Technical Field

The present invention relates to a products sorting device, in particular for sorting products of various shapes and sizes, e.g. light, high speed.

Background Art

Sorting devices are usually used in warehouses or industrial plants to distribute products according to their kind, such as weight, shape, size, intended use, etc. They are generally provided with addressing members that convey the products, for example moved by conveyor belts, from an entrance area provided with a single exit lane to an exit area provided with several parallel product receiving lanes.

In the particular sector of the sorting of light or unstable products, such as e.g. cans for containing foodstuffs, bottles for liquids, etc., the sorting devices are arranged downstream of the entrance area to convey the products to the different receiving lanes by means of a movable lane with two separate sides substantially corresponding to the product to be conveyed.

The movable lane is usually positioned above the conveyor belt to address/route therefore selectively the products to the receiving lanes. The movable lane is supported between a first and a second supporting frameworks that are oriented transversely to the belt and is extended along the longitudinal forward direction of the products. It is provided with an inlet channel and an outlet channel and is supported by the first framework in a fixed manner so that the inlet channel is always positioned at the point where the only product exit lane is located from the entrance area, while the second framework supports the outlet channel in a movable manner so that the outlet channel can move across the conveyor belt, e.g. by means of actuators, in order to address the various products to the various receiving lanes of the exit area.

The second framework, placed in a position proximal to the exit area, substantially supports the movable lane so that the latter is able to rotate around an axis orthogonal to the belt to address the products to the various parallel receiving lanes. The addressing/routing of the products is carried out according to two main known techniques.

A first technique involves the use of a sorting device with braking sides. In particular, at the point where the exit channel of the movable lane is located there are sides that allow to slow down, stop or let the products to be sorted flow before they are addressed to one of the receiving lanes of the exit area.

In particular, the braking sides are provided with belts which, as required, rotate idle or operate to brake the products before they enter the receiving lanes. This way the products can either slide into the movable lane or stop inside it, thus defining a sliding phase and a stopping phase for the products inside it.

During the sliding phase, the exit channel is always stationary and facing a specific receiving lane of the exit area and, at the same time, the movable belts rotate idle so that the products can slide and cross the movable lane.

During the stopping phase, the belts counteract the forward movement of the products by braking them inside the movable lane so that the latter can move towards another receiving lane. After the exit channel has been positioned in the desired receiving lane, the belts return idle thus allowing the products to move to the exit area.

The second addressing technique involves the use of a sorting device with tracking sides. In particular, the tracking sides are supported by the second movable framework positioned at the point where the exit channel is located and are provided with elements that can be extended along the longitudinal forward direction of the belt. In detail, the transverse motion of the movable lane exit channel is followed by a simultaneous and progressive lengthening of the tracking sides, carried out by the movement of the second framework along the longitudinal direction, so that the products can be accompanied towards the desired receiving lane without braking them until they reach the exit area.

It should also be pointed out that the sorting devices are intended to convey products of different sizes, in particular different widths from time to time.

For this purpose, there is an adjustment of the distance between the sides at both the inlet and outlet channels in order to increase or reduce the distance between the sides depending on the width of the product and thus allow the products of different sizes to be conveyed.

Generally, the adjustment of the distance can be carried out in different ways in the inlet and outlet channels depending on the type of sorting device, its technical characteristics and the amount of different products to be sorted. For example, in the case of frequently changing product sizes, it is preferable to use automatic adjustments. Otherwise, when the devices are for a long time dedicated to sorting products of the same size, manual adjustments are enough.

Furthermore, it should be pointed out that, since the inlet channel of the movable lane is supported by the first framework in a fixed way, the installation of automatic adjustments (even with servo drives or motorizations) in the first framework does not require any particular technical difficulty. For this reason automatic adjustments are often used in the inlet channel installed in the first framework.

On the contrary, since the outlet channel of the movable lane is supported by the second framework so that it can move transversely, having automatic adjustments is complicated since the second framework already has several motorizations and automatisms necessary to move the channel transversely to and from the different receiving lanes of the exit area. As a result, the distance adjustments between the sides at the point where the second framework is located are almost always manual. The Applicant has ascertained that the manual adjustment of the distance of the exit sides requires an interruption of the activities by switching off the device to allow an operator to set the distance. As a result, working times are lengthened enormously with consequent losses in terms of production output.

Description of the Invention

The Applicant has thus conceived actuation means that are able to move the movable lane crosswise and, at the same time, are able to adjust the distance between the sides, at the exit channel, automatically, so as to create a sorting device that allows speeding up production while keeping the manufacturing costs of the device itself low.

The present invention therefore relates to a products sorting device according to claim 1 which has structural and functional characteristics such as to meet the aforementioned requirements and at the same time to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks with reference to the prior art.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a products sorting device, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting examples, in the attached tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sorting device according to the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are detailed perspective views of the movable lane of the device in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of the front framework supporting the movable lane according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional perspective view of the framework in Figure 4; Figures 6 and 7 are schematic views from above of the lane of the device in Figure 1 moving crosswise;

Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of the sorting device according to a further embodiment.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a products sorting device, preferably for light products, and adapted to be installed in a warehouse or industrial plant between an entrance area A and an exit area B to distribute and address different types of products between these areas.

In the following description and subsequent claims, the words “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “vertically”, “horizontally”, “left” or “right” are to be understood with reference to the directions shown in the drawings, but are not to be regarded as limiting in any particular direction, but are to be used for descriptive convenience only.

In the following of the present description and in the subsequent claims, “light products” mean, indicatively, products with a weight that can vary from a few grams (e.g. boxes of handkerchiefs) up to 5/6 kg (as large bottles of wine) and over and between 30 mm and 500 mm in size.

As can be seen from the figures, the sorting device 1 comprises a first framework 3 and a second framework 4 installed on top of a product forward-moving platform P, the latter being extended substantially horizontally with respect to the ground. The frameworks 3,4 are adapted to support a movable lane 2 for the addressing of the products between the entrance area A and the exit area B.

As shown in the example in Figure 7, the forward-moving platform P preferably comprises one or more conveyor belts for transporting/moving one or more products to be sorted along a forward direction X-X from the entrance area A to the exit area B by means of the movable lane 2.

On the forward-moving platform P there are therefore substantially three areas: the entrance area A, the exit area B and a sorting area C between the areas A and B, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Preferably, the entrance area A may comprise a single exit lane ai along which the products P move forward to the sorting area C.

In an alternative embodiment, such as the one shown in the examples in Figure 8 and 9 and described in more detail below, the entrance area A may comprise two or more exit lanes ai,a2,...,a _n , along which the products P move forward towards the sorting area C.

Preferably, the exit area B may comprise a plurality of receiving lanes bi,b2,...,b _n each provided with inlet ports gi,g2,...,g _n parallel to each other to receive the products P from the sorting area C.

As will be described in detail later in this description, the movable lane 2 is intended to address the products coming from the exit lane ai of the entrance area A to one of the receiving lanes bi, b _n of the exit area B.

The movable lane 2, in use, is supported by the frameworks 3,4 installed on top of the forward-moving platform P and extends in length between the entrance area A and the exit area B for about the entire length of the forward-moving platform P, and therefore for the entire sorting area C.

Preferably, the first framework 3 is positioned at the entrance area A and the second framework 4 is positioned at the exit area B.

With reference to the example shown in Figure 2 and 6, preferably, the movable lane 2 is provided with two sides 21,22 between which there are an inlet channel 2a, facing the entrance area A, and an outlet channel 2b facing the exit area B. The movable lane 2 addresses the products between the exit lane ai of the entrance area A towards one of the receiving lanes bi, b _n thanks to the alignment of the outlet channel 2b with one of the inlet ports gi,g2,...,g _n . Preferably, the inlet channel 2a and the outlet channel 2b of the movable lane 2 are connected by a central channel 2c.

Preferably, the movable lane 2 is supported in a fixed manner by the first framework 3 so that the inlet channel 2a is substantially aligned with the exit lane ai of the entrance area A. This way, the products moving forward from the entrance area A leave the latter to enter the movable lane 2 from the inlet channel 2a. Differently, the outlet channel 2b is supported in a movable manner by the second framework 4 to move along the direction Y-Y, orthogonal to the forward direction X-X on the platform P.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the sides 21,22 of the lane 2 are arranged parallel to each other and at a predetermined distance L for the passage of the various products. As it will be seen below, this distance L will be set automatically depending on the size of the products to be sorted, e.g. in the case of bottles, depending on the width of the latter.

In detail, each side 21,22 comprises a central profiled element 23,24 which extends in length substantially for the entire length of the central channel 2c. Two extensions 23a, 23b and 24a, 24b, for each side of the lane 2 respectively, are connected at the opposite ends of each profiled element 23,24 by means of hinges 9. In particular, a pair of rear extensions 23a, 24a and a pair of front extensions 23b, 24b, the functions of which will be described in detail later on in this description, are located at the inlet channel 2a and at the outlet channel 2b of the movable lane 2, respectively.

Conveniently, it is possible to fit barriers B1,B2 fixed at the respective side 21,22 and inside the lane 2 and intended to serve as product guides. Each barrier B1,B2 is preferably mounted to cover the central profiled element 23,24, the rear extensions 23a, 24a, the hinges 9 and at least partly to cover the front extensions 23b, 24b. Preferably, the barriers B1,B2 are made of elastic material (e.g. rubber) so that they can bend during transverse movement and alignment of the lane 2 towards one of the inlet ports gi,g2,...,g _n of the receiving lanes bi,b2,...,b _n so as to maintain a harmonious curvilinear profile to the lane itself. This way, the passage of the products along the entire forward path between the entrance area A and the exit area B can be carried out without jerks and/or jolts even at high speeds. As shown in the example in Figure 3, the first framework 3, which can be supported by an upper structure (not shown) of the overhead crane type, for example, is provided with a sub-frame 30, preferably in the shape of an inverted U, to support in a sliding manner two rear forks 31,32 connected to the rear extensions 23a, 24a of the sides 21,22, respectively. In particular, the upper portion of each rear fork 31,32 is supported by means of a prismatic (or helical) couple in order to allow the rear extensions 23a, 24a of the lane 2 to be shifted closer and/or further away so that the distance between the sides 21,22 can be adjusted depending on the size of the products to be received.

According to an embodiment not shown, the adjustment of the distance of the rear extensions 23a, 24a can be carried out by means of appropriate motorized means to speed up the approach and/or removal of the sides 21,22.

Preferably, the connection between the rear forks 31,32 and the rear extensions 23a, 24a of the sides 21,22 is made by means of respective idle linear guides G to allow the sides themselves 21,22 sliding in the direction X-X, as will be explained in detail below.

As shown in the example in Figure 4, the second framework 4, also supported by an upper structure (not shown), e.g. of the overhead crane type, comprises a crossbar 40 which supports inferiorly and in a sliding manner two front forks 41,42 connected to the front extensions 23b, 24b of the sides 21,22, respectively. In particular, with reference to the example in Figures 4 and 6, the first front fork 41 is conventionally identified as the fork of the two more to the right side from an observer’s point of view. Similarly, the first front extension 23b is conventionally identified as the extension of the two more to the right side from an observer's point of view.

As can be seen in the example in Figure 5, the second fork 42 is supported by the crossbar 40 by means of a slide 46 sliding inferiorly to the crossbar 40 by shape coupling to the latter and intended to be moved by respective actuators as will be explained in detail later on in the present description. Similar considerations can be made with reference to the additional slide 45 supporting the first fork 41. For descriptive convenience, the first slide will be indicated below with reference numeral 45 and the second slide will be indicated below with reference numeral 46. Preferably, each profiled element 23,24 is locked together to the respective front fork 41,42 by means of the corresponding hinge 9. According to one version, each hinge 9 is connected to the respective front fork 41,42 by means of a connecting plate 43,44, preferably in the form of an inverted “L”.

Conveniently, as shown in the example in Figure 2, the elastic barriers B1,B2 are fixed at the outlet channel 2b, in particular to the hinge 9 and to the plate 43,44. Advantageously, the crossbar 40 houses, at the bottom, a plurality of linear guides to allow each front fork 41,42 to slide independently along the orthogonal direction Y-Y, and therefore the corresponding sides 21,22. For this purpose, there is a movement assembly M comprising two motorized actuators 5,6 which are connected kinematically and respectively to the forks 41,42 by means of the slides 45,46. In particular, the motorized actuators 5,6 are mounted at one ending extremity 40a of the crossbar 40 to give motion to the forks 41,42 so that they can be moved along the crossbar 40 itself.

Preferably, each actuator 5,6 comprises a motor the shaft of which rotates around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X. The connection between the actuators 5,6 and the slides 45,46 of the forks 41,42 can be made by means of belts 10,11 intended to run between the shaft of each actuator 5,6 and a pulley (not shown) located at the opposite ending extremity 40b of the crossbar 40 on suitable tracks 12,13 formed in the crossbar 40 itself. In particular, each track 12,13 defines, respectively, a sliding path for the left belt 10 and a sliding path for the right belt 11 (with reference to the point of view in Figure 5) that wrap the crossbar 40 longitudinally.

Preferably, the tracks 12,13 of the belts 10,11 are arranged one on top of the other. In particular, the upper track 12 comprises a through tunnel obtained into the crossbar 40 and extended longitudinally along the latter. The lower track 13, on the other hand, is defined in a space comprised between the crossbar 40 and the slides 45,46. The belts 10,11 are conveniently arranged on opposite sides with respect to the axial median of the crossbar 40 and arranged side by side. Substantially, the left belt 10 is intended for the movement of the second slide 46 (Figure 5) while the right belt 11 is intended for the movement of the first slide 45 (Figure 4).

Preferably, the second slide 46 is configured to be connected to the left belt 10 only and to be moved independently by the corresponding actuator 6. Similarly, the first slide 45 is configured to be connected to the right belt 11 only and to be moved independently by the corresponding actuator 5.

This configuration allows, advantageously, obtaining an autonomous movement of each slide. It follows that the movement of the belt 10 affects the movement of the second slide 46 only without affecting/hindering the movement of the first slide 45. Similar considerations can be made with regard to the first slide 45 and to the belt 11. In actual facts, when it is necessary to move the sides 21,22 of the device 1 to orient the movable lane 2, it is possible to selectively move, individually and/or simultaneously the respective slides 45,46 thanks to the special configuration and arrangement of the slides themselves, of the belts 10,11, of the crossbar 40 and of the movement assembly M.

According to a preferred embodiment, the front extensions 23b, 24b of the sides 23,24 are of the braking type. In particular, each front extension 23b, 24b comprises a braking assembly provided with a rotating belt 7,8 around a vertical axis Z-Z orthogonal to the platform P and supported by the front fork 41,42.

Preferably, each belt 7,8 may rotate idly or be moved by an actuator 71,81, the shaft of which is configured to give a rotary motion to the belts 7,8 opposite each other. In particular, with reference to the example in Figure 2, the belt 7 of the right extension 23b rotates clockwise with respect to its axis of rotation while the belt 8 of the left extension 24b rotates counterclockwise with respect to its axis of rotation.

This way, as will be seen later on, the products leaving the movable lane 2 can be slowed down by setting an appropriate belt rotation speed lower than the forward speed of the lane 2 so that the products can be slowed down and/or braked before displacing the outlet channel 2b of the lane 2 towards the various inlet ports gi,g2,...,gn of the receiving lanes bi,b2,...,b _n .

According to an alternative embodiment, the front extensions 23b, 24b of the sides 23,24 are preferably of the tracking type.

With reference to the examples shown in Figure 6 and 7, since the movable lane 2 is supported by the second framework 4 so that the outlet channel 2b moves only transversely along the direction Y-Y, it is necessary that the inlet channel 2a may slide longitudinally along the direction X-X when the sides 21,22 are moved. For this purpose, as mentioned above, the presence of the idle linear guides G allows the rear extensions 23a, 24a to slide along the direction X-X so as to allow the profiled sections 23,24 to move towards the entrance area A.

When it is necessary to displace the outlet channel 2b to change the addressing of the products from one inlet port to another, it is sufficient to activate the actuators 5,6 at the same time to make the slides 45,46 move together in order to displace the sides 21,22 simultaneously transversely along the direction Y-Y (and in particular the front extensions 23b, 24b) so that the outlet channel 2b aligns with one of the inlet ports gi,g2,...,g _n of the receiving lanes bi,b2,...,b _n .

When, on the other hand, it is necessary to displace the front extensions 23b, 24b of the sides 21,22 to adjust the distance L depending on the size of the products, it is sufficient to activate the actuators 5,6 individually so as to make the slides 45,46 move independently to displace the sides 21,22 transversely along the direction Y- Y away from and/or close to each other.

With reference to the embodiment shown in the examples in Figures 8 and 9, it is possible to have one (or even more) additional movable lane 2’ located next to the main movable lane 2 and structurally substantially similar to the latter. This way, it is possible to receive and convey the products sliding on the forward-moving platform P if there are several exit lanes ai, a2,...,a _n in the entrance area A to sort products of different sizes and kinds.

Advantageously, the front extensions of both lanes 2,2’ are supported by the same crossbar 40. In particular, in order to move the additional lane 2’, an additional movement assembly M’ provided with the relevant additional motorized actuators 5’, 6’ (very similar to the actuators 5,6) is provided for the transverse movement of the front extensions of the additional movable lane 2’ .

Preferably, the additional movement assembly M’ is associated with the crossbar 40 on the opposite side with respect to the position of the movement assembly M. In particular, the motorized actuators 5’, 6’ are mounted at the ending extremity 40b opposite the ending extremity 40a of the crossbar 40 to give motion to the additional lane 2’ through the same crossbar 40.

Also in this further embodiment, the additional movement assembly M’ is intended to simultaneously move each side of the additional movable lane 2’ so that the outlet channel may align with one of the receiving lanes of the exit area B. Moreover, the additional movement assembly M’ is intended to move each side of the additional movable lane 2’ independently so that they can approach and move away from each other in order to modify their mutual distance depending on the size of the products to be sorted.

With reference to the example shown in Figure 9, preferably, the forks 4G,42’ intended to support the relevant sides 2G,22’ of the additional lane 2’ have slides 45’, 46’ arranged above the crossbar 40 (instead of below as in the case described with reference to the main lane 2). For this purpose, the crossbar 40 is configured in such a way as to have relevant sliding tracks 12’, 13’ obtained in the crossbar 40 itself to define independent sliding paths for the belts 10’, 1G which, by means of connection to the slides 45’, 46’, are intended for the transverse movement of the additional lane 2’ .

Preferably, the sliding tracks 12’, 13’ are arranged on top of the sliding tracks 12,13 for the belts 10,11, and the operation is quite similar to what described with reference to the example shown in Figure 5.

As can be seen from the present description, it has been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and in particular it is underlined the fact that by means of the sorting device it is possible to move both simultaneously and independently the sides of the movable lane in order to align the latter with one or more receiving lanes present in the exit area and in order to modify their mutual distance from each other depending on the size of the products to be sorted.

It has also been ascertained that the sorting device according to the invention may also have several movable lanes supported downstream by the same crossbar capable, with appropriate motorized movement assemblies, to move all the sides of the lanes simultaneously and/or independently. This way, the manufacturing costs of the device can be reduced even if the products to be sorted are received from more than one entrance area.

The type of structural combinations of the sorting device according to the present invention and the embodiments thereof are potentially numberless and obviously a technician of the branch, in order to satisfy contingent and specific needs, may make numerous modifications and variations to the examples of embodiment described above, all of which are contained within the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the following claims.