DE3437134A1 - TRANSFER STATION FOR A CONVEYOR - Google Patents

Description

Transfer station for a conveyor

The invention relates to a transfer station for a conveyor, especially for the transfer of dough-receiving molds that are at a certain mutual distance should, on the conveyor of an oven and / or proofer or the like.

When handling and processing various articles, it may be necessary to transfer these articles from one conveyor to another other transfer, in such a way that the articles on the receiving conveyor at a distance from each other and at a certain distance are held. For example, when baking and / or proving certain dough products, such as bread or rolls, molds with unproofed dough transferred from a loading conveyor to a transport conveyor that is faster than the loading conveyor runs and the molds through a treatment chamber such as a proofer or oven leads.

It is important that the shapes on the conveyor keep sufficient distance from one another so that the tendency of the Forms of jamming when the conveyor turns a curve is kept as low as possible. Ideally, it can this can be achieved by regulating the speeds of the loading and transport conveyor to ensure that the transfer of each form takes place in a certain interval after the previous form. In practice but such an ideal handover process cannot be realized. It is common to use the loading and transport conveyor to align with each other in the horizontal direction and to let them overlap each other. This is achieved by that one trains the loading conveyor as a pair of laterally offset bands which astride the Grab the conveyor. Below the form-guiding tracks

Magnets are placed on the belts in order to press the molds (usually made of steel) firmly against the loading belts and to prevent the molds from slipping. The front edges of the magnets end at the transport conveyor. When one hits the Belts guided form reaches the point of overlap between the belts and the transfer conveyor, then start the Molds with a transfer phase, with one part of the mold flat on the loading belts and another flat on the conveyor rests. As a result of this arrangement, the shape therefore lies flat against two conveyors, which run at different speeds and are thus exposed to different drive influences. Its ever so that one form runs through the transition phase and is fully seated on the transport conveyor so that it then starts with the faster one Speed is dissipated while a subsequent shape is still running through the transition phase. The one on the Conveyor-arranged forms thus achieve a mutual distance.

The various driving forces that the shape faces during the Transition phase is suspended, but can lead to a shape transferring more or less quickly than the next , i.e. the transfer phase is not the same from one shape to the other, so that there is an unequal distance between the forms on the conveyor. If the molds are too close together then mold jamming can occur come when the shapes run through curves. Frequent starting and stopping of the transport conveyor, in order to correct this jamming, then not only leads to a lower production, but also to a accelerated wear and tear of the whole system caused by the bumps and blows that occur.

It has been suggested to be at the end of the loading conveyor to place a movable lock that holds the shapes in place. Except for the fact that this makes the whole system more expensive

and becomes more complicated, such an interlock also results in repeated stops, restarts and clashes of Forms which has a detrimental effect on the product being conveyed, especially dough products.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to avoid these disadvantages. Another job is to create a to achieve continuous transfer of articles from one conveyor to another, by means of which a uniform spacing is achieved between articles on the receiving conveyor. Another task is "to be continuous uninterrupted Reach loaded with articles in order to reduce the starting, stopping and jarring of the same. One Another task is to keep the ratio of the supply of products automatically proportional to the speed of the transport conveyor to be able to change. Finally, it is still an object to provide feed and receiving conveyors when they meet are inclined to each other and provide a magnet below the feed conveyor, which is still on the The meeting point of the two conveyors extends in the conveying direction.

According to the invention, these tasks are carried out by a conveyor system of the type mentioned at the outset, which has a first conveyor with an article delivery area and a second Conveyor is provided with an article receiving area, both of which are arranged adjacent to one another. The second sponsor is driven faster than the first in order to achieve a mutual spacing of the articles on it. A magnet is arranged with a part so that it pulls the article magnetically onto the article delivery area and there the adhesive force with it this part increased. The article transfer area of the first conveyor meets the second when viewed from the side Conveyor at an angle of less than 180 °, which it forms with the article receiving area, so that during the transfer of an article from the delivery area to the receiving area of the

Article touches these two areas essentially along a line and against the article dispensing area by the magnet is pulled.

This means that the first conveyor retains control of the speed of the item until it is completely on the second conveyor is attached. The magnet can preferably also have a part that is behind in the conveying direction the point of contact of the two conveyors, so that the article after it has been handed over in full, it can also be pulled against the second sponsor. This way is the second Conveyor will be able to take full control of the speed of the item the moment the handover is complete.

The first conveyor may preferably consist of a pair of laterally offset belts, each of these belts has an associated magnet. The bands are spaced from the magnets so that frictional contact is avoided will. Each of the belts is wound around a support roller. These idlers are away from and towards the belts a quick-release lever mechanism movable so that the tapes can be easily changed.

The transport and the loading conveyor are shared by one Motor driven so that their speed can be changed proportionally to each other. Even the proportional one The ratio between the speeds of the conveyors can be changed.

Further advantages and features of the invention are shown in FIG The following description of an embodiment shown in the drawing. Show it

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bread fermentation chamber to which the present invention is applied

can and the loading conveyor according to the invention shows that puts the article on a conveyor that runs through the fermentation chamber.,

2 is a schematic side view showing the point of impact of the loading conveyor on the transport conveyor shows,

Fig. 3,

4 and 5 are each views similar to FIG. 2, but with a representation of the various phases that take place in FIG handover of articles from the loading conveyor to the transport conveyor,

6 is a plan view of the loading conveyor with part of a belt omitted;

7 is a side view of the loading conveyor, partially broken away, so that the idlers for the conveyor belt are visible and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a drive mechanism for both the transport and the loading conveyor.

A proofer housing 10 encloses a proofing chamber 12, which is used for the treatment of dough products, such as loaves of bread and Bread rolls or the like. suitable is. To maintain the desired atmospheric conditions within the chamber Conventional equipment (not shown) is provided for proofing the dough products.

The dough is placed in molds 13 (FIG. 3) which sit on a transport conveyor 14. The transport conveyor 14 forms inner and outer spiral areas 16, 18, which lie within the chamber 12, as well as supply and removal areas oak 20, "22,

which lie outside this chamber. The transport conveyor can have any configuration in which surfaces are provided are on which the forms can sit. For example, the conveyor can be of the chain type is provided with a number of support devices. A suitable motor (not shown) drives the transport conveyor 14 via suitable gears 24 (24a, 24b).

Dough molds 13 are fed to the infeed area 20 via a loading conveyor 26, which lies above the transport conveyor 14, i.e. the two conveyors 14 and 26 run in the same Direction when viewed from above. The molds 13 are placed on the loading conveyor 26 in any desired manner Wise applied and arrive on this tightly (Fig. 2).

The loading conveyor 26 is operated at a lower speed than the transport conveyor 14. The loading conveyor overlaps or intersects the transport conveyor (seen from the side) to the front, so that the two conveyors 14 and form an intersection point 28, which can be seen from FIG. 2. In the side view, therefore, the two conveyors 14, not arranged in the same direction, but form an angle A which is slightly smaller than 180 ° (Fig. 3). This Angle is preferably in the range between 168 ° to 176 °, although larger or smaller angles are of course also suitable could be. This angular position of the conveyors to one another is achieved in that the loading conveyor 26 is rotated by about 2 ° relative to the horizontal in one direction and the conveyor also at about 2 ° to the horizontal in the other Direction is inclined (i.e. the angle A is 176 ° in this case).

The loading conveyor 26 has a pair of laterally spaced apart endless belts 30, the front ends of which Astride the conveyor belt (seen from above)

and cut it (seen from the side) to create an overlap. At a point before the intersection point between the loading belts 30 and the transport conveyor 14, these belts 30 are inclined downward, namely under one steeper angle, so that there is enough space below the conveyor 14 at the front ends 32 of the belts to to arrange a drive motor 34 (Fig. 6) for the loading belts.

Below the strands 37 of the loading belts that carry the molds permanent magnets 36 are provided, which hold the molds 13 magnetically in fixed contact with the loading belts 30, when these lead the molds in the direction of the transport conveyor. The shapes are made of magnetic material, for example Stole. When the intersection point 28 between loading belts 30 and the transport conveyor 14 is reached, the Front ends 40 of the molds in first contact with the latter so that the mold transition phase is initiated. Because of the mutual angle A between the intersecting .den Conveying 14 and 26 there is only a line contact (instead of a surface contact) between the mold 13 and the transport conveyor 14 as long as the shape is still in the transition phase. That means the leading edge of the bottom the mold 13 is already on the conveyor 14, while most of the underside of the mold is except the rear edge 42 is lifted off the loading conveyor (FIG. 4). The mold 13 is then made by a line contact with both conveyors 14 and 26 carried. But since the magnetic forces of the magnets 36 initially only act on the rear edge 42 of the mold act (since the magnets are closer to the trailing edge 42 than the leading edge 40), the mold becomes tight against the loading belts 30 drawn. In this way, the belts 30 still exert the decisive driving forces on the mold 13 in the latter Step out of the transition phase. The leading edge 40 therefore still slides relatively on the faster moving transport conveyor 14 until the shape rests completely flat on it. to

At this point in time (FIG. 5) the transition phase is complete and the shape is under the full control of the transport conveyor 14. Achieving this full control is accelerated by the area 44 of the magnets 36, which is behind the Intersection point 28 extends the conveyor. These magnetic parts 44 help that the molds 13 firmly against the Support surface of the transport conveyor 14 are pulled, so that a slip-free entrainment is achieved at the moment in which the rear edge 42 leaves the loading belts 30.

In contrast to known systems, where the loading and transport conveyors overlap horizontally, but not are inclined to each other, here the shapes are only in line contact (as opposed to surface contact) with the Transport and loading conveyor so that the speed of the mold is controlled by only one of the conveyors at a time, namely from the loading requirement 26. Another advantage is that Magnets 44 can still be arranged behind the point of intersection 28, so that the transport conveyor 14 is also non-slip Can take control of the mold speed at the moment in which the mold leaves the loading conveyor 26. By These measures can result in a more even distribution or a more even spacing S of the molds 13 on the transport conveyor 14 can be achieved through the possibility of clamping of forms among each other is reduced. This in turn reduces the frequency of standstill of the transport conveyor.

6 and 7 are details of the structure of the loading conveyor 26 shown. The loading conveyor 26 consists of a stationary frame 60 on which two are laterally spaced mutually arranged pairs of plates 62a, 62b are attached. Each plate has anterior and posterior facing each other Angle inclined areas 64, 66 (Fig. 7). A plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of guide rollers 68 are freely rotatable on these plates held by axle bolts 70,

which extend between plates 62A and 62B. The rollers 68 themselves have a conical peripheral surface 72.

The permanent magnets 36 are arranged between the roller pairs 68. The magnets 36 are mounted on holding arms 74, which are attached to the plates. The foremost of the magnets 36 extends forward beyond the intersection point (the indicated by the dashed line 76 in FIG. 6) of the loading and transport conveyor 26, 14, as already stated above became.

The drive motor 34 is attached to the front end of the frame 60, which drives a pair of drive drums 78 via couplings 80 drives. The drums 78 are positioned between the plates 62A and 62B. A pair of guide drums 82 is between the rear end of the plates 62A and 62B. The bands 30 are each in the associated guide drum 82 to the Drive drum 78 and wound over the guide rollers 6 8. The underside of each band has sloping shoulders that point to the inclined outer surface 72 of the guide rollers 68 and thus ensure lateral stability of the belts. Each band is 30 guided above and without physical contact to the magnets 36. In this way, the tapes 30 cannot frictionally contact with the magnets 36 are subject to wear.

The guide drums 82 are each on a quick release mechanism 90 attached to enable quick tape changes. For this purpose, each guide drum 82 is on one Pair of movable arms 92 attached. The arms 92 are disposed within blocks 94 which are slidable on the rear ends of the plates 62A, 62B are guided. A release device 96 is connected to each block 94. Each release mechanism 96 exists a lever 98 pivotally mounted at 100 on one of the plates 62A, 62B. A hinge 102 is pivotable on the Lever attached and also to a part 104. The part 104 is arranged on an adjustable screw lock 106> the

is in turn attached to a flange 108, which is from the block 94 protrudes. By pivoting the lever 98 about its pivot axis 100, the associated block 94 is therefore positioned along the plate 62A or 62B shifted so that the associated guide roller 82 is retracted or advanced. Therefore, if both levers are pivoted outward, then the idler pulley is withdrawn (i.e., to the right of that shown in FIG Position moved away) so that a worn belt 30 can be replaced by a new belt. The idler roller 82 can then are quickly brought back to rest on the replaced band 30, thereby -that the levers are back in their Closed position (i.e. inwardly to the position shown in Figures 6 and 7).

The drive mechanism for the transport conveyor is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and consists of a hydraulic motor 130, which drives a bevel gear 131. This rotates a main drive shaft 132 via a main toothed chain 134. The main drive shaft 132 is rotatably supported in bearings and is disposed between two secondary drive shafts 136A and 136B. Secondary inverted tooth chains 138A and 138B connect drive shaft 132 to shafts 136A and 136B.

Each secondary drive shaft 136A, 136B is arranged vertically in a frame 140A, 140B and is attached to its upper and lower ends held by suitable bearings 142. With each secondary drive shaft 136A, 136B are several gear-like ones Drive wheels 124A, 124B connected for the conveyor, which are arranged in the vertical direction at a distance one above the other. Each of these drive wheels 124A, 124B has the shape of a gear, the teeth 146A, 146B of which are connected to a chain 148 of the Comb conveyor 14 in an associated conveyor loop to drive it continuously.

The reduction gear 131 also has an output 150 that drives a hydraulic pump 152. This in turn operates

the hydraulic motor 34 which drives the loading conveyor 26. The hydraulic pump 152 can be designed in any way, for example it may be of the type sold by Sperry Vickers of Troy, Michigan, under model number PV-B-5 will be produced.

By means of this drive system, the loading conveyor 26 is operated at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the transport conveyor is. Therefore, when the speed of the transport conveyor is reduced, will automatically also the ratio of the supply of articles to this reduced by a proportional amount, so that after as before there is the same distance between the articles on the transport conveyor 14.

The hydraulic pump 152 can also be adjusted with a conventional adjustment device 154, which makes it possible to adjust the speed ratio between loading conveyor and transport conveyor to vary. Therefore, if the speed of the conveyor is changed e.g. by 20%, then it can it may be desirable to change the speed of the loading conveyor more than 20%. This setting option can can be used if, for example, the size of the mold is to be changed.

During the operation of the new facility, the molds 13 with dough are transferred to the transport conveyor by the loading conveyor 26 14 supplied. The molds 13 are fixed to the belts 30 of the loading conveyor 26 by the magnets 36 held. If the leading edge 40 of a mold 13 '(FIG. 3) reaches the transport conveyor 14 and begins to sit on it, then In addition to the trailing edge 42, the remainder of the underside of the mold is lifted off the bands 30 so that a two-line (i.e. a two-edge) guide for the form (Fig. 4) is achieved. The magnets 36 pull the trailing edge 42 of the mold 13 'against the Belts 30, so that this is the main drive influence

exercise the shape 13 '. The leading edge 40 of the mold 13 'slips in this constellation on the transport conveyor 14. Only when the mold 13 'is fully on the transport conveyor 14 (FIG. 5) is transferred, the entire driving influence is exerted by this on the form. However, this influence occurs suddenly, because the front ends 44 of the magnets, which are beyond the point of contact 28 in the conveying direction, are forward, pull the molds against the conveyor 14. This allows a largely equal spacing S between the shapes can be reached on the transport conveyor 14.

As already stated previously, the magnets are further away from the transport conveyor 14 than from the loading conveyor 26, see above that the magnets exert less influence on the leading edge of the form than on the trailing edge, as long as the form is in the Transitional phase is in progress. Of course, the magnets could also be placed at the same distance from both conveyors, if the magnets below the transport conveyor are made weaker than the magnet below the loading conveyor.

The belts 30 of the loading conveyor can with the snow release mechanism 90 can be changed very quickly. The wear to which the belts 30 are subject is low because the Guide rollers 68 keep the tapes out of contact with magnets 36. If the speed of the transport conveyor 14 changed, then the speed of the loading conveyor 26 is automatically changed in a preselected ratio.

As used in the foregoing, "line contact" refers to the contact between the molds and the conveyor refers during the transition phase, means that in comparison with the usual surface contact that has existed up to now, there is only a very narrow contact zone. Of course, the line contact need not be exactly in the shape of a line extending from it one side of the shape extends to the other, but can for example also consist of a number of

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different mutually offset points exist, if for example, the shape has a corrugated bottom.

The invention has been described using an exemplary embodiment. Additions, changes, replacements of features and Omission of features that are not described in detail, but are easily carried out by a person skilled in the art can, of course, also fall under the protection of this invention.

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Claims (23)

Patent Attorneys "; · - ~ - DR.-ING. H.H.WILHELM i - .. DIPL; -! - Lower Austria." B D-7000 Stuttgart 1 Gymnasiumstr. 31B Tel. (0711) 291133/292857 applicant; Stuttgart, October 9, 1984 D 7159 / la Santrade Ltd. Dr.W / R P.O. Box 321 CH-6002 Lucerne Claims 1. Transfer device for a conveyor for conveying of articles that have at least one magnetically effective area, consisting of the following features: - a first conveyor with an article delivery area, - A second conveyor with an article receiving area, which is adjacent to the article delivery area and articles from the latter takes over, - Means by which the second conveyor can be driven faster than the first conveyor, Magnets having at least one area which is arranged so that it exch the article in the direction of the article dispensing area pulls and increases the transmission force between the two, - The article delivery area of the first conveyor intersects the second conveyor - seen from the side - and forms with the Article acceptance area has an angle of less than 180 °, see above that during the transition from the article delivery area to the article acceptance area, the articles and touch takeover areas essentially only along a line and through the magnets against the article delivery area to be pulled. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnets have another area behind the point of intersection between the article delivery area and the article takeover area, so that the objects are magnetic to one full contact can be drawn on the article acceptance zone when they leave the article delivery zone. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the distance between the first part of the magnet and the article delivery area is smaller than the distance between the other part of the magnet and the article acceptance zone. 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the article delivery area consists of two belts astride the article acceptance area and essentially horizontally overlap. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the <magnet consists of a pair of magnets, the below the article-leading strands of the pair of belts are arranged and forward over an intersection of the belts with the article transfer area extend so that they can also pull the articles against the article transfer zone. 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle of inclination between the article delivery area and the article takeover area is in the order of magnitude between 168 ° and 176 °. 7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first conveyor of a pair of laterally spaced apart Belts and consists of a plurality of laterally spaced guide rollers below each belt, wherein the guide rollers carry the belts, and that the magnet consists of one arranged underneath each of the belts, but at a distance to these and these non-touching magnets. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the ends of each belt are wound around support rollers, wherein the Carrying rollers are movable at one of the ends in contact and away from the belts and that levers movable by hand with these movable guide rollers are connected to a fast away or back pivoting movement of the support rollers with respect to the belts for the purpose of changing the tape. 9. Device according to claim 1 with a drive which jointly drives both the first and the second conveyor, so that the speeds of the first and second conveyors are proportionally changeable. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized by means to the proportional ratio of the drive speeds change between first and second conveyor. 11. Conveyor for the promotion of articles with at least one magnetically effective part, consisting of the following Features: a first conveyor for supplying the articles, which is an article discharge area having, - A second conveyor with an article transfer area, which intersects with the article delivery area - viewed from the side and who takes over the articles from the article drop-off area, - Means with which the second conveyor can be driven faster / is as the first sponsor, - Magnets with a first area, which is below the article delivery area lies in order to attract the articles magnetically, - The article delivery area forms an angle of less than 180 ° with the article takeover area, so that during the transition of an article from the delivery to the takeover area, this essentially in line contact with the delivery and takeover area stands, wherein the first part of the magnet pulls the article against the article dispensing area and therefore closed makes the part that has ultimate control over the transition speed of the item, - The magnet has a second part below the article receiving area and in the conveying direction behind the intersection of the delivery and takeover areas, so that the article is pulled flat against the article receiving area by magnetic force when it has left the article dispensing area, wherein the second part of the magnet exerts a lesser force on the articles than the first part of the magnet which the Item pulls against the drop-off area. 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the angle between the article delivery and article takeover area is in the order of magnitude between 168 ° and 176 °. 13. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the article delivery area consists of a pair of belts, which straddle the article takeover area horizontally and astride. 14. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the first conveyor is a pair of laterally spaced mutually arranged belts and several pairs of laterally spaced apart guide rollers below each The tape that carries the tapes and that the magnets underneath each of these tapes are spaced apart and not touching them are arranged. 15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the ends of each belt are wound around a support roller, wherein the support rollers at one of these ends can be disengaged and brought into engagement with the belts and that are manually operable Levers are provided which are connected to the movable guide rollers to enable rapid movement of the guide rollers for the purpose of renewing the belts. 16. Device according to claim 11, characterized by a common drive for the first and second conveyor, the the proportionality of the drive speeds of the conveyors is guaranteed. 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that means for changing the proportional ratio are provided between the drive speeds of the first and second conveyor. 18. Device for the treatment of dough, which is contained in magnetically effective metal molds, consisting of the following Features: - A housing that encloses a treatment chamber in which the desired atmospheric conditions for treatment of the dough are sustained, - a transport conveyor with spirally extending areas inside the chamber and with a mold transfer area outside the chamber, • a loading conveyor with a pair of laterally spaced apart from each other held tapes, which reach over horizontally and astride the shape transfer area and move away from seen from the side - cut with the form takeover area and a form release area for the transfer of Have molds with dough on the mold transfer area, Drive means with which the transport conveyor can be driven faster than the loading conveyor, a pair of magnets underneath the forming run of the belts, each magnet having a first area for has magnetic attraction of the shapes towards the belts, the form take-over area and the form release area form an angle of less than 180 ° between them - from the Side seen - so that during the transition of a shape from the delivery to the receiving area this essentially through Line contact with both areas is carried, with the first area of the magnets holding the molds against the delivery area pulls and makes this the decisive part for the transition speed, the magnets have a second part, which is below the mold receiving area and in the conveying direction behind the Intersection and pulls the shape towards the receiving area when the shape leaves the delivery area has, wherein the second magnetic part exerts less force on the forms located on the receiving area than the first magnetic part that acts on the molds in the delivery area. 19. Conveyor device, consisting of a first conveyor and a second conveyor that brings articles onto the first conveyor, - drive means by which the first conveyor at different speeds can be operated as the second conveyor and drives together with a drive the first and the second conveyor, so that the speeds are changed from two conveyors in each case proportional to each other. 20. Device according to claim 19, characterized by devices to vary the proportional ratio between the first and second conveyor. 21. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the drive consists of a pair of hydraulic motors for driving each of the first and second conveyor consists. 22. Procedure for the delivery of magnetically attractable articles from a first conveyor to a second conveyor which intersects the first conveyor when viewed from the side from the following steps: - Driving the first conveyor at a lower speed as the second conveyor and arranging an article delivery area of the first conveyor adjacent to an article receiving area of the second sponsor, - Applying magnetic force to pull the items down onto the item drop-off area, - Arranging the article receiving area at an intersection angle of less than 180 ° to the article delivery area, so that at the handover of an article it touches the article drop-off and the article pick-up area essentially in a linear manner, so that the delivery area exercises decisive control over the transfer speed of the article because the magnet pulls the article tighter against the pick-up area than against the pick-up area. 23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that magnetic forces are also exerted on the article receiving area when the article has left the delivery area, but these additional magnetic forces in the transition phase exert less influence on the article than the first
called magnetic forces.