Configurable conveyor and weighing conveyor apparatus

An apparatus for weighing and labeling of a product in a high speed processing environment includes an entry conveyor having an entry end and an exit end. A weighing conveyor has an entry end for receiving the product from the exit end of the entry conveyor and an exit end from which the product is delivered from the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor is operatively mounted to a weighing device to produce product weight information for the product being transported on the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor includes a first conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor and a second conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor. The first and second conveyor members operate cooperatively to convey the product from the entry end toward the exit end. A first angle measured from the first conveyor member to the second conveyor member is adjustable prior to a conveying operation to accommodate a bottom of the product so as to reduce shock loading on the weighing device as the product is transferred from the entry conveyor to the weighing conveyor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a method and apparatus for weighing items, more particularly to a weighing conveyor apparatus and configurable conveyor.

BACKGROUND

In high speed packaging, weighing and labeling operations, after the step of wrapping a product such as meat or poultry for sale in a supermarket, the next steps are for that product to be weighed and labeled. If the product happens to be one with a flat bottom or one supported in a tray, it tends to function smoothly in a conveyorized operation. If it is a product that does not have a flat bottom, such as a whole bird poultry product or is another type of product having an irregular surface on which the product typically rests while being conveyed, the swift movement of a conventional flat horizontal conveyor may induce oscillation or wobble in the product while being conveyed. The reason for this is that in many conveyorized packaging operations, the products can be processed at speeds of 70 or more pieces per minute. That amount of speed will frequently jolt a whole bird poultry product such that it rocks on its non-flat bottom and begins to wobble.

Wobble or oscillation by itself may not present a problem if it is being transported merely to get to a destination, but when the purpose of the transport is to weigh and label the bird, unreliability and inaccuracy may occur. A wobble in the weighing operation can result in an incorrect weight. A wobble in the labeling operation can result in an improperly positioned label. In addition, the wobble on a flat open conveyor belt frequently results in an orientational misalignment of the product, further disturbing label location.

A conventional conveyor is one which has a basically flat horizontal belt, or similar supporting surface, and transports the product through the operative stations. In the case of a multiple process sequence, typically entry, weighing, and labeling, the conveyor system may be a series of short conveyors working in sequence.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, an apparatus for weighing and labeling of a product in a high speed processing environment includes an entry conveyor having an entry end and an exit end. A weighing conveyor has an entry end for receiving the product from the exit end of the entry conveyor and an exit end from which the product is delivered from the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor is operatively mounted to a weighing device to produce product weight information for the product being transported on the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor includes a first conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor and a second conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor. The first and second conveyor members operate cooperatively to convey the product from the entry end toward the exit end. A first angle measured from the first conveyor member to the second conveyor member is adjustable prior to a conveying operation to accommodate a bottom of the product so as to reduce shock loading on the weighing device as the product is transferred from the entry conveyor to the weighing conveyor.

In another aspect, a method for weighing and labeling of a product in a high speed processing environment is provided. The method includes providing an entry conveyor having an entry end and an exit end. A weighing conveyor is provided having an entry end for receiving the product from the exit end of the entry conveyor and an exit end from which the product is delivered from the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor is operatively mounted to a weighing device for producing product weight information for the product being transported on the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor includes a first conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor and a second conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor. The first and second conveyor members operate cooperatively to convey the product from the entry end toward the exit end. A first angle measured from the first conveyor member to the second conveyor member is adjusted prior to a conveying operation to accommodate a bottom of the product thereby reducing shock loading on the weighing device as the product is transferred from the entry conveyor to the weighing conveyor.

In a third aspect, an apparatus for weighing and labeling of a product in a high speed processing environment includes an entry conveyor having an entry end and an exit end. A weighing conveyor has an entry end for receiving the product from the exit end of the entry conveyor and an exit end from which the product is delivered from the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor is operatively mounted to a weighing device to produce product weight information for the product being transported on the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor includes a first conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor and a second conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor. The first and second conveyor members operating cooperatively to convey the product from the entry end toward the exit end. Each first conveyor member and second conveyor member is adjustable independently of the other conveyor member to an angle relative to the horizontal to form a variety of conveyor surface configurations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an apparatus10for automatic, high speed weighing and labeling of products includes three operative stations A, B and C. Station A is an entry station including an entry conveyor12, station B is a weighing station including a weighing conveyor14and station C is a labeling station including a labeling conveyor16. The entry conveyor12includes an entry end18for receipt of product and exit end20that feeds product to the weighing conveyor14. Likewise, the weighing conveyor14includes an entry end22that receives product from the entry conveyor12and an exit end24that feeds product to the labeling conveyor16. The labeling conveyor16includes an entry end26that receives product from the weighing conveyor14and an exit end28that transports product from the labeling conveyor. As can be seen, each of the conveyors12,14and16are aligned linearly defining a linear conveyor path30through the apparatus10.

Station A is used to align the product on the conveyor system and to transfer the product onto the weighing conveyor14of station B. Station A includes vertically oriented infeed guides32and34that are used to align the product on the entry conveyor12. Station B is used to weigh the product as it moves along the weighing conveyor14. A weighing device36is connected to the weighing conveyor14so that weight information can be collected, which will be described in greater detail below. Station C is used to affix a label to the product and includes vibration dampers38and40for additional product alignment and limiting product vibration moving onto the labeling conveyor16and a labeling apparatus42, which is used to print and apply a label to the product. In some embodiments, the label may include the weight of the product determined using the weighing conveyor14and the weighing device36of station B.

In some embodiments, the product may move continuously through the apparatus10, stations A, B and C, without any stops along the way. In other embodiments, the product may stop for a brief period of time at, for example, station A until a weighing operation for an adjacent product is completed.

Referring toFIG. 2, one or more of the entry, weighing and labeling conveyors12,14and16are adjustable from a horizontal orientation ofFIG. 1to a V-shaped orientation ofFIG. 2. InFIG. 2, each of the entry, weighing and label conveyors12,14and16are adjustable to the V-shaped configuration. As will be described, adjustment to the V-shaped configuration can reduce product movement as it travels from conveyor to conveyor, particularly in instances where a product having a non-flat bottom (e.g., a bagged whole bird15) is being conveyed. As used herein, the term “non-flat bottom” is not meant to exclude products with partially flat bottoms. Additionally, the V-shaped configuration of the weighing conveyor14(and entry conveyor12) can reduce shock applied to the weighing conveyor (compared to a flat conveyor) as the product with a non-flat bottom is transferred thereon. Reduction of shock at the weighing station B can allow for quicker acquisition of weight information, which can allow for an increase in speed of the conveyor system thereby increasing throughput of product.

FIGS. 3 and 4illustrate the weighing conveyor14in isolation connected to the weighing device36. The weighing conveyor14is of a two part design including a first conveyor member44and a second conveyor member46. Each conveyor member44and46includes a respective conveyor belt48,50and a motor52,54for use in moving the conveyor belts.

The weighing conveyor14is connected to the weighing device36using a dampening mount assembly45that includes a conveyor mount plate47and a conveyor swivel mount49connected to an upper surface51of the conveyor mount plate. The first conveyor member44and the second conveyor member46are pivotally connected to the conveyor swivel mount49to provide a respective pivot axis for each the first and second conveyor members44and46that extends substantially parallel with the conveying direction30(FIG. 1). A conveyor adjustment brace53and55(only conveyor adjustment brace55can be seen inFIG. 3) is connected to the first conveyor member44and the second conveyor member46. The conveyor adjustment brace53and55allows positioning (e.g., manually) of the first conveyor member44and the second conveyor member46at a desired incline angle. A conveyor adjustment lever56,58is used to set or allow adjustment of the first and second conveyor members44and46by inserting or releasing a pin (not shown, but internal of brace frame100and projecting into slot102through which the brace extends) within openings60at various elevations along the lengths of the conveyor adjustment braces53and55. The pin may be spring loaded. The lever56may be biased to normally maintain the pin within the brace locking position.

The conveyor mount plate47is mounted upon a loadcell plate62, which is mounted to a loadcell64. Loadcell64provides weight information that can be processed by a processor to determine weight of the product. Referring now toFIG. 5, the mount plate47is mounted to the loadcell plate62using a dampening control assembly66that includes a damping pad68(e.g., formed of a synthetic viscoelastic urethane polymer, such as that commercially available from Sorbothane Inc. of Kent, Ohio), a high damp PVC bushing70and a linear motion fastener72. The damping pad68and bushing70cooperate to damp both upward and downward movement of the mount plate47relative to the loadcell plate62.

FIGS. 6-9illustrate the weighing conveyor14with its conveyor members44and46at various angles α measured between the conveyor members. In some embodiments, each of the conveyor members44are independently adjustable from zero degrees to the horizontal to 90 degrees to the horizontal.FIG. 6illustrates a horizontal orientation where α is about 180 degrees to define a substantially horizontal conveying surface.FIG. 7illustrates the second conveyor member46in its horizontal orientation and the first conveyor member44in an inclined orientation to define a V-shaped conveying surface with α at about 135 degrees. The orientation ofFIG. 7may allow for accommodation of products that are weighted to one side, for example.FIG. 8illustrates the first and second conveyor members44and46in a V-shaped orientation having an α of about 90 degrees.FIG. 9illustrates the first and second conveyors44and46in another V-shaped orientation having an α of about 135 degrees to accommodate a frozen, bagged bird. The angle α, in some embodiments, may be set to a plurality of angles ranging between 180 degrees and 45 degrees or less. It should be noted that while the weighing conveyor14is focused on in the above discussion with regard to the moveable conveyor members, the entry conveyor12and labeling conveyor16may operate in the same or similar fashion to move between horizontal and V-shaped configurations.

The V-shaped configuration of the conveyor belts can increase the stability of non-flat bottom packages. The conveyor adjustment brace and lever can hold the conveyor members at multiple inclined angles to accommodate product of various shapes. Either conveyor member can be adjusted independently of the other, e.g., to create a non-symmetric configuration. The conveyors can be additionally adaptable to flat bottom packages or packages that do not need the V-shaped configuration by placing the conveyor members in their horizontal configurations. The weighing conveyor takes advantage of a suspension system for vibration and shock dampening. Synthetic viscoelastic urethane polymer pads surrounded by high damp PVC bushings can dampen vibrations in multiple directions, which can decrease the loadcell stabilization time by reducing initial shock that occuring when a product is initially presented to the weighing conveyor. In addition to bagged, frozen birds, the above-described conveyor system may be used to convey HFFS packaging, vacuum packed product, sausage, etc.

Referring toFIG. 10, another weighing conveyor embodiment74includes side guides76and78. The side guides76and78are connected at outside edges of each of the conveyor members44and46and extend upwardly therefrom. Each side guide76and78includes a belt housing80,82that includes a number of rollers84and a flexible belt86,88wound around two rollers90. The side guides76and78are pivotally connected to their respective conveyor member44and46at a pivot axis A so that a size of an entry end opening94and an exit end opening96can change as the product moves along the conveyor path.

Referring toFIG. 11, a pivot bracket assembly92is used to further dampen vibrations as the product contacts the side guides76and78. Pivot bracket assembly92includes a pivot bracket98that is pivotally connected to the associated side guide. The pivot bracket98has openings104that are sized to receive a dampening cylinder100. The dampening cylinder100may be a single acting air cylinder with spring return. A port on the cylinder can have a flow control to regulate the flow of air. On compression, an internal spring, along with a regulated air bleed, forces the side guides76and78to pivot in a controlled manner. A side guide adjustment block102is provided to allow adjustment of the dampening cylinder's position within another of the openings104. Other embodiments are contemplated such as use of conical compression springs or an extension with spring return in the pivot bracket assembly92.

FIGS. 12-14illustrate operation of the side guides76and78as the product15moves along the conveyor14in its V-shape configuration. As the product enters at the entry end22of the weighing conveyor14, the entry end opening94is forced open by contact between the product and the rollers84, forcing the side guides76and78into a funnel-like shape. The product15then contacts the flexible belts86and88as it moves between the side guides76and78. As the product15exits the weighing conveyor14the exit end opening96is forced open, placing the side guides76and78in their initial orientation.

The flexible side guides76and78can be used to guide and stabilize contoured packages through the apparatus10including the weighing conveyor14. The side guides76and78, by contacting the product15, can immediately stabilize the product to the conveyor surface thereby allowing earlier and accurate acquisition of weight information.

It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that changes and modifications are possible. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.