Separating device

Abstract

A separating device for the provision of one or more conveyed materials, in particular lids, in a predetermined positional state comprises a conveyor device for receiving and transporting lids in one transport direction, with a conveyor belt and several receiving areas formed on the conveyor belt for receiving at least one lid each, the conveyor device being inclined with respect to the horizontal at least in a pre-separation section in such a way that the transport direction is designed for the upward transport of the lids, and wherein the receiving areas are each limited at least downwards by a stud, and a detection device with a detection area for detecting a predetermined positional state and/or for detecting a number of the lids arranged on the conveyor in a respective receiving area.

Claims

1. Separating device for providing of one or more conveyed materials, comprising a conveyor device for receiving and transporting lids in one transport direction, comprising a conveyor belt and several receiving areas formed on the conveyor belt for receiving at least one lid each, the conveyor device being inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal at least in a pre-separation section in such a way that the transport direction is designed for the upward transport of the lids, and wherein the receiving areas are each limited at least downwards by a stud holding structure, and a detection device with a detection area for detecting a predetermined positional state and/or for detecting a number of the lids arranged on the conveyor device in a respective receiving area.

2. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein a discharge device with a discharge area is provided for removing one or more lids from a receiving area of the conveyor belt, the discharge device being a slide device or as a nozzle device.

3. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device generates a detection signal when a predetermined number of lids in a receiving area is exceeded and/or when one or more lids are not arranged in the predetermined position in one of the receiving areas, wherein a control device is provided that receives the detection signals from the detection device and controls the discharge device on the basis of these detection signals in order to remove one or more lids from a receiving area.

4. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving area is designed and/or limited by at least one stud in such a way that only a single lid can be arranged in a receiving area.

5. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device has at least one first sensor device for detecting the number and/or the position of the lids, with one sensor of the sensor device being an a camera, a color sensor, a distance sensor, a light barrier or a 3D sensor with acoustical logging or triangulation, whereby the detection device comprises a second sensor device for triggering the detection area in the receiving area, wherein a sensor of the second sensor device is a trigger sensor with incremental encoder.

6. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein a storage container is provided in which the lids can be stored, wherein the transport device is arranged in the storage container or is coupled thereto in such a way that lids can be discharged from the storage container by means of the transport device.

7. Separating device according to claim 1, wherein an output device with an output area which opens into a chute and which is arranged downstream of the detection area and the discharge area, wherein the output device is designed as an output element arranged parallel to a surface of the conveyor belt, wherein the output element, in a top view orthogonal to a surface of a conveyor belt, comprises an output edge inclined with respect to the transport direction, or wherein the output direction is a sliding device or a nozzle device.

8. Discharge transport device for receiving and further transporting conveyed material, for a separating device according to claim 1, comprising a conveyor belt device for receiving and further transporting conveyed material in a discharge transport direction, with a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt device comprises a receiving section and a transport section being adjacent to it, and the receiving section of the conveyor belt device being inclined in such a way that a chute can be coupled to it, so that the material to be conveyed can slide continuously from the chute onto the conveyor belt device in the receiving section, the conveyor belt in the receiving section being aligned with its transport direction approximately orthogonal to the sliding direction, and a stop device, wherein the stop device is arranged on the opposite side of the conveyor belt in the receiving section on the chute , and which is designed to stop conveyed material sliding from the chute onto the conveyor belt.

9. Discharge transport device according to claim 8, wherein the conveyor belt is twisted in a transition from the receiving section to the transport section in such a way that the conveyor belt inclined in the receiving section is arranged horizontally in the transport section.

10. A method for separating and providing lids with a separating device according to claim 1, comprising: Providing lids in a storage container, Conveying the lids from the storage container by means of a conveyor device, Pre-separating of the lids by means of an ascending arrangement of the conveyor device and/or by means of a structural design of a receiving area of the conveyor device, Detection of the number and/or position of the lids in a receiving area arranged in a detection area by means of a detection device.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising: Generating a detection signal by means of the detection device when a predetermined number of lids in a receiving area is exceeded and/or when one or more lids are not arranged in the predetermined position in one of the receiving areas, wherein a control device is provided that receives the detection signals from the detection device and controls the discharge device on the basis of these detection signals in order to remove one or more lids from a receiving area when this receiving area does not contain the predetermined number of lids and/or one or more incorrectly oriented lids.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising: Discharge of one or more lids from a receiving area arranged in a discharge area by means of a discharge device.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising: Output of one or more lids from a receiving area arranged in an output area using an output device.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising: Further transport of the lid or lids by means of a chute.

15. Method for receiving and further transporting the conveyed material, in particular according to a method in accordance with claim 10, comprising: Receiving lids from a chute by means of a conveyor belt device, the conveyor belt device comprising a receiving section and a transport section adjacent to it, and the receiving section of the conveyor belt device being inclined in such a way that a chute can be coupled to it, so that the material to be conveyed can slide continuously from the chute onto the conveyor belt device in the receiving section, the conveyor belt in the receiving section being aligned with its transport direction approximately orthogonal to the sliding direction, and stopping the conveyed material sliding from the chute onto the conveyor belt by means of a stop device, whereby the stop device is arranged on the opposite side of the conveyor belt in the receiving section on the chute.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising: transferring the conveyed material from the receiving section, wherein the conveyor belt is twisted in a transition from the receiving section to the transport section in such a way that the conveyor belt inclined in the receiving section is arranged horizontally in the transport section, so that the conveyed material is discharged in the horizontal direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072] The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. These show in:

[0073] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a separating device according to the invention in a lateral view,

[0074] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a discharge transport device according to the invention in a further lateral view,

[0075] FIG. 3 is a lateral representation of a further embodiment of the discharge transport device according to the invention,

[0076] FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention of the separating device according to the invention,

[0077] FIG. 5 is a top view of further embodiment example of a transport device according to the invention,

[0078] FIG. 6 is a top view of further embodiment of a transport device according to the invention,

[0079] FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a further embodiment of a transport device according to the invention,

[0080] FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of a further embodiment of a transport device according to the invention,

[0081] FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of a further embodiment of a transport device according to the invention,

[0082] FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of a further embodiment of a transport device according to the invention,

[0083] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a transport device according to the invention, and

[0084] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a transport device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0085] In the following, a separating device 1 according to the invention is described in more detail on the basis of an embodiment example (FIG. 1). The separating device 1 is provided for providing one or more lids in a predetermined positional state.

[0086] The separating device 1 has a storage container 2 for holding material to be conveyed, in particular lids 26 or caps.

[0087] The storage container 2 is connected to a pre-hopper 27 for inserting lids into the storage container 2. The pre-hopper 27 comprises a slide 28, so that the lids 26 can be inserted from the pre-hopper 27 into the storage container 2 through an opening of the slide 28.

[0088] A conveyor device 3 for receiving and transporting lids 26 in a transport direction 4 is arranged in sections in the storage container 2.

[0089] The conveyor device 3 comprises a conveyor belt 5 on which a plurality of receiving areas 6 arranged adjacent to one another are formed for receiving at least one lid 26 in each case.

[0090] In addition to the conveyor belt, the conveyor device 3 also comprises the usual components required for forming conveyor devices, such as, for example a supporting structure made of structural steel sections; it carries the conveyor roller bearings of the upper and lower run, the drive and tensioning devices; drive station (drive roller, often rubberized, bearings, gears, engine, with or without coupling); reversing station; conveyor rollers, usually in three parts and with toe-in; lower belt rollers; guide rollers; conveyor belt; tensioning station; receiving station; discharge station with transfer funnel; scraper. Even if not all the features of conveyor device 3 are described in detail below, a subject matter expert knows which components are required to form such a device.

[0091] The conveyor device 3 or the conveyor belt 5 is inclined, at least in certain areas, at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal in such a way that the transport direction 4 is designed for the upward transport of the lids 26.

[0092] The pre-determined angle is an angle between 85° and 35° or between 85° and 45° or between 85° and 75° and preferably of approximately 80°.

[0093] A pre-separation section 7 is formed on the conveyor device 3. The pre-separation section 7 is formed in an area in which the conveyor belt is arranged in an ascending manner, whereby receiving areas 5 arranged in the pre-separation section 7 or the lids 26 arranged therein are subject to pre-separation. This is achieved by the ascending arrangement of the conveyor device 3 and/or by the structural design of the receiving area 6, in order to arrange one or more lids 26 or a predetermined number of lids 26 in the receiving areas 6 and to discharge excess lids 26.

[0094] Adjacent to the pre-separation section 7, a detection section 8 is connected to it in transport direction 4.

[0095] In addition, a detection device 9 is provided, which is designed to detect a predetermined positional state or a predetermined position and/or a number of lids 26 arranged on the conveyor device 3 in a respective receiving area 6.

[0096] The detection device 9 comprises a first sensor device (not shown) for detecting the number and/or the position of the lids, wherein a sensor of the sensor device is an optical sensor, such as a camera, in particular a stereo camera, a color sensor, a distance sensor, a light barrier or a 3D sensor with acoustical logging or triangulation.

[0097] Furthermore, the detection device 9 comprises a second sensor device (not shown) for triggering the receiving area in the detection area (“focusing”), wherein one sensor of the second sensor device is an optical sensor. A trigger sensor with an incremental encoder is provided as the optical sensor. Basically, the same sensors are suitable for this purpose as for the first sensor device.

[0098] As soon as a detection area 6 is arranged in the detection section 8, this receiving area 6 is detected by means of the detection device 9.

[0099] A discharge section 10 follows the detection section 8 in transport direction.

[0100] A discharge device 11 is provided in the discharge section 10. The discharge device 11 is provided for removing one or more lids from a receiving area of the conveyor belt. Preferably, the discharge device is designed as a slide device 12 with an actuator to avoid unnecessary turbulence of dust or the like.

[0101] The detection device 9 and the discharge device 11 are connected to a control device (not shown).

[0102] The detection device 9 generates a detection signal when a predetermined number of lids are exceeded in a receiving area and/or when one or more lids are not arranged in the predetermined position in a receiving area.

[0103] The control device is provided to receive the detection signals from the detection device and to control the discharge device on the basis of these detection signals in order to remove one or more lids from a receiving area 6. In this way the separation is carried out.

[0104] The receiving areas 6 are designed and/or limited by at least one stud 13 in such a way that only a single lid can be arranged in a receiving area.

[0105] For this purpose, a corresponding stud distance between two adjacent studs in the transport direction 4 is approximately between 1.2—and 1.5—times a lid diameter, but in particular less than 2. Of course, this also depends on the diameter of the lid.

[0106] The receiving areas 6 are preferably limited by the studs 13 or holding structures.

[0107] In a top view, a stud 13 extends orthogonally to a surface of conveyor belt 5 of the conveyor device 3 approximately orthogonal to the transport direction 4.

[0108] Alternatively, it can also be inclined with respect to the transport direction (FIG. 5) or be V-shaped in a top view orthogonal to a surface of the conveyor belt 5 (FIGS. 6 and 8).

[0109] A preferred stud height of the holding structures or studs 13 orthogonal to a surface of the conveyor device 3 is at least approximately 10% or 20% or 25% or 33% or 50% or 60% or 75% or 100% and at most 110% or 125% or 150% of a height of a conveyed material.

[0110] The holding structures 13 preferably do not extend over the entire width of the conveyor device 3. They may be arranged either centrally or preferably at a lateral edge of the conveyor belt 5 of the conveyor device 3.

[0111] The free space next to the holding structures 13 on the conveyor device 3 is then provided for the discharge of conveyed material 26 that cannot be arranged in a receiving area 6. In this case, a boundary wall (not shown) is provided adjacent to the studs 13 in order to limit the conveyor device 3 to support or guide the conveyed material 26 in addition to the holding structures.

[0112] The holding structures 26 can be arranged in a top view from above or orthogonal to the conveyor belt 5 of the conveyor device 3 in an approximately rectangular (FIGS. 4 and 7) or V-shaped (FIGS. 6 and 8) or U-shaped (FIG. 10) or semi-circular shape (FIG. 9).

[0113] In addition, the rectangular holding structures 26 may be arranged diagonally from one edge of the conveyor device 3 in a top view in the transport direction 4 or ascending in the transport direction 4. Such an arrangement can be referred to as a half-V-shaped configuration.

[0114] In the present case, boundary walls (not shown) extending parallel to the transport direction 4 are arranged on both sides next to the conveyor belt to limit the receiving area 6.

[0115] When an inclined stud 13 is provided, a single limiting chance may be sufficient. If the studs 13 are V-shaped in a top view orthogonal to a surface of the conveyor belt 5, no limited changes are usually necessary. However, these may also be optionally provided.

[0116] An output area 14 is connected to the discharge section 10 in the transport direction 4. An output device 15 is arranged in the output area 14. The output device 15 is preferably designed as an output element 16 arranged parallel to a surface of the conveyor belt. The output device 15 can also be designed as a sliding device or a nozzle device.

[0117] By means of the output device 15, one or more lids 26 can be removed from a corresponding receiving area 6. The output area 14 empties into a chute means 17.

[0118] The chute means 17 is arranged or inclined in a descending manner relative to the horizontal in such a way that a slide direction 18 is formed in an in descending manner.

[0119] A discharge transport device 19 is attached to the chute means 17, which, as already shown above, represents a separate inventive concept.

[0120] The discharge transport device 19 comprises a conveyor belt device 20 and a stop device 21 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0121] The conveyor belt device 20 is designed for receiving and transporting conveyed material.

[0122] For receiving conveyed material, the conveyor belt device 20 comprises a receiving section 24 in which a conveyor belt 23 with a transport direction 22 is arranged orthogonal to the slide direction 18, with the conveyor belt 23 in receiving section 24 comprising approximately the same inclination as the slide device 17. It is of crucial importance here that the conveyor belt 23 in the receiving section 24 is inclined in such a way that the conveyed material conveyed on the chute means 17, in particular lids 26, automatically slide onto the conveyor belt 23 in the receiving section 24.

[0123] The stop device 21 is arranged on the side of the conveyor belt 23 opposite the chute means 17 in the receiving section 24. The stop device 21 can be designed as a plate-shaped element, which extends in an approximately vertical direction in order to stop the conveyed material on the receiving section.

[0124] The receiving section 24 merges into a transport section 25 arranged adjacent thereto.

[0125] The conveyor belt is twisted in a transition from the receiving section 24 to the transport section 25 in such a way that the conveyor belt inclined in the receiving section 24 is arranged horizontally in the transport section 25. Thus, the conveyor belt has a changing inclination relative to the horizontal over its length, being inclined relative to the horizontal at least in certain areas in the receiving section and being arranged horizontally at least in certain areas in the transport section.

[0126] According to an alternative embodiment, the conveyor belt 23 of the discharge transport device is not twisted, but is normal or planar and straight.

[0127] In the following, a method according to the invention for separating and providing lids with a separating device shown above is described.

[0128] First, the lids are provided in a storage container.

[0129] Subsequently, the lids are conveyed from the storage container by means of a conveyor device and arranged on a conveyor belt.

[0130] Thereafter, a pre-separating of the lids is performed by means of an ascending arrangement of the conveyor device and/or by a structural design of a receiving area of the conveyor device.

[0131] Finally, the number and/or position of the lids in a receiving area arranged in a detection area are detected by means of a detection device.

[0132] In this way, a detection signal is generated by means of the detection device when a predetermined number of lids are exceeded in a receiving area and/or when one or more lids are not arranged in the predetermined position in one of the receiving areas.

[0133] A control device is provided, which receives the detection signals from the detection device and controls a discharge device on the basis of these detection signals to remove one or more lids from a receiving area if this receiving area does not contain the predetermined number of lids and/or one or more incorrectly oriented lids.

[0134] Then, one or more lids are removed from a receiving area arranged in a discharge area by means of a discharge device.

[0135] One or more lids are then discharged from a receiving area arranged in an output area using an output device.

[0136] The lid or lids are then discharged from the output area by means of a chute means.

[0137] In the following, a method according to the invention for receiving and further transporting conveyed material, in particularly lids, according to the above-mentioned method, with a discharge transport device shown above, is explained.

[0138] First, the lids are received by a chute means using a conveyor belt device, the conveyor device comprising a receiving section and a transport section adjacent thereto. The receiving section of the conveyor belt device is inclined in such a way that a chute means can be coupled to it, so that material to be conveyed can slide continuously from the chute means onto the conveyor belt device in the receiving section. In the receiving section, the conveyor belt is aligned with its transport direction approximately orthogonal to the slide direction.

[0139] Then the lids sliding from the chute means onto the conveyor belt are stopped by means of a stop device. The stop device is arranged on the opposite side of the conveyor belt to the chute means in the receiving section.

[0140] The lids are then transferred from the receiving section to the transport section by means of the conveyor belt device, so that the conveyed material is discharged in the horizontal direction.

[0141] The conveyor belt is twisted in a transition from the receiving section to the transport section in such a way that the conveyor belt inclined in the receiving section is arranged horizontally in the transport section.

[0142] The devices according to the invention and the methods according to the invention are in principle also suitable for other types of conveyed material.

REFERENCE LIST

[0143] 1 Separating device

[0144] 2 Storage container

[0145] 3 Conveyor device

[0146] 4 Feeding direction

[0147] 5 Conveyor belt

[0148] 6 Receiving area

[0149] 7 Separation section

[0150] 8 Detecting section

[0151] 9 Detecting device

[0152] 10 Discharge section

[0153] 11 Discharge device

[0154] 12 Sliding device

[0155] 13 Studs

[0156] 14 Output area

[0157] 15 Output device

[0158] 16 Output element

[0159] 17 Chute means

[0160] 18 Slide direction

[0161] 19 Drainage transport device

[0162] 20 Conveyor belt device

[0163] 21 Stop device

[0164] 22 Feeding direction

[0165] 23 Conveyor belt

[0166] 24 Receiving section

[0167] 25 Transport section

[0168] 26 Transported material