Title of Invention

"A DEVICE TO PREVENT DAMAGE ON THE SURFACE OF SOAP CAKES"

Abstract

This invention relates to a device to prevent damage on the surface of soap cakes during packing comprises a belt conveyor housed in a structure, a plurality of overhead pushers connected to chain conveyor driven by sprocket, a plurality of infeed pushers mounted on roller chain to carry soap cake over slide plates characterized in that friction flat belts placed on the slide plates which are driven by pulleys, mounted on shaft with end bearings supported on structure element attached to the structure of infeed belt conveyor the speed of the infeed pushers is more than the speed of belt.

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a device to prevent damage on the surface of soap cakes during packing. PRIOR ART In existing packaging machine, soap is conveyed in a belt conveyor positioned at right-angle to the movement of infeed pushers. Belt conveyor is housed in a structure and is driven by a pulley mounted on drive shaft. Soaps placed on the belt conveyor are pulled by the belt to stop against end stop turn by turn. Soap in this position is conveyed by action of overhead pusher in perpendicular direction. Plurality of pushers are connected to chain conveyor driven by sprocket with sprocket used as driven sprocket. Drive to the overhead conveyor is given through combination of drive gear and idler gear. Overhead pushers push the soaps on the slide plates. Plurality of pushers are mounted on roller chain moving on drive sprocket and driven sprocket. These pushers carry the soap cake over slide plate guided between side guides. Soap thus conveyed gets pushed into wrapper that is fed vertically by means of pull rollers and cut at the right position by rotary knife and passes through a slot in the slide plates. Soap when pushed into wrapper, holds it around itself. The combination moves into the wrapping station which may use one of the variety of methods of folding that are well known and not illustrated here as the purpose of invention is limited to the mechanism upto the stage of soap impunging into wrapper. The disadvantage of the prior art is that when overhead pushers and subsequently infeed pushers, push the soap on slide surfaces. There are drag marks on the surface of the soap in contact with the slide plates because of friction between soap and slide plates. This also leads to gradual accumulation of soap material on slide plates aggravating the drag marks on soft-soap surface. Soaps with deep drag marks are of unacceptable quality for wrapping leading to rejection. Hence, there is a need of a device, which is free from all the disadvantages.aps placed on the belt conveyor are pulled by the belt to stop against end stop (6) turn by turn. Soap in this position is conveyed by action of overhead pusher (7) and in perpendicular direction. Plurality of pushers (7) are connected to chain conveyor driven by sprocket (9) with sprocket (8) used as driven sprocket. Drive to the overhead conveyor is given through combination of drive gear (11) and idler gear (12). Overhead pushers push the soaps on the slide plates (20). Plurality of pushers (13) are mounted on roller chain moving on drive sprocket (18) and driven sprocket (14). These pushers (13) are shown in detailed front view in fig. (3) carrying the soap cake over slide plate (20) guided between side guides (21). Soap thus conveyed gets pushed into wrapper (15) (As shown in fig. 1) that is fed vertically by means of pull rollers (16) and cut at the right position by rotary knife (17) and passes through a slot in the slide plates (20). Soap when pushed into wrapper, folds it around itself. The combination moves into the wrapping station which may use one of the variety of methods of folding that are well known and not illustrated here as the purpose of invention is limited to the mechanism upto the stage of soap impunging into wrapper. The present invention overcomes problem of drag marks appearing on soap when pushed over slide plates. Reference is made to figs 4, 5 and 6. Two flat belts such as low friction flat-belts are placed on the slide plates (17). These belts are driven by pulleys (2) (Fig. 4) mounted on shaft (3) with end bearings supported in structure element (5) attached to the structure of infeed belt conveyor construction which is known in prior art. Drive to shaft (3) provided by sprocket (4). This sprocket is driven by roller chain looped over sprocket (11) which drives the chain and sprockets (7-10) that provide path to the roller chain clearing the structure of infeed belt conveyor. Sprockets (7-10) are mounted on bracket (12) (As shown in fig. 5), that is anchored to the structural elements (13) slots in the bracket (12) provide means of tightening the chain. Another pulley (20) provides guidance to the belts (1) on their return path. The driven pulley end of the belt conveyor (1) comprises small pulleys (15). The detailed view is shown in fig. 4 on their respective brackets (16). Dimensions of these pulleys are constrained to give top belt surface to be just above the surface of slide plates (17) (fig. 4) and pass under the surface of slide plates but clearing the surface of the pusher (18)(fig. 6). Guide pulley (20)(fig. 5) ensures that belts (1) can move without hindrance to the pushers (21) (fig. 4 and 6). The driven end of the belts (1) (fig. 4 and fig. 5) terminate close to the slot in the plates (17)(fig 4 and 5) into which the wrapper passes as has been explained while detailing the prior art. Another feature of the details of the positioning of these belt conveyors (l)(fig. 5) is that these cross the infeed belt (22) (fig. 5 and 4) at right angle by passing under it without any hard interaction with it. Soaps conveyed forward on belt-conveyor (22)(As shown in fig. 4) come against end stop (24). Overhead pushers (23)(As shown in fig. 5), push the soaps perpendicularly. Soaps leave the belt-conveyor (22) and land into the small width belt conveyors (1) which are moving in direction of the overhead pusher. Speed of the belt conveyor (1) is selected to be close to the linear speed of soap pusher thus eliminating any relative movement between the pusher, soap being pushed and the belt-conveyors. Infeed pushers (21) (As shown in figs. 4 and 6) which emerge from an opening in the slide plates (17) and carry soaps forward after overhead pushers (23) complete their action, move at a speed slightly more than the linear speed of belts (1) to ensure that soaps remain positively in contact with soaps on their onward movement towards the wrapper and then to the wrapping station. Space between the belts (1) is enough to allow the entry of infeed pushers (23) and* at same time support the soap on them. This way the soap is all the time travelling on moving surface provided by belts (1). As there is no relative speed between the belts and soap, there is no rubbing or drag action and consequent damage to the soap surface. It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible modifications, adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:- I CLAIM; 1. A device to prevent damage on the surface of soap cakes during packing comprises a belt conveyor housed in a structure, a plurality of overhead pushers connected to chain conveyor driven by sprocket, a plurality of infeed pushers mounted on roller chain to carry soap cake over slide plates characterized in that friction flat belts placed on the slide plates which are driven by pulleys, mounted on shaft with end bearings supported on structure element attached to the structure of infeed belt conveyor, the speed of the infeed pushers is more than the speed of belt. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the speed of the infeed pushers is more than that of the belt by 0.5-1%. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft is driven by a sprocket. 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sprocket is driven by roller chain looped over sprocket, which drives the chain and a plurality of sprockets. 5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sprockets are mounted on bracket, which is anchored to the structural elements. 6. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein another pulley is provided to guide the belt on their return path. 7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pulley is provided to support the belt at the driven pulley end of the belt. 8. A device to prevent damage on the surface of soap cakes during packing substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to accompanying drawings.

Documents:

309-del-2005-Abstract-(11-03-2010).pdf

309-del-2005-abstract.pdf

309-del-2005-Claims-(11-03-2010).pdf

309-del-2005-claims.pdf

309-del-2005-Correspondence-Others-(11-03-2010).pdf

309-del-2005-correspondence-others.pdf

309-del-2005-description (complete).pdf

309-del-2005-Descritpion (Complete)-(11-03-2010).pdf

309-del-2005-drawings.pdf

309-del-2005-Form-1-(11-03-2010).pdf

309-del-2005-form-1.pdf

309-del-2005-Form-2-(11-03-2010).pdf

309-del-2005-form-2.pdf

309-del-2005-form-9.pdf

309-del-2005-gpa.pdf