EP0242105B1 - Mécanisme de transfert avec détecteur de collision - Google Patents

Mécanisme de transfert avec détecteur de collision Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0242105B1
EP0242105B1 EP19870302985 EP87302985A EP0242105B1 EP 0242105 B1 EP0242105 B1 EP 0242105B1 EP 19870302985 EP19870302985 EP 19870302985 EP 87302985 A EP87302985 A EP 87302985A EP 0242105 B1 EP0242105 B1 EP 0242105B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carton
transfer
vacuum
transfer mechanism
photoelectric
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
EP19870302985
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0242105A3 (en
EP0242105A2 (fr
Inventor
Frank Donald Risko
Thomas Dayton Lewis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ex-Cell-O Corp
Original Assignee
Ex-Cell-O Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ex-Cell-O Corp filed Critical Ex-Cell-O Corp
Publication of EP0242105A2 publication Critical patent/EP0242105A2/fr
Publication of EP0242105A3 publication Critical patent/EP0242105A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0242105B1 publication Critical patent/EP0242105B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/02—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages
    • B65B57/08—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to transfer mechanisms and, more particularly, to such a mechanism including, means for detecting whether or not the product being handled has actually been transferred.
  • USA-4,566,251 merely lifts by a lifter a part of cartons from a conveyor in a bottom forming section into rails, to be carried through a sterilant atmosphere, and then rotated into an upside-down condition for drying, and then back to an upright condition onto a conveyor in the top filling and forming section. No provisions is made to detect jamming.
  • the above described machine is but one example of a machine wherein a product, such as a paperboard carton, must be processed through a plurality of internal transfers prior to being filled with a liquid product, in the event of an unsuccessful transfer of a carton at any of the transfer points oncoming cartons will continue to index and feed into the jammed carton. If undetected, there results an increased load on the indexing devices, which may break or damage machine components.
  • a product such as a paperboard carton
  • USA-2,934,869 discloses an article detecting mechanism including a first electric eye device for detecting the presence or non-presence of an article in passing buckets, a transfer mechanism for transferring the articles to cartons in buckets on a carton conveyor, a second electric eye device for detecting the presence or non-presence of an article within the respective cartons, and a mechanical switch for stopping the machine when an empty carton is passing and not when a completely empty bucket is passing.
  • detection means are not operative at the transfer location.
  • a general object of the invention is to enable the detection of a product transfer at a predetermined transfer point.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide novel electronic means for detecting the transfer of a paperboard carton at a predetermined transfer point in a forming, filling and sealing machine.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide electronic means coupled with photoelectric and vacuum sensing means for detecting any jam-up of a paperboard carton at a particular transfer point in a packaging machine.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide means consisting of a photoelectric sensor, a vacuum sensor, and at least one strobe signal adapted to detect the presence of signals for both sensors.
  • a transfer mechanism comprising vacuum actuated transfer means arranged to engage and transfer at least one carton from one processing unit to another, photoelectric means arranged to detect the presence of said at least one carton in said one processing unit, at least one vacuum sensor operatively connected to said transfer means for detecting the increase in vacuum once the transfer means has engaged said at least one carton, and strobe means arranged to produce a periodic strobe signal synchronised with the transfer mechanism movements independently of the outputs of said photoelectric means and vacuum sensor(s) which strobe signal, during correct operation of the transfer mechanism, commences concurrently with the vacuum sensor's detection of the increase in vacuum, and ends when the photoelectric means finishes detecting the presence of said at least one carton, the transfer mechanism being responsive to said outputs and to said strobe signal to stop and processing units when said carton is detected by said photoelectric means but proper vacuum is not available, thereby to prevent jamming at the transfer point.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a loading type of transfer point as may be used to transfer bottom sealed cartons 10 two-at-a-time from an indexing conveyor means 12, moving from left to right in Figure 1, to resilient carriers 14 moving at a right angle with respect to the conveyor.
  • the carriers each consist of an inverted U-shaped bracket whose side walls are normally urged toward one another until spread slightly to admit and retain a carton 10 therebetween.
  • the cartons 10 typically will have been stripped from a mandrel (not shown) and placed on a stationery rail 16 extending laterally from between a pair of parallel endless conveyors 12 mounted around sprockets 18, as more fully shown and explained in U.S. patent no. 4,566,251, issued January 28, 1986.
  • the transfer of the pair of cartons 10 from the conveyor 12 to the carriers 14 is accomplished by a lifting mechanism 20, having a support platform 22 above which the cartons are positioned as they leave the rail 16.
  • the lifting mechanism 20 extends between the conveyors and raise each two side-by-side cartons vertically upwardly into the spring biased carriers 14.
  • a conveyor 24 associated with the carriers 14 indexes the cartons onto support rails 26 for the start of a further process step, such as the sterilization process.
  • Sensors, represented at 28, are mounted on the support platform 22 and serve to detect an increase in the force necessary to lift the cartons 10 into the carriers 14.
  • This sensor can be a load cell, a strain gauge device, a spring loaded plate and proximity switch, or a similar device that is capable of an instant response to an increase in the force needed to lift the carton.
  • This response or increased force load would be sensed by the control system and immediately stop the conveyor 24 to prevent further jamming of the carton, damage to the machine, and lost downtime.
  • a carton jammed at this point in the machine can be easily removed without major machine problems. Otherwise, a jam in the machine could cause a compromise of the commercial sterility, and complete machine resterilization may be required, which involves a substantial amount of downtime.
  • An unloading device 34 serves to raise a pair of vacuum cups 36 upwardly to engage the pair of cartons 10 being held in the carriers 14.
  • the vacuum cups engage the bottoms of the cartons and pull them down onto a stationary rail 38 and into compartments 40 between the conveyors 30 which will be indexed for the further processing of final filling and sealing of the cartons.
  • a pair of photoelectric sensors 42 will detect the presence of two cartons as the latter move into the unload station. This fact is recorded and stored in the logic system of the machine control unit.
  • the vacuum cups 36 are operatively connected to vacuum sensors 44, which serve to detect the increase in vacuum after the unloading device has raised the cups 36 to grip the bottoms of the cartons. This event is also noted in the machine control unit, and as the unloading device 34 is cycled and the two cartons are pulled into the conveyor compartments 40, a comparison is made of the signals to determine if cartons that were sensed in the carriers 14 had successfully passed by the photoelectric sensors 42, and had been subjected to sufficient vacuum, as sensed by the vacuum sensors 44, to be pulled into receiving compartments 40. If both signals are not correct within a predetermined time period, the machine control system will be caused to stop, thereby preventing jamming of the cartons at this transfer station.
  • Figure 3 shows the logic and timing of the photoelectric sensor 42 (PES) and the vacuum sensor 44 (VS), a first strobe signal that is used to define the time duration during which both signals should be present, and a second strobe signal that is used to define the time duration during which only the PES signal should be present.
  • PES photoelectric sensor 42
  • VS vacuum sensor 44
  • the strobe signals are unrelated to the PES or the VS signals, and are developed from other timing signals in the machine and synchronized to the conveyor movements.
  • the second strobe signal f is optional and may be used either to back up the action of the first strobe signal c, or in lieu thereof.
  • This second strobe signal f serves to detect that the PES signals a and b have shown that both cartons 10 have been removed, i.e., moved completely past the photoelectric sensors 42 and, hence, have been deposited in the compartments 40 of the conveyors 30. Should any one carton not pass by the photoelectric unit, the pulse would continue as represented by the dash lines in Figure 3.
  • the invention provides a novel and efficient means for assuring that transfers of a product, such as paperboard cartons, have occurred at the inlet and outlet of crucial processing operations, such as a sterilization chamber, wherein jam-ups would cause substantial downtime, not only in unjamming and possible machine damage, but in complete resterilization time before the machine can be restarted.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
  • Control Of Conveyors (AREA)

Claims (5)

1. Mécanisme de transfert comprenant des moyens de transfert (34) à commande par vide, disposés pour venir au contact et procéder au transfert d'au moins un carton (10) depuis une unité de traitement jusqu'à une autre, des moyens photoélectriques (42) disposés pour détecter la présence dudit au moins un carton dans ladite unité de traitement, au moins un capteur de vide (44) relié fonctionnellement audit moyen de transfert (34) pour détecter l'augmentation du vide lorsque le moyen de transfert est venu au contact dudit au moins un carton, et des moyens pulsatoires disposés pour produire un signal pulsatoire périodique (c) synchronisé avec les mouvements du mécanisme de transfert, indépendamment des signaux de sortie desdits moyens photoélectriques (42) et capteur(s) de vide (44) dont le signal pulsatoire, durant le fonctionnement correct du mécanisme de transfert, commence concurremment avec la détection par le capteur de vide de l'augmentation du vide, et s'achève lorsque le moyen photoélectrique finit de détecter la présence dudit au moins un carton, le mécanisme de transfert étant sensible auxdits signaux de sortie et audit signal pulsatoire, pour arrêter lesdites unités de traitement lorsque ledit carton est détecté par lesdits moyens photoélectriques mais qu'il n'y a pas le vide nécessaire, de façon à empêcher un blocage au point de transfert.
2. Mécanisme de transfert selon la revendication 1, dans lequel il est détecté quel est celui des signaux photoélectriques et de mesure de vide (a, d) coopérants qui est détecté et qui disparait ensuite ou qui n'est pas détecté avant la fin du signal pulsatoire (b), afin de procéder à l'arrêt des unités de traitement.
3. Mécanisme de transfert selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le signal pulsatoire (b) et les signaux photoélectriques (a, d) sont traités pour déterminer si ledit au moins un carton (10) a été enlevé de ladite unité de traitement et déposé dans l'autre.
4. Mécanisme de transfert selon la revendication 2, comprenant des moyens pour produire un second signal pulsatoire (f) dans lequel lesdits premiers signaux pulsatoires, déjà mentionnés, et seconds signaux pulsatoires (c, f) sont utilisés pour détecter si le signal (a, b) des moyens photoélectriques (42) a montré que le au moins un carton (10) a été enlevé de ladite unité de traitement et déposé dans l'autre.
5. Mécanisme de transfert selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, adapté pour transférer deux cartons (10) côte à côte, ensemble et pour détecter le blocage de l'un ou l'autre carton.
EP19870302985 1986-04-14 1987-04-06 Mécanisme de transfert avec détecteur de collision Expired EP0242105B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US85118486A 1986-04-14 1986-04-14
US851184 1986-04-14

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0242105A2 EP0242105A2 (fr) 1987-10-21
EP0242105A3 EP0242105A3 (en) 1988-08-10
EP0242105B1 true EP0242105B1 (fr) 1991-06-26

Family

ID=25310167

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19870302985 Expired EP0242105B1 (fr) 1986-04-14 1987-04-06 Mécanisme de transfert avec détecteur de collision

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0242105B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS6331A (fr)
DE (1) DE3770975D1 (fr)
NO (1) NO871586L (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19605783A1 (de) * 1996-02-16 1997-08-21 Heinrich Schnell Automatische Rollentransport-, Verpackungs-, und Sortieranlage für Endaufmachung, Prozeßgesteuert

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2934869A (en) * 1957-11-08 1960-05-03 Redington Co F B Article detecting mechanism
JPS5124391A (ja) * 1974-08-21 1976-02-27 Yoshida Kogyo Kk Suraidofuasunaanadonoseihino yokinishunosuruhoho
US4172347A (en) * 1978-05-03 1979-10-30 Ex-Cell-O Corporation Electronic program control
US4548244A (en) * 1984-11-29 1985-10-22 Ex-Cell-O Corporation Electronic program control
US4566251A (en) * 1985-01-07 1986-01-28 Ex-Cell-O Corporation Carton forming, sterilizing, filling and sealing machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO871586D0 (no) 1987-04-14
DE3770975D1 (de) 1991-08-01
EP0242105A3 (en) 1988-08-10
NO871586L (no) 1987-10-15
JPS6331A (ja) 1988-01-05
EP0242105A2 (fr) 1987-10-21

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