EP0161142B1 - Apparatus for feeding a succession of guided articles to a working station - Google Patents

Apparatus for feeding a succession of guided articles to a working station Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0161142B1
EP0161142B1 EP85400608A EP85400608A EP0161142B1 EP 0161142 B1 EP0161142 B1 EP 0161142B1 EP 85400608 A EP85400608 A EP 85400608A EP 85400608 A EP85400608 A EP 85400608A EP 0161142 B1 EP0161142 B1 EP 0161142B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
article
station
articles
operation station
feeding
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
EP85400608A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0161142A1 (en
Inventor
Claude Buisson
Jean-Alain Delafoy
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Societe Nationale dExploitation Industrielle des Tabacs et Allumettes SAS
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Societe Nationale dExploitation Industrielle des Tabacs et Allumettes SAS
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Publication of EP0161142A1 publication Critical patent/EP0161142A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
    • A24C5/34—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
    • A24C5/322—Transporting cigarettes during manufacturing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for supplying an operating station with a succession of articles guided along a defined trajectory, and for evacuating said articles from said operating station along a similar trajectory, comprising a station for supplying articles , an operating station and an evacuation or sorting station for the guide means arranged between the feed station and the operation station, and first means movable in translation along the guide means for pushing each article .
  • This invention can be used in all industries having to quickly control a batch of small items, in particular fragile items, where an operating station allows for example to identify or measure at least one characteristic of each item , for quick sorting, for example.
  • a device of the type defined above is already known, described in Swiss patent CH-A 595,783.
  • the operating station is a weighing station, and each item is pushed by a pusher towards this station. 'operation, where it comes into contact with the previous article, which it in turn pushes to evacuate and take its place.
  • This device has the drawback that the rate at which the articles are handled is limited. Indeed, to handle items at high speed, it is necessary to communicate a high speed to them using the pusher. However, this speed cannot be very high for two reasons.
  • the first reason is that, since it is provided, in this device, that the pushed article stops on the operating station as soon as the pusher stops pushing it, if the speed communicated to the article is too important, this article will continue its momentum, without stopping at the operating station, thus risking being thrown directly towards the evacuation station.
  • the second reason is that, when this article comes into contact with the previous article to evacuate it, the shock between the two articles can be harmful to them if the pusher article has too high a speed.
  • the known device also has another drawback, since, in a given configuration, this device can only properly handle articles having, for example, a given length. Thus, when the length of the articles to be handled changes, the configuration of the device must be changed. This is obviously a drawback if it is desired to use the same device for measuring the characteristics of articles of the same general shape but having significant variations in their geometric characteristics. In particular, in the tobacco industry, the length of the articles can be changed significantly.
  • the present invention aims to overcome the above drawbacks.
  • One of the objects of the invention is therefore to provide a device of the type defined above, in which the articles can be handled at a high speed, in order to have a high rate of handling, without losing the desired precision in positioning. articles on the operating station, and with the minimum of shocks likely to damage them.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device capable of being adapted or automatically adapting to a substantial variation in the size of the article in the direction of travel thereof on the device.
  • Another object of the invention is to be able to quickly or automatically modify the positioning of the article at the measurement or identification station as a function of characteristics of the article, for example its length, or the distribution of its mass. .
  • the invention relates to a device of the type defined above, characterized in that it also comprises second means movable in translation along the guide means for retaining each article until it stops. on the operating station, while it is pushed by the first means, and to evacuate from the operating station the previous article.
  • the acceleration communicated to each article can be significant in order to increase the rate of supply of the operating station without the article being badly positioned and deteriorated on its arrival on the operating station.
  • the first and second means are cleats fixed on two endless belts, arranged so that a cleat, after having pushed an article, retains the following article, so that each cleat alternately fulfills the function of the first and second means.
  • the operating station supply rate can be further increased.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic overview of the device.
  • FIGS 2, 3, 4, 5 are explanatory diagrams of the flow of the transfer corresponding respectively to phases I, II, III, IV explained below.
  • a hopper 1 which is intended to receive a reserve of articles to be measured, for example cigarettes, and which has an opening 2 at its lower end serving to distribute successively and one by one said articles, in a known manner.
  • the device may include means 8 for detecting the length and / or the exact position of the article 7 to be transferred, for example a set of cells which in a known manner can inform the microcomputer 9 shown diagrammatically which controls the device.
  • This station 4 includes as a guide means 5 a vee which extends to the operating station 6.
  • This device can also be equipped with a means allowing the microcomputer to modify the position of the article at the measured.
  • the mass distribution characteristics will be indicated manually by the computer equipped with a program carried out in a known manner to determine the center of gravity of the article to be weighed and to transfer it to a position at the station. of operation ensuring weighing in optimal precision conditions.
  • the device further comprises two sets of means comprising at least one cleat, respectively, 10 and 11 of a shape suitable for the article to be transferred, said cleat being fixed to a belt or strip respectively 12 and 13 moving at least between the supply and discharge stations along a substantially straight path.
  • this endless belt is placed in a preferably horizontal plane and driven by a stepping motor, respectively, 14 and 15 itself controlled by the microcomputer according to a law of movement programmed as a function of the cleat positions along the trajectory as explained below.
  • the operating station 6 is in the example described, an electronic balance whose crew platform, mobile, comes to tangent the trajectory of the articles.
  • a detection means 18, respectively, 19 signals to the computer 9 the initial position of the lugs 10 respectively 11.
  • the discharge station 16 is, here, a belt driven at a speed greater than the speed of discharge of the items from the scale.
  • FIG. 2 represents the operating phase of the device.
  • An article 7 is supplied by the hopper 1 (not shown) at the feed station 4.
  • the computer 9 (not shown), according to the information provided by the detectors 8 and 18, controls the motor 14 so as to bring the cleat 10 in contact without pressure with the article.
  • the motor 15 controls the motor 15 so as to bring the cleat 11 into contact without pressure with the article 7.
  • the direction movement of the cleats 10 and 11 is symbolized respectively by the arrows F and F 'in each figure 2 to 5.
  • FIG. 3 represents the phase II of movement from the supply station to the measurement station.
  • the computer 9 controls the motors 14 and 15 in synchronism according to a motion law determined by the program so as to minimize the transfer time without excessive brutality for the article transported. For example, we accelerate the article during part of the race, we travel another part in level, then we decelerate to reach the measuring station at a very low speed compatible with the fragility of the article transported.
  • Figure 4 shows phase III of the movement, the cleat 11 which served as a stop for the transported article becomes pusher of the previous article which it then evacuates to the next station.
  • FIG. 5 represents the phase IV of measurement.
  • the tabs 10 and 11 return respectively to the initial but inverted positions of phase I. During this time the article being released at the measuring station can be weighed all the more quickly as the transport is carried out without shock.

Description

La présente invention a pour objet un dispositif pour alimenter un poste d'opération avec une succession d'articles guidés suivant une trajectoire définie, et pour évacuer lesdits articles dudit poste d'opération suivant une trajectoire semblable, comprenant un poste d'alimentation en articles, un poste d'opération et un poste d'évacuation ou de triage des moyens de guidage disposés entre le poste d'alimentation et le poste d'opération, et des premiers moyens mobiles en translation le long des moyens de guidage pour pousser chaque article.The present invention relates to a device for supplying an operating station with a succession of articles guided along a defined trajectory, and for evacuating said articles from said operating station along a similar trajectory, comprising a station for supplying articles , an operating station and an evacuation or sorting station for the guide means arranged between the feed station and the operation station, and first means movable in translation along the guide means for pushing each article .

Cette invention est utilisable dans toutes les industries ayant à contrôler rapidement un lot d'articles de petites dimensions, en particulier d'articles fragiles, où un poste d'opération permet par exemple d'identifier ou de mesurer au moins une caractéristique de chaque article, en vue d'un tri rapide, par exemple.This invention can be used in all industries having to quickly control a batch of small items, in particular fragile items, where an operating station allows for example to identify or measure at least one characteristic of each item , for quick sorting, for example.

Elle présente un grand intérêt dans l'industrie de la fabrication des articles à fumer, principalement pour la mesure des caractéristiques des filtres, boudins de tabac, cigarettes, cigares.It is of great interest in the industry of manufacturing smoking articles, mainly for the measurement of the characteristics of filters, tobacco rods, cigarettes, cigars.

On connaît déjà un dispositif du type défini ci-dessus, décrit dans le brevet suisse CH-A 595 783. Dans ce dispositif, le poste d'opération est un poste de pesée, et chaque article est poussé par un poussoir vers ce poste d'opération, où il entre en contact avec l'article précédent, qu'il pousse à son tour pour l'évacuer et prendre sa place.A device of the type defined above is already known, described in Swiss patent CH-A 595,783. In this device, the operating station is a weighing station, and each item is pushed by a pusher towards this station. 'operation, where it comes into contact with the previous article, which it in turn pushes to evacuate and take its place.

Ce dispositif a pour inconvénient le fait que la cadence à laquelle les articles sont manipulés est limitée. En effet, pour manipuler à grande vitesse les articles, il faut leur communiquer une vitesse importante à l'aide du poussoir. Or cette vitesse ne peut être très grande pour deux raisons.This device has the drawback that the rate at which the articles are handled is limited. Indeed, to handle items at high speed, it is necessary to communicate a high speed to them using the pusher. However, this speed cannot be very high for two reasons.

La première raison est que, étant donné qu'il est prévu, dans ce dispositif, que l'article poussé s'arrête sur le poste d'opération dès que le poussoir cesse de la pousser, si la vitesse communiquée à l'article est trop importante, cet article va continuer sur sa lancée, sans s'arrêter sur le poste d'opération, risquant ainsi de se trouver projeté directement vers le poste d'évacuation. La deuxième raison est que, au moment où cet article entre en contact avec l'article précédent pour l'évacuer, le choc entre les deux articles peut leur être dommageable si l'article pousseur a une vitesse trop grande. Les problèmes précédents se posent de façon particulièrement aigue lorsque les articles manipulés sont des articles légers et fragiles comme des cigarettes.The first reason is that, since it is provided, in this device, that the pushed article stops on the operating station as soon as the pusher stops pushing it, if the speed communicated to the article is too important, this article will continue its momentum, without stopping at the operating station, thus risking being thrown directly towards the evacuation station. The second reason is that, when this article comes into contact with the previous article to evacuate it, the shock between the two articles can be harmful to them if the pusher article has too high a speed. The foregoing problems arise particularly acutely when the articles handled are light and fragile articles such as cigarettes.

Le dispositif connu présente également un autre inconvénient, du fait que, dans une configuration donnée, ce dispositif ne peut manipuler convenablement que des articles ayant, par exemple, une longueur donnée. Ainsi, lorsque la longueur des articles à manipuler change, la configuration du dispositif doit être changée. Ceci est évidemment un inconvénient si l'on désire utiliser un même appareil pour mesurer les caractéristiques d'articles de même forme générale mais présentant des variations importantes de leurs caractéristiques géométriques. En particulier, dans l'industrie du tabac, la longueur des articles peut être modifiée de façon importante.The known device also has another drawback, since, in a given configuration, this device can only properly handle articles having, for example, a given length. Thus, when the length of the articles to be handled changes, the configuration of the device must be changed. This is obviously a drawback if it is desired to use the same device for measuring the characteristics of articles of the same general shape but having significant variations in their geometric characteristics. In particular, in the tobacco industry, the length of the articles can be changed significantly.

La présente invention vise à pallier les inconvénients précédents.The present invention aims to overcome the above drawbacks.

Un des buts de l'invention est donc de procurer un dispositif du type défini ci-dessus, dans lequel les articles puissent être manipulés à une grande vitesse, afin d'avoir une grande cadence de manipulation, sans perdre la précision souhaitée sur le positionnement des articles sur le poste d'opération, et avec le minimum de chocs susceptibles de les endommager.One of the objects of the invention is therefore to provide a device of the type defined above, in which the articles can be handled at a high speed, in order to have a high rate of handling, without losing the desired precision in positioning. articles on the operating station, and with the minimum of shocks likely to damage them.

Un autre but de l'invention est de procurer un dispositif simple et peu onéreux, capable d'être adapté ou de s'adapter automatiquement à une variation sensible de la dimension de l'article dans le sens de défilement de celui-ci sur le dispositif.Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device capable of being adapted or automatically adapting to a substantial variation in the size of the article in the direction of travel thereof on the device.

Un autre but de l'invention est de pouvoir modifier rapidement ou automatiquement le positionnement de l'article au poste de mesure ou d'identification en fonction de caractéristiques de l'article, par exemple de sa longueur, ou de la distribution de sa masse.Another object of the invention is to be able to quickly or automatically modify the positioning of the article at the measurement or identification station as a function of characteristics of the article, for example its length, or the distribution of its mass. .

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet un dispositif du type défini ci-dessus, caractérisé par le fait qu'il comporte également des seconds moyens mobiles en translation le long des moyens de guidage pour retenir chaque article jusqu'à l'arrêt sur le poste d'opération, tandis qu'il est poussé par les premiers moyens, et pour évacuer du poste d'opération l'article précédent.To this end, the invention relates to a device of the type defined above, characterized in that it also comprises second means movable in translation along the guide means for retaining each article until it stops. on the operating station, while it is pushed by the first means, and to evacuate from the operating station the previous article.

Ainsi l'accélération communiquée à chaque article peut être importante afin d'augmenter la cadence d'alimentation du poste d'opération sans que l'article ne se trouve mal positionné et détérioré à son arrivée sur le poste d'opération.Thus the acceleration communicated to each article can be significant in order to increase the rate of supply of the operating station without the article being badly positioned and deteriorated on its arrival on the operating station.

Les contacts entre chaque article et les premiers et les seconds moyens sont ainsi très réduits, et les articles fragiles ne sont pas endommagés.The contacts between each article and the first and second means are thus very reduced, and the fragile articles are not damaged.

Avantageusement, les premiers et les seconds moyens sont des taquets fixés sur deux courroies sans fin, agencées pour qu'un taquet, après avoir poussé un article, retienne l'article suivant, si bien que chaque taquet remplit alternativement la fonction des premiers et seconds moyens.Advantageously, the first and second means are cleats fixed on two endless belts, arranged so that a cleat, after having pushed an article, retains the following article, so that each cleat alternately fulfills the function of the first and second means.

Ainsi, la cadence d'alimentation du poste d'opération peut être encore augmentée.Thus, the operating station supply rate can be further increased.

On comprendra mieux l'invention à travers la description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation, plus particulièrement adapté au pesage rapide de cigarettes donné à titre d'exemple non limitatif.The invention will be better understood through the detailed description of an embodiment, more particularly suitable for the rapid weighing of cigarettes given by way of nonlimiting example.

La figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble schématique du dispositif.Figure 1 is a schematic overview of the device.

Les figures 2, 3, 4, 5 sont des schémas explicatifs du déroulement du transfert correspondant respectivement aux phases I, Il, III, IV explicitées ci-après.Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 are explanatory diagrams of the flow of the transfer corresponding respectively to phases I, II, III, IV explained below.

Dans la figure 1, on a représenté une trémie 1 qui est destinée à recevoir une réserve d'articles à mesurer, par exemple des cigarettes, et qui présente une ouverture 2 à son extrémité inférieure servant à distribuer successivement et un à un lesdits articles, de manière connue.In Figure 1, there is shown a hopper 1 which is intended to receive a reserve of articles to be measured, for example cigarettes, and which has an opening 2 at its lower end serving to distribute successively and one by one said articles, in a known manner.

Ces articles positionnés par le fond 3 de la trémie se présentent au poste d'alimentation 4. Le dispositif peut comporter un moyen 8 de détection de la longueur et/ou de la position exacte de l'article 7 à transférer par exemple un jeu de cellules qui de manière connue peut informer le micro-ordinateur 9 représenté schématiquement qui pilote le dispositif.These articles positioned by the bottom 3 of the hopper are presented at the feed station 4. The device may include means 8 for detecting the length and / or the exact position of the article 7 to be transferred, for example a set of cells which in a known manner can inform the microcomputer 9 shown diagrammatically which controls the device.

Ce poste 4 comporte comme moyen de guidage 5 un vé qui se prolonge jusqu'au poste d'opération 6. Ce dispositif peut être en outre équipé d'un moyen permettant au micro-ordinateur de modifier la position de l'article au poste de mesure. Dans l'exemple particulier, non limitatif, les caractéristiques de répartition des masses seront indiquées manuellement au calculateur équipé d'un programme réalisé de manière connue pour déterminer le centre de gravité de l'article à peser et pour le transférer dans une position au poste d'opération assurant une pesée dans des conditions optimales de précision.This station 4 includes as a guide means 5 a vee which extends to the operating station 6. This device can also be equipped with a means allowing the microcomputer to modify the position of the article at the measured. In the particular, nonlimiting example, the mass distribution characteristics will be indicated manually by the computer equipped with a program carried out in a known manner to determine the center of gravity of the article to be weighed and to transfer it to a position at the station. of operation ensuring weighing in optimal precision conditions.

Le dispositif comporte, en outre, deux ensembles de moyens comprenant au moins un taquet, respectivement, 10 et 11 de forme appropriée à l'article à transférer, ledit taquet étant fixé à une courroie ou bande respectivement 12 et 13 se déplaçant au moins entre les postes d'alimentation et d'évacuation suivant une trajectoire sensiblement rectiligne. Suivant une réalisation préférée de l'invention, cette courroie, sans fin, est placée dans un plan de préférence horizontal et animée par un moteur pas à pas, respectivement, 14 et 15 lui-même commandé par le micro-ordinateur suivant une loi de mouvement programmée en fonction des positions du taquet le long de la trajectoire comme explicité plus loin.The device further comprises two sets of means comprising at least one cleat, respectively, 10 and 11 of a shape suitable for the article to be transferred, said cleat being fixed to a belt or strip respectively 12 and 13 moving at least between the supply and discharge stations along a substantially straight path. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this endless belt is placed in a preferably horizontal plane and driven by a stepping motor, respectively, 14 and 15 itself controlled by the microcomputer according to a law of movement programmed as a function of the cleat positions along the trajectory as explained below.

Le poste d'opération 6 est dans l'exemple décrit, une balance électronique dont le plateau de l'équipage, mobile, vient tangenter la trajectoire des articles.The operating station 6 is in the example described, an electronic balance whose crew platform, mobile, comes to tangent the trajectory of the articles.

Un moyen de détection 18, respectivement, 19 signale au calculateur 9 la position initiale des taquets 10 respectivement 11.A detection means 18, respectively, 19 signals to the computer 9 the initial position of the lugs 10 respectively 11.

Le poste d'évacuation 16 est, ici, une courroie animée d'une vitesse supérieure à la vitesse d'évacuation des articles de la balance.The discharge station 16 is, here, a belt driven at a speed greater than the speed of discharge of the items from the scale.

Pour la simplification des schémas des figures 2, 3, 4, 5, les moteurs 14 et 15 ont été représentés dans une autre position que sur la figure 1.For the simplification of the diagrams of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, the motors 14 and 15 have been shown in another position than in FIG. 1.

La figure 2 représente la phase de fonctionnement du dispositif. Un article 7 est alimenté par la trémie 1 (non représentée) au poste d'alimentation 4. Le calculateur 9 (non représenté), en fonction des informations fournies par les détecteurs 8 et 18, pilote le moteur 14 de façon à amener le taquet 10 en contact sans pression avec l'article. A la fin du cycle précédent ou au plus tard dans le même temps en fonction des indications fournies par les détecteurs 8 et 19, il pilote le moteur 15 de façon à amener le taquet 11 en contact sans pression avec l'article 7. Le sens de mouvement des taquets 10 et 11 est symbolisé respectivement par les flèches F et F' sur chaque figure 2 à 5.FIG. 2 represents the operating phase of the device. An article 7 is supplied by the hopper 1 (not shown) at the feed station 4. The computer 9 (not shown), according to the information provided by the detectors 8 and 18, controls the motor 14 so as to bring the cleat 10 in contact without pressure with the article. At the end of the previous cycle or at the latest at the same time according to the indications provided by the detectors 8 and 19, it controls the motor 15 so as to bring the cleat 11 into contact without pressure with the article 7. The direction movement of the cleats 10 and 11 is symbolized respectively by the arrows F and F 'in each figure 2 to 5.

La figure 3 représente la phase Il de mouvement depuis le poste d'alimentation jusqu'au poste de mesure.FIG. 3 represents the phase II of movement from the supply station to the measurement station.

Pendant cette phase, le calculateur 9 pilote les moteurs 14 et 15 en synchronisme suivant une loi de mouvement déterminée par le programme de façon à diminuer au maximum le temps de transfert sans brutalité excessive pour l'article transporté. Par exemple, on accélère l'article pendant une partie de la course, on parcourt une autre partie en palier, puis on décélère pour arriver au poste de mesure à une vitesse très faible compatible avec la fragilité de l'article transporté.During this phase, the computer 9 controls the motors 14 and 15 in synchronism according to a motion law determined by the program so as to minimize the transfer time without excessive brutality for the article transported. For example, we accelerate the article during part of the race, we travel another part in level, then we decelerate to reach the measuring station at a very low speed compatible with the fragility of the article transported.

La figure 4 représente la phase III du mouvement, le taquet 11 qui servait de butée à l'article transporté devient pousseur de l'article précédent qu'il évacue alors vers le poste suivant.Figure 4 shows phase III of the movement, the cleat 11 which served as a stop for the transported article becomes pusher of the previous article which it then evacuates to the next station.

La figure 5 représente la phase IV de mesure. Les taquets 10 et 11 reprennent respectivement les positions initiales mais inversées de la phase I. Pendant ce temps l'article étant libéré au poste de mesure peut être pesé d'autant plus rapidement que le transport s'est effectué sans choc.FIG. 5 represents the phase IV of measurement. The tabs 10 and 11 return respectively to the initial but inverted positions of phase I. During this time the article being released at the measuring station can be weighed all the more quickly as the transport is carried out without shock.

On ne sort pas du cadre de l'invention en équipant les courroies d'un nombre supérieur de taquets pour limiter les courses d'initialisation, chaque taquet devenant alors successivement un taquet actif (pousseur ou butée).We do not depart from the scope of the invention by equipping the belts with a greater number of cleats to limit the initialization strokes, each cleat then successively becoming an active cleat (pusher or stop).

On ne sort pas du cadre de l'invention en intégrant ce dispositif à un dispositif de triage d'articles en fonction des caractéristiques mesurées au poste d'opération 6 en l'occurence un poste de mesure, remplaçcant le poste d'évacutation 16 par un poste de tri.It is not going beyond the scope of the invention to integrate this device into an article sorting device according to the characteristics measured at the operating station 6, in this case a measuring station, replacing the evacuation station 16 by a sorting station.

Claims (7)

1. Device for supplying an operation station with a succession of articles guided along a defined path, and for discharging said articles from said operation station along a similar path, comprising an article (7) feeding station (4), an operation station (6), and a discharge or sorting station (16), guide means (5) disposed between the feeding station and the operation station, and first means (10) movable along said guide means (5) for pushing each article (7), characterized in that it further comprises second means (11) movable in translation along said guide means (5) for retaining each article (7) until it stops in the operation station (6), while it is pushed by the first means (10), and for discharging the preceding article from the operation station.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said first means (10) and said second means (11) are lugs (10, 11) fixed to two endless belts (12,13).
3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the belts (12, 13) are adapted so that one lug (10, 11), after pushing an article retains the following article, so that each lug (10, 11) alternately fulfils the fonction of said first and second means.
4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein position sensors (8, 18, 19), disposed in the path of the articles (7) and of the lugs (10, 11), are connected to inputs of a microprocessor (9), and wherein two motors (14,15) for driving said belts (12, 13) are connected to two outputs of the microprocessor (9).
5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said position sensors (8, 18, 19) are optoelectronic sensors.
6. The device as claimed in one of claims 3 and 4, wherein said drive motors (14, 15) are stepper motors.
7. The device as claimed in one of claim 1 to 6, wherein said operation station is a weighing station.
EP85400608A 1984-04-02 1985-03-28 Apparatus for feeding a succession of guided articles to a working station Expired EP0161142B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8405273 1984-04-02
FR8405273A FR2561876B1 (en) 1984-04-02 1984-04-02 DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING AN OPERATING STATION, SUCH AS IDENTIFYING OR MEASURING AT LEAST ONE CHARACTERISTIC OF A SUCCESSION OF SIMILAR ARTICLES

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0161142A1 EP0161142A1 (en) 1985-11-13
EP0161142B1 true EP0161142B1 (en) 1988-11-17

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EP (1) EP0161142B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS60244278A (en)
DE (1) DE3566215D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2561876B1 (en)

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DE10048007A1 (en) * 2000-09-26 2002-04-11 Iwk Verpackungstechnik Gmbh Method and device for transferring a product in a packaging machine
US7882843B2 (en) * 2006-09-26 2011-02-08 Philip Morris Usa Inc. Smoking article component transfer device and method
DE102006049801A1 (en) * 2006-10-23 2008-04-24 Iwk Verpackungstechnik Gmbh Product stack delivery controlling method for packaging machine, involves beginning delivery cycle in such manner that cell of conveyor adopts predetermined relative position relative to product stack at end of delivery cycle
EP2192067B1 (en) * 2008-11-28 2013-09-18 Müller Martini Holding AG Stacking device for printed products
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0161142A1 (en) 1985-11-13
FR2561876B1 (en) 1986-07-18
JPS60244278A (en) 1985-12-04
JPH0567536B2 (en) 1993-09-27
DE3566215D1 (en) 1988-12-22
US4708237A (en) 1987-11-24
FR2561876A1 (en) 1985-10-04

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