Article dispensing – Plural sources – stacks or compartments – Dispensing from sources sequentially
Patent
1992-03-27
1993-09-07
Bollinger, David H.
Article dispensing
Plural sources, stacks or compartments
Dispensing from sources sequentially
221119, 221121, 221122, 221133, 221188, B65G 5900
Patent
active
052420809
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an apparatus for forming a buffer store of articles, for example stackable or nestable articles such as cups, plate- or disc-shaped objects, which apparatus comprises:
supply means for feeding said articles;
at least one storage tube for receiving a stack of articles; and
discharge means for discharging said articles,
of which storage tube the bottom end is open and selectively connectable to said supply means and said discharge means respectively;
the storage tube being supported by means of a pivotable suspension such that it can be swung between two positions by means of a first drive means controlled by control means,
in the first position of which, the supply position, said tube connects with its open bottom end to the outlet of the supply means and can be filled thereby with articles, and
in the second position of which, the discharge position, said tube connects with its open bottom end to the inlet of the discharge means and can deliver articles thereto.
Such an apparatus is known from DE-A-3 619 519.
It is a purpose of the invention to design an apparatus of this type in such a way that it allows the handling not only of cups or tumblers, but rather also covers or other disc-shaped objects.
It is a further purpose of the invention to design an apparatus of this kind such that it is well-adapted to provide a very large buffer capacity and allows supply and discharge of articles at extremely high rates virtually without the risk of interruptions.
An other purpose of the invention is to design an apparatus of this kind such that the construction is very simple and reliable.
To these ends the apparatus according to the invention is characterized by
a rotary table which is rotatably drivable stepwise round a vertical rotating axis by second drive means controlled by the control means and which has an upper frame comprising a number of suspensions disposed in a circle and each having a storage tube carried thereby, and
a supply opening of the discharge means placed coaxially to the rotating axis of said rotary table, and
control means controlling said apparatus such that
said storage tubes are placed successively with their open bottom end in register with the outlet of the supply means, and
said storage tubes are then successively pivoted radially such that they are carried with their open bottom end into register with the inlet of the discharge means.
The inventive concept can further be explained as follows.
For closing filled containers, for instance cans, with covers, the packaged rows of covers are usually unpacked by a cover unpacking machine and then have to be fed in one continuous flow to the closing device. In order to cause the discontinuous part-flows or rows of covers to join without interruption onto the unbroken flow of covers for feeding to the processing machine special steps are necessary which have the particular object of preventing the danger of the leading and rearmost covers of the flow or parts thereof falling over. This may lead to disturbances in the production process and is therefore very undesirable.
This problem occurs in particular with articles that cannot be stacked or nested easily. An example of this are covers of the easy opening type suitable for closing soft drink cans which comprise a tear-off portion that is bounded by a weakened line and can form a drinking or pouring opening. Such covers are in general either not stackable or hardly so, while moreover, as a result of the asymmetrical form caused by the presence of the pull tab and the small active stacking depth, stable stacking can hardly be accomplished. Such articles therefore have to be permanently transported-in rows such that they are continually subjected to a sufficient axial pressure to prevent particularly the first and last cover of a flow from falling over.
In order to eliminate to a sufficient extent short work interruptions of the cover unpacking machine (and optionally a cover production machine) an adequate buffer capacity has to be made available between the unpacking o
REFERENCES:
patent: 3712506 (1973-01-01), Brownhill
patent: 4189259 (1980-02-01), King
patent: 4558802 (1985-12-01), Molison
patent: 4989753 (1991-02-01), Brogna et al.
Kroon Frits
Vrind Hendrik C.
Bollinger David H.
Machinefabriek "CSW" B.V.
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