Accumulator for selective withdrawal and deposition of objects on the conveyer

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an accumulator for selectively picking up and placing articles on a conveyor, in particular cigarette packs conveyed from two packaging machines into a group packer. The accumulator according to the invention serves to keep the group wrapper running when one of the wrapping machines stops, or vice versa, to keep the wrapping machines running when the group wrapper stops.

Previously, in the cigarette industry, group packs manufactured by the £ Molins Machine Company, which received cigarette packs fed by two conveyor belts, were used from two separate packaging machines, such as packaging machines manufactured by American Machine and Foundry. If this combination is used, each wrapping machine must have one operator and each conveyor between the wrapping machines and the group wrapper must have a controller that discards damaged packages or removes the packages from the conveyor belt when the group wrapper stops working or on the contrary conveyor belt when one of the packaging machines breaks down. Due to the steadily increasing production speed of the pack and the entire production of cigarettes, it is very difficult for one controller to keep up with the output speed of the packaging machine. For this reason, damaged or defective cigarette packs come on the market despite inspection.

To prevent this, it is necessary to automatically check for major bugs and package damage and automatically discard imperfect packages. At the same time, it must be ensured that baler supply is balanced between individual machines - the packaging line - in case of failure of one of them.

For this purpose, the accumulator according to the invention is designed to selectively pick and place objects on a position-fixed conveyor. The main object of the invention is that the accumulator consists of a rigid frame formed by a base plate provided with frame beams connected at its upper ends by a top plate; The accumulator is provided with a drive for moving the container relative to the conveyor belt and with a control device for controlling the drive.

.The advantages of a battery for selectively picking up and placing items on a conveyor are that it inspects the packages for defects in packaging and shape and discards defective packages. It also allows the interconnected wrapping machines and carton wrappers to operate continuously - even if one of these machines stops working for a certain period of time, using an accumulator and a distribution table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a packaging line; FIG. 2 is a plan view of an improperly packaged cigarette pack; FIG. 3 is a side view of an improperly formed cigarette pack; FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the inspection device of FIG. 4, wherein the holding brush and inspection photoelectric detectors of FIGS. 6 and 7 are omitted for simplicity; FIG.

4 shows a side view of the control device of FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the electronic circuit of the control device; FIG. 9 is an axonometric view of a device for inspecting the cellophane outer wrapper of cigarette packs; 11 shows a plan view of a control device for checking the outer packaging, FIG. 12 a side view of a control device; 13 14 is a perspective view of an accumulator according to the invention with a cartridge in a partially filled state, FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the accumulator with a cartridge in the lower empty position, FIG. simplified, the cartridge in the lower empty position and the battery drive motor are omitted, FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane 17-17 of FIG. 16, FIG. 18 Fig. 19 is an axonometric view of a stop located at the outlet end of the accumulator according to the invention; Fig. 21 is a plan view of a distribution table for distributing packages from accumulators to a group pack; Fig. 22 is a plan view of the distributor table of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the distributor table taken along line 23-23 of Fig. 22; Fig. 24 a cross section taken along plane 24-24 of Fig. 21; 25 plan view of the end of the packaging line with detectors to detect the passage of packages between the distribution table and the group wrapper.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a packaging line incorporating both accumulators according to the invention and comprising two packaging machines 10, 12 and a single group packer 14 for wrapping cigarette packs in cartons. For example, the wrapping machines 10, 12 may be cigarette wrapping machines manufactured by AMF, and the bulk wrapper may be a machine manufactured by Molins that stores ten packs of cigarettes in a carton with five packs in the bottom layer and five packs. packages in the top layer. Immediately downstream of the wrapping machines 10, 12, just prior to the start of the conveyor belts 16, 18 between the wrapping machines 10, 12 and the group wrapper 14, are wrapping machines 20, 22, manufactured, for example, by the Package Machine Company. The wrapping machines 4 place them on cigarette packets emanating from the packaging machines 10, 12, a cellophane outer wrapper and a tear tape.

Cigarette packs There are a variety of packaging errors that arise during packaging and are most common, especially at the high speeds that modern cigarette packaging machines operate. Giant. 2 and 3 show a plan view and a side view of an incorrectly formed pack of cigarettes. One of the errors not shown in the drawing is the missing closure label 24. In the past, this closing strap served as a tax strip; in recent years, however, taxation of cigarettes has been marked, for example, by serration, so that a closing label is no longer necessary for this purpose. However, it has been found that smokers usually tear off the corner of a package to remove cigarettes and leave a sealing label on it. It is precisely because of this habit of smokers that a sealing label is left on the pack when wrapping cigarettes, since it serves a useful purpose. Thus, when the sealing label 24 is missing, the pack of cigarettes is imperfect and as such should be discarded. The second error occurs when the tension on the film roll fed to the packaging machine is too high.

In this case, an insufficient amount of foil 26 is applied to the package so that an opening may be formed next to the sealing label 24. In addition, the film 26 may break when folded and the aperture may be formed on both sides of the closure label 24. A third defect in forming the cigarette pack may arise when the outer printed packaging is glued to the blank as shown in FIG. 3.

In certain cases, the upper left corner 32 folds back. This error occurs because the corner of the printed package is slightly folded back during packaging and is caught by the edge of the folding device in the packaging machine. It may also happen that the printed package is laid on the package askew so that a gap is formed between its edges.

It has also been found that the cellophane outer wrapper positioned as the topsheet is often improperly formed on the package. Most often, the cellophane wrapper is not properly glued and its edges are loose at the seam 34 on the left side of the package in Fig. 3 and at the folds 36 and 38 at the top and bottom of the package.

In the packaging line of FIG. 1, one worker was previously required for each wrapping machine 10, 12 and the wrapping machine 20, 22, and the inspector on each conveyor belt 16, 18 between the wrapping machines 10, 12 and the group wrapper 14. operate _andseveral group packers 14. On the other hand, the operator of the packaging machines 10, 12 is responsible for maintaining a sufficient quantity of supplies, such as cigarettes, foils, printed packaging, sealing labels, tear tape and cellophane so that all these materials flow smoothly into the packaging machine; In addition, the operator of the packaging machine must repair any disturbances that cause the packaging or wrapping machines to stop. It is understood that at the high speeds at which modern packaging machines operate, the operator only has time to maintain a continuous supply of supplies to the packaging machine and does not have time to assist in the inspection of packages. Inspectors are required not only to discard all packages that have these errors, but also to remove packages from the conveyor belt when a group wrapper stops, or, on the contrary, store the collected packages on the conveyor when the wrapping machine is stopped to maintain continuous line operation. As the speed of the packaging machines increases, the work of the inspector becomes more and more difficult, making it very difficult for one person to work as the inspector for an extended period of time. For this reason, it is necessary to automate the package inspection to allow the controller to perform other work, and at the same time to automate the other functions performed by the controller so that the whole system is complete.

Cigarette packs or other packs are inspected at station A at the junction of the wrapping machines 10, 12 and wrapping machines 20, 22, and the cellophane wrappers are inspected at station B between the wrapping machines 20, 22 and the conveyor belts 16, 18.

Giant. Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a package inspection station A comprising a receiving plate 40 provided with a connecting plate 42 which is connected to existing feed channels from the packaging machines 10, 12, and a cannell 46 which is attached to an existing packaging package At the inlet end of the control device, the support plate 40 carries two vertical guide plates 48, 50 which together with the support plate 40 form a channel 51 for supplying cigarette packs 52. Above this channel 51, two brackets 54, 56 are fixed to the vertical guide plates 48, 50 (FIG. 7). The bracket 54 can be vertically adjusted by bolts 55. This bracket 54 carries a presser arm 58 that abuts the top of the packages 52 passing through the channel 51. The presser arm 58 extends across the channel 51 and has a sloping bottom surface which has a transverse row near the free end. holes 60. The brackets 56, which can be adjusted horizontally by bolts 57, carry a series of photoelectric detectors 62 that correspond to the number of holes 60 and are coaxial therewith. The photoelectric detectors 62 are of the standard reflection type and are aimed at the top side of the packages 52 passing below them. The photoelectric detectors 62 are mounted on one arm of the Z-shaped bracket 64. In the other arm of the bracket 64 there is an opening through which the vertical post 44 passes. The upright 44 is attached to the bottom plate 65 of the bracket 56 and a plate 66 is attached to its upper end. This plate 66 protrudes forward and has an opening through which a threaded adjusting column 68 extends also through a threaded bore in the bracket arm 64 and housed in a bore This adjustment allows the photoelectric detectors 62 to be adjusted vertically.

In the preferred embodiment shown, three photoelectric detectors 62 are provided so that their light source is facing the top of the cigarette packs 52 at points on lines a, b, c (Fig. 5). Changing the intensity of the reflected light will produce a deviation signal that is sent to the discard system to discard incorrectly formed packages, as will be explained later. When the sealing label 24 is missing on the package 52, the change in reflected light intensity is detected by the photoelectric detector 62 lying on line b. If, on the other hand, the packaging film is missing or torn from the package, the photoelectric detectors 62 lying on lines a or c will detect this error.

The packages 52 are successively pressed against the lever switch member 75 and the guide rail 70 which forms one side of the channel 72 perpendicular to the inlet channel 51. The other side of the channel 72 is a guide rail 74 having a bevelled front end so that the packages 52 can easily slide between the two guide rails 70, 74.

As the packs 52 gradually enter the channel 72, they engage a lever switch member 75 having two mutually perpendicular lever arms 76, 78. The lever switch member 75 is pivotably mounted on a support plate 40. At the end of the switch arm 78 is a vertical flag 80 ( Fig. 6). An inverted hook-shaped support arm 81 is also mounted to the receiving plate 40. A light source 82 and a photoelectric detector 83 are mounted on this support arm 81. When the package 52 rotates the lever arm 76, the switch arm 78 is also rotated and the vertical flag 80 passes between the light source 82 and the photoelectric detector 83. When the light flux between the light source 82 and the photoelectric detector 83 is interrupted, an electrical signal is sent to the control circuit. a marking unit 84 which is mounted on the underside of the receiving plate 40. The marker unit 84 has a shaft 85 that extends upwardly through the support plate 40 and drives a chain conveyor 87 mounted on the support plate 40 (FIG. 5). The shaft 85 carries a twin sprocket 86, encased by a pair of chains 88 that orbit two other twin sprockets 90, 92, also mounted on a support plate 40. The twin sprocket 90 lies close to the channel 72 and is positioned such that the chains 88 extend between the double sprockets 86, 90 parallel to the edge of the guide rail 70 and the channel 72. The twin sprocket 92 lies between the twin sprockets 86, 90 and its position can be adjusted so that the chains 88 have the correct tension. Each of the chains 88 is provided with grippers 94 that engage cigarette packs 52 entering channel 72 when they flip the lever switch member 75, which regulates the function of the marker unit 84 driving the chain conveyor 87.

Next to the channel 72 opposite the chain conveyor 87 is a further photoelectric detector 96 mounted to the mounting plate 40 by the bracket 98. This photoelectric detector 9S is directed to the top of the sidewall of the package 52 to detect the inclined position of the printed package or bend its corner. If the package has a defect, the photoelectric detector 96 sends a signal that causes the rejection system to exclude the defective package 52 from the conveying path, as explained later.

The brush 100 (FIG. 6) mounted on the post 102 is pivotable above the channel 72 so that it touches the top of the packages 52 passing through the channel 72. The brush 100 serves to maintain a stable position of the package 52 in the channel 72. an air solenoid valve 104 provided with a tube 106 that extends from the valve 104 to the proximity of the duct 72. The air solenoid valve 104 is actuated by the rejection system such that when the defective package 52 passes before the tube 106, the air flow from the tube 106 to the chute 108 is blown through the gap 107 in the guide rail 74.

In addition, the marking unit 84 has a second drive shaft 110 which drives the sprocket 112 and the clutch. The sprocket 112 is wrapped by a chain 120 that runs around another sprocket 122 mounted on the gearbox shaft 124. The sprocket 126 mounted on the gearbox shaft 124 is wrapped by a chain 128 running over the sprocket 130 on the packing unit drive shaft 131 .

It goes without saying that the control station can be driven in a variety of ways, but the described apparatus is considered to be the most advantageous.

In controlling the packages, the function of the individual devices is as follows: As already mentioned, the photoelectric detectors 62 of the control system lie above the input channel 51 and control the top side of the package 52. They contain reflective type photocells and thus sense the change in light intensity reflected from the object. If a change in the intensity of the reflected light is detected, the respective photocell sends a deviation signal to the appropriate amplifier, where the deviation signal is amplified and fed to the logic gate 560 (Fig. 8). This logic gate 560 also receives pulse or count pulses from the selection generator 562. At the moment of the coincidence of the deviation and selection signals, the logic gate 560 sends an output signal to the memory circuit 564. In a particular preferred embodiment, the memory circuit 564 delays the output of the four pulse pulses and then sends the reject signal to the reject relay 566. The reject relay 566 sends a signal to the electrically operated air solenoid valve 104 which causes defective packages to blow out of the transport path. Another photoelectric detector 96, also a reflection type, detects a color change at a particular location in the package and transmits an output signal that passes through another amplifier to the second logic gate 568 when the change is detected. This second logic gate 568 also receives pulse pulses from the select generator 562. coinciding the deviation signal and the selection pulse, transmits the second logic gate 568 to the memory circuit 564. Again, the memory circuit 564 delays the output signal, but only by one pulse, and then sends it to the reject relay 566, which actuates the air solenoid valve 104. Of course, the location of the individual photoelectric detectors and the defects to be detected, depends on the type of package being checked and its most common defects.

Giant. Figures 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 show a control station V for inspecting cellophane packaging. This station is located between the wrapping machines 20, 22 and the conveyor belts 16, 18. The packages 52 have a cellophane wrapper which is thermally bonded at both ends and on one side of the package 52 by the wrapping machine 20, 22. The packages 52 advance along the existing conveyor 132 (FIG. 10) and are successively pushed onto the existing rotary table 134 by a conventional mechanism. The turntable 134 rotates the packages 52 180 ° so that they pass from the turntable 134 to the conveyor 138 with their thermally glued side down, as shown in Figure 10. Next to the conveyor 138 is a photoelectric detector 140 whose light source and photocell lie above the package 52 and below. him. The photoelectric detector 140 detects improperly formed packages 52, such as the improperly formed side seal 34 shown in FIG. 3. In this case, since the uncoated cellophane passes between the light source and the photocell of the photoelectric detector 140, the transmitted luminous flux changes so that the photoelectric detector 140 actuates the rejection system.

The packages 52 continue to travel on the conveyor 138 and arrive at the motherboard 142 of the outer cellophane wrapper controller 143 (FIGS. 11 and 12). The packages 52 first stop by pausing against the guide rail 144 of the controller 143. The carrier arms 154, 156 on the carrier wheel 146 pass through holes 148, 150 of the motherboard 142 of the controller 143. The carrier arms 154, 156 push the packages 52 in a direction perpendicular to the axis conveyor 138 as shown in FIG. 10. The packages 52 then pass through a channel 159 consisting of a guide rail 158, a guide rail 144 and a base plate 142. In the middle of the channel 159 is a conveying mechanism 180 provided with a plurality of carriers 161 that engage the packages 52 and guide them through the channel 159.

On opposite sides next to the canal

159 There are two photoelectric detectors 162, 164. Each has a light source and a photocell that lies above and below packages 52. These photoelectric detectors 162,164 operate analogously to photoelectric detector 140. If the cellophane wrapper has a defect, such as an incorrect upper fold 36 or lower fold 38, the intensity of the light beam will change, causing a deviation signal to be sent to the rejection system. When the packages 52 are moved by the controller 143 to the conveyor belt 16 or 18, an electrically operated solenoid valve 165 is actuated at a suitable moment, provided with a pipe 166 extending up close to the conveyor. The air stream exiting the tube 166 then blows out the defective package 52. The conveyor mechanism 160 and the drag wheels 146 are driven by a chain mechanism 168 that is driven by the drive shaft of the conveyor belts 16 or 18 through the shaft 170.

The cellophane outer casing controller 143 functions analogously to the inner casing inspection station as shown in FIG. 13. The photoelectric detectors used in the controller 143 consist of a light source and a photocell. When the intensity of the light beam impinging on the photoelectric cell of the photoelectric detector 140, 162 or 164 is changed, indicating that the cellophane package on package 52 has a defect, the respective photocell deviation signal that passes through the respective amplifier to the logic gate 172 or 174. These gates 172, 174 also receive withdrawal or counting pulses from the select generator 176, analogously to the package control system. When coinciding with the counting pulse signal, the logic gate 172, 174 sends a signal to the memory circuit 178. In the particular case, the memory circuit 178 delays the output signal from the photoelectric detector 140 by six counts while the output signal from the photoelectric detectors 162, 164 delay only two counting pulses. In both cases, a signal from the memory circuit 178 arrives at the reject relay 179 which energizes the electric solenoid valve 165; this causes the defective package 52 to blow out of the conveyor track. Even in this case, it is obvious that the position of the photoelectric detectors depends on the type of package being inspected and the errors most frequently encountered therein.

Once discarded packages 52 have been removed, properly formed packages 52 continue along conveyor belts 16, 18 to stations C (FIG. 1) in which the accumulators 180, 182 according to the invention are placed. The accumulators 180, 182 serve to place the accumulated packages 52 onto the conveyor belts 16, 18 if any of the packaging machines 10 or 12 ceases to operate while the group packer 14 continues to operate, or vice versa to remove the packages 52 from the conveyor belts. 16, 18 to temporarily store them when the wrapping machines 10, 12 are operating and the group wrapper 14 has failed.

An embodiment of one accumulator 180 of a pair is shown in Figs. 14-20. The accumulator 180 has a rigid frame formed by a base plate 186 and two vertical-frame beams 188, 190 connected at the top by a top plate 192. Between the two frame beams 188, 190 are two vertical guide columns 194, 196 fixed between the base plate 186 and the top plate 192. In the middle between the frame beams 188, 190 is a threaded column 198 that extends from the top plate 192 to the bracket 200 formed by the top plate 202 and the two vertical side plates 204, 206 that are fixed to the base plate 186. top plate 192 by flange bearing 208 and protrudes into brake 210. The lower end of the threaded column 198 carries the thrust bearing 212 mounted on the top plate 202 of the bracket 200; the shaft of the threaded column 198 passes through a ball bearing 214 housed in the bore 216 of the top plate 202. At the lower end of the shaft of the threaded column 198, a bevel gear 218 is engaged, engaging a pair of bevel gears 220, 222 they are perpendicular and are supported on a shaft 224 which extends through the vertical side plates 204, 206 and is received therein.

On the shaft 224, near the bevel gears 220, 222, there are electrical couplings 228, 230. The shaft 224 carries outside the vertical side plates 204 a sprocket 232 wrapped by a chain 234 running over another sprocket 236 mounted on the output shaft 238 The gearbox 240 is supported by the engine 242.

Next to the frame beams 188, 190, a cartridge 244 consisting of two sidewalls 258, 260, a cover 262 and a bottom 264 is movably inserted. The cartridge 244 forms a chamber - open from the side through which the conveyor belt 18 can pass and is in motion guided by guide columns 194, 196, on which guide bushes 250, 252, supported by the upper bracket 246 and the lower bracket 248 of the cartridge 244, slide (FIG. 16). To move the cartridge 244 in a vertical plane, a threaded collar 256 is mounted on the frame guide column 198, mounted on the center console 254 approximately in the middle of the cartridge 244. On the inner sides of the sidewalls 258, 260 inside the cartridge 244 a rib system 266 is provided. in pairs. Each pair of ribs 266 forms one tray for storing the cigarette packs 52. The ribs 266 may be an integral part of the sidewalls 258, 260 or may be attached to them by angles. The width of the cartridge 244 is so large that the package 52 carried by the conveyor belt 16, 18 can pass through it without difficulty. The ribs 266 extend into the interior of the cartridge 244 so as to engage the edges of the packages 52 raised from the conveyor belt 18 when filling the cartridge 244. There is a gap of -267 between the opposite edges of the pair of ribs 266 sufficiently wide to pass it or down the conveyor belt 18. It can be seen in the drawing that the empty container 244 is in the down position and is filled upwardly with respect to the conveyor belt 18 and the battery frame 180. When the battery is empty (FIG. 14) or is out of order, the container 244 is stopped at such that the upper side of the conveyor belt 18 lies slightly above the upper side of the ribs 266 of the respective tray, so that the packages 52 can pass through the container 244 without touching the ribs 266.

When the group wrapper 14 stops while the wrapping machine 10 continues to operate, the container 244 is moved upward, thereby storing the individual packages 52 in its trays. As shown in FIG. 16, as the cartridge 244 moves up its sides along the retaining members. The plates 268, 270 are pivotably supported by brackets 272, 274 on the frame beams 188, 190. The retaining plates 268, 270 serve to hold the packages 52 within the container 244 as it moves upwards. When, on the other hand, the wrapping machines 10, 12 are stopped, the container 244 moves down and places the packages 52 on the conveyor belt 18 until the wrapping machine 10, 12 starts to work again or the supply in the container 244 is exhausted.

On the carcass of the conveyor belt 16, 18, the inlet stops 276, 280 and the outlet stops 278, 282 are located in front of the accumulator 180, 182 and behind it (Fig. 1). The input stops 276, 280 are located upstream of the input to the accumulator 180, 182 and may be at any distance from these inputs. It only serves when the battery 180, 182 is emptied and holds the incoming packages 52 and prevents them from entering the battery 180, 182 when the wrapping machine 10, 12 stops. The output stops 278, 282 are at the output end of the accumulators 180, 182 and only operate during the filling of the batteries 180, 182. These output stops 278, 282 are located some distance from the inner side of the retaining plate 288 by an exact multiple of package width, normally by two or three times, so that as the container 244 moves upward, the edge of the last packages in the filled tray 244 of the container 244 abuts the inner surfaces of the holding plates 268, 270. As can be seen from FIG. 16, the length of the cartridge 244 is slightly less than the distance between the retaining plates 268, 270 which are spaced apart so that their inner surfaces are spaced by a multiple of the width of the package 52. As a result, a package 52 entering container 244 on the inside of the retaining plate 270. The two retaining plates 268, 270 have a curved lower end 284, 286, which facilitates the guidance of the last packages 52 between the two retaining plates 268, 270. Furthermore, these curved lower ends 284, 286 prevent the packages 52 from moving outside the container 244 simultaneously with it. .

Fig. 20 shows in detail the output stop 282, which consists of two T-shaped side plates 288, 290 'which are attached to opposite sides of the conveyor belt frame 18. A lever 292 is attached to the end of the middle arm of the side plate 288, 290. The shorter arms of the levers 292, 294 extend upwardly and are connected at the end by a rod 296 which lies between the two side plates 288, 290 and the levers 292, 294 above the conveyor belt 18. Between the long arms of the levers 292, 294 lies a roller 298 near their ends. Another roller 300 is mounted above the conveyor belt 18 between the two side plates 288, 290 and carries an electrically operated solenoid 302, the core 304 of which is fixed. A spring 306 is tensioned between the side plates 288, 290 and the longer lever arm 292, 294 so that the long arms of the levers 292, 294 are pivoted upward, whereby the roller 298 lies normally above the conveyor belt 18. However, once the solenoid 302 is energized, the core 304 is pulled in, thereby pivoting the roller 298 down and locking the conveyor belt 18. Exit stop 282. it remains in the down position as long as the solenoid 302 is energized. When the output stop 282 is withdrawn when the roller 298 is completely down, the switch 308 closes, which sends a signal to the battery control circuit 180, 182. The inlet stops 276, 280 are of the thrust type and consist of a spring loaded solenoid unit provided with a rod that is attached to the solenoid core and extends outwardly above the conveyor and urges the packages 52 against the opposite side of the conveyor frame when the solenoid is energized.

Giant. 19 illustrates a device for correctly adjusting tray trays 244. The bracket 310 is attached to a frame beam 188 and is provided with a yoke 312 carrying a light source 314 and a photoelectric sensor 315. An angle 316 that extends to the boom 260 of the tray 244 is attached. along the entire length of the container 244 from top to bottom. One bracket arm 316 extends through bracket 312 of bracket 310 and is provided with a plurality of holes 318 evenly spaced along its length. The centers of these holes 318 lie on one vertical line and correspond to the position of the photoelectric sensor 315. The horizontal diameter of the holes 318 coincides with the top surface of the ribs 266 of each tray 244. This. the device serves to stop the reservoir 244 in each tray. In the stop position of the tray, the photoelectric sensor 315 sees light. passing through the opening. 318 in angle 316. On the other hand, when the cartridge 244 is moved up or down to fill or empty the tray, the light beam between the light source 314 and the photoelectric sensor 315 is interrupted by the angle 316. When the tray 244 moves to the next tray, the light beam passes through the hole 318 and At this time, the photoelectric sensor 315 sends a signal to the appropriate control circuit to stop the cartridge 244. The circuits to control this system will be explained below.

Operation of the battery 180, 182 has three main phases, and since both batteries operate in the same manner, only one of them will be described.

The first working phase is the resting phase, the second is the filling phase and the third is the emptying phase. During the rest phase, both the wrapping machines 10, 12 and the group wrapper 14 operate. For this reason, the accumulator 180 does not operate and the packages 52 pass through the container 244 on the conveyor belt 18.

The filling phase begins when the group wrapper 14 stops and the wrapping machine 10, 12 continues to work. When this occurs, a signal is sent to the output stop 282, which closes. The roller 298 passes all packages 52 that have been trapped underneath and then falls into the gap between successive packages 52 coming along the conveyor belt 18. As the roller 298 goes down, the switch 308 closes, actuating the battery charging circuit 180, comprising a timing device. The packages 52 begin to collect in the container 244 on the conveyor belt 18 and interrupt the signal of the photoelectric detector 322 at the output end of the accumulator 180 and the photoelectric detector 320 at the input end thereof. Both of these photoelectric detectors 320, 322 have a light source and a photocell, the light source being on one side of the conveyor belt 18 and the photoelectric cell on the other side. The timing device ensures that the packages 52 do not collect on the upstream side of the photoelectric detector 320 and do not interrupt the light beam for a period of time such that the drive is not actuated before the respective tray of the cartridge 244 is filled. After the time delay has elapsed and the light beam of the photoelectric detectors 320, 322 has been interrupted, the electric clutch 230 is actuated and the brake 210 is disengaged. As the accumulator 244 of the accumulator 180 is moved upward, the accumulator control 180 passes from the circuits of the photoelectric detectors 320, 322 to the circuits of the photoelectric sensor 315, which is mounted on the yoke 312 on the frame of the accumulator 180 (FIG. 19). In this case, the angle 316 extends between the light source 314 and the photoelectric sensor 315 and thus blocks the passage of the light beam. As soon as the next aperture 318 comes into position against the light source 314 and the photoelectric sensor 315, a signal is given that disengages the clutch 230 and actuates the brake 210. The sequence described is repeated until the packer 14 resumes operation or all the trays of the container 244 will be filled. When the baler 14 resumes operation, it sends a signal to the control system to terminate the operation of the accumulator 180, since at this point the conditions for continuing the filling phase of the cartridge 244 cease to exist. at the time of sending the signal from the pack 14, it was completed before the battery 180 stopped functioning. When the cartridge 244 is filled and the limit switch 324 mounted on the top plate 192 is closed, it sends a signal to the packaging machine 10 which stops it.

The condition for starting the emptying cycle of the accumulator 180 is to stop the wrapping machine 10, 12 while the group wrapper 14 continues to operate. In this situation, an input stop 276 or 280 is actuated which grips the package 52 on the conveyor belt 16, 18 and prevents it from entering the accumulator 180. In the emptying phase, the third photoelectric detector 326 operates. Its photocell and light source are located at opposite ends of the cartridge 244 such that their connector extends across the cartridge 244 (FIG. 18). When the pack 180 does not pass through the packs 52, the photocell of the photoelectric detector 326 receives a light pulse from the light source. The photocell receives a light pulse for a predetermined period of time to produce a signal to actuate the clutch 228 and release the brake 210 so that the cartridge 244 begins to move downward. As in the feed phase, the movement control of the cartridge 244 is transferred from the photoelectric detector circuit 326 to the photoelectric sensor circuit 315. In this case too, the angle 316 passing through the yoke 312 interrupts the light beam between the light source 314 and the sensor 315. through the sensor 315 following the hole 318, an electrical signal is sent to the coupling 228 which disables it and actuates the brake 210. The packages 52 from the tray on which the tray 244 has been stopped are then removed from the tray by the conveyor bar 18. Again, a time delay is provided which allows each tray to be completely emptied. The sequence described will repeat as soon as the photoelectric detector 326 is illuminated again.

The emptying phase continues until either the wrapping machine 10, 12 resumes operation or the battery 180 is completely emptied. When the wrapping machine 10, 12 resumes operation, a time delay is provided to allow the emptying phase to complete before the accumulator 180 stops at an empty level and stops functioning so that the packages 52 from the wrapping machine 10, 12 pass on the conveyor belt 18. , 18 by this empty floor. Once the cartridge 244 is completely emptied and actuates the lower limit switch 328, a signal is sent to the battery control circuit 180 to interrupt the emptying cycle.

In the combination of the two packaging machines 10, 12 and one group wrapper 14 shown in this preferred embodiment of the packaging line, when the accumulator 244 is emptied, the group wrapper 14 does not necessarily stop as the packaging machine 10, 12 when the accumulator 244 is full. In this preferred embodiment, the distributor table 332 divides the packages from the working wrapping machine 10 or 12 into two conveying paths of the group wrapper 14, allowing its continuous operation.

The distributor table 332 is located on the conveyor belts 16, 18 at the station V before the conveyor belts 16, 18 enter the packer 14. FIG. 21, 22 and 23 show plan, side and rear views of the distributor table 332. The distributor table 332 has a frame 334 consisting of four legs 336, 338, 340, 342, which are connected by upper beams 344, 348, 352, 356 and lower beams. 346, 356, 354, 358. A support plate 360 ​​is mounted between the lower beams 346 and 350, which carries a transmission 362 with a drive motor 364.

The gearbox shaft 366 carries a sprocket 368 around which the chain 370 is wrapped. This chain 370 extends upwardly and is wrapped around another sprocket 372 mounted on the shaft 374. The shaft 374 passes through the bearing bushes 376, 378 mounted on the side plates 380 282, which are secured to the frame 334 by a plurality of angles 384, 386, 388, 396 attached to the upper ends of the legs 338, 340, 336, and 342. A conveyor roller 402 is mounted on the shaft 374, over which a conveyor belt 404 extends, extending to the second conveyor roller 406 with the shaft mounted in the bearing bushes 408, 410. The bearing bushes 408, 410 are also attached to the side plates 380, 382. 380, 382 have apertures which allow horizontal adjustment of the bearing bushes 408, 410 and hence a suitable tensioning of the conveyor belt 404. The side plates 380, 382 are fastened with adjusting screws 412, which are not shown in view of the bearing bush 410 in Fig. 3, which engage the bearing bushes 408, 410, thereby allowing them to be moved and fastened horizontally.

As shown in FIG. 22, the conveyor belts 16, 18 extend below the conveyor belt 404 of the distributor table 332. Four pairs of rollers guide the conveyor belts 16, 18 first vertically, then horizontally, then vertically, and finally again horizontally. The conveyor belts 16, 18 enter into channels 414, 416, which are attached to a normal conveyor frame structure and pass over a pair of guide rollers 418, 420. The rollers 418, 428 extend the conveyor belts 16, 18 vertically downwards; the belt 16 then passes beneath the guide roller 422 attached to the guide table frame 332, and then extends horizontally to the other roller 426, and is guided upwardly to the roller 430. Analogous guide rollers 424, 428, 432 are provided for the conveyor belt 18. the conveyor belts 16, 18 pass over the guide rollers 430, 432, run horizontally and continue to the group wrapper 14. The conveyor belts 16, 18 are endless and therefore have a lower run which engages a set of double rollers located below each pair of the aforementioned guide rollers as shown in Fig. 22. , 18 under the distributor table 332.

The packages 52 arriving on the conveyor belts 16, 18 extend through channels 414, 418, the side rails 450, 450 ', 452, 452 * of which are fixed to the bottom of the channels 414, 416. On one side of the channels 414, 416 above the guide rails 450, 452 are stops 454, 456, which are displaced horizontally by solenoid 458, 460 loaded by springs. These solenoid stops are analogous to the input stops 276, 280 provided at the input end of the accumulators 180, 182. The stop bars 454, 456 formed by the clamp rods are held in the retracted position outside the channel 414, 416 by the action of a spring. Upon excitation of the solenoids 458, 460, these stops 454, 456 move inward and engage packages 52 that move along the conveyor belts 16, 18. On excitation, the stops 454, 456 retain the packages 52 at the inlet of the distributor table 332, thereby enabling actuation of the shift shifters. conveyors 462, 464 located on the sides of the distributor table 332.

The shift conveyors 462, 464 are located just beyond the ends of the guide rails 450, 452 and are supported by a beam 466 having side supports 468, 470 attached to side plates 380, 382. A cross-member 472 is disposed between the side supports 468, 470. At the upper end of the side supports 468, 470 there are bearings 474, 476 that support the shaft 478. The right end of the shaft 478 (FIG. 23) passes through the bearing 476 and carries the sprocket 480. The sprocket 480 is wrapped with a chain 482 which also engages a sprocket 484 wedged at the end of the shaft 374 of the conveyor cylinder 402. This chain drive allows the shifting conveyors 462, 464 to be driven from the drive assembly driving the conveyor 404 of the distributor table 332. Next to each of the side supports 468 470, bevel gears 486, 488 are keyed on shaft 478. These bevel gears 486, 488 engage horizontal bevel gears 490, 492 mounted on shafts 494, 446 that extend through crossbeam 472. Pulleys 498, 500 are attached to shaft ends 494, 496. Between crossbeam 472 and bevel gears 290 492, L-shaped support rods 501, 501 * are located. The longer arm of both of these support bars 501, 501 * protrudes forward and rests on a support 503 which is mounted on the side plates 380, 382. The short arm 532, 534 of the support bars 501, 501 * is perpendicular to the axis of the conveyor belt 404.

Shafts 502, 504 are hinged at the ends of the support rods 501, 501 * on which the pulleys 506, 508 are fastened. Each pair of pulleys 498, 506 and 500, 508 is wrapped with a belt 510, 512 of circular cross-section. Just beyond the end of the shifting conveyors 462, 464 are the output guide rails 514, 516 for the belt conveyor 16 and the output guide rails 518, 520 for the belt conveyor 18. The drive shafts 494, 496 of the shifting conveyors 462, 464 are mounted on the crossbeam 472 so that they can pivot over the distributor table 322. As a result, the free end of the shifting conveyor 462 is swiveled out of position in line with the guide rails 450, 514. along the conveyor belt 16, to a dashed position near the end of the guide rail 518 of the conveyor belt 18. The shift conveyor 464 swings from a position in line with the guide rails 452 'and 520 to a position (not shown) near the end of the guide rail 518. The shift conveyors 462, 464 are pivoted by a pair of air cylinders 521, 522 which are actuated by solenoid air valves 521 ', 522' mounted on the brackets 523 in front of the beam 466 of the shift conveyors 464, 462. The solenoids are electrically connected to the control circuitry of the distributor table 332 and to the pressurized air source. The piston rods 524, 526 of the air cylinders 521, 522 are pivotably coupled to the rods 528, 530 which are mounted on the short arms 532, 534 of the support rods 501, 50Γ. When the solenoid air valves are 521 ', 522'⁴In the idle position, the shift conveyors 462, 464 lie on the sides of the distributor table 332. However, as soon as the packages 52 arriving on the distributor table 332 need to be divided between the conveyor belts 16, 18, one of the solenoids is excited so that the solenoid air valve 521 '. 522 'introduces air to the respective side of the air cylinder 521, 522 and moves the piston rod 524, 526, thereby rotating the shift conveyor 462, 464 associated with the air cylinder 521, 522 to a transverse position lying over the distributor table 332. The packs 52 arriving, for example, on the conveyor belt 16 are then guided on the distributor table 332 and into the conveyor belt outlet 18.

The distributor table 332 operates in two situations. The first situation is when one of the packaging machines 10, 12 is stopped and the associated battery 180, 182 is empty. The other situation is that one of the packaging machines 10, 12 operates at a slower speed than the other, thereby creating an excess of packages 52 on the conveying paths between the group packer 14 and the distributor table 332. When one of the wrapping machines 10, 12 is stopped and its associated battery 180, 182 is empty, the accumulator container 244 or 182 actuates the limit switch 328 and a signal is sent to the stop 456 so as to retain the remaining packages 52 coming from the accumulator 182 After a time delay caused by the timing device, a stop 454 on the conveyor belt 16 is energized and the packages 52 are stopped so that they cannot enter the distributor table 332. At the same time, a second timing device is energized to provide an additional time delay allowing all packages 52 on the distributor table 332 to leave it. After this second time delay, the electrically actuated spring-actuated solenoid valve 521 'is energized so that air begins to flow into the air cylinder 521, whereby the shifting conveyor 462 swings over the distributor table 332 to guide the packages 52 from the conveyor belt 16 to the conveyor belt 18. After a further time delay, the stop 454 opens and the packages arriving on the conveyor belt 16 are guided to the exit path of the conveyor belt 18. After a further time delay of 15 to 20 s, the stop 454 which restrains the packages 52 is actuated. wherein the return spring on the electrically operated solenoid air valve 521 causes compressed air to be supplied to the opposite side of the air cylinder 521; thereby the shift conveyor 462 returns to its original position. This sequence of operations is repeated at intervals of 15 to 20 seconds. When the wrapping machine 10, 12 which has stopped stops operating again, the distribution cycle closes and the two stops 454, 456 reopen.

The second situation during which the distributor table 332 operates is that one wrapping machine 10, 12 operates at a slower rate than the other, so that one of the conveyor belts 16, 18 becomes clogged. Giant. 25 illustrates a section of a parcel handling system and illustrates a system for detecting this blockage between the distribution table 332 and the group packer 14. Two sets of photoelectric detectors with a light source and a photocell are located at two different locations along the transport path between the wrapper 14 and the distributor table 332. The first set of photoelectric detectors 536, 538 detects blockages, while the second set of photoelectric detectors 540, 542 serves to stop the wrapping machine 10, 12 so that the packages 52 cannot clog the distributor table 332. As soon as one of the photoelectric detectors 536 or 538 is blocked for a predetermined period of time, the two stops 454, 456 are closed and, after a time delay that allows emptying of the distributor table 332, the shifting conveyor 462, 464 swings on the conveying path whose photoelectric the detector 536, 538 is blocked so that the packages 52 are guided to the conveyor belt 16, 18 which is not clogged. The clogged belt conveyor stop 454, 456 is then released to allow packages to pass, while the second stop 454 or 456 remains closed. The individual sequence of these operations is the same as in the case of stopping one packaging machine 10, 12, and is repeated at intervals of 15 to 20 s. When the blockage is removed and the photoelectric detectors 536, 538 are re-irradiated with light from the source, the distributor table 332 returns to normal operation and the stops 454, 456 retract so that the packages 52 can pass through the distributor table 332. If the blockage is of such magnitude If the packages 52 block any of the photoelectric detectors 540, 542 at the edge of the distributor table 332, the packaging machine 10, 12 that fills this attachment is stopped.