Conveyors: power-driven – Conveying system having plural power-driven conveying sections – Forming a single conveying path
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-23
2001-09-11
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveying system having plural power-driven conveying sections
Forming a single conveying path
C198S470100, C198S803300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286657
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES
This application claims the priority of German patent application Serial No. 199 07 579.4 filed Feb. 23, 1999. The disclosure of the above-referenced German patent application, as well as that of each U.S. and foreign patent and patent application mentioned in the specification of the present application, is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to transporting apparatus in general, and more particularly to improvements in apparatus for transporting discrete commodities along a first path, from the first path into a second path, and along the second path. Typical examples of commodities which can or which must be transported in an apparatus of the type to which the apparatus of the present invention belongs are block-shaped objects such as packets containing plain or filter cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry and/or so-called cartons which contain predetermined numbers of packets.
It is already known to transport cartons of cigarette packets along a first path having an outlet which is inclined relative to the inlet of a second path. The second path is defined by or is adjacent a transporting unit having a series of discrete receptacles each of which can receive at the outlet of the first path at least one carton for advancement along the second path, e.g., to a station where sets of cartons are introduced into discrete boxes or to a station where the cartons are draped into envelopes of paper or other suitable wrapping material. Each receptacle comprises at least two spaced-apart carton-engaging elements at least one of which is movable toward and away from the other engaging element, namely between a position in which a carton can readily enter into or leave the receptacle and a position in which the carton is reliably held in the receptacle for the purpose of advancing along the second path.
Conventional apparatus of the just outlined character are often employed in apparatus wherein cigarette packets, cartons of cigarette packets or other block-shaped commodities must be supplied to, transferred at and advanced from a transfer station with a high degree of accuracy and predictability. For example, the first conveyor which supplies block-shaped commodities to the transfer station can constitute an indexible turret, and the second conveyor which receives successive commodities of a series of successive commodities from the turret can include or constitute an endless belt, band or chain conveyor. The latter can be provided with a set of equidistant receptacles in the form of pockets destined to accept and to transport discrete commodities each of which can constitute a carton confining a number of properly distributed or arrayed cigarette packets or the like.
Published German patent applications Serial Nos. 43 00 149 A1 and 195 32 092 A1 disclose transporting apparatus of the above outlined character. The receptacles of the second conveyor are provided with pairs of mobile jaws which are shiftable by disc cams and/or other types of cams in order to ensure that a receptacle can receive a commodity while it advances along the inlet of the second path and that such receptacle can thereupon retain the commodity in a desired position during advancement along and toward the outlet of the second path. The movements of the jaws must take place with a rather high degree of accuracy for a number of reasons, namely to ensure predictable entry of successively delivered commodities into the receptacles or pockets of the second conveyor (i.e., an entry which does not entail damage to—such as deformation of—the commodities), to ensure the advancement of commodities with the respective receptacles in optimum positions for predictable evacuation, and to ensure predictable and rapid transfer of commodities from their receptacles upon arrival at the outlet of the second path. Furthermore, successive commodities should not collide with each other and they should not jam the transfer station between the outlet of the first conveyor (such as the aforementioned turret) and the inlet of the second conveyor.
A drawback of the apparatus which are disclosed in the aforementioned published German patent applications is that the controls for the mobile jaws of the receptacles are very complex, expensive and prone to malfunction. Furthermore, such complex controls necessitate frequent inspection, adjustments, cleaning and/or other time-consuming maintenance work during which the apparatus, or an entire production line employing such transporting apparatus, is idle with attendant huge losses in output. Moreover, the controls take up substantial amounts of space which is at a premium in a modern cigarette making and/or processing (such as packing) plant.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus wherein the changes in the condition of receptacles (e.g., changes in the size and/or shape of the receptacles) do not necessitate the utilization of any automated and/or other complex equipment.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the commodities which must leave a first conveyor or transporting unit for the purpose of entering the receptacles of a second conveyor or transfer unit are caused to share all movements of the respective receptacles in a novel and improved way.
A further object of the invention is to provide the receptacles with novel and improved means for triggering a reduction in the sizes of the respective receptacles when such receptacles reach optimum positions for reception of commodities in the form of cigarette packets, cartons containing sets of cigarette packets or other substantially block-shaped commodities.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a production line which embodies one or more apparatus of the above outlined character.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the conveyed commodities can perform certain important functions which contribute to simplicity, reliability, compactness and reduced cost of the improved apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of transferring block-shaped commodities from a first path into a different second path at a high frequency, without damage to the commodities, and with a pronounced reduction of rejects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is embodied in an apparatus for transporting commodities, such as so-called cartons which contain soft or hinged-lid packets of plain or filter cigarettes or other rod-shaped smokers' products. The improved apparatus comprises a first transporting unit including guide means defining a first path having an inlet. The first transporting unit further includes driven receptacles which are movable along the first path in a predetermined direction past and beyond the inlet, and each receptacle comprises a plurality of commodity engaging elements including first and second elements. At least one of the first and second elements is movable relative to the other of the first and second elements between a first position in which the receptacle can accept a commodity and a second position in which a commodity being received in the receptacle is compelled to move with the receptacle along the first path beyond the inlet. The improved apparatus further comprises a second transporting unit including second guide means defining a second path having a portion arranged to deliver successive commodities of a series of commodities to the inlet of the first path. The aforementioned portion of the second path and the inlet of the first path are oriented to permit entry of commodities from the second path into a receptacle at the inlet of the first path in the first position of the respective at least one engaging element. Each receptacle further comprises means for effecting a movement of the at least one engaging element of such receptacle at the inlet of the first path toward the other engaging element of the receptacle in
Crawford Gene O.
Ellis Christopher P.
Kinberg Robert
Topack Verpackungstechnik GmbH
Venable
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