Patent Publication Number: US-2022227587-A1

Title: Flexible pitch product metering system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technological Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a product metering system, and more particularly to a flexible pitch product metering system. 
     Description of Related Art 
     A variety of devices are known in the product metering art. Various systems using conveyors and lugs are used to move product. The conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is still a need in the art for systems having simplified and faster changeovers of systems from one product to another. Systems require less downtime between product lines in order to be productive. There also remains a need in the art for such systems that are economically viable. The present disclosure may provide a solution for at least one of these remaining challenges. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A product management system includes a first panel with a first continuous track including a queuing section, a product engagement section and a return section and a first series of magnetic sources disposed circumferentially along the first continuous track, a first series of lugs movably dispersed around the first continuous track configured to react to the first series of magnetic sources in order to increase or decrease a velocity of each lug of the first series of lugs along the first continuous track, and a product engagement member attached to each lug configured and adapted to actuate to engage a product. A second series of magnetic sources can be circumferentially along a second continuous track disposed parallel to the first continuous track and a second series of lugs movably dispersed around the second continuous track configured to react to the second series of magnetic sources in order to increase or decrease a velocity of each lug of the second series of lugs along the first continuous track. The lugs of the first series of lugs and the lugs of the second series of lugs are alternatingly arranged along the first track and alternatingly arranged along the second track. 
     The product engagement member can include at least one arm actuatable in two Cartesian directions, each lug can include a first product engagement member base and a second product engagement member base, wherein each base includes a product engagement member. The arm can include at least one semi-circular end configured and adapted to engage a can or bottle product or a paddle configured and adapted to engage a trailing or leading side of the product. 
     Each lug can include a first paddle and second paddle. The first paddle and the second paddle are attached to the lug by a pantograph linkage. Each lug can include of a primary base and secondary base, wherein the primary base is controlled by the magnetic source and the secondary base is independent of the magnetic source, and wherein each base includes a paddle. 
     The first series of magnetic sources can include a series of magnetic plates are tangentially disposed along the first track, and a series of coils configured and adapted to activating each of the magnetic plates. A controller controls each of the magnetic plates, and the controller is configured and adapted to provide a configurable speed profile for lugs traveling along the first track. The speed profile includes acceleration sections, deceleration sections, and constant speed sections. 
     At least one star wheel disposed proximate to the lug engagement section of the first continuous track configured and adapted to meter products to the lug engagement section. The product management system can include a second star wheel. The panel can include a first cam and a second cam configured for supporting the series of lugs. Each of the cams partially follows the first track and each of the cams can include at least a pair of undulations. 
     These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that those skilled in the art to which the subject invention appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject invention without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a product metering system; 
         FIG. 2 a    is a perspective view of a portion of  FIG. 1 , showing a first embodiment of a product engagement member; 
         FIG. 2 b    is a perspective view of a portion  FIG. 1 , showing a second embodiment of a product engagement member; 
         FIG. 2 c    is a perspective view a portion of  FIG. 1 , showing a third embodiment of a product engagement member; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of  FIG. 1 , showing the layout of magnetic sources; and 
         FIGS. 4 a -4 b    show graphical representations of potential position, velocity, and acceleration profiles of each lug at a given point in the cycle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject invention. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a product metering system in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 1  and is designated generally by reference character  100 . Other embodiments of the system in accordance with the invention, or aspects thereof, are provided in  FIGS. 2-4 , as will be described. The methods and systems of the invention can be used to improve a systems adaptability to changing product packaging and sizing requirements. The system can change configurations on the fly without having to stop the machine, and move and changeover parts. 
       FIG. 1  shows a product management system  100  for transporting and spacing products, such as beverage cans as required. Spacing the products appropriately allows for seamless packaging of the products into sizes of various packs, such as 2 by 3, 2 by 2, 3 by 4, and so on. The system includes a first panel  102 . The panel  102 , standing upright, defines a vertical plane. A pair of star wheels  104  are disposed proximate to the location where the system  100  engages the products to meter and force products into the system. 
     The panel  102  includes within itself a first continuous track  106  along with a first cam  108  and a second cam  110  configured for supporting the lugs. The cams  108 , 110  partially follow the first track  106  deviating from the path of the track only slightly in one location, at pair of undulations  112 . The first continuous track  106  includes a queuing section, a product engagement section and a return section. A first series of magnetic sources  114  is disposed circumferentially along the first continuous track  106 . A first series of lugs  116  are movably dispersed about the first continuous track  106 , and supported by the cams  108 ,  110 . The lugs  116  are configured to react to the first series of magnetic sources in order to increase or decrease a velocity of each lug while sliding or rolling along the first continuous track  106 . Each lug includes a product engagement member  118  attached thereto configured and adapted to contact each product of group of products. 
       FIG. 1 a    shows, a second series of magnetic sources  115  is disposed circumferentially along a second continuous track  107  that is parallel to the first continuous track. The second track  107  and second series of magnetic sources  115  can be located within a second panel  103  located opposite the first panel  102 . A second series of lugs  117  are movably dispersed around the second continuous track  107  configured to react to the second series of magnetic sources  115 . The lugs of the first series of lugs  116  and the lugs of the second series  117  of lugs are alternatingly arranged along the first track  106  and alternatingly arranged along the second track  107 . Although both of the series of lugs  116 ,  117  slide by both tracks, the lugs are controlled correspondingly by each of the magnetic sources  114 ,  115 . A single magnetic source is not capable of controlling lugs at the desired spacing between each lug and the desired speeds. In order for the system to be able of handling the required product throughput, each of the lugs have to spaced by no more than 100 cm apart. Given the constraint of the system from a magnet perspective, each of the lugs of the first series of lugs  116  are not able to meet the 100 cm spacing requirement. The use of the second series of lugs  117 , intermittently spaced with the first series of lugs  116  allows the system the meet the desired 100 cm spacing between each consecutive lug. 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 1 and 1   a , each product engagement member  118  includes at least one arm  120  actuatable in two Cartesian directions. The arm  120  slides back and forth along the base of each product engagement member  118 . The arm  120  can also side along the direction of travel of the lugs  116 ,  117 . The arm  120  slides in order to precisely contact the necessary products or bottles. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 a   , a first embodiment with each lug  116 ,  117  including a first product engagement member base  122  and a second product engagement member base  124 , wherein each base includes a product engagement member  118 . In this embodiment, the arm  120  includes a pair of semi-circular ends configured and adapted to engage a can or bottle product. 
       FIG. 2 b    shows an alternate embodiment of the arm  120 . In this embodiment each lug  116  includes a first paddle  126  and second paddle  128  connected to an arm  120 , each paddle configured and adapted to engage a trailing or leading side of the product. The first paddle  126  and the second paddle  128  are attached to the lug by a pantograph link  130 , which allows the paddles  126 ,  128  to move apart from each other, and allows them  126 ,  128  to move towards the product in order to grab on to the product. The ends  132  of the pantograph links are also translatable in a single direction along the base. 
       FIG. 2 c    shows a third embodiment of the arm  120 , wherein each lug includes a primary base  136  and secondary base  138 , wherein the secondary base  138  is dependent on the primary base  136 , and wherein each base includes a paddle  140 . The primary base  136  is controlled by the magnetic source, while the secondary base  138  is spaced apart from the primary base  136  according to the position on the track. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first series of magnetic sources  114  includes a series of magnetic plates  146  tangentially disposed along the first track  106 , and a series of coils  148  configured and adapted to activating each of the magnetic plates  146 . Each of the plates  146  are individually controlled and activated by a controller (not shown). The controller is configured and adapted to provide a configurable speed profile for lugs traveling along the first track. As shown in  FIG. 4 a -4 b   , possible speed profiles include acceleration sections, deceleration sections, and constant speed sections for the lugs. 
     The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for a flexible pitch product metering system with superior properties including increased reliability and stability, and reduced size, and more adaptable to various product requirements. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been showing and described with reference to embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and score of the subject disclosure.