EP2569233A1

EP2569233A1 - Device for orienting objects and installation comprising such a device

Info

Publication number: EP2569233A1
Application number: EP11725149A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pascal Murano
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2010-05-11
Filing date: 2011-05-10
Publication date: 2013-03-20
Also published as: BR112012028740A2; MX2012013086A; WO2011141676A1; FR2959989B1; FR2959989A1; CN102869590A; US20130037382A1

Abstract

The invention relates notably to an installation comprising a device for orienting objects which have more or less two axes of symmetry and are placed on a conveyor. The installation is notable in that the device comprises four arms (81, 82, 83, 84) arranged perpendicular to one another so as to form a cross, the arms (81, 82, 83, 84) being mounted on a chassis, said chassis being mounted so that it can rotate about a common axis (Z) of rotation which is perpendicular to the plane of said conveyor. In addition, each arm (81, 82, 83, 84) is mounted with the ability to effect a rectilinear translational movement along a segment of a straight line, said segments being offset by a distance in relation to the common axis of rotation (Z), said segments intersecting to form a square centred on said common axis of rotation (Z). Finally, the installation comprises means for moving the axis (Z) of rotation of the device transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis (Z) of said conveyor of said items.

Description

DEVICE FOR ORIENTING OBJECTS AND INSTALLATION COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE.

The invention relates in particular to a device for orienting on a conveyor objects having substantially two axes of symmetry, and, in particular, an installation equipped with such a device.

It will be understood by "objects having substantially two axes of symmetry" objects that can be oriented in two different ways. For example, these objects may be of parallelepipedal shape, and be arranged presenting either their large side oriented in a given direction, or with their small side oriented along said given direction. It may also be lots of substantially parallelepiped shaped products, such as packages of bottles of water or milk, or boxes with two axes of symmetry, open or closed boxes, with the flaps closed, forming the bottom of the box ...

Parallelepiped objects, such as cardboard packaging cases, sometimes need to be oriented in a certain way, for example when they arrive at a filling station.

Also, there are devices for orienting parallelepipedic objects in conveying facilities.

Such devices are generally of two categories.

The first category concerns devices that implement a belt driven in rotation in the opposite direction of the conveying direction and disposed on the edge of the conveyor, to allow rotation of the parallelepipedic object coming into contact with it. WO 92/18388 illustrates an example of such devices.

The second category concerns devices that implement a pivoting arm that rotates the parallelepipedic object when the latter bears against it. EP 0 074 129 and EP 0 340 502 describe two examples of this type of device. Each of the known devices has the disadvantage of being designed in relation to a single type of object to be oriented. In other words, each of the known devices can orient only one type of parallelepiped object because it has dimensions adapted to the parallelepiped object to orient, and it is animated by a particular movement, also specific to the object.

The invention relates to an installation comprising a device capable of orienting parallelepipedic objects, the device being able to adapt to different shapes or dimensions of parallelepipedic objects.

The invention relates for this purpose to an installation comprising a device for orienting objects which have substantially two axes of symmetry, arranged on a conveyor, the installation being remarkable

in that the device comprises four arms arranged perpendicular to one another so as to form a cross, the arms being mounted on a frame, said frame being rotatably mounted about a common axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the plane said conveyor,

in that each arm is mounted to move in rectilinear translation along a line segment, said segments being offset by a distance from the common axis of rotation, said segments intersecting by forming a square centered on said common axis of rotation,

- And in that the installation comprises transverse displacement means of the common axis of rotation of the device relative to the longitudinal axis of said conveyor of said objects.

Thus realized, the device that includes the installation allows the movement of the arms to bring one of their ends to the axis of rotation, or to move them away from this axis. The design formed by the arms can thus adapt to the dimensions of different parallelepipedic objects. Furthermore, the device ensures a continuous orientation of the objects, thanks to the cross arrangement of the arms and their rotational movement about a common vertical axis.

The installation according to the invention may also comprise the following features, taken separately or in combination: the installation comprises means for controlling the simultaneous movement of the arms along said segments in the trigonometric direction or in the counterclockwise direction; each arm is oriented at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the direction of the straight segment on which it is movably mounted; the arms are adjustable by movement in a plane and each arm has a central end which is adapted to move on a line which is at a 135 ° angle with the arm; the arms have suction cups holding the objects during their orientation; the installation includes a suction circuit that includes:

- a supply of compressed air;

a rotary joint equipped with several outlets, each outlet supplying a distributor;

- Each distributor feeding a block of suction cups attached to an arm;

a control cam of each distributor, said cam being integral with a frame;

- Venturi effect means associated with each block of suction cups; the device is mounted on a structure forming a gantry spanning said conveyor; the installation comprises means for spacing the objects to be oriented by a predetermined distance and, preferably, said predetermined distance is at least equal to one and a half times the size of the box on the conveyor and, more preferably, the means for spacing the objects comprise several conveyors aligned one after the other, each conveyor having a length and a speed of advance such that the objects are in the vicinity of the orientation device being spaced from the next device by a space at least equal to half of its size on the conveyor; said distance, after distance S, ensuring the shift of the segments relative to the common axis of rotation, corresponds to the following formula:

or :

It is the length of the parallelepiped object to orient; West the width of the parallelepiped object to orient; and e is the thickness of an arm of the device; the arms are equipped with removable shims and, preferably, the said distance S in this case corresponds to the following formula:

. L + 2c - W) e

'2 WHERE

- L is the length of the parallelepiped object to be oriented;

- West the width of the parallelepiped object to orient;

e is the thickness of an arm of the device; and

- it is the width of said wedge;

· The conveyor comprises means adapted to support a rotation of said objects without deformation and, preferably, the conveyor comprises a mat which has pallet chains, or modular chains open mesh or closed meshes.

The invention also aims at the device implemented in the installation defined above, as such, for orienting objects which have substantially two axes of symmetry, arranged on a conveyor, the device being remarkable in that it comprises four arms arranged perpendicular to each other so as to form a cross, said arms being mounted on a frame, said frame being rotatably mounted about a common axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the plane of said conveyor, each arm is mounted movable in rectilinear translation along a line segment, said segments being offset by a distance from the common axis of rotation, said segments intersecting by forming a square centered on said common axis of rotation.

The device according to the invention may also include the following features, taken separately or in combination:

• it comprises means for controlling the simultaneous movement of the arms along said segments (in the trigonometric direction or in the counterclockwise direction);

• The arms have suction cups for holding objects during their orientation.

In order to be executed, the invention is set forth in a sufficiently clear and complete manner in the following description, which is further accompanied by drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows an installation according to the invention, in front view and shown schematically;

FIG. 2A shows, in plan view, the installation illustrated in FIG. 1;

Figure 2B is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 2A;

- Figure 3 illustrates a portion of the installation shown in Figures 1 and 2, in profile, and more specifically the arms arranged at different levels above a conveyor;

FIGS. 4a to 4c show the translation movements of the arms along line segments forming a parallelogram, between a position where the arms are further apart from the common axis of rotation and a position where they are as close as possible to the common axis of rotation;

- Figure 4d illustrates an embodiment of technical means for translating the end of a vertical rod on a straight segment; FIGS. 5A and 5B show the movement of the arms and the position of an object of square section in two positions during the orientation of this object by the device, the arms of the device being as close as possible to the axis of rotation;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the movement of the arms and the position of an object of rectangular section in two positions during the orientation of this object by the device, the arms of the device being separated from the axis of rotation; device being designed to orient cartons presenting transversely;

FIG. 6C shows an alternative embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 6A, the arms of the device being spaced apart from the axis of rotation, the device being designed to orient cartons presenting longitudinally,

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a device whose arms are equipped with wedges, and these figures show the movement of the arms and the position of an object of rectangular cross-section having lateral flaps in two positions, during the orientation of this object by the device, the arms of the device being spaced apart from the axis of rotation;

- Figure 8 schematically illustrates, in side view, a part of the installation according to the invention which comprises a suction supply circuit that can present the arms of the device;

and FIG. 9 is a view from above of part of the installation shown in FIG. 8.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an installation 1 according to the invention, which comprises a device 2, also in accordance with the invention, able to orient objects 3 or 30 on a conveyor 4 comprising several conveyors 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19, aligned one after the other and defined subsequently.

As can be seen in particular in Figures 1 and 2, which show the installation in side view and in top view, the objects 3 or 30, have a parallelepiped shape and, in particular, respectively a cubic shape or a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The objects 30 are oriented on the conveyor 4 with their long sides which are parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor 4 (direction of movement indicated by an arrow).

The device 2 ensuring the orientation of the objects 3 or 30 disposed on the conveyor 4 is mounted on a structure 5, gantry-shaped, spanning the conveyor 4.

The structure 5 ensures a good balance of the device above the conveyor 4 thanks to the presence of four feet 51 distributed on either side of the conveyor 4. In the upper part 52, the structure 5 has guide rails 6 which are disposed transversely relative to the conveyor 4 and which extend on either side of the gantry.

These guiding rails 6 accommodate each of the ball guide systems 7 (see FIG. 1), able to move in the rails 6. Each of the ball guide systems 7 is connected to the ends of a bar 60, on which is fixed the device 2 according to the invention.

Thus, the installation 1 according to the invention has many means ensuring a transverse displacement of the device 2 relative to the Z axis of the conveyor 4, these means including the ball guide systems 7, which are fixed at the ends. of the bar 60 and they are free moving in the rails 6.

As can be seen in particular in Figures 1 and 2, the device 2 according to the invention comprises four arms 81, 82, 83 and 84, which are arranged perpendicular to each other, so as to form a cross (See also Figures 4a, 4b and 4c).

The arms 81 to 84 are mounted integral in rotation about a common Z axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the plane P of the conveyor 4.

To do this, the arms 81 to 84 are attached to the ends of rods 91 to 94 respectively, vertical, that is to say perpendicular to the plane P of the conveyor 4. The other end of the vertical rods 91 to 94 is movably mounted on a linear element 1 0, forming a straight segment.

The assembly formed by the arms 81 to 84, the segments 1 0 and the rods 91 to 94 is mounted on a frame 1 00, which can be described as "cross-frame".

The chassis 1 00 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2B.

In particular, the frame 1 00 is of square shape and carries the segments 1 0 of right around its sides. The right segments are connected at their ends by means of angle return systems.

The frame 100 cross-holder is rotatably mounted about the Z axis by means of a motor 1 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 2A. .

The right segments 1 to which are fixed each of the vertical rods 91 to 94 intersect in a square centered on the common Z axis of rotation (see Figures 4a, 4b and 4c).

Each of the arms 81 to 84, secured respectively to the vertical rods 91 to 94, is thus mounted to move in rectilinear translation along a segment 1 0 of right.

Each segment 10 of the right is shifted by a distance S with respect to the common Z axis of rotation.

In the context of this particular embodiment, this distance S has the following formula: or :

L is the length of the parallelepipedal object 3 or 30 to be oriented;

W is the width of the object 3 or 30 parallelepiped to orient; and

e is the thickness of an arm of the device 2. To ensure the translation of the arms 81 to 84 on the right segment 10, the installation comprises means 800 for controlling the movement of the arms. These means 800 constitute a common set point for each of the arms 81 to 84.

In Figure 1, the control means 800 have been shown very schematically.

They are observed in more detail in Figure 4D. They may, for example, comprise a crank 801 and an associated counter 802, which together enable the arms 81 to 84 to be moved to precise positions on the right segments, which positions are predetermined for particular objects.

It should be understood that the control means 800 could be made differently, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the means 800 could be motorized.

To avoid any rocking movement of the vertical rods 91 to 94 bearing the arms, the latter are guided along the sides of the frame 100 by guide means 1 10.

As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, the four arms 81 to 84 can move from a star configuration (see FIG. 4a) to a cross configuration (see FIG. 4c), by moving these arms 81 to 84 in a counter-clockwise direction (see dashed arrows in Figures 4b and 4c).

To move from a cross configuration to a star configuration, the actuation of the crank 801 moves the arms 81 to 84 by movement of the ends of the rods 91 to 94, on the right segments, in the trigonometrical direction. .

FIG. 4d shows an exemplary embodiment allowing this translation: the segments 10 on the right comprise, over at least a part of their length, a thread 101 (the segments 10 can be made in the form of worm) and the vertical rods 91 to 94 have at their end a tubular portion 901, forming a T with the rod 91, having an internal thread 902 which is complementary to the thread 101 of the segments 10 on the right.

Thus, the rotational drive of the right-hand segments induces the movement of the tubular ends 901 of the vertical rods 91 to 94 and, consequently, the movement of the arms 81 to 84.

The rotational drive in one direction of the right-hand segments causes the arms 81 to 84 to move in one direction and the rotation drive in the other direction consequently causes the translation movement of the arms 81 to 84 in the other way.

The displacement of the arms is in a plane which is parallel to the plane P of the conveyor 4.

As can be seen in particular in Figures 4a and 4b, each arm 81 to 84 is oriented at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the direction of the right segment 10 on which it is movably mounted.

To allow the arms 81 to 84 to move along the right segments, the arms are suspended above the conveyor 4 at different heights, as can be seen in particular in FIG.

Indeed, if the arms 81 to 84 were all in the same plane, their ends could not align with the Z axis of rotation. Also, to allow a superposition of the ends of the arms 81 to 84, as in the cross configuration shown in Figure 4c, the vertical rods 91 to 94 to which the arms are suspended have different lengths.

Thus, in view of FIG. 3, the arm 81 which is at the most ready of the conveyor is at a height M. of the conveyor and the second, third and fourth arms 82 to 84 are respectively at a height h2, h3 and h4 of the conveyor.

It should be noted that the height h4, which is the height farthest from the conveyor 17, is less than the height h of the object 3 shown in FIG. 3, without which the object 3 could not bear on the arm 84. Thus made, the arms 81 to 84 can form either a star (FIGS. 4a and 4b), or a cross (FIG. 4c) thus providing, two by two, two bearing surfaces for an object 3 of parallelepipedal shape (cubic, in the example shown in Figure 3); the length of support of an arm on one side of the object 3 can thus be adjusted by changing the conformation taken by the arms 81 to 84.

So that the parallelepipedic object 3 comes to be placed correctly between two successive arms, that is to say so that an angle of the parallelepiped object 3 comes to nest in the angle formed by two arms 81 to 84, the device 2 can be moved transversely relative to the conveyor 4 thanks to the ball guide system 7 and to the guide rails 6 provided in the structure 5.

Thus, it is understood that the axis Z of rotation of the device can also be displaced transversely with respect to the conveyor 4.

It is thus possible to adapt the device not only to the dimensions of the objects 3 to be orientated, but also to the position of the objects 3 on the conveyor 4.

We will now focus more particularly on the device 2 according to the invention and the installation 1 which comprises such a device, to present other characteristics of the invention, ensuring optimum operation, that is to say Say operation with little risk of malfunction.

Firstly, as explained above, the objects arriving on the conveyor 4 are initially oriented in a certain direction.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 6A, the object 30 is oriented transversely with respect to the conveyor 4.

Driven in displacement on the conveyor 4, the object 30 is nestled between two consecutive arms, for example the arms 81 and 84 of the device 2 according to the invention (see, for example, Figure 6a). The arms 84 and 81 being rotated by the motor 1 1 around the Z axis (see arrow R in Figure 6a), and the object 30 which is nestled between the arms 81 and 84, is located reoriented after 90 ° rotation of the arms 81 and 84 about the Z axis (see Figure 6b).

The object 30, which was thus oriented transversely relative to the conveyor 4, is reoriented in a longitudinal direction when it is evacuated.

In the same way, the object 30 could have initially oriented longitudinally and reoriented in a transverse direction before being evacuated. Figure 6c shows such an object appearing longitudinally on the conveyor before being reoriented.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the device 2 according to the invention also makes it possible to reorient cubic objects 3 having a face W on which is inscribed, for example, a product reference or its content (the side W bearing the reference is marked by a succession of arrows aligned).

For questions of conditioning the content in the object 3, it may be necessary to reorient or orient it in a particular way on the conveyor 4.

Also, it is noted in Figure 5b that the reference disposed on the object 3 is oriented in the conveying direction, after reorientation of the object 3 by the device 2 according to the invention.

Figures 7a and 7b show yet another embodiment of the device 2 according to the invention.

In this embodiment, the device 2 comprises shims 13 which are removably mounted on the arms 81 to 84. This embodiment has for particular application the reorientation of boxes 300 having flaps 14, the boxes 300 being conveyed lying down on the side on the conveyor 4.

As can be seen in FIG. 7a, one of the flaps 14 of the box 300 is inserted between an arm 81 and a shim 13 attached to an arm 84. adjacent, by translation T of the device 2 thanks to the ball guide system 7 and the guide rails 6 of the structure 5.

Once the flap 14 has been inserted between the shim 13 and the arm 81, the device 2 is rotated R, so that the arms 81 to 84 rotate 90 ° about the Z axis. The box 300 is thus redirected on the conveyor 4 while still being in a supine position.

The box 300 can then be filled laterally, downstream of the orientation device 2 according to the invention.

In the context of this embodiment, the distance S, which is the offset distance of the segments 10 from the straight line relative to the common axis Z of rotation, corresponds to the following formula:

or :

L is the length of the parallelepipedic object 300 to be oriented; W is the width of the parallelepipedic object 300 to be orientated; e is the thickness of an arm of the device; and

it is the width of said shim 13.

To prevent the objects 3, 30 or 300 from being ejected from the conveyor 4, in the case where the arms 81 to 84 are driven in a high speed rotational movement (ejection due to the centrifugal force), the arms 81 to 84 can be equipped with suction cups 12 (see Figure 3).

It should be noted that the presence of the suction cups 12 is optional.

The suction cups 12 are associated with suction means (not shown) which make it possible to generate a suction effect on the external face of the object 3, 30 or 300 which would be in front of them.

The suction means can be activated and deactivated by automation methods known to those skilled in the art. The presence of the suction cups 12 may also be useful in the case where the object is, by its shape, unstable. They may be, for example, objects that have a height much greater than their length or width. It can also be objects, such as crates, which are not completely filled. In such a case, the objects can be unbalanced during rotation of the arms due to their contents moving due to centrifugal force.

A circuit 20 supplies the suction cups 12, as shown in FIG.

The circuit 20 comprises a supply 21 of compressed air: it is, for example, a conduit connected, on the one hand, to a device adapted to deliver compressed air (not shown) and secondly at a rotary joint 22.

The duct is disposed in the Z axis of rotation of the device according to the invention.

The rotating joint 22 is a housing which has an inlet, connected to the compressed air supply duct, and several outlets 23, each outlet 23 supplying a distributor 24 with compressed air.

Each distributor 24 is connected to a block of suction cups 12, that is to say to an element which carries the suction cups 12 and which is connected to an arm 81, 82, 83 or 84.

Thus, each distributor 24 supplies with compressed air a block of suction cups associated with an arm.

By known means, denounced hereinafter, the supply of compressed air causes a depression in the suction cups 12, which creates the desired suction effect to maintain in place an object to be oriented.

The compressed air supply must, to this end, be punctual, so as to release the object once it is oriented correctly.

For a specific control of the sucking effect of the suction cups 12, provision is made to equip the circuit 20 with a control cam 25 of each distributor 24. Depending on the position of the cam 25, the input of compressed air in the dispenser 24. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 or 9, said cam 25 is integral with the frame 60.

Finally, to ensure the suction effect at the level of the suction cups 12 by compressed air injection, there are provided means 26 with venturi effect, associated with each block of suction cups 12. Such a mode of operation by venturi effect is described in particular in the patent application published under the number FR 2 924 373.

FIG. 9 shows a part of the device illustrated in FIG. 8, but rotated 90 ° (clockwise) with respect to the view from above that would have been obtained from FIG. 8.

It also shows that the object to be steered slides first on the edge of a dihedron home (reference 27) so that it is in front of the suction cups 12 of an arm (81, for example) so correct to be seized by suction.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 and 2, in particular, to present characteristics specific to the conveyor 4 of the installation 1 according to the invention.

To allow continuous operation of the device 2 according to the invention, that is to say a continuous rotation of the arms 81 to 84, the installation 1 comprises a conveyor 4 which is produced by a succession of conveyors 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of different length and speed of advance.

Indeed, if it is desired to rotate the arms 81 to 84 continuously, it is necessary to provide means for the objects 3, 30 or 300 are sufficiently spaced from each other.

If the objects 3, 30 or 300 are not sufficiently spaced, the rotation of the arms 81 to 84 may be hampered or the objects 3, 30 or 300 may be damaged by the rotation of the arms 81 to 84.

It is expected that the spaces left between the objects that appear in front of the device 2 are at least equal to half the size of the object 3, 30 or 300 on the conveyor 4. It will be understood by "space" the length or width of the object 3, 30 or 300, depending on whether said object is placed longitudinally or transversely on the conveyor 4.

Thus, the size of the object 3, 30 or 300 is equal to the dimension of the side of said object which is oriented longitudinally with respect to the conveyor 4.

For example :

the congestion of the object 3 is equal to W or L (the object 3 being a cube),

the size of the object 30 before reorientation is equal to w in the example illustrated in FIG. 6a, or is equal to L in the example illustrated in FIG. 2A, and

the congestion of the object 300 before reorientation is equal to w in the example illustrated in FIG. 7a.

The speeds of the conveyors are, whatever the size of the objects, calculated according to the length of the arms.

The succession of conveyors, having different lengths and speeds of advance, is such that the objects 3, 30 or 300 oriented are spaced from each other by a distance called "step" which is at least equal to one time and half the congestion of said objects.

Figure 1 shows the conveyor 4 which comprises the succession of conveyors 1 5, 1 6, 1 7, 1 8 and 1 9.

A first conveyor 1 5 has the function of bringing the objects 3, 30 or 300 to the device 2 according to the invention.

The conveyor 1 5 is thus an accumulation conveyor on which the objects 3, 30 or 300 are arranged key-touch one behind the other.

A conveyor 1 6 of pacing is provided just behind the conveyor 1 5 accumulation. The conveyor 16 for setting has a feed rate greater than the feed speed of the accumulation conveyor. It also has a length that is substantially equal to at least one and a half times the size of the object 3, 30 or 300 (depending on the object to which the device 2 applies) on the conveyor 4.

The conveying conveyor 16 is followed by a reinforced conveyor bearing the reference 17.

The reinforced conveyor 17 has a feed speed greater than or equal to the feed speed of the conveyor 16, and a length at least equal to two and a half times the size of the object 3, 30 or 300 (depending on the object to which device 2 applies) on the conveyor.

The reinforced conveyor 17 is a conveyor designed to support a rotation of the objects 3, 30 or 300 without deforming.

Indeed, the conveyor 17 which supports the objects 3, 30 or 300 which are reoriented undergoes deformations due to the friction of said objects at the time of their reorientation.

These deformations are not desired since they could in the long run hinder the reorientation of objects.

In order to provide the conveyor 17 with resistance to objects 3, 30 or 300, it is intended to equip it with a carpet having pallet chains, or modular chains with open meshes or with closed meshes.

The reinforced conveyor 17 may be followed by a conveyor 18 called "safety", whose feed speed is greater than the feed speed of the reinforced conveyor 17 and whose length is substantially equal to at least once the space requirement. of the object 3, 30 or 300 (depending on the object to which the device 2 applies) on the conveyor 4.

This safety conveyor 18 is optional. It makes it possible to quickly evacuate the object that has just been reoriented and it prevents the reoriented objects from piling up at the exit of the reorientation device 2, which would also lead to a malfunction of the device 2 according to the invention. . Finally, behind the safety conveyor 18, there is provided an evacuation conveyor 19 whose feed speed is less than the feed speed of the safety conveyor 18.

This evacuation conveyor 19 has the function of driving the objects 3, 30 or 300 reoriented to conditioning stations located downstream of the device 2 according to the invention.

The above description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to reorient parallelepipedic objects that may have different dimensions and features, such as, for example, flap cases.

In particular, it is easily understood from FIGS. 4a to 4c how the arms 81 to 84 are movably mounted on the right-hand segments forming a square.

It is also understood how, thanks to the transverse displacement means of the device 2 (rails 6 and ball guide system 7), the device 2 can be moved transversely to the conveyor 4.

This makes it possible to capture objects 3, 30 or 30 which are arranged at any distance from the edge of the conveyor 4, or objects which are located in the axis of the conveyor 4.

Thanks to this transverse displacement system, it is also easy to reduce the size of the conveyor 4 in width, because objects that are in the axis of the conveyor 4 are easily returned also in the axis of the conveyor 4, after.

It should be understood, however, that the embodiments described above are not limiting and that the invention extends to the implementation of any equivalent means.

Claims

1. Installation (1) comprising a device (2) for orienting objects (3, 30, 300) which have substantially two axes of symmetry, arranged on a conveyor (4),

characterized in that the device (2) comprises four arms (81, 82, 83, 84) arranged perpendicular to each other so as to form a cross, the arms (81, 82, 83, 84) being mounted on a frame, said frame being rotatably mounted about a common axis (2) of rotation which is perpendicular to the plane (} of said conveyor (4),

in that each arm (81, 82, 83, 84) is movably mounted in rectilinear translation along a segment (10) on the right, said segments (10) being offset by a distance (S) from the axis ( 2) common, said segments (10) intersecting in a square centered on said axis (2) common rotation, and in that the installation (1) comprises means (6, 7) transverse displacement of the common axis (2) of rotation of the device (2) with respect to the longitudinal axis (2) of said conveyor (4) of said objects (3, 30, 300).

2. Installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (800) for controlling the simultaneous movement of the arms (81, 82, 83, 84) along said segments (10).

3. Installation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each arm (81, 82, 83, 84) is oriented by an angle (a) of 45 ° with respect to the direction of the segment (10) right on which it is mounted mobile.

4. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arms (81, 82, 83, 84) are adjustable by a displacement in a plane which is parallel to the plane (P) of the conveyor (4). ).

5. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arms (81, 82, 83, 84) comprise suction cups (12) for holding the objects (3, 30, 300) during their orientation. .

6. Installation (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a circuit (20) for supplying the suction cups (12) which comprises: - a supply (21) of compressed air;

- A rotating seal (22) equipped with several outlets (23), each outlet (23) supplying a distributor (24);

- Each distributor (24) feeding a block of suction cups (12) fixed on an arm (81, 82, 83, 84);

a cam (25) for controlling each distributor (24), said cam (25) being integral with a frame (60);

- Venturi effect means (26) associated with each sucker block (12).

7. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (16, 17) for spacing the objects (3, 30, 300) to be oriented by a predetermined distance.

8. Installation (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said predetermined distance is at least one and a half times the size of the object (3, 30, 300).

9. Installation (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for spacing the objects (3, 30, 300) comprise at least two conveyors (16, 17) aligned one after the other, each of said conveyors having a length and a speed of advance such that the objects (3, 30, 300) are in the vicinity of the orienting device (2) while being spaced from each other with a space at least equal to half of its congestion on the conveyor (4).

10. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said distance (S) of shift of the segments (10) relative to the axis (2) of rotation, corresponds to the following formula:

or :

L is the length of the parallelepipedic object (3, 30) to be oriented; W is the width of the parallelepipedic object (3, 30) to be oriented; and

e is the thickness of an arm (8) of the device (2).

1 1. Installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the arms (81, 82, 83, 84) are equipped with shims (13) removable.

12. Installation according to claim 1 1, characterized in that said distance (S) of offset of the segments (10) relative to the axis (2) of rotation, in the presence of shims (13), meets the following formula:

or :

L is the length of the parallelepipedic object (300) to be oriented; West the width of the object (300) parallelepiped to orient; e is the thickness of an arm (8) of the device; and

- It is the width of said shim (13).

13. Installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conveyor (4) comprises at least one conveying conveyor (17) which is adapted to withstand the friction forces resulting from the rotation of said objects on its surface without deforming.

14. Installation (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that said conveyor (17) comprises a mat which has pallet chains, or modular chains open mesh or closed mesh.

15. Device (2) for orienting objects (3, 30, 300) which have substantially two axes of symmetry, arranged on a conveyor (4), characterized in that it comprises four arms (81, 82, 83, 84 ) arranged perpendicular to each other so as to form a cross, said arms (8) [81, 82, 83, 84] being mounted on a frame, said frame being rotatably mounted about a common axis (2) rotation which is perpendicular to the plane (P) of said conveyor (4), in that each arm (81, 82, 83, 84) is movably mounted in rectilinear translation along a segment (10) on the right, said segments (10) being offset by a distance (S) from the axis ( Z), said segments (10) intersecting in a square centered on said common axis (Z) of rotation.

16. Device (2) according to one of claims 1 5, characterized in that the arms comprise suction cups (12) for holding objects (3, 30, 300) during their orientation.