KR20140062033A - Apparatus and method for conveying eggs - Google Patents

Abstract

A first endless conveyor (1) for collecting and characterizing at least columns, said first endless conveyor having a single conveying row of at least one column carriers (11) in a forward conveying direction (T) And a second endless conveyor (2) for receiving the columns from the first endless conveyor and then for transporting and sorting the columns, wherein the second endless conveyor And a single conveying row of at least one column carriers (21) in the P direction, and arranged under the first endless conveyor in the P direction, across the first endless conveyor, Wherein the carriers are movable in the P direction in at least the transfer, characterized in that the columns in the column carriers of the second conveyor Characterized in that the columns are transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor so that the relative speed in the conveying direction T is approximately 0 m / s.

Description

≪ Desc / Clms Page number 1 > Apparatus and method for conveying eggs &

According to the present invention,

CLAIMS 1. A first endless conveyor for collecting and characterizing at least a column, the first endless conveyor comprising: a first endless conveyor comprising a single conveying row of at least one column carriers in a forward conveying direction;

And a second endless conveyor for receiving the columns from the first endless conveyor and then for transporting and sorting the columns,

Wherein the second endless conveyor has a single transport row of at least one column carriers in the P direction and is arranged below the first endless conveyor in the P direction thereby to cross the first endless conveyor,

Wherein the carriers of the first endless conveyor are movable in the P direction at least in the transfer.

A device such as the above-described column transfer device is disclosed in EP2174896. The patent discloses how the columns of the supply conveyor are transferred to the sorting conveyor, which is located under the first conveyor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first conveyor. The feeding and conveying proceeds substantially within the horizontal plane. These conveyors carry the column in column carriers, commonly referred to as pockets. In conveying from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, a speed is imparted to the column in the conveying direction of the second conveyor, in order to offset the speed difference in this direction. Such cancellation makes the speed approximately equal to the speed of the second conveyor so that the relative speed in this direction is approximately 0 m / s. What is achieved in this way is that in transferring the columns from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, the overall difference in speed, i.e. the vector velocity difference, is reduced, and under such a difference, The risk of breakage is reduced.

Because the above mentioned speed cancellation is done in only one direction, the columns may undergo jolting movements before being accommodated in the cups at the set front speed. In particular, at relatively high speeds, at normal speeds of up to about 0.5 m / s, the columns are slightly off the proper position.

Furthermore, during the start-stop motion of the conveyor, the columns may be improperly positioned to a position that is not even properly received in the pockets. In such a case, not only the speed difference is not canceled but also the moment of pivotal opening of the pockets of the first conveyor, for example, is not timed correctly at the moment when actually starting the transfer motion of each column.

This is also referred to as non-synchronized movements of two conveyors. More specifically, this means that in such a sorting apparatus, the probability of failure to the column, that is, the probability of the broken column, is high.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems.

The apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above problems is characterized in that, in accommodating the columns in the column carriers of the second conveyor, the columns are moved from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, / s. < / RTI >

Basically achieved by the above feature is a very great advantage that not only is the risk of breakage practically eliminated by this way, but also the speed is maintained and this speed can be adjusted to all possible values, A high speed can be achieved, and thus the classifying ability can be increased to a considerable extent.

More specifically, the apparatus is characterized in that the column carriers of the second conveyor are movable in the T direction at least in the transfer.

Advantageously, a similar manner of movement is also applied to the second conveyor, which offers the advantage of speed offset in the T direction, while simplifying the way of making the conveyor as part of the overall system.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the column carriers of the first conveyor, and also the column carriers of the second conveyor, for example, may each comprise two carrier halves, , The column is movable between the transfer position and the column release position to carry and deliver each column.

According to another embodiment, the column carriers of the second conveyor may be cups or trays. The cups or trays are movable, for example, between a carrier or transfer position and an ejection position, the cups or trays being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the corresponding transport direction of the cups or trays.

Further, the present invention provides an advantageous method having the features of the method of claim 9. In this way, the above-mentioned advantages can be achieved.

Additional other advantages of the device according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.

In the following, details of an example of a device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings,
1 schematically illustrates a top view of a transfer system according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the same part of the device shown in Figure 1 obliquely viewed from above,
Figure 3 schematically illustrates another embodiment of the transfer system.
In the drawings, the same parts and the same reference numerals are denoted by the same symbols.

The figures show an example of a device for transporting columns E. The apparatus includes a first endless conveyor 1 for collecting and characterizing at least the column E. The first conveyor 1 comprises a single conveying row of at least one first column carriers 11. The apparatus also includes second column carriers 21 and a second endless conveyor 2 for receiving the columns E from the first conveyor 1 and then for transporting and sorting the columns E. The second conveyor 2 is arranged below the first conveyor 1 and crosses the first conveyor 1 in the conveying path of the first conveyor 1.

1 and 2, in particular a first conveyor 1 and a second conveyor 2 are shown, the second conveyor 2 passes under the first conveyor 1 and is conveyed in the respective main conveying directions T, P The transport directions of which are substantially perpendicular to each other. The infinite path provided by the first conveyor 1 continues in the reverse direction as indicated by the arrow c1 when viewed from each first main transport path T. [ The infinite path provided by the second conveyor 2 continues in the reverse direction indicated by the arrow c2 when viewed from the second main transport path P. [ Generally, the conveyors 1, 2 are in substantially horizontal positions.

The first conveyor 1 is provided with (first) column carriers 11; In the illustrated embodiment, the columns E are conveyed in the respective first conveyance directions T at the bottom of the first conveyor (see FIG. 2). The first column carriers 11 proceed in the first main direction T at a first feed rate. (Second) column carriers 21 are provided on the second conveyor 2; In the illustrated embodiment, columns E are conveyed in the respective second conveying direction P at the upper end of the second conveyor 2. The second column carriers 21 proceed in the second main direction P at a second feed rate.

More specifically, the column carriers 11 and 21 of the present embodiment are respectively fabricated from the column carrier halves 12a, 12b, 22a and 22b, respectively. They are slidably mounted on the carrier guides 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b. Specifically, the column carriers 11 of the first conveyor are mounted on the first carrier guides 13a, 13b in the sliding direction parallel to the conveying direction P of the second conveyor. Specifically, the column carriers 21 of the second conveyor are mounted on the second carrier guides 23a, 23b in the sliding direction parallel to the conveying direction T of the first conveyor.

In the figures, the bottom part of the first conveyor 1 feeds the columns E in the column carriers 11, the manner in which they are conveyed, and therefore the column E in the column carriers 21 of the second conveyor 2 Is shown. The upper end of the second conveyor 2 further transports the columns E in the second main transport direction P described above in each of the carriers 21 along the discharge track. Although only a small portion of these discharge tracks are shown in the figures, such tracks generally continue to run, and particularly to the packaging station, although not shown in the figures, (Not shown in the figure) located immediately below the carriers 21 in a manner that is not shown.

In both Figures 1 and 2 it is shown, according to rows 10, 20, that in the main transport directions T, P, the said column carriers 11, 21 of the conveyors 1, 2 are grouped in some way. More specifically, four rows 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d are shown for the first conveyor 1 and two rows 20a and 20b are shown for the second conveyor. The carrier halves 12a, 12b, 22a, 22b are movable between a closed carrier or transfer position and a discharge position in which the column E is discharged or transferred after the halves are opened, For example. Specifically, the apparatus has a form in which the first carriers 11 are conveyed from the transfer position to the discharge position to transfer the columns to the carriers 21 of the second conveyor 2, while traversing the transfer path.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, in conveying the columns from the first conveyor 1 to the second conveyor 2, some conditions must be met.

Therefore, the intermediate distance between the rows 10 of the first supply conveyor 1 should be approximately the same as the distance between the column carriers 21 in each row 20a, 20b of the second conveyor 2. [

In addition, the advancing speeds (in the main transport directions T, P) of the two conveyors 1 and 2 have to be adjusted with respect to each other, in particular in the conveying path, in each case the second column carriers 21 And the number of first column carriers should be the same. Thus, in the illustrated example, in each case, columns E from two rows of four adjacent rows 10 of the first conveyor 1 are conveyed to the four columns of two adjacent rows 20 of the second conveyor do. In the case of intermediate distances in the respective rows and columns shown in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, the speed of the second conveyor 2 is twice the speed of the first conveyor 1. However, it is clear that many different rate ratios are possible. This will depend on the desired volume and structural possibilities of the conveyors 1, 2.

The present invention is based on the vector velocity of the first column carrier 11 carrying the column and the corresponding speed of the second column carrier 21 (measured for the fixed point in the two main transport directions T, P) (Measured for the aforementioned anchoring points in the two main transport directions T, P) are substantially identical to one another during the transfer of the column. In other words, the vector velocity difference between each pair of first and second column carriers 11, 21 (which are opposite to each other when viewed in a plan view) Is substantially 0 m / s.

The offsetting devices are arranged for both the conveyor 1 and the conveyor 2 in order to achieve the above mentioned velocity cancellation in the two transport directions T, P so that the relative velocity in these directions is substantially 0 m / s A P-cancellation unit 24 for imparting to the column E in the conveyor 1 an appropriate speed (i.e., the second conveying speed in the second main conveying direction P) in the main conveying direction P of the conveyor 2, The T-offset unit 14 is arranged in the column E for imparting a proper speed in the main transport direction T (i.e., in the first main transport direction T, the first transport speed described above). In the example according to Figs. 1 and 2, these cancellations should be achieved with the P-cancellation unit 24, in proportion to the above-mentioned ratio, by an amount of "two times & It is necessary to give proper speed in the T direction to the column carriers 21 of

More specifically, the P-cancellation unit 24 causes the carrier halves 12a, 12b to move in the P direction on the guide rails 13a, 13b at a suitable speed (i.e., a second feed rate) by the offset beams 24a, 24b And has a structure capable of sliding. In accordance with the foregoing, the first carriers 11 are moved to the discharge position during this sliding movement to deliver the columns E present in the carriers. Similarly, the T-canceling unit includes a main beam 14c, which is connected to two steering beams 14a, 14b by a rotating mechanism, which causes, for example, rotational motion, Each time there is a next set of eight carriers 21 in two rows 20a, 20b of conveyor 2, these carriers 21 slip in the direction T (at a first conveying speed) at the guide rails 23a, 23b. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that such rotation may be a reciprocating motion depending on the volume and components that together form the structure of this T-canceling unit. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that, prior to the above-described transfer actuation and transfer movement, the carriers may all be placed in an initial or initiating position. The means and devices necessary for this purpose are generally known and will not be further described or illustrated herein. The same applies to the means for transferring the carriers from the initial position to the discharge position.

In another exemplary embodiment, for example, the first and second conveyors 1, 2 comprise four and three transfer rows, respectively, and different angles can be selected for the beams 24, and the T- An apparatus may be provided in which a different rotational speed is applied to the shaft rotation mechanism of the apparatus.

As described above, the gradual transfer involves two phases, one relating to the magnitude and direction of velocity and the other relating to the moment of transfer or co-ordination.

In the above-described apparatus according to the present invention, both of the above two aspects are integrated. Other variations and embodiments relating to the harmonization of the system are described, for example, in the Dutch patent NL1006002. This basically involves tuning through mechanical and electrical coupling.

Particularly more relevant to this second aspect relates, on the one hand, to the volume of the conveyor and its parts, and on the other hand to the drive of the two conveyors 1, 2. It will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that couplings with other types of couplings, such as those with individual servo motors that are suitably controlled, are also possible.

Figure 3 schematically illustrates a portion of another embodiment of the present invention, which differs from that shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that the column carriers of the second conveyor 2 'are cups or trays 21'. The cups or trays 21 ' are movable between a carrier or transfer position and an ejection position, wherein each of the cups or trays has a respective axis X perpendicular to the corresponding main transport direction P of the cups or trays 21 ' . The operation of the example shown in Fig. 3 proceeds similar to the above-described operation of the first example, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by this operation, The vector velocity difference between each pair of first and second column carriers 11, 21 '(which are also opposite to each other when viewed in plan view) is substantially 0 m / s. To this end, the apparatus is provided with, among other things, the cancellation arrangements described above (not shown in Fig. 3).

In another alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention, robot arms may be used. An example of a high speed arm for delivery between crossing conveyors is disclosed in International Patent Publication No. WO2007 / 102732. As a typical technician, a plurality of robot arms may be used, and the robot arms may each have grippers with a plurality of pick-up positions. The applications will mainly be selected based on the requirements related to the space available, the volume, and the volume of the structures of the conveyors used.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications and variations of other alternative exemplary embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. For example, although the invention is described in terms of columns, many other products, for example products containing foods such as fruits, may also be processed with the device. Furthermore, it should be noted that although apparatuses are described herein in which the transport directions T, P are perpendicular to each other, other angles other than 90 degrees may be used. In this case, as a larger strain is applied, simultaneous release of products as described above must be replaced by continuous release.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not limited to the described exemplary implementations. Various modifications are possible within the framework of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (12)

A first endless conveyor (1) for collecting and characterizing at least columns (E), said first endless conveyor (1) comprising a single transport row of at least one column carriers (11) in a forward transport direction The first endless conveyor 1,
And a second endless conveyor (2) for receiving the columns from the first endless conveyor (1), and then for transporting and sorting the columns,
The second endless conveyor (2) has a single transport row of at least one column carriers (21) in the P direction and is arranged below the first endless conveyor (1) in the P direction, Across the conveyor 1,
Wherein the carriers (11) of the first endless conveyor (1) are movable in the P direction in at least the transfer,
In accepting the columns in the column carriers (21) of the second conveyor (2), the columns are conveyed from the first conveyor to the second conveyor at a relative speed in the conveying direction T of approximately 0 m / s So as to be transferred to the transfer unit. The column transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the column carriers (21) of the second conveyor are movable in the T direction at least in the transfer. The column transfer device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transfer direction (T) is substantially perpendicular to the transfer direction (P). The column transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the column carriers (21) are movable in carrier blocks on carrier guide rails in the transfer direction (T). 5. The method of claim 4, wherein one column carrier comprises two column carrier halves, each said column carrier half connected to a carrier block, said halves moving relative to each other between a carrier or transfer position and a discharge position, Wherein the conveying device comprises: 4. The column transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the column carriers are cups or trays. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cups or trays are in a carrier or transfer position and discharge Wherein the cups or trays are axially rotatable about an axis that is perpendicular to a corresponding conveying direction of the cups or trays. 2. The column transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the columns are collected from the first conveyor and transferred and discharged onto the second conveyor having at least one robot arm. For example, a method for transferring a column using an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
- a first endless conveyor (1) for collecting and characterizing at least columns (E), said first endless conveyor (1) having a single transport row of at least one column carriers (11) in a forward transport direction Providing a first endless conveyor (1) comprising a first endless conveyor And
- a second endless conveyor (2) for receiving said columns from said first endless conveyor (1) and then for transporting and sorting said columns, said second endless conveyor (2) (2) traversing said first endless conveyor (1) by having a single transfer row of at least one column carriers (21) arranged under said first endless conveyor (1) ≪ / RTI >
Wherein the carriers (11) of the first endless conveyor (1) are moved in at least the transfer in the second main transport direction (P)
Characterized in that in accepting the columns in the column carriers (21) of the second conveyor (2), the columns are moved from the first conveyor to the second conveyor at a relative speed in the first main transport direction T of approximately 0 m / s. < / RTI > 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the column carriers (21) of the second conveyor are moved in the first conveying direction (T), in particular in the first conveying direction T And the second conveying direction (P). ≪ Desc / Clms Page number 20 > 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the column carriers (21) of the second conveyor move in the first conveying direction (T) at a speed substantially equal to the conveying speed of the first conveyor Wherein the method comprises the steps of: 12. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the vector velocity of the column-transfer first column carrier (11) and the vector velocity of the corresponding column-accepting second column carrier (21) Is substantially the same as that of the column.

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