FR2789375A1 - Station for delivering pharmaceutical, cosmetic or food products from a conveyor to a packaging or storage line has arrivals conveyor in line with either output conveyor or collection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The station has an arrivals conveyor (6) with its end moving up or down to bring it in line with either an output conveyor (7) or a collection device (13). The collection device can be raised or lowered to align with the arrivals conveyor in the lowered position or to align with an item removal conveyor (4).

Description

STATION FOR DISTRIBUTING PRODUCTS FROM A LINE OF

  CONVEYING TO AN EVACUATION LINE

  The present invention relates to a station which allows the distribution of products from a conveyor line to a discharge line, for example in the context of installations for manufacturing cookies, chocolate bars, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or others, to direct products from the manufacturing unit to a

  processing, including a packaging machine or a storage unit.

  In document US-A-5 429 223, this type of station consists of an inlet conveyor and an outlet conveyor arranged in the extension of one another on the main conveyor line, and whose

  opposite ends are pivotally mounted.

  Under the transition front of the inlet and outlet conveyors, there is an evacuation conveyor which is arranged perpendicular to the main conveyor line and which is bordered by two mobile recovery devices from the

tray and pusher type.

  The movement of the pivoting ends of the input and output conveyors, as well as the movement of the two recovery devices is effected by means of motorizations and operating rods. These movements are suitable: a) either to place the end of the inlet conveyor opposite that of the outlet conveyor so as to ensure the handling of the products coming from the inlet conveyor, by the outlet conveyor; b) or to place the end of the inlet conveyor opposite that of the associated recovery device, so as to allow the transfer of the products coming from the inlet conveyor, onto the evacuation conveyor; c) or to place the end of the outlet conveyor opposite that of the associated recovery device, so as to allow the transfer of the products coming from the outlet conveyor, onto the discharge conveyor. In the latter case, we speak of a "reintroduction" phase during which the outlet conveyor serves as a buffer zone to absorb the temporary surplus of products compared to the capacity of the treatment station.

  to which the evacuation conveyor ends.

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  It will be noted here that certain stations of the same kind may not include reintroduction means, if the corresponding function does not

is not necessary.

  In the distribution station described in document US-A-5,429,223, a first motorization controls the movement of the downstream end of the inlet conveyor and that of the recovery device located just below, associated with the outlet conveyor, while a second motor control the movement of the upstream end of the output conveyor and that of the device

  recovery located just below, associated with the input conveyor.

  In phase a) described above, the respectively downstream and upstream ends of the inlet and outlet conveyors are in the low position; in phases b) and c) the motorizations ensure the elevation, on the one hand, of the corresponding end of the conveyor to ensure its retraction by positioning it above the path of the conveyor line and, on the other hand , of the recovery device associated with the other conveyor, in order to ensure the transfer

  products on the evacuation conveyor.

  In this type of relatively complex station, the amplitude of the oscillation movements is quite large, which can adversely affect the rates of distribution or reintroduction; on the other hand, given the structure of the movement control system, the efforts on the motorizations are substantial, particularly in the phases of raising the

  recovery and the end of the conveyor located just above.

  The present invention provides a distribution station provided with an original movement control system, making it possible to remedy the

aforementioned drawbacks.

  In the distribution station according to the present invention, whether or not provided with means allowing the reintroduction of the products, the downstream end of the inlet conveyor is movable between a high position in which it is located in the path of the conveyor line to ensure the taking over of the products by the output conveyor, and between a low position in which it is aligned with the end of the associated recovery device. This station further comprises means making it possible to lower the downstream end of the inlet conveyor and, simultaneously, to raise the end of the

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  associated recovery in order to place said ends in alignment with one another and, by a reverse movement, making it possible to raise the downstream end of said input conveyor to replace it in the high position in the path of the line conveying and, simultaneously, lower the end of said associated recovery conveyor, to position it in alignment with the discharge line. According to another characteristic of the invention, the control of the movement of the downstream end of the input conveyor and the control of the movement of the associated recovery device are carried out by means of a single actuation device, via means of transmitting appropriate movements. Preferably, this movement control is carried out by means of a single motorization, for example electric, by

  through mechanical means such as levers and connecting rods.

  According to a preferred embodiment, a drive shaft controls the movement of the recovery device by means of a lever; this drive shaft also controls the movement of the downstream end of the input conveyor by means of a drive rocker which actuates a connecting rod secured to a rocker lever mounted idly on a carrier shaft, which rocker lever actuates a connecting rod articulated at its upper end on said downstream end of the input conveyor. The rotational movement of the motor shaft is advantageously controlled by a drive lever which is maneuvered by a driving rod, itself

  powered by electric motorization.

  According to another characteristic, the recovery device consists of a frame which is provided with a recovery plate and a pusher system, the rear part of this recovery device being carried by a link articulated on the chassis of the conveyor outlet and its front part being carried by the lever

  maneuver integral with the motor shaft.

  According to a particular embodiment, the station includes reintroduction means which allow the transfer of the products on the evacuation line after their accumulation on the outlet conveyor. The upstream end of the outlet conveyor is then pivoted between a high position in which it is located in the path of the conveyor line to

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  take care of the products coming from the input conveyor, and between a low position in which it is aligned with the end of a second recovery device, disposed on the other side of the evacuation line relative to to the first recovery device which is associated with the downstream end of the input conveyor. The means for actuating the upstream end of the outlet conveyor and of this second recovery device are identical to the means of actuating the downstream end of the inlet conveyor and of the first recovery device, and these means of actuation are arranged symmetrically or substantially symmetrically with respect to the median plane M of the station passing through the transition front between the input conveyor and the

output conveyor.

  The motor shaft which controls the movement of the downstream end of the input conveyor and the movement of the first recovery device preferably acts as a carrying shaft for the idler rocker lever of the reintroduction means, and the carrying shaft on which is mounted for the rocker lever which controls the pivoting movement of the downstream end of the conveyor

  input acts as a drive shaft for these reintroduction means.

  The invention will now be illustrated, without being in any way limited,

  by the following description, in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

  - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of a distribution station according to the present invention, devoid of reintroduction means, said station being in the conventional conveying position, the downstream end of the conveyor inlet being placed opposite the upstream end of the outlet conveyor; - Figure 2 shows the distribution station of Figure 1 with the downstream end of the inlet conveyor placed opposite the end of the associated recovery device, for the transfer of a product or a row of products on the evacuation line; - Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a distribution station similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, but comprising reintroduction means, said station being illustrated in the conventional conveying position, the downstream end of the inlet conveyor placed opposite the upstream end of the outlet conveyor;

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  - Figure 4 shows the distribution station of Figure 3 with the upstream end of the outlet conveyor placed opposite the associated recovery device, for the reintroduction of a product or a row of products on the line evacuation. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, from the main conveyor line 1, the distribution station 2 allows the transfer of the products 3 to a discharge line 4 arranged perpendicularly, leading to a treatment station not shown, for example a unit of

  storage, packaging machine or other.

  The main conveyor line 1 comes for example from a product manufacturing unit; it can supply several evacuation lines by

  each time through a distribution station 2.

  Products 3 can be transported individually or in rows.

  Station 2 consists of an inlet conveyor 6, of the endless belt type, and an outlet conveyor 7, also of the endless belt type, arranged in line with one another and both forming an integral part of the main conveyor line 1. Conventionally, the two conveyors 6 and 7 are carried by a frame and their endless belts

  are mounted on guide rollers, one of which is motorized.

  The downstream end 6 ′ of the input conveyor 6 is pivotally mounted around a horizontal articulation axis 8 which extends perpendicular to the direction of

displacement 9 of products 3.

  The evacuation line 4 consists of one or more conveyors of the endless belt type. It extends under the inlet 6 and outlet 7 conveyors, and its upstream end is centered on the transition front 10 of said

conveyors 6 and 7.

  Under the upstream end 7 ′ of the outlet conveyor 7 there is a mobile recovery device 13 consisting of a frame 14 which supports a plate of

  recovery 15 cooperating with a push system 16.

  The end 6 ′ of the input conveyor 6 and the recovery device 13 are associated with holding and actuating means which make it possible to place the station in two configurations illustrated respectively in FIGS. 1 and 2.

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  In the station configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the downstream end 6 ′ of the input conveyor 6 is placed in the high position to lie in the path of the conveyor line 1, that is to say opposite from the upstream end 7 ′ of the outlet conveyor 7, in order to ensure that the products 3 are taken up by this outlet conveyor 7. The end of the recovery device 13 is placed in

  low position, in line with the evacuation line 4.

  In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the downstream end 6 ′ of the conveyor 6 is placed in the low position, opposite the end of the recovery device 13 which, in turn, is in the high position, so as to allow the transfer of a product 3 or of a row of products 3 to the tray 15 of said

recovery device 13.

  Once this transfer has been carried out, the product or the row of products 3 abuts against the pusher system 16; the station then returns in the configuration of FIG. 1, and the product or products 3 can be moved on the upper strand of the conveyor line 4 by a translation action of the

  push system 16 (visible in dotted lines in FIG. 1).

  When the configuration of the station is modified, the movements of the downstream end 6 ′ of the input conveyor 6 and those of the recovery device 13 are reversed with respect to each other, which makes it possible to limit the

  angular deflections of the two mechanical devices.

  The actuation means used consist of a single motorization 17 which ensures the simultaneous control of the movements of the end

  downstream 6 'of the conveyor 6 and of the recovery device 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the motorization 17, for example of the electric type, controls the rotation maneuver of a shaft 18, called the drive shaft, by means of a drive rod 20 and a the sink

training 22.

  The drive shaft 18 controls the movement of the recovery device 13 by means of a lever 24. One end of the lever 24 is engaged on the drive shaft 18 and its other end is articulated at 25 on the front of the frame 14 of the recovery device 13. The rear part of the recovery device 13 is supported by a link 26 articulated at 27 on the chassis of the conveyor

exit 7 and at 28 on frame 14.

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  The articulation points 25, 27 and 28, as well as the length of the lever 24 and that of the link 28 are adapted according to the movements of the device.

  recovery 13 that one wishes to obtain.

  The motor shaft 18 also controls the movement of the downstream end 6 ′ of the conveyor 6 by means of movement transmission means constituted by a drive rocker 30 which actuates a connecting rod 32 secured to a lever rocker 34 mounted idly on a carrier shaft 36, which rocker lever 34 actuates itself a connecting rod 38 whose upper end is articulated at 39 on the downstream part 6 'of the conveyor

input 6.

  Here again, the dimensional characteristics of the various mechanical elements, and their points of articulation, are adapted as a function of the pivoting movements of the end 6 ′ of the input conveyor 6 that are

desire to obtain.

  The control of the motorization 17 is preferably managed automatically, from information on the positioning of the products

  supplied by judiciously arranged sensors.

  Given the reverse movement (up and down) of the recovery device 13 and the downstream end 6 'of the conveyor 6, when the station configuration changes, the effort to lift one of the elements is partially compensated by the weight of the other, which limits the

  required power of the actuating mechanism 17.

  Figures 3 and 4 show a distribution station operating on the same principle as that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and having the same mechanical elements, but also comprising reintroduction means allowing the transfer of products 3 or rows of products 3

  after their accumulation on the output conveyor 7.

  In these two figures, the mechanical elements identical to the first embodiment retain the same references. The additional mechanical means linked to the reintroduction function are represented in

  dotted to facilitate functional readability.

  In this embodiment, the upstream end 7 ′ of the outlet conveyor 7 is pivotally mounted around a horizontal articulation axis 40 arranged

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  perpendicular to the direction of movement of the products 3 on the main conveying line 1. This pivoting end 7 'is maintained and actuated by one or more connecting rods 42 articulated at 43 on said end 7' and at 44 on a rocking lever 45 mounted idly on the shaft 18. The rocking lever 45 is actuated by a connecting rod 46 integral with a drive lever 47 engaged on the shaft 36, and this shaft 36 is itself controlled in rotation by an actuating mechanism 48, such as an electric motor, for example, via a drive rod 49 and a

drive lever 50.

  Also engaged on the shaft 36, there is a lever 52 whose upper end is articulated at 54 on the front part of a take-up device 56 of the plate 57 and pusher 58 type, identical or similar to the take-up device 13. The recovery device 56 is arranged under the downstream end 6 'of the inlet conveyor 6, on the other side of the discharge line 4 relative to the

homologous recovery 13.

  The rear part of the recovery device 56 is supported by a guide rod 60 which is articulated at 61 on said recovery device 56 and at 62

  on the frame of the inlet conveyor 6.

  In this station structure, the means which allow the distribution of the products and the means which allow their reintroduction are arranged symmetrically or almost symmetrically with respect to the median plane M passing through the transition front 10 between the input conveyor 6 and the output conveyor 7. It is also noted that the drive shaft 18 which controls the movements of the downstream end 6 ′ of the input conveyor 6 and of the recovery device 13 acts as a carrying shaft for the rocking lever 45 of the reintroduction means, while the carrier shaft 36 on which the rocker lever 34 is mounted, which controls the pivoting movement of the downstream end 6 ′ of the input conveyor 6, acts as a drive shaft for the means of reintroduction. In this type of installation, the products 3 which come from the conveyor 6 are transferred to the outlet conveyor 7 or to the discharge line 4, as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. On the other hand, after accumulation on the output conveyor 7, the products can be reintroduced on the line

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  4 by evacuating the downstream end 7 'of the

  conveyor 7 and the recovery device 56, by the motor means 48.

  Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the two stages of the function of

reintroduction of this station.

  In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3, the downstream end 6 ′ of the inlet conveyor 6 is placed in the high position to lie in the path of the conveyor line 1, that is to say facing the 'upstream end 7' of the output conveyor 7, in order to ensure the handling and accumulation of the products 3 on this output conveyor 7. The input conveyor 6 moves the products in the direction of the arrow orientation 9 and the output conveyor moves the products in the same direction, in the direction of the arrow

guidance 65.

  Furthermore, the end of the recovery device 56 is placed in the low position, in alignment with the evacuation line 4 (just like the recovery device

counterpart 13).

  In the station configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, the direction of movement of the endless belt of the output conveyor 7 is reversed to move the products 3 accumulated in the direction of the orientation arrow 66 (the drive means for the endless belt of the output conveyor 7 are adapted to allow this displacement inversion). On the other hand, the motorization 48 lowers the upstream end 7 'of the conveyor 7 and raises the end of the associated recovery device 56, to place them opposite one another, so as to allow the transfer of 'a product 3 or a row of products 3 on the plate 57, in abutment against the pusher system 58. The station then returns to the configuration of FIG. 1 and the product or products 3 can be moved on the upper strand of conveyor line 4 by one

  translation action of the pusher system 58.

  In a similar manner to the distribution means, the operation of which has been detailed in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2, during modifications to the configuration of the station, the movement of the upstream end 7 ′ of the outlet conveyor 7 is reversed by relative to the movement of the associated recovery device 56, which makes it possible to limit the angular movement of the two mechanical devices. Also, again, the effort to lift one of the

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  elements is partially offset by the weight of each other, which allows

  limit the power required by the actuating mechanism 48.

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Claims (8)

- CLAIMS -   1.- Station for distributing products (3) from a conveyor line (1) to a discharge line (4), for example to ensure their storage or to supply a packaging machine or other, which station includes an inlet conveyor (6) and an outlet conveyor (7) arranged in the extension of one another, the downstream end (6 ') of the inlet conveyor (6) being pivotally mounted between a position in which it is aligned with the upstream end (7 ') of the outlet conveyor (7) to ensure the taking over of the products (3) by said outlet conveyor (7), and between a position in which it is aligned with the end of a recovery device (13) allowing the transfer of the products (3) on said evacuation line (4) arranged perpendicular to said inlet (6) and outlet (7) conveyors, and of which l 'one of the ends is disposed under the respectively downstream (6') and upstream (7 ') end of said inlet conveyors (6) and d e outlet (7), characterized in that it comprises an inlet conveyor (6) whose downstream end (6 ') is movable between a high position in which it is located in the path of the conveyor line ( 1) to ensure the taking over of the products (3) by the outlet conveyor (7), and between a low position in which it is aligned with the end of the recovery device (13), which station comprises means allowing lower the downstream end (6 ') of said input conveyor (6) and, simultaneously, raise the end of the recovery device (13) in order to place said ends in alignment with one of the 'other and, by a reverse movement, to raise the downstream end (6') of said input conveyor (6) to replace it in the high position in the path of the conveyor line (1) and, simultaneously, d '' lower the end of said recovery device (13) to position it in alignment with the discharge line (4) . 2.Station according to claim 1, characterized in that the control of the movement of the downstream end (6 ') of the input conveyor (6) and the control of the movement of the recovery device (13) are carried out by means of '' a single actuating device (17), through   means of transmitting appropriate movements. 12 2789375   3.- Station according to claim 2, characterized in that the control of the movement of the downstream end (6 ') of the input conveyor (6) and the control of the movement of the recovery device (13) are carried out by means of a single motorization (17), for example of the electric type, by means of mechanical means of the lever and connecting rod type.  4.Station according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a motor shaft (18) which controls the movement of the recovery device (13) by means of a lever (24), which motor shaft (18) also controls the movement of the downstream end (6 ') of the input conveyor (6) by means of a drive rocker (30) which actuates a connecting rod (32) integral with a rocker lever (34) mounted idly on a carrier shaft (36), which rocking lever (34) actuates a connecting rod (38) articulated at its upper end on said downstream end (6 ') of the input conveyor (6). 5.- Station according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a motor shaft (18) whose rotational movement is controlled by a   drive lever (22) which is operated by a driving rod (20) itself   even actuated by the electric motor (17).   6.- Station according to any one of claims 4 or 5,   characterized in that it comprises a recovery device (13) consisting of a frame (14) which is provided with a recovery plate (15) and a pusher system (16), the rear part of this device recovery (13) being carried by a link (26) articulated on the chassis of the outlet conveyor (7), and its front part being carried by the operating lever (24) integral with the motor shaft (18).   7.- Station according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized   in that it comprises so-called "reintroduction" means which allow the transfer of the products (3) on the evacuation line (4), after their accumulation on the outlet conveyor (7), the upstream end (7 ') of said output conveyor (7) being pivoted between a high position in which it is located in the path of the conveyor line (1) to take care of the products (3) coming from the input conveyor ( 6) and between a low position in which it is aligned with the end of a second recovery device 13 2789375   (56) disposed on the other side of the discharge line (4) relative to the first recovery device (13) which is associated with the downstream end (6 ') of the inlet conveyor (6), the means for actuating the upstream end (7 ') of the outlet conveyor (7) and the second recovery device (56) being identical to the means for actuating the downstream end (6') of the inlet conveyor (6) and the first recovery device (13), and being arranged symmetrically or substantially symmetrical with respect to the median plane M of the station passing through the transition front (10) of the products (3) between the conveyor entry (6) and the output conveyor (7).   8.- Station according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive shaft (18) which controls the movement of the downstream end (6 ') of the input conveyor (6) and the movement of the first recovery device ( 13), acts as a support shaft for the idler rocker lever (45) of the reintroduction means, and in that the carrier shaft (36) on which the rocker lever (34) is mounted for idle control of the pivoting movement from the downstream end (6 ') of said input conveyor (6) acts as a drive shaft for said reintroduction means.