CA2732066A1 - Infeed collation system - Google Patents

Infeed collation system Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2732066A1
CA2732066A1 CA 2732066 CA2732066A CA2732066A1 CA 2732066 A1 CA2732066 A1 CA 2732066A1 CA 2732066 CA2732066 CA 2732066 CA 2732066 A CA2732066 A CA 2732066A CA 2732066 A1 CA2732066 A1 CA 2732066A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
collator
product
conveyor
combination
infeed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2732066
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Chris Follows
Kevin Crosby
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2732066 priority Critical patent/CA2732066A1/en
Priority to CA2767649A priority patent/CA2767649C/en
Publication of CA2732066A1 publication Critical patent/CA2732066A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/74Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
    • B65G47/84Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
    • B65G47/841Devices having endless travelling belts or chains equipped with article-engaging elements
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G21/00Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors
    • B65G21/10Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors movable, or having interchangeable or relatively movable parts; Devices for moving framework or parts thereof

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)

Abstract

The present device is a collator and an infeed conveyor wherein the collator receiving product from the infeed conveyor at an infeed point of the infeed conveyor. The product includes a flat side and an edge side and the collator and infeed conveyor are adapted to select between delivery of the product to the collator at an on flat load position and delivery of the product to the collator at an on edge load position. Preferably the collator including an adjustment mechanism for urging the collator between a left position and a right position and the conveyor including a height adjustment mechanism for urging the conveyor between a raised position and a lowered position.

Description

File No: 1294P2 CANADA
Title: INFEED COLLATION SYSTEM
Inventor: CHRIS FOLLOWS and KEVIN CROSBY

INFEED COLLATION SYSTEM
Field of the Invention [0001] The present device is a collator and method of use in which the collator together with an infeed conveyor feeding the collator is configured to be able to orient products onto their flat surface and/or orient products onto their edge surface by repositioning of the collator and infeed conveyor.

Background of the Invention [0002] The present device and infeed collation system is used to present packaged products in a predetermined orientation for subsequent loading into boxes or other final packaging containers.
[0003] Typically products are rectangular in shape and/or have a more or less flat surface and a more or less edge surface in their geometry.
[0004] In some instances it is desirable to be able to pre-orient the products all onto their flat surface for subsequent loading into boxes and other packaging.
[0005] In other instances it is desirable to pre-orient all of the products onto their edge for subsequent packaging into boxes and other packaging.
[0006] Historically collation systems are set up to either orient incoming products onto their flat surface and/or onto their edge surface but not both.
In the industry this is termed packaging on the flat versus packaging on the edge.
Presently separate systems are required in order to package on the flat and package on the edge.
[0007] It is desirable to have a collation system which has the capability of orienting a product onto its flat surface prior to packaging into boxes and also have the capability and the flexibility to when desired be able to orient the product onto its edge surface for subsequent filling of boxes.

Summary of the Invention [0008] In combination a collator and an infeed conveyor wherein the collator receives product from the infeed conveyor at an infeed point of the infeed conveyor and the product includes a flat side and an edge side. The collator and infeed conveyor are adapted to select between delivery of the product to the collator at an on flat load position and delivery of the product to the collator at an on edge load position.
[0009] Preferably wherein the collator including an adjustment mechanism for urging the collator between a left position and a right position.
[00010] Preferably wherein the conveyor including an height adjustment mechanism for urging the conveyor between a raised position and a lowered position.

[00011 ] Preferably wherein the conveyor pivoting about a pivot point when urged between the raised position and the lowered position, such that a product receiving point proximate the pivot point remains substantially unaltered when the conveyor in either position.

[00012] Preferably wherein the adjustment mechanism urging the collator along an horizontal direction.

[00013] Preferably wherein the height adjustment mechanism urging an in feed point of the conveyor substantially along a vertical direction.

[00014] Preferably wherein the collator including at least two receptacle trains and each train including numerous side by side product receptacles wherein each receptacle including receptacle walls projecting outwardly from a collator belt thereby defining a receptacle slot.

[00015] Preferably wherein at the on edge load position product is urged into the product receptacle such that the flat side is adjacent and parallel to the receptacle wall.

[00016] Preferably wherein at the on flat load position product is urged onto the receptacle such that the flat side is adjacent and parallel to the conveyor belt.

Brief Description of the Drawings [00017] The present device and system will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of three-train collator together with an adjustment mechanism showing the collator in the left position, for packaging on the edge.

Figure 2 a side elevational view of a three-train collator shown in Figure 1 together with the adjustment mechanism with the collator in the right position, for packaging on the flat.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of an infeed conveyor together with a height adjustment mechanism shown in the raised position, for packaging on the flat.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the infeed conveyor together with the height adjustment mechanism shown in the lowered position for packaging on the edge.

Figure 5 is a top side perspective view of a three-train collator.

Figure 6 is a partial cut away perspective view of the collator deployed together with the infeed conveyor shown orienting product on the edge.
Figure 7 is a partial cutaway perspective view of a collator deployed with an infeed conveyor shown orienting product on the flat.

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a collator deployed together with an infeed conveyor showing the infeed conveyor in the raised position the collator in the right position and packaging the product on the flat.
Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a collator deployed together with an infeed conveyor showing the infeed conveyor in the lowered position the collator in the left position and packaging the product on the edge.

Figure 10 is a schematic side elevational view of the infeed conveyor together with the collator shown orienting the product on the flat.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of an infeed conveyor together with a collator shown orienting product on the edge.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments [00018] The infeed collation system shown in overview fashion in Figures 8 & 9 generally as 100 includes the following major components namely collator 200 and infeed conveyor 300.

[00019] Infeed collation system 100 is used in the packaging of products in particular is used in the packaging of food products however is not limited to food products. In addition the present device is particularly useful for products shown generally as 400, which include a flat 402 side and an edge 404 side. Products could be for example chocolate bars, granola bars and/or any other items, which need to be collated and packaged into boxes.

[00020] Referring now to Figures 1 & 2 collator 200 includes the following major components namely receptacle train 202 collator belt 204 and an adjustment mechanism 206. Depicted collator 200 is a three-receptacle train 206 collator which are fastened to a collator belt 204.

[00021] Each receptacle train 202 includes product receptacles 208 having receptacle walls 210 and define a receptacle slot 212. Collator belt 204 is supported and driven by belt rolls 214.

[00022] Adjustment mechanism 206 includes an adjusting wheel 220, a pinion 222, a rack 224 and a shaft 226. By turning wheel 220 one is able to move the collator 200 from a left position shown as 230 in Figure 1 to a right position shown as 232 in Figure 2. Collator 200 is mounted via rail bearings 234 onto rails 236.

[00023] Adjustment mechanism 206 moves collator 200 along the horizontal direction shown as 238. Adjustment mechanism 206 may be an other arrangement not shown in the drawings.

[00024] When collator 200 is in the left position 230 as shown in Figure 1, product 400 is loaded into product receptacles 208 at the on edge load position 240 shown in Figure 1. At the on edge load position shown as 240 receptacle wall is horizontal and receives the flat 402 of product 400 parallel to the surface of the receptacle wall.

[00025] Figure 2 shows collator 200, which is identical to collator 200 shown in Figure 1 other than it is depicted in the right position 232. In the right position 232 product 400 is loaded into product receptacles 208 at the on flat load position 242. At the on flat load position 242 the flat portion 402 of product 400 is parallel with collator belt 204 and the edge 404 of product 400 is parallel to receptacle walls 210.

[00026] Referring now to Figures 3 & 4 showing infeed conveyor 300 which includes the following major components namely height adjustment mechanism 302 which includes a turn handle 304, a threaded shaft 306 and a corresponding cooperating nut 308.

[00027] Infeed conveyor 300 further includes a conveyor 310, which has a product conveying surface 312, a product receiving point 314 and an infeed point 316.

[00028] Infeed conveyor 300 further includes guide rolls 318 including a front guide roll 320 and a rear guide roll 322.

[00029] Infeed conveyor 300 is supported by a frame 324, which includes front legs 326 and rear legs 328.

[00030] Rotating turn handle 304 raises and lowers the product conveying surface 312 which pivot point 31 lwhich is about rear guide roll 322. In this manner one can raise or lower infeed point 316 to the desired height. In Figure 3 infeed point 316 is shown in the raised position 340 which corresponds to delivering product 400 to the on flat load position 242 shown in Figure 2. In Figure 4 Infeed conveyor is shown in the lowered position 342 in which case the infeed point 316 corresponds to the on edge load position 240 shown in Figure 1.
The reader will note that one can select the height of infeed point 316 by operating height adjustment mechanism 302 and thereby obtain the desired level for infeed point 316. The reader will also note that product 400 flows along product conveying surface 312 in product flow direction 350 as shown in Figure 4.

[00031] Referring now Figures 6 & 7, which are partial, cut away expanded views of a portion of the collator 200 and a portion of the infeed conveyor near the infeed point 316.

[00032] Referring now to Figure 6 infeed conveyor 300 is shown in the lowered position 342 thereby delivering product onto collator 200 in the on edge load position 240. In this configuration product conveying surface 312 delivers product 400, which is lying on its flat side 402 onto receptacle wall 210 such that the flat side 402 of product 400 is parallel with receptacle wall 210. The conveyor belt 204 and collator 200 moves around belt roll 214 and product 400 is tipped upwardly such that product 400 is standing on its edge 404 such that edge 404 is parallel with collator belt 204 and the flat surface 402 of product 400 is parallel with the receptacle wall 210 of each product receptacle 208.

[00033] Referring now to Figure 7 which again is a partial cut away expanded view of the collator 200 and the infeed conveyor 300 near the infeed point 316.
[00034] In Figure 7 the infeed conveyor is in the raised position 340. The height adjustment mechanism 302 and moves the infeed point 316 of conveyor 300 in the vertical direction 280 until the desired height is received such that the product is delivered at the on flat load position 242. Additionally in order to ensure that product 400 enters at the on flat load position 242 collator 200 is adjusted to the right position 232 as shown in Figure 7 as well as in Figure 2 such that product enters at the on flat load position 242 at collator 200.

[00035] The reader will note that product 400 enters product receptacle 208 such that the flat portion 402 of the product 400 is parallel with the collator belt 204.
[00036] Referring now to Figure 8 which corresponds generally to Figure 7 wherein product is being delivered to the collator at the on flat load position 242.
[00037] Figure 9 corresponds generally to Figure 6 in which product 400 is shown being loaded onto collator at the on edge load position 240.

[00038] The reader will note that this combination of collator 200 and infeed conveyor 300 which utilizes adjustment mechanism 206 as well as height adjustment mechanism 302 to adjust the horizontal position of the collator and the vertical position of the infeed conveyor 300 allows one to be able to select between packaging product 400 on the flat shown in Figure 7 and/or packaging product 400 on the edge as shown in Figure 6.

Claims (9)

1. In combination a collator and an infeed conveyor, the combination comprising;

a) the collator receives product from the infeed conveyor at an infeed point of the infeed conveyor, b) the product includes a flat side and an edge side, c) the collator and infeed conveyor are adapted to select between delivery of the product to the collator at an on flat load position and delivery of the product to the collator at an on edge load position.
2. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein the collator including an adjustment mechanism for urging the collator between a left position and a right position.
3. The combination claimed in claim 2 wherein the conveyor including an height adjustment mechanism for urging the conveyor between a raised position and a lowered position.
4. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein the conveyor pivoting about a pivot point when urged between the raised position and the lowered position, such that a product receiving point proximate the pivot point remains substantially unaltered when the conveyor in either position.
5. The combination claimed in claim 4 wherein the adjustment mechanism urging the collator along a horizontal direction.
6. The combination claimed in claim 5 wherein the height adjustment mechanism urging an in feed point of the conveyor substantially along a vertical direction.
7. The combination claimed in claim 6 wherein the collator including at least two receptacle trains and each train including numerous side by side product receptacles wherein each receptacle including receptacle walls projecting outwardly from a collator belt thereby defining a receptacle slot.
8. The combination claimed in claim 7 wherein at the on edge load position product is urged into the product receptacle such that the flat side is adjacent and parallel to the receptacle wall.
9. The combination claimed in claim 8 wherein at the on flat load position product is urged onto the receptacle such that the flat side is adjacent and parallel to the conveyor belt.
CA 2732066 2011-02-17 2011-02-17 Infeed collation system Abandoned CA2732066A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2732066 CA2732066A1 (en) 2011-02-17 2011-02-17 Infeed collation system
CA2767649A CA2767649C (en) 2011-02-17 2012-02-15 Infeed collation system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2732066 CA2732066A1 (en) 2011-02-17 2011-02-17 Infeed collation system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2732066A1 true CA2732066A1 (en) 2012-08-17

Family

ID=46671135

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2732066 Abandoned CA2732066A1 (en) 2011-02-17 2011-02-17 Infeed collation system
CA2767649A Active CA2767649C (en) 2011-02-17 2012-02-15 Infeed collation system

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2767649A Active CA2767649C (en) 2011-02-17 2012-02-15 Infeed collation system

Country Status (1)

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CA (2) CA2732066A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111137494A (en) * 2020-01-20 2020-05-12 登封市启明轩程控设备有限公司 Bundling and noodle hanging finisher and noodle packaging line
CN111137495A (en) * 2020-01-20 2020-05-12 登封市启明轩程控设备有限公司 Fine dried noodle bundling device and fine dried noodle packaging line

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111137494A (en) * 2020-01-20 2020-05-12 登封市启明轩程控设备有限公司 Bundling and noodle hanging finisher and noodle packaging line
CN111137495A (en) * 2020-01-20 2020-05-12 登封市启明轩程控设备有限公司 Fine dried noodle bundling device and fine dried noodle packaging line

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2767649A1 (en) 2012-08-17
CA2767649C (en) 2019-03-26

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Effective date: 20140218