SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING PASTA

Abstract

The present invention is related to a conveyor system (1) for a plant for producing elongated pasta, for example spaghetti, with a transfer unit (3) for transferring conveyor elements (4) from a first conveyor unit (2a) to a second conveyor unit (2b), the transfer unit (3) comprising a rotatably mounted cam element (3a) with a gripping device (3b) and a fixedly arranged guide element (3c) with an approximately circular-segment-shaped surface section (3d), which are arranged relative to each other in such a way that a conveyor element (4) taken over by the gripping means (3b) of the cam element (3a) from the first conveyor unit (2a) can be moved by rotation of the cam element (3a) along the approximately circular-segment-shaped surface portion (3d) of the guide element (3c) to a position where the conveyor element (4) can be taken over by the second conveyor unit (2b). The present invention further relates to a plant (A) for the production of elongated pasta and to a method for conveying elongated pasta.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A conveying system for a plant for producing elongated pasta, the conveying system comprising a first conveyor unit and a second conveyor unit as well as a transfer unit for transferring conveyor elements from the first conveyor unit to the second conveyor unit, wherein the transfer unit comprises a rotatably mounted cam element with a gripping device and a fixedly arranged guide element with a surface section, wherein the cam element and the guide element are arranged relative to each other in such a way that a conveyor element taken over by the gripping means of the cam element from the first conveyor unit can be moved by rotation of the cam element along the surface section of the guide element to a position where the conveyor element can be taken over by the second conveyor unit.

17. The conveying system according to claim 16, wherein the transfer unit comprises a first and a second cam element as well as a first and a second guide element each having a surface section, and a second conveyor unit is assigned to each cam element, the first cam element and the first guide element and the second cam element and the second guide element being arranged with respect to one another in such a manner that a conveying element taken over by the gripping device of the respective cam element from the first conveyor unit can be moved by rotation of the respective cam element along the surface section of the respectively associated guide element to a position where the conveying element can be taken over by the second conveyor unit.

18. The conveying system according to claim 17, wherein the first and second cam elements as well as the first and second guide elements are arranged axially symmetrically around the first conveyor unit.

19. The conveying system according to claim 16, wherein the cam element(s) as well as the first conveyor unit and the second conveyor unit(s) can be moved in coordination with each other in such a way that a continuous transfer of the conveyor element from the first conveyor unit to the second conveyor unit can be performed.

20. The conveying system according to claim 16, wherein the first conveyor unit is a pendulum chain.

21. The conveying system according to claim 16, wherein the second conveyor unit(s) is a stripper chain for conveying the conveyor element to a delivery table of a cutting machine.

22. The conveying system of claim 16 wherein the surface section comprises a circular segment.

23. The conveying system of claim 17 wherein the surface section of the first and second cam element and the surface section of the first and a second guide element comprise a circular segment.

24. A plant (A) for producing elongated pasta, comprising a conveying system according to claim 16.

25. A method of conveying elongated pasta, with a conveying system according to claim 16, comprising the steps of: a) conveying a conveyor element, which carries the elongated pasta, by means of a first conveyor unit to a first transfer point, b) takeover of the conveyor element from the first conveyor unit by a transfer unit and conveying of the conveyor element to a second transfer point, c) takeover of the conveyor element at the second transfer point from the transfer unit by a second conveyor unit, wherein in step b) the conveyor element is taken over at the first transfer point by the gripping device of the cam element of the transfer unit, and the conveying of the conveyor element to a second transfer point takes place along the surface section of the guide element of the transfer unit.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the rotational speed of the cam element and the conveying speeds of the first conveyor unit and of the second conveyor unit are matched to one another in such a way that, at the first transfer point and at the second transfer point, the gripping device can pick up the conveyor element from the first conveyor unit and deliver it to the second conveyor unit, respectively, in a continuous process.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the conveyor element is transported from the second conveyor unit to a cutting machine.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein conveyor elements conveyed by the first conveyor unit are alternately taken over by a first cam element or a second cam element and conveyed to a corresponding second conveyor unit.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the movement of the first cam element and the second cam element is coordinated such that the first cam element does not collide with the second cam element.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the conveying speed of the first conveyor unit is 50% of the rotational speeds of the cam elements, the cam elements rotating in opposite directions at the same speed.

31. The method according to claim 28, comprising, in the event of a malfunction, stopping the rotation of the cam element that is arranged in the conveyor path afflicted with the malfunction.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein in the event of a malfunction, the conveying speed of the first conveyor unit is reduced by 50%.

Description

[0059] FIG. 1 a schematic view of an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention

[0060] FIG. 2a a schematic view of an embodiment of the conveying system according to the invention in an initial position of conveying

[0061] FIG. 2b a schematic view of an embodiment of the conveying system according to the invention in a first intermediate position of conveying

[0062] FIG. 2c a schematic view of an embodiment of the conveying system according to the invention in a second intermediate position of conveying

[0063] FIG. 2d a schematic view of an embodiment of the conveying system according to the invention in a third intermediate position of conveying

[0064] FIG. 3 a movement curve of a cam element of an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention

[0065] FIG. 4 a schematic view of an embodiment of a plant for the production of elongated pasta according to the invention. Identical reference signs designate the same components in different figures.

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the conveyor system (1) according to the invention. This is a conveyor system for transporting conveyor elements (4) to two cutting modules (not shown).

[0067] The conveyor system 1 comprises a first conveyor unit 2a, for example a pendulum chain, and a second conveyor unit 2b, for example a stripper chain, as well as a transfer unit 3 for transferring conveyor elements 4, for example bars with elongated pasta suspended therefrom, from the first conveyor unit 2a to the second conveyor unit 2b.

[0068] The transfer unit 3 has a first and a second cam element 3a, 3a′ as well as a first and a second guide element 3c, 3c′, each having an approximately circle-segment-shaped surface section 3d, 3d′, the approximately circle-segment-shaped surface sections 3d, 3d′ facing the respective cam element 3a, 3a′. A second conveyor unit 2b, 2b′ is associated with each cam element 3a, 3a′, wherein the first cam element 3a and the first guide element 3c as well as the second cam element 3a′ and the second guide element 3c′ are arranged with respect to each other in such a way that a conveyor element 4 taken over from the first conveyor unit 2a by the gripping means 3b, 3b′ of the respective cam element 3a, 3a′ can be moved by rotation of the respective cam element 3a, 3a′ along the approximately circular-segment-shaped surface section 3d, 3d′ of the respectively associated guide element 3c, 3c′ to a position where the conveyor element 4 can be taken over by the second conveyor unit 2b, 2b′.

[0069] The first conveyor element 2a has evenly spaced carriers 2a1, each of which can receive and transport a conveyor element (4).

[0070] The second conveyor element 2b, 2b′ has evenly spaced carriers 2b1, 2b′1, each of which can receive and transport a conveyor element 4.

[0071] In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the first and second cam elements 3a, 3a′ and the first and a second guide element 3c, 3c′ are arranged axially symmetrically around the first conveyor unit 2a.

[0072] FIGS. 2a to 2d schematically illustrate an embodiment of the method according to the invention using the conveyor system 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0073] In an initial position shown in FIG. 2a, the gripping device 3b of the first cam element 3a is located at the first transfer point P1. At the same time, a carrier 2a1 of the first conveyor unit 2a is located at the first transfer point P1. The carrier 2a1 carries a conveyor element 4, which is taken over at the first transfer point P1 by the gripping device 3b of the cam element 3a in a preferably continuous movement.

[0074] The gripping device 3b′ of the second cam element 3a′ is located at the second transfer point P2 at this time. At the same time, a carrier 2b1′ of the second conveyor unit 2b′ (not shown here) is located at the second transfer point P2, but does not carry a conveyor element 4.

[0075] In the position shown in FIG. 2b, both cam elements 3a, 3a′ have been rotated by approximately 70°, with the first cam element 3a being rotated counterclockwise and the second cam element 3a′ clockwise. The gripping device 3b of the first cam element 3a is now located above the approximately circular segment-shaped surface section 3d of the first guide element 3c. The conveyor element 4 is moved along the approximately circular-segment-shaped surface section 3d of the first guide element 3c, being pushed by the end of the gripping device 3b facing away from the direction of rotation.

[0076] In the position shown in FIG. 2c, both cam elements 3a, 3a′ have been rotated by about 105° compared to the position shown in FIG. 2b, with the first cam element 3a being rotated counterclockwise and the second cam element 3a′ being rotated clockwise. The gripping device 3b of the first cam element 3a is now located at the second transfer point P2. At the same time, a carrier 2b1 of the second conveyor unit 2b is located at the second transfer point P2. The gripping device 3b of the first cam element 3a carries the conveyor element 4, which is picked up at the second transfer point P2 by the carrier 2b1 of the second conveyor unit 2b in a preferably continuous movement. At the same time, the gripping device 3b′ of the second cam element 3a′ is located at the first transfer point P1. At the same time, a carrier 2a1 of the first conveyor unit 2a is located at the first transfer point P1. The carrier 2a1 carries a conveyor element 4, which is picked up at the first transfer point P1 by the gripping device 3b′ of the second cam element 3a′ in a preferably continuous movement.

[0077] In the position shown in FIG. 2d, both cam elements 3a, 3a′ have been rotated a little further compared to the position shown in FIG. 2c, with the first cam element 3a being rotated counterclockwise and the second cam element 3a′ being rotated clockwise. The first cam element 3a has transferred its conveyor element 4 to the second conveyor unit 2b, which transports the conveyor element 4 vertically upwards to a cutting module (not shown). The second cam element 3a′ has taken over a conveyor element 4, and its gripping device 3b′ comes into contact with the approximately circular-segment-shaped surface section 3d′ of the second guide element 3c′, where it subsequently performs the conveyance described in FIG. 2b for the first cam element 3a.

[0078] FIG. 3 illustrates a movement curve of a cam element 3a, 3a′ of an embodiment of the conveyor system 1 according to the invention. At the time t=0s, the gripping device 3b, 3b′ of the cam element 3a, 3a′ is located at the second transfer point P2 and transfers the conveyor element 4 to the second conveyor unit 2b, 2b′. Subsequently, the cam element 3a, 3a′ experiences an acceleration which is increased from a time t=0.8s. At time t=3s, the gripping device 3b, 3b′ of the cam element 3a, 3a′ is at the first transfer point P1 and takes over the conveyor element 4 from the first conveyor unit 2a. The cam element 3a, 3a′ is de-celerated before it undergoes renewed acceleration from time t=3.4s, which is reduced from time t=4.4s. At time t=6s, the gripping device 3b, 3b′ of the cam element 3a, 3a′ reaches the second transfer point P2 and transfers the conveyor element 4 to the second conveyor unit 2b, 2b′.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a plant A according to the invention for the production of elongated pasta. The plant A comprises a conveyor system 1 according to the invention, here in the embodiment according to FIG. 1. The plant 1 according to FIG. 4 has only one cutting module on the right side of the conveyor system 1, but can be upgraded with an addi-tional cutting module on the left side of the conveyor system 1.

[0080] The plant, known per se, comprises a deposit table 5 to which the elongated pasta products are transported from the conveyor system 1. Below the deposit table 5 is the discharge belt/chain 7 of the cutting machine 6. The uncut product then arrives on the discharge belt/chain 7 and is conveyed from the discharge belt/chain 7 through a cutting unit (e.g. with rotating knives—not shown) out of the plant A and is cut thereby.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0081] A: Plant for the production of elongated pasta [0082] 1: Conveyor system (1) for a plant for the production of elongated pasta products [0083] 2a: First conveyor unit [0084] 2a1: Carrier of the first conveyor unit [0085] 2b, 2b′: Second conveyor unit [0086] 2b1, 2b1′: Carrier of the second conveyor unit [0087] 3: Transfer unit [0088] 3a, 3a′: Cam element [0089] 3b, 3b′: Gripping device of the cam element [0090] 3c, 3c′: Guide element [0091] 3d, 3d′: approximately circular segment-shaped surface section of the guide element [0092] 4: Conveyor element [0093] 5: Deposit table [0094] 6: Cutting machine [0095] 7: Discharge belt/chain [0096] P1: First transfer point [0097] P2: Second transfer point