US 6,474,462 B2Granted

Apparatus for conveying and temporarily storing products

AssigneeSIG Pack Systems AG

InventorsAlfred Wipf, Harald Lenherr, Ralf Frulio

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Abstract

The apparatus comprises an incoming conveyor and a revolving device, in which grippers (9) circulate at a regular first spacing (T1) over a closed circulating path (10). The grippers (9) can be individually switched between a first state, in which they take hold of the products (2) and carry them along, into a second state, in which they release the products from the grippers. At a transfer point (11) the grippers (9) pass above the incoming conveyor (1). They are switched at the transfer point (11) into the first state, in which they each take hold of a product and carry it along. A store (16) has carriers (19) which circulate at a regular second spacing (T2) in a closed, second circulating path (15). The second circulating path (15) runs over a buffer region (20) parallel to the first circulating path (11). Within the buffer region (20) the grippers (9) can be switched into their second state. The circulating speed of the grippers (9) is greater than the circulating speed of the carriers (9). A control device (29) controls the switching of the grippers (9) into the second state in such a manner that each storage compartment (28) between adjacent carriers (19) downstream of the buffer region (20) contains a product (2).

Claims10

Dependent claims

An apparatus for conveying and temporarily storing products (2), comprising:

an incoming conveyor (1),
a revolving device, in which grippers (9) circulate over a closed, first circulating path (10), said grippers (9) being individually switchable between a first state, in which they take hold of said products (2) and carry them along, into a second state, in which they release said products (2) from said grippers (9), said grippers (9), in a first transfer point (11), passing above said incoming conveyor (1) and, in said first transfer point (11), being in said first state or being switched into said first state and taking hold of said products (2) delivered on the incoming conveyor (1) and carrying them along, and said grippers (9) having a regular first spacing (T1), at least outside a region of the first transfer point (11),
a store (16) having carriers (19) which circulate at a regular second spacing (T2) in a closed, second circulating path (15), said second circulating path (15) running over a buffer region (20) parallel to said first circulating path (11) and said grippers (9) being switchable within said buffer region (20) into their second state, and said grippers (9) having a circulating speed being greater than a circulating speed of said carriers (19), and
a control device (29) which controls switching of said grippers (9) into said second state in such a manner that each storage compartment (28) between adjacent carriers (19) downstream of said buffer region (20) contains a product (2).

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/028,128Filed 20 Dec 2001
Priority: CH 2503/0022 Dec 2000
Published: US 2002/0079199 A127 Jun 2002
Granted: 5 Nov 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

B65G 47/5127
With variable accumulation capacity: by relative displacement between conveyor and input or output
B65G 47/846
Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements:…
B65G
Transport or storage devices