Device for moving objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10577136-B2
Application number	US-201515538090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for moving objects, in particular portions, each portion comprising at least one slice cut from a food product, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers for at least one object each, a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction, and a control apparatus for controlling the motions of the transport movers in the track system, wherein at least one track segment and/or at least one transport mover has at least one support, which is frame-free at every point in time or at least at times, for at least a part of a holder, in particular a bowl-like holder, for holding at least one object to be transported, in particular for a packaging or a part of a packaging, preferably for a tray for holding at least one portion, and wherein, in addition to the support, fastening means are provided, which are designed to fasten the holder to the support at least at times.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for moving objects, the apparatus comprising
a plurality of individually movable transport movers for a respective at least one object;
a path system for the plurality of transport movers in which the plurality of transport movers are movable in a transport direction along at least one predefined path;
a control device for controlling the movements of the plurality of transport movers in the path system, wherein at least one transport mover has at least one support that is free of a frame at all times or at least at times for at least a part of a receiver for receiving at least one object to be moved; and wherein fixing means are provided in addition to the at least one support that are configured for at least temporary fixing of the receiver on the at least one support, the at least one support being located in a protruding position at least temporarily in which at least a support region of the at least one support for the receiver laterally protrudes; and
at least one pair of cooperating transport movers that form, together with their respective receivers, a common, laterally protruding support region for the receiver.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transport movers each comprise at least one runner cooperating with the path system, with at least one transport mover comprising at least one carrier attached to the runner, said carrier at least one of operatively connected to the frame-free support.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fixing means are configured for generating a retaining force that is substantially effective in a horizontal direction and/or in a plane in parallel with the transport direction.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fixing means are configured to hold the receiver by friction locking.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fixing means are configured to hold the receiver by adhesion.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fixing means are configured to hold the receiver by means of vacuum.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fixing means are adjustable between a fixing position and a release position for the receiver.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the fixing means are adjustable by passing an actuation point.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein fixing means adjustable between a fixing position and a release position form at least a part of the at least one support.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fixing means comprise a clamping device that is configured to fix the receiver to one or more clamping points.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the clamping device is configured to clamp the receiver between at least one clamping member and the frame-free support.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one support is provided with a non-planar geometry as the fixing means.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fixing means comprise one or more elevated portions that project beyond a support surface of the at least one support in a fixing position.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fixing means for at least a part of a support surface of the at least one support comprising at least one boundary portion that is adjustable relative to the support surface.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one support is formed by at least one of two consecutively moved transport movers, with at least one of the transport movers having a support region for a receiver held between the transport movers.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the at least one support and/or a boundary formed by or present at least one of the transport movers is formed together by the transport movers.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the two transport movers are movable relative to one another for the delivery of receivers such that the support regions are movable away beneath the receivers.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of the receiver regions of the two transport movers is movable relative to a delivery aid cooperating with the at least one support on the delivery.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the delivery aid is configured as a scraper or as a fixer.

20. A system having an apparatus and a receiver for receiving at least one object to be moved by means of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers for a respective at least one object;
a path system for the plurality of transport movers in which the plurality of transport movers are movable in a transport direction along at least one predefined path;
a control device for controlling the movements of the plurality of transport movers in the path system, wherein at least one transport mover has at least one support that is free of a frame at all times or at least at times for at least a part of a receiver for receiving at least one object to be moved; and wherein the receiver and the at least one support have cooperating fixing means that are configured such that the receiver is fixed on the at least one support at least at times by the cooperation of the fixing means, the at least one support being located in a protruding position at least temporarily in which at least a support region of the at least one support for the receiver laterally protrudes; and
at least one pair of cooperating transport movers that form, together with their respective receivers, a common, laterally protruding support region for the receiver.

21. The system in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the receiver is configured to engage around and/or to engage behind the at least one support at least regionally and/or to grip laterally past the at least one support beneath a support surface of the at least one support.

Assignees

• Weber Maschb Gmbh

Inventors

• Burk Alexander
• Eckhardt Christoph
• Gerlach Jochen
• Nichau Marco
• Nispel Thomas
• Rother Ingo
• Von Keudell Leopold
• Zecher Steffen
• Lischinski Gerd

Classifications

• B65B59/005

  Adjustable conveying means · CPC title

• B65B5/10

  Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles · CPC title

• B65B43/52

  using roller-ways or endless conveyors · CPC title

• B65B35/44

  by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/405 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B26D2210/02

  for cutting food products, e.g. food slicers · CPC title