Product-stream-transfer apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016289010-A1
Application number	US-201415037600-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 10, 2014
Priority date	Nov 18, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention proceeds from a product-stream-transfer apparatus ( 10 a ) for transferring at least a first product sub-stream ( 12 a ) and a further product sub-stream ( 14 a ) into a main product stream ( 16 a ) or for separating a main product stream into at least a first product sub-stream and a further product sub-stream along a product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a ), having a first side route ( 20 a ) with a multiplicity of transporting elements ( 22 a ) for transporting products ( 24 a ) of the first product sub-stream ( 12 a ), having at least a further side route ( 26 a ) with a multiplicity of transporting elements ( 22 a ) for transporting products ( 24 a ) of the further product sub-stream ( 14 a ), and having a main route ( 28 a ), which is adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a ) and is intended for transporting the products ( 24 a ) of the main product stream ( 16 a ). It is proposed for at least sub-quantities of the transporting elements ( 22 a ) to be driveable independently of one another at least along one of the side routes ( 20 a; 26 a ) of the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a ).

First claim

1 . A product-stream-transfer apparatus for transferring at least one first product sub-stream ( 12 a - d; f ) and a further product sub-stream ( 14 a - d, f ) into a main product stream ( 16 a - d, f ) or for separating the main product stream ( 16 e ) into the first product sub-stream ( 12 e ) and the further product sub-stream ( 14 e ) along a product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - b, e - f ), the apparatus comprising a first side route ( 20 a - c, e ) having a multiplicity of transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) for transporting products ( 24 a - e ) of the first product sub-stream ( 12 a - f ), at least one further side route ( 26 a - c, e ) having a multiplicity of transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) for transporting products ( 24 a - e ) of the further product sub-stream ( 14 a - f ), and a main route ( 28 a - f ), which is adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - b, e - f ), for transporting products ( 24 a - f ) of the main product stream ( 16 a - f ), characterized in that at least partial quantities of the transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) are drivable independently of one another at least along one of the side routes ( 20 a - c, e, 26 a - c, e ) of the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - c, e ).

2 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one linear motor system ( 30 a - b ) which, at least along a side route ( 20 a - c, e, 26 a - c, e ) of the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a - c, e ), has a stator ( 32 a - b ) and a multiplicity of independently drivable translators ( 34 a ) which are provided to drive the transporting elements ( 22 a - e ) independently of one another.

3 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 b ) of at least two side routes ( 20 b, 26 b ) are transferred, subsequent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 b ), to the main route ( 28 b ).

4 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that a further stator ( 38 b ) of the linear motor system ( 30 b ) is arranged on the main route ( 28 b ) at least along a section ( 36 b ) adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 b ), said stator being provided for driving the transporting elements ( 22 b ), which are transferred from the side routes ( 20 b, 26 b ) to the main route ( 28 b ).

5 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one product-stream-control means ( 40 a; b; e ) for inserting products ( 24 a; b ) of at least one of the product sub-streams ( 12 a; b, 14 a; b ) into the main product stream ( 16 a; b ) in transfer movements ( 42 a; b ) transversely with respect to a transporting direction ( 44 a; b ) of the main product stream ( 16 a; b ) along the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 a; b ).

6 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 a; c; e ) of at least one side route ( 20 a; c; e, 26 a; c; e ) have drivers ( 46 a; c; e ), which are mounted movably in the direction of the transfer movement ( 42 a; e ), for transporting the products ( 24 a; c; e ).

7 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 a; d ) of at least one side route ( 20 a, 26 a ) have drivers ( 46 a; d ), which are mounted so as to be insertable into and/or removable from the product sub-stream ( 12 a; d, 14 a; d ) of the side route ( 20 a, 26 a ), for transporting the products ( 24 a; c ).

8 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the main product stream ( 16 f ) forms a product sub-stream of a further product-stream-transfer apparatus.

9 . A feed apparatus ( 48 a ) for a packaging machine ( 50 a; e ) with a product-stream-transfer apparatus ( 10 a - f ) as claimed in claim 1 .

10 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the transporting elements of the main route are distributed to at least two side routes at the beginning of the product-stream-transfer route.

11 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , characterized in that a further stator ( 38 b ) of the linear motor system ( 30 b ) is arranged on the main route ( 28 b ) at least along a section ( 36 b ) adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 b ), said stator being provided for driving the transporting elements ( 22 b ) which are to be distributed from the main route ( 28 b ) to the side routes ( 20 b, 26 b ), along the section ( 36 b ).

12 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one product-stream-control means ( 40 a; b; e ) for distributing at least a partial quantity of the products ( 24 e ) of the main product stream ( 16 e ) to the product sub-streams ( 14 e ) in transfer movements ( 42 e ) transversely with respect to the transporting direction ( 44 e ) of the main product stream ( 16 e ) along the product-stream-transfer route ( 18 e ).

13 . The product-stream-transfer apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that the transporting elements ( 22 a; c; e ) of at least one side route ( 20 a; c; e, 26 a; c; e ) have drivers ( 46 a; c; e ), which are mounted movably in the direction of the transfer movement ( 42 a; e ), for transporting the products ( 24 a; c; e ).

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Wipf Alfred
• Ernst Frank
• Reichardt Christian
• Landolt Markus

Classifications

• B65G47/71

  the articles being discharged {or distributed} to several {distinct separate} conveyors {or to a broader conveyor lane} · CPC title

• B65G47/681 Primary

  from distinct, separate conveyor lanes · CPC title

• B65G19/02

  for articles, e.g. for containers · CPC title

• B65G54/02

  electrostatic, electric, or magnetic · CPC title