EP2027024A2 - Système de fourniture d'articles - Google Patents

Système de fourniture d'articles

Info

Publication number
EP2027024A2
EP2027024A2 EP07762249A EP07762249A EP2027024A2 EP 2027024 A2 EP2027024 A2 EP 2027024A2 EP 07762249 A EP07762249 A EP 07762249A EP 07762249 A EP07762249 A EP 07762249A EP 2027024 A2 EP2027024 A2 EP 2027024A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
articles
donor
article
receptor
conveyor
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Withdrawn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
EP07762249A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Pierre-Yves Poget
Benoit Poutot
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.)
WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Original Assignee
Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
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 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC filed Critical Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Publication of EP2027024A2 publication Critical patent/EP2027024A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/02—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
    • B65B5/024—Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles for making containers from preformed blanks
    • 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
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
    • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
    • B65B9/045—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material for single articles, e.g. tablets
    • 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
    • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
    • B65B35/16—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by grippers
    • B65B35/18—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by grippers by suction-operated grippers
    • 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
    • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
    • B65B35/24—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by endless belts or chains

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supplying articles to a packaging machine and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus and method for supplying blister cards for packaging in packaging substrates, such as those used in the distribution of pharmaceutical products.
  • blister cards comprising a product such as unit dose pharmaceuticals to the packaging substrate whilst the adhesive coating is in an activated condition. It is also desirable to provide a sub-assembly which allows placement of 1 the blister card upon the packaging substrate without damaging the blister card or the product contained therein.
  • Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an article supply system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an article supply system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an article supply system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention in which a sub assembly 10 forms part of a packaging machine (not shown).
  • the sub assembly 10 transfers donor artiples, hereinafter referred to as blister packs 22 such as those commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry, for example foiled back PVC or Aclor/PVC blister packs.
  • the blister packs 22 contain pharmaceutical products such as prescription drugs.
  • the sub assembly 10 transfers the blister packs 22 from a magazine or hopper to a receptor article herein after referred as a paperboard sleeve 14 being conveyed in the packaging machine.
  • the blister packs 22 are bonded to the paperboard sleeve 14 prior to subsequent assembly steps such as folding and gluing.
  • the sub assembly 10 comprise two infecd conveyors 15a and 15b which supply a flow of sequential blister packs 22 to a respective transfer belt 17a, 17b.
  • the infeed conveyors 15a, 15b and the transfer belts 77a, 77b convey the blister packs 22, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow F direction of the paperboard sleeves 14 on the packaging machine.
  • the transfer belts 17a, 17b transfer the blister packs 22 from the infeed conveyors 15a, 15b to a respective conveyor belt 13a, 13b.
  • the transfer belts 17a, 17b are disposed above the infeed conveyors 15a, 15b and the conveyor belts 13a, 13b such that the transfer belts 17a, 17b engage the blister packs 22 from above.
  • the conveyor belts 13a, 13b convey the blister packs 22 in a direction parallel to the direction of flow F of the paperboard sleeves.
  • the blister packs are not rotated by the transfer belts 17a, 17b such that an edge of the blister pack adjacent the leading edge when the blister pack 22 is being conveyed in the infeed conveyors 15a, 15b (and the transfer belts 17a, 17b) now becomes the leading edge when conveyed on the conveyor
  • the conveyor 13b closes to the infeed conveyors 15a, 15b is shorter than the conveyor 13a further away from the infeed conveyors 15a, 15b. In alternative embodiments however, the conveyor 13b may be as long as or longer than the conveyor 13b.
  • the conveyors 13a, 13b are substantially triangular in shape, wherein the hypotenuse of the triangular is lowennost. At least a portion of one side of the triangular shaped belt 13a, 13b is perpendicular to at least part of a second side of the triangular shaped belt 13a, 13b. Said at least a part of the first side is substantially horizontal whereas said at least part of the second side is substantially vertical, thereby facilitating a change in orientation of the blister packs from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation.
  • the blister packs 22 therefore undergo a 90 degree change in orientation when conveyed by the belt as shown by arrow A 1.
  • the conveyors 13a, 13b are disposed substantially over part of a hood 12.
  • Hood 12 forms part of a conditioning assembly for activating the adhesive coating on the paperboard sleeve 14.
  • the conditioning element comprises an infra red lamp which radiates heat energy directly onto the paperboard sleeve 14.
  • the conveyors 13a, 13b comprises lugs or other means such as a vacuum system to ensure the blister packs 22 do not fall from the conveyor 13a, 13b upon being conveyed from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation.
  • ⁇ vertical transfer device 35a, 35b is arranged to receive the blister packs 22 from the substantially vertical section of the conveyor 13a, 13b respectively.
  • the vertical transfer device 35a, 35b is disposed in close proximity to the output end of the hood 12; in this way the blister packs 21 are placed onto the paperboard sleeve 14 sufficiently quickly to take the benefit from the conditioning carried out upon the paperboard sleeve 14 whilst they are being processed by the conditioning assembly.
  • the vertical transfer device 35a, 35b comprises suction cups coupled to a vacuum system (not shown) which engage the blister packs 22.
  • the vertical transfer device 35a, 35b places the blister packs 22 upon a paperboard sleeve 14 just after it exits the adhesive conditioning area of the packaging machine defined by the hood 12.
  • the paperboard sleeve 14 and attached blister pack 22 pass between rollers 18 and 20 which apply compressive pressure onto the blister pack 22 and the paperboard sleeve 14 to improve the adhesion of the blister pack 22 to the paperboard sleeve 14.
  • the partially assembled package then passes to further sub assembles for further processing.
  • Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which the sub-assembly 1 10 comprises a substantially horizontal stack of blister packs which arc held in a magazine 122 in which blister packs 121 are sequentially fed to an upper rotary vacuum feeder 127.
  • the magazine 122 is located remotely from a conditioning assembly 1 12 which conditions receptor articles or paperboard sleeves 114 in preparation for the application of blister packs 121 ; in the way the risk of damage to the product in the blister pack 121 as a result of operation of the conditioning assembly 112 is reduced.
  • the blister packs 121 are held in the magazine 122 in an angular relationship to a horizontal plane defined by the lower most edge of the blister packs forming the stack. In this way the blister packs 121 are orientated to be engaged by the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 at a substantially perpendicular angle.
  • the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 engages a blister pack 22 from one end of the stack and places the blister pack upon a vertical transfer device 140.
  • the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 comprises four arms 135 each having a suction cup for engaging the blister packs 121.
  • the arms 135 are arranged in pairs, such that each pair is arranged in a side by side spaced apart relationship and wherein each pair are disposed to subtend an angle of substantially 180 degrees between them.
  • Each arm 135 in a respective pair of arms engages a separate blister pack 121.
  • the stack of blister packs 122 comprises two rows of blister packs 121 arranged in side by side relationship. Although in alternative embodiments it will be understood that a single blister pack may be engaged by both arms 135 in each pair.
  • the present invention is not limited to rotary vacuum feeders comprising four arms arranged in pairs but that other configurations may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • the vertical transfer device 140 comprises two pairs of guide tracks 138 located near the uppermost end of the vertical transfer device 140.
  • the guide tracks 138 guide the blister packs 121 onto the vertical transfer device 140, ensuring the blister packs 121 are correctly aligned, for transfer down the vertical transfer device 140.
  • the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127 is synchronized with the vertical transfer device 140 such that blister packs 121 are supplied to the guide tracks 138 simultaneously with the arrival of lugs 142 coupled to a drive mechanism 143 of the upper most end of the vertical transfer device 140.
  • Drive mechanism 143 may be an endless conveyor such as a belt or chain.
  • Blister packs 121 are engaged by the lugs 142 and conveyed down the vertical transfer device 140 by the drive mechanism 143.
  • a lower rotary vacuum feeder 126 engages the blister packs 121 as they arrive at the lowermost end of the vertical transfer device 140.
  • the lower rotary vacuum feeder 126 rotates in the lower direction of arrow Ta2 indicated in Figure 2.
  • Rotary vacuum feeder 126 comprises arms 134 with suction cups arranged in a similar configuration to that of the upper rotary vacuum feeder 127.
  • the lower rotary vacuum feeder 126 places blister packs 121 upon paperboard sleeve 1 14.
  • the adhesive coating on the upper most surface of the paperboard sleeve 1 14 has been activated by the conditioning element housed in the hood 1 12.
  • the paperboard sleeve comprises apertures 1 1 1 which receive portions of the blister packs 121.
  • the paperboard sleeves 114 are conveyed to and from the sub assembly 1 10 on a conveyor bell 128. Conveyor belt 128 passes under hood 1 12 in order that the paperboard sleeves 1 14 are conditioned by the conditioning element (not shown).
  • the paperboard sleeve 114 pass between a pair of compression rollers 1 18, 120 mounted upon housing 1 16.
  • the compression rollers 1 18, 120 comprise pads 136 sized and shaped to accommodate the arrangement of blister packs on the paperboard sleeve 114.
  • the pads 136 prevent damage to the blister packs 121.
  • the partially assembled package after passing through the compression rollers 118, 120 is conveyed along the packaging machine for further processing (not shown).
  • FIG. 3 there is shown a third embodiment of the present invention in which a magazine 222 comprising a horizontal stack of blister packs 221 which supplies blister packs 221 individually to a vertical transfer device 240.
  • the output end of the horizontal stack comprises gate mechanism 244 for dispensing blister packs 221 from the output end of the magazine 222.
  • the gate mechanism 244 controls the flow B of blister packs 221 from the stack preventing multiple blister packs 221 from being fed simultaneously and alternatively or additionally reducing frictional forces from being applied to the blister packs 221 and/or a suction cup 234 which engages with the blister pack 221.
  • Suction cups 234 arc coupled to arras 235 which are in turn coupled to a conveyor belt 235 which are in turn coupled to a conveyor belt, 242 or alternatively a chain.
  • the suction cup 234 is additionally coupled to a vacuum system (not shown) for providing a vacuum with which the suction cup may engage the blister pack 221.
  • the blister pack 221, once engaged by the suction cup 234 is conveyed downwards in direction D (indicated in Figure 3) towards a cation blank 214 being conveyed in the packaging machine.
  • the gate mechanism 244 comprises a recess in which a single blister pack 221 is received at a time.
  • a suction cup 234 arrives at the gate mechanism 244 a portion of the gate mechanism 234 comprising the recess moves upwards along with the blister pack 221 in the recess.
  • the suction cup 234 engages with the blister pack 221, whilst a lower portion of the gate mechanism 244 restricts the movement of the subsequent blister pack 221 in the stack- 222.
  • the suction cup 234 places the blister pack 221 upon a carton blank 214, synchronously with the arrival of the carton blank 214 at the lower extremity of the vertical transfer device 240. Portions of the blister packs 221 are received in apertures on the carton blank
  • the carton blank 214 has previously exited a conditioning station 212 which prepares the carton blank 214 with an adhesive coating suitable for adhering the blister pack 211 to the carton blank 214.
  • the partial Iy assembled package, carton blank 214 and blister pack 221 then pass between a pair of compression rollers 218, 220 which compresses the partially assembled package to ensure sufficient adhesion between the blister pack 221 and the carton blank 214.
  • the compression rollers 218, 220 again comprise pads 236 which allow the rollers to selectively compress areas of the partially assembled package.
  • the partially assembled package is then transfei ⁇ ed to further sub assembles for subsequent processing.
  • the magazine need not be horizontally orientated but be disposed in an angular relationship to the conveyor belt of the packaging machine.
  • the magazine may comprise a plurality of stacks of blister packs which are disposed in a side by side relationship which may supply blister packs either to a single transfer device comprising a plurality of engaging means or alternatively to multiple transfer devices which operate synchronously with one oranothcr or independently of one another.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un appareil de fourniture d'articles donneurs à être emballés sur une machine d'emballage, ledit appareil comportant un mécanisme de transfert qui reçoit successivement des articles donneurs en provenance d'une alimentation situé à une position éloignée de l'emplacement destinataire, un ensemble de conditionnement pour conditionner les articles récepteurs en préparation de la réception des articles donneurs. Le mécanisme de transfert comporte des moyens d'engagement couplés à un convoyeur pour transférer les articles donneurs provenant dudit emplacement éloigné. L'invention se caractérise en ce que le mécanisme de transfert est conformé et configuré de sorte que son extrémité de sortie se trouve à proximité de l'ensemble de conditionnement afin que les articles donneurs soit appliqués à des articles récepteurs respectifs suffisamment vite suite à la sortie des articles récepteurs de l'ensemble de conditionnement pour bénéficier du conditionnement effectué sur l'article récepteur, permettant ainsi l'assemblage des articles donneurs et des articles récepteurs.
EP07762249A 2006-05-19 2007-05-18 Système de fourniture d'articles Withdrawn EP2027024A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0609884A GB2438186A (en) 2006-05-19 2006-05-19 Blister packaging apparatus
PCT/US2007/069251 WO2007137165A2 (fr) 2006-05-19 2007-05-18 Système de fourniture d'articles

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2027024A2 true EP2027024A2 (fr) 2009-02-25

Family

ID=36660408

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07762249A Withdrawn EP2027024A2 (fr) 2006-05-19 2007-05-18 Système de fourniture d'articles

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20090183466A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2027024A2 (fr)
GB (1) GB2438186A (fr)
WO (1) WO2007137165A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2802999T3 (es) 2016-10-28 2021-01-22 Multivac Haggenmueller Kg Máquina de envasado por embutición profunda
EP3315420B1 (fr) 2016-10-28 2020-04-15 MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG Machine d'emballage par emboutissage

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB700930A (en) * 1950-06-01 1953-12-16 Johnson & Johnson Package discharge and stacking device
US4449351A (en) * 1981-06-22 1984-05-22 Pennwalt Corporation Blister pack loading machine
IT1192011B (it) * 1986-06-24 1988-03-31 Chierese Cartotecnica Macchina automatica per la formatura di scatole del tipo a doppio zoccolo
IT1242534B (it) * 1990-06-07 1994-05-16 Ima Spa Apparecchiatura per il ricevimento di blister da una linea di blister per il confezionamento di articoli vari in singoli blister, e per l'alimentazione, con pile di tali blister di relativi contenitori situati in una linea di allestimento contenitori.
EP0514340B1 (fr) * 1991-05-16 1994-11-02 Fabriques De Tabac Reunies S.A. Procédé et dispositif de préparation d'ébauches d'emballages
US5379572A (en) * 1992-04-17 1995-01-10 Sencorp Systems, Inc. Blister packaging system and method
DE19504219C1 (de) * 1995-02-09 1996-06-05 Bosch Gmbh Robert Verpackungsmaschine
FR2837473B1 (fr) * 2002-03-25 2004-07-09 Paker Sa Procede et dispositif d'assemblage d'un blister et d'une cartonnette
DE102004020549A1 (de) * 2004-04-27 2005-11-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vorrichtung zur Übergabe von Blisterstreifen aus einer Stanzeinrichtung an eine Fördereinrichtung
CA2580630A1 (fr) * 2004-07-09 2006-01-26 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Llc Machine pour la fermeture de cartons

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2007137165A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0609884D0 (en) 2006-06-28
GB2438186A (en) 2007-11-21
WO2007137165A3 (fr) 2008-01-17
US20090183466A1 (en) 2009-07-23
WO2007137165A2 (fr) 2007-11-29

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