Retractable transfer device for a metering apparatus

ES 2 331 850 T3

DESCRIPTION

Retractable transfer device for measuring device.

Background

The present invention relates, in general, to an apparatus and methods for measuring a product of a direct current into a group of products and / or container model, particularly for measuring apparatus and procedures that do not require windows between the product of direct current, more particularly to a measuring apparatus and procedures which are versatile for measuring a wide variety of products, such as cans, plastic bottles, jugs, cartons, batches or trays, and specifically to a measuring apparatus and procedures where the product is measured by moving a transfer device from under a group of products placed on top of a sweep conveyor.

In a typical packaging operation, the product arrives at a packaging machine in a continuous stream. It is necessary to separate the product into groups so that they can be further processed, such as by placing them in a packaging pattern and / or packaging in a film overwrap or corrugated wrap. US Patent Numbers 4,832,178 and 5,201,823 represent a way to measure products using pins, which are inserted between product on rails. However, it should be appreciated that such a pin measuring apparatus can only be used for products having inter-product windows. Furthermore, such a pin measuring apparatus includes pins, rails and supports between each product lane which are mobile, multiple, high wear components and are very difficult and expensive to switch between different products. Other measurement designs that control the product from the side or the top also require many parts, are complex, and are difficult to adjust.

US Patent Number 5,667,055 discusses another way of longitudinally aligning and / or spacing and grouping rows of transversely arranged articles.

Thus, there continues to be a need for apparatus and methods for measuring products that do not suffer from the deficiencies of prior art measuring apparatus, especially prior pin measuring apparatus. In particular, such apparatus and procedures must be versatile enough to measure across a wide variety of product sizes and shapes, including products that do not have product-delimiting windows between products and can be switched between different product sizes and shapes with minimal effort or cost, relatively low wear and relatively trouble free.

Summary

The present invention proposes a method for measuring products as set forth in claim 1 and an apparatus for measuring products as set forth in claim 4.

By way of example, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 show partial perspective views of a measuring apparatus using preferred procedures according to the present invention, parts and product being removed to show construction details, the device extending in its extended and retracted position, respectively.

All Figures are drawn for ease of explanation only; Extensions of the Figures with respect to the number, position, relationship and dimensions of the parts that make up the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood. Furthermore, exact dimensions and dimensional ratios to conform to specific strength, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood.

When used, in the different figures of the drawings, the same numerals used designate the same similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms "lateral", "end", "bottom", "first", "second", "laterally", "longitudinally", "row", "column" and like terms are used herein, you should understand that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as would be apparent to anyone viewing the drawings and are used only to facilitate the description of the embodiment.

An apparatus for measuring product and in particular an apparatus that collects and separates groups of product in preparation for various types of packaging most preferably is shown in the drawings and is generally designated 10. Generically, the apparatus 10 includes a first and a second product transport mechanisms that are independently driven to move product in a transport direction. In the most preferred form, the transport directions of the first and second product transport mechanisms are collinear with each other, with the product transferring from the first product transport mechanism where they are stacked together to the second product transport mechanism where they are they separate, typically in groups. However, it should be recognized that the first and second product transport mechanisms could have other arrangements including

ES 2 331 850 T3 linearly parallel, perpendicular or at a nesting angle of nested product. In the most preferred form, the first product transport mechanism is shown as a measuring conveyor 12 at variable speeds such as by a servo motor. In the preferred form, the conveyor 12 includes an endless belt 14 that includes an upper stroke that extends between an upstream roller and a downstream roller 16. It should be realized that the conveyor 12 may include one or more additional rollers, one or more of the rollers 16 which are rotated by a servo motor to cause movement of the belt 14.

In most preferred form, the second product transport mechanism is shown as a sweep conveyor 22 that is driven separately from conveyor 12 and typically in a continuous manner such as by a servo motor. In the preferred form, the conveyor 22 includes an endless belt 24 that includes an upper stroke between an upstream roller 26 and a downstream roller. It should be noted that the conveyor 22 may include one or more additional rollers, one or more of the rollers 26 which are rotated by a servo motor to cause movement of the belt 24. Most preferably, the upper strokes of the bands 14 and 24 are in the same plane and possibly the upper run of band 24 which is parallel to, but slightly lower than the upper run of band 14.

Due to the circular cross sections of the rollers 16 and 26 in most preferred form, a space is created between the belts 14 and 24. In the preferred form, a flat, stationary transfer plate 32 extends between the upper races of bands 14 and 24 generally between the midpoint of rollers 16 and 26. Thus, the guide product is pushed by the direct current that is advanced by the conveyor 12 over and past the transfer plate 32 in a manner described hereinafter.

Apparatus 10 includes a product transfer device 42 on which product is supported and preferably has a top surface of a size by which the bottom of the product is supported and most preferably to receive a product that has multiple rows and multiple columns. Transfer device 42 is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. Device 42 extends onto conveyor 22 in the extended position and, preferably, also extends onto conveyor 22 beyond transfer plate 32 in the retracted position. In the most preferred form, device 42 is in the form of a thin piece of flexible material such as a band that requires external support to allow the product to be supported therein. Thus, in the preferred form, the device 42 in the form of a thin piece of material engages and is supported by the band 24 to allow the product to be supported on the device 42. In the preferred form, the device 42 is moved from its extended position to its retracted position having its upstream end secured to the periphery of a roller 46 which is rotated such as by a servo motor 48. Thus, as roller 46 rotates, device 42 is wound around roller 46 and thus has a shorter exposed length. In the most preferred form, device 42 moves from its retracted position to its extended position moving with belt 24 of conveyor 22 as a result of friction between device 42 and belt 24, with servomotor 48 tending to limit the speed of device 42 to match that of conveyor 12. It should be appreciated that device 42 could be moved in other ways including, but not limited to, being rocked such as by air cylinders or the like. Similarly, device 42 could be formed in other ways such as a flat piece of non-flexible material that does not rest on band 24 for external support and that could slide under transfer plate 32 in its collapsed position. However, the flexible material that forms the device 42 is believed to be advantageous for a number of reasons including issues of inertia, cost, and the like.

The apparatus 10 further includes a control device 52 for registering the leading edge of the product group to the transfer device 42 in its extended position. Most preferably, device 52 includes a photo-eye 52a and / or a measurement bar mechanism 52b. Basically, the photo-eye 52a passes a beam of light through the scanning conveyor 22 at the location where the leading edge of the product group in the transfer device 42 is in its extended position. When one or more products break this beam of light, the speed of the metering conveyor 12 is adjusted or stopped, with the servomotor 48 simply repeating its pattern each cycle in the most preferred manner. Thus, the photo-eye 52a ensures that the product is always in the required position when the transfer device 42 is moved from its extended position to the retracted position and compensates for the potential for compression or inconsistency of product placed in the device 42.

The metering bar mechanism 52b generally includes a plurality of metering bars 52ba extending laterally across the sweep conveyor 22 which are carried along an endless path such as by belts, chains, or other device 52b. transmission. Specifically, in a portion of the path, the measurement bars 52ba move in the conveying direction of the conveyor 22 at least initially at the conveying speed of the conveyor 12. Generally, the leading edge of a product on the sweep conveyor 22 abuts against a respective metering bar 52ba which can serve to avoid dumping product from the conveyor 22 as well as physically restrain the product on the sweep conveyor 22.

The apparatus 10 further includes a mechanism 62 that gathers product and delivers the product to the next appropriate packaging function such as a film over wrap or corrugated wrap in a finishing form. In the most preferred form, the mechanism 62 is a sweep bar mechanism that generally includes a plurality of sweep bars 62a that extend laterally through the sweep conveyor 22 and are carried along an endless path such as by bands, chains or other transmission device 62b. Generally, the sweep bar mechanism 62b is positioned downstream of the sweep bar mechanism 52b, with

ES 2 331 850 T3 the sweep bar 62a which is inserted between the product on the sweep conveyor 22 to abut the leading edge of the product on the sweep conveyor 22. In the most preferred form, the sweep conveyor 22 and the sweep bar mechanism 62 are driven together as by a servo motor.

Now that the basic construction of apparatus 10 has been discussed, the modes of operation and advantages of the apparatus can be explained. Generally, the product is fed on a random basis to the metering conveyor 12 where it accumulates. In particular, the metering conveyor 12 preferably runs constantly, but possibly at variable speed and the product is conveyed or pushed thereon. Products can be accumulated on and transported by conveyor 12 as a continuous stream in multiple columns extending laterally through the streams and rows extending longitudinally along the stream or as a lane that includes a single column. and multiple rows in a conveying direction in a first conveying speed. Furthermore, the product can have a variety of shapes such as circular or rectangular cross sections. In particular, the product can accumulate in a nested manner in the direct current on the metering conveyor 12 such as in the case of circular cross sections. Product nesting is very beneficial in apparatus 10 as nesting and the lack of physical registration greatly minimizes product surges or in other words, the effect of high pressure from one product pushing against another at the point of release. of product in transfer device 42.

Products can also be accumulated in a non-nested single column / lane arrangement or multiple columns. As an example, although the first product transport mechanism is shown as a single conveyor 12 in preferred form, the first product transport mechanism could be in the form of multiple, parallel conveyors 12, each carrying a continuous stream of product. . Alternatively, the first product transport mechanism may be in the form of a single conveyor 12, but with individual rail spacer guides that are positioned on the conveyor 12 with such single rail spacer guides that are permanently or removably installed and / or adjustable such as simply sliding to the side for convenient storage for use when desired.

It should be appreciated that in the case of nested or single column product, the control device 52 may be in the form of a photo-eye 52a, and the measuring rod mechanism 52b, if used, functions to avoid pulling product onto sweep conveyor 22 and / or controls product acceleration on sweep conveyor 22 of device 42 to hold product together and precisely position product on sweep conveyor 22 as it moves toward sweep bars 62a. In the case of non-nested, multi-column packages, the monitoring device may be in the form of a measuring bar mechanism 52b that physically records the conductive edges of each of the multiple columns to be the same, with the photo --Eye 52a which is possibly removed.

For clarity of explanation, it will be assumed that the device 42 is in its retracted position and the product has been advanced on the measuring conveyor 12 to the free edge of the device 42 or transfer plate 32. Device 42 is moved from its retracted position to its extended position such as by servomotor 48 so that device 42 moves and is carried, by engagement with belt 24 of conveyor 22, in the conveying direction of conveyor 22. Simultaneously, during or after device 42 is moved to its extended position, metering conveyor 12 is actuated to move belt 14 to push and thereby transfer product from belt 14 to transfer plate 32 and device 42 at the same time. its extended position, with the metering conveyor 12 being actuated until the photo-eye 52a detects product in the case of nested or single column product and / or until the product engages with a measurement bar 52ba. In the latter case, the metering conveyor 12 is driven so that the belt 14 travels a fixed time or distance that corresponds to the desired product pattern depth. Generally, after product has been transferred to device 42, device 42 moves from its extended position to its retracted position, with product being removed from device 42 sliding from device 42 onto sweep conveyor 22 to measure. than product upstream on conveyor 12, transfer plate 32 and device 42 encounter the continuous stream of product in device 42 and thus prevent the product from moving in device 42 in an upstream direction with device 42 as device 42 is moved from the extended position to its stowed position. In fact, in the preferred form, when the metering conveyor 12 constantly advances the product, the device 42 begins to move from its extended position to its retracted position before the product to be removed reaches the released position on the conveyor 22. swept. It should be noted that the distance moved should be generally equal to the depth of the desired product pattern and specifically a distance such that the last product (s) in the desired product group is positioned sufficiently on the belt. 24 so that it is repositioned relative to transfer device 42 by conveyor 22. It should be appreciated that the leading edge of the transfer device 42 must ensure that it is positioned between product groups such as electronically by controlling the transfer by the metering conveyor 12 and / or by controlling the servo motor 48 by the amount the device is moved. 42 transfer. Alternatively, adjustment of the physical register is possible by moving the control device 52 and / or the transfer device 42.

It should be appreciated that the product is generally in the same relationship in the group as in direct current. Specifically, there is generally no product separation in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction or, in other words, between the columns and the rows. Such separation occurs in upstream pin gauges which require back alignment or racking to enter a compact group. Apparatus 10 releases product onto conveyor 22 in a compact group, eliminating the need for rerouting

Additional ES 2 331 850 T3. Furthermore, an added benefit is that the product in groups appears to be more stable than when the product remains individually on the conveyor 22.

After the product transfer device 42 has reached its retracted position, this operation is repeated after a gap has been created in the band 24 between the group of product previously traveling with the band 24 and the next product. still in device 42 and before device 42 is moved back to its extended position. In the most preferred form, the sweep conveyor 22 moves in the same conveying direction as, but at a speed greater than, the metering conveyor 12, such that the product pattern is accelerated as it moves from device 42 onto the sweep conveyor 22 to create the physical separation between the product standards and the contiguous stream of products on the metering conveyor 12. This is beneficial as the speed of the metering conveyor 12 can approach constant if the device 42 can be moved from its extended position to its retracted position and moved back to its extended position as the product (s) ) conductor (s) in the direct stream of product passes from the transfer plate 32 after the previous product has passed over the web 24.

Once the product groups have been placed on the sweep conveyor 22 with physical gaps between them, the product in the groups can be gathered and placed in a desired package pattern, if not already done, such as by means of the use of bars 52b to meters that enter ahead of product groups on sweep conveyor 22 to deliver to the next appropriate packaging function including sweep bar mechanism 62 and such as, but not limited to, shrink packaging (film only, film and cushion, and / or film and tray), loading trays, cartoning, bagging in sleeves or boxes.

It should be appreciated that apparatus 10 is advantageous for a number of reasons. First, it is not necessary for the product to have windows between it in a direct current as was necessary with the pin-type measurement. In particular, the apparatus 10 can be used with product having windows such as, but not limited to, cylindrical product, such as, but not limited to, cans, plastic bottles and cans, product having no windows such as, but not limited to limited to rectangular parallelepipeds, such as in cartons and boxes, as well as product in the form of bundles or trays. Thus, the apparatus 10 is capable of operating with many types of product.

In this regard, it may be desired to fabricate the device 42 to have a leading edge that is serrated to have a shape that represents the actual shape of the bottom conductive edges of the nested product pattern to be properly deposited on the conveyor 22, with the conductive bottom edge of the product that is not linearly straight such as circular, as is the case with many cans, bottles, cans, or the like. The advantage of such a jagged shape is that the leading edge follows the next edge of the last row of the product group and the leading edge of the DC since the next edge has a forward extension towards the rear extension of the leading edge due to the arrangement nested which could result in product being dangerously released from or carried by device 42 if its leading edge were not serrated. Although it would be necessary to have jagged devices 42 for each of the potential nested patterns of desired products to be measured, the device 42 can be a replacement part that is especially inexpensive when formed from similar flexible, strip or thin material. In addition, the leading edge of device 42 could be other shaped to aid product removal as transfer device 42 is moved from its extended position.

Similarly, switching product groups that have different group depths, such as switching between groups that have different product sizes or groups that have a different number of rows, is only necessary to adjust the distance that device 42 moves between its extended position. and retracted such as by changing the controls to servo motor 46 in the preferred manner, to attach device 42 at a different length to roller 46, or to use a different device 42 which may be a relatively inexpensive replacement part. Thus, the apparatus 10 can be rapidly switched between product type and size and package pattern.

Apparatus 10 facilitates electronic registration such as through the use of photo-eye 52a. Electronic registration removes physical registration forces previously required for pin measurement and other earlier designs, which could be large enough to cause product damage. When physical registration using apparatus 10 is required, the forces in the product can be managed by controlling the accumulation of product on conveyors 12.

It should be appreciated that the apparatus is made up of relatively few moving parts and the only part that would be subject to wear and tear is the device 42, which is preferably a relatively inexpensive replacement part. In particular, the conveyors 12 and 22 and the gauge bar mechanism 52b, if used, are low in wear and maintenance especially compared to the pin gauge conveyor mechanisms. In addition, the product opens from the top and opens generally from the sides during the measurement function of apparatus 10 to allow easy access to the product on conveyor 12 and / or 22. Similarly, apparatus 10 requires only the roller 46 in preferred shape, behind conveyors 12 and 22 (and servomotor 48 alongside) for easy access to the bottom for maintenance and cleaning.

In most preferred form, conveyor 22 moves at a higher speed than conveyor 12 so that the product group accelerates from direct current once they are supported directly on conveyor 22. This is advantageous because conveyor 12 can operate continuously without stopping even during product removal from the transfer device 42 moving in a direction opposite to the direction of

ES 2 331 850 T3 transport of the conveyor 12. However, it is possible to have a bump of the conveyor 12 in speed to transfer product in the device 42 and then decelerate to cause the separation between the measured product group and the continuous stream of product. Similarly, separation could be caused by other techniques including, but limited to, combinations of the above.

It should be appreciated that the gauge bar mechanism 52b performs an additional function. Especially, most preferably, the conveyor 22 moves at a speed greater than the product speed before being transferred to the conveyor 22. As a result, the product on the conveyor 22 will separate from the immobile product placed on the transfer device 42 in the manner shown to cause a physical separation between them, if the product were free to accelerate with the conveyor 22. Basically, conductive product in the conveyor 22 initially contacts one of the measuring bars 52ba generally when the transfer device 42 begins to move from its extended position. Since the gauge bars 52ba travel generally at the speed of the product in the transfer device 42, the gauge bars 52ba control the acceleration of the product to be less than the conveyor 22 so that separation within the product group does not occur. . Once the entire group of product has been transferred from transfer device 42 onto conveyor 22, the gauge bars 52ba may be accelerated to match the speed of conveyor 22 or they may be moved away from the driving product on conveyor 22 such that the product on conveyor 22 is allowed to accelerate to match the speed of conveyor 22.

As previously discussed, apparatus 10 allows nesting in direct current which is highly desirable. Thus, when separated into groups, the product will be nested or will not be in the same physical relationships between them as when they were in direct current due to variations in slip between individual product in the group and the conveyor 22. However, many operations of packaging require the product group to be in an arranged package pattern. Measurement bars 52ba travel at a slower speed than conveyor 22 and are in front of the product group to limit acceleration of the product. As a result, product in groups will slide on conveyor 22 (possibly with the help of side rails) relative to each other so that they will be placed in an arranged package pattern suitable for additional packaging functions when coupled by bars 62a. sweep. It should be noted when the product is in a fixed pattern and electronic registration is possible using only the photo-eye 52a, where the product does not have to be in a particular pattern, or similar, the 52b metering bar mechanism could simply be removed, such as by sliding to a non-interfering position, on the conveyor 22.

Now that an embodiment of the present invention has been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, while apparatus 10 most preferably includes the combination of several unique aspects that are believed to obtain synergistic results, the apparatus could be constructed to include such aspects singularly or in other combinations.

Furthermore, it can be appreciated that the conveyor 22 could be arranged to receive a tray or cushion before the transfer device 42 is spread over them or product transferred to the conveyor 22. The above transfer device 42 from rigid material can be desirable in such cases. However, the above transfer device 42 of a thin piece of flexible material is believed to be advantageous for its low cost, low inertia, and ease of adjustment.

The function of plate 32 is to allow product to be transferred from conveyor 12 to conveyor 22. However, it can be appreciated that this function can be performed in other ways as is well known in the packaging art, including, but not limited to, limited to, through the use of roller mechanisms, reforming conveyors 12 and / or 22, or using other forms of product transport mechanisms. As an example, another possibility is to use a mobile conveyor transfer consisting of the tail arrow of the sweep conveyor 22 and the head arrow of the mediating conveyor 12 which have a fixed relationship to each other and which can be positioned laterally on their own. (such as via a servo motor) below the appropriate product separation point and then in combination with 52ba meter bar advancement the desired arrangement of product to conveyor 22.