Apparatus for toppling conveyed articles

• US 4,122,938 A
• Filed: 07/05/1977
• Issued: 10/31/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SIG Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft
• Original Assignee: SIG Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft
• Inventors: Walz, Theo, Glauser, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Blunk, Evon C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomson, Richard K.
• Application Number:
  US05/812,522
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 198/406, 198/407, 198/408, 198/410, 198/411, 198/412, 198/413, 198/415, 198/416, 193/45, 193/47
• US Class Current: 198/411
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 23/12 Arranging, feeding or orientating the biscuits to be packaged
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/252 about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction

Abstract

An apparatus for toppling conveyed articles of rectangular outline (having opposite long sides and opposite short sides) has a travel surface; a discontinuity in the travel surface; first carrier elements traveling at a distance above and along the travel surface for advancing the articles by sliding them, on one of their short sides, on the travel surface up to the discontinuity and for advancing the articles by sliding them on one of their long sides, on the travel surface downstream of the discontinuity; and at least one second carrier element which is driven in a closed path and which engages the conveyed article or article stack as the latter reaches the discontinuity in the travel surface. The speed of the second carrier element is, in the direction of article advance, greater than the speed of the first carrier elements; thus the second carrier element takes over the conveyance of the article in the zone of the discontinuity and effects, in cooperation with the discontinuity, a toppling of the article from its upright position to a lying position in which the article engages the travel surface with one of the long sides downstream of the discontinuity, where the first carrier elements take over the conveyance of the articles. The second carrier element, at least during that portion of the closed path during which it engages the article, is located at a greater distance above the travel surface than the first carrier elements.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for toppling stacks of conveyed articles of rectangular outline having opposite long sides and opposite short sides;

the apparatus having a travel surface;

a discontinuity in the travel surface;

a first carrier means including article-engaging first carrier rods traveling at a distance above and along the travel surface and extending generally parallel to the travel surface and transversely to the direction of travel for advancing the article stacks by sliding the articles, on one of their short sides, on the travel surface up to the discontinuity and for advancing the articles by sliding them, on one of their long sides, on the travel surface from a point downstream of the discontinuity;

the improvement comprising a second carrer means having

(a) at least one second carrier rod extending generally parallel to said first carrier rods above said travel surface;

(b) means for moving said second carrier rod in an endless path having an effective path portion extending in a zone above said discontinuity;

said second carrier rod engaging each article of successive article stacks as said second carrier rod moves in said effective path portion;

said second carrier rod, at least during its motion along said effective path portion, being located at a greater distance above said travel surface than said first carrier rods; and

(c) means for moving said second carrier rod, at least along said effective path portion, at a greater speed than the speed of said first carrier rods for effecting a takeover of article advance by said second carrier rod from the respective first carrier rod in the zone of said discontinuity for effecting, in cooperation with said discontinuity, a simultaneous toppling of the articles of the respective stacks on said travel surface to assume a lying position in which the articles engage said travel surface with one of the long sides thereof.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for altering the position of said endless path of said second carrier rod.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for altering the speed of said second carrier rod.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said endless path of said second carrier rod is circular.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising means for altering the diameter of said endless path.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means defining a gap in said travel surface, said gap extending transversely to the direction of article conveyance and constituting said discontinuity.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said means defining said gap has upstream and downstream edge portions;

said upstream edge portion having an upper face sloping downwardly towards said gap in the downstream direction.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said means defining said gap has a downstream edge portion constituting a free end of a ramp having an upper face forming part of said travel surface downstream of said gap;

said ramp being pivotally supported at its end remote from said free end;

the improvement further comprising means for adjusting the inclination of said ramp.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said means defining said gap has upstream and downstream edge portions;

at least one of said edge portions has a rounded configuration.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a friction insert provided in said travel surface in a flush relationship therewith, said friction insert extending transversely to the direction of article conveyance and constituting said discontinuity.