An apparatus for grouping objects

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for grouping objects, in which objects (2) on an ingoing conveyor (1) into the apparatus are released in a preselected number by the brake (3). The preselected number of objects (2), preferably packages, passes one or two carriers or pushers (5) which are disposed such that they execute, on the one hand, a movement transversely in relation to the conveyor device of the outgoing conveyor (11) from the apparatus, and, on the other hand, synchronously with this conveyor device. In that the pushers (5) move in sequence, so that the first pusher (5') groups first, followed by the second (5'') and then both pushers (5', 5'') remain in their position of rest, the objects (2) are grouped in three different rows on the outgoing conveyor (11).

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for grouping objects and comprising the features set out in the preamble of claim 1. An apparatus of this type is known through EP-A-0 480 436 (see below). BACKGROUND ART In the manufacture and handling of objects, it is often desirable to group such objects so as more readily to be able to handle them and pack them in suitable multipacks. This also applies to disposable packages or cartons for foods such as, for instance, milk or juice. When the packages depart from the filling machine on a conveyor, it is often desirable to combine the packages into larger units in order more readily to be able to handle them on distribution. Such combination into and packaging in larger units is normally carried out at the dairy or in the juice factory and the distribution units may consist of trays of cardboard or plastics, but may also be different types of shrink-film wrapped groups. Each type of machine for combining into different distribution units normally features its own type of grouping apparatus. This grouping apparatus normally consists of a carrier or so-called pusher which brings together a number of packages to form a group. This system entails that the ingoing transport of packages must be arrested in order to allow the pusher to have time to execute its grouping operation. There are also types of rotary pushers, as described in Swedish Patent Application No. 8900869-2. The European Patent Application EP-A-480 436 discloses a distributing and collecting device which entails a sorting guide, providing the objects to be grouped transversal to the conveying direction for a product-distributing means and two gates which are perpendicular to the conveying direction. Here, one end of the sorting guide is fixed so as to receive the objects from a carrier conveyer while the rear end is oscillating transversal to the conveying direction in order to discharge the objects at their proper position. United States Patent US-A-3 854 569 discloses a conveyer system for aligning objects with an alignment rail, a thrusting device and a realignment rail. The thrusting device groups the already aligned objects by transversely pushing them into groups wherein the number of groupmembers is undefined. Most of these grouping operations entail, however, that output capacity must be reduced in order for the pusher to have time to carry out the grouping operation. Furthermore, these prior art solutions entail that each distribution machine must be provided with a grouping unit specifically adapted to the purpose. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to realise a grouping apparatus which is rapid and reliable and which may group the objects, the packages, together without ingoing transport of the packages being stopped. Further, the apparatus according to the invention should be so flexible that the same grouping apparatus can be employed for different types of distribution machines, such as shrink-film wrappers or tray packers. SOLUTION These and other objects have been attained according to the present invention in that an apparatus of the type described by way of introduction has been given the characterizing features that the carriers or pushers displace the objects by executing an elliptical movement. Preferred embodiments of the present invention have further been given the characterizing features as set forth in the appended subclaims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS One preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus according to the invention with two pushers; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention with two pushers; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two pushers; Fig. 4 shows one example of the employment of the apparatus according to the invention in a distribution machine. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus according to the invention, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a conventional ingoing conveyor 1 into the apparatus. The conveyor 1 has a conveyor device which may consist of an endless belt or a chain. The conveyor 1 is driven by, for instance, an electric motor (not shown). The ingoing conveyor 1 feeds in the objects 2, the packages, into the apparatus from, for example, a filling machine. A brake 3 of conventional type is disposed at that point where the objects 2 depart from the ingoing conveyor 1. The brake may, for example, be of the belt brake type in which belts move in towards the objects and fixedly restrain them in that one belt 4 clamps the objects from either side. The brake 3 retains the objects 2 so that they slip against the ingoing conveyor 1, but may also be of the type which lifts the objects 2 from the conveyor device of the ingoing conveyor 1. The brake 3 is programmed such that it releases the objects 2 in a preselected number and allows them to pass further into the apparatus. Next in the direction of transport of the objects 2, there is disposed at least one but in the preferred embodiment two carriers 5 of the so-called "pusher" type. The pusher 5 is secured by horizontal shafts 6 at two points, the shafts 6 being mechanically interconnected with one another by the intermediary of a connector plate 7. Between the horizontal shafts 6 and the connector plate 7, there are two arms 8, which entails that, when the pusher 5 executes its movement, this will have an elliptic cycle. The pusher 5 is electrically driven, either directly or via a cogged belt. On the connector plate 7, there is secured a pusher plate 9 which, at least on one face, is bent down to a contact surface 10 acting against the objects 2. The width of the contact surface 10 must at least correspond to the width of that number of objects 2 which is to be displaced in one and the same work cycle, i.e. the number of objects 2 preselected by the brake 3. Thus, the pusher 5 executes a movement which, on the one hand, is transverse in relation to the conveyor device of the conveyor 1 and, on the other hand, such that the contact surface 10 of the pusher 5 moves synchronously with this conveyor device while it displaces the objects 2 advanced ahead of the pusher 5. In order to obtain these two movements, the pusher 5 may also be designed in a more conventional manner, but be provided with a belt which is disposed on the contact surface 10 and which runs synchronously with the conveyor device and advances the objects 2 while the pusher 5 displaces them in the lateral direction by executing an elliptical movement. Once the objects 2 have left the brake 3 in their preselected number, they move out onto an outgoing conveyor 11 of conventional type with an endless belt or a chain driven, for example, by an electric motor. The outgoing conveyor 11 may consist of a single wide conveyor device or, as in the preferred embodiment, a plurality of conveyor devices divided up such that rails 12 may be raised up between them and in such a manner marshal the objects 2 into different pens. The speed of the outgoing conveyor 11 may be the same as that of the ingoing conveyor 1, but in order to ensure a more uniform rate of operation for the apparatus as a whole, it is more advantageous if the outgoing conveyor 11 operates at a slightly slower speed. Furthermore, the ingoing conveyor 1 may continue as one of the outgoing conveyors 11. By dividing up the outgoing conveyor 11 into a plurality of parallel conveyor devices with guide rails 12 upstanding between them, a more flexible apparatus will be obtained. The guide rails 12 may be designed such that they can be depressed down to a level beneath the outgoing conveyor 11, it then becoming possible to convey larger objects 2. Those objects 2 which are to be grouped (in this specific case packages of the disposable type) arrive on the ingoing conveyor 1 into the apparatus. The objects 2 may come straight from a packaging machine or may have been stored in some form of magazine apparatus. The objects 2 first reach the brake 3 where the two mutually facing brake belts 4 move in towards the objects 2, the packages, and clamp them so that they are retained in this position. Thereafter, the brake 3 releases the packages 2 in a preselected number, for example three, which continue on the outgoing conveyor 11. When the objects 2 pass the pusher or pushers 5, this (or one of them) executes its movement. In the case which is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, use is made of two pushers 5 disposed on either side of the outgoing conveyor 11. When the packages 2 leave the brake 3, either the one pusher 5' or the other 5'', or neither of them, may execute its movement. The packages 2 are then moved either to one side of the outgoing conveyor 11 or the other side, or remain in their mid-position. Hence, the movement of the pushers 5 is, on the one hand transverse in relation to the conveyor device of the outgoing conveyor 11, and on the other hand synchronous with the direction of movement of this conveyor device, so that the pushers 5 execute an elliptical movement. In such instance, the pusher 5 displaces the packages 2 without disrupting their advancement on the outgoing conveyor 11. For packages 2 of the parallelepipedic type - which may be relatively tall and slim - this is particularly suitable, since a gentle and reliable displacement in the lateral direction of the packages 2 will then be obtained. The packages 2 need not be arrested in their movement in order to be grouped. Once the packages 2 have been moved to the one or other side, or have been retained in their mid-position on the outgoing conveyor 11, they are moved via different guide rails 12 into different pens. These pens may, of course, be utilised to distribute the packages 2 onto different conveyor belts, but, as is shown in Fig. 4, they are employed to group the packages 2 prior to a further packing in a cardboard tray 13 so as to facilitate the distribution of the packages 2. By leaving the pusher 5 in its outermost position when the contact surface 10 is in contact with the packages 2, it is possible, through the employment of an integrated cylinder and piston assembly (not shown), to extend the movement of the pusher 5 in the lateral direction so that packages can be distributed in a larger number of pens. That number of packages 2 which is distributed on each stroke of the pusher depends upon the size of the packages 2 which are to be distributed, and the contact surface 10 of the pusher 5 is correspondingly adapted. By varying the width of the contact surface 10 of the pusher 5, a larger or smaller number of packages 2 can be distributed. As will have been apparent from the foregoing description, the present invention realises a grouping apparatus which is flexible and usable together with different types of distribution equipment. It may further be employed for different package sizes, and by distributing among different numbers of pens, it is possible to obtain an optional grouping or distribution on different outgoing conveyors.

Claims: An apparatus for grouping objects (2), comprising an ingoing conveyor (1) entering the apparatus, with a brake (3) which releases the objects (2) in a preselected number, at least one outgoing conveyor (11), departing from the apparatus and carriers or pusher (5), disposed to move, on the one hand transversely in relation to the conveyor device of the outgoing conveyor (11), and on the other hand such that the contact surfaces (10) of the carriers or pushers (5) move synchronously with said conveyor device, characterized in that the carriers or pushers (5) displace the objects (2) by executing an elliptical movement. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the carriers or pushers (5) are secured in two points which are mechanically interconnected with one another, enabling the elliptical movement. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carriers or pushers (5) displace the objects (2) without disrupting their advancement on the outgoing conveyor (11). An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the width of the pushers (5) at least correspond to the width of the preselected number of objects (2). An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceedings claims, characterized in that the speed of the ingoing conveyor (1) is the same as or slightly faster than the speed of the outgoing conveyor (1). An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that it includes two carriers or pushers (5), placed on either side of the outgoing conveyor (11). An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the pushers (5) are disposed to execute a movement pattern in sequence, so that the first pusher (5') moves, thereafter the second pusher (5''), and subsequently both pushers (5) remain in their position of rest.

Inventors: HAKANSSON JAN, HAKANSSON, JAN
Applicants: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE, TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65G47
IPC codes: B65G47, B65B35, B65B61, B65B43