GB2277504A

GB2277504A - Device for rotating rectangular products

Info

Publication number: GB2277504A
Application number: GB9402785A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Wipf
Original assignee: Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft
Current assignee: Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft
Priority date: 1993-04-30
Filing date: 1994-02-14
Publication date: 1994-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-14
Also published as: GB9402785D0; GB2277504B; ITTO940276A1; DE4402491A1; NL9400492A; ITTO940276A0; IT1273128B

Description

Ir 2277504 DEVICE FOR ROTATING-APPROXIMATELY RECTANGULAR PRODUCTS The

present invention relates to a device for rotating approximately rectangular products e.g.

chocolate bars and in particular to a device for rotating such products from a position in which their longitudinal axis is parallel to the conveying direction.

On account of the asymmetry of the irregular placement and weight distribution of approximately rectangular products such as particularly chocolate bars on a conveying device and the variation in distance between products it is difficult to rotate such products whilst on the conveying device through 90 0 without the use of complicated and costly equipment. Moreover, alignment of the products in a linear column is difficult where the products are transported transversely of the direction of motion. In cases where lateral guide plates are used, the products tend to twist and lodge between the guide plates.

The present invention seeks to provide a device which enables rotation of such products through approximately 90 0 and delivers the products in a linear column.

The present invention provides a device for rotating approximately rectangular products supplied in a column from a position in which their longitudinal axis is parallel to the conveying direction, comprising:

a first conveying element for transporting the products in the conveying direction; a continuous, first deflecting member, which is guided around first guide means, which comprises a first side facing towards the t first conveying element and which rotates approximately in synchronism with the first conveying element; a plurality of first fingers, which project from the first deflecting member and overlap the first conveying element at least a downstream end region of the first deflecting member; a continuous, second deflecting member, which is guided around second guide means and comprises a second side facing towards the first conveying element, which second side converges with the first side in the conveying direction, the second deflecting member being driven substantially in synchronism with the first deflecting member; and a plurality of second fingers which project from the second deflecting member, at least the first fingers comprising two abutment means for aligning the products with their longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction and in a linear column. Embodiments of the invention will now be by way of example, with reference to the ing drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a device in accordance with the invention, and Figures 2 to 4 are schematic plan views of three further embodiments. The device 1 according to Figure 1 comprises three conveyor belts 3, 4, 5, which are connected in series on a frame 2 and are driven by a separate motor 6, 7, 8 in each case. Approximately rectangular products 9, e.g. packaged chocolate bars, are supplied described accompany 1 on the conveyor belt 3 with their longitudinal axis in the direction of transportation A. The products 9 are rotated on the conveyor belt 4 and carried away on the conveyor belt 5 with their longitudinal axis perpendicular to the direction of transportation A.

The rotating device comprises two deflecting members 11, 12. Toothed belts 19, 20 are guided above the conveyor belt 4 around guide wheels or rollers 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 with one side 21, 22 facing towards the belt 4 in each case. Fingers 23, 24 are secured to the belts 19, 20 at regular intervals. The fingers 23, 24 comprise a narrow web 25 with an abutment or bearing surface 26 projecting away from the belts 19, 20 substantially at right angles for contacting the longitudinal sides of the products 9 and also comprise a shoulder 27 extending perpendicular to the surface 26 for contacting the end faces of the products. The free ends of the fingers 23, 24 cross at an acute angle as the fingers 23, 24 circulate on the belts 19, 20. In an upstream section 28, 29, the belt sides 21, 22 converge towards one another and towards the conveyor belt 4. In contrast, in a downstream section 30, 31, the belt sides 21, 22 extend parallel to the conveyor belts 4, 5. One of the reversing wheels 13, 16 of each belt is driven by a motor 32, 33. Alternatively, the wheels 13, 16 can be coupled by gearing means, e.g. by bevel gearing, to ensure their precisely synchronised rotation. The guide rollers 13, 14, 15 or 16, 17, 18 on the two sides are rotatably mounted in each case on a carriage 34, 35, the carriages being displaceable transversely to the direction A and only being indicated in the drawing. The carriages 34, 35 can be mutually moved together or moved apart by means of a motor 36 and a threaded spindle 37 with opposite threads, in order to rotate products 9 of different lengths. The wheels 13, 16 are rotated relative to one 1 4 another in order to adapt to a different product width.

The device is controlled by a control device 45. The control device 45 receives a signal from a sensor 46, e.g. a reflex light barrier, when the front edge of a product 9 transferred from the conveyor belt 3 to the conveyor belt 4 passes the sensor 46. The products 9 are supplied on the conveyor belt 3 with approximately constant spacing. If the distance measured by the sensor 46 is somewhat greater, then the motors 7, 32 and 33 are briefly decelerated slightly in such a manner that the free ends of opposite, cooperating fingers 23, 24 contact the products 9 approximately symmetrical to the longitudinal centre of the products, as shown in Figure 1. As the two belts 28, 29 converge, the products 9 are then rotated. In the parallel section 30, 31 of the belts 19, 20, the products 9 are aligned in a rectangular frame formed by two opposite fingers 23, 24 with the surfaces 26 and shoulders 27 so that the products lie transversely to the direction of transportation A in a linear column.

In order to obtain a precise alignment transverse to the direction of transportation A, even in the case of large tolerances in the width of the products 9, it is expedient to allow the conveyor belt 4 to run slightly slower than the precisely synchronised rotating belts 19, 20. In this case, the products 9 are pushed somewhat against the downstream end of the surface 26 of the fingers 24.

In order to allow for a rapid timed sequence, i.e. a shorter interval between the products 9 on the conveyor belt 4, without the fingers 23, 24 contacting the preceding product at the guide rollers 14, 17, the conveyor belt 5 runs at a higher speed than the conveyor belt 4, so that the product spacing on the conveyor belt 5 is greater than on the conveyor belt 4.

In the following embodiments described, like 1 parts are provided with like reference numerals, so that a detailed description of these parts is unnecessary.

The embodiment according to Figure 2 differs from that of Figure 1 in that the upstream conveyor belt 3 is omitted. This variant is suitable in cases where the spacing of the products 9 on the conveyor belt 4 only varies slightly. In this case, precise synchronisation can be obtained by means of slight changes in the circulating velocity of the belts 19, 20 relative to the velocity of the conveyor belt 4. The distance measured by the sensor 46 does not therefore affect the drive motor, not shown here, of the conveyor belt 4. In order to ensure that the spacing of the products 9 falls within the tolerance, the spacing can be measured upstream of the sensor 46 by means of a further sensor 47. Products 9 having a spacing which is too large or too small are then blown off the conveyor belt 4 by a blast of compressed air from a blast nozzle 48. The nozzle 48 is connected to a compressed air line 50 and is actuated by means of an electrovalve 49 controled by the control device 45. Otherwise, the embodiment according to Figure 2 corresponds to that of Figure 1.

The embodiment according to Figure 3 differs from that of Figure 2 mainly in the different design of one of the deflecting members 11. The belt side 21 extends over its entire length parallel to the conveyor belt 4, the guide roller 15 thus being omitted. The fingers 23 are stepped at their free ends and comprise a projection 55, which forms an abutment surface 56 for the front narrow side of the products 9. The velocity of the conveyor belt 4 is somewhat greater than the circulating velocity of the belt 19, so that the front edge 57 of the products 9 - which are still arranged at a slight distance from the surface 56 when they reach the transverse plane through the axis of the wheel 13 soon after comes to rest against the surface 56. When the fingers 24 contact the products 9, the latter are rotated around a rounded edge 58 adjoining the surface 26 of the fingers 23. In this case, the conveyor belt 4 ends substantially upstream of the conveyor belt 5. In between the two belts 4, 5, the products 9 are pushed by the fingers 24 onto a slide plate 59, so that in the section 31 of the side 22 of the belt 20 extending parallel to the conveying direction A, the products 9 are aligned with their longitudinal axis perpendicular to the conveying direction A. Adjacent the guide roller 18, the products 9 are pushed slightly to the side by the shoulders 27 of the fingers 24, so that an exact alignment of the products in a linear column is obtained, without requiring corresponding shoulders 27 on the fingers 23 as in the embodiments according to Figures 1 and 2.

The embodiment according to Figure 4 differs from that according to Figure 3 mainly in that in this case the side 21 runs over its entire length inclined relative to the conveying direction A, and the fingers 23 additionally comprise the abutment shoulders 27 as in the embodiments according to Figures 1 and 2.

JP !L

Claims

1. A device for rotating approximately rectangular products supplied in a column, from a position in which their longitudinal axis is parallel to the conveying direction, comprising:

a first conveying element for transporting the products in the conveying direction; a continuous, first deflecting member, which is guided around first guide means, which comprises a first side facing towards the first conveying element and which rotates approximately in synchronism with the first conveying element; a plurality of first fingers, which project from the first deflecting member and overlap the first conveying element at least a downstream end region of the first deflecting member; a continuous, second deflecting member, which is guided arou.nd second guide means and comprises a second side facing towards the first conveying element, which second side converges with the first side in the conveying direction, the second deflecting member being driven substantially in synchronism with the first deflecting member; and a plurality of second fingers which project from the second deflecting member, at least the first fingers comprising two abutment means for aligning the products with their longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction and in a linear column.

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2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first belt side includes a portion which is inclined relative to the conveying direction.

3. A device according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the circulating velocity of the deflecting members deviates slightly from the conveying velocity of the first conveying element.

4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and/or the second belt side has a portion at a downstream end which lies substantially parallel to the conveying direction.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the distance of at least one of two downstream guide means from a central plane of the first conveying element is adjustable.

6. A device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the second fingers each have a stepped contour at their free ends formed with a projection providing an abutment for a narrow side of the products, and the circulating velocity of the deflecting members is slower than that of the first conveying element.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a second conveying element is provided downstream of the first conveying element.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the second conveying element has a circulating velocity which is greater than the circulating velocity of the first conveying element.

9. A device according to either of claims 7 or 8, wherein a slide plate is arranged between the first and second conveying elements.

10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a sensor is arranged upstream of upstream guide means which sensor detects the front edge of approaching products and is connected to a control h - 9 device for synchronising the first conveying element and the two deflecting members with the timing of the approaching products.

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a further conveying element is connected upstream of the first conveying element and is.driven independently thereof.

12. A device for rotating approximately rectangular products supplied in a column substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 or 4.