Transfer device for transferring products from a first conveying line to a second conveying line

Abstract

The transfer device (100) comprises at least one pair of picking heads (1) for picking a product from a first conveying line (L1) and transferring it to a second conveying line (L2) after a 180° rotation of the product by the picking heads rotating by 180°. During the 180° rotation, each picking head tilts the product so as to prevent it from colliding with the product held by the other picking head.

Description

Invention Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of product packaging, such as packaging solid or liquid products in appropriate containers, such as blister packs or vials, and then packing these containers into boxes or cartons. Background Technology

[0002] Products from the corresponding molding machine are typically conveyed along a first conveyor line to a transfer area, where they are collected from the first conveyor line, transferred, and positioned on a second conveyor line for transport to subsequent production steps.

[0003] Depending on the type and shape of the product, or based on packaging requirements, products received from the first conveyor line may need to be rotated (e.g., 180°) before being transferred to the second conveyor line.

[0004] For example, for a product consisting of a series of interconnected vials, such as single-dose vials containing liquid substances, they need to be stacked before being placed into the appropriate boxes. To prevent the stacked vials from all tilting to the same side, it may be necessary to rotate them 180° before placing them on top of other vials already placed on the second conveyor line.

[0005] Figure 1 The scenario described above is illustrated, in which a portion of the products conveyed by the first conveyor line (L1) has been transferred and released onto the second conveyor line (L2) after rotating 180°.

[0006] For production reasons, it is usually necessary to collect more than one product at a time.

[0007] like Figure 1 As shown, when the distance (or pitch) (P) between two consecutive products conveyed by the first conveyor line (L1) is less than the transverse dimension (D) of the product in the conveying direction of the first conveyor line, a problem arises as to how to achieve 180° rotation without colliding with each other.

[0008] The first known solution involves: after transferring and placing the product onto a second conveyor line, using a handling mechanism to rotate the product, the handling mechanism being actuated to pick up a single product, rotate it 180°, and then reposition it onto the second conveyor line, for example, above other products that have already been placed.

[0009] However, this type of solution has several drawbacks.

[0010] First, a dedicated operating space needs to be pre-set for the positioning and movement of the handling mechanism, which leads to an increase in the overall size.

[0011] In addition, it will increase the waiting time for transferring products from the second conveyor line to the packaging machine, thus negatively impacting production efficiency.

[0012] Another known solution includes using a transfer device comprising a support frame with a pickup head provided with a pickup device, wherein the support frame is movable to allow the pickup head to move and move up and down between a first conveyor line and a second conveyor line, enabling the pickup device to pick up and release products, thereby achieving product transfer from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line.

[0013] The pickup heads are mounted on a support frame, allowing them to translate relative to each other in directions of moving away from or closer to each other, thereby changing their relative spacing, and can also be actuated to rotate relative to a vertical axis of rotation.

[0014] The support frame is located above the first conveyor line, and therefore descends, allowing the pickup head's pickup device to collect the products placed on the first conveyor line.

[0015] Therefore, once the support frame rises from the first conveyor line and the pickup head's pickup device holds the product, before or during the support frame's movement toward the second conveyor line, the pickup heads will translate relative to each other in a direction that moves away from each other, thereby spacing the products apart by a certain distance, so that after the pickup heads subsequently rotate around their respective vertical axes of rotation, the products can be rotated 180° without hitting or colliding with each other.

[0016] Finally, after the product has finished rotating, the pickup heads must be moved relative to each other again to bring them closer together. Then the support frame positions the pickup heads above the second conveyor line and lowers them toward the second conveyor line so that the pickup heads can release the product and place it on the second conveyor line.

[0017] This type of solution is complex and cumbersome, and may require replacement or modification of parts and adjustments that are difficult to complete quickly if the product size changes. Summary of the Invention

[0018] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel transfer device for transferring products from a first conveyor line to a second conveyor line, which can overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and the technology described above.

[0019] Specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel transfer device for transferring products from a first conveyor line to a second conveyor line, which can achieve product transfer in a simple and effective manner and simultaneously complete a 180° rotation.

[0020] The above objectives are achieved through the claims. Brief description of the attached figures

[0021] The features of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the transfer device proposed in this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: - Figure 1 (As mentioned above) A top view of the first product conveyor line and the second product conveyor line is shown, wherein products collected from the first conveyor line are transferred to the second conveyor line after being rotated 180°; - Figure 2A A top view of the transfer device of the present invention (shown schematically in rectangles) is shown in a fully schematic manner. The transfer device is located above a first conveyor line and is used to pick up products conveyed by the first conveyor line (e.g., during a pause in the first conveyor line), wherein the spacing between the products is less than the size of the products in the lateral direction relative to the direction of travel of the first conveyor line. - Figure 2B A top view of the transfer device of the present invention (shown schematically in rectangles) is shown in a fully schematic manner. The transfer device is located above the second conveyor line and is used to release the product that has been rotated 180° from the first conveyor line. - Figure 3A The diagram shows a front view of the transfer device of the present invention in a first operating configuration, wherein the transfer device is arranged above a first conveyor line and is positioned to pick up and collect products from the first conveyor line, for example, in conjunction with a pause operation of the first conveyor line. - Figure 3B yes Figure 3A Side view; - Figure 4A The diagram shows a front view of the transfer device of the present invention arranged above a second conveyor line and in a second operating configuration, wherein, in the second operating configuration, the transfer device is arranged at a product release position above the second conveyor line, and the product has been rotated 180° relative to its orientation and arrangement on the first conveyor line, for example, in conjunction with a pause operation of the second conveyor line. - Figure 4B yes Figure 4A Side view; - Figure 5A A front view schematic diagram of the operation configuration of the transfer device of the present invention is shown during the transfer of products from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line, wherein the products are undergoing a rotation step and are tilted. - Figure 5B yes Figure 5A Partial three-dimensional side view; - Figure 6 The schematic diagram shows the transfer device of the present invention in three different and consecutive positions: the position where the product is picked up from the first conveyor line, the position where the product is transferred from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line and the product is rotated at the same time, and the position where the product is released onto the second conveyor line after being rotated 180°. - Figure 7 It is along Figure 3B A sectional view taken from section II; - Figure 8 It is along Figure 5B The sectional view made by section II-II; - Figure 9A This is a partial vertical sectional view of a possible variant embodiment of the transfer device of the present invention; - Figure 9B yes Figure 9A A partial schematic diagram of the components of the transfer device in a possible variant embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral (100) indicates a transfer device for transferring products from a first conveyor line (L1) to a second conveyor line (L2).

[0023] The transfer device (100) of the present invention is suitable for transferring products from a first conveyor line (L1) to a second conveyor line (L2) in all the following cases: products (A) are arranged on the first conveyor line (L1) at intervals (P), the interval being smaller than the transverse dimension of the products in the conveying direction (T) of the first conveyor line (L1), for example, as Figure 1 As shown.

[0024] The transfer device (100) includes a rack (10) and at least one pair of pickup heads (1) carried by the rack (10).

[0025] The frame (10) is movable relative to the first conveyor line (L1) and the second conveyor line (L2) to position the pickup head (1) above the first conveyor line (L1) (see, for example, see...). Figure 2A or Figure 3A and Figure 3B ), to collect product (A) located on the first conveyor line (L1), and to position the pickup head (1) above the second conveyor line (L2) to release product (A) onto the second conveyor line (L2) (e.g., see Figure 2B or Figure 4A and Figure 4B ).

[0026] Actuation devices for moving the actuator frame (10) in space, particularly for vertically translating the actuator frame along the direction of approaching / away from the first and second conveyor lines, and for translating the actuator frame from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line, are not illustrated as the actuation devices are of a known type and are not particularly relevant to the present invention.

[0027] Each of at least one pair of pickup heads (1) is made to include: The rotating shaft (3) can be driven to rotate relative to the frame (10) about the vertical drive axis (V); The first body (31) is connected to the rotating shaft (3) so as to be set to rotate when the driving rotating shaft (3) rotates about the vertical driving axis (V), and is connected to the rotating shaft (3) so as to be rotatable relative to the rotating shaft (3) about the swing axis (O), the swing axis being perpendicular to the vertical driving axis (V) of the rotating shaft (3). Pick-up and release device (30), carried by first body (31), is used to pick up and release product (A).

[0028] For example, the first body (31) can be connected to the pivot (3) by pins, which are connected to the pivot in opposite positions to each other, thereby defining the pivot axis (O) of the first body relative to the pivot, and by inserting a bearing, the pins can be rotated relative to the bearing, thereby allowing the first body to rotate about the pivot axis (O) relative to the pivot (see, for example, [reference]). Figure 7 ).

[0029] The pick-up and release device (30) can be pneumatic, i.e., suction type, for example, as shown in the figure, but it can also be of other types, such as mechanical type, which uses grippers or similar devices.

[0030] In the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the first body is a hollow structure to accommodate at least one end of the rotating shaft (to which the first body is attached) inside, and, in the case of a pneumatic pickup and release device, allows its suction tube to pass through.

[0031] Each of at least one pair of pickup heads (1) is further configured to include: The second hollow body (32) is mounted on the frame (10) and is coaxially arranged with the rotating shaft (3). The second body (32) is made into a ring shape including a cam guide profile (40). The cam guide profile is configured to extend along a ring path. The ring path has a descending ring portion (41) and a rising ring portion (42) relative to the plane that is transverse and perpendicular to the vertical drive axis (V) of the rotating shaft (3). A pair of rollers (51, 52) are mounted opposite each other on the first body (31), are rotatable about the axis of rotation (Z), and are configured to contact the cam guide profile (40) of the second body (32), so that when the drive shaft (3) rotates about the vertical drive axis (V) and the first body (31) is thus actuated to rotate, the rollers (51, 52) rotate along the cam guide profile (40) of the second body (32).

[0032] Each pickup head (1) can be synchronously actuated with another pickup head (1) and is configured such that the first body (31), the second body (32) and the pair of rollers (51, 52) are arranged in a cooperative manner; and wherein the descending annular portion (41) and the ascending annular portion (42) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40) are arranged in a cooperative manner and configured such that the following conditions are generated based on the assumed angular position of the rotating shaft (3) and the rotational actuation of the rotating shaft (3).

[0033] When the shaft (3) is in the first angular position (A1) relative to the frame (10) and the second body (32) (for example, see Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 6 (Right image) The first body (31) is in a first orientation (O1), and the rollers (51, 52) are in a first position (P1) along the cam guide profile (40), wherein the first roller (51) is in the middle position along the descending annular portion (41) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40), and the second roller (52) is in the middle position along the ascending annular portion (42); thus, the first body (31) is coaxially arranged with the rotating shaft (3), and the pick-up and release device (30) is arranged and oriented to pick up the product (A) located on the first conveyor line (L1) when the frame (10) moves above the first conveyor line (L1).

[0034] When the rotating shaft (3) is in the second angular position (A2) relative to the frame (10) and the second body (32), it has rotated 180° relative to the first angular position (A1) (see, for example, see...). Figure 4A , Figure 4B and Figure 6 (Right image) The first body (31) is in a second orientation (O2) and rotated 180° relative to the first orientation (O1), and the rollers (51, 52) are in a second position (P2) along the cam guide profile (40) and rotated 180° relative to the first position (P1), wherein the first roller (51) is in the middle position along the rising annular portion (42) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40), and the second roller (52) is in the middle position along the falling annular portion (41); thus, the first body (31) is coaxially arranged with the rotating shaft (3), and the pick-up and release device (30) is arranged and oriented so that when the frame (10) moves above the second conveyor line (L2), the product rotated 180° can be released onto the second conveyor line (L2).

[0035] When the drive shaft (3) is driven relative to the frame (10) and the second body (32) along the first rotation direction (V1) (for example, see...), Figure 5A , Figure 5B and Figure 6 The intermediate image is rotated from the first corner position (A1) to the second corner position (A2) (e.g., as shown in the image). Figure 5A , Figure 5B and Figure 6 When rotating counterclockwise as shown, the first body (31) on which rollers (51, 52) are mounted is also actuated to rotate along the first rotation direction (V1) from the corresponding first orientation (O1) to the corresponding second orientation (O2).

[0036] Thus, the rollers (51, 52) mounted on the first body (31) rotate together with the shaft (3) and move from their respective first positions (P1) to their respective second positions (P2) along the cam guide profile (40): The rollers (51, 52) first roll in the following manner: the first roller (51) rolls along the descending annular portion (41) of the cam guide profile (40), while the second roller (52) rolls along the ascending annular portion (42) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40), thereby determining that the first body (31) and the pick-and-release device (30) are tilted relative to the pivot (3) about the swing axis (O) of the first body (31), thereby causing the product (A) held by the pick-and-release device (30) to tilt (see Figure 5B , Figure 6 Intermediate image and Figure 8 ), and prevent product (A) from colliding with the product held by the pickup device of another pickup head (see Figure 5A ).

[0037] The rollers (51, 52) then roll in such a manner that the first roller (51) rolls along the rising annular portion (42) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40), while the second roller (52) rolls along the descending annular portion (41) to reach its second position (P2), thereby bringing the first body (31) into the corresponding second orientation (O2), and the pick-up and release device (30) is able to release the product rotated 180° onto the second conveyor line (L2) when the frame (10) moves above the second conveyor line (L2) (see, for example, see...). Figure 6 (Image on the right).

[0038] Therefore, thanks to the special features described above regarding the presence and configuration of the cam guide profile on the second body, the presence and configuration of the roller mounted on the first body (which can rotate about a swing axis perpendicular to the vertical drive axis of the rotating shaft), and the arrangement in which the roller and the cam guide profile are in contact, whenever the rotating shaft is actuated to rotate from the first angular position to the second angular position so as to rotate the product collected from the first conveyor line by 180°, the pick-up and release device and the product it holds can be tilted, thereby preventing the product from colliding with the product held by the adjacent pick-up head during the process of transferring the product from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line.

[0039] Therefore, using the transfer device of the present invention, products arranged at a relative interval (smaller than the product's lateral dimension in the conveying direction) on a first conveyor line can be transferred to a second conveyor line, while the 180° rotation of the product can be achieved simply by rotating the shaft of each of the pickup heads carried by the frame, thus eliminating the need for additional relative movements and translations of the pickup heads as required by the prior art.

[0040] Once the product, after being rotated 180°, is released onto the second conveyor line, the shaft of each of the pickup heads can rotate 180° in a second rotation direction opposite to the first direction, or rotate 180° again in the first rotation direction to return to the corresponding first angular position; thereby, after the roller rolls along the cam guide profile, the first body returns to the first orientation, at which point the pickup and release device is arranged and oriented to pick up continuous products from the first conveyor line when the frame moves and is rearranged above the first conveyor line.

[0041] The transfer device of the present invention can also be designed to have more than two pickup heads, each of which is implemented in the manner described above.

[0042] The rotation of the pickup head's shaft can be driven by a single motor mounted on a frame and a gear system (e.g., gears, racks) meshing with each other and connected to the single motor and shaft, or by a belt system or other motion transmission devices known to those skilled in the art, and is therefore not illustrated in detail.

[0043] Further and other advantageous features of the inventive transfer device are described below.

[0044] Each pickup head (1) is implemented and constructed such that the pair of rollers (51, 52) are mounted on the first body (31) such that when the shaft (3) is in the first angular position (A1) and the second angular position (A2), the rotation axis (Z) of the rollers (51, 52) is located on a plane that is perpendicular to the plane containing the vertical drive axis (V) of the shaft (3) and the swing axis (O) of the first body (31).

[0045] The extension length, inclination, and annular extension length of the descending and ascending portions of the cam-guided profile on the second body can be realized and constructed according to the lateral dimensions of various types of products and their relative spacing when conveyed on the first conveyor line, as well as the tilt required during rotation to prevent products from colliding with each other.

[0046] exist Figures 3A to 8In one possible preferred but non-exclusive embodiment shown, the cam guide profile (40) is realized along the annular lower edge of the second body (32), wherein the pair of rollers (51, 52) are mounted near the upper edge of the first body (31) such that the rollers (51, 52) contact the cam guide profile (40).

[0047] In another possible embodiment, for example, such as Figure 9A and Figure 9B As shown, the cam guide profile (40) is realized in the interior of an annular groove (320) or a drag / roll channel circumferentially realized along the side wall of the second body (32), wherein a pair of rollers (51, 52) are mounted on a corresponding pair of arms (61, 62) carried by the second body (31), such that the rollers (51, 52) are inside the annular groove (320) and in contact with the cam guide profile (40).

[0048] The implementation of the cam guide profile on the second body and the arrangement of the rollers can also include other different implementations. In any case, the rollers should be supported by the first body and arranged to be connected to the cam guide profile.

[0049] On one hand, the second body (32) is mounted on the frame (10) by means of an elastic device (6) arranged between the second body (32) and the frame (10).

[0050] Specifically, the elastic device (6) is constructed and configured to maintain the second body (32) being pushed toward the pair of rollers (51, 52) and to maintain the connection between them as an elastic connection, thereby compensating for any final tolerance errors that may exist when realizing the cam guide profile (40) and / or arranging the rollers (51, 52) and / or arranging the second body (32) relative to the frame (10).

[0051] For example, in the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the frame may include vertical struts inserted into the housing of the second body, and the second body is secured to these struts by fastening elements (e.g., bolts) to be connected to the frame.

[0052] In this case, the elastic device includes a spring, which is installed in the housing and arranged coaxially with the support, with its two ends contacting the wall of the frame and the wall of the housing, respectively.

Claims

1. A transfer device (100) for transferring products from a first conveyor line (L1) to a second conveyor line (L2), wherein, The products (A) are arranged at intervals (P) on the first conveyor line (L1), the interval being smaller than the dimension of the products in the transverse direction (T) of the conveying direction on the first conveyor line (L1). The transfer device includes: Rack (10); At least one pair of pickup heads (1) are carried by the frame (10); The frame (10) is movable relative to the first conveyor line (L1) and the second conveyor line (L2) to position the pickup head (1) above the first conveyor line (L1) to pick up the product (A) located on the first conveyor line (L1), and to position the pickup head (1) above the second conveyor line (L2) to release the product (A) onto the second conveyor line (L2); Each of the at least one pair of pickup heads (1) includes: The rotating shaft (3) can be driven to rotate relative to the frame (10) about a vertical drive axis (V); A first body (31) is connected to the rotating shaft (3) so as to be set to rotate when the rotating shaft (3) is driven to rotate about the vertical drive axis (V), and is connected to the rotating shaft (3) so as to be rotatable relative to the rotating shaft (3) about an oscillation axis (O), the oscillation axis being perpendicular to the vertical drive axis (V) of the rotating shaft (3). Pick-up and release device (30), carried by the first body (31), is used to pick up and release the product (A). The second hollow body (32) is mounted on the frame (10) and coaxially arranged with the rotating shaft (3). The second body (32) is made into an annular shape including a cam guide profile (40). The cam guide profile is configured to extend along an annular path. The annular path has a descending annular portion (41) and a rising annular portion (42) relative to the plane that is transverse and perpendicular to the vertical drive axis (V) of the rotating shaft (3). A pair of rollers (51, 52) are mounted opposite each other on the first body (31), are rotatable about a rotation axis (Z), and are configured to contact the cam guide profile (40) of the second body (32), so that when the drive shaft (3) is rotated about the vertical drive axis (V), and the first body (31) is thus actuated to rotate, the rollers (51, 52) rotate along the cam guide profile (40) of the second body (32); Each pickup head (1) can be synchronously actuated with another pickup head (1), and is configured such that the first body (31), the second body (32), and the pair of rollers (51, 52) are arranged in a mutually cooperating manner; and wherein the descending annular portion (41) and the ascending annular portion (42) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40) are arranged in a mutually cooperating manner and configured as follows: When the rotating shaft (3) is in a first angular position (A1) relative to the frame (10) and the second body (32), the first body (31) is in a first orientation (O1), and the rollers (51, 52) are in a first position (P1) along the cam guide profile (40), wherein the first roller (51) is in the middle position along the descending annular portion (41) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40), and the second roller (52) is in the middle position along the ascending annular portion (42); thus, the first body (31) is coaxially arranged with the rotating shaft (3), and the pick-up and release device (30) is arranged and oriented to pick up the product (A) located on the first conveyor line (L1) when the frame (10) moves above the first conveyor line (L1); When the rotating shaft (3) is in a second angular position (A2) relative to the frame (10) and the second body (32), having rotated 180° relative to the first angular position (A1), the first body (31) is in a second orientation (O2), having rotated 180° relative to the first orientation (O1), and the rollers (51, 52) are in a second position (P2) along the cam guide profile (40), having rotated 180° relative to the first position (P1), wherein the first roller (51) is in the middle position along the rising annular portion (42) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40), and the second roller (52) is in the middle position along the falling annular portion (41); thus, the first body (31) is coaxially arranged with the rotating shaft (3), and the pick-up and release device (30) is arranged and oriented such that when the frame moves above the second conveyor line (L2), the product rotated 180° can be released onto the second conveyor line (L2); When the rotating shaft (3) is driven to rotate along the first rotation direction (V1) from the first angular position (A1) to the second angular position (A2) relative to the frame (10) and the second body (32), the first body (31) on which the rollers (51, 52) are mounted is also actuated to rotate along the first rotation direction (V1) from the corresponding first orientation (O1) to the corresponding second orientation (O2), thereby moving along the cam guide profile (40) from their respective first positions (P1) to their respective second positions (P2). The rollers (51, 52) first roll in the following manner: the first roller (51) rolls along the descending annular portion (41) of the cam guide profile (40), while the second roller (52) rolls along the ascending annular portion (42) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40), thereby determining the first body (31) and the pickup and... The release device (30) tilts relative to the pivot (3) about the swing axis (O) of the first body (31), thereby tilting the product (A) held by the pick-up and release device (30) and preventing the product (A) from colliding with the product held by the pick-up device of the other pick-up head; the rollers (51, 52) then roll in such a way that the first roller (51) rolls along the rising annular portion (42) of the annular path of the cam guide profile (40), while the second roller (52) rolls along the falling annular portion (41) to its second position (P2), thereby bringing the first body (31) into the corresponding second orientation (O2), and the pick-up and release device (30) is able to release the product rotated 180° onto the second conveyor line (L2) when the frame (10) moves above the second conveyor line (L2).

2. The transfer device (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The pair of rollers (51, 52) are mounted on the first body (31) such that when the shaft (3) is in the first angular position (A1) and the second angular position (A2), the rotation axis (Z) of the rollers (51, 52) is located on a plane that is perpendicular to the plane containing the vertical drive axis (V) of the shaft (3) and the swing axis (O) of the first body (31).

3. The transfer device (100) according to claim 2, wherein, The cam guide profile (40) is realized along the annular lower edge of the second body (32); and wherein the pair of rollers (51, 52) are mounted near the upper edge of the first body (31) such that the rollers (51, 52) contact the cam guide profile (40).

4. The transfer device (100) according to claim 2, wherein, The cam guide profile (40) is realized within an annular groove (320) circumferentially along the sidewall of the second body (32); and wherein the pair of rollers (51, 52) are mounted on a corresponding pair of arms (61, 62) carried by the first body (31), such that the rollers (51, 52) are located within the annular groove (320) and in contact with the cam guide profile (40).

5. The transfer device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The second body (32) is mounted on the frame (10) by means of an elastic device (6) arranged between the second body (32) and the frame (10), the elastic device (6) being constructed and configured to maintain the second body (32) being pushed toward the pair of rollers (51, 52) and to maintain the connection between them as an elastic connection, thereby compensating for any potential tolerance errors that may exist when realizing the cam guide profile (40) and / or arranging the rollers (51, 52) and / or arranging the second body (32) relative to the frame (10).

Images