FR2629046A1 - MACHINE FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING ARTICLES LAYED IN LAYERS - Google Patents

Abstract

The articles (2), brought into the upright position by a conveyor (1), arrive on an accumulation table (4) where they are divided into parallel corridors in order to form rows of articles at the ends of these corridors. A vertically displaceable mobile apron (15) permits a row of articles (2) to be raised to a certain height (H) above the accumulation table (4). A gripping assembly (34) is provided in order to grasp simultaneously a row of articles (2) thus brought to the height (H) above the table (4), another row of articles (2) being maintained at the level of this table (4), in order to lay these articles down and deposit them in a container (3). Application: Loading and unloading of bottles (2) forming interleaved "half-layers".

Description

FRENCH REPUBLIC Publication No .: 2 629 046 use only for

  INSTITUTE NATIONAL Reproduction Orders)

OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY.O

  OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY National Registration Number 88 04553 PARIS

At Int Cl4: B 65 B 21/08, 21/06.

@ 0 APPLICATION FOR PATENT OF INVENTION A1

  ) Date of filing: March 25, 1988.) Applicant (s): Public limited company known as: Etablissements STONE and Société à responsabilité limitée known as: SOCIETE

  Priority: STUDY AND MECHANICAL MODELING SE.M.M -

EN.

  (Inventor (s): Robert Garnier, André Bouttaz.

  _ Date of the public availability of the

  application: BOPI "Patents" No. 39 of 29 September 1989.

  _ References to other national documents appearing

(Holder (s):

  (Agent (s): Cabinet Germain and Maureau.

  Machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers.

  The articles 2, brought into a standing position by a conveyor 1, reach an accumulation table 4 where they are distributed in parallel corridors to form rows of articles at the ends of these corridors. An apron

  movable 15, movable vertically, allows to raise a rim

  2 at a certain height H above the table.

  4. A gripping assembly 34 is provided,

  to simultaneously enter a row of articles 2 thus brought .:.

  = at the height H above the table 4 and another row of articles 2 maintained at this table 4, for bed

  these items and to place them in a container 3.

  I Application: loading and unloading bottles 2

  forming interleaved "half-layers".

  O from ILL. The sale of the fascicles to the NATIONAL PRINTER, 27. rue de la Convention - 75732 PARIS CEDEX 15 I "Machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers" The present invention relates to a machine for loading and unloading articles. arranged in layers. More particularly, this invention relates to a so-called "emboxeuse-déboxeuse" machine, used for loading bottles lying supine in containers or cratesi and for unloading bottles thus stored. In bottling facilities, initially standing bottles are seized by such machines, to be laid in a lying position in containers or crates, where they form a number of superposed layers and nested. In each layer, the bottles are usually arranged in two groups of bottles or "half-layers", having opposite directions. It is therefore necessary to form lines of bottles, to lay down these bottles and to nest the half-layers of bottles to form complete layers. All of these functions can be carried out according to various methods: In a known machine, the bottles are brought into standing position on two lines situated at the same level. The bottles thus reach a sleeping table, or they are lying horizontally forming two parallel rows. A gripper with a rotating arm then simultaneously grasps the two rows of bottles, forming a

  half-layer, to deposit them in the container or in the crate.

  The operating speed of such a machine is limited by the need to bring the bottles one behind the other on two lines, and to wait for the accumulation of a number of bottles at the end of these lines before to proceed to the coating of the bottles. In addition, the presence of the sleeping table complicates the machine and increases it.

  Another known machine does not have a sleeping table.

  In this machine, the bottles are brought upright on two lines located at different levels, and superimposed. We thus form two rows of bottles located one above the other, in the same vertical plane. A robot with a manipulator arm then grasps the two rows of bottles and deposits them in the container or in the box while laying them horizontally. The yield of this machine is also limited by the need to accumulate a number of bottles one behind the other on two lines, before being able to collect them. Moreover, the implementation of such a machine complicates the installations,

  imposing a supply of bottles on two distinct levels.

  The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the current machines for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers, by providing a new machine whose output is no longer dependent on the accumulation of bottles or other similar items at the end of lines in which the formation of the semi-layers is

  ensured by a simple and fast technical solution.

  For this purpose, in the machine according to the invention for the loading and unloading of articles arranged in layers, means are provided for feeding the articles onto an accumulation table according to a plurality of parallel corridors of the same number as the articles of a row to be formed, so that the articles reached at the ends of these lanes form a row, and lifting means are provided towards the ends of said lanes to move such a row to a certain height above the accumulation table, gripping means being adapted to simultaneously seize a row of articles thus brought to a certain height above the accumulation table, and another row of articles held at the table of this table; accumulation, to fold these rows of articles and to deposit them in a container or in a box. It will be understood that, in this machine, the bottles or other articles all arrive in a standing position on one and the same plane, and that the machine itself ensures, by means of its lifting means, the vertical offset of certain rows of bottles constituting the prefiguration of the half-layers of bottles. The machine object of the invention also has the advantage of eliminating any accumulation of bottles brought in line to form rows of bottles, since the bottles arrive on an accumulation table along several parallel corridors, the rows being formed at the ends of these corridors transversely to the direction of arrival of the bottles. This mode of feeding and formation of rows makes it possible to accelerate the rate of operation of the machine, while avoiding shocks between the bottles and allowing a continuous and loose arrival of the bottles. In addition, the implementation of the machine in an existing facility or create is facilitated: the accumulation table may be arranged perpendicularly to a bottle supply conveyor in standing position. In a manner known per se, the accumulation table comprises endless pallet conveyor chains on which the articles are brought, are distributed in the different corridors and are driven towards the ends of these corridors, in the loading operation. In the opposite operation in unloading, the accumulation table is used for the evacuation of the articles, the endless chains

  being driven in the other direction.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the elevating means provided towards the ends of the corridors are constituted by a movable apron, guided in translation in a substantially vertical direction and coupled to means for controlling its vertical displacement, this mobile apron comprising two support trays horizontal and superimposed articles, extending transversely to the corridors of the accumulation table, and the control means being provided for moving the deck between a low position, wherein the tray -support higher is at level of the accumulation table, and a high position, in which the lower support plate is at the level of the accumulation table. The movable apron being in the low position, articles can be admitted on the upper support plate where they form a row; then bringing the deck up, this row is shifted upwards. The following items, then arriving on the lower support plate of the deck, form another row that remains at the accumulation table. After taking these two rows

  stacked items, the deck can be lowered for a new cycle.

  Advantageously provided on the accumulation table, above the forward end of the conveyor chains and just behind the moving deck, a movable rake also guided in translation in a substantially vertical direction and coupled to control means of its vertical movement, the rake having substantially vertical teeth whose distribution corresponds to the corridors of the accumulation table, serving as stops for the items at the front of these corridors, as well as guides for the same items when they are moved

  vertically by the movable apron.

  It is further provided, at the front of the movable deck, two retractable rails for retaining items resting on the two support plates of the movable deck. The two rails may belong to a movable assembly, guided in translation in a substantially vertical direction and coupled to control means of its vertical movement, the upper guardrail being fixed on the movable assembly, while the lower rail is movably mounted. back and forth, and is associated with other control means for moving it back and forth. The lowering of this movable assembly causes the simultaneous retraction of the two rails, making possible the removal of bottles on the two support plates of the deck. The additional forward and backward movement of the lower railing occurs only in the operation of the unloading machine, to push a row of bottles lying on the apron towards the accumulation table, and cause

  thus the evacuation of these bottles.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the gripping means are constituted by a gripping head, with gripping blocks with suction pads arranged in two parallel rows, which is carried by the end of a telescopic arm held by a mounted support pivoting about a horizontal axis at the lower end of a movable support column

  in translation and in rotation along a vertical axis.

  Anyway, the invention will be better understood, and others

  characteristics will be highlighted, using the following description,

  with reference to the attached schematic drawing showing, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of this machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers: Figure I is an overview, in plan from above, of a machine according to the present invention, the gripping assembly not being indicated; Figure 2 is a front view of the machine of Figure I, also shown omitting the gripping assembly Figure 3 is a side view of the machine Figure 4 is a partial view, in plan on top and on an enlarged scale, showing a detail of the front part of the accumulation table Figure 5 is a partial side view of the machine on an enlarged scale, and with partial sections Figure 6 is a partial front view, on an enlarged scale, showing the lateral guidance of Various movable parts of this machine Figure 7 shows, in front view, a detail of the gripping head Figure 8 is a top view, partly in section, corresponding to Figure 7

  Figure 9 is a side view corresponding to Figure 7.

  The machine object of the invention, generally shown in Figures I to 3, is arranged on the side of a conveyor I for the supply or removal of articles, which in this example are bottles 2 This machine ensures the loading or unloading of containers 3, in which the bottles 2 are stored in a supine position,

in several superimposed layers.

  The machine comprises an accumulation table 4, with endless pallet conveyor chains 5 extending, and moving in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of the conveyor 1. The conveyor chains 5 pass over a plurality of guide wheels and 6,7,8 and 9, as well as on drive wheels 10

  connected by a transmission to a geared motor 11 - see also Figure 5.

  The accumulation table 4 comprises above the rear portion of the conveyor chains 5, a series of separations 12 which extend substantially in the direction of movement of these chains 5, to delimit a plurality of parallel corridors 13. The separations corridors 12 are associated with control means, such as a jack, for animating them with an oscillating movement in the transverse direction of the

chains 5.

  Above the conveyor chains 5 and in front of the corridor separations 12, there are horizontal guides 14 located at

  necks of bottles 2 resting on these chains 5.

  Forward of the conveyor chains 5, so at the end of the corridors 13, the machine comprises an apron 15 mounted to move in a substantially vertical direction. The movable apron 15 comprises a lower plate 16 and an upper plate 17, narrow and elongated shape, the corresponding ends are joined by side uprights 18, guided in substantially vertical rails 19 carried by the frame 20 of the machine. Control means, such as at least one jack 21, are provided for moving the movable apron 15 between a low position, in which the upper plate 17 is located at the accumulation table 4, and a high position, wherein the lower plate 16 is at

  level of the accumulation table 4.

  At the rear of the movable apron 15, and above the accumulation table 4, it is provided a movable rake 21 mounted parallel to the apron

  under the action of other control means, such as at least one jack 22.

  The mobile rake 21 comprises a series of parallel teeth 23, substantially vertical, which in the lowered position of this rake 21 take place at the ends of the various corridors 13 of the accumulation table 4, between these corridors 13, as shown in FIG. 4. There is further provided, at the front of the movable apron 15, an assembly 24 mounted movable parallel to the deck 15, with two superposed horizontal rails 25 and 26. The upper rail 26 is fixed, by its ends, on two lateral uprights 27 of the mobile assembly 24, which can be raised or lowered by control means, such as at least one cylinder 28 - see Figure 5. The lower guard 25 is mounted movably, by means of arms 29 pivoting on a horizontal axis 30, so as to be able to be moved by a substantially horizontal additional movement, oriented forwards and backwards, under the action of other control means, such as at least one actuating cylinder 31 on the arms 29 through to

  minus a lever 32 and a connecting rod 33.

  As shown in Figure 6, the same rails 19 provide, on each side, the guidance of the movable apron 15, the rake 21 and the assembly 24. Furthermore, the machine comprises a gripping assembly 34 of the bottles 2, worn by the upper part 35 of the frame 20 forming a kind of stem extending forward of the accumulation table 4 and the

movable apron 15.

  The gripping assembly 34 comprises a support column 36, displaceable in translation and in rotation along a fixed vertical axis 37. At the lower end of the support column 36 is pivotally mounted, about a horizontal axis 38, a support 39 provided with a telescopic arm 40, carrying at its end a gripping head 41 which extends in a plane

  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 42 of the arm 40.

  The gripping head 41 is provided with two parallel rows of gripping blocks 43 with suction cups, each block 43 being provided for gripping a bottle 2. As shown more particularly in FIGS. 7 to 9, all gripping blocks 43 of FIG. one and the same row are fixed, at suitable intervals that can be set, on two parallel support bars 44 and 45. Each block 43 comprises two superposed suction cups 46 and 47, of different diameters, connected to the same vacuum source; the largest suction cup 46 serves to maintain a bottle 2, substantially at its center of gravity, while the smaller suction cup 47 prevents the tilting of the bottle 2. Each gripping block 43 still has, at its base and its at the top, "V" shaped rigid portions, respectively 48 and 49, which position the bottle 2 exactly. The handle assembly 34 overcomes a container loading or unloading station 3, which comprises a roll table 50 of approximately three times that of a container 3, and extending parallel to the conveyor 1, so as to define: a central location for the container 3 being loaded or unloaded, an extreme location for a container 3 waiting for loading or unloading, and another extreme location for a loaded or unloaded container to be evacuated. The central location is located exactly under the gripping assembly 34. A drive device 51 controls the movement of the containers 3 resting on the roller table 50, for

  bring these containers 3 from one location to another at the desired time.

  The operation of the machine will be described below, in

  starting with the description of the loading of a container 3, which is

  already assumes positioned at the central location of the roller table 50, below the gripping assembly 34. In the initial position considered, corresponding to the dashed lines of Figures 3 and 5: - the gripping head 41 in standby position is turned towards the apron 15, the telescopic arm 40 being retracted; - The movable apron 15 occupies its low position, so with its upper plate 17 at the table 4; - The rake 21 is also in the low position - the moving assembly 24, provided with rails 25 and 26, is in

high position.

  It is further assumed that bottles 2 arrive in a standing position, in any manner, on the conveyor 1 along the arrow 52 of FIGS. 1 and 2. A deflector 53, disposed above the conveyor 1

  machine glance, deflects the bottles 2 to direct them on the back of.

the accumulation table 4.

  At the start of the machine, the conveyor chains 5 of the accumulation table 4 are driven forwardly, and simultaneously the corridor separations 12 are set in oscillating movement, to facilitate the separation of the 2 bottles arriving on the table 4 and their introduction between the neck guides 14. The conveyor chains 5 drive the bottles 2 forward in the different corridors 13, and lead them to the front of the table 4 , where these

  bottles 2 are stopped by the rake 21.

  A series of cleats 54, the position of which is detected by a photocell, makes it possible to detect the presence of a determined number of bottles 2 accumulated in each lane 13. When all the lanes 13 are filled, in which case it is safe that a first complete row of bottles 2 is formed by the bottles which are supported on the rake 21 at the ends of the passages 13, the detection carried out via the catches 54 controls the lifting of the rake 21. The first row of bottles 2 is then transferred to the upper plate 17 of the deck 15, being aided by the thrust of rows of bottles 2 located behind and driven by the advance of the conveyor chains 5. The lower rail 25 stops the first row of bottles 2, such that this row is exactly positioned on the upper plate 17

apron 15.

  The rake 21 is then lowered to block, by its teeth 23, the

  second row of bottles 2 reached the front end of table 4 -

  see Figure 4. At this time, the deck 15 rises and comes to stop in the upper position, the lower plate 16 is then brought to the level of the accumulation table 4 while the upper plate 17 reaches a certain height H above the level of the accumulation table 4. During the rise of the apron 15, the bottles 2 which rest on the plateau

  upper 17 lean against the rake 21, which then serves as a guide.

  The rake 21 is then raised, and the second row of bottles 2 is transferred from the conveyor chains 5 to the lower plate 16 of the apron 15. Once this second row of bottles 2 is positioned, the rake 21 is lowered again, to stop the row of bottles 2

next.

  Two rows of bottles 2 are then positioned, respectively, on the lower plates 16 and upper 17 of the deck 15, the two rails 25 and 26 forming at this moment stops in front of

these two rows of bottles 2.

  To allow the gripping of these two rows of bottles, with a view to their placement in the container 3, the moving assembly 24 is slightly lowered, so as to bring the two rails 25 and 26 into position.

  below the respective levels of the two trays 16 and 17 of the apron 15.

  The telescopic arm 40 of the gripping assembly 34 is deployed, in the direction of its axis 42, and it drives the gripping head 41 by bringing it closer to the apron 15, until the different gripping blocks 43 come into position. contact with the bottles 2 of the two superimposed rows, by their suction cups 46 and 47. All these bottles 2 being taken by the suction created by means of the suction cups 46 and 47, the telescopic arm 40 retracts and, simultaneously, its support 39 pivots around the horizontal axis 38, while the support column 36 is raised. These three simultaneous movements stop when the telescopic arm 40 is in the retracted position, its axis 41 being vertical, and the support column 36 is in the up position; the bottles 2 taken are then in a horizontal position, above the container 3 to be loaded, as indicated by the drawing

in phantom of Figure 3.

  Then the telescopic arm 40 is deployed, and simultaneously the support column 36 goes down, for the removal of the bottles 2 is at the bottom of the

  container 3, or on the half-layer deposited in the previous cycle.

  The bottles 2 having been released by the suction cups 46 and 47, to form a half-layer, all the previous movements of the gripping assembly 34 are described in the opposite direction, in order to bring the head of

  gripping 41 in its initial waiting position.

  The following cycle of gripping and removal is carried out in the same way, however with an additional movement: the telescopic arm 40, and with it the gripping head 41, perform above the container 3 a rotation of 180, to allow the storage in the opposite direction of the next half-layer. It will be understood that the repeated stacking of half-layers of alternating directions leads to a superposition of complete layers, with nesting of the half-layers, over the entire height of the container 3. Of course, the operation is programmed, particularly with regard to vertical races, to take account of the positions

distinct layers.

  In the case where the machine is used for unloading a container 3, the various elements of this machine are placed,

  initially, in the same positions as for the load described above.

above.

  At the start of the machine, the conveyor chains 5 of the accumulation table 4 are driven with a movement directed towards the rear. The corridor separations 12 are kept at a standstill. The apron rises to its high position, as well as the rake 21, while the rails 25 and 26 are retracted by lowering the moving assembly 24. The gripping head 41 takes the upper half-layer of bottles 2 in the container 3, and it deposits the two rows of bottles 2, constituting this half-layer respectively on the two plates 16 and 17 of the apron 15. During this phase, the gripping assembly 34

  performs the reverse movements of the levy on the apron 15.

  After having deposited the bottles 2 while standing on the apron 15, the telescopic arm 40 and the gripping head 41 are withdrawn, and the moving assembly 24 is raised, so that the rails 25 and 26 are put in place in front of the two rows of bottles 2 which have just been deposited. By the action of the jack 31, transmitted by the lever 32 and the rod 33 to the arm 29, the lower rail 25 is moved horizontally rearwardly, to push the lower row of bottles 2, placed on the lower plate 16 of the apron 15, to the accumulation table 4 where the

  transport chains 5 evacuate these bottles 2 to the conveyor 1.

  Then the lower guardrail 25 is brought back to. its initial advanced position, and the apron 15 goes down to its lower position to bring the upper support 17, carrying the other row of bottles 2, at the accumulation table 4. The lower railing 25 is actuated again , and then she pushes that other row of bottles 2 for

evacuate it like the previous one.

  The lower guard 25 then returns to the advanced position, the movable assembly 24 with the two guardrails 25 and 26 is lowered and, simultaneously, the deck 15 is raised to its upper position. This apron is thus ready to receive two new rows of bottles 2, issues

  of the next half-layer of the container 3, and so on ...

  When using a machine for unloading a container 3, the conveyor 1 ensures the evacuation of the bottles 2 according to the arrow 55 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The deflector 52 is then removed, and it can be

  replaced by an appropriate guide 56.

  It is understood that the machine can be easily installed on the side of a pre-existing conveyor I, at any point of the conveyor and on one side

or the other of this conveyor.

  As is obvious, and as is apparent from the foregoing, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this loading and unloading machine which has been described above, as the example; it embraces, on the contrary, all variants of implementation and application respecting the same principle. In particular, it would not depart from the scope of the invention by the use of technical equivalents, such as the replacement of the cylinders by other control means of the various re-movements, or by an adaptation of the operation of the machine for storage in half-layers with a different arrangement, or using this machine for loading or unloading articles other than bottles, but which can be arranged

  layered in a similar way.

Claims (10)

  1. A machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers, more particularly an "emboxeuse-déboxeuse" used for loading bottles (2) stored lying down in containers (3) or crates, and for unloading bottles (2) thus coated, characterized in that it comprises: means (5 to 12) for bringing articles (2) in a standing position onto an accumulation table (4) along a plurality of parallel corridors ( 13) in the same number as the articles of a row to be formed, so that the articles (2) reached at the ends of these corridors (13) form a row; lifting means (15) provided towards the ends of said lanes (13) for moving such a row of articles (2) at a certain height (H) above the accumulation table (4); and gripping means (34) capable of simultaneously grasping a row of articles (2) thus brought to a certain height (H) above the accumulation table (4) and another row of articles (2). ) held at this accumulation table (4), to fold these rows of articles   (2) and to deposit them in a container (3) or in a box.   2. Machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers, according to claim 1, characterized in that the accumulation table (4) is arranged perpendicularly to a conveyor (1) for   bringing or removing articles (2) in a standing position.   3. machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises endless conveyor chains with pallets (5), on which the articles (2) can be brought , be distributed in the different corridors (13) and be driven towards the ends of these corridors (13), said   chains (5) which can be driven in one direction or the other direction.   4. Machine loading and unloading items arranged   in layers according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that   the lifting means provided towards the ends of the corridors (13) are constituted by a movable apron (15), guided in translation in a substantially vertical direction and coupled to control means (21) of its vertical displacement, this movable apron (15) comprising two support trays (16, 17) of articles (2), horizontal and superimposed, extending transversely to the lanes (13) of the accumulation table (4), and the control means (21) ) being provided for moving the apron (15) between a low position, in which the upper support plate (17) is at the accumulation table (4), and a high position, in which the support plate lower (16) is at the table level accumulation (4).   5. Machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers, according to claim 4, characterized in that it is provided on the accumulation table (4), above the anterior end of the conveyor chains ( 5) and just behind the movable apron (15), a movable rake (21) guided in translation in a substantially vertical direction and coupled to control means (22) of its vertical displacement, the rake (21) having teeth (23) substantially vertical whose distribution corresponds to the corridors (13) of the accumulation table (4), serving as stops for the articles (2) at the front of these corridors (13), as well as guides for the same items (2) when they are moved   vertically by the movable apron (15).   6. machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers, according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that there is further provided, at the front of the movable apron (15), two retractable rails (25, 26) for the restraint of articles (2) based on both   support plates (16,17) of the movable apron (15).   7. Machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers, according to claim 6, characterized in that the two guardrails (25, 26) belong to a movable assembly (24), guided in translation in a substantially vertical direction and coupled to control means (28) of its vertical displacement, the upper guardrail (26) being stationary on said movable assembly (24), while the lower guardrail (25) is movably mounted from front to rear, and is associated to other control means (31,32,33) for moving it back and forth.   8. Machine for loading and unloading articles arranged   in layers according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that   that the gripping means (34) are constituted by a gripping head (41), with gripping blocks (43) with suckers (46, 47) arranged in two parallel rows, which is carried by the end of a telescopic arm (40) held by a support (39) pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis (38) at the lower end of a support column (36) displaceable in translation   and in rotation along a vertical axis (37).   9. Machine for loading and unloading articles arranged in layers, according to claim 8, characterized in that each gripping block (43) comprises two superimposed suction cups (46,47) of diameters   separate, connected to the same source of vacuum.   Layered article loading and unloading machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that each gripping block (43) still has, at its base and at its apex, parts Rigid (48,49) shaped as "V". // 5 2629O46 FIG.   51) --- ff 50mfHll i! '1! Iiiiiii 2c 2UrUi o - I = T-- IFI I1 I I I 1OL I! / LH ZZZZZZZZZ L /! 2 Due -'...! M èg1 * t4s 1. ú 9tO6Z9Z '/' 3/5 2629046 FIG. 5 - stx i '-! z - 't') s, j.- - / 5 42629046 ] IG6 1 F0 / 5. 2629046   F IG; FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 8, FIG.