Title: System for loading displays.

The present invention relates to a system for loading substantially block-shaped products, such as, for instance, egg boxes.

Such an apparatus is known from WO9851596. In this document it is described how elongated products, for instance egg boxes, can be placed on, for instance, pallets while these articles are furthermore grouped into patterns. In order to obtain patterns of articles mutually rotated, for instance, a quarter turn, articles are passed in a predetermined order through a bend on the same conveyor. From at least two sliding locations, the articles are pushed away from the conveyor, for instance in mutually perpendicular directions. As represented in Fig. 3 of this publication, the articles can be slid directly onto a pallet, or also be collected first whereupon the patterns as a whole are moved further. Not only can stacks or towers of products be formed directly on the pallets, also, the possibility for loading so-called sales packaging units, also called displays, is described. Although, in this manner, the articles can be placed in patterns from a packaging track onto a pallet or into a display, here, a routing of articles or groups of articles is used that requires a lot of floor space. Precisely in packing stations or sorting stations, the loading of displays finds more and more application, and it will be desired that such a system links up directly with the sorting system, more particularly a design called in-line, meaning a "street"- shaped elongation or prolongation of a conveyor track or conveyor tracks.

In order to better meet this requirement, the invention provides a system for loading substantially block-shaped products in a display packaging, comprising, - a feed conveyor for feeding a stream of such products,

- a transfer device for sorting and transferring the products in patterns to the display packaging,

- a display conveyor, and

- a computer for controlling the stream of products through the system, wherein the said feed conveyor, transfer device and display conveyor form a continuous conveying path having a width that is substantially equal to the width of the feed conveyor. In this manner, with great advantage, a compact system as a continuation to a sorting system is obtained, in particular a sorting machine with packer belts. Not only is floor surface economized on, also, the convenient working organization for operators is considerably improved.

In further elaborations, the system can be characterized in that the transfer device further comprises a directing system for directing the block-shaped products; the directing system comprises rotatable advancing element for rotating and sliding the products a quarter turn; the directing system comprises a guiding pusher for rotating and sliding the block-shaped products through a three-quarter turn; the directing system comprises a main conveyor and a side conveyor, while the advancing elements and/or the guiding pushers rotate and slide from the main conveyor to the side conveyor; the transfer device further comprises a pattern former for forming continuous patterns of (m + n) block-shaped products, wherein n products are rotated one quarter turn or a three-quarter turn, with m and n being natural numbers > 0; the transfer device further comprises a loading tongue system; the transfer device further comprises a loading station for loading the displays with the products mentioned. In a still further elaboration, the system can be characterized in that the said feed conveyor comprises at least two side-by-side, parallel conveyor tracks and that immediately after this, the transfer device comprises a dividing system wherein the products supplied along the parallel conveyor tracks are divided into a follow-on stream in a well-defined manner.

This set-up has the advantage that a large processing capacity of products, in particular grouping of products, is obtained, while all types of pallets or displays can be provided with stacks of all sorts of patterns. In particular heavy and monotonous manual labour is thus efficiently replaced. In the following, on the basis of a diagram according to Figure 1, a few details of, and general remarks about the system according to the invention will be explained in further detail. Thereupon, the specifications of three simultaneously filed patent applications of applicant will follow, in which further details and specifications of a few further parts of the system are described.

In Fig. 1, with a feed conveyor 1, block-shaped products, for instance egg boxes, are supplied in conveying direction T to a transfer device 2, with which the products, often joined into patterns, are transferred onto pallets or in displays which are ready to be loaded in a display conveyor 3. In the highly schematic exemplary embodiment, this latter comprises a display lift 3a allowing a display trolley 3b to be brought to the correct height so that with the transfer device, in a suitable manner, stacks of products, or also patterns thereof, can be built up.

In more detail, the transfer device comprises a directing system 40, with, in this exemplary embodiment, a main conveyor 40a and a side conveyor 40b, then, a pattern former 50 allowing the directed products to form narrowly joined patterns, and after that, a loading tongue system 60 allowing positioning of the patterns on the pallet or in the display in a suitable manner, more particularly in an absolutely undisturbed manner. With such a set-up, a system is obtained which, as a unit, can be directly linked up with a packaging line. In particular for reasons of logistics and the arrangement of the packing station environment this is of great importance, the more so because, as the width of the whole is substantially equal to the width of the packaging line, upon design, the existing dimensions can be maintained.

In a further exemplary embodiment to be mentioned here, products are supplied by two side-by-side, parallel feed conveyors. In addition to the parallel doubling of systems according to the invention, the transfer device will further comprise a dividing system over its double width. With such a dividing system, the different feed streams can be controlled such that waiting times can be reduced, to thus compose patterns in as efficient a manner as possible. More particularly, here, patterns containing a particular a-symmetry are to be considered.

It will be clear to any skilled person that minor modifications in the whole of this system are understood to be included in the appended claims.

In further clarification of the different parts of the transfer device, here, reference is made not only to three simultaneously filed patent applications of applicant, but these will, hereinafter, be incorporated in their entirety, and be called part 1, part 2 and part 3, relating to, successively, part 1 POSITIONING APPARATUS, i.e. the directing system as mentioned hereinabove; part 2, PATTERN FORMER, as indicated hereinabove; and part 3, LOADING TONGUE, which is understood to include a stack supporting system, which corresponds to the display conveyor mentioned hereinabove. The numerals of Figures and parts are adjusted in a clear manner, i.e., in part 1, all are preceded by numeral 1, in part 2, all are preceded by numeral 2 in part 3, all are preceded by numeral 3.

POSITIONING APPARATUS

Part 1 relates to an apparatus for moving substantially block-shaped products from a continuous stream of such products on a first conveyor, to a second conveyor, in order to therewith form patterns of these products, while

the products are carried along by advancing elements on the first conveyor in a conveying plane at a fixed distance above this conveying plane in a conveying direction T.

Such an apparatus is known from NL1025432 of applicant. In this specification, an endless conveyor with advancing elements, provided as a paternoster, is, successively, above a portion of a first conveyor, then above a second conveyor designed as track of freely rotating roller axles, and, further downstream, above a portion of a third conveyor. The second conveyor or track mentioned functions as buffer track. The combination of this assembly of conveyors with the advancing elements thereabove enables the formation of continuous rows of products, in the present case, typically, packaging units, while thus formed patterns of rows can be packaged in so-called outer boxes. However, with such a combination of conveyors it is impossible to compose patterns other than uniform rows of successive products, such as packaging units.

In order to remedy this shortcoming, the invention provides an apparatus for moving substantially block-shaped products from a continuous stream of such products on a first conveyor, to a second conveyor in order to thus form patterns of the products mentioned, while the products are carried along by advancing elements on the first conveyor in a conveying plane at a fixed distance above this conveying plane in a conveying direction T,

- wherein each advancing element further comprises a hinge arm with a hinge arm drive,

- wherein the hinge arm is provided at the downstream side of such an advancing element,

- wherein such a hinge arm is rotatable in a plane substantially parallel to said conveying plane, and about a hinge arm pivot situated on one of the sides of said first conveyor,

- wherein the products are slid away sideways, from the first conveyor onto the second conveyor and have then heen rotated through an angle of approximately 90 ⁰ C,

- wherein the said second conveyor is provided at least partly and substantially at the same height adjacent the first one, on the above-mentioned side, and

- wherein further, a pattern control unit is comprised for controlling at least the hinge arm drive for composing desired combinations therewith of m products, carried along only in the conveying direction T, and n products slid sideways and rotated, with m and n being natural numbers, each > 0. With great advantage, it is possible to thus compose several types of patterns with similar conveyors.

An apparatus for rotating products such as packaging units during conveying is known from DE10123081. Here too, patterns of mutually rotated products are formed. However, the products are carried along by the belt and not by advancing elements. In particular, a turnstile is described arranged at a well-defined location next to the conveyor. This means not only an additional unit next to the conveyor, but also, the conveying velocity of the conveyor, the size of the product and the time path of the rotational movement for each following product must be accurately geared to each other, which requires complex control. In this document is has not been indicated either in which manner patterns can be composed of rotated products or non-rotated products. Further, a pattern former for packaging units of applicant is known from EP1246767, wherein patterns, similar to those mentioned and desired hereinabove, can be composed. This apparatus is equipped with grippers that grip each unit and which, then, themselves, translate and rotate in the correct direction. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that this apparatus with gripper guide and gripper control is much more complex and takes up much more space.

In further embodiments, the apparatus is characterized in that the hinge arm drive comprises a crank drive;

the hinge arm and the crank drive are comprised in the same advancing element housing, while the advancing element housing is formed as a strip- shaped body perpendicular to the conveying direction T; the crank drive comprises a connecting rod and a pusher rod, wherein the pusher rod extends in the perpendicular direction mentioned and is reciprocally movable between a position of rest and a pushing away position, and wherein the connecting rod is rotatably connected, by one end, to the pusher rod and, by the other end, about a connecting rod pivot on the hinge arm, wherein, for the other end mentioned, the corresponding connecting rod pivot on the pivot arm is located downstream relative to the hinge arm pivot; in case of rotation, upon the reciprocal movement mentioned, the end of the pusher rod remote from the connecting rod is guided along a curve while a leading profile and an outfeed profile are successively followed; each of these profiles is arranged on a lifting table which can be raised for following the profile, and vice versa; the profiles are wedge-shaped, with the leading profile diverging in a wedge- shape and the outfeed profile tapering into a point-shape; further, a guiding pusher is comprised, which is controlled by the pattern control unit and which allows the block-shaped products to be rotated in a direction opposite the rotational direction obtained by such a hinge arm; the guiding pusher comprises at least a single vertical plate piece that can be positioned diagonally at a well-defined distance above the conveying plane of said first conveyor in the continuous stream; the guiding pusher comprises four plate parts which can each be separately positioned, while accordingly, for successive products, a desired separate rotation and/or passage is obtained; and the pattern control unit further controls the velocities of the conveyors mentioned.

With great advantage, a positioning apparatus for composing patterns is obtained which can translate and rotate block-shaped products supplied in rows, so that each desired pattern can be formed while even the manner the block-shaped products are printed is taken into account, while, each time, a desired view side can be obtained. In particular, this positioning apparatus offers the possibility to compose patterns which are placed on, for instance, a pallet that is directly suitable for use in a shop.

Further details and particulars will be described and elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of a few Figures, wherein Fig. 1 shows an advancing element according to the present invention; wherein Fig. 2 schematically shows a top plan view of a part of a conveying track with, in particular, the apparatus according to the present invention, and wherein Fig.3 gives a perspective view of the part of the conveying track according to Fig. 2.

In these Figures, the same parts have the same reference numerals. In the view according to Fig. 2, block-shaped products 100, in particular packaging units or packaging boxes for eggs, are supplied in a continuous stream in a conveying direction T on a first conveyor 10, by, in the situation drawn, two first conveyors 10a, b situated side by side. In the represented situation, this carrying along is effected by advancing elements 1 which carry along the products 100 on a track with a conveying surface of freely rotating rollers, while the advancing elements 1 are disposed somewhat above the conveying surface, and carry the products along while pushing against the upstream side of the products, with the combination of rollers and pushers utilized here composing the first conveyors 10a, b. In order to form patterns wherein the products are to be rotated a quarter turn, the apparatus according to the invention comprises advancing elements 1, one of which is represented in further detail in Fig. 1.

Such an advancing element 1 has, on its downstream side, a hinge arm 2 which can rotate about a hinge arm pivot 4 by means of a binge arm drive 3. As a result, a product is simultaneously rotated and slid sideways onto an adjoining second conveyor 11 located at approximately the same height, with, accordingly, in the situation drawn, two adjoining second conveyers lla, b. In the represented exemplary embodiment, this hinge drive 3 is a crank drive. In the present exemplary embodiment, the represented second conveyors lla, b are endless conveyors, for instance conveyor belts with belts of suitable material, on which the products find a place and are carried along.

This crank drive comprises, in particular, a connecting rod 31 and a pusher rod 32 which are mutually coupled by a pusher rod connecting axle 33, while the connecting rod 31 and the hinge arm 2 are interconnected at the location of a connecting rod joint 43, for instance a vertical axle. The location of the joint 34 is chosen such that, upon pushing, the advancing element 1 rotates forward, which is effected through a location of pivot 34 downstream relative to the hinge arm pivot 4. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that with an upstream location, the same rotation can be obtained by pulling. Further, other generally known rotation constructions can be utilized, for instance with magnets or, also, small motors. It is further indicated in

Fig. 1 how the respective parts are accommodated in a strip-shaped advancing element housing 5, while, for the folded-in situation, the whole is typically directed perpendicularly to the conveying direction T. With such a drive, the pusher rod 32 is moved to and fro according to a direction p, while the hinge arm swerves out and moves back again. In order to move the pusher rod 32, the end remote from the connecting rod is guided along a profile, i.e. a leading profile 12 for a forward rotating hinge arm 2, and an outfeed profile 13 for a returning hinge arm 2.

More particularly, it is indicated in Fig. 3 that a leading profile 12a is raised in the path of the advancing element and then contacts the pusher

rod 32 in a profile passage 14. In this embodiment, the leading profile 12 is wedge-shaped. The outfeed profile 13 is also wedge-shaped but here, is point- shaped in the downstream direction, and can also be raised while the hinge arm 2 is gradually moved back by a tension spring 35. As a rule, the vertical movement is a lifting movement, utilizing, for instance, lifting elements in a lifting table block.

In Figs. 2 and 3, further, guiding pushers 15 are shown. They enable rotation of the product in a direction opposite the direction of rotation obtained with a hinge arm 2. In the Figure, rotational directions can be told from squares in the corners of the top surfaces of these products 100.

These guiding pushers 15 according to the present exemplary embodiment are designed as plate pieces or plate-shaped material pieces and, more particularly, are built up from segments 15a,b,c,d, running diagonally above the first conveyors 10, and can be vertically moved to and fro, segment- wise, in the continuous stream of products. In particular, suitable materials will be chosen for carrying out the pushing movement in the desired manner, while in particular frictional characteristics of the materials of the respective material pieces are taken into account. In particular plastics which can be used for the above-mentioned egg boxes require a well defined choice. Furthermore, a combination of pushing and moving can be required while the products are simultaneously rotated and moved in two directions. In the represented exemplary embodiment, to that end, rollers of suitable plastic are used, running free in vertical direction.

With the above-mentioned combination of advancing elements 1 and guiding pushers 15, successive products may or may not be rotated, and further also a quarter turn to the left or a quarter turn to the right. This is achieved by a pattern control unit, typically, a computer carrying out a preset signal sequence.

With such a control unit, for the situation shown in Figs 2 and 3, the following movements, or combinations thereof, can be carried out, while for the

sake of clarity, squares are indicated on the top surfaces of the products 100a,b,c:

- rotating and sliding products 100 with a hinge arm 2; this means, viewed in the conveying direction T, rotating a product to the right on conveyor 10b, with the square ending up downstream, on the left front side in the case of the represented product 100b; for a product 100a on conveyor 10a this would result in a rotation and sliding movement to the left, with the square ending up upstream at the right rear side; as indicated hereinabove, in case of rotation, the profiles will have to be raised in time; - when only rotating and sliding with a hinge arm 2, the guiding pushers 15, in particular one or several segments 15a,b,c,d should not be in the way and should be in the raised position; in the represented situation, above the conveyor 10b, all segments are in the raised position, while above conveyor 10a only the segments 15a and 15d are in the raised position; - if a reversed rotation is desired, as represented, for instance, for a product 100a on conveyor 10a in Fig. 3, then, the desired segments, in this case the segments 15b,e, are lowered and the product 100b supplied in the direction T and carried along by advancing element 1 in closed condition will contact segment 15b; product 100b is then carried along by, simultaneously, the advancing element 1 and the above-mentioned vertical rollers, and then ends up, with a first part, on the adjoining conveyor 11a; for this conveyor 11a, a suitable surface material is selected, for instance rough with suitable frictional properties, and further, a velocity is set that carries the part mentioned along more rapidly than the trailing ground surface part, so that the rotation represented in Fig. 3 is obtained; it will be clear to any person skilled in the art that in a similar manner, all sorts of manners of positioning such products are possible.

It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that, both when allowing a passage and when rotating with the guiding pushers 15, depending

on the requirements of the pattern to be formed, the segments are raised and lowered in the correct order while this is controlled by the pattern control unit.

In further exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, several guiding pusher combinations can be utilized, for instance when pushing at two corners of a product gives a suitable rotation.

Furthermore, the rollers in the segments can be driven, or also, the guiding pushers can be set at different angles. In a still further embodiment, the profiles can be designed as switches.

Further utilizations and designs realized as variants on the above- described exemplary embodiments are understood to fall within the protective scope of the appended claims. Not further discussed are, for instance, different types of conveyors and further types of motors and drives for the various moving pieces and parts.

PATTERN FORMER

Part 2 relates to an apparatus for forming substantially rectangular, continuous patterns of substantially block-shaped products.

Such an apparatus is known from WO9851596. In this publication, it is described how elongated products, for instance egg boxes, can be placed on, for instance, pallets, while these articles are furthermore grouped in patterns. In order to obtain patterns with articles rotated, for instance, a quarter turn relative to each other, articles on the same conveyor are passed in a predetermined order through a bend. From at least two sliding locations, the articles are pushed away from the conveyor, for instance in mutually perpendicular directions. The articles can be slid directly onto a pallet, or be collected first, whereupon the patterns as a whole are moved further.

Although, in this manner, the articles need not each be separately rotated on the conveyor, it requires the provision of a bend in the feed path of a conveyor. With lack of space, especially in surroundings where packaging

tracks link up with sorting tracks on a large scale, it is difficult to apply such a solution.

In order to find a set-up which requires considerably less floor space, the invention provides an apparatus for forming substantially rectangular, continuous patterns of substantially block-shaped products which are partly rotated a quarter turn, or a multiple thereof, relative to each other, and which are supplied on two conveyors located at least substantially at the same height, while the patterns are formed through sliding products or groups of products with a sliding apparatus to a pattern forming location, wherein the products within the groups have the same orientation, and wherein sliding is carried out in two directions perpendicular to each other, while the products are supplied in a conveying direction T by at least two adjoining first conveyors to a directly adjacent, downstream, joint second conveyor that functions as pattern forming location, wherein, with the sliding apparatus, patterns of products and/or groups of products are obtained through sliding in two mutually perpendicular directions.

With the apparatus according to the invention, with great advantage, a set-up is obtained wherein directly after sorting and filling, patterns of, for instance, boxes, can be composed and wherein patterns in this compact shape can directly thereupon be stacked in outer packages or on pallets.

Further elaborations of the apparatus of the invention are characterized in that with the sliding apparatus, in each of the directions mentioned, patterns of products or groups of products are obtained, while sliding-up is effected in combination with sliding-along and/or sliding-back; the main direction of the products or group of products on one first conveyor is perpendicular to that of the products or group of products on the other first conveyor, while on one of these first conveyors, the main direction is directed in the conveying direction T;

the sliding apparatus comprises at least two parts, called herein a main direction slide and a transverse direction slide, while sliding movements in four directions are enabled, downstream or upstream, and to the left or the right, respectively, when viewed in the conveying direction T; each said part comprises at least a single advancing element which can be positioned at the location of a product or a group of products, while a product or group of products can be slid in one of the four directions mentioned; the main direction slide comprises an endless main conveying element, for instance at least a single endless chain driven by at least a single toothed wheel rotating about a substantially horizontal axle, while the at least one advancing element is connected to the main conveyor, is directed perpendicularly to the conveying direction T, and can further be positioned in substantially vertical direction between a pushing position and a passage position; the transverse slide comprises an endless transverse conveying element, for instance at least a single chain driven by at least a single toothed wheel rotating about a substantially horizontal axle, wherein the at least one advancing element is connected to the said transverse conveying element, is directed perpendicularly to the conveying direction T, and can further be positioned in substantially vertical direction between a pushing position and a passage position; the transverse slide comprises an endless transverse conveying element, for instance at least a single endless conveying element driven by at least one single toothed wheel rotating about a substantially vertical axle, while the at least one advancing element is connected to the said transverse conveying element, is directed parallel to the conveying direction T, and can further be positioned in substantially vertical direction between a pushing position and a passage position; and

two advancing elements with opposite conveying pieces are connected to the transverse conveying element while, for the advancing elements, an opposite direction of displacement is effected.

Owing to, in particular, the possibilities of sliding along and sliding back, a highly flexible and suitable manner of forming many formats and compositions is obtained.

In the following, on the basis of a few Figures, the invention will be elucidated and described in further detail; wherein Fig. 1 gives a first example of a pattern obtained with the apparatus according to the invention; wherein Fig. 2 gives a second example of a pattern to be composed, and wherein Fig. 3 gives, in perspective, an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, with the pattern according to Fig. 2 therein. In the different Figures, the same pieces or parts are given the same reference numeral or indication.

In Fig. 1, it is schematically indicated how a pattern of block-shaped products P, such as, for instance, egg boxes in all sorts of sizes and indicated in a known manner as 2x3, 2x4, 2x5, 2x6 etc. can be realized through sliding movements. Successive situations are indicated with Al, Bl, Cl, Dl, D2, and

RlOO for the end situation RlOO with resulting pattern 100.

On the left hand side in this Figure, two groups of three products each are supplied in conveying direction T, each along their own conveying track, and are fed to a joint conveying track which will function as pattern forming location.

These groups, having arrived according to situation Al, are slid sideways along sA, and give situation Bl. Then, a new group is slid alongside, along sB, and hence, in the same direction T, so that situation Cl is formed.

The three groups are now slid together according to sC, so that situation Dl is obtained. An identical formation can be obtained and is then called

ie

situation D2, after which sliding together in the direction of, for instance, T gives the situation RlOO for the desired end pattern 100. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that in the two mutually perpendicular directions shown, sliding movements can be carried out which are a combination of sliding up, sliding along and sliding back.

In Fig. 2, a second pattern, and the way of composing it, is shown. Similar products P as mentioned hereinabove for Figure 1 are now supplied along three conveyors, schematically indicated with arrows T on the left hand side in Figure 2 for the conveying direction, while these supply streams converge at a joint pattern forming location. The successive situations are indicated with K, L, M, and R200, which indicates the end situation for the obtained end result with pattern 200. In situation K, it is indicated, successively, how two groups of products P are slid together from two positions according to the arrow combination sK. In situation L, a single product, having first been rotated a quarter turn or, also, a three-quarter turn, is brought alongside or slid alongside by a conveyor according to arrow sL. In situation M, the pattern is finished with a sliding movement sM whereby a pattern R200 is obtained, disposed in a centered manner around a dotted line.

In the technical field of egg box packages, such a pattern is widely used and is suitable to be processed further. This mostly means stacking such patterns on a pallet or in an outer box, for instance a display which is immediately ready for retail purposes.

In Fig. 3, an apparatus according to the invention is represented in perspective, with, therein, in particular, the pattern as described hereinabove according to Fig. 2. In conveying direction T, four side-by-side first conveyors (indicated schematically) to be divided over two symmetrical halves, Le. the first conveyors Ia, 2a and Ib, 2b, supply block-shaped products P, such as, for instance, egg boxes, to a joint second conveyor or conveyor track 3. On the part of the apparatus where this joint conveyor track 3 is located, is the pattern forming location where the products P are shifted for composing the desired

patterns. In this exemplary embodiment, the conveyor track 3 consists of freely rotating plastic rollers 31 over which the products can be slid also in transverse direction. The first conveyors Ia, Ib, 2a, 2b can also be designed as freely rotating rollers with pushers or advancing elements or, also, freely rotating rollers, driven through friction with belts passing underneath, or also, and endless belt.

The pattern is formed with a sliding apparatus 4, while sliding in two directions is possible. In the conveying direction T, a main direction slide with advancing elements, attached to, for instance, an endless conveying element can be used, or also, a slide that, each time, pushes up in the direction T. To the skilled person it will be clear that many further elaborations of such a slide can be used.

For sliding in the transverse direction, a transverse slide 5 is provided, with a toothed belt 51, with sliding plates 52a,b, with fastening blocks 53a,b, slide guides 54, 55 and with lift motors 56a,b. By fastening the sliding plates 52a,b on two opposite sides of the toothed belt 51, the slides will always move in opposite directions. A different type of conveyor can also be used. Furthermore, through the use of a lifting mechanism, sliding from one side towards the middle or away from the middle is thus enabled. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that this structure is accommodated in a housing or frame, to which in particular the slide guides are connected. Such a construction can also be utilized for the main direction slide, for sliding parallel to the conveying direction T.

It is further noted that the first conveyors Ia, Ib, 2a, 2b can be part of a conveying system where the products P are already in the correct orientation by already rotating them there through a predetermined angle. In this manner it may be effected that on the first conveyors 2a, 2b, the main longitudinal direction of the block-shaped products extends parallel to the conveying direction, while on the conveyors Ia and 2b, the main longitudinal direction of the block-shaped products extends perpendicular to the conveying

direction. These first conveyors can also come directly from a sorting machine, for instance as packaging tracks or packer belts. Furthermore, the first conveyors can have any possible combination of widths, wherein for the pattern according to Fig. 1, two equally wide conveyors are used while for the Figures 2 and 3 two equally wide and one narrower conveyors are used.

It is clearly expressed that for the slide apparatuses and their drives many possibilities are known in this field of technology.

It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that modifications and variants are possible in the exemplary embodiments described hereinabove, which are understood to fall within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

LOADING TONGUE

Part 3 relates to an apparatus for loading and stacking products, in particular patterns of products, on a supporting surface.

Such an apparatus is known from DE4141314. In particular described therein is the manner in which a generally known extendible loading floor or loading tongue can be divided into parts to thus, as required, limit the width. Such a floor or tongue functions as a bridge rather than as intermediate location for the load to be conveyed.

With it, carefully placing and sliding off, especially, patterns of products is impossible. Placing such patterns on a floor or tongue not only provides a great risk of disturbing the pattern, but there is also no monitoring during removal from the floor or tongue.

A loading tongue is further known from FR1531662, which serves in particular for moving and loading, for instance, sheets of paper or magazines. Conveying such products via the described extendible tongue is effected with the aid of, inter alia, an air cushion obtained through the described construction of the upper layer of this loading tongue. With the aid of pusher

elements, the products are carefully slid on, over and away from the loading tongue.

Not only is such a construction for moving products such as boxes, crates or further packaging units far too complex, it would also require very heavily designed pneumatics.

In order to remedy the drawbacks of the described techniques, the invention provides an apparatus for loading and stacking products, in particular patterns of products, on a supporting surface, wherein the products are supplied in a conveying direction by a conveyor into the proximity of a stacking location, with, at the downstream end of the conveyor, a loading tongue which is reciprocally movable, including extendible, in its longitudinal direction, more particularly parallel to said conveying direction, wherein the products are placed from the loading tongue onto the supporting surface, while the apparatus further comprises a control which coordinates the movement of said conveyor, loading tongue and supporting surface, while at least upon loading of the loading tongue, the velocity of the conveyor is approximately as great as the speed of extension of the loading tongue.

What is thus achieved in a suitable and advantageous manner, is that, when loading the floor or tongue, the patterns are not touched at all, and are therefore not disturbed. This is of importance also with regard to the stability of the stack, the separate layers can differ, for instance be each others' mirror image, to thus avoid continuous vertical seams, while especially such a manner of stacking can be advantageously effected with the greatest accuracy. In further elaborations of the invention, the apparatus is characterized in that the conveyor comprises a surface of rollers which rotate freely about axles perpendicular to the conveying direction T with a pusher thereabove, while the pusher is reciprocally movable in accordance with the loading tongue;

the supporting surface is formed either by a bottom piece of a stack supporting system, such as, for instance, a floor of a pallet, or by a layer of a previously applied pattern; the apparatus further comprises a lift for moving the stack supporting system in vertical direction, while, when loading, the supporting surface is positioned closely beneath the loading tongue; the products are stacked on a collecting trolley while the collecting trolley is positioned by the lift; that the collecting trolley comprises a frame for supporting and keeping together a stack of patterns with a stack holder, such as for instance a pallet or a display, or a combination thereof; the apparatus for building up stacks of patterns of products P comprises a positioning apparatus for a forklift truck; and the apparatus for building up stacks of patterns of products P comprises a lifting table.

With such a design, in a suitable manner, layers of patterns are efficiently loaded on a pallet or in a display while further required monotonous and hard manual labour becomes superfluous.

Further details and particulars of the apparatus according to the present invention will be further elucidated in the following on the basis of a few Figures, wherein Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show schematic side views of successive situations of loading, moving and withdrawing the loading tongue; wherein Fig. 4 schematically gives a side view of a lift and a supporting system for the supporting surfaces according to the invention, and wherein Fig. 5 shows, in perspective, the situation according to Fig. 4.

In the different Figures, the same pieces and parts are indicated and numbered identically.

23

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 schematically give a side view of a conveyor 1, a loading tongue 2 and a supporting surface 3. The conveyor 1 comprises a supporting surface of freely rotating rollers 11 and a pusher 10. With the loading tongue 2, products P having been formed into a pattern are brought above the supporting surface. More particularly, the products P are slid away from the conveyor by the pusher 10, onto the loading tongue 2 sliding therebeneath, while the speeds of sliding of the pusher 10 and the extending loading tongue 2 are substantially equal. Extending the loading tongue 2 takes place such that the loading tongue 2 is positioned above a supporting surface 3. Disturbing the patterns is thus prevented.

Then, the products P are retained by the pusher 10 when the loading tongue 2 is pulled away from under the products P, while the pattern is slid onto the supporting surface 3. Furthermore, in Fig. 3, it is indicated that the loading tongue 2 with a tilting device 21 is slightly tilted when sliding off the products P. Extending and withdrawing again is carried out with a loading tongue drive 20, for instance a slide driven by a motor.

The products P are, for instance, egg boxes placed in a manner such that they form a pattern. The situations shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 form a large part of a loading cycle of loading, moving and withdrawing, carried out with the loading tongue 2, with such layers of transferred groups of products P forming layers. For a subsequent group of products such a cycle can be repeated. Such a subsequent layer is then slid on the previous one in a manner similar as hereinabove.

In the following, on the basis of Figs.4 and 5, it will be elucidated how stacks are realized. In Figs. 4 and 5, schematically, a stack supporting system 4 is shown, with, in particular, a housing 41, while in the uprights a system for a lift is provided, allowing vertical upward and downward movement of a collecting trolley 5. Such a trolley 5 comprises, for instance, a mobile substructure 51, with a frame 52 mounted thereon. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that with the lift, the trolley 5 with layers of

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patterns of products P thereon can be brought to the correct height to thus obtain the desired supporting surface 3. The products P can be stacked directly on pallets carried by the collecting trolley, or also in displays D which, in turn, rest on a pallet and may be open at the slide-in side. In Figs. 4 and 5, such a display D is shown, while for one of the sides, only a part is shown to thus illustrate the manner of stacking.

In a further elaboration, the apparatus comprises a positioning apparatus for a forkliffc truck, for instance a stack supporting system 4 as hereinabove, which is provided with a centring rails, between which the forklift truck can be positioned. Also, for building up stacks of patterns, a lifting table can be used. It is clear that then, the display is on this truck or on this lifting table.

It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that minor modifications of the exemplary embodiments as described hereinabove are understood to fall within the scope of the appended claims.