GB2024178A - Device for the separate feeding of superposed plates - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent plates (9) from becoming tilted and jammed in a shaft-like magazine (8), a front wall (10) of the magazine (8) is provided at or adjacent its lower end with a driven roller (11). The roller (11) serves to drive the plates (9) downwardly onto a conveyor band (1) fitted with drivers (4, 5) which engage the plates (9) to ensure a positive drive thereof in close succession on the conveyor band (1) to a saw for example. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for the separate feeding of superposed plates This invention relates to a device for the separate feeding of superposed plates in a shaft-like magazine with a band or chain conveyor which is arranged under a lower opening of the magazine and which is particularly provided with drivers (elements for engaging the plates and ensuring that they,move along the conveyor).

In the case of the manufacture of fish fingers (fish sticks), large, deep frozen blocks of fish are divided repeatedly through the same section in order to produce plates which lie one above the other. These plates must be fed singly to a cutting device, e.g. a saw, for further sub-division. This takes place by means of a known device of the above-described type in a manner such that the plates which are superposed in a shaft-like magazine fall down under their own weight onto the conveyor which runs under a lower opening of the magazine. In orderto be able to sub-divide the plates with some degree of efficiency whilst avoiding damage to the saw by running tattoo high a cutting speed, the plates must be fed to the saw in the closest possible sequence.This has so far been achieved only with difficulty using the above-described known device, as the plates become tilted in the magazine i.e. the plates press down with their front edges (in the conveyor direction) wedged against the front wall of the magazine with an insufficient weight of overlying plates. The lowermost plate is then crushed when the driver of the conveyor engages the plate.

An object of the present invention is to produce a device of the above-described type in which the above problem is obviated or mitigated even in the case where there is to be a close succession of plates on the conveyor.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for the separate feeding of superposed plates in a shaft-like magazine with a band or chain conveyor which is arranged under the opening of the magazine and which is particularly provided with drivers, wherein a conveying means is provided on the front wall of the magazine in the conveying direction of the conveyor, the conveying means acting on the front edges of the plates to move them downwardly in use.

Preferably, the conveying means is a roller. The conveying means can either be arranged in an aperture in the front wall of the magazine or form a lower closure of the front wall.

As a result of the device according to the present invention through the forced conveying of the plates by their front edges, a close succession of plates on the conveyor is ensured. As long as the space under the magazine is not clear of the previous plate, the conveying means works with slip on the stack of plates. This raises no particular problem when the friction between the conveying means and the stack of plates is small as, for example, between a stack of frozen fish and a roller.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa side view of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, a conveyor band 1 which is driven by driving rollers (not shown) runs over conveyor rollers 2, 3 and is fitted with a plurality of drivers 4, 5, 6 and 7. The distance between adjacent drivers, for example between drivers 4 and 5, is somewhat greater than the width of plates 9 to be conveyed.

Over the conveyor band 1 is a shaft-like magazine which is filled with a stack of the plates 9. The magazine 8 has a front wall 10 in the conveyor direction. Disposed directly under the lower edge of the front wall 10 is a driven roller 11 which acts to drive the front edges of the plates downwardly.

The lowermost plate is displaced in the conveyor direction by the driver 5, then the rear end (relative to the conveyor direction) of the immediately overlying plate 9 tips downwardly and is pressed by the conveyor band 1 against the roller 11. The roller 11 is then driven and urges the plates downwardly so moving the plate immediately onto the conveyor band when the driver 5 clears the region of the magazine 8. The previously specified problem that the plates tilt themselves in the magazine no longer arises with the above-described device.

1. A device for the separate feeding of superposed plates in a shaft-like magazine with a band or chain conveyor which is arranged under the opening of the magazine and which is particularly provided with drivers, wherein a conveying means is provided on a front wall of the magazine in the conveying direction of the conveyor, the conveying means acting on the front edges of the plates 9 to move them downwardly in use.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveying means is a roller.

3. A device for the separate feeding of super.

posed plates in a shaft-like magazine, substantially as hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Device for the separate feeding of superposed plates This invention relates to a device for the separate feeding of superposed plates in a shaft-like magazine with a band or chain conveyor which is arranged under a lower opening of the magazine and which is particularly provided with drivers (elements for engaging the plates and ensuring that they,move along the conveyor). In the case of the manufacture of fish fingers (fish sticks), large, deep frozen blocks of fish are divided repeatedly through the same section in order to produce plates which lie one above the other. These plates must be fed singly to a cutting device, e.g. a saw, for further sub-division. This takes place by means of a known device of the above-described type in a manner such that the plates which are superposed in a shaft-like magazine fall down under their own weight onto the conveyor which runs under a lower opening of the magazine. In orderto be able to sub-divide the plates with some degree of efficiency whilst avoiding damage to the saw by running tattoo high a cutting speed, the plates must be fed to the saw in the closest possible sequence.This has so far been achieved only with difficulty using the above-described known device, as the plates become tilted in the magazine i.e. the plates press down with their front edges (in the conveyor direction) wedged against the front wall of the magazine with an insufficient weight of overlying plates. The lowermost plate is then crushed when the driver of the conveyor engages the plate. An object of the present invention is to produce a device of the above-described type in which the above problem is obviated or mitigated even in the case where there is to be a close succession of plates on the conveyor. According to the present invention, there is provided a device for the separate feeding of superposed plates in a shaft-like magazine with a band or chain conveyor which is arranged under the opening of the magazine and which is particularly provided with drivers, wherein a conveying means is provided on the front wall of the magazine in the conveying direction of the conveyor, the conveying means acting on the front edges of the plates to move them downwardly in use. Preferably, the conveying means is a roller. The conveying means can either be arranged in an aperture in the front wall of the magazine or form a lower closure of the front wall. As a result of the device according to the present invention through the forced conveying of the plates by their front edges, a close succession of plates on the conveyor is ensured. As long as the space under the magazine is not clear of the previous plate, the conveying means works with slip on the stack of plates. This raises no particular problem when the friction between the conveying means and the stack of plates is small as, for example, between a stack of frozen fish and a roller. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa side view of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1. Referring now to the drawing, a conveyor band 1 which is driven by driving rollers (not shown) runs over conveyor rollers 2, 3 and is fitted with a plurality of drivers 4, 5, 6 and 7. The distance between adjacent drivers, for example between drivers 4 and 5, is somewhat greater than the width of plates 9 to be conveyed. Over the conveyor band 1 is a shaft-like magazine which is filled with a stack of the plates 9. The magazine 8 has a front wall 10 in the conveyor direction. Disposed directly under the lower edge of the front wall 10 is a driven roller 11 which acts to drive the front edges of the plates downwardly. The lowermost plate is displaced in the conveyor direction by the driver 5, then the rear end (relative to the conveyor direction) of the immediately overlying plate 9 tips downwardly and is pressed by the conveyor band 1 against the roller 11. The roller 11 is then driven and urges the plates downwardly so moving the plate immediately onto the conveyor band when the driver 5 clears the region of the magazine 8. The previously specified problem that the plates tilt themselves in the magazine no longer arises with the above-described device. CLAIMS

1. A device for the separate feeding of superposed plates in a shaft-like magazine with a band or chain conveyor which is arranged under the opening of the magazine and which is particularly provided with drivers, wherein a conveying means is provided on a front wall of the magazine in the conveying direction of the conveyor, the conveying means acting on the front edges of the plates 9 to move them downwardly in use.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveying means is a roller.

3. A device for the separate feeding of super.

posed plates in a shaft-like magazine, substantially as hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawing.