Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit – System includes a rotating or endless carrier with a load...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-18
2001-09-18
Hess, Douglas (Department: 2167)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system for moving a specific load as a separate unit
System includes a rotating or endless carrier with a load...
C198S803110, C198S867080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290054
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is in the field of conveying technology and concerns a star feeder, which star feeder serves for transferring serially conveyed objects from a first conveying means to a second conveying means. With the aid of such a star feeder e.g. objects which are supplied in a substantially lying position are transferred to be conveyed away in a substantially hanging position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
For a transfer from a lying conveyance e.g. on a conveying belt to a hanging conveyance by means of e.g. individual grippers, the objects must not only be stood up, i.e. turned by 90°, but they must also be clocked and positioned in a highly precise manner. For carrying out such a transfer, a star feeder is a possible solution. A star feeder comprises compartments arranged at regular distances on the perimeter of a feeder wheel, which compartments have openings extending in axial direction. The star feeder is driven to rotate around a substantially horizontal axis. In a position on the perimeter of the feeder from where the compartments move upwards and have a more or less horizontal position (position 9 o'clock, if the feeder is rotating clockwise; position 3 o'clock if the feeder is rotating counter-clockwise), one of the objects supplied in a lying position is introduced into each compartment of the rotating star feeder. Each object has been rotated by about 90° when it has reached the topmost position (position 12 o'clock) where it can be gripped by gripping means to be removed from the compartment.
Of course, the application of star feeders for transferring serially conveyed objects is not restricted to the application between supply in a lying position and further conveying in a hanging position. A star feeder can e.g. also be used for transferring objects supplied in a hanging position and conveyed away in a lying position or for transferring between two lying conveyances, whereby the objects are turned by the star feeder such that their part oriented downstream on supply to the transfer is turned upstream when being conveyed away.
Operation of such star feeders causes little problems. However, for transferring the objects not only precise positioning is necessary but in particular for objects of small stiffness (e.g. bags of all kind) sufficient guiding within the compartments is necessary also. Therefore, the form of the compartments must be adapted to the objects to be handled. This means that for a change in object type the compartments must possibly be exchanged or the whole star feeder must be exchanged. This kind of adaptation is connected with a lot of effort concerning time and material and can only be prevented through a very restricted use of the star feeder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to create a star feeder allowing changes in the type of objects to be handled without problems or in other words, being able to handle different types of objects within much broader limits without problems and without causing mechanical work.
The inventive star feeder comprises compartments which are adjustable together, i.e. the compartment depth (distance from the bottom of the compartment to the perimeter of the feeder) and/or the compartment form of all compartments can be adjusted with one mutual adjusting means. By adjusting the radial compartment depth, the star feeder is adjusted for different dimensions of objects to be transferred. This means that a change in the dimension of the objects to be transferred does no make it necessary to shift the complete star feeder and/or the first and second conveying means. By adjusting the form of the compartments these are adapted to different characteristics and different forms of objects to be handled.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modification within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Hess Douglas
IPT Weinfelden AG
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