SELECTIVE PACK TURNING APPARATUS

Abstract: A product control apparatus includes means (54) for conveying products (38, 78) along a path, and means (24, 26, 62) for engaging a product (38, 78) to change the orientation of the product relative to the conveying means (54), wherein the means for engaging the product are selectively operable such that a product (38, 78) conveyed along the path may be turned independently of other products conveyed along the path.

Description: Product Control Apparatus This invention relates to product control apparatus and is particularly concerned with conveying a product in a production line system. Proposals have been made for in line product turners but these turners often require that every product in a line of adjacent products be turned. According to the present invention there is provided product control apparatus comprising: means for conveying products along a path, and means arranged for engagement with a product to change the orientation of the product relative to the support means, wherein the means for engaging the product are selectively operable so that a product conveyed along the path may be turned independently of other products conveyed along the path. Preferably two product engaging means are provided, one on each side of the path. A first of the product engaging means may comprise a plurality of projections which are movable in a path parallel to the conveying path. A pair of the projections may be provided with a respective one of the pair being adapted to engage with a product to be turned. The second product engaging means may comprise a movable arm. In use, the respective one of the projections may be adapted to engage the product from one side adjacent towards a corner thereof, while the arm is adapted to engage the other side of the product towards an opposite edge corner thereof. Preferably the projections of the first product engaging means are provided for movement around an endless path and may be retained out of the conveying path when not in use, while the arm may be pivotally movable and movable out of the conveying path when not in use. Alternatively, each of the product engaging means may comprise a plurality of rods which are movable transversely of the conveying path. The rods may each have guide means selectively engageable in one of a plurality of guide tracks to control the transverse movement. The guide means may extend downwardly of the rods in use. Preferably the plurality of guide tracks associated with each product engaging means comprises a first track for maintaining the rods in a non-use position and a further pair of tracks for positioning rods for use, one of the latter tracks positioning the rods for product engagement. The rods may be supported in respective bearing blocks, which may be mounted in a spaced parallel relationship to extend between a pair of parallel drive chains. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a part of a product control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figs. 2a to 2e are diagrammatic plan views showing different stages in the operation of the product control apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of part of a product control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the part of the product control apparatus shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the apparatus of Fig. 3 turning a product; Figs. 6a to 6h are diagrammatic representations showing sequentially the turning of a product using an apparatus according to Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of a change-over apparatus suitable for use with the apparatus of Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 1, a first embodiment of a product control apparatus according to the invention includes a product conveying system (not shown) and a support frame (10,12). Extending between and transverse to the support frame members 10,12 are parallel spaced cross bars 14 for supporting a turning apparatus including a pair of product turners 16 and 18. The product turners 16, 18 are positioned towards the support frame members 10, 12 respectively to define a product path therebetween. First and second flights 24 and 26 respectively are mounted on a chain 28 which is constrained to move around a substantially oval shaped path within the product turner 16. The chain 28 is mounted at one end on, and is in engagement with, a toothed wheel 30 powered by a motor 32. Activation of the motor 32 causes the toothed wheel 30 to rotate and the chain 28 to move around its oval shaped path, thus moving the flights 24, 26 around the edge of the product turner 16. The flights 24, 26 can therefore each be moved between positions A and B shown in Fig. 1. The product turner 18 provides a single flight 34 mounted on a rotatable shaft 35 powered by a motor 36. The motor 36 can be activated to move the flight 34 between positions A, B and C as shown in Fig. 1. The flight 34 is normally located in position B. Figs. 2a to 2e show the use of the apparatus to turn a product 38 through 90°. Only the flight 34 of the product turner 18 is shown in Figs. 2b to 2e, for clarity. The product 38 approaches the turning apparatus 16, 18 in a wide edge leading configuration. Its leading edge is detected by a photoelectric cell (not shown in the drawings), which sends a message to a computer (not shown in the drawings). The computer holds information as to which product in a sequence of products are to be turned and registers each product that passes. For each product detected, the computer sends a message either that the product is to be turned or that the product is not to be turned. The products are spaced about 100 mm apart to give sufficient room for this selection. The product 38 of Figs. 2a to 2e is to be turned. Therefore the motor 32 is activated to move the chain 28 around the product turner 16. This gradually moves the flight 24 from position B to position A (Fig. I) and the flight 26 from position A to position B. The flight 24 engages a top corner 40 of the product 38 and pushes that corner to the right as viewed in the figures. The movement follows an electronic cam profile such that its speed is adjusted throughout the movement to ensure smooth turning. Simultaneously the motor 36 is activated to move the flight 34 of the product turner 18 gradually from position B to position A (Fig. 1). Thus, while the product turner 16 pushes a top corner 40 of the product 38 to the right, the product turner 18 engages a bottom corner 42 of the product 38 to ensure that the product 38 turns rather than simply moving to the right. Figs. 2a to 2e show the whole sequence of turning a product 38 from a wide edge leading to a narrow edge leading orientation. If the computer signals that the product is not to be turned, the motor 38 in the product turner 16 is not activated. The flight 24 therefore does not move from position B shown in Fig. 1. The motor 36 is activated to move the flight 34 of the product turner 1 rapidly from position B to position C, out of the path of the product. Thus, an apparatus according to this embodiment of the invention allows the selective turning of products. Each product can be turned or not turned on an individual basis. Various modifications may be made to this apparatus. The exact movement of the flights may be modified providing they still result in the desired turning. Any means for moving the flights between their various positions may be adopted. Figs. 3 to 7 show a second embodiment of the invention. Referring in particular to Figs. 3 and 4, the product control apparatus includes a transport section 48 having a pair of parallel, spaced apart conveyor carrying chains 50 and 52. Extending between and transverse to the chains 50 and 52 are parallel, spaced cross-bars 54, for supporting pallets or platforms 55 (see Fig. 4) for a product to rest on. The conveyor carrying chains 50 and 52 are driven by a main drive motor 57. On each outer side of the transport section 48 is a turning mechanism 58 including a pair of parallel spaced outer and inner chains 59 and 60 respectively. Extending between and transverse to the chains 59, 60 are parallel spaced bearing blocks 61 each providing a pair of upstanding lugs spaced along the length of the block. Each pair ot lugs movably locates a turning rod 62. The blocks 61 are spaced at intervals which will depend on the spacing of products on the transport section 48. The chains 59 and 60 for the left hand turning mechanism (shown towards the top ot Figs. 3 and 4) are driven by the mam drive motor 57, while the chains 59 and 60 tor the right hand turning mechanism (shown towards the bottom ot Figs. 3 and 4) are driven indirectly by the main drive motor 57 by incorporating a phase vaπator into the drive line. Thus, the left hand turning mechanism is always in phase with the mam drive motor 57 while the phase ot the right hand turning mechanism may be varied. This allows the turning rods 62 on the right hand turning mechanism to lag behind the turning rods 62 on the left hand turning mechanism to a variable extent, thus enabling automatic change-over between pack sizes. Each turning rod 62 has a guide in the torm ot a pin 64 protruding from its base and passing through a slot 66 extending along the bottom of its associated bearing block 1. The pins 64 are received in guide tracks A, B or C (see Figs. 3 and 5) and the location ot the pins within the tracks guide the rods 62 along selected paths as the bearing blocks 1 are conveyed bv the chains 59, 60. The track A accommodates unused turning rods 62, while the tracks B and C allow the rods 62 in use to effect selective turning of products as hereinafter described. The turning rods 62 that are not required for a particular product must be located in track A. A set up sequence is used to locate the correct numbers of turning rods 62 in tracks A and B, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The tracks A and B shown in Fig. 7 are located along the underside of the machine and represent the part of a cycle in which turning rods are returned to the start of turning mechanism. Movement of turning rods in Fig. 7 is therefore from right to left. During normal operation a change-over flipper 72 is located in position D. In this position, the change-over flipper 72 does not obstruct the path of pins 64 in either track A or track B, and all turning rods pass back to the beginning of the turning mechanism in whichever track A or B they are located at the end of the previous turning cycle. During a set up sequence, the change-over flipper 72 is moved into position C. The pins 64 of turning rods in track A moving from the right of Fig. 7 are guided by the change-over flipper into track B. All turning rods 62 are thus gathered in the in-feed area 73 of a switch block 74. A minimum of one complete revolution of the turning rod carrying chains 59,60 is necessary to ensure that all turning rods have been gathered. The change-over flipper 72 is then moved back into position D so that turning rods approaching in tracks A or B will remain in their respective tracks. This set up sequence is not essential to the operation of the apparatus but it allows the machine to make far fewer movements of the switch block 80 as all the unused rods 62 cycle around the outside of the apparatus with no track decisions to be made. The switch block 74 includes a piston 76, the movement of which controls whether there is a path from the in-feed area 73 to track A or to track B. The switch block 74 can thus switch the pins 64 required in the particular product turning operation into track B leaving the remaining pins in track A. Once the necessary pins are in track B, the product turning sequence can begin. Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, a product 78 approaches the turning area, carried on the cross bars 54. A photoelectric cell (not shown in the drawings) detects the leading edge of each product 78 as it approaches the turning area and a signal is sent to a computer. The computer sends a signal as to whether or not the product is to be turned, in a similar manner to that described for the previous embodiment. If the product 78 is not to be turned, a change-over block 80 directs the pins 64 of the turning rods 62 to continue along track B. The turning rods 62 in this case proceed in a straight line alongside the product 78 which is therefore not turned. If the product 78 is to be turned, the change-over block 80 directs the pins 64 of the turning rods 62 along track C. This moves the turning rods 62 towards the product. Track C of the turning mechanism shown towards the top of Figs. 3 and 5 (the left hand turning mechanism) branches off track B before the corresponding track of the turning mechanism shown towards the bottom of Figs. 3 and 5 (the right hand turning mechanism) branches off. This ensures that a turning rod 62 of the left hand turning mechanism pushes away the back of the product while a turning rod 62 of the right hand turning mechanism pushes away the front of the same product, thereby turning the product. Fig. 5 shows a particular product 86 which is in the process of being turned and a particular product 88 which has been turned through 90°. Once the turning rods 62 have passed through the turning section they are cycled back along the underside of the machine (shown in Fig. 7) to the switch block 74 where the next decision is made as to whether they follow track A or B. Figs. 6a to 6h show a number of stages in the turning of a particular product 90; the operation of the turning rods can be clearly seen. This apparatus thus allows a selective turning of products on an individual basis. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A product control apparatus comprising: means for conveying products along a path, and means arranged for engagement with a product to change the orientation of the product relative to the conveying means, wherein the means for engaging the product are selectively operable so that a product conveyed along the path may be turned independently of other products conveyed along the path. 2. A product control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two product engaging means are provided, one on each side ot the path. 3. A product control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a first of the product engaging means comprises a plurality ot projections which are movable in a path parallel to the conveying path. 4. A product control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a pair of projections is provided with a respective one ot the pair being adapted to engage with a product to be turned. 5. A product control apparatus according to anv ot claims 2 to 4, wherein a second product engaging means comprises a movable arm. 6. A product control apparatus according to claim 5 when appended to claim 4, wherein, in use, the respective one ot the projections is adapted to engage the product from one side towards a corner rhereot, while the arm is adapted to engage the other side ot the product towards an opposite edge corner thereof. 7. A product control apparatus according ro claim 6, wherein the projections of the first product engaging means are provided for movement around an endless path and may be retained out ot the conveying path when not in use, while the arm may be pivotally movable out ot the conveying path when not in use. 8. A product control apparatus according to claim I, wherein the product engaging means comprise a plurality of rods which are movable transversely of the conveying path. 9. A product control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein two product engaging means are provided, each comprising a plurality of rods. 10. A product control apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the rods each have guide means selectively engageable in one of a plurality of guide tracks to control the transverse movement. 11. A product control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the guide means extend downwardly of the rods in use. 12. A product control apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the plurality of guide tracks associated with each product engaging means comprises a first track for maintaining the rods in a non-use position and a further pair of tracks for positioning rods for use, one of the latter tracks positioning the rods for product engagement. 13. A product control apparatus according ro any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the rods are supported in respective bearing blocks. 14. A product control apparatus according ro claim 13, wherein the bearing blocks are mounted in a spaced parallel relationship to extend between a pair of parallel drive chains. 15. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope ot or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.

Inventors: ALLEN MICHAEL ROBERT, KIRTLAND DENNIS ALFRED, LAWRENCE TIMOTHY, TOMES ADRIAN, ALLEN, MICHAEL, ROBERT, KIRTLAND, DENNIS, ALFRED, LAWRENCE, TIMOTHY, TOMES, ADRIAN
Applicants: ALLEN MICHAEL ROBERT, DUNN W H & SON LTD, KIRTLAND DENNIS ALFRED, LAWRENCE TIMOTHY, TOMES ADRIAN, ALLEN, MICHAEL, ROBERT, KIRTLAND, DENNIS, ALFRED, LAWRENCE, TIMOTHY, TOMES, ADRIAN, W.H. DUNN & SON LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65G47
IPC codes: B65G47