(19)
(11)EP 2 403 782 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
28.06.2017 Bulletin 2017/26

(21)Application number: 10708395.8

(22)Date of filing:  08.03.2010
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B65G 17/12(2006.01)
B65G 47/57(2006.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/NL2010/050113
(87)International publication number:
WO 2010/101463 (10.09.2010 Gazette  2010/36)

(54)

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING GOODS BETWEEN CONVEYORS

VORRICHTUNG UND VERFAHREN ZUR ÜBERTRAGUNG VON WAREN ZWISCHEN FÖRDEREINRICHTUNGEN

DISPOSITIF ET PROCÉDÉ DE TRANSFERT DE MARCHANDISES ENTRE DES CONVOYEURS


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

(30)Priority: 06.03.2009 NL 1036672

(43)Date of publication of application:
11.01.2012 Bulletin 2012/02

(73)Proprietor: Nedpack Patenten B.V.
3846 CE Harderwijk (NL)

(72)Inventor:
  • HANNESSEN, Pieter, Gerrit
    NL-3842 DJ Harderwijk (NL)

(74)Representative: Haan, Raimond 
Arnold & Siedsma Bezuidenhoutseweg 57
2594 AC The Hague
2594 AC The Hague (NL)


(56)References cited: : 
EP-A1- 0 609 669
DE-A1- 10 150 255
US-A- 4 846 337
US-B1- 6 394 260
EP-A1- 0 999 152
NL-C2- 1 023 107
US-A- 5 101 963
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for transferring goods, and more particularly to a device and a method for transferring goods from a first to a second conveyor, wherein a height difference can be bridged between conveyors in substantially lying position.

    [0002] The Dutch patent NL 1 023 107 of applicant relates to a continuous vertical conveyor with curved guide tracks, which is likewise adapted to bridge a height difference between conveyers. Drawbacks of the conveyor described in this patent publication include, among others, wear of the endless drives.

    [0003] US-A-4,846,337 is directed to an arrangement for removing eggs from laying houses disposed at different levels, and discloses the preamble of independent claim 1.

    [0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a device and method of the above stated type, wherein one or more drawbacks are at least partially prevented and wherein wear of the endless drives is particularly reduced.

    [0005] The stated object is achieved with the device according to independent claim 1 and the method according to independent claim 6.

    [0006] In other words, the frame has a height direction and the support member can be coupled to the frame such that the support member is movable substantially freely along a predetermined path in the height direction by the endless drive, while the position transversely of the height direction remains substantially the same. The position remains substantially the same transversely of the height direction because the movement of the support member transversely of the height direction of the frame is substantially bounded by the coupling of the support member to the frame.

    [0007] Because an endless drive is applied, the predetermined path along which the support member is movable by means of the endless drive forms an endless circuit.

    [0008] Because the support member can be coupled to the frame such that the degree of freedom of the support member transversely of the plane of the frame is substantially fixed, while the support member is movable substantially freely in the plane of the frame by the endless drive, the support member simultaneously provides support (rigidity) and freedom of movement to the product carrier. A single endless drive can hereby suffice, which moreover only has to function as drive. Because the function of supporting the product carrier transversely of the plane of the frame - which movement is for instance compensated by a transverse load on the endless drive in the device shown in NL 1 023 107 - is absorbed according to the invention by the support member, the endless drive according to the invention is on the one hand loaded less, which already results in a significant reduction in the wear of the endless drive. A single endless drive will on the other hand suffice, whereby wear is reduced still further. If a plurality of endless drives together absorb a load - as in NL 1 023 107 - differences in the stretch between the different endless drives subjected to load will after all result in uneven running, this uneven running being a significant cause of wear. Because such a coupling between endless drives is redundant according to the invention, a considerable reduction in wear of the endless drive is obtained.

    [0009] A further advantage, in addition to wear of the endless drive being significantly reduced, is that the load which can be carried on the product carrier also increases considerably. This effect is obtained in that the product carrier is no longer directly coupled to an endless drive by means of a shaft and coupling elements - as in NL 1 023 107 - but is connected to a support member coupled to the frame. Owing to its coupling to the frame, this support member is able to absorb forces transversely of the plane of the frame. The endless drive itself only has to move the product carrier via the support member, and is itself no longer required to absorb any forces transversely of the plane of the frame. Because the support member absorbs these forces, the load-bearing capacity of the product carrier is increased, whereby heavier products can be displaced with the product carrier than has formerly been the case.

    [0010] A further additional advantage is that the device is easier to adjust now that the necessity of making a plurality of endless drives run as evenly as possible is avoided because a single endless drive will suffice.

    [0011] Other further advantages are that a single endless drive will suffice, whereby the device can be of more compact construction, fewer parts are necessary, and the device will moreover have a lower mass and will thereby be easier to transport and place. Because the number of parts has been reduced, reliability is moreover further increased.

    [0012] For the sake of completeness it is noted that the wording 'that the degree of freedom ... is substantially fixed' must be understood to mean a restraining which significantly reduces movement in this direction relative to the frame but which does not necessarily completely prevent absolute movement. It is for instance thus possible to envisage the frame itself deforming to some extent when a large load is being carried by the product carrier, while the frame does however maintain the situation where the degree of freedom is substantially fixed according to the teaching of the present invention.

    [0013] The degree of freedom of translations of the movement in the plane of the frame are linked to the endless drive. The degree of freedom of the rotation of the lying shaft which extends relative to the plane of the frame and with which the product carrier is arranged on the support member is linked to guide means. These guide means are adapted to hold the product carrier substantially in a horizontal position.

    [0014] The product carrier is connected drivably to no more than one endless drive. This endless drive has only a driving function, while the support member connected to the endless drive has a supporting function. Owing to this support member a second endless drive - as in NL 1 023 107 - is redundant.

    [0015] According to a preferred embodiment, a single endless drive is applied, although it is also possible to envisage a plurality of endless drives movable independently of each other being applied. A single endless drive can suffice because the endless drive functions only for the purpose of driving the support member but need not provide any support in transverse direction. The skilled person will appreciate that a device according to the present invention can comprise a plurality of - independently operating - endless drives, for instance one on both sides of the frame. These are endless drives operating independently of each other which can for instance each be applied for a direction of movement of their own, wherein it is also possible to envisage that the speed of the movement of the two drives differs.

    [0016] It is expressly noted that the invention relates only to embodiments wherein - if a plurality of endless drives are applied - these endless drives are independent of each other. Independent means that a single product carrier is in drivable mechanical connection with no more than one endless drive and the endless drives are not mutually coupled.

    [0017] It is of course possible to envisage a plurality of product carriers being drivably connected to one common endless drive. These product carriers, distributed at some mutual distance over the endless circuit, increase the transfer capacity proportionally to the number of product carriers.

    [0018] According to the invention, the endless drive is tensioned between at least an upper running wheel and a lower running wheel, wherein at least one of the two running wheels is drivable by the motor. Because the running wheels are placed one above the other, the endless drive tensioned over these running wheels provides a driving which extends in height direction over the substantially upright extending frame. The device is hereby suitable for transferring goods between conveyors between which there is a height difference.

    [0019] According to the invention, the frame comprises close to the running wheels a guide wall for guiding thereover at least the side of the support member remote from the running wheel. This side of the support member remote from the running wheel, i.e. the side of the support member which follows the outer bend, can be guided over a guide wall so that it is thereby coupled to the frame. In addition to a coupling to the running wheel, in this way a coupling to the frame - on the outer side of a bend - is also ensured during passage through the bend.

    [0020] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the support member is provided with wheels with a friction coefficient below 0.1. Although it is possible to envisage sliding contact by means of slide shoes between the support member and the support-providing parts, respectively frame or running wheels, when use is made of a wear-resistant material with a low friction coefficient, such as for instance nylon or a homogeneous polyurethane elastomer of high quality or polyamide, wheels are preferably applied. Because these wheels can roll, the frictional resistance is further reduced. During passage through a bend, in addition to a rolling movement of the wheels a guiding movement of the wheels will also take place, in which case a low friction coefficient of less than 0.1 is desirable.

    [0021] In addition to slide shoes and wheels, it is also possible to envisage ball races being applied. A ball race comprises a ball shell filled with one large ball supported by a large number of small balls. The advantage of ball races is their high load-bearing capacity.

    [0022] According to another further preferred embodiment, the wheels of the support member are manufactured from nylon.

    [0023] According to another further preferred embodiment, the device further comprises guide means adapted to hold the product carrier substantially in horizontal position, the guide means comprising at least four guide wheels which come into contact pairwise with a guide track.

    [0024] According to a further preferred embodiment, the device comprises a plurality of support members, distributed at some distance from each other over the endless drive, having in each case a product carrier coupled thereto. An increase in the capacity of the device can be obtained by applying a plurality of product carriers preferably distributed over roughly equal distances.

    [0025] According to a further embodiment, the first and/or the second conveyor is a rope conveyor or roller conveyor, and the product carrier comprises fingers, arranged roughly parallel and at some distance from each other, for dropping between the ropes of the rope conveyor or between the rollers of the roller conveyor. Product transitions are hereby prevented, this being advantageous in the case of unstable products or products with variable dimensions. The product carrier supports the product arranged on the product carrier at all times, whereby it is possible to avoid the product having to be gripped with for instance clamps or suction cups.

    [0026] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the distance between the ropes of the rope conveyor and/or between the rollers of the roller conveyor is at least greater than the width of the fingers, so that these fingers can be moved in reliable manner between the ropes and/or rollers.

    [0027] According to another further preferred embodiment, the endless drive comprises a rope, chain, belt or cable.

    [0028] The present invention further relates to a method according to independent claim 6.

    [0029] The present invention further relates to a method wherein a device as described in this document is applied.

    [0030] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated in the following description with reference to the drawing, in which:

    Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a transferring device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

    Figure 2 is a cut-away perspective front view of the transferring device shown in Figure 1;

    Figure 3 is a cut-away perspective rear view of the device shown in Figure 1;

    Figure 4 is a detailed perspective front view of a product carrier with associated support member of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

    Figure 5 is a detailed perspective rear view of the device shown in Figure 3;

    Figure 6 is a detailed perspective front view, wherein the support member passes through a bend; and

    Figure 7 is a detailed perspective rear view of the situation shown in Figure 6.



    [0031] The device 1 shown in Figure 1 for transferring goods, such as products 6, from a first conveyor 2 to a second conveyor 4 comprises a substantially upright extending frame 8. This frame has a front side 10 comprising a guide wall 14 and a front plate 16. Frame 8 further has a rear side 12, side walls 18 and a top wall 20. Arranged in frame 8 is an endless drive 24, in the shown embodiment a chain, which is adapted to move one or more product carriers 28 along frame 8, wherein a height difference can be bridged between first conveyor 2 and second conveyor 4. In the shown embodiment first conveyor 2 is a rope conveyor and second conveyor 4 is a roller conveyor. Product carrier 28 is rotatable about a lying shaft which extends transversely of the frame (in the X-direction) and which is connected to support member 26 (Figure 2). Support member 26 can be coupled to frame 8 such that the degree of freedom of support member 26 transversely of the plane of frame 8 is substantially fixed. In figure 1 this direction is indicated with X. Support member 26 can be moved substantially freely in the plane of frame 8 with endless drive 24, this plane being described by directions Y and Z.

    [0032] Figure 2 shows how endless drive 24 is tensioned and drivable between an upper running wheel 32 and a lower running wheel 34. In the shown embodiment the upper running wheel 32 can be driven by motor 22 so that product carrier 28 can be moved up and downward along frame 28. Support member 26 is further coupled to guide means 38 comprising guide wheels 40 and associated guide tracks 42. These guide means 38 are adapted to hold product carrier 28 substantially in a horizontal position and brings this about by causing a pair of the four guide wheels 40 at a time to come into contact with guide tracks 42 mounted on the frame (Figures 2 and 3).

    [0033] In the detailed view of Figure 4 support member 26 is drawn partially cut-away through the omission of front plate 50 of support member 26. Figure 4 hereby shows how support member 26 is mounted on endless drive 24 by means of a coupling element 54. Support member 26 is provided with wheels 36a-d which are mounted on support member 26 by means of shafts 56. Product carrier 28 is attached to the support member by means of a shaft 30 and can be rotated about this shaft 30 such that product carrier 28 is held in a substantially horizontal position by means of guide means 38. Guide means 38 comprise the guide wheels 40 shown in Figure 4, which can engage on guide tracks 42 (see for instance Figure 5).

    [0034] Support member 26 comprises a total of eight wheels 36a-d, respectively wheels 36a situated on the inner radius of the endless circuit and on the front side, wheels 36b likewise situated on the front side but then on the outer radius of the endless circuit, wheels 36c which are arranged on the inner radius on the rear side and wheels 36d which are situated on the rear side and follow the outer radius of the endless circuit. Wheels 36a and 36c together enclose a strip 60 of frame 8, while wheels 36b and 36d enclose a similar strip 62 of frame 8 in order to thus couple support member 26 to frame 8.

    [0035] Product carrier 28 comprises fingers 44 which have dimensions such that these fingers 44 of product carrier 28 can drop between ropes 46 of rope conveyor 2 and rollers 48 of roller conveyor 4.

    [0036] In the position of support member 26 shown in Figure 6 it can be seen that, as it passes through a bend with wheels 36a and 36c, it encloses a running wheel 32 of endless drive 24 while the wheels 36b and 36d situated on the outer radius of the path transpose from an enclosure of strip 62 to an enclosure of guide wall 14 of frame 8. Guide wheels 40 of guide means 38 run against guide tracks 42, whereby product carrier 28 is held substantially horizontally while support member 26 passes through the bend of the endless circuit. Wheels 36a and 36c displace at substantially the same speed as running wheel 32, whereby there is a small relative difference in speed. Wheels 36a and 36c can substantially stand still, while wheels 36b and 36d enclose guide wall 14 and move therealong. In addition to a rolling movement, wheels 36b and 36d here also make a slight sliding movement, for which purpose the wheels are embodied with a material with a low friction coefficient, such as for instance nylon. The cut-away rear view shown in Figure 7 clearly shows how wheels 36c enclose running wheel 32 and how wheels 36d of strip 62 transpose to guide wall 14.

    [0037] Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the above described embodiments are intended merely to illustrate the present invention and not in any way to limit the specification of the invention. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.


    Claims

    1. Device for transferring goods from a first (2) to a second conveyor (4), comprising:

    - a substantially upright extending frame (8);

    - an endless drive (24) arranged on the frame (8) and drivable by a motor (22);

    - wherein the endless drive (24) is tensioned between at least an upper running wheel (32) and a lower running wheel (34), wherein at least one of the two running wheels is drivable by the motor;

    - at least one support member (26) which is connected to the endless drive (24) and which is drivable in a circuit by means of the endless drive (24);

    - at least one product carrier (28) connected to the support member (26), wherein the product carrier (28) is connected to the support member (26) for rotation about a lying shaft (30) extending transversely of the frame (8);

    - wherein the support member (26) is connected drivably to no more than one endless drive (24);

    characterized in that

    - the frame (8) comprises a guide wall (14, 60, 62) having portions (14) close to the running wheels (32, 34) for guiding thereover at least the side of the support member remote from the running wheel (32, 34);

    - the support member (26) comprises at least a first pair of guiding elements (36a, 36c) situated on the inner radius of the endless circuit, and at least a second pair of guiding elements (36b, 36d) situated on the outer radius of the endless circuit, wherein the guiding elements (36a-d) are wheels, ball races or slide shoes, such that, when the support member (26) passes through a bend, the first pair of guiding elements (36a, 36c) encloses the corresponding running wheel (32, 34) and the second pair of guiding elements (36b, 36d) encloses the portion (14) of the guide wall (14, 60, 62) close to said running wheel (32, 34), and both pairs of guiding elements (36a, 36c; 36b, 36d) enclose other portions (60, 62) of the guide wall (14, 60, 62) in the other parts of the circuit, such that the degree of freedom of the support member (26) transversely of the plane of the frame (8) is substantially fixed, while the support member (26) is movable substantially freely along a predetermined path in the plane of the frame (8) by the endless drive (24).


     
    2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding elements (36a-d) are wheels that are manufactured from nylon.
     
    3. Device as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, further comprising a guide (38) adapted to hold the product carrier (28) substantially in a horizontal position, the guide (38) comprising at least four guide wheels (40) which come into contact pairwise with a guide track (42).
     
    4. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising a plurality of support members (26) with product carrier (28) coupled thereto and distributed at some distance from each other over the endless drive (24).
     
    5. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the first and/or the second conveyor (2, 4) is a rope conveyor or roller conveyor, and wherein the product carrier (28) comprises fingers (44), arranged roughly parallel and at some distance from each other, for dropping between the ropes of the rope conveyor or between the rollers of the roller conveyor.
     
    6. Method for transferring goods from a first to a second conveyor with a device according to any of the claims 1-5, comprising the steps of:

    - moving the support member (26) with the product carrier (28) connected thereto upward along the substantially upright extending frame (8) by means of the motor-driven endless drive (24) until the product carrier is at a higher position than the first conveyor, wherein the product carrier takes a product from the conveyor;

    - moving the product carrier (28) downward to a position lower than the second conveyor, wherein the product remains on the second conveyor; and

    - substantially fixing a degree of freedom of the support member (26) through the coupling of the support member (26) to the frame (8) and to the running wheels (32, 34), wherein this substantially fixed degree of freedom is oriented transversely of the plane of the frame (18), while the support member (26) can be moved substantially freely in the plane of the frame (8) by the endless drive (24).


     


    Ansprüche

    1. Verfahren zum Übertragen von Waren von einem ersten (2) zu einem zweiten Fördermittel (4), umfassend:

    - ein sich im Wesentlichen senkrecht erstreckender Rahmen (8);

    - ein Endlosantrieb (24), angeordnet auf dem Rahmen (8) und antreibbar durch einen Motor (22);

    - wobei der Endlosantrieb (24) zwischen wenigstens einem oberen Laufrad (32) und einem unteren Laufrad (34) gespannt ist, wobei wenigstens eines der beiden Laufräder durch den Motor antreibbar ist;

    - wenigstens ein Stützteil (26), welches mit dem Endlosantrieb (24) verbunden ist und welches in einem Kreislauf mittels des Endlosantriebs (24) antreibbar ist;

    - wenigstens einen Produktträger (28), verbunden mit dem Stützteil (26), wobei der Produktträger (28) zur Rotation um eine sich quer zu dem Rahmen (8) erstreckende liegende Welle (30) mit dem Stützteil (26) verbunden ist;

    - wobei das Stützteil (26) mit nicht mehr als einem Endlosantrieb (24) antreibbar verbunden ist;

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

    - der Rahmen (8) eine Führungswand (14, 60, 62) mit Abschnitten (14) umfasst, nahe an den Laufrädern (32, 34), um wenigstens die vom Laufrad (32, 34) entfernte Seite des Stützteils darüber zu führen;

    - das Stützteil (26) wenigstens ein erstes Paar von Führungselementen (36a, 36c), angeordnet auf dem inneren Radius des Endloslaufkreises, und wenigstens ein zweites Paar von Führungselementen (36b, 36d), angeordnet auf dem äußeren Radius des Endloslaufkreises, umfasst, wobei die Führungselemente (36a - d) Räder, Kugellaufringe oder Gleitschuhe sind, so dass wenn das Stützteil (26) durch eine Kurve läuft, das erste Paar von Führungselementen (36a, 36c) das entsprechende Laufrad (32, 34) umfängt und das zweite Paar von Führungselementen (36b, 36d) den Abschnitt (14) der Führungswand (14, 60, 32) umfängt, der in der Nähe des Laufrads (32, 34) ist, und beide Paare von Führungselementen (36a, 36c; 36b, 36d) andere Abschnitte (60, 62) der Führungswand (14, 60, 62) in den anderen Teilen des Laufkreises umfangen, so dass der Freiheitsgrad des Stützteils (26) quer zur Ebene des Rahmens (8) im Wesentlichen fixiert ist, während das Stützteil (26) im Wesentlichen frei beweglich entlang eines vorbestimmten Wegs in der Ebene des Rahmens (8) durch den Endlosantrieb (24) ist.


     
    2. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Führungselemente (36a - d) Räder sind, welche aus Nylon hergestellt sind.
     
    3. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, ferner umfassend eine Führung (38), dazu ausgelegt, den Produktträger (28) im Wesentlichen in einer horizontalen Position zu halten, wobei die Führung (38) wenigstens vier Führungsräder (40) umfasst, welche paarweise mit einer Führungsschiene (42) in Kontakt kommen.
     
    4. Vorrichtung wie in einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, umfassend mehrere Stützteile (26) mit damit gekoppeltem und in einigem Abstand voneinander über den Endlosantrieb (24) verteiltem Produktträger (28).
     
    5. Vorrichtung wie in einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche beansprucht, wobei das erste und/oder das zweite Fördermittel (2, 4) ein Seilzugförderer oder Rollenförderer ist und wobei der Produktträger (28) Finger (44) umfasst, welche in etwa parallel und in einigem Abstand voneinander angeordnet sind, um zwischen die Seile des Seilzugförderers oder zwischen die Walzen des Rollenförderers zu fallen.
     
    6. Verfahren zum Übertragen von Waren von einem ersten zu einem zweiten Fördermittel mit einer Vorrichtung gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, umfassend die Schritte:

    - Bewegen des Stützteils (26) mit dem damit verbundenen Produktträger (28) aufwärts entlang des sich im Wesentlichen senkrecht erstreckenden Rahmens (8) mittels des Motor-getriebenen Endlosantriebs (24) bis der Produktträger an einer höheren Position als das erste Fördermittel ist, wobei der Produktträger ein Produkt von dem Fördermittel nimmt;

    - Bewegen des Produktträgers (28) abwärts zu einer Position, die niedriger als das zweite Fördermittel ist, wobei das Produkt auf dem zweiten Fördermittel verbleibt; und

    - im Wesentlichen Fixieren eines Freiheitsgrades des Stützteils (26) durch das Koppeln des Stützteils (26) mit dem Rahmen (8) und mit den Laufrädern (32, 34), wobei dieser im Wesentlichen fixierte Freiheitsgrad quer zu der Ebene des Rahmens (18) ausgerichtet ist, während das Stützteil (26) im Wesentlichen frei in der Ebene des Rahmens (8) durch den Endlosantrieb (24) bewegt werden kann.


     


    Revendications

    1. Dispositif pour transférer des marchandises d'un premier (2) à un second convoyeur (4), comprenant :

    un bâti (8) s'étendant essentiellement de manière droite ;

    un entraînement sans fin (24) agencé sur le bâti (8) et pouvant être entraîné par un moteur (22) ;

    dans lequel l'entraînement sans fin (24) est tendu entre au moins une roue mobile supérieure (32) et une roue mobile inférieure (34), dans lequel au moins l'une deux roues mobiles peut être entraînée par le moteur ;

    au moins un élément de support (26) raccordé à l'entraînement sans fin (24) et qui peut être entraîné dans un circuit au moyen de l'entraînement sans fin (24) ;

    au moins un support de produit (28) raccordé à l'élément de support (26), dans lequel le support de produit (28) est raccordé à l'élément de support (26) pour tourner autour d'un arbre horizontal (30) s'étendant transversalement, à partir du bâti (8) ;

    dans lequel l'élément de support (26) est raccordé, par entraînement, à un unique entraînement sans fin (24) ;

    caractérisé en ce que :

    le bâti (8) comprend une paroi de guidage (14, 60, 62) ayant des parties (14) proches des roues mobiles (32, 34) pour guider sur cette dernière au moins le côté de l'élément de support à distance de la roue mobile (32, 34) ;

    l'élément de support (26) comprend au moins une première paire d'éléments de guidage (36a, 36c) situés sur le rayon interne du circuit sans fin, et au moins une seconde paire d'éléments de guidage (36b, 36d) situés sur le rayon externe du circuit sans fin, dans lequel les éléments de guidage (36a-d) sont des roues, des chemins de roulement à bille ou des patins coulissants, de sorte que, lorsque l'élément de support (26) passe par un coude, la première paire d'éléments de guidage (36a, 36c) enferme la roue mobile (32, 34) correspondante et la seconde paire d'éléments de guidage (36b, 36d) enferme la partie (14) de la paroi de guidage (14, 60, 62) à proximité de ladite roue mobile (32, 34), et les deux paires d'éléments de guidage (36a, 36c ; 36b, 36d) enferment d'autres parties (60, 62) de la paroi de guidage (14, 60, 62) dans les autres parties du circuit, de sorte que le degré de liberté de l'élément de support (26) est sensiblement fixe transversalement par rapport au plan du bâti (8), alors que l'élément de support (26) est mobile, sensiblement libre le long d'une trajectoire prédéterminée dans le plan du bâti (8) grâce à l'entraînement sans fin (24).


     
    2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les éléments de guidage (36a-d) sont des roues fabriquées à partir de nylon.
     
    3. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 ou 2, comprenant en outre un guide (38) adapté pour maintenir le support de produit (28) sensiblement dans une position horizontale, le guide (38) comprenant au moins quatre roues de guidage (40) qui viennent en contact par paire avec une voie de guidage (42).
     
    4. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant une pluralité d'éléments de support (26), avec le support de produit (28) couplé à ces derniers et répartis à une certaine distance les uns des autres sur l'entraînement sans fin (24).
     
    5. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le premier et/ou le second convoyeur (2, 4) est un convoyeur à câble ou un convoyeur à rouleaux, et dans lequel le support de produit (28) comprend des doigts (44), agencés de manière approximativement parallèle et à une certaine distance les uns des autre, afin de tomber entre les câbles du convoyeur à câble ou entre les rouleaux du convoyeur à rouleaux.
     
    6. Procédé pour transférer des marchandises d'un premier à un second convoyeur, avec un dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, comprenant les étapes suivantes consistant à :

    déplacer l'élément de support (26) avec le support de produit (28) raccordé à ce dernier, vers le haut le long du bâti (8) s'étendant de manière sensiblement droite, au moyen de l'entraînement sans fin (24) entraîné par moteur, jusqu'à ce que le support de produit soit dans une position plus haute que le premier convoyeur, dans lequel le support de produit prend un produit dans le convoyeur ;

    déplacer le support le produit (28) vers le bas dans une position plus basse que le second convoyeur, dans lequel le produit reste sur le second convoyeur ; et

    fixer sensiblement un degré de liberté à l'élément de support (26) via le couplage de l'élément de support (26) au bâti (8) et aux roues mobiles (32, 34), dans lequel ce degré de liberté sensiblement fixe est orienté de manière transversale par rapport au plan du bâti (18), alors que l'élément de support (26) peut être déplacé de manière sensiblement libre avec l'entraînement sans fin (24) dans le plan du bâti (8).


     




    Drawing


























    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description