GB2634007A - Adjustable dispersion system - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispersion system for a computerised combination weighing system 100 with an adjustable mounting assembly. The dispersion system comprises dispersion table 10 and radial feeders 11 arranged to receive product at a product supply position and to distribute the product to a plurality of output positions having pool hoppers 20 feeding weighing hoppers 30 and a collective discharge chute 40. Fixed support points for supporting units over one or more feeders, each fixed support point being substantially fixed relative to the feeders. Vertically movable supports (110a-d in figure 2B) are provided for carrying units to be supported over the feeders. Each vertically movable support is connected to one or more of the plurality of fixed support points (120a-d in figure 2B) via a respective adjustable connection. Each adjustable connection comprises a first connection element (121 in figure 2B) on the fixed support point and a second connection element on the vertically movable support. The first connection element may be connected to the second connection element in any one of a plurality of predetermined connection positions.

Description

ADJUSTABLE DISPERSION SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dispersion systems with an adjustable mounting assembly. In particular, the invention relates to dispersion systems, such as radial feeder systems as commonly used in combination weighers, with one or more units adjustably mounted over the feeder system.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Dispersion feeders are typically used in the food packaging industry to receive food product in bulk and distribute this to a plurality of output positions. This may be a radial feeder as used in a computer combination weigher, which supplies partial batches of food product to weighing units arranged radially around a central supply position. In such computer combination weighers, the partial batches are weighed, and batches are formed by selecting a combination of partial batches that meet predefined target weight criteria.

It is common to mount one or more units over dispersion feeders in a food packaging system. These may include in particular, an array of restrictor plates, which restricts the height of product moving along the feeder to prevent product being received in too great a quantity at the output position. In a radial feeder system, this array of restrictor plates may be commonly known as a "ring gate", which reflects the annular arrangement of the plates or "gates" over the radial feeder system. Other units that may be mounted over a dispersion feeder include an inlet chute, through which product is received at the product supply position, cameras for monitoring the dispersion process, as well as numerous other units.

A problem with known systems is that when changing the type of food product being packaged or the throughput of the system, e.g. to form larger batches or partial batches, these units over the dispersion feeder may need to be adjusted.

For example, a ring gate may need to be raised or lowered to reflect the different product flow characteristics.

In known systems, this adjustment process is complex and time consuming.

Often requiring partial disassembly and reassembly of a support structure for the units supported over the feeders. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a system in which these adjustments may be made more quickly and efficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispersion system with an adjustable mounting assembly, the system comprising: one or more feeders arranged to receive product at a product supply position and to distribute the product to a plurality of output positions; a plurality of fixed support points for supporting one or more units over the one or more feeders, each fixed support point being substantially fixed relative to the one or more feeders; one or more vertically movable supports, each for carrying one of the one or more units to be supported over the one or more feeders, and each vertically movable support being connected to one or more of the plurality of fixed support points via a respective adjustable connection; wherein each adjustable connection comprises a first connection element on the fixed support point and a second connection element on the vertically movable support, and wherein the first connection element may be connected to the second connection element in any one of a plurality of predetermined connection positions, each connection position corresponding to a different vertical position of the vertically movable support, such that the vertical position of the one or more units over the one or more feeders may be adjusted by changing the predetermined connection position of the corresponding adjustable connections.

By providing a dispersion system with one or more vertically movable supports which may be connected to fixed support points at a plurality of predetermined connection positions, the process of adjusting the height of the one or more units over the feeder system is simplified.

As mentioned above, the dispersion system includes a plurality of fixed support points. These are supports that remain substantially fixed relative to the feeders during operation and during adjustment of the height of the vertically movable support. It will be appreciated that the fixed support points may be removable from the dispersion system, e.g. during disassembly of the system. For example, they may be points on substantially vertical poles or "stays" bolted to the floor, or otherwise connected to a frame of the dispersion system. It will also be noted that the feeders may be, for example, vibratory feeders which, to some extent, move or vibrate during operation and/or may comprise moving parts, such as a helical screw or conveyor belt, and "substantially fixed" relative to these feeders refers to the mounted position of the feeder units as a whole.

Each fixed support point may be provided on a respective support element. For example, it is common for computer combination weighers to have a plurality of support rods or "stays" at different lateral positions around the combination weigher. Alternatively, each fixed support point could be a different point on the same support element. For example, an annular beam may surround the dispersion feeder, and each support point may be a different point on this beam.

A particular advantage of the invention lies in the plurality of predetermined connection positions, or "indexed" connection positions. This refers to a discrete number of connection arrangements of the vertically movable support. This may be contrasted with known systems, in which vertically movable supports are typically connected to the fixed support points using brackets that are clamped on to a support element. These brackets are typically disassembled with a screw driver and then fastened to the support element at a new position, which may be any position along the support element. The plurality of predetermined connection positions in the present arrangement allows for faster adjustment of the vertical support and also ensures proper alignment of the vertically movable support across the plurality of fixed support points.

In some embodiments, the system comprises one vertically movable support, said vertically movable support being connected to each of the plurality of fixed support points via a respective adjustable connection. In other words, the system will be provided with an adjustable connection at each of the support points, which each connect to the vertically movable support. Alternatively, the system may comprise a plurality of vertically movable supports, each vertically movable support being connected to at least two of the plurality of fixed support points via respective adjustable connections, wherein preferably each fixed support point is connected to two different vertically movable supports via respective adjustable connections. This arrangement allows two supports to be mounted over a system and quickly and independently adjusted, while ensuring stability of the vertically movable support via the connection to two of the fixed support points. Each fixed support point may comprise two first connection elements, one forming part of an adjustable connection with a first vertically movable support and another one forming part of an adjustable connection with a second vertically movable support, thereby allowing two different vertically movable supports to be independently adjustable on the same fixed support points.

The invention is particularly useful in the context of radial feeder systems, and so preferably the one or more feeders comprises a radial feeder system for receiving product at a substantially central product supply position and distributing the product to a plurality of radially located output positions. A radial feeder system will be understood to typically comprise a central dispersion feeder unit and a plurality of radial feeder units arranged around the dispersion feeder unit, wherein the dispersion feeder unit receives the product at the product supply position and distributes the product to the plurality of radial feeder units, which then convey their received product radially away from the product supply position. Radial feeder systems can often change product flow rates, e.g. to form larger batches of product, and so units over the radial feeder system may need adjusting. The invention permits fast and accurate vertical adjustment of such units and so minimises down time when changes are made to the radial feeder system.

Where the one or more feeders comprises a radial feeder system, preferably the one or more vertically movable supports comprises an annular support member supported substantially co-axially over the radial feeder system. In this case, the axis through the centre of the annular support member may be aligned with the central vertical axis of the radial feeder system, which will typically correspond substantially to the product delivery position or to the centre of the dispersion feeder unit of the radial feeder system. This co-axial annular arrangement allows any units mounted over the radial feeder system to be vertically adjusted at the same time by changing the predetermined connection position of the adjustable connections connecting the annular support member to the fixed support positions. It may be desirable to have different units over the radial feeder system adjustable independently of one another. For example, it is common for radial feeder systems to be split into discrete sections that are configured to operate with different product throughput rates, particularly as part of a computer combination weigher that may be forming different batch sizes in corresponding sections. In such cases, it may be preferred for the one or more vertically movable supports to comprise a plurality of vertically movable supports, each comprising a part-annular support member supported substantially co-axially over a respective different portion of the radial feeder system. For example, a part-annular support member may be approximately a half or a quarter annulus and may be mounted substantially co-axially over a respective half or quarter section of the radial feeder system. In this case, the axis of a part-annular support member is considered to be the axis about which the radius of curvature of the part annulus of the support member is defined, and again this may be aligned with the central vertical axis of the radial feeder system, which will typically correspond substantially to the product delivery position or to the centre of the dispersion feeder unit of the radial feeder system. By mounting a plurality of such part-annular support members over respective different sections of the radial feeder system, it may be possible to define an annular support assembly in which different sections are vertically adjustable in an independent manner. As mentioned to above, this is particularly useful if the radial feeder system is being configured to operate differently in different sections, as it allows the units over those different sections to be independently adjusted in terms of the vertical position over the radial feeder system.

Preferably, the system comprises one or more units in the form of one or more arrays of restrictor plates, each array of restrictor plates being carried by one of the one or more vertically movable supports such that each restrictor plate is supported over a corresponding feeder and restricts the height of product moving along the feeder. As has been mentioned above, an array of restrictor plates, sometimes known as a "ring gate", are used particularly with radial feeder systems. Each restrictor plate within the array will typically project down from the vertical support member partially into the path of a respective feeder unit, defining a gap between the lower edge of the restrictor plate and the base of the feeder unit, which gap defines a maximum size of product that can pass along the feeder. For example, if product enters the radial feeder and forms a large mound of product, the restrictor plate will level out this mound of product as it passes along the feeder, to ensure that the mound of product is not deposited at the output position all at once. This prevents overweight partial batches being formed in a computer combination weigher. Each restrictor plate may be formed of a rigid material such as a metal or hard plastic, or may be flexible, and may comprise a straight lower edge, or could comprise a shaped lower edge, such as by having a number of protrusions. The form of the restrictor plates may depend on the type of product being handled.

As mentioned above, the restrictor plates are provided in one or more arrays, with each array being carried by one of the vertically movable supports. This ensures that a plurality of restrictor plates are adjustable in terms of their vertical position over the feeder system by adjustment of the vertically movable support. In embodiments in which there is only one vertically movable support, preferably the array of restrictor plates comprises a restrictor plate for each of the feeder units located beneath the corresponding vertically movable support (e.g. for each of the radial feeder units), so that adjustment of the vertical support allows you to adjust the maximum height of product for each of said feeders. Where the system comprises a plurality of vertically movable supports, preferably an array of restrictor plates is provided for each vertically movable support, and each array comprises a restrictor plate for each of the feeder units located beneath the corresponding vertically movable support), so that adjustment of each vertical support allows you to adjust the maximum height of product for the feeders in the corresponding section of the dispersion feeder system. In other words, preferably, the one or more arrays of restrictor plates are supported over the radial feeder system such that each radial feeder unit of the radial feeder system has a respective restrictor plate supported thereover, which restricts the height of product moving along the radial feeder unit.

The restrictor plates within an array may be fixedly mounted to the corresponding vertically movable support, e.g. so that the only way to vertically adjust their position is by moving the vertically movable support. However, more typically, each restrictor plate will be connected to the corresponding vertically movable support via an adjustable restrictor plate connection, wherein said adjustable restrictor plate connection allows the vertical position of the restrictor plate relative to the vertically movable support to be adjusted, and preferably wherein said adjustable restrictor plate connection allows the vertical position of each restrictor plate to be adjusted relative to each other restrictor plate in said array of restrictor plates. Adjustable restrictor plates are preferred because it is typically desirable to have differences in the heights of restrictor plates within an array. This is to help ensure variance in the size of partial batches delivered to weighing units of a computer combination weigher, which helps provide more options for forming accurate batch weights. This arrangement allows for quick adjustment of the height of all restrictor plates in an array by adjusting the corresponding vertically movable support, which is useful when there is a change of product or a change in flow rate through the system, but also allows for individual adjustment of restrictor plates, e.g. to make small adjustments to individual feeders so that a desired variance between the feeder units can be achieved. Any adjustable restrictor plate connection may be used. For example, each plate may be insertable into one of a number of slots of different heights, or hung from different brackets. However, preferably, each adjustable restrictor plate connection allows the vertical position of the restrictor plate to be adjusted relative to the vertically movable support to any position between a highest position and a lowest position of the restrictor plate relative to the vertically movable support. For example, each restrictor plate may have a vertical slot, through which a fixing bolt may pass at any position along the slot. Such an arrangement may allow for simple adjustment if a wing nut is used to clamp the restrictor plate to the vertically movable support on a bolt passing through the slot. The use of such an infinitely adjustable connection allows for very precise adjustments to be made to individual restrictor plates, while still allowing for large and fast adjustments to be made to all of the restrictor plates in an array together via adjustment of the vertically movable support.

Alternatively or additionally to an array of restrictor plates, the system may further comprise a unit in the form of an inlet chute, the inlet chute being carried by one of the one or more vertically movable supports such that it is supported over the one or more feeders at the product supply position, whereby product is supplied to the product supply position via the inlet chute. Where the feeder system is a radial feeder system, the inlet chute will generally be aligned over the dispersion feeder unit. As with a restrictor plate, it may be desirable to adjust the vertical position of an inlet chute when there are changes in product type or through put. Generally, larger product and higher throughputs will require a larger distance between the inlet chute and the product supply position (e.g. a dispersion feeder). It will be particularly preferred to carry the inlet chute on a single vertically movable support, typically an annular vertically movable support.

Preferably, each adjustable connection (i.e. connecting the vertically movable support to each fixed support point) is a tool-free adjustable connection. This allows the connection to be adjusted by hand, which makes the process faster and more hygienic by avoiding the need for tools. As will be discussed below a particularly preferred connection comprises an index plunger, which can be operated by hand.

Generally speaking, the first connecting element will comprise a first coupling element and the second connection element will comprise a second coupling element, the first and second coupling elements being configured to cooperate in a plurality of different discrete arrangements corresponding to the predetermined connection positions.

A particularly preferred connection arrangement is one by which, for each adjustable connection, one of the first or second connecting elements comprises a plurality of male or female connectors defining the plurality of predetermined connection positions, and the other of the first or second connecting elements comprises at least one (corresponding) female or male connector respectively. Typically, it will be preferred to provide a plurality of connectors on one of the first or second connecting elements and only one corresponding connector on the other of the first or second connecting elements, to avoid redundant connectors and to ensure it is clear which connectors should be mated when adjusting the vertical position of the vertically movable support. Particularly preferably, the or each female connector comprises an opening, and the or each male connector comprises a pin insertable into the opening, wherein preferably the pin is the pin of an index plunger provided on the first or second connecting element.

Preferably a part of one of the first and second connection elements surrounds the other of the first and second connection elements. For example, one of the connection elements may comprise a slot and the other connection element may extend through the slot. This may be separate from the connection formed by the connectors or coupling elements, or may be part of this connection. Such an arrangement may contribute to the stability of the connection between the two connection elements.

The advantages of the invention in the context of a combination weigher system have been described above, and so according to a second aspect of the invention, a combination weigher system comprises the dispersion system described hereinabove. Preferably, the plurality of fixed support points are supports of the combination weigher, i.e. they form part of the frame or surrounding support structure of the combination weigher. As described above, a combination weigher comprising the dispersion system will receive product at the product supply position, distribute the product to a plurality of batch weighing units, a plurality of which batch weighing units will be used to form a batch of product meeting predefined criteria as to weight.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of retrofitting a dispersion system with an adjustable mounting assembly, said dispersion system comprising one or more feeders arranged to receive product at a product supply position and to distribute the product to a plurality of output positions, and a plurality of fixed support points for supporting one or more units over the one or more feeders, each fixed support point being substantially fixed relative to the one or more feeders, the method comprising: attaching a respective first connection element to each of the plurality of fixed support points; providing one or more vertically movable supports, each for carrying one of the one or more units to be supported over the one or more feeders; connecting each vertically movable support to one or more of the plurality of fixed support points via a respective adjustable connection; wherein each adjustable connection comprises the first connection element on the fixed support point and a second connection element on the vertically movable support, wherein the first connection element may be connected to the second connection element in any one of a plurality of predetermined connection positions, each connection position corresponding to a different vertical position of the vertically movable support, such that the vertical position of the one or more units over the one or more feeders may be adjusted by changing the predetermined connection position of the corresponding adjustable connections.

An advantage of the invention is that it can be easily retrofitted to existing dispersion systems. This may be done by attaching a respective first connection element to each of the plurality of fixed support points, which, as described above, may be points on a frame or other support structure associated with the dispersion unit. Particularly preferably, the fixed support points may be provided by vertical poles or "stays" that are typically bolted to the floor or otherwise connected to a frame of many conventional dispersion systems. Once the fixed support point is provided with a first connection element as described herein, the vertically movable support may be mounted onto the dispersion system in a way that permits the adjustment described above.

It will be appreciated that, the retrofit installation may be configured with any of the preferably features described above with respect to the first and second aspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a computer combination weigher system including a dispersion system; Figures 2A to 2C are front, perspective and top views of a vertically movable support according to an embodiment; Figure 3 is a detailed view of an adjustable connector of the first embodiment; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a vertically movable support assembly according to another embodiment; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the vertically movable support assembly shown in Figure 4 with restrictor plates omitted; and Figure 6 is a schematic view of a computer combination weigher system including an adjustable mounting assembly according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a computer combination weighing device (CCW) 100. The combination weighing device 100 includes a dispersion table 10 and a plurality of radial feeders 11, which together form a dispersion system for receiving product at a product supply position and distributing the product to a plurality of output positions. The output positions in the case of this CCW are a plurality of pool hoppers 20, which feed a respective plurality of weighing hoppers 30, and a collective discharge chute 40.

Food product is received onto the dispersion table 10 at a supply position, which is the area in which the product falls from an overhead supply conveyor. The dispersion table 10 is configured to vibrate or rotate about a vertical central axis C to move the food product to the edge of the dispersion table 10 and to distribute food product to the plurality of radial feeders 11.

Each radial feeder 11 comprises a trough and a vibratory motor coupled to the trough. In use, the vibratory motor is made to vibrate in order to transport product along the radial feeder 11 and into a pool hopper 20. Each vibratory motor of the vibratory feeder is coupled to a controller, which is able to control when the feeder transports food product to the pool hopper and how much food product it transports.

Each pool hopper 20 is configured to temporarily hold the food product supplied by the radial feeder 11. Each pool hopper has a gate 21 at its lower end and opening said gate allows the product to be dispensed into the corresponding weighing hopper 30 located therebeneath. Each pool hopper is connected to the controller, which controls when the pool hopper dispenses food product P into the weighing hopper 30.

Each weighing hopper is configured to temporarily hold food product P received via the pool hopper from the feeder 11. Each weighing hopper 30 has a gate 31 at its lower end for dispensing product P. Any product dispensed from a weighing hopper 30 is received in a discharge chute, which brings all product to a common discharge point at the centre axis of the system C. Each weighing hopper is coupled to a weighing unit, which weighs the hopper and so is able to determine the weight of the contents of the hopper. The weighing unit is coupled to the controller so that the controller can obtain the weight value of the product in the weighing hopper 30. The gate 31 of each weighing hopper 30 is also connected to the controller so that the opening and closing of the gate can be controlled by the hopper.

In practice, the controller will identify a number of weighing hoppers that contain product whose total weight best corresponds to predetermined criteria for a batch of food product. The controller will then open the gates of the corresponding weighing hoppers to bring the partial batches of food product together. The controller will then cause the pool hoppers 20 corresponding to the weighing hoppers that were just emptied to dispense their product into the corresponding weighing hoppers, which will then weigh the new partial batch of product. The controller will also cause the radial feeders 11 to feed new product into the pool hoppers 20 that were just emptied. The controller will then repeat the process with the set of partial batches in the weighing hoppers.

The CCW also includes a plurality of stays 61, which are vertical poles provided spaced around the circumference of the CCW, extending between adjacent radial feeders 11 and the hoppers located underneath. In this case, the stays 61 connect into the support frame 60 of the CCW, but in other installations they may be bolted directly into the floor. These stays 61 project just above the height of the radial feeders 11.

Figures 2A to 2C show a vertically movable support that may be attached to the stays of a COW such as the one shown in Figure 1.

In this embodiment, the vertically movable support 110 is an annular member in the form of an annular metal plate. This annular member has a central axis that may be aligned with the central axis of the CCW when mounted thereover. When arranged as such, the annular member extends part way to the periphery of the CCW, so that the annular member is above each of the radial feeders 11, part way along their length.

The annular member carries an array of restrictor plates 130. In this embodiment, the annular member carries 16 restrictor plates, evenly spaced around the vertically movable support 110 and so is configured for use with a CCW having 16 radial feeders. Each restrictor plate assembly within the array 130 comprises the restrictor plate 131, which is fastened to a coupling plate 133 via a pair of bolts 132. The restrictor plate is a generally square-shaped plate made of metal-detectable polyurethane plastic, that has a number of slots cut into the lower edge to define a row of fingers that protect downwards, away from the vertically movable support 110. The restrictor plate 131 is held at an angle of approximately 30° from the vertical, with the lower edge of the plate being further from the central axis of the vertically movable support 110 than the upper edge.

This arrangement helps to guide product under the restrictor plate.

The coupling plate 133 of each restrictor plate assembly comprises a vertical slot 134. This slot is sized to receive a fixed bolt shaft provided on the vertically movable support. A wing nut 135 is threaded onto the bolt passing through the vertical slot 134 and tightened so as to fix the coupling plate 133 onto the vertically movable support 110. The height of each individual restrictor plate 131 may therefore be adjusted by loosening the wing nut 135 and then adjusting the position of the bolt in the vertical slot 134 by vertically movingly the coupling plate 133. To ensure that the coupling plate 133 and restrictor plate remain vertically aligned, a pair of opposing guide slots 136 are provided which receive the edges of the coupling plate 133 and ensure that it can only be moved vertically. This arrangement allows each restrictor plate 131 within the array 130 to be independently adjusted to configure its height over the radial feeders.

The vertically movable support 110 is to be mounted over a CCW using four adjustable connectors 120, which are evenly spaced around the circumference of the vertically movable support 110 so that four of the restrictor plates 131 are provided between each adjustable connector. These adjustable connectors will now be described with further reference to Figure 3.

Each adjustable connector 120 comprises a first connection element 121 and a second connection element 122. The second connection element 122 is a plate with an inverted L-shaped cross-section which projects horizontally away from the vertically movable support 110 and defines an upward facing surface and a left facing surface. The second connection element 122 is fixed to the vertically movable support 110 via a bolt 128, visible in Figure 2B, that fastens using a nut to an end surface 129, shown in Figure 3.

The first connection element 122 is a narrow flat vertical plate, which is integrally formed with a fixing 123 at its lower end. The fixing 123 is configured to fix to one of the vertical stays 61. The fixing 123 comprises first portion 123a, which is a portion of a flat plate integrally formed with the first connection element 122 and which extends horizontally away from the lower end of the first connection element 122. The fixing 123 also comprises a second portion 123b, which is a separate plate having defining a vertical channel between itself and the flat first potion 123a, which receives the vertical stay 61. The second portion 123b comprises two screw holes on either side of the vertical channel, which enable the second portion 123b to be fixed to the first portion 123a to clamp the stay between the first and second portions. This fixing 123 thereby defines a fixed support point on the stay 61. Once the first connection element 121 is fixed to the stay 61 via the fixing 123, this will not require adjustment during operation and adjustment of the vertically movable support 110. It will be noted that, during installation, this fixing 123 can be arranged at any position along the length of the stay, as required by the particular CCW installation that the vertically movable support is being mounted to. The second connection element 122 comprises an opening 127 through its upward-facing surface, which a vertical stay 61 may pass through if it projects sufficiently far above the fixing point. Indeed, this opening through the second connection element may aid in the horizontal stability of the vertically movable support.

The first connection element 121 comprises four openings 125a-125d provided at different vertical positions along the length of the first connection element.

These openings define four indexed connection positions. The second connection elements 122 comprises an index plunger 124, mounted on the left-facing surface of the element. The index plunger 124 comprises an axially movable pin 124a, which may be received in any one of the openings 125a- 125d. Each opening 125a-125d defines a different vertical position of the vertically movable support 110 over the CCW.

Adjustment of the connection may be made by pulling the index plunger 124 in order to retract the pin 124a from the hole opening that it is currently received in (the first opening 125a in Figure 3). Then the vertical position of the vertically movable support is adjusted by raising or lowering the second connection element 122 relative to the first connection element 121 by moving it along the length of the first connection element 121 until the pin 124a may be received in the desired opening 125a-125d. By adjusting each of the four adjustable connections 120 so that they are all using the same opening 125a-125d, the vertical position of the vertically movable support may be adjust between the four predetermined positions.

It will be noted here that the upward-facing surface of the second connection element 122 comprises a slot 129 that receives an end portion 121a of the first connection element 121. The amount by which this end portion 121a passes through the slot 129 will depend on the opening 125a-125d being used. However, it may be desirable for the end 121a of the first connection element 121 to extend through the slot 129 in each of the indexed connection positions to improve the horizontal stability of the adjustable connection.

It will be appreciated that a CCW, such as the one shown in Figure 1, may be retrofitted with an adjustable mounting assembly as described above. To do this, a first connection element should be attached to each fixed support point (i.e. points on one of the vertical stays). As described above, this may be done by clamping the fixing 123 onto the stay, so that each stay now fixedly carries a first connection element. A vertically movable support 110 may then be mounted over the CCW by connecting each second connection element to a respect first connection element on the retrofitted CCW.

In the above embodiment, only one vertically movable support 110 is provided, carrying all of the restrictor plates 131. However, as mentioned above, it may be desirable to provide different sections of a dispersion system with arrays of restrictor plates than can be adjusted independently without having to resort to adjusting the restrictor plates one by one via the wing nut connection described above. A further embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5, which has a plurality of vertically movable supports.

Figure 4 shows an adjustable mounting assembly comprising four vertically movable supports 110a-110d. Each vertically movable support is a quarterannulus-shaped plate and each is mounted via two adjustable connectors 120a- 120d to a fixed mounting point, as will be described in more detail further below.

The four quarter-annulus vertically movable supports are each arranged to be mounted over a respective quarter of a dispersion system and together form an annulus support assembly, in which each vertically movable support is independently adjustable. Each vertically movable support 110a-110d carries a respective array of restrictor plates 130a-130d, in which each array comprises four restrictor plates, which are as described above with respect to Figures 2A to 2C.

Figure 5 shows the adjustable mounting assembly of Figure 4, with the four arrays of restrictor plates 130a-130d removed for clarity. As mentioned above, each vertically movable supports 110a-110d is configured to be mounted to two stays 61 via two adjustable connectors, one at each end of the quarter annulus plate. These connectors will now be described with particular reference to a connection assembly 120ab comprising a first adjustable connector 120a, which mounts an end of a first vertically movable support 110a to one of the stays 61, and a second adjustable connector 120b which mounts the end of a second vertically movable support 110b to the same stay. However, it will be appreciated that all four connection assemblies 120ab, 120bc, 120cd and 120da are the same.

The connection assembly 120ab connects the right end of the first vertically movable support 110a and the left end of the second vertically movable support 110b to the same fixed support point on one of the stays of a CCW. The connection assembly 120ab comprises a common fixing element 123ab, which is a plate with an inverted L-shaped cross-section defining upward and leftward facing surfaces, and which is configured to clamp to a stay at one end using a separate plate (not shown) defining a vertical channel for the stay and which may be screwed to the common fixing element 123ab. When the common fixing element 123ab is clamped to the stay, this defined the fixed support point.

At the opposite end of the common fixing element 123ab from the stay, projecting from the upward facing surface are two first connection elements 121a, 121b, respectively forming part of a first adjustable connection 120a and a second adjustable connection 120b. Each first connection element is a thin narrow plate that extends vertically away from the common fixing element 123ab, and comprises four openings therethrough, defining indexed connection positions.

The first vertically movable support 110a comprises an integrally formed plate 122a extending radially out from the right end of the vertically movable support 110a, which acts as a second connection element. This plate 122a carries an index plunger 124a, which is arranged to project a pin into one of the openings on the first connection element 121a. Likewise, the second vertically movable support 110b comprises a plate 122b extending radially out from the left end of the vertically movable support 110b, which carries an index plunger 124b and connects into one of the openings on the first connection element 121b.

By arranging each vertically movable support to be mounted via two respective adjustable connectors that are part of the four connection assemblies 120ab, 120bc, 120cd and 120da, the four vertically movable supports may be independently raised and lowered. To adjust the height of any vertically movable support, the index plunger on one end of the vertically movable support should be pulled and re-positioned to connect into another one of the four openings.

Then, the index plunger on the other end of the same vertically movable support should be pulled and re-positioned to connect into the corresponding one of the four openings.

Figure 6 shows, schematically, a CCW 100 fitted with an adjustable mounting assembly. The CCW 100 includes a dispersion table 10 and a plurality of radial feeders 11, which together form a dispersion system for receiving product P at a product supply position and distributing the product to a plurality of output positions. The output positions in the case of this CCW are a plurality of pool hoppers 20, which feed a respective plurality of weighing hoppers 30, and a collective discharge chute 40. Operation of the system is as described above with regard to Figure 1 and is controlled by a controller 50.

The CCW has a number of stays 61 spaced around its periphery, only two of which are visible in the schematic cross-section of Figure 6. Alternatively, an exterior frame could be provided.

An annular vertically movable support 110 is mounted on to the stays 61 via respective adjustable connectors 120, which may be substantially as described above with regard to Figure 3. In the preceding embodiments, the first connection element, i.e. that fixedly connected to the stays and defining the fixed support points, was the element that defined the plurality of indexed connection positions by carrying a number of openings. However, as illustrated schematically here, it is of course possible for the second connection element 122 to define the plurality of connection positions. In this embodiment, each second connection element 122 projects downwards from the vertically movable support 110 and carries a plurality of openings at different heights. The first connection element may, for example, carry an index plunger that is arranged to connect into one of the openings in order to hold the vertically movable support 110 at the required vertical position.

The preceding embodiments also described units held over the dispersion system in the form of one or more arrays of restrictor plates. However, it will be appreciated that any unit that needs supporting over the dispersion system may be supported by this adjustable mounting assembly. Figure 6 shows an inlet chute 141 supported over the dispersion feeder unit 10. The inlet chute may be a funnel-shaped member and may be connected on one or more arms 142 to the annulus plate of the vertically movable support member 110. It would also be possible to dispense with the use of an annulus plate, e.g. by having arms that connect directly via the adjustable connectors 120.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS1. A dispersion system with an adjustable mounting assembly, the system comprising: one or more feeders arranged to receive product at a product supply position and to distribute the product to a plurality of output positions; a plurality of fixed support points for supporting one or more units over the one or more feeders, each fixed support point being substantially fixed relative to the one or more feeders; one or more vertically movable supports, each for carrying one of the one or more units to be supported over the one or more feeders, and each vertically movable support being connected to one or more of the plurality of fixed support points via a respective adjustable connection; wherein each adjustable connection comprises a first connection element on the fixed support point and a second connection element on the vertically movable support, and wherein the first connection element may be connected to the second connection element in any one of a plurality of predetermined connection positions, each connection position corresponding to a different vertical position of the vertically movable support, such that the vertical position of the one or more units over the one or more feeders may be adjusted by changing the predetermined connection position of the corresponding adjustable connections.
2. 2. A dispersion system according to claim 1, comprising one vertically movable support, said vertically movable support being connected to each of the plurality of fixed support points via a respective adjustable connection.
3. 3. A dispersion system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of vertically movable supports, each vertically movable support being connected to at least two of the plurality of fixed support points via respective adjustable connections, wherein preferably each fixed support point is connected to two different vertically movable supports via respective adjustable connections.
4. 4. A dispersion system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more feeders comprises a radial feeder system for receiving product at a substantially central product supply position and distributing the product to a plurality of radially located output positions.
5. 5. A dispersion system according to claim 4, wherein the one or more vertically movable supports comprises an annular support member supported substantially co-axially over the radial feeder system, or the one or more vertically movable supports comprises a plurality of vertically movable supports, each comprising a part-annular support member supported substantially co-axially over a respective portion of the radial feeder system.
6. 6. A dispersion system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising one or more units in the form of one or more arrays of restrictor plates, each array of restrictor plates being carried by one of the one or more vertically movable supports such that each restrictor plate is supported over a corresponding feeder and restricts the height of product moving along the feeder.
7. 7. A dispersion system according to claim 6 when dependent on at least claim 4, wherein the one or more arrays of restrictor plates are supported over the radial feeder system such that each radial feeder unit of the radial feeder system has a respective restrictor plate supported thereover, which restricts the height of product moving along the radial feeder unit.
8. 8. A dispersion system according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein each restrictor plate is connected to the corresponding vertically movable support via an adjustable restrictor plate connection, wherein said adjustable restrictor plate connection allows the vertical position of the restrictor plate relative to the vertically movable support to be adjusted, and preferably wherein said adjustable restrictor plate connection allows the vertical position of each restrictor plate to be adjusted relative to each other restrictor plate in said array of restrictor plates.
9. 9. A dispersion system according to claim 8, wherein each adjustable restrictor plate connection allows the vertical position of the restrictor plate to be adjusted relative to the vertically movable support to any position between a highest position and a lowest position of the restrictor plate relative to the vertically movable support.
10. 10. A dispersion system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a unit in the form of an inlet chute, the inlet chute being carried by one of the one or more vertically movable supports such that it is supported over the one or more feeders at the product supply position, whereby product is supplied to the product supply position via the inlet chute.
11. 11. A dispersion system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each adjustable connection is a tool-free adjustable connection.
12. 12. A dispersion system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, for each adjustable connection, one of the first or second connecting elements comprises a plurality of male or female connectors defining the plurality of predetermined connection positions, and the other of the first or second connecting elements comprises at least one female or male connector respectively.
13. 13. A dispersion system according to claim 12, wherein the or each female connector comprises an opening, and the or each male connector comprises a pin insertable into the opening, wherein preferably the pin is the pin of an index plunger provided on the first or second connecting element.
14. 14. A combination weigher system comprising the dispersion system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein preferably the plurality of fixed support points are supports of the combination weigher
15. 15. A method of retrofitting a dispersion system with an adjustable mounting assembly, said dispersion system comprising one or more feeders arranged to receive product at a product supply position and to distribute the product to a plurality of output positions, and a plurality of fixed support points for supporting one or more units over the one or more feeders, each fixed support point being substantially fixed relative to the one or more feeders, the method comprising: attaching a respective first connection element to each of the plurality of fixed support points; providing one or more vertically movable supports, each for carrying one 10 of the one or more units to be supported over the one or more feeders; connecting each vertically movable support to one or more of the plurality of fixed support points via a respective adjustable connection; wherein each adjustable connection comprises the first connection element on the fixed support point and a second connection element on the vertically movable support, wherein the first connection element may be connected to the second connection element in any one of a plurality of predetermined connection positions, each connection position corresponding to a different vertical position of the vertically movable support, such that the vertical position of the one or more units over the one or more feeders may be adjusted by changing the predetermined connection position of the corresponding adjustable connections.