AUTOMATED METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING CLOSURE ELEMENTS

Abstract

An automated method for distributing closure elements with screwing and/or stopping means structure, comprising including supplying a turntable with a plurality of closure elements arranged on the turntable, including detecting the format of each closure element arranged on the turntable and gripping each closure element for which the format has been detected in order to distribute it to a transfer device capable of transporting a plurality of closure elements with screwing and/or stopping structure.

Claims

1. An automated method for distributing closure elements with screwing and/or stopping means, comprising supplying a turntable with a plurality of closure elements arranged on the turntable characterised in that it comprises detecting the format of each closure element arranged on the turntable and gripping each closure element for which the format has been detected in order to distribute it to transfer means capable of transporting a plurality of closure elements with screwing and/or stopping means.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an orientation of the closure elements arranged on the turntable according to a predefined profile.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the turntable is supplied by the plurality of closure elements when the number of closure elements arranged on at least one surface of the turntable , is less than a predetermined threshold.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the turntable is supplied with a plurality of closure elements when the total surface area covered by the closure elements arranged on at least one surface of the turntable is less than a predetermined threshold.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the turntable is supplied cyclically.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means are initially in a reference position and wherein the transfer means are oriented by a reference angle relative to their reference position when they include a predefined number of closure elements other transfer means to be filled being simultaneously arranged in said reference position.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detection comprises capturing an image of each closure element submitting the image to a classification algorithm able to select the format of the closure element from a set of possible reference formats.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the detection comprises capturing an image of each closure element and submitting the image to an image recognition algorithm able to detect a single closure element format.

9. An automated closure element distribution system with screwing and/or stopping means, comprising transfer means, a turntable, and supply means able to supply the turntable with a plurality of closure elements characterised in that it comprises: - detection means capable of detecting the format of each closure element arranged on the turntable and, - gripping means capable of gripping each closure element for which the format has been detected and placing it in transfer means capable of transporting a plurality of closure elements to the storage means.

10. The system according to claim 9, comprising orientation means capable of positioning the closure elements arranged on the turntable according to a predefined profile.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the orientation means include a comb and a flap arranged opposite each other.

12. The system according to claim 9 wherein the supply means are capable of supplying the turntable when the number of closure elements arranged on at least one surface of the turntable is less than a predetermined threshold.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein the supply means are capable of supplying the turntable with a plurality of closure elements when the total surface area covered by the closure elements arranged on at least one surface of the turntable is less than a determined threshold.

14. The system according to claim 9 wherein the supply means are capable of cyclically supplying the turntable with the plurality of closure elements.

15. The system according to claim 9 wherein the transfer means are initially in a reference position the system comprising control means able to orient the transfer means by a reference angle relative to their reference position when they include a predefined number of closure elements and simultaneously have other transfer means to be loaded in the reference position.

16. The system according to claim 9 comprising a calculation module and wherein the detection means (5) include at least one camera capable of capturing an image of a closure element submitting it to the calculation module able to select, by executing a classification algorithm, the closure element format from a set of possible reference formats.

17. The system according to claim 9 comprises a calculation module and wherein the detection means include at least one camera capable of capturing an image of a closure element and submitting it to the calculation module capable of detecting, by executing an image recognition algorithm, a single closure element format.

18. The system according to claim 9 wherein the gripping means include a suction cup and a centring jig, or a pneumatic or electric gripper.

19. The system according to claim 9 wherein the supply means include a lifting hopper andat least one conveyor capable of cooperating with the turntable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] Other purposes, features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, given only by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings on which:

[0064] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an automated closure element distributing system according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0065] FIG. 2 schematically shows means for orienting closure elements arranged on a turntable according to one embodiment of the invention and,

[0066] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate different implementations of the orientation means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a closure element distribution system 8, designated by the general reference numeral 1.

[0068] The closure elements 8, for example capsules or pumps, can be in different formats or in a single format.

[0069] The distribution system 1 is intended to transport the closure elements 8 with screwing and/or stopping means capable of carrying out the operations necessary to obtain a finished product, for example a filled and closed bottle.

[0070] For this purpose, the distribution system 1 comprises transfer means 6 capable of transporting a plurality of closure elements 8 with screwing and/or stopping means.

[0071] To supply the transfer means 6 with a plurality of closure elements 8, the distribution system 1 includes supply means 2 capable of transporting, along a predetermined path, the closure elements 8 arranged in trays 21.

[0072] More particularly, this is a lifting hopper 22 and a conveyor 23 capable of cooperating.

[0073] The conveyor 23 is here linear, but this does not exclude the use of conveyors whose shape follows a different geometric path.

[0074] Of course, the conveyor 23 can be, without limitation, a roller conveyor, a pilgrim step or screw conveyor. It is any type of conveyor capable of transporting closure elements.

[0075] The distribution system 1 further includes a turntable 3, able to cooperate with the conveyor 23, and on which the closure elements are arranged in bulk and in excess, which allows them to be presented, as many times as necessary, to gripping means 4 arranged around the turntable 3.

[0076] In other words, the closure elements 8 not gripped by the gripping means 4 on the turntable 3 will again be presented to the detection means 5 thanks to the rotation of the turntable 3.

[0077] Thus, the closure elements 8 not gripped remain arranged on the turntable 3 until they are gripped by the gripping means 4.

[0078] The turntable 3 therefore allows to avoid having to use recycling conveyors comprising, for example, other conveyors in order to put the closure elements 8 back into the turntable 3.

[0079] Moreover, the gripping means 4 here include two robots 41 and 42 capable of gripping the closure elements 8 and transporting them to the transfer means 6.

[0080] Each robot 41, 42 consists of an actuator 43 coupled to an effector 44, the end of which includes a suction cup and a centring jig.

[0081] Alternatively, the end of the effector 44 may include an electric or pneumatic gripper.

[0082] As each closure element 8 can have a particular format. It is advantageous to detect it so that the effector 44 can grasp it.

[0083] For this purpose, the distribution system 1 comprises detection means 5 capable of detecting the format of each closure element 8 arranged on the turntable 3.

[0084] More particularly, the detection means 5 include at least one camera 51 capable of capturing an image of a closure element 8 circulating in its field of vision and submitting it to a calculation module 52.

[0085] The calculation module 52 can be implemented in a microprocessor or a microcontroller.

[0086] It is capable of executing a classification algorithm to select the format of the closure element 8 whose image has been submitted thereto, from a set of possible reference formats.

[0087] Alternatively, the calculation module 52 is capable of executing an image recognition algorithm capable of detecting a single closure element format 8.

[0088] If the format is new, in other words not stored in a memory of the calculation module 52, an operator can train the image classification or recognition algorithm to recognise it, by providing as input to the algorithm, the image closure element 8.

[0089] Moreover, so that the gripping means 4 can grip the closure elements 8, it is advantageous for them to be arranged on the turntable according to a profile determined according to the operation to be performed, such as screwing or closure.

[0090] For this purpose, the distribution system 1 comprises orientation means 9 able to orient all the closure elements arranged in bulk in the turntable 3.

[0091] The closure elements 8 for which the format has been detected and which are arranged according to said profile, will therefore be gripped and placed in the transfer means 6.

[0092] More particularly, the transfer means 6 are initially in an initial reference position P1, here a set of cells, each intended to accommodate a closure element 8 gripped by the gripping means 4.

[0093] In this example, when all the cells are loaded with closure elements 8, control means, not shown here, orient the transfer means 6 by a reference angle, here 180°, relative to its initial reference position P1. The set of cells is thus in position P2.

[0094] The control means then have, during the orientation of the set of cells from position P1 to position P2, another set of empty cells capable of being supplied with closure elements in the initial reference position P1.

[0095] It should be noted that the control means can be implemented in the same microprocessor or microcontroller wherein the calculation module 52 is integrated.

[0096] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates an embodiment of the orientation means 9.

[0097] The orientation means 9 are integral with the frame of the system 1 for distributing closure elements 8.

[0098] More particularly, the turntable 3 is here arranged around the orientation means 9.

[0099] Alternatively, the orientation means 9 can be located on the periphery of the turntable 3.

[0100] The orientation means 9 include a flap 91 and a comb 92 arranged opposite each other and able, by cooperating, to orient the closure elements 8 according to the predetermined profile.

[0101] When it comes to screwing a closure element 8 onto a bottle, it is advantageous to orient according to said profile only the closure elements 8 which are arranged in the direction opposite to the screwing.

[0102] The profile here corresponds to a closure element 8 arranged on the turntable 3 in the direction of screwing.

[0103] Moreover, the term “comb” means any solid object including a plurality of more or less fine and tight teeth, used to grip the closure element by its hollow part.

[0104] Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the comb 92 comprises a plurality of teeth 93 able to hook the closure element 8 by its hollow part 94.

[0105] As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the tooth 93 orients the closure element 8 at a first angle of 90°.

[0106] The closure element 8 then collides with the flap 91 able to orient it at a second angle of 90°.

[0107] Thus, by cooperating, the comb 92 and the flap 91 are able to orient the closure element 8 by an angle of 180° so that it is arranged in the direction of screwing.

[0108] The closure element 8 thus arranged is able to be gripped and transported by the gripping means 4 to the transfer means 6.

[0109] However, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the closure element 8 is arranged in the screwing direction, the tooth 93 cannot grip it.

[0110] Moreover, the invention is not limited to these embodiments and implementations but embraces all variants thereof. For example, the orientation means correspond to any device capable of orienting the closure elements according to a predetermined profile on a turntable.