EP0039296B1 - Manually controlled handling machine for filling or emptying transport cases of arranged articles - Google Patents

Manually controlled handling machine for filling or emptying transport cases of arranged articles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0039296B1
EP0039296B1 EP81400676A EP81400676A EP0039296B1 EP 0039296 B1 EP0039296 B1 EP 0039296B1 EP 81400676 A EP81400676 A EP 81400676A EP 81400676 A EP81400676 A EP 81400676A EP 0039296 B1 EP0039296 B1 EP 0039296B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
station
machine
containers
carriage
centreing
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.)
Expired
Application number
EP81400676A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0039296A1 (en
Inventor
Michel Thierion
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Priority to AT81400676T priority Critical patent/ATE8480T1/en
Publication of EP0039296A1 publication Critical patent/EP0039296A1/en
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Publication of EP0039296B1 publication Critical patent/EP0039296B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B21/00—Packaging or unpacking of bottles
    • B65B21/02—Packaging or unpacking of bottles in or from preformed containers, e.g. crates
    • B65B21/025—Packaging or unpacking of bottles in or from preformed containers, e.g. crates the bottles being arranged in a head-to-bottom formation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/36—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers
    • B65B35/38—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers by suction-operated grippers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a manually operated machine for handling objects to fill or empty transport cases in which the objects are stored.
  • Such a machine is mainly made for moving several objects simultaneously which are to be placed in a box to form successive superposed layers or which are to be taken out of this box, layer after layer.
  • This machine is provided with gripping means which are not part of the invention and which are adapted to the objects to be moved.
  • Gripping means which are very suitable for equipping the machine of the invention are the vacuum cups because of the invention are the vacuum cups because of their flexibility of use.
  • patent FR 1 580 926 relating to a machine comprising two parallel conveyors between which is mounted an endless chain conveyor having two rectilinear strands which each pass respectively to the above a conveyor in the longitudinal median plane of the boxes or groups of bottles therein.
  • This fully automatic machine transfers large groups of pre-composed bottles to crates for filling.
  • Patent FR 1 522 630 describes a device for lifting and depositing articles such as bottles in which there is a semi-circular circulation path but this path is located in a vertical plane and the gripping head which borrows it moves automatically.
  • the patent FR 1 495 501 relates to a machine for cashing and disassembling bottles in which rocking elements lay bottles to make a bed then this bed is seized and automatically transferred into a box by a gripping head with suction cups installed at the interior of a swiveling gantry.
  • the difficulty comes from the fact that the bottles are heavy because they are full and they have to be stored upside down; this arrangement is, in fact, that which allows the maximum number of bottles to be available in the internal volume available of the containers currently in use.
  • the containers whose use is general now for the transport of full bottles lying down have dimensions such that one accommodates successive layers in the direction of the height and that, in each layer, one places in the direction of the width two rows of head to tail bottles. For ease of wedging, in the two rows of a layer, the bottles should be directed in opposite directions.
  • the desired result is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a manual driving machine which is set up between a supply station for full bottles and a supply station for empty containers to be filled, or vice versa. between a supply station for empty containers and a discharge station for full bottles removed from the containers.
  • the subject of the invention is a machine for loading, or unloading, objects which are stored in containers such as bottles, between a station for the arrival or departure of objects and a station reserved for containers, this machine comprising a horizontal raceway passing above the station in the longitudinal median plane of the latter and above the station, a carriage rolling on the track, a hoist hooked to the carriage for carrying a plate provided with suction cups vacuum, characterized in that, above the station, the raceway passes in the vertical plane containing the longitudinal geometrical axis of a half in transverse direction of a container disposed at this station and then has a half curvature -circle which is tangent above the other half to the vertical plane containing the longitudinal geometric axis of this second half, the plate having a width equal to the interior half-width and a length equal to the interior length re containers and being provided with a manual guide member.
  • the machine of the invention comprises a raceway supported above the two stations; this path extends from a first end in a straight line above the bottle feeding station, in the median plane of this station, then it extends to the feeding station for empty containers; above this latter station it is curved in a semicircle with a diameter equal to the distance which separates the longitudinal geometric axes of the two halves in the transverse direction of a container passing over one and the other of these axes to end with a second end.
  • the raceway supports a carriage driven in movement between the first and the second end and vice versa.
  • Hanging from this carriage is a motor hoist and a centering frame which plays a role in centering the load in its high position.
  • Hanging from the hoist is a plate which is itself provided with vacuum gripping suction cups capable of gripping a set of bottles lying head to tail.
  • the centering frame and the plate are provided with complementary centering members which engage together when the plate occupies its highest position.
  • the plate is provided with a laterally accessible guide member; this member preferably comprises a pair of spread arms each ending in a handle and it also includes a horizontal axis around which it can pivot in the vertical direction.
  • the guide member is associated with the plate by means of a clutch and disengaging means which frees the arm relative to the plate when the latter occupies its highest position and which immobilizes it in pivoting around the table outside this position.
  • the hoist and the centering frame are suspended from the carriage by means of a hinge having a pivot axis parallel to the straight line portion of the raceway.
  • the machine of the invention is intended to be installed between a station A for supplying full bottles (or, conversely, for discharging these bottles) and a station B for supplying empty containers to be filled (or , conversely, evacuation of these containers).
  • stations A and B can be distant from each other by any distance, or close to each other as in the present example.
  • the station A is equipped in a manner known per se with a conveyor A i which leads two rows of full bottles, standing, and with a device, also known per se, which lay these bottles by putting them head to tail.
  • a conveyor and a coating device of this kind is found in document FR-A-2219061.
  • the station B is equipped in a known manner with a roller conveyor B i which leads, and then evacuates, successively, containers C to be filled in bottles.
  • stations A and B are not part of the invention; for this reason, it is shown in the finer continuous line drawings. Any suitable equipment could be provided at posts A and B; the only obligation to respect for the proper functioning of the machine of the invention is to have on the one hand a set of bottles lying head to tail in a precise location, on the other hand a container to be filled, also arranged in a specific location.
  • the machine of the invention comprises a track 1 which is supported by spaced legs 2 above the two stations A and B. It is therefore easy to adapt the length of the track 1 to the distance between the posts A and B.
  • the containers C can be of any type and of any capacity, but it is commonly used for transporting to large-scale stores containers of metal wire having standardized dimensions. These containers can receive successive layers of coated bottles and each layer comprises, in the width direction, two rows of head to tail bottles; the bottles of these rows are directed respectively in opposite directions, as can be seen drawn in different dashed lines in FIG. 3.
  • the machine of the invention described here by way of example is designed to pick up, lift, transport between stations A and B and deposit a full row of a layer of head-to-tail bottles which occupies the entire container the length of it and half its width.
  • the raceway 1 is straight and situated in the longitudinal median plane of this station A directly above the coated bottles to be gripped. At this station A is the first end 3 of the rolling path 1. Above the container feeding station B, the rolling path 1 is bent in a semicircle 4, in top view, and it ends by its second end 5.
  • the curvature of the raceway is such that it first extends above the longitudinal axis of a first half of the container C, in the width direction, to arrive after bending above the axis of the second half of the container C in the width direction before ending in 5.
  • the center 6 of the semicircle 4 is located on the vertical which passes through the center geometric of container C, or, at least, this center 6 is close to this vertical.
  • a carriage 7 On the raceway 1 is mounted a carriage 7 movable between stations A and B; it is guided properly, for example by means of rollers 8 with a horizontal axis rolling on horizontal wings and rollers 9 with a vertical axis pressing against a vertical wing on either side thereof.
  • This carriage 7 is driven in displacement by means of a geared motor group 10 supported between the legs 2, near the first end 3 of the raceway 1.
  • the group 10 has a vertical shaft on which is fixed, in rotation , a toothed pinion 11 located at the carriage 7.
  • a chain 12 passes around the pinion 11, extends below the raceway 1, in the vertical plane which passes through the geometric axis of the latter.
  • the chain 12 follows the path of the raceway 1; arriving at the semicircle 4, it also curves by passing around a horizontal toothed wheel 13 of diameter equal to that of the axis of the raceway 1 in the semicircle part 4; this diameter is also equal to the distance D which separates the longitudinal axes of the two halves of the container C in the width direction. From the toothed wheel 13 the chain 12 returns directly to the pinion 11.
  • the toothed wheel 13 is suspended at the appropriate level by means of a pendant arm 14 which is itself fixed to a plate 15 supported by the upper face of the raceway 1.
  • the vertical geometric axis of rotation of the toothed wheel 13 passes through the center 6 of the semicircle 4.
  • the carriage 7 is fixed to the chain 12 by a fixing means not shown so that it can be moved between the end 3 and the end 5 of the raceway 1, and vice versa.
  • the frame 17 has a lower side 19 with a central opening 20 through which the chain 21 of the hoist passes.
  • the lower side 19 also has two spaced holes 22 directed downwards in the position of use and flared at 23 in their part. lower.
  • a chain 24 of the hoist 19 is attached to a vacuum gripping plate 24, which is horizontal in the use position and which is provided on its underside with several ven- parties 25. These are known; a description can be found in document FR-A-2370 660. They are specially designed for gripping coated bottles.
  • the underside of the plate 24 has two areas 24A, 24B which are offset in the vertical direction and equipped respectively with suction cups 25 so that the latter simultaneously grip the bottles lying head to tail in two lines as seen in the figures.
  • the suction cups 25 are connected via the plate 24 to a pressure source suitably modulated by means not shown.
  • the tray 24 has a length which is determined by the length of the container C and a width which is equal to the half-width of the container C.
  • the machine described here is designed to deposit (or remove) all at once the coated bottles which make up half of a complete layer in container C, operating over the entire length and over half the width. In other circumstances, with containers having other dimensions, one could give the tray 24 dimensions which correspond to another way of filling or emptying the container C. With larger containers, the tray 24 could operate by half in the width direction, as in the present case, and by fractions in the length direction.
  • the plate 24 is hooked to the chain 21 of the hoist 16 by means of a centering element 26 which carries two pins 27 directed towards the frame 17, in correspondence with the holes 22 on the lower side 17 of the latter.
  • the pins 27 enter the flared inlets 23 of the holes 22 then engage in these and ensure the centering of the plate 24.
  • the plate 24 is provided, at its apex, between its upper face and the centering element 26 with a manual guide member designated by the general reference 28 and which preferably comprises a pair of spaced arms each having a handle 29.
  • the arms of the guide member 28 extend on one side of the plate 24, they are curved downwards to descend to a level which allows an operator to hold the handles 29 when the plate 24 occupies its highest position.
  • the guide member 28 is mounted with freedom of pivoting about a horizontal axis 30 so that it can be raised by turning around this axis when the plate 24 descends to the bottom of a container C.
  • the manual guide member 28 could be joined to the plate 24 at any point provided that it does not interfere with the descent of the latter into the containers C, as has just been explained. However, it is more advantageous to mount it around a shaft 31 thanks to which the plate 24 is suspended below the centering element 26. It is also preferable to provide a clutch and disengaging means acting between the 'guide member 28 and the shaft 31 so as to establish the release of the guide member 28 around the shaft 31 when the plate 24 is raised to its highest position and to be established. blocking the guide member 28 relative to the shaft 31 when the plate 24 does not occupy its highest position. Many equivalent means can be adopted to provide these blocking and release functions. It is preferable to employ means with automatic action as in the present example.
  • the guide member 28 comprises a ring 32 mounted to rotate freely around the shaft 31.
  • the plate 24 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 31, and the upper end of the latter is fixed to a part central 33 forming part of the centering element 26.
  • Sockets 34 pass longitudinally through the central part 33 and are joined by screws respectively at their upper end to a plate 35 and at their lower end to a first clutch ring 36 which is mounted free in translation around the shaft 31 and immobilized in rotation around the same shaft.
  • Several regularly spaced springs 37 are housed in recesses in the central part 33 and push the first clutch ring 36 away from the central part 33.
  • a second clutch ring 38 is mounted to rotate freely around the shaft 31 and fixed to the ring 32 of the guide member 28; a friction lining is interposed, in a known manner, between the clutch crowns 36 and 38.
  • the plate 35 is joined firmly to the chain 21 of the hoist 16 by means of footed brackets 39 which contain between them the chain 21 and which are screwed to the plate 35.
  • the stop positions of the carriage 7 on the one hand at station A and on the other hand at station B are precisely defined by means of stops or equivalent detection and tracking means, not shown and known per se, of so that the orientation corrections of the plate 24 are minimal.
  • the carriage 7 can be stopped at one or other of two stop positions.
  • the plate 24 can operate on one side of the axis of symmetry of the container C, for example on the side above the middle of which the raceway 1 arrives.
  • the plate 24 can operate on the other side of the same axis of symmetry, when the carriage has traversed the semicircle 4 of the raceway 1 and has been stopped above the middle of this side.
  • the plate 24 is shown in solid lines, on the right, above station A and in dashed lines, on the left, during its passage between its two possible stop positions above station B.
  • the plate 24 grasps them by the suction cups 25 and the hoist 16 causes this plate to rise up to its highest position in which it is centered in position thanks to the pins 27 engaging in the holes 22.
  • the guide member 28 is released in pivoting around the plate 24 so that l 'has explained.
  • the carriage 7 is then moved from station A to station B, by the geared motor unit 10 and by the chain 12.
  • the plate 24 pivots with him in order to occupy in his second stop position a position symmetrical to that which he occupies in his first stop position.
  • the improvement consisting in immobilizing or releasing the guide member 28 is not strictly necessary in all circumstances on a machine according to the invention but its use is very advantageous.
  • the machine of the invention is suitable for handling all the bottles, whatever the type, empty or full, which are to be moved in groups of bottles lying head to tail regardless of the number in each group. It is also suitable for handling objects other than lying bottles, provided that the tray 24 is provided with gripping means adapted to these objects.
  • the forces being transferred to the hoist and to the trolley an operator can move a relatively large load at once (25 full bottles in the example described above); this operator has only a few movements to make himself thanks to the pivoting of the guide member 28.
  • the machine described makes it possible to handle 3000 bottles per hour when the stations A and B are close to one of the 'other.
  • the machine of the invention is robust and inexpensive to maintain, and it remains simple therefore of relatively low price thanks to the fact that the guide of the plate during its movements is ensured manually, which eliminates many detectors and control circuits and control.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
  • Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)

Abstract

Manually controlled handling machine for filling or emptying cases for transporting stowed articles, including a carriage (7), displaceable between a station for supplying bottles lying head to tail and a station for loading containers, bearing a tackle-block (16), and a centering frame (17) adapted to cooperate with a plate (24) equipped with gripping suction cups (25). Carriage (7) rolls on a runway (1) which is curved in a semi-circle above the containers in order to allow the loading of one half and the other half of the containers, and an orientable guiding member (28) enables the position of the plate (24) during its rising and descending movements to be corrected.

Description

Machine de manutention à conduite manuelle pour remplir ou vider des caisses de transport d'objets rangés.Manual-handling machine for filling or emptying transport boxes of stored objects.

L'invention se rapporte à une machine à conduite manuelle permettant de manutentionner des objets pour remplir ou pour vider des caisses de transport dans lesquelles les objets sont rangés.The invention relates to a manually operated machine for handling objects to fill or empty transport cases in which the objects are stored.

Une telle machine est faite principalement pour.déplacer simultanément plusieurs objets qui sont à mettre dans une caisse pour y constituer des couches successives superposées ou qui sont à sortir de cette caisse, couche après couche. Cette machine est munie de moyens de préhension qui ne font pas partie de l'invention et qui sont adaptés aux objets à déplacer. Des moyens de préhension qui conviennent bien pour équiper la machine de l'invention sont les ventouses à dépression en raison de l'invention sont les ventouses à dépression en raison de leur souplesse d'emploi.Such a machine is mainly made for moving several objects simultaneously which are to be placed in a box to form successive superposed layers or which are to be taken out of this box, layer after layer. This machine is provided with gripping means which are not part of the invention and which are adapted to the objects to be moved. Gripping means which are very suitable for equipping the machine of the invention are the vacuum cups because of the invention are the vacuum cups because of their flexibility of use.

Pour mieux fixer les idées, on prendra dans ce qui suit l'exemple d'une machine servant à remplir, ou à vider, des conteneurs utilisés pour les transports de bouteilles couchées; cet exemple se rencontre fréquemment parmi les producteurs de vins qui ont à expédier des bouteilles pleines en quantité d'importance petite ou moyenne. Il n'est pas rentable pour ces producteurs de s'équiper en machines automatiques, qui existent dans le commerce, dont le débit atteint 12000 bouteilles à l'heure et dont le coût d'acquisition et de maintien en service dépasse leurs possibilités.To better fix the ideas, we will take in the following example a machine used to fill, or empty, containers used for transporting coated bottles; this example is frequently encountered among wine producers who have to send full bottles in small or medium quantities. It is not profitable for these producers to equip themselves with automatic machines, which exist in the trade, whose output reaches 12000 bottles per hour and whose cost of acquisition and maintenance in service exceeds their possibilities.

Comme exemptes illustrant au plus près ce qui vient d'être dit on peut citer le brevet FR 1 580 926 relatif à une machine comprenant deux convoyeurs parallèles entre lesquels est monté un transporteur à chaîne sans fin ayant deux brins rectilignes qui passent chacun respectivement au-dessus d'un convoyeur dans le plan médian longitudinal des caisses ou des groupes de bouteilles qui s'y trouvent. Cette machine entièrement automatique transfère dans des caisses à remplir des groupes importants de bouteilles préalablement composés.As free illustrating as closely as possible what has just been said, mention may be made of patent FR 1 580 926 relating to a machine comprising two parallel conveyors between which is mounted an endless chain conveyor having two rectilinear strands which each pass respectively to the above a conveyor in the longitudinal median plane of the boxes or groups of bottles therein. This fully automatic machine transfers large groups of pre-composed bottles to crates for filling.

Le brevet FR 1 522 630 décrit un dispositif pour soulever et déposer des articles tels que des bouteilles dans lequel se trouve un chemin de circulation semi-circulaire mais ce chemin se situe dans un plan vertical et la tête de préhension qui l'emprunte se déplace automatiquement.Patent FR 1 522 630 describes a device for lifting and depositing articles such as bottles in which there is a semi-circular circulation path but this path is located in a vertical plane and the gripping head which borrows it moves automatically.

Le brevet FR 1 495 501 se rapporte à une machiné pour encaisser et décaisser des bouteilles dans laquelle des éléments basculeurs couchent des bouteilles pour confectionner un lit puis ce lit est saisi et transféré automatiquement dans une caisse par une tête de préhension à ventouses installée à l'intérieur d'un portique pivotant.The patent FR 1 495 501 relates to a machine for cashing and disassembling bottles in which rocking elements lay bottles to make a bed then this bed is seized and automatically transferred into a box by a gripping head with suction cups installed at the interior of a swiveling gantry.

Il existe donc un véritable besoin, non satisfait jusqu'à présent, d'une machine considérablement moins coûteuse que les machines automatiques à grand débit, qui fait encore appel à l'intervention manuelle, mais qui se charge de fournir les forces nécessaires de façon que le rôle de la main-d'oeuvre ne soit consacré qu'à la conduite de la machine. La partie la plus pénible du travail étant attribuée à cette dernière, la cadence peut être accélérée; en outre, en raison de la puissance de la machine il est possible de déplacer des charges qui excèdent les capacités humaines si bien que, dans l'ensemble, le nombre des bouteilles manutentionnées est considérablement plus élevé que par une exécution uniquement manuelle comme c'est le cas jusqu'à présent.There is therefore a real need, hitherto unmet, for a machine which is considerably less expensive than automatic high-speed machines, which still requires manual intervention, but which is responsible for supplying the necessary forces in a manner that the role of the workforce is devoted only to the operation of the machine. As the hardest part of the job is assigned to the latter, the pace can be accelerated; moreover, due to the power of the machine it is possible to move loads which exceed human capacities so that, overall, the number of bottles handled is considerably higher than by a purely manual execution like this. is the case so far.

L'exemple choisi ici, celui de bouteilles pleines qui sont à mettre à l'état couché dans un . conteneur, est un bon exemple d'un travail difficile même quand il est exécuté manuellement.The example chosen here, that of full bottles which are to be put in the state in one. container, is a good example of difficult work even when done manually.

La difficulté provient de ce que les bouteilles sont lourdes parce qu'elles sont pleines et qu'elles doivent être rangées tête-bêche; cette disposition est, en effet, celle qui permet de disposer le maximum de bouteilles dans le volume interne disponible des conteneurs couramment employés actuellement.The difficulty comes from the fact that the bottles are heavy because they are full and they have to be stored upside down; this arrangement is, in fact, that which allows the maximum number of bottles to be available in the internal volume available of the containers currently in use.

Les conteneurs dont l'usage est général maintenant pour le transport des bouteilles pleines couchées ont des dimensions telles qu'on y loge des couches successives dans le sens de la hauteur et que, dans chaque couche, on place dans le sens de la largeur deux rangs de bouteilles tête-bêche. Pour la facilité du calage, dans les deux rangs d'une couche, les bouteilles doivent être dirigées dans des sens opposés.The containers whose use is general now for the transport of full bottles lying down have dimensions such that one accommodates successive layers in the direction of the height and that, in each layer, one places in the direction of the width two rows of head to tail bottles. For ease of wedging, in the two rows of a layer, the bottles should be directed in opposite directions.

On atteint le résultat cherché, selon l'invention, au moyen d'une machine à conduite manuelle que l'on met en place entre un poste d'alimentation en bouteilles pleines et un poste d'alimentation en conteneurs vides à remplir, ou inversement entre un poste d'alimentation en conteneurs à vider et un poste d'évacuation des bouteilles pleines retirées des conteneurs.The desired result is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a manual driving machine which is set up between a supply station for full bottles and a supply station for empty containers to be filled, or vice versa. between a supply station for empty containers and a discharge station for full bottles removed from the containers.

L'invention a pour objet une machine pour le chargement, ou le déchargement, d'objets se rangeant dans des conteneurs tels que des bou teilles, entre un poste d'arrivée ou de départ des objets et un poste réservé à des conteneurs, cette machine comprenant un chemin de roulement horizontal passant au-dessus du poste dans le plan médian longitudinal de celui-ci et au-dessus du poste, un chariot roulant sur le chemin de roulement, un palan accroché au chariot pour porter un plateau muni de ventouses à dépression, caractérisée en ce que, au-dessus du poste, le chemin de roulement passe dans le plan vertical contenant l'axe géométrique longitudinal d'une moitié en sens transversal d'un conteneur disposé à ce poste puis présente une incurvation en demi-cercle qui est tangente au-dessus de l'autre moitié au plan vertical contenant l'axe géométrique longitudinal de cette seconde moitié, le plateau ayant une largeur égale à la demi-largeur intérieure et une longueur égale à la longueur intérieure des conteneurs et étant pourvu d'un organe de guidage manuel.The subject of the invention is a machine for loading, or unloading, objects which are stored in containers such as bottles, between a station for the arrival or departure of objects and a station reserved for containers, this machine comprising a horizontal raceway passing above the station in the longitudinal median plane of the latter and above the station, a carriage rolling on the track, a hoist hooked to the carriage for carrying a plate provided with suction cups vacuum, characterized in that, above the station, the raceway passes in the vertical plane containing the longitudinal geometrical axis of a half in transverse direction of a container disposed at this station and then has a half curvature -circle which is tangent above the other half to the vertical plane containing the longitudinal geometric axis of this second half, the plate having a width equal to the interior half-width and a length equal to the interior length re containers and being provided with a manual guide member.

Pour la clarté de l'exposé, on considérera par la suite uniquement le cas du remplissage des conteneurs en bouteilles pleines.For the sake of clarity, we will consider below only the case of filling containers with full bottles.

La machine de l'invention comprend un chemin de roulement supporté au-dessus des deux postes; ce chemin s'étend à partir d'une première extrémité en ligne droite au-dessus du poste d'alimentation en bouteilles, dans le plan médian de ce poste, puis il s'allonge jusqu'au poste d'alimentation en conteneurs vides; au-dessus de ce dernier poste il est incurvé en demi-cercle avec un diamètre égal à la distance qui sépare les axes géométriques longitudinaux des deux moitiés en sens transversal d'un conteneur en passant au-dessus de l'un et de l'autre de ces axes pour se terminer par une seconde extrémité. Le chemin de roulement supporte un chariot entraîné en déplacement entre la première et la seconde extrémité et inversement. A ce chariot sont suspendus un palan à moteur et un cadre de centrage qui assure un rôle de centrage de la charge en position haute de celle-ci. Au palan est suspendu un plateau qui est lui-même pourvu de ventouses de préhension à dépression aptes à saisir un ensemble de bouteilles couchées tête-bêche. Le cadre de centrage et le plateau sont munis d'organes complémentaires de centrage qui s'engagent ensemble quand le plateau occupe sa position la plus élevée.The machine of the invention comprises a raceway supported above the two stations; this path extends from a first end in a straight line above the bottle feeding station, in the median plane of this station, then it extends to the feeding station for empty containers; above this latter station it is curved in a semicircle with a diameter equal to the distance which separates the longitudinal geometric axes of the two halves in the transverse direction of a container passing over one and the other of these axes to end with a second end. The raceway supports a carriage driven in movement between the first and the second end and vice versa. Hanging from this carriage is a motor hoist and a centering frame which plays a role in centering the load in its high position. Hanging from the hoist is a plate which is itself provided with vacuum gripping suction cups capable of gripping a set of bottles lying head to tail. The centering frame and the plate are provided with complementary centering members which engage together when the plate occupies its highest position.

De plus, le plateau est muni d'un organe de guidage accessible latéralement; cet organe comprend, de préfërence, une paire de bras écartés se terminant chacun par une poignée et il comprend aussi un axe horizontal autour duquel il peut pivoter en sens vertical. De préférence, l'organe de guidage est associé au plateau par l'intermédiaire d'un moyen d'embrayage et de débrayage qui libère le bras par rapport au plateau quand celui-ci occupe sa position la plus haute et qui l'immobilise en pivotement autour du plateau en dehors de cette position.In addition, the plate is provided with a laterally accessible guide member; this member preferably comprises a pair of spread arms each ending in a handle and it also includes a horizontal axis around which it can pivot in the vertical direction. Preferably, the guide member is associated with the plate by means of a clutch and disengaging means which frees the arm relative to the plate when the latter occupies its highest position and which immobilizes it in pivoting around the table outside this position.

De préférence, le palan et le cadre de centrage sont suspendus au chariot par l'intermédiaire d'articulation ayant un axe de pivotement parallèle à la partie en ligne droite du chemin de roulement.Preferably, the hoist and the centering frame are suspended from the carriage by means of a hinge having a pivot axis parallel to the straight line portion of the raceway.

Pour bien faire comprendre l'invention, on donnera maintenant une description d'un exemple de réalisation. On se reportera aux dessins annexés dan's lesquels:

  • la fig. 1 est une vue générale en élévation d'une machine conforme à l'invention montrant à la fois un poste d'alimentation en bouteilles pleines couchées où le chariot, le cadre et le plateau sont représentés en trait mixte, et un poste d'alimentation en conteneurs vides à remplir où le chariot, le cadre et le plateau sont représentés en trait plein,
  • la fig. 2 est une vue de dessus de la machine de la fig. 1 montrant les deux mêmes postes,
  • la fig. 3 est une vue de bout de la machine de la fig. 1, montrant seulement le poste d'alimentation en conteneurs où un conteneur est en cours de remplissage, le plateau étant représenté en trait plein en position haute au-dessus.d'un rang de bouteilles et représenté en trait mixte de façons différentes en position basse pour le dépôt d'un rang de bouteilles d'une part et d'un rang voisin de bouteilles tournées en sens opposé d'autre part,
  • la fig.4 est une vue de détail agrandie en coupe par un plan passant par l'axe de la partie entourée et désignée par une flèche F sur la fig. 1.
To clearly understand the invention, a description will now be given of an exemplary embodiment. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:
  • fig. 1 is a general elevation view of a machine according to the invention showing both a station for supplying full, lying bottles where the carriage, the frame and the tray are shown in phantom, and a station for supplying in empty containers to be filled where the carriage, the frame and the tray are shown in solid lines,
  • fig. 2 is a top view of the machine of FIG. 1 showing the same two stations,
  • fig. 3 is an end view of the machine of FIG. 1, showing only the container feeding station where a container is being filled, the tray being shown in solid lines in the high position above a row of bottles and shown in phantom in different ways in position low for depositing a row of bottles on the one hand and a neighboring row of bottles turned in opposite directions on the other hand,
  • fig.4 is an enlarged detail view in section through a plane passing through the axis of the surrounded part and designated by an arrow F in fig. 1.

La machine de l'invention est destinée à être installée entre un poste A d'alimentation en bouteilles pleines (ou, à l'inverse, d'évacuation de ces bouteilles) et un poste B d'alimentation en conteneurs vides à remplir (ou, à l'inverse, d'évacuation de ces conteneurs). Ces postes A et B peuvent être éloignés l'un de l'autre d'une distance quelconque, ou voisins t'un de l'autre comme dans le présent exemple.The machine of the invention is intended to be installed between a station A for supplying full bottles (or, conversely, for discharging these bottles) and a station B for supplying empty containers to be filled (or , conversely, evacuation of these containers). These stations A and B can be distant from each other by any distance, or close to each other as in the present example.

Le poste A est équipé de façon connue en soi d'un transporteur Ai qui conduit deux files de bouteilles pleines, debout, et d'un dispositif, également connu en soi, qui couchent ces bouteilles en les mettant tête-bêche. On trouve une description d'un transporteur et d'un dispositif de couchage de ce genre dans le document FR-A-2219061.The station A is equipped in a manner known per se with a conveyor A i which leads two rows of full bottles, standing, and with a device, also known per se, which lay these bottles by putting them head to tail. A description of a conveyor and a coating device of this kind is found in document FR-A-2219061.

Le poste B est équipé de façon connue en sci d'un transporteur à rouleaux Bi qui conduit, et évacue ensuite, successivement, des conteneurs C à remplir en bouteilles.The station B is equipped in a known manner with a roller conveyor B i which leads, and then evacuates, successively, containers C to be filled in bottles.

L'équipement des postes A et B ne fait pas partie de l'invention; pour cette raison, il est représenté sur les dessins en trait continu plus fin. Un équipement quelconque approprié pourrait être prévu aux postes A et B; la seule obligation à respecter pour le bon fonctionnement de la machine de l'invention est de disposer d'une part d'un ensemble de bouteilles couchées tête-bêche à un emplacement précis, d'autre part d'un conteneur à remplir, également disposé à un emplacement précis.The equipment of stations A and B is not part of the invention; for this reason, it is shown in the finer continuous line drawings. Any suitable equipment could be provided at posts A and B; the only obligation to respect for the proper functioning of the machine of the invention is to have on the one hand a set of bottles lying head to tail in a precise location, on the other hand a container to be filled, also arranged in a specific location.

La machine de l'invention comprend un chemin de roulement 1 qui est supporté par des jambes espacées 2 au-dessus des deux postes A et B. Il est donc facile d'adapter la longueur du chemin de roulement 1 à la distance qui sépare les postes A et B.The machine of the invention comprises a track 1 which is supported by spaced legs 2 above the two stations A and B. It is therefore easy to adapt the length of the track 1 to the distance between the posts A and B.

Les conteneurs C peuvent être d'un type quelconque et d'une capacité quelconque, mais on utilise couramment pour les transports jusqu'aux magasins de grande surface des conteneurs en fil métallique ayant des dimensions normalisées. Ces conteneurs peuvent recevoir des couches successives de bouteilles couchée et chaque couche comprend, dans le sens de ta largeur deux rangs de bouteilles tête-bêche; les bouteilles de ces rangs sont dirigées respectivement dans des sens opposés, comme on peut le voir dessiné en traits mixtes différents sur la fig. 3.The containers C can be of any type and of any capacity, but it is commonly used for transporting to large-scale stores containers of metal wire having standardized dimensions. These containers can receive successive layers of coated bottles and each layer comprises, in the width direction, two rows of head to tail bottles; the bottles of these rows are directed respectively in opposite directions, as can be seen drawn in different dashed lines in FIG. 3.

La machine de l'invention décrite ici à titre d'exemple est conçue pour prendre, soulever, transporter entre les postes A et B et déposer un rang complet d'une couche de bouteilles tête-bêche qui occupe dans un conteneur la totalité de la longueur de celui-ci et la moitié de sa largeur.The machine of the invention described here by way of example is designed to pick up, lift, transport between stations A and B and deposit a full row of a layer of head-to-tail bottles which occupies the entire container the length of it and half its width.

Au-dessus du poste A d'alimentation en bouteilles le chemin de roulement 1 est rectiligne et situé dans le plan médian longitudinal de ce poste A à l'aplomb des bouteilles couchées à saisir. A ce poste A se trouve la première extrémité 3 du chemin de roulement 1. Au-dessus du poste B d'alimentation en conteneurs, le chemin de roulement 1 est recourbé en demi-cercle 4, en vue de dessus, et il se termine par sa seconde extrémité 5. L'incurvation du chemin de roulement est telle qu'il s'étend d'abord au-dessus de l'axe longitudinal d'une première moitié du conteneur C, dans le sens de la largeur, pour arriver après courbure au-dessus de l'axe de la seconde moitié du conteneur C dans le sens de la largeur avant de se terminer en 5. De préférence, le centre 6 du demi-cercle 4 est situé sur la verticale qui passe par le centre géométrique du conteneur C, ou, au moins, ce centre 6 est proche de cette verticale.Above the bottle supply station A, the raceway 1 is straight and situated in the longitudinal median plane of this station A directly above the coated bottles to be gripped. At this station A is the first end 3 of the rolling path 1. Above the container feeding station B, the rolling path 1 is bent in a semicircle 4, in top view, and it ends by its second end 5. The curvature of the raceway is such that it first extends above the longitudinal axis of a first half of the container C, in the width direction, to arrive after bending above the axis of the second half of the container C in the width direction before ending in 5. Preferably, the center 6 of the semicircle 4 is located on the vertical which passes through the center geometric of container C, or, at least, this center 6 is close to this vertical.

Sur le chemin de roulement 1 est monté un chariot 7 déplaçable entre les postes A et B; il est guidé convenablement, par exemple grâce à des galets 8 à axe horizontal roulant sur des ailes horizontales et à des galets 9 à axe vertical s'appuyant contre une aile verticale de part et d'autre de celle-ci. Ce chariot 7 est entraîné en déplacement au moyen d'un groupe moto-réducteur 10 supporté entre les jambes 2, à proximité de la première extrémité 3 du chemin de roulement 1. Le groupe 10 a un arbre vertical sur lequel est calé, en rotation, un pignon denté 11 situé au niveau du chariot 7. Une chaîne 12 passe autour du pignon 11, s'étend en-dessous du chemin de roulement 1, dans le plan vertical qui passe par l'axe géométrique de ce dernier. La chaîne 12 suit le parcours du chemin de roulement 1; en arrivant au demi-cercle 4, elle s'incurve aussi en passant autour d'une roue dentée horizontale 13 de diamètre égal à celui de l'axe du chemin de roulement 1 dans la partie en demi-cercle 4; ce diamètre est égal aussi à la distance D qui sépare les axes longitudinaux des deux moitiés du conteneur C dans le sens de la largeur. A partir de la roue dentée 13 la chaîne 12 retourne directement au pignon 11. La roue dentée 13 est suspendue au niveau convenable grâce à un bras pendant 14 qui est lui-même fixé à une plaque 15 soutenue par la face supérieure du chemin de roulement 1. L'axe géométrique vertical de rotation de la roue dentée 13 passe par le centre 6 du demi-cercle 4. Le chariot 7 est fixé à la chaîne 12 par un moyen de fixation non représenté de sorte qu'il peut être déplacé entre l'extrémité 3 et l'extrémité 5 du chemin de roulement 1, et inversement.On the raceway 1 is mounted a carriage 7 movable between stations A and B; it is guided properly, for example by means of rollers 8 with a horizontal axis rolling on horizontal wings and rollers 9 with a vertical axis pressing against a vertical wing on either side thereof. This carriage 7 is driven in displacement by means of a geared motor group 10 supported between the legs 2, near the first end 3 of the raceway 1. The group 10 has a vertical shaft on which is fixed, in rotation , a toothed pinion 11 located at the carriage 7. A chain 12 passes around the pinion 11, extends below the raceway 1, in the vertical plane which passes through the geometric axis of the latter. The chain 12 follows the path of the raceway 1; arriving at the semicircle 4, it also curves by passing around a horizontal toothed wheel 13 of diameter equal to that of the axis of the raceway 1 in the semicircle part 4; this diameter is also equal to the distance D which separates the longitudinal axes of the two halves of the container C in the width direction. From the toothed wheel 13 the chain 12 returns directly to the pinion 11. The toothed wheel 13 is suspended at the appropriate level by means of a pendant arm 14 which is itself fixed to a plate 15 supported by the upper face of the raceway 1. The vertical geometric axis of rotation of the toothed wheel 13 passes through the center 6 of the semicircle 4. The carriage 7 is fixed to the chain 12 by a fixing means not shown so that it can be moved between the end 3 and the end 5 of the raceway 1, and vice versa.

. Au chariot 7 sont suspendus un palan 16 à chaîne et à moteur et un cadre de centrage 17. Il est préférable de suspendre le palan 16 et le cadre 17 par l'intermédiaire d'axes horizontaux 18 parallèles au chemin de roulement 1 laissant une possibilité d'oscillation en sens transversal afin que les galets 8, 9 supportent moins les ef- .fets du balancement. Le cadre 17 a un côté inférieur 19 avec une ouverture centrale 20 à travers laquelle passe la chaîne 21 du palan 16. Le côté inférieur 19 présente aussi deux trous espacés 22 dirigés vers le bas en position d'utilisation et évasés en 23 à leur partie inférieure.. Hanging from the carriage 7 is a chain and motor hoist 16 and a centering frame 17. It is preferable to suspend the hoist 16 and the frame 17 by means of horizontal axes 18 parallel to the raceway 1 leaving a possibility of oscillation in the transverse direction so that the rollers 8, 9 support less the effects of rocking. The frame 17 has a lower side 19 with a central opening 20 through which the chain 21 of the hoist passes. The lower side 19 also has two spaced holes 22 directed downwards in the position of use and flared at 23 in their part. lower.

A la chaîne 21 du palan 19 est accroché un plateau 24 de préhension par dépression, qui est horizontal en position d'utilisation et qui est pourvu sur sa face inférieure de plusieurs ven-- touses 25. Celles-ci sont connues; on peut en trouver une description dans le document FR-A-2370 660. Elles sont spécialement conçues pour saisir des bouteilles couchées. La face inférieure du plateau 24 présente deux plages 24A, 24B qui sont décalées en sens vertical et équipées respectivement de ventouses 25 pour que ces dernières saisissent simultanément des boutéilles couchées tête-bêche en deux lignes comme on le voit sur les figures. Les ventouses 25 sont rac cordées par l'intermédiaire du plateau 24 à une source de pression modulée convenablement par des moyens non représentés.A chain 24 of the hoist 19 is attached to a vacuum gripping plate 24, which is horizontal in the use position and which is provided on its underside with several ven- alles 25. These are known; a description can be found in document FR-A-2370 660. They are specially designed for gripping coated bottles. The underside of the plate 24 has two areas 24A, 24B which are offset in the vertical direction and equipped respectively with suction cups 25 so that the latter simultaneously grip the bottles lying head to tail in two lines as seen in the figures. The suction cups 25 are connected via the plate 24 to a pressure source suitably modulated by means not shown.

Le plateau 24 a une longueur qui est déterminée par la longueur du conteneur C et une largeur qui est égale à la demi-largeur du conteneur C. La machine décrite ici est conçue pour dépo- .ser (ou retirer) en ùne seule fois toutes les bouteilles couchées qui composent la moitié d'une couche complète dans le conteneur C, en opérant sur la totalité de la longueur et sur la moitié de la largeur. Dans d'autres circonstances, avec des conteneurs ayant d'autres dimensions, on pourrait donner au plateau 24 des dimensions qui correspondraient à une autre-façon de remplir ou de vider le conteneur C. Avec des conteneurs de plus grande surface, le plateau 24 pourrait opérer par moitié dans le sens de la largeur, comme dans le cas présent, et par fractions dans le sens de la longueur.The tray 24 has a length which is determined by the length of the container C and a width which is equal to the half-width of the container C. The machine described here is designed to deposit (or remove) all at once the coated bottles which make up half of a complete layer in container C, operating over the entire length and over half the width. In other circumstances, with containers having other dimensions, one could give the tray 24 dimensions which correspond to another way of filling or emptying the container C. With larger containers, the tray 24 could operate by half in the width direction, as in the present case, and by fractions in the length direction.

Le plateau 24 est accroché à la chaîne 21 du palan 16 par l'intermédiaire d'un élément de centrage 26 qui porte deux broches 27 dirigées vers le cadre 17, en correspondance avec les trous 22 du côté inférieur 17 de ce dernier. A la fin de la course de levage du plateau 24, les broches 27 entrent dans les entrées évasées 23 des trous 22 puis s'engagent dans ceux-ci et assurent le centrage du plateau 24. Quand la traction produite par la chaîne 21 applique fermement l'élément 26 contre le côté inférieur 19 du cadre 17, le plateau 24 occupe une position définie par rapport au chariot 7 et il conserve cette position pendant le déplacement de ce dernier.The plate 24 is hooked to the chain 21 of the hoist 16 by means of a centering element 26 which carries two pins 27 directed towards the frame 17, in correspondence with the holes 22 on the lower side 17 of the latter. At the end of the lifting stroke of the plate 24, the pins 27 enter the flared inlets 23 of the holes 22 then engage in these and ensure the centering of the plate 24. When the traction produced by the chain 21 applies firmly the element 26 against the lower side 19 of the frame 17, the plate 24 occupies a defined position relative to the carriage 7 and it retains this position during the movement of the latter.

Le plateau 24 est pourvu, à son sommet, entre sa face supérieure et l'élément de centrage 26 d'un organe de guidage manuel désigné par la référence générale 28 et qui comprend, de préférence, une paire de bras espacés ayant chacun une poignée 29. Les bras de l'organe de guidage 28 s'étendent sur un côté du plateau 24, ils sont incurvés vers le bas pour descendre jusqu'à un niveau qui permet à un opérateur de tenir les poignées 29 quand le plateau 24 occupe sa position la plus élevée. De plus, l'organe de guidage 28 est monté avec une liberté de pivotement autour d'un axe horizontal 30 de façon à pouvoir être relevé en tournant autour de cet axe quand le plateau 24 descend jusqu'au fond d'un conteneur C.The plate 24 is provided, at its apex, between its upper face and the centering element 26 with a manual guide member designated by the general reference 28 and which preferably comprises a pair of spaced arms each having a handle 29. The arms of the guide member 28 extend on one side of the plate 24, they are curved downwards to descend to a level which allows an operator to hold the handles 29 when the plate 24 occupies its highest position. In addition, the guide member 28 is mounted with freedom of pivoting about a horizontal axis 30 so that it can be raised by turning around this axis when the plate 24 descends to the bottom of a container C.

L'organe de guidage manuel 28 pourrait être réuni au plateau 24 en un point quelconque à condition qu'il ne gêne pas la descente de ce dernier dans les conteneurs C, comme on vient de l'expliquer. Cependant, il est plus avantageux de le monter autour d'un arbre 31 grâce auquel le plateau 24 est suspendu en-dessous de l'élément de centrage 26. Il est préférable aussi de prévoir un moyen d'embrayage et de débrayage agissant entre l'organe de guidage 28 et l'arbre 31 de façon à établir la libération de l'organe de guidage 28 autour de l'arbre 31 quand le plateau 24 est soulevé à sa position la plus élevée et à établir. le blocage de l'organe de guidage 28 par rapport à l'arbre 31 quand le plateau 24 n'occupe pas sa position la plus élevée. De nombreux moyens équivalents peuvent être adoptés pour assurer ces fonctions de blocage et de libération. Il est préférable d'employer des moyens à action automatique comme dans le présent exemple. L'organe de guidage 28 comprend une bague 32 montée libre en rotation autour de l'arbre 31. Le plateau 24 est fixé à l'extrémité inférieure de l'arbre 31, et l'extrémité supérieure de ce dernier est fixée à une pièce centrale 33 faisant partie de l'élément de centrage 26. Des douilles 34 traversent longitudinalement la pièce centrale 33 et sont réunies par des vis respectivement à leur extrémité supérieure à une plaque 35 et à leur extrémité inférieure à une première couronne d'embrayage 36 qui est montée libre en translation autour de l'arbre 31 et immobilisée en rotation autour de ce même arbre. Plusieurs ressorts 37 régulièrement espacés sont logés dans des évidements de la pièce centrale 33 et repoussent la première couronne d'embrayage 36 en l'éloignant de la pièce centrale 33. Une seconde couronne d'embrayage 38 est montée libre en rotation autour de l'arbre 31 et fixée à la bague 32 de l'organe de guidage 28; une garniture de friction est interposée, de façon connue, entre les couronnes d'embrayage 36 et 38. D'autre part, la plaque 35 est réunie fermement à la chaîne 21 du palan 16 grâce à des équerres à empreintes 39 qui contiennent entre elles la chaîne 21 et qui sont vissées à la plaque 35.The manual guide member 28 could be joined to the plate 24 at any point provided that it does not interfere with the descent of the latter into the containers C, as has just been explained. However, it is more advantageous to mount it around a shaft 31 thanks to which the plate 24 is suspended below the centering element 26. It is also preferable to provide a clutch and disengaging means acting between the 'guide member 28 and the shaft 31 so as to establish the release of the guide member 28 around the shaft 31 when the plate 24 is raised to its highest position and to be established. blocking the guide member 28 relative to the shaft 31 when the plate 24 does not occupy its highest position. Many equivalent means can be adopted to provide these blocking and release functions. It is preferable to employ means with automatic action as in the present example. The guide member 28 comprises a ring 32 mounted to rotate freely around the shaft 31. The plate 24 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 31, and the upper end of the latter is fixed to a part central 33 forming part of the centering element 26. Sockets 34 pass longitudinally through the central part 33 and are joined by screws respectively at their upper end to a plate 35 and at their lower end to a first clutch ring 36 which is mounted free in translation around the shaft 31 and immobilized in rotation around the same shaft. Several regularly spaced springs 37 are housed in recesses in the central part 33 and push the first clutch ring 36 away from the central part 33. A second clutch ring 38 is mounted to rotate freely around the shaft 31 and fixed to the ring 32 of the guide member 28; a friction lining is interposed, in a known manner, between the clutch crowns 36 and 38. On the other hand, the plate 35 is joined firmly to the chain 21 of the hoist 16 by means of footed brackets 39 which contain between them the chain 21 and which are screwed to the plate 35.

Quand le plateau 24 a été élevé jusqu'à sa position la plus haute dans laquelle l'élément de centrage est appliqué contre le côté inférieur 19 du cadre 17, la traction de la chaîne 21 est transmise par les douilles 34 à la première couronne d'embrayage 36 qui se déplace en comprimant les ressorts 37 jusqu'à sa rencontre avec la pièce centrale 33. L'embrayage est ouvert et l'organe de guidage 28 peut tourner librement autour de l'arbre 31 et autour du plateau -24. Dès que le plateau 24 n'occupe plus cette position, dès qu'il commence à descendre, les ressorts 37 repoussent la première couronne d'embrayage 36 contre le garniture de friction appliquée contre la seconde couronne d'embrayage 38. L'embrayage est fermé et, quand on agit sur l'organe de guidage 28 on peut faire tourner le plateau 24 suspendu à la chaîne 21 et lui donner une orientation quelconque. Ce guidage permet de corriger son orientation afin qu'il pénètre convenablement dans le conteneur C à remplir (ou à vider).When the plate 24 has been raised to its highest position in which the centering element is applied against the lower side 19 of the frame 17, the traction of the chain 21 is transmitted by the sockets 34 to the first ring d clutch 36 which moves by compressing the springs 37 until it meets the central part 33. The clutch is open and the guide member 28 can rotate freely around the shaft 31 and around the plate -24. As soon as the plate 24 no longer occupies this position, as soon as it begins to descend, the springs 37 push the first clutch ring 36 against the friction lining applied against the second clutch ring 38. The clutch is closed and, when acting on the guide member 28, it is possible to rotate the plate 24 suspended from the chain 21 and give it any orientation. This guidance makes it possible to correct its orientation so that it properly enters the container C to be filled (or emptied).

Les positions d'arrêt du chariot 7 d'une part au poste A et d'autre part au poste B sont définies avec précision grâce à des butées ou à des moyens équivalents de détection et de repérage, non représentés et connus en soi, de sorte que les corrections d'orientation du plateau 24 sont minimes.The stop positions of the carriage 7 on the one hand at station A and on the other hand at station B are precisely defined by means of stops or equivalent detection and tracking means, not shown and known per se, of so that the orientation corrections of the plate 24 are minimal.

En fait, au-dessus du poste B le chariot 7 peut être arrêté à l'une ou à autre de deux positions d'arrêt. A une première position, le plateau 24 peut opérer d'un côté de l'axe de symétrie du conteneur C, par exemple du côté au-dessus du milieu duquel arrive le chemin de roulement 1. A la seconde position, le plateau 24 peut opérer de l'autre côté du même axe de symétrie, quand le chariot a parcouru le demi-cercle 4 du chemin de roulement 1 et a été arrêté au-dessus du milieu de ce côté. Sur la fig. 2, le plateau 24 est représenté en trait plein, à droite, au-dessus du poste A et en trait mixte, à gauche, pendant son passage entre ses deux positions possibles d'arrêt au-dessus du poste B.In fact, above station B the carriage 7 can be stopped at one or other of two stop positions. In a first position, the plate 24 can operate on one side of the axis of symmetry of the container C, for example on the side above the middle of which the raceway 1 arrives. In the second position, the plate 24 can operate on the other side of the same axis of symmetry, when the carriage has traversed the semicircle 4 of the raceway 1 and has been stopped above the middle of this side. In fig. 2, the plate 24 is shown in solid lines, on the right, above station A and in dashed lines, on the left, during its passage between its two possible stop positions above station B.

Dans l'exemple décrit ici, quand des bouteilles ont été couchées tête-bêche au poste A en nombre voulu pour garnir sur une couche une moitié du conteneur C, le plateau 24 les saisit par les ventouses 25 et le palan 16 fait monter ce plateau jusqu'à sa position la plus élevée dans laquelle il est centré en position grâce aux broches 27 s'engageant dans les trous 22. A ce moment, l'organe de guidage 28 est libéré en pivotement autour du plateau 24 ainsi qu'on l'a expliqué. Le chariot 7 est alors déplacé du poste A au poste B, par le groupe moto-réducteur 10 et par la chaîne 12. Quand le chariot 7 circule sur la partie 4 en demi-cercle du chemin de roulement 1, le plateau 24 pivote avec lui afin d'occuper dans sa seconde position d'arrêt une position symétrique de celle qu'il occupe à sa première position d'arrêt. L'opérateur n'est pas obligé d'accompagner le plateau pendant ce demi-tour, ni de contourner le conteneur C, grâce à l'ouverture de l'embrayage, comme expliqué plus haut, et à la liberté de pivotement qui en résulte pour l'organe de guidage. Quand le chariot 7 a été arrêté à l'une ou l'autre des deux positions, dès la descente du plateau 24, l'embrayage se ferme et l'organe de guidage 28 est immobilisé par rapport au plateau 24, permettant ainsi de corriger son orientation ou sa position, si nécessaire, pour qu'il descende convenablement dans le conteneur C sans en accrocher les bords. Il en est de même pendant la montée pour la sortie hors du conteneur C. La même correction est possible quand le plateau 24 descend au poste A pour saisir (ou déposer) des bouteilles.In the example described here, when bottles have been laid head to tail at station A in sufficient number to fill one layer with one half of the container C, the plate 24 grasps them by the suction cups 25 and the hoist 16 causes this plate to rise up to its highest position in which it is centered in position thanks to the pins 27 engaging in the holes 22. At this time, the guide member 28 is released in pivoting around the plate 24 so that l 'has explained. The carriage 7 is then moved from station A to station B, by the geared motor unit 10 and by the chain 12. When the carriage 7 circulates on the semicircular part 4 of the raceway 1, the plate 24 pivots with him in order to occupy in his second stop position a position symmetrical to that which he occupies in his first stop position. The operator is not obliged to accompany the plate during this half-turn, nor to bypass the container C, thanks to the opening of the clutch, as explained above, and to the freedom of pivoting which results therefrom for the guide member. When the carriage 7 has been stopped at one or the other of the two positions, as soon as the plate 24 descends, the clutch closes and the guide member 28 is immobilized relative to the plate 24, thus making it possible to correct its orientation or position, if necessary, so that it descends properly into container C without hanging the edges. It is the same during the ascent for the exit from the container C. The same correction is possible when the tray 24 descends to the station A to grab (or deposit) bottles.

Le perfectionnement consistant à immobiliser ou à libérer l'organe de guidage 28 n'est pas strictement nécessaire en toutes circonstances sur une machine conforme à l'invention mais son emploi est très avantageux.The improvement consisting in immobilizing or releasing the guide member 28 is not strictly necessary in all circumstances on a machine according to the invention but its use is very advantageous.

Par ailleurs, il doit être entendu que l'invention couvre toutes les modifications que l'on peut apporter à l'exemple de réalisation décrit ci-dessus qui ne seraient que des dispositions équivalentes. Il est clair aussi que la machine de l'invention convient pour la manutention de toutes les bouteilles, quel qu'en soit le type, vides ou pleines, qui sont à déplacer par groupes de bouteilles couchées tête-bêche quel qu'en soit le nombre dans chaque groupe. Elle convient également pour la manutention d'objets autres que des bouteilles couchées, à condition de doter le plateau 24 de moyens de préhension adaptés à ces objets. Les efforts étant reportés sur le palan et sur le chariot, un opérateur peut déplacer en une seule fois une charge relativement importante (25 bouteilles pleines dans l'exemple décrit plus haut) ; cet opérateur n'a que peu de déplacements à faire lui-même grâce au pivotement de l'organe de guidage 28. La machine décrite permet de manutentionner 3000 bouteilles à l'heure quand les postes A et B sont voisins l'un de l'autre. Prévoir de placer l'incurvation en demi-cercle 4du chemin de roulement 1 au-dessus du poste 3 en mettant le centre de ce demi-cercle sur la verticale qui passe par le milieu des conteneurs C permet de raccourcir la longueur des déplacements. Cependant, on pourrait dans le cadre de l'invention, prévoir de placer le demi-cercle 4 au-delà du poste B.Furthermore, it should be understood that the invention covers all the modifications that can be made to the embodiment described above which would only be equivalent provisions. It is also clear that the machine of the invention is suitable for handling all the bottles, whatever the type, empty or full, which are to be moved in groups of bottles lying head to tail regardless of the number in each group. It is also suitable for handling objects other than lying bottles, provided that the tray 24 is provided with gripping means adapted to these objects. The forces being transferred to the hoist and to the trolley, an operator can move a relatively large load at once (25 full bottles in the example described above); this operator has only a few movements to make himself thanks to the pivoting of the guide member 28. The machine described makes it possible to handle 3000 bottles per hour when the stations A and B are close to one of the 'other. Plan to place the curvature in a semicircle 4of the raceway 1 above the post 3 by putting the center of this semicircle on the vertical which passes through the middle of the containers C makes it possible to shorten the length of the displacements. However, in the context of the invention, provision could be made to place the semicircle 4 beyond the station B.

La machine de l'invention est robuste et peu coûteuse en entretien, et elle reste simple donc de prix relativement peu élevé grâce au fait que le guidage du plateau pendant ses mouvements est assuré manuellement, ce qui élimine de nombreux détecteurs et circuits de contrôle et de commande.The machine of the invention is robust and inexpensive to maintain, and it remains simple therefore of relatively low price thanks to the fact that the guide of the plate during its movements is ensured manually, which eliminates many detectors and control circuits and control.

Claims (9)

1. A machine for loading or unloading articles which are lined up in containers, such as bottles, between a station (A) for the arrival or departure of the articles and a station (B) reserved for containers (C), this machine comprising a horizontal roller track (1) passing over the station (A) in the longitudinal central plane of the latter and over the station (B), a carriage (7) running on the roller track (1), a tackle (16) hooked onto the carriage (7) for carrying a table (24) equipped with vacuum cups (25), characterized in that over the station (B) the roller track (1) runs in the vertical plane containing the longitudinal geometric axis of one half transversely of a container arranged at this station (B) and then exhibits a curve into a semicircle (4) which over the other half forms a tangent with the vertical plane containing the longitudinal geometric axis of this second half, the table (24) having a width equal to half the inside width and a length equal to the inside length of the containers (C) and being provided with a member (28) for guidance by hand.
2. A machine as in claim 1, characterized in that the table (24) is provided with a member (28) for guidance by hand, which is accessible from the side in order to enable correction of the orientation of this table (24) during its raising and lowering motions with respect to the carriage (7) when the latter has stopped either in a stop position over the station (A), or at either of two stop positions over the one half or the other half respectively of the containers at the station (B).
3. A machine as in claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (7) carries a centreing frame (17) equipped with centreing means (22) and the table (24) is provided with centreing means (27) complementary to the centreing means (22), these means (22 and 27) cooperating with one another when the table (24) is occupying its highest position.
4. A machine as in claim 1, in which the carriage (7) is driven by a chain (12) passing round sprockets (11, 13), characterized in that the centre of the curve into a semicircle (4) in the roller track (1) is located on a vertical line passing through the centre of the containers (C) arranged at the station (B) and one of the sprockets (13) has its centre located on this vertical line.
5. A machine as in claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum cups (25) on the table (24) are suitable for putting down or picking up bottles across the whole of one half transversely of the area of the containers (C).
6. A machine as in claim 3, characterized in that the table (24) is equipped at the crown of it with a shaft (31) by which it is hung from the chain (21) of the tackle (16) and a centreing member (26) fixed to this shaft (31) is provided with spikes (27) intended for engaging in centreing holes (22) designed to correspond in the underside (19) of the centreing frame (17).
7. A machine as in claim 6, characterized in that the guide member (28) is mounted by one end round the shaft (31) between the table (24) and the centreing member (26), and it includes a pin (30) which is horizontal in the position of use, providing a possibility of pivoting in a vertical direction.
8. A machine as in claim 7, characterized in that a means of clutching and declutching is located between the guide member (28) and the shaft (31), this means being in the closed position and firmly uniting the member (28) and the shaft (31) when the table (24) is not occupying its highest position and freeing the guide member (28) to pivot about the shaft (31) and about the table (24) when the latter is occupying its highest position.
9. A machine as in claim 1, characterized in that the guide member (28) comprises two arms at a distance apart, each ending in a handle (29).
EP81400676A 1980-04-30 1981-04-29 Manually controlled handling machine for filling or emptying transport cases of arranged articles Expired EP0039296B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT81400676T ATE8480T1 (en) 1980-04-30 1981-04-29 MANUALLY CONTROLLED LOADER FOR FILLING OR EMPTYING TRANSPORT BOXES FOR REGULARLY ARRANGED OBJECTS.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8009804 1980-04-30
FR8009804A FR2481685A1 (en) 1980-04-30 1980-04-30 MANUALLY DRIVEN HANDLING MACHINE FOR FILLING OR EMPTY ROW OBJECT TRANSPORT CASES

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0039296A1 EP0039296A1 (en) 1981-11-04
EP0039296B1 true EP0039296B1 (en) 1984-07-18

Family

ID=9241547

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP81400676A Expired EP0039296B1 (en) 1980-04-30 1981-04-29 Manually controlled handling machine for filling or emptying transport cases of arranged articles

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US4402173A (en)
EP (1) EP0039296B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE8480T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3164859D1 (en)
ES (1) ES501749A0 (en)
FR (1) FR2481685A1 (en)

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US4713926A (en) * 1986-06-26 1987-12-22 Wheeling Stamping Company Packaging machine and method
ES2006473A6 (en) * 1987-03-24 1989-05-01 Revuelta Lozano Antonio Method and machine for automatically obtaining continuous stacks of bottles
ES2007039A6 (en) * 1987-03-30 1989-06-01 Revuelta Lozano Antonio Head for gripping ordered bottle groups and for transferring and depositing these groups
US4814134A (en) * 1987-05-08 1989-03-21 Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd. Method and apparatus for automatically packaging articles in orderly fashion received from a multi-cavity high volume injection molding machine
FR2644147B1 (en) * 1989-03-10 1994-02-11 Thierion Sa Gm BOTTLE HANDLING DEVICE
US4977727A (en) * 1989-05-16 1990-12-18 Apv Crepaco, Inc. Apparatus for filling cases with a plurality of articles arranged in a predetermined pattern
DE4030215C2 (en) * 1990-09-24 1998-07-02 Focke & Co Device for handling beaker bars and use of a special container for beaker bars
NL9301436A (en) * 1993-08-19 1995-03-16 Bouwe Prakken Device for packing filled bags in boxes.
DE19700150A1 (en) * 1997-01-06 1998-07-09 Focke & Co Device for filling cardboard boxes
US5918446A (en) * 1997-07-08 1999-07-06 Sweetheart Cup Co., Inc. Apparatus and systems for reorienting and transferring elongate articles, especially frozen dessert cones
US6209293B1 (en) 1999-06-25 2001-04-03 Box Loader, Llc Packing apparatus for packing multiple layers of containers into a receptacle
US7628106B2 (en) * 2004-08-27 2009-12-08 Conagra Foods Lamb Weston, Inc. Apparatus and method for making filled-dough products
JP4394027B2 (en) * 2005-04-05 2010-01-06 村田機械株式会社 Overhead traveling vehicle system

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE8480T1 (en) 1984-08-15
ES8203061A1 (en) 1982-02-16
DE3164859D1 (en) 1984-08-23
US4402173A (en) 1983-09-06
EP0039296A1 (en) 1981-11-04
FR2481685B1 (en) 1985-03-15
ES501749A0 (en) 1982-02-16
FR2481685A1 (en) 1981-11-06

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