EP1560754A1 - Machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products - Google Patents

Machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products

Info

Publication number
EP1560754A1
EP1560754A1 EP03780625A EP03780625A EP1560754A1 EP 1560754 A1 EP1560754 A1 EP 1560754A1 EP 03780625 A EP03780625 A EP 03780625A EP 03780625 A EP03780625 A EP 03780625A EP 1560754 A1 EP1560754 A1 EP 1560754A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
seat
machine
station
relative
unloading
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Withdrawn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
EP03780625A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Sandro Salicini
Eros Stivani
Stefano Cavallari
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.)
Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Original Assignee
Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA 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 Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA filed Critical Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Publication of EP1560754A1 publication Critical patent/EP1560754A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G57/00—Stacking of articles
    • B65G57/02—Stacking of articles by adding to the top of the stack
    • B65G57/16—Stacking of articles of particular shape
    • B65G57/20—Stacking of articles of particular shape three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical
    • 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
    • B65B11/38—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths
    • B65B11/40—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
    • B65B11/42—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
    • 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
    • B65B11/54—Wrapping by causing the wrapper to embrace one end and all sides of the contents, and closing the wrapper onto the opposite end by forming regular or irregular pleats
    • 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
    • B65B25/005—Packaging other articles presenting special problems packaging of confectionery
    • 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
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/46—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by rotary conveyors
    • 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
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/50—Stacking one article, or group of articles, upon another before packaging
    • B65B35/52—Stacking one article, or group of articles, upon another before packaging building-up the stack from the bottom
    • 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
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
    • B65B57/14—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
    • 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
    • B65B61/28—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for discharging completed packages from machines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/02—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors
    • B65G47/04—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
    • B65G47/06—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
    • B65G47/08—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
    • B65G47/082—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding grouping articles in rows
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G57/00—Stacking of articles
    • B65G57/28—Stacking of articles by assembling the articles and tilting the assembled articles to a stacked position
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02—Articles
    • B65G2201/0202—Agricultural and processed food products
    • B65G2201/0205—Biscuits

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products.
  • the present invention relates to a machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products, of the type comprising a stacking plate rotating in steps about a respective axis; a loading station and an unloading station for said stacking plate; a number of radial seats formed on said stacking plate, each seat receiving a relative stack and having an inlet moving with the stacking plate along an annular path extending about said axis and through the loading and unloading stations; feed means for feeding the products successively to said inlet at the loading station and in a radial direction with respect to said axis; and unloading means for unloading the stacks successively at said unloading station.
  • the present invention may be used to particular advantage for wrapping sweets and similar, such as chocolates, confectionery, etc., to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
  • a machine for wrapping products as claimed in Claim 1 and, preferably, in any one of the Claims depending directly and/or indirectly on Claim 1.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 shows a larger-scale, schematic plan view of a detail of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 shows a section along line III-III in Figure 2 ;
  • Figure 4 shows a section along line IV-IV in Figure 2.
  • Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a machine for wrapping sweets 2, and comprising a known spacing plate 3 rotating (clockwise in the drawings) in steps about a vertical axis 4, and for receiving a random stream (not shown) of sweets 2 and arranging sweets 2 in an orderly succession along a spacing rim 5, which defines the outer periphery of spacing plate 3 and comprises a number of through seats 6 for receiving respective sweets 2.
  • Spacing rim 5 extends through a transfer station 7 where, by means of a known ejecting unit not shown, sweets 2 are expelled upwards from relative seats 6 and fed, in a direction 8 parallel to axis 4, to respective peripheral seats 9 of a transfer wheel 10 located alongside spacing plate 3 and rotating in steps about an axis 11 parallel to axis 4 to feed sweets 2 successively from transfer station 7 to a transfer station 12 diametrically opposite transfer station 7.
  • Known transfer wheel 10 defines an input wheel of a wrapping unit 13 for receiving sweets 2 successively from spacing plate 3 , and for wrapping them in respective sheets 14 of wrapping material fed to transfer station 12 by a feed line 15, where a continuous strip 16 is unwound off a reel 17 and fed along a path comprising a substantially horizontal end portion 18 terminating at transfer station 12 and extending through a cutting station 19 where sheets 14 of wrapping material are cut off strip 16.
  • End portion 18 extends substantially in a plane defined by axes 4 and 11 just above seats 9, so as to feed each sheet 14 of wrapping material over a respective sweet 2 at transfer station 12, and define, with respective sweet 2, a group which is transferred, in a direction 20 parallel to transfer direction 8, and by means of a known push unit not shown, from transfer wheel 10 to a respective peripheral seat 21 on a further transfer wheel 22, via a known wrapping unit 23, on which each sweet 2 is wrapped completely, in known manner, in a relative sheet 14 of wrapping material.
  • Transfer wheel 22 which is known and defines an output wheel of wrapping unit 13, is located directly over transfer wheel 10, and rotates, anticlockwise in Figure 1, in steps about a substantially horizontal axis 24 to feed the wrapped sweets 2, indicated 2a, successively to a loading station 25 of a stacking plate 26, which rotates, anticlockwise in Figure 1, in steps about a respective axis 27 tilted substantially 30° upwards towards spacing plate 3 with respect to direction 20.
  • Stacking plate 26 lies in a radial plane with respect to transfer wheel 22, and is located on the opposite side of transfer wheel 22 to spacing plate 3, and over end portion 18 of feed line 15.
  • a known push unit expels sweets 2a from relative seats 21, and feeds them successively, in a radial direction 28 with respect to stacking plate 26, through the inlets 29 of a number of radial seats 30 on stacking plate 26, to form, inside each seat 30, a stack 31 comprising a given number of sweets 2a.
  • Stacking plate 26 feeds each inlet 29 in steps along an annular path P extending through loading station 25 and a downstream reject station 32, and transfers stacks 31 about axis 27 and between loading station 25 and an unloading station 33 downstream from reject station 32 and at 90° with respect to loading station 25.
  • each stack 31 is expelled, by unloading means comprising an ejecting member 34, from relative seat 30 in a direction 35 parallel to axis 27, and is fed to a wrapping unit 36 for successively receiving stacks 31 from stacking plate 26, and for wrapping them in respective sheets 37 of wrapping material fed by a feed line 38, where a continuous strip 39 is unwound off a reel 40 and fed over seats 30 via a cutting station 41, where sheets 37 of wrapping material are cut off strip 39.
  • each sheet 37 is wrapped in known manner about relative stack 31 to form a wrapped stack 42, which is transferred in known manner from wrapping unit 36 to an unloading conveyor 43.
  • stacking plate 26 comprises a disk 44 having an equal number of (in the example shown, eight) radial lobes 45, which are equally spaced about axis 27 and have respective radial slots 46, each aligned with another radial slot 46 to define a pair 47 of radial slots 46 communicating and aligned with each other along a respective diameter of disk 44.
  • Disk 44 has a central opening 48 occupied partly by an annular body 49 fitted, in a manner not shown, to a shaft (not shown and coaxial with axis 27) for moving stacking plate 26 in steps about axis 27 and anticlockwise in Figure 1.
  • Annular body 49 has stop means 50 comprising a number of radial appendixes 50, each of which is fitted inside an inner end portion of a respective radial slot 46 to define, inside radial slot 46, a respective seat 30, the inlet 29 of which coincides with the outer end of relative radial slot 46.
  • Each pair 47 of radial slots 46 is fitted inside in sliding manner with a slide or counter-pusher 51 comprising a rod 52 fitted in sliding manner to annular body 49 and to relative appendixes 50, and having, at each end, a transverse head 53 fitted in sliding manner inside relative seat 30.
  • Rod 52 is twice as long as a radial slot 46 minus the length of a stack 31, so that, when one of heads 53 is in an inner limit position at the end of relative radial seat 30 and contacting the free end of relative radial appendix 50, the other head 53 is in an outer limit position at the inlet 29 of relative radial slot 46.
  • Each head 53 has a bottom edge contacting a radial strip 54 defining a bottom wall of relative seat 30. More specifically, each strip 54, which extends radially, defines, at the bottom of relative seat 30, due longitudinal slots 55 on opposite sides of relative strip 54.
  • Stacking plate 26 comprises a brake member 56 for braking the travel of counter-pushers 51 along relative pairs 47 of radial slots 46, and in turn comprising, for each counter-pusher 51, a leaf spring 57 fitted at central opening 48 with its concavity facing downwards, and with its opposite ends pressed onto relative rod 52.
  • leaf springs 57 are connected to one another by a central bolt 58, and the pack of leaf springs 57 so formed is pressed onto rods 52, which intersect at central opening 48, by a bell 59 coaxial with axis 27 and fitted to the top surface of disk 44 by a number of screws 60 ( Figure 2) .
  • loading station 25, reject station 32, and unloading station 33 are arranged successively along an arc, which forms part of path P, is subtended by a central angle of less than 180° and of 90° in the example shown, and extends along a guide 61 located outwards of the outer periphery of disk 44 to retain stacks 31 inside relative seats 30 as stacking plate 26 is fed in steps between loading station 25 and unloading station 33.
  • guide 61 is fitted with a conduit 62 having an inverted-U-shaped cross section, and extending radially with respect to stacking plate 26 and over disk 44.
  • a first end of conduit 62 faces axis 27 and the outlet of an end nozzle 63 of a compressed-air circuit 64; and a second end of conduit 62, opposite the first end, is aligned with the inlet of a reject header 65 for stacks 31.
  • First unloading means 66 are located beneath disk 44 at reject station 32, and comprise an ejecting member 66 substantially identical with ejecting member 34, and which, like ejecting member 34, comprises an actuator 67 parallel to axis 27 and having an output member defined at the end portion by a fork 68 facing disk 44 and comprising two plates 69, which are parallel to each other and to axis 27, and, when raised by relative actuator 67, engage slots 55 of a respective seat 30 to lift relative stack 31 up off disk 44.
  • plates 69 of ejecting member 66 lift relative stack 31 into conduit 62 and into a position facing nozzle 63, which "shoots" it into reject header 65.
  • ejecting member 34 lifts relative stack 31 in direction 35 into a pickup position for removal by a relative known gripping head (not shown) of wrapping unit 36.
  • machine 1 also comprises a control device 70 for controlling said first unloading means 66.
  • Control device 70 comprises a preferably, though not necessarily, inductive proximity sensor 71, which is located at a detecting station 72 diametrically opposite loading station 25, and is activated by a head 53 of a relative rod 52 when the head 53 is in the outer limit position.
  • stacking plate 26 Operation of stacking plate 26 will now be described with reference to one seat 30 and to the seat, hereinafter indicated 30a, coaxial with seat 30, and as of the instant in which the seat 30 considered is arrested at loading station 25 with relative head 53 in the outer limit position.
  • seat 30 begins receiving relative wrapped sweets 2a, which are removed, by a known transfer device not shown, from respective peripheral seats 21 on transfer wheel 22, and are fed successively in direction 28 through inlet 29 of seat 30.
  • relative counter- pusher 51 slides, in opposition to brake member 56, by a length equal to the thickness of the inserted sweet 2a, so that, upon insertion of a given n number of sweets 2a equal to the number of sweets 2a in each stack 31, the head 35 mounted to slide inside seat 30 reaches its inner limit position contacting the free end of relative radial appendix 50, while the other head 53, mounted to slide inside seat 30a, reaches its outer limit position, and activates sensor 71, which disables operation of reject station 32 at the next step.
  • proximity sensor 71 is only activated when stack 31 has actually been completed.
  • the next step of stacking plate 26 brings the seat 30 considered to a stop at reject station 32.
  • a further two steps of stacking plate 26 bring the by now empty seat 30 to detecting station 72, and the relative empty seat 30a to loading station 25 to start another operating cycle identical with that described relative to relative seat 30.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Abstract

In a machine for forming and wrapping stacks (31) of products (2a), a stacking plate (26), having a number of radial seats (30) for relative stacks (31) of products, rotates in steps about a respective axis (27) to feed each seat (30) along an annular path (P) extending through a loading station (25) for loading individual products (2a), a reject station (32), and an unloading station (33) for unloading stacks (31); the reject station (32) being controlled by a sensor (71) activated selectively by counter-pushers (51), each of which is moved along a relative seat (30) by the individual products (2a) fed successively through an inlet (29) of the seat (30) at the loading station (25).

Description

MACHINE FOR FORMING AND WRAPPING STACKS OF PRODUCTS
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products, of the type comprising a stacking plate rotating in steps about a respective axis; a loading station and an unloading station for said stacking plate; a number of radial seats formed on said stacking plate, each seat receiving a relative stack and having an inlet moving with the stacking plate along an annular path extending about said axis and through the loading and unloading stations; feed means for feeding the products successively to said inlet at the loading station and in a radial direction with respect to said axis; and unloading means for unloading the stacks successively at said unloading station.
The present invention may be used to particular advantage for wrapping sweets and similar, such as chocolates, confectionery, etc., to which the following description refers purely by way of example. BACKGROUND ART
In known machines, particularly sweet wrapping machines, of the above type, all the components upstream from the stacking plate are step-operated at a given fixed first rate, while the stacking plate and all the components downstream from it are step-operated at a fixed second rate depending on the first rate and on the number of sweets in each stack formed on the stacking plate.
Given the possibility of gaps in the succession of sweets fed to the stacking plate, incomplete stacks may be formed and fed to the follow-up stations, thus resulting either in faulty finished wrappings or in jamming, removal of which involves stopping, and so greatly impairing the efficiency of, the machine.
In known wrapping machines of the above type, any incomplete stacks can normally be detected, though only using relatively complex, high-cost detecting devices, which are not always reliable, and which increase the cost and reduce the output capacity of the machine. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for wrapping products, in particular sweets, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, and which is cheap and easy to produce.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for wrapping products, in particular sweets, designed to detect incomplete stacks of products as simply as possible.
According to the present invention, there is provided a machine for wrapping products, as claimed in Claim 1 and, preferably, in any one of the Claims depending directly and/or indirectly on Claim 1.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a larger-scale, schematic plan view of a detail of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a section along line III-III in Figure 2 ;
Figure 4 shows a section along line IV-IV in Figure 2. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a machine for wrapping sweets 2, and comprising a known spacing plate 3 rotating (clockwise in the drawings) in steps about a vertical axis 4, and for receiving a random stream (not shown) of sweets 2 and arranging sweets 2 in an orderly succession along a spacing rim 5, which defines the outer periphery of spacing plate 3 and comprises a number of through seats 6 for receiving respective sweets 2. Spacing rim 5 extends through a transfer station 7 where, by means of a known ejecting unit not shown, sweets 2 are expelled upwards from relative seats 6 and fed, in a direction 8 parallel to axis 4, to respective peripheral seats 9 of a transfer wheel 10 located alongside spacing plate 3 and rotating in steps about an axis 11 parallel to axis 4 to feed sweets 2 successively from transfer station 7 to a transfer station 12 diametrically opposite transfer station 7.
Known transfer wheel 10 defines an input wheel of a wrapping unit 13 for receiving sweets 2 successively from spacing plate 3 , and for wrapping them in respective sheets 14 of wrapping material fed to transfer station 12 by a feed line 15, where a continuous strip 16 is unwound off a reel 17 and fed along a path comprising a substantially horizontal end portion 18 terminating at transfer station 12 and extending through a cutting station 19 where sheets 14 of wrapping material are cut off strip 16.
End portion 18 extends substantially in a plane defined by axes 4 and 11 just above seats 9, so as to feed each sheet 14 of wrapping material over a respective sweet 2 at transfer station 12, and define, with respective sweet 2, a group which is transferred, in a direction 20 parallel to transfer direction 8, and by means of a known push unit not shown, from transfer wheel 10 to a respective peripheral seat 21 on a further transfer wheel 22, via a known wrapping unit 23, on which each sweet 2 is wrapped completely, in known manner, in a relative sheet 14 of wrapping material.
Transfer wheel 22, which is known and defines an output wheel of wrapping unit 13, is located directly over transfer wheel 10, and rotates, anticlockwise in Figure 1, in steps about a substantially horizontal axis 24 to feed the wrapped sweets 2, indicated 2a, successively to a loading station 25 of a stacking plate 26, which rotates, anticlockwise in Figure 1, in steps about a respective axis 27 tilted substantially 30° upwards towards spacing plate 3 with respect to direction 20. Stacking plate 26 lies in a radial plane with respect to transfer wheel 22, and is located on the opposite side of transfer wheel 22 to spacing plate 3, and over end portion 18 of feed line 15.
At loading station 25, a known push unit (not shown) expels sweets 2a from relative seats 21, and feeds them successively, in a radial direction 28 with respect to stacking plate 26, through the inlets 29 of a number of radial seats 30 on stacking plate 26, to form, inside each seat 30, a stack 31 comprising a given number of sweets 2a.
Stacking plate 26 feeds each inlet 29 in steps along an annular path P extending through loading station 25 and a downstream reject station 32, and transfers stacks 31 about axis 27 and between loading station 25 and an unloading station 33 downstream from reject station 32 and at 90° with respect to loading station 25. At unloading station 33, each stack 31 is expelled, by unloading means comprising an ejecting member 34, from relative seat 30 in a direction 35 parallel to axis 27, and is fed to a wrapping unit 36 for successively receiving stacks 31 from stacking plate 26, and for wrapping them in respective sheets 37 of wrapping material fed by a feed line 38, where a continuous strip 39 is unwound off a reel 40 and fed over seats 30 via a cutting station 41, where sheets 37 of wrapping material are cut off strip 39. On wrapping unit 36, each sheet 37 is wrapped in known manner about relative stack 31 to form a wrapped stack 42, which is transferred in known manner from wrapping unit 36 to an unloading conveyor 43. As shown in Figure 2, stacking plate 26 comprises a disk 44 having an equal number of (in the example shown, eight) radial lobes 45, which are equally spaced about axis 27 and have respective radial slots 46, each aligned with another radial slot 46 to define a pair 47 of radial slots 46 communicating and aligned with each other along a respective diameter of disk 44. Disk 44 has a central opening 48 occupied partly by an annular body 49 fitted, in a manner not shown, to a shaft (not shown and coaxial with axis 27) for moving stacking plate 26 in steps about axis 27 and anticlockwise in Figure 1. Annular body 49 has stop means 50 comprising a number of radial appendixes 50, each of which is fitted inside an inner end portion of a respective radial slot 46 to define, inside radial slot 46, a respective seat 30, the inlet 29 of which coincides with the outer end of relative radial slot 46.
Each pair 47 of radial slots 46 is fitted inside in sliding manner with a slide or counter-pusher 51 comprising a rod 52 fitted in sliding manner to annular body 49 and to relative appendixes 50, and having, at each end, a transverse head 53 fitted in sliding manner inside relative seat 30. Rod 52 is twice as long as a radial slot 46 minus the length of a stack 31, so that, when one of heads 53 is in an inner limit position at the end of relative radial seat 30 and contacting the free end of relative radial appendix 50, the other head 53 is in an outer limit position at the inlet 29 of relative radial slot 46.
Each head 53 has a bottom edge contacting a radial strip 54 defining a bottom wall of relative seat 30. More specifically, each strip 54, which extends radially, defines, at the bottom of relative seat 30, due longitudinal slots 55 on opposite sides of relative strip 54.
Stacking plate 26 comprises a brake member 56 for braking the travel of counter-pushers 51 along relative pairs 47 of radial slots 46, and in turn comprising, for each counter-pusher 51, a leaf spring 57 fitted at central opening 48 with its concavity facing downwards, and with its opposite ends pressed onto relative rod 52. As shown in Figure 3, leaf springs 57 are connected to one another by a central bolt 58, and the pack of leaf springs 57 so formed is pressed onto rods 52, which intersect at central opening 48, by a bell 59 coaxial with axis 27 and fitted to the top surface of disk 44 by a number of screws 60 (Figure 2) .
As shown more clearly in Figure 2 , loading station 25, reject station 32, and unloading station 33 are arranged successively along an arc, which forms part of path P, is subtended by a central angle of less than 180° and of 90° in the example shown, and extends along a guide 61 located outwards of the outer periphery of disk 44 to retain stacks 31 inside relative seats 30 as stacking plate 26 is fed in steps between loading station 25 and unloading station 33. As shown more clearly in Figure 3, at reject station 32, guide 61 is fitted with a conduit 62 having an inverted-U-shaped cross section, and extending radially with respect to stacking plate 26 and over disk 44. A first end of conduit 62 faces axis 27 and the outlet of an end nozzle 63 of a compressed-air circuit 64; and a second end of conduit 62, opposite the first end, is aligned with the inlet of a reject header 65 for stacks 31.
First unloading means 66 are located beneath disk 44 at reject station 32, and comprise an ejecting member 66 substantially identical with ejecting member 34, and which, like ejecting member 34, comprises an actuator 67 parallel to axis 27 and having an output member defined at the end portion by a fork 68 facing disk 44 and comprising two plates 69, which are parallel to each other and to axis 27, and, when raised by relative actuator 67, engage slots 55 of a respective seat 30 to lift relative stack 31 up off disk 44.
More specifically, at reject station 32, plates 69 of ejecting member 66 lift relative stack 31 into conduit 62 and into a position facing nozzle 63, which "shoots" it into reject header 65. At unloading station 33, on the other hand, ejecting member 34 lifts relative stack 31 in direction 35 into a pickup position for removal by a relative known gripping head (not shown) of wrapping unit 36.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, machine 1 also comprises a control device 70 for controlling said first unloading means 66. Control device 70 comprises a preferably, though not necessarily, inductive proximity sensor 71, which is located at a detecting station 72 diametrically opposite loading station 25, and is activated by a head 53 of a relative rod 52 when the head 53 is in the outer limit position.
Operation of stacking plate 26 will now be described with reference to one seat 30 and to the seat, hereinafter indicated 30a, coaxial with seat 30, and as of the instant in which the seat 30 considered is arrested at loading station 25 with relative head 53 in the outer limit position.
As of this instant, seat 30 begins receiving relative wrapped sweets 2a, which are removed, by a known transfer device not shown, from respective peripheral seats 21 on transfer wheel 22, and are fed successively in direction 28 through inlet 29 of seat 30. As each sweet 2a is inserted inside seat 30, relative counter- pusher 51 slides, in opposition to brake member 56, by a length equal to the thickness of the inserted sweet 2a, so that, upon insertion of a given n number of sweets 2a equal to the number of sweets 2a in each stack 31, the head 35 mounted to slide inside seat 30 reaches its inner limit position contacting the free end of relative radial appendix 50, while the other head 53, mounted to slide inside seat 30a, reaches its outer limit position, and activates sensor 71, which disables operation of reject station 32 at the next step.
In connection with the above, it should be pointed out that proximity sensor 71 is only activated when stack 31 has actually been completed.
The next step of stacking plate 26 brings the seat 30 considered to a stop at reject station 32.
If the relative stack 31 is incomplete, e.g. due to gaps along wrapping unit 23, so that sensor 71 is not activated to disable reject station 32, ejecting member 66 is automatically activated to lift the incomplete stack 31 out of seat 30, and circuit 64 is activated to "shoot" stack 31 into reject header 65. Conversely, i.e. if sensor 71 is activated, stack 31 remains inside seat 30, and is fed, at the next step of stacking plate 26, to unloading station 33, where it is lifted by ejecting device 34 and transferred to wrapping unit 36, leaving counter-pusher 51 in its former position, in which, the head 53 housed inside the seat 30 considered is in the inner limit position, and the head 53 housed inside relative seat 30a is in the outer limit position.
A further two steps of stacking plate 26 bring the by now empty seat 30 to detecting station 72, and the relative empty seat 30a to loading station 25 to start another operating cycle identical with that described relative to relative seat 30.

Claims

1) A machine for forming and wrapping stacks (31) of products (2a) , the machine comprising a stacking plate (26) rotating in steps about a respective axis (27) ; a loading station (25) and an unloading station (33) for said stacking plate (26) ; and a number of radial seats (30, 30a) formed on said stacking plate (26) , each said seat (30; 30a) receiving a relative said stack (31) ; and the machine being characterized by also comprising a reject station (32) interposed between said loading and unloading stations (25, 33), each said seat (30; 30a) having an inlet (29) movable with said stacking plate
(26) along an annular path (P) extending about said axis (27) and through said loading, reject, and unloading stations (25, 32, 33); feed means (22) for feeding said products (2a) successively to said inlet (29) at said loading station (25) ; first and second unloading means
(66, 34) for successively unloading said stacks (31) at said reject station (32) and said unloading station (33) respectively; sensor means (70) for controlling said first unloading means (66) ; and counter-pusher means (51) fitted movably inside each said seat (30; 30a) , and moved along the seat (30; 30a), into an enabling position enabling said sensor means (70) , by said products (2a) fed successively to the relative said inlet (29) at said loading station (25) .
2) A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each 1J
said seat (30) is coaxial with another said seat (30a) to form a pair of coaxial seats (30, 30a) ; the seats (30, 30a) in each said pair having common said counter-pusher means (51) . 3) A machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 , wherein said seats (30, 30a) are formed along slots (46) arranged in coaxial pairs; the slots (46) in each pair (47) of coaxial said slots (46) communicating with each other and extending along a diameter of said stacking plate (26) ; the counter-pusher means (51) of the seats (30, 30a) formed in two coaxial said slots (46) being common to both said seats (30, 30a), and comprising a single diametrical rod (52) having a first and a second end head (53) , each of which is mounted to slide, inside a respective said seat (30; 30a) , between an outer limit position in which the head (53) is located at said inlet
(29) of the relative said seat (30; 30a) , and an inner limit position in which said head (53) is located at an inner end of the relative said seat (30; 30a) . 4) A machine as claimed in Claim 3, and also comprising brake means (56) fitted to each said rod (52) to control slide of the rod (52) along the relative said pair (47) of coaxial slots (46) .
5) A machine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said brake means (56) are located at a central portion of said stacking plate (26) .
6) A machine as claimed in one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein stop means (50) are housed inside each slot (46) in each pair (47) of coaxial slots (46) to define the relative said seats (30,. 30a), and which cooperate with the relative said head (53) when the head (53) is in the inner limit position. 7) A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein each said seat (30; 30a) has a central longitudinal bottom strip (54) defining, along the seat (30; 30a) , two longitudinal passages (55) on opposite sides of said strip (54) ; each of said first and second unloading means (66, 34) comprising a fork-shaped ejecting member { 66 ; 34), which is movable back and forth, in a direction parallel to said axis (27) , through said two passages (55) to expel the respective said stack (31) from each said seat (30; 30a) at said reject station (32) and said unloading station (33) respectively.
8) A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein said sensor means (70) are located along said annular path (P) and diametrically opposite said loading station (25) ; said unloading station (33) being located along said annular path (P) , between said loading station (25) and said sensor means (70) .
9) A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein said sensor means (70) comprise a proximity sensor (71) . 10) A machine as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said proximity sensor (71) is an inductive type.
11) A machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein push means (64) are provided at said reject station (32) to expel a said stack (31) radially from said stacking plate (26) ; and conveying means (65) are provided to receive the expelled said stack (31) .
12) A machine as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said push means (64) are pneumatic push means.
EP03780625A 2002-11-07 2003-11-06 Machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products Withdrawn EP1560754A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBO20020706 2002-11-07
IT000706A ITBO20020706A1 (en) 2002-11-07 2002-11-07 MACHINE FOR THE TRAINING AND WRAPPING OF STACKS OF PRODUCTS.
PCT/IT2003/000723 WO2004041652A1 (en) 2002-11-07 2003-11-06 Machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1560754A1 true EP1560754A1 (en) 2005-08-10

Family

ID=32310126

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03780625A Withdrawn EP1560754A1 (en) 2002-11-07 2003-11-06 Machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20060112662A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1560754A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003288722A1 (en)
IT (1) ITBO20020706A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004041652A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013159080A1 (en) * 2012-04-20 2013-10-24 Fox Solutions, Llc Carousel loading apparatus
DE102014005959A1 (en) * 2013-04-30 2014-10-30 Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co. Kg Method for grouping articles into article poles and grouping device and packaging machine with such articles and control device for product holding devices
ES2621256T3 (en) * 2013-04-30 2017-07-03 Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co. Kg Procedure for grouping items to form item bars and grouping device, as well as packaging machine with the same
DE102013007385A1 (en) * 2013-04-30 2014-10-30 Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co. Kg Control device for product holding devices and packaging machine with such
CN103332345B (en) * 2013-07-17 2015-06-03 成都市棒棒娃实业有限公司 Twisting machine for food package
CN103332325B (en) * 2013-07-17 2015-03-11 成都市棒棒娃实业有限公司 Twisting machine for packaging irregular food
CN104176294A (en) * 2014-08-29 2014-12-03 成都三可实业有限公司 Candy inner paper packaging device
DE102016115635A1 (en) * 2016-08-23 2018-03-01 Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co. Kg Method and device for packaging, in particular small-sized, products
CN110027746B (en) * 2018-01-11 2021-04-06 泰科电子(上海)有限公司 Product packaging system and method
CN110104278B (en) * 2019-05-31 2024-05-17 广州百一智能设备有限公司 Rejecting device
CN113562407B (en) * 2021-07-14 2023-04-14 深圳宏友金钻石工具有限公司 Feeding equipment for numerical control machining with annular one-by-one feeding structure

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH418959A (en) * 1964-04-21 1966-08-15 Carl Drohmann Ges Mit Beschrae Device for dividing and feeding groups of items delivered in rows to a multipacking machine
IT1105887B (en) * 1978-04-27 1985-11-04 G O Soc Per Azioni DEVICE FOR THE FORMATION AND TRANSFER OF GROUPS OF PRO DUCTS IN HIGH SPEED AUTOMATIC WRAPPING MACHINES
DE3613482C2 (en) * 1986-04-22 1996-05-30 Focke & Co Device for the shape-stabilizing storage of cuboid packs
IT1252459B (en) * 1991-07-29 1995-06-16 Gd Spa OUTLET CONVEYOR UNIT FOR CIGARETTE CONDITIONING MACHINES IN RIGID HINGED LID PACKAGES
US5383322A (en) * 1993-07-19 1995-01-24 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Single pack reject mechanism for cigarette packaging machine and method
IT1281206B1 (en) * 1995-02-15 1998-02-17 Sasib Spa CONVEYOR DEVICE ON CIRCULAR ROUTES, IN PARTICULAR FOR GROUPS OF DELICATE ASTIFORMAL OBJECTS AND IN PACKAGING MACHINES
EP1016594A3 (en) * 1998-12-31 2000-09-27 Pactec Verpackungsmaschinen-Fabrik Theegarten GmbH & Co. KG Method and apparatus for packaging individual articles in stacks containing several individual articles
DE19906837A1 (en) * 1999-02-18 2000-08-24 Pactec Verpackungsmaschinen Fa Method and device for packaging small items in a stacked arrangement
US6408602B1 (en) * 1999-07-27 2002-06-25 Mars Incorporated apparatuses for forming a compressed grouping of objects
ITBO20030472A1 (en) * 2003-08-01 2005-02-02 Gd Spa WORKING WHEEL OF A PRODUCT WRAPPING MACHINE.

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2004041652A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004041652A1 (en) 2004-05-21
ITBO20020706A1 (en) 2004-05-08
AU2003288722A1 (en) 2004-06-07
WO2004041652A8 (en) 2004-10-21
US20060112662A1 (en) 2006-06-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2021250B1 (en) Automatic machine for making filter bags for infusion products
US20060112662A1 (en) Machine for forming and wrapping stacks of products
US7337597B2 (en) Unit and method of feeding containers arranged in a number of superimposed rows
CN103167996B (en) For paper handkerchief being fed into the equipment of automatic packaging system
EP0741081B1 (en) Method and machine for packing products and subsequent drying of the packages
EP2726376A1 (en) Packing machine and method for producing rigid packets, each comprising at least two containers one inside the other
EP1574437A1 (en) Method and device for finishing cellophane-wrapped packets
GB2121393A (en) Device for forming groups of cigarettes in a cigarette packaging machine
US7318306B1 (en) Packaging method for packaging containers and lids
US6904738B2 (en) Method and unit for packing groups of products
JP2000043812A (en) Packaging machine
US20050000188A1 (en) Product packing machine
EP1478239B1 (en) Unit and method for reordering confectionery products, such as sweets and similar
US7052006B2 (en) Process and apparatus for producing stacks of printed products provided with an additional sheet
WO2018150334A1 (en) Unit and method for placing objects in boxes.
US5394970A (en) Device for feeding packets of cigarettes to a cartoning machine
US5383761A (en) Apparatus for selectively separating articles from a stack using wheel mounted pushers
EP4037977A1 (en) Packaging machine for making filter bags with infusion products
US8333312B2 (en) Method and assembly for separating opening devices supplied jointly in the form of a sheet and applied individually to respective packages of pourable food products
GB2447763A (en) Group forming system
US20020060128A1 (en) Method of and apparatus for removing selected stacks of superimposed sheets from a conveyor
US2754980A (en) Package stacking mechanism
US6823982B2 (en) Transfer wheel for transferring products along a wrapping line
EP1748007B1 (en) Lot-forming device of varying quantities of objects for a layer to be palletized
EP4164954A1 (en) Machine for packaging groups of tissue products and method for checking the conformity of layers of groups of tissue products

Legal Events

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

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20050531

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 PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20070601