Center of gravity sorter

Abstract

Device (1) for sorting and transporting matching objects (2, 3) with a shell surface (3.3) extending between a bottom and top surface (3.1, 3.2), the volume center of which does not coincide with its mass center of gravity (3.4), comprising - a continuous conveyor (5) with a conveyor belt (7) circulating in a transport direction (6) in an upper and lower run, wherein the upper run of the conveyor belt (7) in the transport direction (6) first passes through a loading section (5.4) and then an upwardly conveying sorting and steep conveyor section (5.5) of the ascending conveyor (5), - several carriers designed as profile strips (9) for the objects (2, 3), which are fastened to the conveyor belt (7) transversely to the transport direction (6), characterized in that - each profile strip (9) has a first support surface (9.1) and a second support surface (9.2) opposite the first support surface (9.1), wherein the first and second support surfaces (9.1, 9.2) each have a length (L) extending in the longitudinal direction of the profile strip (9) and a different width (B1, B2) extending transversely thereto, - the conveyor belt (7) can be used selectively in a first or second running direction (10, 11) in the continuous conveyor (5) such that in the first running direction (10) of the conveyor belt the first support surface (9.1) and in the second running direction (11) of the conveyor belt (7) the second support surface (9.2) is the front support surface in the transport direction (6). - the width (B1,B2) of the first or second support surface (9.1,9.2), which is optionally at the front in the transport direction (6), is adapted to the objects (2,3) in such a way that in the loading part (5.4) on the front support surface (9.1,9.2) of each profile strip (9) in the transport direction (6), objects (2,3) with correct and incorrect orientation are received with the outer surface (3.3) resting thereon, wherein the distance between the center of mass (3.4) of each object (2,3) with correct orientation and the conveyor belt (7) is less than the distance between the center of mass (3.4) of each object (2,3) with incorrect orientation and the conveyor belt (7), and in the subsequent sorting and steep conveyor part (5.5), the objects (2,3) with incorrect orientation fall down due to the greater distance of the center of mass (3.4) from the support surface (9.1,9.2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for sorting and transporting matching objects with the further features according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such devices, also referred to as center of gravity sorters, are known from the prior art, for example, from EP 1 814 811 B1. Center of gravity sorters are used for sorting matching objects whose center of volume does not coincide with their center of mass, such as container closures, which can have a flat shape like a lid or a deep shape like a screw cap. Regardless of the type of container closure, it must be fed to a closing device in a beverage filling plant in a uniform orientation, i.e., with the base surface of the container closure always aligned the same.

[0003] To ensure that the container closures always arrive at the closing device with the intended, correct orientation, incorrectly oriented container closures are sorted out using the center of gravity sorter. For this purpose, the center of gravity sorter has a belt conveyor with a horizontal loading section or one that is only slightly inclined relative to the horizontal, and a sorting and steep conveyor section inclined at an angle of approximately 70 to 90 degrees relative to the horizontal. Arranged at regular intervals and transverse to the transport direction are carriers designed as strips, the spacing between which is greater than the largest diameters of the container closures to be sorted.

[0004] The height of the carrier bars and the width of the support surfaces are adapted to the shape of the container closures in such a way that the width of the support surface of each carrier bar is slightly larger than the distance between the center of gravity of the correctly oriented container closures and the surface of the conveyor belt. Incorrectly oriented container closures, i.e., those with the bottom facing away from the surface of the conveyor belt, fall off the carrier bars in the sorting and steep conveyor section of the continuous conveyor and return to the loading section.

[0005] A discharge device for the sorted and correctly oriented container closures is provided downstream of the sorting and steep conveyor section in the transport direction. Discharge can be achieved, for example, pneumatically, transversely to the transport direction.

[0006] In the case of conventional center-of-gravity sorters, in order to adapt the carrier bars to different types of container closures, the conveyor belt of the continuous conveyor must be replaced with a different conveyor belt with differently designed carrier bars. Alternatively, it is possible to replace all the carrier bars attached to the conveyor belt with other carrier bars, which is time-consuming and therefore costly. In the former case, a replacement part in the form of an additional conveyor belt must always be kept on hand.

[0007] DE 10 2004 030 667 B4 discloses a center of gravity sorter that is designed to enable simple and rapid conversion of the flights to ones adapted to the geometry of the container closures. The proposed solution is a center of gravity sorter, for example with a belt conveyor, that is equipped with conveyor elements aligned at right angles to the transport direction of the belt conveyor. The conveyor elements carry flights that are adapted to the container closures to be sorted. The conveyor elements are designed as T-profiles and allow the various flights to be mounted by simply sliding them sideways onto the T-profiles and fastening them with several screw connections from the front. Adapting the flights to the geometry of the container closures is also time-consuming with this solution, since each individual flight must be dismantled and replaced with a different flight.

[0008] US Pat. No. 9,376,301 B1 also discloses a center-of-gravity sorter that allows adjustment of the spacing between the carriers mounted transversely to the transport direction. For this purpose, the conveyor belt is divided into two adjacent belts, with the carriers being attached alternately to one and the other. By means of a relative movement between the two belts, the spacing between two consecutive carriers can be changed so that a closure element with a specific diameter fits into every second space between the carriers.

[0009] DE 10 2009 033 323 A1 discloses a device for sorting and transporting matching push-pull closures whose center of volume does not coincide with their center of mass. The device comprises a linear conveyor designed as a chain conveyor, which, in the transport direction, first passes through a loading section and then an upwardly conveying sorting and steep conveyor section. Conveyor elements, to which carrier bars are attached, are attached to chains on both sides of the chain conveyor. Recesses are machined into the bars, which are adapted to the contours of the push-pull closures to be sorted.

[0010] The invention of DE 603 02 686 T2 further discloses a conveyor for transporting eggs, comprising at least one transport unit, wherein this transport unit is provided with at least one receiving space for holding at least one egg, wherein a first boundary is arranged on one side of the receiving space and a second boundary is arranged on an opposite side of the receiving space, which follows the first boundary in the transport direction. The receiving space is provided with at least one support element for supporting the egg such that the egg is in contact with at least part of the first boundary during an at least substantially horizontal movement of the conveyor unit.

[0011] Based on the prior art, the invention is based on the object of enabling the drivers to be adapted to different geometries of the objects, in particular container closures, without the need to replace the drivers or to provide an additional conveyor belt.

[0012] This task is solved in a device of the type mentioned at the beginning in that - each profile strip has a first support surface and a second support surface opposite the first support surface, the first and second support surfaces each having a length extending in the longitudinal direction of the profile strip and a different width extending transversely thereto, - the conveyor belt can be used selectively in a first or second running direction in the continuous conveyor such that in the first running direction of the conveyor belt the first support surface and in the second running direction of the conveyor belt the second support surface is the front support surface in the transport direction. - the width (B1,B2) of the first or second support surface (9.1,9.2), which is optionally at the front in the transport direction (6), is adapted to the objects (2,3) in such a way that in the loading part (5.4) on the front support surface (9.1,9.2) of each profile strip (9) in the transport direction (6), objects (2,3) with correct and incorrect orientation are received with the outer surface (3.3) resting thereon, wherein the distance between the center of mass (3.4) of each object (2,3) with correct orientation and the conveyor belt (7) is less than the distance between the center of mass (3.4) of each object (2,3) with incorrect orientation and the conveyor belt (7), and in the subsequent sorting and steep conveyor part (5.5), the objects (2,3) with incorrect orientation fall down due to the greater distance of the center of mass (3.4) from the support surface (9.1,9.2).

[0013] For at least two object types, for example container closures with different diameters of 26 mm and 32 mm and different positions of the center of mass, there is no need to have an interchangeable part in the form of an additional conveyor belt. It is only necessary to dismantle the conveyor belt and mount it on the continuous conveyor in the opposite direction of travel. In the first direction of travel of the conveyor belt, the first support surface is the front support surface, and in the second direction of travel of the conveyor belt, the second support surface is the front support surface. If the transport direction always remains the same, only the front support surfaces in the transport direction receive the objects. The different widths of the first and second support surfaces ensure the necessary adaptation to the different object types.

[0014] The width of the first or second support surface, which is optionally at the front in the transport direction, is adapted to the objects of the first and second object types in such a way that, in the loading section, objects with correct and incorrect orientation are received with their outer surface resting on the front support surface of each profile strip in the transport direction, whereby the distance between the center of mass of each object with correct orientation and the conveyor belt is smaller than the distance between the center of mass of each object with incorrect orientation and the conveyor belt. In the subsequent sorting and steep conveyor section, the objects with incorrect orientation fall due to the greater distance of the center of mass.

[0015] The distance between the profile bars in the transport direction is slightly larger than the larger diameter of the two object types. The distance is preferably determined such that the front support surface of each profile bar, in the transport direction, can only accommodate objects of both object types in one row. If the distance exceeds 1.86 times the diameter of an object type, there is a risk that the objects between two adjacent profile bars will be accommodated in two rows, and as a result, objects with incorrect orientation cannot be properly sorted out.

[0016] The conveyor belt is inclined at an angle of 70 - 90 ° to the horizontal in the upper run of the sorting and steep conveyor section to ensure reliable sorting of incorrectly oriented objects.

[0017] The incline of the conveyor belt in the upper run is preferably adjustable in at least one section of the sorting and steep-conveying section. In the adjustable section, the incline of the conveyor belt is steeper than in the other sections of the sorting and steep-conveying section. This particularly reduces the stability of incorrectly oriented objects resting on the flights. The targeted adjustment of the incline can improve the sorting result. Adjusting the incline of the conveyor belt only in one section of the sorting and steep-conveying section of the conveyor belt has the advantage that it is technically easier to implement than changing the incline of the conveyor belt in the entire sorting and steep-conveying section.In addition, by specifically adjusting the inclination, it is possible to sort not only two object types with just one conveyor belt, but also other object types that have slightly different dimensions and / or slightly different distances from the center of mass compared to the first and second object types.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conveyor belt is optionally a belt, a belt or a link belt, in particular a link belt chain, wherein the surface of the aforementioned conveyor belts is arranged such that the top or bottom surface of each object to be sorted rests against the surface of the conveyor belt at least in the sorting and steep conveying area.

[0019] To facilitate the removal and installation of the conveyor belt in the opposite direction of travel, an advantageous embodiment of the invention provides the conveyor belt with a closure element for opening and closing the conveyor belt. Using the closure element, the conveyor belt can be opened transversely to the transport direction, allowing it to be easily lifted from the drive station, the deflection station, and the guide elements arranged between them, and installed in the opposite direction of travel.

[0020] The profile strips have a uniform cross-section over their entire longitudinal extent. The first and second support surfaces extend in the longitudinal direction of the profile strip, preferably over its entire length, and have different widths. On the side facing the conveyor belt, the first and second support surfaces of each profile strip are connected to one another by a preferably flat surface. On the side opposite the flat surface, the first and second support surfaces are connected to one another by a transition surface which, due to its geometry, prevents objects from resting on them. This ensures that the objects are picked up and transported exclusively by the first or second support surface of each profile strip. Picking up objects using the transition surface, which also comes into contact with the objects in the loading section, is, however, excluded.Different geometries are possible for the design of the transition surface. For example, the transition surface can be designed as a chamfer, a trough, or, for example, a rectangular notch, at least along the edge of the narrower support surface. Preferably, the chamfer, trough, or notch transitions into a flat surface that is perpendicular to the first and second support surfaces. The chamfer, trough, or notch, together with this flat surface, form the transition surface.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, the transition surface can be designed as a raised portion of the profiled strip. This raised portion ensures more effective mixing of the objects in the loading section of the continuous conveyor and can increase the number of objects picked up by the continuous conveyor in the loading section. The raised portion can be achieved, for example, by forming the transition surface as a bevel, trough, or notch not only along the edge of the narrower support surface, but also along the wider support surface.

[0022] For manufacturing reasons, it may be advantageous for each profile strip to be composed of several, preferably two, parts. The two parts forming each profile strip can be individually attached to the conveyor belt. Alternatively, it is possible to attach only one of the parts of each profile strip to the conveyor belt and connect the two parts of each profile strip together.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 a schematic side view of a device according to the invention for sorting and transporting closure elements, Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of the device according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 an enlarged view of a section of the conveyor belt with attached carriers.

[0024] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a device (1) for sorting and transporting matching objects (2), in the illustrated embodiment of container closures (3) with a jacket surface (3.3) extending between a bottom surface (3.1) and an open top surface (3.2).

[0025] Due to the open cover surface (3.2), the center of mass (3.4) does not coincide with the volume center of the container closure (3).

[0026] The device (1) comprises a frame (4) as a supporting structure for a continuous conveyor (5). The continuous conveyor (5) comprises a drive station (5.1), a deflection station (5.2), and guide elements (5.3) for a conveyor belt (7), which always circulates between the drive station (5.1) and the deflection station (5.2) in the same transport direction (6). The conveyor belt (7) is designed, for example, as a link belt whose plates are linked by joints to form an endless link belt.

[0027] The guide elements (5.3) guide the upper run of the conveyor belt (7) in a loading section (5.4) of the device at a slight angle of inclination of approximately 10 degrees relative to the horizontal, and in the subsequent sorting and steep conveyor section (5.5) at an angle of inclination of approximately 70 degrees relative to the horizontal. A rejection device for the container closures (3) (not shown in the figures) is arranged in the transport direction (6) behind the sorting and steep conveyor section (5.5). The rejection device can, for example, operate with compressed air, which acts transversely to the transport direction (6) on the correctly oriented container closures (3). In the lower run, the conveyor belt (7) is returned from the drive station (5.1) towards the deflection station (5.2).

[0028] An adjustment mechanism (8) is arranged on the rear side of the conveyor belt (7) in the sorting and steep-conveying section (5.5). This adjustment mechanism allows the inclination of the conveyor belt (7) in a section (5.6) to be adjusted to deviate from the remaining inclination of the sorting and steep-conveying section (5.5). The adjustment mechanism (8) allows for local deflection of the conveyor belt (7) to make the incline in this section even steeper than in the remaining sorting and steep-conveying section (5.5).

[0029] On the outward-facing surface of the conveyor belt (7), carriers for the container closures (3) are fastened at even intervals as profiled strips (9) transversely to the transport direction (6). Each profiled strip (9) has a first support surface (9.1) and a second support surface (9.2) opposite the first support surface (9.1). The first and second support surfaces (9.1, 9.2) extend in the longitudinal direction of the profiled strip (9) with a length L and a different width B1, B2 extending transversely to the length L. The first support surface (9.1) has a greater width B1 than the second support surface (9.2). The first and second support surfaces (9.1, 9.2) are connected to one another on the side facing the conveyor belt (7) by a flat surface (9.3) and on the opposite side by a transition surface (9.4). The transition surface (9.4) is geometrically designed to prevent container closures (3) from resting on this surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the transition surface (9.4) along the edge (9.5) of the second support surface (9.2) is formed with a smaller width B2 than a chamfer (9.6). The flat part (9.7) of the transition surface (9.4) is parallel to the flat rear surface (9.3), and the first and second support surfaces (9.1, 9.2) are also arranged parallel to one another.

[0030] The conveyor belt (7) can optionally be in a first, in Fig. 3A shown running direction (10) or in a second, in Fig.3B, are pulled onto the continuous conveyor (5), while the transport direction (6) is always maintained. In the first running direction (10) of the conveyor belt (7), the first support surface (9.1) with the greater width B1 is the front support surface in the transport direction (6), while in the second running direction (11), the second support surface (9.2) with the smaller width B2 is the front support surface in the transport direction (6).

[0031] The width B1, B2 of the first or second support surface (9.1, 9.2), which is optionally at the front in the transport direction (6), is adapted to two types of container closures (3) with different dimensions and different positions of the center of gravity (3.4). In the loading section (5.4), container closures (3) with correct and incorrect orientation are received with the outer surface (3.3) resting on the support surface (9.1, 9.2) of each profile strip (9) which is at the front in the transport direction, with container closures of the first type being received in the first travel direction (10) and container closures of the second type being received in the second travel direction (11). The distance between the center of gravity (3.4) of each container closure (3) with correct orientation and the conveyor belt (7) is smaller than the distance between the center of gravity (3.4) of each container closure (3) with incorrect orientation and the conveyor belt (7).

[0032] In the subsequent sorting and steep conveyor section (5.5) of the continuous conveyor (5), the container closures of the first and second types fall down with incorrect orientation due to the greater distance of the center of gravity (3.4) from the front support surface (9.1, 9.2) in the transport direction (6).

[0033] By simply turning the conveyor belt (7), the wider or narrower support surface (9.1, 9.2) can be used as an effective front support surface in the transport direction without dismantling individual strips or providing an additional conveyor belt.

[0034] To improve the sorting result, the inclination of the conveyor belt (7) in the sorting and steep conveyor section (5.5) can be increased in section (5.6) using the adjustment mechanism (8) that locally deflects the conveyor belt. This further reduces the stability of the incorrectly oriented container closures (3), thereby improving the sorting result.

[0035] For the sorting of container closures, for example with a geometry other than a circular cylinder, the support surfaces (9.1, 9.2) may have undercuts which can accommodate parts of the container closures. List of reference symbols 1 device 2 objects 3 Container closure 3.1 Floor area 3.2 Cover area 3.3 Shell surface 3.4 Center of mass 4. Frame 5. Continuous conveyor 5.1 Drive station 5.2 Deflection station 5.3 Guide elements 5.4 Loading section 5.5 Sorting and steep conveyor section Section 5.6 6 Transport direction 7 Conveyor belt 8 Adjustment mechanism 9 Profile strip 9.1 first support surface 9.2 second support surface 9.3 flat surface 9.4 Transition surface 9.5 Edge 9.6 Chamfer 9.7 flat part 10 first running direction 11 second running direction

Claims

[1] Device (1) for sorting and transporting matching objects (2, 3) with a shell surface (3.3) extending between a bottom and top surface (3.1, 3.2), the volume centre of gravity of which does not coincide with its mass centre of gravity (3.4), comprising - a continuous conveyor (5) with a conveyor belt (7) circulating in a transport direction (6) in an upper and lower run, wherein the upper run of the conveyor belt (7) in the transport direction (6) first passes through a loading part (5.4) and then an upwardly conveying sorting and steep conveyor part (5.5) of the ascending conveyor (5), - several carriers designed as profile strips (9) for the objects (2, 3), which are fastened to the conveyor belt (7) transversely to the transport direction (6), characterized by , that - each profile strip (9) has a first support surface (9.1) and a second support surface (9.2) opposite the first support surface (9.1), wherein the first and second support surfaces (9.1, 9.2) each have a length (L) extending in the longitudinal direction of the profile strip (9) and a different width (B1, B2) extending transversely thereto, - the conveyor belt (7) can be used selectively in a first or second running direction (10, 11) in the continuous conveyor (5) such that in the first running direction (10) of the conveyor belt the first support surface (9.1) and in the second running direction (11) of the conveyor belt (7) the second support surface (9.2) is the front support surface in the transport direction (6). - the width (B1,B2) of the first or second support surface (9.1,9.2), which is optionally at the front in the transport direction (6), is matched to the objects (2,3) in such a way that in the loading part (5.4) on the front support surface (9.1,9.2) of each profile strip (9) in the transport direction (6), objects (2,3) with correct and incorrect orientation are received with the outer surface (3.3) resting thereon, wherein the distance between the center of mass (3.4) of each object (2,3) with correct orientation and the conveyor belt (7) is smaller than the distance between the center of mass (3.4) of each object (2,3) with incorrect orientation and the conveyor belt (7), and in the subsequent sorting and steep conveyor part (5.5), the objects (2,3) with incorrect orientation fall down due to the greater distance of the center of mass (3.4) from the support surface (9.1,9.2). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized bythat the conveyor belt (7) in the upper run of the sorting and steep conveyor section (5.5) is inclined at an angle of 70 - 90 ° to the horizontal. [3] Device according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by that the inclination of the conveyor belt (7) in the upper run is adjustable at least in one section (5.6) of the sorting and steep conveyor section (5.5). [4] Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the conveyor belt (7) in the upper run of the loading part (5.4) is inclined at an angle of 0 - 45 ° to the horizontal. [5] Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the distance between the profile strips (9) in the transport direction (6) is determined in such a way that the front support surface (9.1,9.2) of each profile strip (9) in the transport direction (6) can only accommodate the objects (2,3) in one row. [6] Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat the surface of the conveyor belt (7) is arranged in such a way that the top or bottom surface (3.1, 3.2) of each object (2,3) can be brought into contact with the surface in a flat manner, at least in the sorting and steep conveying part (5.5). [7] Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the conveyor belt (7) is optionally a belt, a belt or a link belt. [8] Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the conveyor belt (7) has a closure element for opening and closing the conveyor belt (7). [9] Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the first and second support surfaces (9.1, 9.2) of each profile strip (9) are connected to one another on the side facing the conveyor belt (7) by a surface (9.3) and on the opposite side by a transition surface (9.4), the transition surface (9.4) preventing objects from resting thereon due to its geometry. [10] Device according to claim 9, characterized by that the transition surface (9.4) is designed as a chamfer (9.6), as a trough or as a notch at least along the edge (9.5) of the less wide support surface (9.2). [11] Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by that the transition surface (9.4) is designed as an elevation of the profile strip (9). [12] Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that each profile strip (9) is composed of several parts. [13] Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized bythat each profile strip (9) is connected to the conveyor belt (7) by means of screw connections. [14] Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by that a discharge device for the objects (2,3) is arranged behind the sorting and steep conveyor part (5.5) in the transport direction (6).

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