DE69804979T2 - SCHACHTELAUFRICHTANORDNUNG - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for sequentially manipulating out of a hopper collapsed cartons having oppositely disposed panels and for initiating set up thereof, said machine comprising carton pick up means for sequentially engaging one of said opposed panels and for withdrawing from the hopper a collapsed carton which includes said one panel, means for transferring said carton orbitally about a rotatable axis from said hopper to an infeed end of a packaging machine and wherein panel engaging means is disposed outside the path of orbit for engaging the other of said panels so as to pull said other panel in a direction away from the carton pick up means thereby to initiate opening of the carton characterised in that said panel engaging means is mounted to a guide rail (39) and a transverse carriage (38) moveable in a first plane along said guide rail.

Description

This invention relates to the packaging of primary articles such as cans and bottles in multi-packaging boxes and in particular to the feeding of such boxes in a folded state from a magazine and the continuous initiation and completion of a box erection process:

The majority of known packaging machines are dedicated machines that produce only one size of one type of box. Therefore, modern bottle filling plants must use a multiple packaging machines to accommodate different types of boxes with each machine requiring considerable floor space and being expensive to both purchase and operate.

A limited number of packaging machines can use different box sizes for packaging, for example 6-, 8- or 12-packs with an overwrap box. All of these machines require adjustment when changing from one box size or type to another size or type. This adjustment involves manually removing all boxes within the packaging machine and, if necessary, mechanically adjusting components within the machine. During this changeover period, which can be 30 minutes or more, a machine cannot be used (known as "downtime"), which is an expensive delay in a bottle filling plant. Such a delay can result not only in downtime of the packaging machine, but even in downtime of the entire bottle filling line if problems arise during the changeover period.

The present invention seeks to overcome these commercial disadvantages of the known packaging machines by providing a feed mechanism that can erect more than one type of carton. Furthermore, the present invention can change from one carton type to another or between carton sizes with minimal downtime. The modular nature of the present invention allows the construction of a "fully flexible" machine that overcomes or at least reduces the problems of the known machines.

The present invention may be used with a packaging machine as described in a corresponding application (Applicant's reference: D-7725). However, the present invention should also be capable of being used in various other types of packaging machines. Alternatively, the erecting mechanism of the present invention may be sold as a single module which may be installed in a new installation or retrofitted into an existing installation.

GB-PS 2 053 133 relates to a device for removing/holding box blanks from a stationary magazine and for erecting and transporting the blanks. The device comprises transport elements which are attached to four-point connections and arranged on a rotary support controlled by cans. During rotation these elements are stationary in order to facilitate the removal of the blanks. During transport of the erected blanks to the transport device the section elements are moved synchronously with the transport device.

US-PS 4,625,575 relates to a can assembly for a feed mechanism in which a can plate is provided having a continuous can guide path comprising a deep section and a shallow can catch section. Can guide follower arms are used for relative movement within the deep and shallower can guide paths. A pickup device is connected to the can arm by an eccentric arm and the can guide path causes the pickup device to move to an outwardly extended position and an inwardly retracted position.

WO 92/15450 relates to a box erecting machine having a suction device for pulling folded tubular boxes out of a magazine. The suction device moves inwards and outwards while rotating on a sliding rod around a central rotating shaft. A reciprocating gripper, which is mounted outside the rotation space of the suction device, pulls on an outer wall surface of the folded box to open it.

The cited state of the art relates primarily to box pick-up devices and not to the problems associated with the erection of Boxes are connected from a flat state. The present invention addresses the difficulties associated with separating opposite wall surfaces of different boxes after they have been stored in a flat state. The present invention can be easily modified for different types of boxes.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

One aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for progressively removing folded cartons having oppositely disposed panels from a magazine and for initiating erection of the cartons, the apparatus comprising a carton pick-up device for progressively engaging one of the opposite panel walls and pulling out a folded carton comprising the one panel from the magazine, and means for spatially transferring the carton about a rotatable axis from the magazine to a feed end of a packaging machine, a panel engaging device being arranged outside the spatial path to engage the other of the opposite panel walls to pull the other panel in a direction away from the carton pick-up device, thereby initiating opening of the carton, characterized in that the panel engaging device is adapted to engage boxes of different sizes, and in that that the device for engaging the wall surface is attached to a guide rail and to a cross slide which is movable in a first plane along the guide rail.

According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the means for engaging the wall surface can be moved in the first plane by a linear servo motor.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the means for engaging the wall surface may be attached to a sliding element in a substantially perpendicular relationship to the guide rail, the sliding element being movable relative to the guide rail, the means for engaging the wall surface being movable in two planes.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the means for engaging the wall surface can be moved by a linear servo motor in a second plane.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, a control device may be arranged to control the movement of the means for engaging the wall surface.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the control means may control the position, velocity and acceleration vectors of the means for engaging the wall surface.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the control device may comprise means for receiving information regarding the position, speed and/or acceleration of boxes during spatial transfer.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the means for engaging the wall surface may comprise a suction cup and a cup holder mounted on the sliding member, the suction cup being connected to a vacuum supply during opening of the box.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the wall surfaces in contact with their surfaces may comprise opposite side walls of the box.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a control device for controlling the movement of the means for engaging the wall surface in the apparatus, the control device being able to control the position, velocity and acceleration vectors of the means for engaging the wall surface. Preferably, the control device may comprise means for receiving information relating to the position, velocity and/or acceleration of boxes during spatial transfer.

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

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the feeding section of a packaging machine showing the rear feeding mechanism of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the opposite side of the packaging machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the rear feed mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figures 4 to 6 are perspective views of a rear feed mechanism separating opposing panels of a carton;

Figs. 7a, 7b and 7c are side views of a basket type box, a fully enclosed box for 8 bottles and a fully enclosed box for 12 bottles;

Fig. 8 illustrates four graphs showing an example of the distance, velocity, acceleration and the derivative of acceleration plotted against time of the linear servo motor controlling the X coordinates of the suction cup; and

Fig. 9 illustrates four graphs showing an example of the distance, velocity, acceleration and the derivative of acceleration plotted against time of the linear servo motor controlling the Y coordinates of the suction cup.

An apparatus according to the invention can erect various types of boxes, such as wraparound boxes, fully enclosed boxes and basket-type boxes. In this description, any reference to box types includes various sizes of a particular type of box. For example, the apparatus can fill fully enclosed boxes for 8 or 12 items.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown a machine 10 for processing boxes of the type described above. The upstream end of the machine comprises a double magazine 12, 14 in which a plurality of boxes, such as basket-type boxes and fully enclosed boxes 16, 18, are held in a folded condition ready for processing. In In this embodiment, each magazine 12, 14 is a gravity fed magazine in which the carton blanks are held at an angle in their respective magazines to ensure positive feeding.

A rotary vacuum feeder 20, located adjacent to the double magazine 12, 14, continuously removes cartons from the magazine unit and transports the cartons in a rotary path "Z" to a paper feed chain 22 shown in Fig. 3. The paper chain 22 is provided to transport cartons downstream to the filling station 24.

When the carton has been removed from the magazine unit 12 and rotated by the rotary feeder 20, a rear feed mechanism 30 is employed to separate opposing wall surfaces and partially assist in erecting the carton. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the carton transported by the rotary feeder is a fully closed carton, shown in Figure 7b, in a flat, collapsed condition.

In order to transport the box from the inclined position in the magazine 12, 14 to a vertical plane in the paper feed chain 22, it is necessary to arrange the rotation axis of the rotary feeder 20 offset from the vertical plane, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Therefore, the rear feeder 30 should also be arranged offset tangentially from the rotation path of a box.

The rear feeder 30 shown in Fig. 3 comprises suitable means for engaging one or more wall(s) of the box. In the present embodiment, the engaging means comprises a suction cup 32 carried by a cup holder 34 mounted on a sliding member 36. Suitable means are provided for moving the engaging means in "X" and/or "Y" directions. For example, the sliding member 36 is in turn mounted on a cross slide 38 and can be moved in a direction relative to the cross slide which is denoted by the letter X. The cross slide 38 is preferably connected to a guide rail 39 which is fixed to a support frame (not shown). The cross slide is adapted to move the suction cup and the sliding member in a direction relative to the guide rail 39 which is denoted by designated by the letter Y. Consequently, the suction cup 32 can move towards or away from the rotary vacuum feeder 20 and/or in a direction parallel to the rotation path Z of a box. If necessary, stops can be attached to the ends of the sliding element and/or the guide rail.

Alternative components or configurations may also be used to provide an assembly that can move in the X-Y direction.

The slide member 36 is moved by a first drive means, such as a first linear servo motor (not shown) controlled by a suitable control system. The cross slide 38 is controlled by a second drive means, such as a second linear servo motor (not shown) also controlled by the control system. In some embodiments, the control system is programmed to preset appropriate X-Y coordinates and define the path of the suction cup. The control means may be a special processor or controller for a packaging machine in which the rear feeder is used. Alternatively, the control means may preferably be a known programmable servo controller. Manual input means may also be used to change the specific "X" or "Y" coordinates. More details of one type of control system are given in the corresponding application (Applicant's reference D-7725).

In use, the rear feeder 30 separates one of the walls 40 of the carton from the opposite wall 42 held by the rotary feeder 20. In this embodiment, the opposite walls used are the side walls 40, 42. As the rotary feeder 20 transports the carton, the suction cup 32 of the rear feeder 30 is moved forward into contact with a side wall 40 of the collapsed carton 18, as shown in Fig. 4. Preferably, the point of contact is approximately the midsection of the wall being separated. A vacuum is applied to the suction cup 32 to hold the side wall 40. As the rotary feeder 20 continues to rotate the carton forward, the suction cup 32 of the rear feeder moves away from the rotary feeder 20 to separate the two side walls, as shown in Fig. 5. In this embodiment, the guide pair of suction cups 44 of the rotary feeder clears the guide end wall surface 46. Thus, the carton is folded into a partially erected state with the side and end walls separated. The vacuum supply to the rear feeder is then interrupted and the box is released from the rear feeder as shown in Fig. 6.

While it is preferred to use a suction cup to hold one of the walls, in some embodiments, alternative components may be used, such as mechanical connectors.

The carton 18 continues its rotational path until it comes into contact with the paper feed chain 20. In particular, the leading edge 48 of the carton abuts the guide tab 50 of the paper feed chain 20. The guide tab 50 guides the leading edge 48 away from the suction cups 44, 52 of the rotary feeder 26, thereby bringing the front end panel 54 and the side panel 40 into a substantially perpendicular relationship. Simultaneously, the rear tab 56 moves into contact with the rear end panel 58 to assist in completing the erection. Thereafter, the suction cups 44, 52 of the rotary feeder 26 release the carton and continue their movement in the "Z" direction. The carton 30 is moved downstream by the paper feed chain to the filling station 60.

As explained above, the preferred "pick-up" position 62 of the suction cup of the rear feeder, as shown in Figure 7, is approximately at a mid-point on the side wall surface of the carton. However, this position will vary according to the carton type, and in particular according to variations in the dimensions of the side and end walls of each carton type and the different carton sizes. Examples of these positions, which have been applied to a basket-type carton and a larger fully enclosed carton, are illustrated in Figures 7a and c. Similarly, the path of the suction cup separating the two walls will also vary according to the particular carton type being erected. The suction may follow a reciprocating motion according to WO 92/15450. Alternatively, a rotary path could be used for some cartons. An advantage of the rear feeder described above is the flexibility offered by this system. Accordingly, the position of the suction cup 32 of the rear feeder can be moved to any position or it can take any path with the stop limits of the slider 36 and the guide rail 39. Consequently, the rear feeder can be programmed to follow a path for a particular carton type. and/or moves to a pick-up position for a particular box type, the path and position being variable according to the box type. An example of the suction cup path, speed and acceleration of the linear servo motors that control the X and Y directions of the suction cup when building a fully closed box is shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

By pre-programming the control system, the position and paths of the suction cup 32 can be preset, thereby reducing the amount of downtime when changing the type or type of box. According to the invention, the operating speed of the device as well as its efficiency and durability are improved.

While the preferred embodiment described herein is for filling boxes with bottles, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to boxes for bottles. The invention may be used with machines for packing cans, cardboard "bricks" and other containers into boxes.

While the preferred embodiment described herein is shown as part of a machine for filling vertically fillable tubular cartons with containers, the invention is not limited to cartons of this type. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be used with wraparound cartons or end-filled cartons.

It should be noted that the rear feed mechanism of the invention has been illustrated with respect to a specific embodiment and that numerous modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. The rear feed mechanism can handle cartons comprising numerous configurations of article groups and comprising various sizes and shapes, such as 4, 6, 8 and 12 bottles, without requiring an excessive amount of time to adjust the mechanism.

Claims (11)

1. An apparatus (10) for continuously removing folded boxes (16, 18) having oppositely disposed wall panels from a magazine (12, 14) and for initiating erection of the boxes, the apparatus comprising box pick-up means for continuously engaging one of the opposite wall panels and pulling out a folded box from the magazine which comprises the one wall panel, and means for spatially transferring the box about a rotatable axis from the magazine to a feed end of a packaging machine, means for engaging the wall panel being arranged outside the spatial path to engage the other of the wall panels to pull the other wall panel in a direction away from the box pick-up means, thereby initiating opening of the box, characterized in that the means for engaging the wall panel is adapted to handle boxes of different sizes to engage, and in that the device for engaging the wall surface is attached to a guide rail (39) and to a cross slide (38) which is movable in a first plane (Y) along the guide rail. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for engaging the wall surface is moved by a linear servo motor in the first plane. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for engaging the wall surface is attached to a sliding element (36) in a substantially perpendicular relationship to the guide rail (39) and wherein the sliding element is movable relative to the guide rail, the means for engaging the wall surface being movable in two planes (X, Y). 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means for engaging the wall surface is moved by a linear servo motor in a second plane. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a control device controls the movement of the device for engaging the wall surface. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control means controls the position, velocity and acceleration vectors of the means for engaging the wall surface. 7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control device comprises a device for receiving information regarding the position, the speed and/or the acceleration of boxes during the spatial transfer. 8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for engaging the wall surface comprises a suction cup (32) and a cup holder (34) mounted on the sliding member (36), the suction cup being connected to a vacuum supply during opening of the box. 9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the wall surfaces in contact with their surfaces comprise opposite side walls of the box. 10. A control device for controlling the movement of the means for engaging the wall surface in the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device controls the position, velocity and acceleration vectors of the means for engaging the wall surface. 11. Control device according to claim 10, wherein the control device comprises a device for receiving information regarding the position, the speed and/or the acceleration of boxes during the spatial transfer.