Servo-Driven Singling Equipment

Abstract

Singling equipment for an apparatus for packaging lollipops, each lollipop having a head and a stick, the singling equipment includes: a horizontally rotating sorting disc with a plurality of pockets, each of the pockets accommodating the head of the lollipop; a vertically rotating first transfer wheel with a plurality of indentations for the stick of the lollipop; and a vertically rotating second transfer wheel with a plurality of holding means, each of the holding means gripping the stick of the lollipop, the horizontally rotating sorting disc and the vertically rotating first transfer wheel are each driven by a servomotor, whose speed of rotation and/or torque is controlled independently.

Claims

1. Singling equipment for an apparatus for packaging lollipops, each lollipop having a head and a stick, the singling equipment comprising: a horizontally rotating sorting disc with a plurality of pockets, each of the pockets accommodating the head of the lollipop; a vertically rotating first transfer wheel with a plurality of indentations for the stick of the lollipop; and a vertically rotating second transfer wheel with a plurality of holding means, each of the holding means gripping the stick of the lollipop, wherein the horizontally rotating sorting disc and the vertically rotating first transfer wheel are each driven by a servomotor, whose speed of rotation and/or torque is controlled independently.

2. Singling equipment according to claim 1, wherein the horizontally rotating sorting disc comprises a plurality of openings, wherein the number of openings is identical to the number of pockets.

3. Singling equipment according to claim 2, wherein a center of each of the pockets is radially aligned with a center of one of the openings.

4. Singling equipment according to claim 3, wherein the singling equipment comprises a sensor which locates a tangential position of one of the openings.

5. Singling equipment according to claim 1, wherein the singling equipment comprises controlling means which control the speed of rotation of the vertically rotating first transfer wheel and/or the horizontally rotating sorting disc.

6. Lollipop wrapping apparatus, comprising the singling equipment according to claim 1.

7. Method to operate the singling equipment according to claim 1, wherein the torque is monitored permanently and/or a position deviation of the horizontally rotating sorting disc and the vertically rotating first transfer wheel is monitored permanently.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the method comprises adjusting required torque to maintain the horizontally rotating sorting disc and/or the vertically rotating first transfer wheel in a desired rotational position.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the adjusting of the torque takes place within a preset window.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises stopping the servomotor of the horizontally rotating sorting disc and/or the servomotor of the vertically rotating first transfer wheel when the required torque is outside a preset window.

11. Method to operate the singling equipment according to claim 1, wherein during a constant output of singled or wrapped lollipops or during a constant speed of rotation of the vertically rotating second transfer wheel, the speed of rotation of the vertically rotating first transfer wheel is not constant.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the speed of rotation of the vertically rotating first transfer wheel changes during a step of picking up of the lollipop from the horizontally rotating sorting disc until a hand over to the vertically rotating second transfer wheel.

13. Method to change the horizontally rotating sorting disc and/or the vertically rotating first transfer wheel of the singling equipment according to claim 1, wherein the horizontally rotating sorting disc and the vertically rotating first transfer wheel each comprise identification means which is read out, and wherein a computer system checks whether the horizontally rotating sorting disc and the vertically rotating first transfer wheel match together and/or for the desired lollipop singling.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the identification means are the openings in the horizontally rotating sorting disc.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the openings are counted and compared with a set-value in order to determine whether a correct sorting disc has been installed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 depicts the inventive singling equipment.

[0050] FIG. 2 depicts details of the first transfer wheel.

[0051] FIG. 3 depicts details of the sorting disc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] The inventive singling equipment according to FIGS. 1-3 is used to process lollipops with a stick and a head. The heat is preferably sphere-shaped, wherein the spheres may have different diameters, depending on the lollipop being produced. The stick is preferably cylindrical, wherein the diameter of the cylinder may change depending on the lollipop being produced. A distribution disc 2 rotates here counterclockwise around a vertical axis of rotation B as depicted by the arrow. The distribution disc transports the lollipops to its circumference. At the circumference, a sorting disc 1 is provided which rotates in the present case clockwise around the same vertical axis as the distribution disc and as indicated by arrow A. The sorting disc 1 comprises a multitude of equidistantly spaced pockets 7, into which the lollipops are arranged due to the rotation of the distribution- and/or the sorting disc such, that the head of the lollipop is accommodated in the pocket 7 and the stick of the lollipop extends over the circumference of the sorting disc 1. The number of pockets 7 that can be provided on the sorting disc is preferably dependent on the size of the diameter of the lollipop head. The inventive singling equipment can be operated with different sorting disks, with a differing number of pockets 7, while the outer diameter of the sorting disk is preferably always the same. The sorting- and the distribution disc preferably have one common drive, here a servo motor. The lollipops are removed from the sorting disc 1 by a first transfer wheel 3, which rotates around a horizontal axis. The first transfer wheel 3 rotates her counterclockwise around a horizontal axis, as indicated by arrow C. The first transfer wheel 3 has a multitude of equidistantly spaced indentations 9, which lift and/or push the sticks of a lollipop into holding means 6, for example the arms of a gripper 6, which is attached to the second transfer wheel 4. The inventive singling equipment can be operated with different first transfer wheels, with a differing number of indentations, while the outer diameter of the first transfer wheel is preferably always the same. The second transfer wheel 4 has a multitude of equidistantly spaced holding means/grippers 6 at its circumference and rotates here clockwise as indicated by arrow D. At least one arm of a gripper can be moved relative to the other and thereby grip and release the stick of a lollipop. The second transfer wheel preferably rotates preferably at a constant speed. The second transfer wheel hands the lollipops over to a further processing unit, for example a wrapping unit.

[0053] Reference is now particularly made to FIG. 3, which depicts details of the sorting disk 1, which has at its outer circumference a multitude of pockets 7, which are arranged around a circular ring. Each pocket 7 preferably has a circular cross section. The sorting disk further comprises a multitude of openings 8, which preferably extend through the entire thickness of the sorting disk and which are arranged preferably equidistantly around a circular ring, which is located within the inner circumference of the circular ring that accommodates the pockets 7. The openings 8 preferably have each a circular cross section. The center of the cross section of one opening is preferably radially aligned with the center of the opening of one pocket. The inventive singling equipment may have a sensor (not depicted), which is for example provided below the sorting disk and senses each opening, while the sorting disk rotates. This provides a controller, which is attached to the sensor, information about the tangential position of the respective opening 8 and hence about the tangential position of the corresponding pocket 7. This information is used to position the sorting disk relative to the first transfer wheel and/or vice versa. For illustrative purposes, the distribution disk 2 has been omitted in FIG. 3. The distribution disk 2 is arranged within the inner circumference of the circular ring that accommodate the pockets. The distribution disk covers the openings 8. The distribution disk rotates around the same axis 10 as the sorting disk but in an opposite direction than the sorting disc 1. The sorting disk 1 and/or the first transfer wheel preferably each comprise an identification, that allows computer means to identify the respective part. The identification is preferably the number of openings 8 in the sorting disc.

[0054] The motor that drives the first transfer wheel is depicted in FIG. 2. This motor is a servo motor. The sorting disk is also driven by a servo motor.

[0055] In case a new production starts or after cleaning of the singling equipment, a sorting disk 1 and in case the transfer wheel has been removed, a first transfer wheel 3 is installed and an identification at least of the sorting disk, but preferably also of the identification of the first transfer wheel is read out by the singling equipment. This information is transferred to a computer means which checks whether the sorting disk and the first transfer wheel match and/or whether the sorting disk and the first transfer wheel match a selected recipe. Preferably, only after at least one match is confirmed, the operation can be started.

[0056] To start the inventive singling equipment, a worker chooses a recipe for a lollipop to be singled and further processed, for example wrapped. The necessary sorting disc is then installed and its identification is checked, preferably by rotating the sorting disk and counting the openings 8. Preferably a first transfer wheel is also installed and its identification is checked. At least one, preferably both identifications are then compared, with data from the recipe to check whether the sorting disk and the first transfer wheel match with the requirements from the recipe. Preferably, only then the singling equipment can be started. The recipe preferably includes set operation conditions of the singling equipment, like the speed of rotation of singling disk and/or the first- and/or second transfer wheel and/or the window of allowable deviations of the position of the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel and or the torque required to position the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel.

[0057] The present invention has the advantage that more pockets can be accommodated in the singling disc. The sorting disk can be operated with a lower rotation speed at the same lollipop output. Due to the automatic stop in case a certain torque is exceeded and/or a certain deviation of the position of the sorting disk and/or the first transfer wheel takes place, damage of the singling equipment and/or downtime of this equipment is avoided.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0058] 1 Sorting disc [0059] 2 Distribution disc [0060] 3 First transfer wheel [0061] 4 Second transfer wheel [0062] 5 Servo motor [0063] 6 Holding means, gripper [0064] 7 Pocket, hole for the lollipop to fall in [0065] 8 Opening [0066] 9 indentation [0067] 10 Center axis [0068] A Direction of rotation of the sorting disc 1 [0069] B Direction of rotation of distribution disc 2 [0070] C Direction of rotation of the first transfer wheel 3 [0071] D Direction of rotation of second transfer wheel 4