FR2459196A1 - Feed for individual spaced articles in conveyor - has a feeder bin and toothed wheel discharging articles individually and fed via sieve - Google Patents

Abstract

The feeder has a wheel (10) fitted with peripheral slots (16) which can rotate about an axis (12) driven by a motor shaft (14). The slots are evenly spaced around the wheel and each slot can contain one of the articles being transported. The wheel is associated with a feed (18) consisting of a sieve (20) which rotates with the wheel and has a guide slot (22) at the entrance to the slots. The articles are transferred from the feed wheel (26) to the wheel (10) where these are in contact with each other.

Description

 The present invention relates to a parts supply apparatus for supplying a processing machine operating individually on each of the successive parts which are brought to it.

 The evolution of manufacturing techniques has led to the creation of processing machines which operate continuously so that they can work faster. They must therefore receive parts regularly and continuously, generally oriented correctly and spaced appropriately from each other.

 For this purpose, the parts are taken from a reserve of loose parts and placed in the correct position by a continuously operating vending machine. However, most of these vending machines fail, for mechanical reasons, to produce at their output a regular continuous succession of suitably oriented and spaced parts: there are a number of gaps in the succession, which can be quantify by a statistical percentage of shortages or by a rate of regularity of supply of the machine.

 For example, a rotating machine taking parts from the cells which fall there by gravity does not make it possible to obtain an excellent rate of regularity of supply insofar as a cell which would not have received a part must wait for the next turn of the machine to possibly receive a coin.

The shortcomings appearing at the outlet of the supply machine have repercussions throughout the continuation of the continuous processing operations, which is not admissible in certain machines, all the more so because of the regularity of supply of many vending machines decreases sharply when increasing the dispensing rates.

 On the other hand, it happens that in a regular distribution of parts one wishes on the contrary to create "gaps" of parts, regularly distributed in the succession of parts, either to effectively create regular voids, or to insert a part instead A very simple example is given in particular in the manufacture of bands of ammunition for automatic weapons where it is often desired to insert a tracer bullet every five ordinary bullets.

 The present invention provides a supply device, intended to be associated with a coin dispensing machine, and yes is capable either of making practically equal to 100% with certainty the regularity rate of parts supplied even if the dispensing machine has a rate much weaker intrinsic, that is to create at will shortages of parts regularly distributed in the succession of parts supplied.

 This device according to the invention operates continuously or step by step and can be inserted by operating at the desired rate between a dispensing machine (for example a machine for picking and orienting loose parts) and a processing chain requiring an arrival of regularly spaced oriented pieces.

The device according to the invention comprises a means for supplying parts capable of bringing parts to respective housings at the periphery of a barrel for storing rotating parts, and an output transfer device also provided with housings for receiving parts and cooperating with the barrel with which it rotates in synchronism so that a part contained in a housing of the barrel and arriving opposite a housing of the output transfer device can be transferred into this latter housing and be surrounded by the output transfer device, characterized in that the barrel comprises a number L of housings from which such transfer can take place, that these housings are distributed with a pitch Pi, and that the pitch Ps of the successive housings of the device of transfer of exit which fill with a part coming from the barrel is related to the quantities X and Pi by the following relations
10) the ratio Ps / Pi is a whole number greater than I, that is to say that a part on several successive parts of the barrel is transferred to the output transfer device,
20) the ratio Ps / Pi and the number X of barrel housings are first together, so that if a workpiece is transferred from the barrel housing to the transfer device at a given time, when the barrel has makes one more turn, a new part contained in the same housing of the barrel cannot be transferred to the transfer device.

More precisely, the condition that the numbers
X and Ps / Pi are preriers between them fact that on the one hand it will be necessary to wait for a number of Ps / Pi turns so that a part can be transferred again from this same housing, and that on the other hand At the end of these Ps / Pi towers, all the barrel housings could have been emptied once and only once.

 This indicates that the barrel housings will be able to make several turns of the barrel before emptying into the transfer device; consequently, if they have not had time to fill in the first round which they make after they have emptied themselves, in particular because of a regularity rate of the supply means less than 100 <0, it they have several turns left to fill and this multiplies the regularity rate seen downstream of the output transfer device since each turn a certain number of full dwellings remain full while the rest fills more or less according to the filling rate of the part supply means.

The greater the Ps / Pi ratio, that is to say the greater the number of revolutions of the storage barrel during which a housing has time to fill, the more the effective regularity rate increases at the output of the device. transfer, provided however that the accommodation can always be filled with the same statistical rate at each turn and that this rate is greater than the quantity of rooms
X Pi taken at each turn from the barrel.

 Ps That is to say, in practice it must be provided that Ps / Pi is at least equal to the inverse of the filling rate of the barrel at the entrance to each turn so that there is permanently more parts brought to the cue storage barrel of extracted parts.

 It is therefore good to plan a stacking of parts in the barrel housings, and this is all the more true if the filling mode of the storage barrel is done, as will be explained below, over several turns, certain cells can only be completed the first round, others the second round and others the following rounds (out by having a number of coins mined less than the number of incoming coins), and for each round with a probability Pa (Tr is then equal to Pa divided by the number of turns over which the filling is distributed). In this case, turn to prevent the housings from emptying without filling quickly enough during a barrel rotation cycle, each barrel housing can receive several superimposed parts so that several parts can be removed from the same housing even if by chance this housing returns to a position where a part can also be extracted before it has had time to fill after the previous extraction.

Preferably, the number of pieces n which can furthermore be stacked in each housing is at least equal to the inverse of the regularity rate of filling of the barrel, Tr (this rate taking into account that the filling of all the housings of the barrel can n take place only on several consecutive turns: Tr = probability of feeding Pa divided by this number of consecutive turns). Indeed, with such a number the regularity rate Ts at the output of the output transfer device becomes practically equal at 100 ss (always provided that
Ps / Pi # 1 / Tr) because the barrel housings can no longer empty completely after filling, the number of pieces brought being greater than or equal to the number of pieces removed.

 To avoid clutter and jamming of the parts accumulated in the logernents of the storage barrel, provision will be made advantageously for a means of limiting the number of parts introduced into the housings, for example a limitation to an integer immediately increasing the number 1 / Tr.

This limiting means can be an ejection member at the entrance to the barrel housings, such as a pneumatic controlled member capable of blowing compressed air at this inlet to eject the parts before their penetration into the housings, a housing filling detector being provided to control the ejection member when the filling exceeds a determined level.

To return to the case where the housing is filled over several turns by distributing the looenents to be filled over these turns, the invention is particularly advantageous in the case where the means of supplying pieces comprises immediately upstream of the barrel storage, an input transfer device, provided with parts receiving housings, cooperating with the barrel with which it rotates in synchronism in a nuu manner with a part contained in a housing of the input transfer device and arriving opposite of a storage barrel housing can be transferred into the latter and driven by the barrel.

If Pe is the step, on the device for transferring teespieces successively transferred to the barrel, the ratio Pe / Pi is chosen equal to a whole number of fate t that a piece arriving by the input transfer device is placed on the slip all the Pe / Pi barrel housings (the others remaining provisionally kept empty or already filled during a previous cycle). The Pe / Pi number is chosen for the first title with the number X of barrel housings so that during a number of barrel turns equal to Pe / Pi, all the barrel housings could have received one and only one part from the input transfer device (assuming that this brings parts perfectly regularly).

It will be noted that the steps Pe, Pi, Ps considered are values of steps reduced to angular steps around the storage barrel, this to take account of special cases where, for example for reasons of space requirement, it is possible to choose d '' aoenerles the pieces on the periphery of the barrel according to a small diameter Bind this one, and that one can then channel the pieces on the barrel to move them away from the axis and bring them on a larger diameter what changes their pitch d 'space around the barrel but without changing their angular pitch which is therefore the magnitude to consider.

With such an input transfer device, which itself receives with a regular supply rate Ta of the parts coming, for example, from a machine for picking up and orienting loose parts, the rate can be further increased considerably. effective regularity Ts at the output of the output transfer device.

 It must also arrive on the storage barrel more parts than nten can come out.

 It can output XPi / Ps per revolution of the barrel and it can return on average X Pi / Ps Ta. It is therefore necessary to choose the input pitch Pe such that Ps / Ps is greater than the inverse of the feed rate Ta (taken upstream of the input transfer device).

Again, due to the fact that Pe / Pi turns the barrel to theoretically fill the latter and that in addition there is a rate of absence of parts upstream of the input transfer device, it is desirable to provide that the barrel housings are suitable for receiving superimposed parts in number Pe 1 at least equal to n = pi x Ta. This also corresponds to this
Pi Ta which had been mentioned in the absence of an input transfer device (n # 1) because the filling rate of the barrel
Tr let per turn of it is now Tr = Pi
Pe
The machine structure with an input transfer device which has been set out above is also very advantageous in the case where we no longer seek to increase up to 100 * the regularity rate of a device having a lower rate, but when we try, from a regular distribution to regularly create missing parts.

In this case, it must no longer arrive on the storage barrel more parts than it can leave. On the contrary, it is planned to bring to the barrel on average just the qiantit <'of parts which must come out of it less the proportion of "shortages" that one wants to get out of the device according to the invention.

The pa Pe of the pieces transferred from the input transfer device is then given a higher value (swept in angular steps around the barrel) than that of the pitch
Ps of parts transferred to the output transfer device. the proportion of gaps distributed in the succession of Ps outgoing parts is then 1 -
Of course, we keep the condition that Pe / Pi is a prime integer with X and that Ps / Pi is also a prime integer with X so that both 11 entries and the exit of coins from the barrel are effected by a regular systematic operation of all barrel housings.

 In this case, provision is made for the storage barrel to receive only one part at a time in each housing. In fact, even if it can receive several superimposed parts, the batteries possibly formed can only empty gradually since it enters the barrel fewer parts than it leaves and it leads, after a certain number of barrel turns after start-up, in a layout in which there is at most one room in each housing.

In this arrangement where the pitch of the pieces arriving on the ztoc: tage barrel is greater than the pitch of those which can leave it, the pieces leave the exit transfer device according to an arrangeroent which always reproduces itself with banks always in the same places (the basic cycle of the arrangement corresponding to the succession of parts and losses that appear during
Pe / Pi barrel turns).

For example, if the barrel has X = it housing, the entry pitch is such that Pc / Pi = 4 and the exit pitch such that Ps / Pi = 3, it will regularly output a pattern of 3 pieces successive and a lack.

 It is therefore conceivable that one can introduce, if desired, a different part from the others where there is a shortage, and this can be done either directly at the level of the output transfer device, or on a second barrel downstream of this last, which is the same. bur this barrel we will arrive on the one hand the succession of parts and shortages produced by the device and on the other hand a different part which is introduced by a second input transfer device which is designed as the first so as to allow a regular introduction of parts exactly in places where it is lacking. The phase difference between the input and output wheels regulates the succession of parts obtained.

Provision will be made for the second barrel (which may, in addition to the output transfer device itself) to comprise X ′ housings with a pitch P′i and for the second input transfer device to include housings for receiving coins distributed at a step P'e multiple of P'i and such that the step P'e corresponds to the interval separating gaps to be filled.

More generally, it is possible to combine several sets of transfer devices, and barrels in accordance with the invention, to make varied repetitive complex arrangements of different parts.
Finally, we can give an additional advantage of the invention in the case where a processing of the parts takes place on the device itself, and more precisely on the storage barrel: it is found that in a continuous processing machine , the operations which take a certain time for each part are carried out on a rotating barrel carrying the parts, the operation being carried out on the barrel between the moment when a part returns and the moment when it leaves the barrel. The operation is long, the larger the barrel. The invention allows an increase in the duration of the operation by subjecting a barrel several turns of a part between its arrival on the barrel and its exit.

This is true if Ps / Pi is an integer greater than 1 and prime with X, but it is necessary more, so that each part remains the same time on the barrel, than an input transfer device to the barrel is foreseen and that it introduces parts with a pitch Pe equal to Ps. In this case we can ensure that each part remains on the batElet for a determined time which is between the time represented by the arc separating the wheels of transfer of input and output and this arc + Ps / Pi-1. This time can be further increased by (n-1) Ps / Pi if we consider a storage barrel with n products per housing.

The choice of the exit point in relation to the entry point sets the duration.

 As regards generally the choice of the transfer devices of entry (when there is one) and of exit, they must Otro able to direct selectively ent towards the barrel or selectively withdraw from the latter of the pieces spaced apart from a not respective Pe or Ps. They can therefore include parts receiving housings distributed with this Pe or Ps pitch but they can also have a closer pitch such as Pi for example which is always smaller than Pe and Ps), but then control means must be provided to authorize the transfer only of successive parts spaced from Pe or Ps, the others remaining in their housings.

 These transfer devices can use and combine several means to carry out the transfer of parts at a determined step.

We can use for example:
A - A mechanical effect and a gravity effect
1) with a wheel with lugs pushing back, by the lugs at a step Pe or Ps, only the parts which must come out and that are then driven into the lo - eraents of a transfer wheel which brings them back, the gravity now in their accommodation the rooms yes must not be transferred (these accommodations can be tilted).

 2) with a transfer chain, some links of which carry coin-receiving buckets distributed at the desired pitch and a drawer system s: nc $ rZonized with the chain to hold or release the parts which fall pr gravity in the buckets or gold buckets.

B - A pneumatic effect and a gravity effect
1) the parts are blown and pushed out of the barrel or towards it by a compressed air nozzle controlled in synchronism with the barrel and according to the pitch of the parts to be transferred,
2) the parts are sucked by the vacuum of a suction means towards the housing where they must go.

C - a magnetic effect and a gravity effect:
a magnetic force replaces the blowing or the suction, the gravity holding the parts which must remain in their housings.

D - a combination of the above effects.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows and which is given with reference to the appended drawings in which
FIG. 1 represents a side section view of a supply device according to the invention,
FIG. 2 represents a section of the device of FIG. 1 at the level of the parts output transfer device,
FIG. 3 represents in vertical section a schematic example of a feed device with an input transfer device, for obtaining a high regularity rate,
FIG. 4 represents a top view of FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 represents a vertical section of an example of a device making it possible to create "gaps" in a regular succession of parts,
FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 5,
FIG. 7 is a diagram of an installation for organizing a succession of parts of different types according to a particular repetitive cycle,
- Figures 8 and 9 show examples of embodiment of transfer means for removing or
to bring parts to a greater pitch than that of the storage barrel housings.

 In FIGS. 1 and 2, a supply device according to the invention is seen, this device essentially comprising a barrel 10 rotating around an axis 12, driven by a drive shaft 14. This barrel carries at its periphery a number X of housings 16 regularly distributed around the barrel, these housings being capable of containing each of the parts 18 with which it is desired to supply a machine, not shown, for processing these parts.

 A barrel 10 is associated with this barrel 10 for supplying parts 18. This supply means here comprises a hopper 20 for receiving loose parts, a hopper which rotates with the barrel of which it is integral, and sinks 22 above of each housing 16. These cells are formed in a tray 24 constituting a part of the bottom of the hopper 20, and they bring the interior of the hopper into communication with each housing 16. The loose parts brewed inside the hopper by the rotation of the latter fall into the cavities 22 and from there into the housings 18. The axis of rotation 12 of the barrel 10 and therefore of the hopper 20 is inclined so that the loose parts are located one side of the hopper (side where they are brought by gravity) when a cell 22 during its rotation plunges into the pile of loose parts, a part 18 can Besides picked up by the cell and can fall into the housing 16 corresponding to this cell. However, taking into account that the parts are loose, that they are perhaps badly oriented, and that the rotation of the barrel is rapid if a high feed rate is desired, it is possible that certain cells do not receive parts while they pass the pile of loose parts and that it is thus necessary to wait an additional turn of the barrel before the same cell allows the introduction of an additional part in the corresponding housing i6. The filling rate Tr of these housings n1 is indeed generally not equal to 100% for this kind of machine.

 An example of an inclined rotating barrel provided with a means of supplying parts consisting of a hopper driven by the barrel and extraction cells arranged above each housing of the barrel, is described in the requests for addition certificate NO 76 20 082 and 77 03 460 to the main patent 75 30 168 of the Applicant.

 According to the invention, which is applicable in particular to a parts feeding machine comprising this kind of means for feeding from loose parts, provision is made for the barrel 10 with its housings 16 to contain a barrel for storing parts, that is to say that the parts are not transferred out of the barrel as soon as they have been picked up by the cells and placed in the respective housings but they remain for a certain time on the barrel while the latter rotates while continuing to collect coins. We associate with the storage barrel and with the means for supplying coins to this barrel with a specific output transfer device capable of extracting the coins from the barrel housings and driving them towards a processing machine or any other device downstream of this output transfer device.

 In the example shown, the output transfer device is constituted by a wheel 26 with cells and a wheel 28 with lugs which cooperate with each other and with the barrel in the following manner: the two wheels are driven in synchronism with the barrel so that at each revolution of the lug wheel 28, a lug 30 comes to push a part 18 at the base of a housing 16 of the barrel towards a cell 32 of the cell wheel 26; after which the part 18 is driven by the cell wheel, possibly with the aid of fixed guides such as 34 bordering the periphery of the wheel and pocketing the fallout of the parts 18 in particular if the cell wheel 26 is inclined as is the case in the example described.

the output transfer device thus formed has the specific feature of the invention which is as follows: it is capable of regularly transferring from the barrel a part 18 contained in a housing 16, but with a pitch greater than that of the housing 16 and more precisely a step multiple of that of the housings on the barrel. This means that on several housings 16 which pass in front of the point of tangency of the barrel and of the cell wheel 26, only one housing will be rid of a part which it contains. In the example described in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pitch Ps of the output transfer device is equal to 4 times the pitch Pi of the barrel housings, that is to say that on the housings which pass during the rotation of the barrel, one in four homes will be emptied of one room, the other three keeping their content.

The steps Pi and Ps are measured on the circumference of the barrel and of the transfer wheel 263 this measurement is a measurement of arc length, the arc Ps between being equal to k times the arc Pi (k being an integer ).

In addition, to avoid that certain housings are never reached by the lugs of the wheel 28 and never arrive in front of the pitch cells Ps of the wheel 26, provision is made for the number of housings X at the periphery of the barrel to be one number which has no common divisor with the number k = Ps> in other words X and k are prime numbers between them Pi and this allows that during k turns of the barrel, all the housings 16 of the periphery of the barrel are explored once and only once and that a part 18 possibly contained in these housings is evacuated by the wheel 26.

 Each housing therefore has time to make k barrel turns before being able to empty a room. This increases the effective filling rate of the barrel housings, all the more so when the ratio k = Ps is greater. The rate. supply of the pu machine downstream of the outlet transfer device is improved compared to the filling rate per barrel turns provided that the number of parts removed from the barrel by the outlet transfer device is less than the number of parts likely to arrive during the same tampons in the barrel housings, i.e. provided that X Pi is less than X Tr, so that k is at least equal to the inverse of the filling rate Tr per revolution barrel.

Under these conditions, it is advantageous to provide in addition that the barrel housings are capable of storing several
18 superimposed parts, and an accumulation of superimposed parts occurs little by little since more parts arrive than it leaves. The more rooms can contain rooms, the more the effective rate of supply at the outlet of the transfer device will be close to 100%. We can provide for example in each housing a number of rooms n at least equal to the inverse of the rate Tr.

 There is also provided on the barrel a controlled ejection means to stop the introduction of parts into the housings 16 when the number n of parts is reached in a housing.

 For example, a parts level detector designated by the reference 36 in FIG. 1 is provided, and an ejection means, not shown, controlled by this detector 36, capable of ejecting the parts contained in the cells 22 before they re-enter the corresponding housings 16. Such an ejection means can be that described in the aforementioned second addition certificate NO 77 03 460.

 In Figures 3 and 4, there is shown, respectively in vertical section and in horizontal section, another embodiment of the present invention, in which the means for supplying parts is not constituted by a hopper and cells at the upper part of the storage barrel, but is constituted by an input transfer device regularly supplying the storage barrel with parts 18.

 The input transfer device here consists of a cell wheel 38, rotating in synchronism with the storage barrel, the cells 40 of this wheel each constituting a coin receiving housing 18 and the cooperation between the transfer wheel and the storage barrel being effected using conventional guide means so that the parts brought by the wheel 38 at the point of tangency of this wheel and of the barrel, fall into a barrel housing arriving opposite a cell of the wheel 38 at this point of tangency.

 Although the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 and of FIGS. 1 and 2 are very different, the elements having the same function will be denoted by the same references. The storage barrel 12 is now driven in continuous rotation by a vertical shaft 14; the housings 16 for receiving parts 18 can contain several vertically superimposed parts, the cells 40 of the input transfer wheel arriving above a housing 16 at the point of tangency of the wheel 38 and of the barrel 12.

The output transfer device shown is also a transfer wheel 26 with cells 32 cooperating with guide means so that a part is driven by each cell of the wheel 26. Suette wheel is disposed at the base of the barrel of so as to take the lower part of the stack of parts from a housing of the barrel 12.

In this embodiment, according to the invention, the output pitch Bs of the parts leaving the barrel is a multiple of the pitch Pi of the parts housed in the barrel, the ratio Ps being a prime integer with the number X of housings of the barrel. In addition, the input transfer device itself has a step for supplying parts Pe (steps of the cavities 40 of the wheel 38), this step Pe is a multiple of the step
Pi and the ratio Be is also a prime integer with the number Pi X of barrel housings.

If it is desired that the parts come out regularly with the step Ps on the output transfer device, it is necessary that parts are brought in number at least equal to those which come out. Taking into account that the parts can arrive upstream of the input transfer device with a supply irregularity rate Ta (which corresponds to a filling rate on the barrel, per revolution of the barrel, Tr = Ta i) we can increase the output regularity rate by simply providing that Ps is larger than Pe and that Ps is an integer at least equal to the inverse of the supply rate Ta. If we choose to provide that
Pe is a prime number with X, so that the pieces
are brought regularly to all the barrel housings: in Pe barrel turns, each barrel housing could have received once and only one coin from the input transfer device. Under these conditions, it is particularly desirable to provide that each housing of the barrel can comprise several superimposed parts, preferably at least a number n greater than or equal to Pe.1 Pi Ta because each housing of the barrel can only receive a part every Pe turns and this with a Ta.Pi supply rate
In Figure 3, there is shown a number of parts superimposed in the barrel housings, and a detection means 36 of the number of parts in the housings, this means being intended to control an ejection means to avoid continuing to fill dwellings beyond a specific number of rooms0
We understand that given that each room arrives in a room every Pe turns and that it cannot leave it
Pi that one every Ps turns, with Ps larger than Pe, we understand
Pi that the housings gradually filled as the barrels rotate, provided that the filling rate Ta upstream of the input transfer device is greater than
Pe, and we then obtain at output a practical regularity rate
100%.

 With regard to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, it should be mentioned that the steps Pe, Pi and Ps have been considered absolutely assuming that the housings 16 of the barrel are parallel to the axis of the latter and therefore that the pitch of the housings of the barrel Pi is the same at the upper part (tangent to the input transfer wheel) of the barrel and to the lower part (tangent to the outlet transfer wheel) of the barrel. In reality, in some cases it may be that the arrangement of the housings flares from top to bottom or from bottom to top of the barrel, that is to say that for the same number of housings the pitch is different in up and down.

Under these conditions, it is difficult to speak of the Ps report which has no meaning, it is then necessary to speak, e
If P'i is the pitch of the housings on the inlet side of the barrel and P'ti the pitch of the housings on the outlet side of the barrel, reports Pe / P'i and Ps / P "i and the ratio of the two which do not is not
Ps / Pe but who is (Ps / Pe). (P'i / P "i). Throughout the description, if we are talking about the Pe / Pi ratio and the Ps / Pi ratio, it is obviously the Pe / P'i and Ps / Pi ratios if there is has a difference in pitch on the barrel itself; and if we are talking about the Ps / Pe ratio, we must understand in this case (Ss / P "i) / (Pe / P'i).

To simplify, we will only speak in the description of the case where there is only one step Pi of the barrel housings.

 An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 5 and b. The principle of this variant is quite simply the use of both an input transfer device and an output transfer device as in FIGS. 3 and 4, but in which the input pitch Pe is more greater than the output pitch Ps, that is to say that instead of the input transfer device bringing into the barrel more parts than the output transfer device is capable of extracting, here at on the contrary, the output pitch Ps is internal to the input pitch so that the output transfer device tends to extract more parts from the barrel than the input transfer device is capable of bringing in, and consequently in the chain of parts exiting downstream from the output transfer device, there will be - gaps in certain places.

 Again, the ratio Pe / Pi is a prime number with the number of slots X in the storage barrel, and the same is true of the numbers Ps / Pi and X.

 Since the number of parts extractions by the output transfer device tends to additionally be greater than the number of coin inlets on the barrel, it is perfectly unnecessary to provide for a possibility of superimposing coins in each housing of the storage barrel. since these housings can only be emptied gradually and this is why we can realize as is visible in Figure 5 the storage barrel 12 in the form of a simple transfer wheel with cells, substantially similar to the transfer wheels which constitute input transfer and output transfer devices.

The fact that the numbers Pelai and X are prime
between them andPs / Bi and X are also prime between them
causes the parts to arrive on the storage barrel 'in a cyclic distribution, and likewise they leave it
in a cyclical distribution so that the shortages of
parts at the output of the output transfer device are
will always be in the same places.

For example, with an input pitch equal to four times
the pitch of the barrel housings and an output pitch equal to
three times this step on the barrel, we get, after a short
transitional period at device start-up, one provision
cyclic where three parts regularly come out followed by a
lack.

Of course, to obtain this regular distribution
the supply rate of parts must be upstream of the dis
input transfer positive equals 100 which can
additionally obtained for example using a device as described
with reference to Figures 1 to 4, placed an upstream of the input transfer device v.

At the output transfer device or
downstream of the latter, we can introduce a different part
at each place where a piece in the estate is missing as well
obtained. This can be done easily with a second
input transfer device cooperating with the device
output transfer or with a barrel downstream of this
latest. The second input transfer device will have
for not the spacing between the successive gaps to be filled.

We can even provide a machine layout
much more complex piece mentation, such as that which
is shown in Figure 7 where we want to make a succession
particular pieces of three different types cue one
can denote by parts A, parts B and parts C.

A first set is provided for this purpose according to
the invention comprising an input transfer wheel 44 cooperated
rant with a storage cylinder 46 and a transfer wheel
outlet 48 to extract the parts from the barrel 46. The parts
A arrive on wheel 44 and gaps are created downstream of
the wheel 48 thanks to the fact that the entry pitch on the wheel 44 is larger than the exit pitch on the wheel 48.

 An intermediate wheel 50 receives parts regularly both from the output wheel 48 and from a second input transfer wheel 52, the latter bringing parts B with a pitch greater than that of the wheel 48 and corresponding to the interval between the gaps created by the first set 44, 46, 48.

The intermediate wheel 50 carrying both parts
A and parts B constitute a third input transfer device cooperating with a second barrel 54 which in turn cooperates with an output transfer wheel 56, the wheels 50, 54, 56 constituting an assembly according to the invention receiving both pieces A and B and again creating gaps regularly distributed between the pieces arriving successively because the entry pitch on the wheel 50 is greater than the exit pitch on the lacquer 56. In the gaps created on the wheel 56, we arranges to insert type C parts using a third power supply assembly according to the invention which comprises an input transfer wheel 58 cooperating with a storage barrel 60 which itself cooperates with a output wheel 62 and an intermediate wheel 64 transferring the parts from the wheel 62 to the wheel 56. In the third assembly thus produced, the parts C arrive and gaps are created in their succession (pitch of the wheel 58 greater than the pitch of wheel 62) so that e on the wheel 64 the parts C are separated by an interval corresponding to the intervals between gaps on the wheel 56.

 The precise choice of the pitch ratios between the input and output wheels of the various power supply assemblies according to the invention thus combined with one another is made according to the succession of parts that one seeks to have at the output. In the drawing of FIG. 7, the succession of desired pieces includes a repetitive cycle of pieces in the following order B, A, C, A, C.

In addition to the power supply assemblies according to the invention which have thus been combined, one can provide upstream of each of these assemblies, an assembly not capable of creating shortages but on the contrary to increase up to practically $ 100 per filling rate to regularly bring parts A, B,
C without gaps in their succession. These upstream assemblies would have the characteristic of having an input pitch less than the output pitch to allow this increase in the supply regularity rate.

 To return to the input and output transfer means which make it possible to produce the feed machines according to the invention, various types of device can be used.

 We have described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 a transfer means with a cell wheel and a lug wheel, where lugs and cells have the desired pitch multiple of the pitch of the barrel housings.

 This means has the advantage of systematically carrying out the transfer of the desired parts without special order, without touching the others, especially if the storage barrel is inclined so that gravity maintains the parts which must not be transferred.

Other means can be used, simpler and less bulky mechanically but requiring an order.

selective. For example, the means represented in FIG. 8 uses a controlled pneumatic suction such that when a part 18 passes in front of the orifice of a suction duct 70, it is pressed against this orifice and is detached from the barrel housing in which she was placed. The conduit 70 is part of a wheel 72 rotating in synchronism with the barrel 12 and the part 18 is driven by this wheel. Gravity holds the other parts on the barrel which is tilted. The appearance of air is only carried out when the duct 70 arrives opposite the point of tangency between wheel 72 and barrel. It stops after a certain fraction of a turn of the wheel 72, to allow the unloading of the transferred parts, towards the output of the machine (in FIG. 8 towards an additional transfer wheel 74). be done, for example, by a set of alternately closed orifices or placed in communication automatically with a main suction duct 76, the closings and openings being done simply by the rotation of the wheel 72 which thus constitutes a rotary distributor. The pitch of the parts removed corresponds to the pitch of the conduits 70 undergoing suction when they are opposite a part of the barrel.

It is also possible to provide that instead of suction nozzles 70 in the wheel 70, there are blowing conduits in the barrel 12 for pushing the parts towards a transfer transfer wheel with cells, or even at the entry of the barrel of the blowing ducts in an inlet transfer wheel to push the parts towards the barrel.

If the barrels and the transfer wheels are not inclined, it is more difficult to use gravity to hold certain pieces in place while the others are transferred and it can then be foreseen that the parts before title transferred are sucked by conduits in a wheel. output transfer, while those which must be held in place are drawn towards the barrel. Such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 9: the barrel 12 and the outlet transfer wheel 26 have a vertical axis, the transfer wheel is formed substantially as in FIG. 8 so as to distribute the air suction to the 'desired location.

A suction system is provided on the barrel to normally hold the parts in the barrel housings. The suction by the conduits of the wheel 26 is however more powerful than the suction by the barrel so that one can transfer the desired parts despite the pneumatic hold on the barrel.

It is also possible to provide means for holding or magnetic transfer controlled by an appropriate electrical distribution circuit in the same way as the pneumatic means described in Figures 8 and 9 which have been shown by way of example.
In another variant of the invention, still concerning the case where there is an input transfer device and an output transfer device, provision is made for the pitch Pe of the input transfer device to be equal to the pitch Ps of the output transfer device (always assuming that the storage barrel has only one Yi pitch). This provision has no interest either to increase the regularity of supply rate at the exit of the machine nor to create aes regular shortages in the succession of parts leaving the machine, but to allow to increase the time of storage of the parts on the barrel. This is important in the case where the barrel is not simply a storage barrel but where it also serves as a barrel for processing the parts and where the treatment must take place over a relatively long period, in particular over several turns of the barrel.

 Indeed, if the input pitch and the output pitch are the same and both greater than the pitch of the barrel housings, always keeping the condition that the number X of barrel housings is a prime number with Ps / Pi and Pe / PI, it turns out that each housing in the barrel can only empty a part it contains that all Pe / Pi towers. Under these conditions, by appropriately shifting the entry points of the parts on the barrel and their exit point, it is possible to ensure that. the parts remain for several turns (maximum Pe / Pi turns) on the barrel before being further extracted.

 If it is desired to further increase the time during which each part can remain on the treatment barrel after having been introduced by the input transfer device and before being extracted by the output transfer device, it is possible to provide that the barrel comprises housings capable of receiving several superimposed parts (n parts for example in each housing) and the time during which each part remains on the barrel is the time previously indicated to which must be added the duration of a number of turns equal to (nor ) .Pe / ft.

Obviously, it will initially be necessary to plan a stacking phase without extraction at the exit to constitute the batteries in the barrel housings (n 2nd / Pi initial turns).

This application of the machine is advantageous for example if it is desired to make the parts a heat treatment, or a cooling, washing or drying etc. which takes a certain time and which would otherwise require a treatment barrel of very large diameter taking into account the duration of the treatment. Note that in this application or
Ps = Pe, the order of exit of successive coins is exactly the same as their order of entry on the barrel.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS 1. Parts supply device for a machine for processing these parts, comprising a means for supplying parts capable of bringing parts to housings at the periphery of a rotating barrel for storing parts, and an output transfer device also provided with parts receiving housings and cooperating with the rotating barrel in synchronism with it so that a part contained in a housing of the output transfer device can between transferred in this housing and driven by the transfer device, characterized in that the number X of barrel housings, the pitch Pi of these housings and the pitch Ps of successive housings of the outlet transfer device which fill with a part coming from the barrel are linked by the following relations 1) Ps / Pi is an integer greater than 1 2) Ps / Pi and X are (your prime numbers between them.  2. Device according to claim i, characterized in that the means for supplying parts is capable of bringing pieces ~ each turn with a rate, regularity of supply T less than 100 '; and by the fact that Ps / Pi is an integer at least equal to 1 / Tr.  3. Feeding device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the barrel housings are capable of each receiving several superimposed parts.  4. Feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that the part supply means is capable of supplying the parts with a regularity feed rate Tr at each revolution of the barrel, Tr being less than 100, and that the barrel housings are ante to each receive a number of coins at least equal to the inverse of this rate Tr. 5. Feeding device according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the rifle is provided with means for limiting to a predetermined number the quantity of parts contained in each housing of the barrel. 6. Feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for limiting the number of parts comprises a controlled ejection member capable of ejecting the parts before their penetration into the barrel housings, and a detector for filling the housings to control the ejection member when the filling of the housings exceeds a determined level. 7. Feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the part supply means comprises an input transfer device, upstream of the barrel, provided with parts receiving housings, cooperating with the barrel with which it rotates synchronously so that a part contained in a housing of the input transfer device and arriving opposite a housing of the barrel can be transferred into the latter and driven by the barrel, and by the fact that, if Pe is the step, on the input transfer device, of the parts successively transferred to the barrel, the ratio Pe / Pi is a prime whole number with the number X of barrel housings.  8. Feeding device according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the pitch Ps is greater than the pitch Pe. 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for supplying parts at a regularity rate of supply Ta upstream of the input transfer device, and that Ps / Be is> I / Ta. 10. Feeding device according to claim 9, characterized in that the barrel housings are capable of receiving each a number of superimposed parts greater than or equal to (Pe / Pi) 01 / Ta.  He. Feeding device according to claim 7, characterized in that the pitch Ps is smaller than the pitch Pe. 12. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that Ps = Pe, that the storage barrel is at the same time a barrel for processing the parts and that the ratio Pe / Pi and the positions of entry and exit of the coins on the barrel are chosen according to a desired duration of station of coins on the barrel in view (te their treatment.  13. Feeding device according to claim 11, characterized in that there is provided a second inlet transfer device cooperating with the outlet transfer device or with a barrel provided with housings downstream of the latter, the second input transfer device comprising housings for receiving coins distributed with a pitch multiple of the pitch of the housings of the output transfer device or of the barrel downstream of the latter, so that a coin can be transferred regularly into the housings left free - regularly on the output transfer device or downstream of it. 14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the output transfer device is a selective transfer device capable of removing from a barrel or a wheel the parts located in the housings of this barrel or this wheel, but with a pitch of the parts removed multiple of the pitch of said housings, so that the intermediate parts between two parts removed successively remain in -their housings. 15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the output transfer device comprises a cell wheel and a lug wheel in the same way as the cells of the cell wheel, the lugs acting to push the pieces towards the cell wheel.