Conveyors
AssigneeQuin Systems Limited
InventorMichael Webb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An indexing conveyor 1 travels at (90) degrees to a wrapping output conveyor (2), which conveys elongate packs (3) of circular biscuits at high speed with their diameter-ends leading. The indexing conveyor 1 receives the packs (3) and conveys them in an orthogonal direction, with their long-dimensions leading. The indexing conveyor (1) has a regular series of V-section lugs (11), which receive and centre the packs (3) and can accommodate a range of diameters of circular packs (3) whilst maintaining a constant pitch. A pair of lifting bars (12) lifts a group (31) of packs (3) at a time during the dwell period of the index of the (10) conveyor (1). The packs (3) of each group (31) are moved together during the lift so that they are touching, to ensure that a robotic pick-and-place system can pick up the group (31) reliably.
Claims12
A method of conveying products, each of which comprises an elongate pack of substantially circular items, the method comprising the steps of conveying products sequentially on a first conveyor and receiving the products sequentially on a second conveyor travelling transversely of the first conveyor, wherein the second conveyor indexes each time that it receives a product from the first conveyor and the second conveyor comprises a series of compartments, each of which receives a respective one of the products and holds it against movement longitudinally of the second conveyor.
(canceled)
4-6. (canceled)
A method according to claim 6, wherein said items are round biscuits.
14-15. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.