Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G35/00—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for
  • B65G35/08—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for comprising trains of unconnected load-carriers, e.g. belt sections, movable in a path, e.g. a closed path, adapted to contact each other and to be propelled by means arranged to engage each load-carrier in turn

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a process for transferring finished or semi-finished objects or assembly parts, placed on or suspended under pallets arranged to travel in translation one behind the other, between several loading stations respectively, working and unloading, according to a predetermined closed circuit, on a network of rails comprising at least four perpendicular sections two by two, in which one pushes cyclically step by step, in block, sets of pallets juxtaposed on each of said sections of rails according to said circuit.
• It also relates to a machine for transferring finished or semi-finished objects or assembly parts, placed on or suspended under pallets arranged to travel in translation one after the other, between several stations respectively for loading, working and unloading, - according to a predetermined closed circuit, on a network of rails comprising at least four sections two by two perpendicular, this machine also comprising means for pushing cyclically step by step, in block, sets of pallets juxtaposed on each said sections of rails according to said circuit.
• Transfer machines of this type are known in particular in the industry of the manufacture of plastic containers, produced by blowing from preforms. These machines usually comprise a unit for loading preforms onto pallets, an oven for preheating these preforms which the pallets pass through for a period of time necessary for the softening of the material, a blow molding press and an unloading station. finished products.
• the device described by international publication WO 85/01718 comprises at least one closed circuit comprising sections arranged at right angles and providing a storage area formed in the corner of two adjacent sections.
• this storage area is only a buffer from which the products, temporarily stored, are taken one by one to be reintegrated into the circuit.
• Such device does not allow the intermittent advance of products where each step corresponds to a displacement of a whole number of products greater than one.
• each cycle comprises at least four phases, in that at each cycle one moves in block, during at least one of said phases, on at least one of said rail sections, the set of pallets which are juxtaposed therein, of an integer number of rows n greater than or equal to two, in that one stores at each cycle, during at least one of said phases , at least one pallet in a storage area arranged in the angle defined by said rail section and another rail section adjacent and perpendicular to this section, and in that at each cycle it is moved as a block, during at least one of said phases, on said other section, all of the pallets which are juxtaposed therein, with an integer number of rows m at least equal to two.
• a pallet of said one section of rail is moved in the storage area, and during at least one of the other phases, this storage area on said other section of rail.
• all of said pallets juxtaposed on said one section of rail with a number of rows n equal to two are moved in block, during at least two of said phases, and the we move in a block, during at least one of said phases, said pallets juxtaposed on said other section with a number of rows m equal to a multiple of two.
• the number of rows m of which all of the pallets juxtaposed on said other section of rail are moved in block, during at least one of said phases is equal to four, two of these pallets having been previously successively stored in said storage area during two of said phases.
• the transfer machine for implementing the method according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises means for moving in block, during at least one of said phases, on at least one of said sections of rail, the set of pallets which are juxtaposed therein, with an integer number of rows n greater than or equal to two, a storage area arranged to store at each cycle during at least one of said phases, at least one pallet, this storage area being located in the angle defined by said section of rail and another section of rail adjacent and perpendicular to this section of rail, and means for moving at each cycle, as a unit, during at least one of said phases, on said other section of rail, all of the pallets which are juxtaposed with an integer number of rows m at least equal to two.
• the machine comprises means for moving at each cycle, during at least one of said phases, a pallet of said one section of rail in the storage area, and from this storage area onto said other section rail ⁇ during at least one of the other phases.
• the machine comprises means for moving at each cycle, in a block, during at least two of said phases, all of said pallets juxtaposed on said one section of rail with an equal number of rows n in pairs, and to move as a block, said pallets juxtaposed on said other section of rail with a number of rows m equal to a multiple of two, during at least one of said phases.
• said means for advancing the pallets comprise hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders and members for controlling these cylinders.
• the machine can comprise at least a first cylinder arranged to move the set of pallets in a block of two rows on said one section of rail, at least a second cylinder arranged to push at least one pallet of the storage area on said other section of rail, at least a third cylinder for moving all of the pallets simultaneously, either by two rows or by four rows, on said other section of rail, and at least a fourth cylinder arranged for push at least one pallet of said section on the storage area.
• Said storage area may include a support platform provided with stop means arranged to position the pallets in abutment, these pallets comprising a protruding stud arranged to be able to bear against said stop means.
• said stop means comprise a central block of substantially rectangular shape, two first adjacent sides of which define a first guide path for said pallets and the other adjacent sides of which define a second guide path for said pallets.
• Said first guide track corresponds to the passage of the pallets through the storage area.
• FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and A illustrate the four phases of a cycle of a machine according to the invention
• FIG. 5 partially illustrates a construction of a machine according to the invention
• Figure 6 shows a top view of the realization of the storage area of the machine of the invention.
• the circuit of the pallets which for example have a rectangular shape, but which could also be square, comprises four sections 1, II, III and IV arranged along the sides of a large rectangle, parallel to the sides of the pallets.
• a loading zone A is defined by the angle of the two sections I and IV
• a preheating zone B is arranged on the section 1
• a blowing press C or any other work station in which the products must remain for one predeter ⁇ mined time interval, is arranged on section II and a recovery zone for these products, designated by the letter D, is also arranged on section II downstream from work station C.
• a storage area E is provided in the corner of sections I and II.
• similar storage areas F, G and H respectively are provided in each of the other three angles of the circuit.
• the operation of the machine that is to say the routing of rectangular pallets 10 which circulate on the different sections, will only be described at the level of their passage from section 1 to section 11, the passages from section II to the section III, of the section 111 on the section IV and the return of these pallets on the section I being in fact less critical and which can ultimately be carried out in any way.
• these various steps are carried out in the same manner as that which will be described below.
• the second phase is illustrated in FIG. 3.
• the two pallets 15 'and 16' are pushed in two rows along the section II in the direction of the press C, by means of the jack V2 to occupy the locations empty 13 and 14.
• the locations 11 and 12 become free again.
• the jack VI pushes the pallet 17 'into the storage area, again freeing the location 15.
• the empty place in the storage area is designated by the reference 26.
• the cylinder V6 pushes the two pallets 21 'and 22' of two rows on the section III and the cylinder V5 pushes simultaneously the pallet 23 'on the storage area where it will occupy the free space 26.
• the places 21, 22 and 23, previously occupied respectively by the pallets 21', 22 'and 23' become free.
• the jack V7 pushes the two pallets 24 'and 25' at the end of the section II and simultaneously, the jack V4 pushes the pallet 23 momentarily stored on the storage area F. Therefore, the pallets 24 'and 25' are placed on the free places 22 and 23 and the pallet 23 'is placed on the free place 21.
• a new push of the jack V6 moves the pallets 21', 22 ', 23' and 24 ′ of two rows along section III and, simultaneously, the jack V5 pushes the pallet 25 ′ into the storage area F, which makes it possible to find the configuration illustrated by FIG. 4.
• the four locations 22, 23, 24 and 25 the end of the section II and the location 22 in the second row on the section III are released and ready to receive on the one hand four pallets leaving the mold and on the other hand the pallet 25 ′ previously brought into the storage area F.
• the pallet transfer-storage process is similar to that which has been described. Initially, that is to say at the start of a cycle, the locations corresponding to the last two positions 32 and 33 of the section III and to the second position 31 on the section IV are free. The four pallets whose transfer from section III to section IV will be studied will bear the references 30 ', 31', 32 'and 33'. A pallet 30 "occupies the storage area G corresponding to the location 30 of a pallet. During the first phase of the process, the two pallets 31 'and 32' are pushed in two rows by the jack V6 to occupy the free positions 32 and 33. Simultaneously, the pallet 30 'is pushed into the empty space 31.
• the pallets 33' and 34- 'therefore take the places previously occupied by the pallets 31' and 32 'and the place 30
• the cylinder V10 pushes the two pallets 30 'and 31' in two rows on section IV during the second phase of the process.At the same time, the cylinder V9 pushes the pallet 32 'into the storage area G. De this fact, as shown in FIG. 3, the locations 31, 32 and 33 become free again.
• the jack V6 pushes the two pallets 33 ′ and 34 ′ on the free locations 32 and 33 and the palette
• FIG. 5 represents a real construction of the machine of the invention, seen from above.
• shock absorbers 50 which are for example pneumatic shock absorbers and which are arranged at different angles in the extension of the different sections.
• the cylinders V2 and VIO are traction cylinders and not thrust cylinders. To this end, they are equipped with a movable rod 51, respectively 52, carrying at its end hooking elements 53, respectively 54 which cooperate with a protuberance disposed either above or below each pallet.
• the storage area is defined by a platform 60 which is mounted in the angle of two adjacent sections, for example sections 1 and II.
• the platform 60 has a protuberance 61 which makes it possible to guide the pallets in their movement.
• the pallets preferably have at their lower surface a guide stud 63 which is engaged in an axial groove of the rails.
• the guide stud leaves the groove and bears on the platform 60. The guidance is then supported on the one hand by the edges of the protuberance 61 and on the other hand, by bearing edges surrounding the storage area.
• the pallets can follow either the direct path, illustrated by the arrow 62, which in fact represents the path followed by the pallet which is pushed to the end of the section I, then directly onto the section II, or the route represented by arrows 64 and 65 which corresponds to the route followed by the second pallet pushed towards the end of section I and which transits through the storage area before being transferred to section II.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can undergo various modifications and appear in various variations obvious to those skilled in the art. In particular, it is conceivable to change only one pallet on n pallets, in particular for the purpose of molding objects of large dimensions.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
• Container, Conveyance, Adherence, Positioning, Of Wafer (AREA)
• Special Conveying (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9400695

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1990
  • 1990-09-24 FR FR9011908A patent/FR2667051A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 1991
  • 1991-09-24 WO PCT/CH1991/000201 patent/WO1992005097A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1991-09-24 JP JP3515421A patent/JPH05501846A/ja active Pending
  • 1991-09-24 EP EP91916442A patent/EP0500890A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1991-09-24 KR KR1019920701228A patent/KR920702318A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1991-09-24 CA CA002068211A patent/CA2068211A1/fr not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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