FR2508423A1 - DEVICE FOR THE HANDLING OF BOXES, IN PARTICULAR CANNED BOXES - Google Patents

Abstract

DEVICE FOR THE HANDLING OF BOXES, WHICH INCLUDES A CONVEYOR WITH ROWS 24 ELEMENTS DELIMING CHANNELS IN WHICH THE BOXES SLIDE UNDER THE ACTION OF PIN 23, CARRIED BY CIRCULAR MOVEMENT CHAIN 29 AND 29A, projecting in the channels, FLEXIBLE DEVIATION ELEMENTS SUPPORTED BY GATES 31, 32 AND 38, MOUNTED ON THE CHANNELS IN ORDER TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE BOXES CIRCULATING IN THE LATTER, SO THAT A BOX THAT IS MOVED ALONG A CANAL IN AN ORIENTATION , THROUGH A DETERMINED PIN 23, CAN BE SUPPORTED BY A DEVIATION ELEMENT WHICH ROTATES THIS BOX AROUND PIN 23 IN ORDER TO TAKE IT IN A DESIRED, DIFFERENT ORIENTATION. APPLICATION TO THE HANDLING OF TIN CANS, INTENDED IN PARTICULAR FOR THE FOOD INDUSTRY.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for manipulating

  containers, and more particularly cans This invention

  It is more specifically related to a container handling device designed to obtain a predetermined order of storage of these containers. Such storage is necessary during implementation.

  handling operations of containers, and in particular boxes of con-

  when they come from processing stations where they are

  handled in bulk, particularly during sealing or sealing operations.

  tion, cooking or sterilization, and when these boxes are brought to a station where the treatment must be carried out individually on each box, or on a specified number of boxes, at a given time, for example a labeling operation or Packaging This ordering / ordering operation of the boxes is intended to transform a predetermined mass of boxes (loose bulk boxes) into a line or a box.

  several rows of boxes, all with the same orientation (boxes

  according to a predetermined order).

  A number of embodiments of devices are known

  making it possible to carry out this ordering. One of these devices is

  by the American firm "Dudley Machinery Company", California This device comprises a number of parallel belts inclined laterally On the lower side of each inclined belt is fixed a-rail fixed against which can slide the boots On each rail are fixed a number of stops in the form of springs

  or studs Each stop prevents a casing, having a specific orientation

  particularly inappropriate, to move, until it changes its orientation as a result of the movement of the belt, combined with the effect of friction of the stopper One of the requirements of such a device is that all orientations

  possible of a box must be able to be identified by the device, from

  It is therefore necessary to determine whether or not a reorientation of a particular box is necessary. Therefore, with large boxes, i.e. boxes whose height / diameter ratio is substantially greater than unity, it is It is relatively easy for such a machine to distinguish the different possible orientations of the cans. However, the ability to identify the different orientations becomes a very important problem with the so-called "squat" cans (that is to say cans whose ratio height / diameter is substantially equal to one unit) Finally, the so-called "flat" boxes (that is to say whose ratio height / diameter is less than 1) are generally set

  in order by devices specially designed for their handling.

  Another embodiment of a device for ordering boxes is that sold by the American firm "Fox Brothers Manufacturing, Inc.", Ohio, which comprises a helical rotary conveyor system arranged side by side with a conveyor belt. system

  helical conveyor orients a box by placing it in the vertical

  Mechanical stops are provided at the end of the helicopter carrier

  dal, so that a box can be brought back to the entrance of the device

  if it is not in the desired orientation.

  In a number of other known machines, parallel conveyor belts are used which are separated from each other by narrow rubber conveyor rails moving faster than the belts. These rails are provided with projections which provide the orientation of the boxes. on conveyor belts An example of such a machine

  is sold by the American firm "The Shuttleworth Company", Indiana.

  Most of the machines mentioned above have, at one

  stage of the box ordering process, some of the characteristics of

  ticks that can damage boxes At present, boxes, and especially cans, are made from very thin materials that are susceptible to damage. including shocks, which

  indentations altering the appearance of the boxes, and damaging

  box seals, which may affect the filling of

of these boxes.

  In general, it is considered that the so-called "squat" boxes are those which are the most difficult to put in order Until now, the ordering of these boxes generally requires a particular attention and constant of the operator, for the ordering process to take place

smoothly.

  The present invention proposes, in a general way, to provide

  a box handling device, including boxes of

  serves to achieve a predetermined ordering of the boxes, much more efficiently than it was possible to achieve with the

  previously used devices.

  A more specific object of the present invention is a box handling device allowing implementation with a reduced risk of damage to the boxes, compared with prior devices, this device being easily adaptable to the handling of boxes having

  large variations in size, and requiring only a minimum of

  monitoring and control by the operator.

  It is known that, during handling operations of boxes intended for the food industry, the hygiene conditions are of great importance. Another object of the invention is thus to provide a device for

  box handling that can be easily made to facilitate

  can not be cleaned, and on the other hand does not have any structural features that could constitute areas

bacteria.

  No. 2,937,738 describes an embodiment of a device for orienting empty boxes before they are delivered to a filling device in the device that is the subject of this patent.

  In the United States, empty cans are delivered to a strong conveyor belt.

  inclined Magnetic means are provided to maintain the boxes

  when in contact with the conveyor belt, so that they can move

  upward along the steep slope of the conveyor belt.

  U.S. Patent No. 3,690,437 discloses a device whose purpose is

  essential is the handling of bottles, which includes a

  The cylinders of the individual bottles are brought into a rectified position. To supply the bottles to the straightening system, these bottles are driven by a carrier which comprises drive elements engaging with the bottles.

  to move them along a plurality of channels, to the device for

training -

  According to the present invention, a device for handling boxes comprises at least one conveyor, which comprises a plurality of channels or lines, designed to receive slip-slip boxes, and a circular transport system comprising elements protrusion, including pins, protruding into the channels to engage with boxes delivered to the input end of the conveyor, and to move them along said channels, and means for

  come into contact with the boxes as they move along the

  The boxes, delivered to the carrier randomly, are unloaded at the exit end of the conveyor according to the desired orientations.

  The channels or lines are preferably constituted using

  in the form of mutually inclined plates extending longitudinally

  on the conveyor, and which cooperate to delimit channels having a V-shaped cross-section. Alternatively, the V-shaped channels may be made from rod-shaped elements having

  a circular straight section or any other shape.

  When the boxes are delivered randomly at the end

  entry of a carrier, as mentioned above, the individual boxes

  Two of them are supported by the projecting elements, in order to bring them along the channels, into a single line. Some boxes, brought into the channels, may already be in the desired orientation. For example,

  some "big" boxes will be oriented so that their long axes

  Tudinals are aligned in the direction of movement of the boxes along the conveyor The orientation of other boxes may be modified as they move along the conveyor, as a result of the effects of friction, as the boxes slide relative to the surface This effect can be reinforced by tilting the conveyor upwards, from its inlet end to its outlet end. For this purpose, it is possible to provide deflection means for engaging the boxes. these means being advantageously mounted on the output end

  elevated carrier to bring the boxes into the desired orientation.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention reside

  will come out of the description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings,

  illustrating an example of achievement that is of no

  In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device according to the invention; FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views along II-II, III-III and IV-IV of FIG. on an enlarged scale; and,

  Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate details of the device according to the invention.

  vention. Referring first to Figure 1, which represents, in 1, a

  feed conveyor (which is not part of the device which is the subject of the

  vention), which delivers dispersed mass cans, from a sterilization unit (not shown), to the ordering device according to the desired orientation object of the invention This device comprises a primary conveyor 2, which performs a first step of putting in order

  during which the boxes are arranged in rows, and a second transpor-

  3, or secondary carrier, which completes the orientation by aligning

  the boxes in the different lines or rows The food conveyor

  1 and the front end of the primary conveyor 2 are immersed in a water tank, or in a channel 4 The feed conveyor 1 is

  designed to deliver the boxes to the primary conveyor 2, preferably

  the thickness of which is that of a single box.

  carriers 2 and 3 are driven at different speeds.

  Treating 7 operates directly the secondary carrier 3, through

  transmission of a chain transmission 8 For its part, the primary carrier

  Mayor 2 is entra 1 fie by the secondary conveyor 3, through a chain mechanism and reduction gears 8 a plate 9 is an inclined plane whose role is to guide the boxes under water, since the

  feed conveyor 1 to the primary conveyor 2.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the conveyors 2 and 3 comprise four parallel and spaced parallel guide lines 21, along which the boxes can move.

  two elongated lateral elements 24, and three intermediate elements

  The elements 24 and 24a are supported by support gantries Z 6, from which said elements are held and suspended by rods 25. The elements 24 and 24a are juxtaposed. so as to form four slots 27, which extend over the entire length of the device The gantries 26, as well as the other

  elements that constitute the device are supported by frames 5 and 6.

  Each of the elements 24 and 24 extends over the entire length of the

  The lateral elements 24, as well as the intermediate element 24a,

  the shape is visible when viewed in lateral elevation, this form being clearly visible in FIG. 1, where one of the lateral elements 24 is clearly visible. The element 24 is mounted in such a way as to have an associated upstream section 12 to carrier 2, which rises to a high point 14 This section is followed by a descending section 10, then

  of an ascending section 13, associated with the transporter 3, and finally, of a sec-

top-down final 11.

  Regularly spaced pins 23 protrude through each slot 27, delimited by the elements 24 and 24a, and in each line 21 As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the pins are arranged in rows of four, the pins of each row being supported by an element 28, which preferably is in the form of a square section tube Each end of each of the tubes 28 is mounted on an endless chain 29, which is driven by a mechanism As already mentioned above, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, elements 24 and 24a are suspended using gantries 26. the pins 23 protrude into the rows or rows 21 can be modified by varying the height of the gantries 26 using

  wing nuts 22 (butterfly nuts).

  Instead of being adjustably suspended, the elements 24 and 24a could be mounted fixedly from the bottom of the device, which would eliminate the portals 26 However, it would then be necessary to mount the chains 29 so that these can be adjusted up and down to change the distance

  the pins 23 protrude through the slots 27.

  When the boxes are delivered by the supply conveyor 1 to the conveyor 2, they are driven by the pins 23 The plate 9

  consists of a flat metal plate, which is shaped so as to

  see coming into contact with the lines or rows 21 of the carrier 2 Des

  slots are made in the sheet, so that the pins 23 can not-

  without any problem, the essential role of plate 9 is to provide guidance

  boxes that are unloaded from the end of the feed conveyor

  to deposit on carrier 2, and to prevent such

  boxes to fall into the water tank 4.

  The boxes that are delivered to the lines 21 of the conveyor 2 are brought by the pins 23 to slide upwards, along the lines or rows, towards the high point 14 The elements 24 and 24a, which constitute the

  lines 21, have a shape such that there is a smooth transition (ie

  ie without continuity) from transporter Z to the descending section

  10, from section 10 to transporter 3, and finally from transporter 3

  to the final descending section 11.

  Other gantries 31 and 32 are mounted at locations corresponding to the high points 14, 15, these gantries being represented

  in Figure 1, so as not to complicate the drawing Cepen-

  In Figure 3, we clearly see the details of the construction of the

  31, it being understood that the gantry 3 Z is of similar construction.

  Each gantry 31, 32 supports eight flexible elements constituted

  by spiral springs 33 which are suspended from the gantry, from

  that two of these springs are associated with each line or row 21.

  The height of the gantries 31 and 32 above the lines 21 can be adjusted

  By the way, these butterfly nuts

  allow a limited adjustment of the positions of the frames 31, 32, to

  backwards and forwards, relative to the high points 14, 15 Each

  fate 33 is mounted on the gantry 31 by means of a threaded rod 34 which is engaged in an elongated hole provided in the gantry (this hole is not

  visible in the drawing) The threaded rod 34 is held in place by means of

  35, these nuts also making it possible to modify and reset

  In the same way, when the nuts 35 are unscrewed, the elongated mounting hole makes it possible to adjust the position of the threaded rod 34 and that of the spring 33, from one side to the other of the gantry (lateral positioning adjustment), as can be seen in Figure 3, which allows to adjust laterally the position of the spring 33 by

  relative to the associated row or row 21.

  Two additional portals 38 are expected to be associated with the transpor-

  In FIG. 4, the spring stops 37 are of similar design to the springs 33 shown in FIG. 3; however, the gantries 38 each comprise only a spring stop 37, associated with each line or row 21, and the spring stops 37 are mounted obliquely, as shown in this FIG. 4 The spring stops of the respective gantries 38 are inclined in opposition to each other We will explain below the role of the springs

  which are supported by frames 31, 32 and 38.

  When the boxes went through the device all the way through

  the latter, as shown in Figure 1, they are unloaded at

  As can be seen in this Figure 1, this section is constituted by an extension of the elements of lines or rows 24, 24a. In certain circumstances, it may be necessary to provide a modified embodiment of this end section, which, if necessary, can be engaged in the end section 11, at the location indicated by the dashed line lla. The use of this modified embodiment of the final section is necessary, particular when the machine is to be used for the handling of

  boxes when this machine is used for handling

  large boxes, a standard terminal section II is used.

  We will describe now-an operation of ordering boxes of the

type "stocky".

  The boxes from the sterilization unit are brought in bulk (that is to say in disorder) from the feeding conveyor 1 to the primary conveyor 2. The transfer from the conveyor 1 to the conveyor 2 takes place in the the water, which makes it possible to obtain damping of the boxes, resulting in elimination of shocks. Given the V-shape of the lines or rows 21, the boxes are positioned in the rectified state in one of the four lines or rows of the primary carrier 2 The boxes move forward

  then in four rows, moving along the primary carrier

  mayor 2, upwards, under the action of the pins 23 The length of the pins

  23 of conveyor 2 must be greater than that of pins 23 of the transpor-

  3 because it is necessary to move the boxes through the water and into the air, and taking into account the probability that exists.

  to see more than one box present next to each pin.

  The boxes rise along the primary conveyor 2, towards the high point 14 Some of these boxes are already correctly oriented, at this stage of the process flow, and they simply traverse, continuously, all

  The desired orientation of the squat boxes corresponds to a posi-

  for which the base of each box is located on either side of the V-shaped row 21 An unwanted orientation of the boxes corresponds to a position for which the base of a sturdy box overlaps the two sides of a line or row 21 in the shape of a V, the axis of

9 2508423

  the box being parallel to the longitudinal axis of line 21

  an unwanted orientation has a larger contact area

  aunt between the box and the elements defining the line 21 in which it is engaged, which results in a greater friction between the box and this line 21 If there is a slightly greater friction on a

  side of line 21 than on the other, the box will then be assisted by a rotation

  This slight rotation will sometimes be sufficient to

  that pin 23 modifies the orientation of the box, by communicating to it the direction

  However, if a box with a non-desir-

  tive, reaches the high point 14 without having been put back in the correct position, it

  will have a higher vertical profile than a box with a definite orientation

  The springs 33, supported by the frame 31, can be adjusted to prevent a box with an unwanted orientation from passing,

  while leaving any box that has the desired orientation

  that a badly oriented box comes into contact with a spring 33, the spring makes

  turn the box and bring it back to pin 23, which pushes back the box

  then comes to rest next to the next pin, or, if another box

  is next to this pin, it moves it to the next pin.

  It can be seen that the height of the pins protruding from the lines or rails

  21 is critical, as regards the operation of the device The height of these pins must be sufficient to move the boxes, but

  However, it must be weak enough to allow the boxes of

  be on top, in case of obstruction.

  When the boxes moved by the pins 23 of the conveyor 2 reach the high point 14, they descend slowly while driving along

  section 10, and they are driven by the pins 23 of the conveyor 3.

  The arrangement of the springs 33, supported by the gantry 31 at the high point 14, at the point where the pins 23 of the conveyor 2 reach the end of the upper strand of the conveyor 2 and start their return movement, is particularly effective for ensure that the boxes with the wrong orientation are brought back in the desired orientation However, any box that passes the high point 14 while still being misguided will be supported by the springs carried by the gantries 38 and 32, associated with the

carrier 2.

  The secondary transporter 3 moves faster than the trans-

  primary carrier 2, which makes it possible to obtain a spacing of the boxes

section 10.

  After passage to the high point 15 of the conveyor 3, the boxes are correctly oriented in the rows or rows 21, the base of each boot resting on one of the two sides of the line or row 21 in the shape of a V. has already mentioned, when handling boxes called "squat", there is a modified final section, which is placed as indicated by the outline in phantom lla If we refer to Figure 5, we see that this section modified final lla is in the form of three trough elements, each of which is an extension of one of the rows 21. Figure 5 is a view taken from the right side of Figure 1, and shows this section Ila in position This section 11a is made by forming a single metal sheet, so as to give it the appearance shown in Figure 5, that is to say in order to stamp it to save the four trough elements 51 These elements 51 are in f V-shape at one end, so that this shape corresponds to that of the rows or rows 21, formed by the elements 24 and 24 a Therefore, each trough-shaped element 51 is an extension without solution

  continuity, that is to say smoothly, of the line or row correspon-

  Each element 21 then flares outwardly, so as to form a trough having a flat bottom 52 and sidewalls slightly.

inclined 53 and 54.

  When a stout boot passes the high point 15 of the secondary conveyor

  3, it rolls down along the corresponding line 21, its cylindrical surface being in rolling contact with one or other of the faces of the line or row 21. When the box enters the flared portion of the corresponding trough element 51, it slides into a position

  for which its cylindrical surface comes into contact with the flat bottom 52 of the

  51, she then rolls down, along this element, to be

  finally discharged and evacuated.

  We will now describe how the ordering of large boots is carried out With such boots, the desired and unwanted orientations are reversed with respect to the desired and unwanted orientations of the so-called "stocky" boots. The large boots are in their stable position when the base of the box overlaps both sides of the line or row shaped

  of V 21, that is to say when the axis of the box is parallel to the longitudinal axis

  Line 21 There are three ways to correct the orientation of large boxes where large boxes, when in an unwanted position (vertical orientation), are unstable, and therefore tend to return to the desired position

  when transferred from the primary carrier 2 to the

  Secondary 3, large boxes tend to slide down,

  along section 10 "head first", which ensures their

  tation according to a desired position; 3 the springs 33, positioned at the high points 14 and 15, strike

  the boxes that are in-the unwanted position, in order to straighten them.

  The boxes are discharged from the device via the

terminal descending section 11.

  It can sometimes happen that, if two large boxes, located

  between two successive pins, such that one is correctly

  In the corresponding channel 21, this prevents the second gearbox in the correct alignment. In order to overcome this disadvantage, trigger elements 61 are provided in channels 21 of the end section 11. One of these elements Trigger 61 has been shown in detail in FIG. 7 As can be seen in this Figure, this element 61 is held in place in the channel 21 via

  threaded rod 62 and a nut 63.

  a curved surface 64 which permits the unobstructed passage of any box having a correct orientation. However, when a box in an incorrect (vertical) position encounters the element 61, the box

  toggles back to the correct alignment in channel 21.

  Similar triggering elements can also be provided

  in association with the descending middle section 10.

  The device according to the present invention can be easily made to have a greater number of rows or rows than that provided in some of the known machines mentioned in the present invention.

  For this reason, the machine may

  operating at a lower operating speed, in each row, than that of known machines, without reducing the throughput and the total efficiency of the machine by supply to known machines Thanks to this reduction in

  handling speed, one can get a softer handling of boxes.

  It is possible to obtain an economical operation of the device described above.

  above with an output flow rate, for each line or row, ranging from 100 boxes per minute, which is to be compared to the flow rate of 150 boxes per minute, per line, obtained in some ordering devices according to the

prior art.

  Therefore, with an output rate of up to 100 boxes per minute per line, the four-line device described above

  allows handling up to 400 boxes per minute.

  In the device described above, the lines are relatively narrow with respect to those of the known devices. Therefore, for a width total determined

  of the device, substantially more lines can be obtained than with the

  previous years, which makes it possible to adopt a speed of movement of the boxes

weaker.

  To handle boxes of different dimensions, up to a predetermined maximum box diameter, simply engage in simple

  adjustments on the machine according to the invention For the handling of boxes pre-

  if the diameter is greater than this maximum value, it suffices to replace the elements of existing lines or rows with the elements delimiting

  V-shaped channels of larger dimensions.

  In order to facilitate a gentle handling of the boxes, the pins

  may be provided with plastic or rubber coverings.

  Although the initial feeding of cans in water, as described above,

  above, helps to obtain a mild treatment of these boxes, an initial supply made in the air can also be implemented so

safe.

  Note that the construction of the device in open mode allows

  to keep it constantly clean and free from outbreaks of development.

bacteria.

  It remains understood that the present invention is not limited to the various embodiments described and shown here, but that it

encompasses all variants.

Claims (7)

  Apparatus for handling similar boxes and containers, which comprises at least one conveyor having a plurality of fixed channels for receiving slip-slip boxes therein, and a circular displacing member having protruding members therein channels to come into engagement with the boxes that are delivered to   end of the conveyor, in order to move these boxes along the   said channels being characterized in that it comprises flexible deflection elements (33, 37) which are mounted on the channels (21) in order to engage with boxes moving along the channels under the action of the projecting elements (23), such that a box which is moved along a channel (21), in a certain orientation, via   protruding element (23) can engage a deflection element   tion (33, 37), so that this box is rotated about said   protruding element, to be brought into a different desired orientation.   2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the deflection elements (33, 37) are made in the form of springs in   which are suspended from porticoes (31, 32, 38), mounted above the channels.   3 Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in   that the channels (21) are continuous throughout the device, and in that two circular displacement elements (29, 29 a) are provided, each of these elements extending over a portion of the length of the channels so as to form two conveyors (2, 3), the output end (14) of the conveyor   (2) being raised above the entrance end of the transpor-   secondary motor (3) so that boxes, unloaded from the carrier   (2) slide down the channels (21) towards the secondary generator (3).   4 Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the circular displacement elements (29, 29 a) of the two conveyors (2, 3)   are driven at different speeds.   Device according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in   the flexible deflection elements (33) are mounted at the end of   raised outlet (14) of the at least one primary conveyor (2).   Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the flexible deflection elements (33, 37) are provided at each position of a   plurality of positions (32, 33) spaced apart from one another over the entire length of time   the secondary carrier (3).   7 Device according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in   the flexible deflection members (33) are mounted in a row that includes a pair of laterally spaced members (33) associated with each channel (21).   8 Device according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in   the flexible deflection members (37) are mounted in a row   which comprises a single element (37) associated with each channel (21) and extends   obliquely, transversely to the width of the canal.