introducing the propelling fluid are constituted by means for generating a stream of fluid under pressure, 4 15 connected to said chamber in the area of each of said supply zones by a conduit. Member defining at least one longitudinal portion of the blowing chamber of the S conveying device according to claim 1, said member including at least one said supply zone in the area of which are provided said isolating means.

11. A device as herein described, with reference to figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings DATED this 11 t n day of March, 2001 SRAFALE TECHNOLOGIES By Their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 11DA VIES COLLISON CAVE