GB2253383A

GB2253383A - Improvements in and relating to conveying assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2253383A
Application number: GB9104275A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Julian Simmons
Original assignee: BURTON S GOLD MEDAL BISCUITS
Current assignee: BURTON S GOLD MEDAL BISCUITS
Priority date: 1991-02-28
Filing date: 1991-02-28
Publication date: 1992-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-28
Also published as: GB9104275D0; GB2253383B

Abstract

A hopper (1), containing flat cakes or biscuits (6), opens at its lower end (3) onto a conveyor (4). This conveyor (4) is arranged to successively remove the lowermost biscuit/cake (6) from the lower end (3) of the hopper (1). To assist in this removal a back driving belt (13) is positioned below the lower end (3) of the hopper (1) to move or urge the lowermost biscuit/cake (6) backwards, in a direction opposite to the direction of its removal by conveyor (4), prior to its removal. In this way, the leading edge of the lowermost biscuit/cake (6) is lowered so that the biscuit/cake assumes the correct position for removal from the hopper (1), reducing the risk of the biscuit/cake (6) being damaged on removal. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in and relating to Conveying Assemblies The present invention relates to improvements in conveying assemblies for conveying relatively flat articles, particularly but not exclusively for conveying flat cakes, such as Jaffa cakes, or biscuits from a baking station to a packing station.

A major problem with conveying such cakes and some biscuits is their fragility and the consequential need for careful handling which is in conflict with the need to convey them quickly for efficient operation of the production line.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a conveying assembly comprising a hopper and conveying means for removing articles from the hopper, the hopper having an upper inlet end for receiving the articles and a lower outlet end from which articles are removed sequentially by the conveying means which is arranged under the outlet end of the hopper to engage and remove the successive lowermost articles in the hopper, wherein positioning means are provided under the outlet end of the hopper for contacting the lowermost article in the hopper before it is engaged by the conveying means for urging the article in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the conveying means to correctly position the lowermost article before it is engaged and removed by the conveying means.

The conveying means may comprise engagement means which engage and remove successive lowermost articles in the hopper. The engagement means may comprise fingers which project through the plane of a surface extending under the outlet end of the hopper on which the lowermost article rests and along which the article is pushed by the engagement means.

A plurality of engagement means may be provided mounted at intervals on endless drive means.

The positioning means may comprise an endless band the hopper run of which projects above the plane of the surface at the outlet end of the hopper and which extends, and is moved, in the opposite direction to that of the engagement means, to urge the lowermost article in the hopper rearwardly of the hopper.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part sectional part side elevation of an embodiment of conveying assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing movement of articles in the conveying assembly of Figure 1 in the absence of the positioning means; and Figures 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views corresponding to that of Figure 4 showing movement of articles in the conveying assembly of Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the conveying assembly comprises a hopper 1 having an open upper inlet end 2 and an open lower outlet end 3 and a conveying means 4 at the outlet end 3.

The hopper is arranged with its inlet end at the outlet of another conveyor shown diagrammatically at 5, for receiving articles 6, such as Jaffa cakes, from the end of the conveyor 5. Conveyor 5 may for example be as described in GB 2170164, the articles 6 being on edge and with their upper edges forwardly inclined at the end of the conveyor 5 and falling from the end of conveyor 5 into the inlet end 2 of the hopper. The outlet end 3 of the hopper is arranged above and parallel with the direction of the conveying means 4.

As shown the wall of the hopper is formed by an array of bars 7 extending in the direction of movement of biscuits through the hopper. For such articles as Jaffa cakes which, because of the surface coating of chocolate, tend to be sticky, there is a need to reduce the amount of contact between the articles and the hopper wall. For other articles, the hopper may have a solid wall. The upper ends of the bars 7 terminate around the end of the conveyor 5 and are shaped to the conveyor 5. Accordingly with other types of conveyor 5, the upper ends of the bars may have a different configuration. The lower ends of the bars 7 terminate level with the conveying means 4, the lower ends of the bars at the front of the hopper terminating above those at the side and rear to define a gap 8 through which articles are removed by the conveying means 4.

The conveying means 4 comprises engagement means 9 for engaging and removing the lowermost article in the hopper. As shown the conveying means comprises pairs of fingers 9 mounted at intervals on endless drive chains 10, the fingers 9 projecting through the plane of the upper surface of a plate 11 on which the lowermost article in the hopper is supported and along which it is pushed by the fingers 9 from the lower end of the hopper.

In using a hopper for conveying articles, it must be arranged so that, in passing along the hopper, the articles reorientate themselves to present themselves correctly at the outlet end for correct removal. This can be achieved by providing a relatively long path down the hopper because, in passing down the hopper, the articles tend to be shaken down to an orientation generally parallel with that for correct removal. However, in a long hopper the weight of articles above the lowermost article is substantial and is too great for fragile articles such as Jaffa cakes which would be crushed. With fragile articles the hopper must be relatively short but there is then the risk of the article not assuming the correct position at the outlet of the hopper.

With articles such as Jaffa cakes, it is found that the lowermost article tends to assume a position in which its leading edge is canted upwardly still in contact with the part of the wall of the hopper above the gap 8 (Figure 4) so that as the fingers 9 engage the article to remove it, the article is jammed against the front part of the wall of the hopper and crushed.

It has been found that this incorrect positioning of the lowermost article 6 can be prevented if, before the lowermost article is engaged and removed by the fingers 9, it is urged or actually moved slightly to the back of the hopper to abut the rear part of-the wall of the hopper so that the leading edge of the article comes down to a position in line with the gap 7 (Figures 5 and 6). To effect this, positioning means 12 are provided under the outlet end of the hopper for engaging the lowermost article to urge or move it rearwardly in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the engagement means. As shown the positioning means 12 comprises an endless belt 13 which is arranged centrally under the hopper with its upper run extending in the direction of the conveying means and projecting through an opening 14 provided in the plate 11 into contact with the lower surface of the lowermost article in the hopper. The belt 12 is driven continuously in the opposite direction of movement of Figure 9. On removal of the lowermost article (Figure 5), the next article will fall down to take its place. As soon as any part of it reaches the surface of plate 11 it is engaged by the belt 13 and moved or urged rearwardly against the rear part of the wall of the hopper (Figure 6) and this has the effect of positioning the article correctly for removal by the next succeeding pair of fingers 9.

In a modification, the belt 13 may be replaced by a roller positioned so that the uppermost part of its periphery projects above the plane of the surface of plate 11 so as to contact and urge or move rearwardly the lowermost article in the hopper.

The conveying means 4 extends from the lower end of the hopper as far as is required by the production line. As shown, downstream of the hopper, lateral retaining walls 15 are provided on each side of the plate 11, the fingers 9 projecting in the gaps between the lateral edges of the plate 11 and the retaining walls 15.

Although, as shown, conveying means 4 is inclined upwardly from the outlet of the hopper (and the outlet of hopper 1 is similarly inclined), the conveying means 4 may be generally horizontal or downwardly inclined.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A conveying assembly for conveying relatively flat articles comprising a hopper and conveying means for removing articles from the hopper, the hopper having an upper inlet end for receiving articles and a lower outlet end from which articles are removed sequentially by the conveying means which is arranged under the outlet end of the hopper to engage and remove the successive lowermost articles in the hopper, wherein positioning means are provided under the outlet end of the hopper for contacting the lower most article in the hopper before it is engaged by the conveying means for urging the article in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the conveying means to correctly the position the lowermost article before it is engaged and removed by the conveying means.

2. A conveying assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the conveying means comprise engagement means which engage and remove successive lowermost articles in the hopper, the engagement means comprising fingers projecting through the plane of a surface extending under the outlet end of the hopper and on which the lowermost article in the hopper rests, the article being pushed along the surface by the engagement means.

3. A conveying assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein a plurality of engagement means are mounted on endless drive means, the engagement means being spaced apart in the direction of movement thereof for sequentially engaging and removing articles from the lower outlet end of the hopper.

4. A conveying assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning means comprises a member which projects above the plane of the surface at the

4. A conveying assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning means comprises a member which projects above the plane of the surface at the outlet end of the hopper to be contacted by the lowermost article in the hopper and which is moved in the opposite direction to that of the engagement means.

5. A conveying assembly as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the positioning body comprises an endless band, the upper run of which projects above the plane of the surface at the outlet end of the hopper.

6. A conveying assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the positioning body comprises a roller arranged with the uppermost portion of its periphery projecting above the plane of the surface at the outlet end of the hopper for engagement by the lowermost article in the hopper.

7. A conveying assembly substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A conveying assembly for conveying relatively flat articles comprising a hopper and conveying means for removing articles from the hopper, the hopper having an upper inlet end for receiving articles and a lower outlet end from which articles are removed sequentially by the conveying means which is arranged under the outlet end of the hopper to engage and remove the successive lowermost articles in the hopper, wherein positioning means are provided under the outlet end of the hopper for contacting the lowermost article in the hopper before it is engaged by the conveying means for urging the article in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the conveying means to correctly position the lowermost article before it is engaged and removed by the conveying means.