Apparatus For Transporting Mass Flows Of Articles
Patent No. US5413213 (titled "Apparatus For Transporting Mass Flows Of Articles") was filed by Hauni Werke Koerber & Kgde on Nov 23, 1993. The application was issued on May 9, 1995.
What is this patent about?
'213 is related to the field of transporting articles, particularly rod-shaped articles like cigarettes in the tobacco industry, between two stations. Production lines often require buffers to compensate for variations in the output of supplying machines and the input requirements of receiving machines. Existing solutions, such as first-in-last-out reservoirs, can lead to quality degradation of articles stored for extended periods, motivating the need for a first-in-first-out system.
The underlying idea behind '213 is to create a variable-capacity, first-in-first-out reservoir for articles moving between two stations. This is achieved using an elongated conveyor guided by helical tracks and a movable bridge. By adjusting the position of the bridge, the length of the conveyor path between the stations can be altered, effectively changing the reservoir's capacity while maintaining the order of article flow.
The claims of '213 focus on an apparatus for transporting articles between two stations, comprising an elongated conveyor with receiving and discharging portions at each station, guide means defining a path for the conveyor between the stations, and means for varying the length of that path. The guide means include at least two helical tracks and the means for varying the length of the path includes at least one movable bridge that connects the tracks.
In practice, the apparatus utilizes two coaxial helical tracks and a conveyor that moves articles along a path defined by these tracks. A movable bridge connects sections of the two tracks. By moving the bridge axially and angularly around the common axis of the tracks, the length of the conveyor path is adjusted. This allows the system to act as a variable-capacity reservoir, storing more articles when the receiving station slows down and fewer when the supplying station slows down.
This design differs from prior approaches by ensuring a first-in-first-out flow, preventing articles from being stored indefinitely. The use of helical tracks allows for a compact design, maximizing storage capacity within a limited footprint. The adjustable bridge mechanism provides a simple and effective way to vary the reservoir's capacity in response to changing production needs, maintaining a consistent flow of articles between the two stations.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical Landscape
In the early 1990s when '213 was filed, automated transport of discrete articles in manufacturing environments was typically implemented using fixed-path conveyor systems. At a time when programmable logic controllers were becoming more prevalent, dynamic adjustment of material flow paths or buffer capacity in response to real-time conditions was non-trivial. When hardware and software constraints made flexible routing and buffering complex, systems commonly relied on static configurations optimized for average throughput, rather than adapting to variations in supply or demand.
Prosecution Position
The disclosed invention provides a material handling apparatus capable of transporting articles between stations while dynamically adjusting the path length. This is achieved through a conveyor system with an adjustable guide mechanism that alters the effective distance between the input and output points. This architectural shift enables the system to function as a variable-capacity buffer, compensating for fluctuations in production rates between machines. By varying the path length, the apparatus maintains a consistent dwell time for articles, addressing quality degradation issues associated with long-term storage in fixed-capacity buffers.
Claims
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Date
Description
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US5413213
- Application Number
- US15722293
- Filing Date
- Nov 23, 1993
- Publication Date
- May 9, 1995
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents