Vertical accumulation in a treatment line
AssigneeSidel (Canada) Inc.
InventorsFranck Klotz, Paulo Arruda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an accumulation device, for accumulating products conveyed within an industrial treatment line, including a set of horizontal trays, arranged in a tray zone as a vertical stack, further including a manipulator, such as a robot, for transferring products between a substantially horizontal closed belt type conveyor and the uppermost tray of the bottom portion of the stack. The trays are movable in the vertical direction, at least in order to bring at a predetermined height the tray to be loaded or unloaded. Also disclosed is a corresponding conveying installation and method.
Claims20
Accumulation device, for accumulating products conveyed within an industrial treatment line, comprising:
- a threaded axle extending vertical from ground;
- a set of horizontal trays, arranged in a tray zone as a vertical stack;
- a manipulator for transferring products between a substantially horizontal closed belt type conveyor positioned at a height and a tray within he vertical stack;
- and
- an actuation means configured to generate vertical movement of each tray separately, the actuation means comprising:
- a motor,
- a set of clutches for each tray, and
- a transmission assembly, positioned at each set of clutches, the transmission assembly comprising:
- a worm gear, driven by the output of each clutch of the set of clutches, and
- a double gear, engaged by the worm gear a set of outer teeth and engaged on the threaded axle on an inner thread,
- wherein the vertical stack to be loaded or unloaded is positioned at a predetermined height corresponding to the height of the horizontal conveyor.
Conveying process for products to be treated an industrial treatment line, comprising:
- conveying the products in the treatment line by conveying means on which they stand;
- accumulating products from the conveying means by both moving a manipulator to extract products from the conveying means and to transfer them on a fixed horizontal tray on which the products can stand for accumulation;
- lifting at least one tray of products using an actuation means configured to generate vertical movement of each tray separately, the actuation means comprising a motor;
- a set of clutches for each tray;
- and a transmission assembly positioned at each set of clutches wherein the transmission assembly comprising a worm gear, driven by the output of each clutch of the set of clutches, and a double gear, engaged by the worm gear a set of outer teeth and engaged on a threaded axle extending vertical from ground on an inner thread;
- and,
- releasing products onto the conveying means by both moving said manipulator to extract products from a horizontal tray on which products are accumulated and to transfer them onto the conveying means and moving down at least one tray of products to unload, in order to bring the tray at a predefined height corresponding to the height of the conveying means, wherein
- the trays are located in proximity to the conveyor when being loaded and unloaded.
Accumulation device, for accumulating products conveyed within an industrial treatment line, comprising:
- a set of horizontal trays, arranged in a tray zone as a vertical stack;
- a manipulator for transferring products between a substantially horizontal closed belt type conveyor positioned at a height and a tray within the vertical stack;
- and
- an actuation means configured to generate vertical movement of each tray separately, the actuation means comprising:
- a motor,
- a set of clutches for each tray,
- an output shaft engaging an input of each clutch of the set of clutches, and
- a reel for winding and unwinding a cable for each tray, the reel positioned at an output of each clutch of the set of clutches,
- wherein the vertical stack to be loaded or unloaded is positioned at a predetermined height corresponding to the height of the horizontal conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.