The invention relates to a processing line comprising a number of processing stations spaced apart along the line; and a conveyor system for conveying items to be processed along the line.

Processing lines of this type are used in a variety of applications, particularly in the packaging industry for filling and processing packages. One example is a tray sealing processing line such as the QX1 100 manufactured and sold by Ishida Europe Limited. In this processing line, a tray is supplied onto the line, filled with a food item, sealed with a sealing film and optionally passed to a check weigher and x-ray station before being packaged into a box or the like.

Another example of a known processing line is described in JP-A-52- 59479. This processing line consists of a set of self-supporting modules fixed together side by side, each module having part of a conveyor system along which objects are transported. Cables and other communication equipment extend within an elongate housing which itself extends through the modules. Other modular systems are described in US 2008/0210529 and WO-A- 2007/047602.

The known processing lines have a relatively complex structure in that various processing stations are linked together requiring bespoke cable management solutions, many supporting feet and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, a processing line comprises a number of processing stations spaced apart along the line; a conveyor system for conveying items to be processed along the line; and a conduit supporting the conveyor system and the processing stations and through which services for the processing stations extend.

The new processing line is designed about a conduit for supporting the conveyor system and through which services for the processing stations extend. This therefore achieves two important advantages. Firstly, the previous array of service elements such as cables, air pipes and the like are confined to the conduit leading to significant improvement in safety and overall appearance while secondly the conduit also serves to support the conveyor system resulting in a significant reduction in the number of feet required enabling the line to be more easily cleaned as well as reducing cost. This should be contrasted with JP-A-52-59479, for example, in which the cable housing provides no support function.

Although a single conduit could be manufactured according to the length of processing line, we have devised a new form of conduit which comprises a plurality of modules, each module having a first connector at one end and a second connector at the other end such that a first connector of one module can be coupled to a second connector of a second module to produce a rigid connection therebetween.

This modular structure enables a wide variety of processing lines to be constructed depending upon application but in which the modules can be very easily locked together via the first and second connectors.

The first and second connectors can take a variety of forms such as cooperating apertures secured by bolts or the like but in a preferred arrangement the first and second connectors are defined as a plug and socket. In this way the two modules can be very easily pushed together.

Similarly, the services such as electrical and communication services can be provided by long cables and the like extending through the conduit but again these are preferably provided in module form within the conduit modules and joined together by respective connectors at each end of the module.

Typically, the conduit has a curved, preferably circular, cross-section. Not only does this improve the appearance of the line but also allows it to be cleaned more thoroughly which is particularly important in the case of a food processing line.

Typically, the conveyor system comprises a conveyor belt entrained around the set of rollers although other conveyor systems based on driven rollers alone, vacuum feed devices and the like could be used. In any event, the conveyor system is supported along its length, preferably by brackets mounted on the conduit.

The modular construction of the conduit allows other units easily to be connected. For example, one or more feed units may be provided having one or more feet units each having a foot at one end for contacting the ground and a connector plate at the other end for insertion between two modules and adapted to allow services to pass therethrough.

In another case, an emergency stop unit is provided having a user actuable member supported on an arm, a connector plate at the other end of the arm for insertion between two modules of the conduit and adapted to allow services to pass therethrough; a means for coupling the user actuable member to a communications service in the conduit.

It will readily be appreciated that other units could also be attached to the conduit in this way. Examples include remote control units, touch screen controls for access to all equipment along the process line, Break-out boxes for the connection of 3 ^rd party equipment to the services and communications within the conduit, start / stop and reset control push button units.

Examples of processing stations include one or more of a tray loading station, product deposit station, sauce depositing station, integrated check weigher (before seal), tray reject station, tray diverging station, tray sealing station, tray converging station, x-ray station, check weigher station, tray labeling station.

An example of a tray sealing processing line according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of the tray sealing line;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the tray sealing line shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 illustrates two conduit modules prior to engagement;

Figure 4 illustrates connectors for electrical communications services; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the connection between another example of two conduit modules; and,

Figure 6 illustrates the connection of additional units to the conduit.

The tray sealing line shown in Figure 1 and partly in Figure 2 comprises a tray supply station 1 for supplying trays 2 onto a conveyor system 3 for conveying the trays in spaced apart fashion along the line. The conveyor system 3 comprises a number of different sections. The first section 4 is defined by a pair of elongate, side by side belts 5A,5B (Figure 2) for conveying the trays beneath a combinational weigher 7 and a tray loading or filling station 9 and from there to a tray sealing station 1 1 . Gripper bars (not shown) in the tray sealing station 1 1 transfer groups of trays into the tray sealing station 1 1 where a sealing film is heat sealed onto the trays. The gripper bars then transfer the trays onto a second pair of conveyor belts (not shown) but indicated generally at 13 for conveying the sealed trays through a check weigh station 14 and then an x-ray station 15. The DACS check weigh station 14 checks the weight of the sealed pack and automatically rejects any packs that are outside specified limits. A vision inspection station 16 after the X-ray station 15 checks the presence of labels and correctness of information including; date, batch code and bar codes. A packing robot automatically loads sealed packs into boxes or crates ready for distribution

Beneath the conveyor system 3 extends a circular cross-section stainless steel conduit 30 made up of a series of modules 30A-30J . The conduit also extends through the tray sealing station 1 1 .

Electrical communications services are carried exclusively within the conduit 30 so that there are no trailing wires or other equipment. Each station is then coupled with these services as required at junctions between adjacent modules.

One example of the connection between a set of modules is shown in Figure 3 for the modules 30B.30C. In order to achieve a rigid connection, each module is provided with a first connector 35 at one end and a second connector 37 at the other. The connector 35 of each module has three elongate probes 39 which are received in corresponding apertures 41 in the connector 37 of another module when the modules are fitted together so as to form a rigid structure. In order to prevent the modules decoupling, locking screws 90 (similar to those shown in Figure 5) are inserted through apertures 43 to engage in recesses 45 in the probes 39.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the connectors 35,37 also have electrical and communications connecting units 50,52 respectively. These can be seen more clearly in Figure 4. The connecting units 50,52 are provided with Ethernet connectors 54A.54B, earth connectors 56A.56B, AC power connectors 58A,58B and DC power connectors 60A.60B. Thus, when the two modules 30B.30C are pushed together, the services are automatically coupled together by interlocking of the connecting units 50,52.

A second example of a connection is shown in Figure 5. This is the same as the first example except that an additional fluid service such as compressed air is provided along the conduit. Thus, in Figure 5 the connectors 35,37 have been opened up as shown at 80 to allow the passage of compressed air. To prevent leakage, O-rings 82 are provided. Additionally, in this example, the connector units 50,52 are mounted on respective chassis plates 84,86. This improves access to assembly and measurements while reducing the machining required in manufacture. Finally, Figure 5 illustrates a spacer plate 92 for maintaining correct spacing between modules.

It will be noted in Figure 1 that a number of the stations 14,15,16 are supported directly off the conduit 30 while the conveyor system 3 is also supported directly off the conduit via brackets 100. In addition, the conduit itself is supported by a minimum of feet 110. This makes it much easier to clean around the processing line and results in a much neater and more hygienic structure.

The connection of the feet to the conduit can be achieved very easily due to the modular nature of the conduit. This is shown in Figure 6. Figure 6 illustrates how a number of different units can be easily secured to the conduit utilizing a common connector plate design shown at 120. The connector plates 120 have a similar design to the separator plate 92 shown in Figure 5 and it can be seen that the plate has apertures 122 aligned with probes 39 (Figure 3) and an aperture 124 aligned with the connector units 50,52.

In the first unit, two feet 130 extend from the connector plate 120.

In the second unit, a single foot 132 extends below the connector plate

120.

In the third example, an emergency stop extends from the connector plate 120 including a user actuable stop member 134 on the end of an arm 136. The stop member 134 is connected into a communications service via a set of adaptor plates 84, 86 and connectors 50, 52 as described above.

It will readily be appreciated that other optional features can be easily connected to the line via connector plates 120. It will also be appreciated that the services provided through the conduit can be varied depending upon the general type of production line involved while a communications service could be an Ethernet service as shown while other services a e also possible.