Method and an apparatus for separating overlapping objects advanced on a conveyor

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for separating overlapping objects ( 3 ) advanced on a conveyer. The conveyer is divided into two individually driven paths, a first ( 1 ) and a second ( 2 ). The paths ( 1, 2 ) each have a bending roller ( 5, 6 ) lying adjacent one another and being interconnected and moveable in the horizontal plane. When separation is to take place, the conveyer paths ( 1, 2 ) and the bending rollers ( 5, 6 ) are advanced forwards at the same speed. Thereafter, the bending rollers ( 5, 6 ) and the second conveyer belt ( 2 ) are accelerated momentarily whereafter the bending rollers ( 5, 6 ) return to the original speed. The The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for separating overlapping objects ( 3 ) advanced on a conveyer. The conveyer is divided into two individually driven paths, a first ( 1 ) and a second ( 2 ). The paths ( 1, 2 ) each have a bending roller ( 5, 6 ) lying adjacent one another and being interconnected and moveable in the horizontal plane. When separation is to take place, the conveyer paths ( 1, 2 ) and the bending rollers ( 5, 6 ) are advanced forwards at the same speed. Thereafter, the bending rollers ( 5, 6 ) and the second conveyer belt ( 2 ) are accelerated momentarily whereafter the bending rollers ( 5, 6 ) return to the original speed. The second conveyer belt ( 2 ) maintains a higher speed until such time as a requisite separation space is realised. Finally, the second conveyer belt ( 2 ) returns to the original speed, at the same time as the bending rollers ( 5, 6 ) move backwards.

1 . A method of separating overlapping objects ( 3 ) advanced on a conveyer, the conveyer being divided into two individually driven paths, a first ( 1 ) and a second ( 2 ) each having a bending roller ( 5 ,  6 ) lying adjacent one another, said bending rollers ( 5 ,  6 ) being interconnected and moveable in the horizontal plane, characterised in that when separation is to take place, the conveyer paths ( 1 ,  2 ) and the bending rollers ( 5 ,  6 ) move forwards at the same speed, that the speed of the bending rollers ( 5 ,  6 ) and the speed of the second conveyer belt ( 2 ) are thereafter accelerated momentarily forwards, whereafter the bending rollers ( 5 ,  6 ) return to the original speed, while the second conveyer belt ( 2 ) maintains a higher speed until such time as a requisite separation space has been realised, and finally the second conveyer belt ( 2 ) returns to the original speed at the same time as the bending rollers ( 5 ,  6 ) move backwards.  
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the second conveyer belt ( 2 ) is accelerated over a distance which corresponds to 25-75% of the length of an object ( 3 ).  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the bending rollers ( 5 ,  6 ) are driven by a linear unit.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for separating overlapping objects ( 3 ) advanced on a conveyer, the conveyer being divided into two individually driven paths, a first ( 1 ) and a second ( 2 ) each with a bending roller ( 5 ,  6 ) lying adjacent one another, said bending rollers ( 5 ,  6 ) being interconnected and moveable in the horizontal plane, characterised in that the bending rollers ( 5 ,  6 ) are secured on a bracket ( 7 ), said bracket ( 7 ) being secured on a driven linear unit.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , characterised in that there is also secured on the bracket ( 7 ) a nip roller ( 14 ), said nip roller ( 14 ) being placed in register with the bending roller ( 5 ).  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , characterised in that the objects ( 3 ) are advanced on the first conveyer path ( 1 ) between a bending roller ( 9 ) and the bending roller ( 5 ), and that they are advanced on the second conveyer path ( 2 ) between the bending roller ( 6 ) and a bending roller ( 10 ).  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , characterised in that the first conveyer path ( 1 ) between the bending rollers ( 9 ) and ( 5 ) is disposed on a level which lies above the level of the second conveyer path ( 2 ) between the bending rollers ( 6 ) and ( 10 ).