• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
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    • 专利摘要:
    TRANSPORT AND MARKING APPLIANCE and METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING AND MARKING PARTS.The present invention relates to a transport and marking apparatus, which can transport discrete parts at high speeds, and in preferred modes, which allows marking on opposite sides of the parts, while the parts remain in the same position on the conveyor.
    公开号:BR112012013169A2
    申请号:R112012013169-9
    申请日:2010-12-02
    公开日:2020-08-25
    发明作者:Keith A. Chisholm；Alex A. Hanna；Alfred V. Camporini；David J. Pontzer；Thomas DeMare
    申请人:Mars, Incorporated；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Descriptive Report of the Invention Patent for "TRANSPORTATION AND MARKING APPLIANCE and METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING AND MARKING PARTS". Background of the Invention Campoda Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods of transport and marking and, more particularly, to an apparatus which can load, transport and mark discrete parts at high speed.
    In the preferred modalities, the invention allows marking on opposite sides of parts and marking parts with high resolution, multicolored and / or composite images in registration.
    In the modalities, the device and methods can be used to provide direct customization of edible products printed, by consumers, over the Internet or in a retail setting, for example.
    Description of the Related Art A conventional apparatus for printing discrete parts is described in U.S. patent
    No. 4,905,589, comprising carrier bars attached to a conveyor chain.
    The carrier bars are positioned side by side to form a transport surface, essentially continuous, that follows a transport path.
    Pockets are provided on the carrier bars to carry small pieces, which are loaded into the pockets on an inclined part of the transport path, and printed on a horizontal part of the transport path.
    The design of the carrier bar systems limits the overall speed on which parts can be transported.
    Speeds of 15 to 23 m / min (50 to 75 feet per minute) are typical for conventional carrier bar systems, with 30 m / min (100 feet per minute) being a practicable maximum.
    Above that speed, the parts start to swing in the pockets and jump out during transport.
    Filling pockets at high speeds also creates a problem.
    At higher speeds, the pocket is exposed to the piece for a shorter period of time.
    Parts can jump over pockets, or walk on the surface of the carrier bar, limiting the percentage of pockets that can be filled reliably at high speeds ("filling efficiency"). Another disadvantage of the conventional transport and marking device is the difficulty of printing on two sides of a piece.
    In order to print on two sides of a piece carried in the carrier bar pockets, the pieces need to be loaded in the drum to turn them, as described in the U.S. patent
    No. 5,878,658. Alternatively, the U.S. patent
    No. 5,423,252 describes an apparatus for printing on two sides of a solid article, such as a tablet or capsule, by transferring the article from a first belt or conveyor chain to a second belt or conveyor chain.
    Other carrier bar configurations are available in which the inserts are oriented vertically (that is, at their edge) within a cavity having two openings to print on opposite sides of the inserts.
    However, these vertically oriented carrier bars suffer from the same maintenance problems and the same limitations in terms of operating speed and performance as horizontally arranged carrier bars.
    Due to the way in which they are constructed, vertically oriented carrier bars are limited to printing on a single line of parts, which limits performance, and the parts of the printing surface are obscured by multiple parts of the bar carrier.
    There is also a need in the art to create a conveyor and marking device that can be used to print multiple images on one part, keeping the part level between the printing stations without relying on vacuum or trapping mechanisms to if you attach the piece.
    The U.S. patent
    No. 7,182,018, owned by the assignee of this application and incorporated by reference, teaches the methods and apparatus for transporting articles, levelly between two printing stations to form a leveled composite image, using a vacuum or trapping to prevent the part from skewing or turning between printing steps.
    US patent application No. 09 / 587,108, owned by the assignee of this application and incorporated by reference, teaches a system and apparatus for printing high-resolution edible products that allows a consumer to submit an image using a computer to a second computer, so that a personalized food product can be printed with the image. This can be practiced over the Internet, for example, or in a retail setting. There is a particular need for quick handling of parts to be printed in a personalized manner, according to consumer preferences, on a standby basis in a retail setting. However, conventional systems for printing discrete parts are often too large to accommodate in a retail setting.
    In view of the above description of the prior art and the problems to be solved, an objective of the invention is to provide a transport and marking apparatus that provides a higher transport speed for discrete parts, especially edible parts. The ability to transport parts at high speeds can be significant in increasing the throughput of a mass production setup, or, for example, in a retail setup where custom printed edible parts are prepared for consumers on a waiting stand.
    Another objective of the invention is to provide two-sided printing on one piece, without requiring the transfer of the piece to a separate conveyor, preferably allowing multiple rows of pieces to be printed.
    Another additional objective of the invention is to improve the design of the cavity that holds the part, on the one hand allowing greater efficiency of filling the parts in the cavities, and on the other hand allowing the parts to be kept safely in place during transport, for example , to avoid bias and yaw between the printing steps.
    Another additional objective of the invention is to provide a transport and marking device that takes up less floor space and uses less complex construction elements, characteristics that can be particularly attractive in a retail setting.
    There is a particular need for these advances in the field of printing edible parts, since there is a growing demand in this field for edible products designed by consumers and initiated by consumers. These applications require a quick and easy exchange to allow different items to be printed with different custom images - in addition to a high yield of edible parts for a quick order exchange. These and other objectives of the invention are achieved, in accordance with the invention described and claimed here.
    Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the transport apparatus, according to an embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the conveyor belt of the device, illustrating the cavities of the belt, as noted above, in one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 3 is an expanded detail of two cavities illustrated in a flat view, and showing details of the front and rear parts of the cavities, according to an embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the belt, in an embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 4B is an isometric view of a cavity, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, having a notch and a cut-out leading edge.
    Figure 5A is an expanded detail view of the conveyor belt, as noted below.
    Figure 5B is an expanded side view of the conveyor belt, showing timing teeth for engaging the belt, according to an embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 6 is a perspective view of an appliance, according to
    with one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 7 is a perspective view of an apparatus, according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which the printing is carried out on a vertical vertical part of the belt path.
    Summary of the invention In one aspect, the invention is a conveyor and marking apparatus comprising: a continuous flexible conveyor belt, having a first side and a second side. At least one cavity extends through the conveyor belt adapted to receive an individual part and having an opening on the first side and an opening on the second side. A conveyor is adapted to move the conveyor belt along a conveyor path, including an inclined part and a linear part. At least one retaining element is positioned against an opening in the cavity. A distributor is adapted to distribute an individual part into the cavity, and a marking unit is positioned close to the linear part, adapted to mark the part positioned in the cavity.
    In the preferred embodiments, the openings are dimensioned to allow printing on the piece through the openings on the first and second sides. For example, openings may allow a marking unit with a substantially unobstructed view of the surface area of the part facing the unit, or with a view obstructed only by a very small notch in the rear side wall of the cavity, that can be used to hold the part in position.
    In the preferred embodiments, the retaining element comprises a spare belt in contact with the conveyor belt along a part of the transport path, to keep the part in the cavity. In other embodiments, one or more retaining plates are used. In other embodiments, one or more retaining plates and one or more support straps can be used in combination, contacting the conveyor belt along different parts of the transport path.
    The cavity in the belt may comprise a cut-out portion at the front edge of the cavity, including an inclined surface that extends at an angle from the front edge of the cavity to the front side wall of the cavity, to take the part into the cavity during During loading, the cavity may also comprise a notch, formed in the rear side wall of the cavity, to secure the part in the cavity. The cavities can be arranged in rows that run lengthwise on the belt.
    In the most preferred embodiments, the invention is a two-sided printing unit, incorporating the flexible belt described above, and additionally comprising a first marking unit and a second marking unit. The first marking unit can be positioned to mark a first surface area of the part, through an opening on the first side of the conveyor belt, and the second marking unit can be positioned to mark a second surface area of the part , through an opening on a second side of the conveyor belt, opposite to said first side.
    The marking unit can be any type of printer or engraver unit known in the art, or a combination thereof, including, without limitation, continuous jet printers, or demand-driven inkjet printers. Demand-driven includes bubble jet (thermal) printers or piezojet printers. Demand-driven printing technology includes printheads adapted to print with water-based inks, solvent-based inks, or phase-change inks. Another type of marking technology suitable for use with the invention, comprises the selective induction of a color change in a coating on a part surface with a low-power CO laser. Other printers known in the art can also be used without departing from the scope of the invention, including rotogravure, offset, and laser. A recording unit, instead of a printer, can be used alone or in combination with a printing unit.
    In a typical application, a marking unit can be positioned above a horizontal linear part in the transport path, and the distributor can be positioned on an inclined part in the transport path. The apparatus may include inspection devices, such as one or more laser sensors (reflectance or hollow beam) or capacitance type devices, to determine whether cavities are filled, or to inspect parts after they have been printed, to determine if they were printed correctly or damaged. Preferably, the operation of the marking unit is controlled, so that printing is not carried out in a cavity determined to be empty by the inspection device.
    In another aspect, the invention is a method for transporting and marking parts, comprising the steps of: transporting a flexible and continuous conveyor belt along a transport path, which includes an inclined part and a part linear. The belt has a first side and a second side. At least one cavity is provided, extending through the conveyor belt having an opening on the first side and an opening on the second side, adapted to receive an individual part. An individual part is distributed into the cavity on the inclined part of the transport path and retained in the cavity with at least one retaining element positioned against an opening in the cavity. A marking unit is positioned close to the linear part that marks the part when the part is close to the marking unit in the transport path. Typically, the conveyor belt has rows of cavities, and a plurality of parts are loaded into the cavities on the inclined part of the transport path.
    The method may include inspecting cavities to determine if they are filled, or inspecting parts after they have been printed, to determine whether they have been printed correctly or damaged. If a cavity is determined to be empty, the marking step can be skipped for that cavity. The method may include a step of removing parts that have been damaged, or that have not been printed correctly.
    In preferred embodiments of the method, the conveyor belt is contacted with a spare belt along part of the transport path to keep the part in the cavity, and the openings on opposite sides of the belt provide access to the opposite surface areas of the part. A cavity provided with two openings on opposite sides allows the marking of a first surface area of the part, through an opening on the first side of the conveyor belt in a first marking step, and the marking of a second surface area of the piece, through an opening on a second side of the conveyor belt, opposite the first side, in a second marking step.
    The handling of the parts is improved by providing a cut-out part on a front edge of the cavity in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, which takes the part into the cavity when the part is distributed on the belt. After being taken into the cavity, the part can be secured by a notch formed in the rear side wall of the cavity.
    In the most preferred embodiments of the invention, the piece is an edible piece and the surfaces in contact with the piece are made of edible materials.
    Detailed Description of the Preferred Modes Definitions The term "belt" is used here, according to its normal meaning, to describe a continuous band of flexible material. A "conveyor belt" is a belt used to transport articles. A "continuous flexible conveyor belt" is likewise a belt that can be flexed around cylinders to form a continuous surface without interruptions. Thus, these terms are synonymous. A band, or belt, is in the form of a thin flat strip, so that it has two main sides or faces, referred to here as the first side and the second side.
    The term "cavity" is used here, to refer to a space formed on the belt. The perimeter of the cavity on one side of the belt is
    as an "opening" of the cavity, which can be on the first side and the second side, since the cavity extends through the belt. The belt has a direction of travel, so that the cavity has a "front edge", referring to that part of the opening on the first side of the belt in the direction of travel, and a "rear edge", referring to the part of the opening in the first side away from the direction of travel. Similarly, the interior of the cavity is defined as having a "front side wall" and a "rear side wall". In the embodiments, the cavity has a "notch", which is a notch or cutout in a side wall of the cavity, typically in the rear side wall of the cavity.
    In its broadest application, the device described here can carry any discreet part. In the modalities, the piece has a three-dimensional shape, having a non-flat surface that can be printed, such as an ovoid, a spheroid, or a lens shape. However, a particularly preferred application is the transport and marking of edible parts. The term "edible" means that it can be eaten by humans or animals as food, and must be distinguished from "non-toxic", which is something that can be eaten and tolerated, but which is not eaten as food. In this application of the appliance for edible parts, "degree of contact with food" refers to materials that meet the standards, such as those adopted by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for surfaces and instruments that are used in food and drug processing facilities.
    In certain embodiments, the device is used to transport edible products including, without limitation, starch, sugar-coated confectionery, and pressed-tablet confectionery. Examples of confections wrapped in sugar that can be used with the apparatus of the invention include, without limitation, M & M'S & Milk Chocolate Candies, SKITTLE Bit Size Candies, M & M'SO Milk Chocolate Peanut or Milk Chocolate —Almond Candies. Animal feed and animal biscuits can also be printed using the apparatus of the invention.
    The conveyor belt according to the invention is moved along a transport path, having at least an inclined part and at least a linear part. As used here, "inclined part" means a part having a change in elevation and is not required to be straight or at a fixed angle. The loading of the parts in the belt cavities is preferably carried out on the inclined part. In the modalities, the parts are distributed on the belt in an inclined part, which is curved, to facilitate loading. In these embodiments, the inclined portion includes a curved portion that can have one or more angles of curvature.
    As used here "linear" means straight. It is preferable to print on parts while being transported along a linear path. In some cases, printing is performed while the parts are on the inclined part, in which case the "linear part" of the transport path may be within the "inclined part".
    As used here, "small scale" and "production scale" refer to the number of parts that can be transported and marked with a given unit per hour. For example, a "small scale" unit can load and distribute, typically, about 6000 pieces of confectionery wrapped with sugar per hour, while a "scale" production unit can transport up to 1,000,000 pieces per hour. However, scale is not a critical aspect of the invention, and those skilled in the art will understand that "small scale" and "production scale" are qualitative terms, and that the rate of parts processed by a given appliance should vary, depending on part properties and other factors. In the preferred embodiments, the belt is capable of being transported at more than 30 meters / minute (100 feet per minute), preferably more than about 61 meters / minute (200 feet per minute), and more preferably about 91 meters / minute (300 feet per minute).
    Transport Path As shown in Figure 1, the conveyor belt 10 can be adapted to form a circuit in accordance with the transport path, including loading part 20, first
    30, second marking part 35 and unloading part 40. The length of the belt, in a scale production apparatus, is in the range of about 1.5 m to about 12.5 m, preferably about 2, 5 m to about 8 m, and more preferably in the range of 4 m to about 6.7 m. For a small-scale unit, factors such as desired performance and floor space allocated to the unit are considered to be determinants of an appropriate length for the belt. The belt length in the type of unit shown in figure 7, for example, is in the range of about 1 meter to about 4 meters, preferably about 1.5 about 2.5 meters.
    Discrete parts (not shown) are distributed from the distributor 190 to the conveyor belt 10 on the loading part 20 of the transport path, located on an inclined part of the transport path. Brush 192 can be used to orient parts into the belt cavities. The slope can have a curved shape, such as an arcuate or sigmoidal shape. In the modalities, the loading part has a concave curve, which can be along only a part of the inclined part or along its total length, as illustrated in figure 7. The curve prevents a piece from traveling upwards. slope with the belt, while not in a cavity in the belt, thus facilitating the unloading of parts in the cavities.
    The general angle of the inclined part can be fixed or adjustable, and is predetermined according to specific criteria, including the operation, speed of the conveyor belt, physical properties of the part (for example, size, shape, weight, density and characteristics surface), characteristics of the belt surface, and factors that contribute to the frictional force between the part and the belt (such as molecular adhesion, deformation of one or both surfaces, and surface roughness). The angle of the inclined part of the transport path is selected, according to these criteria, to ensure a cascading movement of the parts to the bottom of the distributor 190 before the parts are received in the cavities. As described below, a 196 inspection unit can be provided
    to ensure maximum loading of parts into the belt cavities.
    Inspection information can be provided for the printheads to prevent printing in unfilled cavities, or to control the loading process.
    Conveyor Belt According to the invention, the conveyor belt is a continuous band of flexible material, strong enough, so that the belt does not stretch significantly during use, even when operated continuously at high speed rates, it is also flexible enough so that it can be shaped to conform to a transport path, which forms a circuit or loop around several cylinders.
    The belt is preferably made of a polymeric material, which is exemplified by a plastic, rubber, or non-metallic, natural or synthetic composite material, but is not limited to them.
    Polyurethane and Neoprene are typical belt materials.
    The conveyor belt is most likely a reinforced urethane material.
    Reinforcement materials include, without limitation, KevlarG cord, high strength steel, fiberglass, natural fibers (such as cotton threads) or synthetic fibers.
    The conveyor belt may have metal reinforcement components, but most of the belt itself. it is not made of metal.
    The conveyor belt material must be selected to provide a low coefficient of friction with respect to the part, in order to obtain the desired mass flow behavior of the parts distributed to the conveyor belt.
    Where the parts conveyed by the belt are edible parts, the conveyor belt is preferably made of materials with a degree of contact with food.
    A low coefficient of friction between a material, such as polyurethane and a consumable part, can be achieved by coating the conveyor belt with a Teflon & DuPontG fluoropolymer resin coating; silicon; a food-grade oil or release agent, or the like.
    A plurality of cavities 22 can be arranged in rows along the length of the conveyor belt, as illustrated in the plan view of figure 2. For example, the conveyor belt of a small scale unit can have a plurality of cavities arranged in two to thirty queues. The conveyor belt in figure 2 has two rows. The dimensions of the cavities, and the dimensions of the cavities in relation to the dimensions of the conveyor belt, may vary depending on the size and shape of the part being transported. In the context of printing on M & M'SOMIIKk Chocolate Candies, the thickness of the belt can be in the range of about 4 mm to about 8.5 mm, preferably between 6 mm and 7.5 mm. When the part is to be marked using non-contact marking technology, the thickness of the belt can be selected so that the highest point of the piece, while in the cavity, is equal to or slightly below the surface of the belt . When a contact marking technology is used, the part can protrude above the surface of the belt, so that the area to be marked is fully accessible to the marking unit, care must be taken not to damage the parts with the contact printing element.
    As shown in figures 3 and 4, each cavity 22 can be provided with a front edge 60 formatted to facilitate maximum loading of parts from the distributor. An inclined surface 50 extends at an angle from the front edge 60 on the belt surface on the first side of the front side wall 290 of the cavity. The sloping surface can extend from about 30% to about 50% of the belt thickness, forming an angle between about 30 degrees and about 45 degrees, with respect to the belt surface on the first side. The cavity can be cut at the front edge, so that the largest dimension of the cavity (along the central geometric axis of the cavity in the direction of travel) is in a range of about 40% to about 60% greater than the narrowest dimension of the cavity measured along the same geometrical axis. In the preferred embodiments, the rear side wall of the cavity 292 - does not form an intersection with an inclined surface, and meets the surface of the belt on the first side, approximately, at a right angle.
    The purpose of the cut-out part at the front edge of the cavity is to take the part into the formed cavity, so that when the part is seated in the cavity, there is more distance between the front edge of the cavity and the part, than between the rear edge of the cavity and the part. This design facilitates maximum filling of cavities with parts when loaded on the sloping part of the transport path, and improves the overall efficiency and productivity of the device.
    The rear side wall of the cavity can be provided with a notch 70, also illustrated in figures 3 and 4. Figure 4B is an inverted isometric view of the cavity, so that the front edge of the cavity is on the left. The notch 70 helps to secure the part in the cavity during transport and prevents the piece from bending or yawing. Thus, one or more surface areas of the part to be marked remain stationary within the cavity, and images can be successively marked on the part at substantial leveling. The notch is located between the surfaces of the first side and the second side of the belt, and can occupy about 30% to about 50% of the thickness of the belt. Preferably, the height of the notch (that is, the vertical dimension of the recess in the rear side wall of the cavity) and depth (that is, dimension measured at the deepest point in the recess, from the rear side wall of the cavity) are selected so that the piece is stuck in the cavity without coming into contact with the rear wall of the notch. The preferred belt materials, such as polyurethane, have a degree of adhesion that helps to hold the part in the notch.
    As illustrated in figures 5A and 5B, the timing teeth 24 can be shaped, cut or otherwise formed on the second side surface of the conveyor belt on one side of the conveyor belt. The spacing of the timing teeth can be selected by those skilled in the art, according to the general size and speed of the conveyor belt, in a way known to those skilled in the art.
    In an operational example, the inclination from center to center P of the timing teeth is about 12.7 mm, but can vary in a range from about 2 mm to about 32 mm, without departing from the scope of the invention. -
    dog.
    Retention Element In the modalities, at least one retention element is positioned against an opening of the cavity at some point in the transport path. In the illustrated embodiment, different retaining elements are used, so that at least one retaining element is positioned against at least one cavity opening along the transport path from the loading part 20 to the unloading part
    40. This is especially the case where the opening on the first side of the conveyor belt and the opening on the second side of the belt are large enough for the part to pass through the cavity. Referring again to figure 1, in the illustrated embodiment, a static retaining plate 80 is positioned against the cavity openings on the second side of the conveyor belt when the parts are loaded on the loading part 20, and additional static restraints 180 and 280 are positioned against the second side of the belt in transition areas to and from the first marking part 30 of the transport path. Along the first marking portion 30, a spare belt 90 is positioned against the cavity openings on the second side of the conveyor belt. To perform double-sided printing, a second spare belt 100 is provided, making contact with the conveyor belt and positioned against the openings in the cavities on the first side of the belt along the part of the transport path, running around the drum 110. Second reserve belt 100 cooperates with drum 110 to hold parts in the cavities as the conveyor belt travels around drum 110. After running around the drum, the first side of the conveyor belt is turned down. Therefore, after traveling around the drum 110, each piece in a cavity has its opposite side (that is, the side not yet marked) facing upwards. An extension of the second spare belt 100 is positioned against the first side of the conveyor belt in the second marking part 35 of the transport path. The construction materials of the support belts are the same materials
    used for the conveyor belt, although this is not critical.
    The support belts have timing teeth, like the conveyor belt, and can run at the same rate as the conveyor belt, driven by the appropriate motors and pulley systems.
    The difference in the rotation radius of the conveyor belt and second spare belt 100 in the drum 110 causes a difference in the belt speeds as the belts rotate around the drum, resulting in sliding between the belts which can result in damage to the belt. piece.
    This can be accommodated in many cases, but it is preferable that the support belts and the conveyor belt move, at the same speed, in the linear parts of the transport path where the marking is carried out.
    In a preferred mode, different support belts and associated drive systems can be provided for each linear part in the transport path and for the part of the transport path around drum 110. A spare belt moving with the conveyor belt is a preferred retaining element compared to a static plate, since a spare belt in close contact with the conveyor belt moving at the same speed as the conveyor belt will protect the product from damage such as scuffing.
    In addition, a reserve belt can be easily scraped or cleaned of paint or other product residue where the reserve belt is not in contact with the conveyor belt.
    This can be done continuously or intermittently while the device is being operated.
    A static plate that is always in contact with the conveyor belt can be more difficult to clean, especially when operating the device.
    Conveyor The conveyor generally includes a drive system for moving the conveyor belt along a conveyor path.
    In a preferred embodiment, the drive system includes a drive motor on the conveyor belt, and an independent drive on one or more support belts.
    Alternatively, a drive motor can be provided to transport the belt combined with a slave drive belt or gear to drive the support belts. The speed of the conveyor belt can vary up to about 91 meters / minute (300 feet per minute), depending on the ability to feed the parts reliably, without damage, and achieve a good filling efficiency (that is, the percentage of cavities filled with parts during loading). A typical operating speed is around 61 meters / minute (200 feet per minute), although this is not critical. The speed can vary through the inverter or servo controller input, activated by operator intervention or sensor registration based on the quantity of product in the distributor 190, filling efficiency PLC monitoring, and / or parts inspection incorrectly printed or damaged. Another factor limiting the practical speed of the drive system is the time required to dry the parts. For phase-change ink, applied with a high-resolution inkjet printer, there is no drying time required. For water and solvent-based systems, the drying time can be incorporated into the process and determined, taking into account the length of the conveyor, the speed of the conveyor belt, and the condition of the drying air. Performance depends on the size and weight of parts and other factors. A small-scale unit with a queue, as can be supplied in a retail environment, can operate at an output of around 6000 parts per hour. In a scale production unit, depending on the number of rows and many other factors, a yield in the range of about
    187,000 parts per hour at about 1,000,000 parts per hour can be achieved. The operating speed and efficiency of the device, according to the invention, can be optimized and can exceed these mentioned values.
    Marking and Inspection Units As noted above, the openings on the first and second sides of the conveyor belt are preferably sized to allow printing on the first and second surface areas of the part, respectively (whether or not two printing steps are employed). The dimensions
    Aperture resolutions can be determined based on the size of the selected image and the size of the printhead or other marking unit used. This determination is within the specialization of those skilled in the art. It is preferable to have a substantially unobstructed printing surface visible in the cavity, so that only a very small part of the piece is retained in the notch 70. Marking units 130 and 140 can apply ink in the printing steps. In some embodiments, the ink applied by a printer to a first marking unit 140 is removed in an engraving step on a second marking unit 130. In other embodiments, a composite image is formed on the piece by printing a first image on the first marking unit 140, transporting the part in a fixed orientation on the conveyor belt, and printing a second image flush with the first image on a second marking unit (not shown) arranged to print on the same side of the part as the first marking unit 140 before the part is transported around drum 110. Suitable printing techniques include contact methods, such as gravure printing, and non-contact methods such as inkjet and inkjet printing. to be. Inkjet printing includes continuous jet printing, and demand-driven printing, capable of printing a high resolution image having a resolution greater than about 39 dots per cm (100 dots per inch), preferably more than about 98 points per cm (250 points per inch), and even more preferably, more than 157 points per cm (400 points per inch).
    In the embodiments of the invention, an inspection unit can be positioned after a marking unit in the path of the conveyor belt. An inspection unit can use a laser sensor (reflectance or hollow beam), a capacitance-type device, or another instrument to determine that an image has been applied correctly to the part, that a part is damaged, or that it needs to be removed from the carrier. A suitable signal is sent to a removal unit 270, where defective parts can be removed from a cavity using
    whether an air jet, or mechanical element. The inspection device can be positioned after a marking unit anywhere along the conveyor path of the belt, before parts are removed at the unloading part 40, Example1 An example of the operation of a double side, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, can be described with reference to figure 6, wherein the conveyor belt 10 is a continuous loop, including an inclined part, an upper part of the transport path, and a part lower return path of transport. A first printing station 140 includes two printheads 142, 144, one for each of the two rows of cavities formed in the belt. These printheads print a first image through a first opening in the cavity on the first side of an edible piece, while the edible piece is at the top of the transport path, and a pair of printheads 152, 154 prints respective second images through a second opening in the cavity, opposite to said first opening, on a second side of the edible piece, opposite to said first side, while the edible piece is in the lower return part of the transport path. The conveyor belt is contacted by the support belts 90 and 100 to keep the edible part in the cavity during transport, while the retaining elements 180 and 280 (observed in the schematic side view of figure 1) come into contact with the second side of the belt and retain the parts in the cavities in places, in the transport path where a spare belt is not provided.
    The scale production unit of the pilot plant, substantially, according to figure 6, was made with a commercially available continuous Kevlar & / urethane timing belt, built from urethane extrusion and Kevlar & e cord reinforcement. supplied with a Teflon coating & to reduce friction. The timing teeth on the sides of the belt were spaced at an angle of 13 mm (0.5 inch) in the direction of travel of the belt. Two rows of cavities were machined on the belt at a 25 mm (1.00 inch) slope. In this spacing, with two rows running across the belt circuit, a total of 552 cavities are provided. The edible parts (not shown) were supplied on the train 190 on an inclined part of the belt path. In the illustrated modality, the pieces were confectionery pieces covered with sugar, having curved surfaces. Each piece was approximately 13 mm (0.5 inch) in diameter and 6.4 mm (0.25 inch) thick, with a mass of about 0.875 gram.
    In the illustrated mode, the belt was able to run at a speed of about (91 meters / minute (300 feet per minute). According to the number of cavities and the size of the parts described, this would result in a theoretical throughput of 7200 parts per minute, however, consistent operation and printing were achieved at around 61 meters / minute (200 feet per minute), resulting in a theoretical throughput of 4800 parts per minute, or filling efficiency 90%, about 4320 pieces per minute With a piece weight of 0.875 grams, the yield can be estimated in the vicinity of about 227 kg / h (500 Ibs / h).
    Hopper 190 was on a 30 degree linear slope from the horizontal plane, with product exposed to the belt to approximately 69 cm (27 inches). The amount of product weight on the belt was maintained at approximately 18 to 36 kg (40 to 80 lb). As long as the sufficient product weight in the hopper covers the belt, the device maintains good filling efficiency. The parts did not move significantly on the belt, such as by sliding on the belt, or at the ends, before being directed into the cavities. The product that moved at the top of the belt to the hopper outlet was deflected by the counter rotating brush 192 to direct the product back into the hopper 190.
    In the most preferred embodiments, the phase change inks are supplied to containers dedicated to the respective rows of cavities on the conveyor belt. A removal set is provided with a 430 rail to receive the printed parts. The removal of parts can be aided by blowing air or other mechanical means. Example 2 A small-scale retail unit was built substantially in accordance with figure 7 and using lens-shaped confectionery pieces similar to in example 1. The belt was a urethane / Kevlar timing belt & with a coating of TeflonO. The unit was supplied with a row for parts, with each cavity spaced at a 25 mm (1.00 inch) slope, for a total of 100 cavities. The unit can be operated at a speed of 12 to 24 meters / minute (40 to 80 feet per minute), which leads to production rates of about 470 to 922 parts per minute, or 0.41 to 0.81 kg / minute (0.91 to 1.78 lb per minute), according to a filling efficiency of about 96% to about 98%, despite not being a firm upper limit on the appliance's capacity. As illustrated in figure 7, the conveyor belt for the small-scale unit has an inclined arc-shaped part, from the 6 o'clock position through 70 degrees, with parts exposed 38 cm (15 inches) from the belt, having a row of cavities in the hopper. The operation of the hopper promotes a swirling action at the top, with excessive parts falling backwards, with good recirculation movement, so that the parts at the bottom of the hopper fill well inside the cavities.
    Once parts are loaded into the cavities, a 596 inspection station can be used to determine whether a cavity has been filled. As in the production scale environment, the inspection information can be used to control the action of the 540, 530 printheads or to indicate that the loading operation needs to be modified. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining plates 580, 582, 586 and 588 in contact with the second side of the belt, are provided to retain the parts in the cavities. Printing is conducted when the belt is on a vertical linear part of the transport path, with space being provided between the retaining plates 586, 588 and between the plates 584, 590 in contact with the first side of the belt, so that the printheads 540 and 530 can access parts in the cavities.
    The pieces having images printed on both sides are removed on the 430 rail and packed.
    The above description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is for purposes of illustration only, and is not to be construed as limiting the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (20)
    [1]
    1. A conveyor and marking apparatus comprising: a continuous flexible conveyor belt having a first side and a second side extending along a transport path; at least one cavity extending through the conveyor belt adapted to receive an individual part and having an opening on the first side and an opening on the second side; the first and second openings being on opposite sides of the belt and providing access to areas of opposite surfaces of the individual part, the first and second openings being dimensioned to allow marking on the individual part through the openings on the first and second sides; a conveyor adapted to move the conveyor belt along a conveyor path, wherein the conveyor path includes an inclined part and a linear part; at least one retaining element positioned against one of the first and second cavity openings and being located adjacent to and in contact with the conveyor belt along a portion of the transport path to retain the individual part in the cavity as the belt is carried along the part of the transport path; a distributor adapted to distribute an individual part into the cavity; and a marking unit positioned close to the linear part, where the marking unit is adapted to mark the part positioned in the cavity.
    [2]
    An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element comprises a spare belt in contact with the conveyor belt along a part of the transport path.
    [3]
    Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element comprises a retaining plate in contact with the conveyor belt along a part of the transport path.
    [4]
    An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a part cut out at a front edge of the cavity, including an inclined surface extending at an angle from the front edge of the cavity to a front side wall of the cavity.
    [5]
    Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a notch formed in a rear side wall of the cavity.
    [6]
    An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first marking unit positioned on a first line part adapted to mark a first surface area of the part through a first opening on the first side of the conveyor belt, and a second marking unit positioned on a second linear part and adapted to mark a second surface area of the part through an opening on the second side of the conveyor belt.
    [7]
    Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the marking unit is an inkjet printer.
    [8]
    8. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the distributor is positioned on an inclined part of the transport path, and the marking unit is positioned above a horizontal part of the transport path.
    [9]
    Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt comprises a plurality of cavities arranged in rows.
    [10]
    10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second openings are dimensioned so that the part can pass through the cavity.
    [11]
    11. Method for transporting and marking parts comprising the steps of: transporting a flexible and continuous conveyor belt had a first side and a second side along a transport path including an inclined part and a linear part; provide at least one cavity extending through the conveyor belt and adapted to receive an individual part, at least one cavity having a first opening on the first side and a second opening on the second side, the first and second openings being on opposite sides of the strap and providing access to the opposite surface areas of the individual piece, the first and second openings being dimensioned to allow marking on the individual piece through the openings on the first and second sides; distribute an individual piece into the cavity on the inclined part of the transport path; provide a retaining retaining element positioned against one of the first and second cavity openings, the retaining element being located adjacent to and in contact with the conveyor belt along a portion of the transport path to retain the part in the cavity as far as that the belt is carried over part of the transport path; position a marking unit close to the linear part; and mark the part when the part is close to the marking unit on the transport path.
    [12]
    12. Method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of contacting the conveyor belt with a spare belt along a part of the transport path to keep the part in the cavity.
    [13]
    Method according to claim 12, wherein the reserve belt moves at the same speed as the conveyor belt in the linear part.
    [14]
    14. Method according to claim 11, wherein a cut-out part, provided at a front edge of the cavity in the direction of movement of the belt, takes the part into the cavity when the part is distributed over the belt .
    [15]
    A method according to claim 11, comprising the step of fixing the piece in a notch on the rear side wall of the cavity.
    [16]
    16. The method of claim 11, comprising the steps of: marking a first surface area of the part through a first opening on a first side of the conveyor belt in a first marking step; and marking a second surface area of the part through a second opening on a second side of the conveyor belt in a second marking step.
    [17]
    17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second steps of marking each comprise printing an inkjet image.
    [18]
    18. The method of claim 11, comprising the step of moving the conveyor belt at a speed in the range of 30.5 meters / minute (100 feet per minute) to 91.5 meters / minute (300 feet per minute) to).
    [19]
    19. The method of claim 11, comprising the step of transporting a plurality of parts in a plurality of cavities arranged in one or more rows provided on the conveyor belt.
    [20]
    20. Method according to claim 11, wherein the piece is an edible piece.
    o | | | fe] | 1 | E À): g | | | & | | PR WOOL) 89) IN No
    &
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    EP2507061A1|2012-10-10|
    HK1175144A1|2013-06-28|
    RU2503546C1|2014-01-10|
    WO2011068945A1|2011-06-09|
    CA2778730A1|2011-06-09|
    AU2010325984B2|2013-07-04|
    CA2778730C|2014-02-11|
    EP2507061B1|2015-03-25|
    CN102648095B|2014-05-28|
    US8371216B2|2013-02-12|
    US20110132729A1|2011-06-09|
    AU2010325984A1|2012-06-21|
    CN102648095A|2012-08-22|
    RU2012127566A|2014-01-20|
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    法律状态:
    2020-09-08| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2020-09-29| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|
    2021-04-20| B07A| Application suspended after technical examination (opinion) [chapter 7.1 patent gazette]|
    2021-08-10| B09B| Patent application refused [chapter 9.2 patent gazette]|
    2021-10-26| B09B| Patent application refused [chapter 9.2 patent gazette]|Free format text: MANTIDO O INDEFERIMENTO UMA VEZ QUE NAO FOI APRESENTADO RECURSO DENTRO DO PRAZO LEGAL |
    2021-11-23| B350| Update of information on the portal [chapter 15.35 patent gazette]|
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US12/629,977|2009-12-03|
    US12/629,977|US8371216B2|2009-12-03|2009-12-03|Conveying and marking apparatus and method|
    PCT/US2010/058680|WO2011068945A1|2009-12-03|2010-12-02|Conveying and marking apparatus and method|
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