WO2008047093A1

WO2008047093A1 - Dead plate assembly and distributor including the same for a train qf containers

Info

Publication number: WO2008047093A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/003925
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elliott Seymour
Original assignee: Sheppee International Limited
Priority date: 2006-10-20
Filing date: 2007-10-17
Publication date: 2008-04-24
Also published as: GB0620838D0; EP2081861A1

Abstract

A dead plate assembly (3) for a distributor for the routeing of containers from a first conveyor directed in a first direction to a second conveyor directed in a second direction at an angle to the first conveyor is described. The assembly is used in a distributor (59) comprising transportation members (71,73) adapted to engage with and transport each container around a desired path; a common guide formation (72) in conjunction with which said transportation members are mounted so as to be guided around a continuously curved path during the transfer of the containers from the first to the second conveyor, such that the containers are maintained thereby on said continuously curved path; and a dead plate (58) arranged in the continuously curved path between the first conveyor and the second conveyor upwardly presenting a smooth transfer surface across which conveyed containers may slide in a transfer zone along the continuously curved path. The dead plate has an associated longitudinal drive (88-90) to reposition it over time and for example cyclically relative to the curved path. A method of operation is also described.

Description

DEAD PLATE ASSEMBLY AND DISTRIBUTOR INCLUDING THE SAME FOR A TRAIN QF CONTAINERS

The invention relates to a dead plate assembly for a distributor for a train of containers for routeing containers from one direction to another, and in particular from one conveyor to another, and to a distributor including such an assembly and to a conveyor system or distribution train incorporating the same. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for routeing containers, such as recently formed containers of glass, glass-like material or plastics material or the like, from a first conveyor belt where a row of such containers is conveyed in a first direction, and for example at a relatively high speed, to a second conveyor belt where a row of containers is conveyed in a second direction at an angle thereto, such as a right angle thereto, and for example at a lower speed. The invention also relates to a method of operation of a dead plate in such apparatus and of such apparatus.

It is common in distribution systems for formed glassware and like containers to have a requirement to transfer the containers from a first high speed conveyor to a second low speed conveyor at right angles thereto. Various designs of distributor apparatus for giving convenient effect to this are well known. Generally speaking, a distributor is disposed at the transfer region which has transportation members to support, typically individually, the containers to be transferred, and a guide means to guide the transportation members around a continuously curved path from the first direction of the first conveyor to the second direction of the second conveyor. For example, the distributor is provided with a plurality of transportation fingers each designed to engage with and manipulate a single container, and these transportation fingers are mounted on and caused to move around a guide rail which defines the continuously curved path. In this way, the distributor receives containers from the first conveyor belt in the first direction, and guides them around the continuously curved path until they are directed onto the second conveyor belt in the second direction. A particular problem to be solved in relation to such distributors concerns the dynamics of the transfer of the container in a transition zone when it is no longer travelling entirely in the direction of the first conveyor, but has not yet been diverted entirely into the direction of the second conveyor. In this transition zone, it is generally found desirable not to urge the container in either direction at full speed, and accordingly, a stationary or dead plate presenting a sliding surface is typically placed in the transition zone alongside a side edge of the first conveyor so as also to abut a leading edge of the second conveyor. In any event, such a dead plate is also required since it is impractical to get the leading edge of the second conveyor fully to abut the side edge of the first conveyor.

This stationary smooth plate bridges the gap between the conveyors and avoids the jolting that might result from the continued application of a single, unidirectional conveying force in the transition zone. The formed glass or other container slides across the smooth surface of the dead plate as it is transferred from the first to the second direction.

A problem arises in relation to wear as the containers in a train are passed around the continuously curved track over the dead plate. Glass containers are in particular are likely to be abrasive. As the containers pass around the track defined by the guide rail they wear away at the surface of the plate in the region of the track, and eventually cause grooving in the surface. The dead plate quite rapidly becomes unusable as a result of this unevenness in the surface, and needs to be replaced. Even at a speed in the main conveyor of 300 containers per minute, a dead plate might typically last only a few weeks. In modern systems there is an increasing desire to approach or exceed speeds of 1000 containers per minute. In these circumstances a conventional dead plate might last as little as a week. Often, this period is significantly less than one production run, and the resultant down time slows the processing of the containers and can significantly increase costs.

It is an object of the invention to mitigate some or all of the above disadvantages.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a distribution system including a modified dead plate that requires less frequent replacement, reduces apparatus downtime, and is particularly suited to high speed and/or long duration production runs.

Thus, according to the invention in a first aspect there is provided a dead plate assembly for use as part of a distributor for the routeing of containers from a first conveyor directed in a first direction to a second conveyor directed in a second direction at an angle to the first conveyor via a continuously curved path, wherein the dead plate has an associated longitudinal drive to reposition it over time and for example cyclically relative to the curved path such that over the course of a period of time and for example in such a cycle different areas on the upper surface of the plate are successively exposed to wear.

The distributor comprises a means to guide containers about the said path. For example the distributor in which the dead plate assembly is used comprises transportation members adapted to engage with and transport each container around a desired path; a common guide formation in conjunction with which said transportation members are mounted so as to be guided around a continuously curved path during the transfer of the containers from the first to the second conveyor, such that the containers are maintained thereby on said continuously curved path; and a dead plate arranged in the continuously curved path between the first conveyor and the second conveyor upwardly presenting a smooth transfer surface across which conveyed containers may slide in a transfer zone along the continuously curved path. The arrangement of a first conveyor, a second conveyor and a dead plate or sliding plate will be familiar to the skilled person. In a further aspect the invention comprises such a distributor including the said dead plate assembly.

The first and second conveyors are typically each an endless conveyor, for example forming an endlessly driven conveyor belt or chain. Each conveyor is driveable longitudinally so as to impart a drive direction to the containers, and to transport the same in a row. The transportation members and the common guide formation together form a routeing apparatus to route containers arriving from the first conveyor in a conveyed row to the second conveyor where they are carried onwards in a conveyed row. Again, such an arrangement will be familiar to the skilled person.

A dead plate is provided with an upper sliding surface on which the containers make a substantially sliding contact and across which they are slid as they transfer from the first direction to the second direction via the continuously curved path, the upper sliding surface of the dead plate being approximately co-planar with the upper runs of the first and second conveyor.

However, the invention is characterised in that the dead plate has a longitudinal drive which enables it to be repositioned over time, for example cyclically to and fro, to expose different areas of the surface successively, and so to produce much more even wear across the sliding area of the plate surface.

It is important to emphasise that the longitudinal drive of the dead plate is adapted to a translational speed that is relatively very slow compared with the speed of the conveyors, and the surface thereof remains a sliding surface across which the containers slide in the transition zone. The dead plate does not act as a supplementary conveyor, and does not impart a conveying impulse in any direction to the container sliding thereacross. For practical purposes, the dead plate is essentially stationary relative to the transit of any given container thereacross, and also tends to remain a sliding plate that makes a sliding contact rather than a conveying engagement during the transferring of an object and is not part of the conveyance process.

However, this very slow repositioning, and for example cyclical to and fro motion, successively presents varying areas of the surface to wear, so that a single track is not worn as it would be with an entirely fixed dead plate. In the absence of a single track, there is much more even wear across a larger part of the surface of the dead plate, which in consequence lasts much longer than is the case with the prior art and requires much less frequent replacement.

As indicated, the longitudinal drive for the dead plate is adapted to act to drive the plate at a very much slower speed than the operational speeds of the longitudinal drives for the conveyors, such that it is essentially stationary relative to a moving container in practice. For example, conveyors typically operate at anything from 100 containers per minute to 600 containers per minute, which may correspond to necessary conveyor speeds of typically at least 10 m/min, and for faster conveyance runs typically at least 60 m/min. By contrast, all that is necessary for the moving dead plate of the invention is that it moves longitudinally over a period, and for example cycles through a full reversible cycle over a period, sufficient to ensure even wear across the surface. A cycling period could be as long as several hours or days over a total plate of life of several weeks, and the dead plate could move at speeds as low as 1 mm per 600 s or less, and is unlikely to need to move at speeds of higher of 1 mm per 60 s. The longitudinal drive is adapted to the plate in repositioning fashion drive at such speeds.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the longitudinal drive is an indexing drive with a dead plate being subject to an indexing motion by the drive in use, with an average overall time or speed as indicated. For example, a dead plate may move in steps of 0.1 mm to 1 mm at the indicated speeds, stepping for example every five minutes.

In this context, references to indexing motion should be understood as references to periodic motion successively over relative short distance intervals, punctuated by stationary periods. The longitudinal drive is adapted to move the dead plate an indexing step distance during an indexing movement phase over a motion period, to remain stationary for an indexing pause period during a pause phase, and then to repeat the foregoing process steps. In the example, the longitudinal drive is adapted to move the dead plate a step distance of 0.1 mm to 1 mm. The longitudinal indexing drive is adapted to initiate a repetition of this stepping movement successively on the expiration of an indexing interval. The indexing period or interval is herein defined as the total cycle time being in the example the sum of the times of the movement phase and pause phase may be one minute to thirty minutes or longer, and in the example given above is five minutes. The longitudinal motion during the indexing movement phase may be relatively very rapid, so that an indexing cycle comprises an effectively instantaneous motion longitudinally the indexing distance, followed by a pause for the pause period before a further effectively instantaneous motion of the indexing distance. Alternatively, the indexing motion itself may be relatively slow. In accordance with this alternative, an indexing cycle comprises a period of relatively slow indexing motion over an indexing motion period, followed by a stationary state for a pause period, the motion period and the stationary pause period together constituting the indexing period or interval. For example, a longitudinal indexing drive may be adapted to cause the dead plate to be driven longitudinally by 0.1 to 1 mm over a motion period of one minute and then to remain stationary for a pause period of five minutes before repeating the cycle.

The precise motion of the longitudinal drive is not pertinent to the invention. Preferably the longitudinal drive is adapted to be operated at a longitudinal speed which is variable, at least between the example limits given, which preferably includes an indexing and a continuous function, and which where applicable includes a means to vary the speed of longitudinal motion during an indexing motion phase, and the length of a stationary period during an indexing pause phase as above described.

Precise preferred longitudinal motion parameters may vary depending upon the process, and on the character and physical properties of the containers to be transferred. It is only necessary that the longitudinal drive operates in accordance with the general principle that any motion relative to an individual transferred container is utterly trivial and does not affect the smooth conveyance of the container across the sliding surface of the dead plate, but ensures that a sliding engagement is maintained, in particular because the relative motion of the dead plate differs from that of the conveyors by so many orders of magnitude that it is for all practical purposes stationary in use.

The system preferably further includes suitable control means to control the speed of operation of the longitudinal drive, and where applicable the indexing speed, and the indexing period, as above described.

The dead plate forms, or contributes to, a transition zone between the first and the second conveyor across which the continuously curved path traverses. In effect, the dead plate widens the first conveyor to provide such a transition zone. Such a transition zone is typically 100 to 200 mm. Conveniently, the dead plate makes up the entire width of this transition zone.

To this extent the dead plate is essentially a conventional construction. However, to exploit the advantage of the invention to the full, the dead plate may have a length greater than that of conventional dead plates. The length of the dead plate ultimately determines in practice the length through which the dead plate can cycle as it is moved, and the total surface area which can be presented for wear. It thus ultimately determines the life time of the dead plate. Typically prior art dead plates might be 250 mm in length or less, requiring only to present a single area as a sliding surface about the continuously curved track. A dead plate of the invention may be for example 400 to 800 mm long, and/or may for example be adapted to cycle such that a substantial part of its surface area is disposed to constitute, at some point over a use cycle, a track surface across which containers moving around the continuously curved path may slide. In this way, substantially even wear across a substantial part of the surface of the dead plate is achieved, and much greater life times are offered, and replacement frequency and downtimes reduced. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the even wear achieved across a substantial part of the surface of the dead plate is exploited to even greater effect. Whereas in the prior art a relatively small amount of wear produces a groove along the single track path described on the surface of the dead plate, in accordance with the invention even quite considerable wear is likely to leave a relatively level surface on the worn plate, as wear is distributed evenly across the surface, at least over the part exposed by the translation motion of the dead plate.

To exploit this, in a preferred embodiment, the dead plate is provided with height adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of a wearing dead plate so that the upper surface, or at least that part thereof intended to serve as the sliding surface during operation, is maintained as it wears at a level approximately co-planar with the upper surface runs of the first and second conveyors in use. Thus, in accordance with the preferred embodiment, even as the surface wears down, the plate need not be discarded, but can simply be raised in height provided the worn surface remains sufficiently smooth as wear is evenly distributed along it. Dead plate life times can be further increased in accordance with this preferred feature.

In one embodiment, the dead plate surface is the upper surface of a plate member, and the plate member is carried on a dead plate frame which frame is adapted to be driven in a repositioning manner as above described. Preferably plate member fixings mount the plate member to the frame and are adapted to vary the relative positions thereof so as to permit height adjustment in use.

The dead plate and where applicable the dead plate frame is conveniently slidingly mounted on a base frame, which base frame supports the distributor apparatus on the ground in use, and in a preferred embodiment also supports the conveyors. The sliding mounting is, for example, by means of a carriage fixedly mounted on the dead plate and where applicable the dead plate frame, engaging with and adapted for rolling and/or sliding engagement with a guide member such as a guide rail fixedly mounted to or forming a part of the base frame.

The longitudinal drive for the dead plate may be associated with the drives for the primary and secondary conveyors, via suitable down gearing and where applicable via a suitable indexing mechanism, or may be a separate low speed drive, and in particular an indexing drive.

The height adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of the dead plate as it wears, where present, may be a manual height adjustment mecham^'sm, or may be provided by means of a height adjustment drive, co-operably linked to or separate from the longitudinal drive.

In particularly preferred embodiment, both the longitudinal drive and the height adjustment mechanism are under the control of suitable control means. These control means may operate dynamically in conjunction with wear sensors, or may operate according to pre-programmed parameters. For example, the control means comprises a suitably programmed computer.

In a typical embodiment of the invention, the distributor as above described will be adapted for use in association with a first conveyor designed to convey containers in a row for example at a comparatively high first speed, and with a second conveyor for example running at a comparatively lower second speed at an angle thereto, and in particular substantially at a right angle thereto. Such systems are widely used, for example in the fabrication of glass containers. However, the invention is not limited to such geometry.

In this embodiment, the distributor as above described, first conveyor and second conveyor are co-operably mounted, for example on a suitable base frame, so that an upper surface of each conveyor and an upper surface of the dead plate are generally co-planar, the base plate being located in a transition zone between the first conveyor and the second conveyor described by the continuously curved path.

The first and/or second conveyor may be endless belt or chain conveyors, the surface of an upper run thereof being disposed generally co-planar with the surface of the dead plate.

The dead plate may be composed of any suitable material, to present a relatively smooth upper surface to act essentially as a sliding surface for the transported conveyors about the continuously curved path in a manner which will be familiar. For example the dead plate is steel, and for example mild steel, stainless steel or a carbon steel. Alternatively, the dead plate is a ceramic or is ceramic coated. Any suitable materials, especially selected for even wear, may be considered. It is virtue of the dead plate of the invention that it need not be fabricated with exceptional hard wearability in mind. Rather than requiring wear resistance per se, the dead plate of the invention accommodates the inevitability of wear in an admirably simple manner, but ensures that wear takes place more evenly so as to prolong the useful life of the plate surface.

The precise arrangement of transportation members and common guide formation is not pertinent to the invention, and such formations will be familiar to those skilled in the art. For example, each transportation member might comprise at least one transportation finger projecting outwardly into the path of the containers is use to receive and stably retain a container, each finger being mounted on a common drive rail acting as the guide formation to guide the fingers around the continuously curved path, and thus to enable the fingers to guide the containers around the continuously curved path. The curved path is preferably concave relative to the containers in familiar manner, and may be an arc of a circle or other suitable smooth curve.

Containers in the conveyed train are received successively from the first conveyor as they are delivered in a row by successive transportation fingers, and are guided around the common guide rail about the continuously curved path to be delivered to the second conveyor successively where they are distributed away in train.

Each finger or other transportation member may include various formations or arrangements, as will be familiar to the skilled person, to facilitate stable manipulation and retention of the container as it is passed around the continuously curved path, for example being composed as part of an L or U shaped formation as will be familiar.

The invention further comprises a transportation apparatus for containers, such as recently formed glass, glass-like material or plastics material containers, the apparatus comprising a first conveyor, and for example a first endless belt conveyor, with an upper conveying surface driven to convey the containers in a first direction during use, a second conveyor, and for example a second endless belt conveyor, with an upper surface adapted to convey the conveyors in a second direction at an angle thereto during use, and a distributor apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention disposed therebetween to define a continuously curved transfer path between the first direction and the second direction.

The conveyance speeds of the primary and secondary conveyors may be adjustable. Conveniently, the repositioning speed and/or cycling period of the dead plate may be similarly adjustable. Adjustment may for example be in conjunction with common control means which adjust the repositioning speed or index interval of the dead plate as appropriate relative to the conveying speeds of the primary and secondary conveyors, and therefore relative to the number of containers passing across the dead plate in a given period.

Possibly, a suitable control algorithm, for example on a suitably programmed computer effects this control.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the transportation apparatus comprises an apparatus for transferring fabricated containers, such as fabricated glass containers and for example bottles or the like, from a manufacturing machine to a lehr, with the primary conveyor comprising a machine conveyor to take finished containers successively away from the vicinity of a manufacturing machine, and the secondary conveyor comprising a transfer conveyor at an angle thereto to take transferred containers successively to the vicinity of a lehr.

In a more complete embodiment, the apparatus of the invention includes such a fabrication machine provided in the vicinity of a receiving portion of the machine conveyor located distally of the distributor apparatus, and a transfer means to transfer fabricated containers from the manufacturing machine to the receiving portion of the machine conveyor, and further comprises a lehr provided in the vicinity of an unloading portion of the transfer conveyor distally of the distributor apparatus, and a stacking apparatus to remove containers from the unloading portion and stack them on the lehr as they arrive successively under the action of the transfer conveyor.

In accordance with further aspects of the invention there are provided a method of operating a dead plate in conjunction with a distributor for the routeing of conveyors and/or a transportation apparatus for containers and/or a fabrication train as above described, a method for manipulating objects which includes operation of a dead plate as above described, and a method of operation of a dead plate assembly, a distributor, a transportation apparatus or a fabrication train as above described.

In particular, a method for the operation of a dead plate assembly in use as part of a distributor for the routeing of containers from a first conveyor directed in a first direction to a second conveyor directed in a second direction at an angle to the first conveyor via a continuously curved path includes the step of repositioning the dead plate relative to the curved path over time, for example cyclically.

The invention further comprises a method of manipulation of a successive train of objects, such as recently formed glass, glass-like material or plastics material containers, from a first direction to a second direction at an angle thereto via a continuously curved path passing across a dead plate, the method comprising the steps of: causing objects to move from the first direction to the second direction via a continuously curved path passing at least in part over the dead plate; repositioning the dead plate over time relative to the curved path, and for example cyclically, so that during operation the position of the dead plate on the curved path varies and a greater proportion of the surface area of the dead plate is presented for wear and the plate in consequence wears more evenly. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the method objects are transferred in a first direction on a first continuous conveyor and in a second direction on a second continuous conveyor, and are transferred there between by operation of a suitable common guide formation to guide conveyors about the continuously curved path.

The dead plate so repositioned exposes different areas of the surface successively to wear, so as to produce more even wear in the manner above described. The dead plate is repositioned by a suitable drive means as above described which operates at a translational speed that is relatively very slow compared with the speed of the conveyors in use, such that the dead plate surface remains a sliding surface which is for effective dynamic purposes stationary relative to a moving object and does not impart a conveying impulse in any direction to the container sliding across it.

The dead plate may be moved continuously in such slow speed or in an indexing manner as above described. The dead plate preferably moves to and fro in a single direction, which is preferably parallel to the first conveyor. Other preferred features of the dead plate, and of its motion, will be understood by analogy to the foregoing description of the apparatus.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is isometric projection of an embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a close up side view of the drive mechanism for indexing the dead plate of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a schematic of a conveyor and distributor apparatus implementing an embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, an apparatus to which a dead plate in accordance with the principles of the invention has been fitted is illustrated.

The apparatus will in use consist of a main conveyor belt for conveying a row or train of bottles in a direction m, and a secondary conveyor perpendicular thereto to convey the row or train in direction c. In use, a distributor apparatus will additionally be fitted to transfer containers about a continuously curved path from the direction m to the direction c. For ease of illustration in Figures

1 and 2, the conveyor belts and distributor are not shown. These may be of any suitable design and this is not pertinent to the invention.

A first, main or machine belt high speed conveyor consisting of a suitable width belt is designed to run across the wear plate (4) under the actions of a belt drive roller (6). The endless belt is driven around an idler roller assembly at the opposite end of the belt track, consisting of a suitably mounted idler roller (not shown), in conventional manner. The belt trade is for example 10 m long, and any foreshortening in the drawings is for ease of representation. Actuating the drive (6) causes the belt (not shown) to be driven in the direction m.

A second, cross conveyor belt is adapted to remove re-routed containers in train from the area of the distributor, for example to a suitable lehr. In Figures 1 and 2 a cross conveyor adaptor (29) is shown which is intended for fitment to a range of cross conveyor belts of a range of conventional designs for a range of applications. The adaptor consists of an idle drive assembly (39) and a wear plate (41) provided with cheek plates (40). Again, no belt is shown for clarity, but in use a belt and belt drive will be attached in conventional manner, and operation of a drive, and in particular a drive roller (not shown) at a distal end of the belt will cause the cross conveyor belt to be driven in the direction c and thus move distributed containers away from the transfer zone.

A motor (24) drives a main drive shaft (5), shown in Figure 2 with a guard plate (28) removed. The motor (24) drives the synchronous drive belt (25) about synchronous pulleys (26, 27) via a gearbox (22) and torque arm (9) to drive the shaft (5) and operate the conveyor drives. A mounting (17) retains the motor in position on the base frame (32) that sits the whole apparatus stably on the ground.

The Figures also illustrate a dead plate and carriage assembly (3) and a dead plate gear motor (14) shown in greater detail in Figure 3.

The apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 is essentially conventional except in relation to the dead plate shown in greater detail in Figure 3. This dead plate is provided with an indexing drive to enable it to be driven to and fro in a longitudinal direction.

In some circumstances especially where the angle is not 90° an additional bridging plate of minimal width (less than a container width) is provided to align between the indexing plate and the cross conveyor.

Referring to Figure 3, a dead plate and carriage assembly (3) is shown comprising carriage means (55) engaging on guide rails (56) and connecting via a dead plate framework (57) to a dead plate surface (58). Mountings (61) are provided such that the dead plate is height adjustable relative to the rail surface, and hence relative to the overall base framework (32) of the apparatus, and hence relative to the fixed-height upper surfaces of the conveyor belts. Alternative height adjustment methods, such as height adjusting/levelling screws under the dead plate, may be provided.

A motor drive assembly (66) drives synchronous pulley (90), synchronous belt (88), and synchronous pulley (89). Drive is conveyed to the carriage assembly (3) via the T type belt clamp plate (75) supported on the drive stem (67). The carnage can be driven in to and fro direction, translating the dead plate in the direction d which is essentially parallel to the direction m. However, the dead plate is driven at a much slower speed, under action of suitable control means (not shown) so that it does not impart any conveying motion in practice. In the embodiment the drive is continuous but relatively very slow. Alternatively the drive assembly may include an indexing arrangement so that movement of the dead plate is successively incremental in discontinuous, step-wise manner, rather than continuous.

A simple schematic of the operation of the invention with belts in place is illustrated in Figures 4A and B. The geometry of this arrangement, and of the distributor system in particular will be familiar. A main or machine belt (59) and a cross belt (60) are illustrated, with the main belt transporting a succession of containers (70) into the distributor at a first speed, and the cross belt (60) taking a succession of containers away from the distributor, typically at a second slower speed in familiar manner. The apparatus of the invention is designed to be optimised for main belt processing speeds of for example diameter 60mm container running 500 containers per minute at TG (triple gob) 10H inches (267mm) belt advance which gives a belt speed of 45m/min for the machine belt and 35m/min for cross belt. The apparatus in accordance with the invention could operate at very high speeds up to 1000 containers per minute, and typical operational belt speeds are accordingly in the main belt and in the cross belt would be 90m/min and 70m/min respectively. The complete arrangement is shown in Figure 4A, and a close up of the vicinity of the distributor apparatus in Figure 4B. Referring first to Figure 4A, a transfer apparatus is shown in its entirety which transfers fabricated bottles from a bottle making machine (76) to a lehr (77). Bottles come off the bottle making machine (76) successively and are passed in train onto the machine belt (59). The machine belt (59) is driven by a machine belt drive (62) in conjunction with an idle roller assembly (63) causing the manufactured bottles to move in the direction m towards the distribution zone.

At the distribution zone a distributor apparatus (69) (shown in more detail in Figure 4B) diverts the bottles about a continuously curved path from the direction m to a direction c essentially perpendicular thereto and thence, via the dead plate of the invention (58), to a cross conveyor belt (60). Again, the cross conveyor belt is operated in conventional manner via a cross conveyor drive (64) in conjunction with a cross conveyor idle assembly (65).

Diverted bottles are drawn off in succession on the belt (60) towards the lehr (77) where a lehr loader stacking apparatus (78) is operable to divert them onto the stacking lehr. The apparatus is operated by means of a control panel interface (79).

Operation in the vicinity of the distributor apparatus (69) is shown in greater detail in Figure 4B. The upper surfaces of the belt engage with the containers as they are driven, so that the belt (59) brings containers into the distributor, and the belt (60) takes containers away. The belt (59) is such as to impart a drive to containers thereon in the direction m, the belt (60) is such as to impart a drive to the containers thereon in the direction c. The belt (60) is at right angles to the belt (59), and in order to effect the change in direction, a distributor is employed. The specific design is not pertinent to the invention, but a typical design is schematically represented. An endless belt arrangement (71) supports fingers (73). As the endless belt arrangement passes around the guide rail (72) it is guided around the desired continuous concave arc path that represents a gradual change between the direction m and the direction p. As individual containers (70) approach this distributor arrangement, successive containers are received by successive fingers (73) and retained in position as they are guided around the continuously curved path as the endless belt support (71) is driven around the guide rail (72).

In order to prevent excessive forces on the bottles, a major part of the transition zone where the bottles are being pushed neither predominantly in direction m nor predominantly in direction c consists of the dead plate surface (58). The dead plate surface imparts no conveying force in either direction. Rather, it is dynamically neutral, presenting a surface across which the containers are free to slide.

This remains the case even though the dead plate surface in the embodiment is designed to be moved to and fro cyclically in an indexing manner over a long period of time in the direction d by means of the carriage drive assembly represented in Figure 3. Movement is trivially slow relative to the movement of the containers, the surface in any event presents a sliding surface so that this movement is not imparted to containers passing thereacross, and the motion is indexed. For all functional purposes, as regards the transportation of an individual container, the dead plate remains a stationary, sliding dead plate of entirely conventional function. However, successive indexing of the dead plate alters the relative position of the dead plate surface (58) successively relative to the continuously curved path as the dead plate indexes to and fro. The net result is that the containers do not wear a single groove representing their single path across a stationary dead plate surface, but wear a substantial part of the dead plate surface evenly, significantly prolonging its life.

Even greater life prolongation can be achieved with suitable selection of materials by making use of the height adjustment means (61). Rather than selecting the dead plate surface for resistance to wear alone, the dead plate surface is selected for reasonable wear resistance, but more particularly to exhibit even wear with time. When the dead plate surface (58) has worn down evenly across the entire part of that surface that serves as a sliding track over the course of a full reciprocating cycle, and as a result no longer presents a surface adequately co-planar with the upper surfaces (59 and 60) of the two belts. It can be raised slightly and the process repeated. In accordance with optional additional feature, even greater wear life is achieved.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, a dead plate is provided which functions as a conventional sliding plate in the transition zone of an apparatus such as that illustrated in the Figures, but which nevertheless, by provision of a high translation drive operably relatively at a much lower speed, significantly effects the wear profile experience, and significantly exceeds dead plate life, increases intervals between replacement, and reduces apparatus down time.

Claims

1. A dead plate assembly for use as part of a distributor for the routeing of containers from a first conveyor directed in a first direction to a second conveyor directed in a second direction at an angle to the first conveyor via a continuously curved path; wherein the assembly comprises a dead plate and an associated longitudinal drive to reposition the dead plate over time and for example cyclically relative to the curved path.

2. A dead plate assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the longitudinal drive of the dead plate is adapted to a translational speed that is relatively very slow compared with the speed of the conveyors, such that the surface thereof remains a sliding surface across which the containers slide in the transition zone in use and does not impart a conveying impulse in any direction to the container sliding thereacross.

3. A dead plate assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein the dead plate is adapted to move at speeds of less than 1 mm per 60 s.

4. A dead plate assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the dead plate is adapted to move at speeds of less than 1 mm per 600 s.

5. A dead plate assembly in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal drive is an indexing drive with a dead plate being subject to an indexing motion, the longitudinal drive being adapted to move the dead plate an indexing step distance during an indexing movement phase over a motion period, to remain stationary for an indexing pause period, and then to repeat the foregoing steps.

6. A dead plate assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein a longitudinal drive is adapted to move the dead plate a step distance of 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

7. A dead plate assembly in accordance with claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the longitudinal indexing drive is adapted to initiate a repetition of this stepping movement successively on the expiration of an indexing interval of one minute to thirty minutes.

8. A dead plate assembly in accordance with one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the longitudinal motion during the indexing movement phase is relatively very rapid, so that an indexing cycle comprises an effectively instantaneous motion longitudinally the indexing distance, followed by a statutory state for the pause period.

9. A dead plate assembly in accordance with one of claims 5 to 7 wherein an indexing cycle comprises a period of relatively slow indexing motion over an indexing motion period, followed by a pause period, the motion period and the pause period together constituting the indexing period.

10. A dead plate assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein a longitudinal indexing drive is adapted to cause the dead plate to be driven longitudinally by 0.1 to 1 mm over a motion period of one minute.

11. A dead plate assembly in accordance with any preceding claim further comprising suitable control means to control the speed of operation of the longitudinal drive, and where applicable any indexing speed and indexing period.

12. A dead plate assembly in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the dead plate forms a transition zone between the first and the second conveyor across which the continuously curved path traverses, which transition zone is 100 to 200 mm wide.

13. A dead plate assembly in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the dead plate is 400 to 800 mm long, and adapted to cycle such that a substantial part of its surface area is disposed to constitute, at some point during use, a track surface across which containers moving around the continuously curved path may slide.

14. A dead plate assembly in accordance with any preceding claim where the dead plate is provided with a height adjustment mechanism to adjust the height of a wearing dead plate so that the upper surface, or at least that part thereof intended to serve as the sliding surface during operation, is maintained as it wears at a level approximately co-planar with the upper surface runs of the first and second conveyors in use.

15. A distributor for the routeing of containers from a first conveyor directed in a first direction to a second conveyor directed in a second direction at an angle to the first conveyor via a continuously curved path; the distributor comprising transportation members adapted to engage with and transport each container around a desired path; a common guide formation in conjunction with which said transportation members are mounted so as to be guided around a continuously curved path during the transfer of the containers from the first to the second conveyor, such that the containers are maintained thereby on said continuously curved path; and a dead plate arranged in the continuously curved path between the first conveyor and the second conveyor upwardly presenting a smooth transfer surface across which conveyed containers may slide in a transfer zone along the continuously curved path; and a dead plate assembly in accordance with any preceding claim.

16. A distributor in accordance with Claim 15 wherein each transportation member comprises at least one transportation finger projecting outwardly into the path of the containers in use to receive and stably retain a container, each finger being mounted on a common drive rail acting as the guide formation to guide the fingers around the continuously curved path.

17. A transportation apparatus for containers, comprising a first conveyor with an upper conveying surface driven to convey the containers in a first direction, a second conveyor with an upper surface adapted to convey the conveyors in a second direction at an angle thereto, and a distributor apparatus in accordance with one of Claims 15 or 16 disposed therebetween to define a continuously curved transfer path between the first direction and the second direction.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein each of the first and second conveyors is an endlessly driven conveyor belt or chain driveable longitudinally so as to impart a drive direction to the containers, and to transport the same in a row in use.

19. A apparatus in accordance with claim 17 or 18 wherein the dead plate is provided with an upper sliding surface on which the containers make a substantially sliding contact and across which they are slid as they transfer from the first direction to the second direction, the upper sliding surface of the dead plate being approximately co-planar with the upper runs of the first and second conveyor.

20. An apparatus in accordance with one of claims 17 to 19 composed as an apparatus for transferring fabricated containers, such as fabricated glass containers and for example bottles or the like, from a manufacturing machine to a lehr, with the primary conveyor comprising a machine conveyor to take finished containers successively away from the vicinity of a manufacturing machine, and the secondary conveyor comprising a transfer conveyor at an angle thereto to take transferred containers successively to the vicinity of a lehr.

21. A fabrication train comprising an apparatus in accordance with claim 20 that further comprises a fabrication machine provided in the vicinity of a receiving portion of the machine conveyor located distally of the distributor apparatus, and a transfer means to transfer fabricated containers from the manufacturing machine to the receiving portion of the machine conveyor, and further comprises a lehr provided in the vicinity of an unloading portion of the transfer conveyor distally of the distributor apparatus, and a stacking apparatus to remove containers from the unloading portion and stack them on the lehr as they arrive successively under the action of the transfer conveyor.

22. A method for the operation of a dead plate assembly in use as part of a distributor for the routeing of containers from a first conveyor directed in a first direction to a second conveyor directed in a second direction at an angle to the first conveyor via a continuously curved path including the step of repositioning the dead plate relative to the curved path over time, for example cyclically.

23. A method of manipulation of a successive train of objects from a first direction to a second direction at an angle thereto via a continuously curved path passing across a dead plate, the method comprising the steps of: causing objects to move from the first direction to the second direction via a continuously curved path passing at least in part over the dead plate; repositioning the dead plate over time relative to the curved path, and for example cyclically, so that during operation the position of the dead plate on the curved path varies and a greater proportion of the surface area of the dead plate is presented for wear.