Patent Application
20240067460
The invention relates to a singling equipment for a device for packaging lollipops each lollipop having a head and a stick, the equipment comprising a horizontally rotating singling disc with a plurality of pockets each pocket accommodating the head of the lollipop and a vertically rotating first transfer wheel with a plurality of indentations for the stick of the lollipop and a vertically rotating second transfer wheel with a plurality of holding means each holding means gripping the stick of a lollipop. The present invention further relates to a lollipop wrapping apparatus and a method to operate a singling machine or a method to change the sorting disk,
It is known to package articles like lollipops in a film/foil sheet, in which case the articles must be separated before they are packaged. This separation can be carried out with a machine as taught in the patents EP 1 357 063 B1 or EP 1 847 179 B1. However, these machines are not suitable for the separation of lollipops and/or their capacity is relatively low and/or they are difficult to operate.
It is an object of the invention to provide the singling equipment for lollipops, a lollipop processing apparatus, a method to operate the singling equipment and/or a method to change the sorting disk of a singling equipment which is able to achieve a high singling rate and/or which is easy to operate.
The problem is solved with a singling equipment for an apparatus for packaging lollipops each lollipop having a head and a stick, the equipment comprising a horizontally rotating singling disc with a plurality of pockets each pocket accommodating the head of the lollipop and a vertically rotating first transfer wheel with a plurality of indentations for the stick of the lollipop and a vertically rotating second transfer wheel with a plurality of holding means each holding means gripping the stick of a lollipop, wherein the sorting disc and the first transfer wheel are each driven by a servomotor, whose speed of rotation and/or torque is controlled independently.
The disclosure regarding this subject matter of the present invention, also applies to other subject matters disclosed in this application and vice versa. Features disclosed regarding this subject matter can be incorporated into other subject matters and vice versa.
The present invention relates to a singling equipment to individualize lollipops for further processing, particularly wrapping. Each lollipop has a head, made from an edible material and a stick. The singling equipment comprises a sorting disk with a plurality of individual pockets at its outer circumference. The pockets are preferably provided equidistantly around a circular ring. The sorting disk rotates around a vertical axis, thereby orienting the randomly incoming lollipops into the pockets, preferably such, that the stick of the lollipop extends outside of the outer circumference of the sorting disc. Each pocket has preferably a circular cross section.
At the inner diameter of the circular ring of the sorting disk accommodating the pockets, preferably, a rotating distribution disc is provided, which transports the lollipops towards the pockets of the sorting disc. The sorting disc and the distribution disc preferably counter-rotate around one common axis. The speed of rotation of the distribution disc and the sorting disc may be equal or different, wherein the ratio of the two speeds of rotation preferably remains constant. The distribution disc and the sorting preferably have one single motor.
Furthermore, the singling equipment comprises a first and a second transfer wheel. The first transfer wheel has a multitude of indentations at its outer circumference, which each can take up the stick of a lollipop. The first transfer wheel rotates around a horizontal axis for pushing and/or lifting the lollipop sticks and supply them to the second transfer wheel. The second transfer wheel also rotates around a horizontal axis, but in the opposite direction than the first transfer wheel and has a multitude of holding means, preferably grippers, more preferably gripper-arm-pairs, at its circumference, which each releasably grip the stick of a lollipop. The second transfer wheel transports the individualized lollipops to a further processing unit, for example a wrapping unit. The skilled person understands that “the second transfer wheel” can also be an endless transportation means, for example a chain, that rotates around two or more wheels, for example sprockets. At this transportation means holding means are provided. However, a wheel is preferred as the “second transfer wheel”.
The sorting disk and/or the first transfer wheel are preferably exchangeable parts and more preferably tailormade for the handling of a specific lollipop, particularly for a specific lollipop head size, more particularly for spherical lollipop heads with a specific head diameter. Particularly, the number of pockets in the sorting disk and/or their size/shape differ from sorting disk to sorting disk. The number of indentations in the first transfer wheel and/or their size/shape may vary and are preferably adapted to a specific application. Preferably, a specific sorting disc and a set of specific first transfer wheels is a matching pair. Preferably one first transfer wheel is suitable for two or more different sorting discs.
Preferably, the sorting disc as well as the first transfer wheel each comprise an identification, for example an RFID, which is read out by a sensor which may be part of the singling equipment or a further processing apparatus. Preferably, the machine can only be started, in case the identifications of both match for the desired singling task. In case the two identifications match, the singling machine is preferably configurated automatically; e.g. the parameters needed to operate the singling equipment and/or the further processing apparatus are retrieved automatically, particularly once the operator has specified the lollipop to be singled and/or the output per time-unit.
According to the present invention, the sorting disc and the first transfer wheel are each driven by a servomotor.
A servomotor according to the present invention is a rotary actuator that allows precise control of angular position and/or velocity and/or acceleration and/or torque provided of the output-shaft of the motor and/or the part connected to it; e.g. the sorting disk and/or the first transfer wheel. A servomotor comprises of a suitable motor coupled with a sensor for position feedback. It also requires a controller.
A servomotor is preferably a closed-loop mechanism that can use position feedback from the output shaft and/or the sorting disk and/or the first transfer wheel to control its motion and/or final position and/or the provided torque. The input to its control can be a signal representing the position and/or the speed and/or the acceleration and/or the torque commanded for the output shaft the sorting disk and/or the first transfer wheel.
The motor is preferably paired with an encoder to provide position- and/or speed- and/or acceleration-feedback. The motor may also be paired with a torque encoder to provide feedback about the torque provided for example by the shaft of the motor. In the simplest case, only the position of the output shaft and/or the sorting disk and/or the first transfer wheel is measured. The measured position is compared to the desired position. If the actual position differs from the required position, a signal is generated which then causes the motor to accelerate or decelerate as needed to bring the output shaft and/or the sorting disk and/or the first transfer wheel to the appropriate position and/or rotary velocity.
Preferably, the controller of the servo comprises an amplifier, wherein the proportional amplification factor for the first transfer wheel is made adjustable. According to this preferred embodiment, the first transfer wheel can be given a rotational “spring effect”. This allows, for example, to transfer lollipops from the sorting disc to the first transfer wheel and then to the second transfer wheel which have e.g. a bended stick. The first transfer wheel will adapt the take over of the lollipop from the sorting disc by adapting its movement to the needs of the misaligned stick of the lollipop. Particularly, the speed of rotation of the first transfer wheel and/or the singling disc is adapted. Prior to the transfer of the lollipop to the second transfer wheel the servo motor corrects the position of the first transfer wheel and thus is back in the correct timing of the machine, particularly the timing of the second transfer wheel.
The second transfer wheel is preferably driven by motor means which are separate from the servo motors of the sorting disk and the first transfer wheel. Theses motor means are preferably driven independently from the first transfer wheel and/or the singling disc.
According to the present invention, the singling equipment comprises one servomotor for the sorting wheel and one servomotor for the first transfer wheel. These two servomotors can be controlled independently from each other and independently from all other drives of the singling equipment and/or a connected machine.
The problem is also solved by another inventive or preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the sorting disk comprises a plurality of openings and wherein the number of openings is identical to the number of pockets.
The disclosure regarding this subject matter of the present invention, also applies to other subject matters disclosed in this application and vice versa. Features disclosed regarding this subject matter can be incorporated into other subject matters and vice versa.
According to this inventive or preferred embodiment, additionally to the pockets, which each accommodate the head of a lollipop, the singling disc comprises openings, wherein the number of openings is identical to the number of pockets. The openings can be utilized to position the pockets of the singling disc relative to first transfer wheel and vice versa. Preferably, a sensor determines the position of an opening and compares it with a set-value.
This signal is used to control the servo motor of the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel. The openings are preferably provided along a circular ring, preferably inside of the circular ring which accommodates the pockets. Preferably, the center of each pocket is radially aligned with the center of one opening. Preferably, the openings have a circular cross section. The openings are preferably equidistantly distributed around the circular ring of the sorting disc.
The openings, preferably their number, is preferably utilized as the identification for the individual sorting disc.
Preferably, the singling equipment comprises a sensor which locates the tangential position of an opening and/or the tangential position of the corresponding pocket. This signal allows to position singling disc relative to the first transfer wheel and vice versa.
The signal of the sensor may also be utilized to count the number of openings on one sorting disc. This information can be utilized as identification for the individual sorting disc.
Preferably, the singling equipment comprises controlling means which control the speed of rotation of the first transfer wheel and/or the singling disc, more preferably independently from each other.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a lollipop processing apparatus, particularly a lollipop wrapping apparatus comprising the inventive or preferred singling equipment.
The disclosure regarding this subject matter of the present invention, also applies to other subject matters disclosed in this application and vice versa. Features disclosed regarding this subject matter can be incorporated into other subject matters and vice versa.
According to this embodiment, the inventive or preferred singling equipment is part of a lollipop processing apparatus, preferably a lollipop wrapping apparatus, which is located downstream from the second transfer wheel.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method to operate the inventive or preferred singling equipment and/or the inventive lollipop processing apparatus, wherein the torque provided by the servomotor of the sorting disk or of the first transfer wheel is monitored permanently and/or a position deviation of the sorting disc and the first transfer wheel is monitored permanently.
The disclosure regarding this subject matter of the present invention, also applies to other subject matters disclosed in this application and vice versa. Features disclosed regarding this subject matter can be incorporated into other subject matters and vice versa.
“Permanently” in the sense of the present invention is preferably every 0.01-100 milliseconds, more preferably every 0.1-10 milliseconds, even more preferably 0.2-0.6 milliseconds.
According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the torque provided by the servo motor that drives the sorting disk and the torque provided by the servo motor that drives the first transfer wheel are monitored permanently. Preferably, a window of acceptable torque values is set within which deviations of the position of the sorting disc and/or first transfer wheel can automatically be corrected. The window can be ±deviation from a set value or an average value that is needed to rotate the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel. There are preferably different windows for the sorting disc and for the first transfer wheel. Each window can be a stored parameter, that is automatically downloaded in case the control system of the singing equipment recognizes a specific sorting disc or a specific first transfer wheel. Each window can also be part of a recipe, in case a different lollipop is produced.
In case the required torque to operate the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel is within this window, the controller of the singling equipment will automatically compensate position-deviations of the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel. In case the needed torque of at least one servo motor of the singling disc or the first transfer wheel is outside of this window, the equipment preferably stops automatically. This avoids server damage of the singling equipment.
The above said analogously applies to the position of the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel. As long as the deviation of the actual rotational position of the sorting disc and/or the first transfer wheel is within a window, the position is adjusted automatically. However, in case the deviation of the position of the sorting disc or the first transfer wheel is outside of the window, the equipment is preferably stopped automatically.
After an automatic stop, a worker or an automated system can inspect the singling equipment, solve the problem if needed and then restart it. An automatic stop is for example an indication for the need of cleaning and/or the crush of a lollipop.
The problem is also solved with another preferred or inventive subject matter of the present invention, wherein, even during a constant output of singled or wrapped lollipops or during a constant speed of rotation of the second transfer wheel, the speed of rotation of the first transfer wheel is not constant.
The disclosure regarding this subject matter of the present invention, also applies to other subject matters disclosed in this application and vice versa. Features disclosed regarding this subject matter can be incorporated into other subject matters and vice versa.
According to this inventive or preferred method of the present invention, the speed of rotation of the singling disc and or the first transfer wheel is not constant even under steady state conditions of the singling equipment and/or the lollipop processing apparatus; e.g. constant output of singled or wrapped lollipops and/or constant speed of rotation of the second transfer wheel. Preferably, the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel accelerate and decelerate during its operation. This allows to correct irregularities during the production process, for example a bent lollipop stick.
The acceleration and deceleration allow a “spring-like”-behavior of the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel, particularly the behavior of a spiral spring. An acceleration is preferably followed by a deceleration and vice versa.
Preferably, the speed of rotation of the first transfer wheel changes during the pick up of the lollipop from the sorting disk until the hand over to the second transfer wheel. Preferably the speed of rotation of the sorting disc and of the first transfer wheel changes during the pick up of the lollipop out of the sorting disc.
Another subject matter of the present invention, which also solves the stated problem is a method to change the sorting disk and/or the first transfer wheel of a singling equipment, wherein the sorting disk and the first transfer wheel each comprise identification means which is read out and wherein a computer system checks whether the sorting disk and the transfer wheel match together and/or for the desired lollipop singling.
The disclosure regarding this subject matter of the present invention, also applies to other subject matters disclosed in this application and vice versa. Features disclosed regarding this subject matter can be incorporated into other subject matters and vice versa.
All sorting discs and/or first transfer wheels that can be installed on the inventive singling equipment preferably have the same outer diameter. Preferably only the number of pockets or the numbers of indentations alter.
According to this subject matter of the present invention, both the sorting disc and the first transfer wheel comprise identification, which allows to individualize the respective part, so that a computer means associated with the singling equipment knows exactly which sorting disc and which first transfer wheel have been connected to the singling equipment. After having received this information, the computer means check whether the installed singling disc and first transfer wheel match and/or match for the desired singling operation, e.g. is suitable for the lollipops to be singled and/or for the desired capacity. Preferably, the singling equipment can be started, in case at least one match, preferably all matches is/are confirmed.
“Identification” according to the present invention means that at least information to individualize the respective part can be extracted from the identification. However, the identification may comprise a storage means which allows to store additional data, for example operation time, maintenances performed, maintenances needs, cleaning cycles and/or cleaning needs. This information can be extracted from the storage means for example by the singling equipment and/or can be regularly updated.
Preferably, the identification means is the number of openings in the sorting disc which are preferably counted by a computer means of the like, preferably while the disk rotates on the singling equipment. Another preferred alternative is an RFID.
The inventions are now explained according to the
The inventive singling equipment according to
Reference is now particularly made to
The motor that drives the first transfer wheel is depicted in
In case a new production starts or after cleaning of the singling equipment, a sorting disk 1 and in case the transfer wheel has been removed, a first transfer wheel 3 is installed and an identification at least of the sorting disk, but preferably also of the identification of the first transfer wheel is read out by the singling equipment. This information is transferred to a computer means which checks whether the sorting disk and the first transfer wheel match and/or whether the sorting disk and the first transfer wheel match a selected recipe. Preferably, only after at least one match is confirmed, the operation can be started.
To start the inventive singling equipment, a worker chooses a recipe for a lollipop to be singled and further processed, for example wrapped. The necessary sorting disc is then installed and its identification is checked, preferably by rotating the sorting disk and counting the openings 8. Preferably a first transfer wheel is also installed and its identification is checked. At least one, preferably both identifications are then compared, with data from the recipe to check whether the sorting disk and the first transfer wheel match with the requirements from the recipe. Preferably, only then the singling equipment can be started. The recipe preferably includes set operation conditions of the singling equipment, like the speed of rotation of singling disk and/or the first- and/or second transfer wheel and/or the window of allowable deviations of the position of the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel and or the torque required to position the singling disc and/or the first transfer wheel.
The present invention has the advantage that more pockets can be accommodated in the singling disc. The sorting disk can be operated with a lower rotation speed at the same lollipop output. Due to the automatic stop in case a certain torque is exceeded and/or a certain deviation of the position of the sorting disk and/or the first transfer wheel takes place, damage of the singling equipment and/or downtime of this equipment is avoided.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21151091.2 | Jan 2021 | EP | regional |
This application is a US National Stage of PCT/EP2022/050320 filed Jan. 10, 2022, which claims priority to EP21151091.2 filed Jan. 12, 2021.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/050320 | 1/10/2022 | WO |
