FR2631604A1 - METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR PROCESSING OBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR AUTOMATIC PACKAGING CHAINS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an installation for processing objects, in particular for automatic packaging lines. In said installation, a transfer device 1 periodically delivering groups of objects A is associated with a continuous conveyor 3, having zones 3a for receiving said objects A. This conveyor 3 is moved intermittently, between a rest condition in which a group of objects A is introduced into respective zones 3a, and a condition of movement in which this conveyor 3 progresses by a number of zones 3a at least equal to that of objects A of each group. Application to the automatic packaging of objects.

Description

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  METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR PROCESSING OBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR

AUTOMATIC PACKING CHAINS,

  The present invention relates, in general, to automatic handling or processing

  objects, and it is particularly aimed at a pos-

  applicability to automatic food packaging facilities. More specifically, the invention addresses the problem of combining an object transfer device (for example a manipulator, an automaton or a robot) which periodically delivers groups of objects,

  to a continuous conveyor equipped with reception areas des-

  said objects. This conveyor can, for example, be

  made by a chain conveyor, intended to feed

  a machine such as an automatic wrapping machine

tick.

  In the field of automatic packaging equipment,

  that, it is universally known that a conveyor of the type

  above mentioned must be trained continuously in order to be able to

  function satisfactorily at great speed.

  his work. Nevertheless, this criterion of operation can not be easily reconciled with a necessity which arises frequently in this type of application, and

  consists in feeding the continuous conveyor with objects

  grouped from a transfer device (such as

  ejector, manipulator, robot or automaton

  te), at a sequential rate that is by nature intermittent. In fact, in general, the transfer device takes groups of objects from a station located upstream (for example the exit of an oven, or the

  out of a packaging machine in which the pro-

  are wrapped individually in envelopes

  respective pes), then transfers them to the continuous conveyor by performing a reciprocating motion which includes an active race, to carry the objects, and a race

back.

  Especially when the plant is operating at high speeds, the products tend to be transferred to the continuous conveyor under increasingly critical conditions. For example, if the conveyor

  continuous is a chain conveyor with ribs

  individual objects, the fact that the provision of

  transfer machine places these objects on the conveyor

  (moving at high speed), in areas

  reception, may result in

  defective to negatively affect the functioning of

  conveyor, and the positions which succeeded him

downstream tooth.

  This difficulty could be overcome, at least in principle, by ensuring that the

  transfer follows, so to speak, the movement of the con-

  continuous voyeur when depositing objects on this conveyor proper. However, this kind of solution can not be envisaged since it requires a structure to print a movement to the transfer device, and to enslave this movement to the precise movement of the continuous conveyor, which would make prohibitive the

  manufacturing costs of this transfer device.

  Another possible solution might be to

  implement, downstream of the transfer device, a

  propellant that is designed to accumulate

  of objects delivered periodically by the device

  of transfer, and to impress upon them a syn-

  chronized with that of the continuous conveyor. However, this solution would provide a modest advantage, as it would require additional components.

  Nevertheless, according to the present invention, the.

  problem outlined above is solved through a process

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  characterized by including the step of advancing the conveyor intermittently between a rest condition in which a group of objects delivered by the transfer device is introduced into respective receiving areas on the conveyor, and a condition of movement in which this conveyor progresses by a number of receiving zones which is at

  less equal to the number of objects in each group.

  In other words, the present invention is based on the recognition that the continuous conveyor,

  located downstream, can be animated by an intermittent movement

  between the aforementioned rest condition (not implying

  no particular positioning problem) and the

aforementioned movement edition.

  The solution according to the invention can be

  tagged in practice by a typical installation

  the fact that it includes, in succession, a

  device for transferring objects, which issues periodic-

  groups of these objects; and a continuous conveyor which is provided with zones for receiving said objects and which can progress intermittently between a rest condition in which a group of objects delivered by the transfer device is introduced into zones

  respective receiving conditions on the conveyor, and a condition

  movement in which this conveyor progresses by a number of receiving areas which is at least equal to the number of objects in each group. Apart from the fact that

  to provide a fully satisfactory solution to the problem

  above, this offers the additional advantage

  to allow the combination of a continuous conveyor

  (such as the power supply line of an enveloping machine

  (eg a packaging machine which embodies the installed devices

downstream of the transfer device.

  The invention will now be described further. detail as non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawing in which:

  Figure 1 schematically illustrates a configura-

  possible for an installation carried out according to the invention

  tion; and. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the installation of FIG. 1, combined with an additional queue of FIG.

transfer of objects.

  In the appended drawing, a device for transferring objects is generally designated 1, and

  operates between two conveyors 2 and 3 arranged, respec-

  upstream and downstream of each other in the general direction of the conveyance of

  In the preferred embodiment illustrated.

  only as a non-limitative example, we consider

  that the subject objects in question are food products

  such as chocolate bars, snacks

  and similar products of generally parallel shape

  pipedic material, introduced into respective packages of sheet material, of the type commonly designated by

"caterpillar packages".

  The upstream conveyor 2 may consist, for example,

  in a conventional conveyor belt with endless belt

  a line of objects A continuous or practically continuous from an upstream station, for example a wrapping machine in which products

  foodstuffs are introduced into packaging

  respective individual units of the type "kennel

  The purpose of the transfer device 1 is to pick up the objects A by groups of the conveyor 2, and

  transfer them to the downstream conveyor 3. In the example

  lustered, the latter consists of a chain conveyor which feeds a successive workstation (not shown) installed downstream of the group 1, 2, 3 shown in the drawing, and which is for example the input conveyor of a

wrapping machine.

  This downstream processing device can be

  materialized, for example, by another packaging machine

  in which groups of A objects are introduced into larger-sized crawler packages,

  to produce multiple packages sometimes

lifted from "multi-packaging".

  The transfer device 1 can take a variety of

  according to the specific requirements of the application

cation.

  By way of example, it will be considered that the transfer device is a transfer unit

  provided with a "hand" gripping 4, supported by

  to be selectively lowered and raised

  by two cylinders 5 carried by a structure 6 portal.

  This structure 6 can, in turn, perform a va-and-

  comes on two opposite horizontal guides 7 extending, generally, in the transverse direction relative to the

  direction of advance of the objects A on the conveyors 2 and 3.

  By controlling the operation of the jacks 5 and the comings and goings of the gantry structure 6 along the guides 7 (according to widely known criteria, which will not be described in more detail in the present specification because they 'bring nothing to understanding the

  invention), it is possible to execute a se-

  the operating procedure including the following steps: - lowering towards the conveyor 2, the gripping hand 4 which has been brought into the vertical alignment of the conveyor 2, then taking a group of objects A counting, for example six objects A; lifting of the hand 4 and progressive movement of the gantry structure 6, and of the hand 4 suspended therein, towards a position vertically aligned with the conveyor 3;

  - lowering of the hand 4, followed by the deposit of

  jets A in the receiving zones on the conveyor 3,

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  delimited by pairs of driving ribs 3a provided on the latter; and - return of the hand 4 to the raised position, and consecutive retrograde movement of the structure 6 in the portico and of this hand 4 to the position vertically

aligned with the conveyor 2.

  The criteria according to which the hand 4 seizes the objects A, to then release them in the reception areas on the conveyor 3, are also known

  be widely known in the field under consideration, to

  they do not call any specific description in

this memoir.

  Concerning the criteria relating to the delivery of objects A to the extreme region of the conveyor 2, where the device i reaches its gripping position, one can for example refer to a patent application of an industrial invention, having the same date and the same depositor.

  The essential characteristic of the present

  tion is that, instead of continuing

  nally or in a substantially continuous manner,

  me in the solutions of the prior art, the conveyor 3

  in chain progresses intermittently.

  In particular, the movement of the conveyor 3 is

  interrupted when the gripping hand 4 is lowered towards the conveyor 3, in order to deposit a group of objects

  To whom has previously been taken from conveyor 2,

  the conveyor 3 is then restarted, the advance of

  this conveyor 3 taking place from a number of receiving zones

  these objects A which is at least equal to the number of ob-

  throws A in each group (six in the illustrated case).

  Thus, the deposition of the objects A on the convector 3 can be obtained without any particular problem, since the transfer device 1 is in action with

  a conveyor 3 which is temporarily stationary.

  As a result, it is superfluous that the transmission device

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  Furs follow the ribs 3a of the conveyor to avoid any defective positioning of the objects A.

  The intermittent feed of the conveyor 3 can be

  secured by the corresponding actuation of the drive mechanism (not shown). In this respect, we will

  observe that the solution residing in an inter-

  mitten chain conveyor is already known and described,

  among others, in IT-1 167 475 in the name of the

  my depositors, but in a different context.

  The plan view of FIG. 2 shows the manner in which an additional processing device, operating in essence even discontinuously, can be integrated into an installation such as that illustrated on FIG.

figure 1.

  It may, for example, be a packaging line consisting of a conveyor belt 8 on which boxes S, intended to receive the groups of objects taken from the device 1 (possibly in superimposed rows) , progress one after the other and

in close mutual contact.

  The boxes S are filled by being presented

  below the transfer device 1 which, in this case, can stop the structure 6 in gantry, supporting the gripping hand 4, or in the vertical alignment

  of Packing Line 8, in the vertical alignment

conveyor call 3.

  In the latter case, the intermittent movement of

  conveyor 3 can be synchronized, similarly to the movement

  intrinsically intermittent

8.

  Under these conditions, the transfer device 1 can be designed for operation identically adequate (apart from the need to adjust the distance traveled by the structure 6 portal), or to transfer the objects A to the packaging line 8, either to transfer them to the conveyor 3, without requiring

  more complex synchronization interventions.

  In particular, the configuration of the above-mentioned installation confers the additional advantage that the conveyor 3 can fulfill, to a certain extent, the function of a storage device or a storage device.

  discharge line, for any excess groups

  objects that can not be concomitantly

  transferred to packing line 8.

  Of course, the principle of the invention remaining

  the same, the embodiments and the structural details

  can be significantly modified compared to those described and represented, without leaving the

of the present invention.

Claims (5)

  1. Method for combining a continuous conveyor (3),   provided with zones (3a) for receiving objects (A), at a dis-   positive (1) transfer of said objects (A) which periodically delivers groups of these objects (A), characterized in that it includes the step of advancing said conveyor (3) intermittently, between a condition in which a group of objects (A) delivered by said transfer device   (1) is introduced into respective zones of reception   (3a) of this conveyor (3), and a movement condition   in which the conveyor (3) progresses by one   number of receiving areas (3a) which is at least equal to   number of objects (A) in each group.   2. Object Processing Facility (A), character-   the fact that it includes, in succession, a   device (1) for transferring objects (A) which delivers   periodically groups of these objects (A); and a   continuous voyeur (3) which has receiving zones (3a)   tion of said objects (A) and which can progress, by   termittence, between a rest condition in which a group of objects (A) delivered by the transfer device (1) is introduced into respective receiving zones (3a) on the conveyor (3), and a movement condition in which conveyor (3) progresses by a number of receiving zones (3a) which is at least   equal to the number of objects (A) in each group.   3. Installation according to claim 2, characterized   caused by the fact that the continuous conveyor (3) constitutes   the input conveyor of a wrapping machine.   4. Installation according to claim 2 or 3,   characterized by the fact that the continuous conveyor is a chain conveyor.   5. Installation according to any one of the   2 to 4, characterized in that it includes an additional device (8) which can receive the groups of objects (A) from the transfer device (1) and can perform intermittent movement in synchronism with the delivery of the groups of objects (A) by this transfer device (1); and in that the intermittent motion of the continuous conveyor (3)   is synchronized with the movement of the additional device   (8), the transfer device (1) being designed to alternately ensure the transfer of objects (A).   to the additional device (8) and to the con- naked (3).