Device for forming and transporting cakes of soap and the like

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for forming and transporting cakes of soap and the like, of the type specified in the pre-characterizing part of claim 1. A device of this type is e.g. known from DE-A-1 903 884.

[0002] Known are devices for forming and subsequently removing (from the active forming area) cakes of soap and the like articles, which afford some output potential but have the disadvantage of providing in general a product the quality of which is inversely related to the extent of utilization of said potential.

[0003] In fact, a high production rate involves forming and removing a soap cake also at a high rate, these operations requiring the availability of equipments of adequate technology if the produce quality is to be maintained. Particularly with toilet soap cakes, quality, as referred to forming accuracy and hence the aesthetic appearance of the finished product, plays an important role. Now, conventional devices have defficiences of a technological nature which are connected with the difficult quality-output compromise.

[0004] Further, there exist other, not negligible, disadvantages as regards a high output rate, such as some inefficiency of the means for removing the formed soap cakes from the active forming area. These means, which are wholly conventional, cannot provide fast transportation features without the risk of losing some of the cakes being transported.

[0005] In view of the above situation, it is the general object of this invention to provide a device with high production rate capabilities, without jeopardizing the quality of the finished product.

[0006] Another object of this invention is to provide such a device, which affords a high degree of production versatility.

[0007] A further object of this invention is to provide such a device, which can minimize the removal time while maintaining a high quality level of the finished product.

[0008] A not unimportant object of this invention is to provide such a device, which is of simple and rational construction.

[0009] These and other objects are achieved by a device according to the invention, as defined in appended claim 1.

[0010] The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the inventive device, as illustrated by way of example and notof limitation in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a front view of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of this device;

Figure 3 is a front view of the device of this invention, shown during the forming and concurrent removal step of the formed cakes; and

Figure 4 is a side view of the device of this invention, shown during the rotation step of the rotor and removing means.

[0011] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there may be noted two continuous horizontally laid conveyor belts 1 and 2 which are parallel to each other and transporting, respectively, the formed soap cakes 3 and soap blanks 4. The latter are retained attheir travel end by a locator 19, selectively operating as a limit stop.

[0012] Interposed between said continuous conveyor belts is a rotor 5 having its axis parallel and horizontal to the belts 1 and 2 themselves, being mounted on a shaft 6 carried in rolling bearings 7 and 8.

[0013] The rotor 5 carries two (or more) mold halves 9 and 10 which are located diametrically opposite with respect to the rotor and have recesses 11 and 12. Such mold halves define soap cakes forming means and are connected to a suction means operative to supply a vacuum. As an example, pneumatic conduits 13 and 14formed in the rotor 5 and shaft 6, and opening into said receptacles 11 and 12, are provided.

[0014] The mold halves 9 and 10 located diametrically opposite have their axes perpendicular to the axis of the rotor 5, and respectively in common (after the rotor has been positioned) with antagonistic means and soap cake removing means which are defined by a removing arm 15 located above the belt 1, and a punch 16, located externallyto the belt 2, which carries a mating mold half 17.

[0015] Said removing arm 15 and punch 16 can move along their axes (Figure 3). Further, said arm 15, having at one end a suction cup shaped to fit closely against a soap cake, can also rotate (Figure 4) in a perpendicular plane to the axis of the rotor 5, and has an internally located tubular cavity 18 which is connected to conventional vacuum-producing means.

[0016] The device operates as follows.

[0017] The soap blanks 4, being held and positioned one at a time by the locator 19, are pushed by the punch 16 toward the mold half 10 of the rotor and formed with a molding section. At the same time, through the pneumatic conduit 14, a suction action is applied to create a vacuum within the receptacles 12. Again at the same time, the arm 15 moves along its own axis toward the rotor, and through its tubular pneumatic cavity 18, also exerts a suction action on the soap cake (formed during the previous cycle) which is released from the mold 9.

[0018] On completion of said molding step, both the punch and arm are returned to their starting position, the rotors turns through 180° in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 4) rigid with the formed soap cake which is held up by the vacuum created in the receptacle 12. Simultaneously therewith, the removing arm 15 rotates in a clockwise direction through 90°, while retaining the respective soap cake, and after unloading it onto the belt 1, discontinuing the respective suction effect, returns to a horizontal position by turning, again through 90°, in a counterclockwise direction.

[0019] At this point, the cycle may be resumed with a fresh forming of the soap parison in the same manner as explained above.

[0020] As mentioned, the molds may be more than two, always coupled diametrically to respective removing arms: for example, four may be provided as two pairs. The operation mode remains unaltered and production increases considerably.

[0021] Thus, the invention achieves its objects. In fact, the invention provides a device operating very accurately, which through the provision of said suction means, prevents any loss or drop-out of soap cakes being transported even when said rotor is operated at its maximum speed.

[0022] In practicing the invention, the materials used, shapes and dimensions may be any selected ones to meet individual requirements.

Claims

1. A device for forming and transporting soap cakes and the like, comprising first transporting means (2) for soap blanks (4), second transporting means (1) for formed soap cakes (3), a mold positioned between said first (2) and second (1) transporting means, as well as a formed soap cake removing means (15) arranged between said mold and said second transporting means (1) for depositing thereon removed soap cakes, said mold including a punch (16) and a rotor (5) having mutually cooperating mold halves (17, 9, 10), characterized in that said rotor (5) carries at least two mold halves (9, 10) arranged at angularly offset locations with respect to the rotation axis of said rotor (5) for simultaneously and respectively molding a soap cake in cooperation with said punch (16) and releasing a formed soap cake to said soap cake removing means (15), said mold halves (9, 10) in said rotor (5) being in communication with vacuum supply means for holding a just formed soap cake in said rotor mold half during rotation of said rotor (5) around its rotation axis.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said mold halves (9, 10) in said rotor (5) are arranged diametrically oppositely with respect to said rotor rotation axis.

3. A device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said mold halves (9, 10) in said rotor (5) comprise receptacles (12) connected to suction means through pneumatic conduits (13, 14) formed through said rotor (5) and a rotor carrying shaft (6).

4. A device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said rotor carrying shaft (6) extends horizontally, parallel to said first (2) and second (1) transporting means.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zum Formen und Transportieren von Seifenstücken u.dgl., mit ersten Transporteinrichtungen (2) für Seifenrohlinge (4), zweiten Transporteinrichtungen (1) für die geformten Seitenstücke (3), einer zwischen den ersten (2) und den zweiten (1) Transporteinrichtungen angeordneten Form sowie Einrichtungen (15) zur Entfernung der geformten Seifenstücke, die zwischen der Form und den zweiten Transporteinrichtungen (1) angeordnet sind, um auf diese die entfernten Seifenstücke abzulegen, wobei die Form einen Prägestempel (16) und einen Rotor (5) mit gegenseitig zusammenwirkenden Formhälften (17, 9, 10) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Rotor (5) wenigstens zwei Formhälften (9, 10) trägt, die in bezug auf die Rotationsachse des Rotors (5) winkelversetzten Stellen angeordnet sind, um jeweils gleichzeitig ein Seifenstück in Zusammenwirkung mit dem Stempel (16) zu formen und ein geformtes Seifenstück an die Einrichtungen (15) zur Entfernung der geformten Seifenstücke abzugeben, wobei die Formhälften (9, 10) im Rotor (5) mit Vakuumeinrichtungen in Verbindung stehen, um ein gerade geformtes Seifenstück in der Rotorformhälfte während der Drehung des Rotors (5) um seine Rotationsachse zu halten.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Formhälften (9, 10) im Rotor (5) diametral entgegengesetzt in bezug auf die Rotationsachse angeordnet sind.

3. Vorrichtung nach den Ansprüchen 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Formhälften (9, 10) im Rotor (5) aus Ausnehmungen (12) bestehen, die an Saugeinrichtungen über pneumatische Leitungen (13, 14) angeschlossen sind, welche im Rotor (5) und in einer den Rotor tragenden Welle (6) ausgebildet sind.

4. Vorrichtung nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich die den Rotor tragende Welle (6) waagerecht und parallel zu den ersten (1) und den zweiten (2) Transporteinrichtungen erstreckt.

Revendications

1. Dispositif- pour former et transporter des savonnettes et articles analogues, comprenant des premiers moyens de transport (2) pour des savons bruts (4), des seconds moyens de transport (1) pour les savonnettes formées (3), un moule placé entre lesdits premiers (2) et seconds (1) moyens de transport, ainsi que des moyens d'enlèvement des savonnettes formées (15) disposés entre ledit moule et lesdits seconds moyens de transport (1) pour y déposer les savonnettes enlevées, ledit moule comportant un poinçon (16) et un rotor (5) ayant des moitiés de moule (17, 9, 10) en coopération mutuelle,
caractérisé en ce que ledit rotor (5) porte au moins deux moitiés de moule (9, 10) disposées en des endroits décalés angulairement par rapport à l'axe de rotation dudit rotor (5) pour simultanément et respectivement mouler une savonnette en coopérant avec ledit poinçon (16) et relâcher une savonnette formée audit moyen d'enlèvement des savonnettes (15), lesdites moitiés de moule (9, 10) dans ledit rotor (5) étant en communication avec des moyens d'alimentation en vide pour maintenir une savonnette qui vient d'être formée dans ladite moitié de moule du rotor pendant la rotation dudit rotor (5) autour de son axe de rotation.

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdites moitiés de moule (9, 10) dans ledit rotor (5) sont disposées de façon diamètralement opposée par rapport audit axe de rotation du rotor.

3. Dispositif selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdites moitiés de moule (9, 10) dans ledit rotor (5) comprennent des réceptacles (12) reliés aux moyens d'aspiration par l'intermédiaire de conduits pneumatiques (13, 14) formés à travers ledit rotor (5) et un arbre (6) portant le rotor.

4. Dispositif selon les revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que ledit arbre (6) portant le rotor s'étend horizontalement, parallèlement aux- dits premiers et seconds (1) moyens de transport.

Drawing