US 2017/0001810 A1 · DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FEEDING FOR ACCUMULATION

Abstract

A method and device for feeding at least one receiving surface between two consecutive stations in a production line for handling products on an assembly line, the device having a pick-up zone from where the products are transferred to the surface, and including an input conveyor to receive and maintain a compact flow of products received from an upstream station, a receiving conveyor, extending along a conveying direction in the pick-up zone to receive and then stop the flow of products there delivered by the input conveyor, an a transfer unit, to move, transversely to the conveying direction, toward the receiving surface, the products stopped in the pick-up zone. The device further includes at least one buffer conveying element, able to receive the compact flow of products from the input conveyor when the products are stopped on the receiving conveyor for their transfer, and maintain the compactness of the flow.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Device for feeding (1) at least one receiving surface between two consecutive stations in a production line for handling products (3) on an assembly line, having a pick-up zone (4) from where the products (3) are transferred to said surface, and comprising an input conveyor (5) to receive and maintain a compact flow of products (3) received from the upstream station, a receiving conveyor (6), extending along a conveying direction (7) in the pick-up zone (4) to receive and then stop the flow of products (3) there delivered by the input conveyor (5), as well as a transfer means (8), to move, transversely to the conveying direction (7), toward the receiving surface, the products (3) stopped in the pick-up zone (4),

wherein the device further comprises at least one buffer conveying means, able to receive the compact flow of products (3) from the input conveyor (5) when the products (3) are stopped on the receiving conveyor (6) for their transfer, and, maintain the compactness of said flow.

Method for feeding a receiving surface installed between two stations in a production line for handling products (3) on an assembly line, comprising:

receiving continuously a compact flow of products (3) from the upstream station in the area of an input conveyor (5), in particular a flow where the products (3) are in contact one behind the other in a single line,
feeding, using said input conveyor (5), a receiving conveyor (6) on which the flow maintains its compactness,
braking until stopping the products (3) on the receiving conveyor (6), preferably by gradually stopping the receiving conveyor (6), then freeing up the receiving conveyor (6) by removing the products (3) from it that are found there to accumulate them later on a receiving surface, and make it possible for the receiving conveyor (6) to receive new products (3),
the method comprising
a step, used during the braking and the freeing-up of the products (3) of the receiving conveyor (6), consisting essentially in feeding the compact flow of products (3) from the input conveyor (5) to a buffer conveying means while maintaining the compactness of it, as well as
a subsequent step during which the products (3) that are found on the buffer conveying means are cleared from it, to accumulate them later on the or a receiving surface, and make it possible for the buffer conveying means to receive new products (3).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device and method for feeding for accumulation

Life of this patent

Device and method for feeding for accumulation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20