FR2606381A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LOADING RAW OR PACKED PRODUCTS ON A STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION CONCERNS A PROCESS AND A DEVICE FOR LOADING RAW OR PACKAGED PRODUCTS ON A STORAGE MEDIA. THE MACHINE ESSENTIALLY INCLUDES MEANS 10A, 10B, 12A, 12B, 16A, 16B, FOR FORMING SETS 18A AND 18B OF PRODUCTS. DURING A FIRST STEP, THESE SETS OF PRODUCTS ARE DEPOSITED ON INTERMEDIATE SUPPORTS 23 IN THE FORM OF AN INCOMPLETE CONFIGURATION. DURING A SECOND PHASE OF THE PROCESS, THESE INCOMPLETE CONFIGURATIONS ARE COMPLETED AND DEPOSITED ON STORAGE SURFACES 21 OF A CONTAINER 20. DURING A THIRD PHASE OF THE PROCESS, THE PRODUCTS ARE DEPOSITED DIRECTLY ON THE STORAGE SURFACES. THIS MACHINE IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR THE STORAGE OF FOOD-TYPE PRODUCTS, WHICH CAN BE IN THE RAW OR PACKAGED STATE.

Description

I 2606381

  METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LOADING RAW PRODUCTS OR

  CONDITIONED ON A STORAGE MEDIUM

  The present invention relates to a method for loading raw products or packaged on a storage medium, in which is separated from a continuous sequence of products, successive groups each formed of a predetermined number of these products, in which these products are deposited. groups of products on intermediate supports and in which these product groups of the intermediate support are transferred to superimposed storage surfaces of the storage medium, each storage surface comprising

  at least two groups of products forming a predetermined configuration

  undermined. This invention also relates to a machine for loading raw products or packaged on a storage medium having means for separating from a continuous sequence of products, successive groups each formed of a predetermined number of these products, means for depositing these groups of products on intermediate supports and means for transferring these groups of products from intermediate supports to superimposed storage surfaces of the storage medium, each storage area having at least two groups of products forming

a predetermined configuration.

  The manufacture of certain products, especially certain food products such as chocolate bars or the like, is continuous because the molders producing and distributing the raw material in the molten state can not be stopped. As a result, the entire production line, up to packaging and canning must be adapted to such continuous production. However, it happens that for some products, an intermediate storage is required, either to allow cooling, or to allow a setting of assortment boxes, or for various other reasons. In this case, storage surfaces in the form of superposed trays and carried by a frame on wheels are usually used, this assembly constituting a storage container where the products are subsequently taken up for subsequent handling. Boxing etc. The containers are brought on rails or guide rails and progressively raised in such a way that all the trays are superposed.

- 2- 2606381

  can be brought successively to the loading level to receive the products to be stored. When all trays are loaded, it should be

  evacuate the loaded container and replace it with an empty container.

  This operation takes some time during which the products continue to flow. The problem posed by these installations is that of intermediate storage of products during the change of containers. With production rates becoming higher, the time available to change a container is becoming increasingly limited and is currently quite inadequate if intermediate storage devices are not used. often called "lungs", which temporarily accumulate a surplus of production that does not

  can not be evacuated normally.

  Some builders have thought of equipping the line with storage towers that can accumulate products manufactured during the period of container replacement. The disadvantage of this system is that the products thus stored can not be reintroduced into the normal circuit without disturbing the rate of the machine. This is a major drawback. In addition, these storage towers are relatively high, unsightly and hinder the view of the entire line and thus the

control of its operation.

  The present invention proposes to overcome these disadvantages by realizing a process which makes it possible to temporarily absorb the surplus production.

  and reintroduce it into the line without disrupting the pace of

  downstream machinery and installations and without disturbing or

  aesthetics, nor the supervision of the entire installation.

  For this purpose, the loading method according to the invention is characterized in that during a first phase of the process, an incomplete configuration is deposited on at least one intermediate support, and in that during a second phase of the method is completed said configuration and deposited on one of the storage surfaces brought opposite the intermediate support. According to a preferred embodiment, during the first phase of the method, a succession of incomplete configurations is deposited on a succession of superimposed intermediate supports, and during the second phase of the method, each configuration before is completed. to deposit it on a storage surface. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, said incomplete configurations are deposited on a succession of superimposed horizontal intermediate supports displaced from bottom to top, and each configuration is completed before being deposited on a storage surface after having previously displaced the supports. intermediate up and down heights corresponding to the distance between two of these supports. During a third process step, an incomplete configuration is first deposited on an intermediate support, then the configuration is immediately completed before being deposited, without moving the intermediate support, on a storage surface disposed in a same

horizontal plane.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the incomplete configurations are deposited on the intermediate supports and the configurations completed on the storage surfaces by means of at least one pusher. During the first phase of the method, the pusher performs a first stroke of reduced length to deposit an incomplete configuration on an intermediate support and during the second phase of the method, the pusher performs a second stroke of increased length, initially to deposit

  a second incomplete configuration intended to complete a configura-

  previously deposited, on an intermediate support and finally to simultaneously deposit the two incomplete configurations forming a complete configuration on a storage surface brought into

look at the intermediate support.

  During the first phase, called the loading phase of the intermediate supports, the pusher performs a stroke of reduced length at each loading cycle and during the second phase, called the unloading phase of the intermediate supports, the pusher performs at each cycle a increased length run, all low shifts

  amplitude of the push of the loading phase intervening chronologically

  only before all large displacements of the unloading phase. According to the preferred embodiment, during the third phase, referred to as the normal storage phase, a first incomplete configuration is successively deposited on an intermediate support by means of a pusher carrying out a reduced length stroke and then a second incomplete configuration on this same intermediate support, and

  simultaneously the two incomplete configurations forming a configura-

  complete delivery on a storage surface brought opposite the intermediate support, by means of the pusher making a stroke of increased length, and this cycle of loading and unloading is repeated.

  alternative until all storage areas are full.

  Preferably, the first phase of the process is used during the establishment of the free storage surfaces and the evacuation of the loaded storage surfaces, the second phase of the process is used to unload the intermediate supports at the same time. when free storage surfaces are again available after evacuation of a loaded storage medium and the third phase of the process is exploited when the intermediate supports are all unloaded and

  Free storage areas are still available.

  The machine for loading raw products or packaged on a storage medium, according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises means for depositing, during a first phase of the

  incomplete configuration on at least one intermediate support

  diary, and means for completing, during a second phase of the method, said configuration before depositing it on one of the surfaces of

  storage, brought opposite the intermediate support.

  According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, said means for depositing an incomplete configuration on an intermediate support during a first phase of the method comprise at least one pusher and first actuating members arranged to move this pusher in a lengthwise stroke. scaled down. Said means for completing said configuration before depositing it on a storage surface comprise second actuating means arranged to move said pusher

  according to a race of increased length.

- 5 - 2606381

  This machine preferably also comprises means for depositing during a third phase, first of all an incomplete configuration on an intermediate support, then to complete this incomplete configuration and to deposit it on a storage surface brought opposite the support intermediate. These means for firstly depositing an incomplete configuration and for completing and unloading advantageously comprise third actuators arranged to alternately actuate a pusher in a reduced length stroke and in a longer stroke length.

  The present invention will be better understood with reference to the description

  of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which Figure I shows a schematic plan view illustrating the machine according to the invention, Figure 2 schematically illustrates the operation of the machine during the first phase of the method according to the invention. 3 schematically illustrates the operation of the machine during the second phase of the process, and FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the operation of the machine.

  during the third phase of the process.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the machine shown comprises two conveyor belts 10a and 10b which transport products such as, for example, rods 11 in the direction of arrows A. In this case, these products are arranged side by side on the belts. conveyor. Two separator devices 12a and 12b are laterally mounted with respect to each of the conveyor belts 10a and 10b for separating groups of products composed of a predetermined number of these products. Each separating device consists essentially of a pusher 13a and 13b arranged to move respectively in the direction of the arrows B and B ', opposite and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor belts a and 10b of the product feed. The groups 14a and 14b thus formed are then pushed by means of two pushers, respectively 15a and 15b,

-6- 2606381

  in a direction parallel to the arrows A to two grouping stations 16a and 16b. These grouping stations are arranged to repel on a conveyor 17 traveling in the same direction as the conveyor belts 10a and 10b, simultaneously two groups 14a and two groups 14b of products. At each cycle of the machine, the conveyor 17 transfers an assembly 18 of products composed of two groups 14a of products arranged in the extension of one another on one of the halves of the conveyor and two groups 14b of products arranged in the extension of one another on the other half of the conveyor. These assemblies 18 are conveyed in a loading-unloading station 19 which is arranged to deposit the groups of products on a storage medium 20. These storage media are in fact containers comprising a frame or frame, preferably

  metal frame, mounted on wheels carrying a set of horizontal trays

  overstated rates which define as many storage areas 21 on which will ultimately be stored the products conveyed by the

conveyor 17.

  This loading-unloading station is designed in such a way as to solve the problem of intermediate storage making it possible to continue to carry the products conveyed by the conveyor 17 continuously during the intervals of time necessary for the replacement of a conveyor loaded by an empty conveyor. . For this purpose, the station 19 is equipped with a device 22 comprising a series of intermediate supports 23 constituted by superposed horizontal plates capable of being displaced from bottom to top and from top to bottom. A pusher 24, associated with actuating means 25 shown schematically, ensures the transfer of the product groups of the conveyor 17 on the intermediate supports and on the storage surfaces 21. These storage surfaces 21 are intended for

  each carry four compound sets, as mentioned above.

  demten, each of two groups 14a and two groups 14b adjacent.

  During a first phase of the process, during the replacement of the containers, two sets 18a and 18b, arranged in the extension of one another on the conveyor 17, are simultaneously pushed by the pushers 24 and deposited on a support intermediate 23. These two sets form an incomplete configuration, in this case a demiconfiguration since they correspond to half of the products to be deposited on a storage surface 21. To perform this transfer of the two sets 18a and 18b on a support intermediate 23, the pushers 24 perform a

- 7 - 2606381

  race of reduced length corresponding to the distance to be traveled for

  pushing the products of the conveyor 17 onto an intermediate support 23.

  When this half-configuration is deposited on an intermediate support, it is lifted by a height equivalent to the distance between two successive intermediate supports, so that a new half-configuration identical to the previous one can be deposited on the next intermediate support. This operation corresponding to the loading phase is prolonged until a new empty container is

brought into position.

  At this point, the second phase of the process begins, that is to say the unloading phase. This phase begins when an intermediate support 23, previously loaded with a half-configuration made up of two sets 1Sa and 1Sb, is in position relative to a part of the conveyor 17

  and on the other hand an empty storage surface 21. The new demiconfigu-

  ration, composed of two sets lSa and 18b, is pushed with the help of the pushers 24 first against the half-configuration already deposited on the intermediate support 23, then the configuration thus completed is deposited entirely on the storage surface 21 arranged opposite the intermediate support. To perform this transfer, the pushers 24 perform a race of increased length which corresponds to the distance that must travel

  the assemblies 18a and 1Sb previously deposited on the intermediate supports

  23 and those who have just been brought by the conveyor 17, to be

  transferred to the corresponding storage area.

  During the following cycle, the intermediate storage device goes down one notch, that is to say that the intermediate support 23 carrying an incomplete configuration set up previously descends from a height corresponding to the distance between two intermediate supports successive. This incomplete configuration is completed by two new assemblies 18a and 18b brought by the conveyor 17 and the completed configuration is transferred to the next storage surface. This process

  extends until all intermediate intermediates

loaded are unloaded.

  A third phase of the method then consists in maintaining in position the upper intermediate support 23 and in alternately subjecting the pusher to a displacement corresponding to a long stroke and a displacement corresponding to a short stroke in order to bring two

- 8 - 2606381

  assemblies 18a and 18b of the conveyor 17, respectively at the rear and front of a storage surface 21. During this phase, the intermediate supports are used only to allow the passage of the assemblies

  18a and 18b of the conveyor on the storage surfaces.

  Figures 2 to 4 illustrate the three phases in more detail

of the process described.

  During the first phase called loading phase, represented by FIG. 2, the assemblies 18a and 18b are brought without discontinuity by the conveyor 17 and deposited in the form of incomplete configurations successively on the intermediate supports 23 which move from bottom to top in the direction of arrow C. This intermediate storage is necessary during the absence of storage areas when a full container

  be replaced by an empty container.

  The second phase or unloading phase of the intermediate supports is represented by FIG. 3. During this phase, assemblies 18a and 18b continue to be fed without interruption by the conveyor 17. At each cycle of the machine, the pushers 24 support a

  half-configuration of one of the intermediate supports 23 and half a

  complementary management carried by the conveyor 17 and deposit a complete configuration on one of the storage surfaces 21 of the support of

  20. It should be noted that during this phase the intermediate

  diaries move up and down in the direction of the arrow D and the storage surfaces 21 of the storage medium 20 move upwards in the direction of the arrow E. This phase ends when all

  intermediate supports are unloaded.

  FIG. 4 illustrates the third phase of the process in which the assemblies 18a and 18b are deposited in two stages on the storage surfaces 21. Two sets 18a and 18b forming a half-configuration are deposited on the upper storage support 23 at the during a first step during which the pushers 24 perform a race of short length. During the second step, the half-configuration formed of the following assemblies 18a and 18b is pushed away by carrying with it the previous half-configuration deposited on the intermediate support 23 located at the upper level, so that the complete configuration is deposited. on the storage surface 21 disposed at the same

-J 2606381

  level. The stroke of the pushers 24 is in this case a long race.

  The method and apparatus described above use the principle of depositing a configuration half followed by deposition of a second configuration half. It is understood that one could use the same principle

  by depositing at each cycle parts of configurations that do not correspond to

  not at half of a final configuration. For example, when the configuration consists of four sets of products, the following distributions could be considered. One, two or three sets could be deposited during the loading phase and respectively three, two and one sets would then be deposited during the unloading phase to complete four sets already installed on the intermediate supports during the phase of loading. loading. In addition, it would be possible to combine several stations of the same type or to multiply the product conveyor belts and the separator devices. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may undergo various modifications and

  present in various obvious variants for those skilled in the art.

Claims (10)

claims   1. A method of loading raw products or packaged on a storage medium, wherein is separated from a continuous sequence of products, successive groups each formed of a predetermined number of these products,   in which these groups of products are deposited on intermediate supports.   in which these product groups of the intermediate support are transferred to superimposed storage surfaces of the storage medium, each storage surface having at least two groups of products forming a predetermined configuration, characterized in that during a first phase of the method, is deposited on at least one intermediate support (23) an incomplete configuration, and in that during a second phase of the method complete said configuration before depositing on one of the storage surfaces (21 ) brought next to the support intermediate (23).   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that during the first phase of the method is deposited on a succession of intermediate supports (23) superimposed, a series of incomplete configurations, and in that during the second phase of the process, we complete each   configuration before depositing it on a storage surface (21).   3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said incomplete configurations are deposited on a succession of horizontal intermediate supports (23) overturned, displaced from bottom to top, and in that one completes each configuration before the deposit on a storage surface (21), having previously moved the intermediate supports up and down heights corresponding to the distance between two of these supports.   4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that during a third phase of the process, is first deposited an incomplete configuration on an intermediate support (23), then complete the configuration before depositing immediately , without moving this intermediate support, on a storage surface (21) disposed in the same horizontal plane. - 1X- 5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the incomplete configurations are deposited on the intermediate supports (23) and the configurations completed on the storage surfaces by means of at least one pusher (24), in that during the first process step, the pusher (24) performs a first stroke of reduced length to deposit an incomplete configuration on an intermediate support, and in that during the second phase of the process, the pusher (24) performs a second stroke of increased length to deposit a second incomplete configuration intended to complete the previously deposited incomplete configuration, on an intermediate support, and to simultaneously deposit the two incomplete configurations forming a complete configuration on a   storage surface (21) brought opposite the intermediate support (23).   6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that during the first phase called loading phase intermediate supports (23), the pusher (24) performs at each loading step a stroke of reduced length, and in that that during the second phase called unloading phase of the intermediate supports (23), the pusher (24) performs at each unloading step a stroke of increased length, all movements of small amplitude of the pusher of the loading phase intervening chronologically before any large displacements   amplitude of the unloading phase.   7. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that during the third phase called normal storage phase, is deposited successively a first incomplete configuration on an intermediate support (23) by means of the pusher (24) performing a stroke of reduced length, then a second incomplete configuration on the same intermediate support, and the two incomplete configurations are simultaneously deposited on a storage surface (21) by means of the pusher (24) making a stroke of increased length, and what we do again this cycle of loading and unloading alternative until the moment when all the storage surfaces (21) are full.   8. Process according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that said first phase of the process is exploited during the setting up of the free storage surfaces (21) and the evacuation of the loaded storage surfaces (21), in that the second - 1 process phase for unloading the intermediate supports (23) and in that the third stage of the process is used when the intermediate supports (23) are unloaded and storage surfaces (21) free are available.   9. Machine for loading raw products or packaged on a storage medium having means for separating from a continuous sequence of products, successive groups each formed of a predetermined number of these products, means for depositing these groups of products on intermediate supports and means for transferring these product groups from intermediate supports to superimposed storage surfaces of the storage medium, each storage surface comprising   at least two groups of products forming a predetermined configuration   characterized in that it comprises means for depositing, during a first phase of the method, an incomplete configuration on at least one intermediate support (23), and means for completing, during a second phase of the method, said configuration before depositing   on one of the storage surfaces (21) brought opposite the intermediate support   diary. 10. Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that said means for depositing an incomplete configuration on an intermediate support during a first phase of the method, comprise at least one pusher (24) and first actuating members (25). ) of this pusher (24) arranged   to move this pusher in a reduced length stroke.   1. Machine according to claim 10, characterized in that said means for completing said configuration before depositing it on a storage surface comprise second actuating members (25) arranged for   move said pusher in a stroke of increased length.   12. Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises means for depositing, during a third phase of the method, first of all an incomplete configuration on an intermediate support (23), then to complete this configuration. incomplete and to place it on a   storage surface (21) brought opposite the intermediate support (23). -13 - 22606381   13. Machine according to claim 12, characterized in that these means for first depositing an incomplete configuration and for the   complete and unload it include third   (25) arranged to alternately actuate the pusher (24) in a shorter length stroke and in a longer stroke length.