CZ2000996A3 - Mechanism for filling cartons - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is designed for continuous filling of different types of cartons products that feed into the device from the feed stream packaging machine. The device (50) comprises a displacement device means for supplying the cartons (10) consecutively from a container (32), and fills the carton (10) using a reduction carton (10) to at least one product. Relocating the means comprise gripping means (64) which are mounted on two race chains (52, 54), wherein the carton (10) is held between the synchronized guides holding means (64) for holding the cartons (10) v the position of the carton (10) during its displacement in in accordance with the working direction of the machine, the device (50) also includes adjusting means for adjusting one of the two orbital chains (52,54) in relation to the second circulating chain (52, 54) when processing a different type of carton (10).

Description

Carton filling mechanism

Technical field

The present invention relates to the placement of original articles such as cans and bottles in cartons for packaging a plurality of said articles, and in particular it is directed to filling such cartons from a filling container and to starting and subsequently terminating the carton filling operation in a continuous working mode and sequence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One known method, which is used with existing packaging machines, typically involves moving the folded cartons from the cartons of such cartons or carton blanks. The folded carton is then erected and the cans, bottles and other packaging products are placed in the erected carton. Alternatively, it is possible to create carton stocks in the form of flat blanks. After such a carton is removed from the container, the carton may first be partially formed and then placed on the articles. Subsequently, such a carton is assembled into a finished package.

A number of different forms of machinery are used in the practice of these basic methods. One form of machine equipment is adapted to assemble separate product groups comprising at least one product and to subsequently move these products on a conveyor within the machine operating sequence. Cartons also move within the machine and each carton moves to a predetermined position above the respective product group. During further synchronized movement of the product group and the respective carton, the carton is lowered down to the product group, resulting in the placement of the products in the carton. A known example of such a machine is described in WO 96/32324.

Machines of this type have several disadvantages. Many bottling plants pack cans and bottles into cartons having different sizes, such as cartons for holding six, eight or twelve products. The apartments have developed various packaging machines that can be adjusted to adapt to cartons of different sizes, but such machines must stop for a while (so-called "downtime"). It is therefore necessary to minimize such downtime.

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Further, as can be found in the case of the machine described in WO 96/32324, the carton is lowered down an inclined path to a moving product group. There is a need to maintain a small angle of inclination since the carton guided at a greater angle will not fit properly on top of the articles in the group. However, due to the maintenance of a small angle of inclined path, such a machine is relatively bulky. This is undesirable because such an embodiment of the machine increases the space requirement in the bottling plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to overcome the operational disadvantages of known packaging machines by developing a carton filling mechanism that has the ability to perform loading of more than one type or size of carton and which allows rapid technical changes related to changes in the size or type of cartons. In addition, the present invention provides a filling mechanism that requires a relatively small working length to perform its filling function.

The present invention can be used in a packaging machine which describes the corresponding application, which is PCT application WO 9 914 120. It is envisaged that the present invention will be applicable to various types of packaging machines. Alternatively, the carton filling mechanism may be sold in the form of a standalone module that will be compatible with the dream equipment or with the existing equipment on the basis of the corresponding retro-adjustments.

According to one feature of the present invention, there is provided a device for continuously filling different types of cartons with articles which are fed into the device from the feed flow of the packaging machine, the device comprising transfer means which feeds the cartons successively from the magazine. said carton onto at least one product, said transfer means comprising a plurality of gripping means mounted on two raceways, such that the carton is maintained between the synchronized guided biasing means for gripping the cartons in a set position of the carton during transfer in accordance with the working direction characterized in that it comprises adjusting means for adjusting one or both of said running chains in relation to the other running chain during processing different types of cardboard.

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ADJUSTED PAGE This apparatus is equipped with adjusters for adjusting one of the two runner chains relative to the other runner when processing a different type of carton.

According to a possible feature of this aspect of the present invention, there is the possibility of applying control means which are adapted to control the adjustment means. The control means may be adapted to control the speed of said carton retaining means while synchronizing the speed of movement of the carton with the speed of movement of the articles. The actuating means may optionally adjust the inclination angle of said gripping means.

According to a further or possible feature of this aspect of the present invention, said control means comprises means for receiving information relating to the speed of movement of the articles on the feed path. The control means preferably comprise a sensor which is adapted to measure the movement speed of the articles on the feed path.

According to a further or possible feature of this aspect of the present invention, said carton retaining means comprises a plurality of grippers that are spaced apart from each other and which are adapted to retain opposite walls of said carton at the measurement points between the ends and at the measurement points between their transverse edges. In another possible case, said catches have a shape that allows the carton to be held and / or held in a horizontal position.

According to a further or possible feature of this aspect of the present invention, said support grippers have a support side which, during attachment, accesses said wall in relation to an adjacent surface to the surface, and a protruding portion adapted to enter a cutout or opening in said wall. The support grippers may further have a second protruding portion which is located at a certain horizontal distance from said protruding portion.

According to a second feature, each said gripper is mounted on a cam track, said cam track forming a track for guiding said gripper that maintains said support side parallel to said wall during said gripping.

According to a further or possible feature of this aspect of the present invention, control means are provided for controlling the flow of articles at said feed end, said control means further comprising means for controlling the inlet press of said articles into the machine and means for determining the correct number of articles determined for each carton. The pressing means preferably take the form of a feed star wheel.

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A third aspect of the present invention provides a packaging machine for continuously placing articles in cartons, the packaging machine comprising a carton feeding and adjusting device, a product feeding device and a product placement device for different types of cartons.

Overview of the drawings

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a carton that can be used in a packaging machine as described below;

Fig. 1b is a perspective view of an erected carton of the type shown in Fig. 1b;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the infeed end of a packaging machine into which a filling mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention has been incorporated;

ohr. 3 is a perspective view showing a filling mechanism according to the present invention;

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views showing a gripper assembly according to the present invention; and ohr. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the gripper assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The mechanism of the present invention has the ability to fill different types of cartons, such as fully enclosed cartons or carton-type cartons. For this patent specification, each reference to a type of carton includes different sizes of any particular embodiment of cartons. By way of example, this mechanism can process fully sealed cartons for eight or twelve products. The cartons are filled in the same way and therefore the following description will only deal with a completely closed carton.

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Referring to the accompanying drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1a and 1b, the carton 10 is a basket-type carton having the form of a flat, collapsed, solid paperboard blank or similar flat material in FIG. The carton blank comprises opposite side walls 12, 14 and opposite end walls 16, 18 which are hingedly connected to each other. The carton further comprises a handle structure 20 that interconnects the end walls 16, 18 and includes transverse dividing panels 22 that interconnect the side walls 12, 14. The bottom walls 24 and 26 are hingably attached to respective side walls 12, 14. Products (not shown) are inserted into the carton from above or optionally from below, followed by affixing the bottom walls together to form a finished carton.

It is envisaged that the cartons will be different depending on the shape or number of packaged products and consequently the machine of the present invention will be adjustable in a number of respects so as to be able to process a wide variety of such cartons. The basic parameters that will most likely be different are shown in Figure 1, where "H" is the total height of the set carton equal to the distance between the upper edge of the side wall and the bottom wall, and "L" is the total length of the carton closing the bottom wall.

Any type of carton will have openings 28 which are punched in the bottom walls 24 and 26 and which serve for the purpose of the filling mechanism. In this embodiment, three triangular apertures 28 are provided that are used to operate the bottom panels 24, 26 during assembly of the bottom of the carton and are also useful for the purpose of the filling mechanism.

In Fig. 2, a carton processing machine 30 of the type described above is shown. The feed end of the machine comprises a double magazine 32 in which the necessary, ready-to-treat stock of cartons 10 is maintained in a flat, collapsed state. A return feeder 34 of the same type referred to in the corresponding patent application (Applicant's designation is D-7723) and a rotary vacuum feeder 36 are positioned following the double magazine 32. The rotary vacuum feeder 36 gradually moves the cartons from the magazine 32 to the chain 38 for paper supply. The return feeder 34 comes into contact with the carton during its orbit and separates the opposite walls from each other, thereby partially raising the carton. The operation of the paper supply chain 38 ensures the final adjustment of the carton and moves the carton in accordance with the working direction of the machine to the filling station 40. While the chain 38 guides the erected carton forward, the board (not shown) keeps the carton horizontal.

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In the filling station, wires (not shown) are placed on each side of the carton that open outwardly the bottom walls 24, 26 of the carton before the carton is transferred to the carton lowering module 50.

The carton lowering module 50 is described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. This module 50 comprises a conveyor, for example, one or more of the side catch chain assembly 52, 54, wherein the two catch assemblies 52, 54 of the presently described embodiment are mounted on respective In this embodiment, two lateral catch assemblies 52, 54 having a similar design are used, and therefore a detailed description of the assembly 52 located on the proximal side will be provided. The impeller chain assembly 52 includes an impeller chain 62 that drives a motor, such as a servomotor. Suitable means attached to the side catch assemblies periodically remove cartons fed from the paper feed chain. The pick-up means used in this embodiment comprise a plurality of guide pin catchers 64 which are disposed on the raceway chain and are operable to come into contact with opposite carton bottom walls 24, 26 and retain the bottom walls 24, 26, side walls 12, 14. and end walls 16, 18 in a set position when the carton is moved in accordance with the working direction of the machine.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6, each gripper 64 is substantially wedge-shaped and includes a support face 66 that is oriented at an acute angle relative to an imaginary vertical plane.

Y-Y. A plurality of pins, such as four pins 68, are spaced at a distance from the support face 66. Each pin 68 is positioned on the support face 66 so as to enter into corresponding holes 28 of the carton wall 24 during use. to grip the carton. In this embodiment, only the first three of the four pins are required, which is sufficient to operate the carton-type carton. Of course, when handling larger cartons, such as fully enclosed cartons, all pins are used. Conversely, handling smaller cartons may require the active operation of only two pins. The trailing end of the gripper 64 has a protruding portion 70 with an overall vertical face 72 to support the trailing edge 74 of the supported wall 24. In use, the carton 10 may tend to tilt forward and therefore the protruding portion 70 keeps the carton in position and minimizes any unwanted movement.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, each gripper 64 is mounted on a support frame 76, the support frame 76 being attached to the chain 62 at a preferred or central point by suitable fastening means 78, such as a roller bearing, which can be Rotate this. In the embodiment just described, cam followers 80, 82 extend from each end of the support frame 76.

In Fig. 3 it is shown that the table 56 has a recess 83 for the inlet of the chain 62 and one or more cam tracks 84, 86 for the entrance of the catch cam tubes 80, 82. In this embodiment, the recess has also cam tracks 84, However, there is the possibility of using other shapes without exceeding the scope of patent protection. As each gripper 64 is moved along the path of the cam track 84, 86, the guide pins 68 and support faces 66 are maintained in a plane parallel to the guide of the paper supply chain 38. This design allows the grippers 64 of the table 56 to move laterally relative to the machine operating direction as shown in FIG. 3 by the reference numeral X, this transverse movement of the grippers 64 facilitating smooth entry of the pins 68 into the holes 28 in the respective carton wall. Thus, the grippers 64 keep the cartons 10 in a horizontal plane while lowering them due to the operation of the race chain assembly 52.

Products such as bottles B are fed into the machine by a feed conveyor 90 and pressurized bottles in rows, and this feed actuates a feed star wheel, which is well known in the art. The products are assembled in groups according to a predetermined number per carton by suitable means so that they can then be placed in the carton at the same speed as the carton moves.

In Fig. 2 it can be seen that in the filling station 40 the cartons are placed on the product groups from above during the synchronized movement of the carton lowering module 50 and the conveyor 94 carrying the product group in accordance with the working direction of the machine. The carton 10 decreases towards the products due to the downward inclination of the rotary chain assemblies 52, 54.

It is envisaged to use a filling module for filling cartons with different product groups, such as two or three row groups. Accordingly, either one or both of the chain assemblies 52 and the tables 56, 58 may be moved toward or away from each other by the action of the pneumatic cylinder means (not shown).

The grippers 64 and pins 68 preferably minimize the vertical and transverse movement of the cartons 10 when the cartons come into contact with the articles. Optionally, the vertical movement of the carton may be minimized by the application of a compression belt (not shown) that is positioned above the race chain assembly 52, 54 and used to exert downward pressure on the handle structure 20 and / or the top wall. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, such would be "4" 4 "4" "44" · 4444 4 · 4 4 44 1 • 44 4 444 «·· 44 444 44 44 The compression belt could be replaced by fixed wires or, if acceptable, by vertically placed endless chain and catch assemblies.

After placing the articles in the cartons, the catches 64 detach from the holes 28. The guiding of the cam track 80, 82 at the lower end of each table 54, 56 allows the catchers to be pulled away from the cartons to the sides as indicated by reference numeral Z while maintaining the pins 68. in a plane that is parallel to the product moving conveyor 94. This ensures a smooth disconnection.

The filled cartons are moved by the operation of the exit conveyor 94 and / or the compression belt to another side grip chain assembly (not shown) that is used to move the cartons to the exit end of the machine. During this phase, the bottom walls 24, 26 fold to the underside of the carton and are joined to each other by a coupling device well known in the art. A second compression belt is placed above the handle structure to prevent undesirable upward movement of the carrier. The assembled carton is moved to the exit end of the machine.

It should be understood that the description of the filling mechanism of the present invention is directed to a particular embodiment and that there is a possibility of making a number of modifications within the scope of the present invention. The filling mechanism has the ability to process cartons having numerous shapes of product groups and having different sizes and shapes, such as cartons for four, six, eight and twelve bottles, without undue delay in adjusting the mechanism. In particular, in this context, the upper and lower height levels of the carton lowering module can be adjusted by the operation of the hydraulically driven columns 96, 98 which support the respective tables 54, 56.

The desired position of the support tables 82, 84 for a particular type or size of carton is adjusted based on the operation of suitable actuating means which actuate the pneumatic cylinder and / or the hydraulically driven columns 96, 98. The actuating means may also control the operation of the motors running the chains. Each chain moves synchronized, as already mentioned above. In addition, there is the possibility of adjusting the speed of the chains by means of controls according to the type and / or size of the carton and synchronizing the working movement of the carton with the movement of the paper feed chain 38, the product feed conveyor 90 and the output conveyor 94.

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Said control means may have a separate processor design or may be incorporated into a complex packaging machine control system in which such a filling mechanism is used. Alternatively, control means in the form of a known programmable control servo system may be advantageously used.

The application of the present invention results in an increase in the speed of operation of the apparatus as well as in its performance and fluency of carton processing from a flat, collapsed position to a fully adjusted position.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention described herein is intended to place bottles in a carton, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to filling cartons with bottles. The present invention is applicable for the purpose of packaging cans, "bricks" of cardboard paper and other packages or containers into cartons.

Although the preferred embodiment described herein is shown as part of a machine for placing articles in a vertically filled carton-type carton, it should be added that the present invention is not limited to cartons of this type. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is useful for the purpose of filling full-length cartons or cartons filled through their ends.

Claims (11)

A device for continuously filling different types of cartons with products which are fed to a device from a feed flow of a packaging machine, the device comprising transfer means which feeds the cartons sequentially from the container and feeds said carton by reducing said carton to at least one product. wherein said transfer means comprises a plurality of deflection means mounted on two raceways, such that the carton is maintained between the synchronized guided deflection means for retaining the cartons in a set position of the carton during its transfer in accordance with the machine working direction, comprising adjusting means for adjusting one of the two said circulating chains in relation to the other circulating chain in processing a different type of carton. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises control means which are adapted to control the adjusting means. 3. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claim 2, wherein the control means are adapted to control the speed of said carton retaining means while synchronizing the speed of movement of the carton with the speed of movement of the products. 4. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claim 3, wherein said actuating means adjusts the inclination angle of said gripping means. Device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said control means comprise means for receiving information regarding the speed of movement of the products on the feed path. 44 44 4444 44 4 4 4 4 4 4 4444 4 44 4 4,444 44 4,444 44 4 4 44 44 444 4 44444 44444 44 ··. 11. A continuous filling apparatus for different types of cartons according to claim 5, characterized in that the control means comprise a sensor adapted to measure the movement speed of the products on the feed path. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claims 2 to 3, characterized in that said carton retaining means comprise a plurality of catchers which are spaced apart from each other and which are adapted to receive opposite walls of said carton in the metering areas. points between their ends and at the measured points between their transverse edges. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claim 7, characterized in that said catches have a shape that allows said carton to be held and / or held in a horizontal position. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said support catcher has a support side which, during attachment, approaches said wall in relation to the surface-to-surface contact, and a protruding portion adapted for entering a cut-out or opening in said wall. 10. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claim 9, wherein the carrier gripper has a second protruding portion which is located at a certain horizontal distance from said protruding portion. 11. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claim 9, wherein each gripper is mounted for guiding on a cam track, said cam track forming a track for guiding said gripper that maintains said support side parallel to each other. to said wall during said attachment. 99 99 98 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 999 9 9 9 999 99 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 999 99 99 999 ·· ♦ · -1212. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises control means for controlling the flow of products at said feed end, said control means further comprising means for controlling the inlet pressurization of said products into the machine and means for determining. the right number of products set for each carton. 13. A device for continuously filling different types of cartons according to claim 9, characterized in that the means for controlling the inward compression of said products comprises a star feed wheel. 14. A packaging machine for continuously filling different types of cartons with articles, characterized in that it comprises a device for feeding and adjusting the cartons, a device for feeding the products and a device for placing the products in different types of cartons.