WO1999006281A1

WO1999006281A1 - Product-transferring apparatus and assembly comprising such product-transferring apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1999006281A1
Application number: PCT/NL1998/000447
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bart Van Walderveen; Martin Doornekamp
Original assignee: Fps Food Processing Systems B.V.
Priority date: 1997-08-04
Filing date: 1998-08-03
Publication date: 1999-02-11
Also published as: NL1006715C2; AU8752098A

Abstract

A product-transferring apparatus (1) for picking up substantially spherical or ellipsoid products (E), such as for instance eggs, at the location of a first position (2) and delivering them at the location of a second position (3), the product-transferring apparatus comprising a number of product group pickup element (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) which are movably connected, via a first mechanism (12, 13, 14, 15), to a conveying mechanism (16), the conveying mechanism comprising a drive gear driving the conveying mechanism at continuous velocity, the or each first mechanism being constructed such that during the pickup operation, the velocity and the direction of movement of a product group pickup element substantially correspond to the velocity and direction of movement of the products to be picked up, and such that during delivery, the velocity and the direction of movement of a product group pickup element substantially correspond to the velocity and the direction of movement at which the products continue their paths after their delivery from the product group pickup element.

Description

Title: Product-transferring apparatus and assembly comprising such product-transferring apparatus.

The invention relates to a product -transferring apparatus for picking up products such as for instance eggs, apples or the like at the location of a first position and delivering them at the location of a second position, the product-transferring apparatus comprising a number of product group pickup elements arranged for picking up a group of products at the location of the first position, each product group pickup element being movably connected, via a first mechanism, to a conveying mechanism conveying the or each first mechanism with the or each associated product group pickup element from the first position to the second position.

Such apparatus is known from US Patent US-A-5 112 181. The drawback of the known apparatus is that it can only operate intermittently. The known apparatus comprises a carrousel-like construction having a number of rotor arms, the free ends of the rotor arms mounting suction boxes, which suction boxes are also provided with grippers for picking up, together with a group of eggs, the tray in which these eggs are located. In a first position of the rotor, a tray with eggs contained therein can be picked up by means of a suction box. By means of flexible bellows elements connected to a vacuum line, the eggs are fixed through suction, while the tray is lifted by means of grippers. In a second position of the rotor, the tray is subsequently released, whereupon the rotor rotates in a third position for positioning the eggs on a conveyor. All pickup and transfer operations take place when the rotor is standing still. This is necessary for preventing the eggs from breaking during the pickup or transfer operation. A major drawback of this is that the rotor must each time be decelerated and accelerated. Moreover, the conveyor onto which the eggs are deposited will have to move intermittently as well. This causes the drawback that the rest of the processing apparatuses to which the eggs are fed by the conveyor must be capable of processing this intermittent feed. However, to enable realizing a great processing speed, a continuous processing is desired. After all, during continuous movements, the deceleration and acceleration forces to which the equipment is subjected are considerably smaller, allowing the constructions to be of a lighter design and the driving velocity to be higher. Moreover, less energy is used when the movements have a continuous course. The object of the invention is to adjust an apparatus of the type described in the preamble such that the drawbacks of the known apparatus are overcome and continuous processing of the products becomes possible.

To this end, according to the invention, the apparatus of the type described in the preamble is characterized in that the conveying mechanism comprises a drive gear driving the conveying mechanism at substantially continuous velocity, the or each first mechanism being constructed such that the velocity and the direction of movement of a product group pickup element, at the moment of picking up the products at the location of the first position, substantially correspond to the velocity and direction of movement of the products to be picked up, and such that the velocity and the direction of movement of a product group pickup element, at the moment of delivering the products at the location of the second position, substantially correspond to the velocity and the direction of movement at which the products continue their paths after their delivery from the product group pickup element . With such apparatus, a higher processing capacity can be realized than with the known apparatus, in that the drive of the conveying mechanism is continuous. The first mechanisms provide that the product group pickup elements obtain a variable velocity and direction of movement which, during both the picking up and the delivery of the products, are adapted to the velocity and direction of movement of the products before they are picked up and after they are delivered respectively.

Because during both picking up and delivering, the velocity and direction of movement of the products are adapted to the velocity at which the products are fed and discharged respectively, the products are prevented from- breaking or being damaged otherwise during picking up and delivering respectively. Indeed, the relative velocity between a product group pickup element and the products to be picked up is substantially zero at the moment of picking up. During the delivery of the products, the relative velocity of the products contained in the product group pickup elements relative to the element to which the products are delivered is likewise substantially zero at the moment of delivery. The invention also relates to an assembly of a product - transferring apparatus as described hereinabove and at least one product-carrier feeder, at least one product -carrier discharger and at least one product conveyor having continuous conveying speed, the product-carrier feeder being arranged for positioning the product -containing product carriers, such as trays or boxes in which products are receivable in fixed positions, into the first position, a feed- in end of the product conveyor 51 forming the second position 3. Such assembly has the advantages described with reference to the product-transferring apparatus. Further advantages will become clear on the basis of the following description of an exemplary embodiment of an assembly according to the invention.

Further elaborations of the invention are described in the subclaims and will be specified on the basis of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings .

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly of a product-transferring apparatus and some feed and discharge conveyors; Fig. 2 shows the product -transferring apparatus of Fig. 1 in detail;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the assembly of Fig. 1 in which the rotor is in a first position; and Fig. 4 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 3 in which the rotor is in a second position.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a product- transferring apparatus according to the invention, in which the product-transferring apparatus 1 forms part of an assembly comprising, in addition to the product-transferring apparatus 1, a product-carrier feeder 49, two product-carrier dischargers 50 and a product conveyor 51. The product -carrier feeder 49 is arranged for positioning the product carriers T containing the products E into a first position. In the present exemplary embodiment, the product carriers are trays and the products E are eggs accommodated in the trays T in fixed positions. However, it is understood that the product - transferring apparatus and the assembly according to the invention can also be used for processing for instance apples included in boxes. In fact, many types of products can be processed with the product -transferring apparatus and the assembly according to the invention. The product-carrier feeder 49 comprises two stack feed conveyors 52, 53 and two lifting devices 54, 55. A discharge end of the stack feed conveyor 52 is arranged for transferring a stack S of product carriers T filled with products E onto the lifting devices 54, 55. The lifting devices 54, 55 are arranged for bringing an upper product carrier T of a stack S of product carriers T located in the lifting device 54, 55 to a fixed level each time. In the present exemplary embodiment, the velocity of the product carriers T and the products E contained therein, received in a lifting device 54, 55, is substantially equal to zero at the moment of receiving. In the present exemplary embodiment, the velocity of the product conveyor 51 is continuous and in the direction of the arrow Vt . The assembly shown in Fig. 1 also comprises a product - transferring apparatus 1 which is shown in somewhat more detail in Fig. 2. The product-transferring apparatus of the present exemplary embodiment comprises a number of product group pickup elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 which, in the present exemplary embodiment, are designed as suction boxes. These suction boxes 4-11 comprise a number of flexible bellows 46, which bellows 46 each have a free, downwardly directed end arranged for engaging a product E. By another end thereof, the bellows 46 are connected to a suction box frame 47 and are in fluid connection with a controllable vacuum source. When a suction box is pressed on a tray T filled with products E and a reduced pressure is created in the bellows 46 by means of the vacuum source, the suction box can pick up a group of products, in the present exemplary embodiment a group of eggs E, from the tray T. Thus, a group of products E can be picked up with a suction box. Via a first mechanism 12, 13, 14, 15, each product group pickup element 4-11 is movably connected to a conveying mechanism 16. In the present exemplary embodiment, the conveying mechanism 16 is designed as a rotor 16 having four rotor arms 17, 18, 19, 20 extending in a horizontal plane. Each rotor arm 17, 18, 19, 20 has a free end 17a-20a thereof carrying an above-mentioned first mechanism 12-15 which, in the present exemplary embodiment, in each case carries two product group pickup elements 4-11. Each rotor arm 17-20 is connected to a common, first vertical shaft 21. By means of the rotor 16, the first mechanisms 12-15 and the associated product group pickup elements 4-11 are conveyed from a first position 2, at the location of the lifting devices 54, 55, to a second position 3, at the location of the product conveyor 51.

The product -transferring apparatus 1 comprises a drive gear (not shown) driving the conveying mechanism 16 at continuous speed. Hence, the rotor arms of the rotor 16 have a constant angular velocity. Each first mechanism 12-15 is now of such design that the velocity and the direction of movement of the product group pickup elements 4-11, at the moment when the products E are picked up at the location of the first position 2, substantially correspond to the velocity and the direction of movement of the products E to be picked up. Moreover, the first mechanisms 12-15 are of such design that the velocity and the direction of movement of the product group pickup elements 4-11, at the moment when the products E are delivered at the location of the second position 3, i.e. at the location of the product conveyor 51, substantially correspond to the velocity and the direction of movement at which the products E, after delivery from the product group pickup elements 4-11, continue their paths.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the first mechanisms 12-15 each comprise two swivel arms 22-29. The swivel arms 22-29 have a first end 22a-29a thereof connected to the free ends 17a-20a of the rotor arms 17-20 associated with the relevant first mechanisms, so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal shaft 30-33. In the present exemplary embodiment, two product group pickup elements 4-11 are in each case connected to a second end 22b-29b of the swivel arms 22-29 of the first mechanisms 12-15, so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal shaft 34-37. The first mechanisms 12-15 are arranged such that the product group pickup elements 4-11 in each case have a substantially horizontal position, independently of the swivel position of the swivel arms 22-29. If necessary, the shafts 30-33 can enclose a small angle (for instance 10°) with the horizontal so as to compensate, during the swivel movement, the radial velocity of the articles resulting from the rotor arms, causing the articles to temporarily travel in a substantially linear path rather than a circular path.

Moreover, each swivel arm 22-29 of each first mechanism 12-15 has its first end 22a-29a connected to the free end 17a, 20a of the rotor arm associated with the relevant first mechanism 12-15, so as to be rotatable about a second vertical shaft 38-41. In any position of the rotor arm 17-20 associated with the first mechanism, the rotative position of the first mechanism 12-15 is kept equal relative to the fixed world. To this end, in the present exemplary embodiment, a gear wheel 56-59 is mounted on each second vertical shaft 38- 41. Also, at the location of the center of the rotor, two fixedly disposed gear wheels 60, 61 are provided. Tensioned over the diametrically opposite gear wheels 56, 58 and 57, 59 respectively are chains 62 and 63 respectively. The first chain 62 is in mesh with the fixed gear wheel 60 and the second chain 63 is in mesh with the fixed gear wheel 61.

Because the gear wheels 60, 61, fixedly arranged relative to the world, are always in mesh with a chain 62 and 63 respectively, which chains are again in mesh with gear wheels 56, 58, respectively 57, 59, the first mechanisms 12-15 retain the same. rotative position relative to the fixed world in any rotative position of the rotor 16. It is readily understood that for this drive, many variants are possible. For instance, 4 chains can be used instead of 2 chains, or toothed belts can be used instead of chains. In the present exemplary embodiment, the rotor 16 comprises 4 rotor arms 17- 20, which will be successively referred to as respectively the first, second, third and fourth rotor arms, respectively 17, 18, 19, 20. Between the successive rotor arms 17-20, an angle of substantially 90° is in each case enclosed. The product group pickup elements 4, 5, 8, 9 of the first and third rotor arms 17, 19 are connected to the second end 22b, 23b, 26b, 27b of the associated swivel arm 22, 23, 26, 27, so as to be rotatable about a third vertical shaft 42-45. The product group pickup elements 6, 7, 10, 11 of the second and fourth rotor arms 18, 20 are connected to the second end of the associated swivel arms 24, 25, 28, 29 so as to be non- rotatable about a vertical shaft. During conveyance of the product group pickup elements 4, 5, 8, 9 from the first position 2 to the second position 3, these product group pickup elements 4, 5, 8, 9 are further rotated one quarter- turn. This is necessary, because in the present exemplary embodiment eggs are processed which are arranged in trays T that are not symmetrical. In the longitudinal direction, the trays T contain five rows, while in the width direction there are arranged six rows of eggs. To ensure that in each case the same amount of rows are fed on the product conveyor 51, the trays T are alternately rotated through 90° about the third vertical shafts 42-45.

The drive of the first mechanisms 12-15 is coupled to the drive of the conveying mechanism 16. This may be an electronic coupling as well as a mechanical coupling. In the case of an electronic coupling, each first mechanism has its own drive motor by means of which the swivel position of the swivel arms 22-29 is controlled. The individual drive gears are coupled to a control, which control also controls the continuous drive of the conveying apparatus 16. It can thus be provided that the swivel arms assume the proper swivel position in any position of the rotor, also during starting and braking of the rotation of the rotor when the product- transferring apparatus is switched on and off. In the case of a mechanical drive of the first mechanisms 12-15, which mechanical drive is coupled to the rotative position of the rotor 16, many variants are possible. For instance, a cam track may be arranged along the circular path described by the first mechanisms 12-15 as they are connected to the rotor 16, each mechanism 12-15 having a cam follower intended for cooperation with the cam track and by means of which the position of each first mechanism 12, 13, 14, 15 is controlled. It is thus provided that the swivel position of the swivel arms 22-29 of the first mechanisms 12- 15 is directly coupled to the rotative position of the rotor arm 17-20 of the rotor 16 to which a relevant first mechanism 12-15 is connected.

As already indicated hereinabove, the product group pickup elements 4, 5, 8, 9 are rotatable about a third vertical shaft 42-45. For controlling the rotative position of the product group pickup elements 4, 5, 8, 9, these product group pickup elements 4, 5, 8, 9 can be provided with a cam follower and two cams are disposed next to or around the rotor, or vice versa. Through cooperation of the cam and the cam follower, the rotation of the rotor 16 causes the rotative position around the third vertical shaft 42-45 of the relevant product group pickup elements 4, 5, 8, 9 to change. Figs. 3 and 4 show the rotor 16 in two different positions .

Because 'in the width direction, the articles in the trays T, in the present case eggs E, lie at a distance other than in the longitudinal direction of the tray T, and the eggs E must eventually be deposited on the product conveyor 51 always at equal distances from each other, the suction box frame 47 of at least a number of the product group pickup elements 4-11 comprises means for increasing and reducing the mutual distance between the flexible bellows 46. These means may for instance be pneumatic cylinders by means of which the bellows 46 are displaceable along a linear path.

The operation of the apparatus and the assembly shown in the Figures is as follows:

By means of the product-carrier feeder 49, stacks S built up from trays T that have each time been rotated through 90° relative to each other, are fed. From a first stack feed conveyor 53, the stacks are transferred onto a second stack feed conveyor 52. From this stack feed conveyor 52, the stacks are moved two by two into two lifting devices 54, 55. These lifting devices are designed such that the upper tray T of a stack of trays is always at the same level . When the upper trays in the lifting devices 54, 55 have been brought to the desired level, a rotor arm 17, 18, 19, 20 passes, which rotor arms are driven at continuous speed. Precisely at the moment when a rotor arm passes the lifting devices 54, 55, the first mechanism 12-15 associated with that rotor arm swivels from position A to position B. This swivel movement is performed at such velocity that the velocity of the rotor arm 17-20 is completely compensated thereby, so that the product group pickup elements 4-11 just above the lifting devices 54, 55 have a velocity which is substantially equal to zero. At that moment, the bellows 46 are pressed against the eggs E and the reduced pressure in the bellows 46 provides that the eggs E are fixed through suction. The product group pickup elements 4-11 are now - filled with eggs E and are further advanced by the rotor 16. The first mechanisms 12-15 are then in position B. After the trays are emptied, the conveyor belts 64, 65 and 66, 67 move towards each other and come into engagement with the lateral sides of the trays T that have just been emptied. Because the conveyor belts 64, 65, 66, 67 are driven, the trays T are removed from the stack of trays located in the lifting devices 54, 55 and discharged by means of the product-carrier discharger 50. At the same time, the rotor 16 moves on and the rotor arm 17-20 arrives above the product conveyor 51. In the foregoing, this deposition point where the products are delivered is referred to as the second position 3. When the rotor arm 17-20 passes this second position 3, the swivel arms 22-29 attached thereto swivel back into position A. This swivel -back movement is performed at a velocity such that the velocity of the eggs E at the moment of delivery corresponds to the velocity Vt of the product conveyor 51. Of course, at the moment of delivery, the direction of movement of the eggs must also correspond to the direction of movement of the conveyor 51. After delivery of the products E, the first mechanisms 12-15 are in position A again and, accordingly, ready for picking up groups of eggs E again. This process is repeated each time to obtain a continuous feed of eggs E onto the conveyor 51.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described, but that various modifications are possible within the framework of the invention. For instance, instead of a rotor having rotor arms, an endless conveyor chain could also be provided, to which chain the first mechanisms with the associated product group pickup elements are attached. Of course, the lay-out of the exemplary embodiment described may be altered considerably, as well as the number of rotor arms, product group pickup elements, product discharge conveyors and the like.

Claims

1. A product-transferring apparatus (1) for picking up products (E) such as for instance eggs, apples or the like at the location of a first position (2) and delivering them -at the location of a second position (3), the product- transferring apparatus (1) comprising a number of product group pickup elements (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) arranged for picking up a group of products (E) at the location of the first position (2), each product group pickup element (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) being movably connected, via a first mechanism (12, 13, 14, 15), to a conveying mechanism (16) conveying the or each first mechanism (12, 13, 14, 15) with the or each associated product group pickup element (4-11) from the first position (2) to the second position (3) , characterized in that the conveying mechanism (16) comprises a drive gear driving the conveying mechanism (16) at continuous velocity, the or each first mechanism (14-15) being constructed such that the velocity and the direction of movement of a product group pickup element (4-11), at the moment of picking up the products (E) at the location of the first position (2), substantially correspond to the velocity and direction of movement of the products (E) to be picked up, and such that the velocity and the direction of movement of a product group pickup element (4-11) , at the moment of delivering the products (E) at the location of the second position (3), substantially correspond to the velocity and the direction of movement at which the products (E) continue their paths after their delivery from the product group pickup element (4-11) .

2. A product-transferring apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying mechanism (16) comprises a rotor (16) provided with at least one rotor arm (17, 18, 19, 20) extending in a horizontal plane, the or each rotor arm (17-20) having a free end (17a-20a) thereof connected to a first mechanism (12-15) carrying at least one product group pickup element (4-11) , the or each rotor arm (17-20) being connected to a common, first vertical shaft (21) that is continuously drivable by the drive gear.

3. A product -transferring apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the or each first mechanism (12-15) comprises at least one swivel arm (22-29) which is connected by a first end (22a-29a) to said free end (17a-20a) of the rotor arm (17-20) associated with the relevant first mechanism so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal shaft (30-33) , the at least one product group pickup element (4-11) being connected to a second end (22b- 29b) of the at least one swivel arm so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal shaft (34-37), the at least one product group pickup element (4-11) each time having a horizontal position independently of the swivel position of the at least one swivel arm (22-29) .

4. A product-transferring apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the or each swivel arm (22-29) of the or each first mechanism (12-15) has its first end (22a-29a) connected to said free end (17a-20a) of the rotor arm (17-20) associated with the relevant first mechanism so as to be also rotatable about a second vertical shaft (38-41) , the rotative position of the first mechanism (12-15) being equal relative to the fixed world in any rotative position of the rotor arm (17-20) associated with the first mechanism (12-15) .

5. A product -transferring apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one product group pickup element (4-11) is connected to the second end (22b- 29b) of the at least one swivel arm (22-29) so as to be also rotatable about a third vertical shaft (42-45) .

6. A product-transferring apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by four rotor arms (17-20) which, viewed in a direction of rotation, are successively referred to as respectively the first, second, third and fourth rotor arm

(respectively 17-20) , an angle of substantially 90┬░ being in each case enclosed between successive rotor arms (17-20) , while only the or each product group pickup element (4, 5, 8, 9) of the first and third rotor arms (17, 19) is connected to the second end of the associated swivel arm (22, 23, 26, 27) so as to be rotatable about a third vertical shaft (42-45) and the or each product group pickup element (6, 7, 10, 11) of the second and fourth rotor arms (18, 20) is connected to the second end of the associated swivel arm (24, 25, 28, 29) so as to be non-rotatable about a vertical shaft.

7. A product-transferring apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product group pickup elements (4-11) are designed as so-called suction boxes (4-11) comprising a number of flexible bellows (46) , said bellows (46) each having a free, downwardly directed end thereof adapted for engagement with a product (E) and having another end thereof connected to a suction box frame (47) , and being connected a controllable vacuum source.

8. A product-transferring apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive of the or each first mechanism (12-15) is coupled to the drive of the conveying mechanism (16) .

9. A product-transferring apparatus according to at least claims 2 and 8, characterized in that the swivel position of the at least one swivel arm (22-29) of a first mechanism (12- 15) is directly coupled to the rotative position of the rotor arm (17-20) of the rotor (16) to which the first mechanism (12-15) is connected.

10. A product-transferring apparatus according to at least claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that next to the rotor (16) , a cam (48) is arranged, and that the at least one product group pickup element (4, 5, 8, 9) comprises a cam follower (49) or vice versa, while through cooperation of the cam (48) and the cam follower (49) , the rotation of the rotor (16) causes the rotative position around the third vertical shaft (42-45) of the relevant product group pickup elements (4, 5, 8, 9) to change .

11. A product-transferring apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the suction box frame (47) of at least a number of the product group pickup elements (4-11) comprises means for increasing and reducing the mutual distance between the flexible bellows (46) .

12. An assembly of a product -transferring apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one product-carrier discharger (50) and at least one product conveyor (51) having a continuous conveying speed, the product-carrier feeder (49) being arranged for positioning in the first position (2) product carriers (T) containing the products (E) , such as trays of boxes in which products (E) are receivable in fixed positions, a feed-in end (3) of the product conveyor (51) forming the second position (3) .

13. An assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the product-carrier feeder (49) comprises at least one stack feed conveyor (5, 53) and at least one lifting device (54, 53), a discharge end of the stack feed conveyor (52, 53) being arranged for transferring a stack (S) of product carriers (T) filled with products (E) onto the lifting device (54, 55), the lifting device (54, 55) being arranged for each time bringing an upper product carrier (T) of a stack (S) of product carriers (T) located in the lifting device (54, 55) to a fixed level, the velocity of a product group pickup element (4-11) being substantially zero at the moment when the products (E) are picked up at the location of the first position (2) , and the velocity and the direction of movement of a product group pickup element (4-11) substantially corresponding to the conveying velocity (Vt) and conveying direction (Vr) of the product conveyor (51) at the moment when the products (E) are delivered at the location of the second position (3) .