Conveyor system for an automatic accumulation system

• US 6,823,981 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Ogle, Richard J., Hellmann, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/288,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20040084280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 198/417, 198/803.1, 198/803.13, 198/867.1, 198/689.1
• US Class Current: 198/417
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/38 by suction-operated grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/46 by rotary conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/08 Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1428 rotating movement
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/248 by turning over or inverting them B65G47/244 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/66 Fixed platforms or combs, e.g. bridges between conveyors

Abstract

A method and apparatus for accumulating articles (28) include conveying a plurality of individual articles with a stacking conveyor (96) In particular aspects, the vacuum conveyor (96) can be arranged with an elbow configuration to substantially avoid an undesired encircling or surrounding of a substantially fixed portion of cooperating downstream equipment, and the stacking conveyor (96) can have a plurality of holding members (112) that project away from an article-side surface of the stacking conveyor. In another aspect, the method and apparatus can include a turning mechanism which forms the desired elbow configuration. A further aspect can include a transfer system (98) which can cooperate with a vacuum system (100) to load the articles (28) into downstream packaging equipment. Still another aspect can include a storage buffer mechanism (104) which provides an area upon which to stage at least one article-set (70).

Claims

1. A method for accumulating articles, said method comprising:

conveying a plurality of individual articles with a stacking conveyor having a plurality of holding members that project away from an article-side surface of said stacking conveyor;

arranging said stacking conveyor with an elbow configuration to substantially avoid an undesired encircling or surrounding of a substantially fixed portion of cooperating downstream equipment; and

further including

forming said elbow configuration with a turning mechanism;

wherein said turning mechanism has included a first turn roller system and a second turn roller system;

said first turn roller system has been configured to operatively engage at least a portion of an bottom-side portion of said stacking conveyor; and

said second turn roller system has been configured to operatively engage at least a portion of an appointed article-side of said stacking conveyor.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said second roller system has included a cooperating pair of rollers, each roller operatively engaging a corresponding side. edge region of the stacking conveyor.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein a timing chain has been attached to each side region of said stacking conveyor, and the rollers of the second roller system have included gear-teeth that cooperatively engage with their corresponding timing chain.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said second roller system has been configured to allow a substantially unimpeded movement of said holding members.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the rollers of the second roller system have included a relatively large diameter;

and an axle shaft of the second roller system has been sufficiently spaced away from the article-side surface of the stacking conveyor to avoid said holding members.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further including a loading of said articles into downstream packaging equipment with a vacuum system that has been configured to vacuum-hold said articles.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said loading of said articles has employed a storage buffer mechanism;

and said storage buffer mechanism has provided an area upon which to stage at least one article-set.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said loading of said articles has employed a bottom trap door system.

9. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said loading of said articles has included a moving of a vacuum box which has been positioned over said articles, and has employed a vacuum force to operatively engage and hold said articles in a substantially fully-suspended position.

10. An apparatus for accumulating articles, said apparatus comprising:

a stacking conveyor for moving a plurality of individual articles, said stacking conveyor having a plurality of holding members that project away from an article-side surface of said stacking conveyor, said stacking conveyor arranged with an elbow configuration which substantially avoids an undesired encircling or surrounding of a substantially fixed portion of cooperating downstream equipment; and

further including a turning mechanism which forms said elbow configuration;

wherein said turning mechanism includes a first turn roller system and a second turn roller system;

said first turn roller system is configured to operatively engage at least an appointed bottom portion of said stacking conveyor; and

said second turn roller system is configured to operatively engage at least a portion of an appointed article-side of said stacking conveyor.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said second roller system includes a cooperating pair of rollers, each roller operatively engaging a corresponding side edge region of the stacking conveyor.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein a timing chain is attached to each side region of said stacking conveyor, and the rollers of the second roller system include gear-teeth that cooperatively engage with their corresponding timing chain.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said second roller system is configured to allow a substantially unimpeded movement of said holding members.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the rollers of the second roller system include a relatively large diameter;

and an axle shaft of the second roller system is sufficiently spaced away from the article-side surface of the stacking conveyor to operatively avoid said holding members.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, further including a transfer system which loads said articles into downstream packaging equipment with a vacuum system which can vacuum-hold said articles in a substantially fully-suspended position.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said transfer system includes a storage buffer mechanism which provides an area upon which to stage at least one article-set.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said transfer system includes a bottom trap door system.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said transfer system includes a movable vacuum box which can be positioned over said articles, and employs a vacuum force to operatively engage said articles.