PRODUCT FLOW REGULATOR

Abstract

A product flow regulator for temporary storage of products includes a frame, a conveying mechanism, and product carrier gondolas, which are conveyed with products from a product inlet area to a product outlet area and back empty. The frame includes a stationary guide track, along which the product carrier gondolas circulate self-controlled. The gondolas includes a drive mechanism and electrical control devices, which enable individual independent circulation.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A product flow regulator for temporary storage of products, comprising: a frame; conveyor means; and product carrier gondolas, which are conveyed with products from a product inlet area to a product outlet area and returned empty; wherein the frame includes a stationary guide track along which the product carrier gondolas circulate self-controlled.

8. A product flow regulator according to claim 7, wherein the product carrier gondolas include on both sides drive and guide means by which they are individually movable through plural functional zones of the product flow regulator along a circumferential track.

9. A product flow regulator according to claim 7, wherein the geometric shape of the circumferential guide track is of arbitrary length and height.

10. A product flow regulator according to claim 7, further comprising means for opening the guide track with which product carrier gondolas can be slid in and out.

11. A product carrier gondola for use in a product flow regulator according to claim 7, comprising drive means arranged on both sides.

12. A product carrier gondola according to claim 11, further comprising electrical control and regulating means for individual guidance along a stationary circulating guide track.

Description

[0015] Below, preferred embodiments of the invention's product flow regulator are described based on the attached drawings. In the drawings are shown:

[0016] FIG. 1a-c a schematic representation of a product flow regulators in three views

[0017] FIG. 2 an enlarged representation of the guide and drive device of a gondola

[0018] FIG. 3 another embodiment of the guide and drive device

[0019] FIG. 4 a schematic representation of an embodiment variant of the system

[0020] FIG. 5 a schematic representation of an embodiment variant of the system

[0021] In the side view of FIG. 1a is shown, as in the known product flow regulators, a product flow regulator 1 between a product inlet belt 2 and a product outlet belt 3. FIG. 1b shows a top view of the system and FIG. 1c shows a section along plane A-A of FIG. 1a. Products come from manufacturing on the product inlet belt and are carried further to the packaging system. As is known, they are stored temporarily in the product flow regulator.

[0022] The product flow regulator has a frame 4 on which a stationary circumferential guide track 5 is arranged. Along this guide track move product carrier gondolas 6 equipped in a known manner with a number of product carrier trays. In contrast to the known product flow regulators, the individual gondolas are not connected to a rotating drive mechanism, such as conveyor chains, but move independent of each other.

[0023] The guide track has a vertical ascent section 7 on the product inlet side, a horizontal waiting section 8 connected to it for filled gondolas, a descent section 9 following it on the product outlet side, and a waiting section 10 for empty gondolas arranged in the lower area of the frame. The guide track is closed, but has a turnout 11 between the descent section and the lower waiting section where the individual gondolas can be slid out.

[0024] The guide track has a circumferential guide rail 12, with which the gondolas are guided. Accordingly, the gondolas are equipped with guide rollers 17, as will be further described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the vertical sections and the lower horizontal section, an additional guide rail 13 is provided so the guide rollers of the gondolas are guided there on both sides.

[0025] The guide track further comprises a circumferential toothed rail 14 arranged next to the rail, which engages a drive wheel 18 of the gondola form-fitting.

[0026] Each gondola is provided with its own independent guide and drive means 15, arranged approximately in the upper third of the gondola. An embodiment of this guide and drive means of a gondola is shown in FIG. 2. On a continuous drive shaft 16 on both sides of the gondola are arranged a freely rotatable guide roller 17 and a drive roller 18 non-rotatably connected with the shaft. The guide roller runs, as already mentioned, on the guide track and the drive roller engages the toothed rail. At one end of the drive shaft is arranged a servomotor 19 that drives the shaft. Opposite the outside of the motor a bus bar 20 is mounted on the frame that supplies the motor with power, preferably without contact.

[0027] The toothed rail is made of an elastomeric material in the manner of a toothed belt. Of course, other embodiments are possible.

[0028] The commands to the servomotor necessary for advancing the gondolas on the guide track are controlled in a known manner through a central computer.

[0029] In the embodiment variant shown in FIG. 3, the guide rail 21 at the same time serves as the power supply. The drive is provided by a linear motor 22.

[0030] The inventive solution with independently moved product carrier gondolas has the advantage that the shape of the system can be largely customized and thus easily adapted to existing spaces. FIG. 4 shows a variant in which the frame is adapted to a narrow high space. Here the vertical sections can be shared for the waiting position of the gondolas. FIG. 5 shows a variant adapted to a more complicated room shape. A conventional product flow regulator with gondolas suspended from chains could hardly be installed in such a space at a reasonable cost.

[0031] Another advantage of the inventive solution is that the gondolas can be guided so they do not touch in the waiting positions. This provides a significant reduction of the considerable noise with gondolas suspended on chains. In addition, the vibrations acting on the product are greatly reduced by eliminating the transfer processes at the transitions from vertical to horizontal chain strands and rails.