EP1462372A1 - Einheit zum Auftragen von Öffnungsvorrichtungen auf Packungen für fliessfähige Nahrungsmittel - Google Patents

Einheit zum Auftragen von Öffnungsvorrichtungen auf Packungen für fliessfähige Nahrungsmittel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1462372A1
EP1462372A1 EP03007130A EP03007130A EP1462372A1 EP 1462372 A1 EP1462372 A1 EP 1462372A1 EP 03007130 A EP03007130 A EP 03007130A EP 03007130 A EP03007130 A EP 03007130A EP 1462372 A1 EP1462372 A1 EP 1462372A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cam
conveyor
unit
station
packages
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03007130A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Gianfranco Cavilli
Andrea Sereni
Omar Succi
Bruno Serafini
Davide Bruzzi
Federico Raimondi
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.)
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Original Assignee
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
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 Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA filed Critical Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Priority to EP03007130A priority Critical patent/EP1462372A1/de
Priority to PCT/EP2004/050382 priority patent/WO2004085260A1/en
Publication of EP1462372A1 publication Critical patent/EP1462372A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/18—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements
    • B65B61/186—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements by applying or incorporating rigid fittings, e.g. discharge spouts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B31B50/74—Auxiliary operations
    • B31B50/81—Forming or attaching accessories, e.g. opening devices, closures or tear strings
    • B31B50/84—Forming or attaching means for filling or dispensing contents, e.g. valves or spouts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a unit for applying opening devices to packages of pourable food products.
  • pourable food products such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature-treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc.
  • UHT ultra-high-temperature-treated milk
  • wine tomato sauce
  • etc. are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
  • a typical example of this type of package is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by folding and sealing a web of laminated packaging material.
  • the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a layer of fibrous material, e.g. paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g.
  • polyethylene and, in the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, defined, for example, by aluminium foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material eventually defining the inner face of the package contacting the food product.
  • a layer of oxygen-barrier material defined, for example, by aluminium foil
  • such packages are produced on fully automatic packaging machines, on which a continuous tube is formed from the web-fed packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized on the packaging machine itself, e.g. by applying a chemical sterilizing agent, such as a hydrogen peroxide solution, which, once sterilization is completed, is removed, e.g. vapourized by heating, from the surfaces of the packaging material; and the web of packaging material so sterilized is kept in a closed, sterile environment, and is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a vertical tube.
  • a chemical sterilizing agent such as a hydrogen peroxide solution
  • the tube is filled with the sterilized or sterile-processed food product, and is sealed and cut along equally spaced transverse sections to form pillow packs, which are then folded mechanically to form the finished, e.g. substantially parallelepiped-shaped, packages.
  • the packaging material may be cut into blanks, which are folded on forming spindles into packages, which are then filled with the food product and sealed.
  • the so-called "gable-top” package known by the trade name Tetra Rex (registered trademark).
  • packages of the above type may undergo further operations, such as application of a closable opening device.
  • opening devices comprise a frame defining an opening and fitted about a pierceable or removable portion of the top wall of the package; and a cap hinged or screwed to the frame, and which is removable to open the package.
  • a cap hinged or screwed to the frame and which is removable to open the package.
  • other, e.g. slidable, opening devices are also known to be used.
  • the pierceable portion of the package may be defined, for example, by a so-called “prelaminated” hole, i.e. a hole formed in the fibrous layer of the packaging material before it is covered with the barrier layer, which thus remains whole and closes the hole to ensure airtight, aseptic sealing, while at the same time being easily pierceable.
  • prelaminated hole i.e. a hole formed in the fibrous layer of the packaging material before it is covered with the barrier layer, which thus remains whole and closes the hole to ensure airtight, aseptic sealing, while at the same time being easily pierceable.
  • the opening devices described are normally applied continuously, straight onto the formed packages, by on-line applicator units downstream from the packaging machine.
  • Applying the opening devices which is done by heat sealing or gluing, calls for precise positioning of the packages with respect to the application means. More specifically, in the case of packages with a prelaminated hole, application of the opening device in the wrong position may result in poor adhesion to the package and malfunctioning of the opening device, which, in use, may result in difficulty in opening the package, product leakage, and gulping when the product is poured out.
  • the position of the hole at the opening device application station however, inevitably involves some degree of uncertainty, owing to the difficulty in establishing a definite application position of each package, and to the position tolerances of the prelaminated hole on the package itself.
  • EP-A-1 215 143 and EP-A-1 215 144 describe opening device applicator units, which substantially comprise a continuously-rotating carousel conveyor for conveying the packages from a loading station to an unloading station via a number of work stations and paths comprising, in particular, a feed station for feeding the opening devices onto the carousel conveyor, a number of heating stations for heating the opening devices, and an application station for applying the opening devices onto the respective packages.
  • Known units of the above type are also equipped with means for locally heating the packages before the respective opening devices are applied; and means for maintaining contact pressure between the packages and the applied opening devices to allow the heat-seal material to cool and so achieve adhesion.
  • the problem of positioning the packages with respect to the opening devices has been partly solved using supporting and positioning members carried on the carousel conveyor and each housing a respective package; and, for each supporting and positioning member, an applicator device for receiving a respective opening device.
  • the supporting and positioning members are position-adjustable individually in a plane parallel to the base plane of the packages, so as to position the packages successively at the application station with the prelaminated hole "centred" with respect to the applicator device.
  • Applicator units of the type briefly described above have various drawbacks.
  • the carousel conveyor for conveying and adjusting the position of the packages, as well as applying the opening devices is extremely complex and expensive and difficult to adjust, mainly owing to certain, in particular heating, operations being of minimum duration, which is incompatible with the time taken by the carousel conveyor to travel through a fixed station, so that complex mechanisms are required to release at least portions of the movement of the applicator devices from that of the carousel conveyor.
  • conveying heavy weights means the package supporting and positioning members must be sized accordingly, thus increasing the overall weight and size of the carousel conveyor, and resulting in dynamic problems.
  • the unit adapts poorly to production changes involving a change in size of the packages, which calls for painstaking retooling work and changing a large number of component parts.
  • an applicator unit as claimed in Claim 1.
  • number 1 indicates as a whole a unit for applying opening devices 2 to aseptic packages 3 of pourable food products.
  • Packages 3 are produced in a packaging unit (not shown) from a web of sheet packaging material comprising a layer of fibrous material covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene; and a layer of barrier material, e.g. aluminium, located inwards of the layer of paper material and in turn covered internally with another layer of plastic material.
  • a web of sheet packaging material comprising a layer of fibrous material covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene; and a layer of barrier material, e.g. aluminium, located inwards of the layer of paper material and in turn covered internally with another layer of plastic material.
  • Packages 3 which are substantially parallelepiped-shaped in the example shown, comprise, on a top wall 4, a pierceable portion 5 conveniently defined by a so-called "prelaminated” hole, i.e. a hole formed in the fibrous layer of the packaging material before the fibrous layer is covered with the barrier layer, which closes the hole to ensure aseptic, airtight sealing, while at the same time being easily pierceable.
  • prelaminated hole i.e. a hole formed in the fibrous layer of the packaging material before the fibrous layer is covered with the barrier layer, which closes the hole to ensure aseptic, airtight sealing, while at the same time being easily pierceable.
  • Opening devices 2 are made of thermoplastic material, and each comprise, in known manner, a frame 6, which is heat sealed about pierceable portion 5 on wall 4 of a respective package 3, and defines a pour opening (not shown); and a cap 7 or cover, which is screwed or hinged to the frame to close the pour opening.
  • the opening devices conveniently comprise known means (not shown) for piercing or removing pierceable portion 5 of package 3 to unseal the package.
  • Unit 1 comprises a first linear step conveyor 8 for conveying a succession of packages 3 along a preferably straight path P1; a second linear step conveyor 9 for conveying a succession of opening devices 2 along a straight path P2 - in the example shown, parallel to and in the opposite direction to path P1; and a step-operated carousel conveyor 10 for feeding opening devices 2 from a pickup station 11, coincident with one of the stop stations of second conveyor 9, to an application station 12 where opening devices 2 are applied to respective packages 3, and which is coincident with one of the stop stations of first conveyor 8.
  • carousel conveyor 10 feeds opening devices 2 along a circular path P3 through a number of intermediate work stations 13, 14, 15, where opening devices 2 are stopped and heated to partly melt the material. More specifically, stations 13 and 14 have respective hot-air heaters 16, 17 for generating and directing respective hot-air jets underneath opening devices 2 at respective stations 13, 14; and station 15 has a hydrogen burner 18, which generates a microflame for locally melting the thermoplastic material of opening device 2.
  • First conveyor 8 comprises a movable bottom surface 19 defined by a continuous belt or by a number of adjacent elements, and defining a supporting surface for the packages; and lateral belt feed devices 20 cooperating with respective opposite sides of packages 3. More specifically, the two feed devices 20 are symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane M containing path P1, and each comprise a number of first belts 21 and a number of second belts 22, which have respective active branches 21a, 22a parallel to and facing plane M ( Figure 2).
  • Belts 21 alternate vertically with belts 22, and cooperate, by means of active branches 21a, with a lateral face of packages 3; and belts 22, whose active branches 22a do not contact the packages, are fitted with a number of vertical feed bars 23 equally spaced by a distance d defining the spacing of packages 3 on first conveyor 8.
  • the position of each package 3 on first conveyor 8 is therefore unequivocally determined transversely by contact with movable surface 19 and branches 21a of belts 21, and longitudinally by contact with two bars 23 forming part of respective feed devices 20.
  • Carousel conveyor 10 ( Figures 2 and 3) comprises a closed, substantially mushroom-shaped supporting structure 24, which is defined by a tubular bottom sleeve 30 supported for rotation about a central tubular pin 31 having a vertical axis A and fixed to a bed 25, and by a rotary, substantially hollow-box-shaped, top table 32 fixed to the top end of sleeve 30.
  • Carousel conveyor 10 also comprises a number of grippers 26 for gripping opening devices 2, and which are equal in number to the stations of carousel conveyor 10, are equally spaced about supporting structure 24, and are connected to supporting structure 24 - with a limited amount of movement along three coordinate axes X, Y, Z of a local reference system, two of which (X, Y) are horizontal and perpendicular to each other, and the third (Z) of which is vertical - by respective supporting and actuating assemblies 27 for supporting and actuating grippers 26.
  • Carousel conveyor 10 also comprises a central control assembly 28 housed inside supporting structure 24 to control supporting and actuating assemblies 27; and control assembly 28 is in turn activated by a drive and transmission assembly 29 housed inside bed 25 and described in detail later on.
  • grippers 26 and respective assemblies 27 are obviously all identical, the following description is limited to the gripper 26 and respective supporting and actuating assembly 27 shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
  • Gripper 26 ( Figure 5) comprises two jaws 32 fitted to a supporting body 33 and defining a seat 34 for a relative opening device 2.
  • the two jaws 32 are fixed to respective control members 35 shown partly in Figure 5, and which are movable along respective parallel horizontal axes B, C symmetrical with respect to a plane R radial with respect to carousel conveyor 10 ( Figures 6 and 7).
  • Control members 35 are operated in conventional manner, not described in detail by not forming part of the invention, to move jaws 32 with respect to each other to insert and retain opening device 2 inside seat 34.
  • Assembly 27 ( Figure 5) comprises a guide body 40 conveniently cast from light alloy, and in which are formed a number of integral tubular portions partly inserted one inside another and forming respective guides. More specifically, body 40 forms two vertical tubular guides 41 having axes D, E parallel to axis Z of the local reference system and lying in a plane R' parallel to and coincident with plane R at a mean position of assembly 27, as explained later on; a tubular guide 42 having a horizontal axis F sloping 45° with respect to plane R' and parallel to axis Y of the local reference system; and a tubular guide 43 having a horizontal axis G sloping 45° in the opposite direction with respect to plane R' and therefore perpendicular to axis F and parallel to axis X of the local reference system.
  • the two horizontal tubular guides 42, 43 x-cross each other, at different heights, in an intermediate area of body 40 located between the two vertical guides 41.
  • Slide 46 comprises two parallel bars 49 sliding inside respective guide bushes 50 housed in respective seats formed in wall 47 and defining prismatic guide 48.
  • Slide 46 comprises an intermediate block 53 fixed rigidly to bars 49 and having a vertical-axis control roller 54, which cooperates with a control rocker arm 55 interacting with central control assembly 28 and described later on.
  • guide 43 is engaged in sliding manner by a rod 56 of axis G ( Figure 7), which is integral with a slide 57 engaged in sliding manner inside a prismatic guide 58 formed in wall 47 of rotary table 32 and parallel to axis F.
  • Slide 57 and relative guide 58 are identical to slide 46 and guide 48, and are therefore not described in detail.
  • Slide 57 comprises an intermediate block 59 having a vertical-axis control roller 60, which cooperates with a control rocker arm 61 interacting with central control assembly 28 and described later on.
  • Assembly 27 also comprises a mechanism 65 for actuating gripper 26 in direction Z.
  • Mechanism 65 substantially comprises a crank 66 rotating about a horizontal axis L parallel to plane R; and a vertical transmission rod 67 connecting body 33 of gripper 26 to crank 66.
  • crank 66 comprises a pin 68, of axis L, fitted through a flat top portion 69 of lateral wall 47 of rotary table 32 and rotating about axis L; a first radial arm 70 fixed rigidly to the end of pin 68 outside rotary table 32, and connected at one end to rod 66 by a hinge 71; and a second radial arm 72 fixed rigidly to the end of pin 68 inside rotary table 32, and supporting a cam-follower roller 73 activated by central control assembly 28.
  • Central control assembly 28 is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and substantially comprises a number of cams 74, 75, 76 for controlling rocker arms 55 and 61 controlling the movement of gripper 26 along the X and Y axes respectively, and crank 66 controlling movement along the Z axis.
  • Cams 74, 75, 76 are substantially defined by disks housed inside the top of rotary table 32 and rotating about axis A of supporting structure 24.
  • cams 74 and 75 are fitted in rotary and axially-fixed manner to tubular pin 31, and are activated by respective vertical-axis servomotors 77, 78 ( Figure 3), housed beneath bed 25, by means of respective vertical-axis transmission shafts 79, 80 having respective end pinions 81, 82 meshing with respective inner teeth 83, 84 of cams 74, 75.
  • Cams 74, 75 have respective peripheral face grooves 85, 86 engaged by respective cam-follower rollers 87, 88 carried by respective rocker arms 55, 61 ( Figures 6 and 7) .
  • Rocker arm 55 ( Figure 6) is substantially Y-shaped, and comprises a stem 89 hinged at its free end to an inner boss 90 of wall 47 of rotary table 32 to rotate about a vertical axis CX; and two arms 91, 92, one of which (91) is fitted with cam-follower roller 87, while the other (92) forms a fork engaged by roller 54 of block 53 of slide 46 to adjust the position of gripper 26 along the X axis.
  • rocker arm 61 ( Figure 7) is substantially Y-shaped, and comprises a stem 94 hinged at its free end to an inner boss 90 of wall 47 of rotary table 32 to rotate about a vertical axis CY; and two arms 96, 97, one of which (96) is fitted with cam-follower roller 88, while the other (97) forms a fork engaged by roller 60 of block 59 of slide 57 to adjust the position of gripper 26 along the Y axis.
  • Bosses 90 are equal in number to and alternate with grippers 26, so that each boss 90 defines axis CX for one assembly 27, and axis CY for the adjacent assembly 27.
  • cams 74, 75 defined by respective grooves 85, 86 are circular, i.e. of zero lift, along most of the circumference of the grooves, with the exception of respective ramp portions 100, 101 ( Figures 6 and 7) facing opening device 2 application station 12, and along which lift increases substantially linearly.
  • Ramp portions 100, 101 are connected to the circular base profile, as of the maximum-lift point, by respective connecting portions 102, 103.
  • the normal angular position of cams 74, 75 is such that cam-follower rollers 87, 88 of rocker arms 55, 61 cooperate with respective points Q, Q' along ramp portions 100, 101 corresponding to half the maximum lift, when gripper 26 is arrested at application station 12.
  • servomotors 77, 78 provide for rotating cams 74, 75 by such an angle as to adjust lift at the point of contact between ramp portions 100, 101 and the respective cam-follower rollers.
  • Cam 76 controlling the movement of gripper 26 along the Z axis has an outer peripheral groove 105 defining a cam profile varying vertically and engaged by cam-follower roller 73 of crank 66.
  • the lifts of cam 76 - in this case, parallel to axis A of rotary table 32 - rotate crank 66, and therefore arm 70 controlling axial displacement of rod 67 connected to supporting body 33 of gripper 26.
  • Groove 105 has a zero-lift (i.e. flat circular) profile along most of its circumference corresponding to a raised position of gripper 26, with the exception of two low portions 106 (only one shown in Figure 2), which, as described later on, interact simultaneously with cranks 66 of grippers 26 when grippers 26 are located at pickup station 11 and application station 12.
  • zero-lift i.e. flat circular
  • Rotation of cam 76 is controlled by a shaft 107, of axis A, which is fitted on the top end with cam 76, is fitted through sleeve 30, and is controlled at the bottom end, housed inside bed 25, by drive and transmission assembly 29 shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.
  • assembly 29 substantially comprises a main horizontal transmission shaft 108 supported for rotation inside bed 25.
  • Transmission shaft 108 rotates uniformly and is driven by a vertical-axis electric motor 109 ( Figure 3) supported beneath bed 25 and having a worm 110 meshing with a helical gear 111 fitted to transmission shaft 108.
  • Shaft 108 controls rotation of rotary table 32 via a known first intermittent transmission mechanism 112 defined by a helical-cam drive wheel 113 fitted to shaft 108, and by a driven disk 114, which has a number of radial drive rollers 115 cooperating in pairs with the helical cams of drive wheel 113, and is fitted to a transmission shaft 116 having an axis parallel to axis A.
  • Shaft 116 is in turn connected to sleeve 30 of supporting structure 24 by two gears 117 ( Figure 3); and the number of drive rollers 115 and the transmission ratios are such that each turn of shaft 108, corresponding to one step of driven disk 114, corresponds to one rotation step (i.e. a fifth of a turn) of rotary table 32.
  • a second intermittent transmission mechanism 118 converts the continuous rotation of shaft 108 into intermittent rotation of a shaft 119 perpendicular to shaft 108, and from which power is derived - in conventional manner not described in detail, by not forming part of the invention - to step-operate first conveyor 8 conveying packages 3, and second conveyor 9 conveying opening devices 2.
  • Shaft 108 controls intermittent rotation of cam 76 via a third intermittent transmission mechanism 120 interposed between shaft 108 and shaft 107 ( Figures 2 and 3). More specifically, mechanism 120 comprises a drive wheel 121 fitted to shaft 108 and having a closed annular peripheral cam 122; and a cam-follower member 123 fitted to shaft 107 and having two radial rollers 124, which follow cam 122 in both directions.
  • cam 122 which is conventional and not shown, is such as to rotate shaft 107 intermittently back and forth, so that cam 76 rotates back and forth during each stop of rotary table 32; during which movement, portions 106 of groove 105 of cam 76 interact with cam-follower rollers 73 of cranks 76 of grippers 26 located at pickup station 11 and opening device 2 application station 12, so that grippers 26 are lowered and then raised while arrested at stations 11 and 12.
  • Servomotors 77 and 78 are controlled by a control unit 125, which is connected to a camera 126 fitted to first conveyor 8 at a detecting station 127 located a given number of steps, e.g. two, upstream from application station 12.
  • Control unit 125 comprises known image processing means 130 connected to camera 126 to determine the position of pierceable portion 5. More specifically, when the pierceable portion is a circular prelaminated hole, image processing means 130 calculate the actual position of the hole centre. Unit 125 also comprises comparing means 131 for comparing the actual position of pierceable portion 5 with a theoretical reference position. In the example shown, the comparing means calculate the coordinates of the hole in an X, Y coordinate system having the origin at the theoretical position of the hole centre, and axes parallel to the corresponding axes of the local X, Y, Z reference system of the gripper 26 arrested at application station 12. The coordinates thus define the position error of the hole with respect to the theoretical position.
  • Unit 125 also comprises memory means 132 for storing the error values; and control means 133 connected to servomotors 77, 78 and generating signals Sx, Sy for controlling the servomotors in response to the error values determined.
  • Unit 1 also comprises a heating device 135 fitted to conveyor 8 at a heating station 136 immediately upstream from application station 12, and which provides for directing an air jet about pierceable portion 5 on the top wall of package 3 to melt the heat-seal outer layer of the packaging material.
  • Unit 1 operates as follows.
  • the opening devices are conveyed in steps by conveyor 9, which is synchronized with rotary table 32, by both being powered by main transmission shaft 108 and being operated in steps by respective transmission mechanisms 114, 118, so that each step of conveyor 9 corresponds to a rotation step of rotary table 32.
  • Packages 3 are conveyed in steps by first conveyor 8, which is also synchronized with rotary table 32 and second conveyor 9.
  • gripper 26 located at pickup station 11 (hereinafter indicated 26.0) is lowered by the back and forth movement imparted by cam 76, via crank 66 and rod 67, to supporting body 33 of gripper 26; gripper 26.0 picks up the opening device and returns to the rest position; and table 32 and conveyor 9 move forward one step.
  • gripper 26.0 is located at the first preheat station 13, where a first hot-air jet is directed onto the opening device to soften the underside surface of frame 6 eventually contacting package 3; and, at the same time, another opening device 2 is picked up by the next gripper 26.1.
  • gripper 26.0 is located at the second preheat station 14, where a second hot-air jet is directed onto opening device 2 to completely melt the underside surface of frame 6.
  • the package 3 to which the opening device 2 carried by gripper 26.0 is to be applied travels through detecting station 127 along first conveyor 8; and the actual position of pierceable portion 5 is determined and compared with the theoretical reference position. More specifically, in the example shown, the actual X, Y coordinates of the hole centre (theoretically 0, 0) are determined and memorized.
  • the package is located at heating station 136, where the surface layer of the packaging material is softened, and opening device 2 is located at station 15, where it is subjected to the microflame generated by burner 18 to melt a surface layer of the material of opening device 2.
  • cam-follower rollers 87, 88 of rocker arms 55, 61 roll along the circular zero-lift portions of the profiles of respective cams 74, 75 throughout rotation of grippers 26 between pickup station 11 and application station 12, so that, during such rotation, supporting and actuating assemblies 27 connect respective grippers 26 rigidly to supporting structure 24 of carousel conveyor 10, and grippers 26 are maintained in a withdrawn position in which the opening device is maintained at a constant minimum centre distance with respect to axis A.
  • the memorized X, Y error values determined at the detecting station are retrieved from memory means 132 and used to generate signals Sx and Sy by which to control servomotors 77, 78.
  • servomotors 77, 78 rotate/maintain respective cams 74, 75 into/in the mean position shown in Figures 6 and 7, and cam-follower rollers 87, 88 are arrested in the position shown, which corresponds to a position in which the centre of opening device 2 coincides with the theoretical position of the centre of pierceable portion 5.
  • This position of gripper 26 is shifted slightly radially outwards with respect to the position assumed at the previous stations, due to cam-follower rollers 87, 88 cooperating with ramp portions 100, 101 of respective grooves 85, 86 of cams 74, 75, and in particular with the respective medium-lift points of ramp portions 100, 101.
  • respective servomotor 77, 78 rotates respective cam 74, 75 to adjust the lift of the point of contact between cam-follower roller 87, 88 and ramp portion 100, 101 of respective groove 85, 86 of cam 74, 75, and consequently the angular position of relative rocker arm 55, 61 at application station 12.
  • the position of gripper 26 along axis X is adjusted by rotating rocker arm 55 about axis CX by contact with ramp portion 100, so that slide 46 moves along prismatic guide 48, and guide body 40 moves in direction X along rod 56.
  • rocker arm 61 is rotated about axis CY by contact with ramp portion 101, so that slide 57 moves along prismatic guide 58, and guide body 40 moves in direction Y along rod 45.
  • cams 74, 75 The angular position of cams 74, 75 is conveniently adjusted as the carousel conveyor rotates, i.e. before gripper 26.0 is arrested at application station 12, thus saving valuable stop time, by gripper 26.0 already being in the correct position by the time the table stops. While stopped, gripper 26.0 is lowered by the back and forth movement imparted by cam 76, via crank 66 and rod 67, to supporting body 33 of gripper 26, applies opening device 2 to package 3, on which the opening device is retained by means not shown and not forming part of the present invention, and then returns to the rest position.
  • cam 76 simultaneously lowers and raises gripper 26.0 and the gripper 26 located at pickup station 11, which thus picks up another opening device 2.
  • opening devices 2 can be positioned relatively easily with respect to the pierceable portions of the relative packages. Since the carousel conveyor only conveys opening devices 2, as opposed to packages 3, and only opening devices 2 are position adjusted, the size and weight of the carousel conveyor are reduced, thus drastically reducing the dynamic problems involved.
  • the stop times at the various stations can be exploited to perform the necessary, in particular heating, operations on the opening devices.
  • the structure of the carousel conveyor can therefore be simplified greatly, by grippers 26, with the exception of the position correction of grippers 26 at application station 12 and the vertical pickup and application movements, rigidly following the movement of supporting structure 24.
  • carousel conveyor 10 needs no retooling, except, possibly, for replacing grippers 26 if opening device 2 is different. That is, alongside variations in package size, linear conveyor 8 need simply be reconfigured to maintain the theoretical position of pierceable portion 5 of package 3 at application station 12.
  • Using three coaxial cams 74, 75, 76 for moving grippers along the three X, Y, Z axes provides for a high degree of compactness; and guide body 40, fitted in sliding manner to rods 44, 45 and 56, provides for guiding grippers 26 along the three axes, and at the same time for transmitting to the grippers the adjustment movements along the X and Y axes and the work movement along the Z axis.
  • opening devices 2 may be glued, as opposed to heat sealed, to packages, 3; in which case, the heating operations are replaced by the application of adhesive.
  • the position of the pierceable portion may be determined differently, especially in the event the pierceable portion is not defined by a circular hole.
EP03007130A 2003-03-28 2003-03-28 Einheit zum Auftragen von Öffnungsvorrichtungen auf Packungen für fliessfähige Nahrungsmittel Withdrawn EP1462372A1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03007130A EP1462372A1 (de) 2003-03-28 2003-03-28 Einheit zum Auftragen von Öffnungsvorrichtungen auf Packungen für fliessfähige Nahrungsmittel
PCT/EP2004/050382 WO2004085260A1 (en) 2003-03-28 2004-03-26 Unit for applying opening devices to packages of pourable food products

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03007130A EP1462372A1 (de) 2003-03-28 2003-03-28 Einheit zum Auftragen von Öffnungsvorrichtungen auf Packungen für fliessfähige Nahrungsmittel

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EP1462372A1 true EP1462372A1 (de) 2004-09-29

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EP03007130A Withdrawn EP1462372A1 (de) 2003-03-28 2003-03-28 Einheit zum Auftragen von Öffnungsvorrichtungen auf Packungen für fliessfähige Nahrungsmittel

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WO (1) WO2004085260A1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007122205A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2007-11-01 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Sa Unit and method for preparing an opening device for gluing to a respective sealed package of a pourable food product
EP2746175A1 (de) * 2012-12-21 2014-06-25 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Einheit zum Aufbringen von Öffnungsvorrichtungen auf versiegelte Packungen von Nahrungsmittelprodukten
CN110891868A (zh) * 2017-07-10 2020-03-17 Sig技术股份公司 夹持和保持具有凸缘和螺旋盖的随后施加在包装件上的分配元件的方法和设备

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WO2007122205A1 (en) * 2006-04-21 2007-11-01 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Sa Unit and method for preparing an opening device for gluing to a respective sealed package of a pourable food product
JP2009534257A (ja) * 2006-04-21 2009-09-24 テトラ ラバル ホールデイングス エ フイナンス ソシエテ アノニム 流動食品用の個々の密封パッケージに接着するために開口装置を準備するユニットおよび方法
CN101426685B (zh) * 2006-04-21 2012-06-13 利乐拉瓦尔集团及财务有限公司 用于准备用于粘合至可倾倒食品的各自密封包装件的开启装置的设备及方法
EP2746175A1 (de) * 2012-12-21 2014-06-25 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Einheit zum Aufbringen von Öffnungsvorrichtungen auf versiegelte Packungen von Nahrungsmittelprodukten
WO2014097275A3 (en) * 2012-12-21 2014-10-30 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Unit for the application of opening devices on sealed packages of food products
CN104822596A (zh) * 2012-12-21 2015-08-05 利乐拉瓦尔集团及财务有限公司 用于将打开装置施加在食物产品的密封包装件上的单元
CN104822596B (zh) * 2012-12-21 2017-07-21 利乐拉瓦尔集团及财务有限公司 用于将打开装置施加在食物产品的密封包装件上的单元
US9878815B2 (en) 2012-12-21 2018-01-30 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Unit for the application of opening devices on sealed packages of food products
CN110891868A (zh) * 2017-07-10 2020-03-17 Sig技术股份公司 夹持和保持具有凸缘和螺旋盖的随后施加在包装件上的分配元件的方法和设备
CN110891868B (zh) * 2017-07-10 2021-10-15 Sig技术股份公司 夹持和保持分配元件的方法和设备

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