Device and method for horizontal movement of layers of articles between adjacent conveyor modules

• US 9,340,369 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: Beer, Erhard, Osterhammer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Kavel
• Application Number:
  US14/484,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20150075948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/52 Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices loading or unloading by means not incorporated in, or not operatively associated with, conveyors B65G65/00; transfer of workpieces during metal rolling B21B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/845 the article engaging elements being pushers moving in parallel and independently from the supporting conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/06 Gates for releasing articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/24 the layers being transferred as a whole, e.g. on pallets

Abstract

This invention concerns a method for horizontal movement of groups or layers of articles (10) between adjacent conveyor modules (12, 16, 34). The groups or layers of articles (10) are moved from a vertically movable first support level (28) of a first conveyor module (16) to a vertically movable second support level (38) of a second conveyor module (34) immediately downstream of the first conveyor module (16) in the direction of transport or transfer (30) by means of at least one frame-like transfer device (22, 40), which is lowered over the layer or group of articles (10) to be transported and encompasses them on all sides, and moves in the direction of transport or transfer (30) from the first conveyor module (16) to the second conveyor module (34) during the movement of a group or layer of articles (10) At least during the transfer movement, the support layers (28, 38) of the first and second conveyor modules (16, 34) form a common transfer surface at approximately the same height or moving vertically in the same direction. This invention further concerns a suitable device for handling and/or stacking and/or palletizing groups or layers of articles (10). The device comprises a vertically movable first conveyor module (16) with a first support level (28) and a second conveyor module (34) with a second support level (38) immediately downstream of the first conveyor module (16) in the direction of transport or transfer (30), as well as at least one vertically movable frame-like transfer device (22, 40) for pushing a group or layer of articles (10) from the first conveyor module (16) to the second conveyor module (34). The transfer device encompasses the group or layer of articles (10) on all sides, whereby the support layers (28, 38) of the first and second conveyor modules (16, 34) form a common, vertically moving transfer surface at approximately the same height or moving vertically in the same direction during the transfer (30).

Claims

1. Method for horizontal movement of groups or layers of articles (10), comprising:

lowering at least one frame-like transfer device (22, 40) over a layer or group of articles (10) positioned on a vertically movable first support level (28) of a first conveyor module (16) such that the frame-like transfer device (22, 40) encompasses the layer or group of articles (10) on all sides;

vertically moving;

the first support level (28); and

a vertically movable second support level (38) of a second conveyor module (34) located immediately downstream of the first conveyor module (16) in the direction of transport or transfer (30),

such that, at least during a transfer movement of the layer or group of articles (10), the support levels (28, 38) of the first and second conveyor modules (16, 34) form a common transfer surface at approximately the same height; and

pushing, by the at least one frame-like transfer device (22, 40), the layer or group of articles (10) thereby transferring the layer or group of articles (10) from the first support level (28) to the second support level (38) along the common transfer surface.

2. Method according to claim 1, in which the transfer device (22) comprises a vertically and horizontally movable transfer frame (40) that is pushed over a group or layer of articles (10) on the first conveyor module (16) from above.

3. Method according to claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the pushing step further comprising horizontally pushing, by the transfer device (22) or frame (40), the group or layer of articles (10) along the transfer surface to the second conveyor module (34); and

raising the transfer device (22) or frame (40) above the group or layer of articles (10) such that the transfer device (22) or frame (40) no longer encompasses the layer or group of articles (10).

4. Method according to claim 1, in which the size of the transfer frame (40) or the distances between its respectively opposite lateral surfaces are adjustable.

5. Method according to claim 1, in which a first final position of the transfer frame (40) is located horizontally in the area of the first conveyor module (16) and in which a second final position of the transfer frame (40) is located horizontally in the area of the second conveyor module (34).

6. Method according to claim 1, further comprising vertically moving the second conveyor module (34) to the level of a stacking area (44) in order to deposit a layer or group of articles (10).

7. Method according to claim 1, further comprising approximately synchronizing the vertical movements of the first and second conveyor modules (16, 34) during transfer.

12. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

wherein vertically moving the second conveyor module (34) comprises lowering the second conveyor module (34) to the level of the stacking area (44);

opening the bottom of the second support level (38) such that the layer or group of articles (10) is deposited onto the stacking area (44); and

raising the second conveyor module (34) beyond the deposited layer or group of articles (10).

8. Device for handling and/or stacking and/or palletising groups or layers of articles (10) comprising:

a vertically movable first conveyor module (16) with a first support level (28);

a second conveyor module (34) with a second support level (38) immediately downstream of the first conveyor module (16) in the direction of transport or transfer (30); and

at least one vertically movable frame-like transfer device (22, 40) for pushing a group or layer of articles (10) from the first conveyor module (16) to the second conveyor module (34), wherein the transfer device (22,40) encompasses the group or layer of articles (10) on all sides;

wherein the support layers (28, 38) of the first and second conveyor modules (16, 34) form a common, vertically moving transfer surface at approximately the same height or moving vertically in the same direction during the transfer (30).

9. Device according to claim 8, in which the transfer device (22) comprises a vertically and horizontally movable transfer frame (40) that is pushed over a group or layer of articles (10) on the first conveyor module (16) from above.

10. Device according to claim 8, in which the size of the transfer frame (40) and/or the distances between its respectively opposite lateral surfaces are adjustable.

11. Device according to claim 8, in which the lateral surfaces of the transfer frame (40) expand downward in a funnel configuration.

13. The device according to claim 8, in which a bottom surface of the second support level (38) is configured to open such that the group or layer of articles (10) is deposited upon a stacking area (44).