Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
File No: 1294P2
CANADA
Title: INFEED COLLATION SYSTEM
Inventor: CHRIS FOLLOWS and KEVIN CROSBY
1
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
INFEED COLLATION SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present device is a collator and method of use in which the
collator
together with an infeed conveyor feeding the collator is configured to be able
to
orient products onto their flat surface and/or orient products onto their edge
surface by repositioning of the collator and infeed conveyor.
Background of the Invention
[0002] The present device and infeed collation system is used to present
packaged products in a predetermined orientation for subsequent loading into
boxes or other final packaging containers.
[0003] Typically products are rectangular in shape and/or have a more or less
flat surface and a more or less edge surface in their geometry.
[0004] In some instances it is desirable to be able to pre-orient the products
all
onto their flat surface for subsequent loading into boxes and other packaging.
[0005] In other instances it is desirable to pre-orient all of the products
onto
their edge for subsequent packaging into boxes and other packaging.
[0006] Historically collation systems are set up to either orient incoming
products onto their flat surface and/or onto their edge surface but not both.
In the
industry this is termed packaging on the flat versus packaging on the edge.
Presently separate systems are required in order to package on the flat and
package
on the edge.
2
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
[0007] It is desirable to have a collation system which has the capability of
orienting a product onto its flat surface prior to packaging into boxes and
also have
the capability and the flexibility to when desired be able to orient the
product onto
its edge surface for subsequent filling of boxes.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] In combination a collator and an infeed conveyor wherein the collator
receives product from the infeed conveyor at an infeed point of the infeed
conveyor and the product includes a flat side and an edge side. The collator
and
infeed conveyor are adapted to select between delivery of the product to the
collator at an on flat load position and delivery of the product to the
collator at an
on edge load position.
[0009] Preferably wherein the collator including an adjustment mechanism for
urging the collator between a left position and a right position.
[00010] Preferably wherein the conveyor including an height adjustment
mechanism for urging the conveyor between a raised position and a lowered
position.
[00011 ] Preferably wherein the conveyor pivoting about a pivot point when
urged between the raised position and the lowered position, such that a
product
receiving point proximate the pivot point remains substantially unaltered when
the
conveyor in either position.
3
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
[00012] Preferably wherein the adjustment mechanism urging the collator along
an horizontal direction.
[00013] Preferably wherein the height adjustment mechanism urging an in feed
point of the conveyor substantially along a vertical direction.
[00014] Preferably wherein the collator including at least two receptacle
trains
and each train including numerous side by side product receptacles wherein
each
receptacle including receptacle walls projecting outwardly from a collator
belt
thereby defining a receptacle slot.
[00015] Preferably wherein at the on edge load position product is urged into
the
product receptacle such that the flat side is adjacent and parallel to the
receptacle
wall.
[00016] Preferably wherein at the on flat load position product is urged onto
the
receptacle such that the flat side is adjacent and parallel to the conveyor
belt.
4
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
Brief Description of the Drawings
[00017] The present device and system will now be described by way of example
only with reference to the following drawings in which;
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of three-train collator together with an
adjustment mechanism showing the collator in the left position, for
packaging on the edge.
Figure 2 a side elevational view of a three-train collator shown in Figure 1
together with the adjustment mechanism with the collator in the right
position, for packaging on the flat.
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of an infeed conveyor together with a
height adjustment mechanism shown in the raised position, for packaging
on the flat.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the infeed conveyor together with the
height adjustment mechanism shown in the lowered position for packaging
on the edge.
Figure 5 is a top side perspective view of a three-train collator.
Figure 6 is a partial cut away perspective view of the collator deployed
together with the infeed conveyor shown orienting product on the edge.
Figure 7 is a partial cutaway perspective view of a collator deployed with
an infeed conveyor shown orienting product on the flat.
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a collator deployed together
with an infeed conveyor showing the infeed conveyor in the raised position
the collator in the right position and packaging the product on the flat.
Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a collator deployed together
with an infeed conveyor showing the infeed conveyor in the lowered
position the collator in the left position and packaging the product on the
edge.
Figure 10 is a schematic side elevational view of the infeed conveyor
together with the collator shown orienting the product on the flat.
Figure 11 is a side elevational view of an infeed conveyor together with a
collator shown orienting product on the edge.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[00018] The infeed collation system shown in overview fashion in Figures 8 & 9
generally as 100 includes the following major components namely collator 200
and infeed conveyor 300.
[00019] Infeed collation system 100 is used in the packaging of products in
particular is used in the packaging of food products however is not limited to
food
products. In addition the present device is particularly useful for products
shown
generally as 400, which include a flat 402 side and an edge 404 side. Products
400
6
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
could be for example chocolate bars, granola bars and/or any other items,
which
need to be collated and packaged into boxes.
[00020] Referring now to Figures 1 & 2 collator 200 includes the following
major components namely receptacle train 202 collator belt 204 and an
adjustment
mechanism 206. Depicted collator 200 is a three-receptacle train 206 collator
200
which are fastened to a collator belt 204.
[00021] Each receptacle train 202 includes product receptacles 208 having
receptacle walls 210 and define a receptacle slot 212. Collator belt 204 is
supported and driven by belt rolls 214.
[00022] Adjustment mechanism 206 includes an adjusting wheel 220, a pinion
222, a rack 224 and a shaft 226. By turning wheel 220 one is able to move the
collator 200 from a left position shown as 230 in Figure 1 to a right position
shown as 232 in Figure 2. Collator 200 is mounted via rail bearings 234 onto
rails
236.
[00023] Adjustment mechanism 206 moves collator 200 along the horizontal
direction shown as 238. Adjustment mechanism 206 may be an other arrangement
not shown in the drawings.
7
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
[00024] When collator 200 is in the left position 230 as shown in Figure 1,
product 400 is loaded into product receptacles 208 at the on edge load
position 240
shown in Figure 1. At the on edge load position shown as 240 receptacle wall
210
is horizontal and receives the flat 402 of product 400 parallel to the surface
of the
receptacle wall.
[00025] Figure 2 shows collator 200, which is identical to collator 200 shown
in
Figure 1 other than it is depicted in the right position 232. In the right
position
232 product 400 is loaded into product receptacles 208 at the on flat load
position
242. At the on flat load position 242 the flat portion 402 of product 400 is
parallel
with collator belt 204 and the edge 404 of product 400 is parallel to
receptacle
walls 210.
[00026] Referring now to Figures 3 & 4 showing infeed conveyor 300 which
includes the following major components namely height adjustment mechanism
302 which includes a turn handle 304, a threaded shaft 306 and a corresponding
cooperating nut 308.
[00027] Infeed conveyor 300 further includes a conveyor 310, which has a
product conveying surface 312, a product receiving point 314 and an infeed
point
316.
8
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
[00028] Infeed conveyor 300 further includes guide rolls 318 including a front
guide roll 320 and a rear guide roll 322.
[00029] Infeed conveyor 300 is supported by a frame 324, which includes front
legs 326 and rear legs 328.
[00030] Rotating turn handle 304 raises and lowers the product conveying
surface 312 which pivot point 31 lwhich is about rear guide roll 322. In this
manner one can raise or lower infeed point 316 to the desired height. In
Figure 3
infeed point 316 is shown in the raised position 340 which corresponds to
delivering product 400 to the on flat load position 242 shown in Figure 2. In
Figure 4 Infeed conveyor is shown in the lowered position 342 in which case
the
infeed point 316 corresponds to the on edge load position 240 shown in Figure
1.
The reader will note that one can select the height of infeed point 316 by
operating
height adjustment mechanism 302 and thereby obtain the desired level for
infeed
point 316. The reader will also note that product 400 flows along product
conveying surface 312 in product flow direction 350 as shown in Figure 4.
[00031] Referring now Figures 6 & 7, which are partial, cut away expanded
views of a portion of the collator 200 and a portion of the infeed conveyor
300
near the infeed point 316.
9
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
[00032] Referring now to Figure 6 infeed conveyor 300 is shown in the lowered
position 342 thereby delivering product onto collator 200 in the on edge load
position 240. In this configuration product conveying surface 312 delivers
product
400, which is lying on its flat side 402 onto receptacle wall 210 such that
the flat
side 402 of product 400 is parallel with receptacle wall 210. The conveyor
belt
204 and collator 200 moves around belt roll 214 and product 400 is tipped
upwardly such that product 400 is standing on its edge 404 such that edge 404
is
parallel with collator belt 204 and the flat surface 402 of product 400 is
parallel
with the receptacle wall 210 of each product receptacle 208.
[00033] Referring now to Figure 7 which again is a partial cut away expanded
view of the collator 200 and the infeed conveyor 300 near the infeed point
316.
[00034] In Figure 7 the infeed conveyor is in the raised position 340. The
height
adjustment mechanism 302 and moves the infeed point 316 of conveyor 300 in the
vertical direction 280 until the desired height is received such that the
product is
delivered at the on flat load position 242. Additionally in order to ensure
that
product 400 enters at the on flat load position 242 collator 200 is adjusted
to the
right position 232 as shown in Figure 7 as well as in Figure 2 such that
product
enters at the on flat load position 242 at collator 200.
CA 02732066 2011-02-17
[00035] The reader will note that product 400 enters product receptacle 208
such
that the flat portion 402 of the product 400 is parallel with the collator
belt 204.
[00036] Referring now to Figure 8 which corresponds generally to Figure 7
wherein product is being delivered to the collator at the on flat load
position 242.
[00037] Figure 9 corresponds generally to Figure 6 in which product 400 is
shown being loaded onto collator at the on edge load position 240.
[00038] The reader will note that this combination of collator 200 and infeed
conveyor 300 which utilizes adjustment mechanism 206 as well as height
adjustment mechanism 302 to adjust the horizontal position of the collator and
the
vertical position of the infeed conveyor 300 allows one to be able to select
between packaging product 400 on the flat shown in Figure 7 and/or packaging
product 400 on the edge as shown in Figure 6.
11
