Screw denester with trigger plate

• US 10,294,043 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2018
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
• Inventors: Morschner, Lars, Fickler, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Rakesh
• Application Number:
  US15/901,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20180237233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 221222, 221 36, 221223, 221 6, 221197, 414331
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/44 from supply magazines
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/52 using roller-ways or endless conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/164 Securing by heat-sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0258 Trays, totes or bins
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/40 Safety features of loads, equipment or persons
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/00 Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 59/066 by means of rotary devices or endless elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 59/108 the axis of rotation being substantially parallel to the axis of the stack

Abstract

A screw denester for isolated dispensing of trays, comprising a frame for arrangement on a motor-driven transport device and multiple force-driven dispensing screws for isolating and dropping of trays. The screw denester is characterized in that it has a trigger plate that is provided loosely on the frame below the dispensing screws, wherein at least one sensor is provided that records a position change of the trigger plate in relation to the frame.

Claims

1. A screw denester for isolated dispensing of trays, the screw denester comprising:

a frame for supporting the screw denester in a position relative to a transport device for the trays; and

a plurality of force-driven dispensing screws for isolating and dropping of trays;

a trigger plate that is arranged loosely on the frame below the dispensing screws; and

at least one sensor that records a position change of the trigger plate in relation to the frame.

2. The screw denester according to claim 1, wherein the trigger plate has at least one opening for a tray.

3. The screw denester according to claim 1, wherein a first distance of the trigger plate to the bottom side of the plurality of force-driven dispensing screws amounts to less than 10 mm.

4. The screw denester according to claim 1, wherein the trigger plate further comprises positioning elements that interact with the frame.

5. The screw denester according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of intake holders to operably connect the trigger plate to the frame, wherein the trigger plate comprises one or more recesses and the plurality of intake holders include one or more troughs, wherein the one or more recesses and the one or more troughs have a form that is at least substantially congruent in relation to one another.

6. The screw denester according to claim 1, further comprising at least two sensors for detecting a position change of the trigger plate in relation to the frame.

7. The screw denester according to claim 6, wherein the at least two sensors are disposed in corner areas of the trigger plate in a position diagonally opposite to one another.

8. The screw denester according to claim 7, wherein the at least two sensors are one of a magnet sensor, a light barrier, a capacitive sensor, or an inductive sensor.

9. A combination of a screw denester according to claim 1 with a transport device for trays.

10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein a distance of the trigger plate to a transport bracket of the transport device is vertically adjustable.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein the distance can be set using a position of the frame in relation to a position of the transport device.

12. A combination of a screw denester according to claim 6 with a transport device for trays, wherein the at least two sensors are in electronic communication with a control for a drive of the transport device.