Device for conveying products and vibrating support apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a vibrating support device (4) for a device (2) for conveying products (1), comprising: a fixed chassis (40); guides (41) mounted on the chassis (40), the guides (41) being parallel to each other and oriented in a longitudinal direction (D), the guides (41) being configured as sliding supports for an endless belt (21) of the conveying device (2); characterized in that the guides (41) are mounted so as to be able to move relative to the chassis (40) by a vibrating movement in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane. The invention also relates to a device (2) for conveying products, equipped with a vibrating support device (4) for supporting a length of a portion (3) of its conveying belt (21).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of product conveying. BACKGROUND

[0002] Within the meaning of the present invention, the term "product" includes a single object. One such product is a container, such as a bottle or flask, or a cardboard box or even a jar. The product can be made of any type of material, in particular a plastic material, a metal or even glass. Depending on the shape of the product and the material of the product, the product can be rigid or semi-rigid.

[0003] One such container is intended to contain, in a non-exhaustive manner, a fluid, a liquid, a powder or a granulate, in particular of the agri-food or cosmetic type.

[0004] Furthermore, the product can have any type of form, symmetrical or asymmetrical, regular or irregular. Furthermore, the product can have a rounded cross-section, a cross-section that is overall circular or oval, or have a polygonal, in particular rectangular or square, cross-section. In particular, such a container comprises a bottom, which can be flat or substantially flat, or, on the contrary, have one or more cavities, such as the case of a jar with a concave bottom or a bottle with a "petal" bottom.

[0005] As is known, on an industrial production line, the products can undergo several different successive treatments, such as the manufacture of the container, for example in a plastic injection moulding or stretch blow moulding operation of a bottle made of plastic material, then filling, then closure with a stopper and labelling. At the end of these treatments, the products are called "finished products".

[0006] For their handling, such finished products are packaged in batches. Furthermore, each batch comprises a group of several products, which are assembled together according to a matrix arrangement, generally in the form of an overall parallelepiped, generally square or rectangular, in columns and in rows. By way of example, a standard batch combines six products in two rows of three.

[0007] Once the group of products has been produced, each group can be packaged by means of a wrapping material or by means of boxing.

[0008] This packaging comprises surrounding or covering the group of products with a sheet or film, so as to hold the products together and facilitate the handling of such a batch obtained appropriately. This packaging can be carried out by means of a step of stretch wrapping or preferably of film wrapping, or by means of a wrapping of a sheet, in particular of paper or cardboard material.

[0009] In these different steps, the products are transported along the production line, in a displacement direction that is longitudinal, from upstream to downstream, between and inside the various stations dedicated to each treatment that the products must undergo. This transport can be carried out by means of at least one conveying device.

[0010] The application is particularly aimed at the conveying of individual products, individual meaning that the products are not grouped together or packaged in batches.

[0011] Moreover, the conveying is performed by displacement of the products with the bottom of the products resting directly on the top surface of one or more conveyors. This top surface is movable, forming a mattress, generally in the form of one or more endless belts wound on at least one motorized winding. Moreover, each endless belt is obtained by fixing its ends along a joint line which extends transversely with respect to the direction of displacement.

[0012] In particular, there are essentially three types of belts, namely:

[0013] - smooth surface belts, which have a transport function for products on a horizontal, even slightly inclined, small slope not exceeding 3%, beyond which the products would risk sliding on said smooth surface;

[0014] - belts in the form of rubber mats, the material of which has the property of gripping the products in order to transport them on greater slopes, and also to create spacing between the packages by simply acting on the speed between the conveyors;

[0015] - belts provided with freely rotating rollers, dedicated to fitting products to be attached to each other.

[0016] Moreover, the belts of the conveyors are longitudinally supported by slides on which the bottom surface of the belts rests. These slides can thus maintain the mattress on the length of the conveyor, ensuring perfect flatness of the movable surface, in order to avoid any risk of imbalance and falling of the products being transported.

[0017] Moreover, such slides are fixedly mounted on the support structure of the conveyor, extending parallel to each other in said longitudinal direction. According to the width, which depends in particular on the type of belt being supported, but also on the form and number of products to be transported, the slides are positioned with a transverse gap between each other.

[0018] In this case, the products can be transported loosely along the production line, i.e. the products are positioned in an interlaced and disordered manner, in particular against each other, over the entire or partial width of the conveyor. In order to perform a specific treatment of the products, for example the packaging, it is necessary to order the loose flow of products according to a plurality of lines, in particular in order to ensure that they are grouped together downstream, then packaged in batches from this multi-line flow of products.

[0019] This operation is carried out by a product alignment device, which overall takes the form of a funnel positioned above the conveyor, making it possible to receive a loose stream of products as input and to align them at output in several parallel lines delivered. In addition, this alignment device comprises vertical sheets mounted on a chassis and spaced apart so as to form channels. In addition, the channels are arranged to converge from upstream to downstream, becoming tighter in the direction of displacement of the products.

[0020] Thus, at input, the loose stream of products is separated on contact with the upstream end of each of the sheets, the products being pushed laterally on either side to enter each channel. The convergence in each channel, as they advance, forms a bottleneck, forcing the bottles to be positioned one after the other, in particular by friction on contact with the walls of the sheets and by rolling between the bottles as they advance along each channel.

[0021] In particular, the reduced channel width is configured as a function of the number of products to be received as input and the form of said products, in particular their diameter, to be guided to obtain an output stream with one or more product widths.

[0022] One of the drawbacks of this funnel-type aligner is the repeated jamming of the products at input and inside the channels. Indeed, the speed of delivery combined with the narrowing of the channel width generally leads to two products being positioned in front, which causes them to jam, in particular due to the friction between the products and between the products against the walls of the sheets. The delivery must then be stopped in order to unjam the products, in particular by manual intervention by an operator: the operation to achieve unjamming of the products is lengthy and unstable.

[0023] Similar treatments consist in placing a stream of products in channels by sheets parallel to each other and oriented longitudinally. The products delivered are divided laterally by said sheets, forming different channels.

[0024] This operation presents the same drawbacks as the funnel-type aligner, namely that the products can be placed in front and jammed between the sheets, in particular at the input of the channels.

[0025] To mitigate this drawback, it has been imagined to impose a vibration on the sheets, making it possible to reduce the coefficient of friction of the products with said sheets in order to limit the risk of jamming of the products in the channels. Thus, there currently exist aligners with a vibration motorization which is transmitted to the sheets via a suitable chassis.

[0026] In addition, this vibration aligner must be isolated with respect to the rest of the machine in order to limit the transmission of the vibrations generated to the other components. This vibration isolation is obtained by mounting the chassis on elastic suspensions.

[0027] However, due to its configuration in height and its installation on the conveyor, the absorption of the vibrations is made so as not to transmit said vibrations to the sheet. Moreover, the sheets vibrate when they come into contact with the product, they must be slightly moved on the conveyor, thus causing subsequent dynamics and suitable motorization means. Moreover, the greater the size of the product, the more necessary it is to increase the power of the motorization means, which will exert all the greater strain on the supporting structure.

[0028] In addition, part of the vibrations cannot be attenuated and are transmitted to the other components, thus affecting their operation and their life. The result is a mechanical fatigue of the elements of this aligner, which even causes breakage, in particular at the welds between the sheet and the chassis.

[0029] Moreover, in the case of management by installation of several product forms, it is necessary to set the pitch of the channels according to the form to be handled. This setting is performed manually, but preferably automatically, in order to reduce the downtime required when changing form and to ensure a more precise setting.

[0030] However, the components used for this automatic setting cannot offer sufficient resistance to the vibrations exerted, thus causing the machine to be out of tune during production, again causing premature deterioration of said components, even causing them to break. SUMMARY

[0031] The aim of the present invention is to alleviate the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a supporting vibration device which ensures the direct transmission of the vibrations to the product. To this end, the invention provides guide elements configured as sliding supports of a conveyor belt, said supporting guide elements being arranged so as to be movable with respect to a chassis of the vibration device, so as to transmit the vibrations caused by the embedded motorization means to these supporting guide elements.

[0032] According to the invention, said vibration supporting device of a device for conveying a product comprises:

[0033] - a fixed chassis;

[0034] - guide elements mounted on said chassis, said guide elements being parallel to each other and oriented in a longitudinal direction, said guide elements being configured as sliding supports of an endless belt of a conveyor device.

[0035] Said vibration supporting device is characterized in that:

[0036] - said guide elements are mounted so as to be movable with respect to said chassis by a vibration movement in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane.

[0037] According to additional non-limiting characteristics, this vibration conveyor device can comprise:

[0038] - a mobile frame receiving the guides and connected to the chassis via at least one articulation, wherein the mobile frame exceptionally receives the guides by a fixed manner;

[0039] - at least one actuator of the frame with the oscillating movement.

[0040] According to an embodiment, the at least one actuator can be embedded on the frame.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the at least one articulation can be elastic, thereby forming a means for absorbing the oscillating movement between the frame and the chassis.

[0042] According to an embodiment, the vibrating device can comprise at least one upstream end of each of the guides, the at least one upstream end comprising a chamfered top face, preferably a disc-shaped top face.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the vibrating device can comprise at least one upstream end of each of the guides, the at least one upstream end having lateral edges diverging from the outside to the inside of the guide.

[0044] Furthermore, the vibrating device provides a support chassis which ensures an improved transmission of the generated vibrations, thereby limiting the loss of vibrations towards the rest of the support structure, in particular when it is located in a conveying device.

[0045] To this end, the application also relates to a product conveying device equipped with such a vibrating conveying device.

[0046] Advantageously, such a conveying device comprises:

[0047] - a support structure;

[0048] - slides fixedly mounted on the support structure parallel to each other and oriented in the longitudinal direction;

[0049] - the slides are laterally separated by a gap;

[0050] - at least one endless conveying belt, the belt being supported by the surfaces of the slides along at least part of the length of the conveying device;

[0051] - motorized means of the conveying belt from upstream to downstream in the longitudinal direction.

[0052] The device is characterized in that it comprises:

[0053] along an adjacent other part, the vibrating conveying device comprising:

[0054] - a fixed chassis, mounted on said support structure;

[0055] - guides, mounted on the frame, said guides being parallel to each other and oriented in said longitudinal direction, said guides extending continuously with said slides, acting as supports for said conveyor belt;

[0056] - said guides being mounted mobile with respect to said chassis via said frame, said frame being arranged to be mobile with respect to said chassis by means of a vibratory motion in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane.

[0057] According to further non-limiting characteristics, said upstream and / or downstream ends of said guides can be interlocked positioned inside said gap between said slides, respectively downstream and / or upstream ends of said slides.

[0058] According to embodiments, said conveyor device can comprise:

[0059] - at least one engagement plate, flush between said slides and said guides;

[0060] - said upstream and / or downstream ends of said guides being interlocked positioned in respective recesses of said plate.

[0061] According to embodiments, said interlocking can comprise a lateral play, which ensures a free vibratory motion of said guides in said horizontal or substantially horizontal plane.

[0062] According to embodiments, said vibratory apparatus can comprise at least one actuator of said frame by means of said vibratory motion.

[0063] According to embodiments, said vibratory apparatus can comprise at least one elastic articulation, forming a device for absorbing said vibratory motion between said frame and said chassis.

[0064] According to embodiments, said at least one actuator can be motorized in an embedded manner on said frame, or by means of said motorization apparatus via transmission means.

[0065] According to embodiments, said vibratory apparatus can comprise a device for setting the height between said chassis and said frame.

[0066] According to embodiments, said conveyor device can comprise an aligner (29) of said products, above said belt, said aligner extending at least along said further portion.

[0067] Therefore, the conveying device can be adapted by introducing the vibrating device at dedicated positions along the conveying surface, so as to transmit its vibrations via the belt supported by the support guides, and only at said positions. In particular, the latter correspond to the positioning of the upper part of the funnel-shaped converging aligner, or of other devices for being arranged in the passage: the vibrations transmitted by the vibrating device then limit the blocking of the products when passing through the passage of such converging aligner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0068] Further features and advantages of the present application will appear from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments of the present application, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0069] Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a conveying vibrating device according to an embodiment, in particular showing a parallel support guide provided with a disc-shaped member at its end;

[0070] Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of a conveying device according to an embodiment, in particular showing the position of the vibrating device along the central portion, without any mat;

[0071] Figure 3 schematically shows a perspective view of a detail of Figure 2 , in particular showing the interlocking between the vibrating device and the conveying device;

[0072] Figure 4 schematically shows a vertical sectional view along the axis A-A' of a detail of Figure 2 ;

[0073] Figure 5 schematically shows a front view of a detail of Figure 2 , in particular showing the play necessary for the transverse vibrating movement between the respective ends of the movable support and of the slider;

[0074] Figure 6 schematically shows a front view according to another embodiment, in particular showing a zigzag-shaped plate ensuring the engagement of the conveying device with the upstream end of the vibrating device;

[0075] Figure 7 schematically shows a side view of a vibrating device according to an embodiment, in particular showing the embedded motorized device and the elastic hinge between the frame and the chassis;

[0076] Figure 8 schematically shows a perspective view of a conveying device equipped with a converging aligner, in particular showing the vibrations transmitted to the products conveyed through the mat on the vibrating device; and

[0077] Figure 9Simplified front view of a conveying device equipped with an aligner, in particular showing the arrangement of the products in the passage of the aligner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] The present invention belongs to the field of conveying of products 1.

[0079] Within the meaning of the invention, the term "product" includes a single object. Such product 1 is a container, for example a bottle or a flask, or a cardboard box or even a jar. The product 1 can be made of any type of material, in particular of plastic material, metal or even glass. Depending on the form of the product and the material of the product, the product 1 can be rigid or semi-rigid.

[0080] Such product 1 in the form of a container is intended to contain, in a non-exhaustive manner, a fluid, a liquid, a powder or a granulate, in particular of the agri-food or cosmetic type.

[0081] Furthermore, the product 1 can have any type of form, symmetrical or asymmetrical, regular or irregular. Furthermore, the product 1 can have a rounded, wholly circular or oval cross-section, or a polygonal, in particular rectangular or square, cross-section.

[0082] In particular, such product 1 comprises a bottom which can be flat or substantially flat, or, on the contrary, with one or more cavities, for example the case of a jar with a concave bottom or a bottle with a so-called "petal" bottom.

[0083] As mentioned previously, on an industrial production line, the product 1 can undergo several successive treatments. In these different steps, the product 1 is transported along the production line between and within the different stations dedicated to each treatment that the product 1 must undergo.

[0084] In the context of the invention, the transport of the product 1 is carried out in a displacement direction D which is longitudinal or substantially longitudinal, in a direction which extends from upstream to downstream. Such displacement direction D is represented in particular in the form of an arrow oriented from left to right in Figure 8 and Figure 9 . Thus, the displacement of the product 1 is carried out longitudinally. Furthermore, said displacement is carried out overall in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, in particular along a conveying surface. Furthermore, the term "transverse" is understood as being a direction which is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction D, substantially on the same horizontal plane.

[0085] In this case, the transport is carried out by at least one device 2 for conveying the product 1, hereinafter called "device 2". Such conveying device 2 is similar to a conveyor. Several devices 2 can be arranged one after the other, depending on the conveying of the product 1 to be carried out along the industrial production line.

[0086] Furthermore, the product 1 rests by its bottom on a top face of such a device 2. This top face is set in motion to ensure longitudinal displacement of the product 1.

[0087] The present invention relates to such a device 2 for conveying products 1 in a longitudinal direction D.

[0088] Said device 2 first comprises a support structure 20. This support structure 20 is located on the ground and supports various components of the device 2. To this end, it can comprise elements to which and to which are added said components.

[0089] To this end, the device 2 also comprises at least one conveying belt 21, preferably a single belt, but possibly several belts 21 placed side by side transversely, so as to form a movable conveying surface, in particular a conveying mat or bed. The belt(s) 21 are hereinafter referred to as "belt 21".

[0090] According to different embodiments, the belt 21 can be of different types, namely in particular:

[0091] - a belt 21 with a smooth surface, which has a transport function for products 1 on a horizontal, even slightly inclined slope of no more than 3%, beyond which the product 1 would risk sliding on said smooth surface;

[0092] - a belt 21 in the form of a rubber mat, the material of which exhibits a gripping property of the product 1 so as to transport the product 1 on a greater slope;

[0093] - a belt 21 provided with freely rotating rollers, dedicated to fitting products 1 to be attached to each other.

[0094] This belt 21 is annular. The belt 21 can comprise one or more contiguous portions, i.e. such that their ends are connected at at least one joint line 22, thereby forming a closed loop. The belt 21 forms a movable surface which ensures the displacement of the product 1 in the displacement direction D from upstream to downstream of the device 2. In other words, the belt 21 moves the product 1 from the input of the device 2 to the output of the device 2.

[0095] To this end, the device 2 comprises motorisation means 23 of said belt 21 in said displacement direction D.

[0096] According to a preferred embodiment, the motorisation means 23 can comprise at least one drive roller 24 and at least one return roller 25. These rollers 24, 25 are located at the upstream and downstream ends of the device 2, rotationally added to the support structure 20. Furthermore, the belt 21 is positioned to roll around the rollers 24, 25.

[0097] Furthermore, the rollers 24, 25 are configured to ensure the movement of the belt 21, in particular by friction and the electrification of said belt 21, or by rack engagement.

[0098] Furthermore, the motorized means 23 comprise a suitable motor 26, of any type but preferably asynchronous, to ensure the driving of the rollers 24.

[0099] According to Figure 8 The driving rollers 24 are located at the downstream end, while the return rollers 25 are located at the upstream end, according to the embodiment shown. The opposite case is possible, even with the driving rollers 24 arranged along the device 2 between two return rollers 25 located at the upstream and downstream ends.

[0100] Furthermore, in order to ensure the carrying capacity of the belt 21 along the device 2, said device 2 comprises slides 27. These slides 27 are fixedly mounted on said support structure 20. Said slides 27 extend parallel to each other and are oriented in the longitudinal direction D.

[0101] Furthermore, said slides 27 are laterally separated by a gap 28. The width of this gap 28 is determined as a function of the width and number of slides 27 and of the product 1 to be transported, in particular the number of products 1 and the weight of this number. Such a gap 28 is shown in Figure 5 .

[0102] In practice, the belt 21 is supported along at least part of the length of the device 2 by the surfaces of said slides 27. In summary, the bottom face of the belt 21 rests on the top faces of the slides 27, moving by sliding along these top faces. In other words, the slides 27 hold the belt 21 in its displacement from below.

[0103] Furthermore, said at least part of the length of the device 2 corresponds to one or more regions extending longitudinally between the upstream and downstream ends of the device 2. The slides 27 are fixed and extend along these regions. The end portions of the slides 27 can extend beyond their respective regions, in particular at the rollers 24, 25, but also at the further portion 3.

[0104] To this end, the further portion 3 is adjacent to said at least one portion. According to a preferred embodiment, in particular visible in Figure 2 and Figure 8 , the further portion 3 is bracketed by two further portions located upstream and downstream. According to another embodiment, the further portion 3 can be located at the upstream end or at the downstream end of the device 2.

[0105] According to an embodiment, in particular visible in Figure 8 and Figure 9 , the device 2 comprises an aligner 29 of the products 1 above said belt 21. In particular, said aligner 29 extends at least along said further portion 3.

[0106] This aligner 29 can change the alignment of the flow of products 1 between upstream and downstream. Moreover, the products 1 can be transported loosely, i.e. positioned in an interlaced and disordered manner, in particular against each other, over the entire or partial width of the device 2 upstream of the aligner 29. In order to carry out a specific treatment of the products 1, such as, for example, the conversion of a loose flow into a multi-line flow by the aligner 29, or the determination of the spacing of the multi-line flow by a suitable device, in particular a worm, or even a device for grouping several products 1 together in batches, it is necessary to order the loose flow of products 1 according to a plurality of lines, in particular to ensure that they are grouped together downstream. The aligner 29 thus allows this operation of converting the loose flow of products 1 into a multi-line flow.

[0107] To this end, the aligner 29 comprises means for aligning the products 1, taking the form of a funnel positioned above the device 2. This funnel makes it possible to receive a loose flow of said products 1 as input and to align them according to a plurality of mutually parallel lines delivered at the output. Moreover, this aligning device comprises vertical sheets 290 mounted on a reinforcement 291 and spaced apart to form passages 292. Moreover, the passages 292 are arranged to converge from upstream to downstream, becoming tighter in the displacement direction D of the products 1 along the device 2.

[0108] Thus, at the input, the flow of loose products 1 is separated when coming into contact with the downstream end of each of the sheets 290, the products 1 being moved laterally to the side on either side to enter each passage 292. The convergence in each passage 292, as they advance, forms a bottleneck which forces the products 1 to be positioned one after the other, in particular by friction when coming into contact with the walls of the sheets 290 and by rolling between the products 1 as they advance along each passage 292.

[0109] In particular, the reduced width of the passages 292 is configured according to the number of products 1 to be received as input and the form of said products 1, in particular their diameter.

[0110] This operation of alignment of the products 1 carried out by the aligner 29 is in particular visible in Figure 9 .

[0111] Advantageously, the invention provides for the transmission of vibrations to the products 1 transported by the device 2. These vibrations make it possible to ensure different functions, depending on the treatment applied to the products 1, such as, for example, the conversion of a loose flow into a multi-line flow by the aligner 29, or the determination of the spacing of the multi-line flow by a suitable device, in particular a worm, or even a device for grouping several products 1 together in batches. These vibrations can also be applied according to the content of the products 1, in particular a suspension or a mixture held inside the products 1. These vibrations can also be used to separate the products 1 from each other, in particular to limit the adhesion between them, i.e. to separate them from each other.

[0112] Preferably, the vibration transmitted during alignment prevents the two products 1 from getting stuck together and blocked between the sheets 290 of the channel.

[0113] Advantageously, the device 2 includes a conveying vibration device 4 adjacent to at least one of the other portions 3, hereinafter referred to as "vibration device 4" or "device 4".

[0114] Therefore, the device 4 ensures that the product 1 vibrates along a portion of the length of the device 2, particularly along another portion 3, so that the device 2 can receive the aligner 29 over the entire or part of the length of that other portion 3.

[0115] The present invention also relates to such a vibration device 4.

[0116] Furthermore, the vibration device 4 includes a chassis 40. The chassis 40 is configured to be fixed, that is, it is configured and intended to be made into a main body and fixed to the support structure 20.

[0117] The device 4 also includes guides 41 mounted on the chassis 40. These guides 41 are arranged parallel to each other and oriented in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the displacement direction D of the product 1).

[0118] Furthermore, the guide 41 is configured as a sliding support for the annular type belt 21 of the device 2. In summary, the guide 41 serves the same function as the slider 27, sliding from below the supporting belt 21 as the belt 21 moves along another portion 3.

[0119] Advantageously, the guide 41 is mounted so that it can move relative to the chassis 40 by vibrational movement in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane.

[0120] Within the meaning of this invention, the vibrational motion is a mechanical oscillating motion about a stable equilibrium position or along an average trajectory. This vibrational motion is performed according to several degrees of freedom, particularly at least one of the degrees of freedom of translation oriented laterally relative to the displacement direction D. The vibrational motion can be periodic and has a frequency and / or amplitude designed to be adjustable.

[0121] Furthermore, the vibrational motion can be generated by a suitable device, preferably mechanical, such as by an eccentric motor or by a remote linkage, or by a cam-linkage system.

[0122] Furthermore, the horizontal or substantially horizontal planes correspond to the position of the guides 41 in their displacement, whether they are horizontal or slightly vertical as a function of the transmitted vibratory movement. In fact, in order to preserve the load-bearing capacity and the flatness of the conveying surface, i.e. the belt 21, the guides 41 are positioned flush with the sliders 27, thus ensuring the continuity of the flatness between the portion and the further portion 3 of the device 2. Said guides 41 therefore extend continuously with said sliders 27, thus acting as supports for said conveying belt 21.

[0123] According to an embodiment, each of the guides 41 is arranged to be movable independently of the others.

[0124] According to another preferred embodiment, the vibratory device 4 comprises a movable frame 42 which receives said guides 41, which are in particular received by means of a fixed manner. In any case, the frame 42 is fixed to all the guides 41 and is movable with respect to the fixed chassis 40, ensuring that the vibratory movement is transmitted simultaneously or in a synchronous manner to all the guides 41.

[0125] Furthermore, the frame 42 is connected to said chassis 40 by means of at least one hinge 43. The hinge ensures at least that the frame 42 is held with respect to the chassis 40 and that the frame 42 is movable with respect to said chassis 40.

[0126] To this end, the vibratory device 4 further comprises at least one actuator 44 of said frame 42. The actuator ensures in particular the mobility of the frame 42 by generating or by performing the transmission of said vibratory movement.

[0127] According to an embodiment, said actuator 44 is embedded on said frame 42. The actuator 44 is then independent and generates the vibratory movement which is transmitted directly to the guides 41 via said frame 42. This embedded actuator 44 is particularly visible in Figure 7 Furthermore, it can be controlled or not in operation, so that the device 2 can be configured by setting the further portion 3 in vibratory movement or by stopping these vibrations.

[0128] According to another embodiment, said actuator 44 can be motorized by means of said motorization means 23 via transmission means. According to this configuration, the motorization means 23, the transmission means and / or the actuator 44 can generate the vibratory nature of the movement via appropriate and dedicated means, as described above.

[0129] As mentioned previously, the articulations 43 ensure a movable connection between the frame 42 and the chassis 40. To this end, the articulations 43 can be of any type, namely in a non-restrictive manner: temporary links, in particular spheres / planes; or rectilinear links, in particular cylinders / planes; or annular links, in particular spheres / cylinders; or even ball joints or spherical links, in particular spheres / spheres. The articulations 43 can also comprise a combination of the links mentioned above.

[0130] Preferably, the articulations 43 are elastic, thereby forming a means for absorbing the vibratory movements between said frame 42 and said chassis 40. As mentioned above, such an elastic link can be of any type. Preferably, the elastic articulations 43 can comprise suitable members, in particular in the form of suspension cylinders or springs, or even members provided with a material having elastic properties, such as rubber.

[0131] According to an embodiment, the device 2 comprises means 45 for adjusting the height between the chassis 40 and said frame 42. These adjustment means 45 can be embedded on said equipment 4 and added to the support structure 20 during the fixing of the chassis 40. The adjustment means 45 make it possible to manually or automatically improve the difference in height between the guides 41 and the slides 27, in order to ensure the flatness of the belt 21.

[0132] Moreover, such an adjustment makes it possible to compensate for any ageing of the articulations 43, in particular the loss of elasticity of their elastic material, ensuring that the flatness of the belt 21 is maintained between the portion and the other portion 3. To this end, according to an embodiment, the top face of at least one upstream end chamfer of each of said guides 41, preferably a disc-shaped top face. Preferably, all the upstream and downstream ends of each of the guides 41 are provided with a ramp. This ramp increases at the upstream end and decreases at the downstream end in the displacement direction D. It can ensure that the bottom face of the belt 21, in particular at its joint line 22, does not hook onto the upstream end of the guides 41 in its travel.

[0133] According to an embodiment, the upstream and / or downstream end of the slides 27 has the same chamfered configuration.

[0134] Such a chamfered configuration is particularly visible in Figure 4 .

[0135] Such a chamfered configuration can be obtained by shaping the guides 41 and / or the slides 27, or by adding the corresponding end tabs 5.

[0136] According to another embodiment, at least one upstream end of each of the guides 41 comprises a lateral edge diverging from the outside to the inside of the guide 41. Preferably, all upstream and downstream ends of each of the guides 41 are pointed.

[0137] According to an embodiment, the upstream and / or downstream ends of the sliders 27 have the same pointed configuration.

[0138] This pointed configuration is particularly visible in Figure 5 .

[0139] This pointed configuration can be obtained by shaping the guides 41 and / or the sliders 27, or by adding respective end pieces 5.

[0140] According to a different configuration, the device 2 can provide interlocking between the part of the sliders 27 and the guides 41 of the other part 3, to ensure the continuity of the load capacity of the belt 21.

[0141] According to an embodiment, as particularly visible in Figure 3 , the upstream and / or downstream ends of the guides 41 are interlocked positioned inside the gap 28 between the sliders 27.

[0142] According to another embodiment, as particularly visible in Figure 6 , the device 2 comprises at least one engagement plate 6 flush between the sliders 27 and the guides 41. In addition, the upstream and / or downstream ends of the guides 41 are interlocked positioned in respective recesses 60 of the plate 6. In summary, the plate 6 has a crenelated form.

[0143] This plate 6 can be added by fixing to the support structure 20 or to the respective end of the sliders 27. This fixing of the plate 6 is performed flush with the top face of the sliders 27. Thus, the plate 6 replaces the chamfered end and / or the pointed end of the sliders 27.

[0144] According to another embodiment, the plate 6 can comprise a recess 60 along each of its lateral edges, so as to receive the end of a slider 27 on one side and the end of a guide 41 on the opposite side. This plate 6 with double crenelation is then added by fixing to the support structure 20.

[0145] Thus, the plate 6 corresponds to a fixed sliding surface. It can be composed of any type of material, preferably similar to the material of the sliders 27 and / or the guides 41.

[0146] According to an embodiment, the upstream and / or downstream ends of the sliders 27 have a chamfered configuration and / or a pointed configuration similar to the guides 41 and / or the sliders 27.

[0147] According to an embodiment, in one of the cases as in the other, said interlocking comprises a lateral play 7 which ensures a free oscillating movement of the guides 41 in said horizontal or substantially horizontal plane. In any case, the width of the clearance 28 of the slide 27 or of the recess 60 of the plate 6 is determined so as to ensure the displacement of the end of the guides 41 positioned therein.

[0148] Preferably, the play is determined so that, in their oscillating movement, the guides 41 do not come into contact with the slide 27. This play takes into account in particular the amplitude of travel of the guides 41.

[0149] Preferably, the conveying device 2 can comprise a vibrating device 4 which repeats the features of the above-described embodiments.

[0150] The conveying device 2 equipped with the vibrating device 4 according to the invention thus makes it possible to transmit vibrations to the products via the belt 21 in order to avoid any jamming of the products 1 between them or against the fixed elements, most particularly between the sheets 290 of the aligner 29 or between the parallel sheets 290 of the passage-creating device, in particular at the upstream end of said sheets 290.

[0151] This vibration from below reduces the amount of vibration absorbed by the support structure 20 and uniformly increases the vibration transmitted to the products 1. Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to reduce the power of the motorized means required to transmit the oscillating movement, to overcome the portion of the vibration which is dissipated to the other components of the device 2, which limits the losses to the support structure 20 and reduces the risk of breakage. Furthermore, this configuration of controlled transmission of vibration from below makes it possible to apply manual adjustment, but preferably automatic adjustment of the other components of the device 2, in particular when the form of the products 1 to be treated is changed, without interrupting the vibration for such adjustment.

[0152] The invention thus relates to a vibrating device which makes it possible to ensure different functions and in particular to improve the passage of a single product's loose flow to a multiple flow, i.e. a multiple flow constituted by a plurality of columns separated from one another. In the context of the invention, since the products 1 circulate at a considerable number of speed at their bottom, the vibration induced must be sufficient to make these products 1 not remain jammed at the input of the passage, without being too great so as to risk them falling. In the context of the invention, the vibration is transmitted from below the products 1 in order to optimize their effect: the vibration is transmitted uniformly to said products, while the amount of vibration absorbed by the support structure 20 is reduced.

[0153] The fact that the guides 41 are fixed to a movable frame is particularly advantageous: this makes it possible to ensure that the oscillating movement is transmitted simultaneously or in a synchronized manner to all the guides 41.

[0154] Furthermore, this configuration makes it possible to further reduce the vibrations transmitted to the support structure 20 via at least one articulation that connects the movable frame to the chassis of the fixed vibration device 4.

Claims

1. Vibration support device (4) for a conveying device (2) for conveying containers of products (1), comprising: - a fixed base (40); - guides (41) mounted on said base (40), said guides (41) being parallel to each other and oriented in a longitudinal direction (D), said guides (41) being configured as sliding supports of an endless conveyor belt (21) of said conveying device (2); - said guides (41) being mounted so as to be movable with respect to said base (40) by means of a vibration movement in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, characterized in that said vibration support device (4) comprises: - a movable frame (42) receiving said guides (41) and connected to said base (40) via at least one articulation (43); - at least one actuator (44) of said movable frame (42) with said vibration movement.

2. Vibration support device (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that: - said at least one actuator (44) is embedded on said movable frame (42).

3. Vibration support device (4) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that: - said at least one articulation (43) is elastic, thereby forming a means for absorbing said vibration movement between said movable frame (42) and said base (40).

4. The vibration isolation apparatus (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said vibration support device (4) comprises: - at least one upstream end of each of said guides (41), said at least one upstream end comprising a chamfered top face.

5. The vibration isolation device (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said vibration support device (4) comprises: - at least one upstream end of each of said guides (41), said at least one upstream end having a lateral edge diverging from an outer side to an inner side of the respective guide (41).

6. Conveyor device (2) for conveying products in a longitudinal direction (D), characterized in that said conveying device (2) comprises: - a support structure (20); - slides (27) fixedly mounted on said support structure (20) parallel to each other and oriented in said longitudinal direction (D); - said slides (27) being laterally separated by a gap; - at least one endless conveyor belt (21) supported by surfaces of said slides (27) along at least a portion (3) of the length of said conveying device (2); - motorized means (23) of said endless conveyor belt (21) from upstream to downstream in said longitudinal direction (D), characterized in that said conveying device (2) comprises: a vibration support device (4) along an adjacent further portion (3), said vibration support device (4) comprising: - a fixed base mounted on said support structure; - guides (41) mounted on a frame (42), said guides (41) being parallel to each other and oriented in said longitudinal direction (D), said guides (41) extending continuously with said slides (27), thereby acting as supports of said endless conveyor belt (21); - said motorized means (23) of said endless conveyor belt (21) being motorized by said vibration support device (4). - said guide (41) is mounted movable with respect to said chassis (40) via said frame (42), said frame (42) being arranged movable with respect to said chassis (40) by a vibratory movement in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, and - said vibratory support device (4) comprises: - said frame (42) receiving said guide (41) and being connected to said chassis (40) via at least one articulation (43); - at least one actuator (44) of said frame (42) with said vibratory movement.

7. Conveyor device (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that - the upstream end and / or the downstream end of said guide (41) are interlocked positioned inside said gap between said sliders (27) respectively with the downstream end and / or the upstream end of said sliders (27).

8. The delivery device (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that - said conveyor device (2) comprises: - at least one engagement plate (6) flush between said sliders (27) and said guide (41); - the upstream end and / or the downstream end of said guide (41) are interlocked positioned in respective recesses (60) of said engagement plate (6).

9. Conveyor device (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that - said interlocking comprises a lateral play ensuring a free vibratory movement of said guide (41) in said horizontal or substantially horizontal plane.

10. The delivery device (2) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that - said vibratory support device (4) comprises: - at least one actuator (44) of said frame (42) with said vibratory movement.

11. The delivery device (2) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that - said vibratory support device (4) comprises: - at least one elastic articulation (43) forming a means for absorbing said vibratory movement between said frame (42) and said chassis (40).

12. The delivery device (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that - said at least one actuator (44) - is motorized in an embedded manner on said frame (42); or - is motorized via transmission means by motorization means (23).

13. The delivery device (2) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that - said vibratory support device (4) comprises: - means (45) for setting the height between said chassis (40) and said frame (42).

14. The delivery device (2) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that - said conveyor device (2) comprises: - an aligner (29) of said products above said endless conveyor belt (21), said aligner (29) extending at least along said further portion (3).

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