U.S. patent application number 16/386708 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-08 for apparatus and methods for product orientation and hole healing applications.
The applicant listed for this patent is R.A Jones & Co.. Invention is credited to Mark Roland Godon, Robert M. Kalany, Michael Andre Lemay, Anthony B. Salvato, Aleksandr Shneyder.
Application Number | 20190241371 16/386708 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60409435 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-08 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190241371 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kalany; Robert M. ; et
al. |
August 8, 2019 |
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCT ORIENTATION AND HOLE HEALING
APPLICATIONS
Abstract
Articles are transferred from an article supply conveyor to an
article receiving conveyor while the transferring articles are
selectively reoriented. When the conveyors are in parallel, a
travelling article reorienting turret seeks articles following an
article absence or hole on the supply conveyor and transfers the
following article to a next-in-line position on the receiving
conveyor to cure or avoid holes of articles on the receiving
conveyor.
Inventors: |
Kalany; Robert M.;
(Florence, KY) ; Salvato; Anthony B.; (Cincinnati,
OH) ; Godon; Mark Roland; (Midlothian, VA) ;
Lemay; Michael Andre; (Midlothian, VA) ; Shneyder;
Aleksandr; (Midlothian, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
R.A Jones & Co. |
Covington |
KY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60409435 |
Appl. No.: |
16/386708 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15805841 |
Nov 7, 2017 |
10273092 |
|
|
16386708 |
|
|
|
|
62418381 |
Nov 7, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 2201/0235 20130101;
B65G 47/252 20130101; B65G 47/52 20130101; B65G 47/914 20130101;
B65G 47/918 20130101; B65G 47/32 20130101; B65G 47/848 20130101;
B65G 47/244 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65G 47/244 20060101
B65G047/244; B65G 47/252 20060101 B65G047/252; B65G 47/91 20060101
B65G047/91; B65G 47/32 20060101 B65G047/32; B65G 47/52 20060101
B65G047/52; B65G 47/84 20060101 B65G047/84 |
Claims
1-22. (canceled)
23. An article handling apparatus including: an extended article
supply conveyor for conveying articles disposed randomly about
least three article spaces thereon; an extended article receiving
conveyor disposed operably proximate thereto; an article transfer
element operably disposed between said conveyors, rotary article
carrying elements on said transfer element; said transfer element
operably movable in a path over both said conveyors; said rotary
article carrying elements operable to engage first articles on said
article supply conveyor and transfer them to said article receiving
conveyor; said rotary article carrying elements being selectively
rotatable to reorient said transferring first articles from an
article supply orientation to a second orientation; and said
article transfer element moveable in a direction along a direction
parallel to the extension of said supply conveyor and between at
least said three article spaces on said article supply
conveyor.
24. Apparatus as in claim 23 wherein said article transfer element
is rotatable, and said rotary article carrying elements are
moveable in a circular path.
25. Apparatus as in claim 24 wherein said article transfer element
is moveable linearly in a path along said article supply conveyor
to at least said three spaces.
26. Apparatus as in claim 25 wherein said article transfer element
is operable to engage and transfer a first article on said article
supply conveyor to said article receiving conveyor, and is then
moveable past an article space on said article supply conveyor to a
following article space on said article supply conveyor.
27. Apparatus as in claim 26 wherein said article transfer element
is operable to engage a following article at a third article space
and is moveable to transfer the following article to said article
receiving conveyor immediately adjacent said first article on said
article receiving conveyor.
28. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said transfer element
selectively orients said following article while transferring
it.
29. Article handling apparatus comprising: a first article
conveyor; a second article conveyor parallel to said first
conveyor; a rotary turret operably moveable for operable
disposition along said first article conveyor between said
conveyors for engaging, selectively reorienting and transferring
first articles from a first orientation on said first article
conveyor to a second orientation on said second article conveyor;
said rotary turret moveable in an upstream direction along said
first article conveyor for engaging and reorienting succeeding
articles from upstream locations on said first article conveyor,
and then moveable in an opposite direction for transferring engaged
succeeding articles to positions on said second article conveyor
immediately respectively following said first articles thereon.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
15/805,841, filed Nov. 7, 2017, which Applicant claims the benefit
of the filing date of Nov. 7, 2016 of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/418,381, which the applications are
herewith incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to apparatus and methods for
selectively orienting articles transferring between conveyors and
repairing holes or absences of missing articles in an incoming
stream of articles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In packaging equipment, it is common and frequently
necessary to reorient a product or article from an orientation in
an incoming product or article stream to another orientation prior
to loading it into a carton or bin. This need is most common when
the incoming product is of odd shape and requires nesting in the
packaging carton, or if the carton contains cut outs to showcase a
feature of the product. In many cases, the product is roughly
rectangular with sides longer than narrower ends, and is conveyed
in a single stream with either narrow product end edge leading or
broad side edge leading. The product can be, but is not limited to
articles of various types such as pouches, bars, or trays.
[0004] The terms "article" and "product" are used herein
interchangeably.
[0005] While several prior methods are known for product
reorientation in packaging processes, known systems have inherent
problems.
[0006] For example, in a packaging apparatus or process, one form
of product packaging may require a specific product reorientation,
while the next form of product packaging may require a different
reorientation. Such requirements mandate expensive equipment
change-out, or downtime for re-adjustment, equipment replacement or
the like. It is difficult if not impossible to accommodate multiple
product reorientation configurations in the same equipment.
[0007] Also, where product supply and product receiving conveyors
are aligned in parallel directions, the problem of missing articles
(or "holes") in an infeed or article supply line causes waste or
downstream issues where an article is missing, or a formed article
or product group is missing one or more of the articles or
products. This is especially troublesome where product supply at a
constant product pitch is anticipated but product is missing at a
pitch position. Missing product or "holes" in the product supply
line require filing or "healing", accomplished in the past only by
processes such as incomplete product group rejection, product
storage or product collection to fill out incomplete product supply
or product groups, manual product insertions, etc. There typically
is no apparatus or free excess product at the reorientation station
for hole healing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention contemplates, without limitation but in
various preferred embodiments, apparatus and methods involving an
article supply conveyor, an article receiving conveyor and a rotary
article transfer turret for transferring articles from the article
supply conveyor to the article receiving conveyor, while at the
same time selectively reorienting the transferring articles, and
the transfer turret in one embodiment being moveable along the
article supply conveyor serving to heal or replace missing articles
thereon.
[0009] In one embodiment according to the invention, article supply
and article receiving conveyors are aligned in parallel, and a
rotary article transfer turret is operably disposed between the
parallel conveyors for transferring articles therebetween and
selectively rotating transferring articles. The turret is also
moveable along the conveyors to accomplish hole healing, i.e. fill
absences on the supply conveyor so there are no article absences on
the receiving conveyor.
[0010] In another embodiment the supply and receiving conveyors are
perpendicularly oriented and a rotary article transfer turret is
operably disposed therebetween for selectively orienting
transferring articles, but without hole healing functions.
[0011] As used herein, the terms "selective" and "selectively"
refer to either changing or not changing the orientation of an
article between its respective orientation on an article supply
conveyor and its orientation on an article receiving conveyor, the
apparatus and methods capable of doing either.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0012] FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of two
parallel counter flow conveyors, with selectively rotating a
product, that is initially traveling narrow edge leading, 90
degrees while moving the product to a parallel conveyor;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of two
parallel counter flow conveyors, with selectively rotating a
product, that is initially traveling broad edge leading, 90 degrees
while moving the product to a parallel conveyor;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of two
parallel counter flow conveyors, with selectively rotating a
product, that is initially traveling narrow edge leading, 180
degrees while moving product to a parallel conveyor;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of two
parallel counter flow conveyors, with selectively rotating a
product, that is initially traveling broad edge leading, 180
degrees while moving product to a parallel conveyor;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of
perpendicular conveyors with selectively rotating a product, that
is initially traveling narrow edge leading, 90 degrees while moving
the product to a perpendicular conveyor;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of
perpendicular conveyors, with selectively rotating a product, that
is initially traveling broad edge leading, 180 degrees while moving
the product to a perpendicular conveyor;
[0018] FIG. 7 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of
perpendicular conveyors, with selectively rotating a product, that
is initially traveling narrow edge leading, 180 degrees while
moving product to a perpendicular conveyor;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of
perpendicular conveyors, with selectively rotating a product, that
is initially traveling broad edge leading 90 degrees while moving
product to a perpendicular conveyor;
[0020] FIG. 9 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of a
U-shaped conveyor, selectively rotating a product, that is
initially traveling broad edge leading, 180 degrees while moving
product from one leg of the U-shaped conveyor to the other parallel
leg;
[0021] FIG. 10 is an illustrative diagrammatic plan view of a
U-shaped conveyor, selectively rotating a product, that is
initially traveling narrow edge leading, 180 degrees while moving
product from one leg of the U-shaped conveyor to the other parallel
leg;
[0022] FIG. 11 is an isometric view of one form of a transfer
turret;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a section view of the transfer turret of FIG.
11;
[0024] FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the turret of FIGS. 11, 12
with linear actuator or carriage and cable tray for moving the
turret up and down stream to manage hole healing;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a top view of a product infeed conveyor, a turret
with linear actuator and a downstream article receiving
conveyor.
[0026] FIG. 15 is an isometric view of FIG. 14;
[0027] FIG. 16 is an elevation view of FIG. 14;
[0028] FIG. 17 is a close-up isometric view of the turret and
infeed conveyor;
[0029] FIG. 18 is an isometric view, reverse projection of FIG.
15;
[0030] FIG. 19 is an elevation view of the turret drive;
[0031] FIG. 20 is an isometric view of another form of transfer
turret including a planetary drive system providing independent
control for each of the re-orienting spindles;
[0032] FIG. 21 is a section view of FIG. 20;
[0033] FIG. 22 is a plan view of FIG. 20;
[0034] FIG. 23 is an elevation view of one spindle of the
embodiment in FIG. 20; and
[0035] FIG. 24 is a reverse isometric view of FIG. 23.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] Various functional and exemplary applications of the
invention are depicted in FIGS. 1-10. Details of the respective
transfer turrets are described in the following two embodiments,
and in the following description of Hole Healing.
[0037] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate one embodiment of the invention where
an article or product supply conveyor is oriented in a direction
parallel to an article or product receiving conveyor.
[0038] FIGS. 5-8 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the
invention where an article or product supply conveyor is oriented
in a direction perpendicularly to an article or product receiving
conveyor.
[0039] FIGS. 9-10 illustrate a variation of FIGS. 1-4 wherein
articles or products are transferred between parallel runs of the
same conveyor, the runs joined in "U"-shaped configuration.
[0040] FIGS. 11-24 illustrate features of alternate rotary turrets
used in either alternate embodiment.
Embodiment 1
[0041] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate one embodiment of the invention in
connection with parallel product supply conveyors 12, 13. A
rotating transfer apparatus or turret such as a rotary turret 20 or
30 is operably disposed between conveyors 12, 13.
[0042] The control of turret 20, 30 being varied to accomplish the
transfer and selective orientation of articles on conveyor 12 to
another orientation on conveyor 13. Details of the transfer turret
20 or 30 of this embodiment are described below.
[0043] For clarity in describing the embodiments herein, the
respective products or articles have caps or fitments on one
narrower end, as shown, and two broader side edges extending
between the narrow ends. Other product configurations can be
handled as described herein.
[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates selectively rotating an article traveling
narrow end edge leading 90 degrees while transferring the article
to a parallel counter flowing conveyor 13. Here articles on
receiving conveyor 13 are in groups of two, each group having the
same article ends oriented to the same direction and 180 degrees
opposite to those articles in adjacent groups of two, for
example.
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates selectively rotating an article that is
traveling broad side edge leading 90 degrees while transferring the
article to a parallel counter-flowing receiving conveyor 13.
[0046] Here, articles 21 are reoriented into groups of two articles
with each article in the same group having narrow ends oriented in
the same direction but 180 degrees opposite to those articles in
adjacent groups of two, for example.
[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates selectively rotating articles 21 incoming
on conveyor 12 traveling narrow end leading 180 degrees while
transferring articles to parallel counter-flowing product receiving
conveyor 13. Here articles on receiving conveyor 13 are in groups
of two, like those in FIG. 2, for example.
[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates selectively rotating articles 21 incoming
on conveyor 12, traveling broad side edge leading 180 degrees while
transferring articles to parallel, counter flowing receiving
conveyor 13.
[0049] Articles 21 on conveyor 13 are disposed in groups of two,
each oriented in the same direction and 180 degrees opposite to
those articles in adjacent groups, for example.
[0050] FIGS. 1-4 are illustrative only of the article or product
orientation on conveyor 13, and that orientation, or the number of
products in a group may be easily changed by controlling the
selective rotation of the vacuum cups 9 noted above via control of
respective servo motors 16.
[0051] Turning briefly to FIGS. 9 and 10, these Figs, respectively
illustrate a single U-shaped conveyor 12 having an article supply
infeed run 12a and a parallel article receiving run 12b. Articles
21 are conveyed toward transfer turret 20 in one direction and are
selectively rotated and transferred to parallel, counter-flowing
receiving run 12b by transfer turret 20.
[0052] FIG. 9 is illustrated with respective product orientations
as in FIG. 4, while FIG. 10 is illustrated with respective product
orientations as in FIG. 3.
[0053] Conveyor runs 12a and 12b are operatively joined at conveyor
section 12c as illustrated.
[0054] Otherwise, selectively transferring articles in the
apparatus of FIGS. 9 and 10 is similar to that of FIGS. 4 and 3,
respectively.
Embodiment 2
[0055] In a second embodiment of the invention, either a rotary
transfer turret 20 or a varied rotary transfer turret 30 is useful
in transferring products 21 from a product or article infeed or
supply conveyor 32 to a product or article receiving conveyor 33
oriented and extending perpendicularly to infeed conveyor 32. The
turret 20 or 30 is operably located at a position to convey product
suction cups 35 in a circular path over conveyor 32 and conveyor 33
to engage, lift and selectively rotate articles 21 from conveyor 32
and to then place articles on conveyor 33 in a desired pattern or
grouping or into a selected orientation different from that on
conveyor 32.
[0056] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-8 incoming products 21 are
selectively reoriented to a desired orientation different from that
in which they reach the transfer 20, 30.
[0057] In operation, FIG. 5 illustrates selectively rotating a
product travelling narrow end leading on conveyor 32 through 90
degrees to perpendicular receiving conveyor 33.
[0058] For example, as in FIG. 6, products on conveyor 33 are
selectively disposed in groups of two, with each product in a group
oriented in the same direction but at 180 degrees opposite to the
products in adjacent groups.
[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates selectively rotating a product 21
traveling broad edge leading 180 degrees while transferring the
product to perpendicular conveyor 33. In this regard, and for
example, product orientation conveyor 33, is like that of FIG. 5,
however incoming product orientation on conveyor 32 of FIG. 6 is 90
degrees different than on conveyor 32 of FIG. 5.
[0060] FIG. 7 illustrates selectively rotating a product traveling
narrow edge leading on supply conveyor 32 to perpendicular conveyor
33 and at 180 degrees from product orientation on conveyor 32. Thus
final product orientation on conveyor 33 is like that of products
21 on conveyor 33 of FIG. 8, for example, although the incoming
product orientation is different.
[0061] FIG. 8 illustrates selectively rotating a product traveling
broad edge leading on supply conveyor 32 to perpendicular 33 and at
90 degrees from product orientation on conveyor 32.
[0062] It will be appreciated that the orientation of products on
conveyor 32 of the FIGS. 5-8 and the reorientation, product groups,
and number of products in the groups on receiving conveyor 33 can
be selectively varied.
Rotary Turret 20
[0063] One rotary transfer turret 20 for use in the embodiments of
FIGS. 1-10 is shown in FIGS. 11-19. It will be appreciated in FIGS.
13-16 that the rotary transfer turret 20 is mounted on a carriage
22 carried on linear slide 11 for selective reciprocal motion
between and in the same direction as the parallel extensions of
conveyors 12 and 13, and 12a, 12b.
[0064] The rotary transfer turret 20 is provided with a plurality
of rotatable product or article suction cups 9, each individually
rotatable and each carried in a circular path extending over the
conveyors 12, 13. The vacuum cups 9 are controllable to pick up
articles 21 on conveyor 12, selectively rotate or reorient them as
the transfer turret 20 turns, and deposit them on conveyor 13, in
selectively reoriented status.
[0065] To this end, cups 9 are mounted on turret apparatus 20 so as
to be extensible to engage articles 21, retractable to lift them
and then deposit them on conveyor 13.
[0066] Referring to FIGS. 11-19, rotary transfer turret 20 may be
of any suitable construction consistent with the foregoing
function. FIGS. 11-19 illustrate but one form of suitable transfer
turret 20, operably oriented over the various product article
supply and article receiving conveyors. Turret 20 includes a
rotating disc or arm 1 on the end of a central main shaft 2 and
contains two or more spindle assemblies 3 that are able to
independently move vertically by a cam follower 4 in a cam track 5.
Central main shaft 2 is driven by a servo motor 16. A second shaft,
the orientation shaft 6, is driven by a second servo motor 16 and
goes through the main shaft 2. At the end of the orientation shaft
6 is a sun gear 7. The sun gear 7 is connected via a gear train to
a planet gear 8 at the end of each spindle assembly. By changing
the relative speed between the main shaft 2 and the orientation
shaft 6, the spindles 3 rotate a programmable number of degrees,
from 0 to 360.
[0067] At the bottom of each spindle 3 is the vacuum cup 9 that
holds the product while it is being lifted and selectively rotated.
Vacuum to each spindle 3 is controlled through a vacuum shoe 10
which allows each spindle to have an independent vacuum source
through its travel around the main shaft 2.
[0068] The respective spindles, gears and shafts are driven by any
suitable means such as the servo motors 16 as illustrated.
[0069] The article supply conveyor 12 contains a moving supply of
product. At a product pick point, the cam track 5 will cause the
cam follower 4 of the spindle assembly 3 to lower until the vacuum
cup 9 operably engages the product. The cam track 5 will then raise
the spindle assembly 3 lifting the product off of the article
supply conveyor 12. A motor driving the orientation shaft 6 will
speed up or slow down, changing the speed of the sun gear 7 which
in turn selectively changes the orientation of the product carried
by the spindle assembly 3. At a product place point over the
outgoing article receiving conveyor 13, the vacuum supply to the
spindle assembly 3 will be replaced by pressure through the vacuum
shoe 10 and cause the product to drop onto the outgoing conveyor 13
in a proper orientation and serially for downstream processes, such
as cartoning or packaging.
Rotary Turret 30
[0070] Reference is made to FIGS. 20-24 respecting rotary transfer
turret 30. Similarly functioning parts therein bear the same number
as those elements of FIGS. 11-19. A spindle assembly 3 is attached
to a spindle holding gear 14 which is driven by an externally
mounted motor as shown. A suitable servo motor drives the spindle
assembly 3 around a center post. As the spindle assembly travels
over an infeed conveyor 32 in a circular path, the entire spindle
assembly 3 can translate vertically, driven by a cam follower in a
cam track 5 (as in turret 20), picking up a product using a vacuum
or other gripping device. A second externally mounted servo motor
controls the spindle orientation gear 15 (FIG. 21) which in turns
rotates a planet gear 8 on the end of the spindle assembly 3 to
rotate the product a programmable amount orienting the product
properly for release onto the outgoing conveyor 33. The spindle
holding gear 14, the spindle assembly 3, the spindle orientation
gear 15, and their respective servo motors make up a single spindle
unit moving and selectively orientating product from the infeed to
the outgoing conveyor 33. Multiples of these units may be stacked
to have two, three, or four independently controlled spindles
rotating around a center shaft. The advantage of this turret 30
over the turret 20 described above is that the rotational speed of
the spindle around the center post and the orientation of the
product can be controlled independently of each other. This allows
the spindle assembly to match the speed of the infeed 32 and
outgoing 33 conveyor regardless of what the other spindles are
doing. It also allows more time for the product orientation.
[0071] Any suitable turret construction can be used, and it will be
appreciated either turret 20, 30 can be used in each of the
embodiments disclosed.
Hole Healing
[0072] When the article supply conveyor 12 (or portion 12a) is
oriented or disposed in parallel to article receiving conveyer 13,
(or portion 12b), article holes or spaces on the supply conveyors
12, 12a (portion 12a) can be healed such that there are no such
holes or missing articles on the article receiving conveyors 13,
12b.
[0073] With a constant article stream with no article holes, the
turret 20, 30 will remain at the same position relative to article
pick and place points. However, if there is a whole or missing
article on the supply conveyor, this anomaly can be cured.
[0074] Thus in this application of article transfer between
parallel conveyors 12, 13 (FIGS. 1-4) or conveyor portions 12a,
12b, (FIGS. 9, 10) the rotary turret 20 or 30 used is mounted on a
carriage 22 sliding along slide 11 in parallel to both conveyors or
conveyor portions.
[0075] In the event that an article 21 is missing on conveyor 12
(or portion 12a) in a position where it is expected to be (i.e. a
"hole") the transfer 20 or 30 is moveable in an upstream direction
of arrow "A" along conveyor 12 (12a) to the next position where an
article 21 is located. Thus transfer 20 (or 30) is moveable to the
left as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 13-16, for example, (Arrow
"A") to pick an article 21 from conveyor 12 (12a). Transfer 20, 30
is then operated to deposit the just picked article 21 on conveyor
13 (12b) with no hole or absence of an article in the articles on
conveyor 13 (12b). The article 21 is selectively reoriented prior
to deposit to fill the next serial position on conveyor 13. Hole
healing as well as article reorientation is accomplished. Said in
another way, the turret (20 or 30) "jumps" the missing article
space to pick the next available article on the supply
conveyor.
[0076] The rate of the conveyors such as conveyor 13 may be
adjusted, such as retarded, to accommodate this hole healing
operation, and return of the transfer 20, 30 to its original
position.
[0077] In addition to the hole healing functions described herein
for the first embodiment, it will be appreciated that the invention
in the applications of both embodiments is capable of varying the
pitch of articles on the receiving conveyors from that of the
incoming articles on the supply conveyors by varying the speeds of
the respective conveyors.
[0078] These and other advantages and modifications can be readily
appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing
from the scope of the invention and applicant intends to be bound
only by the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *