GB2036680A - Conveying goods through processing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A plate 5 rotates step-by-step, bringing a plurality of seats 6 in succession over an elevator member 21. Each seat accommodates a product P and when each seat stops over the elevator member 21 the member 21 rises to grip the product and a wrapper Z against a counter elevator 22. The elevator member and the counter-elevator then rise together, the elevator member passing through the seat 6, to transfer the product to a wrapping station S. To increase the production rate of the machine, the plates does not wait until the member 21 has withdrawn from the seat 6 before the plate carries out its next increment of rotation. Instead the elevator member 21 moves with the seat 6 as the plate 5 rotates, carried on a slide 37 movable along rods 37. Thus withdrawal of the elevator member can take place while the plate 5 is rotating. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in automatic processing machines The invention relates to automatic processing machines in general and more particularly to machines of this kind provided with a succession of product distribution stations which perform stepwise movement. For example, a machine may have a distributor plate having a vertical axis, which rotates in steps and is provided at its periphery with suitable equidistant seats in each of which a product to be processed is automatically positioned when the products themselves (for example caramels or the like) are fed on to the plate in a random manner.

In such machines an elevator member is normally provided. At appropriate times and when the distributor plate is stationary this member passes through the said seats one at a time and in conjunction with a counter-elevator effects transfer of the product from the seat itself to a wrapping or processing station.

But the time of idle return movement of the elevator lengthens the working cycle of the processing machine.

The invention seeks to increase the productivity of the processing machines referred to, by eliminating delay from the elevator return time, that is to say, by ensuring that this return movement takes place in conjunction and in correct timing with the operative movement of other members of the processing machine.

The invention provides an automatic processing machine having a succession of product distribution stations which perform stepwise movement, the machine having an elevator member arranged to pass through each product distribution station when that product distribution station reaches a predetermined position, to transfer a product from that product distribution station to a product processing station, return movement of the said elevator mem betaking place in conjunction with the stepwise movement of that product distribution station, that is to say in such a manner that during its return movement the elevator member moves in a first direction to follow that product distribution station for some distance and then disengages from that product distribution station and returns, by a translational movement in a direction opposite to the said first direction thereby moving into registration with a new product to be transferred from the succeeding product distribution station to the product processing station.

Where each elevator member passes through a seat of each product distribution station, a clearance may be provided between the elevator member and the seat so that the said translational movement of the elevator member can begin before the elevator member has completely disengaged from the seat.

In order to increase the said clearance, and hence make possible a higher working speed for the machine, the movement of the elevator member in the said first direction may take place at a speed greater than the speed of the stepwise movement of the product distribution stations.

Alternatively or in addition, in order to increase the said clearance the seats may be provided with recesses at the front and at the rear with respect to the direction of stepwise movement, and the dimensions of these recesses are such that the recesses can accommodate the elevator member but cannot accommodate the product.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation and with certain parts in section, of an embodiment of processing machine according to the invention, Figures 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views in side elevation and with certain parts in section, of kinematic mechanisms provided for actuating respectively a slider carrying an elevator, the elevator itself and a counter-elevator, Figure 5 is a plan view of the counter-elevator from above, Figures 6, 7,8,9 and 10 are diagrammatic views in side elevation and with certain parts in section, illustrating certain important phases ofthwworking cycle of the elevator;; Figure 7 7 is a diagram in the form of a graph showing the movement of the elevator; and Figure 12 is a plan view from above of a detail of the distributor plate of the processing machine, according to a modification.

Referring first to Figure 1, it can be seen that the processing machine comprises a fixed casing, and a flange 2 fixed to the top of this casing carries a sleeve 3 within which a shaft 4 is rotatably mounted.

This shaft carries a plate 5 for distributing the products, which is keyed to the top of the shaft. 6 designates a plurality of seats distributed circumferentially around the periphery of the plate 5 at appropriate equal distances from one another and each adapted to receive a product P which will position itself correctly in the seat. The products P are retained in the seats by a lower support guide 7.

This guide is supported by lugs 8 fixed to a cover 9 which closes the casing 1 at the top and has suitable horizontal arms 10 adapted to support an annular collar 11 in a position concentric with the plate 5 and surrounding the plate to retain on the plate the products to be processed which are fed to the plate in a random manner from means of a known type which are diagrammatically indicated by the arrow F. Means which ensure correct positioning of the products Pin the seat 6 of the plate 5 are known and therefore not illustrated in Figure 1, whereas the Figure does illustrate a conical cover 12 located in the central part and above the plate and performing the function of deflecting the products towards the peripheral seats 6.

A main driving shaft 13 extends into the interior of the casing 1. Through the intermediary of a device 14, for instance of the type known commercially under the name "Rotoblock", a rotary movement in steps of suitable amplitude and always in the same direction is imparted by the driving shaft to the shaft 4 and therefore to the plate 5.

Through the intermediary of a train of gears 15 the rotation of the shaft 13 is transmitted to actuate a pump 16 used for forced lubrication of the various mechanisms located within the casing 1, and through the intermediary of the same gears a shaft 17 is rotated. Three double acting cams 18, 19 and 20 used for the purposes stated hereinafter are keyed in predetermined phases on this shaft. The cams in question are for instance of the type in which the profile of the cams is "read" by a pair of rollers carried by a rod which is disposed radially with respect to the cam and has a bifurcated end co-operating with a guide body rotatably mounted on the shaft 17.

Opposite a processing station S of known type means which are also known and therefore not described are adapted to position a wrapping sheet Z above one of the seats 6 and products P. The system is such that in one phase of operation of the machine and when the plate 5 is stationary an elevator member 21 rises, and this member in conjunction with a counter-elevator 22 effects transfer of the product P and wrapper Z into the processing station S where P and Z are engaged at the right moment by one of the pairs of tongs A of a rotor B operatively connected to the processing machine. Figure 6 illustrates the instant at which the product P and the wrapper Z are engaged by the elevator 21 and the counter-elevator 22. Figure 7 illustrates the same members at the end of the rising movement of the elevator and counter-elevator.

From that Figure and also by reference to Figure 1 it can be seen that in the station S the wrapper Z goes through a fixed bifurcated member D forcing the wrapper to assume an inverted U shape. In a following phase which can also been seen in Figure 8, while the counter-elevator is making a further upward movement and while the elevator 21 is returning downwards, a spatulate member E of known type intervenes and causes a flap of the wrapperto be folded over. Referring again to Figure 1, it is seen that in the following stepwise rotation of the tongs 4 as shown by arrow F1, a fixed curved guide G causes the wrapper Z to be formed into a tube around the product, folding down the other flap of the wrapper itself.In the zone K1 where the tongs are stationary, the closure of the wrapper is effected for instance by an operation in which its ends are twisted, whereas in the following standstill zone K2 the said tongs open and the processed product is discharged.

Also, referring to Figure 5, it is seen that the counter-elevator 22 comprises an arm 25 transversely pivoted at 23 to the top of the vertical rod 24 to which an alternating movement is imparted; this arm is urged downwards by an end spring 26 and is provided at its other end with an adjusting screw 27; a prolongation arm 29 is removably fixed at 28 to the said other end of the first-mentioned arm and is located on the vertical plane containing the axis of the rotor B and is provided at its end with a head 129 suitably padded for gentle contact with the product to be processed. The axis of this head 129 passes through the centre of the seat 6 which periodically is stationary underneath the processing station S.

When the shape of the product is changed it is possible to replace the arm 29 by another arm having a suitable shape and dimensions. From Figures 1 and 4 it is seen that the rod 24 carrying the counter-elevator 22 is rigidly connected at the bottom to a carriage provided with a roller 30 which runs in a fixed vertical guide 31 so that rotation of that rod within its own guide support 32 is avoided.

The bottom end of the rod 24 itself is also connected to a link rod 33 and this is connected to a lever 34 pivoted at 35 on a fixed support not shown in the drawings. The other end of the lever 34 is connected to a rod 36 to which the appropriate alternating movement is imparted by the cam20 (see Figure 1).

The major characteristic of this embodiment of processing machine is the elevator member 21 which is considered last because it requires more extensive description.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, it is seen that the elevator 21 is vertically movably mounted on a slider 37 slidable on a pair of parallel horizontal rods 38 connected to the casing in such a way that in the alternating movement of this slider the axis of the elevator 21 itself must be translated on the plane tangential to the circumference which contains the centre of each of the seats 6 of the distributor plate 5.

For the alternating displacement on the rods 38 the slider 37 is connected by means of a rod 39 to a lever 40 pivoted at 41 on a fixed support 42 and connected to the rod 43 to which the appropriate alternating movement is imparted by the cam 18.

To prevent foreign bodies from entering the casing 1 through the aperture 44 which is present in the cover 9 to permit the alternating displacement of the top part of the slider 37, a diaphragm 45 associated with this slider is urged in the direction towards 9 by a resilient means 46 and is adapted to cover the said aperture 44 at all times.

For the necessary upward and downward movement (see Figures 1 and 3) the bottom end of the elevator 21 itself is connected by way of a link rod 47 to a lever 48 pivoted at 49 to a fixed support and connected to a rod 50 to which the appropriate alternating movement is imparted by the cam 19.

The mechanisms operatively connected to the elevator 21 are constructed and connected to the other members of the processing machine in such a manner that the system as a whole functions in the following way.

When the plate 5 is stationary, the slider 37 carrying the elevator 21 is also stationary and the elevator in conjunction with the counter-elevator effects transfer of the product P and wrapper Z from the seat 6 (Figure 6) to the processing station (Figure 7). In this phase the elevator 21 makes the upward part of its movement indicated by X1 in the diagram in Figure 11.

When the product P and the wrapper Z have been engaged by the tongs A of the rotor B as in Figure 8, the elevator 21 begins its downward movement as indicated by arrow F2. At the right moment the plate 5 begins to rotate or has already begun to rotate in the appropriate direction as shown by the arrow F3, while the slider 37 carrying the elevator is displaced with correct timing in the direction of the arrow F4 in accordance with the movement of the plate itself. In this phase the elevator 21 makes the downward part of its own movement indicated by X2 in Figure 11.

While the counter-elevator also is making its downward movement as in Figure 9, a new product P' is about to be transferred by the plate 5 opposite the wrapping station.

Lastly, when the elevator has reached a position completely below the plate 5 or is nearly clear of the plate, the slider 37 carrying the elevator begins a translational movement in the direction F5 opposite to the previous direction (see Figures 9 and 10), so that on completing the last part of its movement indicated by X3 in Figure 11, the elevator itself reaches the wrapping station at the same time as the new product P' to be processed. At this point it becomes clear that by virtue of this combined movement of the elevator 21, the idle part of the movement of the elevator takes place in conjunction with the stepwise rotation of the plate 5 and therefore during a time which does not lengthen the total time of each working cycle, and this results in greater productivity of the processing machine.

With particular reference to Figures 6 to 10, it can be appreciated that the elevator member 21 presents a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the seat 6 of the distribution station, so that there is a clearance between the elevator member 21 and the seat 6, and the translational movement F5 of the elevator member can begin before the said elevator member has completely disengaged from the seat.

Moreover, in order to increase the said clearance, the movement of the elevator member in the direction of the arrow F4 in accordance with the movement of the plate 5, prior to the above mentioned translational movement F5, preferably takes place at a speed greater than the speed of the stepwise movement of the plate 5.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention in which numerous changes and modifications can be made, more particularly as regards design. In some of these modifications for instance the elevator 21 instead of making an alternating translational movement along a rectilinear path substantially tangential to the plate 5 may in fact be translated along a curved path substantially concentric with the plate itself. Obviously the principle of the improvement of the described rotary processing machine can also be applied to rectilinear or transfer machines, and, if the processing station permits this, several elevators can operate at the same time under the control of a single mechanism of the form described or each under the control of a respective mechanism of this form.

For further increase of the speed of descent of the elevator and therefore of the speed of stepwise rotation of the distributor plate also, the seats 6 (see Figure 12) may be provided with recesses 106 at the front and at the rear (in the direction of movement) in order to create a greater clearance between these seats and the elevator and therefore a wider possibility of movement of these parts relatively to one another.

These and other changes and modifications which may be considered and which will also be readily apparent to those skilled in the art are not outside the scope of the invention as set forth above, as illustrated and as claimed hereunder.

Claims (5)

1. An automatic processing machine having a succession of product distribution stations which perform stepwise movement, the machine having an elevator member arranged to pass through each product distribution station when that product distribution station reaches a predetermined position, to transfer a product from that product distribution station to a product processing station, return movement of the said elevator member taking place in conjunction with the stepwise movement of that product distribution station, that is to say in such a manner that during its return movement the elevator member moves in a first direction to follow that product distribution station for some distance and then disengages from that product distribution station and returns, by a translational movement in a direction opposite to the said first direction thereby moving into registration with a new product to be transferred from the succeeding product distribution station to the product processing station.

2. An automatic processing machine as claimed in Claim 1, in which the elevator member passes through a seat of each product distribution station, there being a clearance between the elevator member and the seat so that said translational movement of the elevator member can begin before the elevator member has completely disengaged from the seat.

3. An automatic processing machine as claimed in Claim 2, in which, in order to increase the said clearance, the movement of elevator member in the said first direction takes place at a speed greater than the speed of the stepwise movement of the product distribution stations.

4. An automatic processing machine as claimed in Claim 2, or Claim 3, in which, in order to increase the said clearance, the seats are provided with recesses at the front and at the rear with respect to the direction of stepwise movement and the dimensions of these recesses are such that the recesses can accommodate the elevator member but cannot accommodate the product.

5. An automatic processing machine, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.