Also, it is noted that the apparatus according to the invention may be utilized for handling items that may differ in size, shape, weight etc. from each other.
The
The
The vacuum generated by the vacuum pump, not shown on the drawings, follows by a tube (17), reaches the holes (13) on the internal side flange (12) through the distribution chamber (15) on the external side flange (14) lined up with the existing holes (13) on the internal side of flange (12). With the help of a sealing joint (16) the vacuum is transmitted through the existing holes (11) on the surface of one of the bases of the cylinder (5) until it reaches the existing holes (9) on the cylindrical surface of cylinder (5). To the existing holes (9) on the cylindrical surface are coupled sockets with nozzles having geometrical shape and size according to the material characteristics which is being transported.
The flaccid pieces (1) have substantially similar size and weight; they are transported through a belt (2) until next to the cylindrical surface of cylinder (5); by suction the pieces (1) stick to holes (9) on the rotating cylindrical surface; after a 120 to 210 degree turn the vacuum action on holes (9) is interrupted and the pieces (1) are disconnected one by one from the cylinder (5) and fall over a belt (7) than being transported until they pass over a weighing cell that weighs item (6) by item (6) and grades the items to packing and storing. The holes (9) have sockets (20 to 24) with a proper geometric form for each type of product to be transported. The sockets have a form of a cylinder body with an axial cylindrical hole in which the base in contact with the product has different nozzle shapes such as of an elliptical cross-section (20), of a normal cross-section (21), of a hollow truncated cone (22), of a ring type cylindrical body boss (23), or of a rectangle (24).
Finally, it is noted that the apparatus may comprise one cylinder for transporting items, which cylinder may be designed for handling items e.g. in parallel, e.g. handling items in two or more lanes or tracks. It is also noted that the holes in the surface of the cylinder are placed in such a manner that only one item is picked up at a time for each track or line of items being handled.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PI0304431-9 | Oct 2003 | BR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/BR04/00174 | 9/14/2004 | WO | 00 | 3/15/2007 |