FR2810961A1 - AUTOMATIC PART DISTRIBUTION DEVICE BY INCLINED ROTARY SYSTEM WITH FINGERPRINTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns improvements brought to devices automatically dispensing work pieces comprising an inclined rotary disc (7), arranged in a drum (8), above the wall thereof, and provided at its periphery with indentations, each designed to receive a work piece (2), wherein the work pieces are brought onto the top surface of the disc before being individually taken by a respective indentation. The invention is characterised in that the base wall (9) of the drum and the centre of the disc (7) are provided each with a respective recess (12, 13), and means (11) supplying work pieces are arranged so as to bring said work pieces on the top surface of the disc causing them to pass through said respective recesses of the drum base wall and of the disc centre.

Description

B0007.doc

I 2810961

  Automatic coin dispensing device by

  inclined rotary fingerprint system.

  The invention relates to improvements made to devices for the automatic distribution of parts by an inclined rotary fingerprint system. More particularly, it relates to a particular arrangement which, from a set of loose parts, makes it possible to bring the parts to an automatic distribution device by rotary system as such, from which they leave o10 individually with a spacing and / or cadence

  predetermined, or even with a predetermined orientation.

  The distribution of parts by inclined rotary impression systems is used in various industrial sectors. Such systems include an inclined disc, connected to rotary drive means, arranged in a drum and provided at its periphery with recesses, also called selection imprints, intended to each receive a part. The disc is arranged parallel to the bottom wall of the drum, and means are provided so that a part placed in an imprint remains in the latter without having any possibility of sneaking between the disc and the bottom wall; in addition, the disc is surrounded by the peripheral wall of the drum, so that a part, when it is in an imprint, is entrained by the disc while being guided

along the peripheral wall.

  In known devices, the parts are brought into the drum using an assembly constituted by a hopper associated with an elevator and with a chute which arrives above the drum: more precisely, from the elevator, the parts fall into the chute, into which they slide, and from which they fall into the drum, on the upper face of the disc. They are then taken up unitarily by the imprints, to be led to a downstream evacuation or extraction device, such as an extraction ramp, located at B0007.doc outside, and communicating with the inside. of the drum through an opening

  formed in the peripheral wall of the drum.

  Devices of this type can be used, starting from loose parts, to distribute them to the downstream device with a predetermined rate or pitch which depend on the speed of rotation of the disc and the spacing between two successive imprints. However, in addition to the function of setting in rhythm or not the parts, they generally comprise means of orientation of the parts which, acting between the moment when the parts fall on the disc and the io moment when they are taken up individually by an imprint, allow each part to arrive on the downstream device with a

determined orientation.

  These known devices however have various drawbacks. on the one hand, the vertical size of the assembly constituted by the hopper and the chute is significant; on the other hand, the presence of this assembly limits access to the drum, mainly when it is a question of controlling or adjusting the device, whether in the maintenance phases or in changing the format of the parts to be distributed; moreover, the parts may be damaged when they fall from the chute into the disc, or even upstream, when they fall from

the elevator in the chute.

  The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

  According to the invention, a device for dispensing parts

  comprising an inclined rotating disc, arranged in a drum,

  above the bottom wall thereof, and provided at its periphery with imprints, each intended to receive a part, in which the parts are brought to the upper face of the disc before being taken up individually by a respective imprint, is characterized in that the bottom wall of the drum and the center of the disc are each provided with a respective recess, and means for supplying loose pieces are arranged so as to bring said pieces onto the upper face of the disc by passing them to B0007.doc through said respective recesses in the bottom wall of the drum

and from the center of the disc.

  Thus, the vertical size is reduced the top of the

  drum determines the upper limit of the device.

  The space requirement on the ground can also be reduced, since the parts are brought from below the disc: the feeding means are therefore at least partially plumb with the drum, whereas with the previously known devices, they were offset ; in addition, the structure of the device according to the invention 1o overcomes the need for a chute, which reduces the overall size. In addition, the supply of parts to the device takes place from below the drum, through its bottom wall and through the

  disk, accessibility issues are resolved.

  In addition, the pieces, arriving on the upper face of the disc, slide on it and therefore do not fall any more: the problems

  no longer arise.

  According to another characteristic, the pieces are brought to the upper face of the disc by passing them through said respective recesses in the bottom wall of the drum and in the center of the

  disc is carried out using a lifting blade system.

  In a variant, the pieces are brought to the upper face of the disc by passing them through said respective recesses in the bottom wall of the drum and in the center of the disc.

  is done using a pallet system.

  According to another characteristic, in addition to the selection disc, the

  drum is associated with bodies for orienting objects.

  According to another characteristic, the rotation of the disc is

  caused by a peripheral drive device.

  According to another characteristic, the drum is associated with a downstream device for evacuating the parts, constituted for example by

an extraction ramp.

  B0007doc Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the description below, made opposite

  appended figures, in which: ò Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of an embodiment of an equipment comprising a device according to the invention; ò Figure 2 is a top view of the drum, with its

associated organs.

  The equipment shown in the figures comprises a hopper 1, for the storage of loose parts 2, at the bottom of which is arranged an endless belt 3, driven in the direction of arrow 4, by

  example using an electric motor, not shown.

  At the front of the endless belt is provided a short inclined plane 5, making it possible to supply the device 6 for distributing parts as

  as such, which constitutes the object of the present invention.

  In known manner, the dispensing device 6 comprises an inclined rotary disc 7, arranged in a drum 8, parallel to the bottom wall 9 of the latter and above this wall, and provided at its periphery with imprints 10 , visible in Figure 2, intended for

each receive a coin.

  In FIG. 1, the drum 8 and the associated members are

  represented according to the section plane II of FIG. 2.

  According to the invention, the means 11 for bringing the parts onto the upper face of the disc for their individual recovery by a respective imprint 10, pass these parts through recesses 12, 13, respectively formed in the

  wall 9 at the bottom of the drum 8 and in the center of the disc 7.

  In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the means 11 are arranged in the form of a blade elevator, known per se, which is arranged near the inclined plane 5, so as to receive the parts 2 which arrive from the belt 3 endless on this one. The elevator extends obliquely upwards, and ends in the drum, in B0007.doc passing through the recesses 12, 13, formed respectively in the

  wall 9 at the bottom of the drum and in the center of the disc.

  The shape and the dimensions of the recess 12 formed in the wall 9 of the bottom of the drum are of little importance: it is however advisable that this recess is of sufficient dimensions to allow the means 11, in the example the blade elevator, can bring the parts on the upper face of the disc, for their individual recovery by a respective imprint 10. Thus, in the example, this recess 12 has a rectangular section and is offset towards the bottom of the drum. This downward offset makes it possible to reduce the vertical stroke of the parts in the drum, so as to limit as much as possible the amplitude of the shocks they undergo, arriving at the bottom of the drum, either against its peripheral wall 14, or against orientation means, not shown but known per se, which the latter may include, following the slide, illustrated by the arrows 15, which they perform on the upper face of the disc

after leaving the elevator.

  To allow the passage of the parts and their bringing on the upper face of the disc, after their exit from the elevator, at any time while the disc is in rotation or for, correlatively, not to disturb the rotation of the disc, the recess 13 formed in the latter is arranged so that no portion of the disc is opposite the outlet of the supply means 11, here the elevator. Preferably, this recess 13 is circular and is centered on the center

  of the disc, so that the disc is shaped like a crown.

  Preferably, as visible in the figures, to prevent the parts which arrive at the top of the elevator from falling between the disc and the wall 9 of the bottom of the drum, when they leave the elevator, the space left free below the outlet of the elevator, between the latter and the interior of the crown constituting the disc, contains a panel 16, the exterior contour of which corresponds to the interior contour of said space left free and the upper face of which is coplanar with that of the disc. Here, the interior contour B0007.doc of the space left free is inscribed in a disc portion, and the exterior contour of the panel 16 is therefore inscribed in a disc portion. Thus, the parts that come out of the elevator slide on this panel 16 before arriving on the disc, following the path illustrated by the arrows 15, without being able to get stuck or get lost elsewhere in

the device.

  More preferably, as is also visible in the figures, a panel 17, in the form of a disc portion, is arranged in the space left free above the outlet of the elevator,

  1o between the latter and the interior of the crown constituting the disc.

  As for the previous 16, the upper face of this panel 17 is coplanar with that of the disc. This preferred arrangement makes it possible, for example, to prevent parts which, entrained by the crown, falling off the latter, while they are in its upper part, falling into an unwanted zone, for example

  between the disc and the bottom wall of the drum.

  More generally, preferably, all the places where parts are likely to slip undesirably are

  closed using panels or other suitable means.

  Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 2, sealing means 18, 19 are provided near each vertical side of the outlet of the means 11 for feeding the parts, here the elevator, between the latter and the

  inner rim of the disc crown.

  As illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the rotation of the hollow disc (crown), in the direction illustrated by the arrows 20, 21, can be ensured by a system comprising a motor 22, a reduction gear 23, and by pulleys 24 driving and tensioning a belt arranged in a groove or a circular path 26 formed on or carried by the crown. Of course, the center of rotation of the groove

  or the path is confused with that of the disc.

  Other means for driving the rotating disc are of course conceivable. Thus, for example, it is entirely possible B0007.doc to use a system with a motor and pinions driving a

  ring gear carried by or made on the disc.

  Preferably, as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the means for driving the disc in rotation are arranged so as to act below it, that is to say on its opposite face

of the bottom wall 9 of the drum.

  Thus, in one implementation, these means are completely contained in the space between the disc and the bottom wall of the drum, which supposes that this space is sufficiently large, in particular to arrange the motor. In a variant, part of these means, in particular the motor, is outside the drum, and a mechanical connection is made between these means and complementary means arranged in the space between the disc and the wall

drum bottom.

  As visible in FIG. 1 and shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, means 27 are arranged under the crown opposite the imprints 10 to hold each part in place in a respective imprint at a level determined with respect to the disc. In the example illustrated, these means 27 constitute a circular path or guide, parallel to the plane of the disc, produced by means of an insert in the form of a ring, fixed inside the drum, forming a flange between the underside of the disc and the bottom wall of the drum, facing the path traveled by the

fingerprints.

  In variants, not shown, the means 27 for holding each part in place in a respective cavity at a determined level with respect to the disc form an integral part of the disc. They are therefore driven with the disc, which makes it possible to reduce the friction surfaces between the parts and fixed parts of the dispenser: consequently, these variants are suitable for the distribution of parts sensitive to friction. Thus, in one implementation, the means consist of an annular piece B0007.doc fixed to the underside of the disc, facing the zone where the imprints are located; in another implementation, they are produced during the production of the imprints in the form of individual stops, either formed at the bottom of each imprint during the machining of the latter, or added and fixed opposite

each fingerprint.

  In a manner known per se, the parts are distributed to a device 28 for the evacuation or extraction of the parts, such as a

  extraction ramp, which is associated with the drum.

  The operation of the distribution device 6 according to

the invention is as follows.

  The parts 2, deposited on the endless belt 3 of the hopper 1, are directed towards the inclined plane 5, on which they slide and o

  they are taken up by the supply means, here the blade elevator.

  i5 They then pass through recesses 12, 13, respectively formed in the bottom wall 9 of the drum and in the center of the disc 7, and slide towards the lower part of the disc, in the direction illustrated by the arrows 15, before be included individually, in a manner known per se, in the imprints 10, possibly having undergone a prior orientation, in the case where the device 6 also includes suitable means, not

shown in the figures.

  The pieces then follow the path imposed by the rotation of the disc (arrows 20,21) and are distributed to the device 28 for their

  evacuation or extraction, always in a manner known per se.

  Of course, other variants of the invention are also possible. It is thus possible, instead of using the assembly constituted by the storage hopper 1, the mat 3, the inclined plane 5 and by suitable supply means 11, here the blade elevator, to bring directly the parts in the drum using means connected to an upstream device in which the parts have undergone a preliminary treatment or any other device from which the parts leave B0007.doc in bulk: such an upstream device can be for example the device

even manufacturing parts.

  The invention, as we can see, overcomes the problems of

  the prior art in a simple manner to implement.

B0007.doc

Claims (10)

  1. Device for dispensing parts (2) comprising an inclined rotary disc (7), disposed in a drum (8), above the bottom wall (9) thereof, and provided at its periphery with impressions (10), each intended to receive a part, in which the parts (2) are brought to the upper face of the disc before being individually taken up by a respective impression (10), characterized in that the wall (9) bottom of the drum (8) and the center of the disc are each provided with a respective recess (12, 13), and means (11) for supplying loose pieces are arranged so as to bring said pieces onto the upper face of the disc by passing them through said respective recesses (12, 13) of the bottom wall (9) drum and center of the disc.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of feeding (11) of the parts on the upper face of the disc by passing them through said respective recesses (12, 13) of the bottom wall (9) the drum (8) and the center of the   disc (7) comprise a lifting blade system.   3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of supply (11) of the parts on the upper face of the disc (7) by passing them through said respective recesses (12, 13) of the wall (9 ) bottom of drum (8) and center of   disc (7) have a vane system.   4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in   that the drum is associated with bodies for orienting objects.   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in   what it includes means (22, 23, 24, 25) for driving   device to cause the disk to rotate.   6. Device according to one of claims there 5, characterized in   that the drum is associated with a downstream evacuation device (28) pieces.   B0007.doc it 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the downstream device for evacuating the parts consists of an extraction ramp.   8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in   what the recess (12) formed in the bottom wall (9) of the drum is shifted down.   9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in   that the recess (13) formed in the disc is circular and is centered on the center of the disc, so that the disc constitutes a crowned.   10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least part of the space left free by the recess (13) formed in the disc around the outlet of the means (11) for supplying the parts and the flange exterior of said recess is closed using   sealing means (16, 17, 18, 19).   1 1. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the closure means (16, 17, 18, 19) are shaped panels disc portion.   12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the upper face of the panels (16, 17, 18, 19) is coplanar with that of the disc (7).