CA2558689A1

CA2558689A1 - Automated apparatus and method for consolidating products for packaging

Info

Publication number: CA2558689A1
Application number: CA002558689A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Russell J. Edwards; Mary L. Dolan; Svend Christensen; Borge P. Gundersen; John M. Lepper; Daniel Tsu-Fang Wang; Richard W. Abrams; Thomas C. Ravn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc
Priority date: 1994-06-10
Filing date: 1995-06-08
Publication date: 1995-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-08
Also published as: CA2558689C; CA2558678C; CA2558678A1

Abstract

An automated apparatus for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility. A first robotic transfer device is provided for periodically transferring a first predetermined amount of individual packages from the first station to an intermediate consolidation buffer. The packages are deposited on the consolidation buffer. A controller tracks down and identifies each individual contact lens conveyed form an inspection station to the consolidation buffer. The controller includes a memory and a logic for storing the identity of individual packages containing contact lenses, predetermined as out of specification by the inspection station, and generates a signal to cause the first robotic device to discard any individual package identified by the controller as being out of specification. A second robotic assembly periodically transfers a second predetermined amount of individual packages from the consolidation buffer to a second processing station.
The controller enables the first robotic device to provide sufficient amount of individual packages to the consolidation buffer to enable the second robotic assembly to continuously transfer the second predetermined amount of packages to the second processing station in every period.

Claims

1. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, said buffer comprising:
(a) at least one vacuum rail, said vacuum rail having an vacuum plenum, an input end and an output end, said vacuum rail receiving a plurality of products with random variations in the arrangement thereof at said input end, said vacuum plenum having at least one aperture therein to enable a vacuum drawn in said plenum to lightly grip a product placed on said rail;
(b) at least one product follower mounted for reciprocal movement along said rail from said input end to said output end, said product follower engaging products placed on said rail when reciprocating and sliding them along said rail from said input end to said output end;
(c) a longitudinal drive for reciprocating said product follower along said rail; and (d) a sensor for determining the presence of product at the output end of said rail, and initiating a signal for said longitudinal drive to reciprocate said product follower to said input position.

2. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said buffer further includes a product indexer for returning products received at said sensor to a predetermined product output position.

3. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said buffer includes at least two parallel vacuum rails adjacent each other, with independently actuable product followers for each rail.

4. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal drive is a pneumatically actuated rodless cylinder.

5. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aperture is an elongate slot which extends from said input end to said output end, and communicates with said vacuum plenum along its length.

6. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aperture is a plurality of apertures arranged along said rail, from said input end to said output end.

7. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said product follower is resiliently mounted on said longitudinal drive means.

8. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said buffer includes longitudinal guides for restraining lateral movement of said product when sliding.

9. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said buffer includes at least two parallel vacuum rails adjacent each other, with independently actuable product followers for each rail, said indexer returning products on both rails to said predetermined position.

10. A consolidation buffer for consolidating a plurality of products having random variations in product arrangement, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said buffer receives 2 by an array of products with random variations in said array at said input end, and provides a consolidated array of products at said output end, said product arranged and positioned for robotic handling.