Apparatus for transferring objects

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring objects comprising: - an object take-off roller (10) comprising, on the periphery thereof, members (11) for individually gripping said objects, - a device for rotating said object take-off roller (10) - said individual gripping members being arranged in at least one ring, said apparatus comprising, for each ring, a linear actuator (13), placed in the interior volume defined by said roller, for moving an individual gripping member (11) appearing opposite this linear actuator (13) between a rest position and a gripping position in which this individual gripping member (11) extends radially, projecting from this take-off roller (10) to grip an object, the gripping position being obtained by one free mobile end of said linear actuator (13) bearing against said individual gripping member (11), said take-off roller (10) being configured to move an individual gripping member (11) in its rest position one by one in front of each linear actuator (13) as it rotates. According to the invention - the free end of said linear actuator (13) being mobile between a folded position and a deployed position in which this free end is in contact with an individual gripping member (11), this linear actuator (13) is rotationally mobile between at least an engaged position and a disengaged position such that, with the free end of said linear actuator (13) being in its deployed position or in an intermediate position between its deployed position and its folded position, said linear actuator (13) is freely moved from its engaged position to its disengaged position when it comes into contact with another individual gripping member (11), in its rest position, carried by said rotating take-off roller (10), - said disengaged position corresponding to a position in which said actuator is spaced apart from said individual gripping members, said assembly comprising a return member (15) to return said actuator from its disengaged position to its engaged position when the free end of said actuator is in its folded position or in an intermediate position not able to interact with an individual gripping member (11) in its rest position.

Description

OBJECT TRANSFER DEVICE Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring objects moving on a conveyor.

[0002] It also concerns an installation for processing eggs placed in containers moving on a high-speed processing line. Prior art

[0003] It is known in the field of poultry farming, particularly in chick production, to use the optical properties of eggs to discriminate between them and to ignore during processing, eggs identified as not likely to hatch and produce a chick.

[0004] The latter, called "non-viable", are essentially infertile eggs or fertilized eggs but whose embryo is dead or malformed.

[0005] This discrimination is necessary to minimize vaccine losses during in ovo processing, that is, during a needle injection of vaccine through the egg shell in order to promote hatching and prevent the appearance of diseases.

[0006] Thus, once this discrimination step has been carried out, for example by a candling process, it is useful to remove non-viable eggs from the circuit so as not to send them to treatment stations reserved for fertilized eggs only.

[0007] Object transfer devices are known for picking up from a set of objects moving along a conveyor, some of them such as defective parts, in order to transfer the latter to a discharge conveyor.

[0008] Such an object transfer device typically comprises a rotating removal roller, which has on its external surface spaced apart and radially extending gripping tools for individually and selectively gripping objects to be removed from among scrolling objects.

[0009] For purely illustrative purposes, these individual gripping tools are formed of a rod at the end of which is placed a suction cup, this rod being received in a sliding manner in an orifice of the removal roller so as to be movable between a rest position in which this suction cup is pressed against the external surface of the roller and a gripping position in which this suction cup projects from said roller to grip a moving object.

[0010] The movement of the gripping tool between these two extreme positions is obtained by a cylinder placed inside the roller and whose actuating rod comes to bear against the free end of the rod of the gripping tool when the latter, driven by the rotating roller, is presented opposite the pneumatic cylinder.

[0011] However, when an object is retrieved by such an individual gripping tool, the removal roller continuing to rotate, if the actuator rod of the jack does not return quickly enough to its initial position or if the jack is defective, it is observed that the latter is violently struck by the rod of a subsequent gripping tool, in its rest position, brought opposite the jack by the rotation of the removal roller.

[0012] This results in deterioration of the cylinder requiring a complete shutdown of the object transfer device for maintenance, which of course is detrimental to the rate achievable by the processing line.

[0013] This also results in additional costs which are incompatible with industrial operation.

[0014] There is therefore a pressing need for a device for transferring objects moving along a conveyor belt, in particular eggs, the original design of which makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art set out above. Subject of the invention

[0015] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an object transfer device, simple in its design and in its operating mode, offering increased reliability, that is to say making it possible to significantly improve its service life.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is such an object transfer device allowing extremely rapid processing rates, and by way of illustration, greater than 90,000 eggs per hour.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is such a transfer device which is particularly easy to maintain.

[0018] The present invention also relates to an egg processing installation making it possible to selectively collect eggs from containers moving on a high-speed conveyor, for example, because these eggs are non-compliant (viability of the egg, size of the egg, etc.). Statement of the invention

[0019] For this purpose, the invention relates to an apparatus for transferring objects comprising: - an object removal roller comprising on its periphery elements for individual gripping of said objects, - a device for rotating said object removal roller, - said individual gripping elements being arranged in at least one ring, said apparatus comprising for each ring, a linear actuator, placed in the interior volume delimited by said roller, to move an individual gripping element of the corresponding ring, facing this linear actuator between a rest position and a gripping position in which this individual gripping element extends radially by projecting from this removal roller to grip an object, the gripping position being obtained by pressing a movable free end of said linear actuator on said individual gripping element, said removal roller being configured to scroll one by one, in front of each linear actuator, during its rotation, an individual input element in its rest position. According to the invention, - the free end of said linear actuator being movable between a folded position and a deployed position in which this free end is in contact with an individual gripping element, this linear actuator is movable in rotation between at least one engagement position and one release position so that the free end of said linear actuator being in its deployed position or in an intermediate position between its deployed position and its folded position, said linear actuator is freely moved from its engagement position to its release position when it comes into contact with another individual gripping element, in its rest position, brought by said rotating removal roller, - said release position corresponding to a position in which said actuator is spaced from said individual gripping elements, said assembly comprising a return element for returning said actuator from its release position to its engagement position when the free end of said actuator is in its folded position or in an intermediate position not likely to interact with an individual gripping element in its rest position.

[0020] Advantageously, the original design of this transfer device ensures free tilting of the linear actuator into its release position when its actuating rod comes into contact with an individual gripping element in its rest position. Thus, when the actuating rod of the linear actuator does not return quickly enough to its folded position, there is no risk of damage to this actuator. The latter then has the time necessary for its actuating rod to return to its folded position or to an intermediate position not likely to interact with the individual gripping elements in their rest position.

[0021] This object transfer device finds applications in many technical fields, for example in the sorting of parts moving on conveyors.

[0022] For purely illustrative purposes, this object transfer device can be used to remove defective parts from a production line, these parts having previously been identified by means of an optical recognition system.

[0023] It can also be used for sorting fragile objects in the food industry, such as eggs processed at high speeds. In this latter field, it is noted that not only does the transfer apparatus of the invention have increased reliability but also allows extremely fast speeds, typically greater than 90,000 eggs per hour.

[0024] According to one embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, said return element for returning said linear actuator from its disengaged position to its engaged position is a spring element or a magnetic attraction device such as an electromagnet. Advantageously, this spring element is a torsion spring.

[0025] According to another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, it comprises, for each linear actuator, a means for detecting the position of its free end, this detection means being connected to said corresponding return element to control its triggering. Advantageously, it is a position sensor which makes it possible to detect the position of the actuating rod of the linear actuator. When this actuating rod is in a position guaranteeing the safety of the linear actuator in its engagement position, with respect to an individual gripping element in its rest position, a control signal can be sent to said corresponding return element to trigger the latter and thus move this linear actuator from its release position to its engagement position.

[0026] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, said linear actuator is fixedly mounted on a rotatable support, this support being configured to move said linear actuator between said engagement position and said disengagement position during its rotation.

[0027] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, each of these individual gripping elements comprises a piston provided at its free end with a suction cup. Preferably, the piston of each individual gripping element is hollow and opens into an orifice in the suction cup to create a suction head.

[0028] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, the piston of each individual gripping element being received in an orifice of said removal roller, said apparatus comprises a pumping unit for putting a portion of the interior volume of said roller under vacuum and pressing the suction cups of the individual gripping elements against the external surface of said roller when these individual gripping elements are moved in rotation by said roller on a segment of circular path corresponding to said portion of interior volume thus put under vacuum. For example, this apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber in communication with each of said orifices of the portion of the removal roller describing this circular path segment. Preferably, each piston is received in its orifice so that it can slide freely therein.

[0029] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, said rotational drive assembly of this object removal roller is configured so that the rotational speed of the object removal roller is greater than or equal to 20 rpm and even better 30 rpm.

[0030] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, said linear actuator is an electromechanical actuator, a pneumatic actuator or even a hydraulic actuator.

[0031] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, it comprises means for interrupting the vacuum on a another circular path segment of the individual gripping elements in order to release the objects thus gripped at at least one predetermined deposit point. This predetermined deposit point advantageously corresponds to the surface of a belt of another conveyor in order to evacuate the objects thus transferred.

[0032] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, it comprises a control unit for individually controlling each linear actuator in order to selectively grip one or more eggs passing simultaneously in line with individual gripping elements of said removal roller. Each linear actuator can thus be controlled in order to remove objects of interest.

[0033] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, it is configured to activate each linear actuator only when it or they are in their engagement position. In other words, when a linear actuator is in its release position, its acknowledgment rod can only return to its folded position and not be moved to its deployed position.

[0034] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, it comprises a cleaning device placed inside said roller for ejecting pressurized water into said roller when this cleaning device is connected to a pressurized water supply source. For example, this cleaning device can be a washing ramp with regularly spaced holes. Preferably, the individual gripping elements are previously extracted from their orifices when washing the roller in order to allow water to pass through these orifices.

[0035] According to yet another embodiment of this apparatus for transferring objects, it comprises in its lower part a wastewater recovery tank, which can be connected to a wastewater disposal circuit comprising a suction pump.

[0036] Preferably, this wastewater disposal circuit and this pump are mounted on a mobile chassis so that they can be freely moved by the operator. For example, this disposal circuit comprises a flexible hose capable of being connected to a discharge port of the wastewater collection tank. This chassis can also receive the washing water supply circuit intended to be connected to the cleaning device for its supply of pressurized water.

[0037] It is still possible to reinject the recovered water into the recovery tank to operate in a closed circuit for a period determined by the operator. This method advantageously allows for water savings.

[0038] The present invention also relates to an egg processing installation comprising an object transfer apparatus as described above, a first conveyor for passing eggs past said apparatus transfer and a second conveyor for discharging the eggs seized from the first conveyor by said egg transfer apparatus.

[0039] These eggs can of course be transported in containers moved on the first conveyor and transferred to other containers on the second conveyor. The object transfer device then comprises a control unit configured to calculate the rotation speed of the removal roller so as to synchronize the removal of one or more eggs with the movement of the containers on the first conveyor.

[0040] This installation advantageously allows high automatic processing rates typically exceeding 90,000 eggs per hour, or even exceeding f fO 000 eggs per hour.

[0041] Preferably, this first conveyor comprising n egg transport lanes with n greater than or equal to 2, the removal roller comprises individual gripping elements distributed in n rings, and consequently, the transfer apparatus comprises n linear actuators. Thus, for each transport route, the transfer device includes a linear actuator.

[0042] Advantageously, these eggs being placed in containers, this egg processing installation comprises an egg candling device comprising at least one measuring unit through which eggs from each container pass in successive rows, and a processing unit for processing signals acquired by each measuring unit.

[0043] In one embodiment, this candling device may comprise a plurality of light sources for each illuminating an egg of at least one row of cells of a container, detectors for each receiving the light passing through an egg thus illuminated and a processing unit for processing the light signal thus detected by the detectors. Advantageously, these light sources are laser sources equipped with focusing means for forming a concentrated optical beam in their respective egg. For purely illustrative purposes, these may be laser diodes (LEDs) emitting in the infrared.

[0044] Preferably, from the processing of the light thus detected, the cell(s) of the container into which an egg is to be transferred are determined, for example because it is non-viable or has defects.

[0045] This processing installation may also include a communication module for sending data or information obtained by processing the optical signals of a given container to the control unit of the device for transferring objects in order to determine the eggs to be taken from this container and transferred to the second conveyor for their evacuation. The candling device is placed upstream of the device for transferring objects on the processing line, this position being identified relative to the direction of movement of the containers on the conveyor. Brief description of the drawings

[0046] Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, given, for explanatory and in no way limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Fig. 1

[0047] [Fig. 1] is a sectional view of an object transfer apparatus according to a particular embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2

[0048] [Fig. 2] is a partial schematic representation of the object transfer apparatus of Fig. 1, an individual gripping member being in position to grip an egg scrolling beneath the apparatus, the linear actuator actuation rod being in its extended position; Fig. 3

[0049] [Fig. 3] is a partial schematic representation of the object transfer apparatus of Fig. 1, the individual gripping elements being in their rest position, the actuating rod of the linear actuator being in an intermediate position between its extended and retracted positions, an individual gripping element driven by the rotating removal roller coming into contact with this actuating rod; Fig. 4

[0050] [Fig. 4] is a partial schematic representation of the object transfer apparatus of Fig. 1, the individual gripping elements being in their rest position, the actuating rod of the linear actuator being in an intermediate position between its extended and retracted positions, the linear actuator passing from its engaged position to its disengaged position while being freely driven by an individual gripping element; Fig. 5

[0051] [Fig. 5] is a partial schematic representation of the object transfer apparatus of Fig. 1, the individual gripping elements being in their rest position, the actuating rod of the linear actuator being in an intermediate position between its extended and retracted positions, the linear actuator passing from its engaged position to its disengaged position while being freely driven by an individual gripping element; Fig. 6

[0052] [Fig. 6] is a partial schematic representation of the object transfer apparatus of Fig. 1, the individual gripping elements being in their rest position, the linear actuator being in its disengaged position, the actuating rod of the linear actuator being in its retracted position; Fig. 7

[0053] [Fig. 7] is a partial schematic representation of the object transfer apparatus of Fig. 1, the individual gripping elements being in their rest position, the actuating rod of the linear actuator being in its folded position, said linear actuator passing from its disengaged position to its engaged position under the effect of a torsion spring; Fig. 8

[0054] [Fig. 8] is a partial schematic representation of the object transfer apparatus of Fig. 1, the individual gripping elements being in their rest position, the actuating rod of the linear actuator being in the retracted position, the linear actuator being in its engagement position ready to move an individual gripping element to grip an egg; Description of the embodiments

[0055] The drawings and the description below contain, for the most part, elements of a certain character. They may therefore not only serve to better understand the present invention, but also contribute to its definition, if necessary.

[0056] First of all, note that the figures are not to scale.

[0057] Figures 1 to 8 schematically and partially illustrate an apparatus for transferring eggs according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] These eggs are placed in containers transported by a rectilinear conveyor (not shown) following a conveyor path defining an axis of movement of these containers.

[0059] This rectilinear conveyor, which is of the endless belt type, has a control unit (not shown) controlling the transport speed of the containers.

[0060] This device for transferring objects is used here to selectively remove from these moving containers eggs identified as being non-compliant, for example during a prior candling step.

[0061] These non-compliant eggs are transported by the device and transferred to the belt of another conveyor for disposal. For example, they are placed in containers on this discharge belt.

[0062] This device comprises a removal roller 10 driven in rotation and having on its external surface regularly spaced individual gripping elements 11. These individual gripping elements 11 are therefore distributed in the form of a crown.

[0063] More precisely, the outer surface of this removal roller 10 comprises orifices in each of which is received a free end of an individual gripping element 11, namely its piston, this individual gripping element 11 being movable in translation in its corresponding orifice. The piston of each individual gripping element 11 carries a suction cup 12 for gripping an egg.

[0064] On a segment, or portion, of circular path traveled by these individual gripping elements 11 during the rotation of the removal roller 10, these suction cups 12 are placed under depression relative to the surrounding air so that they are pressed against the external surface of the removal roller 10. They are then in their so-called rest position.

[0065] This depression is obtained by pumping an interior volume of the removal roller 10, also called a depression chamber, this interior volume communicating with the orifices of the removal roller 10 moving in this circular path segment. For this, the device comprises a pumping unit (not shown).

[0066] This apparatus comprises a linear actuator 13 which is here a pneumatic cylinder, which is placed inside the removal roller 10, to selectively and individually activate the individual gripping elements 11.

[0067] For this, when an individual gripping element 11 to be activated is presented facing this linear actuator 13 during the rotation of the removal roller 10, the actuating rod of this linear actuator 13 is moved from its folded position to its deployed position to come into contact with the end of the piston of this individual gripping element 11 in order to move the latter between its rest position and a gripping position in which the latter extends radially, projecting outside the removal roller to grip an egg.

[0068] This linear actuator 13 is fixedly mounted on a support 14 which can rotate so that the free end of this linear actuator 13 being in its deployed position or in an intermediate position between its deployed position and its folded position, it is freely moved between an engagement position and a release position when it comes into contact with another individual gripping element 11, in its rest position, brought by said rotating removal roller 10.

[0069] In this disengaged position, this actuator is spaced from the individual gripping elements 11 and is not at risk of being damaged.

[0070] The apparatus also comprises a return element 15 for returning this actuator from its disengaged position to its engaged position when its actuating rod is in its retracted position so that the linear actuator 13 is ready to activate an individual gripping element 11 again.

[0071] For purely illustrative purposes, this return element 15 is here a torsion spring.

[0072] This device for protecting the linear actuator 13 advantageously makes it possible to achieve rotation speeds of the removal roller 10 greater than 30 rpm.

Claims

DEMANDS

1. Device for transferring objects comprising: - an object removal roller (10) comprising on its periphery elements for individually grasping said objects, - a device for rotating said object removal roller (10), - said individual gripping elements being arranged in at least one ring, said apparatus comprising, for each ring, a linear actuator (13), placed within the internal volume delimited by said roller, for moving an individual gripping element (11) facing this linear actuator (13) between a rest position and a gripping position in which this individual gripping element (11) extends radially, protruding from this removal roller (10) to grasp an object, the gripping position being obtained by pressing a movable free end of said linear actuator (13) against said individual gripping element (11), said removal roller (10) being configured to advance one by one in front of each linear actuator (13) during its rotation, an individual gripping element (11) in its rest position, characterized in that - the free end of said linear actuator (13) being movable between a folded position and a deployed position in which this free end is in contact with an individual gripping element (11), this linear actuator (13) is rotationally movable between at least one engagement position and a disengagement position such that the free end of said linear actuator (13) being in its deployed position or in an intermediate position between its deployed and folded positions, said linear actuator (13) is freely moved from its engagement position to its disengagement position when it comes into contact with another individual gripping element (11), in its rest position, brought by said rotating removal roller (10), - said release position corresponding to a position in which said actuator is spaced from said individual gripping elements, said assembly including a return element (15) to return said actuator from its release position to its engagement position when the free end of said actuator is in its folded position or in an intermediate position not capable of interacting with an individual gripping element (11) in its rest position.

2. Apparatus for transferring objects according to claim 1, characterized in that said return element (15) for returning said linear actuator (13) from its release position to its engagement position is a spring element or a magnetic attraction device.

3. An apparatus for transferring objects according to claim 2, characterized in that said spring element is a torsion spring.

4. An apparatus for transferring objects according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a means for detecting the position of the free end of said linear actuator (13), which is connected to said return element (15) to control its activation.

5. Apparatus for transferring objects according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said linear actuator (13) is fixedly mounted on a rotating movable support, said support being configured to move said linear actuator (13) between said engagement position and said disengagement position during its rotation.

6. Apparatus for transferring objects according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of these individual gripping elements comprises a piston provided at its free end with a suction cup (12).

7. Apparatus for transferring objects according to claim 6, characterized in that the piston of each individual gripping element (11) is hollow and opens onto an orifice of the suction cup (12) to create a suction head.

8. Apparatus for transferring objects according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the piston of each individual gripping element (11) being received in an orifice of said removal roller (10), said apparatus includes a pumping unit for depressurizing a portion of the internal volume of said roller and pressing the suction cups (12) of the individual gripping elements against the external surface of said roller when these individual gripping elements are moved in rotation by said roller on a circular path segment corresponding to said portion of internal volume thus depressurized.

9. An apparatus for transferring objects according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device for rotating this object removal roller (10) is configured such that the rotational speed of the object removal roller (10) is greater than or equal to 20 rpm and even more preferably to 30 rpm.

10. An apparatus for transferring objects according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said linear actuator (13) is an electromechanical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator.

11. An apparatus for transferring objects according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises means for interrupting the vacuum on another segment of the circular path of the individual grasping elements in order to release the objects thus grasped at at least one predetermined deposit point.

12. An apparatus for transferring objects according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cleaning device located inside said roller for ejecting pressurized water into said roller when this cleaning device is connected to a pressurized water supply.

13. Apparatus for transferring objects according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises in its lower part a wastewater recovery tray.

14. An egg processing installation comprising an object transfer apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, a first conveyor for passing eggs past said transfer apparatus, and a second conveyor to evacuate the eggs seized from the first conveyor by said egg transfer device.

15. Egg processing installation according to claim 14, characterized in that first conveyor comprising n egg transport lanes with n greater than or equal to 2, the removal roller (10) comprises n rings of individual gripping elements, and consequently, the transfer device comprises n linear actuators (13).

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