EP3538442A1 - A pencil boxing apparatus and method - Google Patents

A pencil boxing apparatus and method

Info

Publication number
EP3538442A1
EP3538442A1 EP16831768.3A EP16831768A EP3538442A1 EP 3538442 A1 EP3538442 A1 EP 3538442A1 EP 16831768 A EP16831768 A EP 16831768A EP 3538442 A1 EP3538442 A1 EP 3538442A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pencil
box
detecting means
package
pencils
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP16831768.3A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Kiyluk ÖNDER
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.)
Adel Kalemcilik Ticaret Ve Sanayi A S
Original Assignee
Adel Kalemcilik Ticaret Ve Sanayi A S
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 Adel Kalemcilik Ticaret Ve Sanayi A S filed Critical Adel Kalemcilik Ticaret Ve Sanayi A S
Publication of EP3538442A1 publication Critical patent/EP3538442A1/en
Pending 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
    • B65B5/06—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
    • B65B5/068—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles in trays
    • 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
    • B65B19/34—Packaging other rod-shaped articles, e.g. sausages, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws, welding electrodes
    • 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
    • B65B23/00—Packaging fragile or shock-sensitive articles other than bottles; Unpacking eggs
    • 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
    • B65B35/02—Supply magazines
    • B65B35/04—Supply magazines with buffer storage devices
    • 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
    • B65B35/32—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by gravity
    • 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
    • B65B35/54—Feeding articles along multiple paths to a single packaging position
    • 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
    • B65B35/56—Orientating, i.e. changing the attitude of, articles, e.g. of non-uniform cross-section
    • 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
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
    • B65B43/30—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated
    • B65B43/305—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated specially adapted for boxes, cartons or carton 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
    • B65B43/32—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by external pressure diagonally applied
    • B65B43/325—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by external pressure diagonally applied to boxes, cartons or carton 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/46—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/52—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using roller-ways or endless 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
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/56—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation movable stepwise to position container or receptacle for the reception of successive increments of contents
    • 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
    • B65B5/10—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
    • B65B5/105—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by 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
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • 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
    • B65B57/02—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages
    • B65B57/06—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to control, or to 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
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/02—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages
    • B65B57/08—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole
    • 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
    • B65B57/16—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 stop, or to control the speed of, the machine as a whole
    • 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
    • B65B57/18—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices causing operation of audible or visible alarm signals
    • 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
    • B65B57/20—Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles
    • 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
    • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/001—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product 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
    • B65B61/20—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
    • 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
    • B65B61/207—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 for inserting partitions between package contents
    • 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
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
    • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
    • 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
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/20—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by folding-down preformed flaps
    • 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
    • B65B2210/00—Specific aspects of the packaging machine
    • B65B2210/02—Plurality of alternative input or output lines or plurality of alternative packaging units on the same packaging line for improving machine flexibility
    • 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
    • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/14—Adding more than one type of material or article to the same package
    • 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
    • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/16—Packaging contents into primary and secondary packaging

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pencil boxing apparatus, wherein the said apparatus comprises a box preparation unit, a pencil filling unit, and a pencil boxing unit. Another characteristic of the said apparatus is that each unit comprises at least one detecting means for controlling the steps of the pencil boxing process. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a pencil boxing method comprising a box preparation step, a pencil filling step and a pencil boxing step. A characteristic of the said pencil boxing method is that each one of the steps of the method is controlled via at least one detecting means.
  • the pencils are generally packed in packages from softer materials such as cardboard.
  • the pencil is more sensitive since the pencil graphite which the pencil includes by its nature tends to fragility, and it is more possible to be damaged during packaging process.
  • the tip of the packed pencils being open increases the fragility of the pencils even more, it results in their tips or graphite breaking when they are pushed into the box in which they will be packed. Therefore, even though the current methods suggest apparatus for packing pencils in a certain number, none of these method does allow packing pencils in a box made from a material other than cardboard, especially packing without getting damaged.
  • the objective of the present invention is to develop an efficient pencil boxing method which enables the pencils to be packed without breaking the graphite and their tips, if present.
  • the objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the pencils are filled into a box without breaking the graphite and by gathering a different number of pencil groups together, and this box is packed.
  • the present invention especially relates to a boxing method which comprises boxing the pencils with tips in different groups via an automatic mechanism.
  • Figure 1 is a representative view of a pencil boxing mechanism according to a configuration of the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a representative view of a box preparation unit.
  • Figure 3 is a representative view of a pencil filling unit.
  • Figure 4 is a representative view of a boxing unit.
  • box packing unit 4 box conveyor
  • the present invention relates to a pencil boxing apparatus, wherein the said pencil boxing apparatus comprises a) a box preparation unit (1) comprising a box conveyor (4) for preparing the box in which the pencil will be filled by using materials before filling, at least one base charger (5) which stores the materials placed in the box, at least one separator charger (6, 7), at least one base guide (8) on which the materials placed in the box pass, at least one separator guide (9, 9'), finger pistons (8', 9", 9"') which enable the boxes to remain fixed under the base guide (8) and the separator guides (9, 9'), a vacuumed movable arm assembly (10) which enables the boxes to be transferred to the transmission line (1 1) from the box conveyor (4), a second vacuumed movable arm assembly (12) which leaves the materials into the box, and a transmission line (1 1), b) a pencil filling unit (2) comprising at least one pencil conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18) for counting the number of pencils to be filled into a box via a counter and loading the different
  • a box packing unit (3) comprising a package charge with piston (34) wherein the packages are lined manually in closed way for packing the boxes filled with pencils into another box in which they will be preserved, a vacuumed movable arm assembly (35) which enables the closed packages to be received, at least one trap(s)/clamp(s) (36, 36', 36", 36"') which enables the package to be opened and to be closed after the box is placed, a chain driven package line (37) on which the package moves along, at least two links/connections (38) between which the package is placed, a diagonal mold (39) which is connected with two pistons enabling the package to be opened, vacuumed movable arm with gripper (40) which places the box inside the package, at least one package piston (41, 4 ) which is for closing the package, a discard piston (42) which moves the unclosed package away, a piston (43) for the transmission of a packed box to another unit, a labelling conveyor (44) and a transmission line (1 1).
  • box preparation unit (1) comprised by the pencil boxing apparatus comprises one or more detecting means for controlling the amount of boxes in a box conveyor (4), and the amount of materials in at least one base charger (5), at least one separator charger (6, 7).
  • box preparation unit (1) comprised by the pencil boxing apparatus comprises one or more detecting means associated with at least one base guide (8) and at least one separator guide (9, 9') for controlling the material dropped in a box.
  • box preparation unit (1) comprised by the pencil boxing apparatus comprises a detecting means on the transmission line (1 1) for controlling the presence of the prepared boxes to be transferred to the pencil filling.
  • a pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26) comprised by a pencil filling unit (2) comprises a detecting means for controlling the number of pencils.
  • a pencil filling unit (2) comprised by the pencil boxing apparatus comprises pencil conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18), pencil charger comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22), and pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26) as many as the types of pencils to be boxed.
  • a pencil filling unit (2) comprised by the pencil boxing mechanism comprises at least two pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18), pencil chargers comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22), and pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26) more preferably at least three, most preferably at least four of them.
  • each one of the pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18) comprised by a pencil filling unit (2) comprises a detecting means for controlling the presence of a pencil at the inlet of the apparatus.
  • a box packing unit (3) of the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention comprises at least one detecting means for controlling whether the package in which the box is placed is closed.
  • a pencil boxing apparatus comprises a control unit further comprising a processor for receiving the signals transmitted by the detecting means which are comprised in said apparatus.
  • the present invention relates to a pencil boxing method, wherein the said method comprises the following steps: a) a box preparation step for preparing the box in which the pencil will be filled by using the materials before filling, b) a pencil filling step for counting the number of pencils to be filled into the box via a counter and loading the pencils in different groups into the box prepared in the box preparation unit, c) a box packing step for packing the boxes filled with pencils into another box in which it will be preserved.
  • Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a box preparation step, the amount of boxes in a box conveyor (4), and the amount of materials in at least one base charger (5) and at least one separator charger (6, 7) is controlled by one or more detecting means.
  • a further characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a box preparation step leaving material in a box is controlled by one or one detecting means associated with at least one base guide (8) and at least one separator guide (9, 9').
  • Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a box preparation step the present of the prepared boxes to be transferred to pencil filling is controlled via a detecting means on the transmission line (1 1).
  • Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a pencil filling step the number of pencils counted by a pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26) is controlled via a detecting means.
  • Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a pencil filling step the presence of pencil at the inlet of each one of the pencil conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18) is controlled via a detecting means.
  • Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in box packing step, the closure of the package placed into the box is controlled via at least one detecting means.
  • box packing step it comprises the step of detecting that the package is not closed properly by a detecting means, and separating the improper package in this case.
  • Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that the steps in the pencil boxing method are controlled by a control unit comprising a processor for receiving the signals transmitted by the detecting means.
  • the present invention relates to a pencil boxing apparatus which enables different group of pencils to be boxed in the same box without the pencil graphites being damaged.
  • a pencil boxing apparatus arranged according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1.
  • the box in which the pencils will be filled should be prepared such that it will not damage the pencils during filling before different groups of pencils are filled into the box and boxed.
  • the box should be separated into different compartments, and the base of the box corresponding to the tips of the pencils should be arranged such that it will not damage the tips of the pencils.
  • the said cardboard is formed of two cardboard layers having air gaps between them, and in case the tips of the pencils placed into the box hit the ground of the box, it has the characteristic to prevent the tips from breaking.
  • the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention comprises a box preparation unit (1) for preparing the box in which the pencil will be filled by using materials before the filling.
  • the box preparation unit (1) according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2.
  • the box preparation unit (1) comprises a box conveyor (4) containing the boxes to be used in the filling.
  • the boxes placed manually onto this box conveyor are taken onto a transmission line (1 1) by a vacuumed movable arm assembly (10).
  • the said vacuumed movable arm assembly (10) which enables the boxes to be taken onto the transmission line (1 1) from the conveyor (4) may contain one or more, preferably at least two, more preferably at least three, and most preferably at least for vacuumed arms.
  • the vacuumed arms provided in the said vacuumed arm assembly (10) operate synchronously.
  • the boxes moving on the transmission line (1 1) first pass below a base charger (5). During this passing, the base in a base charger (5) is taken with a forward movement of the vacuumed movable arm assembly (12) placed against the base charger (5), and it is dropped into a box by passing through a base guide (8) with the backwards movement. In this way, the base cardboard is placed inside the box.
  • the said detecting means controls the presence of the boxes transferred by the vacuumed movable arm assembly (10) onto the transmission line (1 1). In case there is no box, it gives a signal and stops the operation of the mechanism.
  • the material from which the boxes used in the pencil boxing mechanism of the present invention are made is selected from a group formed of materials such as plastic, wood, metal.
  • the said box used in the pencil boxing mechanism of the present invention is preferably a plastic box.
  • the box used in the said mechanism is preferably in square form.
  • two separators are placed inside the box opposite to each other, and in this way, for example, they separate a square box into four compartments.
  • the separator is made from a kind of paper, and the said separator has a protrusion at the center of its upper edge enabling two separators to clasp when it is dropped inside the box from a height.
  • the box in which the base is placed moves on the transmission line (1 1) in order to place the separator, first comes below a first separator charger (6) and then it comes below another separator charger (7).
  • the separator in the first separator charger (6) is taken by the vacuumed movable arm assembly (12) positioned across the separator charger (6), and it is left inside a box by passing through a separator guide (9, 9').
  • the prepared boxes move on the transmission line (1 1) towards the pencil filling unit (2).
  • the vacuumed movable arm group (12) positioned across the base charger (5) and the separator chargers (6, 7) may contain one or more, preferably at least two, more preferably at least three vacuumed arms.
  • the vacuumed arms provided in the said vacuumed arm assembly (12) operate independently from each other.
  • These detecting means controls the presence of materials used in box preparation, that is the box, base and the separators, it sends a signal to the control unit of the pencil boxing apparatus in case of these materials is run out. As a result of this signal, the apparatus stops working, and the apparatus starts to operate again after the related material is manually fed.
  • each base guide (8) and the separator guide (9, 9') ⁇ control whether the base and/or separators are dropped inside the box. If one of these materials is not dropped inside the box properly, the related detecting means send signal to the control unit and stop the operation of the apparatus. After the said failure is manually eliminated, the apparatus can be started again.
  • a detecting means controls the presence of the prepared box. In this way, in case a sufficient number of boxes cannot be prepared in the box preparation unit (1) for any reason, the pencil filling unit is warned before and it stops. In this way, the problems due to operation speed difference between the units are eliminated. Otherwise, since the box preparation unit (1 ) operates faster than the pencil filling unit (2), the pencil filling unit (2) cannot find a box ready to fill with pencils in case a sufficient number of boxes has not been prepared yet; and this disrupts the synchronization of the system. Furthermore, there is a risk to obtain faulty products as a result of such production.
  • a pencil filling unit (2) is shown in Figure 3.
  • the pencil chargers comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22) have the form of the area in which the pencil will be placed in the box.
  • the box to be filled has square shape and it is divided into four by the separators that are placed transversely. Therefore, the compartments to be filled in the box and the pencil chargers comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22) have a triangle shape.
  • the prepared boxes coming from the box preparation unit (1) come to the box filling unit (2) wherein the pencils are filled into the box in a single line via the transmission line (1 1).
  • the boxes are enabled to be given one by one below a box mold (27) in which the pencils will be filled and which is associated with a servo motor (32) by means of two finger pistons (13,13') located on the box transmission line (1 1).
  • the third finger piston (14) keeps the box in reference point. This movement is realized on the transmission line (1 1).
  • the pencils are counted in a desired number from the four pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18) manually loaded with pencils, and located into the pencil charger comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22).
  • Each one of the pencil charger comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22) completing its loading comes to the point where the loading to the pencil mold (27) will be performed by means of the movable pistons (28, 29, 30, 31) to which they are connected.
  • the pencils are placed into the first triangle part of the pencil mold (27) from the first pencil charger comprising piston (19) by means of the piston located in the pencil charger comprising piston
  • the second pencil charger comprising piston (20) in X axis, it rotates 90 degrees in itself by means of the servo motor (32), so it becomes referenced relative to the second triangle part which is empty in the box mold (27) and wherein the second pencil charger comprising piston (20) will perform loading.
  • the pencils in the second pencil charger with piston (20) are loaded into the mold (27) by means of a second movable piston (29). While the box mold (27) moves to make loading to the third pencil charger comprising piston (21) in X axis, at the same time it moves 90 degrees and references the third empty triangle part relative to the third pencil charger comprising piston (21) which will make the loading.
  • the filling of the pencils in the third pencil charger comprising piston (21) is realized by means of a piston located in the pencil charger comprising piston (21).
  • the box mold (27) comes to the reference point of the fourth pencil charger comprising piston (22) wherein the loading will be made in X axis
  • the box mold (27) rotates 90 degrees via the servomotor (32), and it references the last triangle empty part relative to the fourth pencil charger comprising piston (22).
  • the box mold (27) and the servomotor (32) rise from Y axis to X axis with 90 degree angle and they come to vertical position.
  • the box referenced to the box mold (27) waiting to be loaded in the transmission line (11) and coming from the box preparation unit (1) is taken to filling position in Y axis by means of a piston (33).
  • a cover connected to the box mold (27) via a piston and holding the pencils in the rear part wherein the pencils are filled detects that the box ready for filling comes to the filling position via a detecting means.
  • the cover of the box mold (27) holding the pencils opens quickly, and thus the pencils are enabled to be loaded into the prepared box below.
  • Whether the box comes to filling position is controlled by a detecting means. After it is confirmed that the box is positioned properly, the filling is realized.
  • the control of loading the pencils into the box is provided via a detecting means scanning the area. In this way, filling control is performed for each one of the prepared boxes.
  • the box whose filling confirmation is received is left to its first position, on the transmission line (1 1), from the filling position.
  • the cover in the box mold (27) is closed, and the box mold (27) and the servomotor (32) come to X axis from 90° Y axis, and they are referenced to the filling position of the first charger (19). After this point, pencil filling continues by the above mentioned steps being realized in the same way for another prepared box.
  • the present of pencil on the pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18) is controlled by the detecting means at the inlet part of the pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18) to the pencil filling unit (2), in other words at the inlets of the mechanism.
  • a signal is transmitted to the control by the detecting means, and the machine gives an audio warning and stops the operation of the mechanism. After pencil is manually loaded to the apparatus, the apparatus is started again.
  • the pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26) count a sufficient number of pencils via a detecting means; and when a determined number is reached, the operation of the conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18) stops automatically by means of a signal transmitted by the detecting means, and it starts to operate again when the pencil chargers comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22) empty the pencils into a box in the box mold (27) and come again.
  • the inventors determined that in last step of the count of the pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26), in other words when it is close to reach the determined number of pencils, an error occurs in pencil number in case it operates at a certain speed. Slowing down the counting of the pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26) in order to prevent this error increases the pencil filling time, and causes the pencil boxing time to take more time than desired. For this reason, as a result of the conducted studies, the pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26) count the pencils at a constant speed, and when there is 3 pencils left to reach the determined number of pencils, the counting speed is decreased in a certain rate.
  • the boxes filled with pencils come to the pencil packing unit (3) via the transmission line (1 1).
  • the filling of the packages in the box packing unit (3) is performed manually to a package charger with piston (34).
  • the packages are taken from the package charger with piston (34) one by one via a piston by being vacuumed with a vacuumed movable arm (35), and the package is opened by means of the installed traps/clamps (36).
  • the package is placed between two links (38) mounted on a chain in size and width of the package on a chain driven package line (37).
  • the box is hit with diagonal mold (39) connected with piston from two opposite corners between these links (38). By this means the box is completely opened.
  • the flange and inlet of the package is opened such that they will not prevent the filling.
  • the package comes to the reference point.
  • the pencil filled box coming to the reference point is brought to the reference point where the package will be filled by a gripper piston holding the pencils at its end movable in X axis and a vacuumed movable arm with gripper (40) comprising two vacuums holding the box moving linearly in X axis.
  • the said vacuumed movable arm with gripper (40) tilts the box in Y axis with 90 degree angle, and drops it inside the package.
  • the box placed into the package is carried along the trapped Y axis via the chain driven package line (37), and the front flap is closed by means of the traps (36").
  • the rear flap is closed by means of a package piston (41).
  • the inlet of the package is twisted by means of the traps (36"), and the inlet of the package is closed by means of a second package piston (4 ).
  • the solid product is transferred to the labelling conveyor (44) by means of a piston (43) at the end of the chain driven package line (37).
  • the filled boxes wherein the pencils are placed are packaged, and they are ready to be labelled.
  • the detecting means disclosed in the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention and in the pencil boxing method of the present invention may preferably be a sensor.
  • the said sensor is selected from a group comprising a fiber optic sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared sensor and the combinations thereof.
  • the control unit disclosed in the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention and in the pencil boxing method of the present invention comprises a processor, and it receives the signals coming from the detecting means, and sends the related commands to the mechanism of the present invention.
  • the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention both decreases labor and enables the steps to be realized compatible with a certain standard in a way it is not dependent to labor in order to avoid these errors occurring due to humans in process steps.
  • Another advantage provided by the present invention is that it reduces the amount of area wherein the production takes place in the production facility. The pencil boxing process which was realized manually required carrying the materials and the boxes with cars and laboring between the steps.
  • each step being realized between points distanced to each other in order to create working field was increasing the total area occupied. Approximately an area of 100 square meters was required for the manual operation. However, the pencil boxing process can be completed in an area of 20 square meters with the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pencil boxing assembly, wherein the said assembly comprises a box preparation unit, a pencil filling unit, and a pencil boxing unit. Another characteristic of the said assembly is that each unit comprises at least one detecting means for controlling the steps of the pencil boxing process. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a pencil boxing method comprising a pencil filling step and a pencil boxing step. A characteristic of the said pencil boxing method is that each one of the steps of the method is controlled via at least one detecting means.

Description

DESCRIPTION
A PENCIL BOXING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pencil boxing apparatus, wherein the said apparatus comprises a box preparation unit, a pencil filling unit, and a pencil boxing unit. Another characteristic of the said apparatus is that each unit comprises at least one detecting means for controlling the steps of the pencil boxing process. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a pencil boxing method comprising a box preparation step, a pencil filling step and a pencil boxing step. A characteristic of the said pencil boxing method is that each one of the steps of the method is controlled via at least one detecting means.
Background of the Invention
Apparatus which enable the products in items such as pencil to be packed in a certain numbers in a package are known in the state of the art. Such mechanisms are specifically for packing a pencil in single type in different boxes. Therefore, presenting different types of pencils in a same package is not an encountered situation. Even when there is such requirement, labor steps in one stage of the packaging process, and enables the pencils in different colors and/or patterns to be gathered manually. Therefore, there is no mechanism in the state of the art, which gathers the pencils in groups and counts them.
The pencils are generally packed in packages from softer materials such as cardboard. However, the pencil is more sensitive since the pencil graphite which the pencil includes by its nature tends to fragility, and it is more possible to be damaged during packaging process. Particularly, the tip of the packed pencils being open increases the fragility of the pencils even more, it results in their tips or graphite breaking when they are pushed into the box in which they will be packed. Therefore, even though the current methods suggest apparatus for packing pencils in a certain number, none of these method does allow packing pencils in a box made from a material other than cardboard, especially packing without getting damaged.
According to this, the objective of the present invention is to develop an efficient pencil boxing method which enables the pencils to be packed without breaking the graphite and their tips, if present. According to another aspect, the objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the pencils are filled into a box without breaking the graphite and by gathering a different number of pencil groups together, and this box is packed.
According to a further aspect, the present invention especially relates to a boxing method which comprises boxing the pencils with tips in different groups via an automatic mechanism. Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a representative view of a pencil boxing mechanism according to a configuration of the invention.
Figure 2 is a representative view of a box preparation unit.
Figure 3 is a representative view of a pencil filling unit. Figure 4 is a representative view of a boxing unit.
References
1 : box preparation unit
2: pencil filling unit
3: box packing unit 4: box conveyor
5: base charger
6, 7: separator charger
8: base guide
8', 9", 9"': finger pistons 9, 9': separator guide
10, 12: vacuumed movable arm assembly
1 1 : transmission line
13, 3',14: finger piston
15, 16, 17, 18: pencil conveyor 19, 20, 21 , 22: pencil charger comprising piston 23, 24, 25, 26: pencil counter 27: box mold
28, 29, 30, 31 : movable piston 32: servo motor 33: piston
34: package charger with piston 35: vacuumed movable arm 36, 36', 36", 36"': trap(s)/clamp(s) 37: chain driven package line 38: link/connection
39: diagonal mold connected with two pistons 40: vacuumed movable arm with gripper 41 , 41 ': package piston 42: discard piston 43: piston
44: labeling conveyor Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pencil boxing apparatus, wherein the said pencil boxing apparatus comprises a) a box preparation unit (1) comprising a box conveyor (4) for preparing the box in which the pencil will be filled by using materials before filling, at least one base charger (5) which stores the materials placed in the box, at least one separator charger (6, 7), at least one base guide (8) on which the materials placed in the box pass, at least one separator guide (9, 9'), finger pistons (8', 9", 9"') which enable the boxes to remain fixed under the base guide (8) and the separator guides (9, 9'), a vacuumed movable arm assembly (10) which enables the boxes to be transferred to the transmission line (1 1) from the box conveyor (4), a second vacuumed movable arm assembly (12) which leaves the materials into the box, and a transmission line (1 1), b) a pencil filling unit (2) comprising at least one pencil conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18) for counting the number of pencils to be filled into a box via a counter and loading the different groups of pencils into the boxes prepared in box preparation unit, at least one pencil charger (19, 20, 21 , 22) comprising piston, at least one movable piston (28, 29, 30, 31 ) for the movement of the chargers to the filling point, at least one pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26), a box mold (27) which enables the pencils to be transferred into the box, a servo motor (32), a piston (33) which enables the prepared box to come to the filling position, and a transmission line (1 1),
c) a box packing unit (3) comprising a package charge with piston (34) wherein the packages are lined manually in closed way for packing the boxes filled with pencils into another box in which they will be preserved, a vacuumed movable arm assembly (35) which enables the closed packages to be received, at least one trap(s)/clamp(s) (36, 36', 36", 36"') which enables the package to be opened and to be closed after the box is placed, a chain driven package line (37) on which the package moves along, at least two links/connections (38) between which the package is placed, a diagonal mold (39) which is connected with two pistons enabling the package to be opened, vacuumed movable arm with gripper (40) which places the box inside the package, at least one package piston (41, 4 ) which is for closing the package, a discard piston (42) which moves the unclosed package away, a piston (43) for the transmission of a packed box to another unit, a labelling conveyor (44) and a transmission line (1 1).
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, box preparation unit (1) comprised by the pencil boxing apparatus comprises one or more detecting means for controlling the amount of boxes in a box conveyor (4), and the amount of materials in at least one base charger (5), at least one separator charger (6, 7).
According to another embodiment of the invention, box preparation unit (1) comprised by the pencil boxing apparatus comprises one or more detecting means associated with at least one base guide (8) and at least one separator guide (9, 9') for controlling the material dropped in a box. According to another embodiment of the present invention, box preparation unit (1) comprised by the pencil boxing apparatus comprises a detecting means on the transmission line (1 1) for controlling the presence of the prepared boxes to be transferred to the pencil filling.
Another characteristic of the pencil boxing mechanism of the present invention is that a pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26) comprised by a pencil filling unit (2) comprises a detecting means for controlling the number of pencils.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a pencil filling unit (2) comprised by the pencil boxing apparatus comprises pencil conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18), pencil charger comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22), and pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26) as many as the types of pencils to be boxed.
According to this, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pencil filling unit (2) comprised by the pencil boxing mechanism comprises at least two pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18), pencil chargers comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22), and pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26) more preferably at least three, most preferably at least four of them.
In a pencil boxing apparatus according to the present invention, each one of the pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18) comprised by a pencil filling unit (2) comprises a detecting means for controlling the presence of a pencil at the inlet of the apparatus.
According to another aspect, a box packing unit (3) of the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention comprises at least one detecting means for controlling whether the package in which the box is placed is closed.
A pencil boxing apparatus comprises a control unit further comprising a processor for receiving the signals transmitted by the detecting means which are comprised in said apparatus.
According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a pencil boxing method, wherein the said method comprises the following steps: a) a box preparation step for preparing the box in which the pencil will be filled by using the materials before filling, b) a pencil filling step for counting the number of pencils to be filled into the box via a counter and loading the pencils in different groups into the box prepared in the box preparation unit, c) a box packing step for packing the boxes filled with pencils into another box in which it will be preserved.
Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a box preparation step, the amount of boxes in a box conveyor (4), and the amount of materials in at least one base charger (5) and at least one separator charger (6, 7) is controlled by one or more detecting means. A further characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a box preparation step leaving material in a box is controlled by one or one detecting means associated with at least one base guide (8) and at least one separator guide (9, 9').
Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a box preparation step the present of the prepared boxes to be transferred to pencil filling is controlled via a detecting means on the transmission line (1 1).
Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a pencil filling step the number of pencils counted by a pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26) is controlled via a detecting means.
Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in a pencil filling step the presence of pencil at the inlet of each one of the pencil conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18) is controlled via a detecting means.
Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in box packing step, the closure of the package placed into the box is controlled via at least one detecting means.
Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that in box packing step it comprises the step of detecting that the package is not closed properly by a detecting means, and separating the improper package in this case.
Another characteristic of the method of the present invention is that the steps in the pencil boxing method are controlled by a control unit comprising a processor for receiving the signals transmitted by the detecting means. Detailed Description of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pencil boxing apparatus which enables different group of pencils to be boxed in the same box without the pencil graphites being damaged. A pencil boxing apparatus arranged according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1. In the studies conducted for providing this apparatus, it was determined that the box in which the pencils will be filled should be prepared such that it will not damage the pencils during filling before different groups of pencils are filled into the box and boxed. During this preparation, the box should be separated into different compartments, and the base of the box corresponding to the tips of the pencils should be arranged such that it will not damage the tips of the pencils.
In the studies they conducted, the inventors suggested that a base preferably from cardboard material in same dimension of the base is placed onto the base of the box in order to solve these problems.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the said cardboard is formed of two cardboard layers having air gaps between them, and in case the tips of the pencils placed into the box hit the ground of the box, it has the characteristic to prevent the tips from breaking.
The operation of the box preparation unit
The pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention comprises a box preparation unit (1) for preparing the box in which the pencil will be filled by using materials before the filling. The box preparation unit (1) according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2. The box preparation unit (1) comprises a box conveyor (4) containing the boxes to be used in the filling. The boxes placed manually onto this box conveyor are taken onto a transmission line (1 1) by a vacuumed movable arm assembly (10).
The said vacuumed movable arm assembly (10) which enables the boxes to be taken onto the transmission line (1 1) from the conveyor (4) may contain one or more, preferably at least two, more preferably at least three, and most preferably at least for vacuumed arms. The vacuumed arms provided in the said vacuumed arm assembly (10) operate synchronously.
The boxes moving on the transmission line (1 1) first pass below a base charger (5). During this passing, the base in a base charger (5) is taken with a forward movement of the vacuumed movable arm assembly (12) placed against the base charger (5), and it is dropped into a box by passing through a base guide (8) with the backwards movement. In this way, the base cardboard is placed inside the box.
There is a detecting means before the base charger (5) on this transmission line (1 1). The said detecting means controls the presence of the boxes transferred by the vacuumed movable arm assembly (10) onto the transmission line (1 1). In case there is no box, it gives a signal and stops the operation of the mechanism.
After the said cardboard is placed, at least one separator separating the box into compartment in certain number is placed inside the box. By means of this separator(s), the pencils in different colors and features placed inside the box are separated from each other. The material from which the boxes used in the pencil boxing mechanism of the present invention are made is selected from a group formed of materials such as plastic, wood, metal. The said box used in the pencil boxing mechanism of the present invention is preferably a plastic box. The box used in the said mechanism is preferably in square form.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two separators are placed inside the box opposite to each other, and in this way, for example, they separate a square box into four compartments.
In a specifically preferred embodiment of the invention, the separator is made from a kind of paper, and the said separator has a protrusion at the center of its upper edge enabling two separators to clasp when it is dropped inside the box from a height. The box in which the base is placed moves on the transmission line (1 1) in order to place the separator, first comes below a first separator charger (6) and then it comes below another separator charger (7). During this passing, the separator in the first separator charger (6) is taken by the vacuumed movable arm assembly (12) positioned across the separator charger (6), and it is left inside a box by passing through a separator guide (9, 9'). Similarly, after the second separator is placed into the box, the prepared boxes move on the transmission line (1 1) towards the pencil filling unit (2).
There are finger pistons (8', 9", 9"') which enable the boxes moving on the transmission line (1 1) to remain fixed below the base guide (8) and the separator guides (9, 9'), and to move again after the base and the separators are left inside the box at this time. The vacuumed movable arm group (12) positioned across the base charger (5) and the separator chargers (6, 7) may contain one or more, preferably at least two, more preferably at least three vacuumed arms. The vacuumed arms provided in the said vacuumed arm assembly (12) operate independently from each other. In the box preparation unit (1), at each inlet of the box conveyor (4) towards the transmission line (1 1), at each inlet of base charger (5) and separator charger (6, 7), there is at least one detecting means. These detecting means controls the presence of materials used in box preparation, that is the box, base and the separators, it sends a signal to the control unit of the pencil boxing apparatus in case of these materials is run out. As a result of this signal, the apparatus stops working, and the apparatus starts to operate again after the related material is manually fed.
In addition to these detecting means, there are also detecting means associated with each base guide (8) and the separator guide (9, 9')· These detecting means control whether the base and/or separators are dropped inside the box. If one of these materials is not dropped inside the box properly, the related detecting means send signal to the control unit and stop the operation of the apparatus. After the said failure is manually eliminated, the apparatus can be started again.
Before the boxes prepared in the box preparation unit (1) are transferred to the pencil filling unit (2) on the transmission line (1 1), first a detecting means controls the presence of the prepared box. In this way, in case a sufficient number of boxes cannot be prepared in the box preparation unit (1) for any reason, the pencil filling unit is warned before and it stops. In this way, the problems due to operation speed difference between the units are eliminated. Otherwise, since the box preparation unit (1 ) operates faster than the pencil filling unit (2), the pencil filling unit (2) cannot find a box ready to fill with pencils in case a sufficient number of boxes has not been prepared yet; and this disrupts the synchronization of the system. Furthermore, there is a risk to obtain faulty products as a result of such production. For this reason, in case it is confirmed by a detecting means that a sufficient number of boxes has been provided on the transmission line (1 1) at the inlet of the pencil filling unit (2), otherwise it stops operating until a sufficient number of boxes is present. The operation of the pencil filling unit An equal number of pencils are lined in the compartments formed as a result of placing separators in the prepared boxes. Pencil count should be performed before lining so that the number of pencils will be equal, and this process is realized in pencil filling unit (2). According to an embodiment of the invention, a pencil filling unit (2) is shown in Figure 3. The pencil chargers comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22) have the form of the area in which the pencil will be placed in the box. According to an embodiment of the invention, the box to be filled has square shape and it is divided into four by the separators that are placed transversely. Therefore, the compartments to be filled in the box and the pencil chargers comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22) have a triangle shape. The prepared boxes coming from the box preparation unit (1) come to the box filling unit (2) wherein the pencils are filled into the box in a single line via the transmission line (1 1). The boxes are enabled to be given one by one below a box mold (27) in which the pencils will be filled and which is associated with a servo motor (32) by means of two finger pistons (13,13') located on the box transmission line (1 1). Here, two of the finger pistons (13,13') come in front of the third finger piston (14) with on-off method. The third finger piston (14) keeps the box in reference point. This movement is realized on the transmission line (1 1). In the meantime, the pencils are counted in a desired number from the four pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18) manually loaded with pencils, and located into the pencil charger comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22). Each one of the pencil charger comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22) completing its loading comes to the point where the loading to the pencil mold (27) will be performed by means of the movable pistons (28, 29, 30, 31) to which they are connected. The pencils are placed into the first triangle part of the pencil mold (27) from the first pencil charger comprising piston (19) by means of the piston located in the pencil charger comprising piston
(19) . While the box mold (27) comes to the location of the second pencil charger comprising piston
(20) in X axis, it rotates 90 degrees in itself by means of the servo motor (32), so it becomes referenced relative to the second triangle part which is empty in the box mold (27) and wherein the second pencil charger comprising piston (20) will perform loading. The pencils in the second pencil charger with piston (20) are loaded into the mold (27) by means of a second movable piston (29). While the box mold (27) moves to make loading to the third pencil charger comprising piston (21) in X axis, at the same time it moves 90 degrees and references the third empty triangle part relative to the third pencil charger comprising piston (21) which will make the loading. The filling of the pencils in the third pencil charger comprising piston (21) is realized by means of a piston located in the pencil charger comprising piston (21). Again, while the box mold (27) comes to the reference point of the fourth pencil charger comprising piston (22) wherein the loading will be made in X axis, the box mold (27) rotates 90 degrees via the servomotor (32), and it references the last triangle empty part relative to the fourth pencil charger comprising piston (22). After the pencils in the fourth pencil charger comprising piston (22) are loaded into the box mold (27), the box mold (27) and the servomotor (32) rise from Y axis to X axis with 90 degree angle and they come to vertical position. The box referenced to the box mold (27) waiting to be loaded in the transmission line (11) and coming from the box preparation unit (1) is taken to filling position in Y axis by means of a piston (33). After the box mold (27) comes to vertical position, a cover connected to the box mold (27) via a piston and holding the pencils in the rear part wherein the pencils are filled detects that the box ready for filling comes to the filling position via a detecting means. As a result of this, the cover of the box mold (27) holding the pencils opens quickly, and thus the pencils are enabled to be loaded into the prepared box below.
Whether the box comes to filling position is controlled by a detecting means. After it is confirmed that the box is positioned properly, the filling is realized.
The control of loading the pencils into the box is provided via a detecting means scanning the area. In this way, filling control is performed for each one of the prepared boxes. The box whose filling confirmation is received is left to its first position, on the transmission line (1 1), from the filling position. The cover in the box mold (27) is closed, and the box mold (27) and the servomotor (32) come to X axis from 90° Y axis, and they are referenced to the filling position of the first charger (19). After this point, pencil filling continues by the above mentioned steps being realized in the same way for another prepared box.
The present of pencil on the pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18) is controlled by the detecting means at the inlet part of the pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18) to the pencil filling unit (2), in other words at the inlets of the mechanism. In case the pencil finishes on the pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18), a signal is transmitted to the control by the detecting means, and the machine gives an audio warning and stops the operation of the mechanism. After pencil is manually loaded to the apparatus, the apparatus is started again. The pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26) count a sufficient number of pencils via a detecting means; and when a determined number is reached, the operation of the conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18) stops automatically by means of a signal transmitted by the detecting means, and it starts to operate again when the pencil chargers comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22) empty the pencils into a box in the box mold (27) and come again.
In the studies they conducted, the inventors determined that in last step of the count of the pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26), in other words when it is close to reach the determined number of pencils, an error occurs in pencil number in case it operates at a certain speed. Slowing down the counting of the pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26) in order to prevent this error increases the pencil filling time, and causes the pencil boxing time to take more time than desired. For this reason, as a result of the conducted studies, the pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26) count the pencils at a constant speed, and when there is 3 pencils left to reach the determined number of pencils, the counting speed is decreased in a certain rate. In other words, after at least 85% of the desired pencil number is met from the conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18), the pencil counters (23, 24, 25, 26) slow down. By means of this decrease in counting speed, both an error is not observed in the pencil count, and total pencil boxing time is not negatively affected in terms of time.
The operation of the box packing unit
The boxes filled with pencils come to the pencil packing unit (3) via the transmission line (1 1). The filling of the packages in the box packing unit (3) is performed manually to a package charger with piston (34). The packages are taken from the package charger with piston (34) one by one via a piston by being vacuumed with a vacuumed movable arm (35), and the package is opened by means of the installed traps/clamps (36). In order to enable the package to be completely opened, the package is placed between two links (38) mounted on a chain in size and width of the package on a chain driven package line (37). In order to enable the box to open completely, the box is hit with diagonal mold (39) connected with piston from two opposite corners between these links (38). By this means the box is completely opened. While the package comes with the chain driven package line (37) to the reference point where the filled box will be put into package, the flange and inlet of the package is opened such that they will not prevent the filling. The package comes to the reference point. In the transmission line (1 1), the pencil filled box coming to the reference point is brought to the reference point where the package will be filled by a gripper piston holding the pencils at its end movable in X axis and a vacuumed movable arm with gripper (40) comprising two vacuums holding the box moving linearly in X axis. The said vacuumed movable arm with gripper (40) tilts the box in Y axis with 90 degree angle, and drops it inside the package. The box placed into the package is carried along the trapped Y axis via the chain driven package line (37), and the front flap is closed by means of the traps (36"). The rear flap is closed by means of a package piston (41). The inlet of the package is twisted by means of the traps (36"), and the inlet of the package is closed by means of a second package piston (4 ). After the package is closed, it is controlled by means of a detecting means, and the faulty product is discarded to reject part by means of a discard piston (42). The solid product is transferred to the labelling conveyor (44) by means of a piston (43) at the end of the chain driven package line (37).
As a result of these steps, the filled boxes wherein the pencils are placed are packaged, and they are ready to be labelled.
The detecting means disclosed in the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention and in the pencil boxing method of the present invention may preferably be a sensor. The said sensor is selected from a group comprising a fiber optic sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared sensor and the combinations thereof.
The control unit disclosed in the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention and in the pencil boxing method of the present invention comprises a processor, and it receives the signals coming from the detecting means, and sends the related commands to the mechanism of the present invention.
All these processes realized with the pencil boxing mechanism of the present invention in the current technique are performed by using labor in each step. However, in addition to labor costs, all processes being dependent to labor increases the number of errors or faulty products during production, and thereby increasing the total cost of production. For this reason, the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention both decreases labor and enables the steps to be realized compatible with a certain standard in a way it is not dependent to labor in order to avoid these errors occurring due to humans in process steps. Another advantage provided by the present invention is that it reduces the amount of area wherein the production takes place in the production facility. The pencil boxing process which was realized manually required carrying the materials and the boxes with cars and laboring between the steps. Furthermore, each step being realized between points distanced to each other in order to create working field was increasing the total area occupied. Approximately an area of 100 square meters was required for the manual operation. However, the pencil boxing process can be completed in an area of 20 square meters with the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention.
In the state of the art, for example in order to perform box preparation process manually and place for example two separators and one base into one box, these materials were required to be separated by hand one by one from a sequential bundle. This situation increased the box preparation time, as well as it necessitated to manually adjust the number of materials required per box. For example, placing two bases per box or placing two separators instead of one separator cases both material consumption, and miss-use of the area assigned for the pencils in the box. In the pencil boxing apparatus of the present invention, these problems are avoided by controlling the said processes with a group of detecting means. By means of this control, in different steps of the box preparation stage, material consumption is avoided, and the preparation of a faulty box is prevented by enabling each material to be placed into the box properly. In the pencil boxing apparatus and in the pencil boxing method of the present invention, labor is reduced, and the pencil count and alignment, and placing them into the boxes without error is enabled in order to realize the processes without any error.
By means of the pencil boxing apparatus and in the pencil boxing method of the present invention, steps of base and separator placement, pencil counting and pencil filling and placing into the box are developed. Carrying boxes, pencils or packages realized with labor between steps, and steps requiring labor and time such as carrying the cars in which they are present, and placing them to the machine are eliminated.

Claims

1. A pencil boxing apparatus comprising a. a box preparation unit (1 ) comprising a box conveyor (4) for preparing the box in which the pencil will be filled by using materials before filling, at least one base charger (5) which stores the materials placed in the box, at least one separator charger (6, 7), at least one base guide (8) on which the materials placed in the box pass, at least one separator guide (9, 9'), finger pistons (8', 9", 9"') which enable the boxes to remain fixed under the base guide (8) and the separator guides (9, 9'), a vacuumed movable arm assembly ( 10) which enables the boxes to be transferred to the transmission line (1 1) from the box conveyor (4), a second vacuumed movable arm assembly (12) which leaves the materials into the box, and a transmission line (1 1), b. a pencil filling unit (2) comprising at least one pencil conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18) for counting the number of pencils to be filled into a box via a counter and loading the different groups of pencils into the boxes prepared in box preparation unit, at least one pencil charger (19, 20, 21 , 22) comprising piston, at least one movable piston (28, 29, 30, 31) for the movement of the chargers (19, 20, 21 , 22) comprising piston to the filling point, at least one pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26), a box mold (27) which enables the pencils to be transferred into the box, a servo motor (32), a piston (33) which enables the prepared box to come to the filling position, and a transmission line (1 1), c. a box packing unit (3) comprising a package charge with piston (34) wherein the packages are lined manually in closed way for packing the boxes filled with pencils into another box in which they will be preserved, a vacuumed movable arm assembly (35) which enables the closed packages to be received, at least one trap(s)/clamp(s) (36, 36', 36", 36"') which enables the package to be opened and to be closed after the box is placed, a chain driven package line (37) on which the package moves, at least two links/connections (38) between which the package is placed, a diagonal mold (39) which is connected with two pistons enabling the package to be opened, vacuumed movable arm with gripper (40) which places the box inside the package, at least one package piston (41 , 4 ) which is for closing the package, a discard piston (42) which moves the unclosed package away, a piston (43) for the transmission of a packed box to another unit, a labelling conveyor (44) and a transmission line (1 1).
2. A pencil boxing apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the said box preparation unit (1) comprises one or more detecting means for controlling the amount of boxes in a box conveyor (4), and the amount of materials in at least one base charger (5) and at least one separator charger (6, 7).
3. A pencil boxing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the said box preparation unit (1) comprises one or more detecting means associated with at least one base guide (8) and at least one separator guide (9, 9') for controlling the material dropped in a box.
4. A pencil boxing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the said box preparation unit (1) comprises a detecting means on the transmission line (1 1) for controlling the presence of the prepared boxes to be transferred to the pencil filling.
5. A pencil boxing apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that a pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26) comprised by a pencil filling unit (2) comprises a detecting means for controlling the number of pencils.
6. A pencil boxing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that a pencil filling unit (2) comprises pencil conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18), pencil charger comprising piston (19, 20, 21 , 22), and pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26) as many as the types of pencils to be boxed.
7. A pencil boxing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that each one of the pencil conveyors (15, 16, 17, 18) comprised by a pencil filling unit (2) comprises a detecting means for controlling the presence of a pencil at the inlet of the mechanism.
8. A pencil boxing apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that a box packing unit (2) comprises at least one detecting means for controlling whether the package in which the box is placed is closed.
9. A pencil boxing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a control unit further comprising a processor for receiving the signals transmitted by the detecting means which are comprised.
10. A pencil boxing method, characterized in that it comprises a. a box preparation step for preparing the box in which the pencil will be filled by using the materials before filling, b. a pencil filling step for counting the number of pencils to be filled into the box via a counter and loading the pencils in different groups into the box prepared in the box preparation unit, c. a box packing step for packing the boxes filled with pencils into another box in which it will be preserved.
11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that in a box preparation step, the amount of boxes in a box conveyor (4), and the amount of materials in at least one base charger (5) and at least one separator charger (6, 7) is controlled by one or more detecting means.
12. A method according to claim 1 1 , characterized in that in a box preparation step leaving material in a box is controlled by one or more detecting means associated with at least one base guide (8) and at least one separator guide (9, 9')·
13. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that in a box preparation step the present of the prepared boxes to be transferred to pencil filling is controlled via a detecting means on the transmission line (1 1).
14. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that in a pencil filling step the number of pencils counted by a pencil counter (23, 24, 25, 26) is controlled via a detecting means.
15. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that in a pencil filling step the presence of pencil at the inlet of each one of the pencil conveyor (15, 16, 17, 18) is controlled via a detecting means.
16. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that in a box packing step the closure of the package placed inside the box is controlled via at least one detecting means.
17. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that in a box packing step it comprises the step of detecting that the package is not closed properly by a detecting means, and separating the improper package in this case.
8. A method according to any one of the claims 10-17, characterized in that the steps in the pencil boxing method are controlled by a control unit comprising a processor for receiving the signals transmitted by the detecting means.
EP16831768.3A 2016-11-08 2016-11-08 A pencil boxing apparatus and method Pending EP3538442A1 (en)

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PCT/TR2016/000157 WO2018088971A1 (en) 2016-11-08 2016-11-08 A pencil boxing apparatus and method

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CN112874931A (en) * 2021-01-26 2021-06-01 星环工业技术(天津)有限公司 Pneumatic adjustable box falling mechanism suitable for square box product boxing
CN113562236B (en) * 2021-07-08 2022-09-06 浙江鸿星文具有限公司 Mark pen equipment for packing

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CA977314A (en) * 1973-11-16 1975-11-04 Arnold Kastner Apparatus for packaging cigarette tubes
US3879919A (en) * 1974-05-06 1975-04-29 Corning Glass Works Article handling apparatus
US4813207A (en) * 1987-10-02 1989-03-21 Rundle Gregory E Bag sealing machine
DE3816856A1 (en) * 1988-05-18 1989-11-30 Focke & Co METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHECKING CARDBOARD PACKS
IT1300035B1 (en) * 1998-05-14 2000-04-04 Marchesini Group Spa METHOD FOR PACKAGING ITEMS WITHIN ITS CASES.
DE102014221232A1 (en) * 2014-10-20 2016-04-21 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Device and method for handling articles

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