FR2557548A1 - Device for the automatic dispensing of stacked objects - Google Patents

Abstract

Device allowing the dispensing, one by one, onto a conveyor 6, of identical objects 21 brought to the device in the form of stacks, and comprising means of holding a stack of the said objects 21 vertically above outlet means 13 taking the said objects one by one, by the bottom, from the said stack and allowing them to fall by gravity onto the said conveyor 6. According to the invention, this device is characterised in that it comprises a fixed horizontal plate 2 pierced by an opening 7 plumb with the said conveyor 6, a mobile horizontal plate 4 mounted on the said fixed horizontal plate and pierced by at least two openings 8 which can be successively brought opposite the opening 7 of the said fixed horizontal plate 2, controlled means of covering 10, 11 the opening 7 in the said fixed horizontal plate, and a magazine for the intermediate storage of a portion of a stack of the said objects 21 disposed under the said controlled covering means 10, 11 and above the said outlet means 13.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for distributing one by one, on a conveyor, identical objects presented in stacks.

It is known that in many industries, and in particular the food industries, certain parts cannot be dispensed automatically by the usual dispensers, such as vibrating bowl or hopper, for example for reasons of autonomy or fragility.

The subject of the invention is a device for the automatic distribution of objects which are identical to each other, which cannot be distributed by such usual distributors, but which can be superimposed and / or partially fitted together, to form stacks. By way of illustrative, but not limiting example, such objects are for example containers, such as trays, plates,
cups, etc ...

Such objects are therefore supplied to the distribution device in the form of stacks each containing a plurality of said objects, which causes a certain number of difficulties.
Indeed, the automatic distribution of objects one by one by the device must be continuous, while the charm of it by batteries is discontinuous.

To ensure continuity of distribution, it is therefore necessary, on the one hand, that a stack of objects can be supplied to the distribution device before the end of the stack being dispensed and, on the other hand, that the passage from one stack during distribution to the next stack is carried out without discontinuity.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for the automatic distribution of objects,
powered by a series of stacks of objects and delivering
said objects one by one on a transporter.

To this end, according to the invention, the device allowing
to distribute one by one, on a conveyor, objects
identical. brought to said device in the form of batteries
and comprising means for holding vertically
a stack of said objects above escape means
taking one by one, from below, said objects of
said pile to drop them by gravity onto said
carrier, is remarkable in that it includes a
fixed horizontal tray pierced with a plumb opening
said conveyor, a movable horizontal plate mounted
on said fixed horizontal plate pierced with at least
two openings which can be successively brought in
look of the opening of said fixed horizontal plate,
storage tanks integral with said horizon shelf
tal mobile and allowing everyone to keep vertical
lie a pile of said objects plumb with each of the
said openings of said movable horizontal plate,
shutter means controlled from the opening of said pla
fixed horizontal sheet, and an intermediate storage store
diary of part of a stack of said objects arranged
under said shutter means ordered and above
said exhaust means.

Thus, thanks to the invention, at least two stacks of objects
can be simultaneously in the device,
each held vertically in a tank of
storage associated with the mobile horizontal platform.

When none of the openings on the mobi horizontal tray
the test against the opening of the horizontal plate
fixed, said stacks of objects rest on the tray
horizontal fixed by their lower object which is in an opening of the movable horizontal plate. In revan
che, when the movable horizontal plate is moved to bring one of its openings in correspondence with the opening of said fixed horizontal plate, the lower object of the corresponding stack comes to bear on said controlled closure means, the lower objects the other or the other batteries remaining in contact with the fixed horizontal plate, through the corresponding opening of the mobile horizontal plate. By a command when said shutter means are opened, the battery concerned penetrates, under the action of gravity, in said intermediate storage store, until its lower object comes into contact with said exhaust means. Thus, they can distribute one by one the objects of said stack by letting successively escape said objects when they arrive in the lower position. The height of the stack therefore decreases object by object and there comes a time when the upper object of this stack crosses downwards said controlled shutter means, then in the open position, the entire portion of the undistributed battery being located at that moment in said intermediate storage store. It is therefore then possible to order said closed closure means on closing, for example automatically by means of an optoelectronic system detecting the passage of the upper object of the stack, then bring another stack of objects perpendicular to said controlled shutter means, by displacement of said movable plate. As soon as this new stack is in place, said controlled closure means are opened at opening, so that the lower part of this other stack can fall until it comes into contact with the remaining upper part, not yet distributed, from the previous stack of objects.

It can therefore be seen that, thanks to the invention, it is possible to obtain a continuous distribution of said objects, although the supply of the distribution device is done discontinuously, battery by battery.

As soon as the movable platform has been moved to bring a next stack above a previous stack, as has just been explained, the storage tank is recharged with a stack of objects, the objects of which have just be distributed and which is then again closed at its base by said fixed plate.

The movable horizontal tray could have an aligned series of openings and be driven in an alternating movement, to bring each of its openings opposite the opening of the fixed horizontal tray. However, in an advantageous embodiment, said movable horizontal plate is in the form of a rotary plate rotating around a vertical axis and comprising a plurality of identical openings equiangularly distributed. Preferably, each of said storage tanks integral with said movable tray consists of a plurality of vertical rods forming a cage surrounding the stack of objects it contains. At least one of said vertical rods can be provided removable, for example by rotation, to allow loading of said cage in a stack of objects.

Advantageously, at their lower part, said vertical rods of a cage are integral with a pierced plate, fixed to the movable plate by surrounding an opening thereof. In particular when the objects to be distributed do not have symmetry of revolution, different fixing positions are provided for each of said cages relative to the opening of the movable plate with which it is associated, in order to be able to distribute said objects according to angular positions different.

The controlled closure means can be constituted by a hatch of any suitable structure.

In an advantageous embodiment, this hatch is formed by two parallel bars, movable in translation relative to one another in order to be able to approach or move away, for example under the action of two endless belts driven by a reversible motor.

The intermediate storage store is, like the said storage tanks, made up of essentially vertical rods.

However, it is advantageous that the intermediate storage magazine and the exhaust device are combined.

For example, they comprise blocks, each of which carries vertical guide rods and at least one pair of alternative fingers for the distribution of said objects. These blocks, for adjustment purposes, can be slidably mounted on rods themselves slidably mounted parallel to themselves.

In order to be easily accessible, the exhaust device and the intermediate storage magazine can be mounted in a removable drawer, arranged in said fixed tray.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate identical elements.

Figure 1 is a simplified elevational view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in horizontal section of this device, along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section of an object storage tank, along the line III-III of FIG. 4.

Figure 4 is a plan view of an object storage tank.

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section of the closure means controlled from the opening in the fixed plate, along the line V-V of FIGS. 2 and 6.

Figure 6 is a plan view, with partial cutaway of the fixed plate, said controlled shutter means.

Figure 7 shows in simplified perspective said controlled shutter means.

Figure 8 is a partial plan view, partially broken away, of the intermediate storage magazine.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are vertical sections of the intermediate storage store, respectively along lines IX-IX and X-X of FIG. 8.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the operation of the exhaust means for objects.

The device, according to the invention and shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a frame 1 supporting a fixed horizontal plate 2 and various actuators, motors, etc. 3.

On the upper side of the fixed horizontal plate 2 is mounted a rotary horizontal plate 4, which can rotate around a vertical axis Z-Z. To do this, one of the motors 3 can rotate a shaft 5 (see FIG. 2) secured to said horizontal rotary plate 4.

The latter, like the horizontal plate 2, can be circular.

A conveyor 6 is disposed under the fixed horizontal plate 2, which, opposite said conveyor, has an opening 7. Furthermore, the rotary horizontal plate 4 has a plurality of openings 8, regularly distributed and which can be successively brought into coincidence with the opening 7 of the fixed horizontal plate 2, by rotation of said rotary plate 4.

The opening 7 can be closed or, on the contrary, released by a controllable closure device 9, described in more detail below and comprising two parallel bars 10 and 11. This closure device 9 is arranged just under the fixed plate 2 (see Figures 5 and 9). Between the closure device 9 and the conveyor 6 is arranged an intermediate storage magazine 12, associated with an exhaust device 13 and housed in a drawer 14. The drawer 14 is mounted on the frame 1 and can occupy a retracted position , for which the storage magazine 12 and the exhaust device 13 can be operational, and a pulled position (shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2), for which said magazine and said device are accessible, for example in view of 'an adjustment or repair.

On the upper face of the rotary plate 4 are provided storage tanks 15, which are arranged in correspondence with the openings 8 of the plate 4 and some of which are shown only in the form of rectangles in dashed lines, for ease of drawing.

In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the rotary plate 4 carries six regularly distributed storage tanks, these tanks being indicated only by the outline in dashed lines of their base plate 16.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, each storage tank 15 is made up of a plurality of vertical columns 17 linked together by hoops 18 and secured at their base to the base plate 16, at the periphery of an opening 19 thereof. In such a reservoir, at least one vertical column 17 is provided for rotation about a vertical, eccentric axis, by means of articulations 20 so as to be able to introduce laterally a stack of objects 21 (see the dotted position in FIG. 1). . The columns 17 enclose, as a whole, the stack of said objects in order to guide them vertically. Each storage tank 15 can be fixed by its plate 16 on the rotary plate 4, by means of screws 22, according to several different orientation positions. perennials around the vertical axis of the corresponding opening 8.

The opening 19 of the base plate 16 allows objects 21 to pass through it.

Except when the opening 8 of the rotary plate 4 is opposite the opening 7 of the fixed plate 2, the base of each stack of objects 21 contained in a tank 15 is supported on the upper face of said fixed plate 2 while crossing the openings 8 and 19 opposite. In addition, when the rotary plate 4 rotates, the base of the stacks of objects 21 can slide on the fixed plate 2. A load cell 23 can be provided to exert vertical pressure on each of said stacks.

The opening 7 of the fixed plate 2 can be blocked by the parallel bars 10 and 11, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6.

The controllable closure device 9 to which the said bars 10 and 11 appear appears is housed just under the fixed plate 2 and above the drawer 14. It will be noted that, in FIG. 6, for purposes of illustration, for clarity of design, the contents of said drawer, that is to say the intermediate storage magazine 12 and the exhaust device 13.

In addition to the bars 10 and 11, the closure device 9 comprises two endless belts 24 and 25, forming two identical and parallel endless loops (see also FIG. 7). The belts 24 and 25 pass over end pulleys 26 to 29, two of which, namely the pulleys 26 and 28 each corresponding to one of said loops, are mounted on a common drive shaft 30, itself capable of be driven in rotation, in both directions, by a drive 31.

The bars 10 and 11 are orthogonal to the belts 24 and 25 and the ends of the bar 10 are fixed to the upper strands of the belts 24 and 25, while the ends of the bar 11 are fixed to the lower strands of said belts.

Thus, for a direction of rotation of the shaft 30 the two bars 10 and 11 approach each other, while for the opposite direction of rotation they deviate from one another. As a result, the two bars 10 and 11 can alternately take a close position (shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6), for which they prohibit an object 21 to pass vertically and a separated position (not shown), for which they let an object 21 pass through the opening 7.

The ends of the bars 10 and 11 may have extensions 32 capable of bearing on support strips 33, orthogonal to said bars.

Under the device 9 for closing the opening 7, there is the drawer 14 containing the intermediate storage magazine 12 and the exhaust device 13. The intermediate storage magazine is essentially formed by a plurality of vertical columns 34, constituting a vertical guide duct for objects 21.

The exhaust device 13 essentially consists of a plurality of pairs of alternating fingers 35, 36, arranged at the lower part of the vertical guide duct formed by the vertical columns 34.

In the advantageous embodiment shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the elements of the magazine 12 and the exhaust device 13 are strongly nested.

In this embodiment, a plurality of blocks 37 are provided, each of which carries at least one pair of fingers 35, 36 and vertical columns 34. Each block 37 can slide and be fixed in position on a guide and support rod 38, as well as on a motor shaft 39 enabling the alternating fingers 35, 36 to be actuated.

Furthermore, the rods 38 and the drive shafts 39 can be made to slide, in pairs, relative to the walls of the drawer 14, by means of sliding bearings 40.

Finally, from a single drive 41, it is possible to drive all the drive shafts 39, by virtue of sliding angle references 42.

It can be seen that this device is particularly advantageous, since it easily makes it possible to adapt the magazine 12 and the exhaust device 13 to the contours of different objects 21.

For this maneuver, the inside of the drawer 14 is made accessible by opening the latter.

Of course, the sliding bearings 40 can be fixed in position on the walls of the drawer 14, for example by screws 43. In FIG. 8, the different possible movements of the blocks37 have been indicated by arrows F relative to the rods 38 and to the shafts 39, as well as those of the sliding bearings 40 relative to the walls of the drawer 14.

Each of the fingers 35 and 36 of a pair of fingers can pivot with an alternating movement of limited amplitude around an axis 44, under the action of cams 45 and 46 respectively.

Cams 45 and 46 are in phase opposition. In addition, each finger 35 and 36 carries a lug 47 or 48, respectively, capable of serving as a support for the peripheral edge of an object 21. In a pair of cooperating fingers 35 and 36, the lug 47 of finger 35 and the lug 48 of the finger 36 are offset in height and this offset corresponds to the distance d vertically separating the edge of two consecutive objects 21 of the stack.

The cams 45 and 46 of a pair of fingers 35 and 36 may consist of two identical discs, wedged on the corresponding shaft 39 and carrying flats 49 and 50 diametrically opposite.

Figures 11 and 12 explain the operation of the exhaust device 13. When the fingers 35 and 36 are in contact with the identical circular part 51 of the cams 45 and 46, the two fingers 35 and 36 are pushed towards the objects. 21 and the upper lug 48 of the finger 36 supports the edge of the upper object 21 of the stack. As soon as the dish 49 of the cam 46 replaces the circular part 51, the finger 36 rocks in the opposite direction to the stack of objects 21, so that the lower object 21 of the stack falls to the lug 47 of finger 35. Next, finger 36 is again pushed towards objects 21 by the circular part 51 of the cams and its lug 48 comes to bear under the edge of the penultimate object 21. Finally, finger 35 is retracted under the action of the plate 50 of the cam 45, so that the lug 47 emerges from the edge of the last object 21.

Of course, the different pairs of fingers 35, 36 distributed around the stack of objects 21 are synchronized, so that it is easily understood that they let one by one escape said objects 21 from the stack, so that they may fall on the conveyor 6.

Thus, according to the invention, by controlling the rotation of the rotary plate 4, it is possible to bring a storage tank 15, that is to say a stack of objects 21, opposite the opening 7 of the fixed plate 2. During the rotation of the plate 4 relative to the fixed plate 2, the lower object 21 of the stack slides on said fixed plate 2.

When it comes opposite the opening 7, it is supported, as well as the said stack, by the bars 10 and 11 in the close position.

As soon as said bars 10 and 11 are commanded to move apart, the stack of objects 21, as a whole, enters the drawer 14, until the lower object 21 is supported on the lugs 48 of the fingers 36 (figure 11).

At this instant, the lower part of the stack is in the drawer 14, while the upper part of the latter is still in the storage tank 15.

The fingers 35, 36 being actuated in the indicated manner, the objects 21 are distributed one by one to a secondary conveyor 6 through the bottom of the stack and the upper part of the latter is lowered into said storage tank 15.

When the highest object 21 passes through the opening 7 through the fixed plate 2, it is detected by detector 52, 53, for example a light barrier (see FIG. 6).

The detector 52, 53 then controls the device 9 so that the bars 10 and 11 take their close position and, as soon as this is done, the plate 4 rotates to bring another storage tank 15 directly above the opening 7 of the fixed plate 2. The bars 10 and 11 move apart again and the new stack of objects 21 falls until joining the rest of the next stack.

It will thus be noted that, thanks to the invention, it is possible to distribute the objects 21 continuously, without interruption between two consecutive stacks. When a storage tank 15 is empty, it is easy for an operator to reload it with a new stack of objects 21, so that there is always a storage tank 15 loaded, ready to start plumb with the opening 7 of the fixed platform 2.

In the case where the stacked objects 21 tend to get stuck, it would be possible to provide additional systems of claws, helping to detach. Such claws could be moved by electromagnets integral with the blocks 37, so that they can be adjusted at the same time. One or two of these claws can be arranged on each block 37.

Claims (10)

1 - Device for distributing one by one, on a conveyor (6), identical objects (21) brought to the device in the form of stacks, and comprising means for vertically holding a stack of said objects (21) above exhaust means (13) taking one by one, from the bottom, said objects from said stack to drop them by gravity on said conveyor (6), characterized in that it comprises a fixed horizontal plate (2) pierced an opening (7) directly above said conveyor (6), a movable horizontal plate (4) mounted on said fixed horizontal plate (2) and pierced with at least two openings (8) which can be successively brought opposite the opening (7) of said fixed horizontal plate (2), storage tanks (15) integral with said movable horizontal plate (2) and each making it possible to vertically hold a stack of said objects (21) directly above each of said openings (8) of said movable horizontal plate (4), sealing means com mandes (10, 11) of the opening (7) of said fixed horizontal plate (2), and an intermediate storage magazine (12) of a part of a stack of said objects (21) disposed under said sealing means controlled (10, 11) and above said exhaust means (13). 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (52, 53) for detecting the passage downwards of the controlled shutter means (10, 11), of the upper object (21) of a stack being distributed. 3 - Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable horizontal plate has an aligned series of openings and is driven by an alternating movement. 4 - Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable horizontal plate is in the form of a rotary plate 4, rotating around a vertical axis ZZ and having a plurality of openings (8 ) identical and equiangularly distributed. 5 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each of said storage tanks (15) integral with said movable plate (4) is constituted by a plurality of vertical rods (17) forming a cage surrounding the stack of objects it contains. 6 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each storage tank (15) can be fixed to said movable plate (4) in a plurality of orientations around the vertical axis of the opening (8) corresponding to said movable plate (4). 7 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said sealing means (9) of the opening (7) of the fixed plate (2) comprises two parallel bars (10, 11), mobile in translation to be able to approach or move away from one another. 8 - Device according to any one of claims  1 to 7, characterized in that the intermediate storage magazine (12) and the exhaust device (13) are arranged in a removable drawer. 9 - Device according to any one of claims  1 to 8, characterized in that said intermediate storage magazine (12) and said exhaust device (13) comprise several blocks (37) each of which carries rods (34) for vertical guidance of said objects and at least a pair of alternating fingers (35, 36) for the one-to-one distribution of said objects (21). 10 - Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said blocks (37) are slidably mounted on support rods (38), themselves slidably mounted parallel to themselves.