Transfer of products between a transit zone and a collecting surface

1. A transfer device ( 1 ) for transferring products ( 2 ) in an industrial processing line for the in-line processing of products ( 2 ), between a collecting surface ( 3 ) and a transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′) running alongside the collecting surface ( 3 ), said transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′) comprising at least two longitudinal conveyors ( 5 ; 5 ′; 6 ; 6 ′) spaced away from a slider bed ( 7 ; 7 ′) and each intended to transport a file of products ( 2 ), said device ( 1 ) comprising:

said collecting surface ( 3 ),

said transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′), and

a transfer tool ( 8 ) transferring between the collecting surface ( 3 ) and the transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′), wherein the transfer tool ( 8 ) is mounted on a robot-controlled manipulator such that the transfer tool ( 8 ) is moveable in both a transverse and a vertical direction,

and wherein the transfer tool ( 8 ) is equipped with at least three longitudinal vertical walls ( 9 ), and intended to push, transversely, longitudinal rows ( 10 ) of products ( 2 ) which rows are each positioned between two walls ( 9 ),

wherein at least one wall ( 9 ) of the transfer tool ( 8 ) is mounted with the ability to move translationally on said tool ( 8 ) in a transverse direction inside of and with respect to the transfer tool ( 8 ), for a movement of pushing said products ( 2 ), wherein the at least one wall ( 9 ) performs at least part of the transfer of the products.

2. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′) is made up of two longitudinal conveyors ( 5 ; 5 ′; 6 ; 6 ′) spaced away from a slider bed ( 7 ; 7 ′).

3. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein it comprises two distinct collecting surfaces ( 3 ) positioned on either side of the transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′).

4. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′) is an entry transit zone ( 4 ) via which the products ( 2 ) arrive on the collecting surface ( 3 ).

5. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′) is an exit transit zone ( 4 ′) via which the products ( 2 ) leave the collecting surface ( 3 ).

6. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transfer tool ( 8 ) comprises three longitudinal vertical walls ( 9 ).

7. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 6 , wherein, of the three walls ( 9 ), only one of the lateral vertical walls ( 9 ) is mounted with the ability to move.

8. The transfer device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein, of the three walls ( 9 ), only the two lateral vertical walls ( 9 ) are mounted with the ability to move, an actuator common to said two walls ( 9 ) allowing the distance between said lateral walls ( 9 ) and the central wall ( 9 ) to be modified symmetrically.

9. A method for supplying products ( 2 ) to a collecting surface ( 3 ) installed between two workstations of an industrial processing line for the in-line processing of products ( 2 ), from an entry transit zone ( 4 ) supplied with products ( 2 ) continuously by an entry conveyor ( 11 ), said transit zone ( 4 ) comprising at least one inner longitudinal conveyor ( 5 ) and one outer longitudinal conveyor ( 6 ) which are spaced away from a slider bed ( 7 ) and each intended to transport a file of products ( 2 ), the transit zone ( 4 ) running alongside the collecting surface ( 3 ) in the region of the inner longitudinal conveyor ( 5 ), comprising at least the cyclic repetition of the following succession of steps:

a) feeding the outer conveyor ( 6 ) with products,

b) stopping the products on the outer conveyor ( 6 ), halting the feeding of the outer conveyor ( 6 ) with products ( 2 ) and feeding the inner conveyor ( 5 ) with products ( 2 ),

c) transversely pushing the products ( 2 ) from the outer conveyor ( 6 ) onto the slider bed ( 7 ),

d) stopping the products on the inner conveyor ( 5 ), halting the feeding of the inner conveyor ( 5 ) with products ( 2 ) and feeding the outer conveyor ( 6 ) with products ( 2 ), and

e) transversely pushing the products ( 2 ) from the inner conveyor ( 5 ) and from the slider bed ( 7 ) onto the collecting surface ( 3 );

wherein steps c) and e) are formed using the one same transfer tool ( 8 ) comprising at least three longitudinal vertical walls ( 9 ), and in that step c) is performed using a movement of at least one wall ( 9 ) of the transfer tool ( 8 ) within said tool ( 8 ).

10. The supply method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein step c) is performed using a combined movement of at least one wall ( 9 ) of the transfer tool ( 8 ) and of the transfer tool ( 8 ) itself.

11. The supply method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein step c) is performed at least using a simultaneous movement of two walls ( 9 ) of the transfer tool ( 8 ) within said tool ( 8 ).

12. A method for removing products ( 2 ) arranged in longitudinal rows ( 10 ) side by side on a collecting surface ( 3 ) installed between two workstations of an industrial processing line for in-line processing of products ( 2 ), to an exit transit zone ( 4 ′) so as to remove products ( 2 ) continuously onto an exit conveyor ( 12 ), said transit zone ( 4 ′) comprising at least one inner longitudinal conveyor ( 5 ′) and an outer longitudinal conveyor ( 6 ′) which are spaced away from a slider bed ( 7 ′) and each intended to transport one file of products ( 2 ), the transit zone ( 4 ′) running alongside the collecting surface ( 3 ) in the region of the inner longitudinal conveyor ( 5 ′), comprising at least the cyclic repetition of the following succession of steps:

a) pushing the rows ( 10 ) of products ( 2 ) transversely from the collecting surface ( 3 ) onto the inner conveyor ( 5 ′) and the slider bed ( 7 ′);

b) actuating the inner conveyor ( 5 ′) to release the products ( 2 ) thereon onto the exit conveyor ( 12 );

c) pushing the products ( 2 ) transversely from the slider bed ( 7 ′) onto the outer conveyor ( 6 ′);

d) actuating the outer conveyor ( 6 ′) to release the products ( 2 ) onto the exit conveyor ( 12 ) and stopping the inner conveyor ( 5 ′);

steps a) and c) being formed using the one same transfer tool ( 8 ) comprising at least three longitudinal vertical walls ( 9 );

wherein step c) is performed at least using a movement of at least one wall ( 9 ) of the transfer tool ( 8 ) within said tool ( 8 ), inside and with respect to the tool ( 8 ) such that the at least one wall ( 9 ) at least partially performs the transfer of the products.

13. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein it comprises two distinct collecting surfaces ( 3 ) positioned on either side of the transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′).

14. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′) is an entry transit zone ( 4 ) via which the products ( 2 ) arrive on the collecting surface ( 3 ).

15. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the transit zone ( 4 ; 4 ′) is an exit transit zone ( 4 ′) via which the products ( 2 ) leave the collecting surface ( 3 ).

16. The transfer device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the transfer tool ( 8 ) comprises three longitudinal vertical walls ( 9 ).

17. The supply method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein step c) is performed at least using a simultaneous movement of two walls ( 9 ) of the transfer tool ( 8 ) within said tool ( 8 ).