| 1. | Device for placing objects, in particular filled bags, in a row in such a way that they overlap slanting backwards, comprising at least one rotor (3) to be driven so that it rotates, which rotor is provided with at least one cam (4) in the form of a diameter jump, at least one conveyor track (1) for feeding in objects to said cam, and at least one conveyor track (2) for discharging objects which have been carried along by the cam of the rotating rotor and deposited on the discharge conveyor tracks, in which the cam (4) on rotation of the rotor (3) makes space for the object resting on said cam and to be placed on the discharge conveyor track (2) , and the feed end of the discharge conveyor track (2) is situated next to the rotor (3). |
| 2. | Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the conveyor tracks (1, 2) are driven conveyor belts. |
| 3. | Device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the conveyor belts (2) for discharge of objects placed in a row are provided with a profile. |
| 4. | Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device has two rotors placed on one shaft, and the feed track (1) extends with its discharge end and the discharge track (2) extends with its feed end between the two rotors (3) •. |
| 5. | Device according to Claims 2 or 3. characterised in that the device has two adjacent feed belts (1) and two adjacent discharge belts (2) extending with their discharge ends and feed ends respec¬ tively on either side of the rotor (3) or the rotors (3) •. |
| 6. | Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rotor(s) (3) has (have) several cams (4) in the form of a diameter jump. |
| 7. | 7 Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a strip (5) running in the peripheral direction of the rotor(s) is fixed on the outside edge of the cam or cams (4). |
| 8. | Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device has means for pushing a number of backward slanting, overlapping bags on the discharge conveyor belt (2) in the upright position against a stop (8) . |
| 9. | Device according to Claim 8, characterised in that said means comprise a partition (9) and a mechanism (. |
| 10. | to 16) for successively moving the partition (9) upwards near the rotor, in a direction away from the rotor, downwards, and in a direction towards the rotor. |
The invention relates to a device for placing objects, in particular filled bags, in a row in such a way that they overlap slanting backwards.
Mechanisms for forming a row from objects such as filled bags in such a way that said objects overlap are known. In general, these mechanisms work in such a way that the objects overlap slanting forward, viewed in the direction of feed, on a conveyor belt: each object is placed or pushed on another object. It has been found that a row of overlapping objects slanting forward formed in this way will often have irregularities when they are moved to an upright position, due to the fact that the top edges of the objects are not lying at the same height. In the case of smooth filled bags this disadvantage is aggravated by one or more bags sliding up when the row is being placed in the upright position.
The object of the invention is to avoid this disadvantage and to provide a device with which objects can be placed coordinated in such a way in a row that they overlap slanting backwards, viewed in their feed direction, and if a row of bags is swept together to an upright position, the top edges of the objects lie essentially in one plane.
According to the invention, the device mentioned in the preamble to this end comprises at least one rotor to be driven so that it rotates, which rotor is provided with at least one cam in the form of a diameter jump, at least one conveyor tracks for feeding in objects to said cam, and at least one conveyor track for discharging objects which have been carried along by the cam of the rotating rotor and deposited on the discharge conveyor belts, in which the cam on rotation of the rotor makes space for the object resting on said cam and to be placed on the discharge conveyor track, and the feed end of the discharge conveyor track is situated next to the rotor.
The conveyor tracks can be driven conveyor belts. In order to prevent the objects placed in a row from slipping, the conveyor belts for discharge of objects placed in a row can be provided with a profile.
The device can have two rotors placed on one shaft, in which case the feed track extends with its discharge end and the discharge track extends with its feed end between the two rotors.
There is a possibility of the device having two adjacent feed belts and two adjacent discharge belts extending with their discharge ends and feed ends respectively on either side of the rotor or rotors.
The rotor or rotors can have several cams in the form of a diameter jump. It is preferable for a strip running in the peripheral direction of the rotor to be fixed on the outside edge of the cam or cams.
The device can also be provided with means for pushing a number of backward slanting bags on the discharge conveyor belt(s) in the upright position against a stop.
Said means can comprise a partition and a mechanism for successively moving the partition upwards near the rotor, in a direction away from the rotor, downwards, and in a direction towards the rotor. The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures.
Figure 1 shows a perspective schematic view of a part of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a perspective schematic view of a part of a second embodiment.
Figure 3 shows a side view of the device according to Figure 2, also provided with means for pushing objects collected in a row into an upright position against a stop.
Figure 4 shows a side view corresponding to that of Figure 3t in which a row of objects is pushed into the upright position against a stop.
The device according to Figure 1 has two conveyor belts 1 placed next to each other some distance apart for the infeed of objects to be placed in a row, two conveyor belts 2 placed next to each other some distance apart for the discharge of overlapping objects arranged in a row slanting backwards, and a rotor 3 to be driven by a motor 6, which rotor is placed partially between the feed belts 1 and partially between the discharge belts 2.
The rotor 3 has two cams 4 in the form of a jump in the
diameter, i.e. the diameter of the rotor decreases gradually from the outside edge.of a cam 4 to the inside edge of the next cam 4 and increases by a jump at the position of the next cam.
A strip 5 running in the peripheral direction of the rotor 3 is fixed at the outside edge of the cams 4, a chamber being formed at the position of the cams.
An object lying on the feed belts 1 and approaching a vertical cam 4 is signalled (for example by means of a photoelectric cell or microswitch) . The motor '6 of the rotor 3 is activated, with the result that the rotor rotates in the direction of the arrow and the object is deposited slanting backwards on the discharge belts 2. The cam 4 in the form of a diameter jump makes space for the object to be placed on the discharge belts 2 behind a row of objects which have already been deposited on said discharge belts 2 and which on rotation of the rotor through the increasing centre line are slid up on the discharge belts 2 or are conveyed by the driven discharge belts 2 over the horizontal width of a backward slanting object. In the latter case the object deposited on the discharge belts can be signalled by, for example, a photoelectric cell or microswitch giving a signal to the drive motor of the discharge belts 2. A well- coordinated row of backward slanting objects whose top edges lie in one horizontal plane is thus produced.
As soon as the second cam 4 of the rotor 3 takes up a vertical position at the top side of the rotor, the rotor stops and waits for a signal that the next object is approaching said cam.
The embodiment shown in Figure 2 differs from that of Figure 1 only in that two rotors 4 are placed a slight distance apart on the same shaft.
As Figures 3 «a d 4 show, the device according to Figure 2 can also be provided with means for pressing a certain number of objects (five in the embodiment shown) in an upright position against each other so that the row of objects can be pushed by means of a hydraulically or pneumatically operated pressure plate 7 into a tilted outer, which is not shown. Said means comprise a fixed stop 8 and a movable partition
9 which is connected to a shoe 10, which is fitted in a box 13 so that it is movable by means of rollers 11 on a track 12. This box 13 contains a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 14 which can pivot slightly at 15• The box 13 can be moved up and down by means of a
hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 16. Through operation of the cylinders 14 and 16, the partition 9 can in succession be moved up behind a row of objects between the rotors 3 and between the discharge belts 2, moved in the direction of the stop 8, lowered, and returned to the initial position near the rotors.
Various variants are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, one feed belt 1, one discharge belt 2, and two rotors 3 placed on either side of the discharge end of the feed belt and the feed end of the discharge belt could be used. The rotors 3 can also have one cam or more than two cams 4.
What is essential for the invention is that the objects, viewed in the feed direction, are deposited slanting backwards on a discharge belt, and that for the addition of the next object to a row space is created at the rear side of a row of objects by means of a diameter jump (cam) in a rotor or two rotors placed on one shaft, in which space the object to be added is placed. The discharge belts 2 can be provided with a profile in order to prevent the objects from slipping out of a slanted position.
The invention is not limited to collecting filled bags in a row, but is also suitable for boxes, newspapers and the like.
The result of use of the invention is that the objects when placed in an upright position do not shoot up, and that the top edges of the objects thus remain lying in a horizontal plane.