Temporary storage device and method for temporary storage

• US 10,442,636 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Finatec Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Finatec Holding AG
• Inventors: Maibach, Fridolin, Hermle, Matthias, Kubalek, Bernhard, Gerber, Martin, Graser, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Harp, William R
• Application Number:
  US15/768,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 198392, 198778
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 29/00 Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones mechanical projectors B65G31/00; screw or rotary spiral conveyors B65G33/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 29/02 for inclined or vertical transit
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/24 orientating the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/5136 using rotary conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/80 Turntables carrying articles or materials to be transferred, e.g. combined with ploughs or scrapers

Abstract

An interim storage device (1) for separated and oriented objects (2) includes an object inlet (3), a rotating turntable (4), a spiral-shaped object path (5), and an object outlet (6). Either the object inlet (5) or the object outlet (6) is in line with the spiral origin (7) while the other is in line with the spiral end (8). The spiral-shaped object path (5) features a fixed spiral (9) which is placed above the turntable (4) without making contact.

Claims

1. An interim storage device (1) for separated and oriented objects (2), the interim storage device comprising:

an object inlet (3),

a rotating turntable (4),

a spiral-shaped object path (5),

an object outlet (6), and

a mechanism (11) for injecting a directed gas stream (12), the mechanism composed of three through 16 arms (13) radiating outward from the center of the spiral, each of the arms (13) including two or more outlet ports,

wherein one of the object inlet (3) or the object outlet (6) is in line with the spiral origin (7), while the other one of the object inlet (3) or the object outlet (6) is in line with the spiral end (8), wherein the spiral-shaped object path (5) includes a fixed spiral (9) which is placed above the turntable (4) without making contact.

2. The interim storage device (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the distance of the spiral (9) in relation to the turntable (4) is adjustable.

3. The interim storage device (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spiral (9) is an Archimedian spiral fabricated from a solid plastic or aluminum body.

4. The interim storage device (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the turntable (4) comprises a surface that is flat or smooth or both flat and smooth.

5. The interim storage device (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein, wherein the two or more outlet ports (14) of each arm are not orthogonally positioned in relation to the surface of the turntable (10).

6. The interim storage device (1) in accordance with claim 5, wherein the arms have a curving progression.

7. The interim storage device (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mechanism (11) for injecting a directed gas stream (12) comprises one or more gas reservoirs (19), which in turn have one or more gas outlets (20).

8. The interim storage device (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object inlet (3) is located on a side of the turntable (4) facing away from the spiral (9).

9. The interim storage device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the turntable is designed to rotate at a constant angular velocity.

11. A method for interim storage of oriented objects between two processing operations, the method comprising the following steps:

introducing oriented objects into the interim storage device according to claim 1;

moving the oriented objects along the spiral-shaped object path by the rotating turntable at a first speed;

superimposing the first speed with a second, higher speed created by injection of gas from the two or more outlet ports in each of the three to 16 arms, and

removing the oriented objects from the interim storage unit.

10. An interim storage device (1) for separated and oriented objects (2), the interim storage device comprising:

an object inlet (3),

a rotating turntable (4),

a spiral-shaped object path (5),

an object outlet (6), and

a mechanism (11) for injecting a directed gas stream (12),

wherein one of the object inlet (3) or the object outlet (6) is in line with the spiral origin (7), while the other one of the object inlet (3) or the object outlet (6) is in line with the spiral end (8), wherein the spiral-shaped object path (5) includes a fixed spiral (9) which is placed above the turntable (4) without making contact, and

wherein the turntable (4) has an angular velocity and the gas stream has an outflow velocity, wherein the angular velocity of the turntable (4) differs from the outflow velocity of the gas stream.