FR2674228A1 - Device for transferring products arranged in bulk from a dispensing member to at least one receiving member - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises, at the exit of the dispensing member (D), means (3) and (4) capable of sorting the products in order to direct them as a function of their orientation either towards a first discharge means (1) or towards a second discharge means (2) so as always to present the products on the same side on the receiving member (R).

Description

 Device for transferring products arranged in bulk from a dispensing member to at least one receiving member.

 The problem which the invention proposes to solve is being able to continuously take products placed in bulk in any dispenser in order to bring them onto a receiving member of the conveyor belt or other type, with a view to subjecting them successively to different operations. Several devices are known which are capable of performing such functions.

 However, these devices, in most cases, do not make it possible to grasp the products which are in bulk and to orient them on the receiving member so as to always position them in the same direction. However, it is very important for certain types of products to be able to always orient them in the same direction, taking into account the subsequent operations to which they must be subjected. Indeed, these operations can only be carried out on one side of the object if we consider that, very often, these products have ends of different shapes and designs.

 It is understood that in an installation where the operations are carried out continuously, in an automatic manner, the positioning in a given direction of the products proves to be important. The problem appears at the level of the distributor, where the products are arranged in bulk. Their distribution is therefore necessarily carried out in a random manner by indifferently presenting one or the other of their ends at the outlet of the dispenser.

 This problem is encountered, in particular but not limited to, for tribular products in which only one of the ends is open or in which the two ends have openings of different diameter.

 According to the invention, to remedy these drawbacks and solve the problem of being able to continuously and automatically dispose of the products in a determined orientation, a device has been designed for transferring products arranged in bulk, from a dispensing member to a receiving organ.

 The device is remarkable in that it comprises, at the outlet of the dispensing member, means capable of sorting the products to direct them according to their orientation, either towards a first means of evacuation, or towards a second means of 'evacuation, so as to always present the products on the same side on the receiving member.

 To resolve the problem posed of selecting and orienting the products at the outlet of the dispensing member, the means consist of a system of trunks of cones mounted with the capacity of circular displacement relative to one another.

 One of the cone trunks is fixed while the other is mobile.

 To resolve the problem posed of taking into account the differences in construction appearing at each of the ends of the same product, the mobile truncated cone has, on the one hand, arrangements for directing the products in one of the means of 'evacuation and, on the other hand, elements capable of cooperating with part of the product, to transport them in the other means of evacuation.

 Advantageously, the arrangements are constituted by radial openings formed on the periphery of the mobile truncated cone, in communication with the fixed truncated cone, while the elements are constituted by rods able to cooperate with part of the product.

 The rods are formed in each of the openings of the mobile truncated cone, being integral with at least the portion of small diameter of said truncated cone.

 Another problem which the invention proposes to solve is to be able to transfer the products, possibly to two different receiving organs, distant from each other.

 Such a problem is solved in that the rods are mounted in the lower part of each of the openings corresponding to the small diameter of the truncated cone, in combination in particular with a member capable of directing the support rods, outside the plane of the truncated cones .

 Preferably, the problem which the invention proposes to solve is to transfer the products to the same receiving member.

 This problem is solved in that the fixed truncated cone receives the first and second evacuation means which are in communication with the receiving member.

 Advantageously, the evacuation means are constituted by chutes.

 To resolve the problem posed of transferring the products, in a simple and effective manner, by simple gravity, the axis of rotation of the trunk of cone system is arranged very substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane.

 As indicated, this transfer device according to the invention finds a particularly advantageous application, for products in the form of a tubular body, having an open end and a closed end or one of the ends of which has a large diameter opening. and the other end of which has a small diameter opening.

 Mention may be made, by way of non-limiting indication, of an application to syringes, bottle preforms, tubes of tablets, tubes or cases for various packaging, etc.

The invention is set out below in more detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing, before assembly, the main elements of the device according to the invention.

 Figure 2 is a longitudinal view of an embodiment of the device.

 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

 Figures 4 and 5 are views on a larger scale, showing the principle of product selection according to their orientation at the outlet of the dispenser.

 Figures 6, 7 and 8 are schematic views showing the operating principle of the device.

 Figure 9 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment.

 FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a type of product capable of being treated by the device.

 As indicated, the device is shaped to ensure the transfer of products (P) from a dispensing member (D) to at least one receiving member (R). The products (P) are placed in bulk in the dispenser which can be of any known and appropriate type depending on the nature of the products to be treated. For example, this distributor, subject to drive means, in particular in rotation, can be constituted by a turntable or Chinese hat.

As for the receiver, the latter can also have different modes of execution. For example, the receiver (R) may consist of a conveyor belt having a plurality of imprints or the like, for positioning the products (P) (FIG. 1). The distributor and the receiver are not described in detail since they do not form part of the specific object of the invention.

 According to the invention, the device comprises, at the outlet of the distributor (D), means capable of sorting the products (P), to direct them according to their orientation, either towards a first evacuation means (1), either to a second discharge means (2), so as to always present the products (P) on the same side on the receiver (R).

 As shown in Figure 1, the means for orienting the products, are constituted by a system of trunks of cones (3) and (4), mounted with the capacity of circular movement relative to each other. More particularly, the truncated cone (3) is fixed, while the truncated cone (4) is mobile. The two trunks of cones (3) and (4) are arranged coaxially and concentrically by being nested one inside the other, with a functional clearance necessary to allow their relative angular displacement.

 The mobile truncated cone (4) is located outside the fixed truncated cone (3) and is positively rotated relative to said truncated cone (3), by any known and appropriate means (5). Figure 2 shows a non-limiting example of an assembly of the two truncated cones and the rotational drive of the movable cone trunk (4).

 The mobile truncated cone (4) has, over its entire periphery and preferably at regular intervals, a series of sectors (4a) delimiting a series of radial openings (4b). The thickness of the truncated cone (4) and, consequently, of the sectors (4a), is determined to delimit openings (4b) sufficiently deep to allow, as will be indicated in the following description, the positioning and the maintenance temporary products (P). The bottom of the openings (4b) is formed by the outer periphery of the truncated cone (3), after assembly, as indicated, of the two truncated cones (3) and (4).

 These openings (4b) are intended to direct the products (P), into the first evacuation means (1). In this regard, the openings (4b), under the effect of the rotational driving of the truncated cone (4), can, successively, be placed in communication with another opening (3a) that has the periphery of the trunk of fixed cone (3). This opening (3a) is in communication with the evacuation means (1), established for example, in the form of a chute (la) which can cooperate directly or via an added element (lb) with the receiver (R).

 According to another characteristic, the truncated cone (4) has at each of its openings (4b), fingers or rods (5), integral with part of said truncated cone (4), to be driven in rotation concomitantly.

 Advantageously, the rods (5) are integral with a part (4c), for example in the form of a flange, located at the end of the small section of the truncated cone (4). These rods (5) are intended to direct the product (P) into the second discharge means (2).

 In the example of FIG. 1, this second evacuation means (2) is constituted by a chute (2a) subject to a profiled flange in the form of a sector (2b) capable of cooperating tangentially, with part of the periphery of the horn trunk (3).

 As will be indicated in the following description, this sector (2b) essentially has the effect of retaining and channeling the products (P) to direct them into the chute (2a).

 To allow the automatic transfer of products (P), essentially using the phenomenon of gravity, the axis of rotation (XX ') of the system of truncated cones (3) and (4) is arranged very substantially perpendicular to a plane vertical.

 It will be recalled that the device according to the invention applies more particularly to products (P), in the form in particular of a tubular body of which one of the ends (Pi) is open, while the other end ( P2) is closed (Figure 10). Or, the body may have a large diameter opening at one of its ends, while its other end has a reduced diameter opening.

 Reference is now made to FIGS. 4 to 8 to explain the operation of the device according to the invention.

 The products (P) are placed in bulk in the distributor (D), to continuously supply the system of truncated cones (3) and (4). At this level, the products (P) can be brought to the truncated cone (4) and more particularly into the radial openings (4b), in two opposite directions. Either the closed end (P2) of the product is directed downward, i.e. towards the smallest section of the truncated cone (4), or vice versa, it is the open end (Pi ) which is directed downwards.

 In the case where the closed end (P2) is directed downwards, the latter is in abutment against the rod (5) and is directed under the effect of rotation of the truncated cone (4), at the level of the opening (3a) of the truncated cone (3) to be evacuated by the chute (ta) of the means (i), the end (P2) always being directed downwards (FIG. 4).

 It is quite obvious that the width of the openings (4b) and the positioning of the rods (5) are determined according to the nature of the products (P) to, on the one hand, position them as indicated and, on the other hand, keep them in position up to the level of the opening (3a).

 In the opposite case where it is the open end (put) which is directed downwards, the product (P), through its opening (put), is engaged on the corresponding rod (5). Under the effect of rotation of the truncated cone (4), the product (P), maintained by the rod (5), is conveyed in the direction of the chute (2a). More particularly, when the product has exceeded its equilibrium position, relative to the horizontal, the latter tends to slide automatically along the rod by gravity, to come to the level of the chute (2a), in order to its evacuation.

 As before, and as shown in FIG. 5, at the time of its evacuation in the chute, the end (P2) is directed downwards. Note that before its introduction into the chute (2), the product is held by the profiled sector (2b).

 It therefore appears that, whatever the direction of orientation of the products (P) at the outlet of the distributor, the latter are directed at the level of the receiving member, always on the same side. The desired goal is therefore well achieved. Reference is made in particular to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, which diagrammatically show the operating principle of the device as described and the evacuation of the products in the troughs (t) and (2), always in the same direction, whatever their starting position.

 In the embodiment illustrated schematically in Figure 9, the rods (5) are mounted on an endless chain (6) cooperating with the part of the system of trunks of cones (3) and (4) of small section. The rods (5) are suitably positioned and angularly oriented, in order to cooperate progressively, on the one hand, in the rotation drive of the truncated cone (4) and, on the other hand, in the movement of the barge (6) with the openings (4b).

The operation remains exactly the same as that described above. Either, depending on its orientation, the product falls into the opening (4b) to be directed directly at the discharge means (1) through the opening (3a), or the product (P) is positioned on the rods (5).

 Note that in this case, the chute (2) is no longer necessary, the product being able to be brought directly to the receiver (R), which, moreover, may be different from that cooperating with the chute (1). Similarly, provision is made, in the case where the rods (5) are carried by a chain, to equip the other part of the truncated cone (4), at its largest section, with another series of rods (not shown).

 It is obvious that the entire device as described is slaved to any synchronous control means, for driving the distributor (D), the truncated cone (4) and the receiver (R).

 The advantages clearly emerge from the description, in particular the possibility of directing, always in the same direction of orientation, to one or more receivers, products initially arranged in bulk, is emphasized and recalled.

Claims (11)

-1- Device for transferring products arranged in bulk, from a distributor member (D) to a receiver member (R), characterized in that it comprises, at the outlet of the distributor member (D), means (3) and (4) capable of sorting the products (P) to direct them according to their orientation, either towards a first means of evacuation (t), or towards a second means of evacuation (2), so always present the products (P) on the same side on the receiving member (R). -2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means are constituted by a system of truncated cones (3) and (4) mounted with circular displacement capacity relative to each other. -3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that one of the trunk of cones (3) is fixed while the other (4) is mobile. -4- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the movable truncated cone (4) has, on the one hand, arrangements (4a-4b) for directing the products (P) in one of the means of evacuation (t) and, on the other hand, elements (5) able to cooperate with part of the product, to transport them in the other evacuation means (2).  -5- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the arrangements (4a-4b) are constituted by radial openings formed on the periphery of the movable truncated cone (4), in communication with the fixed truncated cone (3), while the elements (5) consist of rods capable of acting as a support for the product (P). -6- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the rods (5) are formed in each of the openings of the movable cone trunk (4), being integral with at least the small diameter portion of said cane trunk. -7- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the rods (5) are mounted in the lower part of each of the openings (4b) corresponding to the small diameter of the truncated cone (4), in combination in particular with a member ( 6) able to direct the support rods, outside the plane of the trunks of canes. -8- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the fixed truncated cone (3) receives the first (t) and the second (2) evacuation means which are in communication with the receiving member (R). -9- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the axis of rotation of the system of truncated cones (3) and (4) is arranged very substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane.  -10- Use of the device for products (P) in the form of a tubular body, having an open end (put) and a closed end (P2). -11- Use of the device for products in the form of a tubular body, one end of which has a large diameter opening and the other end of which has a small diameter opening.