GB2118122A

GB2118122A - Magnetic conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2118122A
Application number: GB08206586A
Authority: GB
Inventors: E C Hopson
Original assignee: Metal Box PLC
Current assignee: Crown Packaging UK Ltd
Priority date: 1983-03-05
Filing date: 1983-03-05
Publication date: 1983-10-26
Also published as: GB2118122B

Abstract

For the purpose of minimizing any distortion of very thin and flexible, cylindrical shells of magnetic material in the course of their conveyance by a magnetic conveyor of the kind in which such articles are conveyed by frictional contact between them and polymeric cords, instead of the cords being incorporated in fixed, non- magnetic, guides remote from, i.e. angularly displaced with respect to, the magnets, they are incorporated in, and protrude from, the magnets themselves. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveying articles of magnetic material This invention relates to a conveyor for conveying a succession of like articles of magnetic material, and to apparatus for use in such a conveyor.

The conveyor is intended especially, through not exclusively, for conveying cylindrical shells of ferrous metal, e.g. empty can bodies, which are relatively flexible and consequently prone to distortion.

Magnetic conveyors for this purpose are known in which a moving belt conveys such shells by frictional contact with the latter, the shells being urged into contact with the belt by a plurality of fixed magnets juxtaposed to the belt therealong.

Generally a fixed metal belt guide is interposed between the magnets and the belt; guides for the shells, in the form of fixed bars or moving cords, arranged remote from said belt, are generally provided along said path.

Magnetic conveyors have also previously been proposed in which such shells are conveyed by contact with polymeric cords arranged to protrude from, and slide with respect to, fixed guides which are generally of extruded brass or polyethylene, the guides being arranged remote from a plurality of fixed magnets arranged along the path along which the shells are to be conveyed.

However, such conveyors have always tended to distort very thin, and consequently very flexible, shells as aforesaid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic conveyor which is capable of conveying very thin cylindrical shells of ferrous metal in a manner which subjects them to little or no distortion.

According to the invention, in a first aspect thereof, a conveyor for conveying a succession of like articles of magnetic material has at least one fixed guide means comprising a magnet or series of magnets, and at least one cord, said at least one guide means and said at least one cord extending in the direction of the path along which the articles are to be conveyed and said at least one cord being, in use of the conveyor, interposed between said magnet or series of magnets and said articles so as to cause the latter to be attracted to the magnet or series of magnets via said at least one cord, the latter protruding transversely to said direction from said guide means and being slidable in said direction relative to said guide means.

According to the invention, in a second aspect thereof, apparatus for a conveyor for conveying a succession of like articles of magnetic material comprises guide means for guiding said articles in the direction of the path along which the articles are to be conveyed, said guide means including a magnet or a series of magnets, and at least one cord, said guide means and at least one cord being so configured and of such relative dimensions as to cause the latter to protrude from said guide means transversely to said direction, said at least one cord being slidable in said direction relative to said guide means, and the arrangement being such that, when said apparatus is installed in a said conveyor and the latter is in use, said at least one cord is interposed between said magnet or series of magnets and said articles so as to cause the latter to be attracted to the magnet or series of magnets via said at least one cord.

Various forms of conveyor and apparatus embodying the invention as hereinbefore defined will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is an end view of, and showing a said shell in position in, a first said form of conveyor, and illustrating the principle of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary end view of, showing a said shell in position in, the conveyor of FIGURE 1, and showing details of the said apparatus; and FIGURES 3 to 6 are fragmentary end views of, showing a said shell in position in, four alternative forms of conveyor, incorporating four alternative forms of said apparatus.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the conveyor shown therein schematically is arranged for conveying a succession of like articles of magnetic material in the form of very thin cylindrical steel shells 1. It has two identical fixed guide means 2, each of which comprises a series of magnets 3. Each guide means 2 is associated with a polyethylene cord 4, the guide means 2 and cords 4 extending in the direction of the path along which the shells 1 are to be conveyed (i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper).

In use of the conveyor, the cords 4 are, it will be noted, interposed between the two series of magnets 3 and the shells 1, 50 that the latter are attracted to the magnets 3 via the cords 4.

The cords 4 protrude from their respective guide means 2 transversely to the direction of the path along which the shells 1 are to be conveyed, viz. radially of the latter, and are slidable relative to the respective guide means in the said direction.

As in the case of the magnetic conveyors which comprise polymeric cords and which have previously been proposed (as hereinbefore outlined), the shells are conveyed in the aforesaid direction by frictional contact with the cords into which the shells are urged by magnetic attraction between the magnets 3 and the shells 1, the cords being driven in the said direction in any manner well-known to those skilled in the art, i.e. like any conventional belt conveyor.

However, thanks to the incorporation of the cords 4 in the magnets 3, in accordance with the present invention (as opposed to the incorporation of the cords in fixed, non-magnetic, guides remote from, i.e. angularly displaced with respect to, the magnets, in accordance with the arrangement previously proposed and hereinbefore outlined), diitortion of very thin and flexible shells 1 by the magnetic conveyor (a drawback of such prior art magnetic conveyors) is significantly reduced, and indeed substantially or even entirely eliminated.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 (in which the corresponding integers are referenced as in FIGURE 1), the magnet or series of magnets 3 is housed in a guide 5 of extruded brass or polyethylene. The cord 4 is accommodated in, and protrudes from, a recess 6 in the guide 5.

In the possible alternative arrangements of the conveyor and appartus embodying the invention, which are shown in FIGURES 3 to 6, the integers corresponding to those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 are identified by the same reference numbers.

Claims

1. A conveyor for conveying a succession of like articles of magnetic material, the conveyor having at least one fixed guide means comprising a-.

magnet or series of magnets, and at least one cord, said at least one guide means and said at least one cord extending in the direction of the path along which the articles are to be conveyed and said at least one cord being, in use of the conveyor, interposed between said magnet or series of magnets and said articles so as to cause the latter to be attracted to the magnet or series of magnets via said at least one cord, the latter protruding transversely to said direction from said guide means and being slidable in said direction relative to said guide means.

2. A conveyor according to Claim 1, having a first and a second said fixed guide means subtending therebetween, an acute angle.

3. A conveyor according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said at least one guide means is arranged for suspension of a said succession of articles therefrom by magnetic attraction between said magnet or series of magnets and said articles.

4. A conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, arranged for the conveyance of cylindrical articles, and wherein said at least one cord protrudes from said at least one guide means in a directon radially of said cylindrical articles.

5. A method of conveying a succession of like cylindrical articles of magnetic material, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to one or more of Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

5. A conveyor for conveying a succession of like articles of magnetic material, the conveyor being constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1 and any one of Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

6. Apparatus for a conveyor for conveying a succession of like articles of magnetic material, said apparatus comprising guide means for guiding said articles in the direction of the path along which the articles are to be conveyed, said guide means including a magnet or a series of magnets, and at least one cord, said guide means and at least one cord being so configured and of such relative dimensions as to cause the latter to protrude from said guide means transversely to said direction, said at least one cord being slidable in said direction relative to said guide means, and the arrangement being such that, when said apparatus is installed in a said conveyor and the latter in use, said at least one cord is interposed between said magnet or series of magnets and said articles so as to cause the latter to be attracted to the magnet or series of magnets via said at least one cord.

7. Apparatus for a conveyor for conveying a succession of like articles of magnetic material, the apparatus being constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1 and any one of Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 2 June 1983.

Superseded claims 1-7.

New or amended claims: CLAIMS

1. A conveyor for conveying a succession of like, coaxial cylindrical articles of magnetic material in the direction of their axes, the conveyor having a first and a second fixed guide means subtending an acute angle with the centres of said articles each said guide means comprising a magnet or series of magnets, and at least one cord, each said guide means and cord extending in the direction of the path along which the articles are to be conveyed and each said cord being, in use of the conveyor, interposed between its associated magnet or series of magnets and said articles so as to cause the latter to ba attracted to each said magnet or series of magnets via its associated cord, the latter protruding from said guide means in a direction radially of said cylindrical articles and being slidable along said path relative to said guide means.

2. A conveyor according to Claim 1, wherein said guide means are arranged for suspension of a said succession of articles therefrom by magnetic attraction between said magnets or series or magnets and said articles.

3. A conveyor for conveying a succession of like articles of magnetic material, the conveyor being constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1 and any one of Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

4. A method of conveying a succession of like coaxial cylindrical articles-of magnetic material in the direction of their axes, wherein said articles are suspended from and/or.supported by at least one fixed guide means comprising a magnet or series of magnets, and at least one cord, said at least one guide means and said at least one cord extending in the direction of the path along which the articles are to be conveyed. and said at least one cord being interposed between said magnet or series of magnets and said articles so as to cause the latter to be attracted to the magnet or series of magnets via said.at least one cord, the latter protruding transversely to said direction from said guide means and sliding in said direction relative to said guide means, the arrangement being such that said articles are, whilst being conveyed by said at least one cord in contact with the sides of said articles, supported by and/or suspended from said guide means along their said sides.