Conveyors: power-driven – With means to facilitate working – treating – or inspecting... – Means to transfer a load back and forth between the mainline...
Utility Patent
1998-11-05
2001-01-02
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
With means to facilitate working, treating, or inspecting...
Means to transfer a load back and forth between the mainline...
C198S358000, C198S368000, C198S370100
Utility Patent
active
06168004
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel container processing station suitable for the packaging industry and in particular the pharmaceutical industry where products are packaged in small containers format to be purchased by the customer. The apparatus is designed to accelerate and optimize the different steps involved in processing containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Revolvable turrets or so-called “star-wheel|” have been used extensively to supply containers to various processing machines positioned along an arcuate path, each processing machine performing a specific operation and each operation being done in a consecutive order along the arcuate path of the revolvable turret. The revolvable turret is used as the delivering device to carry the containers from one processing machine to another until the containers are fully processed and ready to ship.
The revolvable turret holds the containers in circumferential pockets to prevent any deviation of the containers from the arcuate path of travel. Typically, the empty container enters a pocket of the revolvable turret from a conveyor system, it is taken by the revolvable turret to a first processing machine where it is filled with a product, then it is taken to a second processing machine where a cap is put on the container and finally it is taken to a third processing machine that tightens the cap applied on the container.
All through the various processing stations, the container never leaves the pocket of the revolvable turret. The revolvable turret either has to stop at the various processing stations in a synchronized fashion or has to reduce its speed to accommodate the slowest operation. In either case, this arrangement limits the speed of processing the containers to the speed of the slowest machine positioned around the revolvable turret.
Considering the importance of speed in the processing of containers, may it be filling, capping, labelling or any other types of process, there is a strong demand for an optimized processing system capable of a higher output of packaged products.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a system for transporting and distributing containers to processing machines in a much faster way than has been done previously.
It is another object of the invention to optimize the processing stations by centralizing processing machines performing essentially the same task along the distribution path of a revolvable turret. The revolvable turret is the central point of a large processing system.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a container distribution apparatus comprising:
a frame;
said frame being adapted to encircle and support a revolvable turret;
said turret including a plurality of intermediate transport members spaced about its periphery;
said intermediate transport members in operation being adapted to (1) receive empty containers from at least one feeding member; (2) supply and receive containers to and from at least one accumulator member; and (3) feed processed containers to an exiting member;
said at least one accumulator member being in open communication with a processing device and including an inlet channel and an outlet channel;
each of said channels being adapted to align with at least one of said intermediate transport members.
The apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, preferably further comprises a synchronization unit;
said synchronization unit being adapted to activate a drive mechanism;
said drive mechanism being adapted, in operation, to turn said turret in a step-like manner such that at least one of said intermediate transport members is aligned with an inlet or an outlet channel of an accumulator member;
said synchronization unit, in operation, being adapted to move said turret to maximize the processing of containers.
Advantageously, the synchronization unit commands said revolvable turret to position said intermediate transport members in front of accumulator members for delivering and retrieving said containers, and coordinates the rotation of said revolvable turret so that the traffic of containers is optimized. The synchronization unit advantageously operates the opening and closing of a gating system.
The invention also provides a container distribution apparatus wherein said accumulator members are preferably adapted to transport unprocessed containers from said intermediate transport members to a processing machine and processed containers from said processing machine back to intermediate transport members. Advantageously, said accumulator members comprise an inlet channel and an outlet channel. A further refinement of the invention has said outlet channel further comprising a rejection area.
The apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, also preferably comprises gates adapted to, in a first position, permit movement of containers from said intermediate transport member to said accumulator member, and in a second position, prohibit movement of containers from said intermediate transport member to said accumulator member. The gates are preferably disposed on the frame surrounding the revolvable turret but can also be disposed on the accumulator member or the revolvable turret itself.
Advantageously, the invention further provides a container distribution apparatus, wherein said intermediate transport members comprise at least one opening capable of holding at least one container located in said revolvable turret. Preferably, these openings are slotted openings and they are disposed either in pairs substantially parallel to each other, a first opening of each pair being a delivery opening and a second opening being a retrieving opening; or spaced equally around the revolvable turret.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention also provides a container processing apparatus comprising:
a frame encircling and supporting a revolvable turret, said revolvable turret including intermediate transport members in the shape of slots arranged in substantially parallel pairs and adapted to receive containers from a feeding member, to transport and to deliver said containers to accumulator members, to retrieve said containers from said accumulator members, and to transport said containers to an exiting member, each said accumulator members being capable of carrying containers to and from a processing machine;
a synchronization unit, said unit being to coordinate the transfer of containers to and from said accumulator members by controlling the rotation of the revolvable turret and by controlling the opening and closing of gates located at the junction of said intermediate transport members and said accumulator members;
at least one processing machine, said machine being supplied with unprocessed containers by an inlet side of said accumulator members and being released of processed containers by an outlet side of said accumulator members.
The basic idea of the present invention is to remove the processing machines from the central revolvable turret. In the prior art, a container would go through all the processing steps as it went around the turret or some other distribution mechanisms. This method slows down the processing to the speed of the slowest processing machine since the container has to go through all the steps one after the other.
The present invention speeds up the process by putting accumulator members between the revolvable turret and the processing machines. In order for this method to work, the distribution apparatus has to be viewed as a unique processing station. All the processing machines connected to the distribution apparatus perform the same function and only one function. This arrangement increases dramatically the output of the processing station. The processing station is no longer dependant on the speed of the actual processing machines. From the different processing machines located around the distribution apparatus comes a steady flow of processed containers and this makes the processing station utilizing the
Drewitz Hugues
Lewis Graham
Pallay Louis
Yablonovitch Max
Kalish Canada Inc.
Ratner & Prestia
Valenza Joseph E.
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