GB2185226A

GB2185226A - Batching machine using pivoted gate means

Info

Publication number: GB2185226A
Application number: GB08600647A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edgar Wilfred Borrow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-01-11
Filing date: 1986-01-11
Publication date: 1987-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2006-01-11
Also published as: GB2214893A; GB8600647D0; GB2185226B; GB8908047D0; GB2214893B

Abstract

A batching machine for assembling containers in batches comprises a plurality of parallel-disposed conveyor tracks along which the containers can be moved, selecting means for selecting a number of containers in turn from each of said tracks, means at an assembly station for moving selected groups of containers alternately from two conveyor tracks on to a common intermediate track, the tracks including continuously-running conveyors, and the selecting means comprising alternately operable gates (13a) for halting the flow of containers after a selected number have passed, the halted containers sliding on the respective conveyor until the gate is again opened. Adhesive tape dispensers (23,24) and perforating and applying rollers (25-27) downstream of said assembly station are provided for securing together containers in batches each of a selected number of containers. A heater 33a, 34a fuses and severs the tape to separate the flow into batches of a selected number. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A batching machine for assembling containers in batches This invention relates to a batching machine for assembling containers in batches. More particularly the invention concerns a machine for receiving cartons containing beverages of different flavours and dispensing the cartons in batches each of which contains a desired selection of differently flavoured beverages.

According to the present invention there is provided a batching machine for assembling containers in batches comprising a plurality of parallel-disposed conveyor tracks along which the containers can be moved, selecting means for selecting groups of a predetermined number of containers in turn from each of said tracks transfer means for advancing the containers to an assembly station, and means at an assembly station for moving selected groups of containers transversely from said first and second of said tracks, alternately on to a conveyor track intermediate said first and second tracks, and means downstream of said assembly station for securing together containers in batches each of a selected number of containers, wherein conveyors on said first and second conveyor tracks are arranged to move continuously, and said selecting means comprise gates each operable in synchronism with the other gate or gates to halt the flow of containers after a selected number of containers have passed through the gate, the halted containers being arranged to slide on the continuously running conveyor until the gate is again opened.

The present invention further comprises apparatus for securing together containers in batches comprising a dispenser for adhesive tape and means for perforating the tape at a set of spaced positions along the tape corresponding to the distance between successive containers and a heater operable to fuse and sever the tape at selected positions thereon in order to separate the flow of containers into batches each of a selected number.

Preferably each heater is a hot wire mounted transversely of the periphery of a wheel disposed alongside the track and movable periodically into a position adjacent one of the tapes so as to locally fuse the tape.

The invention will now be particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a batching machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for batching containers in the form of rectangular section box-shaped cartons containing milk or other beverage, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic section through the machine of Figure 1 showing greater detail of the operating parts.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the machine has an input section 10 comprising two parallel disposed outer conveyor tracks 1 a,11 b and optionally an intermediate track 11c, on to which batches of cartons are placed manually such as, batches of cartons 1 2a of a first flavour, 1 2b of a second flavour and 1 2c of a third flavour. These cartons are of rectangular section and are arranged in rows across the tracks and in ranks longitudinally of the tracks.

Each track comprises a conveyor formed by a conveyor belt or series of conveyor chains (such as 13a) which pass over wheels (such as 14a). In operation of the machine these conveyors are driven continuously.

At the forward end of the conveyors is a selector in the form of three gates. Each gate comprises two platforms 13a,14 a; 13b,14b; 13c,14c disposed sequentially and arranged to tilt with respect to one another to create a step therebetween as seen in Figure 2. Preferably this step is formed by pivotally supporting the downstream ends of the platform 13a,b or c and raising or lowering the upstream end thereof by means of cams 15a,b or c located uinderneath the respective platforms.

Each conveyor carries the cartons thereon forwardly on to the first platform 13a,b or c.

If a step has been established at the forward end of the platform, the cartons thereon will abut the downstream end of the second platform 14a,b or c and will be prevented from advancing further. The cartons on the conveyor will then slide relative to the upper run of the conveyor until the step has been removed and the cartons are free again to advance.

The cams operating the tilting of the platforms are timed relative to the movement of the respective conveyors to allow a predetermined number of cartons to pass before tilting the platform to produce a step and so close the gate. A stop, such as 16a or 16b, can be suitably placed on the platforms 14a,14b to ensure that only the selected number of cartons is allowed to move on to the second platform.

Push plates 17a,17b are mounted for transverse movement across the platforms 14a,14b and are operable in timed sequence to push cartons in turn from the platforms 14a,14b on the first and second tracks on to an intermediate fourth track 1 8 which forms a continuation of the intermediate track 11 c and provides an assembly station.

The fourth track, which commences with platform 14c, and extends forward therefrom, is formed by continuously moving conveyor chains 20 which receive cartons in turn from the first and second track, 1 1a,1 1b and moves them in corresponding ranks and files toward a packing station. If a supply of cartons is provided on the third track 11 c, the operation of the gates 13,14 will take place in synchronism with the movement of push plates 17a,17b to bring the batches of cartons sequentially on to the conveyor 20.

If, for example, it is assumed that cartons are to be secured together in single file batches of five cartons consisting of two cartons 12a, one carton 12b and two cartons 12c, they will be dispensed by the selector in the form of four rows each of three cartons 12a, one row of three cartons 12c, four rows each of three cartons 12b and again one row of three cartons 12c, which sequence is then repeated, Thus by dividing the sequence repeatedly between the second and third rows of carton 1 2a and between the second and third rows of cartons 1 2c (and discarding the first two rows of cartons 12a), three batches each consisting of five cartons in the selected flavours will be achieved (12a,12a,12b,12c,12c) followed by three more batches reversed (12c,12c,12b 12a,12a) and so on.

Alternatively if batches of five cartons are required consisting only of cartons 1 2a and cartons 12b, the third track will be omitted, and five rows each of three cartons 1 2a will be selected alternately with five rows each of three cartons 12b, and these will be moved alternately on to the fourth track by the pushers 17a,17b. The single files thus formed can then be divided to give three cartons 1 2a and two cartons 12b, followed by three cartons 12b and two cartons 12a, the sequence being repeated.

Downstream of the assembly station, the three ranks of cartons pass through an adhesive tape dispensing system. This dispensing system comprises three tape supply reels 23 above the cartons and three reels 24 below the cartons, arranged to dispense tape onto three perforating rollers 25,26 from which in turn the tape passes around three applicator rollers 27,28 which press the tape against the top and bottom of the three rows of cartons.

Each perforating roller carries five rows of pins equally spaced apart around its periphery.

Vaned rollers 31,32 may be provided to press the adhesive tape against the perforating rollers to assist in the perforation of the tape which passes in the nip of the two rollers. The vaned rollers have peripheral grooves which register with the pins on the perforating rollers, and which accommodate the pins after they have perforated each successive portion of the tape.

As the three ranks of cartons emerge from the taping station, each carton is rigidly secured to the next adjacent carton in the rank by the runs of tape adhering to its opposite ends. In order to sever the ranks into batches of five cartons, two rollers 33,34 are mounted downstream of the tape dispenser to abut the upper and lower ends of the cartons, each roller having in its periphery an electrically heated wire 33a,34a. These rollers are synchronised with the tape-perforating rollers so that the heated wire approaches close to the upper and lower tape adjacent each fifth row of perforations, and fuses the tapes to separate the cartons into selected batches, e.g. of five cartons each.

The batches of cartons are gathered together in groups of six, i.e. three batches across the output conveyor and two batches along the conveyor, are fitted into trays of suitable size and held in the trays by adhesive tape manually applied.

Claims

1. A batching machine for assembling containers in batches comprising a plurality of parallel-disposed conveyor tracks along which the containers can be moved, selecting means for selecting groups of a predetermined number of containers in turn from each of said tracks, transfer means for advancing the containers to an assembly station, and means at an assembly station for moving selected groups of containers transversely from first and second of said tracks alternately on to a conveyor track intermediate said first and second tracks, and means downstream of said assembly station for securing together containers in batches each of a selected number of containers, wherein conveyors on said first and second conveyor tracks are arranged to move continuously, and said selecting means comprise gates each operable in synchronism with the other gate or gates to halt the flow of containers after a selected number of containers have passed through the gate, the halted containers being arranged to slide on the continuously running conveyor until the gate is again opened.

2. A batching machine according to claim 1 wherein each gate comprises a platform over which the flow of containers passes, the platform being pivotally mounted with respect to an adjacent part of the associated track for tilting movement out of alignment with said adjacent part to form an upward step in the track effective to halt the further flow of containers along the track.

3. A batching machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said securing means comprise adhesive tape applicators for securing containers together in batches by strips of adhesive tape, means for forming transverse rows of perforations in said tape at intervals along the tape corresponding to the intervals between successive containers to facilitate separation of each container from the adjacent container, and heated means synchronised with the movement of the taped containers to apply heat at selected positions on the tape to fuse the tape and thereby separate the flow of taped containers into batches each containing a predetermined number of containers.

4. Apparatus for securing together contain ers in batches comprising a dispenser for adhesive tape and means for perforating the tape at a set of spaced positions along the tape corresponding to the distance between successive containers and a heater operable to fuse and sever the tape at selected positions thereon in order to separate the flow of containers into batches each of a selected number.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the heater comprises a roller having an electrically heated wire located in the periphery thereof.

6. Apparatus substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.