Conveyor and packaging apparatus provided with said conveyor
A conveyor for a packaging apparatus comprising a conveyor having a conveyor belt ( 2 ) with a rotatable portion ( 12 ) comprising a plurality of sub-elements ( 17 ). Each one of the sub-elements ( 17 ) comprises first annular features and second annular features. The first annular features of a sub-element mate with the second annular features of an adjacent sub-element forming a coupling seat where a pin is inserted to rotatably connect the two adjacent sub-elements. The rotatable portion ( 12 ) carries driving pieces which are put into motion by a control mechanism such that upon displacement of the conveyor belt ( 2 ) a corresponding rotation by 90° or multiples thereof is imparted to the rotatable portion ( 12 ). A packaging apparatus using the above conveyor belt is also described.
1. A conveyor ( 1 ) comprising
a support frame ( 3 ),
a conveyor belt ( 2 ), carried by the support frame ( 3 ), configured to move at least one article (P) along an advancement direction (A) on a planar operative tract ( 2 a ), said conveyor belt ( 2 ) comprising:
a belt body ( 13 ),
at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) coupled to the belt body ( 13 ) and configured to turn relative to the belt body ( 13 ),
wherein the rotatable portion ( 12 ) has a top surface ( 15 ) configured to receive said article (P), the rotatable portion ( 12 ), during the movement of the article (P) along the advancement direction (A), being configured to turn relative to the belt body ( 13 ) at least between two angularly offset positions,
wherein the rotatable portion ( 12 ) comprises at least one driving piece ( 26 ) emerging from a bottom surface ( 55 ) of the rotatable portion ( 12 ) opposite to said top surface ( 15 ),
a control mechanism ( 100 ) carried by the support frame ( 3 ), the control mechanism being configured to act on said driving piece ( 26 ) and, following a displacement of the belt body ( 13 ) along said advancement direction (A), cause a rotation of the rotatable portion ( 12 ) between said two angularly offset positions,
characterized by the fact that the control mechanism ( 100 ) comprises at least one guide ( 101 ) developing on a plane parallel to the operative tract ( 2 a ) of the conveyor belt ( 2 ) and extending along a predetermined operative path, said guide ( 101 ) being configured to drive the driving piece ( 26 ) along the predetermined operative path during displacement of the belt body ( 13 ) along said advancement direction (A), causing the rotation of the article (P),
wherein the guide ( 101 ) exhibits a transverse extension ( 101 T), measured along a direction perpendicular to the advancement direction (A), greater than 0.75 of a longitudinal extension ( 101 L) of the same guide measured parallel to the advancement direction (A).
2. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the transversal extension ( 101 T) and the longitudinal extension ( 101 L) of the guide ( 101 ) is between 1.1 and 2.
3. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the guide ( 101 ) of the control mechanism ( 100 ) is configured to act on said driving piece ( 26 ) and, following a predetermined displacement of the belt body ( 13 ) along said advancement direction (A), cause a rotation of the rotatable portion ( 12 ) by 90° or multiples thereof.
4. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the rotatable portion ( 12 ) exhibits a predetermined transversal size measured perpendicularly to the advancement direction (A),
wherein the transversal extension ( 101 T) of the guide ( 101 ) is substantially half the predetermined transversal size of the rotatable portion ( 12 ).
5. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the longitudinal extension ( 101 L) of the guide ( 101 ) and the transversal size of the rotatable portion ( 12 ) is less than 0.6.
6. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the operative path of the guide ( 101 ) exhibits, for at least of a tract of the path, a parabolic curve.
7. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the guide ( 101 ) extends between a first and a second end portion ( 101 b , 101 c ),
the first end portion ( 101 b ) of the guide ( 101 ) extends underneath the peripheral edge of the rotatable portion ( 12 ),
the second portion ( 101 c ) of the guide ( 101 ) extends underneath a central portion of the rotatable portion ( 12 ),
wherein the guide ( 101 ) cooperates with the driving piece ( 26 ) and, following a displacement of the belt body ( 13 ) along said advancement direction, cause a rotation of the rotatable portion ( 12 ) by 90° or multiples thereof.
8. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism ( 100 ) further comprises at least one auxiliary guide ( 104 ) developing on a plane parallel to the operative tract ( 2 a ) of the conveyor belt ( 2 ) and extending along a respective predetermined operative path, wherein the auxiliary guide ( 104 ) exhibits a longitudinal extension ( 104 L), measured parallel to the advancement direction (A), greater than a transversal extension ( 104 T) of the same guide measured perpendicularly to the advancement direction (A),
wherein the control mechanism ( 100 ) includes:
at least a first driving piece ( 26 a ) emerging from the bottom surface ( 55 ) of the rotatable portion ( 12 ), the guide ( 101 ) being configured to drive the first driving piece ( 26 a ) along its predetermined operative path following the displacement of the belt body ( 13 ) along said advancement direction (A), causing the rotation of the article (P),
at least a second driving piece ( 26 b ), emerging from the bottom surface ( 55 ) of the rotatable portion ( 12 ), positioned at least 90° apart the first driving piece ( 26 a ), said auxiliary guide ( 104 ) being configured to drive the second driving piece ( 26 ) along its respective predetermined operative path during the displacement of the belt body ( 13 ) along said advancement direction (A), causing the rotation of the article (P).
9. The conveyor according to claim 8 , wherein the control mechanism is configured such that the auxiliary guide ( 104 ) engages the second driving piece ( 26 b ) before the first driving piece ( 26 ) engages said guide ( 101 ).
10. The conveyor according to claim 8 or 9 , wherein the ratio between the longitudinal extension ( 104 L) and the transversal extension ( 104 T) of the auxiliary guide ( 104 ) is greater than 1.5 and the ratio between the longitudinal extension ( 104 L) of the auxiliary guide ( 104 ) and the transversal size of the rotatable portion ( 12 ) is comprised between 0.8 and 1.2.
11. The conveyor according to claim 8 , wherein the belt body presents two longitudinally adjacent transversal halves, and wherein the guide ( 101 ) extends underneath one of the two transversal halves of the belt body ( 13 ) while the auxiliary guide ( 104 ) extends underneath the other of the two transversal halves of the belt body ( 13 ).
12. The conveyor according to claim 8 , wherein the respective predetermined operative path of the auxiliary guide ( 104 ) defines, for at least of a tract of said path, a curved profile,
wherein the curved profile of the predetermined operative path of the guide ( 101 ) has a pre-determined concavity oriented towards a lateral edge of the belt body ( 13 ), wherein the curved profile of the respective operative path of the auxiliary guide ( 104 ) has a respective concavity oriented towards the same lateral edge of the belt body ( 13 ).
13. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism ( 100 ) comprises:
at least one first guide ( 102 ) extending along a first operative path,
at least a second guide ( 103 ) extending along a second operative path,
wherein each one of said first and second guides ( 102 , 103 ) exhibits a substantially curved profile with concavity directed to the same side,
wherein the operative paths of the first and second guide ( 102 , 103 ) join at a common end point and are substantially symmetrical with respect to a direction perpendicular to the advancement direction (A).
14. The conveyor according to claim 8 , wherein the control mechanism comprises:
at least one first auxiliary guide ( 105 ) extending along a first operative path,
at least a second auxiliary guide ( 106 ) extending along a second operative path,
wherein the first operating path of the first auxiliary guide intersects with the second operating path of the second auxiliary guide,
wherein the rotatable portion ( 12 ) comprises four driving pieces ( 26 a , 26 b , 26 c , 26 d ) positioned 90° apart the one from the other and emerging from the bottom surface ( 55 ) of the rotatable portion ( 12 ),
each driving piece is configured to cooperate with one of the guides between:
the first guide ( 102 ),
the second guide ( 103 ),
the first auxiliary guide ( 105 ),
the second auxiliary guide ( 106 );
the first and second guides ( 102 , 103 ) together with the first and second auxiliary guides ( 105 , 106 ), during the displacement of the belt body ( 13 ) along said advancement direction (A), are configured to cooperate with the four driving pieces ( 26 a , 26 b , 26 c , 26 d ) of the rotatable portion ( 12 ), causing rotation of this latter.
15. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the belt body ( 13 ) has a top surface ( 14 ) positions in alignment with the top surface ( 15 ) of the rotatable portion ( 12 ), wherein the belt body ( 13 ) has an aperture ( 16 ) configured for receiving the rotatable portion ( 12 ), wherein the belt body aperture is shaped as the peripheral edge of the rotatable portion ( 12 ).
16. The conveyor according to claim 1 , the frame ( 3 ) extends along a first and second opposite longitudinal ends ( 1 a , 1 b ), the frame ( 3 ) supports a turning assembly ( 7 ) at each of said first and second longitudinal ends of the conveyor ( 1 ), the conveyor belt ( 2 ) being engaged around the two turning assemblies ( 7 ) and configured according to a closed loop thereby forming an endless conveyor belt ( 2 ),
wherein at least one of the turning assemblies ( 7 ) is connected to a motor ( 8 ) in order to receive rotational power from the motor ( 8 ) and turn it into advancement movement of the conveyor belt ( 2 ).
17. The conveyor according to claim 1 , the rotatable portion ( 12 ) is engaged to a belt body ( 13 ) segment such that when this belt body segment is planar also the associated rotating portion ( 12 ) is planar but can turn relatively to the belt body ( 13 ) according to a rotation axis (R) perpendicular to the belt body segment.
18. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism ( 100 ) comprises:
a base plate ( 120 ) parallel to the operative tract ( 2 a ) of the conveyor belt ( 2 ),
a plurality of longitudinally adjacent blocks ( 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 ) emerging from the base plate ( 120 ) having sides which form the first and second guides and/or the first and second auxiliary guides,
one or more activating elements ( 130 , 135 ) cooperating with one the longitudinally adjacent blocks and selectively serving to deviate the trajectory of pieces ( 26 ) interacting with the control mechanism ( 100 );
wherein said activating element or each one of said activating elements ( 130 , 135 ) is movable along a direction perpendicular to the operative tract ( 2 a ) of the conveyor belt ( 2 ) at least between:
one lower position in which it is configured to allow undisturbed passage of the driving piece ( 26 ),
one upper position in which it is configured to contact the driving piece and direct it onto the respective guide.
19. The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism ( 100 ) comprises:
at least one sliding block ( 140 ) relatively movable with respect the support frame ( 3 ) and configured to guide the driving piece ( 26 ) into one auxiliary guide,
wherein the sliding block ( 140 ) is movable along an horizontal direction parallel to the operative tract ( 2 a ) of the conveyor belt ( 2 ) and perpendicular with respect the advancement direction (A) at least between:
one inactive position in which sliding block allows undisturbed passage of the driving piece ( 26 ),
one active position in which the sliding block directs the driving piece into the respective auxiliary guide.
20. A packaging apparatus ( 200 ) comprising:
at least one conveyor ( 1 ); and
at least one sealing station ( 201 ) configured to apply a sealing film to the article to be packaged;
the at least one conveyor comprising:
a support frame ( 3 ),
a conveyor belt ( 2 ), carried by the support frame ( 3 ), configured to move at least one article (P) along an advancement direction (A) on a planar operative tract ( 2 a ), said conveyor belt ( 2 ) comprising:
a belt body ( 13 ),
at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) coupled to the belt body ( 13 ) and configured to turn relative to the belt body ( 13 ),
wherein the rotatable portion ( 12 ) has a top surface ( 15 ) configured to receive said article (P), the rotatable portion ( 12 ), during the movement of the article (P) along the advancement direction (A), being configured to turn relative to the belt body ( 13 ) at least between two angularly offset positions,
wherein the rotatable portion ( 12 ) comprises at least one driving piece ( 26 ) emerging from a bottom surface ( 55 ) of the rotatable portion ( 12 ) opposite to said top surface ( 15 ),
a control mechanism ( 100 ) carried by the support frame ( 3 ), the control mechanism being configured to act on said driving piece ( 26 ) and, following a displacement of the belt body ( 13 ) along said advancement direction (A), cause a rotation of the rotatable portion ( 12 ) between said two angularly offset positions,
characterized by the fact that the control mechanism ( 100 ) comprises at least one guide ( 101 ) developing on a plane parallel to the operative tract ( 2 a ) of the conveyor belt ( 2 ) and extending along a predetermined operative path, said guide ( 101 ) being configured to drive the driving piece ( 26 ) along the predetermined operative path during displacement of the belt body ( 13 ) along said advancement direction (A), causing the rotation of the article (P),
wherein the guide ( 101 ) exhibits a transverse extension ( 101 T), measured along a direction perpendicular to the advancement direction (A), greater than 0.75 of a longitudinal extension ( 101 L) of the same guide measured parallel to the advancement direction (A).