System for conveying objects

A system for conveying objects (1), which comprises at least one endless transporter (2) able to route objects (3) along a transportation surface (5) and means (4) of driving same, said transporter (2) comprising a plurality of pushers (6) regularly spaced apart, fixed to a movable support (7) for the pushers (6), continuously traveling, in a single direction and periodically along a closed-loop path which substantially extends in a conveying plane (P), perpendicular to said transportation surface (S), said oath being locally contiguous with said transportation surface (S), characterised in that each pusher (6) is mounted so as to be able to move between an inactive position in which the pusher (6) is located at a distance from said transportation surface (S) and does not project therefrom, and an active position in which the pusher projects at least partially from said transportation surface (S) in order to come into engagement with the object (3) and push the object along said surface (S), so that it is possible to vary the number of pushers (6) simultaneously in the active position, said system further comprising a movable member (9) for actuating the pushers (6) in order to cause them to pass from the inactive position to the active position at the transportation surface, means (10) of driving said actuating member, and a device (5) for controlling the drive means (4, 10), said control device (5) being arranged to apply, to the means (10) of driving the actuating member (9), a speed profile such that the functioning of the actuating member (9) is periodic, the period of the actuating member (9) being defined as the interval of time separating two successive passages of the actuating member (9) through the same position.

A system for conveying objects (1) comprising at least one endless transporter (2) able to route objects (3) along a transportation surface (S) the transporter (2) comprising a plurality of pushers (6) regularly spaced apart, fixed to a movable support (7) for the pushers (6), continuously traveling, in a single direction and periodically along a closed-loop oath which substantially extends in a conveying plane (P), perpendicular to said transportation surface (S), the path being locally contiguous with the transportation surface (S), characterised in that each pusher (6) is mounted so as to be able to move between an inactive position in which the pusher (6) is located at a distance from the transportation surface (S) and does not project therefrom, and an active position in which the rusher projects at least partially from the transportation surface (S) in order to come into engagement with the object (3) and rush the object along said surface (S), so that it is possible to vary the number of rushers (6) simultaneously in the active position, each pusher being in the form of a rigid piece which comprises a first branch (13) able to engage the drive member (9), and a second branch (14) substantially perpendicular to the first, able to project at least partly from the transportation surface (S) in order to engage the object (3), each pusher comprising a spindle (16) substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane (P), forming a means of fixing the rusher (6) to the support (7), and about which the rusher (6) is able to pivot, in order to pass from the inactive position to the active position, or vice-versa, said transporter further comprising a guide rail (17) which extends substantially in the conveying plane (P), substantially along the oath defined by the support (7), said guide rail (17) comprising, substantially along the transportation surface (S), a first top track (28) for guiding the pushers (6), contiguous with the transportation surface (S), and a second bottom track (23) for guiding the pushers (6), parallel to the first.