FR3091861A1 - Device for gripping products and conveying installation within an industrial production line - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an individual gripping device (7) of products (1) conveyed within an industrial production line, comprising at least one individual gripping means (8) by gripping a product (1), a linear motor shuttle (41) provided with a frame (9) supporting said at least one gripping means (8), characterized by the fact that it comprises a vertical displacement means (12) between a high position and a position of said gripping means (8) relative to said frame (9) of said shuttle (41). The invention also relates to an installation for conveying products (1), comprising at least one fixed guide (40), at least one shuttle (41) movable along said guide (40), said at least one guide (40) and said at least one shuttle (41) forming a linear motor, characterized in that it comprises integrated on said at least one shuttle ( 41), said gripping device (7). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Device for gripping products and conveying installation within an industrial production line

The present invention falls within the field of the conveying of products within an industrial line for the production and processing of said products.

Within the meaning of the present invention, the term “product” encompasses an individual object. Such a product is a container, such as a bottle or a flask, in particular made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic material. Such a container is intended to contain a liquid or food. Such a container comprises a body with a neck, provided with an opening or "drinking" located in the upper part and closed by a closure element, such as a stopper or a cap. In addition, the neck may include an annular ring, called collar, located in the lower part at the junction with the rest of the body. This flange is provided projecting relative to the outer wall of the container. It serves in particular as a support or abutment when gripping a container during its various treatments.

As such, in a known manner, within an industrial line, the products can receive several successive treatments within different stations, ranging from the manufacture of the container by a plastic injection, blow molding or stretching- blowing, notably through filling, capping and labeling of single products, up to packaging in batches of several grouped products.

During these different stages, the products are moved by different suitable conveying means. These movements are carried out according to different referencing. Indeed, depending on the processing stations and the type of conveying, the products are handled with interactions located at different places, namely the bottom, the side walls, the neck, in particular on or under the collar, or else still via a cup receiving a product. For example, a first referencing can be an entry of the products by gripping at the level of the neck, in particular by pressing on or under the collar. Another referencing may consist in transporting the products by their bottom resting on the surface of a conveyor, in particular of the endless belt type. A different referencing can also consist in maintaining the products at the level of their body or their side, in particular by means of a honeycombed organ receiving a part of said body

Therefore, along a production line, the stations are set up taking into account the differences in the referencing of the products for each of the processing stations and/or the conveyors. In short, the height of the various positions is adjusted in particular, for example by adjusting the supporting structures, the feet, or even by stalling.
For example, a processing station equipped with a transfer wheel providing seizure by gripping the neck of the products, can deliver and release the products on the upper face of a conveyor which then transports them by their bottom. The height of the transfer wheel and the height of the conveyor are then determined and fixed in relation to the distance between the neck and the bottom of the products. In other words, when setting up the stations, the required distance is fixed between, on the one hand, a first vertical referencing of the products by the upstream station, namely the transfer wheel, and, on the other hand, another vertical referencing of the conveyor, depending on the format of the products to be processed.

Within the present invention, a product referencing means in elevation, vertically.

In this context, a recurring problem lies in the fact that a production line must allow the processing of several product formats, with different dimensions, in particular heights. For example, for a given drink, such as water or soda, a production line must be able to process bottles of different capacities, in particular two liters (2L), one liter five (1.5L), one liter (1L) and seventy-five centiliters (75cl). Therefore, when switching from one format to another, there are vertical gaps between the various listings for the handling of the products by one and the other of the processing stations. It is then necessary to compensate for these differences.

However, most workstations are installed at fixed and determined heights, with components and bodies making it difficult to adjust their height. In addition, several positions cooperate in a coordinated manner and often overlapping, complicating a possible joint modification of the height of one and the other.

Finally, in the conveying means implemented may include a linear motor technology. Recall that a linear motor is an electric motor in which each rotor and each stator are unwound, in particular flat; the linear motor generates a displacement force, in particular in translation, of at least one rotor relative to the stator. Each moving rotor is commonly referred to as a "shuttle", while the stator includes guides. In addition, a linear motor makes it possible to independently control the movement of each shuttle along the guides.

In this context, the guides of a linear motor are currently installed at a fixed height, making it impossible to adjust the height during production or when changing the format of the products to be processed, making it impossible to adjust the height. Adapt between different referencing between upstream and downstream, in particular between an output of an upstream processing station and the input of the following downstream processing station, or else from/to a conveyor.
The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing a device for individually gripping products within a production line, the height of which can be adapted according to the vertical deviations of the referencing occurring between two different formats of products, as well as when passing two positions with different referencing.

The present invention is particularly suitable for conveying involving shuttles circulating on guides by means of a linear motorization.

To do this, such a gripping device comprises:
- at least one means of individual gripping by gripping a product,
- A linear motor shuttle provided with a frame supporting said at least one gripping means.
This gripping device is characterized by the fact that it comprises:
- A vertical displacement means between a high position and a low position of said gripping means relative to said frame of said shuttle.
According to additional, non-limiting characteristics, said displacement means may comprise at least one on-board actuator connected to said chassis and to said at least one gripping means connected to said chassis by at least one sliding connection.

Said at least one on-board actuator may comprise:
- a pneumatic or electric cylinder; AND OR
- a pair of motorized pulley and belt; AND OR
- meshing by motorized gear and rack; AND OR
- a magnetic or electromagnetic member; AND OR
- A linear motorization of said at least one gripping means with respect to said frame; AND OR
- a rod mounted to slide vertically.

Said gripping device may comprise means for locking said gripping means in one position.

Said gripping device may comprise means for elastic return of said gripping means to an end position.

The invention also relates to an installation for conveying products within an industrial production line.
Such a conveying installation comprises:
- at least one fixed guide;
- At least one shuttle movable along said guide, said at least one guide and said at least one shuttle forming a linear motor.
The installation is characterized in that it comprises integrated on said at least one shuttle, a gripping device according to any one of the preceding claims.

According to additional, non-limiting characteristics, said conveying installation may comprise, at the level of said at least one guide, at least one controller of the vertical displacement means of said gripping device.

Said controller can be a cam cooperating with said at least one actuator.

In addition, the invention makes it possible to adapt the height of the referencing of the products gripped by the gripping devices, during their circulation along the conveying installation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which will follow of the non-limiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended figures, in which:

schematically represents a side view of a mode of installation of an installation provided with several gripping devices, with a height adjustment for a first format of products, showing a conveying with removal;

schematically represents a side view of another mode of installation of said installation, showing conveying with pick-up from a transfer wheel and deposit on a conveyor, as well as the change in height between pick-up and drop-off ; And

schematically represents a side view of another installation located between two conveyors from a pick-up to a drop-off, showing a change in height of the gripping devices between said two conveyors.

The present invention relates to the conveying of products 1 within an industrial line for the production and processing of said products 1.

The term “product” encompasses an individual object. Such a product is a container, such as a bottle or a flask, in particular made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic material. Such a container is intended to contain a liquid or food. Such a container comprises a body with a neck, provided with an opening located in the upper part and closed by a closure element, such as a stopper or a capsule. In addition, the neck may include an annular ring, called collar, located in the lower part at the junction with the rest of the body. This flange is provided projecting relative to the outer wall of the container. It serves in particular as a support or abutment when gripping a container during its various treatments.

Within an industrial line, the products 1 can receive several successive treatments within different stations, ranging from the manufacture of the container by a plastic injection or stretch-blow molding operation, passing in particular through the filling, the capping and labeling of products 1 individually, up to packaging in batches of several products 1 grouped together.

During these different steps, the products 1 must be transported along the line, in a direction of movement extending from upstream to downstream of said line.

Such movement of the products 1 is carried out by suitable means. In addition, the conveying of the products 1 is preferably carried out individually all along the production line, in particular downstream from the capping (namely after filling, or even after labeling).
The products 1 can be transported on a conveyor 2, the products 1 resting on the surface of said conveyor 2 from the bottom, directly or via a bucket or “puck”. Such a conveyor 2 can be an endless belt. Figures 1 and 2 show products 1 circulating on the upper face of one or more conveyors 2.
The products 1 can also be transported by a collector of generally circular shape, designed to rotate and provided with housings distributed around the periphery, each housing being intended to receive internally at least partially the body of a product 1 and to ensure its maintenance inside. of said housing during the rotation of said commutator.
The products 1 can also be transported by a transfer wheel 3 of generally circular shape, designed to rotate and whose periphery is equipped with means ensuring the gripping of said products 1 by gripping, in particular in the form of clamps 30 which grip each product 1 by the neck, in particular resting under the collar with which each neck of each product 1 is provided. An example of a transfer wheel 3 is partially shown in Figure 2.

From an upstream processing station or an upstream conveyor 20, the products 1 are conveyed downstream to be processed by another station, in particular through transport by a downstream conveyor 21. To do this, the invention concerns an installation 4 for conveying products 1 within an industrial production line.

Further on, the products 1 are picked up at a reception zone 5 located upstream, then moved to a deposit zone 6 located downstream.

For this purpose, the installation 4 comprises at least one guide 40. Preferably, several guides 40 are joined together, forming a continuous closed-loop circuit. In particular, such a circuit has the overall shape of a racetrack: a forward portion of the circuit ensuring the conveying of the products 1 from upstream to downstream. In addition, each guide 40 extends substantially horizontally.

Each guide 40 is fixed, ie it is installed with a determined height.

Installation 4 also comprises at least one shuttle 41 movable along said at least one guide 40, preferably along the entire circuit. A return portion therefore ensures the recirculation of each shuttle 41 from downstream to upstream.

In the context of the present invention, said at least one guide 40 and said at least one shuttle 41 form a linear motor. Recall that a linear motor is an electric motor in which each rotor and each stator are unwound, in particular flat; the linear motor generates a displacement force, in particular in translation, of at least one rotor relative to the stator. In the present case, preferably, the guides 40 form the stator(s), while each shuttle 41 forms a rotor. In addition, such a linear motorization makes it possible to independently control the movements of each shuttle 41 along each guide 40.

The installation 4 extends at least from the reception zone 5 to the deposit zone 6. The installation 4 is in particular positioned in elevation above the conveyor(s) 2,20,21.

In order to allow the handling of the products 1 by the installation 4, the invention also relates to a gripping device 7 integrated on said at least one shuttle 41. Preferably, a single gripping device 7 is mounted on each shuttle 41. Several gripping devices 7 can also be mounted on a single shuttle 41.

Such a gripping device 7 comprises at least one individual gripping means 8 by grasping a product 1.

Such gripping means 8 can be in the form of a clamp, provided with jaws gripping a part of the gripped product 1, in particular at the level of its neck, in particular resting on or under the collar of the product 1. Such gripper can extend horizontally or vertically, gripping the product 1 on either side respectively from a lateral side of the installation 4 or from above.

Gripper 7 also includes linear motor shuttle 41.

Said shuttle 41 is provided with a frame 9 supporting said at least one gripping means 8. Preferably a single shuttle 41 supports a single gripping means 8, but it can receive several mounted on said frame 9.

In addition, the frame 9 can receive related means, such as the components necessary for the linear motorization along the guides 40, but also other complementary members, such as hooking means and/or rolling means cooperating with the guides 40.

As mentioned above, depending on the format of the products 1 to be processed, but also due to the location of the processing stations, as well as the conveyors 2,20,21, there may be differences in height between an upstream referencing 10 and another downstream referencing 11.

Indeed, a production line must consider the processing of several product formats, having different dimensions, in particular the heights. For example, for a given drink, such as water or soda, a production line must be able to process bottles of different capacities, in particular two liters (2L), one liter five (1.5L), one liter (1L) and seventy-five centiliters (75cl). Therefore, when changing from one format to another, there are vertical gaps between the different references for the handling of the products by one and the other of the processing stations and/or conveyors 2, 20.21.

Within the meaning of the present invention, “referencing” means a position in elevation, determined with respect to the vertical. This vertical can be taken into account in a reference centered on the infrastructure receiving the production line, such as the floor of its building, or centered on a given height of at least one processing station, then determining a reference plane , commonly referred to as a "working plane".

According to the embodiments represented in the figures, the upstream referencing 10 corresponds to a handling of the products 1 by gripping at their upper end, in particular the neck or the plugging element, for example on or under the collar of bottle type products 1; the downstream referencing 11 may correspond to a pick-up of the products 1 on the upper face of the conveyor 2, in particular of the downstream conveyor 21, the products 1 then resting at their lower end, namely their bottom. The products1 can also be returned, then resting on their cap, provided flat, for example in the case of bottles, in particular containing a cosmetic.

It will be noted that the products 1 can rest directly on the upper face of a conveyor 2,20,21 or else via a support, such as a bucket or "puck", or even within a cardboard tray .

As most of the stations are installed at fixed and determined heights, as are the guides 40 of the installation 4, it is then necessary to compensate for these differences between the upstream referencing 10 and the downstream referencing 11.
To this end, the gripping device 7 comprises a vertical displacement means 12 between a high position and a low position of said gripping means 8 relative to said frame 9 of said shuttle 41. The displacement means 12 therefore provides a vertical translation, upwards or downwards, of the gripping means 8. In short, it is possible to raise or lower the gripping means 8 relative to the frame 9 of the shuttle 41, between high and low end positions, through intermediate positions.

Such a displacement can be carried out at the start of production, in order to adjust the height of the position of the gripping means 8 according to the format of the products 1 to be conveyed by the installation 4, especially according to their height. Figure 1 shows an example of installation 4 whose vertical adjustment is required before production, then is not modified during production.

The displacement of the gripping means 8 can also occur during conveying, during production of a given format of products 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a vertical displacement during the conveying of products 1, in particular of different formats, in order to compensate for the difference between the upstream referencing 10 and the downstream referencing 11.

In the example of FIG. 2, the upstream referencing 10 is determined at the level of the reception zone 5 by the transfer wheel 3, in particular its grippers, while the downstream referencing 11 is determined at the level of the deposit zone. 6 by the surface of the downstream conveyor 21, on which the products 1 are deposited.

In the example of FIG. 3, the upstream referencing 10 and the downstream referencing 11 are determined by the upper faces respectively of the upstream conveyor 20 at the level of the reception zone 5 and of the downstream conveyor 21 at the level of the deposit zone 6 by the surface of the downstream conveyor 21.

In the case where a displacement occurs during conveying, said displacement means 12 then comprises at least one actuator connected to said chassis 9 and to said at least one gripping means 8. This actuator is therefore on board within the corresponding shuttle 41 . It ensures the movement of the gripping means 8 provided to be mobile.
As such, said gripping means 8 is mounted to move relative to said frame 9 by at least one sliding connection. Such a mechanical connection can be a guide unit of any type, and ensures the translation, in particular by sliding, of said gripping means 8 under the control of the actuator.
Said actuator can have different configurations.

Indeed, said at least one on-board actuator may comprise a pneumatic or electric cylinder. The gripping means 8 can therefore be mounted integral with the lower end of the cylinder and/or with said sliding connection, while the opposite end can be fixed on the frame 9. In the case of a pneumatic cylinder, it will be noted that the vertical displacement can take place between extreme high and low positions, determined by the stroke of the piston, or even by adjustable stops.

Said at least one on-board actuator may comprise a motorized pulley and belt pair, or else meshing by motorized gear and rack. Each member cooperates with the other in order to perform the vertical displacement of the gripping means 8. The pulley or the pinion being mounted on the frame 9, while respectively the belt or the rack is mounted integral with the gripping means 8, or Conversely.
Said at least one on-board actuator can comprise a magnetic member, such as a permanent or electromagnetic magnet.

Said at least one on-board actuator may comprise a linear motorization of said at least one gripping means 8 with respect to said frame 9. In short, the gripping means 8 is mounted on a shuttle circulating vertically on a guide formed by the frame 9.

Said at least one on-board actuator may comprise a rod mounted to slide vertically. Such a rod can be likened to a slider, coming to move via an external actuation, in particular coming from the installation 4.

Furthermore, said at least one actuator can combine one or the other of the aforementioned components.

The actuator of each shuttle 41 can be autonomous, with its own motorization.
The actuator can also be controlled from the outside, by at least one controller located at the level of said at least one guide 40, in particular at a location between the reception zone 5 and the deposit zone 6. This controller then controls the means 12 for vertical displacement of said gripping device 7, in particular by inducing actuation of the actuator.

Preferably, the controller is a cam cooperating with said at least one actuator. The controller can take the form of a flat cam or a so-called "groove" cam. Consequently, the cam path can be positioned along a guide 40 of the installation 4, between the upstream and the downstream, in particular between the reception zone 5 and the deposit zone 6. The actuator of the shuttle 41 can then comprise a lug positioned and dimensioned complementary to said cam track of the guide 40. Such a lug in particular rolls within the groove of the cam track, in particular by means of a roller.
According to one embodiment, such a lug is secured to a movable part of the displacement means 12 supporting the gripping means 8, in particular the sliding rod. Therefore, the actuation of the means 12 for moving the gripping means 8 is determined by the vertical component of said cam track. In short, the vertical displacement is controlled by the cam as a function of the progress of the shuttle 41 along the guide 40 supporting said groove of the cam track.

According to one embodiment, the cam path on the guide 40 can be provided to be removable, with a view to being replaced during a production change, depending on the format of product 1 to be conveyed by the installation 4.
According to another embodiment, said cam track can be provided to be vertically adjustable, movable relative to guide 40, in order to adapt its height to the format of products 1 to be conveyed.

Furthermore, the gripping device 7 may comprise means for locking said gripping means 8 in one position. In other words, the gripping means 8 is moved by the actuator, then locked in the final position after this movement. Furthermore, the locking means act outside the portions of the cam. Such locking means ensure in particular the blocking of the displacement means 12 and therefore of the gripping means 8, against the effect of gravity, especially when said gripping means 8 is loaded with a product 1 increasing the mass accordingly. .

The gripping device 7 may include means for elastic return of said gripping means 8 to an end position. In short, without constraint applied in particular by the actuator, the gripping means 8 returns to a predetermined position, under the effect of the return means.

Thus, the invention makes it possible to modify the height of the gripping means 8 of a shuttle 40 circulating on a linear motor guide, according to the downstream referencing 10 and the upstream referencing 11, offering the possibility of adapting the possible difference , in particular in the case of products 1 having different formats, especially different heights. The conveying installation 4 then offers greater flexibility, making it compatible with a large number of product formats 1. In addition, the modification of the height by controlling the displacement means 12 can be carried out automatically, offering considerable time savings between two productions.

Claims (8)

Device for gripping (7) individual products (1) conveyed within an industrial production line, comprising:
- at least one gripping means (8) individually by gripping a product (1),
- a linear motor shuttle (41) provided with a frame (9) supporting said at least one gripping means (8);
characterized by the fact that it includes:
- A vertical displacement means (12) between a high position and a low position of said gripping means (8) relative to said frame (9) of said shuttle (41). Gripping device (7) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said displacement means (12) comprises at least one on-board actuator connected to said chassis (9) and to said at least one gripping means (8) connected to said chassis (8) by at least one sliding connection. Gripping device (7) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the said at least one on-board actuator comprises:
- a pneumatic or electric cylinder; AND OR
- a pair of motorized pulley and belt; AND OR
- meshing by motorized gear and rack. Gripping device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for locking said gripping means (8) in one position. Gripping device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for elastic return of said gripping means (8) to an end position. Installation for conveying products (1) within an industrial production line, comprising:
- at least one fixed guide (40);
- at least one shuttle (41) movable along said guide (40), said at least one guide (40) and said at least one shuttle (41) forming a linear motor;
characterized in that it comprises integrated on said at least one shuttle (41), a gripping device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims. Conveying installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at the level of said at least one guide (40), at least one controller of the vertical displacement means (12) of said gripping device (7). Conveying installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the said controller is a cam cooperating with the said at least one actuator.