TRANSFER DEVICE FOR AN APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY CONVEYING ITEMS, AND METHOD FOR CONTINUOUSLY CONVEYING ITEMS

Abstract

The invention relates to a transfer device (20) apparatus (100) for continuously conveying items. The apparatus (100) has a store (10) having storage tracks (11), and a downstream conveyor track (30), wherein the transfer device (20) is arranged between the store (10) and the conveyor track (30) and is designed to transfer conveyable items from a storage track (11) to the downstream conveyor track (30). The transfer device (20) has: a feed component (21) to receive conveyable items from the selected storage track (11); a discharging component (23) to discharge the conveyable items onto the downstream conveyor track (30); and a transfer track (22) to transfer the conveyable items from the feed component (21) to the discharging component (23). The discharging component (23) is designed to be moved relative to the downstream conveyor track (30) so that continuous operation is possible when the storage track (11) is being changed over.

Claims

1. A transfer device (20) for an apparatus (100) for continuously conveying items, wherein the apparatus (100) has a store (10) having at least a plurality, preferably a multiplicity, of storage tracks (11), in which conveyable items are arranged, arid also has a downstream conveyor track. (30) to a downstream device, wherein the transfer device (20) is arranged between the store (10) and the downstream conveyor track (30) and is designed to transfer conveyable items from a selected storage track (11) of the store (10) to the downstream conveyor track (30), the transfer device comprising: a feed component (21), which is designed to receive conveyable items from the selected storage track (11); a discharging component (23), which is designed to discharge the conveyable items onto the downstream conveyor track (30); a transfer track (22), which is designed to transfer the conveyable items from the feed component (21) to the discharging component (23), wherein the discharging component (23) is designed such that it can be moved relative to the downstream conveyor ti (30) in such a manner that a continuous conveying operation is possible even when the selected storage track (11) is being changed over.

2. The transfer device (20) according to claim 1, wherein, during the continuous conveying operation, the distance between conveyable items on the downstream conveyor track (30) is at least essentially constant.

3. The transfer device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the feed component (21) is designed so that when the selected storage track (11) is being changed over, the feed component (21) moves from a previously selected storage track (11) to a subsequently selected storage track (11).

4. The transfer device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the discharging component (23) is configured so that after the changeover of the selected storage track (11), the discharging component (23) moves from a first position (x0) to a second position (x1) on the downstream conveyor track (30), wherein the distance between the first position (x0) and the second position (x1) corresponds to the length of a gap, which has been produced by the changeover of the storage track (11), between a last conveyable item (9) from a previously selected storage track (11) and a first conveyable item (1) from a subsequently selected storage track (11).

5. The transfer device (20) according to claim 4, wherein the discharging component (23) is configured so that after moving to the second position (x1), it moves in the direction of the first position (x0) again.

6. The transfer device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the conveyable items consist of individually packaged goods or containers.

7. The transfer device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the transfer track (22) has a constant length.

8. The transfer device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the transfer track (22), is configured in a flexible manner such that it can compensate thr movement of the feed component (21) and/or of the discharging component (23).

9. The transfer device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the transfer track (22) has a curved region.

10. The transfer device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the conveying speed of the transfer track (22) is at least essentially constant.

11. The transfer device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device (20) is integrated into a packaging line.

12. A method for continuously conveying items by means of an apparatus (100) which includes the following: a store (10) having at least a plurality, preferably a multiplicity of storage tracks (11), in which conveyable items are arranged; a downstream conveyor track (30) to a downstream device; and a transfer device (20), which is arranged between the store (10) and the downstream conveyor track (30) and is designed to transfer conveyable items from a selected storage track (11) of the store (10) to the downstream conveyor track (30), wherein the method includes the following steps: receiving conveyable items by means of a feed component (21) of the transfer device (20); transferring the conveyable items from the feed component (21) to a discharging component (23) by means of a transfer track (22); and discharging the conveyable items to the downstream conveyor track (30) by means of the discharging component (23), wherein, when the selected storage track (11) is changed over from a previously selected storage track (11) to a subsequently selected storage track (11), the discharging component (23) moves relative to the downstream conveyor track (30) or vice versa such that continuous conveying operation is possible despite the changeover of the selected conveyor track (11).

13. The method for continuously conveying items according to claim 12, wherein after a changeover of the selected storage track (11), the discharging component (23) moves from a first position (x0) to a second position (x1) on the downstream conveyor track (30), wherein the distance. between the, first position (x0) and the second position (x1) corresponds to the length of a gap, which has been produced by the changeover of the storage track (11), between a last conveyable item (9) from a previously selected storage track (11) and a first conveyable item (1) from a subsequently selected storage track (11).

14. The method for continuously conveying items according to claim 12, wherein after a changeover of the selected storage track (11), the downstream conveyor track (30) moves from a first position to a second position, wherein the distance between the first position and the second position corresponds to the length of a gap, which has been produced by the changeover of the storage track (11), between a last conveyable item (9) from a previously selected storage track (11) and a first conveyable item (1) from a subsequently selected storage track (11).

15. The method for continuously conveying items according to claim 13, wherein after the movement to the second position, the discharging component (23) or the downstream conveyor track (30) moves in the direction of the first position again.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] In the drawings:

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of an apparatus for continuously conveying items, having a transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0056] FIGS. 2a to 2e show the functional principle of the transfer device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0057] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 100 for continuously conveying items. The apparatus 100 has a store 10, a transfer device 20, and a downstream conveyor track 30.

[0058] The store 10 has a plurality of storage tracks 11. In this embodiment, the store 10 has eight storage tracks 11, for example.

[0059] The material flow through the apparatus 100 is indicated with single-pointed arrows. Consequently, the entry into the store 10 in FIG. 1 is located at an upper end and the outlet is correspondingly located at a lower end.

[0060] At the outlet of the store 10, there is a feed component 21 of the transfer device 20. The transfer device 20 fulfills the function of conveying or transferring the conveyable items stocked in the store 10 from the store 10, or stated more precisely, from the individual storage tracks 11, to the downstream conveyor track 30.

[0061] In this case, the conveyable items are received by means of the feed component 21. As is indicated by a double-headed arrow, the feed component 21 can be slid between the storage tracks 11. Stated more precisely, the feed component 21 can be slid or moved between ends of the storage tracks 11 situated toward the downstream side in the material flow.

[0062] In the state of the apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, the feed component 21 is positioned at the third storage track 11 from the right, i.e. this storage track 11 is currently selected; in other words, conveyable items can be received from it.

[0063] The conveyable items are conveyed along a transfer track 22 of the transfer device 20 to a discharging component 23.

[0064] The discharging component 23 transfers the conveyable items to the downstream conveyor track 30. In this case, the discharging component 23 is also embodied so that it is able to move. In particular, it is able to move relative to (and along) the downstream conveyor track 30. This is also indicated by means of a double-headed arrow in FIG. 1.

[0065] The transfer track 22 can move along with the movement of the feed component 21 and/or the discharging component 23, as is indicated by another double arrow. In other words, the transfer track 22 is flexible.

[0066] For example, if the third storage track 11 from the right in FIG. 1 is empty, then it is necessary to change over to another storage track 11. To accomplish this, the feed component 21 travels from the third storage track 11 from the right 11 to another full storage track 11 in order to be able to receive conveyable items from the latter.

[0067] During the changeover of the conveyor track 11, a gap is produced, which is larger than the spacing distance that exists between conveyed items during the rest of the process. Consequently, there is an interruption in the continuous conveying operation.

[0068] The transfer device 20 compensates for this by sliding the discharging component 23 far enough in the material flow direction of the downstream conveyor track 30, i.e. toward the right in FIG. 1, that the gap can be compensated for. A continuous conveying operation on the downstream conveyor track 30 is thus enabled once again, i.e. a conveying operation with a uniform spacing distance between the items to be conveyed.

[0069] Stated more precisely, this compensation principle of the transfer device 20 is shown in FIGS. 2a to 2e. In this case, the store 10 is shown with four storage tracks 11, for example with nine conveyable items stocked in each storage track 11.

[0070] In particular, FIGS. 2a to 2e show states of the apparatus 100 and transfer device 20 in chronological sequence (in the production process).

[0071] FIG. 2a shows the state of the apparatus 100 when conveying items from a first storage track 11, specifically the one on the right. In this state, the conveyable items are transferred from the discharging component 23 onto the downstream conveyor track 30 at position x0.

[0072] FIG. 2b shows the state after a changeover from the right storage track 11 to an adjacent storage track 11. In this case, all of the conveyable items of the right storage track 11 are already on the transfer track 22. The drawing also shows that due to the changeover, a gap has been produced between the last conveyable item 9 from the right storage track 11 and the first conveyable item 1 from the adjacent storage track 11.

[0073] This spacing distance can cause problems in the production process in the downstream machine, which is supplied by the downstream conveyor track 30.

[0074] FIG. 2c shows a later state of the apparatus 100 in which all of the conveyable items (items 1-9) coming from the right storage track 11 have already been transferred to the downstream conveyor track 30.

[0075] If the discharging component 23 of the transfer device 20 were to then remain at position x0, then the next thing to happen would be that the gap would be passed on to the downstream conveyor track 30.

[0076] In order to prevent this from occurring, the discharging component 23 travels in the material flow direction of the downstream conveyor track 30, i.e. toward the right in FIGS. 2a to 2e. This increases the absolute speed of the conveyed items.

[0077] In this regard, FIG. 2d shows a state of the apparatus 100 in which the discharging component 23 has already moved in this direction to the point that approximately half of the travel distance has been traveled. The whole distance to be traveled by the discharging component 23 (distance from x0 to x1) corresponds to the spacing distance that is to be compensated for on the transfer track 22, i.e. the size of the gap between the last conveyable item 9 from the right storage track 11 and the first item 1 from the adjacent conveyor track 11.

[0078] In FIG. 2e, the discharging component 23 has been moved forward to position x1 on the downstream conveyor track 30. It is clear here that the gap between the last conveyable item 9 from the right storage track 11 and the first conveyable item 1 from the adjacent storage track 11 has been fully compensated for. At this point, it is once again correspondingly possible to provide a continuous conveying operation on the downstream conveyor track 30.

[0079] In this connection, it is preferable that after reaching position x1 during the transfer of the conveyable items, the discharging component 23 is moved slowly back toward x0. This enables a repeated compensation or repeated evening-out by means of the transfer device 20.

[0080] This does indeed produce a slightly larger gap between the individual conveyable items, but the gaps are all at least essentially the same so that there is no interruption of the continuous conveying operation on the downstream conveyor track 30.