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
  • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
  • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
  • B65B11/08—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path
  • B65B11/10—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
  • B65B11/105—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents the axis of the tube being parallel to the conveying direction
• • 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
  • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
  • B65B25/06—Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products
  • B65B25/064—Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products of poultry

Definitions

• the invention relates to a packaging machine which is especially suitable for processing packaging from blank to constructed and filled carton.
• the machine is readily adjustable to accommodate various carton types and also to allow the articles to pass through the machine without being packaged.
• the majority of known packaging machines are dedicated machines that construct one type of carton and apply those cartons to articles of known size and shape. However, when articles are not of fixed dimensions then it becomes difficult to automate the packaging process.
• One such example is foodstuff, for example poultry.
• a further problem associated with the prior art is that adjustment to machines usually requires removal of all the cartons within the packaging machine and possibly mechanical adjustment of components in the machine. During this changeover period a machine cannot be used (known as "downtime") which is an expensive delay in the plant.
• the present invention seeks to overcome, or at least mitigate, the problems of the prior art.
• the present invention seeks to overcome these commercial disadvantages by providing one machine which is able to set up and load more than one type of carton.
• One aspect of the invention provides an apparatus to tighten opposed ends of a wraparound carton around an article in a stream of articles of variable size during continuous forward movement.
• the apparatus comprises one or more panel engaging elements to engage one end panel of the carton, a guide assembly to guide the engaged end panel into overlapping relationship with the opposed end panel held by the apparatus.
• the engaging element is mounted to the guide assembly moveable in a transverse direction to the carton feed path to engage the end panel.
• the transverse movement of the engaging element and guide assembly relative to the carton perpendicular to the carton feed direction is determined by cam means.
• the cam means comprises a fixed cam track in which a cam follower attached to the guide assembly slidably fits.
• the tightening device causes the engaging element to move from a deployed position to a retracted position when the desired panel tension is reached thereby to release the engaged end panel.
• the tightening device includes a resilient biasing means to cause the engaging element to move between retraced and deployed positions.
• the guide assembly may be mounted on a continuous conveyor in a parallel plane to a carton conveyor.
• panel securing means to cause the opposing ends of the carton to be placed in face contacting relationship to be secured therewith.
• the panel securing means is further provided by a face of the guide assembly which face guides the overlapping panels in to abutment.
• a glue gun may be provided to apply a layer of glue to one of the end panels to secure the end panels in overlapping arrangement.
• a second aspect of the invention provides a packaging machine for continuously setting up and loading sleeve type cartons with one or more articles, for example, poultry comprising opposed side and end walls which machine comprises an article conveyor for conveying the articles through the machine.
• Carton feed apparatus is provided to sequentially to deliver successive cartons from a supply in flat collapsed condition to a setting up station of the machine and panel folding devices fold the carton into a set up wraparound condition.
• Support means is adapted to be brought into contact with the carton during movement downstream so that the carton is maintained in a set up condition and an article loading apparatus for loading at least one article into one or both ends of the carton.
• FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one type of carton supplied in a flat collapsed condition suitable for use with a machine according to the invention
• FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a machine according to one aspect of the invention.
• FIGURE 3 is a plan view showing the simplified packaging process in the machine as shown in Figure 2;
• FIGURES 4 is perspective view of the carton supply infeed and set up stations of the machine shown in Figure 2;
• FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the article supply of the machine shown in Figure 2;
• FIGURE 6 is a view of the outfeed end of the machine shown in Figure 2;
• FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate the tightening apparatus adapted for use with the carton shown in Figure 1 ;
• the machine according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the drawings is capable of securing different types and shapes of carton and loading one or more articles, for example foodstuff.
• a blank 12 for forming an article carrier for receiving the or each article is made from suitable foldable sheet material, for example paperboard.
• the blank 10 includes a plurality of panels 4, 5, 6 hingedly connected one to the next to form a wraparound package.
• the blank 10 further includes opposed securing flaps 7, 8 to be secured together. Glue flaps are provided to secure the opposed end walls together.
• Panels 3, 3a are provided for forming end structures that are "cup-like" to receive and retain an article within the carton.
• Apertures 9 are provided to receive lugs from the machine during carton construction described below.
• the blanks can vary depending upon the shape and/or quantity of articles to be packaged and accordingly, a machine in accordance with the present invention is adjustable in numerous respects so that it can process a wide variety of such blanks.
• the packaging machine is capable of continuously setting up and loading cartons and comprises an article conveyor 18 for conveying articles A through the machine, carton feed apparatus 14 sequentially to deliver successive blanks 12 from a supply in flat collapsed condition to a carton set-up station 16 of the machine.
• One or more panel folding devices 36, 40 are used to fold the blank so as to be wrapped around the article, support means 54 adapted to be brought into contact with the carton during movement downstream so that the carton is maintained in a set up condition.
• An article loading station 24 is provided for loading at least one article into the part erected carton. Thereafter the ends of the carton are secured together at the carton securing station, before being returned to the conveyor 18 at the outfeed end of the machine.
• the carton feed apparatus 14 comprises a hopper that holds a multiplicity of cartons C in flat collapsed condition are held ready for processing.
• the cartons are removed from the hopper 14 sequentially by a feed mechanism 30, which in this embodiment is a rotary vacuum feeder 32, as is well known in the art.
• the hopper 14 is a "gravity feed” type whereby the carton blanks 12 are held in the hopper 14 at an incline to provide a positive feed.
• the rotary feeder 32 continuously and sequentially feeds cartons from the hopper 14 to the infeed end of the machine and comprises a main shaft 33 mounted in a horizontal plane, that rotates pick up means 35 in the direction indicated by the arrow "A", shown in Figure 4.
• pick up means 35 rotates, suction cups (not shown) are moved in contact with a wall of blank 12.
• a vacuum is then applied to the set of suction cups by the vacuum supply, as is well known, and the blank 12 is withdrawn and then transferred onto an endless conveyor 34 to move the carton downstream in a continuous forward direction to a carton set up station 16 and onto the loading station 22, shown in Figure 2.
• the carton set up station 16 includes a plurality of panel folding devices 36, 38, 40 that are used for blanks that are required to be folded into a wraparound structure.
• the folding devices are used to perform two folding actions on the carton. First the blank 12 is gripped by gripping means, for example conveyor belts 38, shown in Figure 4.
• the first folding device 36 folds the blank about the fold line between the panels 5 and 6 and into a substantially perpendicular relationship such that panel 4 is in a substantially vertical plane to be held in place by guide means 40. Thereafter the second folding device 43 and 54 causes the end structures formed from panels 3 to be set up.
• the folding device 36 in this embodiment, comprises a disc 37 mounted to suitable drive means (not shown), for example a servo motor.
• the motor is controlled by suitable control means, which can cause the rotational velocity of the disc to be varied.
• the disc 37 is preferably 'segment' shaped to define a leading edge 39 that contacts the blank to commence the folding. Thereafter, the inner surface of the wheel abuts the panel 4 to be folded and causes it to continue to be folded as described above.
• the panels 4 and 8 of the blank are held in place by a fixed guide 40.
• Second folding device 43, 54 comprises a carton support lug 54 which is preferably shaped to conform to the shape of the end structure of the carton.
• the lug is cup shaped to cause the end panels 3, 3a to be formed and to support panels 5, 6 and 4.
• the carton support 54 is mounted to an endless conveyor, for example a side lug chain assembly 43.
• the end structure is formed into a recessed portion to receive part of the article at the loading station 22.
• the part erected carton and lug 54 are moved downstream by the conveyor 43.
• the blank may be supported and moved forward by another suitable conveyor to maintain alignment between panels 5 and 4.
• the side lug chain assembly is driven by a suitable drive means which is controlled by a controller.
• Fixed guides (not shown) may be provided to minimise upward movement of the carton.
• the part erected carton C is pushed forward towards the loading station 22 to be loaded with one or more articles.
• the machine is adapted to load poultry into the carton.
• the articles are supplied to the loading station on a second conveyor 18 which runs parallel to and may be synchronised in the same direction X with the first conveyor 16.
• the articles are separated by known metering means.
• the present invention is also capable of switching between an operative condition, whereby articles A are selected from the conveyor 18 to be transferred to the loading station, and an inoperative condition, whereby the articles pass through the machine on the conveyor 18, without being packaged by an outer carton C.
• an article transfer mechanism 20 is provided to push the selected articles towards the carton in direction Y, shown in Figure 3.
• the mechanism 20 comprises a plurality of guide elements 45 mounted to an endless chain 46 to impart lateral movement to the article thereby to remove it from the second conveyor 18.
• the endless chain 46 is driven by suitable drive means to be synchronised with the article conveyor 42 and an intermediate conveyor 48.
• the intermediate conveyor 48 may be provided where, for example, the first and second conveyors 16, 18 are not synchronised.
• the article is conveyed downstream to the transfer device 20.
• the transfer device is an overhead chain assembly 50 with a plurality of lugs 52.
• the lugs 52 engage the article and transfer the article in continuous forward movement to the loading station 22.
• the lugs 52 are preferably synchronised with the movement of the carton C and are angled with respect to the forward movement to cause the article and carton to gradually engage as shown in Figure 5.
• FIG. 3 illustrates two possible positions B and D of the position of end panel 8 on panel 7: position B is when the article is large and position D is when the article is smaller.
• the preferred configuration of the carton tightening device 24 is illustrated in Figure 6,7 and 8.
• the device comprises a plurality of guide assemblies 60 mounted on an endless conveyor 58.
• the endless conveyor is parallel to conveyor 16 so that the guide assemblies are moved in the same direction X as the article and carton.
• Suitable drive means drives the conveyor 58 and a controller is provided to control the position and velocity of the guide assemblies so as to be synchronised with the carton C and lug 54.
• the guide assemblies 60 are moveable in a lateral plane by a cam track 78 and cam follower 74 mounted to the guide assemblies.
• One preferred embodiment of assembly is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.
• the assembly 60 comprises one or more elements 66, 67 mounted in a corresponding track 68 to allow the elements to move in a planar direction Z ( Figure 8).
• Each element is mounted to a support member 70 which in turn is mounted to a shaft.
• the support member 70 is biased by biasing means 72 to be in an extended position designated as position K in Figure 7.
• Biasing means may comprise a compression spring or other known suitable resilient biasing member.
• the body 76 of the guide assembly is mounted on a guide rail 79 to allow lateral movement as the cam follower follow the cam track 78.
• the elements 66, 67 are brought into alignment with the apertures 9 of the carton, by folding panel 8 out of alignment with panel 4.
• the guide assembly is moved laterally by the path of the cam to cause the elements to engage the apertures 9 as shown in Figure 8.
• Glue is applied to the panel 8 by a glue gun 65 and as the carton moves downstream, the guide assembly continues to move laterally towards the article A. This movement causes panels 4 and 8 to wrap around the article A and into overlapping relationship with panel 7.
• the guide assemblies continue to move laterally so the carton panels become tensioned.
• the degree of tensioning is determined by the resilient means 72, so that once the pack has reach the desired level of tension the springs 72 will compress which will cause the body 70 and elements 66, 67 to move in the opposite direction to the guide assembly 60.
• the cam track causes the lateral movement of the guide assembly 60 to be reversed to facilitate the separation of the elements 66,67 from the carton and the biasing means causes the elements to return to the rest position.
• Suitable guide means engages the package P, shown in Figure 6 and transfers it back to the article conveyor 42 to the outfeed end.
• the guide means comprises an overhead chain assembly 82 and lug 84 and a fixed guide 86.
• the machine 10 includes a controller arranged to control the speed of the conveyors 16, 18, 48, 82 during use so that packaging speeds of 40 to 60 pack per minute can be achieved.
• This controller may be a dedicated processor controlling the individual conveyors and the guide assembly or may be a control means for a packaging machine. Alternatively, the controller may preferably be a known, programmable servo control system.
• the controller receives information from a sensor (not shown) arranged to detect the speed of the continuous conveyors ; which may detect the speed of the belt and/ or position of the article or carton directly.
• the apparatus may include means in the form of a sensor for receiving information regarding the speed of the cartons on the conveyor which is transmitted to the control means.
• there may be manual input means through which the speed of the cartons on the feed path may be input into the control means.
• the adjustments to the machine required to change from packaging one carton type to another carton type can be pre-set.
• the speed of operation of the apparatus is improved as well as its efficiency and durability.
• An advantage of the present invention is the flexibility offered by the system.
• the packaging machine is capable of switching from one carton type or size to another with a minimal down time.
• the invention is not limited to cartons for poultry.
• the invention may be used with machines for packaging cans, paperboard 'bricks', bottles and other containers into cartons, but it is particularly useful where the article size may vary.
• carton manipulating apparatus for example carton manipulating apparatus, folding apparatus, set up station, loading station or carton tightening means can be manufactured separately as a module to be incorporated into new machines or supplied on a retrofit basis without departing from the scope of invention.
• the carton tightening mechanism is able to process cartons comprising numerous configurations or groups of articles covering a range of carton size and shape, without undue time being spent in adjusting the mechanism.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=10866157

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1999
  • 1999-12-10 GB GBGB9929350.8A patent/GB9929350D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2000
  • 2000-12-11 AT AT00984189T patent/ATE262446T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-12-11 ES ES00984189T patent/ES2218260T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-12-11 CA CA002393750A patent/CA2393750C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-12-11 WO PCT/US2000/033553 patent/WO2001042084A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-12-11 MX MXPA02005787A patent/MXPA02005787A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-12-11 EP EP00984189A patent/EP1240082B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-12-11 AU AU20855/01A patent/AU2085501A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-12-11 DE DE60009341T patent/DE60009341T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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