Vacuum-operated transfer unit for drinks cans from one conveyor to another

摘要

The unit picks up a single row of cans from one conveyor belt by vacuum and deposits them across a wider conveyor belt, running at right angles to the first, in a compact formation. The unit is automatically switched between a vacuum source and the atmosphere, as required, by means of an electronically controlled disc, sensors and a servo motor. The production items (1) are conveyed on a narrow belt (2) in a continuous row to lie beneath a transfer beam (9) which is box-shaped (10) with apertures (11) on the underside by which the items are attracted by a vacuum in the beam. When the apertures are filled the beam moves sideways to lie over another conveyor belt (6) where the cans are deposited in rows across the width and moved in a direction (8) to a drying oven (14). A timing disc with a marker near its circumference is rotated by an electric motor and has two sensors positioned diametrically opposite each other and signals are sent to a switching plate which connects the transfer beam to a vacuum source or to the atmosphere.