EP0021988A1 - Method and apparatus for unloading bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Method of unpacking bottles or receptacles forming a second layer of bottles arranged upside down between the necks of bottles forming a first layer of bottles in the upright position in case or bin, characterized in that : the case full of bottles is grasped, the case is inverted while holding on the one hand the first layer of bottles arranged upright in the case and on the other hand the second layer of bottles arranged upside down, the bottles of the second layer are removed while continuing to hold the bottle of the first layer in the case, the case containing only the first layer of bottles which were initially upright is again inverted and the bottles of the first layer are unpacked.

Description

The present invention relates to the unpacking of glass or plastic containers.

The invention relates more particularly to a new process for the disassembly of glass or plastic bottles as well as a new device for the implementation of this process.

Empty bottles are generally delivered or stored in crates or racks from which it is necessary to extract them for filling to align them on the conveyor feeding the machines.

Generally, the bottles are placed in the boxes at the place, that is to say with their neck oriented towards the top of the box. At the disbonding station, a device equipped for example with inflatable tubes which are introduced between the necks simultaneously grasps all the bottles to place them on the conveyor of the filling line.

In other cases, and to obtain more compact storage, it may happen that the boxes can contain, when the shape of the bottles is suitable, not only a bed of bottles arranged at the place, but also a second bed of bottles interposed staggered upside down, that is to say with their neck oriented towards the bottom of the case. So, for example, we can have cases containing 39 bottles, namely a first bed of 6 rows of 4 bottles, which makes 24 bottles at the place and a second bed of 5 rows of 3 bottles, which makes 15 staggered bottles to upside down, each of these being placed between 4 bottle necks at the place. Many other combinations using this type of storage are possible.

It is then necessary, for filling, to disburse the bottles placed upside down before disbursing the bottles placed upside down. To avoid manual unpacking, long, monotonous and tiring work, an automatic device has already been proposed using gripping means such as suction cups which grip the bottom of the bottles, then holding means which surround the seized bottles and turn them over to place them on the filling line conveyor.

This device has several drawbacks. It is bulky. It only works effectively when the bottom of the bottles is clean enough to be gripped by the suction cups, so it is necessary to clean these bottles before removing them from the crates.

The invention proposes a new automatic method of disassembly of bottles, this term bottle being taken in the general sense of containers, arranged upside down in cases or racks and this whatever their state of cleanliness. The disbursement according to the invention is rapid. The device which implements it takes up little space and is easily integrated into a filling line.

According to the invention: the crate full of bottles is seized, it is turned over while retaining on the one hand the first bed of bottles arranged in the place in the crate, on the other hand the second bed of bottles arranged at the upside down, then we release this second bed of bottles while continuing to hold the bottles of the first in the crate. The box is returned again, which now only contains the bottles initially placed in place.

The box to be returned is generally entered at a standstill in a horizontal position. It can be entered at the level of the box conveyor or more advantageously at a higher level, after having been lifted for reasons of simplification of the device for the implementation of the method.

The invention also relates to a device for the disbonding of bottles arranged upside down, between the necks of bottles arranged upright, in a case or rack.

In one aspect of the invention, the device comprises gripping means which grip the box and which return nent, means which hold the first bed of bottles in the box during the inversion, means which maintain in the box the second bed of bottles during the inversion and which after inversion release them downwards.

In one aspect of the invention, the device comprises a gripping head of the box provided with several grids allowing the passage of bottles and means for turning the gripping head around a preferably horizontal axis.

The grids of the gripping head have a structure and an arrangement such that they can fulfill several functions and in particular a function of holding all the bottles in the box during the inversion, a function of releasing the bottles initially arranged upside down and that at the right time.

These grids can also have a function of centering the gripping head on the body to be gripped. They can still play a role in the spacing of the bottles to be disbursed.

Advantageously, the gripping head of the device comprises a metal frame forming a support and two grids each having the same number of holes, of the same diameter and distributed in the same way, an intermediate sliding grid: in the metal frame and a lower grid that can fill the role of centralizing the gripping head on the body and also being able to maintain the bottles upright. The sliding grid can fulfill in this embodiment a function of holding the bottles upside down or on the contrary it allows their passage, this according to the position it occupies with respect to the lower grid.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the device, the metal frame forming a support in the gripping head is replaced by a grid subsequently called an upper grid, having the same number of holes as the other two, these holes being arranged in the axis of the holes in the lower grid.

In this embodiment, the upper grid exerts a lateral holding function and guides the bottles during removal.

This structure ensures correct removal, with no risk of bottles overturning on the conveyor and possibly allows removal on a mobile conveyor.

Advantageously, the gripping head, in its horizontal gripping position, does not hinder the possible circulation of boxes on the conveyor and is at a higher level than the boxes on this conveyor. The device then comprises an elevating member which brings this box to the level of the gripping head to allow it to be taken up by it.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings showing by way of nonlimiting example an embodiment of a device according to the invention.

The device described below is equipped with a gripping head with three grids.

• Figure 1 shows a partial sectional view of the entire turning device in a view perpendicular to the conveyor line for unpacking.
• FIG. 2 represents this same assembly in an elevation view relative to the conveyor line for the disbursement.
• Figure 3 shows the same assembly in a plan view.
• Figure 4 shows the upper grid of the gripping head.
• Figure 5 shows the lower grid of the gripping head.
• Figure 6 shows the intermediate grid of the gripping head.

The device according to the example is used for the disbonding of a maximum of 15 bottles arranged upside down, between the necks of 24 bottles arranged upright. It applies to the disassembly of bottles arranged regularly, in contact with each other and whose barrel is of rounded shape. It applies for example to the disbursement of curved bottles such as ORANGINA bottles (ORANGINA being a commercial name).

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the device is shown as a whole, vis-à-vis a conveyor 1 for supplying cases 2 full of bottles, in the gripping position of a case. The conveyor 1 can be slightly inclined and equipped with idle rollers 101, so that the boxes move by gravity. The conveyor comprises two guides 102 and 103 arranged above the rollers, which ensure the lateral positioning of the boxes.

The device has a metal frame 3 carrying two bearings 4 in which a horizontal turning shaft 5 rotates controlled by a rotary actuator 104. On the horizontal shaft 5 are fixed arms 6 supporting the gripping head 7 described in detail below. The figures show the gripping head in the gripping position of the box 2 to be returned. The turning shaft is linked to the end of a crank 8 by a coupling sleeve 9. The other end of the crank 8 is fixed to the rod 10 of an inclined jack 11 called a balancing jack fixed to the frame , which compensates for the weight of the body during the inversion of the gripping head. The gripping head comprises three superimposed grids, each of them having 15 holes corresponding to the passage of the 15 bottles arranged upside down in the box and which are to be disbursed.

The upper grid 12 form support frame supports on two opposite sides four gripping jacks 13 articulated around the horizontal axes 14 and whose rods 15 are connected to two gripping jaws 16 which, controlled by the jacks 13 at the time of gripping the body, are housed in suitable openings 17 presented by the body.

The lower grid 18 has a chamfer 19 a few millimeters wide, extending around the entire periphery of the grid, making it possible to center the body exactly on the gripping head.

The intermediate grid 20 slidably mounted to be eclipsable, is linked on one side to a stirrup 21 secured to the rod 22 of a jack 23 supported by the upper grid 12 forming the support frame. This cylinder controls the movement of the intermediate grid which can move relative to the other two grids, so that the holes 24 can either be in the axis of the holes of the other grids to allow the passage of the bottles to be disbursed, or offset so that the solid parts of the grid partially close the passage formed by the holes of the other grids in order to keep the bottles to be disbursed in the box during the inversion.

The device according to the invention may also include an elevator 25 for the box to be grabbed. This member can be formed of two T 26 which, in the rest position, are eclipsed in the conveyor and which, at the time of their use, rise between the rollers of the conveyor to come to support and raise the box to be returned. The downstream T is equipped with two plates forming stops 105 on which run into the crates.

The two vertical rods 27 of the T are fixed to a cross member 29 secured to a vertical cylinder 29 of the rod, the end of which in the form of a yoke is linked to a horizontal axis 31 carried by the frame. This cylinder controls the movement of the elevator which raises the body to the level of the gripping head. The two rods of the T slides in vertical ball bushings 106 mounted on crosspieces of the frame 3.

The lifting member also comprises two vertical guide rods 32 screwed in their upper part on the horizontal parts, U-shaped for example, T and which slide in rings carried by connecting pieces 33 secured to the frame. These vertical guide rods maintain the T-rods in a transverse position relative to the conveyor.

The device can also advantageously have a sheet metal cover 34 covering the path of the gripping head during turning. This avoids splashing of bottles or liquid in the event of an incident.

FIG. 4 represents the upper grid forming a support frame, essentially formed by a metal plate, for example made of duralumin about 20 mm thick. This plate is pierced in its central part 35, thinned by approximately 5 mm, with 15 countersunk holes 36 whose axes are spaced apart by the same spacing d, for example 83 mm, each hole having a diameter of approximately 79 mm . These dimensions are of course a function of the diameter of the bottles to be disbursed, here 77 mm, as well as their spacing in the boxes. The grid also has oblong holes 37 for attaching the gripping cylinders 13, not shown here, on pins to be placed in the holes 38. The two sides along the width of the plate have a suitable cutout and holes 39 for their attachment to the arms 6, not shown here, supporting the entire gripping head. Other bores 40 are provided for the passage of the axes of rotation of the two gripping jaws.

FIG. 5 represents the lower grid formed essentially by a metal plate, for example made of duralumin approximately 20 mm thick, pierced with 15 countersunk holes 41 whose axes are spaced apart by the same spacing d, as in the upper grid.

The dimensions of the lower grid are a function of those of the box to be returned, and, in this example, its outer cut into notches 42 and the dimensions of these correspond to a particular structure of this box to be returned. This grid has over its entire periphery a chamfer 19 which is used for centering the gripping head on the body to be gripped.

FIG. 6 represents the 2D sliding intermediate grid formed essentially by a metal plate, for example made of steel 4 mm thick. This grid is pierced with 15 countersunk holes 43 spaced from each other by a spacing d _o The diameter of the holes is identical to that of the holes of the two other grids prea = lably described. The grid 20 has, on one side, two tongues 44 each pierced with two holes 45 for fixing to the control bracket 21 not shown here. Its dimensions allow the intermediate grid to slide between the two external grids in the thinned region of the upper grid. This intermediate grid is shown in Figure 4 in phantom in offset position, that is to say in its position at the time of gripping the body and during its inversion.

• Le dispositif est placé dans la position de préhension, c'est-à-dire avec la tête de préhension disposée horizontalement à l'aplomb du convoyeur 1 d'amenée des caisses. La grille intermédiaire est en position décalée par rapport aux deux autres grilles dont les trous sont en coïncidence.

The operation of the device is as follows:

• The device is placed in the gripping position, that is to say with the gripping head arranged horizontally above the conveyor 1 for supplying the boxes. The intermediate grid is in an offset position with respect to the other two grids whose holes are in coincidence.

The crates full of bottles, namely 24 bottles arranged at the place and 15 bottles arranged upside down between the necks of the 24 others arrive, driven by gravity, on the conveyor 1. The first crate is identified by a detector which activates the jack 29 which mounts the elevator until the stops 105 appear above the level of the rollers, the T remaining overshadowed between the rollers. This intermediate position is maintained until the body comes into contact with the stops 105. During this time the following cases are blocked by an annex transverse stop. The cylinders 29 are then actuated a second time, which causes the two T-shaped rods of the elevator to rise. The horizontal parts of the T's come into contact with the bottom of the box, then lift the latter to come and place it facing the gripping head. Precise centering of the body on the head is carried out thanks to the external chamfer 19 of the lower grid 18.

The jacks 13 of the gripping jaws are actuated and the latter close on both sides of the body, partly engaging in the two lateral openings 17 presented by the body. This operation completes the body approach movement. In the gripping position, the bottles are generally not in contact with the lower grid.

The rotary actuator 104 is actuated which causes the body to be turned around the turning shaft 5, which, initially arranged along the axis A, is then placed along the axis B. During the turning, the bottles of the second bed, initially arranged upside down, come under the effect of their weights to engage in the openings of the lower grid. Thanks to the - arrangement of the holes of the lower grid separated by a distance d greater than the diameter of the bottles and also thanks to the partially rounded shape of the barrel of the bottles, the latter deviate slightly from each other during the inversion, the thickness of the lower grid being sufficient to allow the spacing of the bottles. The bottoms of the bottles of the second bed initially placed upside down abut against the solid parts of the offset intermediate grid. The bottles of the first bed initially placed at the place abut by their neck on the solid parts of the lower grid 18.

After complete reversal, the gripping head being in the position of removal in the axis 8, the actuator 23 is actuated which causes the sliding of the intermediate grid 20 in the thinned part of the grid 12 now placed downwards. The sliding of the intermediate grid has the effect of placing its holes in the axis of the corresponding holes of the upper grid and the lower grid. This has the effect of releasing the bottles from the second bed initially placed upside down and which, after having been guided by the holes in the upper grid, are found by turning upside down arranged on the moving evacuation conveyor. The latter then drives them, for example, to the filling station while, by the action of the rotary actuator 104, the box is again turned over again still containing the bottles of the first bed initially placed at the location.

The body returns in axis A, above the elevator. Actuators 13 are actuated, the rods pushing the jaws grips that release the box. By action on the cylinder 29, the elevator is lowered which deposits the box on the conveyor rollers. The latter, driven by its weight, goes to the station for disassembling the bottles from the first bed arranged at the place. To prevent the box from remaining on site after having been re-deposited on the conveyor, the device can be fitted with a jack, the role of which is to give the necessary impetus to start the box.

The disassembly of the bottles from the bed arranged at the place is then carried out in a known manner, for example by using a device equipped with inflatable tubes.

The detector having identified the distance from the first box triggers the movement of the next by releasing it from its stop.

And the disbursement cycle begins again and so on for the following cases.

The total duration of the operation according to the invention is of the order of a few seconds. We therefore process approximately 6 to 10 cases per minute.

Claims (11)

1. Method of disassembly of bottles or containers forming a second bed of bottles arranged upside down, between the necks of bottles-forming a first bed of bottles arranged upright in a case or rack, characterized in that: - grab the crate full of bottles, turn it over while retaining on the one hand the first bed of bottles arranged upright in the crate, on the other hand the second bed of bottles arranged upside down, bottles of this second bed while continuing to hold the bottles of the first in the box, the box is again turned over, which only contains the first bed of bottles initially placed at the place. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that before the body is turned over, it is subjected to a vertical translational movement. 3. Device for the disassembly of bottles forming a second bed of bottles arranged upside down, between the necks of the bottles forming a first bed, arranged in the right place in a case or crate, characterized in that it comprises means gripping devices which grip the box and which turn it over, means which hold the first bed of bottles in the box during the turning over, means which hold the second bed of bottles in the box during the turning over of the box and which, after turning over , release these down. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a gripping head provided with several grids allowing the passage of the bottles, and means for turning this gripping head around a horizontal axis. 5. Device according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the gripping head is provided with three superimposed grids, each pierced with the same number of holes corresponding to the number of bottles to be disbursed from the second bed, initially arranged at the 'reverse, one of these three grids being sliding so that its holes can be offset or in the extension of the corresponding holes of the other two. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the sliding grid is the intermediate grid. 7. Device according to one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the sliding grid is controlled by a jack. 8. Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that it comprises an elevator (25) which places the body in contact with the gripping head. 9. Device according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the turning means are controlled by a rotary actuator (104). 10. Device according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the lower grid oriented towards the body to be gripped has a chamfer (19) on a periphery for centering the body. 11. Device according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the lower grid has a sufficient thickness to be able to modify the spacing of the bottles during overturning.

Images