GB2255544A - Device for grouping flat products arranged side by side on edge. - Google Patents

Device for grouping flat products arranged side by side on edge. Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2255544A
GB2255544A GB9203910A GB9203910A GB2255544A GB 2255544 A GB2255544 A GB 2255544A GB 9203910 A GB9203910 A GB 9203910A GB 9203910 A GB9203910 A GB 9203910A GB 2255544 A GB2255544 A GB 2255544A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
step conveyor
conveyor
edge
seats
products
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9203910A
Other versions
GB2255544B (en
GB9203910D0 (en
Inventor
Mario Spatafora
Antonio Gamberini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GD SpA
Original Assignee
GD SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GD SpA filed Critical GD SpA
Publication of GB9203910D0 publication Critical patent/GB9203910D0/en
Publication of GB2255544A publication Critical patent/GB2255544A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2255544B publication Critical patent/GB2255544B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/52—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices
    • B65G47/68—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor lane and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor lane or to one broader conveyor lane, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor
    • B65G47/681—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor lane and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor lane or to one broader conveyor lane, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor from distinct, separate conveyor lanes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/02—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors
    • B65G47/04—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
    • B65G47/06—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
    • B65G47/08—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
    • B65G47/082—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding grouping articles in rows

Abstract

The device (1) comprises a step conveyor (4) having a succession of transverse seats (7), each designed to receive a respective group (2); and a number of side by side two-screw (12) conveyors (10) equally spaced along the step conveyor (4) with the same spacing as the seats (7), and each designed to feed a respective product (3) inside a seat (7) at each step of the step conveyor (4); the step conveyor (4) is provided with a number of guide blades (21) defining a number of channels (22) with portions (23) sloping in relation to the traveling direction (5) of the step conveyor (4), so as to feed the products (3) from an input position at the input end of the seat (7) to an end position along the seat (7). In a variation a first blade (21) in direction (5) projects downstream from loading station (9) so as to define a stop element parallel to direction (5) while the other blades terminate at the output of loading station (9). <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR GROUPING FLAT PRODUCTS ARRANGED SIDE BY SIDE ON EDGE The present invention relates to a device for grouping flat products arranged side by side on edge.
Known devices for grouping flat products, e.g. lozenges, arranged side by side on edge, comprise a step conveyor with a succession of seats arranged crosswise in relation to the traveling direction of the conveyor, and each designed to receive a group of products arranged side by side on edge along the seat axis.
On known devices of the aforementioned type, the products are normally fed inside the seats on the step conveyor by means of a number of fixed, side by side conveyors equally spaced along the side of the step conveyor, with the same spacing as the seats, and each designed to feed a product inside a respective seat at each step of the conveyor.
The fixed conveyors extend over and crosswise in relation to the traveling direction of the step conveyor by distances decreasing by at least the product thickness between one conveyor and the next in the traveling direction of the step conveyor.
A major drawback of known devices of the aforementioned type is the high production cost involved. This is mainly due to the different length of the fixed conveyors which, normally comprising screws, rule out any possibility of minimizing the purchasing cost or number of spares required.
It is an object of the present invention to provide.a device of the aforementioned type designed to overcome the aforementioned drawback.
According to the present invention, there is provided a device for forming groups of flat products arranged side by side on edge, said device comprising a step conveyor having a succession of seats, each with its axis arranged crosswise in relation to a first traveling direction of the step conveyor, and each designed to receive a respective group of products arranged side by side on edge along said seat axis; and a number of side by side conveyors equally spaced along the step conveyor with the same spacing as said transverse seats, and each designed to feed a respective said product inside a respective said seat in a second direction parallel to said axis and at each step of said step conveyor; characterized by the fact that it also comprises guide means extending along said step conveyor and sloping in relation to both said first and said second direction; said guide means engaging said products inside said seats, and, at each step of the step conveyor, moving said products along said seats by a distance at least equal to the thickness of said product.
The present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a schematic plan view of a non-limiting embodiment, with parts removed for clarity.
Number 1 in the accompanying drawing indicates a device for forming groups 2 of flat products 3 arranged side by side on edge, and consisting, in the example shown, of substantially cylindrical lozenges.
Device 1 comprises a step conveyor 4 traveling in direction 5 parallel to axis 6 of conveyor 4, and having a number of transverse grooves or seats 7 equally spaced along axis 6 and each designed to receive a respective group 2 of products 3 arranged side by side and perpendicular to axis 8 of seat 7.
Conveyor 4 moves forward in steps equal to the distance between adjacent seats 7, and extends, in a plane parallel to that of the attached drawing, through a loading station 9 where a number of seats 7 equal to the number of products 3 in each group 2 are arrested at each step of conveyor 4. Loading station 9 accommodates the output ends of a number of conveyors 19 of the same length and equally spaced side by side along conveyor 4 with the same spacing as seats 7. Conveyors 10 extend parallel to axes 8 of seats 7, and are each substantially aligned with a respective seat 7 at each step of conveyor 4.
The output ends of conveyors 10 in loading station 9 are aligned along a plane perpendicular to axes 8 and intersecting the plane of conveyor 4 along a line lOa, which substantially coincides with the lateral edge 11 of conveyor 4 facing conveyors 10, and defines the starting end of groups 2 formed in loading station 9.
In the example shown, each conveyor 10 is defined by two screws 12, each comprising an inner core 13 about which winds a spiral projection 14 extending substantially radially outwards of core 13 by less than the height of products 3. Cores 13 define a channel 15 narrower than the diameter of products 3; and the outer edges of projections 14 are substantially tangent to each other at a number of points 16 equally spaced along conveyor 10 with the same spacing as the turns of projections 14 of screws 12.
Along channel 15, each two adjacent points 16 defines a compartment 17 which, as screws 12 are counter-rotated, moves at substantially constant speed from the input end (not shown) to the output end of conveyor 10 over conveyor 4 in loading station 9.
Device 1 also comprises a guide device 18, the input portion 19 of which extends along conveyor 4 in loading station 9, and slopes in relation to both direction 5 and axes 8, so as to engage products 3 fed into seats 7 by conveyors 10, and, at each step of conveyor 4, move products 3 along seats 7 in direction 20 parallel to axes 8 and by a distance at least equal to the thickness of product 3.
In the embodiment shown, guide device 18 extends parallel to the plane of and over conveyor 4, and comprises a number of parallel blades 21 arranged on edge in relation to the plane of conveyor 4 and defining a number of channels 22. Each channel 22 comprises an input portion 23 extending along input portion 19 of guide device 18 and having an input end located over the input portion of a respective seat 7 (hereinafter referred to as the "input seat") and substantially along lateral edge 11 of conveyor 4.
In direction 5, input portion 23 of each channel 22 slopes in relation to directions 5 and 20 towards edge 24 of conveyor 4 opposite edge 11, so that the distance, measured parallel to direction 20, between the intersections of each channel 22 and two adjacent seats 7 is at least equal to the thickness of product 3.
Channels 22 also comprise respective output portions 25 located downstream from loading station 9 in direction 5, and extending parallel to direction 5 so as to define the output portion 26 of guide device 18.
According to a variation (not shown), the first of blades 21 in direction 5 projects downstream from loading station 9 so as to define a stop element parallel to direction 5, while the other blades 21 terminate at the output of loading station 9.
As shown in the accompanying drawing, at each step of conveyor 4, each product 3 fed into the input portion of a respective seat 7 is fed along respective channel 22 and, consequently, along respective seat 7 in direction 20, by virtue of the portion of product 3 projecting from seat 7 contacting blade 21 of respective channel 22. Products 3 are fed along respective seats 7 in direction 20 until they engage output portions 25 of respective channels 22 at the output of loading station 9.
Guide device 18, which is relatively cheap to produce, therefore provides for forming groups 2 using identical conveyors 10 all of the same length.

Claims (1)

1) - A device (1) for forming groups (2) of flat products (3) arranged side by side on edge, said device (1) comprising a step conveyor (4) having a succession of seats (7), each with its axis (8) arranged crosswise in relation to a first traveling direction (5) of the step conveyor (4), and each designed to receive a respective group (2) of products (3) arranged side by side on edge along said seat axis (8); and a number of side by side conveyors (10) equally spaced along the step conveyor (4) with the same spacing as said transverse seats (7), and each designed to feed a respective said product (3) inside a respective said seat (7) in a second direction (20) parallel to said axis (8) and at each step of said step conveyor (4); characterized by the fact that it also comprises guide means (18) extending along said step conveyor (4) and sloping in relation to both said first (5) and said second (20) direction; said guide means (18) engaging said products (3) inside said seats (7), and, at each step of the step conveyor (4), moving said products (3) along said seats (7) by a distance at least equal to the thickness of said product (3).
2) - A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises a fixed loading station (9) for loading said products (3) inside respective said seats (7); said conveyors (10) and said guide means (18) cooperating with said step conveyor (4) at least in said loading station (9).
3) - A device as claimed in Claim 2, characterized by the fact that said guide means (18) comprise a number of blades (21) extending over the step conveyor (4) and lying in a plane parallel to that of the step conveyor (4); said blades (21) being arranged on edge in relation to the plane of the step conveyor (4), and parallel to each other so as to define a number of channels (22) sloping in relation to said first and second directions (5, 20).
4) - A device as claimed in Claim 3, characterized by the fact that each said channel (22) presents an input end over the input portion of a respective said seat (7) and along a first lateral edge (11) of the step conveyor (4), and slopes, in said first direction (5), towards a second edge (24) of the step conveyor (4) opposite said first edge (11), so that the distance, measured parallel to said second direction (20), between the intersections of each said channel (22) in the plane of the step conveyor (4) and two adjacent said seats (7) is at least equal to the thickness of said product (3).
5) - A device as claimed in Claim 4, characterized by the fact that said channels (22) also comprise respective output portions (25) downstream from said loading station (9) in said first direction (5) and extending parallel to said first direction (5).
6) - A device for grouping flat products arranged side by side on edge, substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB9203910A 1991-02-26 1992-02-24 Device for grouping flat products arranged side by side on edge Expired - Fee Related GB2255544B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBO910050A IT1245995B (en) 1991-02-26 1991-02-26 DEVICE FOR THE FORMATION OF GROUPS OF FULLY PRODUCED ARRANGEMENTS SIDE BY SIDE.

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9203910D0 GB9203910D0 (en) 1992-04-08
GB2255544A true GB2255544A (en) 1992-11-11
GB2255544B GB2255544B (en) 1994-03-09

Family

ID=11337264

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9203910A Expired - Fee Related GB2255544B (en) 1991-02-26 1992-02-24 Device for grouping flat products arranged side by side on edge

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2255544B (en)
IT (1) IT1245995B (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1006157C2 (en) * 1997-05-29 1998-12-01 Houdijk B V Maschf Removal and insertion device for high-positioned flat products.
FR2800052A1 (en) * 1999-10-22 2001-04-27 Scanvaegt France Conveyor feed for oysters has intercalated sub conveyors with curved surfaces to retain oysters on belts

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1006157C2 (en) * 1997-05-29 1998-12-01 Houdijk B V Maschf Removal and insertion device for high-positioned flat products.
EP0881176A1 (en) * 1997-05-29 1998-12-02 B.V. Machinefabriek Houdijk Device for removing and inserting upright positioned flat products
US6158569A (en) * 1997-05-29 2000-12-12 B.V. Machinefabrienk Houdijk Device for removing and inserting upright positioned flat products
FR2800052A1 (en) * 1999-10-22 2001-04-27 Scanvaegt France Conveyor feed for oysters has intercalated sub conveyors with curved surfaces to retain oysters on belts

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2255544B (en) 1994-03-09
ITBO910050A0 (en) 1991-02-26
ITBO910050A1 (en) 1992-08-26
IT1245995B (en) 1994-11-07
GB9203910D0 (en) 1992-04-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10343850B2 (en) System for distributing objects
US7228954B2 (en) Method for conveying tires
US6962250B2 (en) Conveyor and method for conveying products
EP0860384B1 (en) Method and unit for forming groups of products
EP0056946B2 (en) An arrangement for the feeding of objects
JPS63288814A (en) Device for reorganizing vessel flow in multi-row arrangement into large number of parallel vessel row mutually separated by isolating member respectively
DE102016204193A1 (en) Transport device for trays
EP3376883B1 (en) Centering device for rod shaped articles of the tobacco industry
US6837360B2 (en) Retractable transfer device metering and product arranging apparatus and methods
US11027928B2 (en) Compact collator, system and method of use
EP3615461A1 (en) Adjusting the distance between piece goods to be conveyed
GB2255544A (en) Device for grouping flat products arranged side by side on edge.
EP0323965B1 (en) Conveyor
US3444980A (en) Method and means for reorienting nested articles on a conveyor to form laterally aligned columns
SE8900854D0 (en) DEVICE TO CHANGE OVERLAPPED PRINTING PRODUCTS
US10750775B2 (en) Spacing drum and method
US5224811A (en) Restraining device for a hopper
GB1566958A (en) Grading of bulbs or tubers
EP0249388A3 (en) Container nesting apparatus
CN112265669A (en) Bottle pushing mechanism, bottle packaging device and bottle pushing method
CN1050275C (en) Storage equipment for long element, especially for cigarette
JP2004223685A (en) Cutting device and cutting method for corrugated fin
US6478514B1 (en) Neck ring guide change-over for an air conveyor
US20190183164A1 (en) Apparatus for manufacturing of multi-element rods of tobacco industry
CA1190898A (en) Procedure and apparatus for the length sorting of pieces of timber

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
711B Application made for correction of error (sect. 117/77)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20000224