GB2045215A

GB2045215A - Device for distributing packages over a 360 DEG arc starting from a fixed feed point

Info

Publication number: GB2045215A
Application number: GB8006726A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ceretti & Tanfani SpA
Current assignee: Ceretti & Tanfani SpA
Priority date: 1979-02-28
Filing date: 1980-02-28
Publication date: 1980-10-29
Also published as: DE3006617A1; FR2450218A1; IT7920634A0; IT1111208B

Abstract

A device for distributing packages over a 360 DEG arc starting from a fixed feed point, of the type comprising a rotating plate 13 with which there cooperates a circumferential annular wall 17 which is rotatable relative to the plate and is rigid with a conveyor 16 which extends radially relative to the plate. The wall 17 has a discharge aperture in a position corresponding with the conveyor, to which the packages are directed by means of a baffle 20 which intersects the feed path of the packages on the plate. Means e.g. 19, 21 are provides for directing the packages from the fixed feed point towards the outside of the plate along a feed path which intersects the fixed baffle. The means are positionable relative to the plate 13 through an angle of about 360 DEG . <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for distributing general packages over a 3ego0 arc starting from a fixed feed point This invention relates to a device for distributing articles for example packages, such as bags of loose material, over a 360" arc starting from a fixed feed point.

The device according to the invention is intended for use, particularly but not exclusively,in combination with a spiral chute used for filling a,ship's hold.

A spiral chute of this type is described'for example in German patent no. 2403800.

In known devices of this general type the packages are discharged from the fixed spiral chute onto an underlying rotatable plate, with which a baffle cooperates in order to deflect the packages onto a radial conveyor. The baffle and conveyor can be displaced angularly, so as to enable the packages to be discharged over an arc which should desirably be of 360".

However, distribution cannot be obtained over a 360" angle because of the size of the fixed chute and because of the fact that a certain arc must always be left between the fixed point of arrival of the packages and the baffle, in order to allow free flow of the packages without hold-ups. This leads to a dead distribution angle which may be at least 110 , with the obvious operational drawbacks deriving therefrom.

The spiral chute of German patent no. 2403800 is an example of a device proposed to allow the packages to be discharged over an angle of 360G, and comprises a terminal portion which is telescopic and rotatable so as to be able to vary the angular position of the distributor without rotating it about the point of arrival of the packages on the rotating plate.

However, such a method involves a relatively complicated and costly chute structure, and also leads to variation in the discharge level, which has to be corrected by auxiliary movements.

The object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid technical problem in a different and more economical manner.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided a device for distributing articles over a 360arc starting from a fixed feed point, of the type comprising a rotating plate with which there co-operates a circumferential annular wall which is rotatable relative to the plate and is rigid with a conveyor which extends radially relative to the plate, the said annular wall having a discharge opening in a position corresponding with the conveyor, and to which the articles are directed by means of a baffle which intersects the feed path of the packages -on the plate, and further comprising means for directing said packages from the fixed feed point along a feed path which intersects the fixed baffle, the said means being positionable relative to the plate through an angle of about 360-.

The said means may comprise a half-annular wall disposed between the said annular wall and the centre of the plate and lying on a circle which passes adjacent to the free edge of the fixed baffle, and an arcuate baffle which is rotatable substantially about the centre of the plate between the free edges of the half-annular wall.

Alternatively said means may comprise a halfannular conveyor in the form of a roller bed composed of a set of motorised rollers, or in the form of a curved conveyor disposed along a circumferential arc above and spaced from the plate, the first mentioned conveyor being connected to the plate by means of a sloping trough rigid therewith.

According to the present invention in a second aspect there is provided a device for distributing articles over a 360" arc from a fixed feed point comprising a horizontal plate which rotates about a vertical axis, a conveyor which extends radially relative to the plate and which can be moved independently of the plate through 360" about the axis of the plate, a baffle which is fixed to move with the conveyor, which sweeps over an area of the plate as the plate is rotated and which deflects articles in the said area onto the conveyor, and means defining a conveying surface which is not swept by the said baffle, which extends at least partly around the axis of rotation of the plate, and which is arranged to discharge articles on its conveying surface onto the area swept by the said baffle, the said means being arranged for at least limited movement about the axis of the plate independent of the plate and the conveyor so that the conveying surface it defines can be located beneath the feed point when the said baffle lies on the same radius as the feed point.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an elevation showing one possible embpdiment of a distributor device according to the invention; Figures 2,3 and 4 are plan views of the device of Figure 1 in different operating positions; Figure 5 is an elevation of a further embodiment of the distributor device according to the invention; and Figures 6to 9 are plan views of the device of Figure 5 in different operating positions.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, these show a device according to the invention indicated overall by 10, and mounted at the exit of a spiral chute indicated overall by 11.

The device 10 is formed structurally from a base 12 and a circular plate 13 both supported by two overlying rings of bearings 14 in order to be ableto rotate co-axially to the column 15 which carries the spiral chute. The plate 13 and base 12 are rotated by motorised drives.

A telescopic conveyor 16, for example a roller conveyor, co-operates with the rotating plate 13, and extends radially from the base 12 rigid with a guide assembly 17, which is supported concentrically on the plate 13 and is rotatable relative thereto.

More precisely, the assembly 17 comprises an quter annular wall 18 and an inner half-annular wall 19 both concentric with the plate 13. Afirstfixed straight baffle 20 and a second arcuate baffle 21, which is rotatable about the column 15, co-operate with the wall 18 and wall 19.

The guide assembly 17 thus defines an inner track 22 and an outer track 23 on the plate 13, which always lead to a discharge opening 24 provided in the outer wall 18, in a position correspnding with the conveyor 16.

The operation of the device heretofore described is as follows.

It will be assumed that the packages 25 arrive from the spiral chute 11 on the plate 13 in the position shown in Figure 2, the plate 13 rotating continuously in an anticlockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 26. The packages 25 are conveyed from the plate 13 along a path which causes them firstly to meet the baffle 21 and then to move outwards in order to meet the baffle 20. It is therefore apparent that by virtue of the combined action of the rotating plate 13 and the baffles 20,21, the packages 25 are directed through the aperture 24 so that they discharge on to the underlying conveyor 16. It should be noted that the baffle 21 is free to rotate about 15, and is urged by the packages 25 into the position of Figure 2 with a projection 27 bearing against a stop 28 rigid with the baffle 20.The stop 28 is of inverted U shape and straddles top edge of the half-annular wall 19, so that the baffle 21 and half-annular wall can be moved around the column 15 independently of the baffle 20 within the limits set by the projectors 27.

It will now be assumed that the packages 25 are to be discharged in a position 180: removed from the position shown in Figure 2.

The guide assembly 17 and the conveyor 16 rigid with it are then rotated anticlockwise into the position shown in Figure 3. In this position, the packages 25 are discharged from the spiral chute are guided by the half-annular wall 19so that they travel along a path lying between the outer annular-wall 18 and the baffles 21 and 20, until they are discharged through the aperture 24 on to the conveyor 16.

It will finally be assumed that the packages 25 are to be discharged in a position 180 removed from that shown in Figure 3. In this case, the outer annular-wall 18, the baffle 20 and conveyor 16 are rotated into the position shown in Figure 4, whereas the half-annular wall 19 is kept in the position shown in Figure 3. The packages 25 are thus guided by the half-annular wall 19 so that they travel through a trajectory determined externally by the outer wall 18 and internally by-the baffle 21. the half-annular wall 19 and the fixed baffle 20, until they-become discharged on to the conveyor 16 through the exit 24.

Figures 5 to 9 of the drawings show a further embodiment of the invention. In these figures, those parts of the device which are equal or substantially correspond to those heretofore described with refer ence to Figures 1 to 4 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment of the invention, above the plate 13 there is mounted a roller bed 30 constituted by a series of motorised conical rollers disposed along an arcuate sector covering nearly one half of the plate 13. The roller bed 30 is rotatable about the column 15 and has a ramp 31 leading down to the plate 13. The ramp 31 is movable with the roller bed.

Compared with the previous embodiment of the invention, instead of being defined on the plate 13 by the half-annular wall 19, the innertrack 22 is defined by the roller bed 30 which, as will be apparent hereinafter, performs the same function of directing the packages on to a path which intersects the fixed baffle 20.

The operation of the device illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 is as follows.

It will be assumed that with the distributor in the position of Figure 6, the spiral chute discharges the pilckages.25 directly on to the ramp 31. Consequent ly, the packages 25 arrive on the rotating plate 13, and are made to Pischarge onto the conveyor 16 by the baffle 20. In this respect, it should be noted that in this embodiment the fixed baffle 20 extends as far as the column 15 in order to also perform the function of the mobile baffle 21 of the preceding embodiment. The roller bed 30 and the sloping ramp 31 rigid therewith are locked stably in the positon shown in Figure 6 against rotation in eitherthe clockwise or anticlockwise direction by lugs 32,33, which extend from the sloping ramp 31 and rest against stops 34,35 on the outer annular wall 18 and column 15 respectively.

It will now be assumed that the packages 25 are to be discharged on to the conveyor 16 when in the position shown in Figures 7 and 8, i.e. rotated through about 310 from the position of Figure 6. In this case, the roller bed 30 and sloping ramp 31 can assume any intermediate position between those of Figures 7 and 8. The position shown in Figure 7 is equal to that shown in Figure 6, whereas the position shown in Figure 8 is rotated through about 150 and is determined by a tooth 36 on the roller bed 30 making contact with the stop 35 on the column 15.

If the ramp-roller bed assembly is as shown in Figure 7, the packages 28 fall from the spiral chute on to the ramp 31, and from there on to the plate 13 which conveys them below the roller bed 30 so that they discharge through the aperture 24 on to the conveyor 16. The space between the plate 13 and roller bed 30 is obviously such as to allow easy passage of the packages 25.

If however the ramp-roller bed assembly is as shown in Figure 8, the packages 25 fall from the spiral chute firstly on to the motorised rollers 30 which convey them to the ramp 30, and from there on to the plate 13tofollowthe same path asin Figure 7.

The conveyor 16 with the outer annular-wall 18 and baffle 20 can be rotated through about 150 into the position shown in Figure 9, while keeping the ramp-roller bed assembly as in Figure 8. The pack ages 25, which are always discharged from the spiral chute at the same point, then fall on to the rollers 30 and are fed by way of the ramp 31 onto the plate 13, to be discharged on to the conveyor 16 following a path which passes under the rollers 30.

Both the distributor devices according to the invention therefore enable packages always fed at the same point to be distributed over an arc of 360", by means of a structure which is of extremely simple and reliable operation, as it comprises no sophisti cated technical design, thus making the assembly more economical than others of known type.

Claims

1. A device for distributing packages over a 360" arc starting from a fixed feed point, of the type comprising a rotating plate with which there cooperates an annular wall which is rotatable relative to the plate and is rigid with a conveyor which extends radially to the plate, the said annularwall having a discharge opening in a position corresponding with the conveyor, and to which the packages are directed by means of a baffle which intersects the feed path of the packages on the plate, and further comprising means for directing the packages from the fixed feed point along a feed path which intersects the fixed baffle, said means being positionable relative to the plate through an angle of about 360".

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the said means directs the packages from the fixed feed point towards the outside of the plate along a feed path which intersects the fixed baffle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means comprise a part-annular wall disposed between the said annular wall and the axis of rotation of the plate and lying on a circle which passes adjacent to the free edge of the fixed baffle, and an arcuate baffle which is rotatable substantially about the axis of the plate between the free edges of said part-annular wall.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means comprise a roller bed composed of a set of motorised rollers disposed along a circumferential arc above and spaced from the plate, the roller bed being connected to the plate by means of a ramp rigid with the roller bed leading from the roller bed to the plate.

5. A device for distributing articles over a 360 > arc from a fixed feed point comprising a horizontal plate which rotates about a vertical axis, a conveyor which extends radially relative to the plate and which can be moved independently of the plate through 360- about the axis of the plate, a baffle which is fixed to move with the conveyor, which sweeps over an area of the plate as the plate is rotated and which deflects articles in the said area onto the conveyor, and means defining a conveying surface which is riot swept by the said baffle, which extends at least partly around the axis of rotation of the plate, and which is arranged to discharge articles on its conveying surface onto the area swept by the said baffle, the said means being arranged for at least limited movement about the axis of the plate independent of the plate and the conveyor so that the conveying surface it defines can be located beneath the feed point when the said baffle lies on the same radius as the feed point.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which the said conveying surface is an area of the said plate located radially inwardly of the area swept by the baffle and in which the said means includes a further baffle which deflects articles on the said surface onto the area swept by the first-mentioned baffle.

7. A device according to claim 6 in which the said means includes an arcuate wall which separates the area swept by the first-mentioned baffle and the area defining the said conveying surface.

8. A device according to claim 5 in which the said conveying surface lies above the area swept by the baffle.

9. A device according to claim 8 in which the said means defining the said conveying surface comprise a motor driven roller bed.

10. A device according to claim 9 in which the said means further include a lamp leading down from the roller bed to the plate.

11. A device according to claim 8 in which the said means is constrained by stop for limited movement about the axis.

12. A device according to any one claims 5 to 11 in which the said means is constrained by stops for limited movement relative to the conveyor.

13. A device according to any of claims 5 to 12 including an annular wall extending around the periphery of plate fixed to the conveyor for movement with the conveyor and having an opening aligned with the conveyor to allow articles deflected by the said baffle to pass on to the conveyor.

14. A device according to any of claims 5 to 13 in which the fixed feed point is provided by a chute, the lower end of which is spaced above the conveying surface by a distance which is less than the height of the top of the fixed baffle above the plate.

15. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 5 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.