VIBRATING APPARATUS AND CORRESPONDING METHOD FOR CONVEYING OBJECTS

Abstract

Vibrating apparatus (10) for automatically conveying objects (11) from a first position (12) to a second position (13) by means of vibration, comprising one or more conveying members (15) and a movement member (18), which is configured to be driven according to a vibrational motion in order to make said one or more conveying members (15) vibrate to cause a consequent forward motion by vibration of the objects (11).

Claims

1. Vibrating apparatus for conveying objects from a first position to a second position by means of vibration, comprising a conveying member configured to make the objects advance along a feed path and a movement member associated with said conveying member, said movement member being configured to be driven according to a vibrational motion in order to make said conveying member vibrate, in such a way that said objects are made to advance along said feed path by vibration, characterized in that said movement member comprises a mobile body magnetically coupled to a base body, said mobile body being configured to be driven according to said vibrational motion, moving on the base body without contact, so that the objects move from the first position to the second position by vibration while said conveying member is made to vibrate by the mobile body.

2. Vibrating apparatus (10) as in claim 1, wherein magnetic means or electrical energizing means are disposed in said mobile body, and electrical energizing means or magnetic means are coherently disposed in said base body, said electrical energizing means being configured to selectively generate one or more magnetic fields to affect said magnetic means and cause a controlled reciprocal movement between said magnetic means and said electrical energizing means.

3. Vibrating apparatus as in claim 2, wherein it also comprises control means, configured to energize, selectively and in a coordinated manner, said electrical energizing means in order to produce said vibrational motion between said electrical energizing means and said magnetic means.

4. Vibrating apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said conveying member is an integral part of the mobile body, or it is separated and distanced from said mobile body by means of connection means.

5. Vibrating apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said conveying member, when it is an integral part of the mobile body, is provided with a housing in which said mobile body is inserted.

6. Vibrating apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said conveying member (15) comprises a surface (16) configured to support said objects (11), said surface (16) being inclined with respect to a horizontal plane.

7. Vibrating apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said vibrational motion has a frequency comprised between 20 Hz and 100 Hz, and an amplitude comprised between 0.05 mm and 0.3 mm.

8. Vibrating apparatus as in claim 1, wherein with the base body there is associated at least one stator having a magnetic unit for generating a first magnetic field, and with the mobile body there is associated at least a second magnetic unit for generating a magnetic field to interact magnetically with the first magnetic field generated by the stator.

9. Vibrating apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said vibrational motion comprises at least one component in the vertical direction.

10. Vibrating apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said vibrational motion occurs along a rectilinear path in an alternating forward-backward mode and/or along a closed curvilinear path.

11. Method to convey objects from a first position to a second position, by means of vibration, comprising the steps of: preparing a movement member and a conveying member associated with it; driving the movement member according to a vibrational motion to make said conveying member vibrate, in such a way that said objects are made to advance along a feed path by vibration, characterized in that said movement member comprises a mobile body magnetically coupled to a base body, said method also comprising the step of moving, according to said vibrational motion, the mobile body on the base body without contact in order to generate said vibrational movement, so that the objects move from the first position to the second position by vibration while said conveying member is made to vibrate by the mobile body.

12. Method as in claim 11, wherein the objects advance along said feed path by vibration all together by a same distance, in the same period of time.

13. Method as in claim 11 or 12, wherein said objects are caps.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vibrating apparatus according to the present invention in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the vibrating apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vibrating apparatus according to the present invention in accordance with a second embodiment;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the vibrating apparatus of FIG. 3;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vibrating apparatus according to the present invention in accordance with a third embodiment;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a lateral view of the vibrating apparatus of FIG. 5;

[0043] FIG. 7 is a graph of a first example vibrational motion of the vibrating apparatus;

[0044] FIG. 8 is a graph of a second example vibrational motion of the vibrating apparatus;

[0045] FIG. 9 is a graph of a third example vibrational motion of the vibrating apparatus;

[0046] We must clarify that in the present description and in the claims, the terms horizontal, lower, upper, high and low, with their declinations, have the sole function of better illustrating the present invention with reference to the drawings and must not be in any way used to limit the scope of the invention itself, or the field of protection defined by the attached claims. For example, by the term horizontal we mean an axis or a plane that can be either parallel to the line of the horizon, or inclined, even by several degrees, for example up to 20?, with respect to the latter.

[0047] In addition, the persons of skill in the art will recognize that certain sizes or characteristics in the drawings may have been enlarged, deformed or shown in an unconventional or non-proportional way to provide a version of the present invention that is easier to understand. When sizes and/or values are specified in the following description, the sizes and/or values are provided for illustrative purposes only and must not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention, unless such sizes and/or values are present in the attached claims. Furthermore, all the intervals reported here shall be understood to include the extremes, including those that report an interval between two values, unless otherwise indicated.

[0048] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0049] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, a vibrating apparatus 10 according to the present invention is configured to convey objects 11, for example in the chemical, cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical sectors, such as bottles, flasks, caps, metal rings, or other objects of similar sizes, from a first position, that is, an entry position 12, for example associated with a first processing station, or a feed position, not shown in the drawings, to a second position, that is, an exit position 13, for example associated with a second processing station, also not shown in the drawings.

[0050] The vibrating apparatus 10 comprises one or more conveying members 15, each shaped in such a way as to define a path P between the entry position 12 and the exit position 13, which in the example provided here is rectilinear, but which could have any other shape whatsoever.

[0051] In particular, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, there is only one conveying member 15, while in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 there are three conveying members 15, disposed one as a continuation of the other.

[0052] It is clear that the number of conveying members 15 can be even higher, as a function of their longitudinal extension and of the length of the path P.

[0053] In one embodiment, not shown in the drawings, the path P, after an initial segment common to all the objects 11, could be divided into a plurality of individual paths, parallel to, or diverging from, each other, in which one or more objects 11 are conveyed. Therefore, in the present description and in the attached claims, by path P we mean any path followed by each of the objects 11 to be conveyed, which can even be different from one object 11 to another, although it can be provided that for one or more segments of the path, for example initial, intermediate, and/or final, the path of several objects 11 can be a common one.

[0054] Each conveying member 15 comprises a base 16, having a surface, for example flat, on which the objects 11 rest, and two lateral walls 17 that guide the objects 11 along the path P and prevent them from falling laterally.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, not shown in the drawings, the base 16 of each conveying member 15 can be shaped in such a way as to obtain a plurality of tracks or paths for guiding the objects 11 along the path P. Furthermore, the vibrating apparatus 10 comprises one or more movement members 18 configured to impart a vibrational motion to each conveying member 15, which will be described in greater detail below, which causes a forward movement of the objects 11 along the path P.

[0056] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, each movement member 18 can be configured as a planar motor 19, or at least a part of it, which could also be of a type known per se.

[0057] In particular, as is known, a planar motor 19 substantially comprises a base body 20, configured to remain stationary in a determinate position, and an associated mobile body 21, mobile with respect to the base body 20 without coming into contact with the latter, that is, with a reciprocal contactless motion.

[0058] In the embodiment described here, one or more electrical energizing members 22 are disposed inside the base body 20, which for example consist of a plurality of coils or windings, and are configured to selectively generate one or more determinate magnetic fields. Inside the mobile body 21 there are one or more magnetic members 23, consisting for example of a plurality of permanent magnets, configured to interact with the magnetic fields generated by the electrical energizing members 22. The reciprocal movement between the base body 20 and the mobile body 21 occurs due to the interaction between the electrical energizing members 22, when they are suitably energized, and the magnetic members 23, that is, by means of reciprocal magnetic attraction and repulsion.

[0059] In another alternative embodiment, not shown in the drawings, but easily understood by the person of skill in the art, the electrical energizing members 22 could be disposed in the mobile body 21 and the magnetic members 23 could be disposed in the base body 20.

[0060] Each conveying member 15 is connected to a corresponding mobile body 21, for example so as to be integral with each other, so that when the first moves, the second also moves in unison.

[0061] In the embodiments shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively 5 and 6, the connection between the conveying member 15 and the mobile body 21 is made by means of connection or spacer bars 25.

[0062] On the other hand, in the embodiment shown by way of example in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conveying member 15 is shaped in such a way as to have a housing 26, in which there is inserted the mobile body 21, or at least the magnetic members 23, or, instead of the latter, the electrical energizing members 22.

[0063] In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, not shown in the drawings, the mobile part 21 of the planar motor 19 could replace the conveying member 15 and itself be shaped in such a way as to have lateral walls, tracks or paths which define the path P.

[0064] Furthermore, the vibrating apparatus 10 comprises a control unit 27, for example of the electronic and programmable type, connected to the movement members 18 and configured to selectively energize the electrical energizing members 22 of the latter, for example by acting on the electric current and/or electric voltage values that are supplied to them.

[0065] The control unit 27 can be of any known type whatsoever, or one that will be developed in the future, and is programmed, or if necessary reprogrammed, so that the electrical energizing members 22, in association with the magnetic members 23, create a vibrational motion of the conveying member 15, with desired parameters, which comprise at least the frequency and amplitude of the oscillations, according to one or more desired laws of motion, as will be described in detail below.

[0066] According to another embodiment, the upper surface of the base 16 of each conveying member 15 can be inclined by a determinate angle with respect to a horizontal plane, so that the entry position 12 is higher than the exit position 13, in order to facilitate the feed of the objects 11 along the path P.

[0067] Furthermore, in accordance with another embodiment, not shown in the drawings, each conveying member 15 can be connected to at least two mobile bodies 21, for example when the power of each planar motor 19 may not be sufficient to move a particularly heavy conveying member 15, also considering the weight of the objects 11 to be conveyed, or in order to guarantee greater stability to the conveying member 15 itself.

[0068] Furthermore, in accordance with another embodiment, not shown in the drawings, as a function of the power of the planar motor 19 and the moving masses, a single mobile body 21 could be connected to two or more conveying members 15, in order to make the movement of the latter uniform.

[0069] The vibrational movement allowed by the planar motor 19 can be performed in all six possible degrees of freedom that the conveying member 15 has in space. It should be noted that some coordinates can remain fixed while others move according to such vibrational motion. For example, also on the basis of what has been highlighted above, if the conveying members 15 are straight, the rotation according to an axis that lies in the horizontal plane would incline, even if only slightly, the same conveying members 15, favoring/changing/optimizing the motion of objects 11.

[0070] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 graphically shown some example vibrational movements that could be applied to the conveying member 15 by the movement members 18, controlled by the control unit 27, shown on a plane formed by an abscissa X, which represents the horizontal component of the longitudinal direction of feed along the path P, and by an ordinate Y, which is vertical and therefore represents the upward movement of the objects 11 with respect to the base 16, against the force of gravity. The disposition of the axes X and Y is indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4.

[0071] The purpose of the vibrational movement is to generate a sort of micro-launch of the objects 11, in such a way as to create a feed by vibration of the latter with respect to the longitudinal direction of the conveying member 15 along the path P.

[0072] Please note that the vibrational movement of the conveying member 15 is the same movement of the mobile body 21, to which the conveying member 15 is rigidly connected. As will be clear from FIGS. 7-9, the conveying member 15, and therefore the mobile body 21, performs a movement that is repeated cyclically in the same manner over time with respect to the underlying base body 20. Basically, regardless of the law of motion, the mobile body 21 does not advance with respect to the base body 20, but it moves with respect to the latter according to a cyclical vibrational movement that always makes it return to the same point.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 7, the path of the vibrational motion of the conveying member 15 could be a straight line, inclined upward and travelled alternately backward and forward, from a point A to a point B, and vice versa, creating a vibrational motion similar to the arcuate motion which generally occurs in vibrating conveyors of the state of the art. In the upward movement segment, an impulse is transmitted to the objects 11, so that, when the sense of the movement of the conveying member 15 changes, that is, when the latter returns to the starting position, the micro-launch of the objects 11 occurs, by inertia, in the direction of feed with respect to the base 16 of the conveying member 15. The return motion to the starting position occurs while the objects 11 are detached from the surface of the base 16 of the conveying member 15, and it allows the feed by vibration to materialize.

[0074] FIG. 8 shows a motion of the conveying member 15, substantially in an arc of a circle, and vice versa, with a first ascent phase, from point C to point D, a second forward descent phase, from point D to point E, and a third return phase, substantially rectilinear, from point E to point D. The micro-launch of the objects 11, with their consequent temporary detachment from the rest surface of the base 16, occurs in proximity to the end of the ascent phase of the conveying member 15. Whereas the feed of the objects 11 by vibration occurs during the descent phase and the return phase of the conveying member 15, possibly at a higher speed, the objects 11 returning in contact with the surface of the base 16 of the conveying member 15, at a point of the surface that is further forward compared to their starting position.

[0075] FIG. 9 shows a substantially rhomboidal motion of the conveying member 15, in which the starting point is represented by point F. Initially, there is an upward and forward motion, up to point G, followed by a downward and forward motion up to point H; then the return to the starting point F occurs, which comprises a first downward and backward motion, up to point I, and a second upward and backward motion, up to the starting point F. The micro-launch of the objects 11, with their consequent temporary detachment from the rest surface of the base 16, occurs in proximity to point G, after which, especially during the descent phase and the return of the conveying member 15 to the starting point F, possibly at a higher speed, the feed of the objects 11 by vibration occurs, the objects 11 returning in contact with the surface of the base 16 of the conveying member 15, at a point of the surface that is further forward compared to their starting position.

[0076] By way of a non-limiting indication, for example, the following three parameters can have the following values: a) downward inclination of the base 16 of the conveying member 15 and/or of the planar motor 19 with respect to a horizontal plane, up to about 2?, preferably up to about 0.5?; b) frequency of the vibrations produced by the planar motor 19, from about 20 Hz to about 100 Hz; c) amplitude of the vibrations from about 0.05 mm to about 0.3 mm. Furthermore, the parameters as above can be detected and/or measured with any suitable instrument or mean whatsoever, of a type known per se and not shown in the drawings, and possibly corrected if necessary.

[0077] It should be noted that, with the vibrating apparatus 10, based on the different masses and volumes of the objects 11, it is possible to modify the parameters in order to optimize their forward motion, substantially without intervening on the conveying members 15 and/or on the movement members 18, but simply by programming, or if necessary, reprogramming, in an adequate way, the control unit 27. Therefore, advantageously, one acts exclusively on the control unit 27 (software) and no longer on the mechanical parts (hardware), unlike known vibrating apparatuses in which at least a mixed intervention is required.

[0078] The parameters as above can be obtained by means of mathematical studies or, alternatively, or in addition, by means of experimental tests on the vibrating apparatus 10 itself, for example by varying the frequency and amplitude of the oscillations, and by detecting, for example with suitable sensors and/or other measurement instruments, such as high frequency video cameras, the actual vibrational motion of the objects 11.

[0079] Countless laws of motion can therefore be created, even complex and involving other degrees of freedom, in addition to the two described above (X, Y) for the movement of the conveying member 15.

[0080] It should also be noted that the vibrating apparatus 10 can be made by means of a plurality of modules which can be suitably associated with each other, so that the vibrating apparatus 10 itself becomes modular and sectional, and can therefore be adapted as a function of the length of the path P. Each of the modules as above can comprise one or more planar motors 19, possibly controlled by the control unit 27, and one or more conveying members 15.

[0081] The functioning of the vibrating apparatus 10 described so far, which corresponds to the method to use it, is as follows.

[0082] In a first step, or idle step, the conveying member 15 is stationary and the electrical energizing members 22, controlled by the control unit 27, are in a non-excited state, or in a stationary excited state, that is, with a generation of magnetic fields such as to keep the position of the magnetic members 23 constant over time.

[0083] In this position, the objects 11 are disposed in correspondence with the entry position 12, ready to be conveyed automatically toward the exit position 13.

[0084] In a subsequent second step, or conveying step, the control unit 27, programmed as a function of the type of vibrational motion to be transmitted to the conveying members 15, commands the energizing of the electrical energizing members 22 which make the corresponding magnetic members 23, and therefore the conveying members 15 associated therewith, vibrate, thus creating the feed of the objects 11 along the path P toward the exit position 13.

[0085] During the second step, on the base 16 of the first conveying member 15, in correspondence with the entry position 12, other objects 11 can be fed, thus creating a feed and an associated continuous conveying.

[0086] Some embodiments of the present invention, not shown in the drawings, can provide that upstream of the conveying members 15 there are selection members, of any type known per se, suitable to select the objects 11 before these are introduced into the first conveying member 15. For example, such selection members can be configured to only allow those objects 11 correctly oriented according to determinate criteria to pass toward the final conveying tracks, while the others, that is, those incorrectly oriented, will be rejected and possibly conveyed backward to be then reprocessed.

[0087] Similarly, there can be other conveying members, for example similar to the conveying members 15 and also associated with one or more planar motors 19, which orient the objects 11 upstream.

[0088] Advantageously, the vibrating apparatus 10 described heretofore works without friction, especially in the movement members 18, so that there is no generation of particulate matter, and therefore it is suitable for use in aseptic, sterile or sterilized environments, for example in the chemical, cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical sectors. Furthermore, in such environments there is often the need to use components with small sizes, with which to make more complex, or more voluminous, members or parts, not only because each part is simpler and cheaper, but above all because it is handled more easily by an operator, or especially by a robot. In the event that the conveying members 15 were made with several parts, a maximum limit could easily be imposed on each of their sizes. This would allow their use in the aseptic, sterile or sterilized environments as above, since, for example, each part could be sterilized in an autoclave and introduced into a sealed and isolated work environment through doors of the so-called rapid transfer type, known to the experts in the field as RTP (Rapid Transfer Port), of standardized sizes, which are usually not very large.

[0089] However, this presents the problem of the precision in producing the individual pieces that form the path P and of their repeatability. In practice, it often happens, in fact, that the resulting path P is not always exactly the same, or that there can be interference after the assembly of the individual pieces.

[0090] This problem occurs not only between the various pieces that constitute the path P, but above all in the interface between the last piece of the path P and the possible machine, not shown in the drawings and disposed downstream of the vibrating apparatus 10.

[0091] However, the above problem is advantageously solved by the vibrating apparatus 10, because there is the possibility of associating the various conveying members 15, which define the path P, with different planar motors 19, thus allowing to compensate for any errors and/or misalignments deriving from manufacturing, practically without any significant additional cost, because this can be done by simply programming, or reprogramming, even after installation, the control unit 27, that is, by modifying its programs (software), without intervening on the mechanical parts (hardware).

[0092] Furthermore, advantageously, the characteristics of the planar motors 19 and of the conveying members 15 make the vibrating apparatus 10 easy to size and adapt to the spaces available for its installation, as a function of the production capacity required.

[0093] Furthermore, advantageously, the very small moving masses and the vibrations produced to move each conveying member 15 are absorbed inside the vibrating apparatus 10 itself, so that it is not necessary to provide very thick and heavy support structures, or complex damping systems, so that the vibrations are not transmitted to the floor and other surrounding apparatuses.

[0094] In addition, the use of the planar motors 19 and their control also allows to compensate for any errors of alignment and orientation of the objects 11 and/or of the conveying members 15 along the path P.

[0095] It should be noted that the vibrating apparatus 10 is very versatile and, by simply programming, or if necessary, reprogramming, the control unit 27 in an appropriate manner, it allows to obtain one or more laws of motion of the vibrational motion described above, even very different from each other, and possibly even differentiated between one planar motor 19 and the other within the same apparatus 10.

[0096] It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts or steps may be made to the vibrating apparatus 10 and to the corresponding method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

[0097] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of vibrating apparatuses, all coming within the field of protection of the present invention defined by the claims.

[0098] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.