GB2125174A

GB2125174A - Weighing articles on a conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2125174A
Application number: GB08222734A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard James Thornhill
Original assignee: THORNHILL Ltd
Current assignee: THORNHILL Ltd
Priority date: 1982-08-06
Filing date: 1982-08-06
Publication date: 1984-02-29
Also published as: GB2125174B

Abstract

A conveyor comprises a succession of discrete carriers (2) connected together by linkages (4) and adapted to travel on a supporting member (1) a region of the supporting member (1) including means (10) responsive to the weight of a carrier (2) engaging the weighing means (10) further means (7, 8) being provided for relieving tension in the linkages (4) adjacent a carrier (2) as the carrier (2) engages the weighing means (10). The conveyor finds particular application for weighing live poultry. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for weighing articles on a conveyor This invention relates to apparatus for weighing articles on a conveyor particularly but not exclusively on an endless conveyor.

According to the present invention a conveyor comprises a succession of discrete carriers connected together by linkages and adapted to travel on a supporting member, a region of the supporting member including weighing means responsive to the weight of a carrier engaging the weighing means, further means being provided for relieving tension in the linkages adjacent a carrier as the carrier engages the weighing means.

Preferably said further means comprises a pair of wheels adapted to respectively engage carriers or linkages before and after engagement with the weighing means.

The conveyor serves to reduce the tension in linkages between the carriers. Tension in the linkages makes it difficult to determine the weight of a carrier and any associated load. This invention finds particular application in weighing of poultry before, during and after slaughter and processing.

The invention is alternatively applicable to other types of conveyor.

The carriers may be urged to travel on the supporting member by force applied to the linkages.

The linkages may comprise a chain extending between the carriers. Alternatively a belt, cord or rigid members may extend between the carriers.

Preferably the wheels are toothed to engage the said linkages or carriers. The said pair of wheels are preferably arranged to move in concert. The tension in the linkages is thereby transmitted from one wheel to the other leaving the intermediate linkages slack. The conveyor may comprise an endless conveyor.

Poultry processing machines handle between 4,000 and 6,000 birds per hour. It is unnecessary to weigh individual birds but it is desirable to determine the average weight of birds in a batch numbering, for example, 2,000 to 4,000 birds.

The present invention facilitates accurate weighing but does not require extensive modification of existing apparatus, for example by increasing the distance between consecutive carriers so that the birds may not touch one another.

The apparatus may be modified by provision of wheels or rollers which cooperate with the toothed wheels to provide a nip through which the linkages and carriers pass, ensuring their engagement with the wheels.

The invention is further described by means of an example with reference to the accompanying drawing which represents a weighing apparatus for use in a poultry processing plant.

An endless conveyor comprises a guide rail 1 upon which carriers 2 are suspended. The carriers 2 each comprise a pair of wheels of rollers which engage the guide rail and which support a load (not shown) by means of a linkage 3. In the present embodiment of this invention the linkages are adapted to engage the feet of poultry such as chickens during processing.

The carriers 2 are connected together by means of a chain 4 by which they are urged along the guide rail 1. A single batch of poultry may comprise 2,000 to 4,000 birds which may be conveyed at a rate of up to 6,000 birds per hour.

The load applied to the chain 4 to drive the conveyor makes the chain stiff and renders it difficult to weigh individual carriers and their loads.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 is adapted to substantially release the tension in the chain as the carriers are weighed. The apparatus comprises two toothed wheels 5, 6 adapted to engage the chain 4. The wheels 5, 6 are each connected to respective coaxial secondary wheels 7, 8. A belt 9 extends around the secondary wheels and causes the latter to rotate in concert. A weighing device 10 such a weighing cell manufactured by Hunting Engineering Limited is located in a section of the guide rail between the wheels 5 and 6. The weighing device 10 is connected to an apparatus 11 which provides an electrical output indicative of the weight detected by the weighing device.

Before use of the apparatus the portion of the chain 4 extending between the two wheels 5, 6 is slackened by partiai rotation of one of the wheels, for example 5 relative to the respective secondary wheel 7. The shaft extending between the wheels 5 and 7 may be disconnected or uncoupled for this purpose. The tension applied in use to the chain 4 is therefore relieved by the wheel 5 and is applied via the wheel 7, belt 9 and the wheels 8 and 6 to the chain after it has passed the weighing station.

Weighing of the carriers 2 takes place individually as the wheels thereof pass over the weighing device 10. The reduced tension in the chain serves to minimise interaction between adjacent carriers and provides a comparatively accurate measure of the weight of each carrier and respective load.

Adjacent loads may come into contact particularly when live poultry is involved. For this reason the total weight of a batch may be recorded and the average weight determined.

Care must be taken to ensure that the chain does not slip from engagement with either of the wheels 5, 6. The chain may be arranged to pass around a substantial portion of the circumference of the wheels. Alternatively, or in addition the chain may be engaged by passage through a nip between the wheels 5, 6 and further wheels or rollers (not shown).

This invention is not restricted to use with conveyors for poultry but may find application in the handling of any article by means of a chain or other articulated endless conveyor belt.

1. A conveyor comprising a succession of discrete carriers connected together by linkages and adapted to travel on a supporting member, a region of the supporting member including weighing means responsive to the weight of a

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Apparatus for weighing articles on a conveyor This invention relates to apparatus for weighing articles on a conveyor particularly but not exclusively on an endless conveyor. According to the present invention a conveyor comprises a succession of discrete carriers connected together by linkages and adapted to travel on a supporting member, a region of the supporting member including weighing means responsive to the weight of a carrier engaging the weighing means, further means being provided for relieving tension in the linkages adjacent a carrier as the carrier engages the weighing means. Preferably said further means comprises a pair of wheels adapted to respectively engage carriers or linkages before and after engagement with the weighing means. The conveyor serves to reduce the tension in linkages between the carriers. Tension in the linkages makes it difficult to determine the weight of a carrier and any associated load. This invention finds particular application in weighing of poultry before, during and after slaughter and processing. The invention is alternatively applicable to other types of conveyor. The carriers may be urged to travel on the supporting member by force applied to the linkages. The linkages may comprise a chain extending between the carriers. Alternatively a belt, cord or rigid members may extend between the carriers. Preferably the wheels are toothed to engage the said linkages or carriers. The said pair of wheels are preferably arranged to move in concert. The tension in the linkages is thereby transmitted from one wheel to the other leaving the intermediate linkages slack. The conveyor may comprise an endless conveyor. Poultry processing machines handle between 4,000 and 6,000 birds per hour. It is unnecessary to weigh individual birds but it is desirable to determine the average weight of birds in a batch numbering, for example, 2,000 to 4,000 birds. The present invention facilitates accurate weighing but does not require extensive modification of existing apparatus, for example by increasing the distance between consecutive carriers so that the birds may not touch one another. The apparatus may be modified by provision of wheels or rollers which cooperate with the toothed wheels to provide a nip through which the linkages and carriers pass, ensuring their engagement with the wheels. The invention is further described by means of an example with reference to the accompanying drawing which represents a weighing apparatus for use in a poultry processing plant. An endless conveyor comprises a guide rail 1 upon which carriers 2 are suspended. The carriers 2 each comprise a pair of wheels of rollers which engage the guide rail and which support a load (not shown) by means of a linkage 3. In the present embodiment of this invention the linkages are adapted to engage the feet of poultry such as chickens during processing. The carriers 2 are connected together by means of a chain 4 by which they are urged along the guide rail 1. A single batch of poultry may comprise 2,000 to 4,000 birds which may be conveyed at a rate of up to 6,000 birds per hour. The load applied to the chain 4 to drive the conveyor makes the chain stiff and renders it difficult to weigh individual carriers and their loads. The apparatus shown in Figure 1 is adapted to substantially release the tension in the chain as the carriers are weighed. The apparatus comprises two toothed wheels 5, 6 adapted to engage the chain 4. The wheels 5, 6 are each connected to respective coaxial secondary wheels 7, 8. A belt 9 extends around the secondary wheels and causes the latter to rotate in concert. A weighing device 10 such a weighing cell manufactured by Hunting Engineering Limited is located in a section of the guide rail between the wheels 5 and 6. The weighing device 10 is connected to an apparatus 11 which provides an electrical output indicative of the weight detected by the weighing device. Before use of the apparatus the portion of the chain 4 extending between the two wheels 5, 6 is slackened by partiai rotation of one of the wheels, for example 5 relative to the respective secondary wheel 7. The shaft extending between the wheels 5 and 7 may be disconnected or uncoupled for this purpose. The tension applied in use to the chain 4 is therefore relieved by the wheel 5 and is applied via the wheel 7, belt 9 and the wheels 8 and 6 to the chain after it has passed the weighing station. Weighing of the carriers 2 takes place individually as the wheels thereof pass over the weighing device 10. The reduced tension in the chain serves to minimise interaction between adjacent carriers and provides a comparatively accurate measure of the weight of each carrier and respective load. Adjacent loads may come into contact particularly when live poultry is involved. For this reason the total weight of a batch may be recorded and the average weight determined. Care must be taken to ensure that the chain does not slip from engagement with either of the wheels 5, 6. The chain may be arranged to pass around a substantial portion of the circumference of the wheels. Alternatively, or in addition the chain may be engaged by passage through a nip between the wheels 5, 6 and further wheels or rollers (not shown). This invention is not restricted to use with conveyors for poultry but may find application in the handling of any article by means of a chain or other articulated endless conveyor belt. CLAIMS

1. A conveyor comprising a succession of discrete carriers connected together by linkages and adapted to travel on a supporting member, a region of the supporting member including weighing means responsive to the weight of a carrier engaging the weighing means, further means being provided for relieving tension in the linkages adjacent a carrier as the carrier engages the weighing means.

2. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said further means comprises a pair of wheels adapted to respectively engage carriers or linkages before and after engagement with the weighing means.

3. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein in use the carriers are urged to travel on the supporting member by force applied to the linkages.

4. A conveyor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the linkages comprise a chain extending between the carriers.

5. A conveyor as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the linkages comprise belts, cords or rigid members.

6. A conveyor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wheels are arranged to move in concert.

7. A conveyor as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, wherein wheels or rollers cooperate with said wheels to form a nip through which the linkages and carriers pass in use.

8. A poultry conveyor as claimed in any preceding claim.

9. A conveyor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.