Method and apparatus for arranging and orienting packages

• US 7,422,097 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACMI S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: ACMI S.p.A.
• Inventors: Oppici, Giorgio
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICHOLSON III, LESLIE AUGUST
• Application Number:
  US10/533,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20060151293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 198/374, 198/440, 198/377.08
• US Class Current: 198/377.08
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/025 Speed of the article
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/084 grouping articles in a predetermined 2-dimensional pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/26 arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for sorting packages, comprising means (2) for supplying the packages to at least a station (3) for their manipulation and orientation, which is characterised in that the manipulating station (3) comprises at least a manipulator head (7) having at least two degrees of freedom of motion. In particular, the manipulator head (7) is movable by translation according to the axis of an orthogonal Cartesian triad and is movable by rotation about a substantially vertical axis. A method for putting in step packages conveyed by conveyor belts set side by side including varying the speed of said belts.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for sorting packages, comprising means (2) for supplying the packages to at least a manipulating station (3) for their manipulation and orientation, said manipulating station (3) comprising at least a manipulator head (7);

at least a belt conveyor (6) associated with the manipulating station (3), the manipulator head (7) being movable by rotating about a substantially vertical axis, for orienting the packages on an upper surface (6a) of the conveyor belt (6) contemporaneusly to a movement of the packages caused by an advancing of said conveyor belt (6), characterized in that the manipulator head (7) is movable by translation according to axes of an orthogonal Cartesian triad and said means (2) for supplying the packages comprise a pair of conveyor belts (4,5) movable with variable and independent speeds in order to put the packages in step before their supply to the manipulating station (3), wherein each conveyor belt is associated with;

at least an actuating motor (M4, M5);

at least a photocell (B4, B5) for detecting the presence of a package on a belt;

at least a sensor (SQ4, SQ5) cooperating with a correspondent actuating motor (M4, M5) for counting the RPM of said motor, and

at least a processor for increasing a counter as a function of the RPM of the motor of a first belt (4) whereon a package positioned ahead is detected;

decreasing the velocity of advance of the first belt as a function of the value assumed by the counter;

decreasing the counter according to the RPM of the motor of a second conveyor belt (5) whereon a package positioned behind is detected; and

increasing the velocity of advance of the second conveyor belt as a function of the value assumed by the counter.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the manipulator head (7) comprises gripping means to displace the packages.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the gripping means are grippers provided with gripping appendages (8a;

8b), a first appendage (8a) being integral with the structure of the manipulator head (7) and a second appendage (8b) being integral with a rod (9) which can slide inside a corresponding cylinder (10) obtained in the structure of the head (7).

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said pair of conveyor belts (4, 5) are positioned externally to the manipulating station (3) and they unload the packages on the belt conveyor (6) associated with the manipulating station (3).

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said pair of conveyor belts (4, 5) are positioned externally to the manipulating station (3) and they unload the packages on the belt conveyor (6) associated with the manipulating station (3).

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a guide (7a) transverse relative to a direction of advance of the conveyor belt (6), said guide (7a) translating on rails (7b) according to a direction that is substantially parallel to the direction of advance of the conveyor belt (6), said manipulator head (7) being movable by sliding on said guide (7a).

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said pair of conveyor belts (4, 5) are positioned externally to the manipulating station (3) and they unload the packages on the belt conveyor (6) associated with the manipulating station (3).

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface (6a) of the conveyor belt (6) is flat and defines a single substantially horizontal plane.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said pair of conveyor belts (4, 5) are positioned externally to the manipulating station (3) and they unload the packages on the belt conveyor (6) associated with the manipulating station (3).

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said pair of conveyor belts (4, 5) are positioned externally to the manipulating station (3) and they unload the packages on the belt conveyor (6) associated with the manipulating station (3).

11. A method for putting in step packages conveyed by conveyor belts set side by side, comprising the following steps:

detecting the package positioned ahead;

measuring the RPM of an actuating motor (M4) of a first belt (4) whereon the package positioned ahead is located;

increasing a counter as a function of the RPM of the motor of the first belt;

decreasing the velocity of advance of the first belt as a function of the value assumed by the counter;

detecting the package positioned behind;

measuring the RPM of an actuating motor (M5) of a second conveyor belt (5) whereon the package positioned behind is located;

decreasing the counter according to the RPM of the motor of the second belt;

increasing the velocity of advance of the second conveyor belt as a function of the value assumed by the counter.