GB2168962A

GB2168962A - Device for supplying a working line with a regular flow of packets

Info

Publication number: GB2168962A
Application number: GB08523291A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karel Mojzis
Original assignee: Skoda kp
Current assignee: Skoda kp
Priority date: 1984-12-20
Filing date: 1985-09-20
Publication date: 1986-07-02
Also published as: IT8522605A0; GB8523291D0; CS1003084A1; CS245682B1; IT1185478B; DE3533878A1; DE3533878C2; GB2168962B

Abstract

The device comprises a main stack (2) for ordinary supply and an auxiliary stack (3) for additional supply of packets (17), which are taken from both stacks by means of a common carrier (4,5). Each stack has at its lower part a holder (6,6a) for holding or releasing the packets which are situated therein in a column above the working line. The holders are controlled by control means actuated by sensors (13) associated with the main stack. Continually rotatable supports (16) are situated under the auxiliary stack in the working line and their movement is synchronized with that of the carrier (5). The supports are adapted for lifting the packets in auxiliary stack (3) so that they are situated with a clearance over the working line. Packets (17) are taken from main stack (2) until sensors (13) detect a low supply, whereupon packets are taken from stack (3), the main stack (2) being meanwhile replenished with no need to stop the conveyor (4,5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for supplying a working line with a regular flow of packets The invention relates to a device for supplying a working line with a regular flow of packets e.g. for packing.

Hitherto known methods for making a regular flow of packets use magazines for a sufficient stock of packets. These magazines serve not only for adding the missing packets, but also for possible stocking of an excess number of packets, which cannot be transported to the next packing machine. Such devices are very expensive; mostly there is another machine arranged in the packing line.

Drawbacks of the said devices reside especially in extremely high costs. The drawbacks may be obviated by the device according to the invention which comprises two conveying troughs, namely a main trough for an ordinary supply and an auxiliary trough for an additional supply of packets, which are taken from both troughs by means of a common carrier in such a way that in the lower part of the main trough as well as of the auxiliary one there is arranged a couple of holding elements for holding and releasing packets in a column over the working line; the said holding-down elements being e.g. controlled in an electromagnetic way, the function of which is controlled by means of a pulse from sensors situated in the main trough; under the auxiliary trough in the working line there are fastened supports in the opposite position on a holder carried by a shaft rotating continuously, the said supports being adapted for lifting the packets in the auxiliary trough to a position with a clearance over the working line, the mutual motion of which and of the carrier of packets is synchronized.

A device according to the invention avoids the need of a connecting magazine between individual packing machines so that they may be connected directly, and secures a smooth operation of a packing machine, because if a packet is missing, another packet from the auxiliary trough is slid in the flow of the supplied packets and in this way a continuous operation of the packing machine is achieved.

In order that the invention may be clearly described and put into effect, it will be now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in side elevation, partly in section, the main trough, the auxiliary trough and the couple of supports, and Figure 2 shows a section of the device in the plane A-A.

As is shown in Figure 1, the device for supplying a working line with a regular flow of packets comprises a base plate 1, on which a main trough 2 is situated, and of an auxiliary trough 3. Carriers 4, fixed on to a chain 5, pass through a groove in the base plate 1. In the main trough 2, is fastened a couple of holding-elements 6, in the auxiliary trough 3 the same couple of holding elements 6a; the couples are fixed to forks 7 and controlled by electromagnets or solenoid means 8 by means of pull rods 9 and levers 10, which are rigidly fastened to the forks 7. Through a cut-out in the forks 7 passes a pin 11, which is connected to a spring 12 fastened to the body of the respective trough.

On the inlet wall of the main trough 2 are fixed sensors 13. Under the auxiliary trough 3 are sitated supports 16 fastened on a holder 15 carried by a shaft 14.

The device according to the invention functions as follows: packets 17 arrive on to the working line through the main trough 2, where they form a continuous flow. In the auxiliary trough 3 is arranged a column of packets 17 held in a lifted position by means of the closed holding elements 6a. If the sensors 13 read an absence either of one packet or more packets 17, they actuate the electromagnet 8 controlling the couple of the holding elements 6 in the main trough 2, and in this way the packets 17 are delayed so that the column of the coming packets 17 from the previous machine may be completed.Simultaneously the electromagnet of the couple of the holding elements 6a in the auxiliary trough 3 receives a pulse and releases the column of packets kept in the lifted position, so that the lowermost packet drops on to the base plate 1 and is thus added to the flow of packets in the working line of the packing machine, so that the flow of packets is not interrupted. As soon as the column of packets in the main trough 2 is completed, the sensors 13 issue a pulse for the electromagnet 8, which switches and releases the couples of the holding elements 6, and the released packet 17 drops on to the base plate 1, so that the carrier 4 takes again packets from the main trough 2.Simultaneously with the pulse to the electromagnet 8 of the main trough 2, the electromagnet of the auxiliary trough 3 receives a pulse as well, disconnects and the force of the spring 12 closes the couple of the holding elements 6a, so that no further packets can drop on to the base plate 1. The supports 16 fastened on the holder 15 and revolving together with the shaft 14, are situated in the space under the auxiliary trough 3. The supports 16 revolve continuously and their motion is synchronized with that of the carriers 4 so that their bodies mutually pass by in the space under the auxiliary trough 3. When the packets 17 are taken from the main trough 2, the supports 16 pass under the packet 17 clamped by a couple of the holing elements 6a with a clearance over the passing packet 17 supplied from the main trough 2.As soon as the usual supply from the main trough 2 is stopped and the working line is supplied with the packets from the auxiliary trough 3, the supports 16 situated under the auxiliary trough 3 are put into function. The supports 16 are in a continuous rotating motion, synchronized with the motion of the carriers 4, let be in function the main trough 2 or the auxiliary one 3. If the auxiliary trough 3 is in operation, the support 16, coming under the column of packets in the trough, lifts the column of packets during its rotating motion, i.e. by a clearance determined in advance for an easy passing of packets, and during the whole time of its motion under the packet it keeps the column lifted. As soon as the support 16 leaves the packet, the packet drops on to the base plate 1 and is ready for being taken away by the carrier 4.At the time, when the carrier 4 approaches the prepared packet 17, the other support 16 approaches the auxiliary trough 3, and the cycle is repeated. As soon as the column of packets in the main trough 2 is completed, the sensors 13 issue a pulse for clamping the lifted packet in the auxiliary trough 3 by means of the couple of holding elements 6a and simulta neouslythe clamped packet in the main trough 2 is released by the couple of holding elements 6 so that the packets may drop on to the base plate 1, and the ordinary operation of the supplying device takes place. During this ordinary operation, the column of packets in the auxiliary trough 3 is clamped by the couple of the holding elements 6a in the lifted position so that packets 17 from the main trough 2 may freely pass under this column. Supports 16 keep rotating in a synchronous motion with the carriers 4 and they pass freely under this -column.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to one preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be expressly understood that it is in no way limited to the disclosure of such a preferred embodiment, but it is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the ap

Claims

pended claims.

CLAIMS 1. A device for supplying a working line with a regular flow of packets, comprising two conveying troughs; namely a main trough for ordinary supply and an auxiliary trough for additional supply of packets, which are taken from both troughs by means of a common carrier, wherein in the lower parts of both the troughs are arranged respectively holders for holding and releasing packets in a col umn over the working line, the said holders being controlled by control means actuated by sensors associated with the main trough, continuously rotatable supports being situated under the auxiliary trough in the working line, the supports being adapted for lifting the packets in the auxiliary trough to a position with a clearance over the working line, the mutual motion of which and of the carrier of packets is synchronized.
2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the control means include electromagnetic means actuated by pulses from the sensors.
3. A device according to Claim 1 constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.