EP3887291A1 - Device for feeding and arranging solid food products and machine for packaging solid food products - Google Patents

Device for feeding and arranging solid food products and machine for packaging solid food products

Info

Publication number
EP3887291A1
EP3887291A1 EP19802024.0A EP19802024A EP3887291A1 EP 3887291 A1 EP3887291 A1 EP 3887291A1 EP 19802024 A EP19802024 A EP 19802024A EP 3887291 A1 EP3887291 A1 EP 3887291A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
solid food
food products
pair
belts
products
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
EP19802024.0A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Alessandro Candini
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.)
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Original Assignee
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA filed Critical IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Publication of EP3887291A1 publication Critical patent/EP3887291A1/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
    • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
    • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
    • B65B65/006—Multiple parallel packaging lines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
    • B65B35/26—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by rotary conveyors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G29/00—Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/22—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
    • B65G47/26—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
    • B65G47/28—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a single conveyor
    • B65G47/29—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a single conveyor by temporarily stopping movement
    • B65G47/295—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a single conveyor by temporarily stopping movement by means of at least two stopping elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/22—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
    • B65G47/26—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
    • B65G47/30—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles during transit by a series of conveyors
    • B65G47/32—Applications of transfer devices

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a device for feeding and arranging solid fed products and a machine for packaging solid food products.
  • the machine for packaging solid products is used for packaging products in the form of pressed stock cubes, such as those with a cubic or polyhedral shape.
  • the machines for packaging solid products comprise, along a feed line:
  • a press for compressing the products, starting from a corresponding granular material, configured for feeding individual products (preferably in continuous sequence);
  • a device for feeding and arranging products configured for positioning the individual products according to at least one row and, subsequently, for spacing the products from each other before their wrapping (of particular interest in this specification);
  • an apparatus for wrapping the product in a respective wrapper configured for picking up individual products from the device for feeding and arranging products and for wrapping the product, with a piece or sheet of film, by folding a sheet about a corresponding product; this apparatus moves intermittently during the steps for processing the product.
  • the devices for feeding and arranging products such as pressed stock cubes generally comprise groups of guides for conveying and channelling the products and means configured for the relative longitudinal spacing between the individual products advancing towards the wrapping apparatus located downstream relative to the feed line.
  • This device for feeding and arranging products is an extremely delicate and important station for the entire machine, since:
  • the aim of the invention is to provide a device for feeding and arranging solid food products, in particular pressed stock cubes, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
  • a further aim of this invention is to provide a machine for packaging solid food products, in particular pressed stock cubes, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
  • the aim of the invention is to provide a device for feeding and arranging solid food products, in particular pressed stock cubes, which is able to make the feeding of the individual products to the wrapping apparatus fast, safe and suitable for the production speeds of the wrapping apparatus.
  • a further aim of the invention is to provide a device for feeding and arranging solid food products, in particular pressed stock cubes, which is able to have a compact layout keeping a high production capacity together with a high end quality of the product.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with some schematic parts, of a device for feeding and arranging solid food products applied to a machine for packaging solid food products, in particular the pressed stock cubes, according to the invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic side view, with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others, of a detail of the device of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a top plan view, with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others, of the detail of Figure 2;
  • FIG. 4 to 7 illustrate schematic plan views of a corresponding series of steps carried out in a spacing zone of the device for feeding and arranging solid food products in the machine according to the invention and relating to the spacing of solid food products and to the single feeding of a solid food product to a wrapping apparatus;
  • FIG. 8 and 9 are both schematic side views of two corresponding steps of spacing and feeding a solid food product to the wrapping apparatus.
  • the device for feeding and arranging solid food products according to the invention is applicable to a machine, labelled 100 in its entirety, used for packaging solid food products 1 , in particular pressed stock cubes with a cubic or parallelepiped shape.
  • the machine 100 can comprise, along a relative line of extension and along a feed direction D a press 2 for compressing products, starting from a granulated material, configured for producing and feeding, continuously, individual solid food products 1 (the press is illustrated as a block drawn with a dashed line).
  • the machine 100 also comprises a device 3 for feeding and arranging solid food products (1 ) arriving from the press 2, configured for receiving and positioning the individual solid food products 1 according to at least one row, starting from a relative inlet end referred to the feed direction D, and, subsequently, for spacing the solid food products 1 relative to each other along the feed direction D, and towards an outlet end of the feed device 3.
  • a device 3 for feeding and arranging solid food products (1 ) arriving from the press 2 configured for receiving and positioning the individual solid food products 1 according to at least one row, starting from a relative inlet end referred to the feed direction D, and, subsequently, for spacing the solid food products 1 relative to each other along the feed direction D, and towards an outlet end of the feed device 3.
  • the machine 100 also comprises an apparatus 4 for wrapping each individual solid food product 1 in a corresponding wrapper (illustrated in Figure 1 with a block with a dashed line).
  • the wrapping apparatus 4 is movable in a discontinuous stepwise fashion.
  • the wrapping apparatus 4 is configured for receiving individual solid food products 1 released by the device 3 for feeding and arranging solid food products 1 and for wrapping, with a piece 5 of film, the solid food product 1 by folding the piece of film 5 about a corresponding solid food product 1.
  • the device 3 for feeding and arranging solid food products 1 comprises at least one motor-driven conveyor 6 for storing and conveying the solid food products 1 (arriving from the press 2).
  • the conveyor 6 is equipped with panels 7 for guiding the solid food products 1 in such a way as to arrange the solid food products 1 in a single row.
  • the device 3 comprises at least one unit 8 for the controlled transit of the solid food products 1 arriving from the motor-driven conveyor 6 for accumulating and conveying.
  • the unit 8 is equipped with a pair of belts 9 for bilateral gripping and retaining of the solid food products 1 and movable at a speed which can be modified, by means of a corresponding independent drive unit 10.
  • This speed of the pair of belts 9 which can be modified makes it possible to maintain a constant control of the position of the solid food products 1 along the extension of a channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
  • the device 3 comprises means 1 1 for spacing between successive solid food products 1 at the outlet from an end of the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 and feeding a single solid food product 1 to the apparatus 4 for wrapping the solid food product.
  • the device 3 comprises a control unit 12 connected to the independent drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 and which is able to modify the feed speed of the pair of belts 9.
  • This control is carried out on the position of the solid food products 1 along the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 and at the means 11 for spacing the solid food products 1.
  • control device 12 is connected to the independent drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 and is able to modify the speed of the pair of belts 9 as a function of the measurement of the position at least of the solid food product 1 fed to the means 1 1 for spacing the solid food product 1 , in such a way as to keep synchronised the position of the solid food product 1 being fed with a picking up operational step of the wrapping apparatus 4.
  • the solid food products entering the channel of the pair of belts are controlled in terms of their position and their forward movement towards the launching zone to adapt them and synchronise them to the various functions present in the various operating stations (continuous operation of the press, step by step of the wrapping apparatus).
  • control unit 12 comprises a first position measurement sensor 13 positioned along the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 and able to measure the position of each solid food product 1 in the channel defined by the pair of belts 9, and a second measurement sensor 14 positioned at the means 1 1 for spacing the solid food product and able to measure the position of the solid food product 1 leaving the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
  • the first sensor 13 is located upstream of the second sensor 14 relative to the feed direction D.
  • control unit 12 is configured for modifying the feed speed of the pair of belts 9 by means of the drive unit 10 so as to keep synchronised the position of the solid food products 1 arriving at the spacing means 1 1 with an operational picking up step of the wrapping apparatus 4 actuated with a predetermined law of motion.
  • the device 3 also comprises a unit 19 for processing signals sent by the control device 12 for receiving signals relative to the positions of the products 1 measured by the first and second sensors 13 and 14.
  • the processing unit 19 is connected to the drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 in such a way as to modify the speed of the pair of belts 9 as a function of the signals sent by the control device 12.
  • the processing unit 19 is configured to stop the feeding of the pair of belts 9 if the first sensor 13 detects an anomaly in the signal relating to the position of the solid food products 1 in transit through the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
  • the processing unit 19 is configured for modifying the feed speed of the pair of belts 9 as a function of the signal received from the second sensor 14 relative to the position of the solid food products 1.
  • the first sensor 13 can be positioned above the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
  • the second sensor 14 can be positioned above the means 1 1 for spacing the solid food product.
  • the second sensor 14 is configured to determine the position of a front wall of the solid food product 1 in transit.
  • one between the first sensor 13 and the second sensor 14 comprises an emitter and a receiver positioned, respectively, opposite each other along a substantially vertical line with interposed the products 1 to be detected, and are therefore positioned respectively above and below the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
  • the first sensor 13 and the second sensor 14 each comprise an emitter 13 and 14 and a receiver 13a and 14a positioned respectively opposite each other along a substantially vertical line with interposed the products 1 to be detected and the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
  • the emitter 13 or 14, defining the sensor is positioned at the top and the receiver at the bottom.
  • the first sensor 13 may be positioned close to the initial zone of the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 or in an intermediate zone of the channel as a function of the operating requirements of the device 3.
  • the logic for controlling and operating the device for feeding and arranging the products 1 therefore comprises:
  • the processing unit 19 does not perform any modifications relative to the speed of the pair of belts 9, but maintains the same speed.
  • the processing unit 19 sends an appropriate signal to the drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 to increase or decrease the speed of the pair of belts 9 in such a way as to keep in phase the position of the products with the operating step of the wrapping apparatus 4.
  • the feeding or arranging device 3 may be locked in the presence of a detection by the first sensor 13 of an anomaly in the passage of the products 1 along the channel, for example an empty space between two products 1 in succession, or the complete absence of products 1 being fed.
  • the pair of belts 9 is adapted to a cycle time of the wrapping apparatus 4 by means of a self-adaptive “feedback” thanks to the detections of the sensors.
  • the control device 12 comprises at least two further sensors 20, 21 for detecting the passage of solid food products 1 , positioned above the accumulation conveyor 6, and connected to the data processing unit 19.
  • the sensors 20 and 21 must check for the constant presence of the products being fed and, in the absence of the products 1 , send a signal to the processing unit 19 to activate a machine block.
  • the means 1 1 for spacing the solid food product 1 comprise a pair of wheels 15 positioned on opposite sides of a zone for releasing/launching the individual solid food product 1 coming from the pair of belts 9.
  • Each wheel 15 being keyed to a motor-driven shaft 16 with a vertical axis Z.
  • Each wheel 15 is equipped with at least one circumferential head 17 for contact with a lateral surface of the solid food product 1 in such a way as to allow an acceleration in the movement for feeding the solid food product 1 in contact and which is able to space the solid food product 1 from the next solid food product.
  • each wheel 15 comprises three contact heads 17 distributed uniformly along the circumference of each wheel 15.
  • Each head 17 is configured to adapt radially to the contact with the solid food product 1 (by compressing an elastic element) and releasing the product through a return to the initial position again through the pushing action of the elastic element during rotation of the wheel 15.
  • the spacing means 1 1 comprise a pair of pads 18 positioned on opposite sides of the release/launch zone of the individual solid food product 1 and interposed between the pair of wheels 15 and the pair of belts 9.
  • Each pad 18 has a surface in contact with the solid food products 1 being fed, configured to slow down, partly, a solid food product 1 positioned after the solid food product 1 positioned in the launch zone (that is, gripped between the two wheels 15), in such a way as to allow the spacing between the two solid food products.
  • the machine 100 comprises an element 22 for pushing the solid food product 1 positioned close to the means 1 1 for spacing and launching the solid food products 1.
  • the pushing element 22 is configured to intercept the single spaced solid food product 1 and transport it in the wrapping apparatus 4.
  • this pushing element 22 comprises a pair of heads 22a and 22b connected to a kinematic system (not illustrated) which is able to move the two heads 22a and 22b for bringing them into contact with the head and the tail of the solid food product 1 engaged between the pair of wheels 15 and carrying them with a rectilinear movement in the wrapping apparatus 4.
  • a kinematic system not illustrated
  • the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 has lower guides 90 for supporting the products in the channel during their feeding.
  • the lower guides 90 comprise two parallel plates spaced from each other to define a central channel in such a way as to allow the passage of the pushing head 22a close to the zone for spacing and picking up the individual product.
  • the wrapping apparatus 4 (ref. Figures 4 to 9) comprises a carousel 23 rotating in a discontinuous stepwise fashion, equipped with a plurality of radial arms 24 each having an end terminal 25 configured for housing a single solid food product 1 to be wrapped in a piece of film 5.
  • the carousel 23 is positioned facing the means 1 1 for spacing and launching the solid food products 1 in such a way as to have, in sequence and in a stepwise discontinuous fashion, an end terminal 25 at the means 1 1 for spacing and launching the solid food product 1 for receiving the solid food product itself.
  • the piece of film 5 is fed along a direction transversal to the feed direction D and is interposed between the solid food product 1 and the end 25 for receiving both the solid food product 1 and the piece of film 5.
  • the two heads 22a and 22b allow the solid food product 1 and the piece of film 5 to house inside the end 25 of the carousel 23 in such a way as to perform the first steps of wrapping the solid food product 1.
  • Figures 1 to 4 The flexibility and validity of the solution according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 4, wherein the machine comprises two distinct packaging lines side by side and wherein there are a device 3 and a second device 3' for feeding and arranging solid food products 1 which can receive the products from a single press 2.
  • the second device 3’ for feeding and arranging solid food products 1 comprises a second motor-driven conveyor 6’ for storing and conveying the solid food products 1 arriving from the press 3 and equipped with panels 7’ for guiding the solid food products 1 , in such a way as to arrange the solid food products 1 in a single row.
  • the conveyor 6' is located alongside and parallel to the conveyor 6 for accumulating and conveying the solid food products 1.
  • the second device 3' for feeding and arranging comprises a second unit 8’ for the controlled transit of the solid food products 1 arriving from the second storage conveyor 6’.
  • the second unit 8’ is equipped with a second pair of belts 9’ for bilateral gripping and retaining of the solid food products 1 and movable at a speed which can be modified, by means of a corresponding independent second drive unit 10’, for maintaining a constant control of the position of solid food products 1 along the extension of the channel defined by the second pair of belts 9’.
  • the second device 3' for feeding and arranging comprises second means 1 1 ' for spacing between successive solid food products 1 at the outlet from an end of the channel defined by the second pair of belts 9' and releasing/launching the single solid food product 1 to a second apparatus 4' for wrapping the solid food product and positioned alongside the other wrapping apparatus 4.
  • the second device 3' for feeding and arranging comprises a second unit 12’ for controlling the position of the solid food products 1 along the channel defined by the second pair of belts 9’ and at the second means 1 T for spacing the solid food products 1.
  • the second control unit 12’ is connected to the second independent drive unit 10’ of the second pair of belts 9’ and being able to modify the speed of the second pair of belts 9’ as a function of the measurement of the position at least of the solid food product 1 fed to the second means 1 T for spacing the solid food product 1 , in such a way as to keep synchronised the position of the solid food product 1 being launched with a picking up operational step of the second wrapping apparatus 4’.
  • the second control device 12' is connected to the unit 19 for processing signals sent from the second control unit 12’.
  • the processing unit 19 is connected to the second drive unit 10' of the second pair of belts 9' in such a way as to modify the speed of the second pair of belts 9' as a function of the signals sent from the second control unit 12’.
  • the processing unit 19 is connected to the drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 and to the second drive unit 10' of the second pair of belts 9' so as to synchronise, independently, the speeds of the two pairs of belts 9, 9' as a function of the measured position of the solid food products 1 in the corresponding release zones related to the operational picking up steps of the individual wrapping apparatuses 4, 4’.
  • the second packaging line comprises the components described for the wrapping apparatus, for the means for spacing the product, the first and second sensors of the control unit 12 and the heads for accompanying the product.
  • the single control unit 19 is connected to the two single drive units 10 and 10' which control independently the two pairs of belts 9 and 9' and has the possibility of always maintaining a control on the phase coordination of both the releases of the product towards the corresponding wrapping apparatuses.
  • the structure of the feeding and arranging device therefore makes it possible to adapt quickly and with a very reduced overall size a continuous and non-orderly feeding of solid food products into an ordered and controlled feeding of the products (by controlling their position) towards the wrapping apparatus.
  • the device structured in this way creates a synchronism between the press in continuous production and the wrapping apparatus operating with intermittent spacing.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Formation And Processing Of Food Products (AREA)
  • Fish Paste Products (AREA)
  • Bakery Products And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

Described is a device for feeding and arranging solid food products comprising a motor-driven conveyor (6) for accumulating and conveying the solid food products (1); a unit (8) for the controlled transit of the solid food products (1) equipped with a pair of belts (9) for bilateral gripping and retaining of the solid food products (1) and movable at a speed which can be modified; means (11) for spacing solid food products (1), positioned at an outfeed end of the channel defined by the pair of belts (9), and designed for spacing one solid food product (1) at a time from the remaining solid food products in transit along the channel, in such a way that the spaced solid food products (1) are fed to a wrapping apparatus (4); a control unit (12) connected to the pair of belts (9) and able to modify the feed speed of the pair of belts (9); the control unit (12) comprises a first position measurement sensor (13) positioned along the channel and able to measure the position of each solid food product (1) which passes along the channel, and a second position measurement sensor (14) positioned close to the spacing means (11) and able to measure the position of the solid food product (1) leaving the channel, the control unit (12) is configured for modifying the feed speed of the pair of belts (9) so as to keep synchronised the position of the solid food products (1) arriving at the spacing means (11) with an operational picking up step of the wrapping apparatus (4) actuated with a predetermined law of motion.

Description

DESCRIPTION
DEVICE FOR FEEDING AND ARRANGING SOLID FOOD PRODUCTS AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING SOLID FOOD PRODUCTS
Technical field
This invention relates to a device for feeding and arranging solid fed products and a machine for packaging solid food products.
In particular, the machine for packaging solid products is used for packaging products in the form of pressed stock cubes, such as those with a cubic or polyhedral shape.
Background art
Currently, the machines for packaging solid products comprise, along a feed line:
- a press for compressing the products, starting from a corresponding granular material, configured for feeding individual products (preferably in continuous sequence);
- a device for feeding and arranging products configured for positioning the individual products according to at least one row and, subsequently, for spacing the products from each other before their wrapping (of particular interest in this specification);
- an apparatus for wrapping the product in a respective wrapper configured for picking up individual products from the device for feeding and arranging products and for wrapping the product, with a piece or sheet of film, by folding a sheet about a corresponding product; this apparatus moves intermittently during the steps for processing the product.
The devices for feeding and arranging products such as pressed stock cubes generally comprise groups of guides for conveying and channelling the products and means configured for the relative longitudinal spacing between the individual products advancing towards the wrapping apparatus located downstream relative to the feed line. This device for feeding and arranging products is an extremely delicate and important station for the entire machine, since:
- it must adapt the various functional features of the machine, that is to say, it must compensate and make safe the feeding of the products between the press (which operates in a continuous cycle and with a feeding of the products which may be generally high, but with continuous variations of the number of products arriving) and the wrapping apparatus (which operates in a regular and step by step fashion, that is to say, with a productivity less than the press);
- it must allow a correct spacing between the products in succession before the products are picked up from the wrapping apparatus.
All these requirements make the current feed devices extremely complex and large in size.
This results in drawbacks due to an extremely long and bulky overall machine layout and a high cost of the device as a whole.
Disclosure of the invention
The aim of the invention is to provide a device for feeding and arranging solid food products, in particular pressed stock cubes, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
A further aim of this invention is to provide a machine for packaging solid food products, in particular pressed stock cubes, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
More specifically, the aim of the invention is to provide a device for feeding and arranging solid food products, in particular pressed stock cubes, which is able to make the feeding of the individual products to the wrapping apparatus fast, safe and suitable for the production speeds of the wrapping apparatus.
A further aim of the invention is to provide a device for feeding and arranging solid food products, in particular pressed stock cubes, which is able to have a compact layout keeping a high production capacity together with a high end quality of the product.
These aims are fully achieved by the device for feeding and arranging solid food products and by the machine for packaging solid food products, in particular the pressed stock cubes, according to this invention as characterised in the appended claims.
Brief description of the drawings
The technical features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view, with some schematic parts, of a device for feeding and arranging solid food products applied to a machine for packaging solid food products, in particular the pressed stock cubes, according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic side view, with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others, of a detail of the device of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a top plan view, with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others, of the detail of Figure 2;
- Figures 4 to 7 illustrate schematic plan views of a corresponding series of steps carried out in a spacing zone of the device for feeding and arranging solid food products in the machine according to the invention and relating to the spacing of solid food products and to the single feeding of a solid food product to a wrapping apparatus;
- Figures 8 and 9 are both schematic side views of two corresponding steps of spacing and feeding a solid food product to the wrapping apparatus.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention
With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular to Figure 1 , the device for feeding and arranging solid food products according to the invention is applicable to a machine, labelled 100 in its entirety, used for packaging solid food products 1 , in particular pressed stock cubes with a cubic or parallelepiped shape.
The machine 100 can comprise, along a relative line of extension and along a feed direction D a press 2 for compressing products, starting from a granulated material, configured for producing and feeding, continuously, individual solid food products 1 (the press is illustrated as a block drawn with a dashed line).
The machine 100 also comprises a device 3 for feeding and arranging solid food products (1 ) arriving from the press 2, configured for receiving and positioning the individual solid food products 1 according to at least one row, starting from a relative inlet end referred to the feed direction D, and, subsequently, for spacing the solid food products 1 relative to each other along the feed direction D, and towards an outlet end of the feed device 3.
The machine 100 also comprises an apparatus 4 for wrapping each individual solid food product 1 in a corresponding wrapper (illustrated in Figure 1 with a block with a dashed line).
The wrapping apparatus 4 is movable in a discontinuous stepwise fashion. The wrapping apparatus 4 is configured for receiving individual solid food products 1 released by the device 3 for feeding and arranging solid food products 1 and for wrapping, with a piece 5 of film, the solid food product 1 by folding the piece of film 5 about a corresponding solid food product 1. Also, according to Figures 2 and 3, the device 3 for feeding and arranging solid food products 1 comprises at least one motor-driven conveyor 6 for storing and conveying the solid food products 1 (arriving from the press 2). The conveyor 6 is equipped with panels 7 for guiding the solid food products 1 in such a way as to arrange the solid food products 1 in a single row.
As illustrated, the device 3 comprises at least one unit 8 for the controlled transit of the solid food products 1 arriving from the motor-driven conveyor 6 for accumulating and conveying.
The unit 8 is equipped with a pair of belts 9 for bilateral gripping and retaining of the solid food products 1 and movable at a speed which can be modified, by means of a corresponding independent drive unit 10. This speed of the pair of belts 9 which can be modified makes it possible to maintain a constant control of the position of the solid food products 1 along the extension of a channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
Moreover, the device 3 comprises means 1 1 for spacing between successive solid food products 1 at the outlet from an end of the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 and feeding a single solid food product 1 to the apparatus 4 for wrapping the solid food product.
Again as illustrated, the device 3 comprises a control unit 12 connected to the independent drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 and which is able to modify the feed speed of the pair of belts 9.
This control is carried out on the position of the solid food products 1 along the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 and at the means 11 for spacing the solid food products 1.
It should therefore be noted that the control device 12 is connected to the independent drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 and is able to modify the speed of the pair of belts 9 as a function of the measurement of the position at least of the solid food product 1 fed to the means 1 1 for spacing the solid food product 1 , in such a way as to keep synchronised the position of the solid food product 1 being fed with a picking up operational step of the wrapping apparatus 4.
In other words (and as described in detail below) the solid food products entering the channel of the pair of belts (feeding substantially continuously by the press) are controlled in terms of their position and their forward movement towards the launching zone to adapt them and synchronise them to the various functions present in the various operating stations (continuous operation of the press, step by step of the wrapping apparatus).
As illustrated, the control unit 12 comprises a first position measurement sensor 13 positioned along the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 and able to measure the position of each solid food product 1 in the channel defined by the pair of belts 9, and a second measurement sensor 14 positioned at the means 1 1 for spacing the solid food product and able to measure the position of the solid food product 1 leaving the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
In practice, the first sensor 13 is located upstream of the second sensor 14 relative to the feed direction D.
As already mentioned, the control unit 12 is configured for modifying the feed speed of the pair of belts 9 by means of the drive unit 10 so as to keep synchronised the position of the solid food products 1 arriving at the spacing means 1 1 with an operational picking up step of the wrapping apparatus 4 actuated with a predetermined law of motion.
The device 3 also comprises a unit 19 for processing signals sent by the control device 12 for receiving signals relative to the positions of the products 1 measured by the first and second sensors 13 and 14.
The processing unit 19 is connected to the drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 in such a way as to modify the speed of the pair of belts 9 as a function of the signals sent by the control device 12.
In light of this, the processing unit 19 is configured to stop the feeding of the pair of belts 9 if the first sensor 13 detects an anomaly in the signal relating to the position of the solid food products 1 in transit through the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
Preferably, the processing unit 19 is configured for modifying the feed speed of the pair of belts 9 as a function of the signal received from the second sensor 14 relative to the position of the solid food products 1.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the first sensor 13 can be positioned above the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the second sensor 14 can be positioned above the means 1 1 for spacing the solid food product.
In light of this, the second sensor 14 is configured to determine the position of a front wall of the solid food product 1 in transit.
It should be noted that one between the first sensor 13 and the second sensor 14 comprises an emitter and a receiver positioned, respectively, opposite each other along a substantially vertical line with interposed the products 1 to be detected, and are therefore positioned respectively above and below the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
Preferably, the first sensor 13 and the second sensor 14 each comprise an emitter 13 and 14 and a receiver 13a and 14a positioned respectively opposite each other along a substantially vertical line with interposed the products 1 to be detected and the channel defined by the pair of belts 9.
In light of this, the emitter 13 or 14, defining the sensor, is positioned at the top and the receiver at the bottom.
The first sensor 13 may be positioned close to the initial zone of the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 or in an intermediate zone of the channel as a function of the operating requirements of the device 3.
Substantially, thanks to this structure of the device 3, that is to say, the presence of the two sensors 13 and 14, the feeding and the position of each solid food product along the pair of belts 9 and up to the spacing means 1 1 is constantly checked in such a way as to maintain a precise synchronism between a product being fed and a receiving position of the wrapping apparatus 4.
The logic for controlling and operating the device for feeding and arranging the products 1 therefore comprises:
- detecting each individual product advancing in the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 by the first sensor 13 in such a way as to send a corresponding signal to the unit 19 corresponding to the position of the product in transit, in such a way as to determine the exact position of each product 1 and, therefore, knowing the feed speed of the belts 9 which drive the product, the exact time of arrival at the spacing means 1 1 , before the product reaches the zone where the second sensor 14 is located, the latter being located between the first sensor 13 and the first spacing unit 1 1 ;
- detecting the position, preferably of the front wall of each product 1 , by the second sensor 14 located upstream of the spacing means 1 1 with the sending of a relative signal to the processing unit 19 which must be placed in relation to the signal sent by the first sensor 13 corresponding to that product.
If the time, speed and position data of the product 1 are correct, the processing unit 19 does not perform any modifications relative to the speed of the pair of belts 9, but maintains the same speed.
On the other hand, if the second sensor 14 verifies a position of the front wall of the product which is incorrect (in advance of or delayed relative to the line of the front defined by the second measuring sensor 14), again with reference to the step of the wrapping apparatus 4, the processing unit 19 sends an appropriate signal to the drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 to increase or decrease the speed of the pair of belts 9 in such a way as to keep in phase the position of the products with the operating step of the wrapping apparatus 4.
As already mentioned, the feeding or arranging device 3 may be locked in the presence of a detection by the first sensor 13 of an anomaly in the passage of the products 1 along the channel, for example an empty space between two products 1 in succession, or the complete absence of products 1 being fed. In other words, the pair of belts 9 is adapted to a cycle time of the wrapping apparatus 4 by means of a self-adaptive “feedback” thanks to the detections of the sensors. Preferably, the control device 12 comprises at least two further sensors 20, 21 for detecting the passage of solid food products 1 , positioned above the accumulation conveyor 6, and connected to the data processing unit 19.
In this case, too, the sensors 20 and 21 must check for the constant presence of the products being fed and, in the absence of the products 1 , send a signal to the processing unit 19 to activate a machine block.
As illustrated in Figures 4 to 9, the means 1 1 for spacing the solid food product 1 comprise a pair of wheels 15 positioned on opposite sides of a zone for releasing/launching the individual solid food product 1 coming from the pair of belts 9.
Each wheel 15 being keyed to a motor-driven shaft 16 with a vertical axis Z.
Each wheel 15 is equipped with at least one circumferential head 17 for contact with a lateral surface of the solid food product 1 in such a way as to allow an acceleration in the movement for feeding the solid food product 1 in contact and which is able to space the solid food product 1 from the next solid food product.
Preferably, each wheel 15 comprises three contact heads 17 distributed uniformly along the circumference of each wheel 15.
Each head 17 is configured to adapt radially to the contact with the solid food product 1 (by compressing an elastic element) and releasing the product through a return to the initial position again through the pushing action of the elastic element during rotation of the wheel 15.
It should be noted that the spacing means 1 1 comprise a pair of pads 18 positioned on opposite sides of the release/launch zone of the individual solid food product 1 and interposed between the pair of wheels 15 and the pair of belts 9.
Each pad 18 has a surface in contact with the solid food products 1 being fed, configured to slow down, partly, a solid food product 1 positioned after the solid food product 1 positioned in the launch zone (that is, gripped between the two wheels 15), in such a way as to allow the spacing between the two solid food products.
As illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, the machine 100 comprises an element 22 for pushing the solid food product 1 positioned close to the means 1 1 for spacing and launching the solid food products 1.
The pushing element 22 is configured to intercept the single spaced solid food product 1 and transport it in the wrapping apparatus 4.
Preferably, this pushing element 22 comprises a pair of heads 22a and 22b connected to a kinematic system (not illustrated) which is able to move the two heads 22a and 22b for bringing them into contact with the head and the tail of the solid food product 1 engaged between the pair of wheels 15 and carrying them with a rectilinear movement in the wrapping apparatus 4.
As illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the channel defined by the pair of belts 9 has lower guides 90 for supporting the products in the channel during their feeding.
The lower guides 90 comprise two parallel plates spaced from each other to define a central channel in such a way as to allow the passage of the pushing head 22a close to the zone for spacing and picking up the individual product.
By way of non-limiting example, the wrapping apparatus 4 (ref. Figures 4 to 9) comprises a carousel 23 rotating in a discontinuous stepwise fashion, equipped with a plurality of radial arms 24 each having an end terminal 25 configured for housing a single solid food product 1 to be wrapped in a piece of film 5.
The carousel 23 is positioned facing the means 1 1 for spacing and launching the solid food products 1 in such a way as to have, in sequence and in a stepwise discontinuous fashion, an end terminal 25 at the means 1 1 for spacing and launching the solid food product 1 for receiving the solid food product itself.
It should be noted that the piece of film 5 is fed along a direction transversal to the feed direction D and is interposed between the solid food product 1 and the end 25 for receiving both the solid food product 1 and the piece of film 5.
As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the two heads 22a and 22b allow the solid food product 1 and the piece of film 5 to house inside the end 25 of the carousel 23 in such a way as to perform the first steps of wrapping the solid food product 1.
The flexibility and validity of the solution according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 4, wherein the machine comprises two distinct packaging lines side by side and wherein there are a device 3 and a second device 3' for feeding and arranging solid food products 1 which can receive the products from a single press 2.
The second device 3’ for feeding and arranging solid food products 1 comprises a second motor-driven conveyor 6’ for storing and conveying the solid food products 1 arriving from the press 3 and equipped with panels 7’ for guiding the solid food products 1 , in such a way as to arrange the solid food products 1 in a single row.
The conveyor 6' is located alongside and parallel to the conveyor 6 for accumulating and conveying the solid food products 1.
The second device 3' for feeding and arranging comprises a second unit 8’ for the controlled transit of the solid food products 1 arriving from the second storage conveyor 6’. The second unit 8’ is equipped with a second pair of belts 9’ for bilateral gripping and retaining of the solid food products 1 and movable at a speed which can be modified, by means of a corresponding independent second drive unit 10’, for maintaining a constant control of the position of solid food products 1 along the extension of the channel defined by the second pair of belts 9’.
The second device 3' for feeding and arranging comprises second means 1 1 ' for spacing between successive solid food products 1 at the outlet from an end of the channel defined by the second pair of belts 9' and releasing/launching the single solid food product 1 to a second apparatus 4' for wrapping the solid food product and positioned alongside the other wrapping apparatus 4.
The second device 3' for feeding and arranging comprises a second unit 12’ for controlling the position of the solid food products 1 along the channel defined by the second pair of belts 9’ and at the second means 1 T for spacing the solid food products 1. The second control unit 12’ is connected to the second independent drive unit 10’ of the second pair of belts 9’ and being able to modify the speed of the second pair of belts 9’ as a function of the measurement of the position at least of the solid food product 1 fed to the second means 1 T for spacing the solid food product 1 , in such a way as to keep synchronised the position of the solid food product 1 being launched with a picking up operational step of the second wrapping apparatus 4’.
It should be noted that the second control device 12' is connected to the unit 19 for processing signals sent from the second control unit 12’.
The processing unit 19 is connected to the second drive unit 10' of the second pair of belts 9' in such a way as to modify the speed of the second pair of belts 9' as a function of the signals sent from the second control unit 12’.
In light of this, the processing unit 19 is connected to the drive unit 10 of the pair of belts 9 and to the second drive unit 10' of the second pair of belts 9' so as to synchronise, independently, the speeds of the two pairs of belts 9, 9' as a function of the measured position of the solid food products 1 in the corresponding release zones related to the operational picking up steps of the individual wrapping apparatuses 4, 4’.
The second packaging line, even if not described in detail, comprises the components described for the wrapping apparatus, for the means for spacing the product, the first and second sensors of the control unit 12 and the heads for accompanying the product.
Advantageously, the single control unit 19 is connected to the two single drive units 10 and 10' which control independently the two pairs of belts 9 and 9' and has the possibility of always maintaining a control on the phase coordination of both the releases of the product towards the corresponding wrapping apparatuses.
This independent functionality of the belts 9 and 9' makes the parallel lines very flexible and, if necessary, able to modify their performance per unit time as a function of the wrapping apparatuses present (greater or lower production speed) without necessarily having to modify the structure of the line.
The structure of the feeding and arranging device therefore makes it possible to adapt quickly and with a very reduced overall size a continuous and non-orderly feeding of solid food products into an ordered and controlled feeding of the products (by controlling their position) towards the wrapping apparatus.
In other words, the device structured in this way creates a synchronism between the press in continuous production and the wrapping apparatus operating with intermittent spacing.

Claims

1. A device for feeding and arranging solid food products (1 ) for a machine for packaging solid food products (1 ), in particular pressed stock cubes with a cubic or parallelepiped shape, said device comprising:
- a motor-driven conveyor (6) for storing and conveying solid food products
(1 );
- at least one unit (8) for the controlled transit of the solid food products (1 ) arriving from the motor-driven conveyor (6) for accumulating and conveying; the unit (8) being equipped with a pair of belts (9) for bilateral gripping and retaining of the solid food products (1 ) and movable at a speed which can be modified, by means of a corresponding independent drive unit (10);
- means (1 1 ) for spacing solid food products (1 ) positioned downstream and close to an outlet end of the channel defined by the pair of belts (9), said spacing means (1 1 ) being designed for spacing one solid food product (1 ) at a time from the remaining solid food products in transit along the channel defined by the pair of belts (9), in such a way that the solid food products (1 ) spaced are fed to a wrapping apparatus (4); and
- a control unit (12) connected to the independent drive unit (10) of the pair of belts (9) and able to modify the feed speed of the pair of belts (9), characterised in that said control unit (12) comprises a first position measurement sensor (13) positioned along the channel defined by the pair of belts (9) and able to measure the position of each solid food product 1 which passes through the channel defined by the pair of belts (9), and a second position measurement sensor (14) positioned close to the means
(1 1 ) for spacing and able to measure the position of the solid food product (1 ) leaving the channel defined by the pair of belts (9), said control unit
(12) being configured to modify the feed speed of the pair of belts (9) by means of the independent drive unit 10 so as to keep synchronised the position of the solid food products (1 ) arriving at the spacing means (1 1 ) with an operational picking up step of the wrapping apparatus 4 actuated with a predetermined law of motion.
2. The device according to claim 1 , comprising a processing unit (19) connected to the control unit (12) for receiving signals relative to the positions of the products measured by the first sensor (13) and second sensor (14).
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said processing unit (19) is configured to stop the feeding of the pair of belts (9) if the first sensor (13) detects an anomaly in the signal relating to the position of the solid food products (1 ) in transit through the channel defined by the pair of belts (9). 4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said processing unit
(19) is configured for modifying the feed speed of the pair of belts (9) as a function of the signal received from the second sensor (14) relative to the position of the solid food products (1 ).
5. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacing means (1 1 ) comprise a pair of wheels (15) located on opposite sides of a spacing zone of the individual solid food product (1 ) coming from the pair of belts (9); each wheel (15) being keyed to a motor-driven shaft (16) with a vertical axis (Z); each wheel (15) being equipped with at least one circumferential head (17) for contact with a lateral surface of the solid food product (1 ) in such a way as to allow an acceleration in the movement for feeding the solid food product (1 ) in contact with the head (17) in order to space the product in contact with said head (17) from the remaining products in transit in the channel defined by the pair of belts (9).
6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a pair of pads (18) positioned on opposite sides of the channel, downstream of the pair of belts (9) and upstream of the spacing means (1 1 ), relative to the feed direction (D); each pad (18) having a surface for contact with the solid food products (1 ) being fed configured to slow down the solid food product (1 ) closest to the spacing means (1 1 ).
7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an element (22) for pushing the solid food product (1 ) positioned close to the spacing means (1 1 ); said pushing element (22) being configured to intercept the single solid food product (1 ) spaced by the spacing means (1 1 ) and push it towards the wrapping apparatus (4) in synchrony with the latter.
8. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second sensor (14) is configured for determining the position of a front wall of the product (1 ).
9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one between the first sensor (13) and the second sensor (14) comprises an emitter and a receiver (13a or 14a) positioned respectively opposite each other along a substantially vertical line with interposed the channel where the products to be measured pass.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the emitter (13, 14) is positioned at the top and the receiver (13a, 14a) is positioned at the bottom relative to the channel where the products to be measured pass.
1 1. A machine for packaging solid food products (1 ), in particular pressed stock cubes with a cubic or parallelepiped shape, comprising, along a line of extension of the machine (100) and along a feed direction (D):
- a device (3) for feeding and arranging solid food products (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims; and
- an apparatus (4) for wrapping each individual solid food product (1 ) in a corresponding wrapper; the wrapping apparatus (4) being movable in a stepwise fashion; the wrapping apparatus (4) being configured for receiving individual solid food products (1 ) released by the device (3) for feeding and arranging solid food products (1 ) and for wrapping, with a piece (5) of film, the solid food product (1 ) by folding the piece of film (5) about a corresponding solid food product (1 ).
12. The machine according to claim 1 1 , wherein the wrapping apparatus (4) comprises a carousel (23) rotating in a stepwise fashion, equipped with a plurality of radial arms (24) each having an end terminal (25) configured for housing a single solid food product (1 ) to be wrapped in a piece of film (5); said carousel (23) being positioned facing the means (1 1 ) for spacing the solid food products (1 ) in such a way as to have, in sequence and in a stepwise fashion, an end terminal (25) at the means (1 1 ) for spacing the solid food product (1 ) for receiving the solid food product itself.
13. The machine according to claim 1 1 or 12, comprising a press (2) for compressing products, starting from a granulated material, configured for producing and feeding, continuously, solid food products (1 ) to said feed device (3).
14. The machine according to claim 1 1 , comprising:
- a second motor-driven conveyor (6’) for accumulating and conveying the solid food products (1 ); said second conveyor (6’) being positioned alongside and parallel to the conveyor (6) for accumulating and conveying the solid food products (1 );
- a second unit (8’) for the controlled transit of the solid food products (1 ) arriving from the second accumulation conveyor (6); the second unit (8) being equipped with a second pair of belts (9) for bilateral gripping and retaining of the solid food products (1 ) and movable at a speed which can be modified, by means of a corresponding independent second drive unit (10);
- second means (1 T) for spacing the solid food products (1 ) positioned downstream and close to an outlet end of the second channel defined by the second pair of belts (9'), said second spacing means (1 V) being designed for spacing one solid food product (1 ) at a time from the remaining solid food products in transit along the second channel defined by the second pair of belts (9'), in such a way that the solid food products (1 ) spaced are fed to a second wrapping apparatus (4’) positioned alongside the other wrapping apparatus (4);
- a second control device (12’) connected to the second independent drive unit (10’) of the second pair of belts (9) and being able to modify the speed of the second pair of belts (9) as a function of the measurement of the position at least of the solid food product (1 ) fed to the second spacing means (1 1’) in such a way as to keep synchronised the position of the solid food product (1 ) spaced with a picking up operational step of the second wrapping apparatus (4).
EP19802024.0A 2018-11-27 2019-11-14 Device for feeding and arranging solid food products and machine for packaging solid food products Pending EP3887291A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102018000010592A IT201800010592A1 (en) 2018-11-27 2018-11-27 MACHINE FOR THE PACKAGING OF SOLID FOOD PRODUCTS.
PCT/IB2019/059779 WO2020109905A1 (en) 2018-11-27 2019-11-14 Device for feeding and arranging solid food products and machine for packaging solid food products

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3887291A1 true EP3887291A1 (en) 2021-10-06

Family

ID=65576502

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19802024.0A Pending EP3887291A1 (en) 2018-11-27 2019-11-14 Device for feeding and arranging solid food products and machine for packaging solid food products

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3887291A1 (en)
IT (1) IT201800010592A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2020109905A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT202000016465A1 (en) * 2020-07-08 2022-01-08 Ima Spa FEEDING AND SORTING DEVICE FOR SOLID FOOD PRODUCTS.
CN115956055A (en) * 2020-07-29 2023-04-11 吉地股份公司 Feed unit for products

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1248246B (en) * 1991-06-21 1995-01-05 Gd Spa DEVICE FOR THE CONSTANT PITCH, AND IN LINE, OF PRODUCTS RECEIVED IN BULK.
IT1266231B1 (en) * 1993-01-29 1996-12-27 Azionaria Costruzioni Acma Spa WRAPPING METHOD AND MACHINE, PARTICULARLY FOR FOOD PRODUCTS SUCH AS CHOCOLATES AND SIMILAR.
ITBO20070028A1 (en) * 2007-01-19 2008-07-20 Rc S P A DEVICE FOR THE PREPARATION OF A PRODUCT PACKAGE.
EP2894103B1 (en) * 2014-01-10 2016-09-07 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method and device for packaging food products into individual portions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT201800010592A1 (en) 2020-05-27
WO2020109905A1 (en) 2020-06-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8678170B2 (en) Device for dividing a single file of products into at least two files
US7413070B2 (en) Positioning system
CN104220349B (en) Device and method for conveying bulk products
EP2484611B1 (en) Packaging machine and method
CA2810571C (en) Method and apparatus for filling a multi-row packaging tray with piece-form products
NL8802807A (en) COMPUTER CONTROLLED LIGHT CONTACT SUPPLIER USING FOUR INDEPENDENT TRANSPORTERS.
US4545714A (en) Apparatus and method for forming stacks of nested containers each having a predetermined count of containers
US7258604B2 (en) Device and method for the ordered deposition of parted sausage portions
US20120027562A1 (en) Machine system and method for transferring and grouping articles and packaging machine
EP0613838A1 (en) Apparatus for conveying and grouping products
EP3887291A1 (en) Device for feeding and arranging solid food products and machine for packaging solid food products
US10773842B2 (en) Labeling machine and method of producing multipacks
EP4178887B1 (en) Device for feeding and arranging solid food products
JP5852790B2 (en) Slice food alignment device
US5394970A (en) Device for feeding packets of cigarettes to a cartoning machine
US4030268A (en) Packaging machine
WO2025120482A1 (en) Device for feeding and ordering products
US20110302882A1 (en) System for packing products
US20090266038A1 (en) Patch transfer and inspection apparatus
JP2011063287A5 (en)
WO2017032563A1 (en) A sequencing apparatus
EP0186986B1 (en) Conveyor
US2850144A (en) Conveying, packaging and slitting machine
EP3106272B1 (en) Method for selectively feeding rolls of paper coming out of a log saw unit and relative log saw unit
US10279498B2 (en) Method for selectively feeding rolls of paper coming out of a log saw unit and relative log saw unit

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: UNKNOWN

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

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

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20210628

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

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

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20230314

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230517