EP0098247A2

EP0098247A2 - Method and machine for producing automatically pet feeding-sticks

Info

Publication number: EP0098247A2
Application number: EP83830119A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ercole Della Rossa
Original assignee: CARNATION ITALIA SpA
Current assignee: CARNATION ITALIA SpA
Priority date: 1982-06-24
Filing date: 1983-06-14
Publication date: 1984-01-11
Also published as: EP0098247A3; IT1210036B; IT8283416A0

Abstract

Method and machine for producing automatically pet feeding-sticks, particularly intended for feeding birds and other pet animals inside cages, said feeding-sticks being provided with fixing means to be fixed to a cage wall. The machine includes a continuous belt feeding system (3) supporting a plurality of dies (4) for receiving the sticks and the feeding mixture, which is thus automatically pressed around the sticks by means of a plurality of stations, respectively: a station for filling the dies with the feeding mixture (B1) and one for inserting the sticks (B2) flanked to the first one, a pressing station (C) and a successive one for washing the upper die (D), a station for unloading (E) the shaped sticks in a collector (v) and a final washing station (F) of the lower dies.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and machine for producing automatically pet feeding-sticks, of the type particularly suitable as pre-packed feeding means for birds and other pet animals kept inside cages where said feeding-sticks can be fixed to a wall.
At the present state of the art machines which can produce automatically said pet feeding-sticks are not known, and said feeding-sticks are still made with prevailing handicraft manual work.
The drawbacks of the presently used solutions and of the well known art result mainly from the long time the manual work takes, which involves high performance costs and does not allow to reach mass production of standard shaped sticks in order to reduce the production costs to a minimum.
The invention as claimed is intended to provide a remedy. It solves the problem by carrying out an operative method utilizing a completely automatic machine for the mass production of said pet feeding-sticks, said machine including essentially a continuous conveyor belt which is supplied with a plurality of shaping dies with various impressions for housing the sticks; the conveyor with the relevant movable dies is associated with a plurality of fixed treating stations in the relative path, which consist respectively: in a first advancing position on the upper portion of the conveyor, of a first feed filling station of said housings and alongside this one of a station for inserting axially the sticks in said side housings; in a second advancing position on the upper portion of the conveyor belt, of a shaping station with a movable upper die of the dies proceding from said first position, being this station associated with a collateral station for alternately washing the movable upper die; in a third position placed under the conveyor in the reversal path, of an unloading station for expelling the feeding-sticks as finished products; in a fourth position still under the conveyor belt in the reversal portion and after the preceding one, of a washing station for washing the base dies fixed to said conveyor belt.
The advantages offered by the invention are mainly that with such a machine it is possible to carry out an automatic mass production of said feeding-sticks with a very low cost, and at the same time the machine is extremely simplified, reliable and provided with operative mechanical means structured so that it does not require excessive maintenance. Moreover, the space taken by the machine is extremely reduced and this is a further advantage if related to the possibility of automatic production of said large quantities of feeding-sticks.
The invention is described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to drawings which illustrate some preferred embodiments, in which:-
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the whole machine in which the operative stations placed on the plane of the conveyor belt are sectioned for visualizing their structuration; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional vertical front view,transversally to the belt, of the first operative station of stick shaping (in partial view) and inserting, with respect to the plane X-X of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional transversal view of the conveyor belt like the preceding one, but in correspondence to the successive pressing station with respect to the plane Y-Y of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional transversal view of the conveyor belt like the preceding ones, in correspondence to the unloading station of the finished feeding-sticks with respect to the plane Z-Z of Figure 1.
The figures show a machine devised, in the specific case, for producing automatically feeding-sticks of the type corresponding to the Italian Patent Application No. 83383 A/82 filed on May 7, 1982 in the name of the same Applicant, titled: "Pet feeding-stick, rigidly fixable to pet cages, particularly for birds and other pet animals".
This type of pet feeding-stick "p" consists of a stick "b" into which a fixing head "s" is inserted for fixing the feeding-stick to the cage and at whose free end the feed "m" is shaped and pressed (see Figure 3).
The machine includes a frame "0" which supports an endless continuous conveyor belt with a chain 3 stretched with well known means between two stretching pulleys 1,2 , said conveyor belt supports a plurality of shaping dies 4 with a number of grooves, in the specific case four, in outwards open opposite couples 4' and comprising a side semiannular groove 4" which determines a sideward opening with respect to the more hollowed holding seats 4', which have a semicylindrical shape with rounded edges, placed parallel in transversal direction with respect to the belt chain 3.
After a first free checking position or a possible installation of an auxiliary treating station "A", two stations are installed in a first operative position, respectively one placed exactly mating on the conveyor belt for receiving under it in adhesion a couple of dies 4, step by step, and constituting the shaping station "B1" for delivering the feeding mixture on the dies and another station "B2", placed sideways and acting transversally in order to insert the feeding-sticks in the respective seats 4' of the dies 4 after the feed delivering in the first station "Bl". Successively to this one, still in the upper portion of the belt 3 and over the dies 4, in a second operative position a third station "C" is placed for pressing the feeding mixture around the sticks inserted in the underlying pre-shaped die 4, being this station associated with an adjacent station "D" for washing the upper die alternately in the transferring step of the underlying die. Under the conveyor belt, in a third operative position "E" a station for unloading the shaped feeding-sticks on a collecting plane "V" is placed; finally, still under the conveyor belt, after the unloading station, a washing station "F" for washing from the bottom upwards the dies unloaded of the finished products, and more particularly for the complete cleaning of the seats 4' for the successive shaping.
In detail, the shaping machine of the shaping station "Bl" includes a feedbox 9 for conveying the pasty mixture of feed with glue into a blendor "m" provided with two couples of motorized axles 10 with mixing blades rotating in opposed couple, in which the upper couple rotates in a double number of turns than the lower couple and in opposite direction, being each couple rotating also in opposite direction and so that the lower couple rotates with the mixing blades which move downwards when they are in the inside adjacent position, as shown by the arrows of Figure 1. Obviously, at least one of said axles will be motorized and will transmit the respective equal or double number of turns to the adjacent axles by means of gear wheels placed sideways 10'. The mixing blades will preferably consist of sleepers parallel to each rotating axle 10 and suitably spaced from same, being the upper mixing blades in feathered position in only one direction, whereas in the lower couple they are placed in contraposition. Furthermore, the blendor "m" has at the bottom a smoothing means 11 cooperating with pressure spring systems in order to adhere on the upper surface of the lower dies 4 passing in adjacent couple, smoothing the excess of material when the transferring of said dies 4 has to be carried out from one station to the other.
The flanked station "B2", as better shown in Figure 2, includes a loader 19 of heads "s" to be fixed at the cages and of sticks "b" associated respectively with a stake 20 and with a lever 21 for unloading one by one said pieces into an underlying inserting station, which comprises a receiving plane of the two pieces axially associated with two jaws 24,24' which tighten the stick "b", said receiving plane supporting by means of supports 27, fixable in a sliding position 28, a fluid-dynamic cylinder 22 whose stem end 22' is placed at the end of the head "s" to be inserted in the respective inserting stick "b", and the assembly is further supported by means of stirrups 26 on a transversal horizontal guide sliding system 25 for moving in to-and-fro oscillation toward the shaping station "Bl", being said movement operated by the stem 23' of a fluid-dynamic cylinder 23.
The assembly of the two stations works as follows:

- in the shaping station "Bl" a sufficient quantity of feed "m" is delivered, which falls into the respective seats 4' of the dies 4, while at the same time the feeding mechanism of the loader 20,21 actuates for feeding to the inserting station a stick "b" with the respective head "s", which in alignment position by means of the underlying support and of the tightening jaws 24,24', are so arranged for assembling by inserting the head "s" in the free left end of the stick "b" tightened between said jaws 24,24' with the successive operation of the whole assembly movement toward the shaping station "B1" with the exit of the stem 23' from the cylinder 23, arranging the inserting of the end of the stick "b" in the respective groove 4" of the adjacent die 4;
- when the shaping and arranging of the sticks to be inserted is concluded, after realizing the loosening of the tightening jaws 24,24', the stem 22' of the cylinder 22 is further operated in exit, inserting the stick "b" through the groove 4" into the die seat 4' and consequently into the feed fallen therein, determining a swelling;
- that operation finished, the conveyor belt 3 advances for taking the dies from said station to the following one and the smoothing means 11 will carry out the smoothing of the quantity of excessive feeding mixture overflowing from the seats 4', due to the previous inserting of the stick "b".

The succesive pressing station "C" comprises a press with a vertically movable in upper contrapositioii die 13 with vertical lateral guides 30 of the respective supports 31, by means of fluid-dynamic air-operated cylinder 32, with the further characteristic that each seat 33 of the counterdie 13 has a plurality of holes 34 connected to an air inlet for unloading and cleaning with alternate jets these upper seats between a pressing step and the following one, being the pressing structure supported by a supporting bridge frame 29,12.
Said pressing station "C" is associated with an adjacent washing station "D" which comprises a fluid-dynamic cylinder 4 which operates an alternately movable valve 15 provided with a linkage in association with said movement which operates a set of upper sprayers 16 in upward lifting while these ones are taken under the movable upper die 13 when said die is upward lifted, tightening airtight against it, for the relative washing of the respective pressing countergrooves 33 while the underlying die 4 with the pressed feeding-sticks gets out and advances toward the successive station.
The successive station "E" for unloading the pressed pieces is placed below, in the return step of the conveyor belt 3 with the dies 4 overturned, and said station includes a fluid-dynamic cylinder 17 which operates a head alternately movable downward 35, which is connected to an air delivery duct and mates with an axial hole of the die 4 placed centrally and communicating with a plurality of microholes 4"' which are in communication with the housing seats 4' of the sticks "p". After the hooking of the head 35 with the respective airtight ring against the back supporting wall of the die 4 on the hole 4", a rapid compressed air jet is let in, which will determine the downward unloading of the feeding-sticks so pressed "p" on the holding plate "v".
The step by step advance of the chain 3 is determined by an alternate movement mechanism consisting of a fluid-dynamic stem 7 which determines the reciprocating sliding of a hooking tooth 8 for each mesh 3' along the guide system 5,6.
The final station "F" placed below in the return step of the conveyor belt 3, comprises a washing box with a water jet duct and a plurality of sprayers 18 for delivering a suitable jet of pressurized water from the bottom upward in the respective housing seats 4' of the overturned dies 4, thus cleaning and preparing them for the succesive shaping.
A further important characteristic of the pressing station consists in that the upper portion of the countergroove 33 of the respective movable die 13 penetrates, during the pressing, into the opposite seat 4' of the underlying die 4. Udine, July 1, 1983.

Claims

1. Method for producing automatically pet feeding-sticks, which consist of sticks (b) surrounded by a feeding mixture (m) glued around a portion of said sticks, characterised in that it utilizes at least a closed cycle conveyor belt (3) stretched between two stretching pulleys (1,2), wherein said conveyor belt (3) supports a plurality of shaping dies (4) provided with housing seats (4') for said sticks (b) with the relative feeding mixture (m), and:

- at least a shaping station (B1) placed over said conveyor belt in its advance movement for delivering the feeding mixture imbibed with binder or glue (m) into said housing seats (4') of the dies (4);

- at least an inserting station (B2) for inserting the sticks in the respective housing seats (4') of said dies (4), associated with the preceding station;

- at least a pressing station (C) in continuation of the preceding ones, placed over said conveyor belt (3), for pressing by means of counterdie (13) the imbibed feeding mixture (m) around said sticks (b);

- at least an unloading station (E) for unloading by means of compressed air jet said feeding-sticks from said dies (4) of the conveyor belt (3) in which the pressing has been carried out.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said association of the two first stations, respectively shaping station (B1) and stick inserting station (B2) is carried out placing the shaping station (B1) over the path of the dies to be shaped (4), while the stick inserting station (B2) is placed adjacent sideways orthogonally.

3. A method as claimed in claims 1 and/or 2, wherein the shaping dies (4) have at least two housing seats (4') for said sticks to be surrounded with the delivering of the feeding mixture (m), said housing seats (4') being opposed and sideways open for lateral inserting of the respective sticks (b), and wherein said inserting stations (B2) are placed in correspondence transversally at one side and at the other side of said conveyor belt (3) and consequently at the height of said shaping station (B1).

4. A method as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein said pressing station (C) is associated with at least a washing station (D) provided with alternative washing means (16) for washing the upper die (13), in the alternative step of transferring the already pressed dies and receiving the new dies to be subjected to the same operation.

5. A method as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein after the unloading station (E) at least one washing station (F) is provided for washing the dies (4) with the respective housing seats (4) coiuiected to the conveyor belt (3).

6. A method as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein the step by step advance of said conveyor belt (3) with the respective shaping and pressing dies (4) is provided for subjecting alternately in a stationary way one or more dies at the same time on each respective operating station.

7. Automatic machine for carrying out the method as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least a continuous chain conveyor belt (3) stretched between at least a couple of stretching pulleys (1,2) and operated in step by step advance by means of a system of hooking of the mesh (3') and advancing transfer in alternative way (5,6,7,8), wherein said conveyor belt (3) supports said plurality of dies (4) provided with opposite housing seats (4') sideways open for receiving the laterally insertable sticks (b) and for receiving superiorly a feeding mixture with binder (m), in association with:

- at least a shaping station (Bl) for delivering said mixture associated with at least a stick sideways inserting station (B2), wherein the first station (Bl) is placed on the upper part of the conveyor belt (3) and on the respective stationary dies (4) and the second one (B2) is placed sideways to said flanked and transversally aligned dies;

- at least a pressing station (C) provided with movable on the top die (13) with hollowed counterdie (33) for pressing the mixture (m) around said sticks, and associated with at least a washing station (D) provided with washing means (16) operatively and alternately connectable with said alternative movable upper die

(13) in order to determine the respective washing between a pressing step and the succesive one;

- at least an unloading station with compressed air jet (E) operatively connectable to said dies (4) of the conveyor belt (3), in overturned position under said conveyor belt (3) for unloading with air jet the finished products in a collector (v);

- at least a washing station (F) provided with washing means (18) for washing said dies (4) associated with said conveyor belt (3) before passing to the successive initial repeating step of the cycle by means of shaping.

8. A machine as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said shaping station (B1) comprises at least two couples of mixing arms (10) parallel between them on the horizontal and vertical plane transversally to the conveyor belt (3) and provided with rotating blades, wherein the upper ones rotate with double turns than the lower ones and wherein the lower couple rotates moving the blades inside from the bottom upwards whereas the lower couple rotates in the opposite direction down from above.

9. A machine as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said shaping station (B1) comprises at least a lateral smoothing device in exit (11) for smoothing the quantity of mixture (m) put in the respective housing seats (4') of the dies with the respective stick (b) inserted therein.

10. A machine as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the upper pressing die (13) of the successive pressing station (C) comprises a shape of the counterdie with the correspondent countergrooves (33) structured so that the respective lateral edges penetrate into the corresponding housing seat (4') of the underlying base dies (4).

11. A machine as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein the dies and counterdies are provided in correspondence of the relative holding seats of the products to be pressed (4', 33) in the back part, of a plurality of microholes (34,4"'), orthogonally placed outwards the groove and communicating with the back of the die in a duct connecting to an air jet in order to allow respectively, in the case of the movable upper die a compressed air jet during extraction-unloading, and in the case of the lower die connected to the conveyor belt (3) the automatic ejection of the pressed pieces. Udine, July 1, 1983.