ES2207999A1 - Metal cap counting and separating machine used in facility for handling and transporting packaging of metal cap for e.g. beverage can has detent, which prevents passage of metal caps to deadzone area after counting number of metal caps - Google Patents

Abstract

The counting and separating machine has a dead zone provided in the separation area of metal caps (2). The metal caps pass the dead zone one at a time without stopping. Photocellsor counting units (6) for metal caps passing through the dead zone are provided facing each other in the dead zone. A detent (7) prevents the passage of metal caps to the dead zone area after counting the number of metal caps.

Description

Metal lid separating and counting machine and the like

Object of the invention

The present invention, as expressed in the statement of this specification refers to a machine metal lid separator and counter for containers or any Another element of similar configuration. The machine constitutes what which can be considered as an installation in which it takes place the entrance of covers in vertical arrangement, attached collaterally with each other, and transport of such caps to an area output after which it takes place, by shrink wrapping, the packaged by groups or blocks of the covers, all so such that during the journey between entry and exit the machine performs the separation between them, as well as the counting of themselves and their corresponding grouping for shrink wrapping later. The fundamental novelty of the invention lies in the creation of a stable gap through which you have the certainty that the covers pass separated one by one, which allows to make a correct and faultless count.

Background of the invention

In facilities or handling machines of lids for metal containers, the transport of said lids is performs placing these in an upright position supported by their edge or edge in a guide determined by two simple bars parallel and horizontal. The caps are attached to each other forming a horizontal block or column, so that the clamping of these to maintain its verticality is done by means of a brush on which the first cover of the group or block rests, preventing the fall of it, and therefore maintaining the verticality

This system of restraint or maintenance of the verticality of the covers has the disadvantage that brushes can or usually produce scratches and even fouling of those.

On the other hand, the drag and therefore the corresponding transport of the covers or guides, is carried out by group of pulleys and belts.

On the other hand, the facilities or machines known must perform the counting of the caps, being necessary to do this, separate them one by one and then regroup them again forming a block for later shrink wrapping.

In that sense, dynamic means of separation of the covers, these being transferred continuously from from one place to another, there are magnetic bellows that maintain the covers separated vertically during transport to along the separation zone, in which there are also the corresponding counting means constituted, for example, through a disc or serrated cylinder that "bites" one to join the covers, when they are separated, counting and at the same time the introduction of them over an exit zone in where the appropriate means of transport deposit the covers in the shrinking zone or station.

Description of the invention

The machine of the invention, constituting a installation of handling and transport of metal covers for containers, with the zones or stations: of entrance, of separation, count and exit, which is followed by an area or station of shrink wrapping of caps block, has the peculiarity that a hollow and intermediate zone is established in the separation zone, called "dead zone", in which the count takes place, so that in said dead zone the covers pass so separately and continuously without stopping on the road, enabling Perform a correct and faultless count.

During the transportation of the tapas in the area or separating station, vertical maintenance of such covers separate is done by a magnetic bellows endowed with a decisive interruption precisely of the dead zone referred previously, bellows that allows the loose accumulation of covers until they are retained by a stop provided in the area of exit.

In this dead zone the covers do not stop because they jump as a result of the polarity change which have the two parts of the magnetic bellows determined to one and other side of the dead zone referred to.

In addition, in that dead zone there is facing it a photocell or similar element to perform the counting of the caps, so that the polarity of the magnets before and after said dead zone is different, with so that the magnetic effect created prevents the covers They can stand in their path through the dead zone.

In order that the covers cannot accumulate at the exit of the dead zone, some means of motorization that collect the covers and transport them to greater speed to the departure and regrouping station of the same.

It is also planned at the beginning of the area of input a lid retention stop to prevent them from being able to access the dead zone when the number has been completed pre-established caps that have to form a block, after your count. Logically, that retention stop is activated at the time of reaching that number pre-set of counted caps.

The caps already counted are transported to the block formation zone or station, so that at the entrance of said station there is a lid retention stop to avoid that unwanted covers pass to that block formation zone.

In said block formation zone there is a push arm of the covers forward and a brake stop on the front area, so that between both the block of caps attached or attached to each other, being that block transferred transversely to the shrink extraction of the same.

The block forming area or station, It also has bellows or magnetic strips to hold suitably the cover group in an upright position, until the moment when the front retention stop and the arm act rear pusher

Brief description of the drawings

To complement the description that then it will be done and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, accompanies the present descriptive memory a set of drawings based on the which innovations and advantages will be more easily understood of the metal lid separating and counting machine for containers made in accordance with the object of the invention.

Figure 1.- Shows a representation according to a general perspective of the area in which the separation takes place of tapas for your count.

Figure 2.- Shows a view also in perspective and in greater detail of the separation and counting area of the covers, as well as the means of drag provided in that area and which are also shown in figure 1.

Figure 3.- Shows a perspective view of the area where the grouping of the tapas takes place at the exit of the counting area, to form blocks and be each one of these transferred transversely to the shrink zone.

Figure 4.- Shows a schematic view according to an elevation of the area where precisely the formation of a block of covers for transfer to the shrink zone, performing that transfer transversely to the line of advance of the covers.

Figure 5.- Shows a representation schematic and in plan of the part of the machine where it takes place to the separation and counting of the covers, letting the bellows be seen magnetic that is set in that area to keep vertical the covers.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In view of the commented figures, you can observe how the machine of the invention comprises guides consisting of two vertical bars or rods 1 in arrangement horizontal, for the displacement of the covers 2 arranged these vertically and going attached to each other forming a block or horizontal column, to an area called input where a separation of the covers 2 and counting thereof takes place, one by one. In that area of separation there are some means of pulleys and belts 3 drag, as well as a magnetic bellows 4 with an intermediate interruption determining a dead zone 5 in which the counting element 6 is precisely arranged, constituted by a photocell or similar.

In the commented dead zone 5, a retention stop 7 consisting of a sharpened element belonging to a drive cylinder 7 'that interposes to keep caps 2 from happening after counting of a pre-established number thereof, and that they will definitely constitute a package or block for your retractable back. In this way the covers 2 that access the entrance area referred to above are separated in that zone and maintained vertically by means of magnetic bellows 4, counting by means of the photocell or element 6, of so that at the exit of that separating zone, another retention stop 8, with similar characteristics to stop 7, and associated to the corresponding cylinder 8 ', so that between the exit zone and retention stop 8 is movable one arm pusher 9 that moves the covers 2 from the area itself separator to the area where that retention stop 8 is located, zone this last one that corresponds to the entrance of the zone of formation of cover blocks 10, where they are regrouped forming a  block 13, by means of a pusher element 11 provided in the entrance and a backstop 12, in which training takes place of block 13 of covers 2, which are transverse transferred, as depicted in figure 4, for shrink wrapping, this transverse transfer being carried out by means of an element pusher 14 driven by a cylinder 15. In Figure 4 you can be observed as the pusher element 11 provided at the entrance of formation of blocks 13 and covers 2, is linked to the stem or piston 16 of a cylinder 17, while the pusher 9 provided in the exit area of the counting separating station, it is associated with a scrollable car 9 ', as also shown in that figure 4.

In this way the covers 2 that have been counted they access the exit zone displaced by pusher 9 to the entrance area of the block building station 13 of tapas 2, in whose entry zone the retention stop 8 is located provided to retain the covers 2 while the block 13 is formed in the station or zone 10 referred to above, the block being formed as a consequence the push of arm 11 forward and moving the covers against the stop 12 provided in the area posterior and associated with a motorized element 12 '.

As one has said before, one of the most fundamental features of the machine of the invention it consists in the establishment of dead zone 5 in which it has place the counting of the covers 2, so that that dead zone 5 ensures that none of the covers 2 stand on it, passing continuously one by one which ensures a correct count and without any failure. Such dead zone 5 establishes a separation between two sections of the magnetic bellows 4, so that these two sections or parts are of different polarity so that the tapas 2 in that dead zone 5 take a leap and don't stop at she.

On the other hand, retention caps 7 and 8 are Retractable when driven by their corresponding 7 'cylinders and 8 ', in order to intercalate between the covers 2 whenever it is necessary to retain them, or to move away from their field of displacement allowing the transfer of them. It is also it should be noted that zone 10 where the training takes place of blocks 13 of covers 2, it will also have bellows or strips magnetic characteristics similar to those provided in the area separator, to properly keep the covers 2 in position vertical until the action of the elements that constitute the rear stop 12 and the front pusher 11.

Finally say that the machine can count and handle circular caps or similar elements of any kind, covers with easy open system included.

Claims (5)

1. Machine for separating and counting metal lids and the like, which are part of an installation where handling and transport takes place on guides and in vertical position of metal cans for containers, type of beverage can and similar, in which they are established a station or entrance area through which the attached terraces run between each other, a station or zone separating the covers, in which the counting of these covers takes place, and a station or exit area in which the regrouping takes place of a certain number of covers, forming a block that is transferred transversely to a shrink zone of that block of caps to form in each case a package, also having bellows or magnetic means that allow to keep the caps in an upright position during their transport along the separating zone or station, as well as in the block formation zone, characterized in that in the tap separation zone as (2) a dead zone (5) determined by an interruption in the magnetic bellows (4) maintaining the covers (2) in an upright position is established, with the particularity that the two sections of magnetic bellows determined to each other side of the dead zone, (5) are of different polarity, having been foreseen that in correspondence with that dead zone (5) a photocell or similar element (6) is mounted opposite for the counting of the covers (2), all of which such that through that dead zone (5) the covers (2) pass continuously one by one without stopping on said dead zone (5), ensuring the correct counting of the covers (2). 2. Separating and counting machine for metal covers and the like, according to claim 1, characterized in that, in correspondence with the dead zone (5), a retractable retention stop (7) is provided that acts to retain the covers (2) and prevent these access the dead zone (5) after counting a pre-established number of caps (2). 3. Separating and counting machine for metal covers and similar, according to previous claims, characterized in that following the dead zone (5) there is a pusher (9) that moves the covers (2) after counting them towards the area ( 10) for the formation of cover blocks (2), there being at the entrance of this zone (10) a retention stop (8) that prevents the entry of unwanted covers (2) towards said block formation zone (10) of tapas. 4. Separating and counting machine for metal lids and the like, according to previous claims, characterized in that in the area of the cover block formation (2) there is a rear stop (12) and a front pusher (11) between which the covers (2) for the formation of the block itself (13). 5. Machine for separating and counting metal covers and the like, according to previous claims, characterized in that, in correspondence with the area (10) for forming blocks (13) of covers (2), transverse thrust means (14) are provided. by a cylinder (15) for transverse thrust of the block of covers (2) formed in that area (10) towards the area where the shrinking of the block itself (13) takes place.