EP3889054B1

EP3889054B1 - Packaging process in a packaging machine of groups of cans

Info

Publication number: EP3889054B1
Application number: EP21162610.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lorenzo BAROZZI; Angelo Ramacciato
Original assignee: Rama Srl
Current assignee: Rama Srl
Priority date: 2020-04-02
Filing date: 2021-03-15
Publication date: 2024-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2041-03-15
Also published as: EP3889054A1; IT202000007006A1

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging process in a packaging machine of groups of cans to produce a packaging by applying a blank made of cardboard or the like and to a relative machine.
In the field of packaging, there are numerous types of machines used for packaging different types of products or groups of products. A particular field is that of cans of drinks, beer, etc. in which, for distribution, it is customary to produce multiple or multiproduct packs consisting of four, six or more cans gathered in groups. In general, it is currently known to produce these groups consisting of cans positioned adjacently in pairs.
Despite the difficulty of the automatic handling of cans or the like, in order to have an economical and efficient packaging, it is necessary to reach the maximum possible productivity of the multiple packages referred to above.
The solutions for producing these groups of pairs of cans are to wrap them in sheets of cardboard or plastic film or alternatively block them by means of ring die-cuts in plastic material, which envelop the ends of the cans.
The first solution is expensive and generates waste of material; for the shape and way in which the packages are produced; wrapping the cans in a single package.
The second solution that uses plastic material is on the one hand, expensive, and on the other, it is poorly biodegradable and recyclable with certain difficulty and costs. It also tends to become opposed to new ecological regulations.
It should also be noted that there are automatic packaging problems in order not to raise the costs which negatively affect the selling costs of the cans.
Types of packaging with higher productions can be achieved if the machine parts can be operated more rapidly and if these lines use blanks made of cardboard or similar material. This is not always possible, however, when carton handling introduces complexities that limit the functioning rate.
Furthermore, high-speed functioning can cause wear and damage to the components of a machine due to friction and heat arising in the same. These causes can lead to stoppage times of the packaging machines, in addition to costly repairs of said machines.
Other solutions must therefore be sought rather than simply increasing the functioning rate of the machine.
It should also be noted that some known machines are capable of packaging a single type of carton or die-cut or a single format whereas can packaging systems may be required to use a plurality of different types of carton or format. Having multiple machines, or at least one for each format, takes up a large surface area and can be expensive to purchase and operate.
It is therefore advantageous to have machines for packaging cans or the like which are adaptable for accommodating a variety of formats with a various number of articles; types of carton and sizes. It is also desirable to minimize the linear dimensions of the packaging machines to reduce the amount of space occupied.
US 2011/016831 relates to a machine and a process for packaging cans by means of blanks arranged in lateral deposits and withdrawn by robots with articulated arms.
The general objective of the present invention is to provide a process and/or a packaging machine which are capable of solving the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional way.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a process which simplifies the packaging of cans, while increasing its speed.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a process for packaging cans in groups which is extremely simple, can be developed in spaces limited to the minimum, and with reduced costs.
The above-mentioned objectives are achieved by a packaging process in a machine for packaging groups of cans to form a package by applying a blank made of cardboard or the like and a relative machine provided according to the independent claims and the following subordinate claims dependent thereon.
The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will become even more evident from the following description, referring to the attached schematic drawings, which show an embodiment example of the same invention. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a plan view from above of a non-limiting example of a machine for packaging groups of cans according to the present invention;
figure 2 shows an enlarged view of part of the machine shown in figure 1;
figure 3 shows a raised view of the machine of figure 1;
figure 4 shows an enlarged view of part of the machine shown in figure 3.

With reference to the figures, which are exemplary and non-limiting, an embodiment is shown of a machine for packaging groups of cans for producing a package by applying a cardboard blank or the like. In this type of machine, for example, a process for packaging groups of cans is used for producing a package by applying a cardboard blank or the like.
It should be considered that said packaging machine receives cans 11 from a feed conveyor 12 which are continuously moved forwards in adjacent pairs, arranged consecutively in two parallel rows. The example shows the feeding of two parallel rows of cans, but in its simplified form the machine can move a single row of cans forwards, one behind the other, to be packaged in groups of two or three one after another, for example, by applying a packaging blank.
Returning to the example, these pairs of cans, as exemplified in the non-limiting figures, are then separated into a defined number of groups 13 of cans 11, always adjacent in pairs and such as to be able to accommodate blanks made of cardboard or similar material 14, provided with openings 15 for receiving upper edges of said cans 11. The term "cans" refers to packaged products such as beverages and soft drinks such as beer, orangeade, etc. or cans for juices, tomatoes, preserves, dairy products, etc.
As already indicated, the groups 13 of pairs of cans 11 are produced in a fixed and defined number of two, four, six, etc. cans for each finished package, in the example in six cans 11.
More specifically, the above-mentioned blanks 14 provide adjacent openings 15 in pairs so as to accommodate upper edges of two cans 11 adjacent and juxtaposed one after another and divided into groups 13 of cans in an established and defined number of two, four six etc. for each finished package. The positioning of the cans 11 in the respective openings 15 of each blank 14 is such as to create a finished package. The single blank, made of cardboard or the like, is generally flat, shear-printed or with the use of dies to generate at least two consecutive openings for receiving and blocking cans coming from a single row or, as in the non-limiting example shown, two couples of paired openings 15 in each blank 14.
Just as there is an area for introducing the cans 11 into the machine, there is also a depositing area of blanks 14 having the size selected for the specific format of the package to be produced.
In the example, a deposit 16 of blanks 14 is provided in the form of a loader bearing two adjacent stacks of blanks 14 juxtaposed and tilted consecutively. Each blank 14 is gripped and withdrawn from the loader by means of a manipulator or sheet feeder 17, for example of the rotating type by means of pairs of suckers 18. The suckers 18 take the single blank 14 from the loader 16 and move it and deposit one at a time on an underlying conveyor 19 for transporting single blanks. In the example, the conveyor 19 comprises a pair of chains 28 in a closed loop and bearing, on connection bars 27 arranged transversely with respect to the chains 28, supporting and centering plates 20 (or trays) for a single blank. The conveyor 19 carries two series of plates 20 on the chains 28, arranged consecutively, which define at least two independent paths A and B for consecutively feeding single blanks 14 for their use in the machine.
The two chains 28 of the conveyor 19, which have received the single blank 14 on the two series of supporting and centering plates 20, move forwards and are brought in correspondence with and/or below at least one manipulator, in the particular example, a pair of manipulators 21, 22 is provided. These manipulators 21, 22 operate in succession correlated with each other so as to withdraw at least one pair of consecutive blanks 14 from supporting plates 20 of each of the two chain belts. In the example shown, a first manipulator 21 withdraws three consecutive blanks 14 from plates 20 of a first series of supporting plates 20 arranged between the chains 28. Immediately after or almost in parallel, a second manipulator 22 withdraws three consecutive blanks 14 from plates 20 of a second series of consecutive supporting plates 20 arranged between the chains 28. In this way, all of the blanks of the two paths A and B for feeding blanks are removed (figure 1 shows the position of the two manipulators 21, 22 in this specific phase for withdrawing blanks). Each manipulator 21, 22 can for example provide articulated arms 29, 30 and a gripping arm 31, for example equipped with suckers (not shown).
The blanks 14 thus removed by the two manipulators 21, 22 are deposited above respective groups 13 of consecutive cans 11 of a feed path C for groups 13 of cans 11, when said groups 13 have been separated from the cans 11 moved forwards consecutively in pairs and the cans of each group are blocked as will be seen hereunder.
It should be noted that the cans 11 which form these groups 13 of cans, always in the selected number, are blocked and kept in relative position, juxtaposed, by a gripping conveyor group 23, which also moves forwards. The cans, for example, are blocked together by means of a series of pairs of side gripping elements with pincers 24 which act on the two longitudinal sides of the group 13 of cans thus formed. In the example shown, each gripping element 24 of each pair of said gripping elements of the gripping group provides a certain number of seats 25 that copy a half of the single can. In this way, two opposite gripping elements 24, when coupled with each other and moved transversely towards the forward movement, embrace two adjacent cans 11, on opposite sides, of a group 13 of cans formed and carry it forward constrained. The components of this gripping conveyor group 23 are moved and caused to advance for example by means of chain elements 34 arranged in a closed loop around end wheels 26 which rotate continuously.
In particular, in this example the first manipulator 21, which has withdrawn three consecutive blanks 14 from plates 20 of a first series of supporting plates 20, arranges these blanks 14 on three groups 13 of cans carried forward by the gripping conveyor group 23. The second manipulator 22, which has withdrawn three consecutive blanks 14 from plates 20 of the second series of supporting plates 20, arranges these blanks 14 on three groups of cans, also carried forward by the gripping conveyor group 23, but which are subsequent to the first three groups mentioned above. In this way, all groups of cans are rapidly provided with the respective blank.
The groups 13 of cans 11, thus provided above with blanks 14, are then brought beneath a group 32 for inserting the blank 14 onto the group 13 of cans 11 formed. In the example, the insertion group 32 of the blank 14 comprises pressing elements 33 which are caused to press on the blank 14 resting on the group 13 of cans. The pressing elements 33 move from a detached raised position above each upper perimetric edge of each can to a lowered position to push the blank 14, or its openings 15, to settle stably on the edges of the cans which thus enter the openings. In this way, finished packages 35 are produced comprising a group of cans 11 blocked together by means of the respective blank 14.
All the groups described above and belonging to the machine are arranged within a structure of struts and crosspieces indicated by ST.
A packaging machine such as that described is capable of implementing a packaging process of groups of cans to produce a finished packaging 35 by applying a blank 14 made of cardboard or the like. In a simplified form, the process provides for the use of a flat blank 14, shear-printed or with the use of dies to generate at least two openings 15 arranged consecutively for a group 13 of cans 11. Each group 13 always comprises in this simplified form of the process at least two cans 11 aligned consecutively.
Each blank 14 is naturally continuously fed from a deposit 16 and the cans 11 are moved forwards continuously through the can feeding conveyor 12.
Furthermore, it can be noted that the process comprises the following steps:

feeding said blanks 14 consecutively according to at least two independent paths A and B.

The process of the invention also provides for a feeding step of said groups 13 of cans 11 in a single further path C, wherein each group 13 of cans 11 comprises at least two cans 11 aligned consecutively. This step is followed by a further step for taking at least one pair of consecutive blanks 14 from each of said at least two paths A and B by means of at least one manipulator 21 or 22.
This is followed by a step for depositing said at least one pair of blanks 14 taken from each of said at least two paths A and B onto groups 13 of cans 11 by means of said at least one manipulator 21 or 22. There is then a subsequent step for inserting each blank 14 deposited on a respective group 13 of cans by means of pressing elements 33 which are caused to press said openings 15 of said blank 14 on the upper edges of said cans 11 of said group 13.
In the process according to the invention the at least one manipulator 21 or 22 deposits the at least one pair of consecutive blanks 14 moving together with the feeding movement of the groups 13 of cans 11.
In order to effect this depositing, the at least one manipulator 21 or 22 carries out a movement in space to pass from the step for withdrawing at least a pair of consecutive blanks 14 from its path A or B to the step for depositing the at least one pair of withdrawn blanks 14 on a respective group of cans.
It should be noted that according to the process of the invention, the at least two independent paths A and B for feeding said blanks consecutively are arranged parallel to each other.
The process shown in the example of the figures then uses at least one pair of manipulators 21, 22 arranged consecutively in the feeding direction of said groups of cans in a single further path C parallel to the two paths A and B.
And in the specific form of machine described and illustrated, the process according to the invention provides steps for arranging blanks 14 in said deposit 16 which provide at least two couples of paired openings 15 for a group 13 of cans 11.
And there is a further step for defining groups 13 of cans 11 comprising at least two pairs of cans 11 aligned and adjacent, as shown in figure 1.
This type of process and machine in the various steps and embodiments described and illustrated allows a rapid and correct packaging of cans with blanks made of cardboard or the like which are in conformance with current ecological standards.
Said process and machine solve all the problems of the known art specified in the introductory part and accelerate the automatic packaging of the cans to the maximum, adapting to the number and arrangement of the same provided and required by the final packages.
The objective mentioned in the preamble of the description has thus been achieved.
The protection scope of the present invention is defined by the enclosed claims.

Claims

A packaging process in a packaging machine of groups of cans to form a package (35) by applying a blank (14) made of cardboard or the like, wherein each blank (14) is flat, shear-printed or with the use of dies to generate at least two openings (15) arranged consecutively for a group (13) of cans (11) comprising at least two cans (11) aligned consecutively, wherein each blank (14) is fed continuously from a deposit (16) and said cans (11) are continuously moved forwards, the process comprising the following steps:
- feeding said blanks (14) consecutively according to at least two independent paths (A,B);

- feeding said groups (13) of cans (11) in a single further path (C), wherein each group (13) of cans (11) comprises at least two cans (11) aligned consecutively;

- withdrawing at least one pair of consecutive blanks (14) from each of said at least two paths (A,B) by means of at least one manipulator (21,22);

- depositing said at least one pair of blanks (14) withdrawn from each of said at least two paths (A,B) on groups (13) of cans (11) by means of said at least one manipulator (21,22); characterized in that the process further comprises:
- in said feeding step of said blanks (14) consecutively according to at least two independent paths (A,B)
- a withdrawal step by means of a manipulator or rotating sheet feeder (17) from a deposit or loader (16) of blanks (14) carrying two adjacent stacks of blanks (14) one behind the other

- a step for depositing one blank (14) at a time on an underlying conveyor (19) for transporting individual blanks on plates (20);

- a step for transporting said individual blanks (14) on plates (20) arranged consecutively to define said at least two paths (A,B) up to and/or below said at least one manipulator (21,22);

- a step for withdrawing said individual blanks (14) from said plates (20) by means of said at least one manipulator (21, 22);
and

- a step for inserting each blank (14), deposited on a respective group of cans by means of said at least one manipulator (21,22) in said previous step, in a further subsequent step by means of pressing elements (33) which are caused to press said openings (15) of said blank (14) on upper edges of said cans (11) of said group (13).
The process according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one manipulator (21,22) deposits said at least one pair of consecutive blanks (14) moving together with the feeding movement of said groups of cans.
The process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one manipulator (21,22) effects a movement in space to pass from said step for withdrawing at least one pair of consecutive blanks (14) from its path (A or B) to said step for depositing said at least one withdrawn pair of blanks (14) on a respective group of cans which moves forwards on a single further path (C) parallel to said path (A or B).
The process according to one or more of the previous claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that said at least two independent paths (A,B) for feeding said blanks (14) consecutively are arranged parallel to each other.
The process according to one or more of the previous claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that it uses at least one pair of manipulators (21,22), arranged consecutively in the feeding direction of said groups of cans in a single further path (C).
The process according to one or more of the previous claims from 1 to 5, characterized by
- arranging blanks (14) in said deposit (16), which provide at least two couples of paired openings (15) for a group of cans (11) ;

- defining said groups (13) of cans (11) comprising at least two pairs of cans (11) aligned and adjacent to each other.
The process according to claim 6, characterized by
- withdrawing at least one pair of consecutive blanks (14) from each of said at least two paths (A,B) by means of at least one pair of manipulators (21,22);

- depositing said at least one pair of blanks (14) taken from each of said at least two paths (A,B) on groups of cans by means of said pair of manipulators (21,22) alternatingly on said advancing groups of cans.
A packaging machine of groups of cans to form a package by applying a blank made of cardboard or the like, wherein each blank (14) is flat, shear-printed or with the use of dies to generate at least two openings (15) arranged consecutively for a group (13) of cans (11) comprising at least two cans (11) aligned consecutively, wherein each blank (14) is fed continuously from a deposit (16) and said cans (11) are moved forwards continuously, the machine comprising:
- at least two independent parallel paths (A,B) for feeding said blanks consecutively;

- a single further path (C) for feeding said groups (13) of cans (11), wherein each group (13) of cans comprises at least two cans (11) aligned consecutively;

- said at least two paths (A,B) comprising a manipulator or rotating sheet feeder (17) from a deposit or loader (16) of blanks (14) carrying two adjacent stacks of blanks (14) one behind the other, and each of said paths (A,B) comprising a conveyor (19) for transporting individual blanks on plates (20) arranged consecutively;

- at least one manipulator (21,22) that withdraws at least one pair of consecutive blanks (14) arranged on plates (20) from each of said at least two paths (A,B) for feeding blanks, wherein said at least one manipulator (21,22) withdraws said at least one pair of consecutive blanks (14) from each of said at least two paths (A,B) for feeding blanks and deposits them alternatingly on said groups (13) of cans (11) of said single further path (C) for feeding said groups (13) of cans (11);

- pressing elements (33) which cause the insertion of each blank (14) previously deposited on a respective group (13) of cans (11) by pressing said openings (15) of said blank (14) on upper edges of said cans of each consecutive group where the respective blank has been deposited.
The machine according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least one manipulator (21,22) moves together with the feeding movement of said groups (13) of cans (11) and deposits said at least one pair of consecutive blanks (14) on said groups of cans.
The machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said at least one manipulator (21,22) moves in space and effects a movement in space to pass from said step for withdrawing at least one pair of consecutive blanks (14) from its path (A or B) to said step for depositing said at least one withdrawn pair of blanks (14) on a respective group of cans.
The machine according to one or more of the previous claims from 8 to 10, characterized in that said at least two independent paths (A,B) for feeding said blanks (14) consecutively are arranged parallel to each other.
The machine according to one or more of the previous claims from 8 to 11, characterized in that it provides and uses at least one pair of manipulators (21,22) arranged consecutively in the feeding direction of said groups (13) of cans (11) in a single further path (C).
The machine according to one or more of the previous claims from 8 to 12, characterized in that it provides and arranges in said deposit (16), blanks (14) which provide at least two couples of paired openings (15) for a group (13) of cans (11) and also provides that said groups of cans comprise at least two pairs of cans (11) aligned and adjacent to each other.
The machine according to one or more of the previous claims from 12 to 13, characterized in that each of said at least one pair of manipulators (21,22) withdraws at least one pair of consecutive blanks (14) from each of said at least two paths (A,B) by means of at least one pair of manipulators (21,22) and deposits said at least one pair of blanks (14) taken from each of said at least two paths (A,B) on groups (13) of cans (11) by means of said pair of manipulators (21,22) alternatingly on said advancing groups (13) of cans (11).