WO1998026985A1

WO1998026985A1 - Packaging line to insert, fold and apply hollow punched cartons upon the neck of packages in uninterrupted transit

Info

Publication number: WO1998026985A1
Application number: PCT/IB1997/001560
Authority: WO
Inventors: Loris Puccetti
Original assignee: Te.Pro. Snc
Priority date: 1996-12-16
Filing date: 1997-12-12
Publication date: 1998-06-25
Also published as: AU5131098A

Abstract

Continuous packaging line to insert, fold and apply hollow punched cartons upon the neck of packages on uninterrupted transit, consisting in the combination of the synchronized operating groups: a first group where the flow of cartons, fed and driven forward from upstream, is fractionated downstream in smaller clusters that are simply juxtaposed and not pushed forward anymore; a second group for the pneumatic transport that takes each carton and separately carries it downstream of the packaging line; a third group that drives the fractionated flow of packages along a path kinematically synchronized with the path of the corresponding containers in uninterrupted transit, upon whose necks said cartons are inserted, folded and fixed continuously.

Description

PACKAGING LINE TO INSERT, FOLD AND APPLY HOLLOW PUNCHED CARTONS UPON THE NECK OF PACKAGES IN UNINTERRUPTED TRANSIT

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the technology field of packaging machines, particularly to continuous line to apply hollow punched cartons upon the neck of continuously iririning packages. State of the Art

From the prior technology literature we know several devices to feed a flow of hollow punched cartons toward automatic packaging machines. All the known devices appear to be not able to feed, with sufficient reliability, a high speed and high frequency (up to 10,000 per hour) flow of cartons. The problem to be solved is to pick individually each coming carton with an elevated hourly pace. In all the known systems cartons are loaded on a conveyor belt that has to be extremely long in order to reduce the number of manual operations necessary for the loading on the conveyor belt. The first carton of the line is usually picked up by suction cups that must overcome the resistance produced by the terminal stopos that retain the thrust of all the amassed cartons pushed upstream. It is such thrust that causes several jamming of the fisrt carton that gets buckled by the traction force of the suction cups. The solution for this first problem, presented by this invention, consists in a preliminary fragmentation of the coming cartons, that are arranged in a small cluster ahead of the line that slips down by natural gravity over the slope of a short slanted plane. The second problem to be solved is to transfer separately each carton picking it continuously with a system of synchronized suction cups, downstream, from a continuous train of packages upon whose necks each single carton has to be inserted, folded and applied.

Description

The invention is now disclosed with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, as a not limiting example.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a possible form of realization of the loading storage, shown as totally empty that is without the load of cartons that will transit on the long horizontal continuous conveyer.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the conveyer device, loaded with a continuous train of cartons, amasses and pushed forward, that produce a continuous feeding flow when the conveyer is running. The same figure 2 shows, downstream of the long horizontal conveyer, a small cluster of packages simply juxtaposed and leaning by natural gravity on the terminal stops of a short slanted plane from which each single carton will individually picked up, with a pre-arranged pace, by suction cups that feed downstream a synchronized group.

Figure 3 schematizes the position of a single carton with the head that leans on an upper roller while its bottom is dragged by a lower roller. In said figure 3 it can be noticed that the lower roller is always rotating in order to advance the carton's foot, while the upper roller rotates only when it's touched by the head of the carton.

Figure 4 schematizes the next position of the transiting carton: it can be noticed that the carton's foot leans on circumference of the lower dragging roller, while the carton's head touches the circumference of the upper roller and causes its rotation. Figure 5 schematizes the position that the carton adopts during the transit: it can be noticed that foot and head of the carton are always in touch with the respective rollers.

Figure 6 shows the position of the transiting carton ever with the head and food touching the roller.

Figure 7 shows the position of the carton with the foot leaning on the slanted plane underneath, while its head has already lost contact with the upper roller. It can be noticed that said upper roller, being not it touch anymore with the transiting carton, stops its rotation.

Figure 8 shows the position of the carton that at the end of the transit leans on the terminal stops at the bottom of the slanted plane. It can be noticed that in this figure, as in the previous ones, the upper roller is still, as graphically indicated by the missing arrow that indicated the rotation in the previous figures. It can be noticed, though, that the lower roller is rotating continuously, as indicated by the relative arrow in all figures.

Figure 9 represents the indefinite length of the train of cartons amassed and pushed forward along the continuous long conveyer; on the other hand it can be noticed that the fractionated cluster of cartons simultaneously present on the short slanted plane is extremely small. It is thus clear that, on account of this splitting up of the cartons, simply leaning on the plane and not pushed forward, the intermittent taking of the cartons ahead of the line becomes easier. The cartons have to be separately fed by the downstream operating group synchronized with the coming of the continuous flow of cartons amassed and pushed forward upon the long conveyer upstream.

Figure 10 represents the case in which the fractionated cluster is reduced at just one carton: it is thus clear that such case is represented only to better highlight the original characteristic of the continuous fractionating device, whose working position is the one represented by figure 9.

In the first ten figures each single detail it's marked as follows: from number 1 to 24 are indicated the cartons that constitute the first small fractionated cluster. With number 25 is indicated a coming carton after the grouping of the first cluster on the slanted plane.

With numbers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f are indicated the next positions that cartons will assume while in transit between the two fractionating rollers.

With numbers 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 are indicated the first cartons, ahead of the line, in the continuous train of cartons coming along the long horizontal conveyer belt.

With numbers 998, 999 and 1000 are indicated the cartons at the end of the line.

Number 31 indicates the continuous horizontal conveyer.

Number 32 indicates the wheel that perform the continuous advancing of the conveyer.

Number 33 indicates a lower roller, in continuous uniform rotation, upon which the feet of the carton in transit lean.

With number 34 is marked a roller in neutral that is touched and made spinning only the cartons' heads.

Number 35 indicates side guidelines that follow aside the flow of cartons in transit.

Number 36 indicates a slanted plane over which slide by gravity cartons, coming after having passed though the zone of the two fractionating rollers.

Number 37, 38 and 39 indicates stops at the bottom of the slanted plane, where the fractionated cluster of cartons leans. With number 40 is marked the engine for the continuous sliding of the conveyer over which slide the pushed and amassed coming cartons.

Number 41 indicates schematically a system to push the train of cartons along the conveyor belt.

Carrying on through the different figures it can be noticed what follows:

Figure 11 represents in axial section a rotating continuous device equipped with suction cups that take separately rows of cartons to dehver them synchronically to the group that downstream inserts the single cartons upon the necks of the corespondent containers in continuous transit.

Figure 12 represents a transversal suction of the section cups group presented in figure 11.

Figure 13 represents a complete and continuous packaging line to insert, fold and apply hollow punched cartons upon the neck of cartons in continuous transit.

In figures 11, 12, and 13 each single detail is marked as follows:

42 is the main shaft of the group of rotating section cups

43 is the central shaft that links the kinematics mechanism included in the two lateral flanks. i

44 is the shaft of the suction device.

45 indicates the engine gearing.

46 is a support for the central shaft.

47 is the flange that holds the joints of the suction conduits.

48 indicates guide pins.

49 indicates a profiled groove.

50 indicates a cogged crown

51 indicates the fulcrum pin of the sucked shaft.

52 indicates the fulcrum of the sucked shaft 53 indicates the sucked shaft.

54 indicates the suction cups.

55 indicate the vacuum generator.

56 indicates the intake distributor.

57 indicates the joints for the intake.

58 is the flange that holds the exhausting joints.

59 is the left flank.

60 is the right flank.

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 indicate a continuous set of container, equally distant, in transit upon a continuous conveyer belt.

61', 62', 63', 64', 65', 66' indicate a continuous train of cartons that run along a trajectory congruent and synchronized with the flow of correspondent containers.

67 indicates schematically the path followed by the containers in continuous transit.

67' indicates schematically the cinematic congruence of the path of the correspondent cartons, that are taken, transferred and attached upon the necks of the containers that transit below synchronically.

68 indicates the transporting continuous belt conveyor that feed the equally distant containers.

69 indicates the containers' neck.

70 indicates the hole to insert the carton upon the neck of the correspondent container in continuous transit.

71 indicates a corton inserted on the neck of the corrisponding container

72 indicates a carton already folded on the body of the corresponding container. 73 indicates the applying of the folded carton on the body of the correspondent container.

74 indicates the elastic pincers to handle separately each carton.

74' indicates the elastically closed pincers that hold and transport a carton. 74" indicates the open pincers that release the carton on the container.

75 indicates an operating roller to open the pincers.

76 and 77 indicates the cams that operate the opening of the elastic pincers.

78 indicates the prehensile equipment linked and equally distant along the loop path.

79 indicates a loop guide that define the trajectory of the prehensile linked equipment.

80 indicates an engine wheel for the continuous movement of the loop conveyer.

81 indicates the return wheels.

82 indicates the articulated chain over which the prehensile equipment are set.

83 indicates the roller that leads the prehensile equipment in their continuous synchronized loop path.

The synchronized group of cartons and containers operates as follows: the set of prehensile equipment (78) is equally distant along the loop chain (82) according to the pace at which the container (69), equally separated along the belt (68), transit. Upon said containers' neck will be inserted, through the special hole (70), the correspondent hollow punched carton that transit along the trajectory (76'), kinematically synchronized with the path of the continuous conveyor belt (68).

It is thus clear that each pincer, after having released the carton inserted on the neck of the correspondent synchronized container, runs again through the loop trajectory and then grabs other cartons to be inserted upon other coming cartons.

In figure 15 are showed just eight prehensile equipment, but it is obvious that their number is related to the structural proportioning of the devices and also to the pace of the containers' flow in continuous transit on the feeding conveyor belt.

It is also clear that the same prehensile equipment can be articulated in order to constitute by themselves the link of an operative chain equipped with cartons catching pincers.

As far as the device of the intermediate group showed in figures 11 and 12 is concerned, the operating is fairly simple. The suction cup catch each carton and transfer it to the synchronized prehensile equipment underneath

(78). The pneumatic circuit that distributes the suction effect to the suction cups is interrupted when each carton has already been caught by the prehensile pincers (78). The operative synchronization between the three groups that are part of the packaging line guarantee the continuity and the reliability of the packaging technological process.

The invention can of course be subjected to different variations of practical realization as far as the structural proportioning of the component part - that will be adjusted to the morphologic characteristics of the cartons - is concerned.

All the devices to fractionate in continuity the feeding flow of cartons that arrive, amassed and pushed forward one after the other, in a continuous train along a conveyor belt, and having the same original characteristics of this invention, as basically described and showed, will be included in the protection field of this invention. It is as well clear that all the continuous packaging lines to insert, fold and apply hollow punched cartons upon the neck of continuously transiting cartons, consisting in the combination of synchronized operating groups having the same original characteristics of this invention, or even just inferred, without any inventive effort, by the figure schematically showed, basically described and hereinafter claimed, will be considered as included as part of the protection field of the present invention.

Claims

1) Continuous packaging line to insert, fold and apply hollow punched cartons upon the neck of packages on uninterrupted transit, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the groups that separates the feeding flow of the cartons, amassed and pushed forward one after the other in a continuous train that transits along a horizontal conveyor belt (31), comprises the combined effect of a upper roller (34) touched by the head of each transiting carton and of a lower roller (33) that simultaneously drags the foot of the same carton. The latter then proceeds toward a slanted plane (36) upon which it slides down by natural gravity and ends up to lean against the terminal breaks (37, 38 and 39) where the transiting cartons form a small cluster, made by a train of simply juxtaposed cartons that are not pushed forward in order to be easily picked up individually by the suction cups (54).

2) Continuous packaging line to insert, fold and apply hollow punched cartons upon the neck of packages on uninterrupted transit, as in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the hollow punched cartons (61', 62', 63', 64', 65', 66') are guided along a path (67') that is kinematically synchronized with the one of underneath flow (67) of the correspondent containers (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66), proceeding equally distant on the conveyor belt (68), such cinematic congruence allowing the insertion (71), the folding (72) and the application (73) of said neck cartons, that are fixed in continuity upon the correspondent containers, in whose neck are punched through the special hole (70).

3) Continuous packaging line to insert, fold and apply hollow punched cartons upon the neck of packages on uninterrupted transit, as in previous claims, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the hollow punched cartons are separately picked up by the closed pincers (74'), set upon the equipment (78) connected in a loop conveyer (82) that runs along the relative loop guide (79) in continuous transit synchronized with the conveyor belt underneath (68).

4) Packaging line, as in previous claims, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the hollow punched cartons are released individually by the open pincers (74') only after that the special hole (70) has been inserted on the neck (69) of the correspondent container in continuous synchronized transit.

5) Packaging line, as in previous claims, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the pincers (74) are provided with roller tappets (75) that, in co-operation with the relative cams (77 and 76) perform the correspondent catching (74') and releasing (74") operation.

6) Packaging line, as in previous claims, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said pincers (74) are set up on several equally distant equipment, connected with a chain (82) and provided with a special guide roller (83) that forces them to transit along the loop path defined by the guides (79), specially profiled to obtain the congruent kinematic synchronization of the flows (67 and 67') of cartons and containers.