EP0839108B1 - Procede et dispositif utiles dans le deconditionnement de marchandises emballees - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif utiles dans le deconditionnement de marchandises emballees Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0839108B1
EP0839108B1 EP96924064A EP96924064A EP0839108B1 EP 0839108 B1 EP0839108 B1 EP 0839108B1 EP 96924064 A EP96924064 A EP 96924064A EP 96924064 A EP96924064 A EP 96924064A EP 0839108 B1 EP0839108 B1 EP 0839108B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
packages
packets
packaging
package
cigarettes
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
EP96924064A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0839108A1 (fr
Inventor
John Tiverton Watson
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.)
Tingey and Co Engineers Ltd
Original Assignee
Tingey and Co Engineers Ltd
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
Application filed by Tingey and Co Engineers Ltd filed Critical Tingey and Co Engineers Ltd
Publication of EP0839108A1 publication Critical patent/EP0839108A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0839108B1 publication Critical patent/EP0839108B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B69/00Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
    • B65B69/0033Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for by cutting
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B69/00Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in de-packaging packaged goods.
  • the tobacco industry is one example where the need for efficient depackaging means is felt.
  • This minder had ample time to watch out for damaged packets, to collect them and then open them by hand to recover their contents, for instance cigarettes.
  • one minder may supervise several, e.g., five, packaging machines. It is no longer possible for this one minder to keep pace and to perform the tasks of detecting, collecting and recovering.
  • the aid of an automatic depackaging facility has become highly desirable if not practically necessary.
  • GB-A-2,158,410 taught a method of recovering packaged products from their packaging, particularly cigarettes from flip-top packets.
  • Each packet was passed through a slitting station so that two lengthwise slits were made adjacent the corners between a rear face and the adjoining shallow sides.
  • the packet then passed through a second slitting station, which cut a shallow slit through the rear face transversely to, and intersecting, the first two slits.
  • This arrangement of slits served to detach one portion of the packet (containing the flip top) from the remainder of the packet so that the contents could be liberated.
  • the first two, lengthwise slits could be either in the rear face itself, or in the two adjoining shallow sides adjacent to their corners with the rear face.
  • the transversely-oriented third slit had, of course, to be in the rear face for the flip top portion to be detached.
  • GB-A-2,158,410 may handle several hundred packets per hour. It is impractical at such speeds to ensure that every packet is presented the right way up, so that the three slits are in or adjacent the rear face. Accordingly, GB-A-2,158,410 disclosed slitting stations having duplicated cutters so that both the front and rear faces were slit, thus ensuring detachment of the flip top portions whichever way up the packets passed through the slitting stations.
  • GB-A-2,158,410 was a decided improvement over EP-A-0,118,289, there is still room for improvement.
  • a machine according to GB-A-2,158,410 may handle hundreds of packets per hour, the percentage recovery of tobacco product is less than desired, which ideally would be 100%. This in part has been attributed to the packets failing to open fully when screened to discharge their contents.
  • Another problem with the prior machine of GB-A-2,158,410 lies in the difficulty of ensuring that the cutters only cut the packaging. If their cutting depths are too great, e.g. through mis-adjustment or loss of adjustment in use, then the released cigarettes will comprise a mixture of unharmed cigarettes and cut cigarettes. Such a mixture would have to be specially screened to separate it into cigarettes that can be repackaged and cigarettes damaged by the cutters, which need to be remade. Such a screening would be difficult and laborious.
  • separation of the cigarettes from the packet fragments normally commences when the slit packets fall under gravity down a chute leading to a slatted, rotary screening drum. Separation will continue in the drum. Separation can be initiated, if desired, by squeezing the slit packets as they leave the second slitting station. Regrettably, separation of cigarettes from packet fragments may occasionally be incomplete. Therefore, some cigarettes may be discharged from the earlier apparatuses along with the packet fragments, and hence will not be recovered for reuse. Percentage recovery will thus be less than desired.
  • the present invention seeks to reduce or eliminate the drawbacks of the earlier methods and apparatuses discussed above.
  • the present invention provides a method of recovering packaged products from their packaging e.g cigarettes from flip-top packets, comprising the steps of conveying randomly-arranged packages, each having major front and rear faces, opposed sides and opposed ends, towards a slitting station while aligning them into a common orientation and feeding them one-by-one in this orientation to the said station, passing each package through the slitting station, characterised by only unidirectionally slitting each of the front and rear faces of the package by a longitudinal slit in each said face, neither of the slits being deep enough to cut the product, e.g. cigarettes contained by the package, and then subjecting each package to a rapidly applied impact, i.e. rapping it, so as to cause it to burst open, thereby to enable the product to be liberated readily from the burst package.
  • a rapidly applied impact i.e. rapping it
  • the present invention also provides an apparatus for recovering packaged products from their packaging, e.g. cigarettes from their packets, comprising means to convey randomly-arranged packages, each having major, front and rear faces, opposed sides and opposed ends, to a sorter which turns the packages into a common orientation and delivers them one-by-one in this orientation, a feeder to receive the oriented packages and pass them onwards to a slitting system, characterised in that the slitting system is operative to only unidirectionally slit both the front and rear faces of each package by a longitudinal slit in each said face, means to convey the so-slit packages into an impactor unit into rapping contact with an impactor by means of a rapidly applied impact for bursting the packages open, and means to deliver the burst packages from the impactor unit to a separator which discharges the product separately from packaging fragments.
  • a sorter which turns the packages into a common orientation and delivers them one-by-one in this orientation
  • a feeder to receive the oriented packages and pass them onward
  • a minimum of one longitudinal slit is cut in each of the front and rear faces of each package to be opened, and no transverse slit is made.
  • the longitudinal slits are located approximately equidistantly from the adjoining sides of the package. After slitting, each package is subjected to a rapidly applied impact. By so rapping, it is found that the packet is burst open, thus positively leading to complete separation of contents from package remnants.
  • the risk of cigarettes being inadvertently cut is minimal. Variations of the depth of slitting, through mis-adjustment or loss of adjustment, will have no significant effect on the cigarettes. This is because transverse slitting is now omitted. Also, the slits are longitudinal and thus parallel to the cigarettes, and their location will ordinarily coincide with the V-shaped hollow between two cigarettes.
  • a method of recovering packaged products from their packaging comprising the steps of conveying randomly arranged packages towards a slitting station while aligning them into a common orientation and feeding them one-by-one in this orientation to the said station, passing each package through the slitting station and forming a longitudinal slit in each of a front and a rear face of the package, neither of the slits being deep enough to cut the products of the package, and then subjecting each package to a sudden blow so as to cause it to burst open, thereby to enable the products to be liberated readily from the burst package.
  • the products e.g. cigarettes can be liberated from the package fragments by screening.
  • the burst packages can be fed to a screening means having apertures only large enough to pass the product to be recovered but too small to pass the packaging fragments. Separation of products from package fragments can occur while transporting then pneumatically to a chute, down which they fall under gravity into the screening means. Separation is completed in the screening e.g. a slatted drum.
  • a method of recovering cigarettes from flip-top packets comprising the steps of conveying randomly-arranged packets towards a slitting station while aligning them into a common orientation, feeding them one-by-one in this orientation to the said station, making a lengthwise slit in both a back face and a front face of each packet, the slits being too shallow to cut into the cigarettes within the packet, and then rapping the packet to burst the packet and enable the cigarettes to be liberated whole therefrom.
  • apparatus for recovering packaged products from their packaging comprising means to convey randomly-arranged packages to a sorter which turns the packages into common orientation and discharges them one-by-one in this orientation, a feeder to receive the oriented packages and pass them onwards to a slitting station, the latter comprising two slitters operable to form at least two slits in each package, one in each of front and rear faces of the packages, means to convey the so-slit packages into an impactor unit into rapping contact with an impactor for bursting the packages open, and means to deliver the burst packages from the impactor unit to a separater which discharges the product separately from packaging fragments, the two slitters being arranged to cut through the packaging material only.
  • the separator can conveniently comprise a rotationally-drive slatted drum, wherein gaps between the slats defining the drum allow passage of the product, e.g. cigarettes, radially from the drum, but not the packaging fragments.
  • the drum is preferably inclined so as to encourage packaging fragments retained therein to flow to a lower discharge end of the drum.
  • Other screening means could be used instead, such as vibrating mesh screens. The choice will be governed inter alia by the type of product to be recovered.
  • the slatted drum is presently preferred when retrieving tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars from packets.
  • At least a preliminary or partial separation of the packaging fragments from the products can be obtained in the impactor or between it and the separator.
  • the sorter delivers the packets to the feeder travelling end-first, disposed vertically on their sides. In this orientation they pass between a pair of horizontally-opposed slitter blades or wheels.
  • the sorter could however deliver the packets end-first, in a supine orientation. In such a case the slitting station will receive the packets front or rear face uppermost, and they will be passed between a pair of vertically-opposed slitter blades or wheels.
  • the impactor is a rotary device, which will be described hereinafter.
  • a packet When a packet is struck by the impactor, it may burst open by separating into two parts. Often, however, a packet will burst open in the form of a fan, breaking at one end and spreading out into a V-form by bending about the other end. In either event, separation of the packet contents from the broken packet is assured.
  • a pre cursor step to the separation of package contents from their package involves slitting the package.
  • Figs 1a, 1b and 2 schematically show a cigarette packet P of flip-top type provided with a flip-top T, with a top hinge H extending transversely across the rear face R of the packet.
  • the packet P has a front face F, shallow sides S and ends E.
  • the cigarettes in such a packet P are disposed, usually, in one of two stacking arrays. In one such array, there are twenty cigarettes in three rows of 7, 7 and 6 cigarettes. In another array the packet has two groups of ten cigarettes, each consisting of two rows of five cigarettes.
  • slit S3 is a shallow cut, like slits S1, S2, and does not extend through the full depth of the packet P.
  • Cigarettes will be damaged if the transverse slit S3 is too deep, and/or if the slits S1, S2 are too deep and/or improperly located.
  • slit lines 1 and 2 are set such that slits S1 and S2 are coincident with the V-shaped hollows or valleys between contiguous pairs of cigarettes, as shown in Fig 2.
  • the preferred depackaging apparatus is a machine as shown in Fig 3 to which attention is now drawn.
  • Depackaging machine 10 includes a receiving hopper with an infeed elevator or conveyor I of any convenient type for conveying damaged cigarette packets of flip-top type to a sorter II.
  • the elevator I runs at constant speed, is speed controllable, and has transverse vanes for positively making packets towards the sorter II.
  • there are means to inhibit packs bunching together for example a rotary brush (not shown) positioned above the conveying surface II of the elevator I to knock back packs bunched together and riding one on top of another.
  • the sorter device establishes an even flow of packages, all aligned in a common direction, for feeding to a slitting station III described in more detail hereafter. At station III, two slits are made in a lengthwise direction, one in each of the front and rear faces of the packets.
  • the packets are then fed into an impactor unit IV which bursts the packets to enable the cigarettes to be readily freed and recovered whole.
  • Packets leave the impactor unit IV via a duct and cyclone V down which they fall into an inclined slatted drum screening means VI.
  • the screening means VI is responsible for finally separating the cigarettes from the packaging remnants. The latter are discharged in the direction of arrow A at a bottom end VI-A of the screening means VI.
  • the cigarettes alone pass through the slatted wall of the screening means VI. Beneath the screening means VI, is a collector or conveyor for gathering the released cigarettes and for conveying them in the direction of arrow B for discharge from the machine 10.
  • the discharged cigarettes are then repackaged or processed as required by the manufacturer.
  • Packet remnants are fed in the direction of arrow A to a collector station VII.
  • the remnants are for example packed into bags for disposal.
  • Station VII can now comprise a commercial twin chamber bagger, and conveniently the remnants are compressed by some 5:1 in the interests of efficiency.
  • Packets P delivered by the elevator I drop into the sorter II and are randomly oriented as received by the sorter.
  • the purpose of the sorter II is to unscramble the randomly-oriented packets and to feed them all in a uniform orientation to the slitting station III.
  • the sorter II and slitting station III are shown in more detail in Fig. 4.
  • the sorter is a carousel which has an inclined turntable 12 which receives incoming packets from the elevator I.
  • the turntable 12 being inclined, has a low side 12a and a high side 12b. It rotates at a constant, though variable speed. Packets drop onto the table 12 adjacent its low side 12a and are carried by the rotating table 12 to its high side 12b. Here, the packets are deposited on a rotating ring 13. Ring 13 is located closely within a stationary sidewall 14 of the sorter II. Packets reaching the base 13 will be moved along the side wall 14 as the ring 13 rotates and ultimately will issue from the sorter II via an exit area 15.
  • the packets drop onto the turntable 12 from the elevator I in disarray. Some will come to rest on one major face, others on their sides and still others on their ends.
  • the sorter II rearranges and discharges the packets all in a common attitude and orientation. As discharged, the packets are on their sides and moving end first, and their major front and rear faces are vertically disposed. The first step in so orienting the packets is to place them all with one of their major faces contacting the ring 13. Any upstanding packet e.g. P1 is tipped off the ring to fall back on the turntable 12. Means to tip such packets as P1 comprise a stationary curved arm 22.
  • Arm 22 is spaced above the ring 13 by a distance allowing packets lying flat on the ring to pass beneath the arm 22. Should any packet "piggy-back" on another, the arm 22 will sweep that packet off, and it will drop back onto the turntable. Arm 22 is conveniently attached to the side wall 14.
  • the packets P must not only lie front (or rear) face down on the ring 13; it is required that they be oriented such that their longest dimension is tangential to the ring. In other words, they must be advanced around the fixed wall 14 on the ring with one of their ends leading. Thanks to the cooperation between the rotating turntable 12, the ring 13 and the stationary wall 14, most packets will adopt this required orientation of their own accord as they move onto the ring. A few packets, P2, may come to rest on the ring at right angles to the desired orientation. Such packets P2 overhang the inner edge 23 of ring 13.
  • the sorter II is provided with means for dislodging such improperly-oriented packets.
  • Packets which successfully pass the arm 22 and its free end 24 will all be advancing around the fixed wall 14 end first, and they will all be supine on the ring 13, lying on their front (or rear) faces F, R.
  • the final step of orienting these packets involves turning them on their sides so their major faces F, R are vertical. This is accomplished by advancing the packages P along an inclined or helical ramp 26, aided by air jets, not shown.
  • the packets are advanced along the ramp 26 by the thrust of those packets upstream being driven around the wall 14 by the rotating ring 13.
  • the speeds of rotation of the turntable 12 and ring 13 will be determined by trial and error, depending upon the size of the sorter II and the number of packets which it is desired to process per minute.
  • a sorter II having a turntable of the order of 1m diameter, which is to deliver 450 packets per minute to the slitting station may have the turntable 12 rotating at e.g. 60 rpm.
  • the ring 13 will usually rotate at a lesser speed, e.g. 37 rpm. It is emphasised that these speeds are not limiting and that they will need optimising according to circumstances.
  • Packets leaving the exit 15 of the sorter II enter the slitting station III.
  • Associated with this station are two continuously-running conveyors 31, 32 which together, and with guide wall 27, define a conveying nip 33.
  • Nip 33 receives the packets P and conveys them positively towards and past slitters of the slitting station III.
  • Each conveyor 31, 32 comprises respective endless conveyor bands 34, 36 trained about pulley wheels 38, 40.
  • the bands 34, 36 are constituted by plural-strand belts, for instance four in number disposed one above another.
  • Appropriate ones of pulley wheels 38, 40 are positionally-adjustable to set the nip 33 to suit the packet dimensions, and thus assure adequate frictional grip and positive, non-slipping advance of packets from the exit 15, through and out of the slitting station III.
  • One pulley wheel of each conveyor 31, 32 is coupled to an associated drive motor, not shown. A single motor could, however, power the drive pulley wheels of both conveyors.
  • the slitting station III has two laterally-opposed slitters in the form of driven rotary slitting blades or wheels 42, 44. These blades 42, 44 are motor driven in contrarotation.
  • the gap between them is adjustable, as are their heights relative to a substrate over which the packets are advanced by the conveyors 31, 32. the gap adjustment governs the depth of the slits formed in the faces F, R of the packets.
  • the height adjustment is to locate the slits in the v-shaped hollows between neighbouring cigarettes, as has been mentioned already.
  • the slitting station there are two cutting blades. Accordingly, one slit is formed in each of the major faces F, R of the packets. If desired, the blades 42, 44 could consist of multiple blades so as to produce more than one lengthwise-extending slit in each face F, R. However, the resulting machine complexity does not appear essential.
  • the impactor unit IV is shown to comprise a generally drum-shaped casing 50 with an inlet port 52 and a tangentially-arranged exit port 54.
  • the conveyors 31, 32 transport packets into the inlet port 52 at a rate of some 450 per minute. The actual rate will depend on the output of the sorter II.
  • Inside the casing 50 is a wire rotor cage 56 driven in the direction of arrow C by a motor 58.
  • the rotor cage 56 is fabricated most conveniently from round bar, some 6.3 mm diameter. It comprises a cage made of two rings 60, 62 affixed to a driven rotationally-journalled base plate, not shown. The rings are interconnected by 6.3 mm bars 64, numbering eight in this instance.
  • the casing 50 has a nominal ID of 50.8 cm and the rotor cage a nominal OD OF 49.5 CM.
  • the cage is rotated at speeds of the order of 1600-2500 rpm, e.g. 2000 rpm. Routine trial and error can be employed to optimise the speed of rotation of the rotor cage 56.
  • the illustrated rotor cage 56 is circular in plan view. It could take different shapes, however. Thus, its form in plan view could be square or some other generally regular geometrical or polygonal shape, e.g. octagonal. Rings 60, 62 will be shaped accordingly.
  • the exit 54 is connected to a conduit 66 of nominal ID 15 cm which leads to a cyclone separator 68. Thanks to the incidental air flow of low velocity created by the cage 56, packets and cigarettes are moved along the duct 66 to the cyclone separator. Solid materials (cigarettes, packet fragments, etc) are separated from the air flow in the cyclone separator 68. They drop through the separator 68 and enter the screening means VI.
  • This screening means is a cylindrically-shaped, slatted drum 70.
  • the drum rotates about its inclined longitudinal axis.
  • the wall of the drum is defined by longitudinal slats spaced apart sufficiently to pass cigarettes but too closely to pass the packet remnants.
  • the said remnants are thus retained within the drum and slowly migrate towards the lower end.
  • the remnants ultimately issue as waste from this end of the drum, in the direction of arrow A. Meanwhile, cigarettes passing through the wall of the drum fall e.g. onto a conveyor for discharge in the direction of arrow B.
  • cigarettes are packed in packets which are wider than their lengths (the latter being considered lengthwise of the cigarettes).
  • Such packets may contain an internal tray holding the cigarettes.
  • the present apparatus can be readily adapted to liberate cigarettes from packets of this kind.

Claims (16)

  1. Procédé de récupération de produits conditionnés à partir de leur conditionnement, par exemple de cigarettes (C) de paquets (P) à couvercle basculant, comprenant les étapes de transport de paquets (P) disposés au hasard, ayant chacun des grandes faces avant et arrière, des cotés opposés et des extrémités opposées, vers un poste de tranchage (III) en les alignant selon une orientation commune et en les amenant un à un dans cette orientation vers ledit poste (III), et de passage de chaque paquet (P) par un poste (III) de tranchage, caractérisé par un tranchage uniquement unidirectionnel de chacune des faces avant et arrière (F, R) du paquet (P) avec une fente longitudinale (S1, S2) dans chacune des faces, aucune des fentes n'étant suffisamment profonde pour couper le produit, par exemple les cigarettes (C) contenues dans le paquet (P), puis l'application à chaque paquet (P) d'un choc exercé rapidement, c'est-à-dire d'un tapotement, afin qu'il s'ouvre par éclatement et permette ainsi une libération facile du produit du paquet éclaté.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les deux fentes (S1, S2) formées dans lesdites faces (F, R) s'étendent le long de l'axe médian de chaque paquet (P) ou près de cet axe.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, comprenant l'avance des paquets tranchés (P) vers un dispositif de criblage (VI, 70) ayant des orifices suffisamment grands pour le passage du produit (C) à récupérer mais trop petits pour le passage des restes du conditionnement.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 3, comprenant la chute sous l'action de la pesanteur du produit (C), des parties du conditionnement, des paquets éclatés et de leurs parties de conditionnement, vers le dispositif de criblage (VI, 70) afin que la séparation du produit (C) soit activée ou accélérée.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le coup ou tapotement appliqué au paquet (P) est obtenu par projection du paquet tranché (P) dans une cage (56) de fils métalliques tournant rapidement.
  6. Appareil de récupération de produits conditionnés à partir de leur conditionnement, par exemple de cigarettes (C) de leurs paquets (P), comprenant un dispositif (I, 11) destiné à transporter les paquets (P) ayant une disposition quelconque, ayant chacun des grandes faces avant et arrière, des côtés opposés et des extrémités opposées, vers un organe de tri (II) qui fait tourner les paquets (P) dans une orientation commune et les délivre un à un avec cette orientation, et un organe d'alimentation (31, 32) destiné à recevoir les paquets orientés (P) et à les transmettre vers l'aval à un système de tranchage (III), caractérisé en ce que le système de tranchage (III) assure le tranchage unidirectionnel uniquement à la fois des faces avant et arrière (F, R) de chaque paquet (P) avec une fente longitudinale dans chacune desdites faces, un dispositif (31, 32) de transport des paquets ainsi tranchés dans une unité (IV) à organe de frappe par contact de tapotement avec un organe de frappe (56) afin que les paquets s'ouvrent en éclatant sous l'action d'un impact appliqué rapidement, et un dispositif (66) destiné à transmettre le paquet éclaté de l'unité à organe de frappe (IV) à un séparateur (68, VI) qui évacue le produit (C) séparément des fragments du conditionnement.
  7. Appareil selon la revendication 6, dans lequel l'unité à organe de frappe (IV) comporte un carter (50) ayant une entrée (52) et une sortie (54) des paquets (P) transportés vers elle, et une cage (56) de fils métalliques entraínée en rotation à l'intérieur et qui est utilisée comme organe de frappe.
  8. Appareil selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la cage (56) de fils métalliques comprend deux anneaux espacés (60, 62) interconnectés à certains intervalles à leur périphérie par plusieurs barres de frappe (64).
  9. Appareil selon la revendication 7 ou 8, dans lequel la sortie (54) est raccordée à un conduit (66) dirigé vers le séparateur (VI) et, pendant l'utilisation, un courant d'air créé par la cage (56) qui est entraínée en rotation entraíne les paquets (P), les produits (C) et les fragments de conditionnement le long du conduit vers le séparateur (68, VI).
  10. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 9, dans lequel le séparateur (VI) comporte un tambour (70) à lattes entraíné en rotation, dans lequel les espaces entre les lattes permettent le passage du produit (C) mais non des fragments du conditionnement, le tambour (70) étant incliné de préférence afin qu'il favorise la circulation des fragments de conditionnement retenus à l'intérieur vers une extrémité inférieure d'évacuation.
  11. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 10, ayant une goulotte (66) ou un cyclone (68) destiné à conduire les paquets tranchés de l'unité à organe de frappe (IV) au séparateur (VI), la goulotte ou le cyclone étant destiné à encourager la séparation du matériau de conditionnement du produit lorsque les paquets tombent sous l'action de la pesanteur dans le séparateur (VI).
  12. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 11, dans lequel l'organe de tri (II) est destiné à évacuer des paquets (P) avec une orientation telle qu'ils se déplacent vers l'organe d'alimentation (31, 32) puis vers le poste de tranchage (III), dressés sur leurs côtés (S) avec les extrémités (E) en avant.
  13. Appareil selon la revendication 12, dans lequel le poste de tranchage (III) comprend deux roues (42, 43) de coupe espacées latéralement par rapport au trajet de déplacement des paquets (P) le long de l'organe de tranchage afin que lesdites faces (F, R) des paquets (P) soient tranchées longitudinalement.
  14. Appareil selon la revendication 13, dans lequel les roues de coupe (42, 43) sont réglables en profondeur de coupe.
  15. Appareil selon la revendication 13 ou 14, dans lequel les roues de coupe (42, 43) sont réglables verticalement, pendant l'utilisation, afin que la position des fentes (S1, S2) puisse être réglée suivant la largeur des faces (F, R) des paquets (P).
  16. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 15, dans lequel l'organe d'alimentation et le dispositif de transport sont formés par des bandes transporteuses (31, 32) disposées en regard et qui délimitent un trajet commun de transport s'étendant depuis l'organe de tri (II), passant par le poste de tranchage (III) et rejoignant l'unité à organe de frappe (IV).
EP96924064A 1995-07-19 1996-07-10 Procede et dispositif utiles dans le deconditionnement de marchandises emballees Expired - Lifetime EP0839108B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9514804 1995-07-19
GBGB9514804.5A GB9514804D0 (en) 1995-07-19 1995-07-19 Method and apparatus for use in de-packaging packaged goods
PCT/GB1996/001668 WO1997003883A1 (fr) 1995-07-19 1996-07-10 Procede et dispositif utiles dans le deconditionnement de marchandises emballees

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0839108A1 EP0839108A1 (fr) 1998-05-06
EP0839108B1 true EP0839108B1 (fr) 1999-05-26

Family

ID=10777935

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96924064A Expired - Lifetime EP0839108B1 (fr) 1995-07-19 1996-07-10 Procede et dispositif utiles dans le deconditionnement de marchandises emballees

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0839108B1 (fr)
KR (1) KR100331389B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU6464596A (fr)
DE (1) DE69602601T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2132932T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB9514804D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997003883A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022187557A3 (fr) * 2021-03-03 2022-11-03 Alert Innovation Inc. Système de transfert automatisé
US11845610B2 (en) 2018-08-02 2023-12-19 Walmart Apollo, Llc Automated decant system

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
PL217989B1 (pl) * 2010-07-05 2014-09-30 Int Tobacco Machinery Poland Sposób i urządzenie do niszczącego otwierania paczek papierosowych
US9550304B2 (en) 2013-01-07 2017-01-24 The Procter & Gamble Company Process for recycling multicompartment unit dose articles
WO2017094191A1 (fr) * 2015-12-04 2017-06-08 日本たばこ産業株式会社 Dispositif de retrait de film pour retirer un emballage en film à partir d'un paquet de cigarettes, dispositif de démontage de boîte pour démonter une boîte de cigarettes, procédés pour de tels dispositifs, et système comprenant desdits dispositifs
TW202015975A (zh) * 2018-07-31 2020-05-01 日商日本煙草產業股份有限公司 香煙盒的解包裝置及解包方法
DE102021117587A1 (de) 2021-07-07 2023-01-12 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Handhabung von Zuschnitten aus Verpackungsmaterial
IT202100031430A1 (it) * 2021-12-15 2023-06-15 Tecnofer Ecoimpianti S R L Apparecchiatura per lo sconfezionamento di prodotti imballati

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3386320A (en) * 1966-03-10 1968-06-04 Reynolds Tobacco Co R Package-opening method and apparatus
US4036380A (en) * 1976-06-15 1977-07-19 Loews Theatres, Inc. Apparatus for opening cigarette cartons and packs and removing the cigarettes
GB8306329D0 (en) * 1983-03-08 1983-04-13 Tingey & Co Eng Ltd De-packaging packaged goods
DE9012972U1 (fr) * 1990-09-12 1990-11-15 Maschinenfabrik Fr. Niepmann Gmbh U. Co, 5820 Gevelsberg, De

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11845610B2 (en) 2018-08-02 2023-12-19 Walmart Apollo, Llc Automated decant system
WO2022187557A3 (fr) * 2021-03-03 2022-11-03 Alert Innovation Inc. Système de transfert automatisé

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1997003883A1 (fr) 1997-02-06
GB9514804D0 (en) 1995-09-20
KR100331389B1 (ko) 2002-10-19
DE69602601T2 (de) 1999-10-28
ES2132932T3 (es) 1999-08-16
EP0839108A1 (fr) 1998-05-06
KR19990028939A (ko) 1999-04-15
AU6464596A (en) 1997-02-18
DE69602601D1 (de) 1999-07-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4036380A (en) Apparatus for opening cigarette cartons and packs and removing the cigarettes
US3386320A (en) Package-opening method and apparatus
EP0518058B1 (fr) Appareil de tri de capsules
US5001951A (en) Apparatus for cutting apart cigarette packs in preparation for recovery of the tobacco in the cigarettes
EP2750525B1 (fr) Récupération de tabac à partir de déchets de cigarettes
EP0839108B1 (fr) Procede et dispositif utiles dans le deconditionnement de marchandises emballees
JP2015513402A (ja) ロッド状要素を配置するための方法及びシステム、並びに、廃棄シガレットからたばこを回収するためのシステム
US5117843A (en) Method of and apparatus for reclaiming tobacco from cigarette packages
GB2494159A (en) Cigarette processing assembly for reclaiming tobacco
US5234007A (en) Method of and apparatus for reclaiming tobacco from cigarette packages
US5076291A (en) Method and apparatus for detipping loose cigarettes
EP0118289A2 (fr) Procédé et appareil à l'usage de déballage de produits emballés
DE60320228T2 (de) Einheit und verfahren zur nachbestellung von süsswaren, wie zum beispiel süssigkeiten und dergleichen
JP2001232229A (ja) 破袋機
US3963181A (en) Food reclaiming system
GB2158410A (en) Method and apparatus for use in de-packaging packaged goods
US5870882A (en) System for automatically opening cartons and removing packages therein
EP3579707B1 (fr) Système et procédé d'orientation et d'alimentation pour l'alimentation en cigarettes et la fourniture d'une orientation longitudinale à des cigarettes, dispositif et procédé de récupération de tabac à partir de cigarettes
JPH08238439A (ja) 破袋装置
GB2231856A (en) Packaged food recovery apparatus
JPH10511910A (ja) リサイクル可能な材料の混合物を処理するための装置
EP0242202A2 (fr) Appareil pour ouvrir des emballages
JP2561385B2 (ja) 破袋ほぐし装置
JPH0117157Y2 (fr)
US3550658A (en) Nut-kernel dicing machine

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19980108

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CH DE ES GB IE IT LI NL

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19980714

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): CH DE ES GB IE IT LI NL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69602601

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19990701

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2132932

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: PATENTANWAELTE SCHAAD, BALASS, MENZL & PARTNER AG

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Payment date: 20030624

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20030630

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20030703

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20030707

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20030723

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20030925

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040710

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040712

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040712

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040731

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040731

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050201

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050201

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20040710

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20050201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050710

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20040712