EP1516819A1 - Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line - Google Patents

Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1516819A1
EP1516819A1 EP04104560A EP04104560A EP1516819A1 EP 1516819 A1 EP1516819 A1 EP 1516819A1 EP 04104560 A EP04104560 A EP 04104560A EP 04104560 A EP04104560 A EP 04104560A EP 1516819 A1 EP1516819 A1 EP 1516819A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stack
feed unit
roller
hopper
sheets
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP04104560A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1516819B1 (en
Inventor
Andrea Biondi
Nadio Nazario Di Nunzio
Giovanni Madera
Flavio Trebbi
Fiorenzo Draghetti
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.)
GD SpA
Original Assignee
GD SpA
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 GD SpA filed Critical GD SpA
Publication of EP1516819A1 publication Critical patent/EP1516819A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1516819B1 publication Critical patent/EP1516819B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/34Article-retaining devices controlling the release of the articles to the separators
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/12Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
    • B65B43/14Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines
    • B65B43/16Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers
    • B65B43/18Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers by suction-operated grippers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/08Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
    • B65H3/0808Suction grippers
    • B65H3/085Suction grippers separating from the bottom of pile
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2513/00Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
    • B65H2513/10Speed
    • B65H2513/11Speed angular
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2515/00Physical entities not provided for in groups B65H2511/00 or B65H2513/00
    • B65H2515/10Mass, e.g. mass flow rate; Weight; Inertia
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2555/00Actuating means
    • B65H2555/20Actuating means angular
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/17Nature of material
    • B65H2701/176Cardboard
    • B65H2701/1764Cut-out, single-layer, e.g. flat blanks for boxes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line.
  • An automatic product packing machine comprises at least one feed unit for supplying a packing line on the machine with a succession of sheets used in the packing process.
  • the feed units may supply the succession of sheets either by cutting the sheets off a continuous web unwound off a reel, or by withdrawing individual sheets from the bottom of a stack housed inside a hopper.
  • Patent US-A1-4918908 One example of a feed unit for withdrawing individual sheets from the bottom of a stack housed inside a hopper is described in Patent US-A1-4918908, in which a suction pickup roller is rolled against a sheet at a bottom end of the hopper, so that the sheet winds about the roller; once the sheet is fully wound, the pickup roller is arrested in a release position to release the sheet onto an input conveyor of the packing line; and the input conveyor is normally defined by two pickup rollers parallel and tangent to each other to engage the sheet between them.
  • Patent EP-Al-0970885 Another example of a feed unit for withdrawing individual sheets from the bottom of a stack housed inside a hopper is described in Patent EP-Al-0970885, in which a wheel, rotating about its axis, feeds a gripping head continuously along an endless path through a loading station, where the gripping head, oscillating with respect to the wheel about an axis parallel to the wheel axis, engages a withdrawal opening in the hopper to withdraw a sheet, and through a follow-up unloading station, where the gripping head, rotating together with the wheel, feeds the sheet to a feed roller.
  • Feed units with hoppers as described above function correctly at relatively slow operating speeds. At fast operating speeds typical of modern packing machines, however, the sheets close to the bottom of the hopper tend to be shifted out of correct alignment by the mechanical stress exerted on the stack by the pickup device when withdrawing individual sheets. As a result, each sheet is engaged by the pickup device, and so fed to the follow-up packing line, in the wrong position, thus impairing the overall quality of the finished packages and possibly also jamming the packing line.
  • a feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line as claimed in Claim 1 and, preferably, in any one of the following Claims depending directly or indirectly on Claim 1.
  • Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a feed unit for feeding sheets 2 to a packing line (not shown).
  • Feed unit 1 comprises a vertical hopper 3 housing a stack 4 of sheet 2, and having a bottom withdrawal opening 5; and a pickup device 6 which engages withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 to withdraw individual sheets 2 successively from stack 4 and feed sheets 2 to the packing line.
  • hopper 3 comprises four fixed, L-shaped sections 7 located at the four corners of stack 4 to retain stack 4 laterally.
  • Pickup device 6 comprises a wheel 8 rotating about a respective central axis 9; and a suction gripping head 10 supported by wheel 8 to move cyclically along an endless path through a loading station, where gripping head 10 engages withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 to withdraw a sheet 2, and through a follow-up unloading station, where gripping head 10 feeds the sheet to the packing line in known manner.
  • wheel 8 supports a number of gripping heads 10; and each gripping head 10 may be fitted to wheel 8 to oscillate, under the control of a cam actuating system, about a respective axis parallel to central axis 9 of wheel 8.
  • pickup device 6 may be formed differently, e.g. as described in Patent US-A1-4918908.
  • the feed unit comprises two parallel rollers 11 located on opposite sides of stack 4, and each having a lateral surface 12 on which a bottom portion of stack 4 rests. More specifically, as shown more clearly in Figure 3, two major transverse edges of stack 4 rest on respective lateral surfaces 12 of rollers 11.
  • a known actuating device 13 (shown schematically in Figure 2) is connected mechanically to rollers 11, and rotates each roller 11 about a respective longitudinal axis 14 of symmetry in such a direction as to push sheets 2 in stack 4 upwards (i.e. away from withdrawal opening 5, as shown in Figure 3).
  • An alternative embodiment comprises only one roller 11 on one side of stack 4, and respective bottom end portions of fixed sections 7 are located on the opposite side of stack 4 and on a level with roller 11.
  • Actuating device 13 preferably rotates rollers 11 at the same adjustable given constant speed.
  • the rotation speed of rollers 11 is adjusted as a function of the withdrawal rate of sheets 2 from withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 and/or as a function of the number of sheets 2 in stack 4 (and therefore of the weight of stack 4).
  • the portion of lateral surface 12 of each roller 11 contacting stack 4 has a high friction coefficient achieved by knurling comprising a series of grooves parallel to longitudinal axis 14 of symmetry.
  • the portion of the lateral surface of each roller 11 contacting stack 4 may have a covering of elastic material (e.g. rubber).
  • each roller 11 is so formed that its lateral surface only contacts part of stack 4.
  • two knurled portions 15 of each roller 11 only contact part of the extension of stack 4, and are separated by a groove 16.
  • a window for the passage of each sheet 2 is defined between the two rollers 11, and through which each sheet 2 is drawn by pickup device 6 when withdrawing sheet 2.
  • the window defined between the two rollers 11 is smaller than each sheet 2. More specifically, the minimum distance between lateral surfaces 12 of the two rollers 11, measured in a direction perpendicular to longitudinal axes 14 of symmetry of the two rollers 11, is less than the corresponding dimension of each sheet 2 measured in the same direction.
  • Hopper 3 may also comprise at least one fixed horizontal supporting member (not shown) located at withdrawal opening 5 and defining a bottom support of stack 4 to retain stack 4 inside hopper 3.
  • feed unit 1 must comprise a push device for gradually feeding stack 4 towards withdrawal opening 5 (in the hopper 3 shown, this is achieved by force of gravity drawing sheets 2 in stack 4 downwards).
  • suction gripping head 10 engages and exerts force on a sheet 2 to extract sheet 2 from withdrawal opening 5 in the hopper and through the window defined between the two rollers 11; and, since the window defined between the two rollers 11 is smaller than sheet 2, sheet 2 is inevitably deformed elastically to be extracted from hopper 3. Moreover, if bottom supporting members of stack 4 are provided, sheet 2 must be detached from the supporting members by the action of gripping head 10.
  • rollers 11 provide for realigning sheets 2 in stack 4 close to withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3. That is, if sheets 2 close to withdrawal opening 5 are shifted out of correct alignment by the mechanical stress exerted on stack 4 by pickup device 6 when withdrawing individual sheets 2, the action of rollers 11 provides for realigning sheets 2.
  • the action of rollers 11 has also been found to have a separating effect on sheets 2 in stack 4 close to withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3, thus assisting detachment of sheets 2 from stack 4. That is, sheets 2 in stack 4 tend to adhere to one another, thus making it difficult to extract each sheet 2 from withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3.
  • the action of rollers 11, on the other hand tends to separate sheets 2 close to the withdrawal opening, thus counteracting any adhesion phenomena of sheets 2.
  • Feed unit 1 as described above may be used for supplying sheets 2 of any type, e.g. blanks for producing rigid packages, sheets of wrapping material for producing soft packages, or labels or stamps applied to the inside or outside of packages.

Abstract

A feed unit (1) for feeding sheets (2) to a packing line, wherein a pickup device (6) engages a withdrawal opening (5), formed in a vertical hopper (3) housing a stack (4) of sheets (2), to withdraw a single sheet (2) from the stack (4) and feed the sheet (2) to the packing line; two rollers (11) are located on opposite sides of the stack (4) at the withdrawal opening (5) in the hopper (3), and each has a lateral surface (12), on which rests a bottom portion of the stack (4), and rotates continuously about a respective longitudinal axis (14) of symmetry in such a direction as to push the sheets (2) in the stack (4) upwards.

Description

The present invention relates to a feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line.
An automatic product packing machine comprises at least one feed unit for supplying a packing line on the machine with a succession of sheets used in the packing process. The feed units may supply the succession of sheets either by cutting the sheets off a continuous web unwound off a reel, or by withdrawing individual sheets from the bottom of a stack housed inside a hopper.
One example of a feed unit for withdrawing individual sheets from the bottom of a stack housed inside a hopper is described in Patent US-A1-4918908, in which a suction pickup roller is rolled against a sheet at a bottom end of the hopper, so that the sheet winds about the roller; once the sheet is fully wound, the pickup roller is arrested in a release position to release the sheet onto an input conveyor of the packing line; and the input conveyor is normally defined by two pickup rollers parallel and tangent to each other to engage the sheet between them.
Another example of a feed unit for withdrawing individual sheets from the bottom of a stack housed inside a hopper is described in Patent EP-Al-0970885, in which a wheel, rotating about its axis, feeds a gripping head continuously along an endless path through a loading station, where the gripping head, oscillating with respect to the wheel about an axis parallel to the wheel axis, engages a withdrawal opening in the hopper to withdraw a sheet, and through a follow-up unloading station, where the gripping head, rotating together with the wheel, feeds the sheet to a feed roller.
Feed units with hoppers as described above function correctly at relatively slow operating speeds. At fast operating speeds typical of modern packing machines, however, the sheets close to the bottom of the hopper tend to be shifted out of correct alignment by the mechanical stress exerted on the stack by the pickup device when withdrawing individual sheets. As a result, each sheet is engaged by the pickup device, and so fed to the follow-up packing line, in the wrong position, thus impairing the overall quality of the finished packages and possibly also jamming the packing line.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, and which, at the same time, is cheap and easy to produce.
According to the present invention, there is provided a feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line, as claimed in Claim 1 and, preferably, in any one of the following Claims depending directly or indirectly on Claim 1.
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 schematic view in perspective of a feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line in accordance with the present invention;
  • Figure 2 shows a front view of the Figure 1 feed unit;
  • Figure 3 shows a side view, with parts removed for clarity, of the Figure 1 feed unit.
  • Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a feed unit for feeding sheets 2 to a packing line (not shown). Feed unit 1 comprises a vertical hopper 3 housing a stack 4 of sheet 2, and having a bottom withdrawal opening 5; and a pickup device 6 which engages withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 to withdraw individual sheets 2 successively from stack 4 and feed sheets 2 to the packing line. More specifically, hopper 3 comprises four fixed, L-shaped sections 7 located at the four corners of stack 4 to retain stack 4 laterally.
    Pickup device 6 comprises a wheel 8 rotating about a respective central axis 9; and a suction gripping head 10 supported by wheel 8 to move cyclically along an endless path through a loading station, where gripping head 10 engages withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 to withdraw a sheet 2, and through a follow-up unloading station, where gripping head 10 feeds the sheet to the packing line in known manner.
    In a further embodiment not shown, wheel 8 supports a number of gripping heads 10; and each gripping head 10 may be fitted to wheel 8 to oscillate, under the control of a cam actuating system, about a respective axis parallel to central axis 9 of wheel 8.
    Clearly, pickup device 6 may be formed differently, e.g. as described in Patent US-A1-4918908.
    At withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3, the feed unit comprises two parallel rollers 11 located on opposite sides of stack 4, and each having a lateral surface 12 on which a bottom portion of stack 4 rests. More specifically, as shown more clearly in Figure 3, two major transverse edges of stack 4 rest on respective lateral surfaces 12 of rollers 11. A known actuating device 13 (shown schematically in Figure 2) is connected mechanically to rollers 11, and rotates each roller 11 about a respective longitudinal axis 14 of symmetry in such a direction as to push sheets 2 in stack 4 upwards (i.e. away from withdrawal opening 5, as shown in Figure 3). An alternative embodiment comprises only one roller 11 on one side of stack 4, and respective bottom end portions of fixed sections 7 are located on the opposite side of stack 4 and on a level with roller 11.
    Actuating device 13 preferably rotates rollers 11 at the same adjustable given constant speed. Typically, the rotation speed of rollers 11 is adjusted as a function of the withdrawal rate of sheets 2 from withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3 and/or as a function of the number of sheets 2 in stack 4 (and therefore of the weight of stack 4).
    In the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the portion of lateral surface 12 of each roller 11 contacting stack 4 has a high friction coefficient achieved by knurling comprising a series of grooves parallel to longitudinal axis 14 of symmetry. Alternatively, the portion of the lateral surface of each roller 11 contacting stack 4 may have a covering of elastic material (e.g. rubber). As shown more clearly in Figure 2, each roller 11 is so formed that its lateral surface only contacts part of stack 4. In fact, two knurled portions 15 of each roller 11 only contact part of the extension of stack 4, and are separated by a groove 16.
    As shown more clearly in Figure 3, a window for the passage of each sheet 2 is defined between the two rollers 11, and through which each sheet 2 is drawn by pickup device 6 when withdrawing sheet 2. The window defined between the two rollers 11 is smaller than each sheet 2. More specifically, the minimum distance between lateral surfaces 12 of the two rollers 11, measured in a direction perpendicular to longitudinal axes 14 of symmetry of the two rollers 11, is less than the corresponding dimension of each sheet 2 measured in the same direction.
    Hopper 3 may also comprise at least one fixed horizontal supporting member (not shown) located at withdrawal opening 5 and defining a bottom support of stack 4 to retain stack 4 inside hopper 3.
    Clearly, the retaining sections 7 of hopper 3 need not necessarily be vertical, and may slope with respect to the vertical or be horizontal. In the latter case, feed unit 1 must comprise a push device for gradually feeding stack 4 towards withdrawal opening 5 (in the hopper 3 shown, this is achieved by force of gravity drawing sheets 2 in stack 4 downwards).
    In actual use, suction gripping head 10 engages and exerts force on a sheet 2 to extract sheet 2 from withdrawal opening 5 in the hopper and through the window defined between the two rollers 11; and, since the window defined between the two rollers 11 is smaller than sheet 2, sheet 2 is inevitably deformed elastically to be extracted from hopper 3. Moreover, if bottom supporting members of stack 4 are provided, sheet 2 must be detached from the supporting members by the action of gripping head 10.
    Tests have shown that the action of rollers 11 provides for realigning sheets 2 in stack 4 close to withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3. That is, if sheets 2 close to withdrawal opening 5 are shifted out of correct alignment by the mechanical stress exerted on stack 4 by pickup device 6 when withdrawing individual sheets 2, the action of rollers 11 provides for realigning sheets 2. The action of rollers 11 has also been found to have a separating effect on sheets 2 in stack 4 close to withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3, thus assisting detachment of sheets 2 from stack 4. That is, sheets 2 in stack 4 tend to adhere to one another, thus making it difficult to extract each sheet 2 from withdrawal opening 5 in hopper 3. The action of rollers 11, on the other hand, tends to separate sheets 2 close to the withdrawal opening, thus counteracting any adhesion phenomena of sheets 2.
    Feed unit 1 as described above may be used for supplying sheets 2 of any type, e.g. blanks for producing rigid packages, sheets of wrapping material for producing soft packages, or labels or stamps applied to the inside or outside of packages.

    Claims (20)

    1. A feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line; the feed unit (1) comprising a hopper (3) housing a stack (4) of sheets (2) and having a withdrawal opening (5); and a pickup device (6) which engages the withdrawal opening (5) in the hopper (3) to withdraw a single sheet (2) from the stack (4) and feed the sheet (2) to the packing line; the feed unit (1) being characterized by comprising, at the withdrawal opening (5) in the hopper (3), at least one roller (11) having a lateral surface (12) on which a portion of the stack (4) rests; and actuating means (13) for rotating the roller (11) about a respective longitudinal axis (14) of symmetry in such a direction as to push the sheets (2) in the stack (4) away from the withdrawal opening (5).
    2. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the actuating means (13) rotate the roller (11) at a given constant speed.
    3. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the actuating means (13) provide for adjusting the rotation speed of the roller (11).
    4. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the actuating means (13) provide for adjusting the rotation speed of the roller (11) as a function of the withdrawal rate of the sheets (2) from the withdrawal opening (5) in the hopper (3).
    5. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the actuating means (13) provide for adjusting the rotation speed of the roller (11) as a function of the number of sheets (2) in the stack (4).
    6. A feed unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the portion of the lateral surface (12) of the roller (11) contacting the stack (4) has a high friction coefficient.
    7. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the portion of the lateral surface (12) of the roller (11) contacting the stack (4) has a covering of elastic material.
    8. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the portion of the lateral surface (12) of the roller (11) contacting the stack (4) has knurling.
    9. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the knurling comprises a series of grooves parallel to the longitudinal axis (14) of symmetry.
    10. A feed unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein an edge of the stack (4) rests on the lateral surface (12) of the roller (11).
    11. A feed unit as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the roller (11) is so formed that its lateral surface (12) only contacts part of the stack (4).
    12. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the roller (11) is so formed that two separate portions (15) of its lateral surface (12) contact the stack (4).
    13. A feed unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein two parallel rollers (11) are provided, are located on opposite sides of the stack (4), and each comprise a lateral surface (12) on which a portion of the stack (4) rests; the actuating means (13) rotating each roller (11) about a respective longitudinal axis (14) of symmetry in such a direction as to push the sheets (2) in the stack (4) away from the withdrawal opening (5).
    14. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 13, wherein two parallel opposite bottom edges of the stack (4) rest on the two rollers (11).
    15. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 13 or 14, wherein a window for the passage of each sheet (2) and defined between the two rollers (11) is smaller than each sheet (2).
    16. A feed unit as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the minimum distance between the lateral surfaces (12) of the two rollers (11), measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes (14) of symmetry of the two rollers (11), is less than the corresponding dimension of each sheet (2) measured in the same direction.
    17. A feed unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 16, wherein the hopper (3) comprises a number of fixed sections (7) for laterally retaining the stack (4).
    18. A feed unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 17, wherein the hopper (3) comprises at least one fixed supporting member located at the withdrawal opening (5) and defining a support for the stack (4) to retain the stack (4) inside the hopper (3).
    19. A feed unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 18, wherein the hopper (3) is a vertical hopper (3); the actuating means (13) rotating the roller (11) about its longitudinal axis (14) of symmetry in such a direction as to push the sheets (2) in the stack (4) upwards.
    20. A feed unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 19, wherein the pickup device (6) comprises a wheel (8) rotating about a respective central axis (9); and at least one suction gripping head (10) supported by the wheel (8) to move cyclically along an endless path through a loading station, where the gripping head (10) engages the withdrawal opening (5) in the hopper (3) to withdraw a respective sheet (2), and through a follow-up unloading station, where the gripping head (10) feeds the sheet (2) to the packing line.
    EP04104560A 2003-09-22 2004-09-21 Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line Not-in-force EP1516819B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (2)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    IT000549A ITBO20030549A1 (en) 2003-09-22 2003-09-22 SUPPLY UNIT OF SHEETS TO A COLLECTION LINE
    ITBO20030549 2003-09-22

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP1516819A1 true EP1516819A1 (en) 2005-03-23
    EP1516819B1 EP1516819B1 (en) 2007-01-17

    Family

    ID=34179310

    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP04104560A Not-in-force EP1516819B1 (en) 2003-09-22 2004-09-21 Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line

    Country Status (6)

    Country Link
    US (1) US20050098937A1 (en)
    EP (1) EP1516819B1 (en)
    JP (1) JP4597621B2 (en)
    CN (1) CN100503372C (en)
    DE (1) DE602004004336T2 (en)
    IT (1) ITBO20030549A1 (en)

    Cited By (2)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    EP1914169A1 (en) * 2006-10-18 2008-04-23 G.D. S.p.A A unit and a method for feeding labels in a packer machine for tobacco products
    WO2012055520A1 (en) * 2010-10-29 2012-05-03 Mühlbauer Ag Apparatus for separating cards supplied in a stack

    Families Citing this family (6)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    CN102180364B (en) * 2010-07-22 2016-04-13 中钞信用卡产业发展有限公司 Card feeding device and feeding method
    DE102012207320B4 (en) * 2012-05-03 2013-11-21 Maschinenbau Oppenweiler Binder Gmbh & Co. Kg Suction conveyor and method of removing a sheet from a stack of sheets
    CN104828303B (en) * 2015-04-21 2017-04-12 江苏比微曼智能科技有限公司 Annular assembly line with tag paper bagging devices
    CN104828302B (en) * 2015-04-21 2017-04-12 江苏比微曼智能科技有限公司 Annular assembly line
    CN106395004A (en) * 2016-11-28 2017-02-15 张家港爱铝铝箔科技有限公司 Carton conveying device and cartoning machine
    CN110342292B (en) * 2019-06-19 2021-02-05 柳州市铂华智能科技有限公司 Paper positioning and scattering device

    Citations (4)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE2326282A1 (en) * 1973-05-23 1974-12-12 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag REMOVAL DEVICE
    EP0485343A1 (en) * 1990-11-06 1992-05-13 Willi Maschinenbau Ag Device for unstacking and fanning-out flexible sheet articles
    DE29620389U1 (en) * 1996-11-25 1997-01-23 Wollmershaeuser Manfred Blister separation
    US20020056257A1 (en) * 2000-11-14 2002-05-16 Reinhard Deutsch Method of and apparatus for making and manipulating coupons in cigarette packing machines

    Family Cites Families (8)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US4443006A (en) * 1980-07-21 1984-04-17 Billcon Corporation Of America Document and currency counter
    JPS61163259U (en) * 1985-03-29 1986-10-09
    US4767390A (en) * 1987-01-27 1988-08-30 Federal Paper Board Company, Inc. Apparatus for and method of applying handle to carton closure flap
    JPH0218235A (en) * 1988-07-05 1990-01-22 Fujitsu Ltd Sheet feed device
    DE4219445A1 (en) * 1992-06-13 1993-12-16 Tetra Pak Gmbh Device for separating stacked sheets of plastic, cardboard or the like
    JPH06100186A (en) * 1992-09-22 1994-04-12 Hitachi Electron Eng Co Ltd Magnetic card picking mechanism
    JPH08175765A (en) * 1994-12-27 1996-07-09 Glory Ltd Paper sheet storage and delivering device
    JP2000190916A (en) * 1998-12-28 2000-07-11 Sapporo Breweries Ltd Device for holding sheet-shaped corrugated board

    Patent Citations (4)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE2326282A1 (en) * 1973-05-23 1974-12-12 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag REMOVAL DEVICE
    EP0485343A1 (en) * 1990-11-06 1992-05-13 Willi Maschinenbau Ag Device for unstacking and fanning-out flexible sheet articles
    DE29620389U1 (en) * 1996-11-25 1997-01-23 Wollmershaeuser Manfred Blister separation
    US20020056257A1 (en) * 2000-11-14 2002-05-16 Reinhard Deutsch Method of and apparatus for making and manipulating coupons in cigarette packing machines

    Cited By (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    EP1914169A1 (en) * 2006-10-18 2008-04-23 G.D. S.p.A A unit and a method for feeding labels in a packer machine for tobacco products
    US7644916B2 (en) 2006-10-18 2010-01-12 G.D S.P.A. Unit and a method for feeding labels in a packer machine for tobacco products
    WO2012055520A1 (en) * 2010-10-29 2012-05-03 Mühlbauer Ag Apparatus for separating cards supplied in a stack

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    CN100503372C (en) 2009-06-24
    CN1600643A (en) 2005-03-30
    DE602004004336D1 (en) 2007-03-08
    JP4597621B2 (en) 2010-12-15
    JP2005126236A (en) 2005-05-19
    DE602004004336T2 (en) 2007-07-05
    US20050098937A1 (en) 2005-05-12
    EP1516819B1 (en) 2007-01-17
    ITBO20030549A1 (en) 2005-03-23

    Similar Documents

    Publication Publication Date Title
    EP1914169B1 (en) A unit and a method for feeding labels in a packer machine for tobacco products
    EP1516819B1 (en) Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line
    AU2009288641B2 (en) Envelope conveying and positioning apparatus and related methods
    JP2630382B2 (en) Sheet material separation method and apparatus
    KR20010031063A (en) Device for removing plate-like objects
    TWI386357B (en) Inserting apparatus for discrete objects into envelopes and related methods
    US3429570A (en) Carton blank feeding
    US3998449A (en) Method and apparatus for feeding items from a stack
    JP2007137480A (en) Labeling device
    KR100429497B1 (en) A device for separating a flat product loaded from a stack of articles
    EP2046651B1 (en) Apparatus and method for rejecting irregular or faulty labels
    EP1609722B1 (en) Method and unit for folding coupons on a packing machine
    EP3747808B1 (en) Device and method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing
    KR101508928B1 (en) Label Feeder
    JP2004009736A (en) Adhesion machine for folding box with spring-out device
    US10589947B2 (en) Apparatus for franking flat items of mail transported individually or from a supplied stack, such as envelopes, mailers, cards, printed products, sleeves, labels or the like, on a processing line
    US6068253A (en) Adjustable sheet separating device
    EP0787652A1 (en) Device for feeding blanks on a cigarette packing machine
    EP1946939B1 (en) Thick product feeder
    EP3747809A1 (en) Device and method for feeding blanks to a machine for further processing
    CN206476229U (en) A kind of card separating mechanism conveys wheel assembly
    EP1783077A1 (en) Feed unit for feeding sheets to a packing line
    CN206476237U (en) A kind of delivery wheel roller
    CN206476231U (en) A kind of card labelling machine card separating mechanism
    KR20160138696A (en) Apparatus for attaching goods

    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

    AK Designated contracting states

    Kind code of ref document: A1

    Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

    AX Request for extension of the european patent

    Extension state: AL HR LT LV MK

    17P Request for examination filed

    Effective date: 20050922

    AKX Designation fees paid

    Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

    RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

    Inventor name: DI NUNZIO, NADIO NAZARIO

    Inventor name: DRAGHETTI, FIORENZO

    Inventor name: TREBBI, FLAVIO

    Inventor name: MADERA, GIOVANNI

    Inventor name: BIONDI, ANDREA

    GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

    GRAS Grant fee paid

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

    GRAA (expected) grant

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

    AK Designated contracting states

    Kind code of ref document: B1

    Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

    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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: NL

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: FI

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: DK

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: AT

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: SI

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: CH

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: PL

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: GB

    Ref legal event code: FG4D

    RTI1 Title (correction)

    Free format text: FEED UNIT FOR FEEDING SHEETS TO A PACKING LINE

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: EP

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: IE

    Ref legal event code: FG4D

    REF Corresponds to:

    Ref document number: 602004004336

    Country of ref document: DE

    Date of ref document: 20070308

    Kind code of ref document: P

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

    Ref country code: SE

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070417

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

    Ref country code: BG

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070418

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

    Ref country code: ES

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070428

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

    Ref country code: PT

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070618

    ET Fr: translation filed
    NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: PL

    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

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

    Ref country code: SK

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    26N No opposition filed

    Effective date: 20071018

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

    Ref country code: RO

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: CZ

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: BE

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

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

    Ref country code: GR

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070418

    Ref country code: MC

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

    Effective date: 20070930

    Ref country code: IT

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: FR

    Ref legal event code: ST

    Effective date: 20080531

    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: 20070921

    Ref country code: FR

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

    Effective date: 20071001

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

    Ref country code: EE

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

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

    Ref country code: CY

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

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

    Ref country code: LU

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

    Effective date: 20070921

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

    Ref country code: TR

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070117

    Ref country code: HU

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

    Effective date: 20070718

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

    Ref country code: DE

    Payment date: 20100929

    Year of fee payment: 7

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

    Ref country code: GB

    Payment date: 20110926

    Year of fee payment: 8

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

    Effective date: 20120921

    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: 20120921

    Ref country code: DE

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

    Effective date: 20130403

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: DE

    Ref legal event code: R119

    Ref document number: 602004004336

    Country of ref document: DE

    Effective date: 20130403