Method and apparatus for transferring article layers between adjacent modules

• US 9,862,552 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: Beer, Erhard, Osterhammer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Momper, Anna M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schwenning, Lynn E
• Application Number:
  US13/787,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20130243558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 414794, 4147987, 4147907, 4147917, 4147918, 4147946, 1984691, 198725, 198728
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/405 linked to endless conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/766 Adjustable ploughs or transverse scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/841 Devices having endless travelling belts or chains equipped with article-engaging elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/10 by devices, e.g. reciprocating, acting directly on articles for horizontal transport to the top of stack
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 59/02 De-stacking from the top of the stack

Abstract

A method and apparatus for horizontally shifting an article group or article layer, composed of a plurality of articles, from a first position and/or from a conveying movement into a second rest position while largely maintaining the relative positions of the articles in the article layer or group to each other, said transfer being effected by at least one first pusher bar engaging with the articles located at the back of the article group or article layer, as considered in relation to the conveying or feed direction. A support bar, which is at least temporarily allocated to the articles located at the front of the article group or layer, as considered in relation to the conveying direction, moves ahead at a slight distance from or abuts on the foremost articles of the article group or layer at least immediately before or on reaching the rest position.

Claims

1. A method for horizontally shifting an article group composed of a plurality of articles, comprising:

transferring the article group from a first position to a second position, the article group being conveyed horizontally in the first position on a first support surface of a first device, the article group being at a standstill in the second position on a second support surface distinct from the first support surface of a second device, the transferring occurring by pushing the article group from the first position with a first pusher bar extending horizontally above the first support surface located at a back of the article group with respect to a conveying direction, the first pusher bar decelerating as the article group reaches the standstill;

moving a support bar extending horizontally above the second support surface in front of the article group during the transferring while the first pusher bar, from above the first support surface, pushes the article group, the support bar abutting or being a slight distance ahead of the front of the article group during the decelerating so as to prevent toppling of the plurality of articles of the article group.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first pusher bar and the support bar perform, at least temporarily, synchronous movements.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising moving the second device up or down after the article group has reached a standstill on the second device.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the second device includes at least one of a grouping table, a hoist, and a stacking station.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising stacking the article group on top of another article group after the standstill.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a pattern of the article group is maintained during the transferring.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first pusher bar includes a plurality of pusher bars or a further support bar is provided.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the support bar contacts the front of the article group during the decelerating.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the support bar accelerates away from the front of the article group prior to the standstill being reached.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the support bar accelerates away from the front of the article group prior to the standstill being reached.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the support bar remains in contact with the front of the article group as the standstill is reached.

12. The method as recited in the claim 1 wherein the second support surface has ridges, ribs, or grooves.

13. An apparatus for horizontally shifting an article group composed of a plurality of articles, the apparatus comprising:

a first support surface of a first device,

a second support surface of a second device, the second support surface being distinct from the first support surface and having a standstill position;

at least one pusher bar extending horizontally above the first support surface and configured for engaging with a rear of the group of articles for horizontally shifting the article group from a first position to the standstill position, the first support surface being configured for horizontally conveying the article group in the first position on the first support surface, the article group being away from the second support surface in the first position, the article group being on the second support surface in the standstill position, the pusher bar configured for decelerating during the horizontal shifting; and

at least one support bar engaging with the articles at a front of the article group during the decelerating, the at least one support bar and at least one pusher bar being configured such that the at least one support bar extends horizontally above the second support surface and moves in front of the article group during the horizontally shifting while the first pusher, from above the first support surface, pushes the article group.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein the second support surface is on a hoist or a gripper head.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein the pusher bar or the support bar is coupled with a drive of an endlessly circulating traction mechanism for generating pushing motions.