GB2261213A - Apparatus for aligning a container - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for automatically aligning a container (1) such as a beer barrel, having an axis so as to present the container (1) at a position and in a desired orientation for a particular operation, such as filling the container or the removal of a shive, at a point defined by a feature, such as a hole, on the side of the container. The apparatus comprises means (12, 16) for receiving the container and means (30, 32, 38, 36) for raising the container to an operating position (18), whilst maintaining a predetermined axial orientation of the container, means (32) for rotating the container about its axis, means (72, 70) for detecting when the feature reaches the desired angular position for the operation and means (50, 76) for discharging the container. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING A CONTAINER The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically aligning a container, in particular a beer barrel, so as to bring it to a position for an operation such as filling ("racking") or boring out a "shive" or bung.

Conventional racking machines for containers with circumferential filling orifices rely on manual labour to place and align the orifice for racking, and to bung the container and roll it out from the racking head.

Semi-automatic machines exist which work in an indexing system and collect a number of containers on either a chain or walk-beam transport system. The orifice is pre-located, then the batch is transported under the racking heads for filling. Generally, batches of six or eight barrels are racked together.

The individual racking head descends to hold the barrel, which is then rotated ("rumbled") until the filling orifice is at the top, which is detected manually or automatically; the batch of barrels is then filled. When the barrels are full, the filling heads are withdrawn and the barrels are manually bunged.

After filling the batch of full and bunged containers is moved from under the racking heads and indexed off the transport system. When the full batch of containers is transported from under the racking heads the next batch to be filled is also transported in under the racking heads.

The conventional manual or semi-automatic systems all rely on the intervention of an operator to assist in the production cycle; the skill of the operator can, therefore, have a dramatic effect on the production output of each machine. The manual systems also cause a great deal of strain on the operator in bending, rolling and manipulating both full and empty containers.

The semi-automatic systems are all batch-process machines and, therefore, rely on each element of the machine working correctly and there being sufficient empty containers to complete the batch and sufficient space to discharge.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for automatically aligning a container having an axis so as to present it at a position and in an orientation for a particular operation at a point defined by a feature on the side of the container, comprising: means for receiving the container at an infeed position; means for raising the container to an operating position in which the predetermined axial orientation is maintained, and means for rotating the container about its axis; means for detecting, during the rotation of the container, when the said feature is in the correct angular position with respect to the apparatus for the operation to take place; and means for transferring the container to a discharge position on completion of the operation.

The raising means is preferably a roller support adapted to the shape of the container, so that the container rests on the rollers with its axis generally horizontal. One roller may then be provided with a rotary drive, so that on rotation of this roller the container rotates. The roller support is advantageously movable vertically with respect to the frame of the apparatus; thus the container can be placed on the rollers and raised up to a stop means so that it is held securely but rotatably in the correct position and orientation between the stop means and the roller support. The stop means can itself comprise one or more preferably free-running rollers.

The detecting means will take different forms depending on the application. In a filling, or racking, apparatus the feature in question is the hole in the side of the barrel into which the bung is to be placed when the barrel is filled. In this case the detecting means can be a simple lug biased in some way, such as by gravity, so as to fall into the hole when the barrel is correctly aligned. In a "de-shiving"' apparatus, i.e. one for removing what remains of the bung when the barrel is returned by the landlord, the detection is best done by optical means such as a camera system, in particular one which can distinguish the shive by its colour or shape.

The discharge means can be a simple deflector adapted to push or roll the container off the roller support, and this is adequate for the de-shiving apparatus since the barrel is empty. Here the deflector can be an inclined plate below and between the rollers so that when the rollers descend with the barrel the barrel leaves the rollers and is pushed to one side by the inclined plate.

For the filling apparatus a discharge means is required which does not rotate the barrel, at any rate if the bung is not inserted until the barrel is in the discharge position, since of course otherwise the contents of the barrel would spill out. In an embodiment adapted to this purpose the discharge means is in the form of a carriage movable horizontally between a discharge position and a position below the operating (filling) point. The roller support is arranged to drop with respect to the carriage (although if the rollers are not vertically movable the carriage could be arranged to lift the container off the rollers) so that the carriage then takes up the container. The carriage then withdraws the container, leaving the rollers free to take up the next container.

The apparatuses of the invention, being automatic, are of a modular nature, having one module per tool (filling or shiving head), and are therefore very versatile. A number of individual racking devices can be arranged so as to be under the control of one operator.

For a better understanding of the invention, embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. la to ig show successive stages in the operation of a racking apparatus representing a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates in section a modular arrangement of two rackers as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment; Figs. 4a and 4b are views of a modular system based on the first embodiment; Figs. 5 and 6 show a de-shiving apparatus representing a second embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of two such de-shivers in a modular arrangement.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a racking system for filling barrels of varying sizes, a nine-gallon (41-litre) barrel being illustrated. The system is composed of a number of individual stations, of which Fig. 1 shows one, arranged so that a single operator can attend to each station in turn, as shown in Fig. 2. The barrel 1 is conveyed into the appropriate racking station by an infeed chain conveyor 12 at a point 11 near the base of the frame, generally referenced 109, and to one side of the racking head 20. A pneumatic release device 13 is provided for moving the barrel to an infeed buffer station 14 between the infeed chain 12 and a loading position 16 directly below the racking head 20.

At the loading position 16 is located the raising means in the form of a lift 30 which has two horizontal arms 32 at a spacing suitable for the required range of barrel sizes. Each arm 32 has a pairs of tapered rubber-covered rollers adapted to the shape of the barrel, and is driven by the rumbler motor 36 located on the lift. The lift 30 is movable vertically by means of a lift cylinder 38 between the loading position 16 and a filling position 18 directly beneath the racking head 20. In this filling position is arranged a further pair of arms 40 each having a further pair of wheels 42 which in this case are freerunning. The barrel 1 can thus be held so that its axis is securely maintained in the desired position and orientation by the four arms 32, 42 in the filling position 18.

A carriage 50 is arranged to run on horizontal rails 52 somewhat below the filling position 18 between a position directly beneath the racking head 20 and a position to one side, as shown in Fig. 1. The carriage has a slightly curved receiving surface 54 so that the barrel can rest stably on the carriage. The construction of the carriage is sufficiently narrow for it to pass through the two arms 32 of the lift, as will be explained later.

To one side of the main tower of the racking station, i.e. the part under the racking head 20, is located a discharge position 19 through which passes a discharge conveyor 60. Because of the lateral movement of the carriage 50 this discharge position 19 is not vertically above the infeed position 11, as will be appreciated from the plan view shown in Fig. 3.

To the side of the filling position 18 a bung aperture sensor 70 in the form of an arm is hinged to the frame 10. At the end of the arm there is a lug 72 adapted to sense the bung aperture when pivoted downwards as indicated by the dot-dash line.

The operation of the racking machine will now be described.

As shown in Fig. la, the beer barrel 1 arrives on the infeed chain conveyor 12 at a low level and is transferred to the infeed buffer station 14; if the loading station 16 is free it is then further transferred to the rollers 32. The rollers 32 are powered by the electric motor 38 and have a set angle dependent on the curvature of the side of the barrels 1. The rollers rotate the barrel so that the barrel seats itself centrally on the rollers (Fig. Ib), the revolving action and the specially shaped rollers centralising the container and aligning the central orifice with a centre line of the racking head.

While the barrel is revolving the lift mechanism 38 raises it until it makes contact with the top clamp rollers 42 (Fig. Ic). The pneumatically operated lift mechanism is then controlled to provide a light clamping force between the lift rollers 32 and fixed top rollers 42, the container 1 being clamped between them with sufficient force to ensure centralisation of the orifice with a racking centre line without hindering smooth rotation.

When the container is rotating and clamped, the bung hole detection mechanism 70 is lowered so as to be in contact with the circumference of the container 1.

When the container has rotated so that the bung hole (orifice) 2 is at or just before the top, the bung hole detection mechanism 70 is allowed to drop partially into the hole by virtue of its lug 72. This movement is sensed and signals the rumbler 36 to stop. Also, the mechanical design of the bung hole locator provides a mechanical stop and so aligns the container filling orifice (bung hole) 2 with the centre line of the racking (filling) head or device.

The detection means is then removed and the filling head 20 is lowered into the barrel 1 to fill it with beer, as shown in Fig. ld. Meanwhile, the carriage 50 is brought in from the side of the barrel so that it rests just below the barrel (Fig. le). When the barrel is full the filling means is withdrawn and the frame on which the powered rollers are mounted is lowered, whereby the barrel is retained on the trolley 50 as can be seen in Fig. lf. The trolley then returns to its initial position, carrying the barrel (Fig. lug), where manually or automatically a plug can be placed in the barrel and the barrel can be transferred to an outgoing conveyor.Whilst the first barrel is being bunged a second barrel can enter the frame to be filled since, having withdrawn the full cask at high level to the side, the main machine module is free to repeat its loading and filling cycles. The full cask is now awaiting either manual or automatic bung insertion and ejection by rolling off the side carriage 50 to the rear.

This embodiment relates to a machine module designed to present a liquid container which has a circumferential filling orifice located around its central body in such a position that the orifice is located and positioned automatically. The machine module is also designed to enable discharge of the container when full to a side location for inspection, manual bunging or automatic bunging and then independent discharge into a high level discharge system. The module is designed so that during the inspection manual or automatic bunging phase the machine can be processing the next container for filling.

A plurality of these machines can be located under the control of a single operator, as can best be seen from the overall elevational view of Fig. 4a and corresponding plan view of Fig. 4b. Here five racking modules are arranged in a line. The barrels 1 enter from the right on the infeed conveyor 12 and are turned so that their axes are vertical. Each barrel then enters the first available racking machine, i.e. one in which at least the buffer position 14, if not the loading position 16, is empty. On completion of filling and bunging the barrel is ejected to the discharge conveyor 60, if a space is available.

Alternatively each station may be provided with an output buffer similar to the input buffer 14, thus easing congestion. In Fig. 4 the stages represented at the five stations are, from right to left; barrel in loading position; bung hole location mode; filling position; carriage awaiting filling completion; and support returning to loading position.

The de-shiver shown in Figs. 5-7 operates on a similar principle to the racking system, in that the barrel enters the machine and sits on powered rollers where it is rumbled and lifted until it meets a second upper set of unpowered rollers. Corresponding parts are therefore given identical reference numeral for simplicity.

The barrel 1 is urged from the infeed location 13 down a ramp on to the rollers 32 which at this stage are located at an intermediate position 72 as shown dotted. The rollers are then raised and rotated as before until the barrel reaches the upper rollers 42.

In lifting and rumbling the barrel, the orifice, which has a bung in it, is detected by detection means such as a camera 70. When the orifice is at the top the barrel is raised to meet a de-shiver 80 which is similar to a drill bit. After the bung has been removed by de-shiving, the rollers 32 are lowered, with the barrel, to a lower position 74, again shown dotted.

Here the barrel is rolled off the rollers by a deflector 76 in the form of an inclined plate, and proceeds to the discharge position 19 where it is conveyed away for cleaning. It will be noted that the barrel is lowered and leaves the machine at substantially the same level as it entered, at the other side. This contrasts with the racking system where the barrel leaves at a higher level. If required several de-shivers can also be concatenated to form a modular system, as for the racking system.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for automatically aligning a container having an axis so as to present the container at a position and in a desired orientation for the execution of a particular operation at a point defined by a feature on the side of the container, comprising: means for receiving the container at an infeed position; means for raising the container to an operating position in which a predetermined axial orientation is maintained, and means for rotating the container about its axis; means for detecting, during the rotation of the container, when the said feature is in the correct angular position, with respect to the apparatus, for the operation to take place; and means for transferring the container to a discharge position on completion of the operation.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the raising means includes a roller support adapted to the shape of the container whereby the container rests on the rollers with its axis generally horizontal.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one roller of the roller support is provided with a rotary drive, so that on rotation of this roller the container rotates.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the roller support is movable vertically with respect to the frame of the apparatus.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein a stop means is provided whereby, in the operating position, the container is retained securely but rotatably in the correct position and orientation between the stop means and the roller support.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the stop means comprises one or more preferably free running rollers.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the feature is a hole in the side of the container.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the detecting means includes a lug which is biased to enter the hole when the container is at, or approaches the correct angular position.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for transferring the container to a discharge position comprises a carriage movable horizontally between a position below the operating position and the discharge position.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the roller support is operatively arranged to descend from the operating position with respect to the carriage so that the carriage then takes up the container.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the feature is a bung, or a part thereof, located in a hole in the side of the container.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the feature is detected by optical means.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein the means for transferring the container to a discharge position comprises a deflector adapted to push or roll the container off the roller support.

14. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figures 1 to 4.

15. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figures 5 to 7.