A combination of a vertical conveyor and an additional conveyor, as well as such vertical conveyor or additional conveyor.
The mechanical and electrical safety systems in vertical conveyors address product blockages by detecting and mitigating damage through upward displacement and motor control, ensuring reliable operation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- BR112022002839
- Authority / Receiving Office
- BR · BR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2019-08-15
- Filing Date
- 2020-08-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-28
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-08-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing vertical conveyor systems face issues with products falling and becoming stuck, potentially causing damage to components or the product itself.
A mechanical and electrical/electronic safety system is implemented to detect product blockages, featuring a pivot mechanism to mitigate damage by allowing upward displacement and a processor-controlled motor reversal to prevent assembly stoppage.
Prevents unnecessary damage to the assembly and products by promptly detecting and addressing blockages, ensuring reliable and robust operation.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
1 / 10 “SET OF A VERTICAL CONVEYOR AND AN ADDITIONAL CONVEYOR, AS WELL AS SUCH VERTICAL CONVEYOR OR ADDITIONAL CONVEYOR”
[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly of a vertical conveyor and an additional conveyor, as well as such vertical conveyor or additional conveyor.
[0002] A vertical conveyor developed and offered by the Applicant is the Prorunner MK5. This is a continuous vertical conveyor, which is specifically suitable for medium to high applications. It comprises loaders that are mobile on a continuous track, wherein said loaders are configured to transport products between a supply conveyor and a discharge conveyor that are arranged at different height levels. The loader then collects the products from the supply conveyor and places the products onto a discharge conveyor, thereby leveling a height difference.
[0003] During use, products may sometimes fall from a carrier and become stuck, possibly causing damage to any of the components as a whole, i.e., to the vertical conveyor, the supply conveyor and / or the discharge conveyor or to the product.
[0004] Document No. GB 959 725 A, which is considered the closest prior art, discloses a paternoster elevator having a safety, in relation to which at least the characterizing attributes of the independent claims are innovative. Patent application No. JP S62 65823 A also discloses a vertical conveyor having a safety. Document No. GB 15864 AD 1909 is recognized as further prior art.
[0005] One objective of the present invention is to provide an assembly that is improved with respect to the prior art and in which at least one of the problems stated above is evidenced.
[0006] The invention relates to two alternative solutions, that is, one of a mechanical nature and the other of a non-mechanical nature. Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, page 8 / 60 2 / 10 electrical / electronic, to the problem of how to prevent damage to any of the components of the assembly as a whole, i.e., to the vertical conveyor, the supply conveyor and / or the discharge conveyor or the product. These alternative solutions are presented as a first aspect and a second aspect respectively, where each refers to an independent claim of the assembly, as these alternatives can be applied completely independently of each other. However, it is also conceivable that the mechanical and electrical / electronic solutions could be applied in combination and not independently of each other.
[0007] The said objective is achieved with the assembly in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention which comprises:
[0008] - a vertical conveyor configured to at least one of them collect products and place products in a transfer section of an additional conveyor;
[0009] - wherein at least one of the vertical conveyor loader and the additional conveyor transfer section comprises a safety feature that is configured to detect a product blocking a vertical conveyor loader and stop the assembly; and
[0010] - wherein the safety comprises a pivot that is configured to allow displacement of at least one of the loader or transfer section to mitigate damage to the assembly and / or the blocking product.
[0011] The assembly, according to this first aspect of the invention, comprises a mechanical safety that includes a pivot configured to allow displacement of at least one of the loader or transfer section to mitigate damage to the assembly and / or the blocking product. In this way, the loader is incorporated as part of the safety means used to detect a product that would block and thus prevent the operation of the assembly and consequently possibly cause damage to said assembly. The mechanical safety, according to the Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, page 9 / 60 3 / 10 first aspect, it provides simple, reliable and robust security.
[0012] By stopping the assembly as soon as the product blocking the charger is detected, unnecessary damage to the assembly and / or the product can be avoided.
[0013] The said objective is also achieved with the assembly in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention which comprises:
[0014] - a vertical conveyor configured to at least one of which collect products and place products into a transfer section of an additional conveyor;
[0015] - a safety feature configured to detect a product blocking a vertical conveyor loader and stop the assembly;
[0016] - wherein the safety is an electrical or electronic safety comprising a measuring device associated with a motor of the assembly, a processor configured to monitor movement of the assembly, or in the assembly itself, and a motor driver configured to stop the motor when the processor detects that the movement of the assembly has been impeded or slowed to a point indicative of a blockage; and
[0017] - where the processor and / or motor driver is configured to reverse the motor relative to its movement before detecting a blockage, stop, or deceleration.
[0018] The assembly according to this second aspect of the invention comprises an electrical or electronic safety device that can be used as an alternative or in addition to the mechanical safety device according to the first aspect described above. By applying a processor and / or motor actuator that is configured to reverse the motor in relation to its movement before the detection of a blockage, stop, or deceleration, the assembly according to the second aspect allows a blocking product to be released and, after that, removed manually.
[0019] The invention also relates to a vertical conveyor of an assembly, or to the same, comprising a loader that has a Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, page 10 / 60 4 / 10 safety configured to detect a product blocking a vertical conveyor loader and stop the assembly.
[0020] In addition, the invention relates to a conveyor assembly, or for the same, comprising a transfer section comprising a safety feature configured to detect a product blocking a vertical conveyor loader and stop the assembly.
[0021] Preferred modalities are the subject of dependent claims.
[0022] The various aspects and features described and shown in the descriptive report can be applied individually whenever possible. These individual aspects, and in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims, may be the subject of divisional patent applications.
[0023] In the following description, preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which:
[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention comprising a vertical conveyor, an additional conveyor and a safety device;
[0025] Figure 2 is a front view that demonstrates a first possible blocking situation;
[0026] Figure 3 is a front view that demonstrates a second possible blocking situation;
[0027] Figure 4 is a front view that demonstrates a third possible blocking situation;
[0028] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a transfer section of the additional conveyor of the assembly in Figure 1;
[0029] Figure 6 is a detailed front view of the transfer section of Figure 5;
[0030] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the vertical conveyor loader which includes safety; Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, page 11 / 60 5 / 10
[0031] Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of a motor control; and
[0032] Figure 9 is a more detailed representation of a potential embodiment of a processor that forms part of the motor control of Figure 8.
[0033] Assembly 1 comprises a vertical conveyor 2 configured to collect at least one of products 3 from a transfer section 4 of an additional conveyor 5, and place products on the same 3, and a safety 6 configured to detect a product 3, 3-b blocking a loader 7 of the vertical conveyor 2 and stop assembly 1 (Figure 1). By stopping assembly 1 as soon as a product 3, 3-b blocking loader 7 is detected, unnecessary damage to assembly 1 and possibly also to product 3, 3-b can be avoided.
[0034] The loader 7 may comprise a fork shape, wherein the teeth 8 of the fork-shaped loader 7 are configured to pass through spaces between adjacent cylinders 9 of the additional conveyor 5, which may be a cylinder track, but without limitation. In this manner, the loader 7 may place a product 3 when the loader 7 moves downward and passes the transfer section 4 of the additional conveyor 5. Conversely, the loader 7 may collect a product 3 from the transfer section 4 of the additional conveyor 5, if a product 3 is present in said transfer section 4 and the loader 7 moves upward and passes the transfer section 4.
[0035] A product 3, 3-b that blocks a loader 7 of the vertical conveyor 2 can occur in several situations, as shown in Figures 2-4.
[0036] In a first blocking situation, as shown in Figure 2, loader 7 loads a product 3 and moves it down to place product 3 in transfer section 4. However, an additional product 3, 3-b that is still present in transfer section 4 may block the Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, page 12 / 60 6 / 10 path down from charger 7.
[0037] In a second blocking situation, as shown in Figure 3, the loader 7 moves upwards towards the transfer section 4 of the additional conveyor 5 to pick up a product 3. It may happen that the loader 7 inadvertently loads an additional product 3, 3-b. For example, said additional product 3, 3-b may accidentally have been left unloaded, or said additional product 3, 3-b may have fallen into the loader 7. In all cases, said additional product 3, 3-b that is inadvertently loaded by the loader 7 will block the loader 7 when said additional product 3, 3-b is trapped between the upward-moving loader 7 and the transfer section 4 of the additional conveyor 5.
[0038] In order to deal with blocking situations of the first and second types described above and shown in Figures 2 and 3 respectively, safety 6 can be configured to detect a product 3, 3-b that is blocked between the loader 7 of the vertical conveyor 2 and the transfer section 4 of the additional conveyor 5.
[0039] In a third blocking situation, as shown in Figure 4, charger 7 can carry a product 3, 3-b that extends sideways beyond charger 7 to a point where it interferes with the path of an additional charger 7' traveling in a direction opposite to charger 7. The product 3, 3-b can become trapped between the two approaching chargers 7, 7'.
[0040] In order to deal with this third type of blocking situation shown in Figure 4, safety 6 can be configured to detect a product 3 that is blocked between the vertical conveyor 2 loader 7 and an additional vertical conveyor 2 loader 7'.
[0041] Although it is conceivable that safety 6 comprises proximity sensors, for example, vision-based safety, a much simpler, more reliable and robust safety 6 can be obtained if the safety is mechanical. Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, page 13 / 60 7 / 10
[0042] At least one of the vertical conveyor 2 loader 7 and the transfer section 4 of the additional conveyor 5 comprises safety 6.
[0043] Safety 6 may comprise a pivot 10 that is configured to allow displacement of at least one of the loader 7 or transfer section 4 to mitigate damage to assembly 1 and / or blocking product 3, 3-b.
[0044] The pivot 10 of safety 6 can be configured to allow a displacement Du, Dd around the geometric axis of pivot P, in case a blockage exerts a force above the predetermined limit. If the predetermined limit force is set at a level higher than a downward gravitational force caused by the mass of a product 3, a single safety can be used to detect a blockage in the three types of blockage situations shown in Figures 2-4.
[0045] In a more preferred embodiment, pivot 10 of safety 6 is configured to allow only an upward displacement Du. If a downward displacement Dd is prevented by the mechanical nature of pivot 10, the predetermined limit can be adjusted to a significantly lower value than if it should be high enough to at least neutralize the greater weight of product 3 that the loader 7 must be able to carry. Thus, if pivot 10 allows only an upward displacement Du, safety 6 can be adjusted to a more sensitive setting. The sooner safety 10 detects a product 3, 3-b that blocks the loader 7 and assembly 1, the less likely damage will occur to assembly 1 and / or the blocking product 3, 3-b. This is a benefit for pivot 10 of both transfer section 4 and loader 7.An additional advantage of pivot 10 is that it is configured to allow only an upward displacement, which is of particular importance for magazine 7, as a displacement that is too downward (Dd) can result in product 3 sliding and falling from magazine 7. Such a falling product 3 can be damaged. Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, page 14 / 60 8 / 10 can cause other blocking situations similar to Figure 3 and may also cause a potentially unsafe situation for human operators.
[0046] If both the loader 7 of the vertical conveyor 2 and the transfer section 4 of the additional conveyor 5 comprise safety 6, all the blocking situations shown in Figures 2-4 can be effectively blocked with pivots 10 that are configured only to allow an upward displacement Du. Therefore, in the situation of Figure 2, the loader 7 can move upwards, while the transfer section 4 of the additional conveyor 5 can move, i.e., pivot, upwards in the situation of Figure 3. In the blocking situation of Figure 4, the additional loader 7, which is identical to the loader 7, can move, i.e., pivot, upwards. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, each of the loader 7 (and possibly the additional loaders 7') and the transfer section 4 comprises a pivot 10 that allows only an upward displacement Du.
[0047] A very simple, reliable and robust assembly 1 is obtained, if the safety 6 comprises a switch 11.0. The switch 11 can be configured to stop the assembly 1 by opening an electrical circuit or providing an electrical signal, if the safety 6 detects a product 3, 3-b blocking a loader 7, 7' of the vertical conveyor 2.
[0048] In Figure 8, a motor control 21 is shown, for controlling a motor 20 which has an output shaft 22. The output shaft 22 of the motor 20 has a toothed wheel 26 at one end thereof to rotationally drive a drive belt 27, connected to the assembly in either of the aforementioned figures. Alternatively, a chain or direct drive may be implemented instead of the belt 27.
[0049] The control 21 comprises an encoder 23, which is associated with a motor shaft 22. The encoder 23 measures the rotation of the shaft 22. Preferably, the encoder 23 is a high-resolution encoder that can, for example, generate 1K pulses for a complete 360° rotation, but lower-resolution encoders or other measuring equipment may be used. Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, page 15 / 60 9 / 10 to be used instead of encoder 23. A measurement signal is provided by encoder 23 to a processor 24, which can be configured to detect, from the measurement signals, whether the device is blocked or overloaded, which causes slowdown or stopping of the assembly.
[0050] After detecting a blockage, a stop or a deceleration, the processor 24 generates, from the measurement signals of the encoder 23, appropriate control signals so that a motor actuator 25 stops the motor 20.
[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the processor 24 and / or motor actuator 25 is configured to reverse the motor 20, wherein the reversal is related to the movement of said motor 20 before the detection of the blockage, stop or deceleration. In this way, the blocking product 3, 3-b can be released and, after that, removed manually.
[0052] Processor 24 can be formed from a computer CPU (not shown) or any suitable programmed PLC (not shown).
[0053] However, in the embodiment of Figure 9, the processor 24 is incorporated as a configuration based on directly or distinctly connected electronic components comprising connections 28 for connecting to the encoder 23 and connections 29 for connecting to the motor driver 25. A directly or distinctly connected electronic configuration has the advantage of operating very quickly, without depending on software and errors in the same and / or delays caused by the same.
[0054] The encoder signals on pins 3, 4 of the input connections 28 of the encoder 23 are adjustable, distributed via component block 30 and emitted via component block 31 through connections 29. A detected movement direction is determined by component block 34 and emitted on pins 4, 5 for “up” and “down”.
[0055] A 32-pin monostable multivibrator, which can be cooled and can be triggered again, generates output signals on pin 6 for “active” relative to connections 29, during circular motion. Unlike the Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, page 16 / 60 10 / 10 fixed resistor indicated R23 33, the pulse duration must be adjustable and, for this resistor R23 33, it can be replaced by a variable resistor, and the pulse is emitted on the “pulse” of pin 7 of the output connections 29. The verification of the appropriate circular motion is activated, firstly, by a first bistable stage 35, after the active motion signal is generated and after allowing a delay time, inserted on pin 3 of the connections 29. A control signal, which indicates the deceleration of the assembly lock, is generated by the second bistable stage 35, if the active motion signal falls into a state of the processor that monitors the appropriate circular motion.Since the assembly must stop at specific positions, not all control signals from the second bistable stage indicate an unwanted block or slowdown, and the processor may have to be reconfigured to a monitoring state via a signal on pin 2 to “reset” connections 29.
[0056] The motor driver 25 and the processor 24 can be combined into a single component or set of components.
[0057] The embodiments described above are intended to illustrate the invention only and in no way limit the scope of the invention. Consequently, it should be understood that where features mentioned in the appended claims are followed by reference signs, such signs are included only for the purpose of enhancing the intelligibility of the claims and are in no way limiting the scope of the claims. The scope of the invention is therefore defined only by the following claims. Petition 870220013271, dated 02 / 15 / 2022, p. 17 / 60
Claims
1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. Assembly (1) comprising: - a vertical conveyor (2) configured to collect products (3) and place products (3) in a transfer section (4) of an additional conveyor (5); and - wherein at least one of the loader (7) of the vertical conveyor (2) and the transfer section (4) of the additional conveyor (5) comprises a safety (6) that is configured to detect a product (3, 3-b) blocking a loader (7) of the vertical conveyor (2) and stop the assembly (1), characterized in that the safety (6) comprises a pivot (10) that is configured to allow displacement of at least one of the loader (7) or the transfer section (4) in order to mitigate damage to the assembly (1) and / or the blocking product (3, 3-b).
2. Assembly (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety (6) is configured to detect a product (3, 3-b) that is blocked between the loader (7) of the vertical conveyor (2) and the transfer section (4) of the additional conveyor (5).
3. Assembly (1), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the safety (6) is configured to detect a product (3, 3b) that is blocked between the vertical conveyor loader (7) (2) and an additional vertical conveyor loader (7') (2).
4. Assembly (1), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the safety (6) is a mechanical safety.
5. Assembly (1), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivot (10) of the safety (6) is configured to allow a displacement (Du, Dd), in case a block exerts a force above a predetermined limit.
6. Assembly (1), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivot (10) of the safety (6) is configured to allow only Petition 870260052231, dated 05 / 29 / 2026, page 13 / 15 2 / 3 an upward displacement (Du).
7. Assembly (1), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that both the loader (7) of the vertical conveyor (2) and the transfer section (4) of the additional conveyor (5) comprise the safety (6).
8. Assembly (1), according to claim 7, characterized in that the loader (7) and the transfer section (4) comprise a pivot (10) that allows rotation of the loader (7) or the transfer section (4) around a geometric pivot axis (P) thereof, and in that said pivot (10) allows only an upward displacement (Du).
9. Assembly (1), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the safety (6) comprises a switch (11) that is configured to stop the assembly (1) by opening an electrical circuit or providing an electrical signal, if the safety (6) detects a product (3, 3b) blocking a loader (7) of the vertical conveyor (2).
10. Assembly (1), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the safety (6) comprises an electrical or electronic safety comprising a measuring apparatus associated with a motor (20) of the assembly (1), a processor (24) configured to monitor movement of the assembly (1), or in the same, and a motor actuator (25) configured to stop the motor (20) when the processor (24) detects that the movement of the assembly (1), or in the same, has been impeded or decelerated to a point indicative of a blockage.
11. Assembly (1), according to claim 10, characterized in that the processor (24) and / or the motor driver (25) are combined into a single electronic component or set of electronic components.
12. Assembly (1), according to claim 10, characterized in that the processor (24) and / or motor driver (25) is configured to reverse the motor (20) in relation to a movement thereof before the detection of the blockage, stop or deceleration.
13. Vertical conveyor (2) to or from an assembly (1), as defined in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: - the vertical conveyor (2) is configured to at least one of collect products (3) and place products (3) in a transfer section (4) of an additional conveyor (5); and - wherein a loader (7) of the vertical conveyor (2) comprises a safety (6) configured to detect a product (3, 3-b) blocking the loader (7) of the vertical conveyor (2) and stop the assembly (1); characterized in that the safety (6) comprises a pivot (10) which is configured to allow displacement of the loader (7) in order to mitigate damage to the assembly (1) and / or the blocking product (3, 3-b).
14. Conveyor to or from an assembly (1), as defined in any of claims 1 or 2, comprising a transfer section (4) comprising a safety (6) configured to detect a product (3, 3-b) blocking a loader (7) of the vertical conveyor (2) and to stop the assembly (1), characterized in that the safety (6) comprises a pivot (10) that is configured to allow a displacement (Du, Dd) of the transfer section (4) in order to mitigate damage to the assembly (1) and / or the blocking product (3, 3-b). Petition 870260052231, dated 05 / 29 / 2026, page 15 / 15