FR2638421A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONDITIONING BOTTLES IN A VERTICAL POSITION - Google Patents

Abstract

The method and the device according to the invention permit the removal of a batch of bottles (3) arranged in parallel rows at the end of a conveyor (1) forming a removal station (10) and the setting down of this same batch on pallets (16) which are empty or already provided with bottom layers, the bottles having been placed in a quincuncial arrangement during the transfer.

Description

i The present invention relates to a method and a device for

  packaging of bottles in vertical position.

  It is known to make a package of bou-

  in an upright position on a pallet automatically

  matic or semi-automatic, by means of machines which take

  successively wind batches of bottles at the end of a horizontal conveyor to make consecutive layers of bottles standing with interposed perforated plates between them which cover the necks of the lower bed between

  which the bottom of the bottles of the upper bed is housed.

  In these machines, the batch of bottles to be picked is organic.

  nized in a corridor of determined width corresponding to nV2d o n is the number of bottles per row in the package and d the diameter of the bottles. The bottles are placed

  thus more or less naturally staggered by being retained

  bare at the end of the conveyor by a transverse stop.

  The drawn lot necessarily has an odd number of rows so that, at the time of the superposition of two beds, the bottles of the upper bed are placed between

  the bottlenecks of the lower bed, a sample of lots comprising

  as an even number of rows would require adjusting the transfer movement of each bed, which is not possible to

  simple way for a robot arm.

  These known processes and machines have drawbacks which are essentially due to the vagaries in the constitution of batches. Indeed, the robot arm which ensures

  the removal, transfer and stacking of the Beds,

  you grippers that are in the shape of a sleeve coming

  cap each bottle neck of the lot in question. These man-

  chons are pneumatically tightened on the necks for transporting the bottles. The mounting of each gripper on the robot arm is flexible and tolerates an inaccuracy in the position of the bottle of a few millimeters, which

  determines the adaptation limits of the system.

  However, at the end of the conveyor, the sequencing of the bottles does not always operate in a perfect manner. he

  exists all of ababor4 in the natural implementation of bou-

  eyes, hazards due to spontaneous jamming (arc

  buttons between bottles) or especially friction between

  bottles and along the edges of the conveyor which are essential-

  Slightly variable, in particular due to the presence of labels

  on the bottle. In addition, when the installation is

  read well, the location of the last bottles in the batch depends on the dispersion of the sides in the stack of, for example, eleven rows of bottles, dispersion due to the manufacturing tolerances of the bottles, the presence of foreign bodies between the bottles ( labels peeled off, crumpled and inserted in Le lot ...>. We note, for all these reasons, that the coincidence of the grippers with

  bottlenecks are never achieved and their shift some-

  times greater than the gripper's self-adaptation capacities.

  It is therefore necessary to put an operator next to the machine who must intervene quickly in the event of a bad

operation.

  Furthermore, these known machines do not allow an easy adaptation of the position of the grippers to each type of bottle. There are, indeed, several

  large types of bottles (for wines: bordeaux, bour-

  gogne, champagne ...) very distinct from each other aux-

  which it is necessary to adapt the spacings of the grippers. But in each of these types, there are variants in the shapes and dimensions which involve secondary adjustments of the position of the grippers on the robot arm which are not achievable without greatly complicating the

  system. Finally, given the natural character of L'orga-

  nization of the lot to be taken, the bottles are all attached-

  tives and it is not easy to make a packaging in which the bottles are no longer in contact with each other,

  as is increasingly demanded.

  The invention intends to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a method and a machine which take into account the size dispersions, which reduce the risks of blocking or jamming of the bottles during their conveying, and which include means for easily adapting to the diff-

  different types of bottles encountered.

  To this end, the first object of the invention is

  a process for packaging bottles with super beds

  bottles placed vertically on a base support with the installation of intermediate supports with holes, through which pass the necks of the lower bed, according to which a batch of bottles collected on an end surface is removed of a transporter

  horizontal corresponding substantially to the surface of the sup-

  base or intermediate ports, to transport it directly above these supports and place it either on the base support,

  either on the intermediate support between the necks of the bou-

  bed sheets previously laid. In accordance with the invention

  tion, this process includes the following steps:

  - organization of at least one batch to be taken in parallel lines-

  lines of contiguous bottles whose axes are spaced

  of a value equal to at least V2 times the diameter of the bou-

  teilles, - sampling of the lot of bottles thus organized forming a

  plurality of consecutive rows of bottles perpendicular to

  res in rows, - rotation of about 45 degrees of each pair of bottles taken in two consecutive rows around-their Contact Line for partLlement interpose the bottles of a

rank in the other, -

  - bringing together the pairs of rows of bottles thus interposed, - depositing the batch of bottles thus reorganized on the base support, - repeating the previous cycle as many times as beds at

  superimpose with inversion at each cycle the direction of rotation

tion ...

  This process also includes a step of trans-

  fert bottles between the sampling step and the removal step during which the rotation and

reconciliation are performed.

  The second object of the invention is a device

  to implement the above method comprising a pLu-

  reality of gripping bodies carried by the end of an arm movable horizontally and vertically between a sampling station and an unloading station on a pallet of the bottles of each batch, in which the arm is provided with a

  fixed support for several beams which extend transversely

  dirty to the bottle lines above the pre-

  Lifting and which can slide parallel to themselves

  on guides carried by the support, each beam comprises

  as a plurality of plates mounted to rotate in the beam around vertical axes spaced from each other by a distance equal to that separating the rows of bottles, each plate comprising a pair of grippers arranged

  symmetrically one of the other with respect to the axis of rota-

corresponding tion.

  In addition, a driving member is reached to the beams to move them between a first position where they are spaced from each other and a second position o

they are close together.

  Preferably, this drive member comprises a

  cylinder coupled between the two end beams and organs

  nes of transmission of the movement of the end beams to

  intermediate beams, which constitute spacer member-

  beams between them in each of the two positions.

  By the way, the plates carried by a beam, are connected by an eccentric finger to a common rod for operating their rotation coupled to a control jack by a driving cleat and The common rod is coupled to a set of two antagonistic springs, which keeps it, in the absence of effort from the jack, in a middle position

  corresponding to an alignment of the grippers perpendicular to

lairement to the parties.

  The invention will be better understood during the

  description given below of an exemplary embodiment of a

  machine made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

  - Figures 1, 2 and 3 are diagrams illus-

  trant The main steps of the method according to the invention, - Figure 4 is a general top view of a machine according to the invention, - Figure 5 is a simplified and partial side view of the equipment of the arm of handling of the machine of figure 4, - figure 6 is a simplified and partial view along F of figure 5, - figures 7 and 8 are diagrams in section

  and seen from above illustrating the connection of the beams of the equi-

  between them and at the control cylinder,

  - Figures 9 and 10 are two orthogonal sections

  illustrating the mechanism for controlling the rotation of

  grippers in relation to their support beam.

  Next to Figures 1 to 3 we will explain the main

  cipe of the process of the invention. FIG. 1 represents, seen from above, the end of a horizontal conveyor 1, having a final stop 2 on which, in the direction A of advancement

  from the conveyor, The bottles 3 come to a stop.

  These bottles 3 are guided in corridors 4 whose banks 5 are sufficiently wide (or in two parts with adjustable spacing) so that the axes of these corridors

  are distant from each other by a sensitive value e-

  ment equal to V2 times the diameter d of the bottle. In these corridors, the bottles therefore form parallel rows of contiguous bottles. The Lot of bottles to be sampled consists of a plurality of rows R1, R2.

  .. (for example 10 or 11) .. DTD: of five bottles, one row consisting of The bottles-

  the same level in each girl. Once this sample has been taken, we go to the process step of printing a

  bottle rotation to obtain the organization represented

shown in Figure 2.

  To do this, using the device described above

  afterwards, we act on groups of two consecutive rows of bottles (for example R1 and R2) by rotating each pair of bottles in the same row belonging to these two rows around a vertical axis 6 substantially coincident with their generator contact, at an angle equal to approximately 45 (in the case of the figure, the direction of rotation is clockwise). By this overall rotation, the bottles of rows R1 and R2 are offset laterally with respect to each other by about half a diameter and the median planes of rows R1 and R2 passing through the axes of the bottles, get closer, n ' being more distant than Vid, Instead of

  d initially. It is the same for rows R3 and R4 ....

  At the end of rotation, we thus formed groups of two rows of bottles 3 wider than the initial rows (with a value equal to V2 times the diameter

  of a bottle), but closer together2 due to the Inter-

  bottle sizing. If the space separating the axes of

  initial rows is equal to V / 2 times the diameter of a bottle

  On, each bottle of each row is in contact with two bottles of the other row (with the exception of one end bottle per row). If this space is greater than this value, the pairs of bottles are not contiguous (for

  a rotation of course Limited to 45 ').

  The third step of the method according to the invention then consists in bringing together the pairs of nested rows in order to obtain the organization of FIG. 3. We thus obtained a staggered arrangement of the batch of bottles ready to be

  deposited on the base support or on the intermediate support.

  We will assume, for the rest of the talk, that Figure 3 is

  a diagram seen from above of the first bed made.

  During the execution time of the stages of rotation and approximation of the bottles, which took place after the sampling, other bottles replaced those on the conveyor 1. The next cycle therefore begins again with a sampling of these new bottles. The only difference between this new cycle and the previous one lies in the direction of rotation of the pairs of bottles which here will be counterclockwise. In each pair of rows, the bottles 3 will then be arranged as indicated by the circles in broken lines represented on rows R7 and R8 of FIG. 2. Thanks to this reverse rotation, the withdrawn bed can be deposited between the necks of the previous bed as shown in Figure 3 (the upper bottles are dotted), for an identical transfer movement of the

lot of bottles.

  By the method according to the invention, as just described, the risks of poor grip are very significantly reduced for several reasons. First, the bottles are picked while they are online. Their online installation is much less hazardous than the natural staggered, because it is done in

  corridors where only one bottle can enter.

  In addition, the dispersion of dimensions (diameter Z5 of the bottles) only has an effect in one direction: the axis of the queue, while for the sampling of the bottles

  already staggered, the dispersion of dimensions is multi-

  directional in the plane. The effects of cumulation in all these directions can lead to a greater global shift than the online shift of the last bottle

  of the batch in relation to the gripper. The latter has garlic-

  their construction sufficient flexibility to absorb this shift. The result of this mechanization of the staggered arrangement of the bottles is a very significant reduction in the risks of machine malfunction putting in

implement the process.

  Figure 4 illustrates - in a dried top view -

  matic such a machine which is very similar in its

  general architecture to known machines.

  This figure shows the horizontal conveyor 1 for feeding and aligning the bottles at the sampling station 10. The bottles accumulate there in file against the stop 2. A transfer arm 11 is mounted rotating around

  a vertical axis 12 on a base 13 and carries at its end

  free mity an equipment 14 provided with grippers in its

  lower tie whose gripping function of the bottle necks is provided by known means of the pneumatic annular bladder type. The arm 11 therefore makes it possible to transfer a batch of bottles from station 10 to loading station 15 (located in the figure under the equipment 14), to which, by conveyor means, reach pallets 16 and from which, by this same conveyor or another, are removed from the loaded pallets 17. The equipment 14 has vertical mobility with respect to the arm 11 for lifting the sampled bottles and depositing them at different levels depending on whether the pallet

  whether or not carrying one or more lower bottle beds.

  The following figures relate specifically to the means of the machine according to the invention which make it possible to

implement the process.

  In these figures, the equipment 14 comprises a structure

  horizontal fixed structure 20 which is integral with the end of the arm 11. This structure 20 carries its underside

  fixed guide bars 21 on which can slide

  serve beams 22 (by means of bearings 23). These beams are therefore transverse to the slide bars 21. Two end beams 24 and 25, parallel to the other beams 22, are integral with rods 26, 27 which slide

  in fixed bearings 28, 29 integral with the structure 20.

  This arrangement allows the length of the bars to

  guidance to be as short as possible, i.e. from Lon-

  substantially equal to that of all the beams

  in a tight position against each other.

  Figures 7 and 8, there is shown in isolation the connection of the beams 22, 24 and 25 between them and

  an operating cylinder 30. This cylinder is coupled between the cen-

  very of the two end beams 24.25. Each of these

  very carries a vertical finger 31 which is housed in an oblong slot 32 of a plate 33 secured to the beam 22 which is adjacent to it and which is directed towards the corresponding end beam. This plate 33 is extended on the other side of each beam 22 by a symmetrical part of the previous one with an identical light 32 to receive a vertical finger 31 which is integral with each beam 22

next.

  We understand that by retracting the cylinder 30, we

  bring the beams closer to each other, since they can

  wind slide on the rods 21 or in the bearings 28,29 for the rods 26,27. This position is illustrated by the right part of these two figures, where oh sees that the minimum spacing distance between two beams depends on the lateral offset of each finger 31 and on the interval separating two slots 32 of the same plate. On the left-hand part of these figures, the beams have been shown in their maximum spacing under the effect of an extension of the jack 30. The distance between the beams has increased by L, the length of the light 32. fixed, relative to the support structure, a central beam 22 which will constitute the middle part and from which the other beams will be displaced symmetrically. Provision will have been made to make the plates 33 removable, which makes it possible to exchange them to modify the stroke and consequently, modify the spacings

  the pairs of rows of bottles hanging from the beams.

  Returning to Figures 5,6,9 and 10, we

  sees that each beam 22, 24 or 25 is equipped with a plurality of

  lity of lower plates 40, rotatably mounted in the

  beam around vertical axes 41, spaced from each other

  very of the distance e separating the rows of bottles, and

  equipped on their underside with two pneumatic grippers

  tulip-shaped ticks 42 symmetrical to each other with respect to the axis of rotation 41. On the right part of FIG. 5, the tulips are shown aligned from one beam to the other, the lower plates 40 having their axis perpendicular to that of the beam (see FIG. 9). On the left side, the plates are at an angle, 45 to the beam. The simultaneous rotation of the plates of each beam is obtained by a finger 43, eccentric with respect to the axis 41 and carrying a rotating ring 44 on which is

  fixed a tangent rod 45 connecting the fingers of the pLati-

  nes carried by the same beam. This rod 45 carries in the middle part a fixed jumper which overlaps a cleat 47 for driving with a possibility of sliding between them in a direction perpendicular to the rod. This cleat 47 is, in the device shown, located above the rod 45 and is integral with a rod 48 of cylinder 49, double acting. This cylinder rod 48 is associated - see FIG. 9 - with a mechanism 50 with antagonistic springs 51, 52

  which cooperate with a shoulder 53 of the rod 48 in order to

  peel this rod in a single fixed position in the absence of pressure in one or the other chamber of the jack 49. In

  this position the cleat 47 is in the neutral position with respect to

  port to the common rod 45 for rotating the plates

  tines 40. The latter are then perpendicular to the beams 22, 24, 25. The tulips 42 are then aligned in - directions perpendicular to the beams. If the beams are distant from each other by their maximum spacing

  (right of figure 5) the tulips are regularly distributed

  ties along their alignment and spaced by a value equal to approximately one bottle diameter. As well as the plates

  33 are interchangeable, we can consider adapting different

  different plates 40 to beams 22 to take account of

  different dimensions of the types of bottles to handle.

  We understand that by moving the rod 48 in one or the other direction, from its neutral position shown in Figure 9, we rotate all the plates of a beam

  from the same angle, then placing the tulips 42 in their posi-

  tion illustrated by the left of figure 5, if this angle is

  of 45. It is therefore possible by this means to obtain the modi-

  fication of the organization of the batch of bottles, as illus-

  tred by Figures 1 and 2. The grouping of the beams by means of the jack 30 makes it possible to ensure the transition

between Figures 2 and 3.

  The apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10 makes it possible to implement the method of the invention and

  to adapt this implementation to the main types of bou-

  you met. It also allows, thanks to the possibilities

  adjustment he offers, to form mud beds

  contiguous or spaced tiles and thus meet all requests. Finally, it allows to reorganize the batch

  of bottle sampled during its transfer from the sampling station

loading station.

Claims (10)

  1. Method for packaging bottles (3) by superimposed beds of bottles in a vertical position on a   base support (16) with insertion of interchangeable supports   Laires with holes through which the necks of the bed pass   lower, according to which we take, by Les goulots, a Lot-   (3) of bottles accumulated on an end surface of a horizontal conveyor (1) corresponding sensitively to the surface of the base supports (16) or spacers, to transport it directly above these supports and place it either on the base support, either on the intermediate support between   the necks of the bottles of the bed previously deposited, characteristic terized by the following steps:   - organization of at least one batch to be taken in parallel lines -   tes (4) of bottles (3) contiguous whose axes are spaced by a value equal to at least V2 times the diameter (d) of the bottles, sampling of the batch of bottles thus organized forming a   plurality of consecutive rows (R1-RN) of perpetual bottles   dicular lines (4), - rotation of about 45 degrees of each pair of bottles (3) taken in two consecutive rows (R1, R2) around Their   contact line (6) to partially nest Bou-   bottles from one row (R1) to the other (R2), - reconciliation of the pairs of rows of bottles thus nested, - removal of the Lot of bottles thus reorganized on the base support, - repetition of the previous cycle as many times as from Beds to   overlap with inversion at each cycle of the direction of rotation.   2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a step of transferring the bottles between the removal step and the removal step during which   the rotation and reconciliation steps are carried out.   3. Device for implementing the method   according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a   plurality of gripping members (42) carried by the end of an arm (11) movable horizontally and vertically between a sampling station (10) and an unloading station (15) on a base support (16) of the bottles (3) of each batch, characterized in that the arm is provided with a fixed support (20)   for several beams (22, 24, 25) which extend transversely   dirty lines of bottles (3) above the sampling station (10) and which can slide parallel to themselves on guides (21,26,27) carried by the support (20), each beam (22) comprising a plurality of plates   (40) rotatably mounted in the beam around vertical axes   wedges (41) spaced from each other by a distance (e) equal to that separating the rows of bottles, each plate   (40) comprising a pair of grippers (42) arranged symmetrically   tracing each other with respect to the axis of rotation (41) corresponding.   4. Device according to claim 3 charac-   se in that it comprises a motor member (30) coupled to the beams to move them between a first position o   they are separated from each other and a second posi- tion where they are reconciled.   5. Device according to claim 4 charac-   in that this drive member comprises a jack (30) coupled between the two end beams (24,25) and transmission members (31,33) of the movement of the end beams   to the intermediate beams, which constitute   beams facing each other in each of the two posi- tions.   6. Device according to claim 5 charac-   in that the transmission members consist of fingers (31) integral with one of two beams each being slidably mounted in a slot (32) oblong with a   plate (33) carried laterally by each of the beams adjja-   centes (22), the length (L) of the light (32) corresponding   à The relative travel of two adjacent beams.   7. Device according to any one of the claims.   cations 3 to 6 characterized in that One of the beams (22)   is fixed relative to the support (20).   8. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 7 characterized in that the plates carried (40) by a beam are connected by a finger (43) eccentric to a rod (45) common for operating their coupled rotation has a   control cylinder (49) by a cleat (47) drive.   9. Device according to claim 3 character-   laughed in that the rod (48) of the jack (49) is reached to a set (50) of two opposing springs (51, 52), which holds it, in the absence of pressure in the jack, in a   middle position corresponding to an orientation of the prehens-   sors (42) perpendicular to the beams (22).   10. Device according to claim 9 character   risé in that the jack (49) is double-acting and of sufficient stroke to cause a rotation of 45 of the plates   (42) on either side of the middle position.