EP1018892A1 - Systeme, dispositif et procede de manutention de batons en vue de leur insertion dans des corps de glaces - Google Patents

Systeme, dispositif et procede de manutention de batons en vue de leur insertion dans des corps de glaces

Info

Publication number
EP1018892A1
EP1018892A1 EP96934450A EP96934450A EP1018892A1 EP 1018892 A1 EP1018892 A1 EP 1018892A1 EP 96934450 A EP96934450 A EP 96934450A EP 96934450 A EP96934450 A EP 96934450A EP 1018892 A1 EP1018892 A1 EP 1018892A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sticks
stick
stack
conveying means
pockets
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96934450A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Ole Morch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NTC Engineering APS
Original Assignee
NTC Engineering APS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NTC Engineering APS filed Critical NTC Engineering APS
Publication of EP1018892A1 publication Critical patent/EP1018892A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23G—COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
    • A23G9/00—Frozen sweets, e.g. ice confectionery, ice-cream; Mixtures therefor
    • A23G9/04—Production of frozen sweets, e.g. ice-cream
    • A23G9/22—Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups
    • A23G9/26—Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups for producing frozen sweets on sticks
    • A23G9/265—Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups for producing frozen sweets on sticks for manipulating the sticks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an arrangement of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1.
  • the free regions in which the stick is laid bare are usually at the center or at the ends of the sticks. Usually, the pockets are shorter than the sticks and/or have recesses in the center. These free regions without support are provided to enable a stacking member to engage a stick from below and lift it up from the pocket without colliding with the feed-conveying means .
  • the feed-conveying means moves the sticks in the pockets to a stacking station, in which the sticks when delivered to the station are lifted by a stacking-up device, removing the stick from the pocket and stacking it upwardly into a stack of sticks.
  • the individual sticks lie in mutual abutment with their longitudinal surfaces.
  • the stack of sticks itself is guided in its own longitudinal direction, e.g. transversely to the longitudinal direction of the individual sticks, to a stick-insertion station, in which the sticks are inserted into the ice-cream bodies.
  • the sticks are stacked-up in the stack of sticks as they arrive in the stacking-up station, and the stack of sticks is advanced by the thickness of one stick. As the stack of sticks approaches its full state, the speed of the feed-conveying means is lowered, or the latter is stopped completely.
  • the stick- guiding means can be provided with a buffer store functioning to increase or reduce the length of the stack of sticks, e.g. by means of a stick arch, such as disclosed in DE-OS 2,462,613.
  • the stacking-up means themselves, lifting the sticks out of the pockets on the feed-conveying means may be constructed in various ways. There may e.g. be toothed wheels below the feed-conveying means running in synchronism with the latter, the teeth of the toothed wheel lifting the sticks out of the pockets and up into the stack. An example of this is shown in the above-mentioned DE-OS 1,601,078.
  • the apparatus disclosed in this DE publication is, however, not of the kind to which the present invention is related, as the stack is not used for advancing sticks to an insertion station, but rather as a buffer store, adapted to in a different operating cycle to fill any empty pockets occurring in the feed-conveying means.
  • a stacking-up means e.g. in the form of a fork, engages the extreme ends of the stick from below and lifts it up from the pocket and up into the stack.
  • This fork can be controlled and operated from above, and may also be integrated with the stick guide guiding the stack of sticks to the subsequent stations .
  • the capability of lifting the lifting means and the stack of sticks out of the stacking-up process may e.g. be desirable when the stacking-up process is to be brought to a halt quickly, e.g. due to the stack of sticks having got stuck, without the necessity for stopping the feed-conveying means, which may be disadvantageous due to the latter 's inertia and function. It can also be advantageous to bring the lifting means and the stack of sticks out of the stacking-up process in order to carry out a running-in of the feed-conveying means without having to stack sticks into the stack of sticks concerned. Other advantages will be evident from the following parts of the present description.
  • the feed-conveying means When the stacking-up means is to be returned to the function of stacking-up sticks from a feed- conveying means filled with sticks, the feed-conveying means is to be stopped and the sticks below the stacking- -up means are to be removed, before the stacking-up means can be brought into the stacking-up positions.
  • the feed-conveying means When the feed-conveying means is re-started, its drive means must be capable of accelerating it together with the stack of sticks in engagement for stacking-up, and this requires a greater moment from the drive means when starting than in continuous operation.
  • the feed-conveying means and particularly its pockets and abutment surfaces as well as the stacking-up means must be adapted to be able to function at low speed, and this can cause constructional limitations relative to the optimum construction of these means for operation at the usual operating speed.
  • a preferred embodiment set forth in claim 6 makes it possible to exploit in an optimum manner the speed with which the sticks can be taken out singly and stacked; further, it is possible to use a single feed bin for a number of stacks of sticks, thus causing the post-feeding to be simplified.
  • Figure 1 shows a feed-conveying means in the form of a conveyor chain according to the invention with a stacking device
  • Figures 1.1-1.6 show how a normal stacking-up process is carried out
  • Figures 2.1-2.3 show a process of disengagement
  • Figures 2.4-2.5 show an attempt at re-engagement without using the invention
  • Figures 3.1-3.8 show a process comprising disengagement of stacking-up means and a stack of sticks, as well as re-engagement according to the invention
  • Figure 4 shows an apparatus for inserting sticks in icecream bodies as known from PCT DK95/00038
  • Figure 5 shows a feed-conveyor chain with a blank link
  • Figure 6 shows a feed-conveying means with a number of stacking-up stations.
  • Figure 4 shows an apparatus for inserting sticks in ice- -cream bodies of the kind known from PCT application DK 95/00038.
  • the sticks are supplied to a feed bin 1, from which they are taken out one by one by a feed conveyor or chain 2 advancing the sticks P in pockets towards the stacking device 3 , the latter stacking the sticks to form a stack of sticks PS.
  • the stack of sticks PS is guided by the stack guide 5 comprising a stick arch 6 across to a stick-insertion station 8, in the present embodiment comprising a ratchet-wheel-shaped destacking rotor 7.
  • the course of the stack guide 5 and the stick-insertion station 8 may be arranged and chosen according to desire, and is shown in the present exemplary embodiment purely for purposes of illustration.
  • the feed conveyor 2 is guided and driven by suitable means in the present embodiment represented by wheels 10, 11.
  • the feed conveyor 2 advances the sticks P to the stacking device 3, the latter comprising suitable guide means, in the present embodiment exemplified by the guide member 4.
  • the gripping member on the stacking device 3 is usually in the form of a fork, the two legs of which engage the extreme ends of the stick and lift it out of the pocket.
  • the fork may also comprise one or two legs running in longitudinal recesses in the feed conveyor.
  • FIG 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which a feed conveyor in the form of a feed chain 2 advances sticks P in pockets 24 towards a stacker fork 31 stacking the sticks P in a stack of sticks PS.
  • the stacker fork 31 is indicated in a preferred embodiment, in which the fork 31 moves relative to the stick guide 5 so that sticks P are lifted on the lifting surface 32 ' and at the same time prevented by the stop surface 32" from moving on with the conveyor 2.
  • this stop surface 32" has an upward extent ensuring that, in any operational position of the fork 31, it enters the plane for the rearwardly directed guide on the stick guide 5, so as to prevent sticks from getting wedged between the stop surface 32" and the lower part of the stick guide 5.
  • the pockets 24 may have any desired shape, but will mainly comprise a bottom 24', e.g. supporting the stick P at one or two abutment surfaces about its center of mass .
  • the pocket must comprise a stick stop, in the present example shown in the form of an abutment step 23 ' , but may also be otherwise shaped, such as in the form of knobs, cams or the like supporting the stick in the opposite direction of the feed.
  • the pocket is shaped in a link 21, on which a rearwardly placed step member 23 comprises the abutment step 23 ' and is provided with a step supporting surface 23", on which the lowermost stick in the stack can be placed and slide.
  • the step supporting surface 23" is preferably made as long as possible, i.e. the greatest possible width of abutment, transversely to the conveying direction of the link 21, in order to reduce wear, when the sticks slide on the supporting surface. Rearwardly the step member 23 is provided with a step chamfer 23 ' ' ' , so that the lowermost stick P in the stack of sticks PS at this location may begin to slide downwardly towards the next pocket 24.
  • this Figure shows a blank link 22, in the example shown corresponding to the links 21 but not having a pocket 24, so that this link is unable to accommodate a stick.
  • the blank link 22 is shaped in such a manner, that only the regions in which the stick P were to lie are barred, and the regions in which the lifting member is to be able to move, are free.
  • the blank link 22 is provided with a slide surface 25, on which the lowermost stick P in a stack of sticks can slide on to the next link 21, 22 in the chain.
  • the slide surface 25 is inclined in the forward (downstream) direction, but this surface 25 is advantageously horizontal, i.e. not inclined, in order to prevent sticks P or parts of such from being carried along on this blank link 22.
  • the slide surface 25 may possibly also be inclined rearwardly and replace the chamfer 23 ' ' ' .
  • the slide surface 25 ends in a chamfer 23 ' ' ' corresponding to the chamfer 23 ' ' ' on the links 21 having pockets 24.
  • the chamfer may, however, also be otherwise shaped and extend more smoothly, possibly along the full extent of the slide surface 25 as mentioned above.
  • the slide surface 25 can advantageous -ly extend from a plane slightly below the step supporting surface 23" on the preceding link 21, the latter possibly being a special link without a chamfer 23 ' ' ' .
  • Figures 1.1-1.6 show an ordinary stacking process.
  • Figure 1.1 shows the links 21 in a feed chain 2 advancing in the direction of the arrow F.
  • sticks P present in the pockets 24 on each of the links 21 are in this manner advanced to a stacking device 3 comprising a stacker fork 31.
  • Figure 1.1 shows the stack of sticks PS resting on top of a stick P in the course of being lifted by the fork 31 out of its pocket 24 in the direction of the arrow O.
  • the lowermost stick in the stack of sticks PS has been lifted to a level above that of the step member 23, and the link 21 concerned in the pocket 24 of which the last stick P to be stacked was lying, is advanced below the stacks of sticks PS.
  • the fork 31 with the stack of sticks PS is moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow N, upon which the stack of sticks PS lies in abutment with the lowermost stick P on the step supporting surface 23"
  • the stack of sticks PS comes into abutment against the next stick P at the same time as the stacker fork 31 is moved upwardly, and the course of events is repeated as from Figure 1.1. In this manner, the sticks P are stacked upwardly in the stack of sticks PS, the latter being advanced in the stick guide 5 towards the insertion station 8.
  • Figures 2.1-2.3 show how the stack of sticks PS, from a position in Figure 2.1 corresponding to that of Figure 1.1, is lifted out of the stacking procedure shown in Figure 2.2 into a disengaged position shown in Figure 2.3, in which the stack of sticks PS and the lower parts of the stacker fork 31 in the direction of advancement of the sticks P are lifted up above the feed chain 2, so that the sticks P in the latter can be advanced below the stack of sticks PS and the stacker fork 31.
  • the stacking device 3 has no influence on the advancing of the sticks P on the feed chain 2, and at the same time, the process of stacking sticks P up into the stack of sticks PS has ceased.
  • Figures 2.4 and 2.5 show how things go wrong if the stack of sticks PS and the stacker fork 31 are moved downwardly towards the re-engagement without regard to the sticks P being present on the feed chain.
  • Figure 2.4 shows the beginning of the lowering for re-engagement .
  • Figure 2.5 shows how the stacker fork 31 with its lower parts in the supporting region for the sticks lies in abutment on the upper side of a stick P in a link 21. This will normally lead to breakdown between the feed chain 2 and the stacking device 3 , or at least that one or a number of sticks P will be crushed by the stacker fork 31.
  • Figures 3.1-3.8 show how the stacking device 3 and the stack of sticks PS can be brought into and out of engagement according to the principles of the invention.
  • Figures 3.1-3.3 corresponding to Figures 2.1-2.3 show how the stacking device 3 is disengaged with the stack of sticks PS by moving the stacker fork 31 up into a level above the feed chain 2 allowing the sticks P to pass below the stacker fork 31 in the regions otherwise lying in the direction of advancement of the sticks P.
  • This blank link 22 or the link 21 provided with a dummy stick is characterized by having no pocket 24 or that its pocket is blocked by a dummy stick to an extent preventing a normal stick to be accommodated, whereas on the contrary, the regions passed by the stacker fork 31 are not blocked in any way, so that the stacker fork 31 can pass this link in the same manner as it would pass a link 21 without a stick P.
  • the lowermost stick P in the stack of sticks PS will lie in abutment with the slide surface 25 on the blank link 22 in the manner shown in Figure 3.5.
  • the stacker fork 31 continues in its downward movement without the stack of sticks to a level, at which the lifting surface 32' on the fork lies below the lower level for a stick P being advanced on the next link 21 with the pocket 24 in the manner shown in Figure 3.6.
  • the lowermost stick P in the stack of sticks PS slides on the slide surface 25 of the blank link 22 as the feed chain 2 is being advanced, all in the manner shown in Figure 3.7.
  • the dummy stick referred to can merely be a stick having been secured in a pocket 24 in a link 21, the parts of the stick otherwise engaged by the stacker fork being removed.
  • the dummy stick is, however, preferably made from a wear-resistant material capable of being provided with a smooth surface, such as e.g. steel or plastic.
  • the use of a dummy stick is especially advantageous when using existing feed-conveying means in the form of wheels, ribbons or chains, and is also advantageous in cases, in which it is desirable to be able to vary the positioning or the number of dummy sticks.
  • the "dummy function" is provided by a blank link 22 shaped in a manner corresponding to a link 21 but without the latter' s pocket. If this blank link 22 is part of a feed chain 2 of e.g. wear-resistant and self-lubricating plastic, in which the links can be separated, the positioning and number can be varied by inserting and removing blank links 22 into or from the feed chain 2.
  • the presence of a blank link 22, a dummy stick or an empty pocket 24 can be ascertained on the basis of knowledge about its position, possibly at a given moment in time and knowledge about the path of advancement and/or the speed of the feed conveyor. This may also be achieved by detecting the blank link 22, the dummy stick or the empty pocket 24 having characteristics with regard to shape relative to a pocket 24 with a stick, or by other recognizable characteristics, such as reflecting surfaces, pieces of metal in the blank link or dummy stick etc.
  • the presence of a blank link or a dummy stick can particularly be ascertained by a combination of the sensing and knowledge about the conveying paths .
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of a feed chain leading sticks P up to a stacker fork 31 of the kind engaging the extreme ends of the sticks.
  • the sticks P are retained in their pockets 24 by step members 23 on the links in the feed chain supporting the sticks in the conveying direction.
  • their positions are controlled by guide rails that are stationary relative to the moving feed chain and are adjusted to keep the sticks centered in the pockets.
  • the blank link 22 is provided by securing a block extending to the edges of the pocket and having a slide surface 25.
  • This block prevents the insertion of a stick in the pocket and is so dimensioned and shaped that the stacker fork does not come into contact with it; the stack of sticks PS can, however, lie in abutment on its slide surface 25 with its lowermost stick. If the stacker fork 31 is to engage the sticks within the extent of the pockets transversely to the conveying direction, the block must, of course, be provided with corresponding recesses or cutouts.
  • the invention is particularly advantageous when using a number of stacking devices 3, 3', 3" with associated stick guides 5, 5', 5" in the manner made possible by the invention, this being shown in Figure 6.
  • This makes it possible to achieve an optimum exploitation of the operating speed attainable in an economical manner when taking out sticks one by one from a feed bin 1, advancing them on the feed conveyor 2 and stacking them in a stacking device 3 without the necessity for a single insertion station 8 to be able to keep up to the same speed.
  • feed bins 1 the taking out of sticks one by one from the feed bin 1 and feed conveyors 2 are made superfluous in a number of one less than the number of stacking devices 3 with associated stacks of sticks and guides for the latter.
  • the stacking device 3 When the stacking device 3 has stacked a given number of sticks P, it is disengaged at an arbitrary location as shown in Figures 2.1-2.3.
  • the succeeding stacking device 3' is brought into engagement at the last empty pocket 24 before the arrival of links 21 with sticks P, such as is shown in Figures 1.2-1.6.
  • the stacking device 3' When the stacking device 3' has stacked a given number of sticks P in its stack of sticks PS, it is disengaged at an arbitrary location as shown in Figures 2.1-2.3.
  • the succeeding stacking device 3" and possible stacking devices downstream of the latter the same process as in the stacking device 3 ' is carried out.
  • a stacking process may consist of solely one stick or X sticks, and it may be advantageous to place a blank link or a dummy stick after each number of sticks equal to the number of stacking devices 3, after X sticks, or after X sticks times the number of stacking devices 3.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)

Abstract

Un convoyeur à bande comporte entre les rangées d'alvéoles recevant les bâtons des espaces intermédiaires situés dans des positions bien définies. Le moyen de levage d'un dispositif d'empilage peut se déplacer dans le plan où les bâtons, entraînés par le convoyeur, progressent sans entrer en contact avec un bâton porté par le convoyeur. Il est ainsi possible d'engager ou de dégager le dispositif d'empilage selon les besoins, et également de prévoir plus d'un élément d'empilage (3, 31) le long d'un convoyeur (2) à alimentation unique.
EP96934450A 1996-10-25 1996-10-25 Systeme, dispositif et procede de manutention de batons en vue de leur insertion dans des corps de glaces Withdrawn EP1018892A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/DK1996/000446 WO1998018341A1 (fr) 1996-10-25 1996-10-25 Systeme, dispositif et procede de manutention de batons en vue de leur insertion dans des corps de glaces

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1018892A1 true EP1018892A1 (fr) 2000-07-19

Family

ID=8155842

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96934450A Withdrawn EP1018892A1 (fr) 1996-10-25 1996-10-25 Systeme, dispositif et procede de manutention de batons en vue de leur insertion dans des corps de glaces

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1018892A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU7280096A (fr)
WO (1) WO1998018341A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK176572B1 (da) 2004-10-21 2008-09-22 Gram Equipment As Anordning til fremföring af pinde i et apparat til indsætning af pinde i iskremlegemer
CN102626174B (zh) * 2012-03-19 2014-04-09 广东展翠食品股份有限公司 不规则插棒机及其插棒方法
KR102125867B1 (ko) * 2019-11-12 2020-06-23 주식회사조흥기계 아이스바용 스틱 삽입장치
CN112623329B (zh) * 2020-12-10 2023-11-14 杭州中亚机械股份有限公司 一种用于灌装生产线的插棒装置
US20240041063A1 (en) * 2020-12-28 2024-02-08 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. A stick handling apparatus, an ice cream production system and a method for producing ice cream

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK0806899T3 (da) * 1995-01-26 2000-07-17 Ntc Engineering Aps Indretning til afstakning og fremføring af pinde i et apparatur til indsætning af pinde i iscremelegemer

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9818341A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7280096A (en) 1998-05-22
WO1998018341A1 (fr) 1998-05-07

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