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AssigneeKPL Packaging S.p.A.
InventorsStefano Cassoli, Luca Baldanza, Andrea Cinotti
Estimating the term…
The apparatus is formed of two identical devices (A, A′) installed mirror image-fashion, each of which is equipped with a pressure bar (19, 19′) fitted to overhang the relevant lateral toothed conveyor belts (T T′) which move and recircle the said bars, and which are in their turn activated by relevant motors (8, 8′) with electronic speed and phase control governed by one programmable processing unit (26). When the length of the products (P) is less than the length of the straight branches of the conveyors moving the said bars, the two devices are installed mirror-image fashion, with the axles of the pulleys of one conveyor aligned with those of the corresponding pulleys of the other conveyor. In this position, the bars (19, 19′) of the two devices alternate in taking, moving foward by pushing and the final placing of the products in the workstation (K). However, when the length of the products exceeds the length of the said conveyors moving the bars, the possibility is offered of acting on both means, allowing anticipation of the longitudinal position of one device in relation to the other, so that the products are firstly taken by the bar (19′) of device (A′) working in advance and are transferred from it in phase to the bar (19) of the downstream device (A), which in turn provides for the transfer and phased placing of the product in the workstation (K).
1) Variable pitch apparatus for the thrust and phase feed of products to a subsequent workstation, characterised by comprising two thrust bars (19, 19′) placed transversely on the products feed channel (C), fixed to overhang the relevant straight conveyors (T, T′) with identical characteristics, connected to two opposite sides of the said channel, parallel to it, operated in correct phase by driving means such that in covering the outbound branch of the said conveyors, the said bars are arranged alternately and one at a time behind the products being fed in the correct phase in the said channel to determine the movement forward by thrust of the said product and to place it in the workstation (K), after which the bar which has been active, curving around at the final end of the relevant conveyor and being transferred to its return branch, is removed from the said channel and product flow and effects an inverse movement to arrange itself for the repetition of a new work cycle.
5) Apparatus in accordance with the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the conveyors (T, T′) of the two recircling devices forming the apparatus are moved by relevant motive power sets (8, 8′) equipped with respective motors with electronic speed and phase control, e.g. brushless motors, connected to a processing unit (26) equipped with at least one input to collect the related phase signals from the upstream and/or downstream devices of the same apparatus and which is connected to a programming and interrogation unit (27).
6) Apparatus in accordance with the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the support plates (1, 1′) of the conveyors (T, T′) of the two recircling devices forming the apparatus are mounted on respective support frames (24, 24′) with the mediation of horizontal guides and runners (23, 123 and 23′, 123′) orthogonal to the active branches of the said conveyors and connected to respective manually or remotely controlled means of operation, all so as to be able to vary the transverse distance between the devices to adapt it the variations in the width of the products (P) to be handled.
7) Apparatus in accordance with the preceding claims, characterised by comprising possible means to be able to adjust the relative vertical position of the same apparatus and the products guide channel (C) for the adaptation of the same apparatus to products (P) of different heights.
8) Apparatus in accordance with the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the plate (1′) of the device (A′) which may be set in advance of the other device (A) is also mounted on a support frame (24′) with the mediation of a guide and runner set (25, 125) parallel to the product feed channel (C) and connected to relevant manual or remotely controlled means of operation.
9) Apparatus in accordance with the preceding claims, in which the two devices (A, A′) comprising this apparatus and the relevant adjustment equipment allowing its operational adaptation to products of different dimensions are equipped with encoders connected to a processing unit (26) governing the motors (8, 8′) of these devices in phase.
10) Apparatus in accordance with the preceding claims, in which the thrust bars (19, 19′) are each composed of an idle roller.
11) Apparatus in accordance with the preceding claims, in which means are provided in such a way that from the time when the front face of a product fed by a thrust bar (19, 19′) of this apparatus reaches the workstation (K) until the complete transfer of that product to such a station, the linear forward speed of the said bar is equal to that of this workstation (K).
12) Apparatus in accordance with the preceding claims, in which each device (A, A′) composing it comprises a vertical support plate (1) placed on one side of the product travel channel (C) and which, on the side turned towards the channel and above it, provides support for the revolution the toothed return pulleys (3, 103, 30, 130) of a pair of toothed belts (10, 110) laid on top of them, appropriately spaced and also parallel vis-à-vis the said channel, one pair of the said pulleys (30, 130) being mounted to revolve freely on a support (11) attached to the said plate with the possibility of adjustment to allow tensioning of the above-mentioned belts, while the axles (2, 102) of the other pair of pulleys (3, 103) traverse the said plate (1) and on its external side identical toothed pulleys (4, 104) are keyed on which a belt (5) controlled by a tensioner (6) is returned and also returned on a toothed pulley (7) keyed to the motive power set axle (8) flanged on a fixed bracket (9) on the external face of the said plate (1), there being at points aligned vertically of the straight upper or lower branches of the said belts fixed supports with transverse pins (16) protruding from the side of the said belts which is opposite that turned towards the said plate and which are rotatably fixed to a vertical connecting rod (17) which at its end has the thrust bar (19) fixed to overhang placed transverse to the product feed channel (C).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.