Machine for supplying/dispensing containers and long articles in general

• US 7,228,955 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Packfeeder SL
• Original Assignee: Tomas Mulet Valles
• Inventors: Comas Corral, Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, DOUGLAS A
• Application Number:
  US10/535,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20060157497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 198526-528, 198/530, 198/537, 198/539, 198/540, 198/543, 198/547, 198/562, 198/566, 198/567, 198/575, 198/608, 198/801, 209/522, 209/523
• US Class Current: 198/527
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0244 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1478 by means of pick-up devices, the container remaining immobile
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1492 the articles being fed from a feeding conveyor

Abstract

The invention starts with a hopper (1) where the objects are randomly introduced, with a bottom (2) tilted towards an adjustable outlet opening (3), arranged under the latter there is a unitary metering device (5) leading to a discharge plate (22) of a grooved front edge (23) so as to intertwine with blades (11) of a lifting means (6), wherein said plates are spaced by a magnitude which is not quite twice the width of the objects to be handled, a lifting means ending at a transfer mechanism consisting of a conveyor (27), also with grooved blades (28) acting on a base plate (29) framed by two rails (30) guiding the objects towards a drop opening (17), with means which make the objects swing during their fall so that they adopt the correct position when they reach an exit conveyor (41), between two side walls (34), another conveyor (36) collaborating with said conveyor (41), the former provided with a plurality of pushing means (35) spaced by a magnitude in accordance with the width of the objects to be conveyed.

Claims

1. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine, of the type including a hopper (1) in which objects are randomly introduced and in which said objects finally adopt a vertical arrangement in desired positions, comprising:

a hopper having an outlet, wherein arranged at said outlet of said hopper (1) is a metering device (5–

10) leading to a discharge plate (22) ending at a lifting means (6) provided with a plurality of blades (11) of a grooved free edge, said discharge plate (22) having an also grooved edge (23) so as to intertwine with the blades (11), and said lifting means (6) ending at a transfer plate (31), also of a grooved edge, for access to a transfer and selection station in which a base plate (29) framed by two side rails (30) collaborates, located on which is a conveyor (27), located above the base plate (29) and provided with grooved blades (28) similar to those of the lifting means (6), a plate (29) provided with a central opening (17) for the dropping of the objects, with a positional selection criterion of the objects, towards a vertical positioning station having a first end located under the opening (17) of the base plate (29), said vertical positioning station having a second end whereby movement of objects from said first end to said second end defines a feed direction for the object, wherein two tilted and static walls (34) are provided, arranged parallel to said feed direction of the object, linearly moving forward inside of which are vertical pushing means (35) attached to a conveyor (36) defining a horizontal path for said pushing means (35) which drag the objects, separated from one another, on a bottom conveyor (41) on which they are placed.

2. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said metering device (5) is formed by two or more blades (8) radially arranged about a shaft (9) perpendicular to said feed direction of said lifting means, which shaft is provided with a duly controlled rotational movement.

3. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said metering device is formed by a shaft (9) attached to which are two radial blades (8), said two radial blades defining a first area and a second area circumferentially therebetween, said two radial blades further joined to one another by a cylindrical section (10) in said first area and defining a void in said second area, said cylindrical section arranged and configured to close said outlet of said hopper (1), said metering device being actuable, in a duly controlled reciprocating movement, so as to locate said void in front of said outlet of said hopper (1).

4. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1 wherein said metering device is formed by a shaft (9) attached to which are two radial blades (8) joined to one another by a cylindrical section (10) closing said outlet of said hopper (1), said metering device being able to be actuated, in a duly controlled reciprocating movement, so as to put a space between said two blades (8) in front of said opening;

and located on said discharge plate (22) are two side walls (18), while at the same time arranged at the beginning of said lifting means (6) are two other side walls (16) on which respective articulated hatches (19) are supported which guide the objects towards said lifting means (6).

5. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said lifting means (6) has a receiving area (13) where the objects are located in a lowered transverse position with respect to the feed direction in the spaces defined by said blades (11), of a rectilinear profile, arranged horizontally or with a slight upwards inclination so as to facilitate the entrance of the objects, a pre-selection area (14) where said conveyor acquires a curved configuration in the vertical direction so as to cause poorly placed objects to fall, and an end area in which its profile is straight again and rises up to the transfer station.

6. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 5, wherein the distance between said blades (11), which can be planar or of a triangular profile, is less than twice the width or thickness of the object to be selected.

7. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 5 wherein the distance between said blades (11), which can be planar or of a triangular profile and having a bottom edge, is less than twice the width or thickness of the object to be selected;

and

said blades (11) of said lifting means (6) are exchangeable so as to make it possible to handle different types of objects, for which purpose there is a grooved guide (25) fixed to said conveyor and arranged perpendicularly to the feed direction that fits in a counter-groove (26) existing on the bottom edge of the blade.

8. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said side rails (30) of said object transfer and selection station are arranged in a funnel shape with respect to the feed direction of the object, having a maximum spacing in an initial area and a minimum spacing in an area, said maximum spacing exceeding the total length of the object, and said minimum spacing corresponding to the length of the body of said object defining geometric differentiation such that when the object reaches said end area, the geometric differentiation is located above the corresponding rail, making the opposite end drop first.

9. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said rails (30) located on said base plate (29) are arranged in a funnel shape with respect to the feed direction of the object, such that the front end of said funnel has a width exceeding the total length of the object, and the outlet width matches the total length of said object, said base plate (29) having a rod (32) aligned in the feed direction of the object and located between said rails (30), such that when the object is located above said opening (17) it is suspended by said rod (32), swinging due to the offset between its center of gravity and said rod (32).

10. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said rails (30) located on said base plate (29) are arranged in a funnel shape with respect to the feed direction of the object, its initial spacing being greater than the total length of the object, whereas its spacing at its outlet matches said total length of the object, the transfer section incorporating one or several suitable sensors for identifying the differences which the object may have, and said sensors triggering retractable guides (33) located under the rails (30), said sensors location one on either side above the opening (17) of said base plate (29), said guide (33) corresponding to the end of the object which should adopt a lower position being refracted.

11. A container and generally elongated hem feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein located under the opening (17) of the base plate (29) are two tilted and static wails (34) arranged parallel to the feed direction of the object, forming an open drop conduit leading to said bottom conveyor (41), said pushing means (35) acting on said open conduit, which pushing means are in turn attached to a said conveyor (36) defining a horizontal path for said pushing means, which are spaced from one another by a magnitude that is equivalent to a maximum width of the object.

12. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 11, wherein each pushing means (35) is formed by a fixing arm (38) attached to the conveyor (36) and a vertical pushing part (39) joined to said arm by means of one or more vertical locking profiles (40) such that said pushing part is easily removable by vertical movement.

13. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 11, wherein each pushing means (35) is formed by a fixing arm (38) attached to said conveyor (36) and a vertical pushing pan (39) joined to said arm by means of one or more vertical locking profiles (40) such that said pushing part is easily removable by vertical movement;

and said pushing means (35) incorporate respective notches or recesses (43) on the bottom portion of their front and back sides for coupling to individual supports (42).

14. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 11, wherein each pushing means (35) is formed by a fixing arm (38) attached to said conveyor (36) and a vertical pushing part (39) joined to said arm by means of one or more vertical locking profiles (40) such that said pushing part is easily removable by vertical movement;

and said pushing means (35) incorporate respective notches or recesses (43) on the bottom portion of their front and back sides for coupling to individual supports (42); and

the pushing means (35) have a wedge projection (46) on their bottom portion causing separation between one another when they are accumulated on a general conveyor (44), regulating their entrance into spaces defined by said notches (43) of said pushing means (35).