FR2651487A1 - Apparatus for the automatic distribution of elongate products by means of a swing-tray - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for the automatic distribution of elongate products, in particular long loaves of bread, of the type in which the loaves are arranged on a plurality of inclined planes arranged one above the other, it being possible for the said loaves to be removed from the said inclined planes and discharged towards a distribution slide (drawer) communicating with the outside of the said apparatus, characterised in that the loaves are removed from the inclined planes (1) where they are stored sequentially and in step with the demand of the users by means of a swing-tray (2) including a receiving basket (pod) (5) moving vertically at the level of the front face of the said inclined planes. Application: automatic distribution, particularly for long loaves of bread.

Description

 The present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic dispensing of elongated products, in particular bread sticks, of the type in which the breads are arranged on a plurality of inclined planes arranged one above the other, said breads can be removed from said inclined planes and evacuated to a distribution drawer communicating with the outside of said device.

 Devices of this type are known per se. They are used for the automatic dispensing of generally cylindrical and oblong products such as breads, baguettes, aluminum cans for drinks, bottles, etc.

 In what follows, express reference will be made to bread sticks. It should be understood that the invention is in no way limited to this application.

 In the devices of the prior art, as described for example in patent application FR-88-07889 in the name of the applicant, the breads are fed from a plurality of inclined planes which are emptied one after the other. other from highest to lowest.

 Although this arrangement is satisfactory, it nevertheless has the drawback that, between two operations of withdrawing a loaf from the dispensing drawer and during this operation, the breads awaiting dispensing are, for some of them, stacked one on the other in a vertical plane.

 This necessarily results in a deterioration of the loaves arranged at the bottom of the stack, that is to say those which will be distributed.

 The object of the invention is to remedy this drawback of devices of the prior art, prior art also represented by documents EP 0071438, US 3,416,706 and FR 1,370,653 which are all devices operating exclusively by inertia, with doors or valves releasing products from an inclined plane when the upper inclined plane is emptied of the products it contains.

 The object of the invention is to propose a device in which the products are not stored in a vertical superimposed position awaiting distribution, but are removed from their respective inclined storage plane as a function of the user's command, and this from the lowest inclined plane towards the one directly above and so on.

 According to the invention, this result is obtained with an apparatus for the automatic dispensing of elongated products, in particular bread sticks, of the type in which the breads are arranged on a plurality of inclined planes arranged one above the other, said loaves being able to be removed from said inclined planes and evacuated to a dispensing drawer communicating with the outside of said device, characterized in that the loaves are removed from the inclined planes where they are stored sequentially and progressively of user demand by means of a swing comprising a receiving nacelle moving vertically at the front face of said inclined planes.

 Thanks to this configuration, the loaves remain in the inclined planes, with the exception of that arranged in the swing which can optionally be left waiting in the nacelle thereof.

 The invention will be better understood with reference to the appended drawings in which - Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a device according to the invention - Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, illustrate the different operating phases of the device in Figure 1.

 We will first refer to Figure 1.

 The apparatus according to the invention, presented stripped of its chassis, the external panes and the control members essentially consists of - a plurality of plates (l) arranged one above the other and of equal inclination, for example 300, this in a nonlimiting manner - uprights t2,3) laterally supporting the plates (l) - a swing (4) with a nacelle t5) - an assembly (6) for controlling the vertical movement of the swing (4 ).

 The plates (i) are generally planar.

 They have on their front face a stop (7) for holding the breads they receive. The stop (7) is made up of a plurality of plates (8, 9) preferably vertical and integrally formed with the corresponding plates.

 The plates (8, 9) hold the loaves on the trays despite the inclination of the latter. The stop (7) is interrupted in at least two places according to two openings (10,11) of the vertical plates and (12,13) of the plates (1).

 The breads are stored against each other on each tray.

 The plates are fixed indifferently (bolting, welding, etc.) on the lateral uprights (2,3).

 The lateral uprights each have a vertical light (14,15) in which the axis (16) of the swing (4) moves under the action of the control assembly (6).

 The swing actually consists of - a horizontal axis (16), - at least one, preferably at least two fingers (17,18) for gripping the loaves, - a basket (5) for receiving the bread removed from the storage tray by the finger (s) (17,18).

 The movement of the swing will be ensured by an endless chain (19) with two return and drive sprockets (20,21) disposed respectively at the top and bottom of one of the uprights of the chassis.

 The fingers (17,18) are able to move vertically and come to take, when they are mounted, a loaf through the openings (10,12 11,13). They are provided at their distal end with a counterweight.

 The operation of the device can be for example the following, although depending on the specific use the order of the sequences and their course can be modified - Figure 2A: taking a loaf by the fingers (17,18) with rise of the swing and lifting of the bread above the stop (7) - Figure 2B: tilting of the bread in the basket - Figure 2C; lowering of the basket towards the distribution drawer and the distribution plate (22) - figure 2D: tilting of the basket to release the bread - figure 2E: positioning of the bread on the distribution plate (22) - figure 2F: tilting of the plate (22) for delivering the bread into the dispensing drawer.

 The control of the chain will be ensured by micro-contacts (23,24) which return the swing to the desired position at the end of each cycle.

 The plate (22) pivots on an axis (25) controlled by an electromagnet.

 The assembly is controlled by a chain drive motor (26).

 The various controls are within the reach of those skilled in the art and will be adapted to the desired sequential operation.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for the automatic dispensing of elongated products, in particular bread sticks, of the type in which the loaves are arranged on a plurality of inclined planes arranged one above the other, said loaves being able to be removed from said planes inclined and evacuated to a distribution drawer communicating with the outside of said device, characterized in that the breads are removed from the inclined planes (1) where they are stored sequentially and as and when required by users by means a swing (2) comprising a nacelle (5) receiving vertically moving at the front face of said inclined planes. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the plates or planes (1) have on their front face a stop (7) for holding the loaves they receive, the stop (7) being made up of a plurality of plates (8, 9) preferably vertical and integral with the corresponding plates. 3. Apparatus according to claim (2), characterized in that the stop (7) is interrupted in at least two places according to two lumen (10,11) of the vertical plates and (12,13) of the plates (1). 4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the planes or plates (1) are supported laterally by uprights (2,3) which each have a vertical light t14,15) in which moves the axis (16) of the swing (4) under the action of the control assembly (6). 5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the swing consists of - a horizontal axis (16), - at least one, preferably at least two fingers (17,18) for gripping breads, - a basket (5) for receiving the bread removed from the storage tray by the finger (s) (17,18). 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the finger (s) (17,18) are able to move vertically and come to take, when they are mounted, a loaf through the lights (10,12 11,13), said fingers being provided at their distal end with a counterweight. 7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the movement of the swing is provided by an endless chain (19) with two idler and drive sprockets (20,21) disposed respectively in top and bottom of one of the uprights of the chassis. 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the nacelle delivers the bread which it supports on a plate (22) pivoting on an axis (25) controlled by an electromagnet. 9. Apparatus according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the control of the chain is provided by micro-contacts (23,24) which return the swing in the desired position at the end of each cycle.