EP4019417A1

EP4019417A1 - Container treatment device for packaging manufacturing line, packaging manufacturing line for containers comprising such treatment device and method for treating containers in a packaging manufacturing line

Info

Publication number: EP4019417A1
Application number: EP21215036.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Varotto; Domenico Polidori
Original assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Current assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Priority date: 2020-12-22
Filing date: 2021-12-16
Publication date: 2022-06-29
Also published as: IT202000031856A1

Abstract

A container treatment device (9) for packaging manufacturing line (1), the packaging manufacturing line (1) comprising a conveyor (4) provided with a sequence of retaining structures (3) movable along a transport direction (T),
the treatment device (9) comprising at least one heating head (10) movable between a plurality of active positions, in which the active positions of said plurality of active positions follow one another along a direction of advancement (A), in which in each active position of said plurality of active positions, the heating head (10) is arranged at a first distance (D1) from a reference plane (R), in which said first distances (D1) of the heating head (10) from the reference plane (R) remain constant along the direction of advancement (A),
wherein said heating head (10) is further movable in a plurality of rest positions arranged at second distances (D2) from the reference plane (R) that are greater than said first distance (D1) and wherein said plurality of rest positions precede and follow the plurality of active positions along the direction of advancement (A).

Description

The present invention relates to a container treatment device for a packaging manufacturing line, to a container packaging manufacturing line comprising such a treatment device, and to a method for treating containers in a packaging manufacturing line.
With the expression container treatment device is meant any device acting on forming containers arranged along a product packaging manufacturing line and configured to perform one or more operations on the containers to make the containers suitable for receiving and housing products. The present invention is preferably related to a device for treating containers along a packaging line of bulk food products, such as candies, sugared almonds, chewing gum in tablet form, chocolates and the like.
In a bulk food packaging manufacturing line, a plurality of containers are usually at least partially formed by one or more treatment devices arranged in sequence along a forming container transport line. The containers at least partially formed by the treatment devices, are fed in sequence to a so-called filling machine which inserts the bulk food products inside the containers, which are then fed to further treatment devices which close the containers.
In the case of a container made from a blank, the blank is sent to a so-called folding and gluing device where glue dots (usually of hot melt glue) are applied to the blanks, where the blanks are folded along folding or weakening lines and where, following the folding, overlapping portions of the blanks are glued together to make a substantially two-dimensional container structure which can be fed to the packaging manufacturing line.
In the packaging manufacturing line, the substantially two-dimensional container structure is received by a first treatment device which renders the container structure substantially three-dimensional by forming a prismatic tubular element with a central portion and flaps arranged at both ends of the central portion. Such a prismatic tubular element is then arranged or directly obtained along the transport line of the forming containers where it is brought to a second treatment device which folds the flaps arranged at one end and makes them integral with each other to define a closed bottom of the container. After the container is filled, a further treatment device arranged along the transport line of the forming containers folds the flaps at the second end and makes them integral with each other to define a hinged or removable container lid.
The Applicant has noted that some types of containers may require gluing operations of overlapping blank portions not only in the folding and gluing device but also after the substantially two-dimensional container structure has been shaped. In such cases, sufficient time may elapse between the application of the hot melt dots and the actual gluing, which may occur at a treatment station which is also much further downstream, cooling the hot melt glue and making it no longer adhesive.
An example of containers requiring gluing operations of overlapping blank portions after shaping the substantially two-dimensional container structure are containers having several overlapping structures, e.g., an outer structure and an inner structure cooperating with each other to contain bulk food products and in some cases to dispense the bulk food products.
Such a container type is described in document WO2019116194A1 . This document describes an inner container having a bottom wall provided with a product dispensing opening and an outer casing associated externally and slidingly to the inner container to operate on the dispensing opening, closing it and opening it, as a function of the relative position assumed between the inner container and the outer casing.
The association between the inner container and the outer casing of a container of the type described in document WO2019116194A1 can only be made in part by gluing a blank in the folding and gluing device that makes the inner container and a blank that makes the outer casing. The complete association between inner container and outer casing must only be completed after the substantially two-dimensional container structure has been formed and, preferably, after a repositioning between inner container and outer casing.
The Applicant has noted that it would be advantageous to be able to complete the association of container parts by reactivating the cooled glue dots when the containers are arranged along the transport line of the forming containers, so as not to slow down the forming and filling operations of the containers.
The Applicant has noted that a heater could be approached to the outer surface of the container at the glue dots to be reactivated, so that the heat of the heater would reactivate the hot glue allowing the container parts to adhere.
However, the Applicant has verified that in some situations the cooled glue dots may be arranged in positions on the forming container where transport line retaining structures configured to retain the forming container during its transport are acting.
The Applicant has also verified that the glue dots to be reactivated may relate to portions of the container on which further portions of the container are overlapped, such as in the case of containers having an inner container and an outer casing, making it inefficient to apply heat to outer portions to reactivate cooled glue dots arranged on such inner portions.
The Applicant has therefore felt the need to be able to reactivate cooled glue dots in containers arranged along a transport line even where the cooled glue dots cannot be reactivated through the outer structure of the container.
The present invention therefore relates, in a first aspect, to a container treatment device for a packaging manufacturing line, the packaging manufacturing line comprising a conveyor having a sequence of retaining structures movable along a transport direction.
Preferably, at least one movable heating head is provided among a plurality of active positions.
Preferably, the active positions of said plurality of active positions follow one another along a direction of advancement.
Preferably, in each active position of said plurality of active positions the heating head is arranged at a first distance from a reference plane.
Preferably, said first distances of the heating head from the reference plane remain constant along the direction of advancement.
Preferably, the heating head is also movable in a plurality of rest positions arranged at second distances from the reference plane which are greater than said first distance.
Preferably, said plurality of rest positions precede and follow the plurality of active positions along the direction of advancement.
In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a packaging manufacturing line.
Preferably, a conveyor is provided with a sequence of movable retaining structures along a transport path and configured to retain a container structure.
Preferably, a treatment device is provided, preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, arranged along said transport path.
Preferably, the treatment device comprises at least one heating head movable between a plurality of active positions.
Preferably, the active positions of said plurality of active positions follow one another along a direction of advancement parallel to the transport path, in which in each active position of said plurality of active positions the heating head is arranged at a first distance from a reference plane.
Preferably, said first distances of the heating head from the reference plane remain constant along the direction of advancement.
Preferably, said heating head is also movable in a plurality of rest positions arranged at second distances from the reference plane.
Preferably, said second distances are greater than said first distance.
Preferably, said plurality of rest positions precede and follow the plurality of active positions along the direction of advancement.
In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method for treating containers in a packaging manufacturing line.
Preferably, it is provided for to transport a plurality of container structures having at least one open end with a sequence of retaining structures along a transport path.
Preferably, a movable heating head is provided between a first active position and a last active position of a plurality of active positions.
Preferably, it is provided for to move the heating head to the first active position.
Preferably, in the first active position the heating head is inserted into a container structure of said plurality of container structures through said open end and contacts a portion of said containment structure to be heated.
Preferably, it is provided for to move the heating head in sequence in the plurality of active positions up to the last active position along a direction of advancement parallel to said transport path while maintaining the contact with said portion to be heated.
Preferably, it is provided for to move the heating head to a rest position in which the heating head is extracted from the container structure.
The Applicant believes that by moving the heating head to an active position in which the heating head is at a distance from the reference plane that is less than the distance where the heating head is when in the rest positions, it is possible to introduce the heating head into a container structure arranged on a retaining structure of the conveyor and thereby reach portions of the container structure that cannot be contacted through the outside of the container structure. Envisaging that in such a first active position the heating head contacts a portion of the container structure to be heated, it is possible to heat a glue dot which has cooled.
Furthermore, the Applicant believes that by moving the heating head in a plurality of further active positions following one another along a direction of advancement of the heating head at the same distance from the reference plane, and envisaging that such a direction of advancement is parallel to the transport direction of the container structure along the conveyor, it is possible to keep the heating head in contact with the portion of the container structure to be heated.
The Applicant has found that this allows the cooled glue dot to be reactivated while the container structure is transported along the transport path and for a sufficient time to reactivate the glue dot.
The Applicant has finally found that by moving the heating head into the plurality of rest positions following the plurality of active positions, it is possible to remove the heating head from the container structure and continue, without interruption, the transport of the container structure to further treatment devices arranged along the manufacturing line.
In this description and in the subsequent claims, the terms "first position", "last position" and the like refer to positions which follow one another in the direction of advancement of the heating head.
In the following description and in the subsequent claims, the "reference plane" may be identified in an ideal plane parallel to a transport plane which passes through, and intercepts at substantially the same point thereof, all the retaining structures passing, along the transport direction, at the treatment device. The reference plane is farther from any component of the treatment device with respect to transport plane. In a typical manufacturing line, such a reference plane is a substantially horizontal plane, for example the plane on which the manufacturing line itself is installed and develops. The approach of the heating head to such a reference plane results in the heating head approaching a corresponding retaining structure and thus the container structure retained thereby. The approach of the heating head to the reference plane brings the heating head to approach a corresponding container structure. When the reference plane is chosen passing through a portion of the container structure opposite an open end of the container structure, the distance of the heating head from the reference plane is to be understood as coinciding with the distance of the heating head from a portion of the container structure opposite the open end of the container structure.
In the following description and in the subsequent claims, the expressions "downstream" and "upstream" refer to a transport direction of the containers when referring to the manufacturing line and refer to a direction of advancement of the heating head when referring to said treatment device. Therefore, assuming for example a rectilinear working direction from right to left, a "downstream" position with respect to an element or reference point is any position to the left of said element or reference point and an "upstream" position with respect to an element or reference point is any position to the right of said element or reference point. In the case where the transport direction or the advancement direction is circular, referring for example to a clockwise rotation, a "downstream" position with respect to an element or reference point is any position following such an element or reference point and an "upstream" position with respect to an element or reference point is any position preceding said element or reference point.
The present invention may have, in all the aspects discussed above, at least one of the preferred features described below. Such features may therefore be present singly or in combination, except where expressly stated otherwise, either in the device of the first aspect of the present invention, or in the manufacturing line of the second aspect of the present invention, or in the method of the third aspect of the present invention.
Preferably, a movement track and a support member are provided.
Preferably, the support member is slidingly connected to said movement track to travel along said movement path.
Preferably, the support member is connected to the heating head to move the heating head between said plurality of active positions and said plurality of rest positions.
Preferably, the movement track comprises an active portion and a rest portion.
Preferably, the active portion is closer to the reference plane with respect to the rest portion.
Preferably, the heating head is in said plurality of active positions when the support member travels along the active portion of the movement track.
Preferably, the heating head is in said plurality of rest positions when the support member travels along the rest portion of the movement track.
Preferably, said second distances of the heating head from the reference plane remain constant along the direction of advancement.
Preferably, an advancement track and an advancement member are provided set in motion along said advancement track.
Preferably, the support member is connected to the advancement member and is set in motion along the movement track by said advancement member.
Preferably, when travelling along the advancement track and the movement track respectively, the advancement member and the support member are aligned with each other along a direction perpendicular to said reference plane.
Preferably, the advancement track and the movement track develop in a closed loop.
Preferably, the advancement member and the support member cyclically travel along the advancement track and the movement track, respectively.
Preferably, the heating head operates, at each travel cycle of the support member along the movement track, on a container.
Preferably, the heating head is connected to the support member and to the advancement member by a connection member.
Preferably, said connection member is configured to move the heating head with respect to the support member, during the transition from a rest position to an active position, along a direction opposite to the direction of advancement.
Preferably, said connection member is configured to move the heating head with respect to the support member, during the transition from the active position to the rest position, along the direction of advancement.
Preferably, said connection member moves the heating head with respect to the support member while the heating head moves along the direction of advancement.
Preferably, said connection member comprises a four-bar linkage comprising a base body rigidly connected to the support member and a movable body rigidly connected to the heating head, the base body and the movable body being connected to each other by a first connecting rod and by a second connecting rod.
Preferably, said first connecting rod comprises an arm with a free end.
Preferably, said connection member comprises an actuation rod having a first end hinged to the advancement member, and a second end hinged to the free end of said arm of the first connecting rod.
Preferably, the advancement track and the movement track comprise respective approaching portions converging in the direction of advancement.
Preferably, said advancement member approaches, along a direction perpendicular to said reference plane, the support member when said advancement member and said support member travel the respective approaching portions.
Preferably, said approaching portions of the advancement track and the movement track approach the reference plane in the direction of advancement.
Preferably, moving the heating head to said first active position is preceded by moving the heating head to a plurality of approaching positions.
Preferably, moving the heating head in said plurality of approaching positions comprises moving the heating head between a first approaching position and a last approaching position.
Preferably, moving the heating head in said plurality of rest positions comprises moving the heating head between a first rest position and a last rest position.
Preferably, the first approaching position corresponds to the last rest position of the heating head.
Preferably, in the first approaching position said heating head is arranged at said open end of said container structure and is moved away along the direction of advancement from said portion to be heated.
Preferably, in the last rest position said heating head is arranged at said open end of said container structure and is moved away along the direction of advancement from said portion to be heated.
Preferably, the last approaching position corresponds to the first active position of the heating head.
Preferably, in the first active position said heating head is approached, along a direction perpendicular to the reference plane, to a portion of the container structure opposite said opening.
Preferably, in the last approaching position said heating head is approached, along a direction perpendicular to the reference plane, to a portion of the container structure opposite said opening.
Preferably, in the first active position said heating head is arranged in contact with said portion to be heated.
Preferably, in the last approaching position said heating head is arranged in contact with said portion to be heated.
Preferably, moving the heating head in a plurality of approaching positions comprises moving the heating head towards said portion of the container structure opposite said opening and moving the heating head towards said portion to be heated.
Preferably, moving the heating head towards a portion of the container structure opposite said opening and moving the heating head towards said portion to be heated are carried out simultaneously.
Preferably, the advancement track and the movement track comprise respective diverging distancing portions in the direction of advancement.
Preferably, said advancement member moves away, along a direction perpendicular to said reference plane, from said support member when said advancement member and said support member travel the respective distancing portions.
Preferably, said distancing portions of the advancement track and the movement track move away from the reference plane in the direction of advancement.
Preferably, moving the heating head to said last active position is followed by moving the heating head to a plurality of distancing positions.
Preferably, said plurality of distancing positions are between a first distancing position and a last distancing position.
Preferably, the first distancing position corresponds to the last active position of the heating head.
Preferably, in the first distancing position said heating head is approached, along a direction perpendicular to the reference plane, to a portion of the container structure opposite said opening.
Preferably, in the last active position said heating head is approached, along a direction perpendicular to the reference plane, to a portion of the container structure opposite said opening.
Preferably, in the first distancing position said heating head is arranged in contact with said portion to be heated.
Preferably, in the last active position said heating head is arranged in contact with said portion to be heated.
Preferably, the last distancing position corresponds to the first rest position of the heating head.
Preferably, in the last distancing position said heating head is arranged at said open end of the container structure and is moved away along the direction of advancement from said portion to be heated.
Preferably, in the first rest position said heating head is arranged at said open end of said container structure and is moved away along the direction of advancement from said portion to be heated.
Preferably, moving the heating head in a plurality of distancing positions comprises moving the heating head away from a portion of the container structure opposite said opening and moving the heating head away from said portion to be heated.
Preferably, moving the heating head away from a portion of the container structure opposite said opening and moving the heating head away from said portion to be heated is carried out simultaneously.
Preferably, said open end of the container structure is a top end.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the appended drawings and provided by way of indicative and non-limiting example, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic view of a first portion of a container packaging manufacturing line in accordance with the present invention;
figure 2 is a schematic view of a second portion of the manufacturing line of figure 1;
figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a container treatment device for a packaging manufacturing line in accordance with the present invention;
figure 4 is an enlarged front view of some details of the device of figure 3;
figure 5 is an enlarged side view of some details of the device of figure 3 in a different operating condition;
figure 6 is an enlarged schematic view of some details of the device of figure 3; and
figure 7 is a schematic view from above of some details of the device in figure 3.

In the appended figures, a container packaging manufacturing line in accordance with the present invention is generically indicated by the reference numeral 1.
As schematically depicted in figures 1 and 2, the line 1 comprises a forming device 2 which sequentially picks up flattened container structures 100 made in a so-called folding and gluing device from flat blanks. The forming device 2 makes each flattened container structure 100 substantially three-dimensional by forming a prismatic tubular element, hereinafter referred to as container structure 101 or container 101, with a central portion and flaps 102 arranged at at least one end of the central portion that will make a closure or a lid for the container structure 101.
Each container structure 101 is formed and then retained by a retaining structure 3 associated with a conveyor 4. As better seen in figure 3, each retaining structure 3 comprises a first shoulder 3a and a second shoulder 3b connected to a back 3c. The shoulders 3a, 3b are substantially perpendicular to the back 3c and are configured to retain two opposite side walls of the container structure 101. The back 3c is configured to receive a wall of the container structure 101 arranged between said two side walls.
On the conveyor 4, the retaining structures 3 are arranged in sequence and spaced from each other. The conveyor 4 moves the retaining structures 3, and thus the container structures 101, along a transport direction T. The conveyor 4 is wound, in the example illustrated in figures 1 and 2, on a pair of rollers 5 of which at least one is motorised. In other embodiments not illustrated, the conveyor 4 can extend along a different path and be driven by a different motor device.
Along the conveyor 4, the line 1 comprises a loading device 6 arranged downstream of the forming device 2 which provides for inserting predetermined quantities, preferably by weight, of bulk confectionery products inside the container structures 101. Downstream of the loading device 6, a closing device 7 is arranged operating on the flaps 102 of each container structure 101 to close the container structures 101 containing the bulk products. Downstream of the closing device 7, an expulsion device 8 may be included, which provides for extracting from the conveyor 4 the container structures 101 thus filled with bulk products and closed.
Upstream of the loading device 6 and downstream of the forming device 2, the line comprises a treatment device 9 operating along the conveyor 4 and on the container structures 101.
The treatment device 9 is preferably arranged at the roller 5 upstream of the loading device 6, shown on the left of figure 2. This advantageously exploits a region of the line 1 in which the container structures 101 rotate around the roller 5.
As illustrated in figures 3 to 5, the treatment device 9 comprises a heating head 10 movable along a direction of advancement A and configured to operate on a container structure 101, and in particular in an inner region thereof. The device 9 is in particular configured to perform the reactivation of glue dots inside a container structure 101 in transit along the respective transport path T.
The heating head 10 comprises a heating surface 11 positioned at a free end of a rectilinear support 12 extended in a direction transverse to a reference plane R, preferably extended perpendicularly to a reference plane R. In figure 3, the reference plane R is indicated in a dotted line and passes through portions of the bottom of the container structures 101.
In a preferred embodiment, the heating surface 11 is arranged on an upstream face 13 of the support 12 so as to face a downstream surface 14 of the second shoulder 3b of a retaining structure 3 in transit along the corresponding transport path T.
The heating surface 11 encloses, for example, an electrically powered heating element, and connected to an electrical power source (not shown) by means of a cable 11a partially housed in a housing inside the support 12.
The support 12 of the heating head 10 is rigidly connected to a movable body 15 which is in turn movably associated with a support member 16. The support 12 engages in particular at a downstream end 17 of the movable body 15.
The support member 16 is slidingly associated with a movement track 18 so as to move along said movement track 18 in a direction of advancement A.
The movement track 18 comprises a first groove 22 inside which the support member 16 slides. The movement track 18 is formed in a frame 23 of the treatment device 9 and is preferably closed thereon.
The support member 16 advances cyclically along the movement track 18 in the direction of advancement A, i.e., it repeatedly travels along the movement track 18. In the schematic example of figure 3, the direction of advancement A is oriented clockwise when looking at the device 9 from above, from right to left when looking at figure 3.
In the example illustrated, the support member 16 comprises a first follower 20, sliding in the first groove 22. The support member 16 is rotatably connected to a tubular body 19 through a pin 21 substantially parallel to the reference plane R.
The device 9 further comprises an advancement member 24 arranged in movement along a respective advancement track 25. The support member 16 is connected to the advancement member 24 and moves the advancement member along the respective advancement track 25.
Furthermore, the advancement member 24 is translatably associated with the support member 16, so that it can slide approaching the support member 16.
The advancement track 25 comprises a second groove 29 inside which the advancement member 24 slides. The advancement track 25 is also obtained in the frame 23 of the treatment device 9 and is closed thereon. The advancement member 24 advances cyclically along the advancement track 25 in the direction of advancement A, i.e., it repeatedly travels along the advancement track 25. In the schematic example of figure 3, the direction of advancement A is oriented clockwise when looking at the device 9 from above, from right to left when looking at figure 3.
As shown in figures 3 to 5, the advancement member 24 comprises a second follower 26 sliding in the second groove 29.
The advancement member 24 is connected to a stem 24a. The second follower 26 is rotatably connected to the stem 24a by means of a pin substantially parallel to the reference plane R.
The stem 24a is slidingly coupled to the tubular body 19 to move with respect to the latter along a direction perpendicular to the reference plane R.
The sliding association between the stem 24a and the tubular body 19 is implemented, in a preferred embodiment, by slots 28a, 28b obtained in the tubular body 19 crossed by the pin 27 of the second follower 26.
As can be seen in particular in figures 4 and 5, the advancement track 25 is positioned closer to the reference plane R with respect to the movement track 18.
Thereby, a sliding movement of the advancement member 24 approaching with respect to the support member 16 causes a sliding of the pin 27 of the second follower 26 in the slots 28a, 28b approaching the pin 21 of the first follower 20. A sliding movement of the support member 16 away from the advancement member 24 causes, on the contrary, a sliding of the pin 27 of the second follower 26 in the slots 28a, 28b away from the pin 21 of the first follower 20.
The heating head 10 is movably connected to the support member 16 and the advancement member 24 by means of a connection member 30, which allows the heating head 10 to move with respect to the support member 16 during a movement of the advancement member 24 with respect to the support member 16.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection member 30 includes a four-bar linkage 30a comprising a base body 31, fixed to the tubular body 19 and preferably made in a single piece therewith, the aforementioned movable body 15, fixed to the support 12 of the heating head 10, and a first and a second connecting rod 32, 33 hinged to the base body 31 and the movable body 15 by means of four pin elements 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d.
The four pin elements 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d have respective hinge axes IA, IB, IC, ID parallel to each other, thereby making a flat four-bar linkage 30a, configured to move the movable body 15 with respect to the base body 31 between an initial position and an end position lying spaced along directions parallel to the direction of advancement A in a plane perpendicular to the reference plane R.
The four-bar linkage 30a is moved by means of an actuation rod 35 which connects the four-bar linkage 30a to the advancement member 24, and enables the sliding movement of the advancement member 24 with respect to the support member 16 to be transferred to the movable body 15, causing it to move with respect to the base body 31.
The actuation rod 35 comprises in particular a first end 36 hinged to the advancement member 24, and a second end 37 hinged to the second connecting rod 33 through a fifth pin element 34e, having a corresponding hinge axis IE. The hinge axis IE of the fifth pin element 34e is parallel to the hinge axes IA, IB, IC, ID of the first four pin elements 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d of the four-bar linkage 30a.
In particular, the second connecting rod 33 comprises an arm 38 projecting from the end of the second connecting rod 33 hinged to the base body 31. The fifth pin element 34e is arranged at a free end of the arm 38 opposite an end constrained to the second connecting rod 33. The arm 38 is rigidly connected to the body of the second connecting rod 33 and preferably made in a single piece therewith.
In particular, the first end 36 of the actuation rod 35 is hinged to the pin 27 of the second follower 26, so as to follow the movement thereof in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane R.
In this configuration, a rotational movement of the arm 38 about the respective hinge axis IE imparted by the actuation rod 35, is transferred to the second connecting rod 33 which in turn moves the movable body 15 with respect to the base body 31, moving the movable body 15 with respect to the base body 31 in accordance with the direction of rotation imparted by the actuation rod 35.
Accordingly, when the advancement member 24 slides approaching with respect to the support member 16, the first end 36 of the actuation rod 35 follows the sliding of the pin 27 of the second follower 26 approaching the pin 21 of the first follower 20. The second end 37 of the actuation rod 35 then drags the arm 38 and, consequently, the second connecting rod 33 rigidly connected thereto, counter-clockwise around the relative hinge axis IC, causing the deformation of the four-bar linkage 30a.
The deformation of the four-bar linkage 30a causes a movement in the direction opposite to the direction of advancement A of the movable body 15, and therefore of the heating head 10 rigidly connected thereto.
Similarly, when the advancement member 24 slides away from the support member 16, the first end 36 of the actuation rod 35 follows the sliding of the pin 27 of the second follower 26 away from the pin 21 of the first follower 20. The second end 37 of the actuation rod 35 then drags the arm 38 and the second connecting rod 33 rigidly connected thereto in a clockwise rotation, causing the deformation of the four-bar linkage 30a.
The deformation of the four-bar linkage 30a thus causes a movement in the direction of advancement A of the movable body 15, and thus of the heating head 10 rigidly connected thereto.
Figure 6 schematically shows a plan view of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25, in order to illustrate the various portions along all the respective extensions along the closed loop. Figure 6 also schematically illustrates a plurality of heating heads 10 arranged along the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25.
The movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 comprise respective active portions 40, 41 and respective rest portions 42, 43.
In travelling the respective active portions 40, 41 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25, the support member 16 and the movement member 25 pass through a respective plurality of successive active positions during their movement along the direction of advancement A.
In travelling the respective rest portions 42, 43 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25, the support member 16 and the movement member 25 cross a respective plurality of successive rest positions.
A corresponding active position of the heating head 10 corresponds to each active position of the support member 16 and of the movement member 25. A corresponding rest position of the heating head 10 corresponds to each rest position of the support member 16 and of the movement member 25. The distances of the heating head 10 from the reference plane R are equal to the sum of the distances of the support member 16 from the reference plane R and the (invariant) distance of the heating head 10 from the support member 16 (when measured along a direction perpendicular to the reference plane R).
As shown, the active portions 40, 41 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25, as well as the corresponding rest portions 42, 43, are parallel to the reference plane R.
In all the active positions along the direction of advancement A, the heating head 10 is at a first distance D1 from the reference plane R.
In all the rest positions along the direction of advancement A, the heating head 10 is at a second distance D2 from the reference plane R, which as illustrated in figure 6 is greater than said first distance D1.
Therefore, when the heating head 10 passes through the plurality of active positions in the direction of advancement A, it is approaching the reference plane R, and in particular inserted in an underlying container structure 101 and in contact with an inner region thereof (see figure 3).
The active portion 41 of the advancement track 25 is arranged at a third distance D3 (measured in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane R) from the active portion 40 of the movement track 18. The rest portion 43 of the advancement track 25 is arranged at a fourth D4 (measured in the direction perpendicular to the reference plane R) from the rest portion 42 of the movement track 18.
The third distance D3 is smaller than the fourth distance D4. In other words, the active portions 40, 41 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 are closer to each other than the respective rest portions 42, 43.
The movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 further comprise respective approaching portions 44, 45 arranged downstream of the respective rest portions 42, 43 and upstream of the respective active portions 40, 41 along the direction of advancement A.
The movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 further comprise respective distancing portions 46, 47 arranged downstream of the respective active portions 40, 41 and upstream of the respective rest portions 42, 43 along the direction of advancement A.
In travelling the respective approaching portions 44, 45 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25, the support member 16 and the movement member 25 cross a plurality of successive approaching positions.
Similarly, in travelling the respective distancing portions 46, 47 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25, the support member 16 and the movement member 25 cross a plurality of successive distancing positions.
Each approaching position of the support member 16 and of the movement member 25 corresponds to a corresponding approaching position of the heating head 10. A corresponding position of the heating head 10 corresponds to each distancing position of the supporting element 16 and of the movement member 25.
In particular, a last rest position PRL corresponds to a first approaching position PAP, at which the heating head 10 is arranged at the second distance D2 from the reference plane R. In this position, the heating head 10 is substantially aligned with the open end of the container structure 101 and distanced along the direction of advancement from the inner region to be heated of the container 101.
A final approaching position PAU corresponds to a first active position PXP at which the heating head 10 has approached the reference plane R, bringing it to the first distance D1, and is in contact with a portion of the container structure 101, initiating the reactivation of the glue dot positioned at the contacted region of container 101.
A last active position PXU corresponds to a first distancing position POP at which the heating head 10 is still at the first distance D1 from the reference plane and in contact with the inner region to be heated of the container 101.
A last distancing position POU corresponds to a first rest position PRP, in the direction of advancement, at which the heating head 10 is returned to the second distance D2 from the reference plane and moved away from the inner region to be heated of the container 101.
The approaching portions 44, 45 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 are converging. In other words, a fifth distance D5 between the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 at the respective approaching portions 44, 45 decreases in the direction of advancement A from a maximum value to a minimum value. Such a maximum value is equal to the fourth distance D4 and such a minimum value is equal to the third distance D3.
The convergence in the direction of advancement A between the two movement tracks 18 and the advancement track 25 in the respective approaching portions 44, 45 causes the approach between the advancement member 24 and the support member 16.
In travelling the approaching portions 44, 45 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25, the heating head 10 thus moves to the first active position through a movement towards the reference plane R combined with a movement in the direction opposite to the direction of advancement A. The approaching movement from the reference plane R is given by the translation of the pin 27 of the second follower in the slots 28a, 28b of the tubular body 19 and the movement in the direction of advancement A is given by the deformation of the four-bar linkage 30a actuated by the connection member 30. Clearly, to the above-mentioned movement in the opposite direction to the direction of advancement A of the heating head 10, a movement of the heating head 10 along the direction of advancement A is added due to the sliding of the support member 16 in the direction of advancement A.
The distancing portions 46, 47 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 are divergent. In other words, a sixth distance D6 between the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 increases in the advancement direction A from a minimum value to a maximum value. Such a minimum value is equal to the third distance D3 and such a maximum value is equal to the fourth distance D4.
The divergence in the advancement direction A between the two movement 18 and advancement tracks 25 at the respective distancing portions 46, 47 causes the support member 16 to move away from the advancement member 24.
In travelling the distancing portions 46, 47 of the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25, the heating head 10 then returns to the first rest position through a movement away from the reference plane R combined with a movement in the direction of advancement A. The movement away from the reference plane R is given by the translation of the pin 27 of the second follower into the slots 28a, 28b of the tubular body 19 and the movement in the direction of advancement A is given by the deformation of the four-bar linkage 30a actuated by the connection member 30. Clearly, a movement of the heating head 10 is added to the above-mentioned movement in the direction of advancement A of the heating head.
Figure 7 schematically illustrates the treatment device 9 from above.
The movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 follow a closed path indicated by the dotted line with reference 50. Such a closed path has in particular a projection on the reference plane R which is essentially circular.
The movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 are overlapping on a treatment portion 51 of the transport path T. In said treatment portion 51 of the transport path T, the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 are substantially overlapped on the container structures 101 on the conveyor 4.
At least in the treatment portion 51 of the transport path T, the advancement speed of the heating head 10 is equal to the transport speed of the retaining structures 3.
Preferably, the movement track 18 and the advancement track 25 are substantially overlapping (along the direction of advancement A) the container structures 101 on the conveyor 4 between the first approaching position PAP of the heating head 10 moving along the direction of advancement A and the last distancing position POU. In other words, the treatment portion 51 of the transport path T begins at the first approaching position PAP of the heating head 10 and ends at the last distancing position POU.
It is thereby possible to maximise the time in which the heating head 10 is in an active position and therefore the time in which the heating head operates on the underlying container structure 101, ensuring that the heating head 10 begins its descent (its insertion) into the container 101 through the opening of the container 101 at the instant in which the treatment portion 51 of the transport path T begins and ends its ascent (exits) from inside the container 101 at the instant in which the treatment portion 51 of the transport path T ends.
The rest portions 42, 43 of the movement 18 and advancement tracks 25 are therefore outside the treatment portion 51 of the transport path T.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention and as visible in figure 3, a plurality of heating heads 10 is provided, each connected to a respective support member 16 and a respective advancement member 24. The heating heads 10 are equidistant from each other along the movement tracks 18 and advancement tracks 25 by the same distance as the distance separating two retaining structures 3.
What is described below in relation to the heating head 10 identically applies to all the heating heads 10 of the device 9.
Obviously, a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy specific and contingent needs, can make numerous modifications and variations to the invention described above while remaining within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.

Claims

Container treatment device (9) for packaging manufacturing line (1), the packaging manufacturing line (1) comprising a conveyor (4) provided with a sequence of retaining structures (3) movable along a transport direction (T),
the treatment device (9) comprising at least one heating head (10) movable between a plurality of active positions, wherein the active positions of said plurality of active positions follow one another along a direction of advancement (A), wherein in each active position of said plurality of active positions, the heating head (10) is arranged at a first distance (D1) from a reference plane (R), wherein said first distances (D1) of the heating head from the reference plane (R) remain constant along the direction of advancement (A),

wherein said heating head (10) is further movable in a plurality of rest positions arranged at second distances (D2) from the reference plane (R) that are greater than said first distance (D1) and wherein said plurality of rest positions precede and follow the plurality of active positions along the direction of advancement (A).
Container treatment device (9) according to claim 1, comprising a movement track (18) and a support member (16) slidingly connected to said movement track (18) so as to travel along said movement track (18); said support member (16) being connected to said heating head (10) to move the heating head (10) between said plurality of active positions and said plurality of rest positions.
Container treatment device (9) according to claim 3, wherein the movement track (18) comprises an active portion (40) and a rest portion (42) wherein said active portion (40) is closer to the reference plane (R) with respect to the rest portion (42) and wherein the heating head (10) is in said plurality of active positions when the support member (16) travels along the active portion (40) of the movement track (18).
Container treatment device (9) according to claim 2 or 3, comprising an advancement track (25) and an advancement member (24) set in motion along said advancement track (25); the support member (16) being connected to the advancement member (24) and moving said advancement member (24) along the advancement track (18).
Container treatment device (9) according to claim 4, wherein the advancement track (25) and the movement track (18) develop according to a closed loop; said advancement member (24) and said support member (16) cyclically travelling along the advancement track (25) and the movement track (18).
Container treatment device (9) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the heating head (10) is connected to the support member and to the advancement member (24) by a connection member (30) configured to move the heating head (10) with respect to the support member, during the transition from a rest position to an active position, along a direction opposite to the direction of advancement (A).
Container treatment device (9) according to claim 6, wherein said connection member moves the heating head (10) with respect to the support member (16) while the heating head (10) moves along the direction of advancement (A) and while the heating head (10) approaches the reference plane (R) passing from said second distance (D2) to said first distance (D1).
Container treatment device (9) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said connection member (30) comprises a four-bar linkage (30a) comprising a base body (31) rigidly connected to the support member (16) and a movable body (15) rigidly connected to the heating head (10), the base body (31) and the movable body (31) being connected to each other by a first connecting rod (32) and by a second connecting rod (33).
Container treatment device (9) according to claim 8, wherein said first connecting rod (33) comprises an arm (38) having a free end; said connection member (30) comprising an actuation rod (35) having a first end (36) hinged to the advancement member (24), and a second end (37) hinged to the free end of said arm (38).
Container treatment device (9) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the advancement track (25) and the movement track (18) comprise respective approaching portions (44, 45) converging in the direction of advancement (A); said advancement member (24) approaching, along a direction perpendicular to said reference plane (R), to the support member (16) when said advancement member (24) and said support member (16) travel along the respective approaching portions (44, 45).
Container treatment device (9) according to claim 10, wherein said approaching portions (44, 45) of the advancement track (25) and of the movement track (18) approach the reference plane (R) in the direction of advancement (A).
Container packaging manufacturing line (1) comprising:
a conveyor (4) provided with a sequence of retaining structures (3) movable along a transport path (T) and configured to retain a container structure (101);

a treatment device (9) arranged along said transport path and comprising at least one heating head (10) movable between a plurality of active positions, wherein the active positions of said plurality of active positions follow one another along a direction of advancement (A) parallel to the transport path, wherein in each active position of said plurality of active positions, the heating head is arranged at a first distance (D1) from a reference plane (R), wherein said first distances (D1) of the heating head from the reference plane (R) remain constant along the direction of advancement (A),

wherein said heating head (10) is further movable in a plurality of rest positions arranged at second distances (D2) from the reference plane (R) that are greater than said first distance (D1) and wherein said plurality of rest positions precede and follow the plurality of active positions along the direction of advancement (A).
Method for treating containers in a packaging manufacturing line (1) comprising:
transporting a plurality of container structures (101) having at least one open end with a sequence of retaining structures (3) along a transport path (T);

providing a heating head (10) movable between a first active position (PXP) and a last active position (PXU) of a plurality of active positions; moving the heating head (10) into the first active position (PXP) wherein the heating head (10) is inserted into a container structure (101) of said plurality of container structure (101) through said opening and contacts a portion to be heated of said containment structure;

moving the heating head (10) in sequence in the plurality of active positions up to the last active position (PXU) along a direction of advancement (A) parallel to said transport path (T) while maintaining the contact with said portion to be heated;

moving the heating head (10) into a rest position in which the heating head (10) is extracted from said container structure (101).
Method according to claim 13, wherein moving the heating head (10) into said first active position is preceded by moving the heating head (10) into a plurality of approaching positions comprised between a first approaching position (PAP) and a last approaching position (PAU), wherein in the first approaching position (PAP) said heating head (10) is arranged at said opening of the container structure (101) and is moved away along the transport direction (T) from said portion to be heated, and wherein in the last approaching position (PAU) said heating head (10) is arranged in contact with said portion to be heated.
Method according to claim 14, wherein moving the heating head (10) into a plurality of approaching positions comprises moving the heating head (10) towards a portion of the container structure (101) opposite said opening and moving the heating head (10) towards said portion to be heated.
Method according to claim 15, wherein moving the heating head (10) towards a portion of the container structure (101) opposite said opening and moving the heating head (10) towards said portion to be heated are performed simultaneously.