HK1111666B - Device and method for seperating a flow of articles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device and process for splitting a stream of objects, such as beverage containers, into two or more streams. To split a stream of objects into two or more streams, it is possible to push individual objects out of the stream from the side. To push individual objects out of a stream of objects, for example, nozzles or pulleys are known to give an object an impulse from the side so that it moves outward from the current.

The speed at which an object has to be pushed out sideways is very high for very high throughput rates and close succession of objects, but this leads to undesirable deformations, especially for flexible objects such as film bags.

US 5 042 636 shows a device and a procedure for moving heard objects, as defined in claims 1, 16 and 18, 19.

The present invention is therefore intended to provide a device and process for splitting a stream of objects in which the objects are treated relatively gently and yet high throughput rates are possible.

This task is solved by a device according to claims 1 and 16 and a process according to claims 18 or 19.

The device has a slide that can be moved at an angle of less than 90° to the direction of conveyance of the objects. This ensures that the slide with a movement component in the direction of conveyance accompanies the object to be pushed. This makes it possible to move the slide in a direction across the conveyance direction relatively slowly, so that the object can be moved relatively smoothly.

The angle at which the slide can move relative to the conveyor may be less than 70°, 60°, 50°, 45°, 40°, 30° or 20°. On the other hand, it is preferable to move at an angle greater than 5°, 10°, 15° or 20°, so that the distance along the slide is not too long.

It is also advantageous to push the objects onto another conveyor, which allows the two streams of objects to be transported independently in different directions and/or at different speeds, but it is also possible to split the objects into two streams on the same conveyor, whereby the two streams are then placed side by side on one conveyor, but then, advantageously, further processed separately by appropriate measures such as guides, railings, etc.

If two different conveyors are used for the two product streams, these conveyors can be designed so that two items are on the different conveyors at a certain point next to each other. This facilitates, for example, the transfer of the items to another machine, such as a packaging machine. The two items can then be transferred to the other machine at about the same time. For this purpose, the conveyors of the two product streams can, for example, convey at different speeds, so that an item on one conveyor catches up with an item on the other conveyor. Also, one of the two conveyors can have a conveyor with a conveyor speed to connect to another. Since the first two conveyors then connect at approximately the same speed, both conveyors can have different conveyor speeds, so that each conveyor can have a different conveyor speed.

The two conveyors or (one) conveyors of the two product streams can also be shaped differently to ensure that at a certain point objects are on the two conveyors side by side.

For separation of the two streams it is advantageous to push the objects in one direction perpendicular to the conveyor direction, to at least the extent of the objects in this direction.

A design in which the slide is mounted on a band or chain, which is led over at least two rolling roller bearings, is advantageous. This allows the slide to move around the band and thus, after pushing an object, to be brought back to the position at which the pushing begins, without passing through the range of the objects, so that collisions between the reverse-running slide and other objects are avoided. In this case, it is particularly advantageous to place at least two, three, four or even five or more slides on the band or chain at the same time. This allows a slide to move an object while another or more versions of the slide are returned to the four positions.

This measure can achieve a significant increase in capacity as it can then also move a very large number of objects. With such a device, for example, it is possible to achieve a one-to-one distribution of objects on the two streams, although a given pusher device must cover only one fourth or one sixth of the objects, which means that they are not arranged on one and the same band, but on, for example, different bands next to each other. This measure can achieve a significant increase in capacity as it can then also move a very large number of objects.

The advantage of this approach is that the slide is folded down, which is useful for stopping the object from moving in the desired position. The slide can also be moved out of its position and the object is not pushed (see below). This also ensures that other already pushed objects are not caught by the slide. For example, a fixed guide can be provided for folding, which is arranged so that the slide runs in front of it and is folded by the fixed guide at a predetermined point.

It is also advantageous to pre-tension the slide with a spring element into a sliding position (not folded over). This ensures that the slide remains in the sliding position even if it presses against the object to be pushed with a certain force.

The sensor can then trigger the movement of the slide. This is particularly advantageous if the objects do not arrive at precisely predefined times on the conveyor, but arrive somewhat irregularly. With quite accurate entering objects, a sensor can also be missing. Depending on the slide distance, a sensor is preferably provided. The sensors or the triggering of the slide movement must be so trained that the desired distribution of the slide flow occurs.

A device for splitting a stream of objects has at least two pushers (e.g. on different push devices) that can move objects on a conveyor relative to other objects on the conveyor. Two pushers can push many objects out even at high throughput rates, as each pusher or each pusher only has to push every second object to be pushed or every third or fourth or fifth or sixth object to be pushed.

The process of splitting a stream of objects is to push the objects at an angle of less than 90° to the conveyor, which allows the objects to be moved relatively gently, since more time is available for moving than if they were pushed out at an angle perpendicular to the conveyor.

Another method of splitting a stream of objects involves pushing at least two objects at least partially at the same time to achieve higher capacities.

In the process, the sliding operation can be stopped by folding a slide away or by stopping the slide.

The device or process can be used to achieve a one-to-one split of the flow of objects into two streams. This means that there are equal numbers of objects in the two streams. However, another split, such as one-to-two, one-to-three, one-to-four, or similar, is also possible. Three or more streams can also be generated by moving the objects onto three different lines.

The following figures are intended to illustrate the advantages of the invention: Figure 1 a schematic view of a device for splitting a flow of objects;Figure 2 a three-dimensional schematic perspective view of a device;Figure 3 a three-dimensional schematic perspective view of a slide;Figure 4 a schematic side view of a slide; andFigure 5 schematic views of the conveyor area.

Figure 1 shows a conveyor 6 on which items 2 are arranged in a regular order. They can also be easily irregularly rolled in. They can be transported with conveyor 6 in conveyor direction 8. Next to conveyor 6 there is another conveyor 7 on which some of the items 2 are to be transferred. The items 2 can be, for example, foil bags that are transported lying down. The foil bags can be, for example, stand-up floor bags that are facing up with the floor side in Figure 1.

The conveyor 6 and 7 are equipped with pushers 3a, 3b, 3c. Although three pushers 3a, 3b, 3c are shown here, there may be more or fewer pushers, such as one, two, four or more pushers.

Above or at the conveyor 6 there may be sensors 19, 20a, 20b, 20c, which detect that an object 2 is entering. The information thus obtained can be used to direct one of the sliding devices 3a, 3b, 3c to push the captured object 2 onto the other conveyor 7. With the help of the sensors 19, 20a, 20b, 20c, the product flow can also be split for objects 2 that enter somewhat irregularly. A sensor 20a, 20b, 20c can be provided for each sliding leg in 3a, 3b, 3c or even just or additionally a common sensor 19 before the first sliding leg in 3a.

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Figure 2 shows a slide 3 with five 4,4' slides in perspective. The 4,4' slides are arranged on a circular band 16 on the outside of each band. The band 16 is guided by two rolls 17, 18. One of these two rolls can be driven by a corresponding motor, which is not shown here for the sake of clarity.

In Figure 2 it can be seen that the objects 2 can have a stand-floor bag shape, with the floor in Figure 2 facing to the left.

The sliders 4,4' are arranged so that they can be moved on the bottom of the slider 3 from conveyor 6 towards conveyor 7. The slider 4 visible on the top of the slider 3 is returned in the direction from conveyor 7 towards conveyor 6.

A guide 5 is placed sideways next to band 16 with the sliders 4 running against the guide 5 to allow the slider 4' to fold upwards as shown in the slider 4'.

Figure 3 shows a schematic of a slide 4 support. Slide 4 consists of a large piece of area, which is stored on one side around an axis 11 which can be rotated. Slide 4 is here rotated on a base plate 12. The base plate is here rectangular or square shaped and the slide 4 is arranged horizontally to the sides of the square or rectangle.

The slide 4 is, for example, foldable forward as shown in Figure 3. To pre-tension it into the position shown in Figure 3, a spring element 13 is provided. This spring element 13 may be placed on axis 11. While it is provided in Figure 3 between two supports of axis 11, it may also be placed outside one of the two supports. To define the position of the slide 4 as shown in Figure 3, a stroke may be provided to limit the movement of axis 11 or of the slide 4. The spring 13 is arranged so that it presses the lever against the slide 4 or the axis 11.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a slide device 3 on band 16 where four slides 4, 4' are arranged and can run on this band 16 on the side of the slide 4 with their base plates 12 on band 16 on the side of the slide 4 and a slide 4' is folded upwards by a guide 5 on the side of the slide 4' is folded upwards by the spring element 13 against the tension of the spring element 13

The tension applied by the spring element 13 is such that a slide 4 does not fold over by the pressure applied to an object 2 to be pushed, but is folded over against the spring force when it is run on the guide 5. The guide 5 is designed at its right end so that the slide 4 is not suddenly released but rather is gradually brought back into the slide position, this movement being caused by the slide's tension here in its slide position.

In the upward folded position, objects 2 can pass through the 4' slide without being caught by it.

The procedure involves the application of 2 objects in conveyor 6 in conveyor direction 8 (see Fig. 1). A slide 4a attaches to one side of the object 2' and pushes it towards the conveyor 7. The slide 4a moves in a direction which includes an angle α less than 90° with conveyor direction 8. The angle α in Figure 1 is approximately 20° to 25°. The slide 4a thus moves with one movement component in conveyor direction 8 and with another component in a direction perpendicular to conveyor direction 8, so that the slide 4a moves the object 2' back from the original current to the conveyor direction.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the slider 4 then runs around the rolling roller 18 and is moved back towards conveyor 6 by the movement of the band 16.

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The folding up of the sliders 4 b, 4 c with the guides 5 b, 5 c is also important in that the bag 2', pushed by the slider 4 a, is not to collide with the sliders 4 b or 4 c when the bag 2' is carried along conveyor 7 in a direction 10 under the slider 3 b, 3 c.

With the device shown in Figure 1, it is possible that the pusher 3a may only have to pick up and push one sixth of the bags, while the other two pushers 3b and 3c also only grab one sixth of the bags, so that a one-to-one split in the two streams of objects is achieved, allowing throughput rates of up to more than 300, 400 or 500 objects per minute.

Fig. 5a shows sections of the two conveyors 6 and 7 which are located upstream of the slide. Objects 2 and 2' are each on the different conveyors 6, 7. On the left, the objects are arranged on conveyors 6, 7 each displaced, because the two product flows are produced by moving different objects of a product flow. The two conveyors 6, 7 are largely straight and have different conveying speeds. This makes the distance d1, d2, d3, d4 of two objects on the two conveyors smaller and smaller from left to right. At the end of conveyors 6, 7 two objects are arranged directly next to each other.The first section of the conveyor 6 is then moved to the next section, which is then joined by a second section which takes over the items from the first section but has a higher or lower conveyor speed than the first section and/or the conveyor 6so that the objects then catch up with the objects on the conveyor 6 or vice versa.

Fig. 5b shows an embodiment in which the two conveyors 6, 7 are curved. Because the two conveyors 6, 7 pass through differently shaped paths, the angular displacement β between the objects 2 and 2' on the conveyor 6, 7 changes even without the two conveyors 6, 7 having a different speed (which is nevertheless possible).

Claims (19)

1. Device (1) for dividing a flow of objects, such as foil bags (2), into two or more flows with:

   a conveyor (6), on which the objects (2) can arrive along a line in a conveying direction (8) and

   at least one slide (4), with which objects (2) on the conveyor (6) can be moved relative to other objects (2) on the conveyor (6), wherein the slide (4) can be moved in a direction, which lies at an angle (α) of less than 90° to the conveying direction (8),

   characterised in that

   a sensor for sensing an object is provided with which the movement of the slide, which moves the objects on the conveyor, can be triggered.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the angle (α) is less than 70°, 60°, 50°, 45°, 40°, 30° or 20°.
3. Device according to one of the Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the angle (α) is more than 5°, 10°, 15° or 20°.
4. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 3, as far as referred back to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the objects (2) are displaced with the slide (4) onto another conveyor (7).
5. Device according to Claim 4, characterised in that the two conveyors (6, 7) or other conveyors following one or both conveyor(s) are formed such that two objects on the two or on the following conveyors (6, 7) are transported adjacently at least at a certain point in time.
6. Device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the two conveyors or one or two other following conveyor(s) have different conveying speeds.
7. Device according to one of the Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that for the two conveyors (6, 7) or one or two following conveyor(s) differently shaped paths with different path lengths are provided, such as due to curves with different radii.
8. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the objects (2) can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (8) by at least the extent of the objects (2) in this direction.
9. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the slide (4) is arranged on a band (16) which is guided over at least two deflection rollers (17, 18).
10. Device according to Claim 9, characterised in that on a band (16) at least two, preferably three or four and more preferably five or more slides (4) are arranged.
11. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that many slides (4a, 4b, 4c) can move different objects (2', 2", 2"') simultaneously.
12. Device according to Claim 11, characterised in that the many slides (4) are arranged adjacent and parallel to one another.
13. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the slides (4) can be arranged for folding back.
14. Device according to Claim 13, characterised in that at least one stationary guide (5) is provided which folds back the slide (4) at a certain point.
15. Device according to one of the Claims 13 or 14, characterised in that the slide (4) is pretensioned in a displacing position by a springy element (13).
16. Device (1) for dividing a flow of objects (2), such as foil bags, into two or more flows with:

    a conveyor (6) on which the objects (2) can arrive and

    at least two slides (4a, 4b, 4c), preferably at least or precisely three or four or five slides (4a, 4b, 4c), with which objects (2', 2", 2"') can be moved on the conveyor (6) relative to other objects (2) on the conveyor (6)

    characterised in that

    a sensor for sensing an object is provided with which the movement of the slide, which moves the objects on the conveyor, can be triggered.
17. Device according to Claim 16, characterised in that the slides (4) are arranged adjacent and preferably parallel to one another.
18. Method of dividing a flow of objects (2), such as foil bags, into two or more flows with the steps:

    passing of objects along a line in a conveying direction (8), sensing of an object with a sensor for triggering the movement of a slide, which moves the objects on the conveyor, and

    displacement of at least one of the objects (2') relative to the other objects (2) in a direction which lies at an angle of less than 90° to the conveying direction (8).
19. Method of dividing a flow of objects, such as foil bags, into two or more flows with the steps:

    - supply of objects (2),

    - sensing of an object with a sensor for triggering the movement of a slide, which moves the objects on the conveyor, and

    - simultaneous displacement of at least two objects (2', 2", 2"') relative to the other objects (2).