Patent GB-1358613-A (GB)
Title: Product handling equipment
IPC: B65B9/02
Filed: 1972-03-09
Abstract: 1358613 Method of handling articles for packaging; discharging endless conveyer belts F M IRVING Jnr B SCHMIDT A S SCHMIDT Jnr H MAURER B S HERRICK and N MURPHY (trading as ALTO CO) 9 March 1972 [15 March 1971 3 Feb 1972] 11171/72 Headings B8A and B8C A method of handling articles, such as bakery rolls, comprises longitudinally moving a preestablished packaging group 68 of the articles onto an elevator 21, raising the latter to place the group at a predetermined level, pushing the elevated group longitudinally forward into a packaging system 15, and moving a second packaging group of articles toward the elevator 21 while the latter is raised. As shown, rolls supplied to a divider shoot 11, Fig. 1, proceed in rows along a conveyer to a grouper 12 which periodically releases groups of three transverse rows of five rolls which are carried downstream by conveyers 74, 67 until they reach a slotted rear aligner plate 22 of the elevator 21 which at this time is located in its uppermost position. When the elevator 21 is lowered the conveyer 67, the narrow belts (55), Fig. 12, not shown, of which extend into slots (56) in the aligner plate 22, moves the group of rolls, previously abutting the plate 22, onto the top surface 69 of the elevator 21, Fig. 2, and up against a fixed stop plate 71. The elevator 21 is then raised to the position shown in Fig. 3, where a pusher 17 moves from its retracted position, Fig. 2, to its extended position, Fig. 3, to push the group into a packaging web which is advanced by a film feed 61. The pusher 17 is then retracted, an end sealing and cutting system, Figs. 8-11, not shown, sealing the ends of the plastics film, cutting off the partially-formed packing, and reforming the transversely sealed web 72. A sealing conveyer 16 then moves the partially formed packing past a side sealer 18, Fig. 1, to a boxing station 19. The grouper 12, Figs. 1, 5, comprises a pivotal restainer 35 which, in its lowered position, engages the downstream roll of each row upstream of the group 68 arrested by a gate 34. The latter is raisable by cranks 75 to release the group 68, and due to the cranks 75, the gate 34 moves downstream somewhat when it is raised, a sensor 50 operating the gate to re-lower it after the group 68, previously held thereby, has passed beneath it. The restrainer 35 is then raised to allow the conveyer 74 to transfer the next group of rolls into the gatearresting position. A sensing switch 33 is provided for each row of rolls to sense whether or not, there is a full supply of rolls in the row. The released group 68 is carried through a slicer 14, if provided, and to the aligner plate 22 of the raised conveyer 21. A control chain 5, which extends around three sprockets 76, one of which is driven to drive the chain clockwise, Fig. 4, has a link 90 which is connected to the pusher 17 to reciprocate the latter along slide bars 57. The link 90 triggers, at position 84, a cycle reset switch where the pusher 17 is almost retracted and the elevator 21 is down and filled with a group of rolls. Along the chain runs 78, 80 respectively the elevator 21 is raised and the pusher 17 is advanced, movement of the link 90 past a sensor 20 actuating the grouper 12 to release the next group of rolls. Movement of the group into the sealer and cutting system triggers a sensor 60, Fig. 1, to actuate the film feed 61. At positions of the link 90 at 81, 82, Fig. 4, respectively the elevator 21 is lowered and the pusher begins to retract, the sealing- and-cutting system operating at point 83. Continued movement of the chain 5 retracts the pusher 17 and brings the link 90 back to the cycle reset position 84.