Lateral guiding assembly for conveyor belts adapted to transfer bottles, and conveyor belt integrating the assembly

Abstract

A lateral guiding assembly for conveyor belts adapted for transferring bottles, comprising a supporting structure (33) and at least one longitudinal guiding member (22, 24) i adapted to be fixed, via supporting means (30, 32), to a side of a conveyor belt (12) having a centerline plane (M) defined therein, for laterally guiding an array of bottles (B, B1, B2) conveyed thereon; the supporting means (30, 32) are elastically yielding outward to allow the longitudinal guiding member (22, 24), when subjected to an outward lateral thrust, to move laterally away from the centerline plane (M) with respect to an operating position; sensor means (34) detect the displacement of the longitudinal guiding member (22, 24) from the operating position.

Description

[0001] LATERAL GUIDING ASSEMBLY FOR CONVEYOR BELTS ADAPTED TO TRANSFER BOTTLES, AND CONVEYOR BELT INTEGRATING THE ASSEMBLY

[0002] The present invention relates to a lateral guiding assembly for conveyor belts adapted to transfer bottles, typically in a bottling line, and to a conveyor belt integrating said assembly.

[0003] As is known, a generic bottling line for wines, sparkling wines, champagne, and the like, can comprise a series of machines adapted to perform one or more specific treatments on bottles received in succession from a conveyor belt.

[0004] Typically, a first rotating transfer star conveyor can pick up the bottles in succession from the conveyor belt and transfer them to a carousel-type machine equipped with a plurality of peripheral stations configured to subject each of the bottles to a specific treatment (e.g., filling, corking, wirehooding, capsule application, labeling, etc.). A second rotating transfer star conveyor can subsequently pick up the bottles in succession from the carousel and transfer them to another carousel or place them back on the conveyor belt.

[0005] As they advance on the conveyor belt, the bottles are guided laterally by a lateral guiding assembly.

[0006] The lateral guiding assembly can generally comprise a pair of longitudinal guiding members supported on the respective opposite sides of the conveyor belt. Proximate to the rotating transfer star conveyors, there is usually only one guiding member on the same side of the conveyor belt with respect to the rotating transfer star conveyor. On the opposite side of the conveyor belt, a rotating screw feeder keeps the bottles mutually spaced at a precise distance from each other to facilitate transfer to / from the rotating transfer star conveyor.

[0007] The lateral guiding members are fixed to supporting means which, in some cases, allow the position of the lateral guiding members to be adjusted according to the diameter of the bottles.

[0008] As is known, one drawback of conveyor belts provided with conventional lateral guiding assemblies is that if one or more bottles accidentally tip over on the conveyor belt, said bottles can become wedged between one of the lateral guiding members and the conveyor belt and / or the rotating transfer star and / or the rotating screw feeder, with the consequence of damaging the system and causing other inconveniences correlated to the breaking of the bottles, which is very frequent under these circumstances, with liquids and glass fragments spreading in the work area.

[0009] In light of the above, the aim of the present invention is to provide a lateral guiding assembly for conveyor belts adapted to transfer bottles, as well as a conveyor belt integrating said assembly, which allow to prevent damage to the system and further inconveniences, such as those highlighted above, deriving from the accidental tipping over of one or more bottles on the conveyor belt.

[0010] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a lateral guiding assembly that allows the position of the lateral guiding members to be adjusted quickly and precisely according to the diameter of the bottles.

[0011] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lateral guiding assembly that can be easily integrated into conveyor belts already present in bottling lines.

[0012] This aim and these and other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a lateral guiding assembly having the characteristics set forth in claim 1, while the dependent claims define other advantageous, albeit secondary, characteristics of the invention.

[0013] The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to some preferred but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 is a plan view of a generic bottling line which integrates a conveyor belt equipped with a lateral guiding assembly according to the invention;

[0015] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention, from a first angle;

[0016] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention, from a second angle;

[0017] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a conveyor belt integrating the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention, in a first operating configuration;

[0018] Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 4, of the conveyor belt that integrates the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention in association with an array of bottles of a first format;

[0019] Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 5, of the conveyor belt that integrates the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention in a second operating configuration, in association with an array of bottles of a second format;

[0020] Figure 7 is an axial sectional view of the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention;

[0021] Figure 8 is a sectional view of Figure 7, taken along the plane VIII- VIII;

[0022] Figure 9 is a sectional view of Figure 7, taken along the plane IX-IX;

[0023] Figure 10 is a top plan view of the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention in an operating configuration that is intermediate between the first and second operating configurations;

[0024] Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention in a fully open operating configuration;

[0025] Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention in a fully closed operating configuration;

[0026] Figure 13 is a view, similar to Figure 12, showing the lateral guiding assembly in an alarm condition;

[0027] Figure 14 is a sectional view of Figure 12, taken along the plane XIV- XIV;

[0028] Figure 15 is a sectional view of Figure 11, taken along the plane XV- XV;

[0029] Figure 16 is a sectional view of Figure 12, taken along the plane XVI- XVI;

[0030] Figure 17 is an axial sectional view of two lateral guiding assemblies according to the invention which are interconnected;

[0031] Figure 18 is an axial sectional view of two lateral guiding assemblies according to the invention interconnected and integrated in a conveyor belt.

[0032] With initial reference to Figure 1, a generic bottling line 10 for wines, sparkling wines, champagne, and the like can comprise a series of machines adapted to perform one or more specific treatments on bottles B received in succession from a conveyor belt 12 in which a centerline plane M is defined.

[0033] For example, a first rotary transfer star conveyor 14a can pick up the bottles B in succession from the conveyor belt 12 and transfer them to a first carousel-type machine 16a equipped with a plurality of peripheral stations (not shown) configured to subject each of the bottles B to a first treatment. After this, a second rotating transfer star conveyor 14b can pick up the bottles from the first carousel -type machine 16a and transfer them onto a second carousel -type machine 16b to subject them to a second treatment. A third rotating transfer star conveyor 14c can then pick up the bottles from the second carousel-type machine 16b and transfer them onto a third carousel-type machine 16c to undergo a third treatment. Finally, a fourth rotating transfer star conveyor 14d can pick up the bottles B from the third carousel-type machine 16c and place them back on the conveyor belt 12.

[0034] The treatments to which the bottles B can be subjected in the carousel-type machines 16a, 16b and 16c can be, for example, filling, capping, wire-hooding, capsule application, labeling, and the like.

[0035] With reference now also to Figures 2-6, as they advance on the conveyor belt 12, the bottles B are guided laterally by a lateral guiding assembly generally designated by the reference numeral 20 in Figures 2 and 3.

[0036] Figures 4-6 show separately a portion of the conveyor belt 12 associated with the lateral guiding assembly 20 respectively without bottles, with smaller-format bottles Bl and with larger-format bottles B2. The lateral guiding assembly 20 comprises a pair of longitudinal guiding members 22, 24 (which have been removed in Figures 2, 3 and 7-17 for greater clarity of illustration), which are supported on the respective opposite sides of the conveyor belt 12 to laterally guide the array of bottles conveyed on it. However, as shown in Figure 1 and in a per se conventional way, proximate to the first rotating transfer star conveyor 14a there is only one longitudinal guiding member 22, on one side of the conveyor belt 12, while on the opposite side there is a rotating screw feeder 26 that is meant to keep the bottles mutually spaced by a precise distance to facilitate their transfer from the conveyor belt 12 to the first rotating transfer star conveyor 14a.

[0037] With particular reference now to Figures 2, 3 and 7-9, each of the longitudinal guiding members 22, 24 is supported by respective supporting means 30, 32. In this example of embodiment, the supporting means 30, 32 are connected to a supporting structure 33 that extends longitudinally with two lateral walls 33a, 33b interconnected by four crossmembers 33c, 33d, 33e, 33f.

[0038] According to the invention, the supporting means 30, 32 are elastically yielding outward to allow the respective longitudinal guiding member 22, 24, when subjected to a lateral outward thrust, to move laterally away from the centerline plane M of the conveyor belt 12 with respect to an operating position; sensor means 34 are furthermore provided and are configured to detect the displacement of the longitudinal guiding member 22, 24 from the operating position.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment described herein, and with particular reference now also to Figures 10-15, each of the supporting means of the longitudinal guiding members 22, 24 is biased to abut against a respective abutment 36, 38, which defines the operating position, by elastic means 40, 42 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

[0040] Preferably, the abutment 36, 38 is configured to allow adjustment of the operating position on the basis of the diameter of the bottles and, in the preferred embodiment described here, advantageously comprises a cam 44,

[0041] 46 which is adjustable in its position under the control of adjustment means

[0042] 47 (Figure 17) which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

[0043] In this preferred embodiment, the cam 44, 46 is supported in a longitudinally adjustable position and has a guiding surface 48, 50, against which a guiding element, which is integral with the longitudinal guiding member 22, 24 and will be defined in greater detail hereinafter, is pushed; the guiding surface 48, 50 being shaped so as to vary the operating position according to the longitudinal position of the cam 44, 46.

[0044] In the preferred embodiment described herein, the guiding surface 48, 50 has a rectilinear profile that extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction which, with the longitudinal guiding assembly applied to the conveyor belt, is defined by the centerline plane M.

[0045] In this preferred embodiment, each of the two cams 44, 46 comprises a horizontal plate which has a lateral edge that is contoured so as to form said guiding surface 48, 50.

[0046] The two cams 44, 46 are integral with each other and arranged one above the other so that their respective guiding surfaces 48, 50 are mirror- symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal direction, so that longitudinal displacement in one direction produces the mutual spacing or mutual approach of the longitudinal guiding members 22, 24.

[0047] With particular reference to Figures 7 and 8, the two cams 44, 46 are interconnected by four rollers 52 placed at the comers of a rectangle. The four rollers 52 engage slidingly, in pairs, respective opposite sides of a central longitudinal rail 54 which is fixed to the supporting structure 33. In greater detail, with particular reference to Figure 7, in this preferred embodiment the central longitudinal rail 54 has a hexagonal cross-section with two flat horizontal faces and two adjacent oblique faces on each side; the rollers 52 have a complementary profile, with a groove 56 formed between two mutually opposite frustum-shaped faces 56a, 56b which engage respective two adjacent oblique faces of the central longitudinal rail 54.

[0048] In this preferred embodiment, with particular reference to Figure 7, the central longitudinal rail 54 is composed of two coaxial rail portions 54a, 54b which are axially spaced apart. One of the rail portions, 54a, is supported at its ends by two of the crossmembers, 33c, 33d, while the other rail portion, 54b, is supported at its ends by the other two crossmembers, 33e, 33f.

[0049] With particular reference now to Figures 14, 16 and 17, in this preferred embodiment the supporting means 30, 32 comprise, for each of the longitudinal guiding members 22, 24, a bracket 60, 62 that connects the respective longitudinal guiding member 22, 24 to a respective piston 64, 66 inserted slidingly in a sleeve 68 that extends transversely between the two lateral walls 33a, 33b of the supporting structure 33. In particular, the sleeve 68 is inserted between the mutually facing ends of the two rail portions 54a, 54b.

[0050] Advantageously, the previously mentioned guiding element consists of a guiding roller 70, 72 with a vertical axis, which is rotatably supported by a respective one of the pistons 64, 66 and is biased by a respective one of the elastic means 40, 42 to engage the contoured surface 48, 50 of a respective one of the two cams 44, 46.

[0051] Each of the guiding rollers 70, 72 is fitted on a respective pivot 70p, 72p that extends radially from one end of the respective piston 64, 66 and slides through a respective guiding slot 70f, 72f provided in the sleeve 68.

[0052] In this preferred embodiment, each of the elastic means 40, 42 comprises a compression spring functionally interposed between an annular raised portion 74, 76 of the respective piston 64, 66 and a cover 78, 80 applied to a respective end of the sleeve 68.

[0053] In this preferred embodiment, the sensor means 34 are configured to detect the displacement of only one of the longitudinal guiding members, in particular, the longitudinal guiding member 24 associated with the lower cam 46.

[0054] With particular reference to Figures 3, 7, 9, 11 and 14-16, the sensor means 34 of this preferred embodiment comprise a sensor arm 82 which is pivoted to the respective cam 46 about a vertical axis A. The sensor arm 82 has a contact surface 84 with a profile that corresponds to the guiding surface 50 of the respective cam 46. A torsion spring 86, functionally arranged between the cam 46 and the sensor arm 82 around the axis A, biases the sensor arm 82 to engage, by means of the contact surface 84, a contact member which is integral with the guiding roller 72; the arrangement being such that, in the absence of movements of the respective longitudinal guiding member 24 from the operating position, the contact surface 84 remains parallel - and, in this example of embodiment, also aligned - with respect to the guiding surface 50, regardless of the longitudinal position of the respective cam 46.

[0055] In this preferredembodiment, the contact member comprises a contact roller 88 supported by the respective piston 66 coaxially with the guiding roller 72 by means of the pivot 72p.

[0056] The sensor arm 82 has a sensing surface 90 which, in this preferred embodiment, protrudes from the side that is opposite the contact surface 84 with respect to axis A. The sensing surface 90 faces a detection device, advantageously an electromechanical sensor 92, which is fixed to the supporting structure 33 and is adapted to detect any rotation of the sensor arm 82.

[0057] The electromechanical sensor 92 is connected to a control unit (not shown) of the bottling line, which is programmed to stop the line if a rotation of the sensor arm 82 is detected.

[0058] With particular reference to Figure 17, in this preferred embodiment the adjustment means 47 comprise a rack-and-pinion mechanism 93.

[0059] The rack-and-pinion mechanism 93 is composed of a motorized pinion 94 that engages a rack 96 which is functionally connected, by means of a transmission arm 98, to one of the two cams of the lateral guiding assembly 20, in this preferred embodiment the lower cam 46. In this preferred embodiment, the rack 96 is interposed between two adjacent lateral guiding assemblies 20 associated with the same conveyor belt 12, to which it is connected by means of two respective transmission arms 98.

[0060] As shown in Figure 18, the cams 46 of the lateral guiding assemblies that precede and follow those directly connected to the rack 96 are interconnected by respective linkages 100. In this way, by actuating the motorized pinion 94 all the lateral guiding assemblies 20 are adjusted simultaneously.

[0061] During operation, the position of the longitudinal guiding members 22, 24 must first be adjusted according to the size of the bottles B (Figures 5 and 6). For this purpose, the cams 44, 46 are moved longitudinally by actuating the rack-and-pinion mechanism 93. This causes the inward or outward translation of the pistons 64, 66 due to the engagement of the respective guiding rollers 70, 72 with the guiding surfaces 48, 50 of the respective cams 44, 46. In this step, the sensor arm 82 moves integrally with the cams 44, 46 without rotating, since the contact roller 88 follows the profile of the contact surface 84 of the sensor arm 82, which is parallel to - and, in this example of embodiment, also aligned with - the guiding surface 50 of the cam 46.

[0062] Once the position of the longitudinal guiding members 22, 24 has been adjusted, the conveyor belt 12 moves the bottles B normally.

[0063] If a bottle accidentally falls / tips over on the conveyor belt 12, sooner or later it will become trapped between one of the longitudinal guiding members 22, 24 and another component of the line, e.g., the conveyor belt 12 itself and / or a rotating transfer star conveyor and / or a rotating screw feeder. Under these circumstances, the tipped bottle pushes one of the longitudinal guiding members - e.g., the longitudinal guiding member 24 opposite the screw feeder 26 in the example described and shown herein - outward, in contrast to the elastic force applied by the respective compression spring . This circumstance causes the guiding roller 72 to detach from the guiding surface 50 of the cam 46. The contact roller 88 of the sensor means 34, by moving integrally with the guiding roller 72, allows the rotation of the sensor arm 82 about the axis A, since the sensor arm 82 is biased by the torsion spring 86 to engage the contact roller 88 with its contact surface 84. The rotation of the sensor arm 82 causes the sensing surface 90 to move away from the electromechanical sensor 92. The latter, having detected the movement of the sensor arm 82, transmits a signal to the control unit, which commands the line to stop.

[0064] It has also been found in practice that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0065] In particular, the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention allows to prevent damage to the plant, as well as further inconveniences deriving from the accidental tipping of one or more bottles on the conveyor belt, by virtue of the fact that the lateral guiding elements are supported so as to yield elastically outward when a fallen / tipped bottle is pushed against them, with the sensor means that detect the movement of the lateral guiding element, thereby commanding the immediate stop of the line.

[0066] Moreover, the lateral guiding assembly allows quick and precise adjustment of the position of the lateral guiding elements according to the diameter of the bottles, so as to make the system extremely versatile.

[0067] Last but not least, as the person skilled in the art will appreciate, the lateral guiding assembly according to the invention can be easily integrated into existing conveyor belts. A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, but the person skilled in the art can of course make various modifications and variations within the scope of the claims.

[0068] For example, in the preferred embodiment described herein, only one of the two longitudinal guiding members is sensorized. Of course, it would be possible to sensorize both longitudinal guiding members, e.g., by providing both cams with sensor means, such as those described and illustrated only in relation to the lower cam.

[0069] Instead of translating, the cams could be of the rotary type (e.g., the cams could have an elliptical profile and rotate around a central axis). Moreover, the position of both longitudinal guiding members might be varied by a single appropriately contoured cam.

[0070] Nevertheless, as an alternative to the cams, fixed abutments and removable shims might be used to vary the position of the longitudinal guiding members.

[0071] The elastic means also might be configured differently, e.g., different types of springs could be used, such as Belleville springs.

[0072] The contact roller and the guiding rollers might also be replaced respectively by a contact member and by guiding elements that are not of the rolling type, e.g., sliding pads and the like.

[0073] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000018121 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0074] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A lateral guiding assembly for conveyor belts adapted for transferring bottles, comprising a supporting structure (33) and at least one longitudinal guiding member (22, 24) adapted to be fixed, via respective supporting means (30, 32), to a respective side of a conveyor belt (12) having a centerline plane (M) defined therein, for laterally guiding an array of bottles (B, Bl, B2) conveyed thereon, characterized in that said supporting means (30, 32) are elastically yielding outward to allow said longitudinal guiding member (22, 24), when subjected to an outward lateral thrust, to move laterally away from said centerline plane (M) of the conveyor belt (12) with respect to an operating position, and in that it comprises sensor means (34) configured to detect the displacement of said longitudinal guiding member (22, 24) from said operating position.

2. The lateral guiding assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an abutment (36, 38) which defines said operating position and against which said supporting means (30, 32) are biased to abut by elastic means (40, 42).

3. The lateral guiding assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said abutment (36, 38) is configured to allow said operating position to be adjusted.

4. The lateral guiding assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said abutment (36, 38) comprises a cam (44, 46) whose position is adjustable under the control of adjustment means (47).

5. The lateral guiding assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that said cam (44, 46) is supported in a longitudinally adjustable position and has a guiding surface (48, 50) against which a guiding element (70, 72) is pushed which is integral with said longitudinal guiding member (22, 24); said guiding surface (48, 50) being contoured so as to vary said operating position according to the longitudinal position of said cam (44, 46).

6. The lateral guiding assembly according to claim 5, characterized inthat said guiding surface (48, 50) has a rectilinear profile which is extended obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction.

7. The lateral guiding assembly according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises two of said cams (44, 46), each associated with a respective one of two of said longitudinal guiding members (22, 24), each of said cams comprising a horizontal plate having a lateral edge contoured so as to define said guiding surface (48, 50), said two cams being mutually integral and being arranged one above the other with their respective guiding surfaces (48, 50) which are specular with respect to the longitudinal direction.

8. The lateral guiding assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that said two cams (44, 46) are interconnected by four rollers (52) which are placed at the comers of a rectangle and slidingly engage in pairs respective opposite sides of a central longitudinal rail (54) which is fixed to said supporting structure (33).

9. The lateral guiding assembly according to one or more of claims 2- 8, characterized in that said supporting means (30, 32) comprise a bracket (60, 62) which connects said longitudinal guiding member (22, 24) to a respective piston (64, 66) which is biased by said elastic means (40, 42) to engage said abutment (36, 38).

10. The lateral guiding assembly according to one or more of claims 5-9, characterized in that said sensor means (34) comprise a sensor arm (82) which is pivoted to said cam (46) about a vertical axis (A), has a contact surface (84) with a profile that corresponds to said guiding surface (50), and is elastically biased to engage, via said contact surface (84), a contact member (88) which is integral with said guiding element (72); the arrangement being such that in the absence of displacements of the respective longitudinal guiding member (24) from said operating position, said contact surface (84) remains parallel to said guiding surface (50) regardless of the longitudinal position of said cam (46); said sensor arm (82)having a sensing surface (90) which faces a sensor device (92) adapted to detect any rotation of said sensor arm (82).

11. A conveyor belt, characterized in that it comprises a lateral guiding assembly (20) according to one or more of claims 1-10.

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