EP0335639A1 - Vorrichtungen zum automatischen Umstellen von Produktionsflüssen - Google Patents

Vorrichtungen zum automatischen Umstellen von Produktionsflüssen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0335639A1
EP0335639A1 EP89303009A EP89303009A EP0335639A1 EP 0335639 A1 EP0335639 A1 EP 0335639A1 EP 89303009 A EP89303009 A EP 89303009A EP 89303009 A EP89303009 A EP 89303009A EP 0335639 A1 EP0335639 A1 EP 0335639A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
article
articles
lines
receptor means
input
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP89303009A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0335639B1 (de
Inventor
Peter Herd
Edward Wiggins
Mark Forbes
Robert Julian Simmons
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.)
BURTON'S FOODS Ltd
Original Assignee
BURTON S GOLD MEDAL BISCUITS
BURTON'S GOLD MEDAL BISCUITS Ltd
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 BURTON S GOLD MEDAL BISCUITS, BURTON'S GOLD MEDAL BISCUITS Ltd filed Critical BURTON S GOLD MEDAL BISCUITS
Priority to AT89303009T priority Critical patent/ATE72796T1/de
Publication of EP0335639A1 publication Critical patent/EP0335639A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0335639B1 publication Critical patent/EP0335639B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • B65B23/00—Packaging fragile or shock-sensitive articles other than bottles; Unpacking eggs
    • B65B23/10—Packaging biscuits
    • B65B23/12—Arranging, feeding or orientating the biscuits to be packaged
    • 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
    • B65B35/44—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by endless belts or chains

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for automatically reorganising a plurality of article carrying product lines for use, for example, in manufacturing, assembling and/or packaging systems.
  • the manufacturing part of a manufacturing and packaging system may have a plurality of output lines and the packaging part of the system may have a different number of input lines because the rates of throughput of individual components of the manufacturing and packaging parts of the system are different.
  • the order or arrangement of different parts of a product among the product lines may be a requirement for changing the order or arrangement of different parts of a product among the product lines.
  • the manufacturing part of the system produces a plurality of product lines of each type of biscuit and it is then necessary to combine the two types of biscuit to provide product lines comprising, e.g., alternate ones of the two types of biscuits, which product lines then form the input to the part of the system where the biscuits are combined.
  • apparatus for reorganising a plurality of article carrying product lines and which is adapted to receive articles from a plurality of input lines and to deposit the articles in a plurality of output lines
  • the apparatus comprising an endless conveyor comprising a plurality of article receptor means spaced apart in the direction of movement of the conveyor, each receptor means extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement and being provided with at least one article receptor for receiving articles from the input lines, at least one of said receptor means being provided with a plurality of article receptors, adjacent receptor means being arranged in a group and the or each group of receptor means being arranged to receive at least one article from each input line, wherein at least one of the receptor means in the or each group is laterally movable to laterally reposition the or each article receptor thereof.
  • the or each group of article receptor means is advantageously arranged to receive the same number of articles from each input line.
  • the receptor means provided with a plurality of article receptors may be arranged to receive articles simultaneously from a plurality of the input lines.
  • a plurality of article receptor means in the or each group of article receptor means may be laterally moveable.
  • the endless conveyor may comprise a plurality of groups of article receptor means.
  • the article receptor means may be mounted on endless support means for movement in the direction of movement of the conveyor.
  • Cam means may be provided on the or each laterally movable article receptor means and stationary cam means may be provided adjacent these cam means, the cam means being arranged to co-operate to cause and control lateral movement of the or each laterally movable article receptor means during movement of the conveyor.
  • Each article receptor means preferably comprises a generally planar surface extending laterally across at least two input lines, and the or each article receptor is provided on said generally planar surface.
  • a method of reorganising a plurality of article carrying product lines by taking articles from a plurality of input lines and depositing the articles in a plurality of output lines comprising the step of simultaneously taking an article from at least some of the input lines and subsequently depositing the articles in at least some of the output lines, and repeating the step among the input and output lines, such that in any one cycle comprising a plurality of steps at least one article is taken from each input line and, before depositing in the output line the articles taken in at least one of the steps of a cycle, said articles are laterally moved.
  • the number of output lines differs from the number of input lines, by laterally moving articles before their deposit in the output lines, at least one article may be deposited in each output line in any one cycle.
  • the number of articles taken from each input line may be the same for each input line. Furthermore, the number of articles deposited in each output line may be the same for each output line. The number of articles taken from each input line may be equal to that deposited in each output line.
  • the apparatus shown diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings forms part of a system for producing a two-layer article from two different types of article, which articles may for example be biscuits, and incorporates an embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention.
  • the two types of biscuits are made in manufacturing units (not shown) and are supplied to a plurality of input lines 1a, 1b, 1c..
  • alternate input lines comprise the same type of biscuit. It is required to supply these biscuits to a plurality of output lines 2a, 2b, 2c.. which, in the illustrated embodiment, are equal in number to the input lines, but with the arrangement of the types of biscuit reorganised so that the two types of biscuit alternate in each individual output line.
  • each article receptor means 4 comprises a plurality of article receptors 5 spaced apart across the width of the conveyor for taking and receiving biscuits from the input lines 1 and depositing them in the output lines 2.
  • each article receptor means 4 comprises a generally planar surface extending laterally across all the input lines 1, and on which the article receptors 5 are provided.
  • each article receptor means 4 takes a biscuit simultaneously from alternate ones of the input lines so that each receptor means picks up only one type of biscuit.
  • Two adjacent receptor means e.g. 4a, 4b, take biscuits from the same input lines and the succeeding two receptor means, e.g. 4c, 4d, take biscuits from the other input lines.
  • each group of four adjacent receptor means e.g. 4a to 4d, takes two biscuits from each input line and this grouping of the receptor means 4 is repeated over the length of the conveyor.
  • each group of four receptor means deposits two biscuits in each output line 2 so that each group of receptor means takes the same number of biscuits from each input line and deposits them in each output line. Because there are equal numbers of input and output lines in the illustrated embodiment, the number of biscuits taken from each input line equals the number deposited in each output line.
  • two receptor means 4 out of each group of four receptor means are laterally moved, between picking up the biscuits and depositing the biscuits, to re-align the biscuits received in their receptors 5 with receptors in other of the receptor means, so as to interpose one type of biscuit with the other type in each output line.
  • the second and third receptor means, 4b, 4c, of each group of four receptor means are laterally moved, one in one direction and the other in the opposite direction.
  • the group of four receptor means 4 is shown in its initial position after picking up biscuits and, in the right-hand half, the same group of four receptor means is shown after the required lateral movement of two of the means (4b, 4c).
  • the receptor means 4 comprises plates 6, each plate 6 having a generally planar surface extending laterally across the lines, on which surface the receptors 5 are provided.
  • the plates 6 are mounted and supported on, and moved in the direction of movement of the conveyor by, endless support means, in the form of a pair of endless chains 7, which extend around sprockets 8 of which one, which is driven, is shown in Figure 4.
  • the pairs of chains 7 are laterally interconnected by rods 9 which are arranged level with the adjacent trailing and leading end edges of adjacent plates 6.
  • the plates 6 are supported on the chains by blocks 10 fixed to the plates and whose end faces are grooved to partly engage two adjacent longitudinally spaced rods 9 ( Figures 6 and 7), the end faces of the blocks 10 being shaped to permit pivoting of the blocks on the rods as the conveyor passes around the sprockets 8.
  • the blocks 10 are also laterally slidable on the rods 9 to permit lateral movement of those plates 6 which are required to move laterally.
  • the plates 6 of those receptor means 4 which are required to move laterally are provided with cam means in the form of cam followers which contact stationary cam means in the form of cam surfaces arranged adjacent the path of movement of the plates 6.
  • the cam followers comprise rollers 11 of which one or a pair is mounted at each end of a moveable plate 6 and the rollers 11 engage cam surfaces 12 appropriately arranged adjacent the sides of the path of the plates 6.
  • two cam surfaces 12 may be provided ( Figure 8), one contacted by rollers 11 of one of each group of plates 6, these rollers 11 being mounted on the undersurface of the plates 6, the other being contacted by the other of each group of plates with the cam follower rollers 11 mounted on the upper surface of the plates 6 (not shown). It will however be appreciated that the lateral movement of the laterally movable plates can be obtained with a variety of different arrangements of cam and cam followers depending on the construction and support of the conveyor.
  • the conveyor is arranged with a generally upwardly inclined upper conveying run 3a ( Figure 1) during which lateral movement of the receptor means 4 takes place, a lower run 3b, during which the laterally movable receptor means 4 are returned to their initial positions, and generally upward and downward runs 3c, 3d connecting the upper and lower runs 3a, 3b.
  • Figure 1 the arrangement of the input lines and output lines relative to the conveyor 3, together with the form of the article receptors, will depend on the precise articles concerned and the form of the input and output lines.
  • the input lines are provided by individual conveyors 1, which may for example be in the form described in GB Patent specification No.
  • the article receptors 5 comprise generally U-shaped elements ( Figures 9 and 10) fixed to the surfaces of the plates 6 and which present a shoulder 14 for engaging the lower edge of a biscuit to remove it from the input line.
  • the elements may be V-shaped or may be replaced by pairs of pins. It will be appreciated that the receptors 5 may take any suitable form depending on the article and its manner of presentation to the conveyor.
  • the output ends of the input lines are, as shown in Figure 1, arranged adjacent the start of the upper run 3a of the conveyor.
  • the biscuits are removed from the conveyor in any convenient way and at any convenient stage once the rearrangement has taken place.
  • the biscuits slide out of the receptors 5 at the beginning of the downward movement of the plates 6 onto a downwardly inclined plate 15 which leads the biscuits individually onto an endless belt conveyor on which the output lines 2 are formed, the biscuits lying flat on the belt.
  • the biscuits on the belt 2 be arranged with like biscuits in each output line 2a, 2b across laterally aligned, as shown in Figure 3.
  • a device 16 ( Figure 1) may be arranged at the input end of the output lines which retains biscuits from one receptor means, e.g. 4a or 4c, until the like biscuits from the immediately following receptor means, e.g. 4b or 4d, have also been deposited on the conveyor 2 and then releases them.
  • the apparatus comprises twelve input lines and twelve output lines, of which some only are shown, but it will be appreciated that the number of input lines and output lines may be varied as required although, for this specific embodiment, an even number of input and output lines is required.
  • the movable receptor means 4 are arranged to take up articles from the input lines and bring them into alignment with those from other input lines, to reduce the number of lines at the output, or to move them into alignment with new lines, to increase the number of lines at the output.
  • each receptor means 4 is shown as being provided with a plurality of receptors 5 with each receptor means having the same number of receptors, depending on the reorganisation required, the receptor means of the or each group may have different numbers of receptors and not all may be provided with a plurality of receptors.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
  • Intermediate Stations On Conveyors (AREA)
  • General Factory Administration (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
  • Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
  • Manufacturing And Processing Devices For Dough (AREA)
EP89303009A 1988-03-30 1989-03-28 Vorrichtungen zum automatischen Umstellen von Produktionsflüssen Expired - Lifetime EP0335639B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT89303009T ATE72796T1 (de) 1988-03-30 1989-03-28 Vorrichtungen zum automatischen umstellen von produktionsfluessen.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888807586A GB8807586D0 (en) 1988-03-30 1988-03-30 Improvements in & relating to apparatus for automatically reorganising product lines
GB8807586 1988-03-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0335639A1 true EP0335639A1 (de) 1989-10-04
EP0335639B1 EP0335639B1 (de) 1992-02-26

Family

ID=10634366

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89303009A Expired - Lifetime EP0335639B1 (de) 1988-03-30 1989-03-28 Vorrichtungen zum automatischen Umstellen von Produktionsflüssen

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0335639B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE72796T1 (de)
DE (1) DE68900845D1 (de)
ES (1) ES2030267T3 (de)
GB (1) GB8807586D0 (de)
GR (1) GR3003901T3 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0614833A2 (de) * 1993-03-12 1994-09-14 Soremartec S.A. Verfahren und Einrichtung zum Fördern von Gegenständen, insbesondere für automatische Verpackungsanlagen

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2170164A (en) * 1983-12-29 1986-07-30 Burton Gold Medal Biscuits Ltd Conveying planar articles
GB2185967A (en) * 1986-02-04 1987-08-05 Sig Schweiz Industrieges A device for the selective diversion of rows of biscuits onto either one or two conveying devices

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2170164A (en) * 1983-12-29 1986-07-30 Burton Gold Medal Biscuits Ltd Conveying planar articles
GB2185967A (en) * 1986-02-04 1987-08-05 Sig Schweiz Industrieges A device for the selective diversion of rows of biscuits onto either one or two conveying devices

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0614833A2 (de) * 1993-03-12 1994-09-14 Soremartec S.A. Verfahren und Einrichtung zum Fördern von Gegenständen, insbesondere für automatische Verpackungsanlagen
EP0614833A3 (de) * 1993-03-12 1995-01-18 Soremartec Sa Verfahren und Einrichtung zum Fördern von Gegenständen, insbesondere für automatische Verpackungsanlagen.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0335639B1 (de) 1992-02-26
GR3003901T3 (de) 1993-03-16
ES2030267T3 (es) 1992-10-16
DE68900845D1 (de) 1992-04-02
GB8807586D0 (en) 1988-05-05
ATE72796T1 (de) 1992-03-15

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