Abstract:
An apparatus for successively subjecting objects to a processing, comprising a transporting device for transporting the objects; a feed device for feeding the objects for processing to the transporting device; at least one processing device for processing the objects transported by the transporting device; and a discharge device for discharging the objects from the transporting device, wherein the transporting device is adapted to transport the objects for processing with a uniform linear movement and wherein the processing device is adapted to perform the processing on the objects during the uniform movement.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an apparatus for successively subjecting objects to a processing, comprising: 
     a transporting device for transporting the objects; 
     a feed device for feeding the objects for processing to the transporting device; 
     at least one processing device for processing the objects transported by the transporting device; and 
     a discharge device for discharging objects from the transporting device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Such apparatuses are generally known. Such prior art apparatuses usually suffer from the drawback that they are less suitable for transporting objects at a high speed, particularly when the objects are filled during the processing or the objects easily disintegrate of their own accord as a result of forces acting on the objects. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which can also be applied in the case of objects which easily disintegrate, tip over and so on, and which apparatus can nevertheless be used at a high speed. 
     This objective is achieved in that the transporting device is adapted to transport the objects for processing with a uniform linear movement and in that the processing device is adapted to perform the processing on the objects during the uniform movement. 
     Owing to the fact that the objects are propelled with a linear uniform movement, the forces exerted on the object are minimal. 
     According to a first preferred embodiment the processing device comprises at least one processing element which is adapted to perform a reciprocal movement along a path extending parallel to the transporting device and to process at least one object during the movement. 
     These measures have the result that the processing of the objects, which must extend over some period of time, can take place without stopping the transporting device. Stopping of the transporting device would after all disrupt the uniform movement. 
     It is noted here that it is of course possible to process the objects with a processing which is not restricted to a particular location. An example hereof is the filling of pots with culture material, for instance soil. 
     According to another preferred embodiment the processing element is adapted to process at least two objects simultaneously. 
     This has the result that the capacity of the apparatus is greatly increased when, as in many situations, the processing takes a rather considerable time. 
     According to yet another preferred embodiment the transporting device is provided with drive means which are adapted to drive the processing element with a reciprocal movement. An autonomous movement of the processing means is hereby obtained, wherein it is not necessary for the objects for processing to carry the processing element along with them. This would also result in forces acting on the objects. 
     According to yet another preferred embodiment the processing device comprises a fixedly disposed part which is connected to the processing element by means of a flexible coupling. This provides the option of fixed arrangement of the heavy, force-generating elements of the processing device, while the actual processing part carrying out the process on the objects can take a lighter form; this latter must after all perform a reciprocal movement. 
     According to yet another preferred embodiment the processing element is adapted to perform a movement extending substantially perpendicularly of the direction of movement of the transporting device between an active position during the co-displacement with the transporting device and a passive position during the movement opposed to the direction of movement of the transporting device. 
     This results in a simple, structurally attractive solution. 
     Other attractive preferred embodiments are stated in the remaining sub-claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the annexed figures, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a partly broken-away perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention from another side; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective detail view of a component of the present invention in a first position; 
     FIG. 4 shows a view corresponding with FIG. 3 in a second position; 
     FIG. 5 shows a view corresponding with FIGS. 3 and 4 elucidating a following aspect; and 
     FIG. 6 is a partly broken-away perspective detail view of the apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The figures show an apparatus  1  for filling pots with potting soil. For this purpose, the apparatus comprises a transporting device designated in its entirety with  2 , a feed device  3  for feeding the pots for filling; a soil pouring device  4 , a tamping and drilling device  5  and a discharge device not shown in the drawing, but which could comprise, for example, a conveyor 
     The transporting device is shown most clearly in FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 . Transporting device  2  comprises a first conveyor chain  7  which is trained around two chain wheels  8 ,  9 . Chain wheel  9  is arranged under vertical shaft  10  driven by an electric motor  11 . 
     Carrying plates  12  are arranged extending substantially horizontally and at an equal mutual distance on the first conveyor chain  7 . Carrying plates  12  can slide over a support rail  13  arranged around first conveyor chain  7  but extending at a slightly lower level. Support rail  13  herein follows the contour of the chain. With the exception of electric motor  11 , all these components are arranged on a part of frame  6 . 
     The transporting device further comprises a second conveyor chain  15  arranged on an auxiliary frame  14  and trained round two chain wheels  16 , 17 . Chain wheel  17  is herein arranged on shaft  10  and is likewise driven by electric motor  11 . Pusher elements  18  are arranged on second conveyor chain  15  at the same pitch as carrying plates  12 . 
     Auxiliary frame  14  is herein movable in vertical direction relative to frame  6 . Use is made for this purpose of an adjusting device  19  as shown in FIG. 2 with which the auxiliary frame can be adjusted in the height. 
     As best seen in FIG. 6, shaft  10  is formed by a hexagonal shaft. This is connected by means of a transmission  20  to electric motor  11 . It is herein possible to displace the position of pusher elements  18 , which are mounted on the second conveyor chain  15 , relative to the carrying plates  12  mounted on the first conveyor chain. 
     Chain wheel  17  is arranged for this purpose for free rotation on shaft  10 . The wheel is provided on its underside with a coupling piece  21  which is provided on its bottom with teeth, while a second coupling piece  22 , which is freely movable in vertical direction on shaft  10  but which is fixedly connected for rotation to shaft  10 , can be placed in engagement with first coupling piece  21 . 
     The two coupling pieces  21 ,  22  are normally in mutual engagement, although in order to adjust the mutual position between pusher elements  18  and carrying plates  12  the coupling piece  22  can be carried downward temporarily. This provides the possibility of processing objects of different dimensions, particularly pots of different dimensions, with the transporting device. 
     As shown particularly in FIG. 2, a stack of pots  24  is placed in feed device  3 . Although not shown in detail in the drawings, feed device  3  can comprise, for example, a conveyor belt mounted onto frame  6  and on which can be placed stack of pots  24 . Such a conveyor belt could then be mounted on a tiltable auxiliary frame with which the conveyor belt and the series of pots  24  placed thereon can be brought into a vertical position. By means of an individualizing device, not shown in the drawings, the separate pots comprising stack of pots  24  can be placed one by one onto carrying plates  12 . This feed device can be embodied in numerous ways; this device is of course necessary for the functioning of the apparatus according to the present invention but it includes no exceptional technical measures; it can be replaced by a different type of device. 
     The pots  24  placed by the feed device onto transporting device  2  then pass through a soil pouring device  4 . This is formed by a conveyor belt, not shown in the drawing, placed in a housing  26  and a bin  27  placed beneath the transporting device. The conveyor belt carries upward the soil present in bin  27  and pours it out over the transported pots. The part of the soil which does not fall into the pots once again drops through the apparatus back into the bin  27 . An excess of soil is removed by a wiper  28  arranged for this purpose. 
     The tamping and drilling device  5  will now be discussed. 
     The tamping and drilling device  5  comprises a slide  30  movable in horizontal direction along auxiliary frame  14 . Slide  30  is driven in horizontal direction by a crank-connecting rod mechanism  31 . on the underside of shaft  10  is herein arranged a chain wheel  32  which is connected by means of a chain  33  to a subsequent chain wheel  34  to which is connected a crank  35 . Connected to crank  35  is a rotating rod  36  which is connected on its other end to a downward extending part of slide  30 . 
     With the thus described construction is achieved that the carriage executes a reciprocating movement in the direction of the moving carrying plates  12 , so that elements placed on the carrying plates can be processed “on the fly” with a processing element mounted on slide  30 . The dimensioning of the drive device is of course such here that during a large part of the movement along the relevant route the slide  30  co-displaces as uniformly as possible with carrying plates  12 . 
     A carriage  37  is arranged movably in vertical direction on slide  30 . Carriage  37  can be moved in vertical direction relative to slide  30  by means of a linear moving element of for instance a pneumatic cylinder  38 . With a relevant control it is possible to move carriage  37  into its lowest position during this part of the horizontal movement of the slide, while during the return stroke carriage  37  is situated in its uppermost position. 
     In order to perform a process on the transported flower pots, which in the meantime have been filled with culture material such as soil, a pressing plate  39  is mounted on carriage  37 . Pressing plate  39  ensures that a “head” of culture material present on the pots is depressed within the pot. 
     It is of further importance here that small plants or cuttings can subsequently be placed in the pot by an automatic planting device. Holes must be drilled into the soil for this purpose. Two drills  49  are arranged herefor on carriage  37 . These are mutually connected by a chain or belt  41 , while one of the drills  40  is driven by means of a flexible drive shaft  42 . This latter is herein connected to an electric motor  43  arranged fixedly on auxiliary frame  14 . 
     It is thus possible to process the flower pots carried along on carrying plates  12  by tamping the soil present therein and providing it with a hole. 
     In the present embodiment there are two drills  40 , so that two flower pots can be processed simultaneously. It will be apparent that it is possible to process other numbers of flower pots, for instance one or three. 
     It will further be apparent that it is possible to perform other processes; the present invention is not limited to flower pots; it relates rather to a general configuration which can be adapted to the products for processing. 
     Finally, the flower pots are moved by means of an inclining guide rail  29  at a small angle from the carrying plates  12  to a conveyor belt extending parallel to the transporting device (not shown). 
     Of importance here is that the forces to which the flower pots are subjected are as small as possible. There is otherwise the danger of the flower pots falling over, whereby the whole production process would be disrupted. It is further of importance herein that the maintaining of the low level of forces be combined with a high speed; it is important that a large production capacity be sustained. 
     If as described above the apparatus according to the invention is used to fill flower pots with culture material and to subsequently arrange a hole in the culture material, it will be apparent that a plant must be arranged in the hole. The plant can then take the form of a seed, a cutting or other form of a plant. 
     Placing of a cutting in the hole requires a rather complicated machine. It is also possible herein to place this machine on a slide executing a reciprocating movement, in the same manner as the tamping and drilling device. It is herein even possible to place the planting machine on the same slide as the tamping and drilling device. 
     Only when the planting operation takes place very rapidly could use be made of a stationary machine. It is otherwise also possible to place the planting machine on a separate conveyor belt. 
     Although the apparatus is described on the basis of a pot-filling machine, it will be apparent that it can also be applied with other machines.