EP1778571B1

EP1778571B1 - A machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions

Info

Publication number: EP1778571B1
Application number: EP05771308A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini; Daniele Coi
Original assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Current assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Priority date: 2004-08-03
Filing date: 2005-07-29
Publication date: 2008-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-29
Also published as: EP1778571A1; ES2309782T3; WO2006016268A1; ATE399732T1; ITBO20040497A1; DE602005007910D1

Abstract

Sweets or candies are packaged in boxes by a machine comprising a plurality of pockets (2), each holding a respective box (S) and advancing in a given direction (D) along a feed path of which one leg (T) functions as a filling station, a plurality of moving hoppers (5),a feeder from which the sweets are directed into each hopper (5), and a drive system (23) by which the hoppers (5) are set in motion. The drive system (23) includes a transport belt (6) carrying the hoppers (5) and looped around a pair of driven wheels (7a, 7b),a drive belt (24) looped around the driven wheels (7a, 7b), a drive wheel (25) coupleSweets or candies are packaged in boxes by a machine comprising a plurality of pockets (2) , each holding a respective box (S) and advancing in a given direction (D) along a feed path of which one leg (T) functions as a filling station, a plurality of moving hoppers (5), each with a bottom outlet (20) positionable above a relative pocket (2) at least when advancing along the filling leg (T), also a feeder from which the sweets are directed into each hopper (5) by way of a top opening (10) , and a drive system (23) by which the hoppers (5) are set i motion. The drive system (23) includes a transport belt (6) carrying the hoppers (5) and looped around a pair of driven wheels (7a, 7b), with an unloading branch (21) along which the hoppers (5) are positioned over the leg (T) to fill the boxes (S), a drive belt (24) looped around the driven wheels (7a, 7b), a drive wheel (25) coupled positively to a branch (24b) of the drive belt (24) associated with the unloading branch (21), and a device (26) by which the driven wheels (7a, 7b) are set in alternating linear motion along a direction (X) parallel to the direction (D) followed by the pockets (2).

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions.
Preferably, though not exclusively, the invention finds application in the food industry for packaging loose sweets or candies in rigid containers furnished ideally with a lid allowing the consumer to open and close the container when taking out the contents.

Background Art

Conventional machines for packaging loose sweets or candies in rigid containers comprise a conveyor belt affording a plurality of pockets by which single diecut blanks are accommodated and directed along a predetermined path through a plurality of operating stations.
EP 0878400 discloses a machine according to the preamble of claim 1.
At a given point along the path, the blanks are engaged by folder mechanisms operating alongside the pockets and formed into respective open-topped boxes. The pockets and the relative partly formed boxes pass through a filling station occupiable by a plurality of hoppers loaded with the sweets or candies. The hoppers are carried by a second conveyor belt partially overhanging the first. In particular, the hoppers advance directly above the pockets along a predetermined filling leg of the path, proceeding at the same speed as the pockets, so that the sweets or candies can drop down into the boxes. To prevent the sweets from jamming one with another and blocking the outlets of the hoppers, the machine also presents an aperture of varying width and selectively contoured outline, extending along the predetermined filling leg between the hoppers and the pockets. The aperture is formed in a plate partly occluding the outlets of the hoppers along an initial portion of the filling leg. Proceeding along the feed direction followed by the pockets, the aperture widens gradually until the outlets of the hoppers are entirely exposed; thus, the sweets or candies can be introduced by degrees into each box, exploiting the full length of the filling leg.
The two belts advance at the same peripheral speed along their entire developable length and the sweets are loaded into the hoppers from above, either from a special reservoir or direct from the outfeed of a production unit, along a leg of the second conveyor belt remote from the predetermined filling leg.
The speed at which the hoppers advance is critical for loading purposes, since the loading chutes remain stationary as the hoppers pass beneath them.
Accordingly, machines of conventional type are equipped with intermediate chutes mounted to a reciprocating carriage. The intermediate chutes can thus accompany the movement of the hoppers during the loading step. In particular, the intermediate chutes advance with a first group of hoppers along the leg of the second conveyor belt opposite to the predetermined filling leg, thereupon returning and aligning with a successive group of hoppers to repeat the loading cycle. On completing the return stroke, the carriage will pause for a duration sufficient to reload the intermediate chutes.
Unfortunately, this type of solution involves an increase in the number of constructional elements and in the vertical dimensions of the machine, creating maintenance difficulties for the operator and heightening the risk of damage to the sweets or candies, suffered during the extra drop to which they are subjected. Also, the time taken for the sweets or candies to drop into the intermediate chutes from the reservoir represents only one part of the loading cycle, since there is always an element of down time attributable to the return of the carriage.
These problems have been overcome in part with the adoption of machines, now reflecting the state of the art, in which the second conveyor belt and the hoppers carried by the belt are dispensed with. The reciprocating carriage releases the sweets directly into the boxes occupying the pockets of the first conveyor belt. Likewise in this newer solution however, there is still an element of down time attributable to the return of the carriage.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the problems typical of the prior art by providing a machine for packaging small items in boxes such as will be unaffected by the drawbacks mentioned above.
In particular, the object of the present invention is to set forth a machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions, in which down time is minimized and of which the design is constructionally simple and compact.

Disclosure of the Invention

The stated object and others besides are realized substantially, according to the present invention, in a machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions as described and claimed hereinafter.
The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions, embodied in accordance with the present invention;
figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the machine in figure 1;
figure 3 illustrates an enlarged detail of the machine in figure 1, viewed from the front and partly in section;
figure 4 shows the detail of figure 3, viewed from the side and partly in section.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, numeral 1 denotes a machine according to the present invention, in its entirety, for packaging loose items of small dimensions.
The machine comprises a plurality of pockets 2, each accommodating a respective box S to be filled with items of small dimensions such as sweets or candies. The pockets 2 are set in motion, advancing in a predetermined direction denoted D, along a feed path that includes a predetermined filling leg T. In particular, the pockets 2 appear as cradles mounted to a transport belt 3, illustrated schematically in figure 2, looped over two pulleys 4a and 4b rotatable about vertical axes of rotation, of which one at least is power driven. The belt 3 describes a closed loop including a first rectilinear branch 3a, a second rectilinear branch 3b, and two interconnecting curvilinear branches 3c and 3d associated with the pulleys 4a and 4b.
In accordance with a conventional type of design, neither illustrated nor described in detail, a first machine station is installed along the path followed by the belt 3, at which flat diecut blanks taken from a relative magazine are bent to three-dimensional form and placed each in a respective pocket 2, as the first step in fashioning a box S destined to serve as container.
Thereafter, the bottom end folds of the blank are bent at a first folding station P1 to form a box S with an open top (figure 1). The aforementioned filling leg T extends immediately downstream of the first folding station P1, along the feed direction D followed by the pockets, coinciding partly with the first rectilinear branch 3a of the belt 3. The machine 1 also comprises a second folding station P2 located downstream of the filling leg T, by which the lid of each box is formed and closed.
The machine also presents a plurality of movable hoppers 5 alignable along the filling leg T, carried by a transport belt 6 looped around a pair of driven wheels 7a and 7b rotatable about vertical axes (figures 1 and 2). In a preferred embodiment, the transport belt 6 consists in a timing belt of which the teeth mesh with first sets of teeth afforded by each of the driven wheels 7a and 7b. The hoppers 5 are mounted to the side of the belt 6 opposite to the toothed side, through the agency of conventional fastening means, and cantilevered thus from the selfsame belt 6 (figure 4).
As illustrated in figures 3 and 4, each hopper 5 comprises a first top portion 8 presenting a duct 9 delimited by four side walls. The duct 9 extends from a top opening 10 toward an intermediate opening 11 of the hopper 5 and is downwardly tapered. More exactly, the duct 9 is delimited by a rear wall 12 offered to the belt 6, two flank walls 13 and 14 associated with the opposite ends of the rear wall 12, and a front wall 15 interconnecting the forwardmost edges of the flank walls 13 and 14. The rear wall 12 and the flank walls 13 and 14 are inclined from the vertical to give the duct 9 its tapered appearance.
The hopper 5 further comprises a second portion 16 mounted below the first portion 8, which presents a rear wall 17 and two flank walls 18 delimiting a channel 19 and functioning as a continuation of the duct 9. The channel 19 likewise is downwardly tapered and terminates at the bottom in an opening 20 of dimensions smaller than those of the aforementioned intermediate opening 11.
The transport belt 6 describes a closed loop that includes a first rectilinear branch 6a, a second rectilinear branch 6b, and two interconnecting curvilinear branches 6c and 6d associated with the driven wheels 7a and 7b.
The hoppers 5 are loaded along the first branch 6a with sweets or candies from one or more fixed outlets of suitable feed means, not illustrated, discharging into the top opening 10 of each hopper 5.
The second rectilinear branch 6b establishes a branch 21 along which the hoppers 5 unload, extending substantially above the predetermined leg T along which the boxes S in their turn are filled.
Along this same predetermined leg T, at least, the bottom opening 20 of each hopper 5 is positioned over a corresponding pocket 2, advancing at the same speed as the pocket 2 as will shortly be described.
In an arrangement of familiar type, the machine 1 will also be equipped with an aperture A of variable width and selectively contoured outline, extending between the hoppers 5 and the pockets 2 along the predetermined filling leg T. The aperture A in question is formed in a plate 22 that occludes the bottom opening 20 of the hoppers 5 in part, along an initial portion of the leg. Proceeding along the feed direction followed by the pockets 2, the aperture A widens gradually to the point of exposing the outlet of the hoppers 5 completely, so that the sweets or candies can drop into the box S utilizing the whole of the filling leg T (figure 2).
The hoppers 5, the transport belt 6 and the driven wheels 7a and 7b are operated by motion-inducing means 23 consisting advantageously in a drive belt 24 looped around the wheels 7a and 7b and presenting a first branch 24a and a second branch 24b extending between the selfsame wheels 7a and 7b.
The motion-inducing means 23 further comprise at least one drive wheel 25 having a fixed axis of rotation and engaging the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24, which therefore is looped partially around the selfsame wheel 25.
The second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 is associated with the second branch 6b of the transport belt 6, that is to say the branch 21 along which the hoppers 5 unload. "Associated" signifies that the second branch 6b of the transport belt 6 and the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 extend between similar points on the first driven wheel 7a and similar points on the second driven wheel 7b; during the rotation of the driven wheels 7a and 7b, accordingly, the two branches advance as one from the first wheel 7a toward the second wheel 7b or from the second toward the first.
Preferably, the drive belt 24 likewise will consist in a timing belt meshing with second sets of teeth afforded by each of the driven wheels 7a and 7b and by the drive wheel 25.
The machine 1 further comprises a device 26 by which the driven wheels 7a and 7b can be set in motion to and fro along a direction X parallel to the predetermined filling leg T at a variable speed of translation Vt. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the device 26 comprises a carriage 27 supporting the shafts of the driven wheels 7a and 7b and capable of reciprocating linear motion along the aforementioned direction X.
The combination of movements described thus far will allow the hoppers 5 to be advanced at a first steady speed V1 along the predetermined leg T when filling the boxes s, matched to the feed speed of the pockets 2, and at a second variable speed V2 along the branch on which the hoppers themselves are loaded (figure 2).
In effect, when the reciprocating motion induced in the driven wheels 7a and 7b by the device 26 is considered in isolation, and with the drive belt 24 at rest, the wheels 7a and 7b will roll on the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 associated with the branch 21 along which the hoppers 5 unload. Thus, the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 and the second rectilinear branch 6b of the transport belt 6 remain stationary while the first rectilinear branch 6a of the transport belt 6 and the first branch 24a of the drive belt 24, which is not engaged by the drive wheel 25, will advance at a speed twice the speed Vt at which the driven wheels 7a and 7b are translated.
Adding to this movement the movement induced in the belts 6 and 24 by the rotation of the drive wheel 25, the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 and the second rectilinear branch 6b of the transport belt 6 will advance likewise at the first speed V1 matching the speed induced by the drive wheel 25, whilst the first rectilinear branch 6a of the transport belt 6 and the first branch 24a of the drive belt 24 will advance at the second speed V2, which is the sum of the first speed V1 induced by the rotation of the drive wheel 25 and double the speed of translation Vt of the driven wheels 7a and 7b.
Given that the translational speed Vt of the driven wheels 7a and 7b is not constant, the speed at which the hoppers 5 are carried by the transport belt 6 along the first rectilinear branch 6a is similarly not constant, but alternates between a maximum and a minimum. Selecting the ratio between the speed V1 induced by the drive wheel 25 and the translational speed Vt of the driven wheels 7a and 7b, and factoring-in the law of motion that governs the translation, the hoppers 5 can be made to stop once or more than once along the loading branch, beneath the fixed outlets of the aforementioned feed means.
Whilst the device 26 serving to reciprocate the driven wheels 7a and 7b might have an independent motor connected to the carriage, it will be operated preferably and advantageously by the drive wheel 25, through the agency of a cam mechanism denoted 28. The cam mechanism 28 is connected to the drive wheel 25 and to the carriage 27 and thus able to convert the angular motion of the wheel 25 into alternating linear motion of the carriage 27. Any given type of mechanism might be adopted, according to the law of motion required, in particular on the leg of the transport loop along which the hoppers 5 are loaded.
Preferably, the driven wheels 7a and 7b and the drive wheel 25 will be aligned along the direction X parallel to the predetermined filling leg T. The drive wheel 25 carries a rigidly associated pin 29 positioned parallel to and offset from its axis of rotation. The pin 29 locates in a track 30 afforded by the carriage 27, fashioned preferably as a slot or a pair of parallel ridges extending perpendicularly to the predetermined filling leg T.
In addition, the drive belt 24 is routed around two fixed idle pulleys 31 positioned on opposite sides of the drive wheel 25. The axes of rotation of the two pulleys 31 and of the drive wheel 25 occupy fixed positions one relative to another.
Lastly, the drive belt 24 is also routed around two movable idle pulleys 32 positioned on opposite sides of the drive wheel 25 and mounted to the carriage 27. The axes of rotation of the two pulleys 32 occupy positions fixed in relation to those of the driven wheels 7a and 7b, and movable relative to that of the drive wheel 25.
Thus, the drive belt 24 is looped around the driven wheels 7a and 7b and the drive wheel 25 compassing an arc to a circle greater than 180°, thereby increasing the number of teeth of the drive belt 24 in mesh both with the drive wheel 25 and with the driven wheels 7a and 7b, while keeping the developable length of the drive belt 24 within the peripheral boundary of the transport belt 6.
In operation, referring in particular to figure 2, the drive wheel 25 is set in rotation anticlockwise at a first predetermined angular velocity ω1, with the result that the driven wheels 7a and 7b are set likewise in motion by the drive belt 24. The angular velocity of the driven wheels 7a and 7b, rotating devoid of any translational component, is identical to the first angular velocity ω1, assuming the driven wheels 7a and 7b and the drive wheel 25 to be of the same diameter. The rotation of the three wheels 25, 7a and 7b, presenting radius R, will cause the transport belt 6 and the drive belt 24 to advance at a peripheral velocity of V1 = ω1 • R.
Superimposed on this rotary motion will be the alternating linear motion of the driven wheels 7a and 7b, rolling against the drive belt 24 at a speed of translation Vt that follows a sinusoidal law of velocity, dictated by the first angular velocity ω1 and by the position of the pin 29 relative to the centre of rotation of the drive wheel 25. If r is the distance between the pin 29 and the centre of the drive wheel 25, then Vt = ω1 r • sinϕ, were ϕ is the angular position of the pin 29 during its orbit around the centre of the drive wheel 25.
Accordingly, the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 and the second rectilinear branch 6b of the transport belt 6 advance at speed V1, whereas the first rectilinear branch 6a of the transport belt 6 and the first branch 24a of the drive belt 24, which is not engaged by the drive wheel 25, will advance at speed V2, or V1 + 2Vt, i.e. V2 = V1 + 2ω1 r • sinϕ.
During the movement of the carriage 27 from left to right, with the pin 29 moving left to right, the speed V2 of the hoppers 5 advancing along the first rectilinear branch 6a of the transport belt 6 is less than speed V1. During the movement of the carriage 27 from right to left, the speed V2 of the hoppers 5 advancing along the first rectilinear branch 6a of the transport belt 6 is greater than speed V1.
The problems encountered in prior art machines are overcome by the present invention, and the stated objects duly realized. With a machine according to the invention for packaging loose items of small dimensions, in effect, the hoppers can be brought to a standstill and loaded along one leg of the feed path, while continuing to advance at constant speed on the leg of the path along which the items are released into boxes. With the machine disclosed, moreover, it becomes possible to eliminate down time attributable to the return travel of the intermediate loading chutes used in prior art machines, through the adoption of a simple and compact mechanism.

Claims

A machine for packaging small items in boxes, comprising a plurality of pockets (2) accommodating respective boxes (S) to be filled with the items and capable of motion in a predetermined direction (D) along a predetermined filling leg (T) of a feed path; a plurality of movable hoppers (5), each presenting a bottom opening (20) positionable above a respective pocket (2) at least on the predetermined leg (T) along which the boxes (S) are filled; feed means by which small items are directed into each hopper (5) by way of a top opening (10) of the selfsame hopper; and means (23) by which motion is induced in the hoppers (5), whereby the motion of the hoppers (5) is induced by means (23) comprising a transport belt (6) carrying the hoppers (5), looped around a pair of driven wheels (7a, 7b) and affording an unloading branch (21) along which the hoppers (5) are placeable over the boxes (S) on the predetermined filling leg (T), characterized by a drive belt (24) looped around the driven wheels (7a, 7b), a drive wheel (25) engaged by a branch (24b) of the drive belt (24) associated with the unloading branch (21) along which the items are released by the hoppers (5), and a device (26) by which the driven wheels (7a, 7b) are set in alternating linear motion along a direction (X) parallel to the predetermined filling leg (T).
A machine as in claim 1, wherein the device (26) by which the driven wheels (7a, 7b) are set in alternating linear motion comprises a carriage (27) supporting the driven wheels (7a, 7b) and capable of the selfsame alternating linear motion.
A machine as in claim 2, wherein the device (26) by which the driven wheels (7a, 7b) are set in motion further comprises a cam mechanism (28) connected to the drive wheel (25) and to the carriage (27) in such a way as to convert the rotary motion of the drive wheel (25) into the alternating linear motion of the carriage (27).
A machine as in claim 3, wherein the cam (28) consists in a pin (29) rigidly associated with the drive wheel (25), offset from the axis of rotation of the selfsame wheel (25) and coupled slidably with a track (30) afforded by the carriage (27).
A machine as in claim 4, wherein the track (30) consists in a slot extending perpendicular to the predetermined filling leg (T).
A machine as in preceding claims, wherein the driven wheels (7a, 7b) and the drive wheel (25) are aligned along the direction (X) parallel to the predetermined filling leg (T).
A machine as in preceding claims, wherein the transport belt (6) consists in a timing belt positively engaging a first set of teeth presented by each of the driven wheels (7a, 7b).
A machine as in preceding claims, wherein the drive belt (24) consists in a timing belt positively engaging a second set of teeth presented by each of the driven wheels (7a, 7b) and by the drive wheel (25).
A machine as in preceding claims, wherein the drive belt (24) is routed over two idle pulleys (31) with axes occupying fixed positions, located on opposite sides of the drive wheel (25).
A machine as in preceding claims, wherein the drive belt (24) is routed over two idle pulleys (32) with movable axes, located on opposite sides of the drive wheel (25) and mounted to the carriage (27).
A machine as in claim 10 where dependent on claim 9, wherein the drive belt (24), the idle pulleys (31) with fixed axes and the idle pulleys (32) with movable axes are located within the peripheral compass of the transport belt (6).
A machine as in claim 2, further comprising a plate (22) interposed between the hoppers (5) and the pockets (2), and presenting an aperture (A) of varying width extending along the predetermined filling leg (T), such as will ensure a measured release of items into the boxes (S) exploiting the full length of the filling leg (T).
A machine as in claim 12, wherein the plate (22) is rigidly associated with the carriage (27).