The present invention lies in the field of the conveying of products within an industrial line for the continuous processing of said products, in particular for transferring products to or from a collecting surface.

Such products can be, in a nonlimiting manner, containers such as bottles, cans, cardboard cartons, or such containers grouped together in boxes, crates, cartons or bundles.

In a known way, such products are moved along said industrial line, between successive processing stations, by means of suitable conveyors, essentially of the endless belt type. In addition, said products are processed and conveyed in one file or in several parallel files, namely in a single-file line or a multi-file line. Moreover, during this conveying, the products in each file can be arranged in a specific manner, in particular in a spaced-apart and/or oriented manner.

Generally, in order to ensure the continuous production on such an industrial line, in spite of the stoppage at a processing station or because of different processing rates between two stations, one or more collecting zones for said products are provided, each collecting zone temporarily storing a variable amount of products between an upstream station and a downstream station with respect to said collecting zone.

In one particular configuration, such a collecting zone may be in the form of a collecting surface for receiving and moving said products, grouped together in columns, from an entry to an exit. Upstream, an entry conveyor feeds said collecting surface with one or more files of products at an entry edge via a first transit zone, while downstream, an exit conveyor receives one or more columns of products from said collecting surface via a second transit zone along its exit edge, which is situated on the opposite side from said entry edge.

In order to move the products to and from the collecting surface, first and second transit zones, disposed respectively upstream, between said entry conveyor and the collecting surface, and downstream, between said collecting surface and said exit conveyor, are provided. They ensure that the products circulate in a continuous flow, in spite of said products being transferred sequentially in columns respectively to and from the collecting surface, by pushing one or more columns in a transverse movement with respect to the longitudinal direction of circulation of the products.

It will be noted that, between the collecting surface and these transit zones, slider beds, made up of fixed surfaces on which the products are transferred, are often positioned.

A recurring constraint resides in this pushed transfer of the products in the first and second transit zones to or from said collecting surface, crossing interfaces between the different surfaces of said zones, in particular via the slider beds that constitute immovable intermediate surfaces. Specifically, even when flush with the collecting surface and the first or second transit zone, the junction with the slider bed entails the risk of the bottom of the products getting caught as they pass through at this point. Moreover, the accelerations and decelerations bring about collisions, which are liable to unbalance the products, or even make them fall over. Similarly, during the transfer onto each slider bed, the push causes rubbing of the products, a product then being liable to be shifted or once again to lose balance, to fall, or even to break in the case of a glass container. Moreover, the bringing of a member intended to effect said push into contact with the products can also cause a shock that unbalances said products at the moment of their transfer.

An existing solution consists in positioning an additional member, in parallel opposite the pushing member, in order to flank the column(s) of products to be transferred. In particular, the spacing between the members is determined depending on the width or the diameter of the products to be transferred. Such a spacing can be variable depending on the diameter of the products, but does not necessarily require a functional clearance to ensure the circulation of the products between the members when they are positioned on either side along a conveyor, for the one part, and in order to vertically move said tools, downwardly and upwardly, for the other part. Firstly, the functional clearance allows the transfer tool to cover the top of at least one column of products without touching them so as not to risk them falling over. Secondly, once the products have been transferred, said functional clearance allows the tool to be lifted so as to return to its original position in order to transfer further products. Such a clearance thus allows the tool be inserted and retracted at one or more columns of products, even if the products belonging to a single column are not perfectly aligned, this generally being the case in practice.

Thus, a first member situated on one side of a column of the products is spaced apart by a first distance while the member situated on the opposite side of said column is spaced apart by a second distance, said first and second distances constituting the abovementioned functional clearance.

Said functional clearance between the products and the members is provided in principle to be at least five millimeters, ranging up to thirty millimeters. Usually, said functional clearance is between ten and twenty millimeters.

Generally, this spacing is adjusted at the start of production, in particular depending on the dimensions and the shape of the products to be transferred, and is maintained throughout the production time. This adjustment is generally carried out by moving the members toward or away from one another. This operation is generally carried out upon each change of format of the products to be transferred. Consequently, after adjustment, this functional clearance is fixed and no longer modified.

However, while the necessary functional clearance makes it possible to prevent products from falling over while they are being transferred, it does not keep them in position while they are being transferred by a transverse movement, this being able to cause the orientation or position of one or more products to shift.

In particular, if products are shifted at the entry at the moment of the movement from the first transit zone to the collecting surface, the alignment of said products in a column is modified. This can result in a problem at the exit at the moment of transferring such a column of misaligned products from the collecting zone to the second transit zone. Specifically, the members may potentially strike and thus cause falls or even breakages of products in said column or in an adjacent column.

Moreover, the functional clearance causes an acceleration and especially a deceleration that are provided to be slow during the transverse movements. Specifically, these speeds depend on the products, on their weight and on their stability (due essentially to the shape of their bottom), generating, in a proportional manner, a coefficient of friction of the bottoms of the products on the surfaces. The slowness of the accelerations but especially of the decelerations makes it possible to maintain the alignment of the products in a column. It is thus impossible, with a functional clearance, to effect transfers at a high rate.

One solution is described in the document FR 2 993 870, in which the transfer of the products is accompanied by a tool in the form of jaws disposed on either side of the groups of products to be moved. The jaws are both provided to be mobile, so as to pass from a spaced-apart position to a position gripping the products, and vice versa.

While such a solution makes it possible to hold the products at the moment of their transfer, it has a drawback linked to the movements of the two jaws with respect to one another, this not ensuring that the products are aligned when they are released upon deposition. Moreover, the movements of the two jaws with respect to the arm and with respect to the products to be transferred are complex to manage.

The aim of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method for transferring products that ensures improved holding of said products during their transverse movement. In particular, the invention envisions gripping each column of products between two members at the moment of their transfer, before or during the transverse movement. This gripping is provided such that said members move toward the products until they are within said functional clearance, or even until they come into contact with the lateral walls of the products, without otherwise applying a force thereto.

It should be noted, however, that in certain exceptional cases, in particular in the conveying of products with a wrapping that is not rigid, of the sachet or pouch type, it is possible to grip said products until a force is exerted, such as pinching.

Furthermore, the invention provides gripping with a tool provided with a fixed member and another member that is movable with respect to said fixed member. This other member that is movable with respect to the fixed member improves and facilitates the step of grasping the products to be transferred by gripping them.

Specifically, the member that is fixed transversely with respect to the tool then serves as a reference wall. This reference ensures in particular optimal alignment of the products while they are being transferred by especially at the moment they are released in order to be deposited: in this way, a perfectly straight line of products is obtained. Moreover, the fixed referencing with respect to the movable member considerably simplifies the onboard mechanism and makes it easier to manage the automation at the moment of gripping each column of products, and at the moment they are released, but especially if this operation is carried out at the moment of the transverse movement of the products during their transfer.

Thus, the invention relates to a method for transferring products to or from a collecting surface within a line for the continuous processing of said products, wherein:a first transit zone bordering one edge of said collecting surface is fed longitudinally with at least one file of products by an entry conveyor;a second transit zone supplies at least one file of products longitudinally to an exit conveyor, said second transit zone bordering the opposite edge of said collecting surface;at least one column of products is transferred, by being pushed transversely, from said first transit zone to said collecting surface, or from said collecting zone to said second transit zone, by means of a transfer tool provided with a plurality of members extending longitudinally;a member is disposed on either side of each column of products; characterized in that, at the moment of transfer, each column of products is gripped by said members being moved toward one another, at least one first member being fixed, while at least one second member is mounted in a movable manner with respect to said fixed first member.

According to additional features, which are in no way limiting, within such a transfer method, each column may be gripped before said transverse push, while the products are at a standstill.

Each column of products may be gripped during said transverse push.

At least two members may be mounted in a movable manner symmetrically with respect to said fixed first member.

The members may be moved in translation in a parallel manner to one another in a horizontal plane.

The members may be connected together by way of at least two link rods, said link rods being mounted in a pivotable manner on each member, so as to form at least one four-bar linkage of the deformable parallelogram type.

When gripped, each column of products may be spaced apart from said members by a distance less than a functional clearance.

Said distance may be less than five millimeters, preferably between zero and three millimeters.

The invention also relates to a device for transferring products to or from a collecting surface, in order to implement said transfer method.

Such a transfer device comprises:a collecting surface;a first transit zone extending at least partially along one edge of said collecting surface;an entry conveyor for feeding products in at least one file to said first transit zone;a second transit zone extending at least partially along the opposite edge of said collecting surface;an exit conveyor that is supplied with products by said second transit zone;at least one transversely movable transfer tool that moves each column of products, by pushing them transversely, to or from said collecting surface, from said first transit zone or to said second transit zone, respectively, said transfer tool comprising at least two members that are spaced apart in parallel, so as to flank each column of products; characterized in that it comprises means for actuating said members, from a spaced-apart position to a close-together position, over a closing travel ensuring, in the close-together position, a distance less than a functional clearance between said members and each column of products, at least one first member being fixed, while at least one second member is mounted in a movable manner with respect to said fixed first member.

According to further additional features, which are not limiting, within such a transfer device, each tool may comprise at least two shafts that are mounted in a pivotable manner at each member and are rotatable at the bottom with respect to said tool, so as to constitute a four-bar linkage forming at least one deformable parallelogram.

Each member may be in the form of a longitudinally oriented vertical plate.

