U.S. patent application number 12/583655 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-21 for method and apparatus for distributing articles in a storage compartment.
Invention is credited to Henrik Pape.
Application Number | 20100268375 12/583655 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42979928 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100268375 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pape; Henrik |
October 21, 2010 |
Method and apparatus for distributing articles in a storage
compartment
Abstract
A method for distributing articles (2) made by series production
in a storage compartment (3), including the following steps: A.
Placing the article (2) on a longitudinally displaceable conveyor
(4) above the storage compartment (3); B. Displacing the article
(2) by the conveyor (4) to a discharge area (15, 15', 15'', 15''')
which is selected among at least two discharge areas (15, 15',
15'', 15''') in the storage compartment; C. Discharging the article
(2) by pushing it off over one (12) or the other edge (13) of the
conveyor by moving the conveyor (4) over the discharge area (15,
15', 15'', 15'''); D. Repeating steps A-C with selection of
discharge area (15, 15', 15'', 15''') in a controlled sequence.
Furthermore an apparatus (1) for performing the method is
described.
Inventors: |
Pape; Henrik; (Horsens,
DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES C. WRAY
1493 CHAIN BRIDGE ROAD, SUITE 300
MCLEAN
VA
22101
US
|
Family ID: |
42979928 |
Appl. No.: |
12/583655 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/218 ;
414/749.1; 414/800 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 69/0408 20130101;
B65G 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/218 ;
414/800; 414/749.1 |
International
Class: |
B65G 49/00 20060101
B65G049/00; G06F 7/00 20060101 G06F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 21, 2009 |
DK |
PA 2009 00512 |
Claims
1. A method for distributing articles (2) made by series production
in a storage compartment (3), including the following steps: A.
placing the article (2) on a longitudinally displaceable conveyor
(4) above the storage compartment (3); B. displacing the article
(2) by the conveyor (4) to a discharge area (15, 15', 15'', 15''')
which is selected among at least two discharge areas (15, 15',
15'', 15''') in the storage compartment; C. discharging the article
(2) by pushing it off over one (12) or the other edge (13) of the
conveyor by moving the conveyor (4) over the discharge area (15,
15', 15'', 15'''); D. repeating steps A-C with selection of
discharge area (15, 15', 15'', 15''') in a controlled sequence.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sequence of selecting
the discharge area (15, 15', 15'', 15''') of each article is
controlled by the steps: detecting degree of filling in each
discharge area (15, 15', 15'', 15''') in the storage compartment
(3); comparing degrees of filling; selecting the discharge area
(15, 15', 15'', 15''') on the basis of the said comparison.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor (4) is
elevated to a first height while performing step A, and wherein the
conveyor (4) is lowered to a second height before performing step
B.
4. An apparatus (1) for distributing articles (2) made by series
production in a storage compartment (3), wherein it includes: a
conveyor (4) with a support surface (5) for an article (2); a drive
means for longitudinal displacement (6) of the support surface (5)
of the conveyor; at least one pushing off means (7); at least one
drive means for inserting (8) the at least one pushing off means
(7) in the path of the article; a control means.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein it includes a drive
means for vertical displacement (9) of the support surface (5) of
the conveyor.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the conveyor (4)
includes an endless conveyor means (10).
7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the conveyor (4)
includes a slide (11) formed with free edges (12, 13) along open
sides transversely to the direction of movement of the
conveyor.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pushing off means
(7) is oriented largely perpendicularly to the direction of
movement of the conveyor.
9. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the conveyor (4) is
formed with free edges (12, 13) along open sides in parallel with
the direction of movement of the conveyor, and wherein the pushing
off means (7) is oblique relative to the direction of movement of
the conveyor.
10. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein it includes at least
one level measuring means (14) which is adapted for detecting the
degree of filling in each discharge area (15) in the storage
compartment (3).
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns a method for distributing
articles made by series production in a storage compartment.
[0002] The invention furthermore concerns an apparatus for
performing the method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention has appeared during development of machines
for making and delivering bags with loose ice cubes in
supermarkets. Such machines are designed with a top part with an
ice cube machine and a central packing machine packing the ice
cubes loosely in bags, and a lower part with a storage compartment
from where the filled ice cube bags are supplied as the customer
opens an access door to the storage compartment, providing himself
with a desired number of ice cube bags. An example of such a
machine is described in the applicant's patent application WO
2008/089762.
[0004] In connection with such machines it is a problem that the
bags fall down into the storage compartment over the same position.
Over time, the stack of bags will form a pyramid. This causes the
storage compartment to be badly utilised as it will only be
partially filled, resulting in low capacity for a storage
compartment of a given size. The storage compartment will rapidly
reach a level and thereby a degree of filling where additional bags
cannot be produced, before the filling degree is reduced.
[0005] The lower capacity of the storage compartment entails that
the ice cube machine is to be dimensioned with a relatively high
capacity in order to cope with peak loads. These occur e.g. in
connection with festivals or by sudden rises in the outdoor
temperature because of change in weather.
[0006] The problem has hitherto been solved by the staff in the
supermarket performing a manual levelling of the ice cube bags in
the storage compartment at short intervals.
[0007] There is a desire to avoid this manual levelling as there
are work safety considerations that limit the time in which the
employees are allowed to work with frozen products, and a desire to
release the employees' resources for other purposes in the
supermarket.
[0008] The machine will also find application in connection with
distribution of other serially produced articles in a storage.
compartment where distribution of the articles in an even layer is
wanted.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is the object of the invention to indicate a method and
an apparatus that ensure an even distribution of articles, in
particular bags with ice cubes made in a large number, in a storage
compartment, particularly in an ice cube distribution machine in a
supermarket.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to the present invention, this is achieved by a
method of the kind mentioned in the introduction which includes the
following steps:
[0011] A. placing the article on a longitudinally displaceable
conveyor above the storage compartment;
[0012] B. displacing the article by the conveyor to a discharge
area which is selected among at least two discharge areas in the
storage compartment;
[0013] C. discharging the article by pushing it off over one or the
other edge of the conveyor by moving the conveyor over the
discharge area;
[0014] D. repeating steps A-C with selection of discharge area in a
controlled sequence.
[0015] The apparatus according to the invention is peculiar in that
it includes [0016] a conveyor with a support surface for an
article; [0017] a drive means for longitudinal displacement of the
support surface of the conveyor; [0018] at least one pushing off
means; [0019] at least one drive means for inserting the at least
one pushing off means in the path of the article; [0020] a control
means.
[0021] By a system according to the present invention, it is
possible to achieve an even distribution of articles produced in
series in a storage compartment in a simple way.
[0022] The system is developed for use in ice cube distribution
machines for installation in e.g. supermarkets where the ice cubes
are made in situ according to need, and are packed immediately
before being put in a storage compartment under the ice cube
machine.
[0023] The system for levelling can be applied to other types of
machines than ice cube distribution machines, where a large number
of articles are produced centrally above a storage compartment in
which the articles are to be evenly distributed in order to utilise
the capacity of the storage compartment. Examples of such
applications could be in connection with a plastic injection
moulding machine where a large number of articles are produced
centrally, or in connection with packing and supplying other types
of foods, e.g. vegetables or confectionery.
[0024] In the present application, the above mentioned ice cube
distribution machine is used as example but this does not exclude
other kinds of systems.
[0025] The conveyor is provided a support surface upon which the
article is placed. This support surface has a horizontal
orientation such that the article does not slide off the conveyor
by itself, both during its start-up, movement and standstill.
[0026] The article is moved by the longitudinal displacement of the
conveyor. This longitudinal displacement of the article is
performed from an initial position where the article is delivered
to the apparatus from the preceding production step to a desired
discharge area above the storage compartment. For example, from an
initial position under a dispenser unit for packed ice cube bags in
an ice cube distribution machine to a discharge area above a
position in the discharge space in the lower part of the machine
from where the customers pick up the ice cube bags.
[0027] The number of discharge areas is determined with regard to
the extension of the storage compartment along the displacement
direction of the conveyor such that the distribution of articles in
the storage compartment becomes even.
[0028] In practice, during the development of an ice cube
distribution machine with a storage compartment having a length of
about 2 m, it has appeared that there is achieved a suitable even
distribution of ice cube bags in the storage compartment with four
discharge areas.
[0029] The conveyor may be of a type where the support surface is
formed on a slide which is suspended on an endless conveyor means.
The endless conveyor means may e.g. be a chain with a path formed
by a number of sprocket wheels. The slide is formed with free edges
along open sides transversely to the direction of movement, and
suspended along edges which are parallel with the direction of
movement. Pushing off is effected over one or the other edge at one
or the other side, respectively, which are transverse to the
direction of movement.
[0030] A pushing off means is introduced in the path of the
article. The pushing off means is oriented largely perpendicularly
to the direction of movement of the conveyor and stationary during
pushing off. Pushing off is effected by longitudinal displacement
of the slide and thereby the support surface for the article. The
article has no relative movement in relation to the pushing off
means, but the article moves relatively to the slide over the edge,
finally falling down over the discharge area in the storage
compartment under the action of gravity and due to the relative
movement between the support surface for the article and the
pushing off means.
[0031] Pushing off occurs over the edge which is rearmost relative
to the direction of movement of the slide.
[0032] Alternatively, the conveyor may be of a type where the
support surface is formed by an endless conveyor belt. The conveyor
belt has free edges along two sides which are parallel with the
direction of movement of the conveyor. Pushing off is effected over
one or the other edge at one or the other of the sides,
respectively, which are parallel with the direction of movement of
the conveyor.
[0033] A pushing off means is introduced over the conveyor belt in
the path of the article. The pushing off means is oblique in
relation to the direction of movement of the article and stationary
during the pushing off. Pushing off is effected by longitudinal
displacing the support surface of the conveyor belt for the article
by interaction with the oblique stationary pushing off means,
whereby the article is forced over one or the other edge of the
conveyor, depending on the direction of the oblique orientation of
the pushing off mechanism.
[0034] The discharge areas thus lie at each side of the
conveyor.
[0035] Besides, the conveyor belt may have free edges at its ends.
This provides a further discharge area for each free edge.
[0036] It applies to both types of conveyors that the conveyor
means do not need to be endless. They are just to be arranged such
that the direction of movement may be reversed when the support
surface of the article reaches an extreme position.
[0037] The type of conveyor is chosen with regard to the shape of
the storage compartment.
[0038] By storage compartments that are narrow in relation to the
width, there is chosen a conveyor with free sides and edges
transversely to the direction of movement in order to have
discharge areas directly under the conveyor, and thereby to achieve
discharge areas in one row.
[0039] By storage compartments that are wide in relation to the
width, there is chosen a conveyor with free sides and edges in
parallel with the direction of movement in order to have discharge
areas at each side of the conveyor, and thereby to achieve
discharge areas in two rows.
[0040] The pushing off means may be an arm which may freely be
introduced in the path of the article and removed according to
need.
[0041] Two discharge areas for each pushing off means may be
attained, as the drive means for the conveyor may be selected among
types with reversing direction of movement, such as electric,
hydraulic or pneumatic motors or linear actuators.
[0042] An example of such a method according to the invention with
one pushing off means and two discharge areas includes the
steps:
[0043] A. Placing the article on a longitudinally displaceable
conveyor above the storage compartment;
[0044] B. Displacing the article by the conveyor to a first
discharge area in the storage compartment;
[0045] C. Discharging the article by pushing it off over one edge
of the conveyor by moving the conveyor over the discharge area in a
direction away from an initial position,
after which the direction of displacement of the conveyor is
reversed and it returns to the initial position for repeating the
steps, as follows:
[0046] A'. Placing a new article on the longitudinally displaceable
conveyor above the storage compartment;
[0047] B'. Displacing the article by the conveyor to a second
discharge area in the storage compartment;
[0048] C'. Discharging the article by pushing it off over the other
edge of the conveyor by moving the conveyor over the discharge area
in a direction against the initial position,
after which the conveyor continues back to the initial position for
repeating steps A-C or A'-C', depending on the selected
sequence.
[0049] When the article is discharged over the first discharge
area, the pushing off means may be introduced in the path of the
article before performing step B, while it before discharging the
article over the second discharge area is introduced after
performing step B.
[0050] In a simple way is hereby achieved that each pushing off
means may cover two discharge areas.
[0051] The drive means for introducing the pushing off means may be
electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically driven and based on a
linear or rotating movement, or a combination of the two. Several
pushing off means may advantageously be connected with the same
drive means such that they are introduced in the path of the
article at the same time. This provides a more simple design. The
coupled pushing off means are introduced in the path of the article
immediately before discharge as one hereby avoids the article being
discharged over a wrong discharge area.
[0052] The apparatus is provided with a control means connected
with the drive means of the apparatus. The control means can be
based on an electronic circuit which may possibly be programmable.
Alternatively, the control means can be a pure mechanical control
which e.g. may be established by a hydraulic or pneumatic
circuit.
[0053] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method
according to the invention, this is peculiar in that the sequence
for selection of the discharge area of each article is controlled
by the steps: [0054] detecting degree of filling in each discharge
area in the storage compartment; [0055] comparing degrees of
filling; [0056] selecting a discharge area on the basis of the said
comparison.
[0057] The apparatus according to the embodiment of the method is
peculiar in that it includes at least one level measuring means
which is adapted for detecting the degree of filling in each
discharge area in the storage compartment.
[0058] In connection with systems where one or more users take
articles from the storage compartment, the degree of filling in the
discharge areas may be different due to the fact that the articles
are taken from the discharge areas at different rates. By actively
detecting the degree of filling in the individual discharge areas
and adapting the sequence of selecting discharge area on the basis
of a comparison of the degrees of filling in each discharge area,
there is achieved a levelling that takes account of user
interaction.
[0059] An example, where a distribution machine has four discharge
areas--1, 2, 3, 4--the sequence for selecting discharge area may be
as follows:
[0060] Filling degree for all discharge areas <100% [0061]
Discharge over the discharge areas in a uniform sequence, one by
one, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, etc.
[0062] Filling degree of a discharge area (e.g. area 1)=100%,
remaining areas <100% [0063] Discharge over the discharge areas
in a sequence that excludes the filled area, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4,
2, etc.
[0064] Filling degree of several discharge areas (e.g. area 1,
4)=100%, remaining areas <100% [0065] Discharge over the
discharge areas in a sequence that excludes the filled areas, e.g.
2, 3, 2, 3, 2, etc.
[0066] Filling degree of several discharge areas (e.g. area 1, 2,
4)=100%, remaining area <100% [0067] Discharge over the
discharge areas in a sequence that excludes the filled areas, e.g.
3, 3, 3, etc.
[0068] Filling degree of all discharge areas=100% [0069] The system
for levelling is stopped and discharge is suspended until the
degree of filling in the discharge areas reach a low value.
[0070] Monitoring the filling degree may furthermore be utilised
for controlling the production of articles.
[0071] For example, the said ice cube distribution machine may be
provided with two ice cube dispensers that deliver ice cubes to a
common packing unit. When the filling degree in half of the
discharge areas reach 100%, it may be decided to close one ice cube
dispenser and thereby control the production such that optimal
efficiency and minimal idling time is achieved for the units in the
production machinery.
[0072] Hereby is achieved less energy consumption and longer
service life for the whole distribution machine including
production machinery.
[0073] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method
according to the invention, this is peculiar in that the conveyor
is elevated to a first height while performing step A, and that the
conveyor is lowered to a second height before performing step
B.
[0074] The apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention
is peculiar in that it includes [0075] a drive means for vertical
displacement of the support surface of the conveyor.
[0076] This embodiment of the method and the apparatus is
particularly advantageous in connection with systems of a type
known from the applicant's patent application WO 2008/089762 where
the ice cubes are packed in film bags that are closed by welding
while using welding jaws.
[0077] During filling of a film bag, this typically hangs freely in
the machine such that it is possible to fill the film bag to a
given weight which is measured by a weighing cell. Then the
conveyor is lifted to a first height, whereby support of the film
bag, which is the article, is gradually taken over by the conveyor
until the former is fully supported on the support face of the
conveyor. The film web is now fully relieved and not influenced by
tensile forces induced by the weight of the filled film bag. Hereby
is achieved a better welding as severing the film web by melting
before establishing the necessary weld seams is avoided. A loaded
film web will rapidly be deformed in direction of the tensile
forces when melting under the action of the welding jaws such that
the film bag is inadvertently released from the film web.
[0078] The conveyor has drive means for the vertical displacement.
This drive means may include a linear actuator in the form of a
hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder connected with the suspension
points of the conveyor, a parallelogram or a guide for guiding the
conveyor during the vertical displacement.
[0079] In an embodiment of the invention, wherein the conveyor
includes a slide connected with an endless conveyor means in the
form of a chain provided with a path formed by a number of sprocket
wheels, the path is arranged such that by means of sprocket wheels
at different levels and distances it provides the slide with a path
where it may be displaced in height by passing the initial position
for placing the articles, and be displaced in longitudinal
direction towards the discharge positions.
[0080] In a particularly simple way there is hereby achieved the
ability of combining longitudinal displaceability with vertical
displaceability of the conveyor by means of the same construction
element in the apparatus. The same drive means is used for
longitudinal displacement and vertical displacement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0081] The invention will be explained in more detail below with
reference to the accompanying drawing, where:
[0082] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an ice cube distribution
machine;
[0083] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an ice cube distribution
machine;
[0084] FIG. 3 shows a first isometric view of an apparatus for
distributing articles;
[0085] FIG. 4 shows a second isometric view of an apparatus for
distributing articles;
[0086] FIG. 5 shows a view of an apparatus for distributing
articles, as seen from above and with the conveyor at an initial
position with an article on the support surface;
[0087] FIG. 6 shows a view of the apparatus, as seen from above and
with the conveyor at a position on its way to discharge the article
in a first discharge area;
[0088] FIG. 7 shows a view of the apparatus, as seen from above and
with the conveyor at a position during discharge of the article in
a first discharge area;
[0089] FIG. 8 shows a view of the apparatus, as seen from above and
with the conveyor at a position on its way to the initial
position;
[0090] FIG. 9 shows a view of the apparatus, as seen from above and
with the conveyor at an initial position with an article on the
support surface on its way to a second discharge area;
[0091] FIG. 10 shows a view of the apparatus, as seen from above
and with the conveyor at a position on its way to discharge the
article in the second discharge area;
[0092] FIG. 11 shows a view of the apparatus, as seen from above
and with the conveyor at a position on its way to the initial
position and after discharging the article in the second discharge
area;
[0093] FIG. 12 shows a side view of the apparatus with the conveyor
at a first height;
[0094] FIG. 13 shows a side view of the apparatus with the conveyor
at a second height;
[0095] FIG. 14 shows a second side view of the apparatus with the
pushing off means at a position outside the path of the article;
and
[0096] FIG. 15 shows a second side view of the apparatus with the
pushing off means at a position within the path of the article.
[0097] In the explanation of the Figures, identical or
corresponding elements will be provided with the same designations
in different Figures. Therefore, no explanation of all details will
be given in connection with each single Figure/embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0098] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an ice cube distribution
machine 16. The machine 16 is shown as example of an application of
the method and the apparatus 1 (see FIG. 2) which are objects of
the present application.
[0099] The machine 16 includes a top part with two ice cube
machines 17 and a centrally disposed packing machine 18 and a
bottom part with a storage compartment 3.
[0100] The ice cube machines 17 supply ice cubes down into film
bags which are closed in the packing machine 18. A filled and
closed film bag is termed an article 2 (see FIG. 2) in the present
application. The apparatus 1 (see FIG. 2) for distributing articles
2 (see FIG. 2) is disposed under the packing machine 18.
[0101] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the machine 16 where the front
side of the packing machine 18 and the storage compartment 3 are
open so that one may see into the machine 16.
[0102] The apparatus 1 is suspended under the packing machine 18
which is a dispenser of the articles 2 (see FIG. 2).
[0103] The storage compartment 3 in the shown embodiment of the
apparatus has four discharge areas 15, 15', 15'', 15'''. When the
articles are discharged over the discharge areas 15, 15', 15'',
15''' in a uniform sequence, a satisfactory levelling of the
articles 2 (see FIG. 2) in the storage compartment 3 is
achieved.
[0104] The degree of filling of the individual discharge areas 15,
15', 15'', 15''' is detected by a level measuring means 14, 14',
14'', 14''' for each discharge area 15, 15', 15'', 15'''. In the
shown embodiment, the level measuring means 14, 14', 14'', 14'''
are disposed higher than the uppermost level of the articles 2 in
the storage compartment 3. The risk of damage to the level
measuring means 14, 14', 14'', 14''' due to contact with the
articles 2 is thereby minimised.
[0105] On FIG. 2, the articles 2 in the storage compartment 3 are
shown at a low filling degree. There are a different number of
articles 2 on the different discharge areas 15, 15', 15'', 15'''.
The reason for this may be that the customers primarily have taken
articles 2 out from the discharge areas 15' and 15''. By comparing
the filling degrees in the discharge areas 15, 15', 15'', 15'''
based on measurements performed by the level measuring means 14,
14', 14'', 14''', the control means (not shown) of the machine will
prioritise filling discharge area 15' until it has the same degree
of filling as discharge area 15''. The two discharge areas 15' and
15'' are then filled until they have the same filling degree as
discharge area 15. After which the three discharge areas 15, 15'
and 15'' are prioritised until all discharge areas 15, 15', 15'',
15''' are provided the same degree of filling. The apparatus 1 will
then distribute the articles 2 over the discharge areas 15, 15',
15'', 15''' in a uniform sequence until the filling degree is 100%
for all discharge areas 15, 15', 15'', 15''' in the storage
compartment 3.
[0106] FIGS. 3 and 4 show isometric views of the apparatus 1 from
two different angles.
[0107] The apparatus 1 has a conveyor 4 with a support surface 5
for an article 2 (see FIG. 5). The conveyor 4 is longitudinally
displaceable so that it may distribute articles 2 (see FIG. 2) over
the discharge areas 15, 15', 15'', 15''' (see FIG. 2).
[0108] A drive means for longitudinal displacement 6 of the support
surface 5 of the conveyor is connected with a set of driving
sprocket wheels 19. In the shown embodiment, the support surface 5
of the conveyor is disposed on a slide 11. The slide has two open
sides transversely to the direction of movement with free edges 12,
13 (see FIG. 5). An article 2 will leave the slide 11 over these
free edges 12, 13. The slide 11 has a U-shaped cross-section, but
other cross-sections may also be used. The advantage of the
U-shaped cross-section is that the articles 2 only can leave the
slide over the edges at each end.
[0109] The conveyor 4 includes an endless conveyor means 10 in the
form of a chain 20 at each side of the slide 11 which runs around a
number of other sprocket wheels 21. The slide 11 is fastened at
each side to a chain link by an adapter 22. The two chain links are
disposed diagonally opposite each other. The endless conveyor means
10 both indicates a guide for the slide 11 and a connection between
the drive means for longitudinal displacement 6 and the support
surface 5, and thereby the slide 11.
[0110] The conveyor 4 is vertically displaceable as the chain 20
runs around three middle sprocket wheels 23 at each side. The slide
11 is elevated from a second height to a first height during
passage of the three middle sprocket wheels 23. This function is
used in connection with welding film bags where the support surface
5 is elevated such that an article 2 is fully supported and the
film web relieved thereby, such that cutting off a film bag is
avoided during welding. In the shown embodiment, the drive means
for longitudinal displacement 6 coincides with the drive means for
vertical displacement 9 of the support surface 5 of the
conveyor.
[0111] The conveyor 4 furthermore includes a pushing off means 7
which in the shown embodiment is an arm 24 which by rotating about
a shaft 25 connected with a drive means for inserting 8 the pushing
off means 7 can be inserted in the path of the article. The pushing
off means 7 is oriented perpendicularly to the direction of
movement of the conveyor and thereby that of the slide.
[0112] In the shown embodiment, the conveyor 4 has two pushing off
means 7--one at each side of the centre of the apparatus. Both arms
24 are connected to the same shaft 25 such that they both pivot
down by activating the drive means for inserting 8 the pushing off
means 7.
[0113] The conveyor 4 is surrounded by a frame 26 on which the
above components are attached.
[0114] Outside the frame 26 are provided level measuring means 14
in a number corresponding to the number of discharge areas. In a
preferred embodiment of the invention, there are four level
measuring means 14, 14', 14'', 14'''.
[0115] FIGS. 5-13 show different sequences as seen from above
during performance of the method according to the invention.
Sequences for discharge on discharge areas 15'' and 15''' are shown
(see FIG. 2). From that the skilled in the art may derive
discharging over the remaining discharge areas.
[0116] On FIG. 5, an article 2 is disposed on the support surface 5
of the conveyor on the slide 11. This is an initial position for
the method. The slide 11 is at its first height. This is step A of
the method.
[0117] FIG. 6 shows the slide 11 with the article over the
discharge area 15''. The pushing off means 7, which is an arm 24,
is inserted in the path of the article. The article 2 has just
contact with the arm 24. This is step B of the method.
[0118] On FIG. 7, the displacement of the slide 11 is continued.
The article 2 which is retained by the arm 24 is discharged over
one edge 12 of the slide in the discharge area 15''. This is step C
of the method.
[0119] On FIG. 8, the empty slide 11 is on its way back to the
initial position for collecting a further article 2. This is
preparation to step D of the method which is a repetition of steps
A-C with selection of discharge area 15, 15', 15'', 15''' among the
accessible discharge areas in a controlled sequence.
[0120] FIG. 9 shows the slide 11 with an article 2 where the slide
is on its way to discharge area 15'''. This is during performance
of step B of the method. The pushing off means 7, which is the arm
24, is in a position where it is outside the path of the
article.
[0121] FIG. 10 shows the slide 11 with the article 2 over the
discharge area 15'''. The arm 24 is introduced in the path of the
article. The article 2 has just contact with the arm 24. The
conveyor 4 changes direction of displacement. This is the end of
step B of the method.
[0122] On FIG. 11, the displacement with the changed direction is
continued. The article 2, which is retained by the arm 24, though
on another side of the latter in relation to discharge over the
discharge area 15'' as on FIG. 7, is discharged over the other edge
13 of the slide in the discharge area 15'''. This is step C of the
method.
[0123] The slide 11 then continues longitudinal displacement
towards the initial position for repeating the method.
[0124] FIG. 12 shows the apparatus 1 with the conveyor 4 lifted to
a first height where a film bag is supported for welding.
[0125] FIG. 13 shows the apparatus 1 with the conveyor 4 lowered to
a second height after cutting off the article 2.
[0126] FIGS. 14-15 show the apparatus 1 with the conveyor 4 which
here comprises a slide 11 and the pushing off means 7, which here
is an arm 24 which by rotation about a shaft 25 can be inserted in
the path of the article.
[0127] On FIG. 14, the arm is at a position outside the path of the
article, while on FIG. 15 it is at a position within the path of
the article where pushing off occurs by the continued displacing of
the slide past the arm 24 in one and the other longitudinal
direction, respectively, depending on which side out of the plane
relative to FIG. 15 discharge is desired.
[0128] FIG. 16 shows an alternative embodiment of the apparatus 1
where the conveyor 4 includes an endless conveyor means 10 in the
form of a conveyor belt 26 having free edges 12, 13 in parallel
with the direction of movement of the conveyor. The pushing off
means 7 is oblique relative to the direction of movement of the
conveyor. In the shown embodiment, the apparatus 1 has two
discharge areas 15, 15'. These may be served by means of one
pushing off means 7.
[0129] The article 2 will be pushed over one 12 and the other 13,
respectively, free edge of the conveyor belt, depending on its
direction of movement, as the article 2 is acted on by an oblique
resulting force due to the oblique orientation of the pushing off
means 7.
[0130] This embodiment of the invention enables use of only one
apparatus in even relatively wide storage compartments as the
discharge areas are laid out in two rows, one at each side of the
conveyor 4.
* * * * *