Automatic transfer of unit loads to or from processing carrier - esp. food and pharmaceutical packs for sterilising, cooking etc.

摘要

Process transfer unit loads into or out of a succession of mobile, tubular, pref. cylindrical, open-ended carriers used to contain the loads during processing operations. At each transfer station, the carriers are disposed with their axes horizontal and evenly spaced around a pitch circle, pref. in pockets in a horizontal cylindrical drum rotatable about its axis. To load a carrier, a unit load is placed on a scoop blade which is then advanced axially into a carrier as it starts to move through a transfer station. Carrier and scoop are rotated simultaneously about the axis of the pitch circle, so that the scoop is inverted through 180 degrees to dump the unit load into the carrier. The scoop is retracted and the loaded carrier leaves the transfer stations. Used for loading and discharging carriers which pass through processing operations. Prod. may be food or drink for sterilising, pasteurising etc. as well as pharmaceutical prod. and loaves of bread for baking.