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
  • B65G47/64—Switching conveyors
  • B65G47/644—Switching conveyors by a pivoting displacement of the switching conveyor
  • B65G47/648—Switching conveyors by a pivoting displacement of the switching conveyor about a vertical axis
• • 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
  • B65G47/64—Switching conveyors
  • B65G47/641—Switching conveyors by a linear displacement of the switching conveyor
  • B65G47/642—Switching conveyors by a linear displacement of the switching conveyor in a horizontal plane
• • 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
  • B65G47/64—Switching conveyors
  • B65G47/644—Switching conveyors by a pivoting displacement of the switching conveyor
  • B65G47/645—Switching conveyors by a pivoting displacement of the switching conveyor about a horizontal axis
  • B65G47/647—Switching conveyors by a pivoting displacement of the switching conveyor about a horizontal axis the axis being perpendicular to the conveying direction

Definitions

• a conveyor and a method for transporting products are described.
• the present invention relates to a conveyor for selectively connecting a first conveyor with a number of second conveyors and comprising an endless conveyor belt, said conveyor having a first end arranged in connection with the first conveyor and a second end arranged in optional connection with one of the second conveyors, the conveyor belt between these ends providing a substantially plane conveying surface.
• the present invention also relates to a method for transporting products using such a conveyor .
• the slaughterhouse field has a desire to be able to sort pieces (cuts) of a carcass so that pieces of a specific type and quality can subsequently be handled jointly.
• manual sorting is typically applied in connection with suspension frames for a large number of pieces, such as twenty pieces, which can be conveyed jointly by means of the suspension frames .
• the pieces are forwarded by a conveyor to a manual sorting station where they are manually removed and sorted on a large number of these suspension frames.
• This work requires many and long lifts when the pieces have to be handled for assessment of their quality and for suspension from the suspension frames, which may be arranged at a considerable distance from the conveyor in case of a large number. Therefore , automated sorting is needed so that the pieces arrive in series of pieces to be suspended jointly.
• Danish patent application No. DK PA 2002 00471 (Slagteriernes Forsknings- institut) describes a plant for product handling, including sorting.
• this plant there is provided a number of parallel, mutually independent conveyor belts, the belts being arranged in several superposed levels, each level having two juxtaposed belts.
• Both the supply of products to the individual buffer belts and the delivery of products therefrom when filled up are done by means of lift devices of the paternoster type .
• the lift device for delivering products cannot satisfy specifications as to the speed at which the products are delivered for further conveyance, the speed here meaning the time interval between the products.
• Both the buffer belts and the conveyors typically conveyor belts or roller conveyors, which are to convey the products onwards can work much faster than the lift device, that is, with a shorter time interval between the products.
• the capacity of these conveyors is thus not utilized as efficiently as possible.
• the object of the invention is to provide a device and a method that makes it possible to receive and pass on products from a conveyor belt selected among a number of conveyor belts at a speed corresponding to the speed at which the conveyor belt can deliver the products and at which they are preferably conveyed onwards to a joint conveyor belt, the products preferably maintaining their original orientation after being passed on.
• this object is achieved with a device of the type mentioned in the introduction and characterized in that the curved shape of the substantially plane conveying surface is variable in the sideways direction during operation.
• the substantially plane conveying surface is supported by a low- friction support surface. In a simple manner, this provides support of the belt, which prevents the belt from sagging. It is particularly preferred that the support surface extends sideways to support the substantially plane conveying surface at all desired curved shapes. This provides support for the belt, also while it changes its curved shape during operation. Consequently, products may also be lying on the belt during this change, thus reducing the switching time between the respective receiving positions.
• guide means are provided at the second end of the conveyor belt for changing and maintaining the desired curved • shape of the conveyor belt .
• the guide means are side guides. In a simple way, this provides sideways movement of the receiving end of the conveyor belt.
• the guide means may preferably be toothed wheel engagement so that the position is determined without the use of further guide means .
• the sideways movement of the guide means is provided by means of a slider driven by a pneumatic cylinder.
• upright walls abutting the conveyor belt in these extreme positions are provided. This may be sufficient in order to achieve the desired curve shaped course of the conveyor belt, while at the same time not introducing unnecessary friction at the sides of the conveyor belt .
• the upright walls are provided and abut the conveyor belt at positions where it, for a given course of the curve between the first and the second end, is necessary to influence the belt with a transversal force . This is advantageous if the conveyor belt cannot by itself follow the desired curve shaped course .
• the upright walls extend substantially along the entire length of the conveyor belt. Thereby best possible control over the curve shape is achieved.
• the substantially plane conveying surface is swingable about an axis located at the first end so that the elevation of the second end is optionally variable within a specified interval during operation. This makes it possible to receive products from conveyor belts at a plurality of levels.
• the object is achieved with method for transporting of products between conveyors, characterized in providing a conveyor having a first and a second end, and comprising an endless conveyor belt between these ends, said conveyor belt being adapted to selectively connect a first conveyor with a plurality of second conveyors, arranging the first end of said conveyor in connection with said first conveyor, and selectively arranging the second end of the conveyor in optional connection with an end of one of the second conveyors by varying the curve shape of the conveyor belt in sideways direction during operation.
• the conveyor belt is during operation also swung about an axis arranged at the first end, for selectively arranging the second end of the conveyor in optional connection with one of the second conveyors, which are arranged above each other.
• Fig. 1 shows the conveyor according to the invention arranged between a number of buffer belts and a conveyor belt for the further conveyance, the conveyor being in a first position
• Fig. 2 shows the conveyor according to the invention in a second position
• Fig. 3 shows the conveyor according to the invention in a third position
• Fig. 4 shows the conveyor according to the invention in a fourth position
• Fig. 5 shows a segment of the conveyor according to the invention in a position corresponding to that of Fig. 2, but seen from a different angle.
• Fig. 1 shows a conveyor 1 according to the invention.
• the conveyor 1 is inserted between a first conveyor 2, only one end of which is illustrated, and a number of second conveyors so that the first conveyor 2 can convey products (not shown) onwards from the second conveyors via the conveyor 1 according to the invention.
• the second conveyors are here provided in the form of a number of buffer belts 11-16 and 21-26, not all of which are visible in Fig. 1 and moreover only one end of which is illustrated.
• the products that might be involved in this connection might, for example,- be slaughter products that have to be conveyed- onwards in a sorted state to a suspension station where the slaughter products are suspended on a frame either manually or by automation.
• Fig. 1 shows a conveyor 1 according to the invention.
• the conveyor 1 is inserted between a first conveyor 2, only one end of which is illustrated, and a number of second conveyors so that the first conveyor 2 can convey products (not shown) onwards from the second conveyors via the conveyor 1 according to
• the direction of conveyance of the products from the buffer belt 11 via the conveyor 1 according to the invention to the first conveyor 2 is illustrated by the arrows 33, 32 and 31.
• the buffer belts 11-16 and 21-26 do not in themselves constitute part of the invention, only twelve buffer belts 11-16 and 21-26 have been shown for illustrative purposes, but their number might, of course, be both higher and lower depending on the sorting to be provided by means of the buffer belts 11-16 and 21-26, and more than two juxtaposed belts might be provided.
• the buffer belts 11-16 and 21-26 might also be of another type than the endless belt conveyors shown, for example roller conveyors.
• the first conveyor 2 for the further conveyance of the products might be of another type than the endless belt conveyor shown, for example a roller conveyor .
• the conveyor 1 according to the invention includes a frame comprising two towers 40, 41, which, although it is not shown, might be interconnected at the top like a portal to obtain higher mechanical stability. Between them, one end, in the following referred to as the free end, of a support device 42 for a conveyor belt 43 is suspended.
• the support device 42 is swingably journalled at its other end, in the following referred to as the fixed end, so that it can swing about an axis parallel to a roller 3 about which the belt of the first conveyor 2 is passed.
• the axis about which the support device is swingably journalled preferably coincides with a roller 44 about which the conveyor belt 43 is passed. This roller 44 furthermore preferably serves as the drive roller of the belt 43.
• the free end of the support device 42 may be moved up and down in elevation between two extreme positions. This is illustrated by the double arrow 52 which is drawn as a straight line, although in principle the free end of the support device 42 makes a partly circular movement.
• the support device 42 with the conveyor belt 43 can be swung between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and assume desired positions in between so that a series of products may be received optionally from any one of the buffer belts 11-16.
• Such a switch between the positions shown can be made so rapidly that the switching time substantially corresponds to the switching time required to switch between two suspension frames at the suspension station at the end of the first conveyor 2.
• the belt 43 preferably keeps running during the switch.
• the support device 42 may have a slot 45.
• a plurality of slots may be provided across the width of the support device 42 to save weight and material, as long as it is ensured that the conveyor belt 43 is not permitted to sag unnecessarily, negatively affecting its course .
• the support device is preferably made of a low-friction material to provide a low-loss belt course .
• the curved shape of the plane surface can also be varied.
• the conveyor belt 43 is provided in the form of a curve variable belt acceptable for food, such as the commercially available INTRALOX belts Series 1100 or 2200.
• the curved shape means are provided in the region of the free end of the conveyor belt 43 to shift the position of the free end of the conveyor belt 43 sideways.
• these means comprise an idler roller 46 around which the conveyor belt 43 is passed.
• this roller may be provided with a toothed driving wheel for engagement with the conveyor belt 43 which, in that case, will contribute in a controlled manner to shift and subsequently maintain the position of the free end of the conveyor belt 43.
• guide members may also be provided in the form of side guides 47 interacting with the sides of the conveyor belt 43.
• upright walls 48 abutting the conveyor belt 43 in these extreme positions are preferably provided on both sides of the support device 42.
• the conveyor belt 43 is preferably shifted sideways by means of a pneumatic drive, such as a pneumatic cylinder 49.
• a pneumatic drive such as a pneumatic cylinder 49.
• Other types of drive devices may, of course, also be used for shifting, such as hydraulic actuators, screw spindle actuators, etc.
• the pneumatic drive for the sideways shifting is best seen in Fig. 5.
• a pneumatic cylinder 49 of a type known per se is placed under the free end of the support device 42 and has a pneumatically reciprocatable internal movable piston. Via a bridge ' 54 longitudinally displaceable in a slot (not shown) in the cylinder 49, the piston is connected to a slider 53.
• the slider 53 is reciprocatingly movable on a guide in the form of a longitudinal rail .
• the rail is designed as a cylindrical rod 55.
• the double arrow 56 illustrates, this movement.
• the idler roller 46 is mounted on the slider 53 so as to be reciprocatingly movable together with the slider 53. This movement is linear so that the roller 46 always extends in parallel to the respective rollers about which the buffer belts 11-16 and 21-26 are passed where they adjoin the roller 46, as illustrated by the roller 110 in Fig. 1. It should be mentioned in that -connection that the juxtaposed pairs of buffer belts 11, 21; ...; 16, 26 are preferably parallel. In the vertical direction, the belts do not end vertically above each other.
• the end points are located on an imaginary circle with a radius corresponding to the distance from the free end of the support device 42 to the point of revolution at the roller 44 so as to maintain the smallest possible distance between the conveyor belt 43 and the respective buffer belts 11- 16 and 21-26.
• the upright walls 48 may be rectilinear and at a right angle to the roller 46 over a distance at the free end of the support device 42.
• This might, for example, be the section 48a from the free end of the support device down to the side guides 47 constituting the supplementary guide.
• This enables products placed in the middle of the belt as seen in the transverse direction not to shift and not to> turn at the transition from a particular buffer ⁇ belt 11-16 and 21-26 to the conveyor belt 43.
• a similar straight delivery of products is made from the conveyor belt 43 to the second conveyor belt 2.
• the conveyor belt on the support device 42 can thus change curved shapes between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or between the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
• a series of products can thus optionally be received from any one of the buffer belts 11-16 and 21-26 as the elevation of the support device 42 can also be adjusted as described above.
• Such a switch between the positions shown can be made so rapidly that the switching time substantially corresponds to the switching ' time required to switch between two suspension frames at the suspension station at the end of the first conveyor 2.
• the belt 43 keeps running, also during this shift. This ensures, partly, a lower mechanical load on the conveyor as starting and stopping of the belt are avoided, partly a pause between series of products from different buffer belts. This pause between the series of products which come from different buffer belts and are to be suspended on different suspension frames at the suspension station at the end of the first conveyor 2 then provides a suitable opportunity to change suspensio frames there .
• the conveyor used is of substantially the same type as in the devices supplying products to the conveyor and the devices intended to receive products from the conveyor, a uniform high speed of the product conveyance is ensured so that no bottlenecks arise in the system.
• fourteen buffer belts each for twenty pieces of a slaughterhouse production, and one receiving conveyor belt, such a system has a handling capacity in the order of 1400 pieces an hour.

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Cited By (2)

Citations (3)

• 2003
  • 2003-01-31 DK DK200300127A patent/DK200300127A/da not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2004
  • 2004-01-22 WO PCT/DK2004/000040 patent/WO2004067418A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (3)

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