EP0817748B1 - Mecanisme d'alimentation de structures porteuses et dispositif de chargement de recipients dans une structure porteuse ouverte sur le fond - Google Patents

Mecanisme d'alimentation de structures porteuses et dispositif de chargement de recipients dans une structure porteuse ouverte sur le fond Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0817748B1
EP0817748B1 EP96911779A EP96911779A EP0817748B1 EP 0817748 B1 EP0817748 B1 EP 0817748B1 EP 96911779 A EP96911779 A EP 96911779A EP 96911779 A EP96911779 A EP 96911779A EP 0817748 B1 EP0817748 B1 EP 0817748B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carrier
carriers
transport
guide member
loading
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96911779A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0817748A2 (fr
Inventor
Glenn Robinson
Will L. Culpepper
John Madigan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Original Assignee
Mead Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/421,113 external-priority patent/US5671587A/en
Application filed by Mead Corp filed Critical Mead Corp
Publication of EP0817748A2 publication Critical patent/EP0817748A2/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0817748B1 publication Critical patent/EP0817748B1/fr
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B21/00—Packaging or unpacking of bottles
    • B65B21/24—Enclosing bottles in wrappers
    • B65B21/242—Enclosing bottles in wrappers in collapsed carton sleeves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B21/00—Packaging or unpacking of bottles
    • B65B21/24—Enclosing bottles in wrappers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
    • B65B43/14—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines
    • B65B43/16—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers
    • B65B43/18—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers by suction-operated grippers
    • B65B43/185—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers by suction-operated grippers specially adapted for carton blanks

Definitions

  • the invention relates to bottom-loading basket-style carriers for articles such as beverage bottles.
  • EP 590 568, Senzani discloses a feeder mechanism according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the feeder mechanism comprises at least one carrier engaging station.
  • the carrier is withdrawn from a hopper and retained by the feeder in a substantially vertical orientation and is rotated to the desired release position where the carrier is released to be moved downstream.
  • the present invention provides a mechanism and apparatus for the continuous opening and loading of basket-style bottom-loading carriers and seeks to overcome or at least mitigate problems of the prior art.
  • One aspect of the invention provides a feeder mechanism for an apparatus for loading carriers comprising at least one carrier engaging station disposed for drawing and retaining a carrier thereto in a substantially vertical orientation at a first rotatable position and releasing the carrier therefrom at a second rotatable position characterised in that said carrier engaging station further comprises a carrier stop guide member disposed thereon for abutting an upwardly oriented face of the carrier drawn thereto.
  • said upwardly oriented face may be a handle panel of a carrier, including a hand aperture region thereof, wherein said stop guide member abuts said handle panel proximate the hand aperture.
  • said stop guide member may comprise a channel-shaped member disposed proximate a top region of said carrier engaging station.
  • a second aspect of the invention provided an apparatus for feeding carriers in to a packaging machine and for transferring said carriers down stream to a loading station, the apparatus comprising a feeder mechanism and a carrier timer transport assembly disposed in operative communication with said feeder mechanism, which timer transport assembly is adapted for receiving said carriers from said feeder mechanism and initiating transport of the carriers in a planar motion down stream to said loading station.
  • the carrier timer transport assembly may comprise a pair of endless timing chains adapted to stagger the carriers at a pre-determined distance apart and a belt assembly adapted to transport said carriers at the pre-determined spacing initiated by said timing chains to the loading station.
  • the carrier timer transport assembly may further comprise insert means adapted to cooperate with said stop guide member such that said insert means is placed within the handle aperture of the carrier to transport said carrier downstream.
  • a second stop guide member of said carrier timer transport assembly being adapted to cooperate with said insert means to provide a steadying counterforce as said insert means transports the carriers downstream.
  • said second stop guide member is channel shaped.
  • said stop guide member may comprise a channel shaped member proximate a top region of said carrier engaging station.
  • Fig. 1 is an isometric illustration of a carrier suitable for loading by an apparatus for loading bottom-loading basket-style carriers according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carrier of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is an illustration of the carrier of Fig. 1 in collapsed condition.
  • Fig. 4 is an illustration of a container for the carriers of Fig. 1 in the collapsed condition of Fig. 3.
  • Fig. 4A is an illustration of a container for the carriers of Fig. 1 in the collapsed condition of Fig. 3, configured for use with an automatic carrier loading feature of the hopper of the apparatus of Fig. 5.
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for loading bottom-loading basket-style carriers according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 6 is an isometric illustration of a hopper for the apparatus of Fig. 5.
  • Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the hopper of Fig. 6 loaded with at least one carrier.
  • Fig. 8 is an isometric illustration of a carton feeder of the apparatus of Fig. 5.
  • Fig. 9 is a plan illustration of a portion of a nip belt assembly of the apparatus of Fig. 5 engaging a carrier.
  • Fig. 10 is an isometric illustration of a handhold-aperture insert assembly of a timing-transport section for use with the apparatus of Fig. 5.
  • Fig. 11 is an isometric illustration of a handhold-aperture insert for the assembly of Fig. 10.
  • Fig. 12 is an illustration of a modified handle portion of the carrier of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 13 is side view through a section of the handhold-aperture insert assembly of Fig. 10 with the insert seated in the handhold aperture of a carrier and with a stop-guide rail of the apparatus facilitating seating of the insert with the carrier.
  • Fig. 14 is a partial front end view of the features of the handhold-aperture insert assembly illustrated in Fig. 13.
  • Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of declination and seating assemblies of the apparatus of Fig. 5.
  • Fig. 16 is an isometric illustration of a second alternate embodiment of a timing and transport segment of the apparatus of Fig. 5.
  • the method and apparatus 10 described herein as the preferred embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for loading carriers such as the bottom-loading basket-style carrier 3 shown in Fig. 1.
  • carriers such as the bottom-loading basket-style carrier 3 shown in Fig. 1.
  • use of the method and apparatus 10 of the subject invention is not limited to the carrier 3 described below, the features of the invention are very clearly described by reference to the invention's handling and loading of the carrier 3 illustrated.
  • a blank 906 for forming the carrier 3 is shown in Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 3 is a plan view of the collapsed carrier 3 of Fig. 1.
  • the carrier 3 is of the nature described in US patent application serial number 08/326,987. That application is also owned by the owner of the present invention application.
  • the carrier 3 and blank 906 for forming the carrier 3 are described below to facilitate understanding of the invention.
  • the carrier 3 illustrated is generally designed to accommodate two rows of bottles.
  • the examples of carriers 3 discussed herein describe use of the invention with carriers 3 that accommodate two rows of three bottles and two rows of four bottles, that is, a six-pack version and an eight-pack version. However, the invention may also be practiced to accommodate rows of other multiples of bottles. Both sides of the carrier are the same.
  • the features described with respect to the side shown in Fig. 1 are equally applicable to the unseen side.
  • the side wall 920, 930 has a cut-out portion that generally defines a lower side wall band 921, 931 and an upper side wall band 923, 933.
  • Foldably connecting the lower 921, 931 and upper 923, 933 bands to respective end walls 940, 942, 950, 952 are respective corner tabs 922, 932, 924, 934.
  • the corner tabs 922, 932, 924, 934 respectively form bevelled corners at the intersections of the side walls 920, 930 and end walls 940, 942, 950, 952.
  • a center cell is formed on each side of the carrier by cell bands 925, 935, corner tabs 926, 936 foldably connected to the cell bands and a central cell portion 927, 937 integrally formed with the side wall 920, 930.
  • a handhold flap 984 is also visible from the view shown. Cut lines between center cell portions of side walls 920, 930 and respective handle structure panels 980, 982, 990, 992 terminate in respective curved cut lines 986, 988, 996, 998. Cut lines between the upper bands 923, 933 of respective side walls 920, 930 and corresponding center cell portions terminate in respective curved cut lines 987, 989, 997, 999.
  • the blank 906 is essentially symmetric about a perforated fold line dividing the handle panels 980, 982, 990, 992, and halves, of the carrier 3 from one another.
  • One of the two bottom wall panels 910, 912 is widthwise greater than the other and for convenience is designated the greater bottom wall 912.
  • the other bottom wall panel is conveniently designated the lesser bottom wall panel 910.
  • Support tabs 961, 963, 971, 973 for attachment to the bottom wall panels 910, 912 are foldably connected to the lower edges of respective riser panels 960, 962, 970, 972.
  • a suitable carrier for loading by the invention may also have the support tabs connected to the lower edges of respective end walls 940, 942, 950, 952 along fold lines without departing from the scope hereof.
  • the center cell bands 925, 935 are connected along perforated fold lines to the lower portions of respective handle panels 980, 982, 990, 992.
  • Handhold apertures 981, 983, 991, 993 are formed in the respective handle panels 980, 982, 990, 992.
  • Handhold flaps 984, 994 are connected along perforated fold lines to respective handle panels 980, 990 within the respective handhold apertures 981, 991 thereof.
  • Curved cut lines 986, 987, 988, 989, 996, 997, 998, 999 help direct stress away from strategic termination points of cut lines in the carrier 3.
  • the method and apparatus described herein are particularly suitable for loading carriers having the general characteristics of the type described above.
  • the elements of the carrier 3 enable it to be formed in collapsed condition, shipped, loaded into the apparatus described herein, and then erected and loaded with bottles.
  • the invention is particularly useful for loading so-called contoured PET bottles into the carrier 3 illustrated.
  • the carrier 3 is received by the apparatus of the invention in collapsed condition, as illustrated in Fig. 3, with the bottom wall panels 910, 912 pivoted upwardly into face contacting relationship with the side walls of the carrier 3.
  • the apparatus 10 is constructed upon an elongate frame.
  • the direction of movement of bottles 1 and carriers 3 is from left to right.
  • bottles move through the apparatus 10 in two rows along an essentially linear path.
  • carriers in collapsed condition with bottom wall panels folded upwardly flat against the sides of the collapsed carrier
  • the feeder 50 moves individual carriers 3 from the hopper 30 to a timing section 60.
  • a timing-transport section meters out carriers at set intervals and a predetermined rate of speed.
  • the timing-transport section consists of two consecutive assemblies.
  • the first segment of the two is a timing section 60 in which each carrier 3 is removed from suction cups 54 of the feeder 50 and conveyed at a predetermined stagger to the downstream components of the apparatus 10.
  • a path is defined between a pair of vertically oriented belts. More specifically, this segment is referred to as a nip belt assembly 70.
  • the vertical nip belts 72 are a pair of opposing endless belts that pinch, or "nip," the handle area of each carrier (the carrier's topmost portion) and move the carriers in a defined linear path down the apparatus 10.
  • the carriers 3 When the carriers 3 are in the hopper 30, they are in collapsed condition with the bottom wall panels 910, 912 pivoted up and lying flat against the sides of the carrier 3. Upon removal from the hopper 30, the bottom wall panels 910, 912 of the carrier 3 fall away from their position flat against the sides of the carrier 3. As a carrier 3 moves through the timing section the bottom wall panels 910, 912 are engaged and pulled outward to open the carrier 3 for loading. As the carriers 3 are being pulled open along the carrier path of the apparatus 10, bottles are moved along in a path beneath the carriers. In the lower path (the bottle path) a star wheel 105 on either side of the apparatus 10 meters a row of bottles 3 into distinct groups for loading. For example, groups of three or four bottles in each row.
  • An endless chain with lugs is one of the means for transporting bottles after they have been metered by the starwheel 105.
  • Bottle grippers 113 (moving in conveying fashion such as upon an endless chain) immediately follow the star wheels 114 and maintain the spacing and alignment of each bottle grouping. As the bottles 3 move further along the length of the apparatus 10 the bottle grippers 113 assure the spacing between bottles 1 and groups of bottles.
  • the carriers 3 move to a position whereby each bottom wall panel 910, 912 is received by a pair of downwardly-sloping gripping and declination belts 92, 94 & 93, 95.
  • An overhead conveyor mechanism such as an endless overhead chain assembly 100 is aligned over the centrally located handles of the carriers 3 in parallel alignment with the declination belt assembly 90.
  • Block members 102 mounted upon the overhead chain engage the tops of the handle portions of the carriers 3.
  • the declination belt assembly 90 and overhead chain assembly 100 move the carriers 3 forward and downward over the dual-row groups of bottles.
  • the lowering work of the declination belt assembly 90 and overhead chain assembly 100 is completed by the pusher wheel assembly 120..
  • a package conveyor 130 such as side lugs 134 mounted upon respective opposing endless chains 132 engage the trailing end panel of the carriers 3/packages 7 and push them further along the apparatus 10.
  • a bottom panel locking section 140 folds carrier support tabs 961, 963, 971, 973 and bottom wall panels 910, 912 into position for attachment of the support tabs 961, 963, 971, 973 to the bottom wall panels 910, 912 and for closure of the bottom of the carrier 3.
  • the bottle panels 910, 912 are drawn together for proper alignment and held in that position while closure of the bottom of the carrier 3 is completed by a rotating punch lock mechanism.
  • the loaded, fully closed carrier is then ejected from the apparatus 10.
  • bottles 1 are brought into the apparatus 10 by an infeed conveyor assembly 20.
  • Infeed conveyors typically used in the beverage packaging industry are suitable.
  • the conveyor assembly 20 has partitions 22 that segregate incoming bottles into two rows.
  • Conveyor means such as an endless belt or chain move bottles through the apparatus 10 for loading into carriers 3. Different endless chains or belts and a combination of different endless chains or belts is used to The carriers 3 and bottles 1 are moved part of the way through the apparatus 10 simultaneously in separate paths, with the carriers 3 proceeding in a path disposed above the path of bottles 1. Then, as will be described further below, the two paths become one when the carriers 3 are moved downwardly over groups of bottles 1.
  • a hopper assembly 30 suitable means for making cartons available for loading is provided by a hopper assembly 30.
  • the hopper assembly 30 of the preferred embodiment is essentially a conveyor-driven chute.
  • the hopper assembly 30 is shown from its "loader" end, that is, the end into which cartons are placed for conveyance to the next assembly of the apparatus 10.
  • a pair of opposing side walls 31, 32 form the chute.
  • a pair of opposing belts 37, 38 provide the conveying means for the cartons 3.
  • the belts 37, 38 are moveable by known drive means upon rollers mounted upon a support rod 41, 42, or similar structure.
  • roller rods 41, 42 are in turn mounted upon trucks 43, 44 or similar structures which, like the side wall trucks 33, 34, are in turn permanently or movably mounted upon a support rod 36.
  • Trucks 33, 34, 43, 44 are attached along the length of the side walls 31, 32 and roller rods 41, 42.
  • Fig. 7 therein can be seen the manner in which a collapsed bottle carrier 3 suitable for manipulation by the apparatus 10 and hopper assembly 30 is loaded in the hopper where it is engaged by the side walls 31, 32 and belts 37, 38 of the hopper 30.
  • the hopper 30 is adjustable to accommodate varying sizes of carriers 3, for example, six-pack or eight-pack.
  • the hopper 30 is adjusted by changing the location of the trucks 33, 34, 43, 44 along the support rod 36.
  • the direction arrows denoted 45, 47 illustrate the directions in which the trucks may be moved, inwardly or outwardly, depending upon the size of the carrier 3 to be accommodated.
  • a six-bottle version would be a shorter carrier 3 than an eight-bottle version.
  • the trucks and associated side walls and belts would be placed in closer proximity for the six-bottle carrier than for an eight-bottle carrier.
  • it would be possible to move both sides of the walls and roller rods it is simpler to maintain one wall-and-belt set stationary while moving the other set, for instance, the set with which the direction arrows 45, 47 are associated.
  • the belts are positioned to engage each carrier 3 adjacent the protruding tabs 961, 963, 971, 973.
  • Carriers 3 are loaded into the "loading" end of the hopper with the bottoms of the carriers 3 oriented downwardly.
  • carriers 3 may be loaded "top-down” into a container 5 so that the container may be simply up-ended to dump the carriers 3 "bottom-first” into the hopper 30.
  • Packing the collapsed carriers 3 for shipment in this up-side down manner also enables the container 5 to help protect the tabs 961, 963, 971, 973 from damage during transport.
  • the carriers 3 are able to be conveniently shipped without damage to the support tabs and then easily loaded into the hopper 30.
  • the hopper chute is angularly aligned with respect to the main portion of the elongated apparatus 10.
  • the layout of the apparatus is generally linear with bottles 1 and carriers 3 being moved along separate linear paths, one over the other, part of the way through the apparatus 10, and then packages formed of the loaded carriers moving along a single path the rest of the way through the apparatus 10.
  • the carrier feeder 50 removes carriers 3 from the hopper 30 and passes them on to elements in a linear carrier path disposed over the bottle path.
  • the carrier feeder 50 is a rotary type assembly having three spaced-apart suction-cup support stations 52. Each cup support station 52 supports suction cups 54 for adherence to and removal of a collapsed carrier 3 from the exit end of the hopper 30.
  • the stations 52 rotate as indicated by the rotational direction arrow 57 about an axis 59.
  • the stations 52 may be made to rotate about the axis 57 slidably by means of a support tie rod 53.
  • each tie rod 53 has one end affixed to a member at the axis 59 and the other end attached to the respective support station 52.
  • Station 52 rotation may be accomplished by means known in the machine arts. For example, through use of an orbital cam mechanism which utilizes drive shafts, cam rods, curvilinear shallow and deep cam tracks, and cam rollers as described in U.S. patents numbers 4,625,575; 5,019,029; 5,102,385 and 5,104,369. These patents are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • the preferred embodiment contains three cup support stations 52, however, as few as one and more than three may be used. Three stations effectively move the carriers 3 in a horizontal path to the timing section 60 or 260 of the apparatus 10.
  • the actual suction cups 54 are not shown in Fig. 8 in order to more clearly illustrate other features. However, nozzles 55 upon which cups 54 are positioned are shown.
  • the suction cups 54 are spaced apart so as to engage the carrier 3 at strategic peripheral points for handling. Suction, or a vacuum, for operation of the suction cups 52 is provided by typical pneumatic components.
  • the guide 56 relates to a timing feature used to remove carriers 3 from the suction cup support stations 52, and will be explained in greater detail below.
  • Timing-transport section moves carriers 3 from the feeder 50 to downstream components of the apparatus 10.
  • the timing-transport section staggers the carriers 3 a predetermined distance apart and begins their travel at a predetermined rate of speed. This timed spacing of carriers 3 causes the carriers 3 to begin synchronized aligned movement with respective groups of bottles 1 as the carriers 3 and bottles 1 move downstream.
  • the first version of the timing-transport section achieves timing and transport in two distinct segments, namely, a timing assembly 60 and a transport section for convenience herein referred to as a nip-belt assembly 70.
  • the timing assembly 60 has conveyor-driven carrier support fingers for engaging and moving carriers 3 at predetermined intervals and inserting the carriers into nip belts at the predetermined intervals.
  • the carrier support conveyor 60 is a pair of an upper 61 and a lower 63 endless timing chain. Each timing chain 61, 63 contains respective sets of lugs, or fingers, that engage portions of a collapsed carrier 3 as the carrier is released by the suction cups 54 of the feeder 50.
  • the upper timing chain 61 has a series of upper engagement lugs 62 one of which engages the trailing edge of the handle portion of an engaged carrier 3.
  • an upper engagement lug 62 engages the carrier 3 at the intersection of the handle portion and the wall panels. The corner formed at the intersection provides a stable point of engagement.
  • the lower timing chain 63 has a set of lower engagement lugs 64, 65, 66 that work in tandem with each upper engagement lug 62 of the upper chain 61 to hold the carrier 3 steady and guide it into the nip belt assembly 70. Although several combinations of lower engagement lugs in the set would be effective, in the preferred embodiment illustrated there are three lower engagement lugs 64, 65, 66 in each set.
  • the nip belt assembly 70 receives collapsed carriers 3 from the feeder 50 and timing assembly 60.
  • the nip belt assembly 70 moves carriers 3 along at the predetermined spacing initiated by the timing section 60 as the bottom panels 910, 912 of the carrier 3 are gripped and moved outwardly to open the bottom of the carrier 3 for loading.
  • the nip belt assembly 70 has a pair of endless belts 72 mounted upon respective elongated rods of rollers 74.
  • the belts 72 press together in an elongated vertical plane whose direction of movement 71 with respect to an engaged carrier 3 is downstream of the apparatus.
  • the topmost portion of the handles of the carriers 3 are sandwiched between the belts 72 and translated along the path between the moving belts 72.
  • An upper belt guide 76 directs the top portion of handles of carriers 3 into the pathway between the belts 72.
  • the lower belt guide 78 extends along the length of the belts 72.
  • the opening to the lower belt guide 78 directs the downwardly-extending support tabs 961, 971, 963, 973 of carriers 3 into the guide 78. Referring now also to Figures 7 and 9, as the top portion of the handles of carriers 3 are pinched and translated along by the belts 72, the support tabs 961, 971, 963, 973 travel along through the lower belt assembly guide 78.
  • the alternate embodiment employs several features distinct from the immediately preceding described embodiment of a timing-transport assembly to achieve interval spacing and initiate timed transport of the carriers.
  • the alternate embodiment engages the carriers 3 in the collapsed condition shown in Fig. 3.
  • the alternate embodiment utilizes an assembly of chain-mounted insert members 260 to both define separation between carriers 3 and to transport the carriers in synchronous timing with the down-stream elements of the apparatus.
  • Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 therein are respectively illustrated a handhold-aperture insert 264 and one side (the other side being identical) of handhold aperture 983 of the handle portion of a carrier 3.
  • the handhold aperture 983 is U-shaped with a U-shaped flap 984 foldably extending from its upper portion.
  • the insert 264 has a tapered U-shaped projection that corresponds to the shape of the handhold aperture 983 and flap 984.
  • the spacing between the handhold flap 984 and the sides of the aperture 983 may be slightly elongated to provide a more stable point of engagement.
  • the corresponding portion in the upper corners of the U-shaped projection of the insert 262 have matching dimensions.
  • the front portion 266 of the inner bottom surface of the insert 262 is bevelled to more easily accommodate the handhold flap 984. Referring now again to Fig. 10, the inserts 262 are mounted upon endless chains 276 that travel in the direction indicated by the direction arrows 277.
  • the rods 270 upon which the inserts 262 are mounted are in turn mounted within rollers 269 upon trucks 268 that travel the closed cyclical path of the endless chains 276.
  • the rods 270 with mounted inserts 262 translate outwardly (transversely) of the chains 276 toward stop-guides 56 and 278.
  • a suitable mechanism for causing transverse translation of the rods 270 is the use of a cam follower (shown in Fig. 13) on the rod 270 which interacts in known manner with a camming bar or rail to achieve motion at predetermined points along the rail.
  • V-shaped rollers 269 cooperate with a roller-engagement member having a corresponding V-shaped edge enable the rods 270 to be reciprocally translatable as denoted by the direction arrows 275 shown in Fig. 13.
  • the insert 262 first engages a carrier 3 that has been engaged by the carrier feeder 50 and rotated so that its station 52 faces the insert 262 that translates outwardly first.
  • the stop-guide 56 mounted upon each station 52 of the feeder provides support for the handle portion of the carriers 3 when the insert 262 attempts to seat itself.
  • Fig. 13 is an illustration of the insert 262 engaging the handle of a carrier 3 as the insert 262 is guided and the carrier 3 is urged toward the insert 262 by the stop-guide rail 278.
  • the cooperation and interaction between the insert 262, carrier 3 and stop-guide 56 of the feeder would appear the same.
  • the insert 262 translates downstream into the channel of the stop-guide rail.
  • the elevational view of Fig. 14 which looks into the projection, or nose, 264 at the front of the insert 262.
  • an intermediate stop-guide 280 is located between the support stations 52 and the channel guide-stop 278.
  • the intermediate stop guide 280 consists of two spaced apart bars that form a channel which facilitates nesting between the support stations 52 and the intermediate guide and between the support stations 52 and the channel guide, as illustrated.
  • the intermediate stop-guide 280 combines the functions of the station stop-guide 56 and the channel guide-stop 278 in providing a resistance surface for the handle area of the carrier as the handhole of the carrier is engaged by the handhole-aperture insert 262 as previously described above.
  • Fig. 39 is a feature of the invention which is applicable to all of the embodiments of the invention.
  • a tab guide 282 which receives and guides the support tabs 961, 963, 971, 973 as the carriers are transported downstream.
  • the apparatus may also have panel fold-down guides such as curved bars which are typically used in the cartoning field to engage and fold a panel or flap to a desired position.
  • panel fold-down guides such as curved bars which are typically used in the cartoning field to engage and fold a panel or flap to a desired position.
  • such guides fold the bottom panels 910, 912 of the carrier downward from their essentially upright positions as shown in Fig. 3 to a substantially horizontal position where they may be engaged by the grippers of the panel gripper assembly 80 as described in greater detail below.
  • a panel-gripper assembly 80 panel-grippers open the collapsed carrier 3 in preparation for loading.
  • carrier-panel grippers 82 moving on conveyors in a parallel path beneath the timing section grasp the bottom panels 910, 912 and pull them outward to open the carrier 3.
  • Each carrier gripper 82 is a clamp that grasps a respective bottom panel 910, 912.
  • a carrier 3 is shown in a condition to be grasped by grippers 82.
  • the grippers 82 are mounted upon two sets of conveyors (endless chains) 84, 86.
  • Each set of chains 84, 86 is a pair of opposing endless chains that are respectively positioned on each side of the collapsed carriers 3 moving through the timing section.
  • the grippers 82 on both sets of gripper chains 84, 86 move outwardly of the centerline 901 of the carrier 3 in the direction indicated by the direction arrow denoted 81.
  • each chain 84, 86 rotates in the downstream direction indicated by direction arrow 83.
  • the grippers 82 and chains of the first set of chains 84 open carriers 3 by pulling outwardly upon the bottom panels 910, 912 of the carriers.
  • the first set of chains 84 and grippers 82 opens carriers 3 from the fully collapsed condition of Figs. 9 and 13 to an open condition.
  • the chains 84 in the first set of chains 84 move at a greater speed than the relative speed of the carriers 3 as they are moved by the transport mechanisms of either the nip belts 72 or the inserts 262. (In turn, the movement of the carriers 3 by the timing-transport section of the apparatus is in timed sequence with the movement of the bottles in a parallel path below the carriers.)
  • the grippers 82 continue to hold the respective bottom panels 910, 912 outward during movement.
  • a starwheel 105 meters bottles from the bottle infeed conveyor into groups for loading into the carriers. After metering, timed, spaced transport of the groups of bottles is achieved through use of a conveyor 106 which travels under the bottles ad a bottle-gripper conveyor 112 which engages the sides of the bottles.
  • carrier lowering is accomplished through the combination of a declination belt assembly 90 and an overhead declination block assembly 100.
  • a declination belt assembly 90 When the erect carrier 3 leaves the nip belt 70 and gripper 80 assemblies it is upright with its bottom panels 910, 912 extended outwardly of a center line 901 of the carrier 3.
  • the erect carrier 3 leaves the nip belt assembly 70 and the grippers 82 mounted upon the second gripper chain 86, it is directed, toward declinatin assembly where the extended bottom panel 910, 912 are respectively received by left and right opposing pairs of declination belts 92, 94 and 93, 95.
  • the pairs of belts 92, 94 and 93, 95 of the declination belt assembly 90 are spaced apart so that the carriers 3 may pass between them.
  • one pair of upper 92 and lower 94 belts is considered the "right" declination belts while the opposing upper 93 and lower 95 belts are considered the "left" pair.
  • Each of the four belts 92, 93, 94, 95 is an endless belt.
  • the spacing shown between the facing surfaces of each pair of belts is for illustration purposes.
  • the facing surfaces of each pair of belts 92, 94 and 93, 95 belts are disposed closely enough so that the panels 910, 912 of the carrier 3 are wedged between each pair of moving belts. The carriers 3 are thus translated along the apparatus 10 by the moving belts.
  • belts assembly 90 Although only the general structure of the belts assembly 90 is shown it can be appreciated that means of endless belt movement commonly used by those skilled in the art are employed. For example, the use of a circular roller mechanism 91 disposed at the ends of the belt runs with additional rollers disposed between the ends of the runs to maintain opposing belts in surface-to-surface contact (as is illustrated in Fig. 9 with reference to the rollers 74 in the nip belt assembly 70).
  • the belts' 92, 94 and 93, 96 movements are in synchronization with the movement of the bottle-group conveying mechanism (that is, the bottle-gripper conveyors 112).
  • Each carrier 3 is received by the declination belts such that each carrier 3 overlies a group of bottles 5.
  • Fig. 15 the bottles 1 are shown in groupings 5 of two by three arrays, a total of six bottles per group.
  • the system of the invention works well with various multiples of bottles to be packaged.
  • the description and illustrations of the preferred embodiment utilize both six- and eight-bottle configurations.
  • the bottle grippers 114 illustrated in the isometric schematic of Fig. 5 is configured for an eight-bottle group while the carriers 3 and bottle groupings in other illustrations depict a six-bottle configuration.
  • the principles of the invention are equally applicable to both six- and eight-bottle configurations as well as other arrayed configurations.
  • Closure of the bottom of the carrier 3 may be achieved by several means. For example, adherence of the bottom panels 910, 912 to one another by an adhesive. Another effective means for closure is the use of a locking mechanism known as a "punch lock" in the packaging field wherein the outermost of the two bottom panels has male locking members that are superimposed over corresponding female apertures and members formed in the inside bottom panel.
  • the feeder mechanism is not limited to incorporation into the packaging machine hereinbefore described and can be supplied as a modular unit for other types of packaging machine or supplied on a retrofit basis.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Intermediate Stations On Conveyors (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)
  • Stacking Of Articles And Auxiliary Devices (AREA)
  • De-Stacking Of Articles (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Mécanisme d'alimentation (50) pour un dispositif destiné à charger des porte-articles (3) comprenant au moins un poste de saisie de porte-articles (52) disposé en vue de tirer et de retenir un porte-articles (3) sur celui-ci suivant une orientation pratiquement verticale au niveau d'une première position pouvant être entraínée en rotation et de libérer le porte-articles (3) depuis celui-ci au niveau d'une seconde position pouvant être entraínée en rotation caractérisé en ce que ledit poste de saisie de porte-articles comprend en outre un élément de guide de butée de porte-articles (56) disposé sur celui-ci afin de venir en butée avec une face orientée vers le haut du porte-articles (3) tirée vers celui-ci.
  2. Mécanisme selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite face orientée vers le haut est un panneau de poignée (980, 990) d'un porte-articles, comprenant sa zone d'ouverture pour la main, dans lequel ledit élément de guide de butée vient en butée avec ledit panneau de poignée à proximité de l'ouverture pour la main.
  3. Mécanisme selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, ledit élément de guide de butée (56) comprenant un élément en forme de canal disposé à proximité d'une zone supérieure dudit poste de saisie de porte-articles.
  4. Dispositif destiné à alimenter des porte-articles dans une machine d'emballage et à transférer lesdits porte-articles en aval jusqu'à un poste de chargement, le dispositif comprenant un mécanisme d'alimentation (50) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, ainsi qu'un ensemble de synchronisation et de transport de porte-articles disposé en communication fonctionnelle avec ledit mécanisme d'alimentation, lequel ensemble de synchronisation et de transport est conçu pour recevoir lesdits porte-articles provenant dudit mécanisme d'alimentation et initier le transport des porte-articles suivant un mouvement plan en aval vers ledit poste de chargement.
  5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, dans lequel l'ensemble de synchronisation et de transport de porte-articles comprend une paire de chaínes de synchronisation sans fin (60) conçues pour échelonner les porte-articles les uns des autres suivant une distance prédéterminée ainsi qu'un ensemble de courroies (61, 63) conçues pour transporter lesdits porte-articles suivant l'espacement prédéterminé provoqué par lesdites chaínes de synchronisation (60) jusqu'au poste de chargement (100).
  6. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, dans lequel l'ensemble de synchronisation et de transport de porte-articles comprend des moyens formant élément rapporté (262) conçus pour coopérer avec ledit élément de guide de butée (56) de façon que lesdits moyens formant élément rapporté soient placés à l'intérieur de l'ouverture de poignée du porte-articles afin de transporter ledit porte-articles vers l'aval.
  7. Dispositif selon la revendication 6, comprenant en outre un second élément de guide de butée (278) dudit ensemble de synchronisation et de transport de porte-articles qui est conçu pour coopérer avec lesdits moyens formant élément rapporté afin d'assurer une force antagoniste de stabilisation lorsque lesdits moyens formant élément rapporté transportent les porte-articles vers l'aval.
  8. Dispositif selon la revendication 7, dans lequel ledit second élément de guide de butée (278) est en forme de canal.
  9. Dispositif selon les revendications 6 à 8, comprenant en outre une paire de rails de guidage (280) disposés suivant un agencement pratiquement parallèle, disposés entre les premier et second éléments de guide de butée, afin d'assurer une force antagoniste de stabilisation lorsque lesdits moyens formant élément rapporté (262) transportent le porte-articles vers l'aval.
EP96911779A 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Mecanisme d'alimentation de structures porteuses et dispositif de chargement de recipients dans une structure porteuse ouverte sur le fond Expired - Lifetime EP0817748B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US421113 1995-04-13
US08/421,113 US5671587A (en) 1995-04-13 1995-04-13 Method and apparatus for loading bottom-loading basket-style carrier
US45032395A 1995-05-25 1995-05-25
US450323 1995-05-25
PCT/US1996/005233 WO1996032327A2 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Mecanisme d'alimentation de structures porteuses et dispositif de chargement de recipients dans des structures porteuses ouvertes sur le fond

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0817748A2 EP0817748A2 (fr) 1998-01-14
EP0817748B1 true EP0817748B1 (fr) 2000-02-16

Family

ID=27025112

Family Applications (6)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96913797A Expired - Lifetime EP0820404B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Appareil de mise en place de recipients dans des structures porteuses de type panier se chargeant par le fond
EP96912786A Expired - Lifetime EP0817747B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Appareil permettant de tirer ensemble les panneaux de fond d'une structure porteuse
EP96912761A Expired - Lifetime EP0817745B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Procede et appareil de mise en place de recipients dans des structures porteuses de type panier se chargeant par le fond
EP96912750A Expired - Lifetime EP0817746B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Procede et appareil de mise en place de recipients dans des structures porteuses de type panier a fond ouvert
EP96912762A Expired - Lifetime EP0820403B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Procede et appareil de remplissage de structures porteuses de type panier se chargeant par le fond
EP96911779A Expired - Lifetime EP0817748B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Mecanisme d'alimentation de structures porteuses et dispositif de chargement de recipients dans une structure porteuse ouverte sur le fond

Family Applications Before (5)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96913797A Expired - Lifetime EP0820404B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Appareil de mise en place de recipients dans des structures porteuses de type panier se chargeant par le fond
EP96912786A Expired - Lifetime EP0817747B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Appareil permettant de tirer ensemble les panneaux de fond d'une structure porteuse
EP96912761A Expired - Lifetime EP0817745B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Procede et appareil de mise en place de recipients dans des structures porteuses de type panier se chargeant par le fond
EP96912750A Expired - Lifetime EP0817746B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Procede et appareil de mise en place de recipients dans des structures porteuses de type panier a fond ouvert
EP96912762A Expired - Lifetime EP0820403B1 (fr) 1995-04-13 1996-04-15 Procede et appareil de remplissage de structures porteuses de type panier se chargeant par le fond

Country Status (25)

Country Link
EP (6) EP0820404B1 (fr)
JP (5) JP3917180B2 (fr)
KR (5) KR100454351B1 (fr)
CN (3) CN1073527C (fr)
AR (3) AR001626A1 (fr)
AT (6) ATE220628T1 (fr)
AU (6) AU5664496A (fr)
BR (5) BR9604962A (fr)
CA (5) CA2218071C (fr)
CZ (1) CZ294073B6 (fr)
DE (6) DE69606702T2 (fr)
DK (6) DK0817748T3 (fr)
ES (6) ES2180762T3 (fr)
GR (3) GR3032869T3 (fr)
HK (1) HK1008200A1 (fr)
HU (1) HUP9900893A3 (fr)
IL (3) IL117898A0 (fr)
MX (3) MX9707467A (fr)
MY (1) MY123046A (fr)
NZ (1) NZ306815A (fr)
PL (1) PL179609B1 (fr)
PT (6) PT820403E (fr)
TR (1) TR199701089T1 (fr)
TW (3) TW307730B (fr)
WO (6) WO1996032325A1 (fr)

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WO1996032327A3 (fr) 1997-02-27
AU5546196A (en) 1996-10-30
WO1996032327A2 (fr) 1996-10-17
WO1996032322A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
JP3830517B2 (ja) 2006-10-04
EP0820404B1 (fr) 2002-07-24
WO1996032325A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
AU706228B2 (en) 1999-06-10
ES2143196T3 (es) 2000-05-01
IL117899A (en) 2000-02-17
MX9707469A (es) 1997-11-29
TW325450B (en) 1998-01-21
DE69622549T2 (de) 2003-03-06
MX9707468A (es) 1997-11-29
DK0820403T3 (da) 2002-09-02
MX9707470A (es) 1997-11-29
TW307730B (fr) 1997-06-11
CA2218035C (fr) 2007-06-26
AU5485796A (en) 1996-10-30
AR001627A1 (es) 1997-11-26
AU5546296A (en) 1996-10-30
KR19980703751A (ko) 1998-12-05
TR199701089T1 (xx) 1998-03-21
WO1996032320A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
ATE189793T1 (de) 2000-03-15
CN1082005C (zh) 2002-04-03
DK0817747T3 (da) 2000-06-05
DE69622388T2 (de) 2003-02-20
DK0817746T3 (da) 2000-05-15
EP0817748A2 (fr) 1998-01-14
BR9604964A (pt) 1998-07-14
DE69606702D1 (de) 2000-03-23
EP0820403B1 (fr) 2002-07-17
PT817745E (pt) 2002-10-31
BR9604939A (pt) 1998-06-09
HUP9900893A3 (en) 2000-01-28
CN1186471A (zh) 1998-07-01
CA2218035A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
BR9604963A (pt) 1998-07-14
CN1073526C (zh) 2001-10-24
CA2218071A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
AU5545096A (en) 1996-10-30
AU5664496A (en) 1996-10-30
KR19980703753A (ko) 1998-12-05
CA2218065C (fr) 2005-11-29
CN1186470A (zh) 1998-07-01
GR3033378T3 (en) 2000-09-29
KR19980703752A (ko) 1998-12-05
DE69606629T2 (de) 2000-06-21
KR100454352B1 (ko) 2004-12-17
CZ322297A3 (cs) 1998-05-13
EP0817745B1 (fr) 2002-07-31
PT820403E (pt) 2002-11-29
KR100454353B1 (ko) 2004-12-17
EP0820403A4 (fr) 1999-06-30
JPH11503696A (ja) 1999-03-30
PT820404E (pt) 2002-11-29
PT817746E (pt) 2000-05-31
DE69606629D1 (de) 2000-03-16
GR3033202T3 (en) 2000-08-31
IL117898A0 (en) 1996-08-04
EP0817745A4 (fr) 1999-07-07
IL117897A0 (en) 1996-08-04
DK0817748T3 (da) 2000-06-05
MY123046A (en) 2006-05-31
DE69606704D1 (de) 2000-03-23
EP0817747A1 (fr) 1998-01-14
DK0817745T3 (da) 2002-11-18
JP3923523B2 (ja) 2007-06-06
JPH11503693A (ja) 1999-03-30
TW315353B (fr) 1997-09-11
ATE221488T1 (de) 2002-08-15
DK0820404T3 (da) 2002-10-28
ATE189655T1 (de) 2000-02-15
PL179609B1 (pl) 2000-10-31
NZ306815A (en) 1999-01-28
PL322762A1 (en) 1998-02-16
ES2143192T3 (es) 2000-05-01
CN1073527C (zh) 2001-10-24
DE69622699T2 (de) 2003-06-12
WO1996032321A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
AU5548196A (en) 1996-10-30
AR001626A1 (es) 1997-11-26
EP0817746B1 (fr) 2000-02-09
EP0820404A1 (fr) 1998-01-28
JPH11503697A (ja) 1999-03-30
MX9707467A (es) 1997-11-29
EP0820403A1 (fr) 1998-01-28
CA2218046C (fr) 2006-01-24
CA2218041C (fr) 2005-11-22
CA2218046A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
CA2218071C (fr) 2001-07-31
DE69622388D1 (de) 2002-08-22
JP3830516B2 (ja) 2006-10-04
CA2218065A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
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JP3923522B2 (ja) 2007-06-06
ATE220628T1 (de) 2002-08-15
ES2180763T3 (es) 2003-02-16
KR19980703755A (ko) 1998-12-05
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CA2218041A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
DE69606702T2 (de) 2000-06-21
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AR001625A1 (es) 1997-11-26
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BR9605000A (pt) 1999-02-02
BR9604962A (pt) 1998-07-14
ATE189794T1 (de) 2000-03-15
PT817748E (pt) 2000-06-30
ES2143195T3 (es) 2000-05-01
JP3917180B2 (ja) 2007-05-23
KR19980703754A (ko) 1998-12-05
EP0817745A1 (fr) 1998-01-14
HK1008200A1 (en) 1999-05-07
KR100454354B1 (ko) 2004-12-17
EP0817746A1 (fr) 1998-01-14
ES2180766T3 (es) 2003-02-16
IL117899A0 (en) 1996-08-04
IL117897A (en) 2000-02-17
WO1996032324A1 (fr) 1996-10-17
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CN1186469A (zh) 1998-07-01
DE69606704T2 (de) 2000-06-21
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MX9707471A (es) 1997-11-29
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KR100493786B1 (ko) 2005-09-15
PT817747E (pt) 2000-06-30

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