EP3953257B1

EP3953257B1 - Apparatus and method for packaging sachets into a container

Info

Publication number: EP3953257B1
Application number: EP20721833.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pietro Donati
Original assignee: Universal Pack SRL
Current assignee: Universal Pack SRL
Priority date: 2019-04-09
Filing date: 2020-04-09
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-09
Also published as: IT201900005470A1; WO2020208666A1; ES2955319T3; EP3953257A1

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an apparatus to package sachets inside a container.
In particular, the apparatus allows to introduce into a container, for example box-shaped, on each occasion and on parallel horizontal planes stacked on top of each other, a predefined and variable number of objects such as for example prefilled sachets and, together with them, for example one or more illustrative leaflets.
By way of example only, the sachets can contain different types of solid, liquid or powder products such as drugs, supplements, food stuffs, granules, seeds, creams, detergents or other.
The present invention also concerns a connected method to package articles, such as for example sachets and illustrative leaflets, inside a container, and a packaging machine comprising the apparatus as above.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apparatuses (s. e.g. US 2004 068967 ) for packaging articles inside a container are widely used in various sectors, such as for example the pharmaceutical, cosmetic or food sectors, in particular in the context of automatic machines typically called "cartoners" which have the function of automatically introducing objects into containers or boxes.
These apparatuses typically comprise a primary packaging unit, in which loose products are dosed and introduced into packages, also called primary packaging in the sector, and a secondary packaging unit, in which the packaged products are inserted into containers or boxes, also called secondary packaging in the sector.
Often, the packages, also called primary packaging, can be in sachet form and contain solid, liquid or powder products, such as, for example, drugs, supplements, food stuffs, granules, seeds, creams, detergents or other. The sachets can have various shapes, such as, for example, rectangular, stick-shaped, square, or other types based on their content and/or production requirements.
Typically, the secondary packaging unit can comprise one or more stations configured to prepare the containers to accommodate the sachets.
The stations include a station for forming the container, a station for introducing the sachets therein, optionally a station for introducing one or more further objects inside the container and a station for closing the container.
Often, especially in the event the sachets contain a pharmaceutical, food stuff or cosmetic product, it is required by law to provide information on the products contained inside the sachets, by means of illustrative leaflets introduced inside the containers together with the sachets.
These packaging apparatuses known in the state of the art comprise a first line for feeding the sachets to be packaged, a second line for feeding the containers and a case for distributing the illustrative leaflets, interposed between the feed lines. The known apparatuses also comprise a thruster device which, in correspondence with the introduction station, thrusts the sachets and illustrative leaflets into a respective container.
One of the disadvantages of the apparatuses to package articles inside a container known in the state of the art is that when the insertion of an illustrative leaflet inside a container together with the sachets is required, often this illustrative leaflet causes blockages or it becomes entangled, not allowing a correct insertion of the sachets. This inevitably causes machine downtime to correct the malfunction, or causes the containers to be filled in a non-compliant manner.
Some solutions known in the state of the art provide, in fact, that the illustrative leaflet can be inserted into the container after the introduction of the sachets, while other packaging apparatuses, such as those described above, provide inserting the sachets and the illustrative leaflet into the containers simultaneously. In the first case, an additional operating station is required, configured to insert the illustrative leaflet, thus making the apparatus more complex, expensive and bulky. In the second case, the leaflet is usually resting on the group of sachets or below them (that is, on the surface that supports them), which makes the solution complex and unreliable. In the latter case, during the insertion operation, the illustrative leaflet is not very stable and can slip, be displaced or jam against the package or against parts of the machine, causing the blockages or malfunctions as above, in those cases where the leaflet remains partly outside the package, preventing it from closing properly.
This disadvantage is even more problematic if the sachets are inserted inside the container on two or more vertical levels. In this case, in fact, the known apparatuses to package articles inside a container are not able to allow the correct insertion of the illustrative leaflet, given that the sachets positioned on several levels cause, even more frequently, blockages.
There is therefore the need to perfect an apparatus to package sachets inside containers that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.
In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to package articles inside a container which allows to insert groups of sachets into packages with respect to one or more containing levels.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to package articles inside a container which allows to insert an illustrative leaflet, together with the groups of sachets ordered with respect to one or more containing levels, in a simple manner and without causing blockages.
Another purpose is to perfect a method to package articles such as, for example, sachets and illustrative leaflets inside a container, in which the groups of sachets are ordered with respect to one or more containing levels.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, an apparatus to package articles inside containers comprises a first feed line to feed sachets comprising a plurality of housing drawers suitable to support sachets pre-ordered in order to be introduced inside the containers, and a second feed line of containers comprising a transporter device which moves the containers.
The apparatus also comprises a distributor case interposed between the housing drawer and the transporter device, and configured to supply objects, for example configured as an illustrative leaflet.
The apparatus also comprises a thruster device configured to thrust the sachets from the housing drawer into the container.
The apparatus also comprises a packaging station in which a direction of introduction is defined, parallel to which the thruster device is mobile to thrust the sachets and the objects, respectively from one of the housing drawers as above and from the distributor case as above, toward the inside of a respective container.
Embodiments of the present invention also concern a method to package articles into containers that provides the steps of:

feeding, with an intermittent stepwise movement, along a first feed line, a plurality of housing drawers suitable to support sachets pre-ordered in order to be introduced inside the containers so as to position, on each occasion, at least one housing drawer in correspondence with a packaging station,
feeding, with an intermittent stepwise movement coordinated with the movement of the first feed line, along a second feed line, a transporter device so as to position at least one container at a time, suitable to receive the sachets in correspondence with the packaging station,
supplying, on each occasion, an object, in particular an illustrative leaflet, to the packaging station by means of a distributor case interposed between the first and second feed line,
in said packaging station, by means of a thruster device, thrusting the sachets and the object, respectively from the housing drawer and from the distributor case, toward the container in a direction of introduction.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the method provides to selectively drive, in an independent manner, a first and a second drive member comprised in the thruster device to drive in movement, in the direction of introduction, respectively a first and a second thrust element comprised in the thruster device, wherein the selectively driving provides to drive in movement the thrust elements so that a group of sachets thrust by one of the thrust elements, preferably the second thrust element, reaches the object before a group of sachets thrust by the other thrust element, preferably the first thrust element, wherein the first and second thrust elements are associated respectively with a first and a second support plane of the housing drawer, parallel to each other and disposed one above the other, substantially vertically aligned, and each configured to support a respective group of sachets to thrust the respective group of sachets into a respective container.
In accordance with an embodiment described here, the method according to the present invention provides a first introduction step in which only one of the drive members moves the respective thrust element associated therewith from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets supported by the respective support plane, to a first thrust position, in which it thrusts the group of sachets toward the object, so as to determine the partial wrapping of the object around the group of sachets, until the group of sachets and the object are taken on to a respective auxiliary plane of an auxiliary drawer. Furthermore, the method also provides that during the first introduction step the other drive member remains inactive, so that the respective thrust element associated therewith remains stationary.
According to another embodiment provided here, the method provides a first introduction step in which one of the drive members, preferably the second drive member, moves the respective thrust element associated therewith from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets supported by the respective support plane, to a first thrust position, in order to thrust the respective group of sachets toward the object, so as to determine the partial wrapping of the object around the respective group of sachets, until the group of sachets and the object are taken on to a respective auxiliary plane of the auxiliary drawer with a linear advancing speed greater than the linear advancing speed of the other thrust element, preferably the first thrust element, driven by the respective drive member to also move from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets supported by the respective support plane, to a first thrust position, so that the group of sachets thrust by the other thrust element that moves with a lower linear advancing speed, arrives in correspondence of the distributor case without intercepting the object, which has already been engaged by the group of sachets thrust by the thrust element, preferably the second thrust element, partially wrapping thereon.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a packaging machine is also provided to package articles inside containers comprising an apparatus as described above.
One advantage of the apparatus and of the method to package articles, in particular sachets, inside containers according to the present invention is that they allow to introduce into the containers, together with the articles, also objects - such as for example an illustrative leaflet - in an effective and reliable manner. Thanks to the apparatus and method according to the present invention, it is possible to dispose the illustrative leaflet wrapped around a group of sachets so that when the user opens the container for use, the leaflet is in a clearly visible position and comfortable to grab.
Another advantage of the apparatus and of the method to package articles into containers according to the present invention is that they are flexible because they allow to introduce groups of sachets disposed on several planes, disposed vertically one on top of the other, together with an illustrative leaflet, reducing the risks of the leaflet jamming during the introduction and therefore of malfunction of the apparatus.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus to package articles inside a container in accordance with some embodiments described here;
figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6 are schematic lateral elevation views, which show an operating sequence for packaging groups of sachets and an illustrative leaflet inside a container;
fig. 4 is a schematic lateral elevation view that shows an enlarged detail of fig. 3;
fig. 7 is a schematic lateral elevation view that shows an enlarged detail of fig. 6;
fig. 8 is a schematic lateral elevation view of a variant embodiment of the apparatus to package articles inside a container according to the present invention.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.
Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.
Embodiments described using the attached drawings concern an apparatus to package articles inside containers, indicated as a whole with reference number 10 in the attached drawings.
The apparatus to package articles inside containers, hereafter referred to as apparatus 10 for simplicity, is particularly suitable to introduce into containers P articles such as sachets S containing a product and illustrative leaflets L of said product.
In particular, the sachets S can contain solid, liquid or powder products, such as for example drugs, supplements, food stuffs, granules, seeds, creams, detergents or other. The sachets S can have various shapes, such as for example rectangular, stick-shaped, square, or other types based on their content and/or production requirements. By way of a non-limiting example, two or more sachets S can be separable and connected to each other, for example by means of a tear-off connection portion, or of another type. In this case, the sachets S are also called coupled sachets S. The sachets S containing a product have a certain thickness which defines a lateral edge of the sachets S. According to possible embodiments, the sachets S can be moved and inserted into the containers P edgeways, that is, with their side of the lateral edge located resting on the plane of the containing compartment.
With the term "illustrative leaflet" here and hereafter in the description we mean the information, collected in a paper booklet, which describes for example the ingredients contained in the product inside the sachet S. For example, with regards the pharmaceutical sector, the illustrative leaflet L contains information, for example, on the active ingredients that a drug contains, to which it owes its pharmacological activity and its therapeutic efficacy, as well as the methods of administration and contraindications or other information required law.
It is clear that the nature and content of the illustrative leaflet L is not to be considered as limiting for the purposes of the present invention. In a completely equivalent manner, the apparatus 10 can be suitable to introduce into containers P articles such as sachets S containing a product and leaflets L, on which advertising and marketing materials, purchase guarantees, discount vouchers, or other material can be printed.
The apparatus to package sachets into containers comprises a first feed line 11 to feed sachets S comprising a plurality of housing drawers 13 suitable to support sachets S pre-ordered to be introduced inside the containers P, and a second feed line 12 to feed containers P comprising a transporter device 32 which moves the containers P.
The first feed line 11 feeds the housing drawers 13 in a first direction of feed T1, while the second feed line 12 feeds the containers P in a second direction of feed T2, which is parallel to the first direction of feed T1.
The apparatus 10 also comprises a distributor case 16 interposed between the housing drawer 13 and the transporter device 32 and configured to supply objects L, for example configured as an illustrative leaflet. Here and hereafter in the description, the identification letter "L" identifies both a generic object and also a specific object such as the illustrative leaflet as above.
The apparatus 10 also comprises a thruster device 17 configured to thrust the sachets S from said housing drawer 13 into the container P.
The apparatus 10 also comprises a packaging station PS, delimited with a dotted line in fig. 1, in which a direction of introduction Z is defined parallel to which the thruster device 17 is mobile to thrust the sachets S and the objects L, respectively from one of the housing drawers 13 and from the distributor case 16, toward the inside of a respective container P. In a preferred embodiment, the direction of introduction Z is substantially perpendicular to the first and second direction of feed T1, T2.
As will be explained in greater detail below, since the distributor case 16 is interposed between the housing drawer 13 and the container P, during the thrusting action of the sachets S by the thruster device 17, the sachets S intercept the illustrative leaflet L, during their path toward the container P, thrusting it in turn toward the container P.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the housing drawer 13 is provided with at least two support planes 14, 15, parallel to each other and disposed one above the other, substantially vertically aligned, and configured to each support a group of sachets S. The thruster device 17 comprises at least a first thrust element 18 and a second thrust element 19 each associated with a respective one of the support planes 14, 15 in order to thrust the sachets S disposed on the respective support plane 14, 15 inside the container P.
According to some embodiments, the thruster device 17 comprises drive members 20, 21, independent of each other, and each configured to move a respective thrust element 18, 19 in the direction of introduction Z in which are aligned, in order, the thruster device 17, on each occasion a housing drawer 13, the distributor case 16 of the illustrative leaflet L and, on each occasion, a container P.
According to some embodiments, upstream of the first feed line 11, there can be a primary packaging unit comprising one or more stations, not shown and of a type known in the state of the art, configured to package the product inside the sachets S, such as for example a filling station, a sealing station for sealing the filled sachets S, and one or more stations or devices for transferring the sachets S suitable to simultaneously feed a group formed by a desired number of sachets S.
According to some embodiments, upstream of the second feed line there can be a station for forming the container P in the event the container P is fed for example in the form of a blank, and a sealing station for sealing the container P downstream of the packaging station PS.
In one embodiment, the first thrust element 18 and the second thrust element 19 are selectively moved first in an alternate manner and subsequently in a coordinated manner, in order to position the sachets S inside the container P. The alternating movement is necessary to allow a correct cooperation between at least one group of sachets S present on one of the support planes 14, 15 and one object L.
In an alternative embodiment, the first thrust element 18 and the second thrust element 19 are moved for a first segment of the respective travels at differentiated linear advancing speeds and, subsequently, for a second and last segment of the respective travels in unison, at the same linear advancing speed. In a preferred embodiment, in the first segment as above the first thrust element 18 is moved at a linear advancing speed lower than the linear advancing speed of the second thrust element 19.
In accordance with possible solutions, the thrust elements 18, 19 are suitable to thrust the groups of sachets S together with at least one object L directly inside the container P.
It should be noted that the container P advantageously, but not necessarily, can have at least one dividing partition parallel to the support planes 14, 15 of the housing drawer 13 in order to define containing planes, parallel to each other and located one above the other, to support the groups of sachets S. In fact, in the event the container P does not have dividing partitions, maintaining the orderly and stacked configuration is guaranteed by the degree of filling of the sachets S and by the quantity of air per product present inside them.
According to some embodiments, the device 10 can advantageously comprise, in correspondence with the packaging station PS, an auxiliary drawer 22, disposed between the distributor case 16 and the container P, and provided with at least two auxiliary planes 23, 24 parallel to and coplanar with respectively the support planes 14, 15 of the housing drawer 13. At least one of either the first auxiliary plane 23 or the second auxiliary plane 24 is configured to temporarily support a group of sachets S and an illustrative leaflet L, before they are inserted into the container P. In the example visible in figs. 3 and 4, the second auxiliary plane 24 temporarily supports the group of sachets S and the illustrative leaflet L.
Advantageously, the distance, in a vertical direction, between the support planes 14, 15 and between the auxiliary planes 23, 24 has to be coherent with the containing volume of the container P and with the containing surfaces, possibly provided therein, for the storage of sachets S.
In the embodiments which provide the auxiliary drawer 22, drive means, of a type known in the state of the art and not shown, are also provided for moving the auxiliary drawer 22 in a direction parallel to the direction of introduction Z toward/away from the container P in order to accompany the groups of sachets S inside the container P so as to allow an easy insertion thereof.
In accordance with some embodiments, the thrust elements 18, 19 are configured as flat or laminar elements, parallel to each other and with respect to the housing planes 14, 15 so as to be disposed lying substantially on a horizontal plane.
According to some embodiments, each thrust element 18, 19 independently of the other thrust element 19, 18 is configured to pass from an inactive position (figs. 1 and 2), in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets S, to a first thrust position (figs. 3 and 5), in which it is configured to thrust the respective group of sachets S onto the respective auxiliary plane 23, 24, to a second thrust position (fig. 6), in which is configured to thrust the respective group of sachets S into the container P.
In a particular embodiment in which the auxiliary drawer 22 is provided, at least the second support plane 15, the second auxiliary plane 24 and the containing plane 33 of the container P are substantially coplanar in order to allow the thrust elements 18, 19 to thrust the groups of sachets S without there being any interference between the planes 15, 24, 33. Here and hereafter in the description, the containing plane 33 of the container P refers to the plane on which the group of sachets S rests, which was previously positioned on the second support plane 15 and which defines the plane which supports the one, two or more levels of groups of sachets S inserted into the container P.
In another embodiment, in which in addition to the auxiliary drawer 22 there is also provided a dividing partition inside the container P, at least the first support plane 14, the first auxiliary plane 23 and the dividing partition of the container P are substantially coplanar in order to allow the thrust elements 18, 19 to thrust the groups of sachets S without there being any interference between the planes 14, 23 and the dividing partition.
The first thrust element 18 is mobile above the first support plane 14, the second thrust element 19 is configured to penetrate the space disposed between the two support planes 14, 15, both moving at a vertical distance (height) respectively from the first support plane 14 and from the second support plane 15 suitable to determine the interaction with the group of sachets S present on the support planes 14, 15, so as to generate the necessary thrust to feed the sachets S.
At least one of either the first thrust element 18 or the second thrust element 19, when it passes from the inactive position to the first thrust position, is configured to allow the group of sachets S moved to engage the illustrative leaflet L supplied, on each occasion, by the distributor case 16 with advantageously a vertical orientation with respect to the support planes 14, 15.
In this way, the group of sachets S moved toward the illustrative leaflet L allows the latter to wrap, at least partly, around the group of sachets S advantageously assuming a C or U-shaped profile around them, as shown in fig. 4.
The distributor case 16 is configured to supply and to hold in position one illustrative leaflet L at a time before it is engaged by a group of sachets S. In particular, as shown in fig. 2, the illustrative leaflet is disposed substantially in an orthogonal position with respect to the support planes 14, 15 and is loosely held in position with respect to a single holding point, not shown, but positioned at least above the second support plane 15, preferably above the support plane 14, so as to be able to disengage as soon as it is engaged by the group of sachets S. In one embodiment, the illustrative leaflet L is loosely held in two holding points, disposed for example one above and the other below the support planes 14, 15 of the housing drawer 13.
The illustrative leaflet L, as shown in fig. 2, is disposed in a through manner in the distributor case 16 so as to extend vertically above and below both the support planes 14, 15. This allows, at least in theory, both groups of sachets S supported by the support planes 14, 15 to engage the illustrative leaflet L.
In accordance with possible solutions, the illustrative leaflet L can have a substantially rectangular shape and has a much smaller thickness than the other sizes, thus allowing an easier wrapping around the group of sachets S. Typically, the illustrative leaflet L can be defined by a single sheet of paper, with a very low weight, folded on itself several times in a predetermined manner to define the substantially rectangular shape as above.
In accordance with possible embodiments, the distributor case 16 can be suitable to provide, on each occasion, an illustrative leaflet L with a horizontal orientation.
According to some embodiments, the second thrust element 19 is advantageously the one configured to thrust the group of sachets S present on the second support plane 15 toward the illustrative leaflet L and subsequently, together with it, onto the auxiliary plane 24 of the housing drawer 22.
Advantageously, in fact, engaging the illustrative leaflet L with the group of sachets S positioned on the second support plane 15, since it is the lower one with respect to the first support plane 14, allows to define a wider and more stable support surface for the group of sachets S positioned on the first support plane 14, since it is the upper one with respect to the second support plane 15, when the groups of sachets S are positioned inside the container P. In fact, the illustrative leaflet L at least partly defines a continuous support surface on which the group of sachets S positioned at the top inside the container P can lie.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, at least the second auxiliary surface 24 of the auxiliary drawer 22 is provided with retaining elements 25 configured to prevent the group of sachets S and the illustrative leaflet L wrapped around it from advancing excessively along the auxiliary plane 24 with respect to the direction of introduction Z when the thrust element 19 passes from the inactive position to the first thrust position.
When the thrust element 19 passes from the first thrust position to the second thrust position, the retaining elements 25 are released and allow the group of sachets S to advance toward the container P. According to some embodiments, the retaining elements 25 can translate, for example vertically, or rotate, since they are pivoted in the respective auxiliary plane, see the representations of the retaining element 25 with a dotted line in fig. 4.
In accordance with possible embodiments, the thrust elements 18, 19 are respectively connected to a bar 26, 27 respectively sliding on a guide 28, 29 which allows and directs their movement in the direction of introduction Z.
Each bar 26, 27 is connected to a respective transmission member 30, 31 (fig. 1), configured to allow each thrust element 18, 19 to perform alternate and/or coordinated movements to complete the operating cycle described below.
In accordance with possible solutions, the transmission member 30, 31 can be chosen in a group comprising a belt, a lever or other known system.
In accordance with the embodiment described here, the transmission members 30, 31 are belts, advantageously toothed, moved independently of each other respectively by the first drive member 20 and by the second drive member 21.
The independent driving allows the first thrust element 18 and the second thrust element 19 to pass from the inactive position to the first thrust position and to the second thrust position, and vice versa, in any order whatsoever of these positions independently. Furthermore, the independent driving allows the first thrust element 18 and the second thrust element 19 to move with equal or different linear advancing speeds. This peculiarity allows the thruster device 17 to guarantee the correct engagement of the illustrative leaflet L by the group of sachets S positioned on the second support plane 15 thus optimizing, moreover, the duration of the step of inserting the groups of sachets inside the container P.
In one embodiment, the first drive unit 20 and the second drive unit 21 each comprise a respective electric motor, for example of the brushless or step type.
In accordance with some embodiments, the first feed line 11 and the second feed line 12 can comprise respective transporter devices 32, for example of the belt type.
Embodiments described here also concern a method to package articles inside containers which provides the steps of:

feeding, with an intermittent stepwise movement, along a first feed line 11, a plurality of housing drawers 13 suitable to support sachets S pre-ordered in order to be introduced inside the containers P so as to position, on each occasion, at least one housing drawer 13 in correspondence with a packaging station PS,
feeding, with an intermittent stepwise movement coordinated with the movement of the first feed line 11, along a second feed line 12, a transporter device 32 so as to position at least one container P at a time, suitable to receive the sachets S, in correspondence with the packaging station PS,

supplying, on each occasion, an object L, in particular an illustrative leaflet, to the packaging station PS by means of a distributor case 16 interposed between the first feed line 11 and the second feed line 12,
in the packaging station PS, by means of a thruster device 17, thrusting the sachets S and the object L, respectively from the housing drawer 13 and from the distributor case 16, toward the container P in the direction of introduction Z.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the method provides to selectively drive, in an independent manner, a first and a second drive member 20, 21 comprised in the thruster device 17 to drive in movement, in the direction of introduction Z, respectively a first and a second thrust element 18, 19 comprised in the thruster device 17, wherein said selectively driving provides to drive in movement the thrust elements 18, 19 so that a group of sachets S thrust by one of the thrust elements 19, 18 reaches the object L (that is, the illustrative leaflet) before a group of sachets S thrust by the other thrust element 18, 19, wherein the first and the second thrust element 18, 19 are associated respectively with a first and a second support plane 14, 15 of the housing drawer 13, parallel to each other and disposed one above the other, substantially vertically aligned, and configured to each support a respective group of sachets S so that each thrust element 18, 19 thrusts the respective group of sachets S into the container P.
In accordance with one embodiment of the method according to the present invention, a first introduction step is provided in which only one of the drive members 20, 21 moves the respective thrust element 18, 19 associated therewith from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets S supported by the respective support plane 14, 15, to a first thrust position, in which it thrusts the respective group of sachets S toward the object L, to determine the partial wrapping of the object L around the respective group of sachets S, until the group of sachets S and the object L are taken on to a respective auxiliary plane 23, 24 of an auxiliary drawer 22. Furthermore, during the first introduction step the other of the drive members 20, 21 remains inactive, so that the respective thrust element 18, 19 associated therewith remains stationary. In this embodiment it is therefore provided to drive the thrust elements 18, 19 according to a sequence which is at least partly temporally offset.
In accordance with another embodiment of the method according to the present invention, a first introduction step is provided in which the second drive member 21 moves the second thrust element 19 with a linear advancing speed which is greater than the linear advancing speed with which the first thrust element 18 moves, driven by the first drive member 20. In this way, the second thrust element 19 moves faster than the first thrust element 18 from the inactive position to the first thrust position, this determining that when the group of sachets S thrust by the first thrust element 18 arrives in correspondence of the distributor case 16, it no longer intercepts the illustrative leaflet L, which has already been engaged by the group of sachets S thrust by the first thrust element 18, partly wrapping on them. It is evident that in a completely equivalent embodiment, it can be provided to move the first thrust element 18 with a linear advancing speed which is greater than the linear advancing speed with which the second thrust element 19 moves.
Embodiments shown in figs. 2-7 show the operating cycle of the apparatus 10 to package, on several levels, articles such as sachets S and illustrative leaflets L into a container P.
With reference to fig. 2, this shows the step of supplying the illustrative leaflet L by means of the distributor case 16. In this step, both the first thrust element 18 and also the second thrust element 19 are in the inactive position and the support planes 14, 15 of the housing drawer 13 each support a respective group of sachets S.
The method provides a first introduction step, shown in fig. 3, in which the second drive member 21 moves the second thrust element 19 from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets S of the second support plane 15, to a first thrust position, in which it thrusts the respective group of sachets S toward the illustrative leaflet L, for its engagement, onto the second auxiliary plane 24 of the auxiliary drawer 22. In the first introduction step, the retaining elements 25 prevent the group of sachets S and the illustrative leaflet L, wrapped on it, from advancing excessively in the direction of introduction Z, preventing it from protruding outside the second auxiliary plane 24.
Subsequently, as shown in fig. 5, the method provides a second introduction step in which the first drive member 20 moves the first thrust element 18 from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets S of the first support plane 14, to a first thrust position, in which it thrusts the group of sachets S onto a first auxiliary plane 23 of an auxiliary drawer 22. Advantageously, the second introduction step can occur simultaneously with the first introduction step. In this case, the first thrust element 18 is moved with a different speed, in particular lower, than the speed of the first thrust element 19. In particular, the speed of the first thrust element 18 has to be such as to prevent an interference/interaction between the group of sachets S contained on the first support plane 14 and the illustrative leaflet L. If the speed of the first thrust element 18 is suitably calculated, the group of sachets S contained on the first support plane 14 does not touch the illustrative leaflet L which is already completely wrapped around the group of sachets S moved by the second thrust element 19.
Subsequently, the method provides another introduction step in which the first drive member 20 and the second drive member 21 move respectively and contemporarily the first thrust element 18 and the second thrust element 19, in particular at the same linear advancing speed, from the first thrust position to a second thrust position in order to thrust the respective group of sachets S into the container P.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of apparatus and method to introduce articles or objects inside containers, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.
In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

Apparatus for packaging sachets (S) inside containers (P) comprising:
- a first feed line (11) to feed sachets (S) comprising a plurality of housing drawers (13) suitable to support sachets (S) pre-ordered in order to be introduced inside the containers (P),

- a second feed line (12) of containers (P) comprising a transporter device (32) which moves the containers (P),

- a distributor case (16) interposed between said housing drawer (13) and said transporter device (32), and configured to supply objects (L), for example configured as an illustrative leaflet,

- a thruster device (17) configured to thrust said sachets (S) from said housing drawer (13) into said container (P),

- a packaging station (PS) in which a direction of introduction (Z) is defined, parallel to which said thruster device (17) is mobile to thrust said sachets (S) and said objects (L), respectively from one of said housing drawers (13) and from said distributor case (16), toward the inside of a respective container (P);
characterized in that said housing drawer (13) is provided with at least two support planes (14, 15), parallel to each other and disposed one above the other, substantially vertically aligned, and each configured to support a respective group of sachets (S), and in that said thruster device (17) comprises at least a first thrust element (18) and a second thrust element (19) each associated with a respective one of said support planes (14, 15) to thrust the sachets (S) disposed on said respective support plane (14, 15) inside the container (P), and at least two drive members (20, 21), independent of each other, each configured to drive a respective one of said thrust elements (18, 19) in said direction of introduction (Z).
Apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in correspondence with said packaging station (PS), an auxiliary drawer (22), disposed between said distributor case (16) and said transporter device (32), and provided with at least two auxiliary planes (23, 24) parallel and coplanar respectively to said support planes (14, 15) of said housing drawer (13), wherein at least one of either said first auxiliary plane (23) or said second auxiliary plane (24) is configured to receive temporarily resting thereon a group of sachets (S) and one of said objects (L), before they are inserted into said container (P).
Apparatus as in claim 2, characterized in that each thrust element (18, 19) is configured to pass from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets (S), to a first thrust position, in which it is configured to thrust the respective group of sachets (S), and possibly said object (L), on the respective auxiliary plane (23, 24), to a second thrust position, in which it is configured to thrust the respective group of sachets (S), and possibly said object (L), from the respective auxiliary plane (23, 24) to the container (P).
Apparatus as in claim 3, characterized in that at least one of either said first thrust element (18) or said second thrust element (19) when it passes from said inactive position to said first thrust position, is configured to allow the moved group of sachets (S) to engage the object (L) supplied by the distributor case (16).
Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said first feed line (11) allows said housing drawers (14) to advance in a first direction of feed (T1), said second feed line (12) allows, by means of said transporter device (32), said containers (P) to advance in a second direction of feed (T2) parallel to said first direction of feed (T1), said first direction of feed (T1) and said second direction of feed (T2) being perpendicular to said direction of introduction (Z).
Apparatus as in claim 2, characterized in that at least the second auxiliary plane (24) of said auxiliary drawer (22) is provided with retaining elements (25) configured to prevent the group of sachets (S) and the object (L) from protruding beyond said auxiliary plane (24) with respect to said direction of introduction (Z) when said thrust element (19) passes from said inactive position to said first thrust position.
Method for packaging articles into containers that provides the steps of:
- feeding, with an intermittent stepwise movement, along a first feed line (11), a plurality of housing drawers (13) suitable to support sachets (S) pre-ordered in order to be introduced inside the containers (P) so as to position, on each occasion, at least one housing drawer (13) in correspondence with a packaging station (PS),

- feeding, with an intermittent stepwise movement coordinated with the movement of said first feed line (11), along a second feed line (12), a transporter device (32) so as to position at least one container (P) at a time, suitable to receive said sachets (S) in correspondence with said packaging station (PS),

- supplying, on each occasion, an object (L), in particular an illustrative leaflet, to said packaging station (PS) by means of a distributor case (16) interposed between said first feed line (11) and second feed line (12),

- in said packaging station (PS), by means of a thruster device (17), thrusting said sachets (S) and said object (L), respectively from said housing drawer (13) and from said distributor case (16), toward said container (P) in a direction of introduction (Z),
characterized in that it is provided to selectively drive, in an independent manner, a first and a second drive member (20, 21) comprised in said thruster device (17) to drive in movement, in said direction of introduction (Z), respectively a first and a second thrust element (18, 19) comprised in said thruster device (17), wherein said selectively driving provides to drive in movement said thrust elements (18, 19) so that a group of sachets (S) thrust by one of said thrust elements (19, 18) reaches said object (L) before a group of sachets (S) thrust by the other thrust element (18, 19), wherein the first and second thrust elements (18, 19) are associated respectively with a first and a second support plane (14, 15) of said housing drawer (13), parallel to each other and disposed one above the other, substantially vertically aligned, and each configured to support a respective group of sachets (S) to thrust the respective group of sachets (S) into a respective container (P).
Method as in claim 7, characterized in that a first introduction step is provided in which only one of said drive members (20, 21) moves the respective thrust element (18, 19) associated therewith from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets (S) supported by the respective support plane (14, 15), to a first thrust position, to thrust the respective group of sachets (S) toward the object (L), so as to determine the partial wrapping of said object (L) around said respective group of sachets (S), until the group of sachets (S) and the object (L) are taken on to a respective auxiliary plane (23, 24) of an auxiliary drawer (22), and in that during said first introduction step the other of said drive members (20, 21) remains inactive, so that the respective thrust element (18, 19) associated therewith remains stationary.
Method as in claim 7, characterized in that a first introduction step is provided in which one of said drive members (21, 20) moves the respective thrust element (19, 18) associated therewith from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets (S) supported by the respective support plane (14, 15), to a first thrust position, in order to thrust the respective group of sachets (S) toward the object (L), so as to determine the partial wrapping of said object (L) around said respective group of sachets (S), until the group of sachets (S) and the object (L) are taken on to a respective auxiliary plane (24, 23) of an auxiliary drawer (22) with a linear advancing speed greater than the linear advancing speed of the other thrust element (18, 19), driven by the respective drive member (20, 21) to move from an inactive position, in which it does not cooperate with the respective group of sachets (S) supported by the respective support plane (14, 15), to a first thrust position, so that the group of sachets (S), thrust by the thrust element (18, 19) that moves with a lower linear advancing speed, arrives in correspondence of the distributor case (16) without intercepting said object (L), which is already engaged by the group of sachets (S) thrust by said respective thrust element (19, 18), partly wrapping thereon.
Method as in any claim from 7 to 9, characterized in that it provides a further introduction step in which said first drive member (20) and said second drive member (21) respectively and simultaneously move, with the same linear advancing speed, said first thrust element (18) and said second thrust element (19) from said first thrust position to a second thrust position, to thrust the respective group of sachets (S), one of which being partly wrapped by said object (L), inside the container (P).
Packaging machine to package articles inside containers, characterized in that it comprises an apparatus as in any claim from 1 to 6.