EP0900730B1 - Method and unit for supplying flat articles - Google Patents
Method and unit for supplying flat articles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0900730B1 EP0900730B1 EP98116685A EP98116685A EP0900730B1 EP 0900730 B1 EP0900730 B1 EP 0900730B1 EP 98116685 A EP98116685 A EP 98116685A EP 98116685 A EP98116685 A EP 98116685A EP 0900730 B1 EP0900730 B1 EP 0900730B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- path
- along
- articles
- pickup
- given
- 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
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 18
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 11
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 10
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 8
- 241001290198 Dicliptera Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
- B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
- B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
- B65B19/228—Preparing and feeding blanks
Description
- The present invention relates to a method of supplying articles.
- In particular, the present invention may be used to advantage for supplying articles, such as labels, strips or collars, to a line for packing products such as cigarettes. In the following description, specific reference is made purely by way of example to supplying a cigarette packing line with collars of the type comprising a central panel, and two lateral wings connected to the central panel along respective preformed bend lines.
- In the tobacco industry, known packing lines form packets of cigarettes by wrapping a group of cigarettes in a respective sheet of wrapping material to form an inner wrapping; placing a collar, of the type described above, on the inner wrapping; and folding a blank about the inner wrapping and the collar. Known packing lines are normally reciprocating types, i.e. in which the elements forming the packets of cigarettes move in steps and the members manipulating the elements move back and forth.
Reciprocating packing lines are known to employ reciprocating conveyors for supplying the inner wrappings, and collar supply units located along the conveyors and normally comprising a pickup element movable back and forth between a pickup station, where a waiting collar is picked up, and a supply station where the collar is supplied to a respective stationary inner wrapping. - Supply units of the above type are extremely efficient when operated in reciprocating manner, even at very high speed, but have proved totally unsuitable for continuous packing lines on which the conveyors are assumed to travel continuously and the inner wrappings to be fed through the supply station at a given speed.
- GB-A1-2063811 discloses a feeding unit for supplying blanks to respective groups of cigarettes carried by a continuous straight conveyor along a first straight path. The feeding unit comprises a continuously rotating rotor, which is provided with a plurality of equally spaced peripheral clip pockets and is able to feed the blanks retained in the clip pockets along a second curved path tangent in a point of tangency to the first straight path. A blank is inserted in a respective clip pocket and, as the rotor turns, is transported along the second path towards the point of tangency, at which the blank is transferred to the continuous straight conveyor and coupled with a respective group of cigarettes.
- The feeding unit disclosed in GB-A1-2063811 is efficient when operated in a continuos manner at a relatively low speed, but is unsuitable for use at the relatively high speed of a modern continuous packaging machine owing to the fact that the first and second path are superimposed only at the point of tangency and the transfer of each blank is to be performed in a too short time.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of supplying articles which is directed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and, in particular, a method whereby the articles may be supplied to a continuous packing line at relatively high speed.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a method of supplying articles as recited in Claim 1.
- The present invention also relates to a unit for supplying articles.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a unit for supplying articles as recited in Claim 12.
- A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a plan view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a central portion of a continuous cigarette packing line, and a preferred embodiment of the supply unit according to the present invention;
- Figure 2 shows a side view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a detail in Figure 1;
- Figure 3 shows a larger-scale view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a detail in Figure 1;
- Figure 4 shows a larger-scale view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a first preferred embodiment of a detail in Figure 2;
- Figure 5 shows a larger-scale view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a second preferred embodiment of the Figure 4 detail.
-
- Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a central portion of a
machine 2 for forming packets of cigarettes (not shown) and comprising acontinuous packing line 3 for feeding, at a given traveling speed V1 and along a substantially straight path P1, a succession 4 of substantiallyparallelepiped products 5, each defining the content of a respective packet of cigarettes, and asupply unit 6 for assigning eachproduct 5 arespective collar 7 having acentral panel 8 and twolateral wings 9 connected topanel 8 along respective preformedbend lines 10 parallel to each other and to a centrallongitudinal axis 7a ofcollar 7. -
Line 3 comprises aconveyor 11 extending along a path P1 from a loading station S1, whereconveyor 11 receives products 5 (in known manner not shown), to an unloading station S3 where (in known manner not shown)conveyor 11 releasesproducts 5 together withrespective collars 7.Line 3 also comprises a number of pockets 12 for conveyingproducts 5, and which are equally spaced with a spacing K1 and travel withconveyor 11 at speed V1 in a direction D1 and crosswise to the longlongitudinal axes 5a ofproducts 5.Conveyor 11 comprises aconveyor belt 13 looped about two pulleys (not shown) defining, onbelt 13, aconveying branch 14 extending through a supply station S2 located between stations S1 and S3 and where each pocket 12 containing arespective product 5 is assigned, in use, arespective collar 7. - As shown more clearly in Figure 3, each pocket 12 is substantially U-shaped, and comprises two
lateral walls 15, which are crosswise to direction D1, extend from and transversely outwards ofbelt 13, and compriserespective cavities 16 formed in respective innerlateral surfaces 17 ofwalls 15 to receivewings 9 of acollar 7. More specifically,belt 13 is defined externally by aflat surface 18 defining, withsurfaces 17 of each pocket 12, aseat 19 for receiving arespective product 5, the smalllateral surfaces 20 of which are positioned contactingsurfaces 17 to closeinner cavities 16 and so define, in use, respective housings forwings 9 ofrespective collar 7.Lateral walls 15 are defined at the top by respectivetop surfaces 21, which are crosswise torespective surfaces 17 and parallel tosurface 18, and are separated fromsurface 18 by a distance less than that between two largelateral surfaces 22 ofproduct 5 insiderespective seat 19. -
Unit 6 supplyingcollars 7 provides for supplying station S2 with onecollar 7 for each pocket 12,collar 7 being oriented withrespective axis 7a crosswise to direction D1 and withwings 9 housed insidecavities 16. As shown more clearly in Figure 1,unit 6 comprises aproduction line 23 for producing asuccession 24 of collars from astrip 25 of cardboard, and feedingcollars 7 to a pickup station S4.Unit 6 also comprises at least twopickup heads 26 for feedingrespective collars 7 along a given path P2 extending through station S4, whereheads 26 travel at a given first speed U1 to pick uprespective collars 7, and through a release station coincident with station S2, whereheads 26 are located over pockets 12 and travel at a given second speed U2, equal to speed V1, to feedrespective collars 7 into respective pockets 12, and paths P1 and P2 are superimposed along a common portion T along which path P2 assumes a straight configuration identical to that of path P1. -
Line 23 comprises two poweredfeed rollers 27 rotating about respective horizontal axes and located one over and substantially contacting the other to engage and feedstrip 25 in a given direction D2, substantially parallel to direction D1, along a path P4 extending along aplate 28 parallel tobranch 14 and having ashaped end edge 29.Line 23 also comprises aconveyor belt 30, which extends, in line withplate 28, along path P4 to station S4, has a conveying branch 31 'at a lower level thanplate 28, and comprises a number oftransverse projections 32 defining, onbelt 30,respective conveying pockets 33 for conveyingcollars 7 and equally spaced in direction D2 with a spacing K2.Conveyor belt 30 is of a width, measured crosswise to direction D2, substantially equal to the distance between twopreformed bend lines 10 of acollar 7, and feedscollars 7 to station S4 at a speed V2 equal to speed U1 ofheads 26 and in time withheads 26; andpockets 33 receiverespective collars 7 withaxes 7a ofcollars 7 parallel to direction D2. -
Line 23 also comprises acutting tool 34 of the same shape, in horizontal section, ascollar 7, and having, on theside facing plate 28, anedge 35 complementary toedge 29.Tool 34 moves in an alternated manner crosswise to direction D2 and in front ofedge 29 to cut acollar 7 offstrip 25 by cooperating withplate 28 at each forward stroke, and to feedcollar 7 into arespective pocket 33 so thatwings 9 project outwards ofpocket 33 on either side ofbelt 30, and so thatcentral panel 8 is positioned contacting conveyingbranch 31 ofbelt 30 and is detached fromrear projection 32 ofrespective pocket 33.Line 23 also comprises twohelical folding plates 36, which extend along opposite sides of conveyingbranch 31 ofbelt 30, and are engaged bywings 9 of eachcollar 7 to foldwings 9 about respective preformedbend lines 10 and squarely with respect tocentral panel 8, and to positionpanel 8 againstrear projection 32 ofrespective pocket 33 by virtue of the friction exerted onwings 9. -
Unit 6 also comprises a knownepicyclic transmission 37 connected at the input to a drive motor (not shown) and at the output to, and for moving,heads 26. More specifically,transmission 37 comprises acarousel conveyor 38 rotating about amain axis 38a of rotation oftransmission 37 extending crosswise to a plane Z defined by conveyingbranch 31 ofbelt 30; and, for eachhead 26, arespective conveying shaft 39, which is mounted for rotation about arespective axis 39a parallel toaxis 38a ofconveyor 38, and is movable back and forth along itsown axis 39a, as well as cyclically and continuously along an endless path P3 extending aboutaxis 38a and substantially in the form of an equilateral triangle with substantiallyrounded vertices 40. One ofvertices 40 is located at pickup station S4 and is aligned withaxes 7a ofcollars 7 arranged parallel to direction D2, while the other twovertices 40 are located alongside conveyingbranch 14 ofconveyor 11, and are aligned with each other and with direction D1, so that one of the sides L of said equilateral triangle is parallel to direction D1. - As shown in Figure 4, each
pickup head 26 comprises aU-shaped fork 41 having a respectivelongitudinal axis 41a crosswise torespective axis 39a, and in turn comprising acentral body 42 connected torespective shaft 39, and twoarms 43 extending from body '42, parallel to each other and torespective axis 41a, and separated from each other by a distance substantially equal to the distance between twopreformed bend lines 10 of acollar 7. In respective cross sections,arms 43 are substantially L-shaped, and are defined by respectivetop portions 44 coplanar with each other and parallel to plane Z, and by respectivelateral portions 45 parallel to each other and extending transversely fromrespective portions 44.Portions flat surfaces conveyor 38 and forming respectiveright angles 48, the vertices of which are separated from each other by a distance equal to the distance between twopreformed bend lines 10. - By means of a known cam device (not shown), each
shaft 39 is movable, as stated, parallel to itsown axis 39a, between a first raised operating position, in whichshaft 39positions surfaces 46 ofrespective head 26 at a given distance over plane Z, and a second raised operating position, in whichshaft 39positions surfaces 46 at the same height as plane Z at station S4 (Figure 2). Shaft 39 is also movable through a lowered operating position, in whichshaft 39positions surfaces 46 substantially coplanar with the exposedsurface 22 of aproduct 5 inrespective seat 19, and positionslateral portions 45 alongside smalllateral surfaces 20 ofproduct 5 to insertwings 9 insidecavities 16 at station S2. - Each
fork 41 has arespective gripping device 49 comprising a number ofsuction holes 50 formed throughsurfaces respective arms 43, a known pneumatic suction device (not shown) common to all offorks 41, and a number ofconduits 51 formed throughportions holes 50 and said suction device.Device 49 also comprises a known distributor (not shown) for activating suction throughholes 50, as of station S4, to enablerespective head 26 to pick up arespective collar 7, and for deactivating suction at station S2 to enablehead 26 to releaserespective collar 7 onto a conveying pocket 12 containing arespective product 5. - In actual use,
conveyor 11 ofcontinuous packing line 3feeds products 5, crosswise to respective longlongitudinal axes 5a, continuously along path P1 and at speed V1 through station S2. At the same time,line 23 for producingcollars 7feeds collars 7 at speed V2 to station S4, where eachcollar 7 arrives withwings 9 folded squarely with respect topanel 8, and where eachcollar 7 is picked up by arespective pickup head 26, is fed along path P2, and is assigned to arespective product 5 along common portion T of paths P1 and P2. - More specifically,
conveyor 38 ofepicyclic transmission 37 is rotated continuously (anticlockwise in Figure 1) aboutaxis 38a to feedshafts 39 along path P3, while at the sametime rotating shafts 39 aboutrespective axes 39a. The transmission ratio oftransmission 37 is such that path P3 is in the form of an equilateral triangle; that, at station S2 and at least along side L of the equilateral triangle parallel to direction D1,arms 43 of eachhead 26 are maintained crosswise to direction D1 along portion T; and that, at station S4 and at least along therespective vertex 40,arms 43 are positioned parallel to direction D2. - Moreover,
transmission 37 so rotatesconveyor 38 andshafts 39 that, as stated, heads 26 travel, at station S4, at a speed U1 directed parallel to direction D2 and equal to speed V2 at whichcollars 7 are fed to station S4, and travel, at station S2, at a speed U2 equal to speed V1 ofproducts 5 and greater than speed U1, in that speed V1 ofproducts 5 in direction D1 is greater than speed V2 ofcollars 7 in direction D2. Asconveyor 38 feeds eachhead 26 through station S4 at speed U1, the rotation ofconveyor 38 andshaft 39 aboutrespective axes 39a positions axis 41a ofhead 26 parallel to direction D2 and therefore parallel to preformedbend lines 10 andaxes 7a ofcollars 7. Moreover, as eachhead 26 is fed through station S4,shaft 39, previously set to the first raised operating position along path P3 between stations S2 and S4 to liftsurfaces 46 to a higher level than plane Z, is set to the second raised operating position theinstant axis 41a ofhead 26 is positioned parallel to and aligned with direction D2, so thatsurfaces central panel 8 andwings 9 of acollar 7, which may be picked up by suction byhead 26 and fed along path P2. - As
conveyor 38 feeds eachhead 26 at speed U2 through station S2, and more specifically along common portion T of paths P1 and P2, the rotation ofconveyor 38 andshaft 39 aboutrespective axes 39a positions axis 41a ofhead 26 crosswise to direction D1 and therefore parallel toaxes 5a ofproducts 5. Moreover, asconveyor 38 feeds eachhead 26 along portion T, and oncehead 26 is aligned vertically with a pocket 12,shaft 39 is moved into the lowered operating position to assignrespective collar 7 toproduct 5 inside pocket 12 and insertwings 9 ofcollar 7 insidecavities 16, and to releasecollar 7 ontoproduct 5 once the suction throughholes 50 is cut off by said distributor. - In the example embodiment shown,
supply unit 6 comprises twopickup heads 26 for alternately picking up and supplyingcollars 7, but a greater number ofheads 26 may be provided, depending substantially on the structural characteristics ofcontinuous packing line 3, or on the type of article to be assigned toproduct 5 at station S2. - Figure 5 shows a
head 26 comprising agripping device 52, which is a variation of, and provides for the same functions as,gripping device 49 described above, but which differs by being mechanical as opposed to pneumatic. That is, for eacharm 43 ofrespective fork 41,device 52 comprises ajaw element 53 movable to and from a gripping position in whichelement 53, in cooperation withrespective arm 43 and with theother element 53 andother arm 43, grips acollar 7 onsurfaces Elements 53 are operated by a known control device (not shown) associated withepicyclic transmission 37, and which provides for movingelements 53 to and from the respective gripping positions in such a manner as to preventelements 53 from interfering withcollars 7 during pickup or supply.
Claims (23)
- A method of supplying articles to a continuous line (3) conveying products (5), in such a manner as to assign a respective article (7) to each product (5), the method comprising the steps of picking up the articles (7) at a pickup station (S4); feeding the articles (7) along a given first path (P2); and supplying the articles (7) to a supply station (S2) located along a second path (P1) along which said products (5) are fed;
said articles (7) being assigned to the respective products (5) along a given portion (T) of said first path (P2) common to said second path (P1); the articles (7) and the products (5) being fed in a given first direction (D1) and at the same given first speed (VI) at least along said given portion (T), the method being characterized in that said given portion (T) is not a substantially single-point portion. - A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by comprising the further step of feeding said articles (7) to said pickup station (S4) at a given second speed (V2) and in a given second direction (D2).
- A method as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that said articles (7) are fed along said first path (P2) by respective pickup and conveying means (26), each having an axis (39a) of orientation movable along an annular third path (P3).
- A method as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that said third path (P3) is substantially triangular-shaped, at least one of the vertices (40) of which is substantially rounded.
- A method as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that two of said vertices (40) are aligned with each other and with said first direction (D1).
- A method as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that one substantially rounded said vertex (40) is substantially located at said pickup station (S4).
- A method as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 2 to 6, characterized in that said first and said second speed (V1, V2) differ from each other.
- A method as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 2 to 7, characterized in that said first speed (V1) is greater than said second speed (V2).
- A method as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 2 to 8, characterized in that said first and said second direction (D1, D2) are parallel to each other.
- A method as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 2 to 9, characterized in that said first path (P2) is an annular path extending about a central axis (38a); said second path (P1) being a substantially straight path.
- A method as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 2 to 10, characterized in that said articles (7) each comprise a central panel (8), and two lateral wings (9) on opposite sides of the panel (8) and connected to the panel (8) along respective preformed bend lines (10) parallel to each other and to a central longitudinal axis (7a) of the article (7); said articles (7) being fed to said pickup station (S4) with the respective central longitudinal axes (7a) parallel to said given second direction (D2), and being fed to said supply station (S2) with the respective central longitudinal axes (7a) crosswise to said first direction (D1).
- A unit for supplying articles to a continuous line (3) conveying products (5), in such a manner as to assign a respective article (7) to each product (5), the unit (6) comprising pickup and conveying means (26) for picking up the articles (7) at a pickup station (S4) and feeding the articles (7) along a given first path (P2) extending through a supply station (S2) located along a second path (P1) along which said products (5) are fed; said first and second paths (P2, P1) having a common portion (T) at said supply station (S2) to enable said pickup and conveying means (26) to assign each article (7) to a respective product (5) traveling, in use, at a given first speed (V1) along said common portion (T) and in a given first direction (D1); said pickup and conveying means (26) being provided with actuating means (37) for moving the pickup and conveying means (26) at said given first speed (V1) at least along said common portion (T); and the unit 6 being characterized in that said common portion (T) is not a substantially single-point portion.
- A unit as claimed in Claim 12, characterized by comprising supply means (23) for supplying said articles (7) to said pickup station (S4) at a given second speed (V2) and in a given second direction (D2).
- A unit as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that said pickup and conveying means '(26) have an axis (39a) of orientation movable along an annular third path (P3) to feed said articles (7) along said first path (P2).
- A unit as claimed in Claim 14, characterized in that said third path (P3) is substantially triangular-shaped, at least one of the vertices (40) of which is substantially rounded.
- A unit as claimed in Claim 15, characterized in that two of said vertices (40) are aligned with each other and with said first direction (D1).
- A unit as claimed in Claim 15 or 16, characterized in that one substantially rounded said vertex (40) is substantially located at said pickup station (S4).
- A unit as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 12 to 17, characterized in that said first and said second speed (V1, V2) differ from each other.
- A unit as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 12 to 18, characterized in that said first and said second direction (D1, D2) are parallel to each other.
- A unit as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 12 to 19, characterized in that said first path (P2) is an annular path extending about a central axis (38a); said second path (P1) being a substantially straight path.
- A unit as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 12 to 20, characterized in that said pickup and conveying means (26) comprise at least two substantially U-shaped pickup heads (26); and, for each said pickup head (26), a gripping device (49; 52) for picking up and retaining a respective said article (7).
- A unit as claimed in Claim 21, characterized in that said gripping device (49) is a pneumatic gripping device.
- A unit as claimed in Claim 21, characterized in that said gripping device (52) is a mechanical gripping device.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITBO970530 | 1997-09-04 | ||
IT97BO000530A IT1294183B1 (en) | 1997-09-04 | 1997-09-04 | METHOD AND UNIT FOR FEEDING ITEMS. |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0900730A2 EP0900730A2 (en) | 1999-03-10 |
EP0900730A3 EP0900730A3 (en) | 1999-07-14 |
EP0900730B1 true EP0900730B1 (en) | 2004-04-07 |
Family
ID=11342504
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP98116685A Expired - Lifetime EP0900730B1 (en) | 1997-09-04 | 1998-09-03 | Method and unit for supplying flat articles |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0900730B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69822947T2 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1294183B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ITBO20020527A1 (en) * | 2002-08-08 | 2004-02-09 | Gd Spa | GROUP TO CONVEY PACKAGES. |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2063811B (en) * | 1979-11-29 | 1983-10-05 | Molins Ltd | Packing of cigarettes |
IT1235957B (en) * | 1989-12-07 | 1992-12-09 | Gd Spa | METHOD OF FEEDING AND FOLDING OF SHEET MATERIAL IN A PACKAGING MACHINE |
-
1997
- 1997-09-04 IT IT97BO000530A patent/IT1294183B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1998
- 1998-09-03 EP EP98116685A patent/EP0900730B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-09-03 DE DE69822947T patent/DE69822947T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69822947T2 (en) | 2005-04-21 |
ITBO970530A1 (en) | 1999-03-04 |
IT1294183B1 (en) | 1999-03-22 |
EP0900730A3 (en) | 1999-07-14 |
EP0900730A2 (en) | 1999-03-10 |
ITBO970530A0 (en) | 1997-09-04 |
DE69822947D1 (en) | 2004-05-13 |
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