FR2836903A1 - IMPROVEMENT IN THE GUIDANCE MEANS OF THE PRODUCTS TRANSPORTED BY A CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND THE CONVEYING INSTALLATION EQUIPPED WITH SUCH MEANS - Google Patents

Abstract

The structure according to the present invention for guiding products transported by a conveyor system (1) consists of a guide profile (3), preferably of plastic material, supported by its own weight on said conveyor system (1). . This guide profile (3) is associated with means, preferably in the form of a U-shaped stirrup (4), integral with the frame (5) of the conveyor system, which ensure it is held in position while providing it with a degree of freedom. in a vertical or substantially vertical plane. The retaining bracket (4) advantageously comprises a stop system adapted to prevent longitudinal displacement of the profile (3).

Description

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 The present invention relates to the general field of automatic product conveying. It relates more particularly to an improvement in the means for guiding the products transported by a conveyor system, for example of the motorized endless belt type, and it also relates to the conveying installation equipped with such improved guide means.

 Products which are transported by flat conveyor systems of the endless belt type or equivalent require in certain cases to be suitably guided, either to ensure their correct positioning on the transport plane, in particular within the framework of the formation of lines of products, or to ensure their evacuation from said conveyor system.

 The corresponding guide structures used up to now consist of a flat metal profile, fixed, having good rigidity, secured to the chassis of the installation and kept at a certain distance (of the order of a few millimeters). above the conveyor belt to avoid damaging it.

 However, the space between the lower part of the guide plate and the conveyor system can in certain applications lead to deterioration of the products, in particular when transporting fragile and / or fine products such as food products such as cookies, confectionery or the like. .

On the other hand, the adjustment of the positioning of these guide structures is not very easy to carry out and the configuration changes, in particular the reconfigurations of steps and tracks in the context of guiding product lines, require time. not negligible.

 The present invention provides a new structure of guide means intended to remedy these various drawbacks.

 The structure according to the present invention for guiding products transported on a conveyor system consists of a guide profile bearing by its own weight on said conveyor system; this guide profile is associated with means integral with the chassis of said conveyor system, which ensure that it is held in position while providing it with a degree of freedom in a vertical or substantially vertical plane.

In this type of structure, the space between the guide element and the product transport plane is eliminated, with the elimination of the inherent drawbacks. On the other hand, the installation reconfigurations can in certain cases be carried out by a simple change of the guide profiles, and this without touching their holding means integral with the fixed chassis of the conveyor system.

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 Preferably, the guide profile is made of plastic, in particular to limit its weight and avoid or at least minimize damage to the product transport surface.

 According to an advantageous embodiment, the means for holding the guide profile consist of a U-shaped longitudinal stirrup, the opening of which is oriented towards the conveyor system to receive the upper part of said profile. This longitudinal stirrup is carried by support means integral with the chassis of the conveyor system, and it includes a stop system (s) adapted to prevent the longitudinal displacement of the guide profile.

This stop system (s) is advantageously in the form of a removable lug arranged on the upper part of the longitudinal stirrup, which lug is positioned in a housing arranged on top of the guide profile to ensure longitudinal locking of the last.

 The guide structure defined above can be used in the context of a device for guiding product lines, this device consisting of at least two longitudinal guide structures, parallel or substantially parallel, which form lateral flanges and which define between them a passageway for the products transported.

 In this context, the means for holding the stirrup-shaped profiles are advantageously fixed to one or more support members which are positioned on an upper receiving axis which extends transversely to the direction of movement of the products and which is mounted on the chassis of the conveyor system; these support members are separated from each other on said receiving axis by removable spacers so as to allow a modification of the pitch and of the path of the guide structures.

 The stop systems (s) for preventing the displacement of the guide profiles in their retaining bracket are preferably removable to allow a change at will of said profiles. In addition, a plurality of sets of profiles are advantageously made available to the operator, the width of the lower part of which is different, so as to allow very easy adaptation of the desired track width, by simply changing said profiles. .

 According to another particularity, the guide profiles are provided with attached members, secured on at least one of their sides, adapted to form a track ceiling for the products. This track ceiling makes it possible in particular to avoid the superposition of several products in the different queues.

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 For certain particular applications, the guide profiles are provided flexible; at least one of their ends extends outside the U-shaped retaining bracket, and this flexible end is subject to fixed or mobile positioning means, ensuring or allowing its bending to define a portion of track curve.

This feature can in particular be envisaged in the case where the ends of the guide elements cooperate with a movable sheet for capturing the sheet of products, also called a follower sheet.

 However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited, by the following description, associated with the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view, in section, of a guide structure according to the present invention positioned on an endless conveyor belt; - Figure 2 is a front view of an endless belt conveyor system provided with guide structures according to the present invention for the formation of product lines; - Figure 3 is a partial side view of the installation illustrated in Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a sectional view along 4-4 of Figure 2; - Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part of Figures 3 and 4 which shows the stop system for the longitudinal connection of the guide profile with its retaining bracket; - Figure 6 is an enlarged view, in section, which shows a passageway for the products transported from the installation of Figures 2 to 5, delimited by two guide structures according to the present invention; - Figure 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of Figure 6, with different guide profiles defining a passageway for products of smaller width; - Figure 8 is a schematic view which illustrates the possibilities of curvature of a guide profile according to the present invention, one of the ends of which extends outside of its retaining bracket.

 There is shown schematically in Figure 1 a conveyor system of the endless conveyor belt type 1 associated with a guide structure 2 according to the present invention, seen in cross section. The endless conveyor belt 1 can consist of a plasticized canvas, a metal mesh carpet, a carpet with plastic pads or any other equivalent conveyor system.

 The guide structure 2 is fixed and it is arranged to guide the products (not shown) transported by the endless belt 1; depending on the type of guidance desired, this structure can be fitted in the direction of product advancement,

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 transverse to this direction of advance, or even at an angle to these two positions.

 The guide structure 2 consists of a longitudinal section 3 having an elongated section, here rectangular, positioned on edge and resting on the endless belt 1 by its own weight. This longitudinal section 3 is preferably made of light material, in particular plastic, to avoid damaging the endless motorized belt 1; it is associated with means 4 integral with the chassis 5 of the conveying installation, which ensure that it is held in position while providing it with a degree of freedom in a vertical or substantially vertical plane.

 These holding means are in the form of a longitudinal stirrup with U-shaped section 4, comprising a bottom element 4 ′ and two lateral wings 4 ″, the opening of which is oriented towards the conveyor system 1 to receive the upper part. of the guide profile 3. The retaining bracket 4 is positioned high enough above the transport plane defined by the upper face of the conveyor belt so as not to interfere with the products transported. Its structure is adapted to ensure correct lateral support of the profile 3. In particular, its two lateral wings 4 "are arranged to effectively maintain the profile 3 in a vertical or substantially vertical position despite the displacement of the conveyor system 1, but this without hampering the possibility of vertical or substantially vertical movement of said guide profile . To preserve this possibility of relative movement of the profile 3 relative to its holding means 4, a small space e is preserved between the bottom 4 ′ of the stirrup and the upper part of said profile 3.

 On the other hand, means in the form of a stop (s), not shown in FIG. 1, are provided to avoid or limit the possibilities of longitudinal movement of the profile 3 relative to the retaining bracket 4; a possible embodiment of these particular means will be detailed later.

 In this type of structure, the profile 3 is in permanent contact with the conveyor system 1, which makes it possible to optimize the guidance of the products transported; on the other hand this feature limits the need for precise adjustment of the positioning of the guide structure relative to the conveying system.

 A particular application of this structure for guiding rows of products on an endless conveyor belt is illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 7.

 The corresponding conveying installation comprises four guide structures 2 conforming to that illustrated in FIG. 1, arranged parallel to each other on the endless motorized conveyor belt 1, to define three passageways for products 6 illustrated in dotted lines.

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 The conveyor belt 1 on which the longitudinal plastic profiles rest 3 is associated with a support sheet metal plate provided with lateral returns at right angles, constituting a part of the chassis 5 of the installation.

 In FIGS. 2 to 4, it can be seen that the U-shaped longitudinal stirrups 4 are fixed on support members 8 shaped as a hook at their upper end so as to be positioned in a removable manner on an axis 9 arranged transversely to the direction for moving the conveyor belt 1.

This axis 9 is carried by lateral flanges 10 integral with the chassis 5.

 Preferably, the two ends of the stirrups 4 are carried by an assembly identical to that which has just been described.

 The longitudinal stirrups 4 are made of a material having good rigidity, for example chrome steel; their ends are welded to the hooking members 8 in the form of metal dishes. These hooking members 8 are suspended on the transverse axis 9, separated by removable spacers 11, the assembly being tightened by two lateral nuts 12.

In fact, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the ends of the axis 9 are guided in vertical slots 13 arranged in the flanges 10, and they are carried by vertically adjustable nuts 14, screwed into a support 15 integral with the internal face of said flanges 10. This particular construction makes it possible to very easily and finely adjust the height position of the axis 9, and therefore of the stirrups 4.

 The means 16 for preventing the longitudinal displacement of the profiles 3 relative to their retaining bracket 4 are visible in Figures 3 and 4, and detailed in Figure 5. These means 16 consist of a stop system in the form of a removable lug 17 arranged on the bottom element 4 'of the stirrup 4 and coming to be integrated in a receiving housing 18 arranged in the upper part of the guide profile 3. The removable lug 17 actually consists of a screw provided with a head 19 and which cooperates with a nut 20 fixed by welding to the stirrup 4.

In the active locking position, a distance d is preserved between the end of the screw 17 and the bottom of the housing 18 in order to maintain a slight degree of vertical freedom of the profile 3 relative to the retaining bracket 4.

 Stop systems fitted at each end of the U-shaped brackets can also be envisaged, in place of the screw system 17 and housing 18 which has just been described, at least one of which would be provided removable to allow positioning or the replacement of the guide profiles 3.

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 The positioning of the guide profiles 3 is carried out by simple sliding from one of the ends of the retaining stirrups 4, then by activation of the removable blocking system 16. There are then obtained guide corridors for the rows of products 6 , whose pitch is defined by the spacers 11 and whose track width! is defined by the sides of the lower parts of the profiles 3, as illustrated in detail in FIG. 6.

 Modifications to the configuration of the installation in order to obtain a change in the track width, for example in the context of the treatment of different products, can be carried out by a change of the spacers 11 and / or by a change of the guide profiles 3.

This change of the guide profiles takes place very easily and very quickly.

For example, in Figure 7, there is illustrated a replacement of the sections 3 of Figure 6 by sections 3 'of which the lower part in contact with the endless belt 1 ensures the smallest track width.

 To define the appropriate track width, the operator advantageously has a complete set of different profiles, usable at will. The color of the sections 3 and that of the spacers 11 can be defined as a function of the desired track widths.

 The different profiles made available to the operator are advantageously obtained by machining from the same base.

 As illustrated in FIG. 7, the guide profiles 3 or 3 ′ can be used as support elements for attached members 22 in the form of metal or plastic dishes, constituting a track ceiling for the products 6 .

This track ceiling can be formed by a single attached member fixed to one of the sides of one of the lateral guide members; as illustrated in FIG. 7, provision can also be made to form this ceiling by means of two facing plates 22.

The corresponding plate or plates are fixed to the sides of the profiles 3.3 ′ by any suitable means, in particular by means of screws 23.

 Preferably, the guide sections 3 are held over their entire length by the holding brackets 4.

However, in certain installation configurations, at least one of the ends of the guide sections can extend outside the stirrup 4, as illustrated in top view in FIG. 8. The qualities of flexibility and flexibility of the projecting profile part can then be used to form portions of curved tracks, as shown in dotted lines in this figure 8, in association with fixed or mobile positioning means. For example, the protruding ends of the profiles

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 guide 3 can be engaged with a movable sheet for capturing the sheets of products, called a follower sheet.

Claims (10)

- CLAIMS - 1.-Structure for guiding products (6) transported by a conveyor system (1), which structure comprises guide means in the form of a profile arranged above said conveyor system (1) and positioned according to the desired type of guidance , characterized in that it consists of a guide profile (3.3 ') bearing by its own weight on said conveyor system (1), which guide profile (3.3') is associated with means (4) integral with the frame (5) of said conveyor system (1), which maintain it in position while providing it with a degree of freedom in a vertical or substantially vertical plane.  2. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a guide profile (3.3 ′) made of plastic.  3. - Structure according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for holding the guide profile (3,3 ') consist of a longitudinal stirrup (4) with a U-section whose opening is oriented towards the conveyor system (1) to receive the upper part of said guide profile (3,3 ′), which longitudinal stirrup (4) is carried by support means integral with the chassis (5) of the conveyor system (1), and which stirrup (4) has a stop system (16) adapted to prevent the longitudinal displacement of said profile (3,3 ').  4. - Structure according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a stop system (16) in the form of a removable lug (17) arranged on the upper part of the longitudinal stirrup (4), which lug (17 ) is positioned in a housing (18) arranged on top of the guide profile (3.3 ') to ensure its longitudinal locking.  5.-Device for guiding at least one line of products (6) on a conveyor system (1), which device consists of at least two longitudinal guide structures, parallel or substantially parallel, which form lateral edges and which define between them a passageway for the transported products, characterized in that it comprises longitudinal guide structures (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.  6. - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises longitudinal guide sections (3,3 ') associated with means for holding in the form of longitudinal stirrups (4) with U-shaped section provided with a stop system (16) adapted to prevent longitudinal displacement of said sections (3,3 ') relative to said stirrups (4), which stirrups (4) are each fixed on one or more support members (8) positioned on a upper receiving axis (9) which extends transversely to the direction of movement of the products and which is mounted on the <Desc / Clms Page number 9>  chassis (5) of the conveyor system (1), which support members (8) are separated from each other on said receiving axis (9) by removable spacers (11) so as to allow a modification of the pitch and the track guide structures (2).  7. - Device according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the stop systems (16) to prevent the displacement of the guide profiles (3,3 ') in their holding bracket (4) are removable , allowing a change at will of said profiles (3.3 '), and in that it comprises a plurality of sets of profiles (3.3'), made available to the operator, including the width of the part lower is different to allow adaptation of the desired track width.  8.- Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it comprises guide profiles (3 ') provided with attached members (22), secured on at least one of their sides, adapted to form a track ceiling for the products (6).  9. - Device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that it comprises flexible guide profiles (3), at least one of the ends of which extends outside their retaining bracket ( 4) U-shaped section, which flexible end is subject to fixed or mobile positioning means, ensuring or allowing its bending to define a portion of curved track.  10.-product conveying installation (6) comprising a conveyor system (1) of the endless belt type or equivalent, provided with a structure or a guiding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.