EP1790602A1 - Vorrichtung zur Herstellung und Förderung gefalteter Coupons - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zur Herstellung und Förderung gefalteter Coupons Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1790602A1
EP1790602A1 EP05257246A EP05257246A EP1790602A1 EP 1790602 A1 EP1790602 A1 EP 1790602A1 EP 05257246 A EP05257246 A EP 05257246A EP 05257246 A EP05257246 A EP 05257246A EP 1790602 A1 EP1790602 A1 EP 1790602A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transport
transported
fixed surface
folded
coupons
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Withdrawn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
EP05257246A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
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.)
Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Philip Morris Products 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 Philip Morris Products SA filed Critical Philip Morris Products SA
Priority to EP05257246A priority Critical patent/EP1790602A1/de
Publication of EP1790602A1 publication Critical patent/EP1790602A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H9/00—Registering, e.g. orientating, articles; Devices therefor
    • B65H9/16—Inclined tape, roller, or like article-forwarding side registers
    • B65H9/163—Tape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/16—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact of one face only with moving tapes, bands, or chains
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H45/00—Folding thin material
    • B65H45/12—Folding articles or webs with application of pressure to define or form crease lines
    • B65H45/14—Buckling folders
    • 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
    • B31B50/02—Feeding or positioning sheets, blanks or webs
    • B31B50/04—Feeding sheets or blanks
    • B31B50/044—Feeding sheets or blanks involving aligning
    • 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
    • B31B50/02—Feeding or positioning sheets, blanks or webs
    • B31B50/10—Feeding or positioning webs
    • B31B50/104—Feeding or positioning webs involving aligning
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • 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
    • B65B61/20—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
    • B65H2301/33—Modifying, selecting, changing orientation
    • B65H2301/332—Turning, overturning
    • B65H2301/3321—Turning, overturning kinetic therefor
    • B65H2301/33212—Turning, overturning kinetic therefor about an axis parallel to the direction of displacement of material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
    • B65H2301/445—Moving, forwarding, guiding material stream of articles separated from each other
    • B65H2301/4451—Moving, forwarding, guiding material stream of articles separated from each other forming a stream or streams of separated articles
    • B65H2301/44512—Moving, forwarding, guiding material stream of articles separated from each other forming a stream or streams of separated articles forming parallel streams of separated articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
    • B65H2301/445—Moving, forwarding, guiding material stream of articles separated from each other
    • B65H2301/4454—Merging two or more streams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/20—Belts
    • B65H2404/26—Particular arrangement of belt, or belts
    • B65H2404/268—Arrangement of belts facing a transport surface, e.g. contact glass in copy machine
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1912—Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for producing and transporting folded coupons and, in particular to apparatus for producing, transporting and stacking folded inserts, onserts and outserts for cigarette packs.
  • folded sheets of pre-printed material with packaged consumer goods.
  • the folded pre-printed material may be included as an insert within the packaging so that it is not visible to the consumer until after they have purchased the goods and the packaging has been opened or removed.
  • the folded pre-printed material may be affixed to the exterior of the packaging so that it is directly visible to the consumer before purchase of the goods. In the latter case, it is particularly important that the quality or precision of the folding of the sheet of pre-printed material is high.
  • folded sheets of pre-printed material are often included on cigarette packs having an outer transparent film wrapper either as onserts, positioned between the pack and the outer film wrapper, or as outserts, affixed to the exterior of the outer film wrapper.
  • Buckle folders are commonly used to fold sheets of pre-printed material one at a time to produce individual inserts, onserts and outserts.
  • the higher the speed at which buckle folders operate the lower the folding quality of the inserts, onserts and outserts produced. Consequently, to achieve high folding quality without limiting the output speed of packaging machinery, inserts, onserts and outserts for packaged consumer goods have conventionally been produced by folding sheets of pre-printed material in buckle folders off-line.
  • the pre-folded individual inserts, onserts or outserts are then stacked in cartridges that are delivered to the packaging machinery where the individual inserts, onserts or outserts are fed from the cartridges to inserters or applicators that deliver and insert them into or apply them onto the packaged consumer goods.
  • WO-A1-2004/003726 describes an in-line insert folder system including a continuous roll of unfolded printed inserts, a cutter head that cuts individual inserts from the continuous roll and a buckle folder for folding the individual inserts and delivering them to an applicator for placement directly onto consumer packs such as cigarette packs or onto the outer film wrap for the packs.
  • WO-A1-2004/076322 describes an in-line onsert folder system that comprises a continuous roll of pre-printed onserts and a transverse cutter assembly constructed and arranged to cut a pair of onserts in side-by-side relationship from the roll.
  • the pair of printed onserts in flat unfolded condition is delivered in a downstream direction to a buckle folder with wide rollers that receives the pair of onserts and folds them as a single unit along at least one fold line.
  • the pair of folded onserts are then cut by a longitudinal cutter into individual units and conveyed in a downstream direction along dual diverging paths for application onto consumer packs such as cigarette packs also travelling along dual paths.
  • a "wider" buckle folder to produce multiple width folded inserts, onserts or outserts advantageously increases production speed and capacity and also results in less misalignment of the sheets of pre-printed material and so better folding quality. It would be desirable, however, to provide an in-line folding system comprising a wider buckle folder in which the individual folded inserts, onserts and outserts produced by cutting multiple width folded inserts, onserts and outserts are fed along a single path for loading into a cartridge or hopper, or for direct application onto a single stream of packaged consumer goods.
  • apparatus for producing and transporting folded coupons comprising: a buckle folder for receiving and folding sheet material to produce a multiple width folded coupon; a cutter for cutting the multiple width folded coupon (18) to produce at least two individual folded coupons disposed in side-by-side relationship; and a transport system for receiving the at least two individual folded coupons disposed in side-by-side relationship from the cutter and transporting the at least two individual folded coupons downstream along a transport axis, characterised in that the transport system comprises at least two separate coupon transport paths disposed in side-by-side relationship that merge to form a single coupon transport path, at least a portion of each separate coupon transport path being twisted about the transport axis, wherein, in use, each of the at least two individual folded coupons is transported along a different one of the at least two separate coupon transport paths such that, when the at least two separate coupon transport paths merge to form a single coupon transport path, the at least two individual folded coupons are displaced relative to one another along the transport axis.
  • folded coupon is used to mean any sheet material comprising at least one fold and includes, but is not limited to, informational, instructional and/or promotional inserts, onserts, outserts, leaflets, tokens, vouchers and labels comprising one or more roll, gate and/or concertina (zig-zag) folds.
  • the sheet material may be any suitable material such as, for example, paper, card, plastic, foil or combinations thereof.
  • the sheet material is paper, more preferably lightweight paper.
  • the paper has a weight of between about 25 g/m 2 to about 80 g/m 2 , more preferably of between about 30 g/m 2 to about 60 g/m 2 .
  • the apparatus of the invention overcomes the inherent speed limitation of the buckle folder. Indeed, the operating speed of the buckle folder may be advantageously reduced while maintaining targeted output, thereby improving the folding quality of the inserts, onserts, outserts or other folded coupons produced.
  • Transporting the at least two individual folded coupons along twisted portions of the at least two separate coupon transport paths prior to merging the at least two separate coupon transport paths into a single path changes the orientation of the at least two individual folded coupons relative to the transport axis. This enables the individual folded coupons to be merged into a single lane without being twisted about an axis perpendicular to the plane thereof, which would result in damage to the individual folded coupons.
  • the at least two separate coupon transport paths are of different length.
  • the at least two individual folded coupons are displaced relative to one another along the transport axis.
  • the at least two individual folded coupons could, for example, be transported along separate coupon transport paths of the same length at different speeds in order to displace the at least two individual folded coupons relative to one another along the transport axis.
  • the at least two individual folded coupons are displaced relative to one another along the transport axis upstream of the twisted portions of the separate coupon transport paths.
  • the apparatus further comprises a turning unit mounted downstream of the transport system for receiving the at least two individual folded coupons from the transport system along the transport axis and transporting the at least two individual folded coupons downstream along a second transport axis substantially perpendicular thereto, the turning unit comprising a single driven belt and a free roller between which, in use, the at least two individual folded coupons are transported.
  • a single driven belt and a free roller rather than a pair of belts, advantageously avoids slippage that could damage the individual folded coupons.
  • apparatus for changing the orientation of transported laminar articles comprising: an elongate fixed surface twisted about its longitudinal axis; and a driven belt mounted such that it follows and is in contact with the elongate fixed surface, whereby, in use, laminar articles held between the belt and the elongate fixed surface are transported longitudinally along the elongate fixed surface by the driven belt.
  • Apparatus for changing the orientation of transported laminar articles according to the invention may be used in order to change the direction in which a given stream of laminar articles is transported and/or to enable separate streams of laminar articles to be merged into a single stream.
  • the elongate fixed surface is twisted about its longitudinal axis through an angle of up to 90 degrees in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. More preferably, the elongate fixed surface is twisted through an angle of approximately 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis.
  • the driven belt is substantially non-circular in cross-section, more preferably the driven belt is substantially trapezoidal in cross-section.
  • the use of a driven belt of substantially trapezoidal cross-section assists in ensuring that the driven belt follows and is in contact with the elongate fixed surface.
  • a substantially trapezoidal cross-section advantageously prevents the driven belt from rotating about its longitudinal axis as it transports the laminar articles along the elongate fixed surface.
  • the elongate fixed surface is a metal plate, more preferably a metal plate having a friction reducing structured surface of a type known in the art.
  • the coefficient of friction between the laminar articles and the elongate fixed surface should be less than that between the laminar articles and the driven belt.
  • the use of a metal plate having a low friction structured surface advantageously reduces friction between the laminar articles and the elongate fixed surface as they are transported along the twisted elongate fixed surface by the driven belt.
  • the longitudinal axis of the metal plate or other elongate fixed surface is bowed.
  • the provision of a small bow or curve in the longitudinal axis of the elongate fixed surface helps to ensure that laminar articles are constantly and positively held between the elongate fixed surface and the driven belt as they are transported.
  • the laminar articles may be folded or unfolded printed sheet material.
  • the laminar articles are folded coupons, most preferably the laminar articles are folded paper coupons.
  • apparatus for aligning transported laminar articles comprising: an elongate fixed surface; a guide extending along the elongate fixed surface; a driven belt extending along the elongate fixed surface proximate the guide; and a pair of rollers disposed at either end of the belt, wherein the belt is mounted on the rollers with its longitudinal axis inclined at an acute angle to the axes of rotation thereof such that, in use, the belt rotates about its longitudinal axis as it is driven, whereby, in use, laminar articles held between the belt and the elongate fixed surface are transported longitudinally along the elongate fixed surface by the driven belt and concurrently transversely aligned against the guide by rotation of the driven belt about its longitudinal axis.
  • the belt is substantially circular in cross-section.
  • a substantially circular cross-section advantageously facilitates rotation of the belt about its longitudinal axis as it is driven.
  • the elongate fixed surface is a metal plate, more preferably a metal plate having a structured surface which, in use, reduces friction between the laminar articles and the elongate fixed surface as the laminar articles are transported along the elongate fixed surface and aligned against the guide by the belt.
  • the metal plate or other fixed surface is at least slightly curved.
  • the provision of a small bow or curve in the longitudinal axis of the fixed surface helps to ensure that laminar articles are constantly and positively held between the fixed surface and the belt as they are transported.
  • Figure 1 shows a modular system 2 for folding sheets of pre-printed paper to produce multiple width folded onserts, cutting the multiple width folded onserts to produce separate individual folded onserts and transporting the separate individual folded onserts to a hopper where they are stacked ready for placement onto packaged consumer goods, such as cigarette packs.
  • the modular system 2 shown in Figure 1 generally comprises a buckle folder 4, a separation unit 6, a joining unit 8, an alignment unit 10, a feeding unit 12 and a hopper 14, which are connected to one another via a series of belt transport systems, and which are linked to a computer control system (not shown).
  • a bobbin holding a continuous roll of pre-printed paper and a registered transverse cutter assembly constructed and arranged to cut three onserts in side-by-side relationship from the continuous roll may be linked to the buckle folder 4 as described in, for example, WO-A1-2004/003726 and WO-A1-2004/076322 .
  • the triple width folded onserts 18 are cut longitudinally by a longitudinal cutter assembly (not shown) to produce a group of three separate individual folded onserts 20 disposed in side-by side relationship, as shown in Figure 2b.
  • the arrows between Figures 2a to 2d indicate the downstream direction of transport of the folded onserts through the modular system 2 shown in Figure 1.
  • a first belt transport system 22 immediately downstream from the longitudinal cutter assembly serially receives the groups of three separate individual folded onserts 20 after the longitudinal cutting operation and transports them between three pairs of driven endless belts to an ejection unit 24 located beneath the buckle folder 4.
  • the three separate individual folded onserts 20 in each group are moved along three parallel vertical lanes of equal length by the three pairs of endless belts, which are driven at the same speed by the buckle folder 4.
  • Each group of three separate individual folded onserts 20 is, therefore, delivered by the first belt transport system to the ejection unit 24 in the side-by-side relation shown in Figure 2b.
  • a plurality of photocells 26 linked to the computer control system are mounted immediately upstream of the ejection unit 24.
  • these photocells 26 measure the width and length of individual folded onserts 20 in each of the three lanes of the first belt transport system 22 as they pass from the longitudinal cutter assembly to the ejection unit 24.
  • the width and length measurements of each individual folded onsert 20 are compared by the computer control system with pre-set specified limits. If the measurements are within the pre-set specified limits, the computer control system allows the three individual folded onserts 20 to pass through the ejection unit 24 and continue downstream through the remainder of the modular system 2. If, however, the width or length measurement of any of the three individual folded onserts 20 falls outside of the pre-set specified limits, the computer control system instructs the ejection unit 24 to remove the three individual folded onsert 20 from the system 2.
  • the groups of three separate individual folded onserts 20 are serially received, in the side-by-side relation shown in Figure 2b, by the separation unit 6, which transports them further downstream to the joining unit 8.
  • the separation unit 6 As described in more detail below, in the separation unit 6 the three separate individual folded onserts 20 in each group are displaced or shifted relative to one another in the direction of travel, so that they are no longer aligned in side-by-side relation when they reach the joining unit 8.
  • the separating unit 6 comprises a series of pairs of driven endless belts that move the three separate individual folded onserts 20 in each group along three parallel lanes 28.
  • the pairs of endless belts are driven at the same speed, however, as shown in Figure 1, the three parallel lanes 28 along which the three separate individual folded onserts 20 in each group are transported are not of equal length. Consequently, as the three individual folded onserts 20 in each group are transported substantially vertically downwards from the ejection unit 24, turned through 90 degrees using a turn module described in more detail below, and then transported substantially horizontally along the three parallel lanes 28 between the series of pairs of driven endless belts, they travel over different distances at the same speed. As a result, when the three separate individual folded onserts 20 in each group reach the joining unit 8, upstream of the separation unit 6, they are shifted relative to one another in the direction of transport as shown in Figure 2c.
  • the joining unit 8 serially receives the shifted groups of three separate individual folded onserts 20 from the separation unit 6 and merges them into a single lane, as shown in Figure 2d, by means of a combination of three twisting units 30, which change the orientation of the three separate individual onserts 20 in each group as they transport them downstream.
  • Two of the separate individual folded onserts 20 in each group are initially merged into a single lane by two of the twisting units 30 and the third individual folded onsert 20 in each group is then merged into this single lane by the remaining twisting unit 30.
  • each twisting unit 30 comprises an elongate metal plate 32 that is twisted through an angle of approximately 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis.
  • a pair or rollers 34 with their axes of rotation (shown by a cross and a broken line in Figure 3) approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the surface of the metal plate 32 are mounted at either end of the metal plate 32.
  • the rollers 34 are linked by an endless belt 36 of trapezoidal cross-section that follows, and is in contact with, the twisted longitudinal surface of the metal plate 32 (for clarity, a portion of the endless belt 36 has been omitted from Figure 3).
  • each of the three individual folded onserts 20 in the staggered group formed by the separation unit 6 is fed between the metal plate 32 and the trapezoidal endless belts 36 of a respective one of the three twisting units 30.
  • the individual folded onserts 20 are held against and transported downstream along the longitudinal surface of the metal plates 32 by the endless belts 36, which are driven either by the separation unit 6 or by a second belt transport system 38 immediately upstream of the joining unit 8 and so, in use, have the same linear speed.
  • the metal plates 32 preferably have a structured surface.
  • the longitudinal axis of each metal plate 32 is slightly bowed or curved.
  • the orientation of the individual folded onserts 20 relative to the direction of travel also changes by the same amount as the individual folded onserts 20 pass through the twisting units 30.
  • the re-orientated individual folded onserts 20 are merged into a single lane as previously described above.
  • the three separate individual folded onserts 20 in the group are shifted relative to one another in the direction of travel when they enter the joining unit 8, they are spaced apart one behind the other as shown in Figure 2d when they are merged into the single lane as they exit the twisting units 30.
  • the second belt transport system 38 comprises a turn module 40 downstream of the joining unit 8, which changes the direction of the single lane by approximately 90 degrees from substantially vertical to substantially horizontal, and a straight module 42, located between the turn module 40 and the alignment unit 10.
  • the turn module 40 comprises a single driven endless belt, which is bent through 90 degrees around the outside of a free roller.
  • the spaced apart individual folded onserts 20 are transported between the endless belt and the free roller to make the turn.
  • the straight module 42 then transports the single lane of spaced apart individual folded onserts 20 horizontally downstream to the alignment unit 10 between a pair of driven endless belts.
  • the transport portion of the belts is advantageously deviated by a pair of support rollers 44.
  • the alignment unit 4 comprises an elongate metal plate 48 along which the guide rail 46 is mounted.
  • a pair of rollers 50 are mounted at either end of the metal plate 48 with their axes of rotation (shown by the broken lines in Figure 4) substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the metal plate 48.
  • the rollers 50 are linked by an endless belt 52 of circular cross-section which extends along the metal plate 48 adjacent to the guide rail 46 (for clarity, a portion of the endless belt 52 has been omitted from Figure 4).
  • the endless belt 52 is positioned on the rollers 50 such that its longitudinal axis is disposed at an acute angle to the axes of rotation thereof and to the longitudinal axis of the elongate metal plate 48. In use, when the endless belt is driven this "misalignment" of the endless belt 52 on the rollers 50 generates a lateral friction that causes the endless belt 52 to rotate about its longitudinal axis, in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 4.
  • the rollers 50 are in line with one another and the "misalignment" of the endless belt 52 on the rollers 50 is created by mounting the belt in grooves proximate opposed ends thereof. It will be appreciated, however, that "misalignment" of the endless belt 52 on the rollers 50 could alternatively be achieved by, for example, mounting the belt in central grooves on rollers that are offset relative to one another in the transverse direction of the metal plate 48.
  • the single lane of spaced apart individual folded onserts 20 is fed between the metal plate 48 and the round endless belt 52, which holds the individual folded onserts 20 against the metal plate 48 and transports them downstream along its surface.
  • the rotation of the endless belt 52 about its longitudinal axis also transports them transversely across the surface of the metal plate 48 to the guide rail 46 thereby laterally aligning them.
  • the metal plate 48 preferably has a structured surface.
  • the longitudinal axis of the metal plate 48 is preferably slightly curved.
  • the single lane of laterally aligned spaced apart individual folded onserts 20 passes through a pressure roller unit 54 positioned between the alignment unit 10 and the feeding unit 12, which advantageously improves the flatness of the individual folded onserts 20, thereby allowing for smoother processing of the individual folded onserts 20 in the hopper 14 and so more precise application of the individual folded onserts 20 onto packaged consumer goods.
  • the pressure roller unit 54 comprises a pair of parallel pressure rollers mounted substantially transverse to the single lane of spaced apart individual folded onserts 20, between which the spaced apart individual folded onserts 20 pass as they are transported downstream from the alignment unit 10 to the feeding unit 12.
  • the flattened and laterally aligned spaced apart individual folded onserts 20 are transported downstream in a single lane to the feeding unit 12 at a linear speed typically in excess of 100m/min.
  • the feeding unit 12 stops the individual folded onserts 20 and stacks them one at a time in the hopper 14. If desired, the feeding unit 12 may be used to stack the individual folded onserts 20 in a cartridge or other receptacle instead of the hopper 14.
  • the feeding unit 12 comprises a pair of spiral wheels 56 of the type used in, for example, known machinery for counting bank notes, having a plurality of spirally extending fingers that form slots in the periphery thereof 56.
  • the spiral wheels 56 are mounted directly above the hopper 14 in a spaced apart relationship on a common shaft that, in use, is rotated in time relation to the belt transport system that feeds the flattened and laterally aligned spaced apart individual folded onserts 20 to the feeding unit 12.
  • the slots on each spiral wheel 56 are aligned with the slots on the other spiral wheel 56 so that upon rotation of the shaft, the spiral wheels 56 rotate with their slots in synchrony.
  • the single lane of individual folded onserts 20 is transported through the feeding unit 12 to the top of spiral wheels 56, where the spaced apart individual folded onserts 20 are individually and sequentially directed tangentially into consecutive aligned slots on the periphery of the pair of rotating spiral wheels 56. After the individual folded onserts 20 enter the slots thereon, they are carried round to the top of the hopper 14 by the rotation of the spiral wheels 56, which cause the individual folded onserts 20 to decelerate as they move deeper into the spirally shaped slots.
  • the individual folded onserts 20 are forced out of the slots on the rotating spiral wheels 56 and deposited in the hopper 14 by a stripper mounted between the pair of spiral wheels 56, which engages the leading edge of the individual folded onserts 20 thereby removing them from the rotating spiral wheels 56.
  • the hopper 14 advantageously acts as a buffer, where the folded onserts 20 are stacked before being fed further downstream to an application unit (not shown) which applies them to the packaged consumer goods in a conventional manner.
  • the feeding unit 12 and the hopper 14 may alternatively be omitted and the single lane of laterally aligned spaced apart coupons fed straight to an applicator for placement directly onto the packaged consumer goods.
  • Two longitudinally spaced apart photocells 58 linked to the computer control system are mounted in the upper region of the vertical hopper 14. In use these photocells 58 are used to detect the filling level of the hopper 14 and so, by way of the computer control system, control the operation of the buckle folder 4. For example, if both photocells 58 within the hopper 14 are covered by the stack of individual folded onserts 20 therein, the computer control system instructs the buckle folder 4 to stop drawing sheets of pre-printed paper from the stacker 16. If, however, only the lower photocell 58 is covered by the stack of folded onserts 20 in the hopper 14, the computer control system instructs the buckle folder 4 to operate slowly and only draw a sheet of pre-printed paper from the stacker 16 on every second stroke. Finally, if both photocells 58 within the hopper 14 are uncovered, the computer control system instructs the buckle folder 4 to draw sheets of pre-printed paper from the stacker 16 continuously.
  • the buckle folder produces triple width folded onserts that are then cut to produce three separate individual onserts. It will also be appreciated, however, that the system could alternatively comprise a buckle folder which produces double width folded coupons that are cut to produce two separate individual coupons or multiple width folded coupons that are cut to produce more than three separate individual coupons which, following appropriate minor modifications to the separation unit 6 and joining unit 8, may be transported downstream and merged into a single lane as previously described.
  • the modular nature of the present system advantageously enables it to be readily adapted to any packaging machinery layout.
  • apparatus according to the present invention may be easily configured to produce folded coupons and then transport them in any required direction and over any required distance.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
EP05257246A 2005-11-24 2005-11-24 Vorrichtung zur Herstellung und Förderung gefalteter Coupons Withdrawn EP1790602A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05257246A EP1790602A1 (de) 2005-11-24 2005-11-24 Vorrichtung zur Herstellung und Förderung gefalteter Coupons

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05257246A EP1790602A1 (de) 2005-11-24 2005-11-24 Vorrichtung zur Herstellung und Förderung gefalteter Coupons

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EP1790602A1 true EP1790602A1 (de) 2007-05-30

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Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3729189A (en) * 1971-02-01 1973-04-24 D Watson Article turnover conveyor
NL7600478A (en) * 1976-01-19 1977-07-21 Ibm Nederland Aligning documents being transported - by endless belt with twists along its length in contact with document moving it against stop edge
EP0139889A2 (de) * 1983-09-02 1985-05-08 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von Prospekten in einer Kartoniermaschine
US4669721A (en) * 1986-04-21 1987-06-02 Bell & Howell Company Sheet transport with bowed guide
US5755336A (en) * 1995-05-03 1998-05-26 Nale, Inc. Optical sorter, tracker and reader
US20030034234A1 (en) * 2000-05-12 2003-02-20 Norbert Neumann Device for guiding belts for transporting flat materials
US20040080097A1 (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-04-29 Pitney Bowes Incorporated Pathlength compensation method and device for high speed sheet cutters
US20040164483A1 (en) * 2002-12-09 2004-08-26 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co.) Method of, and apparatus for, handling blanks, in particular coupons
DE10344675A1 (de) * 2003-09-25 2005-04-14 Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von (Zigaretten-)Packungen

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3729189A (en) * 1971-02-01 1973-04-24 D Watson Article turnover conveyor
NL7600478A (en) * 1976-01-19 1977-07-21 Ibm Nederland Aligning documents being transported - by endless belt with twists along its length in contact with document moving it against stop edge
EP0139889A2 (de) * 1983-09-02 1985-05-08 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von Prospekten in einer Kartoniermaschine
US4669721A (en) * 1986-04-21 1987-06-02 Bell & Howell Company Sheet transport with bowed guide
US5755336A (en) * 1995-05-03 1998-05-26 Nale, Inc. Optical sorter, tracker and reader
US20030034234A1 (en) * 2000-05-12 2003-02-20 Norbert Neumann Device for guiding belts for transporting flat materials
US20040080097A1 (en) * 2002-10-25 2004-04-29 Pitney Bowes Incorporated Pathlength compensation method and device for high speed sheet cutters
US20040164483A1 (en) * 2002-12-09 2004-08-26 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co.) Method of, and apparatus for, handling blanks, in particular coupons
DE10344675A1 (de) * 2003-09-25 2005-04-14 Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von (Zigaretten-)Packungen

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