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(11) | EP 0 082 123 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Procedure and arrangement for automatically aligning and inserting in packages products from belt conveyors |
| (57) In a procedure for automatically aligning and inserting in packages (10) products
(1) from a conveyor belt (2), the products (1) are aligned in rows both longitudinally
and laterally in an aligner (I). The products (1) are then moved to a grouping unit
(II), where they are grouped to form packaging modules adapted to the packages. The
grouped products (1) are transferred from the conveyor belt (2) to the packages (10)
by the grouping unit (II). An arrangement for implementing the procedure consists of an aligner (1) embracing a number of aligning arms (3-6) arranged laterally across the direction of transport (A) and a grouping unit (II) with guide arms (16-20) arranged laterally across the direction of transport. |
[0001] The present invention refers to a procedure and an arrangement for automatically aligning and inserting products in packages, particularly confectionary products of the type known as coconut or chocolate balls, which are fed forward from a casting or moulding station by a conveyor belt.
[0002] At present, finished products are, for the most part, inserted manually in packaging in the confectionary industry. This manual product handling has long been the focus of ration- alisation efforts, since it is labour-intensive and since most of the production costs consist of payroll costs. For example, picking what are known as coconut or chocolate balls from a belt conveyor and inserting them in packages requires four individuals on either side of the conveyor belt. Method and time studies have, admittedly, led to a continuous development of the work operations, the workstation layout and the aids involved, but handling these products still constitutes a heavy financial burden and efforts are, consequently, devoted towards increasing the degree of automation of the product handling.
[0003] The present invention has permitted the creation of a procedure and an arrangement which results in the products which are fed forward being automatically aligned both longitudinally and laterally on the conveyor belt and then grouped and inserted in trays or boxes with varying speeds depending on the width of the belt, the number of products in a lateral row and the belt speed. The products are aligned and grouped in modules depending on the design and the number of trays which are to be filled.
[0004] The arrangement for aligning and grouping in accordance with the present invention forms one unit, which is a prerequisite for arranging products in modules systemmatically and without disturbance. The products can then be moved and placed in trays or boxes, which stand ready for filling.
[0005] The units included in the arrangement according to the invention - aligner, grouping unit and inserter - are controlled electronically. The mechanical movements are carried out pneumatically (by means of air cylinders). Electrically controlled valves together with photocells and switches constitute the impulse control function in the system.
[0006] One design form of the invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the figures provided, which schematically illustrate the design and mode of operation of the invention.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the aligner in the arrangement.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the unit according to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the grouping unit and inserter in the arrangement.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the unit according to Fig. 3.
[0007] Coconut balls (1) are fed by a conveyor belt (2) from a casting station in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. 1) towards an aligner I. In the design example presented here, the aligner embraces four consecutive aligning arms (3, 4, 5 and 6) arrenged laterally in relation to the feed direction. The three last aligning arms are indicated by means of dash-dotted lines in Fig. 1.
[0008] The aligning arms (3-6) are normally in the raised position above the belt (2). The distance between the underside of the arms and the belt is adapted so as to permit coconut balls to pass between. When a row of coconut balls approaches the first aligning arm (3), a photocell (7) arranged adjacent to the belt indicates the presence of this row of coconut balls and activates an air cylinder (8), which lowers the abovementioned aligning arm (3) to an active position, in which the coconut. balls (1) come into contact with the arm (3). This causes the coconut balls (1) to be moved both longitudinally and laterally (maximum 20 mm) against the direction of the belt. In additon to an amplifier and receiver, the photocell (7) also embraces a time-delay relay which ensures that the arm (3) is retained in the active alignment position a sufficient length of time to move the entire row of coconut balls (1).
[0009] The air cylinder (8) then moves the arm (3) to the inactive position, whereupon the coconut balls (1) are transported to the next alignment station, embracing a photoce 11 (9) and a second alignment arm (4), which is moved between the active and inactive positions by an air cylinder (not shown). A further alignment of the row of coconut balls is carried out in this station in the same way as that described for the first arm (3).
[0010] The coconut ball rows are aligned in as many stations, embracing photocells, alignment arms and air cylinders, as are required to ensure that the desired alignment, which is suitable for the subsequent grouping unit, is obtained. In the design example presented here, each row is aligned in four aligning stations. ;
[0011] The aligned rows of coconut balls (1) are then transported to grouping unit II (Figs. 3 and 4) where they are grouped to form modules to suit the packaging tray (LO).
[0012] Grouping unit II embraces a trolley (11) arranged above the conveyor belt (2). The trolley (11) consists of a rectangular frame. The part of the rectangular frame which is located c osest to the conveyor belt (2) is connected to an air cylinder (12). The part of the rectangular frame which is located furthest away from the conveyor belt (2) is provided with rolls (13) which run between a pair of horizontal guides (14, 15). When the air cylinder (12) is actuated, the trolley (11) is made to move in a plane parallel to the conveyor belt (2) from a position above the belt to a position above the packaging tray (10) arranged after the conveyer belt (2). The purpose of this movement is indicated below.
[0013] The trolley (11) carries guide arms (16, 17, 18, 19 and 20) arranged laterally across the conveyor belt. The coconut balls (1) are grouped to form packaging modules with the aid of these guide arms (16-20). Each of the guide arms (16-20) is provided with guide devices (21) so designed that the guide devices (21) on a guide arm (16) together with the guide devices (21) on an adjacent arm (17) form a compartment for each coconut ball (1). The guide arms (16-20) are moved from an inactive position above the conveyor belt (2) to an active position adjacent to the belt with the aid of air cylinders (22, 23, 24, 25 and 26). These air cylinders are arranged vertically on the trolley (11), and each guide arm (16-20) is mounted on the piston rod belonging to an associated air cylinder (22-26).
[0014] The number of guide arms in the grouping unit is adapted to the number of coconut balls which can be held in the packaging tray (10). In the design example presented here, four rows of twelve coconut balls (1) are to be grouped. Consequently, five guide arms are required. Both the outer guide arms (16, 20) have guide devices (21) only on the side facing in towards the grouping unit, while the intermediate guide arms (17, 18, 19) have a two-sided arrangement of guide devices (21).
[0015] When the first row of aligned coconut balls is moved into the grouping unit II, the guide arm (16) located furthest into the unit has been moved down to its active position with the aid of the air cylinder (22). The abovementioned row of coconut balls (1) is then stopped by the side arm's guide devices (21), whereupon a photocell (27) (reflecting) actuates the ait cylinder (23) via a time-delay relay so that the adjacent guide arm (17) is lowered to its active position. The purpose of the time-delay relay is to ensure that the entire row of coconut balls (1) is adjacent to the guide arm (16) before the adjacent arm (17) is activated.
[0016] In the first row of coconut balls (1), each ball is now located in a compartment between the two guide arms (16, 17) at the same time as the rear of the last activated arm (17) serves as a stop for the next row of coconut balls (1). A photocell (27) arranged in front of the arm senses the presence of this row of coconut balls and actuates the air cylinder (24) so that the next guide arm (18) is activated. This procedure involving actuating the air cylinders by means of photocells continues until the grouping unit has been filled with coconut balls (1).
[0017] When the last guide arm (20) has been lowered to its active position, the air cylinder (12) is actuated and causes a horizontal movement of the trolley (11) from the belt conveyor (2) towards the packaging tray (10). During this movement the openings in the packaging tray (10) are covered with a covering sheet (28), which lies on a level with the upper belt part of the conveyor (2) so that the coconut balls (1) moved by the tiolley (11) can slide on top. The movement of the trolley (11) is stopped when all the coconut balls (1) are located above an opening in the tray (10).
[0018] The covering sheet (28) is connected with a horizontally aligned air cylinder (29), which is actuated when the grouping unit with the grouped coconut balls (1) are located in position above the packaging tray (10). The covering sheet (28) is then pulled away so that the tray (10) is exposed, whereupon each of the coconut balls (1) falls down into a space in these trays.
[0020] The handling of products in accordance with the invention can, in principle, be summarized in the following steps: alignment- collection - grouping - locking - transport - insertion.
[0021] The design example of the invention described above refers to handling coconut balls and similar circular products. Shapes other than circular can, of course, also be handled in accordance with the principles of the invention. The only difference is in the design of the alignment unit and a corresponding change in the grouping unit.
1. A procedure for automatically aligning and inserting in packages (10) products
(1) from a conveyor belt (2), characterized by the fact that
the products (1) are aligned in rows both longitudinally and laterally against the direction of transport (A) in an aligner (I),
the aligned rows of products (1) are grouped to form packaging modules in a grouping unit (II),
the grouped products (1) are moved by the grouping unit (II) to a position above the packages (10), where they are released so that they fall down into spaces adapted for the products (1) in the packages.
2. A procedure in accordance with Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the products
(1) are aligned in stages by a number of aligning arms (3-6) in an aligner (I), the
number of aligning arms (3-6) being sufficient for the alignment in question.
3. An arrangement for automatically aligning and inserting in packages (10) products
(1) from a conveyor belt (2) in accordance with Claim 1, characterized by an aligner
(I) embracing a number of aligning arms (3, 4, 5, 6) which are arranged laterally
across the direction of transport (A) and consecutively and which are used for aligning
the products (1) in rows, a grouping unit (II) embracing a number of guide arms (16,
17, 18, 19, 20) which are arranged laterally across the direction of transport and
consecutively and are used for grouping the products (1) to form packaging modules,
this grouping unit (II) being arranged so that it transfers the products (1) by means
of the abovementioned guide arms (16-20)) from the conveyon belt (2) to the packages
(10).
4. An arrangement in accordance with Claim 3, characterised by the fact that the aligning
arms (3-6) are arranged so that they are moved by air cylinders ( 8 ) between an inactive
position above the conveyor belt (2) and an active position adjacent to the belt (2),
in which latter position products (1) which have been fed forwards are halted and
are moved by the abovementioned arms longitudinally and laterally against the direction
of transport (A).
5. An arrangement in accordance with Claim 4, characterized by the fact that a detector
(7, 9) is provided in front of each aligning arm (3-6), and that this detector (7,9)
is arranged to sense the presence of a row of product:; (1) and, when it does so,
to actuate the air cylinder (8) so that the associated aligning arms (3-6) are activated,
whereupon a time-delay relay, belonging to the detectoi (7, 9) is arranged so that
it retains the aligning arms (3-6) in the active position until the entire row of
products (1) has been aligned.
6. An arrangement in accordance with any of the Claims 3-5, characterized by the fact
that the aligning arms (3-6) are arranged so that they successively align the products
which have been fed forward.
7. An arrangement in accordance with any of the Claims 3-6, characterized by the fact
that each guide arm (16-20) in the grouping unit (II) is mounted on an air cylinder's
(22-26) piston rod, and that this cylinder (22-26) is vertically arranged on a trolley
(11), which is located above the conveyor belt and which can be displaced horizontally
by means of an air cylinder (12), the guide aim (16-20) being arranged so that it
is moved by the associated air cylinder (22-26) from an inactive position above the
belt (2) to an active position adjacent to the belt, when detectors (27) arranged
on the trolley (11) adjacent to each guide arm sense the presence of a row of products
(1) beside the guide arm in question.
8. An arrangement in accordance with Claim 7, characterized by the fact that each
guide arm (16-20) is provided with guide devices (21) arranged so that they, together
with the guide devices (21) on an adjacent guide arm, form separate compartments for
each product (1) in a row ot products which has been fed forward, the outer guide
arms (16, 20) of the grouping unit having guide devices (21) on the side facing inward,
while the intermediate guide arms (17, 19) have guide devices (21) on both sides.
9. An arrangement in accordance with Claim 7 or 8, characterized by the fact that
the packages (10) intended for the products (1) are arranged after the conveyor belt
(2) with their openings facing upwards, these openings being covered by a horizontally
movable sheet (28), the top surface of which lies on a level with the top part of
the belt conveyor (2).
10. An arrangement in accordance with Claim 9, characterised by the fact that the
grouping unit's (II) trolley (11) is arranged so that it moves the grouped products
(1) from the conveyor belt (2) to a position above the packages (10), the covering
sheet (28) being arranged so that it is moved by an air cylinder (29) from the packages
(10) to release their openings when the abovementioned movement of the trolley (11)
has been concluded, so that the products (1) can drop down into the intended position
in the abovementioned packages (10).