FR2467155A1 - SEQUENTIAL TRANSFER MECHANISM OF METALLIC OBJECTS BETWEEN CONVEYORS - Google Patents

Abstract

Mechanism for the sequential transfer of metal objects from a conveyor 5 moving at a certain speed in one direction to a second conveyor 7 moving in a different direction and at a different speed. This mechanism comprises electromagnets 10 intended to seize sequentially the metallic objects arriving in line on the first conveyor 5, a support bar 9 of these electromagnets being movable on slides 11 so as to transfer a complete line of objects. on another conveyor 7 on which these are placed in rows. Application, in particular, to the transfer of metal lids from a station 4 to which they are provided, for example, with a seal in an oven 8 in which these seals undergo maturation. (CF DRAWING IN BOPI)

Description

1. The invention relates to a device for

  sequential transfer of a group of items from a

  to another in a production line. It relates more particularly to an efficient and cost-effective device for transferring objects in sequence from an on-line carrier moving at a speed in a one-to-one direction.

  row transporter moving in a different direction

  rent and at a different speed.

  It is of normal use in the manufacture of metal objects such as cap-like closure covers and the like to perform at certain phases of the manufacturing process a transfer of objects from one carrier to another. These transfers were carried out previously for example by putting into engagement the objects

  with guides or divers or others available

  transferring devices in order to push them

  on another. Some objects can only be transferred with considerable difficulty by these prior art devices and, in particular, flat objects can not be efficiently transferred by known devices. In addition, current transfer devices are unable to handle objects having moist or non-matured fillings or coatings on the surface without damaging them. A shutter cover which is relatively flat and has an annular seal at the upper surface and which is normally transferred during

  its manufacture from an online carrier to a transpor-

  row oven while the filling is still

  liquid is represented for example in the United States patent.

United States of America No. 3,913,771.

  The machine of the invention ensures an efficient and fast sequential transfer of objects of this type of a

  carrier to another, and more particularly to

  online carriers to carriers on whom the objects

are arranged in rows.

  The improved machine of the invention performs

  this transfer by devices that- seize magnetic-

  sequentially and raise a group of objects from a 2.

  carrier then move them to the second transpor-

  along a path and at a speed that corresponds to that of the carrier receiving the objects. The second conveyor may be for example rows and passing through a furnace or other device for processing objects that causes maturation or otherwise processes the

  trim or other parts of the transferred objects.

  The invention therefore relates to an improved mechanism of sequential transfer of metal objects from one carrier to another. This mechanism is capable of transferring relatively flat metal objects. It carries out the sequential transfer of an in-line conveyor onto a row conveyer, in particular shutters having a liquid packing which has not yet matured and which are transferred to a

  transporter who directs them in an oven performing the mas-

  ration of these fillings. The mechanism performs the transfer of a carrier moving at a certain speed and in a certain direction on another moving carrier

  at a different speed and / or direction.

  The invention will be described in more detail in

  annexed drawings by way of example not at all limited

  and in which: - Figures 1 and 2 are plan views of an advantageous embodiment of the transfer mechanism of the invention and show in the sampling position of the lids and release position thereof;

  FIGS. 3 and 4 are elevations of the mechanism

  transfer of Figures 1 and 2 and represent it at successive positions; FIG. 5 is a diagram of the electrical control circuit of the transfer mechanism of the invention; and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the system of

control according to the invention.

  The drawings show an advantageous embodiment of the metal object transfer mechanism such as cap-like blanking covers of a line conveyor on a conveyor which moves these caps in rows. The mechanism represented 1 transfers

  metal covers 2 having on the upper surface

  an annular lining 3 of a filling station 4 to a furnace 8 which matures the latter. The lids 2 are transported to the mechanism 1 on an in-line conveyor on which they are placed at random distances while their lining 3

  is still soft and has not matured.

  The transfer mechanism 1 removes periodic

  carrier 5 online the last group of cover-

  2 are brought by the latter and transports them on a wide belt or on a conveyor in rows 7 of a furnace 8 of ripening of the linings. The shutter rows placed at a distance from each other pass on the

  carrier 7 in the maturation furnace 8.

  The transfer mechanism comprises a bar 9 on which are mounted several electromagnets 10. The transfer bar 9 is slidably mounted on transverse rods 11 so that it can move from the sampling position shown in FIG. the release position at which it is above the conveyor 7 in rows and that is shown in Figure 2. A suitable control cylinder, for example a pneumatic cylinder 14 moves the transfer bar 9 between these two

positions.

  An electrical circuit supplies power to the electromagnets 10 sequentially by being controlled by the arrival of the covers 2. This circuit, which will be described in more detail below, comprises proximity detectors 12 adjacent to each electromagnet. When the cover 2 located at one end on the in-line conveyor 5 reaches the last electromagnet 10, the proximity detector 12

  operates the latter. This detection circuit simul-

  the power supply of the second detection system combined with an electromagnet, so that the arrival of the next cover 2 in the vicinity of this proximity detector 12 causes the power supply of the second electromagnet 10. process continues sequentially or sequentially for each of the successive electromagnets until a cover 2 is detected and grasped by the last electromagnet 10. When the latter cover 2 has been detected and grasped, the circuit supplies in energy the motor cylinder 14 which moves the transfer bar 9 of the

  online carrier, that is to say in the position

  shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, towards the release position

  that represent Figures 2 and 4.

  The transfer bar 9 is mounted on two slides 15 placed at a distance from one another and movable on slides 11. The transfer bar 9 can therefore be moved from a position to which it is on the conveyor 5 1 and 3 at a position where it is above the conveyor in rows 7 and that are shown in Figures 2 and 4. The transfer bar 9 has at each end supports 15 which slide on the slideways 11. The drive cylinder 14 is mounted on a suitable support frame 17 and its piston 18 is articulated at 19 on the transfer bar 9. The in-line conveyor 5 continues to bring the shutter covers 2 to a transfer position at

  which they are under the transfer bar 9.

  During the transfer cycle, the bar 9 returns, after making a transfer of covers, to the sampling position before the end cover 2 is brought on the conveyor 5 under the last electromagnet 10 attached to the bar 9. When this cover 2 arrives at a transfer position on the in-line conveyor 5, that is to say at a position where it is close to the last electromagnet 10 attached to the transfer bar 9 it is detected by the proximity detector 12 which supplies energy to the corresponding electromagnet 10 for picking up the lid. Successive lids moving on the

  line carrier 5 successively

  of the second electromagnet 10-, then that of the

  third and that of others in the same way.

  5. When a shutter cover 2 has triggered the last detector 12 on the transfer bar 9, it is grasped by the corresponding electromagnet 10 and the transfer bar 9 is moved by the driving cylinder 14 so that it carries all the covers taken 2 from the conveyor 5 to a release point located above the conveyor in rows 7. When the transfer bar

  reached this point, it operates an LS2 switch to release

  lids, this switch cuts the power supply

  all the electromagnets 10 which drop all the covers transferred onto the conveyor 7 which makes them

  passed to the maturation furnace 8.

  The circuit 21 for controlling the electromagnets 10 for transferring the covers is shown in FIG. 5 and the flow diagram of the corresponding logical operations is

shown in Figure 6.

  The control circuit 21 is supplied with energy by the normal distribution network, for example by a circuit 22 of 220 volts AC. This circuit 22 includes a

  circuit breaker 23, a fuse 24 and a control lamp 37.

  Several control amplifiers 25 and a rectifier 26 delivering a direct current are connected to the terminals of the supply circuit 22, as shown. The rectifier circuit 26 converts the supply current to 220 volts AC direct current to 24 volts, this rectifier representing the power supply source

  electromagnets 10 for transferring the covers.

  The control circuit 21 which was briefly

  described works in the following manner. Each of the amplifi-

  controllers 25 controls one of the electromagnets 10 for sampling

  cover. When the transfer bar 9 is adjacent to the on-line conveyor 5, a first amplifier is supplied with energy so that its detector 12 closes relay contacts 27 which supply energy to the next amplifier 25, as well as contacts 28 which connect the first sampling electromagnet 10 to the 24-volt DC output terminals of the rectifier. The second amplifier 25 is thus energized, when its detector 12 detects the next cover 2 of the line, it closes relay contacts 29 which cause the power supply of the third amplifier 25 as well as

  contacts 30 which supply energy to the second electro-

  magnet 10 for taking a lid. This process continues for each of the successive amplifiers 25 and the corresponding pickup electromagnets. The last amplifier 25 of the line arms a control relay CR1 which causes the closing of a valve 31 for controlling the air motor 14 so as to advance the transfer bar 9 towards its position of release of the covers in which it is located above the conveyor in rows 7. The advance of the transfer bar 9 at this position causes the opening of switches LS2, LS3 and LS4 which cut off the supply of the electromagnets 10, so that

  these release the lids 2, these switches provoke

  as also the opening of the valve 31 for controlling the air motor and the closing of a second valve 32 for controlling the air motor 14, the latter thus returning the transfer bar 9 to its position of

  collection of lids to which it is located

above the online carrier 5.

  The circuit above and its mode of operation

  will be described in more detail in the diagram

  of Figure 5 and the flowchart of Figure 6.

  Starting from the upper left corner of FIG. 6 and referring to the corresponding components of FIG. 5, the sequence is triggered while the transfer bar 9 is in the sampling position above the in-line transporter 5. moment, the limit switch LS1 is closed because it is in contact with the transfer bar 9. The limit switches LS2, LS3 and LS4 are normally closed contacts and remain closed when the transfer bar 9 is at this position. This position of these limit switches causes the supply of the first amplifier 25 and the corresponding detector 12, so that the latter is able to detect the arrival of the first shutter cover 2 on the carrier 7. line 5. When detecting the first cover 2, the contacts 27 of the first amplifier 25 is

  close by causing the power supply of the ampli-

  25 as well as that of the first electromagnet 10 by connecting it to the output of the rectifier 26. A similar circuiting of the amplifiers and an identical power supply of the electromagnets of sampling takes place.

  then produce successively for the number of amplifi-

  used, which corresponds to that of electromagnets

  this number being eleven in the representative

  1. When the control detector 12 of the last amplifier 25 detects a cover 2, it supplies energy to the last withdrawal electromagnet 10 and, the limit switches LS3 and LS4 are closed,

  its contact 29 on the one hand actuates the trigger valve 31

  the advance produced by the pneumatic motor and on the other hand the relay CR1. The transfer bar 9 is then moved by the pneumatic motor 14 and brought to its

  release position of the lids above the transpor-

  in rows 7, position at which the limit switch LS1 is reopened and the limit switches LS2, LS3 and LS4 are open. As a result,

  relay CR2 falls back by cutting power to amplifiers

  25 to release the closure covers 2 of the transfer bar 9, the valve 32 then being placed in the closed position so as to return the transfer bar 9 to the position in which it is above of the online carrier 5 for the next transfer cycle. Electromagnets may experience a low reverse bias when the positive voltage of 24 volts is cut, so as to ensure the quick release of the covers, ie a low negative voltage can

  be sent by the rectifier 26 at the moment of the release

tion.

  The improved lid transfer mechanism according to the invention is advantageous when the lids arrive on a conveyor being placed at random distances from each other, for example on an in-line conveyor, and must be transferred to a second conveyor. on which they are arranged in regular rows. The advanced transfer mechanism and its control circuitry are relatively simple but nevertheless reliable and efficient for continuously performing this task.

transfer of lids.

  It goes without saying that the invention has only been described by way of example and that various modifications can

  to be brought without leaving his domain.

9.

Claims (12)

  1. - Advanced transfer mechanism   objects that can be seized magnetically from a   on another, characterized in that it comprises a movable member (9) for supporting a plurality of electromagnets (10), mounting members (11) and control members (14) for said   support (9) for moving the latter over a path   by passing it from one first conveyor (5) to another (7) and then returning it to the first one, a circuit (21) being intended to supply said electromagnets sequentially with energy in the part of the trajectory of the support member (9) in which it passes from said first carrier (5) on the other (7).   2. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   1, characterized in that said control member consists of a motor (14) operatively connected to said support member of the electromagnets (9) so as to   moving from said first conveyor (5) to the other (7).   3. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   1, for effecting the transfer of objects from a conveyor (5) in a straight line on a conveyor (7) in rows, characterized in that said member (9) for supporting electromagnets is an elongated member wherein said electromagnets (10) are mounted at a distance from each other on a straight line and said circuit (21) is controlled to energize a first electromagnet for grasping a first object that is coming in. , then sequentially energize the other electromagnets after each other so that they   seize sequentially the objects arriving thereafter.   4. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   1, characterized in that said circuit (21) comprises a   switch (CR1) operably connected to said control (14).   5. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   1, characterized in that said circuit (21) comprises a device (CR2) for periodic inversion of the current flowing in said electromagnets (10). 10.   6. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   5, characterized in that the current flow in the direction of demagnetization corresponds to a fraction of the magnetization current.   7. - Advanced transfer mechanism   objects that can be seized magnetically from a   in-line carrier on a row conveyor, characterized in that it comprises an elongated element (9) for supporting a plurality of electromagnets (10) so as to be able to move them, members (11) for mounting said   to allow him to move from a first transpor-   on another (7), a control (14) of the support (9)   on the mentioned path and a circuit (21) comprising   proximity probes (12) for metal objects being intended for   sequentially supplying energy to said electro-   magnets (10) for conveying the objects of said conveyance   in line (5) on said row conveyor (7).   8. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   7, characterized in that said control comprises a motor (14) operatively connected to said support (9) of the electromagnets as well as organs (31) of start-up   said control motor when the last one of said electro-   multiple magnets (10) was energized.   9. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   7, characterized in that said circuit (21) comprises a   switch (CR1) operably connected to said control (14).   10. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   7, characterized in that said circuit (21) comprises elements (CR2) of periodic inversion of the circulation of the   current in said electromagnets (10).   11. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   10, characterized in that the current flow in the demagnetization direction corresponds to a fraction of the magnetization current.   12. - Transfer mechanism according to the claim   9, characterized in that said circuit (21) comprises detectors (12) of proximity of said metal objects in the vicinity of said electromagnets (10) and i1. elements (25) for switching on said detectors of proximity sequentially.