ARRANGEMENT, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDLING STICKS IN AN APPARATUS FOR INSERTING STICKS IN ICE-CREAM BODIES

Abstract: An arrangement, a device and a method for handling sticks in an apparatus for inserting sticks in ice cream bodies. In well-defined location between rows of stick pockets (24) in a conveyor belt interspaces are provided. Lifting means of a stacking device can be moved through the plane, in which the sticks are advanced by the conveyor without coming into contact with a stick on the conveying means. This makes it possible to engage or disengage a stacking device according to need, and also to have more than one stacking device (3, 31) along one single feed-conveying means (2).

Description: ARRANGEMENT, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDLING SΗCKS IN AN APPARATUS FOR INSERTING SΗCKS IN ICE-CREAM BODIES TECHNICAL FIELD 5 The present invention relates to an arrangement of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1. BACKGROUND ART 10 With this field it is known to use apparatus, in which sticks are fed into a feed bin, from the latter being taken out singly and advanced further by a feed-conveying means, e.g. in the form of a conveyor belt, conveyor 15 wheel or conveyor chain, possibly taking part in the taking-out operation, such as is known e.g. from US-A- 4,130,936 and DE-OS 1,601,078. Spaces are provided for the respective sticks on the feed-conveying means. These spaces may be in the form of recesses, knobs etc., with 20 the purpose of defining a space for one stick; in the following these spaces will be referred to as "pockets" . In apparatus of the kind referred to initially, these pockets are so arranged that they only support the sticks 25 along part of their longitudinal direction transversely of the feed-conveying means, thus providing regions in the longitudinal direction of the stick without a support or other means on the feed-conveying means, so that at least in this region or regions, there is a free space 30 about the stick. The free regions in which the stick is laid bare, are usually at the center or at the ends of the sticks. Usually, the pockets are shorter than the sticks and/or have recesses in the center. These free regions without support are provided to enable a stacking member to engage a stick from below and lift it up from the pocket without colliding with the feed-conveying means . The feed-conveying means moves the sticks in the pockets to a stacking station, in which the sticks when delivered to the station are lifted by a stacking-up device, removing the stick from the pocket and stacking it upwardly into a stack of sticks. In the stack of sticks, the individual sticks lie in mutual abutment with their longitudinal surfaces. The stack of sticks itself is guided in its own longitudinal direction, e.g. transversely to the longitudinal direction of the individual sticks, to a stick-insertion station, in which the sticks are inserted into the ice-cream bodies. In known apparatus of this kind, the sticks are stacked-up in the stack of sticks as they arrive in the stacking-up station, and the stack of sticks is advanced by the thickness of one stick. As the stack of sticks approaches its full state, the speed of the feed-conveying means is lowered, or the latter is stopped completely. In order to compensate for variations occurring in the filling- in of sticks from the feed-conveying means and in delivering the sticks towards the insertion station, the stick- guiding means can be provided with a buffer store functioning to increase or reduce the length of the stack of sticks, e.g. by means of a stick arch, such as disclosed in DE-OS 2,462,613. The stacking-up means themselves, lifting the sticks out of the pockets on the feed-conveying means, may be constructed in various ways. There may e.g. be toothed wheels below the feed-conveying means running in synchronism with the latter, the teeth of the toothed wheel lifting the sticks out of the pockets and up into the stack. An example of this is shown in the above-mentioned DE-OS 1,601,078. The apparatus disclosed in this DE publication is, however, not of the kind to which the present invention is related, as the stack is not used for advancing sticks to an insertion station, but rather as a buffer store, adapted to in a different operating cycle to fill any empty pockets occurring in the feed-conveying means. Another example is shown in PCT application DK 95/00038, and also in Figure 3 in the present application, in which a stacking-up means, e.g. in the form of a fork, engages the extreme ends of the stick from below and lifts it up from the pocket and up into the stack. This fork can be controlled and operated from above, and may also be integrated with the stick guide guiding the stack of sticks to the subsequent stations . As far as the stacking-up process as such is concerned, there are no differences in principle between these two ways of stacking-up sticks, as both the fork and the toothed wheel relative to the stack of sticks have abutment surfaces moving up and down in synchronism with the feed-conveying means, so that the stick e.g. is lifted out of the pocket, then the latter is advanced below the stick during the continued movement of the feed-conveying means, after which the stacking-up means lower the sticks on to abutment surfaces on the feed-conveying means, on which the stick slides further into abutment on top of the next stick in succession, after which the stacking-up means lifts the latter out of the pocket and up with the stack of sticks, so that the stack of sticks is at the same time advanced by the thickness of one stick. If, on the contrary, it is desired to bring the stacking- -up process to a halt by lifting the lifting means on the stacking-up means up above the feed-conveying means, so that the latter can pass below the stack of sticks and the lifting means without being stopped, there are fundamental differences between stacking-up with a toothed wheel and with a lifting fork. If toothed wheels lift the stack of sticks up from the feed-conveying means and keep it in the lifted position when a new stick arrives, the latter will collide with the toothed wheel, whereas in contrast the fork, e.g. such as the one shown in Figure 3 , merely lifts the stack of sticks to a sufficient degree that the feed-conveying means with sticks can pass below the stack of sticks and the lifting means. The capability of lifting the lifting means and the stack of sticks out of the stacking-up process may e.g. be desirable when the stacking-up process is to be brought to a halt quickly, e.g. due to the stack of sticks having got stuck, without the necessity for stopping the feed-conveying means, which may be disadvantageous due to the latter 's inertia and function. It can also be advantageous to bring the lifting means and the stack of sticks out of the stacking-up process in order to carry out a running-in of the feed-conveying means without having to stack sticks into the stack of sticks concerned. Other advantages will be evident from the following parts of the present description. When the stacking-up means is to be returned to the function of stacking-up sticks from a feed- conveying means filled with sticks, the feed-conveying means is to be stopped and the sticks below the stacking- -up means are to be removed, before the stacking-up means can be brought into the stacking-up positions. When the feed-conveying means is re-started, its drive means must be capable of accelerating it together with the stack of sticks in engagement for stacking-up, and this requires a greater moment from the drive means when starting than in continuous operation. Further, the feed-conveying means and particularly its pockets and abutment surfaces as well as the stacking-up means, must be adapted to be able to function at low speed, and this can cause constructional limitations relative to the optimum construction of these means for operation at the usual operating speed. In apparatus for inserting sticks in ice-cream bodies it is relatively costly and complicated to adapt the stick- -insertion station for high speeds and consequently fast removal of sticks from the stack of sticks, but in contrast, it is a relatively simple and low-cost matter to construct the means for taking sticks one by one out of the feed bin and stacking them up into the stack of sticks for high operating rates; rates above 20,000 sticks per hour are not uncommon. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the invention to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above and to optimalize the use of the equipment employed in handling sticks in an apparatus for inserting sticks in ice-cream bodies. According to the invention, this object is achieved with an arrangement of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1, using the means set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1, and by the method set forth in claim 10 as well as the device set forth in claim 9. With the construction of the arrangement as set forth in claim 1 it is possible to bring the stack of sticks and the stacking-up means from the disengaged condition, in which sticks are not taken up from the feed-conveying means, to a position of engagement, in which sticks are taken up from the feed-conveying means while the latter is being advanced at full speed, this immediately making it possible to construct and dimension the feed-conveying means and its drive means as well as the stacking-up means so as to function in an optimum manner at a given speed of operation. Further, a preferred embodiment set forth in claim 6 makes it possible to exploit in an optimum manner the speed with which the sticks can be taken out singly and stacked; further, it is possible to use a single feed bin for a number of stacks of sticks, thus causing the post-feeding to be simplified. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further embodiments and advantages of the invention will be evident from the dependent claims and the following description with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a feed-conveying means in the form of a conveyor chain according to the invention with a stacking device, Figures 1.1-1.6 show how a normal stacking-up process is carried out, Figures 2.1-2.3 show a process of disengagement, Figures 2.4-2.5 show an attempt at re-engagement without using the invention, Figures 3.1-3.8 show a process comprising disengagement of stacking-up means and a stack of sticks, as well as re-engagement according to the invention, Figure 4 shows an apparatus for inserting sticks in icecream bodies as known from PCT DK95/00038, Figure 5 shows a feed-conveyor chain with a blank link, and Figure 6 shows a feed-conveying means with a number of stacking-up stations. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 4 shows an apparatus for inserting sticks in ice- -cream bodies of the kind known from PCT application DK 95/00038. In this apparatus the sticks are supplied to a feed bin 1, from which they are taken out one by one by a feed conveyor or chain 2 advancing the sticks P in pockets towards the stacking device 3 , the latter stacking the sticks to form a stack of sticks PS. The stack of sticks PS is guided by the stack guide 5 comprising a stick arch 6 across to a stick-insertion station 8, in the present embodiment comprising a ratchet-wheel-shaped destacking rotor 7. The course of the stack guide 5 and the stick-insertion station 8 may be arranged and chosen according to desire, and is shown in the present exemplary embodiment purely for purposes of illustration. The feed conveyor 2 is guided and driven by suitable means in the present embodiment represented by wheels 10, 11. The feed conveyor 2 advances the sticks P to the stacking device 3, the latter comprising suitable guide means, in the present embodiment exemplified by the guide member 4. The gripping member on the stacking device 3 is usually in the form of a fork, the two legs of which engage the extreme ends of the stick and lift it out of the pocket. The fork may also comprise one or two legs running in longitudinal recesses in the feed conveyor. Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which a feed conveyor in the form of a feed chain 2 advances sticks P in pockets 24 towards a stacker fork 31 stacking the sticks P in a stack of sticks PS. In this Figure, the stacker fork 31 is indicated in a preferred embodiment, in which the fork 31 moves relative to the stick guide 5 so that sticks P are lifted on the lifting surface 32 ' and at the same time prevented by the stop surface 32" from moving on with the conveyor 2. Further, this stop surface 32" has an upward extent ensuring that, in any operational position of the fork 31, it enters the plane for the rearwardly directed guide on the stick guide 5, so as to prevent sticks from getting wedged between the stop surface 32" and the lower part of the stick guide 5. As far as the functions described above are concerned, the pockets 24 may have any desired shape, but will mainly comprise a bottom 24', e.g. supporting the stick P at one or two abutment surfaces about its center of mass . Further, the pocket must comprise a stick stop, in the present example shown in the form of an abutment step 23 ' , but may also be otherwise shaped, such as in the form of knobs, cams or the like supporting the stick in the opposite direction of the feed. In the example shown, the pocket is shaped in a link 21, on which a rearwardly placed step member 23 comprises the abutment step 23 ' and is provided with a step supporting surface 23", on which the lowermost stick in the stack can be placed and slide. The step supporting surface 23" is preferably made as long as possible, i.e. the greatest possible width of abutment, transversely to the conveying direction of the link 21, in order to reduce wear, when the sticks slide on the supporting surface. Rearwardly the step member 23 is provided with a step chamfer 23 ' ' ' , so that the lowermost stick P in the stack of sticks PS at this location may begin to slide downwardly towards the next pocket 24. In addition, this Figure shows a blank link 22, in the example shown corresponding to the links 21 but not having a pocket 24, so that this link is unable to accommodate a stick. The blank link 22 is shaped in such a manner, that only the regions in which the stick P were to lie are barred, and the regions in which the lifting member is to be able to move, are free. In addition, the blank link 22 is provided with a slide surface 25, on which the lowermost stick P in a stack of sticks can slide on to the next link 21, 22 in the chain. In the example shown, the slide surface 25 is inclined in the forward (downstream) direction, but this surface 25 is advantageously horizontal, i.e. not inclined, in order to prevent sticks P or parts of such from being carried along on this blank link 22. The slide surface 25 may possibly also be inclined rearwardly and replace the chamfer 23 ' ' ' . In the example shown, the slide surface 25 ends in a chamfer 23 ' ' ' corresponding to the chamfer 23 ' ' ' on the links 21 having pockets 24. The chamfer may, however, also be otherwise shaped and extend more smoothly, possibly along the full extent of the slide surface 25 as mentioned above. To ensure smooth sliding towards the blank link 22 from the preceding link 21, the slide surface 25 can advantageous -ly extend from a plane slightly below the step supporting surface 23" on the preceding link 21, the latter possibly being a special link without a chamfer 23 ' ' ' . Figures 1.1-1.6 show an ordinary stacking process. Figure 1.1 shows the links 21 in a feed chain 2 advancing in the direction of the arrow F. In this manner, sticks P present in the pockets 24 on each of the links 21 are in this manner advanced to a stacking device 3 comprising a stacker fork 31. Figure 1.1 shows the stack of sticks PS resting on top of a stick P in the course of being lifted by the fork 31 out of its pocket 24 in the direction of the arrow O. In Figure 1.2, the lowermost stick in the stack of sticks PS has been lifted to a level above that of the step member 23, and the link 21 concerned in the pocket 24 of which the last stick P to be stacked was lying, is advanced below the stacks of sticks PS. When the step member 23 is in a position below the stack of sticks PS, the fork 31 with the stack of sticks PS is moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow N, upon which the stack of sticks PS lies in abutment with the lowermost stick P on the step supporting surface 23" (Figure 1) . The fork 31 continues in its downward movement to a level for the lifting surface 32' below the level for the stick P in the pocket of the next link 21 to arrive at the stacker fork 31, but the stack of sticks PS remains in abutment on the step member 23 in a level above the level for the next stick P as shown in Figure 1.4. During the continued movement of the feed chain 2, the stack of sticks PS is moved across the step member 23 until the upstream edge of the lowermost stick P in the stack of sticks PS arrives at the chamfer 23 ' ' ' as shown in Figure 1.5. At this stage, the stack of sticks PS begins to slide downwardly towards the next stick P. The stack of sticks PS comes into abutment against the next stick P at the same time as the stacker fork 31 is moved upwardly, and the course of events is repeated as from Figure 1.1. In this manner, the sticks P are stacked upwardly in the stack of sticks PS, the latter being advanced in the stick guide 5 towards the insertion station 8. Figures 2.1-2.3 show how the stack of sticks PS, from a position in Figure 2.1 corresponding to that of Figure 1.1, is lifted out of the stacking procedure shown in Figure 2.2 into a disengaged position shown in Figure 2.3, in which the stack of sticks PS and the lower parts of the stacker fork 31 in the direction of advancement of the sticks P are lifted up above the feed chain 2, so that the sticks P in the latter can be advanced below the stack of sticks PS and the stacker fork 31. In this disengaged position, the stacking device 3 has no influence on the advancing of the sticks P on the feed chain 2, and at the same time, the process of stacking sticks P up into the stack of sticks PS has ceased. Figures 2.4 and 2.5 show how things go wrong if the stack of sticks PS and the stacker fork 31 are moved downwardly towards the re-engagement without regard to the sticks P being present on the feed chain. Figure 2.4 shows the beginning of the lowering for re-engagement . Figure 2.5 shows how the stacker fork 31 with its lower parts in the supporting region for the sticks lies in abutment on the upper side of a stick P in a link 21. This will normally lead to breakdown between the feed chain 2 and the stacking device 3 , or at least that one or a number of sticks P will be crushed by the stacker fork 31. Figures 3.1-3.8 show how the stacking device 3 and the stack of sticks PS can be brought into and out of engagement according to the principles of the invention. Figures 3.1-3.3 corresponding to Figures 2.1-2.3 show how the stacking device 3 is disengaged with the stack of sticks PS by moving the stacker fork 31 up into a level above the feed chain 2 allowing the sticks P to pass below the stacker fork 31 in the regions otherwise lying in the direction of advancement of the sticks P. When, subsequently, a re-engagement of the stacking device 3 and the stack of sticks PS is desired, the arrival is awaited of a blank link 22 or a normal link 21 provided with a dummy stick. This blank link 22 or the link 21 provided with a dummy stick is characterized by having no pocket 24 or that its pocket is blocked by a dummy stick to an extent preventing a normal stick to be accommodated, whereas on the contrary, the regions passed by the stacker fork 31 are not blocked in any way, so that the stacker fork 31 can pass this link in the same manner as it would pass a link 21 without a stick P. When a re-engagement or an engagement of the stacker fork 31 and the stack of sticks PS is desired, the arrival is awaited of a blank link 22. When the latter is in a given position upstream of the stacking device 3, the downward movement of the stacker fork 31 is initiated in a manner shown in Figure 3.4. The position of the blank link 22 at the instant of initiating the downward movement of the stacker fork 31 and the speed of the latter 's downward movement are mutually attuned in such a manner that the fork 31 does not hit a stick P possibly present in the pocket in the link 21 immediately downstream of the blank link 22. After this, the lowermost stick P in the stack of sticks PS will lie in abutment with the slide surface 25 on the blank link 22 in the manner shown in Figure 3.5. Then, the stacker fork 31 continues in its downward movement without the stack of sticks to a level, at which the lifting surface 32' on the fork lies below the lower level for a stick P being advanced on the next link 21 with the pocket 24 in the manner shown in Figure 3.6. The lowermost stick P in the stack of sticks PS slides on the slide surface 25 of the blank link 22 as the feed chain 2 is being advanced, all in the manner shown in Figure 3.7. When the downstream edge of the lowermost stick P reaches the chamfer 23 ' ' ' on the blank link 22, the stick P and the stack of sticks PS will slide downwardly into abutment on the stick P on the succeeding link 21, after which a stacking-up process may proceed in a normal manner. As far as the functions described above are concerned, the dummy stick referred to can merely be a stick having been secured in a pocket 24 in a link 21, the parts of the stick otherwise engaged by the stacker fork being removed. The dummy stick is, however, preferably made from a wear-resistant material capable of being provided with a smooth surface, such as e.g. steel or plastic. The use of a dummy stick is especially advantageous when using existing feed-conveying means in the form of wheels, ribbons or chains, and is also advantageous in cases, in which it is desirable to be able to vary the positioning or the number of dummy sticks. It is, however, preferred that the "dummy function" is provided by a blank link 22 shaped in a manner corresponding to a link 21 but without the latter' s pocket. If this blank link 22 is part of a feed chain 2 of e.g. wear-resistant and self-lubricating plastic, in which the links can be separated, the positioning and number can be varied by inserting and removing blank links 22 into or from the feed chain 2. As an alternative to the insertion of a blank link 22 or a dummy stick, it is possible to provide controlled ejection or removal of sticks P from pockets 24 prior to arrival at a stacking device 3. This can especially be advantageous when using control devices removing faulty sticks, e.g. warped sticks, as this control device is merely supplied with a control signal activating the ejection of the stick without regard to whether it is faulty or not. The presence of a blank link 22, a dummy stick or an empty pocket 24 can be ascertained on the basis of knowledge about its position, possibly at a given moment in time and knowledge about the path of advancement and/or the speed of the feed conveyor. This may also be achieved by detecting the blank link 22, the dummy stick or the empty pocket 24 having characteristics with regard to shape relative to a pocket 24 with a stick, or by other recognizable characteristics, such as reflecting surfaces, pieces of metal in the blank link or dummy stick etc. The presence of a blank link or a dummy stick can particularly be ascertained by a combination of the sensing and knowledge about the conveying paths . Figure 5 is a perspective view of a feed chain leading sticks P up to a stacker fork 31 of the kind engaging the extreme ends of the sticks. In this example, the sticks P are retained in their pockets 24 by step members 23 on the links in the feed chain supporting the sticks in the conveying direction. In the longitudinal direction of the sticks and transversely to the feed chain, their positions are controlled by guide rails that are stationary relative to the moving feed chain and are adjusted to keep the sticks centered in the pockets. In this example, the blank link 22 is provided by securing a block extending to the edges of the pocket and having a slide surface 25. This block prevents the insertion of a stick in the pocket and is so dimensioned and shaped that the stacker fork does not come into contact with it; the stack of sticks PS can, however, lie in abutment on its slide surface 25 with its lowermost stick. If the stacker fork 31 is to engage the sticks within the extent of the pockets transversely to the conveying direction, the block must, of course, be provided with corresponding recesses or cutouts. The invention is particularly advantageous when using a number of stacking devices 3, 3', 3" with associated stick guides 5, 5', 5" in the manner made possible by the invention, this being shown in Figure 6. This makes it possible to achieve an optimum exploitation of the operating speed attainable in an economical manner when taking out sticks one by one from a feed bin 1, advancing them on the feed conveyor 2 and stacking them in a stacking device 3 without the necessity for a single insertion station 8 to be able to keep up to the same speed. At the same time feed bins 1, the taking out of sticks one by one from the feed bin 1 and feed conveyors 2 are made superfluous in a number of one less than the number of stacking devices 3 with associated stacks of sticks and guides for the latter. When using a blank link 22 or a dummy stick in a pocket 24 it is advantageous to have solely one such per feed conveyor, unless other conditions motivate a higher number, as this causes the highest number of sticks per unit length to be advanced, thus making it possible to keep the speed of "de-binning" and stacking at a low value . With regard to stacking it is evident from Figures 1-3 that particularly the lifting of sticks from the pockets 24 becomes more critical, and in principle with regard to speed is to be increased in proportion to the speed of the feed conveyor. For the same reason, the distance between the pockets should be kept as small as practically possible, inter alia in consideration of the requisite distance to allow the stacker fork 31 to be moved downwardly and engage the next stick without hitting it on the top or side surfaces before engaging it. Since the stick guides are usually provided with buffer stores, e.g. in the form of a stick arch 6, the interruptions in the process of stacking sticks will normally be of no practical consequence. Even though it is advantageous that the disengagement of a stacking device 3 occurs at the last link 21 before a blank link 22, and that the re-engagement or engagement each time occurs at a blank link 22, the disengagement may, however, occur in an arbitrary location in which a stick P is being stacked, and the re-engagement or engagement may occur in an arbitrary location in which a blank link 22 or an empty pocket 24 is certain to be present, such as shown in Figures 1.2-1.6. Thus, it is possible to carry out a full filling cycle for an arbitrary number of stacking devices 3, as will be explained with reference to Figure 6. When a blank link 22 arrives at the stacking device 3, the latter is brought into engagement as shown in Figures 3.3-3.8. When the stacking device 3 has stacked a given number of sticks P, it is disengaged at an arbitrary location as shown in Figures 2.1-2.3. The succeeding stacking device 3' is brought into engagement at the last empty pocket 24 before the arrival of links 21 with sticks P, such as is shown in Figures 1.2-1.6. When the stacking device 3' has stacked a given number of sticks P in its stack of sticks PS, it is disengaged at an arbitrary location as shown in Figures 2.1-2.3. At the succeeding stacking device 3" and possible stacking devices downstream of the latter, the same process as in the stacking device 3 ' is carried out. In the sequence described here, no two stacking devices 3 were in engagement at the same time; this will, however, occur at the re-engagement of the stacking device 3, because the stacking device 3" is not finished with stacking sticks P, continuing this operation until the sticks P that were present between stacking device 3 and stacking device 3" are stacked in the stack of sticks in the stick guide 5". If these two stacks of sticks slide downwardly at the same time into abutment against the next stick, the level of vibrations in the machine may increase, because the stacks of sticks strike the feed conveyor 2 in synchronism. In order to avoid this, one of these two stacking devices should be positioned in such a manner, that the vibrations produced by the stacks of sticks are excited out of synchronism. If the stacking shifts do not occur sequentially as in the above example, but arbitrarily, all the stacking devices 3 should be positioned along the conveying path of the feed conveyor 2 in such a manner, that they do not excite vibrations in mutual synchronism. If it is desirable that the process of stacking in the stack of sticks PS proceeds quietly, or that e.g. complicated stick-stacking devices are used, first lifting the stick out from the pocket and then into the stack of sticks PS, it may be advantageous for a stacking process to consist of solely one stick or X sticks, and it may be advantageous to place a blank link or a dummy stick after each number of sticks equal to the number of stacking devices 3, after X sticks, or after X sticks times the number of stacking devices 3. If it is not certain that all the sticks are stacked from the feed conveyor 2, e.g. in case of the speed of the feed conveyor not being synchronized with the stacking, or if there is only a single stacking device 3, it may be advantageous to place a stick ejector at the end of the path of advancement for the feed conveyor 2 below the stacking devices 3, as well as a collecting container or means to collect the sticks and possibly return them to the feed bin 1. As will be evident from the description it is a relatively simple matter to adapt the invention to any apparatus comprising a feed conveyor 2, from which the stacking device extracts sticks and form them into a stack of sticks of the kind indicated. For this reason, the invention should not be considered as being limited by the concrete examples described in the description, but exclusively as limited by what is indicated in the claims. It should also be noted that, even though the invention is described and shown with reference to flat sticks, it may also be used with round sticks. LIST OF PARTS F arrow N arrow 0 arrow P stick PS stack of sticks 1 feed bin 10 2 feed conveyor or chain 3 stacking device 3 ' stacking device 3" stacking device 4 guide member 15 4' 4" 5 stack guide/stick guide 5' stick guide 5" stick guide 20 6 stick arch 7 destacking rotor 8 stick-insertion station 10 wheel 11 wheel 25 11' 11" 21 link 22 blank link 23 step member 30 23 ' abutment step 23" step supporting surface 23' ' ' step chamfer 24 pocket 24' bottom 35 25 slide surface 31 stacker fork 32' lifting surface 32" stop surface

Claims: C L A I M S 1. Arrangement for handling sticks in an apparatus for inserting sticks in ice-cream bodies, said apparatus at least comprising: a) a feed bin (1) for the sticks (P) , through which the sticks are fed to the apparatus, b) a feed-conveying means, particularly in the form of a feed-conveyor belt, chain or wheel for advancing the sticks singly after they have been extracted from said bin, whereas the feed-conveying means comprise (s) permanent spaces for each stick keeping the latter oriented with their longitudinal direction transverse to the direction of advancement, said spaces in the following being designated "pockets", c) that said pockets are oriented with their longitudinal direction transversely to the conveying direction for the conveying means and adapted to support the sticks solely along part of their extent, d) a stacking device (3) comprising lifting means (31) adapted to abut against the lower side of each stick (P) in the region or regions of same not being supported by pockets (24) and to lift the stick out from the pocket concerned and move it upwardly to a stack of sticks (PS) , in which the stick abuts against the preceding stick in the stack with a longitudinal surface, and e) a stick-stack guide (5) adapted to guide the sticks in the stack further towards a stick- insertion station (8) as the sticks are being stacked, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in well-defined locations interspaces between the stick pockets (24) carrying a stick (P) are provided (22) or being provided, so that the lifting means of the stacking device can be moved through the plane, in which the sticks are advanced by the conveying means, without coming into contact with a stick on the conveying means . 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t er i z e d in that the interspace or interspaces between the stick pockets (24) containing a stick (P) is/are provided by securing a dummy stick in the pocket or pockets intended to constitute interspace (s) , said dummy stick being shaped so as to occupy the abutment regions in the pocket without occupying the regions in which the stacking device (3, 31) passes the pocket. 3. Arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e- r i z e d in that the interspace or interspaces between the stick pockets (24) containing a stick (P) is/are provided in the conveyor belt or chain by inserting one or a number of blank links (22) without pockets, said blank link or links having an abutment region (25) in place of a pocket (24) without occupying the regions in which the stacking device (3, 31) passes said blank link (22) . 4. Arrangement according to any one or any of the claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in addition to being adapted to take up the requisite positions for stacking sticks (P) up from the conveying means (2) , the stacking device (3, 31) is adapted to be able to take up a position, in which the stack of sticks (PS) is being retained above the conveying means (2) without the lifting means (31) coming into contact with passing sticks on the conveying means . 5. Arrangement according to any one or any of the claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the stacking device (3, 31) is adapted to lift sticks (P) out from the pockets (24) on the conveying means (2) and support the sticks (P) in the stack of sticks (PS) . 6. Arrangement according to any one or any of the claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a number of stacking devices (3, 3', 3") with associated stack of sticks and stick-stack guides (5, 5', 5") are provided along the conveying path of a conveying means (2) . 7. Arrangement according to claim 6, c h a r a c t er i z e d in that the stacking devices (3, 3', 3") are provided with mutual distances differing from an integral number times the distance from one part of a pocket on a conveying means to a corresponding part of a preceding or succeeding pocket on the same conveying means . 8. Arrangement according to claim 6 or 7 , c h a - r a c t e r i z e d in that the successive stacking devices (3, 3', 3") are adapted to feed the associated stacks of sticks (PS) intermittently, and that the stick- -stack guides (5, 5', 5") are provided with buffer stores (6) making the extraction of sticks from the stack of sticks (PS) independent of the intermittent feed of sticks to the stack of sticks (PS) . 9. Device for handling sticks in an apparatus for inserting sticks in ice-cream bodies, said apparatus at least comprising: a) a feed bin (1) for the sticks (P) , through which the sticks are fed to the apparatus, b) a feed-conveying means, particularly in the form of a feed-conveyor belt, chain or wheel for advancing the sticks singly after they have been extracted from said bin, whereas the feed-conveying means comprise (s) permanent spaces for each stick keeping the latter oriented with their longitudinal direction transverse to the direction of advancement, said spaces in the following being designated "pockets", c) that said pockets are oriented with their longitudinal direction transversely to the conveying direction for the conveying means and adapted to support the sticks solely along part of their extent, d) a stacking device (3) comprising lifting means (31) adapted to abut against the lower side of each stick (P) in the region or regions of same not being supported by pockets (24) and to lift the stick out from the pocket concerned and move it upwardly to a stack of sticks (PS) , in which the stick abuts against the preceding stick in the stack with a longitudinal surface, and e) a stick-stack guide (5) adapted to guide the sticks in the stack further towards a stick-insertion station (8) as the sticks are being stacked, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in well-defined locations in the conveying means (2) , interspaces between the stick pockets (24) capable of carrying a stick (P) are provided, either by securing a dummy stick in the pocket or pockets (24) intended to constitute interspaces (22) , said dummy being adapted to occupy the abutment surfaces in the pocket (24) without occupying the regions in which the stacking device (3, 31) passes the pocket (24) , or by inserting one or a number of blank links (22) without pockets in the location or locations intended to constitute an interspace or interspaces, said blank link being shaped without a pocket (24) and adapted not to occupy the regions, in which the stacking device (3, 31) would pass a pocket (24) . 10. Method of handling sticks in an apparatus for inserting sticks in ice-cream bodies, said apparatus at least comprising: a) a feed bin (1) for the sticks (P) , through which the sticks are fed to the apparatus, b) a feed-conveying means, particularly in the form of a feed-conveyor belt, chain or wheel for advancing the sticks singly after they have been extracted from said bin, whereas the feed-conveying means comprise (s) permanent spaces for each stick keeping the latter oriented with their longitudinal direction transverse to the direction of advancement, said spaces in the following being designated "pockets", c) that said pockets are oriented with their longitudinal direction transversely to the conveying direction for the conveying means and adapted to support the sticks solely along part of their extent, d) a stacking device (3) comprising lifting means (31) adapted to abut against the lower side of each stick (P) in the region or regions of same not being supported by pockets (24) and to lift the stick out from the pocket concerned and move it upwardly to a stack of sticks (PS) , in which the stick abuts against the preceding stick in the stack with a longitudinal surface, and e) a stick-stack guide (5) adapted to guide the sticks in the stack further towards a stick-insertion station (8) as the sticks are being stacked, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in well-defined locations on the conveying means (2) interspaces between the stick pockets (24) carrying a stick (P) are provided, so that a stacking device can be moved through the plane in which the sticks (P) are advanced by the conveying means (2) , without coming into contact with a stick on the conveying means (2) .

Inventors: MOERCH OLE, MOERCH, OLE
Applicants: MOERCH OLE, NTC ENGINEERING APS, MOERCH, OLE
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A23G9
IPC codes: A23G9