EP2602029B1 - Cutlery sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cutlery sorting machine for sorting cutlery pieces, with a cutlery inlet for introducing a quantity unsorted cutlery, with a singulator for singling the cutlery, with a conveyor for advancing the separated cutlery on a Typerfassungseinrichtung for detecting a respective Bestecktyps a cutlery, in particular Knife, fork, spoon, and for further conveying the cutlery to a rejection device which deflects a respective piece of cutlery into a cutlery collecting receptacle or to a cutlery outlet in response to a type signal generated by the type sensing device associated with a particular type of pot.

Such a cutlery sorting machine is off DE 10 2006 061 839 A1 known. In the known cutlery sorting machine, the magnetic properties of the pieces of cutlery to be sorted are used, in order subsequently to supply them to a detection unit, that is to say a type sensing device for detecting a respective type of cutlery.

However, such singling can also fail, for example if different cutlery types have the same ferromagnetic properties.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a reliable, as simple as possible cutlery sorting machine for sorting cutlery pieces, for example for sorting knives, spoons and forks.

To solve the problem is provided in a cutlery sorting machine of the type mentioned that the separating device comprises a vibratory conveyor or is formed by a vibrating conveyor, wherein the vibrating conveyor a vibratory conveyor channel, in which the cutlery is supported by vibrations along, and coupled to the vibration conveyor channel Having vibration drive for generating vibrations of the vibration conveyor channel.

A basic idea of the present invention is to separate the pieces of cutlery by means of a vibration conveyance, so that they are conveyed past the type detection device as individual cutlery pieces and these can then reliably recognize to which type of cutlery the respective piece of cutlery belongs. Then the downstream sorting by the screening device is particularly simple. Namely, this receives in each case a single piece of cutlery and from the Typerfassungseinrichtung an associated type signal, so that they can reliably direct the respective cutlery in a cutlery or Besteckyp associated Sammelaufnahme. The steering can be a passive steering in principle, that is to say, for example, only one deflecting element extends into the conveying path of the conveying device in order to deflect the respective cutlery part in the direction of the cutlery collecting container or the cutlery collecting receptacle. But it is also an active screening possible, that is, for example, a slider or other component deflects the respective cutlery in the direction of the associated cutlery collection receptacle.

It should be noted at this point that of course several cutlery types of different types in a single Cutlery collection can be directed. If, for example, all types of knives, whether large or small, are always to be directed into one and the same cutlery collecting receptacle, for example a collecting basket, a collecting trough or the like, this can easily be achieved by the cutlery sorting machine according to the invention.

Although the vibration promotion already ensures a reliable separation, further separation obstacles, which are arranged on the vibrating conveyor channel, ensure that only a single piece of cutlery can pass in the conveying direction. This can for example be done in the manner of a spoiler, which extends into the vibration conveyor channel and / or arranged in this. At the separation obstacle is only one piece of cutlery over. But it is also possible that, for example, a kind of grid or rust is present, through which the cutlery parts are shaken so that only one individual piece of cutlery can pass through the grate, e.g. can fall forward or down through in the conveying direction, and then further promoted as isolated cutlery.

The vibration conveyor channel may be substantially flat. It is preferred if the vibration conveyor channel is rising from the cutlery inlet to the Typerfassungseinrichtung out.

It is possible that the vibration conveyor channel is designed as a straight groove. He can also have curves. Preferred is a kind of spiral vibration conveyor channel.

The vibration conveyor channel is expediently movable, in particular resilient, mounted.

The vibratory conveyor may, for example, have a delivery container which is provided for conveying the cutlery parts and contains the vibrating conveyor channel. The or a vibration drive is then coupled to the vibration drive and brings this and thus also present in the delivery container vibration conveyor channel to vibrate, so that the cutlery parts are promoted ahead. The delivery container is designed, for example, in the manner of a trough.

It goes without saying that a vibration conveyor device, which forms part of the cutlery sorting machine according to the invention, can of course have a plurality of vibration conveyor channels and / or a plurality of vibration drives, in particular arranged sequentially one behind the other or also arranged alongside one another.

Preferred is an embodiment in which the vibratory drives are e.g. having two or more vibration drive units. For example, two vibration drive units are arranged on the delivery container. The vibration drive units include, for example, one or two, preferably obliquely, arranged on the delivery container and / or below the delivery container unbalance motors.

Preferably, the cutlery inlet is located at a bottom of the conveyor container or is formed by this bottom. It is also possible that the cutlery inlet opens out at the bottom. For example, a kind of chute or other feeding device is provided which has the cutlery inlet and opens out at the bottom of the conveyor container.

The delivery container for the treatment of the cutlery is expediently filled with a granulate for the treatment of cutlery, for example, a corn granules or a on Base of corn-formed granules to treat the cutlery, for example, to polish, dry or the like. Preferably, a separation area for separating the granules from the cutlery is then provided on the delivery container or else on another region of the cutlery sorting machine. For example, a bottom of the vibratory conveying channel is provided with a sieve-like perforation, a grate, a grid or the like separating means through which the granules fall down and thus separated from the before-promoted cutlery.

Preferably, the conveyor is a separate device from the vibrating conveyor, so for example, connects to an outlet of the vibrating conveyor channel. But it is also possible that the vibration conveyor channel itself forms a part of the conveyor or represents this conveyor as a whole. In this case, higher demands may be placed on the type detection device so that it can recognize the vibrating cutlery parts. The rejection device, however, can also deal with vibrating cutlery parts readily, for example, if you only deflects them from the vibration conveyor channel way in the direction of each suitable cutlery collection receptacle.

An independent invention, in which it does not depend on the vibratory conveyor is when it is provided in a cutlery sorting machine according to the preamble of claim 1, that it is a return device for returning not deflected by the screening device from the conveyor cutlery to the cutlery Inlet, wherein the return device receives these pieces of cutlery from the conveying direction and leads back to a further attempt singulation to the cutlery inlet.

In this embodiment of the invention, which also works in conjunction with other types of separating devices, for example, according to a magnetic principle working separating devices, screening or the like, is in the foreground that it often happens that cutlery not reliably detected by the Typerfassungseinrichtung and or not reliable from the screening device into a cutlery collection receptacle or to a cutlery outlet. These items of cutlery are then fed back to the cutlery inlet and rechecked and, as far as possible, diverted into a cutlery collection receptacle or to a cutlery outlet. Then it is necessary to collect not sorted cutlery at the end of the conveyor and then sort by hand or manually refill into the cutlery inlet.

The supply of cutlery in the cutlery sorting machine is facilitated by the following measure. A cutlery inlet is suitably arranged a chute, wherein the chute has a sloping slide bottom surface and opens into the cutlery inlet. Thus, when the operator rests cutlery on the chute floor surface, it automatically slides in the direction of the cutlery inlet.

The cutlery sorting machine according to the invention expediently has a connection for a rinsing device upstream of the cutlery inlet for rinsing cutlery. This rinsing device can also form part of the cutlery sorting machine. The connection can be formed for example by the aforementioned chute. In any case, a multifunctional cutlery sorting machine is created in this way, which initially rinses the cutlery, then separates and sorts it. If then the additional measure is added, namely that cutlery with a granule treated, ie dried and / or polished, the plant is highly efficient.

The screening device can have one or more rejection actuators, for example two or more rejection actuators arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction of the conveyor, which are provided for diverting cutlery parts into the cutlery collecting receptacles assigned to the respective type of cutlery.

As already mentioned, each cutlery type, for example knife, fork, spoon, can be assigned a separate cutlery collection receptacle.

A cutlery collecting receptacle may e.g. include a trough, but also for example a kind of bowl, a basket or the like.

However, it is also an independent invention when provided in the cutlery sorting machine according to the preamble of claim 1 that it has a control for driving the screening device to form cutlery sets, a cutlery set a cutlery of a first Bestecktyps and at least second cutlery of a second Bestecktyps includes. In a cutlery sorting machine according to the invention, this measure is an advantageous development. Thus, cutlery sets comprising, for example, each a spoon, a knife and a fork, are formed, which are then immediately available for further purposes, for example, for loading a tray.

An expedient measure provides that the cutlery sorting machine a winding device for wrapping the cutlery sets with a flexible shell, for example a Napkin, a cloth, a tape or the like, so that the cutlery sets individually grouped ready for further use, for example, for serving. In particular in the field of public facilities, hospitals and the like, such an arrangement or cutlery sorting machine is advantageous. It is understood that in another embodiment of the invention the cutlery sorting machine does not itself comprise the winding device, but that this winding device constitutes a separate structural unit. Then the cutlery sorting machine expediently has an output device for such a winding device.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Schrägansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Bestecksortiermaschine,

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf die Bestecksortiermaschine gemäß Figur 1

Figur 3

eine Seitenansicht der Bestecksortiermaschine gemäß Figuren 1, 2,

Figur 4

eine Querschnittsansicht der Bestecksortiermaschine gemäß Figur 3 entlang einer Schnittlinie A-A in Figur 3,

Figur 5

einen Förderbehälter der Bestecksortiermaschine gemäß der vorstehenden Figuren schräg von oben, und

Figur 6

eine Querschnittsansicht des Förderbehälters gemäß Figur 5 entlang einer Schnittlinie B-B, wobei eine optionale Rutsche an der Oberseite des Förderbehälters sowie eine Vibrationseinheit an der Unterseite des Förderbehälters zusätzlich dargestellt sind.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the drawing. Show it:

FIG. 1

3 is an oblique perspective view of a cutlery sorting machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2

a plan view of the cutlery sorting machine according to FIG. 1

FIG. 3

a side view of the cutlery sorting machine according to FIGS. 1, 2 .

FIG. 4

a cross-sectional view of the cutlery sorting machine according to FIG. 3 along a section line AA in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5

a conveying container of the cutlery sorting machine according to the preceding figures obliquely from above, and

FIG. 6

a cross-sectional view of the conveyor container according to FIG. 5 along a section line BB, with an optional chute at the top of the delivery container and a vibration unit on the underside of the delivery container are additionally shown.

The cutlery sorting machine 10 shown in the drawing has a housing 11 which can be rolled, for example, by means of rollers 12 on a substrate U. The housing 11 is designed as a trough, so that the components arranged inside are protected. It is understood that the housing 11 is optional and that other mounts for the components of the cutlery sorting machine according to the invention are possible. The housing 11 comprises a front wall and rear wall 13 and a in FIG. 1 Front side wall 14 shown and one of these opposite side wall 15. A bottom 16 of the housing 11 optionally takes on falling parts.

On the side wall 14 a plurality of recesses 17 are provided, which serve to receive cutlery collecting containers 18. The recesses 17 are designed for example in the manner of drawers or the like, so that the designed as tubs cutlery tray 18 or baskets or the like can be inserted from the side into the recesses 17.

The cutlery collecting container 18 are associated with cutlery parts 19 with different types of cutlery a, b, c and d, namely knives 19a, forks 19b, large spoons 19c and small spoons 19d, of course, other assignments are possible.

The cutlery collecting containers 18 are referred to their respectively associated cutlery types a, b, c and d according to below also as cutlery collecting container 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d. The cutlery collecting containers 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d constitute cutlery collecting receptacles 29a-29d or comprise cutlery collecting receptacles.

The cutlery sorting machine 10 comprises a cutlery inlet 20, which serves to introduce a quantity of unsorted cutlery items 10. The cutlery inlet 20 is provided, for example, on or in a singling device 21 which singulates the cutlery parts 19, so that a respective individual cutlery part 19 is provided at an outlet 22 of the singling device 21.

The outlet 22 discharges into a conveying device 23 which initially conveys the separated cutlery parts 19 past a type sensing device 24 and then to a rejecting device 25. The conveyor 23 finally opens into a return device 26, which does not convey back to the cutlery inlet 20 back from the sorting device 25 cutlery items 19 so that they are available for a new sorting.

The conveyor 23 includes, for example, a conveyor belt or other funding.

The conveyor belt or conveyor runs e.g. along the rear side wall 14. The singulator 21 is disposed close to the front wall 13. Above the conveyor 23, the type sensing device 24 is arranged, which includes, for example, a camera 27.

Preferably, the type detection device 24 comprises a housing in which the camera 27 is arranged protected.

Of course, other sensory measures may be provided as optical measures in a cutlery sorting machine according to the invention to detect a respective type of cutlery. For example, instead of the camera 27 or in addition to the camera 27, a weighing device or the like could be provided to the respective weight of a To determine cutlery 19 and thus determine its Besteckt type ad. Magnetic measuring principles or the like are readily possible.

The conveying device 23 then conveys the types of cutlery items 19 detected and typed by the type detecting device 19 further to the rejecting device 25, which in the present case has four rejection actuators 28 arranged one behind the other for separating cutlery parts 19 or for deflecting the cutlery parts 19 away from the conveyor 23 in the direction of the cutlery collecting containers 18 ,

The conveying device 23 is arranged above the cutlery collecting receptacles 29a-29d, so that cutlery parts 19 directed away from the conveying device 23 can pass through their gravitational force in the direction of the cutlery collecting receptacles 29a-29d. Expediently, a chute 30 is arranged between each cutlery collecting receptacle 29a-29d and the conveying device 23 so that the cutlery parts 19 deflected by the conveying device 23 slide into the cutlery collecting receptacles 29a-29d.

The rejection actuators 28 each comprise a drive 31 and a steering part 32 which can be driven by the drive 31. The drives 31 control the steering part 32 so that it is in the path of a respective cutlery part 19 along the conveying direction of the conveyor 23 and thus deflects the respective cutlery part 19 in the direction of a cutlery collecting receptacle 29a-29d.

However, the particular configuration of a rejection factor 28 is not important. Of course, other functional principles are possible in a rejection actuator in each cutlery sorting machine according to the invention, for example, magnetic principles to a piece of cutlery of the Removing conveyor or to steer away from this, a rejection by means of compressed air or the like readily possible. A rejection actuator may, for example, have a particular electrical rotary drive, a lifting magnet or the like.

The rejection actuators 28 are actuated by a controller 33, which receives a type signal T assigned to the respective supply type a-d from the type detection device 24 and accordingly drives the rejection actuators 28. Of course, it would also be conceivable that, for example, the camera 27 itself controls the screening device 25. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the type signal T to reach the rejection actuators 28 via a bus or similar other electrical communication means and to react accordingly, ie direct the cutlery parts 19 away from the conveyor 23 in the direction of the cutlery receptacles 29a-29d.

The return device 26 comprises a guide channel 34, which leads from an end region of the conveyor 23 downwards, in the direction of the bottom 16 of the housing 11 and opens onto a conveyor belt 35 or other conveyor. The guide channel 34 is e.g. arcuate and / or comprises a tube. The conveyor belt 35 then runs from bottom to top, passing below the chutes 30 and conveys the unsorted cutlery parts 19 to the cutlery inlet 20.

The singling of the cutlery parts 19 by the singling device 21 is done according to an innovative concept: the singling device 21 comprises a vibrating conveyor 50 with a vibrating conveyor channel 51 in which the cutlery parts 19 are conveyed from the cutlery inlet 20 to the outlet 22 by vibrations of the vibrating conveyor channel 51 and so on be isolated that the Typerfassungseinrichtung 24th individual cutlery 19 so to speak gets presented and this individual cutlery 19 thus can reliably recognize.

The vibration conveyor 50 comprises a delivery container 52 which can be vibrated by a vibration drive 53. The delivery container 52 is movably mounted, for example, floating or on springs 54. The springs 54 are fixed to the bottom 16 of the housing 11 and carry on its upper side the vibration delivery container 52nd

Instead of the vibration drive 53 or to supplement it, one or two vibration drives 53 'may be provided. The vibration drives 53 'suitably comprise unbalance motors or are formed by imbalance motors. Conveniently, the vibration drives 53 'are arranged obliquely inclined, in particular inclined to each other obliquely. This improves the singulation result.

The delivery container 52 is configured in the manner of a tub or drum. The tray 52 has a bottom 55 and a peripheral wall 56. The bottom 55 is dome-shaped, so that it falls from the center in the direction of the peripheral wall 56 to the outside and placed on the floor 55 cutlery 19 so to speak automatically in the direction of the peripheral wall 56th slip, especially when the vibration drive 53, for example comprising an electric motor, is active.

Along the peripheral wall 56 of the conveying container 52, the vibration conveying passage 51 extends. The vibration conveying passage 51 extends in the manner of a spiral from the bottom 55 upwards to the outlet 22. An inlet 57 of the vibration conveying channel 51 is arranged on the bottom 55, so that towards the peripheral wall 56 slipping cutlery 19 enter the inlet 57 and from there along the "conveyor spiral", ie along the vibration conveyor channel 51, be promoted to the outlet 22. By the vibrations is thereby ensured that only one individual cutlery 19 reaches the outlet 22.

An additional measure that can serve for the separation of cutlery parts 19 is a separation obstacle 58, for example in the manner of a spoiler or the like.

The separation obstacle 58 extends, for example, from an inner side wall 59 of the vibration conveying passage 51 toward an inner space of the vibration conveying passage 51, and a free end portion of the separation obstacle 58 is close to the opposite side wall 60 which may be formed by the peripheral wall 56 of the conveying vessel 52, for example , The distance between this end region of the separation obstacle 58 and the side wall 60 is so small that only a single piece of cutlery 19 fits through it.

The vibration conveying channel 51 may additionally be at least partially provided with a slip-resistant coating, for example a rubber coating or the like, which further enhances the separating effect.

Furthermore, the principle according to the invention makes it possible without further ado that the pieces of cutlery 19 to be sorted are not only singulated and sorted, but also treated. For example, a granulate G can be introduced into the delivery container 52, which is conveyed along with the cutlery parts 19 along the vibration conveyor channel 51 in the direction of the outlet 22, that is, shaken, so to speak. The cutlery 19 are polished, dried or the like. However, so that the granules G does not reach the outlet 22, a separation region 61 is provided on the vibrating conveyor channel 51. The separation area 61 comprises release means, for example a perforated portion 62 of the vibrating conveyor channel 51 through which the granules G falls through and returns to the bottom 55.

The vibration conveyor channel 51 is U-shaped in cross-section and comprises, in addition to the two side walls 59 and 60, a bottom 63, whereby of course other geometries, for example V-shaped geometries are readily possible. Furthermore, it is possible that a vibration conveying channel designed according to the invention has changes, becomes narrower from its inlet to its outlet, or the like

The filling of the cutlery sorting machine 10 can be done, for example, by placing a quantity of unsorted items of cutlery 19 directly on the bottom 55. This can be done by hand or by means of an upstream, not shown, rinsing device or a conveyor, which leads from the rinsing device to the cutlery sorting machine 10 and opens out on the floor 55.

But it is also possible that, for example, above the conveyor tank 52 and the inlet 22, a chute 70 is arranged. The chute 70 can rest directly on the delivery container 52, so that its vibrations are transmitted to the chute 70. Thus, stored on a slide floor 71 cutlery 19 can fall down and reach the bottom 55. The slide bottom 71 is inclined in the present case, wherein the oblique inclination is expediently dimensioned so that only the additional vibrations of the vibration drive 53, the individual cutlery pieces 19 slide down.

The controller 33 can also be configured such that it each directs a set comprising a piece of cutlery 19a-19d into one of the cutlery collecting receptacles 29a-29d.

In this context, it is worth noting that the term "cutlery picking up" is not to be understood in the context of the invention, but may also include a cutlery outlet that opens out of the cutlery sorting machine according to the invention and provides sorted cutlery for further processing. For example, For example, the lower ends of the chutes 30 may serve as cutlery outlets at which the sorted cutlery pieces 19 are ready for further use. Instead of the chutes 30 or in their supplement may also be provided further conveyors (conveyor belts or the like).

Claims (15)

1. Cutlery sorting machine for the sorting of pieces of cutlery (19), with a cutlery inlet (20) for the insertion of a quantity of unsorted pieces of cutlery (19), with a separation device (21) for the separation of the pieces of cutlery (19), with a conveyor (23) for conveying the separated pieces of cutlery (19) past a type detecting device (24) for detecting a particular cutlery type (a-d) of a piece of cutlery (19), in particular knife (19a), fork (19b), spoon (19c, 19d), and for onward conveyance of the pieces of cutlery (19) to a selection device (25) which, depending on a type signal (T) generated by the type detecting device (24) and assigned to a particular type of cutlery, diverts a particular piece of cutlery (19) into a cutlery collecting holder (29a-29d) or to a cutlery outlet, characterised in that the separation device (21) includes a vibratory conveyor (50) or is formed by a vibratory conveyor (50), wherein the vibratory conveyor (50) has a vibratory conveyor channel (51) in which the cutlery is carried along and also a vibration drive (53) coupled to the vibratory conveyor channel (51) for generating vibrations of the vibratory conveyor channel (51).
2. Cutlery sorting machine according to claim 1, characterised in that there is provided at the vibratory conveyor channel (51) at least one separation barrier (58), in particular spoiler-like, at which only one piece of cutlery (19) is able to pass in the conveying direction.
3. Cutlery sorting machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the vibratory conveyor channel (51) rises from the cutlery inlet (20) to the type detecting device (24).
4. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vibratory conveyor channel (51) is provided with an anti-slip coating.
5. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vibratory conveyor (50) has a conveying container (52) mounted movably, in particular sprung, for conveying the pieces of cutlery (19), and the vibration drive (53) for generating the vibrations of the conveying container (52) is coupled to the conveying container (52), wherein the vibratory conveyor channel (51) is provided in the conveying container (52) and in particular runs spirally.
6. Cutlery sorting machine according to claim 5, characterised in that the cutlery inlet (20) is provided at a base (55) of the conveying container (52) or is formed by the base (55) or opens out at the base (55).
7. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vibratory conveyor channel (51), in particular the conveying container (52), may be filled with granules for the treatment of cutlery for treating the pieces of cutlery (19), and a separation zone (61) for separating the granules from the cutlery is provided in the vibratory conveyor channel (51), in particular in a section of its outlet (22).
8. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one section of the vibratory conveyor channel (51) of the vibratory conveyor (50) forms part of the conveyor (23).
9. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims or the preamble of claim 1, characterised in that it has a returning device (26) for returning pieces of cutlery (19) not diverted by the selection device (25) from the conveyor (23) to the cutlery inlet (20), wherein the returning device (26) takes these pieces of cutlery (19) from the conveying direction and returns them to the cutlery inlet (20) for a further separation attempt.
10. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a chute (70) is provided at the cutlery inlet (20), wherein the chute (70) has a chute floor (71) inclined at an angle and leading into the cutlery inlet (20), so that cutlery placed on the chute floor (71) slides into the cutlery inlet (20).
11. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has a connection for a rinsing machine for the rinsing of cutlery, upstream of the cutlery inlet (20), and in particular forming a part of the cutlery sorting machine (10).
12. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the selection device (25) has at least two selection actuators (28) arranged consecutively in the conveying direction of the conveyor (23), for diverting pieces of cutlery (19) into the cutlery outlet assigned to the relevant cutlery type (a-d) or the assigned cutlery collecting holder (29a-29d).
13. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each cutlery type (a-d), in particular knife (19a), fork (19b), spoon (19c, 19d), is assigned a separate cutlery collecting holder (29a-29d) or a separate cutlery outlet.
14. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims or the preamble of claim 1, characterised in that it has a control unit (33) for activating the selection device (25) to form sets of cutlery, wherein a set of cutlery comprises a piece of cutlery (19) of a first cutlery type (a) and at least a second piece of cutlery (19) of a second cutlery type (c-d).
15. Cutlery sorting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has a winding device for wrapping the sets of cutlery in a flexible sleeve, in particular a serviette, or an output device for such a winding device.

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