EP0161784B1

EP0161784B1 - Drop-loading packaging machine

Info

Publication number: EP0161784B1
Application number: EP19850302441
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rolf Müller
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1984-04-06
Filing date: 1985-04-04
Publication date: 1989-01-11
Also published as: EP0161784A1; GB8408909D0; DE3567424D1

Description

This invention relates to a machine for drop-loading primary containers, such as bottles or cans, into an open-topped carton, for example, a basket type carrier.
The invention is particularly concerned with a continuous drop-loading operation in which containers are fed and loaded by a double feed-line arrangement into carriers fed one after the other below the carrier feed path.
Drop-loading apparatus is known from FR-A-2 127 794 in which a feed line of cartons and containers are brought into close proximity with one another for loading at a drop-loading station and in which metering means is provided at the infeed end of the machine for transfering the containers to spacing means at the drop-loading position, the metering means and the spacing means being driven in timed relationship with respect to a carton feed means. However, this machine is relatively complex and occupies considerable space.
The present invention seeks to achieve a simplified and compact machine. To this end, a plurality of container feed paths are employed which converge at the drop-loading position where correct spacing of the containers for loading is achieved by a pair of cooperating star wheels. The containers are fed to the drop-loading position by a rotatable star wheel disposed in each container feed path to move the containers through the machine between the infeed star wheels and the loading star wheels with minimum line pressure. The machine has a simple and compact layout in which the loading position, the container transfer platform and the carton drop-loading platform are horizontal.
The invention provides a drop-loading packaging machine comprising conveying means for conveying a continuous line of cartons sequentially to a drop-loading position and feed means for feeding a continuous line of containers sequentially to the drop-loading position so that containers are synchronised and positioned for drop-loading into the cartons, metering means being provided at an infeed end of the machine for transferring said containers to spacing means at said drop-loading position, said metering and spacing means being driven in timed relationship with respect to said carton feed means and said containers being transferred along a plurality of feed paths, characterised in that said containers are transferred between said metering means and said spacing means by transmission of force between successive containers and in that said feed paths converge at the drop-loading position and in that said metering means comprises a rotatable star wheel in-each of said feed paths and in that said spacing means comprises a pair of cooperating star wheels at said drop-loading position.
A packaging machine embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a packaging machine according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the machine; and
Figure 3 is a schematic end view of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, a drop-loading packaging machine 10 having support from frame 'F' includes a carton conveyor 12 comprising parallel endless conveyor chains 14 and 16 respectively (Figure 3). Chain 14 is entrained about sprockets 18 and 20 and chain 16 is entrained about sprockets 22 and 24. In each case the chain has an upwardly sloping infeed end and a substantially horizontal outfeed end (Figure 1). Further, each chain includes a series of spaced projections 'p' which engage in apertures provided in the bases of the cartons 'c' positively to convey the cartons through the machine in order to synchronise the carton feed with the loading of the containers.
Thus, the cartons'c' enter the machine from an infeed platform 26 and are conveyed along the inclined feed path so that the open tops of the cartons are moved into close proximity with the containers for loading. Immediately prior to loading the cartons 'c' are conveyed along the horizontal outfeed reach of the conveyor 12 and are then transferred onto a horizontal loading platform 28 at the outfeed end of conveyor 12.
Containers, in this case bottles 'B' for loading enter the machine in two feed lines 'L1' and 'L2', respectively, and pressure in the feed lines causes the bottles to feed into the path of rotation of infeed star- wheels 30 and 32, respectively. The infeed star-wheels meter the bottles forwardly and thereby relieve the feed line pressure acting on the bottles so that they move forwardly with minimum pressure being transferred between the bottles. The bottles are guided along their respective feed lines by upper and lower guides 'g1', 'g2' respectively during which time their bases are supported by a static transfer platform 'T'. The bottles are then engaged by loading star wheels 34 and 36 respectively, located above the loading platform 28.
The loading star wheels are each sized to engage three containers from the feed line sequentially at any one time so that the lead container leaves the transfer platform 'T' at 'D' and drops into a carton passing along the loading platform directly below. An elongate slot 38 is formed centrally along the transfer platform 'T' to receive the upstanding handle 'H' of certain basket-style carriers. As best seen in Figure 3, the handle 'H' is interposed between the lead bottles in feed lines 'L1' and 'L2' at the drop-loading position. Of course, the bottle transfer and drop-loading must be synchronised accurately with the carton feed so that cartons are correctly positioned for loading as the bottles leave the end of the transfer platform.
To this end, both the loading star wheels are driven from one and the same main drive source (not shown) via gear boxes 40 and 42 from which drive is transmitted to the starwheels 34 and 36 by means of vertical drive shafts 44 and 46 respectively.
Achain and sprocket set incorporating sprockets 48 and 50 and endless chain 52 transfer the rotational drive from shaft 44 to infeed star wheels 30 via vertical shaft 54. Likewise, a chain and sprocket set incorporating sprockets 56 and 58 and endless chain 60 transfer the rotational drive from shaft 46 to infeed star wheel 32 via vertical shaft 62.
The drive to conveyor 12 is provided from gear box 40 via take-off sprocket 64, endless chain 66 and transfer sprocket 68 which drives sprockets 22 and 18 on a common drive shaft. Hence movement of cartons along conveyor 12 is proportional to bottle feed movement along transfer platform 'T'.

Claims

1. A drop-loading packaging machine (10) comprising conveying means (12) for conveying a continuous line of cartons (c) sequentially to a drop-loading position and feed means (30, 32; 34, 36) for feeding a continuous line of containers (B) sequentially to the drop-loading position so that containers are synchronised and positioned for drop-loading into the cartons, metering means (30, 32) being provided at an infeed end of the machine for transferring said containes to spacing means (34, 36) at said drop-loading position, said metering and spacing means being driven in timed relationship with respect to said carton feed means and said containers being transferred along a plurality of feed paths (L1, L2) characterised in that said containers are transferred between said metering means and said spacing means by transmission of force between successive containers and in that said feed paths converge at the drop-loading position and in that said metering means comprises a rotatable star wheel (30, 32) in each of said feed paths and in that said spacing means comprises a pair of cooperating star wheels (34, 36) at said drop-loading position.

2. A drop-loading packaging machine according to Claim 1, further characterised in that a static platform (T) is provided between said metering star wheels and said spacing star wheels on which said containers are supported during transfer between said metering star wheels and said spacing star wheels.

3. A drop-loading packaging machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, further characterised in that each feed path is defined by fixed guides (g1, g2) extending between said metering star wheels and said spacing star wheels.

4. A drop-loading packaging machine according to Claim 2, further characterised in that said conveying means has an upwardly sloping infeed end and a substantially horizontal outfeed end relative to said static platform so that said cartons are moved into close proximity with said containers for loading at the drop-loading position.

5. A drop-loading packaging machine according to any of the preceding claims, further characterised in that a loading platform (28) is provided at said drop-loading position onto which cartons are transferred from said conveying means.