EP2199216A1 - Machine et procédé d'emballage avec bandes de carton - Google Patents

Machine et procédé d'emballage avec bandes de carton Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2199216A1
EP2199216A1 EP08022244A EP08022244A EP2199216A1 EP 2199216 A1 EP2199216 A1 EP 2199216A1 EP 08022244 A EP08022244 A EP 08022244A EP 08022244 A EP08022244 A EP 08022244A EP 2199216 A1 EP2199216 A1 EP 2199216A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
products
strips
machine
strip
pitch
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Withdrawn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
EP08022244A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Max Zigerlig
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.)
AMBRINE PARTNERS LIMITED
Original Assignee
TREEMAR 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 TREEMAR LLC filed Critical TREEMAR LLC
Priority to EP08022244A priority Critical patent/EP2199216A1/fr
Publication of EP2199216A1 publication Critical patent/EP2199216A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B21/00—Packaging or unpacking of bottles
    • B65B21/24—Enclosing bottles in wrappers
    • 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
    • B65B11/08—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path
    • B65B11/10—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
    • B65B11/105—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents the axis of the tube being parallel to the conveying direction
    • 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
    • B65B17/00—Other machines, apparatus, or methods for packaging articles or materials
    • B65B17/02—Joining articles, e.g. cans, directly to each other for convenience of storage, transport, or handling
    • 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
    • B65B43/14—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines
    • B65B43/16—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers
    • B65B43/18—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers by suction-operated grippers
    • B65B43/185—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by grippers by suction-operated grippers specially adapted for carton blanks

Definitions

  • the invention refers to the technical field of the packaging with cardboard strips, in particular in the food and beverage industry.
  • the cardboard strip is a die-cut cardboard that is suitably folded over on itself and groups together a certain number of articles or products, for example primary containers such as bottles, glass jars, thermoformed jars, etc... obtaining a sales unit.
  • the grouping can be x2 (two articles enclosed in a strip), x4, x6, etc...
  • the products can be arranged in two rows, for example a x6-grouping usually comprises two parallel rows of three products.
  • This packaging system allows to form multiple sales units of various formats and improves the presentation of the product, since the strip is a convenient support for high-quality colour printing of markings, trademarks and other information for the consumer.
  • a prior-art machine for packaging with cardboard strips essentially comprises, in order, the following subgroups:
  • the cardboard strip feeding group is generally made with a vacuum picking member mounted on a rotary support.
  • the picking member takes the strips from the storage container and arranges them on the batches below, generally turning over the strips with an almost complete rotation, close to 360 deg.
  • the operation is the following: products continuously fed by the conveyor are phased by two star-conveyors and then laterally gripped by the jaws of the dynamic grouping assembly, producing a flow of spaced-apart batches, one batch comprising a given number of products, for example four products per batch, and proceeding with a speed V2.
  • the machine pitch in practice, is equal to the distance between two consecutive jaws.
  • the products while gripped by the jaws, accelerate from speed V1 to a greater speed V2. Said acceleration is a limit to the productivity of the machine. Indeed, there is a maximum acceptable acceleration for the products or their packages, beyond which they can get damaged or broken. Damaged or even deformed products can cause a jam-up of the transportation system and expensive downtime; glass containers, if subjected to an excessive acceleration, can even explode with risks to the safety of the operators. Hence, for a given feeding speed V1 there is an upper limit to the speed V2 and, consequently, to the output of the machine.
  • the limit to speed V2 is more strict while working with a short configuration, for example with a x2 grouping, in comparison with the operation with a longer grouping, for example x6.
  • the short configuration gives a higher speed of the grouping jaws and, consequently, stresses the products with a greater acceleration.
  • the cardboard strip feeding group and in particular the respective picking member, can also constitute a bottleneck for maximum speed of the machine, especially due to the wide rotation movement imposed to the strips.
  • the mechanical stress undergone by the cardboard strips requires to adopt a more expensive cardboard with greater rigidity and weight.
  • the strips need to be more rigid, more difficulties are encountered in the handling of strips equipped with perforations or cutting lines; perforations or cutting lines, however, are often required by the market, for example to allow the consumer to easily separate the products in a multiple package.
  • the invention has the purpose of overcoming the limitations outlined above and in particular to improve the efficiency of the step of positioning the strips, and thus of the relative feeding group, so as to: allow high productivity without subjecting the products to excessive acceleration in the dynamic grouping step, especially for small configurations; operate at high speeds without requiring rigid strips of high-quality cardboard, but instead accepting e.g. strips of medium-weight cardboard and/or cardboard strips equipped with perforations.
  • the idea underlying the invention is to feed the strips with at least two feeding groups, arranged in line with respect to the advancing direction of the products, and operating synchronously, depositing the strips on a conveyor synchronised with the machine pitch of the products. Consequently, the invention allows the grouping of a maximum number of products for each product batch, and wrapping the products with one or two strips of equal or different dimensions, according to the configuration.
  • the strip conveyor system comprises a double side conveyor with side-by-side transporters under respective feeding groups. More preferably, the conveyor extends at least partially above the dynamic grouping system, said grouping system being for example equipped with jaws.
  • the feeding groups rotate preferably with the same direction of rotation, each comprising preferably a vacuum picking member supported by a rotary disc.
  • the picking member of each feeding group operates by arranging the strips from the storage container to the conveyor below with a rotating-translating trajectory, the rotation being less than 180 degrees, and preferably about 90 degrees, with further advantages compared to systems that operate by turning over the strips during the transfer from the storage container to the strip conveyor.
  • the strips positioned by the two feeding groups can be identical or different.
  • the two feeding groups arrange two strips having equal length, for example equal to two products, for each operating cycle.
  • the first feeding group positions first strips of a given length, for example equal to two products, and the second group positions second strips of a different length, for example equal to that of one product, provided that the sum of the lengths of the first and second strips, positioned in each cycle, must not exceed the pitch set by the dynamic grouping system.
  • the picking members of the feeding groups can be arranged to pick up the strips at the same contact point, thanks to the in-line arrangement of the feeding groups and to the synchronized rotation of the holding members. This makes possible to use strips with a complex shape and/or with openings, with a secure pick-up by both of the feeding groups.
  • a method for packaging products in cardboard strip comprises the steps of:
  • the method for each batch of products or rather within the machine pitch, allows the positioning of strips of cardboard of equal dimensions, or else of at least two strips of cardboard having a different length in the advancing direction of the products.
  • the sum of the lengths of the strips is less than or equal to said machine pitch.
  • the machine according to the invention can reach higher production speeds, compared to the prior art, substantially because the duty of positioning the cardboard strips is spread between the at least two feeding groups. Consequently, a reasonable phasing speed of the products is maintained also when operating with small configurations at high production speed, without affecting the feeding member or requiring high quality cardboard.
  • the invention allows the dynamic grouping system to operate by picking up the maximum number of products compatible with the machine pitch, for each batch, keeping the speed V2 at an acceptable value. According to the operating mode the batches can receive a single strip or two or more strips, identical or different. In this way, the differential V1-V2 is limited since the dynamic grouping system always operates at the maximum of its capability, dealing with products feed from the conveyor without having to increase V2 too much. Since, as stated above, there is a maximum value of the V1-V2 differential that can be borne by the products, the invention reaches a higher productivity compared with the prior art, for the same V1. For example, in cases where a prior-art machine reaches about 300 pcs/min, a machine according to the invention can operate at 400-500 pcs/min with the same safety margin.
  • a machine according to the invention reaches an output of packages that is equal to the number of groupings when each batch is wrapped by a single strip, or double when each batch is wrapped by two adjacent strips, without varying the differential between V1 and V2. This feature shall be more evident with the help of the examples.
  • the particular movement of the two feeders for picking up the strip by flipping in the clockwise direction which forms one of the aspects of the invention, allows mechanization of die-cut pieces of substantial size, without imposing to the cardboard strips the almost complete rotation occurring in the prior art.
  • the feeders have the same pick-up point on the strip, and this is an advantage when the strips have a complex shape with holes, die-cuts, cutting lines, etc... Indeed, the pick-up point of both feeding groups falls in a "full" area of the strip without openings, die-cuts, etc... thus being suitable for the holding action of the picking member.
  • Fig. 1 shows a machine for packaging with cardboard strips comprising: a belt conveyor 100 feeding products such as for example bottles or jars; two cardboard strips feeding groups generally indicated as 200 and 201 and in line with the advancing direction A of the products along the machine; a dynamic grouping system 300 capable of giving a predetermined machine pitch to the products fed from the conveyor 100; a conventional unit 400 for folding and winding the strips.
  • the conveyor 100 is a known item and can feed the products, for example, in a single or double row on a conveyor belt.
  • Fig. 2 shows details of the grouping system 300 that essentially comprises a pair of star conveyors 301 and 302 and a group 303 with side jaws 304, having a grouping pitch C.
  • the products are depicted as jars P.
  • the stars 301 and 302 are moved by a suitable motor, and have the function of feeding the products P with a certain rate synchronised with the pick-up speed of the downstream group 303.
  • the stars are formed essentially with a disc carrying a series of arc-shaped recesses 313, each being sized to receive one of the jars P. In this way, the stars 301 and 302 output a flow of products P, synchronised with the picking-up action of the group 303.
  • the stars are not described any further since they are per se known.
  • the group 303 comprises a plurality of jaws 304, on opposite sides, transported in a closed path by a motorised belt 305.
  • Each jaw 304 is formed with a certain number of seats or recesses 306 suitable for receiving one of the products P.
  • a batch is represented by six units of the products P.
  • the jaws 304 proceed in the advancing direction A, opening at an opposite end 321 of the group 303, and then returning to the pick-up end 320.
  • the machine-pitch C is equal to the distance between corresponding points of two subsequent jaws 304, as shown in the figures, and is the physical distance between the batches of products advancing in the group 303. It should thus be noted that the products P go from the continuous flow on the conveyor 100, to a regulated batch flow with the pitch C set by the group 303.
  • Each group essentially comprises a storage container 210, 211 for the cardboard strips, with a withdrawal window 212, 213, and a pick-up member 215, 216.
  • the member 215 for picking up and positioning the strips of the first feeding group 200 essentially comprises a disc 220 that eccentrically carries a rotary support for one or more holding members 223 ( Fig. 4 ), operating under depression (vacuum).
  • the number of said holding members supported by the disc 220 can vary according to the format of the strips and the required speeds. Generally one to five members are supported by the disc 220.
  • the disc 220 carries three holding members made as arms 223 equipped with vacuum holders 224, connected to a vacuum system.
  • the member 216 of the second feeding group 201 is made in the same way.
  • the members 215 and 216 during operation, deposit the strips on an underlying side conveyor 230, 231, which preferably is of the type with "flights".
  • Each conveyor comprises two side-by-side transporters 232a, 232b and 233a, 233b, below the respective feeding groups 215 and 216.
  • Said transporters comprise two overlying belts and carry a series of pushing elements 234, known as flights, which guide forwards the cardboard strips released by the pickups 215 and 216, in the direction of travel A of the machine.
  • the conveyors are operated by respective motors 235.
  • Fig. 5 shows the positioning of the feeding groups 200 and 201 with respect to the grouping assembly 300. It should be noted the short length of the assembly 300 obtained with the invention, which does not exceed the physical limit of the last feeding group in the advancing direction A, said last feeding group being the second group 201 in the figures. It is worth noting from Fig. 5 the particular arrangement of the groups, unlike the prior art in which the grouping assembly generally precedes the feeding group, in the advancing direction of the machine.
  • the preferred way of operating of the feeding groups is schematised in Fig. 6 .
  • the feeding members 215 and 216 rotate in the same direction, in the example in the clockwise direction R; the positioning of the strips takes place with a rotating-translating movement, by the rotation of the disc 220 and of the support of members 223.
  • a strip 240 which is located in the storage container 210 (or 211) and is positioned on the window 212, is gripped and moved with a trajectory indicated by the positions a), b), c) d) and e) of Fig. 5 , with a rotation in the direction W of figure, which is about 90 degrees from the almost vertical pick-up position to the horizontal travel position on the conveyor 230 below.
  • the stress of the cardboard strip is less severe due to reduced angle of rotation, and consequently it is possible to use a medium-weight cardboard not too expensive; the two groups 215 and 216 can operate in substantial symmetry, by applying the respective suckers 224 exactly in the same point of the strips present both on the window 212 of the first storage container, and on the window 213 of the second storage container. In this way it is possible to adopt strips with complex shapes and/or with openings for example for the packaging of bottles.
  • the transporters 232a, 232b and 233a, 233b are phased and synchronised with the grouping system 300 and in particular with the jaw group 303.
  • the pickup members 215 and 216 cooperating with the side conveyors 230 and 231, can deposit one or two strips of cardboard inside the machine-pitch C of the products P.
  • Fig. 7 Possible example ways of operating are schematised in Fig. 7 .
  • the jaws 304 form batches of six products P, and the groups 200, 201 position a strip 240 on each batch; in example B) two identical strips 241 are positioned per batch of six products, obtaining two packs of three; in example C) the same jaws work for partial filling and form batches of four products, wrapped with two identical strips 242 respectively positioned by the groups 200 and 201; in example D) the batches of five products each are wrapped with a first strip 243 positioned by the first group 200 and a second strip 244 positioned by the second group 201, the two strips 234 and 244 being of different lengths, in direction A. In all cases the sum of the equal or different lengths of a pair of strips positioned by the groups 200 and 201 on a batch of products P, does not exceed the machine pitch C.
  • the wrapping of the strips is completed in the group 400 ( Fig. 1 ) closing the strips with glue or coupling.
  • a machine receives a flow of products P from the feeding conveyor 100 at 1.200 pcs./min.
  • the pieces have a size of ⁇ 55 mm and a speed V1 of 66 m/min.
  • the system 303 has a pitch of 380 mm and packages batches of 6 pieces each in single row configuration, carrying them at a speed of 76 m/min equal to an output of 200 packs/min.
  • Each of the feeding groups 200 and 201 deposits 100 strips/min. for each machine pitch for a length equal to at least 330 mm and therefore occupying almost all of the pitch.
  • the example shows the advantage of treating strips of substantial length at a speed of 200 packs/minute.
  • the same machine according to Example 1 receives the same flow of products P ⁇ 55 mm from the conveyor 100 at 1,200 pcs./min and speed V1 of 66 m/min.
  • the system 303 with pitch of 380 mm packages the pieces with batches of 3 pieces in single row configuration each starting from a grouping of 6 pieces, carrying them at a speed of 76 m/min equal to an output of 400 packs/min.
  • Each of the feeding groups 200 and 201 deposits 200 strips/min. for every portion of machine pitch for a length equal to at least 2x165 mm. This displays the advantage of having doubled the output of the machine at considerable speeds without having changed the differential between V1 and V2, thanks to a single change in operation and replacement/adjustment of the withdrawing window of the die-cut piece 212.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
EP08022244A 2008-12-22 2008-12-22 Machine et procédé d'emballage avec bandes de carton Withdrawn EP2199216A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08022244A EP2199216A1 (fr) 2008-12-22 2008-12-22 Machine et procédé d'emballage avec bandes de carton

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08022244A EP2199216A1 (fr) 2008-12-22 2008-12-22 Machine et procédé d'emballage avec bandes de carton

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EP2199216A1 true EP2199216A1 (fr) 2010-06-23

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3774554A4 (fr) * 2018-04-05 2021-12-29 Graphic Packaging International, LLC Machine d'emballage à système d'alimentation en carton

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3032945A (en) * 1959-02-05 1962-05-08 Container Corp Can packing apparatus
US3064404A (en) * 1960-08-09 1962-11-20 Container Corp Bottle packaging machine
US3303631A (en) * 1962-10-08 1967-02-14 Continental Can Co Machine for and method of applying carriers to containers
US4062270A (en) * 1977-01-14 1977-12-13 The Mead Corporation Panel interlocking mechanism for wrapper type cartons
EP0027526A1 (fr) * 1979-10-19 1981-04-29 Herzberger Papierfabrik Ludwig Osthushenrich GmbH & Co KG Procédé et dispositif d'emballage mécanique de bouteilles
EP1036000A1 (fr) * 1997-09-19 2000-09-20 The Mead Corporation Machine d'emballage
WO2000064739A2 (fr) * 1999-04-23 2000-11-02 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, Sa Magasin multiple pour machine à emballer

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3032945A (en) * 1959-02-05 1962-05-08 Container Corp Can packing apparatus
US3064404A (en) * 1960-08-09 1962-11-20 Container Corp Bottle packaging machine
US3303631A (en) * 1962-10-08 1967-02-14 Continental Can Co Machine for and method of applying carriers to containers
US4062270A (en) * 1977-01-14 1977-12-13 The Mead Corporation Panel interlocking mechanism for wrapper type cartons
EP0027526A1 (fr) * 1979-10-19 1981-04-29 Herzberger Papierfabrik Ludwig Osthushenrich GmbH & Co KG Procédé et dispositif d'emballage mécanique de bouteilles
EP1036000A1 (fr) * 1997-09-19 2000-09-20 The Mead Corporation Machine d'emballage
WO2000064739A2 (fr) * 1999-04-23 2000-11-02 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, Sa Magasin multiple pour machine à emballer

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3774554A4 (fr) * 2018-04-05 2021-12-29 Graphic Packaging International, LLC Machine d'emballage à système d'alimentation en carton

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