EP0163091B1

EP0163091B1 - Device for packaging objects

Info

Publication number: EP0163091B1
Application number: EP19850104597
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yoshio Kimura
Original assignee: Tetra Pak AB
Current assignee: Tetra Pak AB
Priority date: 1984-04-16
Filing date: 1985-04-16
Publication date: 1989-01-04
Also published as: JPH0555362B2; EP0163091A1; JPS60228203A; DE3567188D1

Description

The invention relates to a device for packaging objects according to the preamble part of Claim 1.
A device of this kind for packaging objects such as rectangular containers made of laminated paper, metal and/or plastic sheets and containing a liquid such as milk, juice etc. is known from the WO-A-79/00 102. By this known device packaging units are produced, in which the objects are arranged in two subgroups in rectangular arrays on a tray folded from corrugated board. Each tray has a double layered partition wall which is folded upwardly and extending across said tray dividing it into compartment, each compartment containing a subgroup of ubjects. The partition wall is provided with a perforated line, whereby the compartments are separable from each other to form separated box shaped trays each containing a group of objects. This packaging unit has the advantage that the packaging machine may be used with its full capacity by forming packaging units comprising a rather large array of objects. On the other hand, the large units can be separated into smaller sub-units at any desired time and location, either at the packaging side itself or by the transporter, the distributor or the user.
In the device according to WO-A-7 900 102 the objects are collected separately to form the subgroups which are then separately transferred to a precut sheet of corrugated board. After the transfer the subgroups are moved with respect to each other whereby the part of the sheet which is between the subgroups is folded upwardly to form the partition wall. As the subgroups are arranged and transferred separately and as they have to be moved with respect to each other the speed of the packaging process is rather limited.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a packaging device of the above mentioned kind which is simple in construction and in which the subgroups can be collected and transferred together so that the speed of the packaging process can be increased.
According to the invention this object is solved by a packaging device having the features indicated in Claim 1. Claim 2 concerns a further development of the invention.
In the packaging device according to the invention the objects are collected together on a single collecting surface and the subgroups of objects are transferred at the same time by a single transfer pusher to the prefolded sheets. So the partition wall can be formed at an earlier stage of the process and no movement of the subgroups with respect to each other is required.
Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a packaging plant according to one embodiment of the invention.
Figures 2 and 3 show a plan view and a side elevation of the collecting station of the packaging plant of Figure 1.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are a front view, side view and plan view, respectively, of the sheet folding device in the packaging plant of Figure 1.
Figures 7(a) to 7(e) are front views illustrating the various stages of the collecting process for the articles to be packed.
Figures 8 and 9 show a packaging unit and a pre-formed fold-box sheet, respectively, without a partition wall.
Figures 10 and 11 show a packaging unit and a plan view of the pre-formed fold-box sheet, respectively, for a packaging unit with a partition wall, for use in the device according to the invention.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the pre- formed and pre-folded fold-box sheet.
Figures 13 and 14 show a packaging unit and a pre-formed fold-box sheet for an array of 3x9 objects having no partition.
Figures 14, 15 und 16 show a packaging unit, a pre-formed fold-box sheet and a pre-folded-fold-box sheet, respectively, for a 3x9 packaging unit with two partitions, for use in the device according to the invention.

According to Figures 8 and 9 in the conventional packaging method an array of 3x8=₂₄ objects A such as milk or juice containers is arranged on a pre-cut fold-box sheet b_l, whereafter the flaps of the sheet are folded upwardly to form the side walls of a box-like tray or palette supporting the articles.
Figure 10 illustrates an arrangement where the same number of objects A are packaged according to the present invention, using a pre-cut sheet b₂ as shown in Figure 11. The sheet b₂ has two halves b', b', each forming a box-like tray for holding 3x4=₁₂ objects. The two halves b', b' are located at either side of a perforated line c, and the sheet b₂ is folded into the form b'₂ shown in Figure 12, with the flaps f located at either side of the perforated line c folded upwardly to form a double-layered partition wall, which together with the upwardly folded end walls e confines two compartments d. Each compartment d_' may receive an array of 3x4=12 objects A, for example by pushing the objects into the compartments d in a direction parallel to the perforated line c, whereafter the side wall g may be folded up and secured by folding and glueing the flaps h onto them. The result is a packaging unit as shown in Figure 10 containing 3x8=2₄ articles, which packaging unit can easily be divided along the perforated line c into two sub-units each containing 3x4=₁₂ objects. This dividing may be carried out at the packaging site or at a transporting site or at a distributing or sales site or eventually by the customer.
In a similar way Figure 13 illustrates a conventional packaging unit containing 3x9=₂₇ objects using a box-like tray folded from a pre-cut sheet b₃ shown in Figure 14.
Figure 15 illustrates an arrangement in which the same number of objects A are packaged according to the invention using a pre-cut sheet b₄ as shown in Figure 16. The sheet b₄ is provided with two perforated lines c dividing the sheet into three sections b" each adapted to be folded into a box-like tray or compartment for receving a group of 3x3=9 objects. The sheet b₄ is pre-folded to the shape shown in Figure 17 for receiving the objects which are pushed into the three compartments d in a direction parallel to the perforated lines c, whereafter the side wall flaps g and the securing flaps h are folded and secured. The result is a packaging unit holding 3x9=27 articles which can be separated into three sub-units holding 3x3=9 objects. It is therefore easy to provide large packaging units for the convenience of packaging, transport and whole-sale and to divide these units into smaller units for the convenience of distribution and retailing.
Now, an embodiment of a packaging device according to the invention will be described, referring to an example where 3x8=24 objects are packaged into a packaging unit that can be divided into two units of 3x4=12 objects.
As shown in Figure 1, a pair of left and right vertical belts 2 and 2 are provided on the front end part of a continuously driven conveyor 1 for conveying the objects. These vertical belts 2 and 2, which are intermittently driven, feed forward the commodities or objects A conveyed on the conveyor 1 such that they are assembled into groups of, for example, three articles each.
A collecting pusher 3, which is provided in front of the vertical belts 2 and 2, is actuated in a direction perpendicu tar-to the travelling direction of the conveyor 1, thereby pushing forward (toward the right side of Figure 1) the objects A three pieces by three pieces. This position p to which the objects A are fed is the collecting section, which, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is equipped with a partition plate 4 provided perpendicularly to the actuation direction (longitudinal direction of Figure 1) of the above-mentioned pusher 3, a receiving plate 7 which is arranged on the right side of and parallel to said partition plate 4 and a transfer pusher 8 which pushes the array of collected objects to the side (to the lower part of Figure 1). As shown in Figures 2 and 3, said partition plate 4 is connected with two cylinders 5 and 6 so that the actuation of cylinder 5 causes said partition plate 4 to make an advance toward the pusher 3, while exhausting . the pressure from the cylinder 5 causes the same to make a gradual retreat. The actuation of the cylinder 6 causes the partition plate 4 to be pivoted up sideways as shown by two-dot chain line 4' of Figure 3.
On other hand, the receiving plate 7 is caused to make an advance toward the pusher 3 by the actuation of the cylinder 7a, whereas it is caused to make a gradual retreat by exhausting the pressure from the cylinder 7a.
Referring now to the situation of collecting the objects by means of the pusher 3, the partition plate 4, and the receiving plate 7, as shown in Figure 7-(a), in response to the actuation of cylinder 7a the receiving plate 7 makes an advance towards the pusher 3, which is in the state of waiting for pushing the objects. In that case, the piston rod of the cylinder 5 is extended, the partition plate 4 being raised and lying flat sideways.
Upon the commencement of actuating the pusher 3, a group of three pieces of objects are pushed out forward (to the right sides of Figures 1, and 7). At this moment the receiving plate 7 is in a position to stop this group of objects so that they may not fall down. by repeating the foregoing action four times, as shown in Figure 7-(c), four groups of three objects (12 pieces in total) are adapted to be collected side by side. Every time when the pusher 3 pushes out a group of three objects, the receiving plate 7, following the motion of the objects, is caused to make a retreat step by step by the exhaust pressure from the cylinder 7a.
At the moment of finishing to collect four- groups of three objects (12 pieces in total) the cylinder 6 is actuated to extend its piston rod whereby the partition plate 4 is lowered as shown in the dot line of Figure 7-(c), so as to lie against the rear end face of the 12 collected objects.
Subsequently, the pusher 3 is actuated again so that the next group of three objects are pushed out forward and since the partition plate 4 is inserted between the group of 12 objects previously collected and the objects presently being collected as shown in Figure 7-(d), these two groups are separated from each other and, as shown in Figure 7-(e), the reciprocating motion of the pusher 3 provides another group of 12 objects to be collected on the left side of the partition plate 4.
Every time when a group of three objects are pushed towards the left side of the partition plate 4 by the pusher 3, since both the piston rods of the cylinders 5 and 7a, following up the motion of the commodities, make a retreat step by step, the partition plate 4 and the receiving plate 7, following up the motion of the commodities, also make a retreat step by step.
Thus, as shown in Figure 1, two groups of 3x4=12 objects are collected at the collecting section p with the partition plate 4 interposed between these groups.
Next, the pusher 8 is actuated and pushes out the two groups of collected objects. As shown in Figure 3, there is a sufficient clearance between the lower edge of the partition plate 4 and the collecting surface to allow the transfer pusher 8 to pass through without being impeded by the partition plate 4. When the pusher 8 returns to the original position, the cylinders 5, 6, and 7a are actuated so that the partition plate 4 and the receiving plate 7 correspondingly return to the positions shown in Figure 7-(a), standing ready for the next collecting cycle.
The repetition of such an operation collects again two groups of 3x4 objects with the partition plate 4 interposed between the two groups, which can be discharged to the side. The foregoing case has been described with reference to an arrangement in which the partition plate 4 and others are actuated so that two groups of 3x4=12 objects are collected in one tray, but it is possible to easily change the collecting pattern by changing the actuating timing of the cylinder 6 which vertically moves the partition plate 4 or by not actuating said cylinder 6.
At the side of the collecting section p there is provided a tray sheet folding device as shown in Figures 4 to 6. This sheet folding device comprises a sheet dropping device 10 provided above a feeder 9 for transferring the tray sheet as well as a flap folding device 11. Said sheet dropping device 10 comprises, for example, a pair of left and right suction heads actuated by a cylinder 10a to pull down individually the tray sheets b₂ which are accumulated above the feeder 9, starting from the bottom sheet to the next one. On the other hand, the flap folding device 11 has upstanding left and right folding plates 11a and 11a and a folding blade-llb interposed between those plates as shown in Figure 6, and is capable of vertically moving by means of a cylinder 11c; when said flap folding device 11 makes an ascent, the two left and right folding plates 11 a and 11 a fold the external left and right flaps e and e of the tray sheet which is pulled down by the tray sheet dropping device 10 and the intermediate folding blade folds the flaps f and f connected by the perforated line c as shown in Figure 4, thereby forming the sheet into a shape having left and right compartments d as shown in Figure 12.
Into both the compartments d and d of the tray sheet b'₂ which undergoes the above-mentioned forming process the groups of 3x4 objects collected on the collecting section p are pushed simultaneously by the pusher 8. Then the feeder 9 with its claws 9a and 9a moves the tray sheet b'₂ to the left side of Figure 1.
During this conveyance to the left side, an adhesive applicator 12 applies adhesive 13 to four external flaps g which are not yet folded and the tray sheet is then pushed out on a discharging feeder 14 advancing (in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1) and passing by a flap folding device (not shown) which folds the internal flaps h and the external flaps g, thereby forming such a finished tray B₂ as shown in Figure 10, which is discharged.
As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the tray sheet dropping device 10 is located within the frame of the flap folding device 11 and does not impede the vertical motion of the latter device.
In the flap folding device the folding tool or tools may be changed according to the shape and size ofthetraysheets. For example, when using a conventional tray sheet b, as shown in Figure 9 and or a tray sheet b₃ as shown in Figure 14, only the two folding plates 11 a are employed in the flap folding device 11 or, alternatively, when performing the packaging with a tray sheet b₄ as shown in Figure 16, a flap folding device 11 having two left and right folding plates 11 a and two folding blades 11 b, is employed. Also, by changing the number of suction heads 10 of the tray sheet dropping device 10 according to the shape of the sheet, or by adapting the left and right folding plates 11 a and the folding blade 11 b to be independently moved in vertical direction by individual cylinders so that actuating a switch determines whether each of cylinders is actuated or stopped it becomes possible to adapt the device to using various shapes of tray sheets.
According to the packaging device of the present invention, by performing at least one partition wall in the tray sheet at least two compartments are formed for receiving groups of objects which have previously been collected in the predetermined number. This enables efficient packaging of the objects on fold-box type trays without reducing the capacity of the packaging machine. Furthermore, by using different shapes of tray sheets it is possible to perform the packaging into smaller collecting patterns whilst of keeping the total number of objects to be packaged the same.
Although the packaging units as shown in Figures 8,10,13 and 15 may be delivered without being further treated, it is possible to apply shrinking film packaging by surrounding the peripheries of the packaging units polyethylene film. In that case, it is recommendable to provide the film in advance with a perforation running along the perforated line c of the tray sheet in order not to impede the separation of the packaging unit into two or more parts.

Claims

1. A device for packaging objects to form packaging units of a plurality of objects (A) packed into a rectangular open box-shaped tray folded from a sheet (b₂, b₃) of corrugated board or the like to form a bottom wall, side walls and at least one double layered partition wall, folded upwardly from said bottom and extending across said tray dividing it into compartments, each compartment containing a group of objects (A) of said plurality of objects, said device comprising:

a conveyor (1) for feeding objects (A) to be packed, a collecting pusher (3) movable across said conveyor (1) for delivering said objects (A) onto a collecting surface, and for successively assembling an array of objects, a fold-box sheet feeding device (9, 11) for locating preformed fold-box sheets alongside said collecting surface,

and a transfer pusher (8) movable across said collecting surface for transferring the array of objects (A) onto the sheet (b₂), characterized by comprising a step-wise retractable stop plate (7) facing the collecting pusher (3),

at least one guide partition (4) arranged above said collecting surface,

means (6) for raising and lowering said guide partition (4) so as to bring it into or out of the path of movement of the objects (A),

means (5) for horizontally moving said guide partition (4) so as to follow the movement of the articles (A) pushed by said collecting pusher (3) and being collected in groups at either side of the guide partition (4), and means (10, 11b) for pre- folding each fold-box sheet (b₂) to form each double layered partition wall, the movement of the transfer pusher (8) being at right angles to the movement of the collecting pusher (3) and said fold-box sheet feeding device locating the pre- folded fold-box sheet so that the prefolded partition wall extends in a direction parallel to the movement of the transfer pusher (8) and aligned with said guide partition.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a cylinder for actuating said stop plate (7), cylinders for raising and lowering and for horizontally moving said guide partition (4) to follow the movement of the collecting pusher (3), as well as the cylinder for actuating the transfer pusher (8) are controllable in timed sequence by a switching device.