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
  • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
  • B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
  • B65G47/90—Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials
• • 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
  • B65G65/00—Loading or unloading
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
  • B66F9/00—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes
  • B66F9/06—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
  • B66F9/063—Automatically guided
• • 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
  • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
  • B65G2201/02—Articles
  • B65G2201/0235—Containers
  • B65G2201/0244—Bottles

Definitions

• the present invention is in the field of equipment for conveying within an industrial line for processing products. It relates more particularly to a product moving carriage from one station to another, said carriage comprising on the one hand a tray, and on the other hand a shuttle, and a line and and a corresponding method.
• a product treatment line generally comprises a set of successive stations, which transform the product until the final production of a pallet comprising a superposition of layers each comprising products, sometimes grouped together in groups. pack, crates, burdens, or others. Downstream of the line, the full pallet is then processed for shipment, eventually passing through a central logistics management, including automatic warehouse type.
• the product treatment lines concerned by the invention therefore perform at least one secondary packaging function by virtue of which the products in the unit are prepared for mass shipment.
• the line may also have upstream functions, such as preparation, production, manufacture, storage, of the product itself, upstream of such secondary packaging for shipping purposes.
• a large quantity of identical successive products is therefore treated in a similar way within the successive stations of the line.
• the line thus provides globally continuously the same treatment to successive products, and at a global rate that defines the performance of the line.
• This kind of line is necessarily provided with means for moving products between the stations.
• they are mechanical belt type conveyors endless, able to rotate continuously and on which the products rest by their lower part to be driven by him between its two ends.
• Suitable accumulation solutions also make it possible to make a buffer within the line.
• a conveying solution for a treatment line with an accumulation between two product treatment stations in the unit is for example proposed in EP1497208 and is based on the succession of a module transforming a flow unifilaire in multi-filament flux, a module for accumulating such a multi-wire stream, and then a module for transforming the multi-wire flow into a single-wire flow.
• Stationary mechanical conveyors can be substituted by autonomous mobile trucks, which then fulfill this function of moving the products between the machines within the line.
• the machines, or treatment stations can therefore be fixed and positioned at different locations in the workshop, or even repositioned, or even added, or even deleted, without having to reconsider the design of fixed mechanical conveying solutions. Add a position of treatment in the line then possibly requires only a consideration in the programming of carts.
• the invention thus relates to a carriage for such a line, which allows to obtain the expected flexibility and versatility, while providing a less expensive solution.
• the invention proposes to replace the fixed mechanical conveyors by, on the one hand, mobile shuttles, and on the other hand trays they move and on which the products are received.
• a shuttle that provides a function of displacement, and, on the other hand, a tray, which ensures the reception and the support of the products, makes it possible to avoid leaving the shuttle waiting during the transfer of products to or from the plateau, and therefore limit the fleet of shuttles needed to ensure a satisfactory flow for the line. It also allows the use of a standard shuttle, which can be used to move trays of varying sizes.
• the present invention thus proposes a carriage, for moving bottle-type products from one station to another of a processing line of said products, said carriage being movable in displacement on a floor and comprising an autonomous drive means configured for allow him to move from a predefined position to another predefined position.
• Said carriage is particular in that it comprises a tray, provided with a receiving surface adapted to receive a plurality of products, and a shuttle, provided with said autonomous drive means and a means of securing / detaching by report to said plateau.
• the shuttle can then be moved independently of the board, which can remain permanently while the shuttle is moving.
• the shuttle, motor element, and the tray, product support element can be detached so that one remains while the other moves, and be secured so that the shuttle drives the tray in its movement.
• the number of shuttles can be much lower than the number of trays, and can be obtained the same service rendered with a number of shuttles less than the number of trolleys that should have been in the absence of the invention.
• the line is more flexible and adaptable, with a high product throughput, and an inexpensive and adaptable solution for all products.
• said plate may comprise at least one, preferably four, retractable edge, configured to be active, and hold the products inside said reception surface, and to be retracted to allow a lateral thrust transfer of one surface to another; we thus obtain a good support during the displacements, and a lack of obstacle during the transfers.
• the thrust is through the space released by the retracted edge,
• said plate may comprise a clean support structure, such as feet, in particular provided with wheels, which allows the receiving surface to be placed and maintained at the height of the conveyor,
• said shuttle can be disposed entirely under said plate in a secured position, so that the footprint surface of said carriage is not greater than the footprint surface of said tray; this makes it easier to install on the ground, and displacements, in particular of several trolleys at the same time,
• said shuttle may comprise a frame and a lift movable in vertical translation, and said securing / detaching means comprise said movable elevator, configured to lift said plate in a secured position; this makes it possible to have a very simple means of joining / disconnecting, using a support between two surfaces, one of the plate and the other of the shuttle; we can of course add other accessories such as hooks or electromagnets or others,
• said plate may comprise, at its own support structure, feet of variable height by adjustment, which allows to adapt to different height positions.
• the present invention also relates to a product treatment line comprising stations at least one of which is provided with a table for supporting and accumulating said products, and at least one carriage according to the invention, in which the receiving surface of the tray is arranged, for a product transfer, at the same height of the ground as said table, so that when said tray is disposed adjacent to said table, the receiving surface is flush with said table .
• the line is more flexible and adaptable, with a high product throughput, and an inexpensive and adaptable solution for all products.
• the transfer of products between tray and table is simple and can be done by simple horizontal push, which allows to use a simple and universal transfer device, working for many products of different size and shape, since the products are always supported by the bottom.
• the line concerned ensures the packaging of products that are preferably bottles, flasks, or other containers, in successive positions.
• the containers are preferably filled and form semi-finished elements, to be repacked later.
• a station can of course receive products from an upstream station, but also a storage, or deliver products that are either processed downstream in the line, or sent to a stock.
• the present invention also relates to a method of moving products from a first station to a second station of a product treatment line, by means of a carriage according to the invention, and comprising the following steps:
• the number of shuttles can be less than the number of trays, and one can thus obtain the same service rendered with a number of shuttles less than the number of trolleys that should have been in the absence of the invention.
• said plate may comprise at least one edge, preferably four edges, and said edge, preferably the four edges, be active during the step of moving the carriage, and retracted during the product transfer stages, which makes it possible to improve the maintenance of the products during the movement, while maintaining the ease of transfer,
• FIG. 1 is a view showing a line according to the invention, upstream of a dispatch logistics center,
• FIG. 2 schematizes the possibilities of output of a treatment station in three configurations: 2a, 2b and 2c,
• the invention thus firstly relates to a line 1 for processing products 2 to the chain, comprising, on the one hand, a plurality of stations 3 for successive processing of said products 2, and, on the other hand, a moving means 4, for moving the products 2 between the stations 3 within this line 1, in particular, from an upstream station 3 in which they have just been processed to a downstream station 3 in which they must then be processed.
• the products 2 are in particular of the liquid container type such as bottle, empty or full, food, box, box, cardboard, empty or full, etc.
• the treatment line 1 concerned by the use of this type of moving means can be the complete installation which ensures the complete treatment from the manufacture of the product 2 to its organization in pallet ready for its subsequent monitoring in a logistics sorting center or its shipment, or only a part of such a facility, including for example an island of posts 3 within such a complete pre-shipment setup.
• the expected flow rates within such a line 1 treating the products 2 to the unit are significantly higher than those, upstream or downstream, dealing with pallets, on which the number of products 2 is significantly different.
• the products are generally less stable and the technical solutions are therefore generally different for at least two reasons.
• the processing stations 3 in particular ensure the transformation of the products 2 to the unit, such as filling, labeling, or several products 2 of the container type simultaneously to group in pack, several products 2 of the cash box type to layer them on a palette, etc.
• the successive stations 3 can thus realize a fabrication, a transformation, a storage and / or a change in the geometric organization of the products.
• line 1 has stations 3 which receive their products 2 from the outside, as raw material for the line 1, as well as stations 3 which supply the products 2 at the end of the treatment outside. by line 1.
• Line 1 therefore participates in the upstream preparation of units for logistic shipment, usually based on pallets, and not the management, distribution and distribution of these units.
• a station 3 can thus be used to temporarily store the products 2, possibly in a semi-finished state. Such a station 3 then receives products 2 from the carts or trolleys, and / or supplies the products 2 to the trolleys. Such a stock can be connected to the outside of the line: to come from or to go there. Generally, a transfer of the products 2 of the trolley takes place at the level of a post
• a station 3 may for example consist essentially of a stock of trays 17 superimposed one above the other, or one next to the other.
• Line 1 is arranged in a workshop or adapted hall, and stations 3 preferably rest on the ground.
• the moving means 4 conventionally used in the state of the art is based on mobile endless belt conveyors, mounted on a fixed structure placed on the ground in the workshop.
• the line operators 1 evolve in this workshop and it is then necessary to provide in particular bridges for bypassing such means of displacement 4.
• the stations 3 are difficult to move and generally anchored to the ground.
• the moving means 4 consists essentially of at least one autonomous self-supporting mobile trolley 5 moving on the ground and on which the products 2 rest during their movement within the line 1, preferably a fleet of such trolleys 5 who can navigate between positions 3 on line 1. It is not necessary for the carriages 5 to reach equipment or other machines that are off line 1, but they can be dedicated to stations 3 of line 1. The carriages 5 thus connect the various stations 3 of the line 1 and ensure the flow of the product stream 2 within the line 1.
• trolleys 5 thus ensures maximum flexibility depending on the number of products 2 to be processed with the defined format, but also according to the positions 3 involved in the achievement of the defined format, etc.
• these carriages 5 form autonomous vehicles or shuttles, capable of moving several products 2 at a time between two successive stations 3. The displacement of these carriages 5 thus creates the movement of the products 2 between the stations 3. The at least one carriage 5 therefore moves during production by the line 1.
• the line 1 comprises a plurality of trays 17, and possibly a plurality of shuttles 18.
• a shuttle 18 can cooperate with several trays 17 different each time to then form a carriage 5.
• the combination of a shuttle 18 and a plate 17 to form a carriage 5 are multiple and depend on the number of each of them in line 1.
• the at least one mobile carriage 5 is provided with an onboard drive, so that said carriage 5 can itself generate its own movement, in particular in the form of a motor, a transmission and a set of wheels. Said mobile carriage 5 is thus movable between the stations 3, so as to achieve maximum flexibility in the paths to be followed depending on the possibly mobile elements of the environment that it must avoid, such as operators or even other trolleys 5 or shuttles 17.
• the mobile carriage 5 has, on the one hand, a product reception surface 8 on which the products 2 can rest by their lower part, and, on the other hand, a chassis on which at least the drive is mounted. embedded.
• the reception surface 8 is preferably horizontal, flat, and can reach the height of the exit of the upstream station 3 and / or the height of the entrance of the station 3 downstream on the occasion of the transfer of the products 2.
• the carriage 5 may be provided with several reception surfaces 8 superimposed, if necessary.
• the mobile carriage 5 can also notably include docking means ensuring the mechanical interface and the good positioning with the station 3 where it receives the products 2 and / or the station 3 where it delivers the products 2.
• docking means may be in particular referenced positioning mechanical means, for example by complementary parts such as cones or other conventional solution.
• the carriage 5 also optionally comprises a reserve of energy for the operation of the onboard drive, in particular electrical, the line then being provided with means for supplying electrical energy to recharge the carriage 5, for example when it is accosted at station 3 or in circulation.
• the line 1 may furthermore comprise a docking station 16 for temporarily receiving, during their journey between the stations 3, carriages 5, loaded or not loaded with products 2, and possibly only the trays 17, so as to ensure an accumulation zone if it is impossible for the destination station 3 to receive the products 2, or impossibility for the original station 3 to provide products 2.
• Line 1 can thus have at least one accumulation zone, in which the trays 17 are arranged.
• each station 3 is provided with a transfer means for harvesting the products 2 to be treated present on the carriages 5 and / or for depositing on the carriages 5 the treated products 2, in particular a transfer means. comprising a manipulator 1 1.
• This transfer means thus ensures the movement of the products 2 between the reception surface 8 and either an entry zone 14 or an exit zone 15 of the station 3.
• this transfer means can also be mounted on the
• the at least one carriage 5 is provided with transfer means for harvesting, at the exit zone 15 of a station 3, the 2 products processed by him and move to a post 3 downstream, and / or deposit in the entry zone 14 of a post 3 downstream, the products 2 previously treated by a post 3 upstream and he has moved.
• Said transfer means mounted on a station 3 or a carriage 5, for example based on a robotic multi-axis solution or slides, optionally with a complementary conveying type endless belt.
• the stations 3 process the products 2 to the unit and are each provided with a feeding means to the unit of the endless belt conveying type, as well as an extraction means.
• the carriages 5 moving between the positions 3 each time a batch of similar products 2. These conveyances are located respectively in entry zone 14 and exit zone 15. It is understood that any configuration is conceivable: the carriages 5 can, on the one hand, receive batches of products 2 forming sections of a single column or several columns, and, secondly, provide batches of products 2 forming sections of a single column or of several columns.
• the station 3 may be provided with a flux transformation solution for converting the single-wire flow to multi-wired stream or vice versa.
• the products 2 transferred to or from a carriage 5 can be in the form of a single column or several.
• the invention also relates to a carriage 5 which comprises, alone or in combination, the features described herein and necessary to allow the realization of a line 1 according to the invention.
• this carriage 5 has a receiving surface 8 of the products 2 on which they can rest by their lower part, that is to say the bottom, said surface 8 having a substantially rectangular, flat shape, preferably without roughness, the treated products 2 being fed on one side of said surface and emerged on the opposite side and accumulated in adjacent rows between these sides, so as to ensure that the first product entered either the first product released.
• the carriage 5 may comprise separably from one another, on the one hand a plate 17, comprising the receiving surface 8 and a own support means, such as feet, and on the other hand a shuttle 18 comprising said embedded drive.
• the reception surface 8 may comprise at least one, preferably four, retractable edge 19. This keeps the products 2 on the receiving surface 8 during the movement of the carriage 5.
• At least one edge 19 can then be retracted, which allows, when the receiving surface 8 of the carriage 5 is flush with the surface of the station 3, to transfer the products 2 of the station 3 to the carriage 5 or vice versa, by a transfer means which is a simple means of lateral thrust, if necessary a means configured to push at least one row of products 2 at a time, thus making it possible to transfer products 2 not stuck, maintaining their disposition not stuck after the transfer.
• the pushing means can of course also be configured to push only part of a row.
• Such a transfer means can also be arranged as a device attached to said plate 17, which allows to specifically adapt it to the reception surface 8 of the plate 17. This requires provisions for the loading of products 2 on the station 3, allowing said means of transfer to fetch them.
• Such a transfer means can also be arranged as a device attached to the station 3, and configured so as to discharge the plate 17, and to load.
• the stations 3 and the trays 17 each comprise a means of transfer or thrust.
• Such a solution has the advantage that the transfer means of the station 3 may only be able to load the plate 17, and the transfer means of the plate 17 may only be able to unload the plate 17, by example.
• the shuttle 18 may comprise rollers 20, for example multidirectional rollers 20. It may comprise a frame 21 disposed on said rollers 20, and can therefore move in all directions on a substantially horizontal surface. The shuttle 18 may then comprise an elevator 22 movable in vertical translation relative to the frame 21, to lift the tray 17 from the ground.
• a plate 17 may be docked at a station 3.
• a hook 23 may be provided, configured to attach the plate 17 to the station 3.
• a loading means which transfers, by transverse scanning to the conveyor, the products 2 from the conveyor to the accumulation surface
• a shuttle 18 can be coupled to the plate 17 to move it.
• the conveyor is upstream of station 3 and supplies it with products
• Fig. 6 illustrates that the carriage 5, consisting of the shuttle 18 and the plate 17 joined together, can then move, leave the station 3 to go to another station 3, or any other intended destination.
• the unloading of the products 2 begins as soon as the plate 17 is in place, and before the shuttle 18 is gone. It is also possible for the shuttle 18 to fit under the plate 17 while the loading is not yet complete, and thus avoid a waiting time between the end of the loading of the plate 17, and the beginning of its displacement by the shuttle 18.
• tray 17 at a single level, at a height suitable for operator work. But one can also consider trays 17 at several levels (not shown), and a shuttle 18 adapted to raise its elevator 22 at several lifting intervals, each corresponding to the situation where one of the levels of the tray 17 is flush with the reception table of post 3.
• the trays 17 comprise rollers, giving them a possibility of short autonomous movement, without the aid of a shuttle 18.
• the height of the trays 17 can be adjustable. This makes it possible to use the same trays 17 for different production lines, in which the stations 3 would have a different reception surface height.
• the interface between a plate 17 and a shuttle 18 may be a flat surface, allowing good fastening during a displacement. The uncoupling then amounts to providing a space between the plate 17 and the shuttle 18, so that the shuttle 18 can move away without taking the plate 17.
• the shuttle 18 is actually placed under the plate 17, but does not lift it. It is solidified, for example by hooks, or electromagnets, and drives the tray, which rolls on its wheels.
• the shuttle 18 is placed next to a plate 17, is secured by hooks or electromagnets, then drives the plate 17 for the displacement, which then benefits from its own wheels during movement; or the shuttle 18 raises the plate 17 by an auxiliary device, and can then move trays 17 without wheels or means of autonomous movement.
• the products 2 processed within the line of product processing 2 are bottles, flasks, or other containers.
• the reception surface 8 is preferably flat and horizontal.
• this surface may be made of a material such that the coefficient of friction between this surface 8 and the products 2 has a favorable value so that the products 2 remain upright without slipping when the carriage 5 is moved. the profession is able, by its general knowledge, to choose a material meeting the above criteria.
• a retractable system formed of parallel vertical walls may be disposed prior to the displacement of the carriage 5, so that a wall is between each row, so to ensure that products 8 remain in place. Such a system is then removed for unloading the tray 17.
• the products 2 are aligned along two directions perpendicular to each other, still without staggering. They form lines and columns.
• the retractable system may be formed of vertical walls forming a grid so that each product 2 of the plate 17 is isolated from the others using the walls. Thus, two products 2 can not come into contact.
• the plate 17 may comprise one or more conveyor (s) formed (s) of an endless belt wrapped around two windings (called upstream and downstream) located respectively at two opposite edges of the receiving surface 8.
• conveyors are generally arranged side by side and the axes of the upstream windings are preferably confused. It is the same for the axes of the downstream windings.
• the reception surface 8 is then formed of one or more endless band (s). It is flat and horizontal between the upstream and downstream windings located at two opposite edges of this surface 8.
• the windings are preferably the finest possible to limit any risk of falling during the transfer of products 2
• One (of) such endless band (s) can then contribute to the transfer of the products 2 from or to a station 3.
• the production and packaging lines deliver products 2 in continuous flow and at a high rate that is to say the order of tens of thousands of products 2 per hour.
• the link from one station 3 to the next must therefore be compatible with the required rates.
• the receiving surface 8 has dimensions compatible to support a large number of products 2.
• the same plate 17 can receive at least twenty products 2, in particular at least fifty products 2 and preferably at least one hundred products 2.
• a carriage 5 can carry a few hundred products 2 on the same plate 17. In this way, a large number of products 2 is moved simultaneously from one station 3 to another, which absorbs the flow of products 2 leaving a station 3 to bring it to another station without having to stop the machine.
• the stations 3 of a chain treatment line according to the invention are processing machines which are fixed within the factory.
• a table for supporting and accumulating products such a table is also fixed.
• a table is at the exit of a station 3, so that the station 3 can continue to deliver products 2 during the loading of a tray 17 and while waiting for the arrival of a new plateau 17 to load.
• the trays 17 fulfill both the role of conveyor and accumulation table. Indeed, the carriages 5 move the products 2 from one treatment station 3 to the next, but the products 2 do not necessarily feed the next station 3 as soon as possible after their transfer to a reception area 8. Indeed, the products 2 can be placed on hold, that is to say they can remain on a tray 17 until the next station 3 is ready to accommodate new products 2.
• the present invention is compatible with production and packaging in continuous flow and at high speed. It advantageously makes it possible to improve the flexibility of a line with the chain while using a minimum number of shuttles 17 and without impacting the production capacity of a line.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Intermediate Stations On Conveyors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=57860995

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (18)

• 2016
  • 2016-10-04 FR FR1659566A patent/FR3056971A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 2017
  • 2017-10-03 US US16/339,050 patent/US20200039763A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-10-03 EP EP17793701.8A patent/EP3523228A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2017-10-03 WO PCT/FR2017/052714 patent/WO2018065722A1/fr unknown

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